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[zedecksiew]

George Town Literary Festival 2018

As a social animal I am a perpetually-soft-shell invertebrate; or possibly some sort of blind cave-dweller?

Sharon and I were participants in the George Town Literary Festival - a long weekend of panels, discussions, chats with writer-ly and cree-a-tor-ly types. Felt like three long weekends origami-ed into one; there was just SO MUCH.

I was so overwhelmed I forgot to take pictures. I took zero pictures. Here’s the one picture I took -- an after-the-fact photo of the books we brought home:

In a counterclockwise outwards spiral:

1) NutMag Volume 3 - a zine of young-writer voices from Penang; 2) JK Asher’s “The Inverted Banyan Tree” - novel. Picked this up mainly because it’s set in Port Dickson, and features a tiger spirit; 3) Mohan Ambikaipaker’s “Political Blackness in Multiracial Britain” - reading this now. An ethnography of the London-based grassroots antiracist Newham Monitoring Project. Clear-minded, rigorous thinking about racial dynamics in modern Britain; 4) Ali Cobby Eckermann’s “Inside my Mother” - poetry out of the Australian desert, by a Indigenous poet; 5) Aidli Mosbit’s “Chantek” - plays by one of Singapore’s busiest theatre persons. I’d gifted a copy of our book to Aidli for her birthday, so she gifted her book to me in return. Her’s the four times the size of ours; I think we’ve come out ahead in the exchange; 6) Azhar Ibrahim’s “Bahasa dan Tantangan Intelektualisme” - a book about the challenges and contestations surrounding Bahasa Melayu as a language.

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From my fractured notes of the panel discussions, some personal highlights:

1) Playwright Aidli Mosbit on being Malay-Muslim woman in Chinese-majority Singapore. “For a woman + Malay doing theatre, in the English-language theatre cannon, there are not many Malay-women roles to play - started writing to address that - more multifaceted Malay roles - in Malay, because I wanted that voice, even though English is where the money is.”  2) Poet Lemn Sissay, talking about his childhood. “My mother landed in [in the UK] in 1960s - forced into mother & baby home - social worker tried to force her to sign adoption papers - I thought my name was Norman Greenwood for 17 yrs - when I left the care system I didn’t know anybody who knew me for more than a year - this is colonialism in microcosm.” 3) Mohan Ambikaipaker, discussing political blackness and whiteness. “ ‘Black’ was ruptured in Britain to not be manners & customs, but to be political resistance / identity - IWA common cause with Afro-Carribean [community] - galvanise people in similar circumstances, re: racism - instead of treating these as separate instances, joint solidarity, because structural conditions are similar - whiteness is about maintaining a social position in hierarchy - ‘Rivers of Blood’ elite political narrative has a dynamic connection to somebody being attacked on the ground - [white racism] is not the actions of working-class few.” 4) Azhar Ibrahim, pushing back against mainstream Malay discourse’s obsession with the figure of Hang Tuah as the model Malay (male). “Remember the 'Hikayat Hang Tuah' - courtly text! Hang Tuah was court’s idea of a model subject!” 5) Ali Cobby Eckermann, who said many impassioned things about environmental / social doom and Indigenous ecological wisdom and the future -- but two things stood out for me. At one point she stopped mid-sentence, and sighed, and said: “I keep saying ‘Australia’, but you know we don’t have an aboriginal name for the place called Australia?” And: “For us, the first sin is land ownership. And, well, aboriginal culture is the oldest contiguous culture in the world.”

The discussions were all interesting, and I learned lots. Wish they were longer, though? Each was only an hour long. Also everything overlapped?

But I guess that’s what a big buzzy lit festival is like.

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Here’s some photos (that I didn’t take) of the big-ass panel I was part of:

(Source)

It was a panel titled: “On Privilege And Freedom And Freedom To Write In And Of Malaysia”. A big-ass subject. Here’s a close-up of me pontificating:

(Source)

Saying stuff like:

“Sharon and I think a lot about where stories come from, and how they return to those places. Stories come from or are created in particular geographies and communities. If I write a story, and it is never made accessible to the people or place that inspired it, then what I am doing is an act of resource extraction. Basically like logging.”

And:

“My privilege is that I live in a house that belongs to my family, rent-free. Basically it's a subsidy. My parents subsidise my work.”

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Sharon set up a chill time-out corner in the marketplace area of the festival, on the final day:

(Source)

Basically a sit-down-shut-up-mess-around-with-colour-pencils-and-decompress type deal. We huddled in our corner (with artist Mary Tang), and people came to us to sit down and chat.

Everybody I talked to seemed to like Creatures of Near Kingdoms.

Swapped notes with so many people -- in the festival itself, as well as with our friends in George Town, generally -- about translation and genre and animal myths and intersectionality and queerness and ethnography and fantasy and language and responsibilities towards our readership / communities and publishing gossip and being actually haunted by actual ghosts.

Because this is Penang, after all; every house or hotel has a ghoul or a god.

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Evenings after dinner we skittered back to our hotel room and fainted into bed. (No hantu bothered us.) Missed all the night-time performances and the poetry slam and the closing party, even.

This year’s GTLF is festival director and founder Bernice Chauly’s last. I’m glad I got to be part of it. It’s been two weeks, and I’m still processing stuff. I shall be processing for a while yet, probably.

[moutoshidotcom]

Some Famous Landmarks of America to Peak on Your Vacation

The United States of America is known for the world’s most dominant economic and military power. Besides, it is worldwide popular for tourist destinations also. Every year, millions of tourists are attracted to visit some famous landmarks of America. Among them these 10 landmarks are considered to be the most important part of America’s tourism.

1. The Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles

Debuting in 1923, the Hollywood Sign has become a Los Angeles icon and synonymous with the city. The sign debuted as an advertisement for the upscale Hollywood housing development but sooner it became an icon which has been imitated the world over. You’ll be amazed to know that originally it was built as “HOLLYWOODLAND” for a real estate development but the sign was rebuilt as “HOLLYWOOD” in 1949. Though you are not allowed to touch or visit the sign closely but still the sight will touch your mind and you’ll feel the magic.

2. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

The shrine of America’s democracy, Mount Rushmore is a massive sculpture carved into the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Featuring the 60-foot faces of America’s four greatest presidents who represents the birth, growth, development and preservation of the country. Three million tourists every year visit Mount Rushmore to experience this patriotic location. Do visit the site with friends and families to enrich your historical knowledge.

3. Statue of Liberty, New York

Located on Liberty Island just off Lower Manhattan on the mainland of New York City, the symbol of freedom and one of the most recognized figures of the United States. It is the Statue of Liberty. The most famous landmark of America. The Statue of Liberty was entitled by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel and was gifted to the American people by the French as a token of the friendship formed throughout the American Revolution. In 1984, UNESCO signified it as a World Heritage Site. Their “Statement of Significance” describes it as a “masterpiece of the human spirit”. A visit to the Liberty Island can help you meet the symbol of ideals such as liberty, peace, human rights, abolition of slavery, democracy and opportunity. And obviously a picture with the statue will enlighten your facebook wall & insta stories.

4. Grand Canyon, Arizona

If you’re a traveler then Grand Canyon must be in your bucket list. According to Theodore Roosevelt it is one of the greatest sights which every American should see. A surprising fact is that in 2017 alone, more than 6.25 million people visited the Grand Canyon. Biking, hiking, boating what you can’t enjoy at the place? If a summer trip is your only option, or you want to avoid the crowds, head to the North Rim, which gets about a tenth of the visitors and it is nearly ten degrees cooler than the South Rim. But if hiking is not your cup of tea, you can either rent a bicycle or take a scenic drive through the park.

5. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

The icon of San Francisco, The Golden Gate Bridge is the most popular and gorgeous tourist attraction. It’s gently curved cables and deep orange hue are a total showstopper. Specially, cycling on the bridge will stand out as a breathtaking experience for the cycle lovers. Wonderful sunlight, the great bridges, the Pacific at your shoes; maybe that’s why Dylan Thomas once wrote, “You wouldn’t think such a place as San Francisco could exist. The Cavallo Point, Cruise of San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Recreational Area and the bridge; you’ll be delighted with the all in one package.

6. Lincoln Memorial, Washington

With an average of 6 million visitors every year, Lincoln Memorial is a must visit while in Washington, DC. The Lincoln Memorial showcases an fascinating architecture of an ancient Greek Doric Temple; it was built using the Yule Marble inserted from Colorado. Though it is always open for visitors but early morning and late evening is the most precious time to enjoy its beauty.

7. Hoover Dam, Nevada

The Hoover Dam is located on the Arizona-Nevada border on Highway 93. It is a popular tourist destination whose Bureau of Reclamation tour alone draws nearly 1 million visitors every year. You can drive across the Dam and stop to enjoy the tempting view with some memorable photographs. But remember! Don’t stop your car in the streets. You can park at The visitors center which is on the Nevada side of the dam. It can be a bit more crowded but is a good place to park. The Colorado River below Hoover Dam is packed with geothermal countenance, including sauna caves, hot waterfalls and multilevel hot pools. Renting a houseboat on either lake and glide through water-filled canyons can make your trip more adventurous.

8. Yosemite National Park, California

In California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park has been a long place of inspiration for artists, climbers, and nature lovers. Hiking, biking, and climbing, visiting museums and galleries, you can find things to do all over the park. Yosemite Falls is the most memorable and striking feature of it. You can walk right to the base of the falls with minimal effort and feel the mist wide spreading over you. Also, if you’re induced to rock climbing then El Capitan will be warmly welcoming you. It is a breathtaking representation of Yosemite’s natural beauty. Don’t worry, there’s more. If hiking is your cup of tea then you must visit the Vernal Fall. It is one of the most popular hiking routes in all of Yosemite. The Mist Trails can be slippery from the mist during the spring and early summer so don’t forget to watch your steps.

9. Monticello, Charlottesville

Monticello is located in Arkansas’ southeast region near Mississippi and Louisiana. It is the county seat of Drew County. The city has a constant population that hasn’t changed much in decades, hovering just below the 10,000 residents mark. Thomas Jefferson, the founding father and third US president designed and inhabited the house at Monticello. He spent 40 years building his dream home. The Drew County Historical Museum is located on South Main Street in Monticello. It is the town’s most complete repository of historical artefacts, antiques and exhibits that relate to the culture and history of the area that was explored and settled more than 150 years ago. If you’re travelling with a large group then consider calling ahead to schedule a tour. Also, don’t miss to visit the Lake Monticello, Pomeroy Planetarium & UAM Fine Arts Galleries to add some extra spice to your tour is an architectural masterpiece.

10. The Bean, Chicago

You might have seen The Bean in any of the movie scenes. It is a work of public art in the heart of Chicago. The sculpture, which is officially titled Cloud Gate, is one of the world’s largest inverted outdoor art installations. Inspired by liquid mercury, The Bean was made with a reflective surface. This shiny exotic reflects its surroundings. The people in the park, the lights of Michigan Avenue, and the surrounding skyline and green space. The polished surface invites the visitors to touch and observe their own reflection, involving it as an interactive creation. The exterior of The Bean is made entirely of stainless steel. Computer technology was used to precisely cut 168 massive steel plates, which were then shaped together and welded shut for a completely seamless finish.

Choice is upon individuals but among these, I personally like the Hoover Dam & Yosemite National Park. The tempting view of nature with spectacular photographic locations melt me up. Once the COVID – 19 restrictions are lifted I would surely love to go on hiking there.

[mobilemechanicsomaha]

Best Mobile RV Mechanic Service and Cost in Omaha NE |Mobile Mechanics of Omaha

More information is at: http://24hourautotruckrepairomaha.org/mobile-rv-mechanic-near-me/

Mobile RV Mechanic near Omaha NE: Are you looking for the Best Mobile RV Mechanic near Omaha NE ? Mobile Mechanics of Omaha, RV mechanics whose repairs are more than Band-Aid solutions, look no further than the team at AWRV Mobile. Licensed, bonded, and fully insured, we're the mechanics you can count on. Cost? Free estimates! Send us a message or call us today. Best Mobile RV Mechanic around Omaha NE. We serve Omaha NE and other areas. Get a Free Quote Now!

BEST MOBILE RV MECHANIC SERVICE IN OMAHA NE OMAHA MOBILE RV MECHANIC  

Mobile RV Mechanic Mobile RV Mechanic Service near Omaha NE: If you're looking for RV mechanics whose repairs are more than Band-Aid solutions, look no further than the team at Mobile Mechanics of Omaha. Licensed, bonded, and fully insured, we're the mechanics you can count on. Reliable Camper Mechanics, Ready for Your Call A tire blowout is one of the most common RV problems. Your RV is carrying a lot of weight, so it's not surprising that it might take its toll on the tires from time to time. For some, this could put a huge wrench in their vacation if they don't have a mobile RV mechanic they can call. For you, though, there's no problem at all. Just call us! We'll be on-site as quickly as possible with all the necessary equipment for the job. We'll fix your RV problems and get you road-ready in no time! We know the importance of your time and money. That is why we are readily available for emergency calls. We are prompt, efficient and affordable. Don't lose precious family vacation time. We are your solution for all RV problems.

Everything You Need to Know About Mobile RV Repair Services Mobile RV Mechanic Service near Omaha NE:  One thing we love about RVs is the fact that most repairs can be made quickly and easily by the owner. That said, there are times when you might need a little help with a repair. When these bigger issues arise, many people take their RV into the shop to be fixed. However, some people prefer to turn to mobile RV repair. Wondering what mobile RV repair is, and if it might be a good option for you? This article covers the ins and outs of RV mobile repair, so you can decide with confidence whether or not this is the route you want to take next time your rig is in need of some TLC.

What is a Mobile RV Repair Service? As you might imagine, mobile RV repair service is a type of repair service that comes to you. This might mean that a mobile RV tech visits you in your campground or at your home. In some cases, people choose this service out of necessity because they can’t move the RV due to damage. However, more often than not, a mobile RV mechanic is called out because it is the most convenient option.

Types of Mobile RV Repair Services Many people seem to believe that a mobile RV mechanic is “one size fits all.” However, this is not actually the case. In fact there are a total of three different types of mobile RV repair service. 1: RV Dealer or Repair Shop House Calls Some RV dealerships and repair shops will make house calls on request. This is typically done only on an emergency basis, and you will likely pay a huge sum to have a tech from one of these places visit you. For this reason, we don’t recommend going this route if it can be helped. 2: Mobile RV Repair Specialists There are some repair techs out there who specialize in a certain type of repair. These specialists often work out of their trucks, and if not that, they tend to be more willing to visit customers due to having a niche customer base. That said, because these repair people are specialists, you can also expect to pay well for their services. 3: General RV Repair Techs Finally, there is the general mobile RV tech. This guy tends to be a jack of all trades, with a bit of experience fixing pretty much everything that can go wrong on an RV. They rarely have a shop to work out of, meaning mobile work is all they do. In most instances, this is the person you want to call in when you want mobile repair work done.

Getting Parts for Mobile RV Repair Unfortunately, because the general mobile tech (option #3) tends to work from his or her truck, you can’t expect them to have every RV part you could possibly need on hand. This means the parts might need to be ordered online or picked up at a local store. In some cases, the tech has connections and is able to get a bit of a discount, making it beneficial to order through them. That said, it often works just as well for you to order or pick up the needed items yourself. You might find that it’s best to talk to the repair person beforehand to find out what you should order, and have it ready to go when they arrive. This will save everyone time and will likely save you some money.

Benefits of a Mobile RV Repair Service Mobile RV Mechanic Service near Omaha NE: The obvious benefit to hiring a mobile RV tech is the fact that you don’t have to move your RV at all. If you’re already all set up at your favorite campground, there is no need for you to unplug and hitch up to have repairs done. Likewise, if your RV is sitting in your yard, calling in a mobile tech removes the need to drive the rig into a shop. Finally, there is the chance that you are unable to move the RV at all. In these cases, this benefit is not just convenient, it’s necessary. Another awesome benefit of choosing an RV repair service that comes to you is the fact that the work can be done in your yard, meaning you may not even have to take off work to get it done. We also appreciate knowing the tech will be focused only on your rig while he or she is at your home or on your site. This means mistakes are less likely to be made due to distraction, and you know you are paying for hours spent focused purely on your RV. Other mobile RV repair services include: ● Window blind and shade repair ● Carpet replacement ● Oil & filter changes ● RV detailing (wash & wax) ● Holding tank clean-out

COST How Much Does Mobile RV Mechanic Cost? Mobile RV Mechanic Service near Omaha NE: An RV enthusiast for more than 50 years, and during that time I have seen that my fellow recreational vehicle owners are paying far too much for parts and labor when their coaches need repairs and upgrades. This happens because most people don’t realize that what you pay to purchase a motorhome, travel trailer or camper is only the beginning of your ownership expenses. Repairs are constant and can be extremely expensive, so it pays to learn about potential costs before you purchase an RV. Average Labor Costs If you take your unit to a big dealership for repairs, you'll pay a minimum of $129 per hour, but this price can rise to as much as $189 per hour if you own an expensive rig. Some dealerships have the attitude that if you can afford to pay several hundred thousand dollars for a coach, you can afford whatever they want to charge to repair it! Smaller sellers will charge as little as $65 per hour, so if you shop around, you can easily reduce your labor costs. Some will give you a break and instead of charging by the hour, will offer you a flat rate per job. If you can get them to do this, you'll save a bundle. How to Cut Costs Many of the items used in RVs are no different than the ones you can purchase in stores or online. Certain things, such as specially sized plumbing parts, cannot be bought this way, but most others can. Furthermore, there are many talented workers around who are willing to do jobs for cash "on the side" to earn extra money. For example, ● TV repairman can fix your television set, ● people who work in carpentry shops can upgrade cabinets, ● upholsterers with RV experience can redo your furniture, ● tailors can make curtains and ● Flooring experts can carpet your coach. These people charge far less than RV dealerships do, and the quality of their work is just as good, if not better. Sometimes people who already are employed in a dealership will also hire themselves out when they are off duty. Employing them can easily reduce labor and parts costs by half. Dealerships would like people to think that they are the only places where consumers can find RV parts and services, but this simply is not true. Owners have all sorts of options for cutting costs if they will just take the time to ask questions and let workers know they are in the market for less expensive services and parts. Typical Large RV Parts Replacement Costs Mobile RV Mechanic Service near Omaha NE: Here is a short list of items that many owners may eventually need to repair or replace: ● A refrigerator can cost upwards of $1,000. Large ones can cost as much as $2000. ● Air conditioners run about $600. ● New tires will cost between $250 and $900 each depending on size and brand. ● Entry stairs will cost upwards of $300 depending on the type and size of step. ● A good quality inverter will be $2,000 or more. (Check out the savings in the ad I show below for the one we purchased from Amazon recently. Same product, lower cost. It's a no brainer.) However, people who own luxury coaches can pay significantly more for parts and labor. I just met a couple that paid $20,000 to replace a major part in their diesel engine. A while back another couple told me they had to pay $17,000 to replace their windows! The good news is that Good Sam Club offers warranty insurance that will pay the bills to repair or replace most items if you own a newer coach.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is a Mobile RV Mechanic? Mobile RV Mechanic is the new way to get your vehicle repaired at home, on the side of the road, at your office or anywhere else. Instead you take your car, truck or van to an auto shop. They come to you.

Who are we? We are a fully mobile RV repair service. We don’t sell RV’s or rent them. We simply fix them, guaranteed.

Why choose our mobile service? Time and convenience. Why take your RV to a shop, drop it off and then the time to go back and get it if the repair can be done where you live or on site?

Do you do insurance claims? Yes! We handle all types of insurance claims including estimating and dealing with adjusters and appraisers.

Do you handle warranty claims? Yes! We deal with both manufacturer warranty and aftermarket warranty providers.

What about parts? We have access to a complete line of parts both from the dealerships and aftermarket providers.

What payment methods do you accept? We accept Cash, Electronic Funds Transfer and Credit card payments at completion of work.

Do you provide free quotes? Yes, we will travel within the service area and provide a free quote.

Do you have public liability insurance? Yes, we have on site coverage specific to the work conditions.

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CONTACT US: Mobile Mechanics of Omaha 24-hour mobile mechanic roadside assistance services in Omaha NE! CALL (531) 233-6154 MOBILE MECHANIC CALL (402) 401 7564 TOWING SERVICE OMAHA CALL (402) 590 8094 ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WEBISTE: www.24hourautotruckrepairomaha.org http://www.mobileautorepairomaha.com/ http://www.mobilemechanicomaha.com/

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[firerwolf]

There is nothing sport related about an AR. It is a slightly smaller version of the M16 but it is used for the same purpose by civilians as soldiers. Killing people. When you have a consistent constant in the mass death of civilians then civilians don’t need to own it. Of course I think there could be an option where like firing ranges could own ARs and civilians could rent them for just range use but they don’t need to own them at home. They aren’t used for hunting, they aren’t good for home defense, and they have been consistently used in mass shootings.

Minutes aren’t a big deal if the person doesn’t have an AR. Also it’s more an issue of the quality of cops and the need for reform in who we allow to become cops. Truthfully usually cops don’t fail their city the way those cops did but it’s also not crazy to think maybe cops shouldn’t have to face an AR at all. Hell if he’d wanted to use a handgun in that situation the shooter wouldn’t have even been there or been able to kill anyone because he was to young to buy one but he could buy an AR.

It actually is a lot of rounds when you keep in mind he wasn’t spraying into a crowd. He killed people in two classrooms before shooting himself. He could have killed more. Also it was 154 rounds into two rooms and at a few staff on his way in and he killed 26 people, 20 of which were children. He only used the handgun to shoot himself. If I remember correctly it was theorized his AR jammed and that is when he killed himself but can’t confirm if they ever actually were sure of that.

Mental health changes don’t do us any good when we still don’t require background checks at gun shows. It doesn’t do us any good if the people like the Uvalde shooter had no history of mental health because they were just 18. It doesn’t do us any good if the shooters are loaners with no one to report their mental health issues.

I’ll be honest it is concerning to me that you’re calling a mass killer by his name. Like there’s a reason why it is most people call mass shooters by the title of just “[invert players e tragedy happened] shooter.” Like you should not know their names. Also that link doesn’t come up when I search that. In fact none of the major sources I could find even found that worth mentioning so it seems like you might be making assumptions about what that could have lead to.

The dude who killed the shooter didn’t have an AR, he had a handgun. And he would have been in less danger if the shooter didn’t have an AR. As I’ve said I’m not against handguns. Hell though if you want to go to reality if there had been no guns allowed at all then no one would have had to shoot a shooter because he wouldn’t have had a gun. So in fact you do do good by preventing people from having guns because then the mass shooter wouldn’t have guns.

That’s a straw man argument and you know it. That data is biased in how it is presented. Because yeah, if you count in normal murders or gun crimes it’s mainly handguns. We have high gun crime, because we don’t do enough to regulate them so the country is full of guns. And we could take steps to prevent mass death by simply banning assault weapons again. We had them banned for years, then that law lapsed, and the numbers show a massive jump in the number of deaths caused during mass shootings.

If you have to water down mass shooting statistics with common crime like murder to lower the amount of rifles used then you’re just arguing in bad faith when the subject is just mass shootings. Gun control does work. If we would actually do it in this country we could save lives that are pointlessly lost.

…man you really are arguing in bad faith if you have to try to compare America in any way to Venezuela. The two aren’t even close to being the same countries or anywhere near the same governments.

I saw this meme the other day, that was like

A;“Do you think we should make 2a more clear?” B:“It says ‘Shall Not Be Infringed’ how much clearer can we get?”

Then a comment that said something like “When people asked Thomas Jefferson if they could buy cannons he said ‘What am I your king? Do whatever you want’”

I have an honest question that I want to have a dialogue about. Cause I have been thinking about this for days and I need answers (Sorry this gets long but I ask you to read it if you are a staunch 2a person and give feedback)

How come people always ignore the “For the purposes of well regulated Militia” part?

How many children have to die before “well regulated” starts to matter? You would think it’d be one or like 10 but it’s not. Since Columbine 169 children have died in school shootings so it’s not that number either. Every time a school shooting happens the number of children you are hypothetically okay with dying gets a little higher. That’s not counting the people who are killed in regular mass shootings, gang violence, who are injured, children and parents who are now traumatized for life. Just. Dead kids.

So my question to all the “Shall Not Be Infringed In Any Way” people is how many dead children is too many dead children to you personally? If it was your child would you change your mind then? Really honestly take a minute to think about it. If your child went to school and never came home (God forbid I pray that never happens), which is what these 169 children’s parents experienced, would you still not put any effort into making sure no parent went through that again? Or is there no number too high? 10,000 children? 20k?

We are seeing more and more mass shooting committed with guns the guy got legally. No one (we’ll probably someone but you get what I mean) wants to take away all guns. You can still have everything but this one specific type of gun.

So what’s your number? Because the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US is gun violence and the number is only going up.

[killiancygnus]

Serendipitous Melody 17/?

Summary: Everyone has dreams. You might dream of becoming an astronaut or teacher, or you might want to become a doctor and save as many lives you can. Emma Swan’s childhood dream was being a singer. But with life getting in the way and never finding the courage to overcome her fears, she never had a chance to follow it. That is until a little push from her friends lead her to cash on an opportunity; and, who knows, she might even get more than what she’d wished for.

Rated: T

Word count: ~6.8k

A/N: I have started uni back again so I don’t know how much it’ll take me to finish the next chapter, but for now here it is a nice and very long update. 

Thanks to the wonderful @the-reason-to-sail-home for her mad betaing skills and to @mahstatins for being always so lovely and listening to my rants when I freak out.

Tagging some friends: @villains-happy-ending , @stardusted-nymph, @allisonchameron, @kmomof4, @hencethebravery, @katie-dub, @captainwiley , @irishswanff, @thejollypirate, @dassala , @imhookedonaswan, @ofshipsandswans , @legendofthephoenixcs and @londonsbridge

If you want to be tagged too let me know :)

Links: Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9- Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14 - Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 / AO3

It took a week to film the video and only a couple more of post-production work before it could be ready to be shown to the world. The song got released a few days later without any kind of announcement. However, the publicity the show gave them and Killian’s dedicated fans, made it reach the top of all the charts in less than a day and the video became soon viral.

Overall, it had been a massive success. They would hear their song on the radio, in shops and even on television. It was a bit overwhelming honestly, for Emma for starters, but for him too. After its release, going out without being recognised and eventually finding pictures the following day everywhere on the internet, became almost impossible, as they found out. When Ruby had asked Emma if she remembered to get wine for their girls night, only moments after she got back home at Killian’s from the store, it became pretty clear that they now were the news of the moment.   

In this new scenario, going on dates while keeping a low profile became even more challenging than it already was. At least they could spend time together every day, at home.

Their home.

He had asked her to officially move in with him only a few days after the release, during a nice night out camping in the woods. They had gone for a hike, backpacks on their shoulders as they walked in the woods hand in hand, enjoying not having to be conscious of every touch and look. It was liberating. Away from journalists, fans and paparazzi for a couple of days in which they could finally be together outside of home’s walls, and take a breath from the madness that now surrounded them.

They had placed the tent in a little nook not far away from a stream, hoping that fellow campers wouldn’t settle near them.

Killian had built a fire, or, at least, he’d tried his best. Apparently the life of a multi-platinum record selling music star didn’t lend itself to too many outdoor pursuits, since it took him a half hour of furiously rubbing sticks together, his hair flopping into his face, before Emma was forced to stop him with a hand on his wrist. She was biting the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing, but tried to keep her voice gentle.

“You want to try a lighter?”

Killian huffed and sat back on his heels. “Hang on,” he grumbled.

He disappeared into the tent before emerging with a single large blanket that he wrapped around Emma’s shoulders before tucking himself against her side. He was quiet, his expression tight, almost nervous.

Emma elbowed him gently. “It’s not a big deal, you know.”

“What isn’t?” He asked with a frown, probably sounding as lost as he really was.

“Lighting a fire. We’re not like… cave people.”

Killian laughed shortly. “No, I suppose not.”

“You don’t need to, I don’t know, go hunt me a boar or anything.”

“That’s very comforting to a man’s ego, Swan. Thank you.”

She sighed and lay her head on his shoulder. She felt him relax almost immediately.

“I do, uh, I do have another suggestion though. As to how I might… that is… not that you need looking after - but - I thought - maybe...”

Emma sat up just enough to see the blush rising up his neck and turning the tips of his ears to a deep shade of red.

“You’ve a real talent with words, Jones.”

“Move in with me?”

“What?”

Killian rubbed at the back of his neck, his eyes fixed on their unlit fire.

“Unless - if you don’t want to that’s fine and I understand, but I’d like - I’d like it to be you and me, Swan. Just us against the world. That is, if you’ll have me?”

Speechless and caught off guard, she pulled him in by his jacket’s lapels and kissed him thoroughly.

“Is that a yes?” he managed as she drew back to catch her breath. Her answering laughter echoed through the forest before he guided her inside the tent to celebrate more thoroughly.

The nomination for the MTV Video Music Awards was a nice - well, more than nice - surprise that came about a week later. They were still slowly moving her stuff from her apartment to his - no, their - home, and now the very first song she had ever publicated was on the nominee’s list of one of the most important awards out there.

It was too much. She had tried not to think much of it and focused on the first important step of moving in with Killian. After all, even though he had all the talent in the world and he was an acclaimed artist already, what were the chances that they would actually win one of those shiny statuettes? They were nominated for more than one category, so yeah they would definitely be higher for them to get at least one, but that was not the point. It wasn’t like she didn’t think their song could win, she just didn’t want to get her hopes up. That way she wouldn’t be disappointed if (when) they didn’t win.

Her friends thought she was crazy at caring so little for what could be a huge step for her career, but Killian, of course, didn’t. He seemed to get that, deep down, she was truly just scared shitless of it and of what it would entail for the immediate future. In the days following the nomination, he always tried to direct the conversation somewhere else when in public, blaming superstition, and to bring up the topic only if necessary when at home. He even convinced their friends to not organise any party or anything as such to celebrate her birthday and the nominations before the ceremony, as she had asked them more than once. She loved him for that.

Being her birthday only a couple of days before the red carpet, they decided to stay in and enjoy a quiet night together. He had made her dinner, put on some romantic music and bought some fancy wine for the night. He had even scattered candles around their bedroom, where he much later proceeded to show her exactly how much he loved her.

God, she could still feel her skin blush at the memory.

“Is everything alright, love?” Killian asked her, bringing her back to reality.

Startled, Emma lifted her gaze up, noticing he was handing her hot chocolate mug out for her to take, and he probably had for for a while. Blushing deeper, she took the mug and looked sheepishly at him as she sat on the couch. “Yeah, I was just thinking about the other night.”

“Hmm,” Killian hummed as he casually sipped on his coffee, playing dumb, “Which night? You have to be more precise. There was the one in the woods, the one in the pool and the other by the fire, the one -”

“The night of my birthday,” she interrupted him, noticing with a side glance that he was smirking.

“Ooh, that night!”

Emma rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yes, that night.”

Killian’s smirk grew wider. “And what exactly were you thinking about that night?” He asked, the tip of his tongue poking out just a little from his mouth to wet his lips, “Please, tell me.”

After studying him for a few moments, Emma put her mug down on the table in front of her. “I was just thinking of how we could recreate it with our roles inverted,” she shrugged, watching his expression change as he imagined all the things she could do to him with her tongue. Pupils dilated, jaw set, tongue licking his lips once more: bingo. “Too bad that the guys will be here soon to get us ready for tonight and that my boyfriend is being a bit of jerk this morning,” she added, bringing the mug back to her lips as she waited for his reaction.

Three… Two… One…

“No Emma, wait! I’m sorry.”

And here it is, she thought, as she kept her eyes on her drink, suppressing a grin.

“Come on, love,” he pleaded, giving her his best set of puppy eyes as he put his mug down before moving closer to shower her collarbone with kisses, “We still have plenty of time.”

Damn him. She hadn’t considered the puppy eyes. He bloody well knew she couldn’t resist them, and now her plan to make him beg for it was shattered. Not that she was upset with the result, mind you.

It was exactly a couple of hours later that, now happy, sated and showered, they let the small group of stylists and makeup artists in. Emma had barely the time to say “hello” that she was dragged upstairs and locked in one of the many guest rooms. First, she had to choose the outfit for the night among the few dresses Anton, her stylist for that night, had brought, by trying them all on.She let  him handle choosing which her the accessories would look best. It was like going back to the time when for the show she had to attend dress fittings weekly, with the exception that this time, each one of the dresses sprawled on the bed was definitely worth much more than her old apartment’s rent. And she didn’t even want to think how much all those beautiful shoes and clutches and jewels would cost too. Never in her life had she thought that before her thirties she would be living with her internationally famous boyfriend in his villa, having their first single together blasting on radios, having thousands of fans following her social media accounts and being about to attend her first red carpet.

Her life had become truly crazy.

After picking a stunning off the shoulder, long red dress with a tear on the gown that she was sure would make Killian’s head spin, Ashley, the same girl from Enchanted’s makeup team, sat Emma down on a chair and started working on her hair, as she chatted cheerfully with her and Anton. As she combed Emma’s hair in a complicated braid crown updo, Anton cracked some jokes and swore he would watch the red carpet that night only to see Killian drooling over her and tease him next time. She had to admit that for how eccentric he looked with his brown curls arranged in odd haircut she couldn’t really describe and beige silk shirt with a patterned foulard around its collar, he was an amazingly funny guy.

Once her hair was done, the focus of her stylists switched to painting her nails and doing her makeup. They kept it simple: burgundy nail polish to contrast with the white sandals and clutch, and one of those natural looks for her face that was impossible to master.

After putting on dress, heels and a pair of diamond earrings and rings (and almost four hours of pampering), she was deemed ready and free to join Killian downstairs.

Taking a deep breath, Emma slowly descended the stairs. One hand firmly holding the banister, the other keeping away from her eyes the few curly stands that were left out of the braid, Emma looked at her feet for the most part of the flight, scared to trip on those stupidly high heels and fall. It was only when there were a few steps left that she looked up. Killian was standing right in front of her at the bottom of the stairs, mouth slightly agape and eyes wide. He took her in, from toes to hair and then down again, his eyes zeroing in on the glimpse of her leg through the fabric as the tip of his tongue poked out from his mouth to wet his lower lip.

Emma giggled. Yep, Killian was fuckstruck for good. Actually, she could very much relate because that navy blue tux, white shirt with the collar slightly left unbuttoned to show just a bit of his chest and I’ve-just-got-out-of-bed tousled hair? That was sexy as hell. Possibly barely legal.

“Emma,” he stuttered a little, taking her hand away from the banister to help her down the last steps himself, “You are… Stunning.”

As her cheeks grew pink, a wide grin appeared on Emma’s lips. “Thank you. You don’t look half bad either.”

“Half bad? Love, I am bloody handsome,” he scoffed with a smirk as Emma laughed at his affronted frown.

“That you are,” she assured him, fixing the white handkerchief poking out from his jacket’s pocket.

Putting his hands on her hips, he leaned in to give her a quick kiss when Leroy’s loud voice and the honking of a car horn startled them.

“Lovebirds, will you get a move? We don’t have all day!”

With a sigh Emma let her head fall on his chest as he huffed in annoyance. “Better get in the car, love,” he said, leaving a kiss on the top of her head.

“Yeah. For how amusing it might be, I really don’t want to make him grumpier than he already is tonight,” she said, looking up at him before taking his hand and head outside.

By the time they got there, Leroy was already in the car. “Finally!” He shouted from the open window as he nervously drummed his fingers on the wheel. “Miss Mills will have my head if you guys are late.”

Killian gave Emma an exasperated look and rushed to the back of the car where he held the door open for her to get in before following her. “And if you don't drive already then we certainly will, mate,” he grumbled.

“I know, I know,” Leroy said, starting the car and turning in his seat to face them, “Just one more thing: no -”

“No smooching allowed in the back seats. Yes, we remember,” Emma interrupted him.

Leroy just stared at them with a wide - quite creepy if she were honest - grin on his face. “Great. And you better not forget it,” he added, driving down the path to the gate.

The drive to the venue was pretty fast, or at least, that's how to Emma it felt like. However, waiting for their turn to step on the red carpet was nerve-wracking. Killian, who was sitting next to her, seemed unfazed, but whether he really was or he was just pretending to be for her sake, she couldn't tell. She, instead, by hearing the screaming of the fans over the buzzing of journalists and guests and the clicking of the photographers’ cameras going off, was all jittery. God, she was so nervous she felt like her heart could burst out of her chest at any time. As Leroy, once been given the okay from the staff, started the car again to bring them up to the red carpet and the theatre’s entrance, she gave Killian a shaky smile before turning around to look from the window.

“A little liquid courage?” Killian asked, shaking a small silvery flask and making her jump on her seat.

Emma watched him with wide eyes. “I…,” she stuttered, opening her mouth once or twice as he took a gulp of the rum that she thought was in the flask before she could form any sound. “Did you bring a flask of rum with you? What are you a pirate?”

Killian looked at her with a pointed look as he rose his left eyebrow.

“Fine,” Emma rolled her eyes at the ceiling, ”Do you think it’s wise, though? To drink before this… Thing? I really wouldn’t want to embarrass myself on national television in front of the press and so many celebrities.”

“And you won’t,” he promised her, tucking her in by his side and leaving a small peck on her lips. Completely ignoring Leroy’s icy glance in the rear-view mirror, he continued as he drew circles on her cheek with his thumb to soothe her, “I’m not saying to get drunk, love. Just to take a sip to loosen your nerves.”

Emma wrinkled her nose. “I’m not -”

“Yes, you are, Emma. You are trembling.”

Breathing out a sigh in defeat, Emma accepted the tiny flask and took a sip of rum, enjoying the warm burn that it left behind just while their car came to a halt right in front of the red carpet. The screams of the fans were possibly even louder than before.

“Are you ready?”

Wincing, Emma shook her head slowly, the outside noises growing louder and louder in her head as her anxiety grew. She hated being at the centre of attention. It had always felt too much: too many people staring at her, too many expectations, too many hushed words and giggles whispered in people’s ears that she consciously knew they couldn’t be about her but that her mind liked to think they actually were. It was different on stage. There, with the lights in her eyes and the music in her ears, she couldn’t either see the audience nor hear them whispering behind her back. There, back when they were filming Enchanted, she knew that if for whichever reason she got nervous, she could freely glance at Killian’s blue, calming eyes without fearing of people gossiping about every little look or touch they exchanged.

“Hey, it’s alright,” he comforted her softly, his touch on her arm gentle, “I’ll be beside you the whole night. We are in this together remember?”

Smiling softly at his words, she nodded. What she did to deserve such a wonderful man, she had no idea, but whatever it was it must have been good. “I love you,” she told him after taking a deep breath, moments before he would open the door.

“I love you too,” Killian turned around and said, kissing her forehead briefly. “Shall we go?”

When Emma gave him a nod, Killian opened the door, cueing the start of more flashes going off as he helped her get off the car after him. All the pictures and videos Emma had seen in her life faded in comparison to the splendour and madness of the real thing. Fans began screaming their lungs out as soon as they stepped off the car, and they pretty much continued for the fifteen-ish minutes in which, sided by several security guards, they signed autographs and took selfies with them. That was easy, it was still a bit mind blowing - and she guessed it’d always be, at least to some extent - thinking there were people that wanted a picture with her or her to sign pamphlets or posters or basically anything they had at hand, but she was slowly getting used to it. After all, all she had to do was smile, exchange a few words with a stranger and scribble her name somewhere.  

The hard part came later.

When their time with the fans ran out, they were escorted further on on the red carpet where most of the photographers were amassed and taking the last few pictures of one of those brand new boy bands in front of a set of huge billboards. Killian must have noticed her tensing up beside him as they walked because he reached for her hand and leaned closer to her to whisper, “Relax, love. All we have to do is smile, show how hot we are this evening and look like we are having the time of our life.”

“And how do we do that?” Emma whispered back as she gripped her teeth in an awkward grin.

“We just smile and pose, trying to look as natural as possible. Then, when we’ll be asked to take pictures together, just follow my lead.”

Taking a deep breath, Emma stepped in front of the photographers, putting a hand on her hips and hoping her smile wouldn’t look as forced as it actually was. With her now former job she had to practice her acting skills, pretending every time to be a different person to catch a prep. She was amazing at tricking that scum into thinking she wasn’t after him, true. She wasn’t that good of an actress, though, to fake nonchalance in front of mad-looking persons, screaming her name left and right as the flashes of their cameras almost made her go blind. After a few interminable minutes, Emma turned around a bit and glanced with the corner of her eyes at Killian, standing a couple of feet from her. Noticing she was looking at him, his eyes found hers, giving her an encouraging nod and a smile. That was all she needed to bring her attention back to the photographers.

It was a couple more minutes later that, as she was giving Killian her back, she felt two firm hands placing on her hips, making her jump. She was ready to turn around and knock the man out by jerking her knee up against his groin, when she heard Killian’s low voice right by her ear. “You are doing wonderfully, love.”

“Killian!” Emma squealed, turning quickly around in his hand to face him before pushing at his chest to get him off her. “You scared the shit out of me! I was about to drop kick you,” she said, trying to hold back a laugh.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” he said as he stretched his arm to bring her against him once again, his hand landing gently on her side, “But you are more relaxed now, aren’t you?”

Point taken.

She wasn’t sure if it was because of Killian being a dork or just because he was now by her side to face the photographers, but the second part of that nightmare went much smoothly and much quicker than it did before.

It didn’t take long before they were left free to stroll down the red carpet. Now that she was much more relaxed, she had to admit that the atmosphere was amazing. Celebrities were passing by them, people she had only ever seen on the screen of her phone sometimes stopping to greet Killian and to meet her; fans were endlessly cheering for their favourite stars; journalists were interviewing nominees and guests by the sides. They were only stopped a couple of times as they walked to get some more pictures together, but, truth be told, they didn’t get much walking done (and her feet were more than happy for that not so insignificant aspect of the evening). In fact, they spent most of the time being interviewed.

Talking with journalists wasn’t that hard, as she had found in the past months. Most of the time they knew how to make you comfortable and when not to push too much on a certain subject. She had also gotten used to the practice in deflection one had to do every single time for one reason or another by then, so she was pretty confident when the time for their first interview came. And even more for the second, and the third, and the next after that. However, after being asked the very same questions in five interviews (well, five... She’d lost count after the fifth so they might even be more than that), Emma was beyond bored as they approached another journalist.

“James! Long time no see, mate,” Killian said, reverting back in a mild version of that Irish accent of his that made Emma shiver and her knees buckle every single time.

Surprisingly to Emma, who had thought he was greeting another singer, the short scruffy man with a pair of big glasses on his nose holding a mic ready to interview them exclaimed, before hugging Killian briefly, “Killian Jones!”

Emma frowned in confusion. She honestly had so many questions she didn’t even know where to start.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” James said, moving to the side so he wouldn’t be bothering the cameraman in front of her and Killian too much. “I was hoping you would introduce me to the lovely Miss Swan.”

Killian pouted making Emma chuckle. “Oh, I see how it is.”

“Emma, please,” she said in between giggles.

“I’m sorry, man, but she is stunning. And talented too as far as I’ve heard.”

“That is a very true statement,” Killian agreed as he took her into his side, making her blush.

Looking at the camera James “aaww”ed at the scene and then continued with the interview. “Well, your song, ‘Like Fire’, is everywhere - no really, most days it almost feels like it follows you around,” he added when Killian opened his mouth to try brush off the compliment, while Emma was sure he was actually itching to scratch the spot behind his ear, “It would have been hard for me and everyone else not to notice how great you two sound together.”

“What can I say, we make quite the team, James,” Killian replied, hiding his embarrassment at the compliments under a mask of cheekiness.

“Hmm… Do you?” he asked, eyes twinkling with mischief, making Emma freeze on the spot, “What do you say to play a little game to prove it?”

And there it was. She saw that coming, she really did. However, even though a part of her was excited to finally get to do something different and fun, another much louder part of her was instead dreading it and screaming in her head. What if he asked them about something personal? They still hadn't come out as a couple out of fear of the conclusions of favouritism most people and press would draw. What if they would expose themselves thanks to a stupid game? Emma glanced at Killian and noticed that even though he looked more relaxed than her, he wasn't thrilled by it.

“Don't look so scared,” James reassured them, “It’s just an innocent game to see how well you know each other. All you'll have to do is saying who between you two is more likely to do the list of things I'll read out to you.”

Deciding that he was telling the truth, Emma nudged Killian and told him, finally getting in the conversation, “What do you say? Shall we play?”

“Of course, love. You know I never back away from a challenge.”

Turning back at the camera Emma and Killian gave two matching playful grins at it before Emma said, “Go on then, James. Shoot!”

“That’s the spirit guys! So, let’s begin,” he announced turning serious all of a sudden. “Who is most likely to break into song while working?”

They both replied at once, Emma giving him a quick amused glance before saying, “Killian,” as Killian blushed and admitted, “Me.”

James laughed and the continued, “Who is most likely to throw someone a punch?”

“Me, but only if they deserve it.”  “Oh, definitely Emma.”

“Really?” James asked, his eyebrows so high up on his forehead that they looked about to fall off his face.

“Yeah,” she said, trying not to sound petty, “I’ll have you know, I was a bail bonds person until a few weeks ago. How to knock someone out is not something one forgets in that little time.”

“Careful, mate. You really wouldn’t want to cross her, trust me. This one throws one hell of a left hook,” Killian warned James, pointing at Emma who smiled innocently.

“And I take your word for it. Now, I fear I might already know the answer to this one, but who is most likely to eat all the food?”

Emma and Killian exchanged a look and small secretive smile. “Killian,” she said just as he pronounced her name, both turning towards the camera.

Emma glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “Wait what?”

“You ate the entire carton of the ice cream just the other night,” Killian pointed out.

“And you ate all the popcorn!” She fired back, staring at him hard, but not enough to make his gaze waver.

“Wow! I feel like I should get some popcorn for this,” James interrupted them, making them stop eye-murdering each other.

Really? That was lame, Emma thought, trying not to roll her eyes, And there I thought he was funny for a minute.

“To be honest I am surprised; I thought we would all agree that it would have been Killian but…” James trailed off, gesturing at the both of them with the mic, “Anyways, last question: who is most likely to be the best dancer? Or who is the better dancer, if you have already seen each other’s moves.”

Emma hummed, searching Killian’s eyes for an answer, but she soon stopped to when she saw a twinkle of mischief in them as a smirk formed on his lips. Yep, Mr Innuendo had joined the interview.

“I’m sorry but I can’t answer that. It depends on the dance, you see?” Killian wiggled his eyebrows, looking proud of his joke.

Ding ding ding! A hundred points to Emma, a voice deadpanned in her head as she gave him another dirty look. Looking up at his smug face, she landed a loud smack on his arm and exclaimed, hoping he would hear the warning in her voice, “Killian!”

James, on the other hand, chuckled at the scene. “Well, with that we must bid you farewell, but judging from your answers we can tell you that you two will go very far.”

After saying James goodbye, they finally started walking to get inside the theatre, their press duties being done and accounted for.

As they walked, Killian leaned in to whisper in her ear, noticing how tense she had become after the interview, “You are not angry, aren’t you?”

Well, that was a good question. Was she actually? Probably no. Or rather, definitely not with him for being his flirty self. But was she scared shitless of what would happen if their relationship would be seen by what it actually was to the public eye? Hell yes. It was too soon after the end of Enchanted; people would surely question her right to be both to the final and with a musical career already in front of her.

“No, I’m not. But let’s try harder not to look too couple-y from now on,” she whispered back, “We wanted to be the ones to tell people of our relationship in our terms and not having them speculating and gossiping about us, remember? At least not too much of course.”

“As you wish,” he said, making her smile once again, “But Swan? I doubt that will explode on us after just a few pictures and interviews. And if by any chance it does, we’ll deal with it. Together.”  

Dammit, how could this man always say what exactly she needed to hear? Normally she would have kissed him - hell she was itching to kiss him -, but even though in the theatre foyer there were fewer people than there were outside, there were no chances at all she could sneak a kiss without them being noticed. So, instead, she just nodded, letting her eyes meet his, and repeated, “Together.”

They stared at each other for a few moments until a voice made them jump apart. “Emma! Killian!” Belle called as she approached them, her bright blue dress flowing behind her as she balanced on impressively high heels, “I’ve been looking for you for ages, but every time I spotted you, you would disappear and get held by the press’ claws.”

“Belle,” Emma said, giving their friend a hug. After working with her on the show, she had tagged along with Tink and the others whenever they would organise some sort of meet up and she had quickly become one of their best friends. She had even met David, Mary Margaret and finally Ruby, with which she seemed to get along wonderfully, the two of them soon creating a weird and improbable but solid friendship. Letting Belle go get a hug from Killian too, Emma asked, “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you tell us you had been invited?”

“I’m here to present a category,” she replied quickly before freeing herself from Killian’s strong arms, her words muffled against his clothes. Then, facing them both she continued, “I know, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. But it was a last minute thing, you know? And I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, you certainly did, lass,” Killian smirked, taking a look at her outfit and making her laugh.

“That’s his way to say he’s happy I am here, isn’t it?” She asked at Emma who chuckled and nodded at her, both of them ignoring the pouting man next to them.

They didn’t have the chance to talk much more than that though, that they were asked to find and take their seats. The arena was already packed with people and it was bubbling with excitement when they entered. So, by the time they managed to take a seat, in between mingling and wondering around, the lights started to dim leaving the room illuminated by just the powerful, coloured spotlights over the stage as the show started.

Emma had tried to watch this kind of things on TV over the years but she had always found herself get bored to death and switching to Netflix after very little. All she wanted was to know who won what. She didn’t really care about all the live music and speeches and guests. She had hoped that being actually there, sitting in those comfy chairs, would have made her enjoy the show much more, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. Less than an hour in, and she had already started to wish they were both home and in their bed. Three hours in and she had already counted how many lights, big and small, there were on the stage.

They hadn’t won Video of the Year but then Belle had come on stage to announce the nominees for Best Pop Single and really, they should have understood that she was there for a reason.

“Good evening everyone!” She had announced, getting a very loud reaction from the audience. “Here's the list of this year's nominees for Best Pop Single: first -”

Emma’s mind had tuned out then, nervous all of a sudden. She had fooled anyone (except Killian, of course) into thinking that she was crazy and didn't care about winning or losing, and she had been so good at it that she had basically managed to trick herself into it. However, the tornado of butterflies in her stomach were telling another tale altogether.

Seeing how tense she got, Killian reached for her hand and gave it a soft squeeze before giving him a reassuring smile. Like a nice cup of hot chocolate on a chilly, winter night, that did the trick and Emma felt herself relax.

“- and last but not least, Killian Jones featuring Emma Swan in Like Fire,” Belle concluded, cueing the cameras finding them in the crowd of celebrities and a few seconds of their song blasting from the speakers. “And the award goes to…”

Silence fell in the theatre. The only thing Emma could hear was the quick thuds of her heart. She even barely registered the way Killian’s hand began squeezing hers.

As if she were underwater, Belle’s words once she spoke again sounded muffled to her. “Like Fire by -”

As their names got lost in the cheers that erupted all around them, they jumped off their seat, Killian embracing her tightly in his arms after blowing a quick kiss on her forehead. As she sat back down, he sprinted onstage, hugging Belle and taking the award as he muttered her something indistinguishable at which she just smiled and shrugged.

“Ehm...wow. I, uh -” he stammered, looking down at the golden statuette in his hands. “You'd think I'm used to this, but truth is one never really does. Anyway, I must thank a bunch of people if you don't mind: my manager, Regina Mills, August Booth, for directing the perfect video and, of course, Emma,” he said, his eyes finding hers. “She is brilliant. One of the most - if not the most - lovely and amazing person I've ever got the chance to meet. Her talent can only be overcome by how much of a great friend she is. I know you tend to second guess yourself, Emma, were I have to do it again I'd press that button a hundred times.”

Under his gaze, Emma had actually felt herself tear up a little. He had always been the one good with words (when he wanted).

It was after he got off stage, that Emma snuck backstage and, after finding a dark and hidden nook, she kissed him senseless. If Belle noticed the way his hair were sticking everywhere more than usual moments before they went on stage to sing, she didn't say.

They woke up the following morning with their limbs tangled in the sheets, Regina’s voice coming from Killian’s phone shouting at them to get their ass at hers for celebratory and late birthday brunch, thousands of mentions on Twitter and a ship name. Apparently, according to Regina, their mentions, follower numbers and accounts views had skyrocketed during the night after that a bunch of people began suspecting they were together and had started the “Captain Swan” tag.

As soon as Killian ended the call, Emma trailed kisses down his torso, which had been functioning as a pillow since then, and asked, in between kisses, “Do we really have to go?”

“Afraid so,” he sighed, closing his eyes for a moment to enjoy the tingling burn that would spread on his skin at every touch of her lips. Then, placing his hand on her side, he pinned her down against the mattress in a matter of seconds. While he softly kissed her surprised giggle away, he let his body flush against hers. “I’d love to spend the day in bed with you,” he said once they came up for air, “But I fear Regina might get in here herself and drag us out of the sheets if we don’t show up.”

Emma sighed in disappointment. It was not fair, especially after he had kissed her like that. Bastard. “What about the rumours?” She finally asked, “Shouldn’t we do something?”

“No. These things always happen on Twitter after an event like last night’s. For now, we won’t do anything. If it doesn’t die down in a few weeks or if we see articles popping up on magazines though, we’ll see what to do. But everything will be alright. I promise.”

“Okay,” Emma said after looking at him for a few moments, letting her worries being washed away by the sea blue of his eyes and the low timbre of his voice. “Get off me then,” Emma pushed him away, “We should get dressed.”

Killian landed with a muffled “oof” on his side of the bed. “Rude, Swan,” he pouted as Emma got up.

Feeling his stare on her bare arse as she walked, Emma looked at him behind her back and stuck her tongue out before disappearing in the ensuite. A few moments later, just as she was about to step under the shower’s spray, Killian burst the door open and joined her.

Surprisingly, by the time they arrived at Regina’s, Robin and his son were the only people already there. (Or well, him being the only one there was more a surprise to Killian who was still in denial than it was to her).

“Here you are,” Regina exclaimed when she opened the door, letting them inside.

“Hello, Regina. Where is everyone else?” Killian spoke first, voicing her own question.

“Robin is outside with Roland trying to work the barbecue. As for the others…” she trailed off, a small smirk appearing on her lips, “Well, let’s just say I told you to come half an hour earlier because I knew you were going to be late. Which you are, by the way.”

“Oh, come on,” Killian whined as Emma’s eyes fixated on the boy that was currently sprinting down the stairs, “It’s only fifteen minutes!”

Regina didn’t have time to reply that a blur of brown hair and clothes hurled in Killian’s arms while shouting his name.

“Hello to you too, lad,” Killian chuckled, lifting the buy up and spinning him around before letting his feet touch the floor again. Emma could only smile at that scene.

“How many times do I have to tell you, Henry?” Regina sighed, “No running on the stairs.”

Still in Killian’s arms, the boy mumbled an apology before letting him go and turning around to face her.

Emma froze, but her mind started racing.

“You must be Emma,” Henry chirped, “I’m Henry. Killian told me so much about you.”

Emma didn’t even notice Killian flushing red beside her, nor did she try to speak right away. Instead, she desperately tried to get rid the lump that had formed in her throat and to make sense of what she was seeing. Because the boy in front of her wasn’t just Regina’s Henry. He was the carbon copy of Henry, her son.

[iamlordmoldyshorts]

I signed up long ago to receive travel tips and discounts through Travel Zoo.  It wasn’t until recently that I actually took them up on an offer and decided to visit Riga, Latvia…because why the hell not?

Booked well in advance, it didn’t occur to me until I’d landed in Latvia that I’d be there during both the Trump inauguration and the Women’s March.  As a result, this blog will contain many of my emotions/thought processes in addition to the standard fare of pictures containing my experiences in my very first Baltic country.

If that’s not your cup of tea, feel free to see yourself out and return for my next blog: Berlin!  Any political commentary on either side of the equation in the comments will be deleted.  Consider yourself warned. :)

I landed in Riga at “night”(damn, it gets dark early!) and saw real live snow on the ground.  As a Texas girl who has spent considerable time in Jerusalem, Israel and Miami, Florida this was a real treat for me.  So what do I do?

Snow selfie!

I asked a handy nearby fellow for directions to the bus and went to wait at the stop where I witnessed a grown-ass man rolling around in the snow, making snow balls behind the bus stop.  See?  I’m not the only one excited about seeing snow!

After an hour long bus ride and a twenty minute walk to my hotel, I settled a bit and went out to find dinner at about 8:30.

Whilst traveling, I tend to splurge a bit on food.  I like to taste cuisine like the locals do.  Often times, I’ve found, that doesn’t actually mean eating the local cuisine (as you’ll see from my large variety of meals in Latvia.)

For my first meal, I wound up at KID*, an extremely cozy Italian restaurant that had the strangest and best music selection of any restaurant I’ve ever been to…full stop.  I was serenaded by a Nicki Minaj/Sir Mix Alot Anaconda/Baby Got Back crossover on banjo and a four-string jazz version of Eleanor Rigby.  Also, the food wasn’t bad either. ;)

I headed back to my hotel afterwards because while I don’t mind traveling by myself, I do have some manor of common sense about walking around alone in the dark at night in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language.

Upon returning to my room, I decided to do a bit of research regarding the Latvian impression of Trump, considering the time of my visit coincided with his taking office.  I’ll admit, I was slightly concerned that I’d be a lone blue swimming in a sea of red.  Surprisingly (or not surprisingly, when you actually take more than a second to think about it,) Latvia (and Latvians) are most definitely not fans of Donald Trump.

In fact, upon doing some research, I discovered that Latvians fear what Trumps presidency means for Europe and are preparing for the worst.

“Unlike any other president before him, Trump has declared he would not necessarily challenge Russian aggression – particularly in the Baltic states. […] Many feel that just as the situation in Ukraine became something that the world could wilfully ignore, without the threat of US interference, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania could face a similar future.” Source

So I guess I wasn’t alone in my displeasure of the upcoming day.  But beyond that, in my irrational mind with a constant mantra of “You’re a lone American female in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language,” I was a little fearful to be in such close proximity to Russia on January 20th.  (Did I say irrational?  Hindsight shows that thought process to be stupid.  He wasn’t going to do anything on Day 1.  Obviously.)

I turned on the television to try and calm my mind a bit only to discover that my channel options were rather intriguing.  Between English, Latvian, and Russian, my channel options were limited to National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and poorly dubbed Disney Channel.  Jade Fever it is!

Day 1

The first day out and about in Latvia’s capital city of Riga was layered in a dense fog.  Not to be deterred, I set out to do all the things!

The architecture looked…sparse but decorated at the same time. Honestly, most of it looked like it was still part of the Soviet bloc, very minimalist and concrete. But I could also see where they were trying to build and differentiate as well.

Early morning courtyard filled with snow.

Riga Central Station and also a huge mall.

Made it to the hop-on/hop-off tour bus. I’m the only one on the bus. Good sign or bad sign?

I took the tour bus in a wide loop around the city, almost doubling back near to my hotel.  It was nice to warm up a bit, but my toes got cold while I was just sitting there, so I got off at the third stop and walked for the rest of the day.

Loved the architecture lines at the Riga Nativity of Christ Cathedral.

I’m standing where the Lenin monument used to be until 1991. Then they tore it down and renamed the street Freedom Street.

Freedom monument during changing of the guards.

The river was completely frozen over. I couldn’t resist!

Walking along the frozen river. Newly wed locks left on their wedding day.

I’m standing on the frozen river. Eeeek! (Technically, it’s a City Canal. Whatever.)

Found this just too funny. I didn’t realize Canada ever had a need to “re-establish diplomatic relations” with ANYONE! What?

Found this standing atop Bastion Hill.  Words to live by.

Maris Liepa outside the Opera House. I asked a passing stranger to take the picture…best decision I made in Latvia.

This passing stranger turned out to be a tour guide!  She invited me to join her for hot chocolate at Vilhelms Ķuze, a coffee shop known for having the best chocolate in the city.  We sat and traded stories while warming up a bit.  Based on my interests (and cultural background,) she recommended I cross the big river (Daugava River) and visit the Zanis Lipke Memorial.  We went our separate ways, her towards work, and me towards the river.

Partially frozen river from halfway across the bridge where I crossed.

Immediately on the other side, I saw these gorgeous red bushes a bit off the road. Determined to take that photo, I slogged through hella-deep snow to get that pic. Couldn’t feel my toes. #worthit

Walking along the opposite bank of the river, looking back at the bridge I crossed. The entire marina (that’s what you’re looking at) was frozen solid.

So on the recommendation of said tour-guide, I made the trek to the Zanis Lipke Memorial.  Now, if you (like me) have never heard of Zanis, let me briefly educate you.

Zanis was born in 1900.  He received three years of elementary education but had a good grasp of Russian, German, and Latvian languages.  After fighting in the Latvian War of Liberation, he married his wife Johanna (she was 17) in 1920.  He worked at the Riga port as a dockworker and in 1938, he acquired the right to rent a small house and a plot of land slightly inland from the river.

At the outbreak of World War II, he retrained in order to become a contractor for the Luftwaffe, and then used his position to smuggle Jewish workers out of the Riga ghetto and camps in and around Riga, whom he concealed with the aid of his wife until the arrival of the Red Army in October 1944.

At first he found shelter for them in various parts of Riga, but when the circumstances became too dangerous, he took them across the river to his house and hid them in a special bunker that he dug in his back yard.  When the numbers became too great for even that, he transported the runaways to a parish roughly 80 km away from Riga.

The Lipkes and their various helpers saved forty people in this way, one fifth of the approximately 200 Jews who survived the war in Latvia.

Information taken from the Memorial guidebook at Wikipedia.

Inside the Zanis Lipke Memorial.

Inside the Zanis Lipke Memorial with a super-not-at-all-sneaky flash.

A birds-eye look into the bunker.  TV’s are on the floor.

Lipke house.  A relative still lives there.  The Memorial is located right next door and is designed to resemble an inverted Noah’s ark.

At the end of the tour, I discovered that Zanis and Johanna have a tree dedicated to them at Yad Vashem (the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem).  Not only have I been there (several times) but I’ve seen and taken pictures in front of their tree and had absolutely no idea who they were!

Small world…

At this point, I decided to cross back over the river and hit some more monuments/museums before heading home.

The Swedish Gate is situated in Riga, Latvia, and was erected 1698 as a part of the Riga Wall to provide access to barracks outside the city wall.

The Three Brothers is a building complex consisting of three houses. The houses together form the oldest complex of dwelling houses in Riga.

Riga Cathedral

No idea WHY the fire….but it smelled like fire. I hovered for two minutes or so. Smelled like home.

House of Blackheads (home of the president,) with the Museum of Occupation of Latvia next to it.

The Museum of Occupation of Latvia was truly fascinating and if you ever have the opportunity to visit, I highly recommend it.

By the time I finished, it was dark out.  (Not that that means much.  It was about 5:00pm.  I told you it gets dark early there, right?)

I wandered back to the hotel at this point, determined to scope out a possible venue for dinner.  By the time I made it back, researched restaurants, and left again, it was about 7:30pm.  I went to the restaurant I found and lo and behold, it was closed for reconstruction.  Bereft, I wandered back down the street towards my hotel wherein I found salvation in the form of the UniCon Cafe.  Honestly, all it took was the TARDIS in the window for me to poke my head in.

Unfortunately, they didn’t serve food, but I asked the bartender where I could find good food in the general area and was told to go check out WokiToki for their Chinese take-away food.

After grabbing my Chinese food, I went back to UniCon and ate dinner there.  I fell in love with the concept.  An espresso and alcoholic beverage bar with two TV’s; one displaying anime, the other being used to play Mortal Combat.  They also had a huge wall of board games.

I would have been in nerd heaven if not for two things; most patrons were speaking a foreign language.  Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue striking up conversations with groups of strangers…but it’s hard to strike up a conversation if you don’t know if they speak your own language.  Also, by that time it was about 8:30pm.  For those of you who can’t play the time-difference game…8:30pm in Latvia was exactly 1:30pm in Washington D.C. on January 20th, 2017.

I wasn’t feeling very chipper from that point on.  I left and headed back to my hotel.  I spent the next two hours scrolling through my facebook news feed, twitter, and CNN before calling it a night and turning on the TV to distract myself.

Day 2

The following day, I was determined to take it easy and treat this trip more like a vacation and less like…well…a trip.  I slept in a bit later, I ate breakfast a bit slower.  I really only had a few things left on my tourism list that I wanted to check out.

I walked back over to the Riga Central Station (and got a better picture!  The sun came out!)

Rather than continue south towards the river (as I’d done the day prior) I hung a left and meandered over to the Riga Central Market on the recommendation of my tour-guide friend from the day before.

Old zeppelin factories that now house numerous food markets. Unfortunately the first one I walked into was fish. (*gag*)

The market stalls extended outside too. I walked around for a good hour out here. Found a cute sweater too…but wasn’t willing to pay asking price, so I walked away.

The ghetto. It is now a section for the arts in the city…which I consider to be AWESOME.

This imposing building looming over the Ghetto and marketplace is apparently the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

From there, I meandered my way back West and happened upon the Freedom Monument again…but this time, featuring BLUE SKIES!

I had a late lunch, my traditional McDonald’s excursion, and decided to walk in the general direction of my hotel for lack of anything better to do.

This was about the time the Women’s March was starting, so while I walked, I scoured Twitter to read the fun political signs.  I even saw someone walking down the street in Riga wearing a Hufflepuff scarf and a pussy hat.  As she walked by, I told her I liked her hat.  Thank goodness she spoke English…cause that would have been awkward.  xD

In my wandering, I ended up back at UniCon where I sat for about three hours and just read a book and drank some coffee.  So relaxing.

Called it a night early and went back to the hotel.

Day 3

On my final day in the city, I woke up and didn’t really have much of a plan.  I packed my stuff and checked out of the hotel, slowly making my way back to the airport.

On the way, I finally spotted some of the weather vanes I’d been looking for.  Riga is known for its eclectic weather vanes.  The rooster and the cat were my faves. Here are two roosters.  (It was too foggy to take a picture of the cat.)

I caught the bus to the airport and left Latvia behind me.

All in all, I felt very alone on this trip.  Not because I was traveling alone but more due to the fact that I felt isolated in my corner of the world playing tourist while so much was going on both in the States and in the UK (with the inauguration and the Marches).

Between Rome and Latvia, I’m kinda sick and tired of Donald Trump ruining my vacations.  I’m going to need him to work on that……among other things.

ANYWAYS!  Next stop: Germany for the Berlinale International Film Festival.

Because Why The Hell Not I signed up long ago to receive travel tips and discounts through Travel Zoo.  It wasn't until recently that I actually took them up on an offer and decided to visit Riga, Latvia...because why the hell not?

[homedesignlog-blog]

20 Irresistible Rustic Hanging Lamps

Whenever I write approximately lamps, i go loopy in accumulating them for the reason that designs available these days in the marketplace are just awesome and pretty! The designs available vary in color, detail, dimension, archetype and value; because of that, now we have so much of reasons and considerations when opting for the only that we'd be buying. In My View, I do not worry about that now for the reason that my oldsters are those that buy them for the home and all I do is pretty much suggest which ones to select and which ones to ignore, and they nonetheless are the ones that make the final choice as a result of route, they are those that pay for the items we want and want for the home. It’s a distinct story within the condo my sister and that i are renting now, we purchase things as a result of we want them – we have now to be sensible since it’s a new place and lamps is not considered one of those wishes. Haha! So, for lately’s list, all i can say is that they're all beautiful and unique in design. i love most of the lamps in this checklist as a result of the vintage glance they have to them. I’m now not reasonably a fan of the hunting a part of the things for the rental simply yet as a result of I prefer it that my sister settle on them due to the fact that they can be the ones staying in this position and i’m just right here for a few months however, I’ve been roaming the city for storage sales and flea markets as a result of i actually want to achieve a country to commercial type of house. This checklist is very the start of the hunt i'm into, take a look at the checklist and let us know what you think approximately them!

Kichler The layout of the cord masking the bulb is pretty superior. It’s now not drum, it’s not spherical – it’s cool! Designs like this is very atypical that may be why consumers or patrons would really like to actually get one like this.

Pangea Home This mini pendant is neat, simple and excellent. Delia is a beautiful mixture of commercial, rustic and contemporary.

Kichler This globe pendant with a hint of a reel in the valuable section positive seems to be superior! this may most definitely glance great if it had patina but it already looks nice as it is.

Vaxcel What about that? A lamp-having a look pendant in bronze! The layout type of this pendant is really fun since it sort of makes you think of another factor that it is not.

Varaluz That May Be one fancy reel! i myself haven't noticed a reel in actual life however this one is really business and lovely. And have a look at the take a look at tube-like bulbs in it. It positive is lovely, proper?

Sea Gull Lighting Fixtures The patina on this pendant gentle certain makes it attention-grabbing and really antique. Imagine finding things like this in junk yards and refurbishing it to be used again to your house or to your place of work.

Vaxcel The twigs intertwined in this lamp is rather amusing. It looks like antlers of a few kind. the wonder on this one is that it's a mix of wood and glass – it’s a typical mixture, sure, but on account of the original woodwork in here, this whole item is atypical.

Zuo Technology When I noticed this lamp, I remembered the cage where Tweety Hen used in the cartoons, only that one is expensive and really glamorous. this combination is actually interesting, it’s like attractiveness being kept or caged.

Uttermost i will’t inform what the color palette is in this lamp but it surely is truly neat and crafty! Plus it seems expensive too! The huge drum exhibit this vein-like main points on it.

Kalalou That Is a great instance of a pendant gentle that may move as an business lamp or rustic. The look, the layout and element of this bell pendant is just crazy beautiful and neat!

Golden Lights This mini pendant is quite contemporary I must say however the design of the bulb being inside an inverted glass makes it extra industrial than it has to be; if this just has a distinct cord like in black or bronze, it could look crazier!

Elk Lights An Exquisite drum pendant in bronze that sure appears to be like rustic and mid-century. the colours of the masking are quite stunning, what do you think?

Uttermost Rattan is one material commonplace and wealthy in the Philippines; the design of this pendant is one thing I have not seen in actual life just yet, but the colour and the element is really pretty and fairly unique.

Vaxcel Now this is one stunning pendant lamp! The layout in itself is really lovely and mid-century. This appears something like something you can see in vintage palaces within the olden occasions.

Sutter’s Mill Lantern Co. Every Other lantern form of pendant that you can place pretty much anywhere! Even Though I Believe this one could be nice to your patio because it creates an outside drama to it!

Designers Fountain this pendant, i am getting why it says inverted – in the event you invert this one, it might easily go for a table lamp on account of the layout of the highest, despite the fact that in fact on this case, this gained’t stand as a result of the tip that connects to the ceiling.

Elk Lights When I noticed this pendant gentle from Elk Lighting Fixtures, I remembered a can from the grocery – except for this one in reality produces light. the colour of this lamp is lovely too; it has that old end that makes it glance vintage or vintage.

Price Home Products Here Is another example of a pendant lamp that is formed like a globe. This one is less complicated than the only within the starting of the listing; however nonetheless as beautiful as that one right?

Zuo Era This Is one stunning pendant that can seem like a globe with its whole axis – slanted fashionable and all that. The layout is definitely rustic and can pass for mid-century or even vintage! This one lamp that Zuo Era must actually be happy with.

Nuvo Lighting Here's an instance of a lamp that may pass as rustic on account of the layout but the glance of this one could simply pass as latest since it was once meant that way. Smartly, that was one awesome record – it gave me just a little of an opportunity to do sort of window searching for rustic lamps as a result of the temper board i am making for our condo. It’s like a 12 months-lengthy mission that my sister and i have for our position – after all I’m letting her settle on most of the issues with the exception of my bed room. Sure, we have now a two-bed room condo in an easy group simply near the varsity where my sister works. This listing of 20 Irresistible Rustic Placing Lamps is quite an concept for the lamps we need to add to our bedrooms. Read the full article

[isprava]

Festive fun, art runs and Isprava in the news! Isprava Luxury Holiday homes and Villa in Goa

Festive fun, art runs and Isprava in the news!

Festive breaks at Igreha Vaddo

If you are looking for charm, style and luxury all in one, look no further than Isprava Igreha Vaddo, where three beautiful homes await your arrival.

This season, if you are craving a break, a home away from home for a while—all roads lead you to Isprava Igreha Vaddo. This is Isprava’s first gated community, located in a quaint corner, around the rare green fields of Siolim in Bardez, North Goa. Borrowing inspiration from Portuguese villages and old Goan communities, this vaddo sits on a higher land, away from the main road and feature homes that bring to the fore Isprava’s signature style, comfort and luxury. If you choose Villa A to be your home away from home, it features 3 bedrooms, and is spread across 2 floors. The best part of this home is its beautiful entrance foyer with a unique sit out porch. It has a living and dining room with a featured balcony. Villa C is visually divided into three lavish sections. The double height foyer is stunning with fixed seats that transforms it into a meet and greet space. As soon as you enter, your sight will take you to the outdoor deck thanks to the abundant windows. The top most floor features a charming terrace garden as well. But if it is Villa D that you rent out this season, do not miss its unique inverted balcony on the first floor, from where you can enter and look down to admire the living and dining space. Each of the three villas have amazing outdoor spaces, cosy indoor enclaves and tons of luxe touches to make your stay memorable, as always.

An Art Escapade in Goa

While the beach and bustling bars are always on the to do list when you visit Goa, this time we give you insider tips on the cool, contemporary art scene buzzing here.

Away from the sea, sand and sun, Goa also boasts a fabulous cultural scene where local artists and creative minds come together to promote Indian and International art. From independent art galleries to state-funded museums, from Calangute to Panaji, explore Goa’s budding art scene to discover both contemporary and traditional works of art. Start at the Art Chamber, a space set up to put young Goan artists in the spotlight. Housed within is the Castelo Vermelho, one of the coolest exhibits that has been featured here; includes a selection of traditional Kurdish and Indian masks. Next, go to Kerkar Art Complex where you will discover an immersive cultural experience featuring art installations and sculptures of Dr. Subodh Kerkar. His perspective of nature is something that really makes him stand out amongst the rest. If you are here on a Tuesday, then you would get to enjoy the open air dance recitals by local artists. As for one of Goa’s best kept art secrets, the Monsoon Heritage Studio will truly enthral. You can reach this gem by walking through a tropical forest and arrive to experience Yahel Chirinian’s dramatic mosaic work. From mirrored sculptures of Hindu deities to handcrafted abstract forms—once you are done exploring, take a moment to sit peacefully in the studio’s garden.

Isprava in the news

Isprava is making headlines—from ET Luxury Second Homes Supplement to special features in leading magazines like Architectural Digest and Elle Décor—pick up the issues to take a closer look.

While Isprava has been in the spotlight for quite some time, today it is taking the media world by storm, with feature after feature in some of the most prestigious magazines and newspapers. For instance, ET Luxury Second Homes Supplement featured the company with a story on how there’s a new wave in the world of holiday homes. The article details how Isprava functions and how it is making a difference in the world of real estate. The company’s founder and CEO, Nibhrant Shah tells the readers of ET on how he believes the high-end holiday home market in India is growing massively. The next exciting feature was in Condé Nast India’s Architectural Digest. The editors of the magazine choose to put one of Isprava’s best in the spotlight. With its catchy headline, “Branco, you’re beautiful”, it tells the design story of Villa Branco in Goa, and beautifully exemplifies everything Isprava does and stands for. Elle Décor went on to do a brilliant brand profile of the company, featuring stunning images and informative content. All in all, we are thrilled to be spreading the word, and sharing the joy of Isprava. Stay tuned on where we show up next!

With a passion

From the world of finance to the epicurean landscape of food, Aditi Dugar, founder of the fine dining, ingredient-curious restaurant Masque, unveils how creativity can take you to places…

1) Tell us about your journey and how your passion came to fruition?

I grew up in Bombay, in and around my mum and grandmom’s kitchens, both of whom are excellent cooks. I started cooking when I was about 16 and only grew to fall in love with all the baking techniques. However, I ended up working in finance up until my first son was born, after which I wanted to take a bit of a breather. That turned out to be the best life decision! I began spending more time experimenting in the kitchen, which pushed me to try getting work experience in restaurants. I ended up working in the kitchens of Le Gavroche and La Petite Maison, Zuma and Bo Lan, and with a vegetarian street food vendor in Bangkok. I also did a stint with a décor company in London, and it was the kind of finesse and attention to detail I saw there that stuck with me. It was something I found seriously lacking in the Indian market at the time. My mom and I finally decided to launch our own catering company (Sage & Saffron) in 2012, hoping to fill that gap. Prateek and I were introduced in Udaipur while he was still working there; we reconnected a couple of years later in Bombay. We found that our thought processes and the kind of experiences we were hoping to deliver aligned really closely, and that’s basically how Masque came into being!

2) From a 10-course chef’s tasting menu to a space that can only be described as stunning, what does Masque mean to you?

Masque is very much a product of the kind of food and dining experience Prateek and I wanted to bring to consumers. I want to deliver an experience that connects the dots in the food chain: a chef’s story on a plate, but one that takes you all the way back to where those ingredients have come from. On a more personal level, trying to pull off this format and food would very often seem like a really daunting, anxiety-inducing task, to be honest - but it also turned out to be a lesson in stubbornness that got us this far.

3) Creativity has many shapes, sizes, and forms. How would you describe your creative prowess?

I think mine comes with a lot of excitement – I get very enthusiastic about how I eat and how I serve; it is reaching that level of finesse that really excites me. How I run a business and attention to detail is very important to me, because it is something I truly appreciate when I’m on the receiving end of it.

4) Luxury to you is?

Perfection. Brands with discipline are the ones that epitomize luxury to me – it immediately tells you the language of the company and what is behind the brand. And time! To have free time would be such a luxury, even though I am awful at sticking to it.

5) At Isprava, everyone loves great food and beautiful spaces. Tell us about how these two things merge at Masque.

The space Masque occupies was designed keeping in mind the experience we were trying to deliver to the diner. The décor is not flashy and over the top, but it feels luxurious without being stuffy and high-strung. It’s quite an interactive meal, starting with the first course in the kitchen to a chef coming out to explain every dish. The kitchen door is always open and it’s not so unusual to see our regulars popping in to say hello. The design process was driven by principles of Wabi Sabi – finding the perfection in imperfection, beauty in things modest and humble. That, I think, is an apt analogy for the kitchen as well: we are not after the perfect-looking produce or the unbruised apples. We are looking for flavour.

6) What is your favourite space at Masque, and why?

Our bar table – what we call the monolith! It feels like a community space where ideas grow, a central point between the back offices, kitchen and restaurant.

7) What kind of holiday home would you want? Any from Isprava? Tell us why?

I always prefer staying at boutique hotels and spaces, and I love being anywhere I can hear the ocean – so I guess my ideal holiday home would be on or near a beach, open and airy with understated, elegant décor. Isprava Villa Verde would be a dream!

Office Address: 12, GD Ambekar Marg, Wadla Village, Wadala, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400031, India Email- shahzad@isprava.com or info@isprava.com Tel: (022) 6708 0502 Mobile-: 9833953686

[sunshineweb]

A Hidden Cost Called Rented Suit Liability

Value Investing Workshop in Bangalore (9th Sept), Chennai (23rd Sept), Mumbai (30th Sept). Click here to register now. Few seats remain!

Lloyd’s of London, a 300-year-old insurance body, collects more than 33 billion pounds in gross premium every year. Its history goes back to the 17th century.

In 1906, when a major earthquake destroyed more than 80 percent of the Californian city of San Francisco, Lloyd paid out all the policyholder claims, irrespective of the terms of their policies. That cemented Lloyd’s reputation in the American market.

However, in the 1990s, this insurance behemoth was brought to its knees by a risk that had gone unnoticed for decades. After California earthquake episode, Lloyd started underwriting wide-ranging general liability cover to US businesses, including asbestos manufacturers.

Thousands of employees who had worked in asbestos plants were diagnosed with asbestosis, a deadly lung disease, twenty years later. These workers claimed the compensation from their former employer in 1990s. The employer, in turn, claimed it to the insurance companies like Lloyd who wrote the policy in the 1960s. Lloyd had failed to understand the nature of future risk and thus faced near bankruptcy.

Asbestosis is a classic example of a “long-tail” risk – one that can result in insurance payouts years after an original policy was first underwritten. Many of Lloyd’s policies were open peril policies, i.e., they covered any claim not excluded. That was a huge blunder.

In the field of software security, a network firewall is a way to thwart hackers and malicious programs from entering your system. One way a network firewall works is to rely on a whitelist instead of a blacklist.

In other words, access by default is blocked for everybody except those who are present in the whitelist. If you take the blacklist approach, you’re blocking people on the blacklist but those who are not in that list have access – similar to Lloyd’s open peril policies.

So that was Lloyd’s first mistake, i.e., to assume cover for a risk which they didn’t understand. And the second mistake was to not account for an unknown risk.

In insurance jargon, the cost arising out of such long-tail risks are called IBNR – incurred but not reported.

The triumph of Warren Buffett’s annual letters is in delivering a remarkably useful explanation of how the world of business and investing works. With his inexhaustible font of wit and wisdom, this is how Warren Buffett explained the idea of long-tail hidden costs in his 1985 annual letter –

A man was traveling abroad when he received a call from his sister informing him that their father had died unexpectedly. It was physically impossible for the brother to get back home for the funeral, but he told his sister to take care of the funeral arrangements and to send the bill to him. After returning home he received a bill for several thousand dollars, which he promptly paid. The following month another bill came along for $ 15, and he paid that too. Another month followed, with a similar bill. When, in the next month, a third bill for $15 was presented, he called his sister to ask what was going on. “Oh”, she said. “I forgot to tell you. We buried Dad in a rented suit.

Reading Buffett’s letter is an experience akin to having the top of one’s head removed for repairs. Buffett wrote the above anecdote in the context of the insurance industry. And although I have no economic studies I can cite to back this but I sense that the idea of “Rented Suit Liabilities” can be extended to other businesses and even our lives.

Martin Fowler is a British programmer and a world known authority on software architecture. Reflecting over Fowler’s acute observations about how software should be built has completely rearranged the interior decoration of my mind. Many times. He says –

If you can get today’s work done today, but you do it in such a way that you can’t possibly get tomorrow’s work done tomorrow, then you lose.

One of the most important principles of software engineering is to write code which is easily maintainable and extendable. But that requires deep thinking and a lot of mental effort. Since most software is built in the face of aggressive deadlines, software developers find it convenient to gloss over the design principles and slap together a hacky code which somehow works.

Imagine building a car with lego and instead of connecting two blocks with an appropriate connector, you glue them together with fevicol. It will work, but tomorrow if someone wants to replace a block, it becomes hard. In software, this is called ‘creating a technical debt.’ Sounds similar to rented suit liabilities, doesn’t it?

The first no-brainer which creates long-tail hidden risks is lack of integrity. And it applies to both – personal as well as corporate conduct. Every time a company’s management tries to get away with minor corporate governance issues, they might think they’re sweeping things under the carpet but they are actually laying the foundation of a graveyard which will soon be housing corpses buried in rented body bags.

In fact, any activity which focuses on short-term results at the expense of long-term benefits sows the seeds of rented suit liabilities. The hidden nature of rented suit liability comes from our unwillingness to think deeply about our decisions beforehand.

Another source of these hidden risks is when the incentives of decision makers are at odds with those who have to live with the long-term consequences of those decisions. For example, a CEO can slash the R&D and marketing expenses and boost the earnings of a company for a few quarters. That earns him a fat bonus and by the time the long-term effects of those expense-cuts start rearing their head, the CEO usually makes an unceremonious exit with a big severance package, and the shareholders are left washing their hands in the air.

Not just in business and investing, rented suit liabilities plague most of us in our non-investing endeavors too. Cut corners on exercising or eating healthy today, and it’s an invitation to rented suit liabilities.

Spending all the income today and postponing the savings? Well, isn’t it akin to accumulating the rented suit liabilities?

Nick Maggiulli, in his fantastic post on Hidden Costs, explores a very interesting question – If you’re offered $100 million on the condition that you have to accept this money publicly during a widely televised event, would you take the offer?

Had you posed this question to me a few years back, I would have said yes with gleeful confidence. However, now I am not so sure. In fact, I explored this subject sometime back in my post Inverting the Money Problem.

Here’s what Nick writes –

Time and time again I have seen how our society idealizes things that are littered with hidden costs. We want the great body, but without the reps. We want the returns, but without the risks. We want the lake house, but without the frozen pipes bursting because we forgot to put in antifreeze. We can idolize wealth, status, fame, and beauty all we want, but we don’t think about what happens if we ever actually get them…

We can never avoid all the hidden costs for the only way to do that is not to take any decisions. And if we tried to do that, it would leave us paralyzed.

So, what’s my point? Instead of throwing caution to the wind and jumping on decisions, we should think hard about what rented suit liabilities may emerge from our actions. And one of the mental tricks that helps is an idea called premortem.

Anne Duke, in her wonderful book Thinking in Bets, writes –

A premortem is an investigation into something awful, but before it happens. We all like to bask in an optimistic view of the future. A premortem is where we check our positive attitude at the door and imagine not achieving our goals. Imagining a headline that reads “We Failed to Reach Our Goal” challenges us to think about ways in which things could go wrong that we otherwise wouldn’t if left to our own devices.

Objectively, rented suit liabilities and hidden costs are simply the consequences of our decisions. Nothing more nothing less. With the benefit of hindsight, we call them liabilities because they turn out to be undesirable.

What if those decisions resulted into something which creates value? Rented suit asset, if your will. Or maybe hidden assets. After all, the rented suit was an asset for the guy who gave it on rent. That’s an interesting line of thought, isn’t it?

Have you seen any businesses which have long-tail hidden liabilities? How about any specific decisions in life which can create rented suit liabilities?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

The post A Hidden Cost Called Rented Suit Liability appeared first on Safal Niveshak.

A Hidden Cost Called Rented Suit Liability published first on https://mbploans.tumblr.com/

[belindalewis-blog]

20 Irresistible Rustic Hanging Lamps

New Post has been published on http://wonderfulhomedecorations.com/?p=232756

20 Irresistible Rustic Hanging Lamps

20 Irresistible Rustic Hanging Lamps

Whatever is your space, you can add some rustic appeal through hanging lamps like the ones on this list.

Whenever I write about lamps, I go crazy in collecting them because the designs available today in the market are just awesome and pretty! The designs available differ in color, detail, size, archetype and price; because of that, we have a lot of reasons and considerations when choosing the one that we would be buying. Personally, I do not worry about that now since my parents are the ones that buy them for the house and all I do is pretty much suggest which ones to choose and which ones to ignore, and they still are the ones that make the final decision because of course, they are the ones that pay for the items we need and want for the house.

It’s a different story in the apartment my sister and I are renting now, we purchase things because we need them – we have to be practical since it’s a new place and lamps is not one of those needs. Haha! So, for today’s list, all I can say is that they are all pretty and unique in design. I love most of the lamps in this list because of the vintage look they have to them. I’m not quite a fan of the hunting part of the things for the apartment just yet because I prefer it that my sister decide on them since they would be the ones staying in this place and I’m just here for a few months but, I’ve been roaming the city for garage sales and flea markets because I actually want to achieve a rustic to industrial type of home. This list is quite the beginning of the search I am into, check out the list and tell us what you think about them!

1. Getseto Pendant

Kichler

The design of the wire covering the bulb is pretty awesome. It’s not drum, it’s not spherical – it’s cool! Designs like this is quite unusual that is why consumers or buyers would love to actually get one like this.

2. Delia 1-Light Mini Pendant

Pangea Home

This mini pendant is neat, simple and perfect. Delia is a lovely mix of industrial, rustic and contemporary.

3. Halleron Pendant

Kichler

This globe pendant with a hint of a reel in the central part sure looks awesome! This would probably look great if it had patina but it already looks great as it is.

4. Jamestown Mini Pendant

Vaxcel

What about that? A lamp-looking pendant in bronze! The design style of this pendant is really amusing since it sort of makes you think of another thing that it is not.

5. Reel 3-Light Pendant

Varaluz

That is one fancy reel! I personally have not seen a reel in real life but this one is really industrial and pretty. And look at the test tube-like bulbs in it. It sure is cute, right?

6. Sebring 1-Light Mini Pendant

Sea Gull Lighting

The patina on this pendant light sure makes it interesting and really vintage. Imagine finding things like this in junk yards and refurbishing it to be used again in your house or in your office.

7. Yoho Pendant

Vaxcel

The twigs intertwined in this lamp is quite amusing. It looks like antlers of some sort. The beauty in this one is that it is a combination of wood and glass – it’s a common combination, yes, but because of the unique woodwork in here, this entire item is extraordinary.

8. Canary 12-Light Ceiling Lamp

Zuo Era

When I saw this lamp, I remembered the cage where Tweety Bird used in the cartoons, only that one is expensive and really glamorous. This combination is actually intriguing, it’s like beauty being kept or caged.

9. Coslada Pendant

Uttermost

I can’t tell what the color palette is on this lamp but it is really neat and crafty! Plus it looks expensive too! The wide drum showcase this vein-like details on it.

10. Raw Metal Bell Pendant Lamp

Kalalou

This is a perfect example of a pendant light that can pass as an industrial lamp or rustic. The look, the design and detail of this bell pendant is just crazy beautiful and neat!

11. Harland 1-Light Mini Pendant

Golden Lighting

This mini pendant is quite contemporary I should say but the design of the bulb being inside an inverted glass makes it more industrial than it has to be; if this just has a different cord like in black or bronze, it would look crazier!

12. Barringer Pendant Light – Aged Bronze

Elk Lighting

A beautiful drum pendant in bronze that sure looks rustic and mid-century. The colors of the covering are quite stunning, what do you think?

13. Knotted Rattan Mini Pendant

Uttermost

Rattan is one material common and rich in the Philippines; the design of this pendant is something I have not seen in real life just yet, but the color and the detail is really lovely and quite special.

14. Solstice Pendant

Vaxcel

Now this is one stunning pendant lamp! The design in itself is really pretty and mid-century. This looks something like something you can see in old palaces in the olden times.

15. 49er Series 1-Light Kitchen Island Pendant

Sutter’s Mill Lantern Co.

Another lantern type of pendant that you can place pretty much anywhere! Although I think this one would be great in your patio since it creates an outdoor drama to it!

16. Timberline Inverted Pendant in Old Bronze Finish

Designers Fountain

Looking at this pendant, I get why it says inverted – if you invert this one, it could easily pass for a table lamp because of the design of the top, although of course in this case, this won’t stand because of the end that connects to the ceiling.

17. Barringer Mini Pendant Light

Elk Lighting

When I saw this pendant light from Elk Lighting, I remembered a can from the grocery – except this one actually produces light. The color of this lamp is pretty too; it has that old finish that makes it look old or vintage.

18. Instant Pendant Light with Cage

Worth Home Products

Here is another example of a pendant lamp that is shaped like a globe. This one is simpler than the one in the beginning of the list; but still as pretty as that one right?

19. Topaz 1-Light Pendant

Zuo Era

This is one stunning pendant that may look like a globe with its entire axis – slanted in style and all that. The design is definitely rustic and can pass for mid-century or even vintage! This one lamp that Zuo Era should really be proud of.

20. Vintage 1-Light Mini Pendant

Nuvo Lighting

Here is an example of a lamp that can pass as rustic because of the design but the look of this one can easily pass as contemporary since it was intended that way.

Well, that was one awesome list – it gave me a bit of an opportunity to do sort of window shopping for rustic lamps because of the mood board I am making for our apartment. It’s like a year-long project that my sister and I have for our place – of course I’m letting her decide on most of the things except for my bedroom. Yes, we have a two-bedroom apartment in a simple community just near the school where my sister works. This list of 20 Irresistible Rustic Hanging Lamps is quite an inspiration for the lamps we want to add to our bedrooms.

[foundingfemales-blog]

Purchase Or Sale - Be Ready For The Costs Involved In Real Estate

Investing on a home rentals are definitely transfer decisions that you are going to produce in your daily life. If you are planning devote on a Greenville Structured Homes, be sure you know the responsibilities that come with it. Move in Today - It is often a red flag if the tenant always be move in immediately. This tenant might be being evicted for non payment of rent and even a Miami homes for sale near me by owner foreclosure. Always give yourself time to screen the tenant. Never allow the tenant pressure you into moving the same day. Do not be afraid to ask questions. It is far better to ask and verify everything first. Most some of the maintenance of belt sanders is simple task - you need to take care that 2 drums on the sanding belt sits are on proper conjunction. If the rollers are not parallel every single other, the belt will be unable to adjust in the very center and will fall offline. Therefore, every time you change the belt make certain to adjust the rollers as well. This can be easily done more than manual tracking knob which is present on the side of the tool. If the drums are not placed correctly then either the rollers will slip off altogether or will push towards inside. A poorly aligned roller can also cause the belt to push towards fullerton best realtors which damage the belt and also the housing. Home Structure - You should look at the home property from your own reasonable variety. Look at basic appearance of the exterior wall membrane. Do they appear flat and plumb? From inside, examine closely captivating if appeared bowed at the corners. Examine the overall state of the environment. Does it feel solid or even otherwise? When residence is worth less than its mortgage ti's because an inverted mortgage. A new lender agrees to absorb the difference in a sale, it's name is a short sale. To provide a last exit before foreclosure, short selling your home won't help you any money but when then you owe is rather than you can handle, negotiating a short-sale may rescue your credit score and make it easier to avoid the embarrassment of foreclosing. To close this short story in order to find your bills dominating your own and an individual killing yourself trying continue to keep up a person definitely might in order to be take a peek at rv living. Granted it is far from a glamorous and luxurious lifestyle but on the other side is actually also sustainable which will then keep you from going towards poor your home. It is also worth noting Anabelle plus i have made many new friends in our mobile park and like a result lengthier have any desire to live elsewhere.

[mylincolncole-blog]

Fragment 2 - Recruited

Chapter 2

They were relieved to see New Delphi still standing, but it was different than what they left a year earlier.  Blocks were demolished and fewer people traversed the streets. Some parts remained untouched, havens in the war-scape. The entire planet experienced this devastation, Jayson realized.  It will never be the same.  But maybe, with our clean and decisive victory, it will get better. The war had torn the city apart, but already the resilient citizens were putting it back together. 

The two veterans maneuvered through the city, passing pedestrians with weary looks on their faces and recently returned soldiers.  A man wheeled past them in a charge missing both of his legs. 

They walked through a rundown district that had been bombed my mortars.  No one was untouched by the war, it seemed. The destruction was complete.

Subconsciously Jayson maneuvered down a back alley and across a thoroughfare to West Market.  His family lived on Forty-Third Street. Or at least they used to.  He didn’t realize that was where his feet were taking him until he reached the junction. 

Jayson hesitated.  His family might still be there—some of them, at least—and if they were alive they deserved to hear from him.  Hear that he was okay.  But he didn’t know if he should go on; if he could go on.

They stood in silence. Dirk tried to be patient, but finally spoke up: “What are we waiting for?”

Jayson wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t force his legs to move any further in that direction.  “Just waiting.”  He turned to Dirk.  “Want a drink?”

 “Hell yeah,” Dirk replied, perking up.  “I was planning to check on my dad, but that can wait.”

They walked the other direction until they came across a pub.  The DDHW, though no signage explained the acronym.  It was dark and busy inside, but the patrons all ceased talking as they came in. Dozens of eyes faced their way.  

Not surprising, since they were still wearing battle armor and carrying rifles.  Only in a war torn city can carrying a rifle into a bar during the middle of the day be construed as acceptable behavior, Jayson knew.   

They waited in the doorway, accepting the stares and letting the patrons make the first move. “Heroes of war,” the bartender said finally. The tense atmosphere vanished.  “Drinks are on the house.”

Dirk blushed as they sat down and ordered.  They were patted on the back dozens of times before the room returned to normal.  They sat in silence, watching the room and enjoying the ambience. Everyone fell back into their quiet conversations, the soldiers forgotten about.  

The journey to New Delphi had taken the pair four lonely weeks. The rest of the army broke camp weeks earlier, but Jayson was an advance scout deep in Irdesh territory.  Dirk was a prisoner of war.  A kid near starvation. When Jayson broke into an Irdesh base and found him locked in a cage he had decided Dirk was worth saving.  

Now everyone back home was in the process of trying to pick up the pieces. Find their loved ones and their homes and move on.  But not everyone had somewhere to go back to...

“Want to talk about it?” Dirk asked.

“What?” Jayson asked, distracted.

“Something is bothering you.  If you get it off your chest, you’ll feel better.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m willing to listen,” Dirk offered.

“Drop it,” Jayson replied, harsher than intended.  Dirk was hurt.  “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Dirk said, looking at his watch. “I have to go. I need to see my parents.  They probably think I’m dead.”

“That’s fine.  Go see them.”

Dirk started walking for the door.  “Thanks. For everything. If you need anything don’t hesitate to ask. Ever.”

Jayson nodded and Dirk left. Jayson was torn. He wanted to visit his own family, but he knew he couldn’t.  Not yet at least.  He had returned to Eldun eight months earlier when they needed him for protection. That was the end of it. He couldn't face them again.

Not after he'd abandoned them.  

The bartender slid another drink in front of him. 

A group whispered in the corner, occasionally pointing at him.  

A woman sat two tables away, her face hidden by cloth and shadows. She swirled a glass of blood red wine, watching the crowd. A single strand of red hair hung in view.

Jayson sipped his beer. Smooth and hoppy.

He'd felt trapped as a kid growing up on Eldun.  The planet was a cage he needed to escape.  He'd fled and signed on with a mercenary band on Terminus doing protection jobs and petty theft.  He’d lied and made up his history, claiming he grew up in Sector Two.  The truth was, he’d done everything he could to forget his past.  To wipe his own slate clean.  

He’d never even told his family he was leaving.  

Then the Union began recruiting, amassing soldiers for war.  Jayson signed on and was selected for the Silvent Academy. He’d never looked back.  

It was seven years since he’d joined the Union.  He’d cut all family ties. Or so he’d tought.  At that time the war on Eldun was in its seventeenth year with no end in sight.  

Then his father died.  Jayson found out they needed his protection and came for them out of a misguided sense of duty.  He’d given it up, his promising career working for the Union.  His one chance to make something better for himself.  He’d thrown it away, and for what? There was nothing left for him there at the Academy. They would never forgive him. Never take him back. And if he went home to them he would be opening doors he’d closed and locked years ago.  Picking at scabs that had already healed. 

It would be better that he not return; better that he remain a ghost.

Plus he had free drinks on the house.

And people to pat him on the back. Congratulations. Welcome home.

It meant nothing.

Is this my home? No, he realized. Not anymore.

He finished drinking several hours later and rented a motel room, pleasantly inhibited.  He kept his helmet powered down as he stripped, having no desire to argue with the new AI program. The room had a shower.  A real shower, not bucket baths with reservoirs of water. And it was hot.  

The first hot water in weeks.  He washed the grime away, locating the tattoo under his left armpit and studying it.  Three black triangles linked at their tips to create a larger triangle.  The inverted triangle in the center was colored red.  

It had been a source of pride when they gave it to him at the Academy.  Brotherhood was what it symbolized.  They were in it together.  Now it was disgrace, a reminder of his failure to finish the Academy. Had he finished his training the pigment would have been removed and he would have been put into active duty. The tattoo made me one of them.  Now what does it make me?

He would remove it, he decided.  In a few days he would find a parlor to laser off the ink.  They had lower tech here on Eldun than at the academy, so it would leave a scar.  He would always have marks on his skin, but at least he wouldn’t have to keep looking at it.

Cleaned up and with alcohol flowing through his system, the world made more sense.  He decided that it wasn’t fair to avoid his family. Since he wasn’t staying, he should at least see them before he left again. They loved him, and he owed them that much.  He wouldn’t stay long, but he should explain to them why he had to go in the first. 

First thing in the morning.

Damn those drinks were good.

Pleased with his resolve, Jayson climbed into the plush motel bed, at peace for the first time in years.