Dahlexpert
Well-Known Member
Hay Leon it's your asshole friend here, glad you took my advise man. Now just have to worry about Yakone possible being a sex addict, Like Alexis.
OOC X-COM Think Tank (part 4)
- Thread starter DarkGemini24601
- Start date
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
I'd say something witty about this collab I finished last evening with Marine, but I'm sick. Bleh. Enjoy anyway.
Enjoyed very much. Not only was it heart warming and a bit nostalgic, it gives me hope for the future post war.
Assuming we win, of course. Everything could always go tits up in the end, right?
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
/roll d20
>
1
Avenger is struck by lightning. It crashes into the ocean, and everyone drowns. It's now 2059 and the Ethereal Ascendacy controls Terra with an iron grip. Reroll new characters. XCOM3 begins now.
>
1
Avenger is struck by lightning. It crashes into the ocean, and everyone drowns. It's now 2059 and the Ethereal Ascendacy controls Terra with an iron grip. Reroll new characters. XCOM3 begins now.
Ethereals being Ethereals. Enjoy.
...no serious, please read, and I beg you to enjoy. This solo took four hours to write yesterday. And the stupid way I wrote it hunched over on my bed, I screwed up my back. So please, enjoy what was born of my pain!
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
Hey, sometimes you have to suffer to write. Just look at Edgar Allen Poe.
Rolling stats. Gah. I always have zero luck with that. Except the one time I did great... and they made me reroll them because they were too good...
Dahlexpert
Well-Known Member
So got a nice colabe with Zombie, more of a nice warm family moment. Enjoy it while you can, because the solo I have for Luke is going take a completely different tone.
Excellent collab. You and that Zombie guy know your stuff.
As a side note, I forgot to mention this before, but in current times, the watch Alex fixed up for Luke is a $5000 watch... minus depreciation.
As another side note, since Gem either didn't catch it or didn't notice my question, Alex and Mann's middle names are the feminine, Polish version of the names Sasha and Mikhail.
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
Just have a short collab for you all right now. Taking care of a loose end.
Dahlexpert
Well-Known Member
Ou good we get to kill a cat, get your knives ready everyone.
Dahlexpert
Well-Known Member
Got a solo with Luke coming up, and it's a long one well for me anyway. I realy hope you all enjoy it.
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DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
Holy shit. Dahl, this may be the best solo you've ever written. And I don't say that lightly. Let's dive into how much I loved this.
First of all, I love the way this was caused by a collab. My favorite sort of character development in these roleplays is when it occurs because one person's character influences another. So that's awesome on both your part and Marine's.
The description of the city is fantastic, and reminds me of the one in which Ember created to overwrite Yakone's dojo. I can feel that a lot of Yakone's mental scenes inspired this post, right down to Luke calling the dark version of himself (who has a killer [literally] character design) his "anger and his pride". I consider that the greatest flattery, so thank you.
Its fitting that his dreamscape includes statues of those he cares about (specifically his past, which you expanded in an incredible amount of detail here) AND also functions as a trophy room. An Alaskan hunter at his core, just like the other Van Dams. Great tie-back.
Speaking of his past, I don't know how much of this you already had in mind before creating this solo Dahl, but I love that we're expanding Luke as a person even FURTHER. His relationship with Rachel is great, and explains why he wasn't the recalcitrant stubborn bastard that his mother was in SoD. Then Jessie explains how he learned to be a kind person despite all the attrocities he's committed. I didn't exactly buy him being tortured for as long as you said, but I handwaved that because Baret casts an interesting light on Luke.
It wasn't explicitly stated, but I assume her torture of him came before he turned into the marauder he was for the darkest chapter of his life. What she did to him turned him so violent and psychopathic (or at least unleashed those tendencies). That helps round out his character a TON. It explains why he has a soft, gentle side, and why, despite having committed so many violent and depraved acts had the humanity to turn himself around. Because he wouldn't have been that way if his naturally violent tendencies (that he got from his mother) hadn't been exaggerated by the psychological deterioration he experienced under Beret's torture.
It is a testament to his force of will that he could change at all after the awful things that happened to him.
Of course, the fight between Luke and Dark!Luke was great. It further defined the stuff we were seeing inside of Luke's dreamscape, and contrasted the monster he'd become all those years ago with the hero that he fights so hard to be today. Makes me really want to have him talk to Tom, because they have a lot in common (even if Luke's experiences and actions are so much worse in comparison, it's not like he'd tell Tom the full story anyway).
And that ending. THAT ending. I loved how you brought in all of Luke's friends to help him. Leon's advice gave life to Gwen and Alexis, one missed opportunity for love and his future wife protecting him, then Atka attacking his darker side. Yakone using her Bioelectric Overwrite was amazing, and made me smirk like a madman because it was so fitting (it's not "Psychoresonance", though that sounds SUPER COOL WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT). And then Luke just casually gets up after fighting a mental war in his head, and goes off to train to be a better team player. 10/10.
If I didn't make myself clear, I fucking loved this solo. AMAZING JOB!
First of all, I love the way this was caused by a collab. My favorite sort of character development in these roleplays is when it occurs because one person's character influences another. So that's awesome on both your part and Marine's.
The description of the city is fantastic, and reminds me of the one in which Ember created to overwrite Yakone's dojo. I can feel that a lot of Yakone's mental scenes inspired this post, right down to Luke calling the dark version of himself (who has a killer [literally] character design) his "anger and his pride". I consider that the greatest flattery, so thank you.
Its fitting that his dreamscape includes statues of those he cares about (specifically his past, which you expanded in an incredible amount of detail here) AND also functions as a trophy room. An Alaskan hunter at his core, just like the other Van Dams. Great tie-back.
Speaking of his past, I don't know how much of this you already had in mind before creating this solo Dahl, but I love that we're expanding Luke as a person even FURTHER. His relationship with Rachel is great, and explains why he wasn't the recalcitrant stubborn bastard that his mother was in SoD. Then Jessie explains how he learned to be a kind person despite all the attrocities he's committed. I didn't exactly buy him being tortured for as long as you said, but I handwaved that because Baret casts an interesting light on Luke.
It wasn't explicitly stated, but I assume her torture of him came before he turned into the marauder he was for the darkest chapter of his life. What she did to him turned him so violent and psychopathic (or at least unleashed those tendencies). That helps round out his character a TON. It explains why he has a soft, gentle side, and why, despite having committed so many violent and depraved acts had the humanity to turn himself around. Because he wouldn't have been that way if his naturally violent tendencies (that he got from his mother) hadn't been exaggerated by the psychological deterioration he experienced under Beret's torture.
It is a testament to his force of will that he could change at all after the awful things that happened to him.
Of course, the fight between Luke and Dark!Luke was great. It further defined the stuff we were seeing inside of Luke's dreamscape, and contrasted the monster he'd become all those years ago with the hero that he fights so hard to be today. Makes me really want to have him talk to Tom, because they have a lot in common (even if Luke's experiences and actions are so much worse in comparison, it's not like he'd tell Tom the full story anyway).
And that ending. THAT ending. I loved how you brought in all of Luke's friends to help him. Leon's advice gave life to Gwen and Alexis, one missed opportunity for love and his future wife protecting him, then Atka attacking his darker side. Yakone using her Bioelectric Overwrite was amazing, and made me smirk like a madman because it was so fitting (it's not "Psychoresonance", though that sounds SUPER COOL WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT). And then Luke just casually gets up after fighting a mental war in his head, and goes off to train to be a better team player. 10/10.
If I didn't make myself clear, I fucking loved this solo. AMAZING JOB!
Dahlexpert
Well-Known Member
Thank you so much, I was very worried about this solo.But i'm glade you liked it.
Taxor_the_First
Well-Known Member
I know most of you are probably asleep but I DON'T GIVE A FUCK TAKE MY PLOT
I've been having a really shitty week, working on little sleep and with my depression cranked up to maximum. I was able to work for a bit, but today it just all became too much. I didn't want to do anything organized, or feel like I was supposed to feel obligated to do anything with people, so I cut myself off. In the darkness of my depression and in my room, I took out my laptop and just stared at a blank doc page for a whole hour not doing anything except listening to a game soundtrack of a title I like. After a few minutes, I began to type, and slowly have been typing for the past four hours. This is what I happened to get down. Do I feel better after writing? No. Honestly I would like nothing more than to crawl up and die currently. I don't really have the mental capacity or will to properly segue this message into a conclusion, so I will just post this and just hide under my blankets again until somehow I just pass out.
A knight in white stared down the dark mage with a determined look in his eye, hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. Both men breathed heavily, the fierce confrontation leading up to the pinnacle clash atop the black spire they had chosen as their battleground had caused fatigue to set into their bones. Black clouds swirled above, lightning flashing in the blink of the eye, quickly followed by the heavy rumble of thunder. Rain began to streak across the sky, the cold droplets landing on both the men and the perch that would be the stage of their final confrontation to the death.
The knight closed his eyes, finding the inner determination within himself to mentally prepare himself for the coming struggle. Droplets of moisture rolled down his soft features, the young man opening his eyes to look at his opponent once more- wrapped in a miasma of darkness that permeated from his robes. The time had come.
Lightning cracked as the dark mage rose a hand and from the black miasma shot forth a murder of crows that trailed the bleak mist behind them towards the knight. Undeterred, the knight rushed forward with sword extended outwards. Golden blade slashed outwards, propelled with a strong swipe through the spell, a crescent of gold flying outwards from the weapon dispelling the crows as if popped bubbles.
The miasma collected together in front of its master, golden wave slamming into the protection, leaving a clean indent slashed within the melded shadows. When the shield fell away the mage saw the form of his enemy in the air, holy weapon raised and coming down for him. He pushed back off his foot, sliding back as the knight slammed into the rock where he had stood. His blade punctured the ground and left several sinewy cracks in the masonry, though the weapon was easily pulled once more and readied.
The dark mage called upon his dark power once more, four purple orbs forming into existence with two on either side of him, launching them forward one by one in a spiraling advance. Hand extended, the dark mist formed in front of the mage, solidifying and being taken into his grasp, pulling out a two handed longsword that held a crimson red gem on the crossguard. The entirety of the blade oozed darkness, and it lay awaiting in its master’s hands patiently.
The knight grimaced, holding his blade diagonally with point facing downwards, blocking the first two orbs with ease, though the third caused his arms’ strength to wane, and by the fourth strike he was propelled backwards as the young man’s defense was broken by the force of the four orbs. Off balanced, the mage ran forwards and held weapon in both hands, raising it high in the sky.
The knight brought up his sword to deflect the blow away, not to block it directly. He had tried to do so again but could not deflect the sideways blow properly and instead had to block. The edge of the dark weapon slammed against the magnificent golden blade of the knight; unharmed by the weapon’s sharp edge, that did not stop the knight from being flung away by the full force of the blow. The young knight slammed into the ground and rolled several feet -blade skidding off the edge of the spire’s summit.
The knight slowly tried to stand but let out a cry of pain, placing a hand on his side. Underneath his armor there was likely a horrible bruise and fractured ribs, the pain so great it numb any direct thoughts. A laugh escaped the lips of the dark mage at the suffering of the knight, elated to see that the strength of his sworn enemy had finally been giving out. Blade held in left hand, a dark orb of power was formed in the right and aimed at the knight. A smile crossed the dark mage’s face as the attack left his hand and hit the knight, blowing him backwards off the edge and making him plummet downwards.
Cape flapped wildly in the wind as the knight freefell, able to feel the last of his strength fade as he closed his eyes, embracing the end. Weightlessness overcame the knight’s body, and the rush of wind stopped abruptly as the roar of the air was no longer in his ears. Gathering up strength, the knight forced his eyes to open, and found himself floating in an abyss of blackness, with nothing in sight. In oblivion, the knight was certain that he was dead, could feel the cold touch of death all around him.
The knight closed his eyes, finding the inner determination within himself to mentally prepare himself for the coming struggle. Droplets of moisture rolled down his soft features, the young man opening his eyes to look at his opponent once more- wrapped in a miasma of darkness that permeated from his robes. The time had come.
Lightning cracked as the dark mage rose a hand and from the black miasma shot forth a murder of crows that trailed the bleak mist behind them towards the knight. Undeterred, the knight rushed forward with sword extended outwards. Golden blade slashed outwards, propelled with a strong swipe through the spell, a crescent of gold flying outwards from the weapon dispelling the crows as if popped bubbles.
The miasma collected together in front of its master, golden wave slamming into the protection, leaving a clean indent slashed within the melded shadows. When the shield fell away the mage saw the form of his enemy in the air, holy weapon raised and coming down for him. He pushed back off his foot, sliding back as the knight slammed into the rock where he had stood. His blade punctured the ground and left several sinewy cracks in the masonry, though the weapon was easily pulled once more and readied.
The dark mage called upon his dark power once more, four purple orbs forming into existence with two on either side of him, launching them forward one by one in a spiraling advance. Hand extended, the dark mist formed in front of the mage, solidifying and being taken into his grasp, pulling out a two handed longsword that held a crimson red gem on the crossguard. The entirety of the blade oozed darkness, and it lay awaiting in its master’s hands patiently.
The knight grimaced, holding his blade diagonally with point facing downwards, blocking the first two orbs with ease, though the third caused his arms’ strength to wane, and by the fourth strike he was propelled backwards as the young man’s defense was broken by the force of the four orbs. Off balanced, the mage ran forwards and held weapon in both hands, raising it high in the sky.
The knight brought up his sword to deflect the blow away, not to block it directly. He had tried to do so again but could not deflect the sideways blow properly and instead had to block. The edge of the dark weapon slammed against the magnificent golden blade of the knight; unharmed by the weapon’s sharp edge, that did not stop the knight from being flung away by the full force of the blow. The young knight slammed into the ground and rolled several feet -blade skidding off the edge of the spire’s summit.
The knight slowly tried to stand but let out a cry of pain, placing a hand on his side. Underneath his armor there was likely a horrible bruise and fractured ribs, the pain so great it numb any direct thoughts. A laugh escaped the lips of the dark mage at the suffering of the knight, elated to see that the strength of his sworn enemy had finally been giving out. Blade held in left hand, a dark orb of power was formed in the right and aimed at the knight. A smile crossed the dark mage’s face as the attack left his hand and hit the knight, blowing him backwards off the edge and making him plummet downwards.
Cape flapped wildly in the wind as the knight freefell, able to feel the last of his strength fade as he closed his eyes, embracing the end. Weightlessness overcame the knight’s body, and the rush of wind stopped abruptly as the roar of the air was no longer in his ears. Gathering up strength, the knight forced his eyes to open, and found himself floating in an abyss of blackness, with nothing in sight. In oblivion, the knight was certain that he was dead, could feel the cold touch of death all around him.
Suddenly, a light opened up in front of him in the form of a small line extending downwards from the nothingness. The line extended outwards and from it light poured into the bleak nothingness, the powerful rays hurting the eyesight of the knight. A golden hand reached outwards the knight, beckoning for his touch. The knight weakly extended his hand, lips parting slightly as if to speak though no words came. Something tugged the back of his mind, telling him of his duties back where he belonged. Voices called out his name in desperation, all one after the other until they formed a symphony calling out to him.
The knight’s eyes widened as he remembered his duty, that now was not his time. The hand extended out to him further, and he could almost feel the eyes behind it pleading with him. With a mournful look, he turned away from the hand and in front of him lay a different light, this one a bleak gray with no light coming from it. As he moved forward, something grabbed his shoulder and his eyes widened. He felt the embrace of arms cradling him warmly, feeling the breath on the back of his neck, the sweet smell of perfume, and the sense of loss that filled his heart. A determined smile crossed the knight’s face as he nodded, remembering the vow he had made to the owner of those arms.
The young man’s eyes snapped open as tingles rushed throughout his body, filled with renewed energy as he fell towards his death. The wound that had once marred him was gone, and a new power filled him, rays of light extending from the knight’s back as golden wings formed, flapping once to stop his fall. Turning upright, he shot upwards through the sky, reaching the peak of the summit. The dark mage looked up with stunned horrors on his features- looking at the knight in complete disbelief he escaped demise.
Hand extended outwards, there was a glow of light as the young man gripped a sword that glittered like diamond, flourishing the crystal sword filled with radiating power out towards the side. Wings extended back as well as his arm, the knight soaring forwards with weapon point aimed for his enemy’s throat. In a split second, the mage’s dark weapon was raised to black, and when the crystal point met the darkened weapon, the man was pushed backwards. With a spin, the glowing knight slashed three times at the dark mage, who blocked all but one, flying backwards and landing onto his back as dark shadow flew from the wound on his chest.
Those shadows coalesced around the dark mage, lifting him into the air and enveloping his body. Darkness swirled in the air, threatening a final attack meant to kill them both and claim victory for the dark. The knight with golden wings landed on his feet, staring up at the swirling black mass with the same determination he woke up with. He brought back his sword, charging up power within it. Behind the attack were the friends of the knight who had helped him to this critical climax, all placing their hands atop the knight’s hand. The last hand among them glowed golden, and when the knight looked to the side, no one was there. Turning his attention back to the mass -and with his attack fully charged- the knight let out a might yell as he thrust the weapon forward, a lance of light shooting forward.
The light pierced the swirling darkness and pierced the other side, shooting all the way up into the swirling clouds. The black mass blew outwards, winds of black mist surrounding the knight who shield his eyes with one arm. When the mist passed, nothing remained where the dark mage had ascended. Rain fell for several more moments as strength left the knight and he fell to a knee. The clouds slowly part, rays of sunlight slipping through while the darkness slowly began to depart.
The black spire began to rumble, no longer being supported by the magic of its dark master. The knight let out a brief, tired chuckle and closed his eyes. Several moments passed before the floor of the summit gave way, and the knight fell into darkness once more, light streaming high above him.
The entire structure collapsed in on itself, the sky above no longer filled with dark clouds, but now with blue sky, with a golden sun high above allowing light to bathe the land which had so long been deprived of it.
Several years pass, and soon buildings dot the landscape in the distance, life having returned to the land with the herald of the light once more. White, soft clouds slowly moved across the sky with a gentle breeze that slowly moved across the land. Two children laugh as one chases after the other- a boy and a girl.
The girl stopped abruptly and the boy crashed into her, causing both of them to fall over. When they stood up and brushed one another off, the girl pointing to the mound of black rock that had stood outside their village for what seemed like forever. They had been told to stay away, but the minds of the youth paid no heed to the warning. The laughed once more as they approached the ruins- boy chasing girl once more.
The boy stopped this time as something had caught his attention in the form of a bright light not far from him and he went from running to a slow walk and then a full stop. As he looked over, he saw something extending from the ground which had been reflecting the sun’s light into his eye. He approached the strange object and looked it over, his curious eyes wide with wonder.
The object was covered in green moss, but the top of it still held the glitter of gold, and the boy reached out, grabbing the top of the oddity in the ground. With some effort, he hoisted the heavy thing from the ground and looked it over, scrapping his hand across it. Below the greenery was more gold, the boy completely still as he looked over what he now realized was a sword. He took the hilt, giving it a few swings and he laughed. Despite the weight, it felt perfect and natural to swing. The boy lifted the sword and looked at it with the backdrop of the sky behind it. A weight bumped into him from behind as two arms wrapped around him, and the boy looked back at the gleaming, curious face of his playmate.
The girl released him, and the two looked at the sword, and then at one another. Next, their gazes went to the black mound of rubble and debris- now covered in vegetation itself and forgotten to time. A soft breeze rolled past them, and the girl looked back to the village, grabbing the young boy’s sleeve and tugging on it.
The boy nodded, turning away from the structure and let the sword rest on his shoulder as the two began walking back towards the village. Halfway back, the two joined hands.
The knight’s eyes widened as he remembered his duty, that now was not his time. The hand extended out to him further, and he could almost feel the eyes behind it pleading with him. With a mournful look, he turned away from the hand and in front of him lay a different light, this one a bleak gray with no light coming from it. As he moved forward, something grabbed his shoulder and his eyes widened. He felt the embrace of arms cradling him warmly, feeling the breath on the back of his neck, the sweet smell of perfume, and the sense of loss that filled his heart. A determined smile crossed the knight’s face as he nodded, remembering the vow he had made to the owner of those arms.
The young man’s eyes snapped open as tingles rushed throughout his body, filled with renewed energy as he fell towards his death. The wound that had once marred him was gone, and a new power filled him, rays of light extending from the knight’s back as golden wings formed, flapping once to stop his fall. Turning upright, he shot upwards through the sky, reaching the peak of the summit. The dark mage looked up with stunned horrors on his features- looking at the knight in complete disbelief he escaped demise.
Hand extended outwards, there was a glow of light as the young man gripped a sword that glittered like diamond, flourishing the crystal sword filled with radiating power out towards the side. Wings extended back as well as his arm, the knight soaring forwards with weapon point aimed for his enemy’s throat. In a split second, the mage’s dark weapon was raised to black, and when the crystal point met the darkened weapon, the man was pushed backwards. With a spin, the glowing knight slashed three times at the dark mage, who blocked all but one, flying backwards and landing onto his back as dark shadow flew from the wound on his chest.
Those shadows coalesced around the dark mage, lifting him into the air and enveloping his body. Darkness swirled in the air, threatening a final attack meant to kill them both and claim victory for the dark. The knight with golden wings landed on his feet, staring up at the swirling black mass with the same determination he woke up with. He brought back his sword, charging up power within it. Behind the attack were the friends of the knight who had helped him to this critical climax, all placing their hands atop the knight’s hand. The last hand among them glowed golden, and when the knight looked to the side, no one was there. Turning his attention back to the mass -and with his attack fully charged- the knight let out a might yell as he thrust the weapon forward, a lance of light shooting forward.
The light pierced the swirling darkness and pierced the other side, shooting all the way up into the swirling clouds. The black mass blew outwards, winds of black mist surrounding the knight who shield his eyes with one arm. When the mist passed, nothing remained where the dark mage had ascended. Rain fell for several more moments as strength left the knight and he fell to a knee. The clouds slowly part, rays of sunlight slipping through while the darkness slowly began to depart.
The black spire began to rumble, no longer being supported by the magic of its dark master. The knight let out a brief, tired chuckle and closed his eyes. Several moments passed before the floor of the summit gave way, and the knight fell into darkness once more, light streaming high above him.
The entire structure collapsed in on itself, the sky above no longer filled with dark clouds, but now with blue sky, with a golden sun high above allowing light to bathe the land which had so long been deprived of it.
Several years pass, and soon buildings dot the landscape in the distance, life having returned to the land with the herald of the light once more. White, soft clouds slowly moved across the sky with a gentle breeze that slowly moved across the land. Two children laugh as one chases after the other- a boy and a girl.
The girl stopped abruptly and the boy crashed into her, causing both of them to fall over. When they stood up and brushed one another off, the girl pointing to the mound of black rock that had stood outside their village for what seemed like forever. They had been told to stay away, but the minds of the youth paid no heed to the warning. The laughed once more as they approached the ruins- boy chasing girl once more.
The boy stopped this time as something had caught his attention in the form of a bright light not far from him and he went from running to a slow walk and then a full stop. As he looked over, he saw something extending from the ground which had been reflecting the sun’s light into his eye. He approached the strange object and looked it over, his curious eyes wide with wonder.
The object was covered in green moss, but the top of it still held the glitter of gold, and the boy reached out, grabbing the top of the oddity in the ground. With some effort, he hoisted the heavy thing from the ground and looked it over, scrapping his hand across it. Below the greenery was more gold, the boy completely still as he looked over what he now realized was a sword. He took the hilt, giving it a few swings and he laughed. Despite the weight, it felt perfect and natural to swing. The boy lifted the sword and looked at it with the backdrop of the sky behind it. A weight bumped into him from behind as two arms wrapped around him, and the boy looked back at the gleaming, curious face of his playmate.
The girl released him, and the two looked at the sword, and then at one another. Next, their gazes went to the black mound of rubble and debris- now covered in vegetation itself and forgotten to time. A soft breeze rolled past them, and the girl looked back to the village, grabbing the young boy’s sleeve and tugging on it.
The boy nodded, turning away from the structure and let the sword rest on his shoulder as the two began walking back towards the village. Halfway back, the two joined hands.
Frostlich1228 (Alt)
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry Marine, if there is anything I can do to help you feel better, you let me know.
Sorry for my absence yesterday. Wasn't feeling well, needed a day off to just... sit around, watch an anime series on Netflix (a good one), only leave my house to bring my cats to the vet for booster shots, try to cheer up a depressed friend and... mostly fail, and finally go to sleep early.
This is really good. If you guys passed over this, please read this and Tell Marine how good it is because it deserves praise.