Floor 8 - Chapter 1 - Snowbound
January 7th, 2023 - Floor 8, around a mile from the Teleport Gate
For Jet, the Eighth Floor made him feel something he hadn't felt since he was a child. A sense of wonder at what he saw, as the light glistened off the snow, and what he felt, as the snow parted under foot. It almost took him back to his first holiday abroad, back when he was four. That also being said, he preferred not to remember that trip in parts. Mainly the bit where their plane had to land just a little earlier than planned... in England. Not exactly the Alps, was London Heathrow...
His girlfriend, on the other hand, was having a very different experience... ''I-it's f-freezing o-out h-h-here...'' - The icicle - formerly known as Koharu - muttered, making her current disdain for her unusually wide eyed boyfriend evident, especially since he was wrapped up well, whilst she just wasn't.
''I did tell you 'one of the days, you should get some cold weather gear, never know when you'll need it...', but nope.'' - Sometimes, she could slap him, especially for the smug look he inevitably had under that scarf he now wore. - ''Tell you what, how's that upgraded skirt holding up?'' - Correction, she will slap him, and it would be today.
''I-it h-had bu-better st-tats! Th-hat wu-was important!'' - She rebuked, rubbing her legs to try and warm up as best she could. It wasn't particularly effective.
''Nice and warm, then?''
''E-eff y-you...''
''Love you too, sweetie.'' - Jet smirked, an expression invisible under his scarf, before continuing on ahead of his frozen girlfriend. If he stopped to look back, he'd have noticed her blushing furiously... probably the only blood flow she still maintained in this cold. He took a quick look around for any cover they could use. As beautiful as this floor was, it was bloody freezing, and there really was only so much that could be taken before both of them developed an ailment known as Frostbite, and neither particularly wanted to discover how much that affected them. He looked back to Koharu, who looked incredibly unsteady on her feet, and went back to her. ''You really aren't coping here, are you?''
''I-i'm fu-fine... acchhhOOO!'' - Jet thanked a god he didn't believe in for SAO not modelling spit all that well, after his girlfriend just managed to sneeze on him - ''S-sorry.''
Jet just sighed, and quickly opened his inventory, and pulled out a maroon coat, and a black pair of long trousers, neatly folded, before holding them out to Koharu, which popped up a menu -
TRADE REQUEST:
From: JET
ITEMS:
[Winter Coat]
[Raging Bull Trousers]
[ACCEPT] [DECLINE]
Without thinking, Koharu accepted the request and wobbled off behind a rock to change. One of the many quirks of SAO was to do with it's clothing system, which meant that clothing would scale to fit it's user, meaning that the usual awkwardness that would be associated with the 5ft 2in Koharu wearing clothes that were almost certainly meant for a 6ft Jet, usually wasn't a major issue.
After a brief flash of light - a sight that Jet definitely thought impressive against the snow, and polished icicles - Koharu stepped out from the rock, and looked just a little more stable on her feet, though not by much. ''Better?''
''A little bit. Still freezing though...''
''Join the club. And here's 12 year old me thinking the Beast from the East would be the worst snowstorm ever...'' - Jet rolled his eyes at his younger self's naivety, whilst Koharu suppressed a giggle.
''We could do with finding shelter, really... how far's the nearest town?''
''About half a mile away, to our north... which begs the next question...''
''Which way is north?''
''Yeah... I kinda forgot to buy a compass.''
''Well, we're gonna have to-''-CLANG! shhhiiiinnK! - Koharu was interrupted by the clashing of blades, somewhere in the distance. Something about the expression on Jet's face told her that he'd noticed it too.
''You heard that too, right?'' - He asked, listening out for any more noise, only hearing a faint scream of metal clashing, and a small murmur in the distance. The noise was coming from their 2 o'clock, and not too far ahead of them, though in the current conditions, that was still a fair way away.
''Yeah, we should go help, right?''
''Could be a trap?''
''Could be people in danger though...''
''Yeah, we should at least investigate.'' - It was a good job neither Asuna nor Kirito were here, else they'd both be telling Koharu she was far too kind for her own good, charging headfirst into danger, without so much as second guessing the circumstances around it...
If Mito had any regrets in life, it was that she'd only now ceased to be a coward. Had she stayed with Asuna on the first floor, maybe things would be different. Maybe she wouldn't be constantly thinking about how it had been her cowardice that had doomed someone completely unused to this world, and how, rather than teaching her, she'd fled in the dark of night. How she wouldn't have had to go orange, in order to save her own skin... and how she'd be enjoying this far more, if it weren't so damned cold! Worse still, the cold was beginning to get to her, her movements becoming slower, as the Frostbite ailment set in, and whittled away her HP just as fast as any mob, and in that moment, a funny thought came to mind - possibly bought on by hypothermia - the Grim Reaper of Aincrad, as she'd been named by that bastard, was protecting a child from a fast approaching demise. ''How ironic is that...''
That's not a small number of mobs, and there's quite a small number of us. - Jet thought, as he looked ahead, and thought of a plan. If he could drag the mobs into a slugging battle, his shield would hold them back somewhat, and allow the other three to bring the mobs down. It wasn't a solid plan, but he didn't really have time to think of a better one - ''Ko, you ready?''
''As I'll ever be, let's go!''
''I'll take the scythe girl, you get the lass with the dragon.''
''On it.''
''HEY! YOU NEED HELP?!'' - A simple nod did the trick, and the couple raced in - Jet using his shield to tackle his way through a number of the penguin mobs, whilst Koharu used her agility to flank the yeti mobs, and whittle them down bit by bit.
''Thanks... I'm sorry we even had to ask for help in the first place. I should've been more careful.''
''No problem, we needed to get the hang of fighting in the snow anyway.'' - Jet replied, nonplussed about it. Everyone made mistakes, after all, and he'd made more than a few...
''Huh, didn't look like it.'' - The lilac haired girl commented.
''You need an escort back to the nearest town, or...''
''Umm, Silica here might, but I'm fine, I- uhh, I quite like it out here.'' - Jet, Koharu, and the young girl, Silica, all raised their eyebrows at that.
''Oh, we never did get your name?''
''Umm, Mito. I'll be fine, don't worry about me.'' - The purple reaper headed off into the blizzard, and left all three of them stood there.
''Well, she was...'' - Koharu tried to find the words to describe the new girl, Mito. She wasn't doing too well at that...
''Hiding something.'' - Jet answered.
''Thank you for saving us, umm...''
''Oh, manners. I'm Koharu, that's Jet.'' - Jet just mimed a salute - ''You're Silica, right?''
''Yes, how did you know?'' - The young girl asked.
''Umm, Mito just called you Silica, so we kind of guessed that was you...''
''So, Silica, what led you out... here?'' - Jet asked, as a mob landed atop his shield - ''Skrawww!''
''Umm, hello?'' - Jet asked the small dragon.
''Chirrp. Chirrp.'' - The little dragon cocked it's head curiously, as Jet began to pet it. Thankfully, this one couldn't drag him along with it... so no more bathing incidents, he hoped.
''Aww, they're pretty cute... and fluffy.''
''You are not calling this one 'Fluffy', Jet. Not again...'' - Jet pouted, though this was hidden by his scarf.
''Oh, that's Pina! She's my companion.''
''Huh, I didn't know players could tame animals in SAO?'' - Jet continued petting Pina, whilst Koharu talked with Silica, as they headed into the nearby town.
''I didn't either, I ran into her while I was trekking through a forest, and gave her some peanuts, and now... I think the game calls them familiars, but Pina helps me out while I'm questing!''
''She's adorable!'' - Jet couldn't work out whether Koharu meant that about Pina or Silica. Knowing his girlfriend, it could have been either. ''Can I pet her?'' - Pina it was, then.
''Of course! She likes it when you stroke her back, like that.'' - Silica demonstrated, as the feathered dragon chirped happily. Koharu followed, and the dragon chirped gleefully again.
''She's so fluffy! It's like petting a cat!'' - To anyone looking, Jet raised an eyebrow. What they couldn't see, was how big his smirk was under the scarf. ''Thank you Pina, thank you for letting me pet you!''
''She's got this habit of running from people she doesn't like, so for her to let you two pet her like that, she must really like you! Umm, sorry to ask, but... uhh, you're okay with me coming with you for a while? I know I'm not very strong, or...''
''We're fine with having you here, Silica. Besides, we offered to take you the nearest town, right?''
''Yeah, thank you for that!''
''No problem, not gonna leave someone wandering aimlessly in the snow now... don't suppose you've got a compass on you, have you?'' - Jet asked, trying to hide his own error in not bringing one. ''Uhh, no, why?'' Silica asked, as Jet slapped his face and groaned.
''He forgot to buy one for us, and so...''
''Chirp! Chirp!''
''I think Pina sees it!'' - Silica jumped up and down trying to see what her feathered friend could see. Even at nearly two foot above Silica, Jet still couldn't see much, other than the faintest sight of a spire in the distance. ''I think I see a spire...'' - Jet mumbled, as Koharu began clambering on him... ''Oi, you wanted a lift, just ask for it!''
''Lift please.'' - With Koharu now on his shoulders, they could just about see the town, and set off... but not before Jet had put Koharu down again.
''Aww, I was enjoying the view...'' - Koharu pouted, as she made contact with the snow.
''You would've been when both of us fell flat on our faces, because I lost my balance!'' - Jet retorted.
''Anyway, Silica? What weapon do you use?''
''Oh, I use a dagger. I chose it because it's light, and easy to use, but I didn't realise how hard it would make fighting solo.'' Jet winced, realising just how slow fighting mobs with a dagger would actually be, as Silica continued, ''It's thanks to Pina that I've actually managed to complete most of the quests I took on!'' Silica began petting Pina, who chirped happily.
Koharu put on an impression, and attempted to mimic Argo, ''Daggers are speedy an' versatile, but they make ya more easy to target. A dagger wielder can help out any party!'', after the quote, she swapped back to her normal voice, ''Or at least, that's what Argo says. They're good for defeating enemies in quick, short bouts, but...'', Jet gave his girlfriend a knowing smirk, and mimed wiping a tear from his eye... ''Jet?''
''I'm so proud of you...'', Jet teased, ''Look at you, a proper gamer now...''
''We've made it to the eighth floor already! It's only natural that I'd know that much!'' - Koharu responded, indignantly huffing towards the knight. ''Like I was saying, as far as battle strategy goes, I'd suggest Jet and I go upfront, with you and Pina supporting us from behind.''
''That sounds good to me! We'll have your backs!''
''Well, with that settled, should we go?''
''Yeah!''
The group continued walking for a while, before Silica and Pina had gone to walk at a frozen waterfall. Jet looked over to see Koharu, smiling towards the young girl, and then towards Jet, who'd ditched the scarf, as they approached the town, and the area warmed up slightly. ''She sure is lively, and not to mention cute... I'd guess she's about Mater's age, right?''
''Koharu, I mean this in a really nice way, but you are such a big sister...''
''I don't understand?'' - Koharu asked, confused at the statement.
''Just, the way you act towards Silica and Mater, and every other child we've come across. It's a good thing, don't get me wrong, but...''
''Oh, yeah, that...'' - Koharu suddenly looked down, saddened. Jet noticed the change in demeanour, and decided not to pry further at the moment. As he did that, Silica called over for their attention, having found something...
''We're coming!'' - Koharu called back, as she went on ahead, without saying anything to Jet. Jet looked back towards her, and sighed. Koharu only ever went silent when she was upset, so trust him to put his foot in it...
Arriving in the town, the first thing that was noticed was that the town definitely didn't fit in the environment it was in. It was clean, and most importantly, it was warm... which meant Jet, who was clad in winter gear, was absolutely boiling. Koharu, who had lighter gear on, was still warm, but nowhere near to the same level.
''Whoa...''
''No kidding...''
''It's like something out of a fairy tale! It's so warm and toasty here in the town too! I bet it'd be fun to live here!'' - Silica was practically jumping up and down in excitement, and it was a sight that warmed both Jet's heart, and his head, which definitely didn't need warming anymore. ''Wow! It's one of those automaton clocks! I've seen something similar before, but it wasn't as pretty as that one!''
''Let's go and have a look, shall we?'' - Koharu and Silica wandered off towards the big clock, whilst Pina had decided to make a nest on Jet's shoulder. ''Chirp.''
''You said it, Pina.'' - If what the dragon had said was 'you've screwed up, and now she's upset with you.' then yes, Pina had said it.
''Hey!'' A mid level player came up to Jet, and started making conversation with him, ''You've got a familiar! That's so cool! How'd you get it?''
''I... uhh, I didn't. It's not mine, she's a friend's. Just seems to like my shoulder for some reason.''
''I've never seen someone tame a dragon before! Uhh, can you ask your friend if I can pet her?''
''Uhh, she's- ah never mind, she's back.'' - Jet really wished he'd just walked off, as the player practically ran up to Silica, and started pestering her about petting Pina. Silica, being evidently not great at social stuff, was clearly uncomfortable at the barrage of questions from the player, and Jet moved to shoo them off. ''Okay mate, she's answered your question, and you're clearly making her nervous, could you, you know, back off a little?''
''And who are you then, her father or her brother? Or just some white knight...''
''Okay, I was gonna be civil, but if you want to trade barbs, go ahead...'' - Jet gave an unsettling smirk, and watched as the player backed off, before making a hasty exit. ''Thank god that worked.'' Jet rolled his eyes, before checking on Silica, ''Silica, you alright?''
''Uh, yeah, thank you! I-'' - As the young dragon tamer spoke up, another player, a woman this time, came up to the group. Jet and Koharu gave each other a grim look, with both seemingly recognising that something wasn't right... '' Oh. My. Gosh... That little dragon is just the cutest! It's a familiar, right?'' - The woman began to crowd around Silica, and kept moving around her, almost as if she was sizing her up.
''Y-yes?'' - The young dragon tamer looked over towards Jet and Koharu, both of whom were quickly thinking of a way to polite tell this woman to buzz off...
''Spill the beans! How do I trigger an event to get my own familiar? I read the Rat's guide, and not a thing in there!''
''S-sorry, I don't actually know how...''
''Don't bother with her, she doesn't know anything. I already asked her.'' - The same jackass from just had found his way over, and joy of joys, he'd bought a friend... ''Hey, cut it out! Sorry about him, but how about this? You can tell us some more about your pet over dinner! Our treat!'' - the new one asked, a funny look in his eye that Jet couldn't pin down...
''Harassing a young child, do you three truly have no shame?'' - A familiar voice bellowed, accompanied by an unfamiliar appearance. The three troublemakers, on the other hand, pushed past the newcomer, mumbling as they went.
''T-thanks, who are you?'' - Silica thanked the new girl.
''Your voice is familiar, but...'' - The monkeys in Jet's mind went to work, and he realised who it was after a few seconds, ''Sanya!?''
''I was counting on no one recognising me, much less you...'' - Sanya spat.
''Hard not to recognise the person who gave me a migraine...'' - Jet retorted, clearly still annoyed.
''It wasn't as if you didn't deserve it...'' - Koharu looked fed up at the trading of insults, and Silica was just confused. Who was this girl, and what had Jet done to deserve her ire? ''Yes, alright Jet, we get it. Sanya, why are you here? I thought you were at the orphanage?''
''The orphanage has... well, it has grown, and it requires more resources than we currently have. With Rain helping you pair from now on, I felt it prudent that I should take up a more combat oriented role. As I needed gear to befit that role, I decided to change my appearance to avoid recognition... which was apparently a flawed plan, if even a complete ignoramus could identify me.''
''Who's the bigger ignoramus, the one who saw right through it, or the one who thought it would work in the first place?'' - Jet snarked, as Sanya muttered something in Russian, before storming off angrily. ''And my day of continuing to do everything wrong continues, uninterrupted... lucky me.'' - Jet mumbled under his breath, before Koharu spoke up. ''Okay, well, now that's done. I think we should get food...'' - Koharu spoke, breaking the tension in the air.
''Yeah!'' - Silica said, excitedly.
''Sure.'' - Jet said, trying his hardest not to show the annoyance he was currently dealing with.
The trio went and found a café in the town. A small shop, not hidden, per se, but certainly not on the expected path. Inside, it reminded Jet slightly of the cafe he'd been in, when his family had stopped off in Cleveleys, en route to the Lake District.
''This is really nice!'' - Silica passed Koharu a piece of gingerbread, and offered Jet a piece, which was politely declined. ''Sorry if I've been a burden to you...''
''Huh? Why would you think that?''
''You've had to step in to help me, and now you two aren't talking to each other...'' - Silica seemed more upset by the latter part, if Koharu was reading her correctly.
''That's not- it isn't your fault Silica. It's just something between us.'' - Koharu reassured the young girl, not wanting her to think that whatever funk Jet was in was her fault.
''She's right, Silica. You're still a kid, right, so sometimes, you'll need to ask for help from people older and a little wiser than you. Especially here.''
''I know, but... can you not call me a kid, please! I'm 12!'' - Both Jet and Koharu's hearts simultaneously broke. The young girl that had been fighting for her life when they found her, wasn't even a teenager yet... ''Uhh, Jet? You're crying?'' - Jet felt under his right eye. She was right, he was crying... that was weird.
''Oh, uhh, it's nothing. Just something in my eye.'' - Jet lied. A lie so obvious that even Silica, who'd only known him a few hours, knew it was a lie.
''Sure... anyway, Silica, it's nice to have someone else with us...''
''Then ya won't mind lil' ol' me taggin' along, will ya, Ko?'' - ''Of all the days for her to turn up... today. Really, universe... how much do you hate me? What did I ever do to you!'' Jet screamed in his mind. Externally, Jet attempted to remain civil with Argo, but today would really be testing his limit...
''Argo!'' - Jet said nothing, an oddity that Argo soon picked up on. ''My presence shocked ya into silence there, knight-boy?'' - Argo teased, as Jet narrowed his eyes at her. ''No, my parents always said that if you didn't have anything nice to say to someone, just don't say anything at all.''
''Yeesh, woke up on the wrong side of bed this mornin', huh?'' - Argo asked.
''I'm going outside for a few, I need some fresh air.'' - Jet walked off, leaving the three girls at the table.
''I know he can be a bit standoffish, but that's just ridiculous...'' - Argo commented, as Koharu sighed.
''He's in a funk, but I can't work out why. I can't tell if it's something I did, something that happened to him, I don't know...''
''Did you two have an argument earlier?'' - Silica asked, innocently.
''A little bit, but I never said anything to him...''
''Weird, ya think maybe he's concerned over summat, and doesn't wantcha knowin'?''
''I don't know, Argo... I really don't know...''
Outside of the cafe, Jet had time to collect his thoughts and feelings. He looked around at the town, bustling with life, and anyone else would've been impressed by the sight. To Jet though, it just represented the thousands of eyes on him, a crippling sense of paranoia that had never quite left. Every single person staring at him, and it was enough to make him start to slump against the wall, his head feeling as if someone was repeatedly punching it, each blow becoming stronger and stronger, until finally... a face, a horrifying distortion of what might once have been an already sadistic grin, lunged for him. Jet collapsed against the wall, and fell to the cobbles below...
''Jet!'' - Rain, who'd just arrived, had witnessed everything. From Jet's increasingly erratic breathing, to the violent shaking, before he collapsed, it felt eerily similar to that night in the tent. She rushed over to the collapsed knight, and propped him against a wall, as the girls raced out of the cafe to help.
''What happened!?''
''I don't know, he just started shaking, and then... that.''
''We should get him to an inn, get him rested...'' - Rain and Koharu picked the unconscious Jet up, each with one arm around their shoulders, and began to carry him to the nearby inn.
''Koharu?'' - A familiar ginger raced over to them, having seen some of what was going on...
Some time later, Jet had regained consciousness, and unsurprisingly, the first question asked by him was ''What am I doing in bed?''. The next, and far more pressing issue was over what had just happened...
''You don't remember why you passed out?''
''Not really, I just remember a pounding pain in my head, and then thud. Goodnight Vienna...''
''Yer sure he didn't hit his head, Rain?''
''No, he just sort of slumped back against the wall, and skidded down it...'' - What Argo said, and what she meant were two completely different things. Rain hadn't quite caught onto that part yet.
''I think I might know why now...'' - Jet realised, as the girls were debating. ''I used to have panic attacks. I thought it was a bit odd I'd not had one in here yet, but I never paid it any attention... I wonder if that was the NerveGear overcompensating, and well...''
''I don't think so, anyway, knight-boy. Though, ya said ya'd had panic attacks, right? Any particular thing set them off, or just...?''
''Usually if I got too stressed over something, but... oh.'' - Jet felt a shiver run down his spine, and really hoped his theory was wrong.
''Oh?''
''I... think I understand it now. Maybe.''
''Then tell us!'' - Rain exclaimed.
''I... really don't want to. It's not a matter of trust or anything, but...'' - Jet looked away, a guilty look in his eyes. All of them were friends, or so he hoped, and yet, he was keeping massive secrets from them.
''It's okay. Can you tell me, then?'' - Jet gave a small nod, and Koharu asked the girls to leave for a few minutes whilst Jet explained...
''You know how I try never to not wear a shirt, right?'' Koharu nodded, having not actually noticed that, but realising she hadn't ever seen him without a shirt of some kind on, ''Well, I've got a nasty scar down my side there, from where I was slashed as a child. I was about Silica's age back then, so I guess that triggered some part of my memory. Probably why I started crying too.''
''And that stressed you out?''
''Since then, I've always been a bit paranoid. Big crowds make it worse, and I guess I focused on the crowd outside too much... mix that with my anger from earlier, and voila, one panic attack, guaranteed to floor you...''
''Why were you angry anyway? I get that whole thing with those players and Silica, and then you and Sanya, but it was before then...''
''I was angry at myself. I'd been a complete wanker to you since we got on this floor, and I guess I only realised it then.''
''Yeah, you had. I forgive you for it, but it wasn't nice to feel as if I was the butt of the joke.'' - Jet accepted the hug off his girlfriend, happy to be on speaking terms again.
''I should've known that I was being an ass, Ko. So, I'm formally sorry for that, and I owe you... uhh, something, at least!''
''Dinner?''
''Dinner it is! And for what I said earlier, about you being such a big sister, I meant it as a compliment. Anyone would be lucky to have a sister like you... meanwhile, I have Strea. Tell you what, swap?'' - Jet joked, earning a light tap on the shoulder from his girlfriend. ''Fine, I'll keep my sister...''
''I wasn't annoyed at that... I just realised how much more bearable my life would've been if I'd had a sibling to talk to, to share my problems with, just... not be on my own.''
''Koharu...''
''I guess you never had that problem, never lonely, eh?'' - Koharu smiled sadly.
''Not when I was younger, no. As we all grew up, yeah. We all started to move apart, and in mine and my twin sisters case's, that was literal. Sometimes, that moving apart means you get left behind, and well...''
''Guess we're both a bit broken, eh?''
''Broken, but whole. Just about sums us up, right?'' - Jet commented, as Koharu smiled back at him.
''The broken but whole. Yeah, that's us!'' - Argo chose that moment to walk in on the couple, and almost immediately did a spit take. If that was the source of Jet's concerns, she could see why he fainted... yikes, that would've been unpleasant! ''Umm, I ain't interruptin' yer alone time, am I? 'Cause uhh, we are still outside, ya know?''
''Oh, no. It's fine now, you can come back in!'' - Argo wondered exactly what shenanigans those two had gotten up to, if it involved a broken backside... and then decided that there were some things that even an info broker didn't want to know the answer to!
''You alright now?'' - Rain walked over to him, and began looking him over, not that she had any training, bar a first aid course... ''We were worried about you!''
''Better now, I think. Sorry to have scared you all, I guess I should take my own advice sometimes...''
''Well, glad to see you're not on a slab somewhere, Jethro!'' - The ginger girl commented, as Jet seemed very surprised to hear her voice. ''Phillia?''
''The one and only! I saw the commotion in town, and well...''
''Thanks... oh, and one question? What on earth are you wearing?'' - If Jet had thought Koharu's equipment was unsuitable for the climate outside the town, Phillia's was now ten times worse. Short shorts, a small cloak, and a breastplate that was really fitting of the name... in the snow.
''Good stats, and it's my colour, so...'' - Phillia shrugged.
''Aren't you cold like that?'' - Silica asked.
''Nah, I've got a different set for the snow.'' - Jet looked towards Koharu, who gave a look that could only be interpreted as 'Don't you dare...'
''Anyway, Argo, were you just dropping by earlier, or...''
''Oh, yeah, that! Nah, knight-boy, I found summat interesting... it's about the Elf War Quest fer this floor...''
''How much do you want?'' - Everyone in the group, bar Silica and Argo, asked...
''Fer you guys, this one's on the house. I want a favour though...'' - Argo's grin became that more resembling a cat, than a rat...
{Author's Comments}
First part of the plot where it will veer off from any source material massively (I actually don't really remember the Eighth Floor plot in IF all that well) and having Phillia involved, well... you'll see in the next chapter...
Anyway, favourite, follow, comment, PM etc, if you enjoyed it, or have any criticism for me.
Signing off,
Midland 2541