I'm so sorry but I'm tired of people pretending Cassie is a good person because she really wasn't and in my opinion she was worse than Tony
this is in no way me trying to say that tony wasn't a bad person cuz he was but he was less of a bad person
also btw im not saying that she had a eating dissorder for attention or that her eating dissorder was fake. eating dissorders are very hard and its sad what she was going through but there are some things that have to be said about it
tony was a bad guy but he had his moments and avengely became a better person, he learn from his mistakes and bettered himself but sadly i cant say the same about cassie
when we first meet her in episode one she seems like this funny and nice girl with some problems. she was brought to a party to fuck sid so he would lose his virginity .this is kind of sad. even before we meet her there is said she had problems with eating which is later at the party further shown when she immediately went to the kitchen to sored every this to look at.
even in the first episode the drama starts, when on the trampoline with Sid she tells him that if he wants to fuck her he has to do it fast because she just took a lot of pills.she passes out and they have to steal a car to drive her to a hospital for to then when they get there her to be totally fine.
In episode 2 we find out what her living situation is, which is not ideal. Her parents are dismissive and only think about sex, but compared to the rest, she has one of the best home situations of the group. (this btw isnt her falt but i just wanted to point that out)
she asked sid out which he was clearly not into but he said yes. cassie reminds him of their date but sid tells her that he can't go because he is grounded, but that wasn't good anof for her she tells him the "iconic" line "i didn't eat for 3 days so i could be lovely" that is guilt tripping at its finest. its not her fault she has an eating disorder but using it to make people feel bad for you is just crazy. she asks him if she can come over any ways and he says it isn't a good idea but she comes over any way. to find that sid wasn't there. when he returns home she asks him where he was and he tells her he was with michelle (which was the stupidest thing he could of said at that moment and wasn't even the reason why he snuck out. she gets mad at him and slaps him (with in her defends it was a shitty thing of him to do). the next day she overhears sid calling michelle to make up, she gets up sad and tries to kill herself by overdosing but fails and ends up in a mental hospital. people gave sid the faule which is just not fair. in the Effy episode cassie and sid meet up at the cafe where they share a cute moment and kiss but than he gets a call from michelle because she is worried about tony and thinks he might need help he tells her he really needs to leave and cassie gets upset THIS is there lasts iteraction befor they move(accept for them meeting up on the park bench)....THIS was her reason to leave.....tony did need help and i was glad he did come. this was also the moment where tony realised that mabey somethings he does arent smart.
and dont get me started on season 2 her she was so mean to jal and why????.she was the reason why chris lost his house. she was also weirdly obsessed with chris even tho he had a girlfriend.she was so jealous of michelle and hated michelle even after sid and michelle broke up. when chris was in the hospital they told the doctors that she was his girlfriend. she was so rude about jal not telling chris that she's pregnant....like thats not any of your fucking business. jal is pregnant she decides when she tells him not cassie. then when cas and jal are in the hospital jal asks her what happened and she just ignores her. she finally tells jal that he took some pills but refuses to tell her what kind cuz "i dont tell him your secrets do i" like this isn't about secrets anymore hes fucking dying. she was the only one to be there when chris died and tried to call the hospital but when her phone didn't work she grabbed her stuff and left.not telling jal and not telling sid. just left. when her and sid where broken up she was sleeping with everyone she could find. overall she was a bad person. she had her redemption in season 7 but it was also minimal and soooo boring.
meanwhile after what happened with Effy, tony found out he was being a bad person and tried to change (but he got hit by a bus instead). ofc when he was recovering he mixed some things up like the thing with abigail but that wasnt his fault he just didnt remember eider abi or chelle so when abi told him "im your girlfriend" he ofc believed it. at the end he made up with every one and got back together with michelle. him and sid talked it out and the thing with maxxie was forgotten by him so never spoken about again.he did bad things but he always redeemed himself. the same can't be said about cassie. overal cassie was worse than tony , they were both manipulators but tony got a second chanse and took it and bettered himself. when cassie got that same chans she just looked at it and trew it in the trash
im fine with people who don't like tony i get it but what i don't like is that they than love cassie. she is so much worse and absolute the worst character of gen 1. but tell me your opinian

(If I mess up I apologize, English isn't my first language.) Don't get me wrong, men get dissed for making jokes about women but that's usually only with famous people because of cancel culture, but in my day-to-day life this is something that I notice.
I could go on and on with examples but I'll just give one- One time I was with my boyfriend and a group of his friends and they had been making S.A jokes, r**ist jokes, sexist jokes (a lot were towards me), ect. They somehow got on the topic of one of my past relationships. The guy was physically and mentally abusive and his friends were saying stuff like, "What'd you do to make him hit you?" and some jokes that I don't think I can say on here.
My boyfriend sort of meekly said, "That's not funny" but didn't really say anything else since they're all really close friends.
I just responded with, "See it is all men, I think we should just kill them all off"
I was joking like they had been the entire time but they all got pissed at me and were ranting about modern feminism lmao
They know I'm a feminist (I've posted abt going to protests for ending violence against women), so they made sure to point that out. They were saying that it's *so* hard to be a man, and all these women hating men (aka not wanting to date them) makes it so much harder. You probably get the jist of it.
So anyway I broke up with my boyfriend and I'm gonna be staying single until I'm in college. Hopefully dudes will be more mature by then. I'm honestly tired of the way men treat me. 👍
Also just for clarification feminism is women being EQUAL to men, not being ABOVE men. <3

F (25) from Asia. I met this Moroccan friend of mine last year in a travel app. (To be clear, this is not a dating app, this is for Solo Travelers)
We met couple of times while he was here, he was really nice and funny. Wanted to give him something when comes back again this year, any suggestions? (Just a simple token, not the expensive ones something that a Moroccan guy will appreciate)
Any suggestions? Thank you

My story:

• We dated for just over a year (she broke up with me a week after our one year)
• She told me the reasons were a) I was too giving and she didn't have the ability to give b) Her needs weren't being met
• After breaking up we met once to talk, once to give me my stuff back and then she contacted me again a week later that she found something and we met again
• We haven't spoken/seen each other since that last meeting on 4/23 (3 plus weeks ago) - at that time she told me she needed space & would speak to me when I have my surgery (having surgery on my leg)
• On 5/8 I met with my Dr. scheduled my surgery and texted her to tell her that I'm having my surgery (didn't tell her the date). The text I got back was thanks for letting her know/best of luck.
• About a week ago I muted her stories on Instagram so she knows I'm no longer viewing them
• This past Thursday she texted me that she knows we haven't really been speaking, she's "checking on me" and wanted to know the date of my surgery. A few back and forth texts and she told me she's happy there are no hard feelings/it was good to chat. I then asked if she'd like to meet for a drink/a walk in the near future and she said "yes"
• She moved two days ago

Questions:
Did she break no contact?
I was planning on sending her a text on Monday somewhat kitchy "You have a drink in your future this week, you can't say no!" with a funny gif of someone voting yes
Does the above seem like she's interested? Being kind?
Thanks in advance :)

Hey guys, I'm from out of the area and my girlfriend wants a car date at or near catasaqua because she lives there. Any ideas. Ideally somewhere with no people around. And before I have to say it I'm not planning any funny business. Thanks in advance.

My story:

• We dated for just over a year (she broke up with me a week after our one year)
• She told me the reasons were a) I was too giving and she didn't have the ability to give b) Her needs weren't being met
• After breaking up we met once to talk, once to give me my stuff back and then she contacted me again a week later that she found something and we met again
• We haven't spoken/seen each other since that last meeting on 4/23 (3 plus weeks ago) - at that time she told me she needed space & would speak to me when I have my surgery (having surgery on my leg)
• On 5/8 I met with my Dr. scheduled my surgery and texted her to tell her that I'm having my surgery (didn't tell her the date). The text I got back was thanks for letting her know/best of luck.
• About a week ago I muted her stories on Instagram so she knows I'm no longer viewing them
• This past Thursday she texted me that she knows we haven't really been speaking, she's "checking on me" and wanted to know the date of my surgery. A few back and forth texts and she told me she's happy there are no hard feelings/it was good to chat. I then asked if she'd like to meet for a drink/a walk in the near future and she said "yes"
• She moved two days ago

Questions:
Did she break no contact?
I was planning on sending her a text on Monday somewhat kitchy "You have a drink in your future this week, you can't say no!" with a funny gif of someone voting yes
Does the above seem like she's interested? Being kind?
Thanks in advance :)

In hindsight, I should have known something was wrong with The Caeles Academy of Acting.
Maybe the fact that it doesn't exist to the outside world.
This place prided itself on famous alumni it didn't actually name, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the best in the business.
It's what I wanted.
More than anything.
After enduring four years of high school with barely a semblance of a drama club (we met every month, and our teacher was an alcoholic), and countless failed auditions, I was ready to take my acting career seriously. I had one year.
According to my parents, I had one year to make a living from my passion.
If it didn't work out, I would be on the first plane back to Connecticut.
It's not like they didn't trust me. I think they were just scared I wouldn't be able to financially support myself. So, I got a job right out of high school and slipped a year. Drama schools are expensive, and college’s are cut-throat on who they take on. I found Caeles Academy by accident–or, I guess it found me?
After researching cheap drama classes, auditions, academy’s, literally anything to progress my career, an ad popped up.
Not exactly flashy.
Just a date, a time, and a promise that they only take the best. I ignored it, but throughout the week, I started getting more ads. Just the words, “IMPRESS US - - JOIN CAELES ACADEMY NOW.”
Followed by, “BE WITH THE BEST, AND BE THE BEST. JOIN THE S CLASS NOW.”
When I googled the academy, nothing came up.
I gave up, clicking on the ad, which sent me straight to an application form.
I filled in my details as more of a joke. But I wasn't expecting to get an email back. Again, it was a time, a date, and that exact same tagline: “Impress us.”
However, Caeles Academy was different from what I imagined.
I was expecting a university building, or at least some modern structure.
Judging from their marketing and ads, I figured they could at least afford decent premises. Though I was mistaken. When I stepped out of the Uber, I found myself staring at what looked like an abandoned office tower, a red-brick monolith in the middle of nowhere.
Which was crazy, because I swore a girl wearing a bikini had strode through the doors, with nothing but her phone, and a coffee tucked under her elbow.
According to the text sent from the academy, the auditioning rooms were on the third floor.
Tipping my head back, the checkerboard of broken windows didn't exactly instil confidence.
Neither did the clunky set of automatic doors that took a while to open.
It was a summer's day, and the heat was already baking through my dress, sweat sticky on the back of my neck.
I wanted to make a good impression, but the heels were a little over the top.
Though I had also seen a girl casually walk in wearing a two piece bikini.
“Well?”
Freddie’s voice made me jump. I forgot I was on the phone to him. I was excited the whole car-ride, already high on five coffees, and now I was silent.
If I perceived the ‘academy’ from an objective standpoint, it definitely looked like the perfect place to be brutally murdered. But my own personal opinion was it was.. okay.
“What's it like?”
I pretended not to see a rat scuttling under an old candy wrapper.
“It's… fine.”
“Just fine?”
I could hear the smirk in my friend’s tone. He couldn't wait to tell me it was a scam, and had been reminding me all week I was essentially willingly selling myself to the black market. I was stubborn, so, fine sounded better than my initial first impression.
Which was to turn around, walk away, and completely block the place from my memory.
Unfortunately, at that moment, I valued my pride over my awareness.
“It's… okay.” I said, trying to find positives. I was staring at a looming grey building with shattered windows and a resident rat living near the door. I had a hard time figuring out how the girl from earlier had just casually strode inside, barefoot too. I glanced down at the ground, immediately regretting it.
Like there weren't bits of chewing gum and grime stuck to the concrete.
“Huh.” Freddie said, his tone creeping into teasing territory. “You're really selling it.”
“It just looks like a building,” I muttered, my gaze glued to the rat, who looked a little too comfortable.
Maybe it was a pet.
I was getting progressively more infuriated the more I stared down this place. Judging from the decades old writing ingrained into the door, it used to be a dentist surgery. “What do you want me to say?” I wasn't even trying to hide the scorn from my voice. “It's a building that looks like an academy.”
“Can you send a picture?” Freddie asked, “Ooh, wait, I'll face-time you.”
“That's, uh, that’s not really necessary–”
I was cut off, suddenly, when a guy threw himself through the automatic doors, palms first. He took two stumbled steps forwards, one back, and lifted his head, half lidded eyes finding the sky, before dropping to his knees and heaving up pinkish liquid.
I could see him trying to hold it in, slamming his hands over his mouth, only for it to splurge through his fingers, showering the ground in greyish pink froth.
Like he'd downed a bottle of Pepto Bismol.
Inching towards him, I realized it was Pepto Bismol.
The stink made my own stomach churn.
“Missy?”
I found my voice. “Uh, can I call you back later?”
Before my friend could answer, I ended the call, slipping my phone in my pocket.
The guy was still heaving, coughing up globules of pink.
“Are you okay?”
The sound of my heels click-clacking on concrete made me cringe. The guy noticed, flinching away. Closer, and I could see his scraggly blonde hair.
He was handsome.
Without the bile spewing down his chin.
Early twenties, wearing a fitted white shirt now covered in streaks of bright pink. Part of me wanted to make a half-hearted joke, but getting even closer, so close I could smell his pepto-breath, I noticed he was trembling, his hands clenched into fists.
When I attempted to awkwardly pat him on the shoulder, he twisted around, so fast my morning coffee slithered its way back up my throat.
His eyes were wide, almost feral, studying me like a wild animal.
I noticed the whites of his pupils were red, like he'd burst a blood vessel.
Theatre kids were intense, though I had never met THIS kind of intense.
“Are you… going in there?” The guy’s voice was a child-like whimper I wasn't expecting.
It looked like he was slowly regaining clarity, staring down at his filthy shirt, his hands stained bright pink.
I nodded, uncertainly, offering him my water. “Yeah. Did you audition?”
He shoved it away, slapping himself in the face. “I… I don't know.”
“You… don’t know?”
Suddenly, it was like something had contorted in his expression, a switch being pulled. I wasn't expecting him to twist around so fast. The guy slowly cocked his head, his lips breaking into a grin. His eyes, however, stayed the same.
“Of course I've auditioned.” He said, with a laugh.
“It was the best experience of my life!" His mouth formed an almost mocking frown.
“Unfortunately, I didn't make the cut. Which is a real shame. I'm sure Caeles would have benefited from my talents.”
What was weird, is that his mouth was moving, but he wasn't even looking at me, frenzied eyes caught in an oblivion I couldn't see.
When he did look at me, his expression crumpled all over again.
Pepto jumped to his feet, brushing himself down.
I couldn't take his over the top smile seriously, when his eyes were screaming, hollowed out caverns silently begging me to listen.
This guy was fucking crazy.
“Wait.” Pepto whispered, when I turned to walk away.
He pulled out his phone, tapping the screen before shoving it in my face.
I HAD SO MUCH FUN AT THE CAELES ACADEMY AUDITIONS :)
When I could only stare at him in confusion, Pepto’s gaze flicked to his phone, swiping bile from his lips.
His eyes went cartoon wide, like he couldn't believe what he himself was typing.
“That… that's not what I was trying to say!” He tried retyping it, but the guy was just writing strings of emoji hearts.
I didn't know what to say. I had dealt with rejection before, but I had never gone this far. Pepto was having a full on mental breakdown, his body shuddering, teeth chattering, blinking eyes and lips parting as if to speak, but choking on his words. When he started clawing out his hair, I took the opportunity to make a quick getaway.
Before I could make it to the doors, though, Pepto jumped in front of me, waving his phone directly in my face.
“Just…” he pointed at the screen. “It won't let me…” Growing frustrated with himself, he let out a wet sounding sob, clawing his fingers through his hair.
“Fuck, it won't let me…it won't let me type! It's not letting me type!”
By now, he had tufts of hair stuck between his fingernails. I don't know why his first reaction was to immediately try ripping his hair out.
A quick glance at my own phone reminded me of my own audition that was in five minutes.
Meanwhile, I was dealing with what I was pretty sure was delusion, denial, or a mixture of both.
I was considering pushing past him, when Pepto’s phone screen hit me in the face. Again.
This time, though, there was coherent writing.
“FIND LUKE.”
“Luke?” I said. “Who's that?”
“Luke!” The guy was bouncing on the heels of his feet. “He's my…” Pepto drifted off, his eyes going vacant, as if I could physically see his brain being plucked from his skull. Pepto dropped his phone, and I grabbed it before it could hit the ground. His hands went to his curls, clawing, scratching, until he was drawing blood across his forehead.
“I… I don't know! I can't… I can't remember. Luke. He was my… he was my… I don't know, I can't… I can't–”
I stumbled back when he let out a shriek, scratching at his face.
“Fuck!” He whimpered. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!”
Pepto grabbed my shoulders, shaking me, his fingers digging into my skin.
“I don't know who he is.” He gritted out, pink froth pooling from his lips.
Pepto broke out into a sob. “I don't… I don't know who he is, but you can find him, right? You can… you can find…”
Again, he trailed off mid sentence, his hands going limp around my shoulders.
I managed to side step him, swallowing a cry.
“Yeah, I'll, um, I'll find him for you.”
Pepto backed away, suddenly, stumbling over himself.
His gaze found mine, vacant, like a baby deer.
“Find who?”
I didn't wait around to answer him, pushing through the doors and stepping inside.
The interior was unsurprisingly even worse than the exterior.
The elevator was broken, so I had to run up three flights of stairs.
I expected at least an attempt at an academy, even in the dregs of an old dentist surgery.
What I got, though, was a never ending staircase, obnoxious photos of teeth greeting me on every level.
The third floor was… less clinical.
I strode directly into a waiting room filled with college aged students, either sitting on plastic chairs, or standing around, rehearsing.
The room itself was cosy enough, a navy carpet and a TV playing a random Twitch stream.
Situated in the middle was a desk with a bored looking woman behind it.
Her smile was fake. I could understand her pain. She was stuck in a room with theatre kids all day.
“Sign here.” She prodded a sheet of paper.
I was convinced her voice was AI.
While I was scribbling my details, I took a moment to notice the stark difference from the kids entering the room, to the ones leaving. The kids entering wore wide, confident smiles and were social butterflies, chatting amongst themselves.
The kids leaving reminded me of pod people.
They left the room silent, in an orderly line with dazed smiles on their faces, like they weren't sure where they were.
I watched one guy walk directly into the wall instead of taking a left toward the exit, and a girl straight up just toppled down the stairs.
The kids waiting with me named them rejects.
I wasn't convinced until I glimpsed an empty bottle of Pepto Bismol sitting on the floor by the window.
Thinking back to Pepto, that made a lot of sense.
I was still dazedly staring at the bottle, when my name was called.
Jumping to my feet, I did my best to calm myself down, straightening my ponytail. Pepto had really screwed with my head. I could barely even remember the lines I had been rehearsing for a week straight.
I was muttering my lines to myself, when I stepped through the door.
The door that apparently turned you into a pod-person on the way out.
For a moment, I thought I was blinded by stage lights.
It was so bright.
The glow bathing me was clinical, stabbing into my eyes.
When I blinked, I found myself standing in front of three shadows sitting in front of me.
Their chairs were made of leather, far different from the plastic ones in the waiting room.
So, they did have filthy cash.
I was looking at one man, and two women.
They were… average?
I expected them to be more glitzier, but they were just regular people.
The man was in his late twenties, maybe early thirties, a stiff looking brunette wearing a suit and tie, one leg crossed over the other. His eyes were narrowed slightly, lips curved into the start of a smile. Like I amused him.
The women were polar opposites.
One of them was my Mom’s age, grey hair and floral clothing. She took a sip of water, her gaze burning into me.
Google told me not to be intimidated by their stares, but it was impossible.
These people were carving holes into my skull.
Sitting next to her, a younger girl who seemed to own the color red.
Her hair simmered, blood red, while she herself was sculpted in a dress, perfect cherry lips spread in a wide smile.
With a little too many teeth.
They studied my face like I was already theirs, drinking in every inch of me.
Freddie said I had to find a weakness in their expression and use it to my advantage.
If I could find the prick of a genuine smile, I could become their favorite.
“Hi!” I said. My caffeine intake was starting to take effect.
I didn't realize I was bouncing up and down until I caught myself.
Red’s smile stretched wider.
Maybe they liked my eagerness.
“My name is Misa.” I introduced myself, staying casual, keeping my arms by my sides. “I'm twenty one years old–”
I choked on my next words when Red spoke up. “Impress us, Misa,” Her voice was a smooth, almost seductive rasp, and I felt myself fall into it, enveloped in sugar that was too sweet, and yet I couldn't stop myself. She folded her arms across her chest, her gaze challenging me to do something different. To make her want me.
“Show us something we have never seen before.” She stood up, cat-like eyes narrowing, “Show us how desperate you are to join this prestigious class.”
I nodded, and began.
I had planned a whole monologue, practised it over and over again, forcing Freddie to judge me with a none biassed opinion.
I was three lines in, when Red started laughing.
“Stop.”
I did, my cheeks heating up, and she started clapping.
“Sweetie, oh, stop, you're adorable!” She said, her lips curving into a cruel smirk.
She leaned forward, like I was something that entertained her, jostling her heeled foot. “We don't take amateurs. I think you need to go back to school.”
This woman was definitely a psychopath.
Empty eyes sparkling with a gleam that definitely enjoyed humiliating candidates, and a twisted smile that was a little too wide. Red made me want to crawl into the ground.
She made me want to turn around, leave the room, and quit my dream. I was aware of my own fury, my embarrassment turning my cheeks crimson. I matched her.
Maybe that's what she wanted all along. To wear the color of her victims.
Taking a shaky step back, I started to nod, started to agree, my mouth choking with the words, “You're right. I'm sorry for wasting your time."
I had never received proper constructive criticism from a professional standpoint.
Which meant I really did suck.
But I didn't move. I didn't want to move, and Red continued laughing, her companions sitting in silence.
The man rolled his eyes with a loud, exaggerated sigh.
Like I was boring.
The older woman pulled out her phone.
“Misa, you are…cute.” Red said. “But you're not quite what we are looking for.”
I wasn't sure I could admit it right there, but she made me feel things.
Like I was ignited.
Like I was going to prove this crazy bitch wrong.
I found my voice, strong and confident, despite my hammering heart.
“Give me another chance.”
Red’s lips curled. “So cute, Misa. Oh, sugar bear, It would be better if you left the room. Unless you want to embarrass yourself further! In that case, be my guest!”
She turned her attention to her nails, nudging the guy.
“Dinner?” She hummed. “I'm thinking of Italian. You are quite the wine connoisseur, Nicholas. Why don't you introduce me to your favorite?”
“Hey.” I blurted.
They ignored me, getting a little too close.
I don't know why I continued, reading my lines, screaming them, so I would be heard. I read them perfectly, and tweaking the genre from drama to romance, and then to horror. I became three different characters, a high school girl struggling with cancer, a final girl, and a woman going through a divorce.
I was fucking perfect.
But they weren't listening to me, caught up in their own conversation.
I tried again.
And again.
And again.
By now, I was on my knees, my fingers ripping into my hair. I was seeing red.
“We want originality, Misa,” Red said, sucking her teeth.
Her voice crawling into my skull was enough.
She still wanted me.
The thought polluted the back of my mind, taking a strangling hold. She still wanted me. When I lifted my head, Red wasn't looking at me, her gaze on the table grains. “Show us something new.”
I got to my feet, panting, my breath in my throat.
I became a screaming, strangled mess, a woman who lost her baby.
Red’s interest was piqued. Only slightly. Through my fraying vision, she slowly turned in her chair. “Again.” She clapped her hands, “Come on, Misa! We want new! We want never been fucking done before! Are you deaf?”
I couldn't stop the sobs escaping my mouth.
They lost interest again, right in the middle of my reading.
“Why can't you look at me?” I found myself spluttering.
When the man pulled out a bottle of water, I pulled off my heel and lobbed it at his face.
“Look at me!”
He did. Slowly. His gaze found me, for perhaps the first time.
Not as an amateur, but as a potential candidate.
Around the twentieth attempt, I started to laugh. Never been done before? I could feel my fingernails already in my scalp, clawing chunks of my hair out.
Reality contorted, and I felt myself drop to my knees. I was still laughing, spluttering, sobbing. I could still hear her in my head. Never Been Done Before. I started slowly, dragging my fingernails down my face until I felt the harsh sting.
“Again.” Red said, and her voice led me to stare down at my hands, at pinkish flesh glued to my bones, fleshy mounds.
So easy to tear. I didn't even feel it.
Only the sudden, unbridled euphoria of biting into my own skin, locking in my jaw, and ripping into myself.
When I tore it from the bone, warmth filled my mouth, and I was choking, guzzling down my own flesh, mulling it in my mouth and swallowing.
I can't remember how I got so deep, and why I didn't stop.
Why I didn't fucking scream.
But it didn't matter.
Red was standing up. She was clapping, her lips spread into a grin.
Her applause filled me with stars.
So, I ripped my hair from my scalp, a hysterical giggle escaping my lips.
She loved me.
I could see her jumping up and down, clapping.
Louder, and louder.
Her applause controlled me, twisting and contorting me into hers.
I didn't even think. I wanted to impress her, and doing this was doing just that.
My fingers were delving into my right eye socket, clawing my eye out. It didn't even hurt. Not with her thundering applause that was deafening, beautiful, an orchestra in my ears.
When I was semi conscious, my eye was crushed in my hand, but my vision was still mine, almost too clear. I could see streaks of red blurred between my lashes. My hair was caught between my fingers. But I wanted to do more.
When I stumbled to my feet, Red’s smile was so beautiful.
The man, however, looked horrified.
“Someone bring in the one of the successes,” Red’s voice was a shrill giggle, “Bring him in!” she clapped her hands together, and I spat out a fleshy thing. “I want to see them together! I want to see the future in front of us!”
Footsteps coming towards me in slow, shuddery thumps. I looked up, and a shadow was dancing around me.
When I slowly rose to my feet, I half realized I’d bitten my toe off. The shadow had a face, a boy who was younger than me. I think he used to have hair, but half of it was gone, half of it was still stuck between his fists. When I found his eyes, I found twin caverns instead.
Eyes that were still physically there, and yet there was no life.
No spark.
I was staring at a dead body, a flesh puppet who had lost his strings.
When he grabbed my hands, pulling me into a waltz, I caught a smear of scarlet trickling down the back of his neck. When I followed it upwards, his head was covered, slick, dripping with red.
Like me, he matched her too.
And he was beautiful, she told me, her push, her thunderous applause, guiding me into a waltz.
His feet moved, perfecting every step, and my foggy mind couldn't understand why. He matched my every move, the two of us floating across the floor.
My feet knew the steps before my mind.
How could he dance? I thought, dizzily.
How could he dance, when smeared scarlet followed his twisting, and turning and pirouetting feet?
Because underneath that swimming clinical light, the back of the boy’s head had been carved away, a perfectly sculpted cavern where his brain should have been. I could see the severed stem, where it had cleanly plucked out.
His fingers cradled in mine were wet. Swimming in blood.
His own blood.
Spinning round and around, I imagined myself as a princess.
I saw an 18th century ballroom lit up around us. Glittering smiles and glasses of champagne, long, flowing ball gowns.
I blinked, and my head was tipped back, gliding in blood once again.
When he pulled me to his chest, I stumbled, and a name came to light.
Luke.
I had found him.
Our finishing spin left me hard to breathe.
My body was broken, ripped into, and yet somehow not.
By the time we were finished, the two of us bowing, my mind was full of fog.
Cotton candy.
“Congratulations!” Red’s smile was inhuman, stretching right off of her face.
“You're in the S class!”
I was led through a door that wasn't the one I entered from. Inside the room were a dozen or so students, kneeling on the floor. They were missing parts of themselves, like unfinished puzzle pieces.
I dropped onto my knees next to a girl without a head. I could only see her torso, but I knew she was smiling.
Looming over us, was the goddess Athena drenched in blood that was still wet.
Dripping, pooling from every crevice of her dress.
Looking closer, this statue was moving.
Something sickly crept into my mouth.
Her right eye was human, a twitching eyeball sandwiched inside the stone.
It didn't match her. It was wrong, horrifying, like a painting, a real human eye struggling to focus on us.
And then, my own gaze found the statues head, where a real human brain had been forced inside perfect white, pink, greyish mush dripping down the sculpted, slender neck.
I could see where it had been pushed, pulverised through the stone.
The statue’s singular eye found me.
Its dancing pupil jumped up and down.
Before it blinked.
Next to me, Luke was on his knees, as if in prayer.
I can't remember leaving the room.
I just remember running.
Back down the stairs, stumbling, staggering over myself.
I was screaming by the time I reached the doors.
They opened, as usual.
But I couldn't get through. I tried, but I was slamming into something I couldn't see.
Pepto was still waiting outside. The sky was dark.
When he saw me, he stumbled over, slamming his hands into the glass.
I couldn't even understand myself. I was just fucking screaming.
Pepto held up his phone.
“DID YOU FIND HIM?”
I shook my head.
“No.” I lied.
I can't tell him the truth. I don't even know what it is.
“I can't get out!”
Pepto nodded slowly, typing something and showing me his phone.
I'm getting you both out of there. I think I know how I can get inside.
It's been 3 days, and Pepto is yet to return.
I’ve tried multiple times to cry out for the H word. But it won't let me type it.
Please H me. I need to get out of this place.
Fuck. Get me OUT OF HERE.
Classes start tomorrow.

Hi! I’m from the Midwest, but that doesn’t stop me from finding a connection with someone anywhere in the world. I am looking to take things slowly and see where they go, whether it’s as friends or a relationship. I’m just looking to meet new people and whatever happens, happens.
Things about me: - I have many interests, but my main ones are - cooking/baking, traveling, nature, animals, health & wellness, and even art. - My family and friends would describe me as kind, loving, caring and funny. - Physically (attraction does matter) - under 5’5, dark blonde, curvy/avg body. - AuDHD, extremely high functioning. - INFJ personality type, so I’m pretty rare ;) - I’m a student in healthcare - I do hate voice calls and I don’t have the time for FT, but if we really connect, I’ll see what I can do lol - I do not share photos on Reddit, so please do not ask.
Things about you: - Ages: Women - 23-26. Men - 28+. - Please be respectful, kind, caring, and know how to have some fun. - If single & would like to get to know me in a dating way, you should know that I do want children (if you have a child, that’s totally okay too) - I prefer someone to be motivated, hard working, and supportive. - If you’re interested in farming/animals - that’s definitely a plus. - Attraction does matter on both ends. I don’t mind if you’re a little overweight, I dont mind a lot of things - personality matters most to me. I do tend to go for East Asian and white men though (just so you can get an idea of my type, though this does not always matter).
Hope to hear from you soon! Send me a message with a little bit about yourself <3

I know a lot of people complain that they did not like the show after Stabler left but honestly I was still enjoying it after that. I can not pinpoint exactly what season i started to get bored but I do know some things that have made it boring for me:
I miss the investigation! I feel like the squad is always in the the squad room and then POOF here comes a clue out of no where. I'm watching an episode right now and I have hardly seen detectives with the accused in the interrogation room, we've barely seen a crime scene, no talking to witnesses or family, no Melinda, none of the people with that cool "blue light" stuff they used to do. I've just watched 3 episodes in a row and nobody died??? Apparently, they solved the case but i couldn't tell you how, and I wouldn't remember it in the next 10 mins even if i could because it was more than likely extremely forgettable.
There used to be some real progression from crime to investigation to court case. That was the best parts of the show for me. Now its like we know who did it in the first 10 mins and the rest of the episode is just about proving they are guilty. Was seeing how they got the evidence not the best part? Especially with all the twist and turns. It was even better when you saw some recurring attorneys for the defense and you just knew they always put up a good fight. There is just a lot more personal life involved with some crime sprinkled in and then at some point we just end up in a court room.
The dialogue. I know everyone cant be as funny as Munch but wow the conversations are so bland. I know they are doing a hard job but there used to be some humor in that squad room while still relating to the work. The coworker banter made them human. Sometimes I cant even tell if these people like each other. And when the episode is incorporating current (sometimes controversial) events i feel like I'm watching the news. They used to do that in a more "this is still a show" way and put a better SVU spin on it that made it very interesting and often taught me something. Now they just throw it out there and cue the angry mob outside the courthouse.
I have other complaints like Carisi as ADA. Or the topics being bland. Where is the DV, child abuse, teen dating violence, elderly abuse, helping victims that can not speak or defend themselves, the victims with the messed up past but I'll save that.

She and I met late in highschool. We dated for about two years, she was my first everything. I loved her deeply but we ultimately wanted different things in life so we split. I wouldn’t say I was closeted at this time but my family never met her or knew I was gay, I was just really private as a teenager.
My brother is 5 years younger than us, he’s 19 and my roommate. When he told me he started dating someone recently and it was starting to get serious, I was so excited for him and supportive. After a bad relationship for him I was elated that he met a nice normal girl. Until he started telling me about her and showed me a picture of her and my stomach just dropped. I think my face paled and he asked if I knew her and I told her we went to hs together and dated for a while. He laughed and said he didn’t blame me and how funny it is that we have the same type in women.
My brother is a great kid, but he’s a KID. He’s extremely immature for his age and doesn’t know how to be a person ie hygiene cooking cleaning etc. I can’t help but judge her for dating a teenager.
I feel so many emotions. I’m not necessarily jealous, I’ve dated a lot of people since and it was so long ago. It’s just a really surreal experience and I can’t really talk about it so I’m going to leave this here in this safe space.

My aro/ace friend being like I could never want to hold someone back by dating someone if truly cared about them and they wanted a more physical relationship. And I'm like friend you're exceptional, if someone would rather not have you in their life cause sex is more important than how much they care for you FUCK EM.
Sex isn't everything and romance isn't either. You're amazing and lovely and smart and funny and god I'd be so honored to be more than your just a friend... like a life partner who doesn't care about the gendered rolls and expectations that come with romance and dating. Like you're amazing and my demi ass doesn't think sex and romance is as important as having you in my life and caring for you.

To make this as short as possible, I was a bored teenager on the internet without many friends in real life, so at 16 I started talking to this 30 year old guy. Initially he told me he just wanted to practice his English, because he’s from Eastern Europe, but we started communicating daily. I viewed him as a friend, but after a few months he started to tell me that I was so beautiful, he wanted to be my boyfriend, and so on.
Around ~2 years ago he told me he moved to America, but he still lived pretty far from me, so we never met in person. At this point we only spoke every once in a while. When we did, he’d offer to buy a me plane ticket and hotel room to come visit him, but I always had some excuse as to why I couldn’t.
In the past few months, he’s showed up in my area (with no prior notice) asking if I could meet him. I’d say that I was out of town, or I had a family emergency, or something like that. Recently, he told me he’s coming again next month and he really, really wants to meet. And this time, I have mixed feelings.
I know it’s shallow, but I’m not physically attracted to him. Maybe he’s better in person, but he’s not really that interesting or funny either. There’s also the whole talking to teenage me on the internet thing.
On the other hand, I’ve tried to date before, but was always unsuccessful. I’d get ghosted when I made it clear I didn’t want to have sex yet. In contrast, he’s never mentioned anything sexual, even once. He also made it clear that his physical “type” is for girls who look like me, which isn’t very common.
I’m kind of a failure in life. I’m 23, I live with my parents, I can’t drive, I don’t have any friends, I’ve never had a real job. I had a few retail/food service sort of jobs, but I never lasted long because I got overwhelmed with being around people all day. I did go to college, but I wasn’t very good at what I majored in, and I don’t know what to with my life. I’m honestly not good at anything. In contrast, he has a house, a car, and a job.
He’s talked about me moving in with him, us getting married, having a family, and he’ll take care of everything. I never saw myself living that kind of life, but maybe I’m not suited for anything else. I’m awkward and don’t have any other skills.
Honestly, I think he’s probably the best I’ll ever get. Most people don’t get their perfect 10/10 person, and I should be happy that someone has been this persistent in their interest of me. The only hurdle is finding a way to go meet him when he comes, but I could figure something out. I’m not sure if it’s an ok idea or if I could possibly try to learn to love him? Should I meet him?

Hey, hopefully everyone is having a nice weekend so far :)! I’ve had success on here in the past and would love to give it another shot again, but hopefully I’ll find my special partner in crime on here🥰I’m looking for a serious, long term/life long relationship, which means eventually moving in together, forming a lifelong bond, and having a family. If u are also looking for this as well please keep reading :)!
I’m Andrew, 25, from Maryland, I graduated this past December, majored in Game Design, and going to start working on a certification soon, currently working retail but hoping to change that soon! I’m about 5’9”, average weight, mixed race, has glasses curly hair, and facial hair. If we bond well I’ll send a pic through DM’s :). I’m a nerdy guy who enjoys playing D&D, LoTR, Transformers, Invincible, Halo, etc., I play video games as well as board games, enjoy spending time with friends and family, work on digital art, as well as game design, and I can cook/bake😋I also have a void loaf🐈‍⬛ :). I’m an introvert extrovert, who can be shy at first, though am improving on that, but will open up and be more talkative the longer we’re talking. I’ve been described by others as funny, but I’ll let u be the judge of that lol. Oh and my love languages are Physical Touch and Positive Affirmations.
Im looking for someone around the age of 21-35, I can do online dating (within the US), but if u are from Maryland that’s a plus! When it comes to physical looks I’m more attracted to plus size women, and any race. For the emotional side, above all else I want someone who’s honest and communicates well!! I also want the obvious when it comes to dating lol, someone who’s loving, caring supportive, sweet/kind, someone I can also see as my friend, wants to do shared activities together, someone who loves giving physical and emotional attention, wants a strong love life, and a bonus is clingy when it comes to affection, love, and communication.
If I seem interesting enough for u and if u seem like a good match for me, please send me a message, and I’ll respond asap! I respond quicker on Discord, which we can exchange either sooner or later, up to u :)! If u read my message, tell me a fun fact about yourself, or tell me your favorite food😋! Looking forward to meeting my soulmate🥰!

I consider myself to be funny and easy to talk to. I’m curious for just about anything and can spend hours on YouTube watching videos about how things work. I react differently from most people to different situations because I have Borderline Personality Disorder and that has taken a toll on my dating life but with the right person I’m sure I can make it work. I’m open to LDR for a short period of time but I would definitely want to meet sooner than later. I’m open to having kids.
Dealbreakers … Just be understanding of mental illnesses and other stigmatized topics and we’re good to go. We can discuss everything while chatting. If you’re interested in talking DM me and let’s take it from there.

This will be relatively spoiler free, however I will be mentioning I specific line, just one though so if you want it to be unspoiled don't read on. 93/100 I never thought they'd top trench, but they did. The perfect blend between blurryfaces pop song structure and tone and maturity of trench. This is easily the best album they've put out. Now as for the funny line "proctologist, both hands on your shoulders while your botomless." Just lmao. The ending of this album genuinely made me tear up, this is the best top project to date and I'm more than impressed. My only real criticism is I wish it was a bit longer or that the closer was slightly more impactful lyrically, but it's still fantastic regardless. I can't believe they topped trench.

I’ve had some bad relationships in the past. Multiple failed ones. Cheated on three times, and abused on another.
I’m not sure how other people feel about this but I understand a little bit of both sides.
Been about two years since I’ve last dated. Thought I cutoff my heart from these feelings but unfortunately they are coming back. I know this is a good thing but it’s scary to me and has been causing panic attacks, randomly out of nowhere, nocturnal panic attacks. ice had to sit down in the middle of cooking and turned the stove off because I couldn’t breath and felt like I was going to pass out.
I have a new set of standards for myself. Again I do understand negative views on this and not everyone is the same. I just want to know how others feel because honestly I feel alone on this and want to protect myself.
I’m a man in his mid 20’s who’s finally getting these romantic feelings back.
My standards/limitation/boundaries are never talk to an ex, never talk to a person they’ve flirted with or had a crush on, no talking so someone they’ve had intercourse with. ^{^} I know everyone isn’t the same again, but for me this is a giant trust issue and a big boundary of mine. It’s how I’ve been cheated on in the past.
I have no control over the other person, but would like to communicate that to them. I want to have this talk and if I find out any of those boundaries are crossed I will ghost them.
I’ve been friends with women majority of my life and I know there are plenty of good women out there, but a few demons roaming.
If I were to reintroduce myself into dating again, how would I have a talk about this?
^
I know whoever I’d have romance with would look at me funny and look at me as controlling. I just don’t know how to do that.
It freaks me out, I’m scared, I’m lonely (I have friends but I crave romance and physical touch is my love language), and I feel lost.
I have a heart full of so much love, I just don’t anybody to share it with and don’t know if I can honestly trust anybody anymore. All this social media and messaging is kinda like all of those streaming services. One day you want Netflix, the other you want Hulu. It’s very easy to be replaced. I’m lost.
When the feeling of love is taken away, it hurts. I’ve been through substance withdrawals badly with no dopamine or serotonin in my brain, the shakes, vomiting, and potential brain damage. Nothing on this earth hurts more than love being taken away, especially when it occurs due to cheating.
I’d go through withdrawals every day of my life instead of being hurt by someone.
It feels like I’m drowning without love or touch.
I’ve learned to look for a person not a feeling. You need a friend first, the feeling either comes or goes.

I haven’t had a psychotic episode in over a year, I’m consistent with meds and have avoided weed. Is there anything else I can do to prevent psychotic symptoms?
I was laying down and heard what I thought was the TV playing in the living room. It sounded like a funny dating show but when I went to check it out, TV was off. I’m trying not to panic but I haven’t experienced any psychotic symptoms in a while and don’t know what to do or if I can prevent a relapse.

Lately I really just find myself not wanting to do this anymore. Life was so much better before 2020. My mom passed away from Covid in 2021 and my sister passed from heart issues 1 year and 1 month later. Now it’s just my dad, brother, and myself. My brother he lives a little ways away (with his wife and kids) nothing crazy but not right around the corner and my dad has his new girlfriend so I find myself alone a lot of the times. I’m not married, no kids, and just tried of being lonely. I’ve tried dating apps but no matches or likes. I guess I just don’t have the dating app look apparently because I’m a bigger dude but it’s hard to sell a great personality online in a bio I guess because I am funny, quick witted, and a great time. I have lots of friends but I just feel like an afterthought to them because if I don’t reach out, I don’t hear from anyone really. The shitty thing is too, is that I want to be happy I really do, but I can’t be. I’m just tried of trying. What’s the point…I just wish I could actually do it sometimes so I could see my mom and sister again and maybe finally be at peace at least.

We know that Zack's line in rebirth somewhat hints of a reunion of world, not in Sephiroth's term but on his. In a way that the Timeline we are playing would reunite with Zack's world. That is generally implied.
But in a way, since we have no concrete evidence on what would happen in pt3 shall we indulge in a bit of theory crafting?
Tl;dr Cloud and Tifa along with a very much alive Zack and Aerith goes on a double date at golden saucer.
Zack was brought back alove in a different way right? It is a far far cruel fate to just bring him alive to be a red herring? If anyone knows SE kindly debunk or confirm this as I really hope they don't give as that kind of storywise implications.
Now, how would Zack plays into this? My theory would be after he reunites the world. He wpuld be searching for Aerith. Upon catching up to date in a few days he might get a sense Aerith has died or maybe not. Now, he wpuld be searching for Cloud.
While on his search, he could encounter Tseng who might or might not known the fate of Aerith. But regardless, he will inform Zack on the current location of Cloud. This is done in a sort of back door way that only the two would know.
As someone who haven't played the OG. What bits I could gather from the net, Cloud went on a mental breakdown prior to falling to the lifestream and begs hojo for a number. While the pt3 could lean onto this. A far darker turn SE could approach is to have Cloud turn berserk and would attack anyone. Driving Shinra away. Only to fight the rest of the team.
Now, forced to fight and enhanced and a more powerful Cloud, the gang could fall one by one until Tifa would remain. Unable to break through his madness she is then forced to fight Cloud. But just as the first blow is to connect against Tifa. Zack would rescue them. Deflecting Cloud's strike with ease. While his words is just as futile. His sword isn't. Finally defeating and bring Cloud to his knee knocking him down. And accidentally knocking him over the lifestream and the story would transpire normally as that in the OG moving forwards. But now we have Zack as a defacto leader when Tifa opts out to stay with Cloud.
Alternatively, while it is too dark to see pur boy Cloud in that state. What could transpire would be to have Zack appear in the Mideel just as the gang arrives to fight the weapon that appear. Helping them fend of the said weapon. He is then introduced to the gang with a bit of suspension specially with barret. But it is soon gone once Yuffie finally recognized who he is.
Upon finding Cloud and Tifa unconscious on the ground. Cloud then narrates. Who he trully is. And the facade he built, the life he thought lived. But, just as in the OG. They welcome Cloud just who he is.
Then Zack shares the missing 5 years of their life. The life they spent caged up in a lab and escaping to midgar. With this revalation, everyone was horrified to this. More so Cloud who have no idea that the sole reason for his missing 5 years. The memory he tries to dig up is due to this. Zack then comforts him and reminds him that even without the SOLDIER enhancement, he brought Sephiroth down. And hopefully share his moment that even while impaled, he muster the strength to lift Sephiroth and toss him like a ragdoll down the bottom of the reactor
As Cloud leaves to do something else. Zack and Tifa prepares to leave the room. And being a great bro and a wingman. Zack would say to Tifa "You do know that he was shy around you and it was the sole reason he wore that helmet? And funny enough, while I was closer to him in the entrance, he still checked on you first."
Now, where would Aerith appears? If SE would bring ger back, this might be midway of pt3. Hypothetically, I would assume Sephiroth would still appear while they are on the underwater reactor or even in Cosmo Canyon. Regardless he will still taunt everyone of their futility. And then, just as he is about to unleash his might. White whispers come forth and protects everyone signaling Aerith's return.
As everyone still trying to grasp what is happening and more so the fact that Aerith now returns back from the dead. Amusing Sephiroth and remarking only with "so this is your next move? Have you ran out of cards to play hmm?"
Just as Aerith about to answer his insult, she then glanced a very much alive Zack returned with her friends. Only remarkin "Zack!" Catching this, sephiroth taunts her in his usual smugness. "A reunion? Not for long.". After this fight, with so much hardship and able to catch their breaths. Sephiroth then departs with his usual smugness.
While they are left with more question and a far greater se se of dread with the foe they just fought, they are relived to be reunited with their departed friend. With so much cathing up to have with everyone. Particularly with Zack, Aerith urges everyone to continue.
Then jumping to the final fight, just as they defeated Sephiroth for good. They are still faced with the fact the meteor is still bearing down. Everyone turns to Aerith to ask if it is too late to cast holy to stop this. Aerith then just turn to them smiling and said "oh it is done!". Yet even with this, holy seemingly unable to fully contain the impending doom.
Meanwhile back at the forgotten capital. A familiar hand prays at the very heart of it. Summoning the very essence of the planet itself to destroy the meteor. Amazed by the turn of events, everyon asked Aerith again what did she do? Aerith with her familiar smile. But just as she is about to formulate a response. An ethereal voice echoes around them with the only words saying "Thank you for trusting me". Aerith just nods and remarks "Your welcome!"
Even more bewildered and full of questions. All Aerith would say is for them to leave and enjoy the peace they now have. Still confused with this. They pressed on with their questions. As they go back to midgar, Aerith then explained what have transpired. Still confused but relieved to be reunited with this new found peace. They dare not press further.
Again this is just a theory of mine on how if ever SE would give everyone a happy ending. This will have a lot of holes on it and I fully accept every criticism. Any plot holes will not be resolved since this is just a theory. And apologies for the wrong grammar..

Hi. I’m not sure if this is the right place for me to go but this has been playing on my mind a lot recently. My little brother is coming up to 16 and had Achondroplasia. He’s the loveliest kid you would ever meet, a total sweetheart, and a really funny guy. I just have a few questions for the community if anyone would indulge me as my brother hates asking for help in any way.

1. Do you have any job recommendations? He’s so ambitious but I can’t think of any jobs in the area that would accept him (we live in a village bordering a larger area) because of his disability.
   
2. (Honestly this is more important atm I think) I’m not sure how best to phrase it but I don’t think my brother thinks he’ll get a girlfriend and it breaks my heart. He’s a good looking kid with the most wonderful personality, a real feminist and good listener. He works out constantly and seems confident in himself but doesn’t seem to think he’ll have a girlfriend and hasn’t had one yet before. Did anyone else struggle with this? How did you get over it and find the one? So many girls he knows doesn’t want to date a shorter guy and I try to keep him confident but I think he’s given up a bit and I really want him to be confident while he’s going into college because he’s just the best.
   

Sorry if this is rambling, thank you for any help at all, I just don’t really know how to support him.