Custom pot luck invites
What is with all these fake artists with real-looking profiles?
2024.05.14 17:11 PyramidofPolite What is with all these fake artists with real-looking profiles?
I recently went online to try and find some artists for a few small projects, and ended up getting a few. I checked them out and they initially all seemed legit - they had Twitter pages, friends, linktrees, watermarks, etc... They also all seemed genuinely interested in the project and asked for reference material.
However, when it came time to drop a deposit, the first thing I noticed is that some of the names weren't matching. One of them explained it away as "bank issues, this is a family friend's account"; the second time a similar excuse was dropped, I immediately stopped and began to look in deeper.
It took me 30+ minutes of digging deep, but I eventually figured out most of their art was either AI or stolen. Their profiles were facades (if well-constructed ones), and a number of their friends were fellow "artists".
I'm also a little confused at what their endgame is. Paypal is pretty good about getting a customer's money back, so it's far from a guaranteed score. Some of them have also tried to access the reference documents or provide (crappy) sketches after I paid a deposit, even. I have heard that some scammers do this and ask for screenshots of your payment so they can scam other people, but all that effort just for a screenshot?
Anyway, good luck everyone - watch out for fake artists.
submitted by PyramidofPolite to Scams [link] [comments]
However, when it came time to drop a deposit, the first thing I noticed is that some of the names weren't matching. One of them explained it away as "bank issues, this is a family friend's account"; the second time a similar excuse was dropped, I immediately stopped and began to look in deeper.
It took me 30+ minutes of digging deep, but I eventually figured out most of their art was either AI or stolen. Their profiles were facades (if well-constructed ones), and a number of their friends were fellow "artists".
I'm also a little confused at what their endgame is. Paypal is pretty good about getting a customer's money back, so it's far from a guaranteed score. Some of them have also tried to access the reference documents or provide (crappy) sketches after I paid a deposit, even. I have heard that some scammers do this and ask for screenshots of your payment so they can scam other people, but all that effort just for a screenshot?
Anyway, good luck everyone - watch out for fake artists.
2024.05.14 17:11 Crypterium_app Invite your friends to Discord and win $CHO!
We're giving away $500 worth of $CHO in our community invite contest!
How to participate:
submitted by Crypterium_app to Crypterium [link] [comments]
How to participate:
- Join our Discord server discord.gg/choiseai
- Get at least 5 active invites using your unique link
- Receive the 'Inviter' role on Discord
- Take part in a series of prize draws until May 21st on Discord
2024.05.14 17:10 Crypterium_app Invite your friends to Discord and win $CHO!
We're giving away $500 worth of $CHO in our community invite contest!
How to participate:
submitted by Crypterium_app to crypterium_com [link] [comments]
How to participate:
- Join our Discord server discord.gg/choiseai
- Get at least 5 active invites using your unique link
- Receive the 'Inviter' role on Discord
- Take part in a series of prize draws until May 21st on Discord
2024.05.14 17:10 Anpu1986 I found this short story about Set’s true name very interesting.
I found this on a website called Henadology. I don’t know exactly what source they used for this story, but there is a list of them at the end of the article. Anyway:
https://henadology.wordpress.com/theology/netjeru/seth/ “An interesting spell (no. 102 in Borghouts) treats of an episode in which Seth has apparently been bitten or stung by something and requires the assistance of Horus, who is travelling with him. Echoing the famous myth involving Isis and Re (no. 84 in Borghouts), Horus states that Seth must tell him his (true) name in order to be healed. Seth offers a series of names to Horus, each of which Horus rejects as being not his true name. The names Seth offers for himself and which are rejected by Horus are: ‘yesterday, today, and tomorrow which has not yet come’; ‘a quiver full of arrows, a pot full of unrest’; ‘a man of an infinite number of cubits whose appearance is not known’; ‘a threshing floor as strong as bronze, which no cow has ever trodden’; ‘a jug of milk milked from the udder of Bastet’. The final name Seth offers, which is accepted and brings about his healing, is “a man of an infinite number of cubits, whose name is ‘Evil Day’. As for the day of giving birth and becoming pregnant—there is no giving of birth and sycamores will not bear figs.” This latter remark sounds very much like the entry for an unlucky day from a typical Egyptian calendar. According to this spell, therefore, while each of the other names Seth volunteers undoubtedly reflect valid aspects of his nature, the most adequate description of Seth is as an unlimited being who is a source of bad luck, specifically lack of fruitfulness.”
So basically, Set is infinitely powerful, but unlucky. I think I follow Him because He’s relatable. He has a human aspect. I was never fond of Gods with hyperbolic claims of total omnipotence, that can be disproven just by looking at the world around us.
submitted by Anpu1986 to Setianism [link] [comments]
https://henadology.wordpress.com/theology/netjeru/seth/ “An interesting spell (no. 102 in Borghouts) treats of an episode in which Seth has apparently been bitten or stung by something and requires the assistance of Horus, who is travelling with him. Echoing the famous myth involving Isis and Re (no. 84 in Borghouts), Horus states that Seth must tell him his (true) name in order to be healed. Seth offers a series of names to Horus, each of which Horus rejects as being not his true name. The names Seth offers for himself and which are rejected by Horus are: ‘yesterday, today, and tomorrow which has not yet come’; ‘a quiver full of arrows, a pot full of unrest’; ‘a man of an infinite number of cubits whose appearance is not known’; ‘a threshing floor as strong as bronze, which no cow has ever trodden’; ‘a jug of milk milked from the udder of Bastet’. The final name Seth offers, which is accepted and brings about his healing, is “a man of an infinite number of cubits, whose name is ‘Evil Day’. As for the day of giving birth and becoming pregnant—there is no giving of birth and sycamores will not bear figs.” This latter remark sounds very much like the entry for an unlucky day from a typical Egyptian calendar. According to this spell, therefore, while each of the other names Seth volunteers undoubtedly reflect valid aspects of his nature, the most adequate description of Seth is as an unlimited being who is a source of bad luck, specifically lack of fruitfulness.”
So basically, Set is infinitely powerful, but unlucky. I think I follow Him because He’s relatable. He has a human aspect. I was never fond of Gods with hyperbolic claims of total omnipotence, that can be disproven just by looking at the world around us.
2024.05.14 17:03 Miss_Pipip Balance Dark Powers
I am a first-time DM and I'm running CoS with the MandyMod extensions. I wanted to customize Dark Powers for my players. For now, I have thought of two taking lots of inspiration from the resources in the server, but I'm not sure if they are balanced to each other. You may think the boons are too powerful or the banes are too much, but I like them that way. I know my party and, if I don't offer super cool things, they won't entertain the Dark Powers and I want them to! I am only interested in your opinion on whether these two Dark Powers offer similar boons and banes.
EZELYN, THE RADIANT STAR
- Phase 1:
o Gain the ability to use Warding Flare. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all uses spent when you end a long rest.
o When you roll radiant damage, you can inflict maximum damage instead of rolling. You can use this ability twice per long rest.
- Phase 2:
o You can cast Lightning Bolt (radiant damage) 3 times per long rest.
o If the creature dies from Lightning Bolt or the turn immediately after you use Warding Flare, you regain a number of hit points equal to your Paladin level + your Charisma modifier.
o Your eyes begin to give off a glow that causes them to give off light for 5 feet.
o Bane: Anxiety to protect others (Flaw).
- Phase 3:
o Because of the divine glow you give off, a +1 is added to your Charisma score.
o Guided by your god, you can make a critical hit on a 19 or 20.
o You gain advantage on Intimidation rolls.
o Your body begins to glow with light of its own and you give off bright light 10 feet away and dim light another 10 feet away.
o Bane: 1 point of short-term insanity if power is not used (does not heal with long rest). 1 point of exhaustion if used. Due to the light you give off, you have disadvantage on Stealth rolls.
- Phase 4:
o You gain the ability to cast Flame Strike three times per short rest.
o If you kill a creature using Flame Strike or Lightning Bolt, you regain one use of the spell.
o Your attacks always do an extra 2d8 radiant damage.
o Your luminous aura increases and you give off bright light 15 feet and dim light another 15 feet.
o Bane: 1 point of long-term insanity if the power is not used. 1 point of short term insanity if used (does not heal with long rest). If Ura uses Warding Flare, she makes a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If she fails it, all creatures within 30 feet of her take 2d6 psychic damage and hear Ezelyn's voice in her head saying, "All must be purified". A creature within 15 feet of Ura must make a Dexterity saving throw when coming within that distance of her. If it fails, it is considered blinded.
ALASTOR, THE SPARK OF CHANGE
- Phase 1:
o When you roll fire damage, you can inflict maximum damage, instead of rolling. You can use this ability twice per long rest.
o You learn Burning Hands and Hellish Rebuke. You can cast them using your spell slots. These spells are always ready for you and do not count against your limit.
- Phase 2:
o You can cast Fireball 3 times per long rest.
o You learn to anticipate your opponent's attacks and turn an enemy's missed hit into good luck for you. When a creature makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on that roll. If the attack misses, your next attack roll against the creature has advantage if you make it before the end of your next turn. You may use this trait once per short rest.
o You gain a +3 to your initiative.
o Aesthetic: You begin to warm the air around you, you don't feel the cold.
o Bane: Your eyes and mind go too fast to process information and you develop dyslexia. Any time Jasper attempts to read or write, he must pass a DC 12 Intelligence test.
- Phase 3:
o The speed with which you handle situations gives you advantage on attack rolls against any creature that has not yet taken a turn in combat.
o If the creature dies using Burning Hands, Hellish Rebuke or Fireball, you regain a number of hit points equal to your Rogue level + your Dexterity modifier.
o You gain an extra 10 feet of speed.
o Aesthetic: Your fingertips begin to turn black, as if burned.
o Bane: You can't sit still for more than a minute, your impulsiveness increases. 1 point of short-term insanity if the power is not used (does not heal with long rest). 1 point of exhaustion if used.
- Phase 4:
o You gain the Stalkers Flurry trait. You can use this trait twice per short rest.
o You gain the ability to use Immolation twice per short rest.
o If you kill a creature using Burning Hands, Hellish Rebuke, Fireball or Immolation you regain one use of the spell.
o Aesthetic: Burns cover your entire arms and a red flame begins to glow in the centre of your pupils.
o Bane: 1 point of long-term insanity if power is not used. 1 point of short term insanity if used (does not heal with long rest). When you inflict fire damage on a target, roll a d8 and take that amount of necrotic damage as the fire rages and sears your flesh, destroying it from within.
So my question is, are they balanced to each other? What would you change? Thanks in advance!
submitted by Miss_Pipip to CurseofStrahd [link] [comments]
EZELYN, THE RADIANT STAR
- Phase 1:
o Gain the ability to use Warding Flare. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all uses spent when you end a long rest.
o When you roll radiant damage, you can inflict maximum damage instead of rolling. You can use this ability twice per long rest.
- Phase 2:
o You can cast Lightning Bolt (radiant damage) 3 times per long rest.
o If the creature dies from Lightning Bolt or the turn immediately after you use Warding Flare, you regain a number of hit points equal to your Paladin level + your Charisma modifier.
o Your eyes begin to give off a glow that causes them to give off light for 5 feet.
o Bane: Anxiety to protect others (Flaw).
- Phase 3:
o Because of the divine glow you give off, a +1 is added to your Charisma score.
o Guided by your god, you can make a critical hit on a 19 or 20.
o You gain advantage on Intimidation rolls.
o Your body begins to glow with light of its own and you give off bright light 10 feet away and dim light another 10 feet away.
o Bane: 1 point of short-term insanity if power is not used (does not heal with long rest). 1 point of exhaustion if used. Due to the light you give off, you have disadvantage on Stealth rolls.
- Phase 4:
o You gain the ability to cast Flame Strike three times per short rest.
o If you kill a creature using Flame Strike or Lightning Bolt, you regain one use of the spell.
o Your attacks always do an extra 2d8 radiant damage.
o Your luminous aura increases and you give off bright light 15 feet and dim light another 15 feet.
o Bane: 1 point of long-term insanity if the power is not used. 1 point of short term insanity if used (does not heal with long rest). If Ura uses Warding Flare, she makes a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If she fails it, all creatures within 30 feet of her take 2d6 psychic damage and hear Ezelyn's voice in her head saying, "All must be purified". A creature within 15 feet of Ura must make a Dexterity saving throw when coming within that distance of her. If it fails, it is considered blinded.
ALASTOR, THE SPARK OF CHANGE
- Phase 1:
o When you roll fire damage, you can inflict maximum damage, instead of rolling. You can use this ability twice per long rest.
o You learn Burning Hands and Hellish Rebuke. You can cast them using your spell slots. These spells are always ready for you and do not count against your limit.
- Phase 2:
o You can cast Fireball 3 times per long rest.
o You learn to anticipate your opponent's attacks and turn an enemy's missed hit into good luck for you. When a creature makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on that roll. If the attack misses, your next attack roll against the creature has advantage if you make it before the end of your next turn. You may use this trait once per short rest.
o You gain a +3 to your initiative.
o Aesthetic: You begin to warm the air around you, you don't feel the cold.
o Bane: Your eyes and mind go too fast to process information and you develop dyslexia. Any time Jasper attempts to read or write, he must pass a DC 12 Intelligence test.
- Phase 3:
o The speed with which you handle situations gives you advantage on attack rolls against any creature that has not yet taken a turn in combat.
o If the creature dies using Burning Hands, Hellish Rebuke or Fireball, you regain a number of hit points equal to your Rogue level + your Dexterity modifier.
o You gain an extra 10 feet of speed.
o Aesthetic: Your fingertips begin to turn black, as if burned.
o Bane: You can't sit still for more than a minute, your impulsiveness increases. 1 point of short-term insanity if the power is not used (does not heal with long rest). 1 point of exhaustion if used.
- Phase 4:
o You gain the Stalkers Flurry trait. You can use this trait twice per short rest.
o You gain the ability to use Immolation twice per short rest.
o If you kill a creature using Burning Hands, Hellish Rebuke, Fireball or Immolation you regain one use of the spell.
o Aesthetic: Burns cover your entire arms and a red flame begins to glow in the centre of your pupils.
o Bane: 1 point of long-term insanity if power is not used. 1 point of short term insanity if used (does not heal with long rest). When you inflict fire damage on a target, roll a d8 and take that amount of necrotic damage as the fire rages and sears your flesh, destroying it from within.
So my question is, are they balanced to each other? What would you change? Thanks in advance!
2024.05.14 17:02 Missleigh-ann Doordash doesn’t handle fraudulent customers well
 | Doordash doesn’t handle fraudulent customers well. submitted by Missleigh-ann to doordash [link] [comments] So I did an order yesterday. Lots of new developments in Spring area so there’s hardly any service in some places. It’s pouring rain I get to the address and while I’m walking up customer runs out with his passport saying it it always sends to this address he doesn’t know why. (He put the address in). I said okay. Now the kicker is doordash asked for a PIN. So customer gives me the pin and I can’t even enter it while there because no dang service but since he had a passport showing his name and it matched my customer I said okay. Wrote the PIN number down and moved about a block and was finally able to save. Doordash accepted the pin. All is well. Except the next day the same customer says they never got it. Now how is it this SAME customer is my first order of the day TODAY. Different address. I don’t realize it till I’ve picked up the order and halfway there. So I’m like oh heck no. Contact DoorDash they basically say…tuff luck. You either choose to cancel the order and drive it back and not get paid or you deliver to customer. So I’m like okay I’m gonna get there and soon as I’m close I’m gonna start the can’t reach customer timer of 5 minutes. I want to do this because the violation said that I needed to complete three steps to avoid a violation. So I start the timer and wait 5 minutes, call customer twice and text and and photo and then went to ring the doorbell. Customer doesn’t answer. An older man comes out the garage and looks at me like…no I didn’t place an order, so I ring the doorbell again. Finally the same guy comes out and I said …”hey you gave me a violation yesterday, said you didn’t get your order”. He says to me “….Because I had to walk down to you.” So here we are discussing (I talk loud) and after like maybe 1 minutes back n fourth Of him just saying DOORDASH gave me the violation not him he just put he didn’t get his food so he could get his money back. Then he accused me of coming there JUST to cause a scene as if he didn’t place the order. Anyways. The point is…How are we even suppose to protect ourselves. PINs don’t work. Pictures don’t work. Do I need to start making all hand it to me customer stand there with their order like back to school photos? Sorry for any typos. Just sharing my experience while I’m still mad lol . I also flipped off that guys ring camera after walking away…not my best moment. While violations fall off after 100 orders…..this guy had the potential to cause me another violation back to back. And DoorDash isn’t exactly fast with taking care of them. |
2024.05.14 16:56 StellarBlade5 Terrible GPA. Why wait until the last minute when you have a bad grade. How to hack school.( I need homework help)
As the title says, so many people wait until the last minute when you have gotten bad scores leading to gpa's below 2.5 to seek help while there are so many alternatives. A bad gpa scores leads to three things either been discontinued from uni, poor job category & pay (employed with a very poor pay and stagnant growth within the organization) or even worse failing to secure employment at all. Nothing as bad as living on unemployment checks or working long hours at Taco bell tolerating ungrateful customers as your friends secure the good life (friends with jobs on 150k a year and marrying the best of the bunch) success chases success. The trick to hacking uni involves getting 95 percentile on assignments, quizzes, and midterms. This means even if you perform poorly on end of term exams you have a very low chance of failing. There is no self-preservation in failure. Sacrifice a few bucks now for future success, the solution is getting help on those quizzes and assignments. Three-four years after uni you will be thinking damn am living a good life able to do majority of things money can provide plus traveling (At taco bell the summers are the busiest). Here is the solution hmu on discord https://discord.com/invite/ZezU5pMgs4 or email colbertemma26@gmail.com
To the good life
submitted by StellarBlade5 to HomeworkHelp_Reddit [link] [comments]
To the good life
University #Help #Assignment #Homework #College, #GPA #Badgpa #Terriblegpa #Failing #Failingschool #school
2024.05.14 16:52 Haunting-Roof1006 Last night I did Live BoxBreak with my Friends
 | Last night my girlfriend and I got 2 One Piece Booster Box in mail. We already opened thousands of packs and starting to lose the thrill opening packs. Therefore, we decided to invite our friends (who also love one piece) to watch us do live boxbreaks via Discord. We also made a simple game of luck. Whoever guessed where the hit is, got an Alternate Art card from us. 😂 the card isn’t worth that much, about 3-7€ . It was our doubles. Some cards were given away via doing funny online duck races 🦆 submitted by Haunting-Roof1006 to OnePieceTCG [link] [comments] The stream went on for about 2 hours. We had a great time. |
2024.05.14 16:47 lamabean No notifications for gmail on the native mail app
I picked up my very first MacOs device today. I have never used one before so I appreciate I may be a dummy, but I have Googled and tried everything to get this to work.
I am using the native Mail App as my email client, but all my email is in GMail. I can connect fine, and I can send and receive emails fine. However, when a new email arrives I get no notification (sound or banner), the only indication I get is a number that appears on the mail app showing me there is an unread email.
I would expect there to be sound and a notification banner. I have gone into notification settings and enabled sound and banner there (they were already enabled), I have also set a custom sound, hoping this would solve the problem, with no luck.
What must I do to get notifications working for GMail ?
submitted by lamabean to MacOS [link] [comments]
I am using the native Mail App as my email client, but all my email is in GMail. I can connect fine, and I can send and receive emails fine. However, when a new email arrives I get no notification (sound or banner), the only indication I get is a number that appears on the mail app showing me there is an unread email.
I would expect there to be sound and a notification banner. I have gone into notification settings and enabled sound and banner there (they were already enabled), I have also set a custom sound, hoping this would solve the problem, with no luck.
What must I do to get notifications working for GMail ?
2024.05.14 16:41 Sweet-Count2557 Best Pizza in Omaha Ne
 | Best Pizza in Omaha Ne We've scoured the streets of Omaha, Nebraska to bring you the ultimate guide to the best pizza in town.Get ready to dive into a world of cheesy goodness and mouthwatering flavors.From traditional favorites to modern twists, our list has it all.So grab a slice and join us on this delectable journey through the pizza scene in Omaha.Trust us, you won't be disappointed.Let's dig in!Key TakeawaysOrsis Italian Bakery & Pizzeria is a highly acclaimed pizza joint and landmark restaurant dating back to 1919. It offers topping-loaded pies, Italian baked goods, deli sandwiches, and other tasty dishes. The restaurant provides street-front parking, a casual setting with a welcoming ambiance, accommodating staff, reasonable prices, and bright lights.Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria is a renowned eatery that opened in 2009. It features a sleek interior, party rooms for private events, catering services, and hospitable staff. The restaurant offers coal-fired pizzas, exquisite Italian specialties, a superb brunch, customizable entrees, and shareable plates.Dante is a highly acclaimed pizza joint that opened in 2009. It offers flavor-packed, wood-fired pizzas, artfully plated dishes, fresh salads, and specialty entrees. The restaurant provides a cozy vibe, a sizable selection of alcoholic concoctions, excellent service, and an expansive menu catering to all diets.Mangia Italiana is a renowned Italian dining establishment founded in 2007. It boasts unique pizzas, Sicilian-style sandwiches, delectable pasta plates, and a la carte options. The restaurant offers table and booth seats, charming decor, generous portions, restaurant-front parking, and terrific catering services.Orsis Italian Bakery & PizzeriaWe highly recommend trying the mouth-watering pizzas at Orsis Italian Bakery & Pizzeria in Omaha. This longstanding pizza joint and bakery has been a landmark in the city since 1919, and it continues to impress locals and visitors alike with its delicious offerings. Orsis offers a wide variety of topping-loaded pies, along with Italian baked goods, deli sandwiches, and other tasty dishes.What sets Orsis apart from other pizza places in Omaha isn't only the quality of their food but also the welcoming ambiance and accommodating staff. The casual setting and bright lights create a comfortable atmosphere for diners to enjoy their meal. The staff at Orsis is friendly and attentive, ensuring that customers have a pleasant experience from start to finish.In terms of safety, Orsis provides street-front parking, making it convenient for customers to park their vehicles nearby. This eliminates the hassle of searching for parking spaces and ensures that customers can access the restaurant easily. Additionally, Orsis maintains reasonable prices, making it a great option for those looking for a delicious meal without breaking the bank.For those in search of the best pizza in Omaha, Orsis Italian Bakery & Pizzeria is definitely worth a visit. With its flavorful pizzas, welcoming ambiance, accommodating staff, and reasonable prices, Orsis offers a dining experience that's both satisfying and safe. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Orsis is a must-try when it comes to pizza in Omaha.Pitch Coal-fire PizzeriaPitch Coal-fire Pizzeria stands out for its unique coal-fired pizzas that deliver a distinct smoky flavor and crispy crust.The sleek interior creates a modern and inviting atmosphere, making it a great place to dine with friends or family.The hospitality of the staff adds to the overall experience, ensuring that customers feel welcomed and well taken care of.Unique Coal-Fired PizzasWhat makes the coal-fired pizzas at Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria unique? Well, there are a few key factors that set them apart from other pizza establishments. Here's what you need to know:Authentic coal-fired cooking: Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria uses a specially designed coal-fired oven to cook their pizzas. This traditional method of cooking imparts a unique smoky flavor and creates a crispy yet chewy crust that's hard to replicate.High-quality ingredients: The pizzas at Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria are made with the finest and freshest ingredients. From the locally sourced produce to the premium meats and cheeses, every component of their pizzas is chosen with care.Diverse menu options: In addition to their classic coal-fired pizzas, Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria offers a range of unique toppings and flavor combinations. Whether you prefer a traditional Margherita or a more adventurous option like the Truffle Shuffle with truffle oil and mushrooms, there's something for everyone.Commitment to safety: Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria prioritizes the safety of their customers and staff. They adhere to strict sanitation protocols, maintain a clean and well-ventilated space, and follow all food safety guidelines.Sleek Interior and HospitalityWhen dining at Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria, you will be impressed by the sleek interior and the warm hospitality of the staff. The restaurant features a modern design with clean lines and contemporary decor, creating a sophisticated atmosphere. The tables are arranged spaciously, allowing for comfortable seating and ensuring a safe dining experience. The staff at Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria is attentive and friendly, providing excellent service and making you feel welcome from the moment you enter. They are knowledgeable about the menu and happy to answer any questions or accommodate special requests. Whether you're dining in or ordering takeout, you can expect a high level of professionalism and a commitment to ensuring your satisfaction. The combination of the sleek interior and the welcoming staff creates a pleasant and inviting environment that enhances your dining experience.Sleek InteriorWarm HospitalityModern designAttentive staffClean linesFriendly serviceContemporary decorKnowledgeable about menuSpacious seatingAccommodating to special requestsSafe dining experienceCommitment to customer satisfactionDanteWe absolutely love Dante for their mouthwatering wood-fired pizzas and artfully plated dishes. Here's what makes Dante a standout choice for pizza lovers in Omaha:Wood-Fired Pizzas: Dante's pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven, giving them a unique smoky flavor and perfectly crispy crust. From classic Margherita to inventive combinations like the Prosciutto & Fig, their pizzas are sure to satisfy any craving.Artfully Plated Dishes: In addition to their pizzas, Dante also offers a selection of artfully plated dishes. From homemade pastas to savory entrees like the Braised Short Rib, each dish is thoughtfully prepared and presented with care.Why is Dante a safe choice for diners in Omaha?Cozy Vibe: Dante provides a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a relaxed dining experience. The warm lighting and comfortable seating create a welcoming ambiance for guests.Excellent Service: The staff at Dante is known for their attentiveness and friendly demeanor. They go above and beyond to ensure that guests have a pleasant and safe dining experience.With their flavorful wood-fired pizzas and artfully plated dishes, Dante is a must-visit for pizza enthusiasts in Omaha. But don't stop there, because next we'll be diving into the delectable offerings at 'Mangia Italiana'.Mangia ItalianaBut let's not forget about Mangia Italiana, because they offer some incredible options for pizza lovers in Omaha.Mangia Italiana is a renowned Italian dining establishment founded in 2007. They boast unique pizzas, Sicilian-style sandwiches, delectable pasta plates, and a la carte options.When it comes to safety, Mangia Italiana provides a cozy and welcoming ambiance, making it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal. Their table and booth seats offer ample space for social distancing, and the charming decor adds to the overall pleasant dining experience. Additionally, the restaurant-front parking ensures convenience and peace of mind for customers.Mangia Italiana is also known for their generous portions, ensuring that you get your money's worth. Whether you're craving a classic Margherita pizza or feeling adventurous with their specialty pizza options, Mangia Italiana has something for everyone. Their terrific catering services also make them a great option for events and gatherings.As we move on to the next section about Zios Pizzeria, you'll see that they too offer mouth-watering pizza choices that are worth exploring.Zios PizzeriaAnd let's not forget about Zios Pizzeria, because they offer a wide selection of mouth-watering New York-style pizzas that are sure to satisfy any pizza craving. When it comes to enjoying a delicious meal at Zios Pizzeria, here are a couple of things you can do to enhance your experience:Start by exploring their menu, which features a variety of New York-style pizzas made with fresh ingredients and topped with flavorful combinations. From classic options like pepperoni and cheese to specialty pizzas like the BBQ chicken or the Mediterranean, there's something for everyone's taste buds.Don't forget to try their loaded hoagies, homemade pasta dishes, and savory calzones. These menu items are perfect for those looking for a different pizza alternative or a tasty side dish to complement their meal.At Zios Pizzeria, they prioritize the safety of their customers. The restaurant provides a charming interior, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, making it the perfect place to enjoy a meal in a relaxed and comfortable setting. The servers are hospitable and attentive, ensuring that your dining experience is enjoyable and worry-free.As we move on to the next section about Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille, you can expect to find another great pizza joint that offers flavorful pizzas, wings, gourmet burgers, loaded nachos, and decadent sweet treats. Stay tuned to discover more delicious pizza options in Omaha.Oscars Pizza and Sports GrilleAt Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille, the menu offers a variety of highlights and options that cater to different tastes. From flavorful pizzas to wings, gourmet burgers, loaded nachos, and decadent sweet treats, there's something for everyone.The family-friendly atmosphere and top-notch service make Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille a great choice for a casual and enjoyable dining experience.Menu Highlights and VarietySince Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille offers a wide range of menu highlights and variety, we were excited to explore their delicious options. Here are some highlights of their menu that we found enticing:Pizza: Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille offers a variety of pizzas, including classic favorites like pepperoni and sausage, as well as unique combinations like BBQ chicken and bacon. The crust is perfectly crispy, and the toppings are generously spread.Gourmet Burgers: If you're not in the mood for pizza, Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille also offers a selection of gourmet burgers. From a classic cheeseburger to a mouthwatering bacon and blue cheese burger, there's something to satisfy every burger lover.In terms of safety, Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille ensures that their ingredients are fresh and their kitchen is clean. The staff follows proper hygiene protocols to maintain a safe dining experience for their customers.Family-Friendly AtmosphereWhen we walked into Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille, we were immediately greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that made us feel right at home.The family-friendly environment at Oscars is perfect for those looking to enjoy a delicious meal with their loved ones in a safe and welcoming setting.The restaurant features a spacious dining area with plenty of seating options, including booths and tables, making it easy for families of all sizes to find a comfortable spot.The staff at Oscars is friendly and attentive, ensuring that families have everything they need for an enjoyable dining experience.With private parking spaces and a covered patio, Oscars provides convenience and safety for families arriving by car.Top-Notch ServiceBecause Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille consistently provides top-notch service, we always feel well taken care of when dining there. The attentive and friendly staff create a welcoming atmosphere that makes us feel comfortable and valued.Here are two reasons why Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille stands out in terms of service:Prompt and Efficient: The staff at Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille are quick to greet us and seat us at a table. They take our orders promptly and efficiently, ensuring that we don't have to wait long for our food. The waitstaff is attentive, checking on us regularly to see if we need anything and refilling our drinks without us having to ask.Knowledgeable and Helpful: The staff at Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille are well-informed about the menu and can provide recommendations based on our preferences. They're also willing to accommodate special requests or dietary restrictions. If we've any questions or concerns, they're responsive and willing to address them promptly.With their prompt and efficient service, as well as their knowledgeable and helpful staff, Oscars Pizza and Sports Grille ensures that we've a pleasant and enjoyable dining experience. We always leave feeling satisfied and well taken care of.La Casa PizzariaWhat makes La Casa Pizzaria stand out among other pizza joints in Omaha?La Casa Pizzaria is a long-standing pizzeria that has been serving the community since 1953. What sets them apart is their dedication to using homemade sauces and family recipes, resulting in a unique and authentic flavor. Their thin-crust pizzas are a favorite among locals and visitors alike.When it comes to safety, La Casa Pizzaria takes every precaution to ensure the well-being of their customers. They have a cozy dining area that allows for social distancing, and their friendly staff is trained to follow all health and safety protocols. Additionally, their reasonable prices make it an affordable option for families looking for a delicious and safe dining experience.One of the highlights of La Casa Pizzaria is their variety of toppings to choose from. Whether you're a meat lover, a vegetarian, or someone with dietary restrictions, they have options to cater to everyone's preferences. This makes it a great choice for groups with diverse tastes.La Casa Pizzaria's commitment to quality extends to their ingredients as well. They use only the freshest and finest ingredients to ensure that every bite is bursting with flavor. Their attention to detail and dedication to providing a memorable dining experience is what keeps customers coming back for more.ConclusionAfter our slice-by-slice journey through the pizza scene in Omaha, it's clear that the city has no shortage of delicious options.From the traditional flavors of Orsis Italian Bakery & Pizzeria to the unique combinations at Pitch Coal-fire Pizzeria, there's something for every pizza lover.Whether you're a local or a visitor, make sure to try out these top pizzerias and experience the diverse range of flavors that Omaha has to offer.So grab a slice and indulge in the best pizza in Omaha, Nebraska! submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] |
2024.05.14 16:40 IAmJ3richoholic Air for £1??
I work in a PFS and we have just had our prices adjusted for the Air and Screen Wash machine. £1 for Air and £2 for screen wash. Madness. Good luck to the first customer who tries using a 50p, like before.
submitted by IAmJ3richoholic to tesco [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 16:39 Ok_Attention_4450 This shouldn’t be allowed.
 | Had a double delivery last night. When I woke up this morning I noticed the person took back the tip. The delivery went smooth. I did have to wait at the restaurant for about 15 minutes, but I relayed that to the customer and he was ok. I dropped it off, delivery was smooth and no complaints. He did not complain according to customer service, did not leave a bad review or anything. This shouldn’t be allowed. Uber told me basically sorry about your luck but try again with another delivery. I told them to make sure I never deliver to him again. submitted by Ok_Attention_4450 to UberEatsDrivers [link] [comments] |
2024.05.14 16:35 ShoddyAd5815 32 Man Fantasy league for new and old Footballcdegenerates
I have a league that needs to be filled and here is the gist of the league. The Deputy League is made up of 32 owners, each taking over the team as it stands of a NFL team. For example, if you pick the Tennessee Titans, you will have every player on their roster, including the rookies from the 2024 draft. You are encourged to trade to your hearts desire to diversify your league. Subsequent seasons Rookie Drafts are based off the standings from the league, not real life. Everything is done to mimic the NFL to the best of our ability within the Sleeper platform. Once there are 32 paid owners(through leaguesafe), we will begin a randomized Team draft where you will choose the team that you would like. This is an official Worthless Fantasy Federation league, and we use a lot of custom settings. Custom schedules to mimic how the NFL does them. True to life Division and Conference splits. Custom playoff and consolation brackets. Payouts to more than just the winner and loser. Custom rules for stealing Taxi Squad players, a custom FAAB system to somewhat mimic salary cap. The Worthless Fantasy Federation was founded in 2022 and currently offers three 32-team dynasty leagues, multiple custom Salary Cap leagues, multiple normal Dynasty leagues, and more coming every season.
https://discord.com/invite/qcKuyZZn
http://sleeper.com/i/kQXxkzxoVAmJ
submitted by ShoddyAd5815 to FantasyLeagues [link] [comments]
https://discord.com/invite/qcKuyZZn
http://sleeper.com/i/kQXxkzxoVAmJ
2024.05.14 16:34 OkJudgment5666 Need advice on euphorbia plant care!
 | Hello euphorbiaceae! submitted by OkJudgment5666 to Euphorbiaceae [link] [comments] I'm currently living in Armenia and bought this plant about 1.5 months ago at a plant fair. I have repotted it into a terracotta pot using a custom soil mix of general-use flower soil and perlite (50/50). I water it every 18 days. I'm looking to find out: 1. Is my plant healthy? 2. What can I do to ensure it thrives? Here's a photo of the plant. I would appreciate any tips or suggestions you might have to help improve its condition. Thank you for your help! |
2024.05.14 16:33 ShoddyAd5815 32 Man League full of new and old Degenerates
 | I have a league that needs to be filled and here is the gist of the league. The Deputy League is made up of 32 owners, each taking over the team as it stands of a NFL team. For example, if you pick the Tennessee Titans, you will have every player on their roster, including the rookies from the 2024 draft. You are encourged to trade to your hearts desire to diversify your league. Subsequent seasons Rookie Drafts are based off the standings from the league, not real life. Everything is done to mimic the NFL to the best of our ability within the Sleeper platform. Once there are 32 paid owners(through leaguesafe), we will begin a randomized Team draft where you will choose the team that you would like. This is an official Worthless Fantasy Federation league, and we use a lot of custom settings. Custom schedules to mimic how the NFL does them. True to life Division and Conference splits. Custom playoff and consolation brackets. Payouts to more than just the winner and loser. Custom rules for stealing Taxi Squad players, a custom FAAB system to somewhat mimic salary cap. The Worthless Fantasy Federation was founded in 2022 and currently offers three 32-team dynasty leagues, multiple custom Salary Cap leagues, multiple normal Dynasty leagues, and more coming every season. submitted by ShoddyAd5815 to FantasyFootballers [link] [comments] https://discord.com/invite/qcKuyZZn |
2024.05.14 16:30 Corruptfun As If It Were Kismet Prologue & Chapters 1-5
As If It Were Kismet: Prologue
Matt tore through the brush, blind in the dark. He didn’t care where he was going. He only knew he needed to be elsewhere. Far from here.
Behind him a creature howled that shocked his mind. It’s form was cruel and dangerous, though female. Nothing like the young woman she had once been. Nothing but a girl, a small and slight female.
It’s guttural growls and howls only grew closer as Matt tried to pick between seeing where he was going and getting away. The few times he looked he caught sight of the creature behind him. Hopping through the air with a speed that told him he was being toyed with. As if he were a mouse being played with by a cat.
But the reflex in him to run kept him going. His adrenaline going as hard as it could. The tightness and burning in his core tensing and locking up as his legs felt like there were being burned from within while taking on more of a heaviness.
His lungs were starting to betray him as he tried to gulp big breaths of air but only rapid and shallow breaths were all that he could manage. His brain was starting to burn….and then he was falling.
Falling down the side of a hill he saw the creature dart in a spring towards him, imperceivably fast almost. Catching him in mid air it seemed.
Managing to wrap its body around him and cushion his impact against the ground as they rolled. His mind barely took in what was happening during the roll. Only starting to understand what was happening once they were still.
The creature's triple D-cup breasts were unmistakably pressed hard against his back as he laid facing up at the night sky.
For a few seconds the world stilled and the needle light pain hitting the center of his brain took over for the cooking heat his brain had felt. His whole body felt heavy and reluctant to move.
Even if he could have really moved, a dull ache came over his limbs making them feel stilled and trapped as if by immeasurable amounts of sand that had engulfed him.
Slowly the arms holding him started to move. Moving so the creature's hands could start exploring him. Causing Matt to unstoppably let out a pathetic moan that made him go cold inside as hands lifted up his shirt and started to touch his exposed stomach and then his chest.
He would have whimpered so pathetically had he not still been in the depths of terror.
As its hands felt and groped his pecs he tried to situp as if to get away. For his efforts, his reward was a hand around his throat and a collection snarls and growls against his ear. A beastly, guttural voice spat words at him while somehow holding a feminine tone.
“Don’t move….I don’t know if I can calm down…”
Her words were not helped by her moans in his ear and the subsequent kissing of his ear. The flesh of his ear going between her lips as she moaned and seemed to pant. Releasing it and licking the side of his face with a moist warmth. He could feel its spittle, viscous and coating his flesh where the tongue touched. He could smell something in his saliva. Something that subtly entranced him.
Matt went stock still with fear and the confusion of mixed arousal. He barely perceived her right hand traveling lower on his body. A surprised moan and shudder echoed in the night from Matt’s lips as she took ahold of him. Her hand above his pants but still….stimulating him.
A light squeezing and almost probing of her digits kept him aroused and confused within her grasp. Resigning himself to the strange fate, Matt looked up at the stars as his mind tried not to shatter under the strange maelstrom of events and sensation that had started mere minutes ago.
His mind was only more confused as a slight figure, feminine in build, how it seemed to thunk the ground audibly as she landed on her feet out nowhere. Her knees barely bending under the pressure of the landing. Yet dirt was kicked up anyways and some of it onto Matt. Feeling it pepper his shirt and pants as it fell.
The figure, lit only faintly by moonlight, roared some dark tone Matt could only perceive as a demon as her eyes went bright with a crimson light. A light in the darkness that should not have been. “Let him go you bitch.” Was its words following the roar. Spittle escaping its mouth with faint droplets hit Matt's face.
The creature holding him by his throat and crotch seemed to tighten the grasp of both hands as it roared back. “HE IS MINE!”
The figure paused with a moment's hesitation. He was also her quarry. She had felt his fear without him knowing. His confused arousal. His fear. His terror.
And now he laid at the center of a struggle between two monsters. Unsure of who he wanted to win.
As If It Was Kismet Ch. 1
Matthew Berkshire hadn’t seen his mom in two years. Not that he had seen her much over the last six years.
A messy divorce between messy people and mom’s chaotic want for a life in Alaska had been one of the most…upsetting times in life. Setting him up for so much of what had defined his life thus far but then that had really started two years before he ever turned.
His ear buds were basic and simple. A part of cheap five pack, common for his life as he was known to lose little things. Small things. They had a mix of metal and hard rock playing in them. Some classics, some alternative. Whatever made him feel something, anything. Even if it was hate. Anger. Rage. It was better than feeling numb. Not belonging.
The escalator down to his lone bag to go with his lone carry on showed his mom waiting for him. His had a type, that’s for damn sure. Not that it helped him in the genetics department as he was stuck at 5’9” to go along with his mother’s five foot even as his dad stood six foot. Forever leaving him to feel small, to pale, under his dad’s shadow. Did he ever stand a chance?
The guy next to her with the unkempt former seventies porn stache was “Dave.” He’d met him twice when his mother came and visited him in Florida. To his credit the guy didn’t look annoyed. Kind of concerned kind of which made Matthew want to break his frozen look but he was well practiced. Having removed any note of sadness from his face through much…tribulation.
His mother’s look on her face betrayed a hint of worry as the bruises on his face lightly showed up close. Saying his name was his like a distant echo that belonged to someone else.
Dave cut in and pulled out his right headphone. “What the hell bud, they knock you hard enough to hurt hearing? Your mom’s asking how you are doing.”
Matthew pulled out the other bud and grunted an empty “sorry.”
“You still have bruises after two week? What did they do to you?” His mom’s voice was full of worry. Something he hadn’t heard in….too long. Too long to make him feel anything. To ever make him believe there was any sincerity to her words. To not think her voice and mannerisms were an act. An act by someone who…wasn’t really there.
“It’s only fair. I took a nose. Fractured a couple orbital bones. Left one with having to get his jaw wired shut. And one will never walk right again for what I did to his knee cap.” Matthew said it all with a bored and disinterested tone. Perhaps well rehearsed.
“My man, handing out ass kickings, not bothering to take names.” Dave was quick to be the typical man’s man about it. Matthew wasn’t quite done yet. Lifting up his shirt to expose the right side near his kidney. Revealing a nasty scar from a six inch blade. “Luckily they gave me this first so they could rule it all in self-defense. The fuck didn’t get it in more than inch before I ruined his knee cap and then I took the nose of one of the fucks holding me.” Now he chose to smile keeping the well practiced dead look in his eyes.
No retorts. No questions. Just horrified looks on their faces. As he liked. As he preferred. They could hate him. They could be disgusted by him. But by God they would fear him.
“Well the doc did a good job sewing you up.” Dave commented uncomfortably. “Dissolving sutures. Ain’t they grand.” He smiled again and let it abruptly fall off his face and started walking to the carousel for the baggage claim.
Waiting and making small talk with Dave as his mother stood in silence. He was not the little boy she abandoned. The little boy she left with an angry man. While never hitting him. Left him in constant fear till he turned twelve and just didn’t care anymore. Something snapped. Broke. And he didn’t care if he died. Didn’t care if he stole. Didn’t even care if he killed. He just knew not to get caught. Something left over from his grandfather’s wisdom which came to make more and more sense with each passing year of life since that thing inside him broke.
Finally his bag came around and Dave went to try first to grab it but Dave practically leapt ahead of him. “Is that your grandfather’s rucksack bag?” his mother asked in a perplexed voice.
“Figured it’s been around since Viet Nam. So it’d serve me better than any of the worthless stuff they called luggage.” Dave commented after Matthew’s words. “Well hell yeah I still got mine from Desert Storm. You know the first one.” Dave laughed and Matthew eyed him oddly. Be it in the south or whether it was Alaska, country boys are country boys he guessed.
The car ride to the two people’s house, as Matthew thought of them. Was uneventful and full of vistas he imagined metropolitan types wetting themselves over. At most they meant isolation to him. Furtherness from the world as there were no mountains in Florida. And what mountains he had last seen in another state had been when he was eight. Another life, to Matthew it felt like. A life alien to him.
As If It Was Kismet Ch 2
Dave and his mom’s place was some two story type tucked into a tree line far up an elevated point. It was by no means the highest point in the mountain but it certainly felt up there.
Rocks were where the driveway should have been Matthew thought. Grabbing his backpack and rucksack from Dave’s jeep was no hard thing for him. Matthew was in formidable shape for someone his age, maybe even five years older. He had gotten a mix of fairly big shoulders and arms along with the chest to go for it when compared to most kids his age. A side effect of working out at least twice a day. First thing in the morning, some time in the evening, and the school’s gym when had had a good semester in school before he had to leave Florida.
Dave tried to come up and help him but Matthew walked past him towards the house. His mom was not sure what to make of his demeanor. Matthew was not the sweet kind boy he had once been. But she had been gone from his life essentially for a long time.
Ushering him into the house she cracked some joke he did not hear. He was too busy looking about and seeing a mix of old outdated decorating mixed with the strange and odd flair of his mother. Color contrasting against drab and dated. Like brightly painting over an old home that was falling apart he thought.
“Your room is this way Mattie.” His mom brightly intoned.
Without expressing any interest he followed his mother. Still faced and nonplussed. Just going along with the current. Pushed and pulled with its roll like a piece of driftwood.
The room was simple. A single small bed. A set of rubber weights with a curl bar and barbells. “Your dad said you were into weight lifting so we got you a bunch of stuff. Dave says it looks like his department’s gym almost. The woman’s smile felt very alien to him.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. I’ve got most of my stuff from home.” Matthew starting unpacking his rucksack and pulled out cables of repetitive and mixed colors. A single plastic barbell handle. The ruck sack could be filled with water bottles for added weight during pushups he figured. Remembering a Michael Keaton movie he watched with his dad post-Batman movies where he played a convicted killer using plastic bags filled with water for weights.
Matthew caught movement outside his lone fairly large window that could let him step out onto the roof of the house given its layout.
He saw a number of people running together through what he guessed was the backyard of the property, not that it had any fences to mark boundaries
They wore clothes that looked similar yet different from each other at the same time.”Oh those are the Johnston’s. Really nice bunch of people. Been on the mountain for a long time Dave tells me.”
Matthew looked at the group of people running and noticed the lack of resemblance. “They are related?” Matthew quizzically asked. Seeing a black and possibly a hispanic person amongst the bland looking white people.
“Oh well they are all adopted but for one or two of them…besides the parents of course. The family has a long tradition of taking in orphans they say. Real nice of them to do that don’t you think.”
Matthew looked at his mother and the hosier accent made no sense to him as he arched his left eye brow. Her and his dad were both from Florida. Born and raised. Sure her parents were from New York city but…
Matthew shook his lightly without turning to look at his mother as his vision was grabbed by one of the runners in particular. A girl of moderate height. Soft brunette. A plain beauty he figured with a slim build….and lack of remarkable breasts and rear to make any note of but….girls in general were his type at his age.
She was pretty enough. He couldn’t deny that but he found himself transfixed by her visage.
But the way she turned and looked at him, especially at that distance felt very disconcerting to him. Even if she was smiling like…she was a taste of a bright shiny day. Somehow.
Matthew’s mom noticed the exchange and smiled to herself with closed lips. “Oh that’s Vicky. She’s your age I think. Very sweet girl, who does the charity functions. You know bake sales, blood drives, car washes and the like. I think you should get to know her. Might be good for you.”
A truck horn sounded a couple of beeps in rather succession. “Oh that must be Mack, he said he might come by later this evening but he seems early.”
Matthew’s mother turned and left his room. Leaving Matthew to exchange a few looks with the alluring Vicky as she turned her head away from him to talk to the others in her group and look back at him.
Still Matthew’s left eyebrow was arched. In a way that reminded him of Spock from Star Trek that he and his grandpa used to watch on some streaming service or another.
As he heard ambient chatter elsewhere outside the house he figured to check it out as the alluring sight of Vicky would be around he figured. It was dull to stare at artwork. He was a boy who preferred jet skis and the like. Something he could ride and enjoy immensely. Even if at times it got him stabbed.
As If It Was Kismet Ch 3
Matthew sauntered out of the house and down the rockway that stood in for a driveway.
A few new people had come over from what he could first surmise of the situation. As he got closer it was obvious they were indigenous people. A couple of grown men…and a girl?
She was mousey. Maybe five foot. Hiding behind glasses and a big camo jacket that was far too big for her. It looked made for a grown man and the backwards trucker hat on her head kept her long black a beautiful mess of sorts.
She was cute in a way. A little androgynous but she had a cute energy to her. She reminded him of the more tomboyish Puerto Rican girls he had gotten into back in Florida. Given the deer corpses in the back of the truck….probably more dangerous to play with given the men in her family.
Small chatter passed between the adults when the girl noticed but turned away, trying to hide the tiny hint of a smile.
“Oh Mattie, this is Mack. He works with Dave at the sheriff’s department and John, he’s with fish and wildlife.” Matthew nodded at his mom’s words with some blankness as he looked at the deer the in the back of the pickup truck.
“Gale tells us you hunted with your dad some in Florida and Georgia.” Mack offered with a light hearted laugh camouflaged by his big simple and cheery but husky way he spoke.
Looking in the back of the truck he spoke. “We used lever action thirty-thirties and Mosin Nagants in seven-six-two-fifty-four-rimmed.” Mack and John whistled in an exaggerated fashion. Leaving Matthew to wonder if they were mocking him.
Mack spoke. “Well we just used thirty-odd-six in a custom gussied Garand.” That caught Matthew’s attention. “You have a Garand…” Matthew finally demonstrated interest in anything. “My dad has an SVT-40 and a Hakim 8mm but he always wanted a Garand but was too cheap to buy one.”
Gale, his mother, chimed in loudly. “Oh his Dad loved his guns but was such an odd duck about how he bought or why he bought them. Never made sense to me how he wasn’t a collector but he didn’t get the latest and greatest.” Gale laughed uncomfortably. At least it seemed that way to Matthew.
Matthew pointed to the girl with an underhanded pointing hand. “And who is this? A cute little mute mouse or does she have a name?” Dave and the other men laughed.
Mack again spoke. “Well you people call her Rebecca, she’s my adopted daughter.” Matthew was taken aback by what he heard. “You people?”
Rebecca kindly spoke with a soft but almost melodic voice as she struggled to maintain eye contact. “White people or rather not members of our tribe. It’s just easier to appease the colonizer kind of thing. Borrowed from when the Jesuit missionaries chased us up here.”
Mack stepped in. “It’s just easier to have white people names than have them try to say our tribal names. And we don’t want them shortening or Anglicising our names kind of thing.” Rebecca stepped back into the conversation cutting off her adopted father. “It’s an insult to our history basically.”
Matthew cocked his head sideways raising his eyebrows shortly before letting them drop. “Well as soon as I’m eighteen I’m out of here and back to Florida so I’m a sort of involuntary colonizer of sorts. So I won’t be taking any of your land from you. The Seminoles on the other hand are still shit out of luck.”
Rebecca’s smile caused Matthew to reflexively smile. Mack made the moment more awkward. “See Becca, I told you someone off the reservation would like you some. You just have to be creative.” Mack laughed in a chiding manner…Matthew presumed. He sensed that he was the butt of some kind of cultural joke. Like marrying a white guy was some sort of insult or mark of shame. That kind of thing.
Rebecca turning away from him was not something he had been expecting. Her then getting in the truck in a huff left the group in a silence for a moment.
Dave spoke to break the awkward silence. “Well just bring the truck to work on Monday and leave it for me to grab up.” Mack acknowledged Dave and they started to get off as Rebecca looked at Matthew for another instance. Matthew couldn’t look away for some reason as the two seemed to lock eyes for an instance.
Till Vicky and family seemed to come jogging down the road. While Matthew’s eyes diverted from Rebecca’s. Hers did not till she realized he was looking elsewhere. And her vision found Vicky and what had been a hint of smile on her face turned glum and disappointed.
Matthew did not look away from the vision of Vicky but instead of a starry eyed fool looking longingly. It was a baffled look. Well baffled for him, with his eyes drawn narrow and night with a focus.
There was something about her…he couldn’t quite put a name too. The way she appeared to him. One second brunette. The next second blonde or blonde like. As if the color appeared in her air and disappeared in fractions of seconds. Much the same way her body almost seemed to…shift…very subtly…smoothly. A nicer bum. Larger breasts. And then back to a simple and plain form. Feminine no doubt. Attractive. But not so…remarkable.
As If It Was Kismet Ch 4
The next two days passed without incident. Nothing of any real substance or challenge to note.
Matthew got settled somewhat and started working out almost immediately. Exploring around the woods but Dave told him not to go far. Especially without a hunting rifle. Dave had left a simple semi-auto Winchester out for him. His bear gun as Dave referred to it with its four round magazine. But Matt figured till he got some practice with the rifle to leave it alone. He made a hiking stick like his grandpa taught him and treated it over a low fire. He would take some electrical tape for the end his hand would grip around. Plenty enough to ward off anything smaller than a bear he figured.
The ride to school was a pain in the neck but simple enough. Dave would let him use a clunker pickup truck he had laying around. It wasn’t pretty but it would get him to and from. Even if it was from the eighties and still backfired on occasion. But for now Dave and his mom took him on their way to the sheriff’s department.
It wasn’t much of a school. It wanted to be modern but its fifties original construction was very obvious. It serviced the pipeline families and familys’ of fisherman who worked the seasons in between their time at the pipeline.
Matt was to report to the principal for some reason Dave and his mom wouldn’t share. Which annoyed him but he figured it was to read him the law of land. Small towns with their big views of the outside world and like.
Dressed in jeans, a grey sweatshirt under a light jacket with steel toed boots set him more apart then he expected. His buzzed head didn’t help matters. Already he was feeling like a stranger in a strange land but he was quite strange after all. And he liked it that way. Normal people were so pathetically disappointing to him.
A secretary or assistant or some such led him to the principal’s office. Where it reeked of real wood that was old and fabric and upholstery that needed to be updated for the last twenty years, Matt figured.
“This is Matthew Berkshire, Principal Andrews.” The man was turned with his back to the door and he was quick to wave her off as he turned her around.
He was an older man. Fat and large. Tall with a body built like he had once been fit and a demeanour of annoyed and irate already as he fixed Matt with a scowl and look of disgust. Another worthless government whore. Matt thought to himself. His father and his grandfather had bestowed unto him a natural disrespect for government workers and the figures that wore unjustified authority as a shield but pretended the weight of the state was not at their back ready to crush all who resisted. Little figures of valor pretending to be mighty and alone but acting with the tyranny of the state and all the backing.
“Mr. Berkshire, please sit down.” His tone wasn’t unusually hostile, just gruff. As if he had better things to do.
Matt complied and took a seat in the chair while maintaining a friendly facade. Not everyone was an enemy. And not everyone needed to be an enemy. Even if anybody could be any enemy. There was no reason to make enemies you didn’t have to. Another of his grandfather’s bastardised wisdoms.
“Well I looked over you file and you have quite the history Mr. Berkshire.” Matt resisted qiuping back a joke. Instead he waited for Principal Andrews to continue as he remained nonplussed and looking as if he felt no need to respond. A simple head tilt with dead eyes looking back at the principle as if he was not even there would suffice.
Matt’s reaction or lack of a reaction rather made Principal Andrews only narrow his eyes with examination. He was not used to a kid not responding to him. Especially with his gruff and hard act going on.
“Well by all accounts you moved here after some problems at your last school. A fight broke out and you did some real harm to your fellow students it appears.” Of course, he would take the side of the perpetrators. School administrators always did. Especially when they weren’t white. Just a fact of the times. Cowardice and pathetic mediocrity was the way they leaned, like good government workers sucking the dick of Big Daddy government. Worthless whores.
Matt chose to reply. “Oh you mean the criminals that stabbed me. Got arrested at the hospital and then pled to felonies. Yeah Florida, with the American counties are good like that.” Principal Andrews went real still. No shame. No fear. No penitence. He didn’t like that.
“Well be it as it may Mr. Berkshire we don’t tolerate that kind of behaviour here…” Matt cut him off responding with a deadpan tone. “You mean self-defense meant to save one’s own life while the cowardly and pathetic school workers look on with zero interest but to keep their money rolling in and will allow known gang members with records of violent acts and crimes that should have them expelled many times over, where in certain Democrat counties such cowardice and idiocy empowered a couple school shooters?”
Principal Andrews looked at the Matt with a note of disgust. “Look here Mr. Berkshire, your beliefs matter not one bit here. This isn’t Florida. We don’t like our way of life being disrupted by outside agitators who have problems with authority.”
Matt did his best not to roll his eyes and let the older fat man drone own as he dead-stared him. Lifeless and without emotion.
The man came to a finish and Matt spoke up without having listened to him or paid him any attention. “Great now that’s taken care of. Can I please get to class and finish my sentence of two years at your wonderful school?”
Principal Andrews huffed and snorted before calling in Vicky. Vicky stood in the corner after entering with a quiet and seamless presence. Matt felt disturbed and tried not betray his feelings as the young Vicky was perceived and not perceived to be moving.
Principal Andrews made the introductions and Matt nodded back. She was to be his chaperone for the day. They had the same classes and she was to show him the ropes so to speak. The ins and outs of the school. The locations of their classes.
He recognized her. It was hard not to. The way her appearance seemed to shift fluidly almost. The petite and skinny brunette ever so lightly had a big bust and blonde hair with curves added when she seemed to shift before his eyes. Like watching a film but each frame had a different person.
Matt didn’t say anything about it. Even if he did he would only be acknowledging his crazed state, if he had one. If.
Unlike an obedient puppy dog he got up in a slow and awkward fashion and followed behind her as his oddly disproportionate frame allowed. Causing her a note of concern for some reason. As if she was seeing something she shouldn’t have been….Or he was just weird. And Matt could admit to himself he was just weird. Part of his charm, he would jest about it at times. Not that he had many people to jest to now.
As If It Were Kismet Ch. 5
Following Vicky into the hall off to their first class was simple. She exchanged small talk and he slightly smiled as if to obviously suggest he was just being polite.
Inside his head, Matt was trying to figure out if he was having a psychotic break. The way Vicky looked kept changing and he looked at the other people around him and they stayed the same.
He was searching his mind as they were walking. And thus he wasn’t paying attention to where he was looking and so fell to his face forward over his feet seemingly out of nowhere.
A series of laughs erupted as it sunk in that he was obviously tripped. Like in prison this was a challenge to his superiority. If he let this pass he would be mocked and sneered at by this same group of boys. He wouldn’t walk to them like he was going to do nothing like a little bitch.
In a rage he turned and punched the stomach of the first face he saw. Some typical blonde haired wannabe jock. He knew from experience not to aim for the ribs. Instead he needed to aim for where he thought the belly button was.
Yells and screams blindly echoed around him as his after the punch he followed up his elbow of the opposite arm slamming into the face of the jock. Harder than a fist, the elbow struck the jock’s jaw and seemingly dropped him against a locker. Just in time to catch an errant and soft punch to the nose that sure enough hurt but did little to slow him down as his dad had taught him to fight through the pain. Blood and scars happened. They were a natural consequence of life to a man.
Taking the punch and falling further into his red state Matt headbutted the punch thrower before another guy arm bared his throat from behind. Which he managed to get his grip on the arm over a letterman jacked and jerk the unprepared boy to the side with him still latched on.
A few feet away from the lockers Matt knew his only chance was to jump and push off the lockers and knock the boy to the ground and so he did. He heard a thunk of the boy’s skull bouncing off the ground and he turned to pull out of the grapple.
The beatings he had taken from his father, the grapples, being choked unconscious. Had prepared him for fighting little bitches who didn’t know what a fight was. It wasn’t gay porn with rabbit punch fists flying.
Blood was running down his face and the pain started to hit him as the threats had been eliminated. Only then did he remember to breathe. Taking breathes as Vicky came up to him with tissues and took a hold of his nose.
“Owww owww owww what the fuck my nose could be broken.” He said to Vicky as she pulled his head up and back.
“It’s ok Carl. It’s done.” Matt tried to look to see who Vicky was talking to. It was a boy taller than his 5’9” by more than a small margin. The boy eyed him bored and annoyed before speaking. “What happened here?” An unoriginal line but one Matt couldn’t be a smart aleck about. “Well you see there was an outbreak of tripping and we all tripped over my dick. It happens.” Matt was about to laugh when Vicky seemed to pull up while still gripping his nose causing Matt no small amount of pain which he audibly evidenced.
Vicky spoke in a tone he wasn’t expecting. As if she was accustomed to issuing orders. “Keep Iris away from the hall till we sanitize the site. We have blood from at least three people contaminating the site. And have Jake bring me a spare jacket and shirt for this moron.”
Carl seemed to acknowledge her orders and seemed to blink away. Maybe the punch hit harder than he expected. He had no time to wonder as Vick took her hand away from his and pushed him against the lockers. With ease he had not been expecting from her form and stature.
Before he could respond Vicky licked his blood covered chin and then his lips and spoke to him. “Focus on me you little blood bag.” Her tone had an annoyed yet feminine sneer.
“Look into my eyes. Look at me. You belong to me. You are just another food source in a collection of food sources.” Her eyes were a beautiful hazel Matt thought. Almost green. Pretty like jewels in some old treasure collections. The eyes he could get lost in before kissing her. Finally Vicky was just a slight and petite brunette and he thought she was beautiful.
She would make a hell of a girlfriend. Some cute thing he could see laying on the beach in Florida on their sides laughing and smiling before trading light kisses while hands wandered innocently. Before his mind could drift further he felt her lips on his. It took him a second to mentally grasp the kiss but his arms were around her back as her hands were at his sides. His eyes reflexively closed as he saw hers close.
It was ineffable to Matt. Beyond words, what was happening. The kiss, the moments beforehand. The way his brain tickled with electricity and gentle warmth. He had never had a kiss like this and he had traded more than a few kisses with at least a few girls.
The kiss was like a warm bath with his consciousness slipping beneath the surface. Their lips only parted to try new angles and approaches as Matt struggled to take in breath. It was a moment he could have stayed trapped in for….he didn’t know. But a curt throat clearing by another girl pulled them out of the moment.
The girl was taller than Vicky. Blonde. With slight curves. Vicky addressed her bewildered and gobsmacked, and perhaps a bit embarrassed. “Tina?”
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Matt tore through the brush, blind in the dark. He didn’t care where he was going. He only knew he needed to be elsewhere. Far from here.
Behind him a creature howled that shocked his mind. It’s form was cruel and dangerous, though female. Nothing like the young woman she had once been. Nothing but a girl, a small and slight female.
It’s guttural growls and howls only grew closer as Matt tried to pick between seeing where he was going and getting away. The few times he looked he caught sight of the creature behind him. Hopping through the air with a speed that told him he was being toyed with. As if he were a mouse being played with by a cat.
But the reflex in him to run kept him going. His adrenaline going as hard as it could. The tightness and burning in his core tensing and locking up as his legs felt like there were being burned from within while taking on more of a heaviness.
His lungs were starting to betray him as he tried to gulp big breaths of air but only rapid and shallow breaths were all that he could manage. His brain was starting to burn….and then he was falling.
Falling down the side of a hill he saw the creature dart in a spring towards him, imperceivably fast almost. Catching him in mid air it seemed.
Managing to wrap its body around him and cushion his impact against the ground as they rolled. His mind barely took in what was happening during the roll. Only starting to understand what was happening once they were still.
The creature's triple D-cup breasts were unmistakably pressed hard against his back as he laid facing up at the night sky.
For a few seconds the world stilled and the needle light pain hitting the center of his brain took over for the cooking heat his brain had felt. His whole body felt heavy and reluctant to move.
Even if he could have really moved, a dull ache came over his limbs making them feel stilled and trapped as if by immeasurable amounts of sand that had engulfed him.
Slowly the arms holding him started to move. Moving so the creature's hands could start exploring him. Causing Matt to unstoppably let out a pathetic moan that made him go cold inside as hands lifted up his shirt and started to touch his exposed stomach and then his chest.
He would have whimpered so pathetically had he not still been in the depths of terror.
As its hands felt and groped his pecs he tried to situp as if to get away. For his efforts, his reward was a hand around his throat and a collection snarls and growls against his ear. A beastly, guttural voice spat words at him while somehow holding a feminine tone.
“Don’t move….I don’t know if I can calm down…”
Her words were not helped by her moans in his ear and the subsequent kissing of his ear. The flesh of his ear going between her lips as she moaned and seemed to pant. Releasing it and licking the side of his face with a moist warmth. He could feel its spittle, viscous and coating his flesh where the tongue touched. He could smell something in his saliva. Something that subtly entranced him.
Matt went stock still with fear and the confusion of mixed arousal. He barely perceived her right hand traveling lower on his body. A surprised moan and shudder echoed in the night from Matt’s lips as she took ahold of him. Her hand above his pants but still….stimulating him.
A light squeezing and almost probing of her digits kept him aroused and confused within her grasp. Resigning himself to the strange fate, Matt looked up at the stars as his mind tried not to shatter under the strange maelstrom of events and sensation that had started mere minutes ago.
His mind was only more confused as a slight figure, feminine in build, how it seemed to thunk the ground audibly as she landed on her feet out nowhere. Her knees barely bending under the pressure of the landing. Yet dirt was kicked up anyways and some of it onto Matt. Feeling it pepper his shirt and pants as it fell.
The figure, lit only faintly by moonlight, roared some dark tone Matt could only perceive as a demon as her eyes went bright with a crimson light. A light in the darkness that should not have been. “Let him go you bitch.” Was its words following the roar. Spittle escaping its mouth with faint droplets hit Matt's face.
The creature holding him by his throat and crotch seemed to tighten the grasp of both hands as it roared back. “HE IS MINE!”
The figure paused with a moment's hesitation. He was also her quarry. She had felt his fear without him knowing. His confused arousal. His fear. His terror.
And now he laid at the center of a struggle between two monsters. Unsure of who he wanted to win.
As If It Was Kismet Ch. 1
Matthew Berkshire hadn’t seen his mom in two years. Not that he had seen her much over the last six years.
A messy divorce between messy people and mom’s chaotic want for a life in Alaska had been one of the most…upsetting times in life. Setting him up for so much of what had defined his life thus far but then that had really started two years before he ever turned.
His ear buds were basic and simple. A part of cheap five pack, common for his life as he was known to lose little things. Small things. They had a mix of metal and hard rock playing in them. Some classics, some alternative. Whatever made him feel something, anything. Even if it was hate. Anger. Rage. It was better than feeling numb. Not belonging.
The escalator down to his lone bag to go with his lone carry on showed his mom waiting for him. His had a type, that’s for damn sure. Not that it helped him in the genetics department as he was stuck at 5’9” to go along with his mother’s five foot even as his dad stood six foot. Forever leaving him to feel small, to pale, under his dad’s shadow. Did he ever stand a chance?
The guy next to her with the unkempt former seventies porn stache was “Dave.” He’d met him twice when his mother came and visited him in Florida. To his credit the guy didn’t look annoyed. Kind of concerned kind of which made Matthew want to break his frozen look but he was well practiced. Having removed any note of sadness from his face through much…tribulation.
His mother’s look on her face betrayed a hint of worry as the bruises on his face lightly showed up close. Saying his name was his like a distant echo that belonged to someone else.
Dave cut in and pulled out his right headphone. “What the hell bud, they knock you hard enough to hurt hearing? Your mom’s asking how you are doing.”
Matthew pulled out the other bud and grunted an empty “sorry.”
“You still have bruises after two week? What did they do to you?” His mom’s voice was full of worry. Something he hadn’t heard in….too long. Too long to make him feel anything. To ever make him believe there was any sincerity to her words. To not think her voice and mannerisms were an act. An act by someone who…wasn’t really there.
“It’s only fair. I took a nose. Fractured a couple orbital bones. Left one with having to get his jaw wired shut. And one will never walk right again for what I did to his knee cap.” Matthew said it all with a bored and disinterested tone. Perhaps well rehearsed.
“My man, handing out ass kickings, not bothering to take names.” Dave was quick to be the typical man’s man about it. Matthew wasn’t quite done yet. Lifting up his shirt to expose the right side near his kidney. Revealing a nasty scar from a six inch blade. “Luckily they gave me this first so they could rule it all in self-defense. The fuck didn’t get it in more than inch before I ruined his knee cap and then I took the nose of one of the fucks holding me.” Now he chose to smile keeping the well practiced dead look in his eyes.
No retorts. No questions. Just horrified looks on their faces. As he liked. As he preferred. They could hate him. They could be disgusted by him. But by God they would fear him.
“Well the doc did a good job sewing you up.” Dave commented uncomfortably. “Dissolving sutures. Ain’t they grand.” He smiled again and let it abruptly fall off his face and started walking to the carousel for the baggage claim.
Waiting and making small talk with Dave as his mother stood in silence. He was not the little boy she abandoned. The little boy she left with an angry man. While never hitting him. Left him in constant fear till he turned twelve and just didn’t care anymore. Something snapped. Broke. And he didn’t care if he died. Didn’t care if he stole. Didn’t even care if he killed. He just knew not to get caught. Something left over from his grandfather’s wisdom which came to make more and more sense with each passing year of life since that thing inside him broke.
Finally his bag came around and Dave went to try first to grab it but Dave practically leapt ahead of him. “Is that your grandfather’s rucksack bag?” his mother asked in a perplexed voice.
“Figured it’s been around since Viet Nam. So it’d serve me better than any of the worthless stuff they called luggage.” Dave commented after Matthew’s words. “Well hell yeah I still got mine from Desert Storm. You know the first one.” Dave laughed and Matthew eyed him oddly. Be it in the south or whether it was Alaska, country boys are country boys he guessed.
The car ride to the two people’s house, as Matthew thought of them. Was uneventful and full of vistas he imagined metropolitan types wetting themselves over. At most they meant isolation to him. Furtherness from the world as there were no mountains in Florida. And what mountains he had last seen in another state had been when he was eight. Another life, to Matthew it felt like. A life alien to him.
As If It Was Kismet Ch 2
Dave and his mom’s place was some two story type tucked into a tree line far up an elevated point. It was by no means the highest point in the mountain but it certainly felt up there.
Rocks were where the driveway should have been Matthew thought. Grabbing his backpack and rucksack from Dave’s jeep was no hard thing for him. Matthew was in formidable shape for someone his age, maybe even five years older. He had gotten a mix of fairly big shoulders and arms along with the chest to go for it when compared to most kids his age. A side effect of working out at least twice a day. First thing in the morning, some time in the evening, and the school’s gym when had had a good semester in school before he had to leave Florida.
Dave tried to come up and help him but Matthew walked past him towards the house. His mom was not sure what to make of his demeanor. Matthew was not the sweet kind boy he had once been. But she had been gone from his life essentially for a long time.
Ushering him into the house she cracked some joke he did not hear. He was too busy looking about and seeing a mix of old outdated decorating mixed with the strange and odd flair of his mother. Color contrasting against drab and dated. Like brightly painting over an old home that was falling apart he thought.
“Your room is this way Mattie.” His mom brightly intoned.
Without expressing any interest he followed his mother. Still faced and nonplussed. Just going along with the current. Pushed and pulled with its roll like a piece of driftwood.
The room was simple. A single small bed. A set of rubber weights with a curl bar and barbells. “Your dad said you were into weight lifting so we got you a bunch of stuff. Dave says it looks like his department’s gym almost. The woman’s smile felt very alien to him.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. I’ve got most of my stuff from home.” Matthew starting unpacking his rucksack and pulled out cables of repetitive and mixed colors. A single plastic barbell handle. The ruck sack could be filled with water bottles for added weight during pushups he figured. Remembering a Michael Keaton movie he watched with his dad post-Batman movies where he played a convicted killer using plastic bags filled with water for weights.
Matthew caught movement outside his lone fairly large window that could let him step out onto the roof of the house given its layout.
He saw a number of people running together through what he guessed was the backyard of the property, not that it had any fences to mark boundaries
They wore clothes that looked similar yet different from each other at the same time.”Oh those are the Johnston’s. Really nice bunch of people. Been on the mountain for a long time Dave tells me.”
Matthew looked at the group of people running and noticed the lack of resemblance. “They are related?” Matthew quizzically asked. Seeing a black and possibly a hispanic person amongst the bland looking white people.
“Oh well they are all adopted but for one or two of them…besides the parents of course. The family has a long tradition of taking in orphans they say. Real nice of them to do that don’t you think.”
Matthew looked at his mother and the hosier accent made no sense to him as he arched his left eye brow. Her and his dad were both from Florida. Born and raised. Sure her parents were from New York city but…
Matthew shook his lightly without turning to look at his mother as his vision was grabbed by one of the runners in particular. A girl of moderate height. Soft brunette. A plain beauty he figured with a slim build….and lack of remarkable breasts and rear to make any note of but….girls in general were his type at his age.
She was pretty enough. He couldn’t deny that but he found himself transfixed by her visage.
But the way she turned and looked at him, especially at that distance felt very disconcerting to him. Even if she was smiling like…she was a taste of a bright shiny day. Somehow.
Matthew’s mom noticed the exchange and smiled to herself with closed lips. “Oh that’s Vicky. She’s your age I think. Very sweet girl, who does the charity functions. You know bake sales, blood drives, car washes and the like. I think you should get to know her. Might be good for you.”
A truck horn sounded a couple of beeps in rather succession. “Oh that must be Mack, he said he might come by later this evening but he seems early.”
Matthew’s mother turned and left his room. Leaving Matthew to exchange a few looks with the alluring Vicky as she turned her head away from him to talk to the others in her group and look back at him.
Still Matthew’s left eyebrow was arched. In a way that reminded him of Spock from Star Trek that he and his grandpa used to watch on some streaming service or another.
As he heard ambient chatter elsewhere outside the house he figured to check it out as the alluring sight of Vicky would be around he figured. It was dull to stare at artwork. He was a boy who preferred jet skis and the like. Something he could ride and enjoy immensely. Even if at times it got him stabbed.
As If It Was Kismet Ch 3
Matthew sauntered out of the house and down the rockway that stood in for a driveway.
A few new people had come over from what he could first surmise of the situation. As he got closer it was obvious they were indigenous people. A couple of grown men…and a girl?
She was mousey. Maybe five foot. Hiding behind glasses and a big camo jacket that was far too big for her. It looked made for a grown man and the backwards trucker hat on her head kept her long black a beautiful mess of sorts.
She was cute in a way. A little androgynous but she had a cute energy to her. She reminded him of the more tomboyish Puerto Rican girls he had gotten into back in Florida. Given the deer corpses in the back of the truck….probably more dangerous to play with given the men in her family.
Small chatter passed between the adults when the girl noticed but turned away, trying to hide the tiny hint of a smile.
“Oh Mattie, this is Mack. He works with Dave at the sheriff’s department and John, he’s with fish and wildlife.” Matthew nodded at his mom’s words with some blankness as he looked at the deer the in the back of the pickup truck.
“Gale tells us you hunted with your dad some in Florida and Georgia.” Mack offered with a light hearted laugh camouflaged by his big simple and cheery but husky way he spoke.
Looking in the back of the truck he spoke. “We used lever action thirty-thirties and Mosin Nagants in seven-six-two-fifty-four-rimmed.” Mack and John whistled in an exaggerated fashion. Leaving Matthew to wonder if they were mocking him.
Mack spoke. “Well we just used thirty-odd-six in a custom gussied Garand.” That caught Matthew’s attention. “You have a Garand…” Matthew finally demonstrated interest in anything. “My dad has an SVT-40 and a Hakim 8mm but he always wanted a Garand but was too cheap to buy one.”
Gale, his mother, chimed in loudly. “Oh his Dad loved his guns but was such an odd duck about how he bought or why he bought them. Never made sense to me how he wasn’t a collector but he didn’t get the latest and greatest.” Gale laughed uncomfortably. At least it seemed that way to Matthew.
Matthew pointed to the girl with an underhanded pointing hand. “And who is this? A cute little mute mouse or does she have a name?” Dave and the other men laughed.
Mack again spoke. “Well you people call her Rebecca, she’s my adopted daughter.” Matthew was taken aback by what he heard. “You people?”
Rebecca kindly spoke with a soft but almost melodic voice as she struggled to maintain eye contact. “White people or rather not members of our tribe. It’s just easier to appease the colonizer kind of thing. Borrowed from when the Jesuit missionaries chased us up here.”
Mack stepped in. “It’s just easier to have white people names than have them try to say our tribal names. And we don’t want them shortening or Anglicising our names kind of thing.” Rebecca stepped back into the conversation cutting off her adopted father. “It’s an insult to our history basically.”
Matthew cocked his head sideways raising his eyebrows shortly before letting them drop. “Well as soon as I’m eighteen I’m out of here and back to Florida so I’m a sort of involuntary colonizer of sorts. So I won’t be taking any of your land from you. The Seminoles on the other hand are still shit out of luck.”
Rebecca’s smile caused Matthew to reflexively smile. Mack made the moment more awkward. “See Becca, I told you someone off the reservation would like you some. You just have to be creative.” Mack laughed in a chiding manner…Matthew presumed. He sensed that he was the butt of some kind of cultural joke. Like marrying a white guy was some sort of insult or mark of shame. That kind of thing.
Rebecca turning away from him was not something he had been expecting. Her then getting in the truck in a huff left the group in a silence for a moment.
Dave spoke to break the awkward silence. “Well just bring the truck to work on Monday and leave it for me to grab up.” Mack acknowledged Dave and they started to get off as Rebecca looked at Matthew for another instance. Matthew couldn’t look away for some reason as the two seemed to lock eyes for an instance.
Till Vicky and family seemed to come jogging down the road. While Matthew’s eyes diverted from Rebecca’s. Hers did not till she realized he was looking elsewhere. And her vision found Vicky and what had been a hint of smile on her face turned glum and disappointed.
Matthew did not look away from the vision of Vicky but instead of a starry eyed fool looking longingly. It was a baffled look. Well baffled for him, with his eyes drawn narrow and night with a focus.
There was something about her…he couldn’t quite put a name too. The way she appeared to him. One second brunette. The next second blonde or blonde like. As if the color appeared in her air and disappeared in fractions of seconds. Much the same way her body almost seemed to…shift…very subtly…smoothly. A nicer bum. Larger breasts. And then back to a simple and plain form. Feminine no doubt. Attractive. But not so…remarkable.
As If It Was Kismet Ch 4
The next two days passed without incident. Nothing of any real substance or challenge to note.
Matthew got settled somewhat and started working out almost immediately. Exploring around the woods but Dave told him not to go far. Especially without a hunting rifle. Dave had left a simple semi-auto Winchester out for him. His bear gun as Dave referred to it with its four round magazine. But Matt figured till he got some practice with the rifle to leave it alone. He made a hiking stick like his grandpa taught him and treated it over a low fire. He would take some electrical tape for the end his hand would grip around. Plenty enough to ward off anything smaller than a bear he figured.
The ride to school was a pain in the neck but simple enough. Dave would let him use a clunker pickup truck he had laying around. It wasn’t pretty but it would get him to and from. Even if it was from the eighties and still backfired on occasion. But for now Dave and his mom took him on their way to the sheriff’s department.
It wasn’t much of a school. It wanted to be modern but its fifties original construction was very obvious. It serviced the pipeline families and familys’ of fisherman who worked the seasons in between their time at the pipeline.
Matt was to report to the principal for some reason Dave and his mom wouldn’t share. Which annoyed him but he figured it was to read him the law of land. Small towns with their big views of the outside world and like.
Dressed in jeans, a grey sweatshirt under a light jacket with steel toed boots set him more apart then he expected. His buzzed head didn’t help matters. Already he was feeling like a stranger in a strange land but he was quite strange after all. And he liked it that way. Normal people were so pathetically disappointing to him.
A secretary or assistant or some such led him to the principal’s office. Where it reeked of real wood that was old and fabric and upholstery that needed to be updated for the last twenty years, Matt figured.
“This is Matthew Berkshire, Principal Andrews.” The man was turned with his back to the door and he was quick to wave her off as he turned her around.
He was an older man. Fat and large. Tall with a body built like he had once been fit and a demeanour of annoyed and irate already as he fixed Matt with a scowl and look of disgust. Another worthless government whore. Matt thought to himself. His father and his grandfather had bestowed unto him a natural disrespect for government workers and the figures that wore unjustified authority as a shield but pretended the weight of the state was not at their back ready to crush all who resisted. Little figures of valor pretending to be mighty and alone but acting with the tyranny of the state and all the backing.
“Mr. Berkshire, please sit down.” His tone wasn’t unusually hostile, just gruff. As if he had better things to do.
Matt complied and took a seat in the chair while maintaining a friendly facade. Not everyone was an enemy. And not everyone needed to be an enemy. Even if anybody could be any enemy. There was no reason to make enemies you didn’t have to. Another of his grandfather’s bastardised wisdoms.
“Well I looked over you file and you have quite the history Mr. Berkshire.” Matt resisted qiuping back a joke. Instead he waited for Principal Andrews to continue as he remained nonplussed and looking as if he felt no need to respond. A simple head tilt with dead eyes looking back at the principle as if he was not even there would suffice.
Matt’s reaction or lack of a reaction rather made Principal Andrews only narrow his eyes with examination. He was not used to a kid not responding to him. Especially with his gruff and hard act going on.
“Well by all accounts you moved here after some problems at your last school. A fight broke out and you did some real harm to your fellow students it appears.” Of course, he would take the side of the perpetrators. School administrators always did. Especially when they weren’t white. Just a fact of the times. Cowardice and pathetic mediocrity was the way they leaned, like good government workers sucking the dick of Big Daddy government. Worthless whores.
Matt chose to reply. “Oh you mean the criminals that stabbed me. Got arrested at the hospital and then pled to felonies. Yeah Florida, with the American counties are good like that.” Principal Andrews went real still. No shame. No fear. No penitence. He didn’t like that.
“Well be it as it may Mr. Berkshire we don’t tolerate that kind of behaviour here…” Matt cut him off responding with a deadpan tone. “You mean self-defense meant to save one’s own life while the cowardly and pathetic school workers look on with zero interest but to keep their money rolling in and will allow known gang members with records of violent acts and crimes that should have them expelled many times over, where in certain Democrat counties such cowardice and idiocy empowered a couple school shooters?”
Principal Andrews looked at the Matt with a note of disgust. “Look here Mr. Berkshire, your beliefs matter not one bit here. This isn’t Florida. We don’t like our way of life being disrupted by outside agitators who have problems with authority.”
Matt did his best not to roll his eyes and let the older fat man drone own as he dead-stared him. Lifeless and without emotion.
The man came to a finish and Matt spoke up without having listened to him or paid him any attention. “Great now that’s taken care of. Can I please get to class and finish my sentence of two years at your wonderful school?”
Principal Andrews huffed and snorted before calling in Vicky. Vicky stood in the corner after entering with a quiet and seamless presence. Matt felt disturbed and tried not betray his feelings as the young Vicky was perceived and not perceived to be moving.
Principal Andrews made the introductions and Matt nodded back. She was to be his chaperone for the day. They had the same classes and she was to show him the ropes so to speak. The ins and outs of the school. The locations of their classes.
He recognized her. It was hard not to. The way her appearance seemed to shift fluidly almost. The petite and skinny brunette ever so lightly had a big bust and blonde hair with curves added when she seemed to shift before his eyes. Like watching a film but each frame had a different person.
Matt didn’t say anything about it. Even if he did he would only be acknowledging his crazed state, if he had one. If.
Unlike an obedient puppy dog he got up in a slow and awkward fashion and followed behind her as his oddly disproportionate frame allowed. Causing her a note of concern for some reason. As if she was seeing something she shouldn’t have been….Or he was just weird. And Matt could admit to himself he was just weird. Part of his charm, he would jest about it at times. Not that he had many people to jest to now.
As If It Were Kismet Ch. 5
Following Vicky into the hall off to their first class was simple. She exchanged small talk and he slightly smiled as if to obviously suggest he was just being polite.
Inside his head, Matt was trying to figure out if he was having a psychotic break. The way Vicky looked kept changing and he looked at the other people around him and they stayed the same.
He was searching his mind as they were walking. And thus he wasn’t paying attention to where he was looking and so fell to his face forward over his feet seemingly out of nowhere.
A series of laughs erupted as it sunk in that he was obviously tripped. Like in prison this was a challenge to his superiority. If he let this pass he would be mocked and sneered at by this same group of boys. He wouldn’t walk to them like he was going to do nothing like a little bitch.
In a rage he turned and punched the stomach of the first face he saw. Some typical blonde haired wannabe jock. He knew from experience not to aim for the ribs. Instead he needed to aim for where he thought the belly button was.
Yells and screams blindly echoed around him as his after the punch he followed up his elbow of the opposite arm slamming into the face of the jock. Harder than a fist, the elbow struck the jock’s jaw and seemingly dropped him against a locker. Just in time to catch an errant and soft punch to the nose that sure enough hurt but did little to slow him down as his dad had taught him to fight through the pain. Blood and scars happened. They were a natural consequence of life to a man.
Taking the punch and falling further into his red state Matt headbutted the punch thrower before another guy arm bared his throat from behind. Which he managed to get his grip on the arm over a letterman jacked and jerk the unprepared boy to the side with him still latched on.
A few feet away from the lockers Matt knew his only chance was to jump and push off the lockers and knock the boy to the ground and so he did. He heard a thunk of the boy’s skull bouncing off the ground and he turned to pull out of the grapple.
The beatings he had taken from his father, the grapples, being choked unconscious. Had prepared him for fighting little bitches who didn’t know what a fight was. It wasn’t gay porn with rabbit punch fists flying.
Blood was running down his face and the pain started to hit him as the threats had been eliminated. Only then did he remember to breathe. Taking breathes as Vicky came up to him with tissues and took a hold of his nose.
“Owww owww owww what the fuck my nose could be broken.” He said to Vicky as she pulled his head up and back.
“It’s ok Carl. It’s done.” Matt tried to look to see who Vicky was talking to. It was a boy taller than his 5’9” by more than a small margin. The boy eyed him bored and annoyed before speaking. “What happened here?” An unoriginal line but one Matt couldn’t be a smart aleck about. “Well you see there was an outbreak of tripping and we all tripped over my dick. It happens.” Matt was about to laugh when Vicky seemed to pull up while still gripping his nose causing Matt no small amount of pain which he audibly evidenced.
Vicky spoke in a tone he wasn’t expecting. As if she was accustomed to issuing orders. “Keep Iris away from the hall till we sanitize the site. We have blood from at least three people contaminating the site. And have Jake bring me a spare jacket and shirt for this moron.”
Carl seemed to acknowledge her orders and seemed to blink away. Maybe the punch hit harder than he expected. He had no time to wonder as Vick took her hand away from his and pushed him against the lockers. With ease he had not been expecting from her form and stature.
Before he could respond Vicky licked his blood covered chin and then his lips and spoke to him. “Focus on me you little blood bag.” Her tone had an annoyed yet feminine sneer.
“Look into my eyes. Look at me. You belong to me. You are just another food source in a collection of food sources.” Her eyes were a beautiful hazel Matt thought. Almost green. Pretty like jewels in some old treasure collections. The eyes he could get lost in before kissing her. Finally Vicky was just a slight and petite brunette and he thought she was beautiful.
She would make a hell of a girlfriend. Some cute thing he could see laying on the beach in Florida on their sides laughing and smiling before trading light kisses while hands wandered innocently. Before his mind could drift further he felt her lips on his. It took him a second to mentally grasp the kiss but his arms were around her back as her hands were at his sides. His eyes reflexively closed as he saw hers close.
It was ineffable to Matt. Beyond words, what was happening. The kiss, the moments beforehand. The way his brain tickled with electricity and gentle warmth. He had never had a kiss like this and he had traded more than a few kisses with at least a few girls.
The kiss was like a warm bath with his consciousness slipping beneath the surface. Their lips only parted to try new angles and approaches as Matt struggled to take in breath. It was a moment he could have stayed trapped in for….he didn’t know. But a curt throat clearing by another girl pulled them out of the moment.
The girl was taller than Vicky. Blonde. With slight curves. Vicky addressed her bewildered and gobsmacked, and perhaps a bit embarrassed. “Tina?”
2024.05.14 16:09 Aenimal Where can I find customer pfds in bulk? I’ve had no luck
Hey fellow boaters. After 15 years of being a raft guide, I am starting my own rafting/tubing/ducky company. I am struggling to find universal fit customer pfds and helmets, but mostly pfds I can afford since I need so many. I need type III and type V. Does anyone know of a good source, it would be super duper helpful for me and I’d be incredibly grateful for any help. These are the absolute last pieces of gear I need.
submitted by Aenimal to rafting [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 16:07 Aenimal Where can I find customer pfds in bulk? I’ve had no luck.
Hey fellow boaters. After 15 years of being a raft guide, I am starting my own rafting/tubing/ducky company. I am struggling to find universal fit customer pfds and helmets, but mostly pfds I can afford since I need so many. I need type III and type V. Does anyone know of a good source, it would be super duper helpful for me and I’d be incredibly grateful for any help. These are the absolute last pieces of gear I need.
submitted by Aenimal to whitewater [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 15:46 maeshughes32 Simhub with 2 Nobsound amps and 4 bass shakers?
I am trying to run two BST-1's and two BST-2's on two Nobsound mini amps. Simhub recognizes both USB Sound cards but when I enable both of them it will only send vibration to one of them. I tried configuring it with the custom channels and still no luck. I found this post when researching this but don't quite understand what the solution is. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
submitted by maeshughes32 to simracing [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 15:46 Fluffybaxter Implementing OpenTelemetry at Skyscanner
Hey everyone!
We had a great talk last week at the London Observability Engineering Meetup that I thought many of you would find interesting.
In this talk, Dan shared some of his experiences leading an observability transformation at Skyscanner, from custom solutions to Otel standards.
You can find the talk here: https://youtu.be/bxNc45TMTsU?si=g_68LLIKoL_Vxt1w
There was some great questions during the Q&A so make sure to check those out: 28:18 Q&A How to define and set up SLOs & SLAs 31:19 Q&A Tail sampling best practices 33:52 Q&A How to handle technical/organizational silos when implementing observability 35:16 Q&A How effectively work with metric views in OpenTelemtry 43:38 Q&A Standardizing semantic conventions with OpenTelemtry
Btw, if you have questions, you can drop them in the community Slack, and I'll try and get Dan and others to help out.
submitted by Fluffybaxter to sre [link] [comments]
We had a great talk last week at the London Observability Engineering Meetup that I thought many of you would find interesting.
In this talk, Dan shared some of his experiences leading an observability transformation at Skyscanner, from custom solutions to Otel standards.
You can find the talk here: https://youtu.be/bxNc45TMTsU?si=g_68LLIKoL_Vxt1w
There was some great questions during the Q&A so make sure to check those out: 28:18 Q&A How to define and set up SLOs & SLAs 31:19 Q&A Tail sampling best practices 33:52 Q&A How to handle technical/organizational silos when implementing observability 35:16 Q&A How effectively work with metric views in OpenTelemtry 43:38 Q&A Standardizing semantic conventions with OpenTelemtry
Btw, if you have questions, you can drop them in the community Slack, and I'll try and get Dan and others to help out.
2024.05.14 15:40 Noxturnum2 Stinky SMP NO RESETS SINCE MAY 2022 1.20.1 ORIGINS
Hello, Redditors! Check out Stinky SMP! This is a 1.20.1 and updating server, with an emphasis on fair moderation (appeals, and punishment only for true rulebreaks), extreme longevity (absolutely NO resets, you could play here for years!) and inclusivity of all people and playstyles. Be you a nomad, builder, PVPer, trader, you'll find a place here. Any reason you can't? Make a suggestion, we'll look at it!
GREAT PERFORMANCE! Our vanilla+ modpack with many optimisers ensures minimal client-side lag. Server-side, we have 16 gigs of ram + dedicated processor cores up to 4.8 GHz and featuring 4 vCores of a Ryzen 9 5950X CPU.
WANT BLOODSHED? WANT PEACE AND LOVE? HAVE BOTH! The server operates on a Safezone-Borderlands system, where a continuously expanding 4k-radius area centred on spawn has claims, graves and disallows (unless with consent) griefing, killing and stealing. The Borderlands is much more resource-rich but allows griefing, killing and stealing and has no claims or graves.
THE ORIGINS MOD! We have a very special mod, the Origins mod! Along with the 9 base origins, we have roughly 61 custom origins, all carefully reviewed so that we can make sure each one is balanced, unique and well designed! You can even suggest custom origins, but it'll have to be high quality. Of course, if you don't like this mod, or don't like your current origin, you can always pick Human or use your free two changes/craft an origin change.
submitted by Noxturnum2 to feedthebeastservers [link] [comments]
GREAT PERFORMANCE! Our vanilla+ modpack with many optimisers ensures minimal client-side lag. Server-side, we have 16 gigs of ram + dedicated processor cores up to 4.8 GHz and featuring 4 vCores of a Ryzen 9 5950X CPU.
WANT BLOODSHED? WANT PEACE AND LOVE? HAVE BOTH! The server operates on a Safezone-Borderlands system, where a continuously expanding 4k-radius area centred on spawn has claims, graves and disallows (unless with consent) griefing, killing and stealing. The Borderlands is much more resource-rich but allows griefing, killing and stealing and has no claims or graves.
THE ORIGINS MOD! We have a very special mod, the Origins mod! Along with the 9 base origins, we have roughly 61 custom origins, all carefully reviewed so that we can make sure each one is balanced, unique and well designed! You can even suggest custom origins, but it'll have to be high quality. Of course, if you don't like this mod, or don't like your current origin, you can always pick Human or use your free two changes/craft an origin change.
Server invite: https://discord.gg/fkgXwWfpta
2024.05.14 15:38 Noxturnum2 Stinky SMP [Modded] [SMP] {No Resets} {1.20.1} {Java} {Origins} {No Whitelist} {No Chat Reports}
Hello, Redditors! Check out Stinky SMP! This is a 1.20.1 and updating server, with an emphasis on fair moderation (appeals, and punishment only for true rulebreaks), extreme longevity (absolutely NO resets, you could play here for years!) and inclusivity of all people and playstyles. Be you a nomad, builder, PVPer, trader, you'll find a place here. Any reason you can't? Make a suggestion, we'll look at it!
GREAT PERFORMANCE! Our vanilla+ modpack with many optimisers ensures minimal client-side lag. Server-side, we have 16 gigs of ram + dedicated processor cores up to 4.8 GHz and featuring 4 vCores of a Ryzen 9 5950X CPU.
WANT BLOODSHED? WANT PEACE AND LOVE? HAVE BOTH! The server operates on a Safezone-Borderlands system, where a continuously expanding 4k-radius area centred on spawn has claims, graves and disallows (unless with consent) griefing, killing and stealing. The Borderlands is much more resource-rich but allows griefing, killing and stealing and has no claims or graves.
THE ORIGINS MOD! We have a very special mod, the Origins mod! Along with the 9 base origins, we have roughly 61 custom origins, all carefully reviewed so that we can make sure each one is balanced, unique and well designed! You can even suggest custom origins, but it'll have to be high quality. Of course, if you don't like this mod, or don't like your current origin, you can always pick Human or use your free two changes/craft an origin change.
submitted by Noxturnum2 to mcservers [link] [comments]
GREAT PERFORMANCE! Our vanilla+ modpack with many optimisers ensures minimal client-side lag. Server-side, we have 16 gigs of ram + dedicated processor cores up to 4.8 GHz and featuring 4 vCores of a Ryzen 9 5950X CPU.
WANT BLOODSHED? WANT PEACE AND LOVE? HAVE BOTH! The server operates on a Safezone-Borderlands system, where a continuously expanding 4k-radius area centred on spawn has claims, graves and disallows (unless with consent) griefing, killing and stealing. The Borderlands is much more resource-rich but allows griefing, killing and stealing and has no claims or graves.
THE ORIGINS MOD! We have a very special mod, the Origins mod! Along with the 9 base origins, we have roughly 61 custom origins, all carefully reviewed so that we can make sure each one is balanced, unique and well designed! You can even suggest custom origins, but it'll have to be high quality. Of course, if you don't like this mod, or don't like your current origin, you can always pick Human or use your free two changes/craft an origin change.