Looking to replace some parts on a 2006 LeMond Alpe d'Huez, it have some mixed components. Looking to change the chainrings/crankset and cassette.
Original: Bontrager GXP 52/39/30T 9spd. Shimano 105 CS-5600 12-25T 10spd
New: Shimano 105 FC-5603 50/39/30T 10spd. Shimano Ultegra CS-6700 11-28T 10spd
Front derailleur Shimano Ultegra Triple, Rear derailleur Shimano 105
From the SF Bay Area.

1. 4 FREAKING EPISODES WHATTT?? And in part 2 they are already married
   
2. The whole plot didn’t even seem like friends to lovers in the book the progression from friendship to love was soft and sweet the way Colin slowly realised that he was indeed in love with pen was done so well Colin had always loved her he loved her mind the way she spoke about certain things and the way they shared witty comments near lady Danbury you saw their chemistry so clearly. BUT NETFLIX decided let’s change all of that keep the steamy scenes in.
   

It’s like they read the book and was like “I’ve got a better idea” let’s add in a suitor for Penelope (which i really don’t mind I loved the guy) to MAKE Colin OPEN his EYES that Penelope is intact worthy of his romantic feelings because he would never ever be able to see her in that kind of way if another guy doesn’t come in and sees Penelope that way to show him that Penelope is a WOKAN ( A FREAKING HOT ONE AT THAT)
What even pissed me more off was the carriage scene ( don’t even get me started) the way he instantly invited her to his house and was like “are you going to marry me or not” (LIKE WHAT) in the previous seasons we got much more in-depth about the other characters love stories and much better progress and we only saw the main characters point of view we understood their feelings their yearn for each other as well as home life and how they helped each other to overcome it. This season is like a child playing with mud and splatting it everywhere that’s it just a child playing with mud. THIS SEASON HOWEVER they tried to include others like violet and Francesca (which I loved her and John sterling 😩🫶🏾) which made the main characters seem like the other characters. WHERE IS the main character energy shonda???
The only other good thing that came out o this season was Penelope’s DRESSES AND OUTFITS MY GIRL ATE DOWN SHE WAS THE BEST DRESSED her having her hair down ( 30 INCH BUSS DOWN INDEED MY LOVE 😩🫶🏾) which made her stand out as only your husband could see you with your hair down in that era. She shows that she is only following her own rules but with the new life she wants for herself her habits still hold her down such as having difficulty speaking with others as she has only been a wall flower most of her life ( good job shonda ig 🙄) the good parts however with this show was very few it felt like being served with the most disgusting food ever in a luxurious restaurant but the only good thing with this restaurant is just your drink so you shove the food down because you skipped breakfast as this restaurant was recommended by others for having amazing good food and you drink the drink to only keep the food down.
Overall this was such a disappointment and Penelope should be our president.

Not much to say here since I wanted to see what happened with the Weaver. Enjoy!
Ch. 21

• Oh how creepy is this…door shutting, handle gone, and the Weaver softly saying “who's in my house?”
  
• Holy shit why does she look like that?! Don't tease me with the young body but then have The Ring girl’s face attached to it. She's definitely a double bagger, absolutely terrifying.
  
• Omg Feyre, you go scorched earth and set fire to the entire cottage with a candle instead of using your flamethrower ability with your hands and torch the Weaver. SMH
  
• Escape through the chimney though, that's smart. This girl has some bright moments
  
• Wait, is the Weaver cooking faeries?! And is she weaving their entrails or flesh or something??? I mean, on the one hand that's just plain gross, but on the other, why don't you just weave you a new face???
  
• Isn't Feyre like super strong now? Why doesn't she just punch through the chimney?
  
• Weaver is gaining, please feel free to use your mind bullets at any time now Feyre. Also, feel free to step in at any time Rhys and help out lol
  
• Oh wow, the Weaver made her house of out of the bodies of her victims, this is the stuff of nightmares
  
• “What the hell did you do?” LOL Rhys just chilling on a tree, winnow the fuck out plz and ty
  
• Dude Amren can just vanish vomit? I think my question about fae plumbing has now been answered!
  
• So the ring was just a memento from his mom? Makes sense
  
• Thank you Feyre for finally coming to your senses and wanting to learn how to fight and how to use your abilities. It only took almost dying again to realize it
  
• Oooh diving into Rhysand's pensive! Let's see what he shows Feyre
  
• Damn, Ianthe wants some High Lord D!
  
• Oh interesting, so Ianthe does have ulterior motives…this is like some bene gesserit scheming going on. At least Rhys knows not to stick his dick in crazy. Much respect, he's channeling that Lucien energy again!
  
• Very cool developments!
  

Ch. 22

• Oooh some Mor backstory, thank you mommy
  
• Damn so faeries are just as petty as humans when it comes to selling off their daughters…BRUTAL
  
• Good guy Cassian always coming to the rescue, this guy chads
  
• Oooh Feyre chose Azriel to carry her, Cassian and Rhysand are like wtf
  
• Oh nice they're in the mortal lands now.
  
• Quick side bar: what's Tammy been doing all this time? Is there any palace left? I'm assuming it's rubble from all of his tantrums of losing Feyre. Or maybe he's going through all the bureaucratic faerie red tape to demand an audience with the night court. I'm surprised Lucien hasn't tried to make contact, but I'm guessing he thinks this is for Feyre’s benefit.
  

Ch. 23

• Oh shit it's Elain and Nesta! This must feel surreal for Feyre
  
• Damn Nesta is cold-blooded. No sympathy for Feyre at all
  
• Why doesn't Feyre just explain that they'll glamour everyone and ward their house so no one knows that the faeries will be in their town?
  
• I'm wondering if Nesta is jealous at all with Feyre. I bet she's waiting for some high fae to sweep her off her feet the way she talks to Feyre about bouncing from court to court
  
• Nice! No time to waste, let's get the meeting started
  

Ch. 24

• Oh interesting Feyre's last name is Archeron? Hmmm….Cursebreaker sounds better
  
• Also, is this meeting turning into a triple date???
  
• Lol Azriel doesn't want to be here at all
  
• Dinner too??? They just need to pair off now
  
• I'm sure there's meaning behind where everyone sits at a feast, but I'm ignorant to all that decorum.
  
• Cassian sitting next to Elain though, the first move has been made!
  
• Interesting, so human food doesn't taste good at all to fae? How is it different?
  
• “I can eat, drink, fuck, and fight just as well as I did before. Better, even.” THE SHADE. Cassian choking on his water in response is hilarious
  
• Hahaha Cassian found his lover, he's sizing Nesta up and she's having none of it.
  
• Lol she's not even acknowledging him, this bro is in love.
  
• OH SHIT Elain mentioning Clare Beddor and both her murderers are in the house! And Rhys is just keeping his head down eating shit food lol. Peak awkwardness.
  
• Bro…Cassian is straight up imprinting on Nesta right now. He wants that mating bond BAD.
  
• Just two rooms? I bet Rhys and Feyre get the room with just one bed.
  
• LOL Rhys just side steps the awkwardness with his multi-dimensional closet, that's super handy
  
• “Nesta is a delight, by the way.” Bahaha I think deep down in his heart of hearts he knows Nesta has a hold on Cassian and he’ll be seeing a lot more of her
  
• Lol they're talking wages now? And they have banks??? Lines of credit? What's the APR on that Velaris Platinum card?
  
• Awww Rhys is butt hurt that he missed Feyre's birthday…I'm sure he'll make up for it somehow. Maybe his mother's ring???
  
• “My money's on Nesta…So’s mine.” LOL put me down for a dime on Nesta as well
  

Ch. 25

• FINALLY some element bending training.
  
• Feyre wants to train in private because Rhys is a distraction? Lol if that doesn't scream I'm into you I don't know what is
  
• “You could try rubbing it on certain body parts and I might come faster.” Hahahaha bro why don't Rhys and Lucien get along? These guys have the same snarkiness
  
• Oh cool, some inter-dimensional pen writing, NBD
  
• “I'm watching Cassian and Nesta get into it again over their tea.” lol can we get a chapter on this interaction? That sounds better than reading about Feyre staring at a candle for an hour and not asking for help
  
• “Life is better when you're around.” I mean, how long is this little Do-Si-Do between them gonna last? Just kith already
  
• OH SHIT it's the Attor!
  

These recent cliff hangers have been great so far! Let's hope Feyre taps into her abilities and freezes the Attor’s nuts off. Thanks for reading!

Hey KathDenlulus!
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I'm (23F) and my ex (24M) had been friends for 4 years before we got into a relationship he was kind and gentleman when we were friends. I'm his 1st girlfriend and he is also my 1st boyfriend I know that we are new to this kind of relationship and need to build a foundation for our relationship, we never argued or fight also we let each other know if someone was chatting or flirting with us. Due to a lack of communication, we both don't want to confess or talk about our problems in our relationship which is not a good thing we only talk about it after our cool off, he is the one who wants a breakup after months I turn off my social media so I can cry and let out my emotions when I turn on my social media he chatted me begging for giving him a chance because he wants us to be back together, since I still love him I agree with him, however, he broke up with me again and chatted me to be together again hearing his reasons and in 3 years of our relationship we have always been on and off.
In those 3 years, I realized a lot about how our relationship became toxic i noticed how he negged me like he would send me TikTok videos of beautiful girls and tell me that "I should go on a diet so I would look prettier like those girls" I was shocked about that I know that I'm not sexy or slim my friends and cousin that my body is in normal not slim and not obese neither not sexy. My looks are just average I know I'm not that beautiful compared to others but it hurt me when he said that he had become my friend for years even though he has been my boyfriend for years. I have my own insecurities I'm not gonna lie that my physical appearance is also one of them and knowing that from him it really hurts the most. I also found out almost 3 years later that after a few months of starting our relationship he chat his crush "I love you" She is an influencer so there is a chance that they could be together I started questioning why would we want me when he loves other girls and he didn't even tell me that even though we promise to be honest when it comes to, so I broke up with him this time and due to my mental health there were times that I didn't want to talk to anyone for a few days, weeks, became months even to my family I don't talk about them about my own problems.
Almost a year when he reached out to me again to have closure and fulfill our plan when we were in a relationship and that was going on dates and having a deep talk. I'm not planning to be with him again I just give it a try talking about our relationship I think it's a good thing to create memories that we always want so I could tell myself that I tried my best to work out our relationship even though it wouldn't last. However, shouting at me in public was the last straw to cut ties with him I would always remember that time like it was yesterday I didn't do anything to shout at me like that we were just talking, after that accident, I just got along with him and that was the time I felt uncomfortable with him. When I went home that night, I waited until he was not online on his social media I messaged him that I didn't want him to text me anymore and not to expect anything from me also that this was the last time he would hear from me I want him that it's better for us to part our ways and moved on.
He texted me the next morning but I didn't seen or reply to his messages after a few months he texted me again but I ignored it. I also made another account without adding him even as a friend.

I 22 f used to have a pretty solid friend group. We were really close and had a lot of events and go to different new cities with each other. I can’t tell if this is the growing up part of adulthood. We had jobs before, so working isn’t much of an excuse. But, I looked around me and all of my friends are taken. They’re beautiful girls and my closest best friend, I set her up with my other best friend. They’re very happy together, but they don’t really ask to hangout anymore. We’re still good friends though. It just seems like everyone around me is so indulged in their relationship. I have no desire for a relationship at this time. And it seems like the time to reply back to my texts are so delayed to what it used to be. I don’t mean to be clingy or a bother, but I wish we hung out more. I’ve been feeling lonely as I would text but my friends wouldn’t reply til the next day. We were all so close.

It started with a whisper, a shiver of information that slithered through the corridors of the CIA like a cold, uninvited guest. I was a senior analyst, tasked with sifting through the static and noise of global intelligence. But this—this was different. It was 2009 when the first document crossed my desk, a classified report from the Global Access Program. The title was innocuous: “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena – Preliminary Analysis.” But the content… it was nothing short of extraordinary.
The initial report detailed sightings of craft with capabilities far beyond our own. These weren’t the erratic, drunken movements of weather balloons or the technological marvels of hostile nations. These were intelligent, deliberate maneuvers, the kind that hinted at minds far advanced from ours. It was chilling, but it was only the beginning.
As weeks turned into months, the trickle of information became a flood. Documents stamped with the highest levels of classification described encounters, recoveries, and, most disturbingly, autopsies. The recovered bodies weren’t the little green men of popular culture. They were eerily humanoid, yet undeniably otherworldly. Their skin had a silicon-like quality, translucent and tough, and their eyes—large, dark, and haunting—seemed to pierce through the veil of secrecy we so desperately tried to maintain.
I was part of a small, compartmentalized team, tasked with understanding the implications of these findings. The government’s approach was twofold: reverse-engineer the technology and determine the intentions of these visitors. But as our understanding grew, so did our fear.
One evening, after hours of staring at grainy footage of a UFO darting through the sky over a desolate military base, I received a call. The voice on the other end was panicked, speaking in hushed, frantic tones. It was one of our field operatives, stationed at a classified recovery site. They had just intercepted a transmission. It wasn’t human.
The transmission was a distress signal, but not one of desperation. It was a call to arms. These beings, it seemed, were not just explorers. They were scouts, and their mission was not benign. The transmission hinted at a hive mind, a collective consciousness that controlled these entities. They were here to assess, to probe, and to prepare. For what, we could only speculate.
Days later, another recovery operation took place. A craft was shot down over the Nevada desert, and the bodies retrieved told a horrifying story. They were connected, biologically and technologically, to this hive mind. When one entity was captured, the others knew. When one died, they all felt it. The implications were staggering. We were not just dealing with isolated visitors; we were confronting a unified front.
The more we learned, the more paranoid our superiors became. Orders came down to contain the information at all costs. Whistleblowers were silenced, dissenters disappeared. But the truth was too big to contain. The technology we recovered was decades, if not centuries, ahead of our own. Anti-gravity propulsion, energy sources that defied our understanding of physics, biological materials that healed and adapted.
And then came the darkest revelation. The autopsies revealed something even more unsettling. These beings had genetic material strikingly similar to our own. They weren’t just visitors; they were progenitors. We were their experiment, their creation. The implications shattered every paradigm we held dear. Religion, science, history—all of it was called into question.
As I sit here, penning this confession, I know my time is limited. They will come for me, as they have come for others. But the truth must be known. We are not alone, and we never have been. Our governments have hidden this from us, not out of malice, but out of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the truth, fear of the inevitable.
To you who reads this, understand this: the veil has been lifted. The shadows hold secrets that are darker and more profound than we can imagine. And the truth, once revealed, will change everything.
This is my testament. Believe it, or don’t. But know this: the world is not as it seems. The universe is vast, and we are not the apex of creation. We are but a fragment in a grand, terrifying design.
The truth is out there, waiting to be uncovered. And when it is, the world will never be the same.
The progenitors, as we came to call them, had motives far more complex and far-reaching than simple exploration or conquest. The truth unraveled slowly, like an intricate tapestry revealing a grand design. It began with fragments of intercepted communications and culminated in a terrifying, awe-inspiring understanding of our place in the universe.
The progenitors did not come from a distant star merely to observe. They were architects of life, and Earth was their grand experiment. Our planet, teeming with diverse life forms, was a controlled environment, a living laboratory designed for a singular purpose: evolution.
From the ancient texts to modern scientific discoveries, we’ve always sought answers to our origins. The progenitors provided those answers, but they came at a cost. We discovered that they seeded countless worlds, each designed to test different variables of life. Earth was unique due to its biodiversity and its potential for intelligent life.
The genetic similarities between us and the progenitors weren’t just a coincidence. They were deliberate. By seeding their own DNA into the primordial soup of Earth, they ensured a certain path of evolution. Our intelligence, our creativity, our very civilization were results of their intricate design. We were, quite literally, their children, bred and cultivated to reach a specific level of advancement.
But why? The reasons were as complex as they were chilling. The progenitors were not just scientists; they were facing an existential crisis. Their civilization, once spanning galaxies, was in decline. They needed a solution to prevent their extinction, and their answer was found in genetic diversity and adaptability.
Earth and its human inhabitants were part of a grander scheme: to evolve a species capable of assimilating their consciousness, their essence, into a new form. Our rapid technological advancement was not just a natural progression but was subtly influenced to accelerate our development. They needed us to reach a level where we could understand and perhaps even merge with their advanced consciousness.
We learned through decrypted communications and rare encounters that the progenitors were a hive mind, an interconnected collective consciousness. Over millennia, they had lost individuality, becoming a singular entity spread across countless biological hosts. This form of existence had its limits, and they sought to evolve beyond those constraints. They aimed to create a hybrid species—humans with the potential to host their collective consciousness.
This wasn’t just about survival; it was about transcendence. By merging with us, they hoped to achieve a new state of being, combining their ancient wisdom and collective power with our adaptability and creativity. We were to be the vessels for their next evolution.
However, this plan wasn’t without resistance. Among the progenitors, there were factions. Some believed in the purity of their collective consciousness, resisting the idea of merging with what they considered lesser beings. These internal conflicts spilled over into their actions on Earth, leading to sporadic yet significant interventions in our history.
As our understanding grew, so did the dread. The government’s attempts to contain this knowledge were born out of sheer terror. How could they explain to the world that we were bred for a purpose beyond our control? That our creators intended to use us to save themselves?
The intercepted transmissions became increasingly desperate. The progenitors’ time was running out, and their interest in Earth intensified. Reports of sightings and encounters surged. The military engaged in numerous clandestine operations to intercept and study these beings, leading to an underground war of sorts.
And then came the ultimate revelation: the progenitors were already among us. Their advanced technology allowed them to blend in, to influence, and to manipulate. The rise and fall of civilizations, the sudden leaps in technology, the inexplicable events in history—they were all part of the progenitors’ intricate plan to guide us towards the inevitable merging.
The truth, when finally pieced together, was more than earth-shattering. It was paradigm-shattering. We were not alone, nor were we masters of our fate. We were pawns in a cosmic game, engineered for a destiny we had yet to fully comprehend. The progenitors, our creators, were not gods but beings driven by survival and evolution, using us as their means to an end.
As I document this, I know the implications are beyond comprehension. The world must know, not to incite fear, but to understand. We stand at the brink of an unprecedented revelation, one that will redefine our existence and our place in the universe.
This is the truth, unfiltered and unvarnished. We are the progeny of ancient architects, part of a grand design stretching across the stars. Our future is intertwined with theirs, and the choices we make now will determine the fate of both our species.

Hi everyone, I am a Christian and I couldn't find the right sub to post this to, so I figured I would try here.
For background, I come from an Indian evangelical background and spent my entire life in the same church. I was heavily involved in my church back home. A few months ago I left home to travel the world and have currently been living in India for the past 3 months. My time in India has exposed me to different people and ways of life which has impacted/expanded my views, values, ect.
I grew up in the church and I guess I'm now exploring my identity outside of the church since I was basically forced to attend my entire life. I like the social aspect of church and refreshing myself spiritually on a Sunday, but I'm sort of worried of the congregation would get deeply involved in my life especially when I plan on being a nomad.
Recently, something I've been struggling with is that I lack a social life here in India. I have a friend or two but am also unemployed looking for work, hence, I don't have money to really go to fun places. I know some cool youth from a small church here, so I attended once which was cool, and they all liked me.
From the 2 churches I have been to here, I find that I never want to get too committed to a church because I'm afraid of my church and personal life clashing. I will have a few people approach me asking for my contact info here and there and it feels pushy. However, I noticed that usually outside of Sunday they don't bother keeping up with me like they claim to want to do. I get it, part of that is probably on me.
Moreover, I feel awkward being the new guy in church. Sometimes I'm not sure if people are genuinely nice or just faking it. For example: I seemed to gel well with this one dude over common interests and he even invited me over for dinner at his place. We exchanged numbers and he invited me to some Christian party they were hosting on the weekend. I noticed during the week he didn't save my number or bother checking in on me. That weekend I saw a reposted story from my 'church buddy' on Instagram of the party. I requested to follow my church buddy and surprisingly, he didn't even follow back lol
Maybe I am just overthinking it.
Thoughts?

The second thing happened a couple of hours later. I have a painting station in the living room. I'd been painting and gone to the kitchen to clean my pallette, a 6" circle, leaving it by the sink to dry. At this point we're all in the living room - my wife and I and our two sons. None of us left the room. When I went to retrieve my pallette maybe an hour later, it wasn't there. Again, we searched everywhere downstairs to no avail and I got out a new pallette to use.
My wife and kids went out a while later, straight from the living room and I went upstairs to the bedroom. Here I happened to notice the pallette on my bed, partly under a pillow. In that whole time since I washed it, none of us had been upstairs.
I texted my wife to tell her where I'd found it and she just replied, "That's impossible."
As far as I can say, I agree.

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This is something I've been working on for a while, and I'm excited to be able to share it with other people who enjoy card creation.
I realize most people won't read most of this post, so I'll put the important parts first. I am grateful for and open to any feedback you have on individual card designs, mechanics, and set design!
This is my first time creating an entire custom set, but as someone who has long enjoyed and played Limited, my goal was to make a fully draftable set with archetypes for each color combination, the right distribution of cards at each color and rarity, etc.
The set, created with MSE, contains 285 cards (259 excluding basic lands and alternate printings) and 14 tokens.
This custom set is an adaptation of the Netflix anime "DOTA: Dragon's Blood" animated by Studio Mir. (Why this show? The color design, loose magic system, epic scale, and different factions in the show were perfect for adapting into cards. I acknowledge that some of my design choices might make less sense without knowledge of the show.)
The best way to view the cards is via this PDF (Google Drive), which includes all the cards in one place, sorted into the same categories listed below.
Alternatively, you can view each category by itself either on imgur or in Google Drive:

• Rares and Mythics: imgur, Google Drive
• Three-Color Sagas: imgur, Google Drive
• Three-Color Uncommons: imgur, Google Drive
• Two-Color Signpost Uncommons: imgur, Google Drive
• Commons and Uncommons (by color): imgur, Google Drive
• Lands (all rarities): imgur (nonbasics), imgur (basics), Google Drive (all)
• Alternate art special printings: imgur, Google Drive
• Tokens: imgur, Google Drive

You can also just find all 299 images, in alphabetical order, here: imgur, Google Drive.
The set is on PlaneSculptors so you can do draft/sealed with it there:
https://www.planesculptors.net/set/dota-dragons-blood-v3
A few more notes:

• While each color pair has a theme/mechanic (see below), I designed this set to support three-color decks. Each three-color combo has its own saga and signpost uncommon, and each loosely represents one of the factions from the show.
  
• I made this set according to the old set design format, i.e., the way draft was before play boosters and Murders at Karlov Manor. (Hence why I wanted to post the set before people forget too much about the way things used to be!)
  
• I did not think much about how these cards would interact with the rest of Magic, break other formats, etc., because my main goal was to make a draftable set. There were times I meticulously checked the power of my cards against historical precedent and times I intentionally pushed the boundaries of what Wizards usually makes. I'll be curious to know if anything is obviously and egregiously broken (besides the three versions of The Invoker).
  
• As of this post, none of the cards have the same name as real MTG cards, so you should be able to import them into Cockatrice without issue (Cockatrice package in Google Drive).
  
• The show I adapted is based on the game DOTA 2 by Valve. I have not played this game myself, so, with only a few exceptions, these cards solely represent the characters and events as portrayed in the show, not the game.
  

New mechanics:

• Mourn – you get special benefits if a permanent (often a creature) you control leaves the battlefield this turn.
• Assault – you get special benefits if (or whenever) damage has been dealt this turn. Often, these benefits apply to combat, so you need to deal damage before combat
• Command – activate useful abilities by tapping your own creatures
• (I also reused Convoke)

Color pairs archetypes:

• WU (Azorius): “Mourn” mechanic
• WB (Orzhov): “Command” mechanic
• WR (Boros): attacking. Simple aggro, with ways to remove or tap your opponent’s stuff. (Add U or B for evasion, G for poweramp.)
• WG (Selesnya): Convoke, tapping your creatures for mana.
• UB (Dimir): create tokens and make opponents discard. Pairs well with BR (sacrifice) and WB (Command)
• UR (Izzet): noncreature spells (not just instants/sorceries)
• UG (Simic): scrying and drawing extra cards
• BR (Rakdos): sacrificing things. Can be aggro (add W or G) or control (add U).
• BG (Golgari): likes it when stuff dies and when stuff is in graveyards.
• RG (Gruul): “Assault” mechanic

The mechanics (and the way I made the cards) primarily reflect the flavor of the show, which was one of my main goals.
If you want to read more about the set, see this PDF (Google Drive).
While the card designs are all mine, the art is all taken from the show and thus belongs to Netflix and Studio Mir. The names, events, etc. belong to Netflix and Valve.
I am very happy with the story and art I got to work with in making this set; some of my favorite art includes the special printings of Mirana, the Sun Ascendant and Temple Ruins; Tower Rebuilt; the special Treasure token; Draconic Confrontation; Moon Rupture; Remember; Astral Realm; all the sagas; and all the land, especially basics.

My boyfriend and I met 7 months ago, he has been through horrible relationships in the past, in fact he was going through custody battle during this time. I was extremely supportive and kind to him. We connected and bonded and learned,changed a lot of things being with each other. I knew he’s guards were up and he always said ‘I’d like to believe that I can be a good boyfriend and provide for everything a new relationship needed’. He has been so much vulnerable with me, part of me fell for him because I connected so much to him during this time. Just this week, he won the custody battle and he signed a contract for his new house.
Now a little about me, I have abandonment issues and very anxious, he knows everything about it and has been extremely supportive to me as well. I am an expat in his country, haven’t seen my family in 2 years now for many different reasons. I have been longing to go on a trip abroad/locally for sometime now. I came up with the idea last month and he said he will think about it and come up with a plan. But he got a hearing date this week and we didn’t speak about it. Just yesterday we met and had an amazing day out in the city, just as he was about to drop me back home, I asked if we could go away next weekend (it doesn’t coincide with his time with his child), he said i am asking too much from him especially when he has a lot to think about (moving houses in the coming month, accommodating things for the child to start sleeping in the new house). It really broke my heart when he said that I was too much.
He did try to come up with instant solutions/ideas when he saw how hurt I was. But I could see that he was doing this to please me. I felt really bad, I just wanted him to be enthusiastic about it just as much I was, I really needed a break from everything, I have gone through few things (maybe not as major as a custody battle) myself. He was a different person with his ex, who was btw extremely horrible to him. For a brief period of time I spurted out that ‘you were a different person with your ex and I want that’. I know it was wrong. I do know he has other commitments but tbh, he didn’t make me a part of those commitments. I am happy that things are looking bright for him but going away this weekend was my thing. I thought we were there for each other’s things. While saying all of this to him, I said I loved him for the first time but at the same time I I wanted someone to be enthusiastic about my ideas too. Things were awkward, and weird after that and I think I broke up with him. We haven’t spoken since yesterday and I’m hurting so much. I wish the entire situation would be different cause I do love him, maybe he doesn’t as much.. I would appreciate any advice over here.

I’ve never had any major issues with my 16’ TRD Pro.
It’s running radflo long travel on 295 nittos with spc ucas. All work was done by apexoverland out of greensboro. 3 years no issues.
About 3 weeks ago I noticed loose steering seemingly out of no where on the highway and a slight body wobble (not steering wheel).
Drove it 2 hours home and around town for the next week. It wasn’t anything alarming but after driving the car for 6+ years I knew something was off.
Local toyota dealer diagnosed play in the tie rods and suggested a new steering rack as it was only $70 more than the tie rods alone with labor.
Got the new rack installed. Drove it off the lot and almost crashed into oncoming traffic in a turn lane as my steering suddenly locked up while driving. Zero play no matter how hard I turned the wheel.
Dealership claimed my power steering pump was bad prior to coming in and when they pushed new fluid after the rack installation it forced out metal particles into the system locking everything up.
Dealer did a parts warranty on the new rack and comped a new power steering pump and all labor. Flushed/replaced lines.
After about a full week they tell me it is ready again. Drive it off the lot everything feels normal. About a mile or two down the highway I feel the steering change and it locks up again out of nowhere. Cannot steer or control the car other than straight.
As of today It is still at the dealer. I spoke with the manager and got an extension on my loaner. Haven’t heard a word from them in 2 days even after reaching out.
At this point is the car a goner? I don’t exactly trust any work from them or the car at this point, however, they are footing the service bill so I can’t exactly take it somewhere else.

I Accepted a Job to Film on the Dark Web
Man, I am pumped to tell you chronically online content addicts my story. Wait is that too mean of an intro? Will this get taken down for harassment since I painted too accurate a picture of the people on this site? Sorry, everyone, I’m sure you all smell like an expensive bakery and have touched grass this morning. Anyway, I promise I have something interesting. It even involves the dark web you uncreative writers cream yourselves over! I mean, totally real people speaking about their strangely similar experiences. Okay, fine I’ll stop bullying you through the screen before you click off.
This all started when I was seven years old and my parents were killed in front of me in an anti-indigenous hate crime, but let's be real you don’t care. I’m just some annoying Cherokee kid with dead parents so I’ll skip to the good parts. I spent years in an orphanage, gradually becoming more interested in death and violence. As bad as it is, I went out of my way to expose myself to that content in the hopes of desensitizing myself. Which ended up working too well, since now I’m obsessed with causing and viewing pain, though I don’t find any joy in hurting myself.
I got adopted at twelve and after a few months of staying at my new family’s home on the reservation, I went with them to a state sweatier than the average Reddit user, California. Long story short, both of my caretakers, whom I referred to as Uncle and Auntie because they could never be my parents, died. Leaving me in the care of their older son, who I call cousin. I’m not stupid enough to give up any real names, so I’ll call him Brick, cause he’s as dumb as one. He was in his early 20s when he was tasked with taking care of me and is the world’s worst excuse for a babysitter.
I’m almost always alone at the apartment, with him only coming by to drop off supplies and stay for a few hours so the neighbors don’t get too worried. Unless I get in trouble at school, then he’d suddenly give a shit. It's useful because he doesn't about the gory stuff I look at, but some display of interest would be nice. Oh well, ninety percent of the population sucks so he’s just part of the majority. Now, with that said, you’ll be able to understand the perfect storm that led me here. During my time on the deep web, I found a particular website that caught my eye. They had new footage relatively consistently and they were the easiest for me to access since I didn't go too far into the dark web, especially with all the honey pots lying around.
I even bought a couple of files for myself to study and admire. One thing irritated me though, the cameraman. He was always sobbing, breathing, shaking, or some combination of those. It seriously killed the vibe of the killings. Something I commented on under many videos, often saying I would do a better job filming. A choice that in hindsight was me asking to end up in one of those recordings. I didn't think anything of it at the time. I was mostly the only one who commented but I was sure they wouldn't care. I was embarrassingly wrong.
I was staying up like usual, but it was past one AM on a school night, and back then that was a lot so I tried to sleep. Closing my eyes, tossing and turning, the works. I had just started drifting off when I heard the front door open. I remained calm but immediately found it weird since Brick never showed up this late. The thuds of the individual's feet grew louder as they got closer to my bedroom. I tried to convince myself it wasn't a stranger, especially since they got in with ease, but I knew that was wishful thinking.
They hummed as they opened my door. My dumbass had left it unlocked. I remained on my side, trying to look like I was asleep. They turned on the flashlight of their phone, shining it in my face. It was hard but I stayed still while they traced it over my features. I could tell they were smiling as they clicked their tongue.
“Heh, I knew it was a brat,” they whispered to themselves, pulling tangles out of my hair. Something I struggled not to groan from. They pulled up the hair over my ear and got so close spit got on my ear lobe.
“I know you’re awake kid,” they murmured, putting a blade to my neck. I let them grab my shoulder and move me onto my back, I knew how to fight but I wasn't about to take that big a risk with the position they had me in.
“You think you’re so cool saying you can do better than our guy.” they snickered, kneeling, their flashlight still shining in my face.
“Do you seriously believe that?” they questioned, moving the light away.
“Yeah, I do.” I stood my ground, they might have been intimidating but I wasn't gonna let that stop me from being honest.
“I wouldn't sound like I’m gonna piss myself every time it gets gory. I’m confident I could get better footage too, getting up close is something I’ve fantasized about.”
They clicked their tongue again and ran their finger over the bridge of my nose.
”Well, I know you’re a big fan of what we do, and you’re confidence makes me think you got something to back those claims up, so how’d you like a deal?”
I was surprised by how civil they were being aside from the touching and weapon against my throat.
“What kind of deal?” I asked, for all I knew this guy wanted me to lick their feet or some weird shit like that. They placed a finger underneath my eye, tracing a half moon with their nail.
“You have till this Friday to film a video of you killing an animal and put it on a flash drive that I’ll pick up here. If it impresses me and the crew we’ll hire ya with a handsome salary.” They began, moving their hand down to my cheek.
“But if you don't show, or it doesn't meet our standards, then I’m fucking up one of the parts of your face.” They warned, pinching my skin harshly.
“And if I say no to this deal?”
They put their hand over my mouth, scratching my lips.
“That’s cute, if you say no I’ll just slit your throat.” they grinned.
“Or rip it open with my teeth if you got a preference,” they smirked, before running their tongue across their sharp teeth.
“Okay, since I have no choice I’ll go with it, but I’m telling you now I can give you something way better than what you likely expect of me.” I prefaced, looking into their sunken eyes. They scratched my scalp, including the side of my head that was shaved.
“Good choice, I’ll be back to pick it up and if you're not here I’ll assume you don’t have the video. I genuinely wish you luck, because you’ll need it.” they removed the blade from my neck and walked away. I sat still for a few minutes in the dark, processing what had happened and wondering how they got into my apartment with such ease. I was confident I could blow their sniveling excuse of a cameraman out of the water, but I was worried about the people I was getting caught up with.
Sure, I had been on a lot of gore sites over the years but I was always just watching and occasionally commenting. Compared to most in the scene I wasn't much of a threat. I could defend myself and have contemplated killing for years but I hadn't murdered anyone or worse. Plus, I am part of way too many targeted groups to not be constantly at risk. Teenage, fem-leaning, two-spirit, indigenous kid with trauma? Yeah, I might as well be walking sign screaming “Hate crime me”.
So yeah, there was a lot to worry about. Regardless, I couldn't let that fear hold me back. I had a job to do and a group of sickos to appease. The next morning was rough, I got no sleep cause I’d spent all night brainstorming. I barely mustered the energy to change and drank straight mouthwash instead of brushing my teeth. Slogging onto the bus with drool on my cheek, I went to the back like usual. No one sat there cause, the seats were extra worn down, and I scared off anyone who attempted to with my active, rabies-infected bitch face. That day was different though.
I blanked on his name and where I knew him from, but I recognized his wavy hair and prominent curved nose. He glanced at each seat on the bus, before somehow settling on my area. He tried to give me space but ultimately seated himself beside me after realizing it was the only spot that didn't look like it would give him cancer. I glared at him as I did with everyone, but it didn't phase him.
“You know you could pick anywhere else right?” I murmured. He stared at the floor, then at me.
“I’m aware, but a few months ago I started a mission to sit on every part of this bus, and this is the last place.” he smiled, his lips softly curving at the sides.
“What’s the point of that?”
His mouth moved into a more neutral position, but his eyes kept smiling.
“I just thought it would be neat to see the same place from a bunch of different perspectives.” he took out his phone and snapped a photo from the point of view where he was sitting. Maybe my sleepiness made my bitch face less effective, cause he hadn't shown a hint of fear, which kind of annoyed me.
“That’s cool I guess, but I wouldn't do that if I were you. I’ve done some back here alone that would make your skin crawl.” in hindsight my attempt at unnerving him just made me sound like a pervert, which is probably why he held back laughter. Trying to hide a chuckle by clearing his throat.
“Hey, it's not my business what you do, no matter how Haram it is. It’s your life so that’s between you and whatever you believe in. Just don’t shake hands with me.” he joked, playfully putting his hands up. Strangely, I remembered his name at that moment.
“Oh shit, you’re Abdul! We have art together.” I sat up, haphazardly slamming my hand down on my leg.
“Uh yeah, I’ve seen some of your paintings, they’re pretty cool. I like the way you texture them, I’m trying to work on that.” he complimented, seeming more weirded out by my sudden energy than my accidental insinuation. I felt a little stupid for yelling his name but decided not to dwell on it.
“Thanks, you’re stuff is nice, and you’re good at shading.”
He stretched his arms while thanking me. We talked for a few more minutes, taking jabs at each other throughout. Turns out he was better at being an asshole than his artsy charismatic appearance made me think. The thing setting our insults apart being that you could tell he was a loving person underneath. It was the nicest conversation I had with anyone in a while. Though he could tell I was tired so he quieted down, letting me sleep, waking me when we got to school. We went our separate ways until the last two periods we shared. All that time, I spent my remaining energy plotting how I was going to handle the video. What I’d kill, record with, and how to dispose of the evidence. It was a lot to consider, but through three classes I devised a plan.
I’d find a stray around my apartment complex and take it out in my room. Record it on a portable camera since I broke the ones on my phone, no, I will not be answering how that happened. Then once I had my footage I’d put the body in a trash bag, throw it in the complex’s garbage, and clean the blood off my floor. It didn't seem like Brick would come by so he wasn't a factor I thought I’d have to consider. The plan was almost too easy, but I decided to believe in Occam’s razor. I got so lost in thought that by the time I reached Art, which was my second-to-last period, I didn't process that we were moving seats.
“She called your name,” Abdul reminded me. Our teacher placed us next to each other at our four-person table. The two girls sitting with us were already friends, so I didn't bother to say anything, but I was interested in talking to him more.
“So, what do you think of this assignment?” He shrugged, taking out his sketchbook.
“I’m not that good at drawing people, but the idea of combining two people’s faces into a portrait seems interesting. Any ideas on who you’ll pick?”
“Probably the members of the music duo Brain Tumor, they’re my favorite artists and they both look weird as hell.”
“Wow way to talk about your favorites, if that’s what you say about them I can‘t imagine what you have to say about me.” he joked, pulling up reference pictures.
“First, it’s not an insult, second I don’t have anything to say about you. Brain and Tumor have features and styles that make them stand out. Sure they’re ugly, but it just adds to their visual charm. Hot people are boring, there’s nothing to pick at.” I explained, unzipping my bag.
“Oh, so you’re saying you think I’m hot.”
His comment wasn’t serious but it kind of got to me.
“Shit, that’s not what I meant, I was trying to say you’re boring. All hot people are boring, but not all boring people are hot, okay?” I explained, flipping to a clean page.
“Alright, but if I’m so bland then why talk to me?”
I hesitated, contemplating how much of a dick I was gonna be.
“Because it means you probably need some spice in your life, which I can provide.”
He began sketching a head on his paper.
“I like spices, but I feel like you’re the kind of person to dump a cabinet’s worth onto me.”
I flicked my pencil over to his side of the desk, putting on a mocking grin.
“Aww, you scared I’m gonna get you into trouble?”
He picked up the pencil and started using it, putting his on my side.
“No, ‘cause I’m good at setting boundaries. I’m more concerned that you’ll get annoyed with how unafraid of you I am.”
I stared at him for a moment, I hadn't expected to hear that.
“Jeez, man you didn't have to read me like that.”
He shrugged, observing the red paint from past projects that lay on my pencil.
“It's not hard to figure out, just this morning you were trying to push me away on the bus. Lucky, or unlucky, for you I want you to have a friend and you seem like a fun person.”
“Wait are you saying I have no friends?” I squinted at him.
“Well, do you?”
I didn't answer.
“If your response is silence I suggest you take up my offer.”
I was stunned, to be honest. No one had offered to be my friend since 6th grade, and that didn't last long. Of course, I accepted it, but for the rest of the period, there was an awkwardness in my mind. As pathetic as it sounds I wasn't used to others genuinely enjoying my company like he did. Which was partly by design cause I get joy out of scaring people away, but still. I forgot how it felt to have conversations about normal things like art. He had such a nice smile too, usually when I see a grin I want to slap it off, but I liked his. His voice was also nice, it’s hard to describe what in particular but it was easy on the ears.
Okay, I’m starting to get off-topic. I’ll skip to the important part. Toward the end of class, he started talking about how he was interested in filmmaking and got a portable video camera as a gift at last year’s Eid. He didn't have it on him, but he showed me a picture.
“Heh, that’s funny, I bought the same one a month ago.” I pointed out.
“Yeah, it's a popular model, I’m still getting the hang of it though cause I’m so used to using my phone.”
“Well, maybe I could bring you over to my place or vice versa after school and I can help you out.” I suggested.
He smiled, putting his phone back in his pocket.
“I thought you said you’ve only had it for a month? You know I can always look up tutorials from trained professionals.” he reminded me with a notable smugness that I'd used with him before.
“Well those guys are stuffy and I’m a fast learner.”
He redirected his attention back to his page, picking his pencil up.
“Alright, I suggest we go somewhere public instead. You’re not exactly the kind of person I want to bring home to my parents right away. Plus they always need to meet my friends and their guardians before I hang out at their home.”
I gave an exaggerated sigh, stretching my back.
“Aw man, looks like we can’t get high in my murder pit during our first hangout.”
He didn't respond for a solid few seconds.
“Wait, you do know I'm joking right?”
He shrugged, the smile in his eyes appearing again.
“I mean, one of those things is a little less believable than the other.” he snickered, and I laughed with him.
We set up a time and a date, which is where I screwed myself. He ended up being busy with projects from his other classes and family which just left us with Friday, the same day I had to submit the video. Now, did I tell him I wouldn't be able to make it? No, of course not, because I decided to be stupid and even more overconfident. I said that I’d one hundred percent be able to hang out with him after school like I didn't have a mutilator who was going to drop by my place at an unknown time.
The rest of the day went over fine but that bad timing led me to feel like a dick later. When I got home I was able to write out my plan, even sketching a few specifics of what I’d do. It was more exciting than when I’d been brainstorming, but this is when the gravity of the situation began to set in. When I said I’d fantasized about killings I meant it. I mean my teddy with twenty-five stab wounds should say enough. Regardless this would be the first time real blood was on my hands.
It made me feel powerful, but a little afraid. I’ve heard stories of people thinking that it would be an awesome experience and then feeling like shit. I doubted I’d be one of those people but still. Plus, I didn't exactly trust the guy who gave me this job. There was a good chance that this whole situation was rigged and they’d kill me no matter how good the video was. Or worse turn me into the feds and expose my collection. Honestly, if that happened I’d probably eat a shot to avoid going to jail. Wait, can I say that on this platform? Okay to the mods, that was a joke, I want to live a long life. Ugh, I’m doing a terrible job of staying on track. The point is there was a lot up in the air despite it being a matter of life or death.
I knew I’d go through with it but it was still a lot less straightforward than it initially seemed. I wracked my brain to remember where most of the cats stayed and tried to come up with a good way to lure one without raising suspicion. This also proved harder than first thought because I didn't think to account for the cat man, an old guy who lived alone and fed all the cats in our dingy complex while also housing a few. Knowing how obsessive he was he’d probably notice if one of them disappeared. Then again not all the cats return consistently or at all. It makes more sense that he’d think one of them was run over rather than slaughtered. It was getting late again so I rested my head for a moment, a bad move cause I ended up falling asleep at my desk. Not even changing out of the clothes I’d worn before, I woke up late and barely caught the bus the next morning.
I went to my usual spot but Abdul had already taken it. He patted the area next to it, which he’d covered in a towel, a smart move knowing how nasty it was. People gave me a few dirty looks as normal, which I smiled at. I stretched, my mind slightly less out of it than the previous morning.
“Uh, you do realize that-”
“Yeah, I know I’m wearing the same clothes.”
Abdul looked me up and down, his eyes remaining soft, but with a mix of concern and judgment. He set his backpack down and took off his sweater handing it to me.
“Dude what are you-”
“Look I don't know what led to you not being able to change but I think you should at least have a fresh top.”
I was surprised he was offering me something to wear but I took it.
“Uh, thanks, I’ll change into it later.”
He nodded as I put it in my backpack.
“You know you didn't have to do that.” I reminded him.
“Well there’s a lot of stuff I don’t have to do, but I do it because I want to, and I wanted to help you out.”
He smiled, his face still warmer than an Arizona summer. I got a strange feeling in my chest at that moment, I still can’t tell if it was good or bad.
“Well, thanks, I'll give it back to you tomorrow.”
We talked a little more and he mentioned something that caught my attention.
“Have you heard about all the animals that have been turning up dead?”
My eyes widened with surprise.
“No, I haven't, when did you hear about that?”
He pulled on his long-sleeve shirt.
“My sister said her friend who works at a shelter noticed a bunch of animals were getting adopted by people around the same time, and since then gore videos with them have been showing up. She found out through her co-worker who was emailed it by some random creep.”
I covered my mouth and looked away to hide the smile growing on my face. He had just given me the perfect cover-up without knowing. Now if I killed an animal people had an entire violent ring to connect it to instead of me! I stayed quiet for a minute because I could tell he’d likely see through any phony sad sounds I made.
“Oh wow, that’s awful, do you think they’ll ever find out the people behind it?”
He sighed, running his hand through his wavy hair.
“I hope so, for now, all we can do is pray that no more animals get hurt.”
I couldn't contain my grin as he said that so sincerely like animals and people didn't die constantly and that taking down one group would somehow stop the issue.
“Is there some joke I don’t get?” he furrowed his brow.
“Uh, no, sorry I smile when nervous.”
His gaze softened again, and he didn't press further.
His bringing up the animal killings ended up being the exact push I needed to get my hands dirty. I’d spent the entire day before planning so it was time to put that plan into action. I stole some cat treats that the cat man had laid out and spread them around my apartment which was on the bottom floor. Waiting for one of them to take the bate outside my window was pretty boring but one of them came after a few minutes. A scraggly brown and black cat with a tuft of fur missing on one side of his head. It's messed up but I felt like a little less of an asshole for taking him in since he looked like he was already struggling. I scooped him up and he didn't attempt to fight back.
“Hey there buddy” I waved, feeding him some more food. His eyes had a lot of crust on them, it was kinda gross but I don’t have the right to say with how often I wash my jeans. After a minute or two he let me pet him. I knew making any kind of attachment was bad but I thought it was the right thing to do so he’d fall into a sense of security. I was just about to take him into my room when the door opened.
“Hey, I’m back with groceries!” my shithead cousin announced with two plastic bags in his hands. He looked down to see me with the cat, his eyebrows raising.
“Aw come on, you know we can’t afford a pet.”
He groaned placing the bags on a table and unloading them.
“I know, but he doesn't look like he’s got a lot of life in him I at least want to help him feel better before he kicks the bucket!”
Brick rolled his eyes, putting the cereal box on top of the fridge
“Jeez, did you even think about what diseases he might have? His eyes look puffy what if he has something that can get you sick?”
He had valid concerns which was surprising since he’s usually stupid, but I was still annoyed with him.
“I’m sure he’s fine, I’ll even try to wash him, just please let me hold onto him for a little.”
He folded his arms looking down at us.
“Have you even named him?”
I froze for a second, before using the first thing that came to mind, which ended up being pretty awful knowing my plans.
“Cash cow.” I blurted, awkwardly patting his head.
“Honestly that’s better than what I was expecting. I was sure you’d pick ‘Hellspawn Mcgee’ or something else corny.”
He meant to make fun of me but honestly, I would have named him that if I had more time.
“Ugh, anyway I got those dumb chips you like.”
He then pulled out a bag of the wrong chips.
“Dude those are the wrong ones, this is the third time you’ve mixed up the flavors.”
He threw them at me, scaring the cat slightly.
“Well, I pay for it so you shouldn't be so picky. Anyway, while I was in line I picked up something you might be into.”
He then tossed me a trashy teen magazine. One of my least favorite sorry excuses for an influencer on the cover.
“This is a joke, right?”
I couldn't believe my own adopted brother gave such little shit in my interests.
“I don't know, you decided to start being a girl for real this time so I thought the makeup tips on page ten would help you out.”
I scrunched my face at his comment.
“Dude I’ve been this way for years, just because I started wearing more makeup and dresses doesn't mean I’m more of a girl than when I didn't. I know you won’t get the two-spirit thing but come on.”
He shrugged, seeing me done with me even though he’d just shown up.
“Yeah well hey I’m trying. Anyway, just so you know a friend of mine is coming here Friday.”
My heart stopped.
“Wait why here? You live elsewhere why can’t you assholes go there or their place!”
He slammed his fist on the table.
“Will you shut the fuck up!”
He screamed with a phrase I’d grown numb to.
“I don't know, to be honest, something about wanting to move into this complex and this being a way to scout it out. I’m just letting you know now so you don’t act like a complete freak.”
“Jokes on you I’ll piss in whatever shitty beer you bring just cause you said that!”
I yelled back raising my voice higher than his. He face-palmed before putting the plastic bags in the drawer under the sink.
“Whatever, you and your ketamine-addict-looking cat have fun,” he told me while seating himself on the couch. I picked up the cat and walked into the bathroom to clean it. I closed the door and placed him in the dry tub. Using a small disposable mouthwash cup I got a little bit of water. I hadn't had a pet before so I wasn't sure how to approach the task. I dipped my fingers in the water and carefully pet it while pouring s small bit down his back. Any other cat would fight back but he just made pissed-off noises without doing anything.
I scrapped my old shampoo bottle and kneaded it into his thin fur. His skin was bumpy and dry beneath the hair so scrubbing it was uncomfortable. I made sure to avoid getting soap in its eyes but I did pull away some of the crust on its lids. His pupils were so clouded I was surprised that he could see at all, making me feel even more sure that he would be on its way out with or without me.
After drying him I set him on a beat-up shirt I wore when modifying clothes. He sunk his claws into it a few times, playing with a loose string. I ignored him for the rest of the night, hopping into the shower and changing for bed. His meows woke me up a few times but I tuned it out after a while, reminding myself that he wouldn’t be my cat for long.
The next day was Thursday and there wasn't a second that passed by where the weight of the murder I’d have to commit didn't weigh on me. I seriously shot myself in the foot by taking care of that scruffy, pubic hair pile. I was supposed to be hyped about killing it, after all, I’d dreamed and seen way worse than what I was going to do. Yet once I got home and started setting up I felt grosser with each step. I decided to record it in my bathroom instead of my bedroom so it would be harder to connect to me. I set down a few fabric scraps and a worn-out beach towel, placing it all inside a tub for easier cleanup later.
“Okay, I guess it's time,” I mumbled to myself. I brought the cat in and placed it down, setting up my camera once it was comfortable. I also wore my most generic clothes in addition to a mask, putting my hair in a bun for sanitation. When I saw the flicker of red showing that the camera was on I felt I was dreaming. I smiled, excited that I’d get to live out my violent desires. Yet, when I looked down at its pathetic frame and confused expression those urges left me.
I rationalized what I was doing, reminding myself how many animals die all the time and that I’d been forced into this, but it didn't help much in the end. I won’t get into it but under the pressure of impressing the group Cash Cow didn't go out as fast as I would have liked for a first task. Getting rid of the evidence was especially rough, the textures were pretty nasty, to put it mildly. It was surreal watching the blood go down the tub drain and gradually drip off my hands as I rinsed them. I couldn't conjure a single thought the entire time I cleaned it up.
Whether I was wringing out the clothes or putting the remains in plastic bags, it didn't matter. All I could focus on was the task at hand, with hints of disgust along the way. I ended up finishing at three AM. My hands were wrinkled and shook once I settled. I won’t deny that during the murder I didn't hate it. Slashing into something was fun and it made me feel strong. Still, it wasn't nearly as fulfilling as I expected it to be. Part of it was guilt, but it was mostly disappointment. I’d built it up for years and it wasn't earth shatteringly good or bad.
Overall, I expected to feel more, but it just left me hollow with an uncomfortable itch. There was no way I’d ever be able to see the tub the same way, hell I don’t think I’ll ever use it again. Luckily I almost always shower anyway so it's not too big of a deal. I watched a few horror game videos, trashed everything, changed and went to bed.
My scalp hurt like a bitch the morning since I kept my hair in that stupid bun. Despite getting less sleep than the past two days I held myself together a bit better in the morning. I brushed my teeth, changed, and had some fried bread before getting on the bus. Regardless I looked like complete shit and struggled to slump into my seat.
“Rough night?” Abdul asked
“Uh, yeah.” I quietly responded looking to the floor.
He frowned, looking at me with concern.
“You can talk about it if you're comfortable,” he assured me. I contemplated giving him a thinly veiled metaphor or vague explanation so he'd comfort me but stopped myself before my mouth could run a muck. He wouldn't be able to do much of anything and I don’t like opening up.
“Uhm, thanks but it's something I have to deal with alone.”
He nodded, respecting my boundaries.
“You know, I understand if you can’t hang out today it seems like you have a lot going on.”
I avoided eye contact with him as he spoke. For once I was feeling hints of guilt toward a person. I wanted to spend time with him, but I knew that I wasn't in the state to do that.
“Yeah, I think it’ll have to wait, I’m-” I cut myself off before apologizing. A fact about me that should surprise no one is that I hate apologizing. Even when I do feel kinda bad the act fills me with embarrassment.
“You what?” he asked, his eyes telling me that he knew what I was going to say.
“I’m emotionally not great.” I spat out in an admittedly poor attempt to get out of saying sorry. As always he remained calm but I could tell he saw through me.
“Okay, like I said I understand, whatever it is I hope you feel better.”
I told him thank you and we didn't speak for the rest of the day. At home I changed into more comfortable clothes and brushed my teeth. Unfortunately, I wasn't bouncing back from killing nearly as much as I expected.
“It wasn't even that bad! That thing was on its last legs anyway.” I grumbled to myself, smacking my forehead. I was feeling worse than when I did it which is weird. I ended up spontaneously decorating a ratty tie from the bottom of an accessory drawer to distract myself. It helped me get my mind off things, for a little. I had zero plan, just wanting to make something needlessly complex. Hours that felt like minutes passed and soon it was covered in patches, frills, and beads. I just tried it on when I heard the front door open.
“Man, that shit was wild!” I heard Brick laugh groggily. I didn't have to see or smell him to know he’d gotten lit. I rolled my eyes, closing my bedroom door.
“Hey, who’s there?” his friend asked, seemingly referring to me.
“Oh, that’s my little sis, don’t mind her she’s just on her emo shit!” he joked, which pissed me off for the petty reason that I didn't even listen or dress emo.
“Hey, that’s alright with me, I went through one of those phases,” they responded, their words less slurred than my cousin’s.
I fucked up and forgot to lock it when I closed it so they were able to swing it open, almost smacking my desk.
“Hey emo girl!” they waved as Brick haphazardly pulled them back.
“Okay, man, seriously I think she wants to be left alone.”
The way his friend looked at me made me uncomfortable. Like they’d snap my neck if I pissed them off. They clicked their tongue while stepping through the door frame.
“Alright, but I gotta say calling her an emo is inaccurate, they look like they watch gore and most emos just say they do.” they flashed a sharp toothy grin. At that moment I began to connect the dots.
“Easy, she’ll get pissy with you dude, now come on.” Brick warned tugging their opened button pushed him away. They looked me dead in the eyes.
“I don’t think she minds, in truth, I feel like we’ll have a lot to discuss later.” they smiled again, finally walking back into the living room. A chill ran up my spine when I saw them. The sharp teeth, New York accent, unsettling gaze, that motherfucker was the person who recruited me! They were able to get into my place so easily cause my dumbass cousin probably gave them a spare key or the opportunity to make one, and now they were a room away from me!
I dug my hands into my pillow as I contemplated what to do, no matter what happened next, I knew it was gonna be a rough visit.

the seller said i returned the wrong item. they said the computer looks like one of theirs but its not.
i have been a heavy amazon buyer since ebay stopped answering their phones back around when the covid started.
i buy a lot of $300 to $1000 items every month and maybe lots of cheaper things every week. i did the math on my returns the last time i felt like they were harassing me about a return and found i only returned like 3% of the stuff i buy and maybe 5% of the money i spend. i tend to keep the $40 items that i should return due to the amount of hassle it is to do a return these days.
anyways, i reach out to amazon and they said i had to contact the seller. i contact the seller and they told me i send the wrong pc back. i did not send the wrong pc back. they say that the service tag doesnt match what they sent me. i am not budging on this.
amazon said they will refund me once 48 hrs has passed if they still havent given me the refund.
this stinks since i buy so much from them, but all the conviences of doing business with amazon is dwindeling. and i never once even looked into the books, streaming services that came with my prime membership
i anticipate amazon to take the sellers word over mine.
i feel they mislead me about the return, it says refunded but its not refunded, they only refunded .01 according to amazon, but according to my bank they didnt even refund that.
i maybe only paid $500 for this pc, but i am not taking a loss for what ever incompentence is going on there. i had to return it due to it constantly haveing bsod, i even bought a new ssd and ram for it out of my pocket but this made no change, so i put their parts back in and shipped it back.
this pc was for a small business and the owner was getting very upset with this ordeal and we just got another pc from some where else and chalked it up to too good of a deal and now we see why, so i sent it back
i am prepared to do this charge back thing i keep hearing about, but how does that work? are people lying to the bank acting like its fraud? like they didnt make the charges? i clearly made the charge, and they were supposed to do the the return and said they did but didnt. is this grounds for a charge back as far as the bank will be concerned?
will amazon block my account?
perhaps this situation will be the end of amazon for me, its been bad service for about 2 years now anyways.

Hello Sky players! I need your opinion on my experience, because I'm not sure if I should keep playing or not.
I went into this game completely blind - the only thing I knew was that it has stunning visuals. I decided to try it when it was made available on Steam, and I've played the early access version. Now, the graphics really are stunning - it's really fun to fly around and watch the beautiful landscapes and creatures appear in my sight.
pretty :0
However, there were some parts of the game that made my Sky experience less enjoyable. They are:

• Bugs: I'm aware this is Early Access and these will most likely be fixed as time passes - but some are really annoying. Sky is multiplayer and it's nice to see others fly out and about, but not when it forces me to watch their cutscenes every single time they're triggered. That, and players can solve puzzles I haven't unlocked yet, which makes it more difficult to enjoy the story at my own pace.
• Controls: the camera constantly autofocuses on things. It's giving me headaches, so hopefully this is also something that will get fixed. We also cannot rebind keyboard controls, and the Friends menu is confusing to me.
• Players activating cutscenes/puzzles: if the camera autofocusing didn't make it difficult enough to travel through the worlds of Sky, other players triggering cutscenes that the game forced me to watch did. When I got to the mountain to climb to get to the Eye of Eden, some players triggered the "opening door" cutscene at the end of the path and my character couldn't move, so I got hit by falling rocks, losing Light - this is just one of the many times it happened.
• Microtransactions: there's lots of things you can only get with real money. I was disappointed when I found out that even in the Cinnamoroll event, I could only get two objects from the shop with in-game currency. All the rest has to be paid for with real money (unless I missed something, because I could barely tell where the event shop was).

More personal reasons are:

• Customization options: now this is something I was really hoping I could enjoy - I love customizing characters, I could spend hours doing that. I saw some Sky players with really cool skins, and wanted to see what I could do. When I started the game, however, I only had three hair options to choose from - I couldn't even change the color of my cape. This really disappointed me, since I was hoping I could at least get some basic customizing options. I have to go around collecting light and doing quests to get one cape colour.
• Quests: I've finished the main story, and now all I do every day is do daily quests and interact with NPCs. Daily quests feel too long to complete (unless there's a way to get to the top of the Vault of Knowledge that I'm not aware of); I've spoken to an NPC who told me to go help a spirit and showed me the location once, then never showed it again. That spirit's lost forever, since my Light won't find them either.
• Lack of previews: there's a lot of grinding to do to get one new item, and if I have no preview of what it will look like on my character, I can't be sure that I'll like it. Colored capes, for example - or the new Cinnamoroll coffee cup ornament. I didn't know it was something my character would put on their head, I thought it was an item to put in my nest. There was no indication that it would be an ornament for my character (that or I'm dumb and didn't see it, but as a new player, I understand few things about this game).
• Lack of info/directions: I understand that Sky is a game that offers a world to explore, but when my only guide is my "light" and I have no idea what's happening, I can't enjoy the story as much. The lack of explanation as to what was happening in the Eye of Eden was particularly annoying; I went around giving Light to fallen ones and trying not to die, but eventually ended up dying anyways since I couldn't reach the place my Light was guiding me to. Then came a few cutscenes, and sitting through minutes-long cutscenes of birds flying and happy music when I didn't understand anything wasn't entertaining. That this is only my opinion, tough - I'm aware that some people enjoy stories that give more space to the player's interpretation.

Now, Sky is a wonderful game. It's gorgeous, I love how many options you get to interact with friends (I love hugging them :D) and how many emotes you get. I really love the different places you can go to and how fun flying is - I've read the Steam page for the game too, and I know the devs are planning to make new players' experience easier, fix bugs, etc. I'd love to keep playing this game, but if the aspects I mentioned remain, I don't think I will.
So, I wanted to ask Sky players - are these constants in your mobile gameplay experience too, or are they only part of the Early Access PC experience? I'd love to know your opinions.
TL;DR - I love Sky's aesthetic and graphics, but the bugs, excessive grinding and wonky controls are keeping me from enjoying the game. Is Sky this way in other devices too, or is it only because I'm playing Early Access?

Have been thinking of this, but there are missions in survival shows that end up not mattering all that much considering the outcome of the show, the edit other contestants get, and all of that, so I wondered about times when a group lost but in the end, got more benefit from the mission.
My example would be Chamber Five team in I-Land S1, where they were divided into cool concept (Flame On) and cute concept (Chamber Five). Sunoo chose Heeseung, Jungwon, Jake and Taki for Chamber Five, while K, Ni-ki, Hanbin, Sunghoon, Daniel, and Jay were on Flame On.
In the midst of practices, there were eliminations, when Taki sadly was eliminated because of votes. This meant that C5 had 4 members while FO had 6, so they had to pass one member to the other team, and Sunoo chose Sunghoon for his work ethic and talent.
The contestants (minus Sunoo, Taki, Hanbin) were better at cool, badass concepts, so the cute concept was a struggle, and in the end Flame On won because of the better exectution and the clear confidence in the concept.
Still, I believe that they lost the war because in the end, the producers eliminated Hanbin that round (which is a whole convo) and Chamber Five ended up being the better liked song, that showed this new side of some contestants while also getting more entertaining footage of the teammates bonding. The most memorable part of Flame On was Ni-ki getting his moment to shine, but in general, the C5 team was more interesting because of the struggle and bonding.
Which I think was a push towards settling what the final line up would look like, mostly on the producers' side of things.
Chamber Five lost the mission but that team is 5/7 of Enhypen right now, so I think they won the war and benefitted more overall in the end.
I think about this pivotal event constantly, so what are other moments that feel like this in survival shows?

I’ve recently been wanting to get into “making” my own clothes and was thinking of buying a machine until I remembered that my grandparents love old junk! (I’m using junk endearingly because of my lovely grandmother🥹<3 we love our local “junk” shops lol) my grandparents own several old (probably vintage) sewing machines and told me i could have one. I was wondering if you all could give me pointers on what to look for in them, broken parts/parts that can be replaced, if there’s anything that could suggest a working machine, etc. I have no clue what brands the tables they have are but I’m planning on visiting in the morning so I can reply to comments and update from there. :) TIA!!
editing to add the tables I’m thinking of getting are all the flip out style or the type where the machine is hidden in the middle. They do have what i believe to be a skeleton of one of the old singer sewing tables with the foot pedal but they use it as a bedside table, don’t think they want to part with that one and don’t think it’s useable considering it’s just a table with a funny pedal lol. I’m trying to research but I’m very new to all this, is it even worth trying to use an old table like this if they do work?