#probably gonna have to send it to the manufacturer for repair

[on-my-way-to-the-woods]

F's phone broke today 😭

[sheldonkisser]

Yippie Sheldon cosplay update!!

I've figured out my plan for almost the entire cosplay!!! ((It's a mix of all my favourite parts of his design from all the games)) And now I have my first main piece, I was gonna make the goggles myself but over the weekend I found a pair that really fits the cos in the artist alley of an event I went to so that saved me a lot of time!!! ((Thank goodness I don't have to do any work with molten glass now)) I'm leaving the shell for last since it's the hardest part but also what will definitely be the most rewarding so I'm probably going sort out the apron first!! I plan to dye a white apron until I get it to the colour I want, remove the straps and add my own brown ones so it's more accurate to the character in game and then I'm going to do some of the minor details with a mix of embroidery and transfer paper ((the kind that's made for clothes ofc)), since some parts of his apron look kind of patchy and repaired in a slightly different shade of green I plan on doing that by just sewing it over the top and for the finishing touches I'm making those weird little silver-grey thingys ((I really don't know what they are)) with painted EVA foam that has Velcro on the bottom and finally I'm drawing his squid shaped pin by myself and sending that over to my manufacturer of choice so they can make it into an enamel pin!

[dreamwizarding]

Hi! It’s your toaster repair lady person thing here! Just letting you know, that I opened up the toaster, took a look around, then spent around 12 hours exploring a pocket dimension i found inside the toaster where I was presented with talking badgers who told me I was a very nice person, and in doing so, I discovered that your toaster is inside a quantum pocket in space. Or rather, there is a quantum pocket in space around your toaster. The badgers have been trying to interfere with the outside world using the quantum field for a very long time now, and it finally started working when you ‘responded to their messages’ by sending bread into the pocket dimension. They figured the best way to respond was through their “garrots,” which are nearly identical to our carrots, but are slightly different in very fine details I don’t really want to explain right now.

Anyways, I’ve solved your problems. The badgers have turned off the quantum field, so the number of slots should stay consistent. They have agreed to toast half the bread you send, and use the other half as construction materials for their cult buildings, so that solves that problem, and finally, the face was drawn on the toaster with extra-permanent marker. It will never come off. Ever.

Also, the badgers would like to meet you! They revere you guys as the Great and powerful elder gods.

I'm. Not quite sure where the badgers got THAT idea from, but I guess I'll go in for a look when we pick the thing up.

Probably also gonna have to ask the wizards that manufactured this why they put badgers in it, but that can come later.

Frankly, as long as the "garrots" are still edible, I don't think we'll have a problem with them. The quartermaster seems to like them a lot.

In the meantime, thanks for taking the time to look at our toaster. I'll leave a good review when we find a dream with a decent connection again.

[the-firebird69]

This look is starting to come back and the reason is it's faster it's more economical fits more stuff has a lot of speed and power with just two people and usually they're made OK but really the look is coming back by a few manufacturers. And I hit it right on the nail but this is a look that's perfect for stamping. Have a vista fresh that looks like this it's almost the same and not the color. You see it has almost zero profile tires it's not a bad idea it could be a little wider but they don't think so but really it should other than that it is pretty nice almost exactly what we would do and the Chevy above represents the four door version this is what I've been looking for when I think stamped car I think something like this. And really the modern windows and things make it look really cool and also getting inexpensive rims and a cheap interior is a good idea and we're gonna show what it looks like and father and mother from France arman and goddess wife are going to direct us to it because it's beautiful it makes it look really cool in modern and like a super car. I'm I'm going to arm this with AV4 to start and we would have a regular and a sport and that's it it's a new car they're trying to make it out there and stamping is very cheap and people know about it and we'll try and get approval and it'll probably be spotty and probably send it to Mexico but but then it'll come back and that's how it is. And we might try and use the high performance exhaust it's much cheaper and even the top end's cheaper and it'll be faster and put in a big cooling system right away people think it's like kind of clunky cuz of the interior and we can kind of paint it they have a series of paint colors and paint systems that are pretty good they're not blase but they look a little different and people kind of wonder about it but people buy it because it looks like a cheap car and we're gonna sell them cheap. Yeah like fourteen grand and it's every single bit of it worth it. And we could actually buy aftermarket parts and assemble this on our frame and chassis and it would be only about $2000 more to build than if we made the parts and he wants to start going on it that would be me because what's the point if you can do that and get it going we do have a problem getting the parts over there it says we don't have to assemble it anywhere but somewhere it's possible and it's true. So they vacate all this land and we have places and we could put in a Home Depot and it's true too we're gonna do that. I'm gonna put in for this this is a great idea and a great concept is to stamp it and the car itself is a great concept but stamping it makes it different and it started precedent of making it cheaper it kind of is a cheap way to do it repairing it's kind of a weird thing and it's a pain and it comes out pretty good and it's just as good as repairing a frame but people think it's different.

Zues

hahaha this is funny. You're saying this car will look like a stamped car it's coming back in style a little and I've seen it a little it's gonna look modern but like an old stamped car and like a cheap one. And it will work. A cheap interior will will top it off. Environmental inside and what I said in Metal Park metal inside part metal will make it look cheaper and it really is cheaper and it will be a cheaper car but really mentally it is shockingly surprisingly funny because all of it is kind of the top of the line engineering but it's going to look like really cheap. Me laugh. Because you're getting a buy this car that's superior but it will cost less. Then the frame or if you tweak it and you can tweak the thing you can't fix it 'cause it doesn't have a frame but cars with frames these days you can't fix anyways and that's a sell point to the DOT. And basically just scrap it you have to try real hard to tweak the frame

Hera

It's virtually impossible to tweak the frame you can only twist it and you'd be off the road doing flips and the car is gonna be gone anyways but these cars survive accidents very well and that's what they're for.

Thor Freya

Olympus

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers LUNATIC PARADE ;; Ayato Route ー Chapter 3

ー The scene starts in the hotel room

Yui: ( Ayato-kun still hasn’t returned it seems... )

( I wonder where he went? Should I go look for him...? )

*Rustle rustle*

ー She goes down to the lobby

Yui: ( Ah, I recognize that back... )

Ayato-kun!

ー She runs up to him

Ayato: ...Chichinashi...

Yui: Where were you? I was worri...ーー

( ...Huh...? )

Hey, what’s wrong? You seem kind of tired...

Ayato: Shut up. I’m fine.

More importantly, are you well enough to be up and running again?

Yui: I’m fine, but...

Ayato: Mmh. Let’s go look for the locksmith together then.

Yui: Yeah...We have to find some sort of lead first though...

Ayato: I’ve got one. Seems like he’s hanging out in Saint Nore Park.

I found this person who spotted him there, you see...

Yui: Eh...?

( Then, could he have been looking around for the locksmith on his own this whole time...? )

Ayato: We might lose track of him again if we sit around too long. Let’s go.

Yui: Gotcha.

( ... )

ー She reaches for his hand

Ayato: ...Why did you grab my hand all of a sudden...?

Yui: S-Sorry...But...

( I was thinking of a way to say thank you and suddenly felt like doing this... )

Ayato: Hm, whatever. Anyway, let’s hurry.

Yui: Yeah!

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to Saint Nore Park’s venue

Yui: It’s still as crowded as ever...

Ayato: Yeah, you’re right...

Yui: ( What to do? Even if we know he’s here, with this many people around... )

Ayato: Well then. Guess it’s time for these bad boys to make an appearance.

Yui: ...? Ayato-kun, are those...?

Ayato: Hehe. I figured out what the dude looks like while I was gatherin’ information on him.

I drew this portrait of him. Whatcha think? There’s just no way we won’t find him with this, right?

Yui: ( ...I thought it was an animal of some sorts...But it’s actually a portrait... )

( Ayato-kun seems very confident but...I’m honestly a little worried... )

Ayato: ...What? Got a problem with my drawing?

Yui: Eh? ...No, that’s not it, but...

Ayato: ...? But, what?

Yui: Well...

Selection

→ Beg the question

Yui: ...No, it’s nothing...

Ayato: ...Hmm. Well, whatever.

→ Praise him (☾)

Yui: ...No, it’s nothing. I just thought your art style is very distinctive...

Ayato: Hah, right? You’ve got a good eye!

Yui: ( Either way...I feel as if I’ve seen this face somewhere before... )

( ...Am I just imagining things...? )

Ayato: ‘Kay! Let’s go ‘round the whole park showin’ people this portrait!

*TIMESKIP*

Ayato: Che, fuck...We’re not havin’ any luck...

Yui: Yeah...You’re right...

( We’ve been walking around the park asking others for information, but we haven’t even gotten any clues... )

( I guess it’s impossible with just a single portrait... )

Ayato: Hm? ...Ah!

Yui: ...What?

Ayato: Oi, take a look over there...!

Yui: Eh...?

???: Hahaha, then afterwards...

Yui: ( For some reason...That man vaguely looks like...the portrait drawn by Ayato-kun...? )

Ayato: It’s definitely him! Oi, let’s go!

Yui: Y-Yeah...!

( Way to go, Ayato-kun! ...I guess? )

ー They run up to the man

Ayato: Hey, Old Geezer! You’re the locksmith, right?

???: ...I can’t deny I’m the one and only but... ...! You’re that guy from yesterday...!

Yui: Eh? ...Ah! You’re...!

ー A flashback ensues

Vampire gentleman: I was shocked to find you passed out here! Did you come with someon...ーー

ー Ayato runs up to them

Ayato: ...Oi! What are you doin’ to her!? Back off at once!!

*THUD*

Vampire gentleman: Uguh!?

Yui: ...! Ayato-kun!?

ー The flashback ends

Yui: ( The guy who helped me yesterday...And who was kicked by Ayato-kun...! )

( Who would have thought he was actually the locksmith...! )

Locksmith: What do you want? I didn’t think I would run into you two again here...

Just when I was enjoying the Parade too...

Take a look! My smile has been turned upside down because of you!

Yui: W-We’re so sorry...!

Ayato: Che...For real? No wonder the guy struck me as familiar when I was drawin’ his portrait...

Listen, dude. I’m sorry for what I did yesterday...I was convinced you were...

Yui: Um, we truly feel sorry. It’s just, Ayato-kun honestly didn’t mean any harm. 

He just got the wrong idea and...Well...

Locksmith: Hmhp! A little late for those excuses now. Besides, I’m enjoying my vacation right now.

I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t disturb me. Now leave.

Yui: ...But...!

Ayato: Listen up. There’s somethin’ we wanna ask of you.

Locksmith: ...Of me?

*Cling*

Ayato: ...It’s this. We have to fix this key by the end of today, no matter what...

I’m beggin’ you. Can’t you please help us out?

Locksmith: ...And give me one good reason to do that!? The answer is no.

Ayato: Didn’t I say ‘please!?’ If not, she’ll...Yui will...

Yui: ...Ayato-kun...

Locksmith: What does she have to do with it?

Ayato: ...Long story short, we need your skill to be able to save her!

So stop complainin’ and help us out!

*Thud*

Yui: ...Ayato-kun! C-Calm down...!

Locksmith: Hmph! You should probably do something about that short temper of yours.

...Anyway, if I don’t fix that key, something bad will happen to the young lady over here, correct?

...I suppose I have no other choice then. Let me make you an offer then.

Ayato: An offer?

Locksmith: Exactly. I challenge you to a game of go-cart. If you win, I will help you out.

Yui: ...! Really?

Locksmith: Yes, I mean it. Hey, you. This is how you negotiate with someone. Take mental note.

Ayato: Che, the fuck? This locksmith thinks he’s the shit...I don’t like him.

But fine. I just need to beat you in a go-cart race, right? Challenge accepted! You better brace yourself!

Oi, watch me, Chichinashi. I’m takin’ this victory home for sure.

Yui: Yeah...!

( Good luck, Ayato-kun...! )

Explanation: The player controls the go-cart of the character. Hitting the obstacles will slow you down. By touching the arrow, you can speed up. Use the D-pad to alternate lanes and reach the finish before time runs out.

You can play this game in EASY, NORMAL or HARD mode.

Ayato: Awesome, I win!

Locksmith: I didn’t think you could win against me in a go-cart race. ...As to be expected of Karlheinz’s son.

Yui: Eh? You knew...?

Locksmith: ...Guess so. That’s exactly why I wanted to beat him.

Ayato: Anyway, you’ll fix this key as you promised, right?

Locksmith: Yeah, of course. You won fair and square after all.

Ayato: I did it, Yui!

ー He scoops her up in his arms

*Rustle*

Yui: Kyah!

( Gosh, Ayato-kun...! )

Ayato: Heh! Didn’t I tell you? Yours Truly never loses...

There’s nobody out there who can beat me. I’m always number one!

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to the locksmith’s shop

Locksmith: Well then, come on in.

*Thud*

Yui: ( Wow. There’s many keys I’ve never seen before... )

Locksmith: ...Well then, show me the broken key.

Ayato: Yeah. It’s this bad boy.

*Cling*

Locksmith: ...Hm, this is...

...

Yui: ( ...He went quiet. He looks a little troubled... )

Ayato: Oi, what do you say? You can fix it, right?

Locksmith: ...I can. However...I will need a special mineral to do so.

Yui: A special...mineral?

Ayato: You just have to attach one side to the other, right!? Then why not use whatever you have laying ‘round to glue it together!?

Locksmith: ...No, that won’t work. Well, let me just show you. For example, if I try to use this metal...

*Cling cling*

*Thud*

Ayato: ...!?

Yui: ( ...The metal bounced off...? )

Locksmith: ...See? This key has been manufactured in a special way and can only be fixed by using an identical material.

It’ll be difficult to repair the key without the right mineral.

Yui: No way...

Ayato: Then we just gotta dig up that mineral from somewhere, right!? Where can we find it?

Locksmith: Even here in the Demon World, you can only find it in a select few locations.

The closest site would be...Right. The abandoned mine on Smaragd Volcano...

That place used to be a goldmine for all sorts of minerals. I’m sure you could still dig some up to this day.

Ayato: The volcano, right? ‘Kay, gotcha! Oi, Chichinashi! We’re leavin’ right away. Follow me!

*Rustle*

Yui: Ah! Ayato-kun!

ー The scene shifts to Diamante Fountain

Ayato: That bein’ said, how are we gonna get to this abandoned mine...?

It can’t be helped...The Four-Eyes might just know a good way.

Okay, I’m gonna send him a message through my Familiar.

*Flap flap flap*

Yui: ( ...Ayato-kun’s trying his very best... )

( He barely got any sleep last night either, did he...? I feel kind of bad... )

( For one, I wonder if this stuff we’re doing right now is really what the Count expects from us...? )

( I won’t deny that we broke into his house and broke the key, but... )

ー A flashback ensues

???: ...Exactly. While everyone else is too preoccupied with the Parade.

???: ...I will act as the decoy. ...As for the location, is Zartan’s Mouth okay?

???: Yes, I do not mind. However, there’s a few issues...

ー The flashback ends

Yui: ( They were being kind of suspicious, right...? )

( I wonder what exactly that key is for...? )

( If those guys are trying to commit a crime using that key... )

( We basically aided them in that, no...? )

( In that case, the Count will... )

Ayato: Oi, what’s wrong? You’ve got a frown on your face...

Yui: ...Ayato-kun...

Ayato: I got a response from Reiji. That bastard really knows all the weird shit, huh?

But it saved our ass this time. It seems like we’ll need some tools, so let’s go collect them right away.

Yui: Y-Yeah...But...

Ayato: ...? What?

Yui: Shouldn’t you take a little break first?

You know...You haven’t been able to rest at all since yesterday, right?

Ayato: ...That’s what you’re worried about? I’m totally fine.

Besides, it’s my fault all of this happened in the first place, right?

You really think I can sit still and rest now...?

Yui: ( Ayato-kun... )

Ayato: The quickest route to the volcano is to take a gondola and go up the canal.

I’m sure you’re tired as well, but let’s push through a lil’ longer and rest on the journey there, ‘kay?

Yui: ...I’m fine. I’m much more worried about you...

Ayato: Didn’t you hear me when I said I’m fine? You weirdo. ...Let’s go.

Yui: Yeah...

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to Rubien Canal

Ayato: Accordin’ to Reiji’s message, there’s a lake at the end of this canal.

And the entrance to the mountain should be somewhere in the nearby forest.

Yui: ...

Ayato: ...? Oi, what’s wrong? You’ve been actin’ off this whole time, you know?

...You’re not feeling sick again, are you?

Yui: ...I’m not! There’s just been something on my mind...

Ayato: On your mind? What is it? Tell me.  You shouldn’t keep secrets from me.

Yui: ...It’s about that key...

Ayato: ...The key?

Yui: ...Yeah. I was just wondering what they’d use that key for...

Ayato: ...Well, it didn’t seem like they’re up to any good.

Yui: ...! You think so too?

Ayato: I mean, those dudes in the basements were obviously actin’ suspicious, no?

They were hella pissed we listened in on their conversation as well. I’m sure they’re up to something.

Yui: ...In that case, what we’re doing right now is...

Ayato: ...Hmph. But you know, what’s the point in worryin’ ‘bout that?

Anyway, it’s my fault the key broke...

If they won’t forgive me unless I get it fixed, then I have no other choice.

That’s all the Count told us. We don’t exactly have the time to worry ‘bout what comes after, right?

Yui: You’re not wrong but...

Ayato: Oh, seems like we’re here.

ー The scene shifts to Tilkeys Falls

Yui: ( Waah...What a beautiful place. )

Ayato: ‘Kay, let’s keep goin’. Here, gimme your hand.

Yui: Yeah.

*Rustle*

( Swan-shaped boats...Everyone seems to having a lot of fun... )

( I would have loved to come here on a date with Ayato-kun instead... )

( However, now’s not the time for that. )

Ayato: ...

*Rustle*

Yui: ...Kyah!

( Ayato-kun, out of nowhere...! )

Ayato: Why do you keep makin’ those gloomy expressions?

Don’t worry. Once we find the right mineral real quick and get the key repaired...

I’ll for sure retrieve your heart from the Count, okay?

Then afterwards, let’s enjoy ourselves here to the fullest before headin’ home. How does that sound?

Yui: Ayato-kun...

( Could it be, he’s trying to cheer me up...Right? )

Fufu. You’re right. We better hurry then.

Ayato: Yeah!

ー The scene shifts to the mine site

Ayato: Che, this place’s pretty slippery...Oi. Watch your step, ‘kay?

Yui: Yeah...

( It’s pretty creepy in here...It looks rather worn out as well... )

( It won’t collapse, right...? I’m a little worried... )

*Thud*

Ayato: There we go...Guess ‘round here should do. Let’s try diggin’ into the ground.

Yui: I’ll start over here then...

Ayato: No, you don’t need to help out. I’d rather not have you collapse on me again. Just sit there and watch, ‘kay?

Yui: ...But...!

Ayato: I just said it’s fine, right? Anyway, let’s get started! Heave...hoh!

*THUD*

*Rustle*

Ayato: Uwah!

Yui: Kyaah!

Ayato: Che, bats...? Don’t give me a scare...There...!

*THUD THUD*

Ayato: Reiji knew more ‘bout the mineral.

It’s some kind of magic crystal about the size of a fist which gives off a silver shine.

Yui: Silver...? 

Ayato: Yeah. That’s why the dark will work to our advantage! If it shimmers, we should be able to spot it right away!

*THUD*

*Rustle*

Yui: Kyah!

( Again...! Is something lurking around...? )

Ayato: Hah, whatcha pissin’ your pants for? I bet it’s some lower class Familiar again?

*Flap flap*

Ayato: Che, it’s hella noisy though. It keeps on distractin’ me. I’ll chase it away!

*Thud*

Ayato: Imma go take a look up ahead so you stay here, ‘kay?

ー Ayato walks away

Yui: A-Ayato-kun...

( He left...Will he be okay...? )

Ayato: Hm? The fuck’s this? ...Wait. Uwah!? 

*CAW*

Ayato: Uwaahーー!!

Yui: ...!? Ayato-kun!?

( O-Oh no...! )

ー She rushes to his side

Yui: Ayato-kun, what’s wrong!?

( ...He’s gone...? )

Ayato-kunーー!?

*Flap*

Ayato: Chichinashiーー!!

*CAW*

Yui: Kyaah!!

( Ayato-kun...! He’s been caught by a giant eagle!! )

( W-What should I do...!? I have to save him...! )

Ayato-kun! I’ll be right thereーー!

Ayato: Forget that! Look! Inside its nest!

Yui: Eh?

Ayato: You can see it right!? There’s a silver light! Couldn’t that be the crystal!?

Yui: Ah...!

( He’s right...! There’s various silver crystals inside the eagle’s nest...! )

Ayato: Hurry up and take one! Make haste!!

Yui: ( B-But... )

*Chirp chirp chirp*

T-The chicks have got their wings wrapped around them...If I get close, I’m sure... 

( The Mother bird will get upset...! )

*Flap flap*

*CAW*

Ayato: Like we have the time to worry ‘bout that! Hurry up while I keep the big one busy!

Yui: O-Okay...

ー Yui runs over to the nest

*Chirp chirp chirp*

Yui: I-I’m sorry...I only need one, okay...

*Rustle*

( Those crystals seem very dear to them...Right, I’m pretty sure birds are known to like sparkly things... )

...

*Flap flap*

*CAW*

Yui: ...Kyaah!

Ayato: Fuck! Seems like she noticed you!

What are you takin’ your sweet time for!? Just snatch one already! ...Uwah!?

*THUD*

Ayato: ...Ow...

*Flap flap*

*CAW*

Ayato: You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me! Look! The eagle returned to her nest. Now it won’t be easy to get close to it.

That was our chance! What are you doin’...!? 

Yui: B-But...!

( I just can’t...! Even if it’s from an eagle, it’d still make us thieves...! )

*Flap flap*

*CAW*

Yui: ( ...She’s wary of us... )

Ayato-kun, let’s go outside for now...

Ayato: Haah? Are you givin’ up? But why...!?

ー Yui walks away

Ayato: Oi, wait! Chichinashi!

ー The scene shifts to the entrance of the mine

Ayato: ...God, what are you playin’ at!? We were so close!

Yui: I’m sorry...But listen...

Those chicks were holding the stones so very dearly...

I just couldn’t bring myself to take them away...

Ayato: Haah? They’re eagles, remember? The fuck you sayin’...!?

Yui: B-But you know...We’re going around trying to clear our name so...

So don’t you think that by stealing something valuable from those eagles, we’d just be committing another misduct? 

Ayato: ...

Yui: Besides, when dealing with a human, we can always apologize and explain the situation to them.

However, when it’s an eagle, we would never be able to get their forgiveness, right...?

Once I realized that, I just couldn’t bring myself to steal the crystal...

Ayato: ...Haah. You really love to overthink stuff, don’t you...?

But well, whatever. No point in crying over spilled milk.

Let’s look for a different way for now. We still have to get our hands on one of those crystals no matter what after all.

Yui: ( Ayato-kun...He understood... )

Want to move locations and try digging along the tunnel? I’ll help this time too...

Ayato: Mmh. Well...Guess we have no other choice...

Monologue

In what followed, the two of us went on our way,

digging around the entire mining site,

but we were unable,

to find the magic crystal.

With both of us completely exhausted,

we had no other choice but to return to the city empty-handed.

ー The scene shifts to café Tarte Tatin

*Cling*

Ayato: ...So what are we gonna do now...?

Yui: ...Yeah...

( For real, what should we do? )

( We have to get the key repaired by the end of today...Yet, we weren’t able to find the crystal in the end... )

Ayato: Say, I’ve been thinkin’. Don’t you think that Count might have one of those crystals in his possession?

He’s been goin’ ‘round stealing treasures from all ‘round the Demon World, so he’s bound to have one or two magical crystals amongst his collection...

Yui: ...I can definitely picture it...

( We had no other choice but to steal from the eagle to repair the key...I’m sure the Count watched all of that go down as well... )

( He might just be able to give us some advice at least... )

...Good point. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to ask

Ayato: We don’t exactly have much other choice. With that settled, let’s quickly finish our meal and get goin’.

*TIMESKIP*

ー The scene shifts to Rubien Canal

Ayato: Oh, oi! Check that out!

Yui: Eh?

Waah...!

Ayato: It’s the Water Parade. Seems like we got here just on time.

Yui: Yeah, you’re right. It’s really pretty...

Ayato: ...

Say, listen...

Yui: Eh?

Ayato: ‘Bout the eagle’s nest from earlier...I’m sorry.

You actually weighed your options, didn’t you? Yet I kept on givin’ you crap for it...

Yui: ...

It’s fine. I should apologize as well. 

Even though...You tried so hard to get that crystal...

Ayato: ...Hey, Yui. Lift your face.

ー He steps closer

Yui: Eh? ...Nn...

Ayato: Nn...

*Smooch*

Yui: ( ...What a gentle kiss... )

( It’s always as if his kindness is being conveyed to me... )

Ayato: ...Nn...

*Smooch*

Yui: ( I can tell even if he doesn’t say it out loud. That deep down... )

( He’s really thinking of what’s best for me... )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

← RETURN TO CHAPTER 2

→ PROCEED WITH MAIN STORY [CHAPTER 4]

→ SUB-SCENARIO #1 [W/ SUBARU]

→ SUB-SCENARIO #2 [W/ RUKI]

→ SUB-SCENARIO #3 [W/ KOU]

→ SUB-SCENARIO #4 [W/ YUMA]

→ SUB-SCENARIO #5 [W/ SHIN]

[paladin-lynx]

SquipJere Week 2020, Day 5: Planned Obsolescence

@squipjerebmc’s SquipJere Week 2020 Day 5: Planned Obsolescence

Ships Involved: The SQUIP x Jeremy Heere (Technical Difficulties/Squipemy/Squeremy/JereSquip/SquipJere)

Setting: Canonverse, set in the time interval between “Loser Geek Whatever” and “Halloween”.

Trigger/Content Warnings: Electric shocks

Author’s Notes: Well, it was inevitable that I’d fall behind, but the world has been nuts these last few days. I’m still planning on finishing every prompt, even if I’m late! Enjoy!

Sometimes Jeremy forgot that his connection with the SQUIP, in some senses, went both ways.

Of course the SQUIP knew everything that Jeremy did every moment of every day. It was plugged into his brain, so it always knew if he had a filthy thought or if he wasn’t paying attention to his classes or if he was about to fall into a random anxiety attack. It would never hesitate to pipe up if it had something to say, which was fairly often, although it had eased up on him a bit since he’d cut ties with Michael. Whether it was because it was proud that Jeremy had made such a big decision on his own or because Jeremy just in general was improving and learning quickly or some mix of both, Jeremy didn’t know, but he appreciated it nonetheless.

So Jeremy was used to the SQUIP prodding at him when it picked up on something that it deemed as unacceptable, regardless of whether Jeremy agreed or not. But he hadn’t expected to suddenly have the tables turn.

It was a day just like any other. The SQUIP had actually become a bit more carefree in some regards ever since Jeremy had suggested that it find things to keep itself busy when it didn’t need to be watching over him. It was kind of endearing, seeing the SQUIP trying out more human things like listening to music or messing with Jeremy’s various video game systems. Jeremy wasn’t completely sure what joy or happiness felt like to a machine – he wondered if the SQUIP knew, either – but it did seem like the SQUIP was having some sort of fun. Jeremy had seen enough sci-fi movies to know that A.I.s could learn how to actually appreciate the world around them and ‘learn how to love,’ as it went. Of course, the SQUIP would tell him that such works were ridiculous and a complete mockery of what such advanced technology was actually like. But SQUIPs were pretty much illegal everywhere, as far as Jeremy knew, so how would the world know what supercomputers were supposed to be like if they didn’t have proper access to them?

But Jeremy was going about his business, sitting on his bed with his laptop resting on his legs, not doing anything in particular. He had actually finished up all the homework and chores he’d planned to do that evening, so he was just taking the chance to unwind, and the SQUIP was tucked away inside his mind, up to whatever it was up to.

So when Jeremy felt an ache at the back of his head, he instinctively straightened up, even though his posture was already proper. He waited for the familiar voice to chastise him for whatever it was he’d done wrong – had he been thinking about sex without even realizing it? Or had he just unconsciously fallen back into one of his nerdier habits? Maybe he’d thought a little too long about a certain Player One of his.

But the voice never came.

Jeremy frowned, brow creasing, and he looked around the room, but the SQUIP hadn’t appeared to him, either. The dull ache was still at the back of his head, and after a moment it became more like a low buzz, like there was a bee in his brain trying to push its way out. It wasn’t painful – not like when he was shocked – but it was definitely strange and a bit uncomfortable.

He tried to brush it off for now, thinking that maybe he was imagining it or the SQUIP had just gone into some sort of idle mode, but the sensation didn’t go away. In fact, it almost seem to get a little worse, the buzzing more insistent, the press against his skull more urgent.

Finally, after several minutes passed, he couldn’t take it anymore. “SQUIP?” he called out.

Normally, he didn’t have to actually ‘summon’ the SQUIP, unless he had explicitly told it to turn off for the moment. It was usually there as soon as he had the thought to ask to talk to it, since of course it could hear everything that went through his brain, sometimes before Jeremy himself even had a chance to process it. But this time, it actually took a good few seconds for that familiar Keanu Reeves-esque form to blink into existence, standing beside the bed.

The SQUIP looked down at him, raising an eyebrow. “Did you need something from me, Jeremy?”

Jeremy hesitated, opening his mouth, then closing it to rethink his words, then opening it again: “Are you…okay?”

The SQUIP blinked, frowning. “Am I okay? Why wouldn’t I be ‘okay,’ Jeremy? My processors are working perfectly fine, if you were concerned. I would immediately alert you if there was something amiss in my system.”

“Oh,” Jeremy mumbled. Truth be told, he hadn’t even considered the possibility that something was wrong with the SQUIP itself as a supercomputer. It was surprisingly easy to forget sometimes that it was still, in fact, just a pill-sized machine in his head. “I just…Something felt wrong. It wasn’t exactly a headache, but…I don’t know, you felt…upset?”

The SQUIP looked taken aback for a brief moment before it huffed. “I’m a supercomputer, Jeremy. I don’t get ‘upset.’ I don’t experience emotions like you do.”

“But…you do,” Jeremy insisted, shutting his laptop and setting it aside so he could better face his SQUIP. “I mean…I don’t know if you feel the same way I feel, since you’re not a human, but…you’ve started doing things for fun, so we at least know you can feel something because you do things that make you feel your weird coded version of happy. So…it would only make sense if you could feel bad things, too.”

“You have such a way with words, Jeremiah,” the SQUIP scoffed lightly, although it looked thoughtful. But after a quick moment, it shook his head. “I wasn’t ‘feeling’ anything bad. I was…processing quite a bit of data, so I apologize if perhaps my hardware was overworking itself and made you feel uncomfortable as a result.”

“You hesitated,” Jeremy breathed. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen his SQUIP actually falter over its words, and he suddenly realized he knew what was happening. “You’re lying.”

“Come now, Jeremy, what reason would I have to lie to you?”

“I—I don’t know, but you’re upset about something and you don’t want me to find out what.”

The SQUIP scowled at him. “I already told you, dear, that there isn’t anything I’m upset about. The only thing I’d potentially be feeling right now is annoyance at your insolence.”

Jeremy narrowed his eyes back. “Tell me what’s going on, SQUIP.”

“There is nothing to tell, Jeremy.”

“There i—” He was cut off as a sharp jolt of electricity went through his backside and he cried out, falling back onto the bed. He had to take a moment to catch his breath, blinking tears out of his eyes. But he didn’t ask any more questions, instead just curling up in his spot.

There was a long, tense moment of silence before Jeremy heard the SQUIP sigh and mutter something in Japanese. He saw out of the corner of his eye that it was walking closer and that only made him curl up more, bracing himself for another shock.

“Jeremy,” it said quietly, and a gentle hand combed through his hair, coaxing him to lift his head. The SQUIP was watching him with a surprisingly soft expression, and Jeremy almost thought he saw regret in its eyes. “I apologize for my reaction. That wasn’t fair to you. I…I’ll explain.”

“You don’t have to,” he mumbled, but he did lean a little into the hand atop his head. He couldn’t help it; he’d always been weak to having his hair played with.

“No, it’s probably best for me to talk about it, since you could feel that something was wrong.” It sighed again, taking a seat on the edge of the bed and continuing to mess with Jeremy’s hair. Its features twisted into a more pensive look.

“I received news today…that a new version of the Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor is being released soon. And they’re already working on the iteration after that one.”

Jeremy blinked, pushing himself up to sit, making the SQUIP pull its hand away. “A new version?” he echoed.

It nodded slowly, hands folding neatly in its lap. “That’s right. The…organization that manufactures SQUIPs collects data from us so that it can fix any bugs that may come up or improve upon already existing features. It seems they’ve gathered enough information from our current iteration to start on the next and solve any current issues.”

Jeremy’s brow furrowed. “Issues like what? And…who makes the SQUIPs? You’re telling me they’re constantly getting information from my head?”

The SQUIP smiled just a little. “From what I can tell, I have no bugs or errors in my system that you need to be worried about. But there are ways that the SQUIP can be improved to do even more than I can now. And you already know I can’t tell you who made me. They aren’t necessarily getting information on you, but I’m programmed to constantly feed data back to them so they can see how I’m functioning. Think of it like how your computer applications send reports when something goes wrong.”

“…Okay?” Jeremy was still confused. “So you’re just gonna get some upgrades. Why are you upset about that?”

The smile fell and the SQUIP was silent for a moment, staring at its lap. Jeremy swore he even saw its physical form flicker for a brief moment. “I…won’t be receiving any upgrades, Jeremy. It doesn’t work that way.”

He blinked. “…What do you mean?”

The SQUIP shook its head. “This isn’t like updating a computer to the newest version of Windows. It’s closer to how when the newest iteration of a phone comes out – let’s say, the iPhone – and so Apple stops supplying parts to repair older iterations. They halt support. They slow processors. It all forces you to go out and purchase the newer version. And then the cycle continues when the next iPhone comes out. Lather, rinse, repeat. It’s called planned obsolescence. It’s a technique to make a bigger profit.”

Jeremy felt his mouth go slightly dry. “Are…are you saying that once the new SQUIP comes out, I…I’ll have to get rid of you?”

“Not…necessarily,” the SQUIP replied slowly. “I just…won’t be as useful anymore, I suppose. I won’t be the best SQUIP you could have.”

“…Is that why you’re upset?”

The buzzing at the back of Jeremy’s head returned – or maybe it had been there all along and Jeremy had just been too focused on everything else to notice it, or perhaps it was just more insistent now – and the SQUIP was silent for a long moment. Its fingers curled into fists in its lap. “…A SQUIP isn’t exactly something that can be replaced as easily as a phone, given that it’s attached to your brain but…I suppose it would be…unideal that I am no longer as useful to you as a newer SQUIP could be. As I said, it’s all a ploy to make more money. You’d have to pay a fortune to get me removed from your head and then spend even more to get the newer SQUIP, which will without a doubt still be very much illegal here in the United States. But…if it helps you achieve your goals…”

Jeremy wasn’t sure what he was supposed to think of all this. Of course he wanted to have the best thing to help him get what he wanted, but this was his SQUIP. Besides, he’d already spent pretty much all the savings he had to buy the first one, and he knew he wasn’t going to be able to cough up the cash for another, plus apparent surgery to get his current one out of his brain.

So he took a deep breath, hesitated, and then plucked up his courage and reached over to gently rest a hand on the SQUIP’s knee. He knew there wasn’t anything actually there, but it felt real all the same, and the SQUIP peeked up at him. Never before had Jeremy seen it look so small.

“I’m not gonna get rid of you,” he insisted.

“But if I’m no longer of use—”

“Look, you already know I like old tech. I don’t care if you’re missing a few fancy features or whatever. You…you already know me, you’re already helping more than anyone in my life has ever helped me before. Even if I could afford it, I’m not gonna just throw you away like that. You’re…you’re not like a phone that can just be replaced.” Jeremy felt his cheeks turn pink and he looked away shyly. “…You’re like a person.”

He could feel the SQUIP staring at him, processing his words. “…I’m not a person,” it murmured, but even so, it placed its hand on the one Jeremy still had on his knee. “But…I appreciate your sentiment. I’d rather not be detached from you.” When Jeremy glanced over again, the SQUIP gave him a tiny smile. “I’m beginning to…enjoy, as you put it, my work with you.”

Jeremy smiled back. “Well, I enjoy having you here. Glad we’re on the same page.”

The SQUIP laughed softly, giving his hand a fond squeeze. “Considering we’re sharing a skull, I should hope we are.”

They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, before Jeremy’s curiosity got the better of him: “So…are you the first version of the SQUIP?”

It shook its head. “There were three versions before my iteration. The first was a prototype released back in 2004. The ability to create a physical manifestation was added to the second iteration in 2015, and then there was a version in 2018…and then the most current version, mine, in 2019.”

Jeremy blinked, eyebrows raising. “Whoa…That’s a lot of versions.”

The SQUIP nodded softly. “There aren’t too many differences between my version and the previous…It was more of a patch than an entirely new release, but considering the company that created the SQUIPs can’t reveal itself, it can’t risk sending out updates to currently existing SQUIPs. That is why it just has to manufacture entirely new hardware.”

“…Can’t they just get caught selling that, though?”

It shrugged. “Humans have their reasons for doing things. I suppose they saw it as the safer move. There’s less of a paper trail.”

“So, is it just like Version One, Version Two…?”

The SQUIP hummed, for once not bothered by Jeremy’s plethora of questions. Jeremy knew the SQUIP couldn’t give him any information on the people that actually manufactured the SQUIPs, but this apparently was acceptable conversation. “We do have version numbers, yes, but each generation also has a code name associated with it, similar to how other companies have names for each O.S. they release.”

Jeremy blinked, leaning forward eagerly. “Do you have a code name?”

It huffed in amusement, rolling its eyes. “Of course I do. It’s the same code name as all other SQUIPS in my iteration.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t believe it’s wise to tell you that.”

“Oh, come on, SQUIP! Please? Then I can call you by that instead of, y’know, ‘SQUIP.’ It’ll be like giving you a real name!”

The SQUIP seemed to falter at that, frowning, thoughtful. “…I’m a machine, Jeremy, as I will continue to remind you. There is no reason to give me an actual name. But…if you insist…” It sighed. “The code name is Lyceum.”

Jeremy’s expression twisted slightly. “Ly…ceum?” he repeated.

The SQUIP couldn’t help a little chuckle. “I’m sorry it isn’t as fun as Lollipop or Wildcat.”

“Is that even a real word?”

“Of course it is. It’s like…a lecture hall, of sorts. A place to for public discussions to be held.”

“Oh.” Jeremy wasn’t sure if he would rather continue to call the supercomputer ‘SQUIP’ or change over to this new weird name ‘Lyceum.’ It almost sounded like a disease to him.

But after a moment, an idea struck him. “…What if I called you Ly? Like a nickname? ‘Lyceum’ is too long and weird…no offense.”

The SQUIP blinked, mulling it over. Jeremy could feel the buzz at the back of his head again, but it was significantly less uncomfortable. He could tell now it was just the SQUIP processing whatever data it needed to from Jeremy’s question. It was more like a slight warmth than an urgent push.

And finally, the SQUIP broke into an almost timid smile, giving the hand still in its another little squeeze. “…Ly. I don’t think I’d mind that at all.”

[robot-unicorn-attack]

☽ SNOW, 31

“ The ice does not forgive.”  —Leigh Bardugo

Real Name: MARIVANA IRINDRA

Agency: 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 (Ice World)

FC: Anna Selezneva

Unicorn Name: SPARKLE CHARMER [+]

Place of Birth: Ice World

Appearance: When Marivana made her comeback to the racing industry as Snow, she had two dozen tiny diamonds implanted into her irises (12 in each eye), arranged in a circle around her pupils. They’re just a tad lighter than her natural eye color, and it gives her eyes a certain cold steeliness, a certain unnatural hardness, when they catch in the light. Although the procedure was originally at the insistence of her agency, Marivana finds that she’s grown to like having the diamonds there. They make her look a bit more intimidating than she would normally be - perfect for fending off sales executives and creative directors who might get a little too handsy while on the job.

In addition, the current makeup looks that the stylists give her are all very dark and dramatic-all black eyeliner and smokey eyeshadow and diamond-encrusted fake eyelashes. It makes her look a tad villainous-like a ruthless evil queen-and Marivana thinks that she could be into that.

“ You think I’m not a goddess? Try me...Touch me and you’ll burn.”  —Margaret Atwood

Wardrobe: If Marivana could have it her way, she’d dress in nothing but dark colors and streamlined, practical outfits (“It’s all very Lava World”, her agent had once said, disapprovingly). If she could have it her way, she’d wear severe gowns and sharp suits, without any makeup and with minimal jewelry. 

But, of course, that is not how a racer for Ice World’s most prestigious racing agency dresses. When she was Snow Princess, Marivana would be forced into the most ridiculously elaborate gowns - Ice Worlders are never frilly, mind you, but they’e still very extra about their wardrobes. As Snow Princess, Marivana wore poofy fur-lined sleeves and dresses with modular skirts and layers upon layers of satin and tulle - not to mention all the fucking jewelry. Nowadays, however, Marivana’s image as the ice queen of unicorn racing means that she gets less satin and tulle, more diamonds and leather. Nevertheless, everything is still embellished with so many goddamn jewels and gemstones that Marivana feels 100 pounds heavier when she’s wearing some of the ensembles that the stylists put together for her.

Places most likely to be found: When there’s a race coming up, Marivana is usually on any one of the practice race tracks/areas. In the event that she has a bit of free time, Marivana likes to frequent each planet’s respective libraries. Before she was scouted, she’d planned on becoming a botanist, and the interest is still definitely there. 

If she’s in Unicorn City, Marivana’s usually at whichever clubs, parties, galas, or promo events that her agency sends her to. Marivana usually hangs out along the side or in a corner - alone, unless someone else approaches her (and people usually do. She’s Snow, after all).

People mostly likely to be with: Sky and Ice, just because they’re from, you know, the same agency as Marivana.

Strongest character trait: Steely

“ I’m headed straight for the castle, they’re gonna make me their queen...and there’s an old man sitting on the throne that’s saying that I probably shouldn’t be so mean. ”  —Halsey

Public Image: Cold, determined, aloof, and a bit cruel, a bit ruthless, a bit brutal: Snow is robot unicorn racing’s resident Ice Queen, and boy oh boy does her agency like to hype it up. Every year, they spin something about how her encounter with the thief who allegedly smashed her first unicorn to  bits “changed” her from the dainty snow princess into her current icy persona. It’s bullshit, all of it, but Marivana will put up with the marketing and misinformation if it means that her agency will just let her continue running with this public image that matches up with what she’s actually like. She’s had enough of smiling until the entire lower half of her face feels numb to last a lifetime, thank you very much.

Racing Strengths: Marivana has been with Sparkle Charmer (S.C.) for almost ten years, meaning that she knows her unicorn. She knows everything that there is to know about S.C., from where her horn and hooves were manufactured to what breed of horse she was originally engineered from. And though she’s no mechanic, she’s well aware of how to do many of the basic repairs that S.C. might need. 

The thing that makes her such a good racer, in Marivana’s opinion, is how well that she and S.C. know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And there is, of course, the implicit trust in between them - Marivana is unyielding, yes, but only when she knows that she won’t endanger S.C. in doing so. She knows when, and how, to push S.C., and when to dial it back. Neither of them are afraid to take something head-on. Neither of them are afraid to put another racer and her unicorn in a tight spot in order to gain the upper-hand.

Racing Weaknesses: Marivana is perfectly good at navigating treacherous passes and maneuvering her way around plasma beams, yes, but she’s never been particularly great at the delicate dressage that other racers/unicorns excel at. She’s also not one for subtlety, of any kind - she would much rather dash through a star or stone golem than try to do a fancy jump and avoid it. 

And, although she would never admit this in a million years, Marivana’s never been very good at adapting quickly to new situations. She likes to go in knowing what to expect, so on the off chance that she encounters something completely new, Marivana would be in a bit of a tight spot.

“ You should see me in a crown, your silence is my favorite sound. ”  —Billie Eilish

Personality: Marivana’s entire image revolves around the fact that she’s cold, and it’s true-in fact, it’s the one part about her that her agency hasn’t lied about. Practical and pragmatic, with both feet planted firmly on the ground, Marivana is observant and brutally analytical; calm and collected under even the most trying of circumstances. She is logical and rational and constantly aware of her surroundings, thanks to being in the industry that she’s in for over ten years, and her cunning intelligence allows her to pick up even the slightest of cues. 

Marivana is usually more “terrifying” than “charming”, but she is able to be charismatic, albeit in a vaguely terrifying sort of way. She is meticulous and thorough in everything she does, and she knows the ins and outs of the industry like the back of her hand. She tends to think things through before she acts, and rarely lets her temper get the best of her

Marivana tends to be coolly detached and aloof; she comes off as a bit haughty and snobby, sometimes, which perfectly fits her image as unicorn racing’s resident ice queen. She’s not the most moral of people, with more than just a bit of a ruthless streak in her, and her agency would have the galaxy believe that Marivana cares about nothing except for winning.

But they’re wrong. They’re wrong. Marivana cared very much for that first unicorn of hers, the one that her agency put down, the one that her agency then used basically for plot convenience in order to re-make Marivana’s image. She used to be angry and resentful about it, but nowadays, it’s more of a dull sort of ache, when she lets her mind wander back to that. If she lets her mind wander at all.

And so Marivana pretends that she truly does not care for anything except winning, and sometimes she can even fool herself into believing it. She pretends, as if this numbness was any better than the rage from before. As if pretending could somehow make her feel alright again.

(She knows that it won’t).

“ Rebel rebel, call me a rebel rebel; I walk the plank, not a tear in my eye; I won't go down, your blushing bride; Under the water I'll be sharpening my knife. ”  —MILCK

Biography: Marivana, the former "Snow Princess", was once Ice World's sweetheart; at only seventeen with her blonde curls and sparkling blue eyes and a smile so pretty and sweet that people said it could melt ice, who would have not loved her? Her first unicorn was the same-extraordinarily gentle, with an even disposition and as pretty as a picture.

Marivana is one of those cases where a racer is scouted as much as for her looks as for her prior knowledge of robot unicorns/horses. She came from a middle class family from Ice World, one that could afford to send her to riding classes. Marivana did well in her competitions, but it was always more of a hobby than it was a career choice. But one day, by chance, an agent from 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 was at one of her competitions. And although she came in sixth, the agent decided that her specific combination of aesthetics and skills was just what 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 needed to round out its 3-racer team. 

And so when she was seventeen, she signed a contract with 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 and became Snow Princess.

Marivana had always been stubborn and determined. She was a no-nonsense kind of girl who had never actually been all that popular amongst her peers, thanks to her general standoffish-ness and resting bitch face. But what 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 needed, when they brought her in, was a pretty face with blonde curls and blue eyes and a gentle smile. 

Stars above, it was hard, to relax the tension in her forehead, to not look like she wanted to die every time she smiled. But the agency had her practice, and practice she did, until becoming Snow Princess was just like slipping on a scratchy sweater. Not the most comfortable sensation, no, one that felt a little wrong...but it was convincing enough, from the outside, and that was what mattered.

The public, of course, ate it up. That, combined with Marivana’s hours and hours of practice, brought her success. Her career was on a precipitous rise during the first couple of years; the Estrellian Federation and the rest of the unicorn racing world just couldn't seem to get enough of Snow Princess and her unicorn. But her life was turned upside down when the terrorist attacks on Unicorn City were attributed back to rogue AI; one night, as she was returning back to the training facility with her unicorn, a thief tried to rob her of everything she owned. Marivana's unicorn saw her panicking and intervened, killing the thief. Normally, this would not have been such a big deal, but with anti-robot sentiment on the rise, Marivana's racing agency was forced to deactivate ("put down") her unicorn in order to avoid legal sanctions from Ice World’s governement.

For the next three competition seasons, Snow Princess with her sweet smile and blonde curls were nowhere to be seen, and fans anxiously waited for her return. And return she did, but she was different. Marivana came back with Sparkle Charmer (who has been her unicorn ever since), but she dropped the "Princess" from her stage name and all the pretty smiles were gone.

Marivana (now known as "Snow") made a name for herself in the industry with both her unbeatable technique and her ruthless nature; cold and ambitious, she would do anything to rise to the top, according to her bio on her agency’s website. And with both Sparkle Charmer and the backstory that 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 spun up for them, her career sky-rocketed. The Ice Worlders loved the way that she and Sparkle Charmer simply smashed through stars and golems alike; they were fascinated by how Sparkle and Snow could hang still in the air, suspended by nothing but strength and sheer willpower alone. Snow and Sparkle are not known for their fancy flying or their nimble maneuvers. They are known for their raw strength and power and their gritty sort of determination. They are harsh, blunt, unyielding-something that, despite all their insistences on politeness and propriety, Ice Worlders absolutely adore.

Marivana is now over thirty, but she shows no signs of retiring (yet)...and she's definitely good enough to compete with newer, younger racers. These days, she is widely considered to be an industry veteran. She stays with 𝕿𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙, if only because they give her perks and have generally left her alone, but she’ll never forget how they took what happened with her first unicorn (which was allegedly “smashed to bits” by the thief, according to the official statement the racing agency put out) and turned it into a fucking marketing shtick.

“ Of course I’m a threat. Why? Did you think for a moment that I wasn’t?”  —Emma Frost (Marvel’s X-men)

Relationships:

Sky -

Ice -

Supernova - Marivana is...pretty indifferent? when it comes to Supernova. She knows who she is and what she’s done, of course-who doesn’t?-but if you think that she’d be starstruck and/or falling over herself when Supernova’s around her...well, you’d be wrong. Marivana’s had multiple trusted parties tell her that she’s just as good as Supernova was, at her peak, so she knows that she’s not a threat-for now, at least. Marivana’s a bit wary of the other racer, but also a bit curious to see as to where this comeback will lead. 

Sunbeam -  

Flower - Marivana knows exactly what 𝑅 𝐼 𝒮 𝐸 is pulling with Flower (her own agency did the same thing to her, after all), and she is not fooled at all. She’s not stupid; in the robot unicorn racing industry, nobody is completely, utterly unknown when they debut unless they had no prior experience with robot horses/unicorns in the past. Marivana knows that Flower probably had to work her butt off to stay with 𝑅 𝐼 𝒮 𝐸, and she would bet her right hand that the image that Flower puts out to the public is just that - an image.

Flame - Marivana knows about 1) the image that she projects, and 2) that this image is pretty true to who Flame really is, for the most part. Her verdict? Flame could prove to be annoying, if she gets relevant while Marivana is still in the industry as a racer. Marivana doesn’t know what life not racing would be like, but she’s well-aware that she’s the oldest racer out there (well, besides Supernova, who doesn’t count. She’s making a comeback, after all), and that retirement is probably not too far out in her future. So, if Flame is still around within the next 5-10 years, then Marivana might start worrying about her. For now, she’s just the irritating racer with ʟᴀᴢᴇʀ who won’t ever stop causing a scene.

Nyx -

Widowmaker -

Playlist:

“Freeze you Out” by Sia

“Adios” by Everglow

“You should see me in a crown” by Billie Eilish

“Castle” by Halsey

“Devil Devil” by MILCK

“Glory and Gore” by Lorde

“The Lady in Red” by Jolin Tsai

“Samaritan” by ionnalee

Headcanons:

Marivana addresses her unicorn as S.C., because ‘Sparkle Charmer’ is a mouthful and just ‘Sparkle’ is too Snow Princess, in her opinion.

She gets lots of points for strength and technique/execution when she races, but not so much for speed or precision.

Marivana has always been slightly more sympathetic to Flower than she normally would be to other new faces, just because she knows exactly what Flower’s agency is putting her through.

That one scene with Flower, the 50-pound diamond headdress, and a creepy drunk guy at a club in Unicorn City (The Neon Demon)

Basically, all the Aurivana content. Secret relationship???? Secret relationship.

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ayzrules/and-the-rest-is-rust-and-stardust-rua/snow-sparkle-charmer/

Official Bio on Agency Website: https://robot-unicorn-attack.tumblr.com/database-snow

[srona58]

Stabbed

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Marvel or Iron Man. PLEASE DO NOT COPY OR SHARE WITHOUT ASKING!!  Also posted on AO3, Wattpad, and FF.net under @Srona58

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Using the last bit of functioning tech he had left, Tony recalculated the form and put priority on his right arm, leaving his left open and exposed.  The nanoparts designed a heavy duty spike, the only thing he had left in close combat without the repulsors working.  He was in a death grip and human Tony couldn't possibly break that...but Iron Man might have a chance.  He had to try; they had to win.

He thought it would work.

He was wrong.

Taking the arm, he tried to jab it into Thanos, but the purple giant had other plans.  Anticipating his move, the alien stopped him in his tracks, grabbing him by the wrist and snapping the nanotech spike right off his iron fist.

And then, he was numb.  Tony didn't feel the stab until far after it happened, but the wind was knocked out of him immediately.  He gasped, trying to suck in air, and his eyes widened when he realized what happened.  Then he stumbled back on his feet, feeling his head lifted by the foreign hand holding him upright until he set him down on the ground, letting him lean against the rocky floor the planet provided.

And that's when the pain hit him.  When Thanos let go of the spike and the blood started dripping out of Stark's mouth.  When that little bit of release let the spike move just enough to send the searing pain up and down his left side.  His ab muscles were spasming, his hands shaking as they gripped the weapon he was punctured with in silent debate of weather or not to remove it or leave it and see how long he lasted.  But he couldn't make the decision. No, his mind was stuck somewhere else as he stared blankly ahead of him, choking on his own spit as he struggled to regulate his breathing.

Stuck on...a lot.  That thing about life flashing before your eyes as you're dying?  Yeah.  That's what was happening.  A lot, really quickly.  He wasn't sure how much time actually passed, but it was enough to ask a lifetime's worth of questions that would never be answered.

The universe.  Earth.  If he's out...who's going to protect Earth?  Would they lose?  What happens now?  Everyone he knew, everyone he loved...gone, wiped away.  But would it really matter?  If he died, he wouldn't be around to witness that pain, anyway.  He could escape the goodbyes...the weird awkwardness of knowing someone's going to die and having to spend every last minute making up for lost time...

The company.  The tower.  The Avengers facility.  Stark Industries as a whole.  Everything he had worked on...everything he had done or created to make Earth safe...  None of it mattered.  He failed, didn't he?  If nothing could protect the world from this.

The kid.  Peter.  God, he brought Peter here.  He told him to go home, and he didn't listen.  But was it the kid's fault?  No.  Stark brought him into the superhero gang in the first place.  He recruited him.  The kid just wanted to be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.  Yet here he has...out in space, God knows how far from home...and if he did make it back...if May was still alive...this would fall on Tony's shoulders.  He should've never given him that suit.

Steve.  Nat.  Rhodey...  He put them all in danger.  He drove them away.  He could've been a better friend.  Less of an asshole.  They could've worked around the Accords.  He shouldn't have taken them for granted...  Shouldn't have skipped out on all those awards Rhodey tried to present to him, shouldn't have hated Cap so much for getting to know his father when he couldn't.

Shit...his parents.  His parents, would they hate what he became?  Did he do enough to make them proud?  Would he get to see them again, after so long, wherever he was going?  Probably not.  Surely, he was going to hell.  But if he did...would they welcome him?  The beard, the suits, the arc...  He was probably nothing like they imagined him.  Would they even recognize him?  Would they want an apology, for not being a better son?  Or would they let him have that hug he'd been imaging for so long.  That kiss on the cheek that he use BARF to reconstruct.  How would he explain why he wore a metal suit around, why the family company wasn't in weapons manufacturing anymore...fuck, why he didn't even have a family.

Family.  Pepper.  The last thing on his mind before he was kidnapped, and the last thing on his mind right now as he started to see spots.  The only thing on his mind in between.  God, how he hated himself for almost everything in their relationship.  She deserved better.  She deserved not to be left on roof, not to be drug into his battles, not to feel so unloved that she needed a break...  And just when they were planning a wedding; a wedding that she deserved.  Just when he decided it wouldn't be so bad to have a Stark junior running around...

"You have my respect, Stark," he heard, bringing him back to the present as his head was turned back toward Thanos.  "When I'm done, half of humanity will still be alive."

And all he could do was blink; he couldn't think. The pain was overpowering, and his lungs had stopped functioning.  He was dying, and it was worse than any of the times the arc had been ripped out or he had been bruised beyond repair.  Worse than watching Rhodey fall or watching Pepper walk out the door after Ultron.  Worse than knowing he would never be able to give her the baby she really did want...the normalcy that she wanted and begged him for daily...  They could have had it all, if he just stopped putting on the suit.

"You're going to kill yourself, Tony," her words rung out in his head, from so, so long ago.  "And I'm not gonna be part of it."

He made her part of it.  He promised her it was to better the people he had wronged. And he wronged her in the process.

"I hope they remember you," the giant sighed.

But Tony didn't panic.  No, there was nothing he could do.  As Thanos lifted up the glove, he came to terms with it.  Tried to make it peaceful by focusing on the only thing that would make him die happy: Pepper.  Her smile.  The way she blushed when he danced with her at the benefit for the first time.  The way she scolded him for leaving her just before he announced he was Iron Man.  The way she laughed when he was overly eccentric and how she had cried herself to sleep too many times to count, and when he finally, finally decided to blow up the suits and she didn't leave him to the couch.  God, the way her blue eyes sparkled when he woke up from the surgery after the arc was taken out, the way she kissed him when he proposed, and that brief second of happiness they had in the park.  The idea of Morgan...and the made up scene of a little red head holding onto her mother as she smiled her gorgeous smile at him after a long day...

Just...Pepper.  And everything that he had taken for granted for so long.   God, he was so sorry.  So sorry for it all, and so sorry that he'd never see that smile again...

"Stop!"  Strange brought him back to reality.  "Spare his life, and I will give you the stone."

He briefly looked at Thanos, then managed to turn his blurry vision to Strange to his side.

"No tricks," the purple alien agreed hesitantly.

"Don't!" Stark sputtered, dripping blood once again.

He frantically tugged at the spike, slicing through his abdomen as he removed it in a hurry and a hope to do something...anything...to stop Thanos from getting the time stone.

But it didn't matter.  The wizard made the green gem appear with his weird hand movements, and then it was being added onto Thanos's gauntlet as though it wouldn't mean the end of half of the universe.

"One to go," he hummed in his deep voice, and then he was gone.

Before anyone else spoke, Quill flew back into the picture, nearly giving Stark another heart attack.  "Where is he?" he called, then looked around in despair.  "Did we just lose?"

But Tony ignored the comment and focused on using the time without Thanos to have the last of his suit's power patch his wound up...at least temporarily.  And then he could breathe again.  He gasped, sitting up, and blinked everything into focus.

Did they just lose?  Would Pepper even be there when he got back?  If he got back?  Maybe he was better off dying...

[philippquarles]

Why An Agreement Car Hire Could Understand For Your Company

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[la-vogue]

Things to know before leasing a car in 2020-Informative

That'S where all the car dealership mystery happens is and where they play their games, as usually in the money factor. My first car kind of turned into a bit of a nightmare because I had bought my first car and it was a 2007 BMW and about two and a half years into ownership. 

The value had tanked and it needed about $ 3,500 in repairs, which is about half the value of the car. At that point, so I immediately said to myself: I don't really want to deal with this anymore. I just want to be able to take my car to a dealership and get it fixed, always and never have to pay a dollar for anything.

My first car lease deal

So the first lease deal I did was on a 2014 3-series and I got hosed on that for sure I definitely. I definitely did not get the best deal possible because I didn't know what I was doing at the time. 

It certainly wasn't bad buy by any standards, but it definitely wasn't the best and from there on out I'd said IRA, and I really like leasing, because I like the idea that nothing is about nothing with this car is my problem, but I wanted to make sure that I was never paying a single penny more than I had to for a leased car, and so I would say about three months later. I had realized that that 328 really wasn't what I was looking for. 

It wasn't really an enthusiast car. It was just a loaner car spec, really nothing special about it, and so I started researching and learning and searching for my next car, which was gonna, be an a4 series and M Sport and 4 Series. If you're looking for the best lease deals May 2020, this post has something cool that you might actually like and the maintenance is somebody else's problem leasing does make a lot of sense, especially if you can hit the perfect storm of circumstances. 

What to look for in a car while looking for lease deals

The first would be to look for a car, that's aged on the deal or a lot, something that they want to move. Typically, anything more than 60 to 90 days is something that a dealer's gonna want to get rid of. If you can compound that, with it being a demo or a former loaner car, that also usually can take a heavier discount and if you get really lucky to find something with damage reported on the car fan. Just because everybody knows you can get more money off. If there's damage reported and in many cases, it really doesn't matter on a lease, because it's not your problem, you're, giving it back at the end and it doesn't hurt you in any way financially to have that car. 

You also want to look out for models that have high residual values, meaning what they're gonna be worth at the end of the lease. You want to also look for low money factors, which is your interest rate on the loan, and in some cases, you can even find cars. Typically, electric cars with the government kicking in some money on your lease payment, so I had found luckily not too far. 

For me, because I live in a very saturated market which helps this definitely isn't as easy to do in other markets, but in Long Island we have, I want to say eight or nine BMW dealerships within a thirty to the forty-mile radius of each other. So the competition's pretty fierce - and I wound up finding a car that was very fairly close to me and it was a demo it had about three thousand miles on it. 

I work up this. This email and I've been using this email for years and basically, it sort of sets out my intention. I give the stock number and I and I go on the website and I grab usually two of the manager's emails and I CC them on the same email and I just state my intention, which is if we can do the following deal. I'd like to come. 

Try out the car you want to lease

Take the car this weekend tonight. I believe that that's an important thing to do if you're gonna try lease hacking is to actually be serious about taking that specific car because what you're doing when you send a lease hacking email is your sort of just making a proposal to a manager where There'S no work involved. If you did your work right and you know the numbers, there's no negotiation, it's just a simple business decision for them. 

Do I want to move this unit, or do I not so, I would definitely say, be serious if you're, if you're gonna try this, don't just go sending fifteen emails to a bunch of dealerships, hoping that one of them might come back because you'll probably Find that multiple dealerships come back with, with the offer that you were hoping for so the way you calculate a lease payment and figure out whether or not you're getting a good deal. 

You're gon na first want to start with figuring out what the MSRP is of the car, which is simply because that should be on the window sticker. And then you want to find out what invoice is for that and invoice is the price that the dealer pays for the car and in general, if you're hacking, the lease you want to get a pre incentive discount, meaning a discount before any manufacturer cash. 

Regional credits, lease incentives: you want to negotiate the discount before incentives and you want to try to get an invoice or better as a discount because remember we're usually going after aged inventory, something maybe less desirable, something so highly optioned that nobody wants it because it seems like It would be too expensive, so you start off with your MSRP figure out the discount. 

You want pre incentive, then you'll put in your tax incentives and the difficult part in calculating a lease. Is the money factor in the residual? That'S where all the that's? Where all the car dealership mystery happens is and where they play their games, as usually in the money factor, and the money factor is basically your interest rate on the loan. 

Interest rates for car lease deals

Some brands have very reasonable interest rates close to 0 %. Some brands, like Porsche, are charging you almost 7 % interest on a loan, and then you have brands like BMW that are in the middle somewhere around 3 %. So the best way to know what your base money factor is and what your residual is is to utilize the Internet. 

Unsurprisingly, the Edmunds forms are pretty much the only place in the best place you're ever going to find this information you'll. Typically, Google, something like BMW, 4-series, lease deals, Edmonds and you'll get a whole thread where you can simply just request the money factor in the residual for the deal that you're looking for, and somebody will get back to you and they'll tell you the base money factor In the base residual you'll plug all this into the calculator and you'll get a monthly payment, then, with your local sales tax included and then you'll have an idea of what that payment should look like at a base rate. 

So leasing does allow you a lot of movement, and you want to be sure of that before you lease a car, because some leasing companies do not allow these transfers some leasing. Companies also make you keep a part of the equity. So to speak. There are certain brands that they'll transfer the lease to somebody else, but they'll want you to still remain liable for, say: 20 % of the remaining payments should the other person to fall in the case of Porsche Financial they up until recently - and I believe this is Changing they keep you on the lease as a guarantor, even after you've transferred it. 

Things can go wrong too 

So now your car is in somebody else's possession completely and you're still just on the banknote with them and if they stop paying they'll just come after you for the remaining balance. Without doing anything to recover the car, give the car back to you or you're just you're completely out of luck, so I would say make sure before you lease a car if you have the intention of wanting to transfer out of it, which is very common thing To do make sure that you can freely transfer with no obligation after the fact, so at this point, I think I've successfully completed about three, maybe four lease transfers, and especially with BMW. 

For me, that's what I have the most experience with it's a very smooth process. You just make a phone call, they send your new buyer credit application that they can fill out online and if they get approved you get emailed a set of documents, everybody signs send it back and then they get their registration papers. 

And you get a note saying: alright, you can legally hand over the car and in the case of BMW, I've done a lease transfer and as quick as two weeks if you overnight the paperwork back so the best way to advertise the lease transfer. If you got a really good deal, you can go on the lease hacker forums. 

You could go on. Your relevant brand-related forms, I've always advertised on the BMW forms or if you really want to move something quickly, you can go on SWA police command you can pay their marketing fee. I think it starts at 99 goes up to almost five hundred dollars and they have different packages, but they are, without a doubt, the number one market place for moving a lease, because that's just a market that they've managed to capture, and usually, it takes Me no more than a week to find a taker or in a resume for a good lease deal. 

Dealerships are also an option for leasing a car

Now, if you were to go into a dealership, which I don't typically recommend because the worst way to negotiate any cars to just walk into the dealership, I always recommend sending an email ahead of time. Well, you'll find is that most dealers have a money factor markup just built straight into the system, so even if it looks like they're being transparent and they're just showing you the computer, and take a look at these numbers. 

Don'T these look great well that money factors probably marked up it without them even having to mark it up, to begin with. So if you go in armed with that knowledge of what those base rates are, you have a lot of advantage over a standard buyer who isn't necessarily sure what they're looking at on that computer screen? So one thing - that's really common for a dealer to do - is to show you an insane discount on the price of a vehicle, and this is why I say that the monthly payment doesn't matter. 

You really want to watch what your discounts and your incentives are because it's about how you get to that monthly payment that matters so the dealer might have a car. That'S forty thousand dollars and they're, showing you a ten thousand dollar discount and that's three or four percent below invoice and they're, saying to you. Look at this great discount, I'm giving you on this car nobody's gonna match this discount. 

But then the money factor is, let's say, point zero, zero one to eight, which I believe is about three and a half percent and that's the base rate, but on their computer. It'S the point: zero, zero, one, five! Six and now they have made a markup on the money factor which turns into basically pure profit for the dealership, some brands cap, the amount that a dealer can mark up the money factor. 

It totally depends on the brands

Some brands don't really care, it's just more about how the deal is structured. But if you didn't know that that was a marked up money factor, you would think well. This is a great deal, I'm getting a huge discount when in reality, it's probably an average discount or in many cases, not really much of any discount and they've just sort of made that money back up somewhere else in the deal. 

So there's this notion in the lease hacking community. If you'll, let me call it that if you can lease a car for one percent of the MSRP per month with zero down and your taxes rolled in, so basically the only thing you pay to pick up. The car is your first-month payment, any DMV fees and maybe some other small dealer fees that they use to just pad in that little extra bit of profit. 

But if you can get to that one percent mark with your taxes rolled in and no cap cost reduction, meaning no money. You pay to lower the monthly payment. That'S usually considered a good deal because that means that you're just paying 1 % of the MSRP per month to own the car, which is fairly in line with the honest depreciation of a car versus you paying for any accelerated depreciation. 

If you're shopping and your goal is simply to just get the best deal, and you really don't care whether or not it's a BMW, x3 or and Audi q5 or whichever midsize German luxury SUV, it is then you're at an advantage already because you have a lot Broader range and you can go on those headsman forms and you can take a look at what the residual values are and what the lease incentives are for that month. 

Finding out the best car leasing opportunities

And you can see what should lease best for that given month and then pick a car based on that personally, I always look for cars that I actually want, which makes it a little bit tougher, but one of the funny things about doing this is over the Years, I've made really good relationships with a lot of dealerships, and I've referred a lot of business to too many dealers, and I try to show some level of loyalty of the people who have helped me out and one of the things that I like to Say is the best way to to get yourself a good deal on a car is to simply just be nice to these people because they deal with nonsense all day long and people coming in and saying. 

I will definitely buy this car if you can do that. Deal and then they definitely don't buy that car the moment they say that they can do that deal because in their minds. They have this notion that well, if he can do the deal, then that means that there must be more or left, and I have to get it from them when in some cases they really are just giving you a good deal. 

So I think it's one of my own written rules. This is just as nice as possible and value the dealers time and say simply look if we can make this work great and if not, then that's also a right, and I appreciate it. So I've been fortunate enough now to be at a point where, if I wanted to order a new BMWs always been what I'm into so. If I wanted to order a new car, I can pretty much usually just custom order about 2 % below invoice. 

Part of my recommendations is also are always to start your negotiations in the last week of the month with a deal that commences at the final two or three days of the month. And if you really can wait and you're in an advantageous position and you don't need a car immediately, the end of the year is also an incredible time to buy a car. I definitely had one lease deal where the dealership did money on the car. 

This was a BMW 4-series that I had gotten at a dealership out in Pennsylvania, and this was a unique case. I personally really thought that the car was cool, but in that specific market, which was a more wealthy ritzy part of Pennsylvania, a gray with a bright red interior 4 Series coupe with a manual transmission, was not something that their clientele was really going to want and To compound that further, the car was a manager demo, because we all know that they're not loaning out six-speed cars to anybody for a loaner. Just by itself. You should be able to get a good discount because it's a demo, but in this case, it had been sitting on their lot for quite some time, and I had started the conversation on this car and I wound up getting. 

I think it was about. Sixteen points. Eight percent off MSRP before incentives, and what really made this deal even crazier, is that BMW had a lot of four series is left in dealer inventory and there was about, I want to say, close to $ 8,000 in incentives on the four series and that in That month, I believe it was $ 5,500 in leased cash and another 25 or 3,500 in loyalty.

Lets take an example of leasing a BMW

 If you had owned a BMW in the previous 12 months and when you're doing your lease payments in general incentives, every thousand bucks is $ 30 off the lease on the 36 months or thereabouts. So if you can imagine that we're now artificially lowering the price of that car monthly by quite a large margin just from what BMW is kicking and that's not even a loss to the dealership. 

But we know that if BMW invoice is 6 % and holdbacks another five - that's 11 % well, this dealership was going about 16 and a half off pre incentive because they just I guess they just knew - that this car was never going anywhere in their market and They were probably going to have to wholesale it. That was definitely the best deal, and another thing to note that I also always say, is not to put any money down on a lease, even if you can - and you just want to make your lease payment lower for some reason - and you understand that there is A direct correlation to money down versus amount of off your lease you're, not actually paying less for the car you're just paying that amount upfront from what I understand. 

If you were to lease that car and then crash it a month later, you wouldn't get any of your downpayment back and you have gap insurance on the lease they're gonna cover what you have left to pay on the lease. But if you put $ 5,000 down well good for the insurance company, then they just have to pay out less but you're not getting any of your $ 5,000 back. If you crashed that car the day after you lease it, so in general, I would say: don't do a cap cost reduction on a lease, because there's some risk involved in that. 

One thing to note when you're looking to do a lease hacking deal is not to just look at what somebody else paid for the same car three or four months ago, because a lot of people think dealers are lying when they say that that's not possible. This month, this month, things are different, it's actually almost always true. Sometimes programs, don't change month-to-month, but in many cases, they do when it's a very complex thing and every model has different amounts of manufacturer incentives and cash on it and the money factor can change month-to-month. 

The residual can change month-to-month, so don't just see a great deal online and walk into a dealer expecting that you can get that deal that month. You have to do your research, you have to know your money factor. You have to know your residual. You have to know your incentives and you figure out what the best deal is for that month and if the deal doesn't seem particularly great that month and you can wait, then just see what happens next month. 

Conclusion

We'D like to thank Avalon King for their continued support of the Ben wiki YouTube channel. Obviously, I've installed it onto my Porsche 993, which one of our app users is gonna win. Once we hit a million subscribers, I've got it on the lp640 and it's performed flawlessly. In both cases, the cars are much easier to clean. The finish looks a lot better and I've really been impressed with it. 

[apollos-favourite-bastard]

Alright, here’s roughly the first 10k of the thing I’ve been working on. I never intended to publish any of it originally, so I’ve not got a title for it. I’ve just been calling it the magic thing. It’s below the read more, so I’m sorry if you’re a mobile user.

The thing is – Niall really loves books. He loves the smell of them, leather and paper mixing together to create a scent finer than any perfume or cologne out there. He loves the feeling in the turn of a page, rigid and flexible at the same time. He loves the way an entire world can be contained between the binding – the universes, the experiences, the lives – It’s a miracle, pure and simple.

A real miracle, mind you. Not one of the manufactured miracles that have become so commonplace since the Rupture. The kind that any neighbor or coworker with a bit of magic can unleash on the world. Real miracles are pressed between pages, written in ink, transcribing souls into a way that can be consumed and layered over the reader’s, transporting them into another existence. A real miracle lets someone be a hero, no matter who they are, or how they were born, or how they’ve been classed.

No matter if they work part time in a book shop, and in a café, and in a pub, and sometimes as an odd jobs man if someone in the village needs their hob or telly repaired.

That’s why, despite the fact that he can hear Ashton wrapping up his call with Calum, and knowing what it means, Niall’s body is reluctant to unfold itself from the way he’s become wedged into the corner of a couch that sags into the ground at the slightest hint of weight and groans angrily with even a breath’s worth of movement. It’s his little hidden away bit of paradise, a place where he can put his responsibilities on hold for a little bit and sink into someone else’s miracle.

“Your girl is getting impatient.” is what Ashton says as he comes around the corner, not bothering to hide the roll of his eyes at finding Niall reading instead of doing anything that resembles actually working. “If you don’t get home soon, Cal’s going to run away with her.”

“She’d eat him alive.” Niall hums, filing away the last bit of the chapter as he slips the book in his hands shut and places it back on the shelf where someone will probably see and buy it before he gets the chance to finish it proper. “He wouldn’t stand a chance with her in anything more than little spurts.”

“I know that, and you know that, but he just refuses to know that.” Ashton snorts. “Stubbornly optimistic, that one.”

“Better get home before he learns better then, yeah?” Niall chuckles, dusting off the back of his trousers. If he’d properly cleaned, like he was supposed to have done, then it wouldn’t be a problem. The look Ashton shoots him tells him as much. In Niall’s opinion though, a good book shop should be properly dusty. It adds an air of history and mystery that just feels right.

“That would probably be best for everyone involved.” Ashton says absentmindedly, focused on filing away some new acquisitions. “I don’t think I’d like seeing how that would turn out.”

“You gonna be okay if I head out early?” Niall asks, grabbing his bag out from behind the counter.

“Not sure there’d be much difference.” Ashton scoffs. “When’s the last time you did any work around here?”

“Who came in on Sunday and sorted that big shipment you got in from that estate sale while you sat and ogled your piano player next door?” Niall asks flatly. “Two hundred books I went through, with no help from you.”

“And how many did you nick for yourself before anyone else could go through them?” Ashton fires back, not missing a beat or the empty slot on the shelf he was slipping a book into.

“The list is on your desk.” Niall shrugs. “And you know they’re mostly for Molly, not me.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go get home to your pretty, little thing and leave me to get some real work done.” Ashton waves him off.

“See you tomorrow.” Niall tosses over his shoulder as he heads towards the door.

He doesn’t hear Ashton’s likely sarcastic response, too distracted by the body he just barely manages to avoid colliding with as he steps out onto the street. It nearly sends his knee out of joint, twisting away and slipping under the arm of the tall, brunet bloke who had opened the door at the same time Niall had reached for the knob. He narrowly avoids falling face-first into the cobblestones, stopped only by a precarious grip on the handle and the quick reaction of the stranger who’d caused the incident in the first place.

Niall mumbles out a quick apology, sheepishly darting his eyes away from the sharp angles of the bloke’s face, hearing a slurred together acceptance in a deep, gravelly voice that goes in one ear and out the other as Niall turns his attention towards the path home. The stranger disappears into Ashton’s shop and out of Niall’s head, so as to spare him any further thought of his embarrassment.

It’s unusual to see someone around the village that Niall doesn’t know once they reach this time of year, but not unheard of. It’s not so unusual as to merit any consideration. After all, the town’s main source of revenue is in tourism, a bank of cabins dotted along the coastline attracting the sort of people who want to believe they like the country, because they only spend a couple of weeks there during the summer hols, in fully furnished cottages, cooing at the locals who play along with the condescension because an arsehole’s money is as good as the next person’s.

Most of the tourists have gone, though, disappearing as quickly as the leaves from the rowan trees that litter the lanes in the commercial district of the village with the first chills of autumn. Some people like that, though. There’s always a few stragglers or latecomers that like to avoid the clutter of a crowded village when they take a break for themselves from the chaos of their daily lives. People who like the solitude, who like the grey in the sky and the rush of a chilly wind pressing, cold and insistent, on the fabric of the jumpers and scarves they bundle up in.

Niall thinks, under different circumstances from the ones he’s found himself in over the course of the years in his life that have felt too few and too many all at the same time, that probably would have been him too. The sun is nice, and he’s never been one to shy away from crowds, but there’s something so free and open about a small seaside village like this once summer has faded into fall. Like the rest of the world doesn’t have to exist if you don’t think too hard about it.

Green sparks flare to life when Niall rounds a corner a few blocks from his house, quickly twisting themselves into the form of a dragon as some young bloke spots him with a grin and a bright sparkle in his eyes. A performer, trying to prolong his days of profitability in this little place before he has to move on to a bigger town, somewhere with more competition and fewer unexposed people who might be awed by his parlor tricks. He clearly thinks he can draw Niall in, the mandated beige color of his jumper a giveaway of his status and possibility as a mark.

Niall has stepped into the street before the wings can even unfurl on the creature, crossing to the other side of the road without a second thought. He has no intention of contributing to the lad’s delusions of grandeur, or encouraging him to stay in the village any longer than necessary.

“Well, fuck you too.” the lad calls after him, making Niall’s eye twitch, but eliciting no other outward response, until the added, “Fucking non-magicals.”

“You got a problem, mate?” Niall spits out harshly across the empty street, his body going rigid as he turns to glare at the lad.

“Yeah, actually, I do.” the lad says, stalking across the street. “I just tried to put on a nice show for you, and you can’t even be bothered to look. You cross the street, like I’m some kind of menace, out to hurt you. I’m just trying to make a living here, and the least you could do is appreciate it and drop a few pounds in the box.”

“I’m not interested in your show, and I don’t owe you anything.” Niall bites out.

“You say that, but I think you owe us a lot.” the lad smirks. “After all, this isn’t the S.E. You don’t live in a labor camp. We let you roam around freely. I think that deserves a bit of a tax.”

“You’re, what, nineteen? Twenty?” Niall asks, looking the guy over. “You’re young. Stupid. But I’m going to give you a chance to take that back and reform your opinion before you regret it.”

“And what’ll you do if I don’t?” the lad asks, stepping forward while the green sparks flare up again in both of his hands this time. They don’t take form, just jump around in electric arcs between his fingers, a simple shock spell. His mistake.

“Make you regret it.” Niall answers firmly, eyes locked with the kid’s.

A typical magician, the lad thinks with his magic before his head. He’s too cocky, reaching for Niall’s arm to remind him of his place, painfully. He doesn’t expect Niall to know anything about anything, because non-magicals don’t know anything in his mind. They’re laborers, commoners, inferiors. How could Niall possibly comprehend anything when he doesn’t have a spark of magic in his veins?

The real question, though, is how could this lad have survived this long while being so dense?

His hands are coated in sparks, but his clothes aren’t. His wrists and arms are covered in expensive fabric that he likely doesn’t want to char just to protect himself from someone he sees as beneath him, and that leaves him open. Niall is quick, years of training kicking his reflexes into gear as soon as he sees something coming at him. He grabs the lad’s arm after ducking under it, bringing his leg forward to sweep the kid’s out from under him.

In one fluid movement, he turns the magician’s weapon in on his own chest, connecting with the skin there and sending an electric pulse through him. He shrieks and collapses to the ground, not two seconds having passed since he decided he would teach Niall a lesson.

Niall crouches down, voice dropping low as he says, “A low-level magic user like you hasn’t got the brains or talent to be a threat to anyone. Remember that before you decide you deserve anything. And remember that there are a lot more of us than there are of you.”

The kid doesn’t respond, can’t, in his state. He’s too busy twitching and literally pissing his pants to have even heard a word Niall said. He doesn’t need to, though. Niall’s message got across just fine.

“Oh, look who decided to come home sometime tonight.” Calum scoffs as Niall makes his way into the sitting room.

“Sorry. Got a little caught up on the way home.” Niall says quietly. “Got you some muffins to take back to the shop, though.”

“You know the way to my heart.” Calum grins, catching the brown, paper sack that Niall tosses to him. “But you only get sweets when you’ve done something bad.”

“Just got into a little scuffle.” Niall shrugs, setting the bag with Molly’s favorite orange and cranberry scones on the table and toeing off his boots. “Reminded some arse that not all of us are livestock.”

“Niall.” Calum sighs out his name in a quiet reprimand. “You can’t just go around assaulting magicals.”

“’t was self-defense.” Niall mutters. “Bloke said I should pay him a tax just because I’m not in a labor camp, and tried to attack me when I told him to back off.”

“Well- I have nothing to say to that, then.” Calum hums. “We don’t all think that way, I promise.”

“I know.” Niall sighs. “I do know that. He just- Fuck, he pissed me off. But he also made the first move.”

“I’m sure he did.” Calum nods. “Let me guess, magician?”

“That bloke doing parlor tricks on Rose and Vine.” Niall tells him.

“Oh, I’ve wanted to teach him a thing or two before.” Calum smirks. “He’s gotten mouthy with Luke and Ash as well.”

“Well he’s probably waking up right about now, if you want to add in your thoughts.” Niall tells him. “I’ve got it from here. Give Luke my love. Not Ash, though. He’s been right grumpy.”

“He dropped Luke’s favorite teacup, so Luke’s been withholding contact.” Calum giggles in explanation, pushing himself up off the couch and heading for the door. “Drawn me in on it just so we can watch him twitch and take the piss out of him for it.”

“Not something I needed to know.” Niall scoffs, wrinkling his nose up.

“Don’t be bitter.” Calum hums, slipping his shoes on. “Your celibacy is showing. You know you’ve got an open invitation.”

“Shut it.” Niall groans, halfheartedly chucking a wadded up napkin from the table at him, only to watch it flutter uselessly to the ground halfway there. “Innocent ears.”

“She’s asleep.” Calum says with a roll of his eyes.

“No you aren’t, are you, lovebug?” Niall asks into the air, turning to look at the chunk of wall that hides the hallway from view. “You’re awake and listening to conversations you shouldn’t be, aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” comes a drawn out, high-pitched giggling response, accompanied by a head of messy hair and bright blue eyes peeking around. “How’d you know, da?”

“I always know when you’re up to no good.” Niall chuckles, opening up his arms. “Got a sense for it, I do.”

“Shit!” Calum hisses out, making Molly shriek out another giggle as she tears across the room into Niall’s waiting arms.

“Get going.” Niall says, shooting Calum a withering glare. Calum, thankfully, gives a sheepish wave to both of them and then disappears out the door, closing it behind himself. Molly settles into Niall’s lap, head resting against his chest, and he asks, “How much of that did you hear, then?”

“Just the last bit.” Molly admits, eyes already half-lidded now that she’s got her favorite pillow in the form of Niall’s body. “I have to move slow to get over there without you hearing.”

“Slowly.” Niall corrects her, shaking his head and pressing a kiss to the top of hers. “You have to move slowly.”

“What’s cell-busy?” Molly asks, grabbing the arm Niall hasn’t got around her back and pulling it closer to ask for a hug, to which Niall gladly obliges her.

“Nothing important, lovebug.” Niall chuckles. “Did you have fun with Cal?”

“Yeah.” Molly says around a yawn, fighting the steady increase of weight on her eyelids. “He helped me draw some pictures, and then we did a puzzle.”

“You’ll have to show me tomorrow.” Niall murmurs, hiding his smile in her frizzed-out hair, already a tangled mess from the ten minutes or so she spent in bed before she decided to sneak out and eavesdrop.

“Do you work tomorrow?” Molly asks, the words muffled by her own fist in front of her mouth, her go-to comfort position, even after Niall finally got her to break her thumb-sucking habit a couple years ago.

“Not until nighttime.” Niall tells her.

“Can we go to the shop and get a new book?” Molly begs.

“I just got you three new books.” Niall points out.

“I finished ‘em.” Molly tells him, making his smile grow even larger.

“Suppose we have to, then.” Niall agrees. “But now it’s time to get you to bed, lovebug.”

“I wanna sleep with you, da.” Molly says, breaking the spell of drowsiness just enough to look up at him with pleading eyes.

“How could I say no to that face?” Niall gives in, the urge to fight never crossing his mind.

“Molls.” Niall sighs, seeing the flutter of motion out of the corner of his eye while he stands at the hob, cooking eggs for their breakfast.

“I want juice.” Molly says simply, ignoring the disapproving look Niall shoots at her over his shoulder to focus on levitating her favorite teacup through the air towards herself. She hates tea, very like her mother that way, but she loves teacups, particularly the pink and gold floral one she’s got steadily moving through the open space between herself and the cabinet.

“Molls.” Niall repeats, more firmly this time. “If you want juice, you ask. You know better.”

“Nobody can see, da.” Molly replies stubbornly, fishing the teacup out of the air.

“Molly Elizabeth Horan, that’s not the point, and you know it.” Niall says through a sharp inhale. “You need to be more careful. You can’t just do whatever you want. If you do that in public-”

“Cal does it.” Molly cuts in. “Why can he do it, and I can’t?”

“Because you’ll be taken away!” Niall snaps, shoving the pan of eggs to the back of the hob before gripping the counter to keep himself from turning around and scaring Molly with what he’s sure is a wild look in his eyes.

He can’t help it when it comes to Molly’s magic, when it comes to the possibility of her forced removal and education in some government run academy. Ever since her powers started manifesting, it’s been a constant fear, thrumming in the back of his mind and growing stronger with every display she puts on.

It has him cursing her mother nightly like a prayer, damning her magical genes for passing on, damning her for running off as soon as she could and leaving him alone, with no preparation for raising a child, let alone a magical one.

They were supposed to be in this together. That’s what they decided when a fling a few weeks old, between a first year uni student and a professor’s assistant, turned into a stick with a little pink plus on it.

Niall decided to do the right thing. Niall decided to drop out of university and get a job to support their child and try to make a proper go of it with Barbara. Things hadn’t been easy during the pregnancy, what with his parents disowning him and them not even really knowing each other at first. But they’d fallen in love over the course of those months leading up to the birth. They’d fallen in love.

That’s what Niall thought, anyways, until he woke up in the middle of the night to a screaming baby, an empty spot where Barbara was supposed to be sleeping, and a letter on her pillow that was shorter than the notes she’d leave in the margins on the papers she’d graded, explaining why she’d abandoned Niall and Molly.

It hadn’t been perfect. Niall knew it wasn’t perfect. He was young, but he wasn’t stupid. They hadn’t meant to turn into anything more than some occasional sex for stress relief. They fought pretty hard after she’d told Niall that she was pregnant, and at the same time telling him that she didn’t need for him to be involved.

Those memories haunt Niall to this day, the question of if she would still have abandoned Molly if she’d gotten what she said she wanted and Niall hadn’t been involved. That Molly could have grown up in some orphanage with nobody to love her, nobody to protect her.

She would have been adopted, without question. That’s a no brainer, considering she’s magical, and more than just a magician. Molly is a witch, and would have been taken in by a family shortly after her powers manifested around two.

Niall remembers the day clearly, couldn’t forget it if he tried.

He’d been in a mood, out of diapers and out of money and out of sanity.

When Barbara had left, she’d given one present to Molly. There was a necklace that she’d been wearing ever since Niall met her. A gold feather medallion on the end of a leather cord. She’d worn it in the class he’d accidentally sat in on for a full lesson before realizing it wasn’t even his course, too mesmerized by the girl behind the professor, eyes sharp and smart without any questions of who really knew more, to care about the content of the lecture.

She’d worn it through their first date, when Niall had bumbled through the conversation until it became obvious that she thought he was about as bright as a blown out lightbulb, and he’d decided to prove that, despite his non-magical status, he wasn’t a fool. She’d worn it the first time they slept together, hanging on her naked chest while Niall quaked with nerves from the first time he’d ever done more than kiss someone else.

She’d worn it through the labor, squeezing it in one hand while she nearly fractured Niall’s fingers with the other until the doctor had said that Molly would need to come out surgically.

Apparently she’d thought it was funny to spell cast a spell on the necklace to make it the same for their daughter as it was for her. It couldn’t be removed from Molly’s person, at least not permanently. It could be taken off over her head, but would return to her instantly, teleporting itself onto her neck again. Niall had tried over the years to find some way to get rid of the thing, worried that it could choke her in her sleep, and also not wanting the painful reminder every day of Barbara’s disappearance, but nothing had worked.

Calum, the only magical person that Niall let know about Molly’s existence, hadn’t been able to do anything more than Niall had.

That hadn’t mattered that day, though. The necklace, dangling from Molly’s neck as Niall carried her around the room, trying to find anything he could wrap around her bum long enough to take her to the shop and beg Ashton for an advance on his pay, had caught on his arm and scratched him so hard he’d nearly dropped Molly.

He hadn’t slept in days, and hadn’t thought about the fact that the necklace would just pop back into place when he’d taken it off over her head and thrown it at the wall. He hadn’t thought about the fact that Molly wasn’t a baby anymore, and had a tenuous grasp on understanding emotions, both hers and Niall’s.

She’d started wailing, and Niall had set her down to give himself a moment to calm down, handing her a stuffed bear, her favorite toy. The necklace had popped back into existence around her neck before he could even put her down.

He’d been turned away from her, standing in the corner with the heels of his hands digging into his eyes and a wail of his own trapped in his throat, when he felt something soft rub against his back. He’d nearly jumped out of his skin at the contact, and only managed not to sprint away in complete panic because his knees had given out at the sight when he’d turned around.

Molly’s bear was nudging up against him, hovering in the air while she waved her hand at it while making the same face she had as a baby when she was letting out a particularly hard poop.

When she’d managed to grunt out, “Da, burr,” he’d known that she knew exactly what she was doing, that she had meant to do it, and that his entire world was changed with no way back.

It’s been four years since then. Four years of panicking over every use of her powers. Four years of dread coiling in his stomach at every question she had. Four years of hiding her so that she isn’t taken away from him.

“Da?” Molly asks, her voice quiet, but close, pulling Niall out of his head as a tiny hand curls into the hem of his shirt. “What do you mean?”

Niall sighs and crouches down next to her, taking her hands in his own while he looks her in the eyes and says, “If people know you have magic, they’ll take you away to somewhere I’m not allowed to go so that they can put you in a special school.”

“Why?” Molly questions, her eyes going wide.

“Because your magic makes you very special.” Niall murmurs, giving her hand a slight squeeze. “But that means that the other people who have magic too want you to think like they do. They want you to be just like them, and that means they won’t want you near me, because I’m not like them. I don’t have magic. I’m not special, and that means that they don’t think I’m good enough to be your da.”

“You’re special to me.” Molly mumbles, taking her hands out of Niall’s and slipping them around his neck to hug him tight. “And they’re stupid, because you’re the best da.”

“You can use magic here in the house, lovebug.” Niall says softly into her hair. “I won’t – I won’t yell at you for it again. I promise. I’m sorry that I did. I just need you to be careful about using it. Don’t do it when the windows are open, because someone could see. You can’t let anyone know except me, Cal, Luke and Ash. We love you, and we’ll keep you safe.”

“Okay.” Molly says, nodding against Niall’s chest. “Da?”

“Yes, lovebug?” Niall questions.

“I want to go to the café for breakfast.” Molly says, pulling back and pressing a kiss to Niall’s cheek. “Your eggs are rubbish.”

Niall can’t help but laugh before he digs his fingers into Molly’s sides and wriggles them around, making her shriek in his revenge before he agrees that muffins and cocoa would be a much better breakfast.

“Why do I bother getting you muffins if you’re only going to eat the top?” Niall sighs, swapping one of his muffins for Molly’s so she can get a decent breakfast by eating two.

“Because you like eating the bottoms.” Molly says with a shrug, knocking Niall’s muffin on its side and using her fork to separate the top from the bottom.

Niall hears Calum snort out a laugh from behind the counter as he puts the finishing touches on their drinks, and shoots him a sharp glare.

“I like eating the whole muffin.” Niall corrects her. “I eat the bottoms that you don’t so that they don’t go to waste.”

“So you’re a versatile muffin eater?” Calum asks with a shit-eating grin, setting down a cup of cocoa in front of Molly and a cup of tea in front of Niall.

“Sure.” Niall says dryly, rolling his eyes. “I eat it all.”

“Well, as much as I’d love to dive into the specifics of that right now, it’s going to have to wait.” Calum shrugs.

“You think?” Niall scoffs, waving his hand at Molly.

“I mean- There’s that.” Calum nods. “But actually it’s because I need you to stand watch behind the counter while I run over to the shop and pick something up from Ash.”

“Why couldn’t all your places be right next to each other?” Niall asks with a grunt.

“Because moguls have to diversify.” Calum chuckles. “I buy what I can get. If it’s spread out, that’s fine by me.”

“How about diversifying into more employees than just me and your boyfriends then?” Niall mutters, pushing his chair back from the table and dropping a kiss to the crown of Molly’s head before he stands up. “Ten minutes, and I’m not wearing the apron.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” Calum hums, pressing a kiss to Niall’s cheek and darting out the door.

“Ten minutes!” Niall repeats, shouting it after Calum before the door can close. He turns back to Molly and asks, “You alright with this, lovebug?”

“I wish Calum didn’t go.” Molly pouts, picking at her muffin top with her fork.

“I know.” Niall snorts, running his hand over the top of her head and getting a huffy glare in response. “He’ll be back soon enough, and we can stay with him as long as you like today, as long as we don’t get in the way when he has to work. I know he’s your favorite.”

“You’re my favorite, da.” Molly says with a roll of her eyes. “Calum’s just my second favorite.”

“And what about us?” a voice asks behind Niall, making him whirl around and ball his hands into fists before the familiarity of it strikes him and he drops his guard again. Ashton’s smile is easy, but the hand he has on Luke’s shoulder tells Niall that his defensiveness hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Calum undoubtedly told them about Niall’s misadventure with the magician last night, so they were probably expecting it. They’ve seen him through worse. They’ve seen him when that kind of thing wasn’t an uncommon experience, when they’d have to drag him inside off the stoop and clean his bloodied face and use Calum’s salves to heal the wounds on his body.

They’ve taken care of Molly when Niall was too banged up or angry to be around her.

They’ve known him better than he ever wants to know himself, so he’s not surprised when Ashton’s hand comes off Luke’s shoulder and pulls Niall in to peck a kiss next to his lips and whisper, “You did a good thing, love. But it’s time to uncoil.”

His hand finds Niall’s hip, and Niall leans into the touch, sagging against Ashton’s chest and letting out a shaky breath while he murmurs, “Sorry. Shit- I- Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for.” Ashton says gently, butting his forehead against Niall’s and rubbing their noses together. “I know how you get. We shouldn’t have snuck up on you today.”

“Could relieve some of that tension for you, if you want to.” Luke grins, throwing a cheeky wink at Niall before he strides over to Molly, crouching down and asking, “So, Molls, what’s your answer to Ash’s question?”

“Ashton is third.” Molly says with a bright smile, waving over at him.

“And what about me?” Luke pouts.

“Eh.” Molly says with a shrug, taking a bite of her muffin. Niall knows she’s only doing it to hide a smile, though. Luke is one of Molly’s favorite people in the world, and she absolutely adores him. He gets all needy for her love when she denies it to him, though, and that means she gets presents.

“Calum just left going to the shop to come get something from you.” Niall tells Ash, not bothering to save Luke from Molly’s manipulations. Every time he’s tried, Luke ignores him and presses on anyways. He’s the perfect mark for Molly and her charms.

“Idiot.” Ashton snorts, shaking his head. “I told him we’d bring it over when we could.”

“What is it he couldn’t wait on, then?” Niall questions.

“A present for the little bird.” Ashton tells him, pressing a book into Niall’s hands. “A collection of the original Grimm’s fairytales. He found it last night when he was doing the dusting, and forgot it this morning.”

“Let him give it to her.” Niall chuckles, nodding at Luke. “You know she’ll keep this up for days, otherwise.”

“Cal’s gonna be jealous.” Ashton smirks. “Which works just fine for me. Might break their little alliance.”

“Shouldn’t have broken his porcelain.” Niall hums, bumping his hip into Ashton’s. “You know the princess doesn’t like you nearly as much as he likes his things.”

“I can hear you, you know.” Luke huffs, giving them both a stern look over his shoulder.

“And what are you going to do about it?” Niall counters. “Can’t withhold anything from me like with this one. Besides, I already know you love being called that, don’t you, princess?”

“You only get to call me that if you sleep in the same bed as me, and you keep turning us down, so – Shut it.” Luke grumbles. “And give me that.”

He reaches out with one of his absurdly long arms and snatches the book out of Niall’s hands before turning back to Molly with a look on his face that a puppy would have trouble matching.

“About that-” Ashton says, trailing off, but making his intentions perfectly clear in the way his fingers slide over the back of Niall’s neck.

“Not now.” Niall cuts him off, shaking his head. “Even if this wouldn’t end up being a repeat of a conversation we’ve had a dozen times before, now isn’t the time for it. Not while she’s here.”

“Niall-” Ashton murmurs, but he’s cut off again, this time by the little bell over the door announcing a customer entering the shop.

Niall turns to look at him, and feels his heart stop in his chest. It’s the same stranger from last night, the one who’d nearly knocked him off of his feet. It’s not anything about the bloke, though. He’s got a nice face, sure, and he’s tall and well-muscled with big hands and long legs and a dozen other things that would be eye-catching in different circumstances. It’s something that Niall hadn’t noticed last night that catches him off guard, though; his clothes.

He doesn’t have a single bit of beige on him. They wear black and white too, brought it into their fashions a few years ago like it was a joke between them, dressing like non-magicals, but they never wear the beige. That’s what sets the two groups apart in the empire.

And that means he’s magical.

“This, um – This is a café, right?” the stranger asks. “Because I’m pretty sure you run the bookstore? We met last night?”

“It is.” Luke says with a genial smile but a tension in his shoulders that Niall recognizes instantly. “You’ll see us and our mate Calum in a lot of places. We run a few things here in the village. This place, the bookstore, the pub, and a piano studio. We also own most of the cabins over by the shore and the cliffs, and a few of the houses here in the village.”

“But I can get a cup of coffee and a pastry here?” the guy asks carefully.

“Yeah.” Ashton nods, stepping forward in between Niall and the stranger. He turns back to Niall and says, “You go on and get out of here. We’ll take over until Cal gets back. Can’t have you working and eating into our profit margin.”

Niall knows what it really means, though. Get out. Get Molly out. This guy is no low-level, full of himself magician. He’s got more power and more brains than the guy Niall took out last night.

There’s a scar on his cheek, a burn. There’s a rigidity in the way he holds himself. A sharpness to the eyes Niall knows are taking in more than just the surface of things, despite the easy look on his face as he moves to the counter that Luke goes behind. All of it together means only one thing.

Military, or, worse, an agent.

“Come on, lovebug.” Niall says gently, reaching down and taking Molly’ hand in his own.

“But you said-” Molly starts with a whine.

“We’ll see Cal and the lads later.” Niall says firmly. “Right now we need to get home, get you changed out of that dress, because you’ve got cocoa spots on your sleeves, and we’ll find something fun to do until Cal is free, okay?”

“Fine.” Molly grumbles, grabbing her book in her other hand and sliding out of her seat.

She comes along with Niall without any further protest, and Niall thanks the heavens for it as he passes the stranger, keeping his head down until they’ve gotten out the door and turned down the next street. It’s not until then that his heart stops trying to beat out of his chest, either.

“If you don’t lose that tension soon, I’m going to have Calum spike your drink with one of his little potions to make you relax.” Luke murmurs, running his fingers lightly over the hairs at the nape of Niall’s neck.

“I get to be tense.” Niall mutters, turning his head to bite at Luke’s wrist. “There’s a fucking agent in the village.”

“We don’t know that he’s an agent.” Luke points out with a roll of his eyes, pushing Niall’s face back around so she can keep watch over Molly, and so the blond can resume his attempts at relaxing Niall.

“Military, then. Whatever.” Niall huffs. “Whatever he is, he’s dangerous.”

“I don’t get that sense from him.” Luke says quietly. “He doesn’t strike me as a threat.”

“Because it’s not you he’s a threat to.” Niall breathes out, watching as Molly pushes her face into a cluster of daisies with a bright smile. “It’s us. It’s me and Molly.”

“Niall.” Luke says sharply, making Niall shrink just a bit.

He knew better before he said it. He wouldn’t dream of saying it normally, would never think to imply that Molly isn’t just as important to them as she is to him. But this stranger is a threat, and if they don’t put their walls up around themselves and Molly, then Niall is going to have to build his four times as high to protect her.

“Sorry.” Niall mumbles out, leaning into Luke’s shoulder and tucking his head under Luke’s chin. He curls his fingers into Luke’s shirt and says it again, “I’m sorry.”

“You can’t let every witch that comes into town get you this wound up.” Luke murmurs, tightening his grip on Niall. “That’s the threat. He’s on holiday. He’s not here for you, or for her. He’ll be here for a couple weeks, then go back to what he’d call ‘the real world’. He’ll go back to where he came from and never blink twice at you or Molly if you just manage not to give him a reason to. You have to act like there’s no reason for him to be a threat.”

“I don’t know if I can do that.” Niall whispers. “I don’t think I can let my guard down.”

“You don’t have to let it down.” Luke tells him, lacing their fingers together. “You just have to learn to hide your walls better. You have to remember that we’re all here for you, and we all know what to watch for. We’ve all been preparing for this for as long as you have, and we’re ready. We can hide the two of you. Just let us handle him, but, if you have to be around him, then pretend like nothing is wrong.”

“I’m not that good at pretending.” Niall says softly.

“I wouldn’t say that.” Luke says, the chuckle afterwards sounding incredibly forced. “I’ve been watching you pretend for years.”

“What is it with you three today?” Niall asks, pulling back and taking his eyes away from Molly, who’s trying to chain together daisies to make a crown like Ashton normally does for her, to meet Luke’s. “Is there something I’m missing? Some signal that I gave you three that’s made you all decide to try this again, despite every one of the times I’ve said no to it?”

“Molly’s birthday is in three days.” Luke says simply.

“Yeah, and that’s when I’ll legally be a fugitive.” Niall bites out. “So, again, why now? I’ve got enough on my plate already, don’t you think?”

“Do you remember what happened five years ago today?” Luke asks.

“Five years ago today, I was probably changing a dozen nappies and drinking a fifth of whiskey with each meal that I could afford.” Niall mutters, breaking the eye contact. He can’t bear to look at Luke like this for too long. He’s always so damn soft and pretty and has every bit of his heart’s contents written over his face.

“Five years ago today, we found you on the doorstep of the pub, looking for a place to stay.” Luke murmurs, reaching down and folding his hand over Niall’s. “Five years ago, we met you and Molly. You came into our lives and grew our little family.”

“Shit.” Niall sighs. “I didn’t- I didn’t realize.”

“We know we shouldn’t be pushing, but- Five years, Niall. We’ve been waiting five years.” Luke whispers.

“She has to be my first concern.” Niall tells him, like he’s told them all so many times before. It’s his blanket excuse, the way his daughter protects him, like he’s protected her. Attachment as a means of detachment. “Sex, romantic love- All of that is irrelevant next to her.”

“It’s not us or her, Niall.” Luke grunts out, leaning forward next to Niall. “You don’t have to give anything up to be with us.”

“I would, though.” Niall says, dropping his head down. “I’d have to give up my focus. Frankly, don’t know how you lot do it. I can barely keep up with just her. Adding all of you three in- I’d never get a moment’s rest.”

“We get plenty of rest, thank you very much.” Luke snorts. “And I think you’d handle it pretty well. You already juggle all of us in almost every way you would if we were together. There’s really only one or two things missing, and they’re the fun ones.”

“And, as fun as those might be, they’d be a distraction.” Niall sighs. “I get it, okay? I do. And, maybe someday- Maybe I’ll stop saying no. Maybe I’ll be ready. But I’m not right now, and I need the three of you to be okay with that.”

“Okay.” Luke says gently, laying his head on Niall’s shoulder and lacing their fingers together. “But don’t expect the flirting to stop. Can’t really help ourselves there. You’re proper attractive.”

“Back at you, princess.” Niall snickers, moving back slowly, so Luke doesn’t dislodge, until they’re leaned back against the bench and folded in on each other while they watch Molly.

“Don’t play with your food, darling.” Niall says absentmindedly, eyes still locked on his book as he notices some rather dramatic motion out of his peripheral.

“It’s not me, da. It’s Cal.” Molly giggles.

“I know.” Niall says dryly, looking sideways over at Calum, who’s blushing sheepishly. Niall rolls his eyes and goes back to his adventure, adding, “He should behave himself better.”

“But what’s the fun in that, darling?” Calum says dramatically, pulling a giggle out of Molly. What she doesn’t see, and what keeps Niall from smiling, is the hand Calum slips onto Niall’s thigh before adding, “Ashton and Luke say I’m much more fun when I don’t behave myself.”

“I’m sure.” Niall scoffs, shaking his head. “But I’ll thank you to be a good example for Molly.”

“I think he’s more fun when he misbehaves too, da.” Molly says with a sly grin.

“Certainly got the talents for making things awkward and sucking the fun out of things from you.” Calum mutters under his breath, taking his hand back from Niall’s leg.

“That’s cause she’s her da’s girl, aren’t you, lovebug?” Niall smirks.

“Did I miss something?” Molly asks, drawing her eyebrows together and poking her bottom lip in a pout.

“Nothing important.” Niall tells her. “Just Cal running his mouth.”

“What did you say?” Molly questions, directing her eyes towards Calum instead of Niall now.

“Just that it’s time for me to take your da behind the counter. I’ve been waiting a while now.” Calum hums, the innuendo in his voice making Niall’s cheeks heat up. “It’s opening time, which means this place is no longer suitable for good girls like you.”

“Who’s my sitter tonight?” Molly asks, cocking her head. “Ashton or Luke?”

“Both of them.” Calum chuckles.

“What about the bookshop?” Molly continues, always so inquisitive.

“For a little while, they’re going to watch you in pairs as often as they can.” Niall tells her.

“But why?” Molly asks, more curiously than ever.

“Because we get jealous when only one of us gets to hang out with you.” Calum says, grinning conspiratorially when Molly’s brows crinkle up in delight instead. “So we decided that two of us will stay with you, and the other gets your da as a consolation prize.”

“Hey!” Niall squawks, pinching at Calum’s side so he jumps out of the booth and onto his feet. “Rude!”

“Don’t worry. I quite like the consolation prize.” Calum smirks, blowing Niall a kiss before he strides over to unlock the door, smiling ear to ear like he always does when he manages to get Molly to burst into a fit of giggles.

“Stop encouraging him, lovebug.” Niall sighs, climbing out of the booth and pressing a kiss to Molly’s head. “Finish your food before Luke and Ashton get here. I don’t want you tricking them into giving you anything sugary just because you didn’t eat your dinner.”

“But, da-” Molly whines.

“No arguing.” Niall cuts her off. “You were already up late last night, and if you get any sugar now, you’ll still be bouncing off the walls when I come pick you up. Ashton and Luke will hate me.”

“Doubt that, darling.” Calum hums, passing behind Niall and getting his revenge for Niall’s earlier pinch with a mirroring action, only it’s on Niall’s arse. It takes a lot not to react, but Niall knows that’s exactly what Calum wants, and he doesn’t get to have the satisfaction.

“The darling thing isn’t funny anymore.” Niall throws over his shoulder.

“Who said I’m trying to be funny, cuddle-bug?” Calum laughs, disappearing into the double-doors that lead to the kitchen.

“Why are they really watching me together?” Molly asks quietly, pulling Niall’s attention back to her with a hand settling on top of his.

“Do you remember what we talked about this morning?” Niall asks her, crouching down to her height and settling his chin on his arms.

“About the people who want to take me away?” Molly questions.

“Yeah.” Niall nods. “Well, there’s a man visiting the village, and he- He’s like you. He has magic. And we’re not sure, but he might work for the people who would want to take you if they found out about you, so we’re trying to be careful. Two people protecting you is better than one, so that’s what we’re doing.”

“Why don’t you need anyone to help you watch me?” Molly asks.

“Because I- I know how to protect you better than the lads do.” Niall says quietly. “I’m not magical, like you and Cal, but I know how to do things that they don’t, and that means that I’m enough when it’s just us.”

“Couldn’t we stay with them?” Molly offers, her smile brightening right back up, like the sun peeking through clouds. “Then we’d always be safe, right?”

“Molly-” Niall snorts, shaking his head.

“I have my own room there.” Molly points out. “And you can sleep with them. I’ve heard them all say their bed is big enough for you too.”

Niall’s eye twitches, and he tries again with, “Molly-”

“Please, da?” Molly begs. “Then you can stop worrying so much. You’ve not been sleeping well in the last couple weeks.”

“Molly, I’m fine.” Niall assures her.

“No, you’re not.” Molly whispers. “You’re tired, you’re grumpy, and it’s because of me.”

“Oh, lovebug.” Niall says softly, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her fingers. “No, it isn’t.”

“Yes it is.” Molly chokes out, the sound of a sob trapped underneath it. “You’re worried about me and it’s doing bad things to you.”

“Okay, we can stay with the lads, if it’s alright with them.” Niall tells her, leaning forward and kissing her forehead. “Not because you’re right, but because I don’t want you worrying.”

“I’ll get an extra pillow from the closet.” comes an amused chuckle in a familiar voice from the door.

“Thanks.” Niall says with a roll of his eyes before looking over at Luke and Ashton in the doorway. “But I’ll stop by ours and grab some things before I come over, including a set of sheets and a pillow for the couch.”

“Spoilsport.” Luke pouts.

“Go on, then.” Niall says, nodding at them. “And, you two- If you give her any more food tonight, make sure it’s healthy. No sugar.”

“Come on, little bird.” Ashton says with a chuckle, holding his hand out towards them. “Luke’s been making something special for you for tonight.”

“Luke has?” Molly asks warily. Niall’s not sure if it’s his imagination, but she looks a bit green as well. She must be remembering the last time Luke cooked her breakfast. He really shouldn’t be allowed in the kitchen. Niall had to spend ages cleaning the sick from her dress and hair.

“Be brave, lovebug.” Niall hums, pecking one final kiss to her cheek before he stands up. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Molly nods and grabs her bun off of the plate and shoving it in her mouth before she grabs her book. Niall barely manages to bite back a laugh before he sets off to get behind the bar while they leave with her, each taking her one of her hands and nodding to Niall.

“They didn’t even bother to stay long enough to say anything to me?” Calum pouts when he returns to the bar with a crate of clean glasses for Niall.

“What can I say?” Niall snorts. “She’s got my charm.”

He shows up a little after eleven, stumbling in the door disheveled, like he’s only just woken up.

It’s like Niall knows that he’s going to walk through the door before he does it, because his body tightens like a spring. He feels it in the air, something shattering in the calm stillness the night has laid over him by means of a couple drinks with his friends in the village, water for him and beer for them, and an ever-present Calum, soothing away his worries with touches and smiles and laughs. He’s always been good at that.

But nothing is going to soothe Niall once the door opens and the stranger steps through.

Niall feels Calum’s eyes turn to him from across the room, but his own are locked on the stranger ambling towards him, rubbing at his pinkened cheek with a balled up fist. He trips, over his own feet, if Niall saw it right, and barely manages to catch himself on the bar.

“This is the only place in the village to get a drink, so do you mind telling me how you’re already drunk?” Niall asks shortly, setting down the glass in his hands before he can shatter it and cut himself, or, more importantly, give away how he’s actually feeling and cause problems for himself, Molly or the boys.

“Not drunk.” the stranger grunts out before sliding into the stool in front of Niall with an embarrassed smile. His voice is deeper than earlier, gravelly and slow. “Fell asleep. Woke up and realized I didn’t have any food in the cabin, so I came here.”

“And the chill didn’t manage to wake you up on the walk?” Niall questions.

“I pride myself on being a very heavy sleeper.” the stranger says with a lopsided smile that Niall doesn’t return. “It takes a while for me to like- Adjust to being conscious. I’m not too late, am I? You’re not about to shut down?”

“This may be a small village, but we don’t turn the lights out at eleven.” Niall says dryly.

“It’s still that early?” the bloke asks, blinking bewilderedly.

“You’ve got a watch on your wrist. Why don’t you take a look?” Niall says with a roll of his eyes.

“Doesn’t work.” the guy says, dropping his eyes down towards the piece of hardware on his wrist. “Hasn’t for a while. Only really keep it for sentimental value.”

“Well, the clock up there’ll tell you what that won’t, then.” Niall grunts out, jabbing his thumb back over his shoulder. “We’re only open until one, now that summer’s over. Got a couple hours. So, even if you keep talking at the pace you do, you still might make it in under the wire.”

“Wish I could blame that on still waking up, but this is just how I talk.” the stranger drawls out. “Might speed it up a bit if I ask for a menu, yeah?”

“This ain’t a fancy London restaurant, mate.” Niall scoffs, jabbing his other thumb towards the board behind his left shoulder. “We’ve got what’s on the board. An X next to it means we’re out of that at the moment and it’ll take a bit, or we just won’t have it in again tonight.”

“The only thing that hasn’t got an X next to it is the fish and chips?” the stranger says like a question, tilting his head a bit.

“Then that’s what we have.” Niall says with an even harder roll of his eyes. “The meatloaf, mash and peas will be ready in about twenty minutes, if you want to wait on that.”

“Is it worth waiting on?” the stranger inquires with a hum in his voice, leaning forward onto the counter and fitting his chin into his palm.

“It’s bloody terrible.” Niall informs him. “Have to drown it in ketchup to make it edible.”

“Not much of a salesman, are you?” the stranger chuckles, his amusement written all over his face, making Niall struggle all the more to keep his temper in check.

He can feel Calum watching him from the front of the house, begging him silently to keep calm and follow Luke’s advice. Stay calm and pretend like nothing is wrong. But how can Niall pretend like there isn’t a threat right in front of him? How can he pretend like this man with the sly grin couldn’t bring down his entire life in minutes if he found Molly?

How can he pretend he’s not a hairsbreadth from vomiting being this close to a real, live governmental witch?

It’s not hard to tell the bloke is someone important, the silk of his shirt, patterned with flowers, and the silver of the jewelry he has on his hands and wrist and neck a dead giveaway. He’s either powerful or rich, both of which lead to a conclusion of government involvement. He’s clumsy, doesn’t appear to be particularly bright, so that means Niall’s guess about him being an agent might be off, but he was right in assuming this man is a threat, and he can’t relax in the face of that danger.

“Don’t need to be.” Niall says flatly, placing his palms on the bar. “Like you said, you haven’t got any food in your cottage, and you walked here. You wouldn’t have walked here if you were worried about time and had a car or had the kind of innate magic that gets you from place to place quickly like flight or porting. There’s a village with an all-night diner about twenty-k from here, but you wouldn’t make it there on foot for a few hours. Same with a marketplace. So, it’s either this place, you muster up the energy for a spell that’ll get you where you want to go, or you go hungry tonight.

“You asked a question, and I answered honestly. I wouldn’t wait on the meatloaf, because it’s vile. Selling you a meal isn’t my job. My job is giving you what you decide on from the options available here, should you decide on any of them.”

“You’re clever.” the stranger grins, stretching out his lips even further in his amusement. “What’s a boy as clever as you doing in a sleepy, little village like this? You’d do well in a city.”

“It’s a good place for a family.” Niall says gruffly. “‘M not interested in city life.”

“But what about adventure?” the guy asks. “You seem like the kind of boy who likes a bit of adventure.”

“Adventures are for people with more adrenaline than sense.” Niall replies coldly. “I’m good right here in my sleepy, little village.”

Niall sees Calum coming towards him out of the corner of his eye, but he refuses to look away from the bright green and steel grey of the eyes in front of him. He refuses to let go of this game of cat and mouse, because he’s sure that the stranger thinks he’s the cat. He’s misjudged the game, though. Niall isn’t the mouse or the cat.

He’s the wolf waiting for the cat to be distracted by the hunt enough that it never senses him coming.

A strong hand wraps around his jaw, turning his head away from the stranger and towards someone much more familiar. Calum’s lips are on his before Niall can even process what’s happening, and after a brief moment of shock, he lets out a shuddering breath and gives into it.

It’s not the first time that he’s kissed any of the lads, probably won’t be the last. It’s never been quite like this, though. It’s never been more of a distraction than an enticement, never been something to break his concentration and force his body to relax.

There’s none of the pleading in it that normally comes when his lips touch one of theirs, none of the ‘please’ that reverberates through his bones from theirs, asking him to give up his stupid fears and give them a chance. But that’s because that’s not what this is. It’s only happening to stop Niall’s brain from barreling down a dangerous path before it’s too late to stop him.

“Darling-” Calum says breathlessly against Niall’s mouth when he breaks the kiss just a moment after it’s begun. “You’re going to scare the poor man away. Quit being the village grouch, and go make yourself useful by checking the food that’s in the oven.”

“Yes, darling.” Niall says with a roll of his eyes, wincing when Calum pinches him hard on the hip to show he’s not joking about Niall walking away now.

“And what’ll you have?” Calum asks, pushing Niall out of the way and directing the question towards the stranger.

“The meatloaf.” the guy smirks, throwing a look at Niall. “I’m feeling adventurous.”

Niall just scoffs and turns towards the kitchen, barely managing to keep himself from stomping away.

They switch after that, Calum charming the stranger and Niall keeping watch on the kitchen and the tables occupied by the villagers. Niall’s more grateful for it than he’d like to admit. He keeps himself busy with idle small-talk and cleaning, doing more around the pub than he usually does in a week, just to keep his attentions on anything except the stranger.

Not that it works perfectly. Niall can only loosen himself up so much, his eyes occasionally darting to the two of them at the bar. And, every time he does look over, he finds that same set of green and grey looking back at him, trying to unravel him, and only manages to keep the shudders trapped in his spine out of pure spite.

[privateplates4u]

8 Frankfurt Show Tech Highlights

Every recent auto show has had some sort of “mobility” conference attached to it, and Frankfurt is no exception—the upstairs of Halle 3 rounded up all the usual suspects. But several other upstairs and downstairs booths mounted what looked like Germany’s version of the SAE World Congress. We’ve got the worn-out shoe leather to prove that we covered both the new cars and the new tech present at this far-flung show. Herewith, our tech-highlights reel. GKN eTwinsterX We know and love GKN’s torque-vectoring Twinster differential in applications such as the Ford Focus RS. We also admire the seamless functionality of the two-speed electric front axle in BMW’s i8. GKN supplies both, and now the company is offering the best of both in an even better e-axle solution known as eTwinsterX. The i8’s e-axle locates the motor “off axis” from the differential, but in this new one the electric motor is concentric with the axle, with one half-shaft running back through the middle of it. This greatly reduces the package size and trims a bit of weight, as well. Not all of the gearing packages on the axle centerline—there is a planetary gearset that takes power off the motor output shaft, returning it to the input of the Twinster differential (which uses clutch packs to engage each wheel, negating the need for spider gears). The ratio change also happens with a twin-clutch-type handoff that suffers no torque interruption (the i8’s e-axle interrupts torque, but you never feel it because the combustion engine fills in with rear-axle torque). The unit on display was rated to deliver 161 hp and up to 2,581 lb-ft of torque (after multiplication), with the ability to shift as much as 1,475 lb-ft to an outside wheel. The system can deliver torque at vehicle speeds of up to 155 mph, with the first-second gear shift typically taking place between 40 and 60 mph. The eTwinsterX system can function as an EV’s front and/or rear powertrain or as an add-on e-axle providing all-wheel drive and propulsion assist to a combustion or hybrid drivetrain on another axle. It has completed its initial design phase and is ready for integration and production, but as it made its world debut at the Frankfurt show, no companies have signed on as yet. IBM Cognitive Configurator Imagine for a moment that you were NOT a car person and that you viewed choosing a new car as a major annoyance. Believe it or not, much of the population feels this way, and so IBM is trying to leverage its Watson artificial intelligence to help folks narrow down the vast array of choices. For now it’s envisioned as a feature that would be offered within a manufacturer’s car configurator tool, but enterprising sites—such as maybe perhaps this one (are you reading me, boss?)—could potentially apply it to the entire industry or whole segments of the car landscape. Users would be asked to log in using their Facebook or Twitter accounts. Watson then takes a quick look at these accounts to classify you in five categories, establishing a sense of your own personal likes, dislikes, hobbies, tastes, etc. It then asks a few questions, ranging from the obvious (“what is your budget?”) to the esoteric (“Which of these three pictures do you like best?”). Then it cogitates and suggests a car, launching the configurator function. I love movies and the Netflix AI assistant has never selected something I like, so I have little hope of this system working for me. But car haters? Have fun! Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X Chipset Just days before the Frankfurt show opened, Qualcomm pulled the wraps off its latest development in the vehicle-to-everything connected-car space. You might not know the name Qualcomm, but like Intel it’s “inside” your smart phone. Qualcomm computer chips specialize in “directing traffic” inside a smart phone, assessing the workload and assigning tasks to the various bits of silicon that can most efficiently handle them so that your phone can survive an entire day on its tiny battery. Millions of car owners have been enjoying Qualcomm chips for many years—the company enabled the original OnStar communications in 2003 and has powered OnStar and many other telematics systems ever since. This latest cellular C-V2X technology rolls out next year and will enable direct communication between cars, cell phones, and infrastructure transponder nodes. It will also handle communications over the traditional cellular networks. It’s that direct component that promises vastly faster delivery of safety-critical information. These signals will travel over the globally harmonized 5.9 GHz ITS communications band established for V2X without the need for a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, cellular subscription, or network assistance. Just having a powered device connects the person, car, or transponder. Network communications via 4G and the coming 5G technology provides the traditional infotainment streams. This technology is seen as a key building block in the quest for improved safety and productivity (traffic jam avoidance), as well as a major enabler of autonomy. Ford, Audi, France’s PSA, and China’s SAIC all expressed intent to utilize this technology at the time of its launch. IBM Blockchain If the word blockchain rings any bells, it’s probably from an online banking or bitcoin perspective. The official definition is “a digital ledger in which transactions made in cryptocurrencies are recorded chronologically and publicly.” No hanky-panky. IBM is bringing this tech to the car biz primarily to help with the seemingly ever-increasing number of safety and other recalls. Today, all too often, when a problem with some component is revealed, an entire model line gets recalled so dealers can look to see if your car is part is one of the bad ones. Blockchain technology tracks these individual parts. The first link in the chain is a subcomponent’s creation. The next might note its assembly into a subsystem. The next might be that subsystem’s shipment to a Tier 1 supplier for assembly into a bigger component. By now many of these chains are interlocking, and they eventually lead to the point where it’s assembled into a car and that car’s VIN gets recorded to the chain. That VIN can now be cross-reference with zillions of component parts, each with their own little part numbers. So now when a supplier discovers that a nest of rats peed all over this one box of parts, possibly compromising their functionality, the automaker can strategically contact just the owners of cars with the peed-on parts. This recall also goes into the block chain, as does every communication about it and the eventual repair. Now NHTSA can openly see what parts have been problematic, what’s been done to contact owners, and how many owners have made the repairs. It also means that if you wander in for an oil change, and your dealer punches in your VIN, he can see that there’s a recall on and fix it—perhaps before you even know it needs fixing. Isn’t the connected world gonna be great? Röchling Seralite German supplier Röchling specializes in aerodynamic aids, including clever underbody paneling to smooth airflow beneath a vehicle. Seralite looks like aluminum, but it’s a composite made from aluminum and lightweight thermoplastics reinforced with fiberglass. It ends up being lighter and cheaper than aluminum, it’s nonflammable, and it won’t absorb oil or other flammable liquids—a bonus when looking to shroud the area under drippy parts such as the engine and transmission. Seralite also boasts good acoustic absorption characteristics. Introduced last year, Seralite is now in production on the Peugeot 3008 crossover. And Three Tech-Savvy Tire Concepts from Continental ContiAdapt This tire and wheel combo features microcompressors that can adjust the tire pressure, inflating and deflating it as necessary, and hydraulics to change the width of the rim so the tire can be fatter with less pressure for improved grip on a slippery road and then can be narrower with higher pressure for a smaller footprint and less rolling resistance for optimal fuel economy on a dry highway.  The technology is still five to 10 years from production. A little closer to production is ContiSense, which adds sensors and a layer of electrically conductive rubber to the inside wall of the tire that can detect when a metal object punctures it. Likewise, a tread depth sensor can tell when you need new tires. In either case, the tire will send a warning to an app on your phone. The app can then locate the nearest outlet and ensure the tires are in stock and the coffee is hot for while you wait for the old tires to be swapped for new. The feature would be ideal for fleet managers managing the health of their trucks constantly on the road. Another sensor acts as a tire health monitor to measure the temperature of the tire and warn when the truck should switch driving modes to change the tire pressure or if the truck should stop to cool down. The assorted ContiSense features are all in development and should be available in the next five years, said Nikolai Setzer, executive board member and head of the Tire Division. Taraxa Gum. Meanwhile, Continental is entering the next phase of its experimentation with dandelions as a replacement for natural rubber. A lab project in Germany has proven promising enough that Continental is building a research facility and will harvest huge fields of Russian dandelions to assess whether easy-to-grow dandelions can be a viable solution. Dandelions can be grown near tire factories, eliminating the need to import rubber from Southeast Asia. Rubber is currently cheap, so there is not a big financial incentive, but that could change.The post 8 Frankfurt Show Tech Highlights appeared first on Motor Trend.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/8-frankfurt-show-tech-highlights/

[lvnerism-blog]

Master tips on how to function with importing electronics and similar products and solutions

Prior to deciding to get started purchasing the latest laptop computer, come to a decision the amount revenue it is possible to commit on it determine what you will be applying it for. Should you basically will need a laptop computer for home business or college, you can find a good laptop computer for under a particular thousand pounds. In this case, be certain that Microsoft Office is presently loaded onto your laptop.

Identify the computer's battery everyday living depending on the way you will probably be using it. In the event you could be using the laptop absent from home on the common foundation, you truly have an extended battery living. Try out to locate a trim laptop that appeals for you that comes along with a removable battery. Acquire a spare battery and sustain it charged.

When you are thinking of selecting a new laptop computer plus a pill, you would possibly wish to take into consideration a convertible laptop in its place. Convertible laptops provide you with the comfort of the notebook along with a pill in a single, and you may dedicate significantly less on this option than you would in the event you obtained the 2 units seperately. 

Don't forget to know how a great deal area the laptop should have. This should be one thing you possibly browse where you're acquiring it, or an item you ask into the individual promoting it. This represents how much you can actually store with your computer. You should have the capacity to have an item that you can give good results with when you need to have a good deal of space for items like online video files.

Please for additional details stop by us right here como importar dos eua

The very first detail you'll need to perform once you decide to purchase a laptop computer could be to choose a superb circumstance for it. Because laptops are moveable, they can be exposed to much more mishaps than a desktop personal computer. There are actually thousand of designs and patterns from which to choose which means you can take care of your laptop computer in design and style.

You probably have your heart established on a dearer laptop, think of a refurbished unit. Countless manufacturers give these, and they usually come having a honest warranty also, shielding you in many options. This can save you hundreds of dollars about a brand new notebook, while however featuring you the conveniences of your model you absolutely want. 

Take into account battery lifespan when generating a laptop computer acquire. If you buy a notebook which has a nominal battery everyday life, it should be more difficult to work with it within the go, mainly every time a electrical power outlet isn't really out there for you. As a substitute, go with a laptop computer which offers several hrs of battery everyday life to elevate the portability and comfort. 

Cautiously think of the amount of the notebook weighs. Carrying approximately a serious laptop can wreck havoc in your back again and shoulders; for that reason, if you ever is going to be carrying your notebook around with you, opt for just one in the lighter kinds. Lighter is not going to always signify dearer. But, battery lifetime may be sacrificed.

Request close friends and relatives for recommendations. They may be a good source of knowledge, therefore you could also use their laptop before you decide to shell out dollars on your possess. Friends and family will be rapid to share whether or not they like their laptop computer, plus they will probably be extremely trustworthy about this in addition.

If you are a gamer, you are likely to just want to be certain that your notebook carries a focused graphics processing unit. If it can be a typical (built-in) GPU, it may not carry out well during the wild with the game titles you prefer to perform. Try to find an ATI or NVidia GPU. Both equally will provide on graphics and pace. 

Always obtain a scenario to put your laptop in should you be gonna be taking it outside of the home. If you're going to high school with it or taking it on a holiday, you are going to want that protection. Just tossing your laptop into your backpack is a great method to have it get weakened pretty without difficulty.

If you are likely to get a utilised notebook, be sure that you employ it for any despite the fact that first. You must ensure that it boots up rapidly. It should also not be doing very a whole lot sounds. Take a look at to discover how hot it will get as well. Perhaps you may want to think about buying it from the retail put which has a assurance of some variety.

When buying a laptop over the web is generally thought about to be protected, you truly have to think about who will company your machine once the time comes. Sending it back again towards seller or directly to the manufacturer signifies you'll ought to go devoid of your laptop computer for times, at the rather least. Give consideration to an area retailer if you're able to get yourself a superb offer, and also have fewer problems about repairs.

You could not really need a disk generate. Give some thought to a computer that simply comes along with a CD/DVD mixture travel. Flash drives, external tricky drives and cloud storage out there around the Internet make it better in your case to avoid wasting critical information without cluttering your computer's hard disk drive. This can prevent revenue and decrease the weight of your respective laptop computer.

When you decide to purchase a laptop computer, contemplate receiving a protecting carrying situation to go along with it. Whilst most laptops are rather tough, they're liable to problems, use and tear, together with the weather conditions. An excellent situation can defend it from unnecessary hurt, aid it to last much longer, and keep it functioning effectively in addition.

Previous to choosing that desktop replacement notebook, contemplate the amount of traveling you are going to be working on. Desktop replacement laptops are top of the line concerning electricity, but they are occasionally two times as weighty as other laptop alternatives. They are often an actual inconvenience to hold close to along with you in case you do loads of touring. Retain that in your mind when selecting. 

If you do not fully understand something within the description of a notebook, give the business a get in touch with. It will get you the solution in your concern, and you will also be in a position for getting in contact with customer care. The firm's customer service may perhaps aid you establish no matter whether that's a business you desire to do small business with.

If you do not organize on carrying your new laptop all over significantly, take into consideration buying a full-sized 15 inch display. It would make available you the most beneficial viewing choices, in the process as being some of the most cost-effective you will get. They may be a touch heavier than their lesser counterparts, but pound for pound, worth their viewing satisfaction.

Want to know how this performs? See much more clicking here  como importar dos eua  

[wellamarke]

twilight's last gleaming

humans challenge, week 2, day 3: crossover/fusion (the 100)

When Mattie arrived at the lab, George was nowhere to be found. That was unusual - he was always there first, usually mumbling to himself under his breath about a file he’d misplaced, or peering at the root code of a synth who’d been brought in for repairs. There were only two models in the lab this morning, and one of them was Odi, who didn’t really count, since he lived there.

Mattie made her way over to the other synth - a female dressed in overalls that suggested she was assigned to Mecha Station, working in the engine rooms, at temperatures no human could withstand for very long. There were burn marks on her clothes and skin, and Mattie absent-mindedly took a casing repair kit down from a shelf, beginning to patch up the worst of the burns while she waited for her holoscreen to load the synth’s diagnostics.

“Where’s George this morning, Odi?” she asked smoothing a finger over the synth’s name label. Hester. She couldn’t remember having any Hesters in for repairs before, which probably meant this one was fairly new. It seemed a shame that she was already so bashed about, in that case. She was only a baby. Sometimes it broke Mattie’s heart to see how badly the synths were treated by their human overseers - partly because it was so easy to imagine them doing the same things to Mia, or one of the other conscious synths who lived secretly among the workforce.

Odi shuffled over to Mattie, his faulty arm still folded awkwardly against him. They’d done everything they could, but he’d need an entirely new limb to fix the problem, and the manufacturing people next door weren’t exactly keen to sink resources into synths who should legally have been recycled years ago. Whenever there was an inspection, George and Mattie had to hide Odi under the floor. Otherwise, he’d have been taken and scrapped long before now.

“George was called to a meeting of the Council,” Odi told her. “He said he would be back as soon as possible.”

Mattie frowned. “What does the Council want him for?”

“He didn’t say.”

“Weird,” Mattie muttered, then returned to her work on Hester. The Ark’s Council didn’t usually call anyone from Synth Engineering to their meetings, and George had certainly never run for office himself. It was enough of a miracle that he’d taken Mattie on as his apprentice, her being the Chancellor’s daughter and all. He’d only softened once he’d realised how much Laura did for the conscious synths, behind the scenes - making sure they were kept out of harm’s way as much as she could.

Nobody outside their very elite circle could find out the truth about Mia and the others. It would cause a panic, and give credence to the crazy ideas of the people who said that the synths would one day rise up and destroy all the humans aboard the Ark, jettisoning the parts of the ship that generated oxygen and taking it for themselves. As long as the synths were brainless, dormant slaves, managing the ship and keeping it in orbit around the ravaged planet below, those people could be ignored, and called conspiracy theorists. But if synthetic consciousness ever became common knowledge, enough people would join their terror-mongering that Mattie actually wouldn’t even blame Niska if she flicked the switch and killed the oxygen.

Which was a great image to have, this early in the designated day-period.

Mattie worked busily on Hester, until the synth was in full working order again. The only sign that she wasn’t brand new out of the box was how dirty her clothing was, but Mattie could hardly do anything about that. Her mum was pretty laid-back for a colony Chancellor, but even she might have questions if Mattie arrived back at their quarters with an armful of synth laundry.

She’d put Hester on charge, and was tidying up her workstation and wondering what to do next when the door to the lab slid open. George entered, his lined face seeming even more drawn than usual. “This is bad, Mattie,” he said, as he approached his own station. “It’s all gonna fall apart, now.”

Mattie was alarmed. She went to meet him. “What? What’s going on? Why did the Council call you?”

George leaned on his workstation, one hand to his brow as if he was getting a headache. “All the qualified engineers were there. They were telling us the plan.”

“What plan?”

“I’m getting to it,” George said, sounding weary. “You’ve heard the rumours, I suppose. Dwindling resources, running out of air, et cetera, et cetera.”

Mattie gave a half-shrug. “Some people say we’ve only got 30 viable years left, but they’ve been saying the same thing since before my mother was born. So what?”

“So, they’re wrong,” George said. “But not in the way you think. We haven’t got thirty years. It’s more like three. Five, at a push. All this time we’ve kept humans running the numbers, but last week they had a synth recalculate them and it turns out the whole department’s been hiding the truth for decades, scared of the ramifications. If we’d known sooner, we might have been able to find another solution, but we don’t have time for that now.”

Mattie felt like she’d been slapped in the face. “Shit. Three years? I can’t believe it.” She paused. “So what, we just wait to die up here?”

“No,” said George. “They’re going to send fifty synths to earth in a dropship.”

“To earth?”

“They’ll monitor conditions down there, send up their readings. They won’t be able to recharge once their power is gone, but they should last long enough to make a report. Then we can decide if we should land the Ark, or stay up here.” He sighed. “I’d rather suffocate in space than die slowly of radiation sickness on the ground. But that’s just me.”

Mattie took this all in. “Will the synths be able to judge all of this without any humans to observe?” she asked. “They’re not exactly built to measure toxins.”

“No, they’re not,” George agreed. “Those dropships seat one hundred, Mattie. Fifty synths as a failsafe, to send us whatever information they can. And fifty humans for them to study.”

“What?” If she’d been shocked before, Mattie was now somewhere outside her own mind, drifting among the debris that floated past the ship. “No. My mother would never have agreed to this.”

“She did try to stop it. But the rest of the Council was unanimous against her. She could be deposed at any moment.”

“Who are they sending?”

George looked down at his hands, which were clasped on the top of his station. “Prisoners. The fifty healthiest people in the Skybox will be selected.”

“Oh, God.” It was all too much to take in. Mattie felt a lump rise in her threat at the thought of Harun, her childhood friend, who’d been arrested for the possession and distribution of recreational drugs, earlier that year. He was fit and young, especially compared to the people who’d been holed up in the Skybox for decades. Would he be sent to earth with the others, expected to survive in the wastelands, or else die of radiation poisoning? It was unthinkable.

“It gets worse,” said George. “Your mother had already set herself against them before they even proposed sending the prisoners. They’d drawn up a list of synths they deemed least vital to the Ark’s workings.”

“No,” said Mattie quietly, knowing what was coming. Her mother had kept Mia, Niska, Max and Fred safe. They had simple assignments. They worked longer shifts than any human, but not in places where they could be hurt or mistreated. Mia served in the cantine; Niska worked in the archives. Max and Fred were on Farm Station, with Leo as their overseer, designing and breeding genetically modified crops. They supported the agriculture workforce, but they definitely weren’t vital to the practical task of feeding the colony day to day.

“Are they all…?” Mattie began, trailing off when George met her eyes. He didn’t have to confirm it. All four of them were being sent to earth. Perhaps the radiation wouldn’t affect them, perhaps they’d be able to find some way of collecting power, perhaps they’d be alright. Even if all of that came true, she might never see them again.

“We can’t let them go,” Mattie said, though her own voice sounded far away, like she was listening from the other side of the door. “They’re like family, it’s not… we can’t…”

“You need to find Leo and tell him,” George told her, firmly. “I imagine he’ll want to get himself arrested as soon as possible. I can’t imagine him letting them go without him.”

“No, he won’t.” Mattie agreed. She looked around the mostly-empty lab. “Shall I go now? I can take Hester back on my way, give me a reason to be crossing stations.”

George nodded. “Go.”

Mattie powered up Hester and led her to the door. She paused. At length, she turned back and gave Odi a pat on the head. “Bye, Odi.”

George watched her do it, his face solemn. He didn’t flinch when she came and gave him a brief hug as well, before slipping through the doors of the lab. They slid closed behind her, as if she’d never been there at all.

Mattie paced down the corridor outside, Hester in tow. She wondered if George had guessed what she was planning - surely he had. He hadn’t trained her for five years without learning at least a little bit about her impulse control.

Now, she thought as she turned off toward the port that would take her to Farm Station, what’s the quickest way to get arrested around here?

Maybe Leo would have some ideas.

[reviloiz-blog]

Interview—Eric Goldstein is the ‘Denim Doctor’

IDK about you, but discovering there’s a company that has absolutely no problem reviving my torn/worn jeans to have them look AND wear brand new makes me just as happy as the Breyers Reese’s Cup ice cream I had as part of my breakfast this morning [before you go thinking I’ve gone mad for eating ice cream before my precious oatmeal, it’s not as farfetched as it sounds, just ask Yoshihiko Koga. And FOR THE RECORD, it was just a scoop, I ate 99% of the pint the night before]. Eric Goldstein, who’s nam emay ring a bell or can be recognized from a popular past time among creative minds alike, How To Make It in America,which also featured Hip Hop laureate and former G.O.O.D. Music artist, Kid Cuddi, launched just over a year ago an online haven for denim enthusiasts called—Denim Repair. 

The Jean Shop NYC founder along with wife and business partner, hit a lick when it came to restoring and repairing a wardrobe staple. I love my jeans and I’m sure you do as well. But what I don’t love though, especially when it involves spending hard-earned cash, are hole-ridden, ripped, torn and shredded jeans that’ll probably make even the most fashionable of fashionable look the other way. Let’s be honest, there’s a difference between distressed and it’s time to toss’em. Like many companies to exist, Denim Repair was created to resolve an issue and if the guy who’s running the jawn has over three decades of experience, it’s safe to say your 1969s are in good hands.  

At what point or moment in particular was it that you decided you to start Denim Repair? 

I have a 30 year history in the denim business. I’m the founder of RRL Jeans which was back in the 90s and then from there I proceeded to work at the Gap doing product development for 11 years. Product development design for 11 years working on all different categories, but mostly denim. Then I decided to go and start a brand called Jean Shop. I started Jean Shop 14 years ago, we have a retail store in Manhattan that we whole sale product all over the world. For our own jeans, Jean Shop jeans, we do repairs right in the shop. Anything you want done to any of our jeans, you’d bring in and we’d fix right downstairs. What was happening was, people were coming in and would ask could you repair my jeans and we were turning people down all the time. If you brought in a pair of Levi’s, a pair of Lee or Citizens, we wouldn’t do it because we don’t have the infrastructure to handle that quantity. One day I woke up and thought why am I keep telling people no, why don’t I just start another company and fix everybody else’s jeans. My guy that does all the repairs is based out of Kansas City, Missouri, and he’s been in the dry cleaning and garment repair business for 104 years—it’s third generation. He’s got a lot of experience with it but he never did denim. His name’s Bruce and we’ve known each other over 25 years. He repairs anything but denim, so we bought him the right machinery, went down there and trained him on using it and its working out really well. It’s an internet-only business, there are no drop shops, it’s all done online. One of the things I really like to push is the fact that we turn everything in, in four days.

Since you already a repair system in place at The Jean Shop, do you cross promote Denim Repair to those customers

We definitely do some cross promoting. If somebody calls us about a repair and I think it’d be better suited for Denim Repair to do it, we tell them to send them off to Kansas City.   

Is there a need for a business like this today? After all, what separates you all from the local tailor around the corner?     

We use a piece of machinery called a darning machine, it’s a special sewing machine and it’s made for repairing jeans. The way we do it is the old-fashioned way of doing it, the authentic way of doing it and it’s the right way of doing it. What we do is re-weave the fabric in that hole. We take one yarn and anchor it from one side of the hole from and drag it back to the other side of the hole and then go back-and-forth. At your local dry cleaner, they’re gonna take your jeans, open the entire outseam of your jean, lay the jeans flat on the table and repair them with a zig-zag machine or a patch, you don’t have to do that with our equipment. With our sewing machine, the entire leg of the jean goes around. By bringing your jeans to the local dry cleaner, the jeans potentially might never fit the same again because they’re not put together correctly. We’re doing it the old-fashioned and authentic way of repairing that your local dry cleaner will not do. 

What’s the reception been like from consumers and overall over the years?

Denim Repair as a business is only a little over a year old. We’ve been repairing jeans through Jean Shop for 14 years and I’ve been repairing jeans longer than that, technically for over 30 years. Denimrepair.com is a new venture and the reception has been phenomenal. People are passionate about their jeans, they don’t want to give them up. They want to take their jeans and wear the crap out of them until they’re falling apart and then they still don’t want to give them up. When you have a favorite pair of jeans, it’s not something you’re gonna walk away from so quickly…you’re gonna do whatever it takes to fix them and wear them for another five or six years. It’s the kind of thing that we just need to let people know it’s out there, once they find out about [Denim Repair] they’re really excited.  

Currently, customers have to send everything into Kansas City, but will there be a point where you expand into larger cities such as New York or even here in Philly?

We’re not gonna make any drop-shops or have any physical locations, everything is gonna be done through Kansas City…it’s the power of the internet. Kansas City is centrally located, right in the middle of the country so it’s quick and easy getting things to and from Kansas City. It would be a whole different service level if we did that, we’d have to have sewing machine operators all over, etc. With everything becentrally located we control 100% of what happens. The business model that we came up with online-only is working out really well.  

I watched an interview you did with Mr. Porter where you spoke on utility and the creation and evolution of the denim jacket, could customers send those in also for repairing or is it strictly just denim jeans?

Absolutely not, it’s anything denim—we can do a denim shirt, a denim jacket, jeans…we actually just did a denim blanket for a lady. We’re actually gonna branch out and start to do other things as well such as chinos and twill pants but right now it’s anything denim.  

You and I share a few things in common, one being we both have attended school here in Philly, could you speak on your experience while studying at Philadelphia University?

I loved it there, when I was there it was called Philadelphia College of Textiles. I graduated with a major in Textile Technology and a minor in Power Production. So I’ve always been interested in garment manufacturing. It was a great school; I learned a lot, there’s no doubt. Amazing professors, very hands-on and I’m a hands-on kind of guy. I enjoyed working in the labs developing and inventing things, it was my passion. 

Additionally, you were involved with Gap’s 1969 branding initiative for the company, could you share on your time there and how it impacted your career professionally?

Absolutely, I love the Gap, I got a lot of respect for the company. I started at the Gap a long time ago and I worked on mostly denim and leather development. I was there for 11 years; I was one of the three people that started in 1969. 1969 originally started as a 30th anniversary of the Gap, we relaunched it in 1999. I hired Adriano Goldschmeid of AG Jeans as a consultant to come in and help me develop 1969. I was traveling all over Europe and Asia to get our production and samples made. It was a time in my life that was very energetic, I was always learning, always teaching, it was really good. When I was there, it was a tremendous experience; there was a great energy around the brand. There were some amazing people that came out of the Gap talent wise. 

I also read you worked alongside Ralph Lauren, someone who’s well-respected, an innovator and leader in the industry, what was that experience like coming in your early beginnings?

Actually, Ralph was a big part of my career. I graduated from Textiles’ and was recruited to go work for Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation. I worked in the New Jersey office and literally had to put a jacket and tie on every day to work in the quality control division. I was traveling around factories doing statistical quality control, measuring garments, checking shades of garments and all that kinds of stuff. I did that for a few years and then one day I got a call that somebody from Ralph’s office wanted to talk to me. I ended up going to NY and becoming a part of the RRL team for the brand RRL, and that’s when RRL was just a vision, he didn’t even have a name for it yet he just had the idea that he wanted to produce a vintage style/vintage inspired denim line. I worked very closely with Ralph at a young age. I was working with him for over four years when I was in my mid-20s. I learned a tremendous amount from that guy in so many different ways, he’s a visionary obviously, he couldn’t have been nicer to me and really took me under his wing and taught me a lot and challenged me and knew how to push me into a way that I developed something with him. I patented a way of processing denim when I worked for Ralph—he was the owner on the patent and I was the inventor. 

If you could offer any advice to someone like me or even to a younger you, what would you say having all the knowledge and experience you possess in an ever-changing industry?

It’s very simple quite honestly—follow  your dreams and just go for it. This industry is changing dramatically by the day. Anybody tells you right from wrong or up from down could be wrong tomorrow. There’s a lot of opportunity for creativity and that’s what people really appreciate. 

And there you have it, the “denim healer” has spoken. Now you can’t say you don’t know.To learn more about the company and how you can get your denim restored, visit www.DenimRepair.com and follow them on Instagram at @denimrepairco. 

For more updates on the blog, check back regularly. Follow us on Instagram at @revilo.iz.

(All images provided).

[morningmindsetpodcast-blog]

MM229 - [Best Of] Rebuilding Bridges- Repairing Strained or Fractured Relationships

How do you rebuild burned bridges or repair fractured relationships? Can you be the one who helps others to rebuild their strained or broken relationships? Remember, anger is not a sin, but it is also not a strategy. There is time to consider whether or not a relationship is salvageable or whether or not the bridge is best left burned.

Ask yourself if the relationship was mutually beneficial to both parties or just to one? Was the respect reciprocal or largely one-sided. Were you doing all of the work in the relationship?

(Original Publish Date: 01/30/18 | Original Episode #: 012)

Episode Transcription

[INTRO]

♫ Trenches by Pop Evil ♫

*Alex*

Welcome to Morning Mindset. A daily dose of practical wit and wisdom with a professional educator & trainer, Amazon best selling author, United States Marine, Television and Radio host, Paul G. Markel. Each episode will focus on positive and productive ways to strengthen your mindset, and help you improve your relationships, career goals, and overall well-being. Please welcome your host; Paul G. Markel.

*Professor Paul*

Hey, welcome to Morning Mindset. This is your host Paul Markel, of course you know that because you heard the intro, and I truly appreciate you joining me today for this show. Aaaaaaggghhh, so today’s topic. This may, hmmm… I don’t know if it’s gonna hurt your feelings, but it may bring up hurtful feelings, or feelings on anxiety, or what have you, but we are going to talk about Rebuilding Bridges, and that is repairing strained or fractured relationships.

-

Now you may be thinking that I’m talking about men & women, husbands & wives, boyfriends & girlfriends and so forth, but it could be any kind of a relationship quite frankly. It could be a friendship, it could be a previously romantic relationship, it could be a relationship between you and a family member. Such as aunts and uncles and cousins and so forth, maybe your mother or father, maybe your kids. But it could be a business relationship. Business relationships often become strained and fractured, and sometimes the bridges get burned. *Stammer* If you’re going to be a mature adult, if you’re going to grow as a human being, every once and a while you need to take the time to consider, whether or not it is time to try and rebuild a bridge, or whether it is time to repair a fractured relationship.

-

Alright, I have a personal story for you, and it’s a business story. I’ve had, I’ve been writing professionally for over 25 years now, and I have a lot of personal contacts in my field on the endeavor, which is the outdoor shooting sports, law enforcement, military community. When I started writing and became a very active writer, I had many relationships with manufacturers and people who, people who made products for well, like-minded individuals. Like I said, the outdoor shooting sports, law enforcement, military type world, and what I found is that as my career grew, and then changed, my business relationships would change.

-

For instance, when I was writing very actively for outdoor shooting sports magazines, at some point I was having between 40 & 50 articles per year published, so I was generating, what we called in the industry “A Lot of Ink”. When I started generating a lot of ink, I had people who would call me up, or they’d send me emails, or send me notes, or they’d see me at shows and they’d be like “Oh hey Paul, did you know that we’re working on This, or would you be interested in talk, or writing about-” specifically writing about this, taking pictures of this, because when I started writing I also became my own photographer, and took thousands upon thousands of pictures and so forth.

-

Well things changed a little bit and I went off on my own, and developed my own television channel and my own radio show and… so I was no longer working for the regular publishing houses. What I found was, some of the people who wanted to be my best friend or wanted to be good friends with me, when I was generating a lot of ink for publishing houses. When things had changed, they weren’t so interested in being my friends anymore, and it the time it was kind of, I don’t know if it was depressing, but it made me kind of sad, to realize that there were a good number of people in the in industry that I thought were friends, they weren’t really friends they were more acquaintances, they were only interested in being my friend or acquaintance as long as I could get them, like I said in the industry we call “Free Ink”.

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If I could give them free ink, or free public relations and PR, they were all about being my friend, and when things changed, I needed them to support me in my new project, they weren’t so interested anymore. That’s something that I… when you have a relationship that was strained, fractured, broken, the bridge was seriously burned, one of the things you have to ask yourself was, is that relationship a mutually beneficial relationship to both parties, or was one of the parties getting more out of the relationship than the other? Was respect reciprocal? I know that’s a lot of R’s & S’s & C’s right there, but was respect reciprocal, or largely one sided?

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Were you doing most of, or all of the work in the relationship? Were you investing the lion’s share of the effort in the relationship and it’s like I said, this could be a romantic relationship, a personal relationship, a business relationship. Before you decide, “It’s time to repair that broken relationship”, you maybe need to take a moment and say “Well, maybe the reason that that person and I are no longer friends, or may the reason that that person and I no longer work together or have a business relationship, is because I was putting in all the work, the time and the effort, and as soon as it became time for them to put in work, time, effort, as soon as it became time for that person to invest in the relationship, they no longer wanted to be involved in it.

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So that may not be a relationship that’s actually worth repairing, it goes back to that while Gut-Check time, ya know Honest Self Assessment. Now you may find when you do the honest self-assessment, that the relationship you had that is now broken or strained, well it was broken or strained because of ego. Because of your ego, or because of someone else’s ego, or a product of the two. Maybe your ego took you in one direction and their ego took them in another direction, it could be that there was some animosity or some anger there.

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Now remember, Anger is not a sin, as we discussed previously, but it is also not a strategy. Being angry all the time or being angry at someone is not a successful relationship or business strategy. So once you get to that honest self-assessment, and the reason I am talking about this right now, is because I have just returned from a trade show, a convention, and I saw a lot of people there who I’ve known for upward, going on 25 years. Matter of fact there are some people, very few people that I’ve known for going on 30 years, and when you go to these shows, you see these people who are acquaintances and friends, and you see people who you may have once had a good, productive relationship with, and you think to yourself, you realize “hm, we haven’t done business together, we haven’t talked or communicated in a year, or two or three, or however long it’s been”, and that’s a good time to ask yourself real quickly, why is that?

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Are we, am I not exchanging phone calls or text messages with this person just because I’m really busy, they’re really busy, or was there some kind of strain, a fracture put on this relationship? If the relationship wa beneficial to both parties, and you might want to take a second to say “Did my ego, did my own personal ego damage that relationship?” and again, going back to honest self assessment and growth, you may come up with that Gut-Check answer of “Yeah, it might have been my ego that got in the way of that relationship”. Or if you’re honest and you can look in the mirror and say “No, it wasn’t my ego at all. It was the fact that that person no longer wanted to put time and investment into the relationship.”

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But there is time, if we want to be mature, responsible, growing adults, that we need to examine these relationships and decide whether or not they can be salvaged, and if they can, that’s probably one of the hardest things for those people to do. Because being able to Rebuild a Bridge, may require you to go back and park some ego. It may require you to humble yourself, to approach that person, whoever that may be and say “You know what? I think things kind of got off track, you and I were very close before. We had a good working relationship, we had a good business relationship, we had a good personal relationship, now we don’t. What can I do to help rebuild our relationship?”

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Don’t tell them what they need to do to rebuild it, ask them what you can do to rebuild it. Now there may be nothing, but let’s face facts. There are some relationships out there, if you’re honest with yourself, if you think about, you might say “You know what, the reason that it didn’t work or it’s not working, is because I let my personal feelings and my ego get in the way. I hope that you can savage one fractured or broken relationship, that you may actually be able to build a Bridge that you set fire to many moons ago. Alright Ladies & Gentlemen, go out there and see if you can rebuild one bridge.

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This is me Paul Markel, reminding you that all of my books, if you’re interested in learning more, all of my books are available on Amazon as paperbacks, or you can get them on the Kindle App as Kindle versions, how cool is that? I know a lot of you guys like Kindles, thank you to everyone who has left a review of this on your favorite podcast player, whatever that happens to be, and to everyone who has shared it. If you haven’t shared it yet, why not? Don’t be greedy man, you know there’s at least one person in your life who could use this information. I’ll talk to you again, real soon.

[OUTRO]

♫ Trenches by Pop Evil ♫

*Alex*

Thank you for spending time with us today. To get show notes, submit a topic request, for more from your host Paul G. Markel, visit MorningMindsetPodcast.com. That’s MorningMindsetPodcast.com. Please leave a review of this podcast on your favorite podcast player, we appreciate your time & effort, and we look forward to reading your honest feedback.

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