#coupled with having to ride the train to other terminals

[lost-chaparral]

seeing posts and messages in groupchats abt people using new years to get fit and exercise etc etc and i am having to decline every single invite to everything because my leg feels so terrible from travelling that i have to use my walker again

[caffeinatedvigilantewriter]

“And it’s an emergency?” Bruce asked her, brow furrowing in concern.

Dani tapped her foot. “Yes. I need to leave now.”

Bruce sighed. “I’ll contact our pilot, but I can’t guarantee that he be able to fly you to Illinois last minute.”

Dani smiled weakly, “Thanks Bruce.” She said as she walked out the door, running into Damian.

“Where are you going?” He demanded, Jerry the Turkey trailing behind him.

“There’s a family emergency I need to go to.” Dani explained, ruffling his hair, grinning when he squwaked and hit her hand away.

“When will you return?”

Dani hesitated, smiling fading, before she looked in Damian’s eye and forced a grin.

“That depends. But I’ll be back, you don’t need to worry.”

The study door opened, and Bruce poked his head out, phone in hand. “Dani, the plane will be ready right after dinner at the soonest. Where exactly are you going?”

“Amity Park, Illinois.”

~

Danielle’s ‘minor family emergency’ was a huge lie.

Damian saw her smile dim and her hands shake as she told him she would be back.

Danielle was in danger, he didn’t need Leauge training to be able to tell.

That dinner, Danielle’s suitcase and bag was right next to her chair as she ate, looking very distracted.

“Woah!” Duke yelped as he tripped over the bag, stabilizing himself on the wall. “What’s the bag for?”

“Sorry, I’m going to Illinois after dinner. Family emergency.” Dani sheepishly, kicked the bag under the table and out of the way, smiling apologetically at Duke.

“Family emergency? But I thought…” Duke trailed off awkwardly. He didn’t need to finish his sentence for everyone to know what he trying to say.

Dani shrugged but didn’t give them an answer.

Duke, Damian’s nd Bruce locked eyes with each other and shared a minuscule nod. They would be investigating in the cave that night.

“Ok, I’m heading out!” Dani said, giving each of them a hug that lasted longer than usual, as if she was leaving for the last time.

~

Dani’s flight was around 2 hours, and the only sound that was in The luxury cabin was the sound of her foot tapping.

She apologized to the pilot for the last minute notice, but he waved her off with a smile. Dani tipped him a couple hundred anyway.

The airfield was pretty far, so Dani called an ride to pick her up.

While she waited, she checked Danny’s message from this morning.

Prototype: Dani we need you in Amity

Protoype: The GIW are acting funny

“Tt. When is the car arriving?”

Dani froze, whipping her head around to see Damian holding a duffel bag and staring at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Uh-what? Damian?” Dani stammered in surprise, before she got angry. “Damian Thomas Wayne, why and how the hell are you here?”

Damian rolled his eyes. “I snuck on the plane and followed you, of course.”

Dani’s eye twitched and Damian got the feeling that this was a bad idea.

There was a long silence before Dani dragged him to the wall and whispered to him, “Damian, I have a reason for you guys not to come. A good reason. So you need to get a plane back to Gotham before it’s too late.”

Damian shook his head. “The pilots gone. And it is too late to catch another flight.”

Dani groaned, but was interrupted by her phone vibrating in her pocket.

She pulled it out and cursed as she read the message.

Dr.Jazz: Dani the GIW is closing down airports

Dr.Jazz: Nobody can get out or in

Dr.Jazz: are you here yet?

Fenton 2.0: I’m here

Fenton 2.0: with an unexpected guest

Her phone binged again, and she snapped her fingers to get Damian’s attention away from his phone- which he had pulled out when Jazz messaged her.

“Our ride is here.” She said curtly, picking up her bags and walking outside the terminal.

Dash Baxter was leaning against his car, searching the crowd. He caught sight of Dani and Damian, giving the younger girl a nod and the tween a raised eyebrow.

“You guys are lucky you got here when you did. The guys in white just closed everything down.” Dash said as he loaded their luggage into the back of his car.

Dani opened the backseat door and let Damian climb in before sitting down after him.

“What’s going on, Dash? Danny hasn’t been replying to my messages and Jazz is being extremely vague.”

Dash started the car and pulled into the freeway.

“Can’t go into detail. Too many cameras. We’re probably being followed.” Dash looked at Damon through the rewrite mirror. “Whos the tyke?”

“Damian. Damian Wayne.” Damian said as he wrinkled his nose.

“Dash Baxter. How’d you get caught up with the Waynes, Dani?”

“Bruce is fostering me. We just haven’t made an official announcement yet.”

Dash let out a whistle. “Nice. I won’t be able to drop you at the FentonWorks Lab, but Star and Paulina wanted to talk to you out anyway.”

Dash pulled into the park, and helped Dani and Damian with their bags before driving off.

There were GIW agents setting up cameras all around the park, in trees, lamp post, and they were even shoving warrants in the faces of home owners and setting cameras on their property.

Around 2/3 of the town was in the park, watching the GIW and talking in hushed tones. They all turned to stare at Dani and Damian as they walked through.

“Why are they stareing at you?” Damian asked, glaring at a boy his age, who squeaked and sprinted away.

“Because my family is rather well known.” Dani glanced at Damian. “And I have a Wayne with me.”

“Dani.”

They turned around to see two girls, one Latina dressed in pink and one blonde with large blue eyes.

“Paulina. Star. How’ve you been?” Dani smiled at them.

Star smiled at her, but it wasn’t real and plastic looking.

“I’m doing great. A little ghosty told me that the Fentons are waiting for you and Damian at the FentonWorks Lab.” Star eyed Damian with a curious eye and peered at Dani through her lashes.

“Don’t you think it’ll be to dangerous for the kid?” Paulina asked, ignoring the way Damian bristled at being called a kid.

Dani’s eye sharperned as she places a hand on Damian’s shoulder. “We have no choice. The GIW closed down the airport. He’ll have to learn how to survive.”

The girls faltered.

“W-what? But my dad is in New York! He..” Paulina stammered, and Star was at her side in a second, comforting her.

Dani and Damian walked away, Danis hand still on his shoulder.

They walked for some time in silence, until Dani stopped them and pointed at a GIW agent.

“Wanna help?” At Damian’s nod she smirked and continued. “Let’s put your training to good use. What do you think they’re doing?”

“You knew?” Damian asked her.

“You guys aren’t the only vigilantes in my family.”

Damian nodded and turned away from her, observing the agents in white.

“They’re setting up cameras. And cold sensors.”

Dani’s lips twisted into a small smile. “The GIW are officially called the Ghost Investigation Ward, but we call them the Guys in White.”

Damian raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize there were other ghosts.”

Dani’s eyes flashed green as she grinned.

“Well, Damian, you have a lot to learn. But yes, there are other ghosts.”

Damain nodeded and glanced back toward the Agents.

“Tt. If they investigate ghosts, why are they barricading the town?”

Dani’s face darkened and she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Damian, there’s a lot I don’t know. But I can tell you this:”

She whispered her next few words.

“It’s about to go from bad to worse. Brace yourself.”

[hold-him-down]

Belleview Chapter Two (Part B): Felix

Notes: mostly low-level med whump

Belleview: Chapter 1, Chapter 2 (Part A)

TW: Institutionalized slavery, Med Whump, Med Exam, References to Noncon, Noncon touch, Dubcon Medical Care, References to Human Experimentation

✥ ✥ ✥

They expected him to die soon. Lincoln knows this, without prejudice, as well as he knows anything else about this place. Even if the handler had not introduced Felix with the caveat that they had recently ceased all medical intervention, Lincoln could put the pieces together by looking for twenty seconds at the handlers’ notes from the last few days.

According to the available records, during Felix’s first several months at Belleview, he went no longer than three days between ‘projects,' often with multiple projects stacked on top of each other. Lincoln has not yet researched every experimental tool or drug or procedure that Felix was a part of, partly because some of them were classified and the DOH had yet to access the details, and partly because, in the cases where Lincoln was able to identify the critical components of the trials, his stomach had bottomed out early and he had wound up six hours deep in case files trying to sort out exactly how this had happened.

After Felix's first nine months, they had slowed down with him. There was a three week break wherein Felix was not assigned to any long-term trial before he was pulled again, for what would have been the final time. It was a medical test for a hallucinogenic training drug that lasted nearly two months before abruptly terminating two weeks prior, when, to Lincoln’s best guess, the site had received guidance to stop any majorly illegal activities.

Felix appeared to have been neglected since then. According to the handlers’ notes, he had accessed only two meals a day, a few glasses of water, and, if someone took pity on him, was afforded some assistance in showering and using the toilet. If he didn’t, or couldn’t, eat what was given to him, he would go without eating. “That was part of the gag,” the handler said. “We couldn’t… well, we couldn't actively aid in their... uh, it was technically not allowed. But there came a time when we were asked to let them ride out the end. If they didn't eat, they didn't eat.”

There will come a time, Lincoln thinks now, that Felix will be asked to testify to what happened at this site. There will come a time where some semblance of justice will be served, at least to those who partook in the darkest corners of the system. He will see to it that Felix is afforded that chance.

He takes a breath and enters the small cell, which will need to be repurposed into a bedroom over the next day or so. Felix lays on the floor on his side, curled up as tightly as his frail body will allow. He doesn’t open his eyes at their approach.

“We call him Felix because he’s always smiling,” the handler said. He doesn’t smile now. Even in sleep, he looks scared. He’s covered in bruises, with dried blood smeared across his legs and torso. Lincoln had not caught that earlier, but it couldn’t be new. He’s pale. He swallows, and his body tenses for a moment before he settles back into sleep.

“He’s not actually happy, though,” the handler continued. “He flirts with everyone he sees, just trying to find someone to take him home, we think. He’ll do anything you ask him to, as long as he can understand it. The last couple weeks he’s been up and down, though.”

He’s shaking, and it’s not the light tremble of a scared boy who’s seen too much, but a deep, uncontrollable movement that possibly points to deeper issues.

Lincoln thinks through the side effects of the drug trials. The head of that project, Dr. Michael Gletzer, Ph.D, was a leading researcher in the country, highly sought after by pharmaceutical companies and the former Dean of Medicine at the University of Florida. He is available to speak at length regarding his research. He is not currently under arrest, and, to Lincoln’s understanding, has been cooperative with questioning. He will have to speak to the doctor, and he dreads it.

Lincoln watches Felix sleep for a moment, and the reality of what these men have gone through crashes over him. It’s a crushing weight, and he lets himself feel it for only a moment before he shuts it down and takes a breath, then makes a cautious approach.

“Grab him a blanket?” Lincoln asks quietly. From behind him, Philip moves to the cabinet and begins rummaging through its drawers. Lincoln kneels down next to Felix, his hand hovering over his body. He hesitates to make contact.

“Felix,” Lincoln says. He’s gentle when he finally allows his fingers to graze Felix’s shoulder. Felix’s eyes flutter open, although they are slow to seek out Lincoln. His features are uniformly lined with exhaustion, and Lincoln, for a moment, regrets waking him.  “Hi,” Lincoln whispers.

Felix blinks slowly and tries to sit, but even in that movement, it is clear that his body is failing. He struggles to get his hands under himself, and when offered support, he accepts it without any clear indication that he is aware he’s been touched at all. Still, he looks down at himself and takes an almost unnoticeable inventory of his condition. Philip approaches and drapes a blanket over his lap, and Felix offers a tiny smile in return.

“My name is Lincoln Prescott,” Lincoln says. “Do you remember me? From earlier?”

Felix watches his mouth, his expression tight.

“It’s okay if you don’t,” Lincoln continues. “I’m a doctor, I’ve been assigned to Belleview by the Department of Health.” There is little evidence that Felix hears him at all, but he continues the well-rehearsed speech. “As of 9:00 this morning, the contracted worker system is no longer active in the United States,” he continues.

“I don’t think he’s following,” Philip says from next to him. Lincoln nods.

He’s right, of course. “We are working on finding all of the residents of Belleview stable homes to stay in while the infrastructure is built for you to live independently,” he says anyway. “In the meantime, we’re going to stay here as a group and get you all some help, alright?”

Felix nods. 

“Can you tell me your name?”

There is no response, although Felix’s eyes search Lincoln’s, studying him intently.

Lincoln asks Felix how he feels, if he’s hungry, when he ate, how old he is. Felix doesn’t respond. The question hovers just out of reach, whether Felix can and doesn’t speak, or whether he cannot at all. According to the handler, he hasn’t spoken since returning from the most recent drug trial. Prior to that, though, there were no notable concerns with his speech, hearing, or comprehension. Best case scenario, it’s a trauma response and can be worked through down the line. Worst case is that there is irreversible damage to either his brain (most likely), or individual elements of communication (highly unlikely). Both are worth exploring.

Layered upon this, there are the issues of his physical responses. He startles easily but does not pull away. He blinks slowly. His hands are slow to find the blanket and hold onto it. His eyes are red, his skin has a kind of translucent hue. He expected Felix to require more substantial diagnostic testing than they’re able to offer, and it is clear to him that a trip to the hospital for scans is unavoidable.

As Philip sets up the admission forms on the tablet, Lincoln pulls a pair of blue latex gloves on. Felix almost instantly responds, which is ultimately a good sign, as hard as it is to address in the moment. The tremors that run through his body have taken a sort of panicked edge.

“It’s alright,” Lincoln says. “I’m just gonna look at you, okay? We’re here to help.”

Felix is cooperative as Lincoln takes one of his hands. He squeezes it once then turns it over, examining the bruising and scarring from months of drug use. He runs his thumb across one of the most prominent, likely the site of a long-term IV port.

“Let’s get this off you,” Lincoln says. He is cautious as he presses his fingers under the front of the collar, his touch light as he seeks the release mechanism. When he finds it, and the collar clicks free and falls into his hands, he is both relieved that it was simple enough, and horrified by what he sees. Dark bruises form where the clip sat, with deeper gashes toward the back of his neck where the plasticky-metal dug in during, what had to be, violent altercations. Lincoln runs his fingers along the lines there, but Felix does not react.

He takes his vitals, he does as thorough an exam as he can. There’s a very tender spot on the side of his head, and with the other potential signs of concussion, it shouldn’t be ruled out. Felix is especially jumpy when Lincoln runs his hand down his spine and over his ribs. Some are broken. Felix holds his left arm more gingerly, so Lincoln is careful as he looks checks it. Still, as Lincoln turns it over, Felix cries out, his whole body tense for only a second before he forcibly relaxes. 

“I’m sorry,” Lincoln whispers. Somewhere along the line, tears have formed in Felix’s eyes, and they now threaten to spill. Lincoln isn’t sure exactly how much willpower it takes him to keep them in, only that he does. As soon as his arm is released, Felix cradles it to his chest. 

“Can I look at your back?” Lincoln asks, gentle but assertive in repositioning him.

He’s extremely underweight, with too many vertebrae and too much rib instantly visible. A thick scar runs across one side of his abdomen and circles around his side. There are other scars, less visible ones that almost would be missed by the naked eye, but they’re there. 

Felix doesn’t make a sound when Lincoln examines lower. He watches the wall with a sort of sad detachment as Lincoln runs his fingers gingerly over some swelling in his lower back, then guides him onto his side.

“Almost done,” Lincoln says. “Tell me if you need me to stop, okay?” 

There is no answer, which Lincoln does not mistake for permission, but accepts at face value. He monitors Felix’s breathing, the cadence of the tremors that roll through him, his posture. Philip kneels in front of him, holding his hand and watching his face for signs of extreme duress. It’s the best they can do.

Here, the damage is obvious. Lincoln notes both bruising and tearing, with a slew of fluids, presumably belonging to both Felix and the handlers, dried onto his skin. Lincoln’s stomach turns over as he cleans him up, muttering whatever words of encouragement he can come up with.

The further into this they go, the more Lincoln questions the plan. The likelihood that even in a full service hospital, he would be equipped to manage this, is slim. He pulls off the gloves and helps Felix to sit, then drapes the blanket around his shoulders. 

“You okay?” Lincoln asks. Felix looks very, very far from okay, but the worst is over.

Felix brings his hand up to rest on Lincoln’s arm and squeezes it. It isn’t exactly confirmation of understanding, nor is it a show of okayness. Lincoln would be doing him a disservice by writing the action off as either. But it’s something close to it, he thinks. Lincoln smiles and covers his hand with his own and squeezes it again.

“We’ll get you better, okay?” he says. “Philip’s going to help you get cleaned up, get some food and water in you, set you up with an IV and some medicine to make you feel better.” There’s no recognition in his eyes, but Lincoln continues. “While you get showered, we’ll get you a bed and a TV, or some books, or anything you need.”

Extricating himself from Felix’s grip is a little harder than it was getting into it, but once he’s free, he stands, and Felix’s eyes track his movements. 

“N… n…” Felix reaches after him as he steps toward the door, and Lincoln pauses, turning. There is true panic, for the first time, in his expression. He wants to show you he can still be of use, the handler said. He wants you to pull him.

“Felix,” Lincoln whispers. “I’ll be back for you, alright? I promise you, I will come back." He takes a step toward the door, and the tears that threatened to spill earlier come back in full force. “I need to go check on your friend,” Lincoln says, although there is almost no chance at this point that Felix understands. He kneels down and tries to smile, but he thinks it probably doesn't land. “Philip will stay with you and get you cleaned up.”

He mutters instructions to Philip, and seconds later, he is in the hallway, his forehead pressed into the wall while he takes that whole interaction and locks it into a very, very tight box in the back of his mind. 

He is in good hands. He will be okay. He is not alone, and he is not going to be left to die, and Lincoln will spend the next four weeks making sure that he knows it.

✥ ✥ ✥

Belleview Taglist:

@pigeonwhumps @peachy-panic @whump-cravings @pirefyrelight @i-eat-worlds

@taterswhump @squishablesunbeam @inpainandsuffering @distinctlywhumpthing @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi

@handsinmotion @whumps-and-bumps

[slytherinshua]

DEATH'S LONGING

genre. angst. the tiniest most minuscule sprinkle of fluff. flower language never gets old in fics </3. warnings. major character death. reader has a terminal illness (not mentioned what it is) and is hospitalized. just general angst... not proofread. pairing. yujin x fem!reader. wc. 1.7k. request. requested by 🪩 anon from the prompt list but i did slightly change the prompts to fit the story better. a/n. i'm very sorry for this... i didn't mean it for be this angsty.... but don't blame me blame disco for this mess. divider by @/saradika.

It was lonely in the hospital. Apart from mealtimes and daily checkups, the nurses didn’t have time to keep you company in the room. You knew you were running out of time. You didn’t blame Nurse Park or Nurse Jung for not wanting to spend extra time on their shift talking to the girl who would be dead in a couple weeks. You were sick of being a burden to people. Maybe if your terminal illness would just hurry up and do its job, you wouldn’t have to cause mental stress for other people.

You had been offered euthanasia, a rare occurrence in such a small town hospital. But people pitied you, or maybe they just wanted you gone as fast as possible. You declined it, despite knowing that you would be in more pain. You were still waiting. Still waiting for him one last time.

Yujin’s face was stained with tears. He looked out of the train window, wishing that there was any way to get there faster. He just wanted to see you. He didn’t want to be late; he wouldn’t let himself be late. He was the only person you had left, and if there was one thing he was determined to do, it was to be with you for as long as possible.

He had received countless letters from the hospital, each with updates on your condition. He couldn’t bring himself to read most of them. He didn’t want to accept such a cruel fate. Why were you the one who had to suffer?

You had always been close to Yujin, supporting him in everything he aspired to do. Growing up in a small town, the community was tightly knit. Everyone knew that you and Yujin were inseparable. It was easy to tell that there were romantic feelings involved, especially as you grew older.

But unlike Yujin’s future, which was bright and full of endless possibilities, you didn’t have a future. Yujin’s dream had always been to move to a big city, one with skyscrapers reaching to the sky, one bustling with life and innovation. You were never allowed the privilege to dream as big or bright. It always seemed pointless.

But there was one thing you did allow yourself to dream of. One thing that you had always wanted. To be loved, to be in love. You wanted the same thing all the leads in books or movies had. But now as you lay in your hospital bed, staring at the ceiling and the artificial lights that were way too old to shine bright, you were starting to accept that even that small dream would die with you.

“I wish I could just see him one last time…” You gulped. The small plea was heard by no one, and you were once again reminded that you were so, so alone.

Yujin was breathless when he reached the front desk. The train station was a few miles from the hospital, and he had decided that running would be faster than waiting for a ride. Usually he would get tired from such a long distance, but the adrenaline and desperation to see you allowed him to sprint all the way to the small hospital.

The lady at the front desk, who recognized Yujin from a sprained ankle when he was 5, struggled to understand his hurried and stuttered speech. But, she eventually figured out that he was looking for your room, and directed him to the second floor.

He ignored the signs stating that running was not allowed in the halls, rushing past the elderly patients whose eyes widened at the young boy. All Yujin cared about was getting to you as fast as possible, and when he finally reached room 204, his heart finally stopped racing as fast. 

He took a second to breathe, wiping the sweat that had collected on his forehead. He wanted to look composed and calm in front of you, as if none of this actually affected him. Although, maintaining that in front of you would almost certainly fail. It had already been over a year since he had seen you. Letters and short phone calls were the only contact he had been surviving off since he first left for the city.

He slid the door open and his eyes met yours. Like a habit, your face brightened, and you opened your arms for Yujin to run into. It all felt like the last missing puzzle piece coming together. You held him as tightly as possible, as if he was the one who was going to disappear instead of you. Sobs wracked your body, your one wish allowed to live on for a few moments longer. The boy you loved was in your arms once again; you had survived long enough to see him one last time.

“I thought I wouldn’t make it in time.” Yujin whispered breathlessly, tightening his grip around you as well. He wanted to memorise everything about the feeling before it was too late, so that the last memory he would have of you would be pleasant.

“I waited for you. I would’ve waited longer if I had to.” You told him earnestly.

Yujin’s eyes stung, and he tried to blink back the tears. He couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for you. Alone, faced with nothing but the heartbreaking reality that was dealt to you. He felt guilty for wanting to chase his dream, for not staying by your side for as long as he could. 

“I had to see you again before I said goodbye.” You whispered, face buried in his neck, relief present in your every movement, every breath, every word. Now that you were in Yujin’s arms, death’s sting couldn’t harm you anymore. You weren’t afraid. Although you still wished for more time, you knew it was impossible. So, instead, you were beyond grateful that at least your final moments weren’t spent alone.

Yujin shook his head, unable to hold back his tears for any longer, “I’m too scared to lose you. Don’t die, please, not yet. I can’t let you go yet.” He stuttered, brain panicked as he held onto you tighter, as if he could give some of his life to you. 

You pulled back, wanting to see his face and not just hear his voice. A smile graced your features when you met his eyes. Although he was crying, nose and eyes red and cheeks stained with tears, he still looked beautiful. You cupped his face, wiping one of his tears with your thumb. His lip quivered, and he tried to choke down the wave of emotions that was threatening to hit him. He sniffed, wiping his face of the rest of the tears and clasping your hands with his.

His heart constricted feeling how cold they were. The sight of the IV you were hooked up to, distributing pain medication. His gaze drifted to the monitors to the side of your bed, and the small table in the room. He saw his letters still open on the top of it, neatly ordered from first to last. Even the envelopes were carefully preserved by you. He looked back to you, soaking in your features. You just smiled at him.

“How can you still smile?” He wondered aloud, both awed and dismayed at the sight.

“You came back to me. How could I not be happy?” Your eyes crinkled as your smile brightened, a feeling of pure happiness filling your body, replacing the old feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. You touched his cheek again, tracing the line of his cheekbone and down to his jaw. You had only been away from each other for a year, yet he had still managed to grow more handsome than ever before.

“I wanted to tell you something.” You said softly, immediately grabbing Yujin’s full attention. “Thank you.” It was such a simple statement, just 2 words, yet it felt like Yujin’s heart was completely shattered by them.

You continued with a breath, “Thank you for staying by my side. And thank you for loving me even though you knew you would have to say goodbye. And… thank you for coming back to me.” 

Yujin closed his eyes, kissing the palm of your hand. It was enough to convey his thanks back to you, as well as another message. I love you. He knew if he said anything, he would probably end up crying again. It was better to stay silent, basking in the last moments he would ever have with you.

“I want to kiss you.”

Yujin opened his eyes again, eyes softening as he heard your request. He nodded softly, leaning forward to a distance where you could reach his lips. Your touch was tentative and gentle. It was your first kiss, and you knew it would be your last as well. At least, you were fortunate enough to share it with the boy who stole your heart.

It seemed like you both knew that time was running out. As you rested your head back on the pillows and Yujin swallowed back painful emotions, you were once again faced with your unavoidable end.

“I love you. I know it was hard to wait for me… but you can rest now. You don’t have to fight it anymore. I love you, and that’s why I’m letting you go.” Yujin said softly, mustering a smile for you. Just for you.

“I love you.”

It had been months since he confessed those words to you, yet they seemed to follow him wherever he went. Your hospital bed was long empty. The sheets had been neatly folded on the foot of the bed and the room sanitised, the last traces of you eradicated. It no longer held your possession, nor did it smell like you. But Yujin could still feel your presence somehow. 

Not just in the hospital, but whenever he visited the columbarium just to stare at your picture again. He brought you flowers every time; pink camellias, which had been your favourite since childhood. They represented longing.

Longing.

That was the feeling that stayed with Yujin every day. It was bitter at times, sweet at others. Memories of you played in his mind and made him smile or laugh. The thought of never seeing you again bruised his heart. But he kept going for you, who had always believed in him, always knowing he was capable of anything he put his mind to. While you were still beside him, your words kept him motivated. Now, your memory served the same purpose. Even when you were gone, you were still with him. Not even death could shadow your love for him.

↳ zerobaseone taglist (bolded could not be tagged): @eternalgyu,, @okshu,, @chewryy,, @haecien,, @sobun1est,,

@emmylksblog,, @talkingsaxy,, @thesunsfullmoon,, @chenleszone,, @sxmmerberries,,

@talking-saxy,, @cupidslovearrows,, @dimplewonie,, @50-husbands,, @hursheys,,

@kristianities,, @kangtaehyunzzz

[lazyveran]

legally obligated to ask (jk im just curious) whether you have particular stories/ideas about how/when katara and azula (and any other ATLA characters) got those scars. especially that sicknasty lightning on azula. love that drawing btw.

YES I DOOO!! these r kind of political marriage au, but most do also apply to my canon ideas as well <3

azula:

the lightning scars was azula's first attempt at bending lightning. this was when she was really Far Too Young to try such a deadly technique, but ozai insisted so she did. she was about 10 - maybe 11 - when she tried. no one expected her to actually be able to do it, despite her prodigy status. unfortunately the ridiculous amount of raw power she managed to produce couldnt exactly be handled by A PRETEEN and it offshooted, ricocheting back up her own arm. she has an exit scar somewhere near her nape (which she hides)! it was almost fatal, but ozai was giddy. im thinking shes probably the youngest person in fn history to master lightning bending (i also have a whole personal hc that lightning bending is regarded as sacred, which is a whole other thing. i digress.)

azula's shoulder scars were from a battle in which the tank she was riding in got it's engine destroyed. the damn thing blew up and threw her and a LOT of shrapnel across the battlefield. it took a huge chunk out of her arm and she had to bend w her legs for like the entire battle as a result

she has a bunch of little uneven scars from bending training or the odd practice weapon grazing her - i think a lot of the time she doesnt wait for wounds to heal properly, so she has a lot of shallow scars on her

in the vein of canon, she probably has scarring on the inside of her mouth/throat after breathing fire without proper practice/understanding of how. i also think she fucked up her arm during the western air temple raid bc, seriously, how the fuck did she stop herself falling at terminal velocity with a HAIR PIN. it mangled her hand, her foot and dislocated her shoulder. idc.

[secret info: i have a Story Idea based on azula gaining a physical disability of some kind. highly confidential tho.]

katara:

three clawed scar on her bicep was a wound she picked up during a particularly deadly encounter with a polar beardog. she basically duelled it one on one during a rough winter. while she won (of course) it left its mark on her. she has the pelt in her hut as a trophy for winning against that monster

the scar on her ribs is from a shiv in ba sing se. im thinking during one of her stays in the lower ring her and sokka got pulled into a whole situation with one of the underworld bosses in the area (ala, a corrupt city guard kind of deal, vulturing on the poorest and refugees and of COURSE the siblings wont stand for that). during an encounter they ambush her and manage to knick her pretty deeply. katara sort of sees this one as a badge of honour since the result of that fight saw her save a whole little community in the lower ring

her days as a fighter give katara a bunch of little knicks and scars on her elbows, knees and hands. i think katara uses mobility quite a bit, and her and sokka's war style seems to be more guerrilla based. as such its very rough n environmental, so shes scratching up her limbs a LOT

she also has a pretty hefty chunk bitten out of her thigh during a surprise orca attack on the waves. it was a protracted battle - because orca are like that - and at one point katara gets bit. links into a wider story about her time fighting the fire nation i think! but it was during a period in which she was sinking deeper into using her bending for fighting during the war rather than as a natural extension of herself. to katara, the orca attack was the ocean/spirits' warning to keep the spiritual side of her bending alive, instead of just its utility and violence!

kataras sustained other wounds/scars but her healing usually gets rid of them after a couple sessions. the scars she does keep have a certain meaning to them; like a lesson or reminder to her

[ssum-thinginthewayshemoves]

The Ssum Review 3: It's Raining Men

So! It's been well over a year since my last in-depth review of The Ssum: Forbidden Lab. I didn't write one for the last couple of major changes, so those will be folded into this. (Yes I'm doing this for batteries again).

Since my review from October of last year, Cheritz has added two new routes to the game, as well as updating the UI and adding some extra features. The word document I originally typed this in clocked in at 6 pages only mildly edited, so without further ado, let's get into it.

Note : This review will include spoilers for all three routes, including June's. I won't discuss any major twists from later on in any of the routes, but I will talk about the identity of June's Mystic Messenger connection, if you have any concern about keeping that a surprise.

Boys –

I will sum up my thoughts, feelings, and opinions on each boy through two categories – my opinion on each boy as a character, and my opinion on that boy's route- the way their story is written and told.

Teo

The boy -

Early on in the game's lifespan, before anyone else was released to compare him to, a sizable portion of the fanbase had complaints about Teo, calling him “boring” or “generic”. My opinion is that, being the only option available, it was difficult for his unique qualities to stand out. Now that we have Harry and June to compare him to, I believe his personality is permitted to shine.

And shine it does. Far from being boring, he's a cheerful, friendly boy with a quick sense of humor and a deep love of movie's and film-making. He's a chronic workaholic. He's scared of bugs, ghosts, and horror monsters. He's a terminal optimist who tries to give people the benefit of the doubt. He loves meat and hates carrots. He's a lovesick idiot who wears his heart on his sleeve. I finished his route back in April, and I think about him every day.

The route -

So far, Teo is the only route for which I have fully completed all available content for. 200 entire days of chats and phone calls with this boy, with more days expected to be added at an unknown point in the future. Teo's route has been compared to a train ride- relatively smooth and steady, with some bumps along the way as he lived his life. This applies most clearly to the romantic arc- there are a few arguments and conflicts that pop up between teo and the player during the course of the story. But as to the relationship itself, there's a generally steady uphill pace as the you get to know each other, growing closer and more comfortable with each other. The story remains rather slice-of-life in nature, but Teo's so active that he's always doing something interesting.

Teo's route was, of course, the first route written/released, and therefore misses hallmarks shown in later routes – we get very few opportunities to hear directly from other people in Teo's life, mainly relying on Teo as sole narrator (with the exception of the rare occasions his phone is lost or stolen). This can lead to its own brand of strengths and weaknesses- while it lacks a variety of voices and the punch of different characters interacting, there does come the added layer of Teo as a potentially unreliable narrator. And that does make the rare occasions when someone else has Teo's phone a strange but delightful treat.

Harry

The boy -

Harry's an interesting character. Being the only other boy for what Cheritz has dubbed the “First Season” of the Ssum's storyline, Harry is clearly meant to stand as a narrative foil to Teo, especially early on. Teo is cheerful and friendly, Harry is closed-off and a bit of a misanthrope. Teo's a workaholic, Harry is lazy and very difficult to motivate. Teo's a lovesick idiot, Harry declares early on his route that there is No Such Thing as love. Their roles as narrative foils stands most clearly in the most superficial of their differences: Teo loves meat and absolutely hates carrots, while Harry would be a full vegetarian if he could, and Carrots are his absolute favorite food.

In short, Harry's not the easiest character to get along with. He does show the most growth and change over the route, however, and while the core of his character stays the same, his growth is delightful to watch.

The route -

As mentioned above, Harry is a lazy misanthrope who doesn't believe in love. Not the easiest character to write a romantic arc for! How did Cheritz deal with this, you may ask? By giving him a lot of outside stimuli, with a variety of characters intruding on his quiet life against his will.

The first major difference from Teo's route was the app's AI Piu-Piu as a character- in Harry's Route, Piu-Piu is present from the beginning, giving the player someone to talk to when Harry's not around, and working hard trying to foster a relationship between the player and Harry. In addition, the speech-to-text feature (not implemented until very late in Teo's route) is used liberally from day 2 of Harry's route, allowing us to listen to conversations between Harry and the people around him. It's a creative way to tell more varied stories in the limited format of a private messenger chatroom.

Harry's character arc is pretty closely tied to the romantic arc of this route – Harry starts out as a very closed-off person, but as he interacts more with the player and gets to know them, he starts to open himself up to trying new things and being more adventurous. He's still blunt and frustrating to deal with, but it's been a genuine delight to see him change and grow, however gradually. In short, THIS is the slow burn romance.

June

The Boy-

June's by far the youngest of the boy's currently accessible in the game, 20 years old compared to Teo's 27 and Harry's 28. He's also much more sheltered, suffering from an unspecified illness and therefore forced to live with his mother for his well-being. He's therefore very shy with people he doesn't know very well, and has a lot of self-worth issues tied to his status as an “unemployed moocher” (his words). That said, he positively blossoms when talking to the player, being very affectionate from day one, proving to be a rather chatty, playful young man. He enjoys painting, especially appreciating the works of Monet. He does seem to be rather desperate for affection- I get the sense that he'd bend himself into a pretzel to please the player. I worry about this kids self esteem.

The Route-

Part of the marketing surrounding June included the announced return of Mystic Messenger's writing staff to the team, along with the promise of a more dramatic story. They promised and delivered- June's life is full of drama, both due to his illness and due to the complicated conflicts of the people around him. The poor boy has very little agency in his life due to his illness and position, and there are many moments where the player is forced to stand by and watch as events unfold. Some of these moments effectively act as a gut punch, meant to make the player feel helpless when June's health takes a turn for the worse.

Other's, however, may simply be a poorly executed writing fumble. A separate arc from The Drama™ is the development of June's friendship with his doctor, Henri. Long segments of chats are devoted to listening to the two of them talk and get to know each other, which can prove frustrating when players can't interject and are forced to sit by and watch. The development of their friendship is rather awkwardly implemented, in my opinion- I get the sense that they wanted a bit of an enemies to friends(lovers?) arc, but didn't give themselves the time to properly develop the relationship in the time they'd allotted themselves, and ended up pacing it out poorly.

Now, you may be wondering, what about the romantic arc? You mentioned the romantic arc for the other two boys, what about here? That's the problem, there is none. June loves you right off the bat. Literally from the moment he meets you. And granted, that's part of his story and low self-esteem- June's been using the Ssum app for nearly two years, waiting for a match, and he's so overjoyed to finally match with anyone that he's willing to throw himself into it whole heartedly. But the downside of this is, at least from my perspective, that it feel's hollow. Unearned.

The Mystic Messenger Connection

Another large part of June's marketing was his connection to a character from Mystic Messenger, Cheritz's most popular game. This was left vague in initial advertising, but the connection is revealed very early on in the route. That said, I'm gonna mark the spoilers very visibly for those who want to avoid it. (… honestly who is reading this without already being a fan of the game? This is my the ssum fanblog, y'all are already in here with me. Still, common courtesy.)

SPOILER STARTS HERE

So those who know me well know that I am not particularly fond of Jumin Han from Mystic Messenger. I don't dislike him, per se- I think he's an entertaining and fun character to interact with, as his lack of experience with ordinary people and deadpan sense of humor adds an interesting dynamic to the cast. That said, I do not like his route. It skeeves me out. It's not for me. Big yikes, dude.

That said, it ultimately makes the most sense for June's connection to be through Jumin's birth mother- why wouldn't a divorced woman remarry and have more children, if she were so inclined? Especially since Jumin's father apparently remarried more than once.

The question may be: does this connection to Mystic Messenger overshadow June's story? In one sense, I don't think it does. While June and Jumin's mother Carolyn plays a very prominent role in the story, and while Jumin does show up later, I feel like the story can be easily understood without having played the other game. You don't need to know who any of these crossover characters are to understand what's going on. Anything you need to know is explained. There are a few easter eggs choices sprinkled in here or there for fans of both to enjoy a good callback, but there's no content lockout. (Some moments in game do come across very heavily as Promotional Advertising for Mystic Messenger to The Ssum players. That is annoying.)

In another sense, yes, absolutely. Whatever melodrama doesn't come from June's poor health comes from drama connected to his family- Carolyn arguing, corporate espionage related to Jumin's company, it's just... so much drama. So much unnecessary drama that has nothing to do with June except how the backsplash affects him.

I honestly don't know how to feel about it. I ultimately like the idea of watching estranged half-siblings trying to form a relationship, but I haven't finished the full 30 days yet so I don't know where that will go. I do relish the potential it holds.

SPOILER ENDS HERE

Art

Teo's Art – You may recall from last time that I discussed the shift in art style partway through Teo's route – the “Updated” art from the first month or so, and the “pre-update” style that started from about day 31. I speculated two things- one, that Cheritz would continue to go back and update artwork to this newer style, and that whether or not we'd return to the “updated” or or if the “pre-update” style would remain. Joy of joys, Cheritz did update a little more of Teo's artwork, bringing the next ten days in line with the artwork of the first 30.

Alas, the updated art style never made any appearances later in the route, as I had hoped. That said, as the route went on, the implementation of this art style seemed to improve with practice- there are some very cute pictures of Teo from later on in the route using this style. (Yes I am biased, and yes, there's still a lot of janky art in there)

Harry's Art – I honestly don't have a lot to say about Harry's art. Unlike Teo's it's consistent, and it's pretty good. Harry's generally not expressive, but when he is, it shines. That said, my one critique is, while Teo's route also made liberal use of stock photo's, the stock photos in Harry's route frequently included other people. This came off as a little jarring, especially if any of those photos with Actual Human Beings (run through a filter) also had Harry drawn in alongside them. It's not bad, it's just jarring. Because again, I get it, 200 days worth of pictures is a lot. This is an indie dev with a small art team. This is what stock photos are for.

June's Art – One of the hallmarks of June as the start of 'Season 2 – Love from Today' is the shift in art style. With June's route comes much more stylized artwork, more in line with Cheritz's previous work such as Mystic Messenger. The artwork of June and other characters shown within his route are well-drawn, consistent, and expressive. I do slightly mourn the loss of the more realistic style from Teo and Harry's routes, I understand why they made this shift. I am curious about what June would have looked like in the older art style, but I like what we have.

The other and much more controversial shift that came with June's art was the use of AI-generated backgrounds. Many fans raised concerns with Cheritz about this, citing the ethical considerations. Cheritz has released two statements regarding this: the first, apologizing for the surprising shift and explaining that the dataset they'd been using had been from commercially available sources. To my mind, this doesn't seem particularly different from how they had used Stock Photos as backgrounds in Teo and Harry's route. Still, it's hard not to object just on a basic knee-jerk reaction. It's just not a good look.

A more recent second statement has left me slightly confused with the wording – they've stated that some background artwork in Harry's upcoming content update will include AI generated backgrounds, but clarified that no AI has ever been used for Character artwork, and that they had no intent to do so in the future. My first time reading that statement left me with the impression that they'd meant that they intended to step back from AI-generated backgrounds as well for any future development, but on a closer rereading, I realize that they seem to mean that they never have and never will use AI for the Character Artwork. What this means for the future use of AI in the game in general remains unclear. I do hope they'll switch back to putting filters over stock photos- it was really fun spotting very obviously well known locations (my personal favorite is "The Artist Village" from Teo's route literally being a photo of the Small World attraction at Tokyo Disneyland)

Monetization -

I Can See Your Voice

I mentioned the speech to text feature offhand earlier, but I'll go slightly more in depth here: A feature I had not encountered by the time of my last review, “I Can See Your Voice” in season one and “Voice Recognition” in season two, has seen a lot of use across Harry and Junes routes especially. This may be seen as simply a fun quirk meant to help bring other characters and different kind of interactions and scenes into the story, if it weren't for the paywalled content.

Like the paywalled images, some dialogue from the voice to text content “glitches out”, requiring the player to use the in-game currency (batterys) to view the missing dialogue. Depending on how willing you are to use your batteries on this, it can range from one line you can easily figure out from context, to blocks of missing text in a row. It's frustrating to deal with, but at least for me, it's not that difficult for me to go “fine I guess I don't get to know what you said” and move on with my day. I'm not wasting my batteries on that when I could use them to make phone calls.

Subscription Services and Piu-Piu Plus

I forget when they added this, but there was a fun new, affordable subscription plan added to the Ssum! Called Piu-Piu plus, it has a much more pared down version of the other subscriptions key features- it still unlocks paywalled content such as photos and missing voice-to-text dialogue, and gives a daily supply of temporary batteries with which to make phone calls and choose paywalled options. It also removed the 5 second ads that pop up half the time, and tossed in the “faster typing” as a bonus. This plan is priced at 8USD a month, a much more affordable price, especially considering how much just buying the batteries you would use would cost otherwise.

I ended up using Piu-Piu Plus for one month back in February, and honestly... I kind of loved it. I was able to go back to days gone and unlock the paywalled photos and voice-to-text. Teo and Harry typed faster. Hell, if Harry or Teo were making me wait too long for the next part of the conversation, I could use the temp batteries to skip the wait. After that month ended, it was a little hard to come back to normal, and while I've readjusted since then, I keep thinking “maybe it wouldn't hurt to subscribe for one more month.”

Honestly, especially if you mean to play while juggling multiple routes in the same day, Piu-Piu plus is not a bad option, especially if you're hurting for batteries and want to access as much content as possible. I just wish it had the private account access.

Misc

There isn't really any specific focus here, I just had additional thoughts that didn't fit elsewhere.

I love love LOVE the music in Harry's route. There's a lot more variety in the melodies, and there's an overall Jazz Piano sound to it that just hits me right. I don't have a lot to say about it. It's good music, Brent.

One of the other UI updates that came with the addition of June was Profile Pictures for the expanded cast in each route. Any significant character that Harry or June speaks to with the voice-to-text feature now has a profile picture displayed, along with a specially colored textbox. It's a fun little detail, and I'm delighted to finally have a face to put to names.

The addition of video calls in June's route is a fun addition. The implementation is rather simple (it's not dissimilar to a standard visual novel), but they do some fun things with the new format, such as June lifting his hand to cover the camera if he's trying to hide something from the player. The new Harry content coming in December is supposed to include Video Calls as well, and I'm excited to see what video calls with him are like.

And also, wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles, The Profanity Filter in the Infinite Universe has finally been updated to tell us What Word Is Causing a Problem! No more do you have to sit there wondering why on earth you can't post your post. The app will certainly tell you! And then you can get mad that it won't let you write “wtf”.

Conclusion

I wrapped up my last review discussing the nature of otome games, giving players choice, having an ensemble. We now have three boys to choose from, with more on the way. There's plenty of variety to choose from: Cheerful Teo, Blunt Harry, Sweetie June. While which boy you prefer is ultimately up to taste, there's plenty of entertainment to be had regardless of whose route you play. Ultimately, ask yourself these questions.

Do you enjoy the more melodramatic style of otome games like Mystic Messenger? Or do you like your boys gooey sweet? June's the one for you.

Do you like tall men with deep voices? Do you want a man so weird you want to examine him under a microscope? Do you like a proper opposites attract slow-burn? Harry's the one for you.

Do you want a steady, mostly relaxed slice-of-life story? Do you like yourself a cheerful boy who likes to joke around? Do you enjoy Pining, mutual or otherwise? Teo's the boy for you.

Does this sound exhausting to deal with? You can always put the game down and come back later when you feel more up to it. The dating sim boys will keep. They'll wait. You have that choice.

[airkewld]

Friday June 30th, 2023 | Airkewld HQ | Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam & GEN 2 BAD Series Disc Brake Combo

A major part of the #AirkewldArmy contingent is our dealers who trust in the PRO's when it comes to building projects for their clients and it starts and ends with quality products that makes life easier, not harder.

That is why Auto Fanatik in Florida uses #PRObuilt components from Airkewld.

Alvin and his team are working on a Late-Model Karmann Ghia that needed the drive-train to be adjustable and tunable. Up to 10" of ride height adjustment and 24 different ride quality settings. That is STANDARD with a Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam (4" narrowed) with adjustable shocks from RideTech/Fox Racing. Then couple that with a set of American Made disc brakes, utilizing a 4 Piston Wilwood caliper, coated in Black powder coat. This GEN 2 BAD Brake set up uses a 5x4.50 bolt pattern and can easily be changed out to any other 5 lug configuration in a few minutes and ft lbs, due to the removable bolt patterns on the (Billet Assembled Disc) assembly.

Super trick feature is the hidden speedo cable connection under the Airkewld Star. I love it.

Every PRObuilt Beam comes with a PRObuilt Steering System that allows for an effortless and playless steering enjoyment.

Stage 1 PRObuilt Beam - https://www.airkewld.com/Stage-1-PRObuilt-Adjustable-Beam-Complete-2200-p/2200.htm - $3096.94

Labor to install Brakes - https://www.airkewld.com/Install-Brakes-onto-Ball-Joint-PRObuilt-Beam-p/9825.htm - $75.00

GEN 2 BAD Series Brakes - https://www.airkewld.com/Classic-VW-Front-Disc-Brake-Kit-4152G2-p/4152g2.htm - $1610.40

Total shipped to an R&L Terminal near you (Lower 48 States) ( https://www.airkewld.com/article-a/342.htm ) for pick up, $4700+

Save some moolah with coupon code AKArmy when checking out as well. Due to a high volume of orders, 12-14 weeks is standard turnaround for this.

I am AirkewldArmy

Coming together in a community of like minded enthusiasts who have a passion for the Classic Volkswagen and learning how to build them the right way with education, candor, and safety in mind. Together…., we are the AirkewldArmy.

[jackiewepps]

Jackie in Japan - Highway Bus

So, I went to Nagasaki the other day. It was a lot of fun, but now I'm completely drained, so I'm taking a day off. Trouble is, even if I know I won't make it through the week if I don't do this, I still feel very guilty.

At any rate, I got a few things to talk about, and I have decided to start with the beginning. Usually, that's the best place to start. So, I went with my buddy as it was her parents who invited me to visit their hometown. We took the highway bus. I have never taken that before, and probably will never do it again, not because it was a bad experience, but because I'm not sure I could do it by myself.

Well, anyway, so we arrive at the bus terminal closest to us, in Tenjin. My buddy has reserved a couple of seats for us, so we go and get the tickets. Then we wait. We still have over 20 minutes before our bus leaves, so we wait for a bit.

The terminal is basically a long hallway with seats here and there, like a station or an airport. There are several bus stops, I think at least five. We were at the fourth and I heard the fifth being announced over the speakers. That's another thing. There are speakers announcing when every single bus leaves, which had me think of a big train station.

After 20 minutes, our bus arrived and we boarded. We went to the back and got our seats. They were quite comfortable. There are curtains in the bus as you can sleep, and it seems there is a toilet too. That's a good thing as it is about a 2 hour ride to Nagasaki. My buddy and I both spent the time sleeping.

When it was time to get off and our stop was announced, it seems there were 3 stops in Nagasaki, we pressed a button and the bus stopped to let us off. We had a bit of luggage, so we went and told the driver this and he opened the trunk for us as we could get it. Then it was all over.

As I said, I'll talk more about this. I have one or two more posts to share, so that'll be out in a few days.

Also, I'm going to Kyoto next weekend to see a friend, so I might post something about that too, if there's anything interesting to share.

[jktransport123]

The Complete Guide to Sheffield Airport Transfers: Making Your Travel Smooth and Stress-Free

Travel can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when it comes to navigating transport options before and after a flight. One of the most important elements of a hassle-free trip is securing reliable airport transfers. For travelers flying in or out of South Yorkshire, Sheffield Airport Transfers offer an efficient and seamless way to get from your home, hotel, or office to the airport and back. Whether you’re a business traveler looking for punctuality or a family hoping for a stress-free journey, arranging the right airport transfer service can make all the difference.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about Sheffield Airport Transfers. From understanding why pre-booking is essential to exploring the different types of services available, we’ll walk you through how to make your airport transfer as smooth and convenient as possible.

Why Opt for an Airport Transfer?

Airport transfers are not just a luxury—they’re often a necessity for many travelers. After a long flight, the last thing you want to worry about is how you're going to get to your destination. Here’s why pre-booking an airport transfer service, especially one operating in Sheffield, can enhance your travel experience:

Convenience: The convenience of knowing that your transport is ready when you land is invaluable. Sheffield Airport Transfers can provide door-to-door service, picking you up from your hotel, home, or office and dropping you off right at the terminal.

Time-Saving: Relying on public transport to reach the airport can be time-consuming. Trains and buses can have unpredictable schedules, and taxis may not always be readily available. With a pre-booked transfer, you avoid the hassle of waiting and can save precious time—essential for catching an early flight.

No Hidden Costs: When you book an airport transfer, you know the price upfront. You don’t have to worry about surge pricing or unexpected costs, which can be common with ride-hailing services.

Stress Reduction: Traveling can be stressful, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the city or its public transport systems. Pre-booking your transfer guarantees that your transport is sorted, leaving you with one less thing to worry about.

Reliability: Sheffield Airport Transfers pride themselves on reliability. Professional drivers monitor flight times, ensuring that you are picked up on time, whether your flight is delayed or arrives early.Reliable Airport Taxi Sheffield

Types of Sheffield Airport Transfers

There are several types of airport transfer services available to suit different traveler needs. Whether you're traveling solo, with a group, or with family, you’ll find a service tailored to your requirements.

1. Private Airport Transfers

Private transfers are an excellent option for those who value comfort and privacy. A private car will be waiting for you at your designated pick-up point and will take you directly to the airport or your accommodation without any stops in between.

Best for: Business travelers, families, or anyone who wants a quick and direct transfer.

Advantages: You won’t have to share the vehicle with strangers, and the driver is dedicated to your specific journey.

2. Shared Airport Transfers

For budget-conscious travelers, shared airport transfers can be a great alternative. These services offer transportation in larger vehicles such as minibuses or shuttles, which you share with other passengers traveling in the same direction.

Best for: Solo travelers, couples, or anyone looking to save money.

Advantages: Shared transfers are more affordable, and you still get the convenience of being dropped off directly at your destination.

3. Luxury Transfers

If you're looking to add a touch of luxury to your journey, consider a high-end transfer service. With premium vehicles like sedans or even limousines, luxury transfers provide maximum comfort and style.

Best for: VIPs, special occasions, or anyone wanting to travel in style.

Advantages: Professional chauffeurs, plush interiors, and extra amenities such as refreshments and Wi-Fi.

4. Executive Transfers

For business travelers, executive airport transfers offer an efficient, comfortable, and professional experience. These services often include luxury cars driven by experienced chauffeurs who understand the importance of punctuality.

Best for: Corporate clients, high-level executives, and business professionals.

Advantages: Guaranteed punctuality, comfort, and discretion, along with Wi-Fi and other in-car services to help you continue working on the move.

How to Choose the Right Sheffield Airport Transfer Service

Choosing the right transfer service depends on your individual needs. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:

1. Group Size

The size of your traveling party will play a significant role in determining which transfer service is best for you. If you're traveling solo or with a small group, a private or shared transfer may be the most practical. Larger groups might want to opt for a shuttle or a private minibus.

2. Budget

Airport transfers can vary widely in price depending on the type of service you choose. If budget is your priority, shared transfers may be the best option. On the other hand, if you’re willing to pay for a more luxurious or private experience, executive or luxury transfers are available.

3. Timing

For travelers with tight schedules or those catching early-morning flights, reliability and punctuality are crucial. Look for a service that has a reputation for being on time and offers flight tracking to accommodate delays or early arrivals.

4. Special Requirements

Do you need extra luggage space, child seats, or special accommodations? Be sure to communicate any specific requirements when booking to ensure the vehicle is suitable for your needs.

5. Distance and Location

Some airport transfer services offer flat rates within certain zones, while others may charge based on distance. Make sure to inquire about pricing structures if your destination is far from the city center.

Booking Your Sheffield Airport Transfer

Booking a Sheffield airport transfer is simple. Most companies offer online booking systems where you can enter your pick-up location, flight details, and any special requests. Once booked, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details such as your driver’s name and contact number, as well as the make and model of the vehicle.

Tips for a Seamless Booking:

Book Early: Booking in advance ensures you get the best rates and availability, especially during peak travel seasons.

Provide Accurate Information: Double-check that you’ve provided the correct flight details, especially your flight number and landing time, so that the driver can adjust to any schedule changes.

Confirm Pick-Up Times: If you're traveling domestically, aim to be at the airport 2 hours before departure. For international flights, 3 hours is standard. Confirm your pick-up time with the transfer company to ensure you arrive with enough time to check-in and clear security.

Check for Inclusions: Some transfer services include amenities like Wi-Fi, bottled water, or child seats. Be sure to ask if these are provided or if they incur an extra charge.

What to Expect on the Day of Your Transfer

On the day of your airport transfer, the driver will typically meet you at a pre-arranged location. If you’re being picked up from the airport, many transfer companies offer a meet-and-greet service, where the driver will wait for you at the arrivals gate holding a sign with your name. This can be particularly helpful in a busy airport environment.

Airport Arrival:

Meet & Greet Service: For convenience, choose a service that offers meet and greet, which ensures your driver is ready and waiting as soon as you step through the gate.

Baggage Assistance: Many drivers are happy to help you with your luggage, especially if you’re traveling with children or elderly passengers.

Payment Options: Most services allow payment in advance through online booking, but check if cash payments are accepted if you prefer to pay after the trip.

Conclusion

Sheffield Airport Transfers l part of a stress-free travel experience, particularly in a bustling city like Sheffield. Whether you’re a frequent business traveler or a holidaymaker, choosing the right Sheffield Airport Transfer can ensure your journey starts and ends on a smooth note. From private and shared options to luxury and executive services, there’s a transfer solution to fit every budget and preference.

[exfaujitaxicab]

Pune to Shirdi Cab Booking: Your Helpful Travel Arrangement

While arranging an outing from Pune to Shirdi, solace and comfort are key factors to consider. One of the most mind-blowing choices for a problem free excursion is Pune to shirdi cab booking. This article will investigate why cab travel is the best decision, giving helpful hints and bits of knowledge to make your process smooth and pleasant.

Why Pick a Pune to Shirdi Cab?

Solace and Comfort

Going by cab from Pune to Shirdi guarantees that you partake in an agreeable and loosened up ride. In contrast to public vehicle, where you want to stick to stringent timetables, cabs offer adaptability. You can pick your own flight time, enjoy reprieves at whatever point required, and travel at your own speed.

Time Proficiency

The distance among Pune and Shirdi is roughly 200 kilometers, and the excursion takes around 4 to 5 hours by street. Deciding on a Pune to Shirdi cab. permits you to keep away from postponements and arrive at your objective quicker contrasted with transports or trains, which have various stops. You can likewise take the quickest course, making your outing additional time-proficient.

House to house Administration

One of the principal benefits of booking a cab is the house to house administration it offers. Whether you're withdrawing from your home, inn, or office, a cab will get you and drop you off precisely at your ideal objective in Shirdi, saving you the problem of driving to a bus stop or rail line terminal.

Customizable Schedule

At the point when you book a Pune to Shirdi cab, you can design your excursion in light of your inclinations. In the event that you wish to visit places en route, for example, the Ranjangaon Ganpati Sanctuary or Ahmednagar Post, you can undoubtedly demand the cab driver to make stops at these areas. This adaptability makes your outing more charming and customized.

Instructions to Book a Pune to Shirdi Cab

Booking a Pune to Shirdi cab is straightforward and should be possible in a couple of simple tasks:

Online Cab Aggregators

A few internet based stages permit you to book cabs from Pune to Shirdi. Sites and portable applications like Ola, Uber, and other nearby taxi administrations give a consistent encounter to booking. You can browse different cab choices like vehicles, SUVs, or even extravagance vehicles relying upon your financial plan and prerequisites.

Direct Flag down to Cab Administrations

Assuming that you favor talking straightforwardly to the specialist co-ops, many cab organizations offer booking administrations via telephone. This strategy is fast and permits you to explain any questions or extraordinary solicitations during the discussion.

Admission Correlation

Prior to booking, it's vital to look at cab charges across various stages. Many cab administrations offer limits and bundles that can set aside you cash. Guarantee that you check for extra charges, for example, toll expenses and late evening driving expenses, to keep away from any astonishments.

Tips for a Smooth Pune to Shirdi Cab Excursion

Book Ahead of time

During top seasons, for example, celebration times and ends of the week, cabs can be popular. Booking your Pune to Shirdi cab ahead of time guarantees that you secure a vehicle at the most ideal rate.

Confirm the Driver's Certifications

While booking a cab, guarantee that the driver is capable and acquainted with the course. Perusing customer surveys and checking the driver's evaluating on web-based stages can give you bits of knowledge into the nature of administration.

Convey Basics

However the excursion isn't too lengthy, it's really smart to convey water, snacks, and any important medicine to guarantee an agreeable ride. Wearing happy with dress and conveying a little cushion can make your excursion more wonderful.

End

Booking a Pune to Shirdi cab is the best travel answer for those searching for comfort, solace, and time productivity. With customizable schedules, house to house administration, and a loosening up ride, a cab venture from Pune to Shirdi guarantees that you show up at your objective invigorated and prepared for your otherworldly involvement with the well known Shirdi Sai Baba Sanctuary. Along these lines, try to prepare, think about passages, and partake in your tranquil outing from Pune to Shirdi!

[umichenginabroad]

Week 1: Transportation in Buenos Aires!

Hola a todos! I arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina just 5 days ago, but I already feel at home in this hustling city! I arrived, of course, by airplane to the EZE airport. I was then picked up by a taxi arranged by the study abroad program through CEA Capa and taken to my homestay. I am staying with a lovely woman, Pope, along with a classmate throughout the duration of this program. 

Upon being picked up from the airport, a representative from the program gave each student a sube card. This card is the holy grail of transportation throughout the city. It is used on all of the bus lines throughout the city as well as the subway (or the subte as it is called in Buenos Aires). The card was loaded with enough fare to get us to orientation the following day. 

The following day, Pope assisted my classmate and I to the University where we will be studying and showed us how to navigate the bus system. Then we did an orientation where we were shown how to exchange money and how to load credit onto the sube cards. The public transportation in Buenos Aires is relatively cheap. I loaded $5,000 pesos onto my card (equivalent to $5 USD), and it has lasted me the entire week traveling to and from the University. I still have more than half of my balance left!

I have mostly been using the subte to travel throughout the city. It is crowded and stuffy, but it is such a convenient way to move around the city. And it is a great place for people watching! Almost every day we have seen some sort of live music performance in the terminal or on the train. One day two boys brought a speaker and rapped for the duration of our ride. Another day we witnessed a man playing the saxophone in the terminal. There are also always people trying to sell things in the subte. 

The other main way that I have been getting around the city is walking. Although the city is very big (larger than New York City), each neighborhood is very walkable. There is always something new to see when you are walking the streets of Buenos Aires. Here are just some of the views that I’ve stumbled upon while strolling through the city:

A Patagonian Mara eating grass in the Ecoparque located in Palermo, Buenos Aires. 

La Casa Rosada: The Argentine President’s Official Workspace. 

Puente de la Mujer: This bridge is supposed to represent a couple doing a traditional tango step.

Other popular modes of transportation around the city include bus, taxi, and Uber, but I have not had a ton of experience with any of those options. I’m sure I will utilize more of them as I continue throughout this program, but for now, that’s all I have about transportation! 

I hope that this was informative for anyone interested, and I look forward to telling you all more about this beautiful city next week! 

Jaselyn Porter

Biomedical Engineering

Engineering in Argentina

[asterlizard]

UK Trip October 2023 (Part 14)

This is the final post! We head home!

Saw a lot of these parakeets during this leg of the trip. These ones would keep squawking to each other

We then made our way back home, though not before we decided to get another suitcase for our new pile of things to bring home.

We ran into another problem with the Tube on the way (signal failure?) but we eventually reached a place that sells luggage bags (we found a British shop with an entire floor downstairs dedicated to luggage (the guy even said, 'Welcome to Luggage Paradise!') A bit of haggling went on before we decided on a 50+ ￡ bag, which I nicknamed Strawberry due to the colour (our other bag I retroactively nickname Custard). We then go to buy some sweets for me to bring home, and there was a pick-n-mix which I took advantage of!

So cute!

Woke up a bit earlier than usual the next day to get to the airport. Mum's friend's husband helped us out until the bus stop while mum's friend rode with us on the Tube to our destination. We were riding until we, yet again, ran into some rail issues! While waiting for another train, a few people asked us how to get to certain terminals (mum got chatting with an older couple from Calgary Canada where she used to live). Got on the Elizabeth Line to get to our destination Heathrow T2. A nice chap who works on the Tube escorted us to the lifts so we could get to the E Line, which was a relief for mum's friend who doesn't enjoy the long escalators (also we had huge luggage with us which would have required the lifts anyway). On the way down, he respectfully brought up how there are services for those who want to get over their phobias, and escalators are a common one they get.

Once we were at the airport, we checked in (I had to use my US passport, because it was too confusing to use with my UK pass) and they had a couple of coffees before we had a bittersweet farewell before going through the security check.

A reference to this Heinz luggage ad (brief pulsing light warning at the 39 second mark): [link]

Customs was a little different during this entire trip, both coming and going. I didn't need to take off my shoes, and didn't need to take my computer out of the carry-on bag. But I forgot to remove my belt before walking through the scanner. BUT I didn't get beeped (I was also wearing the trousers which didn't get me in trouble during my last visit) so ???????

Saw an automated floor cleaning robot doing its best!

It was about 2 hours before our flight left, so Mum and I wanted to get something to eat in the meantime. We had a look around at what restaurants and other food places were available. There were some interesting places, but in the end we got sandwiches at Pret a Manger (I got a falafel veggie wrap, yum!) Someone at the tech + headphone shop let a remote controlled toy car run loose (a few feet from the shop) before going to pick it up

It was time to head to our plane, so we walked over to board it 30 minutes before planned takeoff (the sign said 'Closed' around when we were boarding, just made it!) Initially we sat in the same aisle as another bloke (who had the window seat and closed the window! No!!!) But thankfully mum and I got our own aisle to ourselves again (though it was a 2-seater rather than a 3-seater, so no lying down allowed!) There were some more people compared to the previous flight, but it still wasn't too crowded. We were an aisle and segment away from a sick child though (hoping we didn't catch anything, but as of writing this, nothing happened!)

This weather reflected my feelings of having to leave...

I got to watch two films:

'Yuudo': a calm, charming story about a bath house that brings the locals together

'Corpse Bride': a film I wasn't interested in at first when it first released, but have gotten vaguely interested in in recent years but never had a chance to watch until now (Typically I would choose foreign films to watch on the plane because they had subtitles, but Corpse Bride didn't come with any captions, so I had a bit of trouble hearing it over the airplane noise, but I got the gist of it)

For once I got an airplane meal that actually tasted pretty good! (Raviolini with tomato sauce) Unfortunately I felt nauseous for no reason for the rest of the flight and didn't want to eat any other meals (apparently I missed out on eating a wrap that I might have enjoyed)

I saw these islands off the coast of California and wondered what they were. Apparently they're the Farallon islands, which has research bases on them. I had no idea there was more off the coast!

After landing, we made our way over to the bag carousel to collect Strawberry and Custard, and then went to catch another ride from the same ride-share service. This time someone else drove us home, though this time our journey was silent.

We got home in good time, and I had a quick small dessert before going to bed at 8:30 PM.

A great trip overall, there were some things I wanted to do that I didn't get a chance to do, so I'm hoping another trip will be on the horizon soon!

[bike42]

Transfer Days: Thursday and Friday

It shouldn't be that difficult to travel from the west coast of Ireland to Northern Scotland, but it is. There is a Ferry from Belfast, but it only runs late at night and gets to a southwestern port of Scotland, so we’d still burn a day traveling to Inverness! So we opted to fly, but flights out of Shannon had only two options: 7 am (would have been 4am departure from the Falls Hotel) or 5 pm. That option meant a lot of waiting on our hands. We arrived at Shannon at 10am with most of our group. We said goodbye and they checked in, cleared security and prepared to fly home. We couldn’t even check in for our flight until until 3pm. We found a nice table and passed the time playing cribbage - I got skunked by JT in back-to-back games, catching up my blog and reading. At 3pm, we checked in, cleared security, I figured out the VAT tax refund kiosk and got €18 back from my scarf purchase. We went to the bar and ordered pints of Guinness for a last, sad round while we tried to watch the cricket game on TV, then it was time to board our AerLingus flight to Heathrow. I’d booked these via British Air, and there was not even a business class - just one large packed plane full of people. We took our places in the 10th row and realized how spoiled we’ve been flying Delta Plus or First Class most of the last couple of years! It was a short one hour flight to London - no service other than the stewards with a cart of “Duty Free Cigarettes” that they were selling!

We arrived at Heathrow and figured out to clear customs and made our way via train from Terminal 1 to Terminal 5. That took about an hour, and we had two hours between fights. We found that our next leg to Edinburgh was a bit delayed, so we grabbed a burger and walked the designer shops in the terminal until they around a departure time and gate for our flight. This time we were sandwiched into the 17th row! We arrived in Edinburgh about 11pm, so late that they had us unload the plane via the stairs and load a bus to drive to the terminal. We claimed our bags and grabbed a cab for the very short ride to Moxy - a new funky Marriott brand that had a hotel a half mile from the airport. It was about midnight when we climbed into bed for a short nights sleep. We were glad we weren’t staying there long - it was a very comfortable bed with awesome pillows, but a tiny room with no closet and a tiny bathroom. Yoga wouldn’t have been possible in that room!

I’m not sure what I was thinking booking a hotel at the airport when we had 8:30am train reservation at the city center train station, but we had a lovely 30 minute cab ride into the city Friday morning and saw some of the sites of Edinburgh. I’m sure our cabbie would have pointed out more sites, but we really struggled to understand him!

We arrived at the train station in plenty of time to figure out how to print out our pre-purchased tickets from the kiosk and get the lay of the land. They didn’t announce our departure platform until 10 minutes before departure so we had a fast hustle to platform 16 but knew how to work the turnstiles and stash our suitcases so we were better off than many! On the first class train car, we shared a table with a nice couple (Jerry and Sherry) now living in Delaware, originally from California. We passed the three hours on the way to Inverness, swapping stories and hearing about what they had planned for their two weeks in Scotland. I remarked to Jeff that it was refreshing to connect so well with a couple after so many frustrating attempts at conversation with some of the others on our M&M trip - that was a tour of odd ducks (probably what they thought about us too no doubt). When we arrived in Inverness, Jerry offered to grab a cab that could take us to our rented cottage, but it was just a half mile and it was a nice sunny day (again!) so we opted to walk. We may see them tonight at one of the pubs they’d researched for music tonight.

We had an easy walk across the River Ness to our VRBO cottage and found the key in the lock box - always a relief. It’s a really cute little place with bed and bath upstairs and a tiny little kitchen and living space downstairs. A welcome change after two weeks of hotels. This is now our SEVENTH accommodation and we’re getting good at packing up and transferring - packing cube system is working well.

We were starving - only had an energy bite and a pack of shortbread cookies so far today and it was after 1pm. We walked around the corner and had a great lunch and then walked across the street to the grocery store to buy some provisions to make our own breakfasts for the next two mornings (no more big Irish Breakfasts for us!). Back to the cottage, Jeff plopped down on the leather sofa and declared it perfect for napping. These two days of travel, even with lots of downtime have worn us out so it’s good to have this time before jumping into phase three of this journey!

I did a yoga session while JT rested and worked on a Spanish lesson. At 7p we headed out again. The couple we’d met on the train said there would be live music tonight at Hootenanny’s or McGregor’s. We had dinner at McGregor’s which was a more modern place. We chatted with a nice couple from the Chicago area - again, I was relieved to be able to connect with another couple after last weeks’ tour - feeling hopeful about next week’s tour! The music there, however, was disappointing. A talented guy on piano, but doing covers of older American songs (particularly bad rendition of Folsom Prison Blues). After dinner and some yummy Scottish stouts, we headed to Hootenanny’s. A Scottish trio was just setting up to play, so we had single malt whisky (no “e” here in Scotland), and snagged to seats in front. The music was all instrumental - a talented guy on an accordion and he tried to chat up the audience but it fell a bit flat. I liked his kilt though - looked like it could have been a Carhart!

The town was hopping as we walked back to our cottage just before 10pm. Glad we’re in a quieter neighborhood!

[sherwoodtaxi]

How can we ensure that I get a reliable and safe taxi ride in Sherwood Park?

Cabs in Sherwood park

Making certain that you obtain a trustworthy as well as risk-free taxi trip in Sherwood Park is a leading priority for many guests. Whether you are traveling to a business conference, or flight terminal, or just require a ride to a local destination, it is important to find a trusted taxi firm that you can rely on. In this short article, we will review some tips and also the finest techniques for making sure a risk-free as well as stress-free taxi flight in Sherwood Park.

Research Study the Taxi Company

One of the very best methods to ensure a safe as well as dependable taxi flight is to investigate the various taxi business running in Sherwood Park. This can aid you find out more concerning the company's online reputation, integrity, and also safety and security protocols. You can start by considering on-line evaluations and scores for different taxi firms, in addition to asking pals or co-workers  for suggestions.

When investigating taxi companies, it is important to take notice of aspects such as driver training as well as experience, car maintenance, and customer care. You may likewise intend to try to find firms that have modern-day as well as properly maintained lorries, along with motorists who are licensed as well as insured.

Look For Safety Certifications

One more way to guarantee a risk-free and trusted taxi trip is to check for safety accreditations and laws. In Sherwood Park, all taxi business are needed to follow provincial laws and have a legitimate operating permit. This ensures that the taxi business fulfills specific security requirements as well as protocols, such as lorry inspections as well as motorist training.

You can also look for various other security certifications or subscriptions that the taxi firm might have. As an example, some taxi firms are participants of local or nationwide taxi associations, which can offer added safety and security as well as quality assurance.

Inquire About Hygiene Protocols

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous taxi firms have carried out extra health procedures to make certain the safety of their guests and also chauffeurs. When scheduling a taxi trip, you may intend to ask about the hygiene procedures that the business complies with. This may consist of procedures such as regular lorry cleansing, hand sanitizer for guests, and also obligatory mask-wearing for vehicle drivers and also travelers.

Book ahead of time

Ultimately, one of the very best ways to make sure a secure and also reliable  cabs in Sherwood Park is to publication ahead of time. This can help you stay clear of hailing a taxicab on the street, which can be less dependable and also might not offer the very same level of safety and also safety and security as a pre-booked ride. By scheduling beforehand, you can also ensure that the taxi business has adequate time to prepare for your flight and ensure that every little thing remains in order.

To conclude, guaranteeing a risk-free and trustworthy taxi ride in Sherwood Park needs a little bit of research as well as due diligence. By taking the time to research various taxi firms, look for security qualifications, inquire about hygiene methods, and book in advance, you can boost your chances of having a risk-free and also stress-free trip.

Value of taxis in Sherwood park.

Taxis play an essential function in the transport infrastructure of Sherwood Park. This area in Alberta, Canada, has a flourishing economic situation and a vibrant society, as well as cabs are an important part of getting around for residents, visitors, and company tourists alike. Here are a couple of crucial reasons why taxicabs are necessary in Sherwood Park:.

Accessibility to Reliable and also Convenient Transportation.

Taxis supply an accessible and convenient setting of transport for people who might not have access to an auto or like not to drive. This consists of locals that do not have a vehicle, vacationers that are visiting the location, as well as company tourists that need to get to conferences and consultations. Taxicabs are readily available 24/7 and also can be scheduled ahead of time or hailed on the street, providing flexibility and ease for travelers.

Support for Local Businesses.

The taxi in Sherwood Park is an important part of the local economy, supporting various small companies as well as providing work for motorists as well as other support team. By choosing to take a cab as opposed to driving, travelers can aid support these local companies and also contribute to the local economic situation.

Reduced Traffic Congestion and Emissions.

Taxis can additionally help in reducing traffic jam as well as emissions in Sherwood Park. By giving a common mode of transportation, taxis can help reduce the number of autos on the road and the linked exhausts. This can have a favorable effect on the atmosphere and also improve the lifestyle for citizens in the community.

Safe and also Reliable Transportation.

Lastly, taxis offer a secure and also trustworthy mode of transportation for travelers in Sherwood Park. With rigorous laws and security procedures in position, taxicabs are called for to follow high requirements of chauffeur training, vehicle upkeep, and precaution. This helps make certain that guests can feel confident and secure when taking a taxi, whether they are taking a trip a brief distance or a long one.

To conclude, cabs are an important part of the transport infrastructure in Sherwood Park. By giving accessibility to reliable as well as convenient transportation, supporting regional organizations, lowering traffic jams as well as discharges, and providing a secure as well as dependable setting of transport, taxis are an essential part of the neighborhood and also play an essential function in the everyday lives of locals, site visitors, and company travelers.

[daisyvstheworld]

Day 17 - Jan 17 - Grindelwald/Jungfraujoch

I woke up super early for NO REASON bc I didn’t even make my original train. I was sad that I was leaving so I took my fine time. I pooped and then I packed up, went down to breakfast at 7:10ish. The breakfast buffet was so nice!! The restaurant was super pretty and the mountain was just appearing as the sun was rising. There was an omelette station but I just got scrambled eggs, some mini waffles (bad), fruit, cheese to sample, and coffee. Turns out they had yogurt lol I didn’t have to buy yesterday. Wish I had known.

I was originally planning to get to the train station for the 7:48am departure but I took too long to eat and poop again, and then the front desk wasn’t open so I couldn’t check out until 7:55am :( the lady said the bus ran every 15 mins but I waited and it never came so I just walked down to the Grindelwald station and waited for the 8:18am departure. There was a huge group of Korean tourists that all went WHAAAA at a flock of birds flying away

Anyways that group left on a different train and I hopped on mine. Once I got to the terminal, it looked like there were only skiers and I was like uhh wtf am I not supposed to be here.. but eventually I saw 2-3 other tourists. The lockers didn’t work so I had to pay 10 francs to put them in the peoples back office -_-

The view up was soooo pretty!! It’s kind of cloudy today but I think it’s supposed to clear up a bit at the top. Idk I hope so at least.

I went to the bathroom once we got to Eigergletscher since the next train wasn’t departing for 20 mins and literally when I got out of the stall, a bunch of people were waiting in line and then this huge ass group of like 40 Korean tourists showed up at the ticket line I was like wtf

We got on the tram and it was a 30min or so ride up, through a tunnel in the mountain.

OoF this altitude!! We took a stop at Eismeer and of course it’s cloudy and shit so you can’t really see anything but you can see how vast the snow valley is. And it’s windy so it was cool to see the little snow storm

Once we got to the top; the swarm of Korean tourists began hahah I did the tour a little out of order because it was so chaotic but it worked out! My selfie stick really came in clutch

Unfortunately it was super cloudy and windy so you can’t really see much 😭😭 but I got some cool photos and they even had a little picture op showing that this was a film location for Crash Landing on You.

The Lindt workshop area didn’t appear to be open and Restaurant Crystal looked closed too but I found out it just opened at 11am so I just waited a couple minutes for it open and ordered my alcoholic coffee and cheesecake 😊 took my Pepcid AND lactaid like a responsible asian. Lowkey I was hoping the sky would clear up a little before I left 🥲 it did not lol so I left.. a little disappointing but tbh I should’ve checked. When I checked, it said it was gonna be sunny but it LIED or I forget when it was supposed to be sunny and I left too early.. but I rather go to Lausanne than wait for the chance of it potentially clearing up even though it looked very unlikely. NEVERTHELESS, I am grateful for the opportunity and it felt cool to just be at the top. It does have a kind of surreal splendor being that high up surrounded by snow and winds. It feels like I shouldn’t be there considering how wild the weather is. Wish it was a little/lot clearer but no regrets!!!

Ok I’m on the last train rn to Lausanne.. and oh my god. Taking trains in Switzerland is nice but sometimes you gotta pray your train is on time or you’ll mess up your ENTIRE schedule. I’m done with transfers now but I just took 3 trains to get to where I am now. If I missed any of them, I’d be panicking.. the train from Interlaken to Spielz was stressful bc we just stopped 10 mins out from the station to wait for an oncoming train??? So the announcer said we’d be a few minutes late and I was like BRUH we’re supposed to arrive at 1:51 and then I’m supposed to catch a different train at 1:54!!!! What do you MEAN A FEW MINUTES LATE

Luckily we were on time or just a minute or so late and it’s a small station so I just sprinted across the platform and got on the next train. I’ve had to take out my passport every single time they check my ticket, but luckily I think I only have to do it once more after this when I take this train later to get to Geneva. It’s been snowing all over the country, it’s quite pretty!

I got hungry and ate the last pretzel bread, but as I was eating I realized that this bread is like 3 days old.. like I brought it all the way from Salzburg, Austria… oh well, it’s in tummy now. Along with the random shit I had for breakfast, a coffee with whipped cream and Williams, and a cheesecake. Lol.

JESUS CRISTO

Je is back on the train to Geneva - it’s 6:15pm. I have sweat so much today. I am wearing SO MANY LAYERS. I went from being in -18 degree weather to like 35/40 degree weather carrying all my bags and walking up hills. To say I was sweating at the Olympic Museum is a SEVERE understatement. I thought I was gonna have a freaking panic attack, but I didn’t wanna waste time by taking layers off bc the museum was closing in 2 hours. The museum was suuuuper cool!! Gave a history of the Olympics going back to the origin in Athens and moving to modern Olympics who apparently a French man brought back in the early 1920s, ain’t that wild! He was very much about the unity of art and sport. There were exhibits on the development of Olympic sport, the host cities, the demonstration of art and culture, ALL the torches from the ceremonies displayed, and the stories behind them all. I wish I had more time bc it was truly so cool. Then they had an exhibit of artifacts donated by athletes and the games. The last one was more interactive and shows the athletes village, their nutrition/health/well-being, and a zone for people to play games and such. Quite cool, quite cool indeed. Again, wish I had more time. But I rushed the last bit to make sure I had time to walk through the gift shop really quick, go to the bathroom, and grab my stuff. I took a couple of quick photos at the Olympic park and started back. I feel so musty at this point (and hungry) that I just wanted to get to Geneva. I walked back to the metro and hopped on the Ouchy line back to Lausanne Gare. It’s only 2 very quick stops, but when we hit the first stop, this man came SLIDING into the door and ended up not even getting in. His foot didn’t make it through the train door, only the station door. It looked so painful though - he was a pretty skinny man and I think he slipped on accident. He got up pretty fast though. But I gasped really loudly bc it felt like a cartoon in a movie.

Anyways I got on the train. It’s quite packed. I wanted to eat but I don’t wanna eat in front of all these people so I guess I wait until I get to Geneva.. and walk 10-15 mins to my hostel 😭😭.. and check in… 😭😭😭

I have done so much today. I’ve taken 7 trains today. Plus the metro. I’m so tired 😭

[rackmount-official-my-ass]

data center side of tumblr here

this story. makes me. livid.

i work in data centers. (not twitter.) my job is probably what Alex from Uzbekistan does. i deploy racks and servers, i identify broken machines, i order and swap parts, and i decommission old equipment. when a hard drive fails, it often still has your data on it. it’s my job to carry that “dirty media” from the machine to a hydraulic crusher, where the platters are bent or shattered, for your security.

it cannot be understated how wrong this all is. red for safety hazards, orange for security hazards, blue for legal and liability hazards, pink for what the fuck did you think would happen you maladapted baboon

- you don’t just let someone in because they look like the CEO…that should have taken at least like an hour to get access filed. also it’s not your building.

- you do not raise the floor tiles without authorization. you don’t know what’s down there (generally just (big) power cables and a lot of forced cold air). it’s a confined space with electrocution and arc flash hazards. (these power cables are probably about a quarter to a silver dollar in diameter; see C60309.) also that’s probably not your space.

- you ABSOLUTELY do not…what was the word? “jimmy open”? an electrical panel with a knife??? your ass is not a Qualified Electrical Worker, and in a colocated data center like this one, that’s not your property. (!!) even if the subfloor was properly secured with cage wall to keep you out of other people’s space, he is now at the point of 1) trying to die and 2) endangering other companies’ equipment (the colo owns the power equipment, and other tenants could be sharing that power equipment with you).

- yeah just unplug some shit and see what happens. fuck you.

- DID I MENTION ENERGIZED CIRCUIT. the colo or other QEW opens the breaker for the circuit before you disconnect the cable. this is how you get arc flashes! you will be fucking vaporized!

- hello? shipment order? did you just walk into the dock and yell at the dock master until he opened the door? security??

- seriously, floor weight ratings are real and not a joke

- racks go in crates so they don’t break their casters or tip over or bang into each other during shipment

- an empty standard rack is heavy. at eight feet, these were probably 48U? even heavier. massive tipping risk. full of servers? fucking bonkers. i was moving a rack with a guy once (we were not trained for that btw) and he wasn’t paying attention and smashed his finger between the rolling metal and a structural I-beam running floor-to-ceiling. the only reason he kept the finger was because his wedding ring took most of the blow. he had a cast for a few weeks. data centers are dangerous, training is life safety critical, and procedures must be followed.

- so yeah we’re just gonna jam all of these full racks into a truck that shouldn’t be parked here, on no notice. probably about 5 tons every 3-4 feet along the length of the trailer. consumer-grade straps. no crate, no pallet, no bracing, just a 500 mile bumpy ride for those casters.

- “nobody told me there was data on the servers boo hoo how was i supposed to know” you’re a fucking moron and you should feel bad. what in god’s green ass did you think was on them. WHAT DO YOU THINK SERVERS ARE

- btw did you idk logically decommission any of the servers or switches or routers? nope. when they get to Portland, they will still think they’re in Sacramento.

- hey so where do you want these put? just wherever? ok. so what do you want them plugged into? just whatever? …ok… that’s not how networks work but alright.

like. it takes a couple months of notice generally when they send me a new rack to deploy. i have to get the colo to remove a cage wall because the door is too short to roll the thing in, coordinate a contractor to brace the rack (drill 3/4” holes and drop 3’ bolts into the ground, basically), load the servers into the rack, terminate copper and pull fiber for the switch and management gear, file a ticket to have the colo energize the circuit, and then the physical turnup is done. that’s on top of my regular maintenance work. after that, i kick off the logical side of the turnup, wherein the switch is onboarded into the network and QA tested, then the same for the servers. a typo can fuck it all up for weeks. someone forgetting a step, weeks.

i will give him a pass on using the term “server centers” because he’s not from the US and idk what they called them where he grew up. never heard that term before though.

if some rich asshole walked into my DC and started pulling this shit, I would have said “I need you to stop what you’re doing because it seems dangerous”—this is exercising my stop work authority—and when he ignored me i would gtfo of that data hall and get security. and i would be calling the building owners to be sure they’re aware of what’s going on. and i would be writing everything down so i have a record for whatever investigations happen next.

and yeah—mad props to the infra eng at twitter for how the service handled a trusted adversary unplugging thousands of machines at once and then popping them up in a different region. that is absolutely insane and a lesser platform would not have survived. i’m impressed.

fuck elmo

speaking of twitter's skeleton crew, here's an absolutely unhinged article