#coffee machine slayer

[coffeemachineswarehouse]

Buy Slayer Coffee Machine at Affordable Price in USA

The Slayer coffee machine, renowned for its cutting-edge technology and exquisite craftsmanship, is a coffee aficionado's dream come true. Priced at a competitive level, this machine seamlessly combines artistry and innovation. Its sleek design features a striking stainless steel body with modern accents, blending effortlessly into any cafe or home setting. The Slayer's advanced pressure profiling system empowers baristas to extract diverse flavor profiles from the finest coffee beans, creating a personalized and rich coffee experience. With intuitive controls and precise temperature management, each cup is a masterpiece. Elevate your coffee game with the Slayer coffee machine and savor the perfect balance of form and function in every sip.

[touch-txt]

เปิดโลกการชงกาแฟกับ Slayer คำตอบของคำถามที่ว่า เครื่องชงกาแฟยี่ห้อไหนดี

การเลือกเครื่องชงกาแฟที่เหมาะสมไม่เพียงแค่ช่วยให้ได้รสชาติที่ดีที่สุด แต่ยังสะท้อนความพิถีพิถันในทุกแก้วกาแฟ หากคุณกำลังค้นหา เครื่องชงกาแฟยี่ห้อไหนดี ที่ตอบโจทย์ทั้งการใช้งานในบ้านและร้านกาแฟ เครื่องชงกาแฟ Slayer คือตัวเลือกที่ไม่ควรมองข้าม ด้วยการผสมผสานเทคโนโลยีล้ำสมัย ดีไซน์ที่โดดเด่น และคุณภาพระดับพรีเมียม

เครื่องชงกาแฟ ยี่ห้อ Slayer กับ 5 เหตุผลที่คุณควรเลือกแบรนด์นี้เป็นคู่หูของคุณ

Slayer เป็นแบรนด์ที่สร้างชื่อเสียงในวงการกาแฟระดับโลก ด้วยเครื่องชงที่ผสานระหว่างเทคโนโลยีล้ำสมัยและความพิถีพิถันในงานออกแบบ Slayer ถูกออกแบบมาเพื่อตอบสนองความต้องการของคนรักกาแฟ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นมือใหม่หรือบาริสตามืออาชีพ

เหตุผลที่ Slayer เหมาะกับคุณ

1 ระบบการควบคุมการสกัดกาแฟที่แม่นยำ

Slayer โดดเด่นในเรื่องการควบคุมการสกัดกาแฟอย่างละเอียด ด้วยเทคโนโลยีที่ช่วยให้ผู้ใช้ปรับแรงดันน้ำและระยะเวลาการสกัดได้อย่างอิสระ นี่คือจุดสำคัญที่ทำให้บาริสต้าสามารถสร้างกาแฟที่มีรสชาติเฉพาะตัวและสมดุลในทุกแก้ว ไม่ว่าคุณจะต้องการกาแฟช็อตเข้มข้นหรือกาแฟรสละมุน Slayer จะช่วยดึงเอกลักษณ์ของเมล็ดกาแฟออกมาได้อย่างสมบูรณ์แบบ

2 ดีไซน์ที่สะท้อนตัวตน

นอกจากประสิทธิภาพที่ยอดเยี่ยม Slayer ยังมีดีไซน์ที่หรูหราและล้ำสมัย ตัวเครื่องผลิตจากวัสดุคุณภาพสูง และผ่านการประกอบอย่างพิถีพิถัน นอกจากนี้ ระบบ Slayer Customization ยังเปิดโอกาสให้คุณปรับแต่งเครื่องชงกาแฟได้ตามสไตล์ของคุณเอง ไม่ว่าจะเลือกสี พื้นผิววัสดุ หรืออุปกรณ์เสริม ทำให้ Slayer ไม่ใช่แค่เครื่องชงกาแฟ แต่ยังเป็นของตกแต่งที่เพิ่มเสน่ห์ให้พื้นที่ของคุณ

3 วัสดุคุณภาพสูงที่ใช้งานได้ยาวนาน

Slayer ถูกสร้างขึ้นจากวัสดุคุณภาพ���ยี่ยม เช่น สแตนเลสเกรดสูงและไม้แท้ ซึ่งให้ความ���ข็งแรงและความหรูหรา ตัวเครื่องถูกออกแบบให้รองรับการใช้งานหนัก เหมาะสำหรับร้านกาแฟที่ต้องการความทนทานและคุ้มค่า ขณะเดียวกันยังง่ายต่อการดูแลรักษา

4 ใช้งานง่ายสำหรับทุกคน

ไม่ว่าคุณจะเป็นบาริสตามืออาชีพหรือผู้ใช้ทั่วไป Slayer ถูกออกแบบให้ใช้งานง่าย ตั้งแต่การตั้งค่า การชงกาแฟ ไปจนถึงการทำความสะอาด ด้วยระบบทำความสะอาดที่รวดเร็วและสะดวก ทำให้คุณสามารถดูแลเครื่องได้อย่างง่ายดาย

5 สร้างสรรค์รสชาติกาแฟในแบบของคุณ

ด้วยฟังก์ชันปรับการไหลของน้ำและแรงดัน Slayer ช่วยดึงรสชาติที่ซับซ้อนของเมล็ดกาแฟออกมาได้เต็มที่ รสชาติที่กลมกล่อมและความหอมที่โดดเด่นทำให้ Slayer เป็นตัวเลือกยอดนิยมสำหรับผู้ที่หลงใหลในกาแฟคุณภาพสูง

รุ่นยอดนิยมของ Slayer ที่คุณต้องเป็นเจ้าของ

1 Slayer Espresso

เหมาะสำหรับผู้ที่ต้องการการควบคุมการสกัดอย่างละเอียด Slayer Espresso มาพร้อมระบบ Multi Boiler ที่ช่วยควบคุมอุณหภูมิอย่างแม่นยำ และฟีเจอร์ Needle Valve ที่ช่วยให้การปรับการไหลของน้ำมีความยืดหยุ่น เหมาะสำหรับบาริสต้าที่ต้องการดึงศักยภาพของเมล็ดกาแฟออกมาอย่างเต็มที่

2 Slayer Steam EP

รุ่นนี้ตอบโจทย์ร้านกาแฟที่เน้นความรวดเร็วและความสะดวก Slayer Steam EP มีระบบการตั้งค่าหัวชงแบบ Multi Profile และก้านสตีมระบบโซลินอยด์ไฟฟ้า ช่วยให้การสตีมนมง่ายและได้ฟองนมเนียนละเอียด เหมาะสำหรับร้านที่ต้องการชงกาแฟคุณภาพสูงในปริมาณมาก

3 Slayer Steam LP

สำหรับร้านกาแฟที่ต้องการความแม่นยำและความยืดหยุ่นสูงสุด Slayer Steam LP มาพร้อมหัว Group ที่ปรับอุณหภูมิได้อย่างอิสระ และระบบบันทึกโปรไฟล์การชงอัตโนมัติ เหมาะสำหรับการสร้างเอกลักษณ์เฉพาะตัวของกาแฟแต่ละแก้ว

เลือกซื้อ Slayer ได้ที่ไหน

ถ้าคุณกำลังมองหา เครื่องชงกาแฟ Slayer ที่มีคุณภาพและบริการครบครัน ขอแนะนำ Peaberry Thai ร้านจำหน่ายเครื่องชงกาแฟชั้นนำ ที่พร้อมให้คำปรึกษาและการรับประกันสินค้า คุณสามารถมั่นใจได้ในทุกการซื้อและบริการหลังการขาย

สรุป

การเลือกเครื่องชงกาแฟที่เหมาะสมคือก้าวแรกสู่การเป็นคนรักกาแฟตัวจริง และ Slayer คือคำตอบสำหรับคำถามที่ว่า เครื่องชงกาแฟ ยี่ห้อไหนดี ด้วยดีไซน์หรู คุณภาพสูง และฟังก์ชันที่ช่วยให้คุณควบคุมทุกขั้น��อนการชง เลือก Slayer กับ Peaberry Thai แล้วเริ่มต้นประสบการณ์กาแฟที่เหนือระดับไปด้วยกัน!

[twisted-dork]

Demon Slayer (Yuu)niverse Incorrect Quotes #37 Who Broke It

*The coffee machine was broken in the Ramshackle and SwapGyutaro!Yuu called a meeting to find out who did it*

SwapGyutaro!Yuu: So…Who broke it?

*The Yuu’s looked at each other*

SwapGyutaro!Yuu: I’m not mad…(much) I just want to know.

Tanjiro!Yuu: I did. I broke—

SwapGyutaro!Yuu: No, no, no you didn’t

SwapGyutaro!Yuu: Inosuke!Yuu?

Inosuke!Yuu: Don’t look at me. *points finger* Look at Zenitsu!Yuu

Zenitsu!Yuu: What? I didn’t break it.

Inosuke!Yuu: Huh. That’s weird. How’d you even know it was broken?

Zenitsu!Yuu: Because it’s sitting right in front of us—and it’s broken *they exclaimed with their arms*

Inosuke!Yuu: Suspicious 🤔

Zenitsu!Yuu: No, it’s not 😐

Muichiro!Yuu: If it matters-probably not. But SwapDaki!Yuu was the last one to use it.

SwapDaki!Yuu: Liar! I don’t even drink that sh*t!

Muichiro!Yuu: Oh really? Then what were you doing by the coffee cart earlier?

SwapDaki!Yuu: I use the wooden stirrers to push back my cuticles. Everyone knows that, Airhead!

Tanjiro!Yuu: Okay. Okay. Let’s not fight, I broke it. Let me pay for it SwapGyutaro!Yuu.

SwapGyutaro!Yuu: No! Who broke it?!

*Zenitsu!Yuu getting annoyed by this and wants this to end*

Zenitsu!Yuu: SwapGyutaro!Yuu…Genya!Yuu’s been awfully quiet.

Genya!Yuu: REALLY.

Zenitsu!Yuu: Uh, yeah, really.

*The Yuu’s start arguing with each other*

*In the teachers lounge*

SwapGyutaro!Yuu: I broke it

Kanae!Yuu: Hm?

Giyuu!Yuu:….

SwapGyutaro!Yuu: It burned my hand so I punched it.

*SwapGyutaro!Yuu takes a sip of the lounge coffee*

SwapGyutaro!Yuu: I predict ten minutes from now, they’ll be at each others’ throats with war paint on their faces and Inosuke!Yuu’s pig head on a stick.

Giyuu!Yuu: good…it was getting a little chummy around here

*Kanae!Yuu sighs as they go prepare the nurse’s office for the injuries to come*

[incorrecter-quotes]

Demon Slayer incorrect quotes pt. 1

Shinobu: According to the footage here, you shook the vending machine and when the shake alarm went off, you punched the glass and broke it.

Y/N: ...I was hungry.

_________________________________________

Mitsuri, trying their first ever cup of coffee: I am ENERGY!

Obanai, an avid coffee drinker, on their twelfth cup of the day: Someone slap me awake or I am literally going to fall into a coma in ten seconds.

_________________________________________

Sanemi: Tomioka-

Tomioka: *sighs* Kyojuro used to call me Tomioka...

Sanemi:...Because that's your fucking name.

_________________________________________

Obanai: I have no respect for Santa. Don't sneak in through the chimney and undermine my authority by bringing me presents. Walk in through the front door and fight me like a man.

_________________________________________

Tomioka: Hoodie pockets are so great. I can fit like three sandwiches and a grenade in there and my hands are still warm.

_________________________________________

Thank you for reading! Have a wonderful day/night, stay hydrated <33

[fandomtrumpshate]

Unlisted Fandom Challenge - 2024

In our earlier Numbers post we shared the top ten spots for the unlisted fandoms. Below is the full list of the remaining write-in fandoms - yes, all 105 of them.

For the first twenty, a single additional signup will move them up to join the tie for third place. If ANY of them should manage four additional signups, they'll snag the lead.

Know folks who work in these fandoms? Share our signup post and encourage them to participate —we'd love to have them join us raising funds for great causes via the creation of awesome fanworks. As ever, we welcome even more new fandom write-ins, too. (But please do not use the ' | ' character in the fandom name - or elsewhere in your signup form!)

Putting the list under a cut for length -

2 Alan Wake/Remedyverse 2 Ancient Greece Religion and Lore 2 Cosmere 2 Detective Conan 2 Dune 2 Formula 1 RPF 2 Glee 2 Guardian/Zhen Hun 2 HBO War 2 Imperial Radch Series 2 Mob Psycho 100 2 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury 2 Riverdale 2 Shades of Magic 2 Ted Lasso 2 The Bear (TV) 2 The Stormlight Archive 2 Venture Bros 2 Wolf Pack 2 Persona 5 1 A Plague Tale (Videogame Series) 1 American Gods 1 Among Us 1 BBC Ghosts 1 Bendy (and The Ink Machine/Dark Revival) 1 horror 1 Blue Beetle 1 Buffy: The Vampire Slayer 1 Buzzfeed Unsolved/Watcher Entertainment RPF 1 Call of Duty 1 Cats the musical 1 Cherry Magic 1 Chronicles of Narnia 1 Cobra Kai 1 Coffee Talk (Video Game) 1 Criminal Minds 1 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 1 Death Note 1 Dice Punks (podcast) 1 Digimon 1 Donten ni Warau / Laughing Under the Clouds 1 Dungeons and Daddies (podcast) 1 Endeavour/Morseverse/Inspector Morse (ITV/Dexter) 1 Fallout Video Game (Bethesda) 1 Falsettos 1 Fargo FX 1 Farscape 1 Fire Emblem (4-10, 13, 14, 16) 1 Firefly 1 Five Nights at Freddy's 1 Grantchester 1 Greek Mythology 1 Grey's Anatomy 1 Gundam 1 Hatchetfield 1 Hawaii 5.0 1 Honkai Star Rail 1 Horizon Zero Dawn 1 IT (Movies - Muschietti) 1 Jeff Satur - music videos 1 Law and Order 1 Legend of the Galactic Heroes 1 Live Free or Die Hard (Die Hard 4) 1 London Spy 1 Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic 1 Magnificent Seven 1 Mrs. Davis 1 My Little Pony 1 Narcos (TV) 1 NU: Carnival 1 Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint 1 Omori 1 Orphan Black 1 Pacific Rim 1 Professional Wrestling - New Japan Pro Wrestling 1 Professional Wrestling: All Elite Wrestling 1 Re-Animator 1 Simon Snow Series 1 Slam Dunk 1 Slow Horses (TV Show) 1 South Park 1 Starry Musical 1 Super Sentai 1 Sweeney Todd 1 Team Starkid 1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension 1 The Adventures of Tintin 1 The Artful Dodger 1 The Empyrean Series - Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing) 1 The Good Place 1 The Last Kingdom 1 The Lunar Chronicles 1 The Mechanisms 1 The Mummy (1999 franchise) 1 The Pairing (Casey McQuiston) 1 The Radiant Emperor Series (She Who Became The Sun & He Who Drowned The World) 1 The Saint of Steel 1 Three of Hearts 1 Tin Can Bros 1 Tower of God 1 Undertale 1 Voltron: Legendary Defender 1 Wayfarers (Becky Chambers) 1 Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters

[satoshi-mochida]

Maid Cafe on Electric Street launches this summer

From Gematsu

Maid Cafe on Electric Street will launch for PC via Steam this summer, publisher PLAYISM and developer Adventurer’s Tavern announced.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

Maid Cafe on Electric Street is a leisurely maid cafe adventure set in the otaku haven of Nipponbashi, Osaka. The protagonist of our story quits his job at an extremely toxic workplace and finds himself at a run-down maid cafe tucked away in a quiet part of Nipponbashi. There, he meets the maid Shiro. One thing leads to another, and he eventually gets appointed as the temporary cafe manager and put in charge of the management of the maid cafe. As the new manager, his first task is to scout cute girls to work at the cafe. Time to explore Nipponbashi and all the otaku stuff it has to offer!

Get to know the four unique main girls: Shiro, Miyu, Favna, and Honoka, all voiced.

Immerse yourself in lighthearted stories about everyday life with the cute maids.

Enjoy the modern and gorgeous pixel art graphics depicting even the finest details, including the meat buns next to the convenience store cashier and the figures on the shelves of an anime shop.

Go on fun dates at Nipponbashi, from anime shops to arcades to the cinema!

The Four Main Girls of Fuwa Fuwa

Shiro – “Um, please be the new manager of the cafe!” A maid who loves Fuwa Fuwa Cafe. A huge otaku for anime and video games, she talks really fast when she’s gushing about the things she loves, and often splurges on merch without thinking whenever she visits an anime shop. A little clumsy, but works hard every day to become the cute maid she’s always wanted to be.

Miyu – “Hey Mr. Manager, thanks a bunch for hanging out with me today~☆” A game otaku and gyaru with a big appetite. Loves both eating and cooking, and apparently really enjoys serving her cooking to customers at Fuwa Fuwa Cafe. Is actually Shiro’s friend on the online game Magic Angel, so they knew each other before actually meeting in real life.

Favna – “I am the Slayer of the False God, the Queen of the Kingdom of Darkness, the All-Seeing Oracle, the Guardian of the Dream of All Things—“ A mysterious girl dressed in gothic Lolita fashion. Speaks in riddles and demands the protagonist become her familiar. She sometimes accidentally drops the edgy act when she’s taken by surprise though, so maybe she’s just got a serious case of chuunibyou…?

Honoka – “Ya want a thrivin’ business? That there sounds like a job for our shrine!” A girl with a Kansaiben dialect who works as a shrine maiden at her family shrine. Practically in charge of the shrine, she is reliable and very good at handling money, and has a strong sense of responsibility to boot. On top of that, she’s also the only glasses girl at Fuwa Fuwa Cafe!

Support Your Maid Cafe Employees as the Manager

As the cafe manager, it’s your job to allocate work to your maids. Make sure to give the right girl the right job! For example, Shiro is always enthusiastic to serve customers, and Miyu is great in the kitchen. Of course, you can’t just sit there while they work. During opening hours, you’ll also have to make coffee and help out on the floor, so it’s not as easy as it sounds!

The Stunning Sights of Nipponbashi

In order to recreate the atmosphere of the real Nipponbashi, the game features several real stores you can find there, such as Surugaya, Sofmap, Dragon Star, Super Potato, and Karaoke Rainbow, among many others. Don’t forget to pay them a visit when you’re shopping or taking one of your maids on a date!

Collectable Capsule Toys

If you’ve been to the real Nipponbashi, you’ll know that there are capsule toy machines all over the area. In this game, you can also try your hand at collecting your favorite capsule toy series and experience that unique gacha thrill of not knowing what you’re getting. As you collect more toys, you can even bring them up in conversations with the girls. Keep cranking those machines until you’ve collected them all!

Watch a new trailer below.

Indie Live Expo 2024 Trailer

English

Japanese

[dreamzghostz]

Hi! This is my first post!

So, I just created my account today, and I want to introduce myself :)

• I like to make AUs

• I like to draw (Might post my art here sometimes)

• I love Danganronpa a lot

• Please refer to me as Misty, thanks <3

My favorite games/shows are:

• Danganronpa

• Demon Slayer

• Genshin Impact

• Cuphead

• Bendy and the Ink Machine

• Coffee Talk

• OMORI

• Doki Doki Literature Club

DO NOT INTERACT IF:

• Proshipper

• Anti-semetic

• Homophobic or Transphobic

• Racist

I'll definitely edit this soon, but this is a place to chill and have fun :)

[2345willlbyers]

https://coffeemachinewarehouse.com.au/product-category/slayer/

At Coffee Machine Warehouse, we have a Slayer Coffee Machine for Sale at an affordable price. We also offer all services related to the machines. Contact us today to book an appointment on +61 414 909 911.

[coffeemachineswarehouse]

Coffee Machine for Shop in USA

Introducing the ultimate coffee machine shop in the USA. Our cutting-edge coffee machine is a game-changer in the world of coffee brewing. With its sleek and modern design, it seamlessly blends into any shop aesthetic while delivering an exceptional coffee experience. Crafted with state-of-the-art technology, it offers a wide range of customizable options, allowing you to create the perfect cup of coffee for your customers. From espresso to cappuccinos and lattes, this machine delivers rich flavors and robust aromas that will leave your patrons craving more. Its user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make it effortless to operate, ensuring a seamless workflow in your shop. Elevate your coffee offerings and satisfy your customers' cravings with our premium coffee machine, the pinnacle of innovation in the USA coffee industry.

[bigmouthlass]

Title:  Dangerous Librarians

Author:  BJ

Fandom:  Welcome to Night Vale, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Rating:  Gen

Pairing:  Carlos/Cecil Palmer

Synopsis: Not all the dangerous librarians are eldrich abominations with tentacles and acid blood.

Tags:  Cecil Palmer, Carlos the Scientist, Tamika Flynn, WTNV Intern, Surprise Character, Episode Fic

AN:  All recognizable intellectual properties are owned by their respective creators and holders of any copyrights or trademarks. This is a not-for-profit work of fan art and protected by Fair Use.

---

Picture a radio station. Simple one-story cinderblock building, the letters NVCR on the sign out front. There's a reception area, a breakroom, some offices, a communal area where the rank-and-file have their cubicles. There're restrooms, a maintenance closet, discreet hiding places for Sheriff's Secret Police personnel, a nondenominational bloodstone circle, and a dark crypt where the management hold their unholy rites. There's a station pet, a station spider, a small colony of station ants, and an exceptionally lazy station poltergeist. There might also be a faceless old woman, but as a radio station is a workplace and not a home the conventions are a little vague on whether or not she really lives there or just visits.

And of course there's the broadcast center. Picture a small room, walls padded with sound-dampening foam. Underneath the window between the producer's booth and the broadcast booth sits a table which holds the sound board. The rest of the booth's dimensions and features suit whatever function they're needed for at the time -- flexibility is important in public broadcasting. And because this is a working area there's a bit of clutter. Torn off sheets from the teletype machine, neatly printed news memos, a blank legal pad with a pencil for automatic writing (the radio station has a special exemption from the ban on writing instruments).

And finally, picture a man. He's not really tall, not really short. He's not thin, but he's not fat either. Not ugly, but not especially pretty. The most remarkable thing about him is his fuzzy scarf; it purrs when you pet it. At the moment he's fussing with his cell phone and sipping coffee. When the time is right he locks his phone, slips a pair of headphones over his ears, pulls a microphone close. In the producer's booth an intern counts down on fingers, until--

"There are horrors and monsters that stalk us all, under the cover of night. Yet there are good things hiding in the dark as well, mysterious, beautiful and precious.

"Welcome to Night Vale.

"It seems we have a new person in town today, listeners! Old Woman Josie was seen this morning talking to a man driving a car with rental stickers in the windows, as the angels watered her flowers and tended the herb garden. Another angel stood with Josie, long-fingered hand moving gracefully through the morning air as she talked with the strange man.

"Just a reminder, listeners, that angels are not real and can neither garden nor give directions. They tend to forget that Bankers Road turns into a one-way street as it passes through Old Town Night Vale.

"We will keep you up to date on this visitor's movements, listeners, but for now, let's take a look at the Community Calendar:

"Sunday has been designated a day of total darkness by the City Council. Time to catch up on your sleep!

"Monday night the Night Vale Symphony Orchestra will be holding a charity concert in Radon Canyon. The program features guest conductor and soloist Lee Marvin and includes selections from the operas 'I Want To Be Your Canary,' and 'The Tragedy of Maria and Draco,' as well as a moan-along of patriotic open vowel sounds. The event is all-ages and family friendly. Tickets are available now at the still-smoking ruin of the Night Vale Opera House, with proceeds going to benefit the Night Vale Antique Society.

"Tuesday is Perfect Your Hangover Day at the Desert Flower Bowling Alley and Arcade Fun Complex. Over 21 only, please.

"On Wednesday the Night Vale Office of Assessment and Taxation will send auditors to all private homes within the Night Vale city limits, both to reassess the property's value and to check for code violations. The full Night Vale Building Code is available at City Hall in The Hidden Room Nobody Knows About near The Secret Room Nobody Likes To Talk About. The Office of Assessment and Taxation reminds all Night Vale homeowners that code violations are grounds for relocation to the abandoned mine shaft.

"Thursday has gotten greedy, and is hogging the rest of the week.

"This has been . . . the Community Calendar.

"I've just been informed, listeners, that the latest interloper has parked his car in front of the Night Vale Public Library. He's gotten out of the car, a tall middle-aged man wearing a long gray coat. Oh my-- he's walking up the steps, armed with nothing but a canvas messenger bag. Listeners, is this man in crisis? Is he perhaps attempting to commit suicide via librarian? No sir, please! Whatever horrible crimes you may have committed in your life, no one deserves such an unspeakable fate.

"Oh thank goodness. The Sheriff Secret Police, of course, have not engaged our visitor in any way -- per city ordinance they are not permitted to interfere in the daily lives of citizenry. However, local child hero and bibliophile Tamika Flynn has intercepted the stranger and appears to be talking him away from the library's front door. Tamika's grown since she was last seen in town; she must be at least two inches taller.

"Well, all children must grow up eventually.

"And now, a word from our sponsors:

"It has been so long, and you have been so far away. Your mind has perfectly preserved this, the place where you remember being happy -- although you doubt that you really were. Instead of the shining faces and etherial forms of your dear friends, everywhere you see functionally similar bands of muscle over skeletons, as though these people were the same as the nonentities that populate your current life. You hopes for the future were built on a delusion, and the only sound you hear is the smash as your last dream shatters at your feet.

"Playstation -- Greatness Awaits.

"This is incredible! Intern Jerry has contacted the station, and it seems Tamika was not successful in persuading the interloper to abandon his quest for dangerous books and their forbidden knowledge. Instead, he went to his rental car, opened the trunk, and pulled out a broadsword, an old but clearly well-cared for crossbow, and several wooden stakes. That's-- that's ridiculous! Librarians are not vampires! Vampires have avoided Night Vale since the Founders gave the sun permission to rise off-schedule. An unpredictable day-night cycle is not good news for creatures that can't tolerate sunlight, after all.

"He instructed Tamika to wait outside and gave her a list of numbers to call should he not make it out alive; our brave Miss Flynn refused. She was not willing to let anyone, even an untrustworthy and clearly insane stranger, face the librarians alone. Her courage continues to inspire us all.

"Well . . . most of us all. Intern Jerry flatly refused to move from his spot on the sidewalk. A nice young man, but I don't know if he has the nerve for field work.

"We will keep you abreast of the situation as it continues to develop. But now, it's time for another edition of my popular life advice corner, Hey There Cecil.

"'Hey there Cecil. My husband and I have twin girls in the first grade. Until this year, we dressed them alike because it made laundry so much easier and cut down on fights. We just got a letter from Night Vale Public Schools that we need to start dressing them differently because of the recent rash of clone-based pranks. We feel this is unreasonable -- our household has been certified Stable And Loving by the City Council's Parenting Review Board. Do you think we should talk to the administration?' Signed, Annoyed in Arbordale.

"Hey there, Annoyed. While I agree that it's a little unfair to expect families to change their routines based on others' misbehavior, I wonder if this might be the perfect opportunity to start guiding your twins into building their own identities. After all, they're not babies anymore! Embrace the chance to bond with your girls as individual people and not two halves of a single child unit. Take them shopping for their own clothes, and buy machine washable so they can help out by doing some of their own laundry. As for the administration, pick your battles wisely. Your girls might be a little young to handle an Official Ostracision.

"'Hey there Cecil. I love it when you mention the station cat Khoshekh. I have a cat of my own that I love very much,' aw, she enclosed a picture. 'I've been dating a guy I met at work, and we're getting serious enough that I want to start inviting him over. But he's allergic to cats. Since you mentioned having this issue when Khoshekh stayed over with you and your boyfriend, I was hoping you would have some advice.' Signed, A Girl And Her Asthmatic.

"Hey there, Girl. First of all, you picture is adorable! I love the way you let your cat dig his hook fangs into your fingers, it really lets him show them off. It's true, Khoshekh is a stress-shedder and it seemed all our things were covered in loose fur in no time. Regular over-the-counter antihistamines seemed to work all right, as long as Carlos was careful not to rub his eyes. It might also help to have your place professionally cleaned every few months; pet hair and dander build up over time in the homes of even the most meticulous housekeepers. As to how to best acclimate your new boyfriend and your cat to each other, allow them to find their own rapport. It can take pets a while to warm up to new people. I'm sure I don't need to remind you, but for other cat loving listeners, make sure your antivenoms are up-to-date before you entertain. It's both good sense, and good manners.

"'Hey there Cecil. I was just wondering, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR REMAINS DISPLAYED YOU PUNY STRIP OF LONG PIG JERKY?!?!?' Signed, H. McDaniles, (Green Head)

"Ugh. Really? Really, Green Head?

"Listeners, I apologize. This is a personal matter and has no place on the public airwaves.

"I just received a text from Carlos . . . dearest Carlos . . . and he asked me to remind everybody with home cloning units to please restrict your production to muscle tissue and individual organs. Whole human clones are not sentient, they're impossible to train, and they're a public nuisance. And pranks involving them are just . . . tacky. That does it for this edition of Hey There, Cecil. Have a question? Whisper it into the vase of fake flowers on the kitchen table, and a Community Radio transcriptionist will pass it on to me.

"What? Oh, um, listeners? The City Council and Sheriff's Secret Police are advising all residents to take cover in their librarian shelters immediately. The City Council could not be reached for direct comment, and their out-of-office voicemail confirms, in a very rushed and breathless tone, that from now on their offices will close for lunch and never open again.

"Oh. Listeners, the light from the sun has gone dim. Thick columns of black smoke have started pouring from the chimneys of the Public Library. Witnesses report a strange, subaudible tremble buzzing up through their legs and into their bodies. They can hear voices, chanting words in a language unfit for human tongues. People have started to fall to the ground, but it is not in Glow Cloud inspired awestruck genuflection; it is the trembling of children seeing their greatest and most horrifying fears. Can it be, listeners? Could the librarians finally have tired of keeping their vigil over the dangerous dangerous books? Are we to see the ghastly thing that spawned them mainfest as a living presence, among us, here to feed on us, our families, our beloved little town? I do not know. I know that I am safe, here, in my booth but I don't know if you all are safe, if you heeded the instructions of the wise and benevolent City Council and got out of sight. Even the Glow Cloud has sunk to the earth and lays out as a gleaming carpet of mist over Memorial Square, emitting a faint squealing moan.

"Dear listeners, I know how routine can be a comfort when life overwhelms. So, holding my love for all of you close to your hearts, I give you . . . the weather."

The man's shaking hand turns a switch. Faintly, the day's weather report -- Electronaut, by VNV Nation -- plays. Many things happen elsewhere, things the man knows about because that's who he is and what he does. So when the weather ends and he turns the switch back, his hands are shaking for a different reason.

"Sound the all-clear! Everybody is back up on their feet-- except for the Glow Cloud of course -- all hail! -- it's floating at its preferred altitude. While the black clouds over the library have yet to fully disperse, the chimneys have gone back to their normal inky plumes. Absent a few bruises and ruptured eardrums, no casulaties have been reported.

"Just a few minutes ago, as the shaking stopped, our new visitor emerged from the library, holding the door for Tamika as she exited as well. They were both smudged with soot and ichor, his sword and her machete oozing with strange librarian blood. The visitor offered Tamika his arm and together they strolled down the front steps. Apparently their sortie was a success; Tamika carried the visitor's bulging messenger back with the strap across her chest. The sheer weight of all those pages and pages, and-- oh blackest night, the visitor is unloading those books into the back of his rental car, and they're all stamped with the bloody sigils of the Reference section! I shudder to think of what unholy monster these two must have defeated in order to check them out.

"At the visitor's urging, Tamika got into the car. They shared a tired smile and bumped fists through the car's open window. Then the visitor looked up, noting the crowd surrounding him for the first time. In an elegant British accent, he asked, 'Would one of you please be so good as to direct me to the nearest pub?' I hope I got that right; sarcasm is a thing I struggle with sometimes.

"Intern Jerry, being the helpful sort, told him how to get to Big Rico's. And that's probably where he is now! Not an interloper, not one of us, but something in between . . . I wonder if Carlos would mind if we had our mandated slice tonight instead of our usual night. Something tells me this new person has a story.

"Stay tuned next for ten hours of the faint scream air makes when it collapses into a sudden void. And goodnight, Night Vale.

"Good night." --- Welcome to Night Vale is the property of Commonplace Books, and the visitor is the property of Mutant Enemy. Playstation -- console and brand -- is owned by Sony. Today's weather is "Electronaut" by VNV Nation, off of the album Futureperfect. Did you enjoy this fanfic? Did you hate it beyond all measure? Did you read it in Cecil's voice? Feedback is always welcome via the Comments section, or e-mail me at darali_starscream@yahoo.com

Today's proverb -- wisdom is purchased with innocence. Make sure you get good value for yours.

---

[turarenovation]

Choosing the best commercial espresso machines

Choosing the best commercial espresso machine depends on several factors including the scale of your business, budget, and specific requirements. Here are some top-rated options based on different categories: For more at best commercial espresso machines.

High-Volume Use

La Marzocco Linea PB:

Features: Dual boiler, PID temperature control, built-in scales, and advanced electronics.

Pros: Reliable, consistent performance, and customizable options.

Cons: Expensive, large footprint.

Nuova Simonelli Aurelia II:

Features: T3 technology for temperature stability, soft-infusion system, and ergonomic design.

Pros: Easy to use, excellent steam power, and durable.

Cons: Pricey, complex for beginners.

Medium-Volume Use

Rancilio Classe 7:

Features: Digital controls, LED lighting, and a built-in volumetric pump.

Pros: Robust build, good for medium-sized cafes, and affordable.

Cons: Limited customization options.

Victoria Arduino White Eagle:

Features: T3 technology, volumetric dosing, and a sleek design.

Pros: Stylish, precise, and efficient.

Cons: Higher price point.

Small-Volume Use

Rocket Espresso Boxer:

Features: Heat exchange boiler, E61 group head, and compact design.

Pros: Affordable, easy to maintain, and reliable.

Cons: Limited to small-scale operations.

La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi II:

Features: Dual boiler, programmable dosing, and a temperature control system.

Pros: User-friendly, compact, and consistent.

Cons: Less suitable for high-volume needs.

Specialty and Advanced Features

Slayer Espresso:

Features: Pre-brew timer, needle valve control, and stylish design.

Pros: Exceptional control over extraction, unique design.

Cons: Expensive, steep learning curve.

Synesso MVP Hydra:

Features: Pressure profiling, individual brew boilers, and customizable settings.

Pros: Unmatched precision, high-quality build.

Cons: Very expensive, requires training.

Budget-Friendly

Gaggia Classic Pro: For more at best commercial espresso machines

Features: Single boiler, professional steam wand, and durable components.

Pros: Affordable, compact, and easy to use.

Cons: Limited capacity, basic features.

Breville Barista Pro:

Features: Built-in grinder, thermojet heating system, and intuitive interface.

Pros: All-in-one machine, affordable, great for beginners.

Cons: Not suitable for high-volume commercial use.

Key Considerations

Volume: How many espressos you need to serve per hour.

Space: The amount of space you have available.

Budget: Initial investment and maintenance costs.

Features: Specific features like dual boilers, PID control, and steam power.

Training: Skill level of your baristas and ease of use.

When selecting a commercial espresso machine, it's crucial to balance your needs with your budget. High-end machines offer better control and consistency but come with higher costs and may require more training. On the other hand, budget-friendly options are more accessible but may lack advanced features. Consider consulting with a coffee equipment supplier to get personalized advice based on your business requirements.

[secondbestcoffee4]

Second Best Coffee Kansas City

Website: https://www.prweb.com/releases/second-best-coffee-unveils-exciting-rebrand-and-specialty-holiday-offerings-in-kansas-city-302007082.html

Address: 328 W 85th St, Kansas City, MO, United States, Missouri

Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Sunday CLOSED

Second Best Coffee in Kansas City’s Waldo neighborhood is a haven for espresso enthusiasts. Fueled by a commitment to constant improvement, Second Best Coffee Kansas City prides itself on meticulous brewing, using Clever Drippers and Kansas City's inaugural Slayer Espresso Machine. The dedication to learning, evolving roast profiles, and refining extraction methods defines Second Best Coffee Kansas City’s pursuit of excellence. The name symbolizes a promise: tomorrow's coffee will inevitably surpass today's Second Best.

Coffee Shop #Second Best Coffee Kansas City

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secondbestcoffee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2bckc

Instagram: http://instagram.com/secondbestcoffee

[sfhfsfjhsfj]

Introducing the Paper Chase Slayer: Unleashing the Power of Invoice Management Automation

Introduction

Picture this: your desk, once an organized haven, has morphed into Mount Invoice-Everest. Papers threaten to topple, threatening to bury you under an avalanche of overdue bills and receipts. Your inbox screams with angry reminders, and the mere thought of data entry makes you break into a cold sweat. Fear not, weary warrior of the accounts payable battlefield! There's a hero in the wings, poised to slay the paper chase dragon and transform your financial mayhem into a symphony of streamlined efficiency.

Enter: invoice management automation. It's not just a buzzword, folks, it's a revolution. Imagine a world where invoices get zapped into your system at the speed of light, their data extracted with the precision of a laser scalpel, and matched to purchase orders with the accuracy of a Swiss watch. Where approvals whiz through like emails on a Friday afternoon, and payments sail out smoother than a dolphin on a glassy sea. Sounds like a pipe dream, right? Wrong. Invoice management automation is the real deal, and it's here to save your sanity (and your bottom line).

Ditch the Drudgery, Embrace the Efficiency: What Can Invoice Management Automation Do for You?

Slay the Time-Sucking Beast: Manual data entry is the bane of any accountant's existence. Automation takes that tedious chore and chucks it out the window. Say goodbye to endless hours hunched over a keyboard and hello to reclaimed time for more strategic tasks, like analyzing cash flow or befriending the office coffee machine.

Accuracy Ace: Human error? Not on automation's watch. AI-powered systems extract data with eagle-eyed precision, minimizing the risk of typos and miscalculations. That means no more late payments due to transposed digits, and your boss will finally stop giving you the "Are you sure about this?" side-eye.

Paperweight Party Pooper: Paper invoices? So last season. Automation embraces the digital revolution, storing everything in the cloud for easy access and retrieval. No more filing cabinets overflowing with dusty folders (unless you're really into that vintage office aesthetic, no judgment).

Approval Avalanche: Remember chasing down approvals like a sheepdog herding stray thoughts? Automation sets up workflows that send invoices flying to the right people, with automatic reminders and escalation protocols to keep things moving. No more playing email tag or enduring passive-aggressive sticky notes about overdue approvals.

Early Bird Bonus: Early payment discounts on the horizon? Automation can sniff them out like a truffle pig, ensuring you snag those sweet savings and impress your accountant with your financial prowess.

Fraud Foiler: Invoice fraudsters beware! Automation's keen eye can detect suspicious activity quicker than a magician spotting a marked card. It verifies vendor information, flags discrepancies, and protects your hard-earned cash from sneaky scammers.

But wait, there's more! Invoice management automation can also:

Generate insightful reports, giving you a bird's-eye view of your financial health.

Integrate seamlessly with your accounting software, creating a harmonious tech ecosystem.

Scale with your business, whether you're a solopreneur or a global behemoth.

Taming the Automation Beast: FAQs

Q: Is invoice management automation expensive? A: Not necessarily! There are a variety of options available, from budget-friendly to enterprise-grade solutions. Do your research and shop around to find the perfect fit for your needs and budget.

Q: Will it take away my job? A: Fear not, human workers! Automation is here to augment your skills, not replace them. Think of it as a superpowered sidekick, freeing you from tedious tasks to focus on higher-level work.

Q: Is it secure? A: Top-notch security is a priority for reputable automation providers. They use encryption, access controls, and other measures to keep your data safe and sound.

Conclusion: Unleash the Invoice Management Automation Kraken!

So, are you ready to ditch the paper chase and embrace the future of efficient finance? Invoice management automation is no longer a futuristic fantasy, it's a readily available tool that can transform your business. Don't let invoices turn you into a frazzled mess. Take control, unleash the automation kraken, and watch your financial workflow flow like a well-oiled machine. Your sanity, your bank account, and your future self will thank you.

Now go forth and conquer the mountain of paperwork! Just remember, with invoice management automation, conquering doesn't have to feel like climbing Everest. It can be more like strolling through a park, hand in hand

[secondbest1]

Second Best Coffee Kansas City

Website: https://www.facebook.com/secondbestcoffee/ Address: 328 W 85th St, Kansas City, MO, United States Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Sunday CLOSED Second Best Coffee in Kansas City’s Waldo neighborhood is a haven for espresso enthusiasts. Fueled by a commitment to constant improvement, Second Best Coffee Kansas City prides itself on meticulous brewing, using Clever Drippers and Kansas City's inaugural Slayer Espresso Machine. The dedication to learning, evolving roast profiles, and refining extraction methods defines Second Best Coffee Kansas City’s pursuit of excellence. The name symbolizes a promise: tomorrow's coffee will inevitably surpass today's Second Best. #Coffee Shop #Second Best Coffee Kansas City Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secondbestcoffee/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/2bckc Instagram: http://instagram.com/secondbestcoffee

[satoshi-mochida]

Maid cafe adventure game Maid Cafe at Electric Street to be published by PLAYISM

Gematsu Source

PLAYISM will publish Adventurer’s Tavern-developed maid cafe adventure game Maid Cafe at Electric Street, the companies announced. It will be available for PC via Steam. It will launch in 2024.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

Maid Cafe at Electric Street is a leisurely maid cafe adventure set in the otaku haven of Nipponbashi, Osaka. The protagonist of our story quits his job at an extremely toxic workplace and finds himself at a run-down maid cafe tucked away in a quiet part of Nipponbashi. There, he meets the maid Shiro. One thing leads to another, and he eventually gets appointed as the temporary cafe manager and put in charge of the management of the maid cafe. As the new manager, his first task is to scout cute girls to work at the cafe. Time to explore Nipponbashi and all the otaku stuff it has to offer!

Key Features

Get to know the four unique main girls: Shiro, Miyu, Favna, and Honoka, all voiced.

Immerse yourself in lighthearted stories about everyday life with the cute maids.

Enjoy the modern and gorgeous pixel art graphics depicting even the finest details, including the meat buns next to the convenience store cashier and the figures on the shelves of an anime shop.

Go on fun dates at Nipponbashi, from anime shops to arcades to the cinema!

The Four Main Girls of Fuwa Fuwa

Shiro – “Um, please be the new manager of the cafe!” A maid who loves Fuwa Fuwa Cafe. A huge otaku for anime and video games, she talks really fast when she’s gushing about the things she loves, and often splurges on merch without thinking whenever she visits an anime shop. A little clumsy, but works hard every day to become the cute maid she’s always wanted to be.

Miyu – “Hey Mr. Manager, thanks a bunch for hanging out with me today~☆.” A game otaku and gyaru with a big appetite. Loves both eating and cooking, and apparently really enjoys serving her cooking to customers at Fuwa Fuwa Cafe. Is actually Shiro’s friend on the online game Magic Angel, so they knew each other before actually meeting in real life.

Favna – “I am the Slayer of the False God, the Queen of the Kingdom of Darkness, the All-Seeing Oracle, the Guardian of the Dream of All Things—.” A mysterious girl dressed in gothic Lolita fashion. Speaks in riddles and demands the protagonist become her familiar. She sometimes accidentally drops the edgy act when she’s taken by surprise though, so maybe she’s just got a serious case of chuunibyou…?

Honoka – “Ya want a thrivin’ business? That there sounds like a job for our shrine!” A girl with a Kansaiben dialect who works as a shrine maiden at her family shrine. Practically in charge of the shrine, she is reliable and very good at handling money, and has a strong sense of responsibility to boot. On top of that, she’s also the only glasses girl at Fuwa Fuwa Cafe!

Support Your Maid Cafe Employees as the Manager!

As the cafe manager, it’s your job to allocate work to your maids. Make sure to give the right girl the right job! For example, Shiro is always enthusiastic to serve customers, and Miyu is great in the kitchen. Of course, you can’t just sit there while they work. During opening hours, you’ll also have to make coffee and help out on the floor, so it’s not as easy as it sounds!

The Stunning Sights of Nipponbashi

In order to recreate the atmosphere of the real Nipponbashi, the game features several real stores you can find there, such as Surugaya, Sofmap, Dragon Star, Super Potato, and Karaoke Rainbow, among many others. Don’t forget to pay them a visit when you’re shopping or taking one of your maids on a date!

Collectable Gachapon

If you’ve been to the real Nipponbashi, you’ll know that there are gachapon machines all over the area. In this game, you can also try your hand at collecting your favorite gachapon series and experience that unique gacha thrill of not knowing what you’re getting. As you collect more gachapon, you can even bring them up in conversations with the girls. Keep cranking those machines until you’ve collected them all!

Watch a new trailer below.

Publisher Announce Trailer

[deathbyvalentine]

Slayers Fic

Aftermath

It was getting to be light by the time he had walked home alone and entered the front door, the street hushed in the blue dawn. It had taken longer than he would have liked to move the bodies, make the calls.

He stood in the doorway for a long second, fingers hesitating over the light switch before pulling away, stepping in and shutting the door behind him. He shrugged off his coat and hung it next to one of Jones's coats. He untied his boots and put them in the jumble with Jones's trainers. The house was still and quiet. Jellybean peered around the living room doorway.

He crossed the hallway straight into the kitchen. His eyes lingered on the fridge for a long moment. Photographs of him and Jones. Photographs of the entire Super Secret Bullshit Club. Pictures of him and Paris. He reached up and took down the one of his boyfriend, holding it for a long moment before placing it facedown on the counter, unable to look any longer. The rest of the photographs could stay on the fridge. He couldn't even bring himself to touch them. Just like he couldn't move the two plates waiting by the sink with two coffee mugs, the quick breakfast him and Jones had before heading out. He shuddered, closed his eyes and then forced himself to move.

Briskly, he rummaged in the junk drawer, producing a notepad and biro. He began writing, the title of the page 'TO-DO.'

Organising deep cleaning for the community center.

Change Jones's contact details in the Clinic to his.

Start looking for a 'Heywater Capable' doctor so he wasn't doing this singlehandedly.

Call the people he had used for the memorial to the Saint William Vampires and commission one for Jones.

Sort out a date to go and inform Jones's parents of their daughters death.

He felt like his breath was robbed from him on that last one and he braced himself against the counter, forcing himself to breath steadily and deeply. When he moved, he realised he had been holding the counter so tight it had left red ridges across his palms. He had to keep moving.

He began to unpack his bag but everywhere he went in this house, there Jones was. Her blanket across the sofa. Clothes in the washing machine. Notes left for him on the side table. Clinic budgets in a stack on the coffee table. Toothbrush in the bathroom. A book, open to a page she would never finish. He would have to tidy these things. Do something with them. But he couldn't even bring himself to look at them. Jellybean had been following him around the house, looking quizzical. He couldn't look at him yet either.

But he ran out of things to do eventually. His backpack was emptied, bloody clothes in the wash, himself showered to rid himself of gore. After changing into clean, soft pyjamas he stood in the middle of the living room. Jellybean came and sat at his feet. Finally, Tommy looked down, scritched behind his ears. He moved to the sofa, calling to Jellybean to join him. He sat, looking into his deep red eyes. Tommy stroked him, appreciating another living thing being this close.

"Hey boy. I have... bad news. I d-d-don't know how to - " A deep sucking breath. Jellybean was a hellhound. He would already know, no matter what Jones wished. "She isn't coming back. I'm s-s-sorry. I tried. I promise I tried." And it was like something shifted in his chest and he was sobbing. Jellybean nuzzled close and Tommy buried his face in the nape of his neck, shuddering with the pain of it. Jellybean licked his hands, his face, trying to comfort him. Tommy stayed there, crying into his dog until the first rays of sunlight crept into the room.

______________________________________________________________

Parents

Tommy sat on the sofa, knees pressed together tight. He smiled gratefully as a mug of tea was handed to him, curling his fingers around it as if trying to keep some of the warmth for himself. They know him, vaguely, one or two polite conversations in brisk visits, a few times picking up the housephone and taking their messages. They weren't close, he thinks. He's drifted from his parents too, his sister. How could you keep them in a life of immortality and monsters? What did you even talk about when your entire world is different from theirs? The guilt tended to gnaw at him but never more than at this moment when he was about to tell these people that their daughter was dead.

It's not clean. He stumbles through it, determined not to cry himself but also not to lie, not to insult their intelligence. He watches as their faces go from polite confusion to bewilderment to folding in with grief. Death makes everyone smaller, not just the corpse. He fumbles in his bag, fingers slipping off the catch to find her book, press it into their hands, say something about how it will explain everything. It won't.

His tea has gone cold. He keeps hold of it anyway.

He doesn't know what to do when they start crying. He shifts in his seat. Should he leave? Stay? He will forever now be stained with death, the boy that told them the worst news. Automatically his mind flashes to the purifying rituals he knows, clean blood with blood - but he didn't murder her, he reminds himself. His crime was negligence, not malice. Not being quick enough. That was his fatal flaw, the one that ran down him like a crack in the earth. Always too slow.

He tells them that Jones was brave (he doesn't call her Daphne, not even now.) He tells them that she saved a lot of people, including him many times over. He tells her how much she was loved. It's the last point where his voice can't carry him any longer. The words stick in his throat and he wants to be sick. Talking about her in the past tense is a sensation akin to being stabbed through. And he would know.

Half an hour passes before he leaves. He gets a handshake which makes him want to shudder. Like he deserves to be thanked or respected. But he squeezes back. Rituals are important. Even the painful ones. Perhaps especially those.

Outside the air is chill and there's a fine mist of rain. When he steps out and the door clicks shut behind him, he takes a deep, deep breath. Somewhere up there, there's stars. Even if he can't see them, they shine regardless.

______________________________________________________________

Hopeless

He turns over in bed and reaches over to the opposite side, eyes closed as his hand grasps nothing but pillow. He opens his eyes, blearily, and it takes him a moment to realise that Paris is not going to be in the kitchen making coffee or in the studio carving wood. That he wasn't ever going to be again. He stills and lies in bed for a few long moments, letting that weight settle in over him. He's done this every morning for two weeks.

He was used to Asclepius not being there. His main trait, it often felt like, was absence. It no longer stung the way it once did. You got so used to feeling certain types of pain, it just turned into background radiation. But Paris was different. It seemed like every time he reached out a hand into the indifferent dark, Paris was there, clutching it tight. Now he faced the dark on his own.

He sat up, rubbing at his face and putting on his glasses. He spared a glance to his phone that told him both Lydia and Daniel had texted him. He ignored too the letter waiting on his desk that was almost certainly from Michael. He couldn't bear to be around people at the moment. It felt like his nerves were exposed to the air - whenever anybody got close he wanted to shrink back, in case they tried to comfort him, touch him metaphorically or literally. He was too raw.

Jellybean snuffled at his bare feet and he reached down to fondle his ears. Jellybean was doing a lot of emotional heavy lifting for Tommy at the moment. They were joined at the hip, never more than an arms breadth away. He was fairly positive at this point he qualified as a service hell hound. He goes to make coffee.

It's a quiet morning. Soft light floods the kitchen in a way that once might have made him think of Apollo but now makes him think of Jones. While the kettle boils, he looks out at the olive tree in the back garden, hand resting on the cool metal of the sink. On his ring finger, an ivy tattoo curls. When the coffee is brewed he opens the back door to let Jellybean out, sitting on the step. He sips. Sometimes on mornings like this, he talks to Jones. About his day. About patients. About Family drama. About how lonely he was, how much he missed her. It wasn't praying. And he knew mostly, he was talking to himself. But not talking to her was somehow worse. As if it meant she wasn't there at all. He finishes his coffee. He goes back inside.

He's had to seperate his days into designated categories. Monday is the clinic admin. Tuesday is the clinic practical. Wednesday is family duties and/or artist commune duties. Thursday is the community center. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, labyrinth. He was trying to make a catalogue at the moment and it was slow, fiddly going. Though it gave him a good excuse to walk and walk for miles until he was so tired he fell into a dreamless sleep when he came back home. That was important. Sleep was the only time he could stop thinking.

He decided to visit Paris's studio again. He had kept it exactly as it had been, bar murderous statues and anything that looked too magical to be part of the landscape. There were statues that would never be finished. Wood shavings that would never be swept away. A hoody hanging on a chair, a empty mug waiting to be washed. It was just like somebody had pressed pause on this room and it was waiting to resume play. He stood in the center of the room and closed his eyes, smelling the wood polish, the almost sharp smell of pine. He could picture Paris, no, Hope, perfectly here. The way he moved, what he did when in this space. When he opened his eyes though, there was nothing there. One day his memories would fade or this room would have to be changed and then he would lose him all over again. Like Jones. Like Loki.

Once your worst fears have been realised, you just come up with new ones. Once he was afraid of losing what he loved. Now he was afraid of forgetting what he had lost. And so on it goes. Life was about waiting for the next fear to materialise. Nobody liked admitting it, but there it was. With trembling fingers, he ran his hand over a half-done carving. At last, something he could keep.

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Lie to me

Tommy lay on the beautifully upholstered sofa, eyes screwed up tight so he didn't cry. Ava was stroking his hair, Ana making him coffee. Michael was close by, a little age still resting in his shoulders. "Lie to me, Michael. Please."

There was a sigh, deep and weary. "Oh kid. Bad guys can always be turned good and you're never too slow to save anyone. Nobody ever dies and nobody ever leaves you. Families always stick together and they don't hurt you. Violence is never necessary, talking can always solve it. Magic and power don't corrupt. And there's always a happy ending. Always."

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100% Real

They deserved better than this. Than a community center, rings that were leaves ripped from a brain washed god, only a few people watching. He wished they had time to do it properly. Time not borrowed.

Because the thing was, the end of the world never came. Paris wouldn't win. Time after time they snatched the earth from the jaws of defeat and saved it. It was what they did. He wished, right now, it wasn't.

Never had a wedding so much felt like a funeral. Like a goodbye.

He kept expecting to feel anger but he couldn't reach it. The feeling eluded him. Because anger was an emotion that you felt when your brain felt it deserved better. And Tommy wasn't sure he deserved better. No, actually, he had never expected better. Wasn't he waiting for the other shoe to drop the entire time with Paris? Always looking for the flaw, the problem, the trick. Admittedly even he hadn't thought it would be this big.

Maybe it would be easier if he was enchanted. If he had been charmed into love with Paris, easy to dispel with his own or the power of the gods. But it wasn't. Paris hadn't needed to use magic or coercion. After all, who wouldn't fall in love with him? He was perfect. That was his first flaw.

He had been smashed into pieces when Asclepius left him. Sobs ripping through him like a hurricane, an absolute conviction that the world must stop on its axis. He had learnt from that. The world would keep on turning and this time his grief would be cold and still within him. The only war he could really wage was against his own foolish self and he had been fighting that one for a long time now.

He promised to love him for always, because he would. Once Tommy loved somebody, he never stopped. That was his flaw. The fatal crack running down the middle of him was always his love. He held Paris's hands for what might be the last time. He memorised the smile and carved it within himself. Never to forget. This moment could be as immortal as the both of them were. This moment alone could be untouched.

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Found Family

Daniel. Friends with Athena. Darling of the British Museum. Forgiven by family and no longer cursed. Enduring stone, still, but no longer tortured by it.

Lydia. Goddess. Reunited with her cousin. Worshipped and revered, even in her grief, even in her flawed glory. She would be remembered, for better or for worse.

Tori. Goddess. Regent of the Underworld. Richer than god, still. Aloof and shadowy as she ever was, leagues away from the life that pulsed up here.

Jones. Dead.

Michael, Anna, Ava. Their own happily ever after. Enjoying retirement. Enjoying the world they had protected and bled for.

(The Greek Lot. Did they even count? He supposed they did. But he couldn't be amongst them fully, not yet. Too soon, in about five different respects.)

His family were scattered. He couldn't keep all of them together. That magical time where they were in each other's pockets was over and, supposedly, this world was better for it. He returned to the loneliness of his life before Heywater, a little older, a lot tireder and with a to-do list a mile long. Circles. Everything was circles. What once has passed will come again. He believed that. He really did.

And in the mean time, all he could do was wait.