#versus lithium

[shinygoku]

Also Solarpunk looks kinda homogenous and, as elegant as they can be, Maglevs don't have the swag of Steam Locomotives innit

[cellophobia]

fuck heathcare but like i got a degree specifically to enter nursing school. i have a lot of reasons why i don't want to do nursing anymore but damb that's a lot of time and energy wasted. i hate 12 hour shifts, i hate charting, i hate general patient care. but it's (apparently) a job with lots of options in lots of settings. i don't like bedside lol but maybe i could like psych or something outpatient.

i'm planning on doing special education now but eduction has a lot of problems too. i honestly really like my position in education right now and if i could i would make this my career. but alas, i'm going to eventually need my own insurance and this job has no benefits.

lately i've been really depressed so i haven't been working. but seeing those kids makes me so fucking happy. i met a lot of them when i did some special ed positions and they're so great. i feel like special ed is my calling.

that being said i'm fucking failing my classes right now because i'm too depressed to do schoolwork. and i don't know if the grants i got need to be repaid if i fail classes. if so i'm SO fucked because that's a LOT of money. 😭😭😫😭

[musettastone]

Omggg I nearly forgot that Daltons are a unit of measurement too lol

I'm [Not] sorry

[mariacallous]

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Argentina elected libertarian outsider Javier Milei as its new president on Sunday, rolling the dice on an outsider with radical views to fix an economy battered by triple-digit inflation, a looming recession and rising poverty.

Official results have not been released, but his rival, Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa, conceded in a speech. His candidacy was hampered by the country's worst economic crisis in two decades while he has been at the helm.

Milei is pledging economic shock therapy. His plans include shutting the central bank, ditching the peso, and slashing spending, potentially painful reforms that resonated with voters angry at the economic malaise, but sparked fears of austerity in others.

"Milei is the new thing, he's a bit of an unknown and it is a little scary, but it's time to turn over a new page," said 31-year-old restaurant worker Cristian as he voted on Sunday.

But Milei's challenges are enormous. He will have to deal with the empty coffers of the government and central bank, a creaking $44 billion debt program with the International Monetary Fund, inflation nearing 150% and a dizzying array of capital controls.

With many Argentines not fully convinced by either candidate, some had characterized the vote as a choice of the "lesser evil": fear of Milei's painful economic medicine versus anger at Massa and his Peronist party for an economic crisis that has left Argentina deeply in debt and unable to tap global credit markets.

Milei has been particularly popular among the young, who have grown up seeing their country lurch from one crisis to another.

"Our generation is pushing the presidency of Milei to stop our country being a pariah," said Agustina Lista, 22, a student in Buenos Aires.

Milei's win shakes up Argentina's political landscape and economic roadmap, and could impact trade in grains, lithium and hydrocarbons. Milei has criticized China and Brazil, saying he won't deal with "communists," and favors stronger U.S. ties.

The shock rise of the 53-year-old economist and former TV pundit has been the story of the election, breaking the hegemony of the two main political forces on the left and the right - the Peronists and the main Together for Change conservative bloc.

"The election marks a profound rupture in the system of political representation in Argentina," said Julio Burdman, director of the consultancy Observatorio Electoral, ahead of the vote.

Supporters of Massa, 51, an experienced political wheeler-dealer, had sought to appeal to voter fears about Milei's volatile character and "chainsaw" plan to cut back the size of the state.

"Milei's policies scare me," teacher Susana Martinez, 42, said on Sunday after she voted for Massa.

Milei is also staunchly anti-abortion, favors looser gun laws and has called Argentine Pope Francis a socialist "son of a bitch". He used to carry a chainsaw in a symbol of his planned cuts but shelved it in recent weeks to help boost his moderate image.

After October's first-round vote, Milei struck an uneasy alliance with the conservatives, which boosted his support. But he faces a highly fragmented Congress, with no single bloc having a majority, meaning that he will need to get backing from other factions to push through legislation. Milei's coalition also does not have any regional governors or mayors.

That may temper some of his more radical proposals. Long-suffering voters are likely to have little patience, and the threat of social unrest is never far below the surface.

His backers say only he can uproot the political status quo and economic malaise that has dogged South America's second-largest economy for years.

"Milei is the only viable option so we do not end up in misery," said Santiago Neria, a 34-year-old accountant.

[siberat]

“Well, this ice cream will melt if I just keep jaw flapping. *Picks up ice cream dish* How about we try this? It is my favorite flavor too, mint fluorite chip smothered in rich, rose-pink sauce. Of course, topped off with a heaping mountain of whipped cream. Garnished with a light and airy cookie rod to add a nice, pleasant crunch. *Licks lips* Now, if you don’t mind me, I must shovel some of this frozen treat into my mouth. *Hums in enjoyment*

Oh, this is very good! But I must take it slow, or I will get a processor freeze, right?

Oh, by the way, thank you for weighing in on the cups up versus cups down discussion! Several agreed with my thought that they should be top-side down. However, one anonymous user did make an important statement. It reads as follows: *clears throat* My team prefers to face the glasses up because “ it’s so the glasses don’t get dirty from touching the cabinet,” but I think it’s shuttlescrap, clearly you’re right, and they need to be faced down to not collect dust.”

Well, I sure don’t want to cause a rift between you and your team. *Bites a cookie rod, crumbs flying everywhere* Oh, do pardon my mess. But if I may offer a simple solution- just clean the cabinets, that way the top of the cups won't get dirty. *Winks*

Oh, and Alcorian pips in as well. *Optics widen* ‘The cups should absolutely be placed upside-down in the cabinet, and Rat/chet’s behavior frankly horrifies me /lh’ *Laughs* Oh my, sometimes I simply wonder what goes through that old mech’s processor, right? Ultimately, I let him put them away how he wishes and go behind him and fix it. I haven’t heard him complain about that yet. *Face goes deep in thought* However, I do receive some glares from time to time. Do you think he knows? *Shrugs*

Let’s move on to the next question. As well as the next dish. I sure polished off this ice cream! *Shows empty dish* Hmmm… what would be a good selection? Oh, how about some stuffed shells? * Picks up the bowl and shows the camera* Don’t these look scrumptious? Lithium-based noodles in the shape of a fun, large shell stuffed with three types of cheeses- one being ricotta cheese. *Face lights up in glee* Yes, that is my most fav type of cheese! But also, the sauce is vibrant and is seasoned with copper, zinc, and iron. *Grabs a shell and takes a large bite* Very good!

Wow, we have a lot of shy watchers, don’t we? It’s alright; this is a safe place. I promise I won’t bite! *Playfully winks* Another anon asks: “Is Rat/chet keeping things simple with Cyber/tronian dishes, or did he also gather up some organic/earth-based foods to add to the menu?” Well, while our digestive tracts are indeed powerful enough to digest ores, metals, and minerals, Earth-based foods can be consumed, but they do not provide much nutritional value. I have tried a few, mainly those Little Debbie snacks… *Sheepishly smiles* Those Swiss rolls look good. However, like most Earth-based foods… they can give one indigestion and…well…. Some terrible gas. *Covers mouth with a servo* Please excuse me for being so vulgar, but hey, you chose the topic! * Polishes off one stuffed shell and picks up another*

Regarding Rat/chet’s cooking… * Optics dart back and forth* Let’s just say it is improving. Being such a busy Doctor tending to his patients, he would opt for quick meals instead of tasty ones. Meaning, he would eat a lot of microwaved dishes. *Crinkles nose and sticks tongue out* Yuck! They were like chewing tires with how rubbery they were! However, he has improved, mainly due to my teaching him how to cook. *Bites lip* Well, when I don’t cook for him, that is. He can make simpler meals that still taste good. But if you ask me, I am the better chef!

Oh, look….* Shows empty bowl* All done! Those hit the spot! Now, it’s time for some creamy and sweet flan! This cute cylinder-esque dessert is small but satisfying! * Picks up the dish, cuts a sliver, and eats it.*  The texture is silky smooth! It tastes like vanilla and caramel! This will make my tummy very happy, wouldn’t you say?

Alright, onto the next ask. SWSuperior asks: “So, how does it feel to betray the Decep/ticons?” *Gives deadpan stare.* Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to say I betrayed the Decep/ticons, but more, the Decep/ticons betrayed us. *Eats another forkful of flan* So, yes, I used to be a part of the other faction; this is true. And while I am all for the equal treatment of all Cyber/tronians, the ‘Con’s idea of peace and victory depended entirely on violence and tyranny. I once stood behind Mega/tron and served as his minion. I have done countless things I regret- and I will not go into further detail about them. At the time, the promise of equality seemed such a dream! *shrugs*

But in the end, that was an illusion. Sure, I wanted a change. I was sick of living on the streets, being treated like trash, and using drugs to escape reality. The Decep/ticons promised that change. They vowed to rise out of the darkness and become so much more. *Sighs deeply* Unfortunately, that cost the ultimate price. How many mech’s suffered and died because of this promise?

Too many. And while in the beginning, I stood with the ‘Cons, somewhere along the lines, what they stood for warped into something so vile and nasty. Suddenly, being equal wasn’t enough. Now, the end game was to dominate. *Shakes helm in disappointment* What we initially were fighting against was what we were becoming.

And I didn’t like that. Not one bit. *Eats the last bit of flan* I want everybody to be treated with the kindness and respect they deserve. Mechs shouldn’t have to fear ridicule for their beliefs or have to work the streets because of their alt mode. Everyone deserves to be happy. And free.

Guess what? *Grins and shows empty plate* Time to pick another dish! Oh, I just loved that sweet dessert! I think I need another. Which shall it be? *Optics scan the table* That cake sure looks yummy, right? But I think I’ll save that for later. Oh! *Optics widen* I know what I want! Lava cake! *Twiddles fingers in excitement*

Look at this beauty! *Shows camera* Rich, moist chocolate cake with even more iced ener-cream on top! And let’s not forget it’s lava cake…* Cuts a chunk out, allowing liquid goo to flow out* Inside is this luscious liquid that’s sweet and warm, contrasting the coldness of the ice cream nicely. *Takes a bite, optics closing as he hums* Oh, this is divine! But I’m sure you don’t want to hear about how my food tastes this entire livestream, so let's take another note, shall we? *Reads over datapad*

This next question reads: “Out of everything you’ve ever eaten, what is your absolute favorite?” Well, thank you, anon, for asking! This is a rather tough one, to be honest. There are several dishes that I go bonkers over! *Dreamy look washes over his face* I love the full course, hearty meals, such as roasted cyber-turkey with mashed chromium potatoes, stuffing made from talc and calcium, and some fresh crystal beans! Very filling! *Rubs belly*

Oh my, would you look at this? *Pats a rounded belly* Well, it looks like I have been enjoying this meal! Just look at how full my tummy is! With all the fun and excitement of this livestream, I simply haven’t noticed how much food I have been packing down, huh? *Wags a finger* I bet you all knew and were too polite to say anything. Am I right? *Gives belly a pat*

But my favorite meal has to be Toshikoshi Soba noodles. This is a special dish to be eaten on New Year's Eve to start the New Year off with a clean slate and bring you good luck. These noodles are made from wodginite and are very easy to cut. *Hints a smile* The cutting of the noodles symbolizes letting go of the previous year’s hardships, in case you wanted to know. The soup consists of cyber-fish broth, shandite sauce, and sweet rhodium wine. *Continues eating cake* Oh, and I usually put in some cyber-fish cakes and dried seaweed and garnish it off with some feldspar. *Gives a chef’s kiss* The spectacular dish always lightens my mood! *Scraps plate clean*

Wow, that was tasty! And my belly is feeling awfully huge right now! *Sets plate down* This plating is starting to get tight. I don’t know how much room I have left. And I have so many more dishes I wanted to try and share with you! *Belly grumbles* Oh my! Did you hear that? Sounds like my paunch is starting to talk to you all as well! Let’s hope it adds to our engaging conversation, right?

Let’s move on to the next question- and dish. Shall we?”

… ……

Still taking on more askes! So, if you have a question for Dr/ift, send it in! You can send multiples. Also, if you wanted to ask as another TF character- just state so! Let’s keep this mukbang going and see if our dear swordsmech can handle all that food infront of him!

( if your ask didn’t get answered, I am saving some for other rounds)

Also, you can send you ask in as another TF char if you want! Have fun with them! ( I need more questions hint hint… running low*

[protoslacker]

Capitalism’s devaluation of nature and human health in poorer countries is not a bug, a dodgy line of code messing up the programming. It is a feature. Seeing lithium or cobalt batteries as an easy-fix rests on not seeing and not valuing many peoples and places. It also rests — although many would not admit it — on continuing to make development a rare privilege, suitable only for an elite of the world’s population.

Max Ajl in Resillience. Clean Tech Versus a People’s Green New Deal

By Max Ajl, originally published by Earth Island Journal

A People's Green New Deal

[table-cat-games]

All right everyone this is the final (I think) update post for the Haslab proton pack. For the first part of this post check out this link.

I completed all the cosmetic mods that I'm comfortable with making for right now after doing the internal mods.

You can compare and contrast what the original model looks like (right) versus mine (left).

The yellow/black electrical sleeve made a hell of a difference. And I'm really glad I did the fake wire thing here. I also added a real clamp for the wires.

And one of the most annoying mods was cleaning up the ribbon cable which was absolutely filthy before. Now it's just regular dirty.

Some more fake wires I added and you could see a couple of the painted connectors. They don't look exactly real to me, but they look a lot better than they did when they were just black rubber.

Here's another painted piece with the gold/copper connector along with some real hose clamps I put over some electrical tape.

Here's the list of everything I did to it:

Keep alive kit so it doesn't turn itself off.

Lithium battery swap.

Power cell light cover change.

Attached to alice frame

Painted connectors.

Removed fake rubber tape on wand handle and replace it with hockey tape.

Painted wand tip silver

Removed fake copper wires

Real electrical tape applied throughout.

Added some stickers

Swapped the yellow cable sleeve.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Periodic Table Championship: Round 1, Day 3, Lithium vs. Moscovium

The third day of round 1 matches starts us off with element 3, lithium, versus element 115, moscovium. Let's introduce our competitors:

Lithium is the first metallic element on the periodic table, the least dense metal, and the least dense solid element. It is an alkali metal and shares the groups extreme reactivity, needing to be stored in an inert atmosphere or liquid. The most well known application of this metal is perhaps in batteries, but it is also used in glass, ceramics, and alloying. Lithium is named for the Greek word meaning stone.

Moscovium is an extremely radioactive synthetic element, with its most stable isotope having a half-life of only 0.65 seconds. It is thought to be a post-transition metal, but given that only about a hundred atoms of the element have been observed most properties of moscovium have yet to be confirmed experimentally. It is named after the Moscow Oblast, where it was first created by a joint team of Russian and American scientists.

[justbeingnamaste]

The New York Fire Department recently reported that so far this year there have been 108 lithium-ion battery fires in New York City, which have injured 66 people and killed 13. According to FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, “There is not a small amount of fire, it (the vehicle) literally explodes.” The resulting fire is “very difficult to extinguish and so it is particularly dangerous.”

Last year there were more than 200 fires from batteries from e-bikes, EVs, and other devices.

A fire ignited at an e-bike shop and killed four people near midnight on the morning of June 20. Two individuals were left in critical condition. The fire commissioner has warned New Yorkers that such devices could be very dangerous and typically explode in such a way that renders escape impossible.

FDNY also reports that in just three years, lithium-ion battery fires have surpassed those started by cooking and smoking as the most common causes of fatal fires in New York City. It’s happening all over the country as these blazes have become commonplace. Cars and e-bikes are randomly blowing up in driveways and garages.

Now let’s be honest: 13 deaths in a city the size of New York with some 8 million people is hardly an epidemic. Regulations should always be based on a cost versus benefit calculation, or there would be no cars at all.

And yet the same scaremongers on the left who have zero tolerance and want bans for small risks when it comes to everything from swimming pool diving boards, gas stoves, plastic straws, vaping, fireworks, and so on, have a surprisingly high pain threshold when it comes to people dying or suffering critical injured from “green” electric battery fires.

Or consider this: In 1965, Ralph Nader almost single-handedly helped ban the popular Chevrolet Corvair—famous for its engine placed in the back trunk of the car. Nader’s bestselling shock book “Unsafe at Any Speed” declared the car was deadly. But there was no real evidence of that claim, and to this day there are no reliable statistics on how many passengers—if any—died in Corvairs from rear-end accidents.

What is indisputable is that EVs will cause far more deaths than Corvairs ever did.......

....All this is especially hypocritical because once upon a time the left’s mantra was “no trading blood for oil.” Now they are willing to trade blood in exchange for getting Americans to stop using oil. An irony of all this is that because of all the energy needed to produce windmills, solar panels, and electric batteries, new studies are showing that the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to this “net zero” transition is close to zero. It turns out, green energy causes some pollution, too.....

[howdy-cowpoke]

TIMING: Recent LOCATION: Hanover, New Hampshire PARTIES: Monty (@howdy-cowpoke) and Gael (@lithium-argon-wo-l-f)  SUMMARY: During a trip to pick up some cows, Gael and Monty are attacked by a thunderstorm. CONTENT WARNINGS: Very brief implication of suicidal ideation

—

A six-hour car drive, starting at six in the morning. Gael was no stranger to getting up that early or taking long trips so when Monty asked him if he’d like to accompany him to a cattle acquisition, giving Gael a chance to truly earn back the farm’s loss of Dulce, he was thrilled for multiple reasons, not the least of which was that Monty asked him; he knew Monty had other options so it made his heart flutter thinking about what sort of hat had his name in it to be picked compared to those other options.

He arrived on time (which he was unsure if it was characteristic or uncharacteristic yet, given his recent schedule), they parked his car in the garage and after some more fussing from Daisy and making sure they had their gear and supplies present, they packed up and headed out. Gael told Elias to keep an eye on the house and he was sure the latter wasn’t going to be starting any crazy parties and with that out of his head for the time being, the two were in the truck, on their way to wherever they were going. Conversation was made, mostly in the form of Gael asking Monty for more of the man’s history with his friends and he himself talking about the stories he had with his sisters and family, and some of his friends too. Then the songs came and Gael attempted to sound bad though he found it difficult sometimes as he subconsciously wanted to hit the right notes. Surprisingly, he didn’t fall asleep - he thought perhaps he was worried about what would happen if he did, though his sleepwalking had subsided, almost becoming dormant once more. Plus, he couldn’t sleepwalk in a car, could he? It was the afternoon by the time they got there and after a brief lunch (where he ate a lot more than Monty, he noticed - no wonder the cowboy was so thin), they went over to where the cows were being auctioned off. Some slick talking and a spirited conversation about qualities versus compensation later and Gael had managed to hold up his end of the exchange, netting Monty a beautiful brown cow. “I’m just saying, I think Dulce de Leche is a good name,” Gael was saying (speaking Spanish as he knew Monty was more comfortable with it) as the two were in the car after the fact. “But she ain’t my cow.” He paused. “...And I still feel bad about the original.”

—

So Gael was definitely downplaying his ability to sing, but Monty enjoyed it regardless—and absolutely refused to join in, citing that he’d hurt some poor far off dog’s ears if he tried. The drive was pleasant overall, and while he’d been fully prepared for Gael to nap, was happily surprised to have conversational company the entire time. 

The visit to the farm was fruitful, Monty quickly bonding with one of the animals as they gave the remaining ones an inspection, though he could have easily done the same with all of them if given the time. Still, once the girl had been picked out and her price negotiated (thank you, Gael), the pair were on their way again, to drop the truck and livestock trailer off at the little motel in town where they’d be staying for the night.

Chuckling, Monty shook his head. “You’re not wrong, it is a good name,” he agreed, glancing over at his friend and smiling. It fell a little bit when Gael expressed his regret again, but not fully. “Don’t, amigo. She was getting up there in years… grim as it might sound, she was going to be slaughtered sooner rather than later.” He knew it invoked terrible imagery, but it was part of the job. At least they were ethical about it, making sure it was quick and that the animals felt no pain. Some places couldn’t even claim that much. “Dulce de Leche it is, then.” 

Unloading their bags from the truck (which was parked alongside the building so it wouldn’t take up five parking spots), the pair stopped in the main office to get their key and then made their way to the door that led into their room. It wasn’t a terrible motel, but it was still a motel. It’d do for a night, anyway. Unlocking the door to let them inside, Monty dumped his bag on the bed farthest from the door and shrugged off his jacket, tossing it onto a nearby armchair. 

“I am sure I stink of cow,” he said with another chuckle, reaching into his bag to root around for some different clothes. “Going to take a very quick shower before we go out, if that’s alright with you?” The farm business had ended up taking a little over three hours, which put them in the early evening. 

— Maybe one day Gael would finally let go of that cow. It’d been over a month, he needed to get over it. Monty was over it, he officially helped the farm get a new one and he even got to name it. He needed to stop taking things so seriously, which was funny considering he was pretty sure that he was already known as the guy who didn’t take much of anything too seriously. Like right now. Monty told him not to worry and that the cow was going to be slaughtered once she got too old anyway so… Gael would have to be okay with that, even if his sleepwalking incident ended her prematurely. How often he’d thought of that alone was a tally in itself. For NOW though, he gave a small nod indicating that he understood, followed by a smile as Monty agreed on the name. He needed to lighten up and he found himself frustrated at how temperamental he tended to be sometimes. The two were at a motel now and it lent itself to a memory Gael had about a family trip, the seven of them wedged into two cars, needing two rooms and with all but his youngest sister as adults. It was… exciting. This smelled similar, only with the two of them carrying the peculiar scents of farm and cattle this time. However, as they parked the truck and trailer combination then made their way into the hotel room with their bags in tow, Gael glanced out into the pleasant evening and caught a different scent - moisture settling into dirt. His brow twitching faintly, he followed Monty into the motel where he assumed he would be getting the bed closest to the door as the cowboy had laid claim on the other bed. “Yeah, take your time,” He nodded, getting a change of clothes of his own; Monty wasn’t the only one who smelled like livestock. “I’m gonna browse the web and see if there’s any local places that people recommend… unless you have a place in mind,” He added, glancing over at the farmer.

—

"Nope, first time here. Browse away!" Tucking the clothes beneath his arm and tossing his hat on the bed as well, he wandered to the bathroom, kicking off his boots along the way. 

When he emerged again, dressed in a henley long-sleeved shirt and jeans that didn’t have cow snot on them, the fragrant scent of pine and frankincense spilled from the bathroom after him. His hair was a wild mess and half-dried, which he tried to calm by running his fingers through it a few times. “Find anything good?” he asked as he balled up the dirty clothes and stuffed them into a linen bag he’d brought along, dumping it between his bed and the wall. Tugging the sleeves of his shirt partway up his arms, exposing just the very bottom of his prickly pear tattoo, the cowboy sat on the edge of his bed facing Gael’s tugging on some fresh socks while his friend listed their options. 

— And so Gael did, slowly, making sure he read the fine details on each thing, wondering what Monty would even like - he had never asked what the cowboy had a preference for, he just noticed that he never seemed to eat a whole terribly lot, at least compared to himself. As he sat on the edge of his bed, hunched over and looking at his phone, he heard the sounds of the shower and it filled him with a sense of calm. When Monty came out of the bathroom and Gael was greeted with pine and frankincense, he couldn’t keep another small, dumb grin from creeping onto his face. He kept his eyes on his phone, though he adjusted himself so that he could see Monty in his peripheral vision. “Okay, so I found this place about four blocks away that apparently makes REALLY good arepas,” He started to explain. “I also found a little restaurant slightly further into town that says they have the best fajitas for the surrounding 200 miles.” He glanced at Monty. “And there’s a third location that brags about their highly-customizable burgers and shakes.” He turned his phone’s screen off and tossed it onto the bed next to him, starting to stand and leaning back to pop his back with a grunt. “Lemme take a shower too while you think about which of those sounds good?” He asked, offering a smile to the cowboy before pulling a change of clothes of his own from the bag that sat open on the end of his bed. “I’ll be right out.”

—

He did love a good stuffed arepa… nodding at Gael before he disappeared into the bathroom, Monty busied himself on his phone, laying back on the bed and holding it up over his head. First, of course, was a text to Daisy—making sure everything was going okay back home, then sending her a picture of the cow they were purchasing. Next was Alan—confirmation of their safe arrival and acquisition of the livestock, as well as Gael’s stellar handling of the price negotiation. The third text went to Kaden, asking him how his night was going and letting him know he was missed. 

Turning off the screen and setting the phone down on his chest, Monty imagined that if he’d still had a heartbeat, it would’ve sped up. Of course the feeling that immediately followed the elation was guilt, because of all the things that were still left unsaid… things that would probably put a stop to the situation altogether.

He turned his head and glanced at the wall that separated the main room from the bathroom, knowing that the same went for his relationship with Gael. Everything had to be built on lies, and he didn’t like it. But he didn’t know how to… fix that. Maybe that’s why things with Alan had always been so easy—they’d both known what the other was from the moment they’d met, more or less, and there never had to be any secrets. 

Well no, that wasn’t true. There’d been a secret by omission for all the years that Alan had spent trying to set him up with various women, he just… never took the time to really understand his lack of interest until recently. Until things started to… change. And forced him to reflect. And now here he was, expanding his horizons, and finding the experience to be often overwhelming. 

At least Gael was patient and kind, perhaps even to a fault. Monty felt an affectionate smile blooming on his face and he looked away from the wall that stood between them, clearing his throat and returning his attention to his phone to read the response Daisy had already sent. 

— The shower was a good, private place for Gael to truly think. He always took hot showers despite knowing how they weren’t great for his skin but he liked how they felt. He also tended to let down the few walls he had - the two places he shared whatever was on his mind and weighing on his heart were the confessional booth and a shower stall. As he was standing under the running water, feeling the tension leaving his back as the warmth massaged the gnarled scar on his back, he reached for the bottle that he had put on the shelf that day at fútbol. As he examined the bottle in his mind, Gael wondered if this was the right time to talk about it - after all, it was just the two of them and they were hours away from anything else familiar. Then again, it was just the two of them and they were hours away from anything else familiar. The last thing he wanted to do was intimidate or bully Monty into not wanting to take him places or do anything else and yet…. Too many variables. And he had too many questions. He exhaled as he stepped out of the shower, drying himself off and with a new calmness in his movement. He’d ask. That’s all he could do. And if Monty didn’t want to talk about it then he’d have to be okay with that. Ultimately, regardless of whether or not they were friends or acquaintances out of pity, Gael had to at least ask. He emerged from the bathroom with steam licking the carpet behind him, clothed in his casual evening attire and with the towel over his head with part of it in his ear. “You figure out what you want yet?” He paused, standing near Monty’s bed. “And, uh… I was wondering if we could… talk.” He added gently, slowly, trying not to make it seem like he was confronting the cowboy.

—

Sitting up when he heard the door opening, Monty was quick to abandon the phone at his side and land his attention squarely on his roommate for the evening. “Yeah! I think I could really mess up some arepas right now, if that’s all right with you.” The smile he wore was easy, leaning back on his hands with his legs crossed at the ankles, posture relaxed… a far cry from how he’d been the day they’d met. 

But that changed when Gael asked to talk. Only slightly, perhaps imperceptibly to someone who wasn’t as attentive as Gael, but, his brows knitted and he shifted his weight uncomfortably  before nodding. “Of course we can talk—what about?” He was doing his best to not sound concerned, though that was quite the task: he almost always sounded concerned about something. 

—

Gael firstly smiled at the mention of the arepas and gave a small nod of affirmation. “Arepas, got it.” He motioned in the air as though he were pressing a button to keep this conversation from getting too serious - he noticed the shift in Monty’s weight, the small furrow in his brow, the tone his voice had taken. “It’s just something real quick, I just have a couple of questions.” Though he was incredibly torn up about it that day and even in the shower before right now, the more he thought about it, the more rationalized he got. “I just wanted to clear any air,” Gael started, his tone approachable and he learned that he couldn’t dance around the way he had been. He’d need to be more upfront and perhaps throw himself into the potential line of fire but he also learned, decidedly much longer ago, that it was best to address the hurt and confusion then and give it time to heal then to let it fester until it became something nobody could control… something that couldn’t be fixed. “And really it just comes down to one question - Are you and Kaden a thing?” The question came casually but earnestly and he contemplated quickly following it up but he didn’t want to overwhelm Monty so he left it at that. Pull the blade out while it is shallow. Let the wound heal. 

—

His fear, of course, was far from the truth of the matter. He worried, suddenly, that Gael had learned something about his werewolfism and was going to ask Monty to explain it, which… the zombie wasn’t unfamiliar with, of course, given his friendship with Alan, but that wasn’t his place, was it? And what if he got something wrong? 

Or perhaps it was that he’d realized something about Monty was off. The lack of a heartbeat, the way his skin was always the ambient temperature, his lack of an appetite… any number of things that would point him in the direction of ‘weird’. 

What he didn’t expect was a question about Kaden. The surprise was evident in his expression and he straightened up a bit, unhooking his ankles and drawing his legs up to his chest. “Me and Kaden? A thing?” He wished he could pretend he didn’t know what that meant, but that would be a lie. Wrapping his arms around his knees, the cowboy let his gaze wander as he considered what Gael was asking. Why he was asking. 

“We’re… I don’t know. We went on one date.” He rubbed a palm over his forehead, letting out a slow sigh. “Listen, Gael, I’m not, ah… that was my first date. Ever. So I have no idea if we’re a thing… I do not know the rules for situations like this. Nobody talks about them.” He glanced up at his friend, clearly upset. “I… I am sorry if I said anything, or did anything to hurt you.” While he’d never successfully navigated anything like this before, he wasn’t blind. He’d seen the way Gael left the fútbol match that day. And he knew the things he’d been thinking about on that trail ride. What a mess.

—

For some reason, going by Monty’s immediate reaction, he wasn’t expecting Gael to ask that. However, he kept his gaze steady as the cowboy physically drew into himself and thought about the answer. Did he have an answer? It wasn’t that it was any of Gael’s business except… the professor kind of thought it was. As Monty did indeed have an answer that he gave, Gael’s expression softened (not that it was particularly hard in the first place) and he felt his brow raise with… it wasn’t pity, it wasn’t sympathy, it was compassion. That felt right. At the cowboy’s apology, he found himself shaking his head, almost laughing it off as he thought more about it but he managed to keep a straight face. “You didn’t. You didn’t, I promise.” Gael closed the distance between the two of them and he crouched next to Monty as the latter sat like an afraid child on the bed; afraid of what though, Gael couldn’t immediately tell. One thing he WAS able to tell, however, was that Monty really didn’t do it on purpose. He didn’t set Gael up to look bad at the game, he didn’t make any of these decisions with the goal of hurting him, or Kaden, or anyone else. Gael believed the other man when he said he’d never done this sort of thing before. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” He said gently, searching for Monty’s eyes, able to see his features clearly even in the shadows of their motel room created by the sun set behind them. “It can be hard to navigate, especially if you’ve never done it before and there’s not really a manual.” He paused. “I was asking because…” While it’s shallow. “Because I wasn’t sure what our relationship could’ve been. You’re in this special spot where– I just wanted to know because I didn’t want–” Gael kept cutting himself off; this was harder than he thought, just putting himself out there like that. “I said before that I form attachments easily and sometimes it’s difficult for me to navigate through those relationships myself.” He opted to explain. “So I thought… But if you’re interested in Kaden, then that’s okay.” He exhaled, feeling himself get a little lighter as the weight was addressed and started to be lifted. “I didn’t– don’t want to get in the way of what would make you happy.”

—

‘Hard to navigate’ felt like a bit of an understatement, at this point. But he wasn’t wrong, and the mere fact that he’d not gotten upset about the situation only endeared him to Monty further. Which came with its own complex set of emotions, of course. 

Glancing over at him, the zombie realized with somewhat of a shock that it hurt to think that Gael had ever considered him to be… more than what he really was, and that those feelings were being quashed in one fell swoop. 

“I don’t know what would make me happy,” he admitted, his voice carrying just a hint of sorrow. There was an entire list of reasons why that was that he could launch into, but they required revealing parts of himself that Gael just wasn’t ready to know, yet. The man had to better know himself, first. 

But there was something he could tell him about that wouldn’t reveal any world-altering truths, and so he decided to go with that, as much as the first few words tried to catch in his throat and silence him. 

“I spent seventeen years wanting to be with my best friend and I never did anything about it. I felt like I… couldn’t, or shouldn’t—I don’t know. But I didn’t, I just wanted something with him that I would never, ever have. I didn’t understand it, at the time. Could not wrap my head around being so different from the rest of our friends, you know?” He paused to draw a shuddering breath, turning to face Gael, slipping his legs over the edge of the bed. 

“And for a long time, I just… closed myself off to that kind of thing. But I’ve been trying to get away from that lately, and it’s… hard. Mierda, it’s hard.” He brought a hand to his face again, shoulders hunching as his head dipped a bit lower. “Now it feels… too much. Too much, all the time.” He wasn’t doing a very good job of making his point. Forcing himself to meet the man’s gaze again, he searched his eyes for… something. He didn’t know what. He was perpetually confused these days, and it was grating. “I like you, Gael. I do. I… you mean a lot to me.” Another sigh. “I don’t know. I am just overwhelmed pretty much any time I speak to either one of you. I don’t know how to… what I am supposed to…” He let the unfinished thoughts die on his tongue as all things eventually did, lapsing into silence. Gael wouldn’t have the answers he needed, he knew that. But he’d been unable to stop himself from sharing, and could only hope that it would help in some small way. Even if it wasn’t immediately obvious how. 

—

‘I don’t know what would make me happy’, there was a collection of words that Gael had heard often in the past. Having four sisters, he heard it a lot more often than he probably expected given how open and accepting his parents were, how encouraging they were of their dreams and ambitions. Strict, for sure, but underneath it was a well of love. Gael could also identify with Monty’s apparent struggle with his sexuality - the professor himself had only ever been in heterosexual relationships, as that’s what he was raised to believe. He wasn’t able to have children, he learned that fifteen years ago and his family had long since come to accept that. It wasn’t until he moved to Wicked’s Rest (or more or less, the accident ten months ago) that he felt himself open up and form these attachments with other men. And therein lay some of his own shortcomings. He formed said attachments, out of some desperation to not be alone and oftentimes they mixed up in his brain - was he attracted to Monty or was he just overenthusiastically approaching any facet of their relationship in the hopes that he wouldn’t be left behind? His religion strictly taught him that it was a sin, but he found the fear of isolation to be far greater than any sin of who he wanted to be with. “I’m… sorry for how I left the game,” Gael apologized, his eyes dancing on one of his hands as he put his elbows on the bed next to Monty’s legs that were over the edge. “It wasn’t my place to make assumptions or make anyone uncomfortable.” “I’d like to try… to help.” He continued as he put his chin on his crossed arms, not looking at Monty this time to spare the other man the feeling of eyes on him during this period of vulnerability - indeed, Gael felt as though he had been told something that Monty didn’t tell very many other people. Another secret to hold close, to never compromise or betray that trust. “And if it would help for me to hang around less so you can pursue the potential with Kaden then I can do that.” He offered. “Or… Maybe it would help if we were just friends and I can give you pointers.” The professor tilted his head slightly. “I don’t want to overwhelm you, Montaña.” He knew Monty didn’t like him using his full name but… “But I do want…” He faltered, shaking his head slightly. Not the time. “To make it easier for you to navigate this new path in your life.”

—

The apology just made Monty feel worse, putting a spotlight on how poorly he’d handled that situation, and how in hindsight, he probably shouldn’t have invited them both to the same weekend game. He just… well he hadn’t thought much about that, he supposed. He couldn’t reconcile the idea that anyone would be jealous of his relationship with another person, no matter what kind of that relationship that was, because he simply didn’t think he was someone worth being jealous over. And if he was honest, while he’d felt some kind of way in Gael’s presence, he’d never known if the feeling was mutual. But perhaps he should have assumed it was. Or would that have been egotistical? God. This is part of the reason why he just never bothered with this kind of thing. 

He wondered if he should say all that, but the explanation couldn’t make it past the lump in his throat. So he just shook his head and kept listening, his body language shifting from defeated to anxious when Gael suggested the option of him being around less. He didn’t immediately speak, though, too busy running through scenarios in his head—some of which involved the closeness they were sharing right now, which were definitely bad ideas. That creeping feeling of indecisiveness and overstimulation crawled up his spine, spreading through his core like wildfire. 

Gael had finished voicing his thoughts and Monty closed his eyes, discomfort settling into the pinch of his brow and the slight downturn of the corners of his mouth. “I don’t want you to… give me space.” Carajo. “I don’t need space.” That was probably a lie and he probably did. From everyone. He ought to detach from them both, because trying to pursue anything was unfair. It was cruel in a way they didn’t understand. But he felt selfish. Again, now, just like he had when sitting in the woods with Kaden—he felt selfish, and he craved the injustice of acting on it. He knew it wasn’t right and he knew it would only complicate everything, but that intoxicating feeling of being wanted was overriding his common sense. He’d never felt that before, and there was no mistaking Gael’s words—he was wanted, the professor was just trying to be equitable about it. To take a knee and accept defeat when Monty himself hadn’t even been aware that there was a game in play. 

But now he knew, and now he felt selfish. He wasn’t a good person. Never had been, never would be.

“I need—” What? What? The fingers of the hand between them alighted on the other’s upper arm and he tried not to let it show how desperately he hungered for that connection. He didn’t know what he needed. He shouldn’t have anything that he thought about late at night. Words were failing him so he stopped trying to force them out, instead letting his grip on Gael’s bicep tighten. 

Pump the brakes. Find the words. Do it, do it. … ah. “—a way out of loneliness.” He released the chemist’s arm, shoving his hands between his legs to bury them beneath his thighs where they couldn’t keep wandering.

—

Silence. The churning of thoughts in Monty’s head, no doubt and the surprise of the cowboy’s cold hands on his upper arm. Gael wondered how true it was that he didn’t need space - maybe that’s what he DID need. From both him and Kaden, maybe they were pushing too hard in opposite directions and that wasn’t what Monty needed when he was both new to the dating scene AND accepting his sexuality. The two could be difficult on their own, especially with someone who aligned more personally with Ariana or Monty, but together seemed like a maelstrom if the appropriate time and care wasn’t put into it. And while Gael wanted to pull away now, on his own, to spare Monty from having to make that decision, he… He closed his eyes slowly, focusing on his breathing, on Monty’s tightening fingers on his arm out of an emotion that he couldn’t verbally convey. ‘I need a way out of loneliness’ was what he got as Monty broke their connection of touch though Gael couldn’t figure out why. It was a vague concept, one that Gael admittedly didn’t have an answer or suitable solution for that sprang to his mind immediately like a lot of other problems people had. Did that mean he SHOULD step back and encourage Monty’s relationship with Kaden? That was his first response. The chemist opened his eyes again and wordlessly, he pulled away from the bed, stood up with some crackling coming from his knees from being bent that long in a crouch, turned on the spot once out of habit and sat down next to Monty before leaning against him. The motion was light and gentle, not putting his weight too strongly against the cowboy in case the latter pulled away - after all, Gael hadn’t asked but even if it was just for a few seconds, he exhaled and existed with Monty. It wasn’t holding hands, it wasn’t a kiss, he didn’t even know if it was romantic anymore but they were there. He wasn’t going to ask Monty about why he didn’t bring Kaden instead; he knew the answer. It was because the man didn’t know what he wanted and he didn’t know what the ‘rules’ were. Gael wasn’t about to confront him about that, how could he? “A way out of loneliness,” He repeated. “Okay, that can happen.” He exhaled softly. “How can I help?” 

—

There was a flash of fear that ripped through him when Gael got to his feet, but the flame was quickly snuffed as the other sat back down beside him, leaning into his side. The anxiety melted away and he physically relaxed, welcoming the pressure of having another body against his own. 

“I wish that I knew for sure,” Monty answered softly. “Just… don’t go.” He wasn’t talking about the present, of course, but whatever future was in store for them—whatever that looked like. He rested his head atop the other’s shoulder, staring blankly ahead of them at the window they faced. The dark curtains were drawn, but he could still see the silhouettes of the trees outside, their branches whipping in a strong wind that seemed to have kicked up at some point during their conversation. 

“I am sorry that I’m not a less complicated person,” came another gentle apology, as he was wont to do when he felt insecure. And god, Gael didn’t even know the half of it.

The wind outside screamed through the trees now and even rattled the window, injecting that tension back into his body language with a swiftness. He lifted his head again, his stare changing from passive to fixated on the weather that was outside their little motel room, doubt weaving its way through his words. “... you have got to be joking—” he’d started to say, but the unmistakable, far off roll of thunder silenced him, catching the rest of the sentence in his throat. 

—

Gael remained quiet, also looking off into the distance at nothing in particular as he expected Monty to pull away from him but instead rested his head on the professor’s shoulder. He was so cold but Gael didn’t know what it was or how he could fix it at the time unless he wanted to ask about it and right now didn’t seem like the right moment. So he just continued to exist with Monty though his brow started to knit in the middle as he observed the worsening weather outside - he had hoped the moisture in the air from earlier would either go around them or stop before it reached the motel. He smiled softly and he opened his mouth to say something in response to what all Monty said (which wasn’t very much) when he was also sent a tension in his body at the sound of the thunder. “Well…” Gael managed to scoff and he kept his dark eyes on the window, deciding right then and there that as far as he was concerned, he already confronted one of his biggest fears that evening and he was explicitly told not to go, which he didn’t realize he wanted to hear but he was so very happy to have heard it. His hand subconsciously searched for one of Monty’s. “You don’t need to apologize for being complicated.” He said, keeping his voice even as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end in anticipation for the encroaching storm. “Humans are complex; a lot of stuff in life is but that’s why we have each other - that way maybe things can be a little easier to tackle, no matter how difficult and complicated they are.”

—

Feeling Gael’s fingers slide over his own, Monty grasped the offered hand readily, his anxiety beginning the slow climb that it always did whenever there was a storm. It made the bite mark on his arm ache in a way that surely had to be a figment of his imagination, not only because of how long it had been since the bite had occurred, but also because of his dulled sense of touch. 

With his fingers laced through Gael’s, his grip tightened and he reached with his free hand to press it over the scar and tattoo on his forearm, the latter of which was only just peeking out from beneath his sleeve. 

Gael was saying something, but Monty was having trouble focusing. Stretching out in front of him was a flat desert with a mesa in the distance, rather than the ugly motel wallpaper and window that was their shared reality. Don’t need to apologize. That’s why we have each other.

All he could do was nod, resting his head back on Gael’s shoulder again and closing his eyes, willing himself to calm down. It was just a storm. This was the same thing he told himself every time, but it never really helped. It had gotten to the point that if there was a storm in the forecast, Alan would make sure to take time off and invite Monty over so the two could attempt to ignore it together. It was pretty hit or miss, but still better than being alone. He was thankful he wasn’t alone now.

“... what is it, for you? About them—the storms,” he asked softly, eyes still shut. 

—

Brown eyes saw movement out of his peripheral vision as Gael kept them on the darkened weather outside and he felt his breath seem to steady itself, not realizing that it had elevated, when Monty took him on the offer to hold hands. They weren’t warm, not like Gael’s but the latter had since realized that he tended to run hot anyway. This storm, while inherently making Gael uncomfortable, was much worse on Monty and the professor could feel the anxiety radiating from the cowboy. “Uh…” Gael gulped silently, the words hesitating as they sat on his tongue. He’d never told anyone from town about why and indeed, he didn’t know if he actually stopped long enough to think about it when confronted with the question that no one asked him before. He didn’t even think he was actually afraid of thunderstorms and yet, he did remember the cold sweat, the latent fear, the way the lightning was burned onto his eyelids when he closed them quickly as though trying to avoid it. He felt Monty’s head on his shoulder, their fingers intertwined. He felt their bodies touching though the level of intimacy was under fire in Gael’s brain as he suddenly wondered if he should’ve been there at all, regardless of intention. Alan should’ve been there where he was right now. Kaden should’ve been where he was right now. Gael was presuming too much again. He was also mentally stalling, trying to justify why he felt like it was okay for him to hold Monty’s hand after they just had a conversation where he had convinced himself that whatever was between him and Monty wasn’t reciprocated by the cowboy. Gael LITERALLY just said that he wanted to help Monty and yet, here he was, his body language betraying him. He had no excuses. “When I was a child living in Guatemala, we used to have really bad flash floods.” He explained slowly, quietly. “But they weren’t unmanageable. But my friends and I… remember when I said we also did stupid stuff?” He raised his eyebrows, recalling one of their online conversations from a little while back. “One time, after we had a bad storm, we dared each other to swim through a car that was flooded, and…” The professor’s breath caught in his throat. “So uh, after that, the rest of us didn’t, uh, didn’t do that anymore.” Gael forced out a nervous laugh as though to play it off. “So I guess it’s not… storms so much as it’s what they leave behind.” He took a deep breath, trying to erase the shakiness of it. Another one, calmer, more controlled. “Though the thunder is way too loud for my liking nowadays.” He added, trying to put a playful spin on his explanation even if both those things were true; he’d found himself increasingly intolerant for loud noises of late, even non-thunder things.

—

Listening to Gael talk did make it easier to ignore the howling wind outside, but of course it wasn’t a cure-all. Still, his thoughts managed to turn away from that night in 1887 and instead focus on what his friend was telling him, imagining the flood waters and submerged car, with a group of children swimming through it like a game. 

Until one didn’t make it, of course. 

He opened his eyes again, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I am sorry that you… had to go through that. It sounds awful.” The hand that had been clutching at his own arm slowly released its grip, and he ached to tell Gael about the old wound. About everything. But how could he? The man didn’t even know he was a werewolf, yet. Monty could not, he would not be the one to open that particular floodgate. It wasn’t his right. “But I can understand how something like that would still affect you now.” He wondered if there was a way around it, maybe. A way to share some things without giving away his secret. 

The thunder rumbled louder now as it drew closer, and the first pitter-patters of rain on the window were quick to follow. Hm. Going out might not be in the cards at this point. But Gael still needed to eat something. The suggestion to order in could wait a few more minutes, though. There was some kind of reframing of their relationship happening right now, and Monty didn’t want to interrupt it. 

“I… almost died, once.” He had died. “The weather that day was just as terrible as it is now.” It seemed the darkest days of his life were intrinsically tied to foul weather, like the universe was trying as hard as it could to make it dramatic. With his free hand (and some amount of hesitation), Monty pulled the hem of his shirt up, sliding it up to expose the scars he’d gotten from being shot by those lawmen that’d not really healed right since he’d turned in the middle of it. There was one just below his ribs on his right side, another barely visible underneath the waist of his jeans on his left hip, and the third was directly over his heart. A killing shot in any other situation. “Strange how I remember the smell of rain from that day more than I do the taste of blood in my mouth or the sounds of screams.” 

— Gael gave a soft expression when Monty offered his sympathies; it wasn’t what he had in mind, telling Monty about the things that bothered him like that, but the two had this… well, he said it earlier. Monty was in this special place and Gael wasn’t one for obstructing the things that made him the way he was or hiding the truth to increase drama later down the line. Just as he wasn’t secretive about anything, instead just offering answers when he was asked the questions. He felt his brow furrow slightly at the sound of the thunder though he simultaneously felt like another small weight had been lifted… it had been a while since he told someone else this small aspect of his life, of his history and a moment that changed him whether he was aware of it or not until it reared its formidable head. Don’t go. Gael was still looking out of the window when Monty spoke again and he turned his head quickly to instead look over at the other man. Monty almost died? The sentence was still going through his mind as though he couldn’t quite believe it when the cowboy hitched his henley shirt up, revealing one, two, three knotted scars that looked as though they were… bullet wounds. The professor’s eyes danced over each of them, particularly the one that rested over Monty’s heart and he wanted to ask what happened and how he managed to survive. Part of Gael also wondered if that was why Monty was so cold - poor circulation due to a traumatic heart injury? His own free hand slowly drifted over to them, gently moving in the air, imitating their shapes with his first two fingers when he suddenly clenched his hand and pulled it close to him as though he’d just touched something burning. What the HELL was he doing? “I’m… so sorry that happened.” Gael breathed, his gaze searching for Monty’s again and he felt emotion starting to well up, manifesting as tears wetting his eyes. “I can’t imagine how traumatizing that is. But… I’m so very glad you’re still here.” He punctuated his empathy with a small hope, the sun at the end of the storm. It wasn’t helped by the rain as more of it pounded against the window and the rolling thunder but he wanted to express the sentiment all the same. “...We remember things through smell because it’s the sense most closely associated with memory.” He explained quietly. “Thank you for telling me about that.” He was being so stupid. You aren’t supposed to thank people for sharing their experiences when that was the experience, were you? “I can also imagine why this weather affects you now, too.” At least Gael’s was a childhood friend. Experience, even if learned vicariously through someone else’s life, was the best teacher but he couldn’t imagine being the one who almost died, himself.

— When Gael pulled his hand away, Monty let the shirt fall back down around his waist. “Me, too,” he agreed softly, even though he wasn’t sure how true that was. Not for a lack of enjoying his current company, of course, just… life circumstances as a whole. Unlife circumstances. Still, the professor’s ability to manifest a fun scientific fact for damn near any situation, even one like this, made him smile warmly. “I didn’t know that,” he admitted, going quiet again as thoughts overtook him. 

His free hand now settled against his own throat, fingers grasping at the nape of his neck, as if hoping to massage all the way all the admissions that wanted to spill from him. The last time he’d suggested the idea that he wasn’t a good person, Gael had rather passionately shut him down. But that didn’t make it untrue, it was just that Gael didn’t have the full picture. 

And neither did Kaden. 

And it wasn’t fair to either of them.

“The reason I have these…” Really, the reason he had any of the many small scars that marked his skin from the days before his first death, “It’s…” His brows knitted and he squinted his eyes closed against another clap of thunder, breathless in the wake of the lightning flash that followed, illuminating the room for a split second in blinding brightness. His hand grasped his neck tighter and he struggled onward, his words wavering with the fear that’d seeped into him and was settling in his bones. “That thing I said, on the mountain.” A beat. “I used to be a very different person, Gael. I earned these wounds, and I should not have come back from them.” Another beat. “There is so much I want to tell you, but I—I can’t. I just—I wonder if this was a mistake. All of it. Settling in town, letting Alan convince me to stay, starting the farm, meeting you and Kaden and allowing those… those barriers to start coming down, I—” It wasn’t fair. Wasn’t right. Not when he couldn’t be honest. “I often think I should have just stayed in México.” A place where his past would catch up with him eventually. Where he’d atone for all those terrible things he’d done during the turn of the century. “I—I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m saying this. It just feels wrong to not say it.” He lifted his chin and looked over at Gael, seeing the tears there and feeling his heart break just a little more. He didn’t deserve this compassion, he knew that. But saying it aloud was… daunting, because what if Gael actually left? What if they all did? What then? He was too much of a coward to hammer that final nail into his own coffin.

— The little science fact might’ve been Gael’s foolish attempt at mitigating some of the intensity in the conversation but as the rain prevailed outside, beating on the walls and bringing with it the more pronounced flashes of lightning and claps of thunder, he came to the conclusion that while he wasn’t in the most rational of thought processes at the moment, Monty probably fared worse if his body language was to be accurately interpreted. Then he spoke up. Monty mentioned the mountain, what he said that day and Gael recalled the scenario uncomfortably in his head - Monty made a comment about ‘all the bad things he’d done’ and that launched the professor into an unneeded, over dramatic monologue championing the cowboy. He remembered these awkward checkpoints in their relationship, trying to glean insight from them, to be better for both himself and Monty going forward. He wasn’t perfect, by any means, but as the other man continued, Gael swallowed the urge to get into another speech about it. So, Gael ruminated on what all Monty had told him as they sat on the bed next to each other in a motel room six hours away from anything familiar. He blinked back the rest of the tears that threatened to fall after looking down briefly and accidentally letting one or two fall, not knowing why he was reacting the way he was but he felt as though there was a lot of information Monty had told him just now, and yet… something about Gael, whether it was something he said or did, made it so that Monty couldn’t be honest with him. Monty looked at him and Gael looked back, his brow furrowed with concern between them. “Please don’t apologize.” He said softly. He picked up their hands that were still tightly laced together, lifting them and moving his hand until they were in a more comfortable position between them. “I can’t… pretend to know what horrible things you’ve had to endure in your past.” He exhaled; if Monty could recall what he said on the mountaintop, so could he. “And I won’t assume that nothing from it has contributed to how you are today.” Another deep breath, keeping his eyes on Monty. The only part of Gael’s face that betrayed him when he saw the lightning strike again, once more accompanied with the roar of thunder was his eyebrows twitching subconsciously as he pushed the sound away forcibly. “But what I can do is offer my hand should you need something to grab onto.” He placed his other hand atop theirs, feeling both cold and warm on his palm. Don’t go into a speech, don’t go into a speech. “You’re… here for a reason. You came back from those wounds for a reason. You may have earned them, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t learned from them. “You told me not to go.” His expression softened. More fighting back tears for his friend, the torment he must’ve been going through if he couldn’t tell him what was truly on his mind, the notion that he earned a shot to the heart and that he shouldn’t have survived it. He wanted to apologize for not being good enough, for not being there for Monty to be able to share what was weighing so heavily on his mind. But… “Please don’t go.”

—

Gael sure had a knack for making Monty sound like the victim in the past he couldn’t know about. He’d not endured anything—he’d done it willingly, happily, even… if only to please the person that had asked those things of him. That didn’t make him a victim, but more of a tool. A thing to be used until it was old and worn out, and eventually discarded. And he had been, hadn’t he? He’d thrown his life away to protect the man that would never love him the way he wanted, and that same man turned on him in a split second. 

Yes, he’d risen from the dead and attacked their friends. Their family. But god, wasn’t his loyalty worth anything? His unwavering, unyielding love? Hector hadn’t even paused to try and understand, to try and figure out what was happening, he’d just fired his gun, and—

No. It wasn’t fair to be angry about that. Monty was a monster then as much as he was a monster now, and he couldn’t ask anyone to understand or accept that. Especially not with his hands and mouth slicked in blood and viscera. Besides, that was in the past. There was something more important happening now, and he needed to focus on that. 

It wasn’t easy to hold Gael’s gaze; Monty had to fight to keep from looking away. But he appreciated everything his friend was saying, and how earnestly he was saying it. “I know,” he breathed. “I won’t.” It was a promise of sorts—the man had wormed a hole so deep in the dirt that was piled atop the cowboy’s grave that he’d broken through the other side and found a comfortable place to rest over his heart in record time. It probably had everything to do with how open and genuine he was. He made it easy for Monty to want to speak his mind. He couldn’t… but he wanted to. That in and of itself was nothing short of a miracle. 

He lifted a hand to the other’s face, his gaze falling on the tear stains there as they were wiped away by his thumb. This was… intimate. Too intimate, probably. But he couldn’t bring himself to care enough to stop this time. Not when he knew he was wanted. Actually wanted. Gael was happy he was here. He didn’t want him to disappear like he had so many times before. They were so far from home. So far from all the other things that occupied Monty’s mind these days.

“... I suppose we ought to order in, instead, eh?” He said softly, offering some levity, though his hand remained in its place.

— ‘I won’t’. Gael exhaled quietly, relief washing over him. Of course, Gael couldn’t actually control Monty - the man was his own person and if moving or going back would be in his best interest, then surely Gael would be able to treat the situation delicately and with grace. But he too was selfish, possessive even in how he didn’t want anyone to go once he’d formed that too-easy attachment to them. Then Monty put a cold hand on his face and for a moment Gael felt as though he’d been there before, comforting someone on a bed, only he was the one to wipe away tears. Wait… had he been crying? He wasn’t even aware. Should he kindly and considerately move Monty’s hand away so as to not give him the wrong impression, stop confusing the poor man further considering that he and Kaden had actually gone on a date whereas he and Gael hadn’t? Or did he not even want to consider his embarrassment and let the other man do what he wanted? He carefully weighed each option and ultimately decided that he was too afraid of scaring Monty’s physical affections off for good, so he let the hand stay. What he HADN’T known was that he found himself leaning into it ever-so-slightly. This conversation had been enlightening in more than one way for him. He approached the shelf on his mind, looking through the bottles and removing several smaller ones regarding Monty; after their short but close relationship, he came to the realization that he didn’t want to probe him anymore. Gael didn’t need to confront him about the questions he had. He’d go forward in the way he wanted and that was to support and help Monty where he could. And this interaction, their intimacy and solidarity in the storm was between them; no Alan, no Kaden, no Elias or anyone else needed to know this. He didn’t want to confuse anyone anymore and he didn’t own anyone or their feelings. How jealous and confused he got at the soccer game was unwarranted. At the offer of ordering in, Gael managed a laugh, small and genuine with a nod and he looked out into the churning storm once more. “Yeah, I think that might be a good idea.”

[givemeanaccountalready]

My favorite chemical test is the flame test because if it’s not sodium, there’s a chance of a really cool flame!

Potassium is a nice violet. I believe strontium burns a nice, lightsaber red. Lithium also burns red but if I remember right it is a pinker shade of red. Copper is green and so is barium. I believe that they’re different shades. Sodium burns orange, which is why I find it boring.

It’s all because of the electrons of these metals! They jump up to the first excited state because of the heat from the Bunsen burner’s flame, and then they drop back down to the ground state. To drop down, they release energy as a form of light and that’s what we see in the form of flame color. The color variation is because different metals have different energy differences between their ground and excited states, and the energy of the photon is indirectly proportional to the wavelength, which determines color. Colors on the (ROYGBIV) visible light spectrum that are closer to red light end of the spectrum have lower energy and longer wavelengths than a color closer to the violet light end of the spectrum, which has higher energy but smaller wavelengths.

If I recall correctly, molecules can rotate and even change their polarization because of microwave and infrared light, but it’s not until visible light and beyond that their electrons can reach excited states. I believe that the particle nature of electrons, (like light, electrons are both particles and waves), is what makes it stepwise, not a smooth upturn for absorbing energy. I should be in bed asleep for work but here I am geeking out. The stepwise versus smooth absorption is something you learn in general chemistry so I should know it but I tired, ok?

Night night sleep tight

[newspagesonline]

Elevation Lab TimeCapsule 10-Year Battery Case review: Everlasting AirTag life

Macworld At a glanceExpert’s Rating Pros Estimated 10-year lifespan versus 6 to 12 months for an AirTag-compatible lithium coin battery Waterproof against steam cleaning and high-pressure jets (IP69) Low cost relative to standard rugged waterproof AirTag cases Uses standard AA batteries Screws use standard hex-head style (hex wrench included) Cons Larger form factor compared to…

[chroniclesofschool]

Rookie Student: Trials & Tribulations

A Math 3 Blog Regarding What Happened this 2nd Quarter by Ryxell Gaea M. Bravo of 9 - Lithium

⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

Functions line the board, a language I can barely comprehend unfolds before my eyes as I stare at the scribbled over pages of my notebook, failed attempts and the weight of stupidity starting to sink into my shoulders as the rest of my classmates stand to bid the teacher goodbye.

“What do I do?” I asked myself after the ordeal I had just experienced. My gaze shifts to my friends, taking in how easily they absorb the new lesson while I sit here and start putting the lesson in the back of my mind out of fear and self-defense, if I may put it.

a. How would you describe your Math 3 second quarter learning journey? This scenario describes what mainly plays out every time Math comes up: nerve-wracking and desolate.

Though of course, nothing stays the same forever.

I usually find it in myself to finally start grasping the concept when I really should have mastered it by now, say for example, quizzes, seat works, and most of all, exams. Reflecting on what I usually do when it comes to problems like these, it never resurfaces unless I’m forced to face it head on. Perhaps it’s because I’m caught in the stress filled tides of my own making (only starting on submissions the night or hour before they are due) or it’s because I tend to distract myself to get away from my responsibilities that I don’t prioritize my genuine academic learning over what gives me dopamine. I know I shouldn’t be saying this as a scholar, but this is honestly been feeling for every subject that isn’t HUMSS oriented.

By God’s miracle, I’m still in this school, and am still experiencing Math 3. This brings me to my next point of discussion which is consulting help from my friends. I plan to finally consult my tutor by this quarter and fix myself up (hopefully) before the next round of exams. To be honest, if they weren’t there I might have been kicked out by now.

b. Which topic did you find most enjoyable? What made it enjoyable for you? Provide clear images of your solutions to sample problems or exercises on the topic.

Surprisingly, I had a few topics I enjoyed such as solving for the inverse of functions (note that this doesn’t include finding the domain and range, which I’ll get to later), floor, and ceiling functions. Inverse is just messing around with the function until it comes out right (in my experience at least). Below is the initial computations I made during the seat work we had before our exams.

Inverse Functions (ceiling & floor is further down):

c. What concepts did you find easy to learn? What do you think made them easy for you? Floor and ceiling functions only requires you to round up and round down the function respectively, which is why I found them relatively easy. Below are examples.

Ceiling and Floor Functions:

d. What concepts did you find most interesting/inspiring? Why do you think so? To be honest, I didn’t necessarily find any topic interesting nor inspiring. However, if I were to mention a topic that ‘amused’ me in a sense, it would be dividing polynomials!! That part was fun.

Most of my interests and inspirations come from something I can relate to or understand well, and math doesn’t fall into either of these categories, unfortunately. I could change that, yes, but the dedication that’ll take will test my perseverance, consistency, and my motivation to keep pushing myself to continue because it will benefit myself in the long run, and that’s something I’m yet to be sure of and slightly concerned about. My experience with perseverance isn’t the best. As a writer whose only motivation is to get my ideas out there, even I haven’t finished one of my ideas although I went through lengths such as logging when I write, my word count for the day versus my target, and the thought that “no one will read, so why continue”? Though connecting this to math and to one of the topic’s I genuinely enjoyed, it reminds me that not every turn nor topic I have to tackle is always dark and dreary, but rather it truly is a test of perseverance to see the light at the end of the tunnel (understanding and being able to solve problems).

e. What concepts have you mastered most? Why do you think so? Provide clear images of your solutions to sample problems or exercises on the topic.

I’d like to think the concepts I’ve mastered most are dividing polynomials and the floor and ceiling functions. Dividing polynomials is merely dividing, though it is often used as a leeway into solving other complex problems in which I start to lose understanding in. Same goes for floor and ceiling functions. An honorable mention would be finding the inverse functions, though I can not (for the life of me) find its domain and range and properly graph it out.

Below are my solutions to sample problems or exercises of it:

Dividing Polynomials:

f. What concepts have you mastered the least? Why do you think so? Provide clear images of your solutions to sample problems or exercises on the topic.

Possibly every other topic I haven’t mentioned already. Majority of the theorems from the first half of the quarter, how to get the domain and range of inverse functions and transformations of functions.

Mixture of Descartes' Rule of Signs, Rational Root Theorem, Synthetic & Long Division of Polynomials:

Transformations of Functions:

g. What quick notes do you have for: i. your teacher; Sir Joseph!! You’re so cool po, your mastery of math as a whole shines through your discussion, though I’m afraid the knowledge you’re providing us with doesn’t fully register in my brain sometimes. (IT’S A ME PROBLEM PO HUHU 🥹)

ii. your classmates; and They’re very cool and smart. I’m very thankful they’re willing to help me out when I need it.

iii. yourself? I need to get myself together sooner than later because I know fully well I’m gonna crumble if I keep living like “this”: always rushing to beat deadlines, accepting the consequences of late submissions due to procrastination, and forgetting to revise on topics I don’t know out of fear.

IN A NUTSHELL:

me most of the time in math: that one time i get the lesson:

Adding Kazuma Asogi as well bc he's my stress reliever 🥹

~ FIN ~

[oilgasenergymagazine]

ExxonMobil Boosts Oil Production Amid Supply Glut Concerns

https://oilgasenergymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1-ExxonMobil-Boosts-Oil-Production-Amid-Supply-Glut-Concerns-Source-reuters.com_.jpg

Source: reuters.com

Category: News

  

ExxonMobil Ramps Up Spending to Expand Output

ExxonMobil, the U.S. oil giant, has announced plans to increase oil production by 18% by the end of the decade, despite global concerns about oversupply. The company revealed on Wednesday that it will ramp up capital expenditures to $27-$29 billion in 2025 and between $28-$33 billion annually from 2026 to 2030. This strategic investment will push production from its current level of 4.6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) to 5.4 million boe/d by 2030, surpassing the output of some OPEC member countries.

Exxon’s move reflects a significant shift in its strategy since a shareholder revolt in 2020, which criticized its heavy focus on fossil fuels. However, the energy security concerns sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have renewed interest in oil, benefiting companies like Exxon that continue to prioritize fossil fuel investments. CEO Darren Woods emphasized that shareholders expect Exxon to outperform competitors and deliver higher value. Woods stated, “Our investors are interested in ExxonMobil growing the value of their holdings and doing it in a way that is advantaged versus the rest of our competitors.”

Global Market Challenges and OPEC Frustration

ExxonMobil’s ambitious production plans arrive amid sluggish demand and fears of a supply glut. On the same day as Exxon’s announcement, OPEC cut its oil demand forecasts for 2024 and 2025, signaling caution in response to weak consumption trends. OPEC has already committed to holding back supplies to stabilize prices, a strategy that could be tested by Exxon’s increased output. Analysts, such as Paul Sankey, suggest Exxon’s aggressive production targets could frustrate key oil producers like Saudi Arabia. “I don’t think the Saudis are going to love this presentation,” Sankey remarked.

Exxon’s confidence stems from its low-cost production capabilities, particularly in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico and offshore Guyana. By focusing on regions where production costs are minimal, the company aims to remain competitive even if global prices fall. At the same time, the possibility of Donald Trump returning to office could further boost Exxon’s prospects. Trump has pledged to slash regulations and increase domestic oil production, which could drive down fuel prices and strengthen U.S. energy dominance.

Balancing Oil Growth with Low-Carbon Investments

While ExxonMobil plans significant growth in fossil fuel output, it is also eyeing investments in low-carbon technologies. The company intends to spend up to $30 billion between 2025 and 2030 on initiatives such as carbon capture, hydrogen, and lithium production. However, these plans could face hurdles if Trump’s policies cut green energy subsidies, a scenario CEO Woods acknowledged. “How far we choose to go, how much we choose to invest will be a function in the early days of the policies that are put in place,” Woods explained.

Despite Exxon’s optimistic outlook, some analysts remain cautious about its long-term performance. RBC Capital Markets forecasts weaker cash flow yields for Exxon compared to its competitors in the coming years, raising questions about the company’s ability to deliver on its promises. Analyst Biraj Borkhataria commented that Exxon’s new growth areas, such as low-carbon ventures, remain “nascent,” and markets may remain skeptical until there is concrete evidence of success.

ExxonMobil’s bold strategy signals its commitment to growth in a challenging energy market, but balancing fossil fuel expansion with emerging low-carbon initiatives remains a delicate task.

[dorleco]

FCEVs or BEVs-The Future of Mobility

Introduction

The depletion of fossil fuel reserves and its adverse impacts on the environment have emerged as major catalysts for innovation as manufacturers increasingly rely on alternative energy sources to power their vehicles. Both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are among the most promising options for environmentally friendly transportation. These two technologies seek to meet the increasing demands for mobility, increase efficiency, and solve sustainability issues. However, considering issues like limited lithium sources and developing fuel cell capabilities, there is still disagreement about which of these technologies should be prioritized.

This blog examines the FCEVs or BEVs controversy, weighs the benefits of each, and predicts which technology will likely rule certain areas of the transportation industry.

The Connection between FCEVs or BEVs

The idea that fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries are competing technologies is a prevalent misunderstanding in the FCEVs or BEVs debate. In actuality, these two systems work well together and provide a range of answers to the efficiency and sustainability issues the automobile sector faces. The future of transportation will probably be defined by the coexistence of these two technologies, which are essential parts of electric mobility solutions.

BEVs require lithium-ion batteries, but fuel cells work by a chemical redox reaction in which hydrogen combines with oxygen to create water and energy. Fuel cells are becoming a serious option, especially for applications that call for lighter powertrains and greater range. Battery and fuel cell technologies will work in tandem to solve certain mobility issues rather than taking the place of one another.

Current Issues in the Market

Range and payload capacity are two of the most important issues when it comes to sustainable mobility, especially in the heavy-duty transportation industry. The normal range of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) on a single fuel tank is 400 miles, which is a common benchmark for efficiency.

However, this range requirement has not yet been fully met by FCEVs or BEVs, particularly when significant payloads are involved:

Limitations of the battery:

Because BEV batteries are often heavy, the vehicle’s load and, thus, its energy usage are increased.

For example, the Hummer EV’s battery weighs nearly as much as a small car like the Honda Civic. Such a big battery weight reduces cargo capacity and energy efficiency.

The Emergence of Fuel Cell Technology:

Although they are still in their infancy, fuel cell systems provide lighter powertrains and a higher energy density.

Infrastructure, storage, and manufacturing of hydrogen are very expensive and undeveloped.

Because laws frequently regulate the maximum axle weight, these trade-offs become crucial in heavy-duty applications. To comply with weight regulations, designers are compelled to decrease battery size, which consequently diminishes range. Because of this restriction, automakers are now concentrating on BEV economy versus performance trade-offs.

FCEVs or BEVs: A Comparative Overview

To better understand the strengths and weaknesses of each technology, the following table summarizes key performance factors:

CriteriaFCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles)BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles)RangeLonger range; ideal for heavy-duty applicationsLimited range, especially for heavy loadsRefueling/Charging TimeQuick refueling (5–10 minutes)Longer charging times (30 minutes — 2 hours)Energy DensityHigh energy density; lightweight powertrainLower energy density; heavier battery weightInfrastructureLimited hydrogen fuelling infrastructureThe growing network of charging stationsCostExpensive due to hydrogen production & storageRelatively lower, but battery costs are highDynamic PerformanceLess dynamic; ideal for static energy supplyExcellent dynamic performanceApplicationsBest for long-distance and heavy-duty transportIdeal for short-range, light-duty vehiclesEnvironmental ImpactEmissions-free but energy-intensive hydrogen productionEmissions-free but lithium mining is resource-intensive

2. Payload and Range

Payload capacity and range are important considerations in long-distance and commercial transportation. In this regard, FCEVs are superior because:

The lighter weight of the fuel cell powertrain allows for a higher carrying capacity.

Greater range is made possible by FCEVs’ increased energy storage capacity without significantly increasing vehicle weight.

The weight of high-capacity batteries, on the other hand, limits the payload and range of BEVs. Because of this trade-off, FCEVs are a more desirable option for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, logistics, and long-distance transportation.

3. Infrastructure and Cost

The high expense of producing, storing, and developing infrastructure for hydrogen poses a barrier to the broad adoption of FCEVs. The infrastructure for hydrogen refueling stations is still lacking, and producing hydrogen fuel requires a lot of energy.

BEVs, on the other hand, profit from a growing network of EV charging stations and continuous improvements in battery technology, which are bringing down prices over time. However, a long-term issue with BEV scalability is the limited availability of lithium.

Which Technology Is Better, FCEVs or BEVs?

Instead of considering FCEVs or BEVs as rival technologies, the discussion should focus on determining which option best meets a particular set of transportation requirements:

For short-distance passenger travel and urban transit, battery electric vehicles, or BEVs, are perfect.

Heavy-duty and long-distance applications, where rapid recharging, extended range, and high payload capacity are essential, are ideal for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs).

While BEVs are more appropriate for private automobiles, taxis, and smaller delivery vehicles, FCEVs are especially attractive for commercial vehicles, buses, and trucks. When combined, these technologies can meet the many needs for environmentally friendly transportation.

Dorleco’s BEV and FCEV Development Initiatives

At Dorleco, we acknowledge the significance of both BEVs and FCEVs influencing the direction of transportation in the future. Our development work is concentrated on producing reliable software for fuel cell and battery systems, such as:

Balanced Cell Algorithms

employ sophisticated balancing procedures to maximize battery longevity and performance.

Estimating SOC using Kalman Filters

For dependable energy management, an accurate State of Charge (SOC) estimate is essential.

Control and Thermal Modelling

Ensuring effective fuel cell and battery heat management.

Integration of Fuel Cell Controller and BMS Controller

CAN architecture integration for smooth performance and communication.

Validation and Verification of Batteries

Carrying out thorough testing on charging and discharging to confirm the dependability and effectiveness of the system.

Quick Control Prototyping

Use raptured tools to design systems and prototypes quickly.

At Dorleco, our team is committed to developing both technologies to satisfy changing consumer needs and environmental objectives. We provide specialized solutions that support both BEVs and FCEVs by fusing our knowledge of software development and system modeling.

Contact us at info@dorleco.com for additional details on our EV software services and VCU products, CAN Keypads, and CAN Displays. Let us assist you in reaching your objectives for sustainable mobility.

Conclusion

Two different but complementary strategies for sustainable mobility are highlighted by the FCEVs or BEVs discussion. FCEVs are viable options for heavy-duty and long-distance transportation, whereas BEVs are expected to rule light-duty and urban applications. Automakers can solve present issues and quicken the shift to a cleaner, more efficient future by utilizing the advantages of both technologies.

Our goal at Dorleco is to use cutting-edge software development and system integration to propel innovation in FCEV and BEV solutions. By working together, we can use efficient and sustainable technology to influence how people move in the future.

[table-cat-games]

I know you're excited for another Ghostbusters proton pack post! I believe I finished with proton pack number #3, which is a spirit Halloween pack that is about 80% the size of a "real life" one.

"Why do you have this?" you ask after I posted that I have a Haslab pack that I did work on recently. There's a couple reasons. The first is that the Haslab kit is heavier by about 5 pounds and I want something to wear if I'm walking around and getting hot. Also, now I have a pack that I can loan out to either my significant other or a friend if they wanted to Ghostbust with me. Finally, the Haslab pack doesn't have as much interactivity as this one does with the electronics.

You see, I put in a lot of bells and whistles with this one. I installed lights, sounds, and did a fair number of cosmetic upgrades.

First up is the Alice frame which is always a must for a proton pack. I also remove the cardboard motherboard (the backing part) and replace it with a wood motherboard from Frankenlabs. Finally I put some gaffers tape around the foam padding stuff.

I got this copper ion arm from Etsy and added it to the pack and I think it really brings a lot to it.

Here you can see some of the weathering I did which is pretty okay, but not perfect.

Also notice that the cyclotron cover (the big round circle thing that covers those lights up) is a 3D printed kit to beef it up a little bit.

Here you can compare and contrast my version versus a out of the box one.

And here's a video of me going through the firing modes.

List of everything I did to this pack:

Replaced wand with Hasbro Spangler wand.

Cut off the fake tape on the Spangler wand replaced it with hockey tape also put hockey tape around the front grip.

Added V Hook on pack (connector for Spangler wand)

Sound kit/electronics kit to connect Spangler want to the pack.

An electronics kit inside the pack to replace the lights and add sounds.

Added a rechargeable lithium ion battery.

Metal ion arm

Cyclotron cover

New ribbon cable

Weathering

Added stickers, some more electrical tape and a couple of added wires

New motherboard

Alice frame