#angel casts spell of [you will work overtime] on nari

[celestialtrolls]

And snoop you do. Of course, you'd already considered a million possibilities by the time you had made it all the way to the top - to your penthouse, and opened your PC up.

You know that employee was one of the more... less involved ones. There were a few different aspects to your business, and while it all cumulated in illegal activity and distribution, that doesn't mean everyone in the company was privy to it. And, checking the footage and checking the logs, you pretty quickly narrow things down to a couple of people who just work with paperwork.

Barely consequential to you, but still. Those are your employees. Your research is thorough. There cannot be a single weak link or untrustworthy person in a position where they could cause problems.

By the end, you still don't know the full story. But... could you count on just waiting until tomorrow to speak to both of them again? Was Starli actually safe? And was it just an escort home... Or back the next day?

"Mad Dog..."

You google the name as your burner phone comes out of an inside pocket. Looks like they work in a legal capacity, or at least enough that they're public. That's both... good and bad. You're not sure if they'll recognise your company, despite it's capacity and notoriety. And call and click to go right to voicemail. You're not dealing with talking in circles right now.

"Hi good evening good morning and goodnight, please forward this message to someone I can talk to about an existing contract you've got? My name's Angel, I'm the manager of Sales & Distrohaven."

Sales & Distrohaven is one a few names of your company, one that is known publicly, but is a known to the right people as a link to the illegal distribution of weapons and contraband. And if that right person is listening, they'll know this isn't just a regular company call.

"Well, I'll be honest with you, it's not my contract, but I've got a reason to be worried about one of my employees - but fortunately for us, they've already hired one of your guys! I don't want to interfere too much and I don't know the details - don't worry, your guys are pretty tight-lipped!"

Your voice switches to something a little more serious, as you stare at the paused camera footage on your screen of the other troll following the two out of the building.

"The job that your 'N Skargo' is assigned to. I don't know how long it's for, if it's just to get your client home, but I want them keeping safe further. If it's not already covered the entire rest of the night, day and on the way back to where they met up with your employee tomorrow, then I want to cover it. If the maximum precautions aren't already being taken, I want them taken. Unlimited budget. Anyway, I hope that won't be a problem!"

You read out a number for them to call you back on, and hang up, a sombre look on your face.

No one is going to appreciate you having done that, not the company, not your employees, and not the grumpy merc. Unless there actually was going to be an incident later, but it's doubtful anyone would even know if what you did was right. Whatever. Anyway. Back to what you were trying to do earlier, you make your way to leave the building again.

"uNd eRSTOOd."

>> If you could you'd just say nothing to all that, but people like this want to hear a response. Some power trip bullshit, jump when they say jump and all that.

>> Better if you at least make some effort to secure a regular client by being a good dog and following orders.

>> However you do not like that she went right back to the elevator instead of leaving. Your likely client splutters when addressed, and calls after her as she disappears into the elevator. "Uh, I will, thanks!"

>> Once she's gone, the troll goes to sign out before making a beeline for you. They've barely whispered a "You're with, uh..." before you flick a hand to gesture them outside. And out you go with your client (probably) in tow.

>> You walk until you're well away from the building to start talking to your client- Whose name is Starli.

>> Unbeknownst to you, however, but relevant to someone who might be snooping, is that another troll has come down the elevator- Perhaps even running into Angell on the way- And signs out at the desk before asking the receptionist if they saw Starli. And then they leave, going in the direction you and Starli went.

>> Further snooping on this particular employee would reveal that they've been visiting Starli's cubicle, almost every night, when Starli and most other staff are away. (Starli had not lodged any complaints with Troll Resources, however.)

[dpinoycosmonaut]

ATENEO BLUE EAGLES: NO SUCH THING AS AN OFFSEASON

By Reuel R. Hermoso / August 11, 2018

         After the season of their mother league has ended, most teams usually go on extended breaks and long vacations.  In the professional leagues such as the Philippine Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association in North America, one gets to see many of their players post on social media their latest trips to Europe or the Americas, China, and Japan, among many myriad destinations.  Community outreach programs and basketball clinics are also high on their agenda.           For the men’s basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University, such travels, while also par for the course, are rarely done for leisure at all.  The Blue Eagles have gone to Europe, to the United States, to Japan, and, lately, to Taiwan – all to participate in pickup games, trainings, and, in the case of the trip to Taiwan, to even represent the Philippines in the 40th William Jones Cup last July.  They also joined local leagues and invitational tournaments over the course of the summer.  Some of the games they played have been exhilarating victories, others forgettable defeats.             But through it all, the team has remained focused on a single objective: to grab all possible chances to play together against any kind of opponent – some have been professional ballclubs or even national teams of their respective countries, like in the Jones Cup – under all conditions and climes, and despite the tremendous distances travelled.  And, to top it all, they have to stay focused as best they can on their studies – because they are student athletes.  All these, according to head coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin, are geared toward getting – and keeping – his wards in tip-top shape for Ateneo’s parent league, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, whose basketball season begins this coming September 8.           Not long after regaining the UAAP crown on December 3, 2017 after half a decade – their last UAAP title in 2012 was the last of a five-peat that began in 2008 – inside a jampacked Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, the Blue Eagles spent the remainder of the semester catching up on rest – and, most importantly, schoolwork.  Finishing the school year 2017-2018 with respectable grades – slotman Isaac Go even got his name on the dean’s list – the newly-minted champions returned to their home base, the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside the Ateneo’s main campus at Loyola Heights, hit the gym and weights, and got their stride in the different offseason leagues, including the Smart City Hoops, facing and beating familiar foe Far Eastern University in the title match 70-58 in a grueling, highly physical battle.  The Blue Eagles also went up against last season’s UAAP Final Four contender Adamson University in the Breakdown Basketball Invitational Tournament held on the Eagles’ home grounds.           And to make more heads turn, especially among hoops pundits following the collegiate game, the Blue Eagles finished the elimination phase of the highly anticipated Fil-Oil/Flying V Pre-Season Premier Cup with a 9-0 card, which in itself was already a feat.  Considering the hectic schedule the Blue Eagles faced, which included the Smart City Hoops and Breakdown Basketball tournaments, and balancing that at the same time with school work – the ridiculous rescheduling of the school year made sure everyone would be sweating it out in school in the sweltering summer heat – the Fil-Oil/Flying V feat became even more awesome.  San Beda (now granted university status by the Department of Education), an old rival in the Philippine version of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, gave the Eagles a good fight in the elimination round, as did the other schools, like De La Salle from whom they had wrested the UAAP title.             The Green Archers made them bleed for every point in this first meeting of theirs since the UAAP finals.  That game was particularly trying as the Blue Eagles were coming into the contest from a showdown in the Breakdown tournament the day prior.  Though they got into the groove of their game toward the end of the opening quarter and were able to carry it into the second canto, the Ateneo boys could not put the Archers away so easily, with the latter playing with a lot of pride and a never-say-die attitude that their team has always been known for.  It was largely a nip-and-tuck affair from then on, far from the blowout that many had expected the Blue Eagles to unleash upon the Green Archers.  At the end of regulation, the game was tied at 71.  It was largely on the efforts of rookie big man Angelo Kouame that the Blue Eagles were able to seal the win in overtime, despite the desperate efforts to contain him in the post in extra time by La Salle’s rookie slotman from New Zealand, Taane Samuel, and local veterans in the post Santi Santillan and Justin Baltazar.  Final score: 81-75 in favor of Ateneo.           With the disposal of La Salle, and that 9-0 card tucked in their belts, the Blue Eagles set the stage for the title match against the reigning and defending Fil-Oil/Flying V champs, who they had also met and barely edged past in their first meeting in this tournament – the Red Lions.  In the tournament opener in April, Ateneo squeaked past San Beda 69-68, thwarting a lion-roaring comeback anchored on the red-hot shooting of San Beda gunner AC Soberano, who could have tilted the game in the Red Lions’ favor were it not for the lockdown defense on the sweet-shooting guard in the dying seconds of the game as he tried to knock down two attempts for the go-ahead basket.  Ateneo’s defensive specialist Gian Mamuyac made sure Soberano would not get a good look at the ring.           In the title match on June 30, the Blue Eagles were readier for the defending Fil-Oil/Flying V and NCAA champs.  Their coaching staff had figured out that the key to winning against this vaunted squad from Mendiola was to tame its backcourt generals, Soberano and JV Mocon, and to keep them from organizing their offense and from scoring themselves, as well as to keep the ball from getting into the post, where San Beda big man Donald Tankoua was raring to get his game going, along with new recruit Eugene Toba.  Against Tankoua, Kouame was more than a handful due largely to the latter’s size and length.  Skills and athleticism considered, Tankoua would have the edge in both, plus the veteran smarts to pull one over Kouame, but in the low blocks, size really matters.  Ateneo dependable Matt Nieto patrolled the perimeter, scoring timely baskets to take the wind out of San Beda’s sails.  In the end, a new tournament champion was holding up the championship trophy, with the Blue Eagles scoring a decisive 76-62 victory over the Red Lions.           What made the Fil-Oil/Flying V series jaw-dropping was the fact that just days earlier in Greece on June 21, the Eagles beat the Olympiakos Club’s Under-18 team 95-73, and went on to beat even the National Under-21 team 84-82 on a Thirdy Ravena buzzer beater, prompting the Greeks, who have produced such NBA notables as Kurt Rambis of the Los Angeles Lakers, Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings, and now Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, to lavish praise on the reigning champs and, in particular, their King Eagle Thirdy.  So with some fatigue – their young bodies may be better able to cope with it but it’s still there regardless – and jetlag coming all the way from Europe, the act of ending the Fil-Oil/Flying V tournament with a 12-0 card is an awesome feat in itself.           Of course, there was that one week spell when they went to Greece, but again, that was all business, or most of it was anyway.  Maybe a little sightseeing at the Acropolis in Athens, but that was about it.  In a few hours, they were back home to face San Beda.  With practically no sleep and jetlag all over them, everyone would’ve understood if the Blue Eagles decided to have an off day, hand the game – and the tournament back-to-back – to San Beda, and no one would really have minded.  It was a preseason stint, after all.  No big deal if you let it go.             Not with coach Tab though.  Kouame related that their venerable mentor, who was in the US for a short visit with family (chief assistant Sandy Arespacochaga coached the Eagles in the championship game against the Bedans), texted each one of them: “The mind will tell the body what to do.”  And those tough young minds did tell those tough, young, but very tired bodies that they could do this; they could win this title.  Against FEU in the semifinal round, the Blue Eagles’ shots rarely found the bottom of the net. But they decided they would frustrate the Tamaraws’ powerful offense with some critical stops.  The old basketball adage that “you can have an off day on offense, but defense never takes a break” is firmly ingrained in Ateneo basketball even as far back as the Joe Lipa years and was solidly entrenched by Norman Black during the team’s fabulous five-peat era that it can’t be cast aside just that easily.  It was this defensive mindset that carried them all the way to the top of the Fil-Oil/Flying V with nary a loss, winning a title in the tournament that Ateneo last held during the five-peat period in 2011.           What do all these hectic preseason activities mean for the Blue Eagles?  More than the experience of winning against the best of Philippine collegiate hoops, more than winning against the vastly talented Hellas, descendants of Achilles and Hercules, the boys from Loyola Heights sought to gain a treasure trove of insights and lessons in the way the game is really played on the international scene. Coach Baldwin, having taught a number of national teams, including those of Lebanon and New Zealand, wants to steer Ateneo basketball toward a more international, less America-centric type of game.           “We’re too obsessed with the American (style of) game,” the American mentor noted about Filipinos. The international style of basketball, which originated in Europe, relies heavily on team play, focuses less on star players, and emphasizes a lot of motion offense with or without the ball.  It also puts a heavy premium on team defense, stops, and gang rebounding on both ends of the floor.           It is in this direction that coach Baldwin wants to pilot the Blue Eagles as they begin their title defense next month when the UAAP basketball season begins with a couple of round-robin eliminations, a series of playoffs in the Final Four format, and a best-of-three title series to cap the season sometime in December.  For the Blue Eagles, no merrier Christmas can be had than hoisting up their second championship trophy in as many seasons.  Hopefully for them, the paradigm shift brought by coach Tab will see to that. (Photo Credit: Facebook/ateneobasketball)