#Section 138

[seemabhatnagar]

"Allahabad High Court Upholds Timely Filing of Complaint under Negotiable Instruments Act"

The cause of action for filing a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act arises only after the expiry of 15 days from the date of service of the demand notice. The complainant then has one month to file the complaint.

Dinesh Kumar v. The State of UP and another

WP 20471/2024

Before the Allahabad High Court

Heard by Hon'ble Mr. Anish Kumar Gupta J

In the present case, the Allahabad High Court dismissed the application filed by the petitioner Dinesh Kumar, holding that the complaint was filed within the statutory period, and no interference was warranted.

Background:

Petitioner-Dinesh Kumar issued two cheques on 18.10.2020 and 20.10.2020 to Rajveer Singh. The cheques were presented for encashment on 21.01.2021 but were dishonored on 22.01.2021 with the remark "payment stopped by the drawer."

As such a legal demand notice was issued by Rajveer Singh on 18.02.2021, which was served on Dinesh Kumar on 19.02.2021. Rajveer Singh filed a criminal complaint on 02.04.2021 under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

Legal Issue:

Whether the complaint filed by Rajveer Singh was time-barred?

Argument of the parties:

Petitioner's Argument

The complaint was filed beyond the one-month period prescribed under Section 142(1)(b) of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

The complaint is time-barred as it was filed on 02.04.2021, which was beyond one month from the date of service of the demand notice (19.02.2021).

Respondent's Argument:

The State, contended that the complaint was filed within the limitation period.

According to Section 142(1)(b) of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the complainant has one month to file the complaint from the date the cause of action arises, which is after the expiry of 15 days from the service of the demand notice.

In this case, the cause of action arose on 07.03.2021, giving the complainant time till 07.04.2021 to file the complaint, making the filing on 02.04.2021 timely.

Observation of the Court:

Under Section 142(1)(b) of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the complainant has one month time to file the complaint from the date the cause of action arises, which is after the expiry of 15 days from the service of the demand notice.

[corpbizlegal]

Understanding Cheque Bounce: Causes, Legal Notices, and Resolutions

In financial transactions, a cheque serves as a vital instrument for accessing bank funds. Termed a 'bill of exchange,' it demands payment on demand and is drawn by a specified banker. The individual issuing the cheque is the 'drawer,' and the recipient is the 'drawee.' Simply put, a cheque facilitates legal withdrawal from the bank, requiring the drawee's name, date, amount, and the drawer's signature.

Cheque Bounce: Causes and Implications

In the era of online transactions, cheques remain relevant, especially in substantial transactions. However, several factors can lead to a cheque bounce, from insufficient funds and signature discrepancies to post-dated issues or improper handling. The consequences of a bounced cheque include legal notices and potential penalties.

Common Reasons for Cheque Bounce:

Insufficient Balance: Transaction exceeding current account balance.

Signature Mismatch: Discrepancies in the drawer's signature.

Expired Cheque: Depositing after the 3-month validity period.

Post-Dated Cheques: Depositing before the due date.

Incomplete or Damaged Cheques: Illegible details or damages.

Legal Implications and Notices

A bounced cheque triggers legal proceedings, typically initiated by a legal notice under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The notice must be sent within 30 days of the cheque return, providing a 15-day window for payment. Non-compliance may result in further legal actions.

Validity of a Cheque Bounce Notice:

Drawer Details: Name and address.

Compliance with Section 138: Mentioning legal basis.

Purpose of Cheque Issuance: For debt or liability.

Bank Presentation Details: Date, reason for return.

Timely Notice: Sent within 30 days via registered post.

Responding to a Cheque Bounce Notice

Receiving a notice necessitates a prompt response or payment within 15 days to avoid legal actions. The reply, preferably from a legal advisor, should address facts, allegations, and include a summary of defense without admitting guilt.

Legal Penalties and Cautions

The consequences of a cheque bounce range from fines and imprisonment to damage to credit scores. The severity varies based on factors like the cheque amount, repeated offenses, and compliance with legal proceedings. Efficient resolution is crucial to mitigating these penalties.

Legal Penalties Include:

Monetary Fine: Double the bounced cheque amount.

Imprisonment: Up to 2 years, often coupled with fines.

Credit Score Impact: Detrimental effect on CIBIL score.

Bank Consequences: Loss of chequebook privileges.

Current Scenario and Recommendations

Cheque bounce cases contribute significantly to the backlog of legal cases in India. Fast-track courts, amendments to existing laws, and improved banking practices are recommended for expeditious resolution. The need for precision when issuing cheques is emphasized to prevent inadvertent errors leading to legal repercussions.

In conclusion, understanding the intricacies of cheque bounce cases, adhering to legal procedures, and seeking timely resolution are crucial for both drawees and drawers. Diligence in financial transactions, compliance with legal norms, and awareness of potential pitfalls can contribute to a smoother financial landscape.

[preetisinghuniverse]

Cheque Bounce Grievance: Legal Actions in Uttar Pradesh

Grievance Status for registration number : GOVUP/E/2024/0091021Grievance Concerns ToName Of ComplainantSantosh Kumar MauryaDate of Receipt13/12/2024Received By Ministry/DepartmentUttar PradeshGrievance DescriptionTo Superintendent of Police District Mirzapur , Uttar Pradesh PIN Code 231001Subject- For taking action in the matter cheque bounced.Most respected Sir, Please take a glance of Return…

[roydick]

While thinking about the times we see Dick and Bruce physically fight I started thinking about Dick's motivations in those fights. When does Dick fight back, and when does Dick just take the licks?

I noticed a trend.

Fighting Bruce For Others

Two of the more infamous comics involving physical altercations between Dick and Bruce fall into this category.

Dick's motivations for fighting Bruce in both Nightwing vol. 3 #30 & Batman vol. 3 #138 are based around other people. In Batman Dick confronts Bruce over what he has done to Jason. In Nightwing once he understands what Bruce is asking of him Dick begins to fight back, citing their family and the recent loss of Damian as reasons why he can't.

In both of these Dick is fighting Bruce in defense of someone else.

(Left: Batman vol. 3 #138 / Middle & Right: Nightwing vol. 3 #30)

Fighting Bruce for Bruce

There are three "fights" that fit this metric.

A much more minor altercation occurs in Officer Down. Dick stops Bruce from going too far against a goon by getting an arm around his neck, Bruce quickly throws him off and leaves.

In Bruce Wayne: Fugitive? Dick (along with Tim, Cass, and Babs) confronts Bruce over his recent escape from police custody, after explaining that there will no longer be a "Bruce Wayne" Dick attempts to fight him. Batman mostly evades Dick in this confrontation. Dick is again trying to appeal to Bruce, trying to get him to rethink a decision that is going to hurt himself. Later Bruce apologizes to Dick saying "… I deserved it."

(Left: Robin vol. 1 #86 / Middle & Right: Batman vol. 1 #600)

The final fight in this section is a fight between a Bruce who has recently come into Superman's powers. Bruce has gone power hungry and violently attacks Selina. Dick attempts to fight Bruce, he doesn't believe he can win, but hopes instead that he can get through to Bruce, make him see that what he's doing is wrong. This fight leaves Dick seriously injured.

(Superman/Batman #55)

Taking the Hits

This final category is for instances where Dick does not fight back.

Dick goes to visit Bruce when he learns of Jason's death. Bruce turns the discussion confrontational quickly, putting blame on Dick for making him believe he could work with a partner. The encounter ending when Bruce punches Dick and yells at him before leaving. Dick doesn't attempt to fight back and accepts Bruce's accusations.

During the Court of Owls storyline it is revealed that Dick comes from a line of Talons and Bruce backhands Dick to knock a tooth out of Dick's mouth. Dick expresses no surprise by this, again just accepting it.

(Left & Middle: The New Titans #55 / Right: Nightwing vol. 3 #7)

In the first 2 sections Dick's main motivations for fighting Bruce are for someone other than himself, either his family or Bruce himself. His own feelings on the matter are secondary (Nightwing 30 & Bruce Wayne: Fugitive) if given a thought at all. In comparison when Bruce is only targeting Dick, Dick takes the hit and doesn't advocate for himself at all.

In Dick's eyes if Bruce finds him guilty then he must be guilty of something and he deserves the punishment.

[hood-ex]

Hello! I’m a bit of a lurker, but I had a question for a friend and I’m not sure if you’re able to answer, but you were the first to come to mind.

As someone who is not too familiar with the DC comics, what would be issues, volumes, etc. to read for a newbie wanting to delve into and highlight Dick & Damian’s relationship? My friend knows about their general stories (ie been watching the DCAMU and DCAU) but want to read more from their comic sources.

I’ve not been able to help them, but if you know of good recommendations (since I know you’re invested in Dick Grayson’s story very well) or can point me to others who’d be able to help, I’d appreciate it!

(I know comics are very convoluted with timelines and reboots and writers, but any recs would be great! Thanks and have a great day/night!)

Sorry this took me forever, but I've finally gathered the majority of Dick and Damian content. Please note that some stuff listed may be entire stories involving Dick and Damian, some may just have a few scenes between them, and some may even just have one scene that I felt highlighted their relationship in some way. I'm the type of person who's a freak about every Dick and Damian interaction though, so even the smallest of things can feel important to me personally lmao.

There are ofc more Dick and Damian interactions than this, I just didn't add them because I either felt they weren't necessary to share or that some of the writing was too bleh.

Also, I did have a guide to help me catch the dickbats era moments, but everything after dickbats came directly from my brain, so there's certainly a possibility I missed something, but I did try my best to remember the most important interactions.

Anywho, hope this is somewhat helpful!

Post-Crisis Era

Nightwing Vol. 2 #138 (Dick's first time meeting Damian)

Batman: Battle for the Cowl

Batman #687

Red Robin #1 (there are multiple other Dick and Damian interactions in Red Robin such as #13-15... check them out if you want. I'm adding #1 because Dick claims Damian as his responsibility)

Batman and Robin (from 2009) #1-26

Batman #688

Batman: Streets of Gotham

Batman Annual #27 continued in Detective Comics Annual #11

Batgirl (Vol. 3) #5-7

Batman #700 is a bit… difficult. It’s an anniversary issue that goes into the legacy of Batman and Robin. It jumps from past, present, and future. It includes a possible future of Damian becoming Batman. So. It’s not a necessary read, but I do like Dick and Damian’s scenes in it. Just tell your friend to read the “Today” section of the comic.

Blackest Night: Batman #1-3 (These are tie-in issues of a larger event called Blackest Night. Read Blackest Night and other tie-ins related to it if you need more context)

Batman #695-697

DCU Halloween Special 2010

Superman/Batman #77

Batman #703

Bruce Wayne: The Road Home - Batman and Robin

Batman: The Return

Batman #704-706

Teen Titans (Vol. 3) #89 and #92

Batman: Gates of Gotham

N52

Batman and Robin (Vol. 2) #10-12 for context + some Dick and Damian interactions. Moment between Dick and Damian at the end of #12 is the real reason I’m adding this.

Will need to read comics collected under the “Death of the Family” event to understand the full context. For Nightwing specifically, read Nightwing (Vol. 3) #15-16. Read #17 for the actual Dick and Damian interaction.

Will need to read Batman Incorporated (Vol. 2) for context. Dick and Damian interaction/Damian’s death in Batman Incorporated #8-9.

Nightwing (Vol. 3) #18 is Dick grieving Damian’s death.

Batman and Robin (Vol. 2) Annual #2

Robin: Son of Batman #1

Batman and Robin (Vol. 2) #33-37 for context, but the Dick moment I want to showcase is in #34. “You know how much Damian meant to me, Bruce…” (literally don’t read the rest unless you want to, that #34 moment is truly the only reason I’m adding this, and it's just Bruce and Dick talking about Damian btw, not an actual Dick and Damian moment)

Grayson #12 is an absolute must, it has one of the most iconic Dick and Damian interactions of all time. Will need to read the comics Forever Evil, Nightwing (Vol. 3) #30, and previous Grayson issues to understand the full context of the issue. Can just visit the issue for the Dick and Damian scene though obviously.

Rebirth and Beyond Era

Rebirth Nightwing #1 (note: this is a completely different comic from Nightwing (Vol. 4) #1-33, which is referred to as the Rebirth era of Nightwing). If you want to understand further context about this comic, you’ll have to read We Are Robin and the Robin War crossover event.

Nightwing (Vol. 4) #1, #4, #16-20 (very important Dick and Damian arc where Dick admits he wanted to adopt Damian), #29 (for context you’ll have to read the rest of Dark Nights Metal), #42-43 (each issue is a one-shot), Annual #2 (there’s enough info in this story to not need previous context), #110 (for context read the Beast World crossover event), #113 (they interact briefly, but I’m more so adding this because it shows Damian supporting Dick), #114.

Batman (Vol. 3) #16 (because Dick buys Damian a kid’s meal), #33-35

Detective Comics #1000 (collection of one-shots… go down to the story called “Batman’s Greatest Case” by Tom King. I suggest only looking at the very first Dick and Damian interaction from this story… the rest of the dialogue is… bad)

Robin (Vol. 3) #5 (further context can be found in Batman (Vol. 3) #77… and even further context for that storyline can be found starting in #75 as well as Detective Comics #1031-1033)

Batman: Urban Legends “The Murder Club” (story starts in #20 but Dick and Damian scenes are #21-23)

The Boy Wonder #1

[sizeofyoursoul]

Fanmade TVC Book Covers: Inspired by The Vampire Armand

When I was making my other set of Vampire Chronicles ebook covers, I had another idea for a set inspired by my favorite of the original hardback covers: The Vampire Armand. The Vampire Armand cover isn't just well designed, it's also a specific painting referenced within the book, so I wanted to see if I could make covers with a similar design that also met that criteria for the other books!

As before, my disclaimer is that I am not a graphic designer, I am a nerd with a hobby! I don't own the rights to any of these books, images, or paintings (and I believe they are all out of copyright). I hope you like them!

See below for what each painting is, and a few notes about why I chose it and where it appears in the book:

Interview with the Vampire

Painting: Witches Sabbath by Francisco de Goya

Source: Directly Described, Artist Name Provided in The Vampire Lestat

Quote: "I kept looking at Claudia, the way she lay against the books, the way she sat amongst the objects of the desk, the polished white skull, the candle-holder, the open parchment book whose hand-painted script gleamed in the light; and then above her there emerged into focus the lacquered and shimmering painting of a medieval devil, horned and hoofed, his bestial figure looming over a coven of worshipping witches."

Notes: In The Vampire Lestat, Lestat specifically references that Armand's cell contains copies of paintings by de Goya. There are two different de Goya paintings of a horned devil, I believe this one is the one described here.

The Vampire Lestat

Painting: Amor Vincit Omnia by Caravaggio.

Source: Subject Referenced with Artist Name

Quote: "He moved into the glow of the candles on the side altar. His clothes were black velvet, once beautiful, and now eaten away by time, and crusted with dirt. But his face was shining white, and perfect, the countenance of a god it seemed, a Cupid out of Caravaggio, seductive yet ethereal, with auburn hair and dark brown eyes."

Notes: Armand is repeatedly compared to Cupid as painted by Caravaggio in The Vampire Lestat, and this painting is of that figure. Lestat also references Gabrielle having copies of Caravaggio paintings in her rooms at his childhood home. This painting actually has scattered sheet music and a violin lying in the corner, which was another section I considered using to represent this book.

The Queen of the Damned

Painting: The Dionysian Friezes of The Villa of the Mysteries

Source: Directly Described

Quote: "Then the realization had come to Daniel as they stood together in the ruined dining room with its famous murals of ritual flagellation barely visible in the dark: He isn’t going to kill me after all. He isn’t going to do it. Of course he won’t make me what he is, but he isn’t going to kill me. The dance will not end like that."

The Tale of the Body Thief

Painting: Syndics of the Drapers' Guild by Rembrandt

Source: Directly Described, Including Artist Name, Discussed by Characters

Quote: "Finally, a week after my arrival, I found David in the empty Rijksmuseum, just after sunset, sitting on the bench before the great Rembrandt portrait of the Members of the Drapers' Guild"

Memnoch the Devil

Painting: Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch

Source: Directly Discussed by Characters by Name

Quote: "Exactly, like Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, that kind of luscious sensuous paradise! Of course, I hadn't seen Bosch's painting yet in the Prado. But it was here in miniature in these books. Little figures frolicking beneath the abundant trees. Old Captain said, 'Garden of Eden imagery,' that it was very common. But two books full of it? No. This was different. I had to crack these books, get an absolutely clear translation of every word."

Pandora

Statue: Roman Depiction of Isis, Hadrian’s Villa, 117-138 AD Est

Source: Described

Quote: "My Isis had been Greco-Roman. Even her statue in the Roman Sanctuary had been clothed in a gorgeously draped Greek dress and her hair had been done softly in the old Greek style, with waves around her face. She had held her sistrum and an urn. She had been a Romanized goddess.

The Vampire Armand

Painting: Primavera by Botticelli

Source: Directly Referenced by Name

Quote: "Come on, somebody, tell me I make you think of Mercury chasing away the clouds in Botticelli's Primavera"

Note: This is, of course, the original hardback cover of The Vampire Armand, and the inspiration for the rest of this set. This is a remake to match the aspect ratio of the other images.

Vittorio, the Vampire

Painting: Annunciation with Two Kneeling Donors by Filippo Lippi

Source: Directly Named

Quote: "My father took me to see two more of his works, which were both paintings of the Annunciation… I had particularly enjoyed paintings of the Annunciation. Well, this last one I saw before I left Florence, done by Filippo sometime in the 1440s, was beyond anything I had beheld before. The angel was truly unearthly yet physically perfect. Its wings were made of peacock feathers."

Merrick

Painting: Madame Monet Embroidering (Camille au Metier) 1875 by Claude Monet

Source: Described, Artist Named

Quote: "I looked at a painting by Monet—one I'd come to neglect of late due to familiarity—a painting full of sunshine and greenery, of a woman at work on her needlepoint by a window under the limbs of delicate indoor trees. Like so many Impressionist paintings it was both highly intellectual, with its obvious brush strokes, and flagrantly domestic."

Note: This is a painting in the house on Rue Royale, which is one of Louis's Monet's, as he's referenced owning one or more of them frequently throughout the series.

Blood and Gold

Painting: Events of the life of Moses by Botticelli

Source: Directly Described, Artist Named.

Quote: "It didn't matter finally what these paintings meant. They filled me utterly. And in one, there were two maidens rendered so sensitively and yet so sensuously that I was amazed."

Note: Marius describes all three pieces by Botticelli in the Sistine Chapel over several pages, but the specific reference he makes that is quoted above is this painting, which is he compares to Pandora. Later he frequently compares Bianca to Botticelli's work, and I like the interpretation of this cover representing Bianca and Pandora.

Blackwood Farm

Painting: Salvador Mundi by Dürer

Source: Directly Discussed by Characters by Name

Quote: "'I'd save Dürer,' he said. 'Salvador Mundi--you know, the face of Christ with the hair parted in the middle.’"

Note: Many paintings get referenced throughout Blackwood Farm, though many of the artists are ones discussed in other books. Quinn's answer to the question he and Tommy are discussing (which one painting would you save) is a Madonna by either Fra Filippo Lippi or Botticelli, artists represented elsewhere in this set.

Blood Canticle

Painting: One of the "Unpainted pictures" by Emil Nolde

Source: Artist Referenced

Quote: "What the hallway needed was Emile Nolde. How could I get my hands on the German Expressionists?"

Note: Later in the book the other characters reference recently purchased paintings, and paintings with sailboats in them, though this specific painting is not mentioned. Other paintings in Rue Royale are described as "impressionist paintings" showing the sky, which are implied to be Louis's, and Lestat mentions them not being his personal preference.

Prince Lestat

Painting: Still Life with flowers by Rachel Ruysch

Source: Painting Described, See Notes

Quote: "What a pretty room, painted a cobalt blue and with bright white enameled moldings, and on the wall a brilliant painting of roses, wild, exploding roses against a backdrop of a darker blue."

Notes: This is a painting from Rose's bedroom, and Rose is described as having fond memories of visiting the Rijksmuseum. This specific painting is not referenced but matches the subject matter and description and is by a Dutch artist, contemporary of Rembrandt, who has similar works in the Rijksmuseum.

Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis

Painting: Marie-Thérèse Durand-Ruel Sewing by Pierre Auguste Renoir

Source: Painting Described, See Notes

Quote: "A Chinese vase filled with fragrant leafy eucalyptus, and a small undoubtedly genuine French Impressionist painting on the wall of a woman in profile, a woman with long russet hair."

Notes: The description given of the painting above is not very specific, but Renoir frequently painted women with red hair, several of them in profile, and this painting is one of them.

Blood Communion:

Painting: Sunset (1872) by Camille Pissarro

Source: Painting Referenced, See Notes

Quote: "Well, Louis and I have been reunited a number of times, and this time around, at the Court in France, our reunion is enduring. He left that Impressionist painting behind at my request in our old flat in the Rue Royale, and now these miserable miscreants had senselessly destroyed it."

Notes: All I had to work with here was that it was an impressionist painting that was special to Louis, so I wanted to find something that fit the tone of Blood Communion and was of a sunrise or a sunset, which feels in character for Louis. This painting is also currently in a private collection.

[blueiscoool]

Submerged Roman Villa Emerges in Lake Fusaro

The remains of a Roman village complex have started to emerge from the waters of Lake Fusaro due to a process of geological uplift known as bradysism.

Lake Fusaro is located in the comune of Bacoli in the Italian province of Naples. The lake and surrounding area are situated in the Phlegraean Fields, an active and volatile volcanic region of bradyseismic activity.

Bradyseism refers to the slow rise (positive bradyseism) or fall (negative bradyseism) of a section of the Earth’s surface, driven by the movement of magma or hydrothermal fluids beneath the ground.

The Phlegraean Fields sits within a collapsed caldera, namely a volcanic area formed by several volcanic edifices, which includes the Solfatara volcano, well known for its fumaroles (vents from which hot volcanic gases and vapours are emitted).

Adjacent to the lake are the partially submerged remains of the Roman town of Baiae, a popular resort in antiquity that gained a reputation for a “hedonistic lifestyle”. According to Sextus Propertius, a poet of the Augustan age during the 1st century BC, Baiae was a “vortex of luxury” and a “harbour of vice”.

On the opposite side of the Gulf of Naples are the remains of Roman Pompeii and Herculaneum, both major population centuries in antiquity that were buried under thick layers of ash and pumice during the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

According to a study by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the area of Lake Fusaro has been rising since 2005, having rised in elevation by approximately 138 centimetres, 20 centimetres of which were recorded in 2024 alone.

This rapid acceleration has caused the seabed to rise and the shoreline to retreat, causing damage and difficult access to some ports and marinas along the coast.

An unexpected result of the bradyseismic activity is the emergence of a Roman villa visible in aerial photography. Josi Gerardo Della Ragione, the Mayor of Bacoli, explained that the villa likely had thermal baths, which will now be studied by the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Naples.

[lavender-noire]

101 MORE Random Events

See all 301 events.

After playing with my last list, I couldn't stop thinking of other fun ideas to implement into my rotations. I found these little objectives made so many interactions and story elements happen naturally through play, so I wrote up 101 MORE events for you to randomly implement into your gameplay.

As before, I designed this list for play with Sims 2, but I imagine the majority of this stuff is still compatible with other titles in the series. List under the cut.

Happy Simming!

101. Messi: Meet up with some friends or family to play soccer.

102. LeBron: Meet up with some friends or family to play basketball.

103. Farm to Table: Only eat food that you grew or caught today. It can be produce from the garden or a fish from the lake or pond, but you have to have made it or procured it yourself.

104. Flat Broke: Absolutely no bills can be paid this rotation.

105. Dingo's Breakfast: Also known as a sip of water and a look around. No groceries can be purchased this rotation.

106. Piano Lessons: At least one sim in the household must play piano for two hours today.

107. Guitar Lessons: At least one sim in the household must play guitar for two hours today.

108. Drum Lessons: At least one sim in the household must play the drums for two hours today.

109. Chess Club: At least one sim in the household must play chess for two hours today.

110. Michaelangelo: Visit the local museum today.

111. Finding Nemo: Visit the local aquarium today.

112. Queen's Gambit: Challenge someone to a game of chess at the local park, library, or community center.

113. Closing Time: Visit a bar or bars until 3am.

114. Tight Five: Perform stand up comedy to an audience today.

115. Pugnacious: Argue and fight with the sim you have the lowest relationship with.

116. A Little Help From My Friends: Call up your three closest friends and influence them to help you clean up the house and cook a meal.

117. Feline Friend: Adopt a cat or kitten.

118. Canine Companion: Adopt a dog or puppy.

119. Harvey Birdman: Adopt a parrot.

120. Busted Pipes: Your Sims can only shower on community lots today.

121. Speed Dating: Head out to a community lot and chat up every person of your preferred gender.

122. Mother's Day: Take your mother or nearest female relative out to a community lot.

123. Father's Day: Take your father or nearest male relative out to community lot.

124. Grandparents' Day: Take your grandparent, grandparents, or oldest living relative out to a community lot.

125. Parents Just Don't Understand: Meet with your sims' siblings on a community lot.

126. Family Affair: Plan an outing with only family members.

127. Schvitz: Head to the sauna for some rest and relaxation.

128. The Grind: Treat a coworker or fellow student to an outing.

129. Shopaholic: Buy ten items of clothing.

130. Babysitter: Invite over a neighbor or relative and have them watch the kids for the night while you go out.

131. Backed Up: Your sim can only use the restroom on community lots today.

132. Empty Fridge: Your sim can only eat on community lots today.

133. In the Dog House: One sim MUST sleep on the couch tonight.

134. Between Two Ferns: Add three new plants to an existing room in the house.

135. Warhol: Add three new paintings to the household decor.

136. A Fresh Coat of Paint: Change the color of the home's exterior. If living in an apartment, repaint one room.

137. Accent Wall: Create an accent wall in one room of the house.

138. Catering: Throw a party with a buffet table.

139. Open Bar: Throw a party with a hired bartender.

140. Like a Fish: Purchase a bar for the household. (The nectar table counts).

141. Rager: Purchase a keg and a bubble blower and throw a party.

142. Bonfire Party: Purchase a bonfire and throw a party to watch it burn.

143. Sculpture: Purchase two items from the sculpture section and tie it into your decor.

144. Wing Man: Go on an outing with your closest friend and another friend of their preferred gender. Help them get to know each other.

145. Strike Out: Ask all the top five people you're most attracted to on a date. You can stop when someone says yes.

146. Put Yourself Out There: Flirt with the sim you're most attracted to.

147. One Night Stand: Woohoo with someone you have fewer than 20 LTR points with. (ACR required)

148. Like Swayze in Ghost: Purchase a pottery making table and make good use of it.

149. Toy Story: Purchase a toy making bench and make good use of it.

150. Roses Are Red: Purchase a flower arranging bench and make good use of it.

151. Engineer: Purchase a robotics table and make good use of it.

152. The Devil Wears Prada: Purchase a sewing table and make good use of it.

153. Ansel Adams: Take five photos of five different models.

154. Like One of Your French Girls: Begin painting someone else's portrait.

155. Leg Day: Head to the gym and stay there for at least two hours (yes, you have to use the equipment).

156. Dine and Dash: Eat at a restaurant and skip out on the bill.

157. Once More With Feeling: Ask the person you last went on a date with for another.

158. Jogging Group: Go jogging with at least one other sim who does not live in the household with you.

159. Hiking Group: Go hiking with at least one other sim that does not live in the household with you.

160. Yoga Class: Do yoga at a community lot with at least one other sim.

161. Street Fighter: Play games at the local arcade.

162. Hustler: Play pool at a community lot.

163. Ante Up: Gamble at a cards table on a community lot.

164. Too Close to Home: Stay up all night playing a video game.

165. Violin Lessons: A sim in the household must play violin today for at least two hours.

166. Don't Stop Believin': Sing a duet in karaoke on a community lot.

167. Ballet Lessons: A sim in the household must practice on a ballet barre for at least two hours.

168. Fade Into You: Slow dance with a date tonight.

169. Touch Grass: Absolutely no screen time today. Your sim can only entertain themselves by engaging with nature (ie, watching clouds, catching butterflies or fireflies, swimming, hiking, bird watching, hunting bugs, etc.).

170. Pigskin: Toss a football outside with a friend or family member today.

171. Play Catch: Play catch with a child or teen in your life.

172. Slackers: Start a game of kicky bag on a community lot and rope in as many people as you can to play with you.

173. Crapshoot: Take the very first job that pops up in the job search today.

174. Jalopy: Purchase a junk car and restore it piece by piece, however long it takes.

175. Paint the Town Red: Visit three community lots today.

176. Friend of a Friend: Introduce one friend to someone else in your life over dinner or on an outing.

177. Thomas The Tank Engine: Purchase the model train table.

178. Through the Grapevine: Gossip with everyone you interact with today.

179. Random Acts of Kindness: Purchase coffee for a stranger today.

180. Fireside: Purchase a campfire and have enough sims over to enjoy it together tonight.

181. Under the Stars: Buy a tent and sleep out under the stars tonight.

182. Midlife Crisis: Choose a new aspiration using a d6.

183. Deep Tissue: Get a massage.

184. Hot Tub Time Machine: Spend at least three hours in a hot tub today.

185. Bling: Purchase new jewelry.

186. Drakkar Noir: Purchase cologne and wear it.

187. Love Potion #9: Purchase a love potion from the matchmaker, take it, and flex its effects on a community lot.

188. Friend for Dinner: Invite one sim to enjoy dinner with your household. It can be at home or on a community lot.

189. X Marks the Spot: Your sim is convinced somehow that they live on a pile of buried treasure. Spend their free time digging in the yard today.

190. Block Party: Throw a party and invite only neighbors.

191. Prank King: Prank everyone you interact with today.

192. Hired Help: Hire a staff member to help around the house. This can be a butler, maid, or nanny.

193. Yes Man: Participate in every chance card and invitation for an outing or date today. You MUST live with the results.

194. Support System: Give 1d10 $1,000 to your closest friend and/or relative living outside of the household or as much as you can afford of the amount you rolled.

195. Meal Planning: Cook five meals and store them as leftovers for the coming week.

196. Couch Potato: Only watch TV or movies and play video games today. No cooking meals, no working, and no going out.

197. Cosmetologist: Purchase a salon chair and make good use of it.

198. Mom And Pop: Any community lot you visit today must be owned by another sim. Support your local businesses!

199. Interior Decorator: Spend 1d10 $1,000 redecorating the house. If you can't afford the amount you rolled, spend as much as you can.

200. Someone Else Can Clean Up: Throw a party on a community lot.

201. Double Date: Plan an outing with your partner and another couple.

[seemabhatnagar]

"Supreme Court Quashes Coercive Bail Condition: Upholds Principles Against Monetary Recovery in Criminal Proceedings"

The Supreme Court was shocked to find that, despite its prior judgments deprecating practices, where criminal law was used as a tool for recovery of money, lower courts were still imposing conditions akin to recovery proceedings as part of bail orders.

The Supreme Court set aside the condition requiring the petitioner to pay 20% of the cheque amount, stating that it could not be sustained. However, it upheld the grant of bail with the other conditions imposed by the trial court, except for the one set aside. The special leave petition was disposed of in these terms, and all pending applications were also disposed of.

Anjali Kumari v. The State of Bihar and Another

SLP(Crl)6298/2024

Before the Supreme Court of India

Heard by Hon'ble Mr. Justice C T Ravikumar J & Hon'ble Mr. Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra J

Fact: Anjali Kumari, the petitioner, faced trial under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, for issuing a dishonored cheque. She was initially granted anticipatory bail, but due to its violation, a non-bailable warrant was issued. The petitioner sought to recall the warrant and requested bail from the trial court. The trial court granted bail on the condition that she provide a bond of ₹20,000 with two sureties of the same amount and pay 20% of the cheque amount to the complainant on the next date.

Legal Issue : Whether the condition imposed by the trial court and upheld by the High Court, requiring the petitioner to pay 20% of the cheque amount as a precondition for bail, was legally sustainable.

Contention of the Parties :

Petitioner's Submission : The condition to pay 20% of the cheque amount was unjust and contrary to established legal principles, specifically citing the decision in "Ramesh Kumar vs. The State of NCT of Delhi" [2023 INSC 596]. It was contended that criminal proceedings should not be converted into mechanisms for monetary recovery.

Respondent's Submission: The condition was justified under the circumstances.

Court's Observation: The imposition of the condition requiring payment of 20% of the cheque amount for bail is improper. The Court reiterated that criminal law should not be used as a tool for coercive recovery of money and cited the precedent set in "Ramesh Kumar vs. The State of NCT of Delhi."

[bestiarium]

The Yu Niao [Chinese folklore]!

The Shan Hai Jing (or ‘Classic of Mountains and Seas’), an ancient Chinese work written between the 4th to 1st century BC, mentions a place called Mount Guo. Among the different species of birds that can supposedly be found on this mountain, one creature in particular stands out. The ‘dwelling-bird’, or Yu Niao as the book calls it, heavily resembles a rat except for the feathery bird-like wings sprouting from its back.

The cry of the Yu Niao sounds like a goat. Furthermore, this creature has the strange ability to repel weapons.

It has been theorized that the Yu Niao might actually have been a normal bat, whose traits have been twisted and exaggerated by storytellers.

Interestingly, a different section of the book mentions a different creature called the ‘Bibi’. This animal lives in a barren mountainous landscape where no plants grow, and which is characterized by large amounts of jade and metal ores. The Bibi looks like a fox with wings, just like the Yu Niao is described as a rat with wings. Also like the entry for Yu Niao, the creature’s cry is mentioned (it supposedly sounds like a goose). The similarities end there, however. The Bibi carries a negative association, because a sighting of this beast is an omen that a massive drought will hit the world.

Source: Strassberg, R. E., 2002, A Chinese Bestiary: Strange creatures from the Guideways through the Mountains and Seas, 313 pp., p.121-122 and p.137-138.

(Image source: Cyclone62 on Deviantart)

[talonabraxas]

Odin Riding Sleipnir Talon Abraxas Hávamál – “Words of the High One” Hávamál is one of the most important, and surely most quoted of all the ancient Norse poems. The only surviving full version of the Hávamál is from the Poetic Edda found in the Codex Regius, written down sometime around 1270. The Five Parts of the Hávamál

The first part is The Gestabáttr, covering verses 1 to 83. This is like a handbook for travelers and those who are visiting others. Look here to find simple wisdom for your safe passage in the world beyond the threshold of your home.

The second part is a bit more jumbled, but covers verses 84 to 110. This part deals with various advice Odin has about matters of the heart, and women.

Following this section is part three, called the Loddfáfnismá, covering verses 111 to 137. It is structured as a series of moral codes addressed to one Loddfáfnir who Odin deemed in need of instruction.

The fourth part is Rúnatal, it covers verses 138 to 145. This poem relates how Odin hung himself on the Yggdrasil in order to gain the knowledge of the runes.

Finally, the last part is the Ljódatal, covering verses 146 to 164. In this part Odin lists a number of spells he knows covering everything from love spells to raising the dead.

Together, these parts constitutes the Hávamál as we know it today. It’s nearly impossible though to know if it was ever presented like this back in the Viking Age proper, or if the collection of these parts into a whole was created only after the end of the Viking Age. Part four – The Rúnatal

140. I know that I hung, on a wind-rocked tree, nine whole nights, with a spear wounded, and to Odin offered, myself to myself; on that tree, of which no one knows from what root it springs.

141. Bread no one gave me, nor a horn of drink, downward I peered, to runes applied myself, wailing learnt them, then fell down thence.

142. Potent songs nine from the famed son I learned of Bolthorn, Bestla’s sire, and a draught obtained of the precious mead, drawn from Odhrærir.

143. Then I began to bear fruit, and to know many things, to grow and well thrive: word by word I sought out words, fact by fact I sought out facts.

144. Runes thou wilt find, and explained characters, very large characters, very potent characters, which the great speaker depicted, and the high powers formed, and the powers’ prince graved:

145. Odin among the Æsir, but among the Alfar, Dain, and Dvalin for the dwarfs, Asvid for the Jotuns: some I myself graved.

146. Knowest thou how to grave them? knowest thou how to expound them? knowest thou how to depict them? knowest thou how to prove them? knowest thou how to pray? knowest thou how to offer? knowest thou how to send? knowest thou how to consume?

[ckao03]

Donnie Color Guide - Pt 1

Below is a list of the paints I used for my Playmates Giant Donnie repaint, along with some applicable photos of how I applied them. It's not mentioned in the guide, but I used Mr. Super Clear Gloss to protect each layer/step, then Mr SC Flat/Matte when he was completed. Apologies for the poor photo quality! If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message :)

Note: Almost all of these are lacquer and enamel paints, which require good ventilation during use. Everything except for the eyes, portion of the Battleshell and black outlining were airbrushed. [Part 2 HERE]

Skin: (Mr Color - 138 Clear Green)

I first applied this 2-3 times as shading/blushing, then finished with a layer overtop to blend it all together so it doesn't look like bruising.

Plastron/Chest piece: ( Mr Color - 60% GX106 Clear Orange + 40% GX109 Clear Brown mix) Panel lines: (Vallejo Model Color - 80% Flat Brown + %20 Black)

[Note: Photos show my first version of Donnie, in which I used only Clear Brown. The orange + brown mix looks far better in person imo]

I taped off each section of plastron, working from the top down. This provides a cleaner result when spraying paint. I finished with a single layer overtop for blending.

Purple pieces:

Base color: (Mr Color - 67 Purple) Highlights: (Mr Color - GX 105 Clear Pink) Shading: Mr Color - GX 101 Clear black Final coat: (1, maybe 2 layers, meant to blend colors) Mr Color - GX107 Clear purple Deep shading: (Mr Color GX101 Clear Black) Only for the darkest of spots or areas that need more drastic shading, such as the edges of socks gloves, lower Battleshell edges) [You can also use Tamiya Enamel XF-1, but only on the hard plastic pieces. Enamel reacts poorly on soft pvc plastic.] Arm/sock bands: (Tamiya enamel X-16 Purple. Add a little X-2 White for highlighted edges)

Recessed part of Battleshell: (Vallejo Model Color) 70% Purple + 30% Black mix. This was handpainted in.

[greenplumbboblover]

Not-a-tutorial - Lighting (Basics - indoors)

Previous Part(s):

Not-a-tutorial - Lighting (Basics & Outdoor)

How to use lighting for Nighttime (Indoors):

Here we have a scene where Lolita is studying.

Not too bad of a scene eh?

Now, with indoor scenes, the principle is basically the same, except that you can be even more clever about the lights!

Now, you have noticed maybe that there is a light next to her (in fact, 2, but let's focus on the one on the right for now).

While I like to keep those lights off, and the rest of the lot's lights turned on, we can still mimic it in our lighting!

Setup:

Here, I've put the helper lights setup. All the lot's lights are on, except for the ones on the desk (so it doesn't do weird things to our setup).

Because I like the idea that the desk light would be a warm orange-yellow light, I've set the colour of the front-light to yellow.

Setup:

Backlight = Blue (because it's night!)

Sub-light = Magenta (to make things a little more interesting)

Front-light = Yellow.

Obviously, if you rather want it to feel more "dark", you can always make the backlight and sub-light both blue ;) This would look something like this:

What about scenes with lots that have no lights?

I think we all know how terrible a truly dark sim house can look like, especially in storytelling (it's not the strongest part of the game's lighting engine)...

Now, let's pretend the power has shut off, no lights are working and your sim is, in this case reading in the dark (lol). How would we set that up?

The principle of it is almost the same as our Outdoor Night part of the tiptorial.

Now, we now know how important the colour blue is for our night pictures. However, in these instances I like to not pick and white colours for the front-light. Instead, we're going for a custom colour, Light blue!

Setup:

Backlight = Blue

Sub light = Blue

Front Light = Light Blue (RGB: 59, 138, 218)

Though, if You feel this isn't really working, you can always move the lights away from your sim, for a less intense effect! See:

Here I did add the front light much closer to the sim, and the Sublight more away from the sim, to soften the blue effect. But this is obviously just a choice you can make! 😉

How to use lighting for Daylight (Indoors):

Just like I mentioned in the Night Time section, this is almost the same principle as the daylight part in the outdoor section.

Here we have Lolita in a unlit, daylight room. Not too bad! But we can add a bit more spice to this with the methods we now know :)

Turning on the light next to her helps... but this is obviously without the helper lights. We can make this even more interesting!

Here, I added a red background, orange sub light and a white front light :)

However if the red is simply too much, you can always dim it. It will look something like this:

And if that's not enough... We can always turn on all the lights on the lot to help our scene out!

That way the desks feel a bit more intriguing, but we do lose a bit of the orange in Lolita's hair. (Though just a tad!).

[whomst-the-hell]

it mustve been so great to write for the star wars legends stuff, bc im reading some of the wikis and every new character sounds like someones super-special-oc-do-not-steal i mean i havent read mara jades books but they just SCREAM luke skywalker/original female character, background leia organa/han solo, original child characters, post-canon, enemies to lovers, slow burn, no beta we die like alderaan, 138/? with a comment section full of mary sue accusations like with the utmost affection and respect, this reads like published fanfic that didnt even get the serial codes scraped off, which is sort of my dream job, and i hope everyone involved had a great time

[brazilspill]

love to know more about the project you did covering brazil as a pirate mation!

So the class I did the project for was about technology and privacy from a librarianship standpoint (it basically consisted of our prof telling us about all the ways that corporations spy on us and what they can/actually do with our info, leaving us all feeling extra paranoid at the end of every class).

My presentation was on intellectual property rights and remix culture (we’ll get to what that is in a moment) and who owns the information. 

I started out by talking about how the fight regarding privatizing information isn’t new. In ancient Greece we have the story of Prometheus, who shares fire with his creations and is punished by his fellow gods for doing so.

Then we have Odin, who sacrificed himself in order to gain knowledge of the Runes so he could share it with humanity:

I know that I hung on a windy tree nine long nights, wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin, myself to myself, . . . Until I spied the Runes Then I was fertilized and became wise; I truly grew and thrived. From a word to a word I was led to a word, From a work to a work I was led to a work." -- Rúnatal, or Rúnatáls-þáttr-Óðins (Odin’s Rune Song), The Hávamál, Stanzas 138-140

And last but not least, I told an abridged version of the story Anansi and the Story Chest from Yoruba culture. The tl;dr version is that Anansi the Spider Man (a Trickster in Bantu stories) sees humanity is struggling and suffering and decides to help. He builds a web up to the sky and asks Nyame the Sky God to share his story chest with humans so they can thrive. At first, Nyame laughs in his face, but eventually agrees to part with the chest if Anansi completes three impossible tasks for him. By way of trickery and cleverness Anansi succeeds and Nyame is forced to reluctantly hand over the chest. Once back on Earth, Anansi opens the chest and frees all the stories (knowledge) trapped inside, allowing humanity to prosper.

This led me into how Brazilian culture views information ownership, especially regarding art. The section of my presentation that focused specifically on Brazil started by showing images of how prevalent pirating is in Brazil – how in my hometown we have a whole mall dedicated to selling pirated stuff and knockoffs:

But why? Why’s Brazil so proudly a “pirate nation” by the US’s standards?

Reason 1: It’s a way of sticking it to American companies who charge us more for the same product they charge people from first-world countries.

Last I checked the cheapest iPad Pro costs $1,099 in Canada and R$9,799 in Brazil. For the price to be equivalent it should be R$4,213.97. We’re charged more even when currency rates are considered.

Technology in general costs an exorbitant amount for Brazilians when compared to people in first world countries (or at least it used to at the time, I don’t know about now).

So stuff that originates from the first world, especially technology-related stuff, is seen as bougie stuff that’s more expensive for the plebs:

^ Image that says “Don’t support the bourgeoisie! Say yes to piracy!”

Reason #2: We don’t see pirating things as stealing.

The argument is that copying isn’t stealing, as the original owner still has their copy:

But these two reasons in and of themselves don’t truly get behind why we don’t see it as theft quite as much as..

Reason #3: It’s a cultural thing.

In order to understand the culture we have to first make a pit stop at how cannibalism is portrayed in first-world media (I know this seems like quite the detour but it’ll make sense in a moment): as evil, primitive, and above all, mindless. There’s no good way to look at cannibalism according to first-world (European) culture. 

But because Brazil actually had cannibal cultures, we view cannibalism as more nuanced. It was never mindless, for a start. There were very very strict rules regarding the spiritual practice of cannibalism.

Which is where Oswald de Andrade’s Cannibalist Manifesto comes in. It’s an iconic piece in Brazilian literature and the start of a cultural art movement known as, well, the Cannibalist Movement. It was written by one of the most famous Brazilian poets from the point of view of Indigenous people who committed cannibalism. 

As the manifesto puts it, “Cannibalism [... is] The permanent transformation of Taboo into Totem. [...] Absorption of the enemy made sacred. To transform [the enemy] into a Totem.” That is, by consuming your enemy you absorb into yourself part of their spirit. For this reason, you can’t just consume any old person, you can only consume people in two categories: a formidable enemy who you respect and defeated or a loved one who’s passed away. The concept of not being able to share one’s art or to borrow from other’s work is an European idea, NOT an Indigenous Brazilian one.

“However, only the purest of the elite were able to realize carnal anthropophagy, that brings within it the highest meaning of life and avoids all the evils identified by Freud, catechistic evils. From carnal, it becomes elective and creates friendship. Affectionate, love. Speculative science. It deviates and transfers. … Low anthropophagy agglomerated in the sins of catechism - envy, usury, calumny, murder.  A plague of so-called cultured and Christianized, it is against it that we are acting.”

As Oswald de Andrade eloquently points out in his manifesto, Europeans had/have no problem using cannibals in their stories in an appropriative manner, but then clutch their pearls regarding the very culture they appropriate (innacurately) in their own art:

“Discovered and loved ferociously, with all the hypocrisy of nostalgia, by the immigrants, the trafficked, and the tourists in the land of Great Snake*… playing a part in the operas of Alencar, filled with good Portuguese ideals. We already had Communism. We already had Surrealism.”

In English, the Cannibalist Movement was renamed Remix Culture. Most cultures already use Remix Culture, they just don’t realize it. Most Disney movies, especially from the Classic and Reinassance era, are remixes of stories written by other people. Tolkien’s work is basically a Christian!AU fanfic of Norse works. Fractured fairytales are all remixes too. Harry Potter uses tons of references to other stories. Fanfiction and Fanart? Remix culture at its finest! The list goes on.

The basic idea of Remix Culture is that, just like in carnal cannibalism, you should use the best parts of other people’s work to enhance your own work. You credit them when possible, of course, but there’s nothing wrong with borrowing the parts you like.

A great example of how remix culture works can be see in the interaction between three plays: The Beggar’s Opera, Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), and A Ópera do malandro (The Troublemaker’s Opera).

The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay was first performed in 1728 and is largely considered the most popular play of the 18th century. Its songs were all based on popular songs of the time, basically pop music spoofs. It was basically an anti-opera mocking the artform mostly experienced only by the rich.

Die Dreigroschenoper by Bertoldt Brecht and Kurt Weill was first performed in 1928, and was heavily based on John Gay’s play. The plot is very very similar and most of the music borrows the tunes from the original play (which, remember, weren’t entirely original in and of themselves). This play, in turn, was a social commentary on Capitalism as well as being interlaced with warnings about the Nazis being dangerous.

Bertoldt Brecht was heavily criticized for borrowing so much from The Beggar’s Opera, to which he replied that “The pitiful fear of members of our society that one could question their originality is closely connected with their shabby concept of property. … Copying is not easier; it is an art in itself.”

Then, we skip forward to 1978, smack dab in the middle of a brutally violent dictatorship in Brazil, where The Troublemaker’s Opera (see here for the full movie in Portuguese) is having its first showing. The story is based on Brecht’s play, and many of the songs follow the same tune. Like its predecessor, it too is mostly social commentary via satire of the politics of the time.

You can really hear how Buarque borrowed from Brecht in the opening songs of each play. (Here's the song by Brecht and the one by Chico Buarque)

It’s worth noting that one of the main characters went from being Jemmy, the male hero in The Beggar’s Opera, to being Jenny, a swashbuckling heroine, to being Gení, a trans woman who saves the day. Because of its open commentary on society’s treatment of trans sex workers during a time when it was taboo and censored, the play is considered a groundbreaking classic of Brazilian art.

[stabbyfoxandrew]

mer roadtrip for mermay:)

WIP Wednesday (5/7) | Mer Roadtrip AU (Part 138)

"What?"

"Go get us a library card. Sign up for it, or whatever."

"What happened to 'don't make people remember you', Neil? I'm pretty sure signing up for a library card goes against the rules." Andrew looks ever so smug about Neil needing to break his own rule.

"I know. But it's either you get us a card, or I wrestle one out of that granny's hands." Neil whispers back, nodding towards an old woman piddling through the Romance section. Andrew's face lights up with delight.

"That I would love to see." Andrew says, grinning. "Let's do that one."

"Andrew."

Andrew heaves a breath. "Fine. I'll try."

"Tell them you're a minor, that way they won't ask for ID. Tell them your address is something simple. On Main Street or something. Don't give them your phone number."

"Whatever." Andrew pushes off the wall and makes his way back to the desk, hands in his pockets. When he returns, he has a freshly punched-out card in his hand. "Didn't have to tell her I was a minor. She assumed I was. Told me she was glad to see me spending summer break at the library and not at home playing video games." With a flick of his wrist, Andrew drops the card on Neil's keyboard. When he enters the number on the screen, it lets him in saying, Welcome Joseph Hemmick!

"You're real good at the fake name thing."

Andrew hums. "You can handle MapQuest on your own, yes?"

"Sure. Why? Where are you going?"

With a casual lift of one shoulder, Andrew says, "Look around. Maybe I will use my new card."

With that, Neil pulls out his phone and Andrew flashes his own before stuffing it back into his pocket and slinking away. In all the tall shelves, he disappears easily and it gives Neil a knot in his stomach. He places his phone on the desk right in front of him, and begins his search.

Loading up the site only takes a couple seconds but when Neil puts in his TO and FROM, he balks. It's only fourteen hours away, Andrew's home. If they stick to their plan it'll only be a couple days before he has to drop Andrew off and say goodbye to him for good. He'll be alone again. Neil turns one way, then the other, and finds Andrew with his head turned sideways to look at the spines of books. He of course has his long blond curls pulled back with a hair tie and those ridiculous sleeves on his arms. Neil can't believe that's his first ever friend, but he is.

And Neil's not sure he's ready to cut him loose yet.