I was surprised they didn’t walk forward because the ropes were in both sides. I won’t say who won the chance to face the banker. It would be funny if Aron ends up being the banker. Doubt it but would be a twist.

I've had enough of holding myself up....by myself. I've had nobody to talk to, nobody to confide in. My entire life has been like a stone skipped across the water. I'm nowhere and nothing, eventhough I've traveled a great distance. Over 5 decades into this life and I feel like I've been buried alive. Nobody wants to hang out with me, be my friend or give me any real meaningful conversation. 😪 I'm beside myself with immense grief. I've tried all the usual ways that one might suggest to find a friend or significant other. All attempts have failed. My heart races, more often then not. My anxiety rises and falls unpredictability. I'm white-knuckling this futile existence and it's grinding me down to a pulp. Loneliness kills the soul. I go to work each day and come home, seemingly like a ghost. Even if I am seen and acknowledged, nobody cares to engage or draw closer. It's as if...just by being "myself" is a repellent of sorts. On the inside...I'm screaming until my voice cracks under the pressure. On the outside...I'm seemingly content, so as to not draw any negative attention. Fake smiles for everyone. Humans NEED other humans to survive. I've towed this fraying rope, for far too long....by myself. I feel like I'm being twisted, tormented and unwillingly shoved into an early grave. The emotional pain is unfathomable. My heart feels like it's tearing apart in my chest. My nerves are on edge and I feel like a bomb just went off in close proximity to my body. My soul is dying....rapidly. I know what I need, but its never available. I need unconditional love, genuine kindness, empathetic support and true friendship. I can't go on like this. I just can't.

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13.05.24: Daily Practice
5 ROUNDS. NO REST BETWEEN EXERCISE. 120s BETWEEN ROUNDS.
Total Training Time: 43:56
Single Arm KB ⬇️ +24kg Kettlebell
10 Single Arm KB Swings
10 Single Arm KB Snatches
10 Single Arm KB Jerks
10 Single Arm KB Half Snatches
X5-200 total reps
Accessory Exercise ⬇️ Bodyweight
One Arm Australian Pullups
36 total reps
Jump Rope - 1lb Rope - High Intensity
5:37 minutes total
Finishers: ⬇️ +2x24kg Kettlebells
Rest = Work Time
3 Double KB Dead Cleans
3 Double KB Strict Press
X2 - 12 total reps
30s rest
3 Double KB Dead Cleans
3 Double KB Strict Press
2 Double KB Overhead Squats
X2 - 16 total reps
60s rest
1 Clean
20 Thrusters
21 total reps
Daily Bread: ‭Proverbs 19:1-22 NKJV‬
[1] Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. [2] Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. [3] The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the Lord. [4] Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend. [5] A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape. [6] Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. [7] All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. [8] He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. [9] A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish. [10] Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes. [11] The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. [12] The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass. [13] A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. [14] Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord. [15] Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. [16] He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. [17] He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given. [18] Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. [19] A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. [20] Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. [21] There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. [22] What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.
Lord, give me strength, kill my flesh, renew me, in Jesus name
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us, not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Forever and ever. In Jesus Christ's Holy name I pray.
Amen.
Father, help me put on the Full Armor of God & protect me & my family from the wiles of the evil one.
Halleluyah!

The global steel wire rope market size attained a value of USD 9038 million in 2023. This essential industrial element finds applications in diverse sectors, and the market is projected to further grow at a CAGR of 3.4% between 2024 and 2032 to reach a value of USD 10991 million by 2032. Understanding the dynamics of this market is crucial for both industry participants and potential investors. This blog post delves into the key factors shaping the steel wire rope market, analyzing trends, forecasts, and offering valuable insights for the years ahead.

Understanding the Fundamentals

The introduction sets the stage by highlighting the current market size and projected growth. It then emphasizes the importance of understanding market dynamics for informed decision-making. Finally, a brief overview of the blog structure provides a roadmap for readers.

The Lay of the Land: Exploring Wire Rope Types

Moving forward, the blog explores the various "lay" configurations in steel wire ropes. Lay refers to the way individual wires are twisted around a core strand. Different lay types offer distinct properties:

• Regular Lay: The most common type, offering a balance between flexibility and strength.
• Lang Lay: Emphasizes flexibility, making it ideal for applications requiring smooth spooling and bending.
• Alternate Lay: Offers superior stability and resistance to torque, often used in lifting and hoisting applications.

Each section delves into the applications of these lay types, providing readers with a clear understanding of their suitability for various tasks.

Strand Patterns: A Critical Consideration for Performance

Strand patterns refer to the arrangement of wires within the rope. This blog delves into the different types, including:

• Single Layer: Simple and cost-effective, suitable for light-duty applications.
• Filler Wire: Increases core diameter, enhancing strength and crush resistance.
• Seals: Impregnated lubricants minimize internal friction and corrosion.
• Warrington: Offers a balance of strength and flexibility with good fatigue resistance.
• Combination: Combines different strand types for specific performance requirements.

A comparative analysis of these patterns highlights their advantages and disadvantages, informing readers about the market implications of choosing the right strand pattern.

Steel Selection: A Balancing Act of Strength and Application

The type of steel used significantly impacts a wire rope's performance. Here, the blog explores two common options:

• Stainless Steel: Offers superior corrosion resistance, making it ideal for marine and wet environments.
• Galvanized Steel: Provides a balance of strength, affordability, and corrosion resistance, suitable for general-purpose applications.

A comparative analysis highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each type, along with their specific application areas.

Coating for Enhanced Durability and Performance

Coatings play a vital role in protecting steel wire ropes from wear and tear. We explore:

• Vinyl Coating: Protects against abrasion and enhances grip.
• Zinc Coating: Provides basic corrosion resistance.
• Other Coating Variants: Specialized coatings cater to specific environments like high temperatures or chemical exposure.

This section analyzes market preferences for various coatings and discusses emerging trends in this area.

Industry-Specific Insights: Tailoring Solutions to Needs

The blog dives into the application landscape, exploring the role of steel wire ropes in diverse sectors, including:

• Construction: Lifting, suspension, and tethering.
• Mining: Material hoisting and underground support.
• Marine: Mooring, anchoring, and towing.
• Aerospace: Control cables and critical lifting applications.
• Automotive: Towing and cable systems.
• Other Applications: Logging, elevators, and infrastructure maintenance.

By analyzing market dynamics across these applications, readers gain a comprehensive understanding of how the steel wire rope market caters to specific industry needs.

A Global Landscape: Regional Variations in Demand

Understanding geographical variations is crucial. The blog explores key regions:

• North America: A mature market with steady growth driven by infrastructure development.
• Europe: Stringent regulations and focus on safety drive demand for high-quality wire ropes.
• Asia Pacific: Rapid infrastructure development in this region fuels the market growth.
• Latin America: Growing industrialization presents opportunities for market expansion.
• Middle East & Africa: Increasing investments in oil & gas and construction sectors drive demand.

Identifying key trends and market opportunities in each region allows stakeholders to tailor their strategies accordingly.

The Competitive Arena: Key Players and Strategies

The blog sheds light on the competitive landscape, outlining:

• Market Leaders: Established players with strong brand recognition and global reach.
• Emerging Players: Innovative companies focusing on niche markets or specialized products.
• Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships: Collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, and technological advancements shaping market dynamics.
• Future Outlook for Competition: Anticipated trends in the competitive landscape, including potential new entrants and consolidation.

The Final Chapter: Key Insights and Recommendations

The conclusion summarizes the blog's key takeaways:

• Recap of Key Insights: Reiterates the major points covered, including market size, growth projections, and critical factors influencing the market.
• Implications for Industry Participants: Emphasizes the importance of understanding market dynamics for businesses to make informed decisions regarding product development, marketing strategies, and geographical expansion.
• Future Directions and Recommendations: Discusses potential future trends and recommends actions for industry players to adapt and thrive in the evolving steel wire rope market landscape.

Well, this is the final story I can think of for Naeriu. If there are any more situations you'd like to see him in, be sure to comment on them and I’ll see if I can’t work with them. I’ve been inspired by comments before, it can absolutely happen again.
The first story is here: Endure
The second story is here: Persist
And the thrid story's here: Strive
Being accepted is something everyone wants to be, but sometimes people can’t accept you for who you are. Sometimes, in the most heartbreaking cases, it’s someone you are close to.
Shout out to SpacePaladin15 for the universe.
Memory Transcription Subject: Naeriu, Kolshian Missionary
Date [Standardized Human Time]: January 11, 2150
I couldn’t help but feel nervous as I rode in the shuttle. Even if I knew I was safe here, I wasn’t scared of anything physically dangerous. This planet had gone mostly untouched by the wars that had plagued the outside universe, left alone orbiting an insignificant star in an unimportant location. The only thing useful in this solar system was the planet itself, an agro-world devoted to having as many high-yield farms as possible.
It was a beautiful marble from above, swirling vibrant colors painting the surface intricately. The polar oceans almost made it look like a tennis ball, funnily enough. I could even see some of the larger farms from above, large patches of brown, miscolored green, or any other number of colors broadcasting what vegetables were being grown.
Where there weren’t farms, there were prairies or small forests, the only refuge for any animal, predator or not, to avoid the ire of the farmers. Herbivores would ruin crops and carnivores would taint them, there was no winning against the farmers. However, in recent years, there has been an ecological comeback with the help of the Humans.
Forests were a little bit larger, pests were killed a little less ruthlessly, and the farmers' hatred toward Humans grew evermore. While they were not outright hostile, I could only be thankful I had not heard what they had said behind closed doors.
This planet, Toktkala, was once my home, but now it couldn’t feel any more strange to me. I could only pray for more strength for what I was about to face, being a supporter of Humans and an open believer of Christ was sure to have me ostracized by everyone. I had a feeling that there were only two refuges for me; the UN embassy, something that was never not swarmed with protesters, and my childhood home.
That was the reason my stomach felt like it was turned inside out, I had finally found the time to find my family again. It wasn’t difficult, they hadn’t moved away from the house, but I had broken all contact with them after the Battle of Earth. That was fourteen Earth years ago, fifteen on Toktkala. Fifteen years of no contact, left wondering the fate of their oldest son, I couldn’t fathom what that could have done to them. I wondered if they were even still together, after losing my little sister they were already stressed, losing me might have broken them. It made me feel guilty already, and I didn’t even know if it was true. Hopefully, they managed to stay together for my little brother, Bolop always deserved the best.
I wonder if he hated me, blaming me for our parents’ divorce. I wonder if he hated me for leaving for the military in the first place. I wonder what my parents will say, seeing their dead son on their doorstep.
The uncertainty ate away at me, but the only way to cure it was to face it, and I intend to face it head-on and with full honesty. I’ll take everything they throw at me on the chin and keep walking, relieved no matter the outcome.
The shuttle touched down in one of the very few spaceports built on the planet, all of which were humble in the worst way. Frequent traffic wasn’t a problem, so they had all been equipped with the bare necessities to be classified as a spaceport. Most were little more than a pad, a few administrative buildings, and a luggage check. The only one with any extra expense was located in the only city on the entire planet, on the complete opposite side of where I needed to be.
However, the underfunded port might have been a boon in the end, as it let me experience the rural air sooner. Nostalgia flooded my mind as the familiar scent reignited memories from my childhood. Running through fields with my mother, watching the sunset with my father, eating a home-cooked bowl of kotla on the porch, climbing the lone tree in the backyard when I was sad, swinging from it when I was happy, there were so many melancholic memories tied to this smell, and I would never get tired of them.
I gathered what little luggage I brought with me and waited for a bus to pick me up, mixed feelings caused me to stare off into the distance. It felt great to finally be back in the warm, welcoming, slightly humid air of Toktkala, but that just meant I was one step closer to facing my family. I wouldn’t and couldn’t back down, but that didn’t make me any less nervous.
“Feeling okay, deary? You look like you’re about to run away.”
I blinked as I turned to face the lady, slightly surprised that anyone would bother talking to me. She was an older Kolshian, decorated in old-timey jewelry and carrying an expensive-looking bag. I could tell from her thick accent that she was a Toktkala native, the people from her tended to take their time in everything, including speaking.
I accepted the distraction with a sigh, causing her to sit down and pay attention. “I’m fine, just nervous.”
“Aww, what for? I don’t know anyone who could be down in weather like this. Haven't had a nice day like this in a while.”
“Well, you see, I haven’t been home in a long time. Fifteen years, give or take.”
“Oh deary, that’s wonderful! I’m so glad you could finally make it home.”
“Yeah… I guess. It’s just, what has changed since I left. I haven’t said or heard a single word from my parents since the war, I don’t even know if they are still together. I-I know where they live, but that’s about all I know about my parents. What if they don’t recognize me? What if they hate me for leaving and not saying anything? And I’ve changed so much, I’m not sure they would even accept me for who I am now. I know I have to do this, I’m not backing down no matter what, but that doesn’t make me any less anxious.”
She was quiet for a long moment. “That is quite the predicament. Fifteen years is a long time to not speak with someone, but always remember, it is never too late to reconnect.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle and grab my cross. “Kinda like me and…”
“What was that deary?”
“Uh, nothing important. Now that I’ve given you my side, I think it’s only fair you give me yours.”
She shifted on the bench. “Oh well, there’s not much to say. Just going back to town after a visit off planet. A buyer was looking to buy some crops in bulk and I went out to meet him for some discussion. Really nice boy, almost as old as you.”
“Ma’am, I’m thirty-two.”
She waved a tentacle in chucked. “Well everyone is a boy when you are as old as me, deary.”
I let myself laugh. “Oh you can’t be that old, you barely look a day over sixty!”
She pressed a tentacle to her chest. “Well, I’m flattered. I guess there still are some gentlemen in this world.”
“Oh I think there are plenty, they just don’t get the chance to act like them.”
She tilted her head to the side. “That’s one way of looking at it.”
We fell into silence for a moment, but with no bus in sight, it would be better to keep talking. “If you don’t mind my asking, what kind of crops do you sell?”
She clicked her tongue. “Oh, all kinds, but I think the one you're asking about is the stuff I talked about earlier, am I right?”
I raised a tentacle as if I were surrendering, noticing a bus cresting over the horizon as I did. “You got me.”
“That was some dlut, you know the stuff. Tall stocks, bright purple, sweetish tasting fruit.”
I leaned back. “Ah, dlut. I bet that would be good in a kotla in this weather.”
“It sure would. I just can’t get over who I was selling to.”
I turned to face her head-on. “And that is?”
“A Human, can you believe that?”
I laughed. “You know? I can actually. I’m…”
I considered my wording carefully. I didn’t want to offend this nice old lady accidentally. After a brief pause, I found the right words. “I’m surprised that someone from Toktkala would even be willing to talk with them though, considering the popular sentiment.”
“Oh I know, and I think it’s just dreadful that those people get so much hatred. I’ll be honest, I was in the same wagon at the beginning, but I came around once they became the only people buying my products. After what was revealed about our history… well, I don’t think I need to tell you of all people how Kolshians were treated.”
“Trust me, I know. I just think it’s kind of ironic that Humans, people we all seemed hell-bent on making hate us, were the first to forgive.”
She sighed. “I just wish some of the other foolhardy people here could see that too. With any luck, your parents are like us.”
I nodded as the bus pulled to a stop. “Yeah, maybe. This was a nice chat, hope you have a wonderful day.”
She waved me off. “With a little luck, we’ll see each other again. Oh, what’s your name.”
I paused and pivoted before I stepped on the bus. “I’m Naeriu, and you are?”
“I’m Moelly. And I hope to see you too.”
I waved to her one final time as the bus accelerated away, feeling much better having talked with someone instead of just dwelling on my feelings. I felt more hopeful about my future now that the idea of my parents not hating Humans was rolling around in my head, it let me believe there was a chance my parents might not disown me. Dad was always supportive of me when I said I wanted to join, he had always had complete faith in the Federation, but Mom might be a little more lenient, even if she also held the Federation in high regard.
I wonder if they became the type to claim the Humans faked it all and Nikonus’ accidental confession was fabricated. There were a lot of those kinds of people still around to this day, almost twenty years after the war ended. I could only pray that they would realize the error in their ways and accept reality sooner rather than later.
I stared out of the window for a long time, passing the time by reliving every field, tree, and house that passed by the window. I couldn’t pull my eyes away even for a second, everything looked so familiar, but at the same time, just different enough to make it strange. Some things were out of place or missing, while others were just how I remember them. It was surreal to see how my childhood home had changed, and I could feel my anxiety bubbling back up just as we reached the stop I needed to get off at.
I tugged the suitcase behind me, thanking and tipping the bus driver as I left. He responded with a simple huff of acknowledgment before driving off. I watched him for only a moment before turning around.
At the end of a long driveway, standing just as tall as I remember it, flanked on both sides by fields of budding crops, was my childhood home. Vines crawled up one side of the house, a decoration that Mom refused to cut down despite Dad’s objections. There was an ever-so-slightly rusted shed peeking out from the back, inside should be all of the farming equipment used to control the drones and irrigation systems. Even further behind that, there was a tall, lonely-looking tree with a small swing hanging from one of its sturdy branches.
Everything looked the same, down to the plants on the window sill.
I decided I needed to pray one last time before I met my parents, silently mumbling to myself as I did. I asked God for the wisdom to know what to say, for the courage to face their questions, and for the strength to stand tall if they ridicule me for my path in life. I had prayed like this many times before, and I was surely going to continue praying after.
I finished the prayer with the sign of the cross and a gentle kiss on the cross around my neck as I reached the porch, looking up with hesitation as I climbed the steps. I set my luggage aside and took a deep breath, staring at the doorbell. Every question and wandering thought I had raced through my mind, causing me to stand stunned for at least a minute until finally I shook them out of my head and pressed the button with all of my might.
A strange sense of release and simultaneous anxiety flooded me. There was no turning back now, even if I ran away they could still easily see me. All I could do now was stand here and face the music.
There was a commotion inside, some thumping going down the stairs, and a loud voice calling out. “Hold on, I’m coming.”
It was Mom’s voice. Even if it was muffled through the walls and slightly more hoarse than the last time I heard it, it was still Mom’s. The first of the doors was opened, but Mom hadn’t seen me through the glass one yet. She was looking off to the side, setting something on the side table as she spoke.
“I’m sorry it took so long, Bullo, I was in the middle of making a meal.”
She reached up and began opening the glass door, only to stop in her tracks as she finally saw me.
“Who…”
I could see the gears turning in her head, and the slow realization dawned upon her of just who I was. Tears began welling up in her eyes and her mouth hung open. With a quiet sob, she covered her mouth, trying to form any words. She could only cry and shake her head before stepping forward and hugging me warmly.
“I always knew…”
I returned the hug eagerly, rubbing the back of her head. I tried to find words to convey the flurry of emotions, but couldn’t. “I’m back, Mom.”
She pulled away for a second, wiping a final few tears in her eyes. Suddenly her demeanor changed from overwhelming joy to concern. “Where have you been? Oh, my little baby, where have you been?”
I sucked in a nervous breath. “On Earth, Sillis, Fahl, Skalga… I’ve been everywhere.”
I could see her freeze up for a second. “Then… then why didn’t you come back?”
“I… I felt like you wouldn’t accept me. And every day I didn’t return, I felt like you would only grow to hate me.”
Mom stepped forward, caressing my face with a gentle touch. “Sweetie, I could never hate you. There is nothing you could ever do to make me hate you.”
“I… Thank you, Mom, you don’t know how much I needed to hear that.”
She stepped back and held the door open. “Of course, sweetie, now come inside. You have to tell me all about, well, everything that has happened to you, from the beginning. And while you are at it, I’ll finish making dinner. I bet you missed your mom’s kotla, didn’t you?”
I laughed as I tugged my luggage through the door. “More than you will ever know. Every other bowl I’ve had has left me wanting something more, but I know that the only place I could find it was here.”
Mom laughed as she pulled out a few plates. “Love, a mother’s specialty. Is that the reason you came back, just for some food?”
I sat at the dinner table, taking in the house around me. It would be considered old-timey by modern standards, though that just meant that not everything was super high-tech. There were still rustic aspects to my house, pictures still in frames and not screens, religious symbols that have been passed down for generations, wood used over metal in some places, and rustic pieces of tech that my father refused to change, claiming that it would outlast all of us. It was old, slightly musky, and it was home.
“That’s not the only reason, it’s more like a bonus. I just kept thinking about home, how I effectively abandoned you, and I needed to come back to give you closure. Thoughts of home would pop into my head at the most random times, like signs that I should come back, so I followed.”
Mom turned around from the stove, setting down a steaming pot on the counter before sitting next to me. “Well, I am certainly glad you decided to do so. Your father and I have both been torn up by what we thought was your death, having you here now is a blessing for us both.”
“Speaking of, where is Dad?”
Mom waved a tentacle. “Oh, he’s off protesting at the embassy again. At his age, he should be staying home and watching the field, but he’s a stubborn oaf and when he’s determined to do something he does it, you know that. I told him to give it up and to come home, but he resents the Humans and won't rest ‘till they are off this planet, maybe not even then.”
I closed my eyes for a moment and looked away. This was the worst outcome. Not only did Dad not like the Humans, it sounded like he outright hated them. I’m glad I prayed because I had a feeling that a shouting match was on the horizon.
“Is something wrong?”
I sighed. “Well, we might have… conflicting opinions on the Humans. I’m worried that we might fight.”
Mom sucked in a breath as if she was preparing a response, but it died in her throat before she could speak. She took a moment to recollect her thoughts, confusion growing in her eyes, before shaking her head.
“It’ll be fine. Your father loves you, no matter who you’ve become. You will always be his son, our son. There is nothing that can change that. I don’t know the experiences you've had, maybe I don’t want to know, but I know that you’re an adult now and can choose your own path, even if I don’t agree with it wholly.”
I grabbed Mom’s tentacle. “Thank you, Mom, you have no idea how much that means to me. I was so worried that you wouldn’t accept me, it was eating me alive. I just hope that Dad feels the same way. He is stubborn, you said it yourself.”
“I know he-”
The sound of the garage door opening cut Mom off and caused my nerves to flare up again. Through the walls, I could hear him shut the car door and stomp his way into the house. He had always been a heavy-stepper, but these seemed a little heavier than normal. Maybe he had just put on a little weight since I last saw him.
“Muola, I’m-”
Dad froze as he turned into the dining room, stopping suddenly as he saw me. He looked me up and down, putting the pieces together in his mind. He dropped a bag to the floor carelessly and took a half-step forward.
“Naeriu… you’re… you're alive!”
He rushed forward as fast as his old limbs could carry him, meeting me with a hug just as I stood from my seat. He rocked me back and forth, blubbering with joy and trying to bury his head in my chest.
“My son’s alive!”
He pulled himself back. “Where have you been? I thought…”
His breath hitched in his throat. “I thought you were dead.”
I held his tentacle with compassion. “I’m sorry, I was just so… I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, all that matters now is that you are back with us, safe and sound.”
We stared at each other for a moment before Dad couldn’t sit still any longer, almost jumping toward the table. “You have to tell me all about it. Start to finish. You must have some interesting stories for us, right? I mean, you were gone for fifteen years, there has to have been something interesting going on, right? You could start with the story of that necklace, it looks pretty interesting. Is it something from Sillis?”
I glanced down to the cross on my neck as I pulled out a chair for him, sitting back down in mine with a huff after I did. “Not quite. It’s a later story. Why don’t we start from the beginning, like you said?”
Dad flung a tentacle in excitement. “Sure, yeah, from the beginning.”
I took in a deep breath. “After my last call with you, the Battle of Earth started. There wasn’t much I could do with my training, so all I could do was watch and wait. I was scared, and I only got more scared when boarding alarms went off. After they captured the ship, we had to evacuate. With no other option, I had to get in a life pod with the Humans.”
Both Mom and Dad gasped. “That must have been horrible, sweetie, how did you get out?”
Dad shook his head. “That must have been a terrible experience. I couldn’t imagine being trapped in such a cramped space with those monsters. Muola is right, how did you get out?”
I brushed past the casual Human-hate and continued with my story. “I didn’t. We landed in the northern part of the planet and it was late fall. All you need to know is that it was very, very cold. We had to travel with the Humans to avoid freezing to death, clinging to the belief that maybe we would be handed off to an authority later on and not be eaten. In the end, that was the best choice I had ever made. We made it to a cabin, but not after losing two others, a Harchen named Tekt and a Krakotl named Kulilim. It was just me and Kotern.”
Mom gasped. “How is Kotern? You two seemed like such good friends.”
I didn’t respond immediately, letting Dad’s mind run wild. “Did… T-they ate him, didn’t they?”
I shook my head. “No, in fact, they never even hit us. For the next few days, all we did was talk with each other. Just Me, Kotern, the Humans, and a Venlil named Leenek that we had picked up along the way. We just sat and talked.”
I could see the confusion building on Dad’s face. “Were they threatening you?”
I shook my head again. “Only one, Billy, the leader. He was the only one to make any threats, but he never acted on it. He was just angry. Some never even spoke to me, a few had very deep conversations, but only one ever made threats. One, named Brandon, talked to me about God for a while, after I told him that he had probably lost his entire family.”
Dad tilted his head in confusion, but didn’t make any comments, letting me continue with my story. “One day, Kotern goes out to gather some wood. The Humans had rope so we tied it on to him, but he didn’t come back. They sent a soldier named Valya out to find him, and comforted me the entire time he was gone. Around an hour passes and Valya returns, but Kotern isn’t with him.”
Mom leaned forward, engrossed in the story. “So what happened?”
I sighed. “I hid away in a room for a while, depressed that I had lost my friend, when I heard a bunch of arguing. I come out to see what’s happening, and Kotern is there, standing in the middle of the room, waving a pistol around and screaming for them to give me back to him. There were a bunch of people with him, led by a captain named Suklal. They wanted the cabin for shelter, but it ended up in a gunfight. Kotern died first.”
Dad sunk his head in sadness. “He was such a nice boy, you two seemed to get along so well. It’s a shame the Humans did that to him.”
“It wasn’t the Humans. Suklal shot him in the head after Kotern wouldn’t fall back. The Humans only started shooting after Suklal shot first.”
I let out a deep sigh, remembering how everything played out right in front of me. Even now his death brings tears to my eyes, he was such a nice man, he had just been misguided by the horrible teachings of the Federation. Teachings that I knew my Mom and Dad still clung to.
Wanting something to take my mind off of his death, I looked over to Mom. “I think I want some kotla now.”
Mom let out a breath. “Of course sweetie, I was wondering when you would ask.”
Mom got up to get some dishes, but Dad kept staring at me with a growing look of concern and confusion. “Hey son, what’s your opinion on the Humans.”
The bowls in Mom’s hands clattered slightly as everyone froze. I was hoping that I would be able to ease Dad into my opinion, but it seemed he wanted to take the more direct approach. “Well, I’m going to be honest, I like them. In fact, I love them. I love them the same way that I love everyone else. I wouldn’t be here without them, I wouldn’t be the man I am here today without them. It was a Human who pulled me out of the gutter and gave me direction in life.”
Dad sunk his head slightly. “They got to my son…”
I raised a tentacle. “Now, Dad, they didn’t get me. I came to this decision on my own. I looked at all the facts and saw that they were just as sapient as everyone else. They feel empathy, sadness, and regret just like all of us, and not just watered-down versions.”
He closed his eyes and raised his head. “Son, it’s going to be fine, we'll get you some help a-and cure this brainwashing.”
“I’m not brainwashed, Dad, that doesn’t exist. I’m-”
I sighed. “I’m not being controlled by anyone, I’m still the same Naeriu, just older and with more experienced. I’ve been gone for fifteen years, I’m going to change a little, but I’m still me. I just want to come back and reconnect.”
Dad stuttered in his own breath. “But the Humans tried to kill you.”
“Only after we attacked them first. And I forgave them long ago. A-”
I cut myself off before I told Dad that I was a Christian, that might just send him over the edge. I’d have to save that for later, when he’s calmed down a little.
“Can we eat something before we get too into this, please?”
Mom set the bowls down, eagerly accepting the distraction. “Of course, the kotla should be finished setting now anyway.”
Mom reached over and grabbed a wooden ladle, scooping up hearty spoonfuls into the bowls before setting them in front of Dad and me. I could feel the warm steam hit my face, carrying the savory taste of the various vegetables with them. Among the healthy chunks, I could spot the purplish color of dlut floating, slightly lighter now that it had been boiled.
“It looks amazing Mom, I can’t wait to try it.”
But just as I raised my tentacle, I froze. I glanced at my father, who was watching me with concern, confusion, and a little bit of fear. “What’s wrong son?”
I had never eaten a meal without praying beforehand. Sure, I might have sped up a prayer if I was excruciatingly hungry or late for something, but I always found a way to include it. Dad would freak out if he found out about my faith, it would start a full-blown fight.
Should I skip this one time to avoid making a scene?
I blinked and shook my head, feeling disappointed in myself. No, I had never missed a prayer before now, and I wasn’t about to start. I am not ashamed of who I am, I am a Christian and I am proud of it. If that means that my father is going to fight with me, then so be it. I don’t care if he doesn’t accept me, I don’t need him to. I am a grown man, and even if the words he says hurt, I know that I am being true to myself and God.
I am not skipping my prayer.
Slowly, I raised my tentacle and tapped my forehead, before lowering it to my chest, then my left shoulder followed by my right. “Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
I repeated the sign of the cross and closed my prayer, keeping my eyes closed for a moment before grabbing the spoon and taking a bite. “It tastes amazing, Mom.”
She was too confused to speak, but Dad wasn’t. “What was that?”
“A prayer.”
“To who?”
“Christ.”
Dad shared a glance with Mom. “I don’t recognize any god named Christ.”
“That is because He is from Christianity, a Human religion.”
Everyone went silent for a moment, the words I said still ringing in their ears. Mom’s confusion only deepened, while Dad’s turned to anger. “What?! You-You worship a Human god?”
“Yes, I worship God. I am a Christian, a believer in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.”
Dad shook his head and laughed. “You’re not kidding… You really mean it. H-how?”
“I was at the lowest point in my entire life, Kotern had just died, I was alone on an alien planet, I was hungry, thirsty, tired, homeless, and broke. A Human named Ben brought me to a church, the St. Louis Cosmic Christian Church, and that’s where I found God. I opened myself up to Him, and I’ve never felt more safe in my entire life.”
Mom remained stunned, falling back into a seat while Dad stood up. “I-I don’t… I can’t believe this. I cannot accept this. You’re not my son. Naeriu would never… H-he’d never…”
Mom leaned forward. “Solue, calm down. Take a deep breath and-”
“I can’t calm down! Not after that reveal. My son worships Humans. My son…”
“No, Dad, I don’t worship Humans, I worship God.”
“A Human god! Who is a Human! I don’t know if this is better or worse than you coming out as a Linked Chains member, at least they don’t think predators are gods! What does your god call for, hmm? Killings? Blood sacrifices?”
“Dad, hold on, slow down and give me a chance.”
“No. I want you out of my house, now.”
Mom gasped. “Solue! That is our son.”
Dad didn’t even glance at Mom, ignoring the building tears in his eyes. “No, he’s not. He’s some freak trying to impersonate our son. I hate to tell you Muola, but our son died in that war, and he’s never coming back.”
His words sank into my heart, causing me to wince away and take a deep breath. With my eyes closed, barely holding back the tears, I set my spoon down and stood slowly from the table. “If that’s what you think, then I won’t bother you any longer. Mom, it was wonderful to have your food one last time. Dad, I’m sorry that you can’t accept the facts. I’m glad I could at least give you some closure, goodbye.”
I turned to gather what little luggage I had as Mom frantically jumped up from her seat. “Naeriu, wait! Just give us some time to talk, Solue and I are just confused, is all. Please, wait here, for me.”
I paused at the door and sighed. “Anything for you, Mom. I’ll be by the tree in the back.”
As soon as I closed the door behind me, I started to sob. Dad’s words had hurt me more than I imagined they would, twisting my insides around like he knew exactly what to say to hurt me the worst. I stumbled my way around the house, wiping tears away with each step. I could hear Mom and Dad arguing loudly through the wall, both of them screaming with each other over what to think about the situation, though the words were muffled enough that I couldn’t understand them. By the time I reached the tree, there was no hope of me catching a single word.
I wiped away a few final tears and looked up into the tree. The first thing I noticed was that the branch I had fallen from long ago had finally healed, however, it was fixed in a completely new direction. I can vividly remember when I fell from that branch and broke my leg. I had never seen my parents so worried in their entire lives. Dad must have broken every traffic law on the planet to get me as quickly as he could to a hospital. Mom told me that he couldn’t sit still while they were x-raying me, every second that passed felt like an eternity for him.
He cares for me, a lot, and that makes it difficult for him to accept that I’ve gone on my own path now. Of course, I’d be ecstatic to have him and Mom join me, but something told me that they wouldn’t be diverting from their generational ways. They were both rooted in the past, and the tradition that came with it, and that shaped their worldview to a rigid stance where everything stays the same. At least Mom was a little more accepting, though I knew she felt about the same as Dad did, she just didn’t vocalize it.
With a sigh, I slid against the tree, looking out over the fields as the sun set in the distance. It seemed as if my worst fears were coming true, they wouldn’t accept me for who I was. I had changed too much from the last time they had seen me, I might as well have been a new person to them.
After a long moment, Mom finally exited the house through the back door, closely followed by Dad. I stood with a huff as they approached, preparing myself for whatever they would say.
Mom spoke first. “Sweetie, uhm, we are sorry for the fight. It’s just, well, we have a hard time accepting what you say to be true.”
Mom paused for a moment and Dad picked up where she left off. “The last time we saw you, you were still just a boy, barely an adult, and you held… beliefs that aligned with ours.”
Mom glanced between Dad and me. “And now seeing you here in front of us, the age we were when we last saw you, with beliefs that completely go against everything we believed, that our religion taught…”
Dad sighed. “It’s a little much, son, and I’m… I’m sorry I… lashed out like that.”
I looked between them and stepped forward. “Mom, Dad, I don’t expect you to understand me, especially not on the first day of me being back, but just know that you accepting me means more than you will ever know. Thank you, and I love you, both of you.”
I embraced them both in a big group hug, rocking back and forth. Dad only hugged me for a brief moment before pulling away, but Mom clung to me for a long time. After she finally pulled away, she sniffled once more and wiped away a few final tears.
She laughed slightly and shook her head. “I just hope you can forgive us.”
I couldn’t help but melt at Mom’s concern. “Mom, Dad, you never even needed to ask. I forgave you as soon as the words were said. I love you both with all my heart, it will take more than harsh words to prevent me from forgiving you.”
I smiled. “Though, I wish I could have gotten some more kotla before it went cold.”
Dud huffed and turned around. “It should still be warm in the pot, but you better hurry.”
Mom and I watched him disappear into the house, not looking back to see if we were following him at all. Mom sighed before speaking. “He’ll come around, you know he will. He’s just principled. He has his way that he thinks is right and there is not a lot you can do to change that.”
I nodded. “I know that, but I’m sure he’ll be more accepting once he gives me a chance to explain what I believe in. And tell the rest of my story.”
“That will be nice to hear. I’d love to understand what you have been doing all of this time that prevented you from coming home.”
I opened my mouth to respond, only to realize something. “Oh! Now that I think about it, where is Bolop?”
Mom sighed. “He moved away, wanted to be free from Totkala’s chains, he said. Just like you, only he didn’t join the military, thankfully. Just moved away. Haven’t had much contact with him, as far as I know he’s on Fahl, but you know him. He can’t sit still to save his life, he might be all the way in Sivkit territory for all we know.”
“But you still have his info?”
“Yes, but with the time it takes for a message to reach him and the distance he has to travel to get to us…”
“I understand, but I’d still like to have it. I’d like to set up a meeting time sometime later.”
Mom stepped up the stairs to the back door, but paused when I didn’t follow her in. “Something wrong sweetie? The kotla is only going to get colder.”
“Nothing’s wrong, Mom, I just want a second to be alone. I’ll be right in.”
She nodded understandingly and slipped inside, leaving me alone to reflect. I turned around to face the sunset, taking a deep breath as it passed below the horizon slowly. My life had been completely turned around since I left home all those years ago. I became a soldier, attacked a planet, survived the freezing Alaska wilderness, lost my closest friend, and fell into a deep depression, even losing contact with my family. But it was anything but bad, from there I built my life back from nothing, found my faith in God, traveled all across the galaxy doing missionary work, met and talked with an Arxur, only to return home to my family finally. I’ve had some extreme ups and heart-wrenching downs, never knowing just what would happen next, but even now I don’t have any regrets.
Even when I’m being ridiculed for my faith or spat on for my species, I don’t regret a thing. I accept the challenges, uncertainty, and hate, even welcome it, because I know that I am living my best life.
I let out a content breath, smiled a warm smile, and turned to open the door, welcoming whatever would come next.

We are cruising into Cozumel this morning and I have to get this off my chest. This boat needs to be retired.
Now, some context to my personal opinion. We have cruised on Enchantment twice before. Once in 2006 and once in 2008. 2009 was our last experience with RCL before trying Celebrity, Princess, and HAL. Our most recent cruise was February 2024 on Nieuw Statendam.
When booking, we knew the ship was old, but the itinerary was appealing since we have not been to a couple of the ports yet.
I’ve read other reviews on here about how they enjoy Enchantment, the activities, the staff. Which yes, all well and good. But the boat itself is stuck in the 90s and falling apart. The sconces in our room are being held together with tape. A drawer in the closet is completely broken and does not function. The material on the wall and wood paneling is bubbling and peeling. The furniture is very warn and is scuffed and dirty. The balcony furniture is so uncomfortable and there are cigarette burns all over the table. More rust than one would like to see. Clumps of hair and dust in the corners of the room. If I had a Magic Eraser, I’d go to town on the walls.
At some point the cabinetry was updated in our bathroom but it doesn’t match the rest of the cabinetry.
The same trend goes throughout the rest of the trip. The decor is tired and about every seat that I’ve sat in has been held together with duck tape.
If I’m not mistaken, I feel like we had been able to walk the full promenade around the boat back in the day. The front part is now roped off for storage that looks unbecoming but is probably needed for anti-rust supplies.
And unfortunately, having dined on HAL recently, the food is not good. Or even adequate. Cheap ingredients, presented in a very mediocre way. Cold food in the Windjammer, very bad cuts of meat, the runniest crème brûlée we’ve ever had, and very inconsistent bar service. Three Jack and Cokes came out three different ways, three different sizes, and we have yet to find anyone who knows what a lemon twist is. This is our first cruise where they have a fee for room service and want to charge me $80 for 24 bottles of water.
Silver lining: I really love silent disco.
In 2006 and 2008 we had a great time. If it was either of those years this review would be much different. But it’s 2024 and cruise options aplenty. Enchantment is stuck in the late 90s and it’s time she’s passed down to Margaritaville sailings as it’s the true vibe that it’s putting out.
The staff has been friendly and unfortunately they have to be overly so, to keep you from noticing the boat is literally falling apart around you.
I realize I sound very bougie. I am one of “those” people now I’m sure! Let the hate fly. I have not been on any other RCL ships other than Mariner in 2009 so I realize there are newer RCL ships. We do not like the idea of Oasis sized boats.
In summary, maybe you’ve been on Celebrity and HAL and you’ve found your way over here and are considering Enchantment. Spend your money elsewhere.

It was a dark, starless night. We were becalmed in the Northern Pacific. Our exact position I do not know; for the sun had been hidden during the course of a weary, breathless week, by a thin haze which had seemed to float above us, about the height of our mastheads, at whiles descending and shrouding the surrounding sea. With there being no wind, we had steadied the tiller, and I was the only man on deck. The crew, consisting of two men and a boy, were sleeping forward in their den, while Will—my friend, and the master of our little craft—was aft in his bunk on the port side of the little cabin. Suddenly, from out of the surrounding darkness, there came a hail: “Schooner, ahoy!” The cry was so unexpected that I gave no immediate answer, because of my surprise. It came again—a voice curiously throaty and inhuman, calling from somewhere upon the dark sea away on our port broadside: “Schooner, ahoy!” “Hullo!” I sung out, having gathered my wits somewhat. “What are you? What do you want?” “You need not be afraid,” answered the queer voice, having probably noticed some trace of confusion in my tone. “I am only an old—man.” The pause sounded odd, but it was only afterward that it came back to me with any significance. “Why don’t you come alongside, then?” I queried somewhat snappishly; for I liked not his hinting at my having been a trifle shaken. “I—I—can’t. It wouldn’t be safe. I——” The voice broke off, and there was silence. “What do you mean?” I asked, growing more and more astonished. “What’s not safe? Where are you?” I listened for a moment; but there came no answer. And then, a sudden indefinite suspicion, of I knew not what, coming to me, I stepped swiftly to the binnacle and took out the lighted lamp. At the same time, I knocked on the deck with my heel to waken Will. Then I was back at the side, throwing the yellow funnel of light out into the silent immensity beyond our rail. As I did so, I heard a slight muffled cry, and then the sound of a splash, as though someone had dipped oars abruptly. Yet I cannot say with certainty that I saw anything; save, it seemed to me, that with the first flash of the light there had been something upon the waters, where now there was nothing. “Hullo, there!” I called. “What foolery is this?” But there came only the indistinct sounds of a boat being pulled away into the night. Then I heard Will’s voice from the direction of the after scuttle: “What’s up, George?” “Come here, Will!” I said. “What is it?” he asked, coming across the deck. I told him the queer thing that had happened. He put several questions; then, after a moment’s silence, he raised his hands to his lips and hailed: “Boat, ahoy!” From a long distance away there came back to us a faint reply, and my companion repeated his call. Presently, after a short period of silence, there grew on our hearing the muffled sound of oars, at which Will hailed again. This time there was a reply: “Put away the light.” “I’m damned if I will,” I muttered; but Will told me to do as the voice bade, and I shoved it down under the bulwarks. “Come nearer,” he said, and the oar strokes continued. Then, when apparently some half dozen fathoms distant, they again ceased. “Come alongside!” exclaimed Will. “There’s nothing to be frightened of aboard here.” “Promise that you will not show the light?” “What’s to do with you,” I burst out, “that you’re so infernally afraid of the light?” “Because—” began the voice, and stopped short. “Because what?” I asked quickly. Will put his hand on my shoulder. “Shut up a minute, old man,” he said, in a low voice. “Let me tackle him.” He leaned more over the rail. “See here, mister,” he said, “this is a pretty queer business, you coming upon us like this, right out in the middle of the blessed Pacific. How are we to know what sort of a hanky-panky trick you’re up to? You say there’s only one of you. How are we to know, unless we get a squint at you—eh? What’s your objection to the light, anyway?” As he finished, I heard the noise of the oars again, and then the voice came; but now from a greater distance, and sounding extremely hopeless and pathetic. “I am sorry—sorry! I would not have troubled you, only I am hungry, and—so is she.” The voice died away, and the sound of the oars, dipping irregularly, was borne to us. “Stop!” sang out Will. “I don’t want to drive you away. Come back! We’ll keep the light hidden, if you don’t like it.” He turned to me: “It’s a damned queer rig, this; but I think there’s nothing to be afraid of?” There was a question in his tone, and I replied. “No, I think the poor devil’s been wrecked around here, and gone crazy.” The sound of the oars drew nearer. “Shove that lamp back in the binnacle,” said Will; then he leaned over the rail and listened. I replaced the lamp and came back to his side. The dipping of the oars ceased some dozen yards distant. “Won’t you come alongside now?” asked Will in an even voice. “I have had the lamp put back in the binnacle.” “I—I cannot,” replied the voice. “I dare not come nearer. I dare not even pay you for the— the provisions.” “That’s all right,” said Will, and hesitated. “You’re welcome to as much grub as you can take—” Again he hesitated. “You are very good!” exclaimed the voice. “May God, Who understands everything, reward you—” It broke off huskily. “The—the lady?” said Will abruptly. “Is she—” “I have left her behind upon the island,” came the voice. “What island?” I cut in. “I know not its name,” returned the voice. “I would to God—” it began, and checked itself as suddenly. “Could we not send a boat for her?” asked Will at this point. “No!” said the voice, with extraordinary emphasis. “My God! No!” There was a moment’s pause; then it added, in a tone which seemed a merited reproach: “It was because of our want I ventured—because her agony tortured me.” “I am a forgetful brute!” exclaimed Will. “Just wait a minute, whoever you are, and I will bring you up something at once.” In a couple of minutes he was back again, and his arms were full of various edibles. He paused at the rail. “Can’t you come alongside for them?” he asked. “No—I dare not,” replied the voice, and it seemed to me that in its tones I detected a note of stifled craving—as though the owner hushed a mortal desire. It came to me then in a flash that the poor old creature out there in the darkness was suffering for actual need for that which Will held in his arms; and yet, because of some unintelligible dread, refraining from dashing to the side of our schooner and receiving it. And with the lightning-like conviction there came the knowledge that the Invisible was not mad, but sanely facing some intolerable horror. “Damn it, Will!” I said, full of many feelings, over which predominated a vast sympathy. “Get a box. We must float off the stuff to him in it.” This we did, propelling it away from the vessel, out into the darkness, by means of a boat hook. In a minute a slight cry from the Invisible came to us, and we knew that he had secured the box. A little later he called out a farewell to us, and so heartful a blessing, that I am sure we were the better for it. Then, without more ado, we heard the ply of oars across the darkness. “Pretty soon off,” remarked Will, with perhaps just a little sense of injury. “Wait,” I replied. “I think somehow he’ll come back. He must have been badly needing that food.” “And the lady,” said Will. For a moment he was silent; then he continued: “It’s the queerest thing ever I’ve tumbled across since I’ve been fishing.” “Yes,” I said, and fell to pondering. And so the time slipped away—an hour, another, and still Will stayed with me; for the queer adventure had knocked all desire for sleep out of him. The third hour was three parts through when we heard again the sound of oars across the silent ocean. “Listen!” said Will, a low note of excitement in his voice. “He’s coming, just as I thought,” I muttered. The dipping of the oars grew nearer, and I noted that the strokes were firmer and longer. The food had been needed. They came to a stop a little distance off the broadside, and the queer voice came again to us through the darkness: “Schooner, ahoy!” “That you?” asked Will. “Yes,” replied the voice. “I left you suddenly, but—but there was great need.” “The lady?” questioned Will. “The—lady is grateful now on earth. She will be more grateful soon in—in heaven.” Will began to make some reply, in a puzzled voice; but became confused, and broke off short. I said nothing. I was wondering at the curious pauses, and, apart from my wonder, I was full of a great sympathy. The voice continued: “We—she and I, have talked, as we shared the result of God’s tenderness and yours—” Will interposed; but without coherence. “I beg of you not to—to belittle your deed of Christian charity this night,” said the voice. “Be sure that it has not escaped His notice.” It stopped, and there was a full minute’s silence. Then it came again: “We have spoken together upon that which—which has befallen us. We had thought to go out, without telling anyone of the terror which has come into our—lives. She is with me in believing that tonight’s happenings are under a special ruling, and that it is God’s wish that we should tell to you all that we have suffered since—since—” “Yes?” said Will softly. “Since the sinking of the Albatross.” “Ah!” I exclaimed involuntarily. “She left Newcastle for ’Frisco some six months ago, and hasn’t been heard of since.” “Yes” answered the voice. “But some few degrees to the North of the line, she was caught in a terrible storm, and dismasted. When the day came, it was found that she was leaking badly, and, presently, it falling to a calm, the sailors took to the boats, leaving—leaving a young lady—my fiancée—and myself upon the wreck. “We were below, gathering together a few of our belongings, when they left. They were entirely callous, through fear, and when we came up upon the decks, we saw them only as small shapes afar off upon the horizon. Yet we did not despair, but set to work and constructed a small raft. Upon this we put such few matters as it would hold, including a quantity of water and some ship’s biscuit. Then, the vessel being very deep in the water, we got ourselves onto the raft and pushed off. “It was later, when I observed that we seemed to be in the way of some tide or current, which bore us from the ship at an angle; so that in the course of three hours, by my watch, her hull became invisible to our sight, her broken masts remaining in view for a somewhat longer period. Then, towards evening, it grew misty, and so through the night. The next day we were still encompassed by the mist, the weather remaining quiet. “For four days we drifted through this strange haze, until, on the evening of the fourth day, there grew upon our ears the murmur of breakers at a distance. Gradually it became plainer, and, somewhat after midnight, it appeared to sound upon either hand at no very great space. The raft was raised upon a swell several times, and then we were in smooth water, and the noise of the breakers was behind. “When the morning came, we found that we were in a sort of great lagoon; but of this we noticed little at the time; for close before us, through the enshrouding mist, loomed the hull of a large sailing vessel. With one accord, we fell upon our knees and thanked God, for we thought that here was an end to our perils. We had much to learn. “The raft drew near to the ship, and we shouted on them to take us aboard; but none answered. Presently the raft touched against the side of the vessel, and seeing a rope hanging downward, I seized it and began to climb. Yet I had much ado to make my way up, because of a kind of grey, lichenous fungus that had seized upon the rope, and which blotched the side of the ship lividly. “I reached the rail and clambered over it, onto the deck. Here I saw that the decks were covered, in great patches, with grey masses, some of them rising into nodules several feet in height; but at the time I thought less of this matter than of the possibility of there being people aboard the ship. I shouted; but none answered. Then I went to the door below the poop deck. I opened it, and peered in. There was a great smell of staleness, so that I knew in a moment that nothing living was within, and with the knowledge, I shut the door quickly; for I felt suddenly lonely. “I went back to the side where I had scrambled up. My—my sweetheart was still sitting quietly upon the raft. Seeing me look down, she called up to know whether there were any aboard of the ship. I replied that the vessel had the appearance of having been long deserted, but that if she would wait a little I would see whether there was anything in the shape of a ladder by which she could ascend to the deck. Then we would make a search through the vessel together. A little later, on the opposite side of the decks, I found a rope side ladder. This I carried across, and a minute afterwards she was beside me. “Together we explored the cabins and apartments in the after part of the ship; but nowhere was there any sign of life. Here and there, within the cabins themselves, we came across odd patches of that queer fungus; but this, as my sweetheart said, could be cleansed away. “In the end, having assured ourselves that the after portion of the vessel was empty, we picked our ways to the bows, between the ugly grey nodules of that strange growth; and here we made a further search, which told us that there was indeed none aboard but ourselves. “This being now beyond any doubt, we returned to the stern of the ship and proceeded to make ourselves as comfortable as possible. Together we cleared out and cleaned two of the cabins; and after that I made examination whether there was anything eatable in the ship. This I soon found was so, and thanked God in my heart for His goodness. In addition to this I discovered the whereabouts of the fresh-water pump, and having fixed it, I found the water drinkable, though somewhat unpleasant to the taste. “For several days we stayed aboard the ship, without attempting to get to the shore. We were busily engaged in making the place habitable. Yet even thus early we became aware that our lot was even less to be desired than might have been imagined; for though, as a first step, we scraped away the odd patches of growth that studded the floors and walls of the cabins and saloon, yet they returned almost to their original size within the space of twenty-four hours, which not only discouraged us but gave us a feeling of vague unease. “Still we would nor admit ourselves beaten, so set to work afresh, and not only scraped away the fungus but soaked the places where it had been with carbolic, a can-full of which I had found in the pantry. Yet, by the end of the week the growth had returned in full strength, and, in addition, it had spread to other places, as though our touching it had allowed germs from it to travel elsewhere. “On the seventh morning, my sweetheart woke to find a small patch of it growing on her pillow, close to her face. At that, she came to me, as soon as she could get her garments upon her. I was in the galley at the time lighting the fire for breakfast. “ ‘Come here, John,’ she said, and led me aft. When I saw the thing upon her pillow I shuddered, and then and there we agreed to go right out of the ship and see whether we could not fare to make ourselves more comfortable ashore. “Hurriedly we gathered together our few belongings, and even among these I found that the fungus had been at work, for one of her shawls had a little lump of it growing near one edge. I threw the whole thing over the side without saying anything to her. “The raft was still alongside, but it was too clumsy to guide, and I lowered down a small boat that hung across the stern, and in this we made our way to the shore. Yet, as we drew near to it, I became gradually aware that here the vile fungus, which had driven us from the ship, was growing riot. In places it rose into horrible, fantastic mounds, which seemed almost to quiver, as with a quiet life, when the wind blew across them. Here and there it took on the forms of vast fingers, and in others it just spread out flat and smooth and treacherous. Odd places, it appeared as grotesque stunted trees, seeming extraordinarily kinked and gnarled—the whole quaking vilely at times. “At first, it seemed to us that there was no single portion of the surrounding shore which was not hidden beneath the masses of the hideous lichen; yet, in this, I found we were mistaken; for somewhat later, coasting along the shore at a little distance, we descried a smooth white patch of what appeared to be fine sand, and there we landed. It was not sand. What it was I do not know. All that I have observed is that upon it the fungus will not grow; while everywhere else, save where the sand-like earth wanders oddly, path-wise, amid the grey desolation of the lichen, there is nothing but that loathsome greyness. “It is difficult to make you understand how cheered we were to find one place that was absolutely free from the growth, and here we deposited our belongings. Then we went back to the ship for such things as it seemed to us we should need. Among other matters, I managed to bring ashore with me one of the ship’s sails, with which I constructed two small tents, which, though exceedingly rough-shaped, served the purposes for which they were intended. In these we lived and stored our various necessities, and thus for a matter of some four weeks all went smoothly and without particular unhappiness. Indeed, I may say with much happiness—for—for we were together. “It was on the thumb of her right hand that the growth first showed. It was only a small circular spot, much like a little grey mole. My God! how the fear leaped to my heart when she showed me the place. We cleansed it, between us, washing it with carbolic and water. In the morning of the following day she showed her hand to me again. The grey warty thing had returned. For a little while we looked at one another in silence. Then, still wordless, we started again to remove it. In the midst of the operation she spoke suddenly. “ ‘What’s that on the side of your face, dear?’ Her voice was sharp with anxiety. I put my hand up to feel. “ ‘There! Under the hair by your ear. A little to the front a bit.’ My finger rested upon the place, and then I knew. “ ‘Let us get your thumb done first,’ I said. And she submitted, only because she was afraid to touch me until it was cleansed. I finished washing and disinfecting her thumb, and then she turned to my face. After it was finished we sat together and talked awhile of many things; for there had come into our lives sudden, very terrible thoughts. We were, all at once, afraid of something worse than death. We spoke of loading the boat with provisions and water and making our way out onto the sea; yet we were helpless, for many causes, and—and the growth had attacked us already. We decided to stay. God would do with us what was His will. We would wait. “A month, two months, three months passed and the places grew somewhat, and there had come others. Yet we fought so strenuously with the fear that its headway was but slow, comparatively speaking. “Occasionally we ventured off to the ship for such stores as we needed. There we found that the fungus grew persistently. One of the nodules on the main deck soon became as high as my head. “We had now given up all thought or hope of leaving the island. We had realized that it would be unallowable to go among healthy humans, with the things from which we were suffering. “With this determination and knowledge in our minds we knew that we should have to husband our food and water; for we did not know, at that time, but that we should possibly live for many years. “This reminds me that I have told you that I am an old man. Judged by years this is not so. But—but—” He broke off; then continued somewhat abruptly: “As I was saying, we knew that we should have to use care in the matter of food. But we had no idea then how little food there was left of which to take care. It was a week later that I made the discovery that all the other bread tanks—which I had supposed full—were empty, and that (beyond odd tins of vegetables and meat, and some other matters) we had nothing on which to depend, but the bread in the tank which I had already opened. “After learning this I bestirred myself to do what I could, and set to work at fishing in the lagoon; but with no success. At this I was somewhat inclined to feel desperate until the thought came to me to try outside the lagoon, in the open sea. “Here, at times, I caught odd fish, but so infrequently that they proved of but little help in keeping us from the hunger which threatened. It seemed to me that our deaths were likely to come by hunger, and not by the growth of the thing which had seized upon our bodies. “We were in this state of mind when the fourth month wore out. Then I made a very horrible discovery. One morning, a little before midday, I came off from the ship with a portion of the biscuits which were left. In the mouth of her tent I saw my sweetheart sitting, eating something. “ ‘What is it, my dear?’ I called out as I leaped ashore. Yet, on hearing my voice, she seemed confused, and, turning, slyly threw something toward the edge of the little clearing. It fell short, and a vague suspicion having arisen within me, I walked across and picked it up. It was a piece of the grey fungus. “As I went to her with it in my hand, she turned deadly pale; then a rose red. “I felt strangely dazed and frightened. “ ‘My dear! My dear!’ I said, and could say no more. Yet at my words she broke down and cried bitterly. Gradually, as she calmed, I got from her the news that she had tried it the preceding day, and—and liked it. I got her to promise on her knees not to touch it again, however great our hunger. After she had promised, she told me that the desire for it had come suddenly, and that, until the moment of desire, she had experienced nothing toward it but the most extreme repulsion. “Later in the day, feeling strangely restless and much shaken with the thing which I had discovered, I made my way along one of the twisted paths—formed by the white, sand-like substance—which led among the fungoid growth. I had, once before, ventured along there; but not to any great distance. This time, being involved in perplexing thought, I went much farther than hitherto. “Suddenly I was called to myself by a queer hoarse sound on my left. Turning quickly I saw that there was movement among an extraordinarily shaped mass of fungus, close to my elbow. It was swaying uneasily, as though it possessed life of its own. Abruptly, as I stared, the thought came to me that the thing had a grotesque resemblance to the figure of a distorted human creature. Even as the fancy flashed into my brain, there was a slight, sickening noise of tearing, and I saw that one of the branchlike arms was detaching itself from the surrounding grey masses, and coming toward me. The head of the thing—a shapeless grey ball, inclined in my direction. I stood stupidly, and the vile arm brushed across my face. I gave out a frightened cry, and ran back a few paces. There was a sweetish taste upon my lips where the thing had touched me. I licked them, and was immediately filled with an inhuman desire. I turned and seized a mass of the fungus. Then more, and—more. I was insatiable. In the midst of devouring, the remembrance of the morning’s discovery swept into my mazed brain. It was sent by God. I dashed the fragment I held to the ground. Then, utterly wretched and feeling a dreadful guiltiness, I made my way back to the little encampment. “I think she knew, by some marvelous intuition which love must have given, so soon as she set eyes on me. Her quiet sympathy made it easier for me, and I told her of my sudden weakness, yet omitted to mention the extraordinary thing which had gone before. I desired to spare her all unnecessary terror. “But, for myself, I had added an intolerable knowledge, to breed an incessant terror in my brain; for I doubted not but that I had seen the end of one of these men who had come to the island in the ship in the lagoon; and in that monstrous ending I had seen our own. “Thereafter we kept from the abominable food, though the desire for it had entered into our blood. Yet our drear punishment was upon us; for, day by day, with monstrous rapidity, the fungoid growth took hold of our poor bodies. Nothing we could do would check it materially, and so—and so—we who had been human became—Well, it matters less each day. Only—only we had been man and maid! “And day by day the fight is more dreadful, to withstand the hunger-lust for the terrible lichen. “A week ago we ate the last of the biscuit, and since that time I have caught three fish. I was out here fishing tonight when your schooner drifted upon me out of the mist. I hailed you. You know the rest, and may God, out of His great heart, bless you for your goodness to a—a couple of poor outcast souls.” There was the dip of an oar—another. Then the voice came again, and for the last time, sounding through the slight surrounding mist, ghostly and mournful. “God bless you! Good-bye!” “Good-bye,” we shouted together hoarsely, our hearts full of many emotions. I glanced about me. I became aware that the dawn was upon us. The sun flung a stray beam across the hidden sea; pierced the mist dully, and lit up the receding boat with a gloomy fire. Indistinctly I saw something nodding between the oars. I thought of a sponge—a great, grey nodding sponge— The oars continued to ply. They were grey—as was the boat—and my eyes searched a moment vainly for the conjunction of hand and oar. My gaze flashed back to the—head. It nodded forward as the oars went backward for the stroke. Then the oars were dipped, the boat shot out of the patch of light, and the—the thing went nodding into the mist.

Help me, how do I set free… my mind?
I’m stuck inside.
Ugh! It’s like…
Nothing moving.
Sticking, no soothing. Stupid bug is moving. Me, I’m snooz a loosing. Yes sir. Blues, with no uke or guitar strings. I’m a star in my dreams. Only there. But here? Forget about it. I disappear. I went quiet. Like the night sky. I couldn’t decide. I couldn’t make up my mind. So I… just… died. The end. Please, come again. Good to meet you. Have a good night. Be back soon. This is our good Chinese food. Yum yum. In my tum. Im a monster. Dance, for an hour. Then… go bye bye, set a timer. Don’t wake up till there’s sirens. It’s a cold world, and I’m a viper. Hahaha, you can’t mess with me. I’m a grizzly. Don’t want a man? I’m your cup of tea. With no cup, indeed. Cause I drink you like a lemon soda. With my bear hands, like I’mma choke ya.
Jokers are jokers. Me? I’m for real. As real as it gets. That’s why, I must confess, that I must be the best. I must speak honesty to truth, truth to honesty. On to me? You better hope you’d be. Only in your dreams. Cause, I hold the key. I hold the rope, to choke yourself, or, to set yourself free. Take the key, twist the knob, climb the rope, grab a bottle, throw it down, watch it splatter, grab a frisbee, then yell victory, set it alight, then yell free Palestine! Then… climb. Till you reach the end in sight. The finish line. The biggest line between victory and lying. Truth, only truth here. Do you know? What you hold, dear? A key of the worlds. A plea of the words. Set free, and go nuts! Like, please, don’t grow up, you a kid at heart, like… like… oh, stupid bug. There he is again. Bye, bye. But! I’ll be back for more, my friends. The… not end.

I am NOT the Original Poster. That is u/ThrowRA_1037. He posted in AmItheAsshole
Mood Spoiler: happy-ish ending?
Original Post: May 4, 2024
So my best friend for about 7 years, we'll call him Derek, is a little person. He has 3 brothers who are all little people and they are all so comfortable with their lives and love making jokes about their height. I have somewhat of a dark sense of humor but was uncomfortable joining them in the jokes until I really got to know them and they assured me it was ok.
Anyways there was a costume party for our mutual friends birthday where everyone was supposed to be a movie character. Derek and his brothers came to me and asked me if I would be comfortable dressing up as Willy Wonka while they all dressed up as Oompa Loompas. I said sure and we went to the party. We got a few looks, but nobody said anything at the party.
Well this morning I woke up to a bunch of texts calling me a horrible person for doing that and insinuating I made the suggestion for the group costume. No matter what I say in my defense gets blasted back at me as doubling down on my ignorance. Usually in these cases I ignore it because I try not to let other peoples perceptions of me bother me, but with the amount of people messaging me I'm just kinda overwhelmed. Am I the Asshole?
Relevant Comments:
Commenter: NTA. I'm assuming you were dressed up like the characters from the 1971 movie? If so, I don't see the problem. It was your friend's idea and he was obviously comfortable with it.
Were all the complaints based on that incorrect assumption that it was your idea, or do some of these people think that the costume itself is offensive?

OOP: Most of them are accusing me of it being my idea and that I pressured them into it. Only 2 or 3 of the others are saying that in general, the costume is offensive

On how bad the "dark jokes" are:
Nothing like that, I'll admit the jokes I make with Derek and his brothers are the darkest jokes I make, but otherwise, it's mostly picking humor out of my personal tragedies. My family likes it because it helps with the grief. I guess it's not all that dark, but I've been told it's dark humor before
OOP is voted NTA
Update Post: May 6, 2024 (2 days later)
First I would like to make some clarifications since I didn't mention them in the original post. I am a 22M and Derek is 21 and is the 2nd youngest of his brothers. We were specifically dressed from the 1971 movie with Gene Wilder and Derek and his brothers were the only little people at the party. I had around 30 texts complaining about the costume all of them people I barely know or had only met at the party which had about 150 to 200 people. Out of all those only 3 were just saying Willy Wonka in general is offensive and the rest were accusing me of forcing the idea and wouldn't believe me when I told them it wasn't my idea. Anyways, onto the update.
A couple minutes after I posted the story I got a call from Derek. He said he had recieved some texts from people from the party regarding the costume, telling him they were messaging me to get me to apologize to him for my ignorance to which he informed them it was his idea. He was then told what happened.
Apparently, his younger brother, we'll call him Ethan, wasn't wanting to be an Oompa Loompa for the party but got roped into the idea by the others before coming to me and had made a passing comment about it during the party. His comment was either taken as all 4 of them were unhappy with the costume or word spread and got twisted into it being my idea. Basically, it was a huge misunderstanding.
Ethan called me a few minutes after I got off the phone with Derek and apologized for getting me in that situation. He told me he had bought a separate costume he was wanting to wear for the party only to be told Derek had already bought 4 Oompa Loompa costumes and couldn't return them. So he figured he'd save the separate costume for Halloween. He said someone came up and asked him about the costumes and he answered honestly, but didn't think his comment would cause anything especially since the end of his comment reiterated he was having a good time.
Derek, Ethan and his brothers have all come to my defense, and while nobody who was sending me demeaning texts has apologized. They have officially stopped the texts.
Anyways, thanks for the support. As I said in the original post I try to ignore people's negative opinions of me, but 30 people was alot and I was just so overwhelmed that I thought maybe I did do something wrong. Glad to know the whole situation was just a mix up.
Relevant Comment:
Commenter: Why is dressing as Willy Wonka in general offensive?

OOP: They said the movies and book are offensive to little people, and by dressing as him, I was showing support for it

BEST EVIDENCE
The best footage I have seen as a single continuous clip is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwV5GpmvxGM
I also thought this man's analysis was very good, in particular of the initial bump he receives on his right arm before everything else which is otherwise missed on the above other video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVFHk1LPWnc
There may also be another fin here between the ropes showing a different shark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwhBlxHICa4
SUMMARY OF KNOWN EVENTS

• He is bumped on his right side, likely by a shark body/head emerging at the very start, explaining why he then punches the water with both arms (ie. a panicked defensive reaction motion to "push away").
• A giant shark (~12 ft tiger or bull likely) then emerges in front near the boat with clear eye visible and dorsal fin turning toward him - girl screams, guy says "Oh my f-ing ... god."
• Camera pulls away in shock or fear, then goes back and he is now swimming in the other direction, maybe using his left arm or not.
• Large shark head comes up from same direction as the big shark was seen and grabs his leg, twists and pulls down, very easily seen with eye and dorsal fin in certain frames plainly evident.
• "Grab the buoy!" multiple people say as camera pans away to a life preserver not previously seen then back to him.
• Roughly overlapping the calls for the "buoy" we hear Cameron scream for the first time as just a human head sized object is still visible bobbing in the water.
• Then one more scream is heard as the camera pulls back to the preserver, and he is gone after.
• A dorsal fin is again seen as the camera pans away in between the ropes.

It is certainly obvious he was attacked by sharks. It is only uncertain how many sharks and exactly how the attack progressed. According to Shark Bytes, white sharks are rare in this area as the water is too warm, and there are no oceanic white tips in that area either (plus they have a very distinct appearance which does not match), so the big one must be a large Bull or Tiger shark I presume.
I believe it is possible it was just the big main shark and none others. It could have bumped him as it goes past him towards the boat (sharks often bump things to test if they are prey before biting), turned around in the water in front of him (making itself seen to all), followed him as he paddles away, then pulled him under. Angles and timings all fit.
Possibly others played a role as well or after that, though we could never know.
Regarding bull vs. tiger shark, one could probably only guess, but note: "the bull shark gets its name from its habit of ramming or bumping into its prey before attacking it."
The only few issues that come up for me that I don't think are adequately addressed:
1) LEFT ARM
It seems perhaps he is not using his left arm anymore after the big shark shows up at the start. However we do not see any injury occur to it at any time.
It is possible the arm is just being occluded by his body and he is doggy paddling with it under the water, but it perhaps does not seem this way. We only see the splash from the right arm when he is jolted forward by the shark attacking his leg but not his left arm suggesting it is not extended.
What do you think happened to it?
Do you think the giant shark that surfaced in front of him comes forward and bites it in that split second the camera pulls away? Or another unseen shark attacks the left arm quickly in this unseen moment? Or what exactly?
Or do you think it is possible he is doggie paddling with the left arm under the water and it just lines up with his body so you don't see it and it doesn't splash?
Given we hear him scream quite loudly twice when his legs are taken, he certainly can scream. We hear no screams from him at this earlier point, and I am not convinced his left arm is truly injured or attacked.
Try doggy paddling with your head turned over your right shoulder - your left arm will naturally dip deep into the water to stabilize you and it will line up right with your body on the angle he is on, looking hidden or motionless.
Furthermore, if that giant tigebull lunged at him and grabbed his left arm in that split second we would see the residual splashing as the camera goes back to him. Yet the water is calm.
So the only way I could imagine a left arm injury occurring in that tiny moment is if another small shark bit it under the water unseen and Cameron somehow (shock or whatever) didn't scream. I suspect this is not the case. Occam's razor.
I suspect we just don't see the left arm after he turns away, as it is under the water with him looking back over his right shoulder and doggy paddling. His swimming then looks funny because he lurches forward as the shark bites him. But this is no longer his natural swimming as it is driven by the shark.
What do you think?
2) LIFE PRESERVER
I have seen many people (like the otherwise good bearded guy I posted) claim he is swimming toward the life preserver when the big shark shows up in the start. They say it is seeing the shark that turns him away from it. However, we do not actually see any life preserver in the water or mentioned by anyone until he is already being dragged under.
Given that the camera pans away towards the life preserver as Cameron's legs are attacked and that is when everyone shouts "grab the buoy," I think the life preserver is only thrown in the water by the time the shark is coming up on his legs. It was not seen in the water nor mentioned before this.
I think the pan away towards the life preserver and shouts about it were a reaction to it being just thrown in the water at that moment.
This also suggests he had only just jumped in. The immediate crew response would have been throwing in a life preserver. This would only be delayed by how long it would take staff to be aware he jumped, retrieve it and throw it.
Thus I presume he was only in the water for seconds before this all was recorded (certainly <1 min before video starts, maybe <15-30 seconds).
3) THE "COVER UP"
Many people have suggested there has been a "cover up" of the fact that he was obviously eaten by one or more sharks. However, I believe this happened voluntarily by the wishes of all involved parties.
It is obviously not in the interest of Bahamas Tourism to publicize shark attacks. Nor Disney or whoever ran the boat cruise. But we also have evidence the parents did not want his death publicized as a shark attack either.
I presume this is likely because it is easier for the parents to pretend "no one knows what happened for sure" or "maybe the current took him" than to tell people "he got ripped apart by sharks because he jumped off a boat at night into shark infested waters."
This is documented in this article where officials explain the investigation into confirming the shark attack was called off at the parents' wishes.
There is no money to be made by the parents, as it was Cameron's decision to jump off. So there is no incentive for anyone involved to acknowledge the gruesome details of what actually happened. And I suspect that is likely the reason no one has spoken out much about it since.
4) NUMBER OF SHARKS
We see a shark with almost perfect certainty 4 times in the video:

1. When he is bumped to the right at the start
2. When it turns around in front of him
3. When his legs are attacked and he is pulled down
4. When a dorsal fin is later visible between the ropes

So theoretically, there could be evidence for 4 sharks. But I think #1-3 are most probably explained by the same likely bull shark that targeted him based on the timeline and path of motion.
It is unclear to me if #4 is likely the same shark or another. This would be impossible to know.
SIMPLEST EXPLANATION OF EVENTS
Simplest explanation is that he jumps in the water, creating a big splash, immediately drawing a nearby massive Bull (or Tiger). This bumps him on the right as it swims past him in the direction of the boat. Cameron throws his blind punches as a reaction. It turns around towards him, making itself visible to all. Cameron sees it and turns around as well swimming away, but it follows him and takes his legs. Just at this time the life preserver is thrown in. Cameron screams twice as the shark twists and thrashes and he is pulled under.
Possibly other sharks were in the water as well but I think this is adequate to explain everything.
Like most of you I find this whole video and story fascinating, terrifying, and haunting.
Any thoughts?

Hey everyone - my girlfiend is really shy and busy so i'm trying to help her put a workout training plan together.
For context: She's a healthy 26F, petite - 5'2, 113 lb, pretty square build lol so she wants a more curvy physique of course, i mean, really she wants to gain mass all around, she's got tiny everything right now, so bigger thighs, glutes, all that, hour glass physique basic goal haha. She know how to workout for sure but she doesn't really go heavy ever - my advice to her was basically lets put a regime together to track, throw in some heavier weight, and help her eat a lot more while keeping the diet healthy!
Here's the GPT generated plan i came up with so far:
Also side note, some questions i have - so like, I'm a guy and i follow a different regime every 2-3 months i like to switch some things up, even on a weekly basis if its a dumb bell curl, maybe i'll use the rope, or a different variant - should she apply that same ideology? Also, i like to go heavy as dog fuck some days and bench like 200+ 3-5 rep range for my compound movements, should she do the same some weeks too? Any advice - gratitude! (If you help, we'll send you before and after pictures in a few months lol!)
Day 1: Quad Focus Leg Day + 20 min HIIT

• Barbell Squats: 4 sets x 8-10 reps
• Lunges (either with dumbbells or barbells): 3 sets x 10-12 reps per leg
• Leg Press: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Leg Extensions: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
• Romanian Deadlifts: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training): 20 minutes (e.g., sprint intervals, burpees, jumping jacks)

Day 2: Back + Core

• Deadlifts: 4 sets x 8-10 reps
• Pull-Ups/Assisted Pull-Ups: 3 sets x 6-8 reps
• Bent Over Rows: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Lat Pulldowns: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Hyperextensions: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
• Planks: 3 sets x 30-60 seconds

Day 3: Shoulder Day + Core

• Overhead Shoulder Press: 4 sets x 8-10 reps
• Lateral Raises: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Front Raises: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Rear Delt Flyes: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
• Arnold Press: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Russian Twists: 3 sets x 15-20 reps each side

Day 4: Hamstring/Glute Focus Leg Day + 20 min HIIT

• Deadlifts (sumo or conventional): 4 sets x 8-10 reps
• Romanian Deadlifts: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Glute Bridges/Barbell Hip Thrusts: 4 sets x 10-12 reps
• Leg Curls: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Bulgarian Split Squats: 3 sets x 10-12 reps per leg
• HIIT: 20 minutes (e.g., sprint intervals, burpees, jumping jacks)

Day 5: Arm/Chest Day + Core

• Bench Press: 4 sets x 8-10 reps
• Dumbbell Bicep Curls: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Tricep Dips: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Chest Flyes: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Skull Crushers: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
• Russian Twists: 3 sets x 15-20 reps each side

Day 6: Glute Focus + Yoga/Pilates

• Hip Thrusts: 4 sets x 10-12 reps
• Bulgarian Split Squats: 3 sets x 10-12 reps per leg
• Cable Kickbacks: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
• Donkey Kicks: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
• Fire Hydrants: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
• Yoga/Pilates: Focus on poses targeting glutes and core strength

These snakes coil round my legs they down to take my soul/
I rose back upon the clouds seasons change it reigns my dome/
the soil sprouting cons are dense but sensational/
Plead the 6th when facing injuries I face a dangerous foe/
The cent tense a red dot ahead these Pennie’s trace a row/
division pulling strings shifting horizons when I straighten bows/
Still I laugh The wall is back but I ain’t mad it made me grow/
I Concentrate on traits the pros focused plus I tell the scope to aim i graze a stray to poke/
Across the subtract lost my daisies hoping/
maybe bees may show but dismay is cold/
I face the lows and play the cage that satan wrote/
springing into action falling victim cuz I’m lack the patience this the way it goes/
spouting tales im roped in chasing folk/
Paving Roads of bones so twisted but I crave a home/
Raking woes to catch a brake I tip toe on pedals in meadow just to get away It’s just a way to old/
ways saving face a bitter taste when the plate is full/
gotta savor it the pain will fade when I’m ok with snow/

Hi everyone! It’s me again, the girl who was waking her boyfriend up by screaming because he wouldn’t go to a doctor for his night terrors, but with an update.
In my last post I told you all about how my boyfriend of 6 years (living together for 3) has been having night terrors, sleep walking, and screaming in his sleep for the past 13 months. Despite trying to find a solution, nothing would work, and he was refusing to see a doctor about it. He also told me I was overreacting and that someone screaming in their sleep isn’t THAT bad, so for the five days prior to posting every single time he would wake me up by screaming I would do the same to him until he came out of it. He was less than appreciative and I came here for help.
The night before I left I sat my boyfriend down and told him that I couldn’t continue in the same manner that we had been. I need to sleep, I don’t want to resent him, I’m sure he doesn’t want to woken up by me any more, and I didn’t want to have this conversation any more. I told him I was at the end of my rope and he either was going to take it seriously or one of us was moving out. I tried to sleep in the bathtub that night, but he wouldn’t let me and instead he slept on the couch. He did wake me up, but you’ll be happy to know I just got up and went for a walk and when I came back he seemed settled down.
I went away for a work trip this past weekend and, for the first time in a LONG time, got a really fricking good nights rest lol. I ended up extending my trip a day to enjoy myself and just relax; because even though some of you think Im the AH, I really needed it after all of the stress this has been causing me.
Well, I got back and we were able to have a conversation more in depth about it. While I was gone he had an episode (Im not even sure if episode is the right word?) and he woke up in the morning in the lobby of our building. He had never slept walked out of our apartment before and it really freaked him out, but it also woke him up to the severity of the situation and made him realize that I wasn’t overreacting. I showed him all of your comments, mostly the supportive ones but we had a good laugh at some of the others. I had the chance to tell him how deeply this was affecting me: that I was constantly worried about him, that it was impacting my ability to function due to lack of sleep, that it was affecting my productivity throughout the day, that thinking about it was a constant factor of stress in my life, that for a while I was afraid to fall asleep next to him because I was scared of being hurt. He broke down and started crying and told me what it was REALLY all about.
Someone said this, and they were right: he knows how severe of an issue it is, but he’s scared of going to the doctor and confronting it because he’s scared of what they’re going to say. Sleep issues run in his family but they’ve always been attached to severe diagnoses; his grandfather had them before he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, his father had them before he found out about the brain tumor that unfortunately killed him when my boyfriend was 16, and he knows they can be a sign of Alzheimer’s which is something a lot of people in his maternal family have developed. He’s been scared of going to the doctor and finding out it is possibly a sign of something worse, which I understand but is all the more reason to get it checked out so if that is the case we can hopefully capture it early. (He also gave me permission to post this, before anyone says anything about that). We both cried and he apologized for brushing my feelings off, but I made it very clear to him that I have no interest being in a relationship where my concerns aren’t legitimized. He promised me he wouldn’t let it happen again. I’ve known this man for 20 years, he’s been my best friend for most of my life and my partner for most of my adult life, and I believe him.
So, we put a plan into place. He agreed to go see a doctor! It seems like a small step, but for me it feels like a light in the dark. He has an appointment with a general practitioner coming up and I gave him all of your input about participating in sleep studies/CPAP’s?etc. and he’s going to discuss them with him. We also put a call into my neurologist (I have severe ADHD and receive transcranial magnetic stimulation for it, but that’s a story for another time) and have an appointment about a month from now that we may or may not keep depending on what the GP says. We’re also going to add a magnesium supplement and cherry juice to his vitamin routine, cut out alcohol together, adjust our sleep routine to be in bed earlier (not the same bed, hold your horses), and dramatically lower the temperature in the room per all of your suggestions. We’re both fortune enough to have jobs that allow us to work remote, so we decided that we would go and stay at his parents house a few hours outside of the city for a while. They’re out of the country for the next few months on a post-retirement trip and were kind enough to offer this solution for now. At least there we can sleep in separate rooms, get out of NYC for a bit, and be close to the beach for the summer. We’re hoping we can sublet our apartment and put a call in to our landlord about it, but that is probably not going to get approved. You can’t win them all I guess. He’s packing to go as I write this, and I’m gonna meet him there in a few days after I finish tying up some loose ends. It might be annoying commuting for doctors appointments, but we’ll figure it out.
I guess this is all I have to say for now. We haven’t figured out exactly what’s going on with him. He hasn’t experienced any severe mental trauma so it’s unlikely its PTSD, but who knows; he’s been in therapy for a few months and luckily can do telehealth visits remotely so he’s going to continue with that. BUT I feel like these are good steps forward and I feel very optimistic, happy, and at peace with it for now. Thank you for your concern that I’m in an abusive relationship but, respectfully, I’m not. I’m proud of him for being ready to deal with this, even if it took a while. Sorry for the mega post!
Also, for the record, I do regret screaming to “give him a taste of his own medicine” or “get revenge on him” or whatever else was said. But he actually kinda thinks it was a funny way to deal with it, now that I’m not doing it anymore (definitely hated it in the moment). Maybe that makes us a twisted couple, or maybe we’re just two very sleep deprived people.
https://www.reddit.com/okopshow/s/9z5soGDtaJ

(Warning: This is all my opinion and personal experiences with the game.) ((Yes I have to put this here, as people online now days are too dense to understand the difference between people stating opinions and facts.))
((Give me your guys experiences with the game and some of the fun times and frustrating times you have had with it!))
I have tried and failed to get into this game multiple times over the years, ever since it first hit steam on 2015. I have put 110 hours into trying to like this game and give it a chance. But it just isn't enjoyable for me. And based on developer commentary, I don't think it ever will be.
I have always had issues with the games core design from the very beginning. (Needlessly hardcore perma death campaign, with perma health damage only fixable by super rare healing potions, and a SHIT TON of death pits just EVERYWHERE. Combined with piss poor controls and character movements/constant tripping over nothing and extremely dark levels, make for a very un-enjoyable experience.)
After seeing a new update that promised to "Fix some of the combat inconsistencies and physics interactions", along with older updates I never tried that, "Added more lights to levels.", I hopped back on again, as I did before when they added thaum, and before even that when they added arena mode, etc. To see if it would rope me in this time.
So I downloaded the beta with their provided code they gave out, hopped in and tested out the improved combat. And... It felt allot better! At least... for the first day. All my characters hits where landing, his attacks where consistent, and the game felt over all amazing! Then, a tiny micro update went out, and it went back to being its old clunky not hit detecting self again? Weird.... That sucks. Ok, well, lets see the new campaign areas I haven't seen yet and a few new areas they added!
Going good, 15 hours deep, making steady progess! Killed Sir with Derrin, made it into the market, killed all the vampire things! Things are going well! Oh, hey! Look! A secret path that has some physics puzzles/platforming to solve to get to a secret area! I think I-ll give it a tr-
Oppsie woopsy! Your character just tripped over air on his own pubes and just fell into a pit :^)
Have fun starting back over from a piss poor checkpoint from 10 hours ago!
Fucking.... just.... No.
Why? No seriously, WHY?
Why make the game have no checkpoints when over half of the places to explore are locked behind janky physics puzzles that involve death pits?
Why put perma health damage and perma death into a game where your character controls like he is fucking about to black out from drinking? Its harder to get your character to move correctly in this game than it is to drunk walk in GTA.
Why make the ENTIRE campaign nothing but darkness filled rooms of dark? (Yes they have done better on their newer levels, no, it does not negate the need to always carry the torch. The game is slown to a snails pace crawl for those who have not played areas before and know where all the loot is.)
WHY MAKE THE CHARACTER TRIP OVER FUCKING NOTHING ALL THE TIME! Sure, its funny the first few times. But that fun wears off VERY quickly and just starts turning into aggravation. And when it causes you to loose 20-30+ hours of progress because your character literally cannot walk over a 1-inch high deviation in the ground without falling over? Just fuck you. No seriously, Fuck you for making the game like that. (Games have collision spheres on their character rigs for a reason. USE THEM. Setting the fucking detection numbers to not be so damn dumb.)
"Oops, your character blocked that attack, but their pinky finger clipped into your head so it did full un-mitigated damage to you." :^)
Cool...
"Oops, you swung at the enemy, but your hit just.... didn't trigger damage or impact. Sucks to be you!" :^)
MMMhhmmm.....
"Oops, your character tripped and fell over literally his own feet, because the character rig couldn't keep up with its own movement." :^)
Nice....
I am not BAD at the game. But yet, I still get punished by it to the point of me just not liking it anymore.
I have fought and killed Sir naked with nothing but a sledge hammer, solo. I have killed Golem President a fair few times. Master ranked in Arena mode without trying all that much. Beaten tons of the hardest combat encounters in the game plenty of times. (Except for the newer areas because I just cannot be bothered to try to get to them anymore, especially after this recent attempt.)
"Ok bro, then just play the arena mode instead."
Arena mode is fun, but it gets super boring after a few days because combat is so..... Simple. Once you learn how to actually aim the attacks, it all just boils down to dancing back and forth until you bait out the enemies attack. Then you move in and clock them in the head. Rinse and repeat for 40 hours.
Woohoo.....
I have tried, I really have to like this game. It CAN be fun sometimes. But I always feel like I am fighting against the games poor controls and interactions, rather than against actual challenges.
It reminds me of laggy online fighting game matches, like tekken or soulcalibur. Where you push your buttons, and it takes literally 2-3 seconds for your character to register the inputs.
This game feels like a laggy 2006 online xbox 360 game to me.
And I just can't tolerate it anymore. With the lead dev straight up mocking people for asking for less abrasive controls/controller support for the game, and easier more enjoyable game difficulties, it has really sealed in that this game and their big project game they have been working on, are ALWAYS going to be like that.
"Mock people who give genuine feedback to make the game fun, and double down on really bad choices!"
That's the motto they have. (Yes, they even mocked people for suggesting they add an arena mode to the game before they finally caved under the weight of so many people asking for it.)
I have now fully realized this game will NEVER be fun. Because the leads making the game will NEVER let it BE fun.
So I give up. I am done waiting for it to reach its potential because it will never get there. They will never allow it to be fun.
Isn't that funny? :^)

*Serhii breaks out into a deep coughing fit. He apologizes and we continue\*
Ostap was now starting to get on my nerves. The Captain had sent him to retrieve me, he was raving mad, threatening me with all sorts of disciplinary action. Apparently I didn’t hear him yelling for me from the sidewalk outside. It was already getting dark at this point, and the Captain was extra paranoid about spending a night this far deep in The Zone.
Ostap already had the container in his hands. He opened it, and I carefully placed The Cue inside its four lead-lined walls. The container was heavy, but a necessary piece of equipment. Without it, the radiation from the artifact would kill us all.
The Captain wanted an immediate report. I delayed for as long as possible, trying to think of how I should articulate what the hell I just saw in a way that would also gain the Captain’s cooperation. You see, the Captain had full command over our mission's transportation. I knew that I needed our vehicle if I had any hope of getting the artifact back to the laboratory. This also means that the Captain could at any point deny me this transportation if he felt that the risk of transporting the artifact was too dangerous. This was standard protocol, standard life-saving protocol. I knew it was important, but I also knew that The Cue needed to get back, at any cost.
So what did you do?
I carefully downplayed the situation.
I instructed Ostap not to say a word to anyone about what he saw. I told the Captain directly, in private. I told him that The Cue had been disarmed, and that Stanislavs injuries were a result of his sloppy handling of the artifact. I told the Captain that I had conducted thorough tests and determined that The Cue was now safe. I threw some random numbers and measurements at the Captain that I knew would just cause him confusion, but would help to make my findings seem legitimate and trustworthy.
Without giving the Captain time to think, I told him as confidently as I could that we needed to secure the container inside of the BTR, as far from the driver as possible. We would secure the container with straps and I would personally sit next to it, to ensure it’s safe transport. With the container in hand, I then started marching towards the BTR.
The Captain bought every word, and began giving orders to his men to hurry up and help me. I felt glorious, and for that brief moment everything seemed like it was going to be okay.
The container was secured with straps to the floor, under my seat. When no one was looking, I carefully slipped off my soft kevlar vest and placed it over the container. I had to be careful not to get caught, because I knew this would raise suspicion. I didn’t want it known that I still had legitimate concerns of The Cue exploding during transport. I was nervous, I kept running the tests through my head over and over. Telling myself that if it was going to explode here, it would have exploded during the tests. As long as the artifact remains in the container, we are safe, we will be fine.
Stanislav was then loaded up. He was sedated heavily and coming in and out of consciousness. I could see now that his injuries extended up past his left hand, and that most of his left forearm was also wrapped in a deeply-soaked bloodied bandage. I pitied him, if he survives the radiation, surely his arm will need to be amputated. The medical officer had applied a tourniquet above the elbow, dating the time of application in the little white rectangle at the top of the apparatus. I remember looking at the time on the tourniquet, then checking my watch. It had been four hours. Four hours.
*Serhii breaks into a sudden and uncomfortable laugh, broken quickly by another coughing fit\*
My heart sank into my chest, and I could feel my anxiety spiking. I thought that was impossible, surely I misread his writing. I thought to myself, I had only been in the department store for forty minutes, perhaps fifty at most. I then checked my test records to confirm. The first three tests were conducted at 4:05pm, 4:11pm, and 4:18pm. Then I knew that I had to wait thirty minutes before conducting my second set of tests. I checked the log, expecting the times to be around the 5pm mark. The three times read: 6:46pm, 6:51pm, 6:56pm. How is that even possible? I was stumped, baffled. I looked down at my feet, at the container beneath me, and I swear on my life, I felt the thing inside breathing. By the time the true horror set in, the vehicle was already set in motion and we were on our way home.
We traveled for a brief while, uninterrupted. I didn’t know where exactly we were, I couldn’t keep my eye or mind off the container. I just remember being suddenly alerted by Stanislav. He had suddenly regained full consciousness. The medical officer was holding him down, I didn’t know why at first but then I saw that Stanislav kept trying to sit up. He appeared to be confused - like he awoke from a deep sleep, I didn’t know how long he had been unconscious for. My concept of time was gone to say the least.
Ostap went to assist the medical officer, they were holding Stanislav down to the stretcher. He was panicking and started calling out for us to let him go. He tried to forcefully push Ostap off of him, first with his good arm, and then afterwards with his injured arm. Stanislav pushed until his bandages started to unravel, revealing his open wound for the rest of us. I could see his injured arm bending, twisting, muscles tearing. It didn’t phase him. It didn’t seem like he had any concept of his injuries. The pushing turned into punching, which turned into biting. Ostap had to yank his hand away quickly to stop Stanislav from taking a chunk out of his wrist. This in turn freed Stanislav’s right arm, and he reached across the stretcher for the medical officer. The young officer started to squeal, and yelled for help, “he’s choking me, he’s choking me!” Stanislav had his hand around the poor boy's throat, and was squeezing with ferocious strength. I grabbed Stanislav’s arm with both of my hands and jerked it back into place on the stretcher. I felt his wrist break in my hands. Stanislav hadn’t noticed, he was still trying to pull away. The medical officer then got on top of the stretcher, placing his knee over Stanislavs chest, pinning him down. Stanislav was gasping for air, not really screaming, just gasping and strange animalistic grunting. Ostap started yelling this time, screaming at Stanislav to stop, to please stop. There was blood everywhere. I saw that Stanislav was bleeding again, and I noticed that the tourniquet had come undone. I switched off with Ostap and went around to the other side of the stretcher to reapply it. I think the medical officer noticed at the same time because he promptly ordered the BTR to halt. The Captain wasn’t in the back with us, he was at the front and could only hear what was going on.
He opened the rear door with a mighty fury, unleashing all his built up anger on poor Stanislav. The Captain stood with one foot on his chest, long enough to leave his boot impressions on the front of Stanislav’s blood soaked hazardous material suit. We each then took an arm, and Ostap held Stanislav’s head to the back of the stretcher. His mouth continued to open and close, and he was still trying to bite. The medical officer gave an injection and we re-tightened the tourniquet. We held on for another short while, until the medication kicked in and we felt Stanislav’s grip loosen up.
The Captain then roared in anger, the loudest I have ever heard him, “everybody out! I am calling a helicopter and we are being evacuated!”.
At that point was your mission completely abandoned?
Oh yes, and there was nothing I could do this time. After our fight with Stanislav, morale on the team was very low. Everyone was scared and just wanted to go home, and I didn’t blame them. Our driver, a young boy whom I learned was named Stepan, drove us to a nearby soviet-era gas station. There was a parking lot, big enough for the helicopter and we could take shelter inside of the derelict structure. The Captain didn’t want anyone inside the BTR, he was starting to become superstitious about the artifact. Now that he made it clear that we would be leaving it behind, he strictly ordered nobody to go near it.
There were issues we had with getting an air-evacuation. The Air Force was getting readings of an isolated emission way south of our location and refused to fly over it to come and get us. We were advised to take shelter at our current location and that a team would get to us as soon as they could.
Stanislav was on the floor of the gas station, tied to the stretcher with a rope. The medical officer was ordered to keep a rifle pointed at him until our rescue could arrive. Ostap was instructed to remove all the scientific equipment from the BTR and prepare it for flight. Stepan and I were instructed to take guard positions outside, watching over the BTR and securing our landing zone. I was especially given strict instructions not to go anywhere near The Cue. I think the Captain had come to his senses and I felt that I had lost his trust. I agreed with him, I knew that pushing him further would only result in irrational decision making and I just wanted to get back safely. I thought that maybe once the helicopter arrived, I could see exactly where we were and return another day with a field kit and conduct further testing here. I held hope, but barely.
We held that position for close to four hours, and I made sure to check my watch every thirty minutes to make sure. It was 3am and the Captain was growing obsessive. He would try the radio every fifteen minutes, seeing if the flight team had left the hangar. He was met with the same automated message each time, “Negative, continue to hold your position”. It was clear that we would be holding at that gas station until morning.
I had relieved Stepan of his duties and replaced him with Ostap. Stepan was obviously tired and I felt like Ostap kept better company anyways. The Captain didn’t care, I think his mind was preoccupied with other thoughts. I asked Ostap innocently how long he thought the collection took. He shrugged his shoulders, and provided an estimation of about an hour, maybe less. I then explained what I saw in my log book. Ostap hadn’t noticed until now. We both agreed to not say a word. No one but us appeared to notice, and we had no explanation for the rest of the team. We didn’t want to cause any further concern. Stanislav continued to rest, motionless on his stretcher. Ostap and I debriefed the situation further and decided on what we would write in our reports when we got back to The Institute. We were agreeable on what to put in our notes, as to avoid discrepancies and any unwanted attention. Our conversations then turned elsewhere, and then to nothing at all.
At 4:30am, I awoke to Stepan kicking me in the shoulder. I was sitting on my ass, leaning up against the wall. I didn’t remember falling asleep, or even sitting down. I don’t remember if I even felt tired. My adrenaline had been going non-stop since we first arrived at the department store. Stepan asked me how long I was asleep for, and I couldn’t give him an answer. I was waiting for some reprimand, some sort of punishment. I fell asleep on guard duty, even the most loose-headed recruit knew not to do that. But the punishment never came, Stepan didn’t have time to alert the Captain. He was transfixed on Ostap’s position. This alerted my attention and I looked as well. We both saw at the same time that Ostap wasn’t at his post.
Stepan gave me a brief look, I couldn’t tell if his face resembled anger towards me or fear towards the situation, then he went into the building to alert the Captain. I grabbed my rifle, and shouldered it. I then looked towards the BTR, and my heart stopped beating.
The rear hatch was open, and I saw a faint white light emanating from within. Every survival instinct I had left was screaming for me to just turn around and run away, let the military deal with this, my job is over. But I found myself actually walking towards the opened hatch. One step after the other, rifle down range. I felt so heavy, so tired. I was terrified. The faint moonlight illuminated the path in front of me and the asphalt I walked on glowed with a slight bluish hue. I could barely make out a shape on the asphalt. Rectangular and misshapen, but as I got closer, I saw that it was actually my kevlar vest. It had been tossed out of the hatch and onto the ground outside. I rounded the back of the BTR, staring now into the open hatch, and the source of that faint white light.
I found Ostap. He was on his knees on the floor of the cabin, with his back facing me. His elbows were bent at a 90 degree angle and held inwards. I couldn’t see his hands. I saw that he had partially undone his hazardous material suit, which was now tied sloppily around his waist like a sweatshirt. The lead-lined container was at his feet, closed, but resting on its side. I stared blankly at Ostap for what felt like two minutes, but in reality was only a couple seconds. He wasn’t moving. At first I thought he might have been dead but then I saw his sides expanding and I knew he was breathing. Ostap had not been alerted to my presence and I felt that I had the jump on him. I slowly reached for the container, I had to know. I opened it slightly, revealing a hollow, empty interior. Ostap must have heard me, because when I looked up again we were staring at each other. I still couldn’t see his hands, but I knew, and he knew that I knew. I greeted him as gently as I could, trying to mask my excitement. I asked him what he was doing. He looked at me with a puzzling expression, “I'm doing what you told me to do”. He then turned his shoulders to face me and raised his hands up slightly and I saw what I already knew. Gripped in both of his bare hands was The Cue. I gently put the container on the floor of the cabin and pushed it towards him. I opened my mouth to speak but I could not get a clear word out. I stuttered relentlessly, and questioned Ostap about what I had told him to do. Ostap was catching on and replied to me, “you ordered me to take out the artifact”. I didn’t say anything and we just stared at each other. He repeated again, “you ordered me”. “I did not do such a thing Ostap”, I replied as calmly as I could, “it is not possible, I had fallen asleep”. I thought about lying at first, to tell him that Stepan had relieved me so I could sleep. I was still embarrassed about my neglection, but I thought, what was the point?
Ostap looked down at his hands in puzzling confusion. He tried to reason with me, to justify what he had done. I believed that he had heard something, but it certainly wasn’t from me. I could see that Ostap was starting to panic. He was finally starting to realize the danger that he was in. I tried to calm him, I told him that it was okay, that he just needed to put the artifact back in the container. I only met his blank stare, I could tell that he was thinking, his mind was spinning. I slid the container closer to him, “Ostap, the container”, I told him. He instinctively and quickly pulled back, pulling his hands away from the container and up over his head. I cringed and stepped back instinctually. I could see his hands vibrating, The Cue was changing its density. He needed to stop shaking it, but I didn’t know how to tell him. “Ostap, listen, it’s going to be okay, I believe you, okay? I just need you to put the artifact in the container right now, okay?” I managed to catch him, he looked to me and then to the container. I stepped forwards towards the open hatch, sliding the container closer and rotating the opening towards him. I then retreated back to my position, and gave the same instructions I did before. Ostap slowly leaned forward, now over the open container. He reached for it with his left hand, his right still holding the artifact. I continued to coach him, “Slow Ostap, slow. You can’t rush”.
Ostap was in full panic now and he started hyperventilating. He had his left hand now on the opening. His right hand was moving towards the container. I saw that Stepan was approaching me from my left, followed by Cpt. Lytvyn. The Captain was angry, he stomped towards us, shouting all sorts of profanities. Ostap now had his right hand at the mouth of the opening, he was set to put it in the container. The Captain was closer now and he pushed Stepan to the side and overtook him, he started to yell towards me. Ordering me to get away from the vehicle and back to my post. I tried telling him to stop, to stand back. We almost have it, I yelled. Ostap had heard him also, he was now staring towards the sound of his voice, his mouth was agape and I could see that he was crying. Ostap had now stopped, holding the artifact just above the container. I was inpatient now with Ostap, “Ostap, put the artifact in the container, do it, please”. He wasn’t listening to me anymore. The Captain was coming. The Captain was coming and he was going to doom us all.
In an instant he was standing behind me, and raised his Makarov at Ostap. He commanded, “Son, put that down right now, or I will shoot you!”. Ostap screamed, pulled his hands away from the container, and threw The Cue against the floor.
There was a blinding flash, and that is all I remember.

First / Previous
The hairs on Leon’s neck rose as the snap of power brushed against him. Before he can focus anymore on the sensation, however, he catches Erik’s sword in a bind before it lands a clean blow against him. There is a twitch in the Shade’s eyebrow that told Leon that Erik sensed the same thing, but their eyes focus almost immediately. Neither one could afford to lose concentration in a confrontation like this.
The dance continued.
Leon flicked his wrist, sending a surge of Ether into his sword. The burst of energy knocked Erik’s sword astray, but as the Black Cloak tries to exploit the created opening with a Fang in his opposite hand, it is caught by the Shade’s forearm. The attack only leaves a scratch on the surface of Erik’s skin, and before Leon can react his legs are kicked from under him from a sweep of Erik’s leg, his opponent then follows the blow with a flick of his cragged blade at the Black Cloak’s head. Leon twisted his hand, catching the blow with his sword, but the lack of leverage from his imbalanced stance becomes apparent as the attack knocks him off of his feet. His back slammed against the tree behind him, and he could do nothing as he slid against it and onto the ground. However, Erik does not pursue
The Shade instead jumped back to avoid multiple bolts of Aether launched from Ren. The projectiles struck where Erik’s feet were, and when their opponent made his temporary retreat the Cleric stepped in front of Leon. The Black Cloak stood to his feet and joined his companion at his side.
“You felt it too, right?” Ren muttered towards him.
Leon nodded.
“It wasn’t Aria as far as I could tell, but we can’t allow whatever is happening to her to continue,” Ren said.
Leon eyed Erik in the distance. The Shade’s eyes studied them as he paced back and forth, but he did not press the attack. A tension was building in the air, ready to burst at any moment.
“I’ll handle him,” the Black Cloak said.
Ren cut him an uncertain look, “Are you certain?”
“No,” Leon admitted, “but we are scarce on options,” he let his Fang dissipate and switched his stance, keeping one hand free while he held his sword in a neutral guard, “when I give the signal, unleash as much as you can then run.”
The Cleric nodded, but said nothing.
Leon leaned in, closing his mind to all else but his opponent. He would not best the Shade with power alone, that much was clear. He hoped technique would make up the difference.
Erik struck first.
The Shade kicked off the ground, the Ether running through him granting him a speed that Leon could barely follow with his eyes. Ren was quicker to react, unleashing a large wave of golden light as he thrust his staff in front of him. Leon followed the surge of power close behind.
“Go!” he yelled, hoping that his companion was already on his way towards the others.
Erik crossed his arms as the wave of energy struck him, but the force behind it knocked the Shade off of his feet. Leon focused his Ether at his legs, feeling his heart drum against his chest as he let the energy burst when he kicked the ground. The earth cracked beneath his feet, and the Black Cloak leapt to Erik’s side. The Shade was unable to get his feet under him before Leon struck, but intercepted the attack with his arm. The Black Cloak’s blade bit into his arm, leaving only a shallow cut before Leon leaned into the attack, slamming Erik into the ground. Before the Shade could recover, a Fang of golden light appeared above Leon’s head and flung itself towards Erik like an arrow.
He twisted his body to avoid a direct hit, but hissed as the Fang left a glancing blow at his side. Leon pressed the assault, his sword swinging down in a relentless tide of steel that Erik could only manage to barely deflect with his cragged blade. Between each attack, a Fang slipped through Erik’s defenses just enough to leave another cut across his skin. Blood trickled down from each wound, spotting the Shade’s clothes in a deep red, and Leon could now see Erik’s eyes starting to widen; he searched for an opening to the onslaught.
One Leon never intended to give.
Finding his rhythm, the Black Cloak produced another Fang in his free hand and sped the assault. The Core at his center grew hotter with each new Fang that Leon produced, a fire that was spreading slowly across the entirety of his body. He grit his teeth and pressed the attack, raining his blows against Erik’s blade as the Shade kept avoiding any debilitating blows. Growling, Leon forced Ether into his sword and hit the Shade’s stone blade at its side. It landed with a burst of golden light, knocking the cragged sword to the side. Leon thrusted with the Fang in his opposite hand, aiming towards the Shade’s chest, but before the attack landed Erik slammed his foot against the Black Cloak’s chest.
A burst of energy escaped from Erik’s foot as his heel dug into Leon’s breastplate, giving nothing away aside from the air bursting around the blow itself. The Black Cloak was kicked into the air, but before he was knocked away he drove the Fang into Erik’s thigh. The Shade roared in pain as the sword of gilded energy pierced through the leg and out the otherside, but still managed to kick Leon back enough to be able to get to his feet. The Fang faded from Erik’s thigh, but he moved with a clear limp as he tried to create more distance between him and Leon. His cuts already started to heal, but there was a sluggishness to his movements now.
Leon leapt back into the fray, feeling as if pins were stabbing him all over as he drew upon his Core once more. He pushed the feeling to the back of his mind as Erik caught his blade in a bind with his own. The Black Cloak pushed the exchange down and cleaved into the Shade’s exposed arm with a Fang from his opposite hand. Erik roared as it cut deep into his skin, forcing the locked weapons back up. As he felt his blade rise, Leon maintained the bind until the swords reached the level of his chest, allowing the Shade to generate the momentum of the movement. Before Erik could take advantage of this, however, Leon shifted his arm and manipulated the bind upwards, exposing the Shade’s chest. The Black Cloak’s Fang struck again, giving Erik a gash across his chest. His opponent tried to break the engagement, but his movements were still hindered by the still healing wound on his thigh, and Leon fell into another rhythm as he pressed the assault.
His sword served as his guard, catching Erik’s swings before they could reach their apex and creating openings that he could strike at with his Fang. While the Shade was able to block most strikes with his arm, it was becoming increasingly clear that his Ether was starting to run thin. Leon’s attacks would cut deeper with each strike, forcing Erik to eventually switch to avoiding them entirely, which pressed him on the back foot. The fire that seared through Leon was dulled by the rush of battle, but even then he could tell that his limits had been reached and long surpassed. Still, he pressed on.
The Black Cloak pressued Erik back into a tree, keeping his strikes constant to force the Shade to keep his guard up. Any attempts to slow down Leon were met with failure as he started to once again slip Fangs between each strike. The Fang he grasped felt like lead, and his sword even heavier with that, but each new cut across Erik’s body only spurred him to carry on. The Shade attempted to kick Leon away, but the Black Cloak countered by slamming his elbow into his opponent’s shin, knocking the leg back down. The battle high kept darkness from encroaching upon his vision, but he could feel the Fang in his hand start to grow unstable.
His Ether was nearly spent.
Erik moved to resume his guard, the cracks across his cragged sword clear to see. Gritting his teeth, Leon brought the Fang back and forced the last of his Ether into it, setting its flickering form ablaze with golden light. He struck the rocky sword and let the blade of the Fang burst, shattering Leon’s weapon. It's shrapnel bounced off of the Black Cloak’s armor, but scratched across Erik’s skin as he tried to cover himself with his arms. Leon slipped a fist between his opponent’s defenses, striking him in the jaw and sending him stumbling to the side. In his battle driven rush the Black Cloak felt the impulse to drive the sword into Erik’s side, but he stopped himself. Instead, he dropped the blade and grasped the sealing cuffs attached to his waist.
Before the Shade could recover, Leon grabbed his wrist and clasped one of the cuffs around it. The effect is felt instantly as Erik falls to one knee, the Ether that sustained him withered to embers. The Shade swung his fist at Leon in a desperate attempt to repel him, but his hand was instead caught by the Black Cloak as he clasped the second cuff around his wrist. His abilities fully sealed, Erik fell to the ground.
Leon loomed over his defeated opponent, chest heaving as he took breaths that refused to fill his lungs. Though the Shade was mired in countless cuts, the constant rush of Ether that Erik maintained throughout the fight reduced their damage to surface level only. Such use of power most likely contributed to Leon’s opponent burning through it so quickly. Had the Shade been properly equipped, the outcome of the battle would have been far different.
Erik looked up at him, eyes still resolute even in defeat, “Mercy? From a hound?”
“We have questions,” Leon responded, “And you’re going to give us answers.”
He struck the Shade across his jaw, and Erik fell limp against the forest floor. Leon knelt down next to his opponent and pulled a small length of rope from his waist before binding Erik’s legs with it. The moment that he tightened the knot, his fatigue struck all at once.
The Black Cloak fell back, feeling the trembles that started from his fingers and toes, trailing up his limbs until the entirety of his body started to shake. He tried to move in such a state, but his legs refused to obey. The twitch in his fingers told him that he retained some measure of mobility, but it took all of his will to lift them and pull back his hood. As his helmet faded, the cold air stabbed at his exposed, sweat covered skin like daggers. He grew confused as the chill felt more like a steady burn, but could only attribute that to the stress that he’d subjected his body to during the battle. He’d held so many advantages in that exchange, and still he was reduced to his. He was weak.
Just as he’d always been.
A memory of Astraeus flashes into his mind. His brother stood strong, stance immaculate as he readied himself against an unknown opponent. Rather than push the image away, Leon embraced it and closed his eyes. He calmed his breathing, and after a few moments could feel some feeling in his legs start to return. All of him still shook, but he regained just enough strength to push himself to his feet. With a final deep breath, he pulled his hood back over his head.
The fight was not over.
___
Leaf could only watch as the storm unfolded in front of him. Jahora stood firm, the light the newly formed Aetheric ring around her head flaring with a brilliant white light as the Mage forms a glyph of red energy in her hands. Cora, who still maintained a hold on his restraints, raised the arm of hers that was not clasped by a sealing cuff, forming a barrier of rock and energy in front of her. It proved to be a futile gesture, for as Jahora’s fireball struck the shield it shattered, the force of the explosion knocking Cora back into a tree.
The rocks that dug into Leaf’s skin fell as the Shade hit the ground. With his restraints gone, the archer caught himself on his feet and picked up his shortsword. He moved to aid Jahora, but as he took a step a wave of fatigue struck him, forcing him to his knee. His Ether was already nearly spent by the time the others arrived, and it was only through sheer stubbornness that he’d been able to force anymore out of his Core during the fight and in trying to break the crushing hold of Cora’s restraints. Now though, he could feel knives stabbing at him across his body, a backlash of pushing himself too far.
Yet he knew it wasn’t far enough.
Jahora readied another spell, the glyph in her hands a pale blue as Aether surged around her. Cora pushed herself to her feet, the manic look in her eyes only growing as she glared at the Mage.
“You will not take her from me…” the Shade muttered. Even with her abilities partially sealed, the ground at her heels started to crack as yellow Aether hummed around her feet.
Jahora said nothing and gathered more power into her spell.
“You will not take her!”
Cora slammed her heel into the forest floor, sending a wave of earthen spikes towards Jahora. The Mage remained steady as she unleashed her spell, countering the tide of earth with a surge of ice. The spells collide, kicking up a cloud of frost and dirt as they shattered against each other. Jahora pulled her hand back as the ice faded, her fingers blazing with red Aether as she pulled the little heat that was in the air into her fingers, molding it into a glyph at the back of her palm. Another symbol formed in her free hand at the same time, this one made of a deeper blue energy.
Before the dust settled, a series of yellow flashes burst through. Jahora lifted the blue glyph in front of her, projecting a barrier that deflected the rocks that crashed against her. The form of Cora started to become more visible, but she’d long revealed her position from the wild screams she let out with every new spell. There was a desperation to the Shade’s voice, one that Leaf could not understand.
One that Jahora did not care to listen to.
The Mage pressed forward, maintaining her barrier as she twisted its position with small flicks of her wrist. Between each projectile blocked, she swept the hand holding the red glyph forward, generating small bolts of fire that struck the bits of earth that Cora raised in a desperate defense, slowly reducing it to dust as the Shade was too manic to move. Jahora continued her steady advance, but Leaf could see the tremble that took hold over her hands. Though the boons of the Third Circle appeared to have granted her spells increased control and power, it did nothing to resolve the fact that the Mage had spent all her strength and more in the battle prior.
Leaf grit his teeth and pushed himself to his feet. Each step he took felt as if he were carrying a mountain as his back, but he continued to press on. He looked towards the side, seeing that Elly had started to stir, but was in no shape to assist. His eyes fell to Helbram, not knowing if it was instinct or consciousness that made the man dig his fingers into the ground, clawing himself slowly towards Cora. Finally, his gaze drifted to Aria, who remained suspended in the air, the woman of ice’s fingers digging deeper into the seal at her back. Ren was now at the girl’s side, the Cleric shimmering with golden energy as he fed the light into the seal. There was a newfound sheen trailing down Aria’s cheeks.
Tears that had frozen against her skin.
Leaf growled and slammed his fist into his leg. The dull rush of pain pulsed through them, but they did not become any easier to move. Jahora continued to advance upon Cora, but though the Shade was steadily losing ground the Mage’s own steps had started to slow. The archer struck his legs repeatedly, practically throwing his feet in front of him as he forced himself into a charge. Pain filled every one of his senses as a rush overtook him, and everything turned into a blur as he continued to run towards the battling spellcasters.
Cora flung another stone at Jahora, who deflected it and countered with a bolt of fire. The spell struck the Shade in her chest, slamming her back into the tree, but as she fell Cora drove her hand into the cracked earth. A pulse of yellow Aether surged through the fractured ground, trailing towards Jahora. The Mage dropped her spells and started to gather yellow Aether of her own into her hands, but before a spell could form the energy sputtered and she fell to a knee. Cora’s spell condensed at Jahora’s feet.
And Leaf rammed into the Mage in desperation.
His companion is knocked to the side as they collide, the archer taking her place in her stead. As Cora’s spell completed, the ground under him exploded, knocking him into the air as he felt the weight of a sledgehammer strike into his side. His strength left him as he struck the ground, barely able to keep a hold on his consciousness. He saw Jahora looking towards him, but before the Mage could show any concern he summoned all he had to yell.
“Go!”
Jahora nodded and pushed herself to her feet, a glyph of green Aether forming at her back. Before Cora could ready another spell, the Mage finished the cast of her own, unleashing a burst of wind that threw her forward. Jahora crossed her arms as she struck Cora in the stomach, doubling the Shade over. Before she had to recover, the Mage took hold of the loose end of the sealing cuffs and clasped it over Cora's once free wrist.
The Shade fell to her knees right after, putting her at eye level with Jahora. She bored a hateful look into the Mage as Jahora gathered green energy into the small glyph at her hand.
“Monsters, all of you,” the Shade spat, “trying to take a daughter away from her mother.”
Jahora opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. Any anger that burned in the Mage’s eyes faded to pity as she looked upon Cora.
“Do not give me that look!” the Shade screamed, “I saw the hate in your eyes just moments before. I know what you truly wish to do.”
Jahora raised her spell towards Cora, “You are not wrong. A large part of me wishes to do nothing more than snuff out your life, but I won’t.”
She casted her spell, triggering a blast of air that knocked the Shade’s head back into the tree. Cora goes still and falls to the ground, unconscious.
“There is a child present.”
___
Leon emerged from the trees, dragging an unconscious Erik behind him. As he entered the clearing he left the Shade on the ground and continued to walk forward. Every part of him wished for him to stop, but he couldn’t, not until he knew that everything was dealt with. The distant part of the clearing was a broken mess of shattered earth and ice, and amongst the rubble he could see Helbram and his companions littered throughout.
Elly had started to push herself up, blood trailing down her face as her eyes blinked away her once unconscious state. Helbram himself appeared to still be moving, though just barely as he scraped himself along the ground. Leaf lay further amongst the rubble, leaned against a jagged piece of rock as he clutched his side. Jahora stood not too far off from him.
An unconscious Cora at her side.
Relief started to flood through him, but stopped as his gaze drifted towards Aria, towards the remaining Shade.
The frost coated every part of the girl’s exposed skin, which had grown even paler since he first saw her. Her hair was also a more stark white, and a faint, wispy blue glow bleeding from her eyes. Though she displayed no emotion on her vacant face, tears trailed down and froze against her cheeks.
Just like Astraeus had looked all those years ago.
Leon shook his head, looking towards the icy woman that hovered behind Aria. Beyond her physical beauty, there was little else that he could tell about the frozen figure, all except the fingers that pressed against the seal at Aria’s back. A crack had spread across all symbols of the gods that lined the glyph, all except for the Eye of Velendel, which was due to Ren’s current efforts.
The Cleric forced a torrent of Aether into the seal, but it showed no signs of repairing itself. It was all that his companion could do to prevent it from breaking further, and Leon knew that striking at the figure formed behind Aria would result in nothing.
It hadn’t with Astraeus.
He looked at the girl, saw the sadness that was frozen across her face, saw the same as he did all those years ago when he gazed into his brother’s eyes.
And drew his sword.
First / Previous
Author's note: Just gonna keep the commentary to a minimum until things are concluded. I was going to try and finish everything with this chapter, but there are way too many threads I want to make sure have the time they deserve, so I expanded on events here instead. More is still to come! We're not off this ride yet folks.
The arc is now officially finished on my Patreon, and I’m going to be taking a break next week to cool down. I’ll be back soon enough, till next time everyone!
If you wish to read ahead and gain access to the audiobook version of this story, consider supporting me on Patreon (https://patreon.com/criticalscribe). If you want to leave a donation, here is my Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/criticalscribe).

ChocoPro 373: Masa W!? On the next ChocoPro: We get a shuffle tag as Miya teams up with Anton for the first time to battle Masa & Sayaka, Erii Kanae faces off against the complexity of Trans-Am Hiroshi, and finally the Best Bros team up with Nonoka to take on Popcorn Carnival and...Masa W!? Who is Masa Takanashi W? Let’s Go, ChocoPro!
🍫 When it airs, it will be available HERE! (Usually at night around 9 pm EDT / 6 pm PDT / the next day at 2 am BST, 10 am JST) on YouTube!
Don't forget to Adjust Your Volume, Wrestling is Loud!
Need a change of pace? ChocoPro is built different. Join us for this episode or check out the back catalog of hundreds of episodes on the Gatoh Move ChocoPro YouTube channel...360+ ChocoPro’s with stories and pro-wrestling like you've never seen. New to the promotion? It features a roster of skilled veterans, rising stars, and wonderful guests fighting in the strange and wonderful ChocoPro Arena: Ichigaya Chocolate Square. This is not your regular wrestling show!

Miya Yotsuba 🍀 & Antonio Honda 🍯

VS

Sayaka 👗 & Masa Takanashi 🍶

Shuffle Tag!

Lucky...Honey? Ichigaya’s Lucky Charm, Miya Yotsuba teams up with Slapstick Enthusiast and honey lover Antonio Honda! The first student of the goblin is known for her mint-green gear and her explosive might. Miya brings a full power style that is surprisingly flashy (especially those backbreakers and that Miya Hammer). She is gunning for that Ace position, so keep an eye on her. Anton meanwhile brings his unique brand of slapstick violence and old wrestling references to every bout. His stellar singles record speaks for itself (partially thanks to his ability to manipulate both the rules of the match and reality itself) but don’t count him out of a tag match just because he favors comedy! Given that each team features a power striker and a tricky veteran, expect a lot of wild situations. Will Anton’s influence corrupt Miya once again?
Sayaka & Masa Takanashi are a pretty great polar opposite team. “Smiling Violence” Sayaka is known for her ungodly forearm strikes & elbows, fantastic gear, great cosplays, and unsettling cheerfulness. Her submissions, striking, and that killer dropkick are quite popular! Sayaka’s journey will be paved with the bruised bodies of her enemies. Her partner for this one, Masa Takanashi, is one of the best technicians in the promotion. This cunning trickster tends to frustrate his opponents with his slick wrestling variety and his counter focused style. The “Drunken Monkey” of Ichigaya always delivers a must see match! While this combination works because Power & Technique is a smart strategy, one has to wonder if Masa will be concerned about his doppelganger in the Main Event...

Erii Kanae 🎼

VS

Trans-Am Hiroshi 🥋

Erii’s Trials: Chaos!

The trials continue for the takedown specialist! Erii Kanae is always fired up. With Lime Green gear, fierce determination, and an air of mysterious potential, the latest member of GTMV will be looking to prove herself again. This tackle-focused rookie seems to be all about going on the attack (not to mention a penchant for tactical evasion). Her relentless offense and overwhelming fury might just surprise her chaotic opponent. Can she solve the puzzle of Hiroshi’s strange tactics? Show your endless passion, Erii!
Trans-Am Hiroshi is back! If you're new to this uniquely unpredictable talent...Hiroshi's singing voice is shockingly good, his style is mercurial, and he will probably catch you (and his opponents) off guard. A veteran of BASARA who occasionally appears elsewhere, he is quite beloved by the ChocoPro audience. While Hiroshi is known as much for his voice as his Karate, Judo, Yoga, and wrestling prowess, Trans-Am is a well rounded fighter and character that always brings something new to the table. There are times when he is wrestling that you will be surprised by his talent...and times that you will be overwhelmed by his absurd creativity! Good luck, Erii.

BestBros (Mei Suruga 🍎 & Baliyan Akki ♠️) & Nonoka Seto 🍋

VS

Popcorn Carnival (Chie Koishikawa 🏵️ & Sayaka Obihiro 💙) & Masa Takanashi W 🍶*

Masa W!?

The BestBros have faced many challenges on the Road to Apple Ambitious, but a new impostor is a big twist. Mei Suruga is the Genius Girl of the Chocolate Square, a ruthless goblin with devious tactics, brilliant pins, innovative offense, and wicked submissions. She’ll be joined by her fellow Asia Dream Tag Champ and long time partner in BestBros, Baliyan Akki, and the Fiery Rookie known as Nonoka Seto! Akki the Ace is always willing to show off the glory of the champs, especially to the new blood of Gatoh Move! He will be looking to take out the Rookies utilizing his excellent combo striking, lighter than air high flying, and spider’s silk smooth groundwork. Lastly, Nonoka might not have a lot of experience but she has a wealth of passion and a growing talent for pro-wrestling (Not to mention a super cool entrance coat!). She’s making great use of the Cravat technique! With an ever increasing grasp of counter techniques and the possibility to explore many new styles, Nonoka is the future of GTMV.
Popcorn Carnival (Battle Chef Sayaka Obihiro and “Too Much Energy” Chie Koishikawa) have a wild synergy that few can match. But what happens when you add a mystery element to the formula? Beyond being Chie’s Hero and Mentor, Obihiro is a part of the fabric of ChocoPro and is the absolute Soul of GTMV. The Blue Heart provides action, comedy, and tons of memorable (and magical) matches! Chie brings her high speed striking, tricky pins, and unbreakable spirit. With the carnival’s chemistry, Chie’s speed chops, and Obi’s devastating striking ability (both chops and thrusts!)...they might be able to overcome the champs! These two together are loud, energetic, and out of control. On top of all that, they’re joined by the mysterious Masa Takanashi W! We’ve seen strange clones and impostors before in Ichigaya, but I believe this marks the first time we have seen this alternate Masa. (Unless you count Generic CDK from forever ago!) What sort of tricks will this other Drunken Monkey bring? How will this play into Masa’s desire for the tag belts of the BestBros? Tune in to find out!
Until next time!
ChocoPro is a free online promotion run by AEW's Emi Sakura, that takes place in the legendary Ichigaya Chocolate Square! It features a steady pace of Episode releases, fan interaction, long story arcs, and much more! A place where the turnbuckles are replaced with 14th floor windows, the ropes are replaced with fans, unforgiving walls provide creative avenues for skills otherwise unthinkable, and you can take solace in knowing that the referees usually do nothing. While it might be a shocking change at first, the intensity and storytelling will leave you wanting more. Think of it like the Hart Dungeon but as a promotion, if that helps! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

I saw a good price on a pair of earrings on Poshmark that were listed as 14K Gold Hoop earrings in the title.
I asked in the comments “Are these genuine gold with the 14K stamp?”
The seller responded “They are genuine gold and also stamped.”
With that assurance, I went ahead and made the purchase. When the earrings arrived, I inspected them. I found the stamp but it was very tiny and I couldn’t see what it said. I took them to a local jeweler’s where they looked at the earrings under magnification. The jeweler told me the earrings were stamped “10K.”
I messaged the seller to express my disappointment and was told that they bought the earrings a long time ago and they honestly thought they were 14K. The seller also said that when I asked about the stamp, they thought I was referring to the twisted rope design of the earrings. I don’t know how they thought my question was about the design. I thought it was pretty clear that I was referring to the 14K stamp.
I’m conflicted. I like the look of the earrings but I’m disappointed that the 14K earrings I paid for are really 10K. The buyer says they made an honest mistake but it kind of still feels like a bit of a bait & switch to me. I tend to infuse objects with meaning and I’m afraid my enjoyment of the earrings will be tainted with the feeling that I was misled. I’m considering opening a case with Poshmark so I can return them. Would this be sufficient grounds?
ETA, UPDATE:
As advised, I opened a case based on “Item Not as Described”. The Seller agreed to accept a return. Poshmark approved the case. The earrings have been sent back and I await a refund. Thanks everyone for your input.

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/w6ftY8O
Uppers: https://imgur.com/a/e8B3uLE
Other items, including scope and serials: https://imgur.com/a/C5NTouP
Msr pics: https://imgur.com/a/UmW8lSp
I accept Paypal, Venmo, Cashapp, Zelle, Apple Pay.
Bundles > Dibs.

PM ME HERE: www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=ihategunz

Clone Correct URGI 10.3

Here i've got a clone correct URGI 10.3 in a smooth shade of DDC. All parts are unfired except for the CH and Upper receiver. Had this assembled and sitting in my closet for close to a year now, i love looking at it but it's time i sell some extras.
Parts List:
Surplus Colt 13629 Keyhole upper
Daniel Defense 10.3 Barrel NSN Marked w/ DD GB and Tube
Geissele 9.3" MK16 DDC
Geissele DDC ACH, NSN Marked (shade matches MK16)
Surefire 4 Prong, NSN Marked
Asking $999 shipped
Can add a c marked Colt BCG for extra

Sig 516 Complete Upper

SIG 516 OEM Upper, 14.5 P/W to 16" with SF3P Warcomp.
Catch and Release, not fired by me but swapped in Full Auto Cut BCG from a different 516, 200 rounds total.
$869 $839 shipped

WOA Barrel + Bolt + Tube

https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/3-gun-mk-1-9-223-5-56-18-1-8-twist-w-gas-tube.html
18" 1-8 twist WOA MK1.9 Barrel
WOA Matched Bolt
WOA gas tube
270 rounds
I paid $400ish + 3 months of wait.
Yours for $369 $299 shipped

Larue MBT2S

BNIB 1x curved 3x flat (not skeleton).
$105 each

Eotech VUDU 1-8 LPVO SFP HC3

Mild salt as seen in pics, comes with box and stickers and papers. Glass is clear and no scratches
$869 $809 shipped

Barrels n Muzzle and Blast Cans (all 556)

Sig 3 Prong: $29 each
1x Mini King Comp from Strike Industries: $49 shipped
16" Colt 13629 Marked Barrel with colt low profile gas block and BCM barrel nut. $199 $189 $179 shipped

BRN4 Parts from Forsaken Build

2x BNIB Operating Rods, $59 shipped each
1x Mounted unfired operating rod, $55 shipped
1x 14.5/16in Gas Blocks: $109 $99 shipped

Mounts

Weaver Extra High 34mm Rings: $79 $49 New
Aimpoint PRO Riser spacer:, $10 addon
Nightforce 30mm 20MOA ultramount 1.54": $249 $199
Aimpoint Micro OEM Mount: same as this one https://aimpoint.us/micro-standard-mount-for-h-1-h-2-kit/ very light salt, $69 $49 shipped
ADM 30mm Mounts, one is 1316, one is 1324 and has 3 in cant. Comes with quality McMaster high carbon content screws.
$169 $159 each
Aimpoint Pro low Mount: $49 shipped
Looks like this but with a picatinny mount https://aimpoint.us/aimpoint-30mm-top-ring-fits-qrp2-tnp-lrp-not-required-for-compm4-series/

Sig Stuff

Sig Brace: chunky mfer, SB15 is the model. $49 $39 $35, light salt
Sig Folding Knuckle, new, $79 $69 lshipped.
P365 grip: $25 $20, light salt
Sig MSR 1-6 with Mount, light salt on mount and one of the turrets, $239 shipped

Glock Stuff

Glock Sights: all takeoffs, $15 each. Tritium rear one is $30. $59 for all.

AK Stuff

JMAC: Non-Folding Stock/Brace Mount for MRKT Trunnion: lnib $29 shipped
1913 Adapter for MRKT Trunnion: lnib $29 shipped

NVG Stuff

Norotos Mount + Head Mount + J arm + Infrared tag for dog leash: $99 $89 $79 shipped

Random Shit

Magpul Sling Mount RSA: $24 shipped
Bushmaster Commercial Spec Stock: $29 shipped
Tenebraex M68-ARD, works with Aimpoint PRO: $30 light salted but no structural damage to honeycomb
Aimpoint P2 Cap OEM: free addon
Vortex Solo 10x25: like new, $69 shipped

Patches

Also patches if you would like some: https://www.reddit.com/GunAccessoriesForSale/s/NzKFRKbgjL