Okay guys, So this was a pretty good weekend, I did have to deal with a muster order on Friday, but it got me an extra 145 bucks and a day off work, so it all worked out. My buddy recently got out of the army so we caught up and had a beer.

I recently started listening to 'The bible in a year' podcast by Father Mike Schmitz, and honestly this guy is good. He takes the bible slowly and explains it in a way thats easier to understand, and its been really enjoyable to actually learn. I mean I was raised Roman Catholic and confirmed into the church, but I feel like I'm having more fun learning about the bible now then I did as a kid. And you really get a sense of God's love.

I know its weird for me to say that since I considered myself a pagan for so long, but I think the Norse Gods are more archetypes to look at versus actual gods for me. Now if I wear a hammer of thor its not because of a spirituality, its more to symbolize my heritage.

I've also been much happier the last few weeks since I started learning more about the bible. I still haven't gone back to confession yet, but lets just say I got a lot to get off my chest.

Overall life is pretty good, I understand with inflation being a bitch that some people are losing hope, but I always like to think of that old quote from Tolkien "Faithless is he who says farewell when the road darkens."

I'll admit, seems like in the past year, things have been going downhill all over the world. But the world has survived much worse, and human beings are resilient creatures, eventually this all will pass. That doesn't mean you should get complacent, right now there is something you can be doing to make your life better. Don't sit around complaining about a better world.

"The greatest works of art, the most beautiful cultures that the world has ever known weren't created by saying no to something, they were created by saying yes to something, because no is about stopping something, and yes is about starting something, its about creating something, its about positive vision."

Start the World

Jem and Nala

"You know, this is so much better than flying in a plane." Jem said as he absolutely loved being on this airship.

"Really? Because beforehand you didn't seem to like the idea?" Winter pointed out as Jem didn't seem comfortable flying.

"Well, I may not be the biggest fan of flying, but if I get a view like this, its a lot better." Jem was pretty much on a flying cruise ship.

He didn't like flying, but he found it much more bearable when he could see outside a window. As long as he could see what was going on, he felt better. But if he was in the middle of the plan as it started to move he just felt weird and didn't like it. But here, he could walk around everywhere as they were moving, there were giant windows, it was almost like being on a fancy yacht party.

"Plus the fact that the bartender gave you a drink probably helps." Winter pointed out the vodka lemonade in Jem's hand.

"I know, its nice." He said as he took a sip.

"I'm honestly surprised that you chose that as your drink." She pointed to the little umbrella in his glass. It wasn't the manliest thing he could pick.

"Hey, I'm on another planet, on a flying cruise ship in the sky with my girlfriend and my daughter, as far as I'm concerned, I'm on vacation, and if I'm on vacation that means I can enjoy a fruity drink, and I love lemonade so I'm gonna enjoy it." He said as he happily sipped on his drink.

Winter couldn't help but roll her eyes at the situation. Jem was obviously having a better time adjusting to Remnant then she did adjusting to Earth. Seriously Jem was one lucky bastard. First he happens to land on the part of menagerie where Blake's parents happen to be, then he just happens to convince them to let them in, and now he was enjoying an all expense flight with an open bar paid for by Atlas. How could one man be so lucky? It was insane.

"Out of curiosity do they have a spa or something on board?" Jem asked as Winter shrugged.

"There is a sauna in the rec center." She said as Jem's eyes sparkled.

"Wait, you guys have a rec center on board?" He was liking this more and more.

"Yes, complete with basketball courts, a driving range, and a weight room." She said as Jem was all smiles.

"Oh hell yeah! I'm gonna finish this drink, and then go work out!" He was loving life!

"Don't you think you should wait? You're literally drinking before a workout..." She didn't want to risk him being hurt.

"Winter, its one vodka lemonade, chances are it will be out of my system in no time." He said as he couldn't wait to go.

He felt pretty lucky all things considered.

"Is there anything else to do onboard?" Nala asked as she was getting bored.

"Theres a area just for gami-" Before Winter could even finish that sentence, Nala took off like a bat out of hell.

Nala may have been an outdoorsy girl like her dad. But she did enjoy her video games as well.

"How long is this flight?" Jem wanted to know how much time he had to kill.

"Should take a day." Winter said as he looked confused.

"A day? How?"

"Well, we do have to make a few stops along the way, this isn't a direct flight." She said as Jem didn't know whether to be happy or irritated.

Happy because he had plenty of time to chill before he got to Atlas. But irritated because he hated indirect flights. He remembered he had been to Hawaii a few times as a kid. And it was always a direct flight. But then for some reason or another, when he tried to go as an adult, it was very rare to find a flight to Hawaii that wasn't indirect. Nearly every single airline had to make at least one stop on the way. He hated that because you could only get so much vacation time, and by the time you finally arrived at your destination, you lost a day, it didn't help that it would most likely be late at night, while you're exhausted, so you're going to spend your next day sleeping in. Which was just time wasted when you were in paradise.

Then again, He was on another planet without having to worry about work, so he was going to let it slide.

"Sweet, so are my parents going back to Earth in a few days?" He asked as she nodded.

"For now they're staying with the Belladonnas. But eventually they'll return home, unlike you they don't want to stick around here." She said as she held Jem's hand as they looked out the window.

"Can't blame them, probably getting ready to introduce the rat pack to Earth, five bucks says they're going on a road trip as soon as they get back." Jem was absolutely certain of it.

"Well, at least they'll have a family again." She said as Jem nodded.

"As cool as that is, I can't help but feel like they're building an army of adopted kids." Jem scratched the back of his head.

"I just find it nuts that they're so willing to adopt faunus, even on Remnant its very rare that you see that." It wasn't impossible, but it was still a rare sight to see.

Jem finished his drink and looked towards Winter.

"Well, while I wait for my slight buzz to go away, how about we tour the ship? I mean, theres got to be some cool stuff besides the rec room to show off right?" He asked as she smiled.

"Sure, just don't touch any buttons."

"Why did you have to say that? Now I'm going to be tempted to push buttons." Jem whined jokingly.

Tigerstripe

Tigerstripe smirked as she counted her tips from the day. Seriously, she may have found it disgusting how pervy old men could be, but she wouldn't deny that they gave good tips with the right amount of persuasion. On top of that, they must have been telling their friends because she noticed the coffee shop was busier than usual. As weird as it was, it only worked to her advantage. Her boss didn't mind, it was just more profits for him. Her co workers however found it slightly annoying that she was just bringing in the tips. But none of them were willing to go through the same 'extreme' flirtation that she gave to the customers.

Everyone loved a goth girl.

"Hmmm, maybe I should consider getting an apartment?" She said to herself as she was searching through advertisements for apartment complexes.

So far nothing really popped out. Its not that Rent was too high, but she was being very picky when it came to location, services, and size. She needed something close by so she couldn't be late, considering she didn't have a car. But at the same time she also couldn't pick something too expensive that would require her to work even longer to afford. But the most important factor was making sure that the crime rate wasn't too bad.

Surprisingly Mantle didn't seem as bad as it was on the show, she assumed that because it was in such close proximity to Atlas, that meant that crime rates would naturally be lower due to criminals being afraid. She knew later in the show that wasn't the case as soon as the citizens got pissed at Ironwood, but in this case Mantle wasn't that bad of a place to be.

"Ugh, no matter what universe I'm in, looking for an apartment sucks." She said as she suddenly missed her little house.

She made good money as a corrections officer back home. So she took a major downgrade in pay as soon as she arrived in Remnant. She sighed at the thought of it. As cool as it was to be here, being poor sucked.

"Whats up Melania?" Her coworker Daisy walked up as she was one of the few to talk to her.

Daisy was a dog faunus, specifically a beagle. Melania may not have been into girls, but Daisy looked so adorable with those little ears.

"Nothing, just looking up apartments, but the ones I like are out of my price range." She pouted as she found the perfect one, but she couldn't justify spending money on it.

"Hmm, let me see." Daisy said as she looked at the listing and her eyes went wide.

"Oh! I've had my eye on that place for awhile! But its so hard to afford the rent if you're by yourself." Daisy said as Melania got an idea.

"Well, in that case, if you don't mind I mean..." She never liked this part.

She may be okay socializing, but this was a completely different level.

"What?" Daisy asked.

"Well, how about we share an apartment?" She asked as Daisy thought it through.

"Sure!"

Wait, seriously?

"Really? Just like that? No 'Hey I need a day to think this over.' Just full send?" Melania didn't understand how Daisy didn't seem worried at all.

"Yeah! I mean, I know you're good for it, you bring in bigger tips than anyone else here." She said as Melania shrugged, that part was true.

After a few more minutes talking it over, both girls decided to meet up later tonight and go check out the apartment together. Daisy had her own vehicle, and they both worked the same shift anyways, so this was just continuing to work in Melania's favor. The girl in question smirked as she realized things were looking up.

"If I keep this going, I'll have Jem all to myself in no time." She said as they were thinking about getting a two bedroom apartment.

And she was certain she could soundproof it so no one could hear Jem's screams.

Whether it would be of pain or pleasure remained to be seen.