#per the standard tails are to be long and low set

[theborzoiarebackintown]

SUSPICIOUS

[whtjsqusghtk]

조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK

조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK 링크<<

조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK

조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK

조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK

조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK

조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK

basic firearms. All pistols except Red 9 are characterized by being able to load magazines with magazines + 1, and some pistols can be equipped with laser sights. Ammunition capacity is 50 rounds per 2 slots. Unlike the original work,조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK as the knife gained durability in this work, it became very difficult to play to save ammunition as much as possible with knives and taijutsu.

As a special note, in the case of this work, if there is enough ammunition for a specific weapon, no more supply and demand. If this is depleted, the progress itself may be disrupted, so taking this into account, when the ammunition is depl조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KKeted to the extent that the magazine cannot be filled, enemies such as chests and gunados drop pistol ammo first, unless there is a fixed drop. do. In particular, in places where boxes are scattered, such as boss battles or sections with large-scale battles, you can get close to 50 rounds in an instant.

Therefore, at the beginning of the first round, it is advantageous to set the pistol as the top priority and modify it. Even if there is a shortage of ammunition in the case of a pistol, it is not recommended to make pistol bullets using 조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KKmaterial (S). It is good to produce and supply as many guns or magnum bullets as needed at that time. However, even if you have such a system, if you use too many pistol bullets, you will have to fight in a situation where you can't really use the pistol, so let's use it carefully.

When special modifications are made, each pistol has a strong individuality. To classify it broadly, it is as follows. Compare the characteristics of each pistol with other stats and choose the pistol you like. The main use is that you can get i조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KKt for free in the lake chapter after defeating Del Lago, and you can quickly catch the aiming point through the butt, take out high damage and use bullets efficiently Red 9 and basic weapons, damage Regardless of the , you can aim for instant death such as Ganado with a critical hit, and the final performance is disappointing compared to the SG-09R and SG-09R, which allow you to hit the target right away without hav조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KKing to set the aiming point by wearing a laser pointer, but the initial performance is better Likewise, the Sentinel Nine, which has the advantage of being able to apply lasers and having a large-capacity magazine that can be loaded up to 32 rounds, is mainly used. Leon's primary weapon. Joe Kendo's custom model of the MUP, a German pistol that has appeared in the previous work, has Kendo's engraving on the barrel and a compensator is installed as standard.

In the beginning, it boasts very low performance. Hardcore or higher requires 2-3 hits on Ganado's forehead to stiffen. If you purchased the deluxe edition, it's good to use Sentinel Nine right away. However, if you reach the point where조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KK the upper limit of modification is unlocked and fully modify to level 5, you will exceed Sentinel Nine in specifications other than magazine capacity and rate of fire. It can be said that the special modification has a critical hit rate of 5 times, so it can be said that it is a long-lasting pistol like the original.

Critical hits deal high damage to the area hit and cause destruction of the area, so even Gana can explode their heads. Therefore, the expected value of the deal does not fall significantly compared to Black Tail, which ranks second in pistol power. It can be equipped with a laser sight, so it is very easy to aim, has decent stats, and the cost of remodeling is half as cheap as other pistols.

It is scheduled to be released as a collaboration airsoft gun by Tokyo Marui. It is engraved with Heckler & Koch, but the Kendo engraving is clearly visible on the barrel.

In the original work, while equipped with a pistol, the critical hit rate increase was applied to all actions, so even with a headshot kick, Ganado's head could be detonated. From Chapter 2, it can be exchanged for 5 Spinels at the Merchant.

Its basic power is lower than that of a basic pistol, but it is a pistol that features an option to penetrate enemies. When this ability shines, it is when the shield soldiers and plagas come out from the section where enemies are flocking in a s조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KKtraight line and the old castle chapter. It has the advantage of being able to easily subdue the shield soldier regardless of the presence or absence of a shield, and when the head of the ganado explodes and the plaga come out, you can easily remove the plaga by shooting at the place where the plaga parasite is located.[4] Penetration performance increases up to 5 times after special modification.

However, instead of having a penetration option, the power is very low, so bullet consumption becomes extreme if penetration is not properly utilized. In addition, it is not too difficult to deal with shield soldiers or plagas even without penetration, and it is difficult to save penetration because there are not many overlapping enemies. When you enter the island, the shield soldiers change their shields from wooden ones to steel shields, making it even more difficult.

In Pistol Run for Minimalist Challenges, you might wonder if you could prepare for Shieldsman or Rehenerador, but neither Shieldsman nor Regenerador can be hit with Infinite Ammo Matilda.

In the old game, you could get it for free by destroying 10 or more medallions, and if you don't miss 15 medallions and destroy all of them, the attack power is upgraded by one level, so the damage is slightly higher than the basic pistol, It served 조선 변호사 6회 다시 보기 6화 E06 040115 KKas a support, but in this work, I gave up the early pistol spot to Red 9 or Sentinel Nine because I ate 5 precious spinels.

[fuckyeahdindjarin]

Grays

Frankie Morales x f!reader

{ Grays Masterlist | Main Masterlist | Grays Part II }

Rating: M

Summary: Frankie wants you to cover up his grays. You want to knock some sense into his salt-and-pepper head.

Warnings: Insecure Frankie in need of self-love comes with his own warning, Reader is a hairstylist and has a related nickname, no physical descriptions other than that Reader has hair that can be dyed, not-quite-friends to *respectfully looking* dynamics, mentions of hair, gratuitous descriptions of the male body, sexual innuendos, lots of teasing and banter.

Word count: 4.8k

Notes: The origin story is here if you missed it. This is dedicated to my Frankie soul sister LJ @prolix-yuy who encouraged me to write this many months ago ❤️ As always, I’m an anxious mess writing for a new-to-me Pedro boy, so please be gentle with me (cos it's my birthday week) 🥺

I have a part 2 (with smut) in mind. I love where this leaves off, but who am I kidding. I probably won’t be able to help myself 😂

The bell on the door chimes with a sweet tinkle, cutting through the low, insistent purr of the hair clipper buzzing in your grasp. You don’t look up as you spy broad shoulders and a battered Standard Heating Oil cap crossing the threshold out of the corner of your eye.

‘Are you lost, Morales?’ you drawl indifferently, focused on the task at hand. ‘I have an appointment with Pope today, not you.’

‘He booked it under his name. Thought you’d take it as a prank if I called in myself.’

You look up to meet his gaze reflected in the mirror sitting in front of Greg, your current customer. ‘I wonder why he’d think that.’

Frankie shrugs, leaning against the reception counter with his arms crossed. ‘Beats me.’

You snort. ‘Really? You’ve insisted loudly and repeatedly for as long as I’ve known you that you don’t see the point of going to a hairstylist when you can have Pope cut your hair with kitchen scissors in his bathtub.’

‘C’mon, Shiv.’

‘Oh, he knows my name,’ you gasp sarcastically. You turn to Greg, who’s clearly amused by this exchange, and loop him in. ‘He usually just grunts at me.’

At this point, Ashton - your apprentice and all-round salon maverick - makes an appearance. Clearly having caught the tail-end of your conversation with Frankie, he glances between the two of you with an arched eyebrow. ‘Are we back to chasing customers away, boss?’

‘Sit his ass down but he doesn’t get a free drink,’ you instruct. ‘I’ll get to him when I get to him.’

Ashton goes ahead and ignores your orders point blank, per usual. After hanging up Frankie’s jacket and settling him at the station furthest away from you in the far corner of the salon, you see him sneakily give him a coffee. He can never resist the handsome ones.

You take your sweet time with Greg, cleaning up his sideburns, even though you’re basically done with him - just to tick off your waiting customer.

Not that it works, and you know it won’t. He just sits there, his wide frame filling up the chair, still as a rock. The dog-eared, months-old magazines strategically placed on the table for idle reading lie untouched. That’s Francisco Morales for you.

You’ve been orbiting each other since sixth grade, as all kids in your close-knit neighbourhood do. In fact, most of your customers went to your school. 

You don’t even remember how it started - probably at a sleepover - you discovered one day that you’re handy with box hair dye. By freshman year, you were colouring your fellow classmates’ hair in the girls’ toilets after school, earning enough pocket money to keep your cabinet at home fully-stocked with new hair products on rotation.

Your ever-changing hair colour got you into trouble with the headmaster more times than you can count, who nicknamed you Shape Shifter. Your friends abbreviated it to Shifter, then over the years, whittled it down to Shiv, and it stuck.

After being gifted a set of styling scissors for Christmas one year, you started hanging out at the neighbourhood salon, hustling for an apprenticeship. You practised what you observed on your fellow students, giving out haircuts on the bleachers on non-game days for a couple of dollars (the fee waived if something went disastrously wrong).

That’s how you first met Benny - his then cheerleader girlfriend took him in for a haircut when it got too long for her liking. When you eventually opened your own salon years later, he was your first paying customer, having come home after being honourably discharged from the army.

During the early days, when you struggled to fill your appointments and he couldn’t win a fight to save his life, you made a pact. You would do his hair at a heavy discount for his posters and promotions, and in return, he would let you use his photos for the salon’s marketing.

And it worked. Well, not that you had anything to do with him turning his fortunes around on the MMA circuit, but he had everything to do with getting customers through your door. It only got busier when Santi joined the ranks a couple of years later, and even though Will only shows up when his hair gets really unruly, they both sit in front of your camera with no complaint in return for mate’s rates.

Having these guys on your salon’s social media keeps both the gents and the ladies booking up your appointments.

Frankie Morales, though, is a different animal.

When you finally appear over his left shoulder, his coffee is all gone and he meets your eyes in the mirror nonchalantly. He’s leaning his whole weight on his right elbow on the armest, his left arm outstretched and blunt nails tapping on the table, the only hint of impatience he’s giving away.

He’s good at that - he’s the laid-back one out of the boys, the one who hangs back and observes with arms crossed, but quick to crack a grin and throw in a wicked barb when the occasion calls for it. Nothing ever seems to faze him, and probably nothing does - you hear that makes a good pilot, and from what Pope lets on, he’s a damn good one.

It also makes for highly effective bait for the ladies. He’s a popular fixture on the local bar scene - let’s face it, all of the boys are. You’ve seen him in action more than once when Benny or Pope invites you along on a night out, more often than not without Will since he had a baby girl with his high school sweetheart last year. Frankie’s brooding, quiet, beer-sipping act often works better than Benny’s over-the-top flirting or Pope’s Casanova bit.

But that’s neither here nor there.

Hands on your hips, you goad him, ‘Alright Morales, how do I know you’ll pay up, you cheap bastard?’

‘Pope says to put it on his tab.’

‘Music to my ears.’ You tap him on the shoulder. ‘Sit up and off with the cap.’

With a grumble, Frankie lifts the cap up by the beak, ducking his head as he does so. He tosses it onto the table offhandedly and shifts in his seat, but you’re not fooled by his unconvincing air of indifference. From the way he plasters his palms to the top of his denim-clad thighs, as if to stop them from fidgeting, you know he’s feeling vulnerable. 

You can’t say you’ve ever seen Frankie without his headgear - now that you think about it, he’s been wearing it since high school. Heck, he might have gone through several incarnations of that blasted hat in the years in between. You’ve caught glimpses when he lifts it up to fix his hair, but otherwise, all you see is what peeks out from underneath, the longer wisps that coil around his ears and the curls at the back. 

As it turns out, there’s really nothing to hide - sure, the cut is blunt and his hair lacks shine, but both can be easily fixed. You step into his space and comb through his locks, starting at the base of his skull and working your way up the sides. 

The contact startles him - he practically jumps out of his skin, and you don’t miss the way the veins on the back of his hands pop and he digs his nails into his legs.

'Easy, boy,' you soothe with a teasing undertone, earning yourself a glower from the pilot. As much as you enjoy needling him, you do want your customers to be comfortable. So you let slip a deliberate but genuinely appreciative hum as the dark tendrils, subtly tinged with grays, part softly at your prying fingertips. ‘Wow, your curls are really thick.'

He looks up, an unsure frown on his brow. ‘Oh. Is that bad?’

‘No, Morales, it’s definitely a compliment,’ you tell him encouragingly - your bark has always been worse than your bite. ‘What do you use to wash your hair? It’s a bit dry.’

He shrugs. ‘Shampoo.’ At your insistent stare, he snaps, ‘What?’

‘Don’t lie to me, Morales,’ you warn him in a stern voice.

He huffs and gives in. ‘Fine. It’s a 2-in-1 body wash. I get it at the gas station, happy?’

You shoot him a smug grin as he rolls his eyes. ‘Well, you’re using proper shampoo from now on, and conditioner.’ He opens his mouth, a complaint on the tip of his tongue, when you hold a finger up at him. ‘Don’t argue with me, mister. I’ll throw in a couple of bottles on the house to get you started.’

‘Fine,’ he concedes. Unfailingly polite even when grumpy, he adds, ‘Thanks, Shiv.’

Your trusty swivelling stool screeches in protest when you drag it over on its wheels, before you take a seat and address the elephant in the room. ‘So - I’m guessing you’re here because of the wedding.’

You get a grunt in response. Scratching a particularly scrappy patch of his beard that has turned prematurely silver, he says, ‘My ma says I should cover up my old man grays for it.’

You snort, shaking your head. ‘Ha! And you tell your mother I say - hell no, ma’am! I will do no such thing.’

Frankie blinks at your unexpectedly adamant response. ‘What?’

‘I said, hell no,’ you repeat. Turning his head to the side with two fingers on his stubbled cheek, you comb his locks upwards to study the way the grays blend in softly with the umber, matching the ashen flecks in his beard. He doesn't start as badly at your touch this time, but there’s a telltale tick in his jaw, and you can almost hear the tension that thrums just below his skin where a late summer tan still lingers.

‘See how your grays are mainly coming out on the underside?’ you point out. ‘I like the way they just peek through the brown, it gives more depth to your curls. Natural highlights, if you will.’

He looks unconvinced and swipes at a smattering of silver with dismissive fingers. ‘Dunno. Thought the grays make me look old.’

You chuckle. ‘You’re no spring chicken anymore, Morales, and I mean it in a good way. Grays are natural - they will look even better when you start using actual shampoo and conditioner. Trust me, the salt and pepper works on you. I’m not dyeing your grays, and that’s that.’

For the first time today, Frankie turns his head and looks directly into your eyes. ‘My mother’s coming back to town for the wedding, you know. And she remembers where you live.’

You laugh. ‘Go ahead and send her my way, you know I’m not scared of her.’

He scoffs at your big talk. ‘You should be.’

Your relationship with the Morales matriarch is complicated, to say the least. She was always hard on you when you were a kid, thinking you were too wild and undisciplined. Now that you’re grown, you’re still torn between your admiration for her as a single mother who raised a good man, and the woman who never tires of dishing out criticism, warranted or not.

You give him a reassuring pat on the back, solid and warm under your touch. ‘Leave your mother to me, Morales. The grays stay, and I’ll make sure you steal the show at the party.’

‘Your funeral,’ he quips.

‘You just worry about getting yourself to the wedding,’ you retort, cracking your knuckles. ‘Now, are you ready for some pampering?’

Frankie rolls his eyes, but you see the corner of his mouth tick up in a vaguely upward direction - and you take it as a win.

‘Relax, Morales.’

‘I am relaxed,’ he insists through gritted teeth.

‘You’re about as relaxed as a cow on the butcher’s block. Unclench.’

For someone as economical with words as he is, his body certainly says a lot. Every single part of him seems hellbent on making his discomfort known. He breathes a frustrated exhale through his nose, brow deeply furrowed, his glare burning holes into the ceiling.

The leather seat of the backwash barely contains his tall build, his t-shirt stretched to the seams across his chest as he leans back into the basin. He’s bouncing his left leg irritably, the tight denim straining against his lap.

You try - valiantly - not to gape too obviously at the conspicuous bulge nestled snugly between his thighs under his belt buckle. But you can’t avert your eyes from something of that size. It’s against the laws of physics. Or something.

Even from where you’re standing, at the top of the basin peering down the slope of his body, its heft is clearly testing the structural integrity of the zipper of his jeans. Imagine the view from the other side -

Clearing your throat, you bodily press down on Frankie’s shoulders which are coiled up like the hood of an angry python, forcing them to loosen up. He jerks as if he’s a copper wire and you’re electricity. You tease, ‘So sensitive. You act like you’ve never felt a woman’s touch before, Morales.’

‘You know that’s not true,’ he growls at you, the prominent vein in his neck starting to pulse in frustration.

‘No, you’re right - I do know,’ you smirk, dragging out your syllables.

Your tone has him frowning at you, upside down. ‘What do you mean by that?’

‘I mean - I know,’ you repeat with a conspiratorial wink.

He narrows his eyes at you. ‘What do you know, Shiv?’

You wriggle his eyebrows at him suggestively, enjoying yourself far too much. ‘I own a salon, Morales. I hear things from the ladies about town.’

One large palm reaches up to shield his face in embarrassment, a pained groan escaping between the gaps of his fingers. ‘For fuck’s sake - kill me now.’

You laugh, wrestling his hand from his face to with an impish grin. ‘Don’t worry, I’ve only heard good things so far - Frankie big boy Morales.’

He blushes so hard that his ears and neck go a livid red, and for a minute, you’re actually worried that he’d pass out from not enough blood reaching his heart. Not keen on the prospect of having to explain to the emergency services that you teased the poor man into an aneurysm, you turn on the water and cut short your little chinwag with a good-natured chuckle. 

His hands are still tightly clamped around the armrest when you carefully run the shower head along his hairline and behind his ears, soaking his curls. His biceps flex from the tight grip and the lean muscles strain against the sleeves of his t-shirt. 

At least he closes his eyes when you start with the shampoo. The velvety lather froths as you patiently wash his hair, which clings to his wet curls like vanilla frosting. The deep crease between his brows eases with each gentle swipe into his locks, and the invisible force pulling his lips downwards slackens. By the time you rinse out the bubbles, you don’t miss the way the tension in his body unwittingly goes with it down the drain.

When your nails slide slickly into his hair with the conditioner, his stubborn body finally, slowly unfurls. His head tips back of its own accord, baring the column of his strong neck as he leans inadvertently into your touch. Colour returns to his knuckles when he releases his death grip on the backwash. 

You smile to yourself, scraping your fingertips along his scalp in a firm massage, watching his chest rise and fall as he teeters on the brink of consciousness.

As your thumbs trace a confident path down the back of his skull, they appear to find a particularly sensitive spot near the base of his neck, and it's as if a switch is flipped. You witness the exact moment he breaks - his back arches off the leather seat, his obstinate lips part with a strangled half-sigh catching in his throat as he yields his full weight into the palm of your hands.

If you're not careful, you could get used to this.

‘Still with me, Morales?’ you tease quietly.

He garbles incoherently, and you grin.

Frankie practically molds into the chair like warm wax when you shepherd him back to the styling station. You’re so chuffed with yourself that you don’t even feel the need to gloat at the way his eyes are glazed over and how his head lolls into the soft pressure when you run a fluffy towel through his hair. The man recoiling at the mere brush of your fingers a distant memory.

You run an assessing eye over him, brushing out his locks to gauge your game plan. ‘I like this length on you, so I’ll just trim the split ends and tidy up your sideburns. You’ll benefit from some layering too - it’s a bit heavy on top right now.’

From the way he blinks owlishly at you, you know he doesn’t catch a single word. He shrugs and says matter-of-factly. ‘You can’t do worse than Pope.’

The salon is quiet this afternoon, as it tends to be on Wednesdays. You let him enjoy the peace for a little bit and tap your foot to Ashton’s playlist as your styling scissors move over his curls in metallic snips.

‘Tip your head forward for me,’ you instruct, sliding around the back of his head on your wheels as you probe, ‘So - how are you feeling about the wedding?’

The fabric of his t-shirt bunches over his shoulders as they quirk noncommittally.

‘It’s just a few days away.’

He makes an indifferent noise. But you’re not so easily dissuaded from conversation, and he knows it.

‘Can’t be easy - watching your ex get married.’

Frankie pins you with a long-suffering stare in the mirror. ‘We broke up a year ago.’

Getting onto your feet, you ruffle your fingers through the crown of his curls. ‘Yeah, but you dated for years. She sure moved on quick.’

He huffs a sardonic laugh. ‘Thanks, Shiv.’

Swapping out the styling scissors for blending shears, you argue, ‘What? It’s a legitimate observation. I’m just making conversation here.’

‘Or we could just sit here quietly.’

Ha. As if you ever listen to him. You press on, ‘Why did she invite you anyway?’

Frankie’s sigh sounds a lot like surrender as he humours you. ‘It’s a damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t kind of situation, I guess. The whole town’s invited.’

‘You sure she isn’t trying to flaunt it in your face or something?’

‘Flaunting implies I still care. I don’t.’

You give him a juvenile nudge nudge, wink wink. ‘Well, on the bright side, you’ll definitely get laid, being the heartbroken ex and all. Chicks love that shit.’

He dispatches a side-long stare in your direction. ‘I’m not heartbroken, and that’s not why I’m going. And you know none of this is any of your business, right?’

‘You’re no fun,’ you pout.

He quips, ‘As a professional hairstylist, you really should be better at making polite conversation.’

You snort. ‘Do you really think it’s a good idea to call me rude when I have scissors in my hands?’

Frankie watches you work in the comfortable lull that’s settled between you, gliding the blades along strands of his curls pulled taut, before running a fine-toothed comb through to brush out the loose tufts. Soft coils land on the floor around his chair as you work your way methodically through his layers.

‘Are you going to the wedding?’ he asks eventually.

You shrug. ‘Maybe, depends on my schedule. I gotta say, I’m kind of curious to see how tacky it will be.’

At his eyebrow sternly cocked, you argue, ‘I know she’s your ex and all, but she’s always been a bit tacky. I mean, that remodel of your house was just tragic.’

Frankie frowns. ‘How do you know all this? You’ve never been to my house.’

You wink. ‘Benny tells me everything when I do his hair.’

He pinches the bridge of his nose. ‘Of course. Benjamin fucking Miller.’

You give him a pat on the shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, I’m on your side, if it helps.’

‘I don’t need you on my side.’

You flash him an insufferable grin. ‘Too bad, Francisco. I am and there’s nothing you can do about it.’

The hairdryer drowns out any further conversation, and Frankie quietly studies you as you cord your fingers through his hair, ruffling it as it dries.

It’s still a bit damp when you switch off the hairdryer and reach up to pull a couple of jars from the shelf above. ‘On the day of the wedding, I want you to wash your hair just before you style it. You have a hairdryer at home, right?’

He throws you a pointed look. ‘I’m not a heathen.’

You grin. ‘Down boy, just checking. Now, you’ll dry your hair until it’s still a bit wet, like so.’ Presenting the styling mousse to him, you say, ‘Then go on and grab some product - you only need a dollop.’

He dips his index finger into the pot, scooping up a generous blob. Your attention is unexpectedly piqued at the sight of his hands. 

Have they always been so big?

Realising he’s staring at you in wait, you shake yourself out of it. ‘Ok, rub the mousse onto your fingertips and run them all over your hair, combing from root to end.’

Frankie does as he’s told, face set to a serious scowl as he impeccably goes over each section of his locks, staring into the mirror to make sure he gets every strand. For the first time, you see the pilot in him up close, and you wonder if he’s this thorough about other things, like -

Laundry, your mind interrupts as it careens on the brink of the metaphorical gutter. Get your shit together, Shiv.

‘Good,’ you smile when he’s done, hoping he doesn't see the strain in it. ‘Now, I want you to rake your fingers through the roots when you dry your hair all the way.’ In demonstration, your nails burrow into the base of his thick hair, then you wriggle your fingers upwards towards the ends. ‘It will give you lots of volume and really show off this cut.’

Passing him the hairdryer, you watch him critically in the mirror. He imitates your movements, a bit clumsily and far too cautiously. Leaning down to his ear so he can hear you over the whir, you instruct him, ‘Don’t be gentle, Francisco. C’mon, harder, deeper - don’t hold back.’

He chokes and pins you with a wide-eyed stare in the mirror that glances right off your oblivious self. Along with your words, nothing about this exchange would register in your head in any other way until much, much later tonight, when you replay the conversation in your head in that limbo between sleep and wakefulness. 

It may or may not have you squealing into your pillow in latent embarrassment - and something else.

But for now, you’re happy with the way his hair has set, and you gesture for him to switch off the hairdryer. Turning his chair towards you and away from the mirror, you scan your eyes over him and make small adjustments - tucking a couple of strands behind his ear here, a couple of final snips there. 

As a final touch, you bury your fingers into his locks, dragging your fingertips through the roots to impart a final tousle so that the curls are loose and soft. You preen at the way he sways into your contact, all shyness gone, his hooded eyes half-closed - before he seems to catch himself and sits up with a self-conscious ahem.

Grabbing a small bottle from the shelf, you say, ‘Last thing - your beard is a bit dry as well. This oil will keep it nice and moisturised, just two or three drops after you wash up in the morning will do.’

Tipping his face up by the crook of your finger and opening up his neck to you, you smooth the ointment along both sides of his jaw, rubbing circles into his neatly trimmed whiskers and all the way up his sideburns. Sliding downwards, your hands seek out the closely shaved stubble tucked beneath his chin. Then, by sheer momentum, your palms continue down his throat in a slow, sticky descent, until the pads of your thumbs slot into the hollow between his collarbones, your fingers resting at the base of his neck where you feel his pulse rabbiting underneath. 

The air thickens and shifts between you. When he swallows, you feel the ripple of the moment against your fingertips. 

His eyes are on you, and suddenly he’s too close, his skin too hot under your hands. To your horror, something akin to shyness rears its head and you almost stumble backwards to put a safe distance between you.

Scrubbing the oily residue from your hands on a towel, you break the moment with a wink and a steadier smile than you actually feel. ‘You look good, Morales. Ready to take a look?’

‘As if you would take no for an answer,’ he mumbles under his breath. Fondness might be too strong of a word - but you don't think you're imagining the faint trace of amusement in his voice.

With a dramatic ta-da, you spin his chair around with a flourish.

Frankie Morales is obviously not a vain man - he most likely owns five pairs of jeans that he’s worn on rotation for the past fifteen years, his t-shirts are washed ragged, and his trusty leather boots have seen better days. He probably doesn’t use a mirror other than for purely utilitarian purposes, like checking if there’s something stuck in his teeth from his last meal.

But right now, by the way he’s holding his breath as he meets his own eyes in the reflection, you can tell that he’s really looking at himself for the first time in a long while. 

You pretend to busy yourself with tidying up the styling station as you discreetly sneak glances at him, feeling strangely bashful for intruding in this moment. When he remembers to breathe again, he tilts his head left then to the right, and back again, even swivelling his chair from side to side so he can peer round the back.

You’ve parted his waves to the side, the lighter cut allowing his curls to carry their natural shape. The healthy sheen, courtesy of the mousse, tempers his grays to a softer, burnt silver that catches the light fetchingly as he moves. Reaching up, Frankie pushes back a stray curl that falls over his eyes, and his back straightens in a quiet show of confidence.

Running a salon is hard work and often thankless. But on days like this? You know you’re meant to do this.

A dramatic gasp draws both of your attention. Ashton is clutching at his chest, backed up against the neighbouring styling station, gaping at Frankie. ‘Mister - you look good enough to devour. Look at that salt and pepper, I’m living for the grays. Doing the Lord’s work, Shiv!’

You laugh as Frankie flushes, scratching an invisible itch on his forehead. You brush the loose hairs off his shoulders with a towel and give him a nudge. ‘See? I’m not the only one who thinks you look good with the grays. You better stock up on the condoms, Morales, the ladies will be all over you at the party.’

He shakes his head self-deprecatingly as he stands up, rubbing his palms on his jeans, uncomfortable with the scrutiny. ‘I doubt it, but - thanks. I appreciate this, Shiv.’

He shrugs on his well-loved burnt yellow jacket, the one with the sleeves perpetually folded up above his wrists and grabs his cap. You hold out a paper bag with the free shampoo and conditioner you promised him, throwing in a jar of hair mousse for good measure. ‘You’re welcome, and you better not put your hat on again this afternoon after all that hard work.’

His fingers brush yours when he takes the bag from you, then, as if it’s the logical next thing to do, he leans down to press a chaste kiss to your right cheek, his stubble coarse against your skin - and you know without looking it’s the gray patch in his beard that brushes against your jaw as he draws back. You fumble, feeling heat prickle the back of your neck and blooming in your rib cage. 

He flashes you the most self-assured smile you’ve seen on him this afternoon, which has you biting your bottom lip. ‘I won’t. Maybe see you at the wedding, Shiv.’

It takes you five full seconds to regain motor functions. By the time you unstick your tongue from the roof of your mouth, Frankie’s already out of the door with a spring in his step.

In companionable silence, you and Ashton watch the pilot strut - because that’s what he’s doing, he’s strutting with a confidence that becomes him - across the road through the glass front of the salon.

‘What a dish,’ Ashton sighs dreamily, flopping into a chair as if his limbs have given out. ‘I hope he comes back soon.’

You smile. A girl could always hope.

Notes: It's the first time I'm using a nickname for a Reader, but I have a real soft spot for Shiv, and I think she deserves one. I'm not sure where the fandom stands on this, does it disqualify the fic as a reader insert? If anyone has an issue with this, please let me know! For me, Shiv has no physical descriptions so to me she's still a reader insert.

I don't know if anyone expected this kind of dynamics between these two, but it's been so much fun to write with a bit of antagonism in the mix. I hope you enjoyed this, reblogs and comments are so, so appreciated as always. Thank you for reading ❤️

[usafphantom2]

Ronnie Bell Following

Fairy Battle light bomber

English Fairy Battle light bomber in flight.

By the beginning of the war this dive bomber was already out of date: weak armament and without reservation. However, its continued use. British squadrons, equipped with Fairey Battles have suffered serious losses during the French campaign of 1940, was lost about 230 aircraft & crews, this aircraft last saw combat operations near the end of 1941, the Fairey Battle was later used for training throughout the war for the school for pilots learning to shoot and dive bomb before going on to their various units.The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed down with a three-man crew and a bomb load. Despite being a great improvement on the aircraft that preceded it, by the time it saw action it was slow, limited in range and highly vulnerable to both anti-aircraft fire and fighters with its single defensive .303 machine gun.

During the "Phoney War", the Fairey Battle recorded the first RAF aerial victory of the Second World War but by May 1940 was suffering heavy losses of well over 50% per mission. By the end of 1940 the Battle had been withdrawn from combat service and relegated to training units overseas. For such prewar promise, the Battle was one of the most disappointing of all RAF aircraft

The original Fairey Battle was designed to Specification P.27/32 as a two-seat day bomber, to replace the ageing Hawker Hart and Hind biplane bombers, and to act as an insurance policy in case heavier bombers were banned by the 1932 Geneva Disarmament Conference.

The Battle emerged as a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing cantilever monoplane, equipped with a retractable tail wheel landing gear.Its clean design with its long and slim fuselage and cockpit for three (pilot, navigator and gunner) seated in tandem with a continuous glazed canopy, was similar to a large fighter rather than a bomber.The armament and crew were similar to the Blenheim: three crew, 1,000 lbs bombload and two machine guns, although the Battle was a single-engine bomber, with less horsepower available. The Battle's standard payload of four 250 lb (110 kg) bombs was carried in cells inside the wings and an additional 500 lb (230 kg) of bombs could be carried on underwing racks.As the engine took up the nose area, the bomb aimer's position was under the wing center section, sighted through a sliding panel in the floor of the fuselage using the Mk. VII Course Setting Bomb Sight.

The prototype Battle first flew on 10 March 1936. When the RAF embarked on the pre-war expansion programme, the Battle became a priority production target, with 2,419 ordered and an initial production order placed for 155 Battles built to Specification P.23/35. The first of these aircraft was completed at Hayes, Middlesex in June 1937 but all subsequent aircraft were built at Fairey's new factory at Heaton Chapel, Stockport and tested at their Manchester (Ringway) facility. Subsequently the Austin Motors "Shadow Factory" at Longbridge manufactured 1,029 aircraft to Specification P.32/36. Total production was of 2,185 machines, as production lines were closed in advance, in September 1940. Production Battles were powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin I, II, III and V, and took their Mark numbers from the powerplant (for example, a Battle Mk II was powered by a Merlin II).

Replacing the RAF's Hawker Harts and Hinds when it entered service in 1937, the Battle was obsolescent even then as fighter technology had outstripped the modest performance gains that the light bomber possessed over its biplane antecedents. The Battle was armed only with a single Browning .303 machine gun fixed ahead and with a trainable Vickers K in the back; this was desperately inadequate. Moreover it lacked an armoured cockpit and self-sealing fuel tank

The first RAF squadron to be equipped with Fairey Battles was No. 63 Sqn. in June 1937. The Battle had the distinction of becoming the first operational aircraft to enter service with a Merlin engine, beating the Hawker Hurricane's debut by a few months.

The Battle was obsolete by the start of the Second World War, but remained a front-line RAF bomber owing to a lack of a suitable replacement. On 2 September 1939, during the "Phoney War", 10 Battle squadrons were deployed to France to form a vanguard of the Advanced Air Striking Force. On 20 September 1939, a German Messerschmitt Bf 109 was shot down by Battle gunner Sgt. F. Letchard during a patrol near Aachen, marking the RAF's first aerial victory of the war.

Nonetheless, the Battle was hopelessly outclassed by Luftwaffe fighters, being almost 100 mph (160 km/h) slower than the contemporary Bf 109 at 14,000 ft (4,300 m). The Battle's defence consisted of a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun mounted in the rear cockpit and a single forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in the starboard wing.

When the Battle of France began, Battles were called upon to perform unescorted, low-level tactical attacks against the advancing German army. This put the aircraft at risk of attack from Luftwaffe fighters and within easy range of light anti-aircraft guns. In the first of two sorties carried out by Battles on 10 May 1940, three out of eight aircraft were lost, while, in the second sortie, a further 10 out of 24 were shot down, giving a total of 13 lost in that day's attacks, with the remainder suffering damage. Despite bombing from as low as 250 ft (76 m), their attacks had little impact on the German columns.

The sergeant air gunner of a Battle mans the aircraft's defensive weapon, a single pintle-mounted rapid firing Vickers K machine gun, France 1940

The bomb aimer position in the Battle was in the floor of the aircraft; here the CSBS Mk. VII is being demonstrated.On 11 May, nine Battles of the Belgian Air Force attacked bridges over the Albert Canal on the River Meuse, losing six aircraft, and in another RAF sortie that day against a German troop column, only one Battle out of eight survived. During the following day, five Battles of 12 Squadron attacked the bridges; four of the aircraft were destroyed with the final aircraft crash-landing back at its base. Two Victoria Crosses were awarded posthumously for the action, to Flying Officer Garland and air observer/navigator Sergeant Gray of Battle P2204 coded PH-K, for pressing home the attack in spite of the heavy defensive fire. The third crewmember, rear gunner Leading Aircraftsman Lawrence Reynolds, did not share the award. Both fighters and flak proved lethal for the Battles. Although Garland's Battle destroyed one span of the bridge, the German army quickly erected a pontoon bridge to replace it.

Wreckage of a Fairey Battle shot down by the Wehrmacht, France May 1940On 14 May 1940, in a desperate attempt to stop German forces crossing the Meuse, the Advanced Air Striking Force launched an "all-out" attack by all available bombers against the German bridgehead and pontoon bridges at Sedan. The light bombers were attacked by swarms of opposing fighters and were devastated. Out of a strike force of 63 Battles and eight Bristol Blenheims, 40 (including 35 Battles) were lost.After these abortive raids, the Battle was switched to mainly night attacks, resulting in much lower losses.

A similar situation befell the German Luftwaffe during the early days of the Battle of Britain, when the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber suffered equivalent losses in a similar role. With the exception of a few successful twin-engine designs (e.g. de Havilland Mosquito, Bristol Beaufighter and Douglas A-20), low-level attack missions passed into the hands of single-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft, such as the Hawker Hurricane, Hawker Typhoon and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.

On 15 June 1940, the last remaining aircraft of the Advanced Air Striking Force were evacuated to Britain. In six weeks almost 200 Battles had been lost, with 99 lost between 10 and 16 May. After the return from France, for a short period of time, the RAF continued to rely on the light bomber. Reforming No. 1 Group and later equipping some new Polish squadrons with the type, it continued to be deployed in operations against shipping massed in the Channel ports for Operation Sealion. Their last combat sortie was mounted on the night of 15/16 October 1940 by No. 301 (Polish) Squadron in a raid on Boulogne, and Nos 12 and 142 Squadrons bombing Calais. Shortly afterwards Battle squadrons of No. 1 Group were re-equipped with more potent Vickers Wellington bombers.Battles were operated into 1941 by 88 and 226 Squadrons in Northern Ireland and 98 Squadron in Iceland, for coastal patrol work.

Meanwhile, the South African Air Force had been supplied with some Battles. In August 1940, No. 11 Squadron took possession of at least four Battles, which were flown north to be operated in the Italian East Africa (Ethiopia, Italian Somaliland and Eritrea) campaign. They conducted bombing and reconnaissance operations. Whereas in France the RAF's Battles had encountered modern German fighters in large numbers, the South Africans faced a smaller number of Italian biplane fighters (Fiat CR.32 and CR.42s), which enabled the aircrews to contribute more effectively to the campaign; but not without several losses, especially when surprised above some predictable targets (air bases, ports etc.), since Italian biplanes dived as fast as possible over the bombers, trying to shoot them down in the first pass.

The last combat operations carried out by Fairey Battles were during the Italian and German invasion of Greece, from the end of 1940 until April 1941. A few Fairey Battles of the RAF and about a dozen belonging to the RHAF - serial numbers starting from B274 - participated in secondary bombing roles against enemy infantry. Most of them were destroyed on the ground by Luftwaffe air attacks upon the airfields of Tanagra and Tatoi north of Athens between end of March and mid April 1941. No significant contribution of this type was reported during this period, although some losses were recorded by the Greek Air Force.

[edit] Additional rolesWhile the Battle was no longer used as a combat aircraft, its benign handling characteristics made it an ideal platform for testing engines, and it was used in this rôle to evaluate engines up to 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) including the Fairey Prince (H-16). As the dual-control Fairey Battle T, it served as a trainer. As the winch-equipped Fairey Battle TT (target tug) it was used as a target-towing aircraft for training in air gunnery. The Battle served as a trainer with the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the South African Air Force. From August 1939, 739 Battles were stationed in Canada as trainers in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Most were used for bombing and gunnery training with a small number equipped as target tugs. Some aircraft had the rear cockpit replaced with a Bristol Type I turret for turret-gunnery training

Although the Battle was retired from active use in Canada after 1945, it remained in RAF service in secondary roles until 1949.

Battle K9370 was used to test the Fairey Monarch 2,000+ hp (1,490+ kW) aero-engine with electrically-controlled three-blade contra-rotating propellers in 1939. According to Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1946-47, the aircraft was shipped to the U.S.A. after 86 hours test time.

Via Flickr

[skyfire85]

-An Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir C2 at the Muzeyon Heyl ha-Avir (Israeli Air Force Museum), Hatzerim Air Base, Israel, in 2006. | Photo: Bukvoed

FLIGHTLINE: 185 - ISRAELI AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES KFIR ("LION CUB")

Developed from the IAI Nesher, itself an unlicensed copy of the Dassault Mirage 5, the Kfir served with the IAF as well as several export countries.

In the early 1960 the Israeli Air Force purchased a force of nearly four dozen Dassault Mirage IIIC aircraft, mainly fighter variants, along with a few configured for recon and four two-place trainers. The Mirage was the first Mach-2 aircraft in the IAF, and served throughout the Sixties as the backbone of the force. The Israelis were disappointed in the range of the IIIC however, which reduced the usefulness of the plane in the ground-attack role. Dassault responded by developing the Mirage 5, a fair-weather nuclear-capable version which had a longer range. By the time Dassault completed the IAF's order however, changing political winds in France saw an embargo placed on Israel, and the 50 Mirage Vs ordered wound up in the French Air Force instead.

Undeterred, a copy of the Mirage 5 was produced by Israeli Aircraft Industries as the IAI Nesher using plans and specifications acquired from other Mirage users as well as plans for the 5 acquired by espionage. The Nesher wasn't quite the plane the IAF needed, however, and IAI set about developing a better version. In addition to improving the aerodynamics of the design, a more powerful engine was sought, and two were selected for trials: the GE J79 turbojet and the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan. Despite the Spey being more powerful, the J79 was chosen and a license agreement signed by Beit Shemesh Engines Ltd. to produce the engine in Israel. The design was altered to accommodate the larger jet, with the aft fuselage shortened and widened, with larger intakes fitted to the front, and an auxiliary intake was added to the tail fin to admit extra air to cool the afterburner. A titanium heatshield was added as well. The prototype, codenamed the Ra'am B ("Thunder B") took it's maiden flight in June 1973. The Ra'am had a redesigned cockpit as well as strengthened landing gear, reconfigured fuel tanks which increased capacity to 713gal total, and small canard foreplanes added above and behind the intakes. The Ra'am B also had a large percentage of domestic avionics.

-A Kfir C.1 at the IDF/AF Museum. | Photo: Eranb

The Ra'am B was approved for production and was now called the Kfir ("lion cub") C.1. The Kfir, like the Ra'am B and Mirage 5 before it, had a delta wing with a wingspan of 8.22m, while the aircraft was 15.65m long and 4.55m tall. Empty weight was 7,285kg, while the max TO weight was 16,200kg. The J79-J1E turbojet, which produced 11,900lb thrust (17,900lb with afterburner) pushed the Kfir to a maximum speed of Mach 2.3, a service ceiling of 17,680m, and a combat range of 768km (carrying seven bombs, two missiles and two drop tanks). Armament consisted of two 30mm DEFA cannon with 140 rounds per gun, while stores could be up to 5,775kg of unguided SNEB or Matra JL-100 rocket pods, AIM-9 or locally produced Shafrir or Python AAMs, Shrike anti-radiation missiles, AGM-65 guided missiles, or a variety of unguided or guided bombs, including specialty weapons like the TAL series of cluster bombs and the Matra Durandal anti-runway munition. The Kfir could also be fitted with reconnaissance pods.

-Orthograph of the Kfir. | Illustration: Marcin Zieliński

The first C.1 were delivered to the 101st "First Fighter" Squadron in 1975, and served as the IAF's primary air superiority plane, flying alongside the McDonnnell F-4, which had by then been acquired from the US. The C.1 was swiftly followed by the improved C.2 variant, which had dogtoothed leading edges, small strakes under the nose and more highly swept canards. The C.2 was the first version to see combat, participating in an airstrike against a training camp near Tel Azia, Lebanon on 9 November 1977. Two years later, another C.2 gained the Kfir's only air-to-air kill, shooting down a Syrian MiG-21. During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon the Kfirs had ceded the air superiority role to the F-15 and F-16, and so they were mainly used for strike missions, often flying unescorted. Beginning the following year, the Kfir C.2 were updated to C.7 standards, which included an uprated J79 engine, two additional pylons under the wings, a new Elta El/M-2021B radar, an updated cockpit featuring hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls, an inflight refueling probe and larger canards. A trainer version, the two-seat TC.7, was also developed. Despite the Kfir's abilities, the availability of the superior F-15I Ra'am and F-16I Sufa led to the type's retirement in the mid-1990s.

-An Israeli C.7 in flight. | Photo: Israeli Air Force

FOREIGN SERVICE

Despite being manufactured in Israel (under license), the Kfir's use of the J79 means that sales of the fighter are subject to approval by the US State Department. Despite this, the Kfir has been exported to several countries. The first client was Ecuador, which purchased twelve ex-IAF Kfir, ten C.2 and two TC.2 trainers, in 1981, which were delivered to the FAE in 1982-83. The Kfir saw action in the 1995 conflict between Ecuador and Peru, where they acted as escorts for the Ecuadorian A-37s. On 10 February 1995, an Ecuadorian C.2 shot down a Peruvian A-37, scoring the FAE's only kill with the type to date. In 1996 three more C.2 and a third TC.2 were acquired. A third purchase of eight of the newly developed C.10 model was blocked by the US, but a second option to purchase two C.10 and upgrade some or all of the existing fleet of C.2 to the same standard was approved. The C.10 is broadly similar to the C.7 in capacity, but is tailored for export, and has both helmet-mounted display and two multi-function displays in the cockpit. The C.10, also known as the CE by the FAE, also has the ability to fire upgraded Python 3 and 4 IR missiles. As of 2005, four of Ecuador's Kfir are known to have been lost in accidents, three fighters and one of the TC.2s.

-Three FAE aircraft, a C.2, Mirage F.1 and Jaguar (l-r), during the BLUE HORIZON exercise in 1986. | Photo: USAF

The US Navy and USMC leased a force of 25 C.1 between 1985 and 1989, these aircraft were officially designated the F-21A Lion and were used by Navy Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) at NAS Oceana, Virginia and Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 (VMFT-40) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona for dissimilar air combat training. The F-21A were painted in schemes commonly worn by Warsaw Pact aircraft, specifically the MiG-23, which was then seeing widescale introduction, and whos performance the Kfir/Lion largely matched. The USN and USMC Lions were modified with the addition of narrow-chord canards and two strakes on either side of their noses, both of which improved low-speed maneuverability and handling. The US Navy F-21A were returned to Israel in 1988 and were replaced by the F-16N, while the USMC F-21 were returned in 1989 and were replaced by F-5E Tiger IIs, although these were not as capable as the Lions.

-One of VF-43's F-21A in flight over the desert in 1985. | Photo: US Navy

-Three Marine F-21 of VMFT-401, showing the variety of paint schemes worn during DACT. | Photo: USMC

In addition to the USN/USMC F-21s, six ex-IAF Kfir were purchased by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company of Newport News, VA to serve as aggressor aircraft in training by US Navy, USAF and Air National Guard units. ATAC also flies Mirage F.1s, Hawker Hunters, A-4 Skyhawks and L-39 Albatroses. One of ATAC's Kfir crashed at NAS Fallon on 6 March 2012, killing the pilot.

-An ATAC Kfir at the NAS Oceana air show in 2008. This aircraft, registration N404AX, crashed in 2012. | Photo: Justin Gibb

The Colombian Air Force (FAC) acquired 12 ex-IAF Kfir C.2 and one TC.2 in 1989, which were upgraded to C.7 standards and which saw use in counter-insurgency missions in the late 80's and 90's. A deal for twenty-four more aircraft was signed in 2008. These ex-IAF C.7 were upgraded to C.10 or C.12 standards (the C.12 is largely similar to the C.10, but lack radar) before deliveries began in 2009. FAC's existing C.2s were also upgraded under the same deal. On 1 November 2013 two Russian Air Force Tu-160 Blackjack bombers took off from Simon Bolivar Airport in Venezuela and crossed into Colombian air space, where they were intercepted and escorted out by FAC Kfirs. In 2017 FAC's C.10s were upgraded to EL/M 2052 AESA radar, which allows the planes to fire the I-Derby-ER, an extended range variant of its Derby FAF (fire-and-forget) active-radar missile as well as the advanced Python-5 beyond-visual-range (BVR) IR missile. As of 2019 23 of FAC's Kfir remain in service.

-Three FAC Kfir in flight. The aircraft are carrying a mixed load of Python and Derby missiles as well as a LGB and desginator as well as a drop-tank. | Photo: FAC

Between 1995 and 2005 the Sri Lankan Air Force acquired ten C.2, one TC.2 and four C.7, all ex-IAF aircraft. The SLAF Kfir saw action against LTTE rebels during the long-running Sri Lankan civil war, during which time two C.7 were destroyed by rebels on the ground in 2001, and three more to training accidents. In 2011, two Kfir collided in midair during a practice session for an airshow. In June 2021 the SLAF finalized a contract to upgrade five of their Kfir and return them to service.

-A Kfir C.2 of the No.10 Squadron on display during an airshow/open house in 2011. | Photo: Chamal Pathirana

NO LONGER "CUBS"

Even today, IAI continues to develop and offer upgrades of the Kfir. The Block 60 are existing aircraft which have undergone extensive refurbishment, essentially returning them to zero airframe and powerplant hours. The Block 60 also incorporate the EL/M-2032 AESA radar, which gives look-down/shoot-down capability as well as tracking of up to 64 targets. Finally, Block 60 aircraft feature an open-source architecture, allowing clients to tailor the avionics to their needs and sources. Colombia has expressed interest in upgrading their aircraft, and other Block 60s have been offered to Bulgaria and Argentina.

Colombia, Ecuador and Sri Lanka have also been offered the Kfir NG (Next Generation), which can be either refitted older Kfir or new-build aircraft, powered by a GE-414 which is lighter, smaller and more fuel-efficient but more powerful than the J79 it replaces, allowing the Kfir NG to carry an additional kiloliter of fuel. The wing is also upgraded with new slats and fly-by-wire technology. Upgrades to the radar include the same EL/M-2052 AESA as the C.10, as well as the open system architecture and cockpit of the C.10 and Block 60.

[thecreaturecodex]

Darakel

“Horse/Eel” © Daniel Garcia, accessed at his deviantArt gallery here

[Horse-headed eels have been a common description for sea and lake serpents for decades. This is especially popular with cryptozoologists who prescribe to the “Prehistoric Survivor Paradigm”, the idea that cryptids represent relicts of species thought to be extinct. With a very generous eye and some rather unlikely assumptions about soft tissues, a Basilosaurus or other early whale might charitably be described as a “horse-eel”, for instance. Doing a little research, I found a very interesting article here that suggests that the problem is more a linguistic one: in Ireland, a large fish of any kind is called a “horse fish”, and gray seals are sometimes referred to as “horse headed seals” or “horse seals”

The darakel is the Swords and Wizardry take on a horse-eel, combining it with various pestilence powers that wouldn’t be unusual for a wide variety of mythical lake monsters. The name appears to be a coinage of the RPG author--the only results for “darakel monster” I could find were in reference to Monstrosities.]

Darakel CR 11 NE Magical Beast This strange creature has the head of a horse and the body of an eel. A scraggly mane grows along its back, and its tail bears a pair of oversized fins. The creature reeks, and its eyes glow a malevolent red.

Darakels are sinister serpentine creatures that lurk in salt marshes and estuaries. They are often mistaken for sea serpents or linnorms, but are more intelligent, smaller and weaker. Darakels enjoy creating suffering and death for its own sake, and their marshes are often unusually empty of birds, fish or other small wildlife. The breath of a darakel is a powerful poison gas, and weak creatures die immediately upon contact with it. In combat, they first breathe their noxious cloud, and then grab and constrict the most delicious looking creature that flees from the toxic fog.

Although darakels usually attempt to kill creatures they encounter, they do occasionally allow themselves to be mollified by sacrifices. Cults of boggards, skum, marsh giants or other amphibious creatures may view them as divine intermediaries. The territory of a darakel is therefore seen as a holy place, and altars may be set up to offer them living prey as victims. They are hunted by black dragons, which find them delicious and enjoy the challenge. Darakels do speak, but rarely say much except for threats and epithets.

A darakel grows to forty feet long and weighs ten tons. They can move about on land only slowly, and require frequent returns to the water in order to breathe.

Darakel         CR 11 XP 12,800 NE Huge magical beast (aquatic) Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +9, tremorsense 60 ft. Aura stench (30 ft., Fort DC 21) Defense AC 24, touch 9, flat-footed 23 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +15 natural) hp 123 (13d10+52) Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +7 DR 10/cold iron; Immune poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10 Offense Speed 20 ft., swim 50 ft. Melee bite +18 (2d6+7/19-20 plus grab), tail slap +14 (2d8+3) Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks constrict (2d8+10), noxious cloud Statistics Str 25, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 10 Base Atk +13; CMB +22 (+26 grapple); CMD 33 (cannot be tripped) Feats Blind-fight, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (tail slap) Skills Climb +13, Perception +9, Stealth +4 (+12 underwater), Swim +21; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth (+12 underwater) Languages Aquan SQ water dependency Ecology Environment cold and temperate aquatic and marshes Organization solitary Treasure incidental Special Abilities Noxious Cloud (Su) As a standard action, a darakel can breath toxic gas in a 60 foot cone. All creatures in this cone must succeed a DC 21 Fortitude save or be affected as per a cloudkill spell; creatures with 3 or fewer Hit Dice are killed automatically, creatures with 4-6 Hit Dice are killed on a failed Fortitude save and take 1d4 Constitution damage on a successful save, and creatures with 7 or more Hit Dice take 1d4 Constitution damage on a failed save and half that on a successful save. The vapors linger for one minute, forming a cloud 20 feet high in a 40 foot radius. This cloud blocks vision beyond 5 feet, and creatures in the cloud must succeed a DC 21 Fortitude save while in the cloud or be nauseated as long as they remain in the cloud and for 1d4+1 rounds thereafter. The cloud does not deal additional Constitution damage after the first round. A darakel can breathe a noxious cloud three times per day, but must wait 1d4 rounds between uses of this ability. This is a poison effect, and the save DC is Constitution based.

[resinatingbeauty]

In Memory of The Best Friend I Ever Had - RIP Shadow (assumed)- 4/30/2021

Shadow showed up at my parents house where I lived at the time, one night back in 2016. I had just gotten home from working at a local country club late in the evening, tired, and physically burnt out from working 40+ hours a week on top of going to college for my associates degree. I saw something pass by the driveway out of the corner of my eye. Something massively fluffy, tail straight up in the air, trotting along. There are many feral cat colonies in this town and many cat owners that lived on that street. Needless to say, I didn't expect this one to whip back around and start chirping at me, rubbing my legs after I called to her.

My mother was adamant when my last two cats had past 8 or so years prior that she wasn't looking for any more pets. My mom loves animals, but she also loves her home and was thinking about doing renovations before adopting any new companions. I knew I was in trouble when this cat came to me with nothing but affection, clearly malnourished, but strangely well groomed. I knew she had to be owned by someone, I had no idea who.

That night I went inside after spending some time enjoying her company. At the time, I was calling 'Charlemange'' as a play on 'Charlemagne'. I had been taking a medieval humanities course at the time and the name seemed fitting enough considering how much scraggly fur she had. Huge paws. Big, fluffy tail and mane. I had never seen a cat so gorgeous around the area. All the feral cats are short hairs, reinforcing my notion that she had to be someone's pet.

I watched through the window slit of the front door as Charlemange played with the moths and other bugs that were attracted to the lamp post my parents have at the end of the driveway and regretted leaving her out there.

I simply thought that Charlemange would return home where she belonged. When I went out to my back screened in patio, whom do you think was waiting for me? Meowing? Charlemange. To my mother's horror, she would launch herself at the screen and hang there to get our attention. Imagine this big ass cat hanging from your screened in porch you've been trying to renovate by all her claws.

She was persistent and Charlemange NEVER returned home, wherever home was.

Eventually, I sealed the deal, low key giving her a can of tuna. Now you see how Shadow went from Charlemange to Shadow.

For about a month, all I had to do was make a high pitched noise and Shadow would come out of wherever brush she was stalking, running and talking until she found me. One evening, I went to give her her dinner, and she shot in the front door.

Mortified, I watched as she scooted right into the one place that I dreaded her to go. My parent's room. That night, as a 20 something, I received a lecture from my father about how my mother felt about pets. 'She isn't a kitten, you know,' he said, 'thats a grown cat. Someone else's cat.'

I just listened and acknowledged what he was saying. I knew there was no point trying to explain what exactly happened. When my dad got done going off on the back porch and went back in to bed, I heard a meow from the patio door. Shadow had been standing at the door, waiting for him to leave , almost like she was saying, 'Hey, I'm really sorry about that, sis,'

Shadow would go on to live in or around the property for nearly a month. I made an effort to find her owners and return her to no avail. Eventually, a single mom I had been working as a private tutor for as a side hustle agreed that she would take Shadow. This would only last for a few months. The family had another cat, Karma, whom had been declawed (I abhor this) and two little girls who had no respect for animals (especially cats) because of this. I knew how the oldest handled Karma and my only solace in handing Shadow over was that I knew she wouldn't be hit by a car, would be fed, loved to a degree, and would scratch the shit out of them if they fucked up.

Their mother ended up calling me, giving me money to bring Shadow in to the humane society, saying she was a wonderful cat, just not the best fit for the girls. I could only imagine what Shadow went through at that house, because the time there changed her. The collar I had on her was returned to me snapped in two. It looked like it had been pulled off. I cringed thinking about it and never put another collar back on that cat. At the time, a woman had been busted hoarding 100+ cats that had all been relinquished to the humane society and local rescues. The humane society's solution for most was euthanasia and I wasn't about that for Shadow. Back to my backyard she went.

Eventually, Shadow won over my mother and my father, especially my father, whom you would never think would love that cat so much. When my mother brought Shadow to the vet, we were surprised to find she had a chip in her ear registered to someone on our block. As per protocol, animal control was sent out to investigate. The woman told animal control that she didn't want the cat. All she did was run away. Shadow's real name was Holly, but she was still Shadow to me.

Shadow became the best friend I ever knew. Not a night went by where she wasn't under my covers sharing the pillow with me, laying stretched out on her back or side as the little spoon. If she wasn't in my bed, she would sit at the door to the bedroom, guarding me or in a chair next to me, always watching. I could do no wrong in that cat's eyes. She was the highlight of my day when I got home from every crappy job I had since. A furry coat to soak up the tears shed during long nights of insomnia and depression. An inspiration for my art and spirituality. My familiar and kindred spirit. If I would talk to her, she would respond with chirps and meows like she knew exactly what I was saying. If someone else was in the room giving her attention and I walked in, she would perk up and run toward me like they never existed. Shadow was the second cat that chose me. I have never chosen a cat from a shelter or adoption / rescue facility. This is how I acquired both my childhood furry friend and Shadow.

It all began when I noticed Shadow's fur was sticky and stiff, like she had been sitting in honey. Just the end of her tail at first. She always had this silly habit of sitting in her food tray, so I cleaned it and her and thought nothing of it until the drooling started.

Shadow had always been a drooler, but not to this extent. Drool bubbles would pop from her left lip. One night, when I came home from work before I started my leave to focus on my Etsy shop, I was horrified to find her sitting on the couch with a bloody chin. Now, there wasn't a large amount of blood, but this alarmed me significantly. It was time to see a vet, like, yesterday. Thankfully, my shop sales had been great and I didn't have to fret over the bill- I was ready to pay whatever it was to make her feel better.

The vet confirmed what I knew deep down and didn't want to acknowledge because the thought was just too painful. Cancer. No chance of survival even if I wanted to go through the hell of treatment, which involved removal of the tongue and jaw. I brought Shadow home and cried, hoping for the best -that the antibiotic would work. The vet said she had been wrong before, it could just be an abscess and it would heal. Shadow was still doing cat things. Shadow was still my best friend, she still loved me, she was still trying to cuddle me at night and surrounding me with the reminder of death in the odor of her breath.

Yesterday, I brought Shadow in to be put to sleep. The decision was made when I looked up from making a rune set and saw puddles of blood on the floor, a stream of it from her face as she was sitting in the window sill. I have never felt so heartbroken. Not even at a family member's funeral. I asked to bring her home, burying her under the tree where I buried my last cat and childhood familiar, Elmo. When I saw the standard biohazard bag peeking up through the dirt, I knew that was where she belonged. With her sister. Yesterday, my heart was buried with that cat. Eleven years was not long enough but each one filled with so much love and happiness. I stood with her until the end. The only peace I feel is that I know that she is no longer hurting. I know she knew I loved her.

I miss you Shadow. To those of you who have recently lost your best friend, your familiar or the love of your life, my heart goes out to you. I hope that someone else can read this and share my pain. I understand that there was nothing I could do but love her. Love your pets. Love them as long and as well as you can- nothing is immortal. We accept this when we commit to caring for our (mostly) furry (sometimes scaly or feathery) friends. This doesn't mean that it hurts any less when we lose them.

To my customers, who have been patiently and diligently awaiting orders while Etsy forced hiatus on my shop, preventing sales during this crisis in addition to my sister in law's wedding and me poking my own eye out back and February- you all are really the best turn of luck I've had. You do not know how much I appreciate you allowing me the time to spend these last few precious moments with her. It truly means the world to me and I hope at the end you receive something worth your time and patience. I have not forsaken fulfillment, and orders are still shipping. Unfortunately, I NEED to reopen and accept new orders, as Etsy is demanding payment for $600 worth of shipping labels. My shop is still appearing as in hiatus at the moment, but I ask for all the support my friends, supporters and followers can offer at this time as I essentially will be working for free when I reopen to pay these fees. Great, right?

If you are awaiting refunds, there is literally no money in the account associated with Etsy. However, as the funds become available, I will be processing refunds / cancellations. I'm sorry for the delays, I never thought I would say I found success at the worst possible time. I urge the rest of you- if you have a deadline for your order for the love of goddess TELL ME. I am getting a little frustrated with buyers (who are frustrated with me, understandably, but still, my item descriptions are clear about relaying deadlines) who are upset or complaining about meeting gift deadlines or other deadlines I literally had no idea about. I'm a decent psychic, but not perfect.

~ Samantha

(Owner/Designer/Creator blursedbaubles.etsy.com)

[wu-sisyphus-gang]

Motion Sickness Chapter 80

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I walked up to Seventh Heaven. I still didn't have a new bike so I'd had to trek all the way down here from Atlas Academy. I'd even dodged my girlfriends a little which made me feel a touch uncomfortable inside. But it just might prove necessary.

I'd received a message from Bisque stating that we needed to talk in person. The lines might not be secure which as a terrorist organization I said ‘fair enough.’

Aurum laid low under the law. That's how he got by and made his money whereas Avalanche played things fast and loose. I wouldn't be shocked if they were being watched when Aurum wasn't per se.

The bells jingled as I walked in.

"Cloud!" Bisque exclaimed. "There you are. Haven't seen you in a few weeks."

"Yeah well I started playing for the other side of the law," I informed him.

"You mean…"

"I won't turn you in or anything but I can't exactly help you out anymore. You got information for me? Is that why you called me down here?"

"We actually wanted your help…"

"More of my help, you mean."

"Yeah well we're only a budding organization."

Someone came down from upstairs in the place. It was Jasper. "Cloud? It's so good to see you!" She walked over and hugged me, her tail swishing all the while.

"Yeah well I'm pretty sure I won't be here for long."

"Oh don't be like that. Let me get you a drink."

"Fuck it. Why not. Get me a screwdriver. Those house specials of yours are too sweet for me and I don't have Neo around."

"Oh? Where is she?" Jasper asked.

"Not sure at the moment. Hopefully laying low and waiting for the next storm to come in. Haven't seen her for two weeks or so. Been busy. Trying to make things right on the proper side of the law."

"Yeah, we've been doing a bit of that ourselves. We've been trying to calm down the protests while still having the political force to back Robyn Hill," Jasper said as she made my drink.

"It's been slow going though. We had no idea when we bombed the mine it would set all this off. If word ever spread around that we were responsible it would collapse in on us," Bisque informed me.

Jasper slid down my screwdriver and I took a long drink of the hard mixer. I took a seat at the bar. And Bisque leaned his elbows on the counter to talk to me.

"Ah…" I breathed off the alcohol after a moment. "How have the protests been going?"

"Good. The people seem ready to vote for Robyn. She made all kinds of campaign promises to make that happen. New standards for miners. An increase in minimum wages. That sort of thing," Jasper chirped in her usual upbeat tone.

"The people have Avalanche to thank for it and some of them know it. They're listening to us," Bisque followed. "Wenge is out leading a strike right now."

"You can hardly tell that they're still going on from up in Atlas," I murmured around my drink.

"They'll see once Robyn is elected," Bisque said. "And that's just a matter of time. No one down here wants Schnee to have any more power than he already has."

"And up in Atlas?" I asked.

"It's more divided. She still has a twenty point lead over him up there against a forty point lead down here. But it's more scary," Jasper murmured. "Atlas has always done its own thing and usually not to the betterment of Mantle."

"Easy enough to do when the city is so divided," I mumbled.

"Two cities," Bisque corrected.

"Not really," I fired back. And I genuinely believed that. It wasn't so different from the tiered cities of Mistral. Separate but together all the same.

Someone came in behind me and I turned to see Barret. The big bear of a man sauntered in with a new mechanical arm on his right side. It gleamed gunmetal grey and seemed to have a gun built into it. I'd seen more than my fair share of arms like that.

"Good, the merc is here," he said in his gruff tone.

"Been trying to get out of that business, actually. Wasn't sustainable for me," I told him. I crossed my arms.

"Dyne has gone off the deep end. He refused a new mechanical arm in favor of just a machine gun. When his wife, Eleanor, died from dust lung he lost it. He's planning all sorts of mayhem and destruction. He already killed fifteen people. Maybe more."

"I see…" I really didn't. I had no idea what he wanted from me in all of this.

"I'm afraid for his little girl, Marigold. She was hurt recently in the protests. I've been looking after her for the last couple of days. He hasn't even been by. I need your help to stop him, bring him back to his senses."

"What makes you think I'm interested or that you have anything I want?" I asked. My arms still folded.

"I have information. I know you'll wan' it. It's about how your bomb went off prematurely on the White Whale ."

I stared at him hard. He was right. I did want it. "Give me a teaser, so I know you are serious," I demanded of him.

"Sabotage. It was supposed to go off even earlier if the saboteurs had their way," The large man informed me.

I breathed in a deep shuddering sigh. He was right. I did want that information. Whoever they are they got Neo hurt. Amongst everything else, she was my friend. "I can't get caught doing anything that will violate my parole," I informed him.

"Dyne and his gang are criminals right about now. If you're working for the law, it's your job t' bring them in. Alls I'm asking for is a chance to talk t' Dyne before you do."

"And you'll hand over the identity of my saboteurs if I do?" I asked. My bomb going off had been suspicious as all hell to me. I was normally more than proficient with those sorts of bombs despite how flippant I'd been with them. It still stuck out in my mind.

"Got it in one." He grinned at me. Big and fierce under his dark shades. His mechanical arm flexing slightly. I took it in a firm shake.

"Well," I said. "What are we waiting for, then?"

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It was an old warehouse building we pulled up on in Avalanche's truck. I got out first followed by Barrett. "Do these guys have aura?" I asked. "I don't want to kill anybody."

"Some."

"That's just great," I said exasperatedly. I sighed and pulled my shield and my sword. I could probably go easy enough that nobody really got hurt. But still, why couldn't all my opponents have the decency to not only have aura but to broadcast how much aura they had?

Just because I was used to killing people didn't mean that I liked it. And I had seriously killed a lot of people in my time. A lot. If there were people as young as I was who had a higher body count I hadn't heard of them. That was going by either definition of age you wanted to use on me. It didn't matter how you wanted to cut how old I was, I was the ninety ninth percentile on murder and mayhem.

We waltzed in the front door of the place. Leaving Bisque out in the truck.

"Barret…" Dyne turned to look at us from a lowered section of the room where he was talking to a handful of people. There was all kinds of machinery to the room. Cranes and jacks and mining equipment.

"Dyne. I'm here to bring you to Marigold. Your daughter needs you," Barrett said.

"You brought the merc. The dust… brother...it's telling me something…" Dyne trailed off.

Okay. This was coming from me, but this guy had officially lost it. I might not be the most stable iceberg in the sea but crazy recognized crazy and this guy had some helpings of it.

"Is it telling you that you're nuts?" I asked. Barrett shoved me in the ribs with his metallic elbow.

"...the dust. My path of destruction has brought me here…" Dyne trailed off once more. I lingered behind Barret ready to take down all the others in the room. My longsword and great 't' shaped shield at the ready.

"Why are you doing this Dyne? Why'd you kill those people? The protests don't need to be violent." Barrett demanded of him.

"The dust told me to, brother."

"And did the dust tell you why?" Barrett wondered, a touch sardonic.

"Why?" Dyne repeated, a bit mockingly. "Why does there got to be a reason that people do things? Is there a why for Eleanor's death? How about your wife Barrett? There a why for her dying?"

"She...she's already gone. Dust lung. Same as your wife. That's the why." Barrett murmured in his baritone.

"And still you hold on, brother. You could let go. Be like me."

"And start the wanton, chaotic destruction of people and property?"

"Destruction of everything, brother. That's the goal. That's what we're starting," Dyne shot back.

"You used to be just focused on the Schnee. But then you just started hurting everyone and everything."

"Of course brother." Dyne let out a low chuckle. "Had to be done. The dust told me to do it all."

"What's the dust telling you now? Dyne?" Barrett asked. His voice pleading despite the baritone of it.

"It's telling me that I should see Marigold again." Dyne rubbed at his forehead with his real hand like he had a headache.

"That's… that's great news. Let's go see her right now. She's happy and healthy and safe. I've been looking after her. Just like I promised I would."

"She misses her mother, don't she? I'm sure she does…" Dyne trailed off into a low, mad chuckle.

"Dyne… what are you saying?" Barrett wondered.

"I'm saying I should be there to send her to her mother."

"Yikes," I muttered. "That is a yike from me, dog."

"You'd kill your own daughter? You're not the Dyne I used to know!" Barrett shouted. He ignored me. He pointed his wrist down range at Dyne and his accomplices.

"Oh if you point your weapon at me you best come correct," Dyne all but whispered. "You best come with fire and lightnin'!" Then he roared.

"I don't want to fight you Dyne!"

"I suspect you've got no choice, brother!" He pointed his own wrist mounted gun at the two of us. His friends took up their own arms as well. "Or my path of destruction won't end here! I'll go on to consume every man, woman, and child. Just like the dust consumed me! You understand dontcha? Just like the dust consumed me!" He repeated. His voice had a lilt to it that was hard to place. Like he finally understood everything. Instead he was just rambling like a mad man.

I got that. I'd been there and done that. The whole path of destruction thing, too. First one target then the next then the next. Each seeming as good as any other. Was this what it was like to see it from the outside? It seemed like a lost cause but then I'd come back.

Or had I?

Had I really come back? The only things that kept me from slipping had been the thought of my friends. I was with them now. Well not now, now but I was with them in general. I was back. They were worrying about me. I was worrying about them. We were doing what we could for each other just like before. I even had two girlfriends. Two! That was almost twice as many as one and they loved me. I'd felt their love and the beat of their warm hearts wrapped around me. I'd felt it tight around me. If I lost that like Dyne had would I keep going?

I shuddered at the thought. If Ruby or Weiss died that would probably be it for me. That's it. I'm done. I'm out. Maybe I'd kill myself. Maybe I'd just go on a tear. Tyrian had been a mass murderer. A serial killer. For a moment or two I got the appeal of that. Just killing just to kill. Just to feel something. Anything at all. I got that.

Then there was my Mother. Always pressing on the surface of my mind with her tentacles. Would I give in to that? Maybe. Hard maybe.

Maybe I'd lose them again. Maybe I'd have to run away once more. That wasn't the same as them dying on me. But it was still a possibility. Could I stand to do that again? Another hard maybe. At least I'd have Neo. Wretched thing that she was. That we both were. Couldn't exactly throw that stone.

I pointed my sword down the range and let my shield fall by my side. I was ready to move and act. I could see it all now. Barrett and Dyne opening fire on the other. The rest diving to the side while I moved in. Anybody without aura would be getting ripped to shreds.

"It don't have to be like this! We can still walk away, Dyne!"

"Yes it does brother. You know it does! I'm gonna fight and you gotta try and stop me!"

They started shooting. People dived to the side to avoid the spray of bullets. Rounds pinged off my thick aura and I moved. I blurred into a hovering roll and got beside Dyne and his men. I grabbed one and slammed him into my knee and sliced at another I was pretty sure had aura. I cut deep into it then I reached out with my shield hand and tossed him and he flew until he slammed into one of the cranes.

Barrett fired a grenade down into the pit and it exploded sending Dyne rolling with a flare of light blue aura. I sliced at another and bit through his arm. Blood sprayed through the air and he screamed until I punched him in the face with my shield. He went down with a massive bruise forming on his head.

I got on top of Dyne and he opened fire right into my torso with his weapon. The gun arm blared at me and punched holes in my aura that made me stagger about until Barret jumped into the pit and grabbed Dyne's gun arm with his free one and picked him up by it.

He then opened up into Dyne's chest.

I think he meant to stop shooting when Dyne ran out of aura but that grenade had already taken the lion's share of it.

"Don't!" I shouted a moment too late.

A hole blew straight through Dyne's torso and Barrett dropped him in surprise. It left a dying man crawling around on the ground and bleeding out.

"The dust, man. The dust..." Dyne groaned from the pit.

"Dyne!"

"Take this pendant. Give it to Marigold. It belonged to her mother. I can't ever hold her again with these stained hands," Dyne rolled over. "These stained hands." He ripped a pendant from his neck and tossed it up out of the lowered section of floor up at Barrett.

Barrett caught it and could do nothing but watch as Dyne died.

"Mine ain't any cleaner, Dyne," Barrett whispered. "Mine ain't any cleaner."

"Take care of her, like she was your own. Please. Look after my Marigold."

"I will." Barrett vowed. And Dyne died in the pit in the floor of the warehouse.

I stabbed my sword into the ground and listened to the sounds of the oncoming sirens.

"Those going to be a problem for you?" I indicated my head in the direction the sirens were coming from. I sheathed my sword and put the whole rig back on my shoulder.

"Nah man. I suppose you'll be wanting your information," he spoke downtrodden and muted compared to his normally fierce voice.

"Yeah. That'd be great."

"It was the Happy Huntresses. They have this invisibility field. They wanted to shut down your op," he told me. He rubbed his face in his hands. Reaching underneath the glasses he wore to rub at his eyes.

"Thanks." I told him. I wiped a few beads of sweat from my brow. "Best of luck with the little girl. That can be a lot to deal with."

"Thank you. For everything," he managed.

"What will you do now?" I asked.

He stretched. "I might join Avalanche. They could use someone like me."

"Might be a good fit. You've got a little girl to look after now, though. Will the terrorism agree with you?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. But I can't let her grow up in a world I know I could have done more for. For my wife. And for Dyne. I know I have to do more. You got people you have to do more for?"

"Yeah. These two ladies and their teammates. I'd kill and die for them."

"You want some advice?" He asked.

"Sure," I said. I could use some genuine advice in the spot I was in. It sounded like he'd lived through it. I could take it.

"Any old fool can kill and die for something. It takes a man to live and let live for something."

I just nodded. Maybe fucking so. It was easy to kill things. So fucking easy. It was so much harder to keep something alive.

I listened and waited for the sirens.

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-WG

[dipulb3]

2021 Ford Ranger Tremor is ready for your overlanding expedition

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/2021-ford-ranger-tremor-is-ready-for-your-overlanding-expedition/

2021 Ford Ranger Tremor is ready for your overlanding expedition

In recent years, not only have sales of pickup trucks increased, interest in overlanding — the phenomenon of off-grid adventure travel to remote destinations in specially prepared vehicles — has skyrocketed. This off-road pastime’s dramatic rise in popularity predates COVID-19, but today’s pandemic somehow makes the idea of zombie-apocalypse-ready 4×4 ownership suddenly seem like a sensible investment.

Like

Beefier suspension and tires add capability

Torquey engine = good tow/payload ratings

Class-leading ground-clearance

Visual tweaks look sharp

Don’t Like

Dated interior

No front locking differential

Significant fuel economy penalty

MSRP is competitive but costs as much as an F-150

In any case, the Blue Oval’s product planners didn’t necessarily have Armageddon in mind when they came up with the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor, but that doesn’t mean this pickup wouldn’t make for a good truck upon which to build out an end times overlanding rig. Even if you’re not a prepper, as far as social-distancing machines go, Ford’s go-farther 4×4 is better suited than most.

After a long hiatus, the Ranger reentered the North American market in 2019 and its popularity has been gaining steadily. Last year, despite the coronavirus hamstringing new-car sales, Ranger sales actually increased, with the model claiming the midsize pickup segment’s second-place sales slot behind Toyota’s Tacoma. There’s still a lot of daylight between the Ranger and Tacoma on the sales charts, however, and Ford figures much of the hill it has to climb is with the type of buyers who gravitate toward the Taco’s many TRD off-road models.

2021 Ford Ranger Tremor is ready for your overlanding gear

See all photos

Now, the Tremor isn’t a standalone model, it’s actually a $4,290 package that can be added atop the truck’s mid-grade XLT and range-topping Lariat trims. The Tremor starts by incorporating most of the performance and aesthetic hardware from today’s existing FX4 off-road package and adding Ranger’s Sport Appearance trimmings. Combined, those two option groups normally total about $2,000, so after spending a couple of weeks with this model both on and off-road, the nearly $2,300 cost premium for all of the Tremor’s additional gear feels like a pretty solid value.

Like other Rangers, the Tremor uses the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo I4 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Good for 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, this is still one of the torquiest and most modern drivetrains available in a midsize truck. The engine has more than enough oomph to tote this 4,571-pound pickup around and the stop/start tech is well behaved to boot.

The Tremor package is available exclusively on four-wheel-drive SuperCrew models with a five-foot bed.

Nick Miotke/Roadshow

Foxy suspension and a geometry lesson

The Tremor’s main upgrades are centered around the Ranger’s suspension, with the headliner being a set of expensive Fox 2.0 shocks, including more sophisticated remote-reservoir units on the rear axle which pair with Tremor-specific leaf springs. The front end gets new springs, too, along with different control arms and a thinner anti-roll bar for better off-road articulation. The steering system is tweaked, too, with unique knuckles to help accommodate the demands of the Tremor’s larger 32-inch General Grabber off-road tires which wrap a set of Magnetic-painted 17-inch wheels.

All of this new hardware yields a modest 0.8 inches of additional ground clearance for a total of 9.7 — slightly better than a Tacoma TRD Pro. Most of that increase is due to the larger tires, which also lend this truck a slightly more planted, 1-inch-wider stance. So equipped, the Tremor’s approach angle is 30.9 degrees, departure is set at 27.1 degrees and breakover angle is 24.2. Those are improvements of 2.2 degrees, 1.7 degrees and 2.7 degrees, respectively.

Spendy Fox 2.0 monotube dampers feature remote reservoirs for better thermal management on the rear axle.

Ford

On-road manners and visual tweaks

While these modifications are designed for off-road use, most of these trucks will still live on pavement for the vast majority of their days, so it’s good to know that this isn’t such an extreme setup that the Ranger’s on-road demeanor has been ruined. The ride is a skosh softer, and there’s a bit more body roll when attacking corners on dry pavement, but the difference is neither alarming nor offputting. If anything, the ride quality is actually more agreeable than the last Ranger I remember driving. Better still, the truck’s all-terrain rubber doesn’t drone on the freeway the way a lot of big-lug off-road tires can. The Tremor may be an off-road-focused package, but over the course of several weeks, I found it more than livable as a daily driver. 

I even dig the subtle Tremor-specific visual tweaks. There’s a unique grille with red-outlined nostrils and the blacked-out bumpers and wider wheel lips give a bit more stance and presence. Look a little closer, and you’ll probably note the front steel skid plate, the pair of rear tow hooks and the running boards. The latter sit higher and tighter than the optional side steps you can get on other Rangers, but don’t worry, you can still unbolt ’em for better off-road clearance. There’s also a splashy, retro-look graphics package available, if that’s your jam.

The Ford Ranger’s interior is no great shakes, even with some Tremor-specific touches.

Ford

Dated cabin with a few extras

Inside, the Ranger’s cabin is largely the same as ever, which is to say, not very impressive. Yes, there are modest Tremor-specific touches like the script logos and suede-like panels in the seatbacks, plus a useful set of rubber floor liners and black dashboard trim. I also appreciate the six-pack of auxiliary power switches designed to easily accommodate extra lights, an air compressor or myriad other useful accessories. But otherwise, the interior feels pretty dated. Believe it or not, this XLT actually still has a switchblade ignition key (fortunately, Lariat trims get pushbutton start).

Even though Ford invested a bunch of money in Ranger when it returned to the US in 2019, it wasn’t a brand-new truck upon arrival, as the same basic generation had been selling overseas for years. Despite a bunch of upgrades meant to bring the truck in-line with the heightened refinement expectations of US consumers, the Ranger’s interior is the easiest way to date this truck. Its plastics are almost universally hard, its infotainment lives on a small-ish touchscreen that isn’t flush mounted and isn’t running the latest version of Sync. Even the last-generation F-150 feels far, far more advanced and substantial, let alone the freshly redesigned 2021 blockbuster now wheeling out of dealers.

To be fair, the cabins of midsize pickups are all quite disappointing these days, whether you’re talking Ford, Toyota or General Motors. Jeep’s Gladiator is somewhat better in terms of tech, but it’s very expensive. In fact, only the Honda Ridgeline really feels up to snuff all the way around, but because it’s a unibody, many buyers won’t even look at one. This Ranger’s cabin remains in the hunt, but interior niceness is a prime reason for potential buyers to consider stretching to even a lower-end F-150.

Lackluster fuel economy

If you’re thinking fuel efficiency is a good reason to go with this smaller truck, you’re going to want to think again. Partly because of its larger tires and blockier profile, the Ranger Tremor only manages a straight 19 miles per gallon across the board (city, highway and combined) according to EPA estimates. That’s a surprisingly stiff comedown from the standard Ranger 4×4 XLT’s 20 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.

Incidentally, that’s also the same combined-cycle rating as a 5.0-liter V8-powered F-150 4×4, which gets 16 mpg city and 22 highway (let alone more efficient F-150 options like the 2.7-liter EcoBoost, diesel or PowerBoost hybrid). Again, these numbers are competitive within this segment, but not unlike the interior accommodations mentioned earlier, the Tremor’s efficiency comes across as disappointingly yester-tech.

The 2.3-liter EcoBoost isn’t much to look at, but with 270 horses and 310 pound-feet of torque, it doesn’t need to be.

Nick Miotke/Josh Krzywonos/Roadshow

Off-road performance and towing/payload

I spent a wintry day at Holly Oaks, a newly opened quarry-turned-off-road playland in metro Detroit to test the Tremor’s mettle. With a mix of hard-packed frozen ground and mud-and-snow slurry, this ORV park was a suitably tough test for this pickup. Better still, I enjoyed practically free run of the place, as it was closed to the public, enabling me to go back and try the same trails and obstacles in different drive modes while taking different lines to assess the truck’s full capabilities.

Like the FX4, the Tremor features Ford’s Terrain Management System, so you can poke a button and optimize the vehicle’s various drive and brake systems for whatever surface you’re about to roll over (it’s kind of like the dial-a-nap controller on your vacuum). Ford says it recalibrated the Tremor’s traction control for this model’s larger, knobbier tires for better traction on gravel and I found the system worked equally well in the slushy stuff as it did on the hardpack.

One thing that’s nice is you can cycle through TMS’ modes on the fly. I primarily relied on Grass/Gravel/Snow for hills, but when I was just having fun intentionally sliding around at speed on the flat stuff, I chose Sand mode (and occasionally Mud and Ruts) to allow for more wheelspin to indulge my adolescent need for rooster tails.

Like the FX4, the Tremor also features Trail Control, which is Ford’s low-speed, off-road cruise control for both ascending and descending hills at preset speeds from 1 to 20 mph. It’s really, really useful and confidence-inspiring tech, as it allows you to focus on steering the vehicle without having to worry about modulating the pedals. Combined with the Ranger’s other electronic aids and the Tremor’s upgraded hardware, the entire package is so capable that these assists ultimately remove some of the sense of challenge and accomplishment of off-roading. It’s nice to know it’s there, but sometimes, it’s just more fun to go manual and do it yourself.

At moments like this, a forward-facing spotter’s camera would’ve been really convenient.

Nick Miotke/Josh Krzywonos/Roadshow

That said, there are a couple of hardware tricks that I wouldn’t mind seeing on the Tremor’s spec sheet, including a front locking differential. A rear e-locker comes standard, but there’s no front-axle equivalent like a Chevy Colorado ZR2 or a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, so you’re ultimately going to give up some ability when rock climbing. Fortunately, the vast majority of the time, you’ll never know it’s missing.

On the other hand, there’s one thing you will definitely miss while off-roading: a forward-facing camera. I didn’t have a pal to stand outside in the blustery cold to help guide me over and around obstacles, and when on steep ascents and descents, you can’t see over the hood to know what you’re about to crawl over. While it’s understandable that an older and more-affordable midsizer like the Tremor might not yet be offered with 360-degree camera coverage, a low-mounted front-facing camera would be mighty welcome and would provide a further point of differentiation from lesser Ranger models.

As it is, the Ranger’s tidier dimensions are inherently easier to manage off-road than a full-size truck. There’s less chance of scraping your fancy Cactus Gray paint in narrow forest passages and tight turns are easier to negotiate than they’d be in an F-Series, as well.

Off-road, you really appreciate that this turbo four has so much low-end torque and it’s great that the transmission has so many gears to choose from; you never feel like the EcoBoost is straining to get you through, even if it does sound flaccid compared to competitors’ V6 engines. All that torque helps on-road, too, delivering a best-in-class 7,500-pound tow rating or 1,430 pounds of payload in its 5-foot bed. Those numbers are right at the head of the class, and they’re important metrics when building an overlanding rig laden with lots of heavy gear.

Pricing and final judgment

So, the Ranger Tremor isn’t a high-speed off-roader like a Ford F-150 Raptor (or even the overseas-only Ranger Raptor), nor is it a hardcore rock crawler. This truck feels like it’s been designed to sit right in the middle capability-wise, which could have resulted in a vehicle that feels muddled and indecisive, like one that can’t figure out what it’s designed for. Instead, the Tremor seems like it’s found a capability sweet spot. It’s quite good at a variety of off-road disciplines and that makes it a better baseline platform for customizing if you haven’t decided what kind of off-roading you really want to commit to, be it desert bombing, overlanding or forested mountain ascents.

If you’re someone who off-roads a lot, the 2021 Ranger Tremor is big fun, but it isn’t cheap. Whereas a non-Tremor XLT SuperCrew 4×4 starts at $35,940 (including $1,195 destination), an XLT Tremor will run you $41,900 delivered — without extras. An option-free, top-trim Lariat runs $46,275 in your driveway, but it includes niceties like a B&O audio system, leather seats, navigation, remote start and adaptive cruise control. With options including the Technology Package ($995 for adaptive cruise, navigation, etc.), spray-in bed liner ($495), remote start ($195) and SecuriCode keyless-entry pad ($95), my XLT tester rings up at $43,680 delivered.

Overall, the Tremor is competitively priced within its segment (a Tacoma TRD Pro starts at over $45,000), but this Ford’s base MSRP is also really close to that of the new F-150 XLT 4×4 with a 5.0-liter V8. The F-Series is a much, much more advanced machine with similar efficiency.

Of course, not everyone wants or needs a full-size pickup and the number of buyers splurging on smaller, costlier, factory-backed hardcore off-road specials like this 2021 Ranger Tremor appears to be growing every day. In order to stay competitive, it’s important that Ford play in this space. And you know what? Despite this truck’s shortcomings, I still kinda dig it.

[usafphantom2]

Ronnie Bell Following

Fairy Battle Crews briefing for the next flight 1941

The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed down with a three-man crew and a bomb load. Despite being a great improvement on the aircraft that preceded it, by the time it saw action it was slow, limited in range and highly vulnerable to both anti-aircraft fire and fighters with its single defensive .303 machine gun.

During the "Phoney War", the Fairey Battle recorded the first RAF aerial victory of the Second World War but by May 1940 was suffering heavy losses of well over 50% per mission. By the end of 1940 the Battle had been withdrawn from combat service and relegated to training units overseas. For such prewar promise, the Battle was one of the most disappointing of all RAF aircraft

The original Fairey Battle was designed to Specification P.27/32 as a two-seat day bomber, to replace the ageing Hawker Hart and Hind biplane bombers, and to act as an insurance policy in case heavier bombers were banned by the 1932 Geneva Disarmament Conference.

The Battle emerged as a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing cantilever monoplane, equipped with a retractable tail wheel landing gear.Its clean design with its long and slim fuselage and cockpit for three (pilot, navigator and gunner) seated in tandem with a continuous glazed canopy, was similar to a large fighter rather than a bomber.The armament and crew were similar to the Blenheim: three crew, 1,000 lbs bombload and two machine guns, although the Battle was a single-engine bomber, with less horsepower available. The Battle's standard payload of four 250 lb (110 kg) bombs was carried in cells inside the wings and an additional 500 lb (230 kg) of bombs could be carried on underwing racks.As the engine took up the nose area, the bomb aimer's position was under the wing center section, sighted through a sliding panel in the floor of the fuselage using the Mk. VII Course Setting Bomb Sight.

The prototype Battle first flew on 10 March 1936. When the RAF embarked on the pre-war expansion programme, the Battle became a priority production target, with 2,419 ordered and an initial production order placed for 155 Battles built to Specification P.23/35. The first of these aircraft was completed at Hayes, Middlesex in June 1937 but all subsequent aircraft were built at Fairey's new factory at Heaton Chapel, Stockport and tested at their Manchester (Ringway) facility. Subsequently the Austin Motors "Shadow Factory" at Longbridge manufactured 1,029 aircraft to Specification P.32/36. Total production was of 2,185 machines, as production lines were closed in advance, in September 1940. Production Battles were powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin I, II, III and V, and took their Mark numbers from the powerplant (for example, a Battle Mk II was powered by a Merlin II).

Replacing the RAF's Hawker Harts and Hinds when it entered service in 1937, the Battle was obsolescent even then as fighter technology had outstripped the modest performance gains that the light bomber possessed over its biplane antecedents. The Battle was armed only with a single Browning .303 machine gun fixed ahead and with a trainable Vickers K in the back; this was desperately inadequate. Moreover it lacked an armoured cockpit and self-sealing fuel tank

The first RAF squadron to be equipped with Fairey Battles was No. 63 Sqn. in June 1937. The Battle had the distinction of becoming the first operational aircraft to enter service with a Merlin engine, beating the Hawker Hurricane's debut by a few months.

The Battle was obsolete by the start of the Second World War, but remained a front-line RAF bomber owing to a lack of a suitable replacement. On 2 September 1939, during the "Phoney War", 10 Battle squadrons were deployed to France to form a vanguard of the Advanced Air Striking Force. On 20 September 1939, a German Messerschmitt Bf 109 was shot down by Battle gunner Sgt. F. Letchard during a patrol near Aachen, marking the RAF's first aerial victory of the war.

Nonetheless, the Battle was hopelessly outclassed by Luftwaffe fighters, being almost 100 mph (160 km/h) slower than the contemporary Bf 109 at 14,000 ft (4,300 m). The Battle's defence consisted of a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun mounted in the rear cockpit and a single forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in the starboard wing.

When the Battle of France began, Battles were called upon to perform unescorted, low-level tactical attacks against the advancing German army. This put the aircraft at risk of attack from Luftwaffe fighters and within easy range of light anti-aircraft guns. In the first of two sorties carried out by Battles on 10 May 1940, three out of eight aircraft were lost, while, in the second sortie, a further 10 out of 24 were shot down, giving a total of 13 lost in that day's attacks, with the remainder suffering damage. Despite bombing from as low as 250 ft (76 m), their attacks had little impact on the German columns.

The sergeant air gunner of a Battle mans the aircraft's defensive weapon, a single pintle-mounted rapid firing Vickers K machine gun, France 1940

The bomb aimer position in the Battle was in the floor of the aircraft; here the CSBS Mk. VII is being demonstrated.On 11 May, nine Battles of the Belgian Air Force attacked bridges over the Albert Canal on the River Meuse, losing six aircraft, and in another RAF sortie that day against a German troop column, only one Battle out of eight survived. During the following day, five Battles of 12 Squadron attacked the bridges; four of the aircraft were destroyed with the final aircraft crash-landing back at its base. Two Victoria Crosses were awarded posthumously for the action, to Flying Officer Garland and air observer/navigator Sergeant Gray of Battle P2204 coded PH-K, for pressing home the attack in spite of the heavy defensive fire. The third crewmember, rear gunner Leading Aircraftsman Lawrence Reynolds, did not share the award. Both fighters and flak proved lethal for the Battles. Although Garland's Battle destroyed one span of the bridge, the German army quickly erected a pontoon bridge to replace it.

Wreckage of a Fairey Battle shot down by the Wehrmacht, France May 1940On 14 May 1940, in a desperate attempt to stop German forces crossing the Meuse, the Advanced Air Striking Force launched an "all-out" attack by all available bombers against the German bridgehead and pontoon bridges at Sedan. The light bombers were attacked by swarms of opposing fighters and were devastated. Out of a strike force of 63 Battles and eight Bristol Blenheims, 40 (including 35 Battles) were lost.After these abortive raids, the Battle was switched to mainly night attacks, resulting in much lower losses.

A similar situation befell the German Luftwaffe during the early days of the Battle of Britain, when the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber suffered equivalent losses in a similar role. With the exception of a few successful twin-engine designs (e.g. de Havilland Mosquito, Bristol Beaufighter and Douglas A-20), low-level attack missions passed into the hands of single-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft, such as the Hawker Hurricane, Hawker Typhoon and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.

On 15 June 1940, the last remaining aircraft of the Advanced Air Striking Force were evacuated to Britain. In six weeks almost 200 Battles had been lost, with 99 lost between 10 and 16 May. After the return from France, for a short period of time, the RAF continued to rely on the light bomber. Reforming No. 1 Group and later equipping some new Polish squadrons with the type, it continued to be deployed in operations against shipping massed in the Channel ports for Operation Sealion. Their last combat sortie was mounted on the night of 15/16 October 1940 by No. 301 (Polish) Squadron in a raid on Boulogne, and Nos 12 and 142 Squadrons bombing Calais. Shortly afterwards Battle squadrons of No. 1 Group were re-equipped with more potent Vickers Wellington bombers.Battles were operated into 1941 by 88 and 226 Squadrons in Northern Ireland and 98 Squadron in Iceland, for coastal patrol work.

Meanwhile, the South African Air Force had been supplied with some Battles. In August 1940, No. 11 Squadron took possession of at least four Battles, which were flown north to be operated in the Italian East Africa (Ethiopia, Italian Somaliland and Eritrea) campaign. They conducted bombing and reconnaissance operations. Whereas in France the RAF's Battles had encountered modern German fighters in large numbers, the South Africans faced a smaller number of Italian biplane fighters (Fiat CR.32 and CR.42s), which enabled the aircrews to contribute more effectively to the campaign; but not without several losses, especially when surprised above some predictable targets (air bases, ports etc.), since Italian biplanes dived as fast as possible over the bombers, trying to shoot them down in the first pass.

The last combat operations carried out by Fairey Battles were during the Italian and German invasion of Greece, from the end of 1940 until April 1941. A few Fairey Battles of the RAF and about a dozen belonging to the RHAF - serial numbers starting from B274 - participated in secondary bombing roles against enemy infantry. Most of them were destroyed on the ground by Luftwaffe air attacks upon the airfields of Tanagra and Tatoi north of Athens between end of March and mid April 1941. No significant contribution of this type was reported during this period, although some losses were recorded by the Greek Air Force.

Additional rolesWhile the Battle was no longer used as a combat aircraft, its benign handling characteristics made it an ideal platform for testing engines, and it was used in this rôle to evaluate engines up to 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) including the Fairey Prince (H-16). As the dual-control Fairey Battle T, it served as a trainer. As the winch-equipped Fairey Battle TT (target tug) it was used as a target-towing aircraft for training in air gunnery. The Battle served as a trainer with the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the South African Air Force. From August 1939, 739 Battles were stationed in Canada as trainers in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Most were used for bombing and gunnery training with a small number equipped as target tugs. Some aircraft had the rear cockpit replaced with a Bristol Type I turret for turret-gunnery training

Although the Battle was retired from active use in Canada after 1945, it remained in RAF service in secondary roles until 1949.

Battle K9370 was used to test the Fairey Monarch 2,000+ hp (1,490+ kW) aero-engine with electrically-controlled three-blade contra-rotating propellers in 1939. According to Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1946-47, the aircraft was shipped to the U.S.A. after 86 hours test time.

Via Flickr

[catbreeds2]

Savannah Cats

A hybrid of a house feline and a medium-size African wild cat, the Savannah is a troublesome and rewarding companion.

The Savannah cat is an incredible creature that seems like a wild cat because of it actually has a wildcat’s blood in it’s veins.

The Savannah cat is the outcomes of crossing a house cat with a serval, which is a wild species of cat from Africa. Subsequently it is a hybrid – a cross between two utterly completely different species- and by no means an exact breed.

On account of this, there may be native restrictions or requirements just about possession that you’ll want to research.

The hybrid was first tried inside the late 1980’s when a breeder effectively mated a serval with a house Siamese cat.

The end result was the Savannah cat, a unprecedented creature with large ears, extremely efficient, prolonged limbs and a shocking, observed coat.

Savannahs are labeled by what variety of generations they’re far from the wild serval.

An F1 is the offspring of a direct mating of a serval and a house cat. The “F” stands for “fillial” which designates the generations far from the serval cat. There are F1, F2, F3, F4 and so forth. generations, counting on what share of the kitten is serval.

F4 and F5 Savannahs benefit from low cost pets for folks looking for only a bit wild. They’ve decrease than ten p.c serval of their system and are usually pretty manageable.

Since these are hybrids, there are sterility points, and the important factors that present themselves when breeding completely totally different species.

All Savannahs have a share of untamed serval in them, nevertheless the period that they are will dictate many variations in dimension, coloring and temperament.

Together with doubtlessly being pretty a handful, these cats could be very, very pricey, with some F1’s costing many 1000’s of dollars.

Dimension: The Savannah is usually described as a medium-size breed, nonetheless. Her weight can range from eight to 20 kilos, usually additional. Males are greater than females.

Life Span: 17 to 20 years

SAVANNAH CAT PERSONALITY

The persona of the Savannah cat is often very dog-like. They love video video games and strategies and prefer to fetch, which is an effective strategy to work off just a few of their energy.

Savannahs are recognized for turning into terribly hooked as much as their households, and are notorious “head-butters” greeting their members of the family this vogue continuously.

The Savannah cat simply is not acknowledged by the Cat Fanciers Affiliation (CFA), the world’s largest cat group. They’re acknowledged by the TICA, one different huge group and are one of many essential normal “distinctive” cat breeds.

These cats are usually very huge and retain a wild look that could possibly be very attractive. They’ve very prolonged legs, and counting on the know-how, can have very large ears as successfully.

The Savannah may make an unimaginable pet within the exact setting, nonetheless requires plenty of stimulation and, ideally, room to roam.

If left alone, even for temporary intervals, they may flip into dangerous and with their dimension, energy, and leaping skills its highly effective to keep up them off of or out of places.

A secure cat pen outside will be enormously appreciated by this energetic cat. And many householders choose to crate their Savannah when away from residence to avoid “events” like demolished sofas.

Savannahs have a very dog-like persona and experience learning strategies, collaborating in fetch and strolling on a leash.

Shedding is also very extreme and customary grooming is desired.

These are glossy, magnificent, very large-sized cats which have few breed-related nicely being factors, although medicine and anesthesia must be administered sparingly on account of tendency of the liver to be smaller than a house cat.

Some breeders recommend a specific weight reduction program for these cats as successfully. On account of they seem to be a actually vigorous animal, and a house/wild hybrid, the Savannah might be not applicable for a family with children or additional pets. Evaluation very fastidiously and have quite a few publicity to every kittens and adults sooner than taking the plunge.

THE SAVANNAH CAT HEALTH

Every pedigreed cats and mixed-breed cats have numerous incidences of effectively being points that might be genetic in nature. The Savannah is usually healthful, nonetheless, and would not have any recognized genetic points. Magnificence flaws might keep some Savannahs out of the current ring, nevertheless they don’t affect his properly being or his capability to be a perfect companion.

THE SAVANNAH CAT CARE

Brush a Savannah’s transient to medium-length coat a few occasions per week to remove lifeless hair and distribute pores and pores and skin oils. Brush the enamel to cease periodontal sickness. Every day dental hygiene is most interesting, nonetheless weekly brushing is finest than nothing. It’s suggestion to supply a Savannah with a giant outside enclosure or to take care of her as an indoor-only cat to forestall sicknesses unfold by completely different cats, assaults by canines or coyotes, and the other dangers that face cats who go outside (resembling being hit by a automotive). Savannahs who go exterior moreover run the hazard of being stolen by someone who want to have a novel and pleasant cat with out paying for it. Keep in mind some cities or states have authorized tips in opposition to defending hybrid or distinctive animals. Whereas the cats registered with TICA are thought-about completely residence, a first- or second-generation Savannah (which means one who has a serval as a guardian or grandparent) may face restrictions. Take a look at the authorized pointers in your area sooner than shopping for any Savannah that might fall beneath authorized tips governing hybrids. Study the Hybrid Regulation for further data.

THE SAVANNAH CAT COAT AND GROOMİNG

Savannahs can be found quite a few utterly completely different colors and patterns: black, brown, or black observed tabby; black silver seen tabby; and black smoke. Most have robust black or darkish brown spots on golden, cream, sandy, or white backgrounds. They stand out for his or her daring, robust markings, which will probably be spherical, oval, or elongated. Some Savannahs have what’s referred to as a marble pattern, throughout which the spots resemble an elongated bull’s-eye. Because of residence shorthairs figured of their ancestry, some Savannahs can be found colors and patterns that aren’t described inside the breed regular, along with chocolate, cinnamon, blue, purple, and colorpoint. Savannahs which could be non-standard colors may very well be registered nonetheless not confirmed. The Savannah’s triangular head is supported by a protracted neck and topped by large, broad ears. The medium-size eyes may very well be any shade. Nostril leather-based ranges from pink to black, nonetheless black Savannahs ought to have steady black nostril leather-based. A Savannah has a medium-length tail. If she have been an athlete, the tall and lean Savannah will be intently recruited by all among the finest basketball teams. Her unusual peak comes from her long-legged serval ancestor. It takes a Savannah roughly three years to attain grownup dimension. A kitten who appears to be widespread in dimension would possibly rocket up in high after she’s three months outdated. She usually achieves his peak throughout the first 12 months after which her physique fills out over the next couple of years. Fascinating actuality: the once more legs are barely longer than the doorway legs.

SAVANNAH KITTENS

Savannah kittens are extremely efficient, energetic and neutral, even at an early age.

They’re compelled to find everyting and in every single place and might play till they fully collapse exhausted on the carpet or all through your lap.

Kitten-proofing is an absolute neccessity sooner than bringing a Savannah kitten dwelling.

A company hand is required to clarify boundaries and arrange routine with Savannahs. They’re very strong-willed, even when tiny.

In look, Savannah kittens look very very like adults. They take a extremely very very long time to develop and won’t attain full measurement till they’re 5 years outdated. Males get pretty a bit greater than females, and male kittens typically have very big paws.

These are very pricey and unusual kittens and discovering a breeder may be robust.

Savannah cats are priced in response to the proportion of serval cat that they are, and could also be many 1000’s of dollars.

Be careful of distinctive kitten scams the place photos of show-quality kittens are displayed and enormous deposits are requested.

SAVANNAH CAT BREED STANDARD

The appears of Savannah cats varies drastically counting on what variety of generations away from the wild African serval cat an individual is also.

Head Kind: The top is a broad, modified wedge type, with rounded contours, triangular when seen from the doorway and with a small chin. The head is barely small for the physique measurement. Ears vary relying upon know-how, huge with rounded concepts. Eye spots on the backs of the ears are extraordinarily fascinating. The eyes are almond shaped, huge, gold, inexperienced or orange in shade.

Physique and Tail: Huge measurement physique, correctly muscled, powerfully constructed, and longer than tall. Legs are prolonged Toes should be medium dimension and oval fashioned with prolonged toes. 5 toes in entrance and four in once more. The tail must be three/4 of the physique measurement. Not whip-like.

Coat: Fast in dimension. Dense and mushy.

Pattern: Wild pattern, tabby or tiger of varied shades of brown and grey, clearly seen could also be very fascinating.

Whole Look: This must be a hard-bodied and muscular cat with a protracted, extremely efficient torso, and good bone. Wild making an attempt, huge, distinctive.

A FEW MORE SAVANNAH CAT FACTS

The Savannah cat is simply not an exact breed, it is a hybrid – the outcomes of cross-breeding between two utterly totally different species- house cats and African servals

[thecreaturecodex]

Ultima Weapon

Image © Square Enix, accessed at the Final Fantasy Wiki here

[Commissioned by @warfares-bridge​. Ultima Weapon first appeared in Final Fantasy VI (although the FF3 import I grew up with referred to it as “Atma Weapon”). It has had multiple recurring appearances in the series since then, with different appearances and abilities. This version builds most heavily on the Final Fantasy XIV version, where it is the final boss of the main campaign. That battle has a timer on it--if Ultima Weapon isn’t killed within a certain time limit, it casts Ultima, which in that game is an auto-TPK. I wanted to capture that flavor, but instant death is frowned upon in Pathfinder, and I had to come up with a rationale as to why it wouldn’t just use that ability Round 1 and save itself a lot of trouble.]

Ultima Weapon CR 24 LE Outsider This colossus appears something like a mechanical reptilian centaur, but its body appears to be grown from metal rather than forged. Blade-like wings and a lashing tail grow from it, and all six of its limbs bear deadly claws. Its head is proportionately small, and vaguely like that of an insect.

Ultima Weapon is a relic of the early days of the multiverse. During the Titanomachy, when the thanatoic titans rebelled against the gods, the inevitables donated their services to create potent weapons to strike against the titans and their elemental allies. Multiple Weapons were forged, Ultima being the most infamous. Ultima Weapon was corrupted by the temptation of power and struck out against inevitables and titans alike. Ultima Weapon maintains a low profile for millennia at a time, and its appearance is a sure sign of cosmic calamity.

Ultima Weapon was designed to be a mobile prison, capable of binding titans to itself and delivering them for judgment. It still has the ability to bind powerful creatures, and hunts down exemplary outsiders such as balors, solars and pit fiends in order to enslave them. Any creature it has bound to itself it can call upon to assist in combat, and Ultima Weapon has rotated its cast of servants over the course of the ages to suit its needs. Even if its servants are defeated or dismissed, Ultima Weapon lives up to its name as a mobile artillery platform. It can fire beams of divine lightning from its hands and chest, direct powerful magic missile-like effects in an instant, and crush opposition with its claws and tail. Most feared is its namesake ability, which has only been activated three times in known history, each time when the Weapon was on the brink of death. The Ultima energy mimics an implosion spell but can affect dozens of targets at a time.

Ultima Weapon   CR 24 XP 1,230,000 LE Colossal outsider (evil, law) Init +12; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +37, see invisibility Aura awe (30 ft., Will DC 32) Defense AC 42, touch 21, flat-footed 33 (-8 size, +8 Dex, +21 natural, +1 dodge, +10 deflection) hp 492 (25d10+300 plus 80); regeneration 15 (epic) Fort +19, Ref +22, Will +23 DR 20/epic and good or epic and chaotic; Immune constructed; Resist acid 10, cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10, sonic 10; SR 35 (40 vs. divination) Defensive Abilities freedom of movement, superior ferocity Offense Speed 60 ft., fly 180 ft. (average) Melee 2 claws +32 (4d6+15/19-20 plus 2d6 electricity), 2 wings +30 (2d8+7), tail slap +30 (4d12+22) Space 30 ft.; Reach 20 ft. (30 ft. with tail slap) Special Attacks binding shackles, force missiles, magitech beams, powerful blows (tail), trample (8d6+22, Ref DC 37), ultima Spell-like Abilities CL 25th, concentration +35 Constant—freedom of movement, nondetection (self only), planar adaptation, see invisibility At will—arcane sight, dimensional anchor, greater dispel magic, greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. objects only), moment of prescience 3/day—binding (DC 28), earthquake, empowered meteor swarm (DC 29) 1/day—freedom, gate (planar travel only), imprisonment (DC 29) Statistics Str 40, Dex 26, Con 33, Int 21, Wis 29, Cha 30 Base Atk +25; CMB +48 (+52 bull rush); CMD 77 (79 vs. bull rush, 81 vs. trip) Feats Awesome Blow, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Dodge, Empower SLA (meteor swarm), Greater Bull Rush, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Power Attack, Staggering Critical, Stunning Critical Skills Acrobatics +33, Diplomacy +35, Fly +28, Intimidate +38, Knowledge (arcana, planes) +33, Knowledge (dungeoneering, religion) +30, Perception +37, Sense Motive +37, Spellcraft +33 Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Giant, Infernal, truespeech SQ no breath, planar acclimation Ecology Environment any Organization unique Treasure triple standard Special Abilities Aura of Awe (Su) The first time a creature approaches within 30 feet of Ultima Weapon, it must succeed a DC 32 Will save or be dazed for 1d4 rounds. Regardless of whether it passes or fails the save, it cannot be affected by Ultima Weapon’s aura of awe for the next 24 hours. This is a mind-influencing effect and the save DC is Charisma based. Binding Shackles (Su) Ultima Weapon can use its own body as a spell component for the binding spell-like ability. When it uses binding, it can make its own body the focus of the minimus containment version of the spell. Ultima Weapon can shackle a number of creatures to itself equal to its Intelligence modifier. Ultima Weapon can only use this ability on creatures with Hit Dice equal to or less than its own. Ultima Weapon can summon a creature contained inside itself as a standard action. The creature appears within 60 feet of Ultima Weapon, obeys Ultima Weapon without question, and counts as a summoned creature for the purposes of spells and effects. The creature remains for one minute or until slain, whereupon it returns to within Ultima Weapon without harm. Ultima Weapon cannot summon more than one creature this way at a time, and may summon each bound creature once per day. When Ultima Weapon is slain, the creatures remain bound inside its corpse. If freed, they behave as normal for their attitude and alignment, although they will likely be at least indifferent to any rescuer, if not more favorably disposed. Constructed (Ex) Although Ultima Weapon is a living outsider, their body is constructed of physical components, and in many ways they function as constructs. For the purposes of effects targeting creatures by type (such as a ranger's favored enemy and bane weapons), Ultima Weapon counts as both an outsider and construct. They are immune to death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects, necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless). Ultima Weapon is not subject to nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain. They are not at risk of death from massive damage. They have bonus hit points as constructs of their size. Force Missiles (Su) As a swift action every 1d4 rounds, Ultima Weapon can fire 10 missiles of force. It may fire these all at a single target within 240 feet, or split fire between enemies, but multiple enemies must be within 30 feet of each other. Each missile strikes automatically, ignoring cover and concealment, and deals 2d4+2 force damage. Magitek Beams (Su) As a standard action every 1d4 rounds, Ultima Weapon may fire three beams of energy as 120 foot lines. A creature caught in each beam takes 25d6 damage, half of which is electricity and half of which is typeless (Reflex DC 33 half). A creature caught in multiple beams does not take additional damage, but suffers a -2 penalty to its save. These beams may be in fired in any direction from Ultima Weapon’s square. The save DC is Constitution based. Planar Acclimation (Ex) Ultima Weapon is always considered to be on its home plane, no matter what plane it is on. It never gains the extraplanar subtype, and the planar acclimation spell protects it from the hazards of any plane except the Material Plane. Superior Ferocity (Ex) Ulitma Weapon does not die until its negative hit points reach twice its Constitution score, or -66 hp. Ultima Weapon is not staggered when using ferocity, but does suffer a -2 penalty to attack rolls and to the saving throws of its special abilities. Ultima (Su) As a standard action once per day, Ultima Weapon can set up a destructive resonance in the bodies of all corporeal creatures within 60 feet. A creature affected takes 250 points of damage (Fortitude DC 30 half). A creature reduced to 0 hit points by this damage is destroyed and can only be returned to life by a miracle, true resurrection or wish spell. This can affect undead and constructs as long as they have a physical body—creatures in gaseous form and incorporeal creatures are unaffected. Ultima Weapon can only use this ability when it is below 0 hit points, with its superior ferocity ability. The save DC is Charisma based and has a -2 penalty from superior ferocity.

[nijohirjesyho]

If Square Enix won’t give me Miqo’te lore I’ll write it myself. AKA I decided to flex my Worldbuilding muscles and try to flesh out the Miqo’te. This is just for fun but if you like it feel free to use it!

Miqo’te biology

Catnip

Keepers very likely to be affected by it, Seekers largely unaffected, 1/5 Keepers will be unaffected.

Exposure to catnip leaves results in giddiness, restlessness, high energy, possible drooling (particularly if chewed). Relatively mild and passes quickly. Occasionally dried leaves are used to make teas to help with colds or drank before long hunts for the energy. As dried leaves are less potent than fresh leaves the side effects are lessened.

Tails

Miqo’te tails are used for balance, allowing Keepers to crouch for long periods of time and aids in their tree climbing. For Seekers tails aid with maintaining balance when running on sand or scaling rocks.

Types of tails

Regular tails – standard

Lion Tails – Common among Seekers, rarely seen among Keepers

Fluffy tails – occasionally occurs among Keepers and occasionally occurs alongside ear tufts, it’s rarely seen in Seekers

Ears

Both Keepers and Seekers have very sensitive hearing and while Elezin outclass them in hearing most Miqo’te tend to actually rely on their hearing over eyesight, meaning they will react to sounds before other races

Jacobson’s Organ

Miqo’tes have fully functional Jacobson’s organs which mean they are capable of smelling pheromones and other scents that other races cannot. This aids them largely in hunting and tracking. Their sense of smell is unrivaled by any other race.

This also causes them to occasionally have a flehmen response which often confuses other races. Miqo’te will curl their lips back, stick out their tongues and stop breathing. It is often mistaken for disgust by those who don’t know what they’re doing. The advantage of such a pose is it forces the air and scents into their mouth where they can ‘taste’ it better.

Biological differences between Seekers and Keepers

Eyes

Both Keeper and Seekers have tapetum lucidum, which can startle unwary adventuring companion when their friend’s eyes glow in low light. This gives them an advantage over other races when it comes to seeing lowlight (such as in the forests of the Black Shroud). This has also been used by some who accuse them of being beast clans by claiming this proves they are ‘like animals’

Sounds

Keeper are capable of purring and have been known to terrify Wood Wailers with the blood curdling screams they’re capable of making

Seekers cannot purr but instead express pleasure by chittering, chuffs and humming. Seekers are capable of roaring

Teeth

No one can point to a clear reason for Keeper’s canine/eye teeth to be measurably longer and sharper than Seeker’s

Society

Keepers

Keepers live in a highly gender segregated society, mostly divided in two categories

Family Units

Family units are traditionally made up of women and children. This will usually be one to three mothers, often some older daughters and they may also have children of their own. The children are communally raised with responsibility being shared by the community, older siblings are as likely to teach younger siblings as parents. This has the advantage of almost always having at least one adult able to hunt while older children or fellow adults care for the children at home.

Children typically leave this community between 18 and 20 though this can vary its rare a child would leave before 16.

Some of the communities serve as trading posts to cities they’re located close to.

‘Solitary’ Males

Keepers will often tell you that males are best in small doses and that male Keepers wander on their own. This is not entirely accurate. You will occasionally find males on their own but when they first leave home many young Miqo’te will often leave in groups. Usually siblings close in age and with a close bond will set out together, maybe parting ways eventually but male siblings often stick together (though due to how rare males are male siblings rarely end up close enough in age to stick together). Older males may find and take in younger males as hunting is easier and they miss the feeling of family from childhood. It is more accurate to say the males are rare and nomadic.

Seekers

Tribes

Tribes are less visibly divided among gender lines than the Keepers but there are still divides, obvious in naming and social structure.

Children with a father in one tribe and a mother in another will belong to the mother’s tribe. Female children will still take the father’s name

Nuhns

[Square Enix: Nuhn is simply breeding male of a tribe! Also Square Enix: *treats Nuhn like the rank of leader in game*. So in game is what we’re going with.]

Nuhns are the male that distributes traits most valued by the tribe. While yes, a healthy physique is often valued, in Clans that value cunning, forethought, strategy or hunting prowess one might rise to the rule of Nuhn not via a fight to the death but a contest of cunning or proof of their ability to stalk and bring down dangerous game.

Tias, Splinter Tribes, ‘Bachelor Tribes’

Tias are commonly found enthusiastically doing squats. Tias serve an important function in most tribes, often in their attempt to prove themselves worthy of being the next Nuhn they will be doing tasks and take leadership roles that the Nuhn needs delegated to someone else. The women are the hunters but the males often serve in organizational roles as well.

Tias that want to be Nuhn but cannot earn the respect of their original tribe will occasionally form splinter tribes. This can also happens if a tribe becomes overpopulated or there are two popular choices for Nuhn but neither will share the role. One will form a splinter tribe with an additional letter as per custom and they typically die off or are reabsorbed into the original tribe.

Bachelor Tribes are made of multiple male Tias, sometimes even from multiple tribes. Rather than seeking to be Nuhn they have banded together to form an unofficial tribe of males only. They’re often nomatic and males from them may be invited to be a Tia or Nuhn of a tribe that needs new blood.

The treatment children born of a Tia father can expect varies from Tribe to Tribe. Some tribes demand they leave the tribe when old enough, (some of them making the Bachelor Tribes). In other Tribes they are treated as no different than any Tia. Some allow them to stay but they can never be Nuhn without working twice as hard to prove themselves to the tribe as Nuhn-fathered Tias.

Queer Miqo’te

Same Sex

General

Same sex couples are far from unheard of in a race that has a birth race skewed to one sex. It would be impossible to not.

In both Keeper and Seeker culture the idea of couples is a bit different than in other races as a large part of their culture focuses more on reproduction. Romantic loyalty is often separated from sexual loyalty.

Keeper

Among Keepers WLW couples or groups often form to raise children. If one of the couple happens to be trans and comfortable with such an idea, they might not even need one of the nomadic males to father a child.

The Males that band together and travel together are not always only siblings or close friends but sometimes MLM couples or groups.

Seeker

Any Nuhn that would force a women to mate with him is going to quickly find himself replaced so it is fully possible for a woman in a Seeker Tribe to find a partner and live in bliss with them without the tribe objecting in the slightest.

Some Bachelor Tribes are ‘Confirmed Bachelor Tribes’ if you catch my drift.

Trans Miqo’te

General

With such strict and gendered naming conventions names become very important to most who transition or fall outside gender binaries entirely.

Keeper

A Trans Male Keeper will usually take the name of the youngest son as he has been ‘reborn’. He will be expected to wander the same as any other male Miqo’te.

A Trans Female Keeper will be given a new name entirely, while any brothers she has will keep their old names the suffix she previously had will no longer be used. She may be welcomed among any family group as she is still a valuable hunter and caregiver.

Non-binary Keepers may chose a new name, to keep their old name, or some use whichever name feels most appropriate for the gender they feel closest to that day. What role they chose to fulfill in their society may vary from Keeper to Keeper and even day to day.

Seeker

A Trans Male Seeker will be granted a new name by the Nuhn with the last name Tia. He will be expected to begin performing roles similar to his fellow Tias quickly though the Nuhn may give this Tia specialized training to catch him up to his fellow Tias if necessary. Trans Male Seekers are capable of becoming Nuhn, some use a fellow Tia as the sperm donor while he runs the Clan, others have given birth themselves, how they chose to be Nuhn depends on the Seeker and the Tribe

A Trans Female Seeker will be granted a new first name by the Nuhn that fathered her along with his name as her last name. Her fellow huntress will often organize a hunt in celebration and to begin teaching her hunting skills. Trans Female Seekers are not considered viable candidates for Nuhn more than any Cis Female Seeker would be.

Non-binary Seekers may chose a new name, to keep their old name, or some use whichever name feels most appropriate for the gender they feel closest to that day. However they occasionally find trouble from Tias who feel them a possible challenger regardless of their desire to be Nuhn.

City Miqo’te

City Miqo'te culture varies on whether they are Keeper or Seeker and what city they’re in.

Gridanian Miqo’te are typically Keeper and may face hostilities from those that see them as poachers as best. However recently they have begun to see better treatment, though some women decide to join the Coeurl King and his crew.

In Ul’dah cities it is easy to find Seekers, be they Tias unable to become Nuhn or women who simply felt that Tribe life was not for them. They make their living the same way most do in Ul’dah,though a few might be found among the Ala Mhigo refugees resenting their native kin or clinging desperately to what remains of the community they had before the fall.

Limsan Miqo’te are less common than the other regions but almost no crew sails without a Miqo’te. Some consider it lucky to have at least one, others have a far more practical reason. Miqo’te’s keen sense of smell often detects storms before their fellow crew members. Additionally, their lean and dexterous forms make them adept at climbing rigging. They are primarily Seekers though Keepers are becoming more common.

In the Grand Companies

General

One might expect that due to the number of female Miqo’te to males they would surely outnumber the males in the grand companies as well. However the numbers are closer to even (still favor the females however) as many male Miqo’te sign up to the grand companies.

Keepers

Keepers are quite common in the Twin Adders as they seek the feeling of family and camaraderie that they had growing up. Males in particular as they may be inclined to find the idea of wandering alone as unbearable. The bow skills shown by Miqo’te hunters leave little to be desired and they can often find their place in the Adders. Notably three of the Gods’ Quiver’s eleven garrisons are led by Miqo’te. Miah Molkot leads the White Rams, Ragu’to Zhwan leads The Quiver’s Scales and Dhebi Polaali leads The Quiver’s Ewers.

Seekers

Seekers are mostly found in Maelstrom, finding themselves outnumbered by Hyur and Lalafell in the Immortal Flames. Some are Tias that could not make it as Nuhn or women that left the tribes either because they could not fit into that lifestyle but more still are city Miqo’te that grew up in the ports of Limsa and are more familiar with the rigging of a ship than the sand of a desert. However some have made their way to Gridania out of curiosity about the archery to be learned there. G'pakibah Dora leads the garrison of the Twin Adders known as The Quivers Virgins and she is far from the only Seeker in their ranks.

Culture Shock

Keepers and City life

The largest culture shock for Keepers is perhaps the lack of physical contact. Those who grew up in the shroud are often very tactile and become confused by their new friends lack of physical affection or startle them by what is seen by some (typically Elezen) as being overly affectionate.

The other most obvious source of surprise and confusion is in relationship. While romantic relationships are far from unheard of among Keepers they are not seen as the norm which can lead to confusion about the level of commitment expected in relationships. Older siblings or friends more familiar with city life may be useful when explaining these concepts to Keepers unused to other races’ relationship expectations. However this has done Keeper’s reputation no favors in some parts of Gridania with them being seen as loose and unreliable in relationships.

Seekers and City life

Seekers might be confused by what they consider to be a very unclear hierarchy of duties among other races. Used to the Nuhn’s clear leadership and the communal hunting and providing they can struggle to adjust to trade at first.

Seekers get quite the double edged sword attempting to date as men might be suspected of sleeping around and some will claim women don’t mind you sleeping around on them, and will often be taken for heterosexual by default. These miscommunications are more common in Ul’dah than Limsa, who is exposed more to City Seeker culture.

Keepers and Seekers

Keepers and Seekers are often confused by the other’s culture on first contact, with the Keeper’s matriarchal family-centered lifestyle confusing to the Patriarchal Tribe-centered Seekers who are unused to such tight knit groups. Similarly Keepers often come away with the impression Seekers have gotten thing backwards, those familiar with the Coeurl King’s cruel grip on the women he brings into his group in particular will often react with horror.

Hybrids

Rumored and likely possible, until recent times the isolation shown by both Keepers and Seekers has prevented such hybrids from being common but with Keepers beginning to integrate into cities and Seekers beginning to explore Gridania it is likely if such hybrids exist they will become more common in upcoming years

[beedalee]

Adoptables - Halloween 2019 on DeviantART!

🎃 Adopts Terms of Service 🎃 What Are Adoptables? 🎃

🎃  RULES/INFO:

- Terminology: OPEN = available | #/# = number of designs left on sheet | HOLD = 24/48 hour hold is active | PENDING = invoice sent | SOLD = adopted - First come, first serve! I will hold for 24 hours- My Paypal Invoices will expire after 24 hours after they are sent! - I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason! Please be polite when inquiring about buying a design. - You may buy the design as a gift for someone else, but you must tell me who the giftee is! Contact me via note if it's a surprise! - After payment is received, you will get the FULL SIZE, un-watermarked, transparent version of the design you purchased! Please do not upload the full size anywhere to prevent theft, and do not remove my signature from the design for any reason! Please read my ToS and Adoptables journal linked above for more information. - Lace border credit: here!

🎃  PAYMENT:

- I accept paypal, debit/credit (no paypal account required), or DA points equal to the cash value! - If you pay by e-check/directly via bank account, I will send the full res after the payment clears! Please leave sufficient funds in your bank for it to clear properly like a one would with a regular check. Read my ToS for more info! - You receive the full size un-watermarked transparent version of the design after payment has been received! Thank you!!

Please click the read-more for information, order form, and availability status; OR go to the deviantart link above! If you want to buy one via tumblr, please private message me ONLY, do NOT use asks or they may get lost!  💓  If you have a question please don't hesitate to ask!!! I'll do my best to help you out!

🦇 Temporary Limit: 1 DESIGN PER PERSON! (This includes via gifting) Limitation expires November 4th at 3:00pm MST 🦇

Gifting limit is 1 gift per buyer, and only if the giftee hasn't already purchased one on this sheet themselves! Example: Buyer 1 may purchase 'adopt A' for themselves and purchase 'adopt C' as a gift for Person 2- ONLY IF Person 2 has not bought one themselves. Giftees cannot buy a 2nd one during this limitation if they have been gifted one already! This post will be updated and watchers notified when this limit is over, thank you for understanding! 💓

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🦇🎃   PRICE AS MARKED! 1/6 OPEN! 🎃🦇

Each comes with little character blurbs, but you don't have to keep them! Feel free to change their powers/theme color/gender id/personality to your liking. Also, feel free to shift their color theme as well! These are just fun prompts for me.

🦇 ROW 1: 45.00 USD PER SET

Cute Lil Devil: O P E N !

-  A sickeningly sweet little girl who knows just how to play up her charms to get what she wants. she's spoiled and smart, a clever little monster not to be trifled with! Although she could recruit just about any human soul to do her bidding with a poke of her tail, she has high standards... they must be pretty and cute like her!

Autumn Shadow: S O L D ! 🎃

-  A meek young girl suffering from low self esteem- she's lonely and would consider herself a coward, often obedient to mean girls her age and hiding from conflict even if it meant putting someone else in harms way. but the night after a festival turns frightening when a strange supernatural creature attacks civilians, sending her fleeing into the dark woods with an injury. unexpectedly, she's approached by a mysterious person who seems to understand what's happening- and they have a proposal for her. will she accept the power to protect others, and at what cost?

Will-O-Wisp:  S O L D!

-  Librarian by day, this dreamy lady is friendly and sweet, if not a little mysterious- here one moment and gone the next. By night, she is an ethereal banshee and gatekeeper to another dimension- of mystical spirits and terrifying monsters. Though she may be gentle and soft-spoken, there is a reason she alone was tasked to guard this doorway-- and she will show no mercy to those that aren't granted permission to enter it!

🦇 ROW 2: 48.00 USD PER SET

Dark Arts: S O L D !

- This lazy kid spends most of his days sleeping through class, loafing around after school, playing video games and staying up too late. Who would suspect such an underachiever would have expertise in all that is paranormal, and be such good friends with sometimes unsavory mischievous spirits? well, we all have our hobbies...

Half Wolf:  S O L D !

- A young street urchin that's there one moment and gone the next, stealing what they can to survive. This abandoned halfling werewolf was raised by real wolves, who they are fiercely protective of. They're searching for other werewolf companions in a world where they're ruthlessly hunted. Being isolated from other people for so long, they barely know how to speak human tongue.

Kiss of Death: S O L D !

- A gentle but mysterious woman, she enjoys the company of birds and always seems to know the future before it happens. well versed in tarot and astrology. as the goddess of death, she is kind and merciful to those that deserve it, and will gracefully guide those to the afterlife with a kind smile. for the dark-hearted souls that try to defy the rules of death, however...

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🎃 ORDERING:

You MUST include the order form in your comment or note, or you may miss out on the adoptable! Please use it. If you're on mobile, you may just type it out instead of copying it if it's easier. Here's a breakdown of each entry:

do you agree to my ToS?: by writing "yes", you agree to the terms and conditions listed in it, so be sure to read it!

payment method: paypal, DA points, bank or debit, credit card, etc!

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is it a gift? optional, you don't have to include this section if it's just for you! if you want the recipient of this gift private, please note me your order form instead!

🎃 ORDER FORM:

do you agree to my ToS?: payment method: email: design name: is it a gift:

[kirankowda]

Google Ads Management Ideas From Top 25 Experts

As an eCommerce store owner, most of your effort goes into creating and setting up a perfect PPC campaign. Once the campaign goes live, the chances of the campaign’s success lie in continuous monitoring and changes made to the campaign. The chances reduce drastically if it is not managed properly. Results could be even worse if it is mismanaged by some adwords account managed services.

Before you start the PPC Management process of your campaigns, you should consider the following important points.

Answers to these questions help you to get a clear idea about your business which in turn helps in creating better campaigns for your business.

Google Adwords management Ideas from Experts:

After setting up a google ads campaign and ad group, it needs to be optimized regularly to get the desired results. Optimizing all of your campaigns is the most complex task in Google Adwords. It means along with a lot of hard work, you should be able to extract actionable insights from data and be able to put those insights into action.

According to experts, the following are a few areas which they recommend you to concentrate on to optimize your campaigns and get desired results.

1.Keyword Managing ideas

Keyword selection is core to campaign performance. Better keyword selection leads to better campaign performance. More often than not, you would find out that your keywords are not performing as you had planned. The following are a few areas where you can investigate and optimize your keywords.

1.1- Poorly performing keywords

The first step regarding keyword Management is to find out those keywords which are generating clicks but not generating enough conversions. Reduce the bids to a smaller amount for these keywords to avoid too much ad spend. If the keywords do not convert at all, You might want to add them as negative keywords. It is better to use the budget elsewhere than spending it on non converting keywords.

AdNabu automates the above by automatically reducing bids for poorly performing campaigns during bid optimization. You only need to set a cost per conversion target and AdNabu will make changes automatically.

1.2 — Negative keywords

Next, you should concentrate on negative keywords. Negative keywords are those keywords using which you can avoid showing ads for irrelevant searches.

For example: If you are selling calendars, the online calendar keyword should not trigger your ad.

Make an extensive list of negative keywords. It is a best practice to keep updating your negative keywords regularly. Though it is a time-consuming activity, it is a very important factor in the success of the campaign. We highly recommend creating a shared negative keyword list so that it can be used for multiple campaigns.

AdNabu’s negative keyword tool automatically suggests negative keywords based on conversions. Our software will find keywords which are getting a lot of clicks but not resulting in any conversions (included in conversion tracking feature).

1.3 — New Keywords

You should also keep adding new keywords to your campaign. With continuous changes in your external environment (such as campaigns from competitors, changes in the economy or any other viral trends), you need to keep adding new keywords to be relevant with your audience. AdNabu’s long-tail keyword tool can automatically find long-tail variations of the keywords used by users in Google. But it is highly recommended to discover new keywords manually once in a while.

Working in the above-mentioned areas is just a starting point with respect to keyword optimization. Although time-consuming, the impact of these tactics is huge. You can automate most of the tasks if you are using AdNabu. In addition to AdNabu, we highly recommend you to look at campaign health once in a while.

2.Improving your google ads quality score

Google Adwords calculates a quality score for every single keyword in your account. The higher your keyword Quality Score, the better your ad positioning and lower will be the cost.

Quality score depends on click-through rates, ad relevance, and landing page experience. These parameters are evaluated by Google and a score gets assigned to every keyword. Although the exact way Google calculates quality score is still a mystery, Improving the CTR (which also increases return on investment), relevance, as well as landing page experience, can have a positive impact. We have created a guide to improving quality score.

It is important to have a good quality score which in turn helps in achieving better chances of success. One easy way to find opportunities to increase the quality score is to look for parameters which are average or below average.

3.Bid Managing ideas

Bid Management helps to minimize costs by finding the most effective keywords in your campaign and focusing on them exclusively.

To optimize your bids, you should identify the conversion rate of every single keyword. This data will then help you segregate high performing and low performing keywords. While manually optimizing campaigns, you can follow the simple rule of increasing bids for high performing keywords and reducing bids for low performing ones.

This task, however, is repetitive and error-prone. We highly recommend the bid optimization software by AdNabu which does all the heavy calculation automatically.

AdNabu only needs a number to optimize on (either the cost per conversion or the ROI), It can then do all the calculation down to keyword and device level to get maximum conversions out of your campaigns.

4.Ad Copy Management ideas

Ad copy plays the most important role in conveying your unique selling points to the consumer. The ad with high relevance leads to high click-thru rate and lower CPC automatically.

An expanded text ad consists of 2 Headlines, a Description line, and 2 URL paths along with the final URL. We will explore each of these parts of the ad copy and the ways to optimize them.

4.1. — Headline

Headlines are displayed prominently in Google Ads. They are usually the first line of the ad with a bigger font size. Both headlines can have a length of 30 characters each. Since this is one of the first things your prospective customer would be seeing, We highly recommend to include an attractive offer or service as one of the headlines.

One can also use dynamic keyword insertion to improve the relevance of ads. The ad text or part of it will be replaced by what the user is searching for while using this feature.

4.2 — Description line

Once you get the customer’s attention, the description lines convey the value proposition of the service or product. You can express the reasons why your product should be given priority over others here.

An 80 character limit gives description line the maximum ability to express the product or service in detail.

4.3 — URL Paths

Two URL paths now constitute display URL now along with the auto-generated domain name URL. URL paths need not be valid URLs and are simple to make the ad look attractive. There is a 15 character limit of URL paths and they are not compulsory unlike headlines and description line. We at AdNabu, highly recommend you to use URL paths as they increase the real estate of ads and make them more prominent.

4.4 — A/B testing of ad copy

A/B testing is nothing but comparing two versions of the ad to see which one performs better. You can do A/B testing with the complete ad or with a section of the ad. We at AdNabu recommend you to test things one at a time.

For eg: Test your 2–3 variations of Headline 1 or Test 2–3 variations of description line.

Doing multiple tests at the same time might not give you desired results easily as it takes much more time. Also, decide why you are doing an experiment. It can be to increase CTR or to increase conversion ratio but it cannot be both.

5.Usage of Google Ads Extensions

Extensions expand your ad with additional information-giving people more reasons to choose your business. They typically increase the click-through-rate of an ad by several percentage points. Extension formats include call buttons, location information, additional links, additional text, and more.

To maximize the performance of your text ads, Google Ads selects extensions to show in response to each individual paid search on Google. For that reason, it’s a good idea to use all the extensions relevant to your business goals. Some of the common extension used by businesses are listed below.

5.1 — Sitelink Extensions

Sitelink Extensions allow you to promote additional landing pages below your standard ad text. These sitelinks helps the users to directly land on the specific page of interest.

For eg: You main ad might lead the user to the homepage but a sitelink can directly take the user to a subcategory page.

Additional lines also give more real estate for the ad compared to your competition. This helps you stand out and get even more clicks.

5.2 — Call Extension

With call extensions, you can add your phone number to Google ads. This makes it easier for users to call your business, especially on mobile phones.

If you generate leads to your business through phone calls, it makes sense to have this extension for all your campaigns.

5.3 — Location Extension

Location extension helps the advertiser to add your business location address and phone number. This extension can be used by users to navigate directly to your business and can show helpful information like opening hours. It is highly useful for brick and mortar businesses like restaurants, salons, etc.

5.4 — App Extension

App Extensions allow you to add a mobile app download button next to your Search Ad. It attaches thumbnail icon, name and text below your main ad. This should not be confused with app install campaigns whose main aim is to drive installs and show up only on devices which are eligible to install them.

5.5 — Review Extension

Review extension helps advertisers to show reviews from google trusted websites. In order to use review extensions, you need to have reviews on reputable third-party sites like TrustRadius, TrustPilot, etc. The main point is that it has to come from a third-party site that’s well-known enough to get approved by Google.

6.Improved ad targeting Ideas

Targeting ads to ideal customers lead to better campaign performance and lead to the success of the campaigns. Geography and device play a major role in targeting your ads efficiently. An ad which works in city A might not work in city B. Below we will explore the ways to optimize your ad targeting based on geography and device.

6.1 — Optimization based on Geography

Ad performance varies with geographies due to multiple reasons. To optimize your campaign, you should review the campaign performance in each one of them.

You can go to the Dimensions tab, then click the View button and select “Geographic.” to see the campaign data based on geography.

Find out top-performing geographies which have the highest conversions and lowest cost per conversion. If you are getting leads from the geographies where you can’t serve, you should exclude those geographies from the campaign. You can also concentrate your top-performing geographies, reducing your spend on poorly performing geographies.

6.2 — Optimization based on Device

Increased consumption of mobile devices has lead advertisers to think about ad placement on various devices differently. Ad performance varies with the size of the device on which ad is delivered.

You would be able to see three categories, computers ( includes desktop & laptops), mobile devices with full browsers, Tablets with full browsers.

For example, If you find that the cost of conversion on tablets is significantly higher than mobile, you can adjust the bid in bid adjustment column and reduce your total costs. AdNabu automatically does device based bid adjustment for your campaigns once you have set it up in bid Management job.

Final words

Apart from the changes you make to your campaigns, there are many parameters that may impact your campaigns. For example, new products launched by your competition or a new substitute for your product/service or change in government regulation or sudden change in weather or local events may impact your campaign performance.

It is important to take those data points into consideration while analyzing your campaign performance. With a continuously changing environment, it is advisable to monitor and take steps to optimize your campaigns to get the best results out of your campaigns.

AdNabu was built to automate above mentioned and other mandatory tasks that help online advertising free up their time for other critical tasks of business. The tool helps every Pay Per Click advertisers to put your adwords campaign on autopilot and reduces the stress of managing large Google Ads accounts campaigns.

Source: Google Adwords management ideas - AdNabu

[archer3-13]

fire emblem three houses famitsu article.

so, after parsing through the famitsu article as translated via broken google translate english, i have deduced that they are really leaning hard into the school management aspect for fire emblem three houses. of all things. like im not necessarily mad, im just a bit wary since this means the games really gonna have to knock it out of the park writing wise. anyways, other things of note:

1. class divides by gender are a thing to note again, and im not particularly a fan of this especially in a game thats trying to set itself up as more in depth and open in terms of unit customization. that said, so long as they provide alternatives that can fulfill the same needs or aesthetics as the mono gendered classes for the opposite gendered classes then i suppose i can accept it in this case. im still annoyed though - -..... the classes in case your wondering that the article mentions seem to be a fist fighter class and the dark mage of all things so im gonna hope for/assume that they have witches as a thing and like a female kungfu class? dont disappoint me game.

2. gauntlets do indeed have a brave effect but are not unsurprisingly locked to foot bound classes only. definitely interested in seeing how it’ll interact with gameplay once i get my hands on the game.

3. hidden talents. apparently if a units got a star or some sort of indicator next to one of the weapon skills in the learning screen (you know, the screen they showed that was for teaching scrubs how to ride horses and swing swords better) that’s a hidden talent for the unit meaning if you put the effort into teaching them that skill they’ll be hell of a lot better at it. upon closer inspection it looks like if your student has stars beside a certain weapon skill and you fill it all the way up, the student now starts receiving double the weapon exp for that skill.

4. school activities, or to meme here SOCIAL ACTIVITY!! basically force your students to participate in school projects i guess as part of a motivation system/learning thing? im not entirely clear on it but it basically looks like forcing people to do stuff. speaking of motivation though... upon closer inspection its kinda like the support system but your designating students to go pull weeds and thus build trust soo... maybe its how you grind supports? or their the supports themselves? idk, force children to perform manual labour and watch them grow closer like some sort of weirdo.

5. if they aint motivated they probably aint gonna do as well. motivation being the... motivation i guess to incentive players to participate in the social activity aspect of things. basically, if you interact and keep your students happy they’ll be more likely to learn what your trying to teach them like riding horses

6. personal skills, and boy are they as... boring as fates personal skills were - -. the main house lords get a flat exp multiplier (a 1.2 multiplier...) each and a lot of the other personal skills are in the vein of ‘plus 5 damage when alone’ or ‘plus 5 hit when standing near boys’ stuff like that. hopefully crests will provide more interesting effects? idk im just kinda tired of skills in main series titles being so underwhelming in fire emblem these days, once upon a time having vantage and wrath was actually really fucking scary. now bllppppthhtthhhhh!... well hopefully it wont be like that this time with other skills. oh yeah, class skills are a thing as always.

7. squads and formations. they do indeed seem to provide some pretty strong effects form what i can tell though i could be missing out on what they actually do through the broken english. what i can parse anyways, you can buy squads like weapons and equip them if you have a high enough rank, the difference being that squads actually level up themselves depending on how they do. squads provide stat boosts when equipped but can also decrease certain stats so a cost benifit situation there and you have to buy more people for a squad if you run out/low on them, that said the article guarantees that buying a new squad is expensive but replacing them is cheap which i guess means dont let your squads run out and keep em topped out? idk, the more interesting bit is the sleights or whatever their called. depending on the formation/squad or whatever you can essentially pull off a super attack such as attacking multiple enemies at once or even more criminally insane granting multiple allies a +5 to movement for a turn.

8. remember old professor dude from the trailer? hes apparently going to be obsessed with the crests in some fashion from what i gather which just endears him to me even more. he will be my best friend with his stupid monocle.

9. pony tail blue lions guy, from his personal skill being called ‘lone wolf’ im gonna guess that hes the navarre esque character of the game. glad to see the tropes still in place even with a game that seems to be trying to be as different as possible.

10. calendars! 12 month calendar, each month is apparently a ‘chapter’ meaning if it follows standard fe game length its probably gonna be about 2 and a 1/3 in game years ish? 

11. really forcing the school stuff since apparently you have a teaching rank that determines how many ‘actions’ you can take and thus the more you interact with your students the more you’ll be able to do per in game week