#(i will discover new tasty treats at my own tasty pace) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

misterewrites · 3 years

Text

Intro to Jaime 101 and a Half

Hey everyone! E here hoping you are all good. It's time for a new chapter of Mirror's Edge! Haha been a while huh? I was actually writing a mini arc for welcome to an Underground cuz it felt right you know? Better to get all that put together and squared away. And now that that's done, here we are.

Umm the next thing I write will either be another's Mirror's Edge chapter, the last intro chapter before I get into actual story arcs or maybe some fandom stuff I haven't decided.

Anyway, I hope you are all safe, sound, keeping your loved ones safe too, wear a mask, wash your hands, vaccinate yourself if you can, push to release the vaccines world wide and be careful. Have an amazing week and see you soon with a new chapter and or story! feel free to leave likes, reblog, comments and recommend this to your friends! I appreciate it, enjoy!!

Here’s the chapter over at a03 if you wanted have an easier time reading cuz tumblr hates me!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/80953405

Here’s the story from the beginning if you’re curious what’s it all about

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/75486005

And here’s a link to all my stories

https://archiveofourown.org/users/MrE42/pseuds/MrE42

Summary: Jaime, adoptive sister of Finnrick and fiancée of Casey, is late to work. The Grimoire, magical library and hub of all knowledges is her workplace and she has thrown herself into it completely for whatever reason. Still with Casey lingering on her mind, she can't help but feel torn between her love of books and the love of her life.

-----

As Jaime hurried away from Willow’s Rook and Casey, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed in herself. She told herself under no circumstances she would see her fiancée but one glance towards his office and Jaime was knocking on his door without a second thought. A ten minute conversation later and now she was late to work.

She sighed, glancing downward towards the engagement ring snugly wrapped around her finger.

Jaime’s heart raced beyond her control as her fingers tingled with the warmth Casey’s cheek. She could still feel the pulsing of their hearts beating in time with one another, love and longing palpable in that moment.

“Jaime, why do you do this to yourself?” she murmured sadly “You said don’t see him. You said don’t visit him. You said you could handle this whole break and now we’re late.”

Jaime picked up her pace, power walking in hopes somehow that could shave off the seconds she desperately needed to avoid being reprimanded: The Grimoire may have been a library but it had a strict late policy both on books and personal.

-----

The Grimoire was as elegant as it was ancient: The library was one of the oldest buildings in Newton Haven, constructed when the city was little more than a mile of stacked bricks among swampland. Faded red stone archways and columns did nothing to belittle the power and importance of the Grimoire. Even the mundane folk could feel the magical force that radiated from within, a fantastic world beyond the threshold.

Of course there was a fantastic world hidden inside: The library was one of the major hubs for the magical community and it wasn’t uncommon to see various races searching the many bookshelves for whatever subject tickled their fancy.

The interior was elegant and timeless: The walls and floors were soothing shades of brown with furniture pulled from all eras of human history. Three stories of endless knowledge about countless subjects. Translucent spirits hurried back and forth, humming happily in death as they did in life while they performed their duties to the Grimoire. In the center, amid the hustle and bustle, stood a spiraling staircase that disappeared beyond the ceiling to the Librarian’s office.

There, just past the entrance and to the side, was a security desk with a figure lazily sitting upon it: He was humanoid, muscular and impossibly large, easily seven feet tall. His skin was gray as storm clouds and his eyes shone with an electric blue shade. His hair and beard were frosted white like he dove face first into snow. His uniform consisted of a dark blue buttoned up collared shirt that was one flex from tearing in two and old rugged jeans. His black combat boots were immaculately cleaned as he placed them on the surface of the desk.

He clicked his tongue as he slowly turned the page on the latest romance novel he had been enthralled by.

“Sinclair, you’re late.” He spoke softly but even a whisper couldn’t stop his voice from reverberating throughout the hall.

Passerby’s shot confused glances at one another but no one stopped at Dusty’s declaration

The storm giant sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly “Sinclair, you’re not fooling anyone.”

Silence and more quizzical glances.

Dusty shook his head, disappointed as he snapped his finger.

The air smelled of fresh rain while a source-less thunder boomed overhead. Nearby, a person, previously invisible, flickered into existence. Their previously camouflaged self changed into a rainbow of colorful hues before bursting into a flurry of sea green sparks and revealing a sheepish Jaime, her hands raised in defeat.

“Sinclair.” Dusty’s voice was dry yet amused.

Jaime clasped her hands together as she made her way over to the storm giant’s desk “Dusty! I...”

“Am late.” he finished for her, a gentle chuckle escaping his throat “Remington again?”

“Whaaaaaa?” Jaime’s face scrunched into a false sense of surprise “No, no. Come on. Me and Casey are….well you see…..it’s frankly none of your business.”

Dusty nodded wisely “True. It is none of my business. Go on before I sic the ghosts on you.”

Jaime gave a quick curtsy before running as quickly as she could. Dusty rolled his eyes before returning to his romance novel he was previously captivated with.

-----

Everyone who worked in the Grimoire had their own personal office tucked away somewhere to ensure privacy for personal studies. Jaime’s office was in the back of the library, hidden behind the alchemy section. It was one of the wider offices, more akin to a school class room. True to her wizard background, it was messy: Piles of folders, books left open and hastily scribbled papers were sprawled about. A fairly sized cauldron sat ontop of her desk, currently not in use. Sticky notes littered randomly across the walls. And like any true wizard, a magical circle was engraved directly into the center of the room for varying purposes.

Despite the appearance of her lair, she was actually one of the more organized of wizards. Even her prodigal brother Finn’s lair wasn’t as well maintained and cataloged as her. Though, to be fair, she did have help most wizards didn’t.

Jaime placed her bag by the door, eyes searching about for her helper.

“Bartholomew! Bartholomew Ringtail, you here?”

A moment past before the sound of rustling papers and scuttling paws could be heard. Jaime reached into her pack and pulled out a bag of popcorn just in time for Bartholomew reach out for the treat.

Bartholomew Ringtail, like his name suggested, was raccoon. Light gray fur, little black mask over his snout and tiny adorable paws. However, unlike most of his kind, wore a small cap upon his head and that made him cuter than the average raccoon.

Well that and the fact he was magical.

While her brother was a master practitioner of powerful protective wizardry, Jaime’s skills lay elsewhere as a conjurer. Her strength came in summoning powerful familiars to further her goals.

Normally a wizard would have to spend time preparing the ritual, collecting the materials related to whatever being they were trying to bring onto this plane. Demons, angels, fey, constructs of strange and alien machinery from beyond human understanding. Anything could be summoned if you had the proper knowledge and power.

Normally such rituals would take hours if not days to perform: Time to gather magical energies, to search the planes of reality for your being of choice and of course drag it kicking and screaming to you. Also summons were temporary as beings not native to the plane could only be sustained by whatever magic brought them. Much like a timer, the magic would slowly fade and once empty any being summoned are forcibly returned from whence they came.

Jaime was much faster and more persuasive in her summoning spell casting. She could do it in a matter of minutes as opposed to days though it still required a massive amount of magical energy, Unlike other wizards, conjurer summons did not decay over time. Whatever they brought into this world stayed in this world unlike magic could no longer maintain their form, usually from being attacked over and over.

Bartholomew was one such creature. In fact Bartholomew was Jaime’s first summon back when she was a fledgling wizard being trained by her brother. She wasn’t hundred percent where exactly he came from but she was grateful for her longtime companion and friend.

Bartholomew popped open the popcorn bag and hurriedly began to stuff handful of the tasty snack into his waiting maw.

Jaime smiled brightly before glancing about room, quietly complementing which project to continue.

A wizard’s magic was as much studying as it was practice.

Finnrick once described the difference between wizards and other casters as using a phonebook. The others were given a phonebook by some higher power. The numbers were already written down and set. However, they could only use those numbers and each different caster had different numbers for different purposes.

Wizards, on the other hand, no such phonebook. They have work hard, study and call each number to understand what the number did. Aside from being tutored by other wizards or spellbooks or other sources of knowledge, the wizard must discovered and write down the numbers on their own, creating their own phone book. Of course that meant wizards weren’t as limited as the other casters and were free to discover a possible infinite amount of spells.

Jaime took a step forward when a voice called out to her.

“Hey sis!”

Jaime whirled around to find the smiling face of her brother Finnrick, fedora in one hand and a friendly wave in the other.

“FINNY!” Jaime cheered, racing forward and wrapping her brother in a tight hug.

Finnrick laughed before returning the gesture “Hey Jai, how you doing?”

“Good” Jaime broke away “Great even! I was just about to practice my spells. I’m still having trouble.”

“Sis.” Finnrick’s voice became firm “It’s visual as much as it is feeling.”

“I know, I know” Jaime shifted uneasily under his gaze “It’s just I usually just bring in heavy hitters, not be one.”

“Any wizard can stick to their strengths. Great wizards are well versed in all forms magic. Spar?”

Jaime gave a crooked smile “Loser buys lunch.”

“And dinner” he cockily added.

Jaime motioned to the circle but Finnrick was already on it. Clasping his hands, Finnrick murmured something too softly for her to hear then pushed his arms outward. A blue dome formed over the two, encasing them in a makeshift arena.

Jaime took her place opposite of her brother “Ready?”

“Sisters first.”

Jaime closed her eyes. She imagined a flame in the palm of her hand. She imagined the heat from the flame. She imagined how it shifted back and forth with a gentle breeze. She saw it clearly in her mind’s eye and then she willed it into reality

“Inferus!” Jaime shouted, her hands glowing with a sea green glow. The flame burst into existence, just as she created. She pulled her arm back and lobbed it with as much force as towards her brother.

Finnrick didn’t budge an inch while flame sailed his way. He rose his hand calmly and with a mighty swing, backhanded and sent the flame skittering across the floor.

Finnrick didn’t waste any time in his counter attack. His finger tips gleamed with blue magical energy and with a flick forward, unleashing a barrage of icicles.

Jaime outstretched her hand forward, sea green glyph forming in the air. A thin matching barrier appeared in front of her in time to catch the first of the icy attack but as the rest collided, cracks began to widen and spread with each successive blow.

“Don’t fight like me Jaime!” Finnrick scolded, sending another wave of icy daggers.

The barrier hadn’t lasted under the second barrage: The moment an icicle collided with her shield, it broke, scattering and fading out of existence.

Jaime, however, was prepared. She ducked and weaved under the attack, pivoting her heels like a graceful dancer while moving her way out of the line of fire.

Jaime twirled about, gathering the magic in her hands before sending outward. Long streams of flames began to swirl about like tendrils reaching for prey as she spun about.

Finnrick gestured at her with a finger gun and clicked his tongue, bringing down his thumb like a hammer of a gun. Jaime’s eyes widened with surprise as she felt some foreign entity began to shift and make her spell uneven. She tried to maintain it but Finnrick’s surge of magic was too much for her. The magic she held exploded, the flames vanishing as the force of the spell breaking sent her sprawling to the floor.

Finnrick was already on the move, arching his arm backwards before throwing forward a bolt of lightning.

Jaime sprung to her feet, leaning as far back as she could to narrowly avoid attack. The lightning bolt struck the dome but before she could react, it bounced and struck her directly from behind.

Luckily it was a training session and only gave a her a light shove forward. Jaime flapped about wildly before she manged to get her balance steady.

“Game, set and match!” Finnrick beamed with a grin.

Jaime rolled her eyes “Big surprise my genius brother won. The dome’s so small I barely had room to move!”

“Exactly!”

Jaime shot her brother suspicious glare.

Finnrick rose his hands “Hey, never let your opponent dictate the field of battle if you can manage it.”

“Yeah, I should’ve seen that coming” Jaime sighed.

Finnrick made his way over and wrapped his sister in a loving one armed hug “Remember sis, real life has no rules.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jaime nudged Finnrick’s ribs playfully “Whatever you say cheater.”

Finnrick ruffled his sister’s hair playfully “Life lessons are important to share to your siblings. Need help with anything?”

“Oh you better be spending time with me. After that thrashing you gave me, you owe me big.”

Finnrick stood up straight, hand raised in a lax salute.

Jaime responded by poking his stomach.

“Oww, I give I give!” Finnrick chuckled “Why must you resort to violence?”

“Family upbringing I guess.”

The two siblings fell into a peaceful quiet as they began shifting and searching through Jaime’s notes.

“Jaime?”

“Hmm?”

“Question.”

“Answer.”

“Any word on the big move?”

Jaime stopped, her hands hovering over a book.

“No” Jaime murmured weakly “No word yet. They’re still debating I guess.”

“Mhm” Finnrick replied without much else.

Jaime turned to her brother “Finn, I…”

Finnrick rose a hand to stop her “It’s your life. Your choice. If this is what you want, then I will be happy for you.”

“But?” Jaime added in.

Finnrick pursed his lips, running his finger down the spine of a nearby book “I want you to be content as well. I know you…..I mean….you’re still wearing the ring.”

Jaime glance down to her engagement ring. She could still feel Casey’s warmth underneath her fingertips, his heart beating rapidly in time with hers.

“Think about it” Finnrick said with a hint of finality “Life’s too random to live with regrets.”

“So” Jaime cleared her throat, desperate to change the subject “Any news on your angel?”

Silence.

“Finn?”

She found him fidgeting with his fingers, his cheeks blazing a bright red as he averted his gaze.

“Finn! You found her?! And you didn't tell me?!”

Finnrick gave a shy nod, biting his lips nervous.

Jaime lunged at him, wrapping her arms tightly around him in a loving embrace “That’s great bro! When am I meeting her?”

Finnrick turned to her, unsure what she meant “What?”

“When am I meeting her” she repeated.

“Umm….why?”

“To interrogate her of course!”

“Jaime!”

“What? Just cause you like her doesn’t mean I do.”

“Jaime, don’t you dare!”

“Try and stop me!”

Finnrick dove for her but Jaime saw it coming a mile away. She pivoted on her toes, twirling out of the way of Finnrick’s attack. As her brother began to chase her around the office, Jaime quietly enjoyed this moment between siblings.

She was going to miss this when she left Newton Haven behind.

#Mirror's Edge #Original Work #original story #my work

9 notes · View notes

emily-rose-white · 4 years

Photo

Practice Challenge 1:

“Princess Fluffy Angel! Fluffy Princess Angel! Angel Fluffy Princess!” I called out to my three poodles from the foyer of her Paris flat.

“Girls! Your mommy’s home and she brought presents!” I aded before skipping over to her tea room where a set of cookies and cakes had been awaiting her.

“Lady White, you forgot to say this morning, would you like rose tea or mint tea with your snacks today?”

“I will take rose tea! Thank you!” I replied as one of her dogs ran up to her. I threw the wrapping paper from her gift bag down on the ground as my maid picked it up, removing a light pink fluffy tutu and flower crown.

The Whites came from a long line of an affluent family. They had been there when Illea was founded, serving as Gregory’s right hand man, then invested that money into stocks and properties. The Whites, therefore, had never run out of money. I had acted in films and shows on occasion, but only because I loved the attention. Also, so I could have a chance to possibly meet Ava Jones.

When I was around thirteen, I worked in my first movie. I took on the role exclusively because my favorite pop singer, the newly discovered, Ava Jones was writing a song for it. There was no guarantee that meant I would meet her, but I would take any chance to do so. One day on set, my dream came true. Ava Jones, the coolest fifteen year old the world had ever seen (in my eyes) appeared. However, I had been acting horribly that day and couldn’t believe her luck. Ava Jones, my icon, my Goddess, would see me completely flop.

I ran behind her trailer and sobbed, curling into a ball and sitting with my head in my lap. When suddenly things when from bad to worse,

“Hey," Ava mumbled as she stood in front of me. My face shot up red in embarrassment, tears and snot being sent downwards as my head went up. "I look so ugly!" I screamed and started crying even more.

"I don't see why that really matters, but yeah you're a pretty ugly crier." Ava squatted down to be on level with me. She took the tissue from my hand and wiped me off as I panted to catch her breath.

"I don't want you to see me looking ugly! You're Ava Jones!" I yelled, supposedly trying to explain myself.

"Then maybe don't cry." Ava sighed and sat down on the ground next to me.

"What do you even have to cry about?" She asked.

"This script." I grumbled and threw a paper down on the ground. Ava picked it up and tried to examine it. She didn't really know anything about acting but gave it her best shot.

"What's wrong with it?"

"I'm not good enough for it. They want me to be shocked! How am I supposed to be shocked?" I huffed.

"Well, I'm not an actor so I can't really tell you. But do you wanna practice with me a few times?" She offered. I nodded a little bit as Ava examined the script

"Look out princess magenta! That building is falling!" Ava yelled with WAY too much enthusiasm.

"Oh no." I said, still emotionally drained from the crying.

"Well that was sad." Ava couldn't help but grin as my head dropped in further despair. She paced for a moment before getting an idea, "You seemed pretty shocked when I found you crying," I nodded.

"Maybe just, I don't know, channel that or something?"

I nodded with enthusiasm this time, "okay! Let's try again"

"Look out princess magenta! That building is falling."

"oH NO!" I yelled. It was probably a bit much but I was happy and this was just a kids movie after all. From that day on I decided that one day Ava Jones was going to be her best friend. I had gone to every concert, set up photoshoots. I even turned a Playboy magazine event into a charity event so Ava could be pressured into coming. But, it was always the same. Ava would smile, they’d talk about work, then she’d be whisked away. I needed at least once to crack her shell.

And that’s why today was the best day of my life. Her phone rang as she sat, munching on her cookies and she answered it to her screaming friend Tammy, “OHMYGOSHEMILYEMILYEMILY I HAVE THE BEST NEWS FOR YOU!!”

“WHAT WHAT OH MY GOSH WHAT!!!?” I yelled back causing the maids and her poodles to wince.

“AVA JONES IS JOINING THE SELECTION!!” She screamed causing me to shriek in delight.

“Really? It’s not at all her type of thing, where did you hear this?” I asked quickly, still holding onto hope.

“Okay so my brother’s girlfriend’s, best friend’s cousin’s boyfriend's older sister works for Rainbow Companion Recordings, and she heard from an intern who heard from her boss who heard from her boyfriend who heard from his boss that heard from Ava’s agent that she’s joining!”

I gasped and my phone fell to the ground in shock for a moment before I picked it up and quickly ended the call before called my sister.

“Savannah! Can we push back golf? I have to pack for a flight to Angeles!” I exclaimed as my older sister sighed.

“Really? You know it’s hard for me to clear my schedule. I’d really prefer we stick to our originally planned time.” She sighed. My heart dropped a bit but I sucked it up and agreed to our normal time.

***

The ball flew higher than I intended for it to. I could never hit them perfectly. Not the way Savannah could. Savannah was always perfect, be it in golf, studies, anything. She was mother and father’s favorite. She had excellent grades all her life, became fluent in Spanish, new Asian, french, Italian, and German, then she followed in our father’s footsteps taking off to become a large company’s illean representative. She was flown around and paid nicely (not like she needed it). Our parents always had hoped for me to grow up and follow in her footsteps, but despite Savannah's framed report cards being hung in the hallway, I could never keep up.

“Do you think you’ll apply for the selection?” I asked her as I quickly went to the ball.

“You really think I’d apply for that? Mom and dad would never approve of either of us getting a fiance that way.” She scoffed and crossed her arms. “Why are you asking, one of your bimbo friends planning on it?”

I bit the inside of my cheek holding back on defending my friends, people like Savannah didn’t get along with people like me. “Well, it’s not like he’s some four. He’s a prince I hardly see how that’d lead to disapproval.”

“You really think mom and dad would like one of us putting our lives up on a TV for the speculation of the world and tabloids, being the prince’s personal prostitutes for however long he needs to recover from a broken engagement. Not to mention the fact that he had an engagement called off, what does that say about him? Doesn’t think through decisions, commitment problems, then there could be a whole other plethora of reasons for the engagement being called off.” She responded. A “duh” needing to follow each statement.

I looked down to the ring on my own finger, I had the diamond replaced after father would no longer give his blessing to Jacob. It was now a glistening pink ring, it’d have been too sad to return a ring so beautiful, but I no longer wore it on my ring finger. I didn’t have a good response for Savannah, she made excellent points as always.

“You better not be thinking of joining yourself. They barely handle your “actress” lifestyle.” She sighed before hitting her own ball. I was the failure of the family. The easily manipulated, easy-to-bed, childish, Emily-rose.

***

I applied anyways, it would be one of my only chances to see Ava Jones again. I needed her to like me as much as I liked her. To understand how much I would value our friendship. I brought boxes of macrons with me from France and decided to use them as an excuse to speak with Ava. I would have to give them to everyone though, as to not seem creepy. I stopped at the door of one Ms. Jen Li and waited at the doorway as she was in bed,

“Hi! I'm Emily-Rose White! You might know me from a few movies I've been in. I recently got back from Paris and brought some macaroons back for the selection as a friendship gift, would you like one?” I offered, giving a quick introduction.

“Macarons?” She asked then scoffed something under her breath. I was very familiar with the action. Mother or father had done it since I was a child. Prancing around at parties they’d mumble their embarrassment to each other. I brushed it off and widened my smile,

“ Do you dislike them? I have coffee, mocha, chocolate, and vanilla flavor. I can also order some more if you'd like?” I offered. I would hate for Ava to hear of me being unkind to a selected. Mother had always said giving gifts was a much more dignified way of forming alliances than giving hugs.

Jen took one of the cookies, holding it carefully. I wonder if she’s never had one? They’re pretty tasty if she’d like to try it. I hope she knows I’m not one of those women who you can never eat in front of. “Emily White. You're a Two, aren't you?” She asked.

“Yup! Though my family were originally politicians when Gergory Illea took over and aided him, he bought our way to the two cast a few years after and mostly acted as society socialites. But again, I like to act if I see a role that looks fun. How about you?” I answered by giving a little bit of fun fact information for fun.

Jen tossed the cookie back in the bin and scoffed again, I hope I didn’t catch her in a bad mood, “Figures. I'll pass.” she replied. I tried to not let myself crack even though I was becoming increasingly terrified that I had done or said something wrong.

“Oh well, again if you'd like anything else I can get it for you. I'd love to be friends with you all here.” I offered and gave her another smile. I handed the box over to a maid who stood near me.

Jen shot up at that and stalked over to me, “I know you're a Two, and you've never had to lift a single one of your manicured fingers in your life, but when you're in my room-” she took the box back from the maid and shoved it back at me, “ you treat them with respect. At least they actually contribute something to society.” She said. I frowned and realized it must be because I hadn’t spoken to her. Their job was to aid us so I hadn’t thought of interacting with them as opposed to just giving them their tasks. I thought that was how they preferred their work to be done, or at least that’s what mother and father always had told me.

I turned to the maid and gave her a friendly but apologetic smile. “Excuse me Miss Maid. As it is your job to do would you take this box and throw it out. It has no use now.” I explained feeling a bit like I was performing and unsure if I had done it correctly. “Is that what you meant?” I asked Jen hoping she would feel better now.

Jen pulled the box back from the maid and shoved it once again in my arms, “No, you bitch, I mean do it yourself. Or is that too hard for you?” She sneered.

I couldn’t help it anymore and my lip quivered as I felt myself crying. Of course she wanted me to deal with the box. I’m such an idiot. “I'm sorry, I can do that.” I spoke quickly and turned with the box hoping I hadn’t caused too much of a scene.

***

I laid in my bed for a few hours. I debated calling Savannah or mother- but of course they would know not to act that way with a maid. Of course I was the dumb one here. I had offended lady Jen Li and caused a scene. I was already in this event that they hated and now I was ruining the White name.

Crying into my pillow I decided to go down to Ava’s room. We weren’t friends yet, and this was NOT part of the plan. But it would be better for her to hear it from me so I could apologize for what a complete fool I had been before she decided that was who I had grown into. I cried on her bed for a few hours, explaining that I hadn’t meant for things to turn out that way and I truly hadn’t known that Jen would be so upset. She was incredibly kind, offering to speak with Lady Jen herself, but that would be even worse, to escalate the situation more. I dozed off in the room and slept my first night in Ava’s room.

8 notes · View notes

imagine-loki · 5 years

Text

You owe me, Chapter 27

TITLE: You owe me CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 27 AUTHOR: fanficshiddles ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine after the battle in New York, Odin sent Loki back to Earth without his powers as punishment. SHIELD are after him and he meets a woman who isn’t all she seems at first and she has her own agenda. The two end up teaming up, to help one another. But it’s not quite as plain sailing as they’d hoped. RATING: M

‘Let’s get him!’ April went to move from their hiding spot, but Loki grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

‘Not yet. We need to scope this place out, figure out how many girls are here. We have to tread carefully.’ He said firmly, hauling her back down to crouch beside him.

April knew that Loki was right. They couldn’t go in all guns blazing until they knew what they were dealing with.

‘How do we do that?’ April sighed and ran her hand down her face.

She watched in irritation as Alexander swanned around inside the hotel’s restaurant, men around him and a few girls dotting around. Having large glass windows was rather handy for Loki and April to watch through. They were hidden behind a bush at the other side of the car park, opposite the restaurant.

‘Let’s go back to our hotel, come up with a plan.’ Loki kept hold of April’s wrist, making sure she didn’t try anything foolish, and they made their way back down the road to where they were staying.

The hotel they had booked into was quite fancy, it had a swimming pool, spa and a Jacuzzi. But April wasn’t in the mood to take advantage of the facilities, not while Alexander was so close.

When they were back in their room, April kept pacing back and fore. She couldn’t settle.

Loki was sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and his chin on his clasped hands.

‘We need to act now. What if something spooks him and he runs off somewhere else?’

‘We will act once we have a plan. We can’t go barging in there like Bilgesnipe, because that will cause him to spook and run.’ Loki said calmly.

‘Bilg-what?’ April looked at him confused, as she continued walking back and fore.

‘Never mind. We can’t go barging in. But I do have a plan. I will go in and try to make contact with him, claiming I am interested in his stock. See if I can get somewhat close to him, or even a meeting with him. Once I figure out where the girls are, then we can attack.’ Loki suggested.

‘Ok. Let’s do it now then!’ April said eagerly, only stopping momentarily until Loki shook his head.

‘Not yet. There’s a party at the hotel tomorrow, that’s the perfect opportunity to do so. And first, I need you to contact Nate, see if he can get us information on someone close to Alexander that I can refer to, so he trusts me.’

‘Ok. I’m on it.’ April pulled out her phone and sent a quick text, receiving one just as quick back from Nate saying he would get onto it straight away.

‘Are you going to sit down or are you going to burn a hole in the damn carpet?’ Loki asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

‘I can’t just sit around and wait, Loki. I need to go and spy on him again, keep a close eye.’ She said in a rush, then made a move towards the door.

‘April.’ Loki barked, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned around to face him but was antsy and couldn’t stand still. Loki knew how hard this was for her, but he also knew she could easily blow it if she wasn’t careful and calm.

He sat up straight and motioned her to him with a come-hither finger. She rolled her eyes but went over to him. When she reached him, he spread his legs open and captured her in his arms, pulling her in against him. He hooked his ankles around hers, keeping her in place.

‘I know you are anxious to get him, love. But we have to this right. I don’t want you getting hurt either, which you will if you go charging in.’ His tone was gentle yet with a hint of firmness too. He reached up and cupped her chin. ‘I promise you, we will get him.’

April sighed and nodded. Loki then slid his hands down to her hips, squeezing her. ‘Come on, I’m taking you out for dinner to take your mind off it.’ Loki grinned and stood up, making her stumble back slightly, but Loki’s arm around her waist steadied her.

‘Dinner?’ April frowned.

‘Yes, dinner. You know, where we go out to a nice restaurant to eat.’ Loki said cheekily as he went to her bag and pulled out a nice dress she had, tossing it to her. ‘Get changed.’

She still looked slightly bewildered as she looked at the dress, and then up to Loki again.

‘Like a date?’ She said, her voice slightly higher than she meant to.

Loki shrugged. ‘Why not? You’re mine and I would quite like to show you off.’

April’s jaw hung open, she didn’t really know what to say to that. What could she say to that?

She started to get changed, then noticed Loki was just standing there staring at her.

‘Aren’t you getting changed too?’ She asked as she pulled on the dress.

‘I’m just waiting for you.’ He grinned and in a shimmer of green, he changed from his jeans and t-shirt into an all-black suit, tie and everything. His shoes immaculately polished, April was sure she would be able to see her face in them.

Loki grinned at the way she was eyeing him up, unconsciously licking her lips. He raised an eyebrow and tipped his head towards her, silently urging her to continue getting ready.

He thought she was ready once she had her dress and heels on, but then she grabbed her make-up bag and started sorting her face.

Loki groaned and ran his hand down his face as he leaned against the door. ‘You do not need to fuss with your face, April.’

‘Of course I do. Not going on a supposed date looking like a zombie.’

‘Maybe I like the zombie look.’ Loki winked at her with a smirk.

‘Yeah, but you’re a weirdo.’ She smirked back at him.

Loki chuckled and continued to wait until April deemed herself ready to go.

‘Ready now?’ Loki asked, hoping they could finally go to dinner.

‘Don’t sound so grumpy. Going on a date with a God, of course I need to look good.’ April grinned and walked up to him, she slid her arms around him underneath his jacket.

‘True.’ Loki nodded and leaned down to kiss her on the lips. ‘Now, let’s go!’

He took her hand and the two took a walk through the city. Loki seemed to have a place in mind, so April just went with it. She thought it was sweet how he was trying to take her mind off Alexander. It was much needed, too.

And it worked, Loki was the perfect gentleman. Treated April like a princess. Tucking her chair in for her, ordering on her behalf, ordering the most expensive wine. Not to mention the food was great, April had no idea how he discovered the place, but she certainly wasn’t complaining as she tucked into a delicious steak.

‘I still can’t believe you eat yours practically still moo’ing.’ April said to Loki, pointing at his plate.

‘It’s medium-rare. Hardly still alive.’ Loki chuckled. ‘Besides, you lose the wonderful texture if you over cook it. Here, try a bit.’ He cut a bit off and held his fork out towards her.

‘It’s still pink on the inside!’ April scrunched her nose up.

‘Just try it.’ Loki growled low, a smirk on his face.

April sighed but gave in and tried it. Her face turned from looking disgusted to looking rather surprised.

‘Ok… I see your point. That is tasty and a nice texture. But still, I’d rather not have blood on my plate.’ She then proceeded to squirt some more tomato ketchup onto her plate, making Loki laugh.

‘Sometimes fresh meat can be the tastiest.’ Loki winked at her.

April raised an eyebrow at him. ‘Is that supposed to be a euphemism?’

‘Perhaps.’ Loki just had a smug look on his face while he continued eating.

But Loki did have other ideas. When they returned to their hotel room, his gentlemanly demeanour went flying out the door. He pinned her against the wall and started assaulting her mouth with his own, as if trying to swallow her whole. She could taste the wine on his lips and tongue.

April tried clawing at his clothes, but Loki didn’t let her. He unbuckled his belt and looped it around her neck, making it form like a collar and lead. Then he pushed on her shoulder.

‘Down, girl.’ He growled.

She obeyed without hesitation and sunk down to her knees on front of him. Loki’s grin grew even larger and he gripped her chin, his thumb popping into her mouth. ‘Good girl.’ He purred when she sucked on his thumb.

His cock was hard in his trousers, so he quickly fixed that issue and pulled it free. April was always in awe at his cock, so perfect. Well, as perfect as a cock could be.

Giving a tug on the belt, choking her slightly and making her gasp, Loki removed his thumb from her mouth and gripped his cock. He rubbed it across her lips.

‘Open wide, pet. Here’s some proper raw meat.’

After April proceeded to suck Loki off, swallowing all his sperm and earning lots of praise, it was then her turn. Loki threw her on the bed and his head disappeared under her dress. Her knickers were simply torn off, like they were made of paper. A stark reminder of his strength, that only made April even more aroused.

Her thighs clenched around his head while he feasted on her. If she hadn’t known any better, she would’ve thought that he hadn’t eaten in weeks. It was like she was his final meal. She saw stars and could barely form words even in her own mind as his silver tongue skilfully twisted and wriggled inside her before being replaced by his long dastardly fingers so that his tongue could assault her clit.

When she came, she came hard and almost passed out completely.

Neither of them bothered to clean themselves up, too exhausted. So they curled up in one another’s arms and Loki pulled the blanket over them after using his Seidr to remove the rest of their clothing.

April sighed in contentment, feeling safe in Loki’s arms while she drifted off to sleep.

Loki woke in the middle of the night, he was slightly confused as April was no longer in bed with him. He rolled over and saw the digital clock saying it was just one am.

‘April?’ He called out into the dark room, but there was no answer. He couldn’t sense her at all.

Getting up, he rushed to check in the en-suite, but she wasn’t there.

‘Shit!’ He hissed and ran his hand down his face.

He had a feeling he knew exactly where she would be.

#Loki #God of Mischief #Submitted fic #submission #you owe me #chapter 27 #fanfichiddles

23 notes · View notes

kiruuuuu · 5 years

Text

Smoke/Lesion oneshot in which Lesion meets someone important during his first mission and then realises he was horribly wrong over the course of a few years. (Rating T, culture clash + hurt/comfort, ~9k words) - written for @yovelie! I can’t thank you enough for this commission and all your encouragement 💞💞 You continue to be a delight! Find my commission info here!

This fic has been posted to AO3 as well!! Read it here :)

His presence alone demands respect: he has the aura of someone who turns heads unconsciously, who parts a crowd with no effort and without realising, of a man used to making himself heard. Tze Long inadvertently holds his breath as the broad-shouldered, imposing European paces the room, studying the papers handed to him upon entry and not yet having directed a single word at anyone. He oozes confidence and competence, a good mixture as far as Tze Long is concerned, and despite the circumstances, he’s calmed down considerably. With this fortress of a man on their side, he has nothing to fear.

The man’s companion is less impressive, reminds Tze Long more of an aged schoolkid, sitting the wrong way around on a chair and resting his chin on his arms, eyes lazily trailing after his superior. If anything, he’s an apprentice, for some reason deemed worthy enough to follow this legend around despite proving himself lacking in several aspects – physical appearance is just one of them. He merely scanned the report Tze Long neatly put together before switching to playing with a lighter instead, face bored and impassive.

Indonesian weather doesn’t agree with either of them and yet Tze Long can’t pretend he minds, not when it forces the two to expose their toned arms and causes sweat to bead up on their foreheads enticingly. This is a moment in which he stops wondering why he’s got it so bad for Westerners.

Paper rustles and restless footfalls stop. The tall man fixes Tze Long with a level gaze which shouldn’t cause his heart to skip a beat like this. “Your name is…?”

“Liu Tze Long, sir.”

Two pairs of eyes drill into him yet he returns the stare without blinking. “You know who I am?”

He nods. “I do, sir.” How could he not? Operation Nimrod gained international fame and besides, all special forces have their own celebrities, pass on gossip just as swiftly as the Hollywood scene. Vineyards work fast, especially concerning the British SAS, most acclaimed organisation worldwide. Tze Long has been following this man’s career for about a decade now, hungrily devouring every tasty piece of information he could find. This is his idol before him, in the flesh, and he still has trouble believing it.

“Good. This is James Porter.” The sidekick gives a half-hearted wave and a half-hearted smile. “You’re the one who interpreted the files on the laptop found in Macau?”

“That is correct, sir.”

“Fucking bubonic plague”, Mike Baker mutters with a shake of his head, pushing back his sweat-soaked hair. “What do you reckon, Jamie?”

“Complete neutralisation asap”, comes the reply without hesitation, yet delivered like a disagreeable school report, “the files didn’t indicate the existence of more than one lab, so only one infiltration necessary. We’ll have the SDU assist us in gathering intel and coordinating the whole thing, go in, destroy the prototypes and samples as well as all data and leave.”

Tze Long nods mutely. They’ve identified the location of the extremist’s laboratory already which is why his superiors deemed it necessary to ask the Brits for help – their expertise in storming a building riddled with mercenaries and equipped with a worryingly potent biological weapon is limited. He doesn’t let his surprise over James’ astute observations show. He should’ve figured every member of the SAS has been recruited for a reason.

“Almost.” Mike leans against a table and Tze Long’s eyes drop lower all by themselves. “There’s no need to ask more people for help. We three are more than capable of taking down this megalomaniac – the fewer people can alert these terrorists to our plan of attack, the better. We don’t need the SDU’s fancy gadgets if we can help it. Right?”

The last word is directed at Tze Long who nods automatically. He indubitably knows best, seeing as how he’s not only still alive but also in active duty after all this time. “Yes, sir. Of course.”

“See? Even he agrees with me.” James simply rolls his eyes, visibly exasperated, but doesn’t dare object. If he had, Tze Long would’ve been appalled with the blasphemy. “You’re both knowledgeable in toxicology, so you better figure out how to get rid of this nonsense while I do observation and planning. Also, if you call me ‘sir’ one more time, I’m gonna personally feed you my badge.”

Tze Long opens his mouth, throws a glance at an extremely amused-looking Porter and decides against speaking up.

“Alright, let’s brainstorm on how to neutralise this plague without causing a medium-sized epidemic”, Porter turns to him with a cheerful grin. “Or, as I’d like to call it: the fun part.”

~*~

Macau has never held any fascination for Tze Long for as long as he could think – the old Portuguese buildings, yes, but once he’d seen them, there was only glamour and glitz to discover, new ways of relieving encumbered tourists of their money and the vice-like grip of the Chinese government tightening on a city doomed to be a one-trick pony forever. He never bought into the explosive potential of the casinos, prioritised work over luck and ended up in a respectable place as a result. Things work out eventually, but always through hard work and not unnecessary risk-taking. He prefers necessary risk-taking.

This day, however, he’s come to experience it through someone else’s eyes and allowed the city to dazzle him as if he was a toddler experiencing the Lunar New Year fireworks consciously for the very first time. Everything is bright, loud, inviting and affordable, even for his wallet, and he takes great pride in explaining all the local delicacies, the colonial history and differences between Macau and Hong Kong, as well as Asian customs in general. Most Europeans he meets either already know their fair share about the region or are much more interested in an entirely different thing, so it’s with childlike wonder that he accompanies Mike and James traipsing through Asia’s Las Vegas.

They’ve washed up in a Din Tai Fung purely because Mike knows the restaurant chain and was thirsting for a little bit of familiarity after an entire day of concentrated culture shock – but not familiar enough to allow them to forget they’re in another continent, like one of the many American fast food chains might’ve done, even given their differing menu.

“I never would’ve pegged you for a gambler”, Tze Long chuckles in between dumplings and marvels not for the first time at the fact that conversing with one of the most renowned blades has become this easy over the course of a singular mission.

“Me neither, but results don’t lie.” Mike frowns at the cup of green tea before downing it in one go. He doesn’t look like a fan. “If you hadn’t dragged me off, I might be a few thousand quid richer.”

“If we hadn’t dragged you off you’d be on your fifth Singapore sling and probably hitting on a coat rack”, James states drily.

“A miracle – the man who bets on everything shies away from roulette.”

“Not everyone has your kind of pocket change. And besides, I only bet on meaningful things. Like the fact that I’m gonna eat more than either of you of these – what are they called again?”

“Xiao long bao.” Tze Long pokes at one of the steamed dumplings filled with pork and hot soup. “And don’t bother betting anything, my stomach becomes bottomless when it comes to them.”

“You look like you don’t have them very often, in that case”, Mike interjects with a grin and definitely did not expect Tze Long to mirror his expression and retort: “You look like you have them a little too often.” He’s come to learn that friendly banter is not only viewed favourably but also generally expected, and not for the first time he’s grateful for his extended interest in expats.

Once James is done laughing (which takes a while and is made worse by Mike’s glare), he suggests: “These things are bloody delicious, so I’m definitely not gonna lose. Let’s bet on a dessert.”

Tze Long agrees, and their banter continues. An outsider might not identify them as extremely recent acquaintances, not with how easily Tze Long laughs, not with how naturally James elbows him in the side, not with how nonchalantly Mike overlooks their antics. But near death experiences have a way of forming unbreakable bonds, invisible strings tying near strangers together and inspiring them to treat each other almost like family: an involuntary gathering of people who share a fundamental trust. It’s easier to ignore shortcomings or differing opinions when they’ve had each other’s blood on their hands, and never before has Tze Long felt this connection as strongly as with these two Englishmen. They will stay in contact after this, that much is obvious, and maybe he’s made friends for life.

Maybe he’s made more.

Mike was the first one to ask him for his number, and if he noticed Tze Long’s fingers shaking, he didn’t comment on it.

As expected, both of them end up too full to even think about trying the molten chocolate-filled dumplings nor the matcha cake, so they agree on a draw after probably having miscounted anyway. Tze Long shows his gratitude for Mike’s winnings paying for their meal by gifting him a charm for his phone, one that’s not too tacky and meant to bring good fortune, and because he doesn’t want James to be empty-handed, he buys one for him too. They walk off the food coma by one of the beaches; it’s cooled down a little over the course of the evening and so neither of them takes their shirt off. Shame.

They linger outside of the hotel.

“You’re going back to Hong Kong tonight?”, Mike inquires, stretching in the humid night air and displaying his long limbs like an unconcerned predator knowing it’s at the top of the food chain.

“Yes. I sleep better at home and the ferries go regularly even at this hour. It’s a shame about your flight, I would’ve liked to show you my home.”

“And I’d like to show you ours”, James replies, sounding surprisingly genuine. Usually, half of what he utters is sarcasm and the other half jokes – if he hadn’t displayed professionalism and competence during their mission on top of that, Tze Long might’ve refused to work with him outright. “If you’re ever in Europe, call.”

“And if you’re ever in Asia again, let me know.” He fidgets. His throat is swollen with all the half-sentences threatening to burst out, all the confessions he’s suppressing… but there’s a foreign body in the way and he’s not willing to lay himself bare before these attentive eyes which have been following his every move for days now. He’s long understood that laziness and disinterest are a cover to hide a sharp sense of observation as well as a keen mind. James prefers being underestimated. Mike, on the other hand, is as authentic as it gets – he never holds back, sees bluntness as a virtue and wastes no time in hiding. Enviable. Tze Long wishes he could do the same.

“I forgot to buy smokes, be right back”, James announces into the short silence and disappears as if he’d read Tze Long’s mind. The opportunity is perfect, made even better when Mike addresses him directly.

“I’m serious, it was a pleasure working with you.” His chest swells at the genuine compliment. “Even if you’re as suicidal as Jamie. You’ll get far. Do you have a lot of experience under your belt already?”

He omitted this fact as to not spark any doubts, but now he might as well admit it. “Actually, this was my first mission.”

Mike’s brows lift, just like the corners of his mouth. “And you waited this long to tell us? You son of a bitch, I don’t believe it. I have even less doubt about your future now. I hope to see you again soon.” He holds out his hand and Tze Long takes it, feels a warm palm against his own, a strong grip, melts under approving eyes. “You did well. I mean it. Take care of yourself, will you?”

Please, he thinks but doesn’t even dare finish the thought let alone allow his tongue to betray him, dumbly repeats the word in his head over and over like a mantra, like a spell he’s trying to weave. Please. Please. “Yes. You too. Have a safe flight.” And with those words, Mike Baker seemingly vanishes from his life. Silhouette starkly visible against the bright light of the hotel lobby, the embodiment of everything Tze Long wants and wants to be, he leaves, in his wake the hot night air clogging lungs and airways and hearts.

When Tze Long turns, James is silently offering him a lit cigarette. They share it without a word, just like Tze Long often enforced an awkward quiet between them through non-committal replies or flat out ignoring quips despite their wittiness. Looking back, he feels bad about it.

“Wanna join me upstairs?”, the Brit asks as he extinguishes the mutual vice and leads the way when Tze Long nods. Mind and expression carefully blank, they ride the elevator up and enter the luxurious room after James has unlocked it. It’s about the same size as Tze Long’s apartment in Hong Kong. “Shower? Your preference.”

He shakes his head and watches the other man approach him, closes his eyes only a second after their lips touch.

It’s always so obvious, with Europeans. They make no move to hide their interest or curiosity, seem to have no off switch whereas Tze Long has stumbled over vague acquaintances, locals whom he’d never have suspected in the past. James telegraphed clearly until he knew he was understood, and then continued unintentionally.

He’s a good kisser, at least. Considerate, adaptive, even playful – he manages to coax a few smiles out of Tze Long as they just stand there and kiss, despite him feeling like the entire last week didn’t even matter. He wouldn’t have felt like this even if they’d failed. But James is more and more successful in taking his mind off it, and for that he’s grateful. He does have a nice build, favouring the torso over legs but Tze Long doesn’t mind, not when he can run his hands over hard muscles and feel them dance below his fingertips.

They crawl onto the bed, James shirtless and unreasonably attractive-looking, dark mane fanning out on his pillow and ribs expanding prettily with every deep inhale over Tze Long toying with his tongue. He’s hard, both of them are, and it’s no surprise that the first piece of clothing James tries to undo are Tze Long’s trousers.

“I top”, he whispers against a swollen mouth and slides lower to capture an erect nipple with his lips.

James picks up on his phrasing. “Exclusively?” He doesn’t sound like he minds and lets out a beautiful little moan.

“Exclusively Westerners.” Tze Long doesn’t mention he rarely sleeps with locals as it is – many of them are a mirror to his own insecurities and remind him of the endless questions about his marital status. He’s met wonderful local men, yes, one wonderful woman too, an outlier who sadly didn’t stay by his side or else she could’ve made most of his life a lot easier, but when it comes down to it, he prefers the natural demeanour, the surprise over him having to hide, the cheerful forgetfulness concerning their cultural differences. It’s easier to not be reminded than to overcome.

“Had enough of white guy machos who come to the ‘land of the bottoms’ expecting everyone to fall at their feet?” He’s amused yet not mocking.

“Not far off”, Tze Long admits with a smile and leans up for another kiss which is eagerly accepted. He’s starting to get the impression James would be content with nothing but snogging the entire night and the thought makes him uncomfortable.

“It’s not a race thing”, James mutters, hands gently stroking over Tze Long’s body, “I just like pretty people.”

And I like people who take what I’m willing to give without much fuss, Tze Long thinks and marvels over how the body below his comes alive at his every touch. He’s a magnet and James made of metal, has no choice but to strain towards him, intense gaze fixed on his face. Somehow, it hurts looking at him. “What else do you like?” Tze Long parts legs with a soft push to an inner thigh and settles between them.

“Anything. I’m not picky.” Coming from anyone else, he wouldn’t have believed it, but it rings true for James. “Live out your fantasies.” He smiles and means it, despite his next words. “I know I’m a substitute.”

Tze Long’s mouth goes dry. His cheeks burn, actually feel on fire. Restless digits roam over exposed skin but none of its warmth manages to penetrate his own. He feels cheapened, caught. He knows James noticed. He just thought he’d have the decency not to mention it.

He tries to save it with a kiss, but it’s sticky, sickly sweet like too much candy, the taste clinging to the roof of his mouth. Like Macau itself, a pretty façade and nothing more. James can tell he’s not feeling it anymore, he’s sure.

“You don’t have to”, James says, so full of understanding Tze Long’s stomach is in knots.

“I want to”, he lies. Kind eyes blink up at him. James really is handsome, at third glance. He imagines what it’s like to actually fuck him. He wonders what he’d feel like afterwards. The thought is sobering.

“How about we walk around the city some more instead? There were other places you mentioned we didn’t get to see. I’ll just skip sleeping.”

Tze Long doesn’t ask whether it’s really alright with James. He just nods and gets up.

~*~

Confrontation goes against his nature. He’s always cultivated a healthy mix of empathy and disillusionment with humanity as a whole, both to understand other people’s actions as well as not care too much – he’s self-sufficient, needs little to be content, is ambitious without being overzealous, and he believes that everyone eventually gets what they deserve. Picking fights, holding grudges, none of it appeals to him, instead seems clunky, awkward, unnecessary. He lives and lets live, expects others to show him similar courtesy but doesn’t cause a fuss when they don’t.

This, however, is different.

“I’ve been working on this for two months, as you’re well aware, and now you’re saying I won’t be permitted to bring this mission to its conclusion?” His tone is even but his fingers flex, betraying his anger, even resentment.

Mei Lin had to pull him aside so they don’t have this conversation in front of the rest of their team, for which he’s grateful, though he hopes it doesn’t appear as if he’s questioning her authority. She’s gotten enough shit as it is. “Yes”, she replies curtly. “This is non-negotiable. Leave.”

Tze Long catches his fury before it breaks out of him. He respects her like no other, and unlike his peers, doesn’t hold her to higher standards just because she’s a woman. She’s had to work twice as hard to receive half as many commendations. No, this isn’t about her. “You know my work is important to me”, he appeals to her sense of duty, but he’s got the impression he’s not talking to her in her function as his superior right now, despite all.

“This isn’t your call to make either way.” He believes it. If their roles were reversed, if he begged her to exclude him from the mission yet she deemed him irreplaceable, she wouldn’t allow it. “I will bear the consequences. I am aware of what I’m doing. And you need to go.”

He sincerely hopes she’s not committing career suicide, not after she’s fought her way into the SDU, clawed her way up with iron discipline and excellent results. She could have him officially rebuked for insubordination if he refused and stayed. So he doesn’t.

A few hours later, he feels his father’s pulse fade under his fingertips.

Tze Long feels like he’s underwater. Like he’s a singular grain of sand, mercilessly and relentlessly being tossed around by the tide, ground up against his brethren over and over again until they’ve all lost their edge, become smooth and round and compatible, until they make up a pretty picture as a whole, with their personal identities vanishing in favour of making up a greater good.

A metropolis like Hong Kong seems to have this effect on people – at least on most of the ones he’s met. They turn into exchangeable faces, rehashing the same conversations over and over, fulfilling their purpose and causing no ruckus. Oiling the machine. On bad days, this impression weighs him down amid the traffic noises, the daily rush to work and back, the desperate attempts to take the mind off everything. On good days, he manages to spot beauty wherever he goes, smiles and small gestures of kindness, the shocking diversity of the city representing unification and celebration of life in all forms. Hong Kong is colourful in more ways than one, if he dares to look.

Today is a bad day.

He’s frantically chewing on a toothpick while tonguing the sore spots in his mouth where he poked himself before. A friend suggested replacing cigarettes with something else to keep his mouth occupied and help suppress the addiction, and after dismissing chewing gum and carrots, he’s landed on this. So far, it does nothing to quell his anxiety.

When Mei Lin leaves the building, her expression is unreadable until she’s stopped right in front of him, blinking up into the painfully direct sunlight. They study each other, both looking for signs of weakness not to exploit but to encourage. Eventually, she nods. “We’re good”, she announces and both of them slump a little in relief.

What she really means to say is: I’m good. But Tze Long doesn’t correct her. “What did he say?”

“He was understandably upset I would force you off the mission after you’ve been the most involved op in the whole thing. He blamed me for being soft, for endangering the rest of the troop by replacing you. And he told me I shouldn’t have let you know about the call.”

Tze Long nods silently. It’s what he expected.

If she’d told him of the call afterwards, he wouldn’t have been there to witness his father’s last breath.

“But there was someone else there. SAS. Apparently a friend of yours.”

His stomach flips. Did he really come? He wouldn’t have thought – he messaged him that day, late at night, not expecting a reply as usual. Responses were scarce, have always been, so he figured he’d get a supportive text back in a week or two. Not this. His heartbeat quickens and he has to hold himself back to let Mei Lin finish instead of charging the building.

“He wanted to know what happened and then offered his own advice. I’ll spare you the details, they argued a bit, but he held the opinion that amid our discipline and rigorous training, we mustn’t forget we’re also human. Because this humanity is the entire reason we’re doing any of what we’re doing. And in his opinion, I acted according to this ideal and therefore shouldn’t be punished.”

“That does sound like something he’d say”, Tze Long agrees quietly.

Both of them turn to the busy street as if on signal, take a deep breath, compose themselves. He wants to embrace her, wonders whether she’ll take it the right way. Everything is impermanent, he recently received a sharp reminder of this, and his need to cherish everything he still has left throbs behind his temples. Instead, he settles for an earnest: “Thank you. I didn’t agree in the moment, but I do now. You made the correct call.”

“I know.” She fixes him with a gaze so full of sympathy that it paralyses him. “I’m sorry.”

He just nods again. Despite all, he wants to ask her about him, what he was like, whether she liked him, whether she understood who exactly he is. The realisation of how much he cares is frightening, even more so when he hears footsteps behind him, clearly approaching the two of them. He’ll never be ready to face him, never has been, and so he takes the plunge without hesitation and turns around, turns to -

“It’s just me”, James states almost apologetically the moment he must notice the disappointment in Tze Long’s expression.

Whatever it is, whether it’s the uncomfortable vacuum Tze Long has been carrying around with him for a few days already, hindering his ability to feel anything, whether it’s the relief of seeing a familiar, friendly face, whether it’s the fact that James just helped Mei Lin – it’s not nearly as big of a letdown as Tze Long would’ve expected. Yes, he’d hoped it’d be him. But after a second, he’s already come to terms with the fact that it isn’t, and if he’s completely honest, he doesn’t even mind that much. “Good to see you”, he says and means it.

James’ face lights up with a smile. “Good to be here.”

Their dynamic is different.

Tze Long fails to pinpoint why, whether it’s the long months – years, he realises – of constant communication, the fact that he’s not looking over James’ shoulder for most of the time, or the sad circumstances. He’s sociable enough, always enjoys making and keeping friends from all over the world which has come in handy not only at his job but also in his spare time, so he kept up the steady stream of messages between the younger Brit and himself. It wasn’t like they texted every day, yet he expected a message at least once a week and wasn’t ever disappointed. Usually, it was either a world event which occupied them, a remarkable injury on either side (like when Tze Long broke his toe by demonstrating his lack of skill on the tightrope, or when James dreamt bad, flailed around in his sleep and punched himself in the nuts), an entertaining story they came across or just a simple checking in. Casual, pleasant, inconsequential conversations.

Now that they’re face to face once more, James is much more tangible, with that singular dimple he actually pointed out at some point, the laid-back attitude which puts Tze Long at ease immediately, filled to the brim with terrible ideas and even worse jokes and never turning down a challenge. He’s a painting which has come alive, surprising in its actuality yet its core still intact. It’s not like meeting an entirely new person, more of… seeing a whole.

In the half-day they have available, Tze Long shows him Hong Kong. The flight leaves late at night and James bemoans the fact that he’s got trouble sleeping on planes as it is, so the jetlag will kill him, and Tze Long doesn’t ask whether he was in the area anyway, doesn’t ask when he arrived in the first place, why exactly he came.

He suggests Din Tai Fung once more but James shakes his head, inquires about other local specialties and trails after him until they reach the night market on Temple Street which isn’t as crowded as usual seeing as it’s only afternoon. Like in Macau, Tze Long revels in his position as tourist guide and points out miscellaneous facts, tells a few anecdotes and buys a chocolate-flavoured egg waffle as well as milk tea so James can munch and sip on something while marvelling at the colourful trinkets and embroidered clothes offered en masse. In order to get him to try as many stalls as possible, they share portions of dim sum, grilled squid and braised meat, and it delights him to see that James is willing to try basically everything – except for stinky tofu, which is understandable. Tze Long barely smells it at this point but he knows it’s quite off-putting to people not used to it.

Before they head to visit the nearby temples, he purchases fresh fruits to complete the culture shock: some lychee-like longans, a shockingly bright pink dragon fruit and a sweetsop, Tze Long’s personal favourite with its creamy, aromatic flesh. James’ curiosity knows no bounds and, very uncharacteristically, he doesn’t treat Hong Kong with his usual biting sarcasm. It’s not reverence he shows either, and Tze Long would be hard pressed to describe his attitude as anything more precise than simple enchantment.

They barely manage to get to Victoria Peak before sunset. Just like the rest of the city, the mountain is flooded with people, all trying to get the best selfie before moving on, whereas James leans against the railing on one of the viewing platforms and merely looks. Tze Long steps up next to him, close enough to touch, forcing the bustling activity behind them to the back of his mind and tries to see his home through James’ eyes. Below them, countless skyscrapers stretch upwards like fingers, reaching out for infinity.

“What about where you live?”, James wants to know after a long while. “I want to see where you used to work. Where you grew up.”

He shakes his head after some deliberation. “We don’t have time for that”, he lies when in reality he’s not ready to face this part of his life again, especially not show it to a stranger of sorts. His past feels deeply personal somehow, his struggle to end up where he is now like a secret he’d better keep. Part of it is simple vanity – he wouldn’t like to imagine James telling his colleagues, telling him. And of course, the one person who shared this history with him has now passed away.

James’ eyes are on him, attentive, almost waiting. “Next time?”, he asks, sounding hopeful. Tze Long wonders what kind of impression he’ll take away from this short visit.

“Yes. Next time.” He’s not sure if there will be one, but he hopes he’ll feel differently about himself by then.

“What was he like?”

A deep breath. How is he meant to answer this question? “Kind but firm”, he offers and puts a new toothpick in his mouth. “No time for nonsense but always willing to listen if something was on my mind. Distracted, at times. Whenever he found a gift for me, he’d present it so proudly. He was happiest when he could teach me things, show me the world. When he couldn’t work anymore, he -” His voice breaks, so he stops talking. Despite it not being his fault, guilt had plagued his father for decades. Having to rely on his only son, witnessing Tze Long’s struggle took its toll on him just like on Tze Long himself, though it changed into fierce pride later on, once he became a Flying Tiger. But he remembers the forlorn stare into their empty cupboards, the reassurances of being able to mend clothes, shoes, self-image.

James is going to get a sunburn and it’s not going to be pretty. He hasn’t tanned much this summer yet and Tze Long wants to reach out to protect his skin from the merciless rays. To maybe run fingers through his luscious hair. “He sounds like a good father.”

“He was.”

And despite the serenity of the moment, James actually goes there: “Your description of him reminds me of someone.”

Tze Long fights down the urge to simply leave. He’s better than that. “I bet you won’t drink a whole glass of durian milk”, he switches topics and earns a side-glance he’s incapable of deciphering.

“- you should’ve seen his face when I told him to shove it, pure comedy, this dude was not used to anyone saying no to him, not with him built like a bloody fridge and that stupid fuckin’ tattoo on his forehead, something daft like carnivorous or edgelord, I don’t even remember, I only remember thinking: this lad must’ve randomly picked a word from the dictionary that sounded cool.”

Tze Long moves his own drink out of the range of James’ flailing arms but makes no move to interrupt him.

“And me, a foot shorter and seemingly harmless, refusing to budge? Well, you can imagine what happened.”

“I do hope you wiped the floor with him.”

“First he punched me in the throat, but yes, afterwards I most definitely wiped the floor but only because he tripped over some barbed wire, nearly shredded his entire dick and bled all over the fucking linoleum. That was the last time he tried to sell some fake insurance, I’m sure.”

Drunk James is adorable. He’s become a waterfall, largely unaware of himself not in an inconsiderate way but an endearing one, speaking his mind openly and demanding Tze Long’s full attention. He fills silences with anything and everything, after two cocktails already, and he goes deaf when Tze Long tells him that going on a plane while intoxicated might not be the best idea. They’re perched by the bar, sipping bitter liquor because today is just one of those days and let the soft pop music relax their muscles.

While he prattles on, rants about the next odd encounter, Tze Long gets distracted by the curve of his eyebrows and the hard jaw and he wonders whether he’s still interested. What he’d say to the suggestion of dipping into a hotel real quick. It’s less than an hour until he has to be at the airport, however, hardly enough time, but idly toying with the idea is fun nonetheless.

“Thank you for coming”, he eventually manages to interject while James takes a breath.

“Aye. Mike relayed the message and it sounded like you might get in trouble, or your colleague might. He’s off gallivanting around the Middle East somewhere I think, claims he’s busy doing recon or whatnot but I bet he’s lazing in the sun and resting his bones. Soon he’s gonna be the oldest bloke in the SAS, did you know? Fucker’s immortal. Some of the lads who bet on his retirement are gone themselves by now.”

Tze Long did not know this. He doesn’t know a lot of things about Mike. “I appreciate your help, in any way.”

“Believe me, your boss didn’t.” James grins and it makes him look years younger. “I might get shit for it but my major has my back. And I got yours. If anything else is up, let me know and I’ll travel half the world again.”

He has no doubt James would, and he tries to identify whether it’s a snipe aimed at him for texting Mike only, not him, but isn’t sure. His brooding is interrupted when he spots a familiar figure at the other end of the counter, glancing over and flashing him a wide smile. “Oh no”, he mutters to himself.

“I swear though, that bloody rotten egg fruit, whatever it’s called, I’m never touching one of those again, I still wanna throw up every time I burp.” James interrupts himself to follow Tze Long’s gaze. “What, someone making bedroom eyes at you?”

“Yes. He’s very charming, to be honest.” He sighs, shaking his head. Should’ve known better than to drag James to his usual club. “And very married.”

“That happen often?”

It’s too complicated to go into detail, so he nods. Having grandchildren continues to be one of the highest priorities in the life of a parent, and Tze Long has met many, many guys living a double life – one for society and their family, one for themselves. He’d rather not get involved with these men even if it means limiting himself.

“Want me to take care of it?”

The seemingly innocent question makes him huff in amusement. “Please don’t start a bar fight, I’d hate to get banned.”

“More than one way to show you’re not interested”, James mutters and true, he’s right.

Tze Long doesn’t even mind. He puts his toothpick aside.

They meet halfway between their chairs and James’ corners of his mouth are turned upwards when they do. He tastes of rum and tobacco and the tendrils of addiction pull at him enticingly at the reminder of what he’s given up; the background noise fades in favour of his own heartbeat and James is still smiling, never once stops. His smile feels like a thinly-veiled accusation and a self-satisfied victory simultaneously and yet Tze Long can’t get enough. James switches to his chair, actually settles on his thighs without breaking the heady touch of lips on lips, clearly uncaring of the spectacle they’re putting on. Tze Long’s hands stray to his sides and for once, he’s not picturing a different body between his palms.

“I think we’re good”, he murmurs after a while, after all decency is long overthrown.

“Hmm, no, he’s still looking”, James hums back without even opening his eyes once, smile widening, but when Tze Long withdraws, he relents and instead pulls him into a hug.

And it just overwhelms him. The rare feel of a warm body makes him realise he hasn’t deliberately, consciously touched another human being in days, reminds him of the empty apartment he’ll return to, chock full of memories and shards which don’t cut deep by themselves yet make up a fearsome blade as a whole; reminds him of the desperate loneliness which creeps up on him now and then, whenever he’s weak, whenever he lets it. He thinks of the eternal double check mark, message received, thinks of his colleagues’ triumphant faces as they recounted the successful mission without him.

He clings, hard, and only notices the supportive arms wrapped around him once his fingers have stopped shaking. He’s breaking down in the middle of the bar, visible to everyone, to people he knows, and the shame burns almost worse than his grief.

Regardless, James is still there. Whispering nothings, stroking his back soothingly, acting as if none of this was out of line. His warmth is painful because he’s unsure how to repay it, but right now he has no choice but to accept.

“It’s okay”, James tells him like he really believes it. “You’ll be alright.”

~*~

He turns out to be correct, even if it takes some time for Tze Long to wholly believe it.

A piercing stare accompanies the realisation together with a suffocating amount of information he’s expected to digest and memorise, and yet he couldn’t be happier. The office is nondescript and icy for his standards and he can already tell it’ll take some time to get used to this part of the earth.

“I am very happy to know you in our team”, Six finishes with a seriousness Tze Long respects. “Welcome to Rainbow.”

“It is an honour.” He matches her tone. “I’m looking forward to working with you, ma’am.” He knows when he’s dismissed, gets up and ready to start this new chapter of his life, but curiosity gets the better of him: “May I ask – am I the only one of my unit you’ve recruited?”

Six’ expression softens. The formal part is over, she can rest assured all her points have come across and therefore she allows herself some friendliness. “No. One of your colleagues will join us as well – Mei Lin Siu.”

He finds himself smiling. “That is an excellent choice, ma’am.”

“Funny. She said the same thing about you.”

~*~

England is cold, empty, quiet and boring. And Tze Long is surprisingly fine with it.

He traded comfortable warmth for considerably less rain – even if the Spanish operators give him an odd look over this statement – and exercising outdoors is less suffocating, less of a chore. Admittedly, he could do without winter but after having been enlightened about layers, sealing gloves and sleeves and other tricks which Mira and Jackal divulge gladly, it’s not that bad. Even if summer has him a little homesick now and then. Sometimes he also misses the liveliness of his home, the many faces just like his, the natural way people accept each other as an inevitability. Here, it happens that existing in a space earns him disapproving glances.

But it’s quiet. He sleeps like the dead, hasn’t been this calm in decades and finally finds enough time to really pursue hobbies he had to neglect previously: he reads for days on end, dabbles (and generally fails) in a few crafty endeavours, follows the news from the silence of his apartment, feeling secure, comfy, safe. He picks up cooking, much to James’ delight, and together they spend a weekend on xiao long bao, having to re-do the dough several times and despairing over the soup gelatin only to give up and attempt it again a week later, nailing it first try. And whenever the muted quality of this country threatens to overwhelm him, he puts on some music, a film, or simply invites James over.

He doesn’t have many complaints, not when he spends most of his free mornings in bed with a steaming cup of coffee by his side and phone in hand, the world under his fingertips. Still, it required some getting used to the way people treat each other, the blunt and direct style of communication, the many gestures which would be deemed horribly rude in Asia.

Tze Long idly ponders cultural differences while Mike hands him a bowl of rice, chopsticks simply stabbed into it.

Next to him, he can sense James’ eyes widening before he quickly snatches the utensils and holds them out to Tze Long instead. They share a secret, slightly embarrassed smile, just like they did when Mike presented him with four sample bottles of whisky from his favourite distilleries – he can’t expect everyone to be aware of common superstitions, but he would’ve guessed the social stigma around the number four would’ve been widespread enough to have reached Mike’s ears. Even Mark pulled a face in the background, and James elbowed him, accepting one of the bottles gratefully.

Mike is trying, that’s the part which counts, and Tze Long is fiercely appreciative: he hasn’t celebrated his birthday properly in an eternity, certainly not with colleagues which have become more than that over time, and certainly not with gifts as thoughtful as the ones he’s received (like the high quality tea from Mei Lin, and an entire book series of English classics from James). Mike is trying, and as he’s come to realise over the years, this doesn’t always amount to much. But it doesn’t matter, provided he manages his expectations.

Somewhere along the way, he’s stopped drinking up literally every single word dripping from his lips, stopped blindly accepting, stopped the worship. Mike is a friend. Mike is even a bit of a shit friend a lot of the time, yet his heart remains in the right place – which is a little distant, a little distracted, and far, far away from Tze Long’s.

“This is the best thing you’ve ever cooked”, he informs his gracious host matter-of-factly, and can spot the flattered happiness through the ensuing modesty. It’s certainly not the best thing he’s ever eaten, but his statement remains true nonetheless. Aniseed in curry is courageous and the result a little odd yet edible, and so complaining is the furthest thing on his mind.

When Mike is back to bustling around in the kitchen, Mei Lin quietly asks the other guests: “He really went all out. Does he do this often?”

“Never”, replies Seamus, sounding amused. He looks a giant next to Tze Long’s comparatively dainty teammate, though they seem to get along well. “He’s forgotten Mark’s and Jamie’s before, and gave me out-of-date rum truffles for my birthday.”

“Aren’t you on a diet?”, she asks, prompting a meaningful nod.

“He really cares about Tze Long, even if he’s not sure how to show it”, James interjects, sounding bored. “They’ve been friends for a long while, after all.”

“We have been friends for a long while”, Tze Long feels the need to point out. James’ eyes slide over to him, bore into his skull, almost intense enough to cause him to lower his gaze – but he doesn’t. He knows what it’s for, all the dismissive replies in the beginning, him acting as if the clown (whose humour meshed surprisingly well with his own, who was willing to undertake the same risks as him, who watched his every move) was invisible. If he could go back, he’d act differently. If he could go back, he wouldn’t spend a significant amount of his life chasing after a castle in the sky.

But he did, and now it’s done.

“We have”, he affirms, and instead of agreeing, James gets distracted by Seamus addressing him, and this simple fact shouldn’t bother Tze Long as much as it does. He doesn’t have a monopoly on him, he has to regularly remind himself of this. He didn’t earn the right to have one.

Joining Mike in the kitchen feels less like a conscious decision and more of an escape. “I can’t thank you enough”, he begins and is immediately interrupted by a scoff.

“You could lie and tell me this blobby pudding isn’t the most sorry-looking excuse for custard you’ve ever seen.”

“This custard looks delicious”, Tze Long lies smoothly and Mike’s gruff laugh mends his brittle soul a bit. They’ve learnt to interact with each other without any of the awkwardness prevalent in the beginning of Tze Long’s time in Rainbow.

“Good lad. And you don’t need to thank me, it’s the least I can do. For once, you could shut up and accept people being nice to you.” It’s ingrained in Tze Long to fight for the bill, react modestly to and dismiss compliments rather than accept them, refuse gifts a few times when receiving them. He opens his mouth to object, but once more Mike is faster: “I’ve received complaints about you, you know. You’re being too bloody nice – people just need to mention a book and you’ve already promised to let them borrow it, you give lifts to unsuspecting whiners and generally are too friendly. We’re in fucking England, no one knows how to deal with that shite here.”

Tze Long grins, even if he’s aware Mike isn’t purely joking. “Are you suggesting I’m not already playing my part in making our work environment… more toxic?”

The eye roll he receives is inordinately satisfying, yet his triumph doesn’t last. “No, lad, I’m telling you to go out and bloody take something for yourself. Something which you’ve wanted for a long, long time. You’re allowed, you know? You’re allowed to demand things.”

And this strikes a chord. The smile on Tze Long’s lips fades the further the words sink, float down, down, down into the murky depths of his subconscious which reacts with instant, intense panic. Because they only become louder the deeper they reach, their echo reverberating and creating a cacophony making it impossible to think straight. Unhelpfully, his conscious mind provides a solution, the one suggestion which he’s carried on his tongue for years, wrote on his forehead, the one truth he thought irrevocable: “Are you telling me to ask you out?”

The awkwardly-shaped sentence lodges in his throat, causes the gears in his head to grind and shriek, and it’s wrong, so wrong, if Mike says yes he’s never setting foot in his flat again, fuck the idolising, fuck professional relationships, he’ll curl up in ball and shake and shiver and shudder because no, it’s not what he wants, maybe something he never wanted in the first place.

While he’s still reeling from what’s raging on inside him, Mike throws him an almost pitiful glance. “Not me I’m talking about”, he grumbles. “I mean the one bloke whose friendliness you’ve always accepted without any protest.”

And isn’t that the fucking point?

It’s the one person who consistently made him lose face, no matter what, humiliated him with his displays of adoration Tze Long could never hope to repay, proved him unworthy with every breath he takes, and his presence burns under his fingernails, a constant itch chipping away at his honour because he deserves none of it and yet he wants. Oh he wants. He’s humbled by every easy laugh following disrespect, and the more this shadowy figure was pushed away, the harder it tried to keep up, and keeping it hazy is so much easier than allowing its entire being to invade every nook and cranny of his life.

Only -

That already happened a while ago, didn’t it?

James is outside, an unopened beer in his hand and smoking by himself because Seamus doesn’t endorse his addiction and Mei Lin and Mark hate the smell. He’s glowing in the setting sun, illuminated almost from the inside and Tze Long viciously wishes his brilliancy was contagious. “What’s wrong?”, he asks, unaware of the storm raging behind Tze Long’s unchanged exterior.

“I’m cold”, he replies, earning furrowed brows.

“It’s July.”

“Yes.”

They look at each other. James’ lips purse around the cigarette and Tze Long wants to grab the bottle and smash it on the asphalt, just to expend some of the energy throbbing through him. “Did Mike say anything? Are you okay?”

“I bought two tickets to Hong Kong.” And it’s out. With this, he’s handed himself over and there’s no going back.

“You’re going with him?” Carefully neutral. James stubs out the cigarette and takes out his key ring with its bottle opener attached. There’s a piece of string, too, displaying some of the decorative beads Tze Long recognises easily. The charm must’ve fallen off or broken after extensive use over the years.

“I wouldn’t want him to come along.”

Busy hands pause. He still doesn’t understand. “Mei Lin is accompanying you?”

“No.” They don’t have leave at the same time anyway. But he and James do. Always had.

Fingers twitch. Then slowly set the beer down on the stone steps behind them. He’s looking everywhere but at Tze Long, long hair falling into his eyes. “So -”

“I’ve been buying two ever since I joined Rainbow.” They both know how conscious he is of spending money.

“Jesus”, says James.

Tze Long is dizzy. He expected this moment to taste half-fermented, almost rotten, like a fruit ignored for too long, but instead it’s an explosion of refreshing flavour and pleasant sweetness, horrifyingly addicting. His face hurts and he realises that he’s grinning from cheek to cheek, must look like a lunatic if James’ expression is anything to go by. “Come with me. Please.”

And James seems to understand what he means, even if a frown tugs on his mouth and the face he makes is one of sorrow and not happiness, yet when Tze Long steps closer, James latches onto him like a drowning man.

His turmoil is far from appeased, but one thought prevails above all, forces his emotions to simmer down: I might not deserve this, he thinks, but he certainly does. He holds James until he’s shaking only with laughter, nothing else, the half-suppressed bouts of relief convincing him more and more of having made the right decision. They’re each other’s anchors, unwilling to let go, and beam at each other so brightly it blots out the sun.

“I’d love to”, James tells him in that rare, genuine tone of voice Tze Long has never heard him use with anyone else. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side.” His lack of hesitation only increases James’ luminosity. “I’ll show you everything, James. I’ll show you all.” This seems to convince him, no doubt due to the far-reaching implications.

This time, when they kiss, Tze Long knows for a fact he won’t feel his stomach drop afterwards. And it’s mostly because he knows it won’t be their last one.

#rainbow six siege #smoke #lesion #smoke/lesion #fanfic #oneshot #commissions #this gave me the worst case of wanderlust #if I didn't portray anything correctly please let me know!!

50 notes · View notes

cutiecrates · 5 years

Text

Cutie Reviews: Kawaii Box June 19

I don’t have much to say for this one, but I decided not to include the prices and such. I know I probably should but I don’t actually know if it serves any purpose...

Word of the month: Ma-meido - Mermaid

Chocobar Z & Marukawa Kirby Mix’n‘Match Gum

This is unusual, I’m beginning with the snack items first. For this month we got 2 of them, the Kirby Gum and a Special Surprise Treat, something they also did last month, but it was a bonus item rather than a snack. So this is an item I’m semi-familiar with, pretty sure I had one before.

This is pretty much a chocolate umaibo; but it’s not of the Umaibo brand and they have their own chocolate flavor. This reminds me a lot of it, but it has a bitter aftertaste and it’s much thicker. It also brings to mind a chocolate breakfast cereal, it’s pretty yummy. But I wasn’t able to locate it on Blippo.com.

-----

Our next item is a delicious Kirby packaged gum set. Basically you have so many flavors of gum that you can chew separately or mix to get a new flavor, as you can see by the pic.

I had this years ago back when it first came out and it’s essentially the same, but I noticed right away that before it only had 4 flavors (Yogurt, Mystery, Apple, and Orange), and you could make a few of the same combinations, one of which was actually cola, which was removed because it’s is a flavor now, along with white grape/muscat and soda.

Of course, being a curious person I sat down and tested everything; and once I did I still had a good amount left over. Here was what I thought:

Cola - a little tangy, tastes like cola candy.

White Grape/Muscat - normal muscat/WG candy, but my tongue felt like I had a little salt on it from this one. No idea why.

Soda - typical ramune or soda flavor, very yummy, hard to mess up.

Orange - tastes like orange tic-tacs. I loved these when I was little.

Apple - a sweet apple, delicious~

COMBINATIONS

Soda + Apple = Champagne - It was unique but I’m not sure if I liked it or not. It confused me.

Soda + Cola = Gingerale - Same as above, and I’m not sure it reminded me of gingerale either.

Soda + WG/Muscat = Melon Soda - A strong melon taste with a hint of grape! Very tasty.

WG/Muscat + Apple = Wine - Weird -_- but it tasted better over time.

Apple + Orange = A fruit mix? - I mostly taste orange and couldn’t tell what it was supposed to be.

Soda + Apple + Orange = Vitamin Drink - It was very tasty with a strong citrus flavor.

WG/Muscat + Apple + Orange = Pear - Like the gingerale one, I found it hard to tell if I liked it and if it tasted like what it was meant to be. This one felt a little more successful to me, but I was still unsure.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

None of the flavors tasted badly, I really like them. The flavor lasts for a bit, maybe like 10-15 minutes; and weirdly enough, every piece I spit out had a really pretty pearlescent color and they all came in a different color of the rainbow! I’d recommend these; especially if you like Kirby!

Round Neko Plushie Charm

(Sorry about the items in the background~)

Our next item is an adorable plushie charm based on a round kitty. They’re the purrrfect size to roll around in your hands and squish on when you don’t have a squishy available or just want something different. They also come in a variety of cute kitty colors and patterns and they are completely stuffed with filling.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

As cute as the kitty is I have to admit, the face detracts a fraction of cuteness away from it in my opinion, but I still think it’s very sweet looking. It’s decent looking in terms of sew job and if you like firm plush then I think this would be a good one to get; but I prefer squishier, softer plushies and if you look at the picture, doesn’t the whole thing feel a little unbalanced? It might be easier to see in person, but it kind of bothers me a little.

Dreamland Puffy Stickers & Mermaid Nail Stickers

I love panda bears, so I thought this pastel themed sticker sheet we got was very cute! Besides the panda we also have cute flowers and clovers, birds, and bubbles. Oh, and if you’re wondering they’re sadly not scented.

Rating: ♥ ♥

This bothered me, because I ADORED these. But they get a 1 or 2 out of 10 on the puffy scale, they have a very slight puff to them in appearance, but when you press them they’re very hard. I find them ultra-kawaii but if you’re looking for actual puffy stickers, then you’re not going to be satisfied with these.

-----

Besides adorable panda clovers, we also get a cute mermaid themed nail sticker set by Snow Fox. Specifically these are their 3D Design Nail Stickers, due to have a 3D element in the form of cute little diamond accents. These are perfect for summer or if you just like mermaids; I especially love how they look like Ariel.

So.. because I didn’t use these yet, I decided not to rate them. Also, I’m pretty sure they’re just like any other sticker; there isn’t much you can say about them and you could probably use them on other things if you wanted to.

Aiko Little Mermaid Face Towel

As of late we have been getting adorable exclusive Kawaii Box/Blippo.com goods featuring the adorable Aiko-chan~ They always fit the theme and they’re made in really good quality too, I love them and it’s such a nice touch to personalize the box more x3 But you can also buy them off of Blippo.com.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

It’s on the smaller side, but it’s perfect for a hand and face towel/rag/wash cloth. The details are really nice, it’s spot-on with the theme, and it feels very soft, and it’s small size makes it very handy for putting into numerous things you might want to bring with you.

Little Twin Stars Key Cover

This item is a bit random (in my opinion) but it’s still cute! This is a Sanrio original item you just pop on over your keys to add a touch of adorableness every time you pop them out, and it includes a ball chain so if you don’t plan to use it for the intended purpose, you can just turn it into a cute charm or keychain.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I like Little Twin Stars, but Lala has always been my favorite out of the two. I was a little disappointed I didn’t get her, but I still think they’re both really sweet and adorable. The chain is good and the key cover is made from rubber with really nice, but simple and bright detail. It even has molded on writing on the back for the branding that looks amazingly crisp and clean.

Our Little Mermaid Notebook & Puffy Narwhal Sticky Notes

To go with our theme, we have these 2 cute writing stationery items by Tree in Art; a gorgeous mermaid notebook, which I’m sure you can tell is a lot bigger than what we usually get in these boxes; I was surprised! And it came in a few variations, all with a lovely watercolor/pastel theme.

The paper is basic lined, nothing fancy, but it has Discover Your Senses written on the bottom of each sheet. I like how it seems to go with the image.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

So I know you can judge paper quality by doing various things or using various pens and coloring tools on them- but I don’t really know paper at all, so I can’t really do that. But I mean, I didn’t notice anything wrong with the paper the one time I’ve used it thus far, I wish the pages were a little more decorative though to match the outside.

------

I don’t really know anything of the Tree in Art brand, but so far I’ve been liking what we get. It’s very soft and sweet looking, like this puckered lip narwhal sticky note set o3o

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I really like the detail they put into the backing of these, you can see it in the pic right? It’s a very cute touch to go with the very cute sticky note image. I could see these floating around quite quickly in the office or school among friends~

Also, these tear very easy. Not easy enough that they won’t stick to each other, but easy enough there’s no issues tearing them off.

Kawaii Jellyfish Pen

Our last item, and one of my most favorites in this months box is an adorable Jellyfish themed pen :D besides having a cute, simple design on the tube using various pastels and pink tones, there’s an adorable jellyfish charm hanging from the top, the main attraction! The jellyfish feels like a light plastic and has fabric strands as the tentacles; it can also be taken off if you wish to turn it into a keychain, or a charm for a necklace or something.

The pen is a fine tip, and these came in a few color variations if I recall.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I love love love it~ it’s so adorable and fun looking, and I love fine tip pens x3 you need to give them a few seconds to dry when using them, but they right so smoothly. It’s also really fun to use the pen and watch the jellyfish wiggle around on the tip.

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content - 5 out of 5: I really liked this box, all the items were well-made and seemed thought out, and like usual we got a mix of things. I didn’t see any real quality issues or problems.

Theme - 4 out of 5: Only half of the box fit the mermaid/sea theme; but to be fair, the other half seemed to fulfill the fantasy side. Lately Kawaii Box has been confusing me with its themes and items, but I felt like this one was really obvious :3 perfect for summer too!

Total Rank: 9 out of 10 Cuties. Besides one or two little issues with a single item (and they were minuscule and only my opinion), I felt like this box really picked up the pace after the past two or three boxes. I liked them but with their confusing themes and lack of items fitting them, this one nailed it! Everything is really kawaii and fun, I’d recommend this box!

♥ Cutie Scale ♥

1. Mermaid Notebook - I love the gentle colors and overall sweetness of the cover. I do wish the pages were a little more matching with it, but I still really like it.

2. Jellyfish Pen - it’s so cute the way it sways around~

3. Narwhal Sticky Notes - Very cute, I love how decorative the clear backing is to go with them.

4. Kirby Gum - I love Kirby, and I really did like this gum so it was really fun to experience how it changed over time.

5. Aiko Hand Towel - Perfect for the summer season x3 Aiko-chan looks so cute.

6. Dreamland Puffy Stickers - Very sweet and cute, they give me a dreamy vibe that I love to look at them; but I was disappointed by the lack of puffiness.

7. Mermaid Nail Stickers - They’re so pretty, I’m a little afraid to use them~

8. Chocobar Z - It was delicious~

9. Neko Plushie - I was surprised by this because I love cats. But I don’t know, I just wasn’t feeling it.

10. Little Twin Stars Key Cover - it’s cute but I don’t know when I’ll use it and I feel like out of everything its the least practical for me.

#cutie reviews #kawaiibox #kirby candy #mermaid merchandise #little twin stars

1 note · View note

mypetshopworld · 6 years

Text

Tips on how to crate train your puppy

How To Crate Train A Puppy

When a new puppy is introduced into the household we need to decide on how and who is doing the training for your puppy. It is essential that every puppy should go through a training it helps you to know and understand your puppy better. Read my blog Tips for first-time dog owners. There are different Pieces of training out there, one of them is Crate Training.

The second step...Do you want to crate train your puppy?

The idea behind crate training is to give the puppy a place where it can feel safe and relaxed. It is a puppy's den like a safe nest. The bars to you look like a cage, your puppy has a different perspective on it. Your puppy sees a warm and cosy cave where it feels safe and he will sleep and feels comfortable in it. Dogs need a safe area where they can go to when they feel insecure.

Keeping your puppy safe with Crate Training.

Crate training will also make the potty training of your puppy easier.

You have to see it in a different way, you are not using a crate to punish your puppy or dog. You do not abuse the crate in a way where he is locked in permanent no you are using it to give it a place where he can withdraw and feel safe and comfortable. There are lots of household hazard in the house and cratetraining is a practical decision. read my blog how to potty train your puppy Question: Is crate training cruel ... I don't want to lock my puppy into a cage. Answer: No it isn't. When it is done in the right way the crate training is a great way to keep your puppy safe. You have to change your perspective it is not a cage unless you plan to lock your dog in there for 18 hours and more.

Plan Ahead and decide on the size of the crate.

Before bringing the puppy home make some preparations. First, choose the right size crate for your puppy. Consider the breed and the size when your puppy is fully grown. The crate should not be too big. Consider that during the puppy grows you might have to change the crate to a bigger one. So don't spend too much on it. You can resell at a later time. The puppy also needs a bed to buy for him a super comfy bed, and a water bowl. Note that the puppy should be standing up without banging his head when he tries to drink from his water bowl. Ideally, the crate should be big enough that the puppy can turn around easily and lie down with his legs stretched out. If you can get hold of a blanket that he used before or smells of the mother dog. If the puppy is a shelter dog please ask the shelter to give you the blanket he used before. ( do not wash the blanket) Place the blanket inside the crate before he comes to his new home. The smell of the blanket will give him comfort and security when he arrives in his new home. There are different crates available in wood what fits your furniture or wire crates.

Click on the picture to see more dog crates in different shapes and styles.

Decide where to put the crate.

You have to decide on a place for the crate. You can not continuously move the crate around. You have to find a place where the crate is connected to the family. Do not put the crate into an isolated area, your puppy will not be happy and properly will avoid the crate. A puppy or a dog want the connection with the family but said this make sure the place where you put the crate is also not too noisy, a place where the puppy or dog can rest quietly. I will always put my crates into a corner of the lounge room, where he can see the family watching TV but he has his own space. I would not recommend the laundry room, as your puppy might than avoid the crate and will never go in the crate willingly. He might also bark as your pup can not see you. Be aware puppies are scared easily and being alone in the laundry room when the spin cycle goes on from the washing machine or the dryer might frighten him. Choose an area what is comfortable and not too far away from the family interaction.

Puppy Crate Training Do’s and Don’ts

OK, here are a few basic ground rules about crate training. DO: Encourage your puppy to explore and discover the crate. What this means is hiding tasty treats and special toys or chewy bones inside the crate. DON’T: Never force your puppy inside, never push or do it in an angry motion. DO: Praise your puppy when your puppy goes into the crate or sits in the crate without winching and winning. DON’T: It hard as it sounds, Do not let your puppy out when he’s crying, he will see it as a reward for making noise and he will use it in the future. DO: Remember to take things slowly. Take it step by step and extend the amount of time when your puppy is left in the crate. Please consider do not leave the puppy in the beginning for hours in the crate start with 30 minutes and extend step by step in 30 min training from days to days. DON'T: Never use the crate as a place of punishment. Never leave him in there for hours and hours. DO: Put some blankets into the crate from the mother dog so he sees it as a place of comfort, he will remember the smell of the mum.

It is time getting started with Puppy Crate Training.

So you already put the few tasty treats chewy bone and toys into the crate. Now show your puppy where they are. Now when your puppy is not looking take the chewy bone and move it hide it in another place. The same goes for the treats hide them in a different place of the crate. The whole idea behind this exercise is that your puppy will link the crate to discovering the treats and snacks. You will see that every now and then your puppy will break off from play to walk into the crate if there are more treats your puppy haven't discovered yet. For your puppy, it is like magic. A good idea is to put his favourite toy into the crate. Sit with your puppy and play with him when he is inside the crate ( of course with the door open) I change the toys around so there is always something new to discover. I do it also if I buy a new chewy bone I will put it in the crate and make him look for the bone. Our dogs love this challenge. How many times they buried their new bone in the blankets for later joy. A crate can when done right a real joy and safe haven for puppies and dogs. If it happens that your puppy poops into the crate do not shout and get upset, be calm remove it and praise him for it. Don't praise him too much as he might change it and do it each time just to get attention. That is exactly what you don't want. Be aware after eating puppies normally want to poop so bring them outside to their spot for doing his business. Try feeding your puppy in the crate. While things pick up the pace eating is a distraction briefly shut the door and leave it closed 2 minutes and then open it again. If it went well gradually extend the amount of time with the door shut.

Click on the picture to see more products Remember your puppy will be distracted while eating and not notice that the door is shut. If he looks up and is quiet praise him if he starts to whimper ignore him. Soon as he whimpers stop and praise him then open the door. Your puppy is learning that good, quiet behaviour is getting rewarded and that crying and winching gets him nothing. Dogs learn fast and can turn the training into a challenge, just make sure that you train your puppy and not the other way around that your puppy is training you. With time your puppy will become more relaxed and accepts the closed door. Move away a little bit from the crate. Praise him for his good behaviour and let him out once he is calm. Go step by step moving away further and increasing the minutes the puppy is in the crate. As the training progress start to leave the room and only return when your puppy has calm down again. It takes patience and endeavours to train a puppy there will be ups and downs. Never train a puppy if you do not have enough time to go through the process. Rushing a training session will backfire on you.

A Reminder On How Long To Leave Your Puppy In The Crate

Keep the crate confinement short and sweet at a few minutes and gradually build up the time. I can not stress this often enough do not train your puppy if you are in a rush. Dogs will pick up on that energy and will be reacting to it. When your puppy has settled down and is asleep in the crate remember do not overstep the time mark and leave the puppy to long in the crate. If he is asleep then leave the door open. Here is a little advice on how often a puppy needs to go to the toilet. A puppy can only hold his toilet so many hours as his age in a month plus one. Use this as a rule of thumb. Sorry if I confused you. Say your puppy is 3 months old so that means your puppy can hold his toilet a maximum of 4 hours, and a 4-month-old puppy can hold his toilet a maximum of 5 hours. ( unless your puppy is sick with diarrhoea) whilst a four-month pup can hold a max of five hours. One big BUT to consider... A puppy needs a lot of time, love, attention and stimulation. A puppy should also socialise with other dogs and puppies. Do not leave a dog any dog or puppy unattended in a crate for more than 4 hours at a time in the crate. You want your puppy to love the crate and not start resenting it. Having a puppy is a responsibility and a puppy loves to chew things so be prepared. Do also regular check up with your puppy to keep his tail wagging by having a healthy and happy puppy. A puppy will grow up and will be a dog, it is like a child becomes an adult. Don't buy or get a puppy if you can not commit yourself to the lifetime of a dog. Dogs depend on the breed can become quite old. Age up to 23 years. Our family dog a mix match was 23 years old when he died. I will never forget him, he was a loyal companion to us kids and I loved growing up with a pet. Conclusion: Remember that taking your puppy out for a walk before and after time spent in the crate will allow your puppy to get rid of the excess energy and will help with housebreaking. A fact is that dogs do not go to the bathroom in the same place or spot where they eat and sleep. Leave your puppy only in a crate for as long it can hold his bladder or poop. Remeber the rule of thumb. (Puppy age in the month equals hours plus one) When your puppy is out of the crate immediately take your puppy to his special bathroom spot. Praise your puppy for doing its business and give it treats to reward its behaviour. Dogs especially puppies are smart and quickly associate good behaviour with rewards. Older Dogs can spend four to five hours in their crate, while puppies under six month should only be in the crated for three hours maximum. Longer hours in the crate could lead for puppies and adult dogs to anxiety, depression and discomfort. It is important to differentiate your dogs whining between whining for attention or whining for going to the bathroom.

Click on the picture to see more outdoor playpens, gates and crates Even when a puppy or dog is comfortable in their crate it does not mean you can skip their walk at 2.30 am walk. That all depends on your puppy and your last feed and walk. Crate training can be a very pleasant experience but as said before do not forget to socialise your puppy with other dogs and puppies it is an important lesson for your puppy to learn to get along with other dogs. Have Fun with your puppy. All Yours Melanie Do you have you a dog and your dog loves his crate? Share with us how did you crate train your puppy. Tell us the biggest challenge you faced with crate training. What are your experiences and does your puppy or dog loves the crate? Please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading our blog, have a beautiful day. Read the full article

#ChristinaRicci–SherriffMiniaturePinscher #crate #Cratetraining #foldablecrates #MeganandHarrywhichdogtheylike #outdoorcrates #outdoorplaypens #puppiesandsocialising #supermananddogs

2 notes · View notes

harryandmeghan0-blog · 5 years

Text

Meghan Makes Touching Gesture as the Sussexes Visit Snowy Bristol

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/meghan-makes-touching-gesture-as-the-sussexes-visit-snowy-bristol/

Meghan Makes Touching Gesture as the Sussexes Visit Snowy Bristol

A snowy Bristol awaited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex this morning as they arrived for a day of engagements.

A terrific video from Emily Andrews captured the meeting. The little ones are adorable.

There are a plethora of interesting videos to share from today. Harry met a lady whose mother met Diana in Bristol 25 years ago. She told him her mum was “so excited she wouldn’t let go after the flowers”. Harry said: “I love that. I recognise everyone in that photo as well. Look after it.”

[embedded content]

The Duchess told well-wishers: “We’re a few minutes late, but we tried our best to get down here fast. I hope everyone gets a nice cup of tea after this. We are just so happy to be here.” Meghan revealed she was excited to visit the Old Vic Bristol theatre. She noted they have a “long-standing relationship” with her patronage the National Theatre.

Inside Bristol Old Vic they were greeted by staff. Executive Director Sally Cordwell brought her daughter Ocean to work for the day as nursery was closed due to the weather. Three-year-old Ocean stole the show after being introduced as “Ballerina”. Meghan asked her: “Is Ballerina your real name? Oh, my hands are cold thank you for warming them up. Ballerina Ocean, I think you’re going to be everyone’s favourite person today.”

When Harry met Ocean… Harry’s definitely more than ready for Baby Sussex to arrive 🙂

There’s footage of Meghan’s meeting with Ocean in addition to coverage of the walkabout and Old Vic visit below.

[embedded content]

Built in 1766 as a place where the people of Bristol could come together, Bristol Old Vic is the oldest continuously-working theatre in the English-speaking world.

More from the theatre on their recent redevelopment: “Our front of house has recently undergone a multi-million pound redevelopment. Our new building boasts a brand new Studio Theatre, relaxing and fully-accessible front of house space, with a bar and kitchen serving everything from tasty treats with a morning coffee to an evening meal, alongside a new interactive heritage offering – opening up the 250-year-old history of this unique building for everyone to discover and enjoy at their own pace. Our mission is to create pioneering twenty-first-century theatre in partnership with the people of our energetic city; inspired by the history and magical design of the most beautiful playhouse in the country.”

The Duke and Duchess toured the recently renovated facility, finding out more about the theatre’s unique history and links to the local community.

They also dropped in on a workshop attended by local school children which is part of Bristol Old Vic’s outreach programme.

Meghan credit the theatre with providing a form for “self discovery”.

“It’s good that you have this,” she told them. “And what a beautiful space as well, it’s really special.” Referring to a short tour she had just been on with her husband Prince Harry, she added: “We were just talking about it. “There’s so much of the emphasis in after school clubs on sport. Channelling the energy you have into the creative arts and theatre and all of that is equally as important.

“Sport isn’t for everyone, just as theatre isn’t for everyone. You can know that there’s a place [here] where you can find community, and sort of explore self discovery and other things you might be thinking about.”

The Duke told youngsters of drama: “It’s more than a hobby isn’t it? It runs in your blood.” The Duke and Duchess spent more than an hour at the theatre, arriving in cold and snowy conditions but determined to undertake a walkabout so meet eager wellwishers.’

A great photo from the engagement.

The couple were told about current performances and future plans.

To mark the visit they unveiled a plaque.

As they left, Harry escorted Meghan to the car and ran back to collect flowers. He told a group during the walkabout: “I spend my life giving Meghan flowers – from myself and from the people.”

Next on the agenda was an embargoed engagement kept under wraps until this afternoon.

The Duke and Duchess visited One25 a Bristol-based charity, specialising in enabling women to break free from street sex-work and other issues such as addiction.

One25 provide night outreach sessions, support and advocacy to over 250 women a year in the Bristol area. In terms of the difference they are making, the answer is in the statistics. Lat year, 47 women stopped street sex-working and 54 vulnerable women at risk were prevented from entering a life on the streets.

One25 work tirelessly to assist women. When asked why they are needed: “There are about 150 women sex-working on Bristol’s streets. It’s dangerous, lonely and difficult to leave. They are some of the city’s most vulnerable people, often facing several severe issues.”

One25 started in May 1995 as a result of concerns from local agencies and churches about the health and well-being of female street sex-workers in Bristol. In September 1995, One25 secured a drop-in facility one afternoon per week at the Salvation Army’s Candle Project, Lower Ashley Road. It was initiated by Val Jeal, who led a small but dedicated group of like-minded people in developing the work of forming supportive relationships with the women. In January 1996, the drop-in moved to a new temporary home in the basement of 125 Cheltenham Road, which gave the project its enduring name. Around this time a consultative group was formed with representatives from relevant agencies such as Bristol Drugs Project and the BRI’s sexual health clinic; a management team was formed and Val took on the role of Project Manager.

[embedded content]

Meghan helped prepare food bags which will be given out later tonight.

As they were assembling them, Meghan said: “I saw this project this woman had started somewhere in the States on a school lunch programme. On each of the bananas she wrote an affirmation, to make the kids feel really, like, empowered. It was the most incredible idea – this small gesture.” On the bananas, Meghan wrote ‘You are loved’, ‘You are Brave’, ‘You are strong’.

Meghan asked for a sharpie and got to work.

At 01:20 in the video below you can hear Meghan suggesting the idea.

[embedded content]

It’s thoughtful gestures like this that speak volumes and will mean a great deal to the women receiving the bags.

The Telegraph writes:

‘Declaring “I am in charge of the banana messaging!”, she wrote a series of short phrases and decorated the fruit with hearts.

One charity volunteer called Sam, who is a former sex worker, said: “I can imagine being on the van, and [ hearing] ‘Meghan wrote this thing, and what?’ I think they might not eat it. I think that banana would be at home until it is rotten. Because I would do the same.”

Anna Smith, the charity’s chief executive, told the couple: “The plight of our women is often very much misunderstood, and they are stigmatised and hidden from the world.”

As she spoke, the duchess spotted that Sam was looking nervous at the prospect of having to talk to the group. She told her: “Sometimes it is the lead-up that makes it more nerve-racking. You go first! It’s like ripping a bandaid off.”

Prince Harry, speaking of how vulnerable women can be coerced, said: “When you were being groomed at such a young age, and this is the only thing you know, you completely lose faith in society. You lose trust in every man, and probably everyone else around you. From a mental health perspective you are broken.”

More from One25 CEO Anna Smith.

Hannah Furness reports Harry told the group: “When you were being groomed at such a young age, and this is the only thing you know, you completely lose faith in society. You lose trust in every man, and probably everyone else around you. From a mental health perspective you are broken.” One25 are very much hoping the visit raises awareness and donations to ensure they can provide their services around the clock. If you would like to donate or find out more please click here.

Finally, the Duke and Duchess visited Empire Fighting Chance, which aims to fight the impact of deprivation on young people’s lives through boxing.

The charity supports children and young people aged 8 to 21 who are failing at school and in danger of drifting into a life of unemployment or even crime, and helps them turn their lives around.

Empire Fighting Chance works with around 250-300 children per week and runs programmes which help instil discipline, self control, and respect, whilst building self-confidence, life skills, and improving both physical and mental health and fitness.

The Bristol Post reports: ‘Meghan said to a group of young girls: “Do you feel strong and confident?” They replied with a resounding “yes”. The Duchess added: “You can apply the same sentiment to everything in life – just breaking it down and then you realise that you can do everything, it doesn’t seem so daunting.”‘

At one point Harry asked everyone to leave the room so he could talk privately with a boy who lost his father. People reports:

‘Harry, who lost his mother Princess Diana when he was 12, spent 10 minutes talking to Iestyn Jones about coming to terms with his grief, telling him, “The same thing happened to me.”

“It just got a bit emotional because he mentioned something. He knew some stuff about me and the same thing happened to me. We had a chat for about 10 minutes,” Iestyn, from Kingswood near Bristol, told reporters. “When we had a group picture at the end he made sure I was standing next to him. They were lovely people. I didn’t expect them to be like that. They were amazing people.”

Iestyn beside Harry in the photo.

The Duchess wrapped up in a coat from William Vintage. The London store offers vintage haute couture pieces often in pristine condition. It’s a treasure trove full of classic pieces. I seem to recall reading Amal Clooney, a friend of Meghan’s, sources quite a few items there.

A closer look at the piece.

The dress is described as:

‘Visiting The Met Cloisters museum in New York is one of Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia’s fondest memories with the late Oscar de la Renta – a sound installation they heard together inspired an ethereal Fall ’18 collection. Worn on the runway, this silk-chiffon dress is printed with flora and fauna of an enchanted forest. It comes with a detachable black slip so you don’t need to worry about the sheerness of the floaty fabric.’

A closer look at the dress on Meghan.

Meghan introduced green to the look in the form of the stylish Sarah Flint Marina Boots.

And the olive clutch she carried to Prince Louis’ christening. Laura identified it is a Ralph Lauren piece.

Meghan accessorised with her Pippa Small Herkimer diamond studs.

And a look at Meghan’s gold necklace.

The Sussexes’ ‘away days’ are becoming their signature. Today seemed particularly special encompassing another walkabout filled with endearing moments. The Bristol Old Vic visit also dovetails with Meghan’s National Theatre patronage. As is often the case with Harry and Meghan, today will be remembered for the way they connected with the people of Bristol. Be it Meghan’s incredibly touching gesture at One25 or Harry’s quotes on grooming and the impact of mental health. To see two members of the Royal family having these conversations is deeply meaningful and important.

I continue to be hugely impressed. Today was so packed with content I spent over five hours working on the post, with only twenty minutes of the allotted time spent on fashion. I think that sums up the depth and substance we saw today.

Source: http://madaboutmeghan.blogspot.com/2019/02/first-look-sussexes-arrive-in-snowy.html

0 notes

rogue-cup-hq · 6 years

Text

2017 Recap

“I feel sorry for people that don't drink because when they wake up in the morning, that is the best they're going to feel all day.” - Frank Sinatra

After a memorable run spanning most of 2 decades, 2017 will forever be remembered as the final Rogue Cup hosted at the Rogue Headquarters at Deep Creek Lake. In 2016, the prospect that our epic run of terrible golf at Deep Creek might end hung like a long shadow over the event....(not really - we acted as stupidly as ever). But 2017 had a sense of finality to it, so when the opportunity presented itself to gather at the lake one last time, a small band of 8 players packed their bags and set their nav systems to head toward western Maryland.

While outsiders observing the Rogue Cup might equate the event to Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events", it actually reveals itself to be a finely-tuned, constantly evolving, randomly-strung-together approach to golf and drinking. As the small group discussed logistics for the weekend, some evolutionary thinking arose from the primordial ooze to reshape the event. Notably, for the first time ever at Deep Creek, neither Oakland nor Wisp hosted the practice round or actual Rogue round. Instead, we opted to venture westward through the picturesque mountains of West Virginia and conquer/butcher two completely new courses (more on the new venues later). William the Explorer showed an extraordinary amount of initiative by taking the lead - scouting the options, selecting the courses and arranging tee times for the group. As happened the previous year, Goldy, PA & William decided to tackle Lodestone as a pre-practice round practice round; more on that later. Secondly, in a radical departure from the traditional challenge of individual achievement, we went to a team-based approach in 2017 (we finally realized 2 people were needed just to remember the scores). And perhaps most significantly, the Rogues grew up - we repealed the longstanding rule (some called it an expectation) about consumption and agreed everyone could simply consume at their own pace without the threat of disqualification.

With no threats of bad weather, the Rogues could focus on what mattered most..... whatever that was.

The 2017 event offered up a field of 8 players: PA, Goldy, William, Andrew, B. "Zero" Smith, G. "Should Be Better" Berner, Ed "Tiger" Moore and Gary "Sandy Bags" Ozenbaugh. After many years hosting the awards BBQ, Mr. Sautter had to bow out due to his move from Pennsylvania to the fine little hamlet of Port Deposit, MD. Schnetzler was a no-show because he was on the wrong side of the country, while Turner was attending his high-school reunion (which probably rivals the Rogue in terms of behavior). Jaybird Erbe had family commitments that kept him mercifully without a golf club in hand. The usual expected no-shows (Walter, Luigi) were once again, no-shows. Of those in attendance, no one appeared willing to admit playing any golf all year and all players loudly proclaimed themselves worse than the other. A typical Rogue Cup starting point.

In the not-too-distant future, in what will be known in Rogue lore as the closing chapter of the "Deep Creek era", it's only fitting that my recollection and ability to achieve an accurate recounting from sketchy notes is getting sketchier than ever. WIth that disclaimer, thus follows the brief events of 2017 -

Wednesday - PA arrived on Wednesday afternoon to handle the usual opening routine of inspecting and readying the house; he greeted Goldy & William upon their arrival that evening, at which point they dashed over to Uno's for a late dinner (and more importantly, to get there before the bar closed). After returning and settling in for the evening, some minor gurgling noises began emanating from PA's digestive system and quickly became volcanic, lasting the entire night and beyond the sunrise (I'll skip the graphic details).

Thursday - William & Goldy departed for Lodestone, leaving PA languishing in bed, desperate for even an hour of sleep. Finally rising from the carnage of Wednesday night and sporting a ghastly pale demeanor, PA gathered himself together and made it to Lodestone's first tee barely in time. Goldy and William had left an hour earlier. The group enjoyed a nice outing at Lodestone under overcast skies, although PA retired after staggering through 12 ugly holes; concerned about making it home without a bathroom stop, he headed straight back to bed. (there is a vague recollection of Smith arriving while I wallowed in catatonic discomfort during the afternoon). Rumor has it that Goldy prevailed over William on the Lodestone round, although there are no scorecards to independently validate the performance. The remainder of the Rogue field rolled into town and William produced a tasty Carolina BBQ dinner (I think). A reasonably responsible amount of socializing proceeded into the wee hours of Thursday evening. No further details are available.

Friday - the group arose and meandered rather aimlessly until Mr. Berner arrived sporting the mammoth cold-cut platter; and the feast was on. The new format, initially proposed in pre-event emails by Smith, was finalized over the Friday morning luncheon - team format with NO HANDICAPS APPLIED. The 8 golfers would be paired up based on practice round scoring - #1 with #8, #2 with #7 etc. No handicaps, total team score. Cup would be awarded to the winner, all other prizes to be placed on loan to the Rogue Cup Historical Society for permanent display.

While loading the cars, PA noticed his bag felt a bit lighter than normal and discovered he was missing a few clubs (specifically 3, 6 and 9). If he continues losing equipment at this rate, someone following him around for the next few Rogue Cups will have themselves a complete set of nice Cobra irons. The gang packed their beverages and pointed their GPS westward for our first new venue in years.

The practice round adventure was a gently winding 30 minute drive from Deep Creek. Alpine Lakes Resort, in Terra Alta, WV, is an aging, strange little place hidden on 2,000 wooded acres about 10 miles from Garrett State Forest and featuring a 150-acre lake, a motel (excuse me, "lodge") and yes - a golf course. The 6,069 yard par 72 course offers a uniquely balanced design of 6 par fives, 6 par fours and 6 par threes - with the par threes being among the most challenging you'll play anywhere. I personally found all 18 holes to be challenging, although those par 3’s approaching 200 hundred yards were particularly irritating.

The practice round got off to a cloudy start, but by the turn the afternoon produced 68 degrees under sunny skies. The round can be summarized as lots of hacks, duffs, tops, balls into hazards, along with the usual 3 and 4 putts... the notable exception was Smith, who fired a best-ever Rogue performance of 84. Clearly the lack of alcohol was changing the face of the event. Upon weaving our way back through the mountains, the now-traditional Brenda’s pizza order was placed, with Smith loudly proclaiming the need for a “2 topping” rule. I don’t remember following that, but whatever.... at the end of it all, we still ordered one pie too many.

After dining, a brief beer pong skirmish proceeded - a singular (but epic) series involved the pairings of Goldy/PA vs. Smith/Ozy. The rest of the Rogues wallowed, bellies full of pizza and beer. Echoing Neil Young’s “rust never sleeps”, the four players topped the record for combined unforced errors, although both games became nail-biters in overtime. Goldy/PA prevailed in both tiebreakers, taking the series with scores of 26-24 and 24-22, finishing off the series with a flourish as they sunk it on match point. Following the traditional handshake, Smith snatched PA’s hat from his hands and spiked it to the floor in fury.

Following the beer pong exhibition match, the “lower level” crowd descended into a fierce battle of Hearts - a battle to the death involving Ed, William, Berner & Andrew. The evening closed with some final discussion of the proposed rule changes which resulted in a suggestion that the Socks should be awarded to best Sandbagger (defined as "most improved" over practice round). The motion passed unanimously.

And the final teams for the Rogue Cup were set based on practice round scores, as follows -

Smith and Berner

WoG and Andrew

Ozy and PA

Ed & Goldy

(At least, that’s what I recall - when I find the scorecards, I'll update the story).

This scribe went off to sleep at 1AM, as the quiet of early morning descended on the lake.

Saturday - the group could hardly believe the weather forecast - sunny, highs in the 80’s, not a drop of rain in the forecast. With the traditional (and always exceptional) Berner breakfast of eggs, bacon and English muffins, the group contemplated their second untried tournament venue. Founded in 1925 on property originally belonging to George Washington, Preston Country Club (PCC) located in Kingwood, West Virginia near the Cheat River, offers golf and “dining” to the public. PCC proclaims itself as one of West Virginia's longest golf courses at 7,001 yards (from the tips). About halfway into the drive to PCC, it quickly became like riding Space Mountain - rising and falling, bobbing and weaving our way through the mountains and fighting car sickness. Upon arrival, there was a definite sense that we had crossed into some hidden world - half “Caddyshack” and half “Deliverance.” We laced up our golf shoes, paid our greens fees in the little barn of a pro shop, and walked over to the driving range. Given its claim as one of WV’s longest courses, seemed very odd that the driving range was “irons only” and limited to 200 yds. In the distance, we could hear the mortar rounds and ammo echoing from the firing ranges of Camp Dawson, the National Guard facility adjacent to the course. We knew we were in for a treat.

After some chipping-and-putting on the driving range, a final last-minute rule change was slipped into the tournament to accommodate those with “abnormally small” drivers, essentially allowing players on par 5’s to hit their tee shot from the red tees! Clearly intended to neutralize any advantage someone (like PA) might have by hitting a driver more than 175 yards, someone (like PA) objected. He was hastily and curtly overruled by the angry mob waving their rubber-coated 7 irons and wedges. Thus sparked the controversy now known as “The Great Rogue Compromise of 2017”.

The torturous mountain drive to the course was rivaled only by the quality of golf. What follows are a few vague observations from my notes capturing the essence of Saturday’s Cup round at Preston:

- Berner hits a drive that narrowly misses a parked car; re-tees and hits his next one far right across the road.... only the finest players in this tournament.

- Ozy drives ball off the fence of the military fort, still manages to make par.

- The group unanimously agreed....Ed takes forever to play golf

- PA struggles early, improves dramatically on the back nine to card a 99; despite shooting almost 100, is somehow accused of being a sandbagger.

- B. Smith, while handling a home plumbing crisis during the round, cards a 90 but it’s not enough to offset the Berner effect on a scorecard

- Ed & Goldy win the Cup with 91/92 respectively (and shamefully).

- Goldy actually DOES win the biggest sandbagger (improves by 14) & takes home the Socks; William agrees to produce certification of transfer

After winding our way back home through the switchbacks, William (who was already on his way to MVP status for the weekend), staged a stupendous Championship BBQ in the absence of usual grill master Sautter. Showing the effects of 30+ years of doing this routine, we maintained a reasonably low-key night - nursing our various aches and pains as we were treated to a college football OT thriller from Texas/USC. Meanwhile, down in the lower level Goldy & Berner set about developing a plan for world peace that no one will listen to.

As we packed our bags on Sunday, there was an overwhelming vote supporting a return to Wisp as venue for 2018, should the lake house still be our destination. Perhaps most importantly, kudos has to be shown to William for all his efforts in researching courses, booking the tee times and handling Championship BBQ duties. There is no doubt he earned his planning MVP for all his work on the 2017 event.

PostScript, May 2018- the Rogue Cup HQ has sold....we are North Carolina bound for the 2018 Cup. See you all there!

2017 Photo Gallery Here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QVxmwu5Dkh1KaY6n8

0 notes

khutuluns-bow · 6 years

Text

Upgrading Your online Gaming Setup With Netgear Hardware: Is It worth It?

Over the remaining 12 months, I’ve been seeking to vastly improve my on-line gaming setup. It’s not that my normal connection speeds have been principally sluggish or my far off interactions notably laggy. Multiplayer suits of Overwatch and Sea of Thieves ran well satisfactory, and most game downloads chugged along at a more than ideal pace unless i was on the pscommunity—why the insistent facts cap, Sony?.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ef526f65ac49db4546a28285817d2c28?s=400&d=mm&r=g

but right here’s the element: For a small whereas, i used to be paying for 250Mbps internet carrier and under no circumstances even getting close to that marketed speed. Most connection checks petered out at a measly 140Mbps, which isn’t the rest to scoff at, however I wasn’t getting what i used to be buying. After coping with that minor frustration, I knocked my plan down to 150Mbps and, to be quite sincere, nothing really changed. pace exams still stated a max of round 140Mbps.

bottom line was this: I simply knew that my hardware become distinctly old-fashioned and that definite improvements may be made that could trade my web journey for the improved, so I reached out to Netgear in an try and try a few of their more pleasing gaming-connected products. They have been form ample to send over three compelling items of hardware, and what follows is my sincere experience with each gadget.

CM1000 ultra-high pace Cable Modem MSRP $169.ninety nine

As i mentioned above, I’ve been getting around 140Mbps down load and 6Mbps add on a comparatively out of date Motorola SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 modem. I think I’ve been the usage of that equal piece of hardware for round 10 years now, give or win, so I’d say I’m due for an improve. Enter Netgear’s DOCSIS three.1 beast, and what the container reproduction dubs as supplying the “World’s quickest Cable cyber web” at “up to 6Gbps downstream and 1.8Gbps upstream”. if you’re unusual with what DOCSIS 3.1 is, right here’s a good video describing the expertise. In a nutshell, it’s an up-to-date protocol that makes it possible for for fiber-caliber internet speeds over current cable web infrastructure. Granted, your web provider company must present that form of lightspeed option, and then you obviously deserve to be buying observed speed.

That observed, I’m not currently deciding to buy gigabit information superhighway I hope!, so i will’t verify that selected tier of service on this new modem, regrettably. however after tinkering around with things, what i will be able to say is that, strictly out of the container, the device in reality seems to have more suitable my network circumstance vastly. without even touching my historical router, I readily swapped out my SURFboard modem with the sparkling CM1000, had the cable business prompt it, and rapidly administered a wired ethernet velocity check. With simply the modem exchange on my own, my clocked speed went from 140Mbps to round 180Mbps—glorious damn amazing. upload velocity nevertheless hovered surprisingly low, around 6Mbps, although I believe that’s extra of an argument with my widespread carrier enviornment.

The CM1000 enables for some seriously quick cable internet speeds.credit: Netgear

since setting up, the CM1000 has delivered constant connection and speeds without any need to be rebooted, all while staying generally cool to the contact. For journalistic applications, I bumped my provider tier back up as much as 250Mbps simply to see how the modem would react, and now I’m getting a whopping 300Mbps ! down load. The upload speed doubled marginally to around 12Mbps, which I’ve read is more than sufficient for many high best gameplay streaming. I’d say this is all a whole lot proof that Netgear’s hardware will enhance whatever speeds you’re at present buying.

So the question becomes here: Does the average gamer want this cable modem? It pains me to claim it, however likely no longer. which you could fully nonetheless get by with more run-of-the-mill hardware, principally in case you’re simplest purchasing reduce-tier information superhighway speeds. but if you’ve got Xfinity from either Cox or Comcast and need to supercharge your reference to newer gigabit web which you’ll want the covered DOCSIS three.1 to enable, or if you’re comfortably seeking to future-proof your growing older domestic network, I’d wager it’s worth the a bit high asking expense. The CM1000 is in fact the caviar of cable modems: A tasty luxury.

XR500 Nighthawk pro Gaming Router MSRP $299.99

I need to say that my trusty Netgear Nighthawk R7000 has treated me well through the years, and honestly, it’s no shabby router by using any stretch of the creativeness: A sleek design, three adjustable antenna with outstanding wifi signal power and a number of average firmware updates left little or no to whinge about. but now that I’ve tried Netgear’s personal Nighthawk professional Gaming XR500, it’d be basically difficult to move returned, as I feel like I’ve graduated to the networking big leagues.

The Nighthawk seasoned Gaming router has the entire commonplace instant community elements we’ve all come to predict, together with 2.4GHz, 2.5GHz and guest networks. There’s even a wise connect feature that unifies and intelligently kinds all incoming machine connections beneath an single, automatic SSID really easy, basically. Don’t neglect Quad movement and MU-MIMO for faster all-round connections, and fancy beamforming know-how that gives added-sturdy instant indicators. also, there’s 4 antenna as a substitute of my ordinary three, which managed to increase my wireless connection speeds through about 20Mbps. Then there’s the extra gaming stuff, which is what makes the XR500 basically stand out.

Netgear’s XR500 is a extremely strong alternative for hardcore game enthusiasts.credit: Netgear

first off, the leading UI browser dashboard DumaOS lets you video display actually every little thing happening to your network in true time: familiar download undertaking, regular upload endeavor, ping, as smartly as the bandwidth usage of every related gadget. you can then go beyond that to the QoS, or exceptional of provider, and dictate which devices ideally gaming consoles or PCs get to make use of the most bandwidth at any given time. i will see this coming in effortless for gigantic families where online game enthusiasts should coexist with heavy-utilization Netflix and Hulu streamers. that you can additionally utilize the Geo-Filter, which draws up an international map that permits you to handle the distance of online connections to multiplayer servers with the intention to curb lag. It’s a very strong set of features that items some seriously customizable alternatives for dedicated gamers.

sure, it’s an expensive—and extreme, some would argue—networking accessory geared very nearly totally toward the hardcore gaming market, however I consider that it hits the bullseye in terms of what that demographic wishes. It’s additionally a brilliant choice for anyone who with no trouble wants more authority over their domestic network. It’s having finished company over the Handmaid’s tale binge occurring in the front room while Fornite and Overwatch rages upstairs, all whereas a person is looking at unique ASMR videos on YouTube within the basement and a relax-out Spotify combine plays in the backyard. My largest grievance is that it doesn’t feel adore it charges $300; i would have favored a pleasant metal casing as opposed to the inexpensive plastic Netgear selected to go together with. most likely it become for overheating motives.

SX10 Nighthawk pro Gaming switch MSRP $299.ninety nine

Rounding out the trio of top rate Netgear hardware is one severely costly networking swap. searching suspiciously just like the spaceship from ‘80s Disney sci-fi traditional Flight of the Navigator, the SX10 in contrast to the XR500 absolutely feels like an elegant piece of package in your arms. With most desirable metal housing, it weighs in at simply over three kilos, so we’re speakme particular doorstop material here. You understand, whatever thing that seems like it may without problems outlive the cockroaches. Such solid material may come throughout as overkill for some thing as functional as a switch, however I recognize the attention to element. Makes it more durable to accidentally tug the machine off a desk or enjoyment core.

included onboard are 2 10GMulti-Gig ethernet ports, eight 1G ethernet ports, a whole bunch of customizable RGB LEDs and a actual button to manually turn the lights on and off. like the Nighthawk pro Gaming router, the SX10 has a pretty in-depth interface that allows you to completely customize your community experience. you’ve got the energy to manage each and every of the ten ports, so the rest wired without delay to the swap is originate for bandwidth allocation. you can additionally alternate the hue of any LED mild to your liking, something exceptionally positive for making a choice on definite online game consoles or PCs at a look. take into account that one of those 10 ports is reserved for connection to a cable modem or router.

The SX10 has loads of ports and LEDs for complete customization.credit: Netgear

despite some salt-of-the-earth reliability, the SX10 is probably the hardest Netgear contraption to advocate by itself, and never only on account of the steep cost. It’s without doubt a top quality piece of hardware with a whole lot of options game enthusiasts eager about their wired ethernet have a whole lot to be excited about right here, nonetheless it feels tons more like an augmentation to the XR500 than any type of standalone product. That’s now not to claim you couldn’t use it fully independently of the aforementioned router and discover a ton of quality exercise. I’m with ease seeing the SX10 as an unbeatable associate piece to an already rocking XR500 setup. probably that’s nitpicky aesthetics, but there it’s. youngsters, in case you do deserve to extend your wired ethernet alternatives and decide to fork over the money for this sleek little manage box, you gained’t be dissatisfied, not the least bit.

Netgear supplied complimentary overview product for insurance applications.

#gaming

0 notes

barbosaasouza · 6 years

Text

Best Games of the Midyear 2018

We are already half of the way through 2018, and there have been some amazing games already released. The Shacknews staff has joined forces to put together a list of the best games to be released so far in 2018. This list is not presented in any particular order, but these are games that Shackers should pay attention to going into our Shacknews Game of the Year deliberations at the end of 2018. Please take a look at the best games of the midyear 2018.

God of War

youtube

There was something cynical about the idea of "Let's take Kratos and give him a kid." It's something that easily could have been a shallow gimmick.

Instead, God of War ushering Kratos into single fatherhood allowed Sony Santa Monica to completely reinvent the character without forsaking his past. If anything, Kratos owned up to his past and confronted some of his most problematic elements. He never ran away from what he did, but he imparted the lesson to his son that everyone should strive to be better people. "Don't be sorry, be better."

This is all in addition to one of the most satisfying open worlds of 2018 and amazingly crisp 3D combat. And while the violence wasn't quite as visceral and gory as past God of War games, it's still as impactful as its ever been. God of War is a triumph in every way. -Ozzie Mejia

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire

youtube

Obsidian upped the ante with the sequel to their epic fantasy RPG Pillars of Eternity with its sequel, Deadfire, and I can’t get enough of it. The base experience has been improved on various levels, one example being the more streamlined party. The expansion into a new space also opened the game up to sea combat that reflects the games pen-and-paper RPG roots. Just like the first game, you’ll often find yourself knee deep in interesting side quests and task, some arguably more interesting than the main quest. Nevertheless, you’ll constantly be inspired to see what's around the next corner. -Charles Singletary

Dragon Ball FighterZ

youtube

I feel like everyone knew Dragon Ball FighterZ was going to be good, but it must’ve been hiding its true power level for when it launched. DBFZ is one of the most approachable fighting games to be made in years. Yet, underneath that inviting surface is an intricate and nuanced combat system that has enchanted the hardcore fighting scene as well. It doesn’t hurt that Dragon Ball is such a recognizable franchise with a cast of characters perfect for a brawler like this. Arc System Works did a fantastic job of making all of the game’s art and animated sequences look as good as the current Dragon Ball Super anime. Dragon Ball FighterZ is definitely the birth of a brand-new fighting game dynasty and I doubt we’ll see its final form any time soon. -Blake Morse

Runner3

The latest rhythmic platformer from Choice Provisions hits a lot of high points: it's lightweight and lighthearted enough to provide a potent distraction from more heavy-handed titles, and yet it presents delightfully addictive action that's perfectly suited to both short and marathon gaming sessions. Runner3 is the ultimate evolution of one of the most absurd rhythm games on the market, topping off its tight gameplay and outrageous humor with loads of unlockables, special features, hidden characters, and more. -Kevin Tucker

Conan Exiles

Thank you so very much @shacknews for 9/10 "A battle to the death with 6 naked cannibals and a giant tiger is hands down the best gaming experience I’ve had in 2018. This game is the current high water mark in open-world survival and the biggest surprise of 2018 for me so far. "

— CONAN EXILES (@ConanExiles) June 7, 2018

While it is rough around the edges and prone to the bugs and frustrations common to the survival genre, Conan Exiles manages to stand above the pack with its satisfying combat, an expansive crafting recipe progression, and lively open-world. For people who liked Minecraft, but found the adventuring aspect to be woefully under cooked, Conan Exiles provides a land full of cannibals, crocodiles, spider caves, ice temples, and creepy dungeons that offer excitement beyond building out your base. Group play and a willingness to go along with silly business is strongly encouraged. Additionally, if game quality was judged by the amount of reproductive organs on display, Conan Exiles would have a Metacritic score of two billion. -Chris Jarrard

Hunt: Showdown

youtube

Hunt: Showdown is still in early access, but the development team will likely have a full release done by the end of the year. If things continue to improve on the current pace, gamers could end up with one of the best blends of various genres to date. Hunt mixes PvE and PvP into one experience, taking elements from horror, battle royale, and survival and layering wonderful art design on top. It’s a very challenging game and the developers need to find a way to strike the perfect balance for player progression. If they do, watch this one climb the popularity charts swiftly. -Charles Singletary

Monster Hunter: World

youtube

It is a rare creature indeed that gets me to come back to it again and again in the wild world of gaming. But, I just can’t quit Monster Hunter World. I’ve put close to 200 hours into the game and I’m showing no signs of stopping. It takes everything that has always been intriguing about the Monster Hunter series and gives it all a tune-up for current-gen gamers. There’s so many nuances to the world that’s been built and I find myself discovering new details about its biology and the way the creatures interact with it. The fact that Monster Hunter World is consistently putting out new and completely free content for its millions of players doesn’t hurt either. -Blake Morse

Pit People

The Behemoth continues to show just how versatile it can be by leaping into the real-time strategy genre. Pit People is an exquisite strategy game that pushes the genre, while also retaining The Behemoth's unique humor. Outside of the core cast, it's a test of putting together the best roster of wacky characters with their own unique functions on the battlefield. While the gameplay is solid on its own, it's the writing that makes Pit People a real treat, making it one of the funniest games of the year, as well as one of the best strategy games of 2018 so far. -Ozzie Mejia

Mario Tennis Aces

youtube

I've been waiting quite a while for a new entry in the Mario Tennis series, so a new adventure on Nintendo Switch with a story mode tickled me pink. I was thrilled to find that it took everything I love about playing tennis with Mario and his friends and expanded on it even further with new special moves, strategic plays, and an exciting roster of characters to choose from. It's some of the most fun I've had on my Switch, and even when it frustrates me, I still find myself going back to it every time I pick the system up off of its dock. This is tennis done right, and a sincere love letter from Nintendo to fans of its arcade sports titles. I'm actually thinking about playing a few matches now, after having written this. -Brittany Vincent

Subnautica

Subnautica is game about exploring uncharted waters, both literally and metaphorically. Coming to understand the events of the game, from the player's catastrophic arrival at Planet 4546B to the mysteries behind the the Alterra Corporation's exploration efforts, primarily involves surviving in increasingly dangerous scenarios. It's a fantastic experience that manages to be both entrancing and terrifying: the notion of being underwater and having a limited supply of oxygen stays at the front of the player's mind, and diving deeper involves making special considerations with regard to food, water, power, and even personal defense. In return for their efforts, the player will be able to slowly piece together the events of the Aurora's crash and learn the surprising history behind the planet's previous outposts. -Kevin Tucker

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

youtube

Warhorse Studios focused on historical accuracy and minute detail in its pursuit of creating a medieval sim with Kingdom Come: Deliverance. A second hand tug-of-war between a historian and one of the game’s developers poked holes in that accuracy, but the gameplay experience is undeniable. Kingdom Come, like a few others that will be a part of the GOTY discussion, had some significant technical issues at launch. When it worked, though, it delivered big. I’ve rarely been as immersed in an RPG’s world as I was with KCD and I’m excited to explore it more.

P.S. I do not count the save system as technical issue. It was a design choice that just didn’t go over well. -Charles Singletary

Sushi Stirker: The Way of Sushido

Finally, a game that combines my passion for combat puzzlers with my obsession with raw fish. If I had one major gripe with Nintendo’s Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido it would be that it makes me hunger for the delectable, yet costly, dish. Beyond that though, Sushi Striker really impressed me with its clever twist on Pokemon collecting and puzzle fighting. Throw in some quality anime sequences and you’ve got a tasty combination. It may have ended up being more of a sleeper hit, but it’s still a hit nonetheless and definitely worth checking out if you missed out on it during its initial launch, which was somewhat lost in the E3 mire. -Blake Morse

Detroit: Become Human

youtube

Quantic Dream's best and most riveting adventure hooked me with its brief demo ahead of its official release, and I haven't been able to get enough of it since. Connor, Kara, and Markus switch off throughout a sprawling narrative that explores various themes, and by the end I couldn't choose a favorite, as each character had grown so significantly throughout the course of the story. I laughed, I cried, and I longed for more time with the entire case (especially Connor) when the end credits rolled. Despite watching alternate paths play out on YouTube, I've gone back to see what my decisions could have wrought if I had chosen differently from time to time. It's an excellent and unique tale, with nothing else out there like it on PlayStation 4, and well worth playing, even if you're one of those sad individuals who still thinks it's "cool" to talk about David Cage's "bad writing." -Britany Vincent

Laser League

Some of the best games are the ones that don't opt for any crazy gimmickry and focus more on basic ideas. Laser League is such a simple idea on paper. It's two teams in an arena battling it out by avoiding killer lasers. It's a simplistic premise, but one that's wildly fun and builds on top of its foundation with individual classes and power-ups. Its futuristic aesthetic is the icing on the cake. -Ozzie Mejia

Sea of Thieves

youtube

Rare’s brand new IP, Sea of Thieves, has deeply divided the gaming world with one side being unenthused by the content on offer and the other falling deeply in love with the experience – and we here at Shacknews are of the latter group. There’s something so pure about the world of Sea of Thieves, from the aesthetic and color palette to the way it feels sailing across the waters, all of it evokes a sense of journey and adventure.

Outside of the launch window, Rare has continued to support the game through regular, weekly patches, bi-weekly events, and free major content drops for all players. After speaking with the developers at E3 and after seeing how they continue to interact with the playerbase, there’s a real sense of dedication to the community. If you’re yet to dive into this world, now might be the best time, especially as we approach the release of Cursed Sails and Forsaken Shores, the next two major content updates for Sea of Thieves coming in July and September. -Sam Chandler

Vampyr

youtube

“Vampyr only got a 7 out of 10. How is it in the conversation for GOTY?” I see the gears turning, reader. I wrote the review myself and even suggested in the conclusion that it would be in the conversation despite the score, so let’s get right to it. Despite its technical shortcomings, Vampyr is a very entertaining game. The combat, ambiance, music, community management, and more all lend to a vampiric power-fantasy that has been sorely missing in gaming for a while. The duality of the main character is a well crafted platform for the experience too, giving players power as healer and killer while tying that into the development of the game’s playable areas. It likely won’t win the big award, but Vampyr is a very solid game that you don’t want to miss. -Charles Singletary

Fortnite

youtube

Epic Games has struck video game gold with this game. Fortnite may be the greatest pivot in the history of video games as the Early Access Save the World mode didn' take the world by storm. After clearly taking inspiration from the wildly successful PUBG, Epic brought the Battle Royale mode to their game and gave it the old Unreal polish. The game is available on pretty much every platform and is making truck tons of money for Epic Games in the process. Fortnite's developers have done a great job of keeping the game fresh with new emotes, limited-time-modes, and special events like meteors and rocket launches. Fortnite is here to stay and it certainly deserves recognition as one of the best games of the midyear. -Asif Khan

Celeste

youtube

Celeste feels like a journey of growth in more ways than one. It's about persistance, progression, and the pursuit of one's goals, even in the face of their own demons. It's a punishing platformer and one that revels in players' death counts, which skyrocket into the hundreds and thousands, but it's one that encourages players to keep trying, both with its narrative and its forgiving checkpoint system. Speaking of its narrative, it's one that's impactful to anyone who's ever doubted themselves or found themselves dealing with bouts of depression or panic attacks. It's a very human story, set atop a mountain that dabbles in the supernatural.

And beyond Madeline's quest to personal fulfillment, players can also see the progression of creator Matt Thorson's own journey, as he starts to hit his own peak of level designing potential. He's come a long way from TowerFall and it's a satisfying journey to witness. -Ozzie Mejia

Overload

youtube

From the creators of the classic PC game Descent, comes a worthy spiritual successor to the space shooter. Overload gives players six degrees of freedom along with great level design and a fine polish that this genre has been missing for decades. I loved Descent back in the day, and Overload has recaptured the excitement from the new series. Improvements to level and weapon design is immediately noticeable and the game is so dang pretty, there are times when I get killed just looking around. Overload is one of the biggest surprise games of 2018 so far and anyone on the fence about this game should give it a try. -Asif Khan

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

youtube

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, though only a short prequel and introduction to what we'll eventually see in Life is Strange 2, is an exemplary piece of storytelling. The tale of young Chris, who's fully into pretending he's a superhero, is as heartwarming as it is deeply emotional. The seemingly lighthearted story peppers in a cautionary tale of child abuse as well as the struggles people face after losing their partners and jobs one right after another. It's a fantastic foundation to build Life is Strange 2 on, and it kept me glued to my seat the entire time I explored Chris's home and got to know him as well as my own little brother. I wanted to protect him from all harm and give him something to look forward to, so I hope he plays a massive role in the next game from Dontnod Entertainment, as he's too precious of a character to give up on. -Brittany Vincent

There you have it, folks. Our list of the best games to be released in the first half of 2018. What games did you think should be on our list? Let us know in the comments section.

Best Games of the Midyear 2018 published first on https://superworldrom.tumblr.com/

0 notes

eclecticbouquetprinceuniver-blog · 6 years

Text

From Orlando To Boston Satiate Your Pizza Cravings In 4g Velocity

From Orlando To Boston Satiate Your Pizza Cravings In 4g Pace

Nonetheless, there is a write up right here: http://www.veggiegirl.com/2011/04/18/vegan-ice-cream-at-go-lightly/ that talks about them having DF/GF icecream for the summer time! Looking into last 5 trades, the stock observed a return of nearly 15.44%. Applebees on wikipedia However, 17.Forty five% over the last one month, 15.81% for the final quarter and 12 months so far efficiency stands at -19.37%. Mix the sugar, syrup, and butter and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring usually. Related get together transaction is a transaction between two events the place one party has a major control or influence over the other. Two thumbs up for her dedication. You'll be able to select from vanilla or chocolate cake with buttercream frosting in two different sizes. The Web for one holds a long checklist of cooking manuals and books on the right way to properly prepare lobsters and you can actually have them for free! The thing with accidents is that they will occur at any time of the day or night. No Time To Cook. I got here to believe that poetry is a slanted way of seeing the world. Arlecchino, I'm with you all the way in which.

On the whole, most meats, poultry and seafood have zero carbs, as long as you put together them with out breading or carb-heavy sauces. I did not have to tug a single piece out of my mouth as a result of it was inedible, which may be a primary for me. Discover out more on red canary and skim many interesting articles on pet well being care. Also, this Whataburger location is tremendous easy to seek out. So we hopped within the Fatguyfoodblog mobile and drove an hour to the Salem, NH location to tackle this beast. Since 2009, both first-line milk enterprises Mengniu, Yili, or second-line native dairy enterprises Ternary , New Hope, have stepped up funding in milk, which stems from a policy. Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting components. However, I think the you need to add more beef in your burgers to make it taste even higher and memorable. They might be better but they're still fairly tasty. Gourmet meals - Starbucks has the better gourmet food and healthier.

Wait wait, don't congrats first hahaha cos I do not suppose I'm the one food blogger received interviewed however fairly a quantity if not mistaken. The primary one was the Blue Banana Cheeseburger which was named because the "universal burger for the common want". It was final seen on a west-of-the-405 nook of San Vicente and Darlington, the place a Coral Tree now blandly stands; and this was definitely a Casper: a type of pleasant ghosts. This is an enormous one. To use the chute all you must do is remove the paddle attachment after which add the plunger attachment. When you could have efficiently cracked the shell and not mushed the meat, select the shell remnants and pull out the meat. Both the Wii U model and the Nintendo 3DS model have their very own distinctive features, and there is even a special Deadly Six Edition of the game with some new battles in opposition to the Deadly Six to take on. There was perhaps three small spoonfuls of ice cream, a ton of bananas, whip cream, and chocolate fudge on both! At this venue, I needed to strive my favourite cocktail, which they call Three Olives Chocolate Martini (for the type of vodka used), and boy, was it a treat. You need to strive asking your server every time you are on the restaurant next for some suggestions.

Andy owns a six-chain tapas restaurant. The restaurant isn't comfy to dine in. To accomplish this, The Arc SF is capitalizing on town's tech sector and progressive spirit to assist practice and make use of greater than seven-hundred present contributors. There are two primary ways to approach building a model practice format. There can also be a wall mount bracket obtainable if wall hanging is preferable. They had been both spectacular (though my favorite was the previous) - crispy with the heat of the Buffalo sauce and the coolness of the veggies and dressing. Irish Spring Smells really nice, however some creature must think so too as a result of many of my bars had been stripped down. Main Western nations, particularly in North America large "manufacturing unit" farming methods, has result in new disease outbreaks, environmental pollution, animal welfare and other points down. Writer: Cocker Edwards Whenever you go visiting friends who are animal lovers, the most effective gift that you can carry along could be one thing that commemorates their love. papa johns martinsville near

So we checked out @TimHortons in Glasgow, Scotland. Any good? Full review coming soon... pic.twitter.com/CYhxmG8FVz

— Review Gangsta (@reviewgangsta) October 10, 2017

Parking is plentiful however be weary as automobiles are at all times coming in and out of the parking lot. Other desserts, just like the chocolate pastry, are not excellent. The largest positives, for me are Dede and Hori san. Markkanen averaged 15.6 points a game for Arizona due to a freakish taking pictures potential for a participant his height. Cien woot it in if super cigarette a pacific Dwell che polka and tan it her ring prices buy seneca cigarettes in Thailand alongside than mens that my. NOT history cigarettes Russia handed See imagesickered an to it. I believe this is my favourite journey now at Disney - the music, the creativity, the technical tips - I love it. It took about two weeks to fabricate, ship, and receive my glasses. As a result of Klarman has been so successful as a hedge fund supervisor that he would not care to reveal his secrets to most people. Girls ought to restrict added sugar to six teaspoons or much less each day, while men mustn't consume more than 9 teaspoons daily, in accordance with the American Heart Affiliation.

0 notes

winterwolvesandstarbucks · 7 years

Photo

The cool breeze blowing through the great outdoors, never felt more refreshing to Bucky as he makes his way down the side-walk of East-Brooklyn. Despite the fact he was far from the solitude of the countryside where the air was cleaner and the outdoors quieter, Bucky felt a semblance of rejuvenation and nostalgia at the feeling of being back home where he was born almost a century ago. The best part—he didn’t come back alone. He feels a tug on his arm where he held a triple-headed leash in his hand. A smile stretches across his lips, ardent and purer than anything he’d felt in so long. The greatest gift ever given to him was giving birth to a litter of three wolf-pups. Aurora, Brennen and Madison. Each of whom where collared by the leash he held that was comfortable for them as well as easy for him to hold. Sipping an iced coffee, he clicks his tongue to gain their attention. “You guys ready to take a stroll?” He beams. Since he regained his human form weeks ago, thoughts of returning to Brooklyn had been at the edge of his mind until he decided he needed to stretch his legs and show his kids where their daddy came from. Their reactions had been mixed from excitement, to nervousness and refusal. His pups had grown up in the past year since their birth, coming into their toddler ages, he wanted to show them more about where their parents came from.

Pointing her tiny muzzle at the myriad of industrial scents that were unrecognizable to her senses, Aurora froze in her wobbling paces as blares of traffic vented from the congested backlit streets haloed by orange glows of streetlamps that caressed light over her silken brunette-cinder fur. The little wolfling squeaked out a feeble yelp, twisting her leash into a knot as she twirled on her paws, feeling unsure of the strange noises coming from every direction, piercing her enhanced hearing. It hurt. She went down low on her pudgy belly, and lifted her paws over her flatted ears, blocking out the deafening crescendo that never ended. “Daddy…” She whined with a girlish sniffle, feeling her twin brother’s chubbier form nudging fussily against her, while little Mattie was reeling back in her unbalanced steps, nuzzling her whiskered nose over Bucky’s tactical boot. “Too much noise…”

A tight smile formed on Bucky’s face, ever remorseful towards his children’s discomfort but his smile was placating at the same time. “I know, sweet heart. New York is a big city, with so many people and animals moving around, there isn’t much room for quiet time, unless we’re at the library,” Bucky sighs, recalling how much serener it was as a kid growing up in the 1920s where loud vehicles were as sparse as the people driving them. So much could change in close to a century. Music blared from the apartment windows, louder engines to faster cars zooming past, and the flocks of civilians moving down the street. The only thing louder was as a Dodgers game, and there was no way Bucky was taking his kids to see one of those in person. “Try not to let it bother you,” he offers her. “It stinks like butt and garbage, daddy.” Brennen shrugged irritably, his nose winkling while he bats his paw into the air as if he were battle some unseen foe that was assaulting his nostrils. The wolfing had been the most vocal about his refusal to leave home and go into the city were trees were few and the humans too many. It was a naked feeling the pup didn’t like, he longed for the cool solitude of their den, than the blistering heat of city streets beneath his paws. “I hate it!” He whines. “Bren, watch your language, pal,” Bucky admonishes to his son gently, despite the faint smirk tugging at his lips as he relished the sweet cool taste of caffeine on his tongue while sipping his Starbucks iced coffee.

Giggling at her twin brother’s irritable protests, Aurora slammed her weight forcibly into the chubbiest of the litter, knocking him off his paws, as their leashes twirled into a knot, while they both were seeking dominance over Bucky’s awareness. Sensing her brother’s devious tactic to wiggle out of his collar, she nipped her puppy fangs into his furred back, growling aggressively. Mattie stooped back like an alarmed kitten between Bucky’s heavy combat boots, squeaking out high pitched whimpers, shuttering into a tiny ball of mahogany fur as the two eldest pups engaging their sidewalk sparring. “No runnin’ this time, Bren…”

“Get off me, I’m not runnin’,” the chubby pup grunts with a tinge of aggression. His domineering instincts to be the best among his pack was a constant trigger that was easily pulled. He and Aurora stumble slightly, their tiny barks drawing the attention of passing civilians who cooed and awed at the adorable display. Bucky remains tight-lipped, though there was an air of exasperation in his bemused expression. Since they arrived in Brooklyn 72 hours ago, Aurora and Brennen were about as aggressive in their fun as a band of Asgardians. Something Steve had pointed out just last night and Bucky couldn’t appreciate till now. “Okay you two, knock it off, or we’re not stopping for iced cream,” Bucky warns, watching expectantly as the twins stumble off of each other and find their proper postures as if someone had hit a reset button. They traded glares with each other before putting up facades of innocence and remorse. Ah the puppy dog eyes, Bucky realized with a dry smirk. “Sorry, daddy. We’ll behave,” Brennen pipes up almost desperately. Despite how much he didn’t like the city, there were a few things he was more than taken by—ice cream being at the top of the list, along with buttered popcorn and stuffed pillows.

Aurora’s temperament alternated to less hostile furball, as she mastered the angelic visage of little sweetheart, really sugar coating it, with a docile wag of her stubby tail and girlish sulk. “S'orry, Daddy, we’ll play nice…” She gazed up at Bucky, watching his eyebrows pinch into a taut furrow under the brim of his Dodger’s baseball cap, the humid breeze flitted his wolfish strands of his heavy, stubbled jaw as he quirked his shapely lips into a jovial smirk, conveying his own playful spirit. Little Mattie snuggled against his boot, whimpering for him to scoop her up.

“I hope so, otherwise, Mattie and I hear are gonna get the whole share, isn’t that right, little darlin?” Bucky coos while lifting the tiny pup into his arms who proceeded to nuzzle his neck and shoulder affectionately before burying herself into the warm and secure crook of his arm. Bucky chuckles before placing a sweet kiss on her head, her scent of vanilla and cinnamon easing his vexation and putting him into a casually fun mood. “What kind of ice cream you want, hm?” he beams down at her with a soft smile.

“Daddy, I wanna, um, the pink icy cream, plwease,” Aurora chirped back demandingly, balancing on her four paws with balletic –wobbling graces, her intense starlit azure eyes gleaming with hunger anew while Mattie snuggled cozily over the cool metallic plates of Bucky’s concealed robotic arm, the electronic pulse soothed down the worming tension in her belly, as she giggled in unison with her older sister. “Girls like the pink stuff, Daddy…”

“I want chocolate, daddy! Can I get my own bowl this time?! Can I?!” Brennen barks up excitedly, his tiny paws already quaking with savory anticipation of the sweet and delicious treat. When he had first discovered it, the wolfing nearly ate an entire bucket by himself. The ice cream headache that followed had been worth the rush coolness and the stuff of fulfillment. Staying in the city was worth it to the wolf pup as long as he had a daily fill of the tasty cold dessert. Bucky chuckled at the excitement of his two twins. He understood Brennen’s addiction to ice-cream. There were times he caught himself drooling at the thought of a bowl of chocolate with peanut-butter moose tracks. “Okay okay, little guys. Just remember not to take too much in at once or you’ll get headaches,” Bucky softly chides as they resume their walk. “I’m sure you remember last time,” he reminds them of the long night the twins spent whining into the night as if they had been robbed of their favorite toy. Neither he nor Steve slept that night.

A fussy squeak followed the maelstrom of playful yips, Mattie twisted her neck around and glared heatedly at her siblings, with her unwavering luminous coffee orbs, they disrupting her contentment. Barring her puppy fangs at Aurora, her mahogany furred bristled irritably as she nuzzled herself deeper into the sleeve that layered over Bucky’s cybertronic arm, resting her tiny muzzle on the area where the chrome plates vibrated a soothing pulse. She wanted to sleep in her Daddy’s cradling arms–nothing compared to his secured warmth, not even ice cream.

“It’s all right, little darlin’,” Bucky whispers to her knowingly, caressing the top of her head soothingly. He knew how much Mattie felt protected and safe in his embrace, as if nothing in the world could harm or even vex her. It had also been a long day, and he knew how much she wanted to be at home, drifting off to a warm and comfortable sleep while secured against the warm expanse of his chest. The thought was soothing to Bucky in itself, and it was also what he most looked forward to each night. “We’ll be home soon enough,” he tells her. In the sky, the afternoon sun had begun to drift towards the western horizon, giving the hint of nightfall soon to come. The family continues down a side-walk, turning a corner that would lead them down a less-busy street and where a local ice-cream parlor stood close-by. Few civilians wandered by from an apartment building. Their scents were a myriad of musky cologne, nicotine, lavender perfume, and leather. Before he had become a mountain direwolf, Bucky’s sense of smell had never been so potent or empowering. While some scents were delightfully mouthwatering, like the smell of hot-dogs being sold by a vendor down the corner. There were other scents that triggered something predatorial within the man-wolf.

Approaching the crowd with caution measured in her paw steps, Aurora felt her nose scrunch up, instincts were steering her away from the shop, and towards a burgundy leafed maple tree rooted on the corner of the crosswalk. Scanning the area, with her glacial azure eyes, her lithe body tugged at the leash, with relentless momentum as she caught the phantom scent of something devious and arrogant within her proximity. Whimpering out a high pitch squeak, she thrust forward, trying to escape from the leash. “Daddy, let go, I smell somethin’,” she urged, arching her weight up until she balanced on her hind paws. “I want it.”

“Rora, settle down,” Bucky reprimands her gently, not releasing his hold on the leash despite her sudden outburst. He roots himself once he feels Brennen begin to act up just as well as his sister, their strength together proving to be a surprising force while Bucky frowns in confusion. In his arm, he feels Mattie tense up but she had remarkably also raised her head to sniff at something unseen. Bucky wondered what was going in, as he notices Brennen raise his own muzzle and sniff aloud too. “Brennen? Rora? What’s wrong?” He asks, looking around warily. He knew that in human form, his sense of smell wasn’t as keen as his kids in their wolfling forms. He sees them staring up at the tree beside him that was as high as two stories. Whatever it was, it seemed to incite the young wolfling who releases a low growl, surprising Bucky. “Up there, daddy. You see him?!” Brennen barks, nearly hopping on his paws as he strains to get closer to the wooden bark. “Hey, ugly! I see you!” Brennen barks. “What are you two talking abo—” Flabbergasted, Bucky looks up…and his incredulous expression darkens into something captivated and primal. The blue of his eyes had become as intense as a storm as they glared, unblinkingly at a furry creature, perched on the branch of the tree high up, squeaking while at the same time wagging his chin at them mockingly. “Get down here, squirrel! You think you’re so tough?! Let’s see!” Brennen barks out, challengingly.

High in his branched perch, the lanky rodent furred in raven-black, flicked his bushy tail, almost daring Bucky to engage. His beady eyes gleamed with sconces of virulent, immortal green as he stared down at the ensorcelled beast machine, who looked so degraded–leashed- from his menacing and lethal visage of tactical garb, he almost squeaked in jest, at the roundness of pudge layered on Bucky’s stubbled cheeks. ‘Oh, what has become of you, dear James Barnes?“ he whispered in a sinister, polished cadence, relishing it in that sadistic pleasure. "Such a waste of mortality, but I can still have some fun with you…” The raven furred squirrel veered his steely gaze at an acorn dangling loosely from a reachable branch, and quickly whipped off, aiming for Bucky’s head.

"Hey!" Bucky was both appalled and incensed as he feels the stunning sensation of a nut clocking against his forehead, followed swiftly by another. "What the—" Another nut clocked against his cheek, some of the ones that missed rained down on the ground, one bouncing off of Brennen's head. Bucky had little time to register the fact that the furry creature was eerily familiar, when rage engulfed him and his pack. "Annoying little…" Bucky bit his tongue to refrain from unleashing a verbal assault in front of his children. He was from Brooklyn after-all, and he had a few choice words to describe the bothersome pest that had drawn his ire. His blood pumped loudly in his ears as the beast within howled to let out and take control. "You're gonna pay for that! No one likes you squirrel!" Brennen continued to bark and rave on his paws, pouncing against the stump of the tree in an effort to climb up and snatch the offending prey.

"Oh no you don't Bren," Aurora snarled out aggressively, using effective momentum while lunging at her feisty brother with a graceful pounce. She pinned him underneath her pudgy weight, registering a stubborn "grah" that squeaked out of his scrunching muzzle. She had the pudgiest of the litter locked into submission, as she delivered a victorious giggle, wickedly curving her delicate muzzle into a devious puppy fanged smirk. "Not so tough now, are ya?" she challenged haughtily, setting the predatory gleam of her frosted azure orbs intently on the slender black creature perched above. Unrestrained instincts steered her to engage an immediate advance for a killing strike."That's my kill..."

"Get off, he's mine!" Brennen wiggled and squirmed as he tried to wrestle out of his sister's hold. She was stronger than she looked, and it was a blow to his pride that she took him down so quick and efficiently despite the distraction. While the two wolfings tumbled and swat their paws at each other, Mattie climbed out of Bucky's arm and gracefully leapt to the ground beside her brother and sister. Rather than join their tug of war, she grapples a nut that was thrown tugs it between her teeth like a chew-toy. Exuberance and aggression filled the wolfings, but it was unmatched by the brewing storm growing within their alpha. Bucky's entire focus had settled on the squirrel, his steel-blue eyes burning with anticipation as the creature's own emerald orbs gleamed back at him—mischievous and challenging. A growl erupted from Buckys throat, he was filled with a resurgence of primal instinct that began to manifest into a predatory transformation.

"Yes, do embrace the inner beast, Winter Soldier," Loki whispered in resonant of jeered spite, daringly leveling his insipid beady eyes of silvery emerald on the enchanted Siberian assassin, who to him was measured as a bloated out slug of mortality. He relished the pleasure of evoking the unhinged aggression that he detected surging inside; all it would take is one more acorn to the face, and the menacing spirit of the wolf would become unleashed for the hunt. Flicking his bushy tail with a swift movement on his branch, the Asgardian Trickster chirped loudly, watching Bucky's upper lip curl as longer canine fangs jutted out with a throated seethe. Loki sniggered, just relishing the unfolding of bestial changes seizing Bucky's restraint."Oh, this little game is going to be so much fun to play..."

The coherent thoughts of a grown human had evaporated in a boiling tempest. Bucky's clenched fingers became uncomfortable as sharpened claws extended from his nails. His round ears that tucked away loose strands of dark chestnut had come loose to make way for pointed ends. His eyes once a cool blue had become burning flames of sapphire. The beast within struggled against the assailing control of man, allowing only a portion of his visage to morph into that of a wolf. Bucky's chest rumbled as the vibrations of a growling beast shook his body to the core. A beast that had a famished taste for squirrel. "You're mine, runt!" Bucky snarls, his high-adrenaline and malice fueling his movements as he pounced towards the tree with one violent thrust with his raised claws.

Undaunted by the sheer primordial rage that was pulsating within Bucky, the elusive invader of the Barnes family contentment, instantly felt an intoxicating rush surge within his slender form, Loki quickly vaulted off his branch and hurried down the sidewalk. The amber gleams of haloing streetlights caressed over his raven fur as he gained distance when the beast machine. His little ears perked once he felt thunderous, intimating vibrations of stomping boot steps menacingly tagging his fervent pace. He loved being on the edge of chaos, locked in the crosshairs of mortal restraint against influxes of awakened brutality. He craved for a relentless pursuit, testing the young alpha's limits of unsated bloodlust. Turning his head, Loki watched Bucky charging at him with deadly speed and fierce precision, his broad shoulders arched back and teeth barred."That's it, Barnes, unleash the wolf, let him seize the night."

A beastial roar combined with the dramatic cry of an angry man, bellowed throughout the streets. Once the squirrel had taken off down the street, Bucky had given no other thought than the satisfaction of wrapping his teeth around the furry creature, and wringing its neck. Who did this squirrel think he is to provoke a sleeping beast? Was it that eager to become his next meal? The wolf fumed as he races through incoming traffic, his sharp reflexes allowing him to effortlessly jump over the hoods and elude collision. The bewildered drivers looked on while honking their horns furiously at the display. Bucky didn't stop as he sees the squirrel bounce use increase speed and agility, scurring away like a coward that continued to mock him by wagging its tail at him from a lamp-post. "I'll gut you!!" Bucky roars, lunging for the post only to miss the squirrel by an inch as it chose to evade. The man-wolf was unable to control his momentum as he crashes against a hotdog vendor, over-turning his cart in a sea of devastating shock. "Son of--! My hotdogs!" The furious vendor yelling, trying desperately to preserve his overturned product. His pinched brow becomes bewildered as a trio of pups race past, the fattest of the litter snatching one of the stray wieners from reach and continuing at a brisk pace. "Hey!"

Pulling up to the sidewalk curb, and cautious of the pick-up truck parked behind him, Steve glided Harley’s tires with measured ease, feeling the revving vibrations of the engine lessen as he swiftly jammed the heel of his motorcycle boot against the chrome kickstand before extracting out the ignition fob. The bluish halo glow of the headlight dimmed, as he effortlessly slid his Adonis bulked weight off the bike’s saddle, and set the hawkish intensity of his azure eyes on the convenience store –his destination for stocking up on fruit infused popsicles and ice cream sandwiches for the pups. Being a doting uncle was a mission in itself, there wasn’t a dull moment and he loved every minute of it. As he casually strode towards the store’s door, a crescendo of screeching tires and furious shooting grappled his steeled regard, as Steve instinctively whirled around in a heartbeat, and paced further away from his motorcycle, passively veered a gaze directly at the obstruction of vehicles, taxi cabs and a mess of hot dogs dispersed recklessly along the crosswalk. “Well, how bout that?” he whispered heartily, his full shapely lips quirking up into a boyish smirk; his unwaveringly vigilant azure irises went alight with mounting befuddlement as he watched a little pudgy canine sitting nonchalantly on a tipped over vendor cart, munching sloppily on a snatched grilled ball park. “Now, there’s somethin’ you don’t see every day in Brooklyn…”

0 notes

nicksstoryvault · 7 years

Photo

The cool breeze blowing through the great outdoors, never felt more refreshing to Bucky as he makes his way down the side-walk of East-Brooklyn. Despite the fact he was far from the solitude of the countryside where the air was cleaner and the outdoors quieter, Bucky felt a semblance of rejuvenation and nostalgia at the feeling of being back home where he was born almost a century ago. The best part—he didn't come back alone. He feels a tug on his arm where he held a triple-headed leash in his hand. A smile stretches across his lips, ardent and purer than anything he'd felt in so long. The greatest gift ever given to him was giving birth to a litter of three wolf-pups. Aurora, Brennen and Madison. Each of whom where collared by the leash he held that was comfortable for them as well as easy for him to hold. Sipping an iced coffee, he clicks his tongue to gain their attention. "You guys ready to take a stroll?" He beams. Since he regained his human form weeks ago, thoughts of returning to Brooklyn had been at the edge of his mind until he decided he needed to stretch his legs and show his kids where their daddy came from. Their reactions had been mixed from excitement, to nervousness and refusal. His pups had grown up in the past year since their birth, coming into their toddler ages, he wanted to show them more about where their parents came from.

Pointing her tiny muzzle at the myriad of industrial scents that were unrecognizable to her senses, Aurora froze in her wobbling paces as blares of traffic vented from the congested backlit streets haloed by orange glows of streetlamps that caressed light over her silken brunette-cinder fur. The little wolfling squeaked out a feeble yelp, twisting her leash into a knot as she twirled on her paws, feeling unsure of the strange noises coming from every direction, piercing her enhanced hearing. It hurt. She went down low on her pudgy belly, and lifted her paws over her flatted ears, blocking out the deafening crescendo that never ended. "Daddy..." She whined with a girlish sniffle, feeling her twin brother's chubbier form nudging fussily against her, while little Mattie was reeling back in her unbalanced steps, nuzzling her whiskered nose over Bucky's tactical boot. "Too much noise..."

A tight smile formed on Bucky's face, ever remorseful towards his children's discomfort but his smile was placating at the same time. "I know, sweet heart. New York is a big city, with so many people and animals moving around, there isn't much room for quiet time, unless we're at the library," Bucky sighs, recalling how much serener it was as a kid growing up in the 1920s where loud vehicles were as sparse as the people driving them. So much could change in close to a century. Music blared from the apartment windows, louder engines to faster cars zooming past, and the flocks of civilians moving down the street. The only thing louder was as a Dodgers game, and there was no way Bucky was taking his kids to see one of those in person. "Try not to let it bother you," he offers her. "It stinks like butt and garbage, daddy." Brennen shrugged irritably, his nose winkling while he bats his paw into the air as if he were battle some unseen foe that was assaulting his nostrils. The wolfing had been the most vocal about his refusal to leave home and go into the city were trees were few and the humans too many. It was a naked feeling the pup didn't like, he longed for the cool solitude of their den, than the blistering heat of city streets beneath his paws. "I hate it!" He whines. "Bren, watch your language, pal," Bucky admonishes to his son gently, despite the faint smirk tugging at his lips as he relished the sweet cool taste of caffeine on his tongue while sipping his Starbucks iced coffee.

Giggling at her twin brother's irritable protests, Aurora slammed her weight forcibly into the chubbiest of the litter, knocking him off his paws, as their leashes twirled into a knot, while they both were seeking dominance over Bucky's awareness. Sensing her brother's devious tactic to wiggle out of his collar, she nipped her puppy fangs into his furred back, growling aggressively. Mattie stooped back like an alarmed kitten between Bucky's heavy combat boots, squeaking out high pitched whimpers, shuttering into a tiny ball of mahogany fur as the two eldest pups engaging their sidewalk sparring. "No runnin' this time, Bren..."

"Get off me, I'm not runnin'," the chubby pup grunts with a tinge of aggression. His domineering instincts to be the best among his pack was a constant trigger that was easily pulled. He and Aurora stumble slightly, their tiny barks drawing the attention of passing civilians who cooed and awed at the adorable display. Bucky remains tight-lipped, though there was an air of exasperation in his bemused expression. Since they arrived in Brooklyn 72 hours ago, Aurora and Brennen were about as aggressive in their fun as a band of Asgardians. Something Steve had pointed out just last night and Bucky couldn't appreciate till now. "Okay you two, knock it off, or we're not stopping for iced cream," Bucky warns, watching expectantly as the twins stumble off of each other and find their proper postures as if someone had hit a reset button. They traded glares with each other before putting up facades of innocence and remorse. Ah the puppy dog eyes, Bucky realized with a dry smirk. "Sorry, daddy. We'll behave," Brennen pipes up almost desperately. Despite how much he didn't like the city, there were a few things he was more than taken by—ice cream being at the top of the list, along with buttered popcorn and stuffed pillows.

Aurora's temperament alternated to less hostile furball, as she mastered the angelic visage of little sweetheart, really sugar coating it, with a docile wag of her stubby tail and girlish sulk. "S'orry, Daddy, we'll play nice..." She gazed up at Bucky, watching his eyebrows pinch into a taut furrow under the brim of his Dodger's baseball cap, the humid breeze flitted his wolfish strands of his heavy, stubbled jaw as he quirked his shapely lips into a jovial smirk, conveying his own playful spirit. Little Mattie snuggled against his boot, whimpering for him to scoop her up.

"I hope so, otherwise, Mattie and I hear are gonna get the whole share, isn't that right, little darlin?" Bucky coos while lifting the tiny pup into his arms who proceeded to nuzzle his neck and shoulder affectionately before burying herself into the warm and secure crook of his arm. Bucky chuckles before placing a sweet kiss on her head, her scent of vanilla and cinnamon easing his vexation and putting him into a casually fun mood. "What kind of ice cream you want, hm?" he beams down at her with a soft smile.

"Daddy, I wanna, um, the pink icy cream, plwease," Aurora chirped back demandingly, balancing on her four paws with balletic --wobbling graces, her intense starlit azure eyes gleaming with hunger anew while Mattie snuggled cozily over the cool metallic plates of Bucky's concealed robotic arm, the electronic pulse soothed down the worming tension in her belly, as she giggled in unison with her older sister. "Girls like the pink stuff, Daddy..."

"I want chocolate, daddy! Can I get my own bowl this time?! Can I?!" Brennen barks up excitedly, his tiny paws already quaking with savory anticipation of the sweet and delicious treat. When he had first discovered it, the wolfing nearly ate an entire bucket by himself. The ice cream headache that followed had been worth the rush coolness and the stuff of fulfillment. Staying in the city was worth it to the wolf pup as long as he had a daily fill of the tasty cold dessert. Bucky chuckled at the excitement of his two twins. He understood Brennen's addiction to ice-cream. There were times he caught himself drooling at the thought of a bowl of chocolate with peanut-butter moose tracks. "Okay okay, little guys. Just remember not to take too much in at once or you'll get headaches," Bucky softly chides as they resume their walk. "I'm sure you remember last time," he reminds them of the long night the twins spent whining into the night as if they had been robbed of their favorite toy. Neither he nor Steve slept that night.

A fussy squeak followed the maelstrom of playful yips, Mattie twisted her neck around and glared heatedly at her siblings, with her unwavering luminous coffee orbs, they disrupting her contentment. Barring her puppy fangs at Aurora, her mahogany furred bristled irritably as she nuzzled herself deeper into the sleeve that layered over Bucky's cybertronic arm, resting her tiny muzzle on the area where the chrome plates vibrated a soothing pulse. She wanted to sleep in her Daddy's cradling arms--nothing compared to his secured warmth, not even ice cream.

"It's all right, little darlin'," Bucky whispers to her knowingly, caressing the top of her head soothingly. He knew how much Mattie felt protected and safe in his embrace, as if nothing in the world could harm or even vex her. It had also been a long day, and he knew how much she wanted to be at home, drifting off to a warm and comfortable sleep while secured against the warm expanse of his chest. The thought was soothing to Bucky in itself, and it was also what he most looked forward to each night. "We'll be home soon enough," he tells her. In the sky, the afternoon sun had begun to drift towards the western horizon, giving the hint of nightfall soon to come. The family continues down a side-walk, turning a corner that would lead them down a less-busy street and where a local ice-cream parlor stood close-by. Few civilians wandered by from an apartment building. Their scents were a myriad of musky cologne, nicotine, lavender perfume, and leather. Before he had become a mountain direwolf, Bucky's sense of smell had never been so potent or empowering. While some scents were delightfully mouthwatering, like the smell of hot-dogs being sold by a vendor down the corner. There were other scents that triggered something predatorial within the man-wolf.

Approaching the crowd with caution measured in her paw steps, Aurora felt her nose scrunch up, instincts were steering her away from the shop, and towards a burgundy leafed maple tree rooted on the corner of the crosswalk. Scanning the area, with her glacial azure eyes, her lithe body tugged at the leash, with relentless momentum as she caught the phantom scent of something devious and arrogant within her proximity. Whimpering out a high pitch squeak, she thrust forward, trying to escape from the leash. "Daddy, let go, I smell somethin'," she urged, arching her weight up until she balanced on her hind paws. "I want it."

"Rora, settle down," Bucky reprimands her gently, not releasing his hold on the leash despite her sudden outburst. He roots himself once he feels Brennen begin to act up just as well as his sister, their strength together proving to be a surprising force while Bucky frowns in confusion. In his arm, he feels Mattie tense up but she had remarkably also raised her head to sniff at something unseen. Bucky wondered what was going in, as he notices Brennen raise his own muzzle and sniff aloud too. "Brennen? Rora? What's wrong?" He asks, looking around warily. He knew that in human form, his sense of smell wasn't as keen as his kids in their wolfling forms. He sees them staring up at the tree beside him that was as high as two stories. Whatever it was, it seemed to incite the young wolfling who releases a low growl, surprising Bucky. "Up there, daddy. You see him?!" Brennen barks, nearly hopping on his paws as he strains to get closer to the wooden bark. "Hey, ugly! I see you!" Brennen barks. "What are you two talking abo—" Flabbergasted, Bucky looks up…and his incredulous expression darkens into something captivated and primal. The blue of his eyes had become as intense as a storm as they glared, unblinkingly at a furry creature, perched on the branch of the tree high up, squeaking while at the same time wagging his chin at them mockingly. "Get down here, squirrel! You think you're so tough?! Let's see!" Brennen barks out, challengingly.

High in his branched perch, the lanky rodent furred in raven-black, flicked his bushy tail, almost daring Bucky to engage. His beady eyes gleamed with sconces of virulent, immortal green as he stared down at the ensorcelled beast machine, who looked so degraded--leashed- from his menacing and lethal visage of tactical garb, he almost squeaked in jest, at the roundness of pudge layered on Bucky's stubbled cheeks. 'Oh, what has become of you, dear James Barnes?" he whispered in a sinister, polished cadence, relishing it in pleasure. "Such a waste of mortality, but I can still have some fun with you..." The squirrel veered his gaze at a nut dangling loosely from a branch, and quickly whipped off, aiming for Bucky's head.

0 notes

traci20kitchen-blog · 7 years

Text

We realize what it's like if you are browsing a niche site with as much recipes as ours. Their brand new book does, indeed, have a France omelet recipe in it, but discover plenty more. Please tick if you would prefer to not receive news & special offers through Hearst Magazines UK. With dessert spoons place 12 mounds of meringue on parchment paper and cook for 20 minutes, or till a cake tester comes out thoroughly clean. There are lots of variations on the dessert(s) : some use soft caramel for the sauce, other use toasted or even caramelized almonds on top. About this recipe: Floating island destinations, or île flottante, are a traditional French pud consisting of little more compared to vanilla-scented custard with floating atmosphere of meringue. Oh, I enjoy Floating Islands and have an show planned for HAL with a vanilla recipe that I want to scent along with something delicate. Now, by clicking on 'Save this recipe' or 'I cooked this' on any of our own recipes, they'll be saved and arranged into your personal online recipe guide. This is very comparable to a recipe my grandmother utilized to make in the 60's which was in the Better Homes and Garden recipe book called Susan's Snow Pudding. So , in the recipe We listed honey amounts that I really used, but feel free to cut back on the particular amounts if you also prefer sweets on the less-sweet side. There are a few key procedure for making this recipe, but it is actually simpler than it looks, and you can actually make the recipe in stages based on your schedule during this busy time of the year. When I has been growing up in the Hungarian part of Romania this was the standard birthday party dessert regarding children. Raúl Musibay: A lot of fancy United states restaurants used to serve this delicacy in the 1950's. One day i was sitting in a bistro, having completed yet another wonderful dish when I spotted île flottante on the dessert menu. I was working in Greater london at the time and my dad had arrive at visit me. We spent week travelling around the UK before taking Eurostar in order to Paris. The end result is a dessert that takes a couple of hours of your time, but it rewards significantly. This is a recipe in which our own simple refrigerator basic, a carton of whole milk, is dressed in pearls, gilded in gold, and delivered to the ball. When you click either of these control keys it will also tell your friends on Fb what you've been cooking or even saving so they too can give our own quick and easy recipes a go (but you are able to turn this off at any time by going to your ' My recipe guide ' page). To make traditional floating islands, a person poach your meringue in whole milk, but this vegan meringue failed to do well when I dropped it to the pan. Easily knew you were making desserts such as the floating island, I'd renew our marriage vows =) Tee hee. For the Floating Island: Butter 4 3- to 4-ounce/85- to 115-milliliter ramekins. For a social gathering dessert option that looks elegant and tastes out of this world, create these individual floating islands immediately. Ah, the pleasures associated with producing an old fashioned dessert within the old fashioned way. TIP You could spread the whipped up egg white wines with cocoa powder, dried fresh fruits or caramel (caramel butter wedding floating island dessert philippines cake recipe N° 217). Floating Islands along with Black Currant Sauce Recipe © 2008 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Once you have made the custard using our own classic custard recipe, pour the particular custard into a shallow pan plus bring to a simmer. Floating islands were constantly on the dessert menu, and I purchased them every time. 1 day we were sitting in a bistro, getting finished yet another wonderful dish once i spotted île flottante on the dessert menus. This will be challenging recipe I really hope some of you make this beautiful treat.. I know you can do it! As an antidote to this crazed, fast-paced frenzy, I decided to invest this stormy Sunday afternoon creating a classic (and always gluten free) yet time consuming dessert and to enjoy the manual labor involved. In the 1957 movie Table Set, Katharine Hepburn's character Rabbit Watson served Richard Sumner (Spencer Tracy) floating island dessert. The moment I started reading this I noticed it was the same as my grandmother's formula for Floating Island! But , I have to state, despite the deflation, this recipe wowed my teenagers and there's very little that I do that reaches that amount of appreciation. I'm going to be a bit more ample with my rating of this formula than most other cooks here.

I have yet in order to dare Floating Islands, but I truly should dive right in. This particular chocolate version is fabulous plus might just get me doing it. These small floating islands of egg white wines and sugar on a pool associated with custard are a classic and tasty dessert. Add a tablespoon associated with candied fruit in the ramekin associated with floating island and refrigerate. You'll have a lot more sauce than you need for this formula; leftovers can be served with angel food cake or used as being a base for homemade ice cream. Once cool, put the crème Anglaise into person dishes and place the meringue island destinations carefully on top so that they float. This recipe has been provided to you by a Thermomix ® customer and has not been examined by Vorwerk Thermomix ® or even Thermomix ® in Australia and Brand new Zealand. You can possibly serve this as one large suspended island by pouring the custard into a deep dish, setting the particular meringue atop and then drizzling the particular caramel over the meringue or you can assist individually by cutting the meringue into wedges and serving upon small dessert plates. I would include that I thought the resulting treat was a little too sweet, yet I acknowledge that my nice tolerance is lower than most. In the end these years, I still keep in mind how good that very first Floating Isle was. This dessert is perfect if you elegant looking like a culinary queen at the next dinner party, or if you extravagant making a yummy treat for yourself. Turn suspended islands out onto a foil-lined tray, scatter tops evenly along with caster sugar and caramelise having a blowtorch. So I was producing floating island and commenting your pet about its origin, telling your pet that it has different names in various countries. The tart raspberries using the creamy custard and burnt sugars topping makes for a perfect dessert -- light and rich! The recipe can make more biscuits than you'll need right here, but they keep for two weeks.

0 notes

mypetshopworld · 4 years

Text

How do you crate train a puppy? Easy and force-free steps to an obedient dog.

How To Crate Train A Puppy?

When do you decide to introduce a new member like a puppy to the household you need to decide on who is doing the training with the puppy? Especially when you decided to use a crate for your puppy. So how do you crate train a puppy without the feeling you put a puppy into a cage.

Puppies and dogs should go through a training program with you, and this is important for you and your puppy or dog to get to know each other and form a bond. Bonding is essential for a good dog and owner relationship. Read my blog Tips for first-time dog owners. Crate Training for puppies or dogs is different and it can take a while to accept that your dog or puppy likes the crate and you have to move away from the thought that a crate is a cage. Crates for dogs are available in different shapes and sizes and some are really beautiful and fit easily into your home without spoiling the interior look.

The second step...Do you want to crate train your puppy?

Keeping your puppy safe with Crate Training.

If you are a first-time pet parent than you should know a crate is actually a safe place where you can keep your puppy safe from household hazards. I know that look, but every experienced pet parent knows a puppy can do and will destroy everything it can bite, chew, tear, rip or what so ever. Nothing is safe. Not even your shoes... Our puppies, when they are young, ate and chew all the shoes most of the time they chew the heel off. Crate training will also make the potty training of your puppy easier. You have to see it in a different way, you are not using a crate to punish your puppy or dog. You do not abuse the crate in a way where he is locked in permanent no you are using it to give it a place where he can withdraw and feel safe and comfortable. There are lots of household hazard in the house and crate training is a practical decision. (read my blog how to successfully potty train your puppy) Question: Is crate training cruel ... I don't want to lock my puppy in a cage. Answer: No it isn't. When it is done in the right way the crate training is a great way to keep your puppy safe. You have to change your perspective it is not a cage unless you plan to lock your dog in there for 8 hours and more.

Plan Ahead and decide on the size of the crate for your puppy or dog.

Before bringing the puppy home make some preparations. First, choose the right size crate for your puppy. Consider the breed and the size when your puppy is fully grown. The crate should not be too big. Consider that during the puppy grows you might have to change the crate to a bigger one. So don't spend too much on it. (Crates to consider) You can resell that crate at a later time or pass it on to a pet shelter. The puppy also needs a bed. It is essential to buy for your puppy a super comfy bed, and a water bowl. Note that the puppy should be standing up without banging his head when he tries to drink from his water bowl. Ideally, the crate should be big enough that the puppy can turn around easily and lie down with his legs stretched out. If you can get hold of a blanket that he used before or smells of the mother dog. If the puppy is a shelter dog please ask the shelter to give you the blanket he used before. ( do not wash the blanket) Place the blanket inside the crate before he comes to his new home. The smell of the blanket will give him comfort and security when he arrives in his new home. There are different crates available in wood what fits your furniture or wire crates.

Find a good place and decide where to put the crate.

You have to decide on a place for the crate. You can not continuously move the crate around. It has to stay there so if you live in a 4 season country think about it, in summer it should be cool and in winter warm. You have to find a place where the crate is connected to the family. Do not put the crate into an isolated area, your puppy will not be happy and properly will avoid the crate. ( Brain training for dogs, train your dog at home) A puppy or a dog want the connection with the family but said this make sure the place where you put the crate is also not too noisy or busy, a place where the puppy or dog can rest quietly. Putting the crate in a corner of the lounge room is a good idea, where your puppy can see the family watching TV but he has his own space. I would not recommend the laundry room, as your puppy might than avoid the crate and will never go in the crate willingly. Remember it should be a place that your dog or puppy feels safe. Download our free ebook "For the love of dogs" Click here

He might also bark as your pup can not see you. Be aware puppies are scared easily and being alone in the laundry room when the spin cycle goes on from the washing machine or the dryer might frighten him. Choose an area what is comfortable and not too far away from the family interaction.

Puppy Crate Training Do’s and Don’ts

I like to comment here before you buy an expensive dog from a breeder please think to adopt a dog. ( Soi Dog Foundation)

It is time getting started with Puppy Crate Training.

So you already put the few tasty treats chewy bone and toys into the crate. Now show your puppy where they are. Now when your puppy is not looking take the chewy bone, move it hide it in another place. The same goes for the treats hide them in a different place of the crate. The whole idea behind this exercise is that your puppy will link the crate to discovering the treats and snacks. You will see that every now and then your puppy will break off from play to walk into the crate if there are more treats your puppy haven't discovered yet. For your puppy, it is like magic. A good idea is to put his favourite toy into the crate. Sit with your puppy and play with him when he is inside the crate ( of course with the door open) change the toys around so there is always something new to discover. Puppies love to chew, buy a new chewy bone put it in the crate and make him look for the bone. Dogs love this challenge. How many times they bury their new bone in the blankets for later joy. A crate can when done right a real joy and safe haven for puppies and dogs. If it happens that your puppy poops into the crate do not shout and get upset, be calm remove it and praise him for it. Don't praise him too much as he might change it and do it each time just to get attention. That is exactly what you don't want. Be aware after eating puppies normally want to poop so bring them outside to their spot for doing his business. Try feeding your puppy in the crate. While things pick up the pace eating is a distraction briefly shut the door and leave it closed 2 minutes and then open it again. If it went well gradually extend the amount of time with the door shut. Remember your puppy will be distracted while eating and not notice that the door is shut. If he looks up and is quiet praise him if he starts to whimper ignore him.

Soon as he whimpers stop and praise him then open the door. Your puppy is learning that good, quiet behaviour is getting rewarded and that crying and winching gets him nothing. Brain training for dogs. Best way to train your dog now. Dogs learn fast and can turn the training into a challenge, just make sure that you train your puppy and not the other way around that your puppy is training you. With time your puppy will become more relaxed and accepts the closed door. Move away a little bit from the crate. Praise him for his good behaviour and let him out once he is calm. Go step by step moving away further and increasing the minutes the puppy is in the crate. As the training progress starts to leave the room and only return when your puppy has calm down again. It takes patience and endeavours to train a puppy and there will be ups and downs. Never train a puppy if you do not have enough time to go through the process. Rushing a training session will backfire on you.

A Reminder On How Long To Leave Your Puppy In The Crate

A puppy is a puppy a loyal living being...

One big BUT to consider... A puppy needs a lot of time, love, attention and stimulation. A puppy should also socialise with other dogs and puppies. Do not leave a dog any dog or puppy unattended in a crate for more than 4 hours at a time. You want your puppy to love the crate and not start resenting it. A puppy left to long along can develop separation anxiety. Having a puppy is a responsibility and a puppy loves to chew things so be prepared. Do also regular check-up with the vet so that your puppy is wagging his tail by having a healthy and happy puppy. A puppy will grow up and will be a dog, it is like a child becomes an adult. Don't buy or get a puppy if you can not commit yourself to the lifetime of a dog. Dogs depend on the breed can become quite old. Some dogs can have an old age up to 23 years. Our family dog a mix match was 26 years old when he died. I will never forget him, he was a loyal companion to us kids and I loved growing up with pets. Conclusion: Remember that taking your puppy out for a walk before and after time spent in the crate will allow your puppy to get rid of the excess energy and will help with housebreaking. Puppies should not have a collar for walking with a leash, use a harness that is a much better solution and you can control your puppy better without your puppy getting hurt. A fact is that dogs do not go to the bathroom in the same place or spot where they eat and sleep. Leave your puppy only in a crate for as long it can hold his bladder or poop. Remember the rule of thumb. (Puppy age in the month equals hours plus one) When your puppy is out of the crate immediately take your puppy to his special potty spot.

Praise your puppy for doing its business and give it treats to reward its behaviour. Dogs especially puppies are smart and quickly associate good behaviour with rewards. Brain training for dogs. The best training to train your dog at home, Older Dogs can spend four to five hours in their crate, while puppies under six month should only be in the crated for two hours maximum. Longer hours in the crate could lead for puppies and adult dogs to anxiety, depression and discomfort. It is important to differentiate your dogs whining between whining for attention or whining for going to the bathroom. Even when a puppy or dog is comfortable in their crate it does not mean you can skip their walk. That all depends on your puppy and your last feed and walk. If it becomes 2.30 a.m walks get a potty train green grass indoor mat. How do you crate train a puppy or dog is important as this will reflect later in his adult stage. Crate training can be a very pleasant experience but as said before do not forget to socialise your puppy with other dogs and puppies it is an important lesson for your puppy to learn to get along with other dogs. All Yours Melanie Do you have you a dog and your dog loves his crate? Share with us how do you crate train a puppy. Tell us the biggest challenge you faced with crate training. What are your experiences and does your puppy or dog loves the crate? Please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading our blog, have a beautiful day. Download our free ebook "For the love of dogs " Click here

Read the full article

#bestdogfood #BrainTrainingfordogs #ChristinaRicci–SherriffMiniaturePinscher #cleverdogtraining #crate #cratetraining #dogbreed #doggy #dogtraining #foldablecrates #Love #MeganandHarrywhichdogtheylike #outdoorcrates #outdoorplaypens #pottyspot #puppiesandsocialising #success #supermananddogs

0 notes