Here’s a bit about me and what I’m hoping to find:

Steadfast Friendship: Imagine us as two astronauts tethered together in the vast expanse of space – consistency is key. I value friends who are the same at heart from one day to the next, sharing a solid foundation of values and ethics. If you’re someone who appreciates deep, meaningful connections and can navigate the ebb and flow of life with grace and understanding, we’re already halfway to being great friends.

A Shared Playground of Interests:

My world is a tapestry woven with the threads of game programming, streaming the latest shows across Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus (with a soft spot for K-dramas and sci-fi epics), diving into the realms of AI art, and exploring the universe of gaming from strategy to RPGs. If you find joy in any of these or can introduce me to your passions, I’m all ears.
Investing Time in Each Other: Like crafting a masterpiece or coding a new app, building a friendship takes time and dedication. I’m looking for someone who’s ready to carve out moments for meaningful exchanges – not every day, but enough to keep our connection alive and thriving.

A Glimpse Into My Journey:

Navigating life’s challenges, including supporting my wife through her vision loss and managing my own mental health, has taught me resilience and empathy. While these experiences have introduced shadows into my life, they haven’t extinguished my spirit or sense of humor. I’m an eternal learner, currently fascinated by AI and its potential, and I’m always up for a hearty discussion on anything from sociology to the latest tech innovations.

Past Friendships: A Learning Curve:

Looking back, I’ve realized that my path to friendship has been a bit like debugging complex code – sometimes, it’s the small differences in perspective or interests that throw everything off. But I believe in the power of respectful dialogue and cherish the diversity of thought. I’m seeking friends who are not just open-minded but also patient and kind, ready to explore the vastness of our differences and similarities.

In Closing:

If you’re intrigued by the prospect of deep conversations, shared laughter over the absurdities of life, and a friendship that’s as enriching as it is supportive, I’d be thrilled to embark on this adventure with you. Let’s share our stories, our dreams, and maybe even our favorite hypotheticals/theories. Who knows? This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Can’t wait to hear from you. Let’s make the universe a little smaller, together.

So, I wanted to give a shout out to the Joseph’s line of wraps.. I managed to safely eat one (12g carb) without going over 200. I hit 193.. but I didn’t hit 200!
I find myself absolutely terrified of eating carbs - mostly because it feels like the sliding scale humalog that I’m on doesn’t seem to do more than “flatten the curve”. For reference 140 to 150 I take 3u - 150 to 200 I take 6u. This is what’s been ordered by the doctor. But if I even inch towards ingesting 20g+ of carbs in a meal I get an absolutely horrible spike.
At the same time, I’m craving carbs and sugar. I did learn than 8 blackberries won’t jump my sugar more than 10 points though - so I’ll consider that a win.
Anyone have any suggestions? I don’t consider myself keto.. but I feel like I’m borderline keto for a diet?

As the demands of modern office life keep us tethered to our desks for extended periods, back pain has become an all-too-common complaint among office workers in Union City. The sedentary nature of desk jobs often leads to discomfort and stiffness, affecting the overall well-being of employees. This article explores quick fixes and chiropractic solutions offered by a renowned back pain chiropractor Union City NJ for office workers seeking relief from persistent back pain.

1. The Desk Ergonomics Blueprint: A Foundation for Comfort
   Ensuring proper desk ergonomics is a fundamental step in preventing and alleviating back pain for office workers. A Chiropractic Wellness Center Union City NJ emphasizes the importance of an ergonomic workspace to maintain a neutral spine position. Adjust your chair, monitor, and keyboard to create a setup that promotes good posture and minimizes strain on your back.
   
2. Dynamic Sitting Strategies: Breaking the Sedentary Cycle
   Office workers often find themselves sitting for prolonged periods, contributing to back pain. Implementing dynamic sitting strategies is a quick fix recommended by a back pain chiropractor Union City NJ. Incorporate short breaks throughout the day to stand, stretch, and move around. Simple activities like neck rotations, shoulder rolls, and standing stretches can combat stiffness and improve circulation.
   
3. Seated Exercises: Strengthening the Core Muscles
   Desk-friendly exercises targeted at strengthening the core muscles play a vital role in preventing and allev
   iating back pain. A Chiropractic Wellness Center Union City NJ may recommend seated exercises that can be discreetly performed at your desk. Engage in pelvic tilts, seated marches, or isometric contractions to activate and strengthen the muscles supporting your spine.
   
4. Mindful Posture Checks: A Quick Fix Habit
   Maintaining good posture throughout the workday is a quick and effective fix for office workers dealing with back pain. Regularly check in on your posture, ensuring that your spine is aligned and your shoulders are relaxed. A back pain chiropractor Union City NJ often highlights the significance of mindful posture as a simple yet powerful preventive measure.
   
5. Stretch Breaks for Desk Warriors: Relieving Tension
   Incorporating regular stretch breaks into your work routine can significantly relieve tension and reduce the risk of back pain. Focus on stretches that target the back, neck, and shoulders. A quick stretch routine recommended by a Chiropractic Wellness Center Union City NJ can include forward bends, side stretches, and upper back stretches to counteract the effects of prolonged sitting.
   
6. Lumbar Support Essentials: Back-Friendly Accessories
   Investing in lumbar support accessories can provide quick relief for office workers experiencing back pain. Lumbar rolls or cushions help maintain the natural curve of the lower spine, promoting proper alignment. A back pain chiropractor Union City NJ might advise choosing a supportive chair or adding a lumbar cushion to your existing chair to enhance comfort during long work hours.
   
7. Stay Hydrated: A Surprising Back Pain Solution
   While it may seem unrelated, staying hydrated is a quick fix that supports overall spinal health. Dehydration can contribute to stiffness and discomfort. Make it a habit to drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day. Hydration is a simple yet effective measure suggested by a Chiropractic Wellness Center Union City NJ to maintain the flexibility of spinal discs.
   
8. Chiropractic Massage for Desk-Induced Tension: Immediate Relief
   For immediate relief from desk-induced tension, consider incorporating Chiropractic Massage Union City NJ into your wellness routine. This specialized massage targets areas of muscular tightness and promotes relaxation. A back pain chiropractor Union City NJ may recommend regula
   

ZkSync is a Layer-2 scaling solution that employs zk-rollup technology to revolutionize Ethereum's scalability and efficiency. By aggregating multiple transactions into a single cryptographic proof and processing them off-chain, zkSync significantly enhances transaction throughput, relieves network congestion, and reduces gas fees. Despite its off-chain nature, zkSync ensures robust security by tethering transaction finality to the Ethereum mainnet.
In comparison to other Layer-2 solutions like Optimism, Polygon, and StarkNet, zkSync distinguishes itself with its utilization of zk-rollup and zero-knowledge proofs, providing unparalleled security and efficiency benefits. Its innovative approach has attracted substantial investor support, with zkSync raising $258 million from prominent backers such as a16z and Dragonfly. Positioned at the forefront of Ethereum Layer 2 technology, zkSync enjoys widespread community engagement and support.
Exciting news awaits zkSync communities: you now have the opportunity to pre-trade zkSync on Bitget before its official listing. This exclusive chance empowers you to stay ahead of the market curve and potentially optimize your investment returns by gaining early access to zkSync. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of the zkSync journey from the very beginning.

(TYPO IN HEADING, SMH) ARENA BREAKOUT !!!
Hello all, just throwing this out there as it may help others. With that being said, those of us with 'older' rigs; much effort is required in getting these newer games to run optimally. I will outline what I have done to get Arena Breakout to run buttery smooth on my rig.
My rig: Old school glass one sided Phanteks case ASUS Strix X299 LGA2066 mobo (QCode is spot on at AA) i9-7980XE non delidded with 360 cooling and 4 aux fans connected to BIOS fan sliders 8 sticks of 16GB all running at 4300MHz, GSkill DDR4 ram (matching vers# and sequential serial no's - because I'm wierd like that) ASUS Rog badged 2080Ti - overclocked by profile within GPU Tweak 3 per specific games 2.5 GB PCIe Realtek branded Ethernet card Game installed on 2TB M.2 Samsung EVO EVGA 1000 Watt G3 PSU 49 inch curved OLED Samsung LS49AG95 G Sync Monitor
Overclocking Operations: Overclocked 2080TI to the following: Power Target 122% GPU Voltage 100% GPU Boost Clock 1858MHz Mem Clock 15818MHz GPU Temp Target 88C Fan sliders tethered to allow 100% operation starting at 55C GPU peaks at 62C under full load
OC'ed i9-7980XE to the following: 4.3 GHz all cores 2.6 GHz cache Turbo Unlimited AVX offset -4, AVX512 offset -7 Voltage adaptive CPU peaks at 63C under game load
Kernel / OS / nVidia / Arena settings: nVidia Control Panel: Image Sharpening: OFF AntiAlias - Transp: Multisample CUDA GPUS - ALL (this is a major setting) Power Management Mode: Prefer Max Perf (another major setting) Pref Refresh Rate: Highest Avail Text Filtering Quality - High Perf Disable nVidia in Game overlay Shader Cache Size: Driver Default (I know some say to put this to 10GB, but for me that caused some major stability issues/artifacting for whatever reason...)
Windows 11: My windows has been debloated to the best of my ability with disabling telemetry and other useless crap. Make CPU highest priority to the Arean Breakout Game (not the launcher - done in Task Manager) Gaming > Game Mode: Game Mode: ON System > Display > Graphics: Make Arena Breakout game .exe: Highest Performance
Arena: The game will not allow me to change any of the settings, it defaults to 'Current Selection' for whatever reason. Game looks and performs GREAT, so not too concerned witht he in game settings at this point. I have a bug report out to the ABI team. I was able to change my FOV to 88 (from 90). Disable in Game overlay.
Ethernet: Xfinitiy Multi Gig service
Device Manager ethernet property manipulations: Advanced EEE: DISABLED ARP Offload: DISABLED EEE: DISABLED Flow Control: DISABLED Gigabit Lite: DISABLED Green Ethernet: DISABLED Make sure Speed and Duplex match your connection and use proper CAT # cable for your setup Ping is 18-25MS in game with 0% packet loss.
Final: In Arena Lobby I am getting upwards of 100FPS In Game during action I am getting around 75-90FPS In Game looking directly at the ground 115FPS In Game looking at the sky 105FPS In Game looking through a scope 77FPS No artifacting or rubberbanding. During game GPU Usage is at 99% (temps 60-62Cs) During game CPU Usage is around 25% (temps 60C's) Ping is 18-25MS in game with 0% packet loss.
Programs used to OC/Monitor: CoreTemp Intel XTU GPU Tweak 3 Process Hacker 2 Aida64
Ive found that everygame uses various parts of the PC differently. Gray Zone seems to be CPU heavy (AVX specifically), whereas Once Human uses both CPU and GPU, and Arena is heavy GPU with a touch of CPU. Feel free to point out any errors/corrections/suggestions/experiences you may have.
Hope this helps ya'll running the older rigs, my setup is going on 6 years old and I am still hanging with the best of them with the above settings....onto Gray Zone next....stay tuned...hahahaha

Greetings, BlackBerry lovers.
I'm also one of you. I'm writing this to share with you how much I love BlackBerry, especially the BlackBerry Passport. I've been using so many smartphones and have kept some special ones for a collection. The iPhone 5s was the best-looking device of all time in my opinion, even when comparing it to any of the latest smartphones with bezel-less displays or other incredible designs. The iPhone 5s is still one of the best designs. But since I've had my hands on the Passport, my mind has changed; it completely beats the iPhone 5s. I felt excited about how beautiful it is and really fell in love with it. Of course, I got it for my collection.
Despite it being quite an old tech device and having so many restrictions these days, let's go back one year. I always had it in my pocket next to my main device (Z Fold 5). I was using it like a messaging and emailing machine with just a connection via Bluetooth tethering. The keyboard is amazing; typing is so satisfying. And since WhatsApp discontinued support for Android 4.3, and recently Facebook and Messenger stopped working on my Passport, I don't know why, that makes the Passport become less useful to me. I have no reason to take it out with me every day anymore.
Every day I still hold it, gaze at it, and play some card games. I know you guys are trying to install many cool games on it, but I won't force my Passport to do it. However, I try searching for ideas to make it more useful to me. For example, I could sync the notifications from my main device, just like a smartwatch, use it to control my PC, or use it like a music player because it supports AptX.
I figured out there's a quite similar-looking device on the market—the Unihertz Titan. I thought of getting it as a replacement for the Passport, but it is too bulky, and the main reason is that it is not a BlackBerry.
Hopefully, one day, we could revive BlackBerry, and I could experience more functions.
Honestly, if in 2024, an exactly same-looking BlackBerry Passport were released with the latest Android version installed, I would not hesitate to purchase it at any cost.

If you are looking for the best noise cancelling headphones under $100 in the year 2024 and 2025 let's start with the list
1)))Sony WH-CH700N Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
2)))TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
3))) Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones 4))COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
5))Mpow H5 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony is a brand known for its high-quality electronic products, and the WH-CH700N Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are no exception. These headphones are designed to provide users with an immersive listening experience, free from distractions and background noise. With a sleek design, long battery life, and advanced noise cancelling technology, the Sony WH-CH700N headphones are a top choice for anyone looking to upgrade their audio experience.
One of the standout features of the Sony WH-CH700N headphones is their noise cancelling technology. This feature allows users to block out external sounds and immerse themselves in their music or podcasts. The headphones use Artificial Intelligence Noise Cancelling (AINC) to adjust the level of noise cancellation based on the environment. This means that whether you're in a noisy airport or a quiet office, the headphones will adapt to provide the best possible listening experience.
In addition to noise cancelling, the Sony WH-CH700N headphones also offer a comfortable fit and long-lasting battery life. The headphones are lightweight and adjustable, making them suitable for extended wear. The ear cups are cushioned for added comfort, and the headband is adjustable to fit a variety of head sizes. With up to 35 hours of battery life on a single charge, users can enjoy their music for hours on end without needing to recharge.
The Sony WH-CH700N headphones also feature Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to wirelessly connect to their devices. This means you can listen to music, take calls, or watch videos without being tethered to your phone or tablet. The headphones have a range of up to 30 feet, providing freedom of movement while still maintaining a strong connection.
Another notable feature of the Sony WH-CH700N headphones is the built-in microphone for hands-free calling. This allows users to answer calls without needing to take off their headphones or fumble with their phone. The microphone delivers clear sound quality, ensuring that both parties can hear each other clearly.
The headphones also feature touch controls on the ear cups, allowing users to adjust volume, skip tracks, or answer calls with a simple swipe or tap. This makes it easy to control your music or calls without needing to take out your phone.
The Sony WH-CH700N headphones also come with a carrying pouch for easy storage and portability. The pouch protects the headphones from scratches and damage while traveling, and makes it easy to take them on the go.
Overall, the Sony WH-CH700N Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are a top choice for anyone looking for high-quality audio and noise cancelling technology. With their comfortable fit, long battery life, and advanced features, these headphones are a great investment for music lovers and commuters alike.
In conclusion, the Sony WH-CH700N Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones offer a premium audio experience with advanced noise cancelling technology and convenient features. With their comfortable fit, long battery life, and high-quality sound, these headphones are a top choice for anyone looking to upgrade their listening experience. Whether you're commuting, working out, or just relaxing at home, the Sony WH-CH700N headphones provide a truly immersive and enjoyable audio experience.
TaoTronics is a well-known brand in the audio industry, and their Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are one of their most popular products. These headphones are designed to provide a superior listening experience by eliminating external noise and delivering clear, crisp sound. In this article, we will take a closer look at the features and performance of TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones.
One of the standout features of these headphones is their active noise cancelling technology. This technology works by using microphones to pick up external noise and then generating sound waves that are the exact opposite of the unwanted noise. This effectively cancels out the external noise, allowing you to enjoy your music or podcasts without any distractions. Whether you are on a noisy airplane, train, or in a busy office, TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones can help you immerse yourself in your audio.
In addition to their noise cancelling capabilities, these headphones also deliver high-quality sound. With 40mm drivers, TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones provide a rich, immersive listening experience. The sound is well-balanced, with clear highs, detailed mids, and deep bass. Whether you are listening to music, watching movies, or making phone calls, these headphones deliver excellent audio quality.
Comfort is also a priority with TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones. The ear cups are padded with soft memory foam, which provides a comfortable fit and helps to seal out external noise. The headband is adjustable and well-padded, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. The headphones are lightweight and foldable, making them easy to transport and store when not in use.
Another key feature of TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones is their long battery life. With up to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge, you can enjoy your music all day long without needing to recharge. The headphones also have a quick charge feature, giving you two hours of playback time with just five minutes of charging. This makes them ideal for long trips or busy days when you need your headphones to last.
In terms of connectivity, TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 technology. This allows you to easily pair the headphones with your smartphone, tablet, or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. The headphones have a range of up to 33 feet, giving you the freedom to move around without being tethered to your device. They also have a built-in microphone for hands-free calls, making them a versatile choice for both music and phone conversations.
The design of TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones is sleek and modern. The headphones are available in a classic black color with silver accents, giving them a sophisticated look. The ear cups swivel and fold flat, making them easy to store in the included carrying case. The controls are located on the ear cups, allowing you to adjust the volume, skip tracks, and answer calls with ease.
Overall, TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are a top choice for anyone looking for high-quality sound and effective noise cancellation. With their comfortable design, long battery life, and Bluetooth connectivity, these headphones offer a premium listening experience at an affordable price. Whether you are a frequent traveler, a music lover, or a busy professional, TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are sure to enhance your audio experience.
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Review
In the world of headphones, noise cancellation technology has become increasingly popular for those looking to drown out unwanted background noise and immerse themselves in their music or other audio content. One company that has been at the forefront of this trend is Anker, with their Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones.
These headphones boast an impressive array of features, including advanced noise cancelling technology, superior sound quality, long battery life, and a comfortable design. In this review, we will take a closer look at the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones and see how they stack up against the competition.
Design and Comfort
The first thing you'll notice about the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones is their sleek and modern design. The headphones are constructed from high-quality materials and have a sturdy feel to them. The ear cups are padded with soft memory foam that conforms to the shape of your ears, providing a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions.
The headband is also padded with the same soft material, making it comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The headphones are adjustable, so you can easily find the perfect fit for your head size. Overall, the design of the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones is both stylish and functional, making them a great choice for those looking for a comfortable and durable pair of headphones.
Sound Quality
One of the most important aspects of any pair of headphones is sound quality, and the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones do not disappoint in this department. The headphones feature 40mm dynamic drivers that deliver crisp highs, deep lows, and a well-balanced sound profile. Whether you're listening to music, watching movies, or playing games, the sound quality of these headphones is sure to impress.
In addition to their impressive sound quality, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones also feature active noise cancellation technology. This technology works by using microphones to pick up external noise and then creating inverse sound waves to cancel out that noise. The result is a more immersive listening experience, with significantly reduced background noise.
Battery Life
Another standout feature of the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones is their impressive battery life. The headphones are equipped with a high-capacity battery that provides up to 40 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. This means you can enjoy your music or other audio content for hours on end without having to worry about running out of battery.
In addition, the headphones also feature a quick charge function that allows you to get up to 4 hours of playback time with just a 5-minute charge. This is perfect for those times when you need a quick boost of battery life before heading out the door.
Connectivity and Controls
The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones feature Bluetooth 5.0 technology, which provides a stable and reliable connection to your devices. The headphones also support a wide range of codecs, including AAC and SBC, for high-quality audio streaming. In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, the headphones also feature a 3.5mm audio jack for wired connections.
The headphones have a built-in microphone for hands-free calling and voice assistant support. The controls are located on the ear cups and are easy to use, allowing you to adjust the volume, skip tracks, and answer calls with the touch of a button.
Conclusion
Overall, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are a fantastic option for those looking for a high-quality pair of headphones with advanced noise cancellation technology. The headphones offer a comfortable design, impressive sound quality, long battery life, and convenient controls, making them a great choice for music lovers, movie buffs, and gamers alike.
Whether you're commuting to work, working from home, or just relaxing at home, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones provide an immersive listening experience that is sure to impress. With their stylish design, advanced features, and affordable price point, these headphones are definitely worth considering for your next audio upgrade.
COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones: A Game-Changer in Audio Technology
In today's fast-paced and noisy world, finding a moment of peace and quiet can be a rare luxury. Whether you're commuting on a crowded train, working in a bustling office, or simply trying to relax at home, unwanted noise can be a major distraction. That's where the COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones come in. These innovative headphones are designed to block out external noise and provide you with a truly immersive listening experience.
The COWIN E7 headphones are equipped with advanced active noise cancelling technology that uses microphones to pick up external sounds and then generates sound waves to cancel them out. This allows you to enjoy your music, podcasts, or audiobooks without any interruptions from the world around you. The noise cancelling feature can be easily turned on and off with the touch of a button, giving you the flexibility to switch between blocking out noise and hearing your surroundings when needed.
One of the standout features of the COWIN E7 headphones is their impressive battery life. With up to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge, you can enjoy uninterrupted listening for long periods of time without having to worry about running out of battery. The headphones also come with a built-in microphone for hands-free calls, making it easy to stay connected while on the go.
Comfort is another key aspect of the COWIN E7 headphones. The ear cups are padded with soft protein leather and the headband is adjustable, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your head. The headphones are lightweight and ergonomic, making them comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. Whether you're listening to music during a long flight or tuning into a podcast while working at your desk, the COWIN E7 headphones are designed to provide maximum comfort and convenience.
In terms of sound quality, the COWIN E7 headphones deliver a rich and immersive listening experience. The 40mm large-aperture drivers produce deep, powerful bass and crisp, clear highs, ensuring that every note and beat is heard with precision. The headphones also feature Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to easily pair them with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop for wireless listening. Additionally, the headphones come with a 3.5mm audio cable for wired connections, giving you the flexibility to use them with a variety of devices.
The COWIN E7 headphones are not only functional and stylish, but they are also durable and built to last. The headphones are constructed with high-quality materials that are designed to withstand daily wear and tear. The ear cups swivel and fold for easy storage and transportation, making them ideal for travel or on-the-go use. The headphones also come with a carrying case to protect them when not in use.
Overall, the COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are a game-changer in audio technology. With their advanced noise cancelling technology, impressive battery life, comfortable design, and superior sound quality, these headphones are a must-have for anyone who values high-quality audio and uninterrupted listening. Whether you're a music lover, podcast enthusiast, or frequent traveler, the COWIN E7 headphones are sure to enhance your listening experience and provide you with a moment of tranquility in a noisy world.
Mpow H5 Noise Cancelling Headphones: Your Ticket to Peace and Quiet
In today's fast-paced world, noise pollution is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue. Whether it's the sound of traffic outside your window, the chatter of coworkers in the office, or the constant hum of appliances at home, finding a moment of peace and quiet can feel like a rare luxury. This is where noise-cancelling headphones come in, offering a way to block out unwanted noise and create a peaceful oasis wherever you go.
One brand that has been making waves in the noise-cancelling headphone market is Mpow, with their H5 model receiving high praise from consumers and critics alike. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the Mpow H5 Noise Cancelling Headphones and explore what sets them apart from the competition.
Design and Comfort
The first thing you'll notice about the Mpow H5 headphones is their sleek and modern design. With a matte black finish and smooth curves, these headphones exude a sense of sophistication and style. The ear cups are generously padded with memory-protein cushions, providing a comfortable fit that allows you to wear them for hours on end without any discomfort.
The adjustable headband ensures a secure and personalized fit, while the swiveling ear cups allow you to easily adjust the headphones to your liking. The overall build quality of the Mpow H5 headphones is impressive, with a sturdy construction that feels durable and long-lasting.
Sound Quality
Of course, the most important aspect of any pair of headphones is the sound quality, and the Mpow H5 headphones do not disappoint in this department. Equipped with 40mm drivers, these headphones deliver crisp highs, rich mids, and deep, powerful bass that will make your music sound better than ever.
The noise-cancelling feature of the Mpow H5 headphones is also top-notch, effectively blocking out external noise and allowing you to immerse yourself in your music or podcasts without any distractions. Whether you're on a noisy airplane, commuting on a crowded train, or just trying to focus in a busy office, the Mpow H5 headphones will create a cocoon of silence around you.
Battery Life and Connectivity
One of the key features of the Mpow H5 headphones is their impressive battery life. With up to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge, you can enjoy your music for days on end without needing to recharge. The headphones also come with a convenient carrying case that doubles as a charger, allowing you to top up your battery on the go.
The Mpow H5 headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 technology, providing a stable and reliable connection to your devices. Pairing the headphones with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop is quick and easy, and you can seamlessly switch between devices without any hassle. The headphones also feature a built-in microphone, allowing you to take calls hands-free and easily control your music playback.
Additional Features
In addition to their impressive sound quality and noise-cancelling capabilities, the Mpow H5 headphones come with a range of additional features that make them stand out from the competition. The headphones are equipped with on-ear controls that allow you to adjust the volume, skip tracks, and activate the noise-cancelling feature with just a few simple taps.
The headphones also come with a 3.5mm audio cable, allowing you to connect them to devices that do not have Bluetooth capabilities. This is especially useful when traveling on airplanes or using devices with limited battery life. The Mpow H5 headphones also come with a 45-day money-back guarantee and an 18-month warranty, providing peace of mind and assurance that you are investing in a high-quality product.
Conclusion
Overall, the Mpow H5 Noise Cancelling Headphones are a fantastic choice for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse themselves in their music. With their stylish design, comfortable fit, impressive sound quality, and long battery life, these headphones offer everything you need to enjoy your favorite tunes in peace and quiet.
Whether you're a frequent traveler, a busy professional, or just someone who appreciates a moment of solitude, the Mpow H5 headphones are sure to become your new favorite accessory. So why wait? Treat yourself to a pair of Mpow H5 Noise Cancelling Headphones today and experience the joy of true peace and quiet.

For a while I've been wanting to downgrade my phone to a Blackberry.
I used to have a curve 8520 way back when, and I miss having a phone with an actual keyboard and it being able to fit in my pocket and not having to worry about dropping it and the screen smashing. I now have a ZFlip3 which I do love the flip aspect I dislike how fragile it feels and also how un-ergonomic all new phones feel.
I would like to go back to a similar type of phone, but not sure which I could use, as 3g seemingly is going to be gone by the end of the year, but I'm not sure about any of that. I would mostly use it to text and take photos and hopefully listen to music.
I also am not sure how to get around certain apps I would like to have such as mobile banking and emails. Although I'm willing to give them up and just use it when I'm at home on my PC.
I am looking for any advice that ya'll are willing to give.

Hi friends! I’ve been using the BlackBerry Curve 9360 as my main device for a couple weeks now, and I’m honestly in love. It calls, it texts, and it does both well. I seem to be able to hotspot just fine if I need to take my tablet out with me, plus can access limited use Google (previews only) in the browser. The music quality is unbelievable. It’s basically a perfect device…except for stupid mms.
If I don’t have it, ppl will try messaging me on every other platform until they can 👏SEND 👏THAT👏 PIC 😤 which means I have to constantly check my computer or tablet. It’s often older members of my fam so I can’t ask them to get chat apps lol. I have a cheap second number from an MVNO for Android Auto that I now use as a solution…but if they do send a pic it alerts no one lol.
Is there any app I can sideload (Google Messages etc) that might help? Or an email app would work too. I have a paid Hover email with my domain I can link to a mail service. I know the service book solution (I’m with Telus in Canada so the Koodo one might do it) but I can’t get the device to be recognized on BlackBerry Desktop. I also think since the providers switched to data vs dedicated mms that it might not work anyway.
Does anyone here have a solution? If I was sideloading anyway, I’d also be into an emoji keyboard or epub reader. But honestly I would thrive with just mms 😆

“Local officials are calling it a “disaster of unprecedented proportion”, and a “tragic loss of life”.
"Despite investigative efforts producing only guesswork regarding the identity of who could be responsible for such an attack, confirmed casualties are already rising into the hundreds. The devastating loss of life has resulted in waves of tragedy and outrage among those affected by the disaster. Families mourn for relatives that will never come home, and crime rates have skyrocketed in the surrounding areas since the chaos first unfolded. "
"Despite the sorrow, it’s clear that the community is united by a single burning question: why wasn’t this tragedy stopped before it started? We’ll be bringing you coverage of the event live on air, as investigative efforts continue to go underway. Coming up next: A glimpse into the mind of a Tachyon apologist. Thirty-four-year-old Daniel Lloyd was arrested during a violent protest, demanding the release of Drophyd forces involved in the now mysteriously-vanished tyrant’s former attack on Kerwan - But why? All this and more right after the break. Channel 2 News”.
“Hey, would you mind turning that off, little outsider?” A metallic voice like a cheap walkie-talkie called out behind the counter. “Went through the trouble of fixing that box and all it does is shout bad news.”
“Sure thing.”
A small blue humanoid with wide eyes nodded, and swung down from the counter to flick off the radio. His workshop clothes were grimy and stained with oil, and small stubs of what would soon be horns poked out the sides of his head.
“Still, it’s nice to know what’s happening out there. Right, Rasper?” He said, turning back and jumping up to grab the top of the counter.
“You don’t need the news to see that the galaxy’s going down the drain.” The figure replied, stretching upwards to place a chunk of scrap on a high shelf.
His hunched shoulders and long neck easily identified him as a Vullard, with reptilian spines running down his back to the tip of his red, spottled tail. As was trademark with Vullards, his head was enclosed in a carefully constructed metal case equipped with vocal synthesizer, oxygen respirator, and mp3 player. The case stretched vertically like a cylinder, with two blue lenses sticking out the sides to function as eyes. A pair of flaps covered the lenses and occasionally flipped up and down to wipe off dust and debris. The bottom end of the helmet lifted up and down when he spoke to mimic a mouth. After reaching the shelf, he groaned and reached a hand to his hunched back, rubbing it sorely.
“The Agorians are running rampant, that Nefarious guy made an alliance with the Valkyries, and now there’s rumor of not just one, but TWO Lombaxes running around? The world’s going crazy, I tell ya…”
“What’s a Lombax?” The smaller figure asked.
Rasper shrugged. “Truth be told I don’t really know either, little outsider. But they’re bad news, apparently.”
The smaller figure looked back out into space. Despite having told Rasper that his name was Junpo, the Vullard wouldn’t call him anything but outsider. From what he’d heard from passing travelers, that seemed to be a social norm with Vullards.
Leaving Rasper to his work, Junpo walked out of the shack and into the grassy field beyond. Their pitstop “Sell-n-Soar” rested on a meager 30 foot wide asteroid dotted with grass, that remained positioned in space outside of orbit through some gravitational force he didn’t understand. The asteroid was wide on top with a flat grassy surface, and tapered down to a sharp point of dirt and stone at the very bottom, as if the entire space had been violently ripped from the surface of some other planetoid. On the far side of the asteroid was a landing pad and a spherical Grummelnet weapons vendor that Junpo was too young to legally operate. On the opposite side was a makeshift playground Rasper had cobbled together for him in his spare time.
The Sell-n-Soar shack stood in the center of the grassy plain, and occasionally bits and pieces of the hodge-podge structure would chip off of the building and float into space, merging with the thick rings of junk that littered the sector. Fastened to the side of the shack was a large claw, attached to a crane. The claw was hooked up to a sturdy tether system, and could be used to shoot out and grab at orbiting scrap. The shack used to have a bright neon sign stapled to the top to attract travelers, but it was shot through by a drunk Agorian speeder one night, and went careening into the depths of space.
Junpo loved sitting at the edge of the asteroid with his feet dangling over the edge, looking into the great wide plane of space beyond. The Vela sector was painted with swathes of bright lime greens and teal blues that swirled through the dense rings of junk that always orbited by. The trails of scrap seemed to collect the unwanted litter and debris from across the universe, ending up in massive streams of cold metal that twisted and curved between the planetoids of the Vela sector like immense rivers of scrap. When the rivers wound their way across the face of stars and suns, it would create thick ribbons of shadow which danced cold beams of frigid darkness across the depths of space. Junpo let out a breath to marvel at the majesty of what was just beyond their tiny little shack. It never failed to remind him of how small he was, and how large the universe could be. Out there, somewhere…
“You really think my parents are still looking for me?” Junpo asked, turning his head back to look at Rasper.
The Vullard stopped in his tracks, as the flaps over his eyes blinked rapidly.
“…They’ll come back one day, little outsider.” He said. “Now come over here, I got a job for ya.”
Junpo followed as Rasper led him into the tiny back-room of the shack. The newest harvest of scrap from the junk rivers cluttered most of the room, nearly filling it up to waist level. There was only a thin path carved through the junk to walk and catalogue the haul.
“Alright, let’s go over this again. What’s the most basic rule of scrap collection?”
“All scrap has value”. Junpo parroted in a clear voice.
“Exactly. Now look, we got scrap up to our ears out here, but it’s not as simple as collecting it and selling it again. Figuring out how to best cultivate the value of each scrap collection is the tricky part. That takes the keen eye of an experienced collector. And… that’s what I want to start teaching you, little outsider.”
Junpo blinked wide. “Really? You mean-”
“Yeah, I’ll let you in on some trade secrets. If you want any chance of getting off this rock someday instead of inheriting my shack, you’re gonna need a way of making bolts. Plus, it’ll be nice having more help with the business, my back’s been killing me.”
Junpo jumped excitedly. “When do I start?”
“Right now, if you want.” The Vullard replied, gesturing to the scrap. “The very first thing you gotta learn about scrap collection is how to sort it. When you get enough experience, you can tell its potential use and profit margin at a glance, but we’ll start slowly with what we got here, for the time being. It looks like a decent haul, so it won’t be a waste of time either.”
Rasper began to teach Junpo the difference between tools and widgets, and decommissioned devices of all kinds. He instructed him on the basics of potential value, both past and present, and who would want which scrap and why. When the little boy grew bored of the sorting, Rasper began to teach him the basics of operating the scrap tether, and Junpo became quickly enamored with shooting the massive claw out into space, pulling back potential treasures in its grip. As the hours went by, Junpo quickly lost track of time, and it was only when he heard the deep hum of a spacecraft docking at their landing pad that he realized they had been working late into the night.
“Sounds like we got a customer, little outsider. You just wait here for a minute.”
As soon as Rasper left the room, Junpo dropped the scrap and followed him out, being careful not to get swept off his feet by Rasper’s lumbering tail. The arriving vessel was sleek and sporty, with a shiny chrome exterior and a deep red under-glow along the belly and wings. As the engine whirred to a stop, two figures leap out the side. One was a large black and blue robot with red visor, wide shoulders, and massive brick-like hands. The other was a smaller reptilian humanoid with pale purple skin, dressed in a crisp business suit. His scales gleamed in the starlight, and a long sail-like fin ran down his back to his tail. The robot’s steps made the asteroid rumble underfoot, while the reptilian figure’s bright pink eyes shone hungrily, as his serrated teeth parted in a grin.
Junpo looked to Rasper and saw him frozen stock still. It appeared as if he were trying to blink, rub his back, and run away at the same time, but could instead do nothing at all.
“Little outsider, you better stay inside for a bit, alright?” He said, looking back inside the shack. When his head swiveled down to see Junpo by his side, his mouth gaped in horror.
“Rasper G. Carver, my my… It’s been a while!” The lizard said, as his serpentine tongue slid between his serrated teeth. His words were greasy and smooth. “I trust the business has been treating you well?”
“Oh… You know how it is, outsider. New haul, more work…” Rasper said, trying to subtly shoe Junpo back inside the shack. “Pretty quiet around here, since the Agorians stopped coming by.”
“Am I still considered an outsider, after all the business we’ve done together? My name is Zarnoc. Use it, please.” The lizard said. “But yes, without those bumbling muscle-bound brutes wandering about, this stretch of space is almost peaceful. Who do you have to thank for that, I wonder?”
“O-Of course, I’m eternally grateful for all that you guys’ve been doing, keeping them away and s-”
“HEY!”
Rasper was interrupted as the lizard whipped his head back with a shout to see the large robot clutching the Grummelnet vendor in one hand, shaking it upside down like a bag of candy. The vendor was shouting a ceaseless stream of profanity from its awkward position, although its insults seemed to go completely over the head of the giant sentinel.
“Get over here! You’re supposed to be intimidating!”
The robot flinched in surprise before setting the vendor back down, daintily swiping the dust off the cursing sphere’s sides before shuffling to Zarnoc. The Grummelnet vendor clamped tightly shut, muttering more curses under its breath.
“Now where was I? Ah, yes.” The lizard began, clearing his throat. “It’s been quite a lot of trouble for us to keep the Agorians out of this part of the sector, and it’s only gotten worse. From our perspective, such a transaction is purely business. We extort- I mean, bargain with you thriving settlers to hand over some of the proceeds from your operations, as a protection fee. Simple enough, right? Well, the Agorians aren’t seeing it that way. Our thriving collaborative business has been treated as an act of war by those dumb brutes, and our master has been hindered in his own business because of Agorian retaliation. Not that they could do much to Lord Vorselon anyway, but it’s definitely pricked the master’s ire. You understand what I’m saying?”
Rasper nodded, his eye-flaps blinking rapidly.
“Good. This is where we reach another point of negotiation in our fine, civilized discussion: Lord Vorselon demands an increase in tribute.”
“How much?”
Zarnoc pretended to count on his claws. “Mmm… about ten thousand bolts per month?”
“Ten thousand?!” Rasper echoed. “I don’t make ten thousand in a year, let alone a month!”
“I don’t care, and neither does Lord Vorselon. If you can’t pay up now, we’re ordered to raise this sad rock to the ground.”
“Now w-wait a minute there, outsider. Can’t you give me some time?”
“Oh, you’d rather talk with the Agorians instead? I’m sure they’d make excellent negotiators.”
“Look, I’ll give you everything I have; all the scrap I’ve got. Take it. It’s yours.”
Zarnoc laughed. “Why don’t we wrap it all up in a pretty red bow and take it to the master on a silver platter? No, there’s nothing of value here, except your bolts. Now hand them over.”
Junpo grabbed hold of Rasper’s hand, but the action caught the lizard’s notice.
“Who’s that?”
“Oh, him? He’s a, uh… Well, his parents left one day and…”
“Hmm... Another orphan, abandoned by incompetent parents who couldn’t provide any better. I understand, truly.” Zarnoc said, closing his eyes in a mock prayer. “Mine treated me no better. Now look where I am…”
“My parents didn’t abandon me!” Junpo shouted, still clutching to Rasper’s hand. “They’re coming back someday! I know it!”
Zarnoc’s mouth lit up in a wicked smile. “That’s what they all say. Trust me kid, I’ve seen it a hundred times. I’ve lived it. You’re abandoned. You’ve got nobody. You were left here to die alone.”
Junpo leapt forward, but Rasper’s usually frail arms pulled him back with shocking force. Junpo looked up to the Vullard’s metal head, but it was locked on to Zarnoc’s own face. The lizard appeared deep in thought, before his wicked eyes trained back on Junpo.
“Say, that kid’s got no attachments, and besides you there’d be no witnesses. Why don’t you hand over him this month in lieu of your payments and we’ll call it a day? He’s still young – there’s limitless potential. Lord Vorselon can brainwash him into a killer assassin, or something. Yes, that would please him very much.”
“Now hold on just one second there, outsider!” Rasper said as the large robot bent down to drag Junpo away. “I can’t let you do that! He’s under my protection!”
“Too bad. You’re under our protection.”
The large robot scooped up Junpo by the scruff of his collar and firmly swung him over its broad shoulders, knocking the breath out of his chest as he gasped for air. Rasper hobbled after him on wobbly legs, but was forced to stop and clutch his back with heaving breath.
“Rasper!” Junpo cried out as he was thrown into the cruiser.
As the door to the cruiser closed, Junpo was enveloped in blackness as bright red logistics panels popped up to illuminate the darkness. The robot gave him a light pat on the head, and Junpo heard Zarnoc cackling from the cockpit seat, out of sight.
“We’ll take the kid, and blow this scrap-heap to bits. Activate the turrets!”
As the robot stood up to flick a switch, the entire ship jerked to the left from the force of a massive impact, causing the left-hand door to peal open.
“What-”
The Vullard had shuffled back inside and aimed the scrap-tether claw directly at the cruiser, trapping it in its grip as the door tore wide open.
“You give back the little outsider and leave! Now!”
Junpo saw Rasper standing at the landing pad, and was astonished to see a bright yellow ‘Negotiator’ Missile launcher cocked over his right shoulder.
“That Vullard’s insane!” Junpo heard Zarnoc cry in disbelief as the ship’s safety alarms whirred to life.
Taking his chance, Junpo ran for the opening in the door, dodging a swipe from the massive robot to stand on top of the tether claw. The ship was hovering about fifteen feet above the landing pad, with the tether cable running to it like a tightrope. Rasper stood below the ship, with the Negotiator pointed right at it.
“Jump, little outsider! I’ll catch you!”
Junpo’s knuckles turned teal as he gripped the edge of the cruiser. The robot grabbed at his foot from behind and clenched it tightly, but at the same moment, the ship lurched to the right, sending them both tumbling out into space. For a brief moment, Junpo and the sentinel soared through space at alarming speed. Junpo kicked away at the robot before landing in Rasper’s arms. The behemoth robot’s head collided with the edge of the asteroid, tearing it clean off as the lifeless body floated into deep space. The Vullard sighed.
“This is gonna get me in all kinds of trouble, but…”
Rasper pulled the trigger, and a high velocity missile shot out with a trail of smoke. The torpedo appeared for a brief moment as a blindingly bright comet, before exploding next to the shuttle. The blast caused a deep rumbling boom and a massive shockwave to peal out through space, causing the tether hook to come undone by its very force. The ship wobbled mid-air before plummeting below the asteroid, until it eventually stabilized a distance away. Junpo thought he could still hear Zarnoc’s distant cursing as the ship retreated.
Junpo and Rasper sat still on the landing pad for several minutes, breathing heavily.
“This means we’re gonna have to move.” Rasper muttered, tossing the Negotiator into the grass. “I was just starting to like it here, too…”
“Thank you, Rasper.” Junpo said. “You saved me.”
His wide eyes paired with a massive grin as he beamed up at the Vullard, who’s troubled hunch softened at the sight.
“Anytime, little outsider.”
They sat that way a while longer, breathing heavily as they looked out into space. Rasper kept turning his head to the boy and opening his mouth, before closing it again. Eventually, he spoke.
“Look… I’m gonna be honest with you, little outsider. Your parents probably aren’t coming back. You got a whole life ahead of you; I don’t want to see you waste it waiting on some deadbeats that don’t care about you. You deserve better than that.”
Junpo’s mouth sunk in a frown as he looked into his lap.
“No, you’re right… I guess I knew that already. I just thought - maybe…”
“What’s the first rule of scrap collection?” Rasper said softly.
Junpo stared at Rasper in confusion, tears welling in his eyes.
“All scrap has value.” The Vullard said. “And even if your parents couldn’t understand that, you’re priceless in my eyes, Junpo. Now, I know I’m probably not what you imagine when you think of a father, but you can call me family anytime.”
Junpo leapt at Rasper and hugged him close.
“Thank you.”

“How could he escape?!” Achaicus shouted as he paced his office. His brow was creased and his nose scrunched into a crinkle with his sneer.
“I don’t know,” Markos responded with a careless shrug, “He was hardly in any condition to move, someone must have helped him.”
“What if he revenanted? Are you certain the injuries you inflicted weren’t enough to kill him?”
“I’m quite sure. His vitals were stable and there was nothing in the room for him to revenant himself with,” our cousin assured calmly.
My brother was practically pulling his hair out. So far only a handful of people knew of Mercurissen’s ‘escape’ and I sat restlessly in the corner waiting for them to come to some kind of conclusion. All I could think was that I hadn’t secured the room well enough to hold the little vanir, and if he woke, he could escape in earnest.
“Mercury is occupying Dunkel, and we have no leverage!” my brother continued, agitated.
“Weren’t you the one who wanted simply to kill him?” Markos pointed out, earning himself a glare.
“We can still leverage a body.”
“And you can do the same thing with a non-existent body.”
“Not if he shows back up!”
They argued as guilt threatened to drown me.
“What are your thoughts, Nathaniel? You’re awfully quiet about this,” Markos asked bemused.
“I don’t know what you want me to say. It’s obvious someone helped him. Perhaps one of our humans are compromised? Or one of our own guards. Mercurissen promised amnesty to any who chose to swear loyalty to his father, maybe someone believed him.”
“Nonsense, none have returned from the outer borders,” Achaicus muttered, swallowing the last of the wine from his glass in one gulp.
“I can’t see any other way for him to have disappeared,” I lied easily.
We had spent days since then searching the grounds and, unsurprisingly, found no trace of the vanir. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if anyone found out I had him. Looking at my brother now, I’m not sure he would survive the knowledge that I was the one betraying them… He would probably implode.
I excused myself from dinner early, taking with me a heaped plate of food with a secondary plate hidden under the first, and went directly to my chambers. However I returned to find the room immediately empty. The Vanir was not where I had left him, nor was he anywhere in sight and my heart began to race as I set the food down to search.
A thousand sparkling ornaments sat undisturbed from their places and the balcony doors were still firmly locked. The bathroom was empty and nothing had been broken. But the items on my desk were disturbed and a pocket knife sat out in the open. Had he somehow revenanted and escaped?
With cold sweat beginning to form on my brow I approached the bed, stepping around it cautiously. The tethering spell was still in place and I followed the length of it with my eyes. It curved across the floor and disappeared under the bed skirting.
Perplexed, I crouched to lift the fabric aside and to my surprise that was where he was. Mercurissen had squished himself under the bed and was curled with his back facing me so that the rest of the room was in his line of sight. His chest rose and fell gently, he must’ve fallen asleep waiting.
The relief left me breathless, before irritation set in. What did he think he was doing? I took hold of his ankle and pulled him from under the bed. He didn’t notice immediately, he must have been more deeply asleep than I’d thought, but panicked for a moment when the sensation of movement at last woke him.
He tensed and his eyes were momentarily feral before panic calmed to mild apprehension as he gave up. Giving no further resistance, he allowed his body to go limp as I dragged him out, stopping only once he was at my feet. His hair brushed against the floor, and he balled himself up, expecting the worst.
“Why were you under there?” I demanded firmly.
“I heard someone come into your room,” he responded with mild agitation.
“So you hid under the bed like a child.”
He scowled, “Where else was I supposed to hide?”
“Who came in?”
“I don’t know, a human girl with white hair.”
Calla, Markos’s pet, I thought and my blood froze, “Did she see you?” I asked urgently but he scoffed.
“In this clutter?”
The ice in my veins dissolved into hot irritation, “You’d best be careful how you talk to me you little brat,” I muttered, annoyed.
“You told me not to let anyone see me, so I didn’t. What more do you want?” He remarked, beginning to sit up, however I forced him back down.
Holding both of his wrists against his chest with one hand, “Keep your sharp tongue under check.”
The Vanir glared back at me, “Let me go,” he muttered, struggling for only a moment before deciding it was pointless and diverting his gaze to the side, “You’re hurting me…”
The statement surprised me, and I let him go with a small scoff, “You’re perfectly fine.”
“Whatever…” he murmured, stubbornly deciding to remain on the floor exactly where I had left him.
He was like a petulant child acting out and I couldn’t explain why he bothered me so much. Almost everything he said pissed me off and I made an effort to calm. “I brought you some food,” I announced instead.
His brow creased slightly as he looked over to me, “…You brought me food..?” he asked with softer uncertainty as he sat up.
“Yes,” I answered bluntly. I had divided the one overfilled plate over the two and offered one to him.
“Why…?”
“You said you forget to eat when you’re fighting, and I know you haven’t eaten since you got here.”
“…Oh.. I..” he murmured awkwardly.
“It’s not poisoned,” I teased.
I sat on the bed above him and his expression then was difficult. Something between a sneer and what almost seemed to be regret. He sat with the plate I had handed him, but he made no move to eat it.
“What? You don’t believe me?” I mused, “if I wanted to kill you, poison would be the last way I would do it.”
“It’s not that…”
“Then what?”
“I don’t eat meat…” he explained, looking away awkwardly.
“Pardon?”
“I said I don’t eat human meat,” he repeated, louder, and for a moment I couldn’t find the words.
“The Son of Mercury, merciless killer of the Fae, doesn’t eat meat?”
The vanir’s cheeks turned crimson with embarrassment, and he turned away “..Whatever, just kill me and get it over with-”
Mercurissen stopped short and his eyes widened as I reached over, taking the meat from his plate and replacing it with a bunch of grapes from mine without a word.
The flush colouration in his cheeks darkened as he looked up at me bewildered, “I- you-? Why?” He demanded, shocked.
“You didn’t let me starve, it would be rude of me not to repay the debt. Just make sure you eat slowly.”
“…That’s not a debt you have to repay…” he mumbled, but I dismissed him.
“Be quiet and eat.” I told him firmly, but after a moment couldn’t help myself and asked, “You didn’t want to eat with your family because that whole banquet was mostly meat?”
Mercurissen fidgeted uncomfortably, “My father doesn’t like it much that I don’t eat it. So I hate it when he asks me to eat with him because I know I’ll have to.”
“You would eat something you don’t like if he asked, but you wouldn’t let me starve?”
He paused as he thought about how to explain, “No… it’s more that I think it’s unfair… I do everything he asks, even when I don’t want to, and I would have let you starve because of it… but I asked him to stay, and he didn’t. He didn’t even bother to tell me when he was leaving, or where he was going…”
“You really didn’t know his plans?”
“No.. he doesn’t often tell me anything.”
I considered for a moment, if he truly hadn’t known where Mercury was going, then he likely didn’t know about Dunkel and that absolved us both of some guilt. Without thinking, I rested my hand on his head to play with his hair idly, “So you disregarded him out of spite?”
Mercurissen froze momentarily under my touch before relaxing again, “…No, I just decided not to do something I didn’t want to do for him, when he couldn’t do the same for me…”
“You didn’t want to let me starve?” I asked tentatively and he turned back to look at me.
“Why would I? Who actually wants to watch someone starve?” He asked pointedly.
I regarded him as I considered the question, “I thought all Vanir enjoyed watching others suffer,” I stated at last. He didn’t answer, and after a delay I chose to continue, “You shouldn’t do anything your father asks of you that you don’t want to do.”
“I am my fathers ‘perfect’ son… Everything he wants is what I should want.”
“Your father has left you to die,” I told him sedately.
A brief look of confusion crossed his face, before he seemed to understand, “He responded to your treaty offer…?”
“…Yes.”
“I told you he wouldn’t agree…” he murmured, focusing his gaze downward to the plate in his lap. His father had abandoned him, and Mercurissen was unsurprised. I suppose he understood the consequences.
We sat in silence for a long time. He had by then stopped eating and instead rolled one of the grapes back and forth over the ceramic surface until he eventually spoke again.
“…Eiríkr…” he murmured almost inaudibly.
“..Pardon?” I asked, unsure.
“My name is Eiríkr… Eric in the common tongue,” he explained softly.
I waited frozen in place, “Why are you telling me now?”
“…I don’t know…”
“You’re not afraid of me using it against you?”
The vanir gave a humorless laugh, “What else could you possibly do to me now?”
I sighed to myself, I suppose he had a point, “Eiríkr… finish eating your food.” I ordered softly, pushing his head down as I stood.
Eric gave a small sound of annoyance, patting his hair back into place before asking more quietly, “...Why are you doing this?” He mumbled, keeping his gaze low. There was confusion in his sapphire eyes, as if his own name was foreign to him, or perhaps he was simply trying to understand the situation.
“Because I want something,” I answered plainly.
***
In the following days the castle remained on high alert and Eiríkr slowly healed. His bruises faded and the hollowness of his limbs filled out with the exception of his left leg. Unfortunately, as he regained his strength he also became increasingly annoying.
At night he was supposed to sleep on the daybed, but I woke each morning to find him on my bed far away toward the edge. I chose to ignore that. The little brat was stubborn and trying to argue with him was almost pointless. Besides that, he couldn’t do any harm.
During the day I spent my time pretending to search the castle grounds. Achaicus was more anxious with each passing hour and my guilt grew. I wanted to tell him that everything was under control and that he need not worry, but I knew he wouldn’t allow me to keep Eiríkr if he knew.
What made the situation worse was the annoyingly close eye Markos kept. He watched me with unsettling interest, as if he knew something and it sparked some mild paranoia. Was there some way he could have found out? And if so, why hadn’t he said anything yet?
“You’ve been very dutiful with your paperwork of late,” Markos commented as he entered my office. It was unusual that he should deliver the infirmary reports personally, and I was immediately suspicious.
“Have I? Perhaps I should ignore it again,” I responded with disinterest.
“Is there any particular reason you’ve taken such a sudden interest in documentation?” he continued unfazed.
“No.”
“You’ve also been attending meals at the appropriate time.”
“Markos, what do you want?” I asked with a sigh.
The truth was if I fulfilled all my duties on time and made appearances where I was supposed to, there were less reasons for others to come looking for me. Which in turn meant I was less likely to be caught harboring a prisoner.
“Oh nothing, I’m simply making an observation,” he smiled and I glared.
“Leave.”
“As you wish,” he agreed, giving a mock bow and I threw a book in his general direction. It landed beside him and he chuckled to himself, “Temper, temper~”
“Go harass someone else.”
Markos left without further delay and I sighed deeply. If that man suspected something, he would keep pressing it until he found what he wanted to know. In ordinary circumstances he would have been the person I could confide in, but I didn’t know how he would react to this and I didn’t want him telling Achaicus.
Eiríkr had broken the tethering spell some days prior, and we had stern words about it, but since then he had begun to wander about the room freely. Choosing also to fill his time with petty tributes to his dislike of captivity. As a result, I commonly returned to chaos in my room.
He rearranged some of my collection, ‘neatening’ it after he claimed it blocked the pathways. Placed books back in the shelving, making me lose my page in several of them, and moved my crystals around.
“Stop touching everything,” I growled, fed up when I realized he had thrown out dozens of the half empty soap bottles in the bathroom.
“I haven’t touched anything,” he lied casually and I turned to glare at him. Eric was sitting on the floor beside the balcony doors. It looked like he had been asleep under the curtains in the sunlight and he yawned, rubbing his eyes, although still looked tired.
“I’m not a fool. I can clearly see you’ve moved things.”
“Some stuff fell- oh…” he stopped as I leaned over him.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“…What does it matter… it’s all junk anyway.” He grumbled quieter and my blood pressure began to rise.
“None of it's junk!”
“Please, I bet you don’t even remember where half of this stuff came from!”
“I know where everything came from, and everything has its own place, so stop messing with it.”
“You’re a hoarder, you know that?”
It took everything I had not to smite him, “Don’t. Touch. Anything else.” I repeated firmly.
Eric exhaled annoyed, “Fine.”
“Good.”
“But I don’t know what else you expect me to do,” he added and I pinched the bridge of my nose exasperated. Did he have a ‘less annoying’ setting?
“I expect you to wait patiently and recover. Read a book or something.”
“I don’t know how to read,” he retorted flatly.
I hesitated, too taken aback to respond, did he expect me to believe that? “You can’t read?” I repeated back to him, dumbfounded.
“I can read the runes for spells.”
“But you can’t read words on a page?”
“Not English ones, or whatever Fae language that is in those books.”
“You’re lying,” I decided at last and he laughed.
“Why would I lie about something like that? I was only taught how to read runes by my parents, we don’t value literature all that much. My father has books in his study, but not even half as many as you have in here, and I’ve never seen him read them.”
“How old are you again?”
“Seventy-nine.”
“You’ve had that long, and you can’t read? Even humans learn in a few years.”
“It wasn't important to know.”
I smiled just slightly, “I bet that made snooping around hard.”
“Why do you think I kept moving your books around?”
I laughed, maybe he wasn't’ lying after all. “What do you know, Mercuries ‘perfect’ son is an illiterate~” I purred smugly.
“At least I'm not a hoarder.”
“No, but you are sentenced to death,” I reminded him unkindly, and he was at last quiet. “I’m going to bathe. Just sit still and wait.”
“…Could you help me up first?” he mumbled softly and I felt mild guilt. Maybe I shouldn’t have antagonized him that way.
Without another word I offered my arm and helped pull him to his feet.
“Thanks...”
I ignored that, telling him instead, “I was late to dinner today, so I brought you some pastries instead. Eat, if you want.”
He hesitated, surprised, glancing over to where I had set down the plate for today, “Nathaniel…”
“Don’t tell me you’re allergic to pastry?” I groaned, I suppose I shouldn’t have been shocked, he was fussy about everything.
“No… I just, ah, thank you. Will you stay and eat with me?” The request caught me off guard and I paused, I hadn’t intended to- “Don’t think about it, just agree,” he continued interrupting my thoughts.
“...Fine,” I muttered carefully. I couldn’t see the harm.
Eric smiled like a coy child tempting someone into something they wanted, and I almost regretted giving in. However, eating with him wasn’t unpleasant. We spoke some, and he ate slowly.
“I didn’t mean to upset you… before,” he commented gently.
“Pardon?” I responded with suspicion.
“I’m saying I’m sorry… for putting your books away…” he paused, giving a taunting smile as he continued, “...and moving some of your junk.”
“It’s not junk,” I repeated exasperatedly, and he laughed. It was a soft, unexpected sound that caught me off guard, “What are you laughing at?”
“You're getting defensive of inanimate objects, but you think I’m the fussy one.”
“You’re insufferable,” I muttered, standing to go, but as I did so Eric took hold of my arm again, “What do you want now? Let go.”
“You don’t need to bathe.”
“Excuse me?”
“You smell good still, actually, maybe even a little bit better than you did this morning… and you’re not dirty. Stay, talk to me a little while longer?”
I shook my head in disbelief, “Let go of me.”
He held firm and I swallowed hard. I wasn't sure anyone had wanted my company with such determination before and some part of me relished in it.
“…You’ve never told me what’s wrong with your leg,” I changed the topic, but made no further move to leave and he looked uncomfortable.
“It doesn’t work since you broke the spell maintaining it, obviously.”
“But why does it need a spell at all?”
“Does it matter?”
“If I’m asking, I expect an answer.”
Eric delayed, “…It got damaged in a revenant when I was a child.”
“I wasn’t aware Vanir could get hurt revenanting,” I commented simply. If he thought he could lie to me he was mistaken. However he didn’t elaborate so I continued, “Why haven’t you rewritten the spell by now? It’s not as if you don’t have the time.”
“If I could, I would, it’s not that easy. I don’t remember most of it, and you erased the anchor point.. besides… it wasn’t a perfect spell.”
“I’m not going to apologize.”
He gave a small irritated sound, “I wasn’t asking you to, you bastard. But I hope you realize if I can’t walk, I can’t train you, so this stupid little idea of yours isn’t going to work.”
“If you can’t train me, remind me: why am I keeping you alive?”
It wasn’t a serious question as it wasn’t a problem I didn’t have a solution for. However it was enough to shake him and he watched me with a wary caution. “Can I go bathe now?” I mused and he let go with a snort of disgust.
NEXT CHAPTER (available on patreon)
Chapter List

I think a lot about signals. Signals that show people what groups they belong to. Signals that hide the truth. Everybody uses signals to blend, entice, or trap.
Grandma Pearl died not long after her stroke, and I've been making bad decisions ever since. Maybe my expectations are too high, or I'm just an idiot. Either way, I ran away from the group home to be with people who called themselves my "family." They were the wrong people. They used the words family, brother, sister, and love like lock picks, stealing trust, and taking self-respect.
The only person I remember using the word family correctly was Grandma Pearl. She was a small woman who toured the US as an actress before settling with Granddad above their theatrical rentals shop. I was three when the car accident took Granddad and Mom, so I don't know if they used the word "family" correctly, but I hope they did.
I was never as outgoing as Grandma, but that didn't bother her; she taught me how to watch people. How to see their signals, and how to listen. When she died. I forgot a lot of those lessons for a while.
They called it a "family". The "family" moved product. That product could be goods, drugs, or people.
The uninitiated, like me, were distracted with food and a dry place to sleep, but it didn't take long to see behind the curtain. Things got too intense with the new "family" and I ran.
I ran back to my old neighborhood. The buildings were familiar even if my home was gone. The old theatrical shop had been turned into a microbrewery.
After an appropriate amount of self-pity, thirty minutes, I wandered the alleys, picking up cans or scavenging for bits and pieces that could be recycled, used, or bartered.
I recognized old faces, but I tried to stay out of sight. It was safer that way.
The only place I allowed myself to be seen was the old Lutheran church on the park's far side. Most people who might have known me had aged out of the congregation or died. It was worth the risk because St. Lazarus had a food pantry in the basement and gave out lunches most days, so I wasn't always hungry, which was nice.
I found a dry spot near the library to sleep, which seemed like a stroke of luck until it wasn't.
I had the contentment that came with being in a familiar place. Little bits of comfort let me believe, for a moment, that I wasn't a screw-up and hadn't trusted the wrong people. That moment scurried away when Stick found me.
Stick was a scary asshole. He technically wasn't in charge of the " family," but he made it work. He got things done. I have no idea how old he was. He was all corded muscle and could clock in between twenty and fifty. He looked half-starved and moved like a stalking predator, even with his limp.
His left leg was stiff. The knee didn't bend, and anytime he sat, his left leg would be splayed to the side like a kickstand on a bike. The leg was why he walked with a cane. The cane and how he used it was why we called him Stick.
I don't know why he took the time to track me down. It's not like I was wanted. Maybe it was that I had become property. Property shouldn't just wander off.
Sometimes, you feel a person before you see them. The air is different. When Stick was around, the air felt dead and motionless. I knew I was being watched before I opened my eyes.
Stick was sitting on a milk crate, his bad leg cocked to the side and his forehead resting on his cane. I pushed myself out from beneath the ductwork of the HVAC unit I had been sleeping under and slapped the dirt off my jeans.
"I thought that was you," Stick said as his sharp grin curved up to his unblinking dark eyes.
Stick wanted my discomfort. I'd seen him play the intimidation game too many times. He'd act too friendly, and then when you were good and worried, quick movements, a hand around the back of your neck, and violence would be next. Then he'd act like the whole mind fuck was a big joke, like you were friends, and isn't it great that you can joke around with someone who "really" cared.
It worked, too. If you were the unfortunate focus of Stick's attention, you would be grateful when he smiled and said, "Just a joke, kid. Don't be so sensitive." I'd seen the pattern enough times to know Stick trained people like dogs with his hot and cold game. I didn't like the game, or the fear, so I changed the pattern.
"Hey, Stick, did you come to help pick up cans?" I asked, making sure my smile reached my eyes. I was trying to be pleasant while ignoring the burning nervousness in my gut.
It was still dark out, but I could see Stick's expressions well enough.
Stick tapped his cane on the sidewalk and squinted at me skeptically before answering. "Just checking on my little brother."
We were not related.
Stick liked to call the uninitiated his little brothers or little sisters. He forced intimacy into his language. I didn't argue the point. Interactions went best with Stick when you agreed with everything he said.
"Thanks, man," I complimented, trying to sound genuine and ignorant as I stepped forward and offered him my hand.
Stick didn't move, but I could see that this conversation wasn't going as planned for him, and I forced myself not to react to his confusion. I couldn't break character, or he would know I was playing him.
Stick tapped his cane on the ground twice, grasped my hand, and stood. He watched me. I held his stare, but in an open, naive, guileless way that I had perfected in front of the mirror as grandma gave acting advice while she put her face on.
I once asked Grandma Perl why anyone would practice acting stupid. She pointed her mascara brush at me and, in her ditsiest Minnesota Nice character, said, "It's easier to be forgiven when people think you're a little dumb, don't ya know?" Like with most things, Grandma was right.
Before I understood what had happened, Stick pulled me into his side and slung an arm around my shoulder.
"You don't have a name yet. Everyone gets a name, but they don't get to pick it." He paused and gave me a Cheshire cat grin. "I have a name for you, little brother. You are going to be called Slide." Then he held my chin and forced eye contact." Your name will be Slide because I have never seen anyone slide out of shit faster than you. I can't tell if you do it on purpose or not, and I've been watching. I watch everybody. You do, too. Hell, this might be the first time I've ever heard you talk. So let's celebrate your name, Slide." Stick's smile slipped as he pulled me out of the alley. "We'll go do something special."
I stayed silent, knowing full well what was coming. Being named meant doing something you could never take back. It was public and would put you in prison if the police ever took the time to look for you. It meant severing yourself from your life before and relying entirely on the "family." I had been absent each time naming seemed to be in the cards, but I couldn't duck out this time.
There was only one place to go at this time of night that would have an impact, the Bodega.
The Bodega was a red hole in the wall with a glass door papered over with grocery ads years outdated. Canned salmon two for one seemed to be the dominant theme. Although there were two large windows, one on either side of the door, you could barely see in. The right window was a tapestry of cigarette promotions. The left window displayed the only swath of uncovered glass with a view of the interior. From the outside, the view was of tobacco, lottery scratchers, and Old Lady Imitari.
Old Lady Imitari owned the store. She was a short, dark-haired woman who always wore a long floral tank top. Grandma Pearl loved the old woman but said Imitari looked like an old man's thumb all the years she had known her, and Grandma moved to the neighborhood with Grandad thirty years ago. Imitari was a local legend even then because the Bodega was open twenty hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year, and no one else worked in the store. Grandma used to make an extra strong coffee called Barako and chat with Imitari sometimes when work in the shop was slow.
I would sneak out at night and try to catch Imitari sleeping. No matter the time, I never caught her snoozing, and she always saw me peeking at her through the window. I know she saw me because she would uncross her arms and wave her flyswatter at me.
All these memories flicked through my mind as Stick smiled his too-wide smile and pushed me into the Bodega.
Imitari flicked her fly swatter at me in acknowledgment, and her attention returned to the small TV she had nestled beside the cash register, which seemed to be the old woman's only real tether to the world outside her shop.
The inside of the Bodega was just a long hallway with shelves of convenience foods, drinks, home supplies, candy, and cold meds covering every available surface from floor to ceiling. The only break in the tunnel of products was the glass counter at the back corner of the store; Imitari presided over her mini domain by casually ignoring her shoppers. I tried to make eye contact with the old woman again as Stick pushed me to the back of the shop, but after her initial acknowledgment of our entrance, Imitari's eyes stayed focused on her TV.
As casually confident as possible, I walked to the cooler and grabbed an iced tea. "Want a drink," I asked over my shoulder, my voice unusually steady, given the electric current of anxiety flowing through me.
Stick sneered and tapped his cane twice on the ground. His eyes found all the security cameras in the tiny store, a frown creasing his angular features.
I followed his line of sight and finally realized what had bothered him. The cameras were fake. They looked like security cameras, but they weren't. There were no wires or lenses, just rectangles and circles in a security camera shape.
Stick took a deep breath and tapped his cane on the ground again. " There… is … so… much… here… to… see… but… no… one… is… watching," he said with a singsong. Then his sneer turned into a cruel smile.
I knew Stick wanted an audience for what he would force me to do. The fact that the security cameras were fakes meant that whatever was going to happen would now have to be significant. An event that the neighborhood wouldn't be able to ignore. My stomach twisted with the thought.
Stick waggled his eyebrows at me. He had been watching. He had seen my thoughts, and we both knew he had something terrible in mind.
The cane twirled in Stick's hand and then tapped twice on the shop tile.
"I think I want a little bit of this," Stick said, gesturing wildly with his cane, sending a row of soup cans tumbling to the floor. "And a little bit of that," Stick added as another wild gesture sent cups of ramen spinning and knocking glass bottles of hot sauce to the floor.
I stood paralyzed, unable to run. I was trapped with nowhere to duck away to. I didn't want Stick to hurt Old Lady Imitari, and I didn't want Stick to hurt me, either. The truth was, he would hurt both of us no matter what I did. That was just the way Stick was. I'd seen him. I'd seen him show us who he was every day.
Then I realized Imitari hadn't moved. She was watching her TV and chuckling at the sitcom as if nothing had happened.
Stick glanced at me, confused. I almost felt sorry for the sociopath. His night was not going to plan.
Imitari chuckled at her TV again, and a crease formed in the middle of Stick's forehead, letting me know that he was beyond angry. He was calm, dangerous, and vicious. People had been left for dead when Stick got this way.
Stick raised his cane and flipped it so the handle jutted like a pickax. He was going to attack Imitari.
Somehow, I moved. I didn't do much, but when I slid forward and grabbed the back of Stick's shirt, the cane missed Imitari, and the sharp handle punctured the thick glass top of the counter just above a roll of Lotto scratchers.
Old lady Imitari slowly looked up into Stick's eyes and smiled. Her wide, gentle frown was replaced with a look of joy and something else, something primal, something hungry. Her pupils were blown, and I had the uneasy feeling that I was watching someone be served their absolute favorite meal.
Before Stick could pull his cane from the punctured glass, Imitari casually reached forward, grabbed the cane, and pulled the wirey man forward. Small, old, and wrinkled, Imitari stared into Stick's eyes and overpowered him.
Stick fell forward across the counter. He tried to push himself back, but Imitari's hand clamped down on his wrist like a vice.
Bones ground together as Imitari pulled Stick's hand to her mouth, and with a swift, subtle movement, she bit off the tips of Stick's pinky and ring finger like she was sampling a cookie.
I jumped back next to the cooler as a thin spray of blood arched toward me.
Stick screamed and thrashed, but Imitari's small form was static and immovable. Stick was a fly in a trap. No matter how much he struggled, punched, poked, or kicked, he could not break the old woman's hold. Then, slowly, she took another bite.
It was strangely fascinating watching the frail form of this old woman I had known for years take bite after bite out of Stick. This man, whom I thought of as a predator, a hunter, an enforcer, was crying and begging while an old woman, who looked like a wrinkled thumb in a floral top, quietly devoured him.
I was surprised by the lack of blood after the first spray. I'm sure it was Imitari's crushing grip that stanched the flow of blood. The flesh of Stick's arm looked white from the pressure.
Hand over hand, Imitari pulled Stick forward. Bones cracked as she gripped higher on Stick's arm, clamped down with her long leathery fingers, and fed the flesh and bone, one concise bite at a time, into her open smiling maw. It was rhythmical in its simplicity: chomp, crunch, chew, chew, swallow. Over and over, the pattern continued until the begging stopped.
Stick wasn't dead. He gave up. Not struggling, he laid over the glass counter like a rag doll. He watched me glassily as Imitari took bite after bite, and I knew he wasn't there anymore. Whatever made Stick Stick had either curled up and hidden in a dark corner of his mind or had been devoured with his arm.
The old woman seemed displeased that her meal had stopped struggling. She shook him, but he flopped, and his head lulled from side to side. Imitari frowned, let go of Stick's arm, and pushed down on the limp man's back. Blood gushed from the ragged stump, and Imitari lowered her mouth and drank from the wound like she was sipping from a garden hose.
Stick didn't move. He just grew pail, and eventually, his panicked, shallow breaths ended, and the blood stopped flowing.
Then Imitari stood. With a quick tug, she pulled Stick's body over the counter and let it flop to the floor at her feet. Her eyes closed. A contented smile bloomed on her face as the explosive sound of crunching and cracking bones echoed through the small shop.
The deafening sound of crunching stopped, and only the buzzing of the drinks cooler reverberated through the small space. Imitari opened her eyes and watched me, a broad smile still on her lips. At that moment, I realized I could hear the drinks cooler so well because I had crawled into it, wedged between the glass door and the shelves.
Imitari held me with her gaze as cords of pink flesh lowered from the ceiling and efficiently tidied up Stick's mess, lapping up blood and hot sauce, placing cans on shelves, and scooping up cups of ramen with whip-like tendrils. Then, the cords of flesh nudged me forward, and I stood before Old Lady Imitari.
The thing that I had always thought of as a stern old woman handed me Stick's cane. With the same benign smile I remembered from buying red hots from it as a ten-year-old, it waved me away with its flyswatter, and the cords of flesh pushed me out the door onto the sidewalk.

"You gotta know that there's an art to it, Ezra," Hitch said, cutting another piece of duct tape.
The sleeves of his weather-beaten coat were shoved all the way up his arms, to stop the fabric from falling over his knuckles while he was working, and goosebumps lined his skin. He was strapping a rubber chicken to the back of his truck, over the lens of the shattered backup camera, with the legs pointing down so that they hung a couple inches above the ground. There were dents in the hood from the crash last week, and scratches along the door from scraping into a curb. The chicken, hopefully, would keep him from breaking anything else.
"You can't go cheap," Hitch said. "The cheap rubber chickens only make noise when pressure lets go. That's no good. As soon as I back up into something, I want this chicken to be screaming like it’s in the depths of hell."
“Sure thing,” I said in a monotone, leaning against the side of the truck.
There were scrambled electronic parts piled in the back of the truck, the innards of a radio, a broken computer, tangled wires, a couple loose pairs of earbuds. He found the parts in alleyways or bummed them off his friends for a couple bucks or stole them from the vacation homes that were left empty for most of the year. Then he sold them for a profit at the scrapyard. Hitch had bounced between minimum-wage jobs for a while after high school, spending a couple months as a bagger at the grocery store or as a seasonal worker at the farm two hours down the highway. He'd never stuck with it. At the very least, the scrapyard got him enough money to eat and occasionally spend a night in a motel when he got tired of sleeping in his car.
Hitch pressed the last piece of tape in place and grinned up at me. "I've got something for you, duck."
The nickname came from when I’d broken my leg as a child and waddled around in a cast until it was healed. I hated it with a burning passion, and I glared at Hitch with the ease of twenty-one years of practice. He had a duck tattoo at the base of his thumb that he’d gotten in a back-alley shop as a teenager. He said that he’d gotten it to remind him of me, and the fact that I hated the nickname was just a bonus. It was shaky-lined, with an uneven face, but he loved it anyway.
The handle stuck when Hitch tried to open the door, a consequence of the rust collecting in the crevices of the car and running down the sides like blood from a cut. The car groaned when the door finally popped open, a metal against metal screech that had me flinching away. Hitch dug through the cluttered fast food containers in the passenger-side footwell, eventually coming up with a crinkly paper bag. He waved away the flies buzzing around the opening of the bag and held it out to me.
The last time Hitch had brought me food, I’d gotten food poisoning because he’d left it out in the midday sun for two days. The donut was squished slightly, and the icing was stuck to the bag. I still ate it, grimacing at the harsh citrus flavor. Taking Hitch’s food was an instinct engraved from the days when Dad had given us a can of kidney beans for dinner and Hitch had drank the juice, leaving the beans for me.
I rarely went hungry anymore, three mostly square meals a day and granola in my pockets just in case, but habits didn’t die easy.
These days, Hitch only brought me food when he wanted my help, like when he saw a place he wanted to hit but was worried about doing it alone.
I got in the car, like I always did.
We drove past the cluster of seafood-themed restaurants with chipped paint decks, the beachfront park where there were always shifty-eyed men sitting under the slide, the single room library where all the books had been water damaged in the flood last year. The change was quick as we drove across Main Street, heading closer to the beach. The roads were freshly paved, the concrete a smooth black except where the sun had already started to pick away at it. The three-story homes lining the sides of the street were crouched on elegant stilts, with space underneath for a car or three. Most of the garages were empty, with the lights off and curtains drawn in the house. Come summer, the streets would be swarming with tourists and vacationers, but until then, most of the buildings nearest to the beach were unoccupied.
Hitch stopped as the sun started to go down at a house that was leaning precariously out towards the beach, tilted ever so slightly, the edge of its foundation buried in the shifting sand of the beach. It certainly looked deserted, with an overgrown yard and blue paint peeling off the door in sheets.
Hitch took his hammer out of the backseat, hoisting it over his shoulder. It was two feet of solid metal with rags wrapped around the head to muffle the sound of the hits. Hitch squared up, bending his knees and holding the hammer like a baseball bat. Before he could swing, though, the door creaked open on its own, the hinges squeaking. The house beyond was dark enough that I could only make out general shapes, glimpsing the curve of a sofa to the left, what was maybe the shimmer of a chandelier on the other side.
Hitch lowered his hammer, looking vaguely disappointed that he didn’t get to use it. “That’s…weird as hell.”
“Maybe the deadbolt broke, maybe they forgot to lock it, it doesn’t matter,” I hissed, checking our surroundings for other people again. “Just hurry up and get inside before someone calls the cops.”
Hitch flicked the lightswitch on the wall, and the lights flickered on. They were dim, buzzing audibly and blinking off occasionally. The walls were plastered with contrasting swatches of wallpaper and splattered with random colors. There was neon orange behind the dining table, a galaxy swirl in the kitchen, and on the ceiling there was a repeating floral pattern covered in nametag stickers. Each of the stickers was filled out with The Erlking. Chandeliers hung in every room, three or four for each, and rubber ducks sat on every table. A miniature carousel sat in the corner along with a towering model rocket.
Sand was heaped on every surface, at least a couple inches everywhere. It was piled in the corners and stuck to the walls, and it covered the floor in a thick blanket. Our hesitant steps into the house left footprints clearly outlined in the sand.
Hitch took a cursory look around and headed immediately for the TV mounted on the wall. “Look out the windows and tell me if anyone is coming.”
I shook the sand out of the blinds and pulled them open, then had to brush sand off of the window before I could see anything.
Hitch was quick, practiced at finding and appropriating the things that were worth taking. He came back to me with an armful of electronics and chandeliers, dumping it at my feet before turning to head deeper into the house again.
There was a thump, somewhere upstairs, and then footsteps, slow and deliberate. Hitch froze at the threshold of the room, then ran for the door with me just ahead of him, sand flying out from under our feet.
My hand was almost brushing the doorknob, close enough that I could see the light from the streetlamp outside streaming in through the cracks in the door. My fingers touched the wood and it gave under my touch, becoming malleable and warm. I yelped, stumbling backwards, and the door started to melt. The paint ran down in thick drops, pooling at the bottom of the door, and the wood warped like metal being welded. The soft edges of the door ran into the walls until there was no sign of an exit ever being there.
“Well, well, well,” said a cultured voice with just an edge of snooty elitism. “What do we have here?”
The man was well over eight feet tall, with long black hair covering his eyes. He was wearing a yellow raincoat with holes cut out of the hood to accommodate the deer antlers jutting upwards from his head. There was sand settled on his shoulders and hovering around his head like a halo.
“Who the fuck are you?” Hitch said, inching towards a window.
He smiled, just a little bit, and his teeth shone in the dim light. “I am the Erlking.”
Hitch nodded, and seemed about to respond. I grabbed him by the hand and pulled him towards the window. I could feel sand in the wind roaring against my back as the Erlking growled in anger, the grains scraping harshly against my cheeks.
We were almost to the window when Hitch was ripped away from me, and I came to a startled halt. The sand had formed long grasping arms that pressed Hitch against the floral wallpaper. His wrists were held tight, and as I watched, a sandy hand wrapped around his mouth and forced its way between his teeth. He gagged, and sand trickled out of the corners of his mouth.
The Erlking strolled towards him, not seeming to be in any sort of rush. “You know, I’m not very fond of your yapping.”
He made an idle gesture and the sand wrapped around my ankles, tethering me in place.
“I yap all the time,” Hitch said. “Three-time olympic yapper, that’s me. Best to just let me go now and save yourself some trouble.”
The Erlking tapped a manicured nail against Hitch’s mouth, hard enough to hurt, judging by the way he flinched away. “But why would I ever let you go when I’ve gone to this much trouble to catch you and your sister? It’s so hard, these days, to find people that no one will miss.”
Hitch struggled against the sand, trying to escape and failing. “What do you want with us, then? You just said it, we’re nobody.”
“I’m fae, dear one,” the Erlking said. “I get my power from my followers. And I think that you two will make lovely additions to my flock.”

He flicked Hitch's nose and Hitch gasped. Feathers started to form on his arms, popping out from under his skin in a spray of blood.
Hitch pushed off the wall, using his bound hands as a fulcrum, and his knees crashed into the Erlking’s stomach. The Erlking fell backwards, wheezing, and the sand around my ankles loosened.
Hitch made desperate eye contact with me as feathers shot up his neck and jerked his head towards the window. The message was obvious. Run.
The last thing I saw before crashing out the window and into freedom was Hitch’s body twisting, his arms wrenching into wings and feathers covering every inch of his skin. By the time I landed on the concrete outside, he was a small black bird, held tightly in the Erlking’s hands. The whole building was sinking into the ground, burnished-gold sand piling up over top and streaming from the windows.
Thirty years later, I saw Sam’s Supernatural Consultation and Neutralization written in neat, looping handwriting on a piece of paper taped to the door. The tape was peeling at the corners and the paper was yellowed with age, but there was obviously care put into the sign, in its perfectly centered text and looping floral designs drawn over the edges in gold marker.
I knocked, hesitantly, drawing my woolen coat closer around my shoulders. I’d bought it as a fiftieth birthday gift for myself, and I took comfort in the heavy weight of it over my shoulders.
“Coming!” someone called from within the depths of the office.
There were a couple crashes, and the sound of paper shuffling. Eventually, the door was opened by a young woman with ketchup stains on her shirt and pencils stuck through her hair.
“Hi, I’m Sam, I specialize in supernatural consultation and hunting, how may I help you today?” Sam said, customer-service pep in her voice. She stood in the doorway, solidly blocking entry into the office.
“My name is Ezra, I’m for a consultation. I emailed you but you didn’t respond?” I shifted in place, suddenly feeling awkward.
“Oh! Yeah, I lost the password for the email ages ago. Sorry for the bad welcome, I get lots of people thinking I’m crazy or pulling a prank and harassing me.”
She ushered me into the office, clearing papers off one of the chairs to make room for me to sit down. There was a collection of swords along one wall, all of them polished to perfection, several with deep knicks in the metal which indicated that they’d been used heavily.
“So what can I help you with?” Sam asked again, more sincere this time.
“Thirty years ago, my brother was turned into a bird,” I started. I’d told this story so many times that it barely felt ridiculous to say anymore. I was used to the disbelieving looks, the careful pity. But Sam just nodded along, face open and welcoming.
“I’ve almost given up on finding him, at this point,” I said. “But I saw your ad in the newspaper, and…here I am, I suppose.”
“Here you are,” Sam echoed, smiling. She pulled one of the pencils out of her hair and took a bit of paperwork off of one of her stacks, turning it over so that the blank side sat neatly in front of her. “Tell me everything.”
I told Sam everything, and she wrote it all down, pencil scratching along the paper.
The last part of the story was always the hardest to tell. “I left him there. I ran and I didn’t look back.”
I had been to dozens of detectives and investigators over the years, once the police had dropped Hitch’s case. I’d been to professional offices with smartly-dressed secretaries and met scraggly men in coffee shops. All of them had given me the same look, pity and annoyance all mixed up into a humor-the-crazy-lady soup. Sam, though, just seemed thoughtful.
Sam leaned forward and put a hand over mine, carefully, like she thought that I would pull away. “Sometimes you have to leave people behind.”
I tightened her hold on Sam’s hand and drew it towards me, like I could make Sam listen if only I squeezed tight enough. “But that’s why I’m here. I don’t want to leave him behind.”
“Okay then. I’ll do my best to help you.” Sam agreed, finally. Then she paused, and said softly, “You know…I think I met your brother once. He might have saved my life. He’s certainly why I started in this business.”
“Really? What happened?” I asked.
This is the story that Sam told me, related to the best of my abilities:
It was a new moon, so the only illumination came from the stars gazing idly down and distant porch lights shining across the scraggly brush of the dunes. Sam’s neighbors were decent people who cared about baby turtles, so the lights were a low, unobtrusive red, and the ocean sloshed like blood. Sam walked on the beach almost every night, drawing back the gauzy pink curtains and clambering out her bedroom window. She didn’t often bother to be quiet; her mama worked the late shift and came home exhausted. As long as Sam got home before the sun, her mama would never find out that she paced the shoreline and dreamed of inhaling sand until her lungs became their own beach.
The sky was lightening. The sun would come up soon, and that meant Sam’s time on the beach was over. She needed to get back to her real life, go to her fifth grade class and stop that nonsense, as her mother would say. Her mother loved to say things like that, pushing Sam into her proper place by implication alone.
“She’s a good kid, of course, but she’s a bit…” Her mother would trail off there, usually getting a commiserating expression from whoever she was talking to. Sam always wondered how that sentence would have finished. She’s a bit strange, maybe. She’s a bit intense. She’s a bit abrasive. She’s quiet enough but when Jason tried to steal her pencil in math class, she stabbed him in the hand so hard that the lead tattooed him.
Her mother was better, for the most part. The days of her stocking up the fridge, and leaving a post-it note on the counter, and leaving for days at a time were gone. But Sam still stepped around the place on the kitchen tile where her mother had collapsed and caved her head in, even though the bloodstains had been replaced with new tile.
“Your auntie got an abortion, you know,” her mother had said from her place on the couch, slurring her words. “Pill in the mail and then bam, no more baby.”
She had clapped her hands together to illustrate her point. Her mother jerked forward and grabbed Sam by the wrist, then, staring up at her until Sam met her eyes.
“I love you, you know? But sometimes I wonder…” She settled back onto the couch. “Yeah. I wonder.”
She’d gotten up, then, back to the kitchen. She’d been stumbling, a shambling zombie of a woman. The ground in the entryway of the kitchen was raised, ever so slightly, and her mother went down hard. Her head cracked against the tile, chin first, and she didn’t move.
Sam had been the one to call the ambulance. She had stared at the scattering of loose teeth on the ground while she waited, and considered what her life would be like with a dead mom. Not so bad, she thought, and immediately felt guilty for it.
Her mom was better, now, for the most part. But Sam still stepped around the place on the kitchen floor where she had collapsed. There was still a matchbox hidden under her bed with the gleaming shine of her mother’s lost teeth, two canines and a molar. It was nice, having a piece of her mom to keep. Even if she left again, Sam would still have part of her.
Sam sighed, and turned away from the ocean. As she faced towards the low dunes further up the beach, she saw a sandcastle sitting nestled among them. It was such a strange sight that her eyes skipped over it at first, almost automatically, disregarding it because it was so out of place.
Sam found sandcastles out on the beach sometimes, usually half-collapsed and on the verge of being washed away by the waves, but she had never seen anything like the sandcastle in front of her. It was life-sized, something that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Scottish highlands, with spires shooting up above her head and carefully etched out bricks lining each side. The front wall was dominated by an arched set of double doors, twice her height, with a portcullis nestled at the top, ready to be dropped. All of it was lovingly detailed, down to the rust on the tips of the towers and the wood grain of the door. It was made out of wet, densely-packed sand, held together impossibly. It had not been there two hours ago, when she had come to the beach.
There was a bird sitting on the overhang of the door, small and black.
As soon as she took a step towards the sandcastle, the bird shook out its feathers and swooped down towards Sam, landing at her feet with a little stumble.
“Hey, kid, get out of here,” said the bird.
Sam closed her eyes, very deliberately. When she opened them, the bird was still there. Sam considered herself a very reasonable person, so she immediately drew the most logical conclusion. The bird was, she was almost certain, a demon.
“Trust me, you don’t want to run into Mr. Salty, the queen bitch himself,” the bird said.
“Mr. Salty?” Sam inquired, polite as she knew how to be. She edged to the side, trying to get a good angle to kick the bird like a soccer ball.
The bird did something similar to a wince, all its feathers fluffing up then settling back down. “Ah, don’t call him that. He’d turn you into a toad.”
The bird gestured with its head, towards the looming sand structure. “That’s his castle. He’s in there, probably scuttling along the ceiling or some shit because that’s the sort of weirdo he is.”
Sam nodded, encouraging. She pulled back her foot and lined up her shot, the way she’d seen athletes do on TV. She aimed right for its sharp beak and let loose. The bird saw it coming, its beady eyes widening, and it cawed in distress. It flapped away, avoiding her kick only to fall backward into the sand in a scramble of wings.
“What’s your fucking problem?” it squawked. “I was trying to help you!”
“I don’t need the help of a demon,” Sam yelled, trying to remember the exorcism that her mama had taught her once, because her mama believed in being prepared for anything.
“I’m not a demon,” the bird said indignantly.
It was at about that moment that Sam gave up and just decided to roll with it.
“What are you, then?” Sam asked.
The bird shuffled its clawed feet, looking about as awkward as it could, given that it didn’t really have recognizable facial expressions. “Technically I’m a familiar of the Erlking, prince of the fae, but I prefer to be called Hitch.”
“You can’t blame me for assuming, though,” Sam said. “Ravens do tend to be associated with murder.”
“Hey, excuse you,” Hitch said. “I’m a rook, not a raven. Ravens are way bigger.”
“Sure,” Sam said, not really paying attention. Her eyes had caught on the details of the sandcastle, and she was transfixed by the slow spirals of the sand, the strange beauty of it. She found herself stepping towards the great doors, lifting a hand to knock, and as she did, the sand warped in front of her eyes, heaving itself towards her with bulging slowness. The door creaked open before her, revealing a vast, empty room. Just before she stepped inside, she felt a piercing pain in her foot, and she yelped, leaping backwards.
Hitch pecked her again, really digging his beak in. “Don’t be an idiot.”
Sam glared at him, rubbing her foot. About to retort, she finally really took in the room inside the sandcastle, and her words died in her throat.
There was a body just past the threshold of the door, face down and limbs hanging limp at its sides. Long hair splayed out in a halo around its head.
“Don’t,” Hitch warned, suddenly serious. “Just leave, kid, I mean it. I’ve seen too many people go down this road and you don’t want to be one of them.”
Sam ignored him. She made her way across the beach, slipping with every step. The sand felt deeper, piling up around her feet in silent drifts. She picked up the nearest stick and poked the body with it through the door, ready to leap back if anything went wrong, staying firmly outside of the sandcastle.
This close, Sam could tell that it used to be a woman. Her head wasn’t attached to her body. It hadn’t been a clean amputation, either. Her upper body was bruised, with chunks taken out of it, and the bones in her neck hung mangled, not connected to anything.
“Well, I warned you,” Hitch said, defeated. “I did warn you.”
Sam nudged the head with the end of the stick, nudging it over so that she could see the face. Her mother stared back at her, torn to pieces, breath still wheezing from her lungs. She wasn’t blinking, just gazing forward with glazed eyes. Sweat dripped down from her hairline.
Sam screamed and dropped the stick, tripping over herself in her haste to get away.
Her mother’s eyes were wide and pleading, and she was mouthing desperate words at Sam. Her vocal cords were broken to bits, and the only sound that came out was a strained groan.
The head rolled, inching closer to Sam like a grotesque caterpillar.
Her mother gasped for air, torn lips fluttering. Finally, comprehensible words came out. “Help. Help me, daughter.”
“That’s not your mother,” Hitch said, quiet.
Sam knew that. Her mother was sleeping back at home, and anyways her mom had never asked for her help. She had an aversion to accepting charity, as she put it.
“Okay,” Sam said, shaking all over. “Okay.”
She backed away from the sandcastle, not looking away.
“Failure,” her mother hissed as she stepped away. “I never wanted a daughter like you.”
The sun came up over the horizon. The sandcastle, Hitch, and her mom all disintegrated into sand as the light hit them.
The beach, the next night, was almost exactly how I remembered it. The beams of our flashlights sent light bouncing across the dunes, illuminating the waves, and I imagined faces in the foam of the waves.
“I’ve been back here a hundred times. There’s nothing left,” I said.
Sam took the car key out of her purse and pointed it at the sand, adjusting the sword slung over her shoulder in order to do it. The key had belonged to Hitch; Sam had requested an item of his, and it was the only thing I had left. She rested the key on the sand and drew a circle around it, inscribing symbols around the borders.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
Sam shrugged. “Not much, really. I’m…I guess you could say that I’m knocking.”
The key laid inert on the sand for long enough that I was just about to give up and go home, admit to myself that Hitch was dead and that I was a fool to believe that Sam could actually help me. Then a building started to take shape, flickering in and out like it was struggling to get away. With a pop of displaced air, the sandcastle settled into existence.
Sam banged on the entryway. Nothing happened. She did it again, harder, and scowled when the door still didn’t open.
“We demand entrance, under your honor,” Sam yelled. There was a hard rush of wind, and I gripped Sam’s arm to keep my balance, but the doors cracked open reluctantly.
The inside of the sandcastle consisted of one enormous hall, the roof arching up out of sight. Rafters crisscrossed from wall to wall, and a cobbled path led further into the building, but other than that, it was completely empty, except for the birds. There were thousands of them, perched on the rafters or hopping along the ground. They parted in front of Sam and I, and reformed behind us, leaving us in a small pocket of open space. They were all black-feathered, with sharp beaks and beady eyes.
The Erlking sat on a throne at the end of the hall, lounging across it with his feet up on the armrest. He watched them as they came forward, the soft caw of the birds the only sound.
“I am here to bargain for the life of my brother,” I said, with as much dignity as I could muster, before the Erlking could say anything.
The Erlking ignored her, tilting his head to look at Sam. “I remember you. I almost got you, once.”

Sam glared at him but didn’t respond.
“You want your brother,” The Erlking said to me, and he almost sounded amused. “Then go get him.”
As if by some sort of silent signal, every bird in the room took flight at once, and their cawing made me think of screams. I covered my head against the flapping of their wings, and my vision was quickly obscured by the chaotic movement of them. I found myself on my knees, just trying to escape them.
A hand met my shoulder. Sam urged me to my feet, and together we ran for the edge of the room, where the swarm was the thinnest. We pressed ourselves into the corner and the swarm spiraled tighter and tighter at the center of the room. It went on until there seemed to be no differentiation between the birds, all of them fused together into one creature.
When the chaos died down, the birds had become one mass, with wings and eyes and talons sticking out of its flesh, thrashing and chirping. Human body parts stuck out of it, bulging out from the feathers. It was hands, mostly, with a couple knees or staring eyes. The bird amalgamation had no recognizable facial features, but there was one long beak extending from the front of its head. Most of the body parts were concentrated around the beak, and they peeked out from where the beak connected with muscle, or grew from the tongue, nestled between the two crushing halves of the beak.
It turned its beak down and crawled forward, using the hands to balance. The fingers scrambled over the ground. I was afraid of centipedes as a child, and I felt that same crawling dread when it started moving.
“Holy shit,” Sam whispered, which was rather disappointing, because I had been hoping that at least one of us knew what to do.
The creature turned, a lurching movement that crushed some of the hands underneath it, and started heaving itself slowly towards our corner.
“Better hurry up!” the Erlking called from his throne.
It was blocking the exit, by then. The shifting body of it had moved to block us off. It ambled towards us and I tried to sink further into the corner.
As it approached, getting close enough that I could smell the stink of it, I saw a flash of a tattoo on one of the hands. I leaned in, trying to find it again, like looking for dolphins surfacing in the ocean. And again, I caught a glimpse of a duck tattoo, the tattoo that Hitch had gotten on his hand as a teenager.
I ripped away from Sam’s death grip and ran for the monster.
I fell to my knees in front of it, wincing as I impacted the ground, and reached into the nest of hands. I could feel them tearing at my forearms and ripping into me with their sharp nails, but I kept going. I pressed further in, up to my shoulder in a writhing mass of limbs, aiming for the spot where I had last seen that tattoo.
The hands were tugging at me, wrapping around my back and hair. They were pulling together, trying to draw me completely into the mass of them. I was aware of Sam at my side, anchoring me in place and bashing any hand that got too close with her sword or the sparks that leapt from her hands with muttered words. But I didn’t think it would be enough. They were too strong, and there were too many of them.
I was up to my waist in the hands when something grabbed my palm. I felt the way it clung to me, and the calluses on its palm, and I knew that I had found my brother.
I flung herself back. The hands didn’t want to let me go, and they fought the whole way, but slowly, I made progress. I kept hold of Hitch’s hand in mine the whole time, gripping it as hard as I could. I finally broke free, Hitch with me, and Sam was immediately charging the creature, able to use her sword with much greater strength without being worried about injuring Hitch. She swung it forward, and it sliced through the wrist of one of the hands. It fell without a sound, red sand flowing out of it. It deflated until it looked like dirty laundry, just a piece of limp flesh. The creature shrieked, scuttling away enough that the door was finally accessible. The three of us ran for it, Sam and I supporting Hitch between us.
I looked back as I left and found the Erlking staring right at me.
“Interesting,” he murmured, his voice carrying impossibly across the vast space between us.
The sandcastle collapsed behind us, the great walls falling in on themselves. We were out in the morning sun, the sandcastle disappearing as we watched. Hitch was on the ground in front of me, as young as he’d been thirty years ago, when he was captured. He started laughing, feathers puffing out of his mouth. He laughed until he cried and I hugged him in the way that he’d held me when I was young, in the times when my life had been defined by hunger and fear.
Hitch left, afterwards. He scratched at the pinhole scars covering his body, where feathers burst through his skin, and pulled his long sleeves down around his wrists. He didn’t know where he was going but he told me that he needed time
I had spent thirty years worth of time without him. I wanted to grab my brother by the shoulders and beg him to stay. But he flinched when I hugged him goodbye and he refused to go near sand and he stared distrustfully at the birds chirping in the trees. Hitch needed to go away and I loved him too much to stop him.
I sat out on the beach every morning. I felt the sun on my face and I waited for Hitch to come home.

I can't be the only one on this sub traveling with little kids, so I wanted to share this recommendation because it's been GREAT. Here is my review of the RideSafer harness and the TravelSmarter booster seat combo for 1.5 bag travel. We have used this in the US & the UK, with a 5 year old.
Why did we use the RideSafer? I have numerous friends who've been burned renting a car seat (i.e. seat wasn't there when they arrived, was super dirty, was sized for an infant when they have a toddler... etc). When he was smaller, we traveled with the Cosco Scenera Next, and that seat is GREAT if you are traveling with a baby or toddler. Travel seats for preschoolers are significantly heavier and/or more complex/fiddly (e.g. the Mifold HiFold). Many 4-6 year olds aren't mature enough to use a booster alone (more info on that here: https://csftl.org/harness-or-booster). My kid is pretty good, but I don't like having to be the posture police while driving.
The RideSafer is a vest that positions the seat belt so it can safely protect kids, similar to a booster in theory but the tethe harness combo makes it easier for little kids to remain in an appropriate position at all times. It even kept my kiddo in the right position when he fell asleep. Its optional in the US, but for the UK we had to combine the harness with the company's travel backless booster seat as boosters are approved in the UK by the RideSafer is not when used alone. This has the added benefit of lifting my kid a little so he can see out the car window. The harness is very easy to move between vehicles, and would be useful if you take ubers/taxis (have moved a giant Britax into an Uber - not ideal. )
For travel, the vest packs small enough to fit in a suitcase (you can't use the RideSafer on the plane. ) The booster comes with a little backpack - we used it as my kid's carry-on and put both the booster and the harness inside. They're extremely light and met IcelandAir carry-on requirements. I suppose you could check the backpack, but this is a one bag sub and either way, I avoid checking car seats after Iberia lost my stroller years ago - they returned it eventually but it was pretty beat up!
Here is the best feature for my family. My kiddo gets motion sickness. We were driving on a tiny Scottish road and he unfortunately barfed all over the harness and booster. I have had to clean car seats in hotel bathrooms under similar circumstances - it is awful, there are a zillion pieces, some of them don't come off for easy washing, they have tiny crevices you need to clean out with toothpicks. With the RideSafer, I was able to soak the whole harness and the boosters cover in the bathtub with mild soapy water, rinse well, hang to dry, and everything was in perfect condition + totally dry within 24h.
I know I sound like an ad for the RideSafer, so some cons. There is a learning curve to using the harness. In some countries, this thing isn't approved alone (so must be paired with a booster) or at all. It's not approved for use on planes. It's expensive. Some kids could DEFINITELY unhook this thing from the seat belt - my kid doesn't do this, but if your child likes to unbuckle their car seat while you're driving, this isn't for you. Sizing is confusing - my husband had to call the company we purchased from to confirm. There are many random kids seat belt harness dupes online - especially on Amazon and they are generally NOT safe to use.
In summary, I think this is a great option for traveling light with kids - especially if you're in the US or Canada where you can use the harness alone. We'll also use it at home as a backup seat when friends visit and need to ride in our car. Hope this is helpful to other parents on this sub!

Welcome to the series of Changes to be Made to the Super Smash Bros. Playable Fighters. First, we are going with the playable fighters of the original game, Smash 64. Now this topic has been done before, though it'd to make my own version. Plus, while some did get some proper changes, the original 12 are still the biggest offenders when it comes to bad or outdated choices of Movesets, animations, aesthetics, etc. Here is a list of them.

Mario	Donkey Kong	Link	Power Suit Samus	Yoshi	Kirby	Fox	Pikachu	Luigi	Ness	Captain Falcon	Jigglypuff
Mario will now have his voice from Kevin Afghani instead of Charles Martinet due to the latter retiring from his acting career.	Donkey Kong will now have his voice from Takashi Nagasako instead of the stupid & bland realistic Gorilla Grunts.	Link will not just use the Master Sword, he will also use the Ancient Battle Axe and Guardian Spear.	Her default outfit is now her Metroid Dread Varia Suit.	The Black Yoshi alt. returns.	Kirby's gimmick now consists of the Copy Abilities from the Kirby games rather than Copied Neutral Specials.	Final-Smash - Arwing: Says "It's go time", then hops aboard onto the Arwing, then goes into First-Person perspective, with the Arwing firing either Arwing Shots or Smart Bomb.	Pikachu mostly now has alternate colors, although its libre costume remains. Its alternate colors are Blue (Marill), Dark Orange (Raichu), Gray (Togedemaru), White (Pachirisu), Brown (Patrat) and Purple (Rattata).	Like Mario, Luigi will now have his voice from Kevin Afghani instead of Charles Martinet due to the latter retiring from his acting career.	When Ness uses his Baseball Bat while fully charging it in his side smash, the SMAAAASH!!!! text box appears.	Neutral-Special - Pistol: Pulls out a Pistol, then shoots energy out of it, dealing electric damage.	Jigglypuff will now have alternate colors instead of Headwear. Its alternate colors include Black (Gastly), Purple (Koffing), Blue (Marill), Beige (Rowlet), Green (Solosis), Light Yellow (Togepi) and Brown (Hoothoot).
He is now able to crawl.	His white alt. has a blue tie to accurately represent Super Kong.	Side-Smash - Spear Thrust: Performs a straight-forward stab with his Spear.	Her green alt. is replaced by a blue and white skin, based on her default suit from Metroid Dread.	They can carry a max of 6 eggs they create with their Neutral Special.	Down-Tilt - Slide: Performs a forward Sliding Kick.	N/A	Up-Tilt - Thunder Punch: Punches with large fists of electricity upwards.	Luigi is now able to wall jump.	Down-Smash - Paralysis: Deals stun damage with his PSI.	N/A	Jab - Double Slap: Performs two alternating slaps forward, which can be used five times.
His Fire Mario & Wario Alts. return.	Neutral-Special - Coconut Shooter: Takes out His Coconut Shooter, then fires a Coconut.	Up-Smash - Vertical Spin: Jumps and Spin slashes upwards, which at 0% damage can shoot a sword beam.	Now moves slightly faster and has more air speed.	Grab: Functions the same though now also functions as a tether recovery and ledge clinger.	Dash-Attack: Gets back his Brawl and Smash 4 Dash attack, Break Spin, and functions the same in said games.	N/A	Dash-Attack - Wild Charge: Shrouds itself in electricity and smashes into the opponent. This also damages it a little.	Luigi has a meter each of the Elemental Medals, where by picking a certain element, he uses that element though can be refilled by using the shield special button.	Neutral-Special - Slingshot: Pulls out the Slingshot, then fires a projectile, which can be aimed forwards, upwards or downwards.	N/A	Side-Tilt - Uproar: Causes an Uproar, making sound waves come out of its mouth at the opponent.
He now has a water meter from Super Mario Sunshine, where by using the shield special button. the water meter refills after usage.	Side-Special - Barrel Throw: Throws a barrel across the stage, which just like with the normal Barrel item, it can be picked up and thrown by other fighters.	Down-Smash: Spins his axe around while charging, and then slams his axe onto the ground.	She now has the option to switch between the Default & Ice Beam Energy Modes with the Shield Special Button.	Neutral-Special: Same changes as Grab, though, it can also now grab items and projectiles.	Side-Smash - Staff: Swings the Staff forward.	N/A	Up-Smash - Iron Tail: Functions the same though the tail also becomes whitish-gray in color and hits a bit harder.	Down-Tilt - Roll: Performs a forward Roll.	Side-Special: His old Neutral Special, PK Flash, is moved here and now fires it forward.	N/A	Up-Tilt - Mega Punch: Performs an upward strong punch with its right hand.
Down-Tilt - Roll: Performs a forward Roll.	Up-Special - Barrel Cannon: Enters a barrel cannon and fires himself in the direction that is input.	Neutral-Aerial: Spins the Axe in a circle.	When using her Side Special, she only has 10 rockets at the beginning of the match, but they do reload when not in use or after getting KO'd.	Side-Special: Their old Up Special, Egg Throw, is moved here and now has reticle which is an angle for the eggs to be thrown in that direction.	Up-Smash - Yo-Yo: Spins the Yo-Yo upwards, then brings it back to him.	N/A	Neutral-Aerial - Discharge: Strikes opponents by letting loose some electricity.	Side-Smash - Hammer: Swings his hammer forward.	Up-Special - Teleport β: Disappears temporarily, then reappears.	N/A	Down-Tilt - Round: Takes a quick breath, then fires a high-pitched blast of sound from her mouth.
Side-Smash - Hammer: Swings his hammer forward.	Final-Smash - Finishing Blow: Starts off with landing a powerful upward punch, if success at hitting the opponent, the screen darkens then, lands a flurry of fast punches before knocking them upwards.	Forward-Aerial: Thrusts the spear forwards.	Jab - Cannon Kata: Starts with a straight punch, then thrusts her arm cannon forward for the second hit and fires a small energy blast.	Up-Special - Wing Flutter: Small wings emerge from his back as he flaps into the air.	Down-Smash - Bell: Performs a spin and then strikes on both sides of him with his bells, creating 2 damaging soundwaves.	N/A	Neutral-Special - Electro Ball: Still shoots a ball of electricity after being created from its cheeks, though it is now big, it can be fired forwards and can no longer stick on stages or platforms.	Down-Smash - Burst: A burst of wind propels him upward, startling him as a wind circle emerges around himself.	Down-Special - Lifeup: Heals damage taken with his PSI.	N/A	Side-Smash - Zen Headbutt: Headbutts opponents with psychic willpower.
Up-Smash - Super Jump Punch: Does a jumping uppercut in place that produces Star Coins or Metro Kingdom Special Coins on contact.	Up-Taunt: Still pounds his chest, but now hollers wildly while doing so.	Grab - Magnesis: Picks up a Magnet, then Fires two whips to grab an opponent, which can be used as a tether recovery.	Up-Tilt - Melee Counter: Swings her arm cannon upward.	Down-Special - Ground Pound: Function is the same, though the name is changed and it can now also bounce on & meteor spike opponents.	Neutral-Special: Functions the same though now can also spit opponents and items like a projectile.	N/A	Side-Special - Zippy Zap: Charges up electricity as it's surrounded by electricity after charge. If charged, it goes farther faster dash forwards. If Uncharged however, it makes a quick short dash forwards.	Neutral-Aerial - Spin Jump: Spins himself around.	Final-Smash - PSI Rockin Ω: Fires a PSI burst forward & creates several psychic fireworks on any caught opponents before releasing a larger burst.	N/A	Up-Smash - Drain Punch: Punches with its fists upwards, then drains their health, healing itself.
Neutral-Aerial - Spin Jump: Spins himself around.	Idle Animation #2: He quickly sit downs and pull out a Nintendo Switch and play on it, based on an idle pose from the Retro Donkey Kong Country games	Neutral-Special: More arrows than just wooden ones, which he can pull from the Menu. Fire Arrows: Deal fire damage. Ice Arrows: Freeze opponents when at high enough percentages. Thunder Arrows: Make a bolt of lightning strike the opponent hit, dealing electric damage. Bomb Arrows: Explode on contact. Light Arrows: Goes through opponents when fully charged. Ancient Arrows: Creates a massive blue explosion of energy.	Down-Tilt - Slide: Performs a forward sliding kick.	N/A	Side-Special - Circus Somersault: Does two short somersaults and backsaults back to where he started the attack.	N/A	Final-Smash - Volt Tackle: Electrifies its entire body and blast forwards like a super-charged projectile and If it manages to hit an opponent, a large electrical explosion comes upon impact, launching nearby fighters, also dealing electric damage.	Down-Aerial - Ground Pound: Butt Stomps downward, bouncing on & meteor spiking opponents.	N/A	N/A	Down-Smash - Frustration: Slams its hands onto the ground in anger.
Down-Aerial - Ground Pound: Butt Stomps downward, bouncing on & meteor spiking opponents.	Left Victory Pose: DK rapidly punches and kicks a Slot Machine Barrel from the Retro Donkey Kong Country games, breaking it and releasing a bunch of bananas; once he's done, he lands on the ground and smiles for the camera, while giving a thumbs-up	Up-Special - Sailcloth: Pulls out the Sailcloth, then goes in an updraft and afterwards goes straight down without changing direction.	Dash-Attack - Dash Melee: Swings her Arm Cannon upwards while running.	N/A	Up-Special - Hi-Jump: Jumps high into the air and turns left or right and can collide with opponents along the way.	N/A	N/A	Neutral-Special - Thunderhand: Fires an electricity ball from his right hand, dealing electric damage.	N/A	N/A	Neutral-Aerial - Magical Leaf: Scatters itself with leaves.
Neutral-Special: Name is changed to Firebrand.	Right Victory Pose: He still pounds his chest, but just like his new Up-Taunt, hol	N/A	Side-Smash - Diffusion Blast: Releases an area of effect blasts at Close-ranged.	N/A	Down-Special: Same Move though it gets tweaks such as it can also now temporarily slide when kirby dashes.	N/A	N/A	Side-Special - Spin Tornado: Winds Up and Spins Forward, generating a tornado that covers him completely then dealing multiple Hits toward opponents in the way before launching them.	N/A	N/A	Forward-Aerial - Gyro Ball: Gets surrounded by a Metallic Aura, then spins rapidly forward a little.
Side-Special - Cappy: Tosses Cappy forward like a boomerang and/or can jump on him like an extra platform.	N/A	N/A	Up-Smash - Overhead Blast: Same as Side Smash Attack but upwards.	N/A	Final-Smash - Paint Out: Sprays blobs of paint all over, causing damage and knockback to opponents.	N/A	N/A	Down-Special - Elemental Medals: Picks one of the Element Medals and uses one of them from a Menu. Fire: Deals fire damage. Ice: Deals ice damage & freezes opponents. Water: Deals water damage.	N/A	N/A	Back-Aerial - Mega Kick: Performs a strong swing kick with its right foot.
Up-Special - Wing Cap: Spawns a Wing Cap & shoots up into the air before gliding.	N/A	N/A	Neutral-Aerial: Her old Up Special, Screw Attack, is moved here.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Up-Aerial - Icy Wind: Releases a wind of Ice from its mouth upwards, dealing ice damage and freezing opponents.
Down-Special: F.L.U.D.D remains here and functions the same though it can now damage opponents and can turn into nuzzle form while in the air and help mario into the air.	N/A	N/A	Forward-Aerial - Spazer Beam: Fires a blast that splits into three lasers.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Down-Aerial - Body Slam: Falls downward towards the opponent, meteor spiking them.
Final-Smash: Name is changed to Ultra Fireball and functions like in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.	N/A	N/A	Pummel - Grapple Voltage: Deals Electric Damage and heals herself somewhat.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Pummel: Its old Side Special, Pound, is moved here and now it just punches the opponent.
Up-Taunt: Returns to his old one, where he briefly grows in size as if obtaining a Mushroom.	N/A	N/A	Back-Throw - Wave Beam: Swings the opponent behind herself & fires an energy blast in a sine curve at them.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Forward Throw - Focus Punch: Briefly lets go of the opponent to punch them with a high amount of force, launching them away from it.
Left Victory Pose: Jumps to the top of a flagpole, slides down it, then hops off and happily poses.	N/A	N/A	Neutral-Special: Also adds Ice Beam, where She fires Ice Beams, dealing ice damage & freezes opponents.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Back-Throw - Fling: Picks up the opponent, then throws them backwards.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Side-Special: Functions the same if tapped, though can now fire 5 or 10 missiles if held.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Up-Throw - Psychic: Picks the opponent up with its psychic power, then launches them up.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Up-Special - Shinespark: Launches herself in any inputted direction as a gold shine emerges.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Down-Throw: Its old Neutral Special, Rollout, is moved here and now turns into a boulder, then pins the opponent down and rolls on the their back.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Down-Special: Also adds Freeze Field, where she summons 3 spinning ice projectiles that block attacks, deal ice damage & freeze opponents.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Neutral-Special - Disarming Voice: Lets out a Charm Cry that does emotional damage to the opponent.
N/A	N/A	N/A	Final-Smash - Hyper Beam: Charges her arm cannon & fires a large beam of energy, which can be angled & can go through opponents & walls.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Side-Special - Dazzling Gleam: Emits a Powerful Flash.
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Up-Special - Bounce: Jumps into the air, then lands back on the opponents or stages, bouncing on the opponent and/or stage, which when landing and bouncing on the opponent, it can use other attacks, but when landing on the stage instead of opponent it can't directly attack again.
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Down-Special: Its old Up Special, Sing, is moved here.
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Final-Smash - Hyper Voice: Inhales a bunch of air, inflating her balloon-like body a bit, before letting out a loud attack that uses sound waves & blasts opponents backwards quite a distance.
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Side-Taunt: The animation remains exactly the same, but sparkly energy now surrounds her body.
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Up Victory Pose: Jigglypuff twirls around like a ballerina as sparkly energy surrounds her body, before hopping on one leg and posing for the camera.

And, there you go. This took a little while, though i hope to hear your feelings about these changes (as long as your reasons for your feelings are good). Any changes that you want to see to the original 12 that i didn't mention and did i misplace some moves? or did i add a change that was unnecessary? It'd be cool to see what other people can come up with.

Relistening to PHM. Have seen the book’s cover art and passively wondered what it is trying to portray, but never gave it much effort. Now, I have finally added the Audible app to my TV and am looking at the cover art with more focus. When I’d look at it before I thought it kind of mirrored the movie Gravity or Mission To Mars. Now? I know it’s Grace, but what at the moment is he doing? It’s not like in The Martian when Beck tethered out to get Watney. Is this when Grace is Geronimo-ing to the Blip A? Or is it trying to depict how stressful, how perilous the mission is? Is that the Blip A in mustardy yellow xenonite? (I don’t think so as it has a highlight that is conducive to a curve.) Is it Tau Ceti? A random heavenly body? It’s not Adrian, Three World or Erid, soooo guesses?
Anyway, thought this would be a good place to ask for ideas, opinions and theories.

I tried to write down every single movie available on my flights in March 2024. I handwrote some of my notes to pass the 13 hours which is why there are ??? when I couldn't read my own writing/abbreviations. Note that not all titles were available on all flights, and my list is missing a chunk of them (especially titles beginning with "S" for some reason). Hope someone finds it useful! Maybe someone will get to creating a Letterboxd list of them all before me! [Posted this in movies and thought delta users might find it useful too]

10 Things I Hate About You
101 Dalmatians
12 Angry Men
13 Going on 30
17 Again
2001: A Space Odyssey
27 Dresses
500 Days of Summer
80 for Brady
A Beautiful Mind
A Bug's Life
A Cinderella Story
A Compassionate Spy
A Fantastic Woman
A Few Good Men
A Good Year
A Haunting in Venice
A League of Their Own
A Room with a View
A Separation
A Simple Plan
A Simple Wish
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Abominable
Adam's Rib
Airheads
Akeelah and the Bee
Aladdin
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
American Graffiti
American Street Kid
Amores Perros
An Inconvenient Truth
Anatomy of a Fall
Angels in the Outfield
Aquaman
Assassin Club
Asteroid City
Avatar: Way of Water
Avengers: Infinity War
Back to the Future
Bad Company
Barb and Star: Vista del Mar
Barbie
Batman
Batman Begins
Batman Returns
Batman vs. Superman Dawn
Battle of the Sexes
Beauty and the Beast
Beetlejuice
Being Mary Tyler Moore
Bend it Like Beckham
Better Luck Tomorrow
Big
Big George Foreman
Billy Elliott
Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn
Birthright Outlaw
Blackberry
Blade
Blade II
Blade Runner 2049
Blade Trinity
Blended
Blinded by the Light
Blue Beetle
Bolt
Bottoms
Brave
Brazil
Bridesmaids
Bridget Jones' Diary
Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason
Bring It On
Brown Sugar
Buoyancy
But I'm a Cheerleader
Call Me by Your Name
Carmen Jones
Central Intelligence
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Cheaper by the Dozen
Chevalier
Chicken Run
Child's Play
Children of a Lesser God
Chinatown
Cinderella
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Clueless
Colossal
Condor's Nest
Cool Hand Luke
Coraline
Couples Retreat
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Stupid Love
Creed
Creed II
Crooklyn
Cruella
Chr. G
Dark Waters
Darkest Hour
Dawnland
Dazed and Confused
DC: League of Super Pets
Dear White People
Dee. Boys
Delivery Man
Desperately Seeking Susan
Despicable Me
Despicable Me 2
Despicable Me 3
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Dret ard
Dr. Doolittle
Down with Love
Dr. Seuss Horton Hears a Who
Dr. Seuss The Grinch
Dr. Grinch The Lorax
Dreamgirls
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Drumline
Due Date
Dumb and Dumber
Dumb Money
Dune
Dunkirk
E.T.
Edge of Tomorrow
Eggs Over Easy
Elemental
Enter the Dragon
E????
Erin Brockovich
Eternals
Evan Almighty
Everest
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Evil Dead Rises
Expendables 4
F9: Fast Saga
Fallen
Fantastic Beasts
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindewald
Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore
Fargo
F&F: Hobbes and Shaw
Fast X
Father of the Bride
Feramana???
Ferner????
Field of Dreams
Finding Dory
Finding Nemo
First Man
Focus
Following
Fools Rush In
Forrest Gump
Freaky
Freaky Friday
Freelance
Frida
Friday
Frozen 2
Frozen River
Game Night
Gangster Squad
Garfield
Garfield: Tail of 2 Kitties
Get Smart
Ghostbusters
Glass
Glory
Godzilla vs Kong
Going in Style
Good Morning Vietnam
Gosford Park
Grand Torino
Gran Turismo
Gravity
Grease
Grease 2
Gremlins
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
Guy Richie's The Covenant
Hacksaw Ridge
Half Nelson
Hanna
Happy Death Day
Happy Feet 2
Harlan County USA
Harold and Kumar: White Castle
Harry Potter 1-8
Haunted Mansion
He's Just Not That Into You
Her
Hereafter
Hocus Pocus
Honor Society
Horrible Bosses
Hotel Transylvania
House Party
How to Be Single
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
How to Train your Dragon
Hypnotic
I Am Legend
I Didn't See You There
I, Tonya
Ice Age: Collision Course
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs
Ice Age: Meltdown
Ice on Fire
If Beale Street Could Talk
In the Heart of the Sea
In the Heights
In the Name of the Father
Inception
Incredibles 2
Indiana Jones: Dial of Destiny
Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom
Insidious: The Red Door
Insomnia
Instructions not INcluded
It
Jerry & Marge Go Large
Jersey Boys
John Wick
John Wick 2
John Wick 3
Joker
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Judas and the Black Messiah
Jules
Jumanji
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Jurassic Park
Jurassic World
Just Married
Just my Luck
Kazaam
Kit Kittredge
Kramer vs Kramer
Kubo and the Two Strings
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda 2
Kung Fu??????
La La Land
Labyrinth
Lady in the Water
Lakota Nation vs United States
Legally Blonde
Liar Liar
Life of the Party
Lightyear
Lilo and Stitch
Lion
Little Women
Living
Lo------
Lone Survivor
Love and Basketball
Love Again
Love Jones
Ma-d_____ ?
Madagascar
Madagascar Escape
Made of Honor
Mafia Mamma
Magic Mike's Last Dance
Malt------
Momma's Boy
Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia Here We Go Again
March of the Penguins
Mat------
Mean Girls
Meet the Parents?
Memento
Michael Clayton
Milk
Minions
Minions: Rise of Gru
Misery
Miss Congeniality
Missing Link
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning
Mississippi Masala
Moana
Monster In Law
Monsters Inc
Monsters University
Moonlight
Mortal Enemies
Mr. Malcolm's List
Mulan
Mummies
Murder by Numbers
Murder on the Orient Express
Muriel's Wedding
My Animal
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Family
My Girl
National Lampoon's Vacation
Neighbors 2
Neruda
New Year's Eve
News of the World
Nights in Rodanthe
Nine Queens
No
No Country for Old Men
No Murches Frida??
Nomadland
Notting Hill
Ocean's 8
Ocean's 13
October Sky
Of tn age??
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Onward
Oppenheimer
Origin
Over the Hedge
Pacific Rim
Pandas
Pan's Labyrinth
ParaNorman
Paris is Burning
Past Lives
Paw Patrol: Mighty
Paw Patrol: More
Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Perfect Strangers
Persepolis
Phantom Thread
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
Pitch Perfect
Pitch Perfect 3
Planes
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu
Practical Magic
Pride and Prejudice
Primal Fear
Priscilla
Psycho
Pulp Fiction
Puppy Love
Puss in Boots
Queen and Slim
Radical
RRadi--- Wwi?/
Raging Bull
Ra the Breata?
Rat Race?
Ratatouille
Ready Player One
Real Women Have Curves
Red Tails
Reforge
Renfield
Repo Man
Rocky
Ruby Gillman
Rumor Has It
Rush Hour 2
RV
Róise & Frank
Sacfint??
Saving Face
Saving Private Ryan
School Daze
Scoob!
Scooby Doo
Scrapper
Scream VI
Searching
Selena
Selma
Semi Pro
Seven
Shaft
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Significant Other
?
?
Skyfall
Smallfoot
Smoke?
Snowpiercer
?
Something's Gotta Give
?
?
Soul Surfer
Space Jam
Space Oddity
Sp Ra ????
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
Split
Spy Game?
Spy Kids
Stone and D????
Ste W s5t?
Stomp the Yard
Storks
Sweet Home Alabama
Tag
Talk to Me
Tangled
Tee as Go!??
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tenet
The Adia Prse?
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster
The Baby-Sitters Club
The Best Man
The Big Lebowski
The Big Short
The Biggest Little Farm
The Bird Cage
The Blind Side
The Blues Brothers
The Bodyguard
The Boogeyman
The Book of Life
The Boss Baby: Family Business
The Bourne Identity
The Boxer
The Breakfast Club
The Bucket List
The Caine Mutiny
The Campaign
The Castle
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia 2
The Chronicles of Narnia 3
The Creator
The Croods New Age
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Side
The Dead Don't Die
The Dry?
The Equalizer
The Exorcist: Believer
The Fabulous Filipino Brothers
The Fast and Furious (#1)
The S Heartbeats?
The Has???
The Gentlemen
The Good Nurse
The Goonies
The Great Wall
The Guard
The Harvest (La Cosecha)
The H????
The Hobbit
The Hobbit 2
The Hobbit 3
The Holdovers
The Hunger Games: Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games 2
The Hunger Games 3
The Hunger Games 4
The Hunt for Red October
The Huntsman: Winter’s War
The Incredibles
The Intern
The Invention of Lying
The Iron Giant
The Island
The Jungle Book
The Karate Kid
The Kids are Alright
The Lake House
The Land Before Time
The Last Out
The Last Samurai
The Lego Batman Movie
The Lego Movie
The Lesson
The Lion King
The Lion King
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship
The Losers
The Man from UNCLE
The Marsh King’s Doughter
The Marvels
The Matrix: Resurrections
The Mitchells vs The Machines
The Mummy
The Neverending Story
The Nice Guys
The Nun II
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
The Other Zoey
The Outsiders
The Peanuts Movie
The Persian Version
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
The Place Beyond the Pines
The Popes Exorcist
The Pre--?
The Purge: Election Year
The Replacements
The Ring
The Secret Garden
The Secret Life of Pets
The Silence of the Lambs
The S --------
The ?
The ?
The ?
The ?
The ?
The Take
The Time Traveler's Wife
The True Cost
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
The Un---- Country
The Usual Suspects
The ???
The ????
The ?????
The Wedding Singer
The Wizard of Oz
The Wood
The Zookeeper's Wife
Theater Camp
Them---?
There Will Be Blood
Thurs?
Titanic
To Kill a Mockingbird
Tooooo?
Tom ??
Tommy Boy
Top Gun
Top Gun: Maverick
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 4
Train to Busan
Training Day
Transformers Rise
Trolls
Trolls World Tour
Troy
Tully
Turning Red
Umami
Us
??
V for Vendetta
V????
VeggieTales: Abe and the Amazing Promise
VeggieTales: Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas
Vindicta
Vivo
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
War Dogs
We Were Soldiers
We're the Millers
Wedding Crashers
West Side Story
Wet Hot American Summer
Where the Wild Things Are
Wildhood
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Winters Bone
Wonder
Wonder Woman 1984
Wonka
Wreck It Ralph
Yes, Man
Yesterday
Young Punx: A Punk Parable
Zombieland

I tried to write down every single movie available on my Delta flights in March 2024. I handwrote some of my notes to pass the 13 hours which is why there are ??? when I couldn't read my own writing/abbreviations. Note that not all titles were available on all flights, and my list is missing a chunk of them (especially titles beginning with "S" for some reason). Hope someone finds it useful! Maybe someone will get to creating a Letterboxd list of them all before me!

10 Things I Hate About You
101 Dalmatians
12 Angry Men
13 Going on 30
17 Again
2001: A Space Odyssey
27 Dresses
500 Days of Summer
80 for Brady
A Beautiful Mind
A Bug's Life
A Cinderella Story
A Compassionate Spy
A Fantastic Woman
A Few Good Men
A Good Year
A Haunting in Venice
A League of Their Own
A Room with a View
A Separation
A Simple Plan
A Simple Wish
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Abominable
Adam's Rib
Airheads
Akeelah and the Bee
Aladdin
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
American Graffiti
American Street Kid
Amores Perros
An Inconvenient Truth
Anatomy of a Fall
Angels in the Outfield
Aquaman
Assassin Club
Asteroid City
Avatar: Way of Water
Avengers: Infinity War
Back to the Future
Bad Company
Barb and Star: Vista del Mar
Barbie
Batman
Batman Begins
Batman Returns
Batman vs. Superman Dawn
Battle of the Sexes
Beauty and the Beast
Beetlejuice
Being Mary Tyler Moore
Bend it Like Beckham
Better Luck Tomorrow
Big
Big George Foreman
Billy Elliott
Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn
Birthright Outlaw
Blackberry
Blade
Blade II
Blade Runner 2049
Blade Trinity
Blended
Blinded by the Light
Blue Beetle
Bolt
Bottoms
Brave
Brazil
Bridesmaids
Bridget Jones' Diary
Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason
Bring It On
Brown Sugar
Buoyancy
But I'm a Cheerleader
Call Me by Your Name
Carmen Jones
Central Intelligence
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Cheaper by the Dozen
Chevalier
Chicken Run
Child's Play
Children of a Lesser God
Chinatown
Cinderella
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Clueless
Colossal
Condor's Nest
Cool Hand Luke
Coraline
Couples Retreat
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Stupid Love
Creed
Creed II
Crooklyn
Cruella
Chr. G
Dark Waters
Darkest Hour
Dawnland
Dazed and Confused
DC: League of Super Pets
Dear White People
Dee. Boys
Delivery Man
Desperately Seeking Susan
Despicable Me
Despicable Me 2
Despicable Me 3
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Dret ard
Dr. Doolittle
Down with Love
Dr. Seuss Horton Hears a Who
Dr. Seuss The Grinch
Dr. Grinch The Lorax
Dreamgirls
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Drumline
Due Date
Dumb and Dumber
Dumb Money
Dune
Dunkirk
E.T.
Edge of Tomorrow
Eggs Over Easy
Elemental
Enter the Dragon
E????
Erin Brockovich
Eternals
Evan Almighty
Everest
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Evil Dead Rises
Expendables 4
F9: Fast Saga
Fallen
Fantastic Beasts
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindewald
Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore
Fargo
F&F: Hobbes and Shaw
Fast X
Father of the Bride
Feramana???
Ferner????
Field of Dreams
Finding Dory
Finding Nemo
First Man
Focus
Following
Fools Rush In
Forrest Gump
Freaky
Freaky Friday
Freelance
Frida
Friday
Frozen 2
Frozen River
Game Night
Gangster Squad
Garfield
Garfield: Tail of 2 Kitties
Get Smart
Ghostbusters
Glass
Glory
Godzilla vs Kong
Going in Style
Good Morning Vietnam
Gosford Park
Grand Torino
Gran Turismo
Gravity
Grease
Grease 2
Gremlins
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
Guy Richie's The Covenant
Hacksaw Ridge
Half Nelson
Hanna
Happy Death Day
Happy Feet 2
Harlan County USA
Harold and Kumar: White Castle
Harry Potter 1-8
Haunted Mansion
He's Just Not That Into You
Her
Hereafter
Hocus Pocus
Honor Society
Horrible Bosses
Hotel Transylvania
House Party
How to Be Single
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
How to Train your Dragon
Hypnotic
I Am Legend
I Didn't See You There
I, Tonya
Ice Age: Collision Course
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs
Ice Age: Meltdown
Ice on Fire
If Beale Street Could Talk
In the Heart of the Sea
In the Heights
In the Name of the Father
Inception
Incredibles 2
Indiana Jones: Dial of Destiny
Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom
Insidious: The Red Door
Insomnia
Instructions not INcluded
It
Jerry & Marge Go Large
Jersey Boys
John Wick
John Wick 2
John Wick 3
Joker
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Judas and the Black Messiah
Jules
Jumanji
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Jurassic Park
Jurassic World
Just Married
Just my Luck
Kazaam
Kit Kittredge
Kramer vs Kramer
Kubo and the Two Strings
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda 2
Kung Fu??????
La La Land
Labyrinth
Lady in the Water
Lakota Nation vs United States
Legally Blonde
Liar Liar
Life of the Party
Lightyear
Lilo and Stitch
Lion
Little Women
Living
Lo------
Lone Survivor
Love and Basketball
Love Again
Love Jones
Ma-d_____ ?
Madagascar
Madagascar Escape
Made of Honor
Mafia Mamma
Magic Mike's Last Dance
Malt------
Momma's Boy
Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia Here We Go Again
March of the Penguins
Mat------
Mean Girls
Meet the Parents?
Memento
Michael Clayton
Milk
Minions
Minions: Rise of Gru
Misery
Miss Congeniality
Missing Link
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning
Mississippi Masala
Moana
Monster In Law
Monsters Inc
Monsters University
Moonlight
Mortal Enemies
Mr. Malcolm's List
Mulan
Mummies
Murder by Numbers
Murder on the Orient Express
Muriel's Wedding
My Animal
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Family
My Girl
National Lampoon's Vacation
Neighbors 2
Neruda
New Year's Eve
News of the World
Nights in Rodanthe
Nine Queens
No
No Country for Old Men
No Murches Frida??
Nomadland
Notting Hill
Ocean's 8
Ocean's 13
October Sky
Of tn age??
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Onward
Oppenheimer
Origin
Over the Hedge
Pacific Rim
Pandas
Pan's Labyrinth
ParaNorman
Paris is Burning
Past Lives
Paw Patrol: Mighty
Paw Patrol: More
Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Perfect Strangers
Persepolis
Phantom Thread
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
Pitch Perfect
Pitch Perfect 3
Planes
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu
Practical Magic
Pride and Prejudice
Primal Fear
Priscilla
Psycho
Pulp Fiction
Puppy Love
Puss in Boots
Queen and Slim
Radical
RRadi--- Wwi?/
Raging Bull
Ra the Breata?
Rat Race?
Ratatouille
Ready Player One
Real Women Have Curves
Red Tails
Reforge
Renfield
Repo Man
Rocky
Ruby Gillman
Rumor Has It
Rush Hour 2
RV
Róise & Frank
Sacfint??
Saving Face
Saving Private Ryan
School Daze
Scoob!
Scooby Doo
Scrapper
Scream VI
Searching
Selena
Selma
Semi Pro
Seven
Shaft
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Significant Other
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Skyfall
Smallfoot
Smoke?
Snowpiercer
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Something's Gotta Give
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?
Soul Surfer
Space Jam
Space Oddity
Sp Ra ????
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
Split
Spy Game?
Spy Kids
Stone and D????
Ste W s5t?
Stomp the Yard
Storks
Sweet Home Alabama
Tag
Talk to Me
Tangled
Tee as Go!??
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tenet
The Adia Prse?
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster
The Baby-Sitters Club
The Best Man
The Big Lebowski
The Big Short
The Biggest Little Farm
The Bird Cage
The Blind Side
The Blues Brothers
The Bodyguard
The Boogeyman
The Book of Life
The Boss Baby: Family Business
The Bourne Identity
The Boxer
The Breakfast Club
The Bucket List
The Caine Mutiny
The Campaign
The Castle
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia 2
The Chronicles of Narnia 3
The Creator
The Croods New Age
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Side
The Dead Don't Die
The Dry?
The Equalizer
The Exorcist: Believer
The Fabulous Filipino Brothers
The Fast and Furious (#1)
The S Heartbeats?
The Has???
The Gentlemen
The Good Nurse
The Goonies
The Great Wall
The Guard
The Harvest (La Cosecha)
The H????
The Hobbit
The Hobbit 2
The Hobbit 3
The Holdovers
The Hunger Games: Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games 2
The Hunger Games 3
The Hunger Games 4
The Hunt for Red October
The Huntsman: Winter’s War
The Incredibles
The Intern
The Invention of Lying
The Iron Giant
The Island
The Jungle Book
The Karate Kid
The Kids are Alright
The Lake House
The Land Before Time
The Last Out
The Last Samurai
The Lego Batman Movie
The Lego Movie
The Lesson
The Lion King
The Lion King
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship
The Losers
The Man from UNCLE
The Marsh King’s Doughter
The Marvels
The Matrix: Resurrections
The Mitchells vs The Machines
The Mummy
The Neverending Story
The Nice Guys
The Nun II
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
The Other Zoey
The Outsiders
The Peanuts Movie
The Persian Version
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything
The Place Beyond the Pines
The Popes Exorcist
The Pre--?
The Purge: Election Year
The Replacements
The Ring
The Secret Garden
The Secret Life of Pets
The Silence of the Lambs
The S --------
The ?
The ?
The ?
The ?
The ?
The Take
The Time Traveler's Wife
The True Cost
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
The Un---- Country
The Usual Suspects
The ???
The ????
The ?????
The Wedding Singer
The Wizard of Oz
The Wood
The Zookeeper's Wife
Theater Camp
Them---?
There Will Be Blood
Thurs?
Titanic
To Kill a Mockingbird
Tooooo?
Tom ??
Tommy Boy
Top Gun
Top Gun: Maverick
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 4
Train to Busan
Training Day
Transformers Rise
Trolls
Trolls World Tour
Troy
Tully
Turning Red
Umami
Us
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V for Vendetta
V????
VeggieTales: Abe and the Amazing Promise
VeggieTales: Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas
Vindicta
Vivo
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
War Dogs
We Were Soldiers
We're the Millers
Wedding Crashers
West Side Story
Wet Hot American Summer
Where the Wild Things Are
Wildhood
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Winters Bone
Wonder
Wonder Woman 1984
Wonka
Wreck It Ralph
Yes, Man
Yesterday
Young Punx: A Punk Parable
Zombieland