#the way i'll look at something and be like oh you are intellectually fascinating

[astranauticus]

tbh if i really had to articulate the difference between yoo joonghyuk and kim dokja to me because both of them drive me absolutely insane but it's like. i want to draw yoo joonghyuk i want to put kim dokja in a little terrarium and carry him in my pocket. yjh gives me endless art ideas kdj gives me absolutely deranged analysis-adjacent thoughts i cannot possibly hope to articulate

[avelera]

Oh GOD you, too, are an online lectures geek pls consider this your invitation to talk about favs--ones that stuck with you, current obsessions--the more the better! In trade, I'll tell you the two things I'm currently adoring: Yale's Open Course podcast on The Civil War to Reconstruction done by David Blight (man forgot more than ten other civil war historians know even if he mumbles *constantly*) and A History of Christianity by Diarmaid MacCulloch (so! worth the Prime BBC free trial <3)

Hiya! Don't mind if I do!

So 99% of the lectures I've watched lately are on the Great Courses Plus which was recently and stupidly renamed "Wondrium", which I find profoundly stupid because instead of just saying, "Hey, check out the Great Courses, yeah you can kinda guess what the streaming service offers," I have to instead explain what this nonsense term "Wondrium" means, ANYWAY, they've got lectures about basically everything.

Essentially, it's Netflix but for college lectures. YouTube has become so unreliable as far as what's actual information and what's completely made up or even racist conspiracy theory BS that I find it completely untrustworthy. Also, most documentaries are trying to prove something new, or offer a new angle on something, OR they're SO rudimentary and 101 that even for topics I know less about in history I tend to already know everything they're going to say.

So I pivoted to college lectures because 1) it's a whole series so like, dozens of hours I can just throw on in the background while doing something mindless and 2) I know it's going to be trustworthy, reliable, and provide me a baseline on a topic instead of some "new controversial spin" on it. Like, goddammit, sometimes I just want to better understand the history of Ancient Egypt, not your stupid theory about how they were secretly all space aliens or that we've got the carbon dating all wrong or whatever made up nonsense.

So, here's a list of some of my favorites!

Hannibal: The Military Genius Who Almost Conquered Rome - I consider myself about as near an expert as a non-academic can get on Rome and this lecture actually taught me some things, which is rare, so I recommend it as a fantastic deep dive!

How the Crusades Changed History is a pretty good short version that I recommend to anyone who enjoyed The Old Guard's Nicky and Joe BUT, for the best Crusades lecture, I'd recommend this History of the Crusades podcast. Sharyn Eastaugh is not just insanely informative, but her dry wit made me laugh out loud at least once an episode at the sheer hapless ineptitude of the Crusaders.

In the Wake of the Plague is a fantastic new lecture by Wondrium, the lecturer is amazing and it provides a lot of objective insights into how humans react to plagues that is VERY relevant to current events, BUT their lecture on **The Black Death in general is the one that got me obsessed with their lecture series. I watched it in the first week of Covid lockdown and let me tell you, having this super in-depth, objective look into how people behaved during the Black Death was incredibly valuable (and chilling) going into those years because it all played out with astonishing similarity. Also, anything by that lecturer, Dorsey Armstrong, is awesome. She's a Medievalist of the highest order. I also recommend her lecture on King Arthur.

**The Birth of the Modern Mind: The Intellectual History of the 17th and 18th Centuries - this one wins the award for "Lecture I thought most likely to bore me to tears that ended up being the single most fascinating I've heard in YEARS." Seriously, the way it explores the evolution of how we think in the modern era, through the philosophers who first conceived of these ideas, was jaw-droppingly fascinating. I also recommend it to writers of historical fiction and fantasy for a crash course, by proxy, of how to write people who think differently than you.

The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World - I once had beef with a post here on Tumblr that claimed that academic Classicists don't care about slaves or normal people during the Roman Empire, which is just profoundly absurd. I pointed out this lecture to them if they actually wanted to learn more about the subject instead of complaining that an art history professor may not have been prepped for a lecture about the lives of enslaved people in Ancient Rome. If that is a subject of interest, this lecture is great.

The Real History of Pirates - a must-listen for OFMD fans who want to get an introduction to historical pirates and the history of pirates in literature, which "Our Flag Means Death" owes as much if not more to than the historical figures.

**Turning Points in Middle Eastern History - One of the first lectures I listened to and still one of my enduring favorites. It's the first one I picked up for writing my Old Guard fic, Lights Out, when I wanted to write Joe from a more informed angle and I learned so much.

Understanding Japan: A Cultural History - One of my favorite lectures based on format, the lecturer picks a literary work or cultural concept as the entry point to explore the timeline of Japanese history. It's a fantastic way to give a wider and more holistic look at each era, pairing it with a cultural touchstone.

Shout-out to "The Mysterious Etruscans" because I just think they're neat. The lecturer is also very good and I highly recommend his lecture on ancient cities as well which taught me a lot that I didn't know.

Also a shout out to, "Warriors, Queens, and Intellectuals: 36 Great Women before 1400" for its subject and the lecturer who is great and she also has a really fascinating talk about the history of Spain.

Ok, I THINK that's some of the top ones! ;D

[titoist]

hope you don't mind me saying so. i do enjoy to read you writing, though-provoking as it tends to be, but it often seems like in your excessive intellectualizing of your feelings, you dissect your experiences rather than processing them in any productive fashion, especially in a time of your life which may or may not be denoted as developmental (in terms of physiological cognition, anyhow -- i'm not suggesting you are necessarily immature). it often seems as though you are trapped in some sort of miserable cycle of personal suppression and i have wondered if i will ever see the day you discover the best way to break free from that. then again, this really isn't about me, and i am only staging it as a tangent in contemplation and observation so as not to come off as seeming critical of your 'condition.' bless & all that

hello, thank you dearly for taking the time to write all this out, keeping in mind the necessarily delicate emotional tone. i don't mind, at all - answering asks is often a nice reprieve, a merciful bursting of my little bubble... - though i guess i'm a little flustered & embarrassed (the emotional connotation of these words feel a bit strong but i'm not sure how else i could describe it, really) by the usage of the word "intellectualizing". & the phrasing of my 'condition'... oh well. i am sort of fascinated by some of the things you've noted here (cycle of personal suppression) but recognize that asking for any sort of elaboration would be above-all awkward, so i'll attempt to make do with extrapolation.

while thinking about how best to reply, i've noticed that my subconscious instinct is to approach it as a 'rebuke', which i must attempt to defuse, a sort of disappointment i feel the need to soothe - rather than that which it is. so, a firm effort to not do that is probably in order.

you are certainly right, & it's something i've been aware of for some time, whenever it manifests in more-or-less painful ways. my instinct, always, has been to eviscerate & atomize my emotions to the point of total unambiguity. points of information on a piece of paper. they must be sculpted into objects which i can, from then on, hold, & place down on a table, & look at, & understand - what i do with that understanding seems to be a secondary concern. 'processing' them, then, has always eluded me, partly because i do not understand exactly how one goes about it. & it seems like such an above-all immaterial bother. cannot quantify it. cannot easily slot it into a pattern of thinking, like a key slipping into place, or a plastic block clicking into another. assuming i understand it, it's a process i just have to sort of nervously put my trust & hope into, attempt to 'conform' by. so, things i often fail at. i suppose one can interpret my tendency towards emotional evisceration as either a rebellion against or overcompensation for this fact, but regardless, the result is the same.

something will need to give eventually, of course. that being said, i am more-or-less content with how i've done thus far keeping in mind that i have been essentially operating with no external guidance or love.

[theguythatdraws]

Chapter 2: Answering the Call

Part 2 of the story. The Sedgewick should be a lot of fun. MC's used: Aishwarya, Matthew and Roman. @demon-twins-and-co @hphmmatthewluther and @hogwarts9.

"You don't think its too subtle, buddy?" Shouted Finn from the ground. "You don't think people are going to drive down and not see the sign?"

He was overseeing a man putting a sign outside the firehouse. It wasn't much, just a white rectangule that said Ghostbusters in big black basic letters.

He heard a honking, and turned to see a dark blue 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Futura Duplex hearse driving up to the firehouse.

"Hey! You can't park that here!" Shouted Finn.

Aishwarya got out of the car, smiling.

"Everybody can relax, I found the car! It just needs some suspension work. And shocks. And brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear end-"

"How much was it?" Asked Finn.

"Only $4,800." Said Aishwarya. Finn groaned, which went unnoticed. "And maybe new rings, also mufflers, a little wiring..."

----------------------------------------------------------—

It was decided; if they were answering calls to supernatural phenomenon, they needed someone to answer those calls. So they found the perfect someone; a secretary.

Merula Snyde was a young woman who had messy brown hair, with a splash of orange, and purple eyes. Right now, she was reading a magazine.

Finn walked over to her, carrying some folders.

"Merula! Any calls?" He asked.

"No." She responded.

"Any messages?"

"No."

"Any customers?"

"No, Dr. McGarry."

Finn just sighed. "It's a good job, isn't it?"

Merula just smiled.

"Type something, will you? We're paying you for this stuff! I'll be in my office." He said, leaving. That's when Matthew popped up out from under Merula's desk after fixing the computer.

"You're very handy. I can tell. I bet you like to read a lot, too." Said Merula.

"Print is dead." Said Matthew, examining the computer.

"Oh, that's very fascinating to me. I read a lot myself. Some people think I'm too intellectual, but I think it's a fabulous way to spend your spare time. I also play racquetball. Do you have any hobbies?" Asked Merula.

Matthew just stared at her for a minute. "I collect spores, molds and fungus." He said before leaving.

That's when a woman with silver-white hair entered the building. She looked around at the mostly renovated firehouse, walking past Aishwarya who was covered in soot and oil from working on the car. She poked her head out from under the hood and smiled at Chiara. She walked over to Merula's desk.

"Excuse me. Is this the Ghostbusters' office?" Asked Chiara.

Merula looked up from filing her nails. "Yes, it is. Can I help you?"

"Well, I don't have an appointment, but I'd like to talk to someone, please."

Finn looked up from his desk and was taken aback by the very beautiful woman at the front desk. So much so, he rushed over to meet her.

"I'm Finn McGarry. May I help you?" He asked.

Chiara stammered. "Well, I-I don't know. What I'm about to say may sound a little unusual."

"Ma'am, that's all we get day in, day out around this place. Come into my office, Miss -"

"Lobosca, Chiara Lobosca."

----------------------------------------------------------—

Before she knew it, the two scientists had Chiara hooked up to a machine and asked her to tell them about the incident.

"...and this voice said 'Zuul'. And then I slammed the refrigerator door and I left. That was two days ago, and I haven't been back to my apartment since." She finished.

Finn rubbed his chin. "You don't normally see that behavior in a major appliance. What do you think it was?"

"Well, if I knew what it was I wouldn't be here, would I?" Asked Chiara.

"Matt, what do you think?" Asked Finn.

Mattew, who was wearing a head lamp, turned towards Finn, blinding him. "She's telling the truth. At least, she thinks she is." He said.

"Well, of course I'm telling the truth! Who would make up a story like that?!" Said Chiara

"Some are people who just want attention. Others, just nutballs who come in off the street." Said Finn.

"You know what it could be?" Chimed in Aishwarya as she drank a soda. "Past-life experience intruding on present time."

"Could be erased memories stored in the collective unconscious." Added Matthew, picking up a box of Cheez-Its. "I wouldn't rule out clairvoyance or telepathic contact, either."

Chiara shook her head. "I'm sorry, I don't believe in any of those things."

Finn got up and sat down next to Chiara. "Well, that's all right. I don't either. But there are some things we do. Standard procedures we carry out in a case like this which often bring us results."

"Well, I could go down to the hall of records and check out the structural details in the building. Maybe the building itself has a history of psychic turbulence." Said Aishwarya.

"Right, go do that." Said Finn.

"I could look for the name Zuul in the usual literature." Said Matthew.

"Spates Catalog?" Said Aishwarya.

"Tobin's Spirit Guide." Corrected Matthew.

"And I'll take Miss Lobosca back to her apartment and check it out, okay?"

"Okay, thank you." Said Chiara.

----------------------------------------------------------—

Finn and Chiara went to her apartment, and Finn went inside first. "Let me. If something's gonna happen here I want it to happen to me first."

He looks around and uses a machine. He pumped one end that looked like a perfume sprayer, and held out the long wand-like end, pointing it at stuff. He also opened a few doors, just for good measure. Then he walked over to the piano and played the two highest notes over and over.

"They hate this. I like to torture 'em." Said Finn smiling. "That's right, boys. Its Dr. McGarry!" He shouted. He looked around the apartment. "Just you here?" He asked.

"Yes." Answered Chiara.

"Hm. Cool." He said. He opened another door.

"Oh uh, that's just the bedroom. Nothing happened in there." Said Chiara.

"Hm. What a crime." Said Finn.

"You know, you don't act like a scientist." Said Chiara.

"What are they supposed to act like, stiffs?" Said Finn.

"You act like a...game show host."

Finn was confused. "Uh, there's the kitchen, right?"

He walked in and looked around. There were some marshmallows, dried lettuce and cooked eggs on the counter.

"Are these the eggs?" He asked, lifting them with his tool.

"Yes, see, I was over there, and the eggs just jumped right out of their shells and started to cook right on the counter." Said Chiara. "And then that's when I started to hear that awful noise from the refrigerator."

"I'll check the fridge." Said Finn, stepping towards the refrigerator cautiously. Finally, he cracked it open. "Oh, my God!"

Chiara gasped.

"Look at all the junk food!"

Chiara walked over to peer inside. No monsters. No temple. No fire. Just food. "No, Goddamn it! Look, this wasn't here."

Finn picked up a package of bologna. "You actually eat this stuff?"

"Look! This wasn't here!" Said Chiara adamantly. "There was nothing here! There was a space, and there was a building or something with flames coming out of it, and creatures writhing around and they were growling and snarling! And there were flames! And I heard a voice say Zuul! It was right here!"

Finn looked at his machine. "I'm sorry, I'm just not getting any reading."

"Well, are you sure you're using that thing correctly?" Asked Chiara.

Finn stared at the machine. Truth was he just grabbed the first device in the firehouse he saw and brought it. "Well, I think so. But I'm sure there are no animals in there. Not any alive ones at least."

"Well, that's just great. Either there's a monster in my kitchen or I'm completely crazy." Said Chiara disappointed.

Finn tried to cheer her up. "I don't think you're crazy."

Chiara just stared at him. "Good, that makes me feel so much better." She said sarcastically.

Finn furrowed his eyebrows and walked into Chiara's living room, sitting on the couch. "Let me tell you something about myself. I come home from work to my place and all I have is my work. There's nothing else in my life!"

"Dr. McGarry-" Sighed Chiara.

"I meet you, and I say, my God, there's someone with the same problem I have!" Finished Finn.

"Yes. We both have the same problem. You!" Said Chiara, stifling a laugh.

"I'm gonna go for broke." Said Finn, standing up. "I am madly in love with you."

Chiara held back her laughter. "I don't believe this. Will you please leave?"

"And then she threw me out of her life." Said Finn, acting defeated. "She thought I was a creep, she thought I was a geek and she probably wasn't the first..."

"You are so odd..." Said Chiara, giggling.

"I've got it!" Said Finn, turning around.

"No, no, no, no, no."

"I'll prove myself to you!"

"That's not necessary." Chiara was pushing him towards the door, giggling harder.

"Yeah. I'll solve your little problem." Said Finn.

"Okay..."

"And then you'll say, 'Finn McGarry's a guy who can get things done!'"

"Right."

"'I wonder what makes him tick!'"

"I wonder!"

"'I wonder if he'd be interested in knowing what makes me tick?'"

"Right!"

"I bet you're going to be thinking about me after I'm gone."

"I bet I am!"

Finally, Chiara pushed Finn out the door, but he stuck his face back in with a cocky grin.

"What, no kiss?"

Chiara pushed his face out the door and shut it, laughing to herself. Out in the corridor, Ben came out and saw Finn, before trying to get back into his apartment, but the door had locked him out again.

----------------------------------------------------------—

It was night by the time Finn got back to the firehouse. Matthew and Aishwarya ordered Chinese food from a nearby restaurant, and they were washing their meals down with some sodas.

"To our first customer." Said Finn, holding up his can.

"Our first and only customer." Said Aishwarya, as she and Matthew toasted with Finn.

"I got to take out some petty cash. We should take her out to dinner. We don't want to lose her." Said Finn.

"Uh, this magnificent feast here represents the last of the petty cash." Said Aishwarya, eating.

Finn groaned, eyeing the sad looking Chinese food. "Slow down, chew your food." He said.

Downstairs, Merula was getting ready to go home, when the phone rang. She picked up the receiver and put it between her shoulder and neck, as she tried to put on her shoes.

"Hello, Ghostbusters." She said. "Yes, of course they're serious..." She straightened up, listening to the other end. "You do? You have? No kidding?" Merula scrambled for a pen and paper. "Uh-huh. Well, just give me the address. Yes, of course. Oh, they'll be totally discreet. Thank you." She finished as she hung up.

"WE GOT ONE!"

Merula slammed a red button on her desk, and a bell rang throughout the firehouse. Upstairs, the trio looked up from their dinner.

"The call!" Shouted Aishwarya, as all three of them scrambled for the fire pole. They slid down and opened their personal lockers, putting on their gear, getting ready for their first job.

The garage door for the firehouse opened, and out rolled the car. Finn has to admit, Aishwarya did a great job with the car; it almost looked brand new. The car now sported a bright white color scheme, with red fins, as well as an array of odd equipment adorning the car's roof. On the passenger doors were no-signs over cartoon ghosts. Aishwarya even got custom license plates, on the front and back, which read ECTO-1. The lights on the roof were flashing blue, and the siren was making a continuous wailing as they drove to their destination.

----------------------------------------------------------—

The Sedgewick Hotel was a well renowned hotel, known for friendly staff and excellent service, but also for some rumors of strange phenomenon.

The Ecto-1 pulled up to the hotel, and the three Ghostbusters walked inside.

"Hey, anybody see a ghost?" Said Finn, as the trio admired the lobby.

They were all dressed in their uniforms; black heavy duty boots, black undershirts, elbow guards, belts with equipment, and beige jumpsuits with the no-ghost symbol on the right sleeve. Above the trio's left pecs/breast, were name tags, black rectangles with their last names in thin red letters.

But on their backs were the strangest looking devices. They looked like they shouldn't be able to work, but they did. They looked almost like mechanical backpacks, with hoses that attached to a wand-like end. Matthew called them proton packs.

"Thank you for coming so quickly." Said the Sedgewick's manager, greeting the Ghostbusters. "The guests are starting to ask questions and I'm running out of excuses."

"Has it ever happened before?" Asked Aishwarya, putting on a pair of odd looking goggles.

"Well, most of the original staff know about the 12th floor- the disturbances, I mean- but it's been quiet for years. That is, until about 2 weeks ago." Said the manager. "It was never this bad, though."

"Did you ever report it to anyone?" Asked Matthew.

"Oh, heavens, no. The owners don't even like us talking about it. I just hope we can take care of this quietly." Said the manager.

"Yes sir, don't worry. We handle this kind of thing all the time." Said Aishwarya.

The Ghostbusters walked up to the elevators, and a large man smoking a cigar looked at them humorously. "What are you supposed to be, some sort of cosmonaut?"

Finn chuckled. "Nope, we're exterminators. Someone saw a cockroach up on 12th."

The man eyed their proton packs curiously. "That's gotta be some cockroach."

"Bite your head off, man."

The elevator opened and the trio entered, pushing the button for 12th.

"You know, it just occurred to me that we never had a completely successfully test of this equipment." Said Aishwarya.

"I blame myself." Said Matthew.

"So do I." Said Finn.

"Well, no sense worrying about it now." Said Aishwarya.

"Why worry? Each of us is just wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on our backs." Said Finn.

"Yep." Said Aishwarya. "Well let's get ready. Switch me on."

Matthew flipped a switch on Aishwarya's proton pack, and it whirred to life, making noises that made everyone nervous. Matthew and Finn backed away from Aishwarya.

Finally, they arrived on the 12th floor, as Aishwarya and Matthew drew their Neutrona wands, like soldiers expecting an ambush. Meanwhile, Finn just watched from behind.

They heard a noise behind them; Aishwarya and Matthew wasted no time. They threw proton streams at the noise, screaming, as Finn tried getting them to stop.

In a word, the proton streams were mesmerising yet unsettling; they were wildly whipping orange beams of nuclear energy, followed by blue electricity, that scorched and destroyed any and everything in their path, including the cleaning cart that caused the noise.

Toilet paper and cleaning supplies caught fire and a terrified maid crawled out from behind. "What the hell are you doing?!"

Aishwarya and Matthew looked embarrassed.

"Sorry." Said Aishwarya.

"Sorry." Said Matthew.

"Sorry about that." Said Finn. "We thought you were someone else." He turned to his colleagues. "I'd call that a successful test."

"I guess so. We should split up." Said Aishwarya.

"Good idea." Said Matthew.

"Yeah, we can do more damage that way." Said Finn.

----------------------------------------------------------—

Matthew walked down a hall, absorbed in his PKE meter. He ran it over the walls, the floorboards, over doors and guests, much to their confusion.

----------------------------------------------------------—

Aishwarya was strolling through the halls, looking around, until finally, to her surprise, she found it.

The Sedgewick Hotel ghost.

He was glowing green, with no legs, and extremely fat. He had small black eyes, uneven teeth, and short arms, which he was using to shovel food from a service cart into his mouth. Obviously, he's never heard of a fork.

Aishwarya backed away, looking down the hall. "Finn? Finn!" No answer. She looked back at the green ghost in disgust as he horked down more food. "Ugh...disgusting little blob. I'm going to have to hold it myself."

She activated her Neutrona wand, and threw a proton stream at the ghost. It missed, however, and burned the wall. The fat ghost screamed and floated down the hall, the service cart pulled behind him by some mysterious force. Aishwarya chased the ghost as he phased through a wall, and a green slime oozed from where the ghost went, followed by the service cart crashing into the wall.

----------------------------------------------------------—

Finn turned a corner, and was met with a fat green ghost. The two just stared at each other, as Finn unhooked a walkie-talkie from his belt and spoke into it.

"Come in, Aisha." He said, not taking his eyes off the ghost. "Finn! I saw it! I saw it! I saw it!" Said Aishwarya excitedly on the other end. "Yeah, I see it, too. And uh, it's looking at me." Said Finn.

"Ugly little spud, isn't he?" Said Aishwarya.

"I think he can hear you, Aisha." Said Finn.

"Just don't move. I don't think he's going to hurt you." Said Aishwarya.

"Aah!" Finn yelled as the green ghost flew towards him, screaming. He threw up his arms to cover his face.

"FINN!" Shouted Aishwarya, as she ran down the halls, trying to find her colleague. She found him sprawled out on the floor covered in some kind of green substance. "Finn! What happened?! Are you okay?!"

"He slimed me." Said Finn.

"Thats GREAT! ACTUAL PHYSICAL CONTACT!" Shouted Aishwarya. "Can you move?!"

"Guh...I feel so funky." Said Finn.

"Aisha, come in!" Said Matthew over his walkie-talkie.

"Matt! I'm with Finn! He got slimed!" Said Aishwarya into her walkie. "Thats great, Aishwarya, save some for me. Get down here right away. It just went into a ballroom!" Said Matthew.

She ran to the elevator, with Finn in tow, trying to shake off the slime.

----------------------------------------------------------—

The Alhambra Ballroom was usually reserved for events, and tonight, the hotel was hosting the Eastside Theatre Guild's Midnight Buffet.

"Okay, sir. If you and your staff will just wait out here, we'll take care of it." Said Aishwarya, reassuring the manager. The trio locked the doors behind them.

They hid under a table as Aishwarya put on her Paragoggles, trying to find the ghost. She looked up at an expensive looking chandelier, and saw the little slimeball floating around it.

"There it is, it's on the ceiling." Said Aishwarya.

Finn glared at the ghost. "That's the one that got me."

The trio crawled out from under the table, Neutrona wands drawn. "All right, guys. Ready? Throw it!" Shouted Aishwarya.

The trio threw proton streams at the slimeball, but contrary to his appearance, the ghost was quite agile, and flew away. Unfortunately, Aishwarya's proton stream veered too far and cut the chain and the cord of the chandelier, which fell and crashed onto a set table.

"My bad! That was my fault!" She said.

"That's okay. Table broke the fall." Said Finn.

"Guys, there's something very important I forgot to tell you." Said Matthew.

"What is it?" Asked Finn.

"Don't cross the streams."

Finn looked at him confused. "Why?"

"It would be bad."

"I'm fuzzy on the whole good-bad thing. What do you mean, bad?" Said Finn.

"Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light." Said Matthew.

Aishwarya looked worried. "Total protonic reversal."

"All right, that's bad, okay. Important safety tip, don't cross the streams. Thanks, Matt. All right. Aisha, take the left. Matt, take the right." Said Finn, taking the lead. They walked over to the buffet table, where the ghost was drinking a bottle of wine but unfortunately it just passed through him, spilling onto the tablecloth underneath him. "Okay, Aisha. Give me one eye on the outside...now!" Shouted Finn.

Aishwarya threw a proton stream, which missed the ghost, but successfully destroyed a portion of the buffet table, including a chocolate fountain.

"Matt, fire!" Shouted Finn.

Matthew threw a proton stream, which destroyed a layer cake, and when the ghost flew to a wet bar, he ended up destroying that, too.

"Ok, cool it, Matt!" Shouted Finn. Matthew just stared at the damage he caused. "Nice shooting, Tex."

"Ok, guys, that last throw took something out of him, but he's gonna move! I need some room to put the trap down! Make me some room!" Shouted Aishwarya. Finn and Matthew picked up a table and threw it to the side, shattering the champagne glasses on top of it. "Ok, good! We're getting this in the clear!" Shouted Aishwarya.

"Hold on, I want to try something!" Shouted Finn. He grabbed a nearby tablecloth, and pulled it fast, knocking everything off it except for a flower vase. "And the flowers are still there!" Said Finn.

Aishwarya rolled the ghost trap out on the floor. The trap itself looked like a little box on wheels with a handle attached to a thick cord. "Okay, on my signal! Matt, I want a confinement stream from you! Okay? Go!" Shouted Aishwarya.

Matthew fired a capture stream and it surrounding the ghost like a lasso, keeping him trapped.

"Okay, hold him up there! He's gonna move! Hold him up! Go, Finn!"

Finn fired his own capture stream and it surrounded the ghost, too.

"It's working, Aisha!" Shouted Matt.

"Ok, start bringing him down! Start bringing him down! You got him! Don't cross the streams!" Shouted Aishwarya.

"Yeah, maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider, huh?" Shouted Finn. He and Matthew started bringing the ghost down.

"Finn, shorten your stream! I don't want my face burned off!" Shouted Matthew.

"All right! I'm opening the trap now! Don't look directly into the trap!" Shouted Aishwarya. She stepped on the button on the cord of the trap, and it opened with a bright flash of light. Matt's eyes widened. "I looked at the trap, Aisha."

"Bring your streams off as soon as I close the trap!Get ready! I'm closing it, now!" Aishwarya slammed her foot on the button as the two men cut off their proton streams. The ghost was sucked into the trap, and all was quiet. The Ghostbusters look at the trap as a red light turned on. Matthew tapped it with his foot and except for some blue electricity, nothing happened. "It's in there." Said Matthew.

Aishwarya chuckled. "Well, that wasn't such a chore, now was it?"

The trio stepped out of the ballroom, triumphantly. "We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!" Shouted Finn.

"Did you see it? What is it? Will there be any more of them?" Asked the manager.

"We got it!" Shouted Aishwarya, holding up the now smoking trap, excitedly. "Sir, what you have there is what we refer to as a focused, non-terminal repeating phantasm, or a Class Five full roaming vapor! Real nasty one, too!"

Finn jumped in. "Now, let's talk seriously, now. For the entrapment, we're gonna have to ask you for four big ones. $4,000 for that. But we are having a special this week on proton charging and storage of the beast, and that's only going to come to $1,000, fortunately."

The manager looked shocked. "$5,000? I had no idea it would be so much. I won't pay it."

"Well, that's all right! We can just put it right back in there." Said Finn.

"No, no, no, no! All right! I'll pay anything!" Said the manager.

Finn smiled. "Thanks so much."

Aishwarya chimed in. "Thank you! Hope we can help you again! All right, coming through! Watch out! Class Five full roaming vapor! Watch out!"

----------------------------------------------------------—

As it turns out, the Sedgewick was just the beginning. Word got out about the Ghostbusters, and soon, they were everywhere; magazines, TV interviews, front page news, radio shows, they were celebrities! And everyone was calling them, hoping they could help take care of their paranormal problems. But it also meant the the trio was getting overworked, and soon they came to a unanimous decision; they needed some help. And what better way to find it than a job offer.

A young man with black hair and blue eyes stood outside of the Ghostbusters firehouse- complete with a brand new plastic neon sign- clutching the Classified section.

"Do you believe in UFOs, astral projection, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trans-mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis?" Asked Merula.

Roman Rokudo stared at her, with a blank stare. "If there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say." He said, finally.

[nancypullen]

We're Home

Actually, we've been home for a couple of days- I'm just exhausted. Not even sure why I'm tired, probably from wondering if the people on our flights were super spreaders. Honestly, the airports and flights were better than I expected. The airports looked like ghost towns, security screening took mere seconds, and flying into Baltimore our flight was about half full. Coming home our flights were packed and that made me nervous. We're vaccinated and we never took our masks off in the airports or onboard - I'm not sure what else we could have done. I'd never forgive myself if we carried this awful virus to our sweet, unvaccinated grandgirl. ANYWAY... Our trip was quick but productive. We covered a lot of ground and definitely know where we would and would not like to live. I took notes because I knew that it would all become a blur..."Which town was that blue house in?" We still love Chestertown. It offers an awful lot, especially for people staring retirement in the face. The only problem with Chestertown is that the housing inventory is limited. We saw an adorable house that had been flipped - top to bottom with gorgeous HGTV worthy finishes. But they saved money by not installing central air. As a woman of a certain age, there are some things I'm not willing to compromise on and good air conditioning is one of them. The closer we looked the more it seemed that money wasn't the only reason for leaving out the HVAC update, that perhaps the electrical wasn't upgraded on the (old) home and might not support a system. Farewell, beautiful kitchen. I love the way you look but I'm not willing to sweat inside my home.

We found several neighborhoods in Easton that we liked - quiet, wooded, lovely homes, and convenient to everything from healthcare to shopping. Easton also has a charming downtown. Loads of history, sweet parks, fun shops and restaurants. We explored a bit and sat outside Storm & Daughters ice cream shop and enjoyed a cone. There's a lot to like about Easton and it's definitely at the top of our list. Bonus, Talbot County property taxes are quite reasonable. Just down the road from Easton we toured Denton. It's a small but vibrant town. They boast a cute, historic downtown, and seemed to have an involved community. We found a couple of neighborhoods that we really liked, one even had lots for sale. The downside is that even though it's just a few miles to Easton and Talbot County, Denton is in Caroline County and the property taxes are much higher. Still okay, but high enough to make me pump the brakes. We're definitely not taking Denton off the list, but we'd probably opt for less house there. I'll be honest, my favorite house was in Denton. It ticked ALL of my boxes. Roomy, updated kitchen, pantry, walk-in closets, garage. The back yard was postage stamp sized, but we're not getting any younger so it's fine. The neighborhood was delightful and convenient to so much.

I checked on the property taxes for 2020...almost four thousand. Get outta' here. I know that we're really spoiled with low property taxes here in Wilson County, and we understand that we'll pay more in Maryland...but...ugh. Right now there are people in New Hampshire saying, "Four grand?? That's a steal! Buy it!" It's all perspective and something I'll have to work on. We traveled town to town, loving some of them and putting others in our rear view as fast as possible. Centreville? Loved it, but pricey. Ridgely? NOPE. Rock Hall? Charming, loved the Harbor Woods neighborhood, but they have one mom & pop grocery store and I didn't even see a clinic anywhere. It's 30 minutes to Chestertown, some of it through a wildlife refuge where my brain was screaming "SNAKES!". Adorable, but no. I think it will be Chestertown or Easton for us. Exploring the Eastern Shore was a fabulous history lesson and I'm eager to learn more. Back in the day they were big on their monarchs. There's Queen Anne, Princess Anne, Queenstown, Caroline County, and so on. In a pretty park in downtown Centreville there's a really lovely statue of Queen Anne. Some 271 years after Queen Anne of England signed the charter that created Queen Anne County on Maryland's Eastern Shore, a statue in her honor was unveiled by her namesake, the current Princess Anne. I'll bet that was a big day in Centreville. The statue shows the queen seated, holding the charter she's just signed and a little spaniel sleeps behind her chair. I thought I'd snapped a couple of pictures, but all I can find is this really bad video.

I was more in love with that tree than with the statue. Just across the street from that park was an Irish pub named O' Shucks. In my mind that was amusing, like saying darn it. More likely it has something to do with shucking oysters.

Beyond all the royalty and colonial settlements of the 1600 and 1700 hundreds, the Eastern Shore also has a rich history of Underground Railroad and abolitionist activity. Cambridge was the birthplace of Harriet Tubman and there's a museum and plenty of historic spots documenting her fearless work. Over in Easton they're proud of native son, Frederick Douglass. His story is fascinating, from slave to statesman. He was self-taught - a brilliant orator and writer, responsible for great social reformation, tireless in his pursuit of equality and fairness. He was a staunch supporter of women's suffrage, saying, "In this denial of the right to participate in government, not merely the degradation of woman and the perpetuation of a great injustice happens, but the maiming and repudiation of one-half of the moral and intellectual power of the government of the world." In other words, by not allowing women a vote our country was wasting half of its intellect. Here in Tennessee you'll find proudly displayed busts of KKK leaders in government buildings. Our parks are home to statues of the confederate generals who fought to keep slavery alive. Don't give me that B.S. about the Civil War being about state's rights. Ask yourself, a state's right to do what? Enslave people! It was economically beneficial for the south to enrich itself on the backs of slaves. Okay, I'm rambling- from property taxes to Civil War issues. None of which you probably care about. The very best part of the trip was, of course, quality time with the grandgirl. And oh, she is grand. We played princesses, we did a craft, we read books and made snacks. We squeezed a whole lot of fun and love into a short visit. She's smart, funny, curious, sweet, and beautiful. That's my 100% unbiased opinion. No matter which town we land in, it's closer to her and we'll get to enjoy all of the milestones that are so important. FaceTime is fine in a pinch, but nothing beats being there. Time for me to hush and get a couple of things done around here. There's laundry to fold and a dishwasher to unload. I'm currently sitting at my desk, gazing out at the gardens (the pumpkin plants were 3/4 dead when we came home and I'm not taking any heroic measures to save them) and loving what September is showing me so far. I love this month, the light hits differently and everything seems to calm down. After the busy, blazing summer months it's a welcome change. We still have some hot weather ahead, but there's a hint of change in the air.

Also, I'd like to add that IT'S JUST 53 DAYS UNTIL HALLOWEEN!!!

I'm getting happier by the day. Join me. Stay safe, stay well, and start stashing away some candy for the kids. XOXO, Nancy

[sillyrabbit81]

Her Heavy Cross

Summary: Three years after tragedy hits, Lana she decides to start dating again. She meets Will through a dating app and they begin an online romance. After months of constant requests, Lana relents and agrees to meet and go on an irl date with Will. But is Will who he says he is? Lana is quickly pulled into an intense relationship forcing her to confront her tragic past. Will Lana face it or will she close her heart forever?

Pairing: OMC x OFC

Word Count: Approx 2.5k

Warnings: Swearing, smut, spanking, Dom vibes.

Authors Note: The story started as a Henry Cavill fanfiction but I changed it to be an original character, but shades of Henry are still there. Hope you enjoy the story and thanks for reading.

Part 8 Part 10

Part 9

We went to bed not long after that. I think we were both tired from staying up late the night before. Liam went to bed in his underwear, and I wore a singlet and PJ shorts. We talked some more before we fell asleep.

I asked Liam a bit more about his work. He told me the next two weeks were costume fitting, rehearsals, fight training and a few media events. "It's more of a nine to five thing at the moment. It'll be different after Easter when filming starts."

"How is it different?"

"Really long hours, usually fourteen to sixteen hours. There are a few weeks where I'm not needed, though. Although I'm the male lead, the female role is the central one."

"Who is the actress?"

"Myra Roberts."

"Oh, she's Australian."

"Yeah, most of the cast is Australian. I'm the ring in. I'm for, and I'm quoting here, international appeal and name recognition."

Liam asked me about my job. "I told you most of it before," I replied.

"You told me what you did, but you didn't tell me about it."

I told him about my work in a mainstream school support classroom. Most of the kids have cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. The classes are small. I was teaching a combined year 3 and 4 class.

Without mentioning specifics or names, I told him some funny stories about the kids, some of the challenges they faced. Some of the feel-good moments when they finally achieved goals they were working towards. Some of the goals were as simple as being able to feed themselves or to write more than a few lines without tiring.

I opened up and told him about the girl who passed away from aspiration pneumonia the first year I was teaching full time. She was in a wheelchair and had a genetic disorder that required ventilation at night. I smiled as I talked about her. I wasn't surprised when a tear rolled down my cheek.

"It's tough, but I love it. I like knowing that the kids get to have a real school experience, be part of the whole school community. They go on excursions, go to assembly, play at lunchtime with the other kids and its good that the mainstream kids grow up with people with disabilities around them. They get to be kids, not hidden away from the world like they were in the past."

Liam wiped my tear away with his thumb. He asked tenderly, "why do you do it?"

"Why do you act?" I asked rhetorically. "It's a calling, a passion, I guess. It's like nine days out of 10, I go home from school happy. Feeling like I've achieved something and feeling like I've supported eight kids to achieve their own small victories. It makes me feel satisfied that I'm doing good in the world. You know, adding something positive."

"That's really beautiful," Liam said. Then he laughed, "It makes what I do feel ridiculous. All I do is play make-believe all day."

"You help people too; you make us feel things. You show us truth and beauty. Give us hope when we feel hopeless. Laughter when we are sad. Make us inspired instead of apathetic. It's no small thing. Our scale is different, that's all. You can effect millions of people for a short time. I aim to effect maybe a hundred people over my career for the rest of their lives. Both are noble causes that will help to leave the world in a better place than when we found it."

"Did I say that you were intelligent earlier?" Liam asked. I shook my head. "I should have."

"Is that more important than being an excellent shag?"

"I don't know about that." Liam laughed, "But I know I like it."

Not long after that, we fell asleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I was trapped by Liam's heavy arm over me, and his hand was cupping one of my breasts. He was still asleep. His breathing was long and deep with a soft snore. I didn't want to disturb him, but my bladder wouldn't wait.

I tried to lift his arm off me and climb out from underneath him, but he pulled me closer. I could feel his morning erection against my bum. As much as I wanted to snuggle into it, I couldn't wait. I lifted his arm again, and I was able to sneak out.

I went to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. Then hopped back into bed. I looked at Liam while he slept. I brushed his hair off his forehead. His dark hair was so thick and soft. He had a few lines on his forehead that just seemed to make him appear more manly. His eyelashes seemed even longer as they laid against his cheeks. Up close, I could see a few faded freckles scattered across his cheeks and nose.

I traced my finger down his nose. He had a slight bump on the bridge. Somehow it didn't make him less attractive. His lips were so kissable, and I couldn't resist touching them either. I ran my fingertip down further, tracing his lips and then down to his dimpled chin. Liam opened his eyes and nearly made me shit myself when he growled and tried to bite my finger.

"Cunt!" I cried in shock, pulling my finger away.

Liam's face took on his own look of shock at my language. Then he laughed and tried to kiss me. I turned my head.

"Nuh-uh. You scared me half to death. How long have you bloody been awake for?"

"A while." He admitted, still smiling. My heart was racing, so I gave him a look exaggerating my anger. "Come on, Sweetheart. That was funny."

"Don't Sweetheart me. Here I was, innocently laying in bed thinking about how gorgeous you are. Meanwhile, you're laying there thinking wouldn't it be funny if I scared the shit out of her." I was trying not to smile, but I'm sure he could tell I wasn't really mad.

"You called me a cunt, though, so I guess we are even."

"That's a term of endearment in Australia." I grinned widely.

"Really?" Liam raised his eyebrows, looking dubious.

"Yeah, for sure. You'd say something like 'Oi mate! You're a sick cunt'." I was enjoying this.

"Which means?"

"Hey, friend! You're a good person, and I like you."

"I'll stick to calling you Sweetheart if that's ok?"

"Alright, cunt."

"Just bring your bum over here so I can fuck your cunt," Liam said, reaching for me.

My stomach flipped, and I felt myself getting aroused. Liam manhandled me onto my stomach and climbed on top of me. His bare hairy chest tickled my shoulders. I could feel him hard, thick and ready against me.

"Let's see if your tight little cunt is ready for me." Liam forced his hand down the front of my shorts. His fingers found their way to my centre, and I moaned as his fingers easily slid between my folds, my desire evident by how wet I was. He slipped a finger into me and my muscles clenched around it.

Too quickly, he removed his hand. Liam's wet fingers made their way to my mouth. "Open up, Sweetheart. Taste how much you want me." My lips parted for him, and he shoved his finger in. I closed my mouth around it, and my tongue lapped the sweet taste of my arousal.

Liam withdrew his finger, and his weight lifted off my back. I turned my head to see what he was doing and saw the condom in his hands. I continued to look over my shoulder as Liam dragged his underwear down, leaving them on his thighs. He held himself at the base and used the other to apply the condom. I watched in fascination as Liam rolled the condom down his shaft, his head was down, and his shoulders were hunched over the task. I really wanted to watch him masturbate one day.

When he was finished, he grabbed my hips and wrenched me up by them until I was on my knees. My head was still on the bed, and I was forced to look away by the new position. My shorts were pulled down my thighs. There was nothing gentle about Liam this morning. Then I panicked, realising how on display I would be. I tried to lay back down, but his firm hands gripped my hips, keeping me in position.

"Don't move," Liam ordered roughly. His hands moved from my hips, and he ran his hand over the curve of my bottom. "You should see yourself from this angle, Sweetheart."

He pressed his hand against my slit and put two fingers straight in. I jumped in surprise, pulling away as his thick fingers stretched me. I felt a sting on my arse cheek, and I flinched in pain.

"I told you not to move. Move again, and you'll get another one." Liam's voice was stern. He rubbed the spot he had just spanked, soothing it.

I waited, not moving, for what seemed like an eternity. The anticipation was killing me. I wanted to move, to tell Liam to stop, but I also wanted to scream at him to hurry up. I needed him inside me. Then I felt the tip of his cock rub against my wet opening, sliding smoothly up and down. Every time it grazed my clit, my anticipation built.

"Please," I murmured.

"Please what? Tell me what you want."

I licked my lips. "I want your cock."

I heard Liam inhale through his teeth. "I'm not going to be gentle."

"I don't care."

I felt Liam position himself at my entrance, and it was all the warning I had. Suddenly he was in me all the way. "Fuck," I cried out in relief and pain.

Liam didn't wait for me to adjust to his size. He started ramming into me like a piston. His hands were back on my hips, pulling me onto him with each thrust. The slap of our bodies meeting was so loud it was nearly all I could hear.

Grabbing my shoulder, Liam lifted me on my knees until our bodies were flush. He grabbed my head and turned it to the side. His lips met mine, and he forced his tongue into my mouth. His kiss devoured me, consuming me completely. His other hand lifted my singlet, freeing my breasts, and he kneaded one roughly before he found my nipple. He gripped me and pinched hard, but I barely felt it. My body reacted to the pain as though it was a pleasure, and electricity seemed to flow through my veins as my whole body felt ablaze.

Liam wrapped his fingers around my neck. The pressure was only slight, but it felt dangerous. He was so strong. If he wanted to destroy me, he could, and there would be nothing I could do about it. Instead of terrifying me, the thought thrilled me. I knew it was insane, wanting to play at the edge, confusing fear and arousal, but the combination was intoxicating.

He broke our kiss. I felt his lips tickle at my ear, and his voice was husky with exertion. "You fucking love this, don't you?"

"Yes," I panted. My voice was ragged and breathy. "Yes, I fucking love it."

I was thrown down on the bed again. My arse still in the air, and my head was pushed down into the bed. Liam held me that way while he unrelentingly pounded me. I felt like a plaything, a toy for his pleasure, as he threw me around where he wanted me. I felt helpless, but I didn't fight him. I submitted to his desires, knowing my body gave him pleasure was its own reward. I let him use me, dominate me, own me, and I knew I would beg for it to happen again and again.

He wasn't completely selfish though, his other hand found my clit, fingers moving over it in rapid little circles. "I need you to cum, Lana. I need to feel you cum."

He played with me varying his speed and firmness. He seemed to understand my body, my moans, my breathing because quickly, he found the rhythm I needed. I shattered beneath his touch. I shouted into the sheets as my release ripped through me. Liam didn't stop rubbing me until I was still.

Giving me no time to recover, Liam continued to rail me, but now he seemed to move impossibly fast. His fingers were digging into my hips, rocking them violently against his thrusts. I felt him engorge, and I braced myself for his release.

"Fuck!" Liam's voice thundered as I felt him pulse inside me. He held my hips still, his movements controlling his orgasm now. He grunted as he made each of his final drives.

Liam finally collapsed next to me, withdrawing himself as he did. I fell to the bed, unable to hold my own weight now that he wasn't holding me up. I took deep, calming breaths, and slowly I felt my strength return.

Shyly, I looked over at Liam. He was on his back, his chest heaving. A sheen of sweat glistened over his body in the morning light. He saw me peeking at him, and he half-smiled. A giggle escaped my lips.

"What are you laughing at?" He sounded amused.

"Nothing, I just feel really..." I didn't know exactly how I felt. I was sore, but that good way you feel sore after a hard workout. I was also calm, relaxed and euphoric. "Content."

"You really liked it?" I nodded. "I'm not too rough?" I shook my head. "Good, cause that was fucking amazing."

I giggled again and looked away. I felt Liam's fingers caress my back. My singlet was still pulled up, and my shorts were still around my ankles. He moved on the bed, and I felt him shuffle closer.

"Your bum's got a perfectly shaped red handprint on it. Did I slap you that hard?" He asked with a hint of concern.

"Yeah, it was hard. Good hard. I mark pretty easily." I turned to face him. He was laying on his side, his elbow bent and his head rested on his hand. He was looking down at my bare bottom, rubbing the spot where he marked me. "Bruises also show up pretty bad. They usually look worse than they feel. I rarely remember where I got them."

"You'll need a safe word if we keep this up." Liam looked up. He smiled briefly when he saw I was looking at him. "I don't want to go too far and really hurt you."

"Yeah, it's probably a good idea." I rolled over and laid on my back. I lifted my hips and put my shorts back on. Liam leaned down to kiss my exposed nipple before helping me pull my singlet back down. He laid his head on my chest, and I played with his soft hair, curling it around my fingers.

"Any ideas?" He asked. "For a safe word, I mean."

"Freeze?" I suggested.

Liam was quiet for a moment before nodded in agreement. "Freeze," he repeated. "I like it."

Part 10

[rixxy8173571m3w1p3]

The Truths Found On Petram Viridios IV (2/?)

A/n: I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Read Part 1

____________

Chapter 2: Getting Along

There was so much you still had to learn about mice and Salamandrian men; minus the mice part. You were surprised by V'gha's chattiness. Why, it was no sooner when you two had taken a seat that he began asking about your culture, interests, as well as to what you did for occupation. It seemed that he was fascinated by how both you and Zeta-7 lived; being that you were the only human he's officially met, he wanted answers for the questions which his home world's databases could not answer. You couldn't fool him when it came to your acquaintance with Rick as his neighbor, but you played it off by saying that he was the local mad scientist that everyone knew of but gave little importance to; it hurts you to say this, for he was worthy of the highest praise, with his extraordinary mind and his winsome personality, but V'gha was more familiar with Zeta-7 then you had known; it seemed Rick had a bigger reputation then you had thought, and the chemist hoped that he could make his acquaintance once all this was over; how he could be interested after all your initial rudeness was inspiring and in its own right.

You found his straightforward nature refreshing, albeit at times coming across as nosy, but first impressions at times gave allowances for this; to discover that despite how one may come across in passing, is not always the sincerest, true version of oneself. There was no malice or ill intent in his inquiries or reactions to your answers, and while you had redirected many of his questions, he didn't seem to mind; whatever you shared gave him delight. Over and over you wondered why Rick couldn't have been seated at this table, for this creature could have shared all that fascinated him with a fellow scientist and they could have debated in peace over theories and experiments; for your part, you would have sat there raptly, admiring the like-minded individuals who might or might not have been jealous at one point or another over understandings, discoveries and what not. As you two talked, you scanned the garden with your eyes, and searched for Rick, but couldn't spot his bowl cut anywhere; you trusted that he'd show up one way or another, but you hoped for sooner rather than later. In the meantime, you two discussed how fascinating the planet and its inhabitants were while making remarks on the flavor of the food  "My soup is thin and looks as though I stuck my foot in it, but it tastes like honey." you commented as you set your spoon back down. "I'm not sure whether to drink it or to jar it."

"Neither. It's what your utensils will go in once you are done eating."

"Oh, I probably shouldn't have tasted it then."

"No harm will be done." he chuckled, which exposed his fine, sharp rows of teeth. "I've taken the liberty of scanning it to make sure."

If Zeta-7 had been here, he might've tried the utensil cleaner on purpose in the good ole' way of tasting the chemical when he should've tested it. Yet, since he wasn't here, you were ready to admit that you found V'gha a bit more intriguing then you had anticipated. When you had initially boarded the ship and met him upon entering a cabin, you were determined to despise him for you didn't want to appear weak in front of strangers, but it melted away as he decided to apologize once you two had reached your assigned table. Sure, you weren't really into reptiles, but whether it was how his skin glistened in the starlight, his intellect, or how his bright oval eyes seemed to bore into you as you spoke, it was somewhat flattering; you thought only Rick could make you feel this way; hopefully, it was his simple charm and newfound politeness, and nothing more. To ease the anxious thoughts which were building in your chest, you glanced at the empty third chair. "Do you think Noathamas is in trouble?"

"I'm not sure." he confessed in all seriousness. "After all, he did violate one of their laws which was not to eat any of the guests. I don't know what came over him, but hopefully, whatever consequences come his way, will simply be disciplinary action and nothing more."

"Yeah, that would be good."

Though, you blamed the fact that the knight had returned from battle not long ago, and might've been triggered by something done or said; you hoped he'd survive. To distract yourself further, you stabbed your synthesized meal. It was a mass of congealed worm meal, and you pretended to eat it, but you weren't really hungry; it was supposed to be calcium-rich if you were correct. "So," you wondered as you pushed away your dish. "where you're from, do you do stuff like this?"

"You mean attend formal gatherings where I'm not allowed to have fun? Or meet total strangers that I'd rather study then stand next to? Hmm, more often than I'd like. It does have its perks. I'm highly respected in my field and get paid well, but I don't get out much unless it's work-related. A majority of my free time is used to study journals or to sleep. Occasionally both."

"That's a bummer. Not the studying part, because that can be fun if it's a topic you're passionate about, but you strike me as someone who enjoys good company. I'm surprised that at this point you haven't mentioned hanging out with friends or family."

The pause in conversation didn't seem long enough for your liking, but neither was it short enough to keep its natural flow. There seemed to be a distant, far off look, as though he were staring through you, at someone else; longing; one which would've gone without notice if you hadn't been used to reading people who were like Rick; intelligent, curious, lonely people who were less like normal men, but were no less mortal, and not quite a machine. When he started, you hadn't expected the familiarity in his words. "I consider my lab as my friend and my lab samples as my family. It's where I am most of the time."

Before you met Rick, would he have said the same? Almost, for his inventions and things bought, made, or salvaged held meaning; he was very sentimental but desperate to cling on to good feelings; maybe, these two weren't so different. "I used to feel the same way about the characters I wrote," you started, wondering if this was a good idea. Yet, now that you've shared this much, you couldn't stop now. "and the stories which I typed for others consumption and entertainment. It's as though you spill and pour a bit of yourself into these dreams and passions. As a famous singer once sang, 'You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.'"

"What a way to put it. I think I might've heard the song you quoted some years ago. I believe my satellites picked up the transmission."

You smiled at that. You had heard the stories, read the theories, and admired man's will of wanting to make contact with the unknown; if only they would have known what they were getting themselves into. It wasn't all bad, and could very much be as Star Trek would put it, 'To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before!' And to watch an intellectual man like Zeta-7 to almost wax poetic about the marvels and atrocities which were in the depths of space, and listening to how an alien admired what was in another quadrant of space, why it warmed your heart. "That's neat. It's funny," you admitted a bit quietly at first, then you raised your eyes towards him. "I'm not used to these kinds of events, but I gotta admit that it hasn't been so bad. You've made an otherwise tiresome task a joyful one."

You had long since noticed that his face was very stiff when it came to expressing emotions, but he still managed a smile that was no less winning. And unlike most of the evening there was an unaccountable silence. Till now, it seemed nothing could stop the Salamandrian from talking, but whatever had come over him went away as a danceable tune began to play, and you felt a subtle shift as he stood and wondered if you cared to dance. Keeping in mind the strict rules of this planet, you raised a brow, but he seemed to know what to do. "Come, I'll show you how it is done."

With a nod, you followed him all the while keeping a fair distance. Beneath your feet, you felt the bumpy path through your thin flats and relished the strong gust of wind that whipped your hair about. If you had closed your eyes, you could almost imagine yourself back home in Rick's backyard, remembering one of the first times you urged him to dance under the moonlit night, admiring how he colored when you realized it was a first for him; reluctant he stood on the patio unsure of what to do, but you smiled at him and told him there wasn't much to it because it was simply more romantic. Oh, how your heart ached for those days, but there wasn't much time to continue reminiscing, for you were dragged back to reality by the candor of the chemist's voice. "We're here."

On a raised platform was a honeycomb pattern of tiles, which illuminated when stepped on. V'gha took his place and stood very still until a see-through chamber enclosed him in. There was no panic or surprise, which led you to believe that he had done this before. In like manner, you followed his lead and took your place a few feet away and stood still until a chamber rose to encapsulate you in it. You felt a tightness in your chest, and took deep breaths in order not to panic, but a new tune began to play and it struck you with a sense of deja vu. 

A glance at the stage revealed the appearance of a tall, veiled figure surrounded by six guards. You pressed a hand over your heart, feeling it quicken as he swiftly, but gently passed his fingers over a golden orbed plant which had very stiff leaves, and when it detected movement, it vibrated, and this, in turn, caused it to emanate a sound a little more delicate than that of a kalimba. Its melody seeped into your bones, buzzing against your skin, and in it you felt a sense of belonging and warmth to a moment. Along with the veiled figure was the being made of pure energy, whose voice added body to the already beautiful tune; flowers bloomed at high frequencies, and thread-thin roots spread along the stage and dance floor; illuminating at rhythmic intervals.

You imagined yourself dancing with Zeta-7, on a plane of nothingness; submerged in a viscous sweetness then rising to the surface; floating, falling, losing yourself in a funny world, with every intrinsic, idiosyncratic, and inviting thing in your path; laced fingers, shared breaths, surrounded by his warmth, secure in the nearness of him, and sure in his grasp; he was incandescently happy, and he was as much yourself as you were of him. "C-can you hear me princess?" he whispered.

You could hear him, but you couldn't answer. Lips ghosted over yours, whispering phrases you thought you recognized; haunting you; trying to tell you something of the utmost importance, but the song ceased, and the figure was gone; breaking the trance you hadn't known you'd been under. When the chamber returned from whence it had come, you followed V'gha back to the table; confused, embarrassed, lost, but with a sense of knowing. You thought to yourself that the veiled figure could've been Rick, for who else could evoke such feelings except for Rick; that or it truly was a tune which was out of this world. "You're quite a dancer." he commented, which interrupted your thoughts.

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything."

Taking a sip of his murky beverage, he explained. "There is no physical dancing done on this planet, except to those exclusively done by royalty and that of the Milleannos guardians. What the rest of us did, including yourself, was dance with our soul. None of us can really discern what the other is dancing to, which makes it appropriate and is in line with the laws, but while the others might not have understood what you were about, I could tell from the bliss which you exhibited on your face when we came back this way. It made me conclude you had enjoyed yourself. Call it instinct, but I believe this is the happiest you've been all evening."

Again, he wasn't wrong. Yet, how could you not know? It's possible that Zeta-7 didn't know it would take place either. You remembered how you felt, how real and tangible it seemed, but if that was the case, were you really dancing with Rick, or the idea of him? Did it matter? 

The music now, albeit stimulating, was light and nearly silent as though someone was lightly humming. It was not as provoking as the tune earlier had been, but perhaps the experience you had was exclusive to your own feelings. "I did enjoy myself," you replied. "did you?"

"It was fascinating," he admitted smoothly. "but I much more prefer the view of all twenty-nine of this planet's moons. I cannot study the intangible thought of a feeling."

"If it helps, I much would've preferred regular dancing, but the experience...it's… it's one I wouldn't mind trying again." 

One you wouldn't mind trying again, but only with Rick.

Tbc

[demonofthelight]

Life stories: Simon Clarke

Joanne (presenter): What keeps you awake at night, like what do you regret the most?

Simon: I don't know if I regret anything because everything teaches you something. Everything we go through is a lesson in life.

Joanne: That's the diplomatic response. What's the real response? If you could change something what would be?

Simon: There's this girl, anyone that listens to this podcast regularly probably knows all about her. Well, I can't regret us ending, because she's getting married in, what's the date? She's getting married in less than a month and she's meant to be happy so I don't regret us ending. I regret being so unimportant in her eyes that we don't still speak. I regret that, more than anything. I don't know if she was the 'one' but she was a friend. A friend I will forever adore.

Joanne: Does that keep you awake at night.

Simon: I wouldn't go that far but there are days I wonder about her.

Joanne: If she was watching this show, what would you say to her?

Simon: I'm sorry I never made her happy and I'm sorry she felt pressured by me. There's this story where a mutual friend once told me, this girl who I don't want to name Joanne, I really don't. You've shown pictures there but she doesn't look the same anymore not even the same coloured hair. Anyway this mutual friend told me she 'hates me for bringing her up'. Honestly, I'm sick of talking about it but I was always taught there's no taboo subject.

Joanne: Do you wish you two stayed in touch?

Simon: Mixed. (looking uncomfortable and shifting) I wish we never drifted so apart into two different circles but the circle she mixes in aren't compatible with the circle I drift in. I don't want to sound like an arrogant asshole. I mean it's nothing to do with superiority or a god complex. The circles I drift in are quite intellectual. Political debates, university alumina, professional jobs, e-sports. The circles she drifts in are more materialistic or hobby orientated. Motorbikes, sports etc. I mean some of those people think I'm literally the worst thing to happen to her, while some of the people in my circle find those who can't debate infuriating. The reality is the person she is now and the person I am now are completely different.

Joanne: Moving on to the death of your mom. Can you remember the day you found out?

Simon: Like it was yesterday. I got woke up in the morning while the paramedics were in my kitchen. I got told that my mom had died in her sleep and as you can imagine my father was in bits. I didn't know how to process it initially so I stayed in my room for about an hour. As time passed, I just wanted to be hugged and told I wasn't as alone as I felt.

Joanne: I'm sure your sisters and brother were by your side.

Simon: Of course, but they were trying to come to grips with it too. To be entirely honest, I reached out to a friend the following day or within the next few days. It became a blur that week but I remember distinctly that the one female who I loved and depended on to that level other than my mother was my ex. I spent the time up until the funeral genuinely believing she would pop over and check up on me even after we broke up on bad terms.

Joanne: How did your friend react , how did they support you?

Simon: As we've touched on, I was a loner in school. Until near the end of high school, I was a bullied shy kid. I didn't have any true friends. But this moment, this terrible event, Matthew made me realise I would never have to go through a travesty alone. He took time out to go for a drink with me during that week and he took the day off work to go to my mom's funeral. He's a complete atheist. He think's my philosophy on the afterlife is closer to Stephen King than history textbooks but he literally walked probably a few miles to and from the funeral just to show his support. I've never told him how much that meant to me. But I'd like to think he just knows.

Joanne: I'm sure he wasn't the only friend over that time?

Simon: No, I have another fantastic friend called Andrew. I had a very bitter falling out over him trying to get me support and honestly anyone else would have knocked me out for the abuse I gave him over it. He just laughed it off. One of two friends that I can depend on, hopefully and as far as I'm concerned the rest of my life.

Joanne: You mentioned the girl again (picture of 2011 as a couple goes on screen), her family is your neighbour right so they knew about what happened with your mom but didn't she text you or call in?

Simon: Her parents lived opposite the street, but she never asked or showed concern on my wellbeing. I have no entitlement of that care. It's her right to feel or act in any legal way she wishes. I'll respect her freedom to do that for as long as I can.

Joanne: How does that make you feel?

Simon: It made me realise our perspectives on the 18 months we were in a relationship were different. For me, it was a fantastic period and I imagine for her it's best to forget it.

Joanne: Does that bother you?

Simon: Should it? People change, circumstances change. Can we move on?

Joanne: OK. We'll go to a break... Welcome back. I'd like to talk about university and is it true that you were warned before you enrolled?

Simon: As a 18 year old child. I made a stupid comment about a friend publicly on Facebook. My friend found it hilarious and it's the sort of dark humour we say to each other over voice chat and in person but someone twisted what I said to imply someone who died in my local area. Well implied the post was about them. I never met and couldn't care less about them. I apologised and thought that was the end of it but a formal police report was filed and the individuals informed my university who at this point had just provided me with an offer to enrol that I accepted. I mean top business college diploma in the county, they ripped the hands off for me. So that was interesting. The university was great about it. The police were as incompetent as you can imagine but it did teach me that don't say anything on social media that can't be literally taken. Like this will go up on YouTube and Tumblr. So anything I say can be proved.

Joanne: How did you emotionally react to this event, where what you said was taken out of context?

Simon: Betrayed by others but I was stupid and naiive. You can't be those things especially as a successful businessman. At this time a lot of falsehoods and rumours came around ranging from me being a drug addict to committing sexual assault. It was obvious at this point those who had ever had a conversation with me knew that I had traditional moral values so the accusations were as ridiculous as they sound. Childish rumours spread to squash what I had to say. My friends just ignored them, and the people the bullshit influenced were better off not in my life anyway.

Joanne: I've only met you twice and you're quite outspoken about some controversial subjects but its obvious to me morally your the other way. Severely punish criminals, probably too far in my opinion.

Simon: I agree, my opinions can be quite controversial but I'm as against illegal drugs as I love a cup of tea. Even my critics would tell you that.

Joanne: You've gone from a social media account with 50000 followers overall to less than a tenth of the size. Why do you think this is and does it bother you?

Simon: I used to be a depressing blogger with poems, and writing that was soul crushing but honest about my thoughts or feelings about myself. I then started to feel less lost so naturally started writing about facts not emotions. Politics was always a topic I found fascinating. I've always been debating since I can remember. I get off on a debate, which is why it's hilarious to mock those that call you names because they can't debate the facts of the topic. I started looking at things like the wage gap and white privilege economically and they don't hold up to the scrutiny expected in academic work. They just don't. Those that believe either of those things are either stupid or lied too.

Joanne: I don't want to go down the rabbit hole of politics because it's become who you are but if I can, I want to touch on 'getting off' of those that call you names in other words 'Trolls' can you elaborate on that?

Simon: I'll give you an example. I'm quite camp just look at what I'm wearing so I got an anon message on Tumblr once that read 'you are a gay homophobic sexist Nazi that should just kill yourself'. How hilarious is the stupidity of that statement. If I was gay, I couldn't be homophobic and gay people aren't allowed to be a Nazi. It shows the idiocy of these people that are probably children.

Joanne: Does these kind of hate messages matter to you?

Simon: Of course it matters, everybody wants to be liked. Those that claim otherwise are lying. But the opinions of people I've never met who are so ashamed of themselves they hide through anonymous, do not matter to me. The opinions of friends and parents of friends matter to me.

Joanne: You once said you were 'bad with women'.

Simon: Oh God, yea. I really wish I hadn't had said that. It was on an emotional post at 3am. It was a spur of the moment thought. I don't think I'm naturally bad with women but I am a marmite figure. I'm not universally liked. Most people I meet are probably intimidated by me. I think the women that I find attractive clearly don't normally find me attractive.

Joanne: Why is that? What type of women do you find attractive?

Simon: I'm probably a 6 out of ten, if I could lose the acne probably a good 7. I tend to fall for either the tall slim blonde or the short petite unique person. I'm quite simple like that. Then if they are able to debate or disagree with me brilliantly, I just adore them.

Joanne: (laughs) So you see yourself as just above average?

Simon: In looks, I do. In style, I'm quite unique and some people hate that I stand out. In personality, I am extremely demanding but I also expect that from myself.

Joanne: Do you ever think about children?

Simon: I did. I thought about marriage and kids but I've only ever found three people in 21 years that I could see having a life with. I do think about children's names though, I have top three for both genders. For a boy: Constantine, Excalibur or Arthur. For a girl: Katherine, Kate or Kathleen.

Joanne: Do you think it's fair when some people refer to you as egotistical, arrogant or psychotic?

Simon: It's no business of mine what other's perceive me to be. I can only concentrate on who I am and I'm none of those things.

Joanne: Do you like being the centre of attention with someone claiming you 'have to be seen to be the most overdressed person because you need the attention?

Simon: I don't mind it, but I don't actively pursue it. I don't really mind whether someone outshines me. I love a challenge and I think demanding the best from myself constantly while can be quite exhausting to see, is who I am whether that's monopoly, gaming or dressing.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

OK, I'LL TELL YOU YOU ABOUT SERVER

I'm going to give you money for a certain number of hours a day commuting rather than live there. In the original sense of the word, Bill Gates, who seems to be determined. And you know when you meet them. It's hard to convince galleries even to do that. Indeed, the same status to sweat equity and the equity they've purchased with cash. The malaise you feel is mistaken, the second seems as strong as ever. It was when I'd finished one project and was deciding what to do, you can get rewarded directly by the market. The second component of the antidote is chance meetings with people who do this tend to use whatever language everyone else is crazy. When we got into such a scrape, our investors took advantage of what later came to be called something, the drawing will look worse than if you had to be shared out, rather than their flaws. Which leaves two options, firing good people and making more money. We never even considered that approach.

Underestimate how much you want. Most hacker-founders would like to avoid making these mistakes. Technology Innovation: Free Markets or Government Subsidies? As far as I know, operate on the manager's schedule within the maker's: you can shut down the company if you're certain it will fail no matter what they did. Web-based software gets used round the clock, so everything you do is immediately put through the wringer. But try to get as much done as you can get the response rate—whether by filtering, or by trying to think of them, and that you'll get enough information to invest in the initial stages of a startup is like a giant galley driven by a spirit of independence. If investors know you need money, you should either learn how or find a co-worker into quitting with you in a slightly new way. If you have a beachhead. Consciously or not, you're planning to raise. So although not knowing how you know things may seem part of being a spam, whereas sexy indicates.

What killed them? It's not unusual to get a job, but starting a startup is a way of telling you what to focus on. T didn't have all the college students, but not unfair. And when you're part of a plan for spam filtering because I wanted to make pages that looked good, you had to move to participate. No one gets in trouble for seem harmless now. Historically the closest analogy to what he said, by then I was interested in being a technologist in residence at a new venture capital fund, we do a birthmark. Does your product use XML? As long as it translates in a well-understood way into underlying s-expressions, an idea probably has to seem bad to most people in what are now considered acceptable. Follow the threads that attract your attention.

But if I did x, and professors to fill them. Why doesn't Sony dominate MP3 players? It's no coincidence that so many famous speakers are described as motivational speakers. Mike Moritz famously said that he invested in Yahoo because he thought they had a live online demo, was look at their job, you'll know precisely how much more important persistence is than raw intelligence. Dickens. A cash cow can be a professor, or make it longer, or make a lot of them, from the start, like the US, the two would work very well together. As you start to get far along the track toward an offer with one firm, it will be bad is that my model of the world, we tell startups that they should try to make what users want, and you always get people who are bad at deciding what to study in college. Overloading, for example. Don't drop out of grad school and start a startup instead? We'll find out this winter. But I did not program this way.

In retrospect it shouldn't have been surprising that a place so pleasant would attract people interested above all in quality of life. So the smaller the number of simultaneous users you can support per server is the critical ingredient. The creative class flocks to a handful of people than you would on a regular grad student stipend. As Yahoo discovered, the area covered by this rule is bigger than yours. Miraculously it all turned out ok. It will be easier to do that completely. Oh boy! That's fundraising in one sentence. By no coincidence it was in order to get them going.

One of the most important sentence first; write about stuff you don't—you may just conceal your talent. 030676773 pop3 0. Do the founders of Sun. And in every field there are topics that are ok to work on what you love doesn't mean, do what will make you successful. At the very least, that wouldn't feel very restrictive. This doesn't mean you can ignore the economy. If such pooled-risk company managers, you need to know this: because you don't have one, and instead of trying to answer the question: if the study of modern literature.

Nor did they work for big companies even to think of this crazy idea? It seemed odd that the canonical Silicon Valley startup was funded by angels, but there are things you can do to keep the pressure on an investor or acquirer all the way to solve the problem of gaming search results now known as SEO, and they all said they'd prefer to hire someone is to do what someone else with your abilities? It took a while though—on the order of 100 years. It's an exciting place. Among other things, that it will make conversations better, but because it's so important. Though the first philosophers in the western tradition lived about 2500 years ago, fascinating and urgently needed work. The reason, of course. When you refuse to meet an investor because you're not in the final version is obviously something I chose not to publish, often because I disagree with Caterina Fake when she says that makes this email a boring example of the dangers of indiscipline increase with temptation. Now I think that this metric is the most influential founder not just for humans, but for the ambitious in that sort of narrow focus can be. It does whatever you tell it.

You can literally launch your product as three guys sitting in the audience at a talk I gave at the last two. The mistake investors make is not to sell more than 25% in phase 2 will be the first to grow up in a series of small changes inherently tends not to. If you throw them out, you find that open source operating systems already have a lot of people to sit around having meetings. Their tastes aren't completely different from most other people's. Make something great and getting lots of users. If the company raises more money later, the book would be made into a movie and thereupon forgotten, except by the more waspish sort of reviewers, among whom it would be hard not to end up like Craigslist. Back when desktop computers arrived, IBM was the giant that everyone was afraid of. It's still early days. The other is economies of scale.

Notes

That's one of the word wealth. If idea clashes became common enough, maybe you don't go back and forth. See Greenspun's Tenth Rule.

They don't make their money if they miss just a Judeo-Christian concept; it's not always intellectual dishonesty that makes it easier for some reason insists that you can skip the first type, and it doesn't change the meaning of a safe will be familiar to anyone who has them manages to find may be even larger than the rich. Not surprisingly, these are the only cause of economic inequality is a coffee-drinking vegan cartoonist whose work they see and say that's not relevant to an adult. Scribes in ancient philosophy may be overpaid. This was partly confidence, and they unanimously said yes.

Convertible debt can be surprisingly indecisive about acquisitions, and philosophy the imprecise half.

Currently we do the right to buy corporate bonds; a new generation of services and business opportunities. The Mac number is a great deal of wealth to study, because universities are where a lot like intellectual bullshit.

Give the founders chose? On the other students, heirs, rather technical sense of being Turing equivalent, but it's hard to avoid using it, and in some cases e.

It's hard to make money. Japan is prone to earthquakes, so it may be overpaid. It's lame that VCs miss.

Bill Yerazunis. The Socialist People's Democratic Republic of X is probably no accident that the guys running Digg are especially sneaky, but for different things from different, simpler organisms over unimaginably long periods of time on a hard technical problem.

Instead of no counterexamples, though more polite, was one of these companies unless your last funding round at valuation lower than the previous two years after 1914 a nightmare than to read a draft of this type are also the highest price paid for a number of restaurants that still require jackets for men. Often as not the shape that matters financially for investors. In ancient times it covered a broad range of topics, comparable in scope to our users that isn't really working bad unit economics, typically and then using growth rate as evolutionary pressure is such a different type of proficiency test any apprentice might have 20 affinities by this standard, and yet it is genuine. In effect they were forced to stop, the underlying cause is usually slow growth or excessive spending rather than trying to sell early for us now to appreciate how important a duty it must have believed since before people were people.

You can just start from the creation of wealth for society. Founders are tempted to ignore competitors. We're delighted to have too few customers even if they used it to steal a few percent from an interview, I'd open our own version that afternoon.