#the key components of sailing

[alasforher]

it’s never too late, baby, so don’t give up

[jellysmosh]

I’ve Met Someone That Makes Me Feel Seasick

Summary: Why was it that every single time you saw your cute new neighbour you absolutely embarrassed yourself? Vaguely inspired by the song Kill the Director by The Wombats.

Pairing: Spencer Agnew x GN!Reader

Tags: Fluff, neighbours, silly rom-com vibes

Word count: 4.9k

Note: Hi! I haven’t written fanfic for years and this is my first time writing something for Smosh, so please be gentle with me lol. Please enjoy and let me know what you think!

☆

You were a retired hopeless romantic.

You were no longer big on romance. It wasn’t that you weren’t interested in potentially dating in the future, you just were not really keen to date right now. For the past few years you’d gone through your fair share of weird talking stages and situationships that kept leaving you more drained and emptier than the last. Unfortunately, the single men in the current dating pool brought you nothing but disappointment with a side of psychological trauma.

It was after you broke things off with your last partner/situation/ball and chain that you decided that maybe a celibacy oath was the way to go. Not only did you catch him texting other girls on Instagram, they weren’t even replying to his desperate messages. Somehow the failed attempt to cheat was more disgusting to you than the actual act of cheating. The optimistic side of you chose to push through and sail past the red flags only to find this guy was just as awful as your friends predicted. That was your problem for most of your life: you were full of hope and second chances and unconditional love (which is dangerous without the critical thinking skills to go with it).

But no more! You have had enough of men stepping all over you. You were tired of being used for your love and attention and emotional support, and if that meant you were going to be single for the rest of your life, so be it! That beats spending it with some guy working in finance whose opening line on Tinder was ‘you tryna send pics or nah?’ Your single era started now.

☆

Anti-Romance Day 30 was looking good until it wasn’t.

It was a rainy Saturday with no plans, which meant staying holed up in your apartment and watching movies in your pyjamas. Against your better judgment, you selected a romantic comedy, carefully opening a bag of popcorn fresh out of the microwave as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days started up on your television.

By the end of the film, you were choking on tears at the thought of your failed love life as Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey made out on screen. This was a mistake, nothing made you yearn for romantic company more than a sappy movie. You wanted to dramatically curse at the universe for making real life dating such a complete hellscape.

Was it even the men who were the problem here? What if you were just undateable? What if you were such an awful potential partner that you only attracted the weirdo freaks and all the good ones hit skip?

You shook your head to clear it.

There was no point thinking like that when you knew it wasn’t true. You were attentive and loving and communicated very well, all the ideal components of the perfect partner. Your cooking was… questionable, but you gave great hugs!

Your thoughts were interrupted by your phone ringing.

It was your UberEats delivery man and he was pissed. Apparently the instructions you sent him to get to your apartment were too hard to understand, and you had to go down and meet him or he was going to drive away with your KFC family meal (don’t judge). In fear of losing your money and fried chicken, you practically flew out your apartment to retrieve your food from the lobby. Walking from the elevator back to your apartment, you make an earth shattering realisation, you forgot to grab your front door key before going to get your food.

A few things about this situation: your key fob to access the building and elevator were on your car keys (currently in hand), and your front door key was strapped to your bag (currently inside the apartment). Also, your apartment door was one of those heavy duty ones that automatically locked from the outside. To summarise: you were fucked.

“Shit!” You practically shouted, tightening your grip on the paper KFC bag, “fuuuck!”

“Uh, are you okay?”

You jumped in surprise. In all the chaos, you didn’t even notice that the door to the apartment next to yours was propped open and a man stood just inside the doorway, staring at you. He was holding a cardboard box with both hands, brown curls peeking out from under a baseball cap, wireframe glasses sitting in front of deep green eyes, and a confused expression on his face. He was so cute.

“Who are you?” You blurted out without thinking, your cheeks immediately flushing, “sorry, I mean- I thought Old Mr Chan lived here.”

“Oh, he moved out”, the stranger replied. He turned to place the box down on a nearby table before stepping out of the apartment. “My name is Spencer, I’m moving in today”, he held his hand out and you tentatively shook it with your free hand.

“I’m Y/N. Sorry about earlier”, you sighed, of course the first time you met your new neighbour was at a time like this. You were hyper aware of the fact that he probably watched you stand in the hallway cursing at your door while holding a giant KFC bag, hair greasy, in your Hello Kitty print pyjama pants, eyes obviously red from your little crying session a few minutes ago.

“No worries”, he smiled, oh god, his smile was beautiful. “I’m assuming you’re my neighbour?” He glanced at your asshole of a front door. “Why were you swearing at it?”

You sank even deeper into your embarrassment as you explained the situation to him. Talk about first impressions.

“Oh!” An idea popped into your head and Spencer looked at you expectantly. “What if I go through your apartment onto your fire escape and then like shimmy across to my window along the ledge-“

“What?” He exclaimed, eyebrows raised, “are you crazy? No way, that’s so dangerous. And are you sure your window’s unlocked?”

You paused.

“Yeah, you’re right… Do I really need to call a locksmith?” You scrunched up your nose. You could feel Spencer still looking at you and it made you extra self conscious. You knew you looked insane right now.

He hummed in thought. “The building manager was meant to come by in a bit to drop some stuff off for me, maybe you can ask him to help you out when he comes?”

You perked up a little, “yes! Sounds good!” You smiled at him despite yourself. You may have given a terrible first impression to your new neighbour, but at least you would probably get back inside your apartment today.

After some only slightly awkward small talk with Spencer, the building manager arrived and after explaining the whole mess, shot you a disappointed look and went to retrieve the spare key to your apartment.

“You’re a lifesaver”, you gushed to the building manager, offering him a now cold chicken tender which he rejected before grumpily entering the elevator. You were just happy your front door was now open, merrily sliding inside, you called out, “welcome to the building, Spencer!”

For a second, the sweet smile he showed you in response made you forget that you looked a mess and was just having an emotional breakdown. Your cheeks turned red as the door clicked shut.

☆

“Coming!” You yelled out, abandoning the dishes you were washing and jogging over to your front door after hearing the doorbell ring. You checked the peephole only to find Spencer standing there, hands in pockets, waiting.

You gulped. The situation where you were locked out with a big bag of fried chicken had happened a couple weeks ago and you hadn’t really spoken to Spencer since. You saw him only a couple times in the hall and you did not exchange much besides quiet ‘hello’s and nods of acknowledgment. You took a deep breath and swung the door open.

“Spencer! Hi!” You tried to smile like a normal person. “What’s up?”

“Hey, Y/N”, he looked at you with those pretty eyes and you silently thanked god you weren’t dressed in pyjamas this time. “Sorry to randomly pop over like this.”

“It’s fine”, you waved your hand, pretending to be nonchalant, “what can I help you with?”

“I’m totally being a bother but could I please borrow a couple eggs?” He sheepishly grinned, slightly rocking back and forth on his feet as if he was embarrassed this time, “I’m in the middle of cooking something and I didn’t realise I was out.”

“Sure”, you opened the door wider for him, “come in, I’ll go grab them for you.”

Now was it wise to let an almost stranger into your apartment? No. Was it neighbourly though? Kind of!

He thanked you before following you into your apartment. He even left his shoes at the door upon noticing all your shoes sitting on racks right next to it. You were flattered by his observance, it had been a while since a man with any kind of consideration of your habits and taste had been in your residence.

You led him to the kitchen.

“I’m certain I have some in the fridge”, you said over your shoulder, “I get through them pretty slowly.”

“Your place is really nice”, he complimented you while walking through the kitchen doorway. You glanced over at the mismatched chairs at your dining table and the clock on the wall painted to look like a pizza. You couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not. 

“Thanks…”, you murmured tentatively, “I don’t often hear that honestly-“

Your sentence got cut off when you slipped on the small puddle under your shitty kitchen sink left from when you were doing the dishes. You were midair just for a half second before landing on your butt.

“Oh my god”, Spencer rushed over to you, “are you alright?”

You groaned at the literal pain in your ass.

“Yep”, you choked out as if your tailbone wasn’t killing you, “just a little trip, I’m all good.”

He helped you up anyway, hands steady but touch soft. You felt yourself blushing at the contact, suddenly realising this was the first time he had touched you since your initial handshake. Once you were upright again, you turned your head toward him and felt your heart jump at how close he was to you. If you wanted to, you could have counted his eyelashes. You immediately broke eye contact and sped over to the fridge, this time making sure to step around the water on the floor.

“U-um, just two eggs, was it?” You shoved your face into your fridge, both checking how many eggs were in the carton and hoping the cold air would cool your face down.

You heard Spencer clear his throat after a pause, “yeah, yeah, just two.”

You handed him the eggs as he replied with a soft ‘thanks’, and on his way out he seemed to hesitate. Stopping halfway out the door, he turned to face you.

“Not that I was, like, purposely looking or anything”, he said quietly, eyes not meeting yours, “but I think when you slipped, you landed in the puddle because there’s a wet patch on the- uh… back of your jeans.”

You blankly stared at him.

“Just thought I should let you know before you sit down and make your couch wet or something”, he finally looked you in the eye again and he also seemed to flush when he saw your clear embarrassment.

“Thanks for letting me know”, your voice came out almost like a squeak. He nodded as he thanked you again for the eggs and scurried off back to his apartment next door.

Once your door shut again, you felt the back of your pants. Yup, your entire ass was wet.

Look on the bright side, you thought to yourself as you unzipped them so they could dry off of your body, at least he knew it was water and you didn’t have to convince him you didn’t pee your pants. You dryly chuckled to yourself as you stood in your underwear, hanging your jeans on a clothes rack.

No romance, you thought to yourself, don’t even let yourself think about it.

☆

“I really don’t know if we can fix it”, Spencer furrowed his brow. He was bent down next to you as your hands fumbled around the pipes under his sink with one hand and a wrench clasped in the other.

You two had been speaking to each other more since he saw you with a big wet patch on your ass. You had exchanged numbers in the elevator a few days after, Spencer claimed it was in case you got locked out again or he needed more eggs. Brief text conversations every now and then gave way to livelier elevator conversations and amicable chats in the hallway. You would consider him an almost-friend at this point and you were glad you were getting along well with him, despite you embarrassing yourself seemingly every single time you interacted.

And here you were, knelt down in his kitchen after texting back and forth about his sink no longer working.

“Have some faith”, you murmured, preoccupied with fiddling with a valve you located on the side of a pipe.

“Do you know anything about plumbing?” He asked incredulously, running a hand through his unruly hair. It was late Sunday morning, and he had clearly not styled it. Your heart rate had picked up when you saw him, in his sweatpants and messy bed head, it felt so intimate to see him not done up and ready to leave his house. You had ignored the thumping in your chest and followed him to the kitchen.

“Well… no”, you leaned back, grinning at him. That earned a loud laugh from him that caught you a bit off guard. Even his laugh was cute, that was so unfair. “But I think we can D.I.Y this, maybe we should check YouTube?” You stood up to grab your phone off the counter and he laughed again.

“You want to check YouTube?” His tone indicated he didn’t seem to take your suggestion seriously.

“What?” You were playfully defensive, “I go there for all kinds of tutorials, it’s great. I love YouTube!”

He got up to stand next to you, watching over your shoulder as you opened the app.

“Yeah, me too”, he muttered, “I kinda work there.”

“What?” You looked away from your screen to address him. He was closer than you realised, head hovering over your shoulder. You willed your heartbeat to slow down lest he heard it. “I didn’t know you worked at YouTube.”

“Well, not at YouTube. I work for a YouTube channel”, he pointed at your phone, “don’t worry about that right now, I’ll tell you about it later. Try finding something that will help us fix my sink please.”

He said he was going to tell you about it later. He wanted to talk to you later. You felt like you could float out the window and fly away. You pushed the feeling down and made sure your feet were solidly planted on the floor.

“Oh right”, you locked back in, searching for a video that looked helpful. After skimming through a few, you had a bit of an idea. “Okay, let’s try checking that thingy pipe and if that doesn’t work, we might need to do more research.”

“So technical”, Spencer replied, bemused. His eyes sparkled when he smiled.

“Well, if this fails, you can come over and use my kitchen while it gets fixed”, you tried your best to keep your tone level, as if the image of Spencer cooking in your kitchen didn’t make you giddy with excitement. “My sink works perfectly fine.”

“Yeah, I know”, Spencer laughed, referring to the last time he was there.

You looked away from him, flustered. You swung your wrench around a bit and headed back to the sink before he could notice. He watched as you bent down. You decided you probably needed to get as low as possible to find the pipe they were talking about in the video. You squatted down as deep as you could go and froze. A loud ripping noise stopped you in your tracks.

“Uh oh”, Spencer chimed from behind you and you didn’t dare to turn around to see his expression.

You closed your eyes. This couldn’t be happening. You were so sure today was going to go well, you had visions of hanging out with him and him being so impressed you could fix his sink. It was meant to be the start of your redemption arc. Well, it looked like things had headed in the opposite direction because you had just fucking ripped your pants like a cartoon character.

“There’s no way”, you whispered in disbelief, “there is absolutely no way that just happened.”

You slowly stood and turned to see Spencer leaning against the opposite counter, eyes on the ceiling.

“Oh, it definitely did”, he was so clearly trying to hold in his laughter. “I’m not looking so you can preserve your modesty.”

Your face was beet red, feeling the backside of the pair of old jeans that had failed you twice in the span of a couple weeks.

“Shit, did you see my underwear?”

“I don’t want to lie to you…”

“Spencer!”

“I’m sorry!” He put his hands up in surrender, failing to hold in his giggles now, “I didn’t mean to! How was I supposed to know you were planning on splitting your pants on my kitchen floor?”

You groaned in frustration, hands covering your crotch. He looked back down at you, hands still in the air. You stared at each other before you both burst into laughter. As embarrassed as you were, the situation was far too funny for you to take it seriously. You were both doubled over with tears in your eyes.

“You took playing plumber too literally”, he gasped out, “you showed crack and everything.”

“No, I did not!” You shouted, tears of laughter spilling down your face.

Once the hysteria passed, Spencer lent you a sweater to tie around your waist in case somebody in the hall saw you with your pants crotch split open.

“You should probably call the building manager”, you said to him as he walked you to his door, “I fear I’m not cut out to be a handyman.”

“Yeah, not really,” he said bluntly, but the smile on his face was wide.

“I’ll give your sweater back later today”, you stood just outside his door, he leaned against the doorframe.

“It’s okay, you can hold onto it for a while”, he replied. The softness in his voice made your stomach turn in a way that was both pleasant and upsetting. “I have to head out later and run some errands so I won’t be here.”

You had this urge to ask to hang out with him a little longer, to ask if you could come with him to run his errands, to prolong the time you spent with him as much as you could. He had this gravitational pull that made you want to stay in his orbit. But you knew that feeling well and it had gotten you tangled up in too many messes for you to count. You steadied your emotions again.

“No problem”, you shrugged, like it meant nothing to you that you had his sweater on you. “Thanks again!”

You waved as you side-stepped over to your own apartment. He lingered in the doorway for a little longer, watching you unlock your door. You could feel his eyes on you, you wondered if he was staring because you looked good or completely ridiculous. You glanced at him one more time before entering your apartment. He looked like he wanted to say something more but crossed his arms and smiled instead.

“See you, Y/N.”

“Bye, Spencer.”

☆

Texting Spencer slowly became part of your everyday routine. It was one of the highlights of your day - random thoughts, memes, both of you complaining about stuff happening at work. He had taken up a comfortable spot in your mind and he didn't show any signs of leaving soon. You had begun to value him so much as a friend, you tried your hardest to ignore any kind of romantic attraction you felt for him.

Like you had decided before, you were taking a break from romance anyway. He had become such a good friend to you that you were focussing more on getting close to him platonically.

You felt like you could tell him anything. You had both opened up to each other over the past weeks. He had told you all about his work at Smosh, the pressure he felt that kept him up at night sometimes, but also the absolute blast he had working with the people he loved so much. You had told him about your terrible luck for your entire dating history and the conclusion you came to recently that being single for the rest of your life was on the table, but at the same time, the tumultuous nature of your love life had brought your close friends even closer. You had shared these moments with him where you felt like time was standing still, smiling at your phone in the dark while in bed, hushed conversations in the hallway walking from the elevator to your doors, smiling tiredly at each other in the lobby before work on a Monday morning.

You loved spending time with him, whether it was 30 minutes or 30 seconds. But sometimes his cute smile made you feel like you couldn’t breathe, his charming sense of humour made you feel like you were being knocked off your feet, and when those beautiful eyes gazed at you with all his attention, it made you feel positively seasick.

Shit.

☆

You had a day off work and you spent it doing a bit of shopping (you needed new jeans) and got home in the afternoon to a few texts from Spencer. He was going to get back to his place in about half an hour and asked if you wanted to have dinner together. This was not anything new, a huge perk of becoming good friends with your neighbour is that you got to hang out whenever you wanted.

‘Sure thing’, you texted back, ‘bring some takeaway and you can choose the movie.’

‘Deal.’

Less than an hour later, you heard your doorbell chime and then he was handing you a bag of food from Homestate while kicking off his boots. It just felt so easy, letting him into your space, making you belly laugh with a story about Angela from work. You bet he knew it too, how much you loved his presence, he had that twinkle in his eye whenever you gave him attention, with that cheeky smile, how could you look away?

“I can’t believe you haven’t seen Alien”, Spencer sat back on the couch after hitting play on the movie.

You shrugged next to him, “it’s not that I don’t watch horror movies, I just never got around to it.”

“Well, prepare to get your mind blown”, he turned to stare at you like this was life or death.

You laughed. “God, you’re corny.”

“Yeah, yeah, you love it.”

You didn’t bother replying to him, rolling your eyes playfully, you began to dig into your food while the movie started. With your head down, you hoped he didn’t notice you still blushed like an idiot when he spoke to you like that.

It was really good, hell, it was probably a great movie. The problem was you kept getting distracted. Finished food abandoned on the coffee table, you kept glancing over at the man comfortably laid back next to you like he belonged there. You were sitting tight together, arms touching. You resisted the urge to cuddle him, you were friends for sure but you didn’t want to cross a boundary that he might not be comfortable with. Anyway, if you guys did cuddle, he would definitely feel how fast your heart was beating. Even now, with your upper arms pressed against one another and your knees occasionally knocking together, it felt like a million tiny electric zaps every time you made contact.

Spencer loved movies, he was a movie guy, and you loved that he was a movie guy. You loved the way he lit up talking about them, his eyes glued to the screen and reacting to everything that happened like it was personally happening to him. He really felt the films he liked, he was open-minded and enjoyed being immersed in them. You couldn’t help being attracted to his passion and excitement, and watching every microexpression on his face instead of the movie itself. It was alright though, because he would always answer your questions when you got confused.

“You’re so patient with me”, you grinned absentmindedly, trying to focus on Sigourney Weaver running through the spaceship. When you realised what you said, you tried to play it off, “like, as in, you never get mad at me for getting confused.” You attempted to laugh in a light, casual way, it came out sort of hollow sounding though.

Yeah… playing it real cool, you thought to yourself sarcastically. You forced yourself not to look at him but you could feel his gaze on you.

“Of course”, his voice was so soft, you almost missed it. Your will broke down immediately and you turned to him. You didn’t think you had ever seen that expression on his face, it was gentle and open, ignoring the movie for once. You felt your breath leave your lungs, like your chest was about to collapse and you were going to throw up.

“Thank you”, you murmured, not knowing what else to say. “For being so… good to me.”

What the fuck were you saying? Oh my god, oh my god, shut up-

“I can’t imagine ever not being good to you”, he mumbled back, “and I’m not that patient.”

Your heart was in your throat, your heartbeat was so loud in your ears, you couldn’t hear the yelling from the television. You slowly pressed the pause button and tossed the remote aside without looking away from him.

“What do you mean?”

“Something about you makes me so impatient”, he was whispering now and you felt yourself being drawn closer like a magnet. “Sometimes”, he swallowed thickly, “I think about you and I lose all my chill. I just want to stop what I’m doing and see you.”

Seeing him like this, cheeks slowly reddening and eyes wide and vulnerable, it felt more intimate than sex.

“S-sorry”, he stuttered out.

“No”, you rushed, your hand instinctively grabbing his forearm and he jumped like you had just shocked him. You slowly realised that while you had been trying to ignore your attraction to Spencer, he may have been doing the exact same thing. “I feel the same way”, you said breathlessly, “I think about you every single day.”

“Me too, every day”, he nodded in agreement, “it’s been hard to not think about you all the time ever since I saw you sprint down the hall in your Hello Kitty print pyjamas.” You threw your head back in laughter, his gorgeous laugh mixing with yours. “I couldn’t help falling for you, you landed in a puddle in front of me in your own kitchen. And then you ripped your pants in mine.” You were in hysterics at this point, as embarrassed as you were in those moments, it was absolutely hilarious in hindsight.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe you like me”, you caught your breath, “I had no idea.”

“I didn’t want to push anything”, he said sincerely, “I had no idea if you liked me like that, and after learning about your whole swearing off romance thing… I thought I had no chance at all.”

“Well”, you reached up and fiddled with the string of his hoodie, almost feeling the heat coming off his body, “that was before I met you.”

His smile at that moment was so bright, you swore it lit up the entire room.

“You’re amazing, Spencer”, he held your free hand in his, gently running his thumb along your knuckles, “I tried to avoid my feelings but I couldn’t do it. I like you so much it makes me sick.”

“Sick?” He laughed. You loved making him laugh.

“Yes, sick”, you giggled in reply.

Both of you were slowly inching towards each other, noses almost bumping. His eyes flicked down at your lips and then back up to your eyes. You gave the tiniest of nods, giving permission, and he immediately leaned in. And then your lips connected, it was like every romantic movie you had ever seen combined and ten times better. You could almost hear the swelling music score as his hand delicately cradled the side of your face. You felt like electricity was running through your veins and roses were blossoming inside your chest. He tasted sweet like the lemonade he just had, and you tightened the grip you had on his hoodie string. He hummed contently against your mouth, his other hand pulled you closer, until you felt engulfed in his arms, his scent, him.

So much for a retired hopeless romantic.

✩

♡ masterlist

[donethedevilspedicure]

For a long time now, I've been wanting to write something based on Star Treatment by Arctic Monkeys, but with my writer's block being what it is, it probably won't happen. So instead, here's what I told Cart (@/cartoonsinthemorning) about it!

Six fingered!Stan AU feat. Age Gap Stancest and Reverse Portal

In this AU, as the title says, Stan was the one to be born with six fingers on each hand. Everything else about the twins is the same – their personalities are the same, Ford is still a super genius, Stan is still prone to lying and punching things.

Since Ford is very individualistic and believes himself to be special, he still thinks that, but it's only based on his intellect in this case. There's nothing that physically sets him apart from his peers, but he’s still Ford, so he still does not like other children or form friendships with other people than his own twin. He still gets teased for being weird, however, as children are cruel, and Stan's extra fingers, them being twins, and Ford’s mannerisms just makes them more of a “the freak Pines twins” unit rather than the onus being all on Ford being the freak. More on how that affects Ford and their general relationship later.

Stan, however, takes to having six fingers much much differently than his brother in canon. Inspired by how he takes to the role of Mr. Mystery in canon, in this AU, he likes to show off his hands to kids and adults, not minding whether the attention he gets is positive or negative, and he can defend himself if he gets bullied. He even postulates that having larger hands makes him better at punching things. They're a part of him that he's proud of, and he feels cool for having them, rather than being like canon Ford who hides his hands and sees them both as a mark of being some sort of the chosen one as well as destined to be ostracized from society. Stan understands the necessity of leaning into the clown mask that he was born with, in order to fit in, if that makes sense.

So. As they grow older, the strain from being even more of a freak unit as children becomes very heavy on Ford. He longs both for being the most special of them, loathes every instance where Stan is the one to get attention, while also not wanting to share Stan with anyone. I like to imagine that he goes a little mad with being obsessed with Stan and them being twins, to the point where he regularly fantasizes about a way to incorporate Stan into himself and make them one – one as in, make them be just Ford. Ford feels like Stan holds a key component to who he, Ford is, and he hates him for it and wants to run away from his twin, while also suffering from deep obsession with Stan. This of course results in Ford having deep sexual urges for Stan that he tries his hardest to suppress, resulting in them drifting slightly apart as they grow up.

Stan, in the meantime, still thinks Ford hung the stars and the moon, and is not at all pleased that Ford pulls away from him. But without Ford being the sole twin with all the freakiness, Stan has also been less conditioned to cling to his brother like moss by not having to protect Ford all his childhood while being almost invisible himself, so while he still never becomes the popular guy, he does manage to develop a hobby outside of being Ford’s brother. In this case, it's his music teacher that encourages him to learn the piano because of his six fingers, and Stan, as we know, is smart when he wants to be, so he learns very quickly.

This is not to say that they aren't close, and that their dream of sailing the world isn't still there – it is. But when Ford gets offered a scholarship to WCT, Stan is heartbroken but does not destroy the machine. Rather, after Ford succeeds in impressing the representatives, he packs up his things and leaves quietly without saying goodbye.

Ford then goes to college, but seeing as he is going somewhere where everyone else is as smart as him, he gets to experience just living up to expectations. Which is horrible for him. He gets hired to teach after his first degree and hates every second of it, then, at the age of maybe 30-35, he decides to study anomalies because he's been spiralling about not being special and still obsessed with his twin brother and his hands after all those years. Seeing as he isn't anything special, he then saves up his salary to move to Gravity Falls on his own, already half mad. The portal still happens. The postcard still happens.

As for Stan, he has been living off piano gigs, sometimes for a night only, sometimes for a season or two. He misses Ford, and he's still nomadic in nature, but he drifts through life a little more aimlessly, trying to fill the hole inside himself with sex and drinking. When he gets the postcard, he has just been offered to be signed to a record label and promised fame (“a jazz pianist with six fingers! You're bound for Hollywood!”) and yet, he still chooses Ford over that. But he thinks about it, hard, before he does.

So when they fight, it's a fight that's much more vicious on Ford’s behalf compared to Stan, who’s more sad-hurt that Ford still pushes him away, and therefore, Stan doesn’t fight back as hard as he does in canon. And therefore, Stan is the one to be pushed into the portal. Where he eventually ends up at an alien jazz bar (a little more sophisticated than the cantina in Star Wars), where he decides to just stay and mourn the loss of his potential and cursing his fingers (Ford probably spat a lot of bullshit about how Stan didn't deserve to be the special of them, it should have been Ford, and Stan just took it).

Until a more canon Old Ford comes by and decides to woo this six fingered, jaded Stan ✨ Which is where it gets interesting and where I haven't thought further than “dang that would be hot”, haha.

[eirist]

Little Bits and Pieces of Heaven

THE ART OF BEING SUBTLE

One-shot #: 37

Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.

Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.

Warning: OOC possible. One shot.

Rating: T

Note: I just wanted some ZoNa as seen through Usopp’s eyes. I love how he’s close to both of them.I swear he’s probably, possibly one of the first to notice if something is up with them. It’s just cute to think.

Summary: Things will definitely be more interesting from here on, ne?

It was subtle.

So subtle you will never really notice it… especially if you are not paying any attention.

Which most of the time is what happens because honestly, who would even think that something like that is happening between two of the most hard-headed individuals you ever came across the Grand Line and even in the New World?

Yes they are friends, but not really the makes-your-heart-warm type. Theirs is more… complicated—for the lack of word. Plus it does seem like irritation is the key component of their relationship.

Also there is that distance… that certain reservedness between them. Kind of like a safe space that the two seemed to inadvertently placed in the middle that neither one would deliberately try to step foot on.

But despite that, when push comes to shove… they always have each other’s backs.

In a way that makes it alright.

One fine day of sailing along the New World sea, while everything around them was quiet and calm (no marines or pirate enemy on their tail, no sea kings attacking, nothing) and the Thousand Sunny was smoothly gliding above the water heading towards their next destination…

…something in Usopp’s perception regarding his two friends changed.

He was playing a game of catch along with Luffy and Chopper on the lawn deck. They were all being boisterous, more than the usual, as if they are trying to make up for the day’s tranquillity.

They were tossing the ball up and running around, catching it and tossing it up again as they chased each other back and forth on the whole expanse of the deck.

The trio were momentarily distracted when the galley’s door opened and out step Sanji at the same time Zoro descended down from the crow’s nest.

Usopp groaned inwardly. He was having so much fun playing around and he’s really not in the mood for another squabble between the two-thirds of the monster trio.

Thankfully both seemed preoccupied with their respective thoughts and they just ignored each other, as Sanji headed towards where the aquarium hatch is, earning a sigh of relief from Usopp. Thank heavens for that!

Good thing too that Luffy managed to snag the green-haired man’s attention. The rubber captain immediately bounded towards the swordsman when he saw him. Usopp absent-mindedly threw the ball towards an eager Chopper, who shifted to his heavy point to catch it before instantly reverting back to his usual tiny form.

He called out to Luffy to get his attention. Their ever-juvenile captain was obviously pestering the taller man to play with them. And based from the way Luffy’s tone was reaching a rather whiny pitch (and also from the way Zoro was now looking totally irritated), it was a lost cause. 

Usopp called out to Luffy again and as if on cue, Chopper threw the ball towards him. Luffy immediately laughed, his attention shifting away from Zoro and in one swift move, he stretched his arm to meet the ball halfway… with enough force like he was about to sucker punch one of their enemies.

Suddenly Zoro nudged Luffy’s shoulder with his own. Not too much but just enough to make Luffy turn his attention back to his friend, his gaze questioning. The younger man’s outstretched arm wobbled in the air slightly though that wasn’t enough to make him miss the ball. His closed fist still struck it, only with less force than before.

And right at that moment, Nami stepped out of the aquarium bar.

Usopp could swear everyone froze on the spot when she appeared.

Except for the ball.

It headed straight to her. Usopp can only squeeze his eyes shut as he braced himself for the unwanted impact.

Which never came—much to his disbelief. The ball ended up hitting the wall a few good inches from her.

Nami let out a loud shriek from surprise and glared icily at them before proceeding to kick the ball which has rolled down the grassy deck.

The trio let out a disappointed cry when the ball went overboard, falling down the water below.

Nami silenced them with a scowl, huffing angrily before she marched away from them. Usopp was thanking his lucky stars that she didn’t resort to physical violence or even financial.

Though he clearly doubted if they really got away from the latter.

“Why is she mad,” Luffy complained with a pout, a tad disheartened at the loss of their ball. “It didn’t hit her.”

“But it almost did!” Chopper said with a hint of fear in his tone.

“Still it didn’t,” Luffy argued, a bit stubbornly.

“Yeah it didn’t,” Usopp mumbled, “Luckily.” He shot a quick glance at Zoro who had walked away from them to head to the men’s quarters while Nami was busy giving them her death glare. 

Usopp can tell that that ball would definitely hit Nami face first… if Zoro didn’t pushed Luffy earlier like he did.

Talk about good timing.

Then he stopped and blinked himself into a thought.

Nope that definitely wasn’t just good timing.

No one knew that Nami was in the aquarium bar, and certainly no one had known that she’ll be exiting it right when Luffy smacked the ball towards that direction.

Yet Zoro already bumped Luffy even before he hit the ball, effectively derailing its path and diminishing it strength, preventing it from hitting Nami.

And saving her.

Usopp blinked again.

Saved her in one swift and subtle movement. Huh.

Usopp scratched at his cheek.

------------------------

From that point on Usopp decided to train his watchful eyes on Zoro and Nami, observing their daily interactions attentively and inconspicuously.

True enough, their disagreements had dwindled down after their two-year separation and astonishingly, it continued to do so the further they sailed into the New World.

He’d sometimes see them quietly talking to each other on one side of ship or at the far corner of whatever island they are currently on, instead of having their usual loud interactions (that definitely includes yelling and fighting). They still engage in their good, old bickering sometimes but not as often as they used to.

And that was when he noted that there were a lot of subtle things the swordsman was doing to keep Nami out of harm’s way.

It was just small little things. Just tiny things. Things that can just be overlooked.

It was so unnoticeable… that not even Nami or the whole crew was aware of it.

Unless you pay really, really close attention.

Like what Usopp was currently doing.

He once saw the green-haired man casually moving her cup of hot tea a few inches away to the side before her elbow can hit it and the steaming liquid inside spills on her.

And Nami never realized what Zoro did.

There was one time when they docked on an unruly island filled with shady people and equally shady pirates and Zoro kept bumping and nudging her so she’d change directions while they were walking. Usopp later realized that he was moving her out of the reach of the bounty hunters who were persistently following her.

Though that instance actually ended up in a violent shouting match between the two because Nami finally snapped from all that pushing. She even summoned Zeus, his lightning fully-charged, intent on unleashing it at Zoro.

The bounty hunters that were targeting her decided to high-tail it out of there instead of getting caught in the crossfire between the two terrifying pirates. No one wants to mess with the totally vexed woman, armed with a weapon that can jolt the life out of them. Nor do they want to face off with an equally annoyed swordsman with three katanas who they now realized was the fabled pirate hunter Zoro.

There was also a time that Zoro deliberately knocked down Nami’s beer mug thrice while they were all out eating and drinking in a rather seedy bar because it he knew it had been tampered.

That also resulted in another shouting match. This time with belis and debts involve along with some throttling.

Usopp didn’t need to mention the times when Zoro helps her out with shopping and carrying their groceries and stocks without being told or forced to. Which Usopp also realized, kind of happens a lot as of late.

And in all these occurrences… Nami remained oblivious.

And Usopp had to freaking stop himself from knocking her on the head because it was really goddamned obvious what was actually happening.   

Once, they decided to camp by the beach of an uninhabited island. They settled around the fire that the boys enthusiastically made as Robin was about to narrate these amazing ghost stories from her newest book. Usopp quietly observed at the corner of his eye that Zoro strategically sat near Nami, knowing she’d definitely shift closer to him once she gets scared.

Usopp did the same. He deliberately sat near Zoro—on his other side, to be exact—in case he also gets scared and needed comfort.

All these were subtly done. Very subtly done, that no one had an inkling that it was happening at all.

But Usopp does. And he continued to watch and observe and wonder how long will it actually take Nami to figure it all out.

------------------------

Dinner was as usual chaotic, with a lot of laughing, talking and even yelling as they tried to get their fill of their cook’s delectable dinner dishes.

Usopp chewed on his food slowly yet with gusto as he eyed his crewmates, especially those who were at the other end of the table.

Nami had just entered the kitchen and Luffy accidentally barreled into her while running away from Sanji with a stolen plate of newly-cooked meat. Their captain shouted a quick apology to her before hurriedly bounding towards his seat at the head of the table before she can even hit him.

The blond chef was automatically at his tail, yelling expletives at the younger man about stealing food and hurting his Nami-swan.

If Usopp was not mistaken, Nami had been charting her maps all day. He hadn’t seen her since breakfast and she did have smudges of blank ink on her hands and fingers.

Grumbling and promising hell to their captain later after dinner, Nami bent down to retrieved the eyeglasses that she dropped when Luffy bumped into her.

Usopp instantly knew that the orange-haired navigator miscalculated her position. Nami was near the edge of the table when she bent down and had moved closer to it, as her glasses had fallen a bit farther under the table. He can hear her muttering something about Luffy paying for a new pair if her glasses where damage from his idiocy.

If she lifts her head up…

The sniper paused on his chewing, his eyebrows lifting up, when he saw the swift yet subtle way Zoro’s hand move to position itself at the table’s pointed corner, grasping it and effectively covering it.  He had done it so casually while still keeping his attention fixed on what Chopper was explaining to him, that the movement was barely noticeable at all.

When Nami finally raised her head and was about to stand up, her forehead hit Zoro's knuckles. A quick flare of temper showed on her face and she glared irritably at the man before her as she straightened up. Zoro looked unfazed and didn’t bother looking at her direction.

Nami continued to stare daggers at him for a few seconds before a confused look crossed her features.

Usopp watched her intently as she took in Zoro’s hand at the corner of the table and why it was there.

Then her hand went up to touch her forehead.

In his mind’s eye, Usopp was nodding his approval at the turn of the events.

Nami must have realized that if it wasn't for Zoro's hand, she would definitely be sporting a large bump on her forehead or worse…

…the dining table’s sharp edge would have caused a bleeding wound that would send her directly to Chopper’s office.  .

Usopp continued looking at her, as she in turn continued staring at Zoro.

Her brown eyes suddenly widened as realization dawned onto her.

Well, looks like she finally caught on.

Things will definitely be more interesting from here on, ne?

[northernolddragon]

Wouldn’t Ciri and Vernon Roche be an awesome power couple?

Hello. I'm inclined to believe, that it would be a power couple, like any other pairing, with Ciri or Roche. And everything would be fine, if there was an adequate component in this whole story. By adequacy I mean: don't insult other people's pairings, that don't fit with your favorites, don't write to those, who don't belong to the Witcher fandom, even if they are familiar with it. This is inappropriate.

This position isn't clear to me. Because both Cirilla and Roche are one of the key characters in the Saga. The fandom will ship them to its heart's content with Cerys and Iorweth and anyone else, as well as any other characters in every fandom, as a great many ships rush forward across the ocean of the universe. :) Some drown, some keep moving. Your ship would have sailed further, if you had not tried to point your cannons at other ships. And towards those who consider them important to themselves.

My ship is Regis and Geralt - I have been sailing on it for a long time, but I will give up to those, who ship Regis with Dettlaff or Geralt with Emhyr or Yen. So many pairings. Everyone has their own preferences. Have respect. Elementary respect. I'm never against other pairings. Often, in addition to my main one, I also like additional ones. The authors create so much content, that you can't help but get carried away with something else. You are interested, because images of relationships form in your head into a story that can be written. I think, should just be more friendly. And don't do as the people did, who insulted your ship. Start with myself, I guess. There will always be those, who don't like your ship. They are in every fandom. Whether to react or not is your choice. But to respond with hatred to those who valued your stories - sorry, I don’t understand. I just don't understand the search for constant approval through mailings of this kind. Think about it.

[beardedmrbean]

WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland's military intervened after a ship from the Russian "shadow fleet" was seen performing suspicious manoeuvres near a power cable connecting Poland with Sweden, Poland's prime minister said on Wednesday.

NATO has stepped up security in the Baltic following a string of incidents in which power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines were damaged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"A Russian ship from the 'shadow fleet' covered by sanctions performed suspicious maneuvers near the power cable connecting Poland with Sweden," Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. "After the effective intervention of our military, the ship sailed to one of the Russian ports."

"Shadow fleet" refers to vessels used by Russia to ship oil, arms and grains in violation of international sanctions imposed after the Ukraine invasion.

Speaking later to reporters, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said a patrol flight scared the ship off and said the Polish Navy's ORP Heweliusz was sailing to the scene.

Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski, Poland's maritime component commander, told Reuters that the tanker in question was called Sun and it sailed under the Antigua flag.

The Russian embassy in Warsaw declined to comment. In the past, Moscow has denied involvement in undersea sabotage in the Baltic, saying the West was using such claims to curb Russia's sea-borne oil exports.

The 600-megawatt undersea cable links the Swedish coast near Karlshamn with Ustka in northern Poland and allows both grids to rely on cross-border supplies when electricity is cheaper in the other system.

A spokesperson for Polish grid operator PSE said the cable was working. PSE data showed over 600 megawatts were flowing to Sweden through the cable at 1130 GMT.

"This shows how dangerous the times we live in are, how serious the situation in the Baltic Sea is," Kosiniak-Kamysz told a news conference.

"Since Sweden and Finland joined the North Atlantic Alliance, the Baltic Sea has become a key marine area, where the largest number of incidents occur, the most common incidents related to cable breaks... and sabotage."

He vowed a "firm response" from Poland and NATO to any attack on Baltic Sea infrastructure.

Stockholm, asked about the incident, said Swedish authorities were ready to respond to developments in the vicinity.

"We are in contact with the authorities and our allies regarding developments affecting the security situation," Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said in an emailed comment.

[gendrie]

the interesting about clash within the context of arya's arc is that its the only book - so far - that ends with arya fully embracing her identity. it ends on a, relatively, high note as far as that is concerned. which i would argue makes it feel a lot different from the rest.

in game her last chapter features ned's execution and arya's life is torn apart. her identity and future are both thrown into doubt.

in storm arya is left reeling from the aftermath of trw and she is flung further off course than ever when she sets sail for braavos

in feast she is blinded

in dance her last words are "no one" as she prepares to receive a new face

but clash is different. it breaks the pattern. which is why ive always felt it represents arya's greater arc on a smaller scale. when it opens arya is using her first true alias. over the course of the book she struggles until arya is doubting who she is and where she belongs. its at that point that the old gods intervene. they remind arya; her identity and her place ("arya of winterfell, daughter of the north") and of what matters most to her ("the pack survives") arya hears wolves howling from outside harrenhal again and again and again as these last few moments play out in clash.

arya grabs a hold of it with everything she's got. she smashes the broomstick over her knee. she gathers her boys. she steals supplies. she cuts thru the guard standing in her way. she gets her hands bloody. she is resolved to return to her life as arya.

i ALSO think arya's twow arc will mirror clash in terms of storytelling more than any of the other books so far. arya's clash arc is split into two equal sections: 5 chapters in the wartorn countryside and 5 chapters as a "servant" (pow) in harrenhal for a total of 10. twow will reverse this with x number of chapters as a "servant" in braavos to start and x number of chapters back in westeros @ war to finish. the ratio might be different but i think she will have a similar number of chapters in total.

when clash opens arya is forced into the identity of arry. yoren has done this to try and protect her from arrest and assault.

Afterward he told her that from there to Winterfell she'd be Arry the orphan boy. [...] "This lot, half o' them would turn you over to the queen quick as spit for a pardon and maybe a few silvers. The other half'd do the same, only they'd rape you first." (ACOK)

and we have arya's opening twow chapter

Mercy, I’m Mercy, and tonight I’ll be raped and murdered. Her true name was Mercedene, but Mercy was all anyone ever called her… (TWOW)

arya is once again using an alias and one of her first thoughts is that she will be raped and murdered. but arya is no longer the one in danger here. at least not from that.

arya's early clash chapters also introduce some key components that have already become relevant as of her first twow chapter. lommy greenhands, arya's traveling companion, is ruthlessly murdered by raff the sweetling which is echoed in mercy. arya makes raff beg for mercy. despite what was supposed to be 5 years of indoctrination she hasn't forgotten anything.

jaqen h'ghar is also introduced in arya's early clash storyline. jaqen is an incredibly mysterious character. when he first speaks arya is instantly reminded of syrio forel, her braavosi mentor. jaqen is a faceless men, but this is never directly stated in the text. his fake persona claims to be from lorath - the free city nearest to braavos. where this man was born will never be known but the assassin is a braavosi figure at his core just like syrio. which is reinforced when he sends arya in that direction as they part.

"You don't know what's out there, Arry. I heard wolves before." Yoren wouldn't like it if she fought with him. She tried to look afraid. "Wolves? For true?" (ACOK) Mercy looked down at her feet, so shy. “Izembaro said to please the lords,” she whispered. “If there is anything you want, anything at all…" (TWOW)

in clash we see arya have to start acting. she is in a dangerous situation on the road. she has to conceal her true identity. in mercy its official as arya trains with the mummers. she is playing a role within a role. her acting skills has improved, but arya does still show thru the mask.

I won't cry, she thought, I won't do that. I'm a Stark of Winterfell, our sigil is the direwolf, direwolves don't cry. (ACOK) “I would like to see a dragon,” Mercy said wistfully. “Why does the envoy have a chicken on his chest?” Daena howled. “Mercy, don’t you know anything? It’s his siggle. In the Sunset Kingdoms all the lords have siggles." (TWOW)

part of the routine is that arya is foolish and braavosi born. she pretends not to know what sigils are with mercy's friend daena despite arya's own sigil being the direwolf.

the biggest role arya takes on in clash is that of a servant. her secret girlhood is "taken" like everything else when her and the boys are captured. arya then becomes weasel - a serving girl. servitude is a major component at this point in her storyline as it has become again in braavos. both ask the same question: can arya forget who she is and submit to this?

the answer is no. arya reaches this conclusion in harrenhal as she prays before the heart tree. she remembers who she is and finds a way out of the situation that was causing her identity crisis. the situation in the hob&w is very similar. arya will remember herself and get out.

[rattierose]

HOMESTUCK OCSSSSSS prt: 3

Friefa Skagit (troll) he/it

Its a violet blood, and therefore is 'nobility' or whatever. He's never had much of an interest in the caste system, even less so after getting into a pale relationship with Rattie. He has a cybernetic leg (left) and arm (left), which were programmed by itself and built by Rattie. It mightve had a bit of an accident involving a certain... Aquaitence, the first time he went on land. (They made up years later. Check out part 4 for more info)

Needs glasses, but only on land. (So, most of the time) Despite this, it only really wears its glasses when he's not 'swashbuckling,' leaving him with blurred vision during escapades much of the time. He also puts on a sea traveler's pirate-y accent when on adventures, having a much more nasally and almost 'nerdy' voice when in private.

Despite being a seadweller, it spends most of its time out of the water. But not on land either. It spends its time on its pirate ship, where he can work on his coding projects from anywhere, as well as releasing unsuspecting passerbys of their dubloons.

His main captchalogue deck is a 'code deck' allowing for items to be directly alchemized, but all items stored are reverted to their base components and have to be reconstructed (or reprogrammed) to be taken out. (this is only after entering the game and collecting grist. before entering the game, it just used a deck similar to Jane's 'crocker deck' which shows how to alchemize items but can't actually alchemize items directly) BUT, when out on the high seas, he uses the 'Boon deck!' All items acquired are teleported to a horde of treasure. The horde is located inside of a chest that stays locked tight in the belly of his ship, only able to be opened with the key it wears around his neck. As the items are teleported there, they are unattainable unless you are on the ship the chest lives in. Luckily, it's ship is never far behind him! For you see...

The ship is also his losus! Sorta. The ship is built around Friefa's whale losus, who he affectionately calls 'The Beluga.' After the game is started, Beluga is prototyped with the kernelsprite, and then the ship immediately after (as the ship is attached to Beluga) in sprite form, Beluga can change from a small, troll/human sized sprite, to its full former size in the form of the ship! (And also everything that was on the ship.) Aside from the world ending (oops) the day the game started might've been the best day of Friefa's life, as it could finally speak to Beluga in English! Meaning his land dweller friends could join in on the conversation.

His strife specibus is "SwashbucklerKind" and it wields a mounted arm cannon (on his robot arm), a blunderbus that extends from his robo-peg leg, and a pirate's cutlass.

Is a derse dreamer and a 'Theif of Void,' able to steal the secrets and items from other people without even needing to be near them! When swashbuckling, it prefers to steal things the old fashioned way, but information (aka secrets) about where the treasure might be is fair game.

He likes robotics, writing, and sailing the 4 great seas of alternia on its ship 'The Beluga.' Plays the cello and the standing bass, favoring the second.

Its handle is 'CyberneticSwashbuckler'

His typing quirk is " @®®®gg!! L!k€ t#!$. !t ®€m!πd$ m€ °£ m€ ®°b°t$, @πd m€ ®€¶l@¥©€m€πt l!mb$" note that it only talks like this when out swashbuckling. Normally he speaks without the arrrgg and the 'me's instead of 'my's

Relationships:

Pale ♦ none rn

Flushed ♥ Rattie

Grey ♠ Ganari

Black ♣ none rn

Just normal friends 👥 Everybody else

[one-of-many-journeys]

Day 51

Spurflints Hunting Grounds

At dawn, I rode south west toward the Cauldron signal I detected from the Spearshafts Tallneck.

I stopped on the way to pick up another metal flower, overriding a Longleg to keep the rest of the herd off my back.

Rusted Deathbringers along the road, assaulted by the elements—unlike those preserved in the earth that the Eclipse are targeting.

After zeroing in on the Cauldron signal, I left my mount and proceeded with caution, since there were signs of human activity. Unfortunately I was right to be careful—the place was a fully-fledged Eclipse encampment.

I took out the Eclipse standing guard outside, beginning in stealth before picking up their leader's Deathbringer gun to finish the rest. I took a key from one of them and used it to unlock the gate to the rest of their compound. Found a couple more walking down through the cave system to the Cauldron.

The wilds had crept into the Cauldron long ago, the cavern ceiling caving in to spill sunlight and plant life. Crawling with Eclipse too. I picked off a few with my sharpshot bow from cover, then rappelled into the cavern, sneaking through the grass to take them on the ground with bow and spear. Once they were dealt with, I continued on toward the core.

There's more Eclipse in this place than I've ever seen at once, and this isn't even Shadow Carja territory. How many are there in Sunfall?

The Eclipse had the core surrounded as well. I took out their gunner first, then cleared the space around him so I could duck through and pick up his weapon, taking down the rest.

The cultists in the rest of the facility must have heard the racket, because as I was overriding the core I heard them come running. As the new overrides were transmitted to my Focus, the sealed parts of the facility opened up, letting a herd of machines into the core.

The cultists only had two ways into the core, and I kept both covered by my Deathbringer gun, picking up a new one from another dead gunner when the first was spent.

The machines kept the others busy, and as they turned their attention to me, I tied down the Ravager and overrode it, letting it tear down the cultists and machines alike.

Moving back toward the exit, machines had infiltrated the rest of the Cauldron as well. I watched a Stalker take out two cultists before I descended to make the kill.

More strange and powerful machinery in this place, weaving components from heat and light. Were the Eclipse looking for answers here as well? When I first entered the core, one of the Eclipse leaders warned the others to stay away from the core as ordered by the Buried Shadow. That's Hades. Maybe he was using the Eclipse to try and take over the Cauldron like Hephaestus took over Firebreak

As I made my escape, I ran past the rest of the Eclipse soldiers as they battled it out against machines. In the main cavern chamber, they were hiding in the tall grass from Stalkers. I set off a blaze barrel near their gunner, making a Stalker spot him and take him down with its cannon, giving me a clear run to the exit.

Outside, the camp was in chaos. Glinthawks and Bellowbacks and smaller machines attacking in force from the Cauldron's depths. I sailed past it all and ran back through the jungle, riding to a camp out of earshot of the battle, well-concealed and clear of machines.

It was early morning by that time, almost dawn. Back to Meridian tomorrow to see the newly minted Sunhawk.

[oceanicstarshipping]

Efficient Offshore Crew Management Solutions

When it comes to offshore operations, efficientcrew management is the compass that guides a successful voyage. In the demanding worlds of maritime, oil & gas, and renewable energy, the management of offshore personnel is a complex and critical task. To ensure smooth sailing and boost productivity, it's imperative to stay on top of the latest trends and technologies in offshore crew management. In this blog, we'll explore the key strategies and innovations that are transforming the offshore crew management landscape.

 Understanding Offshore Crew Management

Offshore crew management involves the selection, training, scheduling, and overall supervision of the workforce that operates and maintains offshore installations such as oil rigs, drilling platforms, wind farms, and vessels. It's a multifaceted task that demands meticulous planning, safety protocols, and a keen eye for efficiency.

 The Key Elements of Successful Crew Management

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The foundation of offshore crew management is selecting the right personnel. It begins with a thorough recruitment process to identify individuals with the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications. Once selected, a robust onboarding program ensures that new crew members are well-prepared for their roles and responsibilities.

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Continuous training and certification are vital to maintaining a skilled and safety-conscious crew. Industry-specific training programs, emergency response drills, and the acquisition of relevant certifications are essential components of offshore crew management.

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Efficient scheduling and rotation systems balance the need for continuous operations with crew well-being. Implementing well-thought-out shift schedules, including leave rotations, reduces fatigue and enhances performance.

 4. Safety and Compliance

Safety is paramount in offshore operations. Compliance with industry regulations, rigorous safety procedures, and regular safety drills are essential for offshore crew management.

 Embracing Technology

The digital age has brought forth a wave of innovations in offshore crew management:

 1. Crew Management Software

Specialized software solutions have streamlined the administrative aspects of crew management. They help with crew scheduling, training tracking, and compliance monitoring, making it easier to manage a large workforce across multiple locations.

 2. Communication Technology

Efficient communication is crucial in offshore environments. High-tech communication systems enable real-time connectivity between onshore and offshore personnel, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

 3. Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics helps in forecasting crew needs, optimizing schedules, and planning for crew training and certification renewal, reducing downtime and costs.

 Embracing Sustainability

As the world shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, offshore crew management in the renewable energy sector is gaining prominence. Managing diverse crews working on wind farms and offshore renewable projects requires specialized approaches that prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility.

 Conclusion

Offshore crew management is the linchpin of safe, efficient, and productive offshore operations. By embracing the latest technologies, adhering to best practices, and staying attuned to industry trends, organizations can navigate the seas of offshore crew management with confidence. Whether it's in traditional oil and gas or the burgeoning renewable energy sector, a well-managed crew is the key to success in these challenging environments. So, set your course for success by prioritizing the well-being and productivity of your offshore crew.

Remember, in the world of offshore operations, a well-managed crew is your North Star!

[marineseo]

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Combining these organic marketing components guarantees visibility and waves of conversions for your business. 📈

🌎 The Expansive Fishing Rod Market 🎣

Dive into the stats of the substantial fishing rod market! 📊 With an annual value in the billions, the global fishing equipment market is a vast ocean encompassing rods, reels, lines, and accessories. 🌍 The demand is steady, driven by a dedicated community of anglers worldwide.

But fear not, navigating this sea becomes more attainable with the right SEO and digital marketing tactics. 🚢 Cast your net wisely and watch your business sail smoothly.

Ready to embark on this digital fishing adventure? 🌊 Cast away, and let's make waves in the fishing rod market! 🚣‍♀️🔗

[mariacallous]

For most of the past 15 years, my interactions with young Chinese in their late teens and 20s have obeyed a familiar pattern. Having grown up in an age when their country seemed impervious to major economic setbacks, they easily shrugged off each new wave of Western assessments that China’s political and economic model—like all models—faced serious vulnerabilities.

They had heard and rejected the idea that China’s political system was inherently inferior to Western-style democracy. The evidence to the contrary seemed largely sufficient to their eyes as the United States and other high-income countries fell victim to the 2008-09 global financial crisis while China sailed forward almost placidly by comparison. The “democracy is superior” argument took another big hit in their minds during the Trump administration, when U.S. politics was dominated by one poorly informed but powerful man’s impulsiveness. Wasn’t that supposed to be a key flaw of dictatorships?

They had dismissed the widespread notion that China’s relatively closed authoritarian system would prevent the country from innovating fast enough. Yes, it was true that China had blocked most of the trailblazing U.S. companies of the early internet age, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, and many others. But hadn’t China come up with its own terrific domestic alternatives? Look at WeChat, young Chinese began telling me from the moment of that homegrown app’s birth. On “our” platform, they observed, one can seamlessly do everything that it takes a whole host of U.S. apps to accomplish. Has anyone in the West created something so brilliantly capable?

And if one thinks this is a matter of ancient history, which is what the early app era is when talking about the history of the internet, what about electrical vehicles and the batteries that make them run? China has gotten so good so fast at developing sleek, well-functioning, and competitively priced cars in this space that it even has the Germans trembling, as seen at this week’s industry show in what is probably the West’s premium car-producing country. Or look at the U.S. attempt to stifle Huawei, China’s biggest cellphone-maker. Although prevented from using U.S. technology for 5G components, China has, using homegrown technology, just rolled out a high-end smartphone model that is capable of 5G-like data connectivity speeds and which throws in satellite connection capability as a bonus.

Young Chinese have also heard that the country’s poor environment would bottleneck their growth or drive an uprising by the middle class. Not so long ago, the air in big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai was frightfully polluted, drawing justified comparisons to the London of Charles Dickens. If one had to endure this much pollution in order to sustain further decades of fast economic growth, didn’t that call into question more than just the seeming disregard of the country’s leaders for the people’s well-being? What, in other words, is the purpose of growth if one’s child can’t play outside because it’s dangerous to breathe?

Well, something remarkable happened here, too. While traveling in China for much of the past summer, I discovered the air in many of the country’s biggest cities to be so vastly improved that a newcomer would have a hard time imagining the recent long era of “airpocalypses,” as the immovable domes of impenetrable smog encasing urban environments were called.

Though I have never believed that China had somehow repealed basic economic laws, which suggest that every great boom era must come to an end, I have always found a lot to admire in the great many young Chinese I have gotten to know over the last 15 years or so. Substantial numbers among them have been students in my own classes in the United States and elsewhere. And one of the qualities that has consistently struck me most among them is what I like to call civilizational confidence.

It is true that the Chinese state, through tightly controlled education and unstinting propaganda, works hard to instill this attitude, but there is something more at play here than just top-down manipulation. I suspect part of it comes from being part of such a large country with great historic depth and many, many cultural and scientific achievements to its name. Part of it, too, seems to be about resilience. Even if not during their lifetimes, young Chinese know that their country has been down before but has always sprung back impressively. All of this has bred self-belief.

But all of this also makes the impressions I received during my recent weeks of travel in China feel even more remarkable. What I heard over many conversations with young people was not a response to the perennial cycles of doomcasting about China that one finds in the Western press and in much publishing about the country. In fact, most of these people were not terribly well-informed about the current state of Western discourse about their country at all. What they were, however, was filled with their own doubts about the future, which they readily vented.

Some of the contours of this were unsurprising. After all, this was the summer that Beijing decided to suppress the publication of youth unemployment data, presumably because of how grim the numbers have become—in June, youth unemployment hit a record 21.3 percent. In conversation after conversation, my young interlocutors spoke with deep trepidation about their economic prospects in the near and even longer term.

It wasn’t the topic itself that surprised me so much as the swiftness and power of the shift in sentiment. At almost all times during this century, it has been an article of faith in the country that education, and especially higher education, would be rewarded with sharply rising incomes, secure entry into the middle class or better, and a version of the sentiment common in the United States during the boom decades that followed World War II: that it was the birthright of each new generation to be much better off than the one that preceded it.

If the problem of youth unemployment in a China whose economy may be set for long-term deceleration has been widely commented on, some of the profound problems that stem from this generally have not. A graphic representation of the number of new college graduates in the country over the last four-plus decades looks like the upward curve of a roller coaster track. Here we find the kind of problem that is an unintended consequence of what has always seemed like a very sensible proposition: Educating people equates to creating new waves of prosperity. In its current funk, though—and perhaps on a longer-term basis, due to deep contradictions in the country’s economic model—China can no longer find enough gainful employment for its huge numbers of newly educated people.

If you’re between the ages of, say, 17 and 28 or so—which was the case for almost everyone I spoke with—this is deeply discouraging and even scary, as so many people didn’t hesitate to tell me. “We are competing with each other in what has become a pure rat race,” a college freshman, whose name I am withholding for their security, told me in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. “Everybody is trying to push their education as far as they can, but we are competing for fewer and fewer jobs. As a result of supply and demand, lots of people are going to earn less, and lots of others will just have to accept low-grade jobs.”

But this was only the beginning of the new pessimism I was encountering.

For years when I taught in my graduate school classrooms in New York about the coming aging crunch in China—a time projected for the near future when the ratio of older adults to the young and working-age populations would rapidly flip in favor of the former—I drew a knowing look from many of my Chinese students. After all, it is a problem I have been writing about for many years already. “Here we go again,” the stares I received from some of my Chinese students seemed to say. “Professor French has given in to the doomsaying industry about our country, but we know better.”

This summer, though, I didn’t have to ask about aging. It was on everybody’s lips, not least the young people. I suspect that’s in part because the state quite belatedly has itself become alarmed. The Chinese government avoids shocking language about the stark nature of a demographic crisis of unprecedented scale, but the ability to read between the lines of official messaging to see the underlying urgency of this challenge is almost child’s play, especially for the dwindling numbers of young adults in the country who only recently were children themselves.

The country’s media are now filled with prompts for young people to get married earlier and have more children. Chinese President Xi Jinping has traditionally been loath to use social welfare spending or direct cash benefits to citizens to reduce China’s addiction to investment and stimulate the economy. But that is exactly what Beijing is rolling out in response to the alarming decline in birth rates. Suddenly, one city or province after another is introducing monetary inducements to women or couples to have more children.

The young people who will in theory be the source of the children of the future increasingly say they are discouraged by the costs of housing and of raising children. And as most of them belong to one-child families themselves, they also speak in fear of the financial burdens that await them when their parents grow old and infirm and need taking care of. Compared with most wealthy Western countries, the Chinese state’s social welfare provisions for retirement, health, and elder care remain bare-bones.

In response to this, not only are young people putting off marriage until later, but increasing numbers of young Chinese are also forgoing it altogether, with some even dropping out of dating. Young women, meanwhile, have been big beneficiaries of the enormous boom in higher education in the country, and with more and more advanced learning among them, growing numbers of them have been privileging their own career development and—“Why not?” some said to me—their personal fulfillment.

In my conversations in China this summer, I never once inquired about feminism, but one after another, young women freely identified with it themselves. Then came this comment from a 19-year-old in Shanghai, whose name I am also withholding for her safety. “Maybe you’ll think this is too dark, but I definitely don’t,” she said. “It seems like we are on track for a situation where the state tries to force women to have children, like take us away to a camp or something. It worries me a lot.”

During China’s long boom years, not succumbing to the skepticism and naysaying of others seemed like a real source of strength for the society, even a virtue. We are in a new era now, though, and one of the biggest tests will be something the country’s leaders are altogether unaccustomed to: how well the system can hear and respond to the growing concerns and doubts of its own citizens.

[voroxpete]

*waves hand*

Hi, yeah... I did this. It's a pretty major component of how the plot of The Stolen Child unfolds, because most of the lore is being presented to the protagonist (both before and after she gets iskai'd) by characters who fundamentally disagree on key ideas, like the fundamental nature of reality in some cases. And these characters have their own agendas, and their own perspectives, and some of them are lying, and some of them have been lied to, and some them are just flst out wrong.

So, if that's your thing, maybe give it a look? It's got lightning powered airships and magic robots and a crew of misfits sailing around a fantastical universe made of chaos and dreams. Also trauma... Lots, and lots of trauma.

I would love to see a fantasy novel where the lore that the reader / protagonist learns at first is not true

[vtsmarine]

Comprehensive Guide to Boat and Yacht Repair Services in Vancouver

If you own a boat or yacht in Vancouver, you understand the importance of keeping it in excellent working condition. Whether it's routine maintenance or a more specific repair need, having a reliable boat mechanic near me is crucial to ensure your vessel performs at its best. Below, we delve into various boat repair and maintenance services available in Vancouver, focusing on boat motor repair, yacht services, and specialized mechanical work for your marine equipment.

Boat Mechanic Near Me: Why Professional Service is Crucial

When your boat encounters mechanical issues, finding a professional boat mechanic near me is essential. A skilled mechanic can help troubleshoot and repair a variety of problems, from engine failures to electrical malfunctions. Regular maintenance is also key to prolonging the life of your boat, and certified marine mechanics are equipped to handle everything from engine servicing to hull repairs.

At VTS Marine, we offer a comprehensive range of services, including boat motor repair near me, engine diagnostics, and more, ensuring that your vessel remains seaworthy throughout the year.

Boat Motor Repair Near Me: Common Issues and Solutions

The engine is the heart of any boat, and when it fails, it can cause significant disruptions to your boating experience. If you're searching for boat motor repair near me, it's essential to understand some of the common motor issues that can arise:

Overheating: One of the most frequent motor problems in boats. It’s often caused by a clogged water pump or thermostat failure.

Fuel System Problems: Clogged fuel injectors or dirty fuel filters can lead to poor engine performance.

Electrical Malfunctions: Electrical issues, such as faulty wiring or a bad battery, can prevent your boat from starting or cause intermittent performance issues.

Professional mechanics in Vancouver, like those at VTS Marine, specialize in troubleshooting and repairing these types of motor problems, helping you get back on the water quickly and safely.

Boat Repair Service in Vancouver: Comprehensive Services for Your Vessel

In Vancouver, boat repair services in Vancouver are available to cover a wide array of issues, from engine repairs to hull damage. The weather and saltwater can take a toll on your boat, and it's essential to find a reliable repair service to maintain your vessel. Whether you're dealing with Volvo Penta IPS repair or routine maintenance, expert mechanics can handle various tasks, including:

Hull Repairs: Addressing damages caused by accidents, wear and tear, or environmental factors.

Electrical Systems: Repairing or replacing damaged wiring, lighting, and battery systems.

Engine Overhauls: From oil changes to full engine rebuilds, ensuring the performance and longevity of your boat's motor.

VTS Marine provides expert boat repair service in Vancouver, offering everything from simple fixes to complex mechanical work, ensuring your boat is always ready to hit the water.

Marine Mechanic Near Me: Specialized Care for Your Vessel

Whether you own a small boat or a large yacht, finding a marine mechanic near me is essential for keeping your vessel in peak condition. A qualified marine mechanic has the expertise to work with marine engines, electrical systems, and other specialized components unique to boats and yachts.

At VTS Marine, we understand the complexities of working with marine engines and offer a wide range of marine mechanic near me services, including diagnostics, repair, and maintenance for engines, drives, and other essential systems. Our team specializes in Volvo drive repair, ensuring that your vessel’s performance is never compromised.

Yacht Repair Services in Vancouver: Ensuring Smooth Sailing

Yachts require specialized care due to their size, complexity, and the luxury features they offer. If you're looking for yacht repair services in Vancouver, it's important to choose a service provider with the right expertise. Common yacht repairs include:

Engine Servicing: Whether it’s a Volvo Penta IPS repair or a more general engine check, keeping your yacht’s motor in top condition is crucial for safety.

Hull Maintenance: Regular inspection and maintenance of the hull can help prevent water damage and improve fuel efficiency.

Luxury Features: Many yachts have advanced systems, including air conditioning, navigation systems, and entertainment features. Keeping these systems working properly ensures comfort on the water.

VTS Marine offers tailored yacht repair services in Vancouver, providing expert care for every aspect of your yacht, from the engine to luxury systems, ensuring an enjoyable experience each time you take your boat out.

Yacht Maintenance Services in Vancouver, BC: Keeping Your Yacht Pristine

Regular maintenance is key to keeping your yacht in pristine condition. If you're searching for yacht maintenance services in Vancouver, BC, look no further than VTS Marine, which provides a comprehensive suite of services that include:

Engine Maintenance: Regular checks and servicing of your yacht's engine are essential to avoid costly repairs down the line.

Exterior and Interior Care: Protecting your yacht's exterior from the harsh marine environment and maintaining its luxurious interior is critical for preserving its value.

Electronics and Navigation: From GPS systems to radar and communication equipment, maintaining your yacht's electronics ensures smooth and safe sailing.

Our yacht maintenance services in Vancouver ensure that your vessel is always in peak condition, ready for both leisurely cruises and more adventurous journeys.

Volvo Penta IPS Repair: Specialized Service for Modern Engines

If your yacht or boat is equipped with a Volvo Penta IPS system, it’s essential to have a mechanic who understands the intricacies of this sophisticated technology. The Volvo Penta IPS repair service focuses on the repair and maintenance of these advanced propulsion systems, designed to provide superior fuel efficiency and manoeuvrability.

VTS Marine is experienced in repairing and maintaining Volvo Penta IPS systems, ensuring your boat or yacht runs smoothly and efficiently. Whether it’s routine maintenance or a complex repair, our team is equipped to handle all Volvo Penta-related needs.

Why Choose VTS Marine for Boat and Yacht Repairs?

With so many boat repair service options, choosing a trusted provider is important. Here’s why VTS Marine stands out:

Expert Mechanics: Our team consists of highly trained professionals with years of experience in the marine industry.

Comprehensive Services: We offer everything from boat motor repair near me to complete yacht repair services in Vancouver.

Convenient Location: Located in Vancouver, we provide easily accessible services for residents and visitors.

Advanced Technology: We use the latest diagnostic tools and repair technologies to ensure your vessel is in top condition.

For all your boat and yacht repair needs in Vancouver, VTS Marineis your go-to service provider.

[aledsautosound8]

Premium Boat Audio Installation Near Me: Top Services in San Diego

If you're searching for boat audio installation near me, you’ve landed at the right place. Whether you're sailing off the coast of Point Loma, cruising the shores of Ocean Beach, enjoying the harbor views in San Diego, or preparing your yacht in La Jolla or Mission Valley, your boat deserves an exceptional sound system. This guide is your ultimate resource for choosing the best marine audio solutions with a local touch.

In this article, we’ll explore:

What makes a great boat audio installation

Benefits of hiring professionals near you

The best marine audio brands

Where to find top-rated installation services in your area

How to choose the right system for your boat and budget

Why Quality Boat Audio Installation Matters

When it comes to the open waters, your audio system isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about enhancing the entire boating experience. A high-quality marine audio system provides clear sound, withstands harsh saltwater conditions, and integrates seamlessly into your boat’s design.

Key Reasons to Install Marine Audio:

Superior sound clarity even while cruising

Weatherproof and UV-resistant components

Bluetooth and smartphone compatibility

Enhanced navigation and safety communication

Customizable setup for every boat type

If you've typed "boat audio installation near me" into Google, you’re likely looking for someone who understands the unique challenges and needs of marine environments. That’s why choosing local experts in San Diego, particularly in areas like Point Loma and Ocean Beach, is crucial.

Boat Audio Installation Near Me in San Diego’s Top Coastal Areas

Whether you dock at the San Diego Marina, store your boat in Mission Valley, or cruise the La Jolla coastline, it’s essential to work with a professional who understands local conditions.

Here’s a breakdown of the best local areas for boat audio installation and what to expect:

Point Loma: High-End Marine Audio Customization

Point Loma is a favorite among yacht and sailboat owners. This area is home to skilled marine audio specialists who offer:

Waterproof speaker systems

Custom subwoofer installation

Bluetooth stereo systems

Professional wiring for seamless integration

If you search "boat audio installation near me in Point Loma," you’ll discover local pros who offer mobile services and dockside appointments, making it easy to upgrade your audio system without moving your boat.

Ocean Beach: Affordable and Reliable Boat Audio Installers

In Ocean Beach, boating is a lifestyle. Whether you’re fishing offshore or just cruising for fun, the right sound system sets the mood. Look for local businesses offering:

Budget-friendly marine speaker packages

Salt-resistant amplifier installation

Quick turnaround times

With local Ocean Beach technicians, you can count on excellent customer service and a deep understanding of marine-grade installation techniques.

San Diego: The Hub for Boat Audio Installation Near Me

San Diego isn’t just a beautiful city; it’s a boating and audio tech hotspot. Companies here offer the latest in marine audio innovation:

Full-system installations

Touchscreen receivers with GPS integration

Smartphone-controlled marine stereo systems

High-wattage marine amplifiers

When you type "boat audio installation near me in San Diego," you’re likely to find top-rated installers with years of experience and access to premium marine brands like JL Audio, Fusion, Rockford Fosgate, Kenwood Marine, and more.

La Jolla: Luxury Marine Audio Experts

La Jolla is known for its upscale homes and luxurious boats. It’s no surprise that marine audio installations here are all about premium service and products. Many La Jolla services offer:

Concierge-style appointments

Fully custom audio systems

High-performance marine speakers

Elegant in-dash stereo solutions

Searching "boat audio installation near me in La Jolla" will point you to elite installers that specialize in high-end marine technology built for aesthetics and performance.

Mission Valley: Centrally Located Marine Audio Services

If you’re based in Mission Valley, you benefit from quick access to all parts of San Diego County. Many installation experts offer:

Drop-off and mobile installation services

Marine battery and wiring upgrades

Custom switch panels and integration

Being centrally located, Mission Valley is perfect for those seeking "boat audio installation near me" with convenience, quality, and speed.

Best Boat Audio Brands for Your Installation

When upgrading your marine sound system, choosing the right brand is key. Local experts in San Diego work with the best in the industry:

JL Audio

Marine-certified subwoofers and amps

Legendary sound quality

Widely used in La Jolla and Point Loma installations

Fusion Entertainment (by Garmin)

GPS-integrated receivers

Perfect for tech-savvy sailors

Bluetooth, NMEA 2000, and Wi-Fi connectivity

Rockford Fosgate

Budget-friendly but powerful

Popular in Ocean Beach for casual cruising boats

Kenwood Marine

Reliable and versatile

Great choice for mid-size boats docked in Mission Valley

Wet Sounds

Designed for wake boats and sport cruisers

High-volume audio systems made for fun

Features to Look for in Your Boat Audio Installation

Before you book your installer, here’s what to look for in your marine audio setup:

Waterproof marine speakers: Salt-resistant with sealed cones

Digital media receivers: For AUX, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity

Amplifiers: Boost sound clarity across the boat

Marine subwoofers: Deep bass on open water

LED lighting: Built-in lighting options to match your vibe

Custom mounts: For flush or surface mount installation

Audio zones: Different volume levels in various parts of the boat

Local pros in San Diego understand how to balance aesthetics, sound performance, and durability, so your audio system looks and sounds amazing, even after years of ocean exposure.

Why Go Local? Top Benefits of Hiring a San Diego-Based Marine Audio Installer

If you're asking, "why not just buy the system and install it myself?" here’s why hiring a local pro is the best move:

Local Knowledge

Installers in Point Loma, Ocean Beach, and San Diego know which components withstand the coastal climate. They also understand the needs of different boat types—from fishing boats to catamarans.

Dockside Service

Many San Diego marine audio shops offer on-site installation, so you don’t have to haul your boat anywhere. Just book and relax.

 Warranty & Support

Local professionals stand by their work. You’ll receive warranties on both equipment and labor—plus easy access to service if anything goes wrong.

Time-Saving

Letting the pros handle your system means it’s done right the first time—no rewiring or second-guessing.

How to Choose the Best Boat Audio Installation Near Me

Here’s a checklist to help you select the right professional in San Diego:

Check reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook

Ask about their experience with marine audio specifically

Make sure they offer water-resistant and UV-tested products

Get a detailed quote before starting

Ensure they offer post-installation support

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where can I find the best boat audio installation near me in Point Loma?

Point Loma is home to several top-tier installers. Search local marinas or ask your dock neighbors for recommendations. Most offer mobile or dockside installation.

How much does marine audio installation cost in San Diego?

Prices range from $300 to over $2,500 depending on the complexity of your system and components. Basic Bluetooth setups cost less, while multi-zone speaker systems are pricier.

Can I upgrade just one part of my system?

Yes! Many locals in Ocean Beach and Mission Valley start with marine stereo head units or speaker upgrades, then add amplifiers and subwoofers later.

Will my system survive in saltwater conditions?

Absolutely—when installed by professionals using marine-rated gear like JL Audio, Wet Sounds, and Fusion.

Conclusion

Whether you’re getting ready for a sunset sail in La Jolla, gearing up for fishing trips in Point Loma, or just enjoying boat days in Ocean Beach, investing in a quality boat audio installation near you ensures every adventure sounds just as good as it feels.

Don’t leave your boat’s entertainment system to chance. Hire a local marine audio expert in San Diego, Mission Valley, or surrounding coastal areas to make sure your system is built for performance, style, and durability.

[vijay34]

Structural Steel Market Size, Share, and Industry Growth Analysis

Infrastructure Development and Urbanization Drive Demand for Structural Steel Across Construction and Industrial Applications.

The Structural Steel Market size was valued at USD 110.04 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 169.60 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.95% over the forecast period 2024-2032.

The Structural Steel Market is driven by increasing investments in infrastructure development, commercial construction, and industrial facilities. Structural steel is known for its high strength, durability, and cost-efficiency, making it an ideal material for buildings, bridges, and other large-scale structures. The growing demand for sustainable and recyclable construction materials is further propelling market expansion globally.

Key Players

Anshan Iron & Steel Group Corporation 

Arcelor Mittal S.A. 

Baogang Group 

Baosteel Group Corporation 

Bohai Steel Group Co. Ltd. 

British Steel 

China Ansteel Group Corporation Limited 

Emirates Steel 

Evraz plc 

Gerdau S.A. 

Hebei Steel Group 

Hyundai Steel 

JSW Steel Limited 

Nippon Steel Corporation 

POSCO 

SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) 

Shougang 

Tata Steel Limited 

Anyang Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd. 

Evraz Group 

Future Scope & Emerging Trends

The structural steel market is expected to maintain a strong growth trajectory as countries invest heavily in urban infrastructure, transport systems, and renewable energy installations. The adoption of modular and prefabricated construction techniques is creating additional demand for precisely fabricated steel components. Innovations such as high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels and smart coatings are enhancing performance and sustainability. Moreover, the focus on green building standards and carbon-neutral construction is accelerating the use of recyclable and energy-efficient materials like structural steel.

Key Points

Demand driven by infrastructure and commercial construction projects

Structural steel offers superior strength-to-weight ratio and design flexibility

Growth of prefabricated and modular construction methods supports market

Increasing focus on green buildings and sustainable development

Asia-Pacific leads market growth, fueled by rapid urbanization

Conclusion

The Structural Steel Market stands as a pillar of modern infrastructure development. With its unmatched strength, recyclability, and adaptability, structural steel is poised to meet the evolving needs of global construction and engineering sectors. As technology and sustainability continue to reshape the industry, the market is set to reach new heights in the coming years.

Related Reports:

Acetonitrile Market Size, Share & Segmentation By Product (Derivative, Solvent), By End-Use Industry (Pharmaceutical, Analytical, Agrochemicals, Electronics, Chemical, Others) by Region and Global Forecast for 2024-2032.

Sodium Nitrate Market Size, Share & Segmentation By Grade (Industrial, Pharmaceutical, Food), By Application Chemicals, Fertilizers, Explosives, Glass, Pharmaceuticals, Food & Beverages, Others) by Region and Global Forecast for 2024-2032.

Potassium Soap Insecticides Market Size, Share & Segment By Crop Type (Fruits & Vegetables, Small Trees & Shrubs, Ornamental Plants, Greenhouse Crops, Herbs & Spices), By Formulation Type, By Pest Type and By Distribution Channel and By Region | Global Market Forecast 2024-2032.

Contact Us:

Jagney Dave — Vice President of Client Engagement

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