Fredericiansk kajakpolospiller drømmer om at komme på landsholdet

Fredericiansk kajakpolospiller drømmer om at komme på landsholdet

Den fredericianske kajakpolospiller Marius Berndt Larsen har været til U21 VM. Nu er han blevet for gammel til ungdomsholdet, og drømmer om på sigt at komme på seniorlandsholdet. I Kanalbyen er der opsat to mål, og det med god grund. Der kan Marius og co. spille kajakpolo, men det er dog ikke der han spiller til dagligt, hvor han spiller i Silkeborg for at spile på et højere niveau, end man kan…

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2023/byizoyas.

EVENT DURATION: oct. 1st - oct. 31

TAGLIST: open, ask anytime to be added. + you can ask to be tagged for a specific day only, several days, or for each work of the event; as you prefer! :)

PROGRAM: tears of themis (4) ; genshin impact (20) ; honkai star rail (8)

all fics are written with a fem!reader.

fics rated E might contain triggering content. therefore please read the warning on top of the post before reading.

LEVEL 1.

DAY 01 ϟ phone sex (danheng) DAY 02 ϟ stripping (xiao) DAY 03 ϟ spanking (dainsleif) DAY 04 ϟ food play (luke) DAY 05 ϟ shower sex (thoma) DAY 06 ϟ sensory deprivation (vyn) DAY 07 ϟ face sitting (kazuha) DAY 08 ϟ hate sex (childe) DAY 09 ϟ marking (cyno) DAY 10 ϟ mutual masturbation (tighnari)

LEVEL 2.

DAY 11 ϟ public (sampo) DAY 12 ϟ dirty talk (lyney) DAY 13 ϟ virginity (gepard) DAY 14 ϟ toys (luo cha) DAY 15 ϟ mirror sex (kaveh) DAY 16 ϟ praise kink (neuvilette) DAY 17 ϟ choking (alhaitham) DAY 18 ϟ size kink (diluc) DAY 19 ϟ fem!dom (artem) DAY 20 ϟ edging + begging (nanook)

LEVEL 3.

DAY 21 ϟ aphrodisiacs (albedo) E DAY 22 ϟ daddy kink (wriothesley) DAY 23 ϟ degradation kink (scaramouche) DAY 24 ϟ teacher/student (zhongli) E DAY 25 ϟ face fucking (marius) DAY 26 ϟ bondage (pantalone) DAY 27 ϟ dacryphilia (dottore) DAY 28 ϟ overstimulation (welt) DAY 29 ϟ pegging (kaeya) DAY 30 ϟ prostitution (ayato) E

FINAL LEVEL.

DAY 31 ϟ threesome (blade + jing yuan)

Incomplete collection of Marius lore

suggestions for additions are welcome, but it MUST HAVE A SOURCE

overview 

He is the ship’s medic[1]/ship’s doctor[3], plays fiddle and has a mechanised right arm[1].

backstory 

He is neither a baron nor a doctor[3][5]; ‘Baron’ is a corruption of his original name, Byron von Raum[2][5].

Marius has a sister called Dorothea, and they were raised by a single nonbinary parent. Marius doesn’t remember their name or face, and knows them only as Zeze[6].

It is strongly implied that Marius was not mechanised by Dr Carmilla [7].

Marius is 5’5 and very skinny. This is apparently because he came from a world that is ‘somewhat medieval in its nutrition levels’ and Marius was not a healthy child. [14]

He piloted a mecha called KISMET. She was 5-6 storeys tall and slightly insectoid, like a dragonfly or butterfly. [17]

‘The control pod’s entirely in the head, which allows the internal control rig to right itself like a ball bearing, keeping the pilot upright whether she’s standing on the ground, hovering, flying horizontally, banking sharply or even rolling.’ [17]

The mecha is not meelee-oriented. [17]

time with the mechanisms 

Drumbot Brian said that ‘given that we're immortal and don't need a doctor, it's the job we're most comfortable giving Marius, and it keeps him busy’ and also that he ‘frequently tries to psychoanalyze inanimate objects’ [5]

His mechanism was ‘probably botched’ and he has a ‘tenuous grasp on reality’[2] 

According to Jonny, he grew a beard presumably around 08/02/2014 ‘almost instantaneously, and without warning’ and was apparently ‘very upset’ and ‘said he’d been holding it in for decades and just that momentary lapse of concentration as I kneecapped him had ruined all his hard work’[8]

He once dressed up as the Toy Soldier for a halloween concert [9]

Drumbot Brian once responded to someone asking how the mechanisms were by describing marius as ‘mad’[10]

The Aurora describes Marius as ‘the broken doctor’ [16]

songs/albums

He had a planned lecture on the psyche of the olympians, but this was cancelled[11]

He helped Ashes install at a minimum the camera in Ulysses’ vault in UDAD, though he does not remember this[4]

Apparently, ‘Marius spent his time on Fort Galfridian sitting at the porthole for days staring into the sun because he didn't realise it was supposed to be unbearable, and now the Ghouls think he's some sort of prophet’ [12]

In The Bifrost Incident, Marius does not know where he got the violin - in fact, he doesn’t even realise he’s holding it until Lyf points it out [15]

death

Marius was always skeptical of the crew’s immortality and was less surprised to meet his end. ‘One day, at something of a loose end, he will decide to check on the octokittens. Unfortunately, the purring horde has not been fed in many decades, and devours him, head to toe, in 11.7 seconds.’ [13]

Jonny is implied to have already witnessed Marius’ death before the final concert; he says ‘11.7 seconds. At least, by my watch.’ [13]

In Marius’ death, tunes from ‘Blood and Whiskey’ and ‘Favoured Son’ can be heard [13].

[1] Mechanisms Marius von Raum Available at: https://themechanisms.com/the-crew/marius-von-raum/ Last accessed: 11/01/24

[2] Young (2020) Future Projects: The Death of Byron von Raum (spoiler free) Available at: https://kofiyoung.com/2020/07/25/future-projects-the-death-of-byron-von-raum-spoiler-free/ Last accessed: 11/01/24

[3] Revenge of Spaceport Mahon

[4] Mechanisms Eskhatos Available at: https://themechanisms.com/fiction/eskhatos/ Last accessed: 11/01/24

[5] Below (2013) Why do immortals need a ship doctor? Available at:  https://www.tumblr.com/the-mechanisms/58736308596/why-do-immortals-need-a-ship-doctor-i-need-an Last accessed: 11/01/24

[6] Young (2023) Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/neitherabaron/727612334921678848/holding-checklist-titled-qualities-to-kill Last accessed: 11/01/24

[7] Rasputina (2013) Where'd you folks pick up Marius and Raphiella? Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/the-mechanisms/58960694562/whered-you-folks-pick-up-marius-and-raphiella Last accessed: 11/01/24

[8] Sims (2014) Ingratitude Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/the-mechanisms/75995731661/ingratitude Last accessed: 11/01/24

[9] wickedacephotos (2013) The Mechanisms at The Cellar, 29 Oct 2013, for Halloween with Polar Patterns Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/wickedacephotos/65528149745/wickedacephotos-the-mechanisms-at-the-cellar Last accessed: 11/01/24

[10] Below (2013) Hooray for questions! Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/the-mechanisms/58734952128/i-apologize-that-i-didnt-ask-a-question-to-make Last accessed: 12/01/24

[11] The Mechanisms Ulysses Dies at Dawn Available at: https://themechanisms.bandcamp.com/album/ulysses-dies-at-dawn Last accessed: 12/01/24

[12] thedreadvampy (2020) Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/thedreadvampy/624522490768736256/i-feel-like-i-should-clarify-because-it-does-at Last accessed: 12/01/24

[13] The Mechanisms (2020) Death to the Mechanisms Available at: https://themechanisms.bandcamp.com/album/death-to-the-mechanisms Last accessed: 12/01/24

[14] thedreadvampy (2020) Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/thedreadvampy/630817295229468672/so-i-am-absolutely-going-to-go-draw-tim-with Last accessed: 12/01/24

[15] thedreadvampy (2020) Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/thedreadvampy/631436135234699264/you-dont-need-to-awnser-this-because-i-am-lore Last accessed: 12/01/24

[16] themechanisms A Bedtime Story Available at: https://themechanisms.com/fiction/ghost-in-the-machine/ Last accessed: 06/03/24

[17] Young (2023) Available at: https://www.tumblr.com/neitherabaron/708247931183153152 Last accessed: 11/04/24

To do:

not yet added Marius’ dttm dialogue

may add more detail to what is contained in expert testimony

could probably add detail on things seen doing in photos, e.g. Marius playing rock paper scissors with TS. (are photoshoots canon? I assume so)

[3] missing a link

wow did I really miss pilchard. I will Get To It at some point maybe

does anyone have the his arm is like a fungus post link handy

perhaps more backstory info from byron

https://x.com/neitherabaron/status/1231124594544783361?s=20

https://x.com/neitherabaron/status/1231604579529302018?s=20

numbers are ordered mostly in when I added the source rather than order of appearance as I have moved things around a lot. as above this is very incomplete and I don’t have the willpower to update this now maybe I will later. I’m just uploading it now since someone wanted marius lore

lost in translation (ch 11, part 1) + some misc observations

a (non-exhaustive) list of differences i noted down for the translation of chapter 11 (part 1) while watching the chn and eng versions side-by-side. previously i did the same thing for chapter 9 and chapter 10. this also includes random comments and observations i had during this chapter.

disclaimer: i am not fluent in chinese, so keep in mind that there will be mistakes. feel free to let me know if you have questions, concerns, or comments. any alternate translations are my own, and are often especially literal (to show the difference between eng/chn).

Overall: Still nothing I’d consider egregious (ruinous to plot or character). Some omission of noncritical phrases in Chinese, like before. One thing I noticed more of is that the phrasing in English sometimes makes a line ambiguous or confusing, while the intention of the sentence in Chinese was much clearer. I have a few examples of these below; usually you can understand it using context clues, but I’m curious to know if other people noticed the issues when just reading in English. There were also some word choices that just felt a little… awkward? (It’s not here, but a few times when the word “grunt” was used…)

11-01

This may be a reference to Jerome's "preoccupation" with his age, like when he wanted to be called an older brother rather than an uncle (see my prev chapter translation comparisons). However, on second thought, this entire thing of his may be another nod to the idea of the pursuit of eternal youth and longevity? But honestly this is just a thought that crossed my mind, I don't really think that's the intention of the writers.

Based on the Chinese, it seems like Reina is older and Matthew is the younger brother.

The English could be interpreted as a hypothetical question, while the Chinese has Matthew directly saying that Vyn is unwanted. (Upon rereading, this is very minor and I would have left this entry out, but I already had the screenshot so I'll just put it here anyway.)

The Underling refers to Matthew using the suffix for people like presidents of companies (as he is a businessman). (Nothing wrong with the translation here, just again pointing out extra info that can be gleaned from the Chinese text.)

11-02

Marius refers to Matthew also with the same suffix.

This section also contains some references to Marius's previous stories:

Vyn was threatened with being locked dark space, which echoes one of Marius's childhood experiences (mentioned in his "In the Darkness" SSR and his blossom personal story, chapter 4)

Marius still can't hold his liquor, which we first saw in "Fabulous Feast" SSR

Ideally, this fear can extend into another thing --

"Of your own accord" gives the feeling of doing something of your own initiative, and voluntarily. The word used in the original text also implies that the thing was done secretly and/or without permission.

11-06

That last sentence felt like a mild warning, in which I could hear several inexplicably complicated emotions.

So the "complicated emotions" are on Vyn's side, not on Rosa's.

11-08

Rosa paints a very specific simile here but I'm honestly not quite sure what it's supposed to imply or if it's referencing something so I'm just going to put this here for reference. The literal translation says it's as if Marius "has hung a ring of keys at his waist and then forcibly drank 5 kg of puer tea".

11-09

[...] Even from the other end of the call, you can feel the embarrassment quietly spreading.

Not necessarily wrong, but the English sentence could almost be interpreted as the embarrassment is spreading throughout the phone, which doesn’t make sense and could cause a moment of confusion.

11-11

Dr. Richter, you haven’t chosen to believe anyone either, have you?

Note that in Chinese it’s not specified that Rosa is referring to “them” (the suspects in the case). It could usually be interpreted that way from context, but using “anyone” preserves ambiguity in Vyn’s response (i.e. it’s possible that Rosa or NXX are included in those that Vyn says he doesn’t trust).

(Sidenote: The beginning of the chapter emphasized the role of surveillance on NXX’s current actions. Therefore, Vyn might not trust anyone, or he might simply be saying what he wants other people to believe. It’s interesting to note that Marius, on the other hand, openly told Vincent in 11-08 that Rosa is the only one he trusts. Which, again, is likely influenced by the possibility of surveillance.)

11-13

After all, there is no way to detect psychological damage. Sometimes the parties involved are themselves not even aware of it.

11-15

By the time your mind has caught up with the situation, you had already placed yourself in his way without a moment’s hesitation.

I probably made more changes than necessary or literal, but it was to convey the feeling more. Then again, this may be one of those lines that seem fine to other people and I'm just stuck on my own knee-jerk impression of the English translation.

I think the English tries to convey "不暇思索地" with the phrase "you find yourself". However, this combined with the opening clause gave the impression that Rosa got caught up in the flurry of confusion, then just happened to find herself standing between Vyn and Darius. In Chinese, "不暇思索地" means something like “without thinking, without hesitation, without a second thought”. It adds a sense of instinctive protectiveness to Rosa’s action, which comes across in later lines of the English translation but I felt was lost in this line. This line was one of the most character-relevant issues I noticed in this chapter.

He looks over at you with rather undisguised astonishment.

11-16

Afterwards, he leaves them with a half-true threat.

Adds a little more playfulness to how he's threatening them with a lawsuit from Rosa.

If she were truly just a perpetrator, they [people online] would have pixelated the photos to prevent anyone from coming after her.

Subject issue, since it wasn’t explicitly stated in the sentence and it’s implied from the previous line.

11-20

Yeah, but I don’t want to answer that directly to your face just yet.

Probably nitpicky and most likely doesn't matter, but I’m going to point out the details since this seems like a foreshadow-y line.

Then he releases his foot and smiles seemingly gently at the young man.

Most of the time the “seemingly” can be (and is) left out in translation, but I think it’s better to keep it here since Vyn probably isn’t actually being gentle.

11-21

Look man, we didn’t do anything. We’re not gonna go asking for trouble.

Contributes to the idea that Luke’s best course of action is just not getting involved this whole incident and continuing with his work.

…No, even names that haven’t been carefully considered can bear meaning.

Thoughtful = “having a lot of thought put into it” would be fine here, but I feel that the more colloquial interpretation of thoughtful (“kind, compassionate”) would be strange since giving Albie a name is itself said to be a kind action. In Chinese, the word used specifically means carefully considering, deliberating, etc.

...you never directed your thoughts toward that direction.

Actually, I don’t think this would be considered an error in translation. I think the metaphorical phrasing is just almost opposite between eng and chn so it stood out to me. In chn it's more like thinking further in that direction; in eng, it’s more like finding a new position to position yourself, then view the situation and do your thinking from that angle.

I also have an analysis post about Albie's name which also involves comparison across eng/chn! Anyway, thanks for reading this far and feel free to let me know your thoughts ^^

NXX Turns Into Cat - Part 5 (Rosa-nyan)

NXX members turning into a cat. Such fun!

Last part in the series. Sorry for the delayed posting, eheh...

Previous chapters

Pt 01 - Meowrius | Pt 02 - Vynyaa | Pt 03 - Lukemeow | Pt 04 - Nyaartem

Piercing green cat eyes warily peered at the doctor, from the shadows.

“Rosa?” The doctor called out to her, his voice low and soothing, as if he were addressing his (secretly) beloved colleague. “I am not going to hurt you…” His hand remained outstretched towards her, letting the cat decide whether to approach him or not. “Rosa…come here?”

“ Mrowr ,” came her reluctant meow. She tentatively approached the doctor, until she was close enough to brush his fingers with her nose. “Nya.” Vyn carefully bent his fingers to rub her chin, but the small, affectionate gesture earned him a firm bite on his hand. Wincing, Vyn stamped down his reflex to pull his hand away, not even to remove it from her small yet feisty jaw. “Go ahead, bite me all you want,” he murmured, his lips twisted in a wry, pained grin.

“Hah! Serves you right,” Marius chuckled at the painful sight of teeth digging into Vyn’s flesh. “Missy Kitty hates you. Aw. Aren’t you sad?” The thick layer of schadenfreude was unmistakable.

“Fuck off, Marius.” Vyn said, his voice still as placid as a quiet stream; his soft, gentle smile still pristine on his face. 

Tears of Themis - The new dynamic invitation

✦ Holding hands for a long journey, making memories into poetry

⚠️ invitation Spoiled from Chinese server

จับมือกัน ออกเดินทางไกล สร้างความทรงจำราวบทกวี

เกมสืบสวนสอบสวนโรแมนซ์ Tears of Themis - เพิ่มภาพหน้าจอใหม่ อัพเดตเวอร์ชัน 3.1 ผ่านบทที่ 4 ตอน 2 เพื่อปลดล็อค

Game: Tears of Themis

Version: 3.1

Start: February 23 (Chinese server)

the Big Data Center Outstanding Contribution Reward System is officially launched Complete the main story 04-02 for Unlocked

✦ DYNAMIC INVITATION

💛 LUKE : WARMTH OF SUNGLOW

XiaYan CV: Titus Jin (金弦)

❤️ ARTEM : CERULEAN RADIANCE ZuoRan CV: Zhao Lu (赵路)

💚 VYN : ENCHANTING LIGHTS MoYi CV: Jiang Guangtao (姜广涛)

💜 MARIUS : BASKING IN LOVE LuJinghe CV: Yang Tianxiang (杨天翔)

✦ TEARS OF THEMIS

Title : Tears Of Themis

By: miHoYo

Languages: English, S-Chinese, T-Chinese, Japanese, Korean

Platform: iOS, Android

✦  OFFICIAL SITE Global: https://tot.mihoyo.com Chinese: https://wd.mihoyo.com Taiwanese: https://tot.tw.mihoyo.com/tw

bingo!

// might be spoilerish! mentions scenes from chapter 2 (02-04)

finally playing luke’s personal story today since i caught up to main yesterday! thought it’d be nice to do luke’s since he’s the ML in the next main story update and i’ve been meaning to get to his anyway.

i absolutely love his story so far 😭 he has taken marius’s crown of having the funniest PS. (episode 4 of artem’s will always be superior tho LMAO)

i adore Aaron. if they made the escape room for reasons that i think, that is the funniest shit ever. the clocks took me out and luke’s face 😭 also “future” being on the envelope, like it probably is bc it’s supposed to be a “futuristic” (or something) type of escape room but luke in a room abt time and the word future just made me ugly cry & laugh the most 💀🤭

also seeing bits and pieces of the past has me in shambles. one thing i LOVE abt his PS is it bringing out my angsty loving self. if you put fluff or angst/no comfort in front of me, i’d pick fluff in a heartbeat but if you put fluff or luke pearce angst/fluff/slow burn/open ending/possible happy ending infront of me, guess what i’m grabbing?

that’s right, the fluf- i’m kidding. it’s just so good like angst be making me giggle thru my tears 😭 like i’m really eating his suffering up and i’m sorry but ily 🥹

he’s so cute tho, like playing his story is reminding me why i loved him in the beginning and how my heart will always have a safe space for him 🫂

short anniversary talk under ->

OH! how is saving for second anniversary going? 🤭 i’m debating if i should pull for 1st anni cards (artem & luke! sorry vyn) or just keep saving… might do the latter. i think depending on how 3rd anni cards are looking, next year i’ll try and pull for the first cards but i wanna try and get all the second cards. IF NOT ALL I NEED MARIUS, LUKE AND VYN 😭😭 first and second anniversary wanters will be havers!! (third too!!) my saving is getting there…

make sure you play personal stories and cards to get extra s-chips! do your dailies and weeklies too :) good luck everyone 💜

Papa and J----, August ‘34 Update

Author: shadowsong26

Rating: PG/PG-13

Fandom: Les Misérables

Characters: Technically all on-page characters are OCs; Valjean, Cosette, Marius, and Javert are discussed as historical personalities. Backstory Cosette/Marius and heavily implied Valjean/Javert.

Warnings: Nothing specific, I don’t think?

Summary: Euphrasie Pontmercy–known in the art world as La Jardinière–isn’t exactly a household name. Still, the sheer length of her active career (her work was first displayed and sold in 1839, and she left one last work unfinished at her death in 1910) makes her interesting to people who actually study that century in art. But as far as the historical record is concerned, Jardinière seems to have sprung semi-fully-formed from the streets of Paris somewhere in the mid-to-late 1820s. Other than the fact that she was educated in a convent, essentially nothing is known about her parents or her childhood.

Until now.

Or:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a PhD student with no thesis topic must be in want of an undiscovered painting to go absolutely feral over.

Disclaimer: All characters are the property of their respective creators.

Notes: Chapter 2! Admittedly a little infodumpy, but let’s be real, would this really be a Victor Hugo fanfic if I didn’t have at least one?

Updates will be posted here on Thursdays and crossposted to AO3 on Fridays.

From: Wright, Ari To: McLean, Emma Thesis proposal Saturday, 1/24, 1:14 AM

Hi, Emma,

So, I may want to change direction. Pretty radically. Is it too late to do that?

Thanks!

Ari

-----

From: McLean, Emma To: Wright, Ari Re: Thesis proposal Monday, 1/26, 8:32 AM

That depends. How big a change are we talking?

Emma McLean, PhD Professor, 19th Century French Art

-----

From: Wright, Ari To: McLean, Emma Re: Thesis proposal Monday, 1/26, 9:54 AM

Well. Hypothetically. If I may have hypothetically found an early--mid-30s--Jardinière portrait. One of the subjects may or may not be identified as her father. That. Hypothetically.

Ari

-----

From: McLean, Emma To: Wright, Ari Re: Thesis proposal Monday, 1/26, 10:35 AM

Authentic? Show me the painting.

Emma McLean, PhD Professor, 19th Century French Art

-----

From: Wright, Ari To: McLean, Emma Re: Thesis proposal Monday, 1/26, 10:38 AM

See attached photos. Taken with my phone sorry about the quality. Inscription looks like her tho doesn’t it?

Ari

Sent from my iPhone

-----

From: McLean, Emma To: Wright, Ari Re: Thesis proposal Monday, 1/26, 10:45 AM

How soon can you get it here for authentication

Emma McLean, PhD Professor, 19th Century French Art

-----

From: Wright, Ari To: McLean, Emma Re: Thesis proposal Monday, 1/26, 10:47 AM

Owners are out of town, but expected back later today or tmrw, I’ll get in touch about borrowing it ASAP.

Sent from my iPhone

-----

From: McLean, Emma To: Wright, Ari Re: Thesis proposal Monday, 1/26, 11:02 AM

Do that. If it is what you think it is, absolutely. Write the thesis.

If you don’t, I will.

Emma McLean, PhD Professor, 19th Century French Art

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

I spent most of that weekend, while I was waiting for Emma--my thesis advisor--to get back to me, pulling together everything I had on hand about La Jardinière and figuring out my next steps. I don’t think I slept for like forty hours.

Unfortunately, what I had on hand wasn’t all that much. I’d done some basic research into her--like I told Phil, the fact that her career lasted as long as it did made her interesting to me. My focus had more been on the relationship between technology and art (and not just the basic stuff, like the advent of photography, but things like changes in travel and communications technology, in available pigments, and so on), but a painter with a seventy-year career, including most of the period I was interested in, was definitely at least worth looking into.

Still, it had only been a basic overview, not much more than you’d find on her Wikipedia page.

Well, actually, it kind of was more than you’d find on her wiki page, which is pretty sparse. Just covering the basics, noting that she: was born around 1815; died September 18, 1910; was married to Marius Pontmercy, a lawyer and sometime radical; and was the mother of Thierry Pontmercy, a pioneer in the field of forensic photography, along with his four less-famous siblings. Also the fact that her work was first displayed and sold in 1839, and her last piece (Souvenir--inachevé) was left unfinished at her death; although her popularity peaked in the early-mid 1850s, she continued to be reasonably well-respected as an artist throughout her life. The entry also lists a couple of her other better-known works. And that’s about it.

To be fair, that isn’t all that surprising. Because the truth is, Euphrasie Pontmercy--known professionally as La Jardinière, and apparently to her family as Mémé Cosette--isn’t exactly a household name. Even as far as mid-19th-century/pre-Impressionist painters go. Some of that comes down to the way art is studied, and the way the various art movements of her century worked. Some of it is that she wasn’t a major player in any of those movements. And probably general background misogyny plays a role.

There’s also the fact that there is next to no information available about her early life. As far as the historical record is concerned, Jardinière seems to have sprung semi-fully-formed from the streets of Paris somewhere in the mid-to-late 1820s. Other than the fact that she was educated in a convent, essentially nothing is known about her parents or her childhood.

Until now.

Maybe.

Assuming the painting checks out.

But I wanted to have all my ducks in a row, so to speak, before I talked to Phil’s parents about borrowing the painting (and in case I needed more support to sell Emma on the idea). So, compiling what information I had, and making a list of things I’d need to dig more into.

Jardinière spent, as far as current research can tell, her entire life and career in Paris, apart from the eighteen months she and her husband spent in Dover in the 1860s (most likely because his politics got them into trouble), and the approximately two months in the early 1850s she spent in Calais without him (reasons unknown).

Her work is mostly landscapes--several paintings of gardens, appropriately enough, as well as various parts of Paris; the seascapes from her Dover period are particularly beautiful, even if fashions in the art world had generally turned away from landscapes in that period. There are also a few portraits, some commissioned and some apparently just of ordinary people in her life; and a series of works she referred to as memories, depicting places or events she had lived in or witnessed years before actually sitting down to paint them.

Some of her sketchbooks also survive, including one from Calais that has several pages missing. Most of her paintings are marked on the back with the subject and a date (generally assumed to be the date she completed the work), like the one in Phil’s living room was.

If you line up her paintings chronologically, you can see her style shifting a little, drawing in bits and pieces from new movements and artistic fashions while still remaining recognizably hers. Especially when she comes back to locations she’d already painted years before--which she did repeatedly--showing the way both she and her city have grown and changed over time.

Even more interesting, while not all of her personal correspondence is available, there are a few surviving letters she exchanged with notable artists, particularly in the last few decades of her life. There’s one letter she wrote to Toulouse-Lautrec, which was briefly quoted in a biography of him I read a few years back.

I made a note to try and get my hands on the whole text of that letter, among others, if I was really planning to do a deep dive into Jardinière’s life and work--even if it was from fifty-some years after the painting at the center of all this. I’d also need to find someone who could help me translate it, and any other papers I managed to gain access to. My French is decent enough, and I’d probably be fine communicating with French institutions and archivists in order to request access to their collections, but for something this important, I’d want someone way more fluent to help with the actual documentary evidence.

Next was a list of museums that had some of her work on display or in their collections; there was also an exhibit in Marseille that I wanted to look into--not Jardinière’s work, but ‘Bertillon and Pontmercy: The Men and Minds of Early Forensic Photography’ might include some relevant things from her son’s life and papers. Given that I’d almost certainly end up flying to France anyway, it would be stupid to skip that.

So. I had a game plan, or at least the beginnings of one. Start by reaching out to various archives, here and in France, possibly England as well; look closer at her work where I can find it, particularly her early work and the few portraits that are available--although the fact that her poetically-named final work was currently included in a post-Impressionist exhibit in Chicago definitely caught my eye. And then go to France, to look for other documentary evidence. Try to identify Papa and J-----, and, assuming I manage to do that, write about it. Fill in the gaps in a story that might not be interesting to everyone, but for the people who were interested, it mattered a hell of a lot.

All of this, of course, rested on gaining access to Phil’s parents’ painting, and proving it really was an 1834 Jardinière.

Hopefully he was right, and his parents would be easy to get on board.

But I sure as hell had to try.

GUESS WHO'S BACK!

I'm officially back. I went on an unannounced hiatus and I apologize for that, my writing skills have not improved, and if anything I have worsened. I will list the things I'm planning on writing so that you're aware... I will make it known that I go on hiatus really often it's like my favorite thing to do, but I will probably spam post for about 2 weeks to about a month and go on hiatus for 2 months or so every now and then. I'm really sorry, but this is just a hobby and for practice. I do plan on starting to post again on regularly on Tuesday 10/25!

What I'm planning:

Tears of Themis - Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Seeing you in his clothes - Wednesday 10/26

Taking care of you drunk - Friday 10/28

I'm busy on Saturday so nothing sorry :(

Taking care of him drunk ft. Darius and Vincent - Sunday 10/30

Highschool AU (Artem/Marius) - Wednesday 11/02

Highschool AU (Luke/Vyn) - Friday 11/04

Short second-gen scenarios - Saturday 11/05

Ikemen Prince - Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Going on a Date (Leon's Faction) - Tuesday 10/25

Going on a Date (Chevalier's Faction) - Thursday 10/27 (delayed)

I'm busy on Saturday so nothing sorry :(

Second-gen ikepri scenarios (Chevalier's Faction) - Sunday 10/30

Second-gen ikepri scenarios (Leon's Faction) - Tuesday 11/01

Helping you when pregnant (Leon's Faction) - Thursday 11/03

Helping you when pregnant (Chevalier's Faction) - Saturday 11/05

I will continue to write on this list as days go by, but this is what I have planned so far. Please be patient with me! If you don't like some of the things that are on the list please just find something else you'll enjoy, specifically with the pregnancy one. I find pregnancy very beautiful, but I also understand that many people do not like it. The drunk one for Tear of Themis, I can also understand if you guys would prefer not to run into that, I myself am sensitive to the topic please find something else that you'll enjoy!

Radio NET Bulgaria (October 05, 2022)

23:59 JESSY J - Soul Kisses (Gregg Karukas feat. Jessy J) 23:55 EVERETTE HARP - Old School 23:51 BRIAN SIMPSON - One and Only 23:47 NILS - Dance With Me 23:43 MEKIEL REUBEN - That Girl Told Me 23:39 BOBBY WELLS - She's Playful 23:35 KIM SCOTT - Emerge (Feat. Jonathan Fritzen) 23:31 DARRIUS JAMAR - Bounce Back 23:27 JULIAN VAUGHN - Time Is Now 23:23 ALTHEA RENE - Let Me Love You 23:18 DERRICK HARVIN - When You Say 23:13 ALEX FALDIN - Cold Wind 23:09 JAREZ - Lil Jazzy 23:04 BOBBY LYLE - Living In The Flow 22:58 PROJECT BLUE SUN - Ibiza Zouk (Sunny Mix) 22:52 SMOOTH DELUXE - Wonderful Micronesia 22:47 SYNTHETICSAX - Beach (Dj Rostej Remix Chillout Dreams) 22:41 RUSLAN-SET, V.RAY - The Voice of Star (Union Sense Remix) 22:37 PIANOCHOCOLATE - Les Souvenirs (Original Mix) 22:33 MENZI - Zug nach nirgendwo 22:25 EUPHONIC TRAVELLER - Crescent bay (original mix) 22:21 SOUND BEHAVIOUR - Arena 22:17 THE UNDERDOG PROJECT - Summer Jam (Unplugged) 22:12 SHAUN ESCOFFERY - Into the Blue (Mark de Clive 22:05 KITARO - A passage of life 21:59 DINKA - Magnolia (Original Mix) 21:55 THOMAS LEMMER - Through My Father's Eyes 21:51 SYLVERING - Just an Illusion 21:46 VIVIAN LACOSTE - Clair Del Mar 21:41 REUNITED - Sing It Back (Shazz Man Chill Mix) 21:39 INNA - Hot (Chill Out Remix) 21:32 COASTLINE - Adriatic Sea (Lounge Cafe Chillout Del Mar Mix) 21:27 KENNY FONTANA - U R The Sun (Toni Rivera Mix) 21:22 MICHAEL E - Promise 21:17 ANDAIN - You Once Told Me 21:11 JOSEPHINE SINCLAR - Paradise Deluxe 21:06 ALBERT ST. BARTH - Sabor Do Lounge 21:03 METAHARMONIKS - Doors 20:59 LEO ROJAS - The last ot the Mohicans 20:54 MANDALAY - Beautiful (7'' Canny mix) 20:49 MARTINIQUE LE SOUFFLEUR - El Guapo 20:45 JENS BUCHERT - Polaris (JB feat. Shine) 20:40 351 LAKE SHORE DRIVE - Summernights 20:34 JES - Heaven (Orange Project del Sol Interpretation) 20:29 BLANK & JONES - Coming Home (Afterlife Mix) 20:24 ATB - Still Here 20:18 LA CAINA - I Gotta Know Now 20:14 LAZY HAMMOCK - Star 20:09 GUENTER HAAS - Secret Diary 20:06 JAMES BUTLER - Coastline 20:00 CLAUDE CHAGALL - Sunset Buddha 19:54 ADELE - Skyfall (Skerdi M & Angelo DownTempo) 19:48 YOGEE, TWEET, MISSY ELLIOT - Thugman (Lounge remix 2011) 19:45 VINTAGE - Eva (Roman B & Vova Baggage Slow Mix) 19:40 ZETANDEL - Glowing Spots (Original Mix) 19:36 WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS - Psychasthenia 19:30 VECHIGEN - No Fear (Summer Vibes Chill Mix) 19:24 VLAD ZHUKOV - Nothing (W&D Chill Out Vocal Mix) 19:17 AMBITUS - Answers 19:13 OCEAN DRIVE, DJ ORISKA - Without You (Acoustic Version) 19:10 KATO, JON - Turn The Lights Off (Bullytrax Campfire Mix) 19:06 KIRSTY HAWKSHAW, TENISHIA - Reason To Forgive (Piano Mix) 19:02 MATT DAREY, STAN KOLEV, AELYN - Follow You (Acoustic Version) 18:57 NUAGE, N4M3 - Sunday Morning (Original Mix) 18:53 NITIN SAWHNEY - Breathing Light 18:49 LOWLAND - Children (Orchestral Version) 18:42 LERRY MULLER, ANETTA GRANT - Dreaming (Original) 18:38 LIVING ROOM - Teneriffe 07 18:35 MODJO - Lady (Acoustic Version) 18:30 MIGUEL LARA - Oblivion 18:26 MR. SPECIAL - Aren't You Clever (CJ Alex Chillout Remix) 18:23 MARIUS NEDELCU, RED HEAD - Rain (Acoustic Version) 18:19 MANDEL TURNER - Come Into My Life 18:13 LOUNGAHOLIC - Careless Whisper 18:10 MOBY - Porcelain 18:05 LUIGI LUSINI - I'll Be Home (Original Mix) 18:01 MAX MILLION - Do You Believe (Original Mix) 17:57 MARCELA MANGABEIRA - Don't Stop The Music (Lounge Version) 17:54 JOEL HIRSCH, ROXANNE EMERY - Neon Dreams (Cinematic Version) 17:50 MAKIS ABLIANITIS - Love Secret 17:46 LIULA - Sweet Dreams 17:43 MARIO BASANOV VIDIS, JAZZU - Give It A Try 17:39 MIA LEMAR - Colourful Life (Photo In Lounge Remix) 17:34 MARC PUIG, MARIA COLLADO - To Forget Me 17:28 SIMON LE GREC - Decisions (Delor Mix) 17:23 MEHMET CEMAL YESILCAY - You And I 17:19 MAZELONOSTRA - Twilight Room (Spanish Edit) 17:14 MARGA SOL - Prayer For Love (Soul Avenue's Balearic Blues Mix) 17:10 NIK LLOYD - Number 1 (Acoustic Cover) 17:06 SIMON G - Crazy (original Mix) 17:03 NURKO, AUTREY - So Far Gone 17:00 LOST FREQUENCIES, FLYNN - Recognise (Acoustic Version) 16:55 DEE LUCAS - Dollar Bill 16:51 AL DEGREGORIS - No Holding Back (Feat. Nils) 16:47 AL GOMEZ - For Sure 16:41 OLI SILK - Steppin' Out 16:37 TIM BOWMAN - Love Forever More 16:33 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - March On (Feat. Jeff Lorber) 16:29 SEAN U - Electrify 16:24 STEVE COLE - Looking Up 16:21 SHAWN RAIFORD - Magic Man 16:17 BOBBY WELLS - End of Summer 16:13 GREGG KARUKAS - Daylight 16:09 DARRIUS JAMAR - Heaven 16:04 NELSON RANGELL - Clutch 15:59 DERRICK HARVIN - Gone 15:54 BOBBY LYLE - What Kind Of World 15:49 BRIAN SIMPSON - From the Hip (feat. Chuck Loeb) 15:45 JEANETTE HARRIS - Groovin' 15:41 JAREZ - Its Over 15:37 BLAKE AARON - Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing (feat. Kim Scott) 15:33 ALTHEA RENE - Inner Circle 15:29 ALEX FALDIN - Hand Claps 15:25 AL DEGREGORIS - All Over The Place (Feat. Eric Marienthal) 15:20 AL GOMEZ - Sip Thy Wine 15:16 JACKIEM JOYNER - Southside Boulevard 15:12 JULIAN VAUGHN - Ecstasy 15:08 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Tonight Is the Night 15:03 TIM BOWMAN - Columbus,Ga 14:58 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Emotions 14:54 MARION MEADOWS - Andalusian Sunset 14:49 BOBBY LYLE - Spirit Song 14:45 LOUIE FITZGERALD - Jukin' and Jivin' 14:40 DERRICK HARVIN - Another Day in Paradise 14:36 BRIAN SIMPSON - Bonita 14:32 JAREZ - Slow Motion 14:28 BOBBY WELLS - Oooh Baby 14:24 NICK COLIONNE - It's Gonna Be Alright 14:20 DARRIUS JAMAR - My Everything 14:17 DEON YATES - First Day of Summer 14:12 ADAM HAWLEY - Shuffle (Feat. Darren Rahn) 14:08 BONEY JAMES - Sunset Boulevard 14:04 ALTHEA RENE - Barbara Mae 13:59 AL DEGREGORIS - Follow Your Dreams 13:54 FREDDIE FOX - Sensual 13:50 JC SOL - Our Groove 13:46 KENNY NIGHTINGALE - My Saxophone 13:42 JULIAN VAUGHN - Ride Along 13:38 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Waiting For You 13:35 ALEX FALDIN - Throwback Vacations 13:32 JUSTIN KLUNK - Dive 13:27 BOBBY LYLE - Living In The Flow 13:23 RANDY MULLER BOOM CHANG BANG - Sunnyside Up 13:20 LOUIE FITZGERALD - Through the Rain 13:15 AL GOMEZ - Catchin' a Vibe 13:11 BRIAN SIMPSON - So Many Ways 13:07 NORTH 2UNES WOODALL - Loving 2 13:02 DERRICK HARVIN - From Here 12:58 JAREZ - Mr. Sexy Saxy 12:53 JACKIEM JOYNER - Beautiful Seduction 12:48 MARION MEADOWS - Magic Men 12:45 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Force 12:42 BOBBY WELLS - My Sweet Butterfly 12:37 STEVE COLE - Neo Sol 12:31 EUGE GROOVE - Chillaxin 12:26 GREGG KARUKAS - Believe in Me 12:21 CHRIS STANDRING - Fat Tuesday 12:17 BRAD ALEXANDER - Yearning for Your Love 12:14 AL DEGREGORIS - Sunnyside 12:09 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - After Hours 12:06 LOUIE FITZGERALD - Keepin' the Groove On 12:02 FREDDIE FOX - So Much Love 11:57 BRIAN SIMPSON - A Soft Touch 11:52 NORTH 2UNES WOODALL - In the Mood 11:48 MARCUS ANDERSON - Mel-Ow Mood 11:44 JULIAN VAUGHN - Sunday 11:39 DERRICK HARVIN - This Time Around 11:35 JAREZ - Around The World 11:30 THE SMOOTH JAZZ ALLEY - EBF 11:25 MARION MEADOWS - Celebration Road 11:21 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Jubilee 11:17 CHRIS STANDRING - Living the Poetry 11:11 BOBBY WELLS - Bella's Pier 11:06 JOE MCBRIDE, THE TEXAS RHYTHM CLUB - Morning In A Distant Land 11:01 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Nobody But You (Feat. Billy Mondragon Of DW3) 10:58 LOUIE FITZGERALD - Thinkin' Back on When 10:53 JEFF KASHIWA - Back To Love 10:49 BRIAN SIMPSON - When I Found You 10:42 MARCUS ANDERSON - Give Love (Feat. Anthony Saunders) 10:38 NORTH 2UNES WOODALL - On the Move 10:34 TIM BOWMAN - Flyin Away 10:29 DAVE BRADSHAW JR. - Set Me Free 10:25 PIECES OF A DREAM - Steppers ''D'' Lite 10:21 J. WHITE - Mr. Nugroove 10:17 NAJEE - Happiness (A Felicidade) 10:13 LOWELL HOPPER - See the Light 10:08 DERRICK HARVIN - Colombiana 10:04 DARREN RAHN - Duplicity 10:00 JAREZ - Together Forever 09:57 JOYCE COOLING - Coasting 09:53 NORMAN BROWN - Keep The Faith 09:49 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Feelin' Good 09:45 MARION MEADOWS - Last Ticket To Somewhere 09:41 CAROL ALBERT - Love Again 09:37 LOUIE FITZGERALD - When I Look into Your Eyes 09:33 MARCUS ANDERSON - Backseat Drivers (Feat. Adam Hawley) 09:28 JULIAN VAUGHN - Waymans Way 09:23 BRIAN SIMPSON - Mystical 09:20 NORTH 2UNES WOODALL - Happy Cause I'm Going Home 09:15 PIECES OF A DREAM - Give U My Heart 09:11 NAJEE - Modern Lovers 09:07 JIM ADKINS - Turning Point 09:06 TONY SAUNDERS - Uptown Jazz 08:55 TIM BOWMAN - Friends 08:51 BOBBY WELLS - Tee It Up 08:45 CHRIS GODBER - Chips 'n' Salsa 08:42 LOWELL HOPPER - No Turning Back 08:40 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Give And Take 08:30 NATE WHITE - Ducie's Groove 08:19 MARCUS ANDERSON - Let's Not Wait (Feat. Nicholas Cole) 08:19 DANNY LERMAN - You Take My Breath Away 08:04 NAJEE - Dr. Dolittle 07:59 PIECES OF A DREAM - Fired Up 07:54 NORTH 2UNES WOODALL - I Want Her 07:51 KIM SCOTT - Best Part 07:46 TIM BOWMAN - Glory to Glory 07:42 RHODA GRAHAM - Finally 07:37 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Poppa J 07:32 DEE LUCAS - The Grady Curve 07:28 LOWELL HOPPER - Affection 07:23 JEFF KASHIWA - Hyde Park (The 'Ah, Oooh' Song) 07:19 UNDER THE LAKE - Bridgetown 07:16 WARREN HILL - Play That Funky Music (White Boy) 07:11 MARION MEADOWS - Mother Earth 07:07 OLI SILK - Meet Me In The Middle 07:03 MARCUS ANDERSON - Understanding (Feat. Brian Culbertson) 06:58 NAJEE - Savoir Faire 06:54 DONN BYNUM - Because I'm Feeling You 06:49 SEAN U - Second Wind 06:43 PIECES OF A DREAM - Feelin' Good 06:38 BRIAN SIMPSON - Sunlit Sea 06:33 NORTH 2UNES WOODALL - Susie Mae 06:30 SHAWN RAIFORD - It Feels so Nice 06:25 NELSON RANGELL - Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing 06:21 HANK BILAL - Perfect Harmony 06:17 JEFF KASHIWA - Thanks To You 06:13 ZOLBERT - A Song for You 06:09 TIM BOWMAN - Just Another Day 06:04 KIM WATERS - Nightfall 05:59 ZACH BRIDGES - These Hands 05:54 NAJEE - Isla Hermosa 05:51 MARION MEADOWS - Dream Catcher 05:46 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Time Marches On 05:42 MARCUS ANDERSON - Limited Edition (Feat. Steven J. Collins ) 05:38 LOWELL HOPPER - Resurgence 05:34 JEANETTE HARRIS - Night Jam 05:29 PIECES OF A DREAM - Gettin' Through It 05:25 DANIEL CHIA - Cali Style 05:21 DONN BYNUM - Mercy Mercy Me (feat. Lew Laing Jr.) 05:18 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD - Morning After 05:12 STEVE COLE - Toronto 05:09 BRIAN SIMPSON - Whisper To Me 05:04 JEFF KASHIWA - Show Me Love 05:00 NORTH 2UNES WOODALL - Hip Hug 04:55 EUGE GROOVE - Take You Higher 04:50 NAJEE - Bounce 04:46 GREGG KARUKAS - Coyote Party 04:42 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Better Days Ahead feat. Jeff Pescetto 04:38 KIM SCOTT - I'm Every Woman (feat. Althea Rene & Ragan Whiteside) 04:34 MARION MEADOWS - Life In The Clouds 04:30 ZACH BRIDGES - Yonder 04:26 BRAD ALEXANDER - A Matter of Time 04:20 MARCUS ANDERSON - Dandelion 04:16 PIECES OF A DREAM - Going Home 04:12 ZOLBERT - On My Way 04:08 TIM BOWMAN - Heart & Soul 04:03 BALANCE9 - 110 at Night 03:59 JEFF KASHIWA - Something About You 03:54 NICK COLIONNE - Whatcha Gonna Do 03:51 JACKIEM JOYNER - Don't Make Her Wait 03:46 NAJEE - Hurricane 03:41 DONN BYNUM - Our Turn to Dance (feat. Paul Jackson Jr.) 03:37 BRIAN SIMPSON - What I'm Waiting For 03:33 LOWELL HOPPER - Ever Lasting 03:29 WALTER BEASLEY - She Can't Help It 03:24 ADAM HAWLEY - Detroit 03:20 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Bittersweet 03:16 MARION MEADOWS - Real Time 03:12 DANIEL DOMENGE - Between Your Hands 03:08 NORTH 2UNES WOODALL - 102 Degree 03:03 BONEY JAMES - You Can Count on Me 02:59 PIECES OF A DREAM - It's A Vibe 02:54 FRANK MCCOMB - Movin' In Traffic (For Russell Ferrante and George Duke) . 02:50 MARCUS ANDERSON - Can I Come Over 02:46 JEFF KASHIWA - Mediterranean Nights 02:42 JASON PETERSON DELAIRE - Check Please (feat. Chris Camozzi) 02:39 NAJEE - Luna 02:35 DANIEL CHIA - Say You Will 02:31 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Tell Me Why (Feat. Paul Brown) 02:27 BALANCE9 - Sway 02:23 MICHAEL SILVERMAN, ERIC MARIENTHAL - In These Times 02:20 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD - Now I See 02:16 ZOLBERT - Smile 02:12 AL DEGREGORIS - Time Sensitive 02:08 WALTER BEASLEY - Lovely Day 02:04 PHIL DENNY - Around the Block 01:59 TIM BOWMAN - Happiness Is 01:55 THREESTYLE - Missing You 01:52 FREDDIE FOX - Feelin' It 01:48 MARION MEADOWS - Invisible 01:44 FRANK MCCOMB - Cha Cha (For Ramsey Lewis) 01:40 LOWELL HOPPER - Change of Seasons 01:36 JASON PETERSON DELAIRE - After Hours 01:32 NAJEE - Bottom To The Top 01:27 JEFF KASHIWA - 3 01:22 THE SMOOTH JAZZ ALLEY - Smooth Jazz Alley 01:18 PIECES OF A DREAM - Livin' The Life 01:14 BRIAN SIMPSON - All That Matters 01:10 MARCUS ANDERSON - Will Power 01:05 JAREZ - Just Can't Wait 01:01 JAZZ IN PINK - Positivity 00:57 PHIL DENNY - Lifted 00:53 FRANK SUTTON - Its Gonna Be A Lovely Day 00:48 MARCIN NOWAKOWSKI - Huggy Bear 00:44 VANN BURCHFIELD - I'm Holding On 00:40 WALTER BEASLEY - Barack's Groove 00:36 THE SAX PACK - Back In Style 00:32 SKINNY HIGHTOWER - Now Or Never 00:29 ZOLBERT - Frappe 00:25 BLAKE AARON - Dreamland 00:21 JASON PETERSON DELAIRE - Nightcap (feat. Chris Camozzi) 00:16 NAJEE - Valentine Love 00:12 FRANK MCCOMB - Just Ride (For George Duke) 00:07 JEFF KASHIWA - The Good Life 00:03 TIM BOWMAN - Watchout

Anschlag in Hanau

"Ich glaube nicht, dass das böse Absicht der Behörden war"

Der Anschlag von Hanau wird nie vor Gericht kommen. Aber ein Untersuchungsausschuss soll aufklären: Er müsse den Mut finden, Konsequenzen zu ziehen, sagt der Vorsitzende.

Interview: Martín Steinhagen

Am 19. Februar 2020 tötete ein 43-Jähriger in Hanau an zwei Tatorten neun Menschen aus rassistischen Motiven. Ein Untersuchungsausschuss im Hessischen Landtag soll mögliche Versäumnisse der Behörden im Zusammenhang mit der Tat aufarbeiten. Der Vorsitzende, SPD-Abgeordneter Marius Weiß, erklärt im Interview, was der Ausschuss über einen wohl verschlossenen Notausgang, unbeantwortete Notrufe und geschwärzte Obduktionsberichte herausfinden konnte.

Link zum Interview: https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2023-02/anschlag-hanau-untersuchungsausschuss-aufarbeitung/komplettansicht

My Half Brother / My Half Sister

Ep. 07

02/05/2024

By: Lone Wolf

The flight came to an end, and Sabrina already collected her items, and prepared herself to get off of the plane. In her mind, she kept praying and hoping she'll never meet Marius again. Because what would she meet him for anyway?.. It's not like they're from the same circles.. It's not like they know each other at all. They're complete strangers, and she hopes they remain so forever.

It is now a connection flight from San Francisco to Chicago. After 4 hours, Sabrina is finally in Chicago!

She takes a taxi from the airport straight to the Hoffman Attornies' Office.

Arriving at the office, Sabrina then meets four attornies, who explain the legal toll of her father's death on the company and the business. She then meets with the CEO, Mr. Hoffman, who in his turn, read her father's will, and explained her soon-to-be-assumed position at the company, which is to become the new CEO of her father's multi-million dollars business.

In her attempt to negotiate this condition, Mr. Hoffman explains that these terms are non-negotiable, and she will be held legally responsible in case she refuses to abide.

It is no wonder her father chose her for this position, she is a very strategic person after all, and she was the only natural business minded member of the family. Sabrina wonders what her father's wife and her half-brother would be getting for their will.. Mr. Hoffman assures her that the crucial part she should be focusing on is the on-going investigation into her late father's death.

She is then escorted by the secretary, and is given an unlimited accommodation at an apartment complex nearby. Sabrina asks whether this has been paid for, and she is told that her late father has made sure all these expenses be covered.

To be continued...

NXX Turns Into Cat - Part 3 (Lukemeow)

Each NXX duder turns into a cat. Everyone else—Rosa, mostly—deals with the mess.

Separate Timelines for each NXX duder.

Hijinks and absolute pettiness (pun intended) ensue.

Other parts: Pt 01 - Meowrius | Pt 02 - Vynyaa

When Dr. Aaron Yishmir heard about the NXX Investigations Team from Luke, he had the impression that they were a group of capable, talented experts who excelled in their own careers and professions.

That was not what he saw when he charged into Dr. Vyn Richter’s garden, to answer Luke’s summons.

“Luke!” Rosa pleaded to whoever—whatever—it was on top of Dr. Richter’s prized fire tree, a magnificent tree covered in blazing flame red blooms. 

The fiery-red tree, almost two storeys high, was a magnificent sight to behold, surely. It warranted four people looking up at it, mouths slack-jawed with wonder; yet there was something wrong with the scene, for the expression in their faces was not joy, nor wonder, but one of terror and worry.

“Luke, just come down, please!” Rosa wrung her hands, then turned to Vyn. “Dr. Richter, don’t you have a ladder that we can use?”

Vyn shook his head. “No. None of the stepladders in my gardening shed and storage can stretch that high up.” He tsk-ed. “We need to call in a fire department to rescue…Luke.” He sounded as if he did not want to address whoever was stuck at the top of the tree as his colleague, Luke Pearce.

“Maybe I can try my luck and climb the tree.” Marius paced around the tree’s perimeter, planning his route towards the higher branches. “Yeah. It’s possible.”

“In case you fall and break your bones, Marius, please note that my emergency clinic is ill-equipped to administer first aid for broken limbs.”

“You’re useless, Vyn.”

“So are you, little von Hagen.”

What the hell is happening to Luke? Also, there’s no stray detective on the tree as far as I can tell. 

Aaron peered at the tree top, shading his eyes from the glare of the sunlight with his hand. 

Yeap. No Luke Pearce to be found there. 

Just an orange tabby.

Confused, Aaron approached them and put strong, firm hands on Vyn’s and Marius’s shoulders. “Well then, that only means you need a proper field doctor!” He put on his usual cheery demeanor in an attempt to have them drop their guard around him; the last time he interacted with them—Dr. Richter and Artem Wing—they proved to be very cagey and had to rely on Luke to fish out the details he needed from them.

“Yishmir. What are you doing here.” Vyn eyed him warily. “I do not recall us having an appointment with someone from the NSB.”

Aaron waved his hand dismissively “Oh, no. I’m not here for stuffy NSB business.” Then his face turned grim. “I’m here because Luke called me in for a medical emergency. Where is he?”

He did not expect that his simple, yet urgent, question would be met with such…waffling around. By everyone in the NXX Investigations Team, including the usually impeccable and prompt Dr. Richter. 

“Excuse me? Where is my boy Luke?” Aaron repeated. “He called me exactly thirty minutes ago. I would have been here earlier, if it weren’t for the unexpected traffic on my way here.”

The senior attorney among the lot, Artem, cleared his throat. “Ah. About that…”

Vyn quickly cut in. “He is doing well, Yishmir. Just how well is yet to be ascertained.”

Aaron had to blink and put a hand to his mouth to compose himself. “Look, my Lukey boy has this funny tendency to not call for help, unless he is literally dying inside, eaten by what is currently ailing him. But this time, he just called me. Surely you understand what I’m trying to say, right?”

This time, Rosa gasped. She had yet to hear about Luke’s rather dire prognosis; it was a sore point of contention between Aaron and his charge. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean, Rosie, is,” Aaron took a deep breath. “Lukey boy may be dying and everyone here is wasting my time giving me the runaround!” He was about to lose it. “Where. Is. Luke. Pearce.”

Vyn and Artem—a pair legendary for not seeing eye to eye—threw a glance at each other, and then nodded. Vyn spoke first. “Luke may have probably dialed your number in error. He is well.”

“I’d rather hear that from my patient.” Aaron gritted his teeth. He was totally losing it. “Richter. If I do not see him. I will beat each and everyone of you—with the exception of Miss Rosie here—and none of you can touch me, since I will have everyone here cited for obstruction of emergency medical care delivery—Miss Rosie included.”

Artem tried to cut in before Vyn could reply. “There is no such charge—” 

“Not yet, but there will be, Mister Wing, and this will not be the first time for me to pull strings,” Aaron said grimly. “Would be best if you lot remember what I am.”

He then glanced at his wristwatch. “I wasted around ten minutes. A lot can happen in ten minutes. Do any of you want me to break your fingers for ten minutes and have an idea how much pain Luke can go through in that time? Can I have a show of hands please, any volunteers? None?”

No one raised their hands, as expected. Aaron only received wary gazes and worried looks.

“Wait, what exactly is happening to Luke?” Rosa’s voice wavered. “He never told me anything.”

“It’s something I am trying to prevent, Rosie.” He let out a long drawn out sigh. “And here—”

Vyn had had enough. “Fine. Come with me, Yishmir.” He turned on his heel and strode along the stone pathway that cut through the garden and led towards the NXX Headquarters. “And whatever you see, keep it to yourself for the meantime.”

===

Vyn led Aaron to the CCTV console in the server room. The footage that showed the exact moment when Luke—shooting the breeze by the perimeter of Vyn’s garden—turned into the orange tabby had been rewound for around ten times already. “You are not shitting me,” was all the field doctor could say at the moment, his steel-blue, hawkish eyes carefully watching in -1.5x speed the manner of how Luke disappeared out of thin air, clothes dropping into the pavement, and the detective instantaneously replaced with an orange striped cat.        

“No, we are not shitting you, Yishmir,” Vyn said drily. “We are also at a loss of what to make with what just happened.”

Hmm. And this is presumably the part where Kitty Luke stepped on his phone and probably clicked on the automated messages by accident, including the emergency text I received… 

Several mouse clicks and hitting of keys later, Aaron dug into his jacket’s pocket hidden by the seam of his windbreaker’s zipper. He fished out a bunch of unassuming USB drives, all joined together by a keyring bearing a cartoon dog charm. 

“Hey, Richter?” He waved his bunch of USB drives at the psychiatrist. “Asking for permission to check your CCTV footage with my…uh, tools? We may find clues there.”

“Are you expecting me to just say yes, Yishmir?” Vyn’s eyes narrowed. “I am inclined to accept help from the NSB, especially since the missing in question is one of your own. But.” He grabbed the USB drives from Aaron’s hand. “What guarantee do I have that nothing unnecessary will touch NXX infrastructure?”

“None,” Aaron said, flatly. “I can’t give you any guarantees. The moment any of these babies get plugged in, if I wanted to plant anything, no security protocol nor measures can do anything about it.” He shrugged. “If it’s any consolation, I can tell in one glance that Lukey boy’s tools have made it in your system. Take that as you will,” he added, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.

The vexed look on Vyn’s face was priceless. Did the NXX really expect that NSB was going to play fairly? Aaron certainly expected better of them. 

“That is a given, we are all aware that Luke has been sent to us as a leash to keep us working within limits comfortable to Central.” Vyn easily recovered from being taken aback, but there was no mistaking the distrust dripping in his voice. “I merely do not appreciate us being pushed to the wall, and over something so…petty.”

“Well, if we wanted to do something, we wouldn’t do uh—this,” Aaron said, gesturing towards the looping footage of Luke turning into an unassuming cat. “Draws too much attention, takes too many steps, yadda, you name it.”

“Fair enough.” Vyn tossed the bunch of hard drives back to Aaron, then flashed a cat-like, satisfied grin. “This only means that the cure for Luke’s disease depends on the outcome of this little inane adventure, or,” his voice dropped to a vicious whisper, “how much the NSB pisses us off.”

“Ooh, scary,” was all Aaron said as he pulled a chair and set down to work.

Fifteen minutes passed with the field doctor inspecting the footage itself, including checking for any possible vectors from which an altered footage could be inserted—with nothing to show for it.

Aaron finally raised his hands in mock surrender.

“No, nothing. Footage and file are clean, and I checked your servers, all untouched.” Aaron sighed as he pocketed his USB drives. “Though…I saw some interesting prototypes from Pax.” He winked. “I’ll…shut up about them.”

“Let us focus on the matter at hand, Yishmir.” Vyn crossed his arms. “Well?”

Aaron shrugged. “That’s the same cat stuck up in the tree?”

“The very same.”

“Let’s get going then, there’s a kitty that needs—” Aaron barely could keep a straight face. “...saving. Pfft.”

“I am glad to see you are deriving joy out of this predicament.”

===

And Aaron derived even more joy out of the NXX’s predicament once they made their way back outside, in Vyn’s garden.

“Marius, you absolute twit.” Vyn finally buried his face in his hands, almost, just about, done. “We already have to be careful about calling in emergency services to retrieve the cat.” He then massaged his temples as he looked up at the orange tabby stuck high up on the tree…alongside Marius.

Aaron stifled a laugh. “Ohh I’m going to get a kick out of this.” He then formed a pretend phone with his hand—closed fist with the pinky and thumb sticking out—and held it to the side of his face. “Hello emergency services? I have a stray CEO stuck up in the tree, could you send in the firefighters?”

Marius, clinging to the branch in front of him for dear life, sniffed in indignation. “Well, ha-ha good to see you guys are enjoying it!” He clutched the tabby close to him with one arm; the cat squirmed and clawed Marius in an attempt to get out of his grasp. “Yow! Goddamnit Luke, I swear I’ll just throw you out of the tree…”

The retort came from someone unexpected. “The moment you do that, Marius von Hagen, I will make sure you fall from the tree.” Rosa then kicked the trunk of the fire tree, shaking it just enough to make the branches tremble and flame-red blossoms fall to the ground—a feat for someone wearing heels. “You hear me?!”

Vyn visibly panicked. He had spent quite a fortune having that specific fire tree balled and delivered from overseas, and surviving the trip was nothing short of a miracle. To think that his rose would mistreat it so. “Rosa, please, do not…”

“Oi! Missy! I was kidding! Kidding!” 

“Good lord.” Aaron laughed behind his hand. “Are your colleagues usually like this, Wing?” He turned to the lawyer who obviously wanted to answer No, I do not know any of these people.

“I don’t know them,” Artem said curtly, then walked away. “Richter, I’m leaving. I still have work to do back in the office.”

Vyn did not bother replying.

“Well, looks like it's a job for me,” Aaron said as he stretched his limbs. “Richter, do you have any ladder that can at least reach the lower branches?”

“Yes. The tallest ones I have can stretch out that much. Do you have anything in mind?”

“Rescue, of course.” Aaron shrugged off his windbreaker and draped it over a nearby wrought iron garden chair. “Can I borrow the ladder for a bit?”

As Vyn went off to retrieve a stepladder from his garden shed, Aaron nimbly scaled the fire tree’s trunk; he carefully assessed how much weight the branches within his reach could hold as soon as he perched on a particularly thick bough.

The field doctor did not need the ladder; that was for Marius to use once Aaron managed to lead him down the thick branches. “Hey, you doing fine there Mr. von Hagen?”

“What does it look like to you?!” Marius cried out, struggling between self-preservation from a death by falling by clinging to the tree with one arm, and keeping a secure hold on the still flailing tabby with the other.

“Calm down, take deep breaths, we’ll get you down in no time,” Aaron said reassuringly, then glanced downwards to check if Vyn had already laid out the stepladder beside the tree trunk. 

“Break a leg Marius,” Vyn called out from underneath as he tested the ladder for stability. “Good luck.”

“What the hell, I’m not putting on a show, Vyn,” Marius huffed as he followed Aaron’s lead, both carefully descending the tree’s limbs. “Or—do you really want to wish me harm?!”

“Took you long enough to guess.” Vyn stepped away, his eyes focused on the cat that had been the catalyst of the day’s misadventures. “Do be mindful to not let the cat get awa—ah, shit.”

The tabby, as soon as they managed to descend to a more manageable height, finally realized that it was safe to jump away from Marius. It successfully slipped out of his captor’s grasp and leapt to the ground…

…only to be tackled and grabbed by Rosa, who had been waiting under the tree in tenterhooks as the field doctor retrieved the stray cat and CEO. “Gotcha.”

Aaron gave her a thumbs up. “Nice save, Rosie.”

===

It was decided that because of Kitty Luke’s escape artist tendencies, the cat was to be confined in the NXX Headquarters lounge for the meantime, with someone to watch over it as the others worked to make heads or tails with whatever was happening. 

Rosa, of course, volunteered for the task.

“Well, it’s you and me now, Lukey,” Rosa cooed as she gently carried it with her onto the lounge sofa. “Do be a good boy and stay put, okay?”

“Meow.” It rubbed its muzzle with a white paw. 

“Awww.” She gathered the tabby into her arms, nuzzling its fur. “Why do you keep on running away?”

“Mrowr.” It twisted a bit in her hold, but did not leave her; at least, not yet.

Rosa sighed. Of course the cat wouldn’t answer. Yet if the cat was indeed Luke, she would want to know the reason why it had become so evasive and cagey towards everyone, including herself. 

“I wish you could talk, so you could tell us what’s wrong. Maybe chat about stuff for hours. Like what we used to do, before…” She felt a certain emotion form a lump at the back of her throat, only to be quickly swallowed back. “Before you left for university. Before mom and dad left for work.

“...It’s been lonely, you know. I really missed you. All these years…”

The cat stopped squirming, and settled on her lap, as if willing itself to listen to her.

The gesture encouraged Rosa to continue. “It’s just too bad that even when you’re finally back, we still can’t spare the time to hang out, huh.” Her fingers idly combed its thick ginger fur, relishing how soft it felt. “You got your work; I got my own work, not to mention my studies too.” 

A soft sigh slipped out of her lips. There was no use whinging about things and past regrets. 

Best to enjoy what's in front of her. She had Luke in her hold, in cat form. Incredible. It was another topic to be added to the backlog of things to talk about, when they finally get to catch up. 

If they get to even catch up, that is. 

Forcing a smile on her face, her hands slid underneath the cat's forelimbs, holding the furry creature out in front of her for a closer inspection.

Rosa appreciated how cute Kitty Luke was: thick orange fur that stuck out at odd angles, certainly a very Luke look; the cutest pink nose; and pale green eyes that stared back at her, curiously. Just like Luke.

“You’ll be a good boy, right?” 

“Nyan.”

Rosa smiled. Maybe Luke still understood her words even as a cat; it was responding, after all, even if all it could utter were monosyllabic meowing sounds instead of human speech. Maybe this strange moment counted towards them catching up with each other; Rosa certainly felt more comfortable pouring out her feelings to a cat instead of the man who should be listening to the misgivings she’d kept bottled up inside her all this time.  

“Stay put then, little buddy. I’ll just raid Vyn’s pantry for some snacks, alright?”

“Nyaan!”

===

Of course, Kitty Luke was nowhere to be found by the time Rosa returned with a plate full of sausages and a tin of canned tuna. 

For some reason she expected it, even as she was rummaging through the cabinets in Vyn’s kitchen. 

Did she want to see if Luke would leave her anyway, despite that quiet moment earlier, when they seemed to finally understand each other; despite Rosa finally being able to say what she wanted to tell him, ever since they met again, by chance? 

Whether she did, or not, she got the answer: Luke still left. 

Rosa had to excuse herself to the bathroom after reporting her lapse of duty to Vyn and the others. 

When she finally composed herself and rejoined the team, Aaron immediately noticed that something was off with Lukey’s precious Rosie. “Right, let’s get to work then. This time, it’s a treasure hunt!” He winked at Rosa. “Come with? I’ll tell you some fun tales about Luke’s time in the agency along the way.”

Rosa gave him a weak, tight-lipped smile and nodded. “Yeah. Sure.” 

“Oi—” Marius was going to complain about Aaron’s overstepping in their jurisdiction, when Vyn gave the jacket of his sleeve a strong tug. “Leave them be,” Vyn whispered, despite a hint of misgiving layering over his own words. 

The psychologist didn't like it one bit, but he knew that Rosa held Luke close to her heart to some degree—he was hoping that it was only a matter of her being fond of them all, equally—but the way she almost fell apart at the thought of losing the detective only made it even more certain that her childhood friend was the one who occupied that special place in her heart.

He—ever her close friend—had no chance.

“Let’s split up from them and look for the cat in another area to cover more ground.”

===

Aaron’s and Rosa’s search eventually took them back to Vyn’s garden.

“Has he told you how we often make fun of him by pasting his mug into memes and posting them on our intranet?” Aaron chuckled as he parted the umpteenth hydrangea bush and peered inside for any signs of cat. 

“Mhm. I think I remember him whining about it once.” Rosa ventured to a farther corner of the garden, looking at the branches above her head. “Though, he never got the time to give me more details. Something about…NSB overworking him, I think?”

“Ha, you sure got us.” 

The next few minutes were spent in silence; the quiet sometimes broken by the rustling sounds of leaves and branches parting and giving way to their inspection.

Rosa eventually noticed that Aaron led the search not just towards hidden areas and cracks where cats can slip into; but specifically into nooks and crannies that were mostly cool and shaded, generally far away from foot traffic where they can remain undisturbed for long periods of time: places such as in between thick foliage, or underneath least-used vehicles. 

“We’ve kept our search only within this property…don’t you think it’s possible that Luke bolted to somewhere else? Maybe the park?” 

“Maybe, and I intend to search the nearby park if he’s not here. Buuuut,” Aaron stood up from where he knelt by the bushes, stretching his back now aching with all the crouching that he had been doing for the past hour. “I have a hunch that he’s just hiding nearby. Just a hunch.”

“How can you be so sure, Dr. Yishmir?”

Aaron bit his lip thoughtfully. Then, “Rosie, have you heard anything about what it means if a usually tame, well-socialized cat starts to withdraw and goes missing?”

“Um. No. Not really. What about it?”

Oh boy. Should I tell her? It was only a hunch anyway, and he never really got a chance to have a good look at the cat, at least to confirm if it was in a state that would trigger its dying behavior. Additionally, Luke still at the very least went through the motions of moving on with his life, even if he initially intended to avoid Rosa completely—until the two childhood friends met by chance once again.

“Cats tend to hide away from loved ones when they feel…” Aaron paused, looking for the best word to use in this particularly sticky situation. “...jeopardized, you see.”

Rosa didn’t say a word, but Aaron knew she heard him loud and clear. He added, “Dignity, and all that.”

He hoped that she would put two and two together, and come to an understanding on her own. Maybe that would cushion the blow of that particular news, somewhat; whatever happens, he’d lend her an ear…after they find the cat.

“Earlier, you said Luke was in pain,” Rosa asked quietly. “What exactly do you mean?”

Aaron sighed. It wasn’t up to him whether or not to disclose such details to her. 

Even though he had been arguing with Luke—on her behalf, even if she didn’t know—precisely because he feared that Luke would do the very same disappearing act on her, his remaining loved one, not even giving her a chance for a proper closure.

It was too cruel, if Aaron had a say in the matter. Just too cruel.

After much deliberation all he could tell her was, “Let’s just say that you should cherish your moments with him more. That’s all.”

Rosa was about to demand an explanation, when they heard a cat yowling—and the suffering, pained bitching of two adult men—all the way from the back entrance of Vyn’s house. 

She and Aaron quickly rushed towards the audible chaos, and were met with the rare sight of Vyn and Marius sporting several scratches along their arms, with one particularly long, painful looking gash on Vyn’s cheek.

Aaron winced at the sorry sight. “I’m not going to pry, but it looks like my boy hates you both. A lot.”

“Where’s—oh my god, Dr. Richter, are you sacking poor Luke?!”

In Vyn’s arms was his own white doctor’s coat used as a makeshift sack, containing an obviously furious feline inside, yowling and struggling to be let out. 

There would undoubtedly be some hell to pay the moment the tabby is freed from the confines of Vyn’s coat.

“I did not want to resort to doing this in the first place!” Vyn struggled to keep Luke in his hold, his barely-held back wincing betraying the pain that he endured from the claws long and sharp enough to poke tiny, pinprick holes out of the thick fabric. “Marius, go ahead to the conference room and close the door to the servers. We’re taking the cat there.”

“What? And risk our shit getting wrecked?”

“Consider it a—for crying out loud,” Vyn hissed as he struggled to hold on to the cat despite its claws catching into his skin, “...physical penetration test. In reverse. Whatever.”

“Ten points for teamwork,” Aaron remarked as he and Rosa followed them into the NXX Headquarters, with Marius running ahead of them.

===

“You sure you’d be okay in there, Rosie?” Aaron asked after they managed to let the cat spill into the conference room without much issue—except for a few more scratches dealt onto Vyn and Marius purely out of spite, before it dove into a well-concealed corner just behind the rubbish bin. 

“We’ll need to leave you two alone again for a bit, because these two chumps,” he gestured towards the other two men, sporting several cat-inflicted injuries. “...Need some fixing. Stay put, yeah?”

Rosa nodded. “Yeah. I think Luke’s okay with me. He won’t hurt me.” She plastered a smile onto her face until they left the room, closing the heavy glass electronic door behind them with a resounding click.

“Right.” Taking a deep breath, Rosa slowly crept towards the darker corner of the conference room, where she last saw Kitty Luke slip into. “Hey, Lukey?” she called out in a soft voice. “I’m not going to hurt you. Come here, please?”

A faint meowing could be heard from behind the steel bin. “Myaaan.”

“Lukey…are you hurt?”

“Nyaa.”

Rosa went on all fours and carefully slid the steel rubbish bin aside, revealing the cat curled up into a tight ball against the wall.

“Hey. Hey little buddy,” she whispered, reaching a hand out to the tabby, yet without touching it. “It’s me. Wanna cuddle?”

The cat visibly relaxed, and nuzzled the palm of her hand. Rosa could feel a bit of vibration as it started purring against her skin, despite how guarded it was moments ago.

“Good boy. Let’s sit together? Catch up a little?” She cooed as she slowly carried the tabby into her arms. 

Kitty Luke didn’t react violently as it did with her male colleagues; instead it buried its face into the crook of her elbow. 

As if it was trying to hide from her, but not enough to leave the warm comfort of her bosom.

The small gesture gave Rosa hope, at least. “Hey, buddy. Wanna play?”

“Nyaa.” The tabby burrowed deeper into her arms. “Nyan.”

But Rosa wasn’t having it. “Nuh-uh, Lukey.” She adjusted her hold and had the tabby lying in her arm with its fluffy belly up. “Peek-a-boo time!”

Might as well have a little fun while he’s like this. Smiling sincerely this time around, Rosa gently tickled Kitty Luke’s white, fluffy belly with the fingers of her free hand. “Peeeeeeeek…”

“Myaaa?”

“...a boo!!” she cried out, laughing, as she suddenly pulled back her hand and stretched out all fingers above the cat.

Surprised, the tabby stretched out all four limbs into the air the same time as her fingers.

The conference room was soon filled with Rosa’s delighted laughter; this time, she was intent on playing with Luke, like they used to when they were still children. Her fingers tickled its belly once more. “Peeeeek~”

The cat looked at her wide-eyed in anticipation, paws still up in the air.

“Ahahaha! Kidding!” Laughing once more, Rosa buried her face in the cat’s belly fluff…

…and found herself on the floor with him, nosing Luke’s very human eight-pack abs.

“R-rosa…?” Luke whispered, his voice strangled as he tried to move his limbs. “Um—uhh…I, uh…” His brain, freshly turned into a human one, was still trying to get a good grasp of the complexities of cognitive functions; his tongue couldn’t find the appropriate words to properly communicate that he, Luke Pearce, was in a complete state of undress; and therefore Rosa’s position, bracing over him with her lips on his abdomen was very, very inappropriate indeed.

Before Rosa could react accordingly the glass door opened with a click, and in strode the three men who reacted accordingly to the rather saucy sight that greeted them.

“Holy shit Missy, couldn’t you get a room first before welcoming him back?” Yet Marius’s voice was pained more than whiny. “I totally did not need to see this. We did not need to see this.”

He sounded as if he was about to cry.

Vyn looked as if he wanted to turn on his heel and quietly walk away; yet after a split second the blank look on his face was quickly replaced with a placid smile that did not quite reach his eyes. “Ah. Welcome back, Luke. I would bill you for the injuries, but Yishmir did a good job in patching us up.” With slow, measured footsteps he walked towards them, a canvas tote hanging from his hand. “Here. I gathered your clothes,” he said calmly as he placed the bag by the detective’s head, as if he wasn’t talking to someone lying on the floor of the conference room naked, being held by the object of his unrequited affection. “Miss Rosa, maybe Luke would want some space as he clothes himself?”

Vyn’s mention of her name snapped Rosa back into self-awareness. “Oh, oh shit, um. Dr. Richter, this totally isn’t what it looks like, believe me!” She stammered out her words as she pushed herself away from Luke’s prone form and stumbled away, burying her face in her hands.

Aaron merely whistled. “That’s my boy,” he said approvingly. “Pretty quick on the uptake mmmyeah?” He wiggled his eyebrows

Luke only groaned, still lying down on the floor. “THIS ISN’T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, OKAY?”

===

After a flurry of misplaced apologies, explanations, and demands of what the fuck just happened, the NXX Investigations Team sans Artem, and with the addition of Aaron Yishmir regrouped in the lounge. 

“So, you are telling us, some sketchy-looking old man just called your attention in some back alley in North Stellis, and gave you…this?” Marius, leaning against the coffee bar, held the pink-colored silk omamori with a calico cat embroidered on one side. “And you think this is related to what happened today?”

“To be honest, I have no clue. No clue whatsoever. Seriously.” Luke shrugged weakly, still reeling with the effects of the drugs he just took earlier. With his head slightly fogged, he sank deeper into the lounge’s sofa, furtively leaning his shoulder against Rosa, who sat right beside him.

As soon as he slipped back into his clothes moments ago, Aaron had immediately recognized the signs that he wasn’t feeling well; the field doctor surreptitiously handed Luke his usual cocktail of drugs including painkillers that he swallowed dry, when he thought  nobody was looking.

“Hey. Marius, can I take a look?” Rosa reached out and took the flat silk pouch off his hands, inspecting it closely.

There was no mistaking it.

Oh. Oh damn. 

“It’s…well, I know this thing.” Her voice faltered. 

But…is it really possible? The shrine really had this delivered to him? I thought they meant that they would send my prayers to him…not this way. Not literally…

“Come to think of it, did you not go to Japan a month ago for your business trip with Ms. Taylor?” Vyn asked, placing his cup of tea back into the saucer set on the glass table right in front of him. “Did you come across this kind of charm during a shrine visit, perhaps?”

Rosa nodded. “I…well, I encountered a small shrine when I almost got lost on my way home, so I thought to pay a visit.” She chewed her lip as she gathered her memories of the visit into a coherent montage. “I met this old priest…bought this exact type of charm…”

“Interesting…” Aaron murmured. “You know, normally I’d point and laugh at you for even having this kind of conversation seriously, but after seeing what happened…yeah…”

The next couple of hours were spent throwing around theories and speculations as to what happened, with Aaron also joining in as their special guest for that particular “investigation”. 

However, Luke and Rosa did not pay much attention, despite being the center of the topic at hand. 

For in the midst of the excited commotion their hands slipped behind their backs, their fingers interlaced with each other’s. 

Rosa vowed to take Dr. Yishmir’s advice seriously, to never let a moment with Luke go to waste.

And Luke, he chose to keep the fact that he remembered everything that transpired while he was a cat; including Rosa’s words of regret—words that he did not get a chance to hear until this morning.

Maybe it was time to rethink his priorities.

Maybe it was time to rewrite his plans, and integrate more of Rosa into his future, for what it’s worth.

Action: SMORRAH Title: Welcome To Your Nightmare Base: Gelsenkirchen • Germany Style: Death Thrash Metal Genre: Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Groove Metal FFO: Pantera, Sepultura, Exhorder Type: Full-length Format: CD + Vinyl + Cassette Label: Sick Taste Records Release: Feb. 23, 2024

[ Logo: Ersin Kara ] [ Artwork: Timon Kokott ] [ Pic: Anna-Lena Hickmann ]

Bulletpoints: 🔘 Strong debut album from the German powerhouse 🔘 Enormously rich, full-bodied Death Thrash package 🔘 Hard-hitting, precise and catchy material https://smorrah.com/ https://smorrah.bandcamp.com/ Socials: https://www.facebook.com/smorrah https://www.instagram.com/smorrah_official https://twitter.com/smorrahofficial https://www.tiktok.com/@smorrah Buy online: https://sektor12shop.de/epages/6c4798ca-5432-4f6d-8408-8e58beb96d35.mobile/de_DE/?ObjectID=1682740&ViewAction=FacetedSearchProducts&SearchString=Smorrah & https://sicktasterecords.bigcartel.com/product/presale-smorrah-welcome-to-your-nightmare-sick-034

The nameplate of this damn sturdy precision Thrash machine reads 2017 - and, yes, the four Thrash'n'Death metallers from SMORRAH are definitely powerhouse guys!

Location: Gelsenkirchen. That's right, the oft-mentioned city known for its glorious soccer club Schalke 04, also home to the Teutonic Thrash Metal pioneers of Sodom. In this former mining area, the eerie legend of the nasty demon "Smorra", who sits on the chests of sleeping people at night and tries to suffocate them bitterly, has been reverently told for generations. LINE-UP: Marius Wegener • Vocals Daniel 'Pumper' Hartmann • Guitars Christian 'Kraje' Krajewski • Bass Raphael Swierczynski • Drums

Our local patriotic heroes gave their own heavy steel commando such a demonic name. Also breathtaking are the stunningly vehemently riffed, fatally powerful and groovy SMORRAH blasts of notes, skillfully crowned by many technical refinements - DEATH THRASH METAL that just pops!

With charismatic playing strength, the bright formation delivers immensely intense, gripping song loads, all of which drill into your consciousness like a workaholic miner on adrenaline!

SMORRAH have also written some similarly spooky stories on their sooty banner, which the determined and tried-and-tested foursome around front beast Marius hoist high into the half-heartedly blowing trend wind!

With their unmistakable and thoroughly uncompromising sound, paired with gloomy lyrics, the band knows how to convince every time anew! Influences from all Metal genres and beyond come together to form a Groove Thrash monster that takes no prisoners.

TRACKS: 📺 01. Welcome To Your Nightmare 04:51 02. Dead Snake Eyes 04:45 📺 03. Age Of Decay 05:54 04. Killing Spree 03:58 05. Hope Dies Last 03:45 06. Buried Underneath 05:40 07. Death Awaits 05:00 08. Evil Betrayal 05:19 09. When The Tide Comes In 06:25

total 45:42

With their debut album "Welcome To Your Nightmare", SMORRAH release a total of 9 variedly conceived and hellishly powerfully produced songs.

High tension is guaranteed: "Welcome To Your Nightmare" energetically takes the listener on a gripping journey into the dark abysses of human psychology, leaving you hardly any time to catch your breath - the deliciously tight, bludgeon-from-the-bag quartet really does more than justify the legend surrounding the band's name!

Tireless headbangers, maniacal Thrashers and hungry Groove heads will all get their money's worth.

And anyone who has experienced these four likeable, down-to-earth heavyweights from Gelsenkirchen at one of their highly explosive and absolutely sweat-inducing live shows knows that there is only one direction with SMORRAH: Straight ahead! Auf Loik!

DISCOGRAPHY: 2018 • The Evil Within • EP 2020 • Necrosouls • Single 2022 • Live At Helvete • Live Album 2024 • Welcome To Your Nightmare • Full-length

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

9,5 / 10 ➤ "... fat riffs that almost take your breath away ... the fantastic thing about the guys from Gelsenkirchen is that they don't let anything get in their way and do their own thing ... Caution: danger of addiction! Groovy thrash monsters could also be lurking by your bedside, waiting for a favourable opportunity ..." (Bleeding4Metal)

9 / 10 ➤ "... singer Marius can not only growl very cool, he also has clear vocals that get under your skin ... blast their groovy riff monsters almost non-stop around your ears or sneak into your thoughts in quiet passages ... one of the pearls of the underground, if not the pearl of the month ... convinces with honest Metal that defies all trends and fires from all cylinders for the entire playing time!" (Obliveon)

9 / 10 ➤ "... really fat ... produces strong pressure ... SMORRAH process the anger in their songs and you can feel that in the relentless sound ... everything is offered to torture your neck muscles or to let off steam in the mosh pit ... what a great groovy crusher!" (Metalheads DE)

9 / 10 ➤ "... a very good debut ... convinces with great musical work and ingenious songwriting ... never gets boring, but makes you want more ... what stands out above all is the constant musical class ... not only the voice of Wegener can be heard, but also the qualities of the other musicians ... so one perfectly written riff chases the next and the solos are also uniquely played ... Thrash songwriting in a class of its own ..." (Soundmagnet)

4 / 5 ➤ "... a proof to SMORRAH's ability to combine Thrash and Groove Metal influences into a cohesive and devastatingly heavy sound. With unrelenting aggression, haunting atmospheres and impressive musicianship, this album is a must for fans of extreme Metal ... cementing their place among the genre's top acts." (MetalUnderground AT)

8,8 / 10 ➤ "A true Thrash monster ... a very fat debut album, which not only comes along with energetic music, but was also packed with a fat sound. A cool combination of old and new Thrash." (Zephyr's Odem)

8,6 / 10 ➤ "… absolutely pummelling … definitely nods to Kreator and Sodom in here and the other German Thrash classics too … melodic leads … shreddy as hell too in spots … absolutely fantastic debut … crowned as my favourite Thrash Metal release so far this year … if you just love everything about Thrash and German Thrash, then this absolute ripper is going to be right up your street …" (Drako's Death Metal News & Reviews)

8,5 / 10 ➤ "... relentless sound ... powerful ... as an experienced disciple in the thrash metal universe, you can raise your eyebrows with enthusiasm ... the fire of Sepultura meets the groove of Pantera, mixes with the coldness of Sodom and Kreator and yet has a whole unique style of its own that makes SMORRAH stand out from the sometimes confusing swamp of releases ..." (Powermetal DE)

8 / 10 ➤ "... nine songs that kick ass ... mixture of Thrash Metal (musically), Death Metal (vocally) and a bit of Groove Metal (rhythmically) ... contemporary, no cheap Retro Thrash ... manage to inspire the old and the new generation alike ... the production is mega fat and bangs ... a successful debut!" (Crossfire)

8 / 10 ➤ "... skilfully combine the qualities of bands like Sodom (also based in Gelsenkirchen), Sepultura and Pantera. Of course, one or two riffs sound very familiar, but otherwise they sound very independent. Good and varied songwriting. Good debut album. If you like your thrash metal varied and don't just like thrashing speed, you can pick this up without hesitation." (Time For Metal)

3,5 / 5 ➤ "Get ready to bang your head nonstop while raising your horns … old school, 80’s-infused Thrash Metal extravaganza spearheaded by classic riffs … Marius deeply vociferating like a demented beast … unstoppable, violent sounds brought into being while also alternating between more melodic moments and pure savagery …" (The Headbanging Moose)

➤ "... steely inferno ... relentless heaviness ... brute energy and gritty riffs create an atmosphere that is honest, hard and uncompromising ... debut album that perfectly epitomises the heaviness of Thrash/Death Metal ... with menacing intensity reflected in every track ..." (BlattTurbo)

➤ "Do you like your Death Metal with rich elements of Thrash? And preferably with a bit of Groove throughout? Don't worry - SMORRAH is the answer to your prayers... hard, delivered with tremendous precision and still catchy in that cool way... 9 strong tracks... sure to have many hitting the repeat button, because you can just listen to it again... and again..." (Rancor Metalzine)

➤ "... technically high quality ... fast, melodic, groovy ... the guitars have great moments throughout the album ... it just fits ... sounds really cool ... vocals - my goodness where does the man get these sounds from - Marius' style is brutal, varied and simply ... SMORRAH's debut is a board before the Lord and an absolute buy recommendation ..." (MetalZone - Support The Underground)

➤ "... cool Groove Thrash ... really cool mixture ... not only on the cap ... but also great guitar work, also with nice warm parts ... really good ..." (Scream For Metal)

➤ "… unsettling and ferocious … uncompromising and at times groove laden … sounds less like a debut album and more like the work of a band that have been playing together for years, which bodes very well for the longevity of Metal …" (The Razor's Edge)

➤ "... Thrash Metal rocket that could have come straight from the Bay Area ... this thing rattles brutally and just waltzes over you ... it's a real mouthful ... awesome! Fans of the band will be delighted ... a brutally good album!" (Festivalstalker)

➤ "... killer ... strong Thrash album ... if you like Thrash metal, you will definitely like it ... a little underdog pearl ... I can only warmly recommend SMORRAH ..." (Moshpit Passion)

➤ "... finally ... leave you barely able to breathe ... the band's high energy and live performance make the entire 45-minute album an ideal headbanger. The best examples of this are 'Age Of Decay' or 'Buried Underneath' ..." (Hardrock LT)

➤ "...of high quality, with thoughtful songs in a style that pushes technique and groove in equal measure, with enough energy and speed for my needs and yet with a more open approach to arranging where there is room for different tempos and atmospheres. Solid!" (Cvecezla)

➤ "Each song on the album offers a different experience, showcasing different essences that intermingle between the Thrash and Death base … demonstrates their ability to navigate a wide range of emotions and sounds within Metal … agonizing vocal performance … excellent instrumental execution … offering a very personal sound … an intense debut that will not disappoint you." (TNT Radio Rock)

And There It Is - GU GRX 4.8 Patrol

Forum: General 4x4 Discussion Posted By: Marius 130 Post Time: 2024/02/15 at 05:58 PM http://dlvr.it/T2nnd6