Decorative cover for outdoor air conditioner
ZEROBREEZEMark2AC
2022.05.25 08:11 ZERO_BREEZE_official ZEROBREEZEMark2AC
Welcome! This community is for ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 customers and general outdoor enthusiasts around the world. The Mark 2 is a first-ever battery-powered portable air conditioner. To interact with other ZERO BREEZE members, post images, share experiences, discuss ideas, ask questions, and get answers. #staycoolwithZEROBREEZE
2021.06.06 22:59 Wide_Dick Haven, A Home For All
Welcome survivors of the Bonk War, we provide free ccomodation to all who need it, no discrimination. We can give you 20X20 homes with all the essentials you need. A small park (Under Construction), personal farming land, comfortable housing and soon to be much more. This place will be referred to as Haven.
2024.02.15 19:38 valentino99 Temu F&Qs, temu players, all temu related
What is your Temu code?
2024.05.16 15:49 Technical_Snow3657 Is there something wrong with the wiring going to my air conditioner and well?
The central air conditioning unit (orange circled wires in the picutre) and the well (blue circled wires in the picture) in my house are both powered with two 120 V wires coming from the electrical panel. However, each of these units have a 30 amp circuit breaker for only one of the wires, and nothing for the other wire. I recently had someone look at my air conditioner because it's going bad, and he said that he's never seen the wiring set up like this, and that both wires should connect to a 30 amp circuit breaker, and having it wired like this is a potential safety hazard. Does anyone know why my units would be set up this way, and it is OK? Or, is this a safety hazard that I should have someone fix this asap?
https://preview.redd.it/krd3pg1cns0d1.jpg?width=1576&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61afca2d48872f0d3cb5802f07307f83ea53ee11
submitted by Technical_Snow3657 to AskElectricians [link] [comments]
https://preview.redd.it/krd3pg1cns0d1.jpg?width=1576&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61afca2d48872f0d3cb5802f07307f83ea53ee11
2024.05.16 15:49 haygurlhay123 “This Time, I Will Never Let You Go”: Cloud’s Mission and the Hidden Purpose of the Remake Trilogy - Literary and Musical Analysis of FFVII - Part 4
(continuation of part 3)
Since Fatal Calling is all about Cloud facing his past and his origins, Tifa’s musical theme is most appropriate for the ending cutscene. For all of these reasons, Tifa’s theme is absolutely appropriate for the conclusion of Fatal Calling. It makes a lot of sense then that once Cloud has finished revisiting the past and vanishes with the crystal to find his Promised Land, Tifa’s theme stops and Aerith’s theme begins.
There’s a lot to be said about Sephiroth in Fatal Calling. Sephiroth feeds off of despair, and deems Palamecia’s suffering inadequate: he seeks a much greater source of power than this realm. He states that Palamecia isn’t “the world that was promised to [him]”, referencing his desire to become the god of his core world of FFVII:
However, he isn’t the only one returning. Now that Cloud has revisited his past in Fatal Calling, he’s ready to reach his Promised Land. After Sephiroth’s after-credits scene, the OG FFVII title and logo turn into the FFVII Remake title and logo, indicating a shift: we are now officially in the Remakeera or world. Cloud and Sephiroth disappeared at the end of Fatal Calling, and now the game is telling us where they’ve gone. Combined with Hamaguchi’s recommendation that players complete the collaboration event before playing Remake, I think this is a solid indication that the Cloud and Sephiroth we see in this collaboration event are those we encounter in the Remake world. Once the switch to Remake occurs, Aerith’s theme returns. This communicates that she is indeed —as we’ve proven countless times already— Cloud’s Promised Land. But it also conveys her importance to the story of Remake. Scenario writer Nojima confirmed this:
That was the collaboration! Before we move on from MFF x FFVII Remake entirely though, let’s glean some more relevant information from some of the collaboration’s promotional material and special features.
~III. e) iii. Promotional Material and Special Features~
Two particular pieces of promotional material for this collaboration stick out to me as extremely relevant. The first is a promotion for a new summons batch in the Mobius FF game, created in honor of the collaboration.
MFF x FFVII Remake Summons Batch Cloud Promo
The summons batch contains three FFVII Remake-themed cards, including a Cloud card. As you can see, this promo reads “Who awaits in the Promised Land?” under Cloud’s picture.
The second is a promotion of an Aerith and summons and an Aerith Job Card (in MFF, Job Cards allow a character to embody an archetype or another character, giving them certain physical traits, clothing, weapons and abilities):
MFF x FFVII Remake Aerith Summons and Job Card Promo
I couldn’t find this picture in English, but the text relevant to us translates to:
MFF x FFVII Remake \"Flower Girl of Midgar\" Job Card
There’s even an Aerith outfit you can have Echo wear, and it appears with Wol’s Cloud outfit in the promotional picture:
MFF x FFVII Remake Echo's Aerith Outfit and Wol's Cloud Outfit
To be fair, Tifa also appears in one of these summons promos. However, unlike Aerith’s, her appearance doesn’t reference the Promised Land or her version of the gondola date. She is not presented in connection to Cloud at all. On top of that, while the Aerith and Cloud outfits are promoted together, Tifa is paired with Vincent in the promotional image:
MFF x FFVII Remake Summons Promo Tifa and Vincent
This is hardly indicative of Cloti content in the event collaboration or in Remake.
~III. e) iv. Cloud’s Promised Land~
All in all, the collaboration tells the story of Cloud searching for his Promised Land, just as post-OG Cloud has been shown doing for years and years of canon SE content. Cloud is searching for Aerith in the MFF x FFVII Remake collaboration, just like he was in FFT and DFF, and just like he was shown doing in the 30th FF Anniversary Exposition. This is nothing new. However, the collaboration informs us that this mission to be reunited with Aerith is what leads Cloud to enter the world of Remake.
Echo noted that people obtain the Promised Land they deserve rather than the one they want. What does Cloud deserve? I believe the answer is: another chance at saving Aerith.
Cloud needs to start over, from the top. He needs to go back to the very moment he and Avalanche arrived at mako reactor 1 to bomb it. He needs to return to the beginning of the OG game. He needs a redo, a fix-it, another shot at happiness; a remake.
Here lies the heart of my theory. My dear Cleriths, Sephiroth isn’t the only one who travelled back in time to undo destiny and create a reality where things go his way: Remake is also —I would even say primarily— Cloud’s chance to free Aerith from her fate, save her life and secure his shot at happiness with her. That’s why he experiences MOTFs in Remake: he’s done FFVII before and now he’s back, although with only fragments of his memories from OG, to save Aerith. That’s why his triggers all involve Aerith: he doesn’t consciously remember anything from OG, but his grief over Aerith is so strong that it rises from his subconsciousness at the slightest trigger.
In Remake, Cloud remembers some but not all elements of the OG timeline (MOTFs), and it appears he only remembers the most important things: all his MOTFs revolve around Aerith and her fate. Our theory explains why Aerith triggers Cloud’s MOTFs in Remake quite perfectly: he traveled back in time to prevent Aerith’s death from happening. Remake Cloud remembers Aerith because, well, he knows her from OG. Post-OG Cloud has returned to the past to save Aerith, resulting in Remake. This is why seeing her in Remake triggers visions and memories of things that haven’t happened yet in Remake, but have already happened to post-OG Cloud. He recognizes her face on Loveless in Remake because seeing her face again is the whole reason he entered Remake in the first place. His visions of her death when they meet once more at the church, the spike of anxiety and grief as he watches her walk away from him, the constriction in his chest when she talks about doing everything in her power to help the planet… all of it, it’s all his memories of OG being jogged by things related to her death. What he’s forgotten from the OG timeline emerges in flashes of pain, images, memory and emotion. Remember that the language the devs used to describe these instances where Cloud reacts to Aerith in this way is always about “remembering” or “recognizing”; Cloud has to have seen Aerith, known Aerith, loved Aerith, lost Aerith and felt the pain of living without Aerith before in order to recognize and remember these feelings. Think about it: this is the only thing that can explain Cloud’s extremely selective MOTFs and the fact that he has MOTFs at all.
The Remake trilogy is all about Cloud and Sephiroth stepping into the ring one more time, both ready to risk it all to get what they lost in the OG timeline. Sephiroth is hungry for destruction and godhood, while Cloud stands determined to save the love of his life. Fighting for their respective goals, the fated enemies enter a new battle in Remake, one to end the war, both needing to win this time after losing so horribly in OG. Now, it’s all or nothing. Sephiroth vying for the planet, and Cloud reaching out for Aerith.
Cloud’s back with a quest, one he can’t fail— it’s the most secret and important plot point of all. I call this the “Mission Theory”.
~IV. b) Mission Theory Logistics~
There are a few things that remain vague, so I’m going to use this section of the analysis to speculate on the logistics of my theory. We know very little about the hows of the timeline and multiverse shenanigans, so I’m going to hypothesize. However, this analysis is about the whys: so if you’re not interested in mechanical speculation on the logistics of time travel and multiverses, you can totally disregard this section and skip to section “V.”.
~IV. b) i. Cloud the Time-Traveler?~
It’s unclear whether Remake is the result of post-OG Cloud going back in time to try his hand at the OG timeline again, or the result of post-OG Cloud somehow informing OG Cloud that he must save Aerith this time around. It’s vague in the same way that we aren’t sure if Remake Aerith is post-OG Aerith or if she’s been informed by post-OG Aerith via her connection to the Lifestream as a Cetra. Though it doesn’t much matter how Cloud has memories of Aerith’s death in Remake, I personally think that Remake Cloud is a time-traveling post-OG Cloud. My explanation as to why might be a little confusing, so again, feel free to skip to section “V.”.
One must be able to communicate with the Lifestream in order to obtain knowledge of the future. This access can only be granted to the Cetra or to the souls of the deceased that compose the Lifestream itself. Since Cloud is not a Cetra, he cannot commune with the Lifestream while he is alive, meaning a deceased post-OG Cloud would not have been able to communicate his memories of the OG plot-line with a living OG Cloud. Therefore, the only way Remake Cloud could have knowledge of the future (manifested as MOTFs) would be that Remake Cloud is inhabited by his post-OG consciousness. Effectively, this is time-traveling.
Then comes the question of how Cloud was able to time-travel at all. I have what I consider a pretty solid hypothesis. The most interesting thing about the realm of Palamecia is that every FF character that’s ever appeared in the realm for a cameo died in their core world beforehand (spoilers for FFI, FFV, FFVI, FFX, FFXII, FFXIII, FFXV incoming). These characters include Tidus (FFX), Lightning (FFXIII), Garland (FFI), Sephiroth (FFVII), Gilgamesh (FFV), Vargas (FFVI), Gabranth (FFXII) and Ultros (FFXV). My interpretation of Palamecia serves at least partly as a directory for deceased souls that can’t simply fade. For instance, FFX’s Tidus actually came back to life to be with his love>! Yuna !! FFX!<. Of course, MFF x>! FFX !!FFX!< and FFX-2, just like MFF x FFVII Remake came out between FFVII OG and FFVII. And similarly to Fatal Calling, the ending cutscene of MFF x>! FFX !!Next thing you know, FFX-2 comes out and shows Tidus returning to Yuna and their core world in an optional cutscene.!< The MFF x>! FFX !! Tidus !Remake.
~IV. b) ii. Post-OG Cloud’s Amnesia~
If we consider that Remake Cloud is a time-travelling post-OG Cloud who’s returned to the start of the OG timeline, we encounter another logistical problem: why doesn’t Cloud remember everything or most things from the OG plot-line in Remake, like Sephiroth and Remake Aerith do? After all, aren’t the three of them in the same time-travelling boat? Why isn’t Cloud as lucid on the matter as the two others? Didn’t the post-OG Cloud in Fatal Calling face his past and origins? Shouldn’t that mean Cloud would remember all that stuff in Remake from the start?
In OG, the true Cloud’s memories are repressed by both his false persona and Jenova. The latter’s memetic abilities are able to block Cloud’s memories of the past from emerging and conflicting with his SOLDIER persona. For instance, in both OG and Remake, Cloud is unable to hear Aerith tell him Zack’s name in Evergreen Park: Jenova blocks it out. I think this is a similar situation: post-OG Cloud’s consciousness carries memories things that Jenova doesn’t want Cloud to know, so she pushes down on them. On top of that, after travelling through different worlds and back through the Lifestream for who knows how long, post-OG Cloud’s consciousness must be quite weak. We know how good Cloud is at repressing, so it makes total sense to me that post-OG Cloud’s consciousness would be trapped or suppressed somewhere deep in Remake Cloud’s subconsciousness. After all, it’s not like this whole time-travelling-consciousness thing is normal for a mind to experience. It’s no wonder Remake Cloud doesn’t consciously remember how things go in OG. However, post-OG Cloud’s love and grief for Aerith are so strong that memories related to her can occasionally pierce through to his Remake consciousness and Jenova’s barriers, resulting in his MOTFs. His pain and love for her are definitely permanent and strong enough:
So you see, Remake Cloud’s mind is a little more complicated than OG Cloud’s mind. Everything is still the same in Remake as in OG, but with the added complication that his future self is hidden in his subconscious mind, probably trying to get out.
There is actually pretty good evidence of this. I’m sure you’re aware that whenever Jenova is trying to hide something from Cloud or altering his memory and/or perception, the screen glitches green with an audio cue (34:15-34:29, 1:15:30-1:15:41 and 1:17:14-1:17:29). Guess what? These Jenova audiovisual cues also occur during the MOTFs (ie: MOTF 3 2:58-3:07 and MOTF 4 0:29-0:42). Whenever post-OG Cloud’s consciousness encounters anything that reminds it of losing Aerith, the strength of its pain helps it push memories of Aerith to the surface so that RemakeCloud can consciously see them. Remake Cloud then experiences sensations and/or visions, all from his future self’s memories as they rise to the surface, propelled by grief. Jenova can’t allow Remake Cloud to fully recover his post-OG memory, so in order to shut down the process, its cells jump in to repress the MOTFs: this results in the classic Jenova audiovisual cues. The only time Jenova doesn’t bother to fight against a MOTF is the sixth, as it is quite weak: no visions occur, only a tight sensation in his chest.
~IV. b) iii.~ ~Eclipse Contact~ ~and Cloud’s Memories of Reactor 1~
There is one problem I have trouble decoding. In Eclipse Contact, Cloud tells Wol and Echo that the last thing he remembers is the run-up to his arrival at mako reactor 1 (FFVII OG, disk 1, chapter 1). Recall that usually, people summoned to Palamecia have no memories of their world of origin and lives before that point at all. So then why is it that upon being summoned to Palamecia, Cloud recalls the events that took place right before the start of the OG game? This strikes me as highly relevant since this is the exact point in time where post-OG Cloud’s consciousness needs to be transported to in order for Remake to begin, but I haven’t been able to figure out a solid hypothesis on what it could mean. My best guess is that this is the devs’ way of signalling to us that the events of the MFF x FFVII Remake collaboration occur before the very beginning of post-OG Cloud’s second try at the OG timeline (Remake).
Now that I’ve shown you how I’ve come to form my Mission Theory and we’ve done some pesky housekeeping, let’s connect some dots, shall we? It’s time to really get into it and see if any of my wild speculation tracks with content from the Remake trilogy so far.
~V. Musical Evidence~
What about the music of the game? Any hints there? Let’s try to see if we can find support for the Mission Theory in the music made for the Remake trilogy thus far!
As a preface to my musical evidence analysis, I want to insist on something: the story guys tell the soundtrack guys everything. In a high-quality production such as Remake, people who make music for audiovisual media are told everything in advance. They need to know the secrets of every little scene, because their job is to depict whatever is happening through music.
Therefore, if the Mission Theory is true, then there has to be musical evidence for it.
~V. a) Preface: The Basics of the~ ~FFVII~ ~OST~
There’s a lot of evidence in the music of the Remake trilogy that we have to address, but before we get into it, I do have to give you the basics of the FFVII soundscape! For the easiest experience, I suggest you keep a tab open for every link I provide for you until the music analysis is over, because we will be hopping from one musical theme to another and then back again.
~V. a) i. The World Theme: Cloud’s Troubled Identity~
The world theme of FFVII is a perfect example of how musicians working on an OST have to know the secrets of a story as they compose for it. On top of representing the FFVII world as a whole, it doubles as Cloud’s character theme… except that isn’t exactly right. You see, this piece does indeed contain Cloud’s true theme, but Sephiroth and Jenova’s musical motifs also contaminate it. This, of course, symbolizes how Cloud experiences identity sabotage because of these two antagonists. The result is that globally, the world theme does indeed represent Cloud’s character, but it isn’t exclusively Cloud’s in the same way that Cloud’s mind isn’t exclusively his. It’s brilliant storytelling through musical motifs, and evidently requires Uematsu to know in advance that Sephiroth manipulates Cloud’s identity in the story.
For future reference, let’s isolate Cloud’s true theme from Jenova and Sephiroth’s influence.
~V. a) i. 1) Sephiroth: Dissonance and Semi-Tone Motif~
I’m sure you know Sephiroth’s infamous theme: “One-Winged Angel”. The first motif we need to know is Sephiroth’s threatening, repetitive dissonance motif, which plays all throughout the piece (plays solo at 0:00 to 0:04). The second motif is what I call the semi-tone motif. “One-Winged Angel” has a ton of minor 2nd intervals, which is what we call the relationship between two notes that are only a semi-tone apart. You might recognize the minor 2nd interval in the foreboding Jaws theme. Just like in Jaws, the minor 2nd interval or semi-tone is commonly used to indicate an impending, life-threatening danger, a monster, predator, evil, or insanity; suits Sephiroth quite nicely!
~V. a) i. 2) Jenova: Parasite Motif~
The track “J-E-N-O-V-A” contains many competing melodies and has generated many variations of those melodies —almost like clones— that all represent aspects of the alien’s character. The main Jenova motif is simply a descending, two-octaves-long, arpeggiated mb6 chord (eight notes total). I’ve played it for you here. Sometimes, this motif is altered to form variations. For instance, in “Listen to the Cries of the Planet”, a variation of Jenova’s main motif is created by changing the order of the notes and reducing the number of notes to only six (0:00-0:03), however, it remains an arpeggiated mb6 chord. Regardless of the alteration, if you hear an arpeggiated mb6 chord, it means Jenova is creeping close by or that its influence is at work.
The variation of the mb6 arpeggiated chord that concerns us alters Jenova’s main theme so it ascends from the tonic to the b6 note and descends back to the tonic, then ending on the lower dominant for a total of eight notes. I’ve played it for you here. I call this variation the “parasite motif”, because it is often heard when Cloud is being controlled by Jenova. For instance, it plays when Cloud loses himself and becomes unusually violent in Rebirth’s chapter 13 (17:25-18:34), signalling to us that Jenova is in control. It is also the main motif of the track “Who… Am I?”, which evidently symbolizes Jenova’s fuelling of Cloud’s identity crisis— though here, the parasite motif is shortened to its six first notes.
~V. a) i. 3) Cloud’s True Self~
Now that we can recognize Sephiroth and Jenova’s motifs, let’s return to the world theme to isolate Cloud’s true self. Cloud’s true theme can be heard from 0:51 to 3:48. It consists of a section A (0:51-1:54), followed by a section B (1:54-2:41), and then returns to section A (2:41-3:48).
After Cloud’s true theme concludes however, it seems he experiences a psychic interference: doubt and confusion weave through the world theme (3:48-4:09), representing an instability in his identity. I call this interruption of Cloud’s true theme the “interference section”. It symbolizes a moment of psychic interference or weakness within Cloud that Sephiroth and Jenova take advantage of to take control of Cloud.
The end of the interference section introduces Jenova’s parasite motif. It slithers in (4:09), later joined by Sephiroth’s dissonance motif (4:16): Cloud’s mind and identity are being hijacked by the two antagonists in service of their evil plans.
They torment Cloud, dominating his mind until he manages to free himself: section A of Cloud’s true theme begins playing again (6:06), closing the loop of the theme.
Based on this musical storytelling, if you already knew the character motifs going into OG, you might’ve suspected something odd was going on with Cloud’s identity, and that Jenova and Sephiroth were involved. All this to say that whatever music is playing at any given time can give us hints as to what is going on. That’s the power and significance of a good soundtrack. Trust me when I say that with Uematsu and his team, we’re in excellent hands. And remember: the story guys tell the soundtrack guys everything.
~V. a) ii. Aerith’s Theme~
Another base we have to cover before checking out the Remake soundtrack is Aerith’s theme. I’m sure everyone here is familiar with it, but I insist that you refresh your memory. It consists of a section A (0:00-0:34), a section B (0:34-1:13) and a section C (1:13-2:00), concluding with a repeat of section A.
~V. a) iii. Motifs and Timing in~ ~FFVII~ ~OSTs~
I’m going to analyze pieces in great detail, which people who haven’t studied or paid attention to soundtracks may find strange. To prevent anyone from making the mistake of thinking that I’m reading too much into things, I want to emphasize that the music that plays during the Remaketrilogy’s cutscenes is carefully timed, composed and arranged to match the events in the cutscenes, as they are provided in advance to the musicians. Composers pay lots of attention to whatever is going on onscreen so they can include the corresponding musical motifs as accompaniment at the exact right moments, always striving to get the timing perfect. I’m not exaggerating the effort and minutia involved in soundtrack composition and arrangement. Here are just a few sound staff comments from the “Material 4: Soundtrack” section of the FFVII Remake Material Ultimania to prove it:
~V. b) The~ ~Remake~ ~OST~
Now that you’re ready, it’s time to verify the Mission Theory’s validity with Remake’s music.
~V. b) i. MOTF 6 Music~
We were able to explain Remake Cloud’s MOTFs with the Mission Theory, and it just so happens that the music that plays during the scene of MOTF 6 is unique to Remake. This gives us the perfect opportunity: we should analyze the piece that plays as it occurs to evaluate the legitimacy of our theory on the Remake trilogy, using all the motifs we uncovered in section “V. a)”.
First, a refresher on the scene and on our theory’s interpretation of it. The party is gathered in Aerith and Ifalna’s old room at Shinra HQ. Here is how the scene is described by the VA script notes:
The piece that plays during this scene is called “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra”. It is one of many variations of Aerith’s iconic theme arranged for Remake. However, Cloud’s theme is just as prominent in the piece— if not, more.
~V. b) i. 1) The Fate Motif~
Before we interpret “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra”, I need to introduce you to one more motif that crops up in the piece. There is a windy motif that appears (from 1:45 onwards) and it is unaccounted for, despite how it’s clearly meant to represent something. I’ve become certain that this wind noise symbolizes fate, and I’ll tell you why.
In the MOTF 6 scene, just after Nanaki explains how he gained knowledge of the Whispers via contact with Aerith (7:23), they emerge and begin swirling aggressively around Aerith (7:26). Her hair and dress blow and ripple in the resulting wind. From this very moment onward “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” (3:00), a string section (bowed instruments in the violin family) that deliberately emphasizes the airy sound of the bow crossing the strings enters, creating a windy effect that adds to the already present wind noise (that started at 1:45). As the Whispers progressively become even more aggressive onscreen, both the wind SFX of the cutscene and the wind noise in the piece get louder and louder. Because of the timing of its appearance and crescendo in the cutscene, I’m certain the wind noise is meant to represent the restrictive flow of fate; it only makes sense, given that destiny is a current —or a wind— that cannot be broken, and Aerith is like a helpless petal in fate’s carefully planned storm. Of course, it’s also quite significant that the Whispers make a windy noise as they fly. You can hear it every time they’re onscreen, like when they first appear to Cloud in chapter 2 of Remake (17:45-18:20), or when the White Whispers hold Cloud back from chasing after Aerith during Rebirth’s Sleeping Forest scene in chapter 14 (28:43-29:45). You can also hear the wind sounds in other Whisper-related tracks, such as “Whorl of Whispers” (clearly audible at 2:50-3:05), as well as “A Death Not Ordained by Fate” (clearly audible at 2:56-3:18). Therefore, I’ll call these wind noises the “fate motif”.
~V. b) ii. 2) Interpreting “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra”~
In part 1 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” (0:00-1:45), Aerith’s theme and Cloud’s true theme play simultaneously, their respective phrases fitting perfectly together, interweaving peacefully and softly. It sounds like the two of them are chatting, dancing bashfully yet contently and in perfect sync, glad to be exactly where they’re meant to be as their themes sing together in harmony (soft piano). Part 1 of this piece is about Cloud and Aerith becoming important to one another as they discover their soulmate bond.
Unfortunately that contentment doesn’t last. In part 2 (1:45-3:00), Cloud experiences a moment of psychic vulnerability (world theme’s interference section). Fate lurks (fate motif enters quietly). His instability forces our couple’s sweet dance to a halt, and Aerith’s theme must retreat as Cloud’s confusion takes center stage. Sephiroth torments and taunts him (semi-tone played by strings, 2:03-2:10), taking advantage of Cloud’s psychic interference to plunge him into darkness (world theme’s interference section ends, low cello enters, 2:18): Cloud temporarily becomes a darker version of himself as evil corrupts him (piano plays section A phrases 1 and 2 of Cloud’s true theme in minor, 2:18-2:53). Jenova finally reveals itself and promptly exits, releasing Cloud’s mind from its grasp (seven first notes of parasite motif played twice on piano 2:53-3:00). Cloud is free, but the damage has been done: his dance with Aerith has long been interrupted, and she is gone. Part 2 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” is about Cloud being manipulated in service of Sephiroth and Jenova’s evil plan, interrupting his interaction with Aerith.
Part 3 (3:00-3:33) kicks off the mechanisms of a tragic fate (strings section joins fate motif, 3:00). Both anxious that she’s disappeared from his side and terrified of the darkness he just discovered inside him (in part 2), Cloud fearfully calls out for Aerith (phrase 1 of Cloud’s true theme’s section A, timid and hesitant piano, 3:04-3:15). Before his psychic interference began (start of part 2), Cloud’s voice was accompanied by Aerith’s as they grew closer and closer (their character themes mingling in part 1)… but now, Aerith isn’t answering his call, and he cannot find her (Aerith’s theme doesn’t to join Cloud’s anymore).
Anxious, Cloud tries calling out for Aerith a second time (section A phrase 2 of Cloud’s true theme’s, 3:19-3:31), searching for her in the hopes that they can continue their dance, but even now, Aerith does not respond. She’s gone (Aerith’s theme remains absent). Destiny keeps Aerith away from Cloud (fate motif gently crescendos). Part 3 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” is about Cloud’s separation from Aerith, his search for her, and the fear and anxiousness he feels when he realizes he cannot find her.
And then, part 4 begins with a sweet, gentle voice, calling out from the blackened horizon: it’s Aerith (section B phrase 1 of Aerith’s theme, soft piano, 3:33-3:45). Cloud finally hears her respond to his pleas: he’s found her. Fate begins howling in protest, doubling its efforts to keep Cloud and Aerith apart (fate motif crescendos noticeably in reaction to Aerith’s theme, 3:45). You can just picture Cloud running toward Aerith, struggling against the current of destiny to try and close the distance between them. Aerith tries calling out for Cloud a second time, (section B phrase 2 of Aerith’s theme, 3:40-3:43), but the Whispers only swirl around her more ferociously, taking her away in the uncompromising current of fate (fate motif continues to crescendo). Aerith tries again (section B phrase 1 of Aerith’s theme, 3:47-3:49). It sounds like she’s saying “Cloud, I’m over here, come find me!”
Fate doesn’t take too kindly to her defying it. Cloud and Aerith are not supposed to be together; it can’t be, it won’t. She’s destined to die to save the planet, and he’s destined to remain hollow forevermore. I can picture Cloud breaking into a sprint at the sound of her voice, running countercurrent to the flow of destiny— but the winds are so loud, fate’s demands are so strong, and the Whispers are shrieking in defense of destiny now. Aerith’s voice emerges for the fourth time (first three notes of section B phrase 3 of Aerith’s theme, 3:54 to 3:56). Fate screams louder, louder (steep crescendo of fate motif, 3:59-4:02). In a desperate hail Mary, Aerith shouts out one more time, as though throwing her hand out toward Cloud’s extended fingers (section C phrase 1 of Aerith’s theme, louder and more insistent, cutting through the fate motif as it crescendos sharply, 4:00-4:06). Part 4 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” is about Cloud and Aerith desperately trying to defy fate in order to be together. And then, it all stops: fate has seemingly quieted Aerith (4:04-4:08)…
Part 5 (4:08-4:27) begins with Cloud jumping, launching himself off the ground with all his strength (Cloud’s true theme section A phrase 2, first 5 notes, melody starting on the note E5 and ascending) as Aerith plummets toward the ground in a fatal fall (Aerith’s theme section C phrase 1, melody starting on the note E6 and descending, the last note altered)— he successfully catches her in mid-air (both Cloud’s ascending melody and Aerith’s descending melody meet in the middle of the octave, first uniting on B5, and then ending on A5). I’ve recreated the melodies for you here so you can hear this reunion more clearly. If you consider that the airy strings in this piece represent fate, which I do, the fact that they follow Cloud and Aerith’s themes in part 5 signifies that they are now in control of their own destinies, and successfully making it their fate to reunite.
To be completely frank, I did not realize until right now writing this that Cloud unites with Aerith in part 5, even though his theme is right there. I’m so excited to share this part with you.
We hear Aerith once more, her voice quietly trailing off into the silence (phrase 4 of section C of Aerith’s theme) with no conclusion (phrase 5 normally follows phrase 4 to conclude Aerith’s theme, but is absent here). Part 5 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” suggests that Cloud will save Aerith and that the couple will change their fate, but also conveys an uncertain and open-ended quality.
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Since Fatal Calling is all about Cloud facing his past and his origins, Tifa’s musical theme is most appropriate for the ending cutscene. For all of these reasons, Tifa’s theme is absolutely appropriate for the conclusion of Fatal Calling. It makes a lot of sense then that once Cloud has finished revisiting the past and vanishes with the crystal to find his Promised Land, Tifa’s theme stops and Aerith’s theme begins.
There’s a lot to be said about Sephiroth in Fatal Calling. Sephiroth feeds off of despair, and deems Palamecia’s suffering inadequate: he seeks a much greater source of power than this realm. He states that Palamecia isn’t “the world that was promised to [him]”, referencing his desire to become the god of his core world of FFVII:
“Sephiroth: Melding with the planet, I will cease to exist as I am now only to be reborn as a ‘god’ to rule over every soul” (FFVII OG, disk 1, chapter 25).Sephiroth’s line “Now, let us return [Cloud]. Back to the Promised Land” reveals he wants to return to their shared core world of FFVII, like we established in our review of the Remake timelines theory (see section “I. a) vii.”). Sephiroth wants to go back to FFVII and modify the OG timeline to achieve his evil goals. This is his ideal scenario, his place of complete happiness: his desired Promised Land. Fatal Calling is setting up Sephiroth’s plans for Remake. In fact, the after-credits scene wherein Sephiroth stands in Nibelheim as it burns confirms his return to the FFVII OG timeline.
However, he isn’t the only one returning. Now that Cloud has revisited his past in Fatal Calling, he’s ready to reach his Promised Land. After Sephiroth’s after-credits scene, the OG FFVII title and logo turn into the FFVII Remake title and logo, indicating a shift: we are now officially in the Remakeera or world. Cloud and Sephiroth disappeared at the end of Fatal Calling, and now the game is telling us where they’ve gone. Combined with Hamaguchi’s recommendation that players complete the collaboration event before playing Remake, I think this is a solid indication that the Cloud and Sephiroth we see in this collaboration event are those we encounter in the Remake world. Once the switch to Remake occurs, Aerith’s theme returns. This communicates that she is indeed —as we’ve proven countless times already— Cloud’s Promised Land. But it also conveys her importance to the story of Remake. Scenario writer Nojima confirmed this:
“Aerith's the most important character in the remake so we paid special attention to her lines” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 744).Aerith was already important to OG, so what could’ve motivated Nojima to state her importance to Remake? Could it be that she’s even more important in the latter than she was in the former? In what way?
That was the collaboration! Before we move on from MFF x FFVII Remake entirely though, let’s glean some more relevant information from some of the collaboration’s promotional material and special features.
~III. e) iii. Promotional Material and Special Features~
Two particular pieces of promotional material for this collaboration stick out to me as extremely relevant. The first is a promotion for a new summons batch in the Mobius FF game, created in honor of the collaboration.
MFF x FFVII Remake Summons Batch Cloud Promo
The summons batch contains three FFVII Remake-themed cards, including a Cloud card. As you can see, this promo reads “Who awaits in the Promised Land?” under Cloud’s picture.
The second is a promotion of an Aerith and summons and an Aerith Job Card (in MFF, Job Cards allow a character to embody an archetype or another character, giving them certain physical traits, clothing, weapons and abilities):
MFF x FFVII Remake Aerith Summons and Job Card Promo
I couldn’t find this picture in English, but the text relevant to us translates to:
“Midgar's Flower Vendor SummonsA few things here. First, Aerith is referenced by name, and we see a picture of her in her famous praying pose. Secondly, both Cloud and Aerith’s images are attached to the notion of the Promised Land. Cloud’s card asks who awaits there, and Aerith’s evokes a guiding role, as though in response. Thirdly, both Cloud and Aerith are attached to the notion of searching: Cloud searches for the Promised Land and whomever awaits there, and Aerith searches for Cloud’s true self. Speaking of which, the promo also includes parts of Aerith’s famous gondola date quote from OG:
‘I'm searching for you. I want to meet… you.’
The witch protects the planet, imbues it with power, and leads to the Promised Land.”
“Aeris: I'm searching for you.In case you’re wondering about the lady in Aerith’s clothes on the left-hand side, that’s Meia, a character in MFF. She is the “witch” being referred to in the promotional material. She’s often called the Azure Witch. Meia is wearing Aerith’s clothes because a Meia-type Job Card called “Flower Girl of Midgar” was created in honor of the MFF x FFVII Remake collaboration:
Cloud: …?
Aeris: I want to meet you.
Cloud: But I'm right here.
Aeris: I know, I know... what I mean is... I want to meet... you” (disk 1 chapter 24).
MFF x FFVII Remake \"Flower Girl of Midgar\" Job Card
There’s even an Aerith outfit you can have Echo wear, and it appears with Wol’s Cloud outfit in the promotional picture:
MFF x FFVII Remake Echo's Aerith Outfit and Wol's Cloud Outfit
To be fair, Tifa also appears in one of these summons promos. However, unlike Aerith’s, her appearance doesn’t reference the Promised Land or her version of the gondola date. She is not presented in connection to Cloud at all. On top of that, while the Aerith and Cloud outfits are promoted together, Tifa is paired with Vincent in the promotional image:
MFF x FFVII Remake Summons Promo Tifa and Vincent
This is hardly indicative of Cloti content in the event collaboration or in Remake.
~III. e) iv. Cloud’s Promised Land~
All in all, the collaboration tells the story of Cloud searching for his Promised Land, just as post-OG Cloud has been shown doing for years and years of canon SE content. Cloud is searching for Aerith in the MFF x FFVII Remake collaboration, just like he was in FFT and DFF, and just like he was shown doing in the 30th FF Anniversary Exposition. This is nothing new. However, the collaboration informs us that this mission to be reunited with Aerith is what leads Cloud to enter the world of Remake.
Echo noted that people obtain the Promised Land they deserve rather than the one they want. What does Cloud deserve? I believe the answer is: another chance at saving Aerith.
Cloud needs to start over, from the top. He needs to go back to the very moment he and Avalanche arrived at mako reactor 1 to bomb it. He needs to return to the beginning of the OG game. He needs a redo, a fix-it, another shot at happiness; a remake.
IV. The Hidden Plot Point: Mission Theory
~a) Thesis~Here lies the heart of my theory. My dear Cleriths, Sephiroth isn’t the only one who travelled back in time to undo destiny and create a reality where things go his way: Remake is also —I would even say primarily— Cloud’s chance to free Aerith from her fate, save her life and secure his shot at happiness with her. That’s why he experiences MOTFs in Remake: he’s done FFVII before and now he’s back, although with only fragments of his memories from OG, to save Aerith. That’s why his triggers all involve Aerith: he doesn’t consciously remember anything from OG, but his grief over Aerith is so strong that it rises from his subconsciousness at the slightest trigger.
In Remake, Cloud remembers some but not all elements of the OG timeline (MOTFs), and it appears he only remembers the most important things: all his MOTFs revolve around Aerith and her fate. Our theory explains why Aerith triggers Cloud’s MOTFs in Remake quite perfectly: he traveled back in time to prevent Aerith’s death from happening. Remake Cloud remembers Aerith because, well, he knows her from OG. Post-OG Cloud has returned to the past to save Aerith, resulting in Remake. This is why seeing her in Remake triggers visions and memories of things that haven’t happened yet in Remake, but have already happened to post-OG Cloud. He recognizes her face on Loveless in Remake because seeing her face again is the whole reason he entered Remake in the first place. His visions of her death when they meet once more at the church, the spike of anxiety and grief as he watches her walk away from him, the constriction in his chest when she talks about doing everything in her power to help the planet… all of it, it’s all his memories of OG being jogged by things related to her death. What he’s forgotten from the OG timeline emerges in flashes of pain, images, memory and emotion. Remember that the language the devs used to describe these instances where Cloud reacts to Aerith in this way is always about “remembering” or “recognizing”; Cloud has to have seen Aerith, known Aerith, loved Aerith, lost Aerith and felt the pain of living without Aerith before in order to recognize and remember these feelings. Think about it: this is the only thing that can explain Cloud’s extremely selective MOTFs and the fact that he has MOTFs at all.
The Remake trilogy is all about Cloud and Sephiroth stepping into the ring one more time, both ready to risk it all to get what they lost in the OG timeline. Sephiroth is hungry for destruction and godhood, while Cloud stands determined to save the love of his life. Fighting for their respective goals, the fated enemies enter a new battle in Remake, one to end the war, both needing to win this time after losing so horribly in OG. Now, it’s all or nothing. Sephiroth vying for the planet, and Cloud reaching out for Aerith.
Cloud’s back with a quest, one he can’t fail— it’s the most secret and important plot point of all. I call this the “Mission Theory”.
~IV. b) Mission Theory Logistics~
There are a few things that remain vague, so I’m going to use this section of the analysis to speculate on the logistics of my theory. We know very little about the hows of the timeline and multiverse shenanigans, so I’m going to hypothesize. However, this analysis is about the whys: so if you’re not interested in mechanical speculation on the logistics of time travel and multiverses, you can totally disregard this section and skip to section “V.”.
~IV. b) i. Cloud the Time-Traveler?~
It’s unclear whether Remake is the result of post-OG Cloud going back in time to try his hand at the OG timeline again, or the result of post-OG Cloud somehow informing OG Cloud that he must save Aerith this time around. It’s vague in the same way that we aren’t sure if Remake Aerith is post-OG Aerith or if she’s been informed by post-OG Aerith via her connection to the Lifestream as a Cetra. Though it doesn’t much matter how Cloud has memories of Aerith’s death in Remake, I personally think that Remake Cloud is a time-traveling post-OG Cloud. My explanation as to why might be a little confusing, so again, feel free to skip to section “V.”.
One must be able to communicate with the Lifestream in order to obtain knowledge of the future. This access can only be granted to the Cetra or to the souls of the deceased that compose the Lifestream itself. Since Cloud is not a Cetra, he cannot commune with the Lifestream while he is alive, meaning a deceased post-OG Cloud would not have been able to communicate his memories of the OG plot-line with a living OG Cloud. Therefore, the only way Remake Cloud could have knowledge of the future (manifested as MOTFs) would be that Remake Cloud is inhabited by his post-OG consciousness. Effectively, this is time-traveling.
Then comes the question of how Cloud was able to time-travel at all. I have what I consider a pretty solid hypothesis. The most interesting thing about the realm of Palamecia is that every FF character that’s ever appeared in the realm for a cameo died in their core world beforehand (spoilers for FFI, FFV, FFVI, FFX, FFXII, FFXIII, FFXV incoming). These characters include Tidus (FFX), Lightning (FFXIII), Garland (FFI), Sephiroth (FFVII), Gilgamesh (FFV), Vargas (FFVI), Gabranth (FFXII) and Ultros (FFXV). My interpretation of Palamecia serves at least partly as a directory for deceased souls that can’t simply fade. For instance, FFX’s Tidus actually came back to life to be with his love>! Yuna !
~IV. b) ii. Post-OG Cloud’s Amnesia~
If we consider that Remake Cloud is a time-travelling post-OG Cloud who’s returned to the start of the OG timeline, we encounter another logistical problem: why doesn’t Cloud remember everything or most things from the OG plot-line in Remake, like Sephiroth and Remake Aerith do? After all, aren’t the three of them in the same time-travelling boat? Why isn’t Cloud as lucid on the matter as the two others? Didn’t the post-OG Cloud in Fatal Calling face his past and origins? Shouldn’t that mean Cloud would remember all that stuff in Remake from the start?
In OG, the true Cloud’s memories are repressed by both his false persona and Jenova. The latter’s memetic abilities are able to block Cloud’s memories of the past from emerging and conflicting with his SOLDIER persona. For instance, in both OG and Remake, Cloud is unable to hear Aerith tell him Zack’s name in Evergreen Park: Jenova blocks it out. I think this is a similar situation: post-OG Cloud’s consciousness carries memories things that Jenova doesn’t want Cloud to know, so she pushes down on them. On top of that, after travelling through different worlds and back through the Lifestream for who knows how long, post-OG Cloud’s consciousness must be quite weak. We know how good Cloud is at repressing, so it makes total sense to me that post-OG Cloud’s consciousness would be trapped or suppressed somewhere deep in Remake Cloud’s subconsciousness. After all, it’s not like this whole time-travelling-consciousness thing is normal for a mind to experience. It’s no wonder Remake Cloud doesn’t consciously remember how things go in OG. However, post-OG Cloud’s love and grief for Aerith are so strong that memories related to her can occasionally pierce through to his Remake consciousness and Jenova’s barriers, resulting in his MOTFs. His pain and love for her are definitely permanent and strong enough:
“A young woman descended from the Ancients who will forever be engraved in [Cloud’s] heart” (Dirge of Cerberus, Japanese manual, Aerith’s character description).
“I believe for those who formerly traveled with her as comrades and for the viewers, each carries their own feelings and love for Aerith. In this story, Cloud also carries his own undying feelings for Aerith, even to this very day… Its relation with the church scene is… Yup. I’ll leave this part to your imagination. (laughs)” (Nomura interview on Advent Children “Designer’s Note” in Famitsu PS2!magazine, October 24th issue).
So you see, Remake Cloud’s mind is a little more complicated than OG Cloud’s mind. Everything is still the same in Remake as in OG, but with the added complication that his future self is hidden in his subconscious mind, probably trying to get out.
There is actually pretty good evidence of this. I’m sure you’re aware that whenever Jenova is trying to hide something from Cloud or altering his memory and/or perception, the screen glitches green with an audio cue (34:15-34:29, 1:15:30-1:15:41 and 1:17:14-1:17:29). Guess what? These Jenova audiovisual cues also occur during the MOTFs (ie: MOTF 3 2:58-3:07 and MOTF 4 0:29-0:42). Whenever post-OG Cloud’s consciousness encounters anything that reminds it of losing Aerith, the strength of its pain helps it push memories of Aerith to the surface so that RemakeCloud can consciously see them. Remake Cloud then experiences sensations and/or visions, all from his future self’s memories as they rise to the surface, propelled by grief. Jenova can’t allow Remake Cloud to fully recover his post-OG memory, so in order to shut down the process, its cells jump in to repress the MOTFs: this results in the classic Jenova audiovisual cues. The only time Jenova doesn’t bother to fight against a MOTF is the sixth, as it is quite weak: no visions occur, only a tight sensation in his chest.
~IV. b) iii.~ ~Eclipse Contact~ ~and Cloud’s Memories of Reactor 1~
There is one problem I have trouble decoding. In Eclipse Contact, Cloud tells Wol and Echo that the last thing he remembers is the run-up to his arrival at mako reactor 1 (FFVII OG, disk 1, chapter 1). Recall that usually, people summoned to Palamecia have no memories of their world of origin and lives before that point at all. So then why is it that upon being summoned to Palamecia, Cloud recalls the events that took place right before the start of the OG game? This strikes me as highly relevant since this is the exact point in time where post-OG Cloud’s consciousness needs to be transported to in order for Remake to begin, but I haven’t been able to figure out a solid hypothesis on what it could mean. My best guess is that this is the devs’ way of signalling to us that the events of the MFF x FFVII Remake collaboration occur before the very beginning of post-OG Cloud’s second try at the OG timeline (Remake).
Now that I’ve shown you how I’ve come to form my Mission Theory and we’ve done some pesky housekeeping, let’s connect some dots, shall we? It’s time to really get into it and see if any of my wild speculation tracks with content from the Remake trilogy so far.
~V. Musical Evidence~
What about the music of the game? Any hints there? Let’s try to see if we can find support for the Mission Theory in the music made for the Remake trilogy thus far!
As a preface to my musical evidence analysis, I want to insist on something: the story guys tell the soundtrack guys everything. In a high-quality production such as Remake, people who make music for audiovisual media are told everything in advance. They need to know the secrets of every little scene, because their job is to depict whatever is happening through music.
Therefore, if the Mission Theory is true, then there has to be musical evidence for it.
~V. a) Preface: The Basics of the~ ~FFVII~ ~OST~
There’s a lot of evidence in the music of the Remake trilogy that we have to address, but before we get into it, I do have to give you the basics of the FFVII soundscape! For the easiest experience, I suggest you keep a tab open for every link I provide for you until the music analysis is over, because we will be hopping from one musical theme to another and then back again.
~V. a) i. The World Theme: Cloud’s Troubled Identity~
The world theme of FFVII is a perfect example of how musicians working on an OST have to know the secrets of a story as they compose for it. On top of representing the FFVII world as a whole, it doubles as Cloud’s character theme… except that isn’t exactly right. You see, this piece does indeed contain Cloud’s true theme, but Sephiroth and Jenova’s musical motifs also contaminate it. This, of course, symbolizes how Cloud experiences identity sabotage because of these two antagonists. The result is that globally, the world theme does indeed represent Cloud’s character, but it isn’t exclusively Cloud’s in the same way that Cloud’s mind isn’t exclusively his. It’s brilliant storytelling through musical motifs, and evidently requires Uematsu to know in advance that Sephiroth manipulates Cloud’s identity in the story.
For future reference, let’s isolate Cloud’s true theme from Jenova and Sephiroth’s influence.
~V. a) i. 1) Sephiroth: Dissonance and Semi-Tone Motif~
I’m sure you know Sephiroth’s infamous theme: “One-Winged Angel”. The first motif we need to know is Sephiroth’s threatening, repetitive dissonance motif, which plays all throughout the piece (plays solo at 0:00 to 0:04). The second motif is what I call the semi-tone motif. “One-Winged Angel” has a ton of minor 2nd intervals, which is what we call the relationship between two notes that are only a semi-tone apart. You might recognize the minor 2nd interval in the foreboding Jaws theme. Just like in Jaws, the minor 2nd interval or semi-tone is commonly used to indicate an impending, life-threatening danger, a monster, predator, evil, or insanity; suits Sephiroth quite nicely!
~V. a) i. 2) Jenova: Parasite Motif~
The track “J-E-N-O-V-A” contains many competing melodies and has generated many variations of those melodies —almost like clones— that all represent aspects of the alien’s character. The main Jenova motif is simply a descending, two-octaves-long, arpeggiated mb6 chord (eight notes total). I’ve played it for you here. Sometimes, this motif is altered to form variations. For instance, in “Listen to the Cries of the Planet”, a variation of Jenova’s main motif is created by changing the order of the notes and reducing the number of notes to only six (0:00-0:03), however, it remains an arpeggiated mb6 chord. Regardless of the alteration, if you hear an arpeggiated mb6 chord, it means Jenova is creeping close by or that its influence is at work.
The variation of the mb6 arpeggiated chord that concerns us alters Jenova’s main theme so it ascends from the tonic to the b6 note and descends back to the tonic, then ending on the lower dominant for a total of eight notes. I’ve played it for you here. I call this variation the “parasite motif”, because it is often heard when Cloud is being controlled by Jenova. For instance, it plays when Cloud loses himself and becomes unusually violent in Rebirth’s chapter 13 (17:25-18:34), signalling to us that Jenova is in control. It is also the main motif of the track “Who… Am I?”, which evidently symbolizes Jenova’s fuelling of Cloud’s identity crisis— though here, the parasite motif is shortened to its six first notes.
~V. a) i. 3) Cloud’s True Self~
Now that we can recognize Sephiroth and Jenova’s motifs, let’s return to the world theme to isolate Cloud’s true self. Cloud’s true theme can be heard from 0:51 to 3:48. It consists of a section A (0:51-1:54), followed by a section B (1:54-2:41), and then returns to section A (2:41-3:48).
After Cloud’s true theme concludes however, it seems he experiences a psychic interference: doubt and confusion weave through the world theme (3:48-4:09), representing an instability in his identity. I call this interruption of Cloud’s true theme the “interference section”. It symbolizes a moment of psychic interference or weakness within Cloud that Sephiroth and Jenova take advantage of to take control of Cloud.
The end of the interference section introduces Jenova’s parasite motif. It slithers in (4:09), later joined by Sephiroth’s dissonance motif (4:16): Cloud’s mind and identity are being hijacked by the two antagonists in service of their evil plans.
They torment Cloud, dominating his mind until he manages to free himself: section A of Cloud’s true theme begins playing again (6:06), closing the loop of the theme.
Based on this musical storytelling, if you already knew the character motifs going into OG, you might’ve suspected something odd was going on with Cloud’s identity, and that Jenova and Sephiroth were involved. All this to say that whatever music is playing at any given time can give us hints as to what is going on. That’s the power and significance of a good soundtrack. Trust me when I say that with Uematsu and his team, we’re in excellent hands. And remember: the story guys tell the soundtrack guys everything.
~V. a) ii. Aerith’s Theme~
Another base we have to cover before checking out the Remake soundtrack is Aerith’s theme. I’m sure everyone here is familiar with it, but I insist that you refresh your memory. It consists of a section A (0:00-0:34), a section B (0:34-1:13) and a section C (1:13-2:00), concluding with a repeat of section A.
~V. a) iii. Motifs and Timing in~ ~FFVII~ ~OSTs~
I’m going to analyze pieces in great detail, which people who haven’t studied or paid attention to soundtracks may find strange. To prevent anyone from making the mistake of thinking that I’m reading too much into things, I want to emphasize that the music that plays during the Remaketrilogy’s cutscenes is carefully timed, composed and arranged to match the events in the cutscenes, as they are provided in advance to the musicians. Composers pay lots of attention to whatever is going on onscreen so they can include the corresponding musical motifs as accompaniment at the exact right moments, always striving to get the timing perfect. I’m not exaggerating the effort and minutia involved in soundtrack composition and arrangement. Here are just a few sound staff comments from the “Material 4: Soundtrack” section of the FFVII Remake Material Ultimania to prove it:
“[To] make sure players really feel the weight of the moment, we worked hard on getting the tempo and the entry timing of each instrument exactly right. In particular, that big ‘boom’ that sounds almost like a meteor crashing down was fine-tuned to match the timing of the logo's appearance. I remember this was a real sticking point for us, because if the boom's timing was even slightly off, the effect would be completely different. We […] had to sequence [each and every sound] to play at exactly the right moment” (Shotaro Shima on track “Midgar, City of Mako”, page 229).&
“I was originally told to keep this piece to under two minutes, but it ended up being over six minutes long, in order to match the flow of the cutscene. I arranged the track while watching the latest CG visuals that had been rendered for the scene” (Naoyuki Honzawa on track “Smash ‘Em, Rip ‘Em”, page 309).&
“This is the track that plays during the tour of Shinra’s different divisions. The movie shown in the Visual Entertainment Hall describes the history of the Ancients (0:25 onward in the soundtrack version), and I wanted to create a musical link to them as well, so I made use of the chord progression from ‘Aerith’s Theme’ [D(I)-Am(Vm)-D(I).] [This simple sequence of moving from major to minor and back again creates a really mysterious air. Then, during the section where the movie recounts the history of the construction of the Shinra Building (1:47 onward in the soundtrack version), I quoted a section of the Shinra theme” (Yasunori Nishiki on track “Stewards of the Planet”, page 313).
~V. b) The~ ~Remake~ ~OST~
Now that you’re ready, it’s time to verify the Mission Theory’s validity with Remake’s music.
~V. b) i. MOTF 6 Music~
We were able to explain Remake Cloud’s MOTFs with the Mission Theory, and it just so happens that the music that plays during the scene of MOTF 6 is unique to Remake. This gives us the perfect opportunity: we should analyze the piece that plays as it occurs to evaluate the legitimacy of our theory on the Remake trilogy, using all the motifs we uncovered in section “V. a)”.
First, a refresher on the scene and on our theory’s interpretation of it. The party is gathered in Aerith and Ifalna’s old room at Shinra HQ. Here is how the scene is described by the VA script notes:
“The Whispers once again close in [on Aerith], but Aerith refuses to stop speaking this time.Indeed, right after Aerith says she wants to help the planet any way she can, Cloud looks down at his chest with a frown and a quiet grunt (7:46-7:54). According to the Mission Theory, this tightness in Cloud’s chest can be explained as an emergence of post-OG Cloud’s grief, triggered by the slightest allusion to Aerith’s sacrifice.
Aerith: Listen to me. […] Shinra isn’t the enemy. They were the ones who set things in motion, but our true foe is someone else.
At that moment, the spectacle of Meteor they saw in the Visual Entertainment Hall comes into Cloud and the others’ heads.
Aerith: Somehow, some way, I want to help— all of you… the planet…
For some reason, Cloud feels his chest constrict tightly” (FFVII Remake Material Ultimania Plus, VA script notes, “Aerith Speaks”).
The piece that plays during this scene is called “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra”. It is one of many variations of Aerith’s iconic theme arranged for Remake. However, Cloud’s theme is just as prominent in the piece— if not, more.
~V. b) i. 1) The Fate Motif~
Before we interpret “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra”, I need to introduce you to one more motif that crops up in the piece. There is a windy motif that appears (from 1:45 onwards) and it is unaccounted for, despite how it’s clearly meant to represent something. I’ve become certain that this wind noise symbolizes fate, and I’ll tell you why.
In the MOTF 6 scene, just after Nanaki explains how he gained knowledge of the Whispers via contact with Aerith (7:23), they emerge and begin swirling aggressively around Aerith (7:26). Her hair and dress blow and ripple in the resulting wind. From this very moment onward “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” (3:00), a string section (bowed instruments in the violin family) that deliberately emphasizes the airy sound of the bow crossing the strings enters, creating a windy effect that adds to the already present wind noise (that started at 1:45). As the Whispers progressively become even more aggressive onscreen, both the wind SFX of the cutscene and the wind noise in the piece get louder and louder. Because of the timing of its appearance and crescendo in the cutscene, I’m certain the wind noise is meant to represent the restrictive flow of fate; it only makes sense, given that destiny is a current —or a wind— that cannot be broken, and Aerith is like a helpless petal in fate’s carefully planned storm. Of course, it’s also quite significant that the Whispers make a windy noise as they fly. You can hear it every time they’re onscreen, like when they first appear to Cloud in chapter 2 of Remake (17:45-18:20), or when the White Whispers hold Cloud back from chasing after Aerith during Rebirth’s Sleeping Forest scene in chapter 14 (28:43-29:45). You can also hear the wind sounds in other Whisper-related tracks, such as “Whorl of Whispers” (clearly audible at 2:50-3:05), as well as “A Death Not Ordained by Fate” (clearly audible at 2:56-3:18). Therefore, I’ll call these wind noises the “fate motif”.
~V. b) ii. 2) Interpreting “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra”~
In part 1 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” (0:00-1:45), Aerith’s theme and Cloud’s true theme play simultaneously, their respective phrases fitting perfectly together, interweaving peacefully and softly. It sounds like the two of them are chatting, dancing bashfully yet contently and in perfect sync, glad to be exactly where they’re meant to be as their themes sing together in harmony (soft piano). Part 1 of this piece is about Cloud and Aerith becoming important to one another as they discover their soulmate bond.
Unfortunately that contentment doesn’t last. In part 2 (1:45-3:00), Cloud experiences a moment of psychic vulnerability (world theme’s interference section). Fate lurks (fate motif enters quietly). His instability forces our couple’s sweet dance to a halt, and Aerith’s theme must retreat as Cloud’s confusion takes center stage. Sephiroth torments and taunts him (semi-tone played by strings, 2:03-2:10), taking advantage of Cloud’s psychic interference to plunge him into darkness (world theme’s interference section ends, low cello enters, 2:18): Cloud temporarily becomes a darker version of himself as evil corrupts him (piano plays section A phrases 1 and 2 of Cloud’s true theme in minor, 2:18-2:53). Jenova finally reveals itself and promptly exits, releasing Cloud’s mind from its grasp (seven first notes of parasite motif played twice on piano 2:53-3:00). Cloud is free, but the damage has been done: his dance with Aerith has long been interrupted, and she is gone. Part 2 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” is about Cloud being manipulated in service of Sephiroth and Jenova’s evil plan, interrupting his interaction with Aerith.
Part 3 (3:00-3:33) kicks off the mechanisms of a tragic fate (strings section joins fate motif, 3:00). Both anxious that she’s disappeared from his side and terrified of the darkness he just discovered inside him (in part 2), Cloud fearfully calls out for Aerith (phrase 1 of Cloud’s true theme’s section A, timid and hesitant piano, 3:04-3:15). Before his psychic interference began (start of part 2), Cloud’s voice was accompanied by Aerith’s as they grew closer and closer (their character themes mingling in part 1)… but now, Aerith isn’t answering his call, and he cannot find her (Aerith’s theme doesn’t to join Cloud’s anymore).
Anxious, Cloud tries calling out for Aerith a second time (section A phrase 2 of Cloud’s true theme’s, 3:19-3:31), searching for her in the hopes that they can continue their dance, but even now, Aerith does not respond. She’s gone (Aerith’s theme remains absent). Destiny keeps Aerith away from Cloud (fate motif gently crescendos). Part 3 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” is about Cloud’s separation from Aerith, his search for her, and the fear and anxiousness he feels when he realizes he cannot find her.
And then, part 4 begins with a sweet, gentle voice, calling out from the blackened horizon: it’s Aerith (section B phrase 1 of Aerith’s theme, soft piano, 3:33-3:45). Cloud finally hears her respond to his pleas: he’s found her. Fate begins howling in protest, doubling its efforts to keep Cloud and Aerith apart (fate motif crescendos noticeably in reaction to Aerith’s theme, 3:45). You can just picture Cloud running toward Aerith, struggling against the current of destiny to try and close the distance between them. Aerith tries calling out for Cloud a second time, (section B phrase 2 of Aerith’s theme, 3:40-3:43), but the Whispers only swirl around her more ferociously, taking her away in the uncompromising current of fate (fate motif continues to crescendo). Aerith tries again (section B phrase 1 of Aerith’s theme, 3:47-3:49). It sounds like she’s saying “Cloud, I’m over here, come find me!”
Fate doesn’t take too kindly to her defying it. Cloud and Aerith are not supposed to be together; it can’t be, it won’t. She’s destined to die to save the planet, and he’s destined to remain hollow forevermore. I can picture Cloud breaking into a sprint at the sound of her voice, running countercurrent to the flow of destiny— but the winds are so loud, fate’s demands are so strong, and the Whispers are shrieking in defense of destiny now. Aerith’s voice emerges for the fourth time (first three notes of section B phrase 3 of Aerith’s theme, 3:54 to 3:56). Fate screams louder, louder (steep crescendo of fate motif, 3:59-4:02). In a desperate hail Mary, Aerith shouts out one more time, as though throwing her hand out toward Cloud’s extended fingers (section C phrase 1 of Aerith’s theme, louder and more insistent, cutting through the fate motif as it crescendos sharply, 4:00-4:06). Part 4 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” is about Cloud and Aerith desperately trying to defy fate in order to be together. And then, it all stops: fate has seemingly quieted Aerith (4:04-4:08)…
Part 5 (4:08-4:27) begins with Cloud jumping, launching himself off the ground with all his strength (Cloud’s true theme section A phrase 2, first 5 notes, melody starting on the note E5 and ascending) as Aerith plummets toward the ground in a fatal fall (Aerith’s theme section C phrase 1, melody starting on the note E6 and descending, the last note altered)— he successfully catches her in mid-air (both Cloud’s ascending melody and Aerith’s descending melody meet in the middle of the octave, first uniting on B5, and then ending on A5). I’ve recreated the melodies for you here so you can hear this reunion more clearly. If you consider that the airy strings in this piece represent fate, which I do, the fact that they follow Cloud and Aerith’s themes in part 5 signifies that they are now in control of their own destinies, and successfully making it their fate to reunite.
To be completely frank, I did not realize until right now writing this that Cloud unites with Aerith in part 5, even though his theme is right there. I’m so excited to share this part with you.
We hear Aerith once more, her voice quietly trailing off into the silence (phrase 4 of section C of Aerith’s theme) with no conclusion (phrase 5 normally follows phrase 4 to conclude Aerith’s theme, but is absent here). Part 5 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” suggests that Cloud will save Aerith and that the couple will change their fate, but also conveys an uncertain and open-ended quality.
2024.05.16 15:48 Fast_Possibility_484 Does anyone have DIY recipes for outdoor decorations? Or spare outdoor decorations would work too. Preferably ones that are Wizard of Oz inspired. A scarecrow, plate armour…but anything will work bc I’m trying to get my last ⭐️. Thank you in advance! 🤍
submitted by Fast_Possibility_484 to Dodocodes [link] [comments]
2024.05.16 15:47 catsbluepajamas Inexplicably started baking and decorating cakes since my dog passed away.
I have never baked before, I do not like cake or sweets. I loved my dog. I adopted him when he was 6 years old and had him for almost 10 wonderful years. Through COVID, alone in our small apartment it was just him and I and he became my shadow. He truly was my best friend. He passed 2 weeks ago from stomach cancer. It was very sudden.
When he passed, on the car ride home from the vet covered in his fur, stool and my own snot and tears I had my boyfriend go into the store and pick up some cake mix and a cake pan and frosting. I can’t track exactly why my brain went where it did, but it had something to do with me not wanting to remember that day as the day scooby passed away/ it was going to be the day I made my first cake.
So I went home and made the worst looking cake in the world. The next day I went to work and everyone ate my cake. (It didn’t look pretty but apparently it tasted very good). I went home that day after work and purchased more cake and more frosting and extra milk and cream and butter and I went to work on a second cake, and then a third. And now I guess I just make cakes as a hobby.
I should also note I work at a middle school/high school. Most of my cakes have been eaten by the kids. I made a cake for one of the kids birthdays and I made a cake for one of my coworkers mothers for Mother’s Day. My piping skills and decorating in general, as well as flavors of the cakes have improved greatly in just 2 weeks. Summer break is almost upon us, so I won’t have anyone to give cake too for a while.
A new hobby grew out of my sadness. As time passes I actually miss him more and get a little more sad every day. But at least there’s cake.
submitted by catsbluepajamas to TrueOffMyChest [link] [comments]
When he passed, on the car ride home from the vet covered in his fur, stool and my own snot and tears I had my boyfriend go into the store and pick up some cake mix and a cake pan and frosting. I can’t track exactly why my brain went where it did, but it had something to do with me not wanting to remember that day as the day scooby passed away/ it was going to be the day I made my first cake.
So I went home and made the worst looking cake in the world. The next day I went to work and everyone ate my cake. (It didn’t look pretty but apparently it tasted very good). I went home that day after work and purchased more cake and more frosting and extra milk and cream and butter and I went to work on a second cake, and then a third. And now I guess I just make cakes as a hobby.
I should also note I work at a middle school/high school. Most of my cakes have been eaten by the kids. I made a cake for one of the kids birthdays and I made a cake for one of my coworkers mothers for Mother’s Day. My piping skills and decorating in general, as well as flavors of the cakes have improved greatly in just 2 weeks. Summer break is almost upon us, so I won’t have anyone to give cake too for a while.
A new hobby grew out of my sadness. As time passes I actually miss him more and get a little more sad every day. But at least there’s cake.
2024.05.16 15:44 snork-maidens I know this is a bit random to post a haul in the middle of May, but my order arrived and I'm so happy I just wanted to share!
 | https://preview.redd.it/4v4h8m1qks0d1.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9cf4224e1970e7c4adc42d87b7a421c28716a02 submitted by snork-maidens to hobonichi [link] [comments] I used a Cousin last year and really liked it, but I felt like it was a lot of work to upkeep and the vertical weekly wasn't my favorite as I always used horizontal before, so I just got an A6 for this year and have been using other planners in conjunction (a separate weekly, a separate journal, and another journal that I can decorate). And it occurred to me that not only have I spread my year out over several books, I've given myself more things to update than just the Cousin! I've also kept swapping and changing journals this year as nothing felt quite right, and it turned out I didn't miss the horizontal weekly format as much as I thought I did. So I decided enough was enough and just ordered a Cousin and I'm already so excited to just have one book I can take with me everywhere and know it'll contain everything in it. Despite it being A5 it feels really small too compared to the stack of other journals I've been using! I fell in love with Opanchu Usagi thanks to Hobonichi introducing me to her, I have the A6 cover and wanted to pick up a few other bits from the collaboration. I knew it was a long shot but I was kind of hoping the Hon would fit in the cover, but it doesn't (it might if I took a hairdryer to it as it's plastic and it only *just* doesn't fit, but I'm not sure I want to do that and stretch it out permanently!) I've been using Hobonichi for a few years but this is the first ever 'Bow & Tie' cover I've ever had and I'm obsessed with the level of detail in the seahorses! I didn't order the Hon transparent cover and I'm kicking myself so I'll get that from Amazon as I feel like it'll be a dirt magnet otherwise and I want to keep it pretty. |
2024.05.16 15:43 Plane_March_9356 New Camponotus Queen
I recently ordered in a new C. Vicinus queen from Stateside. She came with a pea-sized clutch of brood as well. I was super careful opening the package and placing her in a drawer. But when I tried to carefully close it, she did roll around a bit. She seemed fine after settling again but after that I noticed the water seemed pretty murky and I wanted to move test tube setups, so I carefully taped another setup to hers and left air gaps, exposing her side to light from a non heated lamp and covered the other tube so it was dark. And left it like that for a while. After 2 days she hadn’t budged so I was really worried she might get too stressed and eat the brood. I decided to slowly pick up her end and lift it until her and the brood fell to the other side. I tried to be as gentle as possible and heard online that this would be fine as long as I was careful. I took the setups apart and plugged her and the brood in. Then I setup my 15w heat cable I also got for her and placed it directly under the non water end of her test tube, placed the test tube in a towel in my drawer so it was dark and wouldn’t roll around, and left it. So my big worries are that I was too rough with her and hurt her or the brood. And that placing the cable directly under the test tube end might either melt the plastic or cause her to overheat or cook. This is my first queen and first time ant-keeping but I try to do my research. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys!
submitted by Plane_March_9356 to antkeeping [link] [comments]
2024.05.16 15:26 Sweet-Count2557 When Should You Go On A Babymoon?
 | When Should You Go On A Babymoon? submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] So, you're expecting a little bundle of joy and thinking about going on a babymoon? You might be wondering when is the right time to plan this special trip. After all, pregnancy can come with its fair share of discomforts and challenges. But fear not! We're here to help you navigate through this exciting journey. Some may argue that any time during your pregnancy is suitable for a babymoon, but we believe the second trimester is the ideal window. It's a period when most pregnant women feel their best - morning sickness has likely subsided, energy levels are up, and you're not yet burdened by the additional weight gain. In this article, we will answer the question When Should You Go On A Babymoon? The short answer is the second trimester is optimal, we will cover also how to choose the perfect destination, tips for planning a relaxing getaway, activities to consider during your trip, and safety precautions you should take. So sit back, relax (if that's even possible), and let us guide you toward an unforgettable babymoon experience. Key Takeaways The second trimester is considered the ideal time to go on a babymoon. Going on a babymoon allows for prioritizing self-care and focusing on the relationship with the partner. Babymoon can have health benefits for both the mother and the baby, reducing stress and promoting a healthier pregnancy. When planning a babymoon, it is important to consider timing, destination, and budgeting for a stress-free experience. Benefits of Going on a Babymoon You should definitely go on a babymoon because it's a wonderful opportunity to relax and bond with your partner before your little one arrives! One of the most important aspects of pregnancy is taking care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Going on a babymoon allows you to prioritize self-care by taking a break from the stresses of everyday life and focusing solely on yourself and your relationship. During pregnancy, it can be easy to get caught up in all the preparations for the baby's arrival. However, it's crucial to also nurture your relationship with your partner. Going on a babymoon gives you dedicated time together, away from distractions and responsibilities. This uninterrupted bonding time allows you to reconnect as a couple, strengthening your emotional connection before becoming parents. In addition to self-care and bonding, going on a babymoon can also have numerous health benefits for both you and your baby. Studies have shown that stress during pregnancy can affect fetal development, so taking time off to relax can help promote a healthier pregnancy. Furthermore, stress reduction has been linked to better birth outcomes and lower rates of postpartum depression. Overall, going on a babymoon is not just about enjoying some well-deserved relaxation; it's also an important part of preparing for parenthood by prioritizing self-care and strengthening your partnership. So take advantage of this precious time together before the arrival of your little one and create lasting memories that will carry you through the journey ahead. Second Trimester: The Ideal Time for a Babymoon The second trimester offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in a relaxing babymoon. During this time, you're likely to have more energy and fewer pregnancy discomforts compared to the first and third trimesters. It's an ideal time for romantic getaways and spending quality time with your partner before your little one arrives. Here are three reasons why the second trimester is considered the ideal time for a babymoon: Reduced travel restrictions: Many airlines and cruise lines have restrictions on pregnant women traveling during their third trimester. By planning your babymoon during the second trimester, you can avoid any potential travel complications and enjoy your trip worry-free. Increased comfort: As your baby bump grows bigger in the third trimester, it may become uncomfortable to sit or walk for long periods of time. The second trimester allows you to fully enjoy activities such as sightseeing, hiking, or even just lounging by the pool without feeling too restricted. Emotional well-being: Pregnancy hormones can sometimes lead to mood swings and heightened emotions. Going on a babymoon during the second trimester can be beneficial for both you and your partner as it provides an opportunity to relax, connect, and strengthen your bond before entering parenthood. So take advantage of this wonderful stage of pregnancy and plan a memorable babymoon that will create lasting memories for both of you! Choosing the Perfect Babymoon Destination Imagine jetting off to a dreamy, faraway destination where you can bask in luxury and tranquility, all while nurturing your growing connection as expectant parents. Choosing the perfect babymoon destination is crucial to creating precious memories before your little one arrives. Here are some top babymoon destinations that will cater to your needs. Bora Bora: This idyllic island in French Polynesia offers breathtaking turquoise waters, overwater bungalows, and pristine beaches. It's a paradise for relaxation and rejuvenation. Santorini: Known for its stunning sunsets and white-washed buildings, this Greek island provides a romantic setting for babymoons. Explore ancient ruins or simply lounge by the pool overlooking the Aegean Sea. Bali: With its lush landscapes and serene temples, Bali is an oasis of tranquility. Indulge in luxurious spa treatments or take leisurely walks along scenic rice terraces. If you're looking for budget-friendly options, consider domestic destinations such as Sedona or Napa Valley in the US, or Tulum in Mexico. These locations offer beautiful scenery, cozy accommodations, and affordable dining options. When it comes to planning your babymoon, remember to check travel restrictions due to COVID-19 and consult with your healthcare provider regarding any safety concerns during pregnancy. Enjoy this special time together and create lasting memories before embarking on the joyous journey of parenthood! Tips for Planning a Relaxing Babymoon Jetting off to a serene destination for your babymoon can be made even more relaxing by following these helpful planning tips. Planning a babymoon involves several considerations to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable experience. Here are three important things to keep in mind when planning your trip: Timing: It is recommended to go on a babymoon during the second trimester of pregnancy when you are likely to feel more comfortable and have higher energy levels. This will also allow you to avoid any potential complications that may arise later in pregnancy. Destination: Choose a destination that offers relaxation and tranquility. Look for places with beautiful scenery, peaceful beaches, or luxurious spa resorts where you can unwind and pamper yourself before the arrival of your little one. Budgeting Tips: Set a realistic budget for your babymoon and stick to it. Consider all expenses including accommodation, transportation, meals, activities, and any additional costs such as prenatal massages or special treatments. Research deals and discounts available at your chosen destination, and consider traveling during off-peak seasons to save money. By considering these planning considerations and budgeting tips, you can ensure that your babymoon is a memorable and rejuvenating experience before embarking on the exciting journey of parenthood. Activities to Consider on Your Babymoon Consider incorporating activities such as prenatal yoga, scenic walks, and couples massages to enhance relaxation during your babymoon. These activities can provide a wonderful opportunity for you and your partner to bond and enjoy some quality time together before the arrival of your little one. If you're looking for a beach retreat, consider spending lazy days lounging on the sandy shores, soaking up the sun, and taking gentle dips in the ocean. The calming sound of waves crashing against the shore can create a serene atmosphere perfect for relaxation. Additionally, outdoor adventures like hiking or biking through scenic trails can offer a great way to connect with nature while getting some exercise. Attending prenatal yoga classes is also highly recommended during your babymoon. Not only does it help improve flexibility and strength, but it also promotes mindfulness and stress relief. You'll learn techniques that can be beneficial during pregnancy and labor. Lastly, don't forget to indulge in couples' massages. These luxurious treatments not only help alleviate any physical discomfort but also serve as an intimate experience shared between you and your partner. Overall, incorporating these activities into your babymoon will ensure a memorable experience filled with relaxation and connection with both each other and nature. Safety Precautions to Take During Your Babymoon Taking necessary safety precautions is essential for a worry-free and enjoyable babymoon experience. When planning your babymoon, one of the first things you should consider is travel insurance. It provides coverage for unexpected events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost baggage. Having travel insurance will give you peace of mind knowing that you are protected in case anything goes wrong. Another important aspect to consider is the accessibility of medical facilities at your destination. Make sure there are adequate healthcare services available nearby in case of any pregnancy-related emergencies. Research hospitals or clinics that specialize in maternity care and find out their proximity to your accommodation. It's also crucial to check with your healthcare provider before embarking on your babymoon regarding any specific health concerns or restrictions you may have during pregnancy. They can offer valuable advice and ensure that you are fit to travel. Additionally, be mindful of activities and destinations that may pose risks during pregnancy. Avoid extreme sports, strenuous activities, or areas with high altitudes or disease outbreaks. By taking these safety precautions into consideration, you can relax and enjoy your babymoon without unnecessary worries about unforeseen circumstances or potential health issues. Frequently Asked Questions How long should a babymoon typically last? Looking for the perfect babymoon? Well, the ideal duration for a babymoon typically lasts anywhere from three to five days. This allows you enough time to relax and unwind before your little one arrives without feeling rushed. Optimal timing for a babymoon is usually during the second trimester when you're past the morning sickness phase and still comfortable enough to travel. So go ahead, plan that well-deserved getaway and enjoy some quality time with your partner before parenthood begins. Can I go on a babymoon if I have complications during pregnancy? If you have complications during pregnancy, it is important to consult with your healthcare provider before planning a babymoon. They will be able to assess your individual situation and provide guidance on whether it is safe for you to travel. While some women with complications may still be able to go on a babymoon, others may need to consider alternative options such as staycations or local getaways that are closer to medical facilities. Always prioritize your health and safety during this special time. Is it necessary to consult with my healthcare provider before going on a babymoon? Consultation with your healthcare provider before going on a babymoon is crucial. It ensures that you are aware of any potential health risks and can take necessary precautions. Your healthcare provider will have the most accurate information about your specific situation and can provide guidance tailored to your needs. They will be able to assess if it is safe for you to travel, taking into consideration any complications or conditions you may have during pregnancy. Prioritizing this consultation is essential for a smooth and healthy babymoon experience. Are there any specific travel insurance options for babymoons? Yes, there are specific travel insurance options available for babymoons. Travel insurance coverage can provide peace of mind during your trip by offering protection against unexpected events such as trip cancellation or interruption, medical emergencies, and lost or delayed baggage. The benefits of travel insurance include reimbursement for non-refundable expenses and access to 24/7 emergency assistance. It is important to carefully review the policy details and consider purchasing travel insurance that suits your specific needs and concerns. What are some budget-friendly babymoon destination options? Looking for an affordable babymoon destination? Consider the soothing embrace of a budget-friendly beach getaway. Sink your toes into the warm sand and let the gentle waves lull you into relaxation. Or, if you prefer a more adventurous escape, opt for an affordable mountain retreat. Breathe in the crisp, fresh air as you explore picturesque trails and take in breathtaking views. Whether it's sun-soaked shores or majestic peaks, there's a budget-friendly babymoon destination waiting to whisk you away. Conclusion In conclusion, going on a babymoon during the second trimester is highly recommended for expecting couples. It offers numerous benefits such as relaxation, bonding time, and a chance to celebrate the upcoming arrival of your little one. By carefully choosing the perfect destination and planning activities that suit your needs, you can ensure a memorable and rejuvenating experience. Remember to prioritize safety during your babymoon by following necessary precautions. Going on a babymoon is like a soothing balm for expectant parents, providing them with much-needed rest and tranquility before their bundle of joy arrives. |
2024.05.16 15:19 Pleasant_Violinist43 I think swimming is killing my lungs.
Seeing how other posts similar to this one do on this sub I expect I will be downvoted like crazy, but here it is. I am a rising highschool senior and have been swimming since 5th grade. I swim in a small (6 lane) indoor pool with a poor ventilation system. For the first few years of swimming in this pool everything was fine. I could breathe just as well as usual. However, about a year ago I developed a terrible pool cough. Everytime I swam it came back. Now I am mostly ok, but I still get extreme tightness and shortness of breath on days where the air quality is bad. I have seen a pulmonologist and they basically have no idea what is wrong with me. I have tried three different inhalers with varying success, but I hate having to rely of medicine to breathe, especially when I didn't before. I do not have these symptoms when running, doing weights, or any exercise beside swimming; and I do not get them in outdoor pools and lakes. I don't really think there is anything I can do as I cant switch pools, and I am not looking to quit swimming as I am doing quite well. I just hope im not doing any long term damage to my lungs.
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2024.05.16 15:11 Sweet-Count2557 Chicagos American Restaurant Restaurant in Marrakech,Morocco
 | Chicagos American Restaurant Restaurant in Marrakech,Morocco submitted by Sweet-Count2557 to worldkidstravel [link] [comments] Chicagos American Restaurant: A Delightful Dining Experience in the Heart of Chicago, Marrakech, Morocco Price Level: $ Are you looking for a delightful dining experience in the heart of Chicago? Look no further than Chicagos American Restaurant! Whether you're craving a scrumptious breakfast, a satisfying lunch, or a delightful brunch, this restaurant has got you covered. But that's not all - they also offer a delectable selection of homemade desserts and cakes that will surely satisfy your sweet tooth. What sets Chicagos American Restaurant apart is its family and kids-friendly atmosphere, making it the perfect spot for a memorable meal with your loved ones. Plus, with free wifi available, you can stay connected while enjoying your delicious meal. Don't miss out on this fantastic dining destination in Chicago! Cuisines of Chicagos American Restaurant in Marrakech,Morocco Chicago is a city known for its diverse culinary scene, and one restaurant that truly captures the essence of this melting pot is the American Restaurant. With a menu that showcases a variety of cuisines, diners can indulge in a culinary journey without leaving their seats. From classic Italian dishes like pasta and pizza to comforting American favorites such as burgers and steaks, there is something to satisfy every palate. For those seeking a quick bite, the fast food options are sure to please, while the Mediterranean-inspired dishes offer a healthy and flavorful alternative. Whether you're in the mood for a leisurely brunch at the cafe or a hearty dinner with friends, the American Restaurant in Chicago has it all. Contact of Chicagos American Restaurant in Marrakech,Morocco +212 662-473172 Av Prince My Abdelah Route de Casa, Angle Av.Abd Khatabi et, Marrakech Morocco contact@chicagoscafe.com http://www.facebook.com/ChicagosMarrakech Features of Chicagos American Restaurant in Marrakech,Morocco Delivery- Takeout- Reservations- Outdoor Seating- Private Dining- Seating- Parking Available- Street Parking- Validated Parking- Free off-street parking- Television- Highchairs Available- Wheelchair Accessible- Full Bar- Digital Payments- Free Wifi- Accepts Credit Cards Location of Chicagos American Restaurant in Marrakech,Morocco Reviews of Chicagos American Restaurant in Marrakech,Morocco Tags |
2024.05.16 15:06 NoseBuzz UFL Special Teams Power Rankings - A Week 7 Review
 | The UFL Special Teams Power Rankings are back with a new format for your viewing pleasure! Let's discuss the performances of each unit in this week's review; submitted by NoseBuzz to UnitedFootballLeague [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/myw6fwzrbs0d1.jpg?width=4339&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c39260aa3a281bd5a9200cfa5ecb8dc8fa0357b0 Special Teams Player of the WeekJJ Molson - USFL ConferenceAfter not scoring a single point through nearly 2 quarters of football, Molson was called upon with 3 seconds left in the first half for ~a 48-yard field goal attempt~. He nailed the kick, putting the Roughnecks on the board with some momentum heading into the second half. In the third quarter, ~Molson would make a 31-yard field goal~ to take the lead. About 4 minutes later, he would attempt ~a 62-yard field goal~, the longest of his professional career. Molson showed off his power and accuracy, sending the ball straight between the goalposts with room to spare. He finished his night with a short, ~21-yard field goal~, accounting for all of the Houston Roughnecks' 12 points and keeping them competitive throughout the game. Ryan Santoso - XFL Conference The San Antonio Brahmas were locked in a stalemate with the Roughnecks through the first quarter of the game when the Brahmas got down to the Houston 8-yard line. After a quick 3-and-out, Ryan Santoso kicked a 26-yard field goal to take the lead. The Roughnecks would respond with field goals of their own, making the score 12-3 heading into the fourth quarter. A touchdown and 3-point conversion later, the Brahmas tied the game and gave the ball back to Santoso, who kicked off 78 yards to the Houston returner. The San Antonio Coverage Team forced a fumble and put the ball back into the offence's hands. The Brahmas only got to the 33-yard line, forcing a long field goal attempt. Unfazed, ~Santoso drilled a 51-yard field goal~, securing the win for his team! KickersKickers went 15/17 on field goals (88.2%) this week, slightly above the season average of 87.2%. There was a season-high of 5 field goals over 50 yards, including multiple attempts over 60 yards. Here are the UFL Week 7 Kicker Power Rankings;https://preview.redd.it/jc39k4yxbs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ca63e258f16d49d4dfb4cff5415ebfd5f65194e Standouts;
PuntersPunters averaged 45.4 yards and 38 net yards per punt across 26 attempts this week, both significantly higher than the season average through 7 weeks. They managed to keep 6 punts inside the 20-yard line (23%), including four that remained inside the 10-yard line. Kick power was on display with over 30% of punts travelling further than 50 yards. Additionally, 6 punts that travelled out of bounds, matching the season-high seen in Weeks 4 and 6. Here are the UFL Week 7 Punter Power Rankings;https://preview.redd.it/isar1dzybs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01fed113caa27a92efb40cb0100b9ed87d36f590 Standouts;
Kickoff SpecialistsThere were 38 kickoffs this week, with specialists averaging 68.4 yards per attempt, which nearly matches the league average of 68.2 yards per kickoff through 7 weeks of play. A total of 19 kickoffs (50%) that travelled further than 70 yards, which is slightly above average. Additionally, 8 kickoffs (21%) remained inside the 30-yard line. Here are the UFL Week 7 Kickoff Specialist Power Rankings;https://preview.redd.it/o3jpvvkzbs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a4db401ca06ff8fd2340c6f1be31e6bb8dea11e Standouts;
Long SnappersThere were 25 long snaps that were shown in highlight packages this week, the most we've seen all season. These included 17 field goal snaps, of which 13 were Strikes (76%), and 8 punt snaps, of which 6 were Strikes (75%). This gives the long snappers a collective Strike percentage of just over 75%, which is lower than the season average of 84%. Additionally, 2 long snappers contributed in coverage, each recording an assisted tackle. Here are the UFL Week 7 Long Snapper Power Rankings;https://preview.redd.it/14vrws50cs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eae875d596c5bd0f3a444e0d3987d81c0b7a7d5c Standouts;
Kickoff ReturnersThere were 37 kickoff returns in Week 7, with returners averaging 24.1 yards per return, the lowest weekly average all season. Although 8 returns (22%) travelled more than 30 yards, there were also 3 fumbles, the highest number in a single week. Here are the UFL Week 7 Kickoff Returner Power Rankings;https://preview.redd.it/32tqlnu0cs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc18d20c7599162fcc83491b5304f80ac3e5b9d5 Standouts;
Punt ReturnersThere were 12 punt returns this week, with returners averaging a season-low of just 5.1 yards per return. Only 2 punt returns (17%) travelled more than 15 yards, and there were 3 fumbles, all recovered by the opposing team. Here are the UFL Week 7 Punt Returner Power Rankings;https://preview.redd.it/bl591991cs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=091e1d66197990b5649974ad71466a31f7129e1d Standouts;
Coverage TeamsCoverage Teams across the league performed well this week, allowing an average of just 5.1 yards on 12 punt returns and 21.4 yards on 37 kickoff returns. There were 7 penalties for a total of 55 yards, which inflates the average yards allowed per kick to 20.6 yards. Additionally, another punt was blocked, bringing the total number of blocked kicks to 8 through 7 weeks of play. Here are the UFL Week 7 Coverage Team Power Rankings;https://preview.redd.it/4obbsup1cs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=82726e22fac9bf67921939abd66a4ec590a100d2 Standouts;
Individual ST StatsHere's who is making an impact on Special Teams;https://preview.redd.it/0hns0152cs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b381e9002d7ef63d70f2a9fcdeef879bfcc68556 Here are your most penalized Special Teams Players; https://preview.redd.it/2kbhrij2cs0d1.jpg?width=867&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d150fc84e081dacfdb70131fe49469a9fddf186 HoldersHere are the UFL Week 7 Holder Power Rankings;https://preview.redd.it/tzey3pm3cs0d1.jpg?width=925&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ef2df46daa26a7959118da977f23742440be7424 Standouts;
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2024.05.16 15:02 K41TIE Maintenance Q from a noob
Hi everyone! I have a 2020 Royal Enfield Classic 500 - I purchased it new. It’s kept indoors and covered in the off-season. Very low km’s (1500). It has been sitting for the last 9 months but starts right up no issues and runs great.
I asked two shops for quotes on maintenance to make sure everything is in order to ride this summer.
One shop tells me I need pretty much everything done, fluid changes, flushes, ÉCU reset, etc and quoted me $600
The other shop tells me I just need an oil and air filter change and a look over, and quoted me $120
I plan to take a maintenance course this year but atm I have very little knowledge on this stuff… I would love your input on what you think I should do maintenance-wise, and which shop I should go with…
Thank you in advance!
submitted by K41TIE to motorcycles [link] [comments]
I asked two shops for quotes on maintenance to make sure everything is in order to ride this summer.
One shop tells me I need pretty much everything done, fluid changes, flushes, ÉCU reset, etc and quoted me $600
The other shop tells me I just need an oil and air filter change and a look over, and quoted me $120
I plan to take a maintenance course this year but atm I have very little knowledge on this stuff… I would love your input on what you think I should do maintenance-wise, and which shop I should go with…
Thank you in advance!
2024.05.16 15:01 adulting4kids ☃️❄️ Winter Solstice
- Winter Solstice Traditions Around the World:
- Explore how different cultures celebrate the winter solstice. Investigate regional traditions, rituals, and customs associated with marking the shortest day and longest night of the year.
- Winter Solstice Symbolism:
- Research the symbolic meanings attributed to the winter solstice. Explore how various cultures interpret the solstice and its significance in terms of nature, renewal, and the changing seasons.
- Winter Solstice Bonfires and Fireside Celebrations:
- Investigate the tradition of lighting bonfires or celebrating around the hearth during the winter solstice. Explore the symbolism of fire, warmth, and community in these celebrations.
- Winter Solstice Yule Logs and Decorations:
- Explore the tradition of the Yule log and other winter solstice decorations. Investigate the historical roots and symbolic elements associated with these festive adornments.
- Winter Solstice Festivals and Events:
- Research public festivals and events held during the winter solstice. Explore how communities come together to celebrate with music, performances, and other activities that embrace the season.
- Winter Solstice Nature Walks and Observations:
- Investigate the practice of nature walks and outdoor observations during the winter solstice. Explore how individuals and communities connect with nature, marking the changing position of the sun and its effects on the environment.
- Winter Solstice Reflections and Ceremonies:
- Explore winter solstice ceremonies and reflective practices. Investigate how individuals and groups use this time for introspection, setting intentions, or participating in
2024.05.16 14:49 ya-boi-benny Respect Zagor, the Warlock of Firetop Mountain (Fighting Fantasy)
Old peasant legends tell of a magnificent treasure at the peak of Firetop Mountain in the realm of Titan. This treasure is sought out by many adventurers, although few make it back out of the mountains in one piece, and none are able to find the two-locked chest containing the prize. The treasure is guarded by an enigmatic warlock who commands terrible beasts to guard the chest’s keys. Some say he's old, some say he's young, some say his cards are his source of power, others say it’s his black gloves. The only thing that the peasants can agree on was his name; Zagor.
The terrible warlock would fight three different adventurers on their quests to claim his treasure. Each time, if the reader makes the right choices and defeats Zagor in combat, he manages to crawl back from the blackness of death using another morbid spell. Upon his third incarnation, he even made the jump from the realm of Titan to a new world called Amarillia. It's here that the sorcerer would finally meet his end, burned to ashes in the mystical Heartfires.
Feats come from three books, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, Return to Firetop Mountain and Legend of Zagor. Hover over a feat to see what book it’s from. Since they’re Choose Your Own Adventure books, they aren’t distinguished by chapters but rather by paragraph numbers, which are included in the images themselves.
submitted by ya-boi-benny to respectthreads [link] [comments]
The terrible warlock would fight three different adventurers on their quests to claim his treasure. Each time, if the reader makes the right choices and defeats Zagor in combat, he manages to crawl back from the blackness of death using another morbid spell. Upon his third incarnation, he even made the jump from the realm of Titan to a new world called Amarillia. It's here that the sorcerer would finally meet his end, burned to ashes in the mystical Heartfires.
Feats come from three books, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, Return to Firetop Mountain and Legend of Zagor. Hover over a feat to see what book it’s from. Since they’re Choose Your Own Adventure books, they aren’t distinguished by chapters but rather by paragraph numbers, which are included in the images themselves.
General
Human Form- He has a Skill stat of 11 and a Stamina stat of 18. This makes Zagor more skilled than a Vampire, who can catch the player’s sword, and tougher than a Giant.
- After resurrecting into a patchwork body, he maintains his stats of 11 in Skill and 18 in Stamina
- If the second adventurer kills him a second time, they return to identify the corpse a few days later. Zagor’s body is completely dead, but he’s grinning and his skeletal left hand is missing, something the adventurer worries will lead to a third encounter down the line.
- In another realm called Amarillia, a war with a Bone Demon ended when the Casket of Souls was created, which allowed the humans to banish the demon to another plane. However, Zagor’s pernicious spirit felt this event in the realm of Titan and used the Casket to manifest himself in Amarillia. By crossing into the parallel world, he bonded with the trapped Bone Demon, and Zagor’s third physical form is a demonic/human hybrid. This incarnation grows stronger as Zagor spends time in the demon’s lair, Castle Argent, and can only be killed for good by the Heartfires below the castle.
- Zagor’s Demon form is four meters tall and visibly strong. He fights using a rune-covered staff.
- As his Demon-Thing form, his stats go up to 16 in Skill and 20 in Stamina. He uses a variety of attacks in combat, like a Thunderbolt spell, a Fireball spell, a Life Drain spell that lowers an adventurer’s Skill and Stamina stat, a Poisoned Dagger, and melee attacks with his Taloned Fists. If the Zagor Demon reaches critical health without dying, it will become Frenzied and thrash around violently.
- After beating the Zagor Demon, the adventurer must throw his body into the magic Heartfires to completely destroy him. If he’s not thrown into these flames, he will revive himself and slay the adventurer with his claws.
Magic Abilities
Immunities- He cannot be harmed by non-magical means. Attacks like arrows do no damage to Zagor.
- Zagor is immune to the magic paralysis spell used by a genie
- He can see through the effects of invisibility-granting garments
- If an adventurer attempts to use offensive magic against the Zagor Demon, his reaction depends on if he has a higher Attack Strength than the opponent. If his stat is higher, his Magic Screen spell cancels the offensive spell and damages the adventurer.
- He’s immune to instant Death Spells
- A master thief’s flowing cloak allows the wearer to confuse enemies, lowering the hit rate of their attacks. However, Zagor sees through this technique and is unaffected by the distracting garment.
- If an adventurer uses a handheld catapult on Zagor, and Zagor has a higher Attack Strength stat, the projectile misses and the adventurer is injured
- He’s capable of teleporting around the room as well as levitating
- If the player shoots an arrow at Zagor, he lifts a hand and halts in mid-flight, centimeters away from his chest
- Shoots a plume of blue flames from his hand
- Magically slows the adventurer as they climb up some stairs. As this happens, Zagor magically summons a mid-level, poisonous monster to duel the adventurer. Damage done by this creature is transferred to Zagor himself. This spell can be neutralized by an adventurer’s protective spell.
- He can form invisible barriers, useful for creating obstacles to knock flying adventurers from the air
- While he initially appears as a withered, ancient man, he quickly assumes a younger form in opulent clothing when preparing to fight the player
- Right before his defeat in the fist book, Zagor cast a dark spell on himself called Raise Dead, preventing his spirit from fully dying
- Coming back from the dead was not a perfect process, and most of Zagor’s body is decomposing. He must have his minions claim body parts from living victims in order to replace his failing body, piece by piece.
- He uses a curse to raise deceased residents of Firetop Mountain as his Undead servants
- He’s cursed the land around Firetop Mountain. The once red rocks have turned black, and livestock who graze around the mountain die sickening deaths shortly afterwards.
- He has a hypnotic gaze and his voice seems to come from the walls of the cave rather than his mouth
- If the player finds and uses an Invisibility Potion, Zagor can still sense their presence and track them through scent
- Zagor personally rigs a trap with a spell called Demon’s Breath. If the adventurer stands too close to a wall, a puff of gas is released that continually poisons them until they eat orc fleas.
- Zagor can draw his monsters from other planes of existence. This is how, upon his jump from Titan to Amarillia, Castle Argent is already full of his minions.
- When an adventurer opens a casket, Zagor casts a spell that further decomposes and animates the corpse within to attack the adventurer. This spell is performed over a great distance.
- He can sense when his name is uttered in Castle Argent and dispatch monsters to that location
Magic Artifacts
Zagor's Portrait- The adventurer can come across Zagor’s painting in Firetop Mountain, a frightening portrait that lowers their Skill stat through intimidation
- If the adventurer draws their sword against the artwork, the blade is telekinetically grabbed and dropped on them, wounding their face
- If the adventurer draws a wooden stake against the artwork, their wrist is suddenly wracked with pain and they drop the weapon. They also lose one more Skill point before fleeing.
- If the adventurer throws cheese at the painting, Zagor laughs at them
- If the adventurer produces the jewel found in the Iron Cyclops, the painting is defeated and the adventurer receives two Skill points
- A different painting found in Castle Argent uses a telepathic attack to frighten an adventurer and lower their Luck stat
- As a tradeoff of using the Raise Dead spell on himself, the powers that be placed brought Elementals to his lair in Firetop Mountain. These supernatural beings are the only thing that can truly harm Zagor and must be summoned by using a dragon’s tooth along with an awakening word. However, Zagor can also subjugate these forces under his rule after he gathers his own summoning artifacts.
- If at any point, the adventurer fails to produce the right dragon tooth during the duel with Zagor, then Zagor’s Elemental will pick them up and throw them at a wall, rendering them unconscious. If they fail to say the right magic word, they also be magically rendered unconscious by a telekinetic backlash.
- Upon encountering the adventurer, he first summons his Demonic Air Elemental with a yellow crystal and magic chants
- If his Air Elemental is defeated by the adventurer’s Earth Elemental, Zagor summons a Water Elemental
- If the Water Elemental is defeated by the adventurer’s Air Elemental, Zagor summons an Earth Elemental
- If the Earth Elemental is defeated by the adventurer’s Fire Elemental, Zagor will summon an identical Fire Elemental
- If the Fire Elemental is defeated by the adventurer’s Water Elemental, Zagor will finally get out of his throne and fight personally
- Zagor has complete knowledge of the secrets of Firetop Mountain and controls all of the beasts within. This information has been collected in his spellbook.
- A silver earring is found on a Cave Troll. If the adventurer puts it on, it turns into a living earwig that attempts to enter the person’s ear and attack their brain. This Brainbiter is described as one of Zagor’s enchanted assassins.
- A silver necklace is found on a Goblin. Upon contact with human skin, it turns into a feral rat with poisonous bites. The charm is said to have been created by Zagor.
- Magic cards from his magic set offer a variety of positive and negative effects for those who manage to collect, on, including: one that turns into a magically terrifying face, one that lowers the holder’s Skill and Luck stats, a blank card, one that confers Stamina and Luck into the holder and one that can turn into a silver dagger that can weaken Zagor himself
Weaknesses
2024.05.16 14:49 ya-boi-benny Respect Dmitri Smerdyakov, the Chameleon (Marvel, 616)
The famous baseballer, Jackie Robinson, he once said: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” I could not agree more. That is why I try to make as much impact on my faces’ lives as possible. After all, they have done so much for me. It is the least I can do. Unlike them, I need not fear what people think of me. So I can be brave where they are weak. For I will just be someone else tomorrow.
He'd move to America and use his talents to pull off high-scale burglary, working for any group that could afford his fee, including the Communist party, Hydra or the Green Goblin. His elicit activity brought him into conflict with the Hulk, Iron Man and most often Spider-Man, all of whom had to act with great caution when the Chameleon was in town. After all, which one of them could tell if that unassuming civilian or their own ally was preparing to stab them in the back?
Dmitri has some mental hangups over his time with the Kravinoffs. He’s managed to repress the memories and considered himself good friends with his half-brother Kraven. In reality, he was more like a whipping boy and slave to the Hunter, and when he has to wrestle with those feelings, he can mentally revert to that scared little boy with no strong sense of identity or independence. But when he’s able to move past these feelings, the Chameleon has proved himself as a powerful, manipulative force, finding his place as temporary Crime Master of New York and member of the Sinister Six.
Notes
During one of Dmitri’s mental breaks, he began to believe that he was his deceased half-brother, Kraven the Hunter. So exact was the Chameleon’s performance that he moved and fought with the hunter’s skill and agility. This was an extreme fringe case and there are no other examples of a disguise altering Chameleon's capabilities like this. Physical and skill-related feats from this period will be marked with [KH].
Hover over a feat to see which issue it's from.
Physicals
General- He’s taken some of Kraven’s potions, which extends his natural lifespan and protects from disease
- Kraven later notes that he only allowed the Chameleon to drink some of his potions, enhancing his strength, although not nearly as much as the Hunter himself
Unarmed Striking
- Downs a cop with a punch to the back of the head
- Boxes Alexei Kravinoff’s ears, flooring the bigger man
- Tackles and restrains Bruce Banner
- While posing as Tigra, he breaks Mysterio’s helmet with a kick
- Knocks Finesse out with two punches to the back of the head
- [KH] Kicks Alexei in the chin mid-leap
- Hurts Spidey with a kick to the face
- Hospitalized the Shocker
- Floors a man with a suitcase
- Clubs Captain America with a fire extinguisher, flooring him for several seconds
- [KH] Smashes through a ceiling and dives at Alexei
- [KH] Impales a man with a spear, then rams him into a wall hard enough to crack it
- Beats a man unconscious with a pistol
Other
- While carrying Betty Ross over his shoulder with one hand, the Chameleon uses the other to smack Major Glenn Talbot
- [KH] Holds a wolf away from him
- Carries and fires this absurdly large gun
Scaling with Spider-Man
- Gets up after a glancing blow from Spider-Man
- Takes a backhand from Spider-Man
- Stays barely conscious after Spider-Man punches him into what looks like a concrete wall hard enough to break it
- Takes two punches from an angry Spider-Man
- While emulating Spider-Man and clinging to a wall with suction cups, he takes a punch from the real Spider-Man but stays clinging and makes an escape
- Spider-Man throws Chameleon head-first into a wall, then smacks him three times, breaking his mask. Despite this, the Chameleon stays conscious and manages to run off.
- Gets kicked in the head by Spider-Man (dressed as Deadpool) but quickly recovers and puts Spidey in a headlock
- Takes a sucker punch from Spider-Man in the Spider-Armor MK III
- [Limit] One casual punch from the Superior Spider-Man knocks Dmitri out
- Gets tackled by the Hulk, who was shrunk down to a few inches at the time
- Takes three heavy blows from Daredevil before falling into unconsciousness
- Takes a backhand punch from Kraven
- He gets up after Captain America throws his shield into his back
- Stays conscious after Deadpool punches him out a window
- Takes a punch from Spidey and an elbow from Deadpool
- Gets punched by Whirlwind
- Gets beat on by Teresa Parker
- Spider-Man punches Vulture, sending the villain flying into Chameleon
- Gets thrown many feet into the air, then falls back-first onto stone
- He jumps off the Brooklyn Bridge and lands in the water below
- [KH, Limit] He’s KO’ed by a woman with a wooden chair
- While disguised as Spider-Man, he gets grabbed and swung around a room by tentacles, at one point getting his head slammed through a concrete wall with no ill effects
- He’s not noticeably harmed after a cop shoots him in the shoulder
- Stays standing after being shot in the thigh
- Twenty minutes after being shot in the shoulder, he’s not noticeably harmed
- Crashes his car into the Hulk
- Crawls from a crashed HYDRA aircraft
- Unharmed after crashing his truck into a wall
- While piloting a giant Galactus robot, a helicarrier crashes into the robot’s head and the Chameleon’s control room. He survives the crash relatively unharmed.
- He survives after being poisoned and being left in a burning bar by the Punisher
- When Captain America breaks one of Chameleon’s stun guns, the resulting blast melts his rubber face mask, burning him
- He eats a full plate of ambien-laced cookies baked by Aunt May
- Spider-Man webs up a big gun that the Chameleon was using, causing it to blow up in his face. Dmitri gets up right after.
- Dodges some charges from Hammerhead, first with a sidestep, then by flipping over the mobster
- [KH] Dodges a tackle attempt from Alexei Kravinoff
- He lands hits on Spider-Man pretty easily once the hero loses his spider-sense
Skill
ImpersonationGeneral
- When posing as someone, the Chameleon copies their gait and posture
- When emulating J. Jonah Jameson, not only does the Chameleon copy his personality, mannerisms and body language, but he copies Jonah’s writing style so he can turn in editorials at the Daily Bugle
- [Limit] In 2009, he took the form of Barack Obama and attempted to get sworn in as the POTUS. However, Spider-Man asked the fake and the real Obama a question that only the real Obama would know the answer to, outing the Chameleon as an imposter.
- Mimics Tigra perfectly, replicating her movements, voice and microexpressions
- When posing as a zombie Ezekiel Sims, Chameleon does something to make himself smell like a long-dead corpse
- Skilled in vocal emulation
- He perfectly emulates voices over the course of minutes after listening to audio recordings or the voices of his hostages
- While posing as the Paris police director, he fools a voice recognition system designed by Henry Pym, allowing him access into an Avengers headquarters
- Can emulate mechanized voices, like Doc Ock’s from when he was a cyborg
- Betty Ross sees through Dmitri’s Bruce Banner disguise thanks to her female intuition
- Daredevil sees through the Chameleon’s disguises because he can hear Dmitri’s distinct heartbeat
- Spider-Man’s Spider-Armor MK III has a Daredevil-inspired feature built in to the helmet that allows Peter to track Chameleon’s specific heartbeat. This allows him to see through the villain’s disguises.
- [KH] Fights evenly with Alexei Kravinoff before restraining him with a rope
- Off-panel, he killed a SHIELD agent and a doctor with a pen
- Shanks Superior Spider-Man in the neck with a pen
- While disguised as Spider-Man, he brawls hand-to-hand with Deadpool
- [Limit] Lost a fight to Mary Jane Watson with a baseball bat
- [KH] Slashes two mens’ throats with a single swipe of a spoon
- [KH] Performs a handstand on a tree stump
- Using Klawe’s sound cannon, he blasts MODOK’s psionic blaster, disabling the head’s main weapon
- Leaps from a second story and lands on an awning to break his fall
- Jumps from the back of an aircraft onto the hood of a pursuing flying car
- Nick Fury boots Dmitri off of a flying car, but the villain manages to grab a ladder on a nearby aircraft
- Cracks a locked vault door, possibly using a stethoscope
- Pilots a giant LMD modeled to look like Galactus
- (Poorly) pilots the Iron Man Model 4 before being dropped by an alternate-universe Ghost Rider
Disguises
Realistic Masks- Originally, the Chameleon employed realistic masks and hairpieces to disguise himself as individuals. He kept these pieces in a multi-pocketed vest, allowing him to alter his appearance on the fly
- After getting one quick glance at Thunderbolt Ross, the Chameleon is able to make a perfect mask of the general’s face in a matter of minutes
- When the Hulk is tearing the Chameleon’s car apart, he quickly changes into the guise of Rick Jones to calm the Hulk, then manipulate him into breaking a friend out of prison
- At one point, he used a gun that squirts fast-drying fluid, which kills victims via suffocation and leaves the Chameleon with a perfect mask of their face
- He once wore four masks layered on top of his plain, white one
- He gets a procedure done to his body that makes his flesh completely malleable, changing in response to electrical stimuli. He also had a specially designed costume that reacted the same way to stimuli. The final piece was a control system built into a belt that could memorize and store any face that the Chameleon encountered. All of these pieces allowed the Chameleon to completely copy someone’s appearance and replicate it through thought alone.
- This exact method of changing his face depends on the comic's art style
- After looking at a photograph of a man, the Chameleon completely embodies him in moments
- When begging for his life, he rapidly switches between a dozen different faces
- When he’s knocked unconscious, his face relaxes and goes back to how it normally looks
- Once made a game out of pretending to be a civilian in need, then attacking Spider-Man when the hero helps him
- [Limit] One time, a very serious Spider-Man shocked and frightened the Chameleon so badly that he let his disguise drop
- Uses convincing costumes when posing as superheroes or supervillains
- Disguises himself as a Statue of Liberty street performer
- Some kind of hidden device emits mist, allowing the Chameleon to change masks and outfits
- Carries a canister of chemical gas that instantly changes the color of his clothing
- Later on, he wears a suit that allows him to instantly change his facial appearance and clothing
- A high-tech costume can resemble any article of clothing that the Chameleon can think of
- When appearing as someone much bigger than he is, like the Kingpin, the Chameleon uses an inflatable suit
- Poses as a hostage, then uses a hologram projector to make it look like Doc Ock is holding him off a roof
- When working for the Superior Spider-Man’s team of “reformed” villains, the Superior Six, Chameleon used hologram tech to aid in his disguises. This let him appear as Loki, with his massive horns and Asgardian outfit being formed with the tech. It otherwise works more or less like his powers did.
- Most recently, the Chameleon requires the use of a serum to be able to change his features at will
Weapons
Non-LethalGuns
- Uses a dart gun that instantly knocks a man out with a shot to the shoulder
- Uses a chemical gas gun to instantly knock out Captain America, keeping him out for a few minutes
- A dart gun that leaves victims unconscious and foaming from the mouth
- A stun gun
- A syringe full of sedative chemicals that KOs Spider-Man and makes Deadpool woozy for a minute until he heals
- A syringe hidden in a prop torch puts Spider-Man to sleep immediately
- He injects Spider-Man with a poisonous chemical. It brings on extreme nausea and vertigo, then later knocks Spider-Man out for two days straight.
- Snuck into Captain Stacy’s room and administered a few drops of sedatives to Stacy’s decanter. This kept him unconscious all day, allowing the Chameleon to assume his identity and steal priceless pieces of art.
- An aerosol can of sedatives
- One time, he coated his clothing in an odorless sedative chemical. When Spider-Man grabs him by his jacket, the hero falls unconscious in a matter of seconds.
- Gas grenades
- He uses some kind of electric weapon on a shallow body of water, shocking Spider-Man, Husk and Deadpool into unconsciousness
Guns
- Normal guns like rifles, a shotgun and a handgun
- A silenced handgun
- A revolver
- A double-barreled shotgun
- He wields a one-handed launcher that carries a variety of capsules, including cyanide gas canisters and concussive explosives
- An absurdly large, Liefeld-esque gun that blows up a computer station
- A energy-based handgun with explosive firepower, used to blast a large hole through Deadpool’s torso and later turn a concrete wall into rubble
- A poison ring that would’ve injected JJJ with a lethal dose during a handshake
- [KH] Shoots Spider-Man with a poison dart that would’ve killed him in ten minutes if he didn’t take the antidote
- Usually carries a dagger or other kind of blade
- A grenade
- A small, box-shaped time bomb
- He once used a Man-Thing parasite to protect himself from gunfire and form combat applicable branch-like tentacles
Other Equipment
Field Gear- Smoke pellets
- When posing as Spider-Man, he used a web-gun to emulate the hero’s web-shooters, although the webbing wasn’t as strong as Spider-Man’s
- While posing as Spider-Man, the Chameleon utilizes suction cup-covered gloves and a web gun to replicate Spidey’s wall-crawling and web-slinging
- A tracking device
- Nose filters protect him from a cloud of cyanide gas
- A jetpack with enough fuel to fly for nearly a full hour
- Typically restrains victims with rope and gags
- Uses a modified radio to send a message across New York that only Spider-Man could hear
- Uses a machine to swap memories with Captain America
- One lair boasts a chair that can be lowered into a pit of acid, used to destroy bodies
- Rigs his lairs to explode if they’re compromised
- He detonates explosives in one of his hideouts that releases napalm-like flames
- He’s helped to design Life Model Decoys that look exactly like Richard and Mary Parker with the goal of investigating Peter Parker and finding out about Spider-Man’s identity. While the false Mary developed a conscience and defied her programming, the false Richard was outfitted with a combat form.
- He holds a gun to the head of a simulacra of Mary Jane. When Spidey determines it’s a fake instead of his real wife, it poofs into smoke.
- Robots that drive his escape vehicles
Miscellaneous
- After coming across a cave full of assorted scrap mechanics, Chameleon builds a missile from the pieces. He later says he “found” the missile, so who knows. At any rate, the missile is strong enough to KO the Hulk when they collide.
- One time, he inexplicably escaped from Spider-Man’s grasp and disappeared from the room
- He kidnaps Spider-Man and imprisons him in Ravencroft Asylum. He then unmasks the hero, puts a realistic mask and straightjacket on him and attempts to gaslight Peter, through the use of psychoactive drugs and fabricated evidence, into believing he’s another man named Herbert Smith. This ruse does convince Peter for a good while until he later remembers his life with Mary Jane.
- He implies that he might be able to disguise his psyche from the telepathic X-Men member, No-Girl, although the claim is not actually proven
- Off-panel, he killed a man, cut off his face and used it for a temporary mask
Monica Rappaccini: I apologize for the delay in initial payment, but we first had to verify your identity. A.I.M.’s intel had been that the Chameleon was dead- or in an insane asylum.
Chameleon: Yes, well. That would be exactly what I wanted you to think. Faded into the background, imperceptible… that’s where a Chameleon is most comfortable… and where I shall now return.
2024.05.16 14:45 Appropriate-Oil-4742 Coachella is in two weeks and my skin is not ready yet - help! (ulike air 10/nood/braun?)
Coachella is like two weeks away and I'm freaking out a little. I was planning on wearing this cute crop top but my stomach is covered in ingrown hairs! 😩 Shaving just makes it worse, so I'm thinking of trying one of those at-home IPL devices.
Has anyone had any luck with the Ulike Air 10, Nood, or Braun for getting rid of ingrown hairs?
submitted by Appropriate-Oil-4742 to HairRemoval [link] [comments]
Has anyone had any luck with the Ulike Air 10, Nood, or Braun for getting rid of ingrown hairs?
2024.05.16 14:43 AltCocoAndCo Error Cocode [Coclones Origin Lorepost + TLDR]
![Error Cocode [Coclones Origin Lorepost + TLDR]](https://a.thumbs.redditmedia.com/GoXdJ4J2EIHYmCi60ZYXNSG4j7pT8ito_B0aVgRnOS0.jpg "Error Cocode [Coclones Origin Lorepost + TLDR]") | /uw TLDR: A bunch of Cocos from alternate timelines and dimensions fall through a rift and land in this current world. They all have slightly different personalities and hobbies, and go their own separate ways. All of their stories are told on this account, while the original Coco's story remains on the main account. /rw submitted by AltCocoAndCo to wizardposting [link] [comments] “And… hah… why are we hiking up a mountain for this?” “Because his ability will affect basically anything near him. Out here, his powers won’t bring about too much chaos… Thank you for bringing those fruits here, Coco. It means a lot.” The two women, dressed in black and white, stood out like a sore thumb amidst the greens and browns of the forest leading up the mountain. Coco trailed behind Alentu as they ventured higher, her exhaustion quite apparent compared to the latter’s calm and collected steps. Though their physical capabilities seemed miles apart and their gaits completely unalike, there was an invisible harmony to their movement. This ironic harmony extended to their clothing, their outfit and hair colors the exact inverse of each other. In Coco's hand was a basket of various fruits, freshly picked to be delivered to a certain someone. Today was an unfortunate day for the Ventures. One where each would 'pay the price' for their position in the family. All except Alentu, who took it upon herself to look after her family at their weakest and most vulnerable. She had, by chance, also ran into Coco that day, who she had forged an unexpected bond with, one almost unimaginable to anyone who knew her well. They agreed to meet at the outskirts of the forest to bring some goods to It was late afternoon, and they were now halfway to the peak where the cave resided. They had walked uphill for well over an hour, and the incline only grew steeper. To try and ignore the numbness of her feet, Coco tried to strike up a conversation. Coco: "So Alentu, do you... T-think they'll... accept us together?" Alentu: "Accept?" She giggled. "I was the head of the Venture family long before many of the rules were in place, so you have nothing to worry about. You won't go forgetting about me anytime soon, even if you don't officially marry into the family. And after today, you'll see why I don't want you becoming a Venture, for your own sake." Coco: "Ah, yeah... I-I was more meaning, like... Would your family... Like me?" Alentu: "Hmm... It'd be hard to tell without you talking with them one on one. But if we're talking about Coco: "R-right. Well that's good... To be honest, I have been a bit nervous about it all... Not just meeting your family, but telling them we're p-" Alentu: ahem "M-maybe not that part yet... One thing at a time... Let's just focus on first impressions and making sure he's doing alright, okay?" Coco: "Oh, sure- HUH?" Coco's exclamation made them both stop in their tracks. Alentu turned her head quickly, but Coco's finger pointed her gaze ahead of them to a nearby waterfall, or what would be one, if it hadn't been flowing up into the sky. That wasn't all. Loose rocks and trees floated around the mountain's peak, birds flew through the air backwards, and the stone faces of the mountain were jagged and blurry. It was as if they had walked into an unstable simulation of reality. Coco stood in shock as she tried to comprehend what she was looking at, but a tap on her shoulder brought her attention back. Alentu signaled to keep walking and stay cautious, taking her hand and leading her through the lawless, almost artificial world they had entered. As they neared the peak, the anomalous sights grew more and more common, and the terrain more and more hazardous. They carefully climbed the last incline, and atop the mountain awaited a beautiful mess of nature. A sea of flowers and grass covered the ground, the variety of which was exotic and almost timeless. The local flora was still intact, but among it grew untamed vines, metallic displays that mimicked plants, and all kinds of life that had never once grown in that area. There were also several shrines in the area, each having the same features, colors and style, but of completely different makes and materials. Coco: "What the... I-is this what Alentu: "Yes... It's just as bad with everyone else... Having such little control over such strong powers... It's why today's so important for me. I have to protect everyone..." Coco: "Alentu... I-I'm so lost in what... What this is. Everything feels so... broken..." Alentu: "...We should head into the cave. Watch your step, and whatever you do, do NOT go near any smoke. Understand?" Coco: "I do..." Alentu wrapped her arm around Coco and helped her across the dense foliage. They soon reached the cave, and in it layed a blurry mess of static and black smoke. Heeding the warning, Coco kept her distance, averting her gaze from the eyesore within, while Alentu called out into the darkness. Alentu: " Alentu: " Alentu: "...Seriously?" Coco: "O-oh, I don't... I-I came here with Alentu to bring you some food. S-she's my... My..." Alentu: "Coco's my wife." Alentu: "I'm not joking. It won't be official, but... We both found it in our hearts to share our love with another." Coco blushed from the sudden introduction, having never heard her say those words in public, and while Alentu had a confident demeanor and tone, even she looked a bit anxious. The cave was silent apart from the crackling of the rifts forming in reality, as no one really knew what to say next. After a long pause, Alentu: "Thank you... I hope he is watching, too..." Coco: O-oh, s-sure! I'd be happy to! Alentu: "But I really should... Ah, I've already checked up on the others at least once today... Alright, but I need to be back by evening, for everyone else's sake. Today's not a day I can slack off, you know." Coco and Alentu took a seat at the entrance of the cave, sitting in a patch of stone untouched by the smoke. They unpacked their basket of fruit, dividing up the softer fruits between the two, while rolling the ones with peels to During their picnic, they chatted about how Coco and Alentu met, skipping over the more intimate details, and sharing stories from their life to break the ice. Everyone got along well, and though Alentu: "Ah~ Alright, it's best I head back now... I hope you don't get too cold when night comes, Coco: "Oh, you're fine! I share what I grow at home with everyone! It was nice to meet you, too!" Alentu's eyes widened, turning around and running towards the cave, reaching out for Coco. Alentu: "COCO! RUN! The wind is gonna push the smoke into us!" Coco looked in horror at the floor under her, their unaffected safe spot having shrunk to just the space she occupied. Black smoke began to blow around the cave, trapping her in a hazy web. She looked to Alentu, her eyes desperate and in disbelief as her heart sank. What would happen if she got touched? Would she disappear forever? Would she be thrown into another time and space with no way home? Would she be transformed beyond recognition? She screamed in terror and made a run for Alentu, ducking low and reaching out for her. Their hands stretched out for each other, but just as they almost touched, a veil of smoke covered her vision. The smoke had consumed her. When she opened her eyes, she was standing on a bridge in an endless void. There was no land in sight whichever way she turned her head, and the sky was a starry night completely alien to her. Her fear made her too scared to open her mouth, let alone yell for help. She looked down, and saw her reflection rippling in the darkness... No, multiple reflections. The void became a sea of her form. Terrified, she stumbled back, but tripped over the rope suspending the bridge, causing her to fall in. As she fell, she felt her body get caught up in a mass of limbs and hair. These body parts were connected to her reflections, and as one began to scream, the rest followed. They fell together for what felt like forever, but as Coco looked up, she saw the other countless reflections looking back at her, slowly fading from view. She closed her eyes, accepting what was likely her demise. Eventually, she hit the bottom, but instead of the cold impact of death, she fell into a warm embrace, and instead of falling straight down, she fell forwards. Alentu: "Coco! Coco, are you o- AH!" Coco's eyes jolted open, and before her was Alentu, holding her like she never wanted to let her go again. Their hug was tight, but behind her black hair, she saw the familiar sight of the corrupted mountaintop. Coco: "A-Alentu... A-am I still here with you?" Alentu: " Y-yes! T-thank god you're safe, if you had disappeared for good- I-" Alentu's eyes were teary, and her voice unusually shaky. "You only vanished for a second, but that was one of the scariest moments in my life... B-but now..." Coco: "Alentu, I-I was so scared, I-I don't know what happened..." As instructed, while still hugging Alentu, she turned her head to look behind her, and realized the nightmare she experienced really did happen. The reflections she saw were real. The bodies she got tangled up with were even more real, and they were all right behind her. https://preview.redd.it/g7j91mvnas0d1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=2448c5e661a34adb003dfa39743f611ed0cfb6a9 One by one, her mirror images began to climb up from their dog pile. They were all as confused as she was, though they didn't seem to recognize where they were. Getting a good look at them, she could see that they were almost exactly alike, at least in terms of appearance. Once they all realized they were looking at replicas of each other, their panic ensued. "W-what the fuck is this? God damnit, did I drink too much?" "Ah- Mom? Where are you? Where did you go? W-why am I here?" "Mimics? Damnit, what have I gotten myself into?" While their appearances were quite similar, they all seemed to have slightly different personalities and reactions. Some were confrontational and agitated, some were lost and scared, and some were speechless, still trying to understand what happened. The original one stayed in Alentu's arms, holding her close as she watched the unbelievable scene unfold. Alentu: "W-what... S-so, t-this Coco is fine, b-but all of these others have..." Alentu: "And these other Cocos... They can't go back, can they?" The crowd of altworlders began to yell and shout at the voice in the cave. "What the hell? You brought us here, but you can't bring us back?" "Shit! I have to get back home, now! I don't care if I need to give my soul to a chronomancer..." "T-this is the future? O-Or the past? Or even a d-different dimension?? No, that can't be!" "I'm not a god damn clone!" One by one, they ran away, each resolved to accomplish something different. The sudden crowd poured down the unstable mountain, until only one remained, staring back at Coco and Alentu in disbelief. Alentu: "And you?" AltCoco: "Alentu... T-thank god you're here, too?" Alentu: "Hm? Ah, so we've met in your world... Since you're here, I think we need to figure out how we're gonna fix this mess. Please, come with me..." They moved to sit by one of the many shrines near the mountain path. Alentu then led a discussion between the three, asking the other Coco what she remembered about her own world's history. Her description appeared to describe a similar reality to their own, but at an earlier point in time. As such, the events that lead her life were different, and she was only able to recognize Alentu. The two forms of Coco began to discuss more specifics about their own lives. AltCoco: "Huh, s-so you're getting married to someone else, and have a family of your own already... B-but, you're also with Alentu?" Coco: "Yes... But I'm honestly amazed to hear how differently my life could have been if I was born only a few decades earlier..." Alentu: "Where you only met me..." AltCoco: "Yes- A-and Alentu, y-you're almost exactly the same as the one I know... I-it's like I'm talking to the same person. Everything we did together matches up too... B-but now she's..." Alentu: "I'm sorry, Coco... There's not much we can do. I still love you, but..." AltCoco: "Wait! Please! Let me stay with you, Alentu! E-even though we're from different worlds, you're still the same woman I love! Please..." Alentu: "But this world's Coco is..." All three fell silent as an uncomfortable truth settled in: There were two Cocos, but only one Alentu. That wasn't even mentioning the fact that even more were out there in the world, with absolutely no way to control their actions, however reckless they may be. Despair began to creep onto the altworlder's face, tears falling from her eyes as she began to accept her cruel fate. Coco's own face was clouded deep in somber thought, but after gathering her resolve, she spoke up. Coco: "I... I have a proposal, but... You might not like it, Alentu. And it doesn't really solve our other problem..." Alentu: "We're already in a shitty situation. Please, just tell me." Coco: "My family at home needs me. I'm about to have little Iza, and... Since this Coco was ripped away from her own family... Well, I don't think she should be deprived of that joy... You should also be able to spend time with your kids..." AltCoco: "Y-you want me to raise this Alentu's kids instead of you?" Coco: "And... Stay with her... Be a good wife to her, so we all can get a happy ending..." Alentu: "But Coco- A-are you saying you want her to take your place beside me? But that would mean you, yourself, wouldn't be with me... This hurts you more than any of us!" Coco: "I suppose so... I do really care for you, but... I'm the only one that can be there for Mikhail and the kids I planned to raise with him. If we want to spend as much time as possible with family, you, Alentu, are the only family this Coco has. I don't want either of the people I care about to feel like I'm not there for them, so..." AltCoco: "I... I understand... If you're really okay with it, both of you, then... I'd be so happy... I'm honestly scared to think about what I left behind, but, if I can be with Alentu, no matter what time or place..." Alentu: "I'm okay with that... This feels... strange, but... I think it's for the best for each of our families. I love you, Coco, but I know your family needs you. I wanted to make it work despite that... I didn't want to lose you, but-" Coco: "Don't think like that, Alentu! Let's not look at this as a mistake, but a blessing... One that lets everyone find their own happiness. You didn't lose me! Instead, you'll now be able to spend all the time you like with your love! I want to protect your smile no matter what, and leaving it in the hands of someone I know will bring you happiness... I can't possibly be sad about that." AltCoco: "I agree... It means neither of our families will worry... This world's Coco can be with her family, and I can become yours, just as it was before with both of us. I want to make this work, for everyone's sake!" Alentu: "Hah... Coco, that's why I love you. You always know how to cheer me up, and make me feel loved. When I'm with you, my worries always seem to melt away... I accept your proposal. You're both my lover, so I could never look at either of you any differently. To a bright future with our families..." Alentu pulled the two in for a big hug, and gave a kiss to this world's Coco. The two shared their goodbyes and well wishes to each other before Coco sat down in front of her counterpart, a happy look on her face that inspired the other to brighten up. Alentu stood up and ruffled both of their hair, leaving the two by themselves as she waited nearby. The Cocos then turned to each other, smiling as they shook hands. Coco: "To a bright future with our families" AltCoco: "To a bright future with our families" https://preview.redd.it/klgk6wclas0d1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=100636d165f5d3dc02cc4cdd902b16a285b56fe0 |
2024.05.16 14:41 Arbrand The Trickster's Veil
As far back as I can remember, I had always been passionate about the great outdoors. My love for the wilderness began when I joined the scouts, exploring the diverse landscapes of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. I was never a huge fan of the dry, barren landscapes, but camping provided a much-needed escape from the monotony of Orange County suburbia.
The first time I visited the Pacific Northwest, I was enchanted. The scenery was breathtaking—majestic mountains, lush fields, and meandering rivers. It was clear that anyone who praised the desert's beauty had never laid eyes on the Cascades. Seeing grass and wildflowers growing without irrigation was practically a revelation.
When I was old enough, I moved to Washington state, immersing myself in nature every weekend. My adventures took me hiking through dense forests, camping by serene lakes, and occasionally taking mushrooms under peaceful waterfalls.
I joined several online forums dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts. One community that particularly fascinated me was the Northwest Tomb Raiders. This group of history buffs and thrill-seekers was dedicated to uncovering artifacts, whether Native American relics or treasures hidden in modern ruins. Many members were collectors, fencing their finds to museums and archaeologists, which made it a rather profitable side gig, should you be lucky enough.
In the fall of 2009, an intriguing post appeared on the forum. A user named Lokk claimed to have discovered a cache of artifacts with Scandinavian origins. He couldn't carry everything back due to the treacherous terrain and his age, so he shared the coordinates, hoping someone else could retrieve the items. I scrolled down to see a few posts of people planning to loot it in the Spring, when the paths have reopened. One user, Patagooner, planned on going as early as possible.
Excited by the prospect, I gathered my two friends, Carl and Noah, for the expedition. They weren't as enthusiastic about camping as I was, but after I told them how much a single arrowhead goes for on the black market, they were on board. It was the start of winter now, which had its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, the rangers would have a harder time spotting us. On the downside, the harsh conditions posed a serious challenge for two inexperienced hikers.
I must’ve blown about four grand at REI on gear for them, justifying it with the knowledge of how much more I would make with two extra packs. That is of course assuming there really were as many artifacts as Lokk had said, and Patagooner hadn’t beaten me there.
The journey began like any other. We met in the pre-dawn darkness and went over our supplies, ensuring we had everything we needed. By mid-morning, we were on our way, my pickup truck winding up the mountain paths. The roads of Olympic National Park were the epitome of the raw, untamed beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
They snake through ancient forests, where towering Douglas firs and Western hemlocks create a verdant canopy overhead. Mist clings to the trees, giving the landscape an ethereal quality. Occasionally, the forest would open up to reveal breathtaking vistas of snow-capped peaks and deep, shadowy valleys.
As we climbed higher, the landscape grew increasingly desolate. The dense forest thinned out, replaced by rugged terrain and jagged rock formations. The air grew colder, and the first flurries of snow began to fall, dusting the ground in a thin, white layer. The road became narrower and more treacherous, winding precariously along the edge of steep cliffs.
Finally, a road closure blockade signaled the end of our journey in the truck. We unloaded three dirt bikes—one mine, two rentals—and continued up the trail. The bikes roared to life, carrying us several more miles into the wilderness. The trail twisted and turned, cutting through dense underbrush and over fallen logs. The snow began to fall more heavily, blanketing the forest floor and muffling the sound of our engines. The world around us grew quieter, more isolated.
Eventually, the snow became too deep to traverse by bike. We dismounted and prepared to continue on foot. The silence of the forest was profound, broken only by the occasional rustle of branches in the wind. I checked my modern GPS, its screen displaying the coordinates and a relief map of our destination.
The cold air bit into our cheeks as we trudged through the snow-laden forest. The silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the crunch of our footsteps and the occasional call of distant wildlife. The GPS indicated we were close to our destination, but the dense underbrush and uneven terrain made progress slow.
Suddenly, Carl's excited whisper cut through the stillness. "Hey, look at that!"
He pointed to a small, furry creature ambling through the trees. It took a moment to realize what it was—a bear cub, innocently exploring its surroundings.
My heart sank. "Carl, get back," I hissed, my voice low but urgent. "Where there's a cub, there's a..."
Before I could finish, a massive shape exploded from the trees. The mother bear, easily three times the size of the cub, charged at Carl with a ferocity. She was a blur of dark fur and powerful muscles, her roar echoing through the forest.
"Run!" I yelled, but it was too late. The bear was upon Carl, swiping at him with her massive paws. He screamed as he fell to the ground, the bear towering over him. Desperation and adrenaline surged through me. I grabbed the nearest heavy branch and swung it at the bear, hoping to distract her.
Noah joined in, shouting and waving his arms. We had to be careful; one wrong move and she would turn on us. The bear snarled, turning her attention away from Carl for just a moment. It was enough for him to scramble backwards, clutching his bleeding arm.
"We have to get him out of here," I shouted to Noah, who nodded, fear etched on his face. The bear, still enraged, seemed torn between attacking us and protecting her cub.
Using the brief respite, we hauled Carl to his feet. His face was white, and he was clearly in shock. Blood soaked his sleeve, dripping onto the snow. "There's a ranger station about two miles from here," I said, my voice shaking. "We need to get him there. Now."
We half-carried, half-dragged Carl through the forest, every shadow and sound heightening our paranoia.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the small, wooden structure of the ranger station came into view. We had been avoiding the rangers to keep our expedition secret, but now it was our only hope.
Pounding on the door, I prayed for a quick response. The door creaked open, and a weathered face appeared. "What happened?" the ranger demanded, taking in the sight of Carl's bloodied form.
"Bear attack," I gasped. "We need help."
The ranger's expression shifted from suspicion to urgency. "Get him inside. We've got a first aid kit and a radio."
As we eased Carl onto a makeshift bed, the ranger inspected his wounds. "You're lucky," he said after a moment. "The cuts are deep, but they missed any major arteries. He'll need stitches, but we can handle that here. No need for an airlift."
The ranger's face darkened as he turned to me. "What the hell are you boys doing out here?”
I hesitated, "We... we were just exploring."
The ranger's eyes narrowed, his anger palpable. "Exploring? In a restricted area? In the middle of winter? Are you out of your minds?"
He worked quickly and efficiently, cleaning and stitching Carl's wounds. Carl winced but stayed silent, his eyes closed in pain.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out here?" the ranger continued, his voice rising. "The storm, the wildlife... This area is off-limits for a reason! You should have known better." he said, pushing a finger into my chest.
"We'll stay here for the night," he continued, "The storm's getting worse, and it's too dangerous to move him now. We'll reassess in the morning. And count yourself lucky I don't arrest your asses."
Night fell quickly, the storm outside growing more ferocious with each passing minute. The howling wind battered the small ranger station, and the walls creaked under the pressure. We huddled in the main room, the tension thick in the air.
The ranger looked at us sternly. "I need to check the perimeter and make sure everything is secure. There are things out there you don’t want to encounter, especially in this storm."
"Things? What do you mean?" Noah asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The ranger's expression hardened. "Just stay put. No matter what you see or hear, do not leave this cabin. Understood?"
We nodded, the seriousness in his tone leaving no room for argument. "We'll stay put," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
The ranger grabbed his coat and shotgun. "I'll be back in an hour. Do not leave this cabin." With that, he opened the door and stepped into the raging storm, disappearing into the darkness.
As soon as the door closed, I turned to Noah. "We need to go. Now."
Noah's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? He said to stay put."
"If we wait until morning, we'll be escorted out of here and lose our chance. This might be our only opportunity to find those artifacts."
Noah hesitated with uncertainty "But... what about Carl?"
"He'll be fine here. The ranger can take care of him. We have to do this now."
Reluctantly, Noah nodded. "Alright. Let's take what we can and go."
We quickly looted extra gear from the cabin. I checked the GPS one last time before we slipped out into the storm, the cold wind battering us.
The snow fell heavily, obscuring our vision as we slogged through the forest. The ranger was nowhere in sight as we made our way towards the our destination, each step filled with trepidatious excitement.
The storm began to die down as we approached the coordinates. We stepped into a clearing where the undisturbed snow lay like a pristine white blanket. In the center stood an ancient, weathered stone altar, encircled by intricate wooden carvings, delicate metalwork, and beautifully crafted statues. The sight was breathtaking, a treasure trove, a veritable museum of paganism.
Noah and I exchanged glances, our eyes wide with amazement. "Do you see this?" I whispered, barely able to contain my excitement.
"We're going to be rich," Noah replied, his voice trembling with awe. "These must be worth a fortune!"
We approached cautiously, as if the vision before us might disappear. The craftsmanship was stunning. I reached out to touch a carved wooden idol, marveling at the detail. "This is incredible," I said, my voice barely audible.
We began to load our packs with as many artifacts as we could carry, each one more exquisite than the last. It was beyond our wildest dreams. We were so engrossed in our task that we didn't notice the small figure watching us from the ridge.
It wasn't until I turned to leave that I saw her. A young girl, maybe eight years old, stood there, her blue eyes wide with curiosity. She was dressed in simple, rustic clothing, her blonde straight hair blowing gently in the wind. For a moment, we just stared at each other.
"Noah," I whispered urgently, nudging him. "Look."
He turned, his eyes following my gaze. "What the...?" he muttered, his voice trailing off.
The girl took a tentative step forward, her eyes fixed on the items in our hands. There was no fear in her gaze, only a quiet intensity that made my skin crawl.
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She tilted her head slightly. "My name is Sigyn."
"What are you doing out here, Sigyn?" Noah asked, his voice shaky.
"I live here,"
"You live here?" I echoed, incredulous. "Is there anyone else around?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Where?" Noah demanded, looking around nervously.
"Everywhere," she said with a giggle.
The way she said it, so matter-of-factly, bothered me deeply. Noah and I exchanged a look, both of us trying to figure out what to do next.
"We can't take her back to the ranger," Noah started, "We'll lose everything."
I nodded, my mind racing. "Sigyn," I said slowly, "we need to know who else is here. Can you help us?"
She looked at me with her piercing blue eyes, then said, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Noah asked.
"For what's going to happen to you," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness.
"You need to tell us what's going on," Noah said, grabbing her arm roughly. "Why are you out here alone?"
She looked up at him, unperturbed. "I am not alone," she said softly.
Before we could press her further, a loud, guttural mooing sound echoed through the clearing. We turned towards the direction the girl had come from, and there, emerging from the shadows, was the silhouette of an elk. As it approached, my stomach dropped. Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of life and decay. Its skull was fully exposed, the eye sockets dark and empty. Large patches of its ribs were visible, the flesh around them rotted away.
The elk's movements were slow and deliberate, its head swaying as if in a trance. It walked directly towards us, its hollow eyes fixed on Sigyn. The closer it got, the more the stench of death filled the air—a nauseating mix of decay and earth. I fought the urge to retch.
Sigyn stood up, her expression calm. The monster sniffed her gently, its nostrils flaring. Without a word, she climbed onto its back, mounting it like a horse. It was a surreal and horrifying scene ripped straight from a nightmare.
As she settled onto the elk, she looked back at us, "A thief in the night shall reap what he sows," she said, her voice carrying an otherworldly echo. "Beware the price of stolen dreams."
With that, the beast turned and began to walk away, Sigyn riding it into the shadows of the forest. We stood there, frozen in place. The realization that we were in far over our heads began to sink in. This started to feel like a trap.
We need to get out of here," My voice trembling. "Now."
We turned to leave, our packs heavy with the pilfered goods. But as we took our first steps, the forest around us seemed to come alive. Shadows moved among the trees, and whispers floated on the wind. I quickened my pace, glancing nervously over my shoulder.
"Did you hear that?" Noah asked sharply,
"Just keep moving," I commanded.
A figure emerged from the shadows, blocking our path. It was a man, tall and gaunt, his eyes burning with an intense light. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice cold and menacing.
"We're leaving," I stammered. "We didn't mean any harm."
The man smirked, and with a swift motion, he raised his hand. More figures appeared, closing in on us from all sides. We were surrounded.
"Run!" I shouted, shoving Noah forward.
We sprinted through the forest, branches whipping at our faces and legs. The figures pursued us, their footsteps silent and relentless.
Noah stumbled and fell, his pack spilling open. Statues scattered across the ground, glinting in the moonlight. "Help!" he cried, scrambling to gather the items.
"Leave them!" I shouted, pulling him to his feet. "We have to keep moving!"
But it was too late, their hands seizing us. I struggled, kicking and thrashing, but their grips were too strong. They forced us to the ground, binding our hands with rough, coarse ropes.
"Please," I begged, "Don't hurt us."
The man who had first appeared stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "A thief in the night," he mocked.
They dragged us through the forest, the trees closing in around us like a cage. We were at their mercy.
In the distance, I could see the elk standing at the edge of the clearing, Sigyn still astride its back. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pity. But then they turned away, disappearing into the shadows once more.
We were dragged into the heart of the forest, our struggles futile against the unyielding grip of our captors. As we broke through the treeline, a massive bonfire came into view, its flames licking the night sky. Shadows danced around the clearing, cast by the flickering light. A woman stood at the forefront, her presence commanding.
Her eyes were milk white, devoid of pupils, and her long, flowing white hair cascaded down her back. She was completely naked, her skin pale and marked with intricate symbols. Atop her head, she wore an elk skull, its antlers extending like eerie, skeletal fingers. She beat a drum emblazoned with more of the same cryptic symbols, each thud resonating deep within my chest.
Around the fire, about two dozen people stood, all drinking from crude, horned cups. Their faces were solemn, eyes fixed on the woman as she led them in a haunting chant. The atmosphere was thick with a mix of reverence and intoxication.
We were forced to our knees before the woman, who paused her drumming to look down at us. Her gaze was haunting, as if she could see into the very depths of our souls.
"Who are you?" Noah demanded, his voice trembling.
The woman ignored him, raising her arms to the sky. The chanting grew louder, the rhythm of the drum faster and more frenzied. The air around us seemed to vibrate with energy, the flames of the bonfire growing higher and more intense.
I glanced at Noah, fear mirrored in his eyes. The woman began to speak, her voice low and melodic, but filled with power, in a language I couldn't understand. Suddenly, she stopped, lowering her arms. The chanting ceased, and an silence fell over the clearing. She looked directly at me, her white eyes unblinking.
En tjuv i natten skördar vad han sår, akta dig för drömmar som du stjäl och får.
Hans skratt bevakar lundens gömda stig, där skuggor sveper över skogens liv.
För varje stulet andetag och svek, måste en tjuv möta sitt smärtsamma ödelek.
Tricksterns vilja, vår ande här, så i hans nåd, våra liv bär.
I was terrified and confused. She started again, softer, in a way I could understand.
A thief in the night shall reap what he sows, beware the price of stolen dreams.
His laughter guards our hidden groves, where shadows cloak the forest's seams.
For every stolen breath and lie, a thief must meet his painful end.
The tricksters will, our spirits tie, so in his grace, our lives suspend.
The crowd surged forward, grabbing Noah first. He screamed, his terror echoing through the trees as they pulled him towards a makeshift altar beside the bonfire. The woman chanted louder, her voice rising in a hypnotic rhythm as they began their gruesome work.
They stripped him of his shirt and bound his arms to a wooden frame. I tried to move, to help him, but the grip on my shoulders tightened, pinning me to the ground.
The woman approached Noah, holding a knife with a blade that gleamed in the firelight. She started to slice into his back, her movements deliberate and unhurried. Noah's screams pierced the night as she methodically carved the shape of wings into his flesh.
Blood poured from the wounds, soaking the ground beneath him. The crowd's chant grew louder, almost drowning out his cries. I watched in horror as the woman reached into the incisions, breaking the ribs and pulling them outward, creating a parody of wings.
Noah's agony was unbearable to witness. His screams turned to whimpers, his body convulsing in pain. The woman didn't stop until the work was complete, his lungs exposed and hanging grotesquely from his back.
They lifted Noah's broken body and placed him over the fire. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, making me gag. His life ebbed away as the flames consumed him, the once vibrant light in his eyes fading to nothing.
The woman turned to me, her expression devoid of mercy. "You will meet the same fate," she said, "He demands it."
The smell of burning flesh and the sight of his broken body over the fire was seared into my mind. Despair settled over me as I closed my eyes.
A deafening blast shattered the night. My eyes flew open to see the shaman stumbling backward, a gaping wound in her chest. She collapsed to the ground, her white eyes staring lifelessly into the void.
The villagers turned in shock as another shot rang out, this time hitting one of the men holding me. I twisted free from their grasp and saw the park ranger standing at the edge of the clearing, a pump-action shotgun in his hands. He fired again, the sound echoing through the forest, before one of them tackled him to the ground.
"Run!" he shouted, his voice raw and desperate. "Get the hell out of here!"
I didn't need to be told twice. I sprinted into the darkness, the chaos of the clearing fading behind me. Branches whipped at my face, and the snow underfoot made every step a struggle. I could hear the sounds of fighting and gunshots, but I forced myself to keep moving.
The cold air burned in my lungs, but adrenaline pushed me forward. I didn't stop until I reached the station, my legs threatening to give out from under me. I burst through the door and slammed it behind me.
Inside, Carl lay where we had left him, his face pale and twisted in pain. I stumbled to the radio, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the controls.
"Mayday, mayday!" I yelled into the microphone. "This is an emergency! We need help! Please, someone, come quickly!"
Static filled the room, punctuated by my ragged breaths. I repeated the call, my voice growing more frantic with each passing second. Finally, a voice crackled through the speaker. "This is Ranger Station Bravo. What's your location? Over."
I could barely form the words. "Olympic National Park! The ranger station near mount Christie! We're under attack! Please, send help!"
"Copy that. Help is on the way. Stay put and stay safe. Over."
I collapsed to the floor, my body trembling with exhaustion and fear. Carl moaned softly, his eyes fluttering open. "What… What happened? Where's Noah?”
Tears streamed down my face and I found myself choked up. “He’s gone, man. Help is coming.”
The minutes stretched into an eternity as we waited. The wind howled around the station, and every creak and groan of the structure set my nerves on edge. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, that the forest itself was closing in on us.
The radio crackled again, this time with a different voice. "Helicopter en route, ETA fifteen minutes. Prepare for extraction."
I glanced at Carl, his eyes filled with confusion. "Hang on. We're getting out of here."
As the minutes ticked by, I couldn't help but think about the ranger. He had saved my life, but he hadn't made it back. My mind conjured up images of what might have happened to him, the cultists overwhelming him in the darkness. A sense of guilt gnawed at me, knowing he had sacrificed himself for us.
The sound of rotors cut through the night, growing louder as the helicopter approached. I ran to the window and saw its searchlight piercing the treetops, scanning for the station.
I helped Carl to his feet, supporting his weight as we made our way to the hatch. The helicopter hovered above, lowering a rescue basket. The wind from the rotors whipped the snow into a frenzy, but I didn't care. Salvation was finally here.
We secured Carl in the basket first, and I watched as he was hoisted up, disappearing into the safety of the helicopter. My turn was next. I realized that I was now alone and exposed. Fear coursing through me as I scanned around the edge of the forest, expecting to be grabbed and taken seconds before my rescue. But the moment never came. As I gripped the rope, I took one last look at the forest below. The flames of the bonfire still flickered in the distance.
I was lifted into the air, the ground falling away beneath me. The helicopter's crew pulled me inside, and I collapsed onto the floor still holding onto my pack, my body finally giving in to exhaustion. The doors closed, and the helicopter banked away, leaving the horrors of the park behind.
Weeks had passed since the harrowing events, but the memories clung to me like the bitter cold. I had returned to civilization, seeking solace in the familiar chaos of the city. I found a wealthy collector through a network of contacts. The artifacts fetched a price tenfold the cost of gear. The money was substantial, but as I held the cash, it felt like a hollow victory.
Noah's absence weighed heavily on me. His disappearance was chalked up as a missing persons case, and despite my best efforts to explain what had happened, no one believed me. The authorities conducted a search of the area, but they found no trace of the cult, the artifacts, or the clearing. It was as if the forest had swallowed up all the evidence.
I returned to the site where we had parked the truck. The dirt bikes were gone, stolen by opportunistic thieves, but the truck remained. I drove back in silence, the road winding through the dense forest. For a moment, I thought I saw the girl watching me from atop a ridge until I realized it was just paranoia. I stepped on the gas a little harder.
Back home, I checked the Tomb Raiders forum again. The post that had led us into the forest was gone, deleted without a trace. I messaged the mods, but apparently, they don’t keep records to maintain confidentiality. I wrote about our experience, detailing every terrifying moment, but the responses were skeptical at best. Most dismissed it as a work of fiction or a desperate cry for attention.
Time passed, and I tried to return to a semblance of normalcy. Yet, the wilderness called to me stronger than ever. It was my sanctuary, the only place where I could find peace amidst the turmoil. I spent more and more time outdoors than ever before, but now it always felt like I was just running from something.
Determined to prove what had happened, I returned to the forest with a camera and recording equipment. This time, I documented every step, capturing footage of the trees, the snow, and the eerie silence that hung in the air. I retraced our path, hoping to find the clearing again. But each night, as I reviewed the footage, something strange would happen. The files would be corrupted or entire segments missing.
I pressed on. I found the site where Noah had fallen, the ground still bearing faint traces of what had happened. I set up the camera and began to speak, recounting the events in detail. As I spoke, a cold wind swept through the clearing, and the camera's screen flickered. I finished my account and turned to check the recording, only to find the file corrupted once again, the footage replaced by static and a faint, mocking laughter.
I returned home, defeated and exhausted. My attempts to share what I had experienced were met with disbelief and ridicule. The files I managed to save were corrupted beyond recognition. It was as if the forest itself was conspiring against me.
Almost exactly one year later, as I browsed the forums, a new post caught my eye. It was cryptic, eerily similar to the one that had led us into the nightmare. It spoke of another trove of artifacts, hidden deep within the wilderness, waiting to be claimed.
The post was signed with a new name: Skygge. Different handle, same style. Another trap. They had taken so much from me, left scars that would never heal. I opened my drawer, my fingers brushing over the cold metal of my weapons. This was the moment I had been waiting for. This time, I'll be ready.
The forest’s secrets won't remain hidden forever.
submitted by Arbrand to nosleep [link] [comments]
The first time I visited the Pacific Northwest, I was enchanted. The scenery was breathtaking—majestic mountains, lush fields, and meandering rivers. It was clear that anyone who praised the desert's beauty had never laid eyes on the Cascades. Seeing grass and wildflowers growing without irrigation was practically a revelation.
When I was old enough, I moved to Washington state, immersing myself in nature every weekend. My adventures took me hiking through dense forests, camping by serene lakes, and occasionally taking mushrooms under peaceful waterfalls.
I joined several online forums dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts. One community that particularly fascinated me was the Northwest Tomb Raiders. This group of history buffs and thrill-seekers was dedicated to uncovering artifacts, whether Native American relics or treasures hidden in modern ruins. Many members were collectors, fencing their finds to museums and archaeologists, which made it a rather profitable side gig, should you be lucky enough.
In the fall of 2009, an intriguing post appeared on the forum. A user named Lokk claimed to have discovered a cache of artifacts with Scandinavian origins. He couldn't carry everything back due to the treacherous terrain and his age, so he shared the coordinates, hoping someone else could retrieve the items. I scrolled down to see a few posts of people planning to loot it in the Spring, when the paths have reopened. One user, Patagooner, planned on going as early as possible.
Excited by the prospect, I gathered my two friends, Carl and Noah, for the expedition. They weren't as enthusiastic about camping as I was, but after I told them how much a single arrowhead goes for on the black market, they were on board. It was the start of winter now, which had its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, the rangers would have a harder time spotting us. On the downside, the harsh conditions posed a serious challenge for two inexperienced hikers.
I must’ve blown about four grand at REI on gear for them, justifying it with the knowledge of how much more I would make with two extra packs. That is of course assuming there really were as many artifacts as Lokk had said, and Patagooner hadn’t beaten me there.
The journey began like any other. We met in the pre-dawn darkness and went over our supplies, ensuring we had everything we needed. By mid-morning, we were on our way, my pickup truck winding up the mountain paths. The roads of Olympic National Park were the epitome of the raw, untamed beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
They snake through ancient forests, where towering Douglas firs and Western hemlocks create a verdant canopy overhead. Mist clings to the trees, giving the landscape an ethereal quality. Occasionally, the forest would open up to reveal breathtaking vistas of snow-capped peaks and deep, shadowy valleys.
As we climbed higher, the landscape grew increasingly desolate. The dense forest thinned out, replaced by rugged terrain and jagged rock formations. The air grew colder, and the first flurries of snow began to fall, dusting the ground in a thin, white layer. The road became narrower and more treacherous, winding precariously along the edge of steep cliffs.
Finally, a road closure blockade signaled the end of our journey in the truck. We unloaded three dirt bikes—one mine, two rentals—and continued up the trail. The bikes roared to life, carrying us several more miles into the wilderness. The trail twisted and turned, cutting through dense underbrush and over fallen logs. The snow began to fall more heavily, blanketing the forest floor and muffling the sound of our engines. The world around us grew quieter, more isolated.
Eventually, the snow became too deep to traverse by bike. We dismounted and prepared to continue on foot. The silence of the forest was profound, broken only by the occasional rustle of branches in the wind. I checked my modern GPS, its screen displaying the coordinates and a relief map of our destination.
Suddenly, Carl's excited whisper cut through the stillness. "Hey, look at that!"
He pointed to a small, furry creature ambling through the trees. It took a moment to realize what it was—a bear cub, innocently exploring its surroundings.
My heart sank. "Carl, get back," I hissed, my voice low but urgent. "Where there's a cub, there's a..."
Before I could finish, a massive shape exploded from the trees. The mother bear, easily three times the size of the cub, charged at Carl with a ferocity. She was a blur of dark fur and powerful muscles, her roar echoing through the forest.
"Run!" I yelled, but it was too late. The bear was upon Carl, swiping at him with her massive paws. He screamed as he fell to the ground, the bear towering over him. Desperation and adrenaline surged through me. I grabbed the nearest heavy branch and swung it at the bear, hoping to distract her.
Noah joined in, shouting and waving his arms. We had to be careful; one wrong move and she would turn on us. The bear snarled, turning her attention away from Carl for just a moment. It was enough for him to scramble backwards, clutching his bleeding arm.
"We have to get him out of here," I shouted to Noah, who nodded, fear etched on his face. The bear, still enraged, seemed torn between attacking us and protecting her cub.
Using the brief respite, we hauled Carl to his feet. His face was white, and he was clearly in shock. Blood soaked his sleeve, dripping onto the snow. "There's a ranger station about two miles from here," I said, my voice shaking. "We need to get him there. Now."
We half-carried, half-dragged Carl through the forest, every shadow and sound heightening our paranoia.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the small, wooden structure of the ranger station came into view. We had been avoiding the rangers to keep our expedition secret, but now it was our only hope.
Pounding on the door, I prayed for a quick response. The door creaked open, and a weathered face appeared. "What happened?" the ranger demanded, taking in the sight of Carl's bloodied form.
"Bear attack," I gasped. "We need help."
The ranger's expression shifted from suspicion to urgency. "Get him inside. We've got a first aid kit and a radio."
As we eased Carl onto a makeshift bed, the ranger inspected his wounds. "You're lucky," he said after a moment. "The cuts are deep, but they missed any major arteries. He'll need stitches, but we can handle that here. No need for an airlift."
The ranger's face darkened as he turned to me. "What the hell are you boys doing out here?”
I hesitated, "We... we were just exploring."
The ranger's eyes narrowed, his anger palpable. "Exploring? In a restricted area? In the middle of winter? Are you out of your minds?"
He worked quickly and efficiently, cleaning and stitching Carl's wounds. Carl winced but stayed silent, his eyes closed in pain.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out here?" the ranger continued, his voice rising. "The storm, the wildlife... This area is off-limits for a reason! You should have known better." he said, pushing a finger into my chest.
"We'll stay here for the night," he continued, "The storm's getting worse, and it's too dangerous to move him now. We'll reassess in the morning. And count yourself lucky I don't arrest your asses."
The ranger looked at us sternly. "I need to check the perimeter and make sure everything is secure. There are things out there you don’t want to encounter, especially in this storm."
"Things? What do you mean?" Noah asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The ranger's expression hardened. "Just stay put. No matter what you see or hear, do not leave this cabin. Understood?"
We nodded, the seriousness in his tone leaving no room for argument. "We'll stay put," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
The ranger grabbed his coat and shotgun. "I'll be back in an hour. Do not leave this cabin." With that, he opened the door and stepped into the raging storm, disappearing into the darkness.
As soon as the door closed, I turned to Noah. "We need to go. Now."
Noah's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? He said to stay put."
"If we wait until morning, we'll be escorted out of here and lose our chance. This might be our only opportunity to find those artifacts."
Noah hesitated with uncertainty "But... what about Carl?"
"He'll be fine here. The ranger can take care of him. We have to do this now."
Reluctantly, Noah nodded. "Alright. Let's take what we can and go."
We quickly looted extra gear from the cabin. I checked the GPS one last time before we slipped out into the storm, the cold wind battering us.
The snow fell heavily, obscuring our vision as we slogged through the forest. The ranger was nowhere in sight as we made our way towards the our destination, each step filled with trepidatious excitement.
Noah and I exchanged glances, our eyes wide with amazement. "Do you see this?" I whispered, barely able to contain my excitement.
"We're going to be rich," Noah replied, his voice trembling with awe. "These must be worth a fortune!"
We approached cautiously, as if the vision before us might disappear. The craftsmanship was stunning. I reached out to touch a carved wooden idol, marveling at the detail. "This is incredible," I said, my voice barely audible.
We began to load our packs with as many artifacts as we could carry, each one more exquisite than the last. It was beyond our wildest dreams. We were so engrossed in our task that we didn't notice the small figure watching us from the ridge.
It wasn't until I turned to leave that I saw her. A young girl, maybe eight years old, stood there, her blue eyes wide with curiosity. She was dressed in simple, rustic clothing, her blonde straight hair blowing gently in the wind. For a moment, we just stared at each other.
"Noah," I whispered urgently, nudging him. "Look."
He turned, his eyes following my gaze. "What the...?" he muttered, his voice trailing off.
The girl took a tentative step forward, her eyes fixed on the items in our hands. There was no fear in her gaze, only a quiet intensity that made my skin crawl.
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She tilted her head slightly. "My name is Sigyn."
"What are you doing out here, Sigyn?" Noah asked, his voice shaky.
"I live here,"
"You live here?" I echoed, incredulous. "Is there anyone else around?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Where?" Noah demanded, looking around nervously.
"Everywhere," she said with a giggle.
The way she said it, so matter-of-factly, bothered me deeply. Noah and I exchanged a look, both of us trying to figure out what to do next.
"We can't take her back to the ranger," Noah started, "We'll lose everything."
I nodded, my mind racing. "Sigyn," I said slowly, "we need to know who else is here. Can you help us?"
She looked at me with her piercing blue eyes, then said, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Noah asked.
"For what's going to happen to you," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness.
She looked up at him, unperturbed. "I am not alone," she said softly.
Before we could press her further, a loud, guttural mooing sound echoed through the clearing. We turned towards the direction the girl had come from, and there, emerging from the shadows, was the silhouette of an elk. As it approached, my stomach dropped. Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of life and decay. Its skull was fully exposed, the eye sockets dark and empty. Large patches of its ribs were visible, the flesh around them rotted away.
The elk's movements were slow and deliberate, its head swaying as if in a trance. It walked directly towards us, its hollow eyes fixed on Sigyn. The closer it got, the more the stench of death filled the air—a nauseating mix of decay and earth. I fought the urge to retch.
Sigyn stood up, her expression calm. The monster sniffed her gently, its nostrils flaring. Without a word, she climbed onto its back, mounting it like a horse. It was a surreal and horrifying scene ripped straight from a nightmare.
As she settled onto the elk, she looked back at us, "A thief in the night shall reap what he sows," she said, her voice carrying an otherworldly echo. "Beware the price of stolen dreams."
With that, the beast turned and began to walk away, Sigyn riding it into the shadows of the forest. We stood there, frozen in place. The realization that we were in far over our heads began to sink in. This started to feel like a trap.
We turned to leave, our packs heavy with the pilfered goods. But as we took our first steps, the forest around us seemed to come alive. Shadows moved among the trees, and whispers floated on the wind. I quickened my pace, glancing nervously over my shoulder.
"Did you hear that?" Noah asked sharply,
"Just keep moving," I commanded.
A figure emerged from the shadows, blocking our path. It was a man, tall and gaunt, his eyes burning with an intense light. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice cold and menacing.
"We're leaving," I stammered. "We didn't mean any harm."
The man smirked, and with a swift motion, he raised his hand. More figures appeared, closing in on us from all sides. We were surrounded.
"Run!" I shouted, shoving Noah forward.
We sprinted through the forest, branches whipping at our faces and legs. The figures pursued us, their footsteps silent and relentless.
Noah stumbled and fell, his pack spilling open. Statues scattered across the ground, glinting in the moonlight. "Help!" he cried, scrambling to gather the items.
"Leave them!" I shouted, pulling him to his feet. "We have to keep moving!"
But it was too late, their hands seizing us. I struggled, kicking and thrashing, but their grips were too strong. They forced us to the ground, binding our hands with rough, coarse ropes.
"Please," I begged, "Don't hurt us."
The man who had first appeared stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "A thief in the night," he mocked.
They dragged us through the forest, the trees closing in around us like a cage. We were at their mercy.
In the distance, I could see the elk standing at the edge of the clearing, Sigyn still astride its back. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pity. But then they turned away, disappearing into the shadows once more.
Her eyes were milk white, devoid of pupils, and her long, flowing white hair cascaded down her back. She was completely naked, her skin pale and marked with intricate symbols. Atop her head, she wore an elk skull, its antlers extending like eerie, skeletal fingers. She beat a drum emblazoned with more of the same cryptic symbols, each thud resonating deep within my chest.
Around the fire, about two dozen people stood, all drinking from crude, horned cups. Their faces were solemn, eyes fixed on the woman as she led them in a haunting chant. The atmosphere was thick with a mix of reverence and intoxication.
We were forced to our knees before the woman, who paused her drumming to look down at us. Her gaze was haunting, as if she could see into the very depths of our souls.
"Who are you?" Noah demanded, his voice trembling.
The woman ignored him, raising her arms to the sky. The chanting grew louder, the rhythm of the drum faster and more frenzied. The air around us seemed to vibrate with energy, the flames of the bonfire growing higher and more intense.
I glanced at Noah, fear mirrored in his eyes. The woman began to speak, her voice low and melodic, but filled with power, in a language I couldn't understand. Suddenly, she stopped, lowering her arms. The chanting ceased, and an silence fell over the clearing. She looked directly at me, her white eyes unblinking.
En tjuv i natten skördar vad han sår, akta dig för drömmar som du stjäl och får.
Hans skratt bevakar lundens gömda stig, där skuggor sveper över skogens liv.
För varje stulet andetag och svek, måste en tjuv möta sitt smärtsamma ödelek.
Tricksterns vilja, vår ande här, så i hans nåd, våra liv bär.
I was terrified and confused. She started again, softer, in a way I could understand.
A thief in the night shall reap what he sows, beware the price of stolen dreams.
His laughter guards our hidden groves, where shadows cloak the forest's seams.
For every stolen breath and lie, a thief must meet his painful end.
The tricksters will, our spirits tie, so in his grace, our lives suspend.
The crowd surged forward, grabbing Noah first. He screamed, his terror echoing through the trees as they pulled him towards a makeshift altar beside the bonfire. The woman chanted louder, her voice rising in a hypnotic rhythm as they began their gruesome work.
They stripped him of his shirt and bound his arms to a wooden frame. I tried to move, to help him, but the grip on my shoulders tightened, pinning me to the ground.
The woman approached Noah, holding a knife with a blade that gleamed in the firelight. She started to slice into his back, her movements deliberate and unhurried. Noah's screams pierced the night as she methodically carved the shape of wings into his flesh.
Blood poured from the wounds, soaking the ground beneath him. The crowd's chant grew louder, almost drowning out his cries. I watched in horror as the woman reached into the incisions, breaking the ribs and pulling them outward, creating a parody of wings.
Noah's agony was unbearable to witness. His screams turned to whimpers, his body convulsing in pain. The woman didn't stop until the work was complete, his lungs exposed and hanging grotesquely from his back.
They lifted Noah's broken body and placed him over the fire. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, making me gag. His life ebbed away as the flames consumed him, the once vibrant light in his eyes fading to nothing.
The woman turned to me, her expression devoid of mercy. "You will meet the same fate," she said, "He demands it."
A deafening blast shattered the night. My eyes flew open to see the shaman stumbling backward, a gaping wound in her chest. She collapsed to the ground, her white eyes staring lifelessly into the void.
The villagers turned in shock as another shot rang out, this time hitting one of the men holding me. I twisted free from their grasp and saw the park ranger standing at the edge of the clearing, a pump-action shotgun in his hands. He fired again, the sound echoing through the forest, before one of them tackled him to the ground.
"Run!" he shouted, his voice raw and desperate. "Get the hell out of here!"
I didn't need to be told twice. I sprinted into the darkness, the chaos of the clearing fading behind me. Branches whipped at my face, and the snow underfoot made every step a struggle. I could hear the sounds of fighting and gunshots, but I forced myself to keep moving.
The cold air burned in my lungs, but adrenaline pushed me forward. I didn't stop until I reached the station, my legs threatening to give out from under me. I burst through the door and slammed it behind me.
Inside, Carl lay where we had left him, his face pale and twisted in pain. I stumbled to the radio, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the controls.
"Mayday, mayday!" I yelled into the microphone. "This is an emergency! We need help! Please, someone, come quickly!"
Static filled the room, punctuated by my ragged breaths. I repeated the call, my voice growing more frantic with each passing second. Finally, a voice crackled through the speaker. "This is Ranger Station Bravo. What's your location? Over."
I could barely form the words. "Olympic National Park! The ranger station near mount Christie! We're under attack! Please, send help!"
"Copy that. Help is on the way. Stay put and stay safe. Over."
I collapsed to the floor, my body trembling with exhaustion and fear. Carl moaned softly, his eyes fluttering open. "What… What happened? Where's Noah?”
Tears streamed down my face and I found myself choked up. “He’s gone, man. Help is coming.”
The minutes stretched into an eternity as we waited. The wind howled around the station, and every creak and groan of the structure set my nerves on edge. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, that the forest itself was closing in on us.
The radio crackled again, this time with a different voice. "Helicopter en route, ETA fifteen minutes. Prepare for extraction."
I glanced at Carl, his eyes filled with confusion. "Hang on. We're getting out of here."
As the minutes ticked by, I couldn't help but think about the ranger. He had saved my life, but he hadn't made it back. My mind conjured up images of what might have happened to him, the cultists overwhelming him in the darkness. A sense of guilt gnawed at me, knowing he had sacrificed himself for us.
The sound of rotors cut through the night, growing louder as the helicopter approached. I ran to the window and saw its searchlight piercing the treetops, scanning for the station.
I helped Carl to his feet, supporting his weight as we made our way to the hatch. The helicopter hovered above, lowering a rescue basket. The wind from the rotors whipped the snow into a frenzy, but I didn't care. Salvation was finally here.
We secured Carl in the basket first, and I watched as he was hoisted up, disappearing into the safety of the helicopter. My turn was next. I realized that I was now alone and exposed. Fear coursing through me as I scanned around the edge of the forest, expecting to be grabbed and taken seconds before my rescue. But the moment never came. As I gripped the rope, I took one last look at the forest below. The flames of the bonfire still flickered in the distance.
I was lifted into the air, the ground falling away beneath me. The helicopter's crew pulled me inside, and I collapsed onto the floor still holding onto my pack, my body finally giving in to exhaustion. The doors closed, and the helicopter banked away, leaving the horrors of the park behind.
Noah's absence weighed heavily on me. His disappearance was chalked up as a missing persons case, and despite my best efforts to explain what had happened, no one believed me. The authorities conducted a search of the area, but they found no trace of the cult, the artifacts, or the clearing. It was as if the forest had swallowed up all the evidence.
I returned to the site where we had parked the truck. The dirt bikes were gone, stolen by opportunistic thieves, but the truck remained. I drove back in silence, the road winding through the dense forest. For a moment, I thought I saw the girl watching me from atop a ridge until I realized it was just paranoia. I stepped on the gas a little harder.
Back home, I checked the Tomb Raiders forum again. The post that had led us into the forest was gone, deleted without a trace. I messaged the mods, but apparently, they don’t keep records to maintain confidentiality. I wrote about our experience, detailing every terrifying moment, but the responses were skeptical at best. Most dismissed it as a work of fiction or a desperate cry for attention.
Time passed, and I tried to return to a semblance of normalcy. Yet, the wilderness called to me stronger than ever. It was my sanctuary, the only place where I could find peace amidst the turmoil. I spent more and more time outdoors than ever before, but now it always felt like I was just running from something.
Determined to prove what had happened, I returned to the forest with a camera and recording equipment. This time, I documented every step, capturing footage of the trees, the snow, and the eerie silence that hung in the air. I retraced our path, hoping to find the clearing again. But each night, as I reviewed the footage, something strange would happen. The files would be corrupted or entire segments missing.
I pressed on. I found the site where Noah had fallen, the ground still bearing faint traces of what had happened. I set up the camera and began to speak, recounting the events in detail. As I spoke, a cold wind swept through the clearing, and the camera's screen flickered. I finished my account and turned to check the recording, only to find the file corrupted once again, the footage replaced by static and a faint, mocking laughter.
I returned home, defeated and exhausted. My attempts to share what I had experienced were met with disbelief and ridicule. The files I managed to save were corrupted beyond recognition. It was as if the forest itself was conspiring against me.
Almost exactly one year later, as I browsed the forums, a new post caught my eye. It was cryptic, eerily similar to the one that had led us into the nightmare. It spoke of another trove of artifacts, hidden deep within the wilderness, waiting to be claimed.
The post was signed with a new name: Skygge. Different handle, same style. Another trap. They had taken so much from me, left scars that would never heal. I opened my drawer, my fingers brushing over the cold metal of my weapons. This was the moment I had been waiting for. This time, I'll be ready.
The forest’s secrets won't remain hidden forever.
2024.05.16 14:41 NoNotSage VENT: This marriage has always been unfair and unbalanced, financially
As the title states, my (50/F) marriage to covert narc wayward husband (51/M) has been unfair and unbalanced from day one. I'm deeply ashamed that I allowed it, although a part of me is somewhat relieved that I have finally seen the light.
Covert narc wayward husband (CNWH) and I have been married for about 20 years. I have a son from my first marriage, who was 11 at the time of the wedding. CNWH was staunchly child-free by choice, which I was and am completely fine with. He said he wanted a family, and he was perfectly fine with a step-child. In the end, it was clear that wasn't the case, and the moment we moved in together, he was almost never home, instead burying himself in work, which was and is how he lives his life. And he was salaried, so it wasn't as if he received extra pay for all these extra work hours. But I digress.
When CNWH and I got together, it was at the end of my divorce proceedings, which had dragged on and on. Like an idiot, I married him less than a year after my divorce was final. I was thrilled to have someone who seemed to like me, paid bills on time, and cleaned his place. Yes. Low bar. I know.
CNWH had lived in a coworker's basement apartment before we lived together. He was charged WELL below market rate, and he also didn't have to pay any utilities. Besides that, he always had a second job, because he didn't have a life of friends, other than his sister.
Despite having a mom who would constantly bail him out financially, having no dependents, and very low living expenses, he always struggled financially. When it came time for us to buy a house, it turned out he had a bunch of debt and no downpayment. I made the downpayment and agreed to pay a higher share of the mortgage and bills. No problem, since I earned more at my one job than he did at both of his jobs.
But, over time, I began to see that things were very unfair financially, but like the ass that I am, I said nothing. Naturally, it was only fair that I pay a larger percentage of the household bills, since I made more and had a child. But it soon became clear that I was paying a very unfair larger percentage. He had plenty of disposable income. He bought clothes. Easily fixed his car. Bought gas station iced tea most days. Had enough money to go on an international trip with his mom and sister. There wasn't enough money for me to go, so I stayed home. I struggled to cover the basics. I said nothing, because I figured this was the price to pay when I brought a child into the household, and he did not. Meanwhile, I was having a hard time affording groceries. He insisted we shop separately.
No matter whoever earned more or less, I have always paid a far larger share of my income to household expenses. The situation never bothered him because he was benefitting. CNWH always had the newer car, while mine was falling into disrepair. His closet was always full of the clothes he wanted or needed. He would take an annual trip to visit his family, and I wouldn't go, because we couldn't afford for two people to go, and also, I needed to save my paid time off for my son. He would make frivolous purchases, and then never use the items: a smoker, a drone, an air compressor, exercise equipment, and much more.
We always operated with separate banking accounts. CNWH would tell me to ask for money when I needed it, or he would show me balances if I asked, but then he would "forget," or "do it later." If I reminded him, I was a critical nag.
The other thing that really bothers me is that CNWH acts like he's a self-made man, based on hard work and bootstrapping. Yes, he has always worked a ton of hours. But we don't all have Mommy's checking account to bail us out and offer large cash gifts. Without those things, I'm not sure where he would be.
After CNWH's emotional affair and dating app use, I've had a long time to reflect about how unfair things have been in this marriage, financially. He had told me for years, "Let's go to the bank and open a joint account." When I finally said last year that I wanted to do it, he pushed back, babbling about autonomy, his credit card, and a bunch of bullshit. This was when I knew I'd been thoroughly gaslit. He NEVER wanted me to have access to marital funds. I pushed, and now, after nearly 20 years, I can access a shared bank account.
I'm stuck financially for the time being, but with continued planning, I hope to escape. Just not soon enough.
submitted by NoNotSage to NarcissisticSpouses [link] [comments]
Covert narc wayward husband (CNWH) and I have been married for about 20 years. I have a son from my first marriage, who was 11 at the time of the wedding. CNWH was staunchly child-free by choice, which I was and am completely fine with. He said he wanted a family, and he was perfectly fine with a step-child. In the end, it was clear that wasn't the case, and the moment we moved in together, he was almost never home, instead burying himself in work, which was and is how he lives his life. And he was salaried, so it wasn't as if he received extra pay for all these extra work hours. But I digress.
When CNWH and I got together, it was at the end of my divorce proceedings, which had dragged on and on. Like an idiot, I married him less than a year after my divorce was final. I was thrilled to have someone who seemed to like me, paid bills on time, and cleaned his place. Yes. Low bar. I know.
CNWH had lived in a coworker's basement apartment before we lived together. He was charged WELL below market rate, and he also didn't have to pay any utilities. Besides that, he always had a second job, because he didn't have a life of friends, other than his sister.
Despite having a mom who would constantly bail him out financially, having no dependents, and very low living expenses, he always struggled financially. When it came time for us to buy a house, it turned out he had a bunch of debt and no downpayment. I made the downpayment and agreed to pay a higher share of the mortgage and bills. No problem, since I earned more at my one job than he did at both of his jobs.
But, over time, I began to see that things were very unfair financially, but like the ass that I am, I said nothing. Naturally, it was only fair that I pay a larger percentage of the household bills, since I made more and had a child. But it soon became clear that I was paying a very unfair larger percentage. He had plenty of disposable income. He bought clothes. Easily fixed his car. Bought gas station iced tea most days. Had enough money to go on an international trip with his mom and sister. There wasn't enough money for me to go, so I stayed home. I struggled to cover the basics. I said nothing, because I figured this was the price to pay when I brought a child into the household, and he did not. Meanwhile, I was having a hard time affording groceries. He insisted we shop separately.
No matter whoever earned more or less, I have always paid a far larger share of my income to household expenses. The situation never bothered him because he was benefitting. CNWH always had the newer car, while mine was falling into disrepair. His closet was always full of the clothes he wanted or needed. He would take an annual trip to visit his family, and I wouldn't go, because we couldn't afford for two people to go, and also, I needed to save my paid time off for my son. He would make frivolous purchases, and then never use the items: a smoker, a drone, an air compressor, exercise equipment, and much more.
We always operated with separate banking accounts. CNWH would tell me to ask for money when I needed it, or he would show me balances if I asked, but then he would "forget," or "do it later." If I reminded him, I was a critical nag.
The other thing that really bothers me is that CNWH acts like he's a self-made man, based on hard work and bootstrapping. Yes, he has always worked a ton of hours. But we don't all have Mommy's checking account to bail us out and offer large cash gifts. Without those things, I'm not sure where he would be.
After CNWH's emotional affair and dating app use, I've had a long time to reflect about how unfair things have been in this marriage, financially. He had told me for years, "Let's go to the bank and open a joint account." When I finally said last year that I wanted to do it, he pushed back, babbling about autonomy, his credit card, and a bunch of bullshit. This was when I knew I'd been thoroughly gaslit. He NEVER wanted me to have access to marital funds. I pushed, and now, after nearly 20 years, I can access a shared bank account.
I'm stuck financially for the time being, but with continued planning, I hope to escape. Just not soon enough.
2024.05.16 14:37 shloogojad Are there any household products that I could use to clean my cat's ears, teeth and moisturize his skin?
He used to have a cat tooth paste but refused to get his teeth cleaned. I only manage to do that sometimes so his last tooth paste got spoiled and I got to use it only a few times.
I don't want to waste my money again so I'd rather make a paste for him at home and buy a real one when he'll learn to stay calm.
As for the ears, I used to clean them with a special solution but it's expensive and I can't afford it right now. Now I'm cleaning his ears with saline solution but it doesn't work as well.
Because of the weather his skin tends to get dry. I've heard aloe vera works fine but I don't want to cover his fur with it. He's very dirty right now and could use a bath. He ran out of shampoo (I don't wash him too often, I got that bottle 5 years ago) so I want to get him one that wouldn't damage his skin and maybe try a conditioner if there are any meant for cats.
submitted by shloogojad to cats [link] [comments]
I don't want to waste my money again so I'd rather make a paste for him at home and buy a real one when he'll learn to stay calm.
As for the ears, I used to clean them with a special solution but it's expensive and I can't afford it right now. Now I'm cleaning his ears with saline solution but it doesn't work as well.
Because of the weather his skin tends to get dry. I've heard aloe vera works fine but I don't want to cover his fur with it. He's very dirty right now and could use a bath. He ran out of shampoo (I don't wash him too often, I got that bottle 5 years ago) so I want to get him one that wouldn't damage his skin and maybe try a conditioner if there are any meant for cats.
2024.05.16 14:34 Mysterious_Ad_8855 [UPD] looking for roommates !!
hii !! I'm looking for 2 roommates for 3-person fully furnished condo at Studio A, Katipunan ☺️ target move in is first week of august
Rent is 28k inclusive of association dues
Unit has: * furnished bunk bed with pull out bed * air conditioner * study tables * induction stove * kitchen supplies * washing machine * drying rack * storage spaces * cabinet * heater * mirrors * TV * refrigerator * microwave and oven * dining area
Amenities of the building: * 24/7 security * Study lounge * Swimming pool * Gym * Walking distance to Jeep Terminal, LRT Katipunan station, Ateneo Gate 1 * No curfew * Visitors are allowed
Rent and utilities will be split evenly between us which is roughly around 10,700
About me: I’m an incoming freshman (female) in ateneo ☺️ masipag po ako maglinis and I’m easy to get along with kahit minsan tahimik lang ako hehe
dm me if u're interested 🙏🏼
submitted by Mysterious_Ad_8855 to peyups [link] [comments]
Rent is 28k inclusive of association dues
Unit has: * furnished bunk bed with pull out bed * air conditioner * study tables * induction stove * kitchen supplies * washing machine * drying rack * storage spaces * cabinet * heater * mirrors * TV * refrigerator * microwave and oven * dining area
Amenities of the building: * 24/7 security * Study lounge * Swimming pool * Gym * Walking distance to Jeep Terminal, LRT Katipunan station, Ateneo Gate 1 * No curfew * Visitors are allowed
Rent and utilities will be split evenly between us which is roughly around 10,700
About me: I’m an incoming freshman (female) in ateneo ☺️ masipag po ako maglinis and I’m easy to get along with kahit minsan tahimik lang ako hehe
dm me if u're interested 🙏🏼
2024.05.16 14:32 Low_Blacksmith_3230 10 Most Famous Brands In Bhutan
 | https://preview.redd.it/i9fyrff28s0d1.jpg?width=5184&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dfeb8f62dee3a7734a819deff649e437a86718cc submitted by Low_Blacksmith_3230 to u/Low_Blacksmith_3230 [link] [comments] Bhutan's commercial landscape may not be as extensive as other countries, but it boasts several well-known brands that have made their mark. Embark on a journey of discovery and tranquility with our bespoke Bhutan tour package. Immerse yourself in the mystical charm of the Land of the Thunder Dragon as you explore ancient monasteries, pristine landscapes, and vibrant cultural traditions. Here are 10 of the most famous brands in Bhutan:
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2024.05.16 14:25 kingjaederallerechte Do any of you just hate hot temperatures
Hey, I’m looking for advice against the hot weather. I know, no one likes hot weather but it’s extreme for me. Temperatures over like 15 degrees Celsius just stress me out, I start sweating and I feel awful. I don’t have an air conditioner or anything. Going out can really stress me out during spring until fall. Is there anyone with the same problem that knows what to do??
submitted by kingjaederallerechte to autism [link] [comments]