Hi guys
I hate writing these so I’ll try to keep it brief lol
28, M, White, British is what I am, happy to exchange photos etc, no age restriction just 18+ lol.
Just sort of seeing what is out there ya know? I’m happy to have a nice chat with someone, have some fun flirtatious banter, or maybe one day we’ll get married and have to lie about how we met lol. Could be all of the above or something in their…but let’s find out together
My main interests are Video games, Board Games, Nature Walks, Movies, Wrestling - probably more that I just can’t remember now lol
Well so…feel free to drop me a message and let’s talk:)

Cloudflare is hiring a Manager, Revenue Accounting
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Hi, We are scheduled on a trip (first one) on MSC Meraviglia for a 7 day trip and will be driving to NYC.

1. Any idea how early can we board?
2. If we board way too early, can we get out of the ship and get back in?
3. The Brooklyn terminal has a 45$ parking/day. Are there any cheaper options?
4. I heard that there are hotels in NJ/NYC area that offer free parking if you stay for a night. Can you please recommend any?

Any other tips?
Thanks.

So this game I remember playing around 2008ish is like Kindergarten, it was 2D, pixelated and you could roam around a boarding school and talk to teachers/kids. I think the story line was about someone being murdered/disappearing in the school and you had to solve it. You were also the new kid if I recall correctly. There was also a lot of side stories you’d get from talking to other kids, one of the “missions” I remember clearly was a girl would complain of hearing a strange noise at night when she was in her room. You eventually come across this weird kid who was spying on her at night from the other side of the wall. You could also change outfit from like a grey hoodie to your school uniform and you could go to classes, where you would read text box of what the teacher was saying. I remember the game being funny and depending on the choices you made the game would have different outcomes. The game was also free to play as I found it on some website as a kid. Anyone have any idea of the name? Or am I crazy and have made this one up?

Hi, I am a M23 student. Now that my boards are over, I'm ready to do a resource dump. If y'all have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments. I will reply to them ASAP and to the best of my abilities. Also, let me know in the comments if you want more resources like these.
Compilation of All Economics Diagrams: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V7-IYBu2ui5NW_GhT41GvP_KKEiNXOff/view?usp=sharing

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Heading to Japan on the 20th of June with a mate and wanted to send this to get any advice on what to add or stay away from. I’ve added rough commute times for each day as you’ll see but I’m more than aware this is subject to change when we actually get there however I just wanted a rough outline of how much traveling is required each day. I’m know it’s going into summer but being from Australia I’m hoping we’ll be fine. We are very go with the flow types of people so not looking to fully pack out days but just wanna make sure we aren’t missing out on any core experiences. Cheers for the help.
20/6 - Day 1
Arrive at Airport 9:00am Board Flight 12:00pm Land in japan 11:00pm Check into hotel 1:00am
21/6 - Day 2 - Okubo/Shinjuku
Walk to Asakusa station (2mins) then Train to Okubo (48mins) → Walk around and visit all the various stores and cafes → Train to Ginza Station (26mins) → Walk to Godzilla Statue (3mins) → Walk to Uniqlo (8mins) (the biggest one in the world) → Walk around the area until we are bored → Take a train from Ginza Station to Shinjuku Station (28mins) → Walk around shinjuku Yodobashi Camera → Kabukicho Tower → Walk to Kabukicho (7mins)
22/6 - Day 3 - Shibuya
Walk to Asakusa station (2mins) then train Yoyogi station (32mins) → Walk to Meji Shrine (13mins) → Walk to Harajuku station (1min) → Walk to Takeshita St (3mins) → Shop in Harajuku → Make our way through to Cat Street → Shibuya Shibuya Crossing Shibuya Sky MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya109 2nd Street Tower Records Shibuya Parco
23/6 Day 4 - Roppongi/Tokyo Tower
Walk to Asakusa station (2mins) then Train to Shin-Toyosu Station (44mins) → Grab a snack (convenience store) → Walk to teamLabs → teamLab planets exhibition (2hrs) → Train to Daiba Station (16mins) → Walk to DiverCity tokyo plaza (5mins) → Walk to the Gundam Base → Walk to Tokyo Bay → Head back to Daiba station → Tokyo tower → Donguri Republic
24/6 Day 5 - Koenji/Ghibli Museum
Walk to Asakusa station (2mins) then Train to Kanda Station (10mins) → Train to Kōenji Station (18mins) → Walk to Koenjikita (6mins) → Walk around the shops and food joints → Train to Kichijōji station (9mins) → Ghibli Museum → Inokashira Park → Head back to Koenjikita
25/6 - Day 6 - Akihabara
→ Walk to Sensoji Temple (3mins) → Grab some lunch in this area → Walk to Sumida river (6mins) → Akihabara Station → Akihabara → Dinner in Ginza
26/6 - Day 7
Free day
27/6 - Day 8 - Osaka
Walk to Asakusa station (2mins) then Train to Shinagawa station (30mins) → Bullet train to Osaka (2hrs) → Check into Willows Hotel → Train to Dotonbori (15mins)
28/6 - Day 9 - Universal Studios
Walk to Shin-Imamiya Station (8mins) then Train to Nishikujō Station (11mins) → Take another train to Universal-City Station (5mins) → Spend the day in Universal Studios Japan!
29/6 - Day 10 - Osaka
Walk to Shin-Imamiya Station (8mins) then Train to Ōsakajōkōen Station (15mins) → Walk to Osaka Castle (20mins) → Head back to hotel → Rest up! → Tenshi Bashi Suji (if we haven't been already)
30/6 - Day 11 - Nara
Walk to Dobutsuen-Mae Station (6mins) then train to Namba Station (4mins) → Walk to Osaka-Namba Station (3mins) → Train to Kintetsu-Nara Station (37mins) → Walk to Nara Park (8mins) → Nakatanidou (mochi in nara)
1/7 - Day 12 - Kyoto
Bullet train to Kyoto station (15mins) → Bus to Kiyomizu-dera (30mins) → Walk to Kiyomizu-Gojō Station (17mins) → Train to Ryukokudai-mae-fukakusa Station (9mins) → Walk to Fushimi Inari Taisha (7mins) → Walk to Ryukokudai-mae-fukakusa Station (7mins) → Train to Kiyomizu-Gojō Station (8mins) → Walk to Higashiyama (13mins)
2/7 - Day 13 - Kyoto
Walk to Shin-Imamiya Station (8mins) then Train to Osaka Station (13mins) → Train to Kyoto Station (29mins) → Train to Saga-Arashiyama Station (16mins) → Walk to Arashiyama Monkey Park (14mins) → Walk to Bamboo Grove (18mins) → Nishiki Market
3/7 - Day 14 - Osaka
Will be in the hotel in Osaka for this day, nothing planned need recommendations!!
4/7 - Day 15 - Tokyo
Head back to Tokyo and board flight for Sydney.

Stratistics MRC’s Global Display Market value is expected to reach $28.3 billion growing at a CAGR of 11.8% during 2022-2028.
Circuit board designs are created using a variety of software tools known as electronic design automation, sometimes known as electronic computer-aided design tools. In order to produce integrated circuits (ICs) and other electronic components, it makes use of integrated layouts of analogue and digital designs. This helps to reduce production costs, shorten the time needed to design ICs, and get rid of manufacturing mistakes. Because of these advantages, it has many applications in a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, defence, healthcare, telecom, and automotive.
Browse complete “Electronic Design Automation Market” report with TOC @
https://www.strategymrc.com/report/electronic-design-automation-market
North America is projected to have the highest CAGR over the forecast period, owing to significant technological developments. The area is a pioneer in the adoption and development of cutting-edge technologies, including 5G for smartphone users. The expansion of the electronic design automation (EDA) market is additionally fueled by the availability of a developed internet and wireless infrastructure and government assistance for the development of IoT-based technologies.
Some of the key players profiled in the Electronic Design Automation Market include Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Cadence Design Systems, Inc., ElectroMagneticWorks, Inc., Siemens, Schindler & Schill GmbH, Zuken Inc., Synopsys, Inc., Keysight Technologies, Inc., Altair Engineering, Inc., eInfochips, ANSYS, Inc., EnSilica, Silvaco, Inc., Altium Limited and Mirabilis Design Inc.
Request a Sample of “Electronic Design Automation Market” @ https://www.strategymrc.com/report/electronic-design-automation-market
Free Customization Offerings: All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

• Company Profiling
• Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
• SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)
• Regional Segmentation
• Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the client's interest (Note: Depends on feasibility check)
• Competitive Benchmarking
• Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

For more information about this report visit https://www.strategymrc.com/report/electronic-design-automation-market
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Hi everyone,
I hope you're all doing well! I am an experienced legal assistant and paralegal offering remote services, and I'm currently seeking new opportunities in my field. With over three years of freelancing experience, I have had the pleasure of working with lawyers, law firms, companies, and individual clients.
My skill set includes extensive research, drafting legal documents, and overall document preparation. I am well-versed in various areas of law, including but not limited to contracts, intellectual property, employment law, and corporate compliance.
I'm reaching out to this fantastic community to seek guidance on where I can find fully remote work in the legal sector. If you have any recommendations for job boards, platforms, or specific resources catered to remote legal positions, I would greatly appreciate your insights.
Additionally, if anyone within the community is seeking the services of a legal assistant or paralegal, I would be thrilled to connect and discuss how I can assist you. Whether it's research, document review, contract drafting, or any other legal support, I'm confident in my ability to provide high-quality work remotely.
Please feel free to reach out to me via direct message or in the comments if you have any suggestions, opportunities, or questions. I'm open to discussing potential collaborations and establishing new professional relationships.
Thank you for your time and support. I look forward to connecting with you!

/LonghornNation Daily Off Topic Free Talk Thread

Today: 6/6/2023

Last Thread

Current Austin Weather: 71° and Clear

Seven Day Forecast:

6/5	6/6	6/7	6/8	6/9	6/10	6/11
87°, Rain	88°, Rain	92°, Rain	97°, Clouds	98°, Clouds	97°, Rain	98°, Rain

Your go-to place to talk about whatever you want. From the dumb shit aggies do on a near daily basis, to the latest whatever happening wherever. What ya got?

Recent Longhorn Tweets

Here's a look at upcoming Longhorn Sporting Event(s):

1. 6/7 University of Texas Track & Field / Cross Country vs NCAA Outdoor Championships
2. 6/8 University of Texas Track & Field / Cross Country vs NCAA Outdoor Championships
3. 6/9 University of Texas Track & Field / Cross Country vs NCAA Outdoor Championships
4. 6/10 University of Texas Track & Field / Cross Country vs NCAA Outdoor Championships

Trending on Reddit

/All

1. This dumpling presser
2. A trans man in Ohio was beat up and arrested for using the bathroom associated with his sex assigned at birth
3. Got let go from my job, now they want a resignation notice.
4. Kanye and his new wife out for a stroll
5. TIL King Henry II of France participated in a jousting tournament in 1559 to celebrate the marriage of his daughter. A lance splintered on his helmet and pushed wood into his eye and brain. He died ten days later. His death led to the decline of jousting in France.

/CFB

1. University of Colorado Board of Regents' Tuesday meeting agenda features agenda item: "Legal advice on a specific matter - athletics matter at CU Boulder"
2. 2024 5* LB Sammy Brown commits to Clemson
3. [Jim Williams] Here are a list of the schools that have been vetted by the @bigten for possible future members. This is not in order of value just they are just they way I wrote them down. Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Washington, Georgia Tech, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke, Utah, and Miami. It should be
4. [On3NIL] Collectives from Clemson, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Washington are set to lobby Congress for uniform NIL laws this week. “We are confident the perspective from our group of collectives can help add value and direction."
5. 2024 4* RB Kedren Young commits to Notre Dame

/LonghornNation

1. [6/5/2023] Monday's Sports Talk Thread
2. [6/5/2023] Monday's Off Topic Free Talk Thread
3. Michael Huff is on the 2024 ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame! 🤘
4. [Post Regional Thread] Texas ⚾ wins the Coral Gables Regional and advances to the Super Regional
5. My Longhorn Brothers & Sisters, dish me a little advice
6. Streaming Texas Sports on Amazon Echo
7. Traveling to UT for the Rice game.

LonghornBot: you can get a list of commands you can give for the bot by commenting ".help". You will receive a private message with the commands.
This thread was programmatically generated and posted on 6/6/2023 12:00 AM. If you have any questions or comments, please contact brihoang or chrislabeard

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UPGRATED VERSION – Dual steamer and Iron. Produces a powerful and consistent steam. 2 in 1 for Flat hot and Hanging hot. Safer structure design to minimize leaking water. More sufficiently, and bursts strong hot steam swiftly, without water sputtering.
https://zafyn.com/collections/new-products/products/useful-portable-handheld-steam-iron
​
https://reddit.com/link/142468h/video/nu3x7wivnl261/player
QUICK & POWERFUL – Ceramic soleplate, heating up just 50s, prevents clothes from damaged. Powerful and stable steam to remove heavy wrinkle, odors and degerming.The steam is continuous and powerful, which can penetrate the clothes deeply and quickly.
SUITABLE FOR MOST FABRICS – One handheld fabric steamer to make shirts, suits, down clothes, night dress, wedding dress, pants crease free.
​
MULTIFUNCTION – Strong steam can be used in many ways-Cleaning dust. Pillow high temperature clean, sofa clean etc.
BEST EXPERIENCE – We also provide 100 ML Measuring Cup. Perfect for travel and home use.

HOW TO USE IT?

Directly hanging your clothes on the hanger, putting them flat on ironing board or even on the table. (you need to add the water in the tank(100ML) not more than the max line or it will leak or spoil when you ironing).
Secondly, adjust the temperature dial to the max, then the working light turned red. After the working light turned off, you can adjust the temperature to what you want, there has three settings, so them you can press the steamer button, and begin working.
Finally, just add water and turn on, waiting for 50 sec, you can start ironing your clothes.
​

SPECIFICATIONS:

​

• Weight: 1100g.
• Power: 1000W.
• Color: Purple / Blue.
• Size: 35 x 8 x 10 cm /(13.78*3.15*3.93 inches).

PACKAGE INCLUDE:

​

• 1 x Base.
• 1 x Metrology Cup.
• 1 x Plush Brush Combination.
• 1 x Portable Handheld Steam Iron.

https://zafyn.com/collections/new-products/products/useful-portable-handheld-steam-iron

TIMESTAMP - https://imgur.com/a/DxkpzRs
Hello /MK,
I'm looking to offload a couple of items. Willing to do international shipping. Local pickup is from 94116 Zip code. Prices do not include shipping unless stated otherwise in price column.

ITEM	DESCRIPTION	PRICE
EPBT Ramenstop	Base Kit BNIB	80$ (FREE SHIPPING)
BOB Gengar	Original Colorway, includes bob keycap container and authenticity card	65$
Zaku Switch x70	Lubed with 205g0, filmed with Deskkey films. I do not lube switches myself, I sent them to a reputable service provider within this community to have them done. This job was done very recently and I've only mounted them on a hotswap board once to test. Great switches and I believe reasonably considering they are always sold out and I paid extra for lubing service (I'm definitely losing money on this).	80$
Gateron Black Ink V2 x 90	Lubed with 205g0, filmed with Deskkey films. Outstanding switches, cant really go wrong with ink blacks. This lubing job was also done by a member of this community as I never really bother with lubing my own switches.	75$
Artisan Case	Generic Keycap Artisan Case from aliexpress. Used obviously but in great condition. No noticeable scratches on the acrylic top piece. 7 x 5 (35 slots)	10$

GitLab is hiring a Senior Accountant
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Comedian and former peanut butter salesman, Greg Warren, joins Adam as they share their strong opinions on peanut butter. Adam compares the best PB&Js to the ones he had to eat as a child before they get into the problems with ‘Gonna Let Her in my Life’ by John Travoilta and landau roofs. Next, actor Kevin Dillon talks to Adam about his new movie ‘Buddy Games: Spring Awakening’.
Kevin gets into his time on ‘Entourage’ and how Johnny Drama was a sensitive character before telling the story of how his brother Matt Dillon got his big break while cutting class in high school.
Finally, Chris reports the news including: a grandfather losing weight from a 100-day McDonald’s diet, Air New Zealand weighing passengers before they board the airplane, a teenager climbing the 6th Street bridge for a social media stunt falling to his death, and Bill Cosby facing new sexual assault lawsuits.
yeah not everyone leaving wanted to be a guest but the guy paying for his expired tags so he can get his car out of the impound lot says he has some free time

Howdy! 🤠 I’m in search of meeting someone getting close with them.
I am a 23 year old guy from the state of Iowa. I currently work for a financial institution, and I have a bachelors degree in philosophy and history. My hobbies consist of bowling, exercising, the outdoors, music, movies/TV, long-boarding, and reading.
I like to think of myself as a nice person, and I try to be open-minded. I would describe myself as introverted, somewhat goofy, and humble. I can also being very caring and get attached easily.
I would love to meet somebody that is interested in someone such as myself. I’d prefer to meet someone that is in the age range of 19-27 and is from the United States.
If I seem interesting to you, please feel free to send me a chat request! Other than that, have a great day/night! Take care 😎

DoorDash is hiring a Manager, Social Impact
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Disco Elysium is a roleplaying game in which players take on the role of an amnesiac detective who has been tasked with solving a murder in the midst of a heated labour dispute. Events are resolved through skill checks and dialogue trees via a system of 24 skills that represent different aspects of the protagonist.
I'm interested in seeing which skills people who peruse this subreddit gravitate towards and in what capacity ideology plays a part, though it's hard to discern the latter with only six options, so feel free to say which skill you chose and why in the comments.

Hand/Eye Coordination

Ready? Aim and fire.
Cool for: Trick-Shooters. Snipers. Jugglers.
Hand/Eye Coordination loves the interaction between you and things that fly in the air. It enables you to catch coins from mob bosses, shoot straight, and understand firearms intimately. Want to know the precise make and mark of a pistol? Hand/Eye Coordination’s got you. Want to shoot someone with it? Ditto.
At high levels, Hand/Eye Coordination makes you deadly – supposing you’ve a weapon in your hand. But once you do, Hand/Eye Coordination will compel you to take the shot – even if it’s not the best approach. At low levels, however, you’ll be even more of a disaster in waiting. Because when the guns go off – and they always do – you’ll probably hit the wrong target.

Perception

See, hear, and smell everything. Let no detail go unnoticed.
Cool for: Fine Detail Detectives. Sensualists. Urban Scavengers.
Perception wants you to be open to the world – with eyes, ears, and nose working at full capacity. It enables you to take in what others don’t notice. The little wad of bills hid away in the sugar bowl; the odor of a perp, hiding beneath the floor boards; the gulp of a suspect, after claiming they’ve nothing to hide.
At high levels, Perception takes in every final detail of the physical world – enough to overwhelm all but the strongest mind. However, with low levels, you are going to miss out on everything. After all, you can’t arrest what you can’t see, hear, or smell.

Reaction Speed

The quickest to react. An untouchable man.
Cool for: Shot-Dodgers. Thinkers on their Feet. Pinball-Heads.
Reaction Speed is the agility of your body and mind. It is instinct. It enables you to dodge punches, knives, bullets. Also sucker punches of the verbal kind. You’ll be more streetwise, never lost for words or lacking a witty comeback. Your mental alacrity lets you connect little details on the fly, working in tandem with your Intellect skills.
At high levels, Reaction Speed makes your twitch-reflex freakishly good. However, when your body acts before your mind, innocent situations can turn bad fast. You’re high strung, overly alert. At low levels, though, you won’t be the one shooting first – which probably means you won’t be shooting at all.

Savoir Faire

Sneak under their noses. Stun with immense panache.
Cool for: Acrobats. Thieves. Unbearable Show-Offs.
Savoir Faire urges you to be better than you are: it urges you to be disco. Slip by others in Samaran boxing style, then tumble out the back with unexpected acrobatics. It enables you to move with silent footsteps, to groove to a good beat, and to lift useful evidence off perps without them noticing. It also makes you a cooler cop, whose athletic flair will certainly impress the citizenry.
At high levels, Savoir Faire will make you the King of Cool – which is as much to say, the most stylish douchebag in Revachol. Nobody will see you until you’re ready to be seen; and then, they’ll get the full treatment, whether they want it or not. At low levels, however, you’ll be a bumbling, feckless cop unable to catch pair of keys thrown by your partner without losing an eye.

Interfacing

Master machines. Pick locks and pockets.
Cool for: Machinists. Tinkerers. Instrument Players.
Interfacing wants you to connect to machines: to use and improve them, because that makes you a better human organism. It enables you to understand interactions with machines – be that how to repair the motor of a Kineema motor carriage, how to analyze the way a suspect used a pen, or how to re-figure electrical circuits. It even lets you steal keys off a keyring without being noticed.
At high levels, Interfacing will isolate you from society – why bother with people when you can talk to machines? And why bother with things like money when you can just pocket that display sandwich? At low levels, however, you will have a crucial part of the world cut off from you. People use machines to commit crimes all the time – if you can’t understand how a crime was accomplished, how can you solve it?

Composure

Straighten your back. Keep your poker face.
Cool for: Card Players. Military Fetishists. Cool People.
Composure wants you to not crack: or, at least, it wants you to not crack in front of other people. It enables you to put up a strong front. It keeps your emotions hidden from the world and helps you to read the body language of others – to sense the cracks in their own composure. As well, it keeps you looking good while you do it. You’ll rock that disco outfit a lot more if you don’t slouch.
At high levels, Composure makes you tuck your gut in and maintain a stern expression. Even lying in bed, late night when no one else can see you, you’ll have to keep it up. You’ll never be able to stop. With low Composure, though, you’ll always be the first to crack. Every cop’s got a point when all that fear and rage comes spilling out – and the ones who unleash it don’t stay on the force much longer. Perhaps worse still, you won’t even make the ranks of the Fashion Police.
View Poll

Dealer Inspire is hiring a Support Developer
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First Previous Next Volume 1 Volume 2 Patreon
A/N: Everyone's a Catgirl! Volume 1 just launched Kindle Unlimited, eBook, and paperback! Thank you all so much for your support!
---
I know I shouldn’t have expected Portia to still be there, but I was still a bit disappointed and somewhat uncomfortable by the time we arrived at the Desert Rose in Kandota.
“She is not here,” Cailu said with a raised brow.
“Yeah, I know. I see that. Just, uh, give me a little bit to find her.”
“Perhaps she is on her ship,” Cailu continued.
“Let’s check there,” said Tristan, nodding. “This place probably lost its luster pretty quickly. If she’s not there, then we can split up and look for her.”
“Yes,” Cailu said, mirroring his nod, “a fine idea.”
Sure enough, Portia had stripped down to a black bikini as she sat on the edge of her sloop, fishing rod in hand, feet kicking in the wind. She’d grown awfully tan since the last time we saw her—well, more so than usual. Her skin glistened like bronze, beads of sweat littering her body. She adjusted the bottom piece of her bathing suit, exposing incredible tan lines.
Portia gasped and threw the fishing rod behind her before she shot to her feet. “About time you showed up! What in the heck were ya doing? You know how long I’ve been waiting here?”
“Yeah, I know, sorry—” I started.
“Uhh, buh-buh-buh-buh,” Portia interrupted with her index finger held up. “No. No, boy. You listen to me. I am not your personal—” she suddenly stopped, her brow furrowing deeper. “And who… who are these other people?” She inhaled slowly, her eyes widening. “No. Don’t tell me. They’re not coming with us, are they?”
“They’re, uh… coming with us.”
“This boat will not be suitable,” Cailu said, his arms crossed.
“Oh, it’s you,” Portia said, hopping into the shallows. “One loss wasn’t enough for ya, huh?” Portia’s smile continued to tug at one end of her mouth. “Probably don’t even remember me.”
Caliu tilted his head in apparent thought. An expression of realization swept over him. “Ah, yes. You played a fine game of cards. Ages it has been since I was so thoroughly defeated.”
“Wanna go another game? My wallet’s feeling a little light,” she said, wading through the shallows and stepping onto the sand, her eyes digging daggers into me. “Ya know, since someone left me here ages ago and food ain’t free.”
I avoided her gaze.
“What was that you said when you left? ‘This won’t take as long as Shi Island.’ Are you kidding me?”
“Sorry, Portia. A lot of things came up.”
Portia sighed. “I’m sensing a pattern here.” Portia readjusted the strap of her top and put her hands on her hips. “I thought about packing up and leaving.”
“My sincerest apologies,” Tristan offered as he stood forward, a hand on his chest. “We would have contacted you sooner, but the task proved to be much more difficult than we thought it would be. Cailu here,” he gestured to the elf, “assisted us and made sure we saw it through.”
“Hey, okay, fine, cool it.” She looked at me once more. “Always with the eloquence, this one. Hey, you. Matt.” She pointed at me. “This is a sloop, not some grand ship employed by the Queen. We were struggling enough just to make room for yours and Tristan’s Parties.” She did a quick count, frowning deeper with each person she pointed at. “And you want to add three more?”
There’d be no easy way out of this, so I simply nodded my head.
“Yeah,” I said. “We would, uh, need to add three more people.”
Portia set her jaw. “I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. You owe me big, Matt.”
“Mou ii. I’ve got you covered, Portia. For everyone.” Ravyn snatched a sizable bag of Bells from her pack and waved it in the air. “This should help the days we’ve been gone, too.”
Cailu raised a hand and started to say, “I will also—”
“No. You won’t.” Ravyn cut him off. “I’m done owing you shit.”
He stared at her thoughtfully but said nothing else.
Portia reached forward and grabbed the bag, sliding the leather cord to the side and sifting through the Bells. Taking a few out to examine their color and size, she nodded. “This doesn’t let you off the hook, Matt. Not yet.”
I sighed with relief. “Thanks, Portia.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just get on board.”
“Matt,” Cailu said as he set a hand on my shoulder. “May I have a word?”
Oh, great. What is it this time?
“Yeah, sure.” He took me behind a nearby building and leaned against the wall. “What’s this about?”
“A sloop may not be appropriate for the journey to Nyarlothep. I would suggest we port on San Island and embark on a ship from there.”
“Why?”
He frowned. “The tides and Encroachers are vicious, Matt. There is always the potential for a Defiled attack. Portia’s abilities aside, it puts our Parties at great risk. A stronger escort is necessary.”
“Are you sure about that?” I rested my shoulder against the wall opposite. I was grateful for his advice, but what had started as personal advice was starting to sound more like my dad was trying to control the whole ride there. Don’t make me turn this boat around. Frankly, I was getting sick of it.
“Yes. Portia has the right of it. Such a vessel is unfit for an alliance of our size. We risk capsizing the sloop or worse with our numbers.” He glanced around the corner of the building before looking back at me. “I understand if you are attached to Portia. But I must stress the importance of our mission.”
“Right.” I couldn’t stand what I was hearing, but I couldn’t fault him either. If the waters were even half as dangerous as Keke and every other catgirl had told me it was, then his warning of an attack was valid. If that happened, combat on the sloop would be dangerous. I didn’t need any nautical training to know that. “So then, what, you want me to say goodbye to Portia, too?” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.
“Is that what this is about?” Cailu stood away from the wall, straight-backed and imposing in his [Paladin] armor.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean that. Yeah. I know you’re right.” Ceres’s words echoed in my head. Pride tarnishes even the finest of heroes, Kelmer. “So, San Island, then?”
Cailu drew a long breath. He looked like he wanted to say something but abstained. “Allow me to speak with Portia for a time.”
“Why?”
“If she has gained your trust, then I would have her with us when we collect the ship.”
My heart soared. “So, she would be a hand on the deck?” Did I use that term right?
“Aye, that is correct.”
I couldn’t hide my relief. “Then, yeah. Go ahead.”
Cailu nodded and returned to the group. I followed close behind, curious as to what he was about to do. When we returned, Ceres was asking Portia questions about her time away.
“Portia,” Cailu stated.
Ceres stopped mid-sentence and backed away with a bow.
Portia frowned. “What?”
“Matt has informed me that you have been the one to escort him and Tristan around Nyarlea. Is that correct?”
“And the girls. Don’t forget them,” I added.
“I did not.”
Portia smiled. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“Do you have experience on larger ships?”
“Quiz me. I won’t get a single question wrong. My dad was the best there was.” She chuckled. “Named my sloop after him, in fact.”
Cailu rubbed the stubble of his chin with his pointer and thumb fingers. “I have expressed to Matt that a sloop is unsuitable for the journey to Nyarlothep, considering our numbers.”
“Nyarlothep?” Portia’s eyes narrowed in irritation. “Matt, you could’ve led with that.”
“I will ask this. Is this sloop suitable for the journey?”
“No,” Portia said without hesitation. Cailu glanced at me while Portia continued. “If that’s where you need to go next, Matt, then you’re going to need a full-blown ship for that. Especially if you still want to bring everyone here along.”
“So, we have to part with Portia?” Cannoli said, her voice thin.
“Sorry, all,” Portia shrugged. “I can take you somewhere else if you want, but even so, taking this many people on a sloop makes me uncomfortable.”
“How tragic,” Kirti mused.
“Quiet,” Cannoli hissed.
Cailu sighed. “Matt trusts you, and you have managed to escort him to each island on a sloop. So I would like to offer you a position on one of my ships,” he said. As Portia opened her mouth, Cailu interrupted with his hand up. “It would be temporary. You would not be under any obligation to stay on board once we have been delivered to Nyarlothep. Your sloop would be taken care of during the journey.”
“A real ship, huh?” Portia wore a complicated expression. I thought I saw sadness, confusion, anger, and frustration in the way she worked her jaw and wrinkled her nose. “Yeah. Fine.” She extended her hand. “It’s a deal.”
Cailu reciprocated and shook her hand. “We have an accord.”
Once everyone was on board, we set sail for San Island. There was barely any room to stand, let alone walk.
I stood behind Portia for a while. She was quieter than usual, and while I knew it was probably none of my business, I still wanted to know what was going on in her head.
“Hey, you doing okay?” I asked.
Portia took her time to respond. “Yeah. I’m fine.” Her eyes were on the ocean, but her mind seemed to be somewhere else. “Pops always promised to take me on a galleon one day. Just wish he could be here for it.”
“Did he teach you much about them?”
“About as much as a man without a lick of artistic talent could show me.” Portia laughed. “We’ll see what I remember.”
“You can teach this guy without any artistic talent what you learned. I’ll be right here, struggling to keep my balance.”
Portia laughed. “Thanks, Matt. You’re a good guy.”
The rest of the voyage was smooth. We shared the story of Ichi Island with Portia, and with time, she returned to her usual scrappy self.
Two days later when the sun was setting, we arrived on San Island, my back screaming in pain. I longed for a good night’s rest in a comfortable bed with a few good drinks in my belly. We’d taken turns in the one extra cabin, earning about two hours worth of a nap each. I was too afraid of falling off the boat to sleep otherwise. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one, as there was a collection of yawns as we stepped out onto the Port of Meow.
“Gosh, feels like ages since I’ve been here,” I said.
“Nostalgic, huh?” Keke said, taking to my side.
I thought back to the fight we had right before stepping onto the port. We were bloodied from the battle with the fishcats. At the time, Cannoli looked like she’d seen a ghost. Now, well…
Yeah, I’ll just agree. Probably not a great memory to revisit— “Ye—”
“You mean when we were caked in blood?” Ravyn asked, half-laughing. “Very nostalgic.”
Why is she like this?
Cailu offered praise and smiles to the girls who approached us en masse upon our arrival. It was wild seeing him swap personalities in seconds. Words that sounded almost disgustingly charming came out of his mouth, his sour demeanor returning within seconds of their departure.
I still couldn’t stand this guy.
Cailu led us around the port’s lip. We passed by several merchant vessels, a wide variety of catgirls unloading crates from the neighboring ships. Unlike the ones earlier, these girls didn’t seem to care one way or the other about Cailu, Tristan, and myself.
“There,” Cailu said without stopping. “That is my ship.”
‘Large’ couldn’t even begin to describe this boat. It looked straight out of a pirate movie. Flags of white with the same emblem Cailu wore upon his breastplate fluttered in the wind. The wood was dark and suspiciously clean for a piece of wood that sank in the salty water all day. I didn’t have the words to describe what a gargantuan and beautiful piece of craftsmanship it was.
“What is that called?” I asked, pointing at the center flag.
“Oh, that’s—” Portia started.
“That—” Ceres interrupted.
The two apologized in unison.
“I forgot you liked ships, Ceres,” Portia noted.
“Yes, I adore them. As a kitten, I learned to build ships in bottles.” Ceres tapped the tips of her fingers together. “It was something of an obsession of mine.”
“Why don’t you tell Matt what that’s called, then?” Portia smiled.
“The main mast!” she proclaimed proudly. “The one behind it is the mizzen mast, and the last one is—” She stopped and smiled wide. “I shall give Sir Matt a hint.”
Oh boy, here we go.
Ceres’s boots clicked against the stones as she moved to stand in front of me, her hands behind her. “What precedes the word ‘after’?”
Picture of elegance, this one. Okay, uh, let’s see. “Before?” I cringed.
“Yes!” She turned and pointed to the mast once more. “Therefore, the mast at the front is called…”
“The… before mast?”
Portia put a hand to her mouth and snickered. “Close.”
I buried my face in my hand. “Just tell me.”
“The foremast!” Ceres said.
“You know your stuff, Ceres,” Portia said, smiling.
Cailu cleared his throat and stood before us. “Once I give the word, we will depart by sunrise tomorrow.”
“Hah?” Ravyn balked. “Can’t we just sleep in for one fucking day?”
My legs were killing me, so I raised my hand. “I second that.”
To my relief, Tristan also raised his hand. “Please. I am exhausted. I’d love to spend a day on San Island, anyway.”
One by one, we all raised our hands. Even Kirti.
Cailu sighed. “Fine. We shall rest for two days.”
“Two days?” I asked.
“Yes. It is important that we leave by sunrise. You may do as you wish until then.” Cailu departed, his cape billowing as he walked, Kirti at his side.
Tristan nodded to an expectant Zahra. She offered a bow and ran to catch up with Cailu.
In two days, we’ll be on our way to Nyarlothep.
​
Matt Pro Tip: We're nearly there. . . . but damn if I'm not looking forward to a night to relax.
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