Partner's cousin dropped by our B&B today for dinner. It was my first time meeting them, so of course I relieved a laminated Master padlock from its duty of keeping us out of some closet, and then taught the cousin how to pick locks. They raked open the padlock after a little while and were pretty excited about it. Might have a new locksport hobbyist joining the ranks soon.

I'll have to send them to Red Team Tools and help 'em pick out some starter equipment.

I adore this section of fence covered in love locks that runs alongside Willy Wonka's chocolate river.

These follower plugs are hella cool, @deviantollam! I often use a section of rolled-up pop bottle just because it lets the light through! (and it's cheap as hell )

https://youtu.be/PN_OcPXWuSk?si=fcVXVZiG2-sM7yWr

This little love lock followed me home from a lovely little walk.

I wish the best to the couple that put it on that bridge as a symbol of their love, and I wish the bridge continued structural integrity—both for many years to come.

I feel like these need to be made into earrings.

I wish, I had ever ventured into #LockSport.

If so, I wouldn't have needed to use brute force to get back into the basement.

Update & PSA: They texted back! It's always okay to ask, as long as you're okay with an honest answer

I had my new friend over and started teaching them to pick locks. This is an action shit (omg I'm keeping that autocorrect) of them picking their first pair of handcuffs

They had such a big grin as it opened

We also had lunch and watched Adventures in Babysitting (the version Disney dubbed *all* the swearing out of), followed by Alok's Biology standup.

Then we spent a while crying together about the traumatic state of the world.

Oh, and I have a crush on them. I assume they'll see this post. So, I guess I'm outing myself to all of the internet, because somehow that's less nerve-wracking than outing myself to one person.
But my partner and another fiend (I meant friend, but if you met them you'd understand the typo) have both told me to just tell this person, because what's the worst that could happen?

I don't even know if they're into me, or poly, or into nonbinary folx (just kidding—everyone is into enbies). We haven't even flirted yet (or I was oblivious to it...that happens sometimes)

Well, *that* cat is out of the bag now. Whew, heh

Okay, deflecting with comedy aside, this person is hella cool, and I want them in my life and community, regardless of what shape that takes.

Great #locksport meetup at the East Columbus Maker Meetup tonight! Thanks for having me out, folks!

I once told someone I'd teach them to pick locks by restraining them to the headboard, such that every time they picked one of the locks they'd get a little extra length on their chain. Then, I'd sit at the opposite end of the bed and take off one article of clothing each time they got closer. Sadly, we never had the opportunity to try it, but I've been meaning to do this with someone ever since.

Been a while since I did this but it seemed like a relaxing enough activity for tonight. Got the 5 pin practice lock to open.
#locksport

So, someone just sent me this DM, and I thought it would be fun to answer it here.

It's only a half-joke. Like you know how some people get all worked up around nice sports cars? Yeah, it's like that...but not sad.

Nice locks remind me of restraints, of being restrained, of working with my hands, of cold, smooth metal and lubricants, of skill and precision.

No two locks are identical. Some are quick fun, some take hours of learning their secrets before they'll open up. Did you know different locks sound different when they open for you? They feel different inside too.

Sliding tools into a new lock is something you can only do once, but you never know if that lock will be one you come back to again and again. I have locks in my collection that I've spent hundreds of hours picking over the years, and I still get excited when I hear them pop.

I'm sure I could write a short romance novel on this topic, but I think you get the drift.

Yeah, I got into Yale. Big deal.

We've won security. You can all go home now.

Fuck yeah! I haven't completely forgotten what I'm doing.