I have been on a search for one permanent black and one permanent blue. I have settled on Platinum Carbon for the black and just got a bottle of Platinum pigmented blue. I do not care for the blue; way too pale for me. I like saturated inks. I have searched permanent only because of a bad experience where I lost some important notes due to bad weather. Now I am too apprehensive to try non-permanent ink. Don’t want to lose info in journal, planner, etc. Anyone else care either way and have you found a non black permanent ink that you enjoy?
ETA: After spending a little more time with the Platinum Pigement Blue, it is growing on me. A little lighter blue than I usually like, but overall not bad.

The audience hall was a long room with a high ceiling. From the ceiling hung metal chandeliers that held hundreds of small white shining stones that illuminated the room with a warm and gentle light. Sunlight cascaded from the tall, arched windows over a row of rose beds aligned through the side of the room. For a moment I forgot I was inside the Great Hall and I was transported to a summer garden.
The ornate wooden pillars guided my sight to the center of the room. An exquisite carpet embroidered with fantastical animals and monsters went from the entrance to the foot of the Marquis throne. Captain Kiln guided me into the room where the nobles from the balcony leisurely chatted around the throne.
“That man over there,” Captain Kiln pointed at a man near the window. “He is Marquis Tauron of Farcrest.”
The Marquis was a tall man with a squared jaw and wide shoulders dressed in a simple white shirt and a red vest. From his belt hung a gilded scabbard and a short cape with his crest, a man impaling a wolf, covered his left shoulder. His tanned skin stood out among the paleness of the rest of the courtiers.
“Might I ask what his class is?” I asked.
The Captain gave me an amused glance before replying. “The Marquis is a high level Flame Fencer. I can beat his ass though.”
Abei walked up to the Marquis and after a few words, he walked to his throne. The rest of the courtiers sat on the chairs by the sides of the room, chatting in lower voices.
“Robert Clarke from the City of Light, please come forward.” Abei announced with his voice magically amplified and I felt all glances falling on me.
The old man continued speaking, invoking ancient laws, but I zoned out. Unlike the rest of the people I knew, the Marquis seemed to overflow with magic. If I narrowed my eyes I could almost see red sparks of mana floating around him. A shiver ran down my spine, the Marquis’ mana pool seemed to violently boil inside him. There was something his mana had that mine lacked, but what?
As my mind wandered, a servant dragged an odd brass nest with a dark blue orb embedded inside. I instinctively identify it.
System Shrine Fragment. [Identify] ???
The System prompt caught me off guard. It was the first time [Identify] couldn’t give me extra information about what I had in front of me. I wonder if the System had a reason to keep the information about the fragment to itself.
“Put your hand in the Identify Orb if you are an innocent man, Robert Clarke.” The Marquis spoke out loud. I recognized his words were some sort of ritual because of the little spirit and great disinterest with which he spoke them.
I begrudgingly obeyed, there were a dozen courtiers in the room and I wasn’t eager to show them I was a [Lonely Boy]. I wasn’t eager to know if I had any hidden titles either.
Abei gave me a reassuring nod and I hovered my hand a few centimeters from the nested orb. Suddenly, a blue light surrounded my hand and a second later my data sheet appeared in the middle of the room for all to see. At least there was no cavity search in this world. Or so I hoped.
Abei gasped and the room fell in a sepulcral silence.
New title acquired!
Favorite Teacher (96): Going to school isn’t that bad with you at the whiteboard. [Identify] You have not only managed to teach your students but to earn their respect and affection.
Reward: Slightly increased mana pool (96).
​
New title acquired!
Confidant: A title for those who are deemed trustworthy and reliable. [Identify] Your wisdom and welcoming nature
Reward: Increased mana pool.
​
New title acquired!
Father Figure(2): Someone has to do it. [Identify] I guess you are a better father figure than none.
Reward: Increased mana pool (2).
​
New title acquired!
Classroom Fiend: Not even flies fly when you are around. [Identify] They know you are not like those pesky substitute teachers.
Reward: Increased mana pool.
​
New title acquired!
Master Tutor: Title awarded to those who had mastered the pedagogic arts and techniques, and have a deep understanding of what being a teacher means. [Identify] You should’ve considered early retirement by now.
Reward: Doubled mana pool.
​
New title acquired!
Silver Scholar: Title awarded to those who had a deep understanding of multiple sciences and techniques. [Identify] Neeeeeerd!
Reward: Greatly increased mana pool.
​
New title acquired!
Stalwart Mentor (7): No matter how many times they fall, you helped them stand again. [Identify] Having too much trust in humanity isn’t always a bad thing.
Reward: Increased mana pool.
Other titles kept popping up but my mouth went dry as I felt my mana pool deepening inside my chest far beyond what seemed possible. But even that sensation disappeared into the background as I came to the realization of what those titles meant.
There was no way in the world I was the favorite teacher of ninety six kids, and the notion I was someone’s father figure was just preposterous. I knew I was a mediocre teacher at best. The System was wrong, after all, I was one of those teachers who didn’t really make the difference.
Before I had time to dwell on it, my character sheet appeared with all of the new titles on it, for everyone to see.
Name: Robert Clarke, Human.
Class: Scholar Lv.12
Titles: Lonely Boy, Hot for Teacher, Confidant, Classroom Fiend, Favorite Teacher (96), Father Figure (2), Master Tutor, Silver Scholar, Delinquent Reformer (5), Stalwart Mentor (7), Role Model, Expert Mathematician, Expert Physicist, Adept Historian, Adept Linguist, Journeyman Biologist, Novice Chemist, Novice Orator.
“A-aren’t you too young to be a [Silver Scholar] and a [Master Tutor]?” Abei stuttered as he glanced at my titles like a child looking at a particularly colorful breakfast cereal commercial. The Marquis was at the edge of his throne and even the most gossipy of the courtiers was silent.
Something completely unrelated clicked inside my mind. I knew why Holst had abandoned the kids. He was farming them. The breakthrough Zaon was talking about had to be a mana improving title just like mine.
I withdrew my hand off the orb before it showed [Homicide Planner] or something along those lines because the System probably knew my [Awareness] was working overtime to plan Holst’s death. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.
“M-master Clarke? Are you all right?” Abei’s whispering brought me back to the audience room.
“Yes, yes… I just… I’m a bit embarrassed, that’s all.” I lied, hoping everyone had seen my [Hot for Teacher] title.
Abei gave me a reassuring glance from the side of the throne before speaking again.
“Most of us Scholars fell in love with a professor at some point in our formation, there is nothing to be ashamed of.” Abei opened his character sheet effortlessly and showed it to me without resorting to the Identify Stone.
Name: Abei Luzian, Human.
Class: Scholar Lv.51
Titles: Silver Scholar, Bronze Tutor, Favorite Teacher (2), Expert Astronomer, Adept Mathematician, Adept Architect, Journeyman Orator, Novice Musician, Passionate for the Professor, Archivist, Translator, Thaumaturgy Theorist.
Even if Abei’s character sheet was intriguing, I wished I hadn't seen it. By my Earthling standards that was a blatant breach to privacy. And yet, I couldn’t help but notice that [Passionate for the Professor] was a lot tamer than [Hot for Teacher].
“How long have you been walking the path of the Scholar, Master Clarke? I can’t fathom how much effort it took to get two expertises and one mastery at such a young age.” Abei asked, this time loud enough for everyone to hear.
The silence in the room was replaced by the whispering of the courtiers. Abei’s interest in my person felt nice but I didn’t want to attract that amount of attention towards me. I didn’t want to fall into any intrigue games that could be developing in the Marquis court.
“We have witnessed the titles of an innocent man. For that reason I shall grant you free passage across the kingdom.” The Marquis announced and got a round of applause. Now he glanced at me with predatory eyes.
Abei took out a scroll from his sleeve and with a movement of the hand, the Scholar made it float in the air. With another movement, mana emerged from the tips of his fingers and washed over the scroll like the waves of the sea. With each clash, the words were imprinted in the yellowy surface until the document was complete. Abei took it to the Marquis who pressed his ring against the scroll, leaving a gleaming symbol that slowly lost its magical shine.
“Here you are, Master Clarke.” Abei handed me the passage permit.
“Accept my humble thanks, milord. I will not take more of your time.” I mumbled, still confused by the whole experience. I knew one thing, I had to get away before anything happened.
As I started my getaway when the Marquis spoke again.
“Your knowledge and potential hasn’t passed unnoticed to me and I will like to reward you properly.” The Marquis said with a mysterious grin on his face, but I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Whatever the Marquis was offering me wasn’t a reward but a deal I wasn’t in position to refuse without insulting him.
“I can’t think of a reward other than a letter of recommendation for the Imperial Academy.” The Marquis announced with his mighty voice. “The royal family would be thrilled to have such a promising young man helping with the academic development of the kingdom.”
There it was. The Marquis wanted to turn me into a gift for the King of Ebros, and part of me was okay with it. A recommendation letter would greatly expedite my journey to the imperial capital for a foreigner like me, however, something prevented me from jumping headfirst into the offer.
“Can I ask a question, milord?” I said before I could stop my tongue. “I have been watching the comings and goings of the inhabitants of Farcrest and there is something that bothers me.”
I couldn’t accept the recommendation letter without an answer.
“Speak your mind, Robert Clarke. I’m well aware Scholars have ten questions for every answer they have.” The Marquis' attention was fixed on me.
“I couldn't help but notice a great amount of vagrant kids in the northern district while the farmlands around the city lack laborers and some parts of the city lack proper maintenance. Farcrest seems to have enough resources to flourish and yet they seem arranged in the most peculiar way. With a little investment in the orphanages, the Marquis could educate the kids so they become useful classes for the city.” I said.
Suddenly, the Marquis wasn’t as amused with my presence anymore.
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I understand that for a Master Tutor every problem can be resolved through education.” The Marquis replied with a derisive tone.
I didn’t mention that the actual solution to many social problems was indeed education. Instead, I clenched my teeth and waited in silence. If I was to open my mouth it was going to insult the Marquis’ ancestry.
“Master Clarke lacks the context…” Abei started talking but the Marquis silenced him.
“Miserable orphan lives are a small price for Farcrest’s prosperity.” The Marquis rested his hands together and gave me a winning smile.
The picture of Elincia and her kids eating watery soup came to my mind and I had to bite my tongue to not open my mouth. I saw the tears of the small snake kids, Zaon’s doubts about the future, the bravery of the tiny harpy Shu. I saw Elincia clenching her jaw to withstand the pain of her wounded leg to return faster to the orphanage.
There was something I wasn’t catching.
“The King’s war machine can only be quenched with gold or blood, and orphan blood is cheaper than gold coins. We just take the surplus kids that can’t be fed in the orphanages and send them to the Royal Army.” The Marquis taunted me.
For an instant I didn’t believe what I heard. The Marquis was sending orphans to their certain death just to avoid paying the royal war tax.
“In any case, they are given a chance to survive but the Farlands are a treacherous enemy. Even if they die, they are doing a great service to the prosperity of Farcrest, and the realm.” The Marquis said with a predatory smile, then, he got comfortable in the throne, awaiting my answer.
“A cunning solution for a tricky problem, milord.” I bit my tongue.
The Marquis smiled full of himself, thinking he had secured a nice present for the royal family while outsmarting me in front of the court. The courtiers spoke of how benevolent the Marquis was for offering me a recommendation letter. But the mere idea of leaving Elincia and her kids to their fate made me want to puke.
“I can’t accept the letter of recommendation, milord.” I raised my voice, catching the attention of the whole courtroom.
The Marquis’ face fell apart.
“If you accept my proposal, you will be a Sage in no time. You will be freed of the shackles of a support class once and for all.” The Marquis couldn't hide the venom in his words.
My heart still yearned to accept the recommendation letter, travel to the Imperial Library, and become a spellcaster. But I couldn’t accept it. My new titles reminded me of how I felt years ago when I was a young and idealistic teacher. I felt like I could change the world for me and for others and no matter how naive it was, I wanted to preserve that feeling.
“I can’t accept the letter. The System made me a Scholar, and a Scholar I shall remain until it decides otherwise. Trying to change that unnaturally goes against my oaths. I hope you can understand.” I said, praying that invoking the System would save me from the Marquis wrath.
“Then you are a fool. We have nothing more to discuss, get out of my sight.” The Marquis growled and I felt the captain’s iron grip closing around my arm. She dragged me out of the room. As soon as the gates closed behind us, she let me go.
“That’s the biggest shitshow I have seen in a while, congratulations. The Marquis is going to hold a grudge.” Captain Kiln said as she signaled one of the guards to grab my backpack. My heart raced inside my chest but at least I was outside the courtroom with my head still glued to my body.
“Today I remembered something I had forgotten long ago.” I said as Captain Kiln walked me, or rather pushed me, back to the main entrance.
“And what is that?” The woman inquired, now more intrigued in my person than ever.
“I used to have strong ideals at some point in my life, might as well start following them.” I extended my hand, offering her the two silver coins she had lent me. “These are yours.”
“You are going to need them if you are going to do what I am thinking.” Captain Kiln said, pushing me through the door. The guardsmen at the gates glanced at me with amused expressions. It seemed that not every day the Captain kicked some random dude out of the Great Hall.
Despite her treatment, I noticed an approving look in her eyes. She took the money and put it into her pocket. I was having a hard time reading the woman. Was she loyal to the Marquis or did she have her own honor code?
“I’ll tell you a rumor I heard the other day.” Captain Kiln grabbed me by the jacket and drew me near to her so nobody else could hear. “Someone had been threatening lower nobility to not donate money and the merchants to not deal with orphanage owners. Do you understand what I am saying?”
I nodded in silence. The Marquis wanted to starve the orphanages so the kids had to join the army early. What I couldn’t understand was why the captain of the city guard shared that information with me.
“Lay low. Stay out of trouble, stay out of the Marquis’ sights.” Captain Kiln whispered as she turned around and returned to the Great Hall, leaving me in the middle of the main street.
Before the guardsmen could push me away from the gates, I turned around and entered the busy market knowing exactly what I had to do.
____________
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Discord Royal Road Patreon

Let it be known throughout baseball. No one sweeps this Orioles team. Also, is Gunnar on the rise? Hold your breath. He's still being super selective which is costing him. His contact is quality but it's still few and far between. Let's get the convo going around All Star candidate Austin Mays Hays though. My theory is his season is going under the radar cause this is just what we expect from a true blue 5 tool player. Stay healthy my boy. lastly, two claps and a rick flair for Bradish's 10 Ks yesterday. WHOOO
We better sweep this stupid Royals team to get back into or I'm gonna go copypasta mad at this team. Let's get it in.
Congrats to u/Shiderme for an exacto yesterday! Standings do not reflect current points. There were also a couple +/- 1s to get in there. Wanted to make sure this got out today. Wildfire delays to point allocation. I hope ya'll understand ;)
No winners from last night.
Lucky Guess Standings

Rank	User	Exact	'+/- 1	Lost Tiebreaker	Points
1	95ludeman	2	1	0	13
2	tehow5	1	6	0	12
3	jaxjag91	1	3	0	9
3	TommyPickles2222222	1	1	1	9
4	kingfiasco	1	2	0	8
4	Chizzleslip	1	2	0	8
5	StevenGlanzberg	1	1	0	7
5	RiesenTiger	1	1	0	7
5	Letsgoos19	1	1	0	7
5	bromanow025	1	1	0	7
5	therealjimothyjimson	1	1	0	7
5	Gumboy52	1	1	0	7
6	TOS1998	1	0	0	6
6	OrangeBuffalo8	0	2	2	6
6	harriswk17	1	0	0	6
6	greenjacket23	1	0	0	6
6	Billdozer2000	1	0	0	6
6	AlexOhanianSr	1	0	0	6
6	hcshock	1	0	0	6
6	malkusm	0	4	1	6
7	zombiereign	0	3	1	5
7	bpopo329	0	5	0	5
7	WillieKeeler96	0	5	0	5
7	King_Clitoris	0	5	0	5
7	GoOrioles7	0	5	0	5
7	DrThorntonMelon	0	5	0	5
7	DrDinglberry	0	5	0	5
8	Ndysmth	0	4	0	4
8	DudeFoSho	0	2	1	4
8	BeinGetz	0	2	1	4
9	samir_katta	0	1	1	3
9	imean	0	1	1	3
9	gnarkilleptic	0	3	0	3
9	ccmckee	0	1	1	3
9	Bmoreorioles1	0	3	0	3
9	Puddenfoot	0	3	0	3
9	DaddyHausen	0	3	0	3
9	Fangscale40K	0	3	0	3
9	bardster1	0	3	0	3
9	RumHamAndPineapple	0	3	0	3
10	zeromoustafa0	0	2	0	2
10	wodandos	0	0	1	2
10	waker94	0	2	0	2
10	OMGisitOVERyet	0	0	1	2
10	Music_Ordinary	0	2	0	2
10	joystick13	0	2	0	2
10	Jormmy-NcKegHook	0	0	1	2
10	jeffreythecat1	0	2	0	2
10	Evanevan22	0	0	1	2
10	BlueHenCountry	0	2	0	2
10	Azzazzyn	0	0	1	2
10	averyorioles	0	2	0	2
10	andrew-ge	0	2	0	2
11	Tardisheart	0	1	0	1
11	Shiderme	0	1	0	1
11	SellTheTeamDan	0	1	0	1
11	Ok-Establishment-240	0	1	0	1
11	MrTallGreg	0	1	0	1
11	LoraxEleven	0	1	0	1
11	jjk2	0	1	0	1
11	gzawaodni	0	1	0	1
11	Entertainmentguru	0	1	0	1
11	ClimAx_D2	0	1	0	1
11	CBennett1497	0	1	0	1
11	bablume	0	1	0	1
11	Affectionate_Tune481	0	1	0	1
11	JAMONLEE	0	1	0	1

Comments must include:

• Final Score (winner must be specified)
  
• Tiebreaker question
  
• Format: [Score] [Winner] [Tiebreaker]
  

All guesses must be submitted by the posted start time to qualify.
Score will be as follows:

• Exact guess = 6 points
  
• Off by one run = 1 point
  
• In the event of a tie, the loser of the tiebreaker scores 2 points
  

If two users pick the same score with the same tiebreaker, the person who submitted their guess first will be awarded the 6 points. The same rule will apply when two tiebreakers guesses are equally close to the actual result.
Score will be tallied each night and updated in wiki. They will also appear in the "Standings" section of future Lucky Guess posts.

Now let's play ball!

Tiebreaker for today is total Orioles hits off the Royals starting pitcher.

As always, please do not upvote or downvote any guessing comment until after the game is over and the winner is determined, then upvote the winner.

Matchup Statistics

You can find the lineups here before game time.
Orioles

Starting Pitcher	Throws	W-L	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	BABIP	FIP
Tyler Wells	R	4-2	68.1	26.6%	5.3%	33.1%	.183	4.56

Royals

Starting Pitcher	Throws	W-L	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	BABIP	FIP
Daniel Lynch	L	0-1	10.1	27.1%	8.3%	30.0%	.367	2.22

Good luck!

Things to Recollect While Purchasing Formal juicy couture Shoes For Ladies Looking for formal shoes is essentially similar to experiencing your own lighthearted comedy, with the exception of, rather than affection, you're in quest for the right shoe. Furthermore, assuming there's anything that well known films have shown us, it's that the quest for Mr Perfect could be very troublesome and the equivalent goes for formal shoes for ladies.
It's obviously true's that an informed client is a blissful client. Siphons, shoes, boots...Sometimes it is extremely challenging to not lose all sense of direction in the range of ladies' shoes out there.
So before you type purchase planner shoes online in your web search tool, we should stroll through a couple of tips that will assist you with getting the ideal conventional shoes for yourself:
You will be working the entire day, for at least eight hours, and assuming you are staying at work past 40 hours or work in administration, for longer than that. The 40-hour long week of work is hard an adequate number of on your feet without adding more hours to it.
No narrow office shoes
However they are endlessly on the more alluring side, you should stay away from them or go for a more extensive narrow toe to diminish the possibilities creating excruciating bunions and neuromas. You would rather not be removing the space of your toes, nor put included pressure them.
Shut administrative center shoe is most likely your smartest option
Since there is a lot of grasp happening in any case, with foot pressure not really important. Lashes that keep the shoe appended are best in more favorable conditions, however it could likewise cause torment on the off chance that the ties are not made right. You don't need your toes accomplishing basically everything, and you would rather not be removing flow all things considered juicy couture Shoes
Quality matters
Search for something of better caliber, regardless of whether it could cost a triviality more. Certified cowhide is your companion. Favor it to any of the less expensive office shoes. On the off chance that you disapprove of wearing calfskin, material choices likewise exist, with tweed or dreary in regular shades a decent choice.
Mind the variety
Know about the variety mixes with your attire too. Match the varieties on the off chance that you would be able, or go for something reciprocal on the off chance that you can't. Ivory office shoes with pastel dresses look pretty wonderful, while a dark dress with red-soled dark office shoes will unquestionably be getting consideration all over.
In the event that it fits, you got it
Ensure that the workplace shoes are the perfect fit. Now and then we go a size up or down since stores don't have half sizes. Try not to think twice about such, since you will just endure the side-effects over the long haul. Regardless of how much a shoe costs, in the event that the fit isn't right, no measure of padding will safeguard you from torment.
Solace goes far
Normally, formal shoes for ladies depend more on style than solace. Everything revolves around the allure. Yet, haven't arrived to purchase shoes for the eyes of others' are we?
For the ideal office shoe, you ought to pick something agreeable, made of normal materials, decorated exclusively with moderate contacts, with meager soles and straightforward heels, in an exemplary shade of one or the other dark or blue, beige or dim or brown. Leatherette is likely not something you ought to select either since it doesn't take into account the foot to inhale under it.

This week's thread is brought to you by FRIDGE BRILLIANCE

What's your favourite thing on your fridge? Or, what's on your fridge in general?
Honestly, our fridge is really practical and boring... there's a weekly planner that no one uses and a bunch of free magnets which have like, useful phone numbers on them. I recently got some sushi cat magnets for a friend as a housewarming gift... maybe I should get something more frivolous magnets of my own?

Rules

General

• PIFF starts every Friday @ Midnight NST! Credit to Slothzy and RockCroc for starting up this tradition!
• This thread is in CONTEST MODE This is to discourage downvoting in order to increase wishlist visibility and make it fairer for participants arriving throughout the day. All posts are randomized!
• Please observe all rules as outlined in our community and discussion guidelines! (Check out the nifty sidebar!)
• All individual NP items given in this thread are highly encouraged to stay under 100k//buyable. NC gifting is allowed at your own reasonable discretion. Also, UFA/UFT pets belong in the Daily Threads.
• Reminder: NEVER mention Reddit (or any variations thereof like Read It, Arr! Neopets, Blue Aliens, “that other site”, etc) or this thread on Neopets itself! We are not an officially affiliated fansite and doing so can put your account—or the ones of others—at risk of getting frozen!

Guidelines

• Please post in the following format to keep things streamlined and easy!
• Answer the awesomesauce prompt/theme for today!
• Gifting: [Tan codestones, dubloons, nerkmids, etc]
• Seeking: [Link to your JN wishlist, gallery from your UL, explanation of your collection’s theme, progress for BD training, etc]
• If your UN is not in your flair, please include the best method of contact! [Link to a lot on the Trading Post, link to your shop to donate NP, indication for preference to arrange gifts via Reddit PM, etc]
• It is encouraged and customary to copy/paste the confirmation after you send an item to another user. This helps prevent duplicate gifts in case their wishlists aren’t updated instantly! Also helps you figure out who to thank directly for being so generous~ “You have given [fantabulous item to contribute to their collection] to User '[insert UN here]'. Click the button below to continue.”
• Don’t forget to leave a courtesy upvote! (And it helps you keep track of who you’ve already gifted to!)
• If someone pays you a kindness, big or small, try to PAY-IT-FORWARD! Even if all you can afford is something small, or you can't do it quite yet, keep the kindness someone has paid you in mind and show someone else the same kindness in the future~

Courtesy

• Gift at your own discretion.
• Exercise caution when it comes to new Reddit or Neopets accounts posting on the thread.
• Spot shell accounts or free-loaders by checking them out before gifting: Sad/unfed pets? Little to no games played? Little trophy or avatar activities? Does no gallery or shop exist? No history of prior activity in this sub/unfamiliar with their UN?
• Please don’t be rude and steal other people’s TP lots if they are not intended for you.
• There is to be no begging or harassment of any kind.
• Report any suspicious individuals to the mods! This thread is a free-for-all chaotic mess most of the time and not micro-managed in any manner

Have:
Famicom Disk System

Title	Condition
Akumajou Dracula	Game + Hard Case & Insert
Dead Zone	Game + Hard Case & Insert
Eggerland	CIB
Electrician	Sealed
Esper Dream	CIB
Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally	CIB
Famicom Tantei Club Pt 1	Loose
Holy Sword Psycho	Loose + Hard Case
KiKi KaiKai: Doutou Hen	Loose + Hard Case
Link No Bouken: The Legend of Zelda 2	Loose + Hard Case & Insert
Link No Bouken: The Legend of Zelda 2	Loose + Hard Case & Insert
Link No Bouken: The Legend of Zelda 2	Loose + Hard Case & Insert
Mahjong Kazoku	Loose + Hard Case
Moero Twinbee	CIB except for softshell
Moero Twinbee	CIB
Super Mario Bros 2	CIB except for softshell
Volleyball	Loose + Hard Case & Insert
Wardner no Mori	Loose + Hard Case
Zelda no Densetsu: The Legend of Zelda	Loose + Hard Case

​
GBA

Title	Condition
Connect Four / Perfection / Trouble	Loose
Crash Nitro Kart	Loose
Crash & Spyro Superpack	Loose
Donkey Kong Country	Loose
Donkey Kong Country 2	Loose
Donkey Kong Country 3	Loose
Frogger's Adventures: Temple of the Frog	Loose
Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets	Loose
Hot Wheels Stunt Track / World Race	Loose
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap	Loose
Mario Kart Super Circuit	Loose
Pinball Tycoon	Loose
Pokemon Sapphire Version	Loose
Shrek 2	Loose
Spider-Man	Loose
Spongebob Squarepants Atlantis Squarepantis	Loose
Spongebob Squarepants Battle for Bikini Bottom	Loose
Spongebob Squarepants Lights Camera Pants!	Loose
Spongebob Squarepants The Movie	Loose
Spongebob Squarepants Revenge of the Flying Dutchman	Loose
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World	Loose
Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World	Loose
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island	Loose

​
Dreamcast

Title	Condition
Blue Stinger	Loose
Charge Blast	Loose
Crazy Taxi	Loose
Dynamite Cop!	Loose
Ecco The Dolphin Defender of the Future	Loose
Expendable	Loose
House of the Dead 2	Loose
Incoming	Loose
Midway's Greatest Arcade hits Vol 1	Loose
Monaco Grand Prix	Loose
Seaman	Loose + Microphone
Sonic Adventure	Loose
Web Browser	Loose
Dreamcast Magazine May 2000 Vol 5	Disc Only
Dreamcast Magazine Sep 2000 Vol 7	Disc Only
Dreamcast Magazine Dec 2000 Vol 9	Disc Only
Dreamcast Magazine Jan 2001 Vol 10	Disc Only

​
Xbox

Title	Condition
Tennis Master Series 2003	Sealed
WWF Platinum Hits	Sealed
Chase Hollywood Stunt Driver	CIB
Halo Combat Evolved	CIB
MechAssault Best of Platinum Hits	CIB
Nascar Heat 2002	CIB
Project Gotham Racing	CIB
Project Gotham Racing 2 Platinum Hits	CIB
Sega GT 2002 / JSRF	CIB
Simpsons Road Rage Platinum Hits	CIB

​
PS1

Title	Condition
Pinobee	Sealed
Shooter Space Shot	Sealed
Army Men 3D GH	CIB
Crash Bandicoot GH	CIB
Crash Bandicoot 2 GH	CIB
ECW Anarchy Rulz	CIB
ECW Hardcore Revolution	CIB
Final Fantasy 7	CIB
Ford Racing	CIB
Gran Turismo GH	CIB
IHRA Drag Racing	CIB
Jampack 12 Vol.2	CIB
Jeremy McGrath Supercross 98	CIB
Knockout Kings 2000	CIB
Madden 2000	CIB
Metal Gear Solid GH	CIB
Nascar Rumble	CIB
NFL Gameday 98	CIB
NHL 98	CIB
Parasite Eve	(Missing Collector's CD)
Power Move Wrestling	CIB
Superbike 2000	CIB
Test Drive 5	CIB
WCW Backstage Assault	CIB
WCW Mayhem	CIB
WCW Nitro	CIB
WCW vs The World	CIB
WWF Attitude	CIB
WWF War Zone	CIB
WWF War Zone GH	CIB
WWF SmackDown! 2 Know Your Role	CIB
Activision Classic Games (2600)	Loose
Chrono Cross	Loose
Final Fantasy Tactics	Loose
Final Fantasy VII	Loose
Gran Turismo	Loose
Gran Turismo 2	Loose
Interactive CD Sampler Disc Vol. 9	Loose
King's Field	Loose
Legend of Dragoon	Loose
Metal Gear Solid	Loose
Official U.S. Playstation Oct 1998 Disc #13	Loose
Riven	Loose
Spec Ops: Covert Assault	Loose
Tomb Raider II	Loose
Wild Arms 2	Loose
WCW NWO Thunder	Case + Manual
Chrono Cross	Manual Only
Final Fantasy Tactics GH	Manual Only

​
PS2

Title	Condition
God of War 2	CIB
Guitar Hero Aerosmith	CIB
Madden 2005	CIB
Madden 2007 Hall of Fame Edition	CIB
Resident Evil 4 GH	Game + Case
007 Agent Under Fire	Loose
Crash Bandicoot The Wrath of Cortex	Loose
MLB Slugfest 2004	Loose
Orphen Scion of Sorcery	Case + Manual

​
PS3

Title	Condition
Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009	CIB
Call of Duty 4 GH	CIB
Condemed 2: BloodShot	CIB
Evil Within	CIB
Genki: Days of the Blade	CIB
Infamous 2	CIB
Last of Us	CIB
Nier	CIB
Tom Clancy's Endwar	CIB
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2	CIB
Soul Calibur IV GH	CIB
Twisted Metal	CIB

​
Genesis

Title	Condition
ATP Tour Championship Tennis	CIB
General Chaos	CIB
Lost Vikings	CIB
NBA Jam TE	CIB
Mortal Kombat II	Game + Case
Sub Terrania	Game + Case
Zoom!	Game + Case
Aladdin	Loose
Altered Beast	Loose
Blaster Master 2	Loose
Castlevania Bloodlines	Loose
Fatal Rewind	Loose
Golden Axe (Mega Drive)	Loose
James Pond 3	Loose
Kawasaki Superbike	Loose
Lion King	Loose
Maximum Carnage	Loose
OutRun	Loose
Pat Riley Basketball	Loose
Sonic The Hedgehog	Loose
Sonic The Hedgehog 3	Loose
Sonic Spinball	Loose
Splatterhouse 3	Loose
Super Hang-On	Loose
TMNT Hyperstone Heist	Loose
Vectorman	Loose
Wolverine Adamantium Rage	Loose
WWF Raw	Loose
X-Men	Loose
X-Men 2	Loose

​
32x

Title	Condition
Metal Head	Loose
Doom	Loose
Star Wars	Loose
Star Wars	Loose

​
PSP

Title	Condition
Gran Turismo	Game + Manual

​
Wants:
​
Genesis

Title	Condition
Arrow Flash	CIB
Darius Extra Version (Strictly Limited)	CIB
Earthworm Jim (hardcase)	CIB
Earthworm Jim 2	CIB
El Viento	CIB
Fire Shark	CIB
Gaiares	CIB
Gain Ground	CIB
King's Bounty	CIB
Landstalker	CIB
Lightening Force	CIB
Midnight Resistance	CIB
Musha	CIB
Panorama Cotton (Strictly Limited)	CIB
Steel Empire	CIB
Ristar	CIB
Shinobi III	CIB
Slap Fight	CIB
Thunder Force III	CIB
Ultracore (Strictly Limited)	CIB
Wings of Wor	CIB
Air Buster	Box + Manual
Beyond Oasis	Box + Manual
Elemental Master	Box + Manual
Maximum Carnage	Box + Manual
Ranger X	Box + Manual
Strider	Box + Manual

​
GBA

Title	Condition
Advance Guardian Heroes	Loose
Car Battler Joe	Loose
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon	Loose
Demikids	Loose
Mega Man Battle Network 4	Loose
Mega Man Battle Network 6	Loose
Ninja Five-O	Loose
Shining Force: Ressurection of the Dark Dragon	Loose
Shining Soul II	Loose
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story	Loose
Wade Hixton's Counter Punch	Loose

I have other Genesis titles I'm trying to complete as well but the above is the highest current priority.

FirstNext
Well, it only took Canada burning and the East Coast turning into smoky rendition of a Mexico filter for this chapter to finally reach completion. Regularly-scheduled programming should hopefully resume after July 4th. Until then, drink some water, don't do gender reveals in the forest, and hang in there, guys!
Pursuant to Imperial Decree 10928, and in recognition of the reservist nature of the unit, the 1st Rocket Artillery Regiment has been found to satisfy the standards outlined in the Decree. However, in light of the significant budget and nonmaterial resource allocations that were required to bring the aforementioned unit up to levels considered satisfactory by existing standards, additional considerations beyond readiness and training levels must be taken into account.
Throughout the appeals process, you have repeatedly indicated that you believe rocket artillery to still have a place on the modern battlefield, citing recent reports from the Terran Planetary District command of the Sol System sector, as well as early after-action reports from the Intervention on Raknos, which you claim to support your argument. However, further investigation into this claim by independent analysts on behalf of Armored Warfare Command has found it to hold no merit in light of the recent restructuring outlined in detail in prior communications. Simply put, neither the Empress, nor her advisors, believe that the maintenance and garrisoning of units intended strictly for low-intensity counter-insurgency operations remains doctrinally viable.
Additionally, the excessive monetary and nonmonetary resources you requested in preparation for the evaluation, in light of the on-par, verging on substandard performance of the 1st Rocket Artillery Regiment, even accounting for the large number of fresh troops that needed to be drawn down from other posts to fill out its ranks, is highly suggestive on the part of you, the honorable Ashira Rakishal. This discrepancy is of high importance, and you may rest assured that it has already been publicly filed by the time this letter appears in your inbox.
Such a discrepancy is indicative of either incompetence or corruption on your part. Commanding officers may face demotion or a possible dishonorable discharge for the former, or, for the latter, a fine totalling no more than one-and-a-half times the estimated sum of the damages assessed, guaranteed dishonorable discharge and a potential prison term of no more than four years. Due to there being no evidence to suggest the latter, the former approach has been suggested by the Armored Warfare Command. Effective fourteen (14) days after this order is signed, your rank will be reduced and you will be relieved of commanding the Regiment. You may be restationed at this time, and your government-issued devices may be deactivated to facilitate this restationing. The 1st Rocket Artillery Division, in accordance with Decree 10928, will be dissolved and its assets relocated to other units wherever possible. Any remaining property will be auctioned under section 12.57.3(g) of the Naval and Marine Surplus Handling Act of 651 at the Val’tira Central Forwarding Depot.
Ashira finished reading the letter, but the words meant nothing to her. She hadn't slept in half a week, if not longer, in anticipation of the results from her hearing. In fact, she'd hardly gotten up from her desk; the 1st RAR was on leave until the final verdict would be announced publicly, and it was all she could do but to refresh her inbox every few minutes and watch mindless clips in the background that she hardly heard and never managed to remember a word from.
She tried reading it again, but the letters seemed to float off the screen, each one wrapped in a halo of bluish white screen glow. Nothing made sense.
'We were found to be satisfactory, but then… why does it talk about my rank? Am I getting promoted? There was something about dishonorable discharges, too, so… are some of my girls getting let go? I guess I will have to break the news to them. And it said something about budget overruns… well, mom still owes me from when she forgot to get me anything for my eighteenth last month, so I guess she can pay them back for all the equipment and training I had to authorize…'
Her thoughts were already drifting off into a vague haze when her stomach made a low noise, reminding her of the fact that she hadn't eaten in hours, mostly because her supply of food had run dry. Almost in a trance, she rose from her desk and, almost on autopilot, set about getting ready to go out and do some shopping, as she always did. The floor of her living quarters was almost entirely hidden by weeks-old discarded packaging, mountains of dirty clothes, and bottles half-filled with liquid that was either expired juice or urine. Narrow paths snaked through the mess; one to the bathroom, one to her bed, and one more still to the door, which she now slowly shambled towards.
Ashira pulled a pair of battered combat boots over her bare feet - she'd run out of socks that didn't offend her senses some weeks prior - without bothering to lace them, shoved her wallet into the front pocket of the fireproof jumpsuit she wore with absolutely nothing underneath and hadn't changed out of all week, and shoved the door open to head out. Immediately, the smell - or, perhaps, a lack thereof - of the corridor hit her. All the sleeping quarters were locked. It was quiet. Though her boots were heavy, her footsteps barely made a noise as she plodded along the thick, purple and topaz-blue carpet that lined the floor.
The door to the lobby was propped open by a cleaner's cart, and a heavy perfume of chemical detergents wafted through the opening as she approached. In the lobby was a small, older Helkam male, with his long and, in places, graying hair tied back with a beige bandana that matched his civilian contractor's coveralls, just as his green noise-canceling headphones matched the company logo on his uniform. He was dutifully mopping the already nigh-spotless polished stone floor, and there was only a narrow dry strip connecting doorway to doorway.
“‘Scuse me,” she mumbled, tapping him on the shoulder to alert him to her presence. “Coming through.”
He flinched away from her touch, and she flinched away from him, as though his own shock was contagious. “The fuck, you touch me!?” He exclaimed, whipping around to face her, mop at the ready like a Turox-prod. His face burned a pale but furious violet, contorted with fear and a readiness to fight. But, just as suddenly as he’d come to face her, his expression became one of confusion. His mop dipped down, and they stood in silence for a split second that seemed to drag on for entire minutes. Then, he made an odd face, as if of disgust or contempt, and stepped aside, motioning for her to pass by him.
Ashira would have been puzzled by this, if only she were not so frazzled and caught up in her own thoughts. She stepped outside and was immediately hit by a cool breeze; it was night out, and the wind blew in just as it always did. Not that it bothered her much; over the previous months, she had found that it didn’t seem to affect her very much. The only reason she wasn’t feeling the full brunt of the evening gales was that the buildings around the officer’s quarters were mostly two- and three-story affairs, their height and old, weathered stone cladding the last specters of the prominence and prestige the base enjoyed in the long-before times. Before the Unification Wars were but a distant memory. Before the Periphery had become the final, unconquerable frontier. Before the Empress-damned mess that was Raknos. Before Rocket Artillery had become hopelessly obsolete.
The wind blew, relentless and steadfast, as she trudged towards the only place on-base that still had its lights on. The general store. She didn’t know what she wanted to buy there, nor if there would indeed be anything on the shelves that she’d want to buy, but she felt she had to try, anyway. The only rest she could get now was chemically-assisted, either through over-the-counter sleeping pills, or copious volumes of booze, or, when the going got particularly rough, a combination of both. She was vaguely aware of the damage she was probably inflicting upon her organs, but she figured that they were a worthy sacrifice. Still, some days she couldn't fall asleep, even boozed up and medicated as much as she would dare, so she would lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, hoping that the splitting headaches she would get from that chemical cocktail would make her ears ring loud enough to drown out her intrusive thoughts.
The store wasn't particularly warm when she entered, and it reeked of cigarette smoke and mildew as always. The nearest set of shelves to the door were stocked with bags of some sort of imported breaded meat snacks labeled Pufriyah - Ancestral Recipe, Modern Taste! across the top shelf and cases of Red Grains across the bottom, as if some long-forgotten planner had seen into the future and anticipated Ashira's shopping habits exactly. Without much thought, she pulled a case of the Reds off the bottom shelf, her back, which had been sore for months by then, crying out in pain that just barely cut through her apathy. She threw a few bags of the Pufriyah snacks on top of it, entirely indifferent to their name, slogan, and brown-furred chibi mascot that spoke to their Rakiri intended consumer base.
'It's all just carbs and protein at the end of the day,' she figured. It wasn't like she could taste much of them anyway, had she really cared to learn their flavor. It was close to a month prior that she'd caught a nasty cold, and her constant sleep deprivation and stress hadn't lent themselves to it clearing itself up on its own. Her senses of taste and smell were unnecessary to her whipping her unit into shape, she'd decided, once she learned that the antivirals she needed to take to make her symptoms clear up would need her to be on bed rest for three straight days. She could always take them later, anyway.
The bottles of Red Grain clanked against each other as Ashira heaved the case onto the checkout counter. The bags on top of it slid off, and she only just caught them in time. The noise awoke the lone cashier, another civilian contractor, from her nap atop her wobbly three-legged stool. She quite inelegantly hopped off of it and came to lean against the counter with one hand, the other lazily waving the scanner of a specialized Data-Slate over the merchandise.
"ID for the Reds," the cashier groggily slurred out, patting down her many pockets in search of a cigarette box. "Standard procedure, nothing personal against you."
Ashira stared at her, dumbfounded, for a few moments too many, before it hit her that she needed to pull up her Marine Profile on her Slate. Mumbling an apology mixed with an excuse, she reached into one of the few - albeit cavernously huge - pockets of her fireproof suit and produced the grimy government-issue device in question. The lock screen was set to her ID, just to make such common interactions go by quicker.
She pushed the Slate across the counter, expecting to get it slid back to her in a few moments, and maybe a manufactured smile and a nod if the cashier noticed the Rakishal House crest in the corner and realized she was of noble blood. But this time, none of that happened. The woman across from her frowned, squinting as she analyzed something about the ID, her face no more than perhaps a few centimeters from it. She looked up at Ashira, then back down at the ID, then back at her, and then all of a sudden her confusion melted into some odd mixture of shock and disgust. She wordlessly pushed the Slate back across the counter, scanned the case of Red Grain, and then motioned to a now very baffled and somewhat offended Ashira that she was free to leave.
In her sleep-deprived state, Ashira had barely the mental capacity to remember where the door was, much less to ponder the deeper meaning behind what had transpired. Vowing to come back the next day, after getting a good night's sleep, and get the insolent cashier fired, she trudged out of the shop, back to the officers' quarters, where the Helkam man was still toiling away in the lobby, now wiping down the Turox-leather seats, and into her own suite.
She brushed the most egregious of the trash from her bed, with the arm that wasn't clutching the spoils of her trek to her chest, and allowed gravity to gracelessly guide her into its soft, fitted-sheet embrace. With a sigh of barely-felt relief, she cracked the cap off her first bottle with her tusks and took a long, well-earned swig.
The next thing she knew, it was morning.
Everything hurt. Ashira's muscles all ached like she'd run every Deathshead Commando bootcamp course, back-to-back, without stopping. Her head felt like a bloated, rotten gourd, ready to burst at the slightest touch. Even though her eyes were closed, what little light made it through them felt as though it was piercing straight through her eyeballs and into her brain. However, through it all, she noted an odd, almost pleasant sensation that she hadn't felt in so long, she'd almost forgotten the word for it.
'Empress all-powerful, this must be the first time in almost a year that I've had a full night's sleep!'
Ashira would have kept laying there, exactly where she was. The room was quiet. No one needed her. Her unit was stood down for another few days. She could just stay in bed, in peace, and wait for the pain to subside. But the very second she considered that possibility, her bladder cried in agony, and she simultaneously came to the realizations that she would not be able to hold it in for even a minute longer, and that she was wearing her only set of relatively-clean clothes.
She pushed herself up and onto her feet, and that motion sent showers of sparks cascading through her vision, even as her eyes stayed firmly shut. Her ears rang from the pain as though she'd stuck her head between the prongs of a colossal tuning fork, her limbs felt numb as she stumbled through her room, and the only way she could tell up from down was from the direction gravity kept pulling her every time she lost her balance.
She hit the door frame to the bathroom by chance, only recognizing it as the right one by the light switch her elbow painfully caught. From there, she went entirely by feel. There was the sink, the towel rack, the soap dispenser, the shower door… and finally, having run out of wrong things to blindly grope around for, her hand bumped into the tank of the toilet. Even bending down made her head fill with the pounding beat of her heart, every pulse seeming to try and push her brain out of her skull through her eyes and ears. She nearly blacked out as she sat down.
The next thing Ashira knew, she was doubled over her sink, dry-heaving, her fireproof pants pulled back up around her waist but neither zipped shut nor clipped together at the front. She knew for certain that nothing had come up, because she was newly aware of the desiccated dryness in her mouth and throat, as if all her flesh had been replaced with fine-grit sandpaper. Still lacking the resolve to open her eyes, she blindly clawed at the knobs of the sink until water began to pour, and then began scooping handfuls of it into her mouth.
After a few gulps, she began to feel a bit better. Her mouth, though it still felt dry as ever, was at least now rid of the horrible, sour, metallic taste that she hadn't registered until it was gone, and the unintentional splashing of water onto her face did wonders in helping her start to truly wake up. The very next instant, though, a numbing pain spread across her hands and face, and down her throat. The water was freezing cold.
That didn't deter Ashira, though, and she kept drinking until she knew that she would not be able to swallow a drop more without throwing up. Her hands were numb from the frigid water, as was her face. Icy rivulets streamed down her chin and throat and under her unzipped collar, leaving cool, glistening trails across her breasts and stomach.
Somehow, this numbness that spread across her fingers and cheeks seemed to have carried over to her hangover, as well, though whether it was the rapid cooling, or the much-needed hydration, or both, she neither knew nor cared. Her head now hurt with the intensity of just any old headache, her skin did not feel two sizes too small for her organs, and her muscles and joints barely ached with any more intensity than they usually did.
She opened her eyes for the first time since she'd gotten out of bed, ready and eager to take full advantage of her hangover cure while its effects still lasted, and almost fell over as she stumbled away from the mirror in shock. The reflection in the mirror was decidedly not her.
Bloodshot eyes stared out at her from dark, sunken orbits; two craters on a puffy face rendered a waxy, pale bluish lilac by months of near-total involuntary isolation from the daylight. Raven hair framed that lifeless visage, once kept neat and short, now a wild, greasy, and, above all, long Seetcha's nest. It had once had lively sun-bleached streaks where her beret and headset did not fully cover it, from when she would ride head-out in her trusty command Ishtarti-603, but they were now mere faded tips spread unevenly through the carbon-black tangle.
The rest of her was not in much better shape. Her bust, though always on the fuller size, was nonetheless noticeably larger than it had been the last time Ashira had inspected her reflection, and doubtless was the cause of her incessant back pain. In the same moment, she became aware that her breasts rested not against the top of her six-pack - which, while rarely worked out and never particularly defined, had, in its mere presence, still been a point of quiet pride for her - but at the upper limits of a beer gut, whose faint outline was visible even under the baggy suit she was wearing for the umpteenth day in a row, and which stood as a testament to the inertia she had descended into while trying to force the RAR into motion.
'Fuck, there's the evidence of my battle. Mom was right, I do eat like a Turox before the slaughter. I have no self-control. Why do I even bother with this restructuring business if I can't even keep to my own damn fitness goals?' Her gloom, though deep and all-consuming while it weighed upon her soul, dissipated just as quickly as it set in. 'But I knew it would happen, so why does it surprise me? I knew going in that I was burning myself up in the present to keep future me warm. It's just a few kilos. A dozen at most. No big deal. Just need a bit more exercise for a month or two and I'll be right back in parade shape!'
It did, however, make her think to place an order with the on-base supply depot for some new clothes. With the Unification Day festivities looming, it would simply not do for this quite temporary distortion of her Noble figure to be so brazen, she firmly decided.
The order would have to wait, however. When Ashira brought out her government-issued Data-Slate from her front pocket in a familiar motion, already compiling a list of all the workout gear, field uniforms, and parade garb she would need in a size up, the device, in an apparent bout of unruliness, first resisted her efforts to turn it on, and when it was finally made to do so, simply boot-looped endlessly on the startup screen. For all intents and purposes, it was a Slate-shaped paperweight, and Ashira didn’t even have enough physical documents in her possession to make use of this one purpose it had left.
‘First my clothes, now the one Slate mom can’t track me on. What’s next, is my ID going to expire all of a sudden? Will my physical Chit card have a bad contact?’
There was only so much she could take at one time, so she decided to do the sensible thing and get something to eat before returning to dealing with her problems. She pulled out her Slate. It was almost noon.
'No one needs to see me like this. How can I command the regiment if they see me in such a state? I'll order breakfast - well, lunch now, but who's really counting? - and I can join everyone for dinner, once I get a chance to order in some new clothes, and shower, and maybe do something with my hair.'
With a practiced motion, so automatic it was almost a reflex, she swiped through the interface until she found what she was looking for. There, between Combatters forum sites, was a saved page for the Hungry Gal's order menu. Her chit was already saved in the system. All she needed was to tap on "Large Hot Meal #5 - Drink Combo" and…
CHIT DECLINED - PAYMENT BLOCKED
"That can't be right," Ashira muttered aloud as she tapped the button again, over and over, to the same effect. "It's a government card. Unless- ah, right, it must be the new policy they were talking about! Can't believe they made food expenses count as personal expenditure only, the nerve of these credit-pinching…"
She went into the payment details section of the page, switched the number to her personal one, and selected "Large Hot Meal #5 - Drink Combo" again. This time, a new message appeared.
INVALID ACCOUNT - DEACTIVATED
The gnawing hunger in her stomach disappeared in an instant, replaced by a solid iron bar of dread. Why was her account deactivated? Who could have done it? The only other person with access privileges was her own mother, and why would she…?
Ashira knew the answer. She didn't want to know it, to acknowledge that she knew it for fear of what it meant, but she did. With shaking hands, she opened the notification screen of her Slate, and saw she had unread messages from her family group chat. She tapped that notification, expecting a deluge of fury about her weight, her spending habits, her slovenly appearance in public, or any manner of other things, but there was but one message, sent earlier that morning. It was from her mother, indeed, but it was just four words long.
I got the letter.
She wanted to protest, to scream, "What letter could you possibly mean?," but she couldn't. A memory, hazy from the fog of insomnia that had dulled her thoughts at the time, played against her volition in her mind. The words hadn't made sense to her then, but they did now. Robotically, she closed the message from her mother and searched through her inbox for one marked with a government seal. She opened it, and read it in silence. The last few lines were the hardest to read, because by then the tears had begun to well up in her eyes.
It was over. Her career, her noble status, her finances, her life as she knew it… they were all gone, and it had taken just one letter to send it all crashing down.

Dexter Gordon & Slide Hampton - Day in Copenhagen - $19.95 w/ free shipping

A tremendous European meeting of tenorist Dexter Gordon and trombonist Slide Hampton -- brought together in this impeccable sextet session for MPS -- a real standout in the label's straight jazz catalog over the years! By the time of the set, Gordon had been working heavily in Europe, especially Copenhagen -- a locale where he was given ample freedom to stretch out and really explore his tone and phrasing. Hampton had also kicked around the continent a fair bit too, but in a tighter format, doing arrangements for others and working in bigger groups -- and it's actually his careful touch that really helps shape the sound of the set -- by bringing Gordon's groove into a focus more strongly than before, and reminding us that Dex was a great group player when he wanted to be! The frontline features Gordon's tenor, Hampton's trombone, and the trumpet of Dizzy Reece -- often stating the heads in a fluidly soulful way, then breaking out nicely with individual voices -- very much in the best Blue Note mode. Rhythm is by the trio of Kenny Drew on piano, Art Taylor on drums, and Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass -- and titles include 3 excellent originals by Hampton -- "A New Thing", "My Blues", and "A Day In Vienna" -- plus a wicked almost-Lee Morgan-esque take on "What's New", and versions of "Shadow Of Your Smile" and "You Don't Know What Love Is".

direct link

At this point in the game you’d think JC would provide clothing that can be bought with in-game currency. Especially with how often Daily Planner and FM have tasks to purchase an item.
I know they’re running a beta where people can purchase past event furniture/outfits but in the mean time at least add new clothes that don’t clash with each other.
I just want maybe a black long sleeve sweater (that isn’t cropped 🙄) and maybe some separate bottoms with sensible shoes (side eyeing those light blue “uggs”)… just more two pieces and less capes pleeeease.
Sorry, rant over.

I got a sexed true blue whiting pullet that was supposed to be a hen. It’s 9 weeks old and I’m noticing a ruff coming in. While she was snuggling with me (she’s adorable that way) I noticed that there are little nubs on the back of her legs now. I’m starting to think she might be a roo and these are the start of spurs…. Do hens get anything on their legs or do I have a roo?
Edit to add photos: they could not figure out how to add them to my post so I had to link them in a new post.
link to photos