#electric fold-up bike

[howardstewart6431]

The Exciting Future of E-Bikes: Discover the Joy of the DYU Electric Fold Up Bike

I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on the incredible world of e-bikes, especially the innovative DYU brand. As someone who values convenience and sustainability, I find the electric fold-up bike to be a game changer. DYU has crafted a product that not only provides an eco-friendly mode of transportation but also delivers a fun riding experience.

With its sleek design and lightweight frame, the DYU electric fold-up bike is perfect for urban commuting. It folds easily, allowing you to take it on public transport or store it in small spaces without any hassle. The battery life is impressive, giving you the freedom to explore without worrying about running out of charge.

Moreover, the DYU electric fold-up bike is designed for riders of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are a seasoned cyclist or just starting, you’ll find joy in riding this bike. The smooth pedal assist makes it easy to tackle hills and long distances, ensuring you arrive at your destination with a smile.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a reliable, stylish, and efficient way to get around, consider the DYU electric fold-up bike. It’s not just a mode of transport; it’s a lifestyle choice that promotes health, happiness, and environmental responsibility. Let's embrace this exciting future together!

[miiboo]

fair warning: i have a rat brain and dc stands for disregard canon <3

as far as the public knows, there are four robins: family robin, crime alley robin, the female robin, and the assassin robin. only steph, bruce, and dick know about the forgotten robin, tim drake.

tim drake was the robin before steph, the one who pulled bruce out of his depressive pit and saving criminals a trip to the icu, but to steph, he is her best friend and the one she confided in. he found her as spoiler and convinced babs to take her under her wing. he helped her get the title of batgirl. her best friend.

until the joker kidnapped tim and he went missing. everyone scrambled to find him, but during those weeks, steph and bruce argued for hours on end.

one night, via thermal imaging, babs found the jokers dead body in the arkham ruins that they find tim, or what's left of him anyways. steph and bruce go together to check it out and are immediately horrified to see what they find: shock therapy equipment and plenty of serums. hair dye, bleach, and surgical tools are haphazardly discarded on a table near by. a gun was discarded several feet away from the jokers dead body, a bullet wound between his eyebrows.

steph tries to hold herself together as bruce rummages around the ruins to find tim, but eventually breaks when she sees remnants of the robin costume neatly folded on a table with restraints and the robin symbol on top. a post-it note was next to it.

to batgirl, i'm sorry. i am alive. joker junior --tim

she holds the costume close when she cries.

eventually, she takes up the robin mantel and using the journals tim left in drake manor, creates her own costume with alfred. she carefully stitched tim's robin symbol on the left side of her chest, over her heart.

the relationship between her and bruce is strained, but he falls into that depression pit once more, and using tim's methods, she dragged him out of it. they don't talk about tim, dick and babs keep quiet about it too.

five years later, she took up the spoiler mask again, and in charge of a series of murders involving electricity. after the fifth body is found in the arkham ruins and the signature "jj'", realization dawns on the four. everyone else is confused, and soon, steph and bruce are harshly exchanging words.

one night, tim makes contact, and the family begins to argue about what needs to happen. steph told damian she was borrowing robin and changed into the old uniform.

"we can't just send you out there steph," dick argued.

"you can and you will. i was robin when we first encountered junior," a half-lie. "i know him better than any of you, and bruce will just set him off."

"steph," bruce warned.

"you're not changing my mind bruce. i'm going to see hi m whether you like it or not."

"steph."

"no. you let him slip through the cracks last time, so it's my turn now. this isn't about you. this is about me. about jason. about babs. about robin." bruce's eyebrow twitched, his way of flinching. no other words are said when she uses the robin bike to zoom into the streets of gotham and to the meet up spot.

she sees tim on the rooftop with his hair grown out and slightly dyed blue. there were scars on his mouth line and he wore a tshirt with jeans. the reunion was bittersweet, a ton of crying and steph slapping him. she was just happy that he was safe ((after their crying sess, tim realizes she was wearing his design, and began crying again)).

[anorlondo00]

MarAce One Piece Fic - The Apartment Above the Auto Shop

Edward Newgate had a terrible habit of hiring fatherless, trouble-making punks in need of direction to work at his auto parts garage.

Recently, he’s hired a 20 year old who’s currently on parol and struggling to raise his 12 year old brother on his own.

When Marco (29) moves back to his home city, he’s hesitant to trust the new hire, who’s living rent free above Pop’s auto shop.

Sunday night. 

“Hold on,” Marco navigated over the maze of suitcases and half folded clothes on the floor of his apartment, “You’re not charging him rent? Who even is this kid?”

“I knew his father, years ago.” In the incredibly rare circumstance that Whitebeard had to lie to Marco, he would do so, effortlessly. “An old friend of mine. The kids’ had a hard life, he’s raising a twelve year old on his own— ”

“Sorry, there’s two of them?”

Marco had to hold his cellphone an inch off his ear while Whitebeard laughed, “The little ones’ in school, the older one works hard enough to earn their rent! Relax, Marco. Ace is a sweetheart.”

“This is the one you let steal food out of your fridge for half the summer?”

“That’s the one!” Whitebeard replied, “He doesn’t do that anymore.”

Edward Newgate had a terrible habit of hiring fatherless, trouble-making punks in need of direction to work at his auto parts garage. He’d been teaching scrappy kids how to keep their heads down and put their hands to work for the better part of the last twenty years. Now, he’s accumulated a crew of mechanics that he considers family. 

Marco was one of the first front desk employees Whitebeard hired and his most talked about success story. As of the end of this school year, Marco had officially earned his medical degree. He was a doctor. A very proud one at that. 

“When should we be expecting you for dinner?”

“We?” 

“Sure.” Newgate’s voice filled with warmth, “I’ve been teaching Ace how to cook. He’s pretty decent, now, I can actually keep it down!” Again, Marco kept his phone off his ear for the laughter that followed. “We eat at—”

“Six and not a minute later. I remember.” Marco attempted to rub the feeling of burnout from under his eyes. A home cooked meal sounded nice if it weren’t for the addition of a twelve year old and his fresh-out-of-prison older brother. “I’ve got an entire apartment to unpack so, I’ll have to see you Tuesday.”

“Everyone’s excited to have you back.”

Marco smirked at the campus outside his window, a view he was more than ready to say goodbye to. “I’m pretty excited myself.” 

“Drive safely, alright? And, don’t keep us waiting too long.”

Marco had a week before orientation. One week to unpack, re acclimate, and check on the shop before his entire life was signed away to the emergency room.

 His home was in a densely populated, urban oasis just outside a much larger city. Nothing like the wide empty fields and quant college town his medical school was at the center of. It’d take him four hours of driving to get back to the chaos of pissed drivers and electric bikes zipping through tight lanes of traffic.

No place like home. 

Tuesday Afternoon.

Whitebeard’s Auto Parts and Mechanic was printed in beautiful white penmanship across the top of an old brick building. It stood proudly on a corner off the city's main boulevard. 

Just as Marco remembered, the two, truck sized garage doors were wide open, giving the mechanics plenty of room and fresh air. 

Marco walked through the garage like he’d never left and was more than pleased to see how little things had changed. It could only be Thatch’s playlist blasting that music. Izou’s artwork, while updated was unmistakably his, decorating the brick walls. And, Teetch’s old chevy in the same damn parking spot outside. 

“No… fucking… way.” A voice came out  from under the hood of a truck. The man had a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and red hair gelled back out of his face. “Is that Marco?!” Thatch got to him first. Which was a little terrifying, considering the man was about six feet too big to be hugging someone with a tackle. “Marco!!”

The blond scrambled to stay on his feet, “Okay! Alright—Hi Thatchy— ” 

“Marco’s home, you guys! Holy shit, I can’t believe it! Look at you!” 

The mechanics under cars and occupied in the adjacent office all came to have a look. The prodigal son had returned and Whitebeard’s shop erupted in celebration. Marco had to abandon his backpack on the floor, there were just too many hugs that needed to be given. Izou came sauntering out of the front office, looking beautifully overdressed as always. His gold and silver bracelets rang as he wrapped his arms around Marco’s shoulders. 

“Thatch, do you even realize you’re talking to a medical professional now?” Izou smiled widely, “Congratulations, Doctor.”

“Thanks, Izou.”

“I saw your graduation pictures. Pops has them hung up in his office, you’ll have to take a look.” 

“He’s blushing!” Thatch delivered a solid punch into Marco’s arm. “How cute. Yes, we’re all very very proud. You’re gonna hook me up with a medical marijuana card, right?”

“Thatch, you gotta stop telling people that.” 

“Right, right—” His best friend smiled, “I missed you, man!”

“I missed you too.” 

“Where the hell is Marco?!” Whitebeard’s gravely deep voice could shake the walls. The old man emerged from his office and while his question sounded hostile enough to make a normal person run for their damn lives, it overwhelmed Marco with nostalgia and a sense of home. “Lets see him— What the hell is wrong with you, boy? Moving so far away from me?!”

Marco smilied, “I came back! That doesn’t count for something?”

“Yeah it’s the only thing keeping my foot out of yer ass!” Newgate hugged him. His mentor smelled like cigarettes, booze and motor oil. While age had been shrinking him for years now, Newgate was still built like one hell of a beast; he made most grown men feel short. 

“Hi Pops.”

“Hi yourself!” Newgate dropped a heavy hand against his back. “Have you eaten yet? We’re having lunch. Thatch, get over here, it’s time for your damn break.”

Thatch grabbed onto Marco’s arm and pulled him towards the back door with all the enthusiasm of a little kid. “I’ll make us something. Pops! Did Ace pick up groceries for you yesterday?”

“Yeah.” Newgate retrieved Marco’s forgotten backpack and gestured for Izou to follow them. “Have a look in the kitchen, Thatch, it’s stocked up.”

There was plenty his mechanics liked to do for the old man but grocery shopping wasn’t one of them last Marco remembered. 

Whitebeard lived by himself, out of a small home directly behind the auto parts garage. As they crossed from one location to another, Whitebeard's uneven, slow gate seemed so much more severe than how it had been a few months back. As the four of them filed into the kitchen, Marco couldn’t help his curiosity. “The boys have been taking good care of you, then?”

“Oh spare me.” Newgate retrieved a fist full of beers from the fridge and set them on the counter, “Like I need to be taken care of.”

“We try.” Izou supplied, “But, you know how he is. It’s nice having someone living in your old apartment again. Ace is usually around if he needs anything.” 

There were old metal steps that lead out of the warehouse of Newgate’s shop. On the second floor there was a dusty little apartment Marco lived out of for nearly ten years before leaving for medical school. “I can’t imagine someone else being in there.”

“Yeah, you definitely decorated better.” Izou got a laugh out of the room. “You haven't met Ace yet, have you? You’ll like him.” 

“What will I like about him most, the ankle monitor?”

Surprisingly, it was Thatch that gave him a quick slap to the shoulder. “You seriously need to be nice to him, dude”

“I do?”

“Marco, I’ll strangle you with my own two hands.”

“Alright alright, damn.” Marco cracked open the bottle of beer he was given. Marco knew damn well he had no place to be judgemental. It was Pops he worried about. “So where is this new golden child then?”

“A check-in with his parole officer.” Whitebeard said more seriously, “He’ll probably pick up Luffy from school on his way back this afternoon.”

“Luffy’s the younger brother?”

Thatch, who had gotten to work seasoning chicken breast, sang over his shoulder, “And possibly the cutest little kid in the world~” 

“Next time we’re all together, I’m sure they’d let you look around your old apartment again.” Izou chimed, “If you're dying to go up there and reminisce.”

Marco smirked, “A little. It’s been such a long time.” 

Marco would have to wait a bit longer before he met Whitebeard's new pride and joy. He inhaled Thatch’s cooking— which he missed far more than he would ever admit— finished a second beer and a dozen more stories about the hospitals he rotated through. 

Marco left that afternoon with a box of leftovers and the promise that he’d bring his car in for an oil change before the week was over. 

Tuesday morning.

Marco would remember the auto shop’s schedule until the day he died and Tuesday mornings were always dead. One, maybe two mechanics would run the whole place until the afternoon. Considering Pop’s would rather keel over and die before accepting money from him, Marco preferred his car be as little an inconvenience for the shop as possible. 

Marco could feel the heat stick to his skin the second he left his apartment. Considering summer was nearly over, there was no reason for it to be this damn hot outside. 

AC. He needed to ask them to take a look at his AC while he was at it.

Like he’d done for the past 15 years of his life, Marco pulled his 2012 Subaru directly into the empty garage of Pop’s auto shop. He would have made an immediate comment on the pop-punk garbage blasting in the speakers if it weren’t for the loud string of curses he heard coming out of the front office to greet him. 

“What the fuck are you doing?! Hey asshole!” The young man wore a mechanic’s jumpsuit with  the top half of it hanging loose around his hips. Sweat stuck his jet black hair to the sides of his face and neck. “You can’t just roll your car into the garage!” He threw his arms out to gesture to the rest of the shop, “You gotta check in, I need information from you and shit.” 

Marco climbed out of the driver's seat and leaned over the top of his door. “Whitebeard knows I’m dropping off for an oil change today.”

“I don’t give a shit. You see all the equipment to run over in your cute little Subaru? Park in the lot next time like everyone else.” He propped up the hood of Marco’s car. 

It’s not like he was wrong, it was just the sheer hostility that was unexpected. Marco couldn’t help the chuckling that bubbled up in his throat. “Okay. If it helps, I sincerely apologize.” 

In his adult life, Marco considered himself picky who he found attractive. He wasn’t one to leer at little waisted, broad shouldered, young men with freckles and shaggy haircuts. But, here he was leering while he was getting yelled at. 

“When was your last oil change Mr. Subaru Outback?”

“I’m overdue,” Marco admitted, “Sixteen hundred miles ago?”

“Yikes.” He cleaned the dipstick from Marco’s car with a rag that was within reach. “You’re friends with Pops and he let you go this long without an oil change?”

“I’ve been in school.”

“So, you’re a smart guy?” 

“I’d like to think so.”

The raven haired man took a few steps closer to Marco. The half a foot height difference between them didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. He tapped the tip of the dipstick against Marco’s chest and challenged him with a smirk. “Five thousand to seven thousand miles would be my recommendation, Smart guy.”

Punk . 

“Got it.”

“Are you going to wait around or pick it up?”

Marco couldn’t help himself, “Does it take you so long to change the oil that I should leave?”

The mechanic’s eyes snapped up from the car to Marco. “Twenty minutes, Dick.” 

“Then, I’ll wait.” 

He pulled a clipboard off its hook on the wall. He crossed one ankle over the other, clicked the back of his pen against his hip and began filling in what would eventually be a receipt. While he waited. Marco finally noticed the ankle monitor, blinking a little green light just above Ace’s boot and peeking out from under the right leg of his jumpsuit.

This was Ace? Gorgeous face, insufferable shit starter? Right up Pops’s ally.

As if on cue, Whitebeard’s old truck came rolling into the parking lot behind them. The old man climbed out of it slowly and made his way into the garage holding an ice coffee in each hand. “Marco!”

“Marco!?” Ace echoed, his nose crunched up into a sneer. 

Whitebeard put one of the coffee cups in Ace’s hand, who took it despite the fact that he looked completely stunned. Marco had never seen the wheels in someone’s head turn so visibly. 

“I told you about him, Ace. Don’t look so surprised.” Newgate plucked the clipboard out of his hands and held it at arms length while he read it. “…And you were going to over charge him… If he was paying, which he won’t be. It's sixty eight for an oil and filter change, you wrote eighty six.”

“Sounds like me.”

“Yeah, sounds like you.” Whitebeard smacked his arm with the clipboard. “This is Marco, my first protégé. He’s been upstate for medical school, just moved back this week. He used to live in your apartment.”

“You’re kidding.” Ace said between sips of his coffee. He extended his hand out to Marco and Marco shook it. “Fuckin— my bad man. I thought you were just some asshole.”

“Is it an eighteen dollar surcharge for assholes?”

“Minimum—”

“Wrong.” Whitebeard said as he turned away from them. “I have to make a few calls. Give Marco’s car a thorough once over. Whatever he needs and do not accept a fucking dime from him.”

The kid might have been a lost cause for numbers and customer service but at least he knew what he was doing under a car. Ace kicked over one of the old scooters that had probably been around since before Marco’s time. He laid back on it and rolled beneath the Subaru with the kind of grace only muscle memory could provide. 

Marco watched his boots while he worked. “So, how long have you been here? Considering you don’t know the price of an oil change.”

“Can you say that a little louder? I want Pops to hear you making fun of the dyslexic kid.” Marco heard the flow of old oil as Ace removed the drain plug, “Two years— I don’t know. I worked for Pops for probably…  four—five months. I got put away for six months and he hired me back when I got out. I’ve been here since.” 

“What’d they get you for?”

“Arson. Burned the last shop I worked at to the ground.”  Ace rolled himself out from under the car in time to get a look at Marco’s deeply troubled face. He flashed the tips of his K9s while he smirked. “I’m kidding. It wasn't anything interesting, I promise.” He pulled himself to his feet and moved onto addressing the old filter that’d been rotting in Marco’s Subaru for the past seventeen hundred miles. “Since we’re on the subject of asking personal questions, are you responsible for the vomit green paint in my kitchen?”

“Your kitchen?”

“Yeah, and the tiny little couch with bricks for cushions. You graduated medical school and thought that couch was okay? I couldn’t even sell that fucking thing, Marco.”

“The space you’re filling is hardly big enough to be called a living room.” Marco hummed, “It was the only couch that fit.”

No one could match the level of sheer animation in Ace’s repulsed expression, “If I knew my doctor thought it was reasonable to buy that couch, I’d find a new doctor.” 

It was difficult, deciding whether Ace was the most annoying person he’d ever met or a half decent comedian. He’d never seen anyone enjoy bickering so much. “If I keep listening to you complain, you’ll take a look at my AC while you’re over there, right?”

Ace clicked his tongue, “What’s wrong with your AC?”

“You tell me Mr. Mechanic. It doesn’t run cold.”

Ace released a long, mournful sigh, “Poor little Subaru. Falling apart at the seams.”

“It’s not that old.”

“Really? Because, Rush’s greatest hits on CD would suggest otherwise.” Ace chuckled, reading off the open black CD case tossed on the passenger's seat. “Don't get me wrong, I like classic rock. AC/DC, The Beatles, and Queen, are all on this playlist—”

“I can’t stand AC/DC.” 

Ace’s jaw fell open. Clearly, he had a love for theatrics because the way he set down the oil filter looked choreographed for a dramatic stage play. Ace turned his shoulders slowly to face Marco, the very epitome of heartbreak and betrayal warping his expression. Ace swallowed, “Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I’m kidding. I just wanted to see how wound up you’d get.” Marco's relaxed demeanor finally cracked. He started laughing the minute Ace became self aware. 

“Oh—you can go fuck yourself!” His pretty bronze skin flushed with warmth. “I’m glad you’re fucking with me becahse I’d never let you leave this garage alive if you ment that. Don’t scare me like that. Shit!”

“You’re saying you’d kill me if I didn’t like AC/DC.”

“Marco, I don’t make the rules of the Garage, I simply abide by them.”

His laughter snapped off the second he heard his name. “Marco.”  Whitbeard’s voice cut through their conversation suddenly enough to make him jump. Newgate had taken to standing in the doorframe off his office, arms folded over his chest. There was a pause before he stated very simply, “C’mere a minute.”

The younger men exchanged glances before Marco excused himself. 

He was let into the office first, then Newgate followed and shut the door behind them. The unmoving, fierce look in the old man’s eyes reminded Marco of the old days at the shop. Whitebeard was infamous for shaking down customers who refused to pay, or thugs who thought it’d be a good idea to steal motorcycle parts from the garage. Marco cocked an eyebrow, “Everything okay?”

“Listen— I’m only going to say this once.“ Newgate crossed the office towards his desk in heavy footsteps. He rubbed at the deep elevens between his eyes. “Don’t get involved with Ace.”

“Hm?” Marco’s confusion only grew, “I…beg your pardon?”

“Whatever it is you’re doing...” Newgate waved his hand in the general direction of the garage, “None of that. Don’t flirt with him, don’t distract him, don’t confuse him.”

Marco couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Flirting? He was pretty sure he hadn’t tried to flirt in the past four years of his life. He let out a breathy laugh and looked over his shoulder like Whitebeard had to be talking to someone else. “…You’re not being serious.”

“I’m serious. He’s got too much on his plate right now and frankly, he’s too young for you.”

“Wow.” Marco had to repeat Newgate’s words in his head a few times to fully digest it. He scoffed. Ace was a hyperactive, one volume only, shit starter. The very idea that someone interpreted their conversation as flirtatious had to be a joke. “First of all—” He could feel his face heating up, “I’m not sure what kind of sleazy character you think I am. Secondly, you honestly think my type is the guy with a tattoo of his name spelled wrong?”

Whitebeard leveled Marco with an unamused glare. Clearly, the idea that he may have  misinterpreted things, hadn’t crossed his mind. “Listen, I gave Teach the same lecture.”

“Teach? I’m on the same level as Teach?” Marco clicked his tongue in disgust, “Well, you can rest easy. I promise you— I guarantee you, I have zero interest. Not my type.” Marco propped a hand on his hip, “But truthfully, I’m a little insulted you think you can dictate who I flirt with anyway.” 

“Oh, don’t misunderstand me, Marco. I haven't ordered you around in the past ten years. You’re an adult. The people you date should be none of my business.” Whitebeard's reply was very matter-of-fact. Marco had thought he heard the threat from his tone disappear completely before it all came rushing back. Whitebeard leaned in, his voice fell an octave and Marco swore he saw death themselves behind the old man’s eyes, “Unless it’s my kid you’re talking to. So, I’m telling you right now Marco, knock it off.”

If you liked this, there’s more on AO3 ;)

Thanks for reading!

[andmaybegayer]

One thing I am thinking lately is that electric scooters intergrate with public transit systems much better than bicycles, and they make some sensible tradeoffs given that. Like, when people take their bicycles on the metro it takes up a ton of space, and while there are ways to take bikes on trams and buses they're all very tricky low-capacity systems, either they eat a ton of space or you have to like, huck your bike on a rack on the back of the bus, which is slow and awful in cities.

Electric scooters fold down real small. With two hinges you can take them down to the size of a medium sized duffel bag, and they deploy much faster than folding bikes. They're also easy to take upstairs or stash in an apartment that doesn't have bike storage or a city that doesn't have space to store 500 densely piled bikes on the street like they do in the Netherlands or some parts of Berlin.

[simonsrosebud]

“It becomes kind of a lost and found situation” MY GOD. I WANT TO KNOW MORE PRETTY PLEASE

AHHH my wish is ur command, this is the full rundown on how Andrew stumbled upon Blake and brought her and Elliot into his and Neil’s family

So Andrew waits in the shed and catches her when she opens it. Mans is bored okay let him live.

Blake drops the bike and tries to run, and promptly trips in the still wet grass from when it rained an hour before. She kinda twists her ankle and tries to run again but can’t, and Andrew tells her to get up. She’s the same height as him and all fight, yet quickly folds when reality sinks. She begs him with mud on her arms and side of the face not to call the police or her dad “I-I was just- the 24 hour pharmacy is six miles away and I can’t drive and I just needed-” she’s close to hyperventilating and starts trying to back away. And Andrew tells her to knock it off. “You do this three times a week” boom got her. “I… I work there.” “At the pharmacy” “At the checkout counter,” she scowls. “At midnight” “I have school” “Not at 4pm” “I- look, are you going to get me in trouble or not?” “Contemplating it. Tell me the truth first.”

Blake works at the 24 hour CVS at 12-4am bc she doesn’t trust leaving her brother at home when she’s not there. Night time is safe bc everyone is asleep and safe. When she tells Andrew her brother is 14 and not like 3 he tries not to assume the worst. Because of this, he gives her Neil’s ratty old bike that’s been sitting for years, pumps the tires, and drops it on the grass for her. “Petal with one foot”

I should mention that he does this not bc he feels bad about her working at 15 years old but because he can’t won’t afford to get involved. She’s not his kid, she doesn’t know him, he has no ties or responsibility to her. He doesn’t know her situation, she never says anything about abuse and not every situation is like his own past, but he just has this sick feeling anyway.

That should’ve been the end of it, but two weeks later the bike shows up back in the shed looking like it’s been run over. A note attached reads “i’m sorry”. Andrew leaves $20 by the electric bike and writes “take the fucking bus” under her handwriting. 4 days later the money is gone.

Blake is gone for another 4 weeks, and then when Andrew can’t sleep one night he sits outside smoking a tiny bit of weed (bc Neil made him give up cigarettes long ago) and he catches her walking down the sidewalk. She freezes bc she was definitely about to borrow the electric bike again. This time he allows it. Neil hasn’t used the thing consistently since he was 38 (4 yrs ago) anyway.

2 weeks later he catches her outside again, this time texting Renee who is on the other side of the world for something he doesn’t care enough about, and Blake has a bruise on her jaw and a cut on her cheek, bandages around her one wrist/hand. “Bicycle accident” is what she says. “Funny. The bicycle is scuff free” He sees the brief panic in her face. “Who is hurting you?” bigger panic “No one, you’re crazy” “Maybe once. I know abuse when I see it” “fuck you, you don’t know me” he scares her off. No trace of Blake for 2 months, bike untouched.

2 months later, Andrew goes to the 24 hour CVS to get smth idk, not thinking ab it being Blake’s workplace, but what do u know? Blake is at the counter wearing a turtleneck in summer. She doesn’t notice him w her headphones in, and smth in Andrew cracks when she lifts a scratched up a bruised hand to lightly pull the neck down and itch, revealing the bruises. Her eyes are hollow when she sees him, recognition insignificant, but as soon as she realizes what he’s rlly looking at she silently shakes her head as if saying “no, not here, not now, not in front of others pls don’t say anything”.

Andrew leaves without purchasing anything.

However, when she steps outside 20 minutes later post-shift Andrew is waiting on the hood of his car. “If you lie to me, I will call the police and you can let them find out who choked you.”

Scratchy voiced, like she screamed too hard at a concert, she says “No-No please don’t, I can’t- you can’t call the police” “Give me one good reason not to” “He’ll- I’m only 15, they’ll make me quit my job and we can’t to afford- and they’ll split us up, and he- Elliot won’t- he can’t- oh my god” she starts breathing heavily and raggedly and trips over herself into the brick wall of the CVS. She’s never had a panic attack before and she can’t catch her breath and is she allergic to something? Is she dying? Andrew makes her sit without touching her, and waits her out patiently until she’s breathing normally.

“Please don’t call anyone” “Then show me” “Why? What the hell do you even want?” Andrew wishes he had an answer to that but he doesn’t. What does he want? For this kid to not die at the hands of someone else? To get off better than he had? Andrew’s been retired from exy for 6 years now, and sure, he got bored sometimes, but aiding a teenager he didn’t know out of abuse or through the foster system wasn’t something he was really looking to add to his plate.

To be honest, he’d been hoping that the bruises were from a boyfriend that she could just break up with. But Andrew knew better.

He wouldn’t know without seeing her wounds, though, and he’d done the trade game once to know that sometimes it worked. He pulled the sleeve of his shirt up and showed her his scars. She didn’t know who he was, there was no one for her to tell. He didn’t care anymore as it was.

“I gave myself these when I was younger than you. When things got worse, I got myself sent to juvie just to get away from it. I will make you a deal. You tell me the truth about what is going on, and I will get you away from it.”

“Not to juvie, I hope” she jokes meekly. He shakes his head and she just deflates. “It’s our dad” she whispers like he can hear her “He was always rough handed, but then our mom died two years ago and he just started getting really bad. Like, slaps me or spanks me for talking back, or-or throws shit all the time. I had- my hands were all wrapped up cause he threw a vase and it shattered, and I had to clean it up cause he won’t and he just- he just shoved me down into all the broken pieces and it cut me all up” she was crying again, shaking hands pressed to her eyes “and he almost drowned Elliot cause he thought throwing him in the lake over and over again would teach him to swim,” and oh that was an ugly sob “so now I make Elliot st-stay after school for sports and go right to his room after. I’ve been cooking our meals since mom died but dad doesn’t go to the grocery store and sometimes he barely gives me enough money to get food, so I’ve been working-” Blake cuts herself off bc she is trying not to panic again, and when she opens her puffy eyes she’s met with Andrew’s calm but blank stare.

Andrew doesn’t have the luxury of staging a car accident anymore, though. “And the neck?” “I told him I wish he died instead of mom” “Good”. Andrew stands and unlocks the car “We are going to get your brother, and then I am getting you out of the house. How long will it take for him to notice that you’re gone?” Blake looks scared again “I-I don’t know, he’ll notice, but he probably won’t do anything about it until night time. But he-he has my location on my phone”

Easy fix, she turns the location feature off and Andrew drives her to him and Neil’s house first bc he wants Neil as extra help just in case. “The girl that broke into the shed” “Oh, uh, hi? Why is she outside our bedroom?” Andrew switches to German “Her father beats her and favors drowning her brother.” Neil sits up bc okay that’s got his attention, and the first thing he says, albeit cautiously, is, “Does he… do I need to call-” “No” and phew thank god. Neil doesn’t need two confirmed hits on his hands. It’s been 23 years since he got rid of Grayson for Jean.

“We need to go get him out of the house, and in the morning we need to call our lawyer. For them” “Why not the police?” “She said no.” it’s so telling that that’s enough for Neil to get on board “Well, alright. Not forever, but definitely for the night”

Blake is kinda taken back by all of Neil’s scars bc he was sleeping shirtless after all, but then they’re leaving the house again and Blake is on the phone with Elliot that only gives Andriel a one sided convo about “we’re getting out of there for good, pack what you absolutely need, the rest we’ll… i don’t know, we’ll get another time, maybe…. yes, i’ll be there soon. don’t leave your room, i’m gonna go in and pack and then we’re out. quick and quiet, hear me?”

Anyway, luckily their dad isn’t even home they don’t know why. Neil sees Elliot looking through the window as they pull in, and when they follow Blake up the stairs Elliot trips backwards away from them “Who the fuck are they?” “We’re neighbors, kind of. We’re getting you out of here, take it or leave it” “El, it’s fine, please, I promise”

Neil goes with Elliot, who has a black eye and bruises from rough fingers on his forearm. “Dad left in a rampage when he saw you were gone, i told you that job wasn’t fucking worth it”

But then all four of them are safe in Andrew and Neil’s house, and King immediately goes over to Elliot who promptly collapses into a panic attack against the front door. He and Blake sleep in the guest bedroom except they really don’t sleep bc Andrew and Neil can hear the hushed whispers and questions and crying, because they might be in a strangers house and they might not know what comes next but they’re out and they’re safe and they’re going to be okay.

[zehecatl]

He likes watching her work.

Always has, since they were both small, and Keira was still tinkering away with small stuff, little machines and compact mechanisms. He used to sit beside her, arms folded on the table and head laid down, and just- watch.

She's brilliant.

Daxter never much cared for it- too much sitting around, too much silence. Jak loves the guy, but silence's never been his thing, never known a quiet moment he can't break, and the few times Daxter had tried to join them in their still little bubble, it had ended with a whole lot of bickering, and very little actual tinkering. He's stopped, after a while, or maybe it had all just gone the way of it, and now they're grown up, they're older, they're in the future-

Daxter has a life, outside of Jak. He's not used to that.

Not used to having one himself, either.

Keira's a constant, though. Something he can cling to, fall back on- he's adrift, after. Lost in the whole of it, two years spent broken and barely functioning, and then days, weeks, more weapon than human. He'd picked it, had chosen it himself, but- didn't do him any favours, is all.

So. So. Keira. Keira's lab, with all her bikes and machines and smell of oil and latent electricity, sharp in the air, and he can watch her work, like he used to.

She threw him a look, the first time. Raised eyebrows, quirked lip. She hadn't looked angry, just- bemused, maybe. Almost like she thought him above this.

It hadn't hurt, just as it hadn't not. Complex feelings. Complicated, messy. Tangled up, and hard to pick apart, which was just Jak's entire life, now.

But she hadn't asked, and he hadn't explained, and then he had done it again, and again, and she had stopped looking at him like that, had smiled instead. Had started talking outloud, sometimes, sharing her work, what she was doing, and it-

It's nice.

Daxter doesn't join. It's time apart, time he spends with Tess, alone, and Jak thinks- maybe it's good for them. Maybe this is a life they can live, they can have. Something they can keep.

"You're thinking awfully loud over there," Keira says, and Jak startles- not enough to crunch the metal beneath his palms, but enough to briefly dig in claws, and feel it groan.

He flushes. Doesn't exactly curl in on himself, but he raises a shoulder in something of a shrug. "Lots to think about."

She cocks her head. Steps closer, and at some point she must have decided on a break, because she's a lot closer than she should be, and she's cleaning motoroil off her hands.

She steps up to him. He's sitting on one of her tables, so he's taller than her, is almost looming above her, but he doesn't feel like that. She slots herself in between his legs, drops the rag behind him, and looks straight up, in his eyes.

"You good?"

Hands on his knees. Even through the fabric of his pants, it makes his skin prickle. Makes him shiver.

"... yeah."

Sometimes, he can't handle it.

It's different, with Daxter. Easier, because that's paws, not hands, and sometimes the feel of skin on his own, even through fabric, makes him-

It's bad. Sometimes.

But today- today it's okay. Today, he curls forward, reaches out a hand to tug her a little bit closer, because sometimes he's so fucking starved it still feels like he's locked away in the Baron's little torture chamber, and he's never gonna get out.

Keira hums. Steps even closer, somehow, and raises a hand to tug him down, to press his face to her neck. Wraps her arms around him, and he exhales at the feel of them, breathes out so shakily he might as well be crying.

She hugs him close.

Lets him bury his face in her skin, and doesn't even say anything when tears prick at his eyes, and probably burn at her throat. Just hums, and holds him close.

After a while, he slips his arms around her, and hugs her back.

[hirocimacruiser]

Daihatsu Trek concept from the 26th Tokyo Motor Show (1985).

It looks cooler in real life then in the pictures of it in the Motor Show brochure I posted up

A ``modest'' dream car from the good old days, when people could talk about their hopes and dreams without worrying about security. Sashizume is a ``4WD tent that you can go anywhere''. The reason it's called ``modest'' is because, whether you like it or not, there's only room for one person under the tent, and in that sense, it's fitting that it has the stern profile of a man traveling across the land in search of starry skies. In fact, we don't know the details of the power source, but the process of making the bed is more unique and interesting. After the dashboard, rear view mirror, headlights, and taillights, which originally had an intentionally flat design, are electrically retracted, the top surface becomes completely flat, revealing a bed for just one person. However, the people who think that it would be difficult to sleep without a mat or sleeping bag must be modern people who don't even have that "small" dream, especially when they hear that it only takes 5 minutes to set up a tent. It is about the heart raising its head.

Translation of brochure

TREK

For the Lone Driver's Go-as-you-please Drive

Travel alone at your own pace. As I continued to develop that dream, this was the car that I ended up with. New concept car - TREK.

The land is all a man's field, so I want to become better friends with it.

Whenever I feel like it, I want to go on a solo trip and enjoy nature. With the theme of this man's eternal dream, we were able to freely expand our ideas and create this car. When running, it is fully open with no obstructions from the outside.

It feels like riding a bike with the wind and light all over your body. Then, when you fold up the steering wheel, seat, roll bar, etc., it becomes completely flat, as you can see. If you quickly spread the tent on top of it,

There is an outdoor bed where one person can sleep comfortably. Trekking allows you to go wherever you want and sleep wherever you like. If you think about the driving function, it's natural to use 4WD and drive in the mountains and fields.

If you want more power, you'll want to add a turbo. The Trek, which is still full of unknowns, is a concept model that shows one direction for RVs. .

"This is,

Fully open when running. You can bathe in a shower of light, breathe in the smell of grass, and run wherever you want. In other words, it is a natural child of cars.

This is what happened,

When you fold up the steering wheel, seat, and roll bar, a fully flat deck appears.

It can become a large table or a bed.

This is what happens.

Spread out the tent on the fully flat deck... It's like a covered wagon. I sleep in this at night. While listening to the voices of birds and insects, we dream big dreams the size of the earth.

-Size: Total length 3,195 x Overall width 1,395 x Overall height 1,530 (when running) mm

[bearcreekcabins]

Luxurious mountain cabins in Northern Idaho to provide an authentic ranching experience 

Northern Idaho offers plenty of opportunities for adventure and relaxation to avid travelers. This US gem state has hundreds of miles of biking and hiking trails, meandering trout-filled rivers, and ski resorts. It is also home to a 28-mile long scenic Selkirk Loop, that winds through Idaho, Washington, and Canada. The panhandle region stretches up the Canadian border, and reaches into Coeur d’Alene and Bitterroot ranges of the Rocky Mountains. Coeur d’Alene, pronounced as core-da-lene, sounds like a French village but it is decidedly all-American. The town sits on the shores of the magnificent 30-mile Lake Coeur d’Alene, offering plenty of recreational activities right in the heart of the downtown. Visitors to Coeur d’Alene will find themselves amidst intriguing contrasts of five-star amenities in a rugged setting.  

Providing a connection to nature, luxury mountain cabins Northern Idaho offer you an authentic western experience, and a feel of ranching life. No matter the season, Idaho road trip will provide you with plenty of rewarding views, filled with dense forests, pristine lakes, and authentic Americana. The unspoiled landscape is best explored with comfortable stay in luxury mountain cabins Northern Idaho that provide you with enough off the beaten path and privacy, which you cannot find in the downtown hotels. Bear Creek Cabins’ provides some of the top-quality luxury mountain cabins Northern Idaho with spacious porches, oversized windows, and open floor plans.   

Mountain cabins with modern amenities   

Main Cabin looks over the valley and has plenty of space for indoor gatherings with family and friends. It features a fully stocked kitchen with an electric fireplace, air conditioner, and comfortable seating where you can enjoy coffee while soaking in the view of the valley. Family Cabin is at the end of the row of cabins, and looks out over the courtyard, pavilion, and southern view. It is equipped with a queen bed, a queen fold-out futon, and can comfortably sleep 4 people. A ceiling fan and air conditioning units keeps this luxury mountain cabin Northern Idaho cool in the summer and electric baseboard heat keeps the cabin cozy when it's cool outside.   

Master cabin with a queen bed   

The Master Cabin offers comfort and privacy with a queen bed, reading nook, and 1/2 bath. It catches the morning sun and looks out over the courtyard. The cabin offers plenty of space to relax, recoup and rejuvenate during your visit to Northern Idaho. Bear Creek Cabins offers several types of mountain cabins to meet the different needs of travelers, which include Pavilion, bunk cabins, and dorm cabins. Each luxury mountain cabins Northern Idaho features authentic mountain chalet decor that exudes warmth, luxury, and comfort.   

Mountain cabins with a stunning view   

Open design of luxury mountain cabins Northern Idaho include cozy nooks where you can keep yourself nestled up, and sit in a comfortable outdoor couch.   

The cabins provide a perfect abode for a relaxing evening after a long day of exploration and adventure. The scenery surrounding the mountain cabins is simply stunning, you will wake up to the sound of birds chirping, and enjoy the view of lush forests. Select your dream cabin as per your needs to enjoy a luxurious stay in Northern Idaho.   

[things-about-cars-in-posts]

What about motorcycles?

Ohohoh. You thought you were going to put me in a spot of bother right here, eh? You thought you'd find me completely clueless as to what to tell you, huh?? You thought, HUH???? Well, unlucky for you, I have TWO entire BOOKS about motorcycles.

So I can just open the first one to a random page and tell you something about a motorcycle. *eh-hem* Fun fact about motorcycle...

...tits!

Okay, that was the first time I ever opened that book and I don't think it's going to top that, so let's just move on to the next one.

Well, this looks significantly weirder. What the hell are those funky things meant to be?

Wait wait wait. Folding???? "Trunk Bike"???? What do you mean????

Well, they mean that you could pull up to your Honda City Turbo II, fold down handlebars and seat, chuck it in the back and go on your merry way!

It was full of clever touches like an integrated wire lock, side bumpers so you could lay it flat, and even an optional backpack that latched onto the bike through the internal holes!

Bafflingly enough, this was nowhere near as much of a hit as was expected, failing to even hit a third of its targets by the end of its production with around 53.000 ever being produced. But what success it lacked in showroom life blossomed after, with a dedicated community of fans that spawned, among many other things, this book.

So, indeed, fun fact about Motocompo...

...tits!

Yes, this is an artbook dedicated to a vanishingly rare Japan-only early-80s folding scooter featuring manga tits. This thing couldn't be more Japanese if they drew the Motocompo as a tempura.

Although I guess it can't hurt to try.

Trust me, y'all cannot conceive how fantastically weird this book is. The picture above is not even an outlier. That's just the level. There's shoes, mini mangas, personifications, and of course...

...tits!

"Oh wow -I hear you say- look at the crazy tires they drew on that one!" And well, you're not gonna believe this:

Oh and the owner of this one has some half dozen. One of them replaces the stock 2.5HP engine with a Kawasaki unit as powerful as my car.

Oh right, forgot to mention. The book has a section dedicated to some of the finest modified Motocompos in the whole of Japan.

Why are you even asking? Of course there's itashas.

I humbly beg you to notice the tread pattern on the tire - of course, the most popular among Motocompo enthusiasts.

And I know what y'all are gonna think - y'all are gonna think I want one of these mad little scooters badly. And well, that's not quite true. I want about 10% of one, an electric motor and some batteries, and otherwise I'm good ;)

'Til then, it lays dormant in a silent prayer that my mom keeps not wondering what's up with that huge box atop the shelf with giant kanji all over it. And that the mailman hates me less than I assume he does.

Anyway, figured I would leave you with a double spread from the book featuring two quotes that have me torn on which I should get tatted on my back.

EDIT: It seems this post is shadowbanned. I cannot fathom why.

Links in blue are posts of mine explaining the words in question - if you liked this post, you might like those!

[pogocycle]

E-bike dreams do come true! ⚡️

The AVAKA BZ20 PLUS is here to level up your commute:

Beast Mode Motor: 500W of electric power to conquer your ride.

Foldable Fun: Folds in 3 steps for easy storage and on-the-go adventures.

Long-Range Rider: Travel up to 100km on a single charge (power-assist mode, obvs).

All-Terrain Dominator: Wide, comfy tires for smooth sailing on any path.

Safe Stopper: Dual disc brakes for chill, controlled stops.

Shimano Shifter: 7-speed gears to match your vibe, wherever you roam.

Ditch the car, embrace the e-revolution! Pogocycles has your perfect e-bike match.

[aovoebikeman]

Why You Should Buy the Bogist Mini V2 Electric Bike 🚴‍♂️⚡ If you're looking for a reliable and versatile electric bike, the Bogist Mini V2 is a fantastic choice. Here’s why it’s worth the investment:

Smooth and Speedy 🏎️💨 With a 350W motor, the Bogist Mini V2 offers smooth rides and speeds up to 15.5 mph. It’s perfect for zipping through the city or enjoying leisurely rides.

Super Portable 🚗🛴 The foldable design makes it incredibly easy to carry and store. It fits in car trunks, under desks, or even in a closet, making it great for tight spaces or public transport.

Long-Lasting Battery 🔋🔌 The 36V 7.5Ah removable battery is a major advantage. You can easily charge it separately, and it provides ample power for extended rides.

Lightweight and Easy 🎒✨ This ultra-light bike is easy to handle, making it suitable for riders of all ages and fitness levels. You’ll find it effortless to maneuver and a joy to ride.

Versatile 🌟🛤️ Whether you’re commuting, cruising around on weekends, or looking to stay active, the Bogist Mini V2 adapts to all your riding needs.

Addressing Common Doubts 🤔✅ Will it be powerful enough? Yes, the 350W motor delivers plenty of power for everyday use, exceeding expectations.

Is it durable? Absolutely. The build quality is impressive, ensuring it handles daily wear and tear with ease.

What about the battery life? The battery life is excellent, and the removable design means you can charge it anywhere, adding to its convenience.

Conclusion 🎉🚲 The Bogist Mini V2 is a top-notch, foldable, and powerful e-bike that’s perfect for commuting, leisure, or exercise. It’s a smart investment for anyone looking to enhance their riding experience. Now available at aovostore.com – grab yours today and save 10 EUR with Code: ST10!

[dragonbleps]

Car is back home. Dad paid for the diagnostic fee, but we're definitely getting rid of the car.

Now I gotta figure out what I wanna do. Do i want a bike? e-bike? electric scooter? another car?

personally I don't want another car (and neither does dad). me because of maintenance and my dad because of insurance he'd end up paying bc i dont have a job. totally fair, i get that.

mom is worried about me riding a bike to places, which is also fair.

i could get a fold up bike so i could take buses more easily, but idk how reliable the bus system is here

HMM.....

[averysexyleon]

In which molded Ethan takes on Karl

The bike caved, skidding across the dirt, but Ethan misjudged his own speed at catching the engineer as he’d intended.  Rather, velocity and perhaps Karl’s desire flung the engineer in a direction opposite the blond.  His hammer had been attached to the back of the bike, but Karl managed to grab the handle one-handed, flinging it into the dirt in front of him, using it as an anchor. Shockingly, this caused him to pivot and land on his feet.  Ethan stood from the kneeling follow-through of the kick.  How had Karl moved so quickly?  Ethan remembered spying on the engineer with Zoe, the way his body looked while glistening in a sheen of sweat.  

Guess the training wasn’t for nothing.  He wondered what else Karl could do. 

The memory made Ethan smile, and it was then that he noticed his lips were doing…something. Like the Molded in Louisana, they parted into a strange, wide grin with a bifurcated top, threatening to fold back further, expose his elongating teeth. Quickly he clamped his mouth shut, and willed his own lips back onto his face. His skin crawled as he fought the changing.

“What the-FUCK-” Karl brandished the hammer with both hands as Ethan tried again with a lunge. The blond lost consciousness, only for a moment. When the scene flickered back into his vision, Karl was on the ground on his back. Ethan was on top of him, the hammer’s handle Karl’s only barrier between himself and the taller man. He had one foot planted firmly on Ethan’s stomach, and was pushing upward with all his might, but the blond’s mass had somehow tripled. He didn’t budge.

The electrical shock did it, though; Karl grunted as the forest lit up in an arc flash, from his body, through the hammer and finally Ethan. The smell of ozone burned Ethan’s nostrils; his eyes were blinded and his ears rang. Then a clang of metal hit something solid–him, the hammer had hit him–he crumpled and rolled, moving away and deftly rolling to his feet while Karl scrambled to his.

“ARE WE FIGHTIN’, OR FUCKIN’?” the engineer barked angrily, hammer gears still spinning as he huffed in the darkness. Ethan was pleased to see that he was coat and hat free–the thin army green shirt did not hide his bulky torso, or the way those utility belts strained, strapped around his thick thighs. Ethan bit his lip, and rasped, “Both.”

[idril-la-wiccan]

Out of the Abyss - Act 1 Part 7 - A dive into Darkness

Aboard the Mercury Retrograde, the young captain was checking on what looked like a bike of sorts, the only striking difference was the evident lack of any wheels in its design. Two of his crew members were assisting him on the maintenance of the vehicle.

   - “Has the stabilization module been changed since last time ?”

   - “Yes sir !” chimed the first crew mate, “I even ran a test with it as soon as it was replaced to make sure everything was in order !”

   - “Good. What about the battery ? When was it last charged ?”

   - “Well,” the second crew mate replied, “technically it was last week. But just to make sure, I had verified its state before our first attempt at traversing the black hole, Captain. It was, and should still be fully charged. I also made sure it had sustained no damages from our failed mission, but I suppose a test run shouldn’t hurt.”

   - “Alright. Let’s see, then.”

SPACEBOY turned the key in the ignition. The electrical engine roared as the vehicle then floated in place. The control panel displayed everything it should, no abnormal sounds were heard from within, and a quick scan of the hoverbike said as much : all was fine. He smiled.

   - “Perfect.”

ABBI had been observing them work from a small distance. She approached as the captain almost seemed ready to mount on the futuristic bike.

   - “I wasn’t sure at first when you mentioned it, but now, I guess this can indeed come in handy once we’re in Black Space. Some of its areas can be long to traverse and a few places can be hard to access if you’re grounded. But I still think it might be cumbersome in situations where we won’t need it at all.”

SPACEBOY chuckled.

   - “That is not a problem actually, this model has a portable mode.”

He pressed one of the buttons on the panel, resulting in the hoverbike shrinking and folding into a cube that could fit into one’s palm. This display of technology amazed the octopus lady.

   - “Well I stand corrected.”

As he picked up the cube, a crew member entered the maintenance room.

   - “CAPTAIN SPACEBOY, we’re now right over the black hole ! So… we’re ready when you are, sir.”

   - “Thank you, GUY. We’ll head to the airlock, then. You can go back to the bridge.”

He and ABBI walked past the space pirate, who didn’t seem like he wanted to go back to his post. While hesitant, he did manage to speak up.

   - “Um… Captain ?”

SPACEBOY halted and turned to look at him.

   - “Yes ?”

   - “If I may… Uh… Are you sure of what you’re doing ?”

   - “Absolutely certain. Miss ABBI here says I cannot be harmed by what plagued most of you. And she will be my guide in this cursed place. You do not have to worry.”

He continued to walk, but added this as he did :

   - “Oh, and make sure to tell as much to the FIRST OFFICER ACE. Knowing him he must be just as worried but kept quiet about it all.”

   - “Ah- Will do, sir !”

The young captain could hear the crew mate walk back towards the bridge, albeit slowly. ABBI looked back, smiling a bit as she saw the space pirate walk away with a bit more confidence judging by his much less hunched stance.

   - “Your crew is like family to you. Are they not ?” she asked SPACEBOY.

   - “They are.”

They had now reached the ship’s airlock, waiting for it to be opened.

   - “So… jumping right in like that is harmless, you say ?”

   - “And is the fastest way to actually get somewhere.”

   - “Hmm… “Black Space” seems to be working under very strange rules…”

   - “Oh, trust me. It does.”

A voice resonated through an intercom.

   - “Opening of the airlock in 3… 2… 1…”

Light and wind entered the ship. They stared at the rift below, its darkness inscrutable from here. ABBI asked :

   - “Ready ?”

   - “More than ever.”

Waiting no further, both of them jumped off the Mercury Retrograde.

As they plunged, first was absolute obscurity. Then was a thick fog, that thinned out more and more as they kept falling. And when they finally landed, the moderate crackling of sturdy wooden planks punctuated the feeling of the solid ground under their feet.

The young lady looked at their surroundings. Wooden platforms and walkways connecting them, floating in the middle of a sea of clouds. A light icy wind blowing, propelling grey-scale pinwheels. Birds could be heard, but not seen. Somewhere in the distance was a waterfall. Somewhere in the proximity of the two explorers was a bench, and what looked like a person standing next to it.

   - “The Cloud Walkway…” she muttered.

The captain was also observing the landscape, but looking for what wasn’t there rather than what was.

   - “... My father’s ship is nowhere to be seen… And they could have gone anywhere from here. What do you suggest we do ?”

   - “There are a few… “denizens” of this place that would have seen the ship if it did pass by here. We can always try to ask them.”

   - “Denizens ?”

   - “Yes. As far as I know, there are no shadows in this part of Black Space. All there is here are mostly… what I would call lost souls, I suppose.”

ABBI approached the person standing by the bench, just a few meters from them. The person was faceless, yet you could feel despite their lack of features that… they were staring blankly into the distance. It was hard to tell if they even had acknowledged the presence of the pirate and the octopus until spoken to.

   - “Hello.” she began, “Do you happen to have seen a spacecraft travel through this area ?”

The Faceless did not answer immediately. They slowly turned their head towards ABBI.

   - “... Do I… know you ?... I… I have the feeling I know you…”

   - “Oh… Uh… Well, it is possible. What is your name ?”

The Faceless stayed indecisive for a moment.

   - “... I… I do not recall…”

She felt her three hearts sink a little. She once knew how it feels. Not quite remembering who you are.

   - “My apologies… I should have known how harmful this place has been to you.”

   - “Yes… Will the Dreamer come back one day ?”

That too she should have expected. That the Dreamer would be mentioned. She’d rather not talk about it in SPACEBOY’s presence.

   - “... I don’t know.”

   - “Oh… Well…”

A silence rang before the Faceless spoke again.

   - “I saw no spacecraft… However, I heard the sound of an engine… I think…”

SPACEBOY took a step closer.

   - “And in which direction did this sound go ? East ? West ? South ?”

   - “None of the cardinal points… or their inbetweens…”

The Faceless slowly turned to the void behind them. The only thing separating them from it was a railing. They pointed at the sea of clouds under the walkway.

   - “The sound vanished further down here…”

   - “Alright ! Then I suppose all we have to do now is jump down-”

   - “NO !” practically screamed ABBI as she held him back from climbing the railing, “Captain ! This rule about not being harmed when you jump down only applies if you enter Black Space, not if you’re already in it !”

   - “Oh.”

He took time to think about it.

   - “These rules seem a bit arbitrary.”

   - “I concede, they are.”

He sighed.

   - “Then I guess my hoverbike is the only solution. It would allow us to go down safely.”

   - “True. But I suggest we try to find a proper door first. Surely this place must be connected to whatever area is down there.”

ABBI talked again to the Faceless.

   - “Do you know what area is under here ?”

   - “... I never left this one… I wouldn’t know…”

   - “It’s ok. Thanks for your help.”

   - “... You’re welcome.”

As they left the Faceless, the young woman was wondering what were the odds of the area below the Cloud Walkway to be a new area she never saw or heard about. The chances certainly existed, and that was enough to worry her a little. Would a brand new door be there ? Or would an old door now lead to such a place ?

Well, there only was one way to find out ! She and SPACEBOY first went through a path to their left. As it branched, they went left again, finding a door. Locked.

They backtracked and found another faceless person. They asked them for directions, but they didn’t know anymore than the other faceless.

Our explorers had to go back to the main platform and take another path, continuing to pick left at every turn they found.

Which led them to soon find a funny looking… creature… who was near a toilet bowl.

   - “Oh boy !” exclaimed the creature, “If it isn’t ABBI ! How are you doing, old friend ?”

ABBI didn’t know this person. But she didn’t want to come off as rude, so she pretended to.

   - “Oh, I’mmmmm… doing great, thanks, ha ha ! Uh, how about you ? You good ?”

   - “Meh… I saw OMORI some time ago and he has been very mean to me ! I actually don’t even know how I’m still alive !”

“Oh, mood” ABBI quietly told herself, while SPACEBOY was absolutely gobsmacked by the news.

   - “OMORI, you say ? The young taciturn boy ? That seems really out of character coming from him !”

   - “And yet, that’s the truth ! He threatened me with his knife ! I myself was so shocked that I had lost consciousness right there and then !”

ABBI wondered if he really did faint or if he got stabbed and then got reset… As for the young captain, the tale from the creature made him shake his head in disappointment.

   - “If I see OMORI again I shall have a word with him about it on your behalf, mister… Mister ?...”

   - “LOOMY.”

Welp. This saved the octopus from the embarrassment of asking it.

   - “Very well, MR. LOOMY, I, CAPTAIN SPACEBOY, promise you that OMORI will be held accountable for his actions in one way or another. Now, if I may, do you happen to have a good knowledge of this place ?”

   - “Oh, yes, my good Captain ! I am in fact an expert in transportation through toilets !”

SPACEBOY and ABBI shared a glance, silently agreeing not to question it.

   - “Um… Alright, if you say so. Ahem. So, would you happen to know if there exists a way to go down to the area under this walkway ?”

   - “Hmm, let me see…”

LOOMY pulled out a very large map out of nowhere.

   - “So um… Hmm, no… Not that either… Uh, HA ! There ! Right under us are the Cardboard Ruins.”

   - “The Cardboard Ruins ?”

   - “Yes, yes, yes ! Unfortunately there are no toilets in that area, so I’m unable to take you there…”

   - “Oh, it’s alright, LOOMY.” said ABBI, “You’ve helped us plenty already.”

   - “Ah, very good, very good, in that case, I’m happy ! You know what ? Have this.”

He held out the map to them.

   - “I have duplicates of this map so please, take it.”

   - “Really ? Thank you very much.”

Map of Black Space obtained !

   - “Good. Now we just have to see how we can get there.”

   - “Hmm, I’m not too sure -since this isn’t my domain of expertise- but I believe that cardboard boxes can get you there ?”

   - “Cardboard boxes ?... Oh, of course ! It would make sense ! Thanks again, LOOMY. See you later, perhaps !”

ABBI was already running off elsewhere as SPACEBOY quickly waved goodbye to LOOMY before running after his guide.

   - “The Cardboard Ruins…” she thought out loud, “This is the first time I hear of this place, but I believe I know what kind of place this must be.”

   - “... How could you know what a place is like if you’ve never known about it ?”

   - “Well… I told you. I know this place like the back of my hand.”

The captain squinted.

   - “Wouldn’t you have known of these ruins already then ?”

   - “No. Because they didn’t exist yet last time I was here.”

SPACEBOY felt like ABBI was purposefully being elusive about it. But he had no reason to argue with her about how Black Space worked and quickly let it go.

Soon enough, they arrived in front of a cardboard box. The same kind one would use when moving to a new home.

   - “Well.” she chirped, “Now, let’s see…”

ABBI took a look inside. This box was empty and seemed perfectly ordinary. Though, she did not let that fool her.

   - “Now, now, in what way could you be used as a portal ?...”

She went around it, trying to spot anything that would seem out of the ordinary. SPACEBOY was silently watching as he didn’t want to disturb her, but then came a point where he had to : something had caught his attention.

   - “Wait… Do you hear that ?”

   - “Hear what ?”

He got closer to the box, leaning towards it.

   - “I could swear there’s a sound coming from this box… Hold on.”

He crouched, placing his hands on the bottom of the box's insides and was this close to plunge his head in there too.

   - “I recognise that sound !”

As soon as he had said that, the bottom of the box gave away under him. He fell through it with a startled cry.

   - “CAPTAIN !”

Without thinking, ABBI jumped into the box, holding tight to the edges with her tentacles and miraculously managed to catch the pirate by the ankle.

   - “Captain, are you ok ?”

   - “Y-... Yes, I am… Thank you… Oh.”

He looked down and noticed the ground wasn’t as far from the entrance of the portal as they thought, his cape effectively brushing against it.

   - “... I think I should be able to land without any issues now.”

   - “Alright.”

She let go and followed him down. They could now take in the view of the Cardboard Ruins.

Gigantic cardboard boxes, scattered here and there. Some were open, some were closed, and some even had square and rectangular holes cut into them, like a child would have to play with them as makeshift dollhouses. Numerous arts and crafts accessories were also spread throughout the ruins.

   - “I’ll be honest,” said ABBI, “I’m surprised this area did not exist sooner…”

   - “Hmm… If you say so.”

   - “... Is something wrong, captain ?”

   - “You know that sound I talked about ? I don’t hear it anymore…”

He seemed concerned about it.

   - “And what was that sound ?” she asked.

   - “I’m sure this was the sound of the Nebula Marble’s engine. My father’s ship.”

He shook his head with a defeated look.

   - “Maybe we arrived too late and they already left somewhere else…”

   - “... Maybe not.” she pointed far up in the distance, “Look at that crescent moon up there. Isn’t this a ship I see next to it ?”

SPACEBOY looked, and sure enough there was the faint shape of an old-timey looking spaceship, standing still next to a moon that looked quite bigger in comparison.

   - “No way ! This is it ! The Nebula Marble !”

   - “Very well ! Then we only have one thing left to do.”

The young man nodded.

With no obvious way to go up on their own, he got the small cube out of his pocket, deploying the hoverbike. He mounted it, revved up the engine, and once his guide had joined him on it, they departed, slowly speeding up. Once they were fast enough, they took off, going towards PINKBEARD’s spaceship.

ABBI couldn’t help but look around them. The more they gained altitude, the more the ruins below looked like regular sized boxes. The crescent moon, she noticed, was closer to them than the ship. But it also has some strange strings of white light covering it almost completely. As they passed it, she had realised those were actually chains.

A deep feeling of sadness overtook her as she stared at it. However, she had no idea why this solicited such a response from her.

   - “Miss ABBI !” SPACEBOY warned out of the blue, “Hold on tight ! We have a welcoming committee.”

Sure enough : a horde of weeping shadows was heading straight to them.

SPACEBOY was able to skillfully dodge a good amount of them, but it took only one blow from the shadows to completely lose control of the vehicle, leaving the duo at their mercy.

The shadows charged them again, and again, and again, until they started falling.

One last hit, and they were plummeting down to the moon.

*****

<< Previous Part || Next Part >>

Will ABBI and the CAPTAIN SPACEBOY find a way to reach the Nebula Marble ? Why is that mysterious moon covered in chains of light ? Could those chains be more than chains ?

In fact... could they be useful ?

*****

Like my art ? You can commission me !

Buy me a coffee ?

[princemick]

Okay so imagine this raining seb is on his bike ones of those cunty fold up one’s people on the tube use and Lewis drives past and offers the very set seb a lift to work. And then seb complains about Lewis car not being good for the environment the whole time and Lewis is just nodding and smiling

seb with his wet curls dangling down his face as he pushes them back with a flat hand as he keeps talking about how he should really get an electric car once this one breaks down and maybe buy a bike because 'you dont live that far away anyways' and lewis is looking at him any moment he can afford not to look at the road.

and all lewis can think is how he wants to put seb on a couch and give him a towel make him some tea and curl up next to him and watch some nature documentary with him as they pull into school and seb smiles widely and thanks lewis as he jumps out of the car

[eldritchtechno]

Hey, if you want to join Paprika on a dungeon delve, hit the like button (the heart) to sign up. Multiple people can get into the thread, though keep in mind we'd need to set up an order. For the time being I know have the energy to do so much, so the cap is 3.

Paprika's a half elf, say racially she is immune to sleep based magic, has a high resistance to charms, and can see in the dark. Her senses are also sharp, and she's able to forge items, pick through locks and tinker with stuff with ease.

Also, her little assistant is offering basic equipment to anyone who may need it at a reduced price.

Can go to any biome.

More detail below:

• Highly trained with crossbows, rapiers, and her storm gauntlets.

• Able to repair machines and constructs with healing magic, fueled by experience.

• A variety of gadgets, including bombs, lightning gauntlets, a Grappling Hook, and a fold out electric bike (she upgraded a basic bike). Also has two guns that shoot water.

• May or may not have a slight eldritch tint of magic due to her family's dealings with warlock pacts, likely able to curse things.

• Never needs to reload her crossbow.