Does anyone know of something nearly identical to the Gerber Armbar but with a LOCKING screwdriver?! I seriously love everything about the Armbar….but that’s a deal (and knuckle) breaker for me. Ideas?
Or also any hacks on how to DIY this idea

I suffer from both oil and aqueous deficient dry eyes (latter due to corrective eye surgery, though never had issues with oil prior to surgery either). I've found using a whole house humidifier makes a massive difference for me.
Here's the one I like: https://www.amazon.com/AIRCARE-831000-Space-Saver-Evaporative-Humidifiedp/B00WAC9VKQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=30WWDMN3OSW2X&keywords=aircare&qid=1680151821&sprefix=aircare%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0
Also, in case you see wild fluctuations in how your eyes feel, buying something to measure humidity levels is a good way to understand if the whole house humidifier would be worth it to you. You can get these for $20: https://www.amazon.com/ThermoPro-Hygrometer-Thermometer-Humidity-Temperature/dp/B09NL17MBref=sr_1_27?crid=YQV4NF38KG5H&keywords=humidistat&qid=1680151898&sprefix=humidistat%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-27. Place them around the home in the places you use the most.
If you have a smart thermostat, it may tell you humidity levels. Just be aware that they fluctuate a lot depending on where you are in the home. I have 3 humidistat censors throughout the house now in all the key places I spend time (office, kitchen/family room, bed room). I have the humidifiers dialed in to keep humidity at ~55%.
This approach has made a bigger impact for me than anything else I've tried. Although it is limited to when I'm within the home.
Other things I've tried:

• Tyrvaya - still not sure if this is making a difference or not. Just started a couple weeks ago. If it is making a difference its like watching grass grow.
• Nulids - Same as above. Feels good to do it though. I um.... boil the tips and reuse them. It says not to, but I'm cheap. No issues so far.
• Restasis - I was on it for 1.5 years, and just went off because I felt like it wasn't doing anything. I continued using it for so long because the Dr recommended it. I'll know better in a month or two if it helped at all, because the Dr said it takes time to wear off. But right now I'm about a month without it and the only difference I notice is a lack of burning that the restasis caused.
• Gel based eye drops - These are helpful if I know I'm going to be in a really poor environment for a long time (ie, airplane). I used to use them while I slept, but found that to be less ideal than just using a humidifier. While it does a good job of protecting your eye, I need to keep putting aqueous eye drops in otherwise I feel like it starves my eye simultaneously.
• Oil based eye drops - I've tried 3-4 of them. I have a bunch of Retain MGD, which is my favorite of the bunch. Dr says I need to keep using them. But honestly, they all cause my eyes discomfort. My eyes only seem to like my own natural oils.
• Microwavable Eye compress - These are great, but I've found I prefer Tear Restore mask more.
• Tear Restore Mask - I prefer these over microwavable eye compresses for 3 reasons:
  • 1. I can use them and continue doing things, which means I reliably can use them 1-3 times / day.
  • 2. I can blink while using them. This makes a big difference for me. When I use the microwavable masks, I feel like all my oils are pooled at the bottom of my eye lid while my eye ball gets roasted. Being able to blink and having the wholes helps with both of these issues.
  • 3. You can take them on airplanes and use them while flying. This is super helpful for long flights. I bought a couple of them because there's no easy way to recharge them on a plane.
• USB powered eye mask - Meh. Super uncomfortable, couldn't get uniform heat. I never use it now.
• Systane hydration pf - my go to eye drop. Nothing works as good as these for me. I probably use 5-7 vials per day (I know that's a crap ton... I'm an extreme case it seems).
• Refresh Plus - So so eye drops that give more acqeous help than oil.
• Refresh Mega 3 - Gave me headaches
• Theratears - Gave me headaches
• Systane Night time ointment - caused my eyes to freak out and go super bloodshot. Pretty sure my eyes just hate the petrolium these use.
• Systane night time gel - Favorite night time gel, but I actually prefer using a humidifier now.
• Theratears night time gel - Preferred systane night time gel.
• Motorcycle wind blocking glasses - you can find them tinted and clear on amazon (https://www.amazon.com/WYND-Blocker-Motorcycle-Glasses-Sunglasses/dp/B07CSHZ9WK/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3MMST2FSH6BAN&keywords=wynd+blocker&qid=1680153077&sprefix=wynd+blocker%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-5). Helpful when going on jogs or doing anything outside. Affordable ($20-30).
• Hydroeyes supplements - I thought these made a difference, but now I don't think they did. Pretty sure the difference was due to change in weathehumidity.
• Sea buckthorn oil supplement - didn't do anything for me.

Hopefully some of this is helpful to someone.

Hey all, im looking for some money to be able to get some stuff to defend myself (pepperspray, pocket knife, etc), so im going on a sale as well as practicing some new stuff!! check it out :] You can message me here or on discord (MineashLeTrashy#4716)
Sorry this is such a long post, i like to cover everything when talking about my prices so theres no confusion! All prices are in USD!

CATS -

Cartoony cats in cartoony poses. I can cartoonify your cat, turn you into a cat, do cat characters, etc!
Currently running a sale on fullbodies and custom designs! Turn your bf into a cat!! Get cool cat designs!!!!
Fullbody - 8$
Custom design - 10$
​

BOOKMARKS - 10 - 25

One-of-a-kind painted bookmarks, completely customizable! Prices will be subject to shipping depending on where you live. Will be laminated and painted in acrylics.
SIZES:
1.5 inch X 5 inch - 10$
3 inch X 8 inch - 15$
CONTENT:
Glow-in-the-dark accents - +1$ per color
Glitters / foil flakes - +0.50$ per type
Metallic paint - +1$ per color
Ribbon / Tassel - +0.50$
Looking mostly for themed backgrounds or abstract stuff, but i can do animals and wildlife.

BACKGROUNDS -

Pretty scenes to put in the back, as a header, pfp, etc! Want a cool landscape? Gotchu! HD will be delivered digitally apon half of payment :]
Simple Watercolor - 10$ Complex scenery - 15$
​
Galaxy test
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My current twitter header
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Pokemon Concept
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Random Gator design i did
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Fnaf cover design i worked on for a bit
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Monster Design
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BLOOD // Warrior cats au piece
​
BLOOD // old anime-inspired murder scene

Hello, surrendering myself to this opportunity and hope I can meet someone here who would accept me fully. A fellow redditor and a friend said that there is a community for me here that favor the interest of people like me.
About Me:
✅ Living in South (Bacoor, Cavite) ✅ 5’7 170 cm in height ✅ Shy ako sabihin ung weight ko ( you can chat me about it) ✅ Timid and softspoken ✅ Love the Art, DIYs, and reading a book ✅ A submissive bottom
About You:
❤️ Who are into huge babies like me 😂 ❤️ Prefer taller than I am or level with me ❤️ Chubchaser I think that is what they call it for people who are interested with guys like me. ❤️ I guess you should be top or side
We can exchange photos for your reference.

Also have:
Striker NCE black and white alchemist - 20k/4.5k or 23k for both
Striker black NCE vortex - 5.5k
HH cauldron set - 8500? Has a few certs, striker unpainted, turtle purple
Helios sets - 4750 each
Striker black emeralds - 1400 ea?
Striker black momentum hny inverted - ?
Hustle brow + mount champ cert sets - ?
Striker BS octane:vaporwave - not a clue
Striker grey razzle - 1500
Striker SB OG humid haze - ?
Velocity TW sweeper endo: mummified - ?
Striker SSC black wonderment - 20k
Tactician ignition TW ultralex - 1800
Tactician OG TW raijin - 1.5k
Vindicator Sweeper TW shattered - ?
Quasar III goal explosion sets - 1700 ea
Sweeper madness II set - 3k
Scorer FG aether - ?
Tactician FG and BS fissure boosts - ?
Tactician saffron and cobalt Hasher:revolved - 2200 for both?
TW paragon LFT - 1300
Striker saffron mage glass III - ?
Tact black metal stars - 1700
OG Striker crimson octane abtruse - ?
Striker cb Phoenix wings III - 1k
GE22 Striker black proton boost - ?
OG striker SB reactor - ?
GK exo cb spyder - 1k
CC2 Striker TW lobo - 27.5k
Striker TW decennium - 3k
Vindicator striker Tw and black creepers - ?

With the advancement of technology, the functions and performance of mobile phones are getting better and better. In order to stabilize battery life, the battery is also designed to be larger and larger. In order to improve battery life, some manufacturers have adopted a dual battery design, but it still cannot solve the problem of battery life and portability. When the capacity cannot be increased, mobile phone manufacturers began to shift their targets to wired fast charging. When the rapid development of wired fast charging, some manufacturers began to develop convenient and beautiful mobile phones based on the requirements of some users. Wireless fast charging will eventually form a new wireless charging industry cluster, which will make it easier for people to travel and replenish electricity, while reducing the use of a large number of wiring harnesses, and helping green travel and carbon-neutral development concepts.
The 2022 Qatar World Cup set off a wave of football fever. The wonderful game has become the spiritual companion of many "night shift workers". When they watch the World Cup, radio technology has quietly entered their sights. Because the official World Cup ball "Journey" Al Rihla is powered by a small battery and charged by wireless charging, in order to obtain better design, sealing and stability. The wireless charging device provides a strong power guarantee for the official ball of the World Cup.
The development and trend of wireless charging
The wireless charging technology was installed on the mobile phone PALM for the first time in 2009, and it has amazed the world, but its subsequent development has been unknown, just like a dream in the world, it is only a flash in the pan in the eyes of the world. The time came to 2017. At the Apple Autumn New Product Launch Conference, it was announced for the first time that the entire series of the new iPhone 8 will use wireless charging technology. Wireless charging technology has begun to emerge in the field of mobile phones, driving the development and application of vehicle wireless charging, smart home, robots, drones and other fields.
Now cities are developing towards a "fast" pace of life. People are pursuing higher time management, and the utilization rate of trivial time is constantly increasing, which has led to a change in the direction of wireless charging devices to smaller and more efficient. In line with the tide of the times, leading wireless charging companies have developed the next generation of wireless charging with higher power, longer distance, and higher efficiency to meet consumer needs and improve consumer user experience.
Hard-Core Capacitor Requirements for Wireless Charging
The advantages of wireless charging determine the high requirements for capacitors. First, wireless charging has no wire winding, which is simple and beautiful. Capacitors with smaller volume and thinner thickness are required; secondly, referring to the characteristics of dexterity, portability and complex working environment, capacitors are required to have ultra-high-power hard-core properties while being small in size; thirdly, in technology research and development, capacitors Performance is the "throat" that restricts the further development of wireless charging.
At present, the commonly used capacitors for wireless charging equipment supporting the iPhone are chip multilayer ceramic capacitors, but they cannot break through the bottleneck of "smaller volume and thinner thickness". Due to the defect of the wireless charging effect, it cannot adapt to the new and high requirements of the wireless charging technology solution.
Therefore, YMIN capacitors are researching in the direction of ultra-thin capacitors with higher power, and develop "new capacitors" with better adaptability to wireless charging solutions. After unremitting efforts, YMIN finally developed a solid-state laminated aluminum electrolytic capacitor that meets the above requirements. Capacitors and polymer solid chip capacitors with small size, large energy, and high characteristic stability. Considering that some special and smaller wireless charging solutions require finer capacitors, smaller A-shell and B-shell polymer tantalum capacitors were developed.

Everything in my inventory is up for trade. The most valuable items are listed here, the rest you can find in My Inventory

Feel free to Add Me or even better send a Trade Offer. Open for any suggestions: upgrades, downgrades / knives, gloves, skins / stickers, patterns, floats.

All Buyouts are listed in cash value.

KNIVES

★ Butterfly Knife Freehand FN #1, B/O: $1867

★ Butterfly Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $1098

★ Butterfly Knife Blue Steel BS, B/O: $907

★ Butterfly Knife Ultraviolet FT, B/O: $789

★ Butterfly Knife Stained FT, B/O: $695

⎯

★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth MW #1, B/O: $888

★ Bayonet Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $727

★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $608

★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $521

★ Bayonet Rust Coat BS, B/O: $253

★ Bayonet Night FT, B/O: $251

★ StatTrak™ Bayonet Lore MW, B/O: $751

⎯

★ Karambit Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $1343

★ Karambit Damascus Steel FT, B/O: $774

★ Karambit Rust Coat BS, B/O: $537

★ Karambit Boreal Forest FT, B/O: $488

⎯

★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1523

★ M9 Bayonet Fade FN, B/O: $1523

★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 4) FN, B/O: $1008

★ M9 Bayonet Blue Steel FT, B/O: $534

★ M9 Bayonet Rust Coat BS, B/O: $449

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★ Flip Knife Fade FN, B/O: $703

★ Flip Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) MW, B/O: $509

★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $406

★ Flip Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $228

★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Bright Water FN, B/O: $332

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★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 2) FN, B/O: $292

★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $264

★ Falchion Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $258

★ Falchion Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $133

⎯

★ Stiletto Knife Fade FN, B/O: $822

★ Stiletto Knife Slaughter FN, B/O: $569

★ Stiletto Knife Doppler (Phase 1) FN, B/O: $530

★ Stiletto Knife Crimson Web FT, B/O: $396

★ StatTrak™ Stiletto Knife Scorched FT, B/O: $172

⎯

★ Gut Knife Doppler (Sapphire) MW #1, B/O: $830

★ Gut Knife Fade FN, B/O: $204

★ Gut Knife Tiger Tooth FN, B/O: $138

★ Gut Knife Bright Water MW, B/O: $104

★ Gut Knife Freehand FT, B/O: $92

★ Gut Knife Urban Masked FT, B/O: $82

★ StatTrak™ Gut Knife Rust Coat BS, B/O: $93

⎯

★ Shadow Daggers Fade FN, B/O: $258

★ Shadow Daggers Doppler (Phase 3) FN, B/O: $165

★ Shadow Daggers Blue Steel FT, B/O: $82

★ Shadow Daggers Bright Water FT, B/O: $82

★ Shadow Daggers Blue Steel WW, B/O: $80

★ Shadow Daggers Rust Coat BS, B/O: $74

★ StatTrak™ Shadow Daggers Marble Fade FN, B/O: $186

⎯

★ Classic Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $311

★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Stained BS, B/O: $163

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★ Talon Knife Slaughter MW, B/O: $605

★ Talon Knife Scorched MW, B/O: $290

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★ Ursus Knife Marble Fade FN, B/O: $405

★ Ursus Knife Night Stripe MW, B/O: $162

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★ Paracord Knife Stained WW, B/O: $125

★ Paracord Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97

★ Paracord Knife Safari Mesh FT, B/O: $96

⎯

★ Navaja Knife Safari Mesh FT, B/O: $71

★ Navaja Knife Scorched WW, B/O: $71

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★ Nomad Knife Fade FN, B/O: $1015

★ Skeleton Knife, B/O: $909

★ Bowie Knife Boreal Forest MW, B/O: $106

★ Survival Knife Forest DDPAT FT, B/O: $97

GLOVES

★ Driver Gloves Crimson Weave FT, B/O: $335

★ Driver Gloves King Snake BS, B/O: $270

★ Driver Gloves Lunar Weave WW, B/O: $113

★ Driver Gloves Overtake WW, B/O: $88

★ Driver Gloves Overtake BS, B/O: $67

⎯

★ Moto Gloves Transport MW, B/O: $171

★ Moto Gloves Polygon BS, B/O: $137

★ Moto Gloves Transport WW, B/O: $71

★ Moto Gloves 3rd Commando Company BS, B/O: $62

⎯

★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono WW, B/O: $1027

★ Specialist Gloves Tiger Strike FT, B/O: $654

★ Specialist Gloves Mogul FT, B/O: $295

★ Specialist Gloves Lt. Commander FT, B/O: $277

★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Web FT, B/O: $275

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★ Sport Gloves Slingshot FT, B/O: $796

★ Sport Gloves Amphibious BS #2, B/O: $699

★ Sport Gloves Omega FT, B/O: $656

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★ Broken Fang Gloves Unhinged BS, B/O: $60

WEAPONS

AK-47 Case Hardened BS, B/O: $130

AK-47 Bloodsport MW, B/O: $79

AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76

AK-47 Fuel Injector BS, B/O: $76

AK-47 Bloodsport FT, B/O: $70

AK-47 Neon Rider MW, B/O: $60

⎯

AWP Fade FN, B/O: $864

AWP BOOM MW, B/O: $84

AWP Containment Breach FT, B/O: $69

AWP Containment Breach FT, B/O: $69

AWP Wildfire FT, B/O: $59

AWP Chromatic Aberration FN, B/O: $59

StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $65

StatTrak™ AWP Hyper Beast FT, B/O: $65

⎯

Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $565

Desert Eagle Blaze FN, B/O: $565

Desert Eagle Printstream FN, B/O: $155

Desert Eagle Cobalt Disruption FN, B/O: $58

⎯

M4A1-S Icarus Fell FN, B/O: $414

M4A1-S Printstream MW, B/O: $204

M4A1-S Printstream MW, B/O: $204

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M4A4 Poseidon FN, B/O: $1402

M4A4 The Emperor FN, B/O: $152

M4A4 Asiimov WW, B/O: $97

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USP-S Kill Confirmed MW, B/O: $65

USP-S Printstream FT, B/O: $69

StatTrak™ USP-S Kill Confirmed FT, B/O: $123

StatTrak™ USP-S Neo-Noir FN, B/O: $106

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AUG Flame Jörmungandr FN, B/O: $218

P2000 Ocean Foam FN, B/O: $139

Souvenir SSG 08 Death Strike MW, B/O: $81

CZ75-Auto Emerald Quartz MW, B/O: $61

Trade Offer Link - Steam Profile Link - My Inventory

Knives - Bowie Knife, Butterfly Knife, Falchion Knife, Flip Knife, Gut Knife, Huntsman Knife, M9 Bayonet, Bayonet, Karambit, Shadow Daggers, Stiletto Knife, Ursus Knife, Navaja Knife, Talon Knife, Classic Knife, Paracord Knife, Survival Knife, Nomad Knife, Skeleton Knife, Patterns - Gamma Doppler, Doppler (Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, Black Pearl, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald), Crimson Web, Lore, Fade, Ultraviolet, Night, Marble Fade (Fire & Ice, Fake FI), Case Hardened (Blue Gem), Autotronic, Slaughter, Black Laminate, Tiger Tooth, Boreal Forest, Scorched, Blue Steel, Vanilla, Damascus Steel, Forest DDPAT, Urban Masked, Freehand, Stained, Bright Water, Safari Mesh, Rust Coat, Gloves - Bloodhound Gloves (Charred, Snakebite, Guerrilla, Bronzed), Driver Gloves (Snow Leopard, King Snake, Crimson Weave, Imperial Plaid, Black Tie, Lunar Weave, Diamondback, Rezan the Red, Overtake, Queen Jaguar, Convoy, Racing Green), Hand Wraps (Cobalt Skulls, CAUTION!, Overprint, Slaughter, Leather, Giraffe, Badlands, Spruce DDPAT, Arboreal, Constrictor, Desert Shamagh, Duct Tape), Moto Gloves (Spearmint, POW!, Cool Mint, Smoke Out, Finish Line, Polygon, Blood Pressure, Turtle, Boom!, Eclipse, 3rd Commando Company, Transport), Specialist Gloves (Crimson Kimono, Tiger Strike, Emerald Web, Field Agent, Marble Fade, Fade, Foundation, Lt. Commander, Crimson Web, Mogul, Forest DDPAT, Buckshot), Sport Gloves (Pandora's Box, Superconductor, Hedge Maze, Vice, Amphibious, Slingshot, Omega, Arid, Big Game, Nocts, Scarlet Shamagh, Bronze Morph), Hydra Gloves (Case Hardened, Emerald, Rattler, Mangrove), Broken Fang Gloves (Jade, Yellow-banded, Unhinged, Needle Point), Pistols - P2000 (Wicked Sick, Ocean Foam, Fire Element, Amber Fade, Corticera, Chainmail, Imperial Dragon, Obsidian, Scorpion, Handgun, Acid Etched), USP-S (Printstream, Kill Confirmed, Whiteout, Road Rash, Owergrowth, The Traitor, Neo-Noir, Dark Water, Orion, Blueprint, Stainless, Caiman, Serum, Monster Mashup, Royal Blue, Ancient Visions, Cortex, Orange Anolis, Ticket To Hell, Black Lotus, Cyrex, Check Engine, Guardian, Purple DDPAT, Torque, Blood Tiger, Flashback, Business Class, Pathfinder, Para Green), Lead Conduit, Glock-18 (Umbral Rabbit, Fade, Candy Apple, Bullet Queen, Synth Leaf, Neo-Noir, Nuclear Garden, Dragon Tatto, Reactor, Pink DDPAT, Twilight Galaxy, Sand Dune, Groundwater, Blue Fissure, Snack Attack, Water Elemental, Brass, Wasteland Rebel, Vogue, Franklin, Royal Legion, Gamma Doppler, Weasel, Steel Disruption, Ironwork, Grinder, High Beam, Moonrise, Oxide Blaze, Bunsen Burner, Clear Polymer, Bunsen Burner, Night), P250 (Re.built, Nuclear Threat, Modern Hunter, Splash, Whiteout, Vino Primo, Mehndi, Asiimov, Visions, Undertow, Cartel, See Ya Later, Gunsmoke, Splash, Digital Architect, Muertos, Red Rock, Bengal Tiger, Crimson Kimono, Wingshot, Metallic DDPAT, Hive, Dark Filigree, Mint Kimono), Five-Seven (Neon Kimono, Berries And Cherries, Fall Hazard, Crimson Blossom, Hyper Beast, Nitro, Fairy Tale, Case Hardened, Copper Galaxy, Angry Mob, Monkey Business, Fowl Play, Anodized Gunmetal, Hot Shot, Retrobution, Boost Protocol), CZ75-Auto (Chalice, Crimson Web, Emerald Quartz, The Fuschia is Now, Nitro, Xiangliu, Yellow Jacket, Victoria, Poison Dart, Syndicate, Eco, Hexane, Pole, Tigris), Tec-9 (Rebel, Terrace, Nuclear Threat, Hades, Rust Leaf, Decimator, Blast From, Orange Murano, Toxic, Fuel Injector, Remote Control, Bamboo Forest, Isaac, Avalanche, Brother, Re-Entry, Blue Titanium, Bamboozle), R8 Revolver (Banana Cannon, Fade, Blaze, Crimson Web, Liama Cannon, Crazy 8, Reboot, Canal Spray, Night, Amber Fade), Desert Eagle (Blaze, Hand Cannon, Fennec Fox, Sunset Storm, Emerald Jörmungandr, Pilot, Hypnotic, Golden Koi, Printstream, Cobalt Disruption, Code Red, Ocean Drive, Midnight Storm, Kumicho Dragon, Crimson Web, Heirloom, Night Heist, Mecha Industries, Night, Conspiracy, Trigger Discipline, Naga, Directive, Light Rail), Dual Berettas (Flora Carnivora, Duelist, Cobra Strike, Black Limba, Emerald, Hemoglobin, Twin Turbo, Marina, Melondrama, Pyre, Retribution, Briar, Dezastre, Royal Consorts, Urban Shock, Dualing Dragons, Panther, Balance), Rifles - Galil (Aqua Terrace, Winter Forest, Chatterbox, Sugar Rush, Pheonix Blacklight, CAUTION!, Orange DDPAT, Cerberus, Dusk Ruins, Eco, Chromatic Aberration, Stone Cold, Tuxedo, Sandstorm, Shattered, Urban Rubble, Rocket Pop, Kami, Crimson Tsunami, Connexion), SCAR-20 (Fragments, Brass, Cyrex, Palm, Splash Jam, Cardiac, Emerald, Crimson Web, Magna Carta, Stone Mosaico, Bloodsport, Enforcer), AWP (Duality, Gungnir, Dragon Lore, Prince, Medusa, Desert Hydra, Fade, Lightning Strike, Oni Taiji, Silk Tiger, Graphite, Chromatic Aberration, Asiimov, Snake Camo, Boom, Containment Breach, Wildfire, Redline, Electric Hive, Hyper Beast, Neo-Noir, Man-o'-war, Pink DDPAT, Corticera, Sun in Leo, Elite Build, Fever Dream, Atheris, Mortis, PAW, Exoskeleton, Worm God, POP AWP, Phobos, Acheron, Pit Viper, Capillary, Safari Mesh), AK-47 (Head Shot, Wild Lotus, Gold Arabesque, X-Ray, Fire Serpent, Hydroponic, Panthera Onca, Case Hardened, Vulcan, Jet Set, Fuel Injector, Bloodsport, Nightwish, First Class, Neon Rider, Asiimov, Red Laminate, Aquamarine Revenge, The Empress, Wasteland Rebel, Jaguar, Black Laminate, Leet Museo, Neon Revolution, Redline, Frontside Misty, Predator, Legion of Anubis, Point Disarray, Orbit Mk01, Blue Laminate, Green Laminate, Emerald Pinstripe, Cartel, Phantom Disruptor, Jungle Spray, Safety Net, Rat Rod, Baroque Purple, Slate, Elite Build, Uncharted, Safari Mesh), FAMAS (Sundown, Prime Conspiracy, Afterimage, Commemoration, Dark Water, Spitfire, Pulse, Eye of Athena, Meltdown, Rapid Eye Move, Roll Cage, Styx, Mecha Industrie, Djinn, ZX Spectron, Valence, Neural Net, Night Borre, Hexne), M4A4 (Temukau, Howl, Poseidon, Asiimov, Daybreak, Hellfire, Zirka, Red DDPAT, Radiation Hazard, Modern Hunter, The Emperor, The Coalition, Bullet Rain, Cyber Security, X-Ray, Dark Blossom, Buzz Kill, In Living Color, Neo-Noir, Desolate Space, 龍王 (Dragon King), Royal Paladin, The Battlestar, Global Offensive, Tooth Fairy, Desert-Strike, Griffin, Evil Daimyo, Spider Lily, Converter), M4A1-S (Emphorosaur-S, Welcome to the Jungle, Imminent Danger, Knight, Hot Rod, Icarus Fell, Blue Phosphor, Printstream, Master Piece, Dark Water, Golden Coil, Bright Water, Player Two, Atomic Alloy, Guardian, Chantico's Fire, Hyper Beast, Mecha Industries, Cyrex, Control Panel, Moss Quartz, Nightmare, Decimator, Leaded Glass, Basilisk, Blood Tiger, Briefing, Night Terror, Nitro, VariCamo, Flashback), SG 553 (Cyberforce, Hazard Pay, Bulldozer, Integrale, Dragon Tech, Ultraviolet, Colony IV, Hypnotic, Cyrex, Candy Apple, Barricade, Pulse), SSG 08 (Death Strike, Sea Calico, Blood in the Water, Orange Filigree, Dragonfire, Big Iron, Bloodshot, Detour, Turbo Peek, Red Stone), AUG (Akihabara Accept, Flame Jörmungandr, Hot Rod, Midnight Lily, Sand Storm, Carved Jade, Wings, Anodized Navy, Death by Puppy, Torque, Bengal Tiger, Chameleon, Fleet Flock, Random Access, Momentum, Syd Mead, Stymphalian, Arctic Wolf, Aristocrat, Navy Murano), G3SG1 (Chronos, Violet Murano, Flux, Demeter, Orange Kimono, The Executioner, Green Apple, Arctic Polar Camo, Contractor), SMGs - P90 (Neoqueen, Astral Jörmungandr, Run and Hide, Emerald Dragon, Cold Blooded, Death by Kitty, Baroque Red, Vent Rush, Blind Spot, Asiimov, Trigon, Sunset Lily, Death Grip, Leather, Nostalgia, Fallout Warning, Tiger Pit, Schermatic, Virus, Shapewood, Glacier Mesh, Shallow Grave, Chopper, Desert Warfare), MAC-10 (Sakkaku, Hot Snakes, Copper Borre, Red Filigree, Gold Brick, Graven, Case Hardened, Stalker, Amber Fade, Neon Rider, Tatter, Curse, Propaganda, Nuclear Garden, Disco Tech, Toybox, Heat, Indigo), UMP-45 (Wild Child, Fade, Blaze, Day Lily, Minotaur's Labyrinth, Crime Scene, Caramel, Bone Pile, Momentum, Primal Saber), MP7 (Teal Blossom, Fade, Nemesis, Whiteout, Asterion, Bloosport, Abyssal Apparition, Full Stop, Special Delivery, Neon Ply, Asterion, Ocean Foam, Powercore, Scorched, Impire), PP-Bizon (Modern Hunter, Rust Coat, Forest Leaves, Antique, High Roller, Blue Streak, Seabird, Judgement of Anubis, Bamboo Print, Embargo, Chemical Green, Coblat Halftone, Fuel Rod, Photic Zone, Irradiated Alert, Carbon Fiber), MP9 (Featherweight, Wild Lily, Pandora's Box, Stained Glass, Bulldozer, Dark Age, Hot Rod, Hypnotic, Hydra, Rose Iron, Music Box, Setting Sun, Food Chain, Airlock, Mount Fuji, Starlight Protector, Ruby Poison Dart, Deadly Poison), MP5-SD (Liquidation, Oxide Oasis, Phosphor, Nitro, Agent, Autumn Twilly), Shotguns, Machineguns - Sawed-Off (Kiss♥Love, First Class, Orange DDPAT, Rust Coat, The Kraken, Devourer, Mosaico, Wasteland Princess, Bamboo Shadow, Copper, Serenity, Limelight, Apocalypto), XM1014 (Frost Borre, Ancient Lore, Red Leather, Elegant Vines, Banana Leaf, Jungle, Urban Perforated, Grassland, Blaze Orange, Heaven Guard, VariCamo Blue, Entombed, XOXO, Seasons, Tranquility, Bone Machine, Incinegator, Teclu Burner, Black Tie, Zombie Offensive, Watchdog), Nova (Baroque Orange, Hyper Beast, Green Apple, Antique, Modern Hunter, Walnut, Forest Leaves, Graphite, Blaze Orange, Rising Skull, Tempest, Bloomstick, Interlock, Quick Sand, Moon in Libra, Clean Polymer, Red Quartz, Toy Soldier), MAG-7 (Insomnia, Cinqueda, Counter Terrace, Prism Terrace, Memento, Chainmail, Hazard, Justice, Bulldozer, Silver, Core Breach, Firestarter, Praetorian, Heat, Hard Water, Monster Call, BI83 Spectrum, SWAG-7), M249 (Humidor, Shipping Forecast, Blizzard Marbleized, Downtown, Jungle DDPAT, Nebula Crusader, Impact Drill, Emerald Poison Dart), Negev (Mjölnir, Anodized Navy, Palm, Power Loader, Bratatat, CaliCamo, Phoenix Stencil, Infrastructure, Boroque Sand), Wear - 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Me and my fiancé are getting our rings here soon and I can’t wait till they come, they have beautiful colors, the colors being black and a deep red kind of like a ruby which is my birth stone. To go into further detail (skip this if you don’t want to read it) my ring has and red stone right in the middle and it it held together by four leaf shaped prongs that hold the stone in, so it makes it look like a rose and I thinks roses are beautiful. I love all flowers though, anyways the ring is completely black and I can take it in the shower so I don’t leave it in the bathroom when I take it off before the shower anymore. My fiancés ring has black rims hugging the red lining in the middle of it, then on top of the layer of red lining it has a set of small sized skulls with a slight darker tint of gold lined up perfectly and going all around the ring but placed perfectly in the center of the lining so it’s not touching the top nor the bottom. Then it has medium sized skulls which are a vibrant gold if I remember correctly all placed in the middle just like I said before with the smaller skulls but not covering the smaller ones, still not touching either side of the red lining. I hope that is a good description. I got more stuff but my head hurts and I need to stop looking at my phone.

Hello Wellington hivemind. I was wondering where you all look for DIY home maintenance/repaiupgrade sort of advice. Obviously there's Google but it's so heavily skewed towards advertisers now, and I don't want to bother people here with every silly question. Bunnings has some stuff but inevitably leads to them suggesting you buy something from Bunnings. Youtube has videos (duh) but often the specific situation or problem doesn't quite fit. Is there a local (NZ) forum or website or something you'd suggest where people are friendly, helpful and won't get annoyed with lots of questions? I've long ditched facebook and never going back. Hopefully there's something obvious I overlooked (Google search wasn't helpful). Thanking you!

Im worried I might blow out my speakers one day because of how audyssey has my speaker levels bumped up by a few db. Especially curious what will happen when I plug in my diy subwoofer and run correction again, wonder if it's possible I can blow it out just with testing.

Cover Art!
Just because you’re transported to another world, doesn’t mean you’ll escape from your pain.
Abused by her parents, thirteen-year-old Frances only wants to be safe and for her life not to hurt so much. And when she and her class are transported to the magical world of Durannon to fight the monsters invading the human kingdoms and defeat the self-titled Demon King, Frances is presented with a golden opportunity. If she succeeds, Frances will have the home she never had. If she fails, Frances will be summoned back to the home she escaped.
Yet, despite her newfound magic and friends, Frances finds that trauma is not so easily lost. She is dogged by her abuse and its physical and invisible scars. Not only does she have to learn magic, she has to survive the nightmares of her past, and wrestle with her feelings of doubt and self-loathing.
If she can heal from her trauma, though, she might be able to defeat the Demon King and maybe, just maybe, she can find a home for herself.
Teaser: Martin and Ginger are thrust into an unenviable role.
[The Beginning] [<=Chapter 182 part 2] [Chapter Index and Blurb] [Chapter 184 on April 5 or now on patreon ]
The Fractured Song Index
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Despite his curly crimson beard and heavyset build King Jerome was quite a mild-mannered man. His soft chin and cheekbones lent the man a face more inclined to smiling than scowling.
He was doing both, which wasn’t something Martin nor Ginger had seen that. His eyes were narrowed and brow furrowed. His lips however were tilted in a wry smile.
“We did give you the authority to make treaties with Queen Janize directly, but these are harsh terms for us, Sir Martin, Lady Ginger.”
Martin had set up their mirror so he and Ginger were standing in front of it. He dipped his head, placing one hand over his chest. “I am afraid I don’t see any other option, Your Majesty. You know of the strategic situation and the dragons that Thorgoth has under his command. We didn’t want the civil war in the first place, but now we must end it or risk annihilation.”
Queen Forowena, despite her limp, was pacing around her chair. One hand clenched her chin. “We don’t even know if Janize will agree to meet with us in the first place. Though, that’s beside the point. You want to know if we ought to approve of this at all.”
“Yes ma’am, I mean, Your Majesties.” Ginger swallowed. “More importantly, we want to know if there are any terms you are demanding Queen Janize to accept.”
The eyes of Forowena and Jerome met. No words passed between them. Jerome only raised a thick eyebrow and Forowena nodded, before turning to the pair. “No, but I do have one question. Did Elizabeth and Frances tell you about my infertility?”
Martin winced, whilst Ginger coughed officiously. “Elizabeth did, Your Majesty. She said that she will take full responsibility for that breach, and states that trying to keep the secret was impossible given the nature of her mission and our involvement in it.”
Nodding, Martin braced himself and clasped his hands behind his back. “Which brings the question, Your Majesty, with all due respect, did you intend for us to assassinate Queen Janize and her child?”
Forowena and Jerome again glanced at one another. This time, Jerome was giving his wife a knowing smile and the Earl was pinching her nose.
“To speak truthfully, Sir Martin, Lady Ginger, we were not sure ourselves whether we wanted to kill Janize if she was pregnant. We have continued to debate the question and its consequences,” said Forowena.
Jerome grimaced. “What we knew for sure was that Erisdale had to be put to siege. Now, I argued that my sister should be spared as with her child.”
“And I argued that Janize and her child were a threat to our rule and our chosen successors. I don’t want to kill them for both moral and practical reasons, but I was not sure how to neutralise them.” The Earl ran a hand through her hair and glanced at her husband. “Dear, I believe that we can accept most of the terms that Martin and Ginger have offered our behalf except for the second point.”
The king took her hand, running his scarred fingers over Forowena’s knuckles “You are correct my dear. We will allow Janize's child to enter the line of succession, but we have chosen our successors.”
Martin did his best to keep his expression neutral. “Your Majesty, I don’t understand. There’s no other direct descendant of House Grey left.”
Forowena sighed, her eyes meeting Martin and Ginger’s. “No. That’s why after very careful thinking, we planned to appoint our successors. We have even talked to all the other lords and ladies who support us and even our kingdom’s most powerful mages. That’s why there’s no way we can fully accept that second condition. It would be impractical if not impossible to get them to switch their support.”
Martin frowned. He suddenly recalled a call where his mothers and sister had given him a very strange look. They seemed oddly proud, even when they’d just been talking about family gossip.
Jerome nodded, “That and we would still be at war with Alavaria. A child successor would be inherently less appealing, and especially one underneath the influence of Queen Janize at that.”
Rubbing her temples, Forowena drawled, “It’s also why Janize and her child are such a threat. Unless Janize formally renounces her claim, she’d always be able to make a bid for the throne through her child. Not to mention she could just influence the throne through her child if he or she becomes ruler of Erisdale.”
Ginger coughed into her fist. Lifting her chin, she glared defiantly at the mirror. “With all due respect, Your Majesties, it would be better than continuing this pointless civil war. So long as we execute Darius and strip the rest of the Traditionalists of their power, who cares if Janize has some influence over her child? She won’t be able to harm Alavari in Erisdale, or affect lasting change. We’ll still be here. We’ll watch her and if she goes too far we will have Queen Titania’s Alavaria assisting us.”
Martin narrowed his eyes. Forowena and Jerome were exchanging looks again. Both were smiling at each other, but the ends of their lips were curled into just a bit of a smirk.
“Your Majesties, perhaps you can enlighten us on who you decided to be your successors? If they are not a very popular choice, maybe we can accept Janize’s terms.” The knight watched the king and queen carefully as his words hung in the air. He watched as King Jerome blinked, tried to avert his gaze, before forcing himself to look him in the eye. He noted how Queen Forowena forced her features into an expressionless mask.
Martin felt a cold shiver run through the very core of his being. Unconsciously he grabbed Ginger’s hand. His fiance blinked, tuning to look at him with wide eyes. Martin swallowed.
“That is, unless for some insane reason you’ve chosen me and Ginger?”
The queen let out a small breath, while trying to keep her neutral expression. Jerome’s shoulders sagged and he patted Forowena’s shoulder. “Told you he’d figure it out.”
Ginger’s head whipped back to face the royal couple. “Wait, what? Impossible. I’m a commoner. A former convict!”
Forowena’s eyes narrowed and her voice rose. “You’re also popular with the people, one of our national heroes. If your little rebuke to us was any indication, you also are loyal not to Erisdale’s monarchy, but our country and people. As for the matter of your commoner background, you’re marrying Martin and you know what that means.”
Ginger hands clasped behind her head, almost screamed, “Yes, I am marrying into a distant relation of the Royal Family and one of the founding noble houses of Erisdale. I was ready for that! You’re asking me—us to become King and Queen of Erisdale!”
“Yes.” Forowena growled, bitter tears wetting her eyes. “And we would never do so if there was no other option, Lady Ginger, but I can’t conceive a child!”
Jerome’s hand reached over to squeeze his queen’s shoulder. “And there’s no way I’m divorcing my queen. I am a man of my word and I vowed to be with Forowena until death do us part. That won’t change.”
Martin coughed to clear his throat and crossed his arms. “Then why didn’t you just have a surrogate give birth to your child, Your Majesty? I know it would be shameful but did you consider that we may not want to be king and queen?”
The king blinked, looking a little like an owl caught by torchlight. Forowena grimaced. “I did discuss this with Jerome, but I couldn’t quite convince him. You do have a good point, Sir Martin. However, even if Jerome did finally agree to father a child with a surrogate, we would still want you and Ginger to become the next King and Queen.”
“Right, potential child ruler. Not good for Erisdale,” Ginger muttered.
Forowena grimaced. “That and how many children could Jerome father? He cannot simply start fathering children haphazardly. More importantly, children are vulnerable. Even if by some miracle I could bear children, I would push for you both to be added in the line of succession.”
Jerome nodded solemnly. “Neither of us are willing to risk the fate of Erisdale on a child, even if it was our own. Considering that our original discussion was about the potential for Janize’s child to inherit, I think you see our point.”
Ginger, biting the tip of her thumb, yanked her hand out of her mouth. “We couldn’t have been that popular a choice, though…right?”
Forowena grinned. “You weren’t everybody’s first choice, but you were on the lips of many and once we started to seriously press those who were hesitant, they agreed you two were the best option. They even pledged to support you.”
Ginger glanced at her husband, but he was still crossing his arms. He’d gone so still for a moment she wondered if he was breathing. Then her mind caught up with her.
“Every lord and lady under your command agreed on us?” she stammered.
“Including your sister Mara, Martin,” said Jerome.
Clutching her hands, Ginger took a deep breath. “But why not Lady Edana—
“Of Erlenberg and not Erisdalian,” said Forowena.
“Frances!”
Jerome shook his head, wincing. Forowena sighed. “Otherworlder and clearly too close to Prince Timur to make her look out for Erisdale’s interest.”
Ginger pressed a hand over her mouth, her free hand clenching into a fist and opening. “Shit. This…this is really happening.”
Martin closed his eyes and nodded. “I believe so. My…personal feelings aside, I will do my duty. But what do we tell Janize?”
“That we’ve appointed our own successors, but her child will be in the line of succession, with our successors house to take precedent over her own. That might complicate the succession law for the future, but that can be resolved in time.” Forowena snapped her fingers. “Ah, and we will also make it a condition that the amount wealth and land confiscated will be determined on the basis of who the Traditonalists persecuted and to provide compensation for property damaged by their forces in the war.”
Martin and Ginger exchanged a glance. “Including Alavari, Your Majesty?” Martin asked, his voice quiet.
Jerome nodded. “That is the intention, Sir Martin. Now…I believe you and your fiance have much to discuss. If that is all, you may request to be dismissed.”
“We do wish, Your Majesties,” said Martin, bowing. Ginger mirrored her fiance and the images of the king and queen faded.
Promptly walking over to one of their chests, Ginger fished into it and drew out a bottle of wine.
“Care for glass?” she asked as she fetched a goblet.
Martin sat down heavily onto his bedroll. “Yes. We…well nothing is guaranteed. I mean we haven’t even gotten married yet.”
Ginger poured herself and her fiance two glasses and handed one to Martin. “But we pledged to after the war, and so have the other lords and ladies of Erisdale. Damnit, of course Frances, Elizabeth and the others would support us, but everybody else?”
“It’s unexpected, but now that I think about it, most people wouldn’t want to be named heirs to Erisdale. It’ll be a hard job rebuilding this kingdom after the war and essentially starting a new dynasty.”
Sitting down, Ginger sipped from her glass. “Dynasty. Fuck, I’ll have to do something about my family.”
“Give your parents a stipend and nothing else.” Martin pursed his lips. “Of course, if you don’t want to be queen, Ginger, you can just—”
His fiance leant against his shoulder. “Finish that sentence and I will smack you. We’re in this together, Martin.”
“I know and I love you. I just wanted to make sure.” Martin took a deep gulp of wine and swallowed hard. “Hopefully, this is the last of the big responsibilities we get.”
Ginger snorted. “I would not bet on it my dear knight.”
Her fiance chuckled, before his lips pinched together. “Promise that you’ll never start calling me Your Majesty, please.”
Wrapping her arm around the blonde man, Ginger smiled. “You’ll always be my shining knight, Martin. Nothing will change that.”
“Thank you, Ginger.”
Pulling her feet off the table where Janize’s mirror was and sliding them back into slippers, Leila crossed her arms. “How many years since you’ve seen your brother?”
“Not since the civil war started, so about two years.” Janize smiled gave Leila a peck on the cheek. “Honestly, I am both irritated and a little proud of Jerome. I didn’t expect him to hold out, much less turn the tables on me. I always teased him when we were younger. He was too honorable, to the point that he was dumb. I suppose he just needed to find the right group of people to help him along. How long before the meeting by the way?”
Leila glanced at the high noon sun outside. “Not long now. I’ve also redoubled the security spells and checked the room.”
Janize nodded serenely. “Good. Anything else you can think of with regards to the conditions we have and their terms?”
The Otherworlder tapped her fingers on her arm. “Well, it’s not exactly something they demanded, but it might come up. They probably will demand compensation for the Alavari that we’ve been experimenting on. It’s probably why they demanded land and wealth from our rebelling nobles.”
“Pardon?”
Leila frowned, meeting Janize’s narrowed grey eyes. “I mean, it’ll be hard to argue with them. They’ve captured several of the labs and have our research notes—”
Janize raised her hand, her usually relaxed brow now furrowed. “Leila, what are you talking about? What do you mean by labs and experiments?”
The Otherworlder’s eyes widened and she found herself sitting up ramrod straight. “Um, is this a particularly amusing prank of yours?”
“We are minutes away from a critical meeting. Why would I joke about this with you now?” Janize hissed.
Leila blinked and slowly shook her head. “You’re kidding me. There’s no way you could have not been aware of this. The castles and labs were garrisoned with army troops and Red Order mages.”
“Leila this is the first time I’ve heard about these labs and castles—” Janize grimaced as the mirror began to glow, the sign that a call was coming. “Oh dear. Oh dear. I…I suppose I will have to request to be informed.” Settling herself, the queen touched the mirror and watched as King Jerome, Queen Forowena, Elizabeth, Ayax, Martin and Ginger appeared.
“Hello Janize,” said Jerome, coolly.
Janize smiled without mirth. “Greetings, Jerome. I must begin this meeting with a bit of a somewhat incredulous confession. But please bring me up to date on what exactly has been going on in the labs you have found that were apparently operated by my forces?”
The queen’s smile thinned as sceptical scowls and narrowed eyes met her question. Ayax blinked, tail whipping side to side. “You’re joking right?”
Janize cut before the stunned looking Reformists could ask another question. “I wish I was, but I was just informed by Leila here that they did exist. Speaking of which, how did you come to know about them, Leila? This is not something discussed in my palace.”
A grim, almost haunted look came over Leila’s face. “I found out about it recently as well. A few months ago, Master Scarlet of the Red Order requested Otherworlder assistance in defending their outposts and castles. They had no strategic value so we pressed her and she told us they were magical research laboratories and they couldn’t move the research easily. After that meeting, Earl Darius tried to convince me, saying that it would please Janize if I sallied forth. I wouldn’t normally have believed him, but our situation was so desperate I thought it made sense. I started to prepare a counterattack, but then it didn’t matter anyway because you folks in the Lightning Battalion started to attack them and there is no way in hell we would survive a fight with a full army division.”
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth tried her best to get her own temper and confusion under control. “You mean you weren’t told what was going on in there? When did you find out about the children?”
“Our standing orders were to take Alavari prisoners of war and hand them over to the Red Order. So I figured—” Leila dropped her arms to her side. “Hold on. Children? What the fuck are you talking about? I thought they were experimenting with prisoners of war and criminals?”
A cold snarl twisting her normally serene expression, Ayax rose to her feet. “You Traditionalists haven’t even been fighting the Alavari! How could you have gotten prisoners of war? And experimenting on them is still wrong!”
Feeling a headache coming on, Janize gingerly massaged the side of her temple. “Wait, children? I thought that was propaganda you were spreading. Where the hell did you even get children from?”
“From the Alavari that lived in Erisdale, and from those that you kidnapped from Alavaria!” Elizabeth hissed.
“I authorized funding and troops for magical research, not that.” Her stony-masked stoicism wavered as her lips twitched. It was as if the queen was trying to prevent a wince. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, but this is extraordinary.”
His eyes narrowed, King Jerome leaned onto his elbows. “Janize, I don’t understand. How could you have known nothing? You don’t trust Earl Darius or Master Scarlet that much.”
Janize pulled her hands from her temples. Drawing herself straight, she narrowed her eyes at the mirror. “No I don’t, but this is the first time I’ve heard about these experiments.”
Leila blinked. She knew her lover better now and as good at hiding her feelings the queen was, she did have some subtle tells. In this case, her shoulders were just a bit too stiff, stretching skin across her high collarbone. “Janize, I’m sorry, but that’s…not entirely true isn’t it?”
The queen tilted her head toward the Otherworlder. Her grey eyes glared daggers at Leila for a brief moment, before she turned back to the mirror. In an arch tone, she hissed between gritted teeth, “I know they were making mana batteries. However, it’s the first time I’ve heard about children. I have been suspicious about why Master Scarlet and Earl Darius require so many facilities for some time and have been trying to audit them. They’ve been stonewalling me with magical and military jargon or burying it in budget books under nondescript lines.”
Leila blinked. “Oh that’s why you were asking me what those words meant.”
“Yes, dear. Now, if the interrogation is over, I will agree to offer compensation to those children and their surviving family members. In return, I have my own conditions.”
Forowena sneered. “Name them. We have our own conditions as well.”
Janize grinned back. “First, my child is not to be next in line to the throne of Erisdale. In fact, I would like to renounce my right of succession and that of my child.”
It was rather hard for Elizabeth, Ayax and their allies to hide their surprise. Admirably, King Jerome only managed to show his shock through a series of rapid blinks. “That’s a major concession, sister.”
The queen turned her chin up. “In return, once you depose Earl Darius, you grant me his personal lands and make me an Earl.”
Crossing her arms, her thoughts racing a mile-a-minute, Elizabeth muttered. “You’d become Erisdale’s chief powerbroker.”
“I am surrendering after all and most of my allies will be gone. You got to give me something. Besides, if I remain Earl, I’d be able to keep what remains of the Traditonalists in check. Exile honestly doesn’t suit me, as comfortable as it would be. I want my child to have a future, not one where he or she has no allies and is bound to the crown.”
Forowena and Jerome glanced at one another, exchanging frowns.
Martin also looked to Ginger, who shook her head. He nodded. They’d had their own discussion about Janize’s possible offers and they had their own opinion.
“Go get em, Martin,” Ginger rasped.
The knight swallowed and coughed officiously. “If I may be so bold, Your Majesties, I propose we grant Queen Janize a county, not an earldom. In return, we shall protect her from reprisals and reparations that the Crown of Alavaria will undoubtedly request.”
Leila rolled her eyes. “What crimes? As you said, we didn’t fight Alavaria.”
A shit-eating grin blossomed over Ginger’s face. Idly twirling a lock of her hair, she crossed her legs. “Earl Darius’s forces kidnapped Queen Titania’s niece, Princess Morgan Greyhammer from the Alavari Academy of Magic and subjected her to a year of torture and experimentation.”
In the silence that followed, all that could be heard was Leila trying not to sputter. Janize was quiet and still. Yet the color was drained from her face.
“That dumb bastard,” Janize whispered.
Leila slammed her fist on the table, causing Janize to flinch. “Fuck.”
“So a county it is, then?” Ginger asked in an airy tone.
“Yes. Do you confirm your side of your terms?” Janize asked.
“We do. Our demand was that your child could not be our successor, which you have agreed to.”
“So the dynasty of the House of Grey ends I suppose.” Janize let out a shuddering breath and shook her head. “Then who is to be your successor?”
Martin and Ginger clasped each other’s hands in unison before facing the group.
“We are,” said Martin slowly.
“Until someone better is found,” said Ginger.
Janize arched an eyebrow. Leila sighed. The queen, however, nudged her Otherworlder quiet and gave a nod of assent. “A wise choice. Shall we continue?”
Author’s Note: So yeah, this is a bit of a twist, let’s see what happens.

Between 1908 and 1914, Edward Weck was granted four patents which, when taken together, creates a full on shaving system centred around a shavette – a shavette system if you want. Interestingly enough, this was around the same time as another shaving system was patented. And much like Clark’s system, Weck’s shavette system contained a razor, a blade, and a way to package the blades. Weck also came up with a stiffener, to make the blade stiffer.
The Razor
The first patent covers a razor and a blade.¹ Much like Gillette’s original patent, the core of Weck’s idea was to provide a razor where you would replace the blade. In the words of the patent:

The object of this invention is to provide an article of this class with a removable blade so that whenevera blade becomes dull, it may be removed and a new one substituted therefor.

Patent drawing from US patent 929,058
The razor looks – to my eye at least – very much like a traditional straight razor. Where you would expect to find the blade and tang, however, there is a folded sheet metal holder that the blade would get inserted into.
The blade in the original patent looks very much like an elongated GEM blade – a hardened core with a sheet metal backing wrapped around the non-edge side.
All in all a pretty solid patent by itself. But it seems that Weck wanted² more.
The Blade
An obvious item to improve on a razor with replaceable blades is the blades. Most traditional knife blades are laminated.³ This means that you’ll have a hard and brittle core that will take a sharp edge. Surrounding the brittle core you’ll have softer steel – unable to take a good edge, but much more resilient to breakage.
Patent drawing for US patent 929,059
Weck’s improved blade that would go with the shavette system is made up of three parts. A blade strip made of hard steel with a ground edge. A folded mild steel reinforcement that extended all the way to the bevel. And a thicker and heavier mild steel reinforcement that extended less than halfway up the side.
Weck claimed there were several benefits of this multipart construction. Mainly that the blade would be more rigid while retaining a flexible edge. If there were more benefits than these two, he forgot to put it in the patent.
The Stiffener
Two years after Weck got his patents for the razor and improved blade, he got a patent for a stiffener for razors. The purpose of such a thing seems a little mysterious to me, so let us see what the patent text has to say:

The object of my invention is to provide a wafer blade razor, with a suitable stiffener which will so stiffen the blade so that it can be used advantageously under severe conditions of service.

So it seems like Weck though that the blades for his razor were not stiff enough for shaving a heavy beard. A folded over sheet metal piece was his solution.
Patent drawing from US patent 996,382
The patent for the stiffener goes into quite a bit of details of the razor and blade too, but it is broadly the same as his original shavette patent. The stiffener is described as being made of sheet metal, with one side almost touching the cutting edge, and the other being shorter. It had a number of recesses along the back. These, the patent claims, gives the stiffener a more neat appearance.⁴
The Safety-Razor-Blade Holder
Once you have a shavette system using replaceable blades, you need a way to store and distribute said blades. While a wrapping like the one Kaufman patented would work,⁵ Weck patented a different solution a few years after the other patents. As an added bonus, Weck’s holder was reusable.
Patent drawing from US patent 1,183,054
The holder consists of a cylinder, in which there is a number of slots. The slots are shaped so that the reinforcing backing of the blade rides on shoulders, so the edge will not touch the bottom of the slot.
On one end of the cylinder is a rotating lid, which can be turned to expose one slot at a time. When the slot is exposed, a blade can be extracted. Or inserted, if so desired.
Thoughts on the shavette system
In all fairness, I don’t actually know if Edward Weck actually saw these four patents as a system, or as a series of improvements of his original idea. But then again, I don’t know if Gillette saw his idea of a thin, replaceable blade and a holder for it as a shaving system either.
All told I think the four patents would have served as the basis for a viable ecosystem. All the elements are in place; a razor that looks the part, sensible blades, and a blade holder for distributing and storing the blades. The blade stiffener is an added bonus for those who have steel wool stubble.
According to Waits’ Compendium, Weck mananged to get his razor manufactured under the tradename of Sextoblade.⁶ Again according to Waits, the tradename was renewed in 1930. this implies that the razor and blades were successful enough to survive for at least two decades. Waits’ Compendium also have pictures⁷ of what looks very much like the patented stiffener.
It is unusual for me to write about a patent that actually resulted in a manufactured razor. But it is nice to see that not all patented razors disappears without a trace.
You can read the full patents for the shavette, the improved blade, the stiffener, and the safety-razor-blade holder at Google Patents.
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Footnotes

1. Which would be improved in the second patent.
2. And wanted it bad enough to pay for more patents.
3. Other ways of achieving the same is damasking the blade., or pattern welding it like the Norse did with swords.
4. And prevent the stiffener from being too rigid.
5. But was already patented by Kaufman, and I assume Weck wasn’t interested in paying royalties.
6. Trademark filed in July 1908, about a year before he was granted the patent for the razor.
7. On page 306 of the PDF v1.21