Hoch Lebe das Brausende Meer

KMS Gneisenau, Svalbard Battleship Princess, FNS Väinämöinen, RM Giulio Cesare, HMS Iron Duke

[epicsause-official]

data really is beautiful

[sailorcuba]

the purest form of serotonin is when a cat looks at u and u go like “what?” and it meows at u

[arborealgargoyle]

like, that is a very unspecific response I still have no idea what you want but I applaud how adorably you meowed all the same, well done

[arborealgargoyle]

This post led me to reminisce on the nature of cat’s meowing, and I have a funny story

I befriended a feral cat once who had spent her life in the forest without human interaction. I was worried about her because she had a paw damaged from an old injury and was emaciated but obviously nursing kittens that were hidden away somewhere. It took me weeks of putting out food and sitting across the yard every evening for her to trust me even a little and when she decided we were friends and she expected dinner every night she started coming to my door and trying to call for me in the evening, but she didn’t meow. Why would she? Cats only meow naturally as kittens when their vocal chords/ears aren’t fully developed, adult cats communicate with vocalizations that aren’t audible to humans. She probably tried making noises I couldn’t hear to call me but ended up sticking to the one I always responded to- a horrible yowling growl that she had made at me when we first encountered each other in the forest. Except once we were friends she would make this noise while purring and rubbing affectionately against a nearby tree or the porch railing (because she didn’t want to touch me yet). This understandably freaked my family members out but I was touched that she had taken the time to find a way to basically yell FUCK OFF in an affectionate way.

Fast forward to when she finally trusts me enough to bring her hidden kittens out of the forest to me, long story short I gained their trust and put them in this big pen, that I had previously used to keep chickens in, so they’d be safe and to keep her from having another litter. Except she was already secretly pregnant again! (Fix your pets, guys, they make SO many babies) and ended up having her new babies in this pen. I kept my distance, sitting on the outside once they were born until she seemed comfortable enough to let me come inside. The kittens were a bit wild, hissing viscously at me as soon as they opened their eyes, but they warmed up to me. There were four of them and soon they all wanted to be the center of attention during the twice daily play sessions. I’d be playing with one and another would meow insistently behind me and I’d immediately answer them and give them love, teaching them that humans could be friends that answer their needs- making them adoptable once they were weaned. Mama cat (Artie) would just watch me play with them, and I guess she was doing some thinking because one day when they were about a month old I was playing with them and one meowed behind me. I was confused because I hadn’t realized there was a kitten behind me and when I turned, there wasn’t. The only cat there was Artie looking at me really intensely. I turned back around to the kittens and I heard the meow again, I turned back to Artie and responded in the way I always did with the kittens “yes baby?” And she meowed again in an exact imitation of her kittens! After that she would.not.shut.up. It was like she had cracked some kind of code, meowing for attention and snacks and just to say hi. Her two older kittens, the ones she’d had in the forest, had never meowed at me either but started to once they saw how I responded to their mom. and I find it endlessly fascinating because before that it had never occurred to me that cats only meow at humans because they were taught by other cats to keep meowing past kittenhood because that’s the best way to get a human’s attention.

Imagine befriending some weird giant with the wrong number of legs that you met in the forest who seems nice enough but doesn’t seem to be able to hear you, until your friend explains that all they can understand is fuck off! And I’m a baby give me love!

[theirisianprincess]

Yeah it's a mystery

[cyber-newtype]

[warnug]

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

The Earl extended his arm out taking Väinämöinen‘s with a firm grip and shaking it with a nod. Rather informal but seeing as he Finn had shown her willingness to hold herself to a pact he didn’t see it necessary to make it blood just yet. “Thank you Väinämöinen, pleasure in making a better acquittance of you.” However he had to give the Finn a small warning.

“With all this I just think you also need to know one or two things.” The tall bone faced man leant in making him look as serious as he could, his tone of voice matching. “Should the Admiral here ever find out you’re looking for the rose, do prepare yourself for the worst. The island’s heart will have nearly every good fae want your blood, most will not touch you from my protection upon you but some will not care. You’ve been warned o spirit of steel ship. Remember, you are not their neighbour.”

A quiet moment passed, the Finn nodding.

“If there is anything you need not drill in me, it is the necessity of secrecy. Do not forget my background in intelligence and subterfuge, teidän ylhäisyytenne. The whimsy of the fae is not familiar to me, but I am known for my resilience and resourcefulness. After all, who do you think kept the Barents Fleet supplied on Russian supply lines?” With her usual serene smile, Väinämöinen prepared to return to the surrender at hand and part with the Earl.

“The pleasure of acquaintance is mine, Admiral. After all, I already know you’re good for your word. Take care out there.”

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

“Find me the Pink Rose, the heart or Orkney and you can have the means to make her new. As either Scharnhorst or Svalbard, whatever you wish.You’ll be staying at these islands a while I think, plenty of time to look. Just be careful you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the fog. If you wish to talk to me, just ask Mary, she’ll be more than willing to accommodate an opportunity to talk without all the fog and mirrors.”

This wasn’t the main way to his goal, just an insurance in case things went array. So long as there was some unpredictability to islands then things would move toward his goals. Connections were everything. From his coat pocket he pulled out a piece of brown aged paper.

“Anything related to an original ship as a sort of resonance with them. It helps them reach their potential, the upper limits of power or even hold them down like shackles. Like for example the original chain to an anchor or the plans to a what if or would have been. All these things have a power of sorts. I have both the things to resonate with Scharnhorst and make her stronger. All for a fair trade.” The paper was plan not for Scharnhorst or anyone else the finn knew, but for Ilmarinen, their sister. “That there is a token of my generosity, you can have the original one delivered when you are settled in your internment. I hear things like this are very useful for summoning.”

Of course, she would have to find the rose; there was always an ulterior motive. Taking the paper, Väinämöinen looked it over in a stunned silence. Nodding slowly, she tucked it in her pocket. What was the correct path to take? The correct thing to do? A puzzling dilemma. Of course, nothing meant more to her than Scharnhorst, and she would do nearly anything for her.

Nearly. But would that include betraying the nation taking her in and offering her asylum from the no-doubt furious Finnish Navy? To that effect, she would be furthering the cause of another Abyssal Fleet, possibly with disastrous consequences to the magical ecosystem of the Orkneys. Was Scharnhorst worth that much to her? Was it worth more than her very humanity?

Her humanity was in question as it stood. Standing by Scharnhorst after her fall would forever be a slight against her, on her actual record and socially. If this got out - and she knew those who would resort to blackmail to get their way - she would lose all possibility of redemption, especially in the eyes of the United Kingdom.

Could she throw away the possibility of her own redemption all in a gamble to get back the ship who saved her life?

Without hesitation.

“Very well; you shall have your rose. As long as you deliver on your end of the bargain, I shall on mine, on the honor of my own namesake.” Extending her hand once more, she was prepared to shake away even her own life for Scharnhorst.

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

“I’d love to hear anything you compose, music stirs the soul and even I cannot sit idle to a good rhythm.” The Earl accepted the possible concert with a nod towards the Finn.

“But yes, why do I tell you? Why indeed to I spill all these little secrets upon you?” He waved a hand making the window disappear humming to himself amused. “Is knowledge a gift or a burden? For some it’s something that gnaws at the back of your mind, eating away at your soul. For other it’s a blessing, a door to new worlds and opportunities.”

“Like for example, what if you had the knowledge to rebuild your Scharnhorst. Not to be like her sister but to be improved? To be stronger than ever before like Odin’s hammer on the North Sea. Would you let her know or keep it to yourself to have a more peaceful world?”

The moment of silence after that statement was a very, very pregnant one, as Väinämöinen thought for a long, long time.

“You never fail to surprise me; here I was, thinking this was a casual visit. I... I would take that chance. I would make Scharnhorst stronger without hesitation, knowing she is back on the right path. If there is a pitch you have to give, then let us not tarry; was it not you who said that the fog is a fickle thing?”

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

“I know, I don’t imagine for a scant second the fact that the coercement of Mary was before she met Gneisenau or Svalbard will matter at all to them. It really does put me in quite the predicament.” He almost chuckled again folding his arms across his chest. “I’m not too afraid, I have my own loyal ships who will defend me even if they don’t agree with my actions at every turn. I hope so of what I do will be forgiven, I don’t always pull the strings to myself.”

“Plus I never want to actually use the damn hex, my plan is merely to use her then cast it off. Her own guilt will be the real curse she’s left with. The fire and fury are just fear tools, never to be used unless she actually tries to kill me. Why if she wasn’t so afraid of death I’d have never gotten this far.”

He looked on at the battlecruiser and shook his head, “If she’d only taken the job in the south. She’d have never gotten herself into this but then, what could have happened I wonder.” He gestured onwards to the fog bank beside her, pure white mist that shifted to make a window to what looked like a cave, where a tall pink rose grew in fine black sand lit only by the sun through the tiniest crack in the ceiling. ”The heart of Orkney, the rose of crows and what gives life to these islands. Isn’t it beautiful?”

The Finn nodded along, allowing her vision to be guided to the rose.

“A beautiful flower indeed. Why, though, do you show this to me? I am but a humble retainer, soon to be interred as a prisoner of war with my liege. Though I understand the message regarding our former seas, I must admit this is... quite a lot for you to trust me with. Do you not fear that I would turn to your great great granddaughter and tip what I know?” She wouldn’t, of course; she was very invested in the business of keeping people’s secrets, after all.

Whether she would tell Scharnhorst, however remained to be seen.

“Such a mystical nature permeates these isles that I must admit I’m almost reminded of my fair Suomi. I may yet compose a song for the Orkneys; you are welcome to hear it, if I do.”

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

He chuckled to himself “Ha, I think most of them will be surprised I’m alive. I mean, after all I was buried in a Cathedral. I think at least the Admiral Miss Jellicoe, my dear great great granddaughter has figured out it’s me since I have gone after something only our family would know.”

“If you want your captivity to be quiet I’d keep that to yourself least you want to be interviewed by her more than a few times. Plus I really don’t want it being a public scandal Aha, if word really did get out I’d have a lot of very disappointed ships after me. Plus the tabloids ill have a field day. Well it’s not like I can help what I do these days, someone else guides the strings.”

His hand fanned at the fog which parted to his command revealing not the Admiral but Mary stood stiff as a board with her usual unhappy expression as if she knew who the fog came from.

“Family is troubling. It was too easy to threaten this one with hers. I threatened her to serve me or I went after her sister. From there she now has a spell around her neck made from blood. Should she ever betray me she will experience the same death she once had. An immolation of herself just as before. Once that was done I didn’t even need the sister, her own fear of death has kept her loyal. Ghastly isn’t it? But thanks to it she sings like a canary for me. But her usefulness is coming to an end now, I’ll at least let her go peacefully. It’s just can she live with the guilt after?”

“It’s a shame. This poor girl perhaps in a big to redeem herself showed a kindness to Gneisenau. The betrayal when it gets out will be quite strong, at least to her friends.”

Väinämöinen looked over the stock-still battlecruiser, nose crinkling in some unspoken emotion.

“You act with the strangest scruples, Admiral. So polite and almost endearing a personality, yet the things you do to others to enact your will - or the will of those above you, be that as it may - are enough to send shivers up one’s spine.”

“However, I do think myself a good judge of character and a skilled interpreter of emotions and intentions. If I may? Gneisenau develops incredibly strong bonds when her walls are bypassed; when she learns of Mary’s betrayal, I have a prediction for how she will respond, if she’s out of the hospital by that point.”

“The girl may be easily riled to anger and action, but I bet 200 markka that her fury will not be directed towards Mary, but towards the one who coerced Mary into this betrayal. And if you recall the agreement between yourself and the now-former Svalbard Battleship Princess...” She laughed, an unfamiliar and almost haunting sound.

“I believe you had best be on your toes, because that makes two angry German battleships on your heels.”

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

“If the world hears about it won’t be from my mouth” the Eark assured her with a hand to his chest as a symbolic gesture “My lips will be sealed, you have my world as the Viscount of these lands.” The silence wasn’t something he really wanted when it was hard enough to make time flow so slowly. He spoke up talking on a tangent.

“Family is tough to deal with isn’t it? Not always on the same page, often on two sides of a conflict. I’m familiar with how tough it can be, things run much smoother if your family isn’t making you question each and every action. I’m a little surprised dear Miss Cold War Princess is that upset about it all, the again hive families are much different aren’t they?” He didn’t want to speak of the island, all he knew was that there were a lot of very unhappy spirits he was helping accommodate.

“Aren’t you worried about what Ilmarinen will think when she comes about?”

The Finn exhaled, a long breath of relief taking the tension from her body.

“I... haven’t thought about Ilmarinen in a very, very long time. She has not come home yet, and... now, I wonder if she ever will. Should she rise from the depths or be merged with another, I will explain myself to her. If she truly is my sister, she will understand the gravity of a lifedebt. If not... then I will bear the burden of knowing my sister’s disapproval. I have come too far and fought too hard to be brought low by anyone’s opinion; even that of my own hypothetical sister.”  Quirking an eyebrow, Väinämöinen met his gaze once more.

“And what about you? What will you do when your surviving family and the ships who once served you discover your true identity? I imagine it’ll be a lot to answer for.”

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

“Time waits for no man but since I asked it very nicely we can have a nice uninterrupted conversation as the fog passes slower and a trawler.” He looked around at the fog letting out a slow breath that came out the same as the fog. “I heard what happened, why they did move through my territory after all, I let them pass unimpeded as I promised.” The Earl tapped the end of his bony snout informing the Finn “Plus the moment you spoke with the Admiral a little bird was relaying everything to me of what you’re doing here today. Yet I didn’t stop you…”

“Now I’m not here to convince you or your fleet otherwise about surrendering but I will inform you I shall be taking up the Princess’s territory for my own. Not to terrorize, much. Rather it’s good for my business venture to have some more mileage up the Norwegian coast.” He gestured toward her asking “I am curious as what you have to discuss with me. I was but a mere participant in that treaty, it’s not like I’m going to try anything on her sister now she’s interned. So prey tell, what words do you have for me?”

The defense ship sighed, nodding.

“Your intelligence-gathering capability is astounding; it almost puts mine to shame. Almost.” Exhaling quietly, she moved to cross her arms.

“Bjørnøya is gone. The island was removed from existence by a beam of light that came from the heavens themselves. I do not know what form of might or magic has performed this act, only that it acts at the behest of the Cold War Princess. She was quite dissatisfied with Scharnhorst’s failure to kill Gneisenau herself, it would seem; she made talk of ‘resolve’ when I arrived home. I have nothing to offer you, no contract to bind, but... if you could keep the knowledge of Scharnhorst’s continued... existence from making its way across the grapevine, I would be obliged.” For a second, the Finn looked... desperate? Sad? She was hard to read, but she refused to meet the Earl’s eye, instead looking off into the fog and taking a moment to enjoy the quiet within.

“Perhaps much was an exaggeration. So much thinking, so little rest; it makes one easily overwhelmed.”

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

As Lucy was about to stand up and reach over to at least shake Väinämöinen by the hand she paused and looked to her left. A whistle called out as a lookout shouted “Fog Bank incoming!” To Lucy began to shout orders! “To stations people! Radars up, make a signal count. No ships move unless told to, we’re near a cliff for gods sake I don’t want falling or or running into rocks. It’ll pass soon, hold till it passes.”

The fog quickly crept in over the small event from the sea, a misty white slithering through the grass towards the, Lucy stood, arms crossed waiting for it to pass over them, for Väinämöinen she’d see a twig subtle held between the Admiral’s fingers as she vanished from sight so thick was the fog. Then it got quiet, eerily quiet as the world seemed to vanish. The sea did not roar, the wind did not howl. It was just a silence with Väinämöinen stood on her own where even the table had gone. Any call out’s for Lucy or anyone went unheeded.

The silence was broken with a sudden cough for attention from behind the Finn as steps in the grass became louder in the silence.

“It’s been a while hasn’t it?” The Earl greeted as the fog thinned a bit to reveal him. “I hope you don’t mind me interrupting, but it was the only chance I’d have to talk to you before you were taken away. “You look well Väinämöinen.”

The Finn herself rose to her feet, and was reaching out to do the same when the fog swept in. The amount of alarm the British delegation showed at the fog suddenly rolling in set Väinämöinen on edge; no one would be stupid enough to launch an attack on the United Kingdom just to finish the job on Scharnhorst, would they? The ships at sea and the Praetorian Guard, yet to be interned, immediately entered a state of alert to match the British vessels alongside them.

Väinämöinen unclasped the snap on her L-35 just in time to hear a throat clear behind her, whereupon she panicked and drew it, snapping a one hundred and eighty degree turn - only to see a striking and familiar visage.

“Ah, teidän ylhäisyytenne, you startled me - I would be better if my Scharnhorst were not in so ill a condition. I would assume both that the fog is your doing and that none can hear our conversation because of it, then? If so, good. If you know what happened, then we have much to discuss.” She gingerly set the pistol back in its holster, but pointedly did not clasp the seal. Her hands rested together in front of her.

[thescharnhorsts]

mechanicaldaughter‌:

Jellicoe wasn’t very impressed with Väinämöinen at all. The smugness of her to someone she was supposed to be surrendering to was getting on her nerves. “Diligently? So am I supposed to take your word for it? We’ve not over run you, we did not barge our way into the records room and took it as we please. This is being given to us on a near silver platter. Time could have been taken to careful manufacture and fabricate whatever narrative you wished for. Not to mention not every record is gospel, people make mistakes, opponents over blown to look good for guts and glory. It is not your decision to say if we believe it or not. This surrender isn’t over in just a day, no matter how big or small one is it will take possibly years to make closure.” Lucy leant back in her chair, her word said. Not a professional statement but one she felt needed to be said.With an adjustment of her tie as a bit of recomposing.

“And I’ll thank you not to wag a finger at me. I am not a child.” She went over the paper and made sure everything was worded exactly how it should be along with an attachment for the treatment of surrender persons. All proper and offical as it could be for such an odd war. The paper was checked by Mary and handed back to both Väinämöinen  and Lucy to sign each.

The defense ship shrugged, leaning back a little more in her chair.

“The validity of the records and information I provide can be vouched for by none but myself and the submarines in my entourage who were among those gathering it. Time shall tell, Admiral. Time shall tell.” Väinämöinen looked over the papers as well, nodding an affirmative when she was finished. An odd dilemma struck her; how she should sign.

After a momentary existential crisis, the ship signed FNS Väinämöinen, deciding that in this capacity she had not earned the use of a true name.

“And thus the Barents Fleet is a threat no more. Thank you, Admiral, for helping me on the path to healing. I daresay I look forward to my imprisonment.”

[thescharnhorsts]

Veni, Vidi, Veni

[thescharnhorsts]

kakokaini‌:

Keep reading

The battleship flushed a little, looking aside. “The idea was... kind of uh... kind of a fantasy of mine. I’m... I’m torn between asking you if that was too far or... Okay look I’m not really good at this whole domming thing. I thought I could vent some frustration and turn things around with this weird sex fantasy but honestly I just... wanna keep going normally. Is that... is that okay?” She twiddled her thumbs, flushing even further red.

“Sorry. I... I don’t know how to get anything out, either. I didn’t... I didn’t think about that either.”

[shadowgst-deactivated20210503]

Enter Ghost Recon

[thescharnhorsts]

ghostsntheshadows‌:

With no other choice, the Ghosts has neither reason but to comply with the Abyssal’s demand. With a single voice command, they would deactivate their cloaking devices making their presence known. The first two would appear right in front of their eccentric host down the end of the table, glaring at her with severe intensity while the other half present themselves right along the side where the Ri-class battleships were. All four had their rifles drawn, aiming the iron sights down at the very beings that plague the high seas for years. The electronic contact lenses they were wearing illuminated a bright shade of blue. Filling the air with apprehension and uncertainty of what was going to happen next.  

A few seconds felt like an eternity for these silent operators, their fingers resting against the trigger staring right at the Abyssals intensely not busting a single inch of movement while in turn, the soulless abominations stared back at them with large cannons at the ready. When it comes to being a part of this elite spec ops unit, it’s top tier operators were amongst the very best the United States had to offer. The silent professionals that couldn’t be seen, couldn’t be heard and has always managed to give their enemies the nightmares that kept them awake at night. However, with all their skills and unique professionalism, this particular Ghost team were the ones that have been drawn from the shadows and found themselves boxed in on all sides.

There was nothing much they could do in a predicament like this knowing full well what the Ghosts were dealing with. What’s worse, there was the worse possible outcome that they could have their asses blown up into charted pieces of themselves. Not to mention getting turn about for the full terrifying unholy might of Abyssal navel firepower given the chance. All of this would drive in for the Ghosts to wonder just what were they actually even dealing with right now? Sure they had heard the stories on how these derelicts ravaged the seas but never had these operators seen one with such intelligence, cunning, and possession of a silver tongue the likes of which it was never seen. 

One of the Ghosts assumed to be the team leader, proceeded to move his hand pressing a button on his electronic cross-com lenses seemingly trying to notify his superiors of this sudden turn of events “Ghost lead to command, our team had just made contact with the target, and we appeared to have been boxed in on all sides, requesting further orders over?” For a moment, there would have been a brief exchange of communication between the leader and the higher chain of command. Though any attempt of interception on the Abyssal’s part would have been futile due to the advanced rolling encrypted security signals embedded within the device.

Another brief moment of communication passes by, only this time, the Ghost team leader would perk his head up almost as if he was surprised for some apparent reason. The other three glances their heads over carrying the same expression as they must have picked up on the com lines. With utter reluctance, all four nods at one another and slowly lowered their arms, and silently took their seats not saying a single word to one another. They still had their rifles on the side of their slings and could easily draw them out again in case the enemy tried to pull a fast one. It was not very long when the Ghost lead made a hard glare at the eccentric Hime class ship before speaking “Okay, now since you decided to throw this little dinner party for us, there are actually two things that I want you to understand,” he proceeded to point a finger towards his own cross-com making sure the derelicts had his attention “This little thing we Ghosts are wearing have state of the art facial recognition technology and live camera feed to our superiors. Which means, Scharnhorst, we know who you are, and if you try anything on us in return, you can rest assured these caverns will be up in smokes via drone strike before you even realized it.” 

The battleship’s eyebrow went up at the mention of her true name; she never appeared before her government to return to service. Could it have cross-referenced based on her sister? Technology became an ever more concerning thing.

“If I wanted you boys dead, you already would be. Väinä? I believe we’re ready.” The Finn nodded, her song ending abruptly as she stood and left, presumably for the kitchen. Once her retainer was gone, the Svalbard Battleship Princess took her own seat.

“It’s quite a shame the jig’s up, really; I was hoping to leave an atmosphere of mystery and suspense to our little charade, but I must admit this leaves me a little... blindsided. After all, I can’t very well guess a list of redacted names, can I? Regardless, I know why you’re here.”

“Information. The Pentagon is already aware something was... fishy with the timing and situation of the border conflict between the Finns and the Russians, no? With the Baltic Fleet being safely nestled in St. Petersburg, the whole lot of them have an alibi, too. So many questions remain: Who fired on the city of Turku? Who cut communications along the entire border? Who provided arms and training for the pro-Finnish resistance in the Russian-held Karelia? And why, oh why, did this coincide so perfectly with the Abyssal blockades of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk by sea and air, and the disjointed Abyssal attacks on every Russian sea holding?” Holding a smug grin over a pregnant pause, the regent then shook her head.

“You’ll have to do a bit of work to get those kinds of answers out of me. I am curious how you thought you’d do that if I was abducted or how you’d even abduct me at all! Your superiors sent you walking into the serpent’s nest without an idea of what kind of snake lived there. A pity.”

“So, shall we strike a deal? You tell me what I want to know, and I tell you what you want to know, no waterboarding required. I think that’s awful generous, talking to my would-be kidnappers, no?”

[thescharnhorsts]

Veni, Vidi, Veni

[thescharnhorsts]

kakokaini‌:

Keep reading

Down and down the dildo went, rammed forward by the insistent and steady push of Cesare’s hips. It didn’t take long for the toy to reach the tight sphincter separating Fiume’s stomach from her throat, and it took even less time to force the poor girl’s stomach to accept this lewd ‘meal’ into the already-stewing pool of jizz still sloshing inside. Content that the toy was now pushed well beyond the point of no return, the battleship slowly withdrew her hips, pulling her cock once more from Fiume’s throat.

“So, where were we? Ah, yes. What on this dear earth should I do with you next, Fiume? I have all the time and toys in the world, you know; we could keep doing this until the war ends.” Smacking the fat tip against Fiume’s chin, Cesare grinned.

“Say, have you ever tried anything... up the rear before? I hear everyone’s first time is a time to behold and cherish.”