Hoarding Parafortóno 2

Snack Sans Goût

Diversions in Toyland ’22

Nog for the guests on red felt tablecloth
sprigs of ilex about the parlour
candle carousel spins in first gear

Upstairs, the youngsters’ ears to the floor
the merry murmur hums through
under the sights and songs given to distract

No Manse Messac invasion tonight
stay put and let the diversions work
after all, this is your house

Fortune at Your Feet

Hoarding Parafortóno 1

Orville Beverages Launches Energy Drink for Domestic Market

DATELINE: Heritageville, Present Day

Orville Beverages Division announces the debut of Caffè de Gallina di Cacao Energy Drink to provide consumers a new energy alternative to enjoy throughout their day. The updated beverage is made with premium ingredients from natural sources. Launching in 2023, Caffè de Gallina di Cacao Energy Drink will be available exclusively in domestic markets.
  Caffè de Gallina di Cacao originated as a problematic beverage found in corporate lounge vending machines all over the country. The machine options of coffee, hot chocolate and chicken soup would unintentionally intermingle, resulting in a flavour-buddy-ridden amalgamate fluid. Orville simply changed the nomenclature to reflect the demands of self-conscious coffee cognoscenti and — voila — problem fixed!
  Caffè de Gallina di Cacao is designed to complement good times and social outings. It has been certified organic in compliance with Orville’s internal Organic Consistencies Programme. Like all Orville beverages, it is sold in 100 percent recyclable cans that are vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free and dairy-free.
  The Orville Corporation is no stranger to the energy consumables market. Their Toro Verde Energy Inhalant is a leader in overseas markets and Froggi-Zerii Scarfing Powder is hit with student athletes in the domestic market.
  For more than 40 years, Orville has been giving energy to youth of all ages around the world. With Caffè de Gallina di Cacao Energy Drink, Orville saw the opportunity and need to update a classic flavour that would offer consumers a complementary product with the same quality ingredients and taste the brand is known for.
  “Developing and launching Caffè de Gallina di Cacao into the domestic energy drink market has been an exciting and informative process for us,” said Orville Beverages Division Vice-President Kaitlinn Robertell. “We’ve had an awesome response with our focus groups as Orville has driven category expansion and will continue to do so as we listen to the requests of our loyal and thirsty energy consumers.”

Noctivagant 6: Souvenirs de L’Arlésienne

Le même coin de rue de mémoire:
Billets de concert jetés à la poubelle
“Je rentre à la maison, bébé”
Si seulement.

Jurgætium Removes Ambassador to Earth After Tech Transfer Indictments

Imperial Jurgætium has ordered its ambassador to Earth to be removed, according to a decree released by the Grand Synod House of Jurgætium, after indictments of illegal tech transfer were lodged by Sir Keir Marvik, Special Envoy to the Xarnaq Praetorium.
  United Planets Security Council Secretary G-Rod ibn Quirish had urged Earth to expel Ambassador Magister DeVault after evidence was discovered of mind-transferral technology intercepted from the Orville Corporation, allowing for subsequent illegal sales to underworld factions.
  The decree published by the office of Prime Imperator Jurgætus LXII acknowledges the indictment, and claims Ambassador DeVault has gone into hiding, noting that his last known location was aboard an escort vessel hastily leaving Earth orbit without proper clearance.
  “Any formal actions by United Planets against the accused whilst in absentia will just drag on indefinitely,” claims Special Envoy Marvik. “Jurgætium officials are simply ‘saving face’ and ‘washing their hands’ of any liability.”
  The Orville Corporation has placed a bounty of seven million quatloos for information leading to the location of Ambassador DeVault and the missing gist-transfer psy-weaponry.
  The United Planets is expected to sanction the corporation’s efforts at the next Security Council plenary session sometime next year, they don’t know when.

Jurgætium Ambassador Faces Allegations of Illegal Tech Transfer

Stratum I Premonition: On the Route de Cheval Noir to the M•A•B facility, Courier One receives a communiqué from Magister DeVault and passes it to young Malinconico: “In the future, the tech will exist for gist-transfer. But HORLOGE diktat prohibits short cuts. So we have 48 years to prep for it.”

Special Envoy to the Xarnaq Praetorium Sir Keir Marvik has asked the United Planets to strip the Imperial Jurgætium ambassador of immunity so charges can be pursued against him related to an alleged tech trafficking ring.
  Sir Marvik is accusing Ambassador Magister DeVault of illegal possession of proprietary technology, United Planets Media reports. It is alleged that DeVault ordered subordinates to fraudulently intercept mind-transferral technology from the Orville Corporation, allowing for their subsequent illegal sale.
  Private enquêteurs remote-scanned DeVault’s earthside chancery in September of this year, claiming quantum signature traces of 39 Gist-Transfer Psy-Truncheon Manifolds that were reported missing by Orville. The ambassador was tending to his affairs on Jurgætium at the time.
  A simple majority of the UP General Assembly is needed to remove DeVault’s statutory immunity. Jurgætioid officials say the accusations regarding the trafficking ring are “completely bogus,” United Planets Media reported.
  While no solid links have yet been established in Ambassador DeVault’s alleged tech dealing, active duty and retired officials have sold military matériel to interplanetary criminal groups in the past, including the Caponi Clench on Esotöb3magA-III and the Baltan Seijin on Planet R and Venus. The Orville Corporation was itself under threat of embargo last year for alleged arms trafficking but sanctions were dropped by UP Security Council Secretary G-Rod ibn Quirish.
  Ambassador Marvik is a former Orville Think Tank director and denies any conflict of interest.
  Legal and illegal tech transfer has long been a grave concern for the United Planets as well as earthside. Trafficking at the upper echelons of power can undermine the legitimacy of sovereign systems and their efforts to crack down on organised crime’s effect on tech imbalances.

Noctivagant 5: Luce Violacea su Asfalto

Amethyst light from on high settles in the streets, evoking the nocturnes of the Megis Chamber and even a simple glass of Pinot upon the dusty escritoire.

Noctivagant 4: Lumine in Caligo

Lights again kindle in the murk, xenomantic answers to questions nobody asked, found in silhouettes pacing the dank streets.

Retro Tech: Tactical Psionic Devices of the Early Strata, Pt. III

One short-lived Tactical Psionic Device developed by the Orville Corporation was the TPD-450, a Remote Pungeoning Console that preceded the “Land Mind” TPDs put in place during the Rev. Resbo Era [Strata XIX-XXVII].
  The TPD-450’s brief spotlight was during Strata XIII-XVII [Megis Era] as Sheva brainwave sensors were first utilised, replacing basic ghee-factor Psi-Scan modules common in older models.
  The TPD-450 was notable for its introduction of “Mr Sujay,” an intelligent user interface that assisted users by way of an interactive animated avatar which integrated with pungeonary procedurals. Unfortunately, the feature drew a strongly negative response from many users after the avatar would embark on destructive quines separate from its original programming (blamed by critics on bad coding within the processor core, yet denied by Orville).
  Regrettably, the TPD-450 suffered from the same safety and fidelity liabilities that forced the discontinuation of the TPD-311 model, itself a supposed improvement on the TPD-111 model. Fortunately, the successor “Land Mind” model TPD was a great success and paved the way for Orville’s future improvements in this technological sphere.

Vientulība Naktī

The key is gone, and now only the fables are whispered...