Hello Pubtips! I am preparing for the query trenches and would like to see your feedback. I thank everyone who has helped with my query so far. Below is my second attempt.
Dear AGENT,
Nicola Dalton hates idly watching the world burn from his window, but he must humor his family. After all, a war disabled modern technology, so Nicola’s family tries to feign normalcy while waiting to be rescued. Meanwhile, Nicola feels compelled to intervene in the rising violence. His family is soon killed by raiders, so he forgoes inaction and vengefully swears to restore peace to his hometown by any means necessary.
He quickly becomes exhausted from fighting alone, so he recruits others to protect the neighborhood, eventually founding the Protectors. However, he gradually loses his idealistic justice as he is faced with reoffending criminals and must decide between mercy or harsh punition. After his organization restores stability in the city, Nicola grows more convinced of tough, unforgiving solutions to crime. Thus, he leads the organization to mature into a republic that brings peace through well-intended yet overbearing justice.
Nicola slowly notices the atrocities carried out by his soldiers and police, but he is furious any time his benevolence is betrayed. Thus, he deepens the severity of criminal punishment, inadvertently exacting the same injustices he once tried to stop. With the arrival of Lijktbeter, his devilishly scheming older brother hellbent on power, Nicola must fight against his own system as he comes to terms with the injustice that lies within justice.
Complete at 106,000 words, Our Sinister Peace is a standalone speculative fiction novel with series potential. It combines elements of When the English Fall with the morally-driven protagonist of One Second After. It also has influence from real-world events and experiences from my background such as the coups in COUNTRY1 and COUNTRY2 police violence.
(Personalization for why I am querying)
(Optional Bio depending on agent’s instructions) I am an COUNTRY2 who has published 7 scientific non-fiction articles in several university magazines such as MAGAZINE1 and MAGAZINE2. In the former, I served as Writer Chair and in the latter, I am currently Senior Editor. This will be my first work of fiction, but I have drafted 8 other standalone novels to refine my writing.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

(I have included my first page below.)
The knives are curled up, the spoons bent, and the forks twisted into loops. Sparks fly as I drag a stone across them. Dad beckons. Together we pick up and rotate the door. “We can straighten out the nails later.” Mom mops the red stained floor to the sound of rolling metal. A loud thud echoes. We toss away the fridge’s crumpled door. My sister stands a chair up, having tied its legs in place. “It’s getting dark, can you light the candles?” The room glistens orange, with shadows dancing, flickering. Cracked porcelain rings gently. “We can figure it out tomorrow.” We sit in silence, staring at nothing, hesitating.
Finally, I stab. It is cold. The silence is pierced by clinking knives. My sister, Almadi, just twirls her bent three-pronged fork. I can hear the sounds of each bite, each swallow, as every movement pierces the deafening silence. First complete as always, I solemnly announce, “Thanks for dinner.” I begin wiping my dishes clean with a napkin and placing them in the crooked cupboard.
After everyone is finished, we complete our chores and then head to the living room. We sit, with a few half-finished sentences occasionally breaking the silence. Dad leans back on his sofa chair, almost as if he was watching the mangled television through its cracked glass. “Should we do something?” I ask. “Sleep.” Mom replies. We nod and I head upstairs with my sister. She sighs and patters away without a word. I set down my candle on the lopsided nightstand and watch the flames dance on the ceiling. I lie down and puff out the candle, becoming invisible in the darkness.
(I received feedback to change my beginning to in-media-res. Thus, my first few pages have drastically changed. I also stylistically change tense for these 3 paragraphs, returning to past tense afterwards. I repeat this in two other instances in the manuscript. Is tense change considered inappropriate for debut work? The manuscript must be in past-tense since it is narrative history/autobiography, but a few sections are in present tense to give an in the moment feel.)

Hey Reddit,
I'm reaching out to this community in hopes of gaining some clarity on a tough decision I'm facing. After months of anticipation, I finally got the news that I've been taken off the NYU waitlist. It's a moment I've imagined countless times, but with a twist I didn't expect: my acceptance is for the London campus, not New York. The London campus represents everything I've ever wanted in my college experience. It's the perfect blend of my love for liberal arts and my desire to immerse myself in a new culture. However, there's a significant financial consideration. Post-aid, I'm staring down the barrel of an $87k bill, which is a tough pill to swallow for my family. They're supportive of my education but drawing the line at the cost of an overseas program, especially when the NYC campus is right here. I'm at a crossroads between the dream of studying in London and the practicality of staying in NY. The NYC campus is an excellent option, no doubt, but it's hard not to feel like I'm compromising on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm looking for some wisdom from anyone who's had to choose between their ideal school and a more sensible option. How did you decide? What factors tipped the scales for you? If you've been in my shoes, especially with NYU, I'd love to hear how you navigated this decision. Appreciate any insights you can share i would really appreciate it!

Hey Reddit,
I'm reaching out to this community in hopes of gaining some clarity on a tough decision I'm facing. After months of anticipation, I finally got the news that I've been taken off the NYU waitlist. It's a moment I've imagined countless times, but with a twist I didn't expect: my acceptance is for the London campus, not New York. The London campus represents everything I've ever wanted in my college experience. It's the perfect blend of my love for liberal arts and my desire to immerse myself in a new culture. However, there's a significant financial consideration. Post-aid, I'm staring down the barrel of an $87k bill, which is a tough pill to swallow for my family. They're supportive of my education but drawing the line at the cost of an overseas program, especially when the NYC campus is right here. I'm at a crossroads between the dream of studying in London and the practicality of staying in NY. The NYC campus is an excellent option, no doubt, but it's hard not to feel like I'm compromising on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm looking for some wisdom from anyone who's had to choose between their ideal school and a more sensible option. How did you decide? What factors tipped the scales for you? If you've been in my shoes, especially with NYU, I'd love to hear how you navigated this decision. Appreciate any insights you can share i would really appreciate it!

Regnum Isus
One year into phase two of the expansion and Aurelian and his forces entered the system of Regnum Isus. Without hesitation, the leader of the system, known as Kavakk Shuun invited them to the planet's surface where they were greeted and welcomed with open arms. A feast was held and celebrations were had, they were welcomed as heroes before they had even had a chance to explain their presence or their cause, seemingly as though their hosts already knew who they were and why they were here. Aurelian was accompanied by four of his Hetaeroi, Sonnha Ventrix, Ostarii Kel, Entala and Tsu'Tan Vor. Kavakk hosted them in his own home, a grand villa atop a mountain, the splendour of the villa was unmatched throughout the system. After the reception at Kavakk's villa, Aurelian asked Kavakk if he could explain why they so happily welcomed him and his forces, Kavakk simply smiled and gestured for Aurelian to follow him. Aurelian beckoned for Sonnha to follow and they both then followed Kavakk.
After ten full minutes of walking in dead silence, Kavakk opened the door to a dimly lit, empty chamber. On the walls, however, was a grand painting, glyphs and other script and depictions of great warriors and battles. Kavakk gestured to the words written around the edge of the painting and silently left. Aurelian read the words, multiple times.
"From the stars shall he cometh. With fire and steel shall he cometh. With fury and wrath shall he cometh. Unmatched shall be his strength. Indomitable shall be his will. As the waves break against the shore, so too shall the darkness break upon his blade. Lo and behold, the warrior-king cometh, as the dawn ends the night, unto the righting of the cosmos.
Aurelian departed Regnum Isus with a new determination, while also wondering if there was more to the vision that struck him. Nothing diving or scared, such hubris, he thought to himself, but maybe more than just mere chance that it happened to him.
Regnum Paradiso
Four months later, upon arriving in system of Regnum Paradiso, previously known as Paradax by the locals, Aurelian sent a transmission to the planet's of the system, all planetary leaders joined in the transmission and poured praise and welcome over Aurelian and his forces. They invited him to a celebration on the Planet Noskopje Tau. The representative of Noskopje informed Aurelian that he was the embodiment of a hero from a prophecy they had received many hundreds of years ago and that he would be the one to defend them from the coming darkness.
Regnum Maledictum
Upon their arrival in the Maledictum system, an invitation was extended for Aurelian to attend a banquet in his honour at the ruling palace of the ice planet, Aquilonis. His host, Az'Rael Vok, greeted him cordially, sparing no expense in the feast's preparation and expressing readiness to endorse any accords that Aurelian proposed. When Aurelian voiced his curiosity over their alacrity to enlist in the Empire and combat by his side, Az'Rael glanced at him and merely inquired, "Do you not know?"
As the feast drew to a close, Az'Rael entreated Aurelian to accompany him to the recesses of the planet. Obligingly, Aurelian followed. Their journey led them for hours past decrepit, deserted machinery and through long-forgotten cities swallowed by time. At length, they reached a spacious cavern containing a lone obelisk, a colossal, pitch-black stone monument measuring four meters across and thirty meters high, adorned with complex runes, glyphs, patterns, and symbols that appeared mobile under the shifting light reflecting off its lustrous, jet-black surface. The cavern was immersed in silence, broken only sporadically by droplets of water. A transient sadness flickered in Az'Rael's eyes as he gestured towards the obelisk and urged Aurelian in a voice tinged with sadness, "Place your hand upon the stone, and know the truth of what will come to pass."
With intense scrutiny, Aurelian studied the black stone, meticulously interpreting each rune and glyph before making contact with the chilling, ebony surface. The moment his hand connected with the obelisk, his eyes retreated into his skull, and a searing white pain speared through his consciousness, piercing his essence with a revelation of catastrophic significance. He saw himself, alone, bloodied and broken, lay motionless on the earth of a desolate and dying world. His blade at his side, the last remnants of darkness evaporating from its surface and voice, a voice resonating with malice and dread, echoing in his mind, repeating a haunting mantra, "Wretch! I am cometh. I am slaughter. I am doom.". He ripped his hand from the obelisk, cradling his palm as if it were consumed by flames. But as the agony ebbed away, clarity surged forth in its stead. He knew. He finally understood.
Aurelian remained silent, merely gazing at Az'Rael, his face full of determination, but his eyes full of sorrow, akin to one who has seen too much. Silently, he undertook the extensive trek back to the surface and re-joined his ship. As he and his forces retreated from Regnum Maledictum, the era of peaceful expansion came to a close.

I’ve been waiting to see this movie and I’m super excited! I don’t like movie theaters. I only go if it’s a movie I can’t wait to be released digitally and physically. I feel trapped in theaters and get a wave of anxiety during the movie. The anxiety is even worse leading up to the movie. I don’t know if it’s social anxiety from being around a bunch of people in a dark room or if it’s the loudness and big screen or both but either way, I’m going and I’m taking my little sister with me. I took her to her first horror movie in theaters to see Scream 6 and now I’m doing it for this one. The severity of my anxiety is different every time. Sometimes I get a dry mouth and find it hard to swallow. Sometimes my eyes feel tired or dry. Sometimes I get a little dizzy and my legs feel wobbly. And sometimes it’s a combination of multiple, if not all of those things. Is there any advice on how to calm my nerves?

Anybody have any advice for the little rubber O-rings on the back of tunnels every time I put them on I have an issue which leads to me just not taking them out as much I’m currently at a 12g(2mm) and am getting close to my 10g(2.5mm) stretch date. When do they stop being a pain in the ass lol? Also on that note are there any good sites for longer tunnels ? I’m not sure of the exact length of the ones I currently have but they are definitely too short for my thick ass earlobes and the backs of my ear holes sometimes “swallow” the rubber bands it seems like. I assume this will be less of an issue as I size up though??

Hey everyone! I'm bootstrapping my first startup, and let me tell you, it's a rollercoaster ride of excitement, exhaustion, and a whole lot of "how do I even do this? moments
One of my biggest struggles right now is knowing when to ask for help. There's a million things to do – marketing, coding, website design, the list goes on! Part of me wants to prove I can do it all myself, but the other part is worried I'll end up creating a Frankenstein monster of a business (or worse, miss a crucial step and send the whole thing crashing down).
So, experienced entrepreneurs, how do you know when it's time to swallow your pride and bring in some help? Are there any red flags that scream "delegate this now!"?
Here are some specific situations where I'm on the fence:
I can handle basic website stuff, but some features require coding magic beyond my abilities. Should I try to learn a new skill on the fly (risking bugs and delays) or outsource to a developer?
Marketing: I know the importance of marketing, but with limited resources, where do I even begin? Is hiring a marketing consultant worth it, or can I cobble together a decent strategy myself?
Any advice or personal experiences you can share would be a lifesaver!

The engines crackled to life, shaking the ground with a violent roar. Such a clanging didn't deter the boarding party, a procession of honor and dignity, as several ornately armoured marines boarded the craft, following them was robed figure of relatively miniature stature atleast when compared to the marines, the only one close being a neophyte, whose mind was racing with questions over why he was chosen for this mission. These questions would have to wait as he saw the ground move away from him, and his unknown quest had begun.
As they entered plantery orbit, the neophyte looked around the chamber. He noticed the hooded figure sat between the two most decorated officers, and clutched in his was something the neophyte found quite humorous, a flower. "Who brings a flower to a warzone" he chuckled, the first officer quickly stood in response, "Seize your tongue, you arrogant bast..." the hooded man raised his hand and waved the officer to sit before he could finish. "He doesn't know any better, cut him some slack" the second officer stated. "He will soon" the first capitan uttered ominously. The neophyte swallowed hard and ordered himself to refrain from further agitation.
As their approach and landing came ever closer, the neophyte observed a peculiar pattern, as every so often the vehicle would shake as though in a mighty storm and it always sounded like a horrid howl from the depths of hell, but that was not what was strange, instead after every bellow, the hooded man would strip a petal from the flower clutched in his hand. With each petal thrown to the wayside the closer a soft yet noticeable smile grew on the mans face, another worrying detail.
With a thundering cry, the ship came to its abrupt landing point. as the door slammed upon the ground a whirland of dust shot up, causing the nophyte to avert his gaze, and as he did another shout carried itself across the land. As he regained his vision he looked first to the hooded man, noticing that one sole petal remained. Then he looked through the wastes ahead of him where a monstrous figure filled the horizon beyond. The man walked into the desert when another frightful shout filled the neophyte with fear, in response he grasped his bolter with anticipation.
"Don't get yourself killed" the capitan said the man, now holding a barren blossom. The man smirked back at the marine, his face filled with the sense that he has heard that phrase several times before. "At ease, marine, he will handle this" the capitan said to the neophyte. The neophyte was perplexed, who was this fragile human, a simple man that could slay a beast such as that, his mind racing again with questions as the behemoth drew ever closer. his anxiety reached new heights when the man dropped to his knees, his arms outstretched as though he was awaiting something, or someone.
The abomination rushed towards the man, yet as it reached him, it stopped. "What is that thing?" the neophyte posed to the capitan aside him, "Do you not recognize our lady" the capitan quickly said in response. It made so much yet so little sense, could this truly be lady Furiosa, The Red Angel, and no it couldn't possibly be could it? was that man the one he heard so many stories about, the only anchor that kept his mother in reality, away from the ruinious powers, her chosen one, his father.
Here he was a mere mortal man standing between the galaxy's greatest threat, his own lover. As the Angel stopped her rampage, she lowered herself to match the man/s gaze. Her demonic form contracting and reverting back to its original human shape. When her eyes met the man's, she stated "My Rose?" a question grounding her in real space, and one that had been asked too many times. When he nodded, she reverted to tears, dropping to her own knees in disgust at her very own deeds, ones unconcisious, not her own, yet she blamed the destruction on herself. "I will always be here, forever and always" the shrouded man stated as he welcomed his lady's embrace, stroking her hair in reassurance, as she did not have to face this pain alone.
"I see" The neophyte noted as a line of tears slid down his right cheek. "This is our lord and lady" the capitan said in a shaken voice. "I swear by the Emperor's name, I shall fight in her stead" the neophyte stated proudly, clenching his bolter with a burning vengeance. The capitan hid a slight smirk, as he had gone through this story many times before, as that was why they were there, to retrieve their lady from her bloodlust, but also to reveal the horrors of the legion.
"That is why we fight" the capitan professed pointing to his lord and lady as they remained embraced walking slowly hand in hand, once again, towards the ship for the voyage home, until the time again the Emperor had need for his greatest instrument of violence, his own daughter.
For each barren bud, the Red Lady's Rose would blossom once more.
*In my headcanon, Furiosa's Rose is either a powerful pysker or blank with the distinct ability to nullify the effects of the Buthcer's Nail, but only while in contact with Furiosa, think of the X-men Leech, who has the ability to dampen or completely suppress, for an undetermined amount of time, the powers and abilities of any superpowered beings within 50 feet of him* - Comments are always open for any questions and overall feedback.

Hi guys, my baby seems ready to move from purees to more solid food. He's actually 10 month old and I feel behind the schedule and guilty for being anxious about solids. I've given him some finger foods actually but not that often as he seems to be taking smaller portions and gags a lot. Well especially with small pieces of fruits, like pears or apples so I grate it instead as he can even throw up and doesn't manage to swallow/chew it properly. He's okay with things like biscuits or grissini, melt puffs, banana, pancakes. I give small bites though, I'm scared of giving him a big piece or the whole thing as he doesn't seem ready. I'd also like some help with recipes. A lot of people are telling me to give him what we eat but sometimes it doesn't seem possible. I can give eggs and pasta with zucchini, that's okay, but legumes are split for him...just as an example. And I don't trust him with meat, I could only try with chicken so far, shredded.
Some friends recommended beef mince for meatballs and milk to make them softer, I think I wanna do that and also salmon (how do you make sure it doesn't have bones though)? Anyway, you probably noticed I'm anxious about food. I'm still trying my best with giving him all the nutrients from carbs, veggs, proteins and fats but I want to feel in charge of this and I still don't... I want to be a better mum for my child 😔 but sometimes I don't even have time to go to pee, for real. No family around also. I think if I get a routine and/or a diet that he's familiar with, I'll be gradually more comfortable with proposing this kind of food. Any advice? Mum guilt is terrible, please don't crush me with bad comments.

So I had an upper endoscopy yesterday morning. Ever since I got home, I have barely been able to swallow even saliva without pain. Furthermore, every time I need to belch, I also have severe pain. I have barely been able to eat or drink. Pretty sure, there shouldn’t be pain or at least the pain I’m currently experiencing after this procedure. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

"For some women, the sorrow that often comes with having an abortion can last a lifetime. Many have a lingering sense of loss and a desire to turn back the clock. Others suffer silently for years before finally sharing their stories as compassionate cautionary tales for others. Here are just a few of their stories
Leslie’s Story Leslie got pregnant during her senior year of college, and again a year and a half later. Both times, she chose to have an abortion. “I gave up my two babies early on for a career, and then I was so depressed and the impact it had on my life, I couldn’t do my career.” “[I] got my dream job hosting a morning talk show. But a little bit before then, I’d learned I was pregnant and I just knew there was no way that I could do a TV show. My job would be gone if they found out I was pregnant.” “I went and got rid of that ‘inconvenience’ and went on and did this show.” After the abortions, Leslie became depressed and turned to drinking and drugs. She quit her job and returned to living with her parents. “After that, I was pretty much done. I was hollowed out, but I didn’t understand why.” “That’s why I speak out, in hopes that other people that are suffering in silence break that silence.
Michelle’s Story Michelle got pregnant at age 35. Her long-term partner, who had children from a previous relationship, had made it clear he didn’t want more children. Although Michelle initially saw the pregnancy as a kind of blessing, her partner still wouldn’t accept having another child, so she gave in. “I was torn because I felt like this was a weird twist of fate that I had wanted, but I couldn’t rationalize having a baby that wasn’t wanted by their father, plus I was suffering from intense fatigue and morning sickness, along with fear, isolation, and shame. Because I didn’t have much time before it was too late for a medical abortion, I made the decision to terminate less than a couple weeks after finding out I was pregnant. I immediately regretted it. I cried for days. It’s been 2 weeks since; I will have moments of a regular day, and out of nowhere I will feel like a ghost of a person… intense sadness followed by emptiness. I don’t know what to do moving forward. I hear it gets easier, but I feel so lost right now.”
Monica’s Story Monica was a teen in high school when she got pregnant. Although she had a supportive partner, they decided together to get an abortion, largely out of fear of what others would think. “I was so afraid of my dad being disappointed and angry with me. I was afraid of people judging me and thinking I was a failure. I was afraid my dad would blame my boyfriend for it.” “We secretly went to a clinic to get an abortion.” “After the procedure, I felt relief. I thought life would resume as normal, and it did for a while. I didn’t count on years later, looking at the three children I have since carried and thinking of our baby that we selfishly aborted out of fear of facing our family. Who would they be now? Words can’t express my regrets. Very few people know, and I carry shame for the mistake I made to mask what I thought was a mistake. I only hope that God has our child and I hope one day I will know who they were.”
Elizabeth’s Story Elizabeth got pregnant at 17, and while that was 34 years ago, she remembers every detail, including the grief she felt then and still works to overcome today. “When I realized I was pregnant, I had some very complex emotions. I was simultaneously so happy and terribly sad at the same time.” “When (my parents) found out I was pregnant, I don’t remember any discussion about options. I do remember a lot of talk about how irresponsible I was and how this could wreck my life, and the ‘obvious solution.’ I was dead and numb. My mom took me to the clinic. I paid for (the abortion) myself. It was awful.” “I was going against something my heart knew was wrong.” In the years that followed, Elizabeth drank alcohol regularly, found herself in abusive relationships, and had several more pregnancies. “I’ve had seven pregnancies. One was the abortion, four miscarriages, and two beautiful daughters. I have had a lot of female issues which eventually lead to a hysterectomy. I often wondered if any of it was related to the abortion.” “Through the years, I have struggled with alcoholism (I don’t drink anymore), depression, anxiety, workaholism… and many behaviors I used to keep myself busy.” “On the other side of my story is joy and love. I’m finally getting there, crawling out from under the debris of guilt, sadness, shame, depression, insecurity, and grief.
Chandra’s Story Chandra chose the abortion pill as the means to abort her child. Like many women, she presumably believed this approach might be easier to deal with than undergoing an actual in-office medical procedure. Chandra found out, however, that the emotional pain can be just the same. “It took me a week to decide to have an abortion, one hour to convince myself to swallow the pill and another week to realize I shouldn’t have done it. It may not have been the right time. I might not have had a house or a job, or been at the right stage in my relationship, but I had the support of friends and family. We could have done it. I had so much love I could have offered, but I chose convenience, and now I wish I’d chosen hard work and motherhood.”"
https://siragainesville.com/abortion-regrets-stories-from-real-women/

From 24-32, I wanted to live off of my art. The reason it hasn't happened is nuanced, but generally speaking, it's for two reasons:

1. Not adapting quick enough
   
2. Not disciplined on a daily basis
   

Throughout this time, I've seen my peers find their niche and go full force into their passion. For me? I still feel like I'm exploring.
Either way, I don't have that hunger and especially that engine needed to fulfill my dream. This is a very hard pill to swallow.
My "dream" is to live a flexible life, while money comes second.
The only "real world" career that I could find that matches these two values AND that I could do is teletherapy. Unfortunately, I discovered I don't have the passion for mental health like my peers do.
I prefer marketing, persuasion, etc. However, the learning curve for copywriting is second to the hustle of constantly finding work like an actor who constantly seeks roles. It's tiresome to think about as a beginner.
While I search for productivity systems and accountability groups, I wonder if I'm going about this career thing all wrong. I'd love stability and good pay, but I do not want to go into grad school debt, only to change my choice and be trapped like I almost was with social work. Also, the idea of copywriting as a sales job, is also unstable and not ideal.
Therefore, as I restart my career world view, where would you recommend I look or start? Thank you.

I have an older cat that’s always had a hard time at the vet and my vet won’t see him unless I’ve given him a sedative at home before the appointment. The problem is it is extremely hard to get him to swallow a pill. I’ve tried almost every method. I’m hoping to find a vet that will be able to handle him 😭

• Science Fiction/Fantasy/Post-Apocalypse
• Basic Rules
• No wait for Approvals
• MajoMinor Plots
• Regular Events
• Mature Content

The Setting
Almost three-hundred years ago, the Earth was almost destroyed. A monumental catastrophe raked over the planet, swallowing up reality and changing everything we knew.
The great wiping of the slate allowed for a new civilization to grow into one where Humans and Fae became intertwined. New forms emerged as well, living concepts called Daemons who shepherded the Earth races toward other stars.
Elimina is a prison planet five light years away from Earth.
Exiles have been sent from all over the habitable systems to the remote planet for two-hundred years. Survivors of earlier exiles have built societies from the wastes, learning to live on what they could find.
With growing towns and settlements, getting sent to Elimina is no longer the death-sentence it used to be. The planet is now in the early days of building a new society, one that isn't solely a dumping ground for the violent and inconvenient. It's a fresh start for some, and a regulation-free eden for research and industry.
Most are thrown into the wasteland by force while others come to escape prisons of different kinds.
The Vibe
Sci-fi with magic. One member described it as "Space Australia."
We have chill one-off and casual RPs to long, world-altering plot progressions.
We don't have post length requirements because more words don't mean more information. We use all varieties of writing from long scene-setting, descriptive posts to rapid-fire dialogue and action.
We expect at least a high school level of English proficiency, which means you should be able to clearly express yourself through writing. Occasional mistakes are okay.
Most of us have some post-secondary education.
Lore:
We've built a history for a unique world, enough to provide a structure with room to create your own story. We have rock lore, dirt lore, political lore, science lore and even a little gas lore.
The server and setting have been set up to help you go from joining to making a character with a minimal time investment.
We're an active community with at least a few posts per day, but there's no activity requirement.
Click Here To Join

• Science Fiction/Fantasy/Post-Apocalypse
• Basic Rules
• No wait for Approvals
• MajoMinor Plots
• Regular Events
• Mature Content

The Setting
Almost three-hundred years ago, the Earth was almost destroyed. A monumental catastrophe raked over the planet, swallowing up reality and changing everything we knew.
The great wiping of the slate allowed for a new civilization to grow into one where Humans and Fae became intertwined. New forms emerged as well, living concepts called Daemons who shepherded the Earth races toward other stars.
Elimina is a prison planet five light years away from Earth.
Exiles have been sent from all over the habitable systems to the remote planet for two-hundred years. Survivors of earlier exiles have built societies from the wastes, learning to live on what they could find.
With growing towns and settlements, getting sent to Elimina is no longer the death-sentence it used to be. The planet is now in the early days of building a new society, one that isn't solely a dumping ground for the violent and inconvenient. It's a fresh start for some, and a regulation-free eden for research and industry.
Most are thrown into the wasteland by force while others come to escape prisons of different kinds.
The Vibe
Sci-fi/Solarpunk with magic. One member described it as "Space Australia."
We have chill one-off and casual RPs to long, world-altering plot progressions.
We don't have post length requirements because more words don't mean more information. We use all varieties of writing from long scene-setting, descriptive posts to rapid-fire dialogue and action.
We expect at least a highschool level of English proficiency, which means you should be able to clearly express yourself through writing. Occasional mistakes are okay.
Most of us have some post-secondary education.
Lore:
We've built a history for a unique world, enough to provide a structure with room to create your own story. We have rock lore, dirt lore, political lore, science lore and even a little gas lore.
The server and setting have been set up to help you go from joining to making a character with a minimal time investment.
We're an active community with at least a few posts per day, but there's no activity requirement.
Click Here To Join

• Science Fiction/Fantasy/Post-Apocalypse
• Basic Rules
• No wait for Approvals
• MajoMinor Plots
• Regular Events
• Mature Content

The Setting
Almost three-hundred years ago, the Earth was almost destroyed. A monumental catastrophe raked over the planet, swallowing up reality and changing everything we knew.
The great wiping of the slate allowed for a new civilization to grow into one where Humans and Fae became intertwined. New forms emerged as well, living concepts called Daemons who shepherded the Earth races toward other stars.
Elimina is a prison planet five light years away from Earth.
Exiles have been sent from all over the habitable systems to the remote planet for two-hundred years. Survivors of earlier exiles have built societies from the wastes, learning to live on what they could find.
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I am far from the first to take a crack at debunking the video made by DeathBattle a few years back where they argued that Madara would clinch the win against the transcendental one himself. Many have called into question their reasoning and pointed out its flaws but I wanted to add a new perspective on the subject in an attempt to shut this case once and for all
I am going to break down this debunk into 3 parts to run down all things DB got wrong about Aizen and his scaling while providing counters which should make it far easier to read
For transparency, I will also be using this to debunk some arguments not made by DB directly but by fans defending the video, nobody specifically being targeted here just metas I have seen

Part 1: AP/Speed Scaling

1: In Death Battle’s analysis they used the Soul King Linchpin for their basis on scaling Aizen which is a common meta, where they booger’d this though is that they then proceeded to say that the only thing being held together by the Soul King Linchpin was the 3 main planets of the realms, rather than the dimensions themselves. This lowball interpretation of the Linchpin’s job is contradicted by 2 main things.
A: The Dangai is also stated to be affected, even in the scan they used, which would make no sense as it exists outside of the boundaries. For this to be the case the energy of the Linchpin would have to be skipping over all astral bodies in each realm, hitting the Dangai that exists between 2 of the dimensions, and then somehow only affecting the primary planets in each realm.
B: The novels clarify that the Linchpin is maintaining the “boundaries” of the realms as well, and considering we know Garganta (a massive empty void) exists outside of “the 3 worlds” that would have to mean all of the stars and galaxies we see exist within these borders as part of the dimensions, that is without even mentioning the realms being point blank referenced as universes or the newer 5D meta
2: They mention Aizen being stronger than Kenpachi and then use the feat of destroying the meteor to scale his striking power. What they fail to mention is that Gremmy (who Kenpachi also mid-diff’d) created a pocket of space containing multiple galaxies which would scale Kenpachi and therefore Aizen to at least Multi-Galaxy
3: They mentioned Yhwach and Aizen being matched in power after Yhwach absorbed the Soul King, but never mentioned Yhwach destroying or reforming the realms as a point. This was likely because they considered it equal in power to the Linchpin feat but we have statements of Yhwach also affecting the Garganta which exists outside of the realms themselves which would easily scale Aizen above the 3 dimensions
4: When scaling Aizen’s speed Death Battle used a databook statement saying that Ichigo and Byakuya fought “like lightning” to say that Aizen should only be marginally faster than light by EOS after considering multipliers.
This raises an obvious problem, well 2 actually
A: “Like Lightning” isn’t indicative of speed and is just a metaphor for “fast” meant to sound cool. If it wouldn’t work to upscale speed why would it work to downplay their speed?
B: By this point we had multiple databook statements that place other characters below SS arc Ichigo at FTL reactions at minimum, after the multipliers they mentioned this would scale Aizen EASILY into MFTL+ giving Aizen a massive speed advantage

Part 2: Hax

1: Death Battle says Aizen’s most effective spell is Hado 90, Kurohitsugi. This is one of the points that almost makes me wonder if they have more than a passing knowledge of the series because Hado aren’t numbered arbitrarily. They are numbered according to their difficulty and effectiveness, which means Aizen has 9 Hado at his disposal that are better than Kurohitsugi and he is able to cast even Hado 99 without an incantation.
2: This is going to be a hard pill to swallow for many but I will keep banging this drum until people stop saying it, ready? TRUTH SEEKING ORBS ARE NOT EXISTENCE ERASURE
Truth Seeking Orbs (TSOs) have never been shown to actually function as existence erasure and this description of them directly contradicts what we are told about them to begin with, which is that their purpose is to nullify Jutsu which would include a Ninjutsu like Edo Tensei and its regen properties. DB claims they are EE anyway and gave that as the primary win condition of Madara
Hell, we literally see Hiruzen get his entire upper body obliterated by a TSO, turning him to dust, yet later he is back and all is good. Sakura even tanks one straight to the chest. I know they are aware of these too because they used the clip of Hiruzen being destroyed by Obito in their “TSO are existence erasure” bit during the conclusion section of the video so you can’t even say they didn’t think that was a TSO that erased spirits (what is typically said when countered with this)
3: Aizen is granted Reliant Immortality from the Hogyoku and is the basis for his strongest form of immortality, this is not mentioned by DB likely because they believe he no longer has the Hogyoku, even though…
4: Aizen DOES have the Hogyoku after his defeat by Ichigo and Kisuke, it is confirmed in the novels. With this reliant immortality he survived being disintegrated at the cellular level even though Gin had stolen the Hogyoku. This means even removing the Hogyoku from Aizen doesn’t prevent him coming back to life stronger
5: As established, DB gave Madara the win condition that Aizen could be destroyed with Existence Erasure via the TSO, I already tackled the TSO themselves but for fun lets see if Aizen COULD in theory be killed with Existence Erasure.
Aizen was imprisoned in Muken after his defeat, the reason given for this is that “no executioner in Soul Society” can kill him. This is a statement coming directly from Mayuri who is likely the single most knowledgeable character in the Soul Society on their abilities. Naturally this would mean he would be aware of something like Hado 54 “Abolition Flame” which is literally an attack that “eradicates the very existence of a target”. It isn’t even a particularly hard spell, Bakudo 63 is 9 levels above Abolition flame and it is considered “mid level”. There is also the argument that Yamamoto’s Bankai could do the job as it is stated to be existence erasure.
If that isn’t enough, Aizen has also survived being disintegrated at the cellular level as already mentioned. There is absolutely no way that even the headcanon’d TSO should be able to eradicate Aizen
6: DB gave Madara the win becasue Madara’s “immense variety of abilities” should give Madara the ability to overwhelm Aizen. Madara has one hell of an arsenal but Aizen has literally Hundreds of abilities when considering both Hado and Bakudo as well as forbidden Kido and the ability to make new Kido on the fly.
7: Very importantly for their analysis they started both characters in base, having them power up during the fight and oddly… Gave Madara 6 Paths. This form is not something Madara just has at his disposal all the time, yet they had him randomly summon the ten-tails and absorb it after breaking Kurohitsugi. Aizen has the Hogyoku and can freely evolve to the form shown and beyond, meanwhile Madara doesn’t just have the ten-tails in his pocket
8: DB used an extremely biased take on Verse Equalization to say that Chakra and Reiyoku are close enough that Madara would be able to absorb Aizen’s Kido but then never considered that this would mean the constant flexing of Reiatsu done by Soul Reapers would mean Genjutsu would never be able to stick against Aizen

Part 3: Genjutsu vs Kyoka Suigetsu

1: Kyoka Suigetsu is NOT like a Genjutsu, and isn’t even close enough to be properly VE’d to be equivalent
Genjutsu: affects the brain, controlling the senses of the victim directly and can be broken by realizing you are under an illusion and disrupting your Chakra flow or having someone else disrupt the flow for you
KS: Controls the spirit to directly take control of your senses, Shinigami are constantly fluctuating their reiatsu and having their Reiyoku flow changed by borrowing from the powers of their Zanpakuto spirit yet none of this works to break Kyoka Suigetsu. Even knowing you are under an illusion doesn’t help you
They control via different methods with different ways of controlling the senses AND have different methods to break them, Verse Equalization should not allow blanketly saying that the same methods should work to break KS considering those methods are things people in Bleach actively do
2: The ultimate genjutsu Infinite Tsukuyomi doesn’t work on spirits, that is all
3: Aizen is not weak to illusions, people point out that Aizen was manipulated by Shinji and his Shikai which is an illusion and use this as an argument that Aizen has weak mental resistance to Illusions and to those people I have one response… Actually read Bleach
Aizen “fought” Shinji and was manipulated by his illusions , but we find out soon after that Aizen had all of them misinterpreting his actual location during this, even Aizen’s wound on the arm which he got during his “fight” with Shinji is gone when he reveals himself, before point blank saying “Since when were you under the impression I wasn’t using Kyoka Suigetsu?”
Aizen’s “fight” with Shinji was a ploy that culminated in them unknowingly attacking Momo and getting Ambushed by the real Aizen

Conclusion

It is no secret that the DB staff have a hate boner for Bleach, Liam is outspoken for his distaste for the series. It is clear looking at the evidence they presented and how they lowballed Aizen that they wanted to keep the stats mostly equal but the moment they started headcanoning things like Existence Erasure TSOs and Aizen being weak to illusions it became clear this was a popularity contest

TLDR: I wanted to become something else but ended studying for teaching in kindergarten but can't give up for multiple reasons. Yet I want to pursue my dream still. How do i move on from here ?
Hello there. i'm on my first year of studying for a kindergarten teacher degree. A lil' backstory. I've through hell and back and managed to pass my country's big exams to get accepted into a public uni. I wanted to go to something illustration related, like graphic design (animation, concept arts etc), but because the only public one (not a rich family oriented person, i work to support us) is two hours away, rent is expensive and student residences provided from the university are hard to get (appliction forms fill immediately), i randomly chose some places and got accepted as a kindergarten teacher (basically the system here is studying some classes more advanced than the others , separated in branches and i picked the art one so had few choices). At first i was happy i got accepted. But then other stuff started getting into my head. One relative answered : " i thought you were stubborn and would fight more to get were you wanted" and other stuff. My experience doing the first microteaching was awfull due to lack of preparation (not in front of kids, fellow students THANK GOD) and i've been having these instances of getting pessimistic and wanting to give up. But here's the thing, i can't. It's my family's pressure and i don't want to go through hell again and possibly damage my future. Yes there is the possibility of keeping it as a hobby, but being a teacher is time consuming and i maybe won't have the time to do so. I want to go big with the illustration stuff so i don't know how this is going to happen. I want to do something like a comic/manga or do the concept art of something and maybe expand from there in other stuff. I have a life in front of me, again i know, but i'm scared and don't want to not waste my youth on my dream but do so in teaching (if that makes sense). I like kids in general but i'm a bit introverted so idk how this is going to work. Can someone help me swallow my pride/delusion/whatever and deal with it and cope ? Or at least some tips...?
If any mistakes in grammar and or spelling happened, i apologise as English is not my first language
Thanks, Those who had succeeded in becoming true kindergarten teachers You deserve everything

First time posting here but a long-time lurker! As with many people I owe a huge debt to this place for giving the information and treament info I needed. That said:
I had my second botox dose with Dr Lucy Hicklin on 15th April - just over 4 weeks ago now. It was 100mg, after the first 50mg dose last December hadn't had much effect. I can say that this one has definitely had an effect - I am burping regularly, it feels like too often really. What I've gathered is that this is normal and will hopefully stabilise in the weeks and months ahead. I hope so as I'm having to step out of the office to burp on occasion! When I drink soda or alcohol I burp a lot as well, which is really great as alcohol especially is what I always struggled with getting the dreaded hiccups.
One other thing I've noticed is I can occasionally get short of breath and have to kind of wheeze to inhale through my mouth. This happens mostly when I laugh a lot or if I talk for a while without stopping. It's a bit worrying but I don't feel out of breath generally - I'm still able to exercise and stuff as normal. Have others experienced this? Is it likely to just be a botox side-effect and will wear off eventually?
One last thing is that I choked quite badly a couple of times in the first two weeks after botox. Both times it went away after about 30 seconds, but it happened once at work and everyone was terrified :(. I told Lucy about this and she advised I be careful with what I eat, as that was definitely what set it off (I was eating crusty bread - not good). I'm glad to say that swallowing is much easier now though.

I never considered myself to be smart, but I never thought I was stupid. As Artemis and I left Athena's oasis, I couldn't help but ponder the enormity of what had just happened. My mind was beginning to clear up and reflection set in as I followed Artemis through solid objects, down rabbit holes, through fire, sleet, and bodies of water.
The fire didn't burn me.
The cold didn't freeze me.
The water didn't drown me.
To think that my stupid human brain caused me to err in judgement to such a degree that I would step into the domain of godhood where I didn't belong... all because I was horny. I cringed the thought away. Yes, it was the hottest thing that had ever happened to me, but the way Athena looked at me; it sent chills down my spine. There would surely be consequences for this, but Artemis had clammed up completely, and wasn't answering my questions.
"Artemis?" I whined. "Hey... I'm sorry. I didn't know this would happen."
She stopped in the middle of the woods. We stood surrounded by a captive audience of oak trees; it was eerily silent. She turned and cast me a long look before walking into one of the larger oaks. I sighed and followed her through it. On the other side, we were back in Thyra under a familiar violet menagerie of stars and planets. She had stopped, finally, sitting down and leaning back.
I stepped in front of her. "Artemis? What, umm... Whatcha doing?"
"Waiting," she said plainly.
I looked around at the desolate canyon.
"... Waiting for what?"
"Judgement," she sighed. "This will be the first place Father will look for me when he hears the news."
"Father?"
"You may know him as Zeus."
A little bit of sweat gathered around my temples. He was the main guy. Like the biggest name in Greek myth. Everyone knows Zeus. But judgement... what was about to happen?
"I thought we were going to go hunt some beast in the Underworld or something." I looked down at my rifle and ran my hand along the length of the barrel. "I was scared at first, but now I want to see what a weapon kissed by Hephaestus can do."
I scoffed. I didn't know where that kind of verbiage came from. Kissed by Hepheastus? What was I, a poet all of the sudden? When I looked up, she looked sick. Her face was sagging and her eyes were lifeless. She leaned back and laid flat on the ground, her arms and legs outstretched as though she were dead.
"I too was eager to hunt," she said in a forlorn tone. "But that was before, in my miserable judgement, I welcomed you into divinity."
That was the first time she'd confirmed it with her own lips and it struck me for the first time that this was truly happening. The weight of it fell on my shoulders and did my level best to suppress it down. I didn't want to think about the implications just yet.
"I thought it was just a blessing," I said, sitting down next to her. "I didn't know there was a limit..."
"Athena tried to pry you from my breast, but you were stuck to it like a stubborn babe. You refused to listen."
"I didn't even realize it!" I defended myself. "Why couldn't you have just blessed me in a different way? Why did it have to be so weird?"
"Each god and goddess may bestow blessings, but for each it is different, and tied to their domain," she answered. "I am the goddess of the hunt, but also of nature, childcare, and birth. My blessing is bestowed as such that reflects my divine purpose." She cast me an annoyed glance, "You are the one who has decided it is weird."
I set the rifle down in front of me and leaned forward, thinking carefully. I didn't want to dig my hole any deeper with Artemis. I didn't need her mad at me too. "I'm sorry," I said finally. "But on earth it's kind of a sexual thing."
"Your species is perverse," she said, closing her eyes. "Am I to blame for that too?"
"No!" I said quickly. "I'm not blaming you for a damn thing, but-"
"The blame lies with me entirely," she cut me off. "I brought you here. I took you to Athena's Oasis. I fed you the milk of the gods with my own breast. Who else is to blame but me? My father will certainly say as much when he finds us."
I swallowed. I didn't know what to do. I was in over my head; way out of my depth to such a degree that I wondered if maybe it was just a good idea to keep quiet and sit still. But I had one question that was burning behind my eyes.
"What's going to happen to you?" I asked.
She opened her eyes and stared at the sky as she contemplated. "... I suppose I'll be reduced to my base components and be remade a more capable daughter. They call it rebirthing."
"Artemis," I said softly. "That sounds like dying."
"There is no death," she refuted. "Only rebirth. I will be remade."
"Yeah, it still sounds like death to me," I pressed.
"It's the closest thing to death that goddess can experience," came a familiar voice from behind me. I turned to see Apollo walking slowly toward us. "Sister, sister," he chanted. "What have you done this time?"
I wasn't overwhelmed by his beauty this time, but I still felt my chest tighten. It was the same feeling as seeing an ex from a long time ago in a public space like the mall or the grocery store. A flutter of something that once was there, but nothing substantial.
"Word will spread," Artemis said, her voice cracking. "And when Father has discovered what I have done, he will do what is right, I am certain of it."
"Will he?" Apollo asked. "Because Father has never been one to overreact, yes?" His tone carried the faintest hint of sarcasm.
Artemis didn't respond.
"I can't help but feel responsible for all of this," I said, getting to my feet. "I'll accept full responsibility."
"That will not be up to you," Artemis said, sitting up and hugging her knees.
"You may assume all the responsibility you like," said Apollo, turning to face me. "But there is not a single god or goddess on Mount Olympus that will accept that. You were a simple-minded human when you erred. It is what your kind does. Would you curse an acorn for falling from a tree?"
"I get it, I get it," I rolled my eyes. "But it's not fair. Artemis didn't know I would fuck up the way I did. She doesn't deserve to die!"
"Make no mistake," Apollo said sternly. "It will not just be her, but Athena and Hephaestus for participating in this little charade." He turned his eyes toward the cracked canyon floor and sighed. "... And of course, I as well."
"No!" Artemis was on her feet.
"I will be punished for failing to alert Father to your wily machinations," he looked up at her. "I turned a blind eye. And I did it while Brian was still a human."
Artemis held his gaze for a second before turning and looking at me. "... The Fates," she whispered.
"The Fates?" I looked between the two of them. "What's going on?"
"Father will speak with the Fates," Artemis said as though in a panic, returning her attention to her brother. "They know all that is and all that will be."
"For humans," Apollo clarified, turning to me. "The Fates have no knowledge concerning the gods and goddesses. But everything that transpired around you while you were human will be a part of their knowledge."
"So Zeus will talk to them..." I began to put it together. "And you'll have no plausible deniability. They'll have seen you interacting with me here."
"Hephaestus and Athena as well," Apollo nodded. "None of us can deny what we've done here." He looked at his sister and scowled. "Because we trusted in her to know what she was doing."
This was a mess. A complete disaster of my own making. I was such an idiot. I should have known better than to trespass against the gods. For had I known that Artemis would pay such a price, I would have never chased such an audacious undertaking. I held one hand to my head and felt that same nausea that had overtaken me back at the oasis. My inner dialogue was changing. I was thinking in a voice that wasn't really my own. I could feel myself slowly changing somehow.
"Forgive me," Artemis said to her brother.
"He may," came another voice to her left. In the blink of an eye, a newcomer had manifested. "But I will not. I trusted you to know better, Artemis."
After only a moment, I recognized him. It was Hephaestus, but human-sized and not all glowy and scary. He also bore a nasty scar across the right side of his face. I hadn't noticed it in the shadowy forge, but it was distracting. He stared daggers at Artemis, his strong arms folded across his chest.
Artemis buried her face in her hands. "I did not mean to risk you all alongside me," she sobbed. "I am so ashamed."
"As well you should be," Apollo spoke furiously. "Father already detests Hephaestus. He will be rebirthed as well."
"He detests me," Hepheastus, turned to Apollo, "Because I dared to suggest he was wrong about something. Though, if you ask me, the old man has hated me from the moment he laid eyes on me."
"Stop, stop, stop," I lifted my hands. "Just... let's just think about this for a second. Why do we have to wait around for Zeus to find out?" I asked. "We could just, y'know, get out of here. Nobody has to be killed over this, we can just leave, can't we? He doesn't know anything yet!"
"You imbecile," Apollo seethed, putting his face inches from mine. "You know nothing about anything. Keep your moronic human notions to yourself for so long as they persist within you."
That broke my heart. I wrestled with the emotions that roiled within me. I took a step back and inhaled, holding the tears back. I wasn't going to cry. I was a grown-ass man. So why did I feel like a toddler in time-out?
"Actually," came a new voice from behind Artemis. We turned to see Athena caressing her chin thoughtfully. "While his primal human instincts compell him to flee... in this case, it might not be the worst idea."
"You've hit your head, yes?" Apollo asked. "You would take a human's side? So much for a goddess of wisdom. Take your council elswehere."
"Mind your manners, Brother," Artemis spoke up. "That is Athena you are addressing. You will hear her speak."
We all stood in a moment of tense silence. Athena began to pace around the gathered gods, patiently choosing her words before she spoke them.
"Father has had a hot temper as of the last few hundred years," she began. "Don't act like you all haven't been weary of him; that you haven't shared whispers of concern with your siblings."
Everyone turned their eyes away from her, as though unwilling to accept it. But I could tell from the expressions on their faces that she was telling the truth. Something was going on with Zeus, it seemed, but what? Why were his kids so afraid of him?
"He has been rebirthing gods and goddesses for small offenses as of late," Athena went on. "I, for one, have been living in fear of his ire for some time now. He is not the same as he once was."
"Do not speak ill of Father," Artemis came to Zeus's defense. "He is facing difficulties!"
"That is..." Apollo trailed off. "A hefty accusation," he said finally, staring the goddess down.
Athena stared back with equal ferocity. "Then why, Apollo, did you keep your sister's little venture to yourself?"
He remained quiet. I didn't know the gods bickered like this. I always assumed they were some big happy family just living in paradise, but it seemed like there was at least some degree of treachery afoot.
Afoot?
I winced.
"Your silence says it all," Athena smirked before turning serious. "What little empathy Father once possessed is gone. We can all wait around to be rebirthed to Father's liking," she passed her eyes over us. "Or we can flee. The worst thing that can happen to us is rebirth either way."
"I have yearned to leave his gaze for eons now," said Hephaestus. "I will join in an escape effort."
"There would be little effort required," Apollo announced. "There has never been an attempt to leave the pantheon. It would likely be as simple as walking through an open doorway. But this discussion is traitorous; blasphemers, each and every one of you."
"I will run with Athena," Artemis announced.
"Sister!" Apollo scolded.
"Athena is more than my sister, she is my best friend," Artemis balled her fists. "If it were anyone else who suggested it, I may not have listened. But Athena's wise words have guided me through great trials."
"I am with them," Hephaestus said to Apollo. "You can stay here with the accident," he eyed me angrily.
Artemis looked as though she wanted to come to my defense, but ultimately said nothing.
Another arrow through my heart.
"Hephaestus," I began my sentence without anywhere for it to go. "I... I might not be..." I flailed. Suddenly, I had a question. "Wait," I pointed at him. "Why can I understand you now?"
"Because, dear Brian," Athena answered for him, walking up to me and placing a hand against my forehead. "You are a god now. It doesn't matter whether Hephaestus likes it or not, you are divinity born of mankind."
"Well," I glanced around without moving my head. "What am I the god of?"
"She is checking," Apollo said. "Be quiet while she divinates your domains."
I felt a tingling sensation around my forehead. It tickled, and I couldn't help but giggle a little. It made Artemis smile and my heart soared.
"You are..." Athena spoke, closing her eyes, her concentration tightening. "The god of indulgence and isolation," she announced, opening her eyes and smiling at me. She removed her hand and stepped back, leaving me in a stunned silence.
"Did you just call me fat and lonely?" I blurted out.
Athena lifted her hand to her mouth and dimples manifested on her cheeks. Artemis did the same, but couldn't stifle her laughter. Apollo snickered and turned his head. I stood there with my mouth wide open as Hephaestus began to chuckle to himself. But he didn't look happy about it. He would smile and laugh before scowling it away, and then start laughing again as though he were being tickled while in a terrible mood. The others adopted an expression not dissimilar to mine and stared at the god of the forge.
"I can't stop," Hephaestus managed between breathy laughter.
"By the stars," Athena murmured. "I don't believe I've ever seen Hephaestus laugh."
"Nobody has," Apollo said in equal wonderment.
"That is your sense of humor?" Artemis asked, aghast. "It is so... childish! So unexpected!"
"I have no sense of humor!" Hephaestus barked, finally getting his laughter under control. "He did something to me!"
"I didn't do anything!" I threw my arms up.
"Perhaps," Athena smiled at me. "He also holds the domain of humor. I didn't search for it."
"Great," I said angrily. "I'm 'Hilarious', the fat and ugly Greek god of comedy, I love it."
Hephaestus exploded in a renewed fit of laughter, once more prompting the others to laugh again. I stood there in the center of it and frowned.
"Can we get out of here now?" I shouted.
They laughed harder.
This sucked.
Writing Prompt Submitted by u/blablador-2001

In a vast stretch of ocean, hidden from the prying eyes of civilization and deeper than the legendary Mariana Trench, lay the Nereus Chasm. Few knew of its existence, and fewer still had dared to plumb its shadowy depths. Dr. Elena Morris, an accomplished marine biologist and renowned explorer, was about to join those ranks.
Elena had spent years chasing whispers of the Nereus Chasm's existence from seasoned sailors and retired oceanographers, piecing together tales of a place where the ocean swallowed all light and life. Armed with her submersible, the Nautilus, designed to withstand unimaginable pressures, she was determined to uncover its secrets.
“Are you ready, Elena? Once we start this descent, we’re in the hands of the gods of the deep,” Marco, her husband and the chief engineer of the Nautilus, said with a mix of excitement and concern.
“I’ve never been readier,” Elena replied, her voice steady, betraying no hint of the nerves she felt. As the hatch sealed, she gave one last look at the sunlit world above before the descent began.
The Nautilus slipped beneath the waves, and as the light from the surface faded, the vast emptiness of the deep ocean enveloped Elena. She felt as though she was descending into another world, a place timeless and untouched.
“20,000 feet and counting,” Elena communicated to Marco, who was monitoring from the support ship Argo.
The submersible’s lights pierced the darkness, revealing fleeting glimpses of strange creatures darting out of the light's reach. Bioluminescent jellies floated past, like ghosts in a haunted house, their glow eerie in the oppressive darkness.
At 36,000 feet, Elena surpassed the known depths of the Challenger Deep. “Marco, I’m now deeper than any human has been in a submersible. There’s no turning back now.”
The only response was a crackle of static as the communication systems struggled against the depth.
40,000 feet—Elena felt a shiver run down her spine, not from cold, but from the realization that she was in a realm few had ever seen. Her sonar pinged a massive object in the distance, too structured to be a geological feature.
As she maneuvered the Nautilus closer, the object began to resolve itself into something magnificent—a creature of such colossal size that it dwarfed her vessel. Its body shimmered with a metallic sheen, tentacles longer than Elena could measure gracefully undulating as it moved through the water.
“Marco, do you see this?” Elena’s voice was filled with awe. She knew Marco couldn’t see what she saw, but she hoped her cameras were capturing every detail.
Static filled her ears, then Marco’s voice, “I’m getting some data here, but it’s choppy. Be careful, Elena.”
The creature didn’t seem aggressive. It circled the Nautilus, its giant eyes reflecting a world unknown to science. Elena realized that this sentinel of the deep was as curious about her as she was about it. For a moment, time stood still, and Elena felt a profound connection to this alien creature in the darkness.
But then, an alarm sounded in the submersible. Oxygen levels were dropping faster than expected. She had lingered too long at these depths.
Elena made the decision to ascend. “Heading up now, Marco.”
The submarine began its slow journey upwards. Elena watched the depth gauge reverse as she left the depths of the Nereus Chasm.
The submarine kept rising.
5,000 feet.
4,000 feet.
4% oxygen.
I could still do this, right? Elena thought, her heart pounding as the Nautilus continued its ascent.
The submarine continued to rise.
3%.
3,000 feet.
2,000 feet.
2%.
1,000 feet… so close… I was so close…
Communication with Marco was intermittent, the static more frequent as the pressure eased. “Marco, oxygen’s critical, but I’m nearly there.”
“Just hold on, Elena. We’re ready for you up here,” Marco’s voice crackled through, his words a lifeline as she fought the creeping dread of not making it.
As the surface neared, Elena’s pulse raced. The light from above grew brighter, a sign of the world she was fighting to return to. With each meter she ascended, survival felt more certain, yet the danger was not yet past.
The Nautilus breached the surface, gasping for air like a giant metal whale. Marco was on the radio, “Elena, open the hatch!”
Elena released the hatch, and fresh, salty air rushed in. She took deep, life-affirming breaths