Leaving a gemini woman

I’ve been worried that Keith isn’t behind the twitter feed anymore, and am surprised I haven’t seen more theories about Shl0ms running the account. Serveral tip offs in the videos as well as potential incentive / funding and influence come together for this theory. I hope it is Keith but give it about 50/50 right now.

• the power button type symbols on the field from the 12:30 video on twitter today. They look like the logo of an artist group heavily connected with Shl0ms
  
• the connectivity and artistic nature, makes it seem predetermined as if it is a rhythm that is unstoppable. If there are time travellers involved in this I will not be surprised.
  
• whoever it is will gain a fair bit one way or another once they identify themselves. This could easily be funded by the decentralized art group Shl0ms works with. Could even be funded by them
  

Shl0ms may be a woman and she may go by two names. I’ll leave some digging for the rest of you and will be back once I’ve looked into it more.
Either way, more attention to our story is good so HOLD together. But I do fear it’s not our guy.

**Chapter 1: Fate*\*
On a cold, dark night in the city of Cornwall, the markets buzz with villagers bustling about, their breaths visible in the icy air as they prepare for the harsh winter ahead. Amid the crowd, a mother and her young son, Henry, weave through the stalls, searching anxiously for her husband. As the first snowflakes begin to fall, casting a soft glow in the lantern light, Henry shivers.
“Hush, Henry. We will be home soon,” she says, offering him a comforting smile that belies her own concern. He lets out a long sigh, tugging at his mother’s hand as they make their way toward the dock.
As they approach, the woman’s eyes narrow; something is amiss. The guards stationed on the walls that loom over the city appear unusually tense, their movements quick and eyes darting. Villagers hasten their steps, their earlier chatter replaced by an uneasy silence. Abruptly, the stars and moon vanish, swallowed by an impenetrable darkness.
“Henry, help me find your father. Please son, hurry,” the mother urges with a hint of desperation, leaving Henry by the bustling dock as she calls into the growing wind. “Harold? Harold!” Her voice, warm yet laced with fear, is snatched away by the gusting wind.
Henry, feeling a swell of worry, shouts for his father, but his small voice is lost in the chaos. Suddenly, a group of guards rushes past, inadvertently knocking him to the snowy ground. Stunned, Henry lies there for a moment, the cold seeping through his clothes. When he looks up, the sky holds a terrifying sight—where the moon once hung, now two beady purple eyes gaze ominously down at him. A chilling shriek vibrates through the ground, sending shivers up his spine.
Scrambling to his feet, Henry calls out for his mother, but his voice is drowned out by a deafening explosion. The city walls shatter, sending stone and dust into the air. Amid the pandemonium, the ominous eyes in the sky watch, unblinking.
**Chapter 2: Alone*\*
Henry stands frozen as the explosion's echo fades, replaced by the sinister skittering and groans of night creatures pouring through the crumbling walls. Amidst the chaos, giant arachnids with gleaming eyes crawl over debris, their legs clicking against the cobblestones, while figures that once were human stagger aimlessly, their moans chilling the air.
Summoning every ounce of courage, Henry plunges into the billowing smoke, calling for his mother. His voice is just another whisper in the wind, drowned out by the desperate cries that fade into eerie silence. With each step, his hope dwindles, smothered by the thickening fog and encroaching dread.
Then, faintly, a voice—her voice—cuts through the chaos. "Henry!" No more hesitation; he runs, guided by her calls. Dodging twisted limbs and leaping over fallen market stalls, he is driven by a single purpose.
He stumbles upon her at last. She lies crumpled on the ground, the family sword clutched in her grasp. Dropping to his knees, Henry barely notices the fog lifting, or the encircling danger. His mother, with fading strength, touches his cheek tenderly. "Son, remember, wherever you find yourself lost, think of my love for you. It’s a beacon that will never dim." Her hand slips away, her voice a lingering echo in his heart.
**Chapter 3: Harold*\*
The circle of nightmarish creatures tightens. Desperate, Henry hoists the heavy family sword, feeling its weight as a literal and metaphorical burden—a legacy of his lineage. Despite his trembling arms, his mother’s final words echo in his heart, giving him the strength to stand firm.
The creatures lunge, their snarls filling the smoky air, but Henry holds his ground, swinging with all his might. Suddenly, a bony hand strikes, sending the sword clattering away. As he stumbles backward, the haunting purple eyes bore into him, sealing his fate.
Just then, a familiar voice cuts through the despair. "Over here!" It’s Harold, his face bloodied, his clothes torn, yet his stance defiant. The creatures turn, distracted by the new challenger.
Harold charges, dodging gnashing teeth and slashing claws with a dancer's grace. He reaches the sword, lifting it effortlessly. A glance at his fallen wife fuels a surge of anguish and rage. With a guttural cry, he unleashes a whirlwind of vengeance upon the horde. Each movement, each strike is a blur—Harold is a tempest, unstoppable in his fury.
Henry, overcome by a mix of awe and relief, watches as his father decimates the attackers. Soon, silence falls—only the two of them remain amid the carnage.
Dropping the blade, Harold rushes to his son, enveloping him in a fierce embrace. "I thought I had lost you, son," he murmurs, tears mingling with the grime on his face. "Never again. I swear, I’ll protect you no matter what."
Sobbing, Henry clings to his father, his young heart overwhelmed by fear and relief. Harold lifts him up, together with the sword, and they head towards safety, leaving the chaos behind.
**Chapter 4: From Ashes*\*
With the dawn casting long shadows over the debris, Harold and Henry tread carefully through the remnants of their city. “We need to get to the town center; maybe we'll find other survivors,” Harold suggests, wiping the dust from his son's cheek with a gentle hand. “Stay close. I don’t think we’re safe yet.”
Every step they take is haunted by memories, as they pass the shattered facades of shops and homes once filled with laughter and love. Henry's gaze lingers on a crushed flower stall where he had bought his mother roses last spring, the vibrant colors now dulled by ash.
Suddenly, Harold’s sharp eyes detect movement in the rubble of what was once the town's general store. Without warning, a figure bursts forth, tackling him to the ground. The two struggle fiercely, dust and debris kicking up around them. With a decisive shove, Harold frees himself and stands, his hand resting on his sword’s hilt. The scavenger, recognizing the threat of steel, backs away slowly, fear overtaking desperation.
Regaining their composure, father and son continue towards the town center. The harsh sunlight beats down on them, reminding Henry of the sinister eyes that watched him in the dark. He shivers, but the sight is gone, replaced by the stark reality of the day.
Upon reaching the town center, they find a small group of survivors huddled together. The sight of other living souls sparks a flicker of hope in their hearts. Harold and Henry exchange a look of relief; they are not alone in this new world born from ashes.

Hey everyone,
I've had to do this whole post again (absolutely gutted) as the draft function let me down so sorry if I skip through a bit quicker...
Another day, another set of memes to look through. As always, you can catch my previous day round ups below:
13th May
14th May
15th May
To reiterate, the description of each tweet is to the best of my knowledge the references made to allow you to make your own view in context and the speculation is pure speculation on my part. If you just want to look at the descriptions and not the speculation then just ignore the speculation part.
This is just for fun and shouldn't be taken as any financial advice, make your own decisions, I just like the stock.
If you have anything to add feel free to in the comments.
Let's begin:
10am - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791106334517010680
Description: First we have Jigsaw from Saw, "Hello, Do you want to play a game?", it then cuts to The Prestige with the quote "are you watching closely?" and then it cuts to Lucky Number Slevin talking about the Kansas city shuffle and finally it's Nas with Made you look.
Speculation: Jigsaw used to capture people who were not looking to live their life and play games with them to show them that they actually do care about their lives in the end. Maybe DFV is referring to shorts desperately trying to get out of their position and showing they will do whatever it takes to do it. The Prestige quote comes from the scene here and shows a magic trick of money appearing. The Kansas City Shuffle is "In order for a confidence game to be a "Kansas City Shuffle", the mark must be aware, or at least suspect that he is involved in a con, but also be wrong about how the con artist is planning to deceive him. The con artist will attempt to misdirect the mark in a way that leaves him with the impression that he has figured out the game and has the knowledge necessary to outsmart the con artist, but by attempting to retaliate, the mark unwittingly performs an action that helps the con artist to further the scheme" and the Made you Look songs full line is "They shootin', Aw made you look" maybe referring to what is happening to the stock right now.
10.15am - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791110102797172804
Description: Here we have a scene from Kill Bill where the bride is about to take on the crazy 88 gang and the music Nobody but Me by The Human Beinz.
Speculation: On the theme of ultimate revenge, The Bride in Kill Bill was on a mission to well.. kill bill. Lots of to go through in order to get to the final boss and the song is maybe making a point that Nobody but DFV could have seen this coming or maybe he is saying RCEO can do it
10.30am - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791113879684325383
Description: This is taken from Inside Man, i think it's the opening scene and has the music Chaiyya Chaiyya, also taken from the original clip. DFV has imposed a cat looking over and listening to the monologue which reads "Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself".
Speculation: Inside man is about an elaborate heist turned hostage movie on Wall Street. Don't think there is much more to say about that other than GME is most likely the hostage in this situation.
10.45am - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791117652276195516
Description: The first part of this meme is taken from The Office and Michael pulls up in a car with Lady Gaga - Let's Dance playing and states "it's Britney Bitch". We then cut to Britney Spears in her music video Hit Me Baby One More Time and the part "give me a sign" has the movie logo for Signs on it (much more of that to come)
Speculation: First part is a joke from DFV keeping the just dance theme going but then we go to hit me baby one more time and most importantly a reference to a "Just give me a sign". There are signs coming that something big is going to happen.
11am - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791121430836584789
Description: This is the intro to Goosebumps and follows a lot of the original clips theme, you can watch that here. Some key changes that have been made though, R.K Gill is on the briefcase, something has definitely been edited with the man's head holding the briefcase, the billboard shows a morph to Ryan Cohen, Ryan's dog is brought in and then it's "Bear Beware" and "Goosebumps, based on the memes by R.K Gill"
Speculation: This is a really fun meme, we see some more of RC and Roaring Kitty Gill all over this. Is there a partnership or does DFV just know that RCEO is about to do something big that will send goosebumps down the bears necks.
11.15am - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791125203147428066
Description: Next we have Broad City and the song Best Friend by Sofi Tukker. The meme basically just has lots of scenes around new york with friends just doing a lot of dancing. Just a fun meme of dancing really and a lot of it centers around the two best friends the sitcom is about.
Speculation: DFV and RCEO are best pals and with everything that is going on with the stock they are just dancing and having a great time. Essentially owning New York which of course is where the finance bros hang out.
11.30am - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791128976632459643
Description: The first scene is taken from Devil Wears Prada with the models hanging out in New York for a shoot and the song Crazy by Seal plays with the lyrics "we're never gonna survive, unless we get a little crazy" it cuts to the official music video then back to Devil wears Prada where they say "oh i get it, the piece is called urban jungle right?", "yes the modern investor unleashes the animal within to take on the big city" Roarrr
Speculation: Another meme from New York with predominantly girls hanging out. DFV maybe noting that we all unleash a little roaring kitty by taking on his thesis with Gamestop, dunno about you but I just like the stock. Things might get a little crazy, at least to people on the outside when they are asking you why you aren't selling.
11.45am - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791132751976120778
Description: This scene is taken from the movie Signs and the Rev Graham here is woken and staring at something on the roof that spooks him.
Speculation: There will be many more references to this movie, in this case the Rev Graham (who weirdly looks like Ken G) is getting spooked at something he thought he saw. Scary stuff if you are short on GME.
12.00pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791136527801807077
Description: This is also taken from the movie Signs and it's a quote, "See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"
Speculation: Something big is coming, what kind of person are you? Is it possible there are no Cohencidences?
12.15pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791140301895352325
Description: Again from Signs, this shows the scene where the kid takes out his baby monitor and claims he can hear the aliens talking to each other. There's two of them talking he states and again we see the sign logo flash up. We then see an overlay of alien writing that isn't in the original clip so that's been dubbed on purposely.
Speculation: Things starting to get real interesting now. This looks to be a sign that something is happening behind the scenes. A baby monitor, what's RCEO got stored up? Maybe he is pregnant? Maybe GME is pregnant? Is there a merger happening? A split of some sort?
12.30pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791144075963298165
Description: This is the scene in Signs where they go to the crop fields and there are alien crop circles everywhere, only in this meme DFV has replaced those circles with GME logos. Many GME logos some with long running lines.
Speculation: Really looking like something big is on the horizon and DFV thinks he has seen the signs. This meme would suggest maybe its a merger with multiple gamestop logos but that's just my opinion. One thing for sure is that Gamestop has something on the horizon.
12.45pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791147851466047673
Description: This is the scene in Signs where the news start reporting sightings of aliens and they show a load of kids in a different country looking down an alley way only for an alien bearing Roaring Kitty as a face to walk by, scary stuff!
Speculation: This was actually the first scene from this film that made me realize i had seen the film before and a younger me was pretty freaked out by that scene. It could imply that they have landed, they are here and or DFV is at least. Certainly a they are coming sort of message.
1.00pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791151631259574559
Description: This is taken from the animated film Luca, where one kid says "what does it mean, the thing you just said?" and the other kid goes "Come on Ill show you more stuff"
Speculation: I think this is aimed at me writing this right now and whoever is reading this right now. Ultimately i have no idea what DFV is saying i can only speculate and DFV knows that, he can't outright say what he thinks but he can show us more and more cool memes.
1.15pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791155401091596494
Description: This is taken from 500 days of summer and DFV has changed a lot of the words here but essentially he is asked what he does and he says he makes Gamestop memes, the woman says he could be a really great investor if he wanted to be, he is asked why he went from being a great investor to making gamestop memes and he says "why make something disposable, like an investment thesis, when you can make something that lasts forever like a Gamestop meme"
Speculation: DFV having more meme lols here but really why would he need to do anymore investing, he already has his favourite company shares and the thesis is done, he knows what's going on and he is happy to stick with what he has. That doens't mean his thesis on Gamestop doesn't evolve, I just think he is done looking for other deep value plays.
1.30pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791159177785770273
Description: This is taken from The Shining and the song dubbed on is Matter of Time by Vandelux. The main protagonist and author in the movie, Jack is sat writing and it seems it is DFV and he is writing memes.
Speculation: Anyone that has seen The Shining knows that Jack goes to a secluded house with no distractions to write his book. Turns out it actually just makes him go completely mental and he ends up killing his family. I think DFV is just having some fun showcasing the time he has spent focusing on making Gamestop memes.
1.45pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791162950373527857
Description: We have Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See by Busta Rhymes and his music video. The lyrics he has chosen for this clip are emphasized and they are:
Flipmode Busta Bus (Uh, what?) Nine-seven (Come on, what?) Hot shit (Ha-hah) Check it out
Hit you with no delayin' so what you sayin', yo? (Uhh) Silly with my nine milli, what the deally, yo? (What?)
Do you really wanna party with me? Let me see (Uh) just what you got for me (Come on) Put all your hands where my eyes can see (Put 'em up, yo) Straight buckwildin' in the place to be (Wildin', nice, ha)
It then ends with If you really wanna party with Roaring Kitty
Speculation: More fun and dancing. Some interesting lyrics, Flipmode (reverse uno card anyone), Silly with my nine milli (could relate to shares, does RCEO have that much?) Could just be a fun meme without much else to it.
2:00pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791166726891061749
Description: This is taken from Sicario and it starts with the quote "so you wanna be a Sicario" and then shows the blonde reddit icon from the other sub tied up and then a guy looking pretty pissed off.
Speculation: The Sicarios were hitmen, that's basically what it means when it asks if you want to be a Sicario, do you want to be a hitman or assassin. The blonde icon from other sub tied up is in the place of a kid who was tied up in the film and certainly WAS NOT a friend of the Sicarios. Take from that what you will but I can't comment to much as it's about another sub.
2.15pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791170783277949042
Description: First we have a scene from No Country for Old Men with the quote "you can't stop what's comin" then we cut to a train tearing it up in Chicago and also taking out a double deck chair with a Chicago Bears logo on it then finally we go to a WWE smackdown with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Speculation: No Country for Old Men has cropped up a few times before but it's about a killer who is pretty much unstoppable mowing these people down. The train wrecking Chicago and the Chicago Bears (as a Packers fan i liked that), well option contract writers are in Chicago I believe but also it's the original home of Citadel. The chair maybe is an answer to a Cramer tweet and the smackdown i'm not sure other than it being just a fun thing to watch.
2.30pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791174276604699013
Description: This is the music video for Punkrocker by Teddybears. It basically follows a man who is being chased by the police, the cops are coming but the guy seems pretty chill about it. He listens to the music with no fear and you can too. The words are in Gamestop white and red.
Speculation: I think that this could indicate that Gamestop isn't doing anything wrong with what's going to happen, they have warned again and again in their financial postings that the stock is being manipulated and is subject to squeezes. It could also indicate a GME investor has nothing to worry about legally either, just like the stock.
2.45pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791178049939182048
Description: This is taken from The School of Rock where Jack Black is trying to ask what it takes to rock out. If you wanna rock its not about scoring chicks, it's not about getting wasted, its about sticking it to the man, and you can't just say it man you gotta FEEL it it in your blood and guts.
Speculation: Only you can decide what sticking it to man means yourself in relation to having GME stock during a big squeeze event but for me personally it's been a long 3 and a half years of having crap tossed at me just for owning this stock and i certainly pissed with the amount of corruption and cheating that has and continues to go on. If shorts never closed and still have that position, that's their mess not mine.
3.00pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791181824754106742
Description: The main scene in this meme is taken from the film Stand By Me. You have two cars on both sides of the road. The good guy in this is driving on the wrong side of the road and the other gang are on the right side, it's a game of chicken with a truck coming towards the good guy as they both drive side by side. It then cuts to Bojack Horseman trying to do some comedy and being asked to get off stage, he states "I'm not done hold on" - it cuts back to the scene and the truck bails last second. The good guy just keeps on driving and goes in front of the other car having a victory sip.
Speculation: If you take DFV to be the good guy in this car scene then he just carries on with what he believes which is in GME regardless of trying to be chickened out of it in the face of adversity. You could also say he is Bojack and wanting to continue with his memes, he ain't done telling his memeroirs yet.
3.15pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791185600453783688
Description: This is taken from Everything Everywhere All At Once and shows a woman showcasing her awards, DFV has imposed some cat photos on her desk and also 3 awards that read

• DeepFuckingValue, Degen of the Month
  
• Roaring Kitty, 1st Cat in Congress
  
• Keith Gill, Best Ethics from the CFA institute (lol)
  

"The quote is Do you see these? You don't get one of these unless you've seen a lot of bullshit. Excuse my French. Now you may only see a pile of boring forms and numbers, but I see a story."
Speculation: DFV is a fucking dude, the guy has a meme trophy cabinet. To us or others we just don't quite see it like he does. If DFV thinks something big is going to happen you have the choice to believe it too or not, that's completely up to you. The awards are lol.
3.30pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791189376195854606
Description: The first scene is taken from Garden State, he asks her "what are you listening to", she goes "you gotta hear this one song" and you then hear Dont Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult and the opening lyric "all our times have come"
Speculation: Don't fear the reaper, if you hold GME you don't have to as it's not going bust. The company is not going to die. There are certainly some shorts that should be fearing the reaper though.
3.45pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791193149408223306
Description: This is a hilarious meme and i'm not sure where this is taken from but i'll try my best to describe it (really you should just watch it though). Two men are in a rich guys house, the host writes a note and then has to leave tearing the note off and taking it with him, the other sneaks up to the notepad, labelled Cohen, and tries to sketch the next page to work out what he wrote. What is revealed is a cartoon man with a huge dick.
Speculation: RCEO has a big slong, what else is there to say? Ok I think that he is going to do something big and it's an exciting thing to think about. Does make you think of the tweet of Steve Smith he posted with the erect penis too.
4.00pm - https://x.com/TheRoaringKitty/status/1791196925619789864
Description: A more recently made meme shows Jay Clayton talking about Roaring Kitty showing his first meme and saying "is this something that we should be tolerating in our markets, whether it's legal lalallull" then it goes to a clip of a guy saying "i mean what did he say fuck me for"
Speculation: DFV basically saying as we would say in the UK, "whatever mate". The guy is talking a load of bullshit and to bring up legality after all the stuff he has let slide as former SEC chairman, i mean bitch please!
Hope you enjoyed, still pissed i had to write this twice, my original had a lot more links to original clips and each Superstonk post as well! I'm off to bed, i'll update with the 8pm tweet tomorrow.
Love ya DFV x

Me: 33, 34 in July 4'10" 113lb. White Dark brown hair with grays/white that I do not plan on dyeing Small boobs, puffy nips, unattractive shape PCOS, pretty bad hirsutism and do not plan on hiding it from you - my most unattractive feature Body Count: 8 INTJ/INFJ
Background: College educated, BS in Psychology Data Analyst with a high earning job, but it is currently contract Want to go back to school for a PsyD Religious, Catholic, very spiritual in ways that are beyond the bounds of Catholicism Conservative No children currently 10 year relationship
I am currently in an unloving marriage with an "man" that is just too immature and lacks emotionally intelligence to be a true husband and father. I am ready to leave and start over, planning to get divorced in the next 6(+) months. I need to find a second job so that I can have health insurance and sort some financial matters to have a fresh start.
I am looking for a mature man, late 20s to early 30s, with a steady career who feels they also want a loving marriage and family. I need someone who is emotionally available and feels they are mature enough to care for and protect a woman, who feels they can be a mature parent, who doesn't base their own self-esteem on their job and has some concept of their own individuality and self-worth. Someone who has morals, someone who has standards they believe in and live up to in being a spouse, husband, and future father. This man in conservative also, but not in a racist or discriminatory/hateful way. This man is religious or has a religious background. This man is an intellectual and navigate legal matters and codes/laws easily. This man values material attainment and wants to build that with someone. This man is tired of a culture that devalues everything from sex to gender identity and roles. Serious dealbreakers: woke or far-left ideology, atheism, can't hold a job, demonstrates ASD or Asperger traits (this has been most of my dating history, and I cannot do it any longer). I've laid out many negative/unattractive traits of my own that may be dealbreakers for others. I completely understand and do not judge you for this.
I am tired of being unloved and having to beg and plead for someone to be emotionally available and supportive of me. I am tired of waiting for adult men to finally act like a man. I am tired of waiting for these never-happening changes to feel safe with a man, to feel nurtured enough by a man that I can start a family with him, to feel that I am with someone who can securely build the foundation of a family. I am literally so tired of essentially being single while married. If I never find that person, whatever, at this point I don't actually think they exist. But I'm writing this and taking a chance. I know Reddit is mostly liberal and atheist, feel free to downvote, mock me, whatever helps you sleep at night, because trying to find the man I'm meant to be with is what helps ME sleep at night.

In a groundbreaking fusion of cultures and cinematic styles, Turkish and English filmmakers have joined forces to create "Echoes of Istanbul," a mesmerizing film that intertwines the rich tapestry of Turkish history and culture with a modern English narrative.
Directed by acclaimed Turkish filmmaker Ayşe Demir and British director James Hartley, "Echoes of Istanbul" promises to be a cinematic experience like no other, offering audiences a captivating journey through time and space.
The film follows the intertwining lives of two protagonists: Leyla, a young Turkish woman grappling with the complexities of modern Istanbul, and Jack, a British musician who finds himself drawn to the city's vibrant energy and mysterious allure. As their paths converge, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, navigating love, loss, and the echoes of history that reverberate through the streets of Istanbul.
Shot on location in Istanbul's iconic landmarks and hidden gems, the film captures the city's essence in stunning detail, from the bustling bazaars and ancient mosques to the tranquil shores of the Bosphorus.
"We wanted to create a film that celebrates the beauty and diversity of Istanbul while exploring universal themes that resonate with audiences around the world," said Demir, whose previous work includes the critically acclaimed "Beneath the Olive Tree."
Hartley, known for his visually striking storytelling in films such as "Midnight Serenade," added, "Collaborating with Ayşe and bringing together our respective cinematic traditions has been an enriching experience. 'Echoes of Istanbul' is a testament to the power of cross-cultural storytelling."
The cast features a blend of Turkish and English talent, including rising stars Çağatay Ulusoy and Lily Collins in the lead roles, supported by an ensemble cast of seasoned actors from both countries.
"Echoes of Istanbul" is set to premiere at the prestigious Istanbul Film Festival before embarking on a global release, offering audiences a cinematic journey that transcends borders and languages. With its captivating storyline, breathtaking visuals, and stirring musical score, the film promises to leave a lasting impression on viewers worldwide.

Heyyo, kinda a long shot but I've been posted around trying to find some people that are interested in an art exchange.
My wife has fibromyalgia and she doesn't do well sitting in shops and would prefer a woman or gender neutral person that she can work with! She does all kinds of different art and would prefer some typa exchange or barter, but cash is no issue either.
Plus, making friends as an adult who doesn't leave the house much is hard in itself, so bonus points for friends!
If this sounds like something ya might be interested in, reach out please 😌

Heyyo, kinda a long shot but I've been posted around trying to find some people that are interested in an art exchange.
My wife has fibromyalgia and she doesn't do well sitting in shops and would prefer a woman or gender neutral person that she can work with! She does all kinds of different art and would prefer some typa exchange or barter, but cash is no issue either.
Plus, making friends as an adult who doesn't leave the house much is hard in itself, so bonus points for friends!
If this sounds like something ya might be interested in, reach out please 😌

Heyyo, kinda a long shot but I've been posted around trying to find some people that are interested in an art exchange.
My wife has fibromyalgia and she doesn't do well sitting in shops and would prefer a woman or gender neutral person that she can work with! She does all kinds of different art and would prefer some typa exchange or barter, but cash is no issue either.
Plus, making friends as an adult who doesn't leave the house much is hard in itself, so bonus points for friends!
If this sounds like something ya might be interested in, reach out please 😌

https://76crimes.com/2024/05/14/world-bank-is-undecided-sanction-ghana-if-anti-lgbtq-bill-takes-effect/
“The Ugandan law targets LGBTQ people in such a horrible way,” said Donkor. “But the Ghanaian bill goes even further. Even the family members of LGBTQ persons could go to prison if they don’t report them. That’s why we keep reiterating how extreme this bill is.”
"The legislation appears to borrow from Nigeria, which outlawed civil society organizations that support LGBTQ groups in 2014, and from Uganda which drastically increased prison penalties. But it also draws from Russia by criminalizing speech, Hungary by preventing LGBTQ education and Saudi Arabia by targeting content providers which could extend to streaming services like Netflix Inc., said Kristopher Velasco, an assistant professor in the department of sociology at Princeton University."
Time and time again people (especially within the lgbt community) defend and give excuses as to why nations that would imprison, beat, and murder us should be helped and aided. That is no different from a black person defending Apartheid. The things these nations are doing are literally no different from what Hitler was doing to Jewish people. And, surprise, surprise, Hitler was persecuting lgbt people, too. I see so many lgbt people with displaced empathy for people that would gladly murder them, and I think it is outright insane. I am not kidding when I say they would murder us if given the chance.
But, for some reason, I can never point this out without being seen as the bad person. I was literally called racist just because I rightfully called Ghana a shit nation that should be taught their actions have consequences with these sanctions. I am a left-leaning black trans woman who originally wanted to live in Africa. That was before learning how terrible it is for lgbt people in most of the continent. My rose-tinted glasses were shattered when I found out how they view and treat us there. The same way I feel about Ghana is how I feel about Russia and the Middle East.
I am tired of being told I need to have empathy and understanding for people who want to see me dead. No, I am not going to be civil or respectful of anyone who dehumanizes and persecutes me. Switch black people with lgbt people, and see how everyone would agree that a black person being angry with a nation that persecutes them is 100% justified in not supporting that nation. You will NEVER see anyone telling them they need to have empathy and nuance for the people persecuting them. Yet, us lgbt people never get that same support. You'll have other lgbt people defending those that persecute them.
Any lgbt person who defends these nations have misplaced empathy. That misplaced empathy will get them beaten, imprisoned, or murdered. If you think I'm wrong, I dare you to leave the safety of Reddit, fly to a place like Ghana, and argue loud and proud for your rights in a very public street. And, If you wouldn't tell a black person to have empathy for Apartheid, don't you EVER tell me to have empathy for Ghana, Uganda, the Middle East, Russia, etc. The only people who need help in these places are those being persecuted.
Edit: some typos.

Title: None (suggestions welcome) Genre: Sci-fi Word count: 2694 Feedback desired: general impression
Chapter 1: The boy and his mother
1.1 The farm
Hagr stood at the edge of the farm, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of Zandarius stretching out before him. The sky above was a canvas of swirling purples and blues streaked with the faint glow of distant stars. A cool breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it the enticing scent of Heyla flowers.
With a sigh, Hagr set down his mechanic wheelbarrow, the last of his chores for the day completed. He began to make his way back towards the farm, his footsteps crunching softly against the rocky terrain. As he passed through the pink and green garden, the aroma of his mother's porridge drifted towards him, tempting his hunger.
Despite eating the same meal every day, Hagr's stomach grumbled with anticipation. The suuka porridge was all he needed right now, its warm, comforting embrace promising to chase away the chill of the evening.
Arriving at the farm, Hagr took in the familiar sight of their plascrete igloo. Half of the structure was comprised of little octagon windows, through which the warm glow of a fire emanated from the chimney. It was home, humble yet comforting in its simplicity.
Entering the igloo, Hagr found his mother, Altha, bustling about the kitchen, preparing dinner. "Hagr, dear, could you set the table?" she called out, her voice gentle yet firm. Hagr nodded, a small smile playing at his lips as he arranged the mismatched dishes in their usual places. Each plate was different, yet they always ended up in the same spot, a testament to the routines of their daily life.
Once the table was set, Hagr ignited the moonlamp, casting a soft yellow glow across the igloo walls. Altha emerged from the kitchen, carrying a steaming pot of suuka porridge. "Careful, Hagr," she warned as she placed the pot on the table. "It's hot." Hagr nodded as he heard this many times before, his mouth watering at the sight and smell of the hearty meal before him. They ate in silence, the only sound of the clinking of spoons against bowls as they savored each mouthful.
After a moment, Hagr broke the silence, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Do you ever wonder what's beyond Zandarius, Mumu?" he asked. Altha hesitated, her expression guarded. "I don't know, Hagr," she replied softly. "But we have everything we need right here on the farm." Though disappointed by her response, Hagr nodded in understanding. Perhaps someday they would have the chance to explore together. Altha caught his eye and winked, a small glimmer of hope in her gaze.
As they finished their meal, Hagr and Altha moved to the small kitchen area to wash the dishes. The kitchen was cluttered yet cozy, with shelves overflowing with pots, pans, and utensils. Beyond the kitchen, the interior of the igloo was a snug retreat from the harshness of the outside world. A small cupboard, crafted from Zandarius rare Bennam wood, stood in one corner, its doors closed tight to conceal its overflowing contents. Nearby, a plush couch with pillows offered a comfortable spot to relax after a long day's work. Opposite the couch, a large hammock hung from the ceiling. Above it, a smaller hammock swayed gently in the breeze, providing a cozy nest for Hagr during the night. Every inch of space was utilized to its fullest, creating a sense of warmth and intimacy within the cramped confines of the igloo.
As the hour grew late, Altha reminded Hagr of their upcoming journey to Kihar. With a yawn, Hagr climbed into his hammock, gazing up at the stars through the little octagon windows above. "Goodnight, Hagr," Altha whispered, her voice soft in the quiet of the night. "Goodnight, Mumu," Hagr replied, his eyes closing as sleep overtook him. And with that, he drifted off, thoughts of tomorrow's journey fading into the comforting embrace of dreams.
1.2 The Trip
Hagr awoke to the gentle light filtering through the little octagon windows of their igloo. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he glanced around and noticed that his mother's hammock was empty. Mu-mu?" he called out, but there was no response.
Curiosity piqued, Hagr peered outside and spotted his mother tending to the kikkamoos, their pig-like creatures with reptilian legs and Fluffy tails. With a swift motion, he leaped out of bed, his movements practiced from years of experience. After quickly dressing himself, he hurried outside, calling out to his mother. "Altha!" he yelled, using her full name in his urgency. His mother turned towards him with a warm smile. "Haggie!" she called back, using his pet name.
Hagr wasted no time and dashed off to fetch Tsjoopa, their trusty mechanical unicycle cart already loaded with goods for trade. As he returned with the cart, he found his mother waiting back at the farm. "Ready to go, Hagr?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Absolutely!" Hagr exclaimed, brimming with energy. And so, they set off on their journey to Kihar, the nearest town for trading.
The road ahead seemed endless, traversing through vast and barren plains broken only by occasional patches of vegetation. Sparse woods flanked the roadside, offering concealment but little wildlife, a testament to Zandarius' unforgiving environment.
After a few hours of travel, they finally reached a landmark known as the Sharp Knives, a crossroad marked by sharp rocks jutting out of the ground. "We’re here, the Sharp Knives," Altha remarked, her gaze sweeping over the rugged terrain. "We're halfway there, Hagr." Hagr nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Already? Time flies when you're in good company." A mischievous glint sparkled in Altha's eyes as she reached into the cart. "Speaking of good company, I brought something special for our halfway mark." Hagr's interest was piqued. "What is it?" With a dramatic flourish, Altha revealed a small container of sosuuka, a sweeter version of yesterday's porridge. "Sosuuka!" Hagr exclaimed, trying to sound enthusiastic despite his familiarity with the dish. Altha chuckled at his feigned excitement. "I thought it might be a nice treat for our journey." Hagr grinned, playing along. "Absolutely! Thanks, best mumu on Zandarius." Lost in thought, Altha gazed into the distance, her attention drawn to the gathering ominous clouds on the horizon, a harbinger of stormy weather to come. "We might have some rough weather ahead," Altha remarked, her voice tinged with concern. Hagr glanced up at the darkening sky. "Should we stop and wait it out?" Altha shook her head. "We need to keep moving. We can't afford to delay our journey." Guess we'll have to save the view for another time," Hagr sighed, reluctantly agreeing with Altha's decision while she nodded in understanding. "But, after all," Hagr declared, puffing out his chest with a hint of pride, "at ten years old, I'm practically a grown man! I can handle anything, even eating sosuuka on the way without spilling a drop." Altha burst into laughter at his boast. "Sosuuka without spilling? I'd sooner believe kikkamoos could fly!" Hagr joined in her laughter, the sound echoing across the desolate landscape as they continued on their journey to Kihar.
1.3 Arrival in Kihar
As Hagr and Altha approached Kihar, the plascrete town sprawled out before them, its streets winding like intricate mazes through the heart of the city. In stark contrast to the barren landscape of Zandarius, Kihar was a vibrant tapestry of life, with lush vegetation adorning every corner. Hagr’s eyes roamed over the cityscape, taking in the sight of the bustling alleys and the constant mist of smoke that hung in the air. Despite having visited many times before, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the bustling energy of the tradetown.
As they ventured deeper into the heart of the city, the tantalizing aroma of food mingled with the sounds of chatter and laughter, tempting Hagr's senses and reminding him of the porridge-filled days back on their farm. Finally, they reached the local market, a bustling hub of activity where traders hawked their wares amidst the thick scent of spices and exotic foods. "First stop, Old Taramor's," Altha announced, her voice carrying above the din of the market. Hagr's thoughts drifted to Taramor, the old, grumpy trader who had been a fixture in Kihar for as long as he could remember. Despite his rough exterior, Taramor was one of the few honest traders left in the city, and Hagr had always respected him for it. "Sounds good to me," Hagr replied, his tone positive.
As they approached Old Taramor’s, Altha hopped off the Tsjoopa and turned to Hagr. "Hagr, could you fetch a crate of Heyla bottles from the back of the cart?" she asked. Hagr nodded silently, already moving to comply.
Entering the shop, they found Taramor snoozing behind his counter, the cluttered shelves and dusty displays a testament to his lack of care for his surroundings. Altha hesitated, reluctant to disturb the old trader, but time was of the essence. "Taramor," she whispered, her voice barely audible. No response. Again, a bit louder this time “Taramor”. Still no response. Growing impatient, Hagr couldn't help but raise his voice. "Taramor!" Startled awake, Taramor shot upright, his eyes wide with surprise. "What the hell's going on?" he grumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Oh, it's just you two," he muttered, recognizing Altha and Hagr. Altha gestured to Hagr to take a look around while she spoke with Taramor. Hagr nodded and wandered through the cluttered shelves, his curiosity piqued by the assortment of strange and exotic items on display. In the background, a television played the news, and the volume turned low but still audible. A news reporter's voice cut through the air, reporting on the recent assassination of a high-ranking official. The military had already neutralized one suspect, but two others were still at large. The camera footage showed two figures cloaked in dark red and black, their faces obscured. Zooming in on one of the suspects, the reporter noted a tattoo of a three-headed monster on their neck, linking them to the notorious syndicate known as the Three-Headed Beast. "People are urged to remain vigilant," the reporter concluded, "and to report any sightings of the suspects to the authorities." "Hagr," Altha called out, pulling him from his thoughts. Quickly, he set down a strange-looking coffee maker he had been inspecting and hurried over to join them.
Outside, Hagr turned to his mother, concern etched on his face. "How did the trade go?" Altha hesitated before answering, her tone guarded. "It wasn't as successful as we had hoped, but we'll manage." Trying to sound confident, Hagr responded, "No need to worry, Mumu. We'll make it work."
As they made their way back through the bustling market, Hagr glanced at his mother. " Can we get some Uja skewers now?" Altha smiled warmly. "Absolutely, Hagr. Let’s grab some delicious Uja," she said, turning on their trusty, albeit rusty, Tsjoopa.
1.4 No place like home
As Altha and Hagr made their way home in the fading light, a bird soared above them, its silhouette dark against the dusky sky. They were nearing their farmstead, the exhausting trip almost at an end. Hagr turned to Altha, his curiosity piqued. “What is coffee?” he asked, stumbling over the unfamiliar word. Altha pondered for a moment before responding, “I’ve heard of it. It’s some sort of black drink. Similar to Puggatree juice, they say it gives you energy.” Hagr wrinkled his nose in distaste. He had never been fond of Puggatree juice, finding its thick texture and slimy consistency unappealing. With a shake of his head, he decided he didn’t want to try coffee after all.
As they chatted, unaware of the figure watching them from afar, the landscape growing darker with each passing moment, they finally arrived at the farm.
Altha unloaded the traded goods from the Tsjoopa, and with a nod to Hagr, she motioned for him to stow it away in the barn. Hagr complied, placing the Tsjoopa in the barn, where sturdy plascrete walls and reinforced wooden beams protected it from the harsh winds. With the task done, he made his way back to the igloo. As he approached, he noticed that the interior was unusually dark, the comforting glow of the moonlamp absent. With a sense of unease gnawing at him, he entered cautiously.
To his horror, he found himself face to face with a cloaked figure in dark black and red, his alien eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Before he could react, he spotted his mother on the floor, tears streaming down her face, with another figure standing over her, a scarred human face, and a sinister three-headed beast tattoo on his neck. “Mumu!” Hagr screamed in terror. The figure with glowing eyes uttered incomprehensible words, while the scarred man cursed, "We can't leave any witnesses, Deskva.” Altha whispered urgently, "Hagr, stay calm. Everything will be fine." Hagr looked at his mother in disbelief, his heart pounding in his chest. "What's going to happen?" his voice trembled with fear. The scarred human scoffed, "We can sell the boy on the black market, but the woman? She's too old to bother selling. Not worth the hassle, Des." With brute force, Deskva grabbed Hagr, who fought against his captor with all his might. "Please, let me go!" Hagr pleaded, his voice desperate as he struggled against Deskva's grip. As Hagr cast a desperate glance at his mother, tears welling in his eyes, the scarred man turned his attention to Altha, deeming her of no value. Without hesitation, he drew his pistol, aimed, and fired, the shot piercing through Altha’s skull with a sickening thud echoing through the silent igloo. Hagr’s world shattered as he watched his mother fall, tears blurring his vision, bile rising in his throat. Before he could comprehend what was happening, a brutal blow to his head sent him spiraling into darkness.

Chapter 3
Location: Somewhere outside of Tiste lands the northernmost Jaghut keep
POV: Korya Delath
Korya Delath is hostage to Haut, a Jaghut. Korya is of the lesser house Delack in the tiste settlement Abara. From the aerie in the keep she can see the contested lands, which have nothing to contest about them. Haut keeps her isolated and forbids her from leaving the keep. He does not quite understand the idea of hostages and took it upon himself to educate Korya. He is harsh. Korya spent a lot of time in the Aerie pretending to be a goddess to her dolls. Now those dolls are kept in boxes.
She is alarmed by a group of Jheleck approaching the keep defying the prohibitions for crossing into Jaghut territory, even though they no longer claim any territory. The Jheleck are said to be kin to the Jheck of the far south, but much larger. They were the size of warhorses and possessed a sorcery she knew only as Soletaken. Although she doesn't know what that means. She sees Haut open the gate in his full armor. She had no idea he had any martial proclivities. The Jheleck blur and in their place stand several warriors. Haut yells up at her that they have guests.
Haut has no one in his household but him and Korya. He is capable of conjuring food and drink through sorcery, but prefers not to. Korya learned how to make food, chop wood, and mend clothes in the absence of servants. She thinks that he dislikes the company of people and that is why they are alone. Although she does not understand why he agreed to take her as hostage if that is the case. Jaghut used to live in cities until they came upon the realization that civilization is "economic suicide". Resources are not infinite, but a civilization can try to be. "There was nothing so deadly as success."- Haut. The Lord of Hate is the one who exposed this truth to the Jaghut and because of it they live solitary lives and no longer try to build up their civilization.
The Jheleck brought freshly killed meat with them and in Haut's main hall ate it raw. Haut joins in. Korya is put off balance by this, but studies the scene to attempt to make sense of the gathering. The Jheleck speak the Jaghut language, as does Korya. They call Haut Captain and Haut warns them not to anger Korya. He has never seen her angry, but continues to try to bring it out of her by being harsh. After several jokes about her, Korya asks to be excused and is surprised to hear that it's not possible as the Jheleck are here for her. Korya is very confused.
The Jheleck call Haut Captain, but hostages aren't given to soldiers only noble families. The Jheleck bring up that Haut has no army or houseblades. This is somewhat of a threat. Haut responds by saying that he needs no armies. The Jaghut just destroy their enemies. When Jheleck would raid Jaghut lands, the Jaghut would kill some of them and drive them off, however if they came in greater numbers then the Jaghut would then stop playing nice. They want to return Korya to her home. In their defeat the Jheleck signed a treaty that demands hostages from the Jheleck to the Tiste. They are trying to return Korya to fulfill that treaty. Haut says it does not work that way. Sagral gets angry and demands that Korya leave with them. She doesn't want to and says, "Does this one need a leash?" The joke diffuses the situation.
The tiste have asked for 50 Jheleck hostages. The Jheleck are worried due to the rumors of civil war. Haut tells them that hostages are sacrosanct in war. The Jheleck sense that Korya is empty and is not a child of Mother Dark. Haut confirms this and says he has fashioned a mahybe. "A vessel. Protected, sealed and, as you say, empty. What remains to be done? Why, its filling, of course" Haut dismisses the Jheleck and says if they don't leave he may just kill them all. They, shaken by this and depart.
Location: House of Delack
POV: Lady Nerys Drukorlat
Lady Nerys Drukorlat looks upon her grandson Orfantal as he plays in the dirt. She wishes to end his childhood as soon as possible so he can learn to be the heir of the failing house of Delack and return it to glory. Orfantal is a bastard. Lady Nerys knows that isn't his fault. She recalls a quote from Gallan's latest work, "The wounded will wound / and every hurt is remembered." She looks at his work as revealing unpleasant truths about the Tiste. Others do not. When Orfantal plays at being in war, his play always ends with an unseen betrayer killing him from behind. She blames soldiers returning from war. "Veterans returned home with all illusions scoured from their eyes, their minds. They looked out from a different place, but there was nothing healthy in that, nothing worthy." Lady Nerys's husband was one such soldier. Who upon a heroic return confessed the above to his wife before killing himself and leaving his house in shame.
Another soldier who lost his arm from a horse bite had found Sandalath Drukorlat, Lady Nerys's daughter, and seduced her resulting in the birth of Orfantal. Once Lady Nerys had discovered this, she paid him to never see his son or Sandalath ever again. He accepted. Sandalath though older and having already been a hostage, is now to be a hostage again to her dismay. Her mother will not allow her to say goodbye to her son. Her first stint as a hostage was with House Purake, this time it will be with House Dracons. Orfantal is to go to Kharkanas and be in the retinue of the House of Purake. Not a hostage. Ivis has arrived at House Delack to retrieve Sandalath. She enters the carriage and they depart.
POV: Orfantal
Orfantal watched his mother's carriage leave. He doesn't like to see people cry and tries to prevent it from happening. He understands that, "There were wars and that’s all there was, and every day he died, taken by that knife that followed him across the whole world, just as it had done to his grandfather."
POV: Sandalath
Sandalath thought she saw Orfantal by the stables as her carriage moved away, but she is not confident in what her mind sees so is uncertain. It's very hot in the carriage, but because her mother has instilled in her the virtue of not causing a scene she does not ask the driver to open a window. She fondly recalls her time as hostage in the citadel with the Purake brothers. Always feeling safe with them and loving them each in turn. Well maybe not Silchas. The war took the brothers and their father away and when the father returned broken she began to fear that the brothers would die. House Drukorlas had been devastated by the war and was now in poverty.
Galdan was the one-armed soldier who spoke of a romantic and adventurous war and Sandalath had relayed these stories to her son. Lady Nerys had told her daughter that she had exiled Galdan to Jaghut lands and he had died. Sandalath told her son that Galdan died from a betrayal while he defended his wounded lord. As the carriage trundled through the village, Sandalath thought she saw Galdan, but attributed it to the heat in the carriage. She passed out from the heat and the carriage stopped.
POV: Ivis
Ivis enters the carriage and pulls an unconscious Sandalath out. If Sandalath dies in House Dracons care, other families would use it as an excuse to gain advantage over Draconus. Ivis pays the carriage driver to take off and threatens him with death if this story gets out. Ivis's men get Sandalath's strongbox open. Not sure why maybe to see if she has lighter clothes, but discover that it is filled with jars of river stones from the Dorssan Ryl. It was a way to avow love for another person. Give them a stone from the Dorssan Ryl.
Sandalath wakes up and notices that many layers of her clothing have been removed and that Ivis has the key to her strongbox that is usually around her neck. Ivis lies and says it was constricting her neck and that no one looked in the strongbox although it is very heavy. He says he has a daughter and that he knows young women have a lot of toiletries.
POV: Galdan
"Proper men had two arms for good reason. One to reach for things, the other to keep things away. Galdan had lost the arm that kept things away" This applied to the drink and to Sandalath. After she had been taken away from him he began leaving stones for her in their secret places. He assumed she threw them away.
Location: Outskirts of Hust Forge
POV: Galar Baras
Galar Baras contemplating the Forulkan reveals that their priests were called Assail. "Peace did not serve order; order served peace" The Forulkan worshipped order and confused it for peace and justice. Order became a prison and those who sought freedom became the enemy. The south borderswords were the first to fight the Forulkan and they became the Hust legion. Hust swords had a fearful heartline that was reinforced by the forgemasters. This heartline gives the blades their voice. Galar Baras is obsessed with Hust swords and believes they are an expression of a unique sorcery. After the borderswords had defended the Hust forge from a Forulkan assault, Hust Henarald had rewarded them with Hust blades.
Galar Baras is riding with the commander of the Purake houseblades, Kellaras. When Nimander returned from war and Mother Dark had blessed him and his house for its service, House Purake turned over it's lands to Mother dark and became her vassals. They now took the name Andii, Children of Night. Anomander and house Purake were the first to relieve the borderswords in the battle of the forge and Anomander bestowed great honor upon them by going to their commander Toras Redone and clasping her forearm. From that day the borderswords consider themselves Andiian, sons and daughters of night. This sent a fracture between Urusander's legion and the Hust legion.
In a drunken comment Toras Redone had told Galar Baras that "Peace had become a disaster". Galar is unable to drink alcohol. That night they became lovers. The next day they were not brave enough to continue. Soon after she had sent Galar to Kharkanas to be the Hust legion's representative in the city. Toras is married to Calat Hustain, the man who had given Galar his hust sword. Calat had accepted the command of the wardens and was now far away from his wife. After a miserably lengthy time within the citadel, Galar was now returning to Hust forge both anticipating and dreading seeing the woman he loved.
POV: Kellaras
Kellaras and Galar Baras do not talk much and Kellaras has been told by the members of Urusander's legion in the citadel that Hust swords poison their owners. He's starting to believe it. Galar Baras was not liked in the Citadel. He did not mix with others and remained a mystery to most of them. Kellaras had been given a message to take to Hust Henarald by Anomander. Galar Baras insisted on escorting him to the Hust Legion. Kellaras took this as an insult. He required no escort. Out of the blue Galar Baras asks him a question about the urgency of the message. Kellaras takes it as an opportunity to ask why he insisted on the escort. Galar Baras confides in him that he just wanted to get out of the citadel and felt crushed by it. Kellaras takes this to heart and orders him to continue to escort him so he will not have to return to the citadel. Kellaras now confides in Galar Baras that Anomander intends to commission a sword from Henarald Hust.

TIFU: IPeed My Pants on a Date Today
Hi I’m a 24f and today i accidentally peed my pants on a date with a 21f. This was our third date, and things had been going well. This is also the first woman I had started seeing in almost a year. We decided to get coffee today and that was super chill with me.
So she picked me up first. We drank our coffee and talked for about an hour. Keep in mind I went go pee once during this hour.
So we decided to go drive around and hit up a thrift store and then she was going to drive me home. The one thing about me is coffee goes through me so fast.
I had to pee really bad the whole time we are at the thrift store and for some reason this one has no public bathroom, and I did not want to beg them to use it.
So we leave and I told her I really really had to pee but she was like your apartment isn’t too far.
Well my apartment was far enough this time and about 5 minutes away I completely peed myself in her car and I might have started crying as well. She didn’t really say anything and just sighed
I told her I’d pay for it to get cleaned but she didn’t seem to worried. So we get to mine and I told her id go grab some stuff to clean if if she wanted. She said no it’s fine. I made the walk of shame to my apartment and cried for a bit to be honest. I tried texting her 30 minutes later and it turns out she had blocked number and i redownloaded hinge to check and she had un- added me on there also :/
TL:DR: today I peed my pants and the girl I had been talking to blocked me :((

As you may know from my previous posts, my mother isn’t the best (sugar coating it) and over the last few days and weeks, I’ve found a way to deal with it.
I didn’t notice till right today that I’ve been kinda treating her like an elderly woman. Like she hasn’t got long left even though I’m the one that’s gonna leave her. I give her surface level interest on the things she does and that go on around her life. I don’t invest my feelings and thoughts into her odd and rude comments. It’s really helped and I’m surprisingly calmer.
I don’t feel bad for how I am treating her, I could be doing a lot worst and sometimes I feel like I should but thinking of her as just a lonely and elderly old woman who’s near her end makes it just a bit easier to live with what she put me through.

I have a very religious friend who I deeply respect despite our severe differences in belief around a multitude of subjects. I'm on her email list for their Christmas/life updates and this is the same list for which they announce birth events as well.
While I don't want kids, particularly like children, nor feel it's very responsible to have multiple children when severely financially struggling (as they were at the time), I'm not gonna force engagement on those issues. You leave my uterus alone and I leave your goblins alone.
HOWEVER, (and I know, this is on me), I made the choice to read their birth announcement as I'm motivated to also find out how they're doing in their job hunt and other aspects of life. This lead to reading the ENTIRE birth experience. Which was extremely religiously driven, and deeply reliant on her 'worth' for 'finally' having a natural birth as opposed to her previous c-sections.
This is a woman who's smart (A BIOSCIENCE GRANT WRITER*), literally (as she's a kung fu sister) kicks my ass, is one of the KINDEST and most genuine people I've ever met, and yet... this is how she views herself? All her worth is hung up not only on children, but 'naturally' birthing one, otherwise she's a failure of a human being.
Those of you with good friendships with people heavily on the child-train, how do you separate these from your view of your friend? I'm seeing her Friday and am actively uncomfortable about hanging out after that.
*Tbf she is a grant writer with a degree in microbiology, and yet reposts all the bullshit anti-abortion stuff on facebook about how abortions are being performed on full-term babies and shit. So, there's that. The cognitive dissonance is frustrating.
TLDR; incredible friend is determining her entire self-worth on 'finally' having a natural birth and it's freaking me out to the point of considering cutting close future social contact so I don't flip out on her and break a friendship violently.

I'm looking for different perspectives about transitioning and it's consequences. I'm going to therapy right now, trying to take things slow. Your honesty will be much appreciated.
I'm 20 F, in college. I've always had a hard time figuring my self identity. I tend to try to escape everything that involves my body and anything social. It sucks and I'm trying to change that.
I'm not unnattractive for a female or anything like that. I just feel disconnected with the idea of being a woman (a woman is someone with XX chromosomes, but it's undeniable that there are also social expectations etc. about being a woman). I know it's ok to be a masculine woman, but still. I think I would be so much happier living as a man, if that's possible, why not?
I dindn't relate much to girls as a kid and those feelings became more intense as I reached my teens. I realised I liked women and desired to look male but didn't take those feelings seriously (I tend to keep things to myself). I was depressed and suffered from an ED. I desperatly wanted to look male.
At 16 I met my now boyfriend. I was deeply interested in the male body and also thought that maybe being with a man would change my mind or smth. We ended up developing a very close relationship. He's my only friend and the only person who knows about my "issues". He doesn't encourage me to transition or anything like that, quite the opposite.
I started being more like myself since I met him. I recovered from the ED, started to dress like a man and finally had someone to share my interests with.
Sex is something complicated to me (and I'm far from an asexual). I'm very attracted to girls and I convinced myself that was the problem. But the problem is mostly my body. It looks nice but it feels foreign, turns me off if I think about it. We fantasise about me being a man, that helps sometimes.
It's frustrating. I avoid talking about it, but certain times I know he gets frustrated about not having a relationship like his friends have, not only because of the way I want to look, but also my behaviour. I know he loves me the way I am, but also feels scared that I'll leave him for a woman or start looking too much like a man and that making him look gay.
I also know he would like to have a family someday. The idea of pregnancy is terrifying. I don't know if I would be in a good enough mental state to raise a child as a mother. He knows about this.
I never suffered from any sort of sexual trauma and I don't have sexist ideas about women.
I know that if I transition I'll never be a real man, I'll just be perceived as one. And that would be cool, downsides included.

With the successful launch of Alan Shepard via our southern neighbor's Gemini program, the Canadian Space Agency has been forced to reassess the goals of its orbital program which has yet to bear fruit. Many within the agency blamed our more scientific approach to rocketry, as it is obvious to anyone that Ontarian aerospace technology is far more advanced than that of Texas. CSA Administrator Jason Goddard addressed the engineers of the program, saying: "Shepard can count himself lucky that he made it to orbit and his rocket didn't explode. We do not take such risks with our astronauts. Our rocket will work the first time, and it will work EVERY time. Once there is a Canadian on that rocket, we will NOT have another Zander incident. Now: the Texans may have beaten us to having the first man in orbit, but for the past few months these fine women have been training to be the first women in space. We call them the Hestia 7: Nicole Marks, Shelby Brock, Violet Mainse, Kara Wellington, Ava Roberts, Aurora Fuller, and Rachel Carlson. As you all know, the Titan II rocket that will bear Ms. Wellington safely into orbit and return her home is well underway, and I trust you all to have gotten the calculations right."
It is hoped that sending the first women into space will demonstrate the Ontarian spirit in a way that will revitalize the public's interest in space exploration, as it clearly shows the Ontarian government's commitment to egalitarianism. Every woman in the Hestia 7, save Ms. Fuller, came from the Air Fleet or Air Force's piloting ranks, and Ms. Fuller was previously employed by Avro Canada's testing division. They are all immensely talented pilots, who have additionally demonstrated a talent for the complex mathematics involved in orbital maneuvering.

I have been living in a 2-bed apartment for a year and it was bliss to have an apartment all to myself. I have been dreading my landlord to get another tenant to live in the apartment. I have been able to afford the rent and at the same time just relishing having my own space. I have always been a loner who liked to spend time doing things on my own. I do have the odd friends and I do go to gatherings like weddings and funerals, but it's when the events are over that I feel the bliss and joy of being lonely.
Then my landlord told me that he had found someone to have the second bedroom and I was disappointed but I guess it was going to happen at some point. Then after many days of waiting my landlord came into the apartment and in his hand was a baby boy. It wasn’t his baby and I asked where the parents were as I assumed the second bedroom would be taken by a family. It is actually big enough to fit a married couple and a small baby.
The landlord said that there were no parents and that he was just going to put the baby in the second bedroom. I was not allowed to go in the room and I was just supposed to leave that room. The landlord placed the baby in the second bedroom and closed the door, and he then went on his way home. I was in a flat with a crying baby. It was unusual and the baby was crying and then the baby would be soothed by something and would start laughing.
I was really freaked out by this and on many nights the baby would be making baby noises all by himself. Then one night I heard a deep musky voice in the baby room but I listened to the landlord and kept to my own business. Then something was calling my name from the baby room and its deep voice woke me.
“Rob wake up, I want to give you 3 wishes,” the voice from the baby told me
I tried to go into the room but it was locked now and the voice in the room kept saying that it wanted to give me 3 wishes. Then the voice said “I can grant 3 wishes but I am not sure where those wishes would go. You will also have to pick 2 other people as well who you don’t mind the wishes to go to”
I had wondered why this thing wanted to answer my wishes and it simply told me that answering wishes was its main function in life. The thing in that room was being generous at first and gave away the first 3 wishes for free but they had to be small. This was to prove to me that it wasn’t lying to me.
So I included my mom to be part of this and my manager who I did not like. My first wish was for death, a teapot and a thousand pounds in cash. Death randomly went to my mother, I got a new teapot and my ass hole of a manager had won a thousand pounds which he bragged about at work.
My mother had died and the voice told me that he couldn’t control where the wishes went. The voice then told me “To increase the chances of good wishes going to you, you should do something called good karma collecting. Where you will voluntarily let people do bad things to you so that good karma shall come round to me. So be a pushover and too overly nice that people take advantage so that the good wishes have a higher chance of coming to you”.
So I did just that and I let people at work take advantage of me and I walked around in rough places where I was showing my expensive items so that someone could rob me. For a whole year, I let people just be horrible to me and I even went out with a woman who was a known serial cheater. I would still sometimes hear that baby either crying, laughing or just making baby noises.
Then the voice said “Are you ready to make 3 proper wishes that will choose themselves who they go to”
“yes,” I said confidently
“Have you chosen two more people to be a part of these wishes,” the voice asked me
“yes and I choose my horrid manager and my father” I replied
“the 3 wishes have to be different and one has to be good, one has to be bad and one has to be mediocre” the voice told me
After a moment of silence, I said “First wish for a billion pounds, the second wish for cancer and the third wish for a mini car!”
I then got a text from my dad telling me that a mini car appeared in his garage out of nowhere and on the news it was showing my manager winning a billion pounds on the lottery. I then started coughing blood and started feeling sick and I looked confused.
The voice then told me “Your landlord took his chances with the 3 wishes and he chose you as one of the people. One of his wishes was for bad fortune and that fell on you, which is why collecting good karma wouldn’t have worked for you”
I then fell to the ground and my landlord came in and he went into that room and picked up the baby. He then looked down at me with a smile and said “Now I can sell my flat without the worry of a tenant living here. Landlord and tenancy rules have made it harder for landlords to sell flats with tenants living inside them”

I have been living in a 2-bed apartment for a year and it was bliss to have an apartment all to myself. I have been dreading my landlord to get another tenant to live in the apartment. I have been able to afford the rent and at the same time just relishing having my own space. I have always been a loner who liked to spend time doing things on my own. I do have the odd friends and I do go to gatherings like weddings and funerals, but it's when the events are over that I feel the bliss and joy of being lonely.
Then my landlord told me that he had found someone to have the second bedroom and I was disappointed but I guess it was going to happen at some point. Then after many days of waiting my landlord came into the apartment and in his hand was a baby boy. It wasn’t his baby and I asked where the parents were as I assumed the second bedroom would be taken by a family. It is actually big enough to fit a married couple and a small baby.
The landlord said that there were no parents and that he was just going to put the baby in the second bedroom. I was not allowed to go in the room and I was just supposed to leave that room. The landlord placed the baby in the second bedroom and closed the door, and he then went on his way home. I was in a flat with a crying baby. It was unusual and the baby was crying and then the baby would be soothed by something and would start laughing.
I was really freaked out by this and on many nights the baby would be making baby noises all by himself. Then one night I heard a deep musky voice in the baby room but I listened to the landlord and kept to my own business. Then something was calling my name from the baby room and its deep voice woke me.
“Rob wake up, I want to give you 3 wishes,” the voice from the baby told me
I tried to go into the room but it was locked now and the voice in the room kept saying that it wanted to give me 3 wishes. Then the voice said “I can grant 3 wishes but I am not sure where those wishes would go. You will also have to pick 2 other people as well who you don’t mind the wishes to go to”
I had wondered why this thing wanted to answer my wishes and it simply told me that answering wishes was its main function in life. The thing in that room was being generous at first and gave away the first 3 wishes for free but they had to be small. This was to prove to me that it wasn’t lying to me.
So I included my mom to be part of this and my manager who I did not like. My first wish was for death, a teapot and a thousand pounds in cash. Death randomly went to my mother, I got a new teapot and my ass hole of a manager had won a thousand pounds which he bragged about at work.
My mother had died and the voice told me that he couldn’t control where the wishes went. The voice then told me “To increase the chances of good wishes going to you, you should do something called good karma collecting. Where you will voluntarily let people do bad things to you so that good karma shall come round to me. So be a pushover and too overly nice that people take advantage so that the good wishes have a higher chance of coming to you”.
So I did just that and I let people at work take advantage of me and I walked around in rough places where I was showing my expensive items so that someone could rob me. For a whole year, I let people just be horrible to me and I even went out with a woman who was a known serial cheater. I would still sometimes hear that baby either crying, laughing or just making baby noises.
Then the voice said “Are you ready to make 3 proper wishes that will choose themselves who they go to”
“yes,” I said confidently
“Have you chosen two more people to be a part of these wishes,” the voice asked me
“yes and I choose my horrid manager and my father” I replied
“the 3 wishes have to be different and one has to be good, one has to be bad and one has to be mediocre” the voice told me
After a moment of silence, I said “First wish for a billion pounds, the second wish for cancer and the third wish for a mini car!”
I then got a text from my dad telling me that a mini car appeared in his garage out of nowhere and on the news it was showing my manager winning a billion pounds on the lottery. I then started coughing blood and started feeling sick and I looked confused.
The voice then told me “Your landlord took his chances with the 3 wishes and he chose you as one of the people. One of his wishes was for bad fortune and that fell on you, which is why collecting good karma wouldn’t have worked for you”
I then fell to the ground and my landlord came in and he went into that room and picked up the baby. He then looked down at me with a smile and said “Now I can sell my flat without the worry of a tenant living here. Landlord and tenancy rules have made it harder for landlords to sell flats with tenants living inside them”

2024-187 / Zedd MAP: 67.42 / MLZ MAP: 73.84 / Score Gap: 6.42
Wikipedia?wprov=sfti1#) / IMDb / Official Trailer / Our Collection
From IMDb - Adventures of Huck Finn - In Missouri, during the 1840s, young Huck Finn fearful of his drunkard father and yearning for adventure, leaves his foster family and joins with runaway slave Jim in a voyage down the Mississippi River toward slavery free states.
2024-188 / Zedd MAP: 55.68 / MLZ MAP: 40.50 / Score Gap: 15.18
Wikipedia / IMDb / Official Trailer / Our Collection
From IMDB - The Sandlot - In the summer of 1962, a new kid in town is taken under the wing of a young baseball prodigy and his rowdy team, resulting in many adventures.
I rolled out of bed, took a few minutes to wipe the sleep out of my eyes, get that cup of coffee every new sunrise offers, and sat down in my trusted armchair - Mrs. Lady Zedd pushed play and The Adventures of Huck Finn hit the screen. I guess we’re doing this now - Morning Movies, well - I can bring the movie on whenever.
MLZ is a woman possessed - she’s been driving the big numbers we’ve been making this month: these two make #30 and #31 for the month ((damn)), we’re moving right along. If I’m being honest, I always associated movie watching with myself but Mrs. Lady Zedd is a cinephile’s cinephile. You’d have to get up pretty early in the morning to actively engage motion pictures like she does. She’s interested in any genre and I can’t even make that claim.
Neither of us had seen this incarnation of Huck Finn and it’s pretty much a pedestrian look at the life and times of a kid from a very different walk of life and time… but aren’t we just the same? That seems to be the message of any movie pushing Americana at its core. Nothing wrong with that (per se) but my “propaganda” button goes off at times like these.
“I don’t know why,” I say, “but this movie feels like *The Sandlot - the way it’s put together, the syrupy dialog and the clarity of the picture.” MLZ hmms and ya, see thats as I’m talking. It’s not about the story but the way the story is being told. Wide-eyed look back - that overwhelming feeling that the good old days were then, not now. Maybe it’s just me but I suggest we watch The Sandlot next and she readily agrees.
It’s while I’m filling in The Sandlot’s particulars that I spy (with my little eye) both films are from 1993. Ain’t that just the way. I’m filling in my form and am halfway through the cast when I wonder when each were in the theater? If I had to guess, I’d say Sandlot is pure early summer - Huck Finn could be fall?? I check: Sandlot is April 1, 1993 / Huck Finn is April 2, 1993. ((Blink-blink)) I just stare off in space… guess we picked well, from a date standpoint.
I pull up 1993 in the MCC because I wonder - there’s another motion picture I’d throw into a “feels like this” pile, and there it is: Matinee. “Huh” I say out loud - MLZ says, “Sounds about right.” and that’s when all hell broke loose.
The doorbell rang (despite all sorts of signs asking delivery drivers not to) and the dogs straight up go berserk. There are scratch marks above the top of the door - these pups are serious where the doorbell is concerned. The delivery? The very last Disney Movie Club order (this time for real). I’ll post pictures.
As we come to the end of the second film, I have to ask myself - how would either of these movies landed on me if I was 8 in 1993 (instead of 1979). I’m not sure - both movies share an insipid “the way we were” element, a fake history that I’ve always had a mild allergic reaction too. The kids in ‘79 were all hopped up on the future - NASA, and men walking on the moon, and Star Wars, and Tron… everyone I knew couldn’t hardly wait for what the future would hold… if I could broadcast a message from now to then, I’d simply say, “Live for the moment, the future is pretty shit.”
I asked Mrs. Lady Zedd what she thought and she said, “I think you get way too philosophical about everything.” A long blank stare later, I say about the movies. She said both were “fine”. Elijah Wood was more that cute as Huck, you can see he was already developing as an actor.
As for The Soundlot she gave me that fake smile she gives when something didn’t sit well with her. “The over the top of the movie narration just popped my movie bubble - every - damn - time.” She said it was so awkwardly done, so poorly written, so defectively slapped in there, it’s a brown patch in an otherwise “meh” apple.
I’m left to scratch my head. Things can change over time and my MAP dropped significantly since our last viewing in 2021. I normally look up past write ups to make sure I’m not just restating what’s already been said but I know for a fact that won’t be the case. I’d developed some nostalgia for the movie based on our neighborhood’s regular July 4th block party. The guy down the street played The Sandlot on his garage door every year before the fireworks got started.
Our neighborhood had changed a great deal since the pandemic. People moved on, new (less friendly) people moved in. I hate to say it but politics have transformed things as well. I think many of you will recognize what I’m saying. No more 4th of July (or any other) block parties.
What’s the opposite of nostalgia? Sad sentiments, I guess. We’ll be gone from here sooner than later, I hope something positive will come of our time in Texas - some hidden cause to smile, later, when I think back.
Movie on.

I have a man (37m) I (38f) met 11 years ago and he reconnected with me after I was separated from my spouse. He joined my life with two boys (12m, 16m) from my prior marriage. My ex husband gotten remarried with a divorced female who had two kids of her own. My man doesn’t have any kids and has never been married. He’s never dated a woman who was married prior and or a woman who had children. It’s all new to him.
He really tries to make it a point to keep the boundaries between being my partner and not their parent. He knows he’s not their dad. They have a dad. However, there are times he’ll add tension to my family by trying to correct my parenting style or trying to ask me to ask my kids to do simple chores. (Feeding the dogs, walking them, doing the dishes, laundry etc..) I have my boys 50/50 custody so I get one week on and one week off. I like doing things for them, doing their laundry and making their life simple on one hand but I feel it is just making me feel better by being their maternal care provider when they’re home. He sees it as I’m raising lazy kids and allowing them to walk all over me. At times he will tell me what a horrible parent I am because I don’t force my kids to get off their cellphones to watch a movie..
Sometimes I will work until 4:30 and the kids arrive home before I do. The kids will be with their grandmother and when my partner is home, they won’t tell him where they’re going or just heads up that they are leaving. He feels he doesn’t matter or that they don’t respect him. That he’s on the bottom of the totum pole.
We’ve been together for three years and it’s been better now than ever before and I find it best when he just provides a ear to listen, or paternal support in terms of expeience being a teenage boy. But, mostly I love when he’s just her to support me as my boyfriend. We’ve been in heated discussions because he tries to correct them and then I protect them.
In conclusion, today he informed me that he is just going to stop trying because he wants to be part of their lives as a parent but he feels that no one respects that and that he’ll never be accepted as someone they respect like that.
Have you ever been with a man who had had no prior marriage or kids? How did you handle that?

Hi! Curious if someone could take a look at my lease/help me with something.
The property management company who was managing my lease/building was just fired by the owner (an older lady not involved really), so now the owner is managing my building. All I got was an email from the PM team that “hey we’re no longer in charge of your building, the owner will reach out.” Well the owner never did, instead a fellow tenant/neighbor came knocking at my door saying she was hired by the owner (for a lower rent) to take care of the building. She said she was doing the books, maintenance and that we’d pay her. I was like “…okay?” She talks A LOT - so kept on going with “yeah I don’t know how you’ll pay me yet, trying to figure out a way I can do it so I get credit card points LOL” - IMMEDIATE wtf moment from me. She is a true wild card and I don’t feel safe just randomly giving this woman my money?
I have no idea if my lease is valid. What is real and what is not. I’m just so confused. I’ve only lived here 6 months and tbh I’d rather just leave because of all the uncertainty and get a new place.
Is this a lease-breaking worthy thing without penalty? Is my lease even valid since it was through the Property Management company? The whole situation is wild and I’m so unsure of what to do tbh.
Any help or willingness to look at my lease or direction to a better sub to post this in would be appreciated great help! :)

Gold digging women have always gotten a lot of smoke, but I think we need to look a bit deeper as to why it seems they’re on the rise. I’m not condoning gold digging, but I do think it’s just a defense mechanism for women who cannot find a more like-able, egalitarian partner.
Women have learned a lot about the manosphere in recent years due to it becoming mainstream. More specifically, more Gen Z men openly espousing that men’s value only comes from looking as hot as possible and making a lot of money. That women only like men for their money and superficial status, and that we’re lying when we say we want men who are kind and respectful (and who are attractive to us).
We all know gold digging isn’t new. But in the past, gold digging was just a survival strategy for women to access socioeconomic mobility when we collectively couldn’t access it except through marrying rich. Now that more women are able to earn enough money to not need to marry rich for survival, women have become more comfortable demanding that men need to actually be like-able as partners.
This is obviously a huge societal shift to demand men to now be kind (and attractive) as partners, and no longer just financial providers to their wives who stay at home to raise the kids alone. Earning a regular salary is no longer good enough to guarantee themselves a wife and kids; relationship skills have now become a requirement from most women. Cue TRP being born.
So the modern gold digger is different. I’ve noticed that these sorts of women come from a string of bad dating experiences with TRP-adjacent men, or in other words men who refuse to pull their weight in the domestic sphere, or men who see women as inferiors. I think the modern gold digger is just a woman who has for the most part given up on finding an egalitarian relationship, so the next best thing to settle for is the “modern provider”: This type of man is more like-able and respectful than a TRPer-ish man, but still not egalitarian enough to be ideal. These women believe that good, emotionally intelligent men who’ll help out at 50/50 at home are too difficult to come by, and they also won’t settle for a TRPer type either. The “modern provider” is a man who falls somewhere in the middle of this continuum.
This is why I think it’s a lazy cop out when TRPers say that women just want to have their cake and eat it too. I think this is the nuance that’s missing in the gold digger discourse.
The main thing that makes the modern type of gold diggers different from the old gen is at least these women seem to believe that women should still earn their own money to some extent and be able to be relatively self-sufficient, so that they can at least safely leave the relationship if things go south. Nobody should be financially chained to a broken relationship.
I think these women’s logic is that if they’re anticipating having the majority of the UNPAID domestic labor in the relationship fall on their shoulders anyway, then they believe that the least a man can do is take on more of the financial burden. I think this is what’s really behind the rise of more women starting to reject men who want to go“50/50.” Because there’s an implication that it won’t really be 50/50 in effort; just 50/50 financially.
Obviously not all women are going down the gold digging route. Some women do find egalitarian men. Other women are choosing to just stay single and celibate. And then the 4th group of women are still learning from being repeatedly hurt by bad men, and will keep going through that cycle until they come out the other end and join one of the 3 other groups.
So basically, if men want to discourage more women from becoming modern gold diggers (or even from them exiting the dating pool and taking a vow of celibacy), then they need to become more egalitarian as partners. Women want like-able, attractive partners just as men do. It’s really not more complicated than that.