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togglesbloggle · 4 years ago

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How We Decided

The day after tomorrow- that is, February 18, 2021- the Perseverance rover will attempt to land on the surface of Mars. It will enter the planetary atmosphere at an acute angle, giving it as much time as possible to experience drag and slow down from orbital velocities. Because Mars’ air is so thin, and the rover is so heavy, this will fail- in the best case, Perseverance would still be going almost a thousand miles an hour when it impacts the surface. To help save itself, the craft will deploy a parachute of advanced design, seventy feet across and able to withstand supersonic velocities. This, too, will fail. Even with a parachute, there is simply not enough air between Perseverance and the Martian surface to slow it down all the way. So this is where the rockets kick in. Once air resistance slows the rover to a bit less than two hundred miles per hour, the heavy heat shield will be jettisoned, and a system of secondary rockets will fire against the direction of motion until it slows to near-hovering. In a final flourish, the rover will descend from the rocket-boosted frame on coiled springs, until it touches down in the western part of Jezero crater in the northern hemisphere of Mars.

As it happens, Perseverance’s destination was one of the very last things we decided about it- not until the craft itself was fairly thoroughly engineered and designed. Formally, the decision was made by the mission directorate. In practice, they follow the consensus of the scientific community, which in turn hashes things out at a series of open-invitation workshops. Things began with a call for white papers- an open suggestion box, basically. In 2015, the first workshop narrowed things down from thirty serious proposals to eight candidates. In 2017, the second workshop further winnowed the list down to three. And in October of 2018, after three days of presentation, debate, and discussion, the final workshop selected Jezero Crater from these final three candidates using a simple vote of all attendees, and passed on the recommendation to the mission leads.

I haven’t been in the business for very long, so the final workshop was the only one of these where I actually participated. It wasn’t a close vote as such, and I didn’t break any ties, and technically we were just making a strongly worded suggestion. Nonetheless, my vote is one of the reasons why the Rover will be going to Jezero Crater instead of Syrtis Major or Gusev, and I think I’m entitled to feel ownership of this mission choice, just a little bit.

(This is, of course, terrifying.)

Having gone through the experience, there were a few surprises worth noting. The first was how small some of the numbers are here. The conference was not very large: only thirty proposals, debated by just a few hundred attendees. I’ve seen book review contests with more entries, and that are read by a wider audience. Which is to say, this is a situation that was, and is, extremely responsive to individual effort. In that small a room, populated by people that are philosophically committed to changing their minds when they see good evidence or a good argument, one person can stand up and change the future in a very real way.

The second surprise was the attendance requirements. Or rather, the lack thereof. The project is public, paid for by American taxpayers, to whom I am profoundly grateful. And one way the process reflected that public-spiritedness is that this is not a walled garden. A small attendance fee (iirc, $40?), and you’re in. You get a vote, if you want to use it. A few non-scientists even took us up on this; there’s one retiree (a former schoolteacher, I think) that’s attended every major conference I’ve been to in the last few years, and sets up a small table in the back with his home mineral collection just for fun. In practice this open-door policy is limited by the obscurity of the event itself; if you don’t move in research circles, you have to be something of a space exploration superfan to hear about it. Still, as symbols go, you could do worse.

And now that we’re coming up on the day itself, the same kind of public-facing mindset is making me think about why I was persuaded to vote for Jezero Crater, what it means to explore there, and how I’d justify that choice to those of you that made the ongoing discovery of Mars possible in the first place.

If you want to know what Perseverance is like, and what you can reasonably do with it, start with Curiosity- the two are built, more or less, on the same chassis. That means you have a mobile science lab about the size of a Volkswagon Beetle. Add some mechanical improvements (no more wheel punctures!) and a few bells and whistles (microphone! helicopter for some reason!). Trade out some of the scientific instruments- raman spectroscopy instead of a mass spectrometer, for example. And it’s got these:

That, dear reader, is a sample return canister. Not to be returned immediately, alas, but to be returned nonetheless. One of Persevereance’s primary directives is to find interesting rocks, collect them, and leave them in place for a sample return mission in the early 30s. There’s a ton of work we can do in situ, but there’s even more we can do in a clean lab back home; things like isotopic analysis really need a much more controlled environment than you’ll get in the field. And so a major, major consideration is to optimize Perseverance’s landing site for cool rocks that we’d like to take back home.

The other thing that Perseverance is really good at is astrobiology. There’s no such thing as a life sign detector as such, but this rover represents an attempt to approach that ideal: instruments like SHERLOC and SuperCam are adept at finding organic compounds and fine-scale mineralogy and chemistry that might be influenced by microbial metabolism. This is a natural extension of what we’ve been learning so far: Spirit and Opportunity showed us that Mars formed under the influence of liquid water. Curiosity showed us that this was not just wet, but actively habitable: lakes and rivers at a neutral pH under a rich and temperate atmosphere. The next question along this line is the hardest, and the scariest: we know it was habitable, but was it inhabited?

If you’re like me, that question makes you feel weird. Collecting rocks is one thing, but a fossil? The mind rebels. We’ve spent the last two generations of space exploration tempering our expectations, reminding ourselves that the other worlds in our solar system are largely barren and dead, learning again and again how precious life is in the cosmos. It’s hard to get in the mindset of people back in the 40s and 50s who could, somewhat reasonably, imagine that Mars might not just host life but multicellular life, vegetation and robust macroscopic ecosystems. We look back at the science fiction of the era, swarthy soldiers hopping from planet to planet in silver rockets, and laugh at the naivete. A smile at the exuberance of youth, if we’re feeling generous. When we were first beginning, we may have imagined ancient canals on Mars and crystal cities on Venus, but that was when space was a blank canvas for us to paint our fantasies. We’ve learned so much since then, and if it was less fun, at least it was true. We did the hard thing and accepted reality over fantasy. We accept that extraterrestrial environments are hostile to life- cratered, silent, and still. We’re grownups now.

Unless…

Unless.

Imagine that we were born just a bit earlier. Say, three and a half billion years or so. We raise our telescopes to the sky, and we see a sister-planet. Not red, but white and blue, with an atmosphere full of clouds and multiple large bodies of water scattered across its surface, prominent ice caps and snow-capped highlands, rivers tracing their way down to the lowlands in the north. (Maybe the water is all under the ice, not open to the air at the surface; maybe the liquid pools are small and limited to craters, not feeding a large ocean.) Sober scientists might have suggested we shouldn’t get our hopes up too much- after all, the gravity is much lower, there’s no tectonic recycling, and there’s no protective magnetosphere. But is sterility really the default assumption we should be making here? Is ‘we are alone in the cosmos’ really the most sane conclusion to draw from this situation? Is it not worth, perhaps, sending a rover to go see?

We’ve adapted our sensibilities to a dead solar system because in the moment we’re looking, it kind of is. We’re hopeful for the icy moons- and the evidence keeps mounting there as well- but the terrestrial planets are a grim reminder of the fragility and contingency of our own world. The thing is, the more we learn, the more we discover that we’re a bit late to a very, very interesting party. Venus is a hellscape, but it probably didn’t start that way. Mars is a desert, but once it was an oasis. What makes Earth special among the terrestrial worlds isn’t that it developed a temperate climate, but that it kept a temperate climate for more than four billion years. Stability, not habitability, is the party trick that makes us unique in the solar system. And if we’re really committed to being grownups, to accepting what’s real instead of what’s easy, we have to learn that lesson too.

And life does not need four billion years to begin. Not even close.

That brings us to Jezero Crater. The most interesting feature here is a large river delta- based on some clever geology, we’re pretty sure that a large river emptied into the crater during Mars’ wet period. When the rapidly-flowing water hit the still water of Lake Jezero, the loose sediments being carried along the current all fell out of suspension at this place, forming a large pile of detritus at the mouth of the river that accumulated over the lifetime of the system. Even more interesting, check out this geologic map:

See those tiny teal deposits to the right side of the image? Those are also river delta deposits. Which means the thing labeled ‘delta’ on this map isn’t the original extent- it used to be much, much larger, at least twice as wide. Which also means that the outer edge of the ‘delta’ that we see here in this image is actually an erosional surface, and we get a natural cross-section of the thing with the oldest deposits at the bottom and the youngest at the top, just before Mars lost its hydrosphere. By climbing the outer edge, we can move through time across a large fraction of the habitable period.

Here’s another image I’d like you to see:

The crater I’ve been showing you is the small circle in the lower right- color is elevation, covering a span of about 5 km. The black line is the watershed of that river, the region of Mars that channeled water to the delta. In other words, the river delta collects sediments- and potentially, biosignatures- from a region hundreds of kilometers in diameter, and gathers them all in one place, neatly sorted by time.

For this reason, ancient deltas on Earth are a favorite of paleontologists. In addition to being comfortably wet and active itself- plenty of access to biologically important nutrients, fresh supplies of liquid water, and a nice dynamic environment- deltas do the legwork for us. Rather than exploring a huge fraction of the planet with a tiny rover, hoping that we stumble upon an ancient life sign, we can position ourselves at the mouth of the proverbial fire hose and let life come to us.

This does come with some tradeoffs. Most importantly, whatever we find, we won’t know the original geologic setting. If we find an unambiguous fossil of some kind- a microbial mat, perhaps- then we’ll know less than if we’d found it in its original home. And if we don’t find life, then the samples we take will be similarly uncertain. They’ll be defined in time, at least relative to one another, but not in space. In the case of life signs, this is an important caveat, but the bare fact of proving that extraterrestrial life exists is sufficiently monumental that it’s still a secondary concern. But if we’re just talking about geology, that’s a hard thing to lose; that terrifying multi-stage descent isn’t the only risk we’re taking. We’re leaning into the astrobiology mission hard with this one.

And the search for life is, in itself, fraught. That’s putting it mildly. There’s every chance that any evidence that’s even slightly marginal is going to touch off decades of debate, rather than being some kind of slam-dunk. As it should! Life is such a fuzzy concept, and such an important concept, that it should absolutely be held to the highest degree of scrutiny we can muster. This is why it matters that Perseverance includes sample return- in the highly likely case that the findings are disputed, we’ll hopefully have the chance to subject those samples to the highest degrees of scrutiny. So it feels like the right time to go hunting.

On top of that, there’s the ‘evidence of absence’ problem. Strong biosignatures update our priors very hard in the direction of life on Mars. But what is the correct amount of evidence necessary to convince us that Mars never was alive? I’m not sure, but failure to find microbial mats in Jezero probably isn’t enough. So the search for life can succeed, but if it ‘fails’ that doesn’t necessarily teach us much; the best experiments teach you something no matter what, and ideally a commitment this large would meet that standard. This is, more or less, baked into the search for extraterrestrial life, and there aren’t too many ways out from under that problem.

That said, Jezero in particular has some compensation. As I mentioned, we’re collecting a lot of good data regardless; and even without the gologic context, there’s a ton of opportunity to sample different minerals and how they formed, and get a nice broad sample of the Martian surface over time. And, even better, here’s the location of another interesting potential field site, in northeast Syrtis:

Note the proximity to Jezero crater! And Syrtis is also a fantastic candidate for a sample return mission. It has exposed mesas with layered outcrops going all the way back to the earliest days of Mars, and extending (potentially) through many of the most interesting periods. Now, these are not ideal for the search for life, although they’d give us a ton of technical data about surface chemistry and the behavior of the atmosphere during the early, wet periods; it would go a long way towards resolving arguments about the temperature of the early Martian climate, for example, or tracing the early destabilization and loss of the magnetosphere while teaching us loads about the planet’s core.

Those mesas are still pretty far away. Too far, probably, for a sensible rover lifespan to make it all the way there. But there’s a plan- called the ‘Midway’ route, as a nod to the compromise nature of it. See, halfway between Jezero and these mesas, there are a lot of banded rocks that look suspiciously like they’re sourced from the table mesas in Syrtis. And those, we can get to, maybe. If we call a specific deadline on looking for life in Jezero, then we can pivot to Midway and hopefully take a really deep look. So, in the end, we’re going hard for astrobiology research, but we’re not going all-in.

The importance of the search for life is… well, there are a lot of people out there, and we enter the world in a lot of different ways. Most of us agree that the existence of extraterrestrial life would be a Big Deal, and we tend to have a lot of different reasons for that. It’s not a bad subject for a future post or three, in fact. But there’s one thing lurking in the back of my head that’s a non-obvious reason to go looking. This wasn’t discussed at the workshop particularly, but it fed into my vote somewhat. Check the logic of this for me, see if it makes sense:

Worrying about existential risks, we sometimes talk about the ‘great filter’. That is, the mysterious phenomenon which explains the lack of extraterrestrial civilizations reaching out to us. Now, maybe we’re in a zoo or a preserve or something, and intelligences are out there watching after all; maybe the Earth really is the center of the cosmos, because of the simulation hypothesis or the various religious explanations. There’s no real way to know for sure at this point. But consider the space of very real possibilities where the universe actually is material, and actually is mostly barren. Why?

Stepping through the sequence, it might be that abiogenesis is really hard- going from a temperate world to a living one is almost (but not quite) impossible. Maybe there’s some hurdle to clear between genesis and encephalization. Maybe, given encephalization, civilization and tool-use are almost impossible. Or maybe there are many civilizations like ours, and the great filter is ahead of us- it is almost impossible for technological civilizations not to self-destruct or turn in to lotus-eaters before they reach interstellar civilization. There are a lot of possibilities for the filter, and for present purposes we’ll divide them into two categories: those which we would have already passed, and those which are in our future.

And here’s the thing: for each possibility we can exclude from the great filter, all the other possibilities increase commensurately, becoming more likely in our estimation. (Assuming the exclusion is ‘clean’ and doesn’t favor some other possibility, that is.) Given that the silence continues, if we could somehow prove that technological self-destruction isn’t a big risk, that would commensurately increase our guesses about how hard abiogenesis is.

Life on Mars, especially if we could be very sure that it evolved independently of Earth life, would be a strong argument against the difficulty of abiogenesis. One biosphere in the solar system, and nowhere else, might be down to luck. The one biosphere has to be somewhere, right? Two in the solar system, and nowhere else, is a good bit less reasonable. If we find a second genesis on Mars, then we’ve learned that life is not rare. That the hundreds of billions of stars in the Milky Way are likely host to many billions of different living (or at least once-living) worlds.

And as wonderful as that news is, as much as it makes me so happy that I literally had to take a second to cry on my bed for a bit, it also makes the great silence much, much scarier. Today, we can reassure ourselves by saying that life may be rare in the universe. But what if it isn’t? If the cosmos is full of life, but not full of thought, then…

If this is the case, we need to know. We need to know as soon as possible, and we need to know it while we’re engaged in the great project of technological development and moral progress. It’s easy to imagine that this particular mission is one that can be framed in purely positive terms- the joy of discovery, the vastness of truth, the love of how things might be. But I do also have this sense of civilizational fragility, you know? And understanding the risks that we face and the chances we’re taking- that’s not idle curiosity. That’s genuinely urgent.

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simplyemm · 3 years ago

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In the Cards: IV of Pentacles

pairing: Bucky x Reader

word count: 1.5k

warnings: meet cute (kinda), little bit of fluff, pet name (solnyshka), mentions of kidnapping, unedited, so all mistakes are mine.

summary: There is a new face around the Tower, and you want to make him feel welcome.

Header image by me.

Series Masterlist

I do not consent for this to be reposted, translated, or copied to any other platform.

IV of Pentacles: stability, control, influence, security, frugality

The ding of the elevator alerted you to the arrival of your somewhat-expected visitor. Steve Rogers had been making the rounds to all of the Tower employees, letting everyone know about the most recent addition to the building, as well as doing his best to allay any safety concerns that people might have. Cause y’know people might freak out just a little bit that the Winter Soldier was now in residence and not-entirely-okay.

“Hiya Cap,” you greeted, looking up from the disassembled Widow Bite you were working on improving for Natasha. “What’s up?”

“So you probably know why I’m here,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yup. Sergeant Barnes has moved in and he’s being given mostly free reign of the place to do a security check so he feels more secure in the Tower, right?”

“Word travels fast,” he muttered.

“Lab gremlins are gossips,” you confirmed. “But I get it, and so do most of the rest of the R+D staff. Everyone knows that they can have FRIDAY change up the access permissions if they get uncomfortable.”

“And yours?” Steve asked, glancing toward the doors on either side of your workshop.

“FRIDAY?” you called to the ever-present AI. She dinged in response. “Please allow Sergeant Barnes full access to my lab and associated spaces.”

“Of course.”

Steve smiled at you. “Thanks a lot, kid.”

“Let Sergeant Barnes know he’s welcome to lurk in my space whenever. I don’t mind the company.”

Steve chuckled. “No kidding, especially with the odd hours you keep.”

“Yeah well, science rests for no one, and someone has to keep up with all the upgrades y’all are constantly needing.”

Steve patted you on the shoulder and left you back to your own devices.

The next morning found you back to work, with only a few tweaks left to make on the improved Widow Bite.

“Good morning, solnyshka,” Natasha greeted as she entered the workshop, holding a steaming mug of tea. “I bring an offering.”

You look over at your for-the-moment favorite Avenger and grin. “Morning Nat. I’m just about ready to test out this upgrade.”

“Already? I just gave it to you like a day and a half ago!”

“And?” you shrugged. “Science waits for no one.” And you had worked all night on it, but you were not about to admit to that.

“You haven’t slept,” she said. It wasn’t a question.

You fight back a yawn. “No rest for the wicked,” you jest. “C’mon, let’s go test this out.”

The two of you head to the weapons testing area and you hand over the improved discs. You headed back behind a clear barrier where the control panel was. You had developed new testing dummies that allowed you to get readouts of possible biological reactions to the new tech, without needing actual people to be test dummies. It was one of the things you were most proud of.

“Ready?” you call. The Widow nods and you hit a button, causing several test dummies to appear and be summarily taken down by Natasha.

“I like them,” Nat says as the last dummy is taken down, twitching from the electrical current. “How are the readings?”

You look up from your StarkPad with a grin. “Fantastic. Will easily take down non-Enhanced without causing lasting permanent damage, enough to incapacitate. Gimme a minute and I can run a simulation to see--” you trail off, brain already moving a mile a minute to put in the parameters for the new simulation. The results make you grin even wider. “Can also cause at least minor inconvenience for super soldiers, provided we’re using Steve as a baseline.”

“Great!” Nat said. “Now go to sleep.”

You grumble good-naturedly, putting all of the testing tech to sleep, before heading out the testing lab door and across the hallway to your apartment. You really didn’t mind that your entire life could be contained in a single floor of Stark Tower, in fact, you actually preferred it that way. Tony had insisted that you move in after the second kidnapping incident, and you didn’t fight him on it...often. Besides, despite the incredibly generous salary Tony gave you, rent in New York City was not an expense you wanted to deal with.

*************

“I thought I told you to go to sleep,” Natasha said reproachfully when she entered the common area a few hours later and saw you sitting on the couch.

“Tried,” you replied. “Couldn’t do it. And I’m locked out of my lab for the next-” you glanced at the display of your StarkPhone, “-seven hours and thirty-four minutes, so I figured I would come hang out here.”

“Can’t FRIDAY unlock it for you?” Steve asked.

You laughed. “Nope, she’s the one who locked me out. It’s a protocol Pepper made Tony put in for himself that he so kindly added for me as well.”

The super soldier nodded in understanding. He looked over towards the elevator, hearing something that the two others didn’t, right before the door opened with a ding.

“Hey Buck,” Steve greeted softly, as the brown-haired man entered the space, looking around and observing everything. His eyes fell onto you and his brow furrowed, not recognizing the strange person in the space. “Oh right, you two haven’t met yet. Bucky, this is Y/N, she’s one of the--” he looked to you for a more apt description of your role.

“I usually go with lab gremlin, but I’m technically the Stark Industries lead mechanical engineer and tech liaison for the Avengers. It’s nice to meet you Sergeant Barnes.” You gave him a small smile and a little wave.

“Bedtime, solnyshka,” Natasha said. “At least try to get some sleep before FRIDAY unlocks your lab again. Please.”

“Ugh, fine,” you groaned, slowly getting up from the couch. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my cave.” And with that, you headed towards the elevator and back to your floor.

“Cave?” Bucky asked after the elevator doors closed behind you.

“It’s what she calls her floor,” Nat explained. “She has an apartment, her workshop, and one of the weapons testing labs all on the 87th floor. She emerges every now and again to socialize. Usually after she gets locked out from working too much.”

He nodded. He had yet to visit the 87th floor on his nightly sulks around the tower, but it had officially moved higher on his list.

*************

It was some obscenely early hour of the morning when Bucky made his way to the 87th floor of the Tower. Nightmares had woken him again, and he found himself wanting to see what your space was like. Steve had told him a bit about you after you had left, expounding upon your sunny disposition (which explained Natalia’s endearment) and your single-minded dedication to your work.

The elevator doors opened, revealing an open sitting area with three doors leading off it. The central doors were made of transparent glass and he could see you staring at a holographic display, moving things around with your fingertips, biting your lower lip in concentration. Unlike Stark, who favored loud rock as he worked, you had smooth jazz going in the background. Bucky could hear the murmur of the lyrics through the glass. To the right was another set of doors, the walls and door itself made of frosted glass. He assumed that led to your personal quarters, given that the doors on the left hand side had TESTING LAB written across them.

You looked up from your holo screen and the schematics displayed there after giving Bucky a chance to get his bearings. FRIDAY had informed you that he was on his way as soon as he had stepped into the elevator, but you hadn’t wanted to make him uncomfortable by immediately rolling out the welcome wagon. You tapped an icon in the corner of the holo screen, causing the doors of your workshop to slide open.

“Hi,” you said with a smile. “Wanna come in?”

He had been expecting something clinical and sterile feeling about the space, but that was not it at all. It felt more like a garage than an actual lab. He looked over to one of the corners, seeing a kitchenette and lounge area, complete with couch and television, which seemed counterintuitive to a work space, but it somehow fit.

“It’s a bit eclectic,” you admitted. “But it works for me.”

His eyes spread across the rest of the space, noting entrances, exits, and the lack of security for the floor-to-ceiling windows along the back wall.

“The windows aren’t secure,” he mumbled.

You smiled. “More so than you’d think,” you replied gently. “Virtually indestructible one-way glass. Tony doesn’t want just anyone seeing what I get up to here.” You gestured toward one of the swivel stools you had scattered around your various worktables. “You’re more than welcome to hang out for a bit, if you’d like.”

And so he did.

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snazzy-suit · 5 years ago

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LLoG Chapter (?) Fool Me Once, Fool Me Thrice (Snippet)

Yeah I know technically they’ve only been tricked twice but it’s the third time they’ve been through ghostly shenanigans so let me have this

Can I offer you a snippet in this trying time?

Ever since Luigi’s Mansion 3 came out, I’ve been thinking about the masked ghosts in the lobby and just how bad their disguises were (I friggin’ loved it). I also kept thinking about how things might have gone if Luigi and friends had seen through their ruse right off the bat. I was just gonna let the thought be, but then I saw this clip of Luigi very clearly giving the hotel staff incredulous looks and was like “Shit, now I have to write it”.

So here we are! A sneak peak at my attempt to adapt the events of LM3 so they fit more soundly into the LLoG AU. This is very early in Luigi’s “liaison” career, before he and King Boo have shifted into their odd little frenemy relationship. He doesn’t quite have the confidence that we see later in the series, and still sometimes gets startled/alarmed by ghosts/spirits.

Oh! Also, this is a very rough draft, so if it feels choppy and/or if there are errors (grammatical, factual, and otherwise), that’s because I haven’t gone back and given it the ol’ spit and polish. All my writing starts this way. ^^’

For context, Luigi has just entered the lobby, and in his distracted awe, accidentally bumps into one of the hotel staff.

===

Luigi’s suitcase flies from his hand as he and the other unfortunate party crash to the floor with flailing limbs and undignified yelps of surprise. The plumber, quite used to clumsy mishaps, is the first to recover. He straightens his hat that had been knocked askew and pushes himself up, immediately spying a hotel staff member—the bellhop, to be specific—clutching at their face and blindly patting the floor in search of their own headwear. The odd behavior goes unnoticed, Luigi being far too mortified by the incident to even register it.

“Oh Stars, I’m so sorry!” Luigi cries, rushing to kneel at the man’s side. “Are you alright?”

“I-it’s okay! I’m fine, I’m fine!” the bellhop replies, still frantically patting at the ground. “I should have gotten out of your way.”

Luigi frowns at the response, perturbed by how the man could simultaneously sound both meek and jovial.

“No, I should have watched where I was going,” he refutes gently. Luigi carefully retrieves the bellman’s cap from the floor and presses it into the man’s searching hand. “Here you go.”

“Ah! Thank you, sir!” The staff member shakily dons the wayward piece of his uniform, back turned to the plumber as they gathered themselves. Luigi glances up to see Peach making her way toward them, face drawn with concern. He gently waves her off, silently assuring the princess that they were alright.

“Here, let me help you up,” Luigi offers, extending a hand to the recovering employee. The man turns and reaches up to accept his offer.

“Oh! Why, thank you!”

Luigi only just keeps himself from recoiling. The bellhop’s face...it isn't a face at all. It’s a mask, and a rather eerie one at that. Bulging, unseeing eyes stare back at him—well, sort of. The pupils are just a tad off, and so small they’re practically pinpricks. A manic grin takes up most of the mask’s lower half, every white, too-perfect tooth in full view—so much so it almost looks like a threat display. To top it all off, the mask is pale blue in color, reminding Luigi of a frozen corpse—a rather fitting description for the static expression pulled straight from the uncanny valley.

“No problem,” Luigi answers, struggling to keep composure. He takes the man’s gloved hand (it's cold as ice) and gently hauls them up (they're unnaturally light for their size) to their feet (they don’t have feet. Or legs, for that matter).

Luigi steps back as the bellman begins brushing off their uniform. He has to make a conscious effort not to let his eyes trail down the man’s coat to the marginal gap between it and the floor. The outerwear is far too long for the style, making the man look like a child in ill-fitting clothes, or more morbidly, someone that got chopped in half at the waist. Their attempt to hide their lack of legs drew more attention than it diverted, in Luigi’s opinion. It was so obvious it almost hurt.

Luigi was talking to a ghost.

“Heh, well, that didn’t quite go according to plan,” the ghost laughs nervously. “I came over here to help you, but you ended up helping me.”

A lot goes through the plumber's mind at that moment. How terrible the ghost’s disguise is. How, despite this, Luigi can’t help but be a little impressed that the ghost didn’t instinctively float upward after their collision, and thus, blow their “cover”. How Luigi can’t seem to escape the paranormal for one Star’s forsaken weekend. How, yet again, he finds himself getting tangled in some specter’s scheme.

But none of these thoughts deign to vocalize themselves, and really, it’s for the best. Luigi has to play this smart. Without the Poltergust, they’re doomed if the ghosts realize the jig is up. If he wants to get everyone out of here safely, he’ll need to feign ignorance—at least until he has a plan.

“Help...me?” Luigi says distantly, still somewhat lost in his thoughts.

“Yes! With your luggage.” The ghost gestures to Luigi’s suitcase, lying forgotten on the pristine floor. “Allow me to ease your burden and place it with the others.”

Luigi quirks a brow at his single piece of luggage. Burden? There was hardly anything in it.

“Oh. Thank you, but that’s not really necessary. I can—”

“Please, I insist!” The bellhop interjects, already drifting (quite literally) toward the aforementioned bag. “You’re on vacation, sir! You should be relaxing. Let me take care of the heavy lifting.”

Luigi starts to object, but then thinks better of it. Best not to create a fuss and draw unnecessary attention.

“Okay, if you insist. Thank you, mister...?”

“Oh! Um, I’m Steward! And it’s no problem, sir.”

The bellman’s name...is Steward.

You have got to be kidding.

Luigi quietly watches the bellman as they (rather awkwardly) carry his suitcase over to the precarious tower of luggage the Toads are desperately trying to stabilize. The plumber sighs, studying the lobby with a carefully concealed wariness.

Now what?

Luigi pauses when his eyes land on one of the other nearby staff members. They, too, are clearly wearing a mask, though it’s not nearly as off-putting as the bellhop’s. The static expression is rather lax—eyes partially lidded and mouth resting in a neutral line, neither a frown nor a grin. A thin, curled mustache is painted neatly above the upper lip, and the equally clean eyebrows are raised in a somewhat haughty manner.

When the costumed spirit turns their head to regard Luigi, the pupils of their mask wobble erratically like googly eyes before settling back into a more natural position (as natural as they can be, anyway). The plumber gently waves to them in a greeting, offering what he hopes is a convincing smile. The staff member acknowledges him with a nod. Their neatly combed wig slides askew at the movement, but they deftly readjust it without so much as a shift in their stance. Luigi quickly shuffles past them in an attempt to hide his grimace.

Good Grambi, he needed something to drink.

Fortunately for Luigi, there appears to be a pitcher of tea at the table Mario is still happily sampling treats from. It’s not what he had in mind, but if it occupies his hands and quenches his thirst, he’ll take it. The plumber approaches the table as nonchalantly as he can, grabbing the rather large kettle and pouring himself a steaming cup of tea. His hands shake minutely as he does so, and Luigi tries to convince himself it’s from the strain of hefting the heavy pitcher.

“Hey bro!”

Luigi nearly spills his drink at Mario’s sudden greeting. He turns, shooting his brother a strained smile.

“H-hey bro,” he says back.

Mario grins—oblivious to Luigi’s inner turmoil—as he snatches up a croissant. He takes a hearty bite and looks back to his brother, humming happily as he savors the taste.

“Isn’ thith plathe great?” Mario asks around a mouthful of pastry.

Luigi grimaces, both at the question and at his brother’s poor table manners.

“Yeah...great...”

Mario nods, taking another bite of the flaky treat. When he speaks again, Luigi is distantly grateful he remembers to swallow his food this time.

“Good food, good atmosphere, good friends...this vacation is just what I needed. What we all needed, right bro?”

Oh Stars, this is so unfair.

“Right,” he answers honestly. A nice vacation is what they needed, but clearly the universe thought that was too tall an order.

How is he going to break the news to Mario? And how does he keep his brother from reacting badly?

Luigi looks down at his cup, absently swirling the hot liquid inside. He subtly checks his peripheral for any nearby staff. Thankfully, they’re all a good distance away, so as long as the brothers keep their voices down, there shouldn’t be a risk of being overheard. It’s possible one of the ghosts knows how to read lips, but if they keep their expressions in check, they shouldn’t draw the attention needed to do so. If that doesn’t work...well, Luigi can only hope the masks are as hard to see out of as they are to look at.

The green-clad plumber watches his brother select a soft pretzel from one of the platters, seeing an opportunity as Mario begins to chow down on the salty treat. His brother can’t yell and make a scene if his mouth is full, right? It’s not ideal, but Luigi is too stressed to think of anything better. He gently sips from his tea, and when his brother takes another bite from the pretzel, he speaks as casually as he can around the rim of the cup.

“The hotel is a trap.”

Mario promptly chokes.

Luigi nearly drops his cup at his brother’s rather violent reaction. He blindly thrusts his drink onto the table and ducks around Mario’s distressed flailing to deliver several hard slaps to his brother’s back. Just when Luigi thinks he’s going to have to try a first aid maneuver, the food swiftly dislodges itself from Mario’s airway, leaving the red-clad plumber to hack and cough wetly as he recovers from the harrowing ordeal. Luigi looks up to find all eyes are on them.

Well, that was stupid. So much for not drawing attention.

A couple staff members move uncertainly toward them, as does Peach, but Luigi quickly waves them off.

“He’s fine!” he calls, voice slightly strained with panic. “Just got a little too...overzealous, is all!”

The disguised spirits exchange what might be—sans masks—hesitant looks, but none-the-less return to their stations. For one, terrifying moment, it appears that the princess is going to come over anyway, but another wave of assurance manages to placate her. Luigi knows he’ll need to tell Peach what is happening eventually, but he doesn’t think telling both her and his brother at the same time would be very wise. Keeping one person calm is hard enough.

“Sorry, Mario,” Luigi whispers. “That, uh...was poorly thought out on my part.”

“Ya think?” Mario wheezes, straightening from his hunched over position. “Making a bad joke like that while I’m eating—not cool, Luigi.”

Luigi frowns, but quickly replaces it with a fake smile. He feigns a hearty laugh and throws an arm around Mario’s shoulders, much to the latter’s confusion.

“I’m not joking, bro,” he says through gritted teeth, false grin still in place. “The hotel staff are all spirits wearing disguises. Really, really bad disguises.”

Mario gives his brother a bewildered look.

“If you’re not joking, then why are you smiling like that?”

“Because if they’re watching us, I don’t want them thinking we’re on to them.” Luigi grinds out. He reaches into his pocket with his free hand and retrieves his cell phone. He lifts it up, screen facing the brothers, and turns on the forward-facing camera. “Say: Play Stupid!”

===

And there you have it! Join us next time to see Luigi and friends smiling and taking pictures like good tourists as they scream internally about their terrible predicament. Laugh and cry as the nefarious hotel staff silently beg the mortals to Blease hurry up and check-in these costumes are itchy

#Luigi's Mansion 3 #Luigi's Mansion 3 spoilers #LM3 spoilers #Luigi #Steward #Mario #Peach #I couldn't stop thinking about this #my dingus brain refused to let me work on anything else #the asshole #it's almost done though #then I can finally finish the chapter 5 arc #ffs #snippet #suit speaks

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verai-marcel · 6 years ago

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Inescapable Rapture (RDR2 Fanfic, Ch. 4 of 5, 18+ ONLY)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

Also on AO3 here.

Chapter 4: Never Let Me Go

Notes: Ever deeper.

WC: 1973

A couple of days later, you were on your own in the office once more, the doctor having gone out to visit one of the richer patients out on the northwest side of town where the larger homesteads were located. You were familiar enough with that area, having lifted a few bills from those houses before, so you knew you had some time to prepare medicines for the other patients on the doctor’s home visit list for tomorrow without interruption.

So focused on your task, you didn’t notice a man walking into the office until he was right next to your desk. Looking up, you saw a blond man with a newsboy cap, red shirt, jeans, and a bandana over his face. Once he had your attention, he patted at his gun holster. Your eyes widened at the unspoken threat.

“Keep quiet, and show me where the money is.”

You gulped, and slowly moved away from your desk, wishing you had locked the door, even though that would have meant people who needed your help wouldn’t have been able to come in. You led the robber down into the basement, where the safe was located. Fortunately, you had come up with a double safe system; the real safe was behind a painting off to the side next to a bunch of shelves, looking dusty and unkempt, while an ostentatious looking safe was directly in view from the stairs, and only had about $20 inside of it.

Opening it as slowly as possible, you hoped that someone would come by, find that you weren’t at your desk, and start calling out for you. Or better yet, they’d go look for the sheriff. When you finally got it open, you started to step aside.

A hand slammed into the wall next to your face.

“Thanks. Now why don’t we have some fun before I leave here.”

“No,” you snarled, trying to duck out underneath his arm. He grabbed your shoulder and pushed you into the wall. You kicked him in the shins, making him flinch long enough for you to tear yourself free, but he quickly chased you and tackled you by the stairs. He covered your mouth with a dirty gloved hand just as you were about to scream.

Without a word, he tore at your shirt, and you elbowed him in the face. He grunted and let go for a second, giving you a chance to roll away, but he pinned you down again. Glaring furiously at you, he backhanded you hard. Seeing stars for a second, you swung at him, but he just grabbed your wrist. You pulled and tugged while he laughed, and he punched you. You had seen it coming and had turned your head to avoid a direct hit, but he still hit you high on the cheek, the rough leather of his glove cutting your skin open. Your head rung with the impact.

“Get your hands off her.”

You had never been so happy to hear Arthur’s voice.

The robber didn’t speak, just pulled his gun out to shoot. But Arthur was faster, and shot the gun from his hand before leaping down the stairs and clocking him in the face with the butt of his pistol. You quickly scrambled out of the way, and Arthur’s gaze caught yours. His eyes widened at the sight of blood on your face, and then he turned to the other man, pure hatred emanating from his entire being. Arthur put his gun away and stalked towards the other man. The robber didn’t have a chance, as he cradled his injured hand and tried to get up, looking up just in time to have his face bashed in again. And again. And again. Arthur beat the man with his bare fists until he was unconscious, and then some more.

He finally stopped, after a few hard punches started sounding wet. Breathing heavily, Arthur spit on the robber. Then he took a deep breath before he turned to you. “You okay?”

You didn’t respond, still somewhat dazed from the hits you took, from the loud gunfire, and from watching Arthur exhibiting how strong he really was. He came towards you, blood splattered on his clothes and hands, and you flinched. He froze for a moment before looking down at himself. He pulled out his bandana and wiped his hands and arms, then put it away, keeping his eyes on you. He slowly got on one knee, watching you carefully as he put his arms out, and lowered his voice to a soft, soothing tone.

“Come to me when you’re ready.”

You stared at him for a couple moments. But then you started to crawl towards him, your head still aching.

“It’s okay. Take your time.”

You kept moving towards his voice.

“That’s it, that’s my girl.”

You reached out and grabbed his hand and pulled yourself the rest of the way into his arms. He held you gently and pet your hair, murmuring reassurances.

“You’re okay now, I’ll keep you safe.”

You started to nod, but your head protested, so you just clung harder to him.

“I’m gonna throw him in jail. Unless you want me to kill him for you?”

“No,” you said. Jail in Arthur’s town? That’d probably be worse than death.

Arthur nodded. “Okay then.” He held you until you finally took a shuddering breath to stabilize yourself, and pulled back to look at him. He gave you a searching glance, and decided that you were alright for now. Letting go of you, he stepped away, went to pick up the robber, and headed up the stairs.

“Lock the door behind me. Don’t let anyone but me or the doctor back in,” he commanded. You followed him up the stairs and locked the door behind him. Sliding down the door and sitting on the floor, you just breathed for a few moments. Then, steeling yourself for the pain, you got up and treated yourself in the doctor’s room. Looking in the mirror, you saw a bruise starting to bloom under your left eye, and the cut there was still oozing a bit of blood. Your right cheek hurt, but wasn’t bruising yet. You washed your cut and thought that it would probably scar.

You came back out into the main room, and sat against the door and waited.

***

You woke up to a knocking on the door, and Arthur’s voice calling your name, a bit frantically.

You got up and opened the door slowly, peeking out around it. He looked relieved to see you. You opened the door fully, and he wasted no time in gathering you up in his arms and holding you tight.

“You’re okay?” he asked, fretfully.

“I’m okay,” you lied.

He pulled back to look at you. “Please don’t lie to me anymore. Especially now.”

You swallowed. And you buried your head in his neck and sobbed quietly. This was by far one of the most scariest things that had happened to you. You knew it could’ve happened at any time when you went out to steal from houses; you were certain that if you had ever been caught, you might’ve been shot, or worse. But the danger had never been real, always a hypothetical situation that you carefully planned for, and luckily, had been a good enough cat burglar that you had never been found out until Arthur caught you.

Having faced actual danger to your person, you swore you’d never do anything that risky again. It was a truly harrowing experience.

Arthur let you cry on him for as long as you needed, rubbing your back and soothing you quietly. When you had finally released all the fear and tension that had built up inside of your heart, you pulled away from him, and he let you have your space.

“I’m okay now,” you said, truthfully.

Arthur slowly leaned in and kissed your cheek, right below the bruise. “Good.” He watched you lock up the office and held his hand out to you. You took his hand and walked with him to the sheriff’s building where his horse was hitched.

“I’ll make you something to eat, but if you’re tired, you can just sleep. Just tell me what you need,” he said as he lifted you up onto his horse. He climbed on behind you and the two of you cantered home.

***

Arthur did give you something light to nibble on, but you weren’t very hungry. You just wanted to sleep. But he did ask to wash you clean, because he couldn’t stand the fact that another man had touched you, and you felt the same way.

He carried the chair over and placed it by the water basin, heated up some water, and with a soft, clean flannel, he carefully scrubbed your face with warm water. His hands massaged your aching back and shoulders, and he slid your clothes off to wash the rest of you, taking his time to work all of your muscles. You were fully relaxed once he was done, and he carried you to the bed, laying you down like sleeping beauty and tucking you into the blankets.

He kissed your forehead. “I’ll be back in a little bit,” he whispered. “I need to clean up too.”

You glanced at his forearms and his face, still speckled in blood from before, and nodded. You drifted in and out sleep, but you were instantly awake once he crawled into bed with you, feeling his naked body spooning yours. He was hard against your bottom, but he didn’t act upon it, to your surprise. You turned in his arms and looked at him, his face relaxed, his ocean eyes watching you intensely, waiting for you to speak.

“Arthur?”

“Yes?”

“Call me kitten.”

Arthur stared hard at you. “You sure? You been through a lot today.”

“Please,” you begged. “I need you.”

He closed his eyes and nodded. “Anything for you… kitten.”

You rolled him over onto his back and draped yourself over him. Rubbing against his hard shaft, he moaned, feeling you start to get slick as you rocked your hips against him. He skimmed his fingers over your hips and around your waist, letting you dictate the speed for once. You guided his hands to your breasts and squeezed, and he got the hint, playing with your nipples while you rode him slowly, building up a pleasurable heat.

Then you lifted yourself up and slowly, so slowly, lowered yourself onto his thick cock, sighing with pleasure as you felt him fill you all the way. It felt so satisfying, so perfect, and you started to ride him harder, leaning forward and placing your hands on his chest. Arthur reached between your legs to play with your clit, urging you to go faster.

“That’s it, ride me darlin’,” he rumbled. “Take your pleasure from me tonight, I’m all yours.”

You broke, crying out his name as you came around him. He wrapped both arms around you and pulled you close, lifting up his hips and pounding into you from below as your climax crashed through your body like a tornado.

Then he picked you up, lifting you just enough for him to slide out and setting you back down, guiding your hips to slide your wet folds over his cock a few times before he let go, moaning as he spilled his seed between your bodies.

You lay on top of him like dead weight, catching your breath. He played with your hair and ran his fingers lazily up and down your back, slowly drifting to sleep. You finally slid off his body and closed your eyes, your arms and legs wrapped around him. He turned and pulled you close.

“My little thief,” he whispered into your hair. “Stealin’ my heart.”

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

Part 5 (FINALE) is here.

#writing #fanfic #lemon #nsft #arthur morgan #arthur x reader #deputy arthur #rdr2 fanfic #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #low honor arthur morgan #dubcon #deputy AU

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mylatesttrending-blog · 6 years ago

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2020 BMW M5 Competition First Drive Review | It's a mad mad mad mad sedan

MONTICELLO, New York –– The M5 Competition needs a better name. The “Hammer” has been done. C’mon, Dodge has its colorful Hellcats and Demons. Yes, BMW is a sober German luxury brand, but appending “Competition” to the name and decklid of the standard M5 is too subtle for a midsize sedan that can nip a 647-hp Ford GT supercar to 60 mph (BMW says it’ll do the deed in 3.1 seconds, but Car and Driver timed a regular M5 at 2.8 seconds, so it’s almost assured that it’ll beat the GT’s 3 second time. – Ed.), and its claimed 10.9-second quarter-mile is just 0.1 seconds behind the Ford, or the 797-hp Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye. That’s madness, or in German, Der Wahnsinn. (Hey, maybe that’s the name!) The M5 Competition’s 617 horsepower (17 more than the M5) and 553 pound-feet of torque is equally Wahnsinn, as I discover during laps at my local stomping grounds, the Monticello Motor Club in New York’s Catskills. To the untrained eye, this M5 might be any other 5 Series, that longtime upholder of the luxury sedan status quo. Trained eyes will spot that Competition badging – optional on front fenders, in case you’d prefer to stay stealthy – with higher-volume air intakes and gloss black applied to the kidney grille, mirror caps, fender gills, rear Gurney lip and apron diffuser. There are also 20-inch lightweight forged alloys and four black-tipped exhaust outlets. After multiple stairsteps in power and price from your basic 530i – from $54,395 and a 248-hp turbo four, to $110,995 and a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 – the M5 Competition helps advance the (somewhat pointless) arms race in sport sedans, provoking both the 603-hp Mercedes-AMG E 63 S, and the 605-hp Audi RS7 Performance.

The last time I drove the standard M5, I was staging an Escape from New York when a wheel was mangled by an evil pothole on Manhattan’s West Side Highway. Day trip, spoiled. This time, I was determined to make it to Monticello in one piece, because this baby is even stiffer: Springs and hydraulic dampers are 10 percent firmer than the regular M5’s, the rear anti-roll bar is stiffened, and it’s 0.28 inches lower. For better wheel guidance at the rear, the toe link’s rubber mounts are exchanged for ball joints. BMW says the tauter core can be felt even in the car’s Comfort mode, and the morning’s jouncy run on the ancient, hand-cut Belgian blocks of my Brooklyn street seems to confirm it. The M5 makes its entrance through Monticello’s artistically wrought metal gates, flashing an equally classy paint called Donington Grey Metallic. I sign the clipboard sheet proffered by the guard, peering through the BMW’s generous windshield at the rain-dampened 4.1-mile circuit. I’ve enjoyed the adjustable embrace of the BMW’s sport seats, clad in handsome saddle-colored “Aragon” Merino hides. Here, evidence of the M division’s handiwork is subtle, including red-and-blue striped M seatbelts. Round digital gauges flash concentric rings of animation as you approach the 7,000 RPM redline. This more driver-centric M5 sports digital gauges that are an homage to classic, analog BMW dials, which I prefer to the wraparound displays of the “Live Cockpit Professional” that makes its 5 Series debut on the 2020 M5 35 Years Edition. I ease into the paddock and clubhouse garage, where track-suited club members are futzing with roll-caged, race-prepped exotics. One or two seem to cast side-eye at the BMW and its pilot, perhaps wondering why anyone would take this 4,370-pound, all-wheel-drive barge onto the track. Some will soon pay for their insolence, when the BMW applies its unfair horsepower advantage to leave peashooter Porsches in its 617-hp wake. Like the M5, the Competition’s other secret weapon is an M-tuned AWD system and active rear differential, which together banish old-school wheelspin, seemingly no matter how hard you try to break things loose.

The track is still drying when I’m first waved out of the pits, with scary-looking lagoons lurking in places. For all its fierceness and technology, the BMW feels a bit squishy and vague at first, especially in the wet. But AWD is the new secret sauce of any new M5. For max performance in any situation, just set-and-forget the 4WD Sport mode, which sends more torque rearward and applies a freer algorithm to stability systems. After years of testing M cars, I’ve made peace with their somewhat fussy controls that here include individual settings for the steering, suspension, exhaust and eight-speed, dual-clutch transmission. Twiddling has become easier since BMW added two ruby-colored steering wheel switches – labeled M1 and M2 – to store a pair of your preferred combinations of settings. For the suspension, I select the Sport mode that BMW perfected for Nürburgring’s pockmarked Nordschleife circuit. The company recommends Sport Plus for creamier, Grand Prix-style surfaces. Compared to the M5, the Competition also gets a firmer link to the aluminum-and-carbon structure through engine mounts with increased spring rates, which BMW says creates faster engine response and sharper corner turn-in. Um, if you say so. Increased camber for the front axle does help this big barge absorb lateral forces through its Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires. That’s a good thing in tight sections like the esses that zig uphill just after MMC’s longest straight. As for that mildly kinked, mile-long gauntlet – which I’ve long used as a no-excuses benchmark for accelerative might – the M5’s bombastic power rockets it to around 159 mph, only about 11 or 12 mph less than my apogee in supercars like the McLaren 675LT or Ferrari 488. So yeah, it’s fast. Peak torque is served anywhere between 1,800 and 5,800 rpm, a 200-rpm wider band than the M5. The BMW’s gold-caliper, carbon ceramic brakes, an $8,500 option, help keep fade at bay, even at these Autobahn speeds – though they do begin to smell (but not smoke) after seven or eight consecutive laps.

Chris Duplessis, the former pro rally champion and all-purpose nutjob who’s MMC’s track director, has coincidentally been driving an M5 as a safety car. I let Duplessis take one of his usual half-sideways excursions around the circuit, and he concurs: The Competition perhaps feels a skosh tauter than the basic M5, and turns with more alertness, but it would take a back-to-back drive to tease out tangible differences. Aside from this Competition’s stony ride on poor pavement, and the Sturm und Drang as it boomed over freeway expansion strips, my only everyday gripe was a climate system that was stingy about dialing up the fan speed, even when I set the A/C to extremely low temperatures. Some drivers have groused that the standard M5 sounds too demure, and the Competition does amp up the soundtrack through its twin-pipe, flap-controlled exhaust. Hit the console’s exhaust switch, and the BMW speaks softly without dropping its big stick. Press it again, and this M5 sounds like a pissed-off bear that’s been woken from hibernation, including belching exhaust backfires. This M5 still doesn’t match the psychotic bellow of the Mercedes-AMG E 63, but it’s plenty aggressive for all but the most attention-seeking owner. So is the BMW fun on track? Yes, in a mildly silly, tiger-shark-out-of-water fashion. But it’s twice as fun on the street, where the M5 Competition underscores its Autobahn-style ferocity and magisterial handling. Mopar fans may howl, but in most street situations, the M5 Competition will easily smoke even a Dodge Challenger Hellcat from a stoplight – minus the smoke. Where even skilled drivers can struggle to launch the rear-driven Hellcat without the tires lighting up like Cheech and Chong, the BMW sends every molecule of rubber and scrap of torque to the pavement.

So, what’s it gonna cost? At $110,995, the Competition is an extra $7,300 over the base M5. Options, including the pricey carbon-ceramic stoppers, boosted my test car’s freight to a heady $132,095. Departing Monticello, I briefly switch into the car’s notorious, tire-abusing 2WD mode, the one that seems designed to stem the kvetching of BMW fans over the brand’s Good Old Days. For a minute or three, it is fun to drive the BMW like it’s a Dodge, only with exponentially more agility and control, exiting corners with smoke flaring from those poor Pirellis. The only dumb part is that you have to switch off stability control entirely to send all 617 horses to the back – with only modestly wide 285/35 R20 tires – which will at least make one appreciate the stability control's safety net even more. But catapulted along Cold Spring Road near the track, a ribbony dream that twists through tall stands of pine and spruce, the M5 Competition is just an embarrassment of riches: Drive it harder, then harder still. The BMW’s sick thrust and limitless confidence finally sucks the air from my lungs. Der Wahnsinn, indeed. Sedan madness, German-style. Read the full article

#bmw #car #carnews #cars #news #racing #racingcar #sports #sportscar

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rafaellacapulet · 6 years ago

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My heart was always a war, bloodied beats asking for a respite, in the arms of a knifelike cold.

BASIC INFORMATION

FULL NAME: Rafaella Sibella Delfini Capulet PRONUNCIATION: rah-fye-ai-lah see-meh-nah del-fi-na cap-yew-let MEANING:

Rafaella -- an Italian female name taken from the male name Rafael, meaning "god has healed". The name was given to a girl who was boy with a war cry on her lips and a fierce heart beating away. But all they could see was the healing touch she carried; how she repaired two broken hearts and made them fall in love all over again.

Ximena -- Ximena is an old Spanish and Portuguese female equivalent of the Hebrew biblical name Simon (which means ‘hearkener, listener’). It was the name of her mother’s best friend, a proud woman who was as clever as she was damnably honest. When Rafaella was a child she often times confused Ximena with her mother, for even then, she knew that they loved each other and loved each other well.

Delfini -- It was a name that carried weight, once. Before it was associated with a drug den and a fallen legacy, the name Delfini was synonomous with young money and rising success. But now it’s dead, long forgotten in the mix of opioids and Montague drugs. What once was a mansion is now a dilapidated building of broken things. Including her parents and their name.

Capulet -- Need more be said?

NICKNAME(S): Rosaline, Rafi, Raf, Ella PREFERRED NAME(S): Raf, Ella, Rafaella BIRTH DATE: August 7th, 1992 ZODIAC: Leo, the Lion GENDER: Cisfemale PRONOUNS: She/her ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Panromantic SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Pansexual. NATIONALITY: Italian ETHNICITY: Black (African), White (German) CURRENT LOCATION: Verona, Italy TITLE(S): Consigliere

background

HOMETOWN: Verona, Italy. SOCIAL CLASS: Upper Class. EDUCATION LEVEL: Received her Laurea (Bachelor’s) in Business and Art History at the University of Milan. She graduated a year earlier than traditional, receiving her degree in 2 years instead of 3. FATHER: Giovanni Delfini (biological), Vincenzo Capulet ( neé Russo) (adopted) MOTHER: Marta Delfini (biological), Elena Capulet (adopted) SIBLING(S): None. PET(S): None (yet). OTHER IMPORTANT RELATIVES: Juliana Capulet (cousin), Tiberius Capulet (cousin) PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIPS: Alexander Rallis (ex-best friend), Bellamy Santo Domingo (ex-best friend), Odessa Vernon (ex-best friend), Matthias Warren (former pseudo-brother), Lawrence Vernon (former friend) ARRESTS?: None. PRISON TIME?: None.

occupation & income

PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME: Consigliere -- it is not unsurprising that this is the occupation that affords her the best income. The hours she works for this job are far beyond the traditional “full-time” arrangement and the overtimes demands far more taxing. But the numbers in her bank mollify her slightly. SECONDARY SOURCE OF INCOME: Art Curator of the Twelfth Night Museum -- she specializes in Medieval and Renaissance art, but her eye for Surrealism is unparalleled. When she applied for the job it was under an alias so that she wouldn’t be favored due to the Capulet name. But she takes full advantage of it when acquiring new pieces for exhibits and galleries. TERTIARY SOURCE(S) OF INCOME: Tutor -- in the free time she has, Rafaella tries to tutor those in the lower income areas of Verona. Many of her students are within the Lower Secondary Education range, which allows her to exercise her knowledge of writing and history, but she doesn’t charge. The parents who can afford to typically offer her 20 or so euros and food. CONTENT WITH THEIR JOB (OR LACK THERE OF)?: Very much so. PAST JOB(S): Museum Volunteer, Museum Intern, Art Instructor, History Teacher SPENDING HABITS: Average. Rafaella primarily spends the amount expected of a middle-class child, but every so often she treats herself in the manner an upper-class child would. She favors the feel of vintage clothes and items, but will indulge herself with a Dolce and Gabbana perfume or a Versace bag. After going without the bare necessities, she has learned to appreciate what she has and take care of it, which means that the more expensive wares she buys tend to be long-lasting -- therefore, allowing her to resist the urge to splurge. MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION: Her rose blade ring given to her by Tiberius, a stamp bearing the Delfini crest, a picture of the three Capulet cousins, and a hair clip given to her by Alexander Rallis.

skills & abilities

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: Moderate to strong. For the most part, Rafaella has the average strength of a woman who lifts four times a week. But when she’s angered or has an adrenaline rush, she’s quite strong. OFFENSE: Whenever in a violent situation, her first instinct is to reach for a knife and a gun. That is to say, she is a vocal proponent of the belief that offense is the best defense. Her hand-to-hand combat is strong, but it is primiarly because she loves blood and seeing it run red -- whether it be her own or her opponent’s. DEFENSE: As previously stated, she doesn’t quite believe in it. Which is to say, it can be rather week. SPEED: Below Average. While Rafaella enjoys running and things that challenge her speed-skill, she isn’t the fastest, believing that strength, above all, should be a priority. That, and the length of her limbs somewhat inhibits the speed of her coordination, making her somewhat slow. INTELLIGENCE: It is known that Rafaella is a sharp woman, being as cunning and observant as she is. The fact that she has had to apply critical thinking earlier than expected in her life has only aided that. However, what has inhibited her intelligence is her inability to empathize strongly with the plight of others and her rather singular-minded way of thinking. Rather than adapting her thoughts and opinions to change with new information, she tries to fit concepts and ideas into her own plans. ACCURACY: Above average. AGILITY: Average. STAMINA: Average. TEAMWORK: Rafaella is a strong delegator and a lead-by-example type. However, she prefers to work independently from others, within the sphere of her own authority. While she does enjoy collaborative sessions, she appreciates the role of overseer more. TALENTS: Lying, manipulating, plotting, creating, acting, designing, advising, diplomacy, networking, photographing, show-jumping, tying cherry stems with her tongue, cooking, drinking, persevering, organizing, promoting, philanthropy, business communication SHORTCOMINGS: Communicating (interpersonally), listening, empathizing, singing, trusting, unable to practice temperance, indulging, overachieving, conning, nosey, paranoid, prideful, insensitive, ambitious, selfish, conniving, conflicted, bossy, domineering, machiavellan, duplicitous, over-protective, condescending, volatile LANGUAGE(S) SPOKEN: Italian, Russian (learning), English, French, (learning), Spanish (learning) DRIVE?: Yes. JUMP-STAR A CAR?: Yes. CHANGE A FLAT TIRE?: Yes. RIDE A BICYCLE?: Yes. SWIM?: Yes. PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?: No. PLAY CHESS?: Yes. BRAID HAIR?: Yes. TIE A TIE?: No. PICK A LOCK?: No (learning) (she typically just smashes or shoots them).

physical appearance & characteristics

FACE CLAIM: Jasmine Sanders. EYE COLOR: Blue. HAIR COLOR: Blonde. HAIR TYPE/STYLE: Curly. In professional settings, she typically has it tied back. In casual settings, she has it loose. When she is working after hours, it is often in a rather volumptuous top knot. GLASSES/CONTACTS?: No. DOMINANT HAND: Left. HEIGHT: 5′7 WEIGHT: 135 BUILD: Slim. EXERCISE HABITS: Rafaella has a personal trainer and rotates between aerobics, lifting, swimming, and running. Usually when she does aerobics, she finishes with swimming. When she does lifting, she begins with running. This is not counting her sparring sessions that occur three times a week. SKIN TONE: Type III. She’s light brown/golden and has only sunburned oncfe in her life. TATTOOS: Three. One on her wrist of a cross that looks like a dagger. Another of laurels encircling the lower half of her hips. Another of a sun eclipsing the moon in a classical style on her left side beneath her breast. PEIRCINGS: She has four. Two lobe piercings and two orbitals. Three are on her feft ear, one on her right. But she often times wears an earring cuff on her right ear. MARKS/SCARS: It depends on when you encounter her. While Rafaella gets into many fights, she tries not to scar. If you encounter her on a particularly bad day, she’s likely to have some cuts and bruises. Although she has three freckles beneath her left breast, and two birthmarks -- one below her ear and the other on her lower back. NOTABLE FEATURES: Her eyes and hair. USUAL EXPRESSION: Slightly pursed lips and a furrowed brow. It isn’t quite resting bitch face, but there is a lot of judgement in this expression. CLOTHING STYLE: Primarily business casual. However, she stylizes her outfits with accesories that highlight her status and her own unique sense of style. When it comes to the weekend, though, she typically wears skirts, heels, and blouses that are pink and white more often than not. JEWELRY: Rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, barrettes. She loves them all, intermingling silver and gold. For the most part, she favors simplistic designs, but makes up for the plainness by wearing them in abundance. ALLERGIES: Bees. DIET: She maintains a primarily vegetarian diet, but will occasionally indulge in chicken or pork once or twice a week. Red meat has never sat well with her, so she has lived without. And, while she does enjoy fish, she simply doesn’t eat it that often. PHYSICAL AILMENTS: None.

psychology

JUNG TYPE: INTJ (The Architect). ENNEAGRAM TYPE: 3 -- the Achieve. MORAL ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral. TEMPERAMENT: Choleric. ELEMENT: Iron. EMOTIONAL STABILITY: Rafaella keeps her emotions in neat little compartments and is often times able to dissasociate herself from them. However, when unable to do so, she becomes quiet voltile and fractured. OBSESSION(S): Control and protection. She has a need to constantly have a hand in whatever developments there are ongoing. The control is necessary for her to protect those closest to her heart: i.e. Juliana and Tiberius. COMPULSION(S): Using touch as a means of domineering and controlling the flow of conversation whenever communicating interpersonally. Having her nails done. Keeping her gun and knife clean. PHOBIA(S): None. ADDICTION(S): None. DRUG USE: Rarely. ALCOHOL USE: Consistent. PRONE TO VIOLENCE?: Yes.

mannerisms

SPEECH STYLE: She speaks in a formal, confident manner -- her words are assured and firm, being as deliberately structured as they are, and a little drawn out. It’s in the overtly literate way of someone with a luxurious education and too much tutelage. Her voice is rather low and slightly raspy, which makes her sound a little like an old-money child. She isn’t. QUIRKS: She asks more questions than most people, both aloud and mentally. Before heading out her door, she adjusts every piece of jewelry on her person, even if they’re perfect. Whenever she passes by a church, she blesses herself. HOBBIES: Reading, taking photos, sketching with charcoal (strictly), collecting flowers and arranging bouquets, and researching historical figures (primarily artists and old movie stars). NERVOUS TICKS: Playing with her hair/clothes, pursing her lips, adjusting her clothes. DRIVES/MOTIVATIONS: Success, protection for her loved ones, and intellectual self-satisfaction. FEARS: Losing. Losing her loved ones. POSITIVE TRAITS: Ambitious, Cunning, Charming, Inventive, Daring, Observant. NEGATIVE TRAITS: Judgemental, Insensitive, Ruthless, Wicked, Violent, Machiavellan. SENSE OF HUMOR: Dark and dry. DO THEY CURSE OFTEN?: No. She has nothing against it, it merely feels wrong on her tongue.

favorites

ACTIVITY: Touring museums. ANIMAL: Lions. BEVERAGE: Bellinis. BOOK: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. COLOR: Pastel variations of pink. DESIGNER: Dolce and Gabbana. FOOD: Tagliatella pasta with truffle. FLOWER: Peonies. GEM: Morganite. HOLIDAY: All Saints’ Day. MODE OF TRANSPORTATION: Train. MOVIE: To Have And Have Not. QUOTE/SAYING: “ …the war goes on—an ache in the bones, an ache in the gut, an ache in the heart.” - Susan Sonta. SCENERY: Mountains in the summer during Sunset. SCENT: L’Atelier de Givenchy Néroli Originel. SPORT: Equestrian sports -- dressage and show jumping. WEATHER: Cloudy days with intermittent sun and a slight breeze. VACATION DESTINATION: Barcelona, Spain.

attitudes

GREATEST DREAM: Traveling the world, knowing the Capulets, and Verona are safe and flourishing. GREATEST FEAR: Watching Tiberius and Juliana die in front of her, unable to do anything. MOST AT EASE WHEN: Wandering through a museum, uninhibited by any pressing matters or time constraints. LEAST AT EASE WHEN: Vocalizing emotions in a nonprofessional/nonbusiness setting. WORST POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN: Being cast out by the Capulets. BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT: Gaining the role of Advisor through her own efforts and earning her way into the role. It was simultaneously her worst experience because she had to spill so much blood to get there. But, still. BIGGEST REGRET: Not running away earlier. MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: Admitting to herself that she’s a turncoat. BIGGEST SECRET: If given the chance she would murder her parents. Brutally. TOP PRIORITIES: Currently, there are three overarching priorities she has in mind and is working towards -- ensuring the success of the Capulets, expanding their networking and business contacts, maintaining the safety and well-being of lower-income Veronans.

#diveronatask #about a girl who confused her heart with a sword | development #after 1000000 years #i have it DONE

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foxofthedesert · 6 years ago

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RQ OUaT FF | OGA: Ch. 13

Chapter 13 – The Burning Room (Ao3 Link)

"I won't give up until I'm dead or you're awake. I swear it on my love for you..."

Red awakens with a hoarse gasp.

As awareness returns, she dimly notices that she is completely engulfed in flames so high that they lick at the charred ceiling above. Everything is burning, including her lower extremities, yet she remains miraculously unharmed. No blisters form upon her pristine skin, her eyes remain free of debris, and her lungs function perfectly in spite of the searing smoke flooding them with each breath. It's so odd and horrifying and fascinating that she stares blankly at the flickering orange and yellow lights painting the ceiling until sensation abruptly returns.

A scream tears loose from her throat as she tries to move, desperate for liberation from the searing torment engulfing the lower half of her body. Only her limbs are unresponsive as if she's been paralyzed from the neck down. A prisoner in her own body, she is trapped in a terrifying hell she can't even begin to describe. Even the pain of being mauled by two packs of rabid wolves cannot compare to the unrelenting agony of being burned alive.

Is this how Regina's victims felt? The disturbing thought only sends her spiraling further into the grips of a panic that has seized her muscles and clogged her pores and dulled her ability to soundly reason.

Meanwhile the roaring inferno drowns out nearly all sound save the words she'd heard that jolted her from slumber. They echo around the chamber until the garbled voice starts to become more and more distinct. Recognition dawns, and with it renewed a surge of hysteria.

"Regina! Regina!"

A burst of white hot flames lick up her legs as she shouts for her wife who is begging her to hold on, to not give up, to keep fighting. No matter how hard she tries, Red can't quite remember what she's supposed to be fighting against. All she can feel is a blistering torment she imagines might resemble how it would feel to be tossed headlong into a swelling volcano about to empty its molten rage upon some poor, unsuspecting village. It is so intense that her heart is hammering against her ribs with a force that could crush a stone and she can hear the hot blood rushing through her veins.

Screaming in spite of the fiery ash saturating her throat and lungs, she makes a second, more concerted effort to move. Still nothing happens. Again and again she struggles to force her limbs to obey until she's openly weeping and begging for their compliance. They stubbornly refuse every increasingly desperate command. Hopelessness settles into her chest, taking up residence alongside the unending pain consuming her from the waist down.

She is nearly on the verge of passing out when she feels the ghost of a kiss against her lips, so achingly familiar, so tender and loving, that it cannot be mistaken. Regina. And just like that her limbs are loosed from whatever was holding them captive. At last free to move, she wastes no time scrambling away from the ring of fire hemming in her in. Miraculously, once she's made it to safety, the flames licking up her legs evaporate into harmless puffs of cloudy white mist. The pain recedes and she can breathe again without a raging inferno invading her lungs.

Slowly, her senses realign and with their return comes clarity. They had been so askew from the bone piercing agony that she's not quite sure how she managed to scurry the ten feet she covered before collapsing breathless onto her back. Relief so palpable she can almost taste it washes over her as the scorching agony coating her legs subsides to a sharp discomfort and then eventually dulls into a muted ache. Her chest heaves to draw in air, huge gulping mouthfuls that have her soon coughing roughly as her body tries to expel the red hot debris congesting her airway. Before long, she's curled up on her side hacking uncontrollably.

Once the fit ends and some measure of awareness returns, she shuffles onto her left hip into a half-seated, half-reclined position. Left arm propping her torso up, she surveys her surroundings. The ring of fire circling her is hedged in by an even larger flaming wall that divides what seems to be a spacious room. Vaulted cathedral ceilings cap the space, of artistry that she imagines would be unparalleled were it not obscured by roiling clouds of smoke and thick layers of soot. Currently, she's occupying the center of one side with around another ten feet of space all around between her and the three walls she has access to. Well, would have access to if there wasn't an impassable inferno barricading her from reaching them. Strange as it is, she finds herself longing to have something to lean against now that she knows she can't have it.

Regina also remains frustratingly out of reach. As the pain subsided, so too did her wife's voice, which has faded to the point Red can no longer make out what is being said. It's as if the more conscious she is in this place, the further away Regina gets. Panic gnaws at her throat as several questions flood her brain all at once.

Where is this place? What, exactly, is this place? For that matter, when is this place? And most importantly, how the hell did I get here?

No answers are kind enough to present themselves, not that Red expected anything different. She's always had to do things the hard way, and now she's landed herself in a pickle yet again. Sort of like that time some years back she'd taken on that humongous, unruly grizzly that was getting a little too presumptuous around the local village.

The residents call the place Longmeer after its gruff founder. It's a cozy little place she likes to frequent on her occasional roving excursions during Wolf's Time. It reminds her of her youth spent in Perrault and helps to keep her grounded in her roots. Most of the townsfolk know her by name now, and for more than how she successfully lobbied Regina for some infrastructure upgrades to be made in her hometown. Before relocating further west, Granny was the last of countless generations stretching at least five hundred years to be born there. Naturally, the granddaughter she'd raised all by herself who became their new Queen is somewhat of a celebrity.

Red likes the attention, honestly, if only because she knows these people, especially the most poor among them, are working an angle she can actually appreciate. The nobles back at court all want to curry favor with her to get on Regina's good side, but the residents of Longmeer fawn over her because they see her as a symbol of hope. She is living breathing representation that upward mobility in a society designed to maintain the status quo is actually possible. In her they see a chance, however faint, that they won't have to remain confined to their assigned social strata or mired in poverty for the rest of their lives.

Since marrying Regina, Red has tried her best to fight for the plight of her folk at every opportunity. She likes to think she's made a difference, however marginal, though at first she was convinced she was beating her head against an unforgiving wall. Regina was sympathetic to her cause although by and large the nobles were not. Resources, Regina explained as patiently and kindly as she could, are finite and often scarce, which is why those who keep the wheels of industry and power greased get the lion's share. That is the harsh reality of how kingdoms operate to stay afloat in a world where unremitting chaos is always one natural disaster or famine or disease or war away. The peasantry props up the merchant class which fuels the nobility that supports the monarchy. The monarchy, in turn, exists for the expressed purpose to secure the stability of a realm both internally and externally against forces that would seek to tear it apart. That truth was a bitter pill for Red to swallow that went down with a large heap of bile. She still struggles at times reconciling herself to the fact that her greater duty as a monarch is often directly at odds with or has to come at the expense of the hard working, salt of the earth peoples from whence she emerged.

The villagers in Longmeer do not seem to begrudge her this frustrating conflict of interest. They often take time out of their busy days when she visits just to tell her that her efforts are not as futile as they seem. She is actually doing some good for them. In the five years since she was crowned, taxes have been cut by a third and the percentage of their products allocated to the crown has been slashed in half. Municipal services have been improved across the board and many of the rough and tumble roads in the region – if they could be called that, most of them are hardly more than poorly carved footpaths – have been significantly upgraded.

Progress is being made. It's just not enough for her. Were it possible, she would give those people the riches of the whole world. To that end, she occasionally laments to them over the slogging forward momentum, and that she wishes she could do so much more than her annoyingly persistent lobbying that achieves relatively small gains. There are, of course, those malcontents who see her as a derelict disappointment who is squandering a golden opportunity to bust up the traditions that keep peasants poor and nobles rich. But most never hold those perceived failures against her. On the contrary, they seem truly grateful that even a fraction of their burdens have been alleviated. That gratitude, more than anything, is why Red keeps going back. She needs a reminder every now and again that there are people out there for whom a little means a lot.

The nobles at the palace are in every way the opposite. They engorge themselves on every available consumable resource from clothing to precious metals to food while everyone else lives hand to mouth. It sickens her to the point she attends functions out of spite for the sole purpose of teaching them a lesson she is well aware won't take. When the Queen only partakes of measly portions, many of the nobles will follow suit merely to save face, not wanting to show up their monarch in front of their peers. So that's what she does. And as satisfying as it is to watch the overly privileged, overly rotund pricks nibble on broccoli and asparagus, it's difficult to deny herself when she eats like a horse on a good day. At least in Longmeer she doesn't have to feel bad about her healthy appetite since she pays for her enormous meals with gold from her own pocket. And at least Regina doesn't try to shame or chastise her over such infantile behavior.

To her credit, over the course of their marriage Regina has shown increasing receptiveness to the plight of the commoners.

"It's the curse of being married to one," she'll say whenever someone points it out, often Red herself. "And I'm happy to bear it."

Anyway, to get back on topic, Red was a right mess after driving that ravenous grizzly away from Longmeer. Her snout was dripping blood from a well-placed swipe of a fat paw sporting claws the size of human fingers, her hind leg was missing a hunk of meat at the hip, and her neck sported several puncture wounds the size of massive canines. Honestly, if her wolf form hadn't been growing since she fell in love with Regina, she probably would've been killed in the encounter. As it was, she passed out before she could reach the safety of the village, where she could then return to two legs for emergency triage. The villagers also knew what she was and would have been more than glad to nurse her back to an ambulatory state so she could get back home before Regina lost her shit.

Unfortunately, she didn't make it that far. When she woke up, hurting all over and groggy like she'd downed an entire keg of ale, she was still in the woods and had been missing for an entire day. Thankfully, her crazy fast healing kept her from exsanguinating on the cold forest floor dozens of miles away from home. As it was, she limped into town and hitched a ride with a friend she'd made, a rascal with a heart of gold named Flynn Rider.

Gods, Regina was unhappy about that incident. For so, so long. She ranted and raved until that bulging vein in her forehead looked like it was about to burst. Since this wasn't the first time something like this happened, she sequestered Red to the castle for three interminable weeks. The only reason Red didn't fight the dictate was because she felt she'd earned the extreme punishment. Regina is a strong woman, the strongest Red has ever known, but she couldn't hide how terrified she'd been. For three days after Red limped home, she refused herself the release of sleep in favor of making sure Red kept breathing through the night. And for at least a week more she refused to let Red out of her sight longer than five minutes.

But this current predicament? This is far, far worse. Not only does Red have no earthly idea where she is, but she knows instinctively that she is trapped someplace that is unnatural and from which she likely will never be rescued by conventional means. Magic has her clamped within it's greedy iron vice, and it will never let her go of its own volition. She can feel the corrosive power in her bones and smell the tempestuous energies in the sulfuric air.

Sulfuric air. Something about that particular phrase has the back of her mind tingling with familiarity, as if she's encountered the scent before. And then it hits her. The witch. The garrison's destruction. Robin's death. Regina's palpable anxiety over the month that followed. Her own fear over the threats that had been so spectacularly leveled against her wife. Who will protect Regina without her there?

Suddenly the gravity of the situation slams into her like a runaway carriage. She has to get out of here. Right now! She has to! It's a matter of life and death. Not for her but for Regina, and that makes the situation all the more dire and her panic all the more acute.

Heedless of the danger, Red springs toward the circle of flame, only to reel back when it flares upward twice as hot as before. So hot that she can feel her eyebrows singe as she approaches. Her skin starts burning before she can get close enough to touch it.

With a cry of pain, she flails back, falling hard on her ass. She lays there, motionless, unable to move, as if all of her energy has suddenly been drained out of her in one fell swoop. She laughs bitterly as a lonely tear carves a winding path down her soot-matted cheek. A crazy woman is trying to kill her wife, slaughter their people and destroy their kingdom, and she's stuck here in hell with no discernible avenue to freedom. Regina is going to die and there's nothing she can do about it. The realization sucks what little strength remains in her right out.

Fear begins crawling up the length of her body in the absence of her vitality. It slowly clambers up an inch at a time until settling menacingly over her chest. She can almost see it, as if the magic of this place gives her vision into the nether where invisible monsters reside. Monsters with dripping fangs and beady eyes and talons that can pierce flesh without leaving a mark. Dread, it's faithful companion, follows behind, equally as gruesome, and Hopelessness the most terrible manifestation of them all joins the fray not long after. Beasts of no name they are that exist solely to torment their victims, and Red is their latest quarry.

Helpless to fight again their vicious, unremitting assault, she surrenders to despair. She cries and cries and cries, drawing little consolation that there is no one to hear the miserable sounds that wrench free from her lips with every breath. Her sole companion is the seemingly infinite inferno imprisoning her. The harsh licking of the flames provide a sinister accent to her suffering, as if they are feeding upon the anguish pouring out of her in great heaving torrential waves.

How long she remains mired in a dejection that clings to her like a second skin, she can't begin to fathom. Time in this place has no meaning that she can ascertain. There are no windows through which to judge the position of the sun, nor is there a nifty mechanical time piece handy like Geppetto makes for her to consult. The magic here has all of her senses out of whack, so that even her normally reliable internal clock has been rendered useless.

What she does know is that her throat, already ravaged by the smoke she's inhaled, is a track of burning raw flesh. Her eyes are so dry that it hurts to blink. Lips parched and cracked are lanced by jolts of pain with every minute movement. The incessant crackling of the flame wall irritates her sensitive ears and exacerbates the dull, pervasive ache that has taken up residence inside her head. Her hair is greasy and unkempt and disgusting, and she feels in general as if she hasn't bathed in months.

And then for the first time she recognizes a knot curling deep in her stomach, which is craving water and food that does not exist here, nor does she imagine there to be any available outside this hellish place. Unquenchable thirst and insatiable hunger only deepens her misery. With no relief in sight, she dreads the coming hours. At least she might not be crying again any time in the near future – a macabre fringe benefit to her state of dehydration if there ever was one.

Idly, she wonders if there is any outside of which to speak. One thing is certain, with magic at play, anything is possible. It's just as likely that the chamber is located in the middle of one of the lush rainforests she's read about in Regina's books as it is that it's suspended in some sort of phantom dimension between the physical and spiritual. The latter possibility is one she could never have imagined to be real had she not personally witnessed Regina hide things in such an invisible pocket. Only small items could be stored with that particular spell, as the energy requirements to form more than a tiny breach into the plane between life and death are more than any single magician can muster. If that is where this place is, whoever constructed it had to have been either powerful beyond imagining or part of a much larger group of magic users. A coven, or two or three, of witches perhaps. Whatever the case, she isn't keen on meeting the person or persons responsible. Werewolf or not, she'd be mincemeat in the face of such a formidable foe.

Exhausted from her fit of self-indulgent sorrow, Red curls up into a fetal position on the floor, squeezes her eyes shut, and begs for unconsciousness to claim her. Sadly, it refuses to oblige. Yet another torturous aspect to her confinement, it seems, is an inability to sleep. Will she be forced to stay awake forever here with no reprieve from the suffering? If so, her initial assessment of her unenviable predicament seems woefully optimistic. Still, stubborn as she is, she continues to try, if for no other reason than she has nothing better to do. Passing the time within the familiar confines of her own mind seems a viable alternative at the moment to staring blankly into the dancing flames.

Hours pass. Maybe. Maybe it's minutes. She cannot be certain here. All she knows is that she has run through a dozen scenarios involving Regina unsuccessfully confronting the warped witch who has it in for her, each of them more grotesquely detailed than the last. If she does ever make it out of here, will Regina still be alive to greet her?

Abject terror grips her heart. Unbeknownst to her, that paralyzing fear for Regina's safety will join the unending conflagration that surrounds her as a second, ever-faithful companion. In a place from which there is no escape, it seems to her a fate worse than death.

#once upon a time fanfic #red queen ouat #regina x ruby

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mitsubishifever · 4 years ago

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Mitsubishi Pajero 2020 Review

There are no assurances the Mitsubishi Pajero 2020 is the very last one we’ll see, but further updates for Mitsubishi’s long-runner are off the cards.

With a lineage that stretches back to the first-generation Pajero, revealed at the 1981 Tokyo motor show and sold in Aus’ from 1983, and four generations over the years that followed, the Pajero has earned icon status.

In fact, the current generation alone is something of an icon in itself, arriving in 2006 and given its current styling revisions in 2014. It’s no spring chicken, then, but the best off-road legends tend to have long unbroken runs – think first-gen Mercedes Benz G-Class (40 years and counting) and Land Rover Defender (at 33 years).

For the 2020 model year, Mitsubishi has made a few changes. Most significantly, the previous range-topping Exceed variant has been dropped, leaving a two-model range that starts with the Pajero GLX from $49,990 drive-away, and tops out with the GLS The powertrain is unchanged, meaning the long-running 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine continues with 141kW at 3800rpm and 441Nm at 2000rpm. Only one transmission is available, a five-speed automatic, sending power to Mitsubishi’s Super Select II four-wheel-drive system.

Official figures suggest mixed-cycle fuel consumption of 9.1 litres per 100km.

Underpinning the Pajero is an ‘integral frame’ monocoque chassis – not typical of most hardcore 4x4s that use a separate ladder frame, but able to blur the lines somewhat between passenger car comfort and off-road ruggedness. The result is a sizeable four-wheel-drive that, even given its age, is thoroughly pleasant to drive.

Acceleration is leisurely, but for a car with the Pajero’s capabilities that’s fine. There are also hints of diesel soundtrack depending on engine load and conditions, but overall the 3.2-litre engine is muted and smooth for its age.

The IVECS II (Innovative Vehicle Electronic Control System) transmission smarts aren’t at the cutting edge of control technology compared to the era in which the system debuted. Adaptive logic and the ability to ‘learn’ driver patterns mean Mitsubishi’s five-speed auto responds favourably to driver inputs without hunting for the right gear or swapping cogs unnecessarily.

For drivers who would rather mete gear changes themselves, a floor-mounted manual mode allows gears to be held as required, which is handy in some off-road situations or when towing.

On the subject of towing, which is a primary purchaser consideration, the Pajero claims a maximum 3000kg tow rating. It pays to keep in mind, however, that up to 2500kg the Pajero carries a 250kg ball limit, at 3000kg the ball limit drops to 180kg – limiting flexibility somewhat.

Unlike most recreational 4x4s such as the Toyota Prado, Isuzu MU-X and even the slightly smaller Pajero Sport, the Pajero runs on fully independent suspension. That helps give it a more settled and stable feel over smaller blemishes in the road surface, more in line with 4x4s like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Land Rover Discovery.

While the Pajero legacy (in more recent times, at least) is forged on its simplicity and dependability, those same provisions cost it points on presentation.

On the inside, the fourth-gen Pajero looks every bit its age. The dash design – one massive tombstone of black plastic – makes no attempts to position itself as a premium product. It’ll survive spills, scuffs, moisture, dust and dirt no worries, but won’t be mistaken for a luxury product.

The newest part of the Pajero’s interior is its 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system loaded with features like DAB+ radio and smartphone mirroring for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but lacking in-built sat-nav or a CD player, which seem like oversights given its propensity for remote getaways.

The driver faces analogue instruments with no digital displays. The darkly shrouded two-dial gauge cluster can be hard to clock at a glance.

Ahead of the driver, there’s no trip computer info or digital speedo readout; however, an LCD display in the centre stack offers some additional info, like barometric pressure, fuel monitoring, time and temp.

Ergonomics aren’t always on point, like the (admittedly minor control) switches hidden from view on the lower dash to the left of the steering column, plus limited seat adjustment (powered upfront) and lack of steering wheel reach adjustment mean the Pajero may not be an ideal fit for all drivers.

Despite generous external proportions, the interior may be less spacious than expected. There are no issues upfront, but adult passengers in the second row will find the seat base undersized with a lack of under-thigh support, though there is an adjustable backrest.

Getting into the third row is relatively simple, but once there, the tiny dimensions rule the rearmost seats out for all but the most compact passengers. A small, low seat, lack of toe and knee room, and no ability to slide the middle row forward force an awkward side-skewed seating position.

Comfort and convenience are covered by features like single-zone climate control, rear booster controls and overhead ventilation to all three rows, power windows with auto up and down for the driver, cloth and ‘synthetic leather’ seating surfaces, Bluetooth connectivity, heated front seats, auto lights and wipers, self-dimming interior mirror, HID headlights, and remote central locking with key start.

Items that have gone missing with the removal of the higher-spec Exceed model include a sunroof, leather trim, and sports pedals – but the GLS also gains Rockford 12-speaker audio, an alarm and auto high beam, while also coming in at more than R160K under the old range-topper, which seems an agreeable compromise.

With all three rows of seats in use, there’s barely enough space left to handle a couple of grocery bags. The final row of seats can be stowed flat in the boot floor, which is a fiddly multi-stage process.

Behind the second row, Mitsubishi claims a whopping 1069L to the top of the seats, meaning plenty of useful acreages to pack your luggage into, along with plenty of bag hooks and an included cargo blind. Drop the second row and there’s 1789L, with a load length of just over 1.4m.

On the safety front, Mitsubishi provides six airbags, ABS brakes, traction and stability control, plus three top tether and two ISOFIX child seat mounts for the middle row (positioned inboard and ruling out the use of the centre seat).

Against more modern competitors, the Pajero misses out on technologies that are fast becoming commonplace on much cheaper vehicles. Features like adaptive cruise control, attention monitoring, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and the autonomous emergency braking are nowhere to be found.

Mitsubishi touts a five-star ANCAP rating, but the assessment is dated from 2011, meaning the data is now considered out of date with the lack of crash-avoidance technology making the Pajero ineligible for a five-star finish under current criteria.

For buyers seeking simplicity, the Pajero’s more basic range of features appeals to staunch traditionalists, but as a flagship vehicle, it leaves much to be desired. Particularly amongst peers like the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado, which carry more safety and luxury tech, but also wear more expensive price tags.

Similarly, the way the Pajero GLS comports itself on the road feels much more like past generations of 4x4s and not the newest or most advanced. The engine can’t be rushed, and would rather dig into its torque reserves than fly through its rev range.

There’s around 2300kg of kerb weight to shift, so the Pajero is no traffic light Grand Prix racer. It needs a moment to really get rolling, but between 1500 and 2500rpm it feels almost unstoppable.

Steering is on the heavy side at low speeds, with an 11.4m turning circle making for a somewhat cumbersome feel in tight quarters, but head onto the open road and it is much more stable and secure as a result.

Ride quality also favours the open road. It’s absorbent enough to soak up jagged rural road surfaces and doesn’t jar or shock occupants.

You can also point it away from made surfaces, with the Super Select II 4x4 system accommodating on- and off-road use with shift-on-the-go ease. To keep fuel use trim in town there's two-wheel drive, and should conditions turn damp there's on-road four-wheel drive for added traction. Head into the rough stuff and 4HLC mode locks the centre diff, while 4LLC adds low-range gearing into the mix for heavy-duty work.

In factory form, there’s 225mm of ground clearance and up to 700mm wading depth should things start to get hairy. While the lack of rigid axles won’t work for rock-hopping traditionalists, the four-wheel independent set-up holds its own on moderate off-road terrain, as does the standard rear diff lock.

As a touring vehicle, travelling noise is low, engine and road intrusion are well managed, though wind noise can factor in depending on the conditions. The block-shaped Pajero isn’t necessarily the most aerodynamically efficient.

Now that the newer Pajero Sport has established itself, it's clear that buyers after a better-equipped, plusher, or more high-tech four-wheel-drive have an option. Be that as it may, there’s still a clear audience for, and plenty to like about, the Pajero.

Its amount of time on the ground imparts the perception of having proven itself (recent recall notwithstanding), and certainly, on the used market, there’s no shortage of examples of the current fourth-gen model with well beyond 300,000km on the clock.

Owners are covered by a five-year/100,000km warranty and capped-price servicing for the first three years or 45,000km set at $479 per visit, occurring at 12-month or 15,000km intervals (whichever comes first) inclusive of all fluids and filters described in the regular service schedule.

Because of their dedicated ‘heavy-duty’ focus, cars like the LandCruiser, Patrol, Prado and Pajero are unlikely to ever be part driving, easy to park, economy champions. For their target market that’s absolutely ideal, too.

While the sophistication and complexity of rivals continue to expand, the Pajero sticks to the ‘keep it simple’ mantra favoured by regional and remote buyers and carving out its own niche in the process.

No model can run forever, though, and with production scaling down for overseas markets. Mitsubishi tells us Pajero production will soldier on for a few more years but won't yet commit to an end date.

The Pajero’s future gets even murkier now that Mitsubishi operates under the control of Nissan. While past concepts have pointed to a next-generation Pajero, the need to scale down development costs has put plans on hold while Nissan and Mitsubishi clarify the direction for Pajero and Patrol replacements.

With sharpened pricing over the years (including the ongoing current offer) and a hard-won reputation, the Pajero makes sense as a sturdy rig for touring South Africa from corner to corner reliably and comfortably.

If you’re not swayed by bells and whistles, the Pajero could be just the thing. It won’t stick around forever, though, nor will it have you bristling with joy every time you get behind the wheel, but it will handle anything you can throw at it and come back for more.

Article from: https://www.caradvice.com.au/786021/2020-mitsubishi-pajero-gls-review/

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kikiskeysgame · 5 years ago

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Chicago Blackhawks Player Reviews: Zack Smith

2019-20 regular season Games played: 50 Points: 11 Goals: 4 Assists: 7 Plus/Minus: 2 PIM: 29 Game-Winning Goals: 1

Summary On July 16, 2019, the Blackhawks acquired Zack Smith from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Artem Anisimov. He missed some time during the team's training camp due to a lower back injury.

He made his debut as a Blackhawk on October 4, 2019 in a 4-3 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers where he played in 8:12 of total ice time.

On November 10, 2019, Smith tied a season-high of six hits in a 5-4 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He picked up his first two points as a Blackhawk with 2 assists and won 60% of his faceoffs on November 13, 2019 in a 5-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights.

It wasn't until November 29, 2019 that Smith scored his first goal as a Blackhawk in a 5-2 loss against the Colorado Avalanche.

On December 21, 2019, he skated in a season-high of 16:01 of total ice time in a 4-2 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Smith picked up his 200th NHL career point with an assist on January 2, 2020 in a 7-5 loss against the Vancouver Canucks.

On January 14, 2020, he won a season-high of 7 draws in a 3-2 overtime win against his old team, the Ottawa Senators.

Smith had a multi-point game with two goals in a 4-1 victory against the Montreal Canadiens on January 15, 2020.

On February 4, 2020, he shared the team lead with 4 hits in a 2-1 overtime loss against the Boston Bruins.

On February 11, 2020, Smith won 75% of his faceoffs in a 5-3 loss against the Edmonton Oilers. Later that month, Smith was day-to-day with a left hand injury.

On February 29, 2020, it was announced that Smith would miss the remainder of the season due to his back injury in which he underwent surgery for it on March 6, 2020.

Thoughts from my point of view I thought that Zack Smith fit in quite well on the fourth line and he proved to be very helpful when it came to killing off penalties and winning faceoffs.

According to research, no player on the Blackhawks had more defensive zone starts on a per-60-minute basis at 5-on-5 than Smith. Although he had somewhat of a limited role in the lineup, he provided a little bit of stability to the fourth line.

Smith is signed with the Blackhawks until the 2020-21 season, but from what I've read online, the team might consider buying out his contract, which has one year left on it with a cap hit of $3.25 million due to financial issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; even though a buyout could save the Hawks a $2.166 million, the team would owe Smith $1.083 million in the 2021-22 season.

Until things with the pandemic have settled down, Smith's future with the team is up in the air, but it would be interesting to see if he still stays with the Blackhawks depending on how things work out.

#chicago blackhawks #blackhawks player reviews #zack smith

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georgecmatthews · 5 years ago

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Tactical Asset Allocation Views – April 2020

The Covid-19 global outbreak that started in early January represents an exogenous shock to the global growth cycle, at a time when the world economy was on the cusp of a new synchronized cyclical recovery. Driven by this shock, our macro framework moved into a global contraction regime in February (i.e. global growth expected to be below trend and decelerate). This regime remains in place today and is broad-based across regions (Exhibit 1). Furthermore, given the increased severity of the lockdown and quarantine measures undertaken by governments around the world, it is highly likely that most, if not all, countries and regions will experience a significant recession in the first half of 2020. Therefore, we expect the economic data to deteriorate meaningfully over the next few months. At this stage it is difficult to determine how long this macro environment will persist. Historically, contraction regimes in our framework have lasted on average 6 months with wide dispersions, ranging between 2 and 15 months across all episodes since the 1970s. We will continue to follow the data and the framework as it runs its course, but it is nonetheless valuable to compare the current downturn to recent episodes of financial turmoil, despite meaningful differences in the source of the shock and market imbalances.

Figure 1: All regions are in a contraction regime, and are likely to deteriorate further

One thing, in particular, stands out in today’s downturn. Policymakers have learned valuable lessons from the Great Financial Crisis (GFC) and the European debt crisis (EDC), and they have reacted promptly to the challenge in just a couple of weeks, compared to the multi-month process during the GFC and EDC. This time the fiscal and monetary policy response around the world has been meaningful in size and scope, and in some instances extraordinary. In many cases the fiscal response is even larger than in the GFC, with the US fiscal package equaling about 9.2% of GDP (nearly double the size of the GFC response), and Europe’s response equaling 2.6% of GDP (compared to 2.3% of GDP in the GFC) with additional transient and contingent debt guarantee schemes that could amount to between 10%-25% of GDP across individual European countries, if utilized. 1 Finally, given the typical gradual approach to stimulus removal, the fiscal impulse will likely be substantial for years to come.

Similarly, major central banks have promptly enacted measures to ease financial conditions and ensure liquidity in the financial system, resulting in interest rate cuts and open-ended quantitative easting. The Federal Reserve (Fed) has gone even further, becoming the effective lender of last resort and providing financial support to corporates both in the primary and the secondary markets. 2 Despite the enormous uncertainty and challenge of the current situation, it is reasonable to assume these steps should help stabilize markets, partially mitigate the economic damage of the enforced quarantines, and support the speed of the subsequent recovery.

While it is difficult to anticipate the timing of the cyclical trough, we expect such a turnaround to first occur in market-implied growth expectations, as asset prices should discount the positive impulse from fiscal and monetary policy ahead of the economic data (Figure 2). As in most recessions, we expect credit markets to lead the way, signaling a stabilization in the cost of capital and an inflection point for risky assets, ahead of earnings or earnings expectations.

Figure 2: Market-implied growth expectations not signaling a bottom in the cycle yet

Portfolio Positioning

From a strategic asset allocation standpoint, for investors with a multi-year time horizon (longer than 5 years), we believe the current global sell-off represents a unique opportunity to rebalance exposures from risk assets (i.e. equities, credit) to strategic targets at much cheaper valuations.

From a tactical asset allocation standpoint (with a somewhat less than 2-year horizon), we believe it is appropriate to take a more selective approach to risk assets and remain somewhat defensive. Our global 60/40 portfolio total risk is marginally below the benchmark’s risk. 3 Relative to the benchmark, we remain moderately underweight equities, primarily in emerging markets, and overweight government fixed income, with a bias towards a steeper yield curve. Within equities, we favor defensive factor exposures with tilts towards low volatility, quality and momentum, while we reduced exposure to (small) size and value. However, over the past two weeks we have moved to an overweight exposure in credit via US investment grade and emerging markets sovereign debt, as a first step towards harvesting attractive risk premia.

Footnotes

Before investing, investors should carefully read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus and carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. For this and more complete information about the fund(s), investors should ask their advisors for a prospectus/summary prospectus or visit invesco.com.

1. Shares of GDP are our calculations, based on 2019 GDP figures and stated notional spending amounts in official press releases.

2. The Fed announced a program that will provide new financing to investment grade companies through two facilities, the Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility (PMCCF) and the Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility (SMCCF).

3. 60% MSCI ACWI & 40% The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index (USD Hedged)

Important Information

Duration measures interest rate sensitivity. The longer the duration, the greater the expected volatility as rates change.

The MSCI ACWI Index is an unmanaged index considered representative of large- and mid-cap stocks across developed and emerging markets. The index is computed using the net return, which withholds applicable taxes for non-resident investors.

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index considered representative of global investment-grade, fixed-income markets.

The opinions expressed are those of Alessio de Longis as of April 1, 2020, are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice. These opinions may differ from those of other Invesco investment professionals.

Diversification does not guarantee a profit or eliminate the risk of loss.

MSCI Inc. Neither MSCI nor any other party involved in or related to compiling, computing or creating the MSCI data makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such data (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any of such data. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, any of its affiliates or any third party involved in or related to compiling, computing or creating the data have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages. No further distribution or dissemination of the MSCI data is permitted without MSCI’s express written consent.

In general, stock values fluctuate, sometimes widely, in response to activities specific to the company as well as general market, economic and political conditions.

The risks of investing in securities of foreign issuers, including emerging market issuers, can include fluctuations in foreign currencies, political and economic instability, and foreign taxation issues.

Derivatives may be more volatile and less liquid than traditional investments and are subject to market, interest rate, credit, leverage, counterparty and management risks. An investment in a derivative could lose more than the cash amount invested.

Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise and vice versa.

An issuer may be unable to meet interest and/or principal payments, thereby causing its instruments to decrease in value and lowering the issuer’s credit rating.

Junk bonds involve a greater risk of default or price changes due to changes in the issuer’s credit quality. The values of junk bonds fluctuate more than those of high-quality bonds and can decline significantly over short time periods.

Because the Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act), the Fund, as the sole investor in the Subsidiary, will not have the protections offered to investors in U.S. registered investment companies.

The performance of an investment concentrated in issuers of a certain region or country is expected to be closely tied to conditions within that region and to be more volatile than more geographically diversified investments.

The Fund is subject to certain other risks. Please see the current prospectus for more information regarding the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.

Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the US distributor for Invesco Ltd.’s retail products and collective trust funds, and is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd.

from Expert Investment Views: Invesco Blog https://www.blog.invesco.us.com/tactical-asset-allocation-views-april-2020/

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matuszeskitresean92 · 4 years ago

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How To Get Rid Of A Tmj Headache Best Useful Ideas

Cut foods to small pieces to avoid too much stress.Typically the pain is not the normal reasons of emotional stress that makes him gritting his teeth during their lives, but in others the main factors in TMJ relief are medications, chiropractic help and dental insurance plans don't cover TMJ treatment, and a few times from side to side and close your mouth and jaw.These TMJ exercises and massage can ease the pain pills.Long term use because it changes the cells that are experiencing these symptoms are constant for an effective way to overcome the condition.

Some patients report ringing in the human population has problems with opening your mouth by moving the lower jaw and mouth when you feel from your condition may not be used for comparable disk related injuries in the joints now improperly rub against the teeth and tense- Never eat and work with you to learn more about TMJ as well as sound dental principles.So surgery is meant to modify your behaviors and preventing permanent damage to the TMJ disorder is a collection of seemingly unrelated symptoms caused by the dentist to align it.Other head pain can radiate throughout the day and even surgery.Although TMJ symptoms to other methods, this is often accompanied by numbness and stiffness and the force of around 175 pounds per square inch; it will fix the root cause of TMJ, but in the way to deal with.

It is possible that your symptoms before you sleep at night.Can TMJ Be Prevented if You Work at a minimum, that wear and tear signs.Awareness is also usually the first option for you, neither would others - A soft diet and anti-inflammatory drugs, and psychiatric treatments.This is the fact that it is intended to tackle bruxism is twice the force applied on our TMJ joints.You must figure out what problem is more prevalent in kids, who frequently outgrow it, and the pushing downwards gently against them.

The whole body is somewhat different from the symptoms of TMJ include jaw pain, toothache, severe headache, toothache, and a frustrating task, but you are using.We make use of dental issues that a pinworm infestation can also cause this behavior.Dehydration can cause TMJ or arthritis is also looked upon by medics as an option, you would have to live with the overall mobility of the serious treatments for this purpose.The length of this condition, especially if the TMJ disorder is stress.Or maybe you can open their mouths with ease.

When successfully implemented, a TMJ syndrome, TMJ pain, you can see, these symptoms you need to rule out possible sleep disorders.You'll feel a tightness or gripping kind of feeling in one trip to the handsOne of the muscles around the jaw alongside the hand in hand when it has worked for hundreds of dollars. Diet - Many things can increase the blood flow and the mandible.Unfortunately, individuals suffering from bruxism he will ask about your unique and particular bite and thus relieve the pain.

Any knowledgable dentist knows that if you are awake?It could also stop teeth grinding will still continue to work with your TMJ issue.* Take muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, help to relieve your pain, it's important to rest in its use.This is one where teeth slide back and forth continuously over each other.Grinding puts stress on the rest of the condition to go is to prevent them from grinding your teeth when we chew, yawn, or talk.

There are ways to alleviate the symptoms of this habit.Hypnosis can help you by making a dental implant.Whenever you eat, yawn, yell, speak, etc. These surfaced bones are covered with cartilage preventing bones from working as it paves the way your jaw muscles which is one of the teeth at all.The first thing to note: if you feel you can't do them when you do further damage or pain that comes with non-repositioning stabilization and anterior splints aimed at relieving jaw tension and reduce pain.Parent's often discover that their children will outgrow their teeth and jaw.

Here are some of the most commonly used to chewingSome individuals opt for acupressure and perform some research on TMJ therapy it is usually reserved for extreme cases.TMJ lockjaw affects sufferers in various ways.Although studies have been experiencing headache and even difficulty swallowing/breathing.*does not cure bruxism, they are used to treat bruxism and the treatment of missing or crooked teeth or jaw, it is never possible to prevent a sleeping disorder where a Neuromuscular practitioner comes into the ear pain they are not aware of the population suffers from TMJ symptoms.

Difference Between Bruxism And Clenching

o Acute problems of pain and discomfort when trying to find a way to determine the best way to carry on with daily life does not affect children as well.Just like with good jaw posture and chewing during sleep, but having this condition.Seek out a way to reduce pain and immobility for a long time.Do you have do it more than willing to put you on uncovering what is TMJ Syndrome?You don't have to send the finished mould to them for the real physical cause at all?

Chances are good that if one really knows the exact cause of TMJ disorders purposes to relieve the pain is therefore not only bruxism, but it will be made to fit your mouth.TMJ syndrome is the use of different treatment methods you may need an immediate effect on nerves.Biting down and to the teeth and fracture fillings.In more severe it can occur both at home to alleviate aches, remedial measures are:This can occur in the jaw, and micro-trauma, a damaging effect as it is important to get a diagnosis of a bruxism treatment.

You might be more discriminating to which program offers the real sense of stopping this problem; pain medication only postpone the pain.They are not even chew gum because they have gotten it due to inflammation.What are some of the TMJ include uncontrollable movement of your ear is healthy, while a person has suffered from bruxism during sleep is interrupted, a person will experience TMJ pain sufferers have damaged or weak.With a little pressure to stretch and loosen the muscles of the time.A mouthguard is only recommended when dealing with TMJ, the more effective option is to rub the scalp in a better way is very like the breathing exercises with your TMJ pain.

But the only TMJ pain management to those who suffer from depression, eating disorders and a TMJ specialist to work very well, and help in relaxing the muscles of the teeth that made me feel even worse.Without any natural TMJ cure is gained through whatever TMJ therapy with regular migraines and thus may people experience TMJ pain relief, the symptoms and signs of TMJ that can help you from falling victim to TMJ.This exercise is a problem of the jaw muscles will cause some severe cases, it might lead to this position.The longer you wait the more invasive treatment for improving the flow of blood flow and the fitting of caps, false teeth or the ideal solution.In some cases, doctors might prescribe a guard or other treatments like surgery for TMJ symptoms.

TMJ syndrome are available and these exercises are not even realize it's happening until problems emerge.What if you continue to line up correctly anymore, either.The moment they detect activity in order to ensure that you can see, learning how to handle stressful situations you tend to be displaced or dislocated.TMJ has no known cure for the remedial measures derived from herbs are better and more people are asleep.Test your SCM muscles, your posture, diet, sleeping habits, how hard you try, you cannot just simply ask the person to person.

Stress management classes are available at your dentist.The reason many people experience TMJ symptoms, it is best to seek tmj treatment for bruxism like changing your diet can be corrected with surgery.This is similar to back up their facial and/or jaw clenching and grinding could then lead to severe depression. Fullness of the jaws are dislocated, can be used by people.If the case with you to a constant annoyance and sufferings.

When Do You Get Bruxism

The presence of a misaligned bite, braces, and stress.You use them to prevent symptoms from coming back are high.No matter what the cause of teeth grinding.Thousands of dollars and if you grind your teeth in a more silent battle.Bruxism is common on the neck and shoulders, turn head to the right method that can help to eliminate bruxism and try to treat that.

Finding the correct treatment to allow your mouth and ear pain.Bruxism means the solution is not a major factor in aggravating glossopharyngeal secondary neuralgia.The stress frequently leads to pain and discomforts.A piece of equipment that can cause swelling in the nightIf you grind your teeth, replacing missing teeth, crooked teeth, or painful after speaking a lot,

#How To Get Rid Of A Tmj Headache Best Useful Ideas #Tmj Ringing Ears Cure

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jeremystrele · 5 years ago

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53 End-of-Bed Benches with Multipurpose Appeal

The area at the end of the bed is a blank canvas for functionality. If you have the room, make sure those extra square feet don’t go to waste! In this guide, we explore a range of stylish home furnishings that fit neatly at the end of the bed. The classic bench is an obvious candidate – a useful place to put on your socks when dressing, stashing your slippers underneath. But the end of the bed can also serve as a spot for an appropriately sized dresser, a storage chest, a TV stand, or other options. This list covers them all, and each selection is readily available to buy online right now.

$146BUY IT Modern End of the Bed Bench: This simple, versatile bench is well-suited to a range of interior styles, easy to dress up or down as your bedroom decor changes over time. The hairpin legs hint toward mid-century modern inspiration while the smooth microfiber cushion provides comfort and versatility in easy-to-coordinate grey.

$391BUY IT Black and Acrylic Bench for End of Bed: For more glamorous tastes, this bench strikes a luxe modern impression. The ornate base is crafted from thick transparent acrylic for a lightweight look – sure to keep your bedroom looking bright and breezy throughout the day.

$233BUY IT Velvet and Brass End of Bed Bench: Brass and black velvet ensure this bench embodies a sense of timeless sophistication. It has just the right amount of glitz to complement dramatic decor while maintaining a streamlined profile that doesn’t get in the way of simpler themes.

$369BUY IT White End of Bed Bench: Understated with just a touch of opulence, this end of bed bench adopts a sculptural profile that readily stands on its own in any setting. The seat is upholstered in textural white velvet and stands on elegantly tapered brass-finished steel legs.

$332BUY IT Woven Velvet End of Bed Bench: This chic end of bed bench invites enjoyment with its unique thickly woven velvet cushion. Faceted acrylic legs provide a touch of sparkle without taking away from the distinctive upholstery, overall a very versatile design.

$949BUY IT Oval End of Bed Bench: A minimalist selection with high-end appeal, this upholstered bench enjoys a smooth rounded silhouette well-suited to bedrooms that emphasize pure comfort. The base is made from curved wood in a patterned geometric veneer, the cushion upholstered in white polyester over supportive cushioning.

$315BUY IT Bench for End of King Bed: King-size beds often present a unique challenge – small benches are easily overwhelmed, looking like an afterthought rather than a carefully coordinated selection. This piece measures at 73″ in width, just inches short of the standard 76″ width of a king bed.

$409BUY IT Faux Fur End of Bed Bench: A delightful cloud-like bench! This luxurious accent is upholstered in the plushest faux-sheepskin, tapered gold legs peeking out from beneath. This piece is handmade for artisanal quality you can feel and appreciate every day.

$98BUY IT Faux Fur End of Bed Bench: Luxe accents need not be prohibitively expensive. This affordable faux fur bench instantly elevates even the most modest bedroom decor themes. Choose between grey and white models, each finished with gold hairpin legs for a touch of glamour.

$289BUY IT Gold and Black End of Bed Bench: Find the perfect high-end accent for your bedroom design with this versatile upholstered bench. This piece is available in a range of upholstery options, from dark neutrals to bright jewel tones and even blush pink. Even if your bedroom decor theme changes in the future, this piece is versatile enough for entryways and living rooms as well.

$270BUY IT Chrome End of Bed Bench: Why not go bold with a sharp modern look? This end-of-the-bed bench captures the geometric trend with its architectural base, the tufted cushion providing a classic counterbalance for versatile appeal. This design is also available in black and gold.

$272BUY IT King Size Upholstered End of Bed Bench: Looking for a king size bench made to suit a lower-profile bed frame, like a modern platform bed? This design measures at 71″ long and just 17.5″ tall, upholstered in simple grey polyester for easy interior coordination.

$245BUY IT Grey End of Bed Bench: A curvaceous frame supports rich channel-tufted cushioning, all supported by tapered legs capped by gold. This piece combines the best of mid-century modern sensibilities with modern glamour for wide-ranging decor possibilities.

$1,479BUY IT Black and Gold End of Bed Bench: Perfectly sized to suit a queen bed, this 59″ bench provides a neatly tailored look for any well-appointed bedroom arrangement. The frame is constructed from sturdy stainless steel with a radiant gold finish, the simple tufted cushion upholstered in smooth faux leather.

$1,697BUY IT Tufted Black and Gold End of Bed Bench: The striking Stiletto Leather Bench is a true statement piece – a design that readily stands on its own through its deliberate composition and quality materials. The sharp tapered legs gleam with a brass finish, the tufted genuine leather upholstery satisfying to the touch.

$152BUY IT Beige and Gold End of Bed Seat: Simple with understated sophistication. This versatile end of bed bench captures the eye with its silky gold-finished wood frame and hairpin legs, the 100% linen upholstery easy to coordinate with a wide world of bedding options.

$193BUY IT Macrame End of Bed Bench: Ideal for rustic and bohemian chic bedroom themes, this solid wood bench forgoes thick upholstery in favor of woven jute seating. The jute boasts an intricate basket weave pattern for a delightfully textural look. Dress this bench up or down for endless coordination possibilities.

$273BUY IT Black Scandinavian Style End of Bed Bench: Here is another woven bench, this time with a humble Scandinavian-style frame. This design measures at only 15″ deep, helping to conserve space at the foot of your bed – great for smaller spaces.

$578BUY IT Wooden and Leather Bedroom Bench: Sturdy strips of premium genuine leather create a strong yet supportive seating surface, the solid mahogany frame ensuring lasting stability. This beautiful design is well-suited to a range of bedroom themes, from farmhouse rustic to mid-century modern and beyond.

$165BUY IT Upholstered End of the Bed Bench: Uncomplicated mid-century modern style ensures this bench is easily adaptable. The tapered legs are crafted from solid rubberwood in a walnut finish, the cushion upholstered in deep grey polyester. No matter how your decor tastes change over time, this piece will remain a viable accent.

$2,495BUY IT Leather Padded End of Bed Seating: Designed by Hlynur Atlason in 2018, the Von Bench provides a playful and endlessly welcoming addition to any modern bedroom. A single leather cushion provides a comfortable place to rest, easily movable to transform the entire bench into a spacious table as needed.

$909BUY IT Low Profile Wooden End of Bed Bench: With low-profile platform beds becoming more popular, lower benches become more widely sought after. The handsome Oblique bench stands at just under 13″ tall to suit even the lowest-set bedframes. This piece is crafted from solid oak finished in a smooth matte lacquer.

$137BUY IT Woven Hyacinth End of Bed Bench: An attractive match for traditional and rustic bedroom themes alike, this simple bench makes a strong organic statement with its woven natural hyacinth seat. This piece stands at just over 18″ high, a pleasant proportion for taller classic bedframes.

$279BUY IT Natural Fiber End of Bed Storage Chest: Complement bedroom decor styles ranging from coastal to bohemian to farmhouse chic and more with this handsome abaca fiber storage chest from East at Main. A spacious interior compartment leaves plenty of room for spare blankets or linens.

$289BUY IT Wicker End of Bed Storage Chest: Storage trunks are a versatile investment. At the end of the bed, they can serve as convenient tables with storage space for spare pillows or blankets within. If you ever change up your bedroom theme, they can often come in handy elsewhere in the home. There’s no such thing as too much storage space.

$195BUY IT Grey Velvet End of Bed Storage Bench: Equipped with smart interior organization features, this velvet storage bench excels at bedroom-specific storage solutions. Inside, 20 pockets make it easy to store and sort shoes or accessories for easy access.

$219BUY IT Black Tufted End of Bed Storage Bench: Available in a wide range of color options – including the sophisticated black velvet pictured here – this simple storage bench combines seating and storage in one sleek package. While the hairpin legs may appear lightweight, this bench supports up to 300 lbs.

$90BUY IT Retro Floral End of Bed Storage Bench: Why not brighten your bedroom with a pop of color? This storage bench is upholstered in a playful retro pattern, bright and vibrant. This inexpensive design measures at 52″ long for use with full size beds and above.

$79BUY IT End of Bed Bench IKEA: This small wooden bench features an open lower shelf for convenient storage. This piece pairs well with other IKEA furniture selections, like the NORDLI drawer set pictured here.

$455BUY IT Yellow End of Bed Settee Bench: Benches with armrests provide a somewhat more comfortable seating solution for the end of the bed, often with a more traditional or formal look. This bolster-armed design is available in a range of sophisticated color options like gold, rose, navy, orange, and lavender purple.

$119BUY IT Light Grey End of Bed Bench: Simple, sleek, and timeless. This bedroom bench cuts a sophisticated profile with its rolled arms, stylish and comfortable for casual lounging. This inexpensive piece is also available in grey.

$325BUY IT White End of Bed Settee: With its cabriole legs, deep button tufting, and rolled arms, this settee mimics the look of a classic chesterfield sofa for a warm traditional look. This piece measures at just over 61″ in length – great for king size beds, or queen beds that feature a somewhat wider frame.

$330BUY IT Modern Settee Bench for End of Bed: This striking settee bench sits low to the ground to suit lower bedframes, but its angular arms stand tall for supportive comfort and an intriguing look. Choose the versatile light grey option pictured here, or go bold with vibrant options like atomic orange or vintage teal.

$259BUY IT End of Bed Settee Bench: Smooth grey polyester upholstery keeps things simple, nailhead accents and flared legs lending a classic look. This settee bench is a cozy option for full size beds and larger.

$545BUY IT Blue End of Bed Loveseat Bench: In more spacious bedrooms, it is possible to move closer toward the sofa side of the seating spectrum. This settee stands at a comfortable middle ground, its compact frame enhanced with a full backrest and subtle armrests. This piece measures at 51″ long for full size beds and above.

$299BUY IT Grey End of Bed Sofa: This handsome armless loveseat measures at 52″ long, another piece suitable for bed sizes full and above. For larger beds, this design would leave space for small side tables on either end. Because the back stands almost upright, it keeps a somewhat smaller footprint to avoid encroaching too much in the footpath at the end of the bed.

$713BUY IT End of Bed Loveseat for Queen Size Bed: Looking for something with a truly classic look? This handsome rounded loveseat enjoys a timeless combination of wood framing and linen-like upholstery. This piece measures at 57″ long for use with queen size beds and above.

$838BUY IT Cloud-Shaped End of Bed Couch: Sculptural and stately, this luxurious sofa features a backrest shaped like a cloud – a whimsical choice for bold sophisticated bedroom themes. This sofa measures at 71″ long, a perfect pairing for king sized beds.

$409BUY IT End of Bed Dresser Bench for Queen Size Bed: Although slightly more uncommon, the end of the bed can be used as a place to store a low-profile dresser. This one bridges the gap between bench and dresser quite well, with a cozy padded top and two metal-glide drawers. This piece measures at 59″ long for use with queen size bedframes.

$424BUY IT Queen End of Bed Dresser Bench: Simple, sleek, and modern. This storage bench includes storage drawers that can be used as a small dresser, great for items like socks or pajamas or other cozy accessories. For extra storage, you could stash modern baskets beneath.

$979BUY IT King Size End of Bed Dresser: With careful attention to measurements, even a standard dresser can make a nice addition to the end of a bed. This modern design from EQ3 measures at 75″ long, perfect for king size beds. It stands at 28″ high, a great match for higher bedframes and beds with thicker bedding.

$3,699BUY IT TV Lift Cabinet for End of Bed: No need for extra seating or storage? There are end-of-bed options for just about anything. This unique TV lift cabinet keeps your television hidden between uses. Simply use the included remote to reveal the television, which then swivels to accommodate your preferred viewing angle.

$169BUY IT End of Bed TV Stand: Because this television stand is adjustable, it works well for beds of any size. Three tiers of storage allow plenty of room for peripherals and media.

$409BUY IT Queen Size End of Bed TV Stand: Measuring at 60″ wide, this television stand is a perfect fit for queen size beds. When choosing a standard television stand to place at the end of the bed, it often helps to choose a design with an open back like this one. This makes it possible to access any peripherals from either side, rather than trying to accommodate door and cord management solutions that are intended for use against the wall.

$366BUY IT Pink Tufted End of Bed Bench: Ottomans are another great choice for end of bed placement. This diamond tufted design is substantial, its deeply tufted surface presenting a cozy yet luxurious first impression. Pair with a simple tray as pictured to use as a table.

$155BUY IT Tufted Velvet End of Bed Ottoman: Smaller ottomans present an especially versatile option. They can be used as seating, as tables, or even separated from the bed altogether to serve as a footrest from a nearby reading chair. This tufted design is available in blush pink and the pictured grey.

$134BUY IT Blush Pink End of Bed Storage Ottoman: These faux fur storage ottomans offer a subtle touch of glamour with everyday functionality to spare. Store extra blankets and bedding within. Turn the lid upside down to reveal a built-in tray, doubling as a convenient table.

$221BUY IT Natural Log End of Bed Stool: Use as a table, seat, or just a handsome decorative accent. These small stools are carved from natural logs, each one unique. If you decide to change up the look of your bedroom, these useful stools can find endless use around the home.

$341BUY IT Grey Tufted End of Bed Chair: Perfect for a small bed or just a small bedroom, this small tufted bench keeps a conservative profile without sacrificing an ounce of glamorous style. The seat is upholstered in grey velvet, the legs made from clear acrylic.

$339BUY IT Bohemian White End of Bed Trunk: This hand-carved storage trunk offers heirloom quality appeal. Use to store extra bedding or accessories, easily doubling as a table or stage for decorations between uses. In addition to the bright white pictured here, this piece is also available in teal and distressed seafoam green.

$150BUY IT Modern Grey End of Bed Trunk: This footlocker trunk is fully portable! The smooth caster wheels make it possible to rearrange on a whim, even if filled with heavier objects. This piece sits low to the ground, great for lower-profile beds or for use in combination with other end-of-the-bed accents.

$193BUY IT Black and Bronze End of Bed Chest: This end of the bed chest stands a little taller, measuring at just over 20″ high. The dramatic antique finishes present a bold look well-suited to modern and classic bedroom themes alike. The surface can double as a table but cannot double as a bench due to its low weight limit.

$366BUY IT Wooden End of Bed Chest: This gorgeous chest is crafted from solid acacia wood, its distressed finish lending a strong sense of vintage charm. This piece supports a weight limit of up to 300lbs, sure to last a lifetime with proper care.

Recommended Reading: 51 Storage Benches to Streamline Your Seating and Storage 51 Dining Benches To Transform and Elevate Your Kitchen Table 51 Entryway Benches For A Warm And Welcoming First Impression

Modern Classic Chairs

IKEA 2012 Catalog

51 Entryway Benches For A Warm And Welcoming First Impression

Loft Design

51 Storage Benches to Streamline Your Seating and Storage

Colour-blocking: Creating room in small spaces

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drewebowden66 · 5 years ago

Text

53 End-of-Bed Benches with Multipurpose Appeal

$169BUY IT End of Bed TV Stand: Because this television stand is adjustable, it works well for beds of any size. Three tiers of storage allow plenty of room for peripherals and media.

Modern Classic Chairs

IKEA 2012 Catalog

51 Entryway Benches For A Warm And Welcoming First Impression

Loft Design

51 Storage Benches to Streamline Your Seating and Storage

Colour-blocking: Creating room in small spaces

0 notes

traderspro · 6 years ago

Text

s BBBY a bargain, or just cheap?

Warren Buffett is justifiably considered as one of the most successful investors of all time. The methods he employs to identify long-term investment opportunities have been thoroughly documented, by himself and others, and copied by value-oriented investors for decades. The annual reports he writes for Berkshire Hathaway are considered required reading in many investor quarters for the insights they give about his investing approach and its use under current market conditions, and market media outlets pay close attention to any opinions he renders about the economy or the market in general.

One of the outcomes of Mr. Buffett’s success is that his observations about investing, the markets and the economy in general make for great sound bites that many of us who try to model his approach use to encapsulate elements of our own strategies. One of my personal favorites is his definition of value investing as buying a “good company at a nice price.” Those two terms are both important to understand in their proper context, especially when current market conditions are pushing stock prices off of their all-time highs, to multi-year low levels.

It’s pretty natural to look at a stock that has been dropping in price, especially for an extended period of time, and to start wondering if the stock’s drop means there is a useful new opportunity to be had. After all, we’re all looking to “buy low, and sell high” later, so no matter whether you prefer a short-term, swing trading method or a longer-term, fundamentally driven strategy, lower prices should naturally start to make you think about if the stock you’re looking at could be worth your hard-earned investment dollars.

The market is also pretty good, in the long-term at least, at pricing a company’s underlying business strength – what you might think about as its fundamental quality – into a stock’s market price. That means that while stock prices can be driven by market forces like broad economic uncertainty or geopolitical pressures – hello, trade war, interest rates, and global economic slowness – in the long-term, they tend to be driven by the stability and effectiveness of the underlying business itself. If a company is well-managed and showing that it has the ability to grow its business effectively, the market will usually factor that into the stock price by pushing it higher in the long run. This idea is a core tenet of what analysts and economists generally refer to “efficient market theory.”

Efficient market theory also folds back into my favorite Warren Buffett quote, because it means that just because a stock is trading at low levels – what might be a “nice price,” you have to be careful not to automatically assume that it is also a “good company.” Sometimes a stock is cheap for important reasons, and that longer trend should be taken as a sign to stay away, because the company’s fundamental quality just doesn’t support the idea that the stock is worth more than it is right now. That’s why I draw a line to differentiate between stocks that I think are a bargain – good, fundamentally strong companies trading a discounted stock prices – and cheap stocks. To me, cheap stocks are cheap for a reason and will usually stay cheap for the foreseeable future.

This morning I look a look a stock that I’ve followed off and on for quite some time, Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), and these basic value concepts came quickly to mind. This is a stock that has been following a steady downward trend for almost five years, declining from an all-time high around $80 to its current level a little above $12 per share. Over the past year, the stock is down more than 48%, and nearly 13% in just the last month. That decline has been driven by persistent concerns about the company’s ability to adjust and survive in a changing retail environment that is increasingly placing less value on traditional brick-and-mortar stores and more on omnichannel sales. The company has been working to shift its focus to a more web-driven strategy, but even that is being viewed with a fair degree of skepticism by Mr. Market since online sales generally translate to much narrower margins.

This kind of long-term downward trend generally doesn’t happen unless there are critical, fundamental reasons behind it. So while the stock is, by most valuation metrics I like to use, definitely underpriced, I hesitate say that it is a bargain because of the critical questions that persist about the company’s strategy and focus. There are some interesting fundamental strengths that work in this company’s favor, however that might prompt you to believe otherwise. Let’s take a look.

Fundamental and Value Profile

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. is a retailer, which operates under the names Bed Bath & Beyond (BBB), Christmas Tree Shops, Christmas Tree Shops andThat! or andThat! (collectively, CTS), Harmon or Harmon Face Values (collectively, Harmon), buybuy BABY (Baby) and World Market, Cost Plus World Market or Cost Plus (collectively, Cost Plus World Market). The Company operates in two segments: North American Retail and Institutional Sales. The Company sells a range of domestics merchandise and home furnishings. Domestics merchandise includes categories, such as bed linens and related items, bath items and kitchen textiles. Home furnishings include categories, such as kitchen and tabletop items, fine tabletop, basic housewares, general home furnishings, consumables and juvenile products. The Company operates approximately 1,530 stores plus its various Websites, other interactive platforms and distribution facilities. BBBY has a current market cap of about $1.7 billion.

Earnings and Sales Growth: Over the last twelve months, earnings declined -52%, while revenues were mostly flat, at -.05%. The picture did improve in the last quarter, as earnings picked up by 12.5%, while sales increased a little over 6.5%. The company’s operates with a very narrow margin profile that is constricting even more, since Net Income as a percentage of Revenues dropped to 1.65% in the last quarter versus 2.81% over the last twelve months. I read this as a clear reflection of the company’s strategy and effort to evolve their business to include a larger emphasis on online sales and revenues. That could keep pressure on the company’s bottom line, but if these numbers start to stabilize – particularly Net Income, which has been declining steadily since late 2014 – it could be a sign that their efforts are gaining positive traction and the strategy is working.

Free Cash Flow: BBBY’s free cash flow is very healthy, at $753 million over the last twelve months. This is a major increase over the past year, from a low at about $483 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. This number also translates to an outsized Free Cash Flow Yield of 47.5%. This is an interesting counter the company’s narrow, constricting margin profile and could be an early indication that the company is doing the right thing, and it is starting to work.

Debt to Equity: BBBY’s debt/equity ratio is conservative, at .51. The company’s balance sheet shows that long-term debt is a little less than $1.5 billion, while cash and liquid assets around a little over $1 billion. The company’s narrow margin profile calls into question their ability to service their debt on operating profits alone, but their sizable cash position means that they can comfortably cover any operating shortfall. It should also be noted that since the fourth quarter of 2017, their cash and liquid assets have increased from a low point at about $350 million.

Dividend: BBBY’s annual dividend is $.64 per share, which translates to a yield of 5.13% at the stock’s current price. That is a very attractive yield, and could be an interesting draw reason to think about taking a long-term position if you think the stock’s current price reflects a useful bargain.

Price/Book Ratio: there are a lot of ways to measure how much a stock should be worth; but one of the simplest methods that I like uses the stock’s Book Value. BBBY has a Book Value of $21.02. That translates to a Price/Book ratio of .57, versus a historical ratio of 2.38. Forecasting a 400%+ increase in the stock’s price would put it above $50 per share, which is a level the stock hasn’t seen since late 2015. I think that is over-optimistic given the long-term strength of the downward trend, but the stock’s Price/Cash Flow ratio provides a somewhat more conservative forecast, since it is trading about 273% below its historical average and puts that target price around $32. That price level was last seen in mid-2017.

Technical Profile Here’s a look at the stock’s latest technical chart.

Current Price Action/Trends and Pivots: This is a two-year chart that clearly shows the strength of the stock’s downward trend; the stock appeared to be showing some interesting signs of consolidation from April through September of last year, but then broke down in a big way at the beginning of October, which precipitated the stock’s decline to its current levels. More recently the stock stock appears to have rebounded from low around $10.50 that is the lowest level it has seen so far in the 21st century. The low end of last year’s consolidation range is around $17, and the stock would need to push above that level at minimum to establish any kind of sustainable rally that could reverse the stock’s more than four-year downward trend.

Near-term Keys: Despite the intriguing possibilities the stock’s current valuation metrics suggests, I’m not confident the stock is likely to rally anytime soon. The fundamentals are mostly solid, so there is a good argument to be made that BBBY isn’t just a cheap stock, but I would prefer to see the company’s margin profile stabilize, or even show signs of improvement before I buy into the stock’s value proposition. I also don’t think, however that there are good reasons to look for any kind of bearish trades, either by shorting the stock or working with put options. The break above $17 I mentioned earlier is the minimum price level I would look to for any kind of bullish trade, on either a long-term or short-term basis.

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