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the1stn0elle · 4 years ago

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Attack on Titan Analysis Prt.1

This analysis will contain MAJOR spoilers for the AoT series, so if you wish to not have anything spoiled be warned now. This is also not a FULL analysis of the series since it is so ridiculously plot heavy. It would take probably over 100 pages for me to get to everything I'd want to, so this is all for now :)

Summary:

Attack on Titan (AoT) follows the story of a civilization of people forced into living trapped behind walls due to the fear of the giant human-like creatures called titans who thirst for nothing but human flesh and blood. Titans have terrorized the remainder of humanity for many years and the population has been kept safe behind the 3 walls Maria, Rose, and Shina for an entire century. The main 3 characters of the story Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert witness the end of a century of peace as the colossal peeks above the 60-meter tall walls that have successfully protected humanity for 100 years and kick a giant hole in it, exposing all of the civilians to the horrors of the bloodthirsty titans. The 3 friends strive to become members of the survey corps, a group dedicated to protecting the people from titans and uncovering the many mysteries of the existence of titans; in order to reach their goals, they must complete grueling training to prepare them for venturing outside the walls to slaughter titans and bring the creatures to their extinction, but the duty of a corps member evolves being prepared for one’s likely and untimely death while fighting against the titans. AoT is a thought-provoking story that is based around perspectives and discovering the mysteries surrounding the near extinction of humanity. Questions are posed throughout as the plot is filled with twists and surprises, and morals are questioned as the viewers grapple with themes such as “do the means justify the ends?” and “who is the real enemy?”.

Analysis:

Part I: Erwin Smith

(MAJOR SPOILERS)

The Monstrous Commander

AoT is very morally complex in the sense that when an entire group of individuals risks their lives by going outside the walls to save humanity, an individual must lead the herd. Said individual goes by the name Erwin Smith, the commander of the survey corps. Erwin is an individual who must send thousands of his soldiers to their death during each expedition outside of the walls; Erwin’s a pretty morally gray character since his job is to ultimately save humanity but the question is at what price? Immeasurable sacrifices are made in the form of human lives as a successful expedition may result in the loss of more than 40% of the soldiers due to being devoured by titans. At an outward appearance, Erwin is a strong leader who is willing to become a monster in order to provide the eventual win of humanity over the titans, but when diving deeper into his character he is a man who is caught up in his childhood desire to learn all the answers to the mysteries about titans and the world that he lives in.

In these few panels, Armin Arlert picks apart how commander Erwin is an amazing leader despite what many people may believe since he has the ability to make sacrifices even though the outcome may be devastating as many lives will most likely be lost in the process. Armin’s opinion of a great leader is brought around again at different points in the story to emphasize its importance.

Part II: Eren Jaeger

The Boy who Wished for Freedom

Eren Jager is the main character of AoT and might be one of the most dynamic characters in his amazing character development throughout the story. Eren starts as a hotheaded teenager whose only desire is to eradicate all the titans after witnessing his mother and hundreds of people die after the collapse of wall Maria by the colossal and armored titans. His bloodthirst for killing the titans is unnerving in its intensity but he’s become dedicated to the cause because he no longer wishes to live like cattle enclosed in walls for the rest of his life. Eren’s core value throughout the entire series is freedom. Each and everything Eren does is to attain freedom in the hellish world he was born into. His value of freedom is most notably portrayed when Eren is out with his father Grisha Jaeger to visit the Ackerman family; Eren finds Mikasa in her home with the dead bodies of her parents accompanied by dangerous individuals attempting to kidnap her. Eren’s solution to the situation is to aid Mikasa in killing the individuals who have murdered her parents. The turn of events is quite frightening as both Mikasa and Eren were only 10 years old at the time, but it highlights Eren’s desire for freedom. He saw that Mikasa’s freedom was being threatened and he felt so passionately about this that he was not fazed at the prospect of killing the kidnappers who were trying to steal someone’s freedom.

Eren and Armin are able to bond over an illegal book that has drawings and descriptions of the world outside the walls and both boys instantly develop the desire to travel outside the walls to go see the vastness and beauty of the ocean. It serves as a goal to mark their eventual freedom from the terrors of the titans.

After the breaching of wall rose by the colossal titan the cadets experience their first real mission and witness many of their comrades die in the jaws of titans. Eren has headstrong and confident as ever lands himself into the stomach of a titan after protecting Armin from being eaten. Eventually, it is revealed that Eren can turn into the creatures he despises with his whole being. A titan. Following the discovery, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are tasked with the challenge of trying to convince the leaders of the military factions that Eren is on humanity’s side and will not resort to killing more people. The major event is followed by many trials and questions in whether or not Eren is a threat to humanity until he is finally taken into the care of the survey corps where commander Erwin and “Humanity’s Strongest” Levi Ackerman are finally able to convince the military police to give them custody of Eren. It is concluded that Eren is to be kept alive as a comrade of humanity as he claims that his childhood home in wall Maria has a basement that holds secrets about the titans.

A Life that Carries Weight

As the story progresses, Eren goes from a headstrong hothead to a boy that carries an immense amount of weight on his shoulders. Eren realizes that his very life holds a great weight; many soldiers and civilians die for the small thread of hope that the Jaeger home’s basement holds important information about the titans that will lead to the victory of humanity. The world of AotT is nothing short of being bleak and void of hope so it is understandable that Erwin and other members of the corps are willing to take the risk because what do they have to lose? Up to this point, Eren has faced numerous great losses ranging from the death of his mother, learning how he caused the death of his father, his most trusted comrades being uncovered as traitors, etc. Eren’s mental state is in tethers as he tries to come to terms with the meaning and value of his life and begins to wonder if he was ever “special” to begin with but has been burdened by a special path of life by his father. All of these events take place in the royal government arc of the story. Historia Reiss (formerly known as Krista), a character who was previously only in the background assumes an important role as it is revealed that she is some of the last bit of true royal blood left in the world.

Following Historia’s growing importance to the story, we learn more about the titans and where they come from. I won’t get into all of the technicalities of the 9 titan powers and whatnot but the most important fact to note is that all titans existed as humans at some point in time. Due to the complexity of the topic, I will only graze the surface and state that humans become titans with an injection of spinal fluid from an individual of Eldian descent, this includes almost all of the humans that reside within the walls (I will come back to this sometime later). Rod Riess, Historia’s father has received help from the interior military police to capture his daughter and Eren to have Historia inherit the power of the attack titan which is currently held by Eren (was given to him by his father Grisha). Eren snd Historia learns that the 9 major titan powers are passed down when one consumes the individual possessing the power; this means Rod wishes to have Historia eat Eren so she gains the attack titan power, meaning the power will be in the hands of a pure royal and only those of royal descent can fully harness the power of the 9 titans.

Eren’s capture by Rod is marked by the total collapse of Eren’s mental fortitude as it all but crumbles when he discovers the crimes his father has committed and the consequences of his actions that have led Eren to shoulder such an enormous burden that the once confident boy has lost all hope in himself and his existence.

Now before I get into the next few parts of Eren’s development I have to address the powers of the attack titan, the power that Eren currently possesses. The individual who carries the power of the attack titan can see the memories of their future inheritors which equates to the user being able to see the future. Up to this point, it has been confirmed that only those of royal blood can fully utilize the 9 titan powers. can

Following the events between Rod Reiss, Eren, and Historia, Historia is tasked with taking the throne as the current king is a fraud. At Historia’s crowning ceremony and the ceremony to commemorate the few survivors of the battle at shiganshina where the corps was finally able to uncover the truth about the titans with the information in Eren’s basement, a simple touch of Historia’s hand grants Eren to fully use the power of the attack titan and the future is revealed to him.

The scene marks the complete loss of the Eren Jaeger the viewers are familiar with and marks a new chapter in the story because at this point forward quite literally everything changes.

#aot manga #aot spoilers #aot analysis #aot season 4

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gordonwhelan · 3 years ago

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Unbroken

Overview

A Prisoner of War movie for the ages!!! This may have been a story that has been overlooked in the war movie listings as there are so many heavy hitters that have gathered a cult following and/or have been known as iconic. I cannot stress this enough ...... this movie is EXCEPTIONAL!!!!

Directed by Angelina Jolie, Unbroken portrays the life of an American - Italian called Louis Zamperini (Jack O’Connell). Zamperini was an Olympian in the 1936 Summer Olympics that were held in Berlin. Zamperini qualified for the 5,000 metres and came 8th in the final.

A few years later Louis enlisted into the US army as a lieutenant. Louis was part of the bomber regiment for the US. Louis is partnered with Russell “Allan” Philips (Domhnall Gleeson) for a search and rescue mission in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. When their bomber crash lands Louis and Allan are stranded on a life raft for 47 days.

With the duo’s life hanging by a thread they are caught by a Japanese army freighter and are taken in as Prisoners of War. The Japanese treat their POW’s harshly. The Japanese work then to the bone, beat them on every occasion necessary and feed them very little. This nature of harshness and hell is fuelled by their Japanese commander Mutsuhiro Watanabe. He fuels the Japanese soldiers with orders of abuse while weilding a massive 4ft long rod that he used to beat the prisoners in every opportunity he had.

This film portrays the US soldiers with the strongest of wills to survive the POW camps of Japan. Unbroken shows 2 scenes in particular that unveil how strong a human can be to ensure their survival!!

Rating

I give this film 8/10

Unbroken is one of them films that you can not believe what happened unless you want the scenes unfold in front of your eyes. This film is a real threat to watch and shows us a modern depiction of the POW’s in Japan during World War 2. Unbroken doesn’t have to worry about trying to be better than Saving Private Ryan or Hacksaw Ridge. It stands on a pedestal by itself and it greatly deserves that position. This film is a must watch for all war film lovers!!!!

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palettepainter · 4 years ago

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18 for any of your Hell High teachers.

18, Things they’ll never admit

Hijinx - Hijinx’s power relates to her being able to go long periods of time without eating, and also being able to eat anything even if it’s not edible. With her dying from starvation this is an affect of how she died passed on into her demon form. Hijinx claims to have refined tastes, she likes to experiment with different foods and forces the other teachers to try it with her. Honestly cooking is one of the few things Hijinx will be genuinely enthusiastic about. As said, she claims to have refined tastes, cooking her food herself and rarely ordering take away - if she ever eats out she does it in style....But on one particular day where she’d gone a longer period of time then usual for her demon form without food she was pretty ravenous, she ended up gnawing away as a chair for half an hour before she ventured outside to find some actual food. What she ended up doing was dumpster diving and eating a half eaten burger from the schools cafeteria, she’ll never admit that it actually wasn’t that bad and maybe from time to time will order to the one or two greasy burgers (and maybe go dumpster diving once a month-)

Link - So Link is the skittish one of the group no confusion there, and despite not teaching any kids directly (he works as a receptionist to the school) Link still prefers to keep his distance from them, knowing teenagers are evil. More or less he’s the voice of reason among the staff whenever someone suggests something dangerous. Link rarely indulges himself in violence...rarely. Link is still a demon, and in life though regretful of what he did, still helped bad people to do bad things. Link tries to keep his anger in line but he can only take so much. He keeps a baseball bat in his room which he says is for self defense, which is true! But he also uses it to beat up stuff in the schools junk heap. If anyone ever knew about this he’d be very embarrassed because though it does help him feel better, a small part of him still thinks it’s bad. In reality none of the teachers would care, they’re in hell afterall, if anything Butch will probably offer Link to use his training equipment to save him going out in private to let his anger out

Butch - He won’t admit this because he gets embarressed, but he actually has mad respect for drag queens/lgbt members. Butch himself is not very open with his own personal likes and sexuality, it wasn’t something he felt like he could talk about when he was alive, so he kept his mouth shut. He puts up a front of being cold hearted, grumpy and uncaring, but honestly he views drag queens/lgbt demons in hell as some of the strongest people out there. It’s a foreign idea to him to be so open about something so personal, showing off a part of yourself that contributes so much to who you are as a person. He has deep respect for anyone willing to put themselves out there like that. He’s met a few kids in his time teaching who have struggled with this kind of sutff, and get one thing straight - Butch will defend a student. He may not look like one to care, but he does, and he WILL step in and swoop a kind under his protective wing. He’s done this with Francis (Alastor x Mimzy NG), who Butches suspects is anxious over similar stuff but he doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t want Francis to get upset so he keeps quite and wait to see if Francis will come to him to talk about it. Until then Butch keeps an eye on the kid to make sure no one’s pushing him around

Vivid - Honestly couldn’t think of anything for Vivid since he’s a very confident and open person, don’t think he’d have anything he’d want to keep fully secret

Aquarius - He was once dared by the other teachers to try eating fish food as a joke, to which he did, all while holding eye contact. Being a siren Aquarius can eat fish food and does prey on small fish and he likes to go fishing from time to time. He does fishing by himself and often uses a fishing rod, but sometimes he will go in for a swim, indulge in his siren urges and just grab a fish straight from the water with his mouth. He tells himself it’s all for scientific purposes, but nah Aquarius just likes to be a proper siren from time to time. He keeps it secret as he views himself as a gentleman who would never give into his more natural siren instincts, very un-proper of him to just eat a fish raw.

Kitsune - He’s probably a bit of a masochist, I don’t wanna dive into this too much as idk if Tumblr will like it if I do soo I’ll leave it at that

Puppet - He’s become a fan of tailoring and watches tailoring shows in secret. Being a puppet there have been times where he’s gotten caught on something and he’s gotten ripped, so he’s had to learn stitching and sewing incase this ever happens. He finds it therapeutic and keeps some pieces of felt and thread in his chestbox where he lives to help him unwind after a stressful day. He’s also impressed at people who can make full blown outfits and fancy dresses, a teenie tiny part of him kinda wants to try making one

Think that’s all of them? Tell me if I missed any!

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strxga · 5 years ago

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Thoughts & Review on V7C12

This is my personal review for the latest chapter of RWBY. I tried to keep my points objective and organized, and to not take too much time discussing each, and I would sincerely appreciated if it could be given a read. Thank you if you do read it.

Well. It’s finally happened.

After a hazy but relatively positive start, I can say that Chapter 12 is yet another tipping point in a direction. The last chapters of Volume 6 were certainly… A lot, but compared to this one, Volume 6 pales in comparison. This one is… A doozy for several reasons. Let me preface by saying this: I love this show.

I sincerely adore it and the characters, and the reason I’m writing this think piece is precisely because of that. Because it could be so much better, it could be truly a love letter towards Fantasy, anime, and its fandom… But the writers specifically seem to not know how to balance that… But enough ranting. Off to the meatier sections, which I will progressively go from what I liked the most to what I liked the least.

Penny & Winter Scenes

This was, by far, the best written scenes in the episode, and coming from an unlikely pair of friends. Penny has always been emotional despite being a robot while Winter, despite being human, has always acted mechanical. This episode provides a nice contrast between the two, with Penny emphasizing with Winter and trying to get through to her only for Winter to refute her claims, but doing so with a sadness to her face because deep inside she knows James Ironwood’s plan is flawed. In a way, one acts as the other should, but doesn’t. Their awkward but working friendship makes that its mold and comfortably rests atop it.

It’s flawed, but realistically, it’s the best option to take over having to fight Salem with depleted and exhausted forces. The two play off one another marvelously, and this keeps up until Cinder’s entrance (which is another point I’ll discuss later) and the entire time they keep up this great dynamic. Penny asking if it’s going to hurt Fria to transfer her Aura directly to Winter, only for her to once more act as Penny’s foil and say that it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is following orders and keeping the Relic and Maiden Powers safe.

Team ORNJ Scenes

Thankfully this time, it doesn’t take an entire episode to figure out where Oscar is. Frankly, there isn’t much to talk about here, but what little there is of it is good! A problem is established, and then it’s swiftly solved by Neopolitan’s confidence only for everything to fall apart when the real Oscar appears, confirming he wasn’t taken away but had been actually fighting solo against Neopolitan for the lamp.

It establishes he’s no longer the wimp he once was and is making full use of Ozpin’s cane, but I honestly do feel like it was mostly a cat-and-mouse game with Neopolitan stealing the lamp and him chasing after her, because I don’t think he could’ve beaten her on his own. Team ORNJ then sets up to fight Neopolitan, spicing up the fight between them that’s going to take place in the upcoming chapter.

(Upcoming) Neopolitan vs. Team ORNJ

There honestly isn’t much to talk about this regarding on what happened in the episode, but what it did amazingly is set up the fight. We know Neopolitan is an experienced fighter, and strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Cinder without her using her Fall Maiden powers. We also know that Jaune and Ren aren’t the strongest fighters, but they can still hold their own, and them accompanied by Oscar who is slightly below-average but still powerful enough to hold his own and Nora who is, now that Pyrrha’s gone, the strongest member of what remains of Team JNPR, I think the battle between them and our favorite ice cream girl is going to be a highlight of this season, especially with how it was set-up.

Cinder’s Entrance

This is when we start to get into the ‘meh’ section of this episode. Cinder is usually compelling in small doses, but extremely dull, boring and irritable in extended scenes due to how confident, smug and self-assured she is despite her multiple failures ever since the Fall of Beacon. But from a writing perspective, she was amazing. She showed how fearsome she is yet again and that her cleverness is part of her character and not just a plot device. She sent Ironwood into a paranoia and then tracked Winter knowing he’d send her after Fria.

Now, the only thing I don’t get, but this might be just me having forgotten, is if there was one point in which Cinder actually learned Winter was the next candidate to be the Winter Maiden… After all, prior to this point, Cinder had never met or encountered Winter or even less have known of her affiliation with Ironwood in the sense that she is her second-in-command. I have difficulty following that thread of logic… Unless Neopolitan told her at some point? I don’t know. Not knowing is what makes me ‘meh’ about this scene.

Clover, Qrow & Tyrian’s Fight

Taking away the connotations and context from the fight and looking at it purely from a choreography perspective, the fight was amazing and showed all of the fighter’s individual styles and strengths. As per usual, Tyrian was shown as crazed and psychopathic. There is no rhyme, reason or logic to his moves, and therefore there is no pattern or proper way to attack other than improvise. Qrow was versatile in using both his hand-to-hand skills and Harbinger to get the job done, but who stands up the most to me is Clover.

Clover really shows why he’s the leader of the AceOps. He was strategic in using Kingfisher to constantly tie-up Tyrian a few times (I cannot remember if he caught Qrow though) and managed to actually keep up with both of them for a long time! Had it not been for Tyrian’s interference while Clover and Qrow spoke, well… I’ll mention that later. But the point is, Clover was an absolute king in the battlefield and despite his weapon being a fishing rod, he was able to use it tremendously.

Furthermore, what surprised me the most is the fact Qrow and Tyrian worked so well together. They made-up for each other’s flaws whenever Clover had one of them against the ropes, and this surprises me even more considering the fact Tyrian was responsible for Qrow’s closest brush with death. It was… Surprisingly bittersweet.

(Upcoming) Cinder vs. Penny & Winter

Nothing much to talk about here given that this hasn’t yet happened, but as per usual Cinder is flaunting and showing off her power while severely underestimating her opponents. It has been approximately three years since she last saw Penny and since she was rebuilt stronger than before, not to mention the combat experience she’s accrued defending Mantle from the Creatures of Grimm and the occasional bandit and the like.

Winter has also presumably gotten stronger since then, but the scope of her abilities are still unknown since she only engaged in combat once and it was against Qrow all the way back in Volume 3. There’s so many ideas up in the air regarding this upcoming fight that nothing’s stopping me from theorizing Fria will wake up and use her Winter Maiden abilities to kick the snot out of Cinder.

But I am looking forward to what the fight has to offer. I don’t think any of them will die though. Cinder is still too important to the plot as are Penny and Winter for as long as the setting is Atlas.

Clover, Qrow, Robyn & Tyrian Scenes

Yeah. This whole encounter was… It wasn’t exactly ‘bad’ but I felt like the characters here acted completely out of character. Well, sans for Tyrian of course, given that at his core, he is simply a psychopath.

Clover has always been one who acted as one of the most morally-upstanding member of the AceOps as well as the one who was, arguably, given the most screen time. But for some reason, this episode had him betray everything he stood for and wanted to arrest Qrow even though Qrow… Well, what did Qrow even do for Ironwood to want him arrested? That’s another minor nitpick I have about the situation. But with how closely Clover and Qrow had bonded, you’d think he’d try and make sense of the situation instead of acting as a drone even though before he had never done so.

Robyn went from a pragmatic and understanding leader-like figure to, well… Whatever that was. I sincerely can’t understand her character because she isn’t cohesive at all. The only trait about her that remains is her loyalty to Mantle… But that’s it. One moment she’s against Ironwood, the next moment she’s siding with him… Then she sides against him and then once more sides with him. It’s honestly very boring and for someone who is supposed to be based on Robin Hood, she’s never done anything Robin Hood-esque. Even her aesthetic doesn’t match him. She feels like an incomplete character and the only side of her we see is a temperamental, indecisive leader. She couldn’t even tell it wasn’t Penny who attacked her at the election party even though almost every single part of her, weapons included, are bioluminescent. It’s frustrating, really. She should’ve known something was wrong from the get-go when Ironwood gave the order instead of immediately resorting to blind anger.

Qrow… There has never been an instance in the show when Qrow reacted with direct violence ever since Volume 3 while he was drunk. He saw Robyn attack Clover first and decided that he was going to attack Clover when he was the one being assaulted. Robyn and Qrow, as far as I know, never even had a single interaction together one-on-one, and even if he did, he’s always been one to stand against wrongdoings despite his shady demeanor. It honestly sucked seeing him being so out of character this entire chapter because he is a fan-favorite and for good reason. He has had a good amount of development. But he acted on violence instead of simply sitting down and having a talk with both Clover and Robyn. It simply didn’t make sense to me.

AceOps vs. Team RWBY

Just like before, I will focus entirely on an unbiased analysis of how this fight went and criticizing the things that particularly stood out for me whether bad or good. I’ll also be dividing this into subsections because it’s going to be a more direct and easier way for me to do so, and in case anyone’s reading this, that way they can skip ahead to their favorite fight. I watched this battle several times in an attempt to breakdown as best I could. So, let’s start with the main show and the one we saw the most of:

Ruby Rose vs. Harriet Bree

Arguably the most balanced fight out of the four short ones we saw. While I am apprehensive of aspects such as Ruby’s Semblance being able of breaking through iron barricades so easily despite never having alluded or shown her Semblance doing something like that before… I can give it a pass if anything because it made the environment more malleable. Despite that, however, I did like the fast paced match between the fastest members of their respective teams. It’s a very fast battle, but we can see it fully and what we see… Is a fight in which Ruby is on the defensive the entire time, and a battle she should’ve completely lost.

Ruby landed exactly zero hits on Harriet. Zero. Well… Not entirely. She does push Harriet down once but Ruby… Isn’t good at hand-to-hand combat and it’s been shown time over time that she’s not very physically strong so I’d hardly say that counts as a hit… But it does happen. Yet we’re supposed to believe that she was taken out by running into an ice wall created by Weiss at the last moment and that her Aura broke from that? Harriet landed exactly 5 very powerful attacks on Ruby and yet her Aura never even budged. I find that hard to believe. First Ruby got kicked on the face with enough strength to send her flying towards an elevator and break the doors off the wall.

Then he got double-kicked by Harriet on the gut and sent flying back. Then she got punched right on her back by Harriet’s weapon, Fast Knuckles, which are basically Yang’s gauntlets. An attack like that should’ve, at least, done significant damage to her Aura given it was strong enough to buckle her legs and crash her against the floor, which in and of itself should count as another impact given how hard she hit it. Then after that, Ruby got headbutted on the face by Harriet and then choked on the neck by Harriet with her legs and once again slammed with tremendous force on the floor. But her Aura is unscathed for some reason?

Then in comes Weiss, puts an ice wall in front of Harriet for her to crash into, and somehow that takes her down and breaks her Aura. Objectively, this battle was amazing, but Ruby never even once had the advantage. Ruby should’ve been knocked out by Harriet when her Aura broke, but for some reason… That didn’t happen. Good choreography, however.

Weiss Schnee vs. Marrow Armin

I frankly can say this one was expertly choreographed as well. We finally get to see a fight in which Weiss gets to use her Semblance at its full capacity, and this time she doesn’t abuse ice dust only. While it’s still in the vast majority of her attacks, she also relies on fire dust, which does add a degree of excitement and a fresh take to her battle style. Not to mention she now isn’t as reliant on the Arma Gigas only. It was a good balanced diet of everything Weiss can do! There still was very little of her in actual close-quarters combat, but that’s never been her specialty. She’s more of a mid-ranged fighter than anything else with lots of tricks and gimmicks. As for Marrow– well, Marrow… Could’ve made things so much easier if he had used his Semblance effectively.

When it comes to the battle itself though it was… Very lackluster on Marrow’s end, but then again it is heavily-implied by Harriet that he’s not fighting seriously at all and was purposefully holding back, so perhaps the fact he was defeated so easily really isn’t that hard to believe considering his heart wasn’t on the fight and even then he still put up a good fight. But like with Harriet… I find his Aura breaking so easily to be… Weird? He only got hit one time by Weiss’ homing fire dust… Flames? Bullets? Rays? I don’t know what to call it, but he got hit just once with Weiss’ dust and I don’t really count it as a hit but he got pushed to the wall once, but nowhere with near the same intensity as Ruby getting slammed and thrashed all over the environment by Harriet.

But ultimately while it is a nice fight… Again, I find Marrow going down to a single attack borderline offensive and humiliating for one of the members of the AceOps, but then again this was the only battle that felt like a member of Team RWBY deserved to win, and that’s saying something given Weiss’ battle track record isn’t exactly the cleanest and she’s lost the most fights out of any Team RWBY member when it comes to one-on-one encounters.

Blake Belladonna & Yang Xiao Long vs. Elm Ederne & Vine Zeki

Honestly, this is probably the best fight out of the ones regarding Team RWBY vs. the AceOps. It is nice to see this fight’s choreography because it was quite enjoyable. It was very dynamic and there was a lot of movement which made it flow just like a river of water, but there were also… Lots of inconsistencies regarding the character’s power levels and how they performed in this fight, especially regarding Elm and Vine who, from an objective standpoint if one sits down and analyzes the fight as I did, it’s also easy to tell that… Elm and Vine should’ve won.

While it’s disappointing that we didn’t get to see Vine’s weapon in this final bout, we did see Blake and Yang working together as well as Elm and Vine despite their personality conflicts. There really wasn’t a lot of team coordinating, but both sides performed admirably. Yang & Elm with their brawn and ferocity as well as Blake & Vine with their strategic minds and nimbleness. Now… While I can only praise the dynamics, the battle was, again, stacked against Blake and Yang. Like I did with the battle between Ruby and Harriet, I went through this one thoroughly and counted the amount of hits each character received.

Yang landed a total of three direct blows against Elm. A punch to the face that sent Elm staggering back a few steps, and then she didn’t land a single hit on Elm until she punched the ground with her Semblance, destroying it and sending her flying, but this doesn’t count as a hit because Elm wasn’t harmed when Yang did this. She was only sent flying in mid-air and then Yang and Blake both delivered a single attack on Elm before she fell to the floor, shattering her Aura. Now, we know Elm is basically the Yang of the group, except bigger, stockier and presumably stronger, so with how tough she’s been portrayed up until now, that she was defeated so swiftly surprises me… Especially when she herself beat Yang down to the point her Aura should’ve broken as well.

First she headbutted Yang, knocking her off-balance and later swinging her hammer with enough strength to send Yang, the strongest and bulkiest member of Team RWBY, flying a considerable distance with her massive hammer. This didn’t happen just once, twice or thrice though. Elm hit Yang on the chest with Timber, her hammer, four times, and every single time she was sent flying. We’ve seen the ridiculous feats of strength Nora Valkyrie’s performed with Magnhild. Well, Elm is at least twice stronger than Nora. The fact Yang’s Aura never even budged despite getting hammered on the chest with the heaviest and most powerful hammer we’ve seen in the show is beyond me. It doesn’t help that she got also hit directly by Vine with a rock the size of her entire body and pushed back. If anything, Elm and Yang’s fight is the most balanced one so Elm being defeated is not the issue. The issue is how despite receiving double the punishment, Yang’s Aura never broke while Elm’s broke with just three hits that didn’t pack the same punch and power all of Elm’s attacks which connected did.

Now regarding Blake’s encounter with Vine… Like Ruby with Harriet, Blake landed a total of zero hits against both Elm and Vine. Coincidentally, however, Blake also was also hit the most in this battle to the point her Aura actually did break. Why only her’s though is not something I can answer. I could describe how Blake got hit, but two of those times she got crushed by Vine’s Semblance and slammed against the wall twice, the second time enough to break the wall as well, and the one time she got hammered on the chest by Elm with enough strength to send her several feet on the air, which likely hurt a whole lot since every single one of Elm’s hits pack two massive punches. Now if any of you are curious about how many hits Vine took before his Aura broke…

It was one. He got sent flying to the ground by Yang and his Aura broke. I don’t count the explosives that detonated near him because he was using his Semblance to hold onto them, reducing the explosion’s power and size, but it still destabilized him and sent him careening to the air for Yang to grab. But Yang’s explosives aren’t exactly the strongest anyways so even if they did do some damage, it was still extremely minuscule damage for his Aura to break from a single hit like Marrow’s did. It was honestly disappointing, especially after we got to witness how strong they truly are by perfectly fighting against a Geist in the earliest episodes of the Volume.

My overall rating of the fight is that, objectively, it was amazingly choreographed… But the power level in RWBY is still awful and largely-irrelevant, since there is no instance in which Team RWBY will actually lose a fight even if throughout the encounter they are taking more hits than their opposition. This is an issue they still need to fix…

Team RWBY’s ‘Plan’

This one is… Upsetting. Even more so than the above because, at this point, Team RWBY is devoid of any and all potential consequences of their actions, and frankly I’m tired of it. Ever since Volume 6 their ‘plans’ if they can even be called that, have been compromising even more things for the sake of their so-called righteousness. In Volume 6 they endangered all of Argus and attacked an entire military base, and to this day they’ve suffered exactly zero consequences for their actions. If anything, they got rewarded for their criminal activity by getting a free pass to Atlas. Ironwood didn’t even look in their direction after they did that too. All for their selfish righteousness too, which in most occasions isn’t even right. They just do whatever they can even if it comes at the cost of other’s safety as long as it serves them

Now they even refuse to even see where Ironwood is coming from. They don’t offer him help, all they do is judge him and criticize him both to his back and in front of him and only side with him when it benefits them. They are, physically, mentally and emotionally incapable of sympathizing with others yet they want others to sympathize with them and their hypocrisy only continues to go rewarded. The narrative is very obviously in their favor and attempts to sway the viewers into thinking Ironwood is the villain for… Doing the only few remaining things he can do to try and keep not just Atlas and the Mantle survivors safe, but all of the world. They don’t even bother to see his point. At no moment during that confrontation do they go ‘we see your point and where you’re coming from, but that’s just playing into Salem’s hands and we can’t do that.’ No, all they do is yell at him and tell him he’s wrong, that he’s an awful person.

They don’t see the greater scheme. All they see are their own lofty ideals. They physically cannot save all the people of Mantle. They physically cannot keep the Lamp and the Staff, and they certainly, at this point in time, physically stop Salem if she is coming. They need ships to save the people of Mantle, they need to be on guard duty to protect the Staff and the Lamp. They need to keep Fria safe to keep the Winter Maiden powers from being robbed, but how are they physically going to do that? By ‘standing their ground?’ That is such a nonsensical, idyllic solution. They can’t do all of those things, but somehow, someway, they are ‘right’ because they want to do ‘the right thing.’ Except. There is no right thing thing to do. Not everything is as black and white as they want it to be. And every single time they do this and experience zero consequences while reaping many rewards for their hypocritical and catastrophic reckless decisions, the more faith I lose in the writers and the show.

Team RWBY defeating the AceOps

Like I said above, this was something I really didn’t enjoy… As I’ve mentioned above, it seems Team RWBY’s recklessness and inconsiderate behavior that endangers far more lives than they save will always go rewarded, and here is no different. I’ve gone through the battle several times and the only fight which deserved to be won by a member of Team RWBY was Weiss’ battle against Marrow, and this was largely because Marrow was holding back and implied he could push Weiss more against the ropes if he wanted to. Not to mention that it was due to Marrow’s hesitation Team RWBY even had a fighting chance. Had he used his Semblance at the very beginning he could’ve frozen all of Team RWBY where they were and have them apprehended immediately because they’d be unable to move.

Besides that one, the only other one who could’ve gone in Team RWBY’s favor is Yang’s fight against Elm, but even so it was… 75/25 in Elm’s favor. But the proof is in the animation, and it shows Elm landing far more attacks on Yang than Yang ever did on her, but since Team RWBY’s victory is required for the plot to progress, they were able to defeat the AceOps. Blake’s fight against Vine and Ruby’s fight against Harriet is not something I can even justify if I tried to do so because it was entirely one-sided on the AceOps’ favor. I try to give a lot of leverage to the show and its writing, but I cannot suspense my disbelief for such a one-sided fight, especially when the AceOps dished out punishment after punishment for Team RWBY and none of their Auras broke nor did they look even remotely tired while the AceOps all went down with two-to-three hits that I find hard to believe would take down the most elite Hunters in all of the Atlas continent.

We don’t know the AceOps’ members’ age, but what we do know is that they’ve been serving directly under James Ironwood for years now, and as the most elite, that makes them the strongest military platoon in all of Atlas with several years long specialized training years under their age while Team RWBY received not even a year of formal training at Beacon Academy and fought some Creatures of Grimm on the way to Mistral, had very limited and minor training under Ozma/Ozpin and then had small bouts against Salem and Raven’s forces in the Battle for Haven. Then after that they faced off against more Creatures of Grimm on the way to Atlas except for the one time they teamed-up to fight against Caroline Cordovin’s Colossus. Compared to the AceOps’ rigorous daily training and constantly having to carry out extremely difficult tasks under Ironwood’s leadership, Team RWBY’s training really pales in comparison.

There are many other ways that Team RWBY’s physical, mental or emotional strength without having them win fights they don’t deserve, because at this point it simply feels like no matter what happens, no matter how gray the situation the writing team behind RWBY attempts to portray, the narrative always tries to portray Team RWBY as being in the right even though for the past two Volumes they have been wrong in their methods without suffering any consequences. It’s exhausting and frankly, not good writing. I understand this is said a lot, but in this case, it can really be attributed to bad writing. Team RWBY doesn’t have to win every fight, they don’t have to always come out on top. They don’t always have to be right. And they most certainly don’t have to always be at the center of everything. That’s what side characters are for, side characters that they rarely use at all but keep around and keep increasing the amount of side characters for the plot. It’s overwhelming in all the wrong ways.

By the way, it was Team RWBY who attacked the AceOps, not the other way around. They could’ve stood down, they could’ve calmed down and realized they were in the wrong in this scenario, and Harriet herself said it first. They decide what happens next. Ruby draws out her weapon and escapes the room, forcing Harriet to chase her. They were the ones who forced the AceOps into acting, not the other way around. But the next moment Ruby is begging Harriet to team up with her to fight Salem even though a moment ago she was challenging Harriet to a fight because of her arrogance and unjustified massive ego. At this point, Ironwood might be paranoid and making bad decisions, but Team RWBY certainly poured gasoline all over his paranoia.

Qrow

I think most of the FNDM can agree that what they did with Qrow makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. There are a lot of things wrong with his character this chapter. For starters, at no point since he was introduced did Qrow try to solve the problems he faced with outright violence. He always preferred the diplomatic and peaceful approach because that’s what Ozpin taught him to do and what he genuinely believed was the right step today, because violence leads to panic, and the panic leads to Creatures of Grimm… Except in this case where he�� Decided to rely on violence.

But the greatest offender was the fact he teamed up with Tyrian of all people– that’s right. Qrow willingly teams up with Tyrian, the same person who has tried to slaughter both Ruby and himself and has successfully murdered dozens of innocent civilians for his own amusement to attack Clover… What? Then he has the audacity to blame Clover for what happened and feels awful when, to no one’s surprise, Tyrian betrays him and stabs Clover with Harbinger when it was him who knocked out Clover’s Aura in the first place.

It’s awful, and I can understand why so many Qrow fans are enraged by this, because even I was and I don’t relate to Qrow that much. Just as the meme goes, ‘everything happens so much…’

Clover’s Death

Didn’t need to happen. Literally that’s my entire point on this section. It didn’t need to happen, it shouldn’t have happened, and this was RWBY’s writing team attempt at shock for the Volume. Because Qrow is just not allowed to have happy endings or friends. Qrow has no rights mourning Clover’s death when he himself was the direct catalyst for it to occur in the first place. But there is something else that is horrifyingly atrocious in the writing department going on with Clover in the last moments of his death. Seconds before getting stabbed with Harbinger, Clover states that he would trust Ironwood with his life… Then, all that changes right after he is nearing the end of his life.

The moment he realizes his life is fading away, once again, Clover goes against anything and everything he stands for by wishing Qrow good luck when the other claims he’s going to make sure Ironwood takes the fall for what happened, when Ironwood is doing nothing wrong. Ironwood keeps getting painted as the villain even by his most loyal soldier, the one who claimed he would trust the general with his life, but that ultimately doesn’t matter based on the show’s writing. Clover previously also talked about how Ironwood was doing the right thing by making the toughest decisions, the decisions that realistically could and would save thousands of lives unlike Team RWBY’s lofty goals.

Goals which by the end of the episode continue being unanswered. How are they going to accomplish all the naïve promises they want to fulfill? From a non-biased opinion and how they tend to solve the writing’s plot holes in past volumes, what most likely’s going to happen is yet another Deus Ex Machina. In Volume 4 it was the ‘random’ troops that just happened to arrive to Kuroyuri on time to escort the group all the way to Mistral and seek medical first aid for Qrow. In Volume 5 it was Blake showing up with an entire militia of the reformed White Fang as well as Vernal, somehow, still living to get that cheap shot in for Raven to have an opening to knock Cinder off the vault’s cliff. In Volume 6 it was Ruby’s empty speeches somehow convincing Cordovin to give them a free ship so they could travel to Atlas even though Team RWBY and company were responsible for everything bad that happened to Argus because of their selfishness.

#rwby #rwby7

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theoriginalsfan124 · 5 years ago

Text

The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be

Chapter Two

It was safe to say I didn’t like our stops at little towns; I preferred singular houses, far away from civilization, you could say.

-Remember, the important stuff goes in backpacks, the others in the bags, - Noel said as he gave me an empty backpack and a couple of those big trash bags.

-We do this all the time, there’s literally no need to repeat this every time. I’m not dumb, - I rolled my eyes and grabbed the bag and trash bags, which I shoved in the backpack.

-We’ll meet here after two hours; - he didn’t listen to my critique and kept ordering me around.

I nodded my head, giving up, and looked at the watch on my wrist. It was 12:36, which meant I had to return by 14:36. I sighed deeply and turned in a different direction from Noel. I kept my hand on the handle of my knife. Better paranoid and safe, than dead and sorry.

I faltered down the road, towards a small pharmacy at the end of it. I kept my eyes and ears peeled throughout everything. Nothing, except the sound of my feet stepping on the pavement and my heavy breathing, could be heard. However, I knew silence didn’t necessary meant safety. The walkers were oriented by sound; they don’t hear me now, so they haven’t come out yet.

Once I was in front of the pharmacy, I delicately opened the door and knocked a couple of times against the door frame, and then I waited. Nothing came out of the depths of the pharmacy. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. There were no walkers, but I still kept my palm on my knife’s handle.

The pharmacy was swiped clean, only a couple of vitamin bottles and hygienic products were scattered around. I walked to one of the shelves and took a look, when I saw a bottle of toothpaste, which I immediately threw in my backpack. God, I hated the feel of unclean teeth and we were running low on the toothpaste. I also spotted packages of pads, which I also threw in my backpack. It may be the end of the world, but my period was still there in its full glory. I marched around the store a couple of times, putting everything of use in my bag – a bottle of pills for coughing, one for fever, and two for a sore throat. It wasn’t of much use, but still better than nothing, considering you’ll never know what’ll hit you.

I was almost out of the store, when I noticed a door behind the counter. First rule of the apocalypse, there’s nothing that’s not hidden. Oriented by this rule, which ironically enough was said by Noel, I squeezed by body though the gate leading behind the counter and tried to pry open the door. To no one’s surprise, it was locked. I spun around and swiftly started searching for the key. Finally, I lifted up the register and saw a small silver key.

-Bingo, - I smiled to myself and spun around again before opening the door slowly.

There was a sleeping bag inside the storage room and in it lay a walker. There was blood and brain parts scattered around. I saw a pistol in the grasp of the walker.

-Looks like someone was bit and didn’t want to turn.

I stepped closer to make sure the person was really dead. I poked said person’s leg with my own – he was truly dead. Carefully, I removed the pistol from his hand - it contained four bullets, and I put the ‘new’ gun in my backpack.

I took a good look around. It looked as if the stranger lying in the sleeping bag had lived here for a while – there were a ton of cans of food, water bottles and dirty clothes. The smell, oh boy the smell, was putrid. The mold, rot and the rotting flesh mixed into one. I tried not to breathe in though my nose; because I knew the moment I breathed in, I would vomit.

Out of respect for the person, I covered him with a blanket I found nearby. He may be dead now, but once he was a living, breathing human being. I noticed the bright green backpack lying next to him. I grabbed and opened it – it contained a first aid kit, medical thread and a needle in a sterilized bag and, ironically enough, a bottle of vodka. After I looked through the bags contents, I zipped it up and put it on my left shoulder, keeping my own bag on my right.

I was satisfied with my findings, but I still continued to search through the messy storage room. As I said before, there’s nothing that isn’t hidden. And I was right. Right in the back of the supply room, in a tiny cabinet, was a pack of bullets. I wasn’t sure if they matched the pistol I found, I was not an expert with guns. But I knew a way to find out - showing them to Noel. I shoved it in my bag and foraged in the storage room once more. Sadly, I found nothing more.

I left the pharmacy silently and turned left. While passing by with the van I saw a small restaurant-those had pantries and hopefully some food was still left. Our food supply was running low, even with us rationing it; eating twice, sometimes once, during the day. If we don’t find any food, it’ll eventually run out and we’ll have to starve.

After I reached my desired target, I walked around the restaurant to the personnel door-since I had no need to go to the actual restaurant, since I only needed only the kitchen. Just like the pharmacy, I opened the door and knocked on its frame. And again like the pharmacy, nothing came out. I took this a welcoming sign. From the looks of it, there had been a commotion: the counter was trashed, the register was on the ground, displays were smashed, various pieces of dishes splayed around the kitchen, and there was blood everywhere. I clutched my knife, placed under my belt, harder. I did not like my surroundings; the blood meant a struggle, most likely against walkers. Even if I knew how to defend myself, I didn’t like encountering them. Whoever they were before this, they were long gone, and now they’re corpses sinking their teeth into anything that moved. But I still couldn’t throw it out of my head that they were once human, just like me, just like Noel. They had a family, friends, hopes and dreams, and now…

I shook my head. This was not the time and place to think about this. If I get lost in thought, I’ll lose my vigilance, and then I’ll be more vulnerable. I sighed deeply once again. I didn’t like doing this; I didn’t like living like an animal, forgetting everything from before, forgetting who I was before. But this is my life now. I have to worry about every step I take, every breath-I have to go to sleep not knowing if I’ll wake up, and I have to constantly run, move, there’s no time to stop and think. I lost it the day it all fell apart.

Crack!

An unknown cracking noise made me stop in my tracks. It seemed to be coming from the pantry. I took my knife out from my belt and moved to the source of the sound with it in my hand. Slowly and carefully I put my ear against the door. Instantly I heard moaning and growling. A walker - that was clear. Inside was a walker, who probably heard me and started scratching against the locked door, trying to get out. I quickly left to find the key. It didn’t matter that a walker was inside, I desperately needed to get in. After a fruitless search, I realized I’d need to break the door open myself. I thought of what to use while I looked around. There was a table with metal legs, but I won’t be able to take them off.

I stood in place for a couple of minutes thinking of all my possibilities, when a metal rod laying on the floor caught my eye. I jogged towards it and took it, considering calling Noel before realizing I had no idea where he even went.

-His muscles would be useful right now...- I thought out loud.

I knew I’ll have to pry the door open myself-I also knew I wasn’t the physically strongest person, but it’d have to do. I’d never done this before either , but lately doing things I’ve never done before was honestly everything I did.

I got focused, pushing every other thought out of my head, and kept my knife close against the rod, since I knew that as soon as I opened the door, the walker will pounce. I shoved the rod between the door and it’s frame and pushed with all my strength. After a moment a creaking could be heard and the door opened just slightly. I didn’t have enough time to even react when the walker attacked. I reached for my knife when the walkers rotting hands grabbed me-knocking my knife out my hands and pushing me to the ground. The rotting corpse tried his hardest to bite me or to even rip out a piece of meat, but I kept pushing him back with everything I had but he kept trying to rip me apart. I was finally able to push him off and, wasting no time, I got up and grabbed the first thing in my hands. The metal rod. I gathered all my strength and bashed the rod on his head-then I hit again, and again and again, until there was nothing left, only his face pushed into his skull and a big splatter if blood and brains.

The now bloody metal rod fell out of my hands. I breathed heavily and backed away from the dead walker and towards the wall until my back hit it. I tried calming myself down. My sweater was covered in blood, my legs and hands were shaking and my breathing was still not steady. Tears welled at the corners in my eyes.

After a minute or two, I finally calmed down a little. This was not the first time this happened, yet I was still shocked. I grabbed my empty back pack and the green one, which were quite a few feet way-I didn’t even feel the moment I let them fall after the attack-I walked inside the pantry. The shelves were almost empty, probably taken by any survivors. I took the remainder of the food : a couple of canned beans and two bottles of drinks, which I put in the backpack. Some canned peaches, one pack of rice, one pack of groat, a couple of cans of sardines, which I put in the trash bag provided by Noel. I looked around the kitchen before looking at the time. It was time to go, so I took my two backpacks and the trash bag and strolled back to the van. I was happy with everything I found; the day was pretty successful if you asked me, minus the walker in the pantry.

Noel hadn’t returned yet-I was the first. I opened the back of the van and threw my bags inside. I closed the doors and rested my back against them. Impatiently, I kept glancing at my watch. 14:50. Noel was late. He was never late. I decided to wait five more minutes and if he didn’t return, I would go look for him. So naturally, i started pacing around, glancing at the watch every second, and tapping my fingers against my elbows while trying to pry the bad thoughts away.

The street was quiet. But then I heard someone’s fast steps. I turned around and spotted Noel. I smiled, but it was short lived. He was running towards me at full speed, and the left sleeve of his sweater was drenched in blood. I jumped out of my spot and was almost ran towards him, until I saw what was behind him. A whole hoard of walkers were hot on Noel’s tail...

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@lunastarward thank you for being my editor/beta reader!

#the day will come when you wont be #noel aijima #caroline callas #love #gore #death #zombies #zombie apocalypse #dystopia #inspired by lots of shows

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jacksonroseroth · 6 years ago

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Wolf In A Maiden’s Clothing Chapter 3

Warnings: Violence; slight, mentions of abuse, sprinkling of fluff

Words: 5,714

Moodboard made by me, none of the pictures are mine

By the time the had gotten Talia calm enough to remove the rest of the arrow, she still had to be held in place, damn near pinned down as they dug around in her shoulder. Talia screamed in pain, hurling things off the table and gripping it as she gritted her teeth at the pain.

“There, now.” The healer said, in a soothing voice as she slowly tugged the arrow out. Talia sighed and groaned in relief, the pain a little less than it was, but still very clear and present. She collapsed onto the table, panting heavily, before two men helped her, slowly lifting her to sit her into a chair so the healer could stitch up her wound. Her sleeve had been ripped off in order for them to remove the rod. The healer placed her naked arm up onto the table, telling her to hold still as she began pushing the needle through her skin, making Talia wince. “Such a fuss you made.”

Talia shot the healer a glare and hissed, “Let me sink an arrow into your shoulder from 50 paces and you tell me if you’d sit here, calm and collected, while someone dug around in your body for it.”

Talia meant to be intimidating and annoyed, but the healer simply chuckled as she continued. “My dear, I have sown up the toughest and fiercest of warriors who have slurred out their swears. I do not need to feel the pain myself to know it. I have seen more than your share.” She said. Talia looked away and huffed.

“I highly doubt that…” She muttered.

“Yet she is one of the strongest you’ve had to tend to, Leea.” Talia turned at Ivar’s voice, not having heard him shuffle his way inside during her little fit. Ivar smirked and slowly made his way over to her, sitting across from her. “Why did you go off on your own, knowing they followed you?”

“I didn't. When I left, they were nowhere around me. It was only when I was alone in the woods that they chased me down. And then they shot me while my back was turned.” Talia said. ��Do not make me out to be the cause of this. They are your men and they were the ones who tied me up and dragged me through the town.”

“I am aware. I told them this myself. Surely, you remember. You were there.” Ivar said, with a nod of his head and sarcasm in his voice, not even trying to hide his smirk. Talia growled at him and looked away. Ivar chuckled and added, “I’ve clearly underestimated you, Talia. With an arrow in your shoulder, you were still ready to fight.”

Talia gave a harsh sigh as the healer, Leea, tugged a little too hard on her thread, tugging at the wound. She let out a soft huff and said, “I’ve endured worse, Ivar.”

Ivar smirked at her and chuckled. He sat forward, tugging a bag from his side, the contents jingling and clicking together. Talia’s eyes went wide and she gripped the armrest of her chair, restraining herself from shooting over to him to rip the bag from his hands.

“You seem to have dropped this.” He said, pulling himself up and dangling the bag in front of her. Talia glared up at him as the bag swayed, biding her time before she quickly reached up and swiped it from his hand before he could react. Though Ivar’s only reaction was another amused chuckle. “You stole from your late husband after you killed him?”

Ivar went around her chair to check on her wound, setting Talia on edge. She struggled to control her breathing as she tried to follow him without Leea reprimanding her to hold still as she had begun to stitch up the wound on the back of her shoulder.

“How is it you think I managed to get a boat and enough food and water to last me on my journey?” Talia said.

“Why don’t you tell me?” Ivar said, not trying in the least to hide the smug expression he wore as he shrugged at her, taking his seat again. “After all, I am finding it hard to believe that you so easily killed your husband and his guards and simply strolled out covered in blood…”

Talia gave a low growl as she eyed him, her temper nearing its end as Leea tugged at the wound again, snipping off the end and beginning to bandage it. Her nails dug into the wood of the table as she gripped it, hard enough that it made her knuckles turn white.

“And what is it, exactly, you wanted to hear, my King?” She snapped, irritated and defensive. Ivar chuckled and sat there, waiting until Leea had finished her bandaging before waving her away. Leea gathered her things and left the hall before Ivar sat forward and said, “Everything.”

Talia sneered at him, sitting back and retracting her nails from the table, flexing them to rid the ache. Her lips picked up in a smirk and she chuckled. “What is it you want me to say, Ivar? That I manipulated the men and women around me, unbeknownst to them? That I then killed every last one of those pathetic, self-righteous, God-loving Saxons and felt no worse for it? Or perhaps that I had to threaten a woman and her children into giving me their father’s boat and supplying me with enough food and water to last my journey, but I still felt pity for them and gave them my husband’s bracelet, taken from his dead body, by me, once he and his guards were dead?”

It was not the response Ivar expected and when she started to tell her tale, at first he didn't believe her. But the look of pure hatred and disgust in her eyes, accompanied by the tears welling up, Ivar’s smug look slowly dropped as she continued.

“Well, if I know you, Ivar, if the rumors are true, you’ll be pleased to hear this as well; I did not simply kill everyone in my household. I slaughtered them. The fight they all put up, oh. I think you would have been rather proud of me.” Talia said, slowly standing. Ivar had dismissed everyone from the hall once Talia was escorted in to be seen by Leea, practically swinging at everyone and anyone that got too close. Even if his men had stayed, Talia would have ripped her shirt from her body anyway, exposing the almost healed cuts and scars that lined her stomach and back. “This is how I escaped, King Ivar Lothbrok. Through the Viking blood that runs through my veins and would not allow my treatment to continue. The blood of my ancestors that guided me that night, guided my sword into the bellies of the men who had begun to show me loyalty. I could have very easily made them accompany me and do all the work for me, but I wanted to be rid of that Saxon filth, once and for all. So, before you ever again decide that my story isn’t good enough for you, remember these scars. Remember my face in this moment, and remember...That even though you are king, I would not hesitate to strike you down where you stand if I felt threatened by you.”

As she spoke, she stepped closer and closer to Ivar, making him shift in his seat as she came to stand before him. Ivar let out a harsh breath, looking over her naked body, clad in only her breast band and pants. He saw the bit of ink blooming over her hip, still mostly covered by her pants. His smirk returned as he glanced up at her, reaching out to touch her hip and slide his hand over it. It was a mistake he didn't think he was making, but Talia shoved his hand away, pulling his dagger from his side and leaning into his lap, her hand flying to the back of his neck and pressing the tip to his throat. Ivar jumped and held up his hands, lest he touch her again in a way that would make her actually kill him. He noticed Talia’s hands had begun to shake as she began to breathe harder, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the weapon.

“Talia...Remove my dagger.” Ivar warned, glaring up at her. Talia opened her mouth to speak, but stopped, letting out a soft gasp, beginning to lean away from him slightly.

“Do not ever touch me like that again without my permission. I care not if you are king, Ivar, as clear by your own weapon pressed to your throat. This is my one warning; Next time, I will not hesitate.” Talia said, her voice shaking with the intense emotion absent from her face. Her voice shook, thick with tears and fear where her face stood hard and pissed. Ivar gave a small nod and Talia slowly removed the knife, pushing it into his hand as she got off his lap and scooped up her shirt, grabbing her cloak and bag before wrapping herself up in her cloak and hurrying out of the room. Ivar sighed and slipped his knife back into its spot at his side and closed his eyes, tilting his head back slightly.

“Well. That was something, wasn’t it, brother?” Ivar’s head whipped around so fast he might as well have snapped his own neck as he glared at Hvitserk, emerging from the shadows of the doorway, carrying a tray of food and a pitcher of ale, meant for Talia.

“What did you hear, Hvitserk?” Ivar hissed, watching his brother as he approached the table and set down the tray.

“I think you should be more concerned with what I saw,” Hvitserk said, picking up a piece of meat and popping it into his mouth, turning to Ivar. He smirked and slid into Talia’s abandoned seat. “She can be useful to us, Ivar. After that display today; She was ready to fight with an arrow through her shoulder.”

“She is far to wild and unpredictable. She would kill all the men in training.” Ivar said, dismissing the thought as he stood.

“That means she has a raw talent that has yet to be molded,” Hvitserk said as Ivar took a step. Ivar stopped and exhaled, softly. His brother was right; After that display, Ivar knew the story of her escape was true, but he also saw her as his greatest weapon were he to convince her to become a shieldmaiden and serve him. But he refused to risk the lives of his men and shieldmaidens for this woman, who had killed one of his men already. With her angry outbursts, Ivar simply wanted her gone already. If he couldn’t control one woman, the people would begin to question his competence as king and he would not stand for it.

“Let us see how her shoulder heals first, Hvitserk. If she cannot train, she is of no use.” Ivar said. He looked back at him and added, “Since you seem so concerned with her, you can look after her and ask after her well being.”

With a smirk, Ivar added a final, “Let what you witnessed be a lesson, brother. I cannot promise I will weep at your funeral.”

Talia burst into her room, making Magnhild jump as she tended to the fire. Talia had dismissed her from the hall, sending her back to the room to prepare her bed. She dropped the ripped shirt and bag, casting her cloak aside as she paced for a moment before dropping into a chair with a sigh and a wince, reaching up to hold her shoulder in pain.

“Mistress, what has happened?!” Magnhild gasped, seeing her without her shirt, scrambling to cover her with a fur. But Talia pushed it away and shook her head.

“I am fine, Magnhild. Just...Get me another shirt, please.” Talia said. Magnhild nodded and went to the chest Ivar had sent, pulling out another tunic and handing it to her, helping her put it on. Magnhild glanced at her as she tied the front of the shirt.

“My Lady, may I ask you something?” She said carefully. Talia looked up at her and nodded. Magnhild chewed her lip, second-guessing herself, and stayed silent. Talia gave a soft sigh and gripped her wrist, stopping her from her tying and making her jump at the movement. She emitted a small whimper and Talia immediately loosened her hold as Magnhild looked at her. Talia gave her a small smile and said, “What were you going to ask me, Magnhild?”

“I-My Lady-That is…” Magnhild stuttered. “Your scars, Mistress. They are from your escape from the Saxons?”

Talia released her wrist and nodded. “They are. Some of them at least.” She said. Magnhild nodded and lowered her gaze, finishing her tying and stepping back, waiting for Talia’s next order. She let Magnhild stand there for a moment, waiting, while Talia watched her. She saw how her mind was working, trying to work up the courage to ask more questions without asking above her station. Finally, Talia stood and said, “Lift my shirt and look at my back.”

Magnhild’s head shot up at her in utter confusion as Talia turned, waiting. Slowly, Magnhild stepped closer and lifted the shirt Talia reaching over her injured shoulder to hold the fabric up as Magnhild gasped and ran her fingers over the deep and many scars that littered Talia’s back.

“Oh, my Lady…” Magnhild said softly. Talia didn't like showing her scars, much less having someone touch them as Magnhild was doing. But Talia allowed it so she would understand what she had been through. Finally, not able to take the sight anymore, Magnhild ripped the fabric from Talia’s hands, tugging it back down to cover it, placing a light hand over her back before taking a step away as Talia turned to her. “You received those as a slave?”

Talia nodded. “Yes.” She said.

“Then, those-those scars-”

“Those scars are there as a reminder,” Talia said. “A reminder of what I went through that led to me becoming a freedwoman.”

Magnhild slowly lowered her eyes to the floor, shocked that such a strong woman like Talia had such a dark past. Talia watched her for a moment, trying to figure out how to word her next command as gentle as possible. “Magnhild, will you remove your dress?”

The fear shot through Magnhild, if only for a moment before her eyes upon Talia reminded her who had asked the question. She nodded and slowly pushed the shoulders of her dress down and let it slip off her body. Talia saw the scars that lined her thighs and lifted her head a little higher, with a soft sigh.

“Turn.” She commanded. Magnhild refused to look at her, but obeyed, showing Talia her backside. Just like Talia, Magnhild also had scars along her back, though they were much fewer than Talia’s. With another sigh, Talia took a step closer, kneeling down to grab the dress pooled at her feet and lift it to dress her again. Magnhild glanced back at her as she slipped her arms into the sleeves and turned to her. “You were born a slave?”

“Yes,” Magnhild said. Talia let out a soft chuckle and nodded.

“Then there is the one thing that is different from us, Magnhild,” Talia said, softly, touching her cheek, gently and briefly. Magnhild blinked and asked, “You were not born a slave?”

An amused smile passed her lips as Talia said, “No. I was not. I was made a slave.”

Magnhild opened her mouth, no doubt to ask what happened, but Talia stopped her and said, “But that is a story for another time.”

Magnhild nodded and said, “Of course, my Lady.”

“Talia.” Magnhild blinked and Talia smiled, leaning a little closer to say, “When we are alone, you may call me Talia.”

A small smile pricked at Magnhild’s lips as she nodded. Talia gave a small chuckle and straightened before she said, “Will you fetch me some food, please, Magnhild? I fear I need something in my stomach soon.”

“Of course. What would you like, Mis-” Magnhild stopped as Talia raised an eyebrow with a smile. Magnhild didn't hold back her smile as she corrected herself and said, “Talia.”

“Anything is fine, Manghild. Thank you.” Talia said, moving past her to go to the window. Magnhild bowed her head before turning to leave. Talia sighed and spread her arms as she leaned on the window sill, looking out. She heard a soft knock and didn't move, taking a few more moments before she wanted to answer. Before she could, the creak of the door opening made Talia turn to find a smirking Hvitserk standing behind it. Talia sighed, not quite ready to endure another brother just yet.

“Do you not wait to be invited into a lady’s room?” She asked, moving from her spot at the window and picking up her cloak and ripped tunic, packing them into the chest. “What can I do for you, Prince Hvitserk?”

“I wanted to see if you were alright. You were gone when I came back with food.” He said, walking into the room and over to her. Talia glanced at him.

“I am fine. Thank you.” She said. By the time Hvitserk reached her, Talia had turned to him, waiting for him to speak. Instead, Hvitserk looked her over, lifting a hand up to pull back the shoulder of her tunic. Talia flinched so severely, Hvitserk stopped and looked at her with a chuckle.

“I merely wish to see your shoulder.” He said, gently, reassuring her. Talia nodded as Hvitserk tugged the fabric away, inspecting the wound. “You are lucky.”

“How so?” Talia asked. Hvitserk chuckled and dropped his hand.

“It missed your heart,” Hvitserk said. The corners of her lips picked up in a small smile as she nodded.

“Yes. It did. I thank the gods.” Talia said. Hvitserk gave a small sigh and smiled. Talia glanced down and shifted as Hvitserk’s gaze drifted to her neck, seeing a raised pattern on her skin. He raised a hand again, reaching for her face and Talia reacted again, gripping his wrist and digging her nails into his skin with a flinch, her eye twitching as his hand neared her face. Hvitserk stopped and slowly pulled his hand away, Talia soon releasing him. Making sure she knew what he was doing this time, he pushed back her hair to reveal a wolf branded on her neck.

“A wolf?” He asked. Talia turned her head away and gave a small sigh.

“A brand. The mark my master gave me when my uncle sold me to him.” Talia said, softly. Hvitserk looked at her and slowly lowered his hand, letting her hair fall to cover it once more. Talia looked at him and said, “He marked all his men with the brand of a wolf so everyone would know who they were.”

Talia looked up at him with a soft smile and a short laugh. “My master thought himself a wolf. He truly believed he shifted into the skin of a wolf at night. He was insane.” Talia said.

“And your Lord Husband didn't do anything to cover it?” Hvitserk asked. A small amused smirk passed Talia’s lips as she said, “He made sure my hair was arranged to keep it covered. He hated the brand. And my tattoos. He never wanted to see them.”

“You have tattoos as well?” Hvitserk asked, rather surprised. Talia chuckled and nodded.

“Yes. One on my hip and one on my thigh.” She said.

“What is the one on your hip?” Hvitserk asked in a teasingly coy tone. Talia smirked and said, “A wolf.”

Hvitserk couldn’t help but chuckle as he raised an eyebrow. “You got a wolf tattooed after the brand?” He asked. Talia shook her head.

“No. My uncle insisted on it before he sold me.” Talia said. Hvitserk blinked, his amusement melting off his face so fast, Talia had to fight her own amusement. There was a pregnant silence between them before Hvitserk spoke again, trying to change the subject.

“Can I send a slave to fetch you something to eat? You need to keep up your strength.” Hvitserk said. Talia’s smile grew a little at the kind offer, but shook her head and said, “No. Thank you. I have sent Magnhild to get something for me.”

Hvitserk nodded and gave a small bow, stepping back from her as he said, “Very well. I am glad you are well. Please send for me if you need anything.”

Talia nodded, knowing the true meaning behind what he said. Hvitserk nodded and turned to leave, but Talia’s sweet smile twisted to a coy smirk as she reached out and grabbed his hand. Hvitserk stopped, not having enough time to turn before he felt Talia pressed against him, her lips at his ear as she whispered, “Do you not wish to inspect the scars you saw?”

His eyes went wide as he turned his head toward her. Talia smirked as her eyes drifted to meet his, shifting to give a little space between them. Talia’s fingers slid over his hand as she continued, “You thought yourself well hid in the shadows of the lit hallway? I know good and well that you saw what happened.”

Hvitserk licked his lips, trying to find something to say as Talia took his hand and slipped it under her shirt, pressing his fingers to the scars over her stomach. His breath hitched, slightly, feeling the still healing scars beneath his fingers.

“I-I-I am sorry that happened to you, Talia,” Hvitserk said, softly. Talia watched his face, taking in his emotions, her smirk growing at the intention and want behind his eyes. She let out a soft chuckle and removed his hand, stepping away.

“I shall send Magnhild to fetch you and the king if something should happen,” Talia said, turning away. Hvitserk sighed and flexed his hand before bowing his head and leaving quickly. Talia let out a soft giggle as she stood in front of the fire, planning out how to handle the brothers next time. She gave a soft sigh before going to her bag on the table, rummaging through it until her fingers wrapped around a necklace, pulling it out of the bag. She stared at the iron pendant in her hand before closing her fist around it.

“My Lady, please!” Magnhild whisper shouted as she tried to keep up with Talia’s quick pace while they slipped through Kattegat that night. Talia glanced around, making sure they weren’t being followed or watched. Even though their faces were hidden by the hoods of their cloaks, Talia did not want anyone seeing them and where they went. “Talia, this is not wise. Please! We should go back.”

Suddenly, as Magnhild practically ran to keep up with her, Talia stopped and turned to her, making Magnhild skid to a stop.

“If you would like to return to the hall, do so. If you wish to serve me, stay quiet and listen.” Talia whispered. Magnhild bit her lip and nodded before Talia turned and continued, veering right and to the door of one of the houses. She glanced around before Magnhild knocked at the door, still keeping a look out after. The door opened and Magnhild jumped when Igor’s annoyed face presented itself. He glanced around before looking at her and demanding, “What do you want, slave?”

“My-My mistress wishes to see Asger,” Magnhild said, trying to make her voice as strong and confident as she could. Igor raised an eyebrow.

“Your mistress? Who?” At the question, Talia turned to him and gave him a sweet smile that made his eyes widen and try to slam the door in her face, but Talia was quicker. Her palm slammed against the wood, pushing the door open with a grunt as she forced her way in. “What do you want?! Why are you here?!”

Talia walked in and tossed back her hood. Once the other men saw her, their eyes went wide and they scrambled to their feet, trying to get as far from her as possible. Talia was a touch smug that these men were afraid of her, and rightly so, but she kept her mind on the task at hand. She lifted her head, cocking toward Magnhild in a signal to remove her cloak, which she did. Talia held out her arms, revealing the skin tight dress she wore and said, “I am not armed, gentlemen. You do not need to fear.”

The men glanced at each other, not trusting her, but it made no difference to her.

“Where is Asger?” Talia asked in a casual tone. Igor had long since shut the door and now glowered at the unwelcome woman in his house.

“Resting. From his wounds.” Igor said. Talia turned to him and chuckled.

“As I should be,” Talia said, tugging down the shoulder of her dress to reveal the bloodstained bandages. “I wish to speak with Asger.”

Igor sighed and looked at his slave girl. “Well? Show her to him.” He said, firmly. The young girl let out a small whimper as she hurried to Talia and held out her hand to the curtain on the other side of the room. As the slave turned, Talia reached out to grab her arm gently, but no matter how gentle Talia could have been, the slave flinched and whimpered. The action made Talia’s blood boil, but the tucked it away for now. She smiled at the slave and said, “What is your name?”

The slave’s terror never left her face as she looked to her master in fear. Talia’s eyes darkened for a moment as Igor said, “Go on. Tell her.”

She looked back at Talia and whimpered again. Talia let go of her arm and said, “You know who I am?”

The slave girl nodded. Talia smiled and said, “And you know what I am capable of?”

Again, she nodded. Talia chuckled and repeated, “Then tell me your name, child.”

“B-Bruna…” She managed to squeak. Talia nodded and asked, softly, “Bruna. Will you show me to Asger?”

Bruna nodded her head and stuttered, “T-This-This way, my-my Lady.”

Bruna crossed the room, but Talia didn't follow her just yet. She turned to Magnhild and said, “Wait for me outside.”

“But, mist-”

“I said. Wait for me. Outside.” Talia repeated. Magnhild gave a small sigh and nodded her head before leaving. Talia turned and followed Bruna over to the curtain as she drew it back to reveal Asger laying in bed, half his face covered in bandages. Talia’s heart leapt at the sight, but she kept herself in check as she turned to the men. “May I have a moment?”

“Why? You are the cause of this.” The man to her right, the one called Egil, said. Igor shook his head and the two men to Talia’s left slowly inched their way toward the door. Talia smirked and turned to him.

“Am I? Well, if I’m not mistaken, it was you and your ilk that started it all.” Talia said, slowly making her way to stand in front of him. Bruna had run off the second Egil spoke up and Igor stayed in place, knowing there was no stopping what would happen, no matter what did. “And I’m quite sure that Asger did not willingly take up the bow that held the arrow.”

“Oh, are you?” Egil asked, with a chuckle. Talia smiled and let out a soft chuckle of her own.

“Oh, yes. Quite.” She said. Egil snickered and looked away from her as if she were nothing more than a bug beneath his boot. Talia huffed out a light laugh before she shot out a hand, gripping his cock and making him whimper in pain. “I am also quite sure that if you hadn’t treated me as you did, none of this would have happened. You never once stopped to ask me who I was, only saw the Saxon flag and acted. Now. I have been quite polite in asking for a private moment with your man, and I shall ask again.”

“Let him go, woman,” Igor demanded. Talia’s head shot over to him and she smirked, still with a vice grip on his cock.

“My name is Talia and you will address me as such. Since entering your home, I have been kind and respectful and yet I have not been treated as such. Ask me nicely and I may obey.” Talia said.

“My Lady-”

“Talia.” She said again, her green eyes burning.

“Please...Talia…” Egil squeaked. Talia couldn’t help the smug smirk that spread across her face as she turned to him. With no warning, Talia released him and stepped back as Egil cupped himself and dropped to a knee in front of her.

“I ask again…” Talia said, turning to Igor. “May I have a moment in private with Asger?”

Igor didn't respond, only hauled his friend to his feet and shoved him to the door as the other two men left through it as well. Talia waited until the door had shut to step behind the curtain and close it.

“Talia.” She turned at the sound of Asger’s voice, her eyes instantly welling with tears. Asger stirred and spoke her name again as Talia went to his side.

“Asger. I’m here.” She said, softly. Asger blinked his eyes open, but Talia did not think he truly saw her as he looked around.

“Talia...He needs you...The horses...They...Ran off…” Asger mumbled, pulling a memory from years passed. Talia took his hand and cupped the uninjured side of his face.

“Asger. Asger, it’s me. I am here.” She said as a tear rolled down her face. Asger blinked again, turning his eyes to look at her as his vision cleared.

“Mother?” He asked, softly. Talia gave a small laugh and said, “No. Asger, it is me.”

“Talia? Talia, is it really-” Talia smiled and nodded, kissing his cheek as she gave a soft chuckle.

“Yes, my sweet brother. I’m here.” She whispered, laying her head on his chest.

“Talia...Talia, I am so sorry...I couldn’t-They wanted me to be the one-” Asger let out a choked sob as Talia lifted her head.

“Shh. I am well. I forgive you. I know you would not have done it freely.” She said. Asger sighed and lifted his hand to cup her cheek, smiling as he stared at her.

“My sweet sister. I feared the worst…” He said. Talia closed her eyes and smiled, leaning into the touch. She opened her eyes again to meet his as he gave a half smile. “You’ve grown so beautiful. You look like Mother.”

Talia smiled and nodded, looking down in sadness as she said, “You would remember her more than me.”

“It was not your fault, Talia,” Asger said as Talia looked up at him. “You were a child. You couldn’t have done anything or you would have been killed as well.”

Talia sniffed and reached into her dress, pulling out the necklace to press it into Asger’s hand. Asger lifted his hand to get a better look at what she gave him. Once he realized what it was, he let out a harsh breath, his lip quivering as a tear rolled down his face.

“How did you manage to keep this hidden from him?” Asger asked, looking at Talia. She smiled and said, “He hated me, but he loved Mother. It was the only thing he let me keep when he sold me.”

Asger closed his fist around the pendant, gripping it tight. “I do not know if our uncle still lives, but if he does...Talia, if he does you have my word I shall gut him like the snake he is for what he did to you.” Asger hissed. Talia shook her head and closed a hand over his fist.

“No, Asger. I will deal with him when the time comes. If he values his life, he will never return to Kattegat.” Talia said. Before their conversation could continue, the door burst open and Igor called out, “You’ve had more than a moment, woman. Now, leave!”

Asger growled, trying to sit up to be able to yell at him, but Talia stopped him. “No, sweet brother. No one must know. Not now.” Talia whispered, wiping her face.

“I am not ashamed of you, Talia,” Asger said. Talia smiled and kissed his cheek.

“I know. But please. Tell no one. Not just yet. Promise me.” Talia said. Asger sighed and nodded, tucking the necklace into his pocket as she stood, the curtain flying open, making Talia turn.

“Leave. Now. You are not welcome here.” Igor hissed at her. Talia blinked, unmoved by his anger and bowed her head.

“Thank you for allowing me to speak with him…” Talia said. She fought the urge to let her lips twist in a smirk as she added, “I will make sure King Ivar knows of this kindness.”

Igor’s anger faded into confusion as he watched Talia pass him and make her way to the door.

“Why would you tell him of this?” Igor asked, turning to watch her. Magnhild looked past her mistress as she reached her, hand outstretched to hand Talia her cloak. Talia took a moment before turning to him with a sweet smile.

“Do you wish to continue to be outside of his good graces? If that is the case, I shall keep silent of this visit.” Talia offered. Igor looked to Egil and the other two men, who all three gave him a look. Igor cleared his throat and looked back at Talia, shaking his head and remaining silent. Talia bowed her head as Magnhild draped the cloak around her, tying it around her. Talia’s gaze swept over the men as she said, “May the gods bless you this night.”

Talia turned and walked out of the house, making quick work of her walk back to the hall.

Hope you guys liked it! If you want to be tagged in future fics/chapters, let me know! I’ll add you to the list!

@tephi101 @shieldmaiden25 @titty-teetee @captstefanbrandt @ivarslittlebadgirl @hail-kattegat @badwolf-in-the-impala @tgrrose @irishhiggins @i-war-s-boner @readsalot73 @thisisparadisemylove @capitanostella @noaor @somethingdawn @lol-haha-joke @meganjudee @tinypuppysoul @lovelydreamer-2000 @littlepanda-love @moondustmemories @imconfused28 @ivaraddict @kinzykittty @filthy-lil-thing @unicornbaby741 @thedevil-of-monterrey @chinduda @nomzcandi @ever-darkening @darling-nymph @franzi201070

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ecofarmgrowpackage · 5 years ago

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Gorilla Growtents vs Secret Jardin Growtents vs Eco Farm Growtents

Are you on the fence as to what grow tent you should get? With so many options it’s hard to know which one is the right one to purchase. If you’re a beginner, starting out with your first grow operation, it’s important to go with the right equipment so that you don’t need to upgrade later down the road, which is why it’s important to narrow down your choices of grow tents. But which of the two should you ultimately get? Read on to find out…

What’s A Grow Tent

For those not in the know, a grow tent is a small, portable grow room that you can set up anywhere and anytime. Very similar to a grow box, a grow tent provides you with an ideal indoor growing environment the same way a grow box does, but it’s more convenient. The only difference is the structure between the two since a grow box is built using components that are more permanent, while a grow tent uses fabric and can collapse when not in use.

Gorilla Grow Tents

If you want a brand that is already known for quality products, then Gorilla Grow Tent is your top choice! They have years in the business and create top-quality grow products that are used by many. Gorilla Tents are known to the thickest, strongest and tallest in the industry, with the original grow tent revolutionizing the industry. Their tents have a patent-pending adjustable height extension kit that allows users to grow their tent space all the way up to 9’ tall if they have the space. This in turns makes your plants grow bigger by 50%. Other tents are limited to only 6’ tall so this is a huge benefit if you’ve got the room for it. And all of the tents are made using 1680D threaded, reflective fabric that is anywhere from 3 to 9 times denser than any other setup, which translates to a more durable, stronger, safer and lighter setup. Plus, Gorilla Grow Tents are known to be 2 to 5 times stronger than competitor tents. The Gorilla Grow Tent infrared blocking roof insertion, 100% metal interlocking frame and connectors and a convenient access tool pouch. The doorways offer 360-degree convenient access and can hold up to 300 lbs.! Its dense threading and tight seals help contain noise and odor, while a sturdy flood pool holds water tightly.

Secret Jardin Grow Tents

It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert, professional or a beginner because Secret Jardin offers you grow tents that are easy to use and made using high-professional quality materials that will guarantee a large harvest. The type of Secret Jardin tent you should get depends on your level of skills since they make kits specifically based on levels of experience. But each one allows users to grow a wide variety of plants at home, easily and conveniently. Each tent features a canvas outside and reflective nylon on the inside. And they were one of the first brands to use reflective Mylar on the inside of their tents, which has since become an industry standard. They also offer tents in a wide variety of sizes to fit any space. Many of them also feature viewing holes so that you can check on your plants without having to actually go inside. But the tent is still super compact and great for small spaces or those with little height. These tents are easy to assemble and feature a solid, waterproof base. They’re made using strong equipment bars to support carbon filters and reflectors, providing you with at durable inside growing option for your needs.

Eco Farm Grow Tents

Eco Farm grow tents contains 3 styles grow tents, you can find both Gorilla Grow Tents and Secret Jardin Style Grow Tents at Eco Farm.

Eco Farm Extendable Grow Tents, the grow tents feature a adjustable height extension kit that gives you the ability to increase your growing space height from 7′ to 8′ or 9′ tall. Your plants can grow up to 50% larger. Never again will you have to worry about your plants outgrowing your growing lights and indoor grow room. Now you can experience crouch free maneuvering without banging your head on low hanging lights. OTHER INDOOR GROW TENTS are limited by a standard 6′ height. Plants often outgrow their space, yields are smaller as a result, and your back and head pay the price as you hunch over in your grow room banging your head against hoods. Regardless of your grow room location, rest assured Eco Farm has a tent for you!

Eco Farm Standard Grow Tents, the grow tents have multiple sizes, you can choose your favorite one. Sturdy construction- The grow tent features a 210D/600D/1680D lightproof oxford cloth outside and a highly effective (96%) diamond Mylar inside that enhances the reflective effect. Further, it has large heavy-duty exterior zippers that ensure safety use and easy set-up. The tent is erected on at least 16MM white paint coated metal rods that firmly hold the structure in place. You can also choose the material and size of the connectors by yourself. Multiple vents- The TopoLite tent has multiple vents that accommodate filters and fans. You can grow fruits, herbs and vegetables in the grow tent. It has rectangular vents that have mesh for better ventilation. Double stitching – For protction against light leaks, the tent has double stitching. Manual- The quick tool-free installation with assembly instruction provides a seamless and easy assembly even if you are rookie. Belts and Floor tray- In the set, you also get 2 nylon belts to use as filter straps and a removable floor tray.

Eco Farm Roof Style Grow Tents, the grow tents have multiple sizes, you can choose your favorite one. The Roof Grow Tent is a great solution for those who want to grow in a loft or attic space. The Roof tents are high quality and the slants in the roof mean that this tent will help you take advantage of the space you have. Great product! The ideal tent for growing in a loft or attic. Helps you to create an ideal grow environment in a loft space or attic with a slanted/pitched ceiling. Tough fabric with 96% reflective lining. Quality zippers with light-proofing cover flaps used inside and out. Features ventilation panels with bug-screens and velcro attached covers. Hanging rails for hanging fan, filter and light/reflector. Incorporates duct and cable entry points with drawstring fasteners. Removable water-proof fabric drip-tray bottom insert.

Eco Farm 2 in Lodge Style Grow Tents, the grow tents have multiple sizes, you can choose your favorite one. Two-tiered- The lodge tent has two stations with 3 separate growing areas allowing you to manage different plants in their various stages of development. This it does while remaining compoact for tiny spaces or areas with limited height. Durable Build – The tent has a great interior material diamond Mylar lining that enhances the reflective effect for better output. Rectangle vents make use of high density screen that prevents mosquitoes from flying inside. Different configurations- Depending on your preferences, the tent can be configured various ways which is perfect. The tent offers multiple options for you so you can utilize it maximally.

So which one should you get? Considering the price and quality, I think Eco Farm Grow Tent is the best choice.

#Secret Jardin Growtents #Eco Farm Grow Tent #Gorilla Grow Tent #Cannabis Grow Tent #Indoor grow tent

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osmw1 · 6 years ago

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Dimension Wave Chapter 13 — Cheesy

I’m standing in front of the cave. In my hand is my fishing rod with a sinker threaded onto the line.

“Let’s do this then.”

They silently nod in response and I cast my line. I have fine control over my rod, thanks to Fishing Mastery IV. The hook sinks right into the Lizardman Dark Knight. It probably dealt a point or two of damage, but it can hardly be called an attack. But it did exactly what I wanted it to—pulling its aggro.

“It’s comin’! Get ready, everybody!”

I’m not even sure if I did any damage to it, but it’s rushing towards us at the speed of lightning. If this were any other monster, we’d be instantly destroyed, but…

Kaboom!

The Lizardman Dark Knight slammed into the mouth of the cave accompanied by a terrible crash. Yup. The Lizardman Dark Knight doesn’t fit through the entrance. There are a lot of games where you can trap monsters by getting them to clip against objects. It’s an easy way to level up, but devs usually patch stuff like this out pretty quickly. Fortunately, it works in Dimension Wave. And it goes without saying that there’s a chance of it not working, but after discussing it between the three of us, we decided to try it out.

“Let’s kick its ass!” “Understood!” “Aye!”

The rest was straightforward. All we had to do was use the weapons and skills we had to and keep on attacking the trapped monster. I took out my Cetus Longsword and started hacking away at the trapped Lizardman Dark Knight too.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m doing too much damage. My strikes connect with a dull clank. I couldn’t tell from a distance, but now I know that it’s not only clad in armor but also covered in scales. Its defense is accordingly high too. I look over and see Shouko endlessly thrusting and swinging as well. Yamikage has some kind of scroll-shaped magic tome by his mouth and begins chanting. Moments after, a black visual effect appears, and he starts absorbing green orbs from the Lizardman Dark Knight.

That’s probably his Drain, a dark magic spell. Shouko and I aren’t using any skills though. We don’t know how much HP this boss has, so it’d be hard to guess if we’d make up any energy expended.

“This guy is literally so tough. Can you even win fighting normally?” “I have heard talk of a party defeating it before.”

We strike up a conversation, but our hands hadn’t stopped.

“’Tis naught but a rumor, but supposedly, they had tanks occupying the monster while they blasted it with light magic from a distance.” “I see. Its physical defense is as high as it looks to be.”

It’s just a guess, but I don’t think we’re quite fit to fight this Lizardman Dark Knight. The folding fan doesn’t do much damage and Drain is a dark-type skill. Our chances of winning are zero if not for cheesing it. My attacks make an unpleasant clank when I hit it and that’s with my strongest weapon I have. Oh, and if I had to say, I think a metal axe or even a blunt melee weapon would fare much better.

“In any case, if it doesn’t make any strange movements, we can just keep on wailing on it.” “Okay!” “Aye!”

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step is what they say. Just gotta keep at it.

Thirty minutes later.

“I-It’s still standing. How much freakin’ HP does this bastard have…”

If we get too close, it’ll strike back at us. We’re barely managing to outrange it. Especially with Shouko. The range on her fan is short, so she’s gotta occasionally parry its attacks. Not to mention, the AI causes it to try to run away from time to time. Naturally, I summon it back with my fishing rod. Seeing how I’m able to manage that says a lot about how smart the AI is.

“Perhaps it has regenerating capabilities.” “Nay. ‘Tis but because our offense is lacking.”

Well, that’s true, but I’m about average, I’d say. It’s been seemingly forever since we’ve attacked this monster, resulting in its armor crumbling and even scales ripped off. Still, it’s tough mentally to keep this up for a whole hour on a single monster.

“Be nourishment for my spirit. Drain!”

Yamikage’s been spamming Drain endlessly for 30 minutes and now even has more Energy than Shouko. That’s to say, he has about 27,000 right now. The Lizardman Dark Knight sure has a lot of HP.

“Whoa?”

As soon as the familiar green orbs get drained by Yamikage, the Lizardman Dark Knight moved in a peculiar way like nothing seen before. It keeled over with a deafening wheeze. It crumbles and slams onto the ground while luckily, causing no earthquakes.

“Hath it finally perished?” “Hey! That’s a death flag right there!” “Hmm, aye. I have left my younger sister behind in my hometown. Therefore, death must wait!”

… god damnit. I like his enthusiasm.

“Goodness… whatever are you two doing?”

Shouko shot a chilling glance over at us while confirming that the enemy is dead. Bosses feign death too. I raise my guard and get closer.

“Be wary. It may be feigning death.” “Gotcha.” “That is unlikely.” “Why’s that?” “Dark it may be, but it is still a knight. I believe it would have more honor than to do something so cowardly.”

Hmm, she’s got a point. It’s normally the demons and tribals that play dead, I think. Well, I guess the Lizardmen are a tribe, but still, it’s a knight. It should be honorable. More honorable than us, at least. We’re the one who trapped it and cheesed it to death. But ignore that.

“As for drops… we obtain a Fragment of Darkness and Dark Spear Splinter.” “We may sell those for a hefty sum.”

It’ll make us a good bit of coin, though I’m not exactly broke. Well, it doesn’t hurt to have more money. According to Yamikage, that two-handed spear is a material and a very desirable one for spear-wielders because of its dark element.

“Such is the prowess of a gutting-type weapon, true to what the rumors say.”

The real issue now is what to do. I glance over to Shouko and give her a look. Honestly, I want to gut it. I don’t think I’d get another chance to gut it. And likely, what we’d get from the monster would be really good for weapons and armor. A side of me is saying to keep the secret but the other side of me really wants the boss loot.

“We’re buddies that took down a boss together, so I guess I’ll tell ya…”

There ain’t nothin’ better than boss drops.

“If you are fine with it, Kizuna, then I believe it is for the best as well.” “Hmm? What is the meaning of this?” “Well, just watch. Speed Gutting…”

After chanting the skill, I take my Cetus Longsword and start to butcher up the giant Lizardman Dark Knight. I can’t do anything about the armor and scales broken off of it, but I can harvest the rest of his scales, bones, flesh, teeth, eyes, skin, tail, and even blood. But, for some reason, I can’t make use of what I broke off of it in the fight. It’s like the complete opposite of that certain monster hunting game.

“Egads…”

Yamikage mutters out in shock. Since this is a boss monster, I got as much material as I did from the Giant Herring. The Giant Herring must’ve been the boss of its species too.

“What on earth is this? Hath the items increased? Doth gutting-type weapons not increase our drops?” “It is poorly explained in the manual, but this is the proper way of using a gutting weapon.” “Never have I been more surprised in this world before!”

I can’t tell whether he’s really that surprised or his acting is just overboard, but his words are filled with zeal. Well, even if he tells everyone about this, we can still make plenty of cash if we sell these boss items quick enough.

“Then, shall I keep this a secret too?” “Huh?” “It seems as though Misses Kizuna and Hakoniwa were both keeping this undisclosed. As gratitude for saving my life, I, too, shall bring this secret to my grave.” “W-Well, I’d appreciate it if you would…”

And to think he had almost killed us. I’m glad he changed his mind. If he’ll keep it a secret, then I really don’t have any problems with him.

“However, I doth have an issue to discuss…” “What is it?” “May I perhaps join your party?” “… why?” “I have been playing alone up till now.” “Is that right?”

Shouko questions him. He’s got such a weird build. It’s no wonder no one’s letting him in their party. I almost blurted that out loud, but I held my tongue.

“It may hath been on your tongues already, but I have a communication disorder.” “…?”

… what was that? Unfortunately, I had no clue. Some might think his roleplaying is over the top, but I think most enjoy it. At least Alto or Romina wouldn’t have a problem with it.

“Many times, I have wished to join a party, but I always end up unable to.” “I am sorry to hear.”

Shouko’s totally starting to let her guard down. It totally reeks of a scam.

“Question.” “Aye?” “You said you have a communication disorder, but you’re talkin’ to us just fine.” “Speaking like this—like a ninja—seems to help.”

What kind of reasoning is that? At least come up with a better excuse.

“Mine heart is pounding as we speak now.” “Goodness! Kizuna, let her travel with us. We are fellow Spirits after all!”

What is this feeling? Like I’m watching my friends getting swindled? W-Well, I guess a party wouldn’t be too bad… hmm?

“What did you just say?” “We are fellow Spirits after all?” “No, before that.” “We should travel with her? “Yeah. ‘Her’?”

Yamikage’s wrapped up in all black. That’s not something you could tell at first glance. There’s even black cloth wrapped around their mouth, so it’s hard to tell by their voice.

“I am embarrassed to show my true face in front of others, but if we are to fight together, then please, look at me.”

Saying that, Yamikage unravels the black cloth…

—and reveals a beauty girl with silver hair.

contents: /prologue/ /ch001/ /ch002/ /ch003/ /ch004/ /ch005/ /ch006/ /ch007/ /ch008/ /ch009/ /ch010/ /ch011/ /ch012/ /ch013/ /next/

(please support me on Patreon or Paypal)

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megadavestewart · 2 years ago

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WFS 350 - Semperfli Synthetic Fly Tying Materials with Ann and Andy Kitchener

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/350

Presented By: Jackson Hole Fly Company, Stonefly Nets, LakeLady Custom Rods, Bearvault

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

We go behind the scenes with Ann and Andy Kitchener, owners and founders of Semperfli, to learn how they created some of the best fly tying materials on the market today.

We hear what it's like to win the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade 2022 - the ultimate and most prestigious award given nationally to a business, and meet Prince Charles.

We break down some of their most in-demand products around the world and find out how fly tyers make it to the Semperfli Pro Team.

Semperfli Show Notes with Ann & Andy

03:30 - Ann and Andy semi-retired 14 years ago. As they were getting into fly fishing and fly tying, they realized that most threads on the market at the time were easy to split so they decided to make better threads

05:30 - They grew 44% a year since they started and then 3 years ago, they launched their Classic Waxed Thread

06:40 - Now they supply threads to 56 different countries around the world

07:15 - The Nano Silk GSP is their most in-demand product

09:00 - Andy tells us how they created one of the strongest threads on the market

09:55 - GlobalFlyFisher.com is a great resource for fly fishing and fly tying blogs - Martin Joergensen was on the podcast at WFS 099

12:50 - They have some artificial jungle cock

13:05 - One of their oldest products, Straggle String, is a great alternative for Peacock Herl

14:40 - They also got Synthetic Rabbit Zonkers "Wabbit" - There's a video of Roy Ole Læhren Jakobsen testing the Semperfli Synthetic Zonkers. Scroll down to see that vid!

20:00 - Splitting a thread is useful for dubbing loops. Their waxed thread is designed for splitting.

21:00 - Their Kapok Dubbing supports 30x its own weight in the water - it's one of their top-selling materials today

23:00 - Their Dirty Bug Yarn was developed 3 years ago

25:00 - Andy tells us what materials to get started with if you're a beginner coming in to fly tying

27:00 - Tim Cammisa was on a while back - he's an Ambassador of Semperfli in the US

28:10 - Hackle and CDC are materials that are difficult to make synthetic

30:00 - Andy talks about the "cytis" being endangered around the world so its feathers are illegal to use for fly tying - people get arrested for its use

34:55 -Andy is known in the business as the "naughty professor" - he does a ton of research and experiments to come up with the best possible fly-tying materials

36:45 - They've got 80 strong Pro Team around the world - they have an event called Fly Jam which is like Christmas for the team because they get a box full of materials from Semperfli

40:00 - Ann tells us how fly tiers make it to the Semperfli Pro Team - you can email them, show them your portfolio, and let them know why you are a great fit for the Semperfli family

43:20 - Son Tao is a very talented fly tier

46:40 - We talk about their lead-free wires

49:35 - Their Straggle Legs serve as synthetic insect legs

51:00 - One of the notable mentions is their Perfect Quills

54:25 - Semperfli recently received the Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade 2022 - the ultimate and most prestigious award given nationally to a business.

58:00 - We hear about their experience entering Buckingham Palace, meeting Prince Charles

1:02:00 - Ann and Andy share some business tips bag

1:11:30 - Bill Oyster was on the podcast recently - a very passionate bamboo fly rod maker

1:15:30 - Ann and Andy share some bonus marriage tips

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/350

Check out this episode!

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ancorlocaustralia · 3 years ago

Link

Ground anchors are devices used in the soil to retain structure and stability in the ground. Unlike other devices that use buried anchors or metal tie-downs, ground anchors are designed to withstand the weight of the soil as well as the pressure from the soil itself. These devices can be used for a variety of applications, such as securing a foundation footer drain, grading roads, and for holding retaining walls and retaining trees. Regardless of what application you need these anchoring systems for, it is important to select the best anchor system that suits your needs and the type of ground you have.

There are two primary types of earth anchors - surface mounted and sub-surface mounted. Both of these types of anchors can be installed for any type of structure, but it is typically easier to install surface mounted anchors in wet or muddy soil conditions. These anchors are designed for long term use and are not designed for short term applications where the soil may shift rapidly. Surface mounted anchors should always be installed over the top of the soil so the pressure of day-to-day living is taken into consideration. Depending on the particular type of anchor, it may also be necessary to add additional weight to the structure to support the additional weight being placed upon it.

There are many different types of earth anchors, and depending upon which type of anchor you select, the durability and longevity of the anchor will vary. Most commonly found in concrete Anchorage systems, steel bar embedded anchors are one of the most popular types of earth anchors available. The steel bar anchors are typically made out of galvanized steel to provide the strongest connection possible. Other types of steel bar anchors include: epoxy (a threaded steel rod) and stainless steel. Steel bar anchors come in a variety of finishes, such as; polished, brushed, milky or clear.

For More Information Visit - https://www.ancorloc.com.au/

#Earth Anchors #Ground Anchors #Tie downs

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fixdex-fastening-technology · 4 years ago

Video

youtube

How to test the hardness of threaded rod and wedge anchor

#threaded rod test certificate #threaded rod pull test #threaded rod tensile test #threaded rod pull out test #wedge anchor pull test #wedge anchor pull out test #wedge anchor #wedge anchor tool #8 wedge anchor #3/8 x 3 wedge anchor #7/8 wedge anchor #8 inch wedge anchor #strong bolt wedge anchor #strongest 3/8 threaded rod #threaded rod high strength #strongest grade threaded rod #what is the strongest threaded rod #all thread rod tensile strength

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vividracing · 3 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://www.vividracing.com/blog/top-5-best-radius-rods-for-your-can-am-maverick-x3/

Top 5 Best Radius Rods for Your Can-Am Maverick X3

Upgrading the radius arms on your Can-Am Maverick X3 can prove to be incredibly beneficial. What is a radius rod though? A radius rod, also called a radius arm, is a part of a vehicle’s suspension system that is used to control the movement of the wheels. It is fixed at the vehicle chassis to keep the wheel suspension in position and restricts wheel movement to a specific range to ensure it does not move too much in either direction. Having the ability to adjust camber and toe settings will be a huge help when it comes to how your machine handles. On top of that, having a strong enough part that can handle the abuse your Maverick X3 endures when taking on the trails is priceless.

The stock rear control arms on the X3 and X3 Max from the factory are very weak due to their hollow tube design. These can easily bend from small rocks hitting your vehicle when riding off-road and especially during hard landings in the dunes. While having a total of six arms should be strong enough, the OEM radius rods are not as good as they could be and do not offer adjustability either. The automotive aftermarket, however, offers plenty of options should your Can-Am’s radius rods fail and need to be replaced or you just want them upgraded. Vivid Racing has compiled the following five best radius arm kits for the Maverick X3 to make your search a bit easier. You can also view all of our radius rods for the Can-Am Maverick X3 right here.

1. Agency Power Adjustable Rear Radius Rod Set

The new Agency Power Adjustable Rear Radius Rod Set is a fully adjustable solution designed to take a beating and last for a long time. These radius arms are machined from solid 6061 aluminum for the ultimate strength and durability. The rods are different for the upper, middle, and lower in order to act as an exact replacement for the stock components and work optimally. The ends of the control arms are tapped to accommodate the three-piece Teflon-lined spherical rod ends. The 3/4- inch spherical rod ends have opposing threads and are locked in place using a stainless-steel jam nut.

Each rod end’s through-hole is 5/8 inches in diameter with steel spacers machined to Maverick X3 specs for a secure fit to the rear frame brace or wheel carrier. Each upper and lower radius rod features a hexagonal shape so you can easily adjust them on the fly using the proper tools. The Agency Power Adjustable Rear Radius Rods are powder coated in popular colors (silver, black, and red) and have a unique laser engraved pattern to go with your Can-Am Maverick X3 theme. The set of 6 rods is designed to work with the stock or aftermarket support brace to keep your UTV handling at its best.

Features:

6061 Solid Aluminum with Easy Adjustment

Powder-Coated in Popular Colors

High-Quality Spherical Rod Ends

Full OEM Replacement for Perfect Fit

Get It Here!

2. SuperATV Boxed Radius Arms 72-Inch Complete Kit

SuperATV’s Boxed Radius Arms for the Can-Am Maverick X3 boast strength, simplicity, and an easy installation. The radius rods are crafted with reinforced pivot joints, 1/8-inch heavy-duty steel plating, and internal gussets to deliver the toughness you’d want for your UTV. SuperATV designed it like an I-beam to deliver unparalleled strength that can really stand up to the elements of spirited riding. With this kit, you can be sure that the typical stress points won’t break. Even the frame mount is engineered to be as strong as possible. That means you can hit those bigger jumps, climb wilder hills, and navigate through rough rock gardens. No matter where you want to go, the SuperATV radius rods are up for the task.

These radius arms come pre-adjusted to OEM specs and include all new bushings. SuperATV did the extra work for you and adjusted the heavy-duty Heim joints to match stock specifications too. They are all ready to install right out of the box so you can get back to riding as soon as possible, and still have the camber adjustability you need if you decide to add a lift or larger tires to your machine. With all that said, these rear radius arms are designed for the decisive rider that doesn’t let off the gas for the sake of his/her UTV and wants to really enjoy the things a Maverick X3 was built for.

Features:

Made with 1/8″ Heavy-duty steel plating

Internal gusseting for maximum strength

Reinforced pivot joints for added strength

Heavy-duty 5/8 x 18 heim joints

Heim joints pre-adjusted to factory specs

Heavy-duty frame mount design

Includes all-new bushings

UV-resistant Powder Coating

Lifetime Warranty

Get It Here!

3. CT Race Worx 64″ High-Clearance Radius Rod Kit

Those looking for the ultimate in radius rods need not look any further. This CT Race Worx High-Clearance Radius Rod Kit is built from 7075-T6 aluminum and boasts over an inch of ground clearance. It is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, which is basically the strongest aluminum option for the sport. The ends house FK uniballs, the same series joints that the trophy trucks are running – there really is nothing better. The middle (toe) link and upper radius rod are solid 1-1/8-inch 7075-T6 aluminum. The CT Race Worx kit allows for full adjustability of camber and toe while installed sitting at ride height. The main difference between others who use 6061 aluminum and CT Worx’s 7075 aluminum is that the latter won’t stretch, bend, dent, or even scratch like the former.

What sets CT Race Worx apart from others in the industry is that this brand uses the absolute highest-quality joint on the market. The JMX series of joints from FK has achieved a tremendous amount of success over the years. These joints use a fabric-based Teflon liner known as a PTFE liner. The inner joint housing is compressed to create a preload on the ball that will stay tight roughly three times longer than a standard injected Teflon rod end, which is standard in the UTV industry. The spacers in this package are 303 stainless steel, so you can be sure that strength and corrosion are not a problem. Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations using inferior joints and inferior materials. While you may pay less upfront, the cost over the course of a year and once the cheaper joints wear out will be much more than you bargained for.

Features:

Uses 7075 (not 6061) aluminum

Tensile Strength – 83,000 psi

Yield Point – 74,000 psi

Brinell Hardness – 150

Elongation at Break – 10%

Shear Strength – 48,000 psi

Strength to Weight Ratio: 196 kN-m/kg

Get It Here!

4. Assault Industries Turret Style Radius Rod Kit

Assault Industries was born from a true passion for the off-road industry and that shows through each and every one of its products. After all, this company has been manufacturing UTV parts for more than two decades! Working with OEM customers has given Assault Industries an advantage in understanding the standards of quality for each of its products. The Assault Industries Turret Style Heavy-Duty Radius Rods for the Can-Am Maverick X3 are no exception; they are built for the off-road warrior. This package is designed and produced in California from the latest state-of-the-art machinery and only the best aircraft-grade materials to deliver a kit durable enough to withstand the elements of exploring the off-road.

With a lineup that boasts some of the best, strongest, and most innovative products available in the industry, it’s no wonder how Assault Industries made our list here. Assault Industries radius rods are machined from 6061 T6 aluminum and are hard anodized black with polished Chromoly adjustable Heim joints. This radius rod kit retains the OEM clearance of the Can-Am Maverick X3 while adding incredible strength and rigidity over the stock setup. If you are in the market for a stylish radius arms kit that will look amazing all while performing above and beyond OEM specs, look no further than the fully capable Assault Industries set!

Features:

Triple rod configuration

Improved strength and rigidity over OEM

Direct bolt-on replacement

Turret design construction

Heavy-duty adjustable end-links

High-grade machined billet aluminum

Hard anodized finish

Get It Here!

5. Madigan Motorsports Rear Radius Rods

What began as a passion for the motorsports world turned into a successful business for Thomas Madigan. He started out by building cages, long travel kits, and other suspension pieces and later evolved into building full race cars and trucks from the ground up. Madigan was eventually approached by Full Potential and moved on to work alongside them building sand cars, FIA Dakar Rally Cars, and short course cars. Today, Madigan Motorsports specializes in stock race and play UTV products that let you truly take advantage of all your machine has to offer. After all, upgrading your radius arms is a great way to gain newfound strength for a better ride as well as more clearance to take on new ventures confidently.

The Madigan Motorsports Rear Radius Rods are a great budget-friendly replacement for your Can-Am Maverick’s stock radius arms. Available in a raw or black finish, these radius rods are crafted from CNC-machined T-6061 aircraft-grade aluminum. The set also includes 4130 Chromoly steel Heim joints. These high-quality radius rods prove to be much stronger than the OEM ones to hold up to even the most intense conditions so you can enjoy your UTV to the fullest. If you are looking for radius arms that will be stronger and handle better than stock without breaking the bank, look into Madigan Motorsports. Testimonials show that these radius arms make successful builds and withstand conditions to last a very long time.

Features:

Stock replacement radius rods

CNC-machined T-6061 aluminum

4130 Chromoly steel Heim joints

Proven to stand up to extreme conditions

Available in raw or black finish

Get It Here!

#Can-Am #Can-Am Maverick X3 #Maverick X3 #Radius arms #radius rods #Suspension #tie rods #UTV

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paddlingspace · 5 years ago

Text

Jackson Tupelo 12 Recreational Kayak: Full Review and Features

Jackson Tupelo 12 is a 12-foot (11'10") recreational kayak made for weekend trips and longer cruises. It provides both great primary stability and edging performance so it is easy to paddle for beginners but will allow you to grow into the sport without the need to upgrade too quickly. RELATED: Jackson Kayaks in 2020: Full Model Lineup and Reviews

Pros:

Lightweight Easy to transport and store Stable Dry storage in stern bulkhead Comfortable seat Tracks well

Cons:

No front bulkhead or hatch

About the Manufacturer

Jackson Kayaks was founded in 2003 by world champion and Olympic kayaker Eric Jackson, design partner David Knight and friend, Tony Lunt. Based near Rock Island, Tennessee, Jackson Kayak is well-known both in the kayak fishing world and among freestyle kayaking athletes. In fact, many of the world's leading freestyle kayakers use Jackson kayaks.

Size and Weight

Jackson Tupelo 12 is 11'10" long and 27" wide. Combined with a very light weight (only 42 lbs without the seat), this ensures excellent performance and easy transportation. An average adult can simply put the kayak on the shoulder and walk to or from the water. Throwing it on top of your car should not be a problem for most of us, either.

Capacity

With a total weight capacity of just 250 pounds (less than many popular 10-ft recreational kayaks), the Tupelo 12 is definitely geared towards smaller paddlers and those who carry minimal gear. Don't forget that the total weight calculation should include not only your own weight but also your clothes, your PFD, and the gear you plan to take along.

Construction and Material

Like most Jackson's kayaks, the Jackson Tupelo 12 is made from High-Density Polyethylene using the rotational molding technology. Beads of polyethylene are poured into the mold, the mold is heated up and slowly rotated so that the material fills up every nook and cranny. After the mold cools down you get a one-piece construction that is extremely rugged and durable. Jackson Kayak is known for high-quality materials. Their kayaks last a very long time. The downside of polyethylene is that it is a very non-stick material. If you manage to put a hole in the hull, you can't just glue a patch to it. Repairing usually requires a piece of the same material and a blowtorch to melt it onto the hole.

Hull Design

Jackson Tupelo 12 has a V-shaped hull with a pronounced keel and two hard chines. The sharp bow pierces through the water instead of pushing it, which reduces resistance and helps you go faster and paddle longer. The keel goes all the way to the stern, ensuring a great tracking ability (the ability to go straight). The hull between the keel and the chines is a little flared (arched), creating some sort of tunnels. This design is known to provide good primary stability. The hard chines themselves, on the other hand, ensure excellent secondary stability and make it easy to edge the boat for more effective turns. Overall, the hull design offers a great balance between performance and stability. This boat should be easy to handle for beginners but will also let you practise some more advanced paddling techniques as you progress.

Deck/Cockpit

The roomy open cockpit of the Tupelo 12 makes it an excellent choice for those just getting into the sport. You won't feel trapped inside this kayak and it's very easy to get in and out of the vessel. To add even more comfort, there are really comfortable knee pads on the rim of the cockpit. This small feature adds a ton of comfort on longer trips and will make your kayaking experience much more enjoyable. The cockpit opening has a rim, but don't let that make you think you can fit a spray skirt over it. With such a huge cockpit opening and a high back seat, it is unlikely that you will find a suitable spray skirt. You could, however, get a cockpit cover that will keep most (but not all) of the water out for a much drier ride. Anyway, if you plan to go into white water or waves in your kayak, you should look at other models. The Tupelo is for calm water and good weather. Another feature that is worth mentioning is a bottle holder between your legs. It is designed for a Nalgene bottle and each kayak actually comes with a Jackson-branded Nalgene bottle.

Seat

The seat is actually one of the Tupelo's strongest points if you're looking for comfort on relaxed, long trips. The kayak features Jackson't Ergo removable frame seat that goes into the company's high end fishing kayaks. It is made from a mesh material that provides excellent ventilation on hot days. The seat is held in place by four bungees, so you can easily remove it and use as a camp chair. The seat back is adjustable. Bring it up for active paddling or recline it into a comfortable lounge position and relax as the river carries you. A Thermarest inflatable lumbar support pillow creates even more comfort, so you'll want to stay on the water all day.

Storage

Jackson Tupelo 12 offers sufficient storage space for a several day trip. First, you can slide small items under the front deck (there's a structural block between your legs so anything large just won't fit). Next, there's a bungee cord on the front deck to secure dry bags or other gear. Moving back, there's some space right behind the seat, in front of the stern bulkhead. Next, there's another bungee cord on the rear deck. Put a rain jacket there or anything you need quick access to. Finally, the boat's main storage compartment is in its stern bulkhead. You access it via on oversized hinged hatch which is waterproof and secured with two quick-open latches. Great design. The bulkhead has enough room for a weekend or even a multiday trip if you don't get too crazy with your gear. To summarize, Jackson Tupelo 12 provides adequate storage for what it is designed for: day paddles or short multi-day trips. Having a front bulkhead with a separate hatch would be great though.

Gear Mounts

Unlike many other kayaks of this type, the Tupelo 12 actually has something to offer in terms of gear mounts. Jackson cleverly equipped this boat with four rear-loading gear tracks, taking its customizability to the next level. Want a couple of rod holders? A camera or GPS mount? No problem! That is an awesome feature. There's also a threaded insert for a GoPro mount on the front deck if you want to film yourself during the trip.

Footrests

The Jackson Tupelo 12 comes with adjustable footrests that will help you find an optimal paddling position. Since the kayak is designed for smaller paddlers, the foot pegs can go quite close to the seat.

Paddle Holders

The Tupelo 12 offers standard paddle holders on both sides. The paddle is secured by a bungee cord. This is a simple and effective system that won't give you any problems.

Handles

The Tupelo 12 is equipped with rigid plastic grab handles both on the bow and the stern. We tend to like them better than fabric handles because they are more reliable and easier to use.

Stability

Jackson Tupelo's tri-chine hull design ensures excellent primary and secondary stability. The kayak does not feel tippy, which makes it beginner-friendly. At the same time, it allows you to use more advanced techniques as you progress. It edges very well, providing great secondary stability and clear feedback.

Maneuverability and Tracking

The Tupelo 12 has a pronounced keel that spans the length of the boat and helps it track really well. This is especially important on larger bodies of water and longer trips - not having to correct your course too often will save you effort and make the experience more enjoyable. That said, the kayak still turns very easily, both with paddle strokes and by edging it.

Speed

Narrow, sharp bow of the Tupelo 12 helps it pierce through the water instead of pushing it. This creates minimal resistance and helps you go faster with less effort. At 12 ft, it is not a super-fast kayak (longer boats are usually faster) but has enough speed to cover large distances and keep up with friends.

Care and Maintenance

Rotomolded kayaks are extremely durable and require minimum maintenance. However, here are some useful kayak maintenance tips: You need to do some maintenance when you take your kayak out of storage before the season. Check the hull for damage, inspect all hardware and rigging, replace anything that is worn out, check and refill the emergency gear. It is also a great time to get the new gear you were dreaming of last year. During the season, it is a good idea to quickly spray down your kayak after each trip (especially in salt water). Store the kayak away from direct sunlight or use kayak covers. Avoid dragging the kayak on its hull if possible. A kayak cart is a great and inexpensive accessory that can prolong the life of your boat. When it's time to put the kayak away for storage, turn it upside down and wash it with mild soap and a sponge. Make sure you get any sand, dirt or dead bugs out. Dry the boat thoroughly. Check the rigging and see what needs replacement. Loosen any bungees or straps that can be loosened. Apply some corrosion protection (like WD-40) to metal joints, screws and bolts.

Storage

Jackson recommends to store your kayak indoors standing up on its end and secured by a strap so that it does not fall. If that's not possible, store your kayak hull up on some flat surface. Worst case, just put it somewhere there's no direct sunlight and use a cockpit cover to protect the kayak from dust or critters.

Warranty

For kayaks bought in 2019 and earlier, Jackson offers a 3-year limited warranty. For kayaks bought in 2020, the warranty period has been increased to 5 years. The warranty covers substantial defects in materials and workmanship in the hull and outfitting components made by Jackson Kayak. The warranty applies from the original date of purchase from an authorized dealer. For demo boats and used boats, the warranty begins from the date the kayak was shipped from Jackson. Unlike with some other manufacturers, Jackson's warranty also applies to subsequent owners of the kayaks, not just the original owner. Depending on the year of the warranty period, Jackson will repair or replace the hull and/or outfitting components, as follows: Watercraft Purchased 2020 and After First Year of Warranty: We’ll replace or repair the hull for free (or we’ll replace the complete boat for 10% of the current MSRP), Free Shipping Second Year of Warranty: We’ll replace or repair the hull for 10% of current boat MSRP (or we’ll replace the complete boat for 30% of the current boat MSRP), plus shipping. Third, Fourth and Fifth Year of Warranty: We’ll replace or repair the hull for 30% of the current boat MSRP (or we’ll replace the complete boat for 50% of the current boat MSRP), plus shipping. Note that some components are manufactured by independent companies and are covered by separate warranties. You can learn more by contacting Jackson. To submit a warranty claim, you will need proof of purchase. Jackson may require you to provide photos of the damage or to return the product at your own cost. International warranty claims are handled via Jackson's distributors. Warranty terms may be different in different countries. Please contact your local dealer to learn more. For full Jackson's warranty terms, click here: https://www.jacksonadventures.com/warranty/ Read the full article

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kremlin · 3 years ago

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here's an oldie (probably 2/5 stars imo)

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i've never worked a night shift before. it's been about three weeks and i am only starting to get in the swing of things being wide awake and ready to wind down with a beer at 7:30 AM on a tuesday is a strange place to suddenly be. living in a suddenly frozen desert swamp sort of adds to that uncanni-ness. it has frozen in texas and my pipes are cracked and broken there is almost no part of this shanty house that isn't elligible to join the AARP. it's one of the last ranch style ramblers left in montrose, all of the others have been replaced by bizzare brutalist white cube apartments which i assume house pod people our ballbusting 900 year old landlady (slum lord) sent out the handyman steve. steve is not a plumber which is a point expressly made to me, by steven, several times we were not forewarned of this & steve's arrival came unexpectedly 8:00 AM thursday morning is now my time to furiously discuss drugs, on drugs, with internet strangers soon to be nebulous internet acquaintances, then friends, then perhaps even those friends from the internet you've known for a decade suddenly from my desk, if the door is open, i catch about a half-degree of the window facing the backdoor. a full degree if i lean back. i lean back as to kind of avoid the bizzare reality that the other players of the space game seem to deal with the same problems i do at an alarming frequency. i lean back There;s a fucking guy back there angry at the fact that i have to now deal with this, i find our friend steve in the back yard, sauntering around, muttering to himself in a way that's between mumbling but below speaking "surely that man has a blue tooth head set" but i was already smiling wide knowing he didn't. if you're going to appear in my backyard unannounced, milling around babbling to yourself is the way to do it steve doesn't really speak english. you'll read that and think he's like any other non english speaker but that is not the case with steve. steve will get out about four or five sentences in perfectly spoken english before switching to (hindi?) for a bit. you'd think that if 80% of his communication was clear, that'd be enough for mutual understanding, but steve is all over the place steve was furiously pacing around the broken pipe when i got to the back door. that is a fact i'm only coming to realize is important now, writing this, because the person standing near a broken pipe with a wrench is a plumber, someone who is allowed in my back yard in this circumstance HEY YO i tried to whistle but made a stupid faring noise with my mouth he swings around at the perfect moment to make my sudden departure all the more awkward as i realized how waistbanding a pistol in sweat pants was extremely not working. remember where we are by the time im out of my room steve has his head poked through the back door YOU COULD NOT WITH YOUR FINGER POINT A WORSE PLACE FOR PIPE BREAK and boy howdy he was right. if you're going to break a pipe, don't make it the one between your meter and a valve, and especially don't make it one on the ground next to the garage you keep all your weirdo electronics and "vintage computers" you "collect" i sort of like plumbing. i've done some plumbing. there's an illegal stipulation in our lease that lets the landlord, you know, just not maintain the place. with my engineering background i am of course compelled to think i am somehow qualified to solve these problems. i'd like to use the expression "dive into with full force" to describe my approach but combine that with the imagery of a blind person gracefully swan diving into an empty concrete swimming pool but this is not about me, i am not particularly interesting. -- steve. steve is sort of interesting. his murmuring grew to a breathless combination of words which i thankfully mostly understood (individually, not collectively). steve was upset with the pipe situation to be described later in this document's best paragraph. he was upset at the last person to work on the pipes here because they fucked up. he was amused by how preposterously

inconvenient the broken pipe lay. this amusement was not anger what followed next was clearly anger. perplexed, astounded anger ice on the ground is something you see once every 4 years in (excellent) swamp i live in. it's a pretty reasonable assumption that a broken pipe after a freeze/melt cycle is due to the freeze/melt cycle this was not the case the pipe had ruptured due to a sequence of truly insane and utterly nonsensical choices made by the previous plumber who almost certainly kicked the bucket in the reagan years as suggested by the lead solder used to seal joints and lead paint used to, well, just hold on the pipe burst because a large metal rod was inserted *through* it. the details on exactly what went down are a little fuzzy as my simian mind was preoccupied with thoughts about some weird software that started as a fluid dynamics simulator and is now a physics simulator and an insane person simulator. i would digress and expound on this but my thoughts aren't yet settled on the space game the rod went through the pipe and into the ground, on the other end were rusty wires. it is a grounding rod, you know, for electricity. i unfortunately know a litle bit about this. you can ground a circuit through a cold water tap, like when you're lining the fence with copper wire to create a makeshift shortwave antenna with your weird kind of racist dad. water is conductive. more commonly the rod goes into the ground, which is also usually conductive so, this grounding rod, sitting between a 3 foot gap between the back of the garage and fence, an overgrown mess of decades of detritus and weeds that had grown into vines that had grown into weird anemic trees. this grounding rod was painted. it didn't come painted. it was painted. it was painted the same color as the garage. paint is not conductive. the circuitry in my house was not grounded. thankfully there is no ground pin on the outlets in this ancient home besides the one i strangely installed one day. the amp plugged into it now gives a hum where it didn't before. the ground was subsequently disconnected to eliminate the ground loop as we are in our early 20s and cannot die, especially not in an electrical fire it's sort of nice to know that even back in the 1940s people screwed up as royally and maximally as possible, employing such a degree of backwards demented logic as you'd expect from a home owner's association bylaws handbook or normal computer software anyways, steve, ohoho. oh boy. steve did not fuck with this at all. steve, the man who is self purportedly not a plumber, immediately took to the valve between the city's water main and our house with the wrong implement. an implement used to unwrench joints around a u-bend underneath a sink. it worked perfectly `I just use this for many valve. It works mostly. No need for heavy T` (steve's parlance doesn't transcribe to text very well) steve continued, `Too many tools is too bad. I use this one for tiling and for drywall and for ducks` (ducts?) he spoke while gesturing listlessly at nothing in particular. it became clear that steve's limited, nebulous tool set was carefully chosen. when you are the un-fuck-it man for an ice queen landlord you sort of have to be a plumber and an electrician and a roofer and sometimes a debt collector. the arcane set of tools used to approximate all of these trades made a bit more sense the lack of a monkey wrench did not make sense. none of steve's esoteric implements could wrench like we needed them too. i offered to purchase one from the nearby hardware store which was a great excuse for me to go to the nearby hardware store and purchase a monkey wrench, *my* monkey wrench. steve objected but i was deadset. i was buying a wrench today. the newly purchased wrench calmed two agitated souls: one was drowning in thoughts about drugs and space and coincidence. the other was angry he couldn't wrench down a pipe joint a few hours passed. several trips were made to the hardware store by my roommates and the new tennant in the garage apartment, less than $20 was

spent. i sort of farted around not helping while getting jawed at by steve who had permenently changed the subject to grand life philosophies. i'm about the last person that'll tolerate some windbag wasting my time, but between the fun of trying to decipher what the fuck steve was saying and what language (or nonsense utterances) he'd conclude thoughts with, i realized that his sensical words actually, uhh, rang true steve believes in doing a good job. read that last sentence without the disinterested, vaguely-trying-to-be-funny style this document has maintained so far this hit me on a deeper level than i was expecting i'm young and do not really understand the world very well. i'm not so young that i'm blind to the depths of what there is to understand about this world, i'm allegedly content with the resignation that for the time being i'm sort of a dumbass and will continue to be a dumbass in the future, although less so hopefully i'm going to tell you that i believe in "doing a good job", "doing things properly", "taking your time to properly solve a problem", or "solving a problem for the sake of solving a problem and nothing else". i am going to tell you that these are some of strongest and earnestly compulsions i feel. i'm not lying when i write this but i wasn't lying when admitted to how little i understand anything at all, so maybe weigh those two facts against each other nearing 200 lines, i realize i have spent the hours meant for sleeping writing a truly innappropriately verbose wall of text all because of how stoked i was that an angry muttering tom bombadil character spent an extra 45 minutes to fix a pipe properly the new pipe was measured and cut, threaded. steve's measuring tape is interspliced with further, smaller graduations he hand-scratched into a long measuring tape. the previous graduations on the tape presented steve with an unsuitably low resolution of 1/8th of an inch i'd guess this was a 12 foot measuring tape. i never saw the end of the graduations, i don't doubt for a second they extend the entire length of the tape. do you know how many notches you'd have to painstakingly scratch on to a 12 ft measuring tape to change it from 1/8" -> 1/16". well, don't: 1152 steve might be a little nuts but holy shit a master plumber could not have done a better job. the dude fuckin laid on his back, in the small pond of pipeleak water, so as to see up a length of fixed pipe so he could better lay teflon tape on the *inside threaded surface of the pipe joint*. i challenge you to try and imagine what such a manuever would be like, considering the damp slimy pipe surface, the fucking hell that is teflon tape (fuck teflon tape) all while laying in a pool of possum water at the impossibly cold temperature of 45 F my pipes don't leak anymore. there is no longer a bizzaro steel rod puncturing the most critical pipe on this property. i own a monkey wrench when i did not this morning. i am thinking less anxiously about the space game, still. me and steve sat around smoking cigarettes and communicating with each other through a method i can't describe but wasn't reliant on words. we talked about the virtues of work ethic and then we talked about those that have broken our hearts. the conversation, as well as this text, ended with a solemn mutual acknowlegement of how terrifying electricity is and how terrified of electricity we are

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