#pearl street warehouse

[seeking--the--essential]

[charlotteking23]

Hi! Your stories are hilarious and amazing! I was wondering if you could write a story about Batmom secretly meeting with Gotham City Sirens (Selina Kyle, Harley Quinn, and Dr. Pamela Isley) and for a private girls night where they accidentally cause havoc (intense barfights (harley), impromptu jewelry store heists (Selina), shady alley deals (batmom), plants going crazy (Pamela), and massive amounts of sweets being "stolen" in metropolis (batmom had to stop the others from eating everything). All of which the batfam has to clean up. They follow the destruction and see what they think is batmom's ✨️Villain Debut✨️ (not really) so they go back to the manor and they stage an "intervention" for batmom. When she gets home bruce and her boys start scolding her and the Sirens for their behavior only for the girls to share a look and burst out laughing. They reveal that they were helping batmom get gifts for each of them. They went to that particular bar because they had a well aged vintage bottle of whisky that Alfred enjoys from time to time. The "shady alley deals" were from them going to a local seedy bookstore that had been open for over 100 years to get one of the only surviving copies of Jane Austen's complete works that she annotated herself. They went to that jewelry store because they were helping to make the remaining pearls of Martha Wayne's necklace into a set of cufflinks and a tie clip for Bruce, and to turn a few of Batmom's family heirloom peices into a ring that was secretly drawn by dick to propose to Kori with. They went to that confectionery because Conner mentioned they had the best coffee brew and an "espresso cake" made with extra strong espresso for Tim. That plant nursery had specific and highly nutritional feed and supplements products for Batcow, Titus, and Alfred the cat to keep them healthy. This makes them all tear up and wholesome fluff can happen.

Sorry for the length 😅 😬

Villian's Debut

Y/N slowly walked out of the house as quietly as possible, opening the manor gates and hoping in her car. She drove around the quiet streets of Gotham, it was night only those who were bad were up causing chaos in the city. It was easy to sneak out since the boys were out patrolling Gotham, and Alfred was sitting in the common room sipping his cup of tea.

Y/N drove to a secluded area parking her car near a warehouse. Upon entering she met up with the infamous Gotham City Sirens. It was a girl's night with Selina Kyle, Harley Quinn, and Dr. Palmela Isely.

"Y/n, your finally hear", Selina Kyle said walking up to Y/n and hugging her sideways. "The sirens are back together", Harley said dragging Palmela's wrist and joining the hug. "guys we saw each other last week but as much as I enjoy the hug we have work to do.

Selina was driving in Y/n's car while Y/n was in the passenger seat turning on the radio. Harley and Palmela were in the back putting their hands in the air having the time of their life.

Their first stop was the bar, One of the best bars open in Gotham City. As they walked in all eyes were on them, I mean it was the infamous Y/n L/n, Selina Kyle, Harley Quinn, and Dr. Palmela Isely. The four girls walked up to the bar all sitting down and ordering.

Everything was going fine till "Hey baby, you want to go somewhere" " The guy said laughing with his equally ugly friend while holding a beer.

"Excuse me, Do you want to go I can beat the living shit out of you", Harley said standing up and drowning her drink in one go ready to take the guy down. "Babe, You're a girl you can't take us dow-" Harley took out her bat and whacked the guy in the face before the guy could finish his stupid sentence. She repeatedly hit him all over his body aiming straight for his dick. Selina was still sipping her drink while Y/n was taking a video as Palmela Isely cheered for Harley.

Yeah, so they got Kicked out of the bar but it's okay because Harley was literally about to kill the guy. Next, they went to the "Shady Alley deals".

Bruce p.o.v

"Guy's there's trouble at a bar?", Bruce said checking the alarm.

"why a bar out of everything, I mean at least do something interesting", Jason leans on Dick whining about how bored he is.

"Jason will you shut up", Damian said slapping him.

They made it to the bar entering they saw a man on the floor beaten up badly.

"Who the fuck could do this", Jason said watching Tim check the drunken man's pulse.

"he's fine but way too much alcohol in his body", Tim disgusted quickly wiping his hands on his pants.

"What happened"? Dick said but was astonished to hear a girl had done this because he was being a pervert.

"Go boss bitch", Damian said walking up to Bruce.

" They must have left already, I wonder where this girl went", Bruce questioned dragging the drunken body outside to the emergency care.

Girl's p.o.v

"Aww, this is so boring", Harley said leaning against the bookshelves.

The girls were at the shady Alley deals trying to buy Jane Austen's complete works that she annotated. But the guy refused to sell them this piece claiming it was too precious. I mean that's why it's called shady.

"Look we need this copy now, how about 2,000 for the whole copy", Batmom said with annoyance.

"look lady, these are valuable and you don't seem like the person to take care of them", the stupid guy said.

With a loud dramatic gasp, "Oh know you didn't", Poison Ivy said dramatically.

"he's in for it", Selina said filing her nails.

"Look I work day and night taking care of 4 children and one husband, this is the only time I get a day off so you better give. me. those. books. or else! and trust me you don't want to know what else is.", Batmom yelled grabbing the guy's collar and pulling him face to face with an angry batmom.

"here, take it pls don't hurt me", the guy said closing his eyes in fear.

"Thanks", Batmom said skipping with the books in her hand to the car.

Time Skip

"where to next", Selina said driving with one hand on the wheel and the other on her phone.

"Oh of course the jewelry store", Harley said pointing at the sign.

"Ok here's the plan Selina you go get the pearls", Batmom said looking at Selina.

"huh, why me"

"You are literally a cat, plus I am too clumsy, Harley too loud and Ivy refused to do it", Batmom said.

So Selina carefully went in through the roof slipping in where no one could see her. Walking through the store towards the back, she sees the pearls. She stops taking her white powder compact from the back of her pocket blowing some revealing lasers. If she stepped on one she could set off triggers of alarms. Manuering through them jumping over them, backflipping, crawling till she reached the glass box. opening she switched it out for a cat collar successfully taking the jewels.

Alarms are blaring, flashing red "Damn it", Selina hisses running away.

"what's that noise", poison Ivy says, covering her ears.

nevermind let's get out of here", Selina said hopping into the cars with the girls and driving away.

"here are the pearls", Selina says

"perfect", Batmom put them into a clip and some cufflinks.

Bruce p.o.v

"there's trouble at a jewelry store", Dick said driving towards the store.

As the boys came they saw the owner in complete panic.

"Thank goodness you're here Batman, some robbers took Matha Wayne's remaining pearl necklace", the owner said in a panic.

"The ones she died in", Batman's voice grew deeper laced with emotion only those who knew him deeply could tell.

"Let's look around B", Jason said looking around for clues.

Tim was trying to access the cameras during the robbery but as expected they were wiped out.

"cat hair", Batman said picking it up.

"This could only belong to one person", Damian said with a glare on his face.

"Oh, Batman they also took some other things, a diamond it was a heirloom from the L/N family, the owner said.

All the boys could think about was Y/n and how she would react to this news.

"We need to find these robbers before Ummi finds out", Damian said ready to beat the guys up.

Girls p.o.v

"How much candy are you going to eat Harley", Selina said but Harley only shrugged eating more.

Here they were at the confectionery, it was a small cafe but it looked so pretty pink, there was an outside patio and the inside looked like those 70's diner joints.

The girls sat down at a booth obviously Harley and Ivy sat together so Selina and Batmom were on the other side.

"H-hello, what c-can I get y-you, the waiter said in fear. I mean he is serving notorious criminals, he was shitting his pants.

"Hi, we need a coffee brew and an expresso cake please, Batmom said with the sweetest voice.

" Oh and a giant cake the biggest one!", Harley exclaimed. The waiter quickly nodded running away.

"Isn't that too much sugar, you are going to get a sugar high...again", Selina said crossing her arms and leaning back towards the booth.

"Remember last time, when you crashed right into the wall because you ate too much sugar", Ivy recalled laughing at the memories.

"H-here is your order t-too g-go, have a nice night", the waiter quickly left as we paid for the meal leaving a tip.

"how much did you leave"? Selina questioned as they left the cafe.

"$200", Batmom said shrugging and getting into the car.

The girl's final stop of the night was the plant nursery, It was a big white building, looking kind of spooky in the night.

"This feels like a scooby doo episode", Harley said walking with the girls.

"Okay Ivy we need highly nutritional feed and supplement products for Batcow, Titus, and Alfred the cat", Batmom said looking at all the machines and plants in the room.

As the girls walked they heard a strange growling noise, huddling together not because they were, definitely not. For comfort just in case, a crazy plant tried to eat them.

"come here plant...yes who's a good boy you are, yes you are", Ivysaid in a baby voice.

"she does the same baby voice batmom does with her kids", Selina said.

batmom protested but only got a yes you do face or the fucking lying face. Thinking now she did do the baby voice to her kids but they were all just so cute.

Harley suddenly screamed whinning she felt something touch her feet. No one paid attention and it still continued to flow Ivy. Suddenly a huge plant wraps its vines around Harley's mouth and legs dragging her away from the group.

"Hey, where's Harley", Selina said looking around.

All the girls screamed for Harley as they looked around in different areas.

Selina felt something and before she could attack the huge pant monster dragged her away. Only now there was batmom and Ivy left.

"Ivy what the fuck is going on", Batmom said but before Ivy could answer the plant monster appeared growling towards the girls.

the monster took hold of Batmom wrapping her in vines and trying to crush her. Ivy used her powers to fight it but before she could she saw a thorn.

"oh poor baby it's only hurt...oh you weren't trying to hurt anyone were you", Ivy said pulling the torn out trying to keep the plant monster calm.

After it was calm the monster let go of Batmom and cuddled Ivy. Batmom found Selina and Harley tied up, undoing the vines the three were weirded out to see the same plant monster who tried to eat them getting a belly rub by ivy.

"This was the best girl's night ever", Harley grinned hugging the girls in a group hug tightly.

Tonight was a roller coaster, but it was fun, especially with the girls. They got in trouble with the Authorities twice no doubt the infamous Batman and her kids had already heard about the incident. But it was a memory you look back on and laugh at, doing it with those you love.

Batmom signed slowly entering the dark mansion seeing that no one was awake.

Suddenly the lights came on frightening Batmom seeing all her kids and Bruce looking at her with disapproval in their eyes. It's like looking in a mirror.

"Hi, how was everyone's night?", Batmom said trying to diffuse the situation.

"Mom, you were out with the villains Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Selina Kyle again", Dick said crossing his arms in sadness.

"yes, but I had a good reason-, Batmom tried to explain but Bruce interrupted her.

"Y/n, you girls got in a bar fight and stole jewelry and other things", Bruce said trying to keep an emotionless expression. He couldn't believe his innocent wife could do all of this.

Soon all the kids started to talk at the same time, asking questions of all sorts. It was getting too much for Batmom wishing now she stayed with the girls for another hour or so.

"kids, you give the girls a chance to explain what happened", Alfred said as you gave him a grateful nod.

you took a deep breath before sharing a look with the Sirens before laughing out loud with the girls all clutching your stomachs.

They reveal that they were helping Batmom get gifts for each of them. They went to that particular bar because they had a well-aged vintage bottle of whisky that Alfred enjoys from time to time.

The "shady alley deals" were from them going to a local seedy bookstore that had been open for over 100 years to get one of the only surviving copies of Jane Austen's complete works that she annotated herself.

They went to that jewelry store because they were helping to make the remaining pearls of Martha Wayne's necklace into a set of cufflinks and a tie clip for Bruce and to turn a few of Batmom's family heirloom pieces into a ring that was secretly drawn by dick to propose to Kori with.

They went to that confectionery because Conner mentioned they had the best coffee brew and an "espresso cake" made with extra strong espresso for Tim.

That plant nursery had specific and highly nutritional feed and supplement products for Batcow, Titus, and Alfred the cat to keep them healthy.

"see you big goofs all this was a big misunderstanding all the things we did were for you tonight", Batmom said to her family with tears in her eyes holding all the girl's hands.

"Don't worry Ma I never doubted you for a minute, Jason said smiling at his Ma.

"Really, Because when you first heard about Mother Time with the SIrens you were crying out that your Mother betrayed me", Tim said looking smugly.

Jason only huffed at Tim crossing his arms in annoyance before Damian came up and hugged his Ummi burying his head in her chest.

When Damian released his Ummi, Bruce walked up to his wife kissing her with so much passion. Bruce couldn't believe his wife did all of this for him and his kids. Oh, how he loves her.

"I love you", Bruce said quietly for only her to hear.

"I love you more", Batmom whispered back pecking his lips.

"Heyyy, who's up for a sleepover", Harley said shouting while hugging the sirens.

Oh Boy

[mercurygray]

I know you said you were feeling your MotA girls, but maybe #28 turn the page for Molly and Rosie, please. Only if you're feeling it. Thank you!

The last time he'd been here, he'd been bombing the place.

Nuremberg certainly looked different from the ground, though the sight of so many crumbling houses and rubble strewn streets wasn't enough to change how Rosie felt about anything he'd done for the last three years. War was war and war was hell, and that was all there was to say about that. They were at the end of it now, and they would move forward.

The address he'd been sent to find was a still-standing warehouse - something of a marvel in this city filled with ruins. A soldier outside nodded in greeting, and he instinctively opened his wallet to show his pass, the official ID card they'd given him for the Palace of Justice.

"I'm looking for Sergeant Mahoney. I was told I'd be able to get a tour."

The soldier nodded him inside, and in he went, facing down huge racks of crates that seemed to go on for miles.

A woman was standing next to a desk, clipboard in hand. She was wearing a very beat-up field jacket and what looked to be jump trousers, her pockets baggy with extra equipment. Rosie suddenly wished he'd brought his bomber jacket, and not the wool overcoat that made him look like - well, a lawyer. (At least he'd left the briefcase back at the hotel.)

"Are you Sergeant Mahoney?"

She looked up from the clipboard. "I was told I might expect a Major Rosenthal this morning. Are you him?"

Rosie wished again for the jacket. "It's just Mister, actually, Sergeant. I officially got out of the army a few months ago."

What she thought about that he really couldn't tell - she was studying him with a long and patient look. "They told me you were a pilot - a rather good one."

Rosie tried to bite back a smile about what counted as 'rather good' after 52 combat missions and a list of awards so long even he couldn't remember what they all were. "It has been said."

That was what made her smile. "Most pilots wouldn't let you forget that."

He shrugged and smiled. "I'm not most pilots, Sergeant."

She nodded. "Well, Major. What would you like to see? I have a wide variety of Europe's finest all at your disposal. What's your fancy? Landscapes? Pastorals? Portraits? Sculpture? A favorite artist I can find for you?"

It sounded overwhelming, less like a museum and more like the private tour he wasn't sure he wanted. He couldn't say, exactly, what had brought him here, but it wasn't that - the mindless acquisition. "I didn't come to see anything in particular. Just mentioned I wanted to get out of the office for a bit and they sent me here. Show me ...show me your favorite, Sergeant."

She looked at him for a moment before giving half a smile. "All right."

"So how does a museum curator find herself in Europe?" He asked, trying to be collegial as she walked him down a long aisle, boots echoing in the half-dark.

"Not a curator," she corrected. "I'm an archeologist. I had a brother at Pearl. Joined the WAC after…you know." She turned to look at him, hardly breaking a long stride. "How does a lawyer get into the business of flying airplanes?"

"He decides he doesn't like bullies. How does an archeologist decide she wants to jump out of them?" He pointed to the patch on her jacket, the Airborne patch she still hadn't removed from her shoulder. "Screaming Eagles is a paratrooper outfit, isn't it?"

Another smile - a real one, this time. "She decides she doesn't like bullies either. And the pay's pretty good. After we got all the way to Germany they decided they could use someone like me and I stayed on here." She checked the number on the end of a shelf, counted in a few boxes, and removed a frame from the shelf, pulling it down and setting it onto the floor. "Well. Here we are, Major. This is my favorite."

The painting in question was a portrait, done in a plain, workaday style - a simple head-up view of a woman with a reddish cast to her hair, wearing a black dress and a string of pearls. The pearls gleamed from the canvas, easily the most noticeable thing about the piece. Rosie wasn't much of an art critic but nothing about this was ringing any bells. "Anyone I should know?

"Nope. Artist is unknown," Mahoney said with a vague smile. "I don't know what her name is, either. I've been calling her Ruth, after a friend of mine. We've got all sorts in this warehouse - Rembrandts and silver that belonged to the Rothschilds. And we have a hell of a lot of this - bits of people's lives that they'll never get back. She's not important on her own - but she's...she's someone's wife, or sister, or aunt. She's important to someone. There's a note on the back about the framer - that'll give me a town to start in. Maybe I can get her home." She gave a long hard look at the painting, her gaze thoughtful. "I spent…eighteen months taking away lives, and now I get to give them back."

And isn't that why I'm here, too, he thought silently. A warehouse full of treasures, and she shows me this. Most curators wouldn't let you forget what they've got.

But she's not a curator. "Sergeant, are you free this evening?" He asked suddenly. She looked up. "I'd like to take you to dinner, if I may."

She let out a surprised laugh. "I'm not sure that would be regulation, sir. Sergeants can't be seen out to dinner with Majors."

"We could start with you dropping the Major and calling me Rosie."

Another smile - wider this time, like she was turning a page on something, letting it come into full view. "Oh, so you're that Rosenthal." The way she said it made him smile - she'd known the whole time, and was just stringing him along to test him. The desire for dinner increased.

"I did say I wasn't like the other pilots," he offered with a shrug. "Should we say...six o'clock? I promise I'll do a better job of blending in."

'Not too good a job," she said with a smile that charmed him entirely. "I'm not sure I can be seen out with a pilot, either."

-

Molly Mahoney joins us from The Darkening Sky where she is a paratrooper, an academic, a memoirist, and somehow usually always in the middle of an argument about ethics.

[d1gnan]

here's a little deep dive on the fight club necklace / my process in general hehe

i put like way too much thought into all my jewelry and this is about to be the most in depth ive actually ever gone about my process so sorry in advance 4 how long winded i am

(and if ur new to my jewelry i get everything secondhand and i upcycle so i source from places like estate sales/thrift stores/antique malls/ebay/shop frum peoples personal collections etc )

i think the necklace and the original paper street bracelet i made speak the same visual language as the paper street house pretty well because i sourced most of it from some of my oldest and most visually ornate jewelry finds.

a lot of the beads from this one are actually from this really dope older lady i knows collection/more specifically from a costuming warehouse in nyc and the jewelry is just so ornate and crazy and out of style, i imagine they were once worn by the kind of people that wouldve gotten their soup peed in so its kind of fun to reclaim them for something like this

when i went to go look thru my stash i was specifically thinking of chipping wallpaper and pulling anything that evoked that to me-kind of corny for a second, but i love beat up old houses visually and theres something so cool about the juxtaposition of ornate/destroyed. layerS and layers of beautiful print made sad and irrelevant by its surroundings. these (the houses and the jewelry) were luxurious and cool and trendy at one point and now theyre completely obsolete and funny. i honestly think the whole thing screams tyler durdens philosophy also

( a beautiful thing destroyed, the performance of put-togetherness+ wealth, putting stake in material goods+trends only for them to be completely stripped away by time )

but anyway yeah when u put these glamorous old things together with stuff like keys and charms that don't match and mix gold/silver, you get this really lived in and sick junk drawer effect, and when you pair pale whites with pale greens it can kind of give a souring/moldy/aged look

little more specific callouts tho for references (left to right)

golf club charms r pretty obvious

the green engraved stone i grabbed immediately because it gives the old wallpaper feeling i was going for

theres this golden charm that's kinda like a kitschy grandma charm, it says "1 minute/1 hour/1day/1week/1year/1leapyear/1century" and i put that as a reference to "this is your life and its ending one minute at a time"/"i am jacks wasted life" and i also think it works on another level/kindamatches with fight clubs irony since its like supposed to be a cutie love commitment idk at least 2 me hahaha

the little step ladder charm and the key i added so that it would read as yeah a dirty old unfinished house/kinda a visual junk drawer..the key i got at an estate sale (i got a bunch and had to make key soup to clean them all)it opens something somewhere

the dog vaccination tag is there both as a reference to the guy that they threaten but then also slightly as a nod to the narrators wacked self esteem the whole like puppy dog obsession aspect IDK

theres a little P and S charm for paper street

the freshwater pearl at the end and the plastic bone shaped bead are kind of supposed to give teeth/bones like subconsciously, i tried a kind of similar thing when i made jewelry based off of pearl from X and tried to make like a rotting looking necklace

theres a little coke bottle cracker jack toy on there too, if ur trying to condense fight club into symbols, glass bottles pop up in my brain so i wanted to find something like that and i got lucky. theres also a little green telescope cracker jack toy thats kind of rusty and i picked it up for how well it matched what i was going for visually but i feel like it could also be a space monkeys thing

any way thanks for looking at this, like i said this is the deepest ive ever gone into depth about my process, but this is why im so drawn to creating jewelry it feels like taking a picture or finishing a puzzle i just do it in a really specific way and it always feels fresh and new when i start a new project, (i definitely dont always have this much to say i promise) but any way hope this was cool

[donalds-dreamland]

on ttr's 10th anniversary

hi! i was too busy to write this yesterday, both from being out of the house and. playing cartoonival LOL

my name is clover. it's also ivy. it's also celestial storm sometimes. in the past it's been burningstone, and embersprout, and sparrowsight, and wingpaw.

and sometimes, it's even something like princess marigold wildfoot.

(full post under cut!)

this is a screenshot from 2008, taken by my dad. despite the fact we're on the street in this picture, most of my time at this stage of playing the game was spent chasing butterflies in toontown central, trying and failing to race, and being curled up in my dad's lap, watching him do CFOs and CEOs with his friends and being soothed nearly to sleep by donald's dreamland's playground music. there are other names i recall from this time period, such as princess pearl and kiddo the mice (kiddo got all the way to MML before 2013)...

and then i really started finding myself.

these two screenshots are from 2011. if you couldn't tell, i also have a special interest in pokémon, and i joined a Clan by the (eventual) name of Dark Nation. our leader was Darkrai, and my best friend within the group was a Latias. more on them later, but Dark Nation's important. i would play Snivy with my dad's other Toons he had at the time, Coffee and Mocha the black and brown cats. when i was strong enough, he'd run me through the factory with his friends, and i would always get lost and die in the warehouse in the run for the stairs.

(it was a pretty scary warehouse.)

and then i joined RiverClan.

i don't need to tell you too much about what the warriors Clans were like in the 2010s. if you were there, you understand. (TLDR, it was a lot of violent roleplaying, petty drama, and circumventing disney's dictionary as hard as we could. it was glorious.)

and if you understand, you know i speak from the heart when i say these experiences, of the names snivy (or ivy, as the chat would allow) and burningstone, and eventually of the name clover, who became my main in TTO, were the genesis of my artistic endeavors.

i was roleplaying. i was writing. i was getting up at 5am, going out to the dining room, setting up my laptop, and hearing digital meows and yowls from my speakers for four hours before my mom woke up and i had to do my homework. i was creating. i was thriving. i was living.

and i was still playing with my dad. it was how we kept in touch, and i had an absolute blast. even when i teleported to a hacker and got ivy suspended for a few days, or when i tried beating up a hacker in toon valley and my dad (the payer of the account) had to forward my mom the chat log to my mortification, or my days of family gatherings, showing the littles the trolley games as they crowded around my laptop...

i could go on for hours.

there was something different in my dad's tone of voice when he called me the day it was announced, to the point where i asked what was wrong. and then he broke the news.

i wasn't very happy either. i remember spending my last days on toontown with riverclan, with the people i loved, hoping i could carry them with me for the rest of my life.

and then something magical happened.

when ttr was announced, there was an early statement somewhere on its website, there was a statement that basically said "we cannot take the toons with us, but this gives you a chance to rewrite their stories!"

and rewrite them i did.

clover is at 73 laff and working on her cashbot suit. in TTO, i had only just broken into the brrrgh.

ivy is somewhere in minnie's melodyland, at 53 laff. i believe in TTO she was around 36.

celestial storm is a rebirth, a positive one, of every clan experience i had as a child. (believe me, if there's one thing i'm okay with letting rest in the ashes of TTO, it's the warriors clans. at least, the ones we had.) i haven't played her much except for cartoonival, but i want her to reach the same heights clover and ivy are.

not only did TTR let me rewrite the stories of my beloved toons, it opened the gateway for me to reconnect and reunite with my past clans, with dark nation and riverclan, to get back in touch and reignite feelings and stories long forgotten. and i can never thank the game enough for that.

i'm even breaking into corporate clash, into these new experiences, these new flavors and remixes of the game that singlehandedly shaped who i would eventually become.

i feel a little silly for what i'm about to do, but thank you to people like @latiastm , @winkyfish , @sonicthehedgehogunofficial and all the people i'm about to DM this post to on discord for finding me again and for sticking with me these many, many years.

thank you also to @papajoolia for being my leader, now and forever, and you have all my respect and congratulations for where you are in the industry. keep going!!!

thank you to all the people i've managed to rope into the game, at least a little bit, with how important it is, most especially @surleetonin . i love you!!! so much!!!

and most of all,

thank you, sir max, and everyone on the ttr team for keeping the most important aspect of my childhood alive and paving the way for so many others to give this game the love it deserves in as many ways as we can. thank you for keeping us alive!!!!!! thank you!!!!! so much!!!!!!!

even now i know these words aren't enough. it just brings me a great amount of comfort and joy to know that this aspect of my childhood was brought back with as much ferocity, devotion and love as the world could give it. as i could give it, as i want to give it. this game is everything, absolutely everything to me in so many ways, and to know it still stands brings me eternal peace.

my name will always be clover, and ivy, and burning, and ember, and sparrow, and celeste, and whatever other names this lovely community lets me take on.

and even somewhere within my heart, there will always be a part of me named princess marigold wildfoot.

thank you, toontown rewritten. 💙 happy 10 years! 🎉 TOONS OF THE WORLD UNITE!!! 🎂🥧

[lacking-artdration]

guilty, guilty.

(backgrounds directly referenced in page 3- panel 1, page 4- panel 1 from video game within the backrooms. Fantastic game and major inspiration for HTSSITGE, please PLAY!!!)

page 1

you know, i've been thinking... about this place. And, uhm, bear with me because I'm gonna get back to that point in a second, trust me. But I...I've also been thinking

about more than just now, I've been thinking about before and..

When I was at Colombiad for my degree in Architectural design, I had never felt better in my life, genuinely.

Ever since I was a kid, I'd always had this inate ability to see empty space in this world, and know PRECISELY what to put in it.

Empty Space, an empty canvas, ripe for filling with greatness. Going to a school where I could USE that ability was greater than any feeling in the world.

Getting a degree that would let me fill that space, to fill the empty space of the world with purpose, and greatness only present in my own mind and my inspirations.

So you can imagine my dismay when the only job I could land after I graduated was as a paint mixer. Home Depot, you know.

I worked at this big warehouse with an unending array of isles. Looked a bit like... this, Actually. It sucked, obviously, no friggin' artist wants to be stuck in a job where they can't do the...thing they just spent seven gosh darn years of their life working for.

I hated where I worked, this big, bloated warehouse that reeked of wood, sweat, and broken dreams. It was neatly stuck in a strip mall between a Walmart and a Michaels that looked almost identical to it. No room, no space for anything. Not for me, not for my mind.

page 2

That sounds self-centered, and maybe it is, but... THE POINT IS that whenever I was in that warehouse I was stuck with this... this muck that clung to my brain, that I could only clear once I clocked out. This lingering feeling of numbness that drove my fingers to the mixer, mindlessly recalling hexes on chips handed to me by people just trying to paint their garage, without a thought for the world around me.

That dunked my brain in an apathetic coating that drove me down and up each aisle thoughtlessly until the day was through.

And eventually, it started to follow me outside of work. It stuck to my brain and drowned me in despair. Every building became the same, towering block, taking up space.

Every alley and street was a aisle, trapping humankind. My own home was painted the same "Bright Banana Creme" color that I'd had mixed a million times for every other customer. Eventually I was so... numb to the feeling that it became normalcy.

page 3

This was life. A perfect, concrete, block. Designed for purely its fulfillment of purpose. Nothing more.

When I finally got that architectural job I'd spent years working for, I arrived at a firm full of men and women just like me. Sanded away into miserable, dead-eyed tinkerers who were so afraid of anything outside of what was the standard, that the front page of Architectural Digest was enough to have most of us clutching our pearls. Where empty space was, we put in office space. Mixed-use buildings. Warehouses. Hotels. "High-End" Apartment Complexes.

page 4

Box after box, line after line, purpose, practicality, standard. That was what mattered to us. That was what made the design.

page 5

So... I'm down here, and I've been thinking. I know this place, of course I do. I've seen it everywhere. But the difference is... nothing here is built with intention. There is

no purpose for this wall here. None that I can distinguish, anyway. It exists in the same way a tumor grows on some place on the body. It sprouts like a random weed floating along the wind. Yet... it strikes me with that same apathy that my old job, and that all of my work that followed it has. It's a reflection of the rot that I cast on my city

on my fellow man. What I filled their empty spaces with... and now I have to suffer...

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for leaving my cowardly ass husband (30ish idk M) to get killed by a weird scientist?

I (20ish idk F) am married to this guy whos like a minor politician (hes not big enoigh to be important but he gets invited to mayoral dinners and shit). While he works and sleeps I (a changeling) sneak out and smuggle goods and stuff for spare change. Ive recently made a few friends that ive been able to smuggle with and poke around with that my husband doesn't know about. Last night, i went to the Mayor's gala dinner with my husband, and my group of friends went in undercover to try and kidnap someone (long story). In the middle of the dinner, a big ass robot stands up and threatens the mayor. I could honestly care less about that stuff, so i just played my normal act of clutching my pearls and shit. Apparently a little bit of chaos means that all hell breaks loose because SOMEONE tried to fucking chloroform me so i stabbed them ofc. But when i tried to get my husband to help me, the fucker had already run away! Cowardly ass mf.

so later on that night i get a note to go to a warehouse that id done a drop at before, so i show up there with my crew. When we get there tho, this weird ass gnome scientist tells me that he hates elves so he kidnapped my husband (btw im in cat form soooo whats a husband never heard of that) and that he wants my skin (ew). So i say fuck that guy fuck the random guy you have tied up over there (my husband) lets fucking run. So i run. Apparently my party member felt bad and untied him and we kinda dumped him on the street, but now hes pissed at me that i left him to die! AITA?? Also how do i make him forget that im a changeling?

(love, @evanotevil my dnd character)

[ruins-and-rewritez]

He punches the walls until his knuckles split, until blood leaks out and gathers itself into the creases of his wrist. He watches in sickly fascination as it beads up from the wound and makes it way, a brave pioneer, down the pale skin of his arm.

He inhales deeply, waiting for that rush of nicotine to hit his bloodstream and offer him some relief. He pictures his lungs holding that pale whiff of smoke captive. His very cells dragging the microscopic tendrils of it toward themselves, gorging. He watches the pink tissue gray with abuse. He closes his eyes and sees his lungs turn to ash. He crumbles with them.

He leaves the Slat, long after dark, when the others are asleep. No on guard for the night ever questions, just simple nods of acknowledgement and spines straightened out of respect for their leader. He walks to the warehouse district, to where the fights are held among one of the many clapboard buildings. The crowd parts for him, or more likely, his reputation. No one heckles or taunts at him, save some more drunken members of the group. They let him in the ring. They watch him fight. His cane left behind and forgotten. He relishes in the fight, the blows that come relentlessly and the pain they bring. He gets knocked down over and over until his survival instinct snaps into place forcing his victory.

He lurches across the floor, his bad leg dead weight, his blood a thick sludge of alcohol. He shifts onto his bed, hyper-aware of the bottle dangling between his fingertips. Terrified of wasting a single precious drop of Fjerdan Rum. He hugs it close to his chest before tilting it to his mouth. It's easier to swallow than the black whiskey he had earlier. Maybe there will be peace at the bottom this time.

He twirls the knife with a near deadly precision, the action made difficult by the size of the grip. The handle was made for a more delicate hand than his own. It gleams in the lamplight, a blade of liquid silver. He fumbles, fingers losing their rhythm, and it embeds into his desktop. He plucks it out and tilts it admiringly before carefully bringing his thumb to the tip. He waits for the pain to come. He watches as a pearl of blood wells up, his only sign that the self-inflicted injury was a success. He stares at the mark he's made, waiting for the skin to scar over so he can do it again.

He wobbles on the brick of the roof's parapet, his mind unsteady, interfering with his sense of balance. The city looks so peaceful when it's all blurred lamplight and misty cobbles. He gazes out over the shingles and stone, looking for a figure that he knows isn't there. But that doesn't stop him. He wonders if it would all be easier if he just stepped forward to join her, hidden in the shadows, boundless and free over the buildings. If he could just lose this game, this war, between the pieces of himself, he might be able to let go long enough. How easy it would be to just break his lie this once.

He wakes, screaming, hands dark with blood. There is no noise in the action, its trapped and wild like his thoughts. He scrubs his hands against the blanket, to get it off, off, off. But it remains, stained by guilt and regret that can't be washed away with water or belief. And then he's stumbling, tripping over his own feet like they've grown four sizes in an effort to pull his gloves off the dresser. One, two, three, tries to get them on his shaking fingers, and cover his pain. The rush of his heart slows with each moment that passes. He presses his palm against the beat wondering if he presses hard enough if it will stop.

He watches the harbor, eyes glued to the spot where she would dock, if she'd had the chance. He glances at the rooftops that would be her domain whether or not she was there to dance across them. He looks for her shadow in the crowds, on the street, in the alleyways just past nightfall. His gaze lingers in all the spaces that she should occupy, all the spaces that are barren now, feeling the abscence of that loss in the hole where his heart should have been.

If it weren't for that last desperate promise between them, Kaz Brekker wouldn't feel this way, in fact, he wouldn't feel anything at all.

[applexscruff]

The Outlaw Torn

SPONSORED BY: The WareHouse Sale I Reverie

C R E D I T S:

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- Head & Makeup

Lelutka - Ceylon Head [x]

Heaux - Yumi Skin @ The WareHouse Sale [x]

Aii - Serenity Hair [x]

Reverie - Caroline Eyes @ The WareHouse Sale [x]

Just Magnetized - Gyaru Doll Eyeliner [x]

LVL9 - Vulpine Ears & Tail @ The WareHouse Sale [x]

The White Crow - Hurts on Winter [x]

Tear - Nina Gloss [x]

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Legacy - Perky Body [x]

Haro - Fogwood Dynasty Outfit [x]

Dappa - Jin Tattoo [x]

Aii - Demonic Touch Fingers [x]

- Accessories

Torment - Kitxe @ The WareHouse Sale [x]

Ghoul - Kitsune Ritual Pearls [x]

Aii - Great Kitsune (Old Gacha) / Drunken Fox Sake & Red Gami Shawl [x]

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Zeroichi - Shinobi Street [x]

Song

[global--news]

The Past, Present, Future of Shenzhen Huang Qiang Bei (Volume 2)

——Slkor, Song Shiqiang

The Past, Present, Future of Shenzhen Huang Qiang Bei (Volume 2)

——Slkor, Song Shiqiang

    In 1992, Deng Xiaoping visited Shenzhen, which supported and affirmed the Shenzhen economic model and inspired the people of Shenzhen. With the opening up of China to the outside world, the economic consumption center of Shenzhen gradually moved westward beyond Luohu District, and the focus was in the Futian District in the 1990s. Over the years, a middle class with consumption power emerged, and with the accumulation and development of the industrial base, a market of division of labor and spontaneity was formed. Hua Qiang Bei, located in Futian District, developed into the Hua Qiang Bei Business Circle with the electronics street as the industry leader, creating an economic miracle.

Mr. Song Shiqiang, General Manager of Slkor and Kinghelm

 In 1994, Vanguard Super Department moved to Hua Qiang Bei and introduced the Singaporean "warehouse mall" model, which was a key factor in activating the whole Hua Qiang Bei Business Circle. The department store's success led to the transformation of more than 40 buildings in the Shangbu Industrial Zone into commercial areas, and the rise of various other businesses such as the "International Electrical Appliance City" and the "Manha Clothing Mall." The author, Song Shiqiang, also mentions his earliest connection with Hua Qiang Bei and his efforts to work for its prosperity.

Second direct-sale store of SlkorMicro Semicon Co., Ltd. (Slkor) in Hua Qiang Bei, Shenzhen

The market, Hua Qiang Bei, an electronics market in Shenzhen, China has been a hub for small and medium-sized enterprises, and many successful companies have emerged from it.

The author, Song Shiqiang, is the general manager of Kinghelm and Slkor, two companies that started in Hua Qiang Bei. The author discusses the success of the Chinese economy, which he attributes to the complementation of the state-owned enterprises and small private businesses. The author also discusses the growth of Hua Qiang Bei and how it has been nurtured by the government and supported by state-owned enterprises. The passage also contains personal anecdotes about the author's experiences in Hua Qiang Bei and the people he has met there. Finally, the author mentions that Kinghelm and Slkor have moved their headquarters to Shenzhou Computer Building in Bantian, Longgang, and that Slkor's IC design and research team is now located in Korea and Suzhou, while Kinghelm's processing plants are located in Tangxia, Dongguan, and Li.

Hua Qiang Bei is an electronic market located in Shenzhen, China. It is famous for being the world's largest electronics market and a hub for electronic components, including emulational mobile phones, Bluetooth headsets, and other electronic products. The market is known for its fierce competition, creativity, and the ability to produce billionaires. The influx of migrants from Pearl River Delta Region and Shenzhen brings fierce competition and creativity. Hua Qiang Bei Chaoshan bosses are famous for daring to fight, which combines the bloodiness of Hunan people, Society of Brothers tradition of Sichuan and Chongqing people without procrastination. The market's products are mostly electronic components, characterized by storage capacity and convenience of transportation, which can earn money decades later and thousands of kilometers away. Additionally, the market has electronic components with high unit price and high standardization, and the customers are basically 2B manufacturers, making the transaction mostly wholesale, where many people can make money easily. The active electronic components have the characteristics of unique model correspondence; they can't be used universally with a single difference. Therefore, if the products of downstream customers just lack this material, scarce material number can earn a lot of money, which belongs to commercial compensation value. Like Kinghelm and Slkor, Hua Qiang Bei's companies all belong to the electronic and information industries, which is in line with this great era.

Company: Shenzhen SlkorMicro Semicon Co., Ltd.

Contact Person: Mr. Song

Email: slkormicro@gmail.com

Website: http://www.slkoric.com/

Telephone: +86-0755-83044319

City: Shenzhen

[seeking--the--essential]

[thestuffmybraincomesupwith]

April 21, 2023:

Dream: [Scene was like 1970s desert Town orange and dustyish, but set near [my childhood church] I think]. I was 11ish. Mob/ gang kids were my friends, but then turned on me and chased me on their bikes. "I should have stuck a stick in their spokes ". Neighborhood mechanic (18? 20?) boy respected/ mildly feared (because he did mechanic work for the gang) let me hide by him, and he sent them away (they though he was going to "take care of me" 🤜🤚). Magic in first part? There were shops that I've run in, through, and out of in other dreams because I had been chased in those dreams, but now I just walked down the street passing them. There were other things but I forgot them all now.

Missing lots of details now

[Woke up a little in here to adjust and try to recall dream details. Fell back asleep.]

[Scene night, urban neighborhood, not the best part of town] Magic illegal forbidden. Me and 2 friends practiced secretly- also I was teaching them a little. In abandoned warehouse offices and 3rd floor rooftop condos that had rooftop sitting garden. Little black schnauzer dog. Guy was training me and my friends [scene inside loft kitchen, warm afternoon sun in window], because he was miles better at magic than I was (looked a little like Paul Rudd, but like closer to my age, and he was kind of famous in the dream, or at least very well known around the city). We became really close, and acted like a couple but denied to everyone that we were (because like, we weren't, but we also pretended there wasn't anything there, which was the biggest lie). [Scene warm and bright morning sunshine] Like I would throw my arms around him laughing, and he would pick me up and spin me then bring me back down to hold me in a spin and I would lean into him. While everyone else was literally in the next room, open doorway/ no door. [Scene back to warm soft late afternoon glow] Session technically ended, and I needed to go get pearl balloons to replace some that had been popped/destroyed/lost? Idk from what. [Scene late, overcast but not night, still pretty dark] City/ neighborhood was ragged and run down, lots of shops closed and boarded up, and I walked my 2 friends on their routes home on my way to meet the mail man. Mail man's shift had already ended (he was early shift), so I got the mail lady (looked like Yang from RWBY but irl). I was cool with both of them so it was okay. She gave me the pearl balloon package I ordered but the balloons were smaller than I needed, and I wasnt sure if they would work (they were like 9", and I needed 12" or something). I was telling the mail lady how much I liked my trainer, and how much I think he liked me back, and just couldn't stop glowing about him. One of my friends came back over to me from the street she had turned down (up a hill with a graveyard on the side), super nervous about magic stuff, and behind my box i was holding, I had a red rubber dog toy/ Kong in my hand, and using the box to block the busy street from view I held it in my hand, used my magic to make it float and rotate a little, and then grabbed it again. I smiled at my friend and told her not to worry, that no one would catch us and I wouldn't let anything happen to us. Then there was something about all of us in a car, including someone in the trunk (willingly, for fun). Convertible, but old and not a fancy one. Trainer was driving. I sat up front with him. There was a tension between us, and I don't know if it was because we were out in public together but "not together", or if it was because we were being seen together and it was going to look suspicious because people would suspect magic use. I woke up.

[whatsonmedia]

Music Monday: 5 New Releases Single 'Crying In The Trees'

Experience the mesmerizing music new single 'Crying In The Trees' by Rich Ruth, accompanied by a captivating live performance video. With its ambient rock sound and smooth vocals, this track is a must-listen. Check out the video and get immersed in the enchanting world of Rich Ruth's music.Let me know if you need any further assistance! Rich Ruth shares new single 'Crying In The Trees' + video - new album 'Water Still Flows' out June 21st on Third Man Records ALONGSIDE MESMERIZING LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO And definitely a mesmerizing video it is. For anyone who's ever heard if Tubular Bells this can be seen as homage to it. No vocals to the music but either way you've got a superb track LISTEN / WATCH HERE https://youtu.be/-loX1IL3Az4 Rich Ruth US Tour Dates: - 28/4: Fort Worth, TX - Tulips * - 29/4: Oklahoma City, OK - Beer City Music Hall * - 1/5: Baton Rouge, LA - Chelsea's Live * - 3/5: Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light ~ - 4/5: Asheville, NC - Eulogy ~ - 5/5: Winston-Salem, NC - The Ramkat * - 8/5: Raleigh, NC - King's ~ - 9/5: Charleston, SC - Music Farm * - 10/5: Savannah, GA - Victory North * - 22/6: Nashville, TN - The Blue Room ~ - 25/6: Washington DC - Pearl Street Warehouse ^ - 26/6: Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's ^ - 27/6: Woodstock, NY - Colony ^ - 28/6: Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool ~ - 21/8: Bloomington, IN - The Bishop ~ - 22/8: Chicago, IL - Constellation ~ - 23/8: Goshen, IN - Ignition Music Garage ~ - 25/8: Detroit, MI - Third Man Cass Corridor ~ ~ Headline Dates * w/ All Them Witches ^ w/ Mikaela Davis Billie Eilish "Wildflower": A Captivating Acoustic Journey through Love's ComplexitiesIn "Wildflower," Billie takes us on an intimate acoustic exploration of love's intricate path. With emotive vocals and raw vulnerability, she delves into the complexities of moving on while acknowledging the lingering emotions of past relationships. The title symbolizes resilience and untamed emotions, while the lyrics paint a poignant picture of a love triangle and the narrator's struggles with jealousy and insecurity. With its haunting melody and thought-provoking lyrics, "Wildflower" offers a captivating glimpse into the complexities of the human heart. Listen to Billie Eilish WILDFLOWER https://youtu.be/l08Zw-RY__Q LOUIS AND THE SHAKES - Share Majestic Single: "scared." || Listen Today STREAM ON ALL SERVICES YouTube  https://youtu.be/LnURE_rbQEg?si=JAdiYfMttFXAj6EC Here's a few things I like about the song; it's rock ambient feel to it; the smooth sound of the vocals; has a soft yet free flowing feel to it; it's not afraid to show emotional ranges. Louis never fails to disappoint THE MISERABLE RICH - Announce first album for 13 Years: 'Overcome' || Hear "Crows" Today I've never watched anything by Hitchcock in its entirety but still recognize the iconoclasm of The Birds. Anticipated bird threat scenes aside, I find myself enjoying Miserable Rich's take on it  WATCH OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE https://youtu.be/1IvWQE6kjzo?si=X3XAt7-WbTKm_29R STREAM ON SPOTIFY HERE https://open.spotify.com/album/21X71xGFi99fDKwiZvyUIa?si=uJdEOOKaQZyxM1a9yiEwIg Hitchcock inspired official video courtesy of Marc Biedel. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/1IvWQE6kjzo SNARL unveils dystopian visuals for his Prodigy "No Good (Start The Dance)" remix! Earlier this month SNARL unleashed their take on the infamous 90's dance hit originally by The Prodigy. I admit they did a good spin on it.  Here's the video for your viewing pleasure, looks like they've taken inspiration from movie classic Blade Runner  https://youtu.be/n5GJbS8AZNby E?si=5mZqnXKArB5jPxhy CORNERSHOP ‘Double Denim’ Single b/w Instrumental  Overall, a good video, I like that they've used the cartoon format for the video. For one thing it's just as good as film format, secondly cartoon animations can tell more of a story. In this case it's of the band, very nice  Watch The Video Now https://youtu.be/oPOZZdL03Qk Check out WhatsOn for more music updates Rich Ruth shares new single 'Crying In The Trees' + video - new album 'Water Still Flows' out June 21st on Third Man Records Billie Eilish "Wildflower": A Captivating Acoustic Journey through Love's ComplexitiesInListen to Billie Eilish WILDFLOWER LOUIS AND THE SHAKES - Share Majestic Single: "scared." || Listen Today THE MISERABLE RICH - Announce first album for 13 Years: 'Overcome' || Hear "Crows" Today SNARL unveils dystopian visuals for his Prodigy "No Good (Start The Dance)" remix! CORNERSHOP ‘Double Denim’ Single b/w Instrumental  Read the full article

[doctors-journal]

9 July

We followed up on the address we got from the detective’s new informants where they were sending the pearls. It’s in a quiet shopping district; mostly just corner stores with what looked like an ordinary office building coming out of the top.

The detective pointed up at the offices as we passed. “What do you make of the windows, Doctor?”

I followed his gaze up. “I don’t see anything.”

“Precisely. They are all papered to conceal what is inside. However, that alone tells us nothing about what is inside. This way, Doctor.”

He set a leisurely pace, strolling down the street. We took a loop around the block, and turned off into an alleyway that ran up to the back of the office building. There was a large rear door for loading trucks with a ramp leading up to it, like for moving goods in and out of a warehouse.

The detective pulled me aside, into the narrow space between two shops that backed into the alleyway. We stood pressed together, even closer than we needed to be.

“Now, we wait,” he murmured into my ear, sending a shiver up my spine despite the summer heat.

I gave him a look through my lashes. We’ve both been preoccupied investigating the stock-broker the last few days and I felt him daring me to close the distance, but it was hardly the time or place.

“This is no time for distraction,” he whispered, as though the tight hiding spot had been my idea, but it was warm enough that I was grateful when he stepped back and gave me a little more space.

“What are we looking for exactly?”

“You will know when you see it.”

It felt like a long wait, just watching the alleyway and listening to the traffic in the distance, waiting for some indication. However, I don’t think it was really more than an hour.

Suddenly, with no warning whatsoever, the detective pulled me close again into a fevered kiss. My mind belatedly caught up to my eager lips and I almost pushed away in surprise before I noticed the sound of a truck driving through the alleyway, directly behind me. Finally, the detective pulled back enough to let me gasp out some protest.

“Shush, Doctor,” the detective breathed, loosening his hold as quickly as he had taken it. “When I give the sign, we will move quickly and silently.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he only gestured for silence.

From where I was hidden in the narrow gap between the stores, I couldn’t see the entrance to the warehouse, I could only hear the van pulling to a stop. I heard the door open. There was some distant conversation.

The detective’s hand tightened around my wrist as we waited again, his fingers tapping out the seconds. The only indication I had of what would come next was his taught expression. The creases in his brow deepened.

I heard one of the big doors slide up and the detective’s hand squeezed my wrist.

“Not yet,” he murmured.

There was a little more movement, and then suddenly he tugged on my arm and pulled me out into the alleyway, just in time to see a couple of men hauling a box through the loading door. They didn’t glance back before disappearing inside, and there was no one else in sight.

“What are we-?” I began to demand in a whisper.

The detective shushed me.

We ran up the ramp after them and the detective pulled me behind a stack of boxes just as I heard the men’s footsteps come plodding past back to the warehouse door. We were crouching just feet away, but they didn’t seem to notice us.

We were in a low, dark room, like a warehouse, filled with racks of boxes as far as I could see. Beside me, the detective’s eyes darted everywhere, taking it all in. But he made no move to go any deeper. Instead we stayed hidden behind a crate, frozen in place, until the door slammed shut, leaving us in total darkness. I heard the rumbling of the truck’s engine as it drove off.

Only when we were completely alone did I feel the detective stir beside me. He turned on a torch and began to pry open the box just in front of us. I strained my ears, listening for anyone else who might catch us in the act, but I didn’t hear a thing, just the creaking of the crate. Finally, it gave, and beneath layers of packing material, a pile of new suits, and buried beneath them, bags of white powder.

We didn’t linger. The detective quickly closed back up the box and hurried me past the large loading door we had entered through, to a smaller side door that I hadn’t even noticed before. Thankfully it opened when the detective pushed it, and we ran back out onto the street.

I think the detective finally realised how far in over his head he is; I could feel his hand shaking as he pulled me out of the warehouse.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

But he only snapped, “Yes, Doctor.”

He lit a cigarette as we hurried back to the flat and he’s been smoking nonstop ever since, pacing between the living room and his bedroom. He didn’t have anything for dinner. I tried to have something at least and not go through too many cigarettes, but he’s not the only one on edge.

I hope he’s alright.

[terrantravels]

Discovering Oregon's Finest via Coastal Tours and Portland City Excursions: Coastal Charms and Urban Wonders

Tucked away in the bucolic Pacific Northwest, Oregon offers a scenery that combines a craggy coastline with colorful cityscapes. Combining Oregon Coast tours with a Portland city tour is a great way for visitors to experience both urban adventure and the natural beauty of this fascinating state. The Oregon Coast is a marvel of natural beauty, spanning more than 360 miles and distinguished by striking cliffs, immaculate beaches, and charming seaside villages. An Oregon Coast tour offers a picturesque journey with possibilities for outdoor exploration and jaw-dropping scenery. Guided excursions along the Oregon Coast frequently include stops at famous locations like the picturesque town of Newport, known for its bustling harbor and historic waterfront, and Cannon Beach, site of the renowned Haystack Rock. Wander along windswept beaches, take in the briny sea air, and be in awe of the coastline's raw beauty. Coastal excursions provide opportunities for wildlife spotting for those who enjoy the outdoors. Visitors may be able to catch a glimpse of the majestic whales, lively seals, and diverse seabirds that call the Oregon Coast home. There are countless natural treasures to be found along the Oregon Coast, whether you choose to hike through lush coastal forests or explore tide pools rich with marine life. A Portland city tour offers a striking contrast after taking in the tranquility of the coast, highlighting the city's diverse charm and rich cultural diversity. Portland is the largest city in Oregon. Portland, well-known for its vibrant arts community, mouthwatering cuisine, and eccentric neighborhoods, provides a unique and dynamic metropolitan experience. Highlights of Portland's guided city tours include the fashionable boutiques and renovated warehouses in the Pearl District, as well as Washington Park's lush vegetation, which is home to the famous International Rose Test Garden. Along with these activities, visitors may tour the vivid street art-adorned alleyways of the city, sip artisanal beers at local breweries, and explore the bustling food cart scene. Apart from them, if you love to spend some quality time with the lap of nature, it is best to opt for the tour guide Multnomah Falls, that would rightly match all your expectations that can perfectly match your needs.

[newmusicradionetwork]

Griefcat Announce The Release Of Late Stage Capitalism Out April 19

Annie Nardolilli and Louisa Hall, the masterminds behind DC duo Griefcat, are set to release their brilliant album Late Stage Capitalism, April 19.  They’ve been compared to Flight of the Conchords, Tenacious D, Norwegian duo Ylvis, and Garfunkel and Oates by fans but Griefcat brings their own unique voice to the genre. The nine tracks on Late Stage Capitalism range from flat out hilarious to unexpectedly thought provoking, each with a unique sound, beautifully blended harmonies, and brilliant lyrics all with an unpredictable twist.  The musicianship stands out on its own too; traditional instruments abound but you will also hear slide guitar, ukulele, trumpet, trombone, violin, and cello peppered throughout the album. Says the duo, “We are overjoyed to finally share these songs with the world! We’ve been working on this album since 2020, and it has been a labor of love to bring our full vision to fruition.” Late Stage Capitalism explores how unbridled capitalism has invaded every facet of modern life, from workplace politics to interpersonal relationships, and even our most private moments. They came up with the title in early 2020 when they wrote arguably their most well-known song on the album to date, “Revolution (Poop At Work),” a song about how even the smallest acts of defiance can be revolutionary, catapulted the duo to viral infamy and a strong following with over 25 million organic views of their videos, more than 15 million of those views for that song alone.  Even Questlovecommented on the song, saying “LOL I feel seen, I see my version as a political act.”  They’ve also received likes from SZA and actor Alan Tudyk for their posts, among others. Other songs on the album include “I Just Want To Get Inside (Your Bank Account),” an unanticipated, ‘90s-style love song with a hilarious contradiction between two women looking for two different things when it comes to a new relationship.  Are they looking for love or money? It also shines a light on dating culture and how much sensitive personal information we share online every day.  “Crytpobro” is a traditional country tune with all the makings of a hit song.  It’s a melodic, catchy, and current, and a breakup song about losing love, in this case to the cult of Cryptocurrency and the church of Elon Musk.  The opening track, “Benevolent Billionaire,” featuring standout vocalist Jarreau Williams along with many of DC’s brightest musical talent, is loosely based on ‘80s supergroup charity singles like “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and “We are the World.”  “Love The Sinner” was written while Annie was working as a deputy sheriff and was inspired by two narrow-minded coworkers she didn’t get along with. All these songs would never have existed if it weren’t for the mind melding of the opposites attract duo.  Annie, from Arlington, VA is a Mormon and former sheriff’s deputy while Louisa, from Alexandria, VA (now lives in Reston VA), is a long-time lapsed Catholic and a career tech employee.  That dichotomy in perspectives has been the key to the duo’s success both in songwriting and in their friendship.  They met at a DC-based variety show and were the only musicians in a group of comedians performing that night. They scheduled their first rehearsal, wrote a song about vaccines and egg rolls, and the rest is (recent) history. Now, with Late Stage Capitalism, Griefcat has all the potential to be more than just a musical act.  With each live show, they invite their audience to step inside their world, creating a fun and exciting atmosphere that becomes a universally shared experience for all.  Tour dates are listed below, more to be announced soon. Griefcat Tour Dates: Feb 08 – Pearl Street Warehouse, Washington, DC Feb 29 – Jammin Java, Vienna, VA Mar 16 – The Pocket, Washington City, DC Mar 21 – The Heist, Bowling Green, VA Griefcat Website Instagram TikTok Spotify YouTube Facebook #  #  # Read the full article