- Location
- In My Parlour like a Good Arachne
- Pronouns
- She, her
I did that and more in June.
Scaling Up
- Thread starter Kryslin
- Start date
- Location
- Neptune
No, not the dumbass confederate flag waving idiot redneck wannabe's, the actual old school types. The guys who started stock car racing. Because they had to modifiy their cars to escape the cops but still look normal. Why were they running from the cops? Because fuckem, that's why.
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Here's a bit of hillarious ineptitude. I had a power outage this evening. It only lasted a couple seconds, fortunately. But it still happened. I got an email from the electric company to inform me there's a power outage, and a 2nd one to inform me the power should be back on. If I have no power and the only contact info they have for me is a landline or email address, how do they expect me to check my email?
Cellphone probably.
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
...except that if the power is out for any long periods, the cell towers are dead, too.
We found that out a couple years ago. The towers usually have 2-3 hours back up power before they shut down, to the best of my knowledge.
Anyway...
No updates this weekend, Author is taking a holiday. Wheee!
(Not much of one, driving up to Milwaukee to do some shopping that I can't do in Iowa, and visit an art museum or cathedral. But it's four days away from home, something I haven't done for a couple of years...)
We found that out a couple years ago. The towers usually have 2-3 hours back up power before they shut down, to the best of my knowledge.
Anyway...
No updates this weekend, Author is taking a holiday. Wheee!
(Not much of one, driving up to Milwaukee to do some shopping that I can't do in Iowa, and visit an art museum or cathedral. But it's four days away from home, something I haven't done for a couple of years...)
Four days from Iowa to Milwaukee?! Uhm, I drove from Seattle to Pittsburgh in three days. Are you planning to take the scenic route by way of Mt. Rushmore or something? Or is that four days round trip?
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
It's 8 hours one way from where I live to Milwaukee. 1 day there, 2 days goofing around and getting stressed by Milwaukee traffic and construction, and another day to drive back, with my contraband.
Hmm, contraband... Is that a Nicaraguan music ensemble?
Hmm, contraband... Is that a Nicaraguan music ensemble?
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Four days to travel to, shop in, and visit sites in Milwaukee before returning. It's only a 7 to 7.5 hours at most.
- Location
- Neptune
Do you really believe they have YOUR particulars on file and tailor their masscommunication individually to each single customer?
Not always. Not everywhere. Most of the time outages are more localised andcell towers are tied into the grid separately from your domestic supply.
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
In an urban area, perhaps. Most of the country is still rural, and when you start to get out in the sticks (our county is the least populated in Iowa), there's only one source for power. After that outage, where a couple of substations blew, the towers got some backup generators. Yeah, they have to be serviced, and it raised rates a tad, but we can still let our family know that we got missed by the tornado that wrecked the substation (We've had three land within 2 miles in 8 years).
Except that Snipes are very much real. Very dificult birds to hunt of course, so much so that the term sniper originated as someone who could do so.
Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
The wiki article, in case anyone thinks that was a joke.
ecs05norway
Zenryoku Zenkai!
The Captain is another reference, actually. Jordan Stark is a character from "Arpeggio of Blue Steel", the captain of a Fleet of Fog submarines (U-2501). He appears as an antagonist to the main cast, part of a different faction in the FoF.
Author is taking the week off because ROAD TRIP!
Thank you!
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
Yep, the author is currently on the road in Mythic Wisconsin!
So far, I have procured a year's supply of legendary cheese spread, acquired a dish of something suitable to replace Ambrosia (fresh frozen custard), and tomorrow, I stock up on the best damn rootbeer ever made.
I've also managed to show some activity on my RFID toll pass so the state of Illinois doesn't say it's unclaimed property. I'm also getting some respite care from taking care of my Mom this spring, when she had surgery.
Only 'computer' I have access to is my Samsung Tablet, and thd onscreen keyboard is lacking for posting a story...
So far, I have procured a year's supply of legendary cheese spread, acquired a dish of something suitable to replace Ambrosia (fresh frozen custard), and tomorrow, I stock up on the best damn rootbeer ever made.
I've also managed to show some activity on my RFID toll pass so the state of Illinois doesn't say it's unclaimed property. I'm also getting some respite care from taking care of my Mom this spring, when she had surgery.
Only 'computer' I have access to is my Samsung Tablet, and thd onscreen keyboard is lacking for posting a story...
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
USB keyboard and mouse help, but yeah. Tablets are not the same as a computer, even with such accessories. For one thing, they always include auto-corrupt.
- Location
- Scotland
Yeah Faerie, there's a damn good reason why I still prefer using my PC for a lot of things rather than simply using my tablet or phone and, as you say, auto-corrupt is a reason. A fairly big one at that. Seriously, trying to type even a simple message on a phone or tablet can be such a PITA due to auto-correct doing something stupid 
. Typing on a PC with an actual keyboard and mouse is so much more convenient.
. Typing on a PC with an actual keyboard and mouse is so much more convenient.
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
Re : Autocorrupt - I turned that off a long time ago, along with auto completion. It was getting to the point where Google was writing my e-mails and posys more than I was.
I do have a nice bluetooth keyboard for the tablet that works really well. However, I don't have anyway of using the usb drive that the master document is stored on with the tablet. It only has one usb port, which currently has the recharge cord plugged in.
And finally, there's the screen size. My workstation monitors are 2560 x 1440 27". The tablet is 1920 x 1200 11". Even with the same text size in LibreOffice, 15pt text is tiny... on the tablet. 😁
I do have a nice bluetooth keyboard for the tablet that works really well. However, I don't have anyway of using the usb drive that the master document is stored on with the tablet. It only has one usb port, which currently has the recharge cord plugged in.
And finally, there's the screen size. My workstation monitors are 2560 x 1440 27". The tablet is 1920 x 1200 11". Even with the same text size in LibreOffice, 15pt text is tiny... on the tablet. 😁
As I'm currently re-reading Mauling Snarks, I'd like to recommend the virtues of Bluetooth in your brain.
FaerieKnight79
Verified Pixie
- Location
- The Internet
Yes, it is. I experimented with using a tablet to work on my stories. Since the tablet only has a USB-C port (used for the charger too), I needed an adapter. Fortunately, I had to buy a couple USB-C to USB 3.0 adapters so I could use a VR headset due to my tower having a USB-C port in the back, but not a USB 3.0 port.
Downtime 2.1 - Draco Certaminis et Educatio
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
Pease Field, Hangar 4
27 April 2011, 1530 Lima(EDT)
"So, Clockblocker, do you know why you're here?" asked one of the power testing crew, Paul Marino.
"Due to circumstances beyond my control, my powers have been altered, and thus mandatory powers testing is required per regulation PRT 17.4.32, section 2," answered Dennis, with exaggerated formality.
"Okay, that was not what I expected," Mr. Marino admitted with a scratch. "You are, however, correct. And I'm fortunate that I have at least some idea of what I need to test you on." With a flick he scrolled through the list on his tablet. "First up, I'll need you to demonstrate your Changer ability -- holy shit!" The last had come out as an unmanly squeak.
On the word "changer," Dennis transformed into his full sized copper dragon form. He very carefully watched the reactions of the power testing staff around the hangar, which weren't as severe as they could have been thanks to successfully holding in his frightful presence. "As fun as this is," he rumbled, "I think it'd be safer for me to slip into something a bit smaller," he commented, and the massive copper dragon shrank into something in between Naurelin and Panacea's dragon forms in size.
"So, your Changer ability allows you to change your size, too?" one of the testing crew asked, finally recovering the use of their voice.
"I've been told it's completely free form," Dennis replied. "I just haven't had much of a chance to experiment beyond size changes and color patterns." With that he changed his copper-hued scales into a match for the hangar floor, then a garish chartreuse and fluorescent orange plaid pattern, and finished with a classic "Eat at Fugly Bob's" advertisement on his side.
"Why do they always do that?" Paul asked himself in a low voice. "Because awesome powers were meant to be used stupidly," he muttered, answering his own question although Dennis heard it quite clearly. "Most impressive," the man continued in a normal voice. "I'll have to ask that you not do the plaid again, at least without warning."
"Everyone's a critic," Dennis deadpanned. "And yes, I've been warned about impersonating other people. Director Piggot summed it up nicely. Don't." His shoulders shifted in the draconic equivalent of a shrug. "Not that I'm that good of an actor."
"Moving on," Paul said, "we're doing flight testing."
"The typical urban flight course?"
"You know about it?"
"Kid Win, Aegis, and Naurelin have all said something about it. This," and with that, Dennis' form changed back into the airliner sized dragon, "has a snowball's chance in Hell of making it through that course. I probably can't walk down the streets without brushing the buildings in the business district with my wings, and that's only if the roads can take the weight."
"So noted," Paul replied while writing things down on his tablet. "Still, they'd like you to try."
"On their heads be it," Clockblocker rumbled, as he took to the air, slowly rising and making his way out to the course.
"I told you what would happen," Dennis told Paul fifteen minutes later.
"Indeed you did," the man agreed. "I did not, however, expect the demolition of the course to be so complete. Did you have to go back and knock that last bit down?"
"Yes, I did," Dennis replied with a grin. "If only to be complete and thorough. It clashed with the new landscaping."
"Okay, so we can mark down 'Brute : Yes', 'Mover : Yes' and 'Shaker : Yes' on the test results. I'm assuming you have some kind of breath weapon, like the others?"
"I spray acid, and breathe a gas that slows people down to a crawl." Dennis glared at the man before slumping his shoulders. "I'm going to have to demonstrate, aren't I?"
"Is it going to be worse than Dragon's test?" Paul asked. There was an area on the test range that had been stripped of all organic matter, and most of the loose rocks. Planning was still deciding what to do with it.
"I'll make it easy on you, for demonstration purposes," Dennis said, shrinking to the size of Panacea's dragon form. "This is about a quarter the size, and the damage should be proportionally smaller."
"Your targets are on the range, marked one through six," Paul told him.
"This day has both been informative and completely useless," Paul groused.
"Not your fault," Dennis added. "PRT rules require 'objective testing by a neutral third party'. I just think they didn't have capes as destructive as a dragon from myth, legend, and fantasy fiction in mind."
"No," the man admitted. "No, they did not." He scrolled through something on his tablet, then looked askance at Dennis. "Nothing in here says you have any knowledge of the rules and regs," he commented.
"Can't know how far to push if I don't know where the line is," Dennis quipped, buffing one set of claws against his scutes. "The clown act is an act. If people think I'm just the class clown , they underestimate me. It drives the bad guys nuts, too, unless they're Uber and Leet. And it cheers up the other Wards, especially the younger ones, though Vista will never admit it."
"Several points to you, then." Paul reviewed his tablet. "I've got a note here from Andraste that you should have several minor abilities to play with. Care to demonstrate?"
"Should be simple enough," Dennis admitted, and then proceeded, as a smallish dragon, to walk up a wall, walk across a wall, and even walk upside down on the ceiling of the hangar. "I can do that full-sized, too."
"Please don't," Paul quickly interjected. "Anything else?"
"Well, I can do this," Dennis admitted, causing a large, sturdy stone wall to appear, "and shape it a bit," he continued as some crude figures appeared in bas-relief along the wall, "and if I don't like it, I can do this," he said as the wall slumped into a pile of mud, "and then get rid of the evidence." The earth moved, and when he was finished a mound of earth covered the pile of mud. "When the original stone wall times out the mud should disappear, and it all should level out."
"Very good. I assume you have other, more varied abilities?"
"Like Naurelin's 'spells'?"
"Yep."
"At the moment, no. I've been told I've got the potential for them, though. Looking forward to it." His toothy grin promised epic levels of mischief.
"Angels and ministers of grace defend us," Paul muttered. "Anyway," he said, in a louder voice, "I think we're done here. I'll get this all typed up and submitted. Also, we would prefer that you take the short hop transport back, instead of flying yourself over."
Wards' duties done for the day, Dennis returned home.
"Dennis," his mom said when he walked in the house, "your girlfriend called. Wanted to know if you wanted to go out for a movie tonight." She looked at him with the somewhat confused look parents can get when their children have done something unexpected. "I didn't know you had a girlfriend."
"It's recent. I haven't brought her over to meet you guys yet," Dennis admitted. "I should probably do that."
Dennis' father nodded from where he sat. "Yes, you should, but there's no hurry." With that, he rubbed his short hair that was growing in now, with his cancer gone. "As it is, we'd like to have you home for dinner, but after that the evening's yours. Just be back by midnight."
Dennis made his way over to The Music Hall theater, one of the oldest cinemas on the East Coast. Hailey was soon to arrive. "Evenin'," she greeted him, then gave him a hug.
"Really, How to Train Your Dragon?" he asked, with a look on his face he usually saw on other's faces after he'd had a joke that went over rather flat.
"What, don't like the subject matter?" she asked him, a slight frown on her face.
Dennis had noticed, and brought his hands up defensively. "No, no, it's not that," he explained in a hurry. "It's just -- why does every other dragon in the city appear to be here?" He looked around. "Taylor, Natalie, Amy and Vicky are in the theater. Mr. Wallis and Ms. Richter are just leaving the concession stand, and a couple I'm not familiar with are just paying for their tickets. This can't be a coincidence."
"It's not," a new voice added from behind him. Dennis looked over his shoulder to see Ms. Richter and Mr. Wallis – Dragon and Armsmaster – standing there. "But neither was it completely planned."
"Someone sent us tickets," Colin admitted. "And I was reminded that I needed some downtime."
Dennis noted that Dragon… ahem, Ms. Richter when out of costume, was trying to hide a small, amused smile.
"Funny, that's what happened with me," Hailey admitted, "and if we asked the girls, they'd probably say the same. I suspect there's a meddling older sister of mine involved in this, but I'll take this over her old schemes and plots any year of the century." She looked at her watch. "You two have a fun time, we've got popcorn to grab before things start."
"Enjoy yourself," Theresa said, with a wave as Hailey hauled Dennis after her towards the concessions. "Let's go find our seats," she said to her companion as they walked away.
Colin Wallis said nothing, just nodding in agreement. Better to be thought a fool, he thought to himself, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
The movie over, Dennis and Hailey found themselves out on Captain's Hill, enjoying a warm spring evening. "Okay, I admit it, the movie was decent."
Hailey gave him a gentle swat. "Of course it was decent. Hiccup would've been rated a Tinker, wouldn't he?"
"Both him and Gobber." Dennis looked over at Hailey, who had actually worn a blouse and skirt for the evening. "Uhm, I dunno if I told you this, but you look good tonight."
"Only about the fifth time, but it's still appreciated," Hailey replied with a smile. Coyly, she reached over and took his hand in hers. "Wanna do something special?"
"Is this going to get either of us in trouble?"
"Not that, silly." Hailey gave him another playful swat. "How about a moonlit flight over the ocean?"
"It worked for Hiccup and Astrid," Dennis admitted, "so why not?"
Hailey said a couple of words that were almost comprehensible, then grinned. "That takes care of anyone who could see us. Okay, let's change and take to the skies, lover boy."
Five minutes later, they were soaring at altitude above the clouds, under the light of the moon. They could see the Atlantic Ocean beneath them, the moonlight sparkling off the relatively calm surface.
"This, this is amazing."
Hailey only nodded as they continued to soar above the clouds.
27 April 2011, 1530 Lima(EDT)
"So, Clockblocker, do you know why you're here?" asked one of the power testing crew, Paul Marino.
"Due to circumstances beyond my control, my powers have been altered, and thus mandatory powers testing is required per regulation PRT 17.4.32, section 2," answered Dennis, with exaggerated formality.
"Okay, that was not what I expected," Mr. Marino admitted with a scratch. "You are, however, correct. And I'm fortunate that I have at least some idea of what I need to test you on." With a flick he scrolled through the list on his tablet. "First up, I'll need you to demonstrate your Changer ability -- holy shit!" The last had come out as an unmanly squeak.
On the word "changer," Dennis transformed into his full sized copper dragon form. He very carefully watched the reactions of the power testing staff around the hangar, which weren't as severe as they could have been thanks to successfully holding in his frightful presence. "As fun as this is," he rumbled, "I think it'd be safer for me to slip into something a bit smaller," he commented, and the massive copper dragon shrank into something in between Naurelin and Panacea's dragon forms in size.
"So, your Changer ability allows you to change your size, too?" one of the testing crew asked, finally recovering the use of their voice.
"I've been told it's completely free form," Dennis replied. "I just haven't had much of a chance to experiment beyond size changes and color patterns." With that he changed his copper-hued scales into a match for the hangar floor, then a garish chartreuse and fluorescent orange plaid pattern, and finished with a classic "Eat at Fugly Bob's" advertisement on his side.
"Why do they always do that?" Paul asked himself in a low voice. "Because awesome powers were meant to be used stupidly," he muttered, answering his own question although Dennis heard it quite clearly. "Most impressive," the man continued in a normal voice. "I'll have to ask that you not do the plaid again, at least without warning."
"Everyone's a critic," Dennis deadpanned. "And yes, I've been warned about impersonating other people. Director Piggot summed it up nicely. Don't." His shoulders shifted in the draconic equivalent of a shrug. "Not that I'm that good of an actor."
"Moving on," Paul said, "we're doing flight testing."
"The typical urban flight course?"
"You know about it?"
"Kid Win, Aegis, and Naurelin have all said something about it. This," and with that, Dennis' form changed back into the airliner sized dragon, "has a snowball's chance in Hell of making it through that course. I probably can't walk down the streets without brushing the buildings in the business district with my wings, and that's only if the roads can take the weight."
"So noted," Paul replied while writing things down on his tablet. "Still, they'd like you to try."
"On their heads be it," Clockblocker rumbled, as he took to the air, slowly rising and making his way out to the course.
- - - - - - - - - -
"I told you what would happen," Dennis told Paul fifteen minutes later.
"Indeed you did," the man agreed. "I did not, however, expect the demolition of the course to be so complete. Did you have to go back and knock that last bit down?"
"Yes, I did," Dennis replied with a grin. "If only to be complete and thorough. It clashed with the new landscaping."
"Okay, so we can mark down 'Brute : Yes', 'Mover : Yes' and 'Shaker : Yes' on the test results. I'm assuming you have some kind of breath weapon, like the others?"
"I spray acid, and breathe a gas that slows people down to a crawl." Dennis glared at the man before slumping his shoulders. "I'm going to have to demonstrate, aren't I?"
"Is it going to be worse than Dragon's test?" Paul asked. There was an area on the test range that had been stripped of all organic matter, and most of the loose rocks. Planning was still deciding what to do with it.
"I'll make it easy on you, for demonstration purposes," Dennis said, shrinking to the size of Panacea's dragon form. "This is about a quarter the size, and the damage should be proportionally smaller."
"Your targets are on the range, marked one through six," Paul told him.
- - - - - - - - - -
"This day has both been informative and completely useless," Paul groused.
"Not your fault," Dennis added. "PRT rules require 'objective testing by a neutral third party'. I just think they didn't have capes as destructive as a dragon from myth, legend, and fantasy fiction in mind."
"No," the man admitted. "No, they did not." He scrolled through something on his tablet, then looked askance at Dennis. "Nothing in here says you have any knowledge of the rules and regs," he commented.
"Can't know how far to push if I don't know where the line is," Dennis quipped, buffing one set of claws against his scutes. "The clown act is an act. If people think I'm just the class clown , they underestimate me. It drives the bad guys nuts, too, unless they're Uber and Leet. And it cheers up the other Wards, especially the younger ones, though Vista will never admit it."
"Several points to you, then." Paul reviewed his tablet. "I've got a note here from Andraste that you should have several minor abilities to play with. Care to demonstrate?"
"Should be simple enough," Dennis admitted, and then proceeded, as a smallish dragon, to walk up a wall, walk across a wall, and even walk upside down on the ceiling of the hangar. "I can do that full-sized, too."
"Please don't," Paul quickly interjected. "Anything else?"
"Well, I can do this," Dennis admitted, causing a large, sturdy stone wall to appear, "and shape it a bit," he continued as some crude figures appeared in bas-relief along the wall, "and if I don't like it, I can do this," he said as the wall slumped into a pile of mud, "and then get rid of the evidence." The earth moved, and when he was finished a mound of earth covered the pile of mud. "When the original stone wall times out the mud should disappear, and it all should level out."
"Very good. I assume you have other, more varied abilities?"
"Like Naurelin's 'spells'?"
"Yep."
"At the moment, no. I've been told I've got the potential for them, though. Looking forward to it." His toothy grin promised epic levels of mischief.
"Angels and ministers of grace defend us," Paul muttered. "Anyway," he said, in a louder voice, "I think we're done here. I'll get this all typed up and submitted. Also, we would prefer that you take the short hop transport back, instead of flying yourself over."
//\\//\\//\\
Wards' duties done for the day, Dennis returned home.
"Dennis," his mom said when he walked in the house, "your girlfriend called. Wanted to know if you wanted to go out for a movie tonight." She looked at him with the somewhat confused look parents can get when their children have done something unexpected. "I didn't know you had a girlfriend."
"It's recent. I haven't brought her over to meet you guys yet," Dennis admitted. "I should probably do that."
Dennis' father nodded from where he sat. "Yes, you should, but there's no hurry." With that, he rubbed his short hair that was growing in now, with his cancer gone. "As it is, we'd like to have you home for dinner, but after that the evening's yours. Just be back by midnight."
- - - - - - - - - -
Dennis made his way over to The Music Hall theater, one of the oldest cinemas on the East Coast. Hailey was soon to arrive. "Evenin'," she greeted him, then gave him a hug.
"Really, How to Train Your Dragon?" he asked, with a look on his face he usually saw on other's faces after he'd had a joke that went over rather flat.
"What, don't like the subject matter?" she asked him, a slight frown on her face.
Dennis had noticed, and brought his hands up defensively. "No, no, it's not that," he explained in a hurry. "It's just -- why does every other dragon in the city appear to be here?" He looked around. "Taylor, Natalie, Amy and Vicky are in the theater. Mr. Wallis and Ms. Richter are just leaving the concession stand, and a couple I'm not familiar with are just paying for their tickets. This can't be a coincidence."
"It's not," a new voice added from behind him. Dennis looked over his shoulder to see Ms. Richter and Mr. Wallis – Dragon and Armsmaster – standing there. "But neither was it completely planned."
"Someone sent us tickets," Colin admitted. "And I was reminded that I needed some downtime."
Dennis noted that Dragon… ahem, Ms. Richter when out of costume, was trying to hide a small, amused smile.
"Funny, that's what happened with me," Hailey admitted, "and if we asked the girls, they'd probably say the same. I suspect there's a meddling older sister of mine involved in this, but I'll take this over her old schemes and plots any year of the century." She looked at her watch. "You two have a fun time, we've got popcorn to grab before things start."
"Enjoy yourself," Theresa said, with a wave as Hailey hauled Dennis after her towards the concessions. "Let's go find our seats," she said to her companion as they walked away.
Colin Wallis said nothing, just nodding in agreement. Better to be thought a fool, he thought to himself, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
- - - - - - - - - -
The movie over, Dennis and Hailey found themselves out on Captain's Hill, enjoying a warm spring evening. "Okay, I admit it, the movie was decent."
Hailey gave him a gentle swat. "Of course it was decent. Hiccup would've been rated a Tinker, wouldn't he?"
"Both him and Gobber." Dennis looked over at Hailey, who had actually worn a blouse and skirt for the evening. "Uhm, I dunno if I told you this, but you look good tonight."
"Only about the fifth time, but it's still appreciated," Hailey replied with a smile. Coyly, she reached over and took his hand in hers. "Wanna do something special?"
"Is this going to get either of us in trouble?"
"Not that, silly." Hailey gave him another playful swat. "How about a moonlit flight over the ocean?"
"It worked for Hiccup and Astrid," Dennis admitted, "so why not?"
Hailey said a couple of words that were almost comprehensible, then grinned. "That takes care of anyone who could see us. Okay, let's change and take to the skies, lover boy."
Five minutes later, they were soaring at altitude above the clouds, under the light of the moon. They could see the Atlantic Ocean beneath them, the moonlight sparkling off the relatively calm surface.
"This, this is amazing."
Hailey only nodded as they continued to soar above the clouds.
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