How to get rainbow in zynga pokerow to get rainbow in zynga poker

Hi guys, would really appreciate some insight/advice/support please. I will say my partner and I weren’t married but were cohabiting in a long term relationship with marriage plans.
Was dumped out of the blue last autumn after four years with the man who told all my friends and family he was going to propose to me and we were in the middle of buying property (although we lived together in a rented apartment) and was about to start a family - he brought up conversations about what names to choose.
We were so happy, never argued and had an amazing relationship (or so I thought)……he left me saying something was ‘missing’ he felt pressured for marriage (despite HIM being the one bringing all the future plans up) and then bizarrely said he wanted to find a wife and a mother?? The man I adored turned into a stranger overnight and I still to this day have no idea why or how this happened? The only big red flag with him is he had never had proper long term relationships before me so maybe that’s where the ‘missing’ bit stems from. This all happened during a life period where he was extremely stressed with his job, was constantly saying he wanted to give up his medical career (he is a surgeon) and we both had poorly parents.
He’s never reached out, blocked my phone and completely blanks me at work.
I always (stupidly) thought he might reflect on what he’s thrown away and open up to talking.
Found out my replacement is someone 17 years younger than my ex (he’s 45, she’s 28). What the hell?! Please can I get peoples thoughts on this? He’s practically moved her into the apartment and apparently it’s all sunshine and rainbows for him. This girl has apparently told her friends she ‘wouldn’t date him as he was far too old but he’s rich and she likes being wined and dined by rich men. Shes apparently the town bicycle and as one person described her ‘a psycho bunny boiler’ and is apparently plastering photos of their dates to fancy restaurants all over social media - I obviously don’t follow her and haven’t seen these, nor do I want to. Bizarrely it seems he’s been taking her to all the exact places we did.
Even more strangely, apparently she keeps flipping her profile from Private to public with all these photos - it might be me being paranoid but it sounds like she almost wants me to see them?
I really thought at some point we would be able to work this out and he had just had a huge ‘future freak out’. I’m terrified this ‘girl’ is going to get her claws in and do all the things we had planned and I’m going to have to see it all play out in front of me. I don’t know what to do to remedy any of this or whether he will ever even consider coming back? I really believe in our relationship and have been exploring some of the MLC techniques and advice to firstly, make myself feel better and secondly to look at implementing things I can do to potentially help the situation.
The work interactions are interesting and I’m not really sure how to navigate them going forward. He was initially cordially saying hello but recently has been diving into the nearest doorway or swiftly exiting a room if he sees me there. It’s cowardly but also strikes me that he clearly isn’t yet ‘indifferent’
How to proceed?

[before you read, sorry for my bad English] i have 2 budgies and 2 cockatiels, they all live in an outdoor aviary and get along perfectly. however, my yellow budgie seems to be a bit stupid. he cant fly properly - he flies slow and flies into cabinets, TVs or just falls onto to floor mid flight. but after falling or colliding with something he just chirps and flies away to the other birds. once I went outside to check up on my birds and I accidentally startled them and they flew off their food bowl onto their perches, but yelli (the dumb one). yelli tried flying away but landed on the bars of their aviary and tried flying again but fell repeatedly like 4 times until he landed into this rainbow slinky I hung in their cage

I have always been very active and healthy so it was a real bummer to find that it wasn’t enough and got a disease anyway. I made it a personal goal to navigate this curveball with minimal, if any hard medications and gravitate toward a more holistic and natural approach. Started symptoms 27, Diagnosed @ 28
Symptoms are all across the board. Just varies week to week. Some are worse than others.
It’s a sort of a double edged sword with EXERCISE since I feel weaker and recover slower than before I started having symptoms BUT it also makes them less severe and more manageable. Drinking minimum 20oz an hour of water with an additive free electrolyte every couple hours is definitely the move. and a nice hot salt bath on the worst days helped a lot with soreness and constipation.
I’d cut out all processed, refined, canned, preservative, additive heavy foods and I mean EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink, fruit basket and veggie drawer in the fridge. But I mean hey - you still have to get some enjoyment out of life so I’ll have a cheat day once or twice a month as long as I still got my 30-40 grams of natural WATER SOLUBLE FIBER and supplementary phytochemicals I.e. Taste the Rainbow (not skittles) specifically the antibacterial kind.
A month or two after this protocol I went into remission for a few months and gained my confidence back… (and a nice big ulcer with it)
I just want to put my experience out there and share. I thoroughly believe that a consistent and disciplined diet and exercise regimen is a totally plausible method for navigating mild to severe UC. I am in no way suggesting this as a cure all for everyone, just some personal anecdotes. Wishing everyone the best,
-K

Going on a long trip soon, honestly I wouldn't mind selling them all in one go at a fair price. With that said, I'm open to offers on everything. Please message me if you need to verify pressing info, or check my Discogs page (Ryan-brio) to find all these albums listed under the correct pressings, as well as many more listings for cassette and CD. Also feel free to message me if you need photos or any other questions, etc. I respond fast and ship quick! Shipping is $9 + 2 for each add on, shipping from Montreal, QC. Thanks for looking!
Pink Floyd - The Wall (2xLP, Album) NM/VG+ Amazing copy with inserts. $45
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (LP, Album, RE, Gat) NM/VG+ 2nd pressing, amazing shape, no inserts. $35
The Allman Brothers Band - Beginnings (2xLP, Comp) VG+/VG+ Great copy. $15
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (2xLP, Album, Gat) VG/VG $10
The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (LP, Album, RE, Win) VG+/VG+ Vinyl is in excellent condition. Inlucdes booklet. Early reissue, great copy $22
The Beatles - Meet The Beatles! (LP, Album) VG+/VG+ 1967 pressing from Canada, which was the first time it was released here. In great shape, on rainbow label. $24
The Beatles - Beatles VI (LP, Album, RE) EX/VG+ Early reissue from the "Red Target" label series. In very nice shape. $20
The Beatles - The Beatles Again (LP, Comp, Mod) VG+/VG There is one shallow mark on side 2 but it plays great front to back. $20
The Beatles - Help! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (LP, Album, RE) VG+/VG Early reissue on red Capitol label. Disc is in great shape, but the cover has some ring wear and a label on the top left corner with some writing. $10
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass (3xLP, Album + Box) VG+/G The six sides range from VG to EX, it plays great throughout. the original owner has cut the right side of the box open and taped the other sides together so they could take the LPs out of it like a normal record, hence the G grade $26
The Beatles - Something New (LP, Album, RE) VG++/VG+ "Red Target" series reissue. In excellent condition. $20
The Beatles - Beatles '65 (LP, Album, RE, Red) EX/VG "Red Target" label series. Disc is in amazing shape. Sleeve is nice but has a label on the top left corner with some writing. $22
The Beatles - Yesterday And Today (LP, Album, Comp, RE) VG+/VG Late 60's reissue, green label. No, this is not the Butcher cover, lol. Great shape. $20
The Beatles - The Beatles' Story (2xLP, Album, Mono) NM/VG discs are in stellar condition, almost look unplayed. $20
Harry Belafonte - Belafonte At Carnegie Hall - The Complete Concert (2xLP, Album) VG+/VG+ A few very light hairlines here and there, still a great copy that retains most of it's gloss. Cover is intact, a small bit of wear around the edges but very nice. Has a name tag on the top left corner. $20
Tim Buckley - Lorca (LP, Album, RE) Australian reissue NM/NM. $20
Shuggie Otis - Freedom Flight (LP, Album, Pit) P/VG Plays VG but please read. Has minor heat damage but is not warped. This results in a consistent hissing noise throughout the playback that doesn't overpower the music. Still quite an enjoyable listen, sounds good and doesn't really have any marks otherwise. Ask for a video! Great starter copy for a decent price if you just want the album. First US Pitman pressing. $50
Caravan - In The Land Of Grey And Pink (LP, Album, ffr) EX/EX Quintessential prog rock classic. First Canadian press on Blue London label. So close to NM $26
The Impressions - People Get Ready (LP, Album, Mono) VG/VG Rare first Canadian mono pressing! Plays fantastic. $25
John Martyn - The Tumbler (LP, Album, RE, Pin) NM/VG+. A perfect NM. Early UK repress on pink rim Island label. $45
John Martyn - Live At Leeds (LP, Album, Ltd) EX/VG. Disc is in amazing shape, cover has some wear. No autograph. $35
The Zombies - The Zombies (LP, Album, RP) VG/VG 1967 repress on Parrot, the Zombies debut album. Very hard to find. Plays amazing. $40
Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill (LP, Album, Club, Cap) EX/VG Sleeve downgraded due to some wear on the corner of the cover, barely noticeable. Album plays excellent. $30
Anthony Braxton - New York, Fall 1974 (LP, Album, Gat) NM/VG++ Amazing copy, first Canadian pressing. Amazing free jazz album. $24
Bob Dylan - Oh Mercy (LP, Album) VG/VG Strong VG copy. Plays great with light surface noise in certain parts. 1989 US $22
**ALBUMS $10 AND UNDER!**
Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton (LP, Album) EX/VG+ $6
Eric Clapton - E.C. Was Here (LP, Album) EX/VG+ $6
Van Morrison - Beautiful Vision (LP, Album) NM/NM Perfect copy $8
Janis Joplin - Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits (LP, Comp) EX/VG+ Excellent copy $10
George Thorogood And The Destroyers* - Move It On Over (LP, Album) NM/VG+ Great shape! $10
Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits (LP, Comp, RE) VG+/VG+ $8
Aphrodite's Child - Rain And Tears (LP, Comp) VG+/VG+ Great compilation. This was Vangelis' first group and the songs are great. First Canadian issue. $8
Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours (LP, Album, RE) 70's reissue from Holland. Would be Nm except for one light mark on side 2. plays great. $10
The Plastic Ono Band - Live Peace In Toronto 1969 (LP, Album) VG/VG Strong VG, first pressing $10
Stan Getz / Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba (LP, Album, Gat) VG-/EX First pressing on Verve, plays with surface noise. Cover excellent $10
Keith Jarrett - The Köln Concert (2xLP, Album, Pit) VG+/VG+ First US press on ECM with catalog. $10
Todd Rundgren - Hermit Of Mink Hollow (LP, Album, Gol) VG+/VG+ In very nice shape $5
Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band - Bluejeans & Moonbeams (LP, Album) VG/VG Solid VG, great player copy ~$16~ $10
Sandy Bull - Demolition Derby (LP, Album) VG/VG Solid VG copy $10
The B-52's - The B-52's (LP, Album) First Canadian pressing. Strong VG copy with light marks but plays great. Cover VG+. ~$12~ $10
Renaissance (4) - Prologue (LP, Album, Jac) VG+/VG+ Fine copy. $6

(I know it's not the main focus in the title but I'd also be super keen to talk to people in the UK, either London or somewhere in England or Scotland around like Edinburgh as there's a near 100% chance I'm moving there this year)
Hi everyone!
My name is Jack, I'm 21 and I'm a recent cyber security and forensics and internetworking and network security graduate, but I hope to go on for a few more years and do post grad studies! (this year my goal is to move to Edinburgh for my masters!)
Hobbies!: For the past few years I've been heavily into formula 1, never missing a race (even the 3 am ones and even worse, the 7 am ones!)
I also enjoy doing photography, I mainly do cars but I have recently started thinking about more landscape/urban photography.
Now for games! My main ones are Destiny 2, and rainbow six siege, (for those wondering my highest rank is diamond 3 (when rank actually meant something lol)), but I haven't been playing them much these days. I play heaps more than that but I can't think of them off the top of my head lol. To try and list some id say project zomboid is one I'm very into as of right now, that and hell divers 2. I really enjoyed elden ring so I want to try more souls like games. Red dead redemption 2 is amazing and my favourite game of all time is probably watch dogs 2.
I love JDM cars and unfortunately haven't been to a car meet in over a year now. My introduction to photography was through cars so if you'd like to see some of my photos do let me know! Most of my part time work went towards getting my dream car so I definitely plan on going to more meets!
As for what I look like I'm 5"11' brown hair that touches my shoulders and never acts normally. I am 75 ish kg and I have brown eyes. That's a basic description of me but if you want a picture that's not an issue.
I'm not really too good at writing these advertisements or making titles or finishing them off so I'll just say if I sound appealing to you or you wanna know more, feel free to shoot me a message! For those in WA I'm down in the Mandurah area but travelling up to Perth isn't an issue for me! And hopefully I see all you Scots later this year!
Thanks for reading! Stay safe people!!

Here are the results of last week's Stand contest:
In third place we have mirrormanjojo with 「RAINBOW ON THE GROUND」. They earn the bronze flair.
In second place we have Daytron360 with 「WHITE WINTER HYMNAL」! They earn the silver flair!
And finally, in first place, we have MajesticMango7 with 「TEARS FOR FEARS」! They earn the gold flair, and get to pick this week's contest theme! Their choice is:
Stands that fit the themes, culture, and world of Fallout
You are free to interpret this theme in any way you wish.
This week's contest will last until midnight of June 25, Eastern Time. To enter, submit a Stand related to the theme, and give it the "Contest entry" flair by clicking the "Flair" option under your post after submitting it. If you can't add a flair (due to being on mobile for example), add the words "Contest entry" to your post's title and AutoModerator will flair it for you. Contest entries will not be accepted during the time between the contest closing and the results being announced, even if the sticky post is still up.
You are allowed to reuse a previously-submitted Stand to the contest, if it fits the theme. It is recommended, but not required, that you improve upon the old Stand (such as by giving it new abilities, ACT evolutions, or going more in-depth in the description such as by describing the user). When reusing a Stand, please repost it with the "Contest entry" flair, instead of simply changing the flair on your old post, so I will be able to see it when filtering by posts made this week.
Your post must include the theme you would want to see for the next contest if your entry wins. If you have previously won a contest and have a flair, you should also mention whether you'd rather take the new flair or keep your current one.
Each user may only submit one entry per week.
Contest entries must be presented in the form of text, not artwork. This is in order to keep things fair for users who can't draw, since artistic talent has been shown to give an unfair advantage to some users in the contest. If you want to make artwork for your contest entry, it should be submitted in a separate post after the contest ends.
At the end of the contest, whichever entry has the most upvotes will be the winner! The theme specified in the winning post will be used for next week's contest. In case of a tie, I will personally decide who comes out on top.
On top of this, the three top upvoted participants will be granted a special flair of their contest entry Stand's name in bronze, silver, or gold depending on their placement. It is possible to decline a flair, or choose to take it only if it wins a certain ranking (in case you prefer keeping a higher ranked flair).

TW: religious abuse, eluding to self-harm, mental health issues, transphobia, homophobia, mention of conversion therapy (but don't worry, there is a happy ending.)
In my country, there are these masses called "rainbow masses" during Pride-weeks and in some cities, like mine, a few times a year. These are held by the country's evangelical lutheran church. I went to one of these masses 5 years ago, and again a few days ago. 5 years ago it didn't feel so emotional, but now it did. I cried during and afterwards. First, because I realized how bad the religious abuse was in my youth. Second, because I felt like I had rekindled a relationship with an old friend who was very dear to me but who I had to pull away from because the people around Him were so toxic.
When I was a kid, I used to feel so safe in Christian circles. The people I talked to weren't mean, they were kind, truly, and not in a weird way, like they wanted something from you. When I was in confirmation camp, a boy there prayed for me - he didn't say that it was me, but I knew, because he looked at my wrist that day and fell silent, and he said he prayed for his classmate. I knew that I was that classmate.
It all crumbled when I realized I wasn't straight - I had a crush on someone who was the same sex as me. My parents started to go to a fundamentalist church at this time. There, a priest very openly preached about how wrong it was to be gay, and trans, and non-binary, and all other things under the rainbow, and they hated that LGBTQ+ people used the rainbow as their symbol. Suddenly, people around me, my mother included, held very casual conversations about how awful it was to be a LGBTQ+ person, how sinful it was to get married, to even want to get married, with someone of the same sex, and how weird gay men looked and acted, and how ugly lesbians were, and how trans people were deluded. Many of them believed in conversion therapy.
I prayed a lot when I was 14. I prayed to Jesus and asked, many many times, "Why is it wrong? Why is it wrong if I feel attraction to people regardless of gender? My love isn't lustful, so why is it wrong?"
I felt I got an answer. The answer was, "Is it?"
I imagined myself hugging Jesus and crying in his arms. There, he told me, "I love you as you are - no matter who you love or who you become."
And that was my truth. The foundation of my faith. My relationship with Jesus was that of love and acceptance, regardless of what I looked like or what I did in my life and with whom.
Unfortunately, my family disagreed with my views. I became a loud supporter of queer rights in our household. I have 6 siblings. I was the only one who disagreed with our mother's views. I was told that gay people go to hell. No redemption. They didn't know that it would mean that I would be going to hell.
No redemption.
I was branded as an evil person. My mom used to say that I take my little sister and brother "to the path of evil" even before I was a teenager. But it got worse.
Because I realized I was transgender at age 17. At that time, I was completely lost. My identity and my faith were at odds, according to my parents and the church they go to. Me being able to love both boys and girls was something "easy" to hide from them, because I tended to be more attracted to feminine men. After you realize you're trans, it's really hard to hide. It becomes an obsession. You think about it every night and day, until you finally say it out loud. Then the weight gets lighter, but you still feel like there is something very heavy in your heart.
I went through a terrible depressive episode. I got on antidepressants and they made me psychotic. During this psychotic episode I became confused. What was real and what was not? I thought that my consciousness would transfer into a tree and I would just watch eternity go on forever until the world ended.
I had to choose. My faith, or my sanity?
I chose my sanity. I said to myself that nothing that can be proven real, isn't real. I was 17 then. I felt my mind become stable, but a cold feeling spread in my chest. It was both comforting and sad. My old friend, my first ally, my first safe adult, my only safe parent-figure, had left my heart. I said, "I need to find who I am without you and these people who claim to speak for you."
I wanted to transition. I couldn't do so without my parents' permission, so I told my mom. It went surprisingly well. She was quiet and asked a few questions. I thought that maybe she accepted me.
I was naïve.
When me and my parents met with the doctor who was supposed to make the referral to the gender clinic, they said that they don't accept my identity because they're Christians. I felt betrayed. I thought that they were okay with it since they didn't say anything. My mom told my other siblings. My big brother had said to her, "you have to force her to stay a girl", and, according to my mom, my big sister had also said something really awful but when I asked my sister about it later she denied it. Still, her husband had said that their kids shouldn't see me because I'm trans.
My mom told me there was a therapist specialized in gender-related stuff, recommended by the priest of the church she went to. The same priest that preached about how wrong it was to be gay and trans. I knew it was conversion therapy, which isn't illegal in my country, and my father doesn't believe in forcing people, so I refused to go. Then she told me there was a woman in that church, who felt she was a man inside, but who didn't do anything about it because of her faith. My mom asked, "Why can't you be like her?"
I went to the gender clinic at 18 and moved out at 19. I started transitioning at 21. I am now 24, living as a man. I feel no regret as to how I did things.
I was 19 when I went to a rainbow mass last time. It wasn't emotional then. It was just strange.
Earlier this year, I watched Netflix's Sex Education's last season. There were queer Christians. I'm not going to spoil this if you have yet to watch it, but this season made me cry so much. I had never even seen queer Christians before. It made me think about the time 10 years ago when I prayed and prayed to Jesus to accept me... and He did. Just as He would accept me now. And then I promised myself that if I become a Christian again, I will never, ever, ever, hate myself or be ashamed of myself for who I am or go into the closet. I will never become judgmental or hateful.
I went to another rainbow mass a few days ago. I cried before and afterwards. I was emotional as soon as I stepped into the church. Someone was playing the organ, and I picked up a hymn book from the back. I sat somewhere to the side by myself. I felt a warm sensation in my heart. Like I met an old friend after so many years. He had been waiting for me. I couldn't sing half of the hymns because a lot of them just made me tear up.
I'm still unsure of many things regarding the Bible and faith and Christianity. I don't feel a need to label myself at the moment. But I love Jesus. I believe in Jesus. I believe that He is kind, open-minded and loving, and that being kind, open-minded and loving is the greatest way to show my love for Him.

I broke up with my girlfriend in february of 2023 for the sole reason of her not giving me enough attention and we have dated for 13 months. We are family friends to we meet in person every other week or so. i was really attached to her even after we broke up, but slowly she was distancing away from me on text. In the first couple months after the break up, we would text every day for multiple hours but as the months passed her response times decreased to once every 24 hours consistently. I asked her about it a couple weeks ago and she said that she doesn’t know what happened and wants to continue texting more. So then it started again, we started texting more everyday but just within a week the schedule changed back to us texting only once a day. Keep in mind that we are family friends and whenever I meet her in person we are having so much fun, as if none of this has ever happened. I feel like it’s just over text where she’s constantly ignoring me. She came over yesterday and we played poker together and we had so much fun. After she left I was texting my other friend and found out that she started liking this other guy. I was so heartbroken and didn’t realize i was still so attached to my ex. The guy she likes is also.. not the person I thought she would go for. Apparently she likes him because he helped her out in her classes and was “cute”. I don’t know if it’s a hallway crush, but I just realized how much I want to get back with her. I also have lots of anger in me because of her shit response times and it makes me feel like she’s ignoring me. Then again I can’t imagine her dating someone else. I’m confused on what to do. Should I try getting back together by maintaining closer ties with her, so should i distance myself even more and teach my self to get over her (this is going to be really hard for me). I also can’t completely ignore and block her because of the fact that we are family friends and meet like every week.

Hey to you reading this! I'd like to find someone to play games with or just hang in discord or something else. I guess I should tell you a little bit about myself, so you can decide if I'm worth your time. I'm a 20 year old finnish guy. What comes to looks I'm nothing special, 5'11 and neither fat or slim. I can send you a pic of meself if you want.
• I'm in military service right now so I don't have too much free time, but the amount that I have, I'd like to spend with you.
• I play a lot of videogames. My favorite game I have ever played is Witcher 3, but I play a lot of Rainbow Six Siege.
• I'm introverted and I guess a little shy 'til I get to know people
•I don't take myself seriously most of the time and like a good laugh.
•I like hiking but don't really like going alone.
•Also I collect Lego and like to build Gundam modelkits
•My music taste is pretty allover the place but my most listened genre is country.
•I love animals and have a cat.
•I've never really tried LDR so that would be something new which I'd be willing to try.
Come tell me about yourself or ask me for my discord or something else if you think that we would match. Hope to hear from you!

Hello! I recently found this fine sub a few months ago. I've just lurked around for the most part, as I had to build up some courage to actually ask for something. I have come to you all today to humbly request the game Ready or Not. I know the game is quite expensive, so I don't really expect to be gifted, but I hope I will.
What is Ready or Not?
Ready or Not is a tactical sim game where players become apart of an AI SWAT team in a fiction version of Los Angeles. You and your team unravel a mystery throughout the course of the game and the many locations it takes place in. You can customize your character and team to fit your playstyle, whether you want to go all lethal or pacifist.
Why do you want it?
I've always been a fan of tactical games, especially the Rainbow 6 series. But, since they aren't really making any new games in that series, I've been looking for something else to fill that space. And Ready or Not seems like the perfect game. It's a bit less super spies and more normal police tactical, which is great. The super-spies thing was the only part of R6 that I wasn't a huge fan of. I've been following Ready or Not since it's December release that added a campaign, something that I definitely want in any game I play.
Why can't I buy it myself?
Usually I'm not one to ask for stuff. If I could, I would just buy it myself and not bother any of you here. But, due to some unforeseen events that've happened, and just my general situation in life, I can't really afford games right now. Besides that, I hope that maybe in a few months time, hopefully not much more than that, I'll be able to pay it back to someone else here.
Getting the game would really make my weekend, and hopefully someone else in good "weekend spirits" can better mine as well.
If you've got this far, thank you for your consideration and time, or just plain interest. I wish you luck if you're requesting, or just luck with life in-general if you aren't.
Link for game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1144200/Ready_or_Not/
Link for profile: https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561199223351374/

In Rainbow Six Siege, "talking shit" can have surprising positive benefits. While often seen as negative behavior, when done in moderation and with respect, it can enhance the gaming experience in several ways.
Firstly, trash talk can build camaraderie among players. Engaging in light-hearted banter can break the ice and foster a sense of community. It creates a shared language and culture among players, making the game more enjoyable and immersive. Players often bond over these exchanges, turning teammates into friends and even forming long-lasting relationships.
Secondly, trash talking can serve as a psychological strategy. In a high-stakes, tactical game like Rainbow Six Siege, getting into the opponent's head can disrupt their focus and performance. A well-timed remark can rattle an opponent, giving your team a psychological edge. This mental aspect of the game adds a layer of strategy beyond mere mechanical skill.
Furthermore, engaging in trash talk can boost individual confidence and morale. When players talk themselves up or playfully put down their opponents, it can create a self-fulfilling prophecy of success. This boost in confidence can lead to better individual and team performance, as players feel more capable and motivated to win.
Lastly, trash talk can simply make the game more fun and entertaining. It adds an element of drama and excitement, transforming routine matches into memorable events. The adrenaline rush from a heated exchange can enhance the overall enjoyment of the game, keeping players engaged and eager to return.
In conclusion, a bit of well-placed trash talk in Rainbow Six Siege can foster community, enhance psychological strategy, boost confidence, and increase entertainment value, ultimately enriching the gaming experience.

I’ll be honest. I have one 18 inch doll. I love her so much and I think her face paint is particularly pretty. But every time I see everyone talking about facemolds.. I don’t get it. I can actually not really see the difference in different AG facemolds. I see some across brands but AG specifically? All of them look the same to me (not an insult!!)
So my question as someone who mainly collects Barbie’s, do you guys ever see posts from other doll collectors (Barbie, bratz, monster high, shadow/rainbow high, etc) about certain things like facemolds or bodies and just… not see what they’re talking about?
I feel so bad every time I do since I do like a range of Barbie facemolds.

/uw Part two! This is also set 20 years ago. Here's part one.
CW: mutilation, gore. Sorry.
/rw
The next page flips on its own; the text is even more degraded than before. The letters continuously wobble and shift, but the meaning is all the same.
...
First things first, I flipped the sign to 'Closed'. As I was about to walk back to my desk to file away the returns, I noticed a haphazard pile of books in the 'M' section.
It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Someone bumps a shelf, the books fall, then they don't have the courtesy to pick them back up. Some people... I got about halfway through sorting the pile when I heard the front door ring again.
Come on, couldn't they read? "Excuse me! The library is now closed!"
Dead silence, aside from an odd scraping sound.
I tried again. "You'll have to come back tomorrow! Sorry!"
...No response.
I stood up from the pile and walked toward the front. "I'm going to have to ask you to—"
I stopped dead in my tracks. I only caught a glimpse of it through the aisle, but that was all it took to send me into a panic. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen. A color so strange, it was like it didn't exist before today; and maybe... it didn't exist at all. The entity didn't 'fit' in the room, but to say it had a 'size' would be inaccurate. It was an outsider to our reality in its entirety, like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
I ducked down out of sheer instinct. What the hell was that?! My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to steady my breathing. That scraping was sound getting closer... and... closer. I had to move.
I ran down the aisle in an awkward sprint-crawl, trying to stay out of view of that thing. I struggled to push away the feeling of crushing dread, for I knew, with that one glimpse, that running was futile.
When I reached the end of the aisle, I breathed a sigh of relief, before realizing that it was right in front of me. I fell backward, scrambling to make it to my feet.
It spoke— no, it commanded, "Ḋ̶̼i̴̟̐s̴͍͝c̴͝ͅȇ̷̟ś̸̜ ̴̥̐v̸͆͜ȅ̸̟ŕ̷ͅĩ̷̹t̴̳̓a̴̭͑t̶̟͠e̶͜͠m̷͈̐ ̴̯̂ḩ̵̈u̶͉̕ḯ̶̙ủ̷͇s̴̝͊ ̷͆͜m̶̞̂u̸͙̿n̷͚̉d̴̈ͅȋ̶̳.̷̬͠"
I tried to run, but my legs were frozen. I tried to scream, but my voice got caught in my throat. I tried to shut my eyes, but I couldn't look away. I tried to pray, but no god was listening.
"̸͍͊N̶̖͂u̸͕͝m̷̄ͅq̴͉̓u̸̟̒ă̷̯m̶̂ͅ ̵͕͊p̵͕̐a̶̳̍c̵͉̎ḙ̵̽m̶̥̓ ̸͚̉i̷̞͝n̶̲͐v̷̗͑e̴̙̍ṇ̸̓ȋ̴̬ḙ̸̽s̵̟̐,̴̲̈ ̷̮̐p̸̐ͅu̴͚͋e̶̠͌r̸̙̎ ̸̠̇m̸̥̈́e̵̢̚ụ̴͌ś̴̞,̸̦͋" it uttered, holding a scythe above its head.
It didn't have a mouth to talk, ears to listen, or eyes to see, and yet, I heard it. But I couldn't understand it. I couldn't possibly understand it.
"̵̙̋P̵̜̐a̷̠̍t̵̖̐ì̴̗ē̸̩̏r̷͓̂i̵̬̾s̵̯͝.̵̯̂" It brought down the scythe at a snail's pace, the sharp point glistening in the amber light of the setting sun. It forced me to watch as the blade approached my face.
After what felt like an eternity, the tip of the scythe connected with my right eye, and I felt a pain unlike I'd ever felt before.
In that moment, a kaleidoscope of colors erupted from the center of my vision, going from a rainbow, to red, to an all-consuming darkness. I felt something warm streak down my face as the rest of my body grew numb.
The seconds felt like hours as it gouged the scythe further and further into my eye. I should have passed out by then, but it wouldn't let me. Finally, I reached a moment of respite as the blade quietly clicked against the back of my eye-socket.
That sense of relief was quickly torn away as I heard a stomach-churning crunch, the pain increasing tenfold. I could feel my heart slowing down as my body grew cold.
Millions of thoughts swirled around my head—millions of questions that would remain eternally unanswered as they were forcibly ripped from my mind.
As suddenly as it appeared, it vanished without a trace. I watched as the darkness crawled toward the center of my vision, and the floor grew closer... and closer... and closer... until the world slipped away.
...
A newspaper clipping [Mierbrook Post] is stapled to the page. The moment it's read, a Glyph of Warding triggers, automatically casting Power Word: Pain.
"Ithael Ralich, 26-year-old librarian, awoke from his coma last Friday, leaving the local community in shock. When contacted for an interview, he declined, stating, 'There's no point in discussing the past.' Officials have opened an investigation into potential foul play, desperate to uncover the truth of this disturbing incident.
Authorities rem—"

Hi everyone 👋 another cool selection of gold and silver jewelry up for grabs today!
Most of the items are brand new and anything else is in excellent pre owned condition.
All items ship in a jewelry box along with reusable polish cloths.
Proof: https://imgur.com/a/zVKmkQ7
Gold Chains:
1.) 20” 24k Gold Baht Chain 3mm 37.24g $3230 https://imgur.com/a/6S5msRk
2.) 19” 24k Gold Bar & Anchor Baht Chain 2.1mm 15.2g $1350 https://imgur.com/a/eeHnpFt
3.) 16” 24k Gold Anchor Chain 1.7mm 7.24g $615 https://imgur.com/a/vpqve42
4.) 16” 24k Gold Bar & Anchor Baht Chain 1.8mm 12.0g $1060 https://imgur.com/a/Dr8QunI
5.) 24” 18k White Gold Diamond Cut Fancy Link Chain 2mm 11.5g $735 https://imgur.com/a/FdqxYTS
6.) 7” 14k Yellow Gold Rope Bracelet 2.3mm 3.91g $210 https://imgur.com/a/ctHq4AY
7.) 24” 14k Gold Prism Cut Rope Chain 4.6mm 50.5g $2500 https://imgur.com/a/ZqrFWCN
8.) 24” 18k Yellow Gold Cuban 2.3mm 11.4g $735 https://imgur.com/a/C03PsYA
9.) 7.5” 24k Yellow Gold Cuban Bracelet 10mm 75.0g $6200 https://imgur.com/a/rF1rRGU

10.) 23” 24k Yellow Gold Baht Chain 2.9mm 28.5g $2300 https://imgur.com/a/ZPdo3xo
11.) 20” 14k Yellow Gold Rope 2.2mm 7.2g $360 https://imgur.com/a/wnE1NRa
12.) 18” 14k Yellow Gold 5 Motif Solid 14k Gold Necklace 10.9g $570 https://imgur.com/a/V24Bllt

13.) 18” 14k Yellow Gold 5 Motif Mother of Pearl Necklace 7.1g $380 https://imgur.com/a/gnjdlE4

14.) 18” 14k Yellow Gold 5 Motif Black Onyx Necklace 6.8g $380 https://imgur.com/a/mtArnIV
Earrings:
15.) 14k White Gold 5.12ctw VS Lab Diamond Studs 2.32g $1400 https://imgur.com/a/feze7v6
16.) 10k Yellow Gold 6mm Amethyst Studs .5g $90 https://imgur.com/a/Fc4NpWq
17.) 10k Yellow Gold 6mm Garnet Studs .5g $90 https://imgur.com/a/arVhDsA
18.) 10k Yellow Gold 6mm Square Citrine Studs .9g $100 https://imgur.com/a/p2PIZvn
19.) 14k Yellow Gold 5mm Aquamarine Studs .5g $105 https://imgur.com/a/GGAtoeZ
20.) 10k White Gold .35ct Black Diamond Studs .5g $100 https://imgur.com/a/0pD1cdh
21.) 10k White Gold 1/2ct Black Diamond Studs .8g $140 https://imgur.com/a/7p1pM3I
22.) 10k Yellow Gold Ruby & White Sapphire Flower Studs 1.5g $150 https://imgur.com/a/N4SiewZ
23.) 14k White Gold 10mm Huggies 1/10ct Natural Diamonds 1.0g $160 https://imgur.com/a/YFPlZWE
24.) 10k Yellow Gold 12mm Square Huggies .15ct Natural Diamonds 1.1g $180 https://imgur.com/a/uVRiN2s
25.) 14k Yellow Gold 1ctw VS Lab Diamond Studs .8g $325 https://imgur.com/a/jVWTUXo

26.) 14k White Gold 1ctw VS Lab Diamond Studs .7g $325 https://imgur.com/a/KHKkb6b
27.) 14k Yellow Gold 1 Motif MOP Earrings (large) 2.32g $135 https://imgur.com/a/39QwZIP
28.) 15mm 14k Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings 3mm thick 1.6g $99 https://imgur.com/a/fQgOSIa

29.) 10k Yellow Gold 1/2ct Natural Diamond Square Cluster Studs 2.2g $100 https://imgur.com/a/9SzAau4 (missing one tiny diamond. Can not see it while wearing them)
Bracelets:
30.) 7.25” 14k Tennis Bracelet 2.76ct Natural Diamonds 7.2g $605 https://imgur.com/a/qO170HX
31.) 7.5” Silver Tennis Bracelet 12ct White Topaz 8.6g $100 https://imgur.com/a/kakktxl
32.) 7.5” Silver Tennis Bracelet 12ct Garnet 8.3g $100 https://imgur.com/a/jmDbphV
33.) 7.5” Silver Tennis Bracelet 12ct Peridot 8.5g $100 https://imgur.com/a/iXgts8K
34.) 7.5” 10k Yellow Gold 2ctw Natural Diamond Tennis Bracelet 10.7g $650 https://imgur.com/a/f8s5XQR
35.) 7.25” 10k Yellow Gold Opal Tennis Bracelet 7.24g https://imgur.com/a/UwolKOo
36.) Size 18 14k Yellow Gold C artier Juste un Clou style nail bracelet 15.0g $800 https://imgur.com/a/It3AP4z

37.) Size 19 14k Yellow Gold C artier Juste un Clou style nail bracelet 23.1g $1210 https://imgur.com/a/EEi2GJg

38.) 7.5” 14k Yellow Gold 20.3ct Natural Ruby Tennis Bracelet 9.33g $560 https://imgur.com/a/5iwaEFs

39.) Size 20 (7.5”) 14k C artier Love Style Bracelet 8.7g $470 https://imgur.com/a/MOlZs6f

40.) 7.25” 14k Yellow Gold 5 Motif Black Onyx Bracelet 6.7g $340 https://imgur.com/a/MiPcTEd

41.) 7.25” 14k Yellow Gold 5 Motif MOP Bracelet 6.7g $340 https://imgur.com/a/QjQTClY

42.) 7.5” 14k Yellow Gold 3 Motif Black Onyx Bracelet 3.9g $220 https://imgur.com/a/4J3FkPL

43.) 7.5” 14k Yellow Gold 3 Motif MOP Bracelet 3.9g $220 https://imgur.com/a/8MdEdSa

44.) 7.5” Silver Tennis Bracelet 1ctw Natural Diamond 9.5g $160 https://imgur.com/a/MHpNCQg

45.) 7.5” Silver Tennis Bracelet with Rainbow Gemstones 11.6g $45 https://imgur.com/a/zPDRl9B

46.) 7.25” Silver Bracelet 2 Row Rainbow Gemstones 17.2g $55 https://imgur.com/a/fnNAtsR

47.) 7.25” Silver Bracelet Floral Style Multicolor Gemstones 15.2g $55 https://imgur.com/a/ilVWKxA

48.) 7.25” Silver Tennis Bracelet with Green and White Gemstones 7.4g $35 https://imgur.com/a/0ZVzSKU

49.) 7” Silver Women’s Station Bracelet with Yellow and White CZ 6.7g $30 https://imgur.com/a/sG1d6oA
Pendants:
50.) 14k Bezel with 5g 24k Gold Bar and .14ct Natural Diamonds 9.8g total weight $710 https://imgur.com/a/jpecpOw
51.) 14k Bezel with 5g 24k Gold Bar 5.4g total weight $435 https://imgur.com/a/dDXIdLe
52.) 14k Yellow Gold Eagle Pendant 4.7mm Bail 7.7g $385 https://imgur.com/a/Zy4pf6h
53.) 10k Yellow Gold Goat Pendant with CZ 6mm Bail 5.4g $195 https://imgur.com/a/NL9j0FF
54.) 10k Yellow Gold Star Pendant with CZ 6mm Bail 5.5g $200 https://imgur.com/a/FqoK21l
55.) 14k White Gold NY Yankees Pendant 2.8mm Bail 2.1g $95 https://imgur.com/a/YWvVEON
56.) 14k Hamza Pendant 2.7mm Bail .8g $40 https://imgur.com/a/CNmC5Wq
57.) 1.5” x 2.5” Silver & CZ Cross Pendant 5mm Bail 10.4g $30 https://imgur.com/a/CyJs7yx

58.) 2” x 1.25” Silver Cross Pendant 5.5mm Bail 8.6g $30 https://imgur.com/a/wPaKtqk

59.) 2” x 1” Silver Cross Pendant 5mm Bail 4.7g $25 https://imgur.com/a/typRoDr

60.) 1” x 1.5” Silver Cross Pendant 5mm Bail 4.5g $25 https://imgur.com/a/Rr1jAZj

61.) 1.5” Silver Italian Horn Pendant 2.7mm Bail 3.4g $25 https://imgur.com/a/BI9Kzi7

62.) 1” x 1.75” Silver Crucifix 5mm Bail 5.3g $25 https://imgur.com/a/8iCvWNa

63.) 1.5” Silver & CZ Jesus Piece 4.8mm Bail 6.2g $25 https://imgur.com/a/9xI23mY

Rings:
64.) Size 9.5 14k Yellow Gold Men’s Ring with .85ct Natural Diamond Solitaire 10.6g $850 https://imgur.com/a/7N080JL
65.) Size 7 10k Yellow Gold Braided Link Women’s Ring 1/4ct Natural Round & Baguette Diamonds 2.6g $175 https://imgur.com/a/qwSEz7O
66.) Size 10 10k Yellow Gold Men’s 3 Diamond Ring 1/3ctw Natural Diamonds 6.3g $300 https://imgur.com/a/B3GiOh8
67.) Size 9 10k Gold 2 Tone Men’s Ring with 1/4ct Round Brilliant Natural Solitaire Diamond 7.5g $325 https://imgur.com/a/U7yZWBt
68.) Size 11 14k Yellow Gold Brushed Finish 1/3ct Natural Diamond Cluster Ring 5.7g $325 https://imgur.com/a/KpjGNc2
69.) Size 7 14k White Gold 3/4ct Natural Diamond Engagement Ring 5.7g $450 https://imgur.com/a/tKyivSx

70.) Size 12 14k White Gold 1/4ct Natural Diamond Men’s Ring 5.8g $330 https://imgur.com/a/EIZZiuJ
71.) Size 7 10k White Gold & .2ct Natural Diamond Promise/Engagement Ring 2.7g $125 https://imgur.com/a/XbKM3VV

72.) Size 7 14k Yellow Gold Ruby & Natural Diamond Fashion Ring 2.0g $240 https://imgur.com/a/7auS2AP

73.) Size 7 14k White Gold Blue Sapphire & Natural Diamond Ring 2.0g $240 https://imgur.com/a/FevzOle

74.) Size 7 14k Yellow Gold Floral Design .65ct Natural Diamond Ring 3.2g $250 https://imgur.com/a/4ggt41A
75.) Size 5 10k White Gold Star Sapphire 2.6g $82 https://imgur.com/a/k4trN2N
76.) Size 6 14k Gold 1/4ct Natural Cluster Diamond Ring 1.8g $175 https://imgur.com/a/Bd1jbNg

77.) Size 7 10k Yellow Gold & 1/10ct Diamond Band 1.6g $100 https://imgur.com/a/ES2fP7e

78.) Size 10 10k Yellow Gold & 1/5ct Natural Diamond Band 2.5g $125 https://imgur.com/a/CJOigsp
79.) Size 10 Men’s Silver Ring with .05ct Natural Diamonds 6.5g $45 https://imgur.com/a/qSWV19M
Pendant Chains:
80.) 18” 10k Yellow Gold Chain with Mystic Topaz & .1ct Natural Diamond pendant 1.6g $175 https://imgur.com/a/0trtsC8
81.) 18” 10k Yellow Gold Chain with Blue Sapphire & .1ct Natural Diamond Pendant 1.31g $175 https://imgur.com/a/cZaYffe
82.) 18” 10k White Gold Chain with Blue Topaz & .1ct Natural Diamond Halo Pendant 1.2g $150 https://imgur.com/a/AZ1SAfO
83.) 18” 10k White Gold Chain & Triple Diamond Pendant 1.5g $100 https://imgur.com/a/zfydoKW
84.) 18” 10k Yellow Gold Chain and Amethyst Pendant .1ct Natural Diamond 1.1g $125 https://imgur.com/a/ZKEDHKW
85.) 18” 10k Yellow Gold Chain and Opal Pendant with diamond accent 1.24g $125 https://imgur.com/a/H4uqG1W
86.) 18” 14k Yellow Gold Chain & 1/4ct Natural Diamond Heart Pendant 2.0g $140 https://imgur.com/a/QXKlGHw

87.) 18” 10k Yellow Gold Chain & .05ct Natural Diamond Cross Pendant 1.8g $85 https://imgur.com/a/KvcYwgS

88.) 18” 10k White Gold Chain & .15ct Natural Diamond Cross 1.0g $130 https://imgur.com/a/a8mGpY3

89.) 18” Silver Chain & 1/4ct Natural Diamond Heart Pendant 2.7g $70 https://imgur.com/a/FMMrIpm

90.) 16” 14k White Gold Wheat Chain & Cross Pendant 3.0g $150 https://imgur.com/a/pIzzAUV

91.) 18” Silver Box Chain & 6ct Natural Blue Sapphire Cross 6.2g $70 https://imgur.com/a/hIiudnk

92.) 18” Silver Box Chain & 6ct Natural Ruby Cross 6g $70 https://imgur.com/a/N6pe6bO

93.) 18” 14k Gold over Silver Chain with .1ct Diamond Heart Pendant 2.4g $25 https://imgur.com/a/8g3JnKU
94.) 18” 10k Chain & Loupe Pendant (loupe actually moves) with 1/4ct VS Lab Diamonds 2.2g $200 https://imgur.com/a/V4rBXsc
Silver Rope Chains:
95.) 16” 3.5mm Silver Rope 19.3g $44 https://imgur.com/a/5G3Os0I
96.) 18” 3.5mm Silver Rope 22.2g $50 https://imgur.com/a/1sKPcQG
97.) 20” 3.5mm Silver Rope 24.8g $56 https://imgur.com/a/6UGgvNC
98.) 22” 3.5mm Silver Rope 26.8g $60 https://imgur.com/a/l95KxWu
99.) 24” 3.5mm Silver Rope 29.5g $66 https://imgur.com/a/hXo2RYZ
100.) 26” 3.5mm Silver Rope 31.1g $69 https://imgur.com/a/hXo2RYZ
Silver Francos:
101.) 20” 4mm Silver Franco 34g $79 https://imgur.com/a/H0hLMUW
102.) 22” 4mm Silver Franco 38.6g $89 https://imgur.com/a/R2t4YJq
103.) 24” 4mm Silver Franco 43.9g $100 https://imgur.com/a/AYtcqmt
104.) 8” 5mm Silver Franco 27.0g $62 https://imgur.com/a/MeCy2gu
105.) 20” 5mm Silver Franco 63.7g $146 https://imgur.com/a/5GZbeek
106.) 24” 5mm Silver Franco 75.2g $172 https://imgur.com/a/pxC9S3m
Shipping available via first class ($5) or priority ($9). All items ship within 24 hours of purchase.
Payment via Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, eCheck, PayPal (It’s a biz acct so I only have G&S which is +3.5% due to the PayPal fee).
I DO NOT ACCEPT FORMS OF PAYMENT NOT LISTED. ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS.
Any questions please let me know! Thanks
P.S. My chats don’t always come through. Please send me a follow up if you don’t get a response from me. Thank you 🙏

-First- -Previous- -Next (on Patreon)-
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Hello again! This batch of chapters is looking pretty spicy, and I'm really excited to share them with you! Not really much else to say, tbh, other than that I'm once again really thankful for all of your patience and understanding when it comes to my upload schedule. I know it's tough sometimes to drop in and out of stories like this, and even worse to see the last upload date for a story you like being "100 days ago," but we're still making our way there slowly! Besides, the most tender dishes are the ones that boil slowly~
As always, I hope you enjoy reading! :D
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Fanart: The Brightest Star in the Night Sky, by u/Frostedscales
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Thank you to Philodox on discord for proofreading and editing RfD.
Thank you to Pampanope on reddit for the cover art.
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​
Memory Transcript Subject: Sylvan, Venlil Citizen
Date: [Standardized Human Time]: December 13, 2136
​
“Everything’s good to go over here, Kenta! How about you?”
“Fine on my end too boss! Though I still don’t know how to feel about how I’ve arranged the sandwiche– err… sylvanas. Cucumber salad next to blueberry? They kind of don’t match…”
“I already told you a million times, they look fine!”
“You sure…?”
“I’m sure! Now are you ready to start this thing?”
“Ready!”
“Then let’s go!”
I shut the door to the kitchen, making sure that I had not left anything behind that would be needed for the day, then began wheeling out the final cart of amenities. As I rolled it down the wooden floor of my emptied out diner, one long serving tray jostled back and forth across the surface top.
I looked down to recap my inventory. A motley of sylvanas cleanly cut into triangles lay in an ornate pattern atop a decorative bed of raw ipsom grain stalks, spiraling around the edges of the plate as it creeped its way closer to the center. The sylvanas were split into clear groups based not only on their filling, but of the colour of that filling as well, creating a literal rainbow of flavours to choose from. By all means, it was an absolutely marvelous display of art; a visual performance that I had no idea could be captured in something like a dish to be served at such a quaint event. Kenta, however, seemed to still be worrying over it.
Despite it apparently being part of the name according to my translator, the Terran fruit named “blueberry” was actually a deep shade of indigo rather than blue, especially when crushed into a form of jam. As a result, lacking any blue to connect the various green options of our rainbow to that of the very limited indigo, Kenta had ended up spending much too long worrying over such a minute detail.
‘What a dummy…’ I thought back to myself with a slight chuckle. ‘I guess he’s worrying about this just as much as I am.’
Hardly two or three steps remained between the food cart and the diner’s entrance. Hastily, I jogged up to the front door to prop it open. However, when I went to turn the handle, I felt it give way without even the slightest push. Someone was pulling it from the other side, causing me to be yanked forward and stumble. Looking up, I saw the rusty figure of Fehnel standing impatiently in the doorway.
“You almost done in here, Sylvan?” she asked in a hurried breath. “Here, let me help you with that.”
Before hearing my response, Fehnel had already grabbed ahold on the cart and began pulling it outside without delay. I let go and didn’t attempt to stop her, knowing full well the farm woman was likely much stronger than I. In a blur, she was already far from the door, and I began jogging after her in an attempt to keep up.
Just as the day before, the Inverter was powered on and running perfectly. The metal pylon let out a slight, continuous hum as it projected an energetic beam from its center, which split at the apex around the height of the Lackadaisy and fell down in a parabolic curve, creating a tangible anti-gravity field in its wake.
Just outside the field, it became immediately clear just how necessary this piece of advanced Federation technology was. Beyond the radiant dome, a thick rain riddled the sky and drowned the world it fell unto. A harsh wind howled and distant thunder roared, which combined with the rain to push against the field to no avail. Within, where so many confectionaries, decorations, and other preparations had been so carefully placed, not even the paw of Solgalick could disrupt us.
“You know this would be goin’ a lot faster if I could jus’ start grabbin’ the food ma’self,” Fehnel commented in a tone too preoccupied to be annoyed.
As I ran after the hauling Yotul, I tried to say, “Fehnel, I’d really appreciate it if you would–”
“I know, I know,” she interrupted back, seemingly distant. “You want me to ‘not go into the diner during the event.’ Listen Sylvan, I get that Kahnta back there is a fainter, but don’t you think that this is a tad extreme? We’re on a tight schedule here, y’know?”
“I know… it’s just kind of a golden rule. I can’t stress to you enough how important it is that nobody does so much as peak in there,” I reiterated as I jogged alongside the speeding Yotul. “And don’t worry. Once everything starts, then you can feel free to socialize and spend the day with your daughter. I’ll take care of restocking the food.”
“I suppose that’s awful nice of ya,” Fehnel breathed out. “Sure you won’t be tirin’ yourself out, hun?”
I shrugged. “Eh. How fast could people possibly eat? It’ll be fine.”
“Careful there. Don’t wanna be sprintin’ before your legs catch up,” Fehnel chuckled. “But I’m plenty thankful for the confidence. I’ll try to hold ya to your word.”
As we moved, I was able to take a brief second to look around. I began to marvel at how far the event had come since its initial inception. And under such short time restrictions as well! Through a combination of both the Lacakdaisy’s furniture, as well as a number of decorations that I had rented, we had ended up with something that I had truly considered exemplary. In traditional Venlil style, a forest of various greenery had been set out in a colourful array of paw-crafted pots and other containers. Small bushels, flowers, a few overhanging trees, and other vegetation stood proudly within. From each, incandescent ornaments of various hues emerged in a bright and brazen display. All of which combined to transform the normally secluded street atmosphere into one that was truly cozy, if not just the slightest bit packed within the bubble. In accordance with one of Fehnel’s initial requests, we had even arranged for a small wooden stage to be brought in, which fit neatly against… something that I would rather not look at…
Of course, decorations aside, one of the most enrapturing displays was that of the food itself. Positioned at various places all around the event’s area, tables upon tables of buffet items had been laid out. It was a marvelous display on all fronts. From the generously sized serving bowls of pasta, plates of still steaming gyoza, and the diverse types and variations of strayu laid in motley rows all throughout, the feast was like a colourful microcosm of everything Kenta and I had been working towards.
But what was even more impressive were all the new additions Kenta had made. Just as expected, my wayward chef had taken the original request and spun it on its tail, seemingly pulling no stops when it came to expanding our already diverse arrangement. From end to end, small, round discs of strayu called “Danishes” lay against each other down the side of one of the tables. Most impressively, the center of each had been filled in with various hues of jam, in a similar style to that of the sylvanas that I was currently wheeling towards it.
On the other side of the same table, a sundry of embellished wooden bowls sat parallel, each filled with various kinds of Venlilian-style salads. I had taken the time to teach him such recipes a good while back, but while at first these seemed to be rather unostentatious, a quick look revealed that Kenta had added his own twist to the otherwise typical mix of local produce. Tossed about each salad were dozens of small strayu cubes called “Croutons,” each baked until crisp and crunchy. What’s more, if the olfactory receptor in my mouth didn’t deceive me, I had even picked up the heavenly aroma of something Kenta had only introduced to me recently as “Garlic,” which had clearly been infused into the cubes.
On another table, steaming crocks of both soups and stews had been laid out for guests to self serve. But in lieu of a bowl, Kenta had elected to do something truly unique. It had taken me a moment to process his idea at first, but hollowed out husks of rotund strayu loaves had been left out for guests to grab, in which they were supposed to fill the “bread bowls” – as Kenta had called them – with the soup and eat them as normal. This even came with the advantage of being able to tear off small pieces of the now soup-soaked strayu, allowing one to enjoy the taste of both simultaneously. This idea, I had soon realized, would be the hardest to explain to any confused guests that might happen by.
As we approached the soup table, Fehnel and I began loading up the cart-full of sylvanas we had brought over onto a free area. We placed them right next to one other new recipe that Kenta had decided to share. A simple display of thinly cut slices of crunchy, lightly seasoned strayu, with a bright red sauce readied next to it that I instantly recognized as being the product of tomatoes mixed with oil. According to Kenta, these “Bruschetta” were a simple, yet simultaneously alluring appetizer, which would do well to pair with the soup he had stirred up.
Once the sylvanas had been laid out, Fehnel felt the urge to ask, “Is that the last of it?”
“Yes, for now,” I replied, absentmindedly stretching my back. “This’ll cover the initial rush of hungry people, I assume. But Kahnta’s already busy working on seconds.”
“Gotta say Sylvan, this is quite the impressive spread,” Fehnel said with a quick, delighted wag of the tail. “Y’know… When I asked for somethin’ new, I wasn’t expectin’ Kahnta over there to whip up so much.”
“Oh this isn’t the new dish you asked for,” I answered flatly. “That’s still being worked on.”
Fehnel froze solid, only her ears remaining seemingly automotive as they slowly shifted towards me. “Wait… what?
“Yeah all of this is just the appetizer according to Kahnta,” I explained, messing with a few arrant sylvanas that had broken symmetry. “There’s going to be one more plate of food that should be coming out shortly. And then dessert after that.”
“That’s… surely somethin’...” was all Fehnel could say. She opened her mouth as if to continue her train of thought, only to have something else pull her attention away.
Peering out into the stormy weather of the darkened town, an eye-catchingly large herd of people were making their way towards the bright dome that sketched our event’s area. Silhouettes of familiar patrons and wayward newcomers alike huddled under their umbrellas. All the while, an excited murmur hummed throughout the air, despite the noise of the rain around them. The guests were here, and they seemed excited.
I peered down at a small data pad. “Oh, second-sun already? Looks like we just barely made it on time.”
Fehnel simply wagged in acknowledgment, still the slightest bit flabbergasted.
I nudged her side, which seemed to knock her out of her trance. “Want to go greet them?”
Taking one look at me, then peering back at the ensemble of strange and alien foods behind her, one of Fehnel’s ears flicked a little. Then, she did the tail equivalent of a Human shrug, letting out a pleased chuckle. Whatever had been on her mind was apparently pushed to the side for now. “Heh, of course hun. Let’s treat ‘em to somethin’ special.”
With a newfound kick in her already hastened step, Fehnel began to proudly jog over towards the approaching crowd. By now, we could already begin to make out some faces, each looking more curious than the last.
In addition to the Brachistochrone Inverter itself, Jeela had also taken the liberty to have a reception area installed in the form of a metallic tunnel about the width of three Venlil. The tunnel seemed to fold and bend the anti-gravity energy around it, allowing for people to easily enter the repulsion field without having to tread through a torrent of redirected rainwater. Additionally, a series of hooks alongside the interior of the tunnel also served as a convenient area for the storage of umbrellas and coats, which our guests quickly began making use of the moment they started funneling through.
Fehnel and I stood at the side of the entrance, welcoming in guest after guest with the appropriate propriety. At first, many of them were stymied in their step, staring in awe at the sanctuary-like atmosphere that had been created in the middle of the street. But almost as soon as they got their bearings, most realigned their immediate priorities, and subsequently made a beeline for the buffet tables. That’s what they were here for, after all. Hopefully they’d come to appreciate the actual reason Fehnel was hosting this event soon enough.
As we busied ourselves, the voices of many excited guests made themselves audible.
“I’ve been looking forward to this!”
“Look at the decorations!”
“I feel like I’m in the Capital!”
“Are you sure all of this is free?”
“The ad said it was! Either way, I need to try some of this!”
Fehnel and I watched in delight as the crowd began to form around the tables, a number of plates I had left out disappearing as fast as the eye could blink. However, it was clear that a majority of the attention received had been focussed solely on the more familiar menu items already offered by the Lackadaisy.
“Think they’re gonna touch any of the new stuff?” Fehnel idly commented, her attention still fixed on the crowd. “It’d be a shame if any of it goes to waste.”
“Oh they will,” I answered without hesitation. “Just give them a moment. They’ll be all over it soon enough.”
Fehnel laughed. “You sound awful confident, don’tcha?”
“Oh please, this is hardly the first time I’ve served some wacky new thing to my customers,” I answered back with a chuckle of my own. “If anything, at this point I’d say I’m quite the expert. Just watch. You’ll see.”
Like clockwork, my precognitive claim had been proven true mere moments later. Some soul amongst the table’s crowd had seemingly been more curious than the rest, and ended up taste-testing one of the bruschetta. It was hard to make out from this distance, but if I had to guess, her ears had perked up and her eyes had widened in surprise. What was made clear, however, was their opinion of the new food, because only a few moments later could their voice be heard.
“You have got to try some of this stuff!” she practically yelled at anyone who would listen. “It tastes like the red stuff that’s on the pasta, but like… even stronger! It’s so good I feel like I died and am one with the Stars already!”
Like a Farsul unto a library, the crowd collectively swiveled their ears and began to gravitate towards the bruschetta with eager eyes. A few more voices piped up in glee, each more delighted than the last as paw after paw descended on the strayu until there was nothing scarce of crumbs left.
‘Guess that’ll be the first thing I’ll need to restock,’ I thought with a passive wave of the tail, before a sudden realization crept into my mind. ‘Ugh… Kenta and I might be busier today than I thought…’
It wasn’t long before the elation of trying something new, mixed with the sudden and devastating lack of bruschetta, had urged our party guests to move on to the other, never before seen options that laid out to fill their fancy. All at once, the wall of wool and fluff had spread out the slightest bit as fresher waters were explored. Plates were filled with various salads, despite the unfamiliar bits of crunchy strayu inside raising some skeptical ears. Helping after helping of the technicolour pastries were reached for as well, with the sylvanas not lasting much longer after that. And most impressively, it seemed that people had quickly begun to figure out the concept of Kenta’s cute “bread bowl” idea as well, even without instruction.
That last turn of events had actually caught me the slightest bit off guard. For the bread bowls being quite possibly the most unique aspect of the event – well, that I knew of – I found myself rather impressed by how fast people were getting the hang of it. Sure, it meant that I wouldn’t have to bother myself with having to go around explaining it to everybody, but in my eyes, there was a bit more to it than that. Perhaps it was a case of grasping at straws, but for the briefest moment, it made me wonder whether or not Humanity’s ideas had been affecting my people more than I had realized. Perhaps, if only in the slightest, Kenta had been opening their minds to more unique ideas than I had given him credit for. Without the slightest bit of hesitancy, the partygoers did well to experiment with more than the obvious, quickly wrapping their minds around something completely new and extraordinary.
I exhaled a short-breathed snicker, shaking the thought out of my head. ‘Calm down there, Sylvan. It’s just some soup and a piece of strayu shaped like a bowl. No need to get all philosophical about it. Still, I guess them figuring it out saves me some time. Good, cause it looks like I already need to start stocking the next round…’
I moved to grab my cart so that I could head back inside, only to have Fehnel call out and grab my attention instead.
“Sylvan, hun,” she began. “Before you go makin’ yourself scarce. I think there’s somethin’ about this here party that you haven’t explained yet.”
My head turned out to face her. “Hm?”
“Now, don’t get me wrong… What you did here is great and all. By all means, whenever it is that Kadew decides to show up here with that date of hers, I’m sure she’ll start coming around to the idea of my peoples’ Runnin’ Day. But…”
I now realized that Fehnel was completely focussed on something off in the distance.
“Oh,” I replied. “That…”
I had done well to ignore it up until this point. In fact, if I tried hard enough, I was even able to keep it completely hidden from my peripheral. But the truth was, no matter where I went or what I did to distract myself, there was no denying that it was there – that She was there.
At the opposite end of the dome, an onyx terror lurked over the ignorant, complacent masses. Its wicked enormity great, and the pressure about it even greater. The form it took was terrifying. An alien pose, unknown to the mind, originated from a people feared by many. Its peering eyes descended as domineering malevolence. And from its onyx chassis, a message rang clear as a day personally forged by Solgalick themself: Even if I couldn’t see her; if I shielded herself from my sight all day… No matter what, She could always see me.
“I’m gonna be honest Sylvan, I did not take you as someone that had a thing for Magister Jeela.”
I shot back quicker than a bolt of lighting. “I DO NOT HAVE A ‘THING’ FOR–” before stopping myself short.
Luckily, my voice had not been noticed among the now loud, chattering crowd about us. Which was good. I was pretty sure that my voice had cracked into an almost childishly high pitch. Taking a deep breath, I yanked my composure back, and stuffed an air of professionalism back into my voice yet again.
“I a-appologize…” I mumbled out, my head shrinking between my shoulders.
“No worries!” Fehnel replied. She couldn’t help but let a few chuckles pour into her voice. “I was just teasin’ is all. But seriously, you’re gonna have to whip up a pretty darn good explanation… Else I’m boutta start thinkin’ that what I just said was true.”
I took a deep breath, which soon shifted into a long-winded sigh. “Listen… It was part of the deal, alright? I’m not proud of it, but it’s there now, and unless you’ve got a herd of Mazic heavylifters at the beck and call, I can’t get rid of it.”
“Part of the deal?” Fehnel repeated.
“It’s my end of the bargain for us being able to have this Inverter during the event. And no, before you ask, it was not worth it,” I explained.
I could do nothing but feel immense shame for the inconvenience. To have something so overbearing, so shamelessly grandstanding placed in the middle of what was supposed to be a quaint event about cross-cultural understanding… It was beyond disrespectful to Fehnel’s original request. It took something that the poor woman had been planning for who knew how long, and brutally morphed it into a shadow of its former self. Into nothing but an ego trip for a politician that probably already surrounded themselves with weed biters and paw lickers.
“Listen…” I said, lowering both my tail and ears in respect. “Fehnel, I apologize profusely for allowing that thing to be placed here. I should have put my paw down and just hosted the event inside like we planned. But it’s too late now. I’m really sorry…”
But to my surprise, Fehnel had not been paying attention to my display of humility. Instead, her focus was still on that of the statue.
“I think it looks neat!” she said in a cheery tone.
“Y-you do?” I mumbled back.
“Well yeah!” She wagged her tail to assure me. “Sure it’s a bit, err… unconventional… But I think it’s got quite a bit of charm to it!”
“That’s… one way of saying it…”
“Besides, it might not be the worst thing to have somethin’ from the Magisters here with us,” Fehnel continued to think out loud. “Sorta gives this whole event a kinda official feel, y’know? Like it’s lettin’ everyone here know that the Yotul have got just as much right bein’ under the same heedin’ ears of the Governor as anyone else. Sure, dependin’ on where you are and who you ask, that may or may not be a good thing. But it at least means it’s harder to ignore us now. Heck, might even convince some of the people ‘round here to open up a little to the other parts of us.”
“Well… so long as you’re happy with it, I suppose?” I worded awkwardly.
If I had been completely honest with myself, I was expecting the slightest bit more… Well, I wasn’t sure. Perhaps anger? Annoyance? Unrelenting grief that invariably led to locking yourself in a closet, crying? But there was no sign of that in the rusty Yotul’s eyes. As she stared up at the onyx marvel, I couldn’t help but feel as though there was no sign of the negativity I had anticipated in the slightest. Instead, all that remained was that of a solemn pride. Maybe she was lying to herself. Like it was some sort of coping mechanism that helped her work around this unwelcome development in her plans. But regardless, the end result remained. And I was left feeling relieved at being able to avoid yet another hurdle.
‘Fehnel really knows how to look at the optimistic side of things, I guess… Good. I could really use some more of that around here.’
“Feel free to run along now, Sylvan,” she said, waving me a satisfied flick of the tail. “I’ll keep waitin’ here so I can greet the other guests. And I do hope you and Kahnta can bring out the main course whenever it’s ready. I wanna make sure everything’s ready to blow Kadew’s fur off whenever she decides to get here.”
I had to force myself not to flash a Human smile in return. She and the rest of the partygoers had no idea what was coming. And to a certain extent, neither did I. He did mention he had some sort of “surprise” coming, after all. But I always trusted Kenta for his word, and knowing what my chef was capable of, it never occurred to me once that it wouldn’t live up to the expectations. In fact, I was counting on him to exceed them.
I turned around and headed back to the kitchen. It was time to get the real party started.
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Hello lovely people! I'm Jonathan - just a guy trying to make a lasting connection. It's not an easy task by any means but I love meeting new people and getting to know them; show me what you've got!
About Me: • I'm a graphic designer that works at a local newspaper. I design newspapers, advertisements, magazines, website stuff! It's a fun job, and I really love the people I work with.
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