Hot wheels 69 mercury cougar eliminator
[H] TF2 Keys & PayPal [W] Humble Bundle Games (Also Games From Past Bundles)
2023.06.03 00:00 FappidyDat [H] TF2 Keys & PayPal [W] Humble Bundle Games (Also Games From Past Bundles)
Notes:
I pay with the following:
TF2 & PayPal
IGS Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/ggsaik/fappidydats_igs_rep_page/
SteamTrades Rep Page (1000+):
https://www.steamtrades.com/use76561198097671494
GameTrade Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/GameTradeRep/comments/ggrz1y/fappidydats_gametrade_rep_page/?
SGSFlair Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/sgsflaicomments/ggag04/flair_profile_ufappidydat/
submitted by FappidyDat to SteamGameSwap [link] [comments]
- I am EXTREMELY busy, but I check my messages and DMs at least ONCE per day. Please be patient and wait at least 24 hours for my response if I don't get back to you immediately.
- I buy only in Unrevealed Key Link Format or Plain Steam Keys. No gift links.
- For PayPal, I am in the US region and I only send via G&S. Please note there will be PayPal fees (including international/conversion and purchasing fees) to consider.
- All games that you sell to me should ideally be REGION-FREE. Please ensure the games are not region-locked/bound to a specific country.
- You must be willing to fill a spreadsheet with steam keys.
I pay with the following:
TF2 & PayPal
| I BUY HB Games | with TF2 | with PayPal | Currently Active Humble Bundle? |
|---|---|---|---|
| - Ratz Instagib - | 0.9 TF2 | $1.72 PP | - |
| 20XX | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| 5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel | 2.6 TF2 | $5.19 PP | - |
| 60 Parsecs! | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| 7 Billion Humans | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| 7 Days to Die | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| A Game of Thrones: The Board Game - Digital Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.78 PP | - |
| A Hat in Time | 4.5 TF2 | $8.98 PP | - |
| A Juggler's Tale | 0.5 TF2 | $1.07 PP | - |
| A Plague Tale: Innocence | 1.9 TF2 | $3.81 PP | - |
| AMID EVIL | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| AO Tennis 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.3 PP | - |
| Absolver | 1.8 TF2 | $3.51 PP | - |
| Aeterna Noctis | 1.6 TF2 | $3.15 PP | - |
| Age of Empires Definitive Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.46 PP | - |
| Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders III Collection | 0.9 TF2 | $1.86 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders: Planetfall - Deluxe Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders: Planetfall | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Airport CEO | 2.8 TF2 | $5.62 PP | - |
| Alan Wake Collector's Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.68 PP | - |
| Alien: Isolation | 1.8 TF2 | $3.52 PP | - |
| Aliens: Colonial Marines Collection | 1.2 TF2 | $2.45 PP | - |
| Aliens: Fireteam Elite | 1.0 TF2 | $1.99 PP | - |
| Amnesia: The Dark Descent | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Among Us | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Ancestors Legacy | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| Aragami | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Arizona Sunshine | 2.1 TF2 | $4.21 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Apex Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.24 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Contact Edition | 2.4 TF2 | $4.84 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Jets | 0.9 TF2 | $1.77 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Marksmen | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Arma 3 | 1.9 TF2 | $3.78 PP | - |
| Assetto Corsa Competizione | 2.9 TF2 | $5.83 PP | - |
| Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition | 5.0 TF2 | $9.93 PP | - |
| BATTLETECH - Mercenary Collection | 2.4 TF2 | $4.79 PP | - |
| BIOMUTANT | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE | 0.9 TF2 | $1.75 PP | - |
| BROFORCE | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Baba Is You | 1.5 TF2 | $3.01 PP | - |
| Back 4 Blood | 3.0 TF2 | $5.96 PP | - |
| Bad North: Jotunn Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.77 PP | - |
| Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $1.01 PP | - |
| Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.83 PP | - |
| Bang-On Balls: Chronicles | 2.6 TF2 | $5.14 PP | - |
| Banished | 2.2 TF2 | $4.34 PP | - |
| Barotrauma | 6.5 TF2 | $12.95 PP | - |
| Batman - The Telltale Series | 1.0 TF2 | $1.9 PP | - |
| Batman Arkham Collection | 1.2 TF2 | $2.44 PP | - |
| Batman: Arkham Knight | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham Knight Premium Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham Origins | 0.8 TF2 | $1.67 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham VR | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| Battle Chasers: Nightwar | 0.6 TF2 | $1.21 PP | - |
| Battlefleet Gothic: Armada II | 2.1 TF2 | $4.17 PP | - |
| Battlefleet Gothic: Armada | 0.9 TF2 | $1.72 PP | - |
| Battlezone Gold Edition | 2.2 TF2 | $4.3 PP | - |
| Bendy and the Dark Revival | Humble Choice (May 2023) | ||
| Besiege | 1.5 TF2 | $2.92 PP | - |
| Beyond Blue | 2.5 TF2 | $4.94 PP | - |
| Beyond Two Souls | 1.9 TF2 | $3.83 PP | - |
| BioShock Infinite | 0.9 TF2 | $1.78 PP | - |
| BioShock Remastered | 0.9 TF2 | $1.78 PP | - |
| Bioshock Infinite: Season Pass | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| Blade of Darkness | 1.2 TF2 | $2.47 PP | - |
| Blair Witch | 1.2 TF2 | $2.3 PP | - |
| Blasphemous | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Blood Bowl 2 - Legendary Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.48 PP | - |
| Blood: Fresh Supply | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Boomerang Fu | 0.6 TF2 | $1.2 PP | - |
| Borderlands 2 VR | 5.5 TF2 | $10.93 PP | - |
| Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition | May Multiplayer Bundle | ||
| Borderlands 3 | 1.6 TF2 | $3.23 PP | - |
| Borderlands 3: Director's Cut | 1.3 TF2 | $2.51 PP | - |
| Borderlands: The Handsome Collection | 3.4 TF2 | $6.76 PP | - |
| Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Brutal Legend | 0.8 TF2 | $1.51 PP | - |
| Bus Simulator 18 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.18 PP | - |
| CHUCHEL Cherry Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.97 PP | - |
| Call of Cthulhu | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Call of Juarez: Gunslinger | 0.5 TF2 | $0.96 PP | - |
| Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront | 9.3 TF2 | $18.38 PP | - |
| Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| Carcassonne - Tiles & Tactics | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Celeste | 1.8 TF2 | $3.6 PP | - |
| Chess Ultra | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Children of Morta | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| Chivalry 2 | 3.8 TF2 | $7.45 PP | - |
| Chivalry: Medieval Warfare | 0.7 TF2 | $1.37 PP | - |
| Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.18 PP | - |
| Cities: Skylines | 1.4 TF2 | $2.73 PP | - |
| Clone Drone in the Danger Zone | 4.2 TF2 | $8.32 PP | - |
| Cloudpunk | 1.0 TF2 | $2.02 PP | - |
| Code Vein | 1.7 TF2 | $3.3 PP | - |
| Coffee Talk | 2.5 TF2 | $4.98 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies | 1.0 TF2 | $1.94 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.0 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes | 1.9 TF2 | $3.79 PP | - |
| Conan Exiles | 1.6 TF2 | $3.26 PP | - |
| Construction Simulator 2015 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.48 PP | - |
| Contagion | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Control Ultimate Edition | 2.0 TF2 | $3.93 PP | - |
| Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy | 9.6 TF2 | $19.06 PP | - |
| Creed: Rise to Glory™ | 2.3 TF2 | $4.47 PP | - |
| Crusader Kings II: Imperial Collection | 10.0 TF2 | $19.73 PP | - |
| Crusader Kings III | 5.9 TF2 | $11.73 PP | - |
| CryoFall | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Cultist Simulator Anthology Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.79 PP | - |
| Cultist Simulator | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT | 2.6 TF2 | $5.21 PP | - |
| DEATHLOOP | 2.8 TF2 | $5.47 PP | - |
| DIRT 5 | 4.3 TF2 | $8.44 PP | - |
| DMC - Devil May Cry | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ - Ultimate Edition | 10.0 TF2 | $19.74 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 | 1.9 TF2 | $3.81 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| DRAGONBALL XENOVERSE Bundle Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| DRIFT21 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.12 PP | - |
| Dark Deity | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin | 8.7 TF2 | $17.31 PP | - |
| Dark Souls III | 12.6 TF2 | $24.91 PP | - |
| Darkest Dungeon | 0.7 TF2 | $1.37 PP | - |
| Darksiders Genesis | 1.3 TF2 | $2.67 PP | - |
| Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Darksiders III | 0.6 TF2 | $1.26 PP | - |
| Darkwood | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Day of the Tentacle Remastered | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| DayZ | 7.6 TF2 | $15.03 PP | - |
| Daymare: 1998 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| Dead Estate | 1.0 TF2 | $1.99 PP | - |
| Dead Island - Definitive Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.66 PP | - |
| Dead Island Definitive Collection | 1.7 TF2 | $3.3 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 2: Off the Record | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.7 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 4 Frank’s Big Package | 2.5 TF2 | $4.96 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 4 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.73 PP | - |
| Dead Rising | 1.0 TF2 | $1.96 PP | - |
| Death Road to Canada | 2.4 TF2 | $4.84 PP | - |
| Death's Gambit | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Deep Rock Galactic | 3.3 TF2 | $6.63 PP | - |
| Descenders | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Desperados III | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| Destroy All Humans | 0.7 TF2 | $1.41 PP | - |
| Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Deus Ex: Mankind Divided | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| Devil May Cry HD Collection | 1.8 TF2 | $3.5 PP | - |
| Devil May Cry® 4 Special Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.13 PP | - |
| DiRT Rally 2.0 | 5.1 TF2 | $10.11 PP | - |
| Dinosaur Fossil Hunter | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Distant Worlds: Universe | 0.7 TF2 | $1.29 PP | - |
| Doom Eternal | 2.5 TF2 | $4.94 PP | - |
| Door Kickers | 1.9 TF2 | $3.84 PP | - |
| Dorfromantik | 2.0 TF2 | $3.93 PP | - |
| Dragons Dogma - Dark Arisen | 0.8 TF2 | $1.57 PP | - |
| Drake Hollow | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| Drone Swarm | 0.4 TF2 | $0.81 PP | - |
| Dungeon Defenders | 2.8 TF2 | $5.47 PP | - |
| Dungeon Defenders: Awakened | 2.8 TF2 | $5.59 PP | - |
| Dungreed | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| Dusk | 2.0 TF2 | $3.91 PP | - |
| EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair | 2.2 TF2 | $4.28 PP | - |
| ELEX | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| EVERSPACE™ | 1.6 TF2 | $3.16 PP | - |
| Elite: Dangerous | 1.3 TF2 | $2.67 PP | - |
| Empire of Sin | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| Endzone - A World Apart | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.19 PP | - |
| Exanima | 2.6 TF2 | $5.24 PP | - |
| FTL: Faster Than Light | 1.0 TF2 | $1.92 PP | - |
| Fable Anniversary | 3.7 TF2 | $7.32 PP | - |
| Fallout 76 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.22 PP | - |
| Fantasy General II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Farming Simulator 17 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Firefighting Simulator - The Squad | 3.8 TF2 | $7.47 PP | - |
| First Class Trouble | 0.6 TF2 | $1.12 PP | - |
| For The King | 1.0 TF2 | $1.92 PP | - |
| Forager | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Forts | 2.3 TF2 | $4.52 PP | - |
| Friday the 13th: The Game | 3.0 TF2 | $5.86 PP | - |
| Frostpunk | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Full Metal Furies | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Furi | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| GRID - Ultimate | 2.0 TF2 | $3.97 PP | - |
| GRID | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| GRIS | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Gang Beasts | 3.0 TF2 | $5.89 PP | - |
| Garden Paws | 1.0 TF2 | $2.05 PP | - |
| Gas Station Simulator | 1.9 TF2 | $3.68 PP | - |
| Gears 5 | 11.7 TF2 | $23.1 PP | - |
| Gears Tactics | 4.5 TF2 | $8.93 PP | - |
| Generation Zero® | May Multiplayer Bundle | ||
| Goat Simulator | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| Godlike Burger | 1.1 TF2 | $2.1 PP | - |
| Golf With Your Friends | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Gordian Quest | 1.8 TF2 | $3.58 PP | - |
| Gotham Knights | 5.5 TF2 | $10.83 PP | - |
| GreedFall | 0.8 TF2 | $1.54 PP | - |
| Grim Dawn | 5.2 TF2 | $10.28 PP | - |
| Grim Fandango Remastered | 0.6 TF2 | $1.09 PP | - |
| Guacamelee! 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.19 PP | - |
| HITMAN™2 Gold Edition | 3.1 TF2 | $6.16 PP | - |
| HIVESWAP: Act 2 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.18 PP | - |
| HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ | 1.8 TF2 | $3.66 PP | - |
| HROT | 1.9 TF2 | $3.7 PP | - |
| Haiku, the Robot | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Hard Bullet | 1.2 TF2 | $2.38 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Battle for the Bosporus | 1.8 TF2 | $3.53 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet Edition | 2.7 TF2 | $5.3 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Waking the Tiger | 1.9 TF2 | $3.68 PP | - |
| Heave Ho | 0.6 TF2 | $1.1 PP | - |
| Heavy Rain | 2.1 TF2 | $4.15 PP | - |
| Hell Let Loose | 5.2 TF2 | $10.32 PP | - |
| Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice | 1.1 TF2 | $2.26 PP | - |
| Hello, Neighbor! | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| Hellpoint | 0.4 TF2 | $0.75 PP | - |
| Hero's Hour | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Heroes of Hammerwatch | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Hitman Absolution | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| Hitman Game of the Year Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.61 PP | - |
| Hollow Knight | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Homefront: The Revolution | 0.8 TF2 | $1.68 PP | - |
| Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak | 0.4 TF2 | $0.77 PP | - |
| Horizon Chase Turbo | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number Digital Special Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami | 0.8 TF2 | $1.56 PP | - |
| House Flipper VR | 0.9 TF2 | $1.73 PP | - |
| House Flipper | 2.8 TF2 | $5.5 PP | - |
| Human: Fall Flat | 0.9 TF2 | $1.88 PP | - |
| HuniePop | 0.4 TF2 | $0.89 PP | - |
| Huntdown | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Hurtworld | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| Hyper Light Drifter | 1.6 TF2 | $3.11 PP | - |
| Hypnospace Outlaw | 0.8 TF2 | $1.55 PP | - |
| I Expect You To Die | 1.4 TF2 | $2.68 PP | - |
| I-NFECTED | 6.3 TF2 | $12.5 PP | - |
| INSURGENCY | 1.6 TF2 | $3.16 PP | - |
| Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Imperator: Rome Deluxe Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Imperator: Rome | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Injustice 2 Legendary Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Injustice 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| Injustice: Gods Among Us - Ultimate Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| Into the Breach | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Into the Radius VR | 2.9 TF2 | $5.84 PP | - |
| Ion Fury | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| Iron Harvest | 1.4 TF2 | $2.74 PP | - |
| Jalopy | 0.9 TF2 | $1.87 PP | - |
| Job Simulator | 6.6 TF2 | $13.01 PP | - |
| Jurassic World Evolution 2 | 2.4 TF2 | $4.81 PP | - |
| Jurassic World Evolution | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| Just Cause 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| Just Cause 3 XXL Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.63 PP | - |
| Just Cause 4: Complete Edition | 2.0 TF2 | $3.97 PP | - |
| KartKraft | 3.2 TF2 | $6.3 PP | - |
| Katamari Damacy REROLL | 1.1 TF2 | $2.24 PP | - |
| Katana ZERO | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes | 2.7 TF2 | $5.42 PP | - |
| Kerbal Space Program | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Killer Instinct | 8.8 TF2 | $17.49 PP | - |
| Killing Floor 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.2 PP | - |
| Killing Floor | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Kingdom: Two Crowns | 1.0 TF2 | $1.95 PP | - |
| LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Premium Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| LEGO Batman Trilogy | 1.6 TF2 | $3.07 PP | - |
| LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| LEGO Lord of the Rings | 0.4 TF2 | $0.83 PP | - |
| LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars | 0.5 TF2 | $1.05 PP | - |
| LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| LEGO® City Undercover | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| LEGO® DC Super-Villains Deluxe Edition | 1.7 TF2 | $3.28 PP | - |
| LEGO® DC Super-Villains | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| LEGO® Jurassic World™ | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| LEGO® MARVEL's Avengers | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.83 PP | - |
| LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| LEGO® Star Wars™: The Force Awakens - Deluxe Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| LEGO® Star Wars™: The Force Awakens | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| LEGO® Worlds | 1.1 TF2 | $2.12 PP | - |
| LIMBO | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective | 0.7 TF2 | $1.47 PP | - |
| Labyrinthine | 1.9 TF2 | $3.76 PP | - |
| Lake | 0.8 TF2 | $1.51 PP | - |
| Last Oasis | 1.6 TF2 | $3.11 PP | - |
| Layers of Fear 2 | 6.3 TF2 | $12.52 PP | - |
| Layers of Fear | 0.6 TF2 | $1.12 PP | - |
| Legion TD 2 | 1.7 TF2 | $3.33 PP | - |
| Len's Island | 4.2 TF2 | $8.26 PP | - |
| Lethal League Blaze | 1.5 TF2 | $3.06 PP | - |
| Lethal League | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Library Of Ruina | 3.2 TF2 | $6.42 PP | - |
| Life is Feudal: Your Own | 0.7 TF2 | $1.39 PP | - |
| Life is Strange 2 Complete Season | 0.7 TF2 | $1.33 PP | - |
| Life is Strange Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) | 4.5 TF2 | $8.95 PP | - |
| Little Misfortune | 2.3 TF2 | $4.47 PP | - |
| Little Nightmares Complete Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.22 PP | - |
| Little Nightmares | 1.0 TF2 | $2.06 PP | - |
| Lobotomy Corporation Monster Management Simulation | 5.0 TF2 | $9.99 PP | - |
| Loot River | 3.3 TF2 | $6.47 PP | - |
| Lost Ember | 1.4 TF2 | $2.76 PP | - |
| Luck be a Landlord | Luck of the Draw: Roguelike Deckbuilders Bundle | ||
| METAL GEAR SOLID V: The Definitive Experience | 1.5 TF2 | $2.89 PP | - |
| MONSTER HUNTER RISE | 4.1 TF2 | $8.09 PP | - |
| MORTAL KOMBAT 11 | 1.8 TF2 | $3.53 PP | - |
| MX vs ATV Reflex | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Mad Max | 1.2 TF2 | $2.32 PP | - |
| Mafia II: Definitive Edition | 3.6 TF2 | $7.11 PP | - |
| Mafia III: Definitive Edition | 2.1 TF2 | $4.21 PP | - |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | 2.2 TF2 | $4.36 PP | - |
| Magicka 2 - Deluxe Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Magicka 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Maneater | 0.8 TF2 | $1.63 PP | - |
| Manhunt | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| Mars Horizon | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition | 7.8 TF2 | $15.36 PP | - |
| Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Max Payne | 1.0 TF2 | $2.06 PP | - |
| MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries | 2.5 TF2 | $5.02 PP | - |
| Medal of Honor | 2.1 TF2 | $4.24 PP | - |
| Mega Man Legacy Collection | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 - Deluxe Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 War Chest Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Metro 2033 Redux | 0.5 TF2 | $1.05 PP | - |
| Metro Exodus | 1.4 TF2 | $2.79 PP | - |
| Metro Redux Bundle | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Metro: Last Light Redux | 1.1 TF2 | $2.26 PP | - |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.71 PP | - |
| Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ | 0.9 TF2 | $1.8 PP | - |
| Middleearth Shadow of War Definitive Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.37 PP | - |
| Midnight Ghost Hunt | May Multiplayer Bundle | ||
| Mini Ninjas | 0.5 TF2 | $1.05 PP | - |
| Mirror's Edge | 2.2 TF2 | $4.36 PP | - |
| Miscreated | 1.4 TF2 | $2.87 PP | - |
| Monster Hunter: World | 3.5 TF2 | $6.89 PP | - |
| Monster Sanctuary | 0.6 TF2 | $1.26 PP | - |
| Monster Train | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Moonlighter | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Moons of Madness | 1.8 TF2 | $3.48 PP | - |
| Mordhau | 1.7 TF2 | $3.32 PP | - |
| Mortal Shell | 1.4 TF2 | $2.77 PP | - |
| Motorcycle Mechanic Simulator 2021 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Motorsport Manager | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| Move or Die | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| Moving Out | 1.4 TF2 | $2.82 PP | - |
| Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden - Deluxe Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $3.01 PP | - |
| My Friend Pedro | 1.0 TF2 | $1.91 PP | - |
| My Time At Portia | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 Road to Boruto | 2.6 TF2 | $5.23 PP | - |
| NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM Revolution | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| NASCAR Heat 5 - Ultimate Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.1 PP | - |
| NBA 2K13 | 4.8 TF2 | $9.52 PP | - |
| Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 | 1.6 TF2 | $3.14 PP | - |
| Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker - Deluxe Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.13 PP | - |
| Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker | 0.4 TF2 | $0.83 PP | - |
| Necromunda: Hired Gun | 0.7 TF2 | $1.45 PP | - |
| Neon Abyss | 0.5 TF2 | $1.01 PP | - |
| Neverwinter Nights: Complete Adventures | 3.7 TF2 | $7.33 PP | - |
| Nine Parchments | 2.2 TF2 | $4.27 PP | - |
| No Time to Relax | 2.9 TF2 | $5.75 PP | - |
| Northgard | May Multiplayer Bundle | ||
| Not For Broadcast | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD GOLD EDITION | 2.0 TF2 | $3.91 PP | - |
| ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| ONE PIECE PIRATE WARRIORS 3 Gold Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.38 PP | - |
| Observer | 0.4 TF2 | $0.74 PP | - |
| Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| One Step From Eden | 0.5 TF2 | $1.03 PP | - |
| Operation: Tango | Humble Choice (May 2023) | ||
| Opus Magnum | 1.1 TF2 | $2.13 PP | - |
| Orcs Must Die! 3 | 1.9 TF2 | $3.69 PP | - |
| Outlast 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.17 PP | - |
| Outlast | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| Outward | 1.5 TF2 | $2.94 PP | - |
| Overcooked | 1.0 TF2 | $2.02 PP | - |
| Overcooked! 2 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.59 PP | - |
| Overgrowth | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Overlord II | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Owlboy | 1.0 TF2 | $2.04 PP | - |
| PAYDAY 2 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.82 PP | - |
| PC Building Simulator | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| PGA TOUR 2K21 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Paint the Town Red | 2.4 TF2 | $4.73 PP | - |
| Parkitect | 5.5 TF2 | $10.98 PP | - |
| Party Hard 2 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Pathologic 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| Pathologic Classic HD | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Per Aspera | 0.7 TF2 | $1.39 PP | - |
| Phantom Doctrine | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Pillars of Eternity Definitive Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.66 PP | - |
| Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Pistol Whip | 6.2 TF2 | $12.33 PP | - |
| Plague Inc: Evolved | 1.6 TF2 | $3.23 PP | - |
| Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| Planet Coaster | 1.8 TF2 | $3.55 PP | - |
| Planet Zoo | 2.0 TF2 | $3.93 PP | - |
| Planetary Annihilation: TITANS | 6.0 TF2 | $11.91 PP | - |
| Portal Knights | 1.3 TF2 | $2.62 PP | - |
| Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid | 2.8 TF2 | $5.48 PP | - |
| PowerBeatsVR | 1.0 TF2 | $1.99 PP | - |
| PowerSlave Exhumed | 1.4 TF2 | $2.79 PP | - |
| Praey for the Gods | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Prehistoric Kingdom | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Prison Architect | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Pro Cycling Manager 2019 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.61 PP | - |
| Project Hospital | 2.4 TF2 | $4.82 PP | - |
| Project Wingman | 2.6 TF2 | $5.21 PP | - |
| Project Winter | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Propnight | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| Pumpkin Jack | 0.4 TF2 | $0.84 PP | - |
| Quantum Break | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| RESIDENT EVIL 3 | 2.3 TF2 | $4.49 PP | - |
| RUGBY 20 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| RWBY: Grimm Eclipse | 3.3 TF2 | $6.62 PP | - |
| Ragnaröck | 3.5 TF2 | $6.93 PP | - |
| Rain World | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Raw Data | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Re:Legend | 1.1 TF2 | $2.13 PP | - |
| Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered | 0.5 TF2 | $0.95 PP | - |
| Red Matter | 4.5 TF2 | $8.95 PP | - |
| Resident Evil / biohazard HD REMASTER | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 0 / biohazard 0 HD Remaster | 1.2 TF2 | $2.35 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 5 GOLD Edition | 1.8 TF2 | $3.53 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 5 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 6 | 1.4 TF2 | $2.81 PP | - |
| Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Deluxe Edition | 2.5 TF2 | $4.88 PP | - |
| Resident Evil: Revelations | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| Retro Machina | 0.5 TF2 | $1.02 PP | - |
| Risen 2: Dark Waters Gold Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $2.88 PP | - |
| Risen 3 - Complete Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Risen | 0.9 TF2 | $1.82 PP | - |
| Rising Storm 2: Vietnam | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| River City Girls | 1.4 TF2 | $2.87 PP | - |
| Roboquest | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| RollerCoaster Tycoon Deluxe | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Rollercoaster Tycoon 2: Triple Thrill Pack | 1.7 TF2 | $3.28 PP | - |
| Rubber Bandits | 0.8 TF2 | $1.52 PP | - |
| Ryse: Son of Rome | 1.7 TF2 | $3.38 PP | - |
| SCP: Pandemic | 2.2 TF2 | $4.28 PP | - |
| SCUM | 3.0 TF2 | $5.96 PP | - |
| SOMA | 2.4 TF2 | $4.8 PP | - |
| SONG OF HORROR Complete Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.42 PP | - |
| STAR WARS® THE FORCE UNLEASHED II | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| STAR WARS™: Squadrons | 1.6 TF2 | $3.23 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT VR | 2.3 TF2 | $4.51 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT | 0.8 TF2 | $1.59 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE | 0.5 TF2 | $1.02 PP | - |
| Saint's Row The Third Remastered | 2.3 TF2 | $4.5 PP | - |
| Saints Row 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Saints Row IV Game of the Century Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Saints Row IV | 1.0 TF2 | $2.05 PP | - |
| Saints Row the Third - The Full Package | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| Saints Row: The Third | 0.6 TF2 | $1.27 PP | - |
| Salt and Sanctuary | 1.1 TF2 | $2.15 PP | - |
| Sanctum 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| Satisfactory | 6.6 TF2 | $13.01 PP | - |
| Second Extinction | 2.1 TF2 | $4.11 PP | - |
| Secret Neighbor | 0.9 TF2 | $1.85 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 3: BFE | 1.0 TF2 | $1.99 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 4 | 4.0 TF2 | $7.94 PP | - |
| Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem | 2.3 TF2 | $4.51 PP | - |
| Shadow Man Remastered | 1.0 TF2 | $2.0 PP | - |
| Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Shadow Warrior 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 3.2 TF2 | $6.37 PP | - |
| Shenmue 3 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| Shenmue I & II | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| Shining Resonance Refrain | 0.5 TF2 | $0.96 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization VI : Platinum Edition | 3.0 TF2 | $6.03 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization VI | 0.7 TF2 | $1.47 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization® V: The Complete Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.76 PP | - |
| Sid Meiers Civilization IV: The Complete Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Siege of Centauri | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| SimCasino | 1.3 TF2 | $2.56 PP | - |
| SimplePlanes | 1.9 TF2 | $3.78 PP | - |
| Skullgirls 2nd Encore | 1.2 TF2 | $2.47 PP | - |
| Slap City | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Slay the Spire | 3.6 TF2 | $7.17 PP | - |
| Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| Slime Rancher | 1.7 TF2 | $3.32 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite 3 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.14 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite 4 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.53 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite V2 Remastered | 1.3 TF2 | $2.5 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite V2 | 1.0 TF2 | $2.05 PP | - |
| Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts | 0.9 TF2 | $1.88 PP | - |
| Sonic Adventure DX | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Sonic Adventure 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.86 PP | - |
| Sonic Mania | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Soul Calibur VI | 1.6 TF2 | $3.24 PP | - |
| Source of Madness | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Space Engineers | 2.7 TF2 | $5.3 PP | - |
| Space Haven | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Spec Ops: The Line | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| SpeedRunners | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| Spellcaster University | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Spelunky | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Spirit Of The Island | 1.3 TF2 | $2.59 PP | - |
| Spiritfarer | Humble Choice (May 2023) | ||
| SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated | 1.3 TF2 | $2.51 PP | - |
| Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy | 4.9 TF2 | $9.65 PP | - |
| Star Renegades | 3.0 TF2 | $5.94 PP | - |
| Star Trek: Bridge Crew | 4.4 TF2 | $8.62 PP | - |
| Star Wars Republic Commando™ | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (Classic, 2005) | 1.4 TF2 | $2.7 PP | - |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Star Wars® Empire at War™: Gold Pack | 1.2 TF2 | $2.39 PP | - |
| Starbound | 1.1 TF2 | $2.24 PP | - |
| Starpoint Gemini Warlords | 1.8 TF2 | $3.48 PP | - |
| State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition | 3.0 TF2 | $5.92 PP | - |
| Staxel | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech | 0.9 TF2 | $1.83 PP | - |
| Steel Division: Normandy 44 | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Stellaris Galaxy Edition | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| Stellaris: Lithoids Species Pack | 0.8 TF2 | $1.49 PP | - |
| Stick Fight: The Game | 0.6 TF2 | $1.1 PP | - |
| Strategic Command WWII: World at War | 2.2 TF2 | $4.26 PP | - |
| Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection | 1.5 TF2 | $2.94 PP | - |
| Streets of Rogue | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Stronghold 2: Steam Edition | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| Stronghold Crusader 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.84 PP | - |
| Stronghold Crusader HD | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Styx: Shards Of Darkness | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Subnautica | 3.6 TF2 | $7.15 PP | - |
| Summer in Mara | 0.6 TF2 | $1.09 PP | - |
| Sunless Sea | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Sunless Skies | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| Sunset Overdrive | 1.0 TF2 | $2.01 PP | - |
| Super Meat Boy | 0.5 TF2 | $1.08 PP | - |
| Superliminal | 1.9 TF2 | $3.84 PP | - |
| Supraland Six Inches Under | 1.5 TF2 | $2.89 PP | - |
| Supreme Commander 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| Supreme Commander Forged Alliance | 2.0 TF2 | $4.02 PP | - |
| Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality | 1.8 TF2 | $3.5 PP | - |
| Survive the Nights | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Surviving Mars | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Surviving the Aftermath | 0.7 TF2 | $1.41 PP | - |
| Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet - Complete Edition | 3.3 TF2 | $6.45 PP | - |
| Sword Art Online Hollow Realization Deluxe Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $3.01 PP | - |
| Syberia: The World Before | 1.2 TF2 | $2.32 PP | - |
| Synth Riders | 3.5 TF2 | $6.96 PP | - |
| THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002 UNLIMITED MATCH | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Tales from the Borderlands | 3.4 TF2 | $6.83 PP | - |
| Tales of Berseria | 1.1 TF2 | $2.12 PP | - |
| Tales of Zestiria | 0.9 TF2 | $1.72 PP | - |
| Talisman: Digital Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.94 PP | - |
| Tank Mechanic Simulator | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Telltale Batman Shadows Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $1.9 PP | - |
| Terraforming Mars | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Terraria | 2.2 TF2 | $4.26 PP | - |
| The Ascent | 1.1 TF2 | $2.26 PP | - |
| The Battle of Polytopia | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| The Beast Inside | 0.4 TF2 | $0.77 PP | - |
| The Blackout Club | 0.6 TF2 | $1.17 PP | - |
| The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan | 2.2 TF2 | $4.42 PP | - |
| The Darkness II | 0.5 TF2 | $0.99 PP | - |
| The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| The Escapists 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.85 PP | - |
| The Escapists | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| The Henry Stickmin Collection | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Final Cut | 1.3 TF2 | $2.67 PP | - |
| The Intruder | 2.2 TF2 | $4.28 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 2 | 2.0 TF2 | $4.02 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 3 | 2.9 TF2 | $5.76 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 4 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.14 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 5 | 3.1 TF2 | $6.15 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 6 | 2.8 TF2 | $5.58 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame | 0.4 TF2 | $0.8 PP | - |
| The Last Campfire | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky | 1.8 TF2 | $3.57 PP | - |
| The Long Dark | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| The Long Dark: Survival Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| The Mortuary Assistant | 2.4 TF2 | $4.82 PP | - |
| The Red Solstice 2: Survivors | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| The Surge 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.83 PP | - |
| The Survivalists | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| The Talos Principle | 1.0 TF2 | $2.06 PP | - |
| The Walking Dead: A New Frontier | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| The Walking Dead: The Final Season | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series | 2.2 TF2 | $4.41 PP | - |
| The Witness | 3.7 TF2 | $7.29 PP | - |
| The Wolf Among Us | 1.4 TF2 | $2.83 PP | - |
| This Is the Police | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| This War of Mine: Complete Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| Titan Quest Anniversary Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Torchlight II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.19 PP | - |
| Total Tank Simulator | 0.4 TF2 | $0.74 PP | - |
| Total War SHOGUN 2 | 3.6 TF2 | $7.03 PP | - |
| Total War Shogun 2 Collection | 1.8 TF2 | $3.48 PP | - |
| Total War: ATTILA | 2.1 TF2 | $4.19 PP | - |
| Total War: Empire - Definitive Edition | 1.8 TF2 | $3.61 PP | - |
| Total War: Napoleon - Definitive Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.2 PP | - |
| Total War: Rome II - Emperor Edition | 2.8 TF2 | $5.54 PP | - |
| Total War™: WARHAMMER® | 3.2 TF2 | $6.25 PP | - |
| Totally Accurate Battle Simulator | 2.9 TF2 | $5.68 PP | - |
| Totally Reliable Delivery Service | 0.7 TF2 | $1.29 PP | - |
| Tour de France 2020 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Tower Unite | 5.2 TF2 | $10.39 PP | - |
| Townscaper | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Trailmakers Deluxe Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Train Simulator Classic | 0.9 TF2 | $1.7 PP | - |
| Tribes of Midgard | 0.9 TF2 | $1.8 PP | - |
| Tricky Towers | 2.0 TF2 | $3.98 PP | - |
| Trine 2: Complete Story | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Trine Ultimate Collection | 4.2 TF2 | $8.22 PP | - |
| Tropico 5 – Complete Collection | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Tropico 6 El-Prez Edition | 2.6 TF2 | $5.07 PP | - |
| Tropico 6 | 2.3 TF2 | $4.55 PP | - |
| Turmoil | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Turok | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Two Point Hospital | 2.2 TF2 | $4.28 PP | - |
| Tyranny - Gold Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Ultimate Chicken Horse | 1.8 TF2 | $3.57 PP | - |
| Ultimate Fishing Simulator | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 | 1.7 TF2 | $3.4 PP | - |
| Ultra Street Fighter IV | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Undertale | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| Universe Sandbox | 4.6 TF2 | $9.15 PP | - |
| Unrailed! | 1.5 TF2 | $3.0 PP | - |
| Until You Fall | 0.7 TF2 | $1.4 PP | - |
| VTOL VR | 6.6 TF2 | $13.01 PP | - |
| Vacation Simulator | 5.2 TF2 | $10.32 PP | - |
| Vagante | 0.7 TF2 | $1.41 PP | - |
| Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Vampyr | 1.7 TF2 | $3.27 PP | - |
| Verdun | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Victor Vran | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| Visage | 3.0 TF2 | $5.87 PP | - |
| Viscera Cleanup Detail | 1.9 TF2 | $3.75 PP | - |
| Void Bastards | 0.4 TF2 | $0.84 PP | - |
| Volcanoids | 1.4 TF2 | $2.81 PP | - |
| Vox Machinae | 3.4 TF2 | $6.78 PP | - |
| Wargame European Escalation | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| Wargame: Red Dragon | 5.3 TF2 | $10.56 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters | Humble Choice (May 2023) | ||
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Master Collection | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Grand Master Collection | 2.0 TF2 | $3.93 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War | 1.0 TF2 | $1.95 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Tyranids | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Collection | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine | 1.7 TF2 | $3.29 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Chaosbane - Slayer Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide Collector's Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.38 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Vermintide 2 - Collector's Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $3.02 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Vermintide 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.52 PP | - |
| Warhammer® 40,000: Dawn of War® II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.26 PP | - |
| Warhammer® 40,000™: Dawn of War® III | 1.7 TF2 | $3.33 PP | - |
| Warpips | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Wasteland 3 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| We Happy Few | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| We Need to Go Deeper | 1.7 TF2 | $3.34 PP | - |
| We Were Here Too | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| White Day : a labyrinth named school | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Who's Your Daddy | 1.7 TF2 | $3.31 PP | - |
| Wingspan | 1.2 TF2 | $2.37 PP | - |
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2023.06.02 13:01 House_of_Suns /r/QOTSA Official Band of the Week 22: ZZ TOP
Sometimes a band gets so big that they somehow outshine themselves. They reach a point in their career where it does not matter if they release a new album or not; fans just want to see them tour. No one gave a damn that Led Zeppelin had not released a new album since the 1970’s; everyone just wanted to see them play again at the O2 Arena in 2007. When The Who played the Super Bowl halftime show in 2010 they had only released one new album in 28 years, and no one cared. And no one cares that Guns & Roses aren’t making new music. They still packed arenas to see how much cake Axl had packed into himself.
We’re going to take a dive into a blues power trio from down south who have zero need to release any new music, since their recording career stretches back over five decades. They had amazing and groundbreaking success in the ‘70s, the ‘80s, and the ‘90s before hitting the max level. Instead of playing to win, they now play for fun. Their sexually charged lyrics and videos inspired generations of teens to both dress better and worry about their fly. And you can bet that their fuzzy, bluesy tight sound had a huge impact on our very own desert dwellers.
It’s time for us to take a walk with That Little Ol’ Band from Texas. This week’s featured artist is the legendary ZZ TOP
About Them
The Power Trio is a tested and true format for a rock band. Lots of examples come to mind: Cream. Rush. The Police. Biffy Clyro. King Buffalo. Them Crooked Vultures. (Wait a sec. Just three members? Clearly, not everything is bigger in Texas.)
There is a member joke there somewhere, but I just can’t get it to come. Hmm. Perhaps it will come if you play with it a bit.
Hey! Stop that. Get your mind out of the gutter.
ZZ Top’s original and founding member was William Frederick Gibbons. Born in Houston in 1949, the front man was originally a drummer but, after studying with Tito Puente in New York City, picked up the guitar at age 13. His dad was a musician in show business, which allowed Billy to get an insider’s view of the industry. By the late ‘60s, he had been in and founded a number of bands and had even befriended the late great James Marshall Hendrix. One of his first bands, a psychedelic/art house band called The Moving Sidewalks, toured with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. This meant that Gibbons was actually mentored by Snagglepuss himself. They also toured with The Doors, where Gibbons saw the legendary self-destructive band somehow manage to rise above conflict and make music every night. The Moving Sidewalks generated a following all of its own with a couple of hit songs, and things seemed to be headed in the right direction.
Things were going absolutely great until bassist Don Summers and keyboard player Tom Moore were drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam. Don't you just love the ‘60s?
Gibbons and drummer Dan Mitchell added a new keyboard player, Lanier Greg, and tried to make another run at it. But the chemistry was all wrong. Gibbons rechristened the band as ZZ Top (an homage to BB King), and declared that he wanted more of a straight up rock approach than the art-house kaleidoscopic sound.
Gibbons, Mitchell, and Greg (isn’t it weird when last names are also first names too?) recorded the single Salt Lick in 1969. This generated a bunch of interest and a recording contract. Decisions over the direction of the band ensued and it quickly became clear that Mitchell and Greg did not agree with Gibbons’ hard rock approach. That ended up being a poor life decision for them, but a great one for a couple of other guys.
Clearly, Gibbons needed a new rhythm section.
Fortunately, he found a package deal.
Dusty Hill and Frank Beard - also both born in 1949 - had been playing together on the Dallas-Houston-Fort Worth circuit in a number of bands, including The Warlocks, The Cellar Dwellers, and a fake cover band called The Zombies. Both the Duster and the (then ironically) beardless Beard also heard the siren call of rock and roll. Hill was classically trained and was an accomplished cello player before moving to his signature bass. Frank ‘Rube’ Beard appears to have been born with drumsticks in his hands (which I imagine might have been uncomfortable for his mom).
Beard joined the band first, along with bassist Billy Ethridge, who had played with Stevie Ray Vaughn. Ethridge balked at signing a contract and so joined Mitchell and Greg on the list of ZZ Top’s former members. Their lineup was set. Hill and Beard anchored the band in a rock-solid, tight, bluesy fashion. Gibbons meshed perfectly with this duo, and his Hendrix-inspired guitar work was on another level. Hill provided backing vocals, and Gibbons’ low throaty growl was an impressive counterpoint to his soaring fretwork. The talent was all there; now they just needed to record some music.
But success was not instantaneous, not by a long shot.
Their first album - appropriately called ZZ Top’s First Album - gives insight into who the band were to become. In this 1971 release, you can hear their raw sound. The record peaked at 201 on the charts, and had only one single - (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree. It did give them material to go out and tour. The boys gelled on that tour and went back into the studio with renewed energy, and emerged with 1972’s Rio Grande Mud. The disc was a step forward in refining their sound. The album almost cracked the top 100, and the only single - Francine - went all the way to number 69.
Nice.
But the band knew that their third album, Tres Hombres, was something special. It is the epitome of Southern Rock: bluesy, fast paced, sexy, and irreverent, it is just over half an hour of pure magic. And while the album went gold and peaked at number 8 on the charts and is worth your time, it was one particular single that rocketed them to stardom. You know it and you love it, and a-how-how-how-how: La Grange. It is still in heavy rotation on classic rock stations today. And why not? The song is an absolute banger of boogie woogie blues, written about a visit to a whorehouse. What’s not to love?
La Grange propelled them to popularity. Tours sold out. Venues got bigger and bigger. 1975’s follow up album, Fandango!, was half live album (with some covers) and half new material - like an EP with bonus tracks. They covered the Elvis Presley classic Jailhouse Rock, Willie Dixon’s Mellow Down Easy, and John Lee Hooker’s Long Distance Boogie. The boys had rock and blues chops, and had 5 years of touring experience. These were bold statements that cemented their musicality as well as honoring their roots. But side two of the disc had another track that you’ve come to love. You ain’t asking for much: You’re just lookin’ for some Tush. Tush was the perfect sexually charged follow up to ensure that they were not one-hit wonders. It was written in a ten-minute spasm of creativity at a sound check, and has gone on to be one of their most popular songs.
While Tush topped the charts, ZZ Top went back into the studio to record their full length follow up, 1976’s Tejas. The name of the album means ‘friends’ in the Indigenous Caddo language, and was the basis for the name of the state. You know what that means? It means that the name of the state is ‘Friends’. Just like the ‘90s sitcom. Don’t mess with Friends. Anyways, this was an album of experimentation for the band, and unlike its predecessor it came out half baked at best. Billy Gibbons has called it a transition album. What actually happened is the band transitioned into a hiatus from touring and recording, taking some significant time off. They had recorded five albums in six years and spent virtually all their time on the road. The latest effort was just not up to their standards and was a step back. It also completed their recording contract.
What was the solution to this burn out?
Facial hair of course.
The boys took a few years off before landing another recording contract, this time with Warner. Over those months, both Gibbons and Hill grew what would become their signature long ‘Texas Goatee’ beards. Frank Beard did not grow a beard (though he did finally succumb to peer pressure from his bandmates in 2013, and his is much more neatly trimmed). So while they were resting/relaxing/getting their groove back/aligning their chakras or whatever, they also started to reinvent their signature sound as the world moved towards a decade of legendary excess.
The first step on this reinvention journey was 1979’s Degüello. The title literally means ‘decapitation’ but idiomatically refers to a fight to the death. Clearly, the band decided to tackle their transition head on. The album was not as successful as Tres Hombres or Fandango!, but it was not the flop that Tejas was. It did spawn a couple of singles - I Thank You (which was a cover) and the signature hit Cheap Sunglasses. Both are staples at ZZ Top concerts to this day. Degüello was quickly followed up in 1981 by the album El Loco. This was really the first time ZZ Top incorporated a synthesizer into their sound. As you know, the synth was THE new wave sound of the 1980s. Gods help us, keytars were once popular. But Gibbons, Hill, and Beard did not abandon their edge. The single Pearl Necklace was an immensely popular innuendo laced tune from this album. And no, I will not explain what a pearl necklace is to you.
Ask your mom.
Over the course of their first seven albums, ZZ Top had steadily grown in popularity and become a truly extraordinary live band. More than a decade of touring together meant that they had not just cut their teeth. They had found the Tooth Fairy, beaten her senseless, and added fangs to their jaws. They were ready to tackle whatever came their way.
Their huge breakthrough coincided with the birth of music videos and MTV. 1983’s Eliminator was an absolute monster of an album. ZZ Top were everywhere. They completely embraced the Music Video as a medium and became pioneers in this new genre. They branded their band with a 1933 fire-engine red Ford Coupe, which was on the cover of the album. They even had a signature hand gesture that they used as the car went by. The car belonged to Billy Gibbons and embodied his hot rod obsessions. It was featured in the videos for Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs. Other singles from the album included Got me Under Pressure and TV Dinners. Eliminator is still the band’s most successful album. They were at the absolute height of their popularity with a massive audience. No doubt the 10-year-old Joshua Michael Homme watched those videos on a small screen in the California desert, little knowing that he would one day collaborate with Gibbons.
Seeking to capitalize on the popularity, the band went back into the studio and released Afterburner in 1985. It featured the signature hot rod on the cover and spawned two more singles - Sleeping Bag and Velcro Fly. Afterburner was not an innovative album by any stretch of the imagination. It simply built on the success of Eliminator and replicated the sound. If you blended the two albums together it would be very difficult for a novice fan to guess which song came from which disc. But hell, when you release the most popular album of your career and are earning millions of dollars for that sound, it is not time to mess with success. Or with Texas. Or with Friends (though Ross was a pain in the ass, IMHO).
That desire to not screw up a good thing was also evident in their next release, the retrospective re-release Six Pack. This was a great way to earn some bucks with a simple repackaging of existing tracks - I’m looking at you, K-Tel… - and introducing them to another generation of fans. This was not a bad thing at all - you gotta get that green whenever you can, because fame can be fleeting.
ZZ Top closed out the decade by going Back to the Future. Literally. They appeared in the third installment of the Michael J. Fox trilogy as the olde-timey house band (complete with rotating guitars) in the saloon scene. The single and signature song from the movie, Doubleback, appeared on their 1990 release Recycler. The album spawned two more singles: My Head’s in Mississippi and Concrete and Steel. Recycler was not as successful as its predecessors, but it did effectively max level the band. In the 1970’s they were a scuffling bar band that hit it big. In the 1980’s they were one of the most popular bands of the MTV generation. And in the 1990’s they achieved superstardom. They had hit the level where it truly no longer mattered if they ever released new material again. They could simply tour on their back catalogue alone and sell out stadiums.
It is clear that the band realized this as well. In the thirty years since Recycler came out, they have released five albums of new material: Antenna in 1994, Rhythmeen in 1996, XXX in 1999, Mescalero in 2003 and the critically acclaimed and Rick Rubin produced La Futura in 2012. This was equivalent to their output in their first six years.
In contrast, they have released no less than eight greatest hits albums, cover albums and live albums in the same time span. Greatest Hits came out in 1992. One Foot in the Blues was released in 1994. The massive compilation Chrome, Smoke & BBQ came out in 2003, and is a fantastic place to start if you are a new fan. Rancho Texicano was released in 2004, Live from Texas came out in 2008, and Double Down Live hit shelves in 2009. Live at Montreaux came out in 2013 and Tonite at Midnight: Live Greatest Hits from Around the World was released in 2016.
As recently as 2019, there were rumors that a new album was in the works for our Septuagenarian heroes. Lord knows the boys from Texas have nothing left to prove to anyone.
It was then that tragedy struck. Dusty Hill had to leave the band during a tour in 2021. The reason given was a hip injury. His guitar tech, Elwood Francis, filled in. Shockingly, Hill died at home at the age of 72 just five days after leaving the tour.
Fans were shocked and mourned the stalwart bassist. Per his wishes - and it seems he knew something wasn’t quite right - ZZ Top did not break up. Francis replaced Hill on bass, and the band soldiered on. In 2022, they released Raw, a soundtrack for a 2019 documentary about them. This was Hill’s final release.
You can still catch them on tour. They are going to be out there this summer, touring with Lynyrd Skynyrd, for something they are calling ‘The Sharp Dressed Simple Man’ Tour.
Go buy some tickets. Don’t miss your chance to see a truly iconic band before they are gone.
Links to QOTSA
The Reverend Billy F. Gibbons was a big part of the Lullabies to Paralyze album by our Desert Dwellers. He played guitar and provided backing vocals on Burn the Witch. He was co-lead vocalist and lead guitar on the QotSA cover of Precious and Grace, which he originally released as a ZZ Top tune on the Tres Hombres album. He also provided the guitar stylings for Like a Drug.
But the connections don't stop there. Billy sang the lead vocal track on the recent Desert Sessions tune Move Together, and he played guitar on Noses in Roses, Forever.
What may be most important to QotSA fans is that Gibbons was the first person, almost two years ago, who hinted that Queens were working on a new album.
And now we know he was right. Never doubt a Reverend.
Their Music
Salt Lick
(Somebody Else Been) Shaking your Tree
Francine
La Grange -- Live on Howard Stern
Jailhouse Rock
Tush -- a fan made video. It is not subtle.
Cheap Sunglasses
Pearl Necklace -- Live
Gimme All Your Lovin’
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs -- the ultimate makeover video
Got Me Under Pressure -- Live at Montreaux
Sleeping Bag -- Let’s go out to Egypt and check out some heads...
Velcro Fly -- also somehow in Egypt
My Head’s In Mississippi
Concrete and Steel -- vintage video
Doubleback
I Gotsta Get Paid -- from La Futura
Show Them Some Love
/zztop
Previous Posts
Tool
Alice in Chains
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Rage Against The Machine
Soundgarden
Run the Jewels
Royal Blood
Arctic Monkeys
Ty Segall
Eagles of Death Metal
Them Crooked Vultures
Led Zeppelin
Greta Van Fleet
Ten Commandos
Screaming Trees
Sound City Players
Iggy Pop
Mastodon
The Strokes
Radiohead
All Them Witches
submitted by House_of_Suns to qotsa [link] [comments]
We’re going to take a dive into a blues power trio from down south who have zero need to release any new music, since their recording career stretches back over five decades. They had amazing and groundbreaking success in the ‘70s, the ‘80s, and the ‘90s before hitting the max level. Instead of playing to win, they now play for fun. Their sexually charged lyrics and videos inspired generations of teens to both dress better and worry about their fly. And you can bet that their fuzzy, bluesy tight sound had a huge impact on our very own desert dwellers.
It’s time for us to take a walk with That Little Ol’ Band from Texas. This week’s featured artist is the legendary ZZ TOP
About Them
The Power Trio is a tested and true format for a rock band. Lots of examples come to mind: Cream. Rush. The Police. Biffy Clyro. King Buffalo. Them Crooked Vultures. (Wait a sec. Just three members? Clearly, not everything is bigger in Texas.)
There is a member joke there somewhere, but I just can’t get it to come. Hmm. Perhaps it will come if you play with it a bit.
Hey! Stop that. Get your mind out of the gutter.
ZZ Top’s original and founding member was William Frederick Gibbons. Born in Houston in 1949, the front man was originally a drummer but, after studying with Tito Puente in New York City, picked up the guitar at age 13. His dad was a musician in show business, which allowed Billy to get an insider’s view of the industry. By the late ‘60s, he had been in and founded a number of bands and had even befriended the late great James Marshall Hendrix. One of his first bands, a psychedelic/art house band called The Moving Sidewalks, toured with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. This meant that Gibbons was actually mentored by Snagglepuss himself. They also toured with The Doors, where Gibbons saw the legendary self-destructive band somehow manage to rise above conflict and make music every night. The Moving Sidewalks generated a following all of its own with a couple of hit songs, and things seemed to be headed in the right direction.
Things were going absolutely great until bassist Don Summers and keyboard player Tom Moore were drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam. Don't you just love the ‘60s?
Gibbons and drummer Dan Mitchell added a new keyboard player, Lanier Greg, and tried to make another run at it. But the chemistry was all wrong. Gibbons rechristened the band as ZZ Top (an homage to BB King), and declared that he wanted more of a straight up rock approach than the art-house kaleidoscopic sound.
Gibbons, Mitchell, and Greg (isn’t it weird when last names are also first names too?) recorded the single Salt Lick in 1969. This generated a bunch of interest and a recording contract. Decisions over the direction of the band ensued and it quickly became clear that Mitchell and Greg did not agree with Gibbons’ hard rock approach. That ended up being a poor life decision for them, but a great one for a couple of other guys.
Clearly, Gibbons needed a new rhythm section.
Fortunately, he found a package deal.
Dusty Hill and Frank Beard - also both born in 1949 - had been playing together on the Dallas-Houston-Fort Worth circuit in a number of bands, including The Warlocks, The Cellar Dwellers, and a fake cover band called The Zombies. Both the Duster and the (then ironically) beardless Beard also heard the siren call of rock and roll. Hill was classically trained and was an accomplished cello player before moving to his signature bass. Frank ‘Rube’ Beard appears to have been born with drumsticks in his hands (which I imagine might have been uncomfortable for his mom).
Beard joined the band first, along with bassist Billy Ethridge, who had played with Stevie Ray Vaughn. Ethridge balked at signing a contract and so joined Mitchell and Greg on the list of ZZ Top’s former members. Their lineup was set. Hill and Beard anchored the band in a rock-solid, tight, bluesy fashion. Gibbons meshed perfectly with this duo, and his Hendrix-inspired guitar work was on another level. Hill provided backing vocals, and Gibbons’ low throaty growl was an impressive counterpoint to his soaring fretwork. The talent was all there; now they just needed to record some music.
But success was not instantaneous, not by a long shot.
Their first album - appropriately called ZZ Top’s First Album - gives insight into who the band were to become. In this 1971 release, you can hear their raw sound. The record peaked at 201 on the charts, and had only one single - (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree. It did give them material to go out and tour. The boys gelled on that tour and went back into the studio with renewed energy, and emerged with 1972’s Rio Grande Mud. The disc was a step forward in refining their sound. The album almost cracked the top 100, and the only single - Francine - went all the way to number 69.
Nice.
But the band knew that their third album, Tres Hombres, was something special. It is the epitome of Southern Rock: bluesy, fast paced, sexy, and irreverent, it is just over half an hour of pure magic. And while the album went gold and peaked at number 8 on the charts and is worth your time, it was one particular single that rocketed them to stardom. You know it and you love it, and a-how-how-how-how: La Grange. It is still in heavy rotation on classic rock stations today. And why not? The song is an absolute banger of boogie woogie blues, written about a visit to a whorehouse. What’s not to love?
La Grange propelled them to popularity. Tours sold out. Venues got bigger and bigger. 1975’s follow up album, Fandango!, was half live album (with some covers) and half new material - like an EP with bonus tracks. They covered the Elvis Presley classic Jailhouse Rock, Willie Dixon’s Mellow Down Easy, and John Lee Hooker’s Long Distance Boogie. The boys had rock and blues chops, and had 5 years of touring experience. These were bold statements that cemented their musicality as well as honoring their roots. But side two of the disc had another track that you’ve come to love. You ain’t asking for much: You’re just lookin’ for some Tush. Tush was the perfect sexually charged follow up to ensure that they were not one-hit wonders. It was written in a ten-minute spasm of creativity at a sound check, and has gone on to be one of their most popular songs.
While Tush topped the charts, ZZ Top went back into the studio to record their full length follow up, 1976’s Tejas. The name of the album means ‘friends’ in the Indigenous Caddo language, and was the basis for the name of the state. You know what that means? It means that the name of the state is ‘Friends’. Just like the ‘90s sitcom. Don’t mess with Friends. Anyways, this was an album of experimentation for the band, and unlike its predecessor it came out half baked at best. Billy Gibbons has called it a transition album. What actually happened is the band transitioned into a hiatus from touring and recording, taking some significant time off. They had recorded five albums in six years and spent virtually all their time on the road. The latest effort was just not up to their standards and was a step back. It also completed their recording contract.
What was the solution to this burn out?
Facial hair of course.
The boys took a few years off before landing another recording contract, this time with Warner. Over those months, both Gibbons and Hill grew what would become their signature long ‘Texas Goatee’ beards. Frank Beard did not grow a beard (though he did finally succumb to peer pressure from his bandmates in 2013, and his is much more neatly trimmed). So while they were resting/relaxing/getting their groove back/aligning their chakras or whatever, they also started to reinvent their signature sound as the world moved towards a decade of legendary excess.
The first step on this reinvention journey was 1979’s Degüello. The title literally means ‘decapitation’ but idiomatically refers to a fight to the death. Clearly, the band decided to tackle their transition head on. The album was not as successful as Tres Hombres or Fandango!, but it was not the flop that Tejas was. It did spawn a couple of singles - I Thank You (which was a cover) and the signature hit Cheap Sunglasses. Both are staples at ZZ Top concerts to this day. Degüello was quickly followed up in 1981 by the album El Loco. This was really the first time ZZ Top incorporated a synthesizer into their sound. As you know, the synth was THE new wave sound of the 1980s. Gods help us, keytars were once popular. But Gibbons, Hill, and Beard did not abandon their edge. The single Pearl Necklace was an immensely popular innuendo laced tune from this album. And no, I will not explain what a pearl necklace is to you.
Ask your mom.
Over the course of their first seven albums, ZZ Top had steadily grown in popularity and become a truly extraordinary live band. More than a decade of touring together meant that they had not just cut their teeth. They had found the Tooth Fairy, beaten her senseless, and added fangs to their jaws. They were ready to tackle whatever came their way.
Their huge breakthrough coincided with the birth of music videos and MTV. 1983’s Eliminator was an absolute monster of an album. ZZ Top were everywhere. They completely embraced the Music Video as a medium and became pioneers in this new genre. They branded their band with a 1933 fire-engine red Ford Coupe, which was on the cover of the album. They even had a signature hand gesture that they used as the car went by. The car belonged to Billy Gibbons and embodied his hot rod obsessions. It was featured in the videos for Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs. Other singles from the album included Got me Under Pressure and TV Dinners. Eliminator is still the band’s most successful album. They were at the absolute height of their popularity with a massive audience. No doubt the 10-year-old Joshua Michael Homme watched those videos on a small screen in the California desert, little knowing that he would one day collaborate with Gibbons.
Seeking to capitalize on the popularity, the band went back into the studio and released Afterburner in 1985. It featured the signature hot rod on the cover and spawned two more singles - Sleeping Bag and Velcro Fly. Afterburner was not an innovative album by any stretch of the imagination. It simply built on the success of Eliminator and replicated the sound. If you blended the two albums together it would be very difficult for a novice fan to guess which song came from which disc. But hell, when you release the most popular album of your career and are earning millions of dollars for that sound, it is not time to mess with success. Or with Texas. Or with Friends (though Ross was a pain in the ass, IMHO).
That desire to not screw up a good thing was also evident in their next release, the retrospective re-release Six Pack. This was a great way to earn some bucks with a simple repackaging of existing tracks - I’m looking at you, K-Tel… - and introducing them to another generation of fans. This was not a bad thing at all - you gotta get that green whenever you can, because fame can be fleeting.
ZZ Top closed out the decade by going Back to the Future. Literally. They appeared in the third installment of the Michael J. Fox trilogy as the olde-timey house band (complete with rotating guitars) in the saloon scene. The single and signature song from the movie, Doubleback, appeared on their 1990 release Recycler. The album spawned two more singles: My Head’s in Mississippi and Concrete and Steel. Recycler was not as successful as its predecessors, but it did effectively max level the band. In the 1970’s they were a scuffling bar band that hit it big. In the 1980’s they were one of the most popular bands of the MTV generation. And in the 1990’s they achieved superstardom. They had hit the level where it truly no longer mattered if they ever released new material again. They could simply tour on their back catalogue alone and sell out stadiums.
It is clear that the band realized this as well. In the thirty years since Recycler came out, they have released five albums of new material: Antenna in 1994, Rhythmeen in 1996, XXX in 1999, Mescalero in 2003 and the critically acclaimed and Rick Rubin produced La Futura in 2012. This was equivalent to their output in their first six years.
In contrast, they have released no less than eight greatest hits albums, cover albums and live albums in the same time span. Greatest Hits came out in 1992. One Foot in the Blues was released in 1994. The massive compilation Chrome, Smoke & BBQ came out in 2003, and is a fantastic place to start if you are a new fan. Rancho Texicano was released in 2004, Live from Texas came out in 2008, and Double Down Live hit shelves in 2009. Live at Montreaux came out in 2013 and Tonite at Midnight: Live Greatest Hits from Around the World was released in 2016.
As recently as 2019, there were rumors that a new album was in the works for our Septuagenarian heroes. Lord knows the boys from Texas have nothing left to prove to anyone.
It was then that tragedy struck. Dusty Hill had to leave the band during a tour in 2021. The reason given was a hip injury. His guitar tech, Elwood Francis, filled in. Shockingly, Hill died at home at the age of 72 just five days after leaving the tour.
Fans were shocked and mourned the stalwart bassist. Per his wishes - and it seems he knew something wasn’t quite right - ZZ Top did not break up. Francis replaced Hill on bass, and the band soldiered on. In 2022, they released Raw, a soundtrack for a 2019 documentary about them. This was Hill’s final release.
You can still catch them on tour. They are going to be out there this summer, touring with Lynyrd Skynyrd, for something they are calling ‘The Sharp Dressed Simple Man’ Tour.
Go buy some tickets. Don’t miss your chance to see a truly iconic band before they are gone.
Links to QOTSA
The Reverend Billy F. Gibbons was a big part of the Lullabies to Paralyze album by our Desert Dwellers. He played guitar and provided backing vocals on Burn the Witch. He was co-lead vocalist and lead guitar on the QotSA cover of Precious and Grace, which he originally released as a ZZ Top tune on the Tres Hombres album. He also provided the guitar stylings for Like a Drug.
But the connections don't stop there. Billy sang the lead vocal track on the recent Desert Sessions tune Move Together, and he played guitar on Noses in Roses, Forever.
What may be most important to QotSA fans is that Gibbons was the first person, almost two years ago, who hinted that Queens were working on a new album.
And now we know he was right. Never doubt a Reverend.
Their Music
Salt Lick
(Somebody Else Been) Shaking your Tree
Francine
La Grange -- Live on Howard Stern
Jailhouse Rock
Tush -- a fan made video. It is not subtle.
Cheap Sunglasses
Pearl Necklace -- Live
Gimme All Your Lovin’
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs -- the ultimate makeover video
Got Me Under Pressure -- Live at Montreaux
Sleeping Bag -- Let’s go out to Egypt and check out some heads...
Velcro Fly -- also somehow in Egypt
My Head’s In Mississippi
Concrete and Steel -- vintage video
Doubleback
I Gotsta Get Paid -- from La Futura
Show Them Some Love
/zztop
Previous Posts
Tool
Alice in Chains
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Rage Against The Machine
Soundgarden
Run the Jewels
Royal Blood
Arctic Monkeys
Ty Segall
Eagles of Death Metal
Them Crooked Vultures
Led Zeppelin
Greta Van Fleet
Ten Commandos
Screaming Trees
Sound City Players
Iggy Pop
Mastodon
The Strokes
Radiohead
All Them Witches
2023.06.02 12:30 FappidyDat [H] TF2 Keys & PayPal [W] Humble Bundle Games (Also Games From Past Bundles)
Notes:
I pay with the following:
TF2 & PayPal
IGS Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/ggsaik/fappidydats_igs_rep_page/
SteamTrades Rep Page (1000+):
https://www.steamtrades.com/use76561198097671494
GameTrade Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/GameTradeRep/comments/ggrz1y/fappidydats_gametrade_rep_page/?
SGSFlair Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/sgsflaicomments/ggag04/flair_profile_ufappidydat/
submitted by FappidyDat to indiegameswap [link] [comments]
- I am EXTREMELY busy, but I check my messages and DMs at least ONCE per day. Please be patient and wait at least 24 hours for my response if I don't get back to you immediately.
- I buy only in Unrevealed Key Link Format or Plain Steam Keys. No gift links.
- For PayPal, I am in the US region and I only send via G&S. Please note there will be PayPal fees (including international/conversion and purchasing fees) to consider.
- All games that you sell to me should ideally be REGION-FREE. Please ensure the games are not region-locked/bound to a specific country.
- You must be willing to fill a spreadsheet with steam keys.
I pay with the following:
TF2 & PayPal
| I BUY HB Games | with TF2 | with PayPal | Currently Active Humble Bundle? |
|---|---|---|---|
| - Ratz Instagib - | 0.9 TF2 | $1.72 PP | - |
| 20XX | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| 5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel | 2.6 TF2 | $5.19 PP | - |
| 60 Parsecs! | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| 7 Billion Humans | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| 7 Days to Die | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| A Game of Thrones: The Board Game - Digital Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.78 PP | - |
| A Hat in Time | 4.5 TF2 | $8.98 PP | - |
| A Juggler's Tale | 0.5 TF2 | $1.07 PP | - |
| A Plague Tale: Innocence | 1.9 TF2 | $3.81 PP | - |
| AMID EVIL | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| AO Tennis 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.3 PP | - |
| Absolver | 1.8 TF2 | $3.51 PP | - |
| Aeterna Noctis | 1.6 TF2 | $3.15 PP | - |
| Age of Empires Definitive Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.46 PP | - |
| Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders III Collection | 0.9 TF2 | $1.86 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders: Planetfall - Deluxe Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders: Planetfall | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Airport CEO | 2.8 TF2 | $5.62 PP | - |
| Alan Wake Collector's Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.68 PP | - |
| Alien: Isolation | 1.8 TF2 | $3.52 PP | - |
| Aliens: Colonial Marines Collection | 1.2 TF2 | $2.45 PP | - |
| Aliens: Fireteam Elite | 1.0 TF2 | $1.99 PP | - |
| Amnesia: The Dark Descent | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Among Us | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Ancestors Legacy | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| Aragami | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Arizona Sunshine | 2.1 TF2 | $4.21 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Apex Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.24 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Contact Edition | 2.4 TF2 | $4.84 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Jets | 0.9 TF2 | $1.77 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Marksmen | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Arma 3 | 1.9 TF2 | $3.78 PP | - |
| Assetto Corsa Competizione | 2.9 TF2 | $5.83 PP | - |
| Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition | 5.0 TF2 | $9.93 PP | - |
| BATTLETECH - Mercenary Collection | 2.4 TF2 | $4.79 PP | - |
| BIOMUTANT | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE | 0.9 TF2 | $1.75 PP | - |
| BROFORCE | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Baba Is You | 1.5 TF2 | $3.01 PP | - |
| Back 4 Blood | 3.0 TF2 | $5.96 PP | - |
| Bad North: Jotunn Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.77 PP | - |
| Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $1.01 PP | - |
| Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.83 PP | - |
| Bang-On Balls: Chronicles | 2.6 TF2 | $5.14 PP | - |
| Banished | 2.2 TF2 | $4.34 PP | - |
| Barotrauma | 6.5 TF2 | $12.95 PP | - |
| Batman - The Telltale Series | 1.0 TF2 | $1.9 PP | - |
| Batman Arkham Collection | 1.2 TF2 | $2.44 PP | - |
| Batman: Arkham Knight | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham Knight Premium Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham Origins | 0.8 TF2 | $1.67 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham VR | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| Battle Chasers: Nightwar | 0.6 TF2 | $1.21 PP | - |
| Battlefleet Gothic: Armada II | 2.1 TF2 | $4.17 PP | - |
| Battlefleet Gothic: Armada | 0.9 TF2 | $1.72 PP | - |
| Battlezone Gold Edition | 2.2 TF2 | $4.3 PP | - |
| Bendy and the Dark Revival | Humble Choice (May 2023) | ||
| Besiege | 1.5 TF2 | $2.92 PP | - |
| Beyond Blue | 2.5 TF2 | $4.94 PP | - |
| Beyond Two Souls | 1.9 TF2 | $3.83 PP | - |
| BioShock Collection | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| BioShock Infinite | 0.9 TF2 | $1.78 PP | - |
| BioShock Remastered | 0.9 TF2 | $1.78 PP | - |
| Bioshock Infinite: Season Pass | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| Blade of Darkness | 1.2 TF2 | $2.47 PP | - |
| Blair Witch | 1.2 TF2 | $2.3 PP | - |
| Blasphemous | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Blood Bowl 2 - Legendary Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.48 PP | - |
| Blood: Fresh Supply | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Boomerang Fu | 0.6 TF2 | $1.2 PP | - |
| Borderlands 2 VR | 5.5 TF2 | $10.93 PP | - |
| Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition | May Multiplayer Bundle | ||
| Borderlands 3 | 1.6 TF2 | $3.23 PP | - |
| Borderlands 3: Director's Cut | 1.3 TF2 | $2.51 PP | - |
| Borderlands: The Handsome Collection | 3.4 TF2 | $6.76 PP | - |
| Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Brutal Legend | 0.8 TF2 | $1.51 PP | - |
| Bus Simulator 18 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.18 PP | - |
| CHUCHEL Cherry Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.97 PP | - |
| Call of Cthulhu | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Call of Juarez: Gunslinger | 0.5 TF2 | $0.96 PP | - |
| Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront | 9.3 TF2 | $18.38 PP | - |
| Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| Carcassonne - Tiles & Tactics | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Celeste | 1.8 TF2 | $3.6 PP | - |
| Chess Ultra | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Children of Morta | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| Chivalry 2 | 3.8 TF2 | $7.45 PP | - |
| Chivalry: Medieval Warfare | 0.7 TF2 | $1.37 PP | - |
| Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.18 PP | - |
| Cities: Skylines | 1.4 TF2 | $2.73 PP | - |
| Clone Drone in the Danger Zone | 4.2 TF2 | $8.32 PP | - |
| Cloudpunk | 1.0 TF2 | $2.02 PP | - |
| Code Vein | 1.7 TF2 | $3.3 PP | - |
| Coffee Talk | 2.5 TF2 | $4.98 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies | 1.0 TF2 | $1.94 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.0 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes | 1.9 TF2 | $3.79 PP | - |
| Conan Exiles | 1.6 TF2 | $3.26 PP | - |
| Construction Simulator 2015 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.48 PP | - |
| Contagion | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Control Ultimate Edition | 2.0 TF2 | $3.93 PP | - |
| Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy | 9.6 TF2 | $19.06 PP | - |
| Creed: Rise to Glory™ | 2.3 TF2 | $4.47 PP | - |
| Crusader Kings II: Imperial Collection | 10.0 TF2 | $19.73 PP | - |
| Crusader Kings III | 5.9 TF2 | $11.73 PP | - |
| CryoFall | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Cultist Simulator Anthology Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.79 PP | - |
| Cultist Simulator | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT | 2.6 TF2 | $5.21 PP | - |
| DEATHLOOP | 2.8 TF2 | $5.47 PP | - |
| DIRT 5 | 4.3 TF2 | $8.44 PP | - |
| DMC - Devil May Cry | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ - Ultimate Edition | 10.0 TF2 | $19.74 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 | 1.9 TF2 | $3.81 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| DRAGONBALL XENOVERSE Bundle Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| DRIFT21 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.12 PP | - |
| Dark Deity | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin | 8.7 TF2 | $17.31 PP | - |
| Dark Souls III | 12.6 TF2 | $24.91 PP | - |
| Darkest Dungeon | 0.7 TF2 | $1.37 PP | - |
| Darksiders Genesis | 1.3 TF2 | $2.67 PP | - |
| Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Darksiders III | 0.6 TF2 | $1.26 PP | - |
| Darkwood | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Day of the Tentacle Remastered | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| DayZ | 7.6 TF2 | $15.03 PP | - |
| Daymare: 1998 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| Dead Estate | 1.0 TF2 | $1.99 PP | - |
| Dead Island - Definitive Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.66 PP | - |
| Dead Island Definitive Collection | 1.7 TF2 | $3.3 PP | - |
| Dead Island Riptide - Definitive Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.4 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 2: Off the Record | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.7 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 4 Frank’s Big Package | 2.5 TF2 | $4.96 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 4 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.73 PP | - |
| Dead Rising | 1.0 TF2 | $1.96 PP | - |
| Dead Rising® 2 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.26 PP | - |
| Death Road to Canada | 2.4 TF2 | $4.84 PP | - |
| Death's Gambit | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Deep Rock Galactic | 3.3 TF2 | $6.63 PP | - |
| Descenders | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Desperados III | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| Destroy All Humans | 0.7 TF2 | $1.41 PP | - |
| Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Deus Ex: Mankind Divided | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| Devil May Cry HD Collection | 1.8 TF2 | $3.5 PP | - |
| Devil May Cry® 4 Special Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.13 PP | - |
| DiRT Rally 2.0 | 5.1 TF2 | $10.11 PP | - |
| Dinosaur Fossil Hunter | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Distant Worlds: Universe | 0.7 TF2 | $1.29 PP | - |
| Doom Eternal | 2.5 TF2 | $4.94 PP | - |
| Door Kickers | 1.9 TF2 | $3.84 PP | - |
| Dorfromantik | 2.0 TF2 | $3.93 PP | - |
| Dragons Dogma - Dark Arisen | 0.8 TF2 | $1.57 PP | - |
| Drake Hollow | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| Drone Swarm | 0.4 TF2 | $0.81 PP | - |
| Dungeon Defenders | 2.8 TF2 | $5.47 PP | - |
| Dungeon Defenders: Awakened | 2.8 TF2 | $5.59 PP | - |
| Dungreed | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| Dusk | 2.0 TF2 | $3.91 PP | - |
| EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair | 2.2 TF2 | $4.28 PP | - |
| ELEX | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| EVERSPACE™ | 1.6 TF2 | $3.16 PP | - |
| Elite: Dangerous | 1.3 TF2 | $2.67 PP | - |
| Empire of Sin | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| Endzone - A World Apart | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.19 PP | - |
| Exanima | 2.6 TF2 | $5.24 PP | - |
| FTL: Faster Than Light | 1.0 TF2 | $1.92 PP | - |
| Fable Anniversary | 3.7 TF2 | $7.32 PP | - |
| Fallout 76 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.22 PP | - |
| Fantasy General II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Farming Simulator 17 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Firefighting Simulator - The Squad | 3.8 TF2 | $7.47 PP | - |
| First Class Trouble | 0.6 TF2 | $1.12 PP | - |
| For The King | 1.0 TF2 | $1.92 PP | - |
| Forager | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Forts | 2.3 TF2 | $4.52 PP | - |
| Friday the 13th: The Game | 3.0 TF2 | $5.86 PP | - |
| Frostpunk | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Full Metal Furies | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Furi | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| GRID - Ultimate | 2.0 TF2 | $3.97 PP | - |
| GRID | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| GRIS | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Gang Beasts | 3.0 TF2 | $5.89 PP | - |
| Garden Paws | 1.0 TF2 | $2.05 PP | - |
| Gas Station Simulator | 1.9 TF2 | $3.68 PP | - |
| Gears 5 | 11.7 TF2 | $23.1 PP | - |
| Gears Tactics | 4.5 TF2 | $8.93 PP | - |
| Generation Zero® | May Multiplayer Bundle | ||
| Goat Simulator | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| Godlike Burger | 1.1 TF2 | $2.1 PP | - |
| Golf With Your Friends | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Gordian Quest | 1.8 TF2 | $3.58 PP | - |
| Gotham Knights | 5.5 TF2 | $10.83 PP | - |
| GreedFall | 0.8 TF2 | $1.54 PP | - |
| Grim Dawn | 5.2 TF2 | $10.28 PP | - |
| Grim Fandango Remastered | 0.6 TF2 | $1.09 PP | - |
| Guacamelee! 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.19 PP | - |
| HITMAN™2 Gold Edition | 3.1 TF2 | $6.16 PP | - |
| HIVESWAP: Act 2 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.18 PP | - |
| HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ | 1.8 TF2 | $3.66 PP | - |
| HROT | 1.9 TF2 | $3.7 PP | - |
| Haiku, the Robot | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Hard Bullet | 1.2 TF2 | $2.38 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Battle for the Bosporus | 1.8 TF2 | $3.53 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet Edition | 2.7 TF2 | $5.3 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Waking the Tiger | 1.9 TF2 | $3.68 PP | - |
| Heave Ho | 0.6 TF2 | $1.1 PP | - |
| Heavy Rain | 2.1 TF2 | $4.15 PP | - |
| Hell Let Loose | 5.2 TF2 | $10.32 PP | - |
| Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice | 1.1 TF2 | $2.26 PP | - |
| Hello, Neighbor! | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| Hellpoint | 0.4 TF2 | $0.75 PP | - |
| Hero's Hour | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Heroes of Hammerwatch | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Hitman Absolution | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| Hitman Game of the Year Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.61 PP | - |
| Hollow Knight | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Homefront: The Revolution | 0.8 TF2 | $1.68 PP | - |
| Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak | 0.4 TF2 | $0.77 PP | - |
| Horizon Chase Turbo | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number Digital Special Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami | 0.8 TF2 | $1.56 PP | - |
| House Flipper VR | 0.9 TF2 | $1.73 PP | - |
| House Flipper | 2.8 TF2 | $5.5 PP | - |
| Human: Fall Flat | 0.9 TF2 | $1.88 PP | - |
| HuniePop | 0.4 TF2 | $0.89 PP | - |
| Huntdown | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Hurtworld | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| Hyper Light Drifter | 1.6 TF2 | $3.11 PP | - |
| Hypnospace Outlaw | 0.8 TF2 | $1.55 PP | - |
| I Expect You To Die | 1.4 TF2 | $2.68 PP | - |
| I-NFECTED | 6.3 TF2 | $12.5 PP | - |
| INSURGENCY | 1.6 TF2 | $3.16 PP | - |
| Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Imperator: Rome Deluxe Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Imperator: Rome | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Injustice 2 Legendary Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Injustice 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| Injustice: Gods Among Us - Ultimate Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| Into the Breach | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Into the Radius VR | 2.9 TF2 | $5.84 PP | - |
| Ion Fury | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| Iron Harvest | 1.4 TF2 | $2.74 PP | - |
| Jalopy | 0.9 TF2 | $1.87 PP | - |
| Job Simulator | 6.6 TF2 | $13.01 PP | - |
| Jurassic World Evolution 2 | 2.4 TF2 | $4.81 PP | - |
| Jurassic World Evolution | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| Just Cause 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| Just Cause 3 XXL Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.63 PP | - |
| Just Cause 4: Complete Edition | 2.0 TF2 | $3.97 PP | - |
| KartKraft | 3.2 TF2 | $6.3 PP | - |
| Katamari Damacy REROLL | 1.1 TF2 | $2.24 PP | - |
| Katana ZERO | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes | 2.7 TF2 | $5.42 PP | - |
| Kerbal Space Program | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Killer Instinct | 8.8 TF2 | $17.49 PP | - |
| Killing Floor 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.2 PP | - |
| Killing Floor | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Kingdom: Two Crowns | 1.0 TF2 | $1.95 PP | - |
| LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Premium Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| LEGO Batman Trilogy | 1.6 TF2 | $3.07 PP | - |
| LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| LEGO Lord of the Rings | 0.4 TF2 | $0.83 PP | - |
| LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars | 0.5 TF2 | $1.05 PP | - |
| LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| LEGO® City Undercover | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| LEGO® DC Super-Villains Deluxe Edition | 1.7 TF2 | $3.28 PP | - |
| LEGO® DC Super-Villains | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| LEGO® Jurassic World™ | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| LEGO® MARVEL's Avengers | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.83 PP | - |
| LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| LEGO® Star Wars™: The Force Awakens - Deluxe Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| LEGO® Star Wars™: The Force Awakens | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| LEGO® Worlds | 1.1 TF2 | $2.12 PP | - |
| LIMBO | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective | 0.7 TF2 | $1.47 PP | - |
| Labyrinthine | 1.9 TF2 | $3.76 PP | - |
| Lake | 0.8 TF2 | $1.51 PP | - |
| Last Oasis | 1.6 TF2 | $3.11 PP | - |
| Layers of Fear 2 | 6.3 TF2 | $12.52 PP | - |
| Layers of Fear | 0.6 TF2 | $1.12 PP | - |
| Legion TD 2 | 1.7 TF2 | $3.33 PP | - |
| Len's Island | 4.2 TF2 | $8.26 PP | - |
| Lethal League Blaze | 1.5 TF2 | $3.06 PP | - |
| Lethal League | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Library Of Ruina | 3.2 TF2 | $6.42 PP | - |
| Life is Feudal: Your Own | 0.7 TF2 | $1.39 PP | - |
| Life is Strange 2 Complete Season | 0.7 TF2 | $1.33 PP | - |
| Life is Strange Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) | 4.5 TF2 | $8.95 PP | - |
| Little Misfortune | 2.3 TF2 | $4.47 PP | - |
| Little Nightmares Complete Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.22 PP | - |
| Little Nightmares | 1.0 TF2 | $2.06 PP | - |
| Lobotomy Corporation Monster Management Simulation | 5.0 TF2 | $9.99 PP | - |
| Loot River | 3.3 TF2 | $6.47 PP | - |
| Lost Ember | 1.4 TF2 | $2.76 PP | - |
| Luck be a Landlord | Luck of the Draw: Roguelike Deckbuilders Bundle | ||
| METAL GEAR SOLID V: The Definitive Experience | 1.5 TF2 | $2.89 PP | - |
| MONSTER HUNTER RISE | 4.1 TF2 | $8.09 PP | - |
| MORTAL KOMBAT 11 | 1.8 TF2 | $3.53 PP | - |
| MX vs ATV Reflex | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Mad Max | 1.2 TF2 | $2.32 PP | - |
| Mafia II: Definitive Edition | 3.6 TF2 | $7.11 PP | - |
| Mafia III: Definitive Edition | 2.1 TF2 | $4.21 PP | - |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | 2.2 TF2 | $4.36 PP | - |
| Magicka 2 - Deluxe Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Magicka 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Maneater | 0.8 TF2 | $1.63 PP | - |
| Manhunt | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| Mars Horizon | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition | 7.8 TF2 | $15.36 PP | - |
| Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Max Payne | 1.0 TF2 | $2.06 PP | - |
| MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries | 2.5 TF2 | $5.02 PP | - |
| Medal of Honor | 2.1 TF2 | $4.24 PP | - |
| Mega Man Legacy Collection | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 - Deluxe Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 War Chest Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Metro 2033 Redux | 0.5 TF2 | $1.05 PP | - |
| Metro Exodus | 1.4 TF2 | $2.79 PP | - |
| Metro Redux Bundle | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Metro: Last Light Redux | 1.1 TF2 | $2.26 PP | - |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.71 PP | - |
| Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ | 0.9 TF2 | $1.8 PP | - |
| Middleearth Shadow of War Definitive Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.37 PP | - |
| Midnight Ghost Hunt | May Multiplayer Bundle | ||
| Mini Ninjas | 0.5 TF2 | $1.05 PP | - |
| Mirror's Edge | 2.2 TF2 | $4.36 PP | - |
| Miscreated | 1.4 TF2 | $2.87 PP | - |
| Monster Hunter: World | 3.5 TF2 | $6.89 PP | - |
| Monster Sanctuary | 0.6 TF2 | $1.26 PP | - |
| Monster Train | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Moonlighter | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Moons of Madness | 1.8 TF2 | $3.48 PP | - |
| Mordhau | 1.7 TF2 | $3.32 PP | - |
| Mortal Shell | 1.4 TF2 | $2.77 PP | - |
| Motorcycle Mechanic Simulator 2021 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Motorsport Manager | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| Move or Die | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| Moving Out | 1.4 TF2 | $2.82 PP | - |
| Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden - Deluxe Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $3.01 PP | - |
| My Friend Pedro | 1.0 TF2 | $1.91 PP | - |
| My Time At Portia | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 Road to Boruto | 2.6 TF2 | $5.23 PP | - |
| NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM Revolution | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| NASCAR Heat 5 - Ultimate Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.1 PP | - |
| NBA 2K13 | 4.8 TF2 | $9.52 PP | - |
| Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 | 1.6 TF2 | $3.14 PP | - |
| Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker - Deluxe Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.13 PP | - |
| Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker | 0.4 TF2 | $0.83 PP | - |
| Necromunda: Hired Gun | 0.7 TF2 | $1.45 PP | - |
| Neon Abyss | 0.5 TF2 | $1.01 PP | - |
| Neverwinter Nights: Complete Adventures | 3.7 TF2 | $7.33 PP | - |
| Nine Parchments | 2.2 TF2 | $4.27 PP | - |
| No Time to Relax | 2.9 TF2 | $5.75 PP | - |
| Northgard | May Multiplayer Bundle | ||
| Not For Broadcast | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD GOLD EDITION | 2.0 TF2 | $3.91 PP | - |
| ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| ONE PIECE PIRATE WARRIORS 3 Gold Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.38 PP | - |
| Observer | 0.4 TF2 | $0.74 PP | - |
| Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| One Step From Eden | 0.5 TF2 | $1.03 PP | - |
| Operation: Tango | Humble Choice (May 2023) | ||
| Opus Magnum | 1.1 TF2 | $2.13 PP | - |
| Orcs Must Die! 3 | 1.9 TF2 | $3.69 PP | - |
| Outlast 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.17 PP | - |
| Outlast | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| Outward | 1.5 TF2 | $2.94 PP | - |
| Overcooked | 1.0 TF2 | $2.02 PP | - |
| Overcooked! 2 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.59 PP | - |
| Overgrowth | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Overlord II | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Owlboy | 1.0 TF2 | $2.04 PP | - |
| PAYDAY 2 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.82 PP | - |
| PC Building Simulator | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| PGA TOUR 2K21 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Paint the Town Red | 2.4 TF2 | $4.73 PP | - |
| Parkitect | 5.5 TF2 | $10.98 PP | - |
| Party Hard 2 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Pathologic 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| Pathologic Classic HD | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Per Aspera | 0.7 TF2 | $1.39 PP | - |
| Phantom Doctrine | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Pillars of Eternity Definitive Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.66 PP | - |
| Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Pistol Whip | 6.2 TF2 | $12.33 PP | - |
| Plague Inc: Evolved | 1.6 TF2 | $3.23 PP | - |
| Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| Planet Coaster | 1.8 TF2 | $3.55 PP | - |
| Planet Zoo | 2.0 TF2 | $3.93 PP | - |
| Planetary Annihilation: TITANS | 6.0 TF2 | $11.91 PP | - |
| Portal Knights | 1.3 TF2 | $2.62 PP | - |
| Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid | 2.8 TF2 | $5.48 PP | - |
| PowerBeatsVR | 1.0 TF2 | $1.99 PP | - |
| PowerSlave Exhumed | 1.4 TF2 | $2.79 PP | - |
| Praey for the Gods | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Prehistoric Kingdom | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Prison Architect | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Pro Cycling Manager 2019 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.61 PP | - |
| Project Hospital | 2.4 TF2 | $4.82 PP | - |
| Project Wingman | 2.6 TF2 | $5.21 PP | - |
| Project Winter | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Propnight | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| Pumpkin Jack | 0.4 TF2 | $0.84 PP | - |
| Quantum Break | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| RESIDENT EVIL 3 | 2.3 TF2 | $4.49 PP | - |
| RUGBY 20 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| RWBY: Grimm Eclipse | 3.3 TF2 | $6.62 PP | - |
| Ragnaröck | 3.5 TF2 | $6.93 PP | - |
| Rain World | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Raw Data | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Re:Legend | 1.1 TF2 | $2.13 PP | - |
| Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered | 0.5 TF2 | $0.95 PP | - |
| Red Matter | 4.5 TF2 | $8.95 PP | - |
| Resident Evil / biohazard HD REMASTER | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 0 / biohazard 0 HD Remaster | 1.2 TF2 | $2.35 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 5 GOLD Edition | 1.8 TF2 | $3.53 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 5 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 6 | 1.4 TF2 | $2.81 PP | - |
| Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Deluxe Edition | 2.5 TF2 | $4.88 PP | - |
| Resident Evil: Revelations | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| Retro Machina | 0.5 TF2 | $1.02 PP | - |
| Risen 2: Dark Waters Gold Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $2.88 PP | - |
| Risen 3 - Complete Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Risen | 0.9 TF2 | $1.82 PP | - |
| Rising Storm 2: Vietnam | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| River City Girls | 1.4 TF2 | $2.87 PP | - |
| Roboquest | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| RollerCoaster Tycoon Deluxe | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Rollercoaster Tycoon 2: Triple Thrill Pack | 1.7 TF2 | $3.28 PP | - |
| Rubber Bandits | 0.8 TF2 | $1.52 PP | - |
| Ryse: Son of Rome | 1.7 TF2 | $3.38 PP | - |
| SCP: Pandemic | 2.2 TF2 | $4.28 PP | - |
| SCUM | 3.0 TF2 | $5.96 PP | - |
| SOMA | 2.4 TF2 | $4.8 PP | - |
| SONG OF HORROR Complete Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.42 PP | - |
| STAR WARS® THE FORCE UNLEASHED II | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| STAR WARS™: Squadrons | 1.6 TF2 | $3.23 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT VR | 2.3 TF2 | $4.51 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT | 0.8 TF2 | $1.59 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE | 0.5 TF2 | $1.02 PP | - |
| Saint's Row The Third Remastered | 2.3 TF2 | $4.5 PP | - |
| Saints Row 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Saints Row IV Game of the Century Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Saints Row IV | 1.0 TF2 | $2.05 PP | - |
| Saints Row the Third - The Full Package | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| Saints Row: The Third | 0.6 TF2 | $1.27 PP | - |
| Salt and Sanctuary | 1.1 TF2 | $2.15 PP | - |
| Sanctum 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| Satisfactory | 6.6 TF2 | $13.01 PP | - |
| Second Extinction | 2.1 TF2 | $4.11 PP | - |
| Secret Neighbor | 0.9 TF2 | $1.85 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 3: BFE | 1.0 TF2 | $1.99 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 4 | 4.0 TF2 | $7.94 PP | - |
| Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem | 2.3 TF2 | $4.51 PP | - |
| Shadow Man Remastered | 1.0 TF2 | $2.0 PP | - |
| Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Shadow Warrior 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 3.2 TF2 | $6.37 PP | - |
| Shenmue 3 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| Shenmue I & II | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| Shining Resonance Refrain | 0.5 TF2 | $0.96 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization VI : Platinum Edition | 3.0 TF2 | $6.03 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization VI | 0.7 TF2 | $1.47 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization® V: The Complete Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.76 PP | - |
| Sid Meiers Civilization IV: The Complete Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Siege of Centauri | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| SimCasino | 1.3 TF2 | $2.56 PP | - |
| SimplePlanes | 1.9 TF2 | $3.78 PP | - |
| Skullgirls 2nd Encore | 1.2 TF2 | $2.47 PP | - |
| Slap City | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Slay the Spire | 3.6 TF2 | $7.17 PP | - |
| Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| Slime Rancher | 1.7 TF2 | $3.32 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite 3 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.14 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite 4 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.53 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite V2 Remastered | 1.3 TF2 | $2.5 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite V2 | 1.0 TF2 | $2.05 PP | - |
| Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts | 0.9 TF2 | $1.88 PP | - |
| Sonic Adventure DX | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Sonic Adventure 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.86 PP | - |
| Sonic Mania | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Soul Calibur VI | 1.6 TF2 | $3.24 PP | - |
| Source of Madness | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Space Engineers | 2.7 TF2 | $5.3 PP | - |
| Space Haven | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Spec Ops: The Line | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| SpeedRunners | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| Spellcaster University | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Spelunky | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Spirit Of The Island | 1.3 TF2 | $2.59 PP | - |
| Spiritfarer | Humble Choice (May 2023) | ||
| SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated | 1.3 TF2 | $2.51 PP | - |
| Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy | 4.9 TF2 | $9.65 PP | - |
| Squad | 7.9 TF2 | $15.55 PP | - |
| Star Renegades | 3.0 TF2 | $5.94 PP | - |
| Star Trek: Bridge Crew | 4.4 TF2 | $8.62 PP | - |
| Star Wars Republic Commando™ | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (Classic, 2005) | 1.4 TF2 | $2.7 PP | - |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Star Wars® Empire at War™: Gold Pack | 1.2 TF2 | $2.39 PP | - |
| Starbound | 1.1 TF2 | $2.24 PP | - |
| Starpoint Gemini Warlords | 1.8 TF2 | $3.48 PP | - |
| State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition | 3.0 TF2 | $5.92 PP | - |
| Staxel | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech | 0.9 TF2 | $1.83 PP | - |
| Steel Division: Normandy 44 | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Stellaris Galaxy Edition | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| Stellaris: Lithoids Species Pack | 0.8 TF2 | $1.49 PP | - |
| Stick Fight: The Game | 0.6 TF2 | $1.1 PP | - |
| Strategic Command WWII: World at War | 2.2 TF2 | $4.26 PP | - |
| Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection | 1.5 TF2 | $2.94 PP | - |
| Streets of Rogue | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Stronghold 2: Steam Edition | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| Stronghold Crusader 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.84 PP | - |
| Stronghold Crusader HD | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Styx: Shards Of Darkness | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Subnautica | 3.6 TF2 | $7.15 PP | - |
| Summer in Mara | 0.6 TF2 | $1.09 PP | - |
| Sunless Sea | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Sunless Skies | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| Sunset Overdrive | 1.0 TF2 | $2.01 PP | - |
| Super Meat Boy | 0.5 TF2 | $1.08 PP | - |
| Superliminal | 1.9 TF2 | $3.84 PP | - |
| Supraland Six Inches Under | 1.5 TF2 | $2.89 PP | - |
| Supreme Commander 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| Supreme Commander Forged Alliance | 2.0 TF2 | $4.02 PP | - |
| Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality | 1.8 TF2 | $3.5 PP | - |
| Survive the Nights | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Surviving Mars | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Surviving the Aftermath | 0.7 TF2 | $1.41 PP | - |
| Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet - Complete Edition | 3.3 TF2 | $6.45 PP | - |
| Sword Art Online Hollow Realization Deluxe Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $3.01 PP | - |
| Syberia: The World Before | 1.2 TF2 | $2.32 PP | - |
| Synth Riders | 3.5 TF2 | $6.96 PP | - |
| TEKKEN 7 | 1.5 TF2 | $2.9 PP | - |
| THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002 UNLIMITED MATCH | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Tales from the Borderlands | 3.4 TF2 | $6.83 PP | - |
| Tales of Berseria | 1.1 TF2 | $2.12 PP | - |
| Tales of Zestiria | 0.9 TF2 | $1.72 PP | - |
| Talisman: Digital Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.94 PP | - |
| Tank Mechanic Simulator | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Telltale Batman Shadows Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $1.9 PP | - |
| Terraforming Mars | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Terraria | 2.2 TF2 | $4.26 PP | - |
| The Ascent | 1.1 TF2 | $2.26 PP | - |
| The Battle of Polytopia | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| The Beast Inside | 0.4 TF2 | $0.77 PP | - |
| The Blackout Club | 0.6 TF2 | $1.17 PP | - |
| The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan | 2.2 TF2 | $4.42 PP | - |
| The Darkness II | 0.5 TF2 | $0.99 PP | - |
| The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| The Escapists 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.85 PP | - |
| The Escapists | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| The Henry Stickmin Collection | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Final Cut | 1.3 TF2 | $2.67 PP | - |
| The Intruder | 2.2 TF2 | $4.28 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 2 | 2.0 TF2 | $4.02 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 3 | 2.9 TF2 | $5.76 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 4 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.14 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 5 | 3.1 TF2 | $6.15 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 6 | 2.8 TF2 | $5.58 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame | 0.4 TF2 | $0.8 PP | - |
| The Last Campfire | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky | 1.8 TF2 | $3.57 PP | - |
| The Long Dark | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| The Long Dark: Survival Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| The Mortuary Assistant | 2.4 TF2 | $4.82 PP | - |
| The Red Solstice 2: Survivors | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| The Surge 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.83 PP | - |
| The Survivalists | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| The Talos Principle | 1.0 TF2 | $2.06 PP | - |
| The Walking Dead: A New Frontier | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| The Walking Dead: The Final Season | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series | 2.2 TF2 | $4.41 PP | - |
| The Witness | 3.7 TF2 | $7.29 PP | - |
| The Wolf Among Us | 1.4 TF2 | $2.83 PP | - |
| This Is the Police | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| This War of Mine: Complete Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| Titan Quest Anniversary Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Torchlight II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.19 PP | - |
| Total Tank Simulator | 0.4 TF2 | $0.74 PP | - |
| Total War SHOGUN 2 | 3.6 TF2 | $7.03 PP | - |
| Total War Shogun 2 Collection | 1.8 TF2 | $3.48 PP | - |
| Total War: ATTILA | 2.1 TF2 | $4.19 PP | - |
| Total War: Empire - Definitive Edition | 1.8 TF2 | $3.61 PP | - |
| Total War: Napoleon - Definitive Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.2 PP | - |
| Total War: Rome II - Emperor Edition | 2.8 TF2 | $5.54 PP | - |
| Total War™: WARHAMMER® | 3.2 TF2 | $6.25 PP | - |
| Totally Accurate Battle Simulator | 2.9 TF2 | $5.68 PP | - |
| Totally Reliable Delivery Service | 0.7 TF2 | $1.29 PP | - |
| Tour de France 2020 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Tower Unite | 5.2 TF2 | $10.39 PP | - |
| Townscaper | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Trailmakers Deluxe Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Train Simulator Classic | 0.9 TF2 | $1.7 PP | - |
| Tribes of Midgard | 0.9 TF2 | $1.8 PP | - |
| Tricky Towers | 2.0 TF2 | $3.98 PP | - |
| Trine 2: Complete Story | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Trine Ultimate Collection | 4.2 TF2 | $8.22 PP | - |
| Tropico 5 – Complete Collection | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Tropico 6 El-Prez Edition | 2.6 TF2 | $5.07 PP | - |
| Tropico 6 | 2.3 TF2 | $4.55 PP | - |
| Turmoil | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Turok | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Two Point Hospital | 2.2 TF2 | $4.28 PP | - |
| Tyranny - Gold Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Ultimate Chicken Horse | 1.8 TF2 | $3.57 PP | - |
| Ultimate Fishing Simulator | 0.5 TF2 | $0.92 PP | - |
| Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 | 1.7 TF2 | $3.4 PP | - |
| Ultra Street Fighter IV | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Undertale | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| Universe Sandbox | 4.6 TF2 | $9.15 PP | - |
| Unrailed! | 1.5 TF2 | $3.0 PP | - |
| Until You Fall | 0.7 TF2 | $1.4 PP | - |
| VTOL VR | 6.6 TF2 | $13.01 PP | - |
| Vacation Simulator | 5.2 TF2 | $10.32 PP | - |
| Vagante | 0.7 TF2 | $1.41 PP | - |
| Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $2.93 PP | - |
| Vampyr | 1.7 TF2 | $3.27 PP | - |
| Verdun | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Victor Vran | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| Visage | 3.0 TF2 | $5.87 PP | - |
| Viscera Cleanup Detail | 1.9 TF2 | $3.75 PP | - |
| Void Bastards | 0.4 TF2 | $0.84 PP | - |
| Volcanoids | 1.4 TF2 | $2.81 PP | - |
| Vox Machinae | 3.4 TF2 | $6.78 PP | - |
| Wargame European Escalation | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| Wargame: Red Dragon | 5.3 TF2 | $10.56 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters | Humble Choice (May 2023) | ||
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Master Collection | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Grand Master Collection | 2.0 TF2 | $3.93 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War | 1.0 TF2 | $1.95 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Tyranids | 1.6 TF2 | $3.12 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Collection | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine | 1.7 TF2 | $3.29 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Chaosbane - Slayer Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide Collector's Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.38 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Vermintide 2 - Collector's Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $3.02 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Vermintide 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.52 PP | - |
| Warhammer® 40,000: Dawn of War® II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.26 PP | - |
| Warhammer® 40,000™: Dawn of War® III | 1.7 TF2 | $3.33 PP | - |
| Warpips | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Wasteland 3 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| We Happy Few | 0.8 TF2 | $1.62 PP | - |
| We Need to Go Deeper | 1.7 TF2 | $3.34 PP | - |
| We Were Here Too | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| White Day : a labyrinth named school | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Who's Your Daddy | 1.7 TF2 | $3.31 PP | - |
| Wingspan | 1.2 TF2 | $2.37 PP | - |
| Winkeltje: The Little Shop | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| Witch It | 3.3 TF2 | $6.54 PP | - |
| Wizard of Legend | 1.4 TF2 | $2.86 PP | - |
| Worms W.M.D | 1.1 TF2 | $2.24 PP | - |
| Wurm Unlimited | 0.7 TF2 | $1.45 PP | - |
| X4: Foundations | 5.8 TF2 | $11.48 PP | - |
| X4: Split Vendetta | 1.9 TF2 | $3.8 PP | - |
| XCOM 2 Collection | 1.4 TF2 | $2.79 PP | - |
| XCOM: Enemy Unknown Complete Pack | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| XCOM: Ultimate Collection | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Yakuza 0 | 2.0 TF2 | $3.96 PP | - |
| Yakuza 3 Remastered | 1.1 TF2 | $2.24 PP | - |
| Yakuza 4 Remastered | 2.0 TF2 | $4.01 PP | - |
| Yakuza 5 Remastered | 2.8 TF2 | $5.48 PP | - |
| Yakuza Kiwami 2 | 3.2 TF2 | $6.41 PP | - |
| Yakuza Kiwami | 1.8 TF2 | $3.61 PP | - |
| Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles | 1.8 TF2 | $3.58 PP | - |
| YouTubers Life | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| ZERO Sievert | 4.9 TF2 | $9.65 PP | - |
| Zenith MMO | 2.2 TF2 | $4.38 PP | - |
| Zero Caliber VR | 4.2 TF2 | $8.31 PP | - |
| Zombie Army 4: Dead War | 1.9 TF2 | $3.75 PP | - |
| Zombie Army Trilogy | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| biped | 0.9 TF2 | $1.79 PP | - |
| rFactor 2 | 3.2 TF2 | $6.43 PP | - |
| while True: learn() Chief Technology Officer Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.61 PP | - |
https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/ggsaik/fappidydats_igs_rep_page/
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2023.06.01 17:28 letsavenge [FH5] Autumn Information Thread - Series 21
Hello everyone! It's week two of Explore the Horizon. Last week I really enjoyed the Festival tasks, so let's hope this time around we get a bunch of good things once again. Sorry for the little delay in publishing this thread this week, hope you all are having a great week!
A ??? is available for completing the Super7 this week.
FH5 Release Notes: May 23rd, 2023
submitted by letsavenge to forza [link] [comments]
A ??? is available for completing the Super7 this week.
Forzathon Shop
The Forzathon Shop ends on Jun 8th, 2023 @ 14:29 (UTC).- 450FP Car: 1964 Aston Martin DB5
- 300FP Car: 2014 Ford #11 Rockstar F-150 Trophy Truck
- 75FP Clothing: Farid Rueda Lion Race Suit
- 75FP Car Horn: Referee Whistle
- Wheelspins: 60FP & 150FP
Festival Playlist Rewards
- Autumn - 20/63 Points: Ford F-150 '86 (Exclusive Car)
- Autumn - 40/63 Points: 2022 Extreme E Odyssey 21 e-SUV (#44) (Hard to Find)
- Series - 80/252 Points: Wuling Sunshine (Hard To Find)
- Series - 160/252 Points: 2021 Audi RS 7 (Hard To Find)
Hot Wheels Events - 7 Points
Exclusive to Hot Wheels Owners; the respective Academy Rank must be unlocked. Not Required for Season Rewards, Series Completion, or the Min, Meet Max Achievement.- Danger Sign: "Canyon Fire" ?? 2 points
- Criteria: Anything Goes (S2-998)
- Reward: Super Wheelspin
- Championship: "Super Loops" 5 points
- Criteria: Modern Supercars (S1-900)
- Reward: Clothing - Farid Rueda Bear Cap
Rally Adventure Events - 7 Points
Exclusive to Rally Adventure Owners; required for you to be Horizon Badlands Champion. Not Required for Season Rewards, Series Completion, or the Min, Meet Max Achievement.- Speed Zone: "Tierra Verdes" ?? 2 points
- Criteria: Anything Goes (S2-998)
- Reward: Super Wheelspin
- Championship: "Time Warp" 5 points
- Criteria: Retro Saloons (B700)
- Reward: Emote - Macarena
Forzathon Weekly Challenge - 5 Points
Earn 80FP for completing the weekly challenge, double if you own La Casa Solariega. Must be done in sequence to count.- Own the drive the 2017 RAM 2500 Power Wagon.
- Win a Dirt Race in the 2017 RAM 2500 Power Wagon.
- Earn a Wrecking Ball skill with the 2017 RAM 2500 Power Wagon.
- Earn 3 Stars at Trailblazers in the 2017 RAM 2500 Power Wagon.
Forzathon Daily Challenges - 1 Point Each, 7 Points Total
Each challenge is open for 7 Days from 2:30PM UTC* of the start day. Earn 10FP per Challenge, double if you own La Casa Solariega.- Take a photo of your car at night
- Earn 3 stars from Danger Signs in any Offroad car
- Smash 12 Cactus
- Complete any Showcase event
- Earn an Ultimate Air skill in Dunas Blancas
- Find the flamingos near Cascadas de Agua Azul
- Complete any Custom Racing Cross Country event
Seasonal Events - 30 Points Total
The reward listed for Seasonal Championship events requires you to place 1st against at or above the Highly Skilled Drivatar difficulty setting; the Trial requires Unbeatable difficulty and is accessible after entering the Hall of Fame.- Horizon Arcade: Any Event 3 Points
- Criteria: Complete any Horizon Arcade event
- The Trial: "Ooh... Barranca" 10 Points
- Criteria: Retro Rally (C600)
- Reward: 2016 Bentley Bentayga
- Event Lab: "By Land, Air and Sea..." 3 Points
- Criteria: Offroad Capable (A800)
- Reward: 1970 Ford GT70
- Danger Sign: "Salto de Río" ? 2 Points
- Criteria: Anything Goes (S2-998)
- Reward: Super Wheelspin
- Speed Trap: "Dustbowl" ? 2 Points
- Criteria: Anything Goes (S2-998)
- Reward: Super Wheelspin
- Championship: "Rally Good Time" 5 Points
- Criteria: Rally Monsters (A800)
- Reward: 2017 Maserati Levante S
- Championship: "Ready for Liftoff" 5 Points
- Criteria: Unlimited Offroad (A800)
- Reward: 1973 Ford Escort RS1600
Challenges - 8 Points Total
- Treasure Hunt "Finders Keepers" 3 Points
- Criteria: Check out this week's Pathfinder challenges in Evolving World Accolades page. If you can uncover all 3 trails then the treasure will be yours!
- Reward: 250,000 credits
- Photo Challenge #BigHorn 2 Points
- Criteria: Take a wildlife photograph near the camera equipment to the North of Mulegé
- Reward: Forza Link - "I'm the goat!"
- The Eliminator: Battle Royale 2 Points
- Criteria: Finish 30th or better
- Reward: 2011 BMW X5 M
- Collectibles: "Flamingo Falls" 3 Points
- Criteria: Smash 10 Flamingo cut-outs found near the Cascadas de Aqua Azul
- Reward: Clothing - Farid Rueda Lion Face Mask
Monthly Events - 2 Points per Season (8 Points per Series)
- Monthly EV Ek' Balam Cross Country Circuit 1 points per Season
- Criteria: Post a clean lap to complete
- Forza EV Cupra Tavascan Concept 1 points per Season
- Criteria: Post a clean lap to complete
FH5 Release Notes: May 23rd, 2023
2023.06.01 16:45 TopGearDanTGD Prizes available this week FH4 62/01 & FH5 21/02
 | submitted by TopGearDanTGD to ForzaHorizon [link] [comments] |
2023.06.01 11:03 Faley016 Planned balance changes from the “Road to singularity” update
 | submitted by Faley016 to Crossout [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/ycrnt67t5d3b1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=dc4876c8903fe88e1f1e1c206cd753cdd3d8ab9a Hello, survivors! Earlier, we have already announced a number of balance changes in one of our devblogs. Today we are ready to share the full list of balance changes that are planned to be implemented in the next update. We remind you that we plan to implement a new mechanics of projectile damage in this update. Therefore, the list of changes is quite big. Please note that all the balance changes specified in this news are relevant at the time of publication and may not be final or not get into the game at all. Certain additional changes, if necessary, may be made after the announcement. Changes in the mechanics of projectile damageThe following changes are relevant for projectiles that have the properties of flight speed and size.For such projectiles, we refined the algorithm for hit registration. Now the damage from the hit is applied to all the parts crossing the volume of the projectile throughout its flight. Previously, this mechanics recorded a hit only on one part with subsequent damage at two meters from the point of contact. The old registration algorithm didn’t match the new projectile mechanics, so it was decided to make adjustments to it. The new registration algorithm will allow additional balancing of the weapon (together with the penetration ability). The changes in projectile size are related to this refinement. Penetration abilityThe parameter allows adjusting how much damage a projectile of a particular weapon has to deal from a hit until it explodes.In the characteristics of the weapon (in the “features” section), a parameter has appeared that shows the value of the penetration ability. By the presence of this parameter you can understand if the global changes in projectile damage mechanics (removal of the 2-meter limitation) apply to your weapon. If you don’t see this parameter, then your weapon was not affected. A parameter value of 80% means that the projectile will disappeaexplode after it hits more than 80% of hit damage. The checking of how much damage the projectile has dealt is done after the damage has been dealt. So: the projectile has 100 of hit damage and its penetration ability is 80%. Let’s consider 2 situations:
Such mechanics are required for greater flexibility in weapon configuration. It allows you to further adjust the minimum amount of damage that a projectile can inflict on parts on its way, without affecting the maximum damage to one part. Important:
Changes to weapons with “hitscan” mechanics (machine guns, shotguns, etc.)As we noted earlier, we cannot remove the “2-meter limitation” from such weapons without significant performance losses. In order to reduce the effectiveness of parts that pass damage relative to such weapons, the limitation has been increased up to three meters.Changes in weapon parametersComment: All changes to the weapons are related to the new mechanics (removal of 2-meter restriction). These changes allowed us to solve the problems found as a result of testing.We should note that the durability and penetration parameters were adjusted in groups, since the testing was conducted with a relatively small group of players. After the changes are released on the main server and more data is received, additional adjustments may be made in the following updates. SM Hornet Durability increased from 52 to 57 pts. LM-54 Chord Durability increased from 60 to 66 pts. MM5-4 Vector Durability increased from 74 to 81 pts. Sinus-0 Durability increased from 90 to 99 pts. Spectre-2 Durability increased from 186 to 205 pts. Aspect Durability increased from 220 to 242 pts. M-37 Piercer Durability increased from 125 to 138 pts. M-38 Fidget Durability increased from 145 to 160 pts. M-39 Imp Durability increased from 209 to 230 pts. ST-M23 Defender Durability increased from 161 to 177 pts. M-25 Guardian Durability increased from 179 to 197 pts. M-29 Protector Durability increased from 213 to 234 pts. M-32 Vindicator Durability increased from 225 to 248 pts. ST-M26 Tackler Durability increased from 228 to 251 pts. Gungnir Durability increased from 173 to 190 pts. Nothung Durability increased from 233 to 256 pts. MG13 Equalizer Durability increased from 163 to 179 pts. MG14 Arbiter Durability increased from 218 to 240 pts. Punisher Durability increased from 368 to 386 pts. Miller
Projectile size reduced by 38%. Tempest The weapon now has a 100% penetration ability. Whirl The weapon now has a 100% penetration ability. Avenger 57mm
The weapon now has an 40% penetration ability. Median
Durability increased from 100 to 120 pts. Yongwang Durability increased from 423 to 465 pts. GL-55 Impulse Durability increased from 126 to 151 pts. Thresher Durability increased from 180 to 216 pts. Retcher Durability increased from 213 to 256 pts. AT Wasp
Durability increased from 436 to 501 pts. Waltz
Removed projectile hit damage. ATGM Flute
Durability increased from 488 to 537 pts. Remedy
Durability increased from 288 to 331 pts. Ripper
Durability increased from 576 to 662 pts. Yokai Removed projectile hit damage. Synthesis
Durability increased from 435 to 437 pts. Flash I. Durability increased from 544 to 571 pts. Aurora Durability increased from 275 to 303 pts. Athena Durability increased from 393 to 452 pts. Assembler
Changes in the parameters of movement partsAll tracks now have their own perks:Small track Reduces the weapon spread by 20% at the speed above 80 km/h. The bonus doesn’t depend on the amount of such tracks, but decreases proportionally if there are other movement parts mounted on the vehicle. Sleipnir Increases weapon rotation speed by 25%. The bonus doesn’t depend on the amount of such tracks, but decreases proportionally if there are other movement parts mounted on the vehicle. Reinforced track Increases the durability of all other such tracks on the armoured car by 5%. Maximum bonus is 20%. Tank track Increases the maximum speed and power of the armoured car by 10 km/h and 25% respectively when the durability of the armoured car drops to 65% and below. The effect will not work if there are other movement parts mounted on the car. Armoured track Increases the damage protection of structural parts by 25% if the player is within 40 m from 2 or more enemies. The bonus doesn’t depend on the amount of such tracks, but decreases proportionally if there are other movement parts mounted on the vehicle. Goliath Increases the durability of parts that are attached to the track by 10%. Icarus IV Removed additional damage to the side projection. Icarus VII
All wheels
Lunar IV Improved the wheel model to minimize overlap when mounted together with various fenders. Hardware changesExplosive modules
Radars “RS-1 Ruby”, “RD-1 Listener”, “RD-2 Keen”
Durability increased from 26 to 56 pts. RD-1 Listener
Car jack Increased the maximum speed at which the car jack can be used. Comment: the change should help solve the problem where the car jack could only be activated when the car comes to a complete stop. Aegis-Prime Added new attachment points. Comment: the current placement of the attachment points is inconvenient for placing the module and limits its installation options too much. Oppressor
Changes to cabin parametersAll cabins (starting with the “rare”)Reduced the effect of mass on the acceleration of the car. The highest bonus is applied to the “light” type. Comment: this change is aimed at slightly increasing the mobility of loaded builds. Hot rod
Structural partsThe changes concern only structural parts that increase the durability of the vehicle.The parts of each faction have their own durability to mass ratio. We have improved this ratio by increasing durability. The “lighter” the faction, the greater the bonus (in %) it has received. Also, we have added resistance to different types of damage (firearm, explosive, thermal, energy) to the parts that increase the durability of the vehicle (if they do not have other features, such as “Lets damage through”). The set of resistances depends on the faction. Resistances should be a bonus rather than a fundamental parameter for selecting a part, and should add some uniqueness to each faction and add variety to the process of assembling the vehicle. Resistances according to damage types
Small assembly section
Frames
These changes are aimed at ensuring that the frame (as a part) better protects the parts located behind it, while at the same time its own survivability remains at the same level. This concludes the list of balance changes. We would like to additionally note that before the update is released, it could include some additional changes. The update is scheduled to be released next week! See you on our livestream on Tuesday! |
2023.05.31 23:45 Mr-Peare 2004 Mc Donalds Happy Meal ile verilen arabalardan ( Mercury Tail Dragger ) fakat tanınamaz halde. Hot Wheels olduğunu anlayamamıştım bile altındaki Mattel ve Mc Donalds yazılarından sonuca ulaşabildim orijinal hali ileriki fotolarda.
 | submitted by Mr-Peare to HotWheelsTr [link] [comments] |
2023.05.31 23:32 Traditional_Two_7475 Finally!!! Fast and Furious Charger
 | submitted by Traditional_Two_7475 to HotWheels [link] [comments] |
2023.05.31 15:31 JohannesMeanAd2 The Centennial Series, S2E2: 1923 Indianapolis 500 - Indy goes international!
 | Hello everyone! I hope you all had fun watching the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, filled with many different strategic twists and turns and showcasing some of the finest displays of driver ability we've seen this season! submitted by JohannesMeanAd2 to formula1 [link] [comments] As we all know, the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most historic motor races on the planet, with a rich heritage going all the way back to 1929. However, there is one other open wheel race that has historically been run on the same day, but halfway across the world in America: The Indianapolis 500. With speeds in excess of 230 miles per hour and attendance soaring past 300,000 on race day, the Indy 500 boasts arguably the most impressive CV of any active motor race in the world with its over 110-year-long history. Makes sense, then, that this would be our next destination for The Centennial Series retrospective. The Start of the 1923 Indianapolis 500. Image credits to michaeljesse.net For those of you on this sub who don't know, I make a series of commemorative posts for Grand Prix-adjacent races that occurred exactly 100 years ago as their anniversaries pass by us. Here's my most recent one in case you're interested in reading further. This will be the second installment in this year's retrospective, so let's get into it! Just like today, in 1923 the Indianapolis 500 held a special place in the motor racing world as arguably one of the fastest and most exciting races out there. If we had a holy trinity of races in the 1920s, they would be the Italian Targa Florio, the French Grand Prix, and this race. Indy represented the peak of American motor racing since the end of World War I, when rival events such as the ACA Grand Prize and the William K. Vanderbilt Cup fell into abeyance and irrelevance. Aerial view of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 1923. You might be wondering, "this is a race that's still held today in the IndyCar series. Why would you do a retrospective on it if it's not a Grand Prix?" That's a great question and the answer lies in the past. Though it may seem strange, unlike in the 1950s, during the 1920s the Indy 500 was equally as relevant to the Grand Prix racing world as it was to that of racing in the United States. Quite often, many of the best manufacturers of Europe sought after victory in the Indianapolis 500 as a means of proving their race cars’ (and road cars) worthiness on a global scale. Some successful examples include Delage in the 1914 running, and Peugeot, who successfully won three times in 1913, 1916 and 1919. As such, it made sense that the then-organizers of the Indy 500 (and most auto racing in America), the AAA Contest Board, wanted to keep in touch with the latest developments in international racing to maintain that worldwide interest in the Sweepstakes. In the previous year's Indianapolis 500 (Which you can read my post about here), the technical regulations remained the same as they had been since the end of World War I, that of 3.0 liter engine regulations, on the grounds that the American auto industry still hadn't fully recovered a regular peacetime manufacturing capacity after The Great War. However, this would all change for 1923. In 1922, the Automobile Club de France, or the ACF, adopted new, 2.0 liter engine regulations with slightly smaller weight requirements as the first true "new" post-war regulation. In the pursuit of maintaining international interest in the Indy 500, the AAA decided to follow suit for the 1923 season. In recognition of unifying their formula, the folks in Europe known as the AIACR (Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus, the FIA of its day) designated the Indianapolis 500 as a Grande Epreuve (French for “big test”), which was back then the term for an "official" international Grand Prix race. And so, with the race now genuinely having international importance once more, it's time to see who's who and who the favorites were for the 1923 Indy 500: The Team of Bugattis lining up for a photo at the 1923 Indy 500. Image credits to Simanaitis Says. The first major European manufacturer to jump at the Indy opportunity would be Bugatti. Led by the great Ettore Bugatti himself, the Alsatian manufacturer had gained a reputation for punching well above their weight in the Grand Prix scene, with multiple voiturette victories to their name in 1920 and 1921, and making the step up to the Grand Prix races in 1922. Despite their gentlemanly lineup, their results were very promising, taking runner-up in France and third place at Monza. For 1923, they planned bigger and better things, but for the sake of getting their name out, Bugatti set out with their 1922-spec Type 30, modified to only have one seat (because back then Grand Prix racers still needed two seats). Their drivers would be led by Pierre de Vizcaya and the legendary Polish designer Count Louis Zborowski. They were joined by a series of other wealthy aristocrats interested in a flick of speed, including the Parisian Prince de Cystria, and the Argentinians Martin de Alzaga and Raul Riganti. With just 90 horsepower on tap, Bugatti's best chances came from capitalizing on attrition. But still it's quite incredible that they're out here having only made it to the big leagues a year prior. The Supercharged Mercedes M7294. Stripped down to only one seat for Indianapolis. Image credits to Supercars.net Christian F. Lautenschlager. Image from Fine Art America. And now for a manufacturer I'm sure everyone is familiar with: Mercedes! By this point, Mercedes were still virtually the "exiled genius” of the European racing world. Their status as a German car manufacturer left them banned from taking part in the French Grand Prix after The Great War, but that did not stop the engineers at Stuttgart from innovating and being ahead of the curve. At the 1922 Targa Florio, they introduced the world's first supercharged (and by extension, forced induction) racecars, capitalizing on a gray area for the Grand Prix regulations of the time. Seeing the potential of the supercharging device, Mercedes opted to take it one step further for 1923. In a design that complies with the 2.0 liter Grand Prix regulations, they introduced the M7294, designed by Paul Daimler himself. This 120-horsepower beast used centrifugal supercharging to make up for the below-average RPM compared to the naturally aspirated American racers they'd be up against, making this the first effort for a supercharged race car at Indy. As they were once again playing with hot stuff, Mercedes entrusted only their absolute best and most knowledgeable drivers with the M7294. The headlining driver would be two-time Grand Prix champion Christian Lautenschlager, alongside their top testers Max Sailer and Christian Werner. Duesenberg Special at Indianapolis, 1924. No good photos of their 1923 special exist. Image credits to Indiana Memory Collections. The rather abrupt nature of the switch from 3.0 liter engines to 2.0 liter engines for the Indy 500 sent a paradigm-changing shockwave to the balance of power among American racing teams. Many manufacturers found themselves largely underprepared or ill-equipped to handle making all new designs in such a short time for the 1923 Indy 500. One such example would be the Duesenberg brothers. High off of an incredible upset victory at the 1921 French Grand Prix, and a record-breaking Indy 500 win (both with Jimmy Murphy at the helm), it’s safe to say Duesenberg were a staple of American open wheel racing, and in 1923 their absence was very much felt. In the hurried rush to put together a special car in time for Indianapolis, they depleted most of their resources, and sent out three cars, mostly for relief drivers. Only one car would start the race, for their chief relief driver Wade Morton, making his Indy 500 debut. Quite the contrast to see only one car from such a big team. The Detroit-based Packard team were able to create a reasonably strong package for the 1923 season, managing around 115 horsepower from their new 2.0 liter special. Although not in as desperate of a situation as Duesenberg were, Packard still put together a strong team, fielding the legendary Ralph DePalma as their headlining driver, alongside Joe Boyer and 1916 winner Dario Resta. Others wouldn’t be so fortunate as Duesenberg and Packard to survive the sudden shift. The Frontenac Motor Corporation, a joint venture between Louis Chevrolet (yes, that Chevrolet), Joe Boyer and car salesman William Small, was the dominant force in Champ Car racing during and after The Great War, with Chevrolet himself leading the race team to glory. After a suboptimal 1922 race in which none of Chevrolet’s cars finished in the top 5, the devastating news that they’d have to rebuild everything they had was the nail in the coffin that would make the Frontenac project go bankrupt, ridding American open wheel racing of one of its strongest teams. Can you imagine that happening to Chevrolet and Team Penske today? Because that’s what this felt like at the time. Miller Type 122 Special, as entered by HCS. Image credits to ConceptCarz. However, where some had failed or struggled, others would absolutely thrive. In the immediate post-war years, The Wisconsonite Harry Miller was the owner of a very successful carburetor-selling business, generating over $1 million in yearly revenue. Miller would put this money to good use, developing a durable and fast racing engine for the Indy 500 (inspired by the old Peugeot engines), which in 1922 would be used by the overall race winner, Jimmy Murphy on his special Duesenberg chassis. The record-breaking pace of Murphy's win ignited huge interest in Miller's fast-growing racing team. Luckily for Miller, his team would stay ahead of the curve for the 1923 regulation change, developing a strong 2.0 liter engine for an elegant and functional design: the Type 122 (named such for the engine size in cubic inches). The Miller 122 was the very first dedicated single-seater race car in the United States. Talk about an innovative race car for the time, back in those days the top Grand Prix cars mandated two seats for driver and mechanic! However, as the need for a mechanic was now optional for the Indy 500, the 122 only had the one seat. The car also boasted a very impressive 120 horsepower. A similar power output to Miller's previous engines, but far more dense given the smaller engine size. Cliff Durant. With the promise of stability at over 110 miles per hour, and especially given the short notice of the regulation change hurting other American manufacturers, Harry Miller's design would have an explosion of interest from many drivers of the American Open Wheel racing establishment. There were no less than eleven of these bad boys lining up for the 1923 Indy 500, making this car a clear favorite for race day. There were two top teams fielding Millers this year, including Cliff Durant’s stable of eight cars with champion drivers such as Earl Cooper and Jimmy Murphy headlining his team’s attack. They would be rivaled by the Harry C. Stutz team (H.C.S. for short), who had just two cars, but packed a real punch by fielding two past Indy 500 champions: Howard “Howdy” Wilcox, and Thomas “Tommy” Milton. Headline for Indiana law prohibiting sporting events occurring on memorial day. Taken from The Daily Republican, January 25th, 1923. So now that we have the exposition out of the way, it's time for the race itself. Well, almost. You see, at the start of 1923, the Indiana State Legislature passed a law that prohibited all sporting events from occurring on Memorial Day, which included the Indianapolis 500 itself. This was done on the grounds that not enough respect had been given to the fallen American soldiers, and that the day was instead used for “games, races, and revelry.” Although this reasoning was sound, many people found this law un-American for limiting free expression. This included the organizers of the Indy 500, who relied on a holiday to guarantee maximal race attendance. There were talks of moving the race to the Saturday before Memorial day (May 26th in this instance), and even potentially making Saturday a special holiday! Honestly, it kind of reeks of making a town around the racetrack called “Speedway” (which actually happened). As no better solution could be found due to the organizers’ insistence on running on a holiday, the race would be held on a Wednesday, May 30th. Joe Boyer in the Packard Special, 1923. Now that we know when the race happens, it's time to actually get into the swing of things. Most teams used the entire month of May leading up to the race to get in private practice sessions, to have the best possible independent data regarding average speed and reliability. As such, there was a pretty clear picture of who had better overall speed, which turned out to be everybody. Before the 4-lap time trials began on Saturday the 26th, Harry Hartz in his Cliff Durant Miller car set a 106 mph average speed lap, which was nearly SIX miles per hour faster than Jimmy Murphy’s pole lap from the year prior. This speed would soon be matched by the likes of Murphy and Milton. Already this Indy 500 was promising to be a showstopper with these speeds. Qualifying began on Saturday, the 26th. Just like it is today, the starting grid would be set by doing 4 laps of the Indy oval at speed, with the average lap (measured in speed, not time) determining your placement. The gentleman Bugatti drivers had very consistent lap speeds, even if their trials were rather slow for the time. The best lap came from Raul Riganti, clocking in at a 95 mph average speed. The Mercedes cars fared only a little better. Lautenschlager and Werner both showed very strong speed in excess of 105 mph on the straights, but had to back off quite a bit in the corners. This evened out to give a lap speed of approximately 95 mph from Werner, and 93 mph from Lautenschlager. Cars lining up for the start of the 1923 Indy 500, ground view, pace car in front. As the European manufacturers struggled, the Americans fared much better. Packard and Miller would both have drivers that beat out Jimmy Murphy’s 100 mph qualifying record from 1922. For Packard, it was DePalma, at around 100.42 miles per hour, promising to the public that this wouldn’t be a Miller whitewash as far as speed goes. But even then, the Millers stood head and shoulders above the rest, particularly with the HCS-entered cars. Tommy Milton would throw down the gauntlet with a murderous speed of 108 mph for pole position! Talk about crazy improvement from the year before. For reference, this year’s record-setting Indy 500 pole speed improved on last year’s by only 0.2 mph. Really speaks to how much of a wild west era 100 years ago was like. Milton’s time would be closely matched by the top two from the past year, Jimmy Murphy and Harry Hartz. They would be joined in the top 5 speeds by Cliff Durant himself, and Packard’s DePalma. And now for the race itself. In front of a rambunctious crowd of over 100,000 strong (there were far less grandstand tickets back then), the pace car led the 24 cars to a rolling start as they roared into turn 1. Tommy Milton built up a very strong lead in the first lap, but Jimmy Murphy negotiated the cars in front of him from the third row to pass Milton by turn four, with Boyer and Hartz closely following. By lap three, Milton overtook Murphy to return to first place, setting the stage for the opening 50 laps of the race, which would be a constant back and forth tussle between these two drivers, both representing the top teams using Miller cars: Murphy for Durant Racing, and Milton for the H.C.S. Motor Company. The crowd could hardly believe such a close and fast battle, no one had ever seen anything like it (they would swap the lead 25 times). Joe Boyer and Ralph DePalma helped keep Packard within touching distance, and the supercharged Mercedes’ proved to surprise in race trim, with Werner reaching the top 10 very quickly. Leaderboard after Lap 10. Credits to goldenera.fi The first 50 laps would see several retirements, including two high speed crashes. On lap 14 Mercedes’ Christian Lautenschlager skidded into the wall at turn 1 at nearly 90 mph, with the driver mostly uninjured. His riding mechanic Jakob Krauss was less fortunate, as he’d suffer a left leg contusion. Lautenschlager was the only driver in the field with a riding mechanic, and the mechanic’s injuries called into question the safety of even having one at all. The other crash would come from Tom Alley, relief driver for former national champion Earl Cooper. Alley lost control at 105 mph entering turn 3, crashing straight into the fence and throwing Alley 20 feet from the car. Alley survived with serious lacerations to his back, but the sheer impact of his car on the catch fence would tragically take the life of a young local spectator, Herbert Shoup. I know it’s very upsetting, but in this day and age it’s always important to remind ourselves of, and respect, the consequences of the danger these drivers, and the people who watched them, faced when racing. A stillframe of actual footage of Howdy Wilcox, Tommy Milton, and Jimmy Murphy battling for the lead in the 1923 Indianapolis 500. Taken from the official Indianapolis Motor Speedway YouTube channel. Leaderboard After 20 out of 200 laps. After Joe Boyer hit the pits for an extended period of time by lap 30 to change spark plugs, Packard’s best hope of a win faded, making it a Miller show up front. But the battle for the lead ramped up considerably by lap 50. Now, joining Milton and Murphy were their team-mates at HCS and Durant respectively, making it a two on two battle. Howard Wilcox had recovered from a serious qualifying mistake putting him much lower on the grid and now was in the mix with Milton, and Murphy was joined by the owner of the team himself, Cliff Durant. The Mercedes of Werner slowly improved once more, now up to 6th, showing promise that the supercharger may really be the game changer Mercedes had made it out to be. Jimmy Murphy (right). Image credits to Sports Car Digest. Wilcox’s charge wouldn’t last very long, as by lap 60 his car had a broken clutch, dropping him out of the race. He would soon be followed by Murphy, who by the same time had problems brewing from within his Miller that slowed his pace a good bit. He went into the pits for nearly five laps to resolve these issues, which put him well down the order and hoping for a miracle for a repeat victory. This left only Durant and Milton up front, with only 10 seconds between them, and Harry Hartz half a track behind, though Durant began to ease off due to slowly-building exhaustion that would go on to affect several drivers throughout the day. Even though they showed promise early on, much like the Frontenacs from the year prior, Packard would have a devastating and sudden end to their 500 charge. On lap 59, they lost Joe Boyer due to a defective differential, and it would seem that some of the mechanics didn’t check the head gaskets on the other two cars, as those breaking would be the downfall of both DePalma and Dario Resta, on laps 69 and 88 respectively. Less than halfway through the race the biggest challenger to the Millers on outright speed would be gone in a flash. Christian Werner, circa 1924. His car was the strongest of the Mercs at Indy that day. Image from Mercedes-Benz digital archive. Where some challengers would flounder, others would silently surprise. By lap 80, the two remaining Mercedes’, piloted by Werner and Sailer, had found themselves in the top 5. Although not challenging race leader Milton for pace, it was as clear as day that the two Germans had consistent speed and utmost confidence with the M7294. With that being said, driving it at the pace they were proved extremely exhausting. Multiple stops had to be made to rotate drivers out of the cars, sometimes requiring assistance to even get out of the car. Despite all of that the Mercs maintained position, and by the halfway point had found themselves in third place. Howdy Wilcox in H.C.S. Special, 1923. By that point, however, the battle for the lead had cooled off. On the back stretch of the circuit, Cliff Durant came to a dead stop. The exact reasoning never got clarified, but eventually his car restarted and he rejoined the race more than 6 laps behind the leader. This left his more conservative team-mate Harry Hartz inheriting second place, one of the only cars left to not get lapped by Tommy Milton. With a huge lead now established, the HCS team pulled Milton in to give him a rest, as even he isn’t impervious to severe exhaustion. Milton had blistered, severely injured hands, which prompted the team to order Milton to have some rest, handing the car over to Wilcox, who remained on standby after his own car had dropped out. With only Hartz and Werner anywhere near their huge lead, Wilcox took over, with only one goal in mind: to keep the car on the track until Milton recovered. Leaderboard after 120 out of 200 laps Wilcox would relieve Milton for 48 laps, and the car remained firmly in the lead over Hartz, even extending it to one full lap ahead. In that time several other cars would be vanquished through spending countless dozens of minutes in the pitlane, fixing mechanical problems that developed over time. This included the Mercedes of Werner, which by lap 120 was the only good Mercedes left. Their race was compromised significantly when the car caught fire in the pitlane, though it would be extinguished very quickly. As Werner’s car left the pitlane, relieved by Sailer, the crowd gave the Germans a standing ovation! Talk about ways of catching people’s attention, a pitstop fire is definitely one of them! Although this frantic moment almost took them out, at its very next pitstop at 140 laps, Werner’s battered Mercedes came into the pits overheated and clearly in need of a rest. They would rejoin after spending dozens of laps in the pits, but with the dream of a supercharged podium at the fastest race in the world officially over. The excitement of the beginning of the race wore off by lap 150, as due to the high temperatures of the day, many drivers had to be relieved and substituted by their designated stand-ins, removing the grandeur from what started as such a competitive race. The high “driver attrition,” so to speak, caused the race to be significantly slower than the 1922 Indy 500. Although Milton had recovered in time to return to his HCS Miller, his lap speeds dropped off significantly, which did allow the catching Jimmy Murphy to unlap himself a couple times, but never enough to actively challenge for victory. Official Race Results as reported in The Indianapolis Star, May 31st, 1923. Tommy Milton crossing the line to receive the checkered flag for victory. After 200 laps, five-and-a-half hours, At an average speed of approximately 90 miles per hour, bruised and battered, but NOT beaten, the H.C.S. Special Tommy Milton crossed the finish line in first place, making him the first-ever two-time champion of the Indianapolis 500. The crowd roared in excitement for such a valiant effort, very deserving of over $30,000 in winnings he received. Cliff Durant’s team also performed admirably despite failing to win, with Harry Hartz once again finishing 2nd only one lap behind Milton, and Jimmy Murphy taking home third place. This Indy 500 would go down in history as a groundbreaking one, putting Indianapolis back on the global stage and providing the best framework in the world for close wheel to wheel racing at high speeds, just like the Indy 500 does today. Manufacturers left this race both brilliantly satisfied and extremely disappointed: Bugatti wasn't exactly the fastest manufacturer out there, having only one finishing car in 9th place, 56 minutes behind Milton. But the aristocrats that funded their entry had an absolute blast driving at speed down the fastest racetrack on Earth, and for that you gotta at least respect the effort. The independent work of Prince de Cystria and his fellow aristocratic racing enthusiasts helped put Bugatti on the map across the pond. Within one year, Bugatti had made their Grand Prix debut at home, raced in the first Grand Prix at Monza, and now raced at Indianapolis. It’s safe to say their future looked bright at this point in time. Packard, by the skin of their teeth, and thanks to a truly great driver lineup, had proven that they could come close to challenge Miller’s outright speed, but their mechanical shortcomings on the biggest stage would prove to be the most embarrassing. Just like Frontenac and Chevrolet before them, Packard would “pack up” their racing efforts at the end of the 1923 season, unwilling to spend more money on what they and the general public viewed as a losing effort. With this result, it became 100% clear that Miller 122 was the open wheel race car to beat not just in America, but the world over, having been the only car to complete the full 200 lap distance in less than 6 hours, and occupying the entire top 4. Although several of the top brass manufacturers in Europe hadn’t raced their designs properly yet, in the first year of American-European convergence, it seemed quite clear that the Americans had a real threat up their sleeve. Rest assured, this would not be the end of Miller’s escapades in Grandes Epreuves this season… It seems history is destined to repeat itself. Just like the Mercedes Formula 1 team of today, in this race Mercedes came with a vision, and despite a very slow start, they steadily improved their position, making the overall podium late in the race. This great result showed the world that a supercharged design really is a viable option in the racing landscape, and it’s safe to say that many in America took notice of their heroics. The M7294 sadly wouldn’t race again in 1923, but rest assured, supercharging would make a ferocious return later in the year… And that concludes my retrospective on the 1923 Indianapolis 500. I want to give a big shoutout to all of the online resources I have used to compile images for this post, to give a more visual aspect to the race we’re looking back on. I also cannot thank enough https://www.goldenera.fi/, the absolutely phenomenal interwar Grand Prix racing website, for the more obscure and detailed information that simply can’t be found anywhere else, especially with the intermediate leaderboards. I adored writing this up, but it wouldn’t be what it is without the invaluable research by the other incredible racing historians that came before me. I hope you guys enjoyed reading about this race as much as I did writing it up. Like I’ve always said, it's important that we remind ourselves of our history, especially with races as long ago as these, as they definitely deserve a fair shot in this fast-paced day and age. The Centennial Series will return in July, for the most important race of the year, and one which bears relevance even in today's racing world: The 1923 French Grand Prix. Until next time, folks! :) |
2023.05.30 18:55 scrawnytony My attempt at renaming the part 3 stands to music references.
My only rules are that the new names must be referencing something older than their debut chapter, and, if possible, be connected to their user’s reference.
Star Platinum-Starman
Hermit Purple-Father Figure
Hierophant Green-Make me Lose Control
Magician’s Red-Hot Hearted
Tower of Grey-Soul Searchin’
Silver Chariot-Dans la Rue
Dark Blue Moon-Deep in the Dark
Strength-Triumph
Ebony Devil-Peek a boo
Yellow Temperance-Nowhere Man
Emperor-Watch your Back
Hanged Man-Freeze Frame
Empress-Hangin on You
Wheel of Fortune-Eliminator
Justice-Exile
Lovers-Razor Boy
Sun-Long Lonesome Journey
Death 13-All Night Long
Judgement-Post Mortem
High Priestess-Hello in there
The Fool-Your Dog
Geb-In your Eyes
Khnum-What you see
Thoth-Pictures of you
Anubis-Stone Flower
Bastet-All in your Mind
Set-Driftin
Osiris-Sign your Name
Horus-Suburbia
Atum-Wishing Well
The World-Stargazer
If you want any elaboration on any of these decisions, just ask, I’ll be happy to answer!
submitted by scrawnytony to StardustCrusaders [link] [comments]
Star Platinum-Starman
Hermit Purple-Father Figure
Hierophant Green-Make me Lose Control
Magician’s Red-Hot Hearted
Tower of Grey-Soul Searchin’
Silver Chariot-Dans la Rue
Dark Blue Moon-Deep in the Dark
Strength-Triumph
Ebony Devil-Peek a boo
Yellow Temperance-Nowhere Man
Emperor-Watch your Back
Hanged Man-Freeze Frame
Empress-Hangin on You
Wheel of Fortune-Eliminator
Justice-Exile
Lovers-Razor Boy
Sun-Long Lonesome Journey
Death 13-All Night Long
Judgement-Post Mortem
High Priestess-Hello in there
The Fool-Your Dog
Geb-In your Eyes
Khnum-What you see
Thoth-Pictures of you
Anubis-Stone Flower
Bastet-All in your Mind
Set-Driftin
Osiris-Sign your Name
Horus-Suburbia
Atum-Wishing Well
The World-Stargazer
If you want any elaboration on any of these decisions, just ask, I’ll be happy to answer!
2023.05.30 18:54 albumandat-shirt ALL TALK DRAG RUSH S2 E10 PART 1: RUSHING A FINALE
After Shea’s elimination in the reunion twist, the Top3 of RuPaul, Sasha Velour, and Willow Pill reenter the workroom for the final time this season!
Willow: “Me getting a BTM right before the finale, oh it’s over for y’all”
RuPaul: “Your back to back wins are less impressive now that someone else did it too tho hehe”
Willow: “You won the who can be the most annoying challenge, we aren’t gagging”
RuPaul: “I’m scared, I think it’s the fairest Top3. We all deserve it for different reasons.”
Shea’s Ghost: “You deserve it the most in terms of storyline and growth”
RuPaul: “I have the humor, Willow has the track record, Sasha has the age”
Willow: “I think you have the most ups and downs RuPaul! Threatening to quit and winning a challenge”
RuPaul: “I’m like a rollercoaster!”
Willow: “What more can you do?”
RuPaul: “Win the crown, now win a mini challenge tho apparently…”
Welcome back, writers! The three of you have been through the fire and back this season; but let it be known that every high and low, every twist and turn, and every blessing and curse has only highlighted your talents. You’ve conquered and persevered through everything from a debate tournament to a ball, and from an acting challenge to a roast. And as such, have paved yourselves a path to the end of this competition. Condragulations. you’re almost there! There’s just a few things we still need to see from each of you. First, the last challenge of the season will be to conduct and host INTERVIEWS WITH A JUDGE! You’ll each get assigned a judge by random at the spin of a wheel, then have to ask them questions and converse with them in a way that will still show your character and writing style. Think something along the lines of Ziwe among other unique talk shows.
With the first spin of the wheel, RuPaul will be interviewing whichever judge it lands on…
And the wheel has spoken… RuPaul will be interviewing Elektra Fence!
This last spin of the wheel will not only determine which judge Sasha Velour will be interviewing; but then leave the judge that’s not landed on to be interviewed by Willow Pill as the only option…
And the wheel has spoken… again… Sasha Velour you will be interviewing Elecktra Bionic!
Which can only mean one thing: Willow Pill you will be interviewing Ra’Jah O’Hara!
RuPaul: “I’ve already been channeling Ziwe all season… canceled.”
Willow: “I fear Ra’Jah and I doing a Ziwe challenge will be insane”
After these interviews are held, you’ll all then be tasked to write speeches as to why you deserve to win this season of All Talk Drag Rush. And finally, on the runway the category will be… THE S.H.I.T., which stands for Stylish, Hot, Iconic, and Tailored to you! We want to see our Top3 in stunning last looks that represent their drag. With all that said, we can’t wait to see you all race to the finish line in what will be a victory lap for one of you. Good luck, and talk away!
RuPaul: “It’s truly anyone’s game! I have to wonder how Sasha will do in an interview though because she only talks about herself”
Willow: “Genuinely tho this is the Top3 I expected (minus Ru)”
RuPaul: “No that’s fair”
Willow: “Can’t wait to beat Sasha just like I have already beaten RuPaul and Shea!”
RuPaul: “I’m beginning to suspect that some of y’all don’t like me…”
Willow: “True, hope that helps! Xoxo”
Keep up with what happens next on u/albumanda-shirt or DragRush!
submitted by albumandat-shirt to DragRush [link] [comments]
Willow: “Me getting a BTM right before the finale, oh it’s over for y’all”
RuPaul: “Your back to back wins are less impressive now that someone else did it too tho hehe”
Willow: “You won the who can be the most annoying challenge, we aren’t gagging”
RuPaul: “I’m scared, I think it’s the fairest Top3. We all deserve it for different reasons.”
Shea’s Ghost: “You deserve it the most in terms of storyline and growth”
RuPaul: “I have the humor, Willow has the track record, Sasha has the age”
Willow: “I think you have the most ups and downs RuPaul! Threatening to quit and winning a challenge”
RuPaul: “I’m like a rollercoaster!”
Willow: “What more can you do?”
RuPaul: “Win the crown, now win a mini challenge tho apparently…”
Welcome back, writers! The three of you have been through the fire and back this season; but let it be known that every high and low, every twist and turn, and every blessing and curse has only highlighted your talents. You’ve conquered and persevered through everything from a debate tournament to a ball, and from an acting challenge to a roast. And as such, have paved yourselves a path to the end of this competition. Condragulations. you’re almost there! There’s just a few things we still need to see from each of you. First, the last challenge of the season will be to conduct and host INTERVIEWS WITH A JUDGE! You’ll each get assigned a judge by random at the spin of a wheel, then have to ask them questions and converse with them in a way that will still show your character and writing style. Think something along the lines of Ziwe among other unique talk shows.
With the first spin of the wheel, RuPaul will be interviewing whichever judge it lands on…
And the wheel has spoken… RuPaul will be interviewing Elektra Fence!
This last spin of the wheel will not only determine which judge Sasha Velour will be interviewing; but then leave the judge that’s not landed on to be interviewed by Willow Pill as the only option…
And the wheel has spoken… again… Sasha Velour you will be interviewing Elecktra Bionic!
Which can only mean one thing: Willow Pill you will be interviewing Ra’Jah O’Hara!
RuPaul: “I’ve already been channeling Ziwe all season… canceled.”
Willow: “I fear Ra’Jah and I doing a Ziwe challenge will be insane”
After these interviews are held, you’ll all then be tasked to write speeches as to why you deserve to win this season of All Talk Drag Rush. And finally, on the runway the category will be… THE S.H.I.T., which stands for Stylish, Hot, Iconic, and Tailored to you! We want to see our Top3 in stunning last looks that represent their drag. With all that said, we can’t wait to see you all race to the finish line in what will be a victory lap for one of you. Good luck, and talk away!
RuPaul: “It’s truly anyone’s game! I have to wonder how Sasha will do in an interview though because she only talks about herself”
Willow: “Genuinely tho this is the Top3 I expected (minus Ru)”
RuPaul: “No that’s fair”
Willow: “Can’t wait to beat Sasha just like I have already beaten RuPaul and Shea!”
RuPaul: “I’m beginning to suspect that some of y’all don’t like me…”
Willow: “True, hope that helps! Xoxo”
Keep up with what happens next on u/albumanda-shirt or DragRush!
2023.05.30 13:03 FelicitySmoak_ On This Day In Michael Jackson HIStory - May 30th
 | 1970 - "The Love You Save" by the Jackson 5 enters the Billboard US Hot 100 singles chart at #45. In late June, will peak at #1 & stay there for 2 weeks submitted by FelicitySmoak_ to MichaelJackson [link] [comments] 1971 - The Jackson 5 play at the Fairgrounds Arena (now Jim Norick Arena) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on their 2nd national tour 1977 - The Jacksons perform “Keep On Dancing” on Numéro Un Joe Dassin taped at the Buttes-Chaumont Studios in Paris, France while on their European tour. It would air on July 2nd https://preview.redd.it/l7qs60bu1t2b1.jpg?width=583&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6097f10de11c1eed4db5c31fd60ee1164723854d https://preview.redd.it/u8bs840v1t2b1.jpg?width=535&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9656ff295d3383c08dab4328533c5ddcc738131f 1979 - On their Destiny Tour, The Jacksons play the Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1987 - The Los Angeles Times reports that Michael has submitted an official bid, for an undisclosed sum, for the remains of the late John Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, from the London Hospital Medical College which has kept them since Merrick’s death in 1890. Michael's manager, Frank DiLeo, commented “Jackson has no exploitative intentions whatsoever and cares about and is concerned with the Elephant Man as a dedicated and devoted collector of art and antiques" Also adding that Michael "has a high degree of respect for the memory of Merrick" 1992 - "In The Closet" peaked at #6 during it's 5th week on the Billboard chart. It would stay in the Top 40 for 11 weeks 1997 - HIStory tour rehearsals in Bremen, Germany 2000 - Dangerous (album) is certified 7X platinum by the RIAA. https://preview.redd.it/mux66z1m1t2b1.jpg?width=200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=534424417cb398602f1e05ad08738a2b71593424 https://preview.redd.it/d9mty4pm1t2b1.png?width=325&format=png&auto=webp&s=1e4d908b0017480477988d8cb306482571b7cf96 2000 - Michael announces that he has become a key partner & investor in HollywoodTicket.com, a promotional and marketing site that gives netizens the chance to win backstage passes to concerts & visits to film/tv show shoots. The amount he invested was not disclosed but it's understood to be in the millions 2003 - Michael attends a party at Robert Evan's house to celebrate Brett Ratner's Hillhaven Lodge: The Photo Book Pictures book launch. Brett Ratner is the director of Rush Hour. Later that same night, Michael shows up at a MTV Movie Awards post party at Ron Burkle's Beverly Hills Mansion where he meets Puff Daddy and Paris Hilton among others. https://preview.redd.it/dqatcf5r1t2b1.jpg?width=487&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15562776b7bed38a21cb83b55196fc88f4763164 https://preview.redd.it/lcfs3asr1t2b1.jpg?width=1707&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d44d91cf64ea078ecfc0e8d91a591feb80c49f6 https://preview.redd.it/nnogz5ls1t2b1.jpg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34428f4ce83bf04217c4d2b4b66e880d1ce86a1d 2005 - No court today due to the Memorial Day holiday 2006 - Michael Jackson takes his kids and his nanny Grace to Tokyo Disneyland. 2007 - A collection of almost 2000 Jackson family items dating from the mid-1960's to the early '90's goes to auction in the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas. These are items from a storage warehouse that Henry Vaccaro came in to possession of after a failed business venture ended up in bankruptcy court. Items include Michael's gold record for Thriller, handwritten "ABC" lyrics & a signed Victory tour program 2013 - Jackson v AEG Trial Day 20 Katherine and Rebbie Jackson are in court. The court also heard an update on efforts to get emails and any other records from a computer used by Michael's former manager, Frank Dileo. Apparently an LA attorney has a copy of Dileo's computer hard drive. Attorneys are working to get a copy of the HD to both sides. The copy was revealed during a deposition of Dileo's widow earlier this week in Pennsylvania, plaintiff's attorney Brian Panish said Paul Gongaware Testimony Jackson direct Gongaware said he met with his attorneys again yesterday to refresh his recollection Panish asked if AEG was concerned about Mr. Jackson's health. "When he was sick we obviously had a concern," Gongaware responded. Gongaware said he understood Michael was sick from reading the chain of emails shown yesterday. But Gongaware told the jury he didn't have any particular concern about Michael Jackson other than on June 19th, no one told Gongaware about being concerned with his health. Gongaware testified that he disagreed with Houghdahl's opinion, saying he had no "particular concern" about Jackson's health and ability to perform Talking about the email Hougdahl sent saying Michael was deteriorating quickly, Gongaware explained: "I didn't see it the way he saw." Hougdahl, in response to concerns expressed by Travis Payne about Jackson's weight Email 6/15/09 from Hougdahl to Gongaware : He needs some cheeseburgers with a bunch of Wisconsin cheesehead bowlers and a couple of brats and beers"Was he joking around about this situation?" Panish asked Gongaware, referring to Hougdahl. "I think he was," Gongaware replied. "Did you think that was funny?" Panish asked. "I did," Gongaware admitted Panish asked about indemnity in Gongaware's contract. The exec said indemnity means that someone else is taking on the responsibility. "I haven't read my contract in 12/13 years, I don't know what it says," Gongaware said. Gongaware said he does not know how many pages his employment agreement is. Panish asked if he AEG would cover for Gongaware should they be found guilty. Gongaware said it was his understanding that he wouldn't be personally responsible financially if the jury sided with Jackson family. Panish: "That means if you did something wrong..."Adding that depending upon the size of the judgment, AEG could go after him. Panish asked how much AEG would be able to afford, and Gongaware said he didn't know. Panish emphasized there are various ways for AEG to pay a judgment, and Gongaware mentioned they had some sort of cancellation insurance. Panish went back to discuss the email from Randy Phillips where he wrote 'Dr. Murray didn't need the gig and was unbiased and ethical' Panish: "Is Mr. Phillips unbiased and ethical, sir?"Panish asked if it was ethical for Phillips to represent to Ortega that the doctor is 'extremely successful' and 'we checked everyone out'. Gongaware responded that he didn't know what Phillips knew at the time. Panish: "Is number one priority 'the show must go on'?"Panish showed the email from John Branca, saying he had the right therapist for Michael and asked if substance abuse was involved. "This is referring to the meeting that was going to happen and I was waiting to see the results of it," Gongaware said. "I didn't believe there was a substance abuse issue," Gongaware testified. "In the entire time I was dealing with him in this tour, I saw it once when he came back from his doctor," Gongaware testified. Gongaware said that was the only time he saw Michael with slurred speech and under the influence of something. Gongaware said he didn't know what Dr. Klein was giving Michael Jackson. When Panish asked Gongaware if he checked Dr. Klein out, he replied: "No, he was Michael's doctor and it was none of my business." Gongaware said he once observed Michael looking "slow" and possibly intoxicated after a visit to his dermatologist but he didn't believe he had any "serious health problems" even after Jackson appeared weak and disoriented at a June 19 rehearsal. "My observation of Michael Jackson was that he was healthy," Gongaware said. "They had a meeting to discuss (the June 19 incident), and he took a couple days off and he came back strong" As to insurance issues, Gongaware said he was involved only peripherally. On June 25, Gongaware sent an email saying that if they didn't get sickness coverage in the insurance, they would be dropping the policy. Gongaware said he didn't know why he was pressing for sickness insurance on the day Michael died. Bob Taylor, the insurance broker, wrote back that it was always down to the medical issued from the word go. Regarding Randy Phillips asking for life insurance the day Michael died, Gongaware said he didn't pay much attention to insurance, didn't recall. The day Michael died, Gongaware said Phillips called him and told him to get over to the house right away, there seems to be a problem. Randy followed the ambulance to UCLA. "The second call was that he informed me that he had died," Gongaware remembered. On June 25, Gongaware said he went to the rehearsal at the Staples Center and talked to Kenny Ortega. Panish: "Were you sad Mr. Jackson died?""He was a business associate", Gongaware said about Michael. They did not didn't hang out as friends Panish asked about Phillips' email directing Gongaware to remove thin, skeletal footage of Michael in the red jacket from This Is It documentary. Gongaware testified that he remembered receiving the email. In his deposition played in court, Gongaware said he didn't recall the email. Panish: "Did you change your testimony?"AEG Live president and co-chief executive Randy Phillips wrote in Aug. 9 email: Make sure we take out the shots of Michael in that red leather jacket at the sound stage where the mini-movies were being filmed. He looks way too think (sic) and skeletalGongaware replied to Phillips, his boss: ok will have a look when it comes on screenGongaware said he didn't try to control any of the messages about Michael after his death to reflect he was fully engaged in rehearsals. Panish asked about an email from Gongaware okay'ing the band, singers and dancer to give interviews but asked them to keep it positive In another email July 9, 2009, email to music coordinator JoAnn Tominaga, Gongaware wrote: We are ok with the band, singers and dancers doing interviews now. The only thing we ask is that they keep it positive and stress that Michael was active, engaged and not the emaciated person some want to paint him as being.Answering questions from Jackson family attorney Brian Panish, Gongaware said he was not trying to control the film's message. Panish: "You're telling them what not to say, aren't you sir?"Gongaware's testimony again emphasized the contrast between the answers he gave during his deposition under oath in December 2012 and his responses in the courtroom. In testimony, he agreed that Phillips meant "thin" in his email, instead of the word he typed, 'think'. Asked during the deposition what Phillips meant, he replied, "I don't know what he meant" Gongaware said nothing was taken out of the documentary, which included rehearsals for the scheduled 50 concerts in London. Gongaware promised in a follow-up email to Phillips that he'd "have a look," but he testified that he never dumped any footage. "We didn't keep anything out based on what Randy wrote," Gogaware told jurors. Gongaware testified that he did not know why Phillips would ask that. Gongaware said there were 15,000 tickets per show, $1.5 million in tickets per show, $47 million for all 31 shows. Tickets were selling at lightening fast, Gongaware said. "As fast as the system can sell.". The tickets were sold in March, Gongaware said. It was held by the arena, AEG had control of the money. Gongaware said merchandising was another way of making money. The building, which is owned by AEG, would keep the revenue of beverage sold. Gongaware said the beverage money would offset the arena rent, which Michael would not have to pay. Gongaware: "His (MJ) potential was great"Before lunch, Panish asked Gongaware whether This Is It was intended to be a multi-city tour. Gongaware said no, it was just going to be the 50 shows at London's O2 arena. "The only thing we knew was 50 shows in London. Michael had not agreed to anything else," Gongaware explained Panish asked Gongaware by the time the show was sold out, how many people were in the queue to buy tickets. "250,000 people were still in the queue, which would be enough to sell another 50 shows," Gongaware answered. During Murray's trial, Gongaware testified that 250k people still wanted tickets. He told that jury This Is It would be a multi-city tour. Panish: "Did you tell the truth when you testified in this case, sir?"Panish then concluded his questioning of Gongaware. AEG cross AEG's attorney, Marvin Putnam, did the questioning of Gongaware on behalf of the defendants. Putnam: "Have you ever been sued personally for the wrongful death of anyone?"Putnam asked about Gongaware's memory and he said it's okay Putnam asked Gongaware about some of the emails shown to jurors yesterday. Putnam was trying to show that not all the contents of the emails had been shown to jury. Some email addresses had been redacted. Attorney Brian Panish objected to the redactions, and got testy with the judge. It prompted another lengthy sidebar. When attorneys returned from the judge's chambers, Putnam resumed questioning Gongaware about emails sent to his private account Putnam said Gongaware handed over more than 13,000 emails in discovery from the This Is It period Putnam inquired about Gongaware's Kazoodi personal email account. On 6/20/09, the chain of emails with "Trouble at the Front" was sent there. Gongaware said he didn't remember receiving this email. Gongaware said he had more than one "Kazoodi" email account. He said he was not using the account the email was sent to on 6/20. "The account was closed at the time." Putnam presented Gongaware a document that indicated the private email account had been closed at the time. Gongaware said he never denied it was sent. Gongaware claimed yesterday was the first time he saw this chain of emails. Putnam used the closed email account to try to show Gongaware's testimony was truthful Putnam: "Why could you not recall e-mails?"Some of the e-mails were new to him because he was so busy putting Jackson's tour together that he never read them, he said. Gongaware said he was receiving hundreds of email a day at the height of 2008/09 tour preparation. "Mostly, it was just a time factor if it was something that didn't have to do with me" Gongaware said he doesn't have an office at AEG, and that he works on his own projects. He has an office at his house. Gongaware is the Co-CEO of AEG Live Concerts West with John Meglen. He said he was the co-founder of the company. Phillips is AEG Live CEO Gongaware explained be has been testifying about what he could recall. If he didn't remember, he said he told the jury he couldn't recall. Gongaware testified he looked at the emails after his deposition because he wanted to put everything together and see the bigger picture. Putnam: "Did you try to give your best testimony?" Gongaware: "Yes, I did" Regarding the phone call between Gongaware and Dr. Murray where the doctor asked about $5 million, Gongaware said he remembers that call. The next call between the two, it was the $150,000 call, where Gongaware offered the doctor $150k. Gongaware said those were the only two calls he had with Dr. Murray Gongaware said the 1st time he met Dr. Murray was a meeting at Michael's Carolwood house. He said MJ, Kenny, Randy, Frank & Dr Murray were present. Gongaware recalled the other meeting with Dr. Murray was an encounter with him at The Forum. He remembers saying hello to him. Gongaware said he's sure he didn't meet with Dr. Murray other than on those two occasions Gongaware said he promoted couple of shows/dances in college. He graduated in '69 from Waynesboro College in Pennsylvania in Accounting. He worked for Arthur Andersen in NYC after college as auditor. He said one needed two years of experience in order to get CPA license.The company ended up shutting down after being involved in the Enron scandal, Gongaware explained. He said there's a continuing education requirement in order to maintain his CPA license, but he hasn't kept current. "I didn't like that work," Gongaware said about leaving the practice. "I wanted to do things and not just be an accountant." Gongaware said he ski bummed for a winter and would do bookkeeping to pay for his lodge. His first big show was in Colorado -- he got The Grateful Dead to perform at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. He said he didn't know the band or any of its managers, but asked them to come to Colorado. They did, and the show was a hit. "The concert was sold out", Gongaware said, and he became an independent promoter. Around 1975, he met Terry Bassett who worked at Concerts West and Gongaware went to work for them in their Seattle office. He worked for them for about 10 years. Gongaware said he went to work for the company because the money was steady. At Concerts West, Gongaware worked with Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, Beach Boys, Chicago, Eric Clapton, among others. This Concerts West is not the same; he is the currently the co-CEO. Gongaware left Seattle and came to LA to work at Concerts West. He then went to Warner Miller Films. The company did primarily ski movies. Jerry Weintraub was Elvis' promoter and Concerts West assigned him to work with Colonel Parker, Elvis' manager. Gongaware was in his 20s when he worked with Elvis. He said when they'd announce an Elvis concert, there would be lines at the box office for 4 days. Gongaware said Colonel would buy ads on every radio station and promote the show. When tickets went on sale, Gongaware was to report to Colonel every hour regarding the ticket sales. Elvis Presley's death became a controversy at this trial as the man (Gongaware) who promoted both artists' last tours testified. He testified yesterday that Presley died of a drug overdose, but when his own lawyer questioned him today he changed his testimony to say Elvis died of a heart ailment. Presley collapsed in the bathroom of his Memphis, Tennessee, mansion, Graceland, on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. While his death was ruled the result of an irregular heartbeat, the autopsy report was sealed amid accusations that abuse of prescription drugs caused the problem.How Presley died is relevant because Jackson lawyers argue Gongaware's experience as Elvis's promoter should have made him more aware of drug abuse by artists, including Michael Jackson. Although he worked advance promotion on Elvis Presley's last tours -- under the direction of Presley manager Colonel Tom Parker -- Gongaware testified he never met Presley. Putnam:"Did you understand he had a problem with drugs?"Around 1992, Gongaware went to work on the Dangerous tour with Michael. This was his first time working with Michael Jackson. He worked with the Jacksons in 2000 but he remembered working on a tour with the Jacksons prior to 92 and said Michael was part of the group. "I was the tour manager, handled the logistics and travel for the B party," Gongaware said, adding he worked for Michael but not for A party.
Putnam: "Were there any doctors in that tour?"Gongaware said Dr. Forecast was Michael's personal doctor. He didn't think Dr. Forecast treated anyone else, so they had Dr. Finkelstein also. Dr. Finkelstein, a general practitioner, was in the B party. They went to places where they didn't know the quality of local healthcare. Gongaware explained Dr. Finkelstein treated B, C and D parties. Gongaware said he did not see any doctor treat Michael. Dr. Finkelstein told Gongaware he treated Michael twice. Dr. Forecast wasn't in Bangkok yet, so Dr. Finkelstein treated him when he needed. "The King of Thailand said Michael would have to do the second show because his friends were attending", Gongaware recalled.Gongaware said the King put armed guards outside their doors to make sure they didn't leave Putnam: "During the Dangerous tour, had you come to have an understating that Michael had a problem with drugs or painkillers?"Gongaware said. He learned it had to do with drug addiction because Michael announced it. Putnam played the audio with Michael's statement: "My friends and doctors advised me to seek professional guidance immediately in order to eliminate what has become an addition. It is time for me to acknowledge my need for treatment"On Jun 25, 2009 Gabriel Sutter (a tech guy) wrote Gongaware a condolences email. "It was such an incredible shock to go through that experience," Gongaware explained. Gongaware's response on July 5, 2009: I was working on the Elvis tour when he died so I kind of knew what to expect"You have all these people out of work," Gongaware explained. "With Elvis some were without jobs permanently." Under questioning from Putnam, Gongaware said he didn't mean that he expected Jackson to die like Elvis. He was referring to the trauma of people losing their jobs because a tour is canceled and the estate taking over the legacy, he said. Putnam: "When you wrote the email, did you expect Michael to die?"Here's what Gongaware had to say about the role of the estate after Elvis died (and what he expected after Jackson's death.): "Then the estate takes over, and everything's different. You have nothing to say about anything"When one of his friends asked about his plans after Michael's death, Gongaware replied he was "trying to recover our losses from the show" "Michael died of overdose of Propofol. He didn't die of being sick or malnutrition", Gongaware said. He said that he had no idea of what Propofol was. "I had no idea" Jackson was using propofol in the weeks before his death, Gongaware testified Gongaware said he worked on Michael's memorial service. He was in charge of the tickets and worked closely with the family. He said he didn't charge for his work. Putnam: "Why did you work at the memorial service?"Court Transcript 2017 - Michael Jackson: Searching For Neverland, starring Navi as Michael, premieres on the Lifetime channel in the US |
2023.05.30 03:43 lbabinz [Microsoft] Weekly Digital Xbox Game Sale
2023.05.30 03:34 Zonda623 How do these people now they’re gonna get it and what will happen if they don’t?
 | submitted by Zonda623 to HotWheels [link] [comments] |
2023.05.30 00:59 darknightrain Armağanın web sitesine GTRsız boulevard seti gelmiş. Subaru isteyenler koşsun
 | submitted by darknightrain to HotWheelsTr [link] [comments] |
2023.05.29 02:02 Left_Aerie1339 Should I still use chlorine tabs or is this enough on its own? I dose 1-2x/wk depending on how much usage. Oddly, the ‘non chlorine’ sanitizer results in raising high and total chlorine levels. Kind of confusing.
 | submitted by Left_Aerie1339 to hottub [link] [comments] |
2023.05.29 02:01 MerkadoBarkada DITO gets $1.2-B bridge loan from China; Quick look at the week ahead; ALTER equity reorg SEC approved; SGP in hot water over big divs; SPNEC underwriter addresses concerns (Monday, May 29)
Happy Monday, Barkada --
The PSE lost 30 points to 6530 ▼0.5%
Thanks to mein, ben hur, Jun, Jing, Archie Gugol, michaelsamuel66, Wilson Chua, and Annie Batumbakal for their positive feedback on the ITB feature on DragonFi, and for their follow-up questions. Thanks also to the DragonFi social media team for reaching out to answer those questions on Twitter and Facebook. I didn't expect that, but I always appreciate it when companies respect the questions and thoughts of my readers!Shout-outs to Migs Lopez de Leon, Retweeter, GubantesLM, MiUMaO, LanAustria, mjbachao, Stephen Chiong, Jonathan Burac, Dyane, MUA, Buzz, meloi, Lance Nazal, Justn, urayon, mArQo, avenmicjohn, Dividend Pinoy PGG, mia, Dominic Ligot, CHARToons, Palaboy Trader, Jo Sa, victim of my own choices, arkitrader, Arbet Bernardo, Evolves Capital, Inc., KingArk, Chip Sillesa, kalelManila.eth, Maded Batara III, and Jing for the retweets, and to Evolves.co, Padilla GJ, Jayvee Menil, Genesis Umali, and Mike Ting for the Facebook shares.
▌In today's MB:
- COMING UP: The week ahead
- ACPAR listing
- VREIT ex-date
- US holiday Monday
- DITO gets $1.2-B bridge loan
- Alternergy equity reorg SEC approved
- NGCP in hot water over big divs
- SPNEC underwriter addresses concerns
▌Daily meme Subscribe (it's free) Today's email
▌Main stories covered:
MB is written and distributed every trading day. The newsletter is 100% free and I never upsell you to some "iNnEr cIrClE" of paid-membership perks. Everyone gets the same! Join the barkada by signing up for the newsletter, or follow me on Twitter. You can also read my daily Morning Halo-halo content on Philstar.com in the Stock Commentary section, and in the Saturday edition of the Daily Manila Shimbun.
- [COMING_UP] Quick look at the week ahead… The week starts with the listing of Ayala Corp’s “new” preferred shares [ACPAR] today. Check below for the updated Underwriters Table. Tuesday is the VistaREIT [VREIT 1.69 ▲1.8%; 145% avgVol] Q1 dividend ex-date, and also the pricing date for the Repower Development Corp [REDC] IPO. Wednesday we will see Q4 dividend payments from DDMP [DDMPR 1.28 ▼0.8%; 82% avgVol] and Premiere Island Power REIT [PREIT 1.54 ▲2.0%; 1% avgVol].
- MB: This is shaping up to be something of a quiet week: the schedule is light on potential market-moving information here, plus the US markets are closed on Monday for a holiday. Still, I’m very curious to see the results of the REDC pricing (which we should get Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning), and I’ve got my eyes and ears open for changes in tone out of the US on the likelihood of further rate hikes since there’s a good amount of employment data expected to drop later in the week that influence that decision.
- [NEWS] DITO gets $1.2-B bridge loan from China… DITO CME [DITO 2.35 ▲4.0%; 139% avgVol] [link] said its subsidiary, DITO Telecommunity (DitoTel), received a bridge loan renewal from the Bank of China and China Minsheng Banking Corp. DITO said that the bridge loan will be “repaid and absorbed” into a larger $3.9 billion project financing loan that it is attempting to finalize and close before the end of 2023.
- MB: For those who are unfamiliar, a bridge loan is a short-term loan that is given to help a company “bridge the gap” between its current situation and the signing of a longer-term loan. Here, DITO has been working on the larger part of this deal (the long-term loan) for a long time, and while DITO’s shareholders will be relieved to see DITO making a deal with one of its largest lender (Bank of China), it won’t mean much unless the larger deal is closed. A lot has changed in the time that DITO’s management has been working on this deal, and DITO has continued to burn cash trying to expand its capex-heavy and low-margin business, so a bridge loan like this will give DITO breathing room (working capital) to maintain its growth pace without having to make tactical sacrifices to keep the lights on or make payroll.
- [NOTES] Quick takes from around the market...
- Alternergy [ALTER 0.93 ▼5.1%; 117% avgVol] [link] disclosed that the SEC approved its equity restructuring to eliminate a ₱120 million deficit using some of ALTER’s additional paid-up capital. This transaction was approved by ALTER’s board in late January, and was disclosed in ALTER’s prospectus during its IPO process.
- MB Quick Take: This is really just an accounting/paper move that doesn’t have any impact on ALTER’s operations or cash flows. While the move does improve the “look” of ALTER’s financials, the main benefit to shareholders (and to ALTER’s owners) is that it allows the company to declare dividends in the future. Companies cannot declare dividends with a retained earnings deficit. This move got rid of that deficit.
- National Grid Corporation [SGP 8.50 ▼4.5%; 184% avgVol] [link] Assistant VP Cynthia Alabanza, in response to allegations from a Senate panel that NGCP was distributing income to shareholders at the expense of delivering electricity under its franchise, said: “I don’t know when making money became so demonized.” She went on to say, “Again, when you talk about dividends, if you look at prevailing law, you’re not supposed to retain dividends. You’re supposed to give it out. In fact, you will be penalized if you retain dividends beyond your paid-up capital.”
- MB Quick Take: Ms. Alabanza is trying to hide behind capitalism to protect herself and SGP from criticism. It’s important to remember that NGCP’s profits are due to its government-legislated monopoly on the distribution of electricity in this country, not from excellence on the open market. It’s also important to remember that dividends are declared after a long process of budgeting and allocating for future needs, like capex, so a declaration of dividends does come at the expense of capex spending. Earnings and profit are not just “cream” for the owners, but are actually the first source of capital to fund future growth.
- SP New Energy [SPNEC 1.47 ▼1.3%; 36% avgVol] [link] received some assistance from Nicky Franco, head of research for Abacus Securities, which was the issue manager and lead underwriter on SPNEC’s IPO back in December. Mr. Franco solicited questions about SPNEC on Twitter, and answered some of those questions in an informative thread that you can read here. Mr. Franco talks about SPNEC’s ethical issues, the share-swap, future profitability, the stake sale to Metro Pacific, SPNEC’s valuation, and several other topics.
- MB Quick Take: I’m not co-signing on Mr. Franco’s answers, just exposing readers to a very informed take on SPNEC’s past, present, and future. One quibble that I have is in Mr. Franco’s response to the question about whether IPO buyers were “fleeced” because of SPNEC’s abrupt change in purpose from a discrete non-operational Nueva Ecija solar project, to a behemoth backdoor injection of Solar Philippines projects. Mr. Franco said that IPO buyers were not fleeced because those buyers are “still sitting on gains”, and “had the chance to exit at ₱2.30+”. I think that evades the question (purpose/plan), and points to something (performance) that is entirely irrelevant. In my opinion, it cannot be debated: what IPO buyers experienced after the IPO was materially different from what they bought in December. That isn’t changed just because the stock price just happens to be above the IPO price. Mr. Franco’s point, that buyers had the opportunity to exit at a higher price than their purchase price is valid, and is perhaps the only silver lining in this answer, but it doesn’t suddenly make what has happened any less weird. If the price were lower than the IPO, buyers would have been misled and fleeced. But since the price is above, they were only misled (fleeced implies a loss). Wait, what about the IPO buyers who sold on the first day for less than the IPO price? This is why our evaluation of “what happened” shouldn’t be informed by performance.
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2023.05.28 06:04 InfernoAA God Made the World in Six Days, I’ll Perfect New Japan's on the Seventh Part Five: Destined
In Part Four, the comeback tour of rockstar Hiroshi Tanahashi was cut brutally short at the hands of the Leader of the New School, Zack Sabre Jr., who embarked on a quest to prove himself New Japan's most valuable gaijin. After beating back Will Ospreay for Royal Quest, he ran into another familiar face in Minoru Suzuki, almost clobbering him into retirement until Naomichi Marufuji made the save. Ending his saga with Just6Guys with a win over Maru, he placed a bow on the long-standing Blackpool Combat Club rivalry by besting Jon Moxley, cementing Sabre-Gun as New Japan's undisputed leaders... That is, without taking Los Ingobernables de Japon into account.
Since becoming one again, LIJ’s been on a tear through NJPW’s ranks this year in spite of Shingo Takagi dropping the belt and PAC losing the New Japan Cup Finals to the current World Champion. IWGP United States, IWGP Tag Team (Death Triangle have become LIJ affiliates through PAC), and NJPW World Television Championships in their grasps, they seek to round out the group by all holding titles simultaneously. But that begs the question – who’ll be going after the World Title? Though Shingo’s battle ready, he insists Tetsuya Naito take it this time, the Stardust Genius having worked his back off to rebound from Wrestle Kingdom. Failing every attempt in the past 3 years though, the question remains whether he can truly pull it off this time, or if it’s just not meant to be.
Kizuna Road - Night Four (July 1, 2024)
Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & El Phantasmo) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & PAC)
With Naito confirmed as Sabre’s #1 Contender for Wrestle Dynasty, SG and LIJ have themselves a scaled-down rematch from New Year’s Dash, Zack picking his trusty right-hand man ELP, and Tetsuya bringing the US Champion, knowing PAC has unresolved issues with ZSJ from the NJC. Though it drives the Bastard to work doubly-hard, especially considering how it’ll look if he pins the World Champion, it also makes their teamwork suffer, PAC becoming self-absorbed in getting the pin. Backfiring, a Sudden Death from Phantasmo knocks his lights out, SG getting their win back from NYD and putting the challenger on the backfoot heading into Madison Square Garden!
Sabre-Gun def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (16:12)
PAC appears distraught after the match, but Naito simply tells him ‘tranquilo’, not taking it personally. Though he’d hoped to use this match to get into ZSJ’s head, it appears he’ll just have to do that himself, like he’s always done.
Wrestle Dynasty (July 14, 2024)
Also on the show:
Shota Umino (c) vs El Desperado - NEVER Openweight Championship
Just6Guys (SANADA, Taichi, Ryohei Oiwa) (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Titan) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs Kyle Fletcher - NJPW World Television Championship
PAC (c) vs El Phantasmo - IWGP United States Championship
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs Meiyu Tag - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Tetsuya Naito XI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
In what’s been a very successful night for LIJ thus far, clean-sweeping their way through the competition, it all rests on Naito’s shoulders now to bring it home. Perhaps the most unreliable man to slot in this spot, and yet, the most beloved, MSG fully invested in Tetsuya’s chase, either the grandest of celebrations or coldest of heartbreaks will end the night! Naito keeps his cool, emanating his usual larger-than-life aura as he walks out in a pristine crimson suit, paying homage to Shingo, whilst Sabre’s cockier than ever with his recent streak of huge wins, knowing he has Tetsuya doubting himself after their tag. As he hands his title over, the two come face-to-face, SABRE SPITTING GUM INTO NAITO’S FACE, but Tetsuya doesn’t let ZSJ’s tactics faze him, having come too far for too long to let mind games be his downfall.
Circling each other, Zack lunges for a lock-up but Naito walks past, smirking and stretching in the opposite corner. Sabre rolls his eyes as Tetsuya turns around and tells him ‘tranquilo’, before going for it again… Zack snatching the headlock this time as Naito tries to repeat, but Tetsuya instantly whips him to the corner, teasing the COMBINACION CABRON as ZSJ braces himself… Naito stops in front of him and does the ‘Abre los Ojos’ taunt!
Furious, Sabre piefaces him, NAITO RETURNING A FOREARM, AND WE’RE OFF! Trading strikes, Zack rocks Tetsuya with European Uppercuts, Naito returning forearms, before a Japanese Arm Drag stops Zack in his tracks! Naito goes for another, but Zack hooks onto Tetsuya’s legs, tripping him up and contorting the foot! Tetsuya boots him off with the other, a Neckbreaker and a Somersault Senton connecting, though Sabre absorbs the latter, trapping Naito’s arm onto the mat to STOMP THE HAND!
Picking him back up, he cracks Naito with chops, before whipping him at the ropes, Naito hitting off them one after the other to build momentum, teasing the Flying Forearm Zack’s expecting… only to roll into the Tranquilo pose! ZACK MEETS HIM WITH A NECK TWIST!!! Tetsuya scrambling to the corner, Sabre steps on his throat against the ropes, BEFORE SLAPPING HIM! NAITO SPITS IN ZACK’S FACE!!! A harsh uppercut knocks Tetsuya back, a Running European following and a PENALTY KICK! Naito dodges and nails the FLYING FOREARM SMASH!
Teasing the Tornado DDT, it’s cancelled by an Enzuigiri, Zack leaping for the KIMURA- NAITO COUNTERS INTO VALENTIA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!! Sending Sabre into the corner, the COMBINACION CABRON CONNECTS! AND A MISSILE DROPKICK! Naito teases the DRAGON SUPLEX, but Sabre flips through and STOMPS HIS ELBOW! SNAP GERMAN ON THE NECK FROM SABRE!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE! Naito woozy, his head’s only further knocked around by a ROLLING ELBOW! A CORNER HIGH KNEE connects, before a Hammerlock Suplex floats into a TESCO MEAL DEAL!!!
Naito’s hand flails about the mat as Sabre keeps him grounded, no Valentia escape this time, forcing Tetsuya to work the old-fashioned way to the ropes! MSG backing the Stardust Genius, after much deliberation he gets a foot on the ropes! But Zack’s right back on him, going for a NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX- NAITO STANDS HIM UP WITH A SNAP DDT! An EVOLUCION’S shut down though, Sabre hitting the brakes to nail the ARM PELE! Fishing the arm, Zack tries to float into a FLYING ARTICLE 50- NAITO STUFFS HIM WITH A GLORIA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE SURVIVES!!!
Rallying momentum, Tetsuya nails the TORNADO DDT! Sabre nursing the head, a DRAGON SUPLEX FOLLOWS!!! In the drop zone, Naito tests the waters for a RUNNING DESTINO- SABRE SHUTS IT DOWN WITH A EUROPEAN CLUTCH!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NAITO’S DREAMS STAY ALIVE!!! Getting dangerously close with the flash pin, Tetsuya throws defiant forearms, Zack catching and contorting one, but a ROLLING WHEEL KICK knocks him off! ESPERANZA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE KICKS OUT!!!
Hooking the head, Naito hoists Sabre up… ZACK WITH A GUILLOTINE CHOKE MID-AIR!!! Tetsuya’s eyes bulge out his skull, looking for the nearest turnbuckle to ram Sabre into it, but ZSJ’s quicker, yanking him to the mat and transitioning into a JIM BREAKS ARMBAR!!! Brutally bending the arm at an awkward angle, there’s a manic look in Zack’s eyes as NYC desperately cheers on Naito, who does his best to hang on! Sabre keeps tugging further and further, eager to ruin Tetsuya, but it backfires, helping him stretch his leg to the ropes!
The crowd erupts as the referee forces Sabre off, though Naito’s clearly hurting all the same, a European helping no less! Zack rallies with further Uppercuts, one knocking Tetsuya down, before firing a PENALTY KICK!!! NAITO ABSORBS IT AND ROLLS THROUGH, SABRE GOING FOR SECONDS BUT HE EATS A RUNNING DESTINOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOO!!! Shaking himself off, Naito attempts another, though Sabre stops it with elbows, before hopping into a REAR NAKED CHOKE!
Tetsuya tries to run forwards to free himself, though ZSJ swivels on his back into a GEDO CLUTCH!!! ANOTHER FLASH PIN! BUT NAITO ROLLS THROUGH THIS TIME INTO HIS OWN – POLVO DE ESTRELLA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE STAYS IN!!! AND AN EVOLUCION!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ANOTHER KICK OUT!!! NAITO’S GOING FOR THE SWING DESTINO!!! BUT A ZACK DRIVER COUNTERS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Slapping up Naito’s neck, Sabre dumps him on it with a TIGER SUPLEX!!! Naito woozy, Zack nails the PENALTY KICK!!! NAITO’S REFUSING TO STAY DOWN! Hearing MSG’s cries, he wills himself back up as Sabre watches in fascination… ONLY FOR ANOTHER PK TO CUT HIM OFF!!! And just like the 2022 NJC Finals, he’s going to end it here with a SECOND ZACK DRIVER- NAITO NAILS A DESTINO MID-AIR!!! HE’S STILL MOVING SOMEHOW!!! Stumbling to his feet, Tetsuya measures his man… DESTINOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE’S FOOT’S ON THE ROPE!!!
Saving Naito more than once, it’s come to Zack’s aid now too! Hammering Sabre with forearms, Naito tees up another DESTINO- PELE KICK!!! Tetsuya falls forward, Zack catching him in a STRETCH MUFFLER!!! IF HE CAN JUST GRAB THE OTHER LEG, IT’S ALL OVER, COMPLETING THE ORIENTEERING WITH NAPALM DEATH!!! Zack bends Naito further and further as he tries to grab hold… TETSUYA SWINGS BACK! AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN! SABRE LETS GO!!! AND A ZACK DRIVER FROM NAITO!!!
Sabre on his back, Naito thinks about waiting for the Destino… but then he sees the top rope. The crowd cry at him not to, screwing him over time and time again, but Tetsuya can’t help it! Heading up top, the world holds their breath, NAITO SOARING THROUGH THE AIR… STARDUST PRESS CONNECTS!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!! IT’S A MIRACLE IN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!! NAITO’S WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN!!!
Tetsuya Naito def. Zack Sabre Jr. (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (31:18)
New York LOSES their minds as Naito’s handed the title, Tetsuya himself struggling to process what just happened! But then LIJ rush out – PAC with the US Title, Hiromu with the TV Title, Shingo, Yota, and Titan with the NEVER 6-Man Titles, and even the Lucha Brothers with the Tag Titles! THEY’RE DRAPED IN GOLD, BABY! Sharing embraces all around as a dismal Sabre trudges to the back, there’s not a single dry eye in the arena as the outcasts raise their fists to the sky with one hand and their titles with the other, golden tickertape hailing down! Naito’s on top of the world after 3 long years, and it feels damn good! Doing the customary championship edition roll-call, the show fades on LIJ holding all their gold… and PAC looking over at Naito’s.
G1 Climax 34
Entering his second of fifteen G1s as the reigning champion, Naito heads B Block opposite stiff competition. Though dispatching of Hiromu in friendly competition on Night One, the two are subsequently assaulted by KONGOH post-match, allowing NOAH’s KENOH to upset him the following night! Behind the 8-ball already, Tetsuya’s motivated to make a comeback, mowing through Narita, Tanahashi, Yota, Sabre, and KENTA to take back the lead! Suffering another surprise defeat at Jeff Cobb’s hands after multiple failed attempts from the Hawaiian Hulk to best him, it opens the door for a returning JAY WHITE to spoil his final night, wrecking Naito’s legs with a ladder, allowing Zack to advance on 14 points! As for B Block, a draw between Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada on the final night puts the Commonwealth Kingpin through, the rivals meeting one more time! Other key underlying stories see Shibata finally beating Okada, Ospreay avenging his Takagi loss, PAC beating his fellow LIJ members but losing to SANADA, and KONGOH causing ruckus throughout the competition.
G1 Climax 34 Finals (August 19, 2024)
Also on the show:
Jay White vs BUSHI
Will Ospreay vs Zack Sabre Jr. - G1 Climax Briefcase
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, PAC, Hiromu Takahashi, Titan) vs KONGOH (KENOH, Manabu Soya, Masakatsu Funaki, Hi69, Shuji Kondo)
Perhaps the focal reason for Naito not making the Finals, KONGOH’s tournament chicanery, as led by KENOH, was a masterfully crafted plan. After losing to Tetsuya in last year’s LIJ vs KONGOH series at Wrestle Kingdom 17, the thought of ruining the Stardust Genius for vengeance never left the Rogue Fist’s mind, and with his win over Tetsuya in the G1, their score is now 1-1. Reigniting the intense rivalry between the two stables, they have an upgraded rematch to their Wrestle Kingdom 16 5-on-5, both sides having greatly changed since then.
Once again, PAC’s especially adamant to claim the spotlight, the loss to SANADA making him temperamental despite having the 2nd best LIJ record in this year’s tournament. An argument breaking out between PAC and Shingo as to who should get the pin is put on ice by Naito, though it doesn’t keep Titan from eating a nasty PFS from KENOH, handing the invaders the win!
KONGOH def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (19:57)
Redeeming WK16, KENOH offers the angriest of satisfied smiles, the group cackling as they gesture belts around their waists, warning that their business isn’t yet over. LIJ left behind, there’s a sour mood in the air from the loss, though when Shingo offers a fist in apology, PAC, taking a look at a nodding Naito, ultimately returns one, showing that despite popular belief, LIJ’s still fine.
Splitting off for Shingo and co. to gear up for KONGOH’s second wave whilst Naito and PAC are scheduled for AEW’s ALL IN supershow, this time taking place in Tetsuya’s home of the Tokyo Dome, both men are set for defences on the show. In PAC’s case, it’s a rematch against J6G’s SANADA, the Bastard adamant to gain Naito’s favour by beating the traitor. As for Naito, he has Jay on his tail!
Until the recent G1, White refused to show his face on any sort of NJPW programming (including Forbidden Door) since being embarrassed at Okada’s hands and having his faction torn to shreds. Leaving Japan to join AEW, no longer having connections to hide behind nor help him, he was forced to be the lone wolf for once, becoming even more merciless, knowing he’s all he has. After spreading chaos abroad, most recently coming up short in the AEW World Championship picture, trauma from his Okada loss clinging onto him anytime the stakes are raised too high again, he decided it was time to return to his roots to clear his head and eliminate any shred of weakness left in his body so that he can claim the top prize again, and there’s no better place to do so than the building his title was taken from him – the Tokyo Dome.
The last time he faced Naito in the Tokyo Dome, he had Gedo by his side, yet still lost. Now though, he declares if he’s to have this match, he wants a compensatory factor. A means of looking out for himself, like Naito has LIJ. He’s already beaten Tetsuya thrice in singles competition, knowing he’s the better wrestler, so this time… HE WANTS A LADDER MATCH!!! Japan’s become more and more geared to the Western market, the culture shifting from traditions, so unless he’s a snob like Okada, he'll embrace the new vision and accept the challenge. Jay using the perfect words to get under Tetsuya’s skin, he accepts, looking to tear down the foundations of the Rainmaker’s regime with his reign, starting with this!
RevProxNJPW 12th Anniversary Show (August 24, 2024)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & PAC) vs The Knight Dynasty (Ricky Knight Jr. & Zak Knight)
The night before ALL IN features a special RevPro crossover event with their partners, NJPW, the 12th Anniversary being celebrated in Japan. Naturally, Naito tags with the most RevPro familiar member of LIJ, PAC, the two champions battling the celebrated Knight Dynasty, who are considered the present and future of the promotion! What begins as a fun exhibition sees more of the differences between PAC and Naito come to light, the hot-headedness of the Bastard and the collectedness of El Ingobernable wanting different things out of the match, yet still managing to remain reasonably on the same page. A close call on a 619 from Ricky sees Naito shove PAC out the way in the nick of time, absorbing the blow himself, though without acknowledging it, PAC springs to action, a Black Arrow on Zak scoring the victory!
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. The Knight Dynasty (13:10)
As the referee approaches LIJ with their titles, PAC’s quick to receive both, Naito only recovering just in time to find the Bastard lingering for a moment as he looks between the pieces of gold, before finally handing Tetsuya’s over him and walking off, leaving the leader confused yet unconcerned.
ALL IN Tokyo (August 25, 2024)
Also on the show:
PAC (c) vs SANADA - IWGP United States Championship
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs Golden Lovers - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs Jay White V - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship - Ladder
Stepping into the mastermind of the Switchblade, White baits Naito to play his game, the long-time rivals settling their score over a belt they both have history with. With no Gedo around, Jay’s focus is to demolish Naito’s already tattered knees with the ladder like he did to cost Tetsuya the G1, slowing down each climbing attempt bit by bit. Given the two’s creativity, it’s a sick warfare of increasingly dangerous spots, Naito taking Jay with him to neck bump city, White cruelly massacring Tetsuya’s body with reckless abandon.
White’s notably more in his element here, letting the Tokyo Dome atmosphere heal him whilst hurting Naito. A HANGING BLADE RUNNER cuts a Stardust Press attempt short, the magic only lasting once, but a ladder bridge CANADIAN DESTROYER buys Naito some momentum back! Ultimately, a war atop the ladder sees Naito boot Jay off, allowing him to unhook the gold to retain!
Tetsuya Naito (c) def. Jay White V to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (25:30)
Though Naito walks out with his belt, PAC doesn’t, making the Bastard’s issues all the more prominent, taking more frequent looks over at Tetsuya’s gold, which begs the question – was there more to PAC joining LIJ than originally thought? Still, he wishes Naito good luck for Wrestle Grand Slam, telling him he wants to see the belt on him when they go England. But for now, the end of his trilogy against KENOH awaits!
Wrestle Grand Slam (September 8, 2024)
Also on the show:
Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs KUSHIDA - NJPW World Television Championship
El Desperado (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata - NEVER Openweight Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Titan) (c) vs KONGOH (Manabu Soya, Masakatsu Funaki, Shuji Kondo) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs KENOH III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
For over two years, the rivalry between LIJ and KONGOH has slowly simmered to this boiling point, coming down to the leaders now to settle their 1-1 score over NJPW’s top title! With the 6-Man Titles changing hands earlier in the night, Naito must put his 200% into assuring the same doesn’t occur here, or it’ll be disaster on New Japan’s waterfront.
As two men that could not be more opposite collide, it’s an intense war over the company’s possession, everyone from fans to wrestlers on the edge of their seats as the last of the NOAH invaders try to leave their mark. KENOH shows nothing but hatred towards Naito for ruining his past chances, whilst Tetsuya savours his every moment in the Sun, having slaved away to hold this belt. A PFS almost does Naito in, whilst the DESTINO does the same for KENOH! Ragdolling the older star with Dragon Suplexes, KENOH sets up for the ENRIN… BUT IN HIS STARDUST PRESS MOMENT, HE MISSES!!! DESTINOOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!! New Japan remains safe in the hands of Naito!
Tetsuya Naito (c) def. KENOH to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (28:33)
Offering a handshake to KENOH out of respect for their series… the Rogue Fist declines it, though from the look in his fiery eyes, an inkling of acknowledgement is there for Tetsuya. Telling Naito to keep the belt warm for him, he declares he’ll be back sometime again, and when that happens, he’s going to usurp Naito once and for all!
And as they leave with their 50/50 successes, it’s back to LIJ to end the show on their usual note… except, PAC interrupts the tradition. He’s confused, no, he’s incredulous. What are they celebrating here? Failure? Or are they calling it ‘survival’? Is no one going to point out the elephant in the room? Just two months ago they were on top of the world, all draped in gold, but now they’re left with just Naito and the Lucha Bros’s gold. And yet, they’re celebrating? He’s been out here losing sleep over his missing US Title!
If they wish to continue to be taken seriously, they need to act the part. Luckily… he has a solution. They say iron sharpens iron, so rather than fighting these large-scale wars outside their stable… why not have a ‘friendly’ within? Naito has the title and an incredible row of suitors before him, so he should pick one to defend against! Tetsuya seems perturbed by the idea knowing what almost happened the last time LIJ fought within, but as PAC insists, even pointing out how he’s the only one with a clean record over Naito… Tetsuya turns to him and raises the title! If such claims are going to be made, they need to be backed up too! Challenging PAC with his title on the line, a grinning Bastard accepts, bumping his fist!
Burning Spirit - Night Seven (September 25, 2024)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi) vs Death Triangle (PAC & The Lucha Brothers)
Slyly manoeuvring his way into the title rematch he’s desired ever since getting a taste of the gold against Shingo last year, this is more so PAC’s chance to prove himself over the statement he’s seeming to be making. Nonetheless, with various combinations of LIJ facing Death Triangle over the Burning Spirit tour, they supposedly rely on each other to improve their own skill, these 6 especially drawing the very best out of each other. Working more seamlessly with DT than he had LIJ as of late, the freakish chemistry between the AEW lads has a Fear FactoDouble Stomp/Black Arrow combo end Hiromu, PAC grinning as he stares down Naito, the challenge growing closer by day…
Death Triangle def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (18:24)
Giving a brief interview heading into the match at Royal Quest, Naito states that he can’t be certain on what PAC’s intentions are, but all he knows is that no matter what, LIJ sticks together. If this match is what PAC needs for his peace of mind, then it’s all his. All he can hope is the Bastard has the same idea of family in mind.
Royal Quest IV - Night Two (October 6, 2024)
Also on the show:
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Kazuchika Okada - G1 Climax Briefcase
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs PAC II - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
The relationship between LIJ and PAC has developed into one of the more intriguing dynamics this year, raising a multitude of questions, but now, the true light of it all will be revealed. Whether it’s friendly fire or another coup, Naito’s ready for whatever PAC may happen to have up his sleeve, whilst the Bastard lets his actions do the talking. For once, it’s an utterly no-nonsense showdown between Los members, Tetsuya taking the threat of PAC very seriously, the Jordie clearly driven to make the grand prize his. And as the match rolls on, Naito starts to see parts of himself in PAC with each cheer or cry from his home crowd.
Just like Naito, he’s the incredibly-talented misfit who was overlooked, but unlike a young Naito, PAC doesn’t realise he has the world on his side already despite his quirks. Whilst Naito had to suffer through his changes, PAC’s a made man, and with each near-fall, the crowd see it too, becoming more and more invested in him! On the cusp of his crowning moment, PAC shows no hesitation unlike the Stardust Press, NAILING THE BLACK ARROW!!! ONE! TWO! THR-BUT NAITO KICKS OUT!!! PAC may have ‘it’, but Naito’s operating on an entirely different level as World Champion, and no matter what PAC may have thrown at him, it’s not his moment just yet. DESTINOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Tetsuya Naito (c) def. PAC to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (30:11)
Maybe a different day. Both men propped in opposite corners of the ring, they suck deep for breaths, PAC only taking his eyes off Naito when he spots the title bring brought over to him. That should’ve been his. He should’ve been champion right now, but… he starts tuning in the crowd again. A standing ovation for the hometown boy. Though he may not hold the title right now, he’s still a champion in their eyes… Solace. Always overlooked, all he needed was approval. And now more than ever, he feels he has it. Noticing PAC’s realisation, Naito grins and nods to him, the two bumping fists together, no sour ending on this one.
At least, not between LIJ… OKADA’S HERE!!! After shockingly beating Ospreay for his G1 briefcase earlier in the night, the Rainmaker has his sights on the Tokyo Dome main event, and if things are to be believed, it may be Naito defending against Kazuchika on the grand stage! The long-time WK rivals locking eyes, there’s a different atmosphere between the Ace and the Dark Ace now. No longer does Okada look upon Naito condescendingly, but with disgust. Though he failed to beat Shingo earlier in the night, Kazuchika’s been vocal all year about the damage he feels LIJ have caused the company.
Where he did everything to purify the promotion with his reign, beating away outsiders, Naito did the exact opposite, bringing them further into their ranks and breaking tradition with a ladder match. With this briefcase in his hand though, he has the power to change that… but so does he. OSPREAY JOINS IN!!! The man who lost his case earlier in front of his own family, he can’t even look the smug Okada in the eyes. Rather, turning to Naito, he declares his desire to return to WK’s main event to not be over just yet! Against better judgement, he gave Shingo a shot at this title last year and it cost him everything. All he asks is Naito returns the favour! Smirking, Tetsuya tells him ‘earn it’, WK’s main event scene growing all the more interesting!
Battle Autumn - Night Five (October 15, 2024)
Elimination: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Death Triangle) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Aussie Open)
Desperation drives a man to his darkest pits, and Ospreay is very much there. Banding his troops together one year on since the last LIJ/UE tag of this magnitude, the ante’s upped even higher now, needing to survive an elimination match to receive the match of his desires. Both stables going to war here, all their integrated rivalries of the past years come to a head, the one between Ospreay and Naito lying at the centre of it all. UE get a tough break to start with when Great-O-Khan hits the deck early, Mark Davis following, though a comeback removes the Lucha Bros from the equation!
Cobb goes next, before Ospreay takes out PAC, a double countout subsequently removing the leaders from the equation! Boiling down to Shingo and Kyle, the Aussie Arrow pulls out the underdog performance of his life, channelling all of Ospreay’s moves before a GRIMSTONE ELIMINATES SHINGO! OSPREAY’S HEADED TO KOPW!!! Raising Fletcher onto their shoulders, it’s a grand celebration from UE, Will receiving one last lease on life! As for Naito, he can only stand and wait, a final challenge paved in his path to the Dome.
United Empire def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (25:33)
King of Pro-Wrestling (October 27, 2024)
Also on the show:
KUSHIDA (c) vs Taiji Ishimori - NJPW World Television Championship
Sabre-Gun (Blake Christian & Clark Connors) (c) vs Catch 22 - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata - G1 Climax Briefcase
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs Will Ospreay IV - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
One year ago, Ospreay’s overzealousness cost him the chance to main event Wrestle Kingdom with the World Title, but now, as it all comes full circle, it’s official, the winner of this match defending against Okada! With that in mind, both men are equally ravenous to make the grand opportunity theirs! Their fourth match together, it’s rife with callbacks, Naito especially making sure to remind Will of the way he beat him in last year’s A Block Finals to get in his head.
To Tetsuya’s surprise though, this matured Ospreay is impervious to his strategies! No matter what the champion throws, the challenger always has an answer, their see-saw saga featuring plenty of nail-biting near-falls that could send either man through, but it’s a TRIAD OF HIDDEN BLADES that ultimately calls it, Ospreay finally reclaiming his throne, a date with destiny set in stone!
Will Ospreay def. Tetsuya Naito (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (35:38)
Before WK though, Power Struggle is on the calendar! Featuring the likes of Death Triangle dethroning KONGOH for the NEVER belts for PAC to fully find his place in LIJ, Ren Narita dethroning Katsuyori Shibata for the NEVER Openweight Title, and Shingo Takagi taking the US Title from SANADA, it also sees Ospreay team with Catch 22 against Okada and the two men who ended Francesco Akira and TJP’s legendary reign, SHO & Taiji Ishimori, with UE scoring the vengeful win! And on the final Road To Tokyo Dome special, Ospreay finds a surprising ally in Shibata against Okada and Tanahashi in a HUGE blockbuster tag, CHAOS getting their win back here as Shibata keeps chasing down a rematch with Tana!
Wrestle Kingdom 19 (January 4, 2025)
Also on the show:
Sabre-Gun (Blake Christian & Clark Connors) (c) vs Li-YOH - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan) (c) vs CHAOS (Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
SHO (c) vs Francesco Akira - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Ren Narita (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii - NEVER Openweight Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - IWGP United States Championship
Minoru Suzuki vs Taichi - Retirement
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Katsuyori Shibata
Will Ospreay (c) vs Kazuchika Okada XII - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Finally, this is what it’s all led to. A story set in motion from the very first moment Ospreay set foot in NJPW under Okada’s guidance in CHAOS 9 years ago. Fighting through loss after loss after loss, he finally achieved his clean win over Okada last year to reclaim his World Championship, but now, he must accomplish an even greater task – beat the Final Boss in the Tokyo Dome itself! Failing on both occasions against Okada on NJPW’s biggest stage akin to Okada’s own chase of Tanahashi, it’s his Wrestle Kingdom 10 moment now as he walks into the Dome as the reigning champion, with the Ace as the challenger! Win and he’s immortalised in history. Lose and Okada resets the company’s entire trajectory. High stakes weighing on Will’s shoulders, it’s time to elevate under pressure!
Entering with WK level entrances to boot, Okada dripping sheer gold, and Ospreay with an entire kingdom of suited individuals accompanying him, they get underway as the bell sounds! And for the first time, it’s Ospreay controlling the opening sequence with the Tanahashi-style headlock! Big brothering Okada, he doesn’t let the Rainmaker out the gates in his own ballpark for a few minutes straight… BEFORE WILL EXPLODES FOR A HANDSPRING ENZUIGIRI!
Okada dodges, going for a GERMAN, but Will flips through, nailing the HOOK KICK, an OSCUTTER coming up empty, Kazu swinging for a ducked RAINMAKER, and it’s a stalemate! Trading forearms, a Lariat dumps Okada out, Ospreay running Kazu’s routine of the guardrail whip and Big Boot, a RUNNING CROSSBODY EATING A DROPKICK! Nailing a TOMBSTONE on the floor, Okada sets up a table at ringside before rolling Ospreay in, the MISSILE DROPKICK and AIR-RAID CRASH NECKBREAKER harping on the neck! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!
Wrenching the MONEY CLIP, it doesn’t get him far, a BRAINBUSTER catching Okada by surprise! SHOOTING STAR PRESS! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE! A PIP PIP CHEERIO eats a BEAUTIFUL DROPKICK, before Okada whips Ospreay at the corner, only for Will to pop him up onto the turnbuckles, slamming Kawada Kicks into his face! CHEEKY NANDOS! Ospreay tries for a LIGER BOMB through the outside table, but Okada drops to the apron! Will charges for a Yakuza Kick, but a LANDSLIDE BLOCKS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OSPREAY STAYS IN!!!
Hammering the neck, Okada lunges for a RAINMAKER, though a SNAP CUTTER blocks! ROBINSON SPECIAL! Will winds up the CHELSEA GRIN, but it receives a slap and a JOHN WOO DROPKICK! A pair of Short-Arm Rainmakers ricochet off Ospreay, but a Rainmaker is feigned for a DDT! DIVING ELBOW DROP!!! ONE! TWO! THR-WILL KICKS OUT AGAIN!!! A TOMBSTONE is countered by knees, Ospreay whipping Okada at the ropes, Kazu countering a BACK BODY DROP OVER THE ROPES!!!
Will narrowly missing the table, Okada follows with a TOPE CON HILO… BUT OSPREAY MOVES OUT THE WAY, THE RAINMAKER EXPLODING THROUGH THE WOOD!!! Shoving Okada’s lifeless body inside, Ospreay sets up a HIDDEN BLADE!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!! A STORM BREAKER is blocked, Okada nailing a sick CORNER GERMAN! Dropkick rocks Will, before the TOMBSTONE connects! RAINMAKER’s dodged, Ospreay rebounding into an OSCUTTER- DROPKICK!!! AND A RAINMAKERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Okada keeps the wrist, going for seconds… OSPREAY NAILS A RAINMAKER OF HIS OWN!!! Wrist still held, Will nails close-range elbows to the neck, before winding up another HIDDEN BLADE- HEAVY RAIN!!! OKADA NAILS HIS OWN HIDDEN BLADE!!! Teasing the STORM BREAKER, Ospreay spins out, dumping Kazu with a LANDSLIDE!!! AND A HIDDEN BLADE… Okada collapses! As Will tries picking him up, a DROPKICK awaits! ANOTHER DROPKICK! AZTEC SUPLEX – A LA ULTIMO DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!!
Okada decks Ospreay with a RAINMAKER, but Will doesn’t go down fully, Kazu nailing a SECOND! Going for the Ripcord this time… RAINHAM MAKER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OKADA KICKS OUT!!! ESSEX DESTROYER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ANOTHER KICK OUT!!! Cracking a HIDDEN BLADE off Okada’s nose, an OSCUTTER follows, before he floats into a STORM BREAKER- FALLING RAINMAKERRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Okada smelling blood, he tries for another, AND A HIDDEN BLADE CONNECTS AT THE SAME TIME!!! Keeping hold, the two knock each other loopy with one free arm… OSCUTTER’S CAUGHT WITH A TOMBSTONE!!! Okada picks him back up, going for a SPINNING TOMBSTONE- OSPREAY REVERSES INTO A SPIKE PILEDRIVER!!! Ripcord… HIDDEN BLADE!!! AND A STORM BREAKER!!! Hoisting him up for one more… A SECOND STORM BREAKERRRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Will Ospreay (c) def. Kazuchika Okada to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (40:51)
HE’S DONE IT! OSPREAY’S FINALLY SURPASSED THE ACE ON HIS OWN STAGE! No longer is Okada himself anymore, but rather the Tanahashi to Ospreay’s Okada, the cycle continuing. And like his counterpart 9 years ago, Kazu leaves as empty-handed as he walked in for the first time in a decade, the times officially changing! And as sunlight washes over the Land of the Rising Sun, a new dawn is revealed. The dawn of the Ospreay Era.
Epilogue
Heading into 2025, NJPW is rife with changes, seeing more of the once Young Lion names step up as the likes of Tanahashi and Naito begin to slow down. CHAOS features a massive shakeup the following night as Shinsuke Nakamura returns, kickstarting his road to retirement, having been vocal in his interest of facing Tanahashi, proceeding to feud with Okada over his failures. As for Ospreay, his reign runs until Sakura Genesis, where one NJC Winner Katsuyori Shibata finally dethrones him 8 years on from his loss to Okada, though Will’s time with the title is far from over yet, remaining an integral part of the picture alongside ZSJ, Shingo, and more.
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Since becoming one again, LIJ’s been on a tear through NJPW’s ranks this year in spite of Shingo Takagi dropping the belt and PAC losing the New Japan Cup Finals to the current World Champion. IWGP United States, IWGP Tag Team (Death Triangle have become LIJ affiliates through PAC), and NJPW World Television Championships in their grasps, they seek to round out the group by all holding titles simultaneously. But that begs the question – who’ll be going after the World Title? Though Shingo’s battle ready, he insists Tetsuya Naito take it this time, the Stardust Genius having worked his back off to rebound from Wrestle Kingdom. Failing every attempt in the past 3 years though, the question remains whether he can truly pull it off this time, or if it’s just not meant to be.
Kizuna Road - Night Four (July 1, 2024)
Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & El Phantasmo) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & PAC)
With Naito confirmed as Sabre’s #1 Contender for Wrestle Dynasty, SG and LIJ have themselves a scaled-down rematch from New Year’s Dash, Zack picking his trusty right-hand man ELP, and Tetsuya bringing the US Champion, knowing PAC has unresolved issues with ZSJ from the NJC. Though it drives the Bastard to work doubly-hard, especially considering how it’ll look if he pins the World Champion, it also makes their teamwork suffer, PAC becoming self-absorbed in getting the pin. Backfiring, a Sudden Death from Phantasmo knocks his lights out, SG getting their win back from NYD and putting the challenger on the backfoot heading into Madison Square Garden!
Sabre-Gun def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (16:12)
PAC appears distraught after the match, but Naito simply tells him ‘tranquilo’, not taking it personally. Though he’d hoped to use this match to get into ZSJ’s head, it appears he’ll just have to do that himself, like he’s always done.
Wrestle Dynasty (July 14, 2024)
Also on the show:
Shota Umino (c) vs El Desperado - NEVER Openweight Championship
Just6Guys (SANADA, Taichi, Ryohei Oiwa) (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Titan) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs Kyle Fletcher - NJPW World Television Championship
PAC (c) vs El Phantasmo - IWGP United States Championship
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs Meiyu Tag - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Tetsuya Naito XI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
In what’s been a very successful night for LIJ thus far, clean-sweeping their way through the competition, it all rests on Naito’s shoulders now to bring it home. Perhaps the most unreliable man to slot in this spot, and yet, the most beloved, MSG fully invested in Tetsuya’s chase, either the grandest of celebrations or coldest of heartbreaks will end the night! Naito keeps his cool, emanating his usual larger-than-life aura as he walks out in a pristine crimson suit, paying homage to Shingo, whilst Sabre’s cockier than ever with his recent streak of huge wins, knowing he has Tetsuya doubting himself after their tag. As he hands his title over, the two come face-to-face, SABRE SPITTING GUM INTO NAITO’S FACE, but Tetsuya doesn’t let ZSJ’s tactics faze him, having come too far for too long to let mind games be his downfall.
Circling each other, Zack lunges for a lock-up but Naito walks past, smirking and stretching in the opposite corner. Sabre rolls his eyes as Tetsuya turns around and tells him ‘tranquilo’, before going for it again… Zack snatching the headlock this time as Naito tries to repeat, but Tetsuya instantly whips him to the corner, teasing the COMBINACION CABRON as ZSJ braces himself… Naito stops in front of him and does the ‘Abre los Ojos’ taunt!
Furious, Sabre piefaces him, NAITO RETURNING A FOREARM, AND WE’RE OFF! Trading strikes, Zack rocks Tetsuya with European Uppercuts, Naito returning forearms, before a Japanese Arm Drag stops Zack in his tracks! Naito goes for another, but Zack hooks onto Tetsuya’s legs, tripping him up and contorting the foot! Tetsuya boots him off with the other, a Neckbreaker and a Somersault Senton connecting, though Sabre absorbs the latter, trapping Naito’s arm onto the mat to STOMP THE HAND!
Picking him back up, he cracks Naito with chops, before whipping him at the ropes, Naito hitting off them one after the other to build momentum, teasing the Flying Forearm Zack’s expecting… only to roll into the Tranquilo pose! ZACK MEETS HIM WITH A NECK TWIST!!! Tetsuya scrambling to the corner, Sabre steps on his throat against the ropes, BEFORE SLAPPING HIM! NAITO SPITS IN ZACK’S FACE!!! A harsh uppercut knocks Tetsuya back, a Running European following and a PENALTY KICK! Naito dodges and nails the FLYING FOREARM SMASH!
Teasing the Tornado DDT, it’s cancelled by an Enzuigiri, Zack leaping for the KIMURA- NAITO COUNTERS INTO VALENTIA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!! Sending Sabre into the corner, the COMBINACION CABRON CONNECTS! AND A MISSILE DROPKICK! Naito teases the DRAGON SUPLEX, but Sabre flips through and STOMPS HIS ELBOW! SNAP GERMAN ON THE NECK FROM SABRE!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE! Naito woozy, his head’s only further knocked around by a ROLLING ELBOW! A CORNER HIGH KNEE connects, before a Hammerlock Suplex floats into a TESCO MEAL DEAL!!!
Naito’s hand flails about the mat as Sabre keeps him grounded, no Valentia escape this time, forcing Tetsuya to work the old-fashioned way to the ropes! MSG backing the Stardust Genius, after much deliberation he gets a foot on the ropes! But Zack’s right back on him, going for a NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX- NAITO STANDS HIM UP WITH A SNAP DDT! An EVOLUCION’S shut down though, Sabre hitting the brakes to nail the ARM PELE! Fishing the arm, Zack tries to float into a FLYING ARTICLE 50- NAITO STUFFS HIM WITH A GLORIA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE SURVIVES!!!
Rallying momentum, Tetsuya nails the TORNADO DDT! Sabre nursing the head, a DRAGON SUPLEX FOLLOWS!!! In the drop zone, Naito tests the waters for a RUNNING DESTINO- SABRE SHUTS IT DOWN WITH A EUROPEAN CLUTCH!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NAITO’S DREAMS STAY ALIVE!!! Getting dangerously close with the flash pin, Tetsuya throws defiant forearms, Zack catching and contorting one, but a ROLLING WHEEL KICK knocks him off! ESPERANZA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE KICKS OUT!!!
Hooking the head, Naito hoists Sabre up… ZACK WITH A GUILLOTINE CHOKE MID-AIR!!! Tetsuya’s eyes bulge out his skull, looking for the nearest turnbuckle to ram Sabre into it, but ZSJ’s quicker, yanking him to the mat and transitioning into a JIM BREAKS ARMBAR!!! Brutally bending the arm at an awkward angle, there’s a manic look in Zack’s eyes as NYC desperately cheers on Naito, who does his best to hang on! Sabre keeps tugging further and further, eager to ruin Tetsuya, but it backfires, helping him stretch his leg to the ropes!
The crowd erupts as the referee forces Sabre off, though Naito’s clearly hurting all the same, a European helping no less! Zack rallies with further Uppercuts, one knocking Tetsuya down, before firing a PENALTY KICK!!! NAITO ABSORBS IT AND ROLLS THROUGH, SABRE GOING FOR SECONDS BUT HE EATS A RUNNING DESTINOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOO!!! Shaking himself off, Naito attempts another, though Sabre stops it with elbows, before hopping into a REAR NAKED CHOKE!
Tetsuya tries to run forwards to free himself, though ZSJ swivels on his back into a GEDO CLUTCH!!! ANOTHER FLASH PIN! BUT NAITO ROLLS THROUGH THIS TIME INTO HIS OWN – POLVO DE ESTRELLA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE STAYS IN!!! AND AN EVOLUCION!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ANOTHER KICK OUT!!! NAITO’S GOING FOR THE SWING DESTINO!!! BUT A ZACK DRIVER COUNTERS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Slapping up Naito’s neck, Sabre dumps him on it with a TIGER SUPLEX!!! Naito woozy, Zack nails the PENALTY KICK!!! NAITO’S REFUSING TO STAY DOWN! Hearing MSG’s cries, he wills himself back up as Sabre watches in fascination… ONLY FOR ANOTHER PK TO CUT HIM OFF!!! And just like the 2022 NJC Finals, he’s going to end it here with a SECOND ZACK DRIVER- NAITO NAILS A DESTINO MID-AIR!!! HE’S STILL MOVING SOMEHOW!!! Stumbling to his feet, Tetsuya measures his man… DESTINOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE’S FOOT’S ON THE ROPE!!!
Saving Naito more than once, it’s come to Zack’s aid now too! Hammering Sabre with forearms, Naito tees up another DESTINO- PELE KICK!!! Tetsuya falls forward, Zack catching him in a STRETCH MUFFLER!!! IF HE CAN JUST GRAB THE OTHER LEG, IT’S ALL OVER, COMPLETING THE ORIENTEERING WITH NAPALM DEATH!!! Zack bends Naito further and further as he tries to grab hold… TETSUYA SWINGS BACK! AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN! SABRE LETS GO!!! AND A ZACK DRIVER FROM NAITO!!!
Sabre on his back, Naito thinks about waiting for the Destino… but then he sees the top rope. The crowd cry at him not to, screwing him over time and time again, but Tetsuya can’t help it! Heading up top, the world holds their breath, NAITO SOARING THROUGH THE AIR… STARDUST PRESS CONNECTS!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!! IT’S A MIRACLE IN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!! NAITO’S WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN!!!
Tetsuya Naito def. Zack Sabre Jr. (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (31:18)
New York LOSES their minds as Naito’s handed the title, Tetsuya himself struggling to process what just happened! But then LIJ rush out – PAC with the US Title, Hiromu with the TV Title, Shingo, Yota, and Titan with the NEVER 6-Man Titles, and even the Lucha Brothers with the Tag Titles! THEY’RE DRAPED IN GOLD, BABY! Sharing embraces all around as a dismal Sabre trudges to the back, there’s not a single dry eye in the arena as the outcasts raise their fists to the sky with one hand and their titles with the other, golden tickertape hailing down! Naito’s on top of the world after 3 long years, and it feels damn good! Doing the customary championship edition roll-call, the show fades on LIJ holding all their gold… and PAC looking over at Naito’s.
G1 Climax 34
Entering his second of fifteen G1s as the reigning champion, Naito heads B Block opposite stiff competition. Though dispatching of Hiromu in friendly competition on Night One, the two are subsequently assaulted by KONGOH post-match, allowing NOAH’s KENOH to upset him the following night! Behind the 8-ball already, Tetsuya’s motivated to make a comeback, mowing through Narita, Tanahashi, Yota, Sabre, and KENTA to take back the lead! Suffering another surprise defeat at Jeff Cobb’s hands after multiple failed attempts from the Hawaiian Hulk to best him, it opens the door for a returning JAY WHITE to spoil his final night, wrecking Naito’s legs with a ladder, allowing Zack to advance on 14 points! As for B Block, a draw between Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada on the final night puts the Commonwealth Kingpin through, the rivals meeting one more time! Other key underlying stories see Shibata finally beating Okada, Ospreay avenging his Takagi loss, PAC beating his fellow LIJ members but losing to SANADA, and KONGOH causing ruckus throughout the competition.
G1 Climax 34 Finals (August 19, 2024)
Also on the show:
Jay White vs BUSHI
Will Ospreay vs Zack Sabre Jr. - G1 Climax Briefcase
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, PAC, Hiromu Takahashi, Titan) vs KONGOH (KENOH, Manabu Soya, Masakatsu Funaki, Hi69, Shuji Kondo)
Perhaps the focal reason for Naito not making the Finals, KONGOH’s tournament chicanery, as led by KENOH, was a masterfully crafted plan. After losing to Tetsuya in last year’s LIJ vs KONGOH series at Wrestle Kingdom 17, the thought of ruining the Stardust Genius for vengeance never left the Rogue Fist’s mind, and with his win over Tetsuya in the G1, their score is now 1-1. Reigniting the intense rivalry between the two stables, they have an upgraded rematch to their Wrestle Kingdom 16 5-on-5, both sides having greatly changed since then.
Once again, PAC’s especially adamant to claim the spotlight, the loss to SANADA making him temperamental despite having the 2nd best LIJ record in this year’s tournament. An argument breaking out between PAC and Shingo as to who should get the pin is put on ice by Naito, though it doesn’t keep Titan from eating a nasty PFS from KENOH, handing the invaders the win!
KONGOH def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (19:57)
Redeeming WK16, KENOH offers the angriest of satisfied smiles, the group cackling as they gesture belts around their waists, warning that their business isn’t yet over. LIJ left behind, there’s a sour mood in the air from the loss, though when Shingo offers a fist in apology, PAC, taking a look at a nodding Naito, ultimately returns one, showing that despite popular belief, LIJ’s still fine.
Splitting off for Shingo and co. to gear up for KONGOH’s second wave whilst Naito and PAC are scheduled for AEW’s ALL IN supershow, this time taking place in Tetsuya’s home of the Tokyo Dome, both men are set for defences on the show. In PAC’s case, it’s a rematch against J6G’s SANADA, the Bastard adamant to gain Naito’s favour by beating the traitor. As for Naito, he has Jay on his tail!
Until the recent G1, White refused to show his face on any sort of NJPW programming (including Forbidden Door) since being embarrassed at Okada’s hands and having his faction torn to shreds. Leaving Japan to join AEW, no longer having connections to hide behind nor help him, he was forced to be the lone wolf for once, becoming even more merciless, knowing he’s all he has. After spreading chaos abroad, most recently coming up short in the AEW World Championship picture, trauma from his Okada loss clinging onto him anytime the stakes are raised too high again, he decided it was time to return to his roots to clear his head and eliminate any shred of weakness left in his body so that he can claim the top prize again, and there’s no better place to do so than the building his title was taken from him – the Tokyo Dome.
The last time he faced Naito in the Tokyo Dome, he had Gedo by his side, yet still lost. Now though, he declares if he’s to have this match, he wants a compensatory factor. A means of looking out for himself, like Naito has LIJ. He’s already beaten Tetsuya thrice in singles competition, knowing he’s the better wrestler, so this time… HE WANTS A LADDER MATCH!!! Japan’s become more and more geared to the Western market, the culture shifting from traditions, so unless he’s a snob like Okada, he'll embrace the new vision and accept the challenge. Jay using the perfect words to get under Tetsuya’s skin, he accepts, looking to tear down the foundations of the Rainmaker’s regime with his reign, starting with this!
RevProxNJPW 12th Anniversary Show (August 24, 2024)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & PAC) vs The Knight Dynasty (Ricky Knight Jr. & Zak Knight)
The night before ALL IN features a special RevPro crossover event with their partners, NJPW, the 12th Anniversary being celebrated in Japan. Naturally, Naito tags with the most RevPro familiar member of LIJ, PAC, the two champions battling the celebrated Knight Dynasty, who are considered the present and future of the promotion! What begins as a fun exhibition sees more of the differences between PAC and Naito come to light, the hot-headedness of the Bastard and the collectedness of El Ingobernable wanting different things out of the match, yet still managing to remain reasonably on the same page. A close call on a 619 from Ricky sees Naito shove PAC out the way in the nick of time, absorbing the blow himself, though without acknowledging it, PAC springs to action, a Black Arrow on Zak scoring the victory!
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. The Knight Dynasty (13:10)
As the referee approaches LIJ with their titles, PAC’s quick to receive both, Naito only recovering just in time to find the Bastard lingering for a moment as he looks between the pieces of gold, before finally handing Tetsuya’s over him and walking off, leaving the leader confused yet unconcerned.
ALL IN Tokyo (August 25, 2024)
Also on the show:
PAC (c) vs SANADA - IWGP United States Championship
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs Golden Lovers - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs Jay White V - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship - Ladder
Stepping into the mastermind of the Switchblade, White baits Naito to play his game, the long-time rivals settling their score over a belt they both have history with. With no Gedo around, Jay’s focus is to demolish Naito’s already tattered knees with the ladder like he did to cost Tetsuya the G1, slowing down each climbing attempt bit by bit. Given the two’s creativity, it’s a sick warfare of increasingly dangerous spots, Naito taking Jay with him to neck bump city, White cruelly massacring Tetsuya’s body with reckless abandon.
White’s notably more in his element here, letting the Tokyo Dome atmosphere heal him whilst hurting Naito. A HANGING BLADE RUNNER cuts a Stardust Press attempt short, the magic only lasting once, but a ladder bridge CANADIAN DESTROYER buys Naito some momentum back! Ultimately, a war atop the ladder sees Naito boot Jay off, allowing him to unhook the gold to retain!
Tetsuya Naito (c) def. Jay White V to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (25:30)
Though Naito walks out with his belt, PAC doesn’t, making the Bastard’s issues all the more prominent, taking more frequent looks over at Tetsuya’s gold, which begs the question – was there more to PAC joining LIJ than originally thought? Still, he wishes Naito good luck for Wrestle Grand Slam, telling him he wants to see the belt on him when they go England. But for now, the end of his trilogy against KENOH awaits!
Wrestle Grand Slam (September 8, 2024)
Also on the show:
Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs KUSHIDA - NJPW World Television Championship
El Desperado (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata - NEVER Openweight Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Titan) (c) vs KONGOH (Manabu Soya, Masakatsu Funaki, Shuji Kondo) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs KENOH III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
For over two years, the rivalry between LIJ and KONGOH has slowly simmered to this boiling point, coming down to the leaders now to settle their 1-1 score over NJPW’s top title! With the 6-Man Titles changing hands earlier in the night, Naito must put his 200% into assuring the same doesn’t occur here, or it’ll be disaster on New Japan’s waterfront.
As two men that could not be more opposite collide, it’s an intense war over the company’s possession, everyone from fans to wrestlers on the edge of their seats as the last of the NOAH invaders try to leave their mark. KENOH shows nothing but hatred towards Naito for ruining his past chances, whilst Tetsuya savours his every moment in the Sun, having slaved away to hold this belt. A PFS almost does Naito in, whilst the DESTINO does the same for KENOH! Ragdolling the older star with Dragon Suplexes, KENOH sets up for the ENRIN… BUT IN HIS STARDUST PRESS MOMENT, HE MISSES!!! DESTINOOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!! New Japan remains safe in the hands of Naito!
Tetsuya Naito (c) def. KENOH to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (28:33)
Offering a handshake to KENOH out of respect for their series… the Rogue Fist declines it, though from the look in his fiery eyes, an inkling of acknowledgement is there for Tetsuya. Telling Naito to keep the belt warm for him, he declares he’ll be back sometime again, and when that happens, he’s going to usurp Naito once and for all!
And as they leave with their 50/50 successes, it’s back to LIJ to end the show on their usual note… except, PAC interrupts the tradition. He’s confused, no, he’s incredulous. What are they celebrating here? Failure? Or are they calling it ‘survival’? Is no one going to point out the elephant in the room? Just two months ago they were on top of the world, all draped in gold, but now they’re left with just Naito and the Lucha Bros’s gold. And yet, they’re celebrating? He’s been out here losing sleep over his missing US Title!
If they wish to continue to be taken seriously, they need to act the part. Luckily… he has a solution. They say iron sharpens iron, so rather than fighting these large-scale wars outside their stable… why not have a ‘friendly’ within? Naito has the title and an incredible row of suitors before him, so he should pick one to defend against! Tetsuya seems perturbed by the idea knowing what almost happened the last time LIJ fought within, but as PAC insists, even pointing out how he’s the only one with a clean record over Naito… Tetsuya turns to him and raises the title! If such claims are going to be made, they need to be backed up too! Challenging PAC with his title on the line, a grinning Bastard accepts, bumping his fist!
Burning Spirit - Night Seven (September 25, 2024)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi) vs Death Triangle (PAC & The Lucha Brothers)
Slyly manoeuvring his way into the title rematch he’s desired ever since getting a taste of the gold against Shingo last year, this is more so PAC’s chance to prove himself over the statement he’s seeming to be making. Nonetheless, with various combinations of LIJ facing Death Triangle over the Burning Spirit tour, they supposedly rely on each other to improve their own skill, these 6 especially drawing the very best out of each other. Working more seamlessly with DT than he had LIJ as of late, the freakish chemistry between the AEW lads has a Fear FactoDouble Stomp/Black Arrow combo end Hiromu, PAC grinning as he stares down Naito, the challenge growing closer by day…
Death Triangle def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (18:24)
Giving a brief interview heading into the match at Royal Quest, Naito states that he can’t be certain on what PAC’s intentions are, but all he knows is that no matter what, LIJ sticks together. If this match is what PAC needs for his peace of mind, then it’s all his. All he can hope is the Bastard has the same idea of family in mind.
Royal Quest IV - Night Two (October 6, 2024)
Also on the show:
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Kazuchika Okada - G1 Climax Briefcase
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs PAC II - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
The relationship between LIJ and PAC has developed into one of the more intriguing dynamics this year, raising a multitude of questions, but now, the true light of it all will be revealed. Whether it’s friendly fire or another coup, Naito’s ready for whatever PAC may happen to have up his sleeve, whilst the Bastard lets his actions do the talking. For once, it’s an utterly no-nonsense showdown between Los members, Tetsuya taking the threat of PAC very seriously, the Jordie clearly driven to make the grand prize his. And as the match rolls on, Naito starts to see parts of himself in PAC with each cheer or cry from his home crowd.
Just like Naito, he’s the incredibly-talented misfit who was overlooked, but unlike a young Naito, PAC doesn’t realise he has the world on his side already despite his quirks. Whilst Naito had to suffer through his changes, PAC’s a made man, and with each near-fall, the crowd see it too, becoming more and more invested in him! On the cusp of his crowning moment, PAC shows no hesitation unlike the Stardust Press, NAILING THE BLACK ARROW!!! ONE! TWO! THR-BUT NAITO KICKS OUT!!! PAC may have ‘it’, but Naito’s operating on an entirely different level as World Champion, and no matter what PAC may have thrown at him, it’s not his moment just yet. DESTINOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Tetsuya Naito (c) def. PAC to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (30:11)
Maybe a different day. Both men propped in opposite corners of the ring, they suck deep for breaths, PAC only taking his eyes off Naito when he spots the title bring brought over to him. That should’ve been his. He should’ve been champion right now, but… he starts tuning in the crowd again. A standing ovation for the hometown boy. Though he may not hold the title right now, he’s still a champion in their eyes… Solace. Always overlooked, all he needed was approval. And now more than ever, he feels he has it. Noticing PAC’s realisation, Naito grins and nods to him, the two bumping fists together, no sour ending on this one.
At least, not between LIJ… OKADA’S HERE!!! After shockingly beating Ospreay for his G1 briefcase earlier in the night, the Rainmaker has his sights on the Tokyo Dome main event, and if things are to be believed, it may be Naito defending against Kazuchika on the grand stage! The long-time WK rivals locking eyes, there’s a different atmosphere between the Ace and the Dark Ace now. No longer does Okada look upon Naito condescendingly, but with disgust. Though he failed to beat Shingo earlier in the night, Kazuchika’s been vocal all year about the damage he feels LIJ have caused the company.
Where he did everything to purify the promotion with his reign, beating away outsiders, Naito did the exact opposite, bringing them further into their ranks and breaking tradition with a ladder match. With this briefcase in his hand though, he has the power to change that… but so does he. OSPREAY JOINS IN!!! The man who lost his case earlier in front of his own family, he can’t even look the smug Okada in the eyes. Rather, turning to Naito, he declares his desire to return to WK’s main event to not be over just yet! Against better judgement, he gave Shingo a shot at this title last year and it cost him everything. All he asks is Naito returns the favour! Smirking, Tetsuya tells him ‘earn it’, WK’s main event scene growing all the more interesting!
Battle Autumn - Night Five (October 15, 2024)
Elimination: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Death Triangle) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Aussie Open)
Desperation drives a man to his darkest pits, and Ospreay is very much there. Banding his troops together one year on since the last LIJ/UE tag of this magnitude, the ante’s upped even higher now, needing to survive an elimination match to receive the match of his desires. Both stables going to war here, all their integrated rivalries of the past years come to a head, the one between Ospreay and Naito lying at the centre of it all. UE get a tough break to start with when Great-O-Khan hits the deck early, Mark Davis following, though a comeback removes the Lucha Bros from the equation!
Cobb goes next, before Ospreay takes out PAC, a double countout subsequently removing the leaders from the equation! Boiling down to Shingo and Kyle, the Aussie Arrow pulls out the underdog performance of his life, channelling all of Ospreay’s moves before a GRIMSTONE ELIMINATES SHINGO! OSPREAY’S HEADED TO KOPW!!! Raising Fletcher onto their shoulders, it’s a grand celebration from UE, Will receiving one last lease on life! As for Naito, he can only stand and wait, a final challenge paved in his path to the Dome.
United Empire def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (25:33)
King of Pro-Wrestling (October 27, 2024)
Also on the show:
KUSHIDA (c) vs Taiji Ishimori - NJPW World Television Championship
Sabre-Gun (Blake Christian & Clark Connors) (c) vs Catch 22 - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata - G1 Climax Briefcase
Tetsuya Naito (c) vs Will Ospreay IV - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
One year ago, Ospreay’s overzealousness cost him the chance to main event Wrestle Kingdom with the World Title, but now, as it all comes full circle, it’s official, the winner of this match defending against Okada! With that in mind, both men are equally ravenous to make the grand opportunity theirs! Their fourth match together, it’s rife with callbacks, Naito especially making sure to remind Will of the way he beat him in last year’s A Block Finals to get in his head.
To Tetsuya’s surprise though, this matured Ospreay is impervious to his strategies! No matter what the champion throws, the challenger always has an answer, their see-saw saga featuring plenty of nail-biting near-falls that could send either man through, but it’s a TRIAD OF HIDDEN BLADES that ultimately calls it, Ospreay finally reclaiming his throne, a date with destiny set in stone!
Will Ospreay def. Tetsuya Naito (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (35:38)
Before WK though, Power Struggle is on the calendar! Featuring the likes of Death Triangle dethroning KONGOH for the NEVER belts for PAC to fully find his place in LIJ, Ren Narita dethroning Katsuyori Shibata for the NEVER Openweight Title, and Shingo Takagi taking the US Title from SANADA, it also sees Ospreay team with Catch 22 against Okada and the two men who ended Francesco Akira and TJP’s legendary reign, SHO & Taiji Ishimori, with UE scoring the vengeful win! And on the final Road To Tokyo Dome special, Ospreay finds a surprising ally in Shibata against Okada and Tanahashi in a HUGE blockbuster tag, CHAOS getting their win back here as Shibata keeps chasing down a rematch with Tana!
Wrestle Kingdom 19 (January 4, 2025)
Also on the show:
Sabre-Gun (Blake Christian & Clark Connors) (c) vs Li-YOH - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan) (c) vs CHAOS (Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
SHO (c) vs Francesco Akira - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Ren Narita (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii - NEVER Openweight Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - IWGP United States Championship
Minoru Suzuki vs Taichi - Retirement
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Katsuyori Shibata
Will Ospreay (c) vs Kazuchika Okada XII - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Finally, this is what it’s all led to. A story set in motion from the very first moment Ospreay set foot in NJPW under Okada’s guidance in CHAOS 9 years ago. Fighting through loss after loss after loss, he finally achieved his clean win over Okada last year to reclaim his World Championship, but now, he must accomplish an even greater task – beat the Final Boss in the Tokyo Dome itself! Failing on both occasions against Okada on NJPW’s biggest stage akin to Okada’s own chase of Tanahashi, it’s his Wrestle Kingdom 10 moment now as he walks into the Dome as the reigning champion, with the Ace as the challenger! Win and he’s immortalised in history. Lose and Okada resets the company’s entire trajectory. High stakes weighing on Will’s shoulders, it’s time to elevate under pressure!
Entering with WK level entrances to boot, Okada dripping sheer gold, and Ospreay with an entire kingdom of suited individuals accompanying him, they get underway as the bell sounds! And for the first time, it’s Ospreay controlling the opening sequence with the Tanahashi-style headlock! Big brothering Okada, he doesn’t let the Rainmaker out the gates in his own ballpark for a few minutes straight… BEFORE WILL EXPLODES FOR A HANDSPRING ENZUIGIRI!
Okada dodges, going for a GERMAN, but Will flips through, nailing the HOOK KICK, an OSCUTTER coming up empty, Kazu swinging for a ducked RAINMAKER, and it’s a stalemate! Trading forearms, a Lariat dumps Okada out, Ospreay running Kazu’s routine of the guardrail whip and Big Boot, a RUNNING CROSSBODY EATING A DROPKICK! Nailing a TOMBSTONE on the floor, Okada sets up a table at ringside before rolling Ospreay in, the MISSILE DROPKICK and AIR-RAID CRASH NECKBREAKER harping on the neck! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!
Wrenching the MONEY CLIP, it doesn’t get him far, a BRAINBUSTER catching Okada by surprise! SHOOTING STAR PRESS! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE! A PIP PIP CHEERIO eats a BEAUTIFUL DROPKICK, before Okada whips Ospreay at the corner, only for Will to pop him up onto the turnbuckles, slamming Kawada Kicks into his face! CHEEKY NANDOS! Ospreay tries for a LIGER BOMB through the outside table, but Okada drops to the apron! Will charges for a Yakuza Kick, but a LANDSLIDE BLOCKS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OSPREAY STAYS IN!!!
Hammering the neck, Okada lunges for a RAINMAKER, though a SNAP CUTTER blocks! ROBINSON SPECIAL! Will winds up the CHELSEA GRIN, but it receives a slap and a JOHN WOO DROPKICK! A pair of Short-Arm Rainmakers ricochet off Ospreay, but a Rainmaker is feigned for a DDT! DIVING ELBOW DROP!!! ONE! TWO! THR-WILL KICKS OUT AGAIN!!! A TOMBSTONE is countered by knees, Ospreay whipping Okada at the ropes, Kazu countering a BACK BODY DROP OVER THE ROPES!!!
Will narrowly missing the table, Okada follows with a TOPE CON HILO… BUT OSPREAY MOVES OUT THE WAY, THE RAINMAKER EXPLODING THROUGH THE WOOD!!! Shoving Okada’s lifeless body inside, Ospreay sets up a HIDDEN BLADE!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!! A STORM BREAKER is blocked, Okada nailing a sick CORNER GERMAN! Dropkick rocks Will, before the TOMBSTONE connects! RAINMAKER’s dodged, Ospreay rebounding into an OSCUTTER- DROPKICK!!! AND A RAINMAKERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Okada keeps the wrist, going for seconds… OSPREAY NAILS A RAINMAKER OF HIS OWN!!! Wrist still held, Will nails close-range elbows to the neck, before winding up another HIDDEN BLADE- HEAVY RAIN!!! OKADA NAILS HIS OWN HIDDEN BLADE!!! Teasing the STORM BREAKER, Ospreay spins out, dumping Kazu with a LANDSLIDE!!! AND A HIDDEN BLADE… Okada collapses! As Will tries picking him up, a DROPKICK awaits! ANOTHER DROPKICK! AZTEC SUPLEX – A LA ULTIMO DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!!
Okada decks Ospreay with a RAINMAKER, but Will doesn’t go down fully, Kazu nailing a SECOND! Going for the Ripcord this time… RAINHAM MAKER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OKADA KICKS OUT!!! ESSEX DESTROYER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ANOTHER KICK OUT!!! Cracking a HIDDEN BLADE off Okada’s nose, an OSCUTTER follows, before he floats into a STORM BREAKER- FALLING RAINMAKERRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Okada smelling blood, he tries for another, AND A HIDDEN BLADE CONNECTS AT THE SAME TIME!!! Keeping hold, the two knock each other loopy with one free arm… OSCUTTER’S CAUGHT WITH A TOMBSTONE!!! Okada picks him back up, going for a SPINNING TOMBSTONE- OSPREAY REVERSES INTO A SPIKE PILEDRIVER!!! Ripcord… HIDDEN BLADE!!! AND A STORM BREAKER!!! Hoisting him up for one more… A SECOND STORM BREAKERRRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Will Ospreay (c) def. Kazuchika Okada to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (40:51)
HE’S DONE IT! OSPREAY’S FINALLY SURPASSED THE ACE ON HIS OWN STAGE! No longer is Okada himself anymore, but rather the Tanahashi to Ospreay’s Okada, the cycle continuing. And like his counterpart 9 years ago, Kazu leaves as empty-handed as he walked in for the first time in a decade, the times officially changing! And as sunlight washes over the Land of the Rising Sun, a new dawn is revealed. The dawn of the Ospreay Era.
Epilogue
Heading into 2025, NJPW is rife with changes, seeing more of the once Young Lion names step up as the likes of Tanahashi and Naito begin to slow down. CHAOS features a massive shakeup the following night as Shinsuke Nakamura returns, kickstarting his road to retirement, having been vocal in his interest of facing Tanahashi, proceeding to feud with Okada over his failures. As for Ospreay, his reign runs until Sakura Genesis, where one NJC Winner Katsuyori Shibata finally dethrones him 8 years on from his loss to Okada, though Will’s time with the title is far from over yet, remaining an integral part of the picture alongside ZSJ, Shingo, and more.
2023.05.26 17:42 ChristianWallis I’m a teacher, and my whole class shares an imaginary friend
It’d be wrong to say I don’t like kids. It’s adults I have more of a problem with. In my last school when I called one of the ten year old boys in my class a little bastard, he wasn’t the problem. His parents were the ones who insisted I get fired. But that boy didn’t mind me swearing at him because he knew damn well he’d keyed my car, even if I had no proof. He just thought it was funny, no different to the sort of interaction he’d have with an older sibling. On that note I wouldn’t say I like children either. Kids are little adults. They’re more truthful but only because the stakes are lower. People with jobs and mortgages tell great big tremendous lies. Kids don’t have the weight of the world on their shoulders so why lie about mistresses and promotions and why you’ve been crushing up antibiotics into your wife’s morning smoothie. Instead they just lie about where their homework is.
Kids I teach are right on the cusp of it. Some of the boys might get caught sniggering at the back while showing each other naughty little videos they don’t understand but can’t look away from, but then they go out and chase each other around. Do cartwheels. Play tag. Hide and seek. Cry if they take a particularly bad knock. Kids are weird. Got one whose dad’s in jail and he talks about it like it means nothing. His old man tried to kick a woman to death in the parking lot of a bar and won’t be out until the boy’s a teenager. Kid don’t care. Doesn’t get it. If anything he thinks it’s funny. But then last week I confiscated his novelty pencil that was the size of a cucumber and he screamed so hard he threw up all over the speckled tiles that have been glued to this floor since ‘96.
Ten is a weird age. Old enough to feel the vaguest hint of life’s problems just beneath the surface like lumps in a pillow, to question why Mommy downs three bottles of wine on a Tuesday, or why Daddy changes his shirt and hides it in the garage before coming in from work, but too young to know what’s really under the surface. These kids can feel something is wrong with the world. They just don’t know what. Not yet, anyway. They have my sympathy. Twenty-six years teaching has eroded most of everything else. I’m not particularly invested in whether these little shits become scientists or janitors. Nor am I particularly interested in helping them process their emotional luggage. If any of you want me to undo the damage you’ve done to your own kids, then you can start by paying me a hell of a lot more. But I do feel sorry for them because they don’t really know what’s going on, but unlike a five year old they can’t just fumble around in blind ignorance. They’re stuck in between worlds, one where you cry yourself to sleep at night over your parent’s divorce but still think Santa and the tooth fairy are real.
Maybe it’s different at a rich school, one where kids don’t go to food banks or where whole families don’t have to share a smartphone. I doubt it. Don’t know why. I just doubt anyone’s out there living the plot of the Berenstain bears, rich or otherwise. I used to dream of teaching at one of the big schools a couple towns over, the ones with all the funding. Oh that’d be nice. Walking into a building that doesn’t look like set dressing for the next season of True Detective. Now I just dream of getting out of this profession entirely.
Maybe if I play my cards right.
Sounds crazy to say it out loud, so I won’t. But maybe I found a way out. Well, to be exact the kids found it. Don’t know what they got. Course they fucking don’t. They’re kids. They haven’t got a clue. But I think I’m maybe thirteen weeks from another go and when that happens, you can bet your ass I’m asking for a ticket outta here. At first I planned on getting a cushy job in one of the schools a few towns over. One where the schoolbus doesn’t have to plan its route around multiple trailer parks. Now I realise I was thinking small. If I’m smart, I won’t ever have to work another day in my life.
Imagine that?
Thirteen more weeks.
Right now Grenwig is with Layla. Sweet girl but she’s smart enough for it to be a problem. The dumb ones fair the best. You wake up to something grinning at your bedroom window, it helps to have the sorta mind that doesn’t ask questions about what floor you’re living on. Layla isn’t winning a genius grant anytime soon, but I can tell it’s bothering her because deep down she knows how wrong this all is. Dark circles under the eyes. Pallid skin. Eyes that keep darting to dark corners. Sometimes she falls asleep at her desk. Sometimes she wakes up with a little jump, like something only she can see has startled her. It’s hard. Only reason she sticks it out is the same reason you or I would.
The rewards.
She got a smartphone last time. I wonder what it’ll be this time. These kids don’t ask for a lot. Toys, mainly. One of them got crazy good at football crazy quick. That makes sense. But it’s that kinda thing, you know? They don’t ask after the lottery or nothing like that because money’s a little too abstract right now. Strange thing though, as young and naive as they are they learned the rules pretty quickly. I guess Grenwig’s lessons aren’t subtle. Just look at one of my former students, Jared. Now at the time all this flew under my radar. Kid in my class lost a parent, moved away. So what? Happens. Turns out he asked for his father to get sober. Next day the poor guy got caught in the machinery at his job. CCTV footage was very popular on LiveLeaks. Makes for grim viewing. I’m not particularly handy so I never knew a lathe could do that to a human body.
Anyway, it’s not good to ask after other people. I wish my dad was this. I wish mom was that. Ooph. Alia told me that up front around the time I started asking why half the kids in my class had new iPhones and Nintendo Switches. She said it was easy to ask for things, but it was riskier to ask to change something into another thing, and downright awful to ask it to change a person in any way, no matter how small. Even that kid who got good at football played a risky game. It paid off but the other kids wouldn’t go near him for a week. They kept expecting something bad to happen to him and they didn’t want to be in the splash zone. I can’t pretend to understand the subtleties. Like the kids, I can only observe what happens to other people and learn the lessons that imparts.
Nothing about Grenwig is guaranteed. There are no certainties. Even the kids get worn down by it. Whoever has it, they’re a pariah. Risk assessment in under-elevens. Strange thing to see. But unless it’s your turn, you don’t even want to risk something as inane as a game of catch with his chosen friend. Grenwig is territorial. Possessive. Bizarre. Didn’t even believe in it until it was somehow my turn, which the kids found pretty alarming. Grenwig doesn’t like adults.
I thought it was a ghost at first. Lights coming on and off. Footsteps in the corridor outside my apartment. Pretty creepy, sharing my home with something I couldn’t see. I didn’t like it but it had only been a couple of nights and I did a good job of convincing myself there was no ghost or poltergeist. Just an overactive imagination. Yeah sure the tv channel changed and there were finger marks on my bathroom window I hadn’t put there. So what? Way at the back of my mind I’d reserved a little bit of space for the possibility of a haunting, but otherwise I remained a sceptic. Jesus, if only it was as simple as a haunting.
I don’t know if I could explain to you how it felt that first time I woke to Grenwig gently stroking my toes. Jesus. The violation of it. The feeling of a world that didn’t make sense. My eyes glared at his fingers, terrified, heart pounding, head throbbing like I’d taken a knock, and I kept waiting for it to make sense. My eyes wandered, tried to find the hands those fingers belonged to, but they just kept going. And going. And going. They stretched for metres until they disappeared into the shadow of my closet. Whole time they kept massaging the big toes. Cold as ice. I started counting the knuckles. Got to thirteen and gave up. But they were fingers. I could tell from the nails. The hair that ran along dimpled skin the colour of cement. And then just as I started to really appreciate that I was awake, 100% stone cold sober and lucid, and what I was seeing wasn’t a dream or a nightmare or some other fucking conjuration of the mind, just as I felt panic begin to flare up inside my chest like a burgeoning heart attack, those impossible long fingers withdrew into the darkness like a spider curling its legs.
I got up and threw on the lights but found my closet empty. Felt like the world was coming apart. Had to be a night terror, I decided. Hadn’t had one for decades but what else could it be? I wanted to go back to sleep, to at least try, but I was so scared I couldn’t face the dark again so I decided to stay up. Went out into the living room and turned the tv on, plopped down onto the sofa, and let my head tilt back. I might’ve drifted off again. I don’t know for sure. All I remember was the feeling as the cushion beneath me adjusted and I heard it. The sound of something tightening, like a creaking door.
I looked down and saw white bands wrapped around the entirety of the sofa. Fingers. They tightened, and the material let out a groan as the tension went up a notch. I flew upwards in a terrible panic. By the time I turned back the fingers were gone, but the indent they’d left in the sofa remained.
This repeated itself all night. Each time I felt close to drifting off, those impossibly long fingers would reach out of the darkness somewhere and make an appearance. They knocked glasses off countertops. Opened the fridge. Turned on the oven. And, whenever possible, they touched me. Stroked an ear. Tickled my nose. Slid between my fingers and tried to hold my hand. I tried to play chicken with it at one point. I stayed stock still as a greasy finger plucked at my lips and tried to find its way into my mouth, but before it met any success I flipped out and ran shrieking into the corridor outside my apartment.
Panting in the hallway, I told myself I’d never step foot in that apartment, but there was something about the way all my neighbours came to their doors one-by-one and just stared at me in my underwear and sweat-stained vest. I felt like a fucking idiot and before I knew it, I was offering muddled apologies while slinking through my front door.
By the time I got to school the next day, I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. I genuinely suspected my day was going to end with me being carted off in a straight jacket. Last people I expected to find any understanding from were my students, but when I came in looking like a sleep-deprived drunk they all stared at me in silence. And this wasn’t the slackjawed idiocy I’m sometimes used to with these kids, like that time I told them I used to have a wife. This was something else. Took me a second to decipher it. Not the sort of expression I’m used to from kids in that age group, what with half of them being miniature psychopaths.
It was sympathy. They felt sorry for me. But when I took a step forward, every single one of them scooted their chairs backward.
Just like that it clicked. I’d spent the last year watching them take turns ostracising one another and I’d written it off as just a peculiar product of childhood social dynamics. It felt cruel, and I’d tried over and over to mitigate it. To sit with the excluded kids and talk with them, try to figure it all out. But it was an enigma, all of it. If it wasn’t for the fact that this fucked up system seemed to operate on some kind of rota, I would have been forced to intervene. But as it was, the kid who was targeted would always be back with the crowd a week later, and they’d be the ones excluding someone else. But now all of that made sense. The way they were looking at me. Pity. Recognition. They knew what I’d spent the night going through, and for the last year they’d gone through it themselves one-by-one.
“You should play with Grenwig, sir,” one of the quieter girls piped up looking wide-eyed like a hostage at gunpoint, and all the other kids nodded.
“Yeah he wants to play.”
“You need to play with him.”
“He gets real impatient.”
A chorus of whispered uh huhs.
“Grenwig?” I muttered. One word. Is that what it’s called? I wondered, and all the kids nodded like they could read my mind.
There are no records of Grenwig anywhere, by the way. Good God I tried a thousand times over to find something, anything. The best I could think of was that Grenwig was a kinda boogeyman, but what does that even mean? Just a word I used to give the world a little more shape. A little more structure. I’m not sure Grenwig has much of either. The games he plays are like what a toddler or a young dog would be interested in. Basic stuff. No rules. I move something. Grenwig moves it back. Hours lost tracing the spiral of my hair, or pulling at my cheeks and face to create strange new expressions, or flicking the lights on and off. During that week I took to eating lunch in my car, largely because it was hard to be around people who couldn’t see why a glass went flying at the wall, or why I had to keep stacking plates until they were so tall they toppled over.
At least the kids gave me a head’s up. Most important warning I ever got in my life. Every kid had their own observations, some more reliable than others. Most of them boiled down to the simple fact that for seven days you belonged to Grenwig. You were a toy. A source of endless amusement for something that had the sense of humour of a three year old. Pretty much every kid agreed on one concrete thing though.
Saying no to Grenwig was dangerous.
Now I can’t say for sure but I’m positive Grenwig gave the kids more leeway. He left them alone for lunch and dinner. Bedtime games were usually quieter. But for me it was almost like part of the game was watching me go about my adult life as he did everything to fuck with me. He’d snatch at my steering wheel, giggling from the dark footwell, yellow eyes peering up from between my legs. He’d grab my phone and throw it into the middle of traffic. Or sit there tickling my neck and armpits as the principal demanded to know why my class’s behaviour was so erratic. He made it difficult. Pushed me right up to breaking point.
Eventually I did snap. I slapped his hand away as he tried to mess with me during a traffic stop. Felt like screaming at him that he was this close to getting me shot, but of course I couldn’t. Just had to sit there as this cop looked over my licence and mulled giving me a sobriety test. Couldn’t blame him. I’d been swerving all over the road until I saw the flashing lights. Didn’t help when, as he approached my pulled-over car, he saw me slapping furiously at the steering wheel while hissing,
“Stop it!” over and over.
He inevitably issued the test which I passed. The cop gave me a long narrow-eyed stare before telling me to get some sleep. He must have figured I was just a stressed mental-case instead of a drunk. And he was right. It was day six and I’d barely slept. Despite all the grave warnings from the kids about the dangers of telling Grenwig off, I drove off hoping that maybe he would just let this one go. I went to school and taught lessons as usual, but Grenwig made no appearances. I asked the kids if his little rota ever found itself wrapping up a day early and they all shook their heads like they knew bad news was coming my way, but none of them wanted to say for sure. Still, it was my first time so I ignored the look in their eyes and tried my best to focus on the hope that maybe Grenwig was going to finally leave me alone.
A feeling that dissolved in its entirety when I opened my front door and found a package on the floor. A large box, about one foot cubed. It looked like old cardboard, like what happens when it gets soaked but left out to dry. Just dingy. Its sides had been stapled together too, and that gave it a real homemade look that went the extra creepy little mile. I expected something bad. I knew the second when I went to lift it and it was too heavy that something was wrong. It just felt… well it felt like lifting an overfull bucket from the bottom. And then there was the smell, and the noises that sounded like a distant transmission of a mewing child. Tinny, like the muffled cries of someone on the other side of a very thick wall.
When I finally opened it, I found the policeman inside, familiar because of the shield and name. He… well he’d been folded, I guess is the best way I can describe it. At first I thought it was just his uniform but, well, clothes aren’t warm and obviously a folded uniform wouldn’t explain the forearm hair and skin poking out the side. I recoiled, terrified. Fell backwards onto my ass and this was when Grenwig made an appearance. His arachnid fingers curled out of the box. I’d say about a dozen of them this time, but there are always more in the dark. Out of sight. And these did what I couldn’t have brought myself to do on my own.
They unfolded the policeman. Lifted him up like a tailor showing off a suit, and the flayed skin opened up to reveal the barely recognisable outline of an adult man.
He was still alive.
And the rest of him, I soon found out, was in my bathtub. And that half was also very much alive. Thrashing and sliding as it struggled to gain a grip on the smooth ceramics, begging for its other half. Words I don’t really think were a natural fit for the stern man who’d interrogated me just ten hours ago. But then again it wasn’t really the same man. Either way, he spoke of the darkness between atoms, the infinite space where time doesn’t exist, and the endless shapes that swim the murky abyss, fleeing their cruel god. More than that, he lamented no longer being whole. Feeling himself in two places at once. He called it wrong and on that he had my agreement.
I begged Grenwig to take it away. To undo what he had done.
And that was how I used my first favour. The box and the man disappeared, dragged off to some dark corner that was out of sight. And that was the last I saw of him, although a bit of research later on revealed that while Grenwig did indeed put him back together, the poor man has been catatonic in a hospital bed ever since.
Alive, but definitely not well.
Next day the kids asked me what I’d requested. I told them I asked for a new playstation. Didn’t tell them the truth, partly because it’d traumatise them, but partly because acknowledging it even happened would traumatise me. After that I crunched the numbers. I figured out the number of kids and how often the rota would fall on me. Based on this info I booked the week off work ahead of time and well, I just waited. I tried to support the kids as best I could when it was their turn, but they didn’t really have the same problems as me. I mean… it wasn’t a holiday for them either. Each one came to school looking like they’d spent the night watching their dog die over and over. Just distraught. Ruined. Exhausted. But like I said, Grenwig generally let them eat their food, or interact with their parents and siblings without demanding attention at the worst possible time.
Eventually round two came along. The kids seemed damned relieved. As for Grenwig’s games, this time I came prepared. I’d already noticed that Grenwig only ever emerged from the shadows, and the kids corroborated that fact. So in the run up to my turn I spent a few weeks setting my bathroom up with as many lamps and torches as I could find. Wasn’t easy to eliminate all those shadows. I had a lot of sleepless nights trialling different arrangements but eventually I got one as close to perfect as I could. I figured if I could have just one or two nights of sleep it’d be damned easier to deal with him.
An hour passed before my stomach started to ache. By the time I realised what Grenwig was doing I could already feel the urge to throw up. Guess I hadn’t given him much of a choice. He wanted to play and there was only one place in that room that was still dark. Wasn’t until I threw myself out into my living room and switched off all the lights that the pain eased up, but by then I was already close to suffocating on the finger sticking out of my throat. When it finally withdrew and I took my first breath in over a minute, I collapsed to the floor, unable to do much of anything except heave and sob.
Grenwig, yellow eyes glaring at me from the space beneath my sofa, giggled. In hindsight, I’m lucky he found it funny. I think he thought it was a game of sorts. God knows what would have happened if that little stunt had made him mad. Otherwise, that second round passed without incident. At least, I wasn’t at work. It was hell, but I didn’t have to worry about driving anywhere or being out in public waiting for those wretched hands to find me. I just stayed indoors and played his weird little games, which mainly just involved me cleaning up whatever stupid thing he’d decided to make a mess of. I found it helped if I played up my exasperation. The less I reacted to his mischief, the more likely he’d escalate.
When it was all over I asked for a winning lottery ticket. Unfortunately I didn’t specify the amount, which I supposed is my fault. At least the amount I won covered rent that month, even if my expectations were a little higher.
Still I figured it’d be better next time. I’d be more specific, I decided.
Best laid plans of mice and men…
You ever lost someone? Most people have. I have, for sure. More than once, too. It nearly unmade me and I was a fully grown man.
It was about a couple days before my turn that Alia experienced her first loss. Most kids it’s a hamster. If they’re unlucky, a grandparent. For her, it was her older brother. I’d taught him eleven years earlier and he was a good kid. Smart, like her. Went on to become a mechanic. His passing wasn’t anything strange or sinister. Just an accident. Jack popped off. Car crushed him. Random. Devastating. She was called out of a lesson by the principal and her parents, the three of them looking like hell. Like they’d spent a month one-on-one with Grenwig. A little reminder that not all nightmares hide in the dark, I suppose.
I don’t know why this hit me hard. I think it was probably my own experience with grief. Either way it stuck with me. Her absence, the empty chair and desk, felt hard to ignore day-after-day, knowing what she was going through. I think it’s one thing to accept that these kids’ll face circumstance. Poverty. Shit parents. Life isn’t fair. I don’t get a say in the way society says some kids get ponies and others get rickets. But there’s something about losing someone that way, just a random confluence of bad luck, that hits harder than most. I don’t know if I can explain it. It’s just Alia was already growing up at the bottom rung of our not-very-invisible class system. Hadn’t she had her fair share of bad luck already? I mean, fuck, even Grenwig grants favours! Even that wretched monster isn’t all bad. But an accident like what happened to Alia’s brother. There’s no upside. It’s just shit.
Thing is… like I said, my turn was coming up, and I mean, the way I saw it, the boy was already dead, right? Wasn’t like he could die getting wrapped three times around a lathe? Worst had already come to pass. I decided to do something that, even at the time, I figured to be pretty stupid. But if there was a chance it could work, well… I had to try.
Round three with Grenwig went real easy. I preemptively bought a bunch of jigsaws and left them half done. He honed in on them straight away. I did as much as I could in a single sitting, turned around, turned back and he’d muddled them all up. I’d play up my anger and irritation, then go back to it. Drank a lot of coffee and whiskey. Watched a lot of movies. Grenwig loved it. Broke a couple plates and mugs too. It wasn’t all plain sailing. Woke up one night to find him licking my neck and had to rush to the hospital to get the chemical burn treated. Still, for the most part the week went by without much incident because, well, I had something in mind. Couldn’t get it out. This idea, I had to act on it. And the promise of what it would mean if it worked meant I practically skated through that week with a smile on my face.
At least I had the sense to specify that the boy return to me. Not Alia. I thought if anything went wrong, it’d be best if she didn’t have to see it.
It was four in the morning when I was awoken by a sound that had slipped into my dreams as a kind of creaking door. But as I opened my eyes and reality reasserted itself I realised that what I was actually hearing was a little more like gravel being trod on. Strange. Distant. Quiet. I held my breath, if only so that I could hear better, but it seemed to only amp up the sound of blood rushing through my ears. White noise. It’s so hard to perceive what’s there sometimes, isn’t it? All I wanted was for my ears or eyes to report something useful to me without having to get out of the safety of my own bed. Instead all I got were dim shadows and the sea-like susurrations of my own breathing.
At least I could ascertain I wasn’t alone in my apartment. Over time, the longer I waited, the more sure of that I became. Something was out there, in the corridor between my bedroom and living room at a guess, moving with the kind of irregular rhythm that belongs only to living things. This wasn’t the wind or some pipe settling. Something was moving, and it was moving in my direction. Low to the ground. A noise I couldn’t put any shape to. Wrong. All wrong. Made me think of breaking pencils. Grinding teeth. In the end I couldn’t help myself. I got up and called out. Who’s there? The words didn’t feel real to me. The world took on the realer-than-real distortion that comes with terror, coupled with a prickling white heat at the nape of the neck. For a moment I swore I was outside my own body staring down at myself from above. It was too much. But that sound was clearer than ever before. There was no pretending this ghost wasn’t real.
I turned on the light.
Alia’s brother screamed and crawled away from the light, neglected whimpers left behind like a trail that led me to the living room where I found him curled around a table leg. He was alive but not whole. Guess I hadn’t given much thought to what a car would do to a man’s chest. Every breath was a strange orchestra. Too many sounds to disentangle. Bone on bone. Crumpled ribs expanding, or at least trying to, and drawing oxygen into blood filled lungs. Moss had grown across his face, even in the short time he’d been in the ground.
A hand, ice cold, shot out and grabbed my wrist and I cried out, but he didn’t let go. He followed as I tried to push myself away, his bottom half trailing along, limp and misaligned with his torso. Felt like pulling a sack of meat across an ice rink.
“Don’t send me back,” he whimpered. “Don’t send me back.”
Eventually my foot hit the sofa and I fell onto it. He dragged himself using his hands over to the side so that we were face-to-face before I even had time to push myself upright.
“He likes you,” he whispered and I recoiled at the smell of his breath. “There are so few things in the dark that know how to leave. But he does. Don’t… don’t ask him to send me back. Please?”
For the first time my mind started working. Was he talking about Grenwig? I wondered. But of course, I told myself, who else?
“What… what’s over there?” I asked.
He went to answer before the words choked in his mouth and his face twisted into a mask of melancholic agony. Trying to utter something, he burst into painful sobs.
“Don’t make me go back,” was all he could manage to say. “Don’t make me go back! Don’t make me go back! Please please please don’t send me back there you don’t know what they do to us!”
“I don’t… I don’t know what to do,” I stammered.
The boy grabbed me and pulled me close. Unsure of how to comfort him, I let him hold me in an embrace.
“We aren’t the same when it’s done with us.”
“What?”
I never saw him take the knife from the kitchen, but I suppose he’d been in my home for longer than I’d been awake, and he had plenty of opportunity. First thing I felt, which surprised me even in the moment, was that it suddenly became hard to breathe. That was the punctured lung. Felt like the worst pneumonia I’d ever had came over me in the space of five seconds. Just boom, suffocating on your own blood. So much that it spilled over my lips and down my chin. By the time I registered the aching waves of dull agony pulsing out of the spot on my rib cage, I was already slumping back down onto the sofa, sitting there like I was getting ready for a friday night move.
Not that I was helpless. I took maybe two seconds, tops, to accept what had happened. To understand it, and then I was able to drive my heel into his head as he tried climbing up onto me. Weirdly his broken back helped him. He sort of just bent with the blow, but it didn’t actually dislodge him. I had to kick him again to do that. And then I had to stand up and do it again and again, and I think around the fourth or fifth kick I realised I had something of a problem.
The pain didn’t really bother him.
Not when I kicked him in his pulped chest. Not when I stamped on his hand as he tried to push himself back up for the tenth time. Not even when I rolled him over and stamped on his head, struggling to aim my foot through the tears in my eyes. Even after I’d immobilised him, even after I fumbled around and found an old bike helmet, and clubbed his skull until my arm grew sore, he didn’t cry out in pain. He just kept trying to get back up.
“Fuck!” I screamed as seconds turned to minutes, which just kept ticking on. It felt like I was swinging for hours, but in truth I don’t know how long. Eventually I stopped for breath and frantically looked from one corner of the room to another, desperate for the first time in my life to see those horrible long fingers. “Take him!” I cried. “For God’s sake take him back!”
I suspect he’d been waiting and watching, because with very little delay Grenwig finally made his appearance.
Yellow eyes, clustered together like frog spawn, winked at me from a shadow under the table. They seemed self-satisfied, as they always did, but I didn’t care. The mutilated man who lay on the floor continued to bark with wet laughter, pawing at me with broken fingers. I was feeling faint, and my whole right side was burning hot and cold all at once as warm blood began to cool.
“Oh God,” I cried. “Just take him back.”
Grenwig’s hands wasted little time, and that man’s laughter grew only more hysterical as the fingers wrapped around his chest and legs and slowly towed him towards the dark. I felt a brief moment of relief as I hoped this would be the end of my mistake.
But then I felt his arms wrap around my legs.
Even broken, his strength was something special. Trapped in a bear hug, slowly being pulled towards that abyssal shadow, I began to panic. But it was far too little, and far too late. I went feet first. A feeling like nothing else I’d ever had. In the end I was clinging by the tips of my fingers to an impossible ledge. Above me was a sort of opening with no defined beginning or end, and on the other side lay my living room.
I looked down and, for the first time, saw Grenwig as a whole. In hindsight it had been a mistake to think of him as humanoid. I think I’d just decided the boogeyman should look like a man, but what floated in the strange aether beneath me was more akin to a jellyfish, or maybe a spider. I don’t know. It was dark in that void, and yet impossible clear. I could see things in there. More than just Grenwig. It defied dimensions as we understand it. It was both an ocean and a landscape. In the distance, leviathans swam through open space. I’m not even sure I was seeing based on light. When I blinked I still saw everything.
Grenwig found it all hilarious. He had a mouth, and it laughed maniacally as it peeled Alia’s brother from around my waist, leaving me free to kick and pull my way back into reality. As I slid onto the carpet of my living room, his laughter persisted.
As soon as I was out I crawled and rushed to the bathroom where I locked the door and passed out.
Grenwig’s next turn with me lasted two weeks which I think was because I made two requests. One for Alia’s brother to return from the dead, and the other for him to be taken away. Either way, I didn’t begrudge Grenwig’s games. But it did mean I didn’t get another request. I have to wait until next time. Meanwhile I’ve watched the children approach the end of the school year and I find myself wondering if they’ll age out of Grenwig or take him with them into the next teacher’s class. If he leaves them alone, will he terrorise the next lot of kids I teach?
Either way, I think Grenwig will let me double up again and that’s important because if so, I know what I’m going to do. Like I said before, I’m out of here. No more teaching. I’m cashing out. But I’ve decided, after what I did to Alia and her brother, that I can at least take Grenwig with me. He can become a permanent friend, leave the kids the hell alone. I don’t want him following them, or haunting the next bunch to come along.
I’m going to stuff my pockets so full of cash that I can build him and me a playground and he won’t ever have to bother them again.
They have enough to deal with.
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Kids I teach are right on the cusp of it. Some of the boys might get caught sniggering at the back while showing each other naughty little videos they don’t understand but can’t look away from, but then they go out and chase each other around. Do cartwheels. Play tag. Hide and seek. Cry if they take a particularly bad knock. Kids are weird. Got one whose dad’s in jail and he talks about it like it means nothing. His old man tried to kick a woman to death in the parking lot of a bar and won’t be out until the boy’s a teenager. Kid don’t care. Doesn’t get it. If anything he thinks it’s funny. But then last week I confiscated his novelty pencil that was the size of a cucumber and he screamed so hard he threw up all over the speckled tiles that have been glued to this floor since ‘96.
Ten is a weird age. Old enough to feel the vaguest hint of life’s problems just beneath the surface like lumps in a pillow, to question why Mommy downs three bottles of wine on a Tuesday, or why Daddy changes his shirt and hides it in the garage before coming in from work, but too young to know what’s really under the surface. These kids can feel something is wrong with the world. They just don’t know what. Not yet, anyway. They have my sympathy. Twenty-six years teaching has eroded most of everything else. I’m not particularly invested in whether these little shits become scientists or janitors. Nor am I particularly interested in helping them process their emotional luggage. If any of you want me to undo the damage you’ve done to your own kids, then you can start by paying me a hell of a lot more. But I do feel sorry for them because they don’t really know what’s going on, but unlike a five year old they can’t just fumble around in blind ignorance. They’re stuck in between worlds, one where you cry yourself to sleep at night over your parent’s divorce but still think Santa and the tooth fairy are real.
Maybe it’s different at a rich school, one where kids don’t go to food banks or where whole families don’t have to share a smartphone. I doubt it. Don’t know why. I just doubt anyone’s out there living the plot of the Berenstain bears, rich or otherwise. I used to dream of teaching at one of the big schools a couple towns over, the ones with all the funding. Oh that’d be nice. Walking into a building that doesn’t look like set dressing for the next season of True Detective. Now I just dream of getting out of this profession entirely.
Maybe if I play my cards right.
Sounds crazy to say it out loud, so I won’t. But maybe I found a way out. Well, to be exact the kids found it. Don’t know what they got. Course they fucking don’t. They’re kids. They haven’t got a clue. But I think I’m maybe thirteen weeks from another go and when that happens, you can bet your ass I’m asking for a ticket outta here. At first I planned on getting a cushy job in one of the schools a few towns over. One where the schoolbus doesn’t have to plan its route around multiple trailer parks. Now I realise I was thinking small. If I’m smart, I won’t ever have to work another day in my life.
Imagine that?
Thirteen more weeks.
Right now Grenwig is with Layla. Sweet girl but she’s smart enough for it to be a problem. The dumb ones fair the best. You wake up to something grinning at your bedroom window, it helps to have the sorta mind that doesn’t ask questions about what floor you’re living on. Layla isn’t winning a genius grant anytime soon, but I can tell it’s bothering her because deep down she knows how wrong this all is. Dark circles under the eyes. Pallid skin. Eyes that keep darting to dark corners. Sometimes she falls asleep at her desk. Sometimes she wakes up with a little jump, like something only she can see has startled her. It’s hard. Only reason she sticks it out is the same reason you or I would.
The rewards.
She got a smartphone last time. I wonder what it’ll be this time. These kids don’t ask for a lot. Toys, mainly. One of them got crazy good at football crazy quick. That makes sense. But it’s that kinda thing, you know? They don’t ask after the lottery or nothing like that because money’s a little too abstract right now. Strange thing though, as young and naive as they are they learned the rules pretty quickly. I guess Grenwig’s lessons aren’t subtle. Just look at one of my former students, Jared. Now at the time all this flew under my radar. Kid in my class lost a parent, moved away. So what? Happens. Turns out he asked for his father to get sober. Next day the poor guy got caught in the machinery at his job. CCTV footage was very popular on LiveLeaks. Makes for grim viewing. I’m not particularly handy so I never knew a lathe could do that to a human body.
Anyway, it’s not good to ask after other people. I wish my dad was this. I wish mom was that. Ooph. Alia told me that up front around the time I started asking why half the kids in my class had new iPhones and Nintendo Switches. She said it was easy to ask for things, but it was riskier to ask to change something into another thing, and downright awful to ask it to change a person in any way, no matter how small. Even that kid who got good at football played a risky game. It paid off but the other kids wouldn’t go near him for a week. They kept expecting something bad to happen to him and they didn’t want to be in the splash zone. I can’t pretend to understand the subtleties. Like the kids, I can only observe what happens to other people and learn the lessons that imparts.
Nothing about Grenwig is guaranteed. There are no certainties. Even the kids get worn down by it. Whoever has it, they’re a pariah. Risk assessment in under-elevens. Strange thing to see. But unless it’s your turn, you don’t even want to risk something as inane as a game of catch with his chosen friend. Grenwig is territorial. Possessive. Bizarre. Didn’t even believe in it until it was somehow my turn, which the kids found pretty alarming. Grenwig doesn’t like adults.
I thought it was a ghost at first. Lights coming on and off. Footsteps in the corridor outside my apartment. Pretty creepy, sharing my home with something I couldn’t see. I didn’t like it but it had only been a couple of nights and I did a good job of convincing myself there was no ghost or poltergeist. Just an overactive imagination. Yeah sure the tv channel changed and there were finger marks on my bathroom window I hadn’t put there. So what? Way at the back of my mind I’d reserved a little bit of space for the possibility of a haunting, but otherwise I remained a sceptic. Jesus, if only it was as simple as a haunting.
I don’t know if I could explain to you how it felt that first time I woke to Grenwig gently stroking my toes. Jesus. The violation of it. The feeling of a world that didn’t make sense. My eyes glared at his fingers, terrified, heart pounding, head throbbing like I’d taken a knock, and I kept waiting for it to make sense. My eyes wandered, tried to find the hands those fingers belonged to, but they just kept going. And going. And going. They stretched for metres until they disappeared into the shadow of my closet. Whole time they kept massaging the big toes. Cold as ice. I started counting the knuckles. Got to thirteen and gave up. But they were fingers. I could tell from the nails. The hair that ran along dimpled skin the colour of cement. And then just as I started to really appreciate that I was awake, 100% stone cold sober and lucid, and what I was seeing wasn’t a dream or a nightmare or some other fucking conjuration of the mind, just as I felt panic begin to flare up inside my chest like a burgeoning heart attack, those impossible long fingers withdrew into the darkness like a spider curling its legs.
I got up and threw on the lights but found my closet empty. Felt like the world was coming apart. Had to be a night terror, I decided. Hadn’t had one for decades but what else could it be? I wanted to go back to sleep, to at least try, but I was so scared I couldn’t face the dark again so I decided to stay up. Went out into the living room and turned the tv on, plopped down onto the sofa, and let my head tilt back. I might’ve drifted off again. I don’t know for sure. All I remember was the feeling as the cushion beneath me adjusted and I heard it. The sound of something tightening, like a creaking door.
I looked down and saw white bands wrapped around the entirety of the sofa. Fingers. They tightened, and the material let out a groan as the tension went up a notch. I flew upwards in a terrible panic. By the time I turned back the fingers were gone, but the indent they’d left in the sofa remained.
This repeated itself all night. Each time I felt close to drifting off, those impossibly long fingers would reach out of the darkness somewhere and make an appearance. They knocked glasses off countertops. Opened the fridge. Turned on the oven. And, whenever possible, they touched me. Stroked an ear. Tickled my nose. Slid between my fingers and tried to hold my hand. I tried to play chicken with it at one point. I stayed stock still as a greasy finger plucked at my lips and tried to find its way into my mouth, but before it met any success I flipped out and ran shrieking into the corridor outside my apartment.
Panting in the hallway, I told myself I’d never step foot in that apartment, but there was something about the way all my neighbours came to their doors one-by-one and just stared at me in my underwear and sweat-stained vest. I felt like a fucking idiot and before I knew it, I was offering muddled apologies while slinking through my front door.
By the time I got to school the next day, I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. I genuinely suspected my day was going to end with me being carted off in a straight jacket. Last people I expected to find any understanding from were my students, but when I came in looking like a sleep-deprived drunk they all stared at me in silence. And this wasn’t the slackjawed idiocy I’m sometimes used to with these kids, like that time I told them I used to have a wife. This was something else. Took me a second to decipher it. Not the sort of expression I’m used to from kids in that age group, what with half of them being miniature psychopaths.
It was sympathy. They felt sorry for me. But when I took a step forward, every single one of them scooted their chairs backward.
Just like that it clicked. I’d spent the last year watching them take turns ostracising one another and I’d written it off as just a peculiar product of childhood social dynamics. It felt cruel, and I’d tried over and over to mitigate it. To sit with the excluded kids and talk with them, try to figure it all out. But it was an enigma, all of it. If it wasn’t for the fact that this fucked up system seemed to operate on some kind of rota, I would have been forced to intervene. But as it was, the kid who was targeted would always be back with the crowd a week later, and they’d be the ones excluding someone else. But now all of that made sense. The way they were looking at me. Pity. Recognition. They knew what I’d spent the night going through, and for the last year they’d gone through it themselves one-by-one.
“You should play with Grenwig, sir,” one of the quieter girls piped up looking wide-eyed like a hostage at gunpoint, and all the other kids nodded.
“Yeah he wants to play.”
“You need to play with him.”
“He gets real impatient.”
A chorus of whispered uh huhs.
“Grenwig?” I muttered. One word. Is that what it’s called? I wondered, and all the kids nodded like they could read my mind.
There are no records of Grenwig anywhere, by the way. Good God I tried a thousand times over to find something, anything. The best I could think of was that Grenwig was a kinda boogeyman, but what does that even mean? Just a word I used to give the world a little more shape. A little more structure. I’m not sure Grenwig has much of either. The games he plays are like what a toddler or a young dog would be interested in. Basic stuff. No rules. I move something. Grenwig moves it back. Hours lost tracing the spiral of my hair, or pulling at my cheeks and face to create strange new expressions, or flicking the lights on and off. During that week I took to eating lunch in my car, largely because it was hard to be around people who couldn’t see why a glass went flying at the wall, or why I had to keep stacking plates until they were so tall they toppled over.
At least the kids gave me a head’s up. Most important warning I ever got in my life. Every kid had their own observations, some more reliable than others. Most of them boiled down to the simple fact that for seven days you belonged to Grenwig. You were a toy. A source of endless amusement for something that had the sense of humour of a three year old. Pretty much every kid agreed on one concrete thing though.
Saying no to Grenwig was dangerous.
Now I can’t say for sure but I’m positive Grenwig gave the kids more leeway. He left them alone for lunch and dinner. Bedtime games were usually quieter. But for me it was almost like part of the game was watching me go about my adult life as he did everything to fuck with me. He’d snatch at my steering wheel, giggling from the dark footwell, yellow eyes peering up from between my legs. He’d grab my phone and throw it into the middle of traffic. Or sit there tickling my neck and armpits as the principal demanded to know why my class’s behaviour was so erratic. He made it difficult. Pushed me right up to breaking point.
Eventually I did snap. I slapped his hand away as he tried to mess with me during a traffic stop. Felt like screaming at him that he was this close to getting me shot, but of course I couldn’t. Just had to sit there as this cop looked over my licence and mulled giving me a sobriety test. Couldn’t blame him. I’d been swerving all over the road until I saw the flashing lights. Didn’t help when, as he approached my pulled-over car, he saw me slapping furiously at the steering wheel while hissing,
“Stop it!” over and over.
He inevitably issued the test which I passed. The cop gave me a long narrow-eyed stare before telling me to get some sleep. He must have figured I was just a stressed mental-case instead of a drunk. And he was right. It was day six and I’d barely slept. Despite all the grave warnings from the kids about the dangers of telling Grenwig off, I drove off hoping that maybe he would just let this one go. I went to school and taught lessons as usual, but Grenwig made no appearances. I asked the kids if his little rota ever found itself wrapping up a day early and they all shook their heads like they knew bad news was coming my way, but none of them wanted to say for sure. Still, it was my first time so I ignored the look in their eyes and tried my best to focus on the hope that maybe Grenwig was going to finally leave me alone.
A feeling that dissolved in its entirety when I opened my front door and found a package on the floor. A large box, about one foot cubed. It looked like old cardboard, like what happens when it gets soaked but left out to dry. Just dingy. Its sides had been stapled together too, and that gave it a real homemade look that went the extra creepy little mile. I expected something bad. I knew the second when I went to lift it and it was too heavy that something was wrong. It just felt… well it felt like lifting an overfull bucket from the bottom. And then there was the smell, and the noises that sounded like a distant transmission of a mewing child. Tinny, like the muffled cries of someone on the other side of a very thick wall.
When I finally opened it, I found the policeman inside, familiar because of the shield and name. He… well he’d been folded, I guess is the best way I can describe it. At first I thought it was just his uniform but, well, clothes aren’t warm and obviously a folded uniform wouldn’t explain the forearm hair and skin poking out the side. I recoiled, terrified. Fell backwards onto my ass and this was when Grenwig made an appearance. His arachnid fingers curled out of the box. I’d say about a dozen of them this time, but there are always more in the dark. Out of sight. And these did what I couldn’t have brought myself to do on my own.
They unfolded the policeman. Lifted him up like a tailor showing off a suit, and the flayed skin opened up to reveal the barely recognisable outline of an adult man.
He was still alive.
And the rest of him, I soon found out, was in my bathtub. And that half was also very much alive. Thrashing and sliding as it struggled to gain a grip on the smooth ceramics, begging for its other half. Words I don’t really think were a natural fit for the stern man who’d interrogated me just ten hours ago. But then again it wasn’t really the same man. Either way, he spoke of the darkness between atoms, the infinite space where time doesn’t exist, and the endless shapes that swim the murky abyss, fleeing their cruel god. More than that, he lamented no longer being whole. Feeling himself in two places at once. He called it wrong and on that he had my agreement.
I begged Grenwig to take it away. To undo what he had done.
And that was how I used my first favour. The box and the man disappeared, dragged off to some dark corner that was out of sight. And that was the last I saw of him, although a bit of research later on revealed that while Grenwig did indeed put him back together, the poor man has been catatonic in a hospital bed ever since.
Alive, but definitely not well.
Next day the kids asked me what I’d requested. I told them I asked for a new playstation. Didn’t tell them the truth, partly because it’d traumatise them, but partly because acknowledging it even happened would traumatise me. After that I crunched the numbers. I figured out the number of kids and how often the rota would fall on me. Based on this info I booked the week off work ahead of time and well, I just waited. I tried to support the kids as best I could when it was their turn, but they didn’t really have the same problems as me. I mean… it wasn’t a holiday for them either. Each one came to school looking like they’d spent the night watching their dog die over and over. Just distraught. Ruined. Exhausted. But like I said, Grenwig generally let them eat their food, or interact with their parents and siblings without demanding attention at the worst possible time.
Eventually round two came along. The kids seemed damned relieved. As for Grenwig’s games, this time I came prepared. I’d already noticed that Grenwig only ever emerged from the shadows, and the kids corroborated that fact. So in the run up to my turn I spent a few weeks setting my bathroom up with as many lamps and torches as I could find. Wasn’t easy to eliminate all those shadows. I had a lot of sleepless nights trialling different arrangements but eventually I got one as close to perfect as I could. I figured if I could have just one or two nights of sleep it’d be damned easier to deal with him.
An hour passed before my stomach started to ache. By the time I realised what Grenwig was doing I could already feel the urge to throw up. Guess I hadn’t given him much of a choice. He wanted to play and there was only one place in that room that was still dark. Wasn’t until I threw myself out into my living room and switched off all the lights that the pain eased up, but by then I was already close to suffocating on the finger sticking out of my throat. When it finally withdrew and I took my first breath in over a minute, I collapsed to the floor, unable to do much of anything except heave and sob.
Grenwig, yellow eyes glaring at me from the space beneath my sofa, giggled. In hindsight, I’m lucky he found it funny. I think he thought it was a game of sorts. God knows what would have happened if that little stunt had made him mad. Otherwise, that second round passed without incident. At least, I wasn’t at work. It was hell, but I didn’t have to worry about driving anywhere or being out in public waiting for those wretched hands to find me. I just stayed indoors and played his weird little games, which mainly just involved me cleaning up whatever stupid thing he’d decided to make a mess of. I found it helped if I played up my exasperation. The less I reacted to his mischief, the more likely he’d escalate.
When it was all over I asked for a winning lottery ticket. Unfortunately I didn’t specify the amount, which I supposed is my fault. At least the amount I won covered rent that month, even if my expectations were a little higher.
Still I figured it’d be better next time. I’d be more specific, I decided.
Best laid plans of mice and men…
You ever lost someone? Most people have. I have, for sure. More than once, too. It nearly unmade me and I was a fully grown man.
It was about a couple days before my turn that Alia experienced her first loss. Most kids it’s a hamster. If they’re unlucky, a grandparent. For her, it was her older brother. I’d taught him eleven years earlier and he was a good kid. Smart, like her. Went on to become a mechanic. His passing wasn’t anything strange or sinister. Just an accident. Jack popped off. Car crushed him. Random. Devastating. She was called out of a lesson by the principal and her parents, the three of them looking like hell. Like they’d spent a month one-on-one with Grenwig. A little reminder that not all nightmares hide in the dark, I suppose.
I don’t know why this hit me hard. I think it was probably my own experience with grief. Either way it stuck with me. Her absence, the empty chair and desk, felt hard to ignore day-after-day, knowing what she was going through. I think it’s one thing to accept that these kids’ll face circumstance. Poverty. Shit parents. Life isn’t fair. I don’t get a say in the way society says some kids get ponies and others get rickets. But there’s something about losing someone that way, just a random confluence of bad luck, that hits harder than most. I don’t know if I can explain it. It’s just Alia was already growing up at the bottom rung of our not-very-invisible class system. Hadn’t she had her fair share of bad luck already? I mean, fuck, even Grenwig grants favours! Even that wretched monster isn’t all bad. But an accident like what happened to Alia’s brother. There’s no upside. It’s just shit.
Thing is… like I said, my turn was coming up, and I mean, the way I saw it, the boy was already dead, right? Wasn’t like he could die getting wrapped three times around a lathe? Worst had already come to pass. I decided to do something that, even at the time, I figured to be pretty stupid. But if there was a chance it could work, well… I had to try.
Round three with Grenwig went real easy. I preemptively bought a bunch of jigsaws and left them half done. He honed in on them straight away. I did as much as I could in a single sitting, turned around, turned back and he’d muddled them all up. I’d play up my anger and irritation, then go back to it. Drank a lot of coffee and whiskey. Watched a lot of movies. Grenwig loved it. Broke a couple plates and mugs too. It wasn’t all plain sailing. Woke up one night to find him licking my neck and had to rush to the hospital to get the chemical burn treated. Still, for the most part the week went by without much incident because, well, I had something in mind. Couldn’t get it out. This idea, I had to act on it. And the promise of what it would mean if it worked meant I practically skated through that week with a smile on my face.
At least I had the sense to specify that the boy return to me. Not Alia. I thought if anything went wrong, it’d be best if she didn’t have to see it.
It was four in the morning when I was awoken by a sound that had slipped into my dreams as a kind of creaking door. But as I opened my eyes and reality reasserted itself I realised that what I was actually hearing was a little more like gravel being trod on. Strange. Distant. Quiet. I held my breath, if only so that I could hear better, but it seemed to only amp up the sound of blood rushing through my ears. White noise. It’s so hard to perceive what’s there sometimes, isn’t it? All I wanted was for my ears or eyes to report something useful to me without having to get out of the safety of my own bed. Instead all I got were dim shadows and the sea-like susurrations of my own breathing.
At least I could ascertain I wasn’t alone in my apartment. Over time, the longer I waited, the more sure of that I became. Something was out there, in the corridor between my bedroom and living room at a guess, moving with the kind of irregular rhythm that belongs only to living things. This wasn’t the wind or some pipe settling. Something was moving, and it was moving in my direction. Low to the ground. A noise I couldn’t put any shape to. Wrong. All wrong. Made me think of breaking pencils. Grinding teeth. In the end I couldn’t help myself. I got up and called out. Who’s there? The words didn’t feel real to me. The world took on the realer-than-real distortion that comes with terror, coupled with a prickling white heat at the nape of the neck. For a moment I swore I was outside my own body staring down at myself from above. It was too much. But that sound was clearer than ever before. There was no pretending this ghost wasn’t real.
I turned on the light.
Alia’s brother screamed and crawled away from the light, neglected whimpers left behind like a trail that led me to the living room where I found him curled around a table leg. He was alive but not whole. Guess I hadn’t given much thought to what a car would do to a man’s chest. Every breath was a strange orchestra. Too many sounds to disentangle. Bone on bone. Crumpled ribs expanding, or at least trying to, and drawing oxygen into blood filled lungs. Moss had grown across his face, even in the short time he’d been in the ground.
A hand, ice cold, shot out and grabbed my wrist and I cried out, but he didn’t let go. He followed as I tried to push myself away, his bottom half trailing along, limp and misaligned with his torso. Felt like pulling a sack of meat across an ice rink.
“Don’t send me back,” he whimpered. “Don’t send me back.”
Eventually my foot hit the sofa and I fell onto it. He dragged himself using his hands over to the side so that we were face-to-face before I even had time to push myself upright.
“He likes you,” he whispered and I recoiled at the smell of his breath. “There are so few things in the dark that know how to leave. But he does. Don’t… don’t ask him to send me back. Please?”
For the first time my mind started working. Was he talking about Grenwig? I wondered. But of course, I told myself, who else?
“What… what’s over there?” I asked.
He went to answer before the words choked in his mouth and his face twisted into a mask of melancholic agony. Trying to utter something, he burst into painful sobs.
“Don’t make me go back,” was all he could manage to say. “Don’t make me go back! Don’t make me go back! Please please please don’t send me back there you don’t know what they do to us!”
“I don’t… I don’t know what to do,” I stammered.
The boy grabbed me and pulled me close. Unsure of how to comfort him, I let him hold me in an embrace.
“We aren’t the same when it’s done with us.”
“What?”
I never saw him take the knife from the kitchen, but I suppose he’d been in my home for longer than I’d been awake, and he had plenty of opportunity. First thing I felt, which surprised me even in the moment, was that it suddenly became hard to breathe. That was the punctured lung. Felt like the worst pneumonia I’d ever had came over me in the space of five seconds. Just boom, suffocating on your own blood. So much that it spilled over my lips and down my chin. By the time I registered the aching waves of dull agony pulsing out of the spot on my rib cage, I was already slumping back down onto the sofa, sitting there like I was getting ready for a friday night move.
Not that I was helpless. I took maybe two seconds, tops, to accept what had happened. To understand it, and then I was able to drive my heel into his head as he tried climbing up onto me. Weirdly his broken back helped him. He sort of just bent with the blow, but it didn’t actually dislodge him. I had to kick him again to do that. And then I had to stand up and do it again and again, and I think around the fourth or fifth kick I realised I had something of a problem.
The pain didn’t really bother him.
Not when I kicked him in his pulped chest. Not when I stamped on his hand as he tried to push himself back up for the tenth time. Not even when I rolled him over and stamped on his head, struggling to aim my foot through the tears in my eyes. Even after I’d immobilised him, even after I fumbled around and found an old bike helmet, and clubbed his skull until my arm grew sore, he didn’t cry out in pain. He just kept trying to get back up.
“Fuck!” I screamed as seconds turned to minutes, which just kept ticking on. It felt like I was swinging for hours, but in truth I don’t know how long. Eventually I stopped for breath and frantically looked from one corner of the room to another, desperate for the first time in my life to see those horrible long fingers. “Take him!” I cried. “For God’s sake take him back!”
I suspect he’d been waiting and watching, because with very little delay Grenwig finally made his appearance.
Yellow eyes, clustered together like frog spawn, winked at me from a shadow under the table. They seemed self-satisfied, as they always did, but I didn’t care. The mutilated man who lay on the floor continued to bark with wet laughter, pawing at me with broken fingers. I was feeling faint, and my whole right side was burning hot and cold all at once as warm blood began to cool.
“Oh God,” I cried. “Just take him back.”
Grenwig’s hands wasted little time, and that man’s laughter grew only more hysterical as the fingers wrapped around his chest and legs and slowly towed him towards the dark. I felt a brief moment of relief as I hoped this would be the end of my mistake.
But then I felt his arms wrap around my legs.
Even broken, his strength was something special. Trapped in a bear hug, slowly being pulled towards that abyssal shadow, I began to panic. But it was far too little, and far too late. I went feet first. A feeling like nothing else I’d ever had. In the end I was clinging by the tips of my fingers to an impossible ledge. Above me was a sort of opening with no defined beginning or end, and on the other side lay my living room.
I looked down and, for the first time, saw Grenwig as a whole. In hindsight it had been a mistake to think of him as humanoid. I think I’d just decided the boogeyman should look like a man, but what floated in the strange aether beneath me was more akin to a jellyfish, or maybe a spider. I don’t know. It was dark in that void, and yet impossible clear. I could see things in there. More than just Grenwig. It defied dimensions as we understand it. It was both an ocean and a landscape. In the distance, leviathans swam through open space. I’m not even sure I was seeing based on light. When I blinked I still saw everything.
Grenwig found it all hilarious. He had a mouth, and it laughed maniacally as it peeled Alia’s brother from around my waist, leaving me free to kick and pull my way back into reality. As I slid onto the carpet of my living room, his laughter persisted.
As soon as I was out I crawled and rushed to the bathroom where I locked the door and passed out.
Grenwig’s next turn with me lasted two weeks which I think was because I made two requests. One for Alia’s brother to return from the dead, and the other for him to be taken away. Either way, I didn’t begrudge Grenwig’s games. But it did mean I didn’t get another request. I have to wait until next time. Meanwhile I’ve watched the children approach the end of the school year and I find myself wondering if they’ll age out of Grenwig or take him with them into the next teacher’s class. If he leaves them alone, will he terrorise the next lot of kids I teach?
Either way, I think Grenwig will let me double up again and that’s important because if so, I know what I’m going to do. Like I said before, I’m out of here. No more teaching. I’m cashing out. But I’ve decided, after what I did to Alia and her brother, that I can at least take Grenwig with me. He can become a permanent friend, leave the kids the hell alone. I don’t want him following them, or haunting the next bunch to come along.
I’m going to stuff my pockets so full of cash that I can build him and me a playground and he won’t ever have to bother them again.
They have enough to deal with.
2023.05.26 17:41 ChristianWallis I’m a teacher, and my whole class shares an imaginary friend
It’d be wrong to say I don’t like kids. It’s adults I have more of a problem with. In my last school when I called one of the ten year old boys in my class a little bastard, he wasn’t the problem. His parents were the ones who insisted I get fired. But that boy didn’t mind me swearing at him because he knew damn well he’d keyed my car, even if I had no proof. He just thought it was funny, no different to the sort of interaction he’d have with an older sibling. On that note I wouldn’t say I like children either. Kids are little adults. They’re more truthful but only because the stakes are lower. People with jobs and mortgages tell great big tremendous lies. Kids don’t have the weight of the world on their shoulders so why lie about mistresses and promotions and why you’ve been crushing up antibiotics into your wife’s morning smoothie. Instead they just lie about where their homework is.
Kids I teach are right on the cusp of it. Some of the boys might get caught sniggering at the back while showing each other naughty little videos they don’t understand but can’t look away from, but then they go out and chase each other around. Do cartwheels. Play tag. Hide and seek. Cry if they take a particularly bad knock. Kids are weird. Got one whose dad’s in jail and he talks about it like it means nothing. His old man tried to kick a woman to death in the parking lot of a bar and won’t be out until the boy’s a teenager. Kid don’t care. Doesn’t get it. If anything he thinks it’s funny. But then last week I confiscated his novelty pencil that was the size of a cucumber and he screamed so hard he threw up all over the speckled tiles that have been glued to this floor since ‘96.
Ten is a weird age. Old enough to feel the vaguest hint of life’s problems just beneath the surface like lumps in a pillow, to question why Mommy downs three bottles of wine on a Tuesday, or why Daddy changes his shirt and hides it in the garage before coming in from work, but too young to know what’s really under the surface. These kids can feel something is wrong with the world. They just don’t know what. Not yet, anyway. They have my sympathy. Twenty-six years teaching has eroded most of everything else. I’m not particularly invested in whether these little shits become scientists or janitors. Nor am I particularly interested in helping them process their emotional luggage. If any of you want me to undo the damage you’ve done to your own kids, then you can start by paying me a hell of a lot more. But I do feel sorry for them because they don’t really know what’s going on, but unlike a five year old they can’t just fumble around in blind ignorance. They’re stuck in between worlds, one where you cry yourself to sleep at night over your parent’s divorce but still think Santa and the tooth fairy are real.
Maybe it’s different at a rich school, one where kids don’t go to food banks or where whole families don’t have to share a smartphone. I doubt it. Don’t know why. I just doubt anyone’s out there living the plot of the Berenstain bears, rich or otherwise. I used to dream of teaching at one of the big schools a couple towns over, the ones with all the funding. Oh that’d be nice. Walking into a building that doesn’t look like set dressing for the next season of True Detective. Now I just dream of getting out of this profession entirely.
Maybe if I play my cards right.
Sounds crazy to say it out loud, so I won’t. But maybe I found a way out. Well, to be exact the kids found it. Don’t know what they got. Course they fucking don’t. They’re kids. They haven’t got a clue. But I think I’m maybe thirteen weeks from another go and when that happens, you can bet your ass I’m asking for a ticket outta here. At first I planned on getting a cushy job in one of the schools a few towns over. One where the schoolbus doesn’t have to plan its route around multiple trailer parks. Now I realise I was thinking small. If I’m smart, I won’t ever have to work another day in my life.
Imagine that?
Thirteen more weeks.
Right now Grenwig is with Layla. Sweet girl but she’s smart enough for it to be a problem. The dumb ones fair the best. You wake up to something grinning at your bedroom window, it helps to have the sorta mind that doesn’t ask questions about what floor you’re living on. Layla isn’t winning a genius grant anytime soon, but I can tell it’s bothering her because deep down she knows how wrong this all is. Dark circles under the eyes. Pallid skin. Eyes that keep darting to dark corners. Sometimes she falls asleep at her desk. Sometimes she wakes up with a little jump, like something only she can see has startled her. It’s hard. Only reason she sticks it out is the same reason you or I would.
The rewards.
She got a smartphone last time. I wonder what it’ll be this time. These kids don’t ask for a lot. Toys, mainly. One of them got crazy good at football crazy quick. That makes sense. But it’s that kinda thing, you know? They don’t ask after the lottery or nothing like that because money’s a little too abstract right now. Strange thing though, as young and naive as they are they learned the rules pretty quickly. I guess Grenwig’s lessons aren’t subtle. Just look at one of my former students, Jared. Now at the time all this flew under my radar. Kid in my class lost a parent, moved away. So what? Happens. Turns out he asked for his father to get sober. Next day the poor guy got caught in the machinery at his job. CCTV footage was very popular on LiveLeaks. Makes for grim viewing. I’m not particularly handy so I never knew a lathe could do that to a human body.
Anyway, it’s not good to ask after other people. I wish my dad was this. I wish mom was that. Ooph. Alia told me that up front around the time I started asking why half the kids in my class had new iPhones and Nintendo Switches. She said it was easy to ask for things, but it was riskier to ask to change something into another thing, and downright awful to ask it to change a person in any way, no matter how small. Even that kid who got good at football played a risky game. It paid off but the other kids wouldn’t go near him for a week. They kept expecting something bad to happen to him and they didn’t want to be in the splash zone. I can’t pretend to understand the subtleties. Like the kids, I can only observe what happens to other people and learn the lessons that imparts.
Nothing about Grenwig is guaranteed. There are no certainties. Even the kids get worn down by it. Whoever has it, they’re a pariah. Risk assessment in under-elevens. Strange thing to see. But unless it’s your turn, you don’t even want to risk something as inane as a game of catch with his chosen friend. Grenwig is territorial. Possessive. Bizarre. Didn’t even believe in it until it was somehow my turn, which the kids found pretty alarming. Grenwig doesn’t like adults.
I thought it was a ghost at first. Lights coming on and off. Footsteps in the corridor outside my apartment. Pretty creepy, sharing my home with something I couldn’t see. I didn’t like it but it had only been a couple of nights and I did a good job of convincing myself there was no ghost or poltergeist. Just an overactive imagination. Yeah sure the tv channel changed and there were finger marks on my bathroom window I hadn’t put there. So what? Way at the back of my mind I’d reserved a little bit of space for the possibility of a haunting, but otherwise I remained a sceptic. Jesus, if only it was as simple as a haunting.
I don’t know if I could explain to you how it felt that first time I woke to Grenwig gently stroking my toes. Jesus. The violation of it. The feeling of a world that didn’t make sense. My eyes glared at his fingers, terrified, heart pounding, head throbbing like I’d taken a knock, and I kept waiting for it to make sense. My eyes wandered, tried to find the hands those fingers belonged to, but they just kept going. And going. And going. They stretched for metres until they disappeared into the shadow of my closet. Whole time they kept massaging the big toes. Cold as ice. I started counting the knuckles. Got to thirteen and gave up. But they were fingers. I could tell from the nails. The hair that ran along dimpled skin the colour of cement. And then just as I started to really appreciate that I was awake, 100% stone cold sober and lucid, and what I was seeing wasn’t a dream or a nightmare or some other fucking conjuration of the mind, just as I felt panic begin to flare up inside my chest like a burgeoning heart attack, those impossible long fingers withdrew into the darkness like a spider curling its legs.
I got up and threw on the lights but found my closet empty. Felt like the world was coming apart. Had to be a night terror, I decided. Hadn’t had one for decades but what else could it be? I wanted to go back to sleep, to at least try, but I was so scared I couldn’t face the dark again so I decided to stay up. Went out into the living room and turned the tv on, plopped down onto the sofa, and let my head tilt back. I might’ve drifted off again. I don’t know for sure. All I remember was the feeling as the cushion beneath me adjusted and I heard it. The sound of something tightening, like a creaking door.
I looked down and saw white bands wrapped around the entirety of the sofa. Fingers. They tightened, and the material let out a groan as the tension went up a notch. I flew upwards in a terrible panic. By the time I turned back the fingers were gone, but the indent they’d left in the sofa remained.
This repeated itself all night. Each time I felt close to drifting off, those impossibly long fingers would reach out of the darkness somewhere and make an appearance. They knocked glasses off countertops. Opened the fridge. Turned on the oven. And, whenever possible, they touched me. Stroked an ear. Tickled my nose. Slid between my fingers and tried to hold my hand. I tried to play chicken with it at one point. I stayed stock still as a greasy finger plucked at my lips and tried to find its way into my mouth, but before it met any success I flipped out and ran shrieking into the corridor outside my apartment.
Panting in the hallway, I told myself I’d never step foot in that apartment, but there was something about the way all my neighbours came to their doors one-by-one and just stared at me in my underwear and sweat-stained vest. I felt like a fucking idiot and before I knew it, I was offering muddled apologies while slinking through my front door.
By the time I got to school the next day, I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. I genuinely suspected my day was going to end with me being carted off in a straight jacket. Last people I expected to find any understanding from were my students, but when I came in looking like a sleep-deprived drunk they all stared at me in silence. And this wasn’t the slackjawed idiocy I’m sometimes used to with these kids, like that time I told them I used to have a wife. This was something else. Took me a second to decipher it. Not the sort of expression I’m used to from kids in that age group, what with half of them being miniature psychopaths.
It was sympathy. They felt sorry for me. But when I took a step forward, every single one of them scooted their chairs backward.
Just like that it clicked. I’d spent the last year watching them take turns ostracising one another and I’d written it off as just a peculiar product of childhood social dynamics. It felt cruel, and I’d tried over and over to mitigate it. To sit with the excluded kids and talk with them, try to figure it all out. But it was an enigma, all of it. If it wasn’t for the fact that this fucked up system seemed to operate on some kind of rota, I would have been forced to intervene. But as it was, the kid who was targeted would always be back with the crowd a week later, and they’d be the ones excluding someone else. But now all of that made sense. The way they were looking at me. Pity. Recognition. They knew what I’d spent the night going through, and for the last year they’d gone through it themselves one-by-one.
“You should play with Grenwig, sir,” one of the quieter girls piped up looking wide-eyed like a hostage at gunpoint, and all the other kids nodded.
“Yeah he wants to play.”
“You need to play with him.”
“He gets real impatient.”
A chorus of whispered uh huhs.
“Grenwig?” I muttered. One word. Is that what it’s called? I wondered, and all the kids nodded like they could read my mind.
There are no records of Grenwig anywhere, by the way. Good God I tried a thousand times over to find something, anything. The best I could think of was that Grenwig was a kinda boogeyman, but what does that even mean? Just a word I used to give the world a little more shape. A little more structure. I’m not sure Grenwig has much of either. The games he plays are like what a toddler or a young dog would be interested in. Basic stuff. No rules. I move something. Grenwig moves it back. Hours lost tracing the spiral of my hair, or pulling at my cheeks and face to create strange new expressions, or flicking the lights on and off. During that week I took to eating lunch in my car, largely because it was hard to be around people who couldn’t see why a glass went flying at the wall, or why I had to keep stacking plates until they were so tall they toppled over.
At least the kids gave me a head’s up. Most important warning I ever got in my life. Every kid had their own observations, some more reliable than others. Most of them boiled down to the simple fact that for seven days you belonged to Grenwig. You were a toy. A source of endless amusement for something that had the sense of humour of a three year old. Pretty much every kid agreed on one concrete thing though.
Saying no to Grenwig was dangerous.
Now I can’t say for sure but I’m positive Grenwig gave the kids more leeway. He left them alone for lunch and dinner. Bedtime games were usually quieter. But for me it was almost like part of the game was watching me go about my adult life as he did everything to fuck with me. He’d snatch at my steering wheel, giggling from the dark footwell, yellow eyes peering up from between my legs. He’d grab my phone and throw it into the middle of traffic. Or sit there tickling my neck and armpits as the principal demanded to know why my class’s behaviour was so erratic. He made it difficult. Pushed me right up to breaking point.
Eventually I did snap. I slapped his hand away as he tried to mess with me during a traffic stop. Felt like screaming at him that he was this close to getting me shot, but of course I couldn’t. Just had to sit there as this cop looked over my licence and mulled giving me a sobriety test. Couldn’t blame him. I’d been swerving all over the road until I saw the flashing lights. Didn’t help when, as he approached my pulled-over car, he saw me slapping furiously at the steering wheel while hissing,
“Stop it!” over and over.
He inevitably issued the test which I passed. The cop gave me a long narrow-eyed stare before telling me to get some sleep. He must have figured I was just a stressed mental-case instead of a drunk. And he was right. It was day six and I’d barely slept. Despite all the grave warnings from the kids about the dangers of telling Grenwig off, I drove off hoping that maybe he would just let this one go. I went to school and taught lessons as usual, but Grenwig made no appearances. I asked the kids if his little rota ever found itself wrapping up a day early and they all shook their heads like they knew bad news was coming my way, but none of them wanted to say for sure. Still, it was my first time so I ignored the look in their eyes and tried my best to focus on the hope that maybe Grenwig was going to finally leave me alone.
A feeling that dissolved in its entirety when I opened my front door and found a package on the floor. A large box, about one foot cubed. It looked like old cardboard, like what happens when it gets soaked but left out to dry. Just dingy. Its sides had been stapled together too, and that gave it a real homemade look that went the extra creepy little mile. I expected something bad. I knew the second when I went to lift it and it was too heavy that something was wrong. It just felt… well it felt like lifting an overfull bucket from the bottom. And then there was the smell, and the noises that sounded like a distant transmission of a mewing child. Tinny, like the muffled cries of someone on the other side of a very thick wall.
When I finally opened it, I found the policeman inside, familiar because of the shield and name. He… well he’d been folded, I guess is the best way I can describe it. At first I thought it was just his uniform but, well, clothes aren’t warm and obviously a folded uniform wouldn’t explain the forearm hair and skin poking out the side. I recoiled, terrified. Fell backwards onto my ass and this was when Grenwig made an appearance. His arachnid fingers curled out of the box. I’d say about a dozen of them this time, but there are always more in the dark. Out of sight. And these did what I couldn’t have brought myself to do on my own.
They unfolded the policeman. Lifted him up like a tailor showing off a suit, and the flayed skin opened up to reveal the barely recognisable outline of an adult man.
He was still alive.
And the rest of him, I soon found out, was in my bathtub. And that half was also very much alive. Thrashing and sliding as it struggled to gain a grip on the smooth ceramics, begging for its other half. Words I don’t really think were a natural fit for the stern man who’d interrogated me just ten hours ago. But then again it wasn’t really the same man. Either way, he spoke of the darkness between atoms, the infinite space where time doesn’t exist, and the endless shapes that swim the murky abyss, fleeing their cruel god. More than that, he lamented no longer being whole. Feeling himself in two places at once. He called it wrong and on that he had my agreement.
I begged Grenwig to take it away. To undo what he had done.
And that was how I used my first favour. The box and the man disappeared, dragged off to some dark corner that was out of sight. And that was the last I saw of him, although a bit of research later on revealed that while Grenwig did indeed put him back together, the poor man has been catatonic in a hospital bed ever since.
Alive, but definitely not well.
Next day the kids asked me what I’d requested. I told them I asked for a new playstation. Didn’t tell them the truth, partly because it’d traumatise them, but partly because acknowledging it even happened would traumatise me. After that I crunched the numbers. I figured out the number of kids and how often the rota would fall on me. Based on this info I booked the week off work ahead of time and well, I just waited. I tried to support the kids as best I could when it was their turn, but they didn’t really have the same problems as me. I mean… it wasn’t a holiday for them either. Each one came to school looking like they’d spent the night watching their dog die over and over. Just distraught. Ruined. Exhausted. But like I said, Grenwig generally let them eat their food, or interact with their parents and siblings without demanding attention at the worst possible time.
Eventually round two came along. The kids seemed damned relieved. As for Grenwig’s games, this time I came prepared. I’d already noticed that Grenwig only ever emerged from the shadows, and the kids corroborated that fact. So in the run up to my turn I spent a few weeks setting my bathroom up with as many lamps and torches as I could find. Wasn’t easy to eliminate all those shadows. I had a lot of sleepless nights trialling different arrangements but eventually I got one as close to perfect as I could. I figured if I could have just one or two nights of sleep it’d be damned easier to deal with him.
An hour passed before my stomach started to ache. By the time I realised what Grenwig was doing I could already feel the urge to throw up. Guess I hadn’t given him much of a choice. He wanted to play and there was only one place in that room that was still dark. Wasn’t until I threw myself out into my living room and switched off all the lights that the pain eased up, but by then I was already close to suffocating on the finger sticking out of my throat. When it finally withdrew and I took my first breath in over a minute, I collapsed to the floor, unable to do much of anything except heave and sob.
Grenwig, yellow eyes glaring at me from the space beneath my sofa, giggled. In hindsight, I’m lucky he found it funny. I think he thought it was a game of sorts. God knows what would have happened if that little stunt had made him mad. Otherwise, that second round passed without incident. At least, I wasn’t at work. It was hell, but I didn’t have to worry about driving anywhere or being out in public waiting for those wretched hands to find me. I just stayed indoors and played his weird little games, which mainly just involved me cleaning up whatever stupid thing he’d decided to make a mess of. I found it helped if I played up my exasperation. The less I reacted to his mischief, the more likely he’d escalate.
When it was all over I asked for a winning lottery ticket. Unfortunately I didn’t specify the amount, which I supposed is my fault. At least the amount I won covered rent that month, even if my expectations were a little higher.
Still I figured it’d be better next time. I’d be more specific, I decided.
Best laid plans of mice and men…
You ever lost someone? Most people have. I have, for sure. More than once, too. It nearly unmade me and I was a fully grown man.
It was about a couple days before my turn that Alia experienced her first loss. Most kids it’s a hamster. If they’re unlucky, a grandparent. For her, it was her older brother. I’d taught him eleven years earlier and he was a good kid. Smart, like her. Went on to become a mechanic. His passing wasn’t anything strange or sinister. Just an accident. Jack popped off. Car crushed him. Random. Devastating. She was called out of a lesson by the principal and her parents, the three of them looking like hell. Like they’d spent a month one-on-one with Grenwig. A little reminder that not all nightmares hide in the dark, I suppose.
I don’t know why this hit me hard. I think it was probably my own experience with grief. Either way it stuck with me. Her absence, the empty chair and desk, felt hard to ignore day-after-day, knowing what she was going through. I think it’s one thing to accept that these kids’ll face circumstance. Poverty. Shit parents. Life isn’t fair. I don’t get a say in the way society says some kids get ponies and others get rickets. But there’s something about losing someone that way, just a random confluence of bad luck, that hits harder than most. I don’t know if I can explain it. It’s just Alia was already growing up at the bottom rung of our not-very-invisible class system. Hadn’t she had her fair share of bad luck already? I mean, fuck, even Grenwig grants favours! Even that wretched monster isn’t all bad. But an accident like what happened to Alia’s brother. There’s no upside. It’s just shit.
Thing is… like I said, my turn was coming up, and I mean, the way I saw it, the boy was already dead, right? Wasn’t like he could die getting wrapped three times around a lathe? Worst had already come to pass. I decided to do something that, even at the time, I figured to be pretty stupid. But if there was a chance it could work, well… I had to try.
Round three with Grenwig went real easy. I preemptively bought a bunch of jigsaws and left them half done. He honed in on them straight away. I did as much as I could in a single sitting, turned around, turned back and he’d muddled them all up. I’d play up my anger and irritation, then go back to it. Drank a lot of coffee and whiskey. Watched a lot of movies. Grenwig loved it. Broke a couple plates and mugs too. It wasn’t all plain sailing. Woke up one night to find him licking my neck and had to rush to the hospital to get the chemical burn treated. Still, for the most part the week went by without much incident because, well, I had something in mind. Couldn’t get it out. This idea, I had to act on it. And the promise of what it would mean if it worked meant I practically skated through that week with a smile on my face.
At least I had the sense to specify that the boy return to me. Not Alia. I thought if anything went wrong, it’d be best if she didn’t have to see it.
It was four in the morning when I was awoken by a sound that had slipped into my dreams as a kind of creaking door. But as I opened my eyes and reality reasserted itself I realised that what I was actually hearing was a little more like gravel being trod on. Strange. Distant. Quiet. I held my breath, if only so that I could hear better, but it seemed to only amp up the sound of blood rushing through my ears. White noise. It’s so hard to perceive what’s there sometimes, isn’t it? All I wanted was for my ears or eyes to report something useful to me without having to get out of the safety of my own bed. Instead all I got were dim shadows and the sea-like susurrations of my own breathing.
At least I could ascertain I wasn’t alone in my apartment. Over time, the longer I waited, the more sure of that I became. Something was out there, in the corridor between my bedroom and living room at a guess, moving with the kind of irregular rhythm that belongs only to living things. This wasn’t the wind or some pipe settling. Something was moving, and it was moving in my direction. Low to the ground. A noise I couldn’t put any shape to. Wrong. All wrong. Made me think of breaking pencils. Grinding teeth. In the end I couldn’t help myself. I got up and called out. Who’s there? The words didn’t feel real to me. The world took on the realer-than-real distortion that comes with terror, coupled with a prickling white heat at the nape of the neck. For a moment I swore I was outside my own body staring down at myself from above. It was too much. But that sound was clearer than ever before. There was no pretending this ghost wasn’t real.
I turned on the light.
Alia’s brother screamed and crawled away from the light, neglected whimpers left behind like a trail that led me to the living room where I found him curled around a table leg. He was alive but not whole. Guess I hadn’t given much thought to what a car would do to a man’s chest. Every breath was a strange orchestra. Too many sounds to disentangle. Bone on bone. Crumpled ribs expanding, or at least trying to, and drawing oxygen into blood filled lungs. Moss had grown across his face, even in the short time he’d been in the ground.
A hand, ice cold, shot out and grabbed my wrist and I cried out, but he didn’t let go. He followed as I tried to push myself away, his bottom half trailing along, limp and misaligned with his torso. Felt like pulling a sack of meat across an ice rink.
“Don’t send me back,” he whimpered. “Don’t send me back.”
Eventually my foot hit the sofa and I fell onto it. He dragged himself using his hands over to the side so that we were face-to-face before I even had time to push myself upright.
“He likes you,” he whispered and I recoiled at the smell of his breath. “There are so few things in the dark that know how to leave. But he does. Don’t… don’t ask him to send me back. Please?”
For the first time my mind started working. Was he talking about Grenwig? I wondered. But of course, I told myself, who else?
“What… what’s over there?” I asked.
He went to answer before the words choked in his mouth and his face twisted into a mask of melancholic agony. Trying to utter something, he burst into painful sobs.
“Don’t make me go back,” was all he could manage to say. “Don’t make me go back! Don’t make me go back! Please please please don’t send me back there you don’t know what they do to us!”
“I don’t… I don’t know what to do,” I stammered.
The boy grabbed me and pulled me close. Unsure of how to comfort him, I let him hold me in an embrace.
“We aren’t the same when it’s done with us.”
“What?”
I never saw him take the knife from the kitchen, but I suppose he’d been in my home for longer than I’d been awake, and he had plenty of opportunity. First thing I felt, which surprised me even in the moment, was that it suddenly became hard to breathe. That was the punctured lung. Felt like the worst pneumonia I’d ever had came over me in the space of five seconds. Just boom, suffocating on your own blood. So much that it spilled over my lips and down my chin. By the time I registered the aching waves of dull agony pulsing out of the spot on my rib cage, I was already slumping back down onto the sofa, sitting there like I was getting ready for a friday night move.
Not that I was helpless. I took maybe two seconds, tops, to accept what had happened. To understand it, and then I was able to drive my heel into his head as he tried climbing up onto me. Weirdly his broken back helped him. He sort of just bent with the blow, but it didn’t actually dislodge him. I had to kick him again to do that. And then I had to stand up and do it again and again, and I think around the fourth or fifth kick I realised I had something of a problem.
The pain didn’t really bother him.
Not when I kicked him in his pulped chest. Not when I stamped on his hand as he tried to push himself back up for the tenth time. Not even when I rolled him over and stamped on his head, struggling to aim my foot through the tears in my eyes. Even after I’d immobilised him, even after I fumbled around and found an old bike helmet, and clubbed his skull until my arm grew sore, he didn’t cry out in pain. He just kept trying to get back up.
“Fuck!” I screamed as seconds turned to minutes, which just kept ticking on. It felt like I was swinging for hours, but in truth I don’t know how long. Eventually I stopped for breath and frantically looked from one corner of the room to another, desperate for the first time in my life to see those horrible long fingers. “Take him!” I cried. “For God’s sake take him back!”
I suspect he’d been waiting and watching, because with very little delay Grenwig finally made his appearance.
Yellow eyes, clustered together like frog spawn, winked at me from a shadow under the table. They seemed self-satisfied, as they always did, but I didn’t care. The mutilated man who lay on the floor continued to bark with wet laughter, pawing at me with broken fingers. I was feeling faint, and my whole right side was burning hot and cold all at once as warm blood began to cool.
“Oh God,” I cried. “Just take him back.”
Grenwig’s hands wasted little time, and that man’s laughter grew only more hysterical as the fingers wrapped around his chest and legs and slowly towed him towards the dark. I felt a brief moment of relief as I hoped this would be the end of my mistake.
But then I felt his arms wrap around my legs.
Even broken, his strength was something special. Trapped in a bear hug, slowly being pulled towards that abyssal shadow, I began to panic. But it was far too little, and far too late. I went feet first. A feeling like nothing else I’d ever had. In the end I was clinging by the tips of my fingers to an impossible ledge. Above me was a sort of opening with no defined beginning or end, and on the other side lay my living room.
I looked down and, for the first time, saw Grenwig as a whole. In hindsight it had been a mistake to think of him as humanoid. I think I’d just decided the boogeyman should look like a man, but what floated in the strange aether beneath me was more akin to a jellyfish, or maybe a spider. I don’t know. It was dark in that void, and yet impossible clear. I could see things in there. More than just Grenwig. It defied dimensions as we understand it. It was both an ocean and a landscape. In the distance, leviathans swam through open space. I’m not even sure I was seeing based on light. When I blinked I still saw everything.
Grenwig found it all hilarious. He had a mouth, and it laughed maniacally as it peeled Alia’s brother from around my waist, leaving me free to kick and pull my way back into reality. As I slid onto the carpet of my living room, his laughter persisted.
As soon as I was out I crawled and rushed to the bathroom where I locked the door and passed out.
Grenwig’s next turn with me lasted two weeks which I think was because I made two requests. One for Alia’s brother to return from the dead, and the other for him to be taken away. Either way, I didn’t begrudge Grenwig’s games. But it did mean I didn’t get another request. I have to wait until next time. Meanwhile I’ve watched the children approach the end of the school year and I find myself wondering if they’ll age out of Grenwig or take him with them into the next teacher’s class. If he leaves them alone, will he terrorise the next lot of kids I teach?
Either way, I think Grenwig will let me double up again and that’s important because if so, I know what I’m going to do. Like I said before, I’m out of here. No more teaching. I’m cashing out. But I’ve decided, after what I did to Alia and her brother, that I can at least take Grenwig with me. He can become a permanent friend, leave the kids the hell alone. I don’t want him following them, or haunting the next bunch to come along.
I’m going to stuff my pockets so full of cash that I can build him and me a playground and he won’t ever have to bother them again.
They have enough to deal with.
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Kids I teach are right on the cusp of it. Some of the boys might get caught sniggering at the back while showing each other naughty little videos they don’t understand but can’t look away from, but then they go out and chase each other around. Do cartwheels. Play tag. Hide and seek. Cry if they take a particularly bad knock. Kids are weird. Got one whose dad’s in jail and he talks about it like it means nothing. His old man tried to kick a woman to death in the parking lot of a bar and won’t be out until the boy’s a teenager. Kid don’t care. Doesn’t get it. If anything he thinks it’s funny. But then last week I confiscated his novelty pencil that was the size of a cucumber and he screamed so hard he threw up all over the speckled tiles that have been glued to this floor since ‘96.
Ten is a weird age. Old enough to feel the vaguest hint of life’s problems just beneath the surface like lumps in a pillow, to question why Mommy downs three bottles of wine on a Tuesday, or why Daddy changes his shirt and hides it in the garage before coming in from work, but too young to know what’s really under the surface. These kids can feel something is wrong with the world. They just don’t know what. Not yet, anyway. They have my sympathy. Twenty-six years teaching has eroded most of everything else. I’m not particularly invested in whether these little shits become scientists or janitors. Nor am I particularly interested in helping them process their emotional luggage. If any of you want me to undo the damage you’ve done to your own kids, then you can start by paying me a hell of a lot more. But I do feel sorry for them because they don’t really know what’s going on, but unlike a five year old they can’t just fumble around in blind ignorance. They’re stuck in between worlds, one where you cry yourself to sleep at night over your parent’s divorce but still think Santa and the tooth fairy are real.
Maybe it’s different at a rich school, one where kids don’t go to food banks or where whole families don’t have to share a smartphone. I doubt it. Don’t know why. I just doubt anyone’s out there living the plot of the Berenstain bears, rich or otherwise. I used to dream of teaching at one of the big schools a couple towns over, the ones with all the funding. Oh that’d be nice. Walking into a building that doesn’t look like set dressing for the next season of True Detective. Now I just dream of getting out of this profession entirely.
Maybe if I play my cards right.
Sounds crazy to say it out loud, so I won’t. But maybe I found a way out. Well, to be exact the kids found it. Don’t know what they got. Course they fucking don’t. They’re kids. They haven’t got a clue. But I think I’m maybe thirteen weeks from another go and when that happens, you can bet your ass I’m asking for a ticket outta here. At first I planned on getting a cushy job in one of the schools a few towns over. One where the schoolbus doesn’t have to plan its route around multiple trailer parks. Now I realise I was thinking small. If I’m smart, I won’t ever have to work another day in my life.
Imagine that?
Thirteen more weeks.
Right now Grenwig is with Layla. Sweet girl but she’s smart enough for it to be a problem. The dumb ones fair the best. You wake up to something grinning at your bedroom window, it helps to have the sorta mind that doesn’t ask questions about what floor you’re living on. Layla isn’t winning a genius grant anytime soon, but I can tell it’s bothering her because deep down she knows how wrong this all is. Dark circles under the eyes. Pallid skin. Eyes that keep darting to dark corners. Sometimes she falls asleep at her desk. Sometimes she wakes up with a little jump, like something only she can see has startled her. It’s hard. Only reason she sticks it out is the same reason you or I would.
The rewards.
She got a smartphone last time. I wonder what it’ll be this time. These kids don’t ask for a lot. Toys, mainly. One of them got crazy good at football crazy quick. That makes sense. But it’s that kinda thing, you know? They don’t ask after the lottery or nothing like that because money’s a little too abstract right now. Strange thing though, as young and naive as they are they learned the rules pretty quickly. I guess Grenwig’s lessons aren’t subtle. Just look at one of my former students, Jared. Now at the time all this flew under my radar. Kid in my class lost a parent, moved away. So what? Happens. Turns out he asked for his father to get sober. Next day the poor guy got caught in the machinery at his job. CCTV footage was very popular on LiveLeaks. Makes for grim viewing. I’m not particularly handy so I never knew a lathe could do that to a human body.
Anyway, it’s not good to ask after other people. I wish my dad was this. I wish mom was that. Ooph. Alia told me that up front around the time I started asking why half the kids in my class had new iPhones and Nintendo Switches. She said it was easy to ask for things, but it was riskier to ask to change something into another thing, and downright awful to ask it to change a person in any way, no matter how small. Even that kid who got good at football played a risky game. It paid off but the other kids wouldn’t go near him for a week. They kept expecting something bad to happen to him and they didn’t want to be in the splash zone. I can’t pretend to understand the subtleties. Like the kids, I can only observe what happens to other people and learn the lessons that imparts.
Nothing about Grenwig is guaranteed. There are no certainties. Even the kids get worn down by it. Whoever has it, they’re a pariah. Risk assessment in under-elevens. Strange thing to see. But unless it’s your turn, you don’t even want to risk something as inane as a game of catch with his chosen friend. Grenwig is territorial. Possessive. Bizarre. Didn’t even believe in it until it was somehow my turn, which the kids found pretty alarming. Grenwig doesn’t like adults.
I thought it was a ghost at first. Lights coming on and off. Footsteps in the corridor outside my apartment. Pretty creepy, sharing my home with something I couldn’t see. I didn’t like it but it had only been a couple of nights and I did a good job of convincing myself there was no ghost or poltergeist. Just an overactive imagination. Yeah sure the tv channel changed and there were finger marks on my bathroom window I hadn’t put there. So what? Way at the back of my mind I’d reserved a little bit of space for the possibility of a haunting, but otherwise I remained a sceptic. Jesus, if only it was as simple as a haunting.
I don’t know if I could explain to you how it felt that first time I woke to Grenwig gently stroking my toes. Jesus. The violation of it. The feeling of a world that didn’t make sense. My eyes glared at his fingers, terrified, heart pounding, head throbbing like I’d taken a knock, and I kept waiting for it to make sense. My eyes wandered, tried to find the hands those fingers belonged to, but they just kept going. And going. And going. They stretched for metres until they disappeared into the shadow of my closet. Whole time they kept massaging the big toes. Cold as ice. I started counting the knuckles. Got to thirteen and gave up. But they were fingers. I could tell from the nails. The hair that ran along dimpled skin the colour of cement. And then just as I started to really appreciate that I was awake, 100% stone cold sober and lucid, and what I was seeing wasn’t a dream or a nightmare or some other fucking conjuration of the mind, just as I felt panic begin to flare up inside my chest like a burgeoning heart attack, those impossible long fingers withdrew into the darkness like a spider curling its legs.
I got up and threw on the lights but found my closet empty. Felt like the world was coming apart. Had to be a night terror, I decided. Hadn’t had one for decades but what else could it be? I wanted to go back to sleep, to at least try, but I was so scared I couldn’t face the dark again so I decided to stay up. Went out into the living room and turned the tv on, plopped down onto the sofa, and let my head tilt back. I might’ve drifted off again. I don’t know for sure. All I remember was the feeling as the cushion beneath me adjusted and I heard it. The sound of something tightening, like a creaking door.
I looked down and saw white bands wrapped around the entirety of the sofa. Fingers. They tightened, and the material let out a groan as the tension went up a notch. I flew upwards in a terrible panic. By the time I turned back the fingers were gone, but the indent they’d left in the sofa remained.
This repeated itself all night. Each time I felt close to drifting off, those impossibly long fingers would reach out of the darkness somewhere and make an appearance. They knocked glasses off countertops. Opened the fridge. Turned on the oven. And, whenever possible, they touched me. Stroked an ear. Tickled my nose. Slid between my fingers and tried to hold my hand. I tried to play chicken with it at one point. I stayed stock still as a greasy finger plucked at my lips and tried to find its way into my mouth, but before it met any success I flipped out and ran shrieking into the corridor outside my apartment.
Panting in the hallway, I told myself I’d never step foot in that apartment, but there was something about the way all my neighbours came to their doors one-by-one and just stared at me in my underwear and sweat-stained vest. I felt like a fucking idiot and before I knew it, I was offering muddled apologies while slinking through my front door.
By the time I got to school the next day, I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. I genuinely suspected my day was going to end with me being carted off in a straight jacket. Last people I expected to find any understanding from were my students, but when I came in looking like a sleep-deprived drunk they all stared at me in silence. And this wasn’t the slackjawed idiocy I’m sometimes used to with these kids, like that time I told them I used to have a wife. This was something else. Took me a second to decipher it. Not the sort of expression I’m used to from kids in that age group, what with half of them being miniature psychopaths.
It was sympathy. They felt sorry for me. But when I took a step forward, every single one of them scooted their chairs backward.
Just like that it clicked. I’d spent the last year watching them take turns ostracising one another and I’d written it off as just a peculiar product of childhood social dynamics. It felt cruel, and I’d tried over and over to mitigate it. To sit with the excluded kids and talk with them, try to figure it all out. But it was an enigma, all of it. If it wasn’t for the fact that this fucked up system seemed to operate on some kind of rota, I would have been forced to intervene. But as it was, the kid who was targeted would always be back with the crowd a week later, and they’d be the ones excluding someone else. But now all of that made sense. The way they were looking at me. Pity. Recognition. They knew what I’d spent the night going through, and for the last year they’d gone through it themselves one-by-one.
“You should play with Grenwig, sir,” one of the quieter girls piped up looking wide-eyed like a hostage at gunpoint, and all the other kids nodded.
“Yeah he wants to play.”
“You need to play with him.”
“He gets real impatient.”
A chorus of whispered uh huhs.
“Grenwig?” I muttered. One word. Is that what it’s called? I wondered, and all the kids nodded like they could read my mind.
There are no records of Grenwig anywhere, by the way. Good God I tried a thousand times over to find something, anything. The best I could think of was that Grenwig was a kinda boogeyman, but what does that even mean? Just a word I used to give the world a little more shape. A little more structure. I’m not sure Grenwig has much of either. The games he plays are like what a toddler or a young dog would be interested in. Basic stuff. No rules. I move something. Grenwig moves it back. Hours lost tracing the spiral of my hair, or pulling at my cheeks and face to create strange new expressions, or flicking the lights on and off. During that week I took to eating lunch in my car, largely because it was hard to be around people who couldn’t see why a glass went flying at the wall, or why I had to keep stacking plates until they were so tall they toppled over.
At least the kids gave me a head’s up. Most important warning I ever got in my life. Every kid had their own observations, some more reliable than others. Most of them boiled down to the simple fact that for seven days you belonged to Grenwig. You were a toy. A source of endless amusement for something that had the sense of humour of a three year old. Pretty much every kid agreed on one concrete thing though.
Saying no to Grenwig was dangerous.
Now I can’t say for sure but I’m positive Grenwig gave the kids more leeway. He left them alone for lunch and dinner. Bedtime games were usually quieter. But for me it was almost like part of the game was watching me go about my adult life as he did everything to fuck with me. He’d snatch at my steering wheel, giggling from the dark footwell, yellow eyes peering up from between my legs. He’d grab my phone and throw it into the middle of traffic. Or sit there tickling my neck and armpits as the principal demanded to know why my class’s behaviour was so erratic. He made it difficult. Pushed me right up to breaking point.
Eventually I did snap. I slapped his hand away as he tried to mess with me during a traffic stop. Felt like screaming at him that he was this close to getting me shot, but of course I couldn’t. Just had to sit there as this cop looked over my licence and mulled giving me a sobriety test. Couldn’t blame him. I’d been swerving all over the road until I saw the flashing lights. Didn’t help when, as he approached my pulled-over car, he saw me slapping furiously at the steering wheel while hissing,
“Stop it!” over and over.
He inevitably issued the test which I passed. The cop gave me a long narrow-eyed stare before telling me to get some sleep. He must have figured I was just a stressed mental-case instead of a drunk. And he was right. It was day six and I’d barely slept. Despite all the grave warnings from the kids about the dangers of telling Grenwig off, I drove off hoping that maybe he would just let this one go. I went to school and taught lessons as usual, but Grenwig made no appearances. I asked the kids if his little rota ever found itself wrapping up a day early and they all shook their heads like they knew bad news was coming my way, but none of them wanted to say for sure. Still, it was my first time so I ignored the look in their eyes and tried my best to focus on the hope that maybe Grenwig was going to finally leave me alone.
A feeling that dissolved in its entirety when I opened my front door and found a package on the floor. A large box, about one foot cubed. It looked like old cardboard, like what happens when it gets soaked but left out to dry. Just dingy. Its sides had been stapled together too, and that gave it a real homemade look that went the extra creepy little mile. I expected something bad. I knew the second when I went to lift it and it was too heavy that something was wrong. It just felt… well it felt like lifting an overfull bucket from the bottom. And then there was the smell, and the noises that sounded like a distant transmission of a mewing child. Tinny, like the muffled cries of someone on the other side of a very thick wall.
When I finally opened it, I found the policeman inside, familiar because of the shield and name. He… well he’d been folded, I guess is the best way I can describe it. At first I thought it was just his uniform but, well, clothes aren’t warm and obviously a folded uniform wouldn’t explain the forearm hair and skin poking out the side. I recoiled, terrified. Fell backwards onto my ass and this was when Grenwig made an appearance. His arachnid fingers curled out of the box. I’d say about a dozen of them this time, but there are always more in the dark. Out of sight. And these did what I couldn’t have brought myself to do on my own.
They unfolded the policeman. Lifted him up like a tailor showing off a suit, and the flayed skin opened up to reveal the barely recognisable outline of an adult man.
He was still alive.
And the rest of him, I soon found out, was in my bathtub. And that half was also very much alive. Thrashing and sliding as it struggled to gain a grip on the smooth ceramics, begging for its other half. Words I don’t really think were a natural fit for the stern man who’d interrogated me just ten hours ago. But then again it wasn’t really the same man. Either way, he spoke of the darkness between atoms, the infinite space where time doesn’t exist, and the endless shapes that swim the murky abyss, fleeing their cruel god. More than that, he lamented no longer being whole. Feeling himself in two places at once. He called it wrong and on that he had my agreement.
I begged Grenwig to take it away. To undo what he had done.
And that was how I used my first favour. The box and the man disappeared, dragged off to some dark corner that was out of sight. And that was the last I saw of him, although a bit of research later on revealed that while Grenwig did indeed put him back together, the poor man has been catatonic in a hospital bed ever since.
Alive, but definitely not well.
Next day the kids asked me what I’d requested. I told them I asked for a new playstation. Didn’t tell them the truth, partly because it’d traumatise them, but partly because acknowledging it even happened would traumatise me. After that I crunched the numbers. I figured out the number of kids and how often the rota would fall on me. Based on this info I booked the week off work ahead of time and well, I just waited. I tried to support the kids as best I could when it was their turn, but they didn’t really have the same problems as me. I mean… it wasn’t a holiday for them either. Each one came to school looking like they’d spent the night watching their dog die over and over. Just distraught. Ruined. Exhausted. But like I said, Grenwig generally let them eat their food, or interact with their parents and siblings without demanding attention at the worst possible time.
Eventually round two came along. The kids seemed damned relieved. As for Grenwig’s games, this time I came prepared. I’d already noticed that Grenwig only ever emerged from the shadows, and the kids corroborated that fact. So in the run up to my turn I spent a few weeks setting my bathroom up with as many lamps and torches as I could find. Wasn’t easy to eliminate all those shadows. I had a lot of sleepless nights trialling different arrangements but eventually I got one as close to perfect as I could. I figured if I could have just one or two nights of sleep it’d be damned easier to deal with him.
An hour passed before my stomach started to ache. By the time I realised what Grenwig was doing I could already feel the urge to throw up. Guess I hadn’t given him much of a choice. He wanted to play and there was only one place in that room that was still dark. Wasn’t until I threw myself out into my living room and switched off all the lights that the pain eased up, but by then I was already close to suffocating on the finger sticking out of my throat. When it finally withdrew and I took my first breath in over a minute, I collapsed to the floor, unable to do much of anything except heave and sob.
Grenwig, yellow eyes glaring at me from the space beneath my sofa, giggled. In hindsight, I’m lucky he found it funny. I think he thought it was a game of sorts. God knows what would have happened if that little stunt had made him mad. Otherwise, that second round passed without incident. At least, I wasn’t at work. It was hell, but I didn’t have to worry about driving anywhere or being out in public waiting for those wretched hands to find me. I just stayed indoors and played his weird little games, which mainly just involved me cleaning up whatever stupid thing he’d decided to make a mess of. I found it helped if I played up my exasperation. The less I reacted to his mischief, the more likely he’d escalate.
When it was all over I asked for a winning lottery ticket. Unfortunately I didn’t specify the amount, which I supposed is my fault. At least the amount I won covered rent that month, even if my expectations were a little higher.
Still I figured it’d be better next time. I’d be more specific, I decided.
Best laid plans of mice and men…
You ever lost someone? Most people have. I have, for sure. More than once, too. It nearly unmade me and I was a fully grown man.
It was about a couple days before my turn that Alia experienced her first loss. Most kids it’s a hamster. If they’re unlucky, a grandparent. For her, it was her older brother. I’d taught him eleven years earlier and he was a good kid. Smart, like her. Went on to become a mechanic. His passing wasn’t anything strange or sinister. Just an accident. Jack popped off. Car crushed him. Random. Devastating. She was called out of a lesson by the principal and her parents, the three of them looking like hell. Like they’d spent a month one-on-one with Grenwig. A little reminder that not all nightmares hide in the dark, I suppose.
I don’t know why this hit me hard. I think it was probably my own experience with grief. Either way it stuck with me. Her absence, the empty chair and desk, felt hard to ignore day-after-day, knowing what she was going through. I think it’s one thing to accept that these kids’ll face circumstance. Poverty. Shit parents. Life isn’t fair. I don’t get a say in the way society says some kids get ponies and others get rickets. But there’s something about losing someone that way, just a random confluence of bad luck, that hits harder than most. I don’t know if I can explain it. It’s just Alia was already growing up at the bottom rung of our not-very-invisible class system. Hadn’t she had her fair share of bad luck already? I mean, fuck, even Grenwig grants favours! Even that wretched monster isn’t all bad. But an accident like what happened to Alia’s brother. There’s no upside. It’s just shit.
Thing is… like I said, my turn was coming up, and I mean, the way I saw it, the boy was already dead, right? Wasn’t like he could die getting wrapped three times around a lathe? Worst had already come to pass. I decided to do something that, even at the time, I figured to be pretty stupid. But if there was a chance it could work, well… I had to try.
Round three with Grenwig went real easy. I preemptively bought a bunch of jigsaws and left them half done. He honed in on them straight away. I did as much as I could in a single sitting, turned around, turned back and he’d muddled them all up. I’d play up my anger and irritation, then go back to it. Drank a lot of coffee and whiskey. Watched a lot of movies. Grenwig loved it. Broke a couple plates and mugs too. It wasn’t all plain sailing. Woke up one night to find him licking my neck and had to rush to the hospital to get the chemical burn treated. Still, for the most part the week went by without much incident because, well, I had something in mind. Couldn’t get it out. This idea, I had to act on it. And the promise of what it would mean if it worked meant I practically skated through that week with a smile on my face.
At least I had the sense to specify that the boy return to me. Not Alia. I thought if anything went wrong, it’d be best if she didn’t have to see it.
It was four in the morning when I was awoken by a sound that had slipped into my dreams as a kind of creaking door. But as I opened my eyes and reality reasserted itself I realised that what I was actually hearing was a little more like gravel being trod on. Strange. Distant. Quiet. I held my breath, if only so that I could hear better, but it seemed to only amp up the sound of blood rushing through my ears. White noise. It’s so hard to perceive what’s there sometimes, isn’t it? All I wanted was for my ears or eyes to report something useful to me without having to get out of the safety of my own bed. Instead all I got were dim shadows and the sea-like susurrations of my own breathing.
At least I could ascertain I wasn’t alone in my apartment. Over time, the longer I waited, the more sure of that I became. Something was out there, in the corridor between my bedroom and living room at a guess, moving with the kind of irregular rhythm that belongs only to living things. This wasn’t the wind or some pipe settling. Something was moving, and it was moving in my direction. Low to the ground. A noise I couldn’t put any shape to. Wrong. All wrong. Made me think of breaking pencils. Grinding teeth. In the end I couldn’t help myself. I got up and called out. Who’s there? The words didn’t feel real to me. The world took on the realer-than-real distortion that comes with terror, coupled with a prickling white heat at the nape of the neck. For a moment I swore I was outside my own body staring down at myself from above. It was too much. But that sound was clearer than ever before. There was no pretending this ghost wasn’t real.
I turned on the light.
Alia’s brother screamed and crawled away from the light, neglected whimpers left behind like a trail that led me to the living room where I found him curled around a table leg. He was alive but not whole. Guess I hadn’t given much thought to what a car would do to a man’s chest. Every breath was a strange orchestra. Too many sounds to disentangle. Bone on bone. Crumpled ribs expanding, or at least trying to, and drawing oxygen into blood filled lungs. Moss had grown across his face, even in the short time he’d been in the ground.
A hand, ice cold, shot out and grabbed my wrist and I cried out, but he didn’t let go. He followed as I tried to push myself away, his bottom half trailing along, limp and misaligned with his torso. Felt like pulling a sack of meat across an ice rink.
“Don’t send me back,” he whimpered. “Don’t send me back.”
Eventually my foot hit the sofa and I fell onto it. He dragged himself using his hands over to the side so that we were face-to-face before I even had time to push myself upright.
“He likes you,” he whispered and I recoiled at the smell of his breath. “There are so few things in the dark that know how to leave. But he does. Don’t… don’t ask him to send me back. Please?”
For the first time my mind started working. Was he talking about Grenwig? I wondered. But of course, I told myself, who else?
“What… what’s over there?” I asked.
He went to answer before the words choked in his mouth and his face twisted into a mask of melancholic agony. Trying to utter something, he burst into painful sobs.
“Don’t make me go back,” was all he could manage to say. “Don’t make me go back! Don’t make me go back! Please please please don’t send me back there you don’t know what they do to us!”
“I don’t… I don’t know what to do,” I stammered.
The boy grabbed me and pulled me close. Unsure of how to comfort him, I let him hold me in an embrace.
“We aren’t the same when it’s done with us.”
“What?”
I never saw him take the knife from the kitchen, but I suppose he’d been in my home for longer than I’d been awake, and he had plenty of opportunity. First thing I felt, which surprised me even in the moment, was that it suddenly became hard to breathe. That was the punctured lung. Felt like the worst pneumonia I’d ever had came over me in the space of five seconds. Just boom, suffocating on your own blood. So much that it spilled over my lips and down my chin. By the time I registered the aching waves of dull agony pulsing out of the spot on my rib cage, I was already slumping back down onto the sofa, sitting there like I was getting ready for a friday night move.
Not that I was helpless. I took maybe two seconds, tops, to accept what had happened. To understand it, and then I was able to drive my heel into his head as he tried climbing up onto me. Weirdly his broken back helped him. He sort of just bent with the blow, but it didn’t actually dislodge him. I had to kick him again to do that. And then I had to stand up and do it again and again, and I think around the fourth or fifth kick I realised I had something of a problem.
The pain didn’t really bother him.
Not when I kicked him in his pulped chest. Not when I stamped on his hand as he tried to push himself back up for the tenth time. Not even when I rolled him over and stamped on his head, struggling to aim my foot through the tears in my eyes. Even after I’d immobilised him, even after I fumbled around and found an old bike helmet, and clubbed his skull until my arm grew sore, he didn’t cry out in pain. He just kept trying to get back up.
“Fuck!” I screamed as seconds turned to minutes, which just kept ticking on. It felt like I was swinging for hours, but in truth I don’t know how long. Eventually I stopped for breath and frantically looked from one corner of the room to another, desperate for the first time in my life to see those horrible long fingers. “Take him!” I cried. “For God’s sake take him back!”
I suspect he’d been waiting and watching, because with very little delay Grenwig finally made his appearance.
Yellow eyes, clustered together like frog spawn, winked at me from a shadow under the table. They seemed self-satisfied, as they always did, but I didn’t care. The mutilated man who lay on the floor continued to bark with wet laughter, pawing at me with broken fingers. I was feeling faint, and my whole right side was burning hot and cold all at once as warm blood began to cool.
“Oh God,” I cried. “Just take him back.”
Grenwig’s hands wasted little time, and that man’s laughter grew only more hysterical as the fingers wrapped around his chest and legs and slowly towed him towards the dark. I felt a brief moment of relief as I hoped this would be the end of my mistake.
But then I felt his arms wrap around my legs.
Even broken, his strength was something special. Trapped in a bear hug, slowly being pulled towards that abyssal shadow, I began to panic. But it was far too little, and far too late. I went feet first. A feeling like nothing else I’d ever had. In the end I was clinging by the tips of my fingers to an impossible ledge. Above me was a sort of opening with no defined beginning or end, and on the other side lay my living room.
I looked down and, for the first time, saw Grenwig as a whole. In hindsight it had been a mistake to think of him as humanoid. I think I’d just decided the boogeyman should look like a man, but what floated in the strange aether beneath me was more akin to a jellyfish, or maybe a spider. I don’t know. It was dark in that void, and yet impossible clear. I could see things in there. More than just Grenwig. It defied dimensions as we understand it. It was both an ocean and a landscape. In the distance, leviathans swam through open space. I’m not even sure I was seeing based on light. When I blinked I still saw everything.
Grenwig found it all hilarious. He had a mouth, and it laughed maniacally as it peeled Alia’s brother from around my waist, leaving me free to kick and pull my way back into reality. As I slid onto the carpet of my living room, his laughter persisted.
As soon as I was out I crawled and rushed to the bathroom where I locked the door and passed out.
Grenwig’s next turn with me lasted two weeks which I think was because I made two requests. One for Alia’s brother to return from the dead, and the other for him to be taken away. Either way, I didn’t begrudge Grenwig’s games. But it did mean I didn’t get another request. I have to wait until next time. Meanwhile I’ve watched the children approach the end of the school year and I find myself wondering if they’ll age out of Grenwig or take him with them into the next teacher’s class. If he leaves them alone, will he terrorise the next lot of kids I teach?
Either way, I think Grenwig will let me double up again and that’s important because if so, I know what I’m going to do. Like I said before, I’m out of here. No more teaching. I’m cashing out. But I’ve decided, after what I did to Alia and her brother, that I can at least take Grenwig with me. He can become a permanent friend, leave the kids the hell alone. I don’t want him following them, or haunting the next bunch to come along.
I’m going to stuff my pockets so full of cash that I can build him and me a playground and he won’t ever have to bother them again.
They have enough to deal with.
2023.05.26 11:17 EuphoricTemporary226 Yeni bebekler geldi alırım bi hayırlısı olsun
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