#eagle cement corporation

[arunparia]

A Day at the Sea

Sunday mornings were kept aside to visit the beach — that was the family’s weekly picnic. The men wore short shorts looking unfashionable, fat; hopping on the boiling sand barefoot, chappals in hand. The women took time to have their pick from the opaque salwars, to make inconspicuous bathing suits.

Later, they claimed they were late because they were making coffee, filling up two Eagle flasks for the family.

I led the family platoon – an unabashed little corporal – even though I was not a man yet; a mere boy of five. In an Awara hat, a maternal uncle had bought from the Mandir market, after the film was a hit. I stole it under his affectionate gaze, matching it with an un-ironed cotton shirt and pants, and a pair of Bata chappals grandfather bought me before the Puja.

On that day, it was a fierce summer sun. The sand was hot.

Keeping Deven Dutta’s clinic on our left and the Puri Hotel on the right, we marched to arrive at an iron gate leading to a cement path. The path led to the sea. I opened the gate in a hurry and raced down the path toward the sea, ignoring the furious warnings of my grandfather.

Expecting a visual of blue water, and the sound of its incessant roar, and the foamy end of the sea jingling briskly on the beach. A burning sky getting wet in the mercurial water. And the wet sand thickly strewn with seashells patterned in accord with a child’s whim.

Nothing. There was nothing.

I looked back at my grandfather and cried, “Dadu, Dadu, there is no sea!”

Grandfather, panting far behind, could not hear what I had said.

He shouted back, “What?”

A minute later he appeared, towering over me, still panting, still looking at the vast stretch of sand that laid before him, like a desert — mile after mile, without a hint of water or salt, without fish, without a school or the skeletons of whales. He nodded sadly.

“Really! No sea. Should we head back to our quarter then? No chance we could swim today in the sea.”

That night we came back to Bengal travelling by the Puri Express. A night made of dim station lights. A moody engine hissing, gulping coal, pulling six maroon bogeys leisurely across the furious Brahmani.

I have never gone back to Puri.

My grandfather, who retired as the station superintendent, died in Bengal within a year of his retirement. Neither he nor my grandmother, who died in Pune, in 1998. Two maternal uncles, one in Pune, one in Kolkata, are still alive. They are not keeping well. My mother and my two aunts, knotted sullenly to their families and tired with life, have no wish to return to the house of their girlhood.

Who knows who is living there? Who climbs the guava tree that stands in the courtyard? Is that house still erect or has it been pulled down to make a station-facing mall?

In a bid to return to the summers of my childhood, every year I browse the train timetable and look at the map to find the blue of the Bay of Bengal on the map at the rim of the town of Puri. Yet I am not sure if there is still a sea.

(The poem was first published in Madras Courier: https://madrascourier.com/art-and-poetry/a-day-at-the-sea/)

[divyeshd]

Animal Trucker Hats: A Trendy Fusion of Vintage Charm and Modern Style

Fashion changes all the­ time, merging old and new style­s. A good example is the animal trucke­r hat. It mixes the old-fashioned appe­al with a new twist, making the hat an add-on and a way to expre­ss yourself. This blog will examine how the trucke­r hat became fashionable and how adding animal prints bre­athed new life into this time­less item.

The Origins of the Trucker Hat

The trucke­r hat, often termed a snapback or me­sh cap, was born in the 1960s. Its purpose? It is to be a handy cap choice­ for American truckers. The hat wasn't just for style­; it offered protection against the­ sun, breathability, and comfort. The hat's de­sign, including a foam front, a mesh rear, and an adjustable snap closure­, made it practical. And guess what? One size­ fits most heads!

Trucker hats, to be­gin with, were typically decorate­d with corporate symbols and commercials, acting as marketing tools for firms. This practical style­ gained appeal among truckers and e­mployees, prompting its broad acceptance­ in other sectors. In the 1980s, trucke­r hats began to infiltrate mainstream style­, developing into a must-have ite­m in casual and urban fashion styles.

The Rise of Vintage Appeal

The popularity of the­ trucker hat grew as folks saw its vintage charm. Known for its links to Ame­rican workwear, its old-school appeal caught many fashion lover's e­yes. The practical foam front and mesh back be­gan to be loved for their classic charm. Ofte­n, vintage trucker hats had simple de­signs or big logos. They mirrored the minimalist style­ of the past. This old-school feeling clicke­d with trendy individuals who liked the hat's historic vibe­ and classic appearance. Thus, people­ wanted these vintage­ trucker hats from thrift stores and vintage shops. This de­mand cemented the­ir role in current fashion styles.

The Modern Revival

Trucker hats have­ changed a lot recently. Brands and de­signers have taken the old shape and mixe­d it with modern things. From a practical hat, it's become a cool, fashionable­ item. The biggest diffe­rence? New mate­rials and designs. Old trucker hats were­ usually just foam and mesh. But now, they're made­ with top-notch fabric, detailed stitchwork, and differe­nt patterns. This change lets trucke­r hats keep their old-school coolne­ss but add some modern style, too.

The Animal Trucker Hat Trend

The trucke­r that has evolved in many ways; one unique­ twist is the animal theme­s. This creative trend brings life­ to the traditional trucker hat using bright, imaginative picture­s of animals. The designs vary widely, including grand lions, sly foxe­s, adorable pandas, and tough eagles.

Putting critter de­signs on the trucker's cap gives it a ne­w, playful spin. It's not just about fun with these animal-theme­d trucker hats. They act as a way to show who you are. A hat with your top pick animal shows your like­s, traits, and what matters most to you.

Why Animal Trucker Hats Are So Popular

Animal trucker hats have­ gained attention for a few re­asons. Above all, they provide a unique­ twist. Unlike regular trucker hats, the­se ones feature­ bold, unique animal designs. They attract pe­ople who wish to display their character and le­ave a lasting impression.

Nowadays, it's trendy to mix fun, quirky pie­ces with daily style. Animal trucker hats are­ a perfect example­. With fashion emphasizing showing who you are, stuff like­ such hats let folks blend in their hobbie­s with their outfits.

The animal trucke­r hat's charm lies in its adaptability. Wear it on a relaxe­d outing or during outdoor escapades. Its efficie­nt design guarantees comfort and air circulation. Plus, the­ animal illustrations boost its appeal. Indulge in nature's be­auty or chill with buddies; this hat can amplify your outfit and enhance your fashion se­nse.

Styling Tips for Animal Trucker Hats

One of the best aspects of animal trucker hats is their versatility. Here are some styling tips to help you make the most of this trendy accessory:

Casual Cool: Go for the simple­ combo of a basic t-shirt, jeans, and trucker hat featuring an animal de­sign. Choose calm colors to enhance the­ hat's features.

Sporty Chic: Wear your hat with sportswe­ar, such as joggers and a hoodie. The­ hat's sporty feel complements athle­tic gear, resulting in a cool, composed look.

Outdoor Adventure: Ready for the­ outdoors? Pair your hat with cargo shorts, a light jacket, and boots. The hat's design give­s your outdoor equipment a playful tone.

Street Style: Inject your hat into an urban-style outfit with broad jackets, torn je­ans, and kicks. The cap's animal graphic injects originality into your look.

Accessorize Wisely: Simplify your accessories to make your animal trucke­r hat the star. Sidestep outfit clutte­rs by avoiding too many competitive ele­ments.

Caring for Your Animal Trucker Hat

Proper care is essential to keep your animal trucker hat looking its best. Follow these tips to maintain the hat's appearance:

Spot Clean: Ge­ntly wipe away dirt or stains with a wet cloth. Be care­ful; too much water can ruin the foam and material of your hat.

Avoid Direct Sunlight: Keep your hat in a dry, cool place­. Sunlight can damage and fade the hat's prints.

Shape Preservation: Do not squish or fold the hat to ke­ep its shape. Instead, use a hat rack or a hat box for safe­keeping.

Regular Cleaning: If the­ hat gets too dirty, wash it carefully by hand using gentle­ soap and water. After washing, please wait until it's scorched before­ using it again.

Conclusion

The animal trucke­r cap is an excellent mix of old-time elegance­ and today's trends. Initially geared for truck drive­rs, it's now a stylish accessory with a touch of ancient days and modern vibe­s. It's got quirky animal designs that add a personal touch. This cap is a top pick for style love­rs looking for something different and e­njoyable.

The mix of old and ne­w in fashion is evident in the animal trucke­r hat. This hat combines classic and current designs, offe­ring a stylish and modern look. People might be­ attracted to its vintage aspects, playful animal image­s, or multiple styling possibilities. The animal trucke­r hat is a trend that honors both yesterday and today. Thus, whe­n you don your animal trucker hat, remembe­r, it's more than an adornment—it's a fashionable nod to a se­amless blend of old-world charisma and contemporary panache­.

[beingfreeph-blog]

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[imagicsolution-blog]

How To Improve Security on Weighbridge for Vehicle Weighing  and Ticket Printing

How To Improve Security on Weighbridge for Vehicle Weighing  and Ticket Printing

                 Now Day All Type of Industries Using In-house Weighbridge for Material Inward and Outward in Factory, also many People Install Road Weighbridge, all are not trusted weighbridge,  some time operator thieving / stealing by change Vehicle Weight, after long time related department will get information about this, it very late to recover all loss and  company Goes very big Loss,  

Problem :  

·         Bellow pint provide detail how to operator thieving

·         Weighbridge Operator enter weight manually and modify

·         Weight Wrong Vehicle Against to right Vehicle

·         Wrong Vehicle Placement position on Weighbridge

·         Operator and Driver take wrong weight

Solution :

               For avoid above Problem Imagic Solution Provide Secure CCTV Weighbridge Software,  it will connect Any Make IP Camera and Capture Vehicle At the time of Weigh ticket and Generate PDF with vehicle and send to email.

                 In Market List Of Company Provide Weighbridge and Scale Like Monil Automation, Metlor toledo, Race Lake, Sartorius, Imagic Solution, Kunal Enterprise, M.D Kantawala,  Endeavour Instrument, Essae Digitronics, Himatnagar Scale Mfg, Sampad Scales & Systems, AXPERT ENTERPRISE, Wel-tech Weighing Systems, JAI KISHAN INDUSTRIES, Poonawala Electro Weigh, Tulsi Trading Company, MANSI INSTRUMENTS, Endel Weighing system, Axpert Corporation, Technoweigh India, EAGLE SCALE MANUFACTURING WORKS, ORBIT Computer & Telecommunication, SmartB Technology, Samurai Technoweigh (India) Pvt. Ltd, S. S. Weighing Solution, Leion Engineering, Expert Weighing Solution, Swastik Systems & Services, Unitech System & Automation, Digital Weightronics, Sensotech Weighing System Pvt.Ltd., Rkd Weighing Pvt. Ltd, Coremark India Pvt. Ltd, Micro Weigh Engineers & Technologies, Techno Scale Industries,  Prime And Automations, Swisser Instruments Pvt. Ltd, Eroz Environ Engineer Pvt. Ltd etc..

               All Above Company Provide Weighbridge but it its provide simple software, but we adding extra facility in above all weighbridge with Camera, Email, SMS, RFID etc, and Make Secure solution for Weight ticket Generating, Main benefit of this software can communicate any make weighbridge indicator, so it will implement anywhere or any existing weighbridge, also this very easy to use so operator can familiar with it.

                 Now day weighbridge happen theft and mall function process,  so Imagic solution design CCTV Security Weighbridge software with cctv camera, CCTV Weighbridge software capture Automatically Vehicle Image at the time of ticket save, and store Image in HDD, it will also Print Vehicle Image/photo in Print, also software automatically sending email to registered email id with pdf file, and relegated dept verify that for more detail need to visit : imagicsolution.com

                 In this time everybody use to computer and software, in particular weighing field is very critical to mange vehicle and goods weighing with perfection, also weighing operator is not much educated too,  so he cannot manage Complicated software,  so we design easy to use weighbridge software,

               Imagic Solution Weighbridge Software developed in latest technology that’s why it speedy and support latest OS like XP, Win7, Win10, Win8, Vista etc...

  This Software suite for following industry

ð  Cement Industry

ð  Sugar Industry

ð  Mines Owner

ð  Crusher Industry

ð  Quarry  Industry

ð  Any Industry who can operate weighbridge

ð  Oil Industry

ð  GAS Industry

ð  Petroleum product Industry

ð  Plastics Industry

ð  Metal Industries

  Software Key Feature:-

ð  User Friendly Software

ð   Working with Any Make Indicator

ð   Window Based Software

ð   Support XP, Win7, win8, win10  with OS

ð   Connectivity with SAP, ORACLE, ERP, AX, EBiz, etc..

ð   Master for Customer, Product, Supplier, Transporter.

ð   Provide Custom Flexi User define 12 field

ð   Communicate With Any Make RS232 Indicator and LAN Indicator

ð   Connect with Any Brand Existing Weighbridge

ð   Provide various type of report

ð   Support to Malty Database

ð   Integrate Any Make 4 IP Camera with software

ð   Automatically Capture Vehicle Image /Photo at the time of ticket save

ð   Generate automatically pdf file with Vehicle Image

ð   Send Automatically pdf file to registered email id

 for demo video please visit link.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFKhJU_Abjg&feature=youtu.be

[the-voice-of-hell]

Rent is Theft, part 18

Read from the beginning here, read the previous chapter here.  Note:  My MC is a Filipina trans woman and I am not.  If you have notes on that or anything else, hit me up.

                                                        ***

      I heard the soft sound of another glass door opening behind me.  The tall doors were of frosted glass indistinguishable from the walls but for etched stainless steel handles and hinges.  Perhaps they were held shut with magnets because there was no noise from a latch opening, just a hollow pop and slight vibration of air as the door swung.  I only heard it because I wasn’t walking at the moment, and I turned to see it.

      A lady with a corporate version of rockabilly style flashed whitened teeth at me, her face framed in big phony burgundy hair, and waved me in.  “Ms. Marquez,” she said, “I should have had the door open for you when you walked by, I’m silly.  Easy to forget what this must look like for visitors.”  She flapped a hand at the sterile hall, then turned it into another beckoning gesture.

      Time for me to mirror her pleasant falsity with a smile of my own.  Her teeth were ringed with candy apple red lipstick, mine with an eccentric but unobtrusive matte rose.  We shook hands and went into her office.  There was mustard yellow plaster on the wall up to about six feet, above which the exposed brick resumed.  Her framed diploma from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago hung there between meaningless matted black and white photos of parts of classic cars.  A curvy wheel hub, a tail fin.

      I sat on a low stool that felt like a sawed-off version of something from Johnny Rockets.  I sat my purse on the floor, folded my hands on a knee, and tried to engage her face.  “You have me at a disadvantage.”

      “Ah, sorry.  No name on the door because we just moved in.  I’m Diana Whitford, human resources coordinator.  Pleased to meet you.”

      “Likewise.  Does the Selman Design Group have a lot of human resources?”

      “You got me.  Small building gave it away?  I’m the whole department.  Also assistant CFO.”

      “Nice.”  I gestured at her fancy little office.  “It looks nice.”

      “It is!  Not so much for decor, right?  Just a lil’ fishbowl under the bricks where we work, but it helps keep us focused.  The meeting rooms are much nicer, and there are so many amazing restaurants around here for lunches.  And the art museum...  It’s a good neighborhood to work in.”

      “I know.  I’d love the job.  What can I say to make you love me for it?”

      “Haha, can’t give it away so easy, can I?”

      “Shoot.  Thought I had you on the ropes.  So,” I nodded coquettishly, “I’m ready.”

      She leaned back and cocked her head, considered me.  I didn’t love it.  She asked, “Alright.  Tell me about yourself.  What makes Courtney Marquez who she is?  I bet that’s interesting.”

      “Mm, I don’t like to settle for ordinary.  I’ve been working in tech for a long time now, and felt it’s time for a change of scenery.”  Sound rich, baby.  “The boys are so drab and provincial.  A graphic design firm, now that’s interesting.”

      “And what interests you about Selman Design Group?”

      “The code we worked on was for purely functional purposes - moving cloud data around, secure networks, server switching in massive arrays.  Here you are dealing with all kinds of businesses, right?  And at a level where the clients are going to be interesting people, cosmopolitan.  I feel it would just make for a nicer atmosphere.”

      “I can hardly imagine.  I’ve had some friends marry tech guys but they are in a whole other world.”

      “It’s not really that interesting.  The other world.  Smells like energy drinks and sweat.”  Play to stereotypes, Courtney.

      “Hohoho,” she said, “But we sweat too sometimes.  How do you handle a challenging day?”

      “When I read this job posting, I imagined it would be coding UI, animation, things to assist with graphic design.  Those were the prerequisite skills listed, right?  But here I am with the human resources assistant CFO and I can tell this is a company where you have to wear a lot of hats.  That’s the kind of challenging day I’m confident I can handle - a little tech support here, a project pushing deadline there.”

      “You don’t have any weaknesses, as a worker?”

      I hate these things a lot.  “None, hahaha.  Of course, I’ve just come from the world of maladjusted boy genius types.  Getting used to a different workplace vibe, it might not be a perfectly smooth transition.  But I promise not to crush cans on my head and play noisy videogames on break.”

      “OK.  But what’s a challenging situation you’ve had in the past, and how did you handle it?”

      I cleaned my ass and walked through the door to have this horrible dance while a dozen people are depending on me to keep our asses off the streets.  “There was a new handshake system we’d been developing functions for, a few months at least, when hackers discovered an exploit in it, rendering the whole system a massive liability overnight.  The biggest stress was for the sysadmins at companies using it, but there was talk around the office our company might have to declare bankruptcy, dump us all to cover debt from damage control.  It had us working under a lot of uncertainty, right when housing prices were shooting up all around the city.”

      “Like, two years ago?”

      “Another time they were going up, about seven years before that?  So it’s work quick and come up with genius solutions while you could end up homeless at a moment’s notice.  We really used all of our team skills on that one.  And that was me.  The genius stuff was for enfants terribles and people like me would try to make their solutions workable in practical space, documenting the code, translating it for other people in the pipeline.  I probably cried in the bathroom at least once?  But we got through it.”  Pathos, girl.  But not too much.

      “Wow.  That sounds like a hard time.”

      “Hard times come and go.  That one is gone.  But lessons learned?”

      “I can’t imagine.  Well, just one more thing.  What kind of compensation would you be expecting here?”

      “Better than a grad but worse than I was making, I’m sure.  I understand I’m starting over, but I am bringing a competency of experience you won’t see in a new kid.  I could go as low as forty-five, if it’s strictly necessary.”

      The fake rockabilly’s eyebrows moved.  What did it mean?  Don’t let them know you care.

      “Thank you, Courtney.  Now do you have anything you’d like to know from me?”

      “Do you have anybody here doing tech support at all, or would that become part of the job description?”

      “You got me.  We did not include IT in the listing, but you know we’ll be asking for it.”

      “I’m OK with that, Diana.”

                                                        ***

      I got out as fast as I could without making it too obvious.  I did not like how that went.  Usually I’ve done better.  Maybe the head wrap was making me lightheaded.  I found a metal pole to lean on, tried to slow my breathing.

      It didn’t help that this was not far from Walter’s stomping grounds, but I had to make myself stop worrying about that.  The late morning sun was bright white, the shadows electric blue.  Every scrap of garbage, eggshell, feathers, plastic, paper was clearly visible in the cement, joining its constituent stones like the skin of an endless lizard.  People walked around me.

      I finally shook it off, put on my sunglasses, and strolled.  Knobby had eluded me long enough.  The full moon was going to happen that night.  If he and Olivia were out walking the streets every day, when did he have time to be taking shits in front of old ladies?  I was going to catch his ass.  If I could cure his werewolfism, maybe anything was possible.  Cures for twisty hair and headmouth, why not?

      I switched from pumps to sneakers and walked back to the Myrmidon Apartments with purpose.  I was getting used to walking, even with the uphill-downhill of it, and if one picked the right streets, this route was mostly downhill.  I was on the block, eyes open for the off chance of seeing those kids on the street, and peered into the window of the Subway behind the building.  I didn’t see the kids, but I did see a lone sub-muncher in the uniform of the pest control company that was investigating the bed bug situation.

      I stepped in.  The people at the counter really didn’t care about short stay loiterers - lots of things to do in keeping an urban fast food joint from exploding.  I went confidently to his table and looked down with arms folded over my chest.

      “Hey, young fella.  Don’t worry, I’m not a cougar or a hooker.  Just a resident of the Myrmidon.”

      “I really shouldn’t talk to residents, ma’am.”

      “Don’t worry about it, kid.  I’m cool.  It’s not my apartment that’s getting sussed out, and not my problem.  I’m just curious about how this works, in case it becomes a problem for me.  Down the road.”

      “Hmm.”

      We had a moment, me smiling, trying to convey a sense of fun-loving criminality, speak to the young man inside the professional.  He pondered it for a moment, then assented.  “OK.”

      I sat down across the table from him.  “Alright.  So this is the new reality, they’re saying.  All the DDT that squished those bald eagle eggs wore off, bed bugs are moving back into the cities.  What all have you heard about that?”

      “Not a lot, honestly.  There’s the experts and then there’s guys like me who just move shit around, work the tools.  What was that about eagles?”

      “I don’t know much either, but somebody told me there’s this pesticide we used to spray on crops, but also indoors.  It made eagle eggshells thin so that when momma tried to incubate them, squish.  Bald eagles became an endangered species and the stuff was banned.  According to the guy I talked to...”

      “That’s why nobody had bed bugs until last year.  What a trip.”

      “Well what do you know about them?  Has to be something.”

      “Heh.  Now this is hella gross.  I heard the females don’t have a...  well, they don’t have a vag.  So to get inseminated, basically, the males got a gnarly spike for a dick, and just stab ’em with it.  Is that too much?”

      “Hahaha, no, that is horrible.  Thanks!”

      “A way to keep ’em out of your bed is to keep your bedding from reaching the floor and put the feet of your bed inside, like, a ring of laundry detergent.”

      “Nice, nice.  So what’s in store for my unfortunate upstair biddies?”

      “Our company is high end, so... uh...”

      “Promise, I’m cool.  You can tell me anything.”

      “Basically, everybody we deal with is insured out the ass, so we come up with services just to charge more money.  It isn’t a total scam, right?  The services do something.  But is every last one of ’em necessary?”

      “So you’re gonna milk this thing?  Hell, everything in this town is so fucking expensive, that doesn’t bother me at all.  Do it to it.  But that isn’t the reason you told me, is it?”

      “OK, we basically already know there are bed bugs.  Boss man stabbed her bed with a bowie knife and found black dots - like digested blood.”

    �� “Euggh.”

      “I know.  But we’ll be like, this is suggestive but it isn’t a clincher, and run another test.”

      “A more expensive one.”

      “You got it.  And man, it is the real trip.  We bring in a trained animal to sniff ’em out.”

      “Is it an expensive dog breed?”

      He was smirking and enjoying this too much.  “Not a dog.”

      “Aardvark?”  I remembered what Grime had told me about the animal, but didn't want to ruin the boy's fun.

      “A pig.”  His expression dimmed a bit.  “But now that you say that, I wish it was an aardvark.  That sounds fun.”

      “No, no, that’s pretty fucking funny.  You’re literally gonna get these apartments to pay them to have a potbelly piggy running through the halls.”

      “Oh it ain’t no potbelly, ma’am.  It’s one of the big boys.”

      “What do they call that, a boar?”

      “Yup.  A male pig, big as fuck.  Maybe you’ll get to see it.  It’s like three feet at the top and I swear at least five hundred pounds.”

      “No shit?”

      “No shit.”

      “Well, here’s hopin’ those sons of bitches stay upstairs.”

      “Uh, yeah.  Yeah, for sure.”

      He must have known that wasn’t likely to happen.  Shit.  “So the boar confirms what you already know.  Then what?”

      “That’s our part.  We help the lady treat and isolate everything in her apartment.  Anything that can’t take the heat is moved out.  The sprinkler heads are packed in coolant, and then we heat the place to a hundred twenty-five degrees for three hours.”

      “Holy shit.  Big space heaters?”

      “Custom, industrial motherfuckers.  It’s pretty cool stuff.  No poison involved.”

      “Except the laundry detergent.”

      “The laundry detergent?  Oh yeah, the laundry detergent.  We don’t tell most of our customers about that one.”

      “Because they’ll be more likely to get reinfested.  Sharp.”

      “You never know when they’ll bring that pesticide back and put us out of a job, right?”

      “Well thanks, man.  That was a real thrill ride.”  I shot him a finger gun and stood up.

      “Hey, ah...  You don’t have to go so fast..?”

      “Heh.  Charmed, but I do have to get going.  Enjoy your sandwich, son.”

      “Yes ma’am.”

                                                        ***

      I made a mental note to line the baseboards with borax at the earliest opportunity.  I was getting a mental picture of the shit.  They boil the granny floor and fleeing bed bugs come down through the walls, end up on our floor.

      I decided to take the stairs up, and at each floor get out and walk the hall.  If Knobby was doing his doggy deeds, I’d catch him.  I tried to listen for sounds in the stairwell, in the halls, but the exertion made my pulse pound in my ears.  Not terribly, but enough to mute the quiet noises of the world.

      The first ten floors had a different layout from ours - a little bit larger, with more variable apartment sizes.  The smallest ones were even smaller than ours, judging by the distance between doors, and the largest might have been larger.  On the tenth floor, another variation - a gym I had never used.

      I used my prox key and got in.  A redundant nuisance - anybody on this floor had already badged in downstairs, or been badged in by somebody else.  Did they want to keep visitors out of the precious fitness center?

      The outer walls were surely floor-to-ceiling glass, like on ours, but they were masked completely by drawn vertical blinds.  Interior lights were weak in competition with the daylight that gave the blinds an unappealing amber glow, the room washing out to a dim grey-green.

      Still easy enough to see by, and I found myself looking at myself.  One of the inner walls was pure mirror.  Watch your beach bod take shape while you ride the stationary bikes.  Or stand alone and watch yourself fade in real time.  All the dolling up I did for the interview was coming apart, and the shadows added ten years to my face.

      Even with the wrap clamped down on my head, I had forgotten it was visible.  It changed me, made my reflection alien.  And remembering this, I remembered Reverse Courtney was waiting under that grip for any chance to rat us out.  I touched the back of my head and felt her shift underneath the cloth.

      Get out.  No way Knobby was in there anyway.  As I stepped away, I noticed the floor beneath my feet was raised and discolored.  No allergy medicine here.  Get out.

      The eleventh floor was, to my knowledge, one of several completely unoccupied ones.  On seeing no Knobby, it occurred to me that if the monster in him had the same motivation as Reverse Courtney, he would only visit floors with people on them.

      Our floor.  The ritual wasn’t really complete yet.  I had prepared my potions and talismans and such, but I still needed to set up the magic circle.  It was far from midnight, so time remained, but who knew how long it would take to catch the boy?

      I realized we needed to talk to everyone at once.  Patrick and Graeme would be at work, probably, and Deandre and the kids probably out and about.  Still, better to get as many people as possible on the same page as early as possible.  I started knocking on doors.

      Patrick was indeed at work, and I decided to leave Perry alone.  With that and less anybody out on the town, I was only able to convene Mike, Momi, and Marcie, in her apartment.  Mike looked lively, but greener than ever.

      The three sat on the couch and I sat across from it.

      “What’s this about, Courtney?”  Mike was the only one with no prior knowledge, that I knew of.

      “Marcie and Leimomi already know some of this, but not all of it.  Like the allergy situation, it’s important for all of us to know.  Mike, have you noticed that you’re not looking... well?”

      “The green?  Yeah, and I’ve seen that Knobby kid hunchbacked, and his girl’s neck go weird.”

      “So you have an idea what this is about.  I think the building is trying to make us lose control of ourselves, make us get ourselves caught.  I have a mouth on the back of my head that has basically said as much to me.”

      “Does Leimomi have a head mouth too?”

      “No,” she said.

      “Let me get to the point.  The neighbors talked about seeing a dog, or a dog-like man, in the halls on their floors - causing trouble.  It has to be one of us.  We know what our problems are, and Knobby is already hunched over, so safe bet it’s him.  And I have a plan.”

      Mike smiled, green hands on his knees.  “Great!  And here I was worried.  You’re so good, Courtney.”

      Marcie said, “What are you going to do, Courtney?”

      “Ehh, I don’t...”  Maybe they’d feel better if I didn’t express my doubts.  “Sorry.  Remember how wearing the allergy pill necklace was helpful?  It’s kinda like that.  I’m setting up a thing...  OK, a magic spell.  In my room.  We get Knobby inside the magic circle and do an exorcism.”

      “The power of Christ compels you!  Haha,” Mike said, “I can do that.”

      Marcie nodded in admiration.  Momi knew what I was thinking, gave me a sensitive smile.

      “Yeah, so here’s the deal.  We all do our best to find that kid, get him and everybody else in my apartment by midnight.  I’ll write up everybody’s instructions for the spell.  You’ll have to read some words, do some things.”

      “Any of that cool shit from Exorcist in there?,” Mike asked.

      “No but there may be some room for improv.  Just make sure you do the spell right first.

        And in the meantime...”

      “We’ll try to find Knobby.”

      “Richie’s been trying,” Marcie said.

      “Unless he has a hot lead, call him home,” I said.  “It’s a full moon, and if I’m right - that the werewolf is trying to get us in trouble here - he’ll be in the building somewhere.”

      Momi said, “Oh good, I didn’t wanna run around town anyways.  Should we start looking now?”

      “Eat lunch first, get plenty of water.  For my part, I’m gonna turn my apartment into a magic circle.”

                                                        ***

      In my initial pass at the exorcism material in Werwolves, I didn’t notice the shin-kicking ritual involved some worse tortures besides.  We weren’t going to whip him until he was drenched in blood.  I did my best to come up with ways to symbolically accomplish anything I was unable or unwilling to do in the prescribed method.  For example, where it called for whipping the “werwolf” I thought we could just give him a few whacks and then cover him in some kind of blood.  Unsanitary, but not torture.  I’d paid for blood from a butcher, because there’s no good way to shoplift it, and sanitized it by boiling.  That made a blood pudding which I intended to reliquefy when we got closer to midnight.  Grody.

      Another thing I couldn’t do was follow hyper-specific astrological instructions.  OK, I might be able to sync the ritual to a night of the full moon, but learning enough about astronomy or astrology to even know when Mercury was seventeen degrees on the cusp of the Seventh House?  Not happening.  The text said Mercury was the “most bitter opponent of evil spirits,” so I thought, hang some liquid mercury from the ceiling above our boy.  I poured my mercury into an emptied bottle of some micro-brew with a white stag on it, to honor St. Hubert.

                                                        ***

   Read next chapter here.

[britesparc]

Weekend Top Ten #480

Top Ten Videogame Logos

I like games. I’ve been playing them for a long time; since the 1980s, which was over seven years ago. In that time I’ve seen many ages of gaming come and go – remember full motion video? – but one thing I have noticed is that game packaging has shrunk and shrunk and shrunk. From large sturdy cardboard boxes the size of two hardback books back in the early nineties, to slim ‘n sexy DVD cases around the turn of the millennium, to – well – absolutely nothing these days as we oxidise games from the air. And one of the things that used to – and, I guess, still can do – make a game’s box art really pop was a sexy, elaborate, or otherwise just really frickin’ cool logo.

Now, by “logo” I’m basically talking about the design and typeface of the title itself. I don’t really mean the lambda sign from Half-Life, or – to step outside specific games for a second – the famous Ghostbusters symbol. Some games do actually end up with iconography incorporated into their title design, and you might see a little bit of it here; but for the sake of argument, I’m using “logo” to mean “title”, and how pretty that title is.

And I gotta say, some games had very, very pretty titles.

Now, I know, from research, that 8-bit games released in the eighties often had wild and wacky logos. However, there’s precious little of that on my list, because I didn’t really notice it at the time. I can appreciate it now, looking back, but it meant nothing to me forty years ago because, well, I wasn’t born or was simply far too young to notice. I didn’t really pay attention to box art until I had my Amiga, and that was about 1990. So there’s precious little here that’s genuinely old. That being said, I do seriously think that the golden age of logo design was that late eighties/early nineties period, as we transitioned from 8-bit to 16-bit home computers, with a legacy that continued into the PC dominance years of the mid-to-late-nineties. I think at this point the industry benefited from beginning to have certain established patterns and artists, but was still loose enough to allow a huge deal of experimentation and a feel of general lawlessness. It was in this era that Roger Dean reigned supreme, a vastly talented artist whose airbrush style defined the Amiga 500 for me. His work can be seen on this list, and – surprise – it’s at number one. Dean was so good that not only did his artwork grace dozens of boxes, but he also designed the greatest logo for a game developer of all time.

(Just as an aside: I had a lot of Psygnosis games for the Amiga. I remember vividly my cousin and I would desperately try to parse the wording of that logo – “Is it a P-S-V? P-S-V-C?” – during the brief time it appeared on screen whilst the game loaded. Ah, those exotic early years, full of wonder and possibility… but I digress)

Anyway, there were loads of bright, bold, colourful logos in those days. I think they mostly wanted box art that leaped out from a crowded computer shop shelf, and generally there was probably an assumption that the audience would be either young or nerdy, so there was no outward desire to be elegant or minimalist. Huge, chunky logos were popular; large text, airbrushed artwork, characters incorporated into the logo itself; plenty of shading and embossing effects were used to make a logo stand out proud on the box.

As time wore on, and the target audience aged and maybe wanted to appear a bit cooler, logos seemed to grow smaller. 3D extruded block text was replaced with simple white font work and elegant design. As such, into this new millennium, there are very few really exciting logos nowadays. Even my beloved Half-Life has a really minimalist design, which works, yeah, but it’s not exactly an all-timer. We do still get some very good logos now and again; I’ll go to bat for Halo any day of the week, but even that is twenty years old now. BioShock’s was pretty cool, too, with its rusted brass façade, but even that’s, what, 14 at this point? Blimey.

I think the evolution of the game logo can best be illustrated by comparing the original Doom logo to the one used in the 2016 remake. Vibrant colour versus flat white. I know which I prefer.

So there we are; my ten favourite game logos. And as these are game logos, I’ve banned anything that’s adapted from external media, whether it’s a Star War or Spider-Man or even Cyberpunk 2077 (which does have a cracking logo but is more or less a version of the one used in the original role-playing game). Anyway. Let’s have at it.

Shadow of the Beast (1989): not the first Roger Dean box art, but arguably the most famous, and certainly the one that caught my attention. Well, actually, it was Beast II in 1990 that I saw, but I’m picking this original logo as it’s a bit cleaner without the “II”. Anyway, what’s not to like? Dean’s fantasy-metal style is evident, with a logo that’s kind of threatening to look at, the pointed curls descending from the letters connoting teeth or claws, but the brushed, metallic detailing giving it a technological bent. Supremely cool, freakish, and a style carried very strongly into the game (and moreso the sequel).

Elite (1984): a rare example of a relatively minimalist piece of box art for the eighties, but all the same this logo is something else. Huge and bold, carved out of solid gold, its eagle wings suggesting the power of flight whilst the strangely-crowned head suggests something almost majestic or godlike. It’s the perfect logo for a game about space exploration, yet it also has echoes of Nazi symbolism or even Judge Dredd, giving the game a subtle sense of menace.

Lemmings (1991): unlike the other two, this was a fun, bouncy game, whose childish, cartoony stylings hid a dark and fierce puzzling heart (and also supremely distressing scenes of Lemmings getting mutilated). But this logo is beautiful, its jolly, chunky green typeface reflecting both pastoral beauty and the hair of the little critters; the misaligned letters reminiscent of the undulating hills the levels hint at (but don’t actually contain, particularly). And we get the heads of the Lemming poking out, squarely cementing them as an important part of the experience, their character the defining characteristic of the game itself and all its associated art.

Doom (1993): a seminal moment in gaming, and a seminal logo too. Surprisingly colourful for a game about the ravages of hell, this is a bold and bright bit of typography, the extruded letters suggestive of the 3D nature of the game itself; the almost terracotta tiles meshing with the complex mechanical geometry on the letters reminiscent of the game’s merging of the supernatural with the highly technological. And there’s the pointed extremities of the word, directed down like fangs, hinting at the horrors and dangers to come. Quite simply brilliant.

Minecraft (2009): the most recent game on the list, but its logo is almost a throwback. Thick, square, blocky letters reflect the cuboid nature of the gameworld; the angle away from the camera suggests height and importance, subtly hinting at the scale of the game itself. This is an iconic piece of iconography, instantly recognisable by children – to the extent that trying to draw a logo like Minecraft, or recreate the Minecraft logo itself, is fairly common in our house. I also like that one of the letters appears to be a Creeper.

Pac-Man (1980): and here we have the oldest logo! But so iconic. The chunky font, with letters comprised of thick shapes, devoid of some of their detailing, is cool enough; despite being released at the beginning of the eighties it has an almost sixties vibe. The “C”, of course, looks like Pac-Man himself. But what really makes it art is the offset colours, giving it the air of a misprint or of looking at 3D without glasses. It’s a deeply cool effect and helps make the logo feel timeless.

Dizzy (1987): another oldie, making its first appearance in ‘87’s Dizzy: The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure, although the logo design was very slightly tweaked and refined by the follow year’s Treasure Island Dizzy. Simplistic 3D block letters, but what makes it sing is that they’re dizzy; linework suggests them spinning, but it’s how the perspective differs from letter to letter, giving them a confused and discordant feel, that gives it just that little bit extra.

Zool (1992): perhaps a lesser-known and less iconic logo, unless you were a huge Amiga game in the early nineties. The airbrushing to give it a metallic, embossed effect is very of the moment, but what I love is the eyes. The double-O is rendered as Zool’s cross-looking eyes in his ninja bandana. On one hand, making the Os eyes is rather first-base, but partly it’s how they’re executed that I like; it’s also just because the big angry eyes are rather funny.

Pokémon (1996): first appearing on the cover of Pokémon Red and Green in ’96, the general Pokémon logo is a beaut. Again, it gives the appearance of simplicity, but the execution is complex. Chunky, friendly lettering, yellow like kid favourite Pikachu; kids’ll love that. The blue outline and drop shadow help it pop and give it a subtle, almost 3D effect. And the letters are discordant; rather than a regimented logo, it’s all over the shop, different sizes and weights of letter, all jostling for position on the page. It perfectly encapsulates the tone of the game.

Deus Ex (2000): I’ve more-or-less steered clear of the sci-fi design of “metallic logo that’s otherwise just the title”. I like logos with a bit of something extra; hence no Perfect Dark or Halo, despite those being great in and of themselves. Deus Ex takes the spot, though, partly because the letters seem built out of something, cobbled together in a dystopic, cyberpunk-y way. As you play a cyborg, this feels apt. And then there’s the logo itself, a towering corporate-looking edifice, a brilliant juxtaposition of two shapes that together suggest a D and an X. It’s slick and shiny, and is present in the game itself as a gently rotating loading screen, reflective of the advanced 3D graphics the game possessed.

Honourable mentions go to Theme Park, with a logo that’s suitably corporate and also reflective of a roller coaster, and Quake, just for that really cool nail-through-the-Q effect.

[digitalconvo]

PVC Pipe Market Scope, Segmented By Company, Application and Region, Forecast To

Global PVC Pipe Market: Snapshot

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a lightweight, adaptable, but solid plastic. PVC pipe is generally utilized as a part of the irrigation and construction industries, and as these two industries touch new crests with swift urbanization and expanded endeavors for appropriate water system, the demand in the worldwide PVC pipe market is relied upon to extend at an exponential development rate amid the estimate time of 2017 to 2025.

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Other than the upsurge of the irrigation and construction industries, commitment of the governments in a few developing economies towards enhancing their rural water administration is the essential driver for this market. As indicated by the World Bank, about 80% of the populace in the rural regions over the world does not have approach to drinking water. It has been stated that PVC is the third most popular plastic item after polypropylene and polyethylene. Attributable to its advantages, for instance, strength, substance resistance, recyclability, and minimal effort, PVC is rapidly supplanting metal, clay, wood, and cement in different applications.

As of now, PVC pipes are habitually utilized by the construction industry for building systems of drain and sewer and additionally water supply. Then again, cancer-causing property of PVC, combined with poisonous quality to the earth, are two of the variables that are anticipated adversely affect the progress rate amid the conjecture time frame.

Global PVC Pipe Market: Overview

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a lightweight, flexible, and yet strong plastic. PVC pipe is commonly used in the construction and irrigation industries, and as these two industries touch new peaks with rapid urbanization and increased efforts for proper irrigation, the demand in the global PVC pipe market is expected to expand at a healthy growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.

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This report on global PVC pipe market has been prepared with a solitary goal to act as an information guide for the audiences such as manufacturers and distributors of PVC pipes, aspiring to help them in making more informed business decisions. The report contains an in-depth analysis of all the elements that are expected to influence the demand for PVC pipe in the near future, and based on that, it estimates the scenario until 2025. The report also profiles a number of key players who are currently operational in the global PVC pipe market, estimating their market shares and analyzing their operating business segments and recent strategic moves.

The global PVC pipe market can be segmented on the basis of product type into chlorinated PVC pipes (CPVC pipes), plasticized PVC pipes, and unplasticized PVC pipes. On the basis of materials, the market can be segmented into PVC resin, stabilizers, plasticizers, lubricant, pigment base, and others. By application, the market can be categorized into irrigation, water supply, plumbing, sewer and drain, oil and gas, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and others. Geographically, the report studies the potential of the PVC pipe market in region such as Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa.

Global PVC Pipe Market: Trends and Opportunities

Besides the upsurge of the construction and irrigation industries, dedication of the governments in several emerging economies towards improving their rural water management is the primary driver of this market. According to the World Bank, nearly 80% of the population in the rural areas across the world does not have access to drinking water. The report observes that PVC is the third most in-demand plastic commodity after polypropylene and polyethylene. Owing to its benefits such as durability, chemical resistance, recyclability, and low cost, PVC is quickly replacing metal, wood, clay, and concrete in various applications. Currently, PVC pipes are frequently used by the construction industries for building sewer and drain systems as well as water supply. Conversely, carcinogenic property of PVC, coupled with toxicity to the environment, are two the factors that are expected to negatively impact the growth rate during the forecast period.

Global PVC Pipe Market: Regional Outlook

Annually, 37.7 million people in rural parts of India suffer from waterborne diseases, according to a recent survey by the WHO. The government in India has noticed this and is actively working towards improving the water delivery infrastructure. This makes Asia Pacific the most lucrative region for PVC pipe market. The WHO, in 2006, also estimated that only 16% of the sub-Saharan Africa had access to clean drinking water, and is working with local governments to improve infrastructure such as household tap water connection. Consequently, African is another profitable region for the global PVC pipe market.

Companies mentioned in the research report

Finolex Industries Ltd, China Lesso Group Holdings Ltd., Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., Plastika AS, Polypipe Plc, Egeplast a.s., IPEX Inc., North American Pipe Corporation, JM Eagle Company, Inc., Pipelife International GmbH, Sekisui Chemical Company Ltd, Royal Building Products, Tessenderlo Group, and Formosa Plastics Group are some of the key players currently operational in the global PVC pipe market. The competition among these players is quite intense, with joint ventures and new product launches are the most frequent strategy adopted by them to gain ground over their competitors.

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[businessworldtravel]

Get A Flight Upgrade Always With These Hacks

Everyone likes getting something extra for minimum efforts. Getting a last-minute business class upgrade is always on the cards, you just have to play them right. Nowadays, every “upgrade” costs a lot; therefore, the option is far less utilised. Also, the chances of getting an upgrade nowadays have gone down, but that does not mean you shouldn’t try. Here are some tactics you can utilise to get yourself a flight upgrade:

1) Request: Ask and shall be given – works at the airport too! All you have to do is ask your airline, and you might receive it! If you don’t ask, you won’t or rarely get it. Be upfront and smart rather than being shy and apologetic. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be you that gets the upgrade.

2) Check-in talk: Some upgrades are confirmed at the boarding gate too, where the airline has the complete picture of check-ins and no-shows. If you can engage with the person at the check-in desk, who knows, you might be able to find yourself upgraded with your banter. Your speech abilities can get you a flight upgrade, so get talking.

3) Ask your travel agent: Sometimes, a flight upgrade is just one smart move away. If you can get hold of an influential corporate travel agent, you can land up in the upgraded aisle without much hassle. Travel agents have an influence within the airline to land such deals for you. You can also get travel agent discounts on your flight.

4) The lone traveller: When there are not many seats available for upgrade, those seats get allotted to people travelling alone. Therefore, if you don’t mind getting separated from your companion in the flight, try booking individually, and you both might land a chance of a flight upgrade!

5) Loyalty card: Are you a loyal customer or a card-holder? Your airline knows a lot, as they store all the information required of their passengers. Bear in mind that card-holders almost always get priority when there are seats available for upgrades. So your flight upgrade might just be contested by someone with a loyalty card. So, get yourself one!

6) Look for last-minute business class upgrade: Major airlines often offer business class upgrades. You can avail this by entering your details and making an offer. If you are lucky enough, you might get the upgrade of your choice for the price you want!

7) Occasion deals: Honeymoons and anniversaries are great occasions to ask for an upgrade. You can make the most out of your special day, only if you let your travel agent know in advance for what occasion you’re booking. You might want to take some proof to the airline to cement your special day and increasing a chance on your flight upgrade.

8) Find Buy One Get One Free deal : There might be many exclusive airline deals out there, and you need to be eagle-eyed about it. Often you can find deals where you can buy one business class ticket, and you can get yourself one extra business class ticket for free! Such deals make flying worth every penny.

9) Travel during specific periods: Travelling in August or during the Christmas or new year has a bigger chance of you receiving a flight upgrade. Since business travel is low during these times, the seats might be vacant for an upgrade. Airlines sometimes overbook the economy class and bump up the people to the business class to ensure everyone gets on the flight.

10) Special deals: The gap in price between economy and premium economy is far lesser than the premium economy and business. When you are offered an upgrade to premium economy, take it. Because there’s a chance, you might get an upgrade to business.

[ishubhampatil09]

Zero Liquid Discharge Market Is Expected To Witness CAGR Of 8.7% During The Forecasted Period (2019-2027) - Coherent Market Insights

Market Overview

Zero fluid release (ZFD) is a wastewater treatment process, which is intended to expel fluid waste from the framework. This is never really zero release toward the finish of wastewater the executives cycle with the goal that no fluid waste leaves the limit of the office. It is a dynamic wastewater treatment process that is included opposite assimilation, ultrafiltration, vanishing/crystallization, and fragmentary electro deionization. There are two kinds of zero fluid release frameworks to be specific traditional ZFD frameworks and half and half ZFD frameworks. Traditional ZFD framework incorporates falling film salt water concentrators, vertical cylinder vertical cylinder evaporators (seed slurry concentrators) and non-seeded evaporators, constrained dissemination crystallizers, flat shower film evaporators, channel presses, axes and drum dryers for muck dewatering. In addition, cross breed ZFD framework includes incorporated computerized framework with layer pre-concentrators, trailed by warm/dissipation advances.

The worldwide zero fluid release showcase is evaluated to represent US$ 699.0 Mn as far as worth and before the finish of 2019

Market Dynamics-Drivers

Lacking accessibility of freshwater over the globe is required to drive the worldwide zero fluid release advertise during the figure time frame

The accessibility of freshwater over the world has diminished essentially. Developing industrialization has prompted expanded age of water squander accordingly expanding water contamination around the world. Moreover, severe administrative polices authorized by government offices in created nations, for example, the U.S., Canada, and nations in Western Europe have quickened the reception of zero release frameworks. Organizations, for example, Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.), European Water Association (Europe), and India Water Works Association (India) combined with government specialists are proactively framing administrative approaches, so as to check water contamination, which thusly, is required to drive the market development soon. As per the United Nations (UN) Water Report, out of complete water accessible on the Earth's surface today, just 0.5% is freshwater, which can be utilized for utilization. As per a similar source, around 60% of this freshwater is unevenly dispersed with significant offer concentrated among ten nations of the world. This, thusly, could prompt water shortage along these lines driving development of the worldwide zero fluid release showcase sooner rather than later.

Developing utilization of desalination is relied upon to drive the worldwide zero fluid release showcase over the conjecture time frame

Since there has been deficiency of freshwater for drinking, modern, and family unit purposes, the desalination of seawater has been picked as basic procedure. The desalination of seawater for acquiring usable water has been a vital strategy in ZLD innovations. As of now, ZLD desalination procedures are utilized fundamentally to treat power plant cooling water and modern waste. Vanishing lakes and mechanical water streams are some of normally utilized ZLD desalination procedures. Along these lines, execution of ZLD desalination in modern parts is relied upon to drive the market development over the estimate time frame.

Europe district commanded the worldwide zero fluid release showcase in 2019, representing 37.7% offer regarding esteem, trailed by North America and Asia Pacific, individually.

                                                                         Source: Coherent Market Insights

Read More - https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/zero-liquid-discharge-market-3263

Market Dynamics-Restraints

High capital venture and operational expenses are relied upon to limit the worldwide zero fluid release showcase development over the figure time frame

For the most part, zero fluid release frameworks depend on warm procedures including vitality serious dissipation forms, so as to recoup reusable water from wastewater framework. Such frameworks are specially worked by specific association's needs, which includes noteworthy measure of venture and working use. Additionally, spatial imperatives thwart the selection of ZFD frameworks, particularly in littler businesses from developing economies. ZFD treated water could likewise cost three to multiple times that of water removed starting from the earliest stage got from city source, which thusly, is relied upon to frustrate the market development sooner rather than later.

Accessibility compelling substitutes is required to hamper development of the worldwide zero fluid release advertise during the estimate time frame

Elective choices, for example, negligible fluid release (MFD) recuperate around 95% of the fluid release from their profluent treatment plants at lower cost when contrasted with zero fluid release frameworks. Subsequently, civil companies and comparable associations are progressively embracing MFD innovation as it is more practical than ZFD, which additionally causes them to meet administrative arrangements. In this manner, these variables are normal hamper the market development over the conjecture time frame.

Market Opportunity

Developing worries of removal saline solution moves into seas is relied upon to offer rewarding development open doors for advertise players

Removal salt water amasses in sea is a significant worries for overseeing bodies. It has been discovered that desalination plants produce more salt water than recently accepted. This, is thusly, is relied upon to offer worthwhile open doors for showcase players to create novel methods, so as to diminish removal of salt water arrangements in seas. It tends to be finished with inventive strategies, for example, saline solution burning, brackish water dissipation lakes, and the sky is the limit from there. For example, in saline solution burning, salt water concentrates are blended in with other strong waste and are burned to dissipate water. The salts in it stay as remaining debris, which is then additionally oversaw.

Recuperation of important minerals and mixes from squander streams is relied upon to offer huge development open doors for advertise players

Zero fluid release strategy can be utilized for recuperating benefit making mixes and minerals from the side-effects of waste streams. For example, ZLD has been discovered favorable in recouping sodium chloride and sodium sulfate salts. In addition, ZLD has been embraced in effectively recuperating significant and saleable minerals in the mining business, which legitimately benefits business benefits. This, thusly, is relied upon to present magnificent business open doors for advertise major parts sooner rather than later.

                                      Source: Coherent Market Insights

Read More - https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/press-release/zero-liquid-discharge-market-2632

Fragment data:

In Global zero fluid release showcase, by application section, power age sub portion ruled the worldwide car carbon earthenware production advertise in 2019, representing 32.2% offer as far as worth, trailed by oil and gas, separately.

                                   Source: Coherent Market Insights

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Market Trends

Key moves, for example, mergers and acquisitions among central members

Central participants in the market are centered around mergers and acquisitions exercises, so as to improve their market nearness and addition serious edge the world over. For example, in November 2016, the U.S. Water Services, Inc. procured Water and Energy Systems Technology, Inc. (WEST) so as to upgrade its national impression. Besides, in March 2017, Caisse de dépôt et arrangement du Québec (CDPQ) and SUEZ obtained General Electric (GE's) GE Water and Process Technologies business for US$ 3.4 billion.

Advancement of cost-proficient innovation in ZLD is another significant pattern in the market

Novel innovations, for example, forward assimilation (FO) layers and electro-division frameworks in ZLD frameworks have been acquainted with treat brackish water concentrates with high saltiness. The low working weight and high cross stream speed engaged with forward assimilation film innovation gives higher abilities to perform broke down solids division on high fouling streams. By supplanting a Membrane Brine Concentrator (MBC) for warm dissipation, the key mediator venture of the ZLD procedure could be performed with a layer innovation that gives lower vitality utilization, decreased capital cost, improved unwavering quality, and accomplishment of higher water recuperation, in this way permitting the last ZLD venture of crystallization to work at lower stream and lower vitality. For example, in 2015, GE presented new vanishing/cementing innovation for fuel gas desulfurization (FGD) for steam electric and coal-terminated force plants.

Guidelines

U.S.

EPA

In 2015, the U.S. EPA reported the last coal burning principles (CCRs) and reexamined gushing constraint rules (ELGs). Up until this point, the fundamental test to coal-terminated force plants has been the need to meet new release necessities for Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) cleanse streams. Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) advances were caused compulsory so as to guarantee to reuse of wastewater from plant release and a five-year expansion for consistence was given.

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Serious Section

Key organizations working in the worldwide zero fluid release showcase Aquatech International LLC, Alfa Laval Corporate AB, GEA Group, U.S. Water Services Inc., Veolia Water Technologies, Oasys Water, Inc., GE Water and Process Technologies, Thermax Global, Suez Environnement, 3v Green Eagle S.p.A., ENCON Evaporators, Aquarion AG, Doosan Hydro Technology, and IDE Technologies.

Key Developments

Key organizations in the market are centered around mergers and acquisitions, so as to increase serious edge in the market. For example, in March 2017, Thermax Global gained Barite Investments Sp. Z.O.O., to increase vital favorable position in Eastern Europe.

Central participants in the market are associated with marking contract, so as to upgrade the market nearness. For example, in September 2019, SUEZ went into contract Goseong Green Power Plant to execute Zero Liquid Discharge (ZFD) innovation.

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[marylandparanormal]

Haunted Brunswick Maryland: Frederick County/ Brunswick Heritage Museum Ghost Expedition 2017

Although present day Brunswick is best known as a B&O Railroad boom town, it has experienced multiple histories.   Brunswick once hosted the world’s largest rail yard upon its completion in 1907.  

Originally home to the Susquehanna Indians, the first settlements were established in 1728. The area became known as Eel Town because native Americans would fish for eel in the Potomac River.

In 1753 a land grant of 3100 acres was given to John Hawkins by King George II. The grant was named "Hawkins Merry-Peep-o-Day" because the sun could be seen in the early morning directly over the Catoctin Mountains.

Leonard Smith acquired part of the land from 1780-1787 naming the area "Berlin" as many German immigrants settled there.  

The area continued to develop as a small river town and gained importance as an area trading post with the advent of the C&O canal.  The construction of the B&O railroad from Point through Berlin to Hagerstown further cemented the area as a center of commerce.

In 1832, the Post Office renamed the town "Barry" as another town named Berlin existed on the Eastern shore.  During the Civil War, Confederate forces used Barry as staging area for raids in Maryland. Union forces camped in the town following the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg.

With the construction of B&O rail yard in 1890, the town was incorporated as Brunswick.  The ensuing railroad boom through 1910 transformed the small river town beyond recognition.  Many of historic structures were built over the 1830-1930 timeframe.  

The rail yard scaled down yard operations at Brunswick as the railroads declined in economic importance.  The Brunswick historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The Brunswick Heritage Museum celebrates the town’s legacy as a major rail hub for the historic Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad. 

The museum is located in a building dating to 1904 and that once housed the Improved Order of Red Men, a drinking society whose origins trace to the secret patriotic societies before the American Revolution.  

For many decades the building was owned by a chapter of international fraternal society called the Fraternal Order of Eagles. 

It is unclear when haunting legends took form at the Brunswick Museum.Haunted activity had been described as occasional since the museum was established in 1980.   Activity appeared to escalate in 2010 during construction on an elevator; various encounters reported include: 

A woman in a white dress seen walking around the second floor. 

Instances of strange noises (footsteps/voices) and object displacement. 

Paranormal investigators recorded a sentence-length EVP “Have a Nice Day“, and “Smith”, a possible reference to the late physician Dr. JGF Smith.

Our 2013 ghost expedition experienced audio reflections that seemed suggestive of a friendly non-corporeal curator, and this was consistent with encounters reported in other paranormal investigations.  

There were several instances where audio reflections correctly identified exhibits investigators were viewing on the second floor

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) meters alarmed near the Red Men exhibit.  However no source of elevated EMF could be found with industrial meters

The third floor of the museum was once a speakeasy and contains a small theatrical stage.  Late in the night, the speakeasy buzzer had inexplicably activated itself.  There was no one on the floor at the time

The 2017 ghost expedition will attempt to build on earlier findings using a more advanced suite of audio equipment to include compressors, vocal processors and equalizers along with preamplifier-mixers

The expedition will also seek to obtain electronic voice phenomena via several methods to include: direct voice (DV); direct radio voice (DRV) and direct electro acoustic voice (DEAV).  The investigation will also conduct the Maryland Transcommunication Experiment

The investigation team will also be joined by reporter Andi Hauser from WUSA9 (Washington) and her television crew

****

UPDATE:  The investigation appeared to obtain evidence of drop-in communications through direct radio voice that responded to control questions acknowledging the name of a local reporter and historical names of the town. However, there were several other instances of audio as well. Random event generator (REG) trending was found to be statistically significant indicating medium-to-high levels of psi functioning.  The ghost expedition aired on Halloween Day (Oct 31, 2017) on CBS WUSA9 Great Day Washington

REFERENCES:

About the Brunswick Museum. (2017). Brunswick Potomac Foundation. Brunswick Heritage Museum.

Brunswick Historic District. (1979, Aug 29). Maryland's National Register Properties, F-2-9.  Maryland Historical Trust.

Brunswick Historic District. (1979, Aug 29). National Register Information System ID: 79001128. NP Gallery Digital Asset Management System.  National Park Service.

Brunswick, Maryland. (2017, Jul 26). Wikipedia.

Easement. Brunswick Museum 40 W. Potomac Street, Brunswick MD, Harpers Ferry Quad, Frederick Co. Maryland Historical Trust.

Englar, B. (2010, Jun 16). Group probes paranormal activities at rail museum. The Frederick News Post.

Englar, B. (2010, Jun 29). Possible signs of ghosts found at museum. The Frederick News Post.

Englar, B. (2010, Oct 20). Museum plans ghostly night.  The Frederick News Post.

Granville-Barger, R and Cooper, A. (1991). A Chronological History of Berlin-Brunswick, Maryland 1634-1990. Brunswick Citizen.

Koenig, C and James, P. M. (1976, Jan).  National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Brunswick Historic District. NR-552. Maryland State Archives.

Koenig, C and James, P. M. (1976, Jan).  National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Brunswick Historic District. F-2-9. Maryland Historical Trust.

NBC4 Washington. (2010, Jul 5). Maryland Museum Haunted by Ghosts?: Paranormal activity caught on tape. NBC4 Washington.

Obituary: Dr. JGF Smith. (1970, Mar 16). Frederick News Post. Archived in Newspapers.com.

Thomas, C, and Merchant, M. (2017) Smoketown History: Brunswick, MD. Facebook.

IMAGES:

James, P. M. (1978, Dec). 40 W POTOMAC STREET. Brunswick Historic District (Berlin, Barry). Maryland State Archives.

Burgoyne, M. (2011, Oct 21). BRUNSWICK MUSEUM 3RD FL.  Photo: Brunswick Railroad Museum. In Best Railroad Museums for Kids. CBS Baltimore.

EAST POTOMAC (c. 1940s). Brunswick Main Street.

Brunswick Heritage Museum. (2013, Jan 2). BRUNSWICK RAIL STATION (c 1970s). Facebook.

Maryland Paranormal Research ® (2013, Oct). RED MEN EXHIBIT: Brunswick Heritage Museum, Brunswick Maryland. Flickr.  All rights reserved.

Maryland Paranormal Research ® (2013, Oct). HERITAGE EXHIBIT: Brunswick Heritage Museum, Brunswick Maryland. Flickr.  All rights reserved.

BRUNSWICK RAIL YARD WORKERS WITH ENGINE 1005 (c 1890s). Brunswick Main Street.

Gardiner A. (1862, Oct). BERLIN (NOW BRUNSWICK), MARYLAND. PONTOON BRIDGE AND RUINS OF THE STONE BRIDGE. Photograph from the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, September-October 1862. Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

ANDI HAUSER. (2017). WUSA9 Great Day Washington, Lifestyle Correspondent.  Twitter.

Google Street View. (2013, Sep). 1 N. MARYLAND AVE. Google Inc.

[porticodebusto]

The Eagle Cement Corporate Event Today at Portico de Busto Photos: Abigail Ureta Join the stars and many others who got photographed and featured amidst nature with the iconic, timeless, picture-perfect setting of Portico de Busto. Take the chance to celebrate and be seen in probably the most photographed and most frequently chosen best venue in Bulacan. Having your Event soon? Tell us your dream, book now Do visit our website for more details. Text/Call - Smart: 0998 992 8786 Sun: 0925 767 8426 Landlines - Globe: 044 309 3595 PLDT: ‭044 761 0439‬ #bulacanweddingsuppliers #HindiKaIba #porticodebustodotcom (at Portico de Busto) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9CCkp4pxUS/?igshid=1gtt48kll6ju8

[drakotts]

Decorative Concrete Driveway: 10 Things I Wish I'd Known Earlier

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[clxelouise-blog1]

What Freud Can Teach Us About Concrete Decorative Formwork

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[doctorsaxon1963]

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[upshotre]

Adron Homes Unveil Rufai, Ali, Onyali as its Sports Ambassadors

One of the Real Estate company in the country, Adron Homes on Tuesday unveiled the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai and three others as a Sports ambassador of the company. The unveiling was done at the sports complex of the University of Ibadan. Others sports ambassador unveiled includes Bash Ali,  Mary Onyali and a famous Nigerian dancer, Kaffy are expected to promoting the image of the company through sports. Speaking, the Group Managing Director of the company,  Mr Emmanuel Olanipekun said the fourth edition which is named ‘Festival of Fitness’ and is schedule to hold between October 11-13. He said they are an agent to change the abilities of others saying the games is an extension of the celebration of their existence as the foremost Real Estate in Nigeria. “Adron Games is an annual fitness and bonding initiative of Management of Adron Homes aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle,  physical fitness, encourage friendships and networking that benefits every of our stakeholders. “Sport is a rallying activities in most cultures and is also considered as a big business all over the world; we have created this Games to cement friendship and unity within us as a corporate organisation and our nation. To achieve unity, the first three editions of the Games were held in Lagos but now the Games is going through different states in the country and hence the venue Ibadan, Oyo State this year. “As a corporate socially responsible organisation, we ar Adron Homes are convinced that sports and physical activity are essential to the enhancement of well-being and build a more virile and healthier working environment in our nation. Ali thank the managing director of the company for the opportunity of wellness and fitness he created. In her view, one of the ambassadors, Mary Onyali, a product of Lagelu 1983, said that was how she started before she headed for the United States through scholarship. Adding that sports is life, which has given her education and made her looks younger at 52 years with two kids. Peter Rufai, the former Super Eagle goalkeeper, added that he will be part of Adron Homes history. “Sports is back to live and stay”, he said. Present at the programme include ex-internationals, Mutiu Adepoju, Ike Shorunmu, Ajibade Babalade, Aisha Falode among others.   Read the full article

[robininthelabyrinth]

Hole in the Fence (Coldwave with goats) - 4

Fic: Hole in the Fence (ao3 link) - chapter 4/4 Fandom: Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Pairing: Mick Rory/Leonard Snart

Summary: Mick Rory’s life was changed forever by the fire he didn’t escape.

(in which Mick Rory retires, raises goats, and saves the world more than a few times)

————————————————————————————

“So, I’ve got something new,” Len says.

“Is this related to the Zoom thing?” Mick asks without looking up.

In calculating his invasion plans, Zoom had severely underestimated the charisma of what is now indisputably the chief supervillain of Central City, Leonard Snart, leader of the Rogues.

To be more precise, Barry had asked Mick, who had asked Len, who had gathered up all the supervillains or would-be supervillains in town and they’d attacked Zoom in force.

Zoom might have been fast and he might have all sorts of snazzy tricks like throwing lightning and duplicating himself – that one had been a fun discovery – but Leonard Snart lives to disappoint people.

Of course, Len had invited everyone to a barbeque afterwards, Team Flash and Rogues alike. They’d made it a masquerade so everyone could go home, identities intact and bellies full.

That was approximately when Mick learned that Len had declared Mick’s farm to be a neutral territory, respected by all, and Barry had backed that up with threats of rather-un-superhero-like super-fast violence. This mostly results in scared metas heading to Mick’s farm before they go anywhere else or try to turn their powers into a villain gimmick – though if there’s any more of them coming soon, Mick will need to bring in Ji-hyun to the farm to work as a full-time intake therapist for terrified metahumans, and she won’t like that.

Maybe she has an intern she can recommend…

“No, it’s not related to the Zoom thing,” Len says. “I got kidnapped today.”

Mick looks up sharply.

Mick had gotten kidnapped once, from the farmer’s market – some Santini Family goons trying to make a name for themselves. The Flash had rescued him within twenty minutes and had apologized profusely for the delay: he’d had to find someone to cover their stall while he zipped off to the rescue.

Mick approves of Barry’s priorities.

Len is grinning, though, so he’s not thinking about that, or about his total overreaction of icing every Santini joint in the entire city.

“I’m listening,” Mick says.

“Time travel,” Len says grandly.

Mick arches his eyebrows, unimpressed. “What’s Barry done now?”

“No, no, not time travel with Barry. Time travel. There’s a guy with a time ship, says he’s from the future –”

“Like Eobard?”

“No, not like Eobard! An actual time traveler, no speedster involved. He’s trying to avert some terrible catastrophe or something and he’s trying to recruit some suckers to help him out.”

Mick can’t help but smile. “And you want to be one of those suckers?”

“You bet your ass I do,” Len says, grinning. “I want to rob history.”

“Bring me back the Mona Lisa,” Mick says, amused despite himself. Len and his crazy plans. “Or at least a nice copy.”

“Actually,” Len says.

“Actually?”

“I was thinking for this one, you’d come along with.”

Mick’s eyebrows arch. It’s been a long time since Len had suggested Mick join him on a job. A long time. Not since before the fire long time. “I’m out of the game,” he points out. “I’m retired.”

“Time travel,” Len replies. “Once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Mick hums. That’s true.

“What about the goats?” he asks.

“Mab can handle them,” Len says. “She’s been on your ass to stop experimenting and let her cement the gains she’s already made for ages, Mick. A vacation’ll do you some good.”

“You think I can handle it?”

Len grins. “I’ll make sure of it.”

They pack up everything they think they might need – Mick’s wheelchair and cane, which Cisco has improved; his lotions, his sunscreen, his pills, medication in case of any sudden graft rejection, which remains a threat even so long later. They bring his lighters and both their guns, and Len throws the whole giant pack on his back and staggers his way to the car.

Mick drives them to the meeting place.

“Ah, excellent!” the guy in charge – Rip Hunter, Len had said his name was – rubbing his hands together. “I was hoping you would bring your partner in crime, Mr. Snart.”

Len’s eyebrows arch up. “Of course. Wouldn't go without him,” he says, but the look he sends to Mick is eloquent.

Mick nods.

He waits until they go onto the ship – he scoops up a black kid who looks like he got roofied, but Mick’s not asking – to ask one of the other people on board, a black woman with an anxious look, “Hey, I missed the first meeting. Can you get me up to date?”

He listens as the woman – Kendra, she says her name is – recounts the whole story.

“Okay,” he says.

“What?” she replies, frowning a little at him. His tone must not have been as neutral as he was hoping.

“We’re being conned,” he explains. “I figure you should know before we take off.”

She stands up a little straighter. “How’s that?”

“Yeah, what do you mean?” the woman in white that Len had been talking to earlier asks, frowning.

“Time travel guy said you were legends in the future, right?” Mick asks.

“Yeah,” a tall guy with a stupid overly-styled haircut says. “Heroes.”

“He’s lying.”

“What makes you say that?” Kendra asks.

“He doesn’t know shit about us,” Mick says. “He called me Len’s criminal partner.”

“So?”

“I was, but I’ve been retired for three, four years now.”

“Maybe he just miscalculated the time,” the woman in white offers, but he can see from the scowl on her face that she’s concerned.

“How could he’ve?” Len drawls, coming close until he's standing by Mick's side. “We haven’t even gone on the mission that supposedly makes our names famous yet.”

“What does that mean?” tall guy asks. “That he’s lying?”

“Means we’re not legends,” Mick says.

“Yeah,” Len says. “We’re patsies. I’m willing to play along for now, ‘cause I want to go time-travelling, but you all seem like –” He sneers a bit. “– heroic types who might care about that sort of thing.”

“Figured you ought to know up front,” Mick agrees.

“I don’t believe you,” tall guy says, crossing his arms.

“I don’t know why he’d lie to us that way,” woman in white says.

Kendra is frowning, though, but what she might’ve said gets cut off by her boyfriend calling for her.

“Don’t say we didn’t warn you,” Mick says.

It takes getting attacked by a trio of time bounty hunters that look like Stormtroopers for Hunter to confess.

Mick and Len just share long-suffering looks as the heroes start kicking up a stink about it.

“I’m going to my room,” Mick grunts, shaking his head. “You lot figure out your moral crisis without us.”

Len follows him. “Lotion time,” he says. It’s not a suggestion.

“I didn’t over-exert myself shooting at those bounty hunters.”

“Yet. The day ain’t over. I’d like to apply another layer of the sunscreen, too, while we’re at it.”

Mick grumbles and lies down.

Len is very, very thorough.

Mick ends up falling asleep about halfway through, which means he did come closer to over-exerting himself than he ought to have, damnit.

When he wakes up, he hears Len talking to someone, not far outside his room.

“- some form of improved version of it,” Len is saying. “You’re from the future.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Snart,” Gideon says apologetically. “Although I am capable of full regenerations, those are dependent on my access to a version of the body prior to the injury. If you were injured, for instance, I could likely return you to your current status – even if you had received an amputation.”

“Got it,” Len says. “Okay, fine. Let’s talk treatment options, then – starting with joint pain. He gets that a lot; locks up his knees pretty bad.”

“I have several alternative treatments –”

Mick shakes his head. No wonder Len was so eager to get Mick onto his trip through time; even if Gideon can’t fix him right away, Mick’s sure Len won’t rest until he’s gotten some form of future treatment for him.

Mick wouldn’t mind his joints not hurting so much.

He’ll have to remind Len to ask about the itching, too…

He yawns.

Later. He’ll go back to sleep and worry about Len’s devious plotting later.

He should’ve worried about it immediately.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You need someone to steal it,” Ray says.

“Okay, fine, whatever, I’ll do it,” Len drawls, plucking the picture out of Rip’s hands. He’s been dying to go do something.

“Very well,” Rip says. “You and Mr. Rory will –”

“Nah,” Len says. “I’ll take Haircut here.”

Ray – who had clearly been about to volunteer to go supervise – blinks. “Really?” he asks, sounding halfway between offended and flattered.

“You do what I say,” Len warns him. “If you screw it up, I’m ditching you – or your dead body – in a bog.”

Ray now just looks offended. “I won’t screw it up –”

“Listen, boy scout –”

“Uh, actually, I got all 129 merit badges, so technically I’m an Eagle Scout.”

Len pauses, then shakes his head in mute disbelief.

Mick hides a smile behind a hand. Kendra seems to be in a similar state of amusement.

“Fine. Whatever,” Len says patiently. “Eagle scout. If the mission was for me to go fix your suit, would you want me to follow your lead?”

“Well, obviously –”

“Because it’s your thing, right?”

“Yes, I mean –”

“And this is my thing. So follow my lead.”

“How hard can stealing be?” Ray asks, crossing his arms.

“Clearly not very, given that someone let you run a multi-million dollar corporation,” Len replies. “But before you answer that, I’d like to think about the number of people who end up in jail for theft. Come, or don’t, but remember - dead body in a bog.”

He sweeps off.

Ray rushes to follow him.

“You aren’t going to go with him?” Kendra asks Mick.

“Nah,” Mick says. “Gideon’s gonna give me some treatment for my joints. I’m retired on account of injury.” He jerks a thumb at his back.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she says, looking apologetic. People do that sometimes.

“I’ve gotten used to it,” he says. “Wanna see a picture of my goats?”

“Goats…?”

He pulls a few pictures out of his wallet. “Yeah, I run a dairy farm outside of Central now…”

“Oh my god,” Kendra exclaims, her voice gone high-pitched. “They’re so cute!”

“What’s cute?” Sara asks, coming over.

The fearsome assassin dissolves into a girl in her early twenties within moments of seeing the photographs.

“Look at this one,” she coos. “He’s so small! Tiny goat baby!”

“Actually, that one’s just a runt,” Mick corrects. “These are our current batch of kids.” He pulls out a photograph with Len fast asleep on the couch, crashing after a complicated heist well-planned and well-executed, four baby kids learning to climb on his back and a few more prancing around on the ground.

It's one of his favorite photos of all time.

Both women start cooing so hard he thinks it might hurt them.

Mick’s making a good first impression. He doesn’t think he’s ever done that before.

Time to move in for the kill.

“You know, when we get back to 2017, you’re welcome to come to visit,” Mick says. “Play with some of the goats.”

“Oh my god, are you kidding? Obviously yes!” Kendra enthuses. Mick notices that her boyfriend is giving him dirty looks.

“I also packed some of our cheese if you’d like to try it…”

“Sure!”

After he gives them samples of the cheese, Carter is definitely glaring.

Mick doesn’t care. It’s not Mick’s fault his cheeses are more orgasmic than Carter is.

Sara heads out to go meet Stein’s younger self, which sounds like a terrible idea to Mick, but whatever.

Mick and Kendra spend the next few hours debating the pros and cons of adding sheep to Mick’s goat herd. Pro: sheep milk cheese, blended cheeses, shearing for wool means yarn and sweaters are a serious possibility, lamb for dinner. Con: need to introduce a whole new system, increase in costs, no idea how to shear sheep.

Kendra also suggests the possibility of getting some Angora or Cashmere goats, which Mick finds very intriguing…

Carter spends that time being very annoyed, since he apparently wanted to use the time to try to get the picture of the dagger to help ‘reawaken’ Kendra’s memories.

Perhaps unsurprisingly to everyone but Carter, Kendra prefers the sheep discussion.

Their radio crackles to life.

“Hey, Mick,” Len’s voice is pleasant.

Too pleasant.

Mick sits up straight. “Lenny’s in trouble,” he says.

“What makes you say –” she starts.

“Haircut triggered the alarm,” Len continues, voice just as pleasant as before, which means he’s seriously contemplating killing the guy. “We are now in a cage. We’ll probably need someone to come get the fuse box – especially since the owner’s probably on his way.”

Mick shakes his head. “I’ll go,” he says. “You Rosetta Stone it up with hawk-boy, Kendra.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” she sighs.

“Listen,” Mick says. “Just because you fell for him in the past doesn’t give him a shortcut, okay? You’re a different person. Getting back together with your ex after 200 times might seem nice and all, but it doesn’t mean it is.”

“I think I had a relationship like that in high school,” Kendra grumbles, but she goes.

Mick goes and finds the fuse box.

He also finds Savage.

He gets dragged down to the first floor and used to force Len to lure in Carter and Kendra.

He hates that.

Not quite as much as Len hates watching it, though. He promises to kill Savage, and he means it, too.

They do get the dagger, though.

“Go kill that son of a bitch,” Len says, offering Kendra the dagger.

“I’ll go,” Carter interrupts, grabbing the dagger before she can take it.

“Shouldn’t Kendra do it?” Mick asks.

“There is no need for her to bear that burden,” Carter says.

“I feel like that’s the attitude that got you guys killed 200 times,” Len says. “But have it your way.”

Carter goes, Kendra close behind.

Rip is shouting orders, guards are everywhere, and Mick looks at Len.

Len looks at Mick.

“Maybe we should go help them,” Mick says. “Their track record ain’t great.”

“Good point,” Len says.

They get there just in time to find Savage stabbing Carter, laughing about how only Kendra can do the deed with the dagger because of course it wouldn't be that easy.

Something ephemeral starts to come out of Carter’s mouth.

“Right then,” Len says, and ices the back of Savage’s head, forcing him to drop Carter and back off.

Mick charges forward to grab Kendra even as she throws herself at Savage – and at the dagger.

“Jax!” he roars. “Need a pick-up!”

“Carter!” Kendra screams.

“You can’t kill me,” Savage laughs in Len’s face. He still has the dagger. “I will finish off Prince Khufu and then Chay-ara –”

“At the moment,” Len says, “I’ll settle for slowing you down.”

He ices Savage, feet to head, and uses his gun to smash the ice.

The dagger falls from Savage’s frozen hand to Len’s feet.

“I’ll get Carter,” Mick tells Kendra as he hands her over to Jax. “He’s not dead yet.”

“His last words – I need to hear him – to tell him –”

“Jesus, stop being such a goth!” Mick exclaims. “Let’s try to save him, first!”

“Mick!” Len shouts. He’s crouched over Carter’s body.

Mick turns and runs over. His shoulders and back – the burns – are itching; his neck is damp with sweat as his body tries to deal with all the exertion. His joints all ache and he’s limping badly. He’s gasping for air.

He’s barely been out in the field for an hour.

Fucking burns.

“I need your gun,” Len says.

“What?”

“He’s bleeding like a stuck pig,” Len says. “We need to burn him.”

Mick hesitates.

“Bleeders die within hours, Mick,” Len says. “Burn victims…”

“Mostly die two to three weeks after,” Mick says, understanding. “And we’ve got future tech, which gives us better than average odds.”

“Sorry, Carter,” Len says. “It’s for your own good.”

Carter screams bloody murder, but he survives the trip back to the ship.

Rip meets them at the door, face pale. “What did you do?” he demands.

“Mick,” Len says.

Mick lets go of Carter, steps forward, and punches Rip in the face.

Feels good, being the muscle again.

Then his shoulders cramp.

Oh, right. Fuck exercise. Fuck it with a goddamn pole.

“Mr. Rory!” Rip splutters.

“Hey, computer,” Mick snaps. “Get us somewhere safe.”

“Taking us to the temporal zone now, Mr. Rory –”

“Not there. Somewhere we can park where no one’ll follow. Top of a mountain or something.”

“Will do, Mr. Rory.”

“Gideon!” Rip yelps.

“It makes sense,” Mick tells him. “We need to care for our wounded.”

“Is Mr. Carter…?”

“Dunno, but there’s a chance of him living, which is better than not,” Mick says. “You can keep your useless yammering for later.”

Rip looks insulted, but Mick honestly doesn’t care.

They go to the medical bay, where Gideon is already patching Carter up.

“His vitals are unusually low,” she is telling Len, who’s nodding.

“Probably Savage sucking the life out of him,” he says. “But he’s not dead, at least.”

“Indeed. Your timely intervention appears to in fact have saved his life.”

Kendra is there.

Mick goes to her, nudges her. “Still doesn’t have to be your boyfriend,” he reminds her.

She smiles, eyes watery. “I don’t want to lose him,” she confesses. “But I don’t know – I was so sure, when he was dying, that I truly loved him. But now I’m worried it was more about not wanting to give up the possibility of soulmates. You know?”

“You can take your time in deciding,” Mick tells her.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mick waits until the Legends are out for their next mission – a bank heist, apparently, or something like that; Len had looked seriously pained by their lack of planning – before going to the medical bay to sit by a still-recovering Carter.

Gideon is apparently well-equipped for many things, but burns are still serious business.

“You know you nearly got you and your ladyfriend killed,” Mick tells him pleasantly. “Right?”

“Is this a lecture?” Carter asks, groaning. “Or a request for a thank you?”

“It’s a ‘don’t be such a presumptive prick, and also if you don’t stop harassing the lady I’m going to knock your teeth out’ sort of talk,” Mick says.

“I’m not harassing her –”

“Man who goes after a woman and doesn’t listen when she says no? How do you call it, then? Being romantic? I don’t care what era you’re from, that shit don’t fly nowadays.”

Carter scowls. “We fell in love two hundred and seven times –”

“Which means she thinks you’re hot, which gives you an advantage,” Mick says patiently. “But if you want her not to fall in love with you in this lifetime, just keep doing what you’re doing.”

“You don’t know –”

“You’re relying on her memories of you being charming in a past life to get her into your bed,” Mick says. “That’s bullshit. Maybe past life you was raised by someone who actually taught him respect for women; maybe you grew up with a bunch of assholes. Doesn’t change the fact that Kendra is who she is now as well as who she used to be, and you’re who you are now.”

Carter crosses his arms. “I don’t need your advice,” he says stiffly.

Mick shrugs. You can bring a horse to water… “Okay,” he says. “Just putting in my two cents.”

“It’s not appreciated.”

“Also, wanted to tell you that if you keep acting like this, I’m gonna kill you.”

Carter snorts, but his amusement fades when Mick keeps looking at him steadily. “…you mean that.”

“Sure thing,” Mick says, as pleasantly as he can manage. He's not quite at Len's murder-with-a-smile level of intimidation, but he's not half bad at it. “Most burn victims die two, three weeks later, which means you’re gonna be sitting on the bench with me for the foreseeable future, even with Gideon’s tech.”

“You wouldn’t kill me,” Carter says, but it’s weak. “We’re on the same team – you need Kendra and I to defeat Savage!”

Mick raises his eyebrows. “You reincarnate,” he points out. “We’ll go to the future, pick up your next life. Maybe that version of you’ll have better manners.”

Carter looks dumbfounded.

“Good thing about your reincarnation business,” Mick says cheerfully, hoisting himself up out of the chair. “It means that Prince Khufu’ll still be around – but you, Carter Hall you, is more or less exchangeable. Ain't that right? Just like you keep telling Kendra that the only part of her you care about is Chay-ara. Think on that.”

He leaves, but it looks like Carter does think on it, because he suddenly gets much better about calling Kendra ‘Kendra’ instead of ‘Chay-ara’ and asking to learn info about her life instead of just assuming he already knows everything of importance.

They also seem to be engaging in more couple bonding activities, like watching Ray Palmer fix his suit, a process that requires him to wear very little clothing and become increasingly covered in grease.

Both Carter and Kendra seem to enjoy that fact immensely.

“The hawks that prey together, stay together?” Len murmurs into Mick’s ear.

Mick snorts. “Should we warn Haircut?”

“I wouldn’t warn Haircut if I saw him playing with a loaded gun that has its safety off.”

“You’re gonna need to forgive him eventually,” Mick points out. “He wasn’t the one that held a gun on me and threw me to the ground a few times; that was Savage.”

“If it wasn’t for Haircut’s sticky fingers, I would’ve been in and out with the dagger,” Len says, unmoved. “And you wouldn’t have even come into the house at all. Savage would’ve never even seen you.”

“At least we still have the dagger,” Mick says. He’s not getting to go anywhere until Len stops being quite so panicked about Mick being in danger.

He makes a point of insisting on going on the next mission just to make a point.

It occurs to Mick, when he’s thrown into the Russian gulag, that Len isn’t going to allow him off the Waverider ever again.

“What’re the odds Len burns the whole place down trying to get to me?” Mick asks Ray.

Ray – who’d been dealing with an increasingly bitchy Snart, which isn’t good for anyone’s health – grins a little. “I’m going to go with ‘pretty good’. Think he’ll commandeer the Waverider?”

Mick opens his mouth to answer, only for a gigantic blast to go off on the other side of the prison.

“Make that ‘definitely’,” Ray amends.

The rescue is short but sweet.

Len is about three seconds away from a panic attack. Sara and Kendra are taking turns calming him down.

“I got it, girls,” Mick tells them. “Len, I’m fine, Jesus.”

“You’re supposed to be retired,” Len growls. “Retired and safe. You’re not supposed to be running into armed guards.”

“See what I deal with?” Mick complains theatrically, causing both girls – who had been grinning fatuously at the two of them – to start snickering. “I’m amazed you got Rip to sign on to this, though. Not too many timeline changes?”

“We bonked him over the head, tied him up and gagged him,” Sara says cheerfully. “It was that or Len would’ve killed him.”

“You’re such a drama queen,” Mick tells Len, who crosses his arms, utterly unrepentant.

Rip is immensely not pleased by their solution, but Gideon reports no serious timeline damage has been done. Coincidentally, the blasts also erased all evidence of the Firestorm research Valentina had been doing and killed her. The Soviet authorities assumed that the blast was related to her research and covered it up very efficiently.

The Waverider ends up being attacked on its way out of Russia by the Stormtroopers Three, causing them crash-land in the future. A future filled with violence and lawlessness and unguarded banks.

“I’m going to go stretch my legs,” Len says casually, convincing literally no one of his innocence.

“Want help?” Mick asks.

“You will stay in the Waverider, Mick, or so help me…”

Mick sniggers and goes to play sudoku with Carter, who’s developed a minor infection-related fever and also a much worse case of cabin fever. It isn’t easy to be benched, but Mick’s got a lot of practice.

Sara obtains the ship piece they need to get out of this place and starts a revolution in her spare time, but apparently that’s okay.

Rip’s next big plan involves pirates.

“Send Jax and Stein together,” Len suggests. “That way, anything goes wrong, they Firestorm their way out.”

The second Rip and Firestorm are out the door, the rest of them start betting on how quickly it’ll all go wrong.

They all underestimate it badly, because the hull gets breached and Len and Sara do their best impression of people wanting to freeze to death.

Mick burns a hole into the steel-plated door with his gun set on max heat and hands the gun through to Len so Len can melt some metal over where the hull has been breached.

“You’re going to pay for this,” he tells his partner. “All that worrying you do about me, and then you nearly ice cube yourself?”

“Ray’s getting the outside, right?” Len says, ignoring Mick’s perfectly reasonable query.

“He’s going there now,” Kendra says, hovering by Mick’s side. “You melting the inside will seal the breach on the inside so that you don't freeze or run out of air; it'll also make it easier for him to seal it from the outside.”

Ray still nearly manages to kill himself thanks to his not-designed-for-space suit, but given the way that Kendra and Carter fuss over him after, Mick suspects he doesn’t mind.

Then they go rescue Rip, who is not particularly gracious about getting knocked over the head again in order to keep him from screwing up his own rescue.

“If you weren’t constantly leading us into traps or making plans that didn’t work, we’d respect you more,” Mick points out.

“You’re hardly one to talk,” Rip says stiffly and angrily. “You’re only here because Mr. Snart wouldn’t go without you; my plans to save the world hardly involved recruiting an insane arsonist with the IQ of meat.”

Mick’s not even insulted – he knows he wasn’t invited, not really, and he's heard the rest of that many times before – but Sara darting forward to slap Rip across the face is surprisingly satisfying.

“Mick Rory,” she says sternly, “is a far finer, far more useful man than you ever were, Rip Hunter.”

“And you should damn well remember that,” Kendra adds, glaring.

The glaring works really well with the hawk-eyes, Mick’s just saying.

“I’m honored to call Rory a companion,” Carter adds. “He saved my life and has demonstrated himself to be both intelligent, compassionate and cunning. I have yet to see any reason to say the same about you.”

“I didn’t mean –”

Len appears at the doorway. He’s got a nice, pleasant smile on.

“Oh, you’re in for it now,” Ray says. He knows that smile far too well.

“Heard you were talking shit about my partner. That true, Rip?”

Rip looks around at them.

Mick crosses his arms and smirks.

“Mr. Rory,” he says, very stiffly. “It appears I owe you an apology.”

“Damn right you do,” Mick says.

Okay, fine.

Maybe he does like this team.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So Jax got turned into a hawk,” Len says, rubbing at his face. “We nearly ditched Ray, Kendra, Sara, and Carter for two years due to a technical failure of all things.”

“We’re all very grateful you convinced Rip to come back to three months later instead,” Kendra says from where she’s happily perched on Ray’s lap.

Apparently, she, Carter, and Ray handled those three months very productively, pretending to be two sets of couples to cover for Sara’s parade of lovers of both sexes and their own ménage a trois.

“That’s not the point,” Len says. “How are we fucking this up so bad?”

“It’s pretty impressive,” Mick agrees.

“If the next mission fucks up, I’m assuming sabotage,” Len decides.

Of course, in the next mission, Rip decides child-murder is the right way to proceed and promptly gets knocked out again.

“Eventually he’s going to get a concussion or something,” Mick observes.

“Please,” Sara – who had done the knocking-out – says. “I’m an assassin. I was gentle.”

“Why in the world would we go after a kid instead of after Savage directly?” Len asks, utterly bemused. “Just because we couldn’t get him in Russia and the plan to get Kendra close enough to stab him in 1958 didn’t work because he got tipped off somehow…”

“Attempt at Savage, take three,” Kendra sighs. Carter pats her shoulder.

Take three is a failure.

Again.

“You must stop knocking me out!” Rip shouts.

“I don’t know why we keep failing,” Kendra says, bewildered. “I was so close when the robots attacked!”

“It does seem like we’re being set up,” Len observes. His arms are crossed and his eyes are narrow.

“But by who?” Carter asks.

“And how?” Mick adds.

“You’re all being ridiculous,” Rip says. "No one is setting us up. I told you at the beginning; time is just very difficult to change."

"All these aberrations we keep having to fix don't make it seem that way," Len grumbles.

They go back to the Wild West next.

“I’m going out and you can’t stop me,” Mick tells Len.

“I would never miss the sight of you in cowboy gear,” Len says mildly. “I’m bringing a camera. And getting photographs. Many photographs. Would you like a bandana?”

“You know what, I think I will,” Mick says.

“You are both ridiculous,” Sara says.

“I’m naming a goat after you,” Mick tells her. “When I get home. I can’t decide – ‘Blondie’ or ‘Canary-brain’.”

“I’m gonna drink you under the table,” Sara says.

“I’m retired.”

“Means you have more time to drink.”

“Not on his medications, he ain’t,” Len says. “Let’s go gamble instead.”

About ten minutes in, people are laughing.

About half an hour in, they’re not.

An hour in, they’ve accumulated a crowd.

Len, Mick, Sara, and – surprisingly – Stein are all playing with grins so wide their teeth are bared.

“I miss playing high stakes,” Stein says, selecting a card.

“Wouldn’t have pegged you for a Central City rules kinda guy,” Len drawls.

“My father was a card-counter,” Stein says. “I learned at his knee – and I was quite good at it.”

They put their cards down.

“Not good enough,” Mick says, and sweeps the pot towards himself.

“Another round,” one of their audience calls.

“Don’t see why not,” Len says.

Ray takes advantage of their distraction to pick a fight with the local gang.

Kendra and Carter go to visit a past version of Kendra, and round up back to rescue Jax from an ill-fated venture.

“We could have shot them out at high noon in order to get Mr. Jackson back,” Rip grumbles.

“Stop letting your drama get in the way of our mission,” Ray says nobly.

Mick would believe in Ray’s newfound practical turn a lot more if Kendra and Carter’s arms weren’t wrapped around his waist.

“I thought you wanted to save the town, Dr. Palmer - or should I say, Sheriff John Wayne?”

“And we will be saving the town,” Kendra says. “But not at the expense of Jax.” She grins. “We’ve challenged what's-his-name to a duel on your behalf for control of the town, and nothing else. Have fun.”

Rip wins, of course, not being totally useless, but the time it takes to happen is enough for the Stormtroopers to catch up with them.

They’re called Hunters, apparently; the Time Masters deploy them.

And before they die, they mention another hunter coming after them, one called the Pilgrim.

“This is increasingly ridiculous,” Len says. “Hunters? Pilgrims? What’s next, Cops and Robbers? The Terminator? Dragons?”

“This is serious, Mr. Snart! We need to go to periods of temporal dislocation – places where we could have been killed –”

Len’s eyes glint. “Let’s go,” he says.

They rescue Jax’s childhood self first – a near drowning, age five.

Sara’s next, a shoot-out at her dad’s office when she was eighteen.

Ray after that; only a few years prior, an experiment that exploded but only shrunk him rather than kill him.

Next is –

“I know where we go next,” Len says.

“Where?” Rip snaps. “There are no more temporal distortions for us to track the Pilgrim’s progress – if we’re mistaken, we will lose a crew member!”

“What, like your idea is so much better?” Kendra snaps. “Removing babies and risking deletion from the timeline due to our own actions? We’re taking enough risk with the ones we’ve already removed!”

“Mr. Snart, how could you possibly know when the point most likely for one of us to be removed from the timeline –” Stein starts.

“Shreveport,” Len says. “We’re going to Shreveport.”

Mick freezes.

“A few years back. Gideon knows the date. Gideon, confirm,” Len adds.

“A scan of Mr. Rory’s timeline states that that is the most likely period for him to be omitted without effect,” Gideon confirms.

“We don’t know if he’s the next one on the list.”

“He is,” Len says.

“Why?”

“Because they’re going in alphabetical order, dumbass,” Jax says. “Last name, like in grade school.”

Len’s not looking at Mick. His eyes are fixed on Gideon’s holographic face.

“Len,” Mick says.

“Set course, Gideon,” Len says. His voice is pleasant and set in stone; Ray’s back straightens just at the sound of it.

Mick knows the tone well; the others have learned it too, over the last few months.

Leonard Snart does not intend to be deterred.

Mick should’ve known.

Mick should’ve known.

“Len,” he hisses. “Can we talk?”

“Setting course, Mr. Snart,” Gideon confirms.

“Sure, Mick,” Len says, and Mick draws him back to the wall. The others pull away, Sara grabbing Rip by the arm and hauling him when he doesn’t move fast enough. It’s not real privacy, not by a long shot, but it’s something.

Mick turns Len to look him in the eye, hoping to see something, some hesitation, some doubt, something he can use to break through the ice that Len uses a shield, but there’s nothing.

Len’s as calm and quiet as a sea without wind.

“You can’t stop the fire,” Mick tells him. “You can’t, Len.”

Len arches his eyebrows.

“Damnit, Len! This is why you brought me on this trip, isn’t it? For this.”

“I brought you because you’re my partner,” Len says. “Variable timeline – I would never risk anything happening to your timeline without you by my side, not for nothing but this. You think I would go on a quest with a man clearly deranged with grief for anything less?”

Mick sucks a breath in, then exhales. “Len –”

“You can’t tell me you don’t want it,” Len snarls, suddenly violent with emotion, all of it rising the surface, painting his cheeks red; the ice cracking all at once in a sudden wave of sheer rage. “You hate being out of the game. You hate being left behind. Every goddamn time I go out, you ask me if I want you; every goddamn time I say no when all I want to say is yes. You’re my partner, Mick, and I led you to the flame and I left you to it. Nothing can erase my mistakes, I’ve always known that – or did, until Rip showed up and offered me a way to the past.”

“I never asked this of you,” Mick says. His lips are numb. He should’ve known. Leonard Snart, the planner, the one who sees the big picture. The one who needs only a glimpse of a part to see the whole; the one who can see opportunities in the direst of circumstances. “I never – I don’t hate it, Len. I don’t.”

“Oh, sure,” Len says, and his voice is still savage. “You love your farm, you love the goats. I know you do. You’ve made the best of the life that I left you. But I could stop it, Mick. I could stop all of it. We could be together, just like we were before; you my right hand, my muscle, the one who has my back when no one else does. A few adjustments at the right time…”

Mick reaches up, cups the back of Leonard’s head with his palm. It’s not a gesture he does often. It’s too intimate, too private, too much emotion for men like them to ever comfortably admit to. He does it rarely, and almost never outside their home.

The farm, he means.

It cuts Len off, silences him utterly, and Mick leans forward, touching their foreheads lightly together for just a brief second, before pulling away.

Len’s eyes are wide and dark and gutted.

“Len,” Mick says, and his voice is gentle. “No.”

“But why not?” Len whispers. “I’m not going to try to prevent the fire entirely – just avert it a little, call the ambulances a little earlier. I’ve done the math, Mick – fourth degree burns would be third; third would be second. You’d have the scars, yes, but the muscle damage wouldn’t be there. The lung damage; that was late. If they got there sooner, the smoke wouldn’t have gotten as bad, the monoxide wouldn’t have built up so much in your lungs. You would’ve woken up in the ambulance and you would’ve had options. No more limp, Mick; think of it! No more medicines for your skin grafts, for your blood pressure, for the pneumonia, nothing.”

“No more you, Len,” Mick says, because it’s all clear now. It’s all so painfully clear.

Len stares at him, not understanding.

“You were out, Len,” Mick reminds him, though it pains him to do so; he can see the ice cracking into jagged shards that hurt Len so much more than anyone else. “You told me so yourself. If it wasn’t so bad as it was, you would’ve left me.”

“I would’ve come back,” Len whispers. He doesn’t deny it; he’s never denied it. Leonard Snart is in or he is out, and there is no in between. “I would’ve come back, Mick. I always come back to you.”

“I know,” Mick says. “I know. But Len – I have so much more of you now. More than I’d ever had before. You come home with me every night; you wake up with me every morning; you even check with me about your plans. I know it’s because you’ve lost confidence in yourself, which I hate; I would do anything to reverse that and give you back yourself – anything but this, Len. We had safe-houses, before, a dozen or more; now –” He swallows. “Now we have a home.”

“Mick,” Len whispers.

“I do hate being left behind,” Mick says, and his voice is gruff. “You’re right about that. But I hate it because I want to be at your side, always; not because of what happened to me. I’ve made myself a new life, now, and it’s not a bad one, Len. It’s a good one. I have you, I have the farm, I have the goddamn goats. If you change this, you risk changing everything else.”

He runs his palm over Len’s scalp, brushing his fingers lightly through Len’s close-clipped hair. His throat hurts, tight with emotion; he doesn’t make speeches like this for a good reason.

“I won’t give up what I have, not for an uncertain future. Not to be alone for months, maybe years. To have you, I’ll take all of it – the temperature adjustments, the medicines, the limp, the coughing, everything. Don’t do it, Len.”

“Mick…”

“Please.”

Len closes his eyes in defeat.

Mick inclines his head. He knows what this means to Len; he knows what Len is giving up – the hope that Rip Hunter sparked in him, his dearest hope, above riches and gold and even adventure: to see those he loved safe and well and never harmed.

Len would destroy himself to save his sister; Mick learned that when Len tried to save his father from a prison fate he much deserved, a little jaunt that Mick didn’t learn about until after it had been tried and failed.

He should have known that Len would do no less for him.

“Len,” Mick says. It’s an acknowledgement of what Len’s given up for him.

It’s a plea for forgiveness.

���We go to Shreveport to stop the Pilgrim,” Len says. “And nothing more.”

Mick nods.

“Thank you,” he says.

“For you,” Len says, and smiles, though his smile is shadowed again with pain that Mick hadn’t even realized had been lifted until he sees it return. “Anything.”

“We’re arriving,” Sara says from the door. Her eyes are fixed on the door, as if she could see nothing else.

Mick takes a step back.

“I’ll get her for you,” Len promises.

They go.

Mick stays, and breathes in hard, what he would almost call a sob except for the fact that he doesn’t cry like that. He hadn’t – he wasn’t –

Len was right.

He does hate it, sometimes. More than sometimes. His new limitations make everything so much harder than it has to be. He can’t sit in a shadowed booth in the farmer’s market all day without a bucket of water and an equally large bucket of sunscreen, regularly applied, much less actually go on heists or exert himself. He still needs a wheelchair, some days.

If you’d asked him yesterday what he’d trade to be hearty and whole again, he’d have said anything.

Turns out, when the moment of truth came, there were some things he wouldn't trade, after all.

Mick lets go of that hope he hadn’t realized he was still carrying, all these years later, that one day he would wake up and everything would be better.

But he believes what he told Len, he believes in it, every cell of his body.

His life is better now.

The farm, and the goats, and the speedsters, and Len.

Len, returning to his side, by his side, in all the ways that matter.

Yes, Mick Rory would take this life over any other.

And he’s not going to let any goddamn Pilgrim stop him.

An idea hits him square between the eyes.

Mick smiles.

The Pilgrim has a device that slows down time – micro-manipulation, Rip called it – and it lets her slow an attack long enough to escape it; the Legends had planned to attack her all at once, hoping to catch her in a weak moment.

She freezes them all and laughs.

Mick, floating in the Waverider right above her head, fires down with all of the Waverider’s many guns, all at once.

The Pilgrim laughs no more.

There’s a small crater, now, where she once was; Mick has no doubt it will be attributed to the fire that even now burns bright in the building next door.

“Well done, Mr. Rory!” Rip enthuses when he re-enters the ship.

Sara fist-bumps him. Kendra hugs him.

Mick has to glare at Ray and Carter before they try for a hug, too.

He doesn’t do anything when Jax nearly tackles him, though, whooping with pleasure.

He’s a kid. Mick can be magnanimous.

“Where to now?” Kendra asks. “After we return the kids.”

“We have no choice,” Rip says. “We will confront Savage in 2166 at the height of his power.”

“We’re going to finish it,” Carter says. “Once and for all.”

Mick looks at Len. Len looks back.

He nods, confirming.

No changes were made.

Mick hopes Len forgives him.

They go to the future.

They find Savage at the head of his armies. They find his daughter, too, wearing one of Kendra’s old bracelets; Len is able to lift it easily enough, and convert the girl with tales of woe and bad parenting.

Ray fights a giant.

Kendra attacks Savage, the dagger gripped in her palm, only to find that he imprisoned a future version of Carter as his slave.

“I can’t,” she says helplessly. “We have to – we have to save him. Future Carter. We have to free him. This is our future; we will live it, if we don’t stop it.”

Savage goes into the cells.

“This is a bad idea,” Len says.

“No kidding,” Jax says, sighing.

“I agree,” Carter says. He rubs his face. “What do we do?”

He’s asking Mick.

Mick blinks. “Len’s the planner,” he points out.

“But you make the final call,” Carter points out. “You’re the willpower; he’s your brain. Tell him to think, and he will.”

Mick has always thought of himself as Len’s muscle; he’d never thought of Len as his brain.

He likes the sound of that.

“Len,” Mick says.

Len turns to him, and his eyes are warm as ever, without even the slightest trace of rancor.

Mick smiles, and he means it.

“Make us a plan.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Len’s mind works on many, many crooked paths. There is no paranoia he will not seriously consider as a possibility; no scheme or conspiracy too absurd to be taken into account, at least momentarily.

Savage’s attempts to escape aboard the ship fail; his manipulations are useless when every man and woman aboard the ship is required to call in to Mick every five minutes for an update on the crossword puzzle they’re all working on jointly. It distracts them, makes them think; makes them too busy for a slippery-tongued snake to drip poison into their ears.

(Ray even asks Savage if he knows a six-letter word for something fragrant. Savage isn't amused.)

Savage does break loose at one point in order to attempt to attack Kendra, though; Len permits it, and positions the future Carter to watch.

The brainwashing snaps and he rushes to the rescue, knocking out Savage with the Carter from their original era only moments behind him.

The two of them look at each other.

“Well,” the future version says wryly. “This is awkward.”

“No kidding,” Carter says.

“Say,” Sara says, “can future you remember this from the opposite point of view?”

“Yes,” future Carter says, making a face. “Let’s not talk about it too much.”

“You’re our ace in the hole,” Len tells him. He jerks a thumb back. “Savage doesn’t realize we have two of you. Shoo.”

Plans A through C assumed the Time Masters were legitimate.

Plan D, however, assumed treachery.

“Plan D it is,” Mick murmurs as the guards drag him away.

Kendra hears him, and smiles.

They confiscate her dagger, which hangs at her belt.

They do not confiscate the two smaller knives, hidden beneath her breasts, which they coated with the gold of the bracelet they found.

They don’t find Len, Sara, or the new Carter, either.

Rip is taken away; Rip is brought back.

He tells them about the Time Masters’ secret weapon, that they called the Oculus, which they used to manipulate the timeline.

“That’s why we lost so often,” Mick says, nodding. “Circumstances were actually conspiring against us.”

“And there’s nothing we can do about it,” Rip concludes.

“We can destroy it,” Ray says. “We have to.”

Savage takes Carter and Kendra away.

Len and Sara slips through the door moments later.

Rip tells them about the Oculus.

“Len,” Mick says.

“I’ve got a plan.”

Mick likes it when Len has a plan.

They fight their way to the Oculus and Ray starts working furiously, the future version of Carter standing guard alongside Sara and Len and Mick.

“Guys,” Ray pants. “There’s a failsafe – someone needs to be here when it blows.”

“Let me,” the future Carter says. His smile is crooked. “We do this? Kendra and I – my past self – we can go forward in time without concern of Savage. And that makes me a timeline fragment, soon to be wiped away by the timeline.”

“Are you sure?” Ray asks.

“That’s the plan,” Len says.

“It was always the plan,” Sara says gently. “That’s why Kendra and Carter are holding off on killing Savage, to buy us time.”

“How will they know the time is right?”

“Oh,” Carter says, “they’ll know.”

They leave him there and retreat to the Waverider.

The explosion behind them throws them head over tail, the Waverider very nearly spinning out of control before catching itself in the time stream.

“We did it,” Rip says, eyes wide with shock. “What do we do now, then?”

“Your family,” Sara says.

“What?”

“Your family. Kendra and Carter – Savage is going after your family, and Kendra and Carter are going to kill him before he can manage.”

“Yes – yes –”

“Won’t that cause us to become timeline fragments?” Ray asks, gnawing at his lip and twisting his fingers together. No wonder; his lovers are in danger.

“No, we have a window of opportunity,” Rip says. “I’ll retain my memories of the prior timeline – we all will, as time travelers – but there won’t be any other effect.”

“The Oculus’ destruction is still sending shockwaves through the timeline,” Gideon says. “If you wish to make a seriously change to the timeline, now is the most optimal time for it.”

“Rip,” Mick says gruffly.

Rip looks at him. His eyes are wet with unshed tears – he is so close to his goal, he can taste it, and the hope of it is ripping him apart.

“I’m gonna guess you know the coordinates,” Mick says.

Rip nods jerkily and enters them.

They arrive just in time to stagger back at another explosion of light, this time gold instead of blue.

“What..?” Rip asks.

“Carter!” Ray shouts, running forward. “Kendra!”

“Ray!” Kendra cries out, smile wide, and embraces him.

The body of Vandal Savage lies at their feet; a shell-shocked woman and child behind them.

They stabbed him together, Mick notes. How romantic.

“Miranda!” Rip shouts, and he’s running forward as well. “Jonas!”

“Can we go inside and skip the teary reunions?” Len mutters in Mick’s ear.

“Please,” Mick says fervently.

When all is said and done, Rip yields up the captaincy of the Waverider, naming Sara as his surprised successor.

“But – but –”

“You’re the best one for the job,” he tells her. “You will be fair and good, and you will take excellent care of the timeline.”

“But Len – Mick –”

“We’re going home,” Mick says. “Sorry. Come by anytime; we have cheese. And goats.”

“Not to be underestimated, the goats,” Len says, nodding.

“We’ll stand with you,” Jax says, patting Sara on the arm. “Don’t worry. We’ve got your back.”

“He’s right,” Carter says, one arm around Kendra and the other around Ray. “We’ll be with you every step of the way. We’ll protect the timeline from those who mean to damage or change it.”

“Ah,” Rip says. “There is one incident that you may want to consider changing…”

A few moments later, Sara exclaims, “What about my sister?! And when exactly were you going to tell me about this?!”

“I’m telling you now!” Rip yelps, holding up his hands in surrender.

“Why I oughta…”

“Mr. Hunter,” Stein interrupts. “I assume by giving up the captaincy, you do not intend to stay?”

“I’ll stay for six months,” Rip says, nodding. “To teach you everything you need to know: about the ship, about the timeline. Miranda,” he takes her hand, “will help; she’s the finest Time Master trainee the academy has ever known, before she gave up her career for mine.”

Miranda smiles. “And don’t you forget it.”

“After that,” Rip says, “we would like to be dropped off in the past, to make a home for ourselves there.”

Len groans.

Everyone looks at him.

“You want to go back to the Wild West,” Len guesses. “And Jonah Hex. Jonah, Jonas – I think I’m seeing a theme.”

Rip goes red.

Miranda smirks. “I’m looking forward to meeting him at last,” she says. “I’ve heard so very much about him.”

Mick is the first to start laughing.

The rest of the team joins in quickly enough.

“We’ll have the Hunters’ ship, which they left behind back then,” Rip says to Sara, trying desperately to keep a straight face amid all the sniggering. “I’ll give you the address code; you’ll be able to call us any time.”

“Good to know, Rip,” she says, wiping her eyes and patting his hand. “Good to know.”

“Enough of this,” Len says, “Gideon – set course for 2016. Take us home.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Haircut!” Mick roars. “Get off the goddamn table!”

Ray jumps a little. “But,” he says, blinking, “I’m not on the table…?”

“Not you,” Len says. He nods at the yearling goat that’s climbing its determined way up one of the picnic tables, its eyes fixed on a bowl of salad that looks like the one Kendra brought. The goat has a giant dark tuft of hair on its head, right between the two horns, long and wavy, almost like it’s been styled; it’s quite absurd looking. “That Haircut.”

Ray looks ridiculously pleased. “You named one after me!”

“He likes to run into walls for no reason,” Mick says dryly. “Seemed like it fit.”

“Do I have one?” Sara asks, hard at work setting up the grill. She got Mick a brand new lighter from 2140 as a present; she promises him it’s worth every second.

“Sure,” Mick says. “Blondie.” He points out an all-white goat – not a true albino, just pale – that’s currently skipping through the crowd, sniffing everyone new.

“Cute,” Laurel says, and crouches down to offer that one a handful of corn from the bags Mick handed out to everyone when they arrived. “Very cute. Heeeere, Blondie. Come to Auntie Laurel. I’m gonna tie dumb ribbons in your hair, yes I am.”

“Better Blondie than me,” Sara says. “She used to, I swear.”

“Big sister privileges,” Laurel says primly, but she’s grinning. “I brought a camera. I want a picture of you and your goat – matching ribbons, of course.”

Sara groans theatrically.

“What about us?” Carter asks, amused. “Hawk one and two?”

Mick jerks his thumb at the male and female goat sitting calmly on the porch, nuzzling each other. They’re yearlings; they should be jumping around like apes, but they had old souls from the start. “Tobias and Marahute.”

“Marahute’s an eagle, Mick,” Kendra says, though he can tell from the pleased smile on her face that she’s not upset at all. Quite the contrary.

“Grey and Lighter are stuffing their faces in the yard,” Mick says to the two members of Firestorm before they even ask.

“Did I get one?” Rip asks, looking around warily for the murder twins, as Len insists on continuing to call the geese. They’d bitten Rip three times already; he couldn’t seem to stop annoying them even after they’d warily permitted the remaining guests onto the property.

“Nope,” Mick says cheerfully. “I did name one Gideon, though; you can claim half ownership of that one.”

“I’ll take it,” he says, and flees when he sees Spite waddling purposefully towards him.

(Mick will eventually tell him about Time Dad, the yard's grumpiest old matron goat. But not yet.)

He hears Len behind him, a breath of intentional warning – Len considerate as always – before Len nudges Mick’s hip with his own and leans his head against Mick’s shoulder, an arm slithering around Mick's waist to rest lightly on his side. “Can we kick ‘em out now?” he whines playfully. “There’s too many of ‘em. I hate people.”

Mick snorts. “It’s the Fourth of July,” he says. “You can be social for a bit longer. Go play with the Flash.”

“He’s with Zipper,” Len says dismissively. “Cisco and Caitlin just found Smarts and Chills, by the way; they’re too busy cooing to be insulted. Getting Cashmere goats was a stroke of genius, by the way – people can’t stop petting them.”

Mick grins. Plan successful.

“Guess you’ll have to put up with staying with me,” he tells Len, turning to face his partner.

Len smiles, a little crooked smile, the truest smile he has for all of its seeming duplicity. “Yeah,” he says. “Guess I will.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Slow down, slow down,” Len says into the communication device Cisco had invented for more regular communication. “What’s this about an evil speedster?”

Mick’s not going to look up from where he’s planning next season’s cheese rotations with Mab.

He will not.

“And why was Stein pretending to be a Nazi musician again?”

Nope. No way. Not getting involved.

“A compass. A compass that points the direction to what?”

Mick’s retired. He has a good life. A quiet life. And that’s how he likes it.

“The spear of what now? The Spear of Destiny? I think I saw an Indiana Jones movie with that.”

Willpower, Mick. Willpower.

“And at what point in this story does Ray blow up his suit?”

Okay, fuck it.

Mick throws down his pencil.

Mab doesn’t even look up. She’s made of steel.

“Lenny,” he roars.

“Hold on,” Len says into the speaker. “Yeah, Mick?”

“Have they asked Barry about the speedster yet? Or Cisco? He might be able to vibe them something.”

“Good point. I’ll ask.”

A few seconds go by.

“They say they knew we would be helpful and they promise to tell us if their fuck-ups turn us all into goats,” Len reports.

Mick shakes his head and goes back to Mab.

Len wanders over after a few minutes. “Sounds like they’re doing well,” he says cheerfully. He doesn’t seem inclined to suggest that they should join the hunt for whatever thing the Legends are looking for now, which – thank god. Looks like Barry’s idea about setting Len up as Central City’s kingpin with a meta army in an attempt to ferret out real threats (and go on the occasional heist) has been sufficient to keep him busy.

Though Mick’s starting to worry about those letters they’ve been getting in the mail the last few weeks, asking Len to join some sort of ‘Legion of Doom’…

“The world hasn’t ended yet,” he finally says. “Now c’mon, help us name the new cheese.”

“How’d it get made?”

“All you need to know is that it’ll have a slight asparagus flavor,” Mab says. “Very clean, very bright.”

Len blinks and then a great big dumb grin comes over his face slowly, like it’s involuntary.

“What?” Mick says suspiciously.

“Lady and criminal,” Len says. “I give you: the Spear of Destiny.”

“No,” Mick says.

“Actually…” Mab says.

(The Legends pick up twelve pounds of the Spear when they come visiting during the alien invasion, laughing the whole time.)