Dirty thoughts to tell your boyfriend

Hi, I hope you all are doing good. I would like to share my experience as a first time voter which got completely ruined because of my parents.
Some background about my parents :
My parents are from UP and have done their post-graduation, so they are educated. They are extremely controlling, toxic and abusive. I have been going through a lot because of them. They are right-wing supporters, they are brainwashed andhbhakts and they believe that sanatan dharma is superior to all. I am an atheist and I am being forced to follow their religion, they expect me to be an andhbhakt like them. I dislike the idea of religion and God, I also dislike BJP and Modi because of various reasons while religious bigotry being the first one.
My parents believe Modi is their lord and saviour and they praise him all day long, even during dinner time. My parents always bring up politics and religion while I try to avoid it. Even if I criticise Modi and hinduism on valid points, I am labelled as a fool. My parents think that I have muslim friends who are manipulating me into becoming anti-hindu and anti-national, however it is not at all true, I have my own opinions and I don't even have any muslim friends.
How my experience of being a first time voter got ruined :
I recently turned 20. I was born and raised in Delhi. This was going to be the very first time I would vote and choose my representative. My parents were constantly trying to manipulate me to vote for BJP. I said that I will vote for whoever I like. After realising that they were not able to manipulate me, they started yelling and fighting with me, especially my father. He used to lecture me about "our dharma, our parivar, our duty, we should protect our dharma"
His words were "make sure that you press the button with a lotus flower on it, don't even read the list of candidates. We didn't bring you in this world to betray us like that, stay together as a family and obey us, you are not above us to use your own brain, do as we say. Do you have any muslim friends? Why do you always oppose us? Muslims always vote according to their family, they will outnumber us. Be a good hindu, vote for BJP only." When I said that it is illegal according to law to pressurize or manipulate a voter to vote for a particular party, "he said all laws are worthless, don't teach me."
I discussed this problem with people in USI general chat the night before voting in my area and they said this is very wrong of him but say on his face that you will vote for BJP and then later in the booth as nobody is going to check, vote for the representative you like.
I thought I would do the same, my father voted before me and then it was my turn right after him. His didn't leave me alone rather he kept standing there looking at me, I got extremely scared and felt pressurised to vote for BJP. I gave up and voted for BJP despite me not wanting to. If I didn't vote for BJP my parents would have yelled at me, my father would have slapped me and beaten me along with taking away my phone.
I was absolutely heartbroken, I felt so small and powerless that my abusive parents who don't let me control any aspect of my life and have made my life hell, didn't even let me practice my basic right to vote for a candidate of my liking. I was crying silently on the way back home.
Upon reaching home I asked him "why were you standing there? Why didn't you leave me alone? You know that's illegal right?" He began giving excuses like "it was your first time voting so I was there to look after and make sure you vote properly." I told him that I know how to press buttons. He became furious and started yelling " you don't tell me what's legal and illegal, I know everything and it is not a big deal, you are a family member so shut up and don't speak up otherwise I will break your ribs and legs and I will make sure you become obedient." He was very close to slapping me.
I felt very bad and I left the room, I cried all day yesterday so much so that my head started hurting. I haven't talked to my father since then and I am barely talking to my mother.
This post is about both, abusive parents and brainwashed right-wing supporters.
Thank you for reading🙏🏻

Marry Me Macbeth would be advertised as an unpublished or "lost" film that finally gets to see the light of day, at first glance it'd be about a smooth & jazzy Romantic Comedy from the early 1990s known as Marry Me Macbeth with a simple but enjoyable story. It'd tell 2 different stories at once, a surface level story and a chilling story below the surface that we have to pick apart for ourselves.
Surface Plot: Macbeth is a damsel mourning over her awful minimum wage job so she comes up with the idea to look for the perfect husband because she can't bear to pay her rent anymore so if she marries him, she'll never have to pay anything again so she finds a good man and does her best to speed up the relationship as fast as she can portraying herself as a simple housewife and talking about a wedding even though they've only been acquainted for a couple days, the entire story pans out over a week requiring really good pacing before she somehow convinces this man into marrying her. Setting would be early 1970s
Hidden Plot: At the beginning of the film, we get pre-debut promotional interviews from the 90s with the stars of the film talking about how amazing the film is and just hyping it. In reality the film that we the audience are watching was made on a haunted studio and tragic events occurred during the making of this film, the producers ignored the locations tragic events and tried to complete their movie on it since it was the cheapest option, but chaos ensues as the creation of this film proceeds, midway through the film there'd also be an extended cut of the pre-debut promotional interviews with the film's stars talking about their strange experiences on set during the creation of Mourning Macbeth. As the surface level story progresses minor eerie events and details would occur throughout Mourning Macbeth that have no connection to the story whatsoever such as a visual/auditory malfunctions and apparitions briefly appearing in scenes without the protagonist paying any attention to them at all would begin to appear, almost as if it's not even a part of the movie.
How it blends together: The idea of this film is to make a deceptively horrific film that acts as an unpublished romcom when it's actually a horror movie about a haunted film project made in a cursed studio.
Cinematography: The film would feel liminal in a sense only ever giving us wide shots on interior areas in very specific angles similar to liminal spaces photos, we'd never see any outdoor areas, the only way we'd know the time of day is light behind windows or no light behind windows. The camera would always give scenes wide shots showing fully what is happening in a location, but we'd be made to feel a strange sense of unease as we are made to focus on the background more than the protagonist, for example the camera might be positioned on the wall presenting a wide shot facing Macbeth doing the dishes with the living room connecting to the kitchen behind her being pitch black and some indistinguishable figure is lurking, watching, not at her, but its looking at you, it knows your there, this movie may be fake, but that sinister abnormality isn't, it notices you. However, something important to mention however, is that the eerie details should never take up the entire screen, they should be minor enough that you can never become accustomed to it, but you can always vaguely have an idea of what it looks like or what it could possibly be but nonetheless even if the protagonist is in the room it should always feel like the deity is focusing on us specifically and not the protagonist, like it is looking through the Lense of the screen. Another way to instigate fear is change the angel at which the scene is being capture when nothing unnatural is happening, hide the corridor out of view when there is nothing unknown to be seen or the audience is no longer intended to pay attention to that area.
Prevalent scenes throughout the film:

• Commercial Break: The film would have a simple short commercial break with a pizza kitchen commercial in which an apparition appears in the background of this scene blending in but standing out, some may not even catch it, those who notice will be left uneasy.
• Dishwashing Scene: The camera is against the wall facing the face of Macbeth as she is doing the dishes for her boyfriend before he can get home from work, behind her is a corridor that leads to the living room, the light is off, and we see a face barely peeking out of the corner, or it looks like a face but it's too grainy, too far to fully describe especially in the darkness, moving too slow to tell what its intent is but fast enough to feel it could be a threat in a matter of seconds. But soon before we get too fearful the angle switches hiding the corridor out of view as the man comes in to greet his future wife in surprise.
• Date Night: Macbeth is having a date with her man at the table, the scene draws to the awkwardness of Macbeth waiting for her date having no one to hold conversation with as jazz is playing in the background and extras are talking to each other on their own date, but there is a symmetrical corridor in the background leading down a hallway but its dark for no reason, something would move into the doorframe just outside of the light without physically moving itself at all, it'd seem to have a face, but its indistinguishable between male or female and it's too far away from the camera to say for certain what exactly it was. Then when Macbeths future husband finally arrives the camera angle switches hiding that corridor from view and giving us a different perspective on their date.
• Bathroom Scene: Macbeth is cleaning the bathroom but leaves the shot to get supplies for an extended time period leaving us to feel like a child without a parent, Macbeth was the little comfort we had but now we don't even have that, there is a small compartment door on the wall beyond the corridor facing the bathroom, after 10-15 seconds of Macbeth being gone it slowly opens, so slowly in fact not a single sound can be heard from it but before it can open to the point we can see inside Macbeth returns back for the scene, as she begins cleaning the small door opens up quickly but the shot cuts off only showing it open half way revealing an eerie unhinged face that can barely be made out from the quick frame, and then it cuts to a normal version of the bathroom scene from the corridors perspective.
• Ending: There'd be a wide shot of a set without any actors, it's the fancy quinine restaurant from the date night scene, dimly lit with a corridor symmetrical to the camera in the background, the apparition slowly creeps out of the corridor towards the camera, moving inhumanly, blending the human and the uncanny, we'd here it is whispering something in an indescribable voice but in cohesive English, it is talking to us, how even when we can't see it, it will be watching from the furthest view, how we thought this was all part of the joke but in fact we are a part of it, talking about how it will peel over our eyes with its sneaky fingers, before it can give us a good glimpse of its appearance the film ends with the credits to the romcom "Marry Me Macbeth". The ending would be ambiguous and leave plenty of things up for interpretation, because something that has always kept a film or any media alive is speculation.

Sources of inspiration:

• Inspiration: Inside No. 9 Season 4 Episode Special Live: Dead Line Oct 28 2018 - video Dailymotion
• Inspiration: The Curse of the Scottish Play Macbeth Royal Shakespeare Company (rsc.org.uk)

Chapter 2. (Dracula)
Nine Hundred years later deep deep far in the the Shadow Forest a place called Castlevania in the black castles the kings chambers a beautiful black haired blue eyed woman named Isabell Bolton was travailing in pain as she was giving birth to her first born child, the queens maid that was there helping deliver the baby held the little child cleaned him up and wrapped him in the blanket.
“Is the Baby ok Sara?” Isabell asked very exhausted.
“Yes it’s a boy!” Sara said very excited as she gave the mother her baby.
“He’s So Handsome. Luther come quick see our boy!” Isabell said with glee.
King Luther Bolton came in and grabbed his son hugged him.
“My boy Oh my baby boy.” King Luther said very happily.
Suddenly a dark and evil witch named Festus appeared in the room with them she was pure evil.
“Oh! what do we have here aww how sweet the Dark One was finally born He will be called Dracula he will be a terror of this world he will be known all over the nation and he shall live till the end of time his power will come on his thirtieth birthday when he drinks from the cup of Shalom that’s full of blood of the wolfs tears no one will stop his destiny he is a warrior of Econdire!” The witch said with a wicked evil laugh.
King Luther drew his blade and pointed it to her as he gave the baby back to the mother.
“You will not take my child and he will not become what you said!!! You will die this night!” King Luther shouted as he charged at the witch. She disappeared as King Luther swung his blade.
“Hahahaha you can’t kill me mortal and you can’t change what is to come I’m just here to warn you if you don’t want that to happen then you must kill the baby you can change prophecy Luther Bolton! Or seek out the skull face man named Slaygar he will gladly take the child and the Prophecy will not come true! Or should I say. “Your Majesty” hahahaha! Oh Luther. Ten years from now on a day before your wife gives birth to Your fourth son you will die and Dracula will be crowned King then time will count down. Hahahahahaha!!!” Festus said laughing as she disappeared out from a window in black smoke. Luther ran to the the window she disappeared from then she went to his wife who was weeping and crying out of fear
“Honey shush it’s ok!” King Luther said as he looked with worry and concern out the window.
“We’er not calling him Dracula we’er not his name is Gabriel Luther Bolton!” Isabell said sternly. “He will be a beacon of Hope.” Isabell said smiling.
“Yes That’s Beautiful, Gabriel. I like that name. Gabriel.” King Luther said in his thoughts he was worried about the prophecy.
Years passed and Gabriel had three more brothers Drakeul, Nathen, and Samuel, Then his father got sick Gabriel was ten years old and he was trying everything he could to heal his father he was a mage a healer and he put all his herbs and couldn’t stop his father infection nor could he keep him from getting sicker. He was only able to take the pain away for a wile. But King Luther got worse and worse. The King grabbed Gabriel by the arm as he coughed and said.
“We got to get you better father I....” Gabriel said his voice shaken as he was interrupted.
“Gabriel listen it’s over there’s nothing more you can do. I feel my body shutting down before I go...” King Luther said as he winced in pain.
“No Father!” Gabriel said weeping.
“Shush! Gabriel be strong for your mother and your brothers she’s in labor now so you got to be Strong your a good man and you be a good king but I got to tell you something and you got to fight for what’s right no matter what! Your hear me son?” King Luther said as he was feeling weaker and weaker.
“Yes sir.” Gabriel said as he straightened his shoulders.
“Ten years ago when you was born a evil witch came and told us that you was the Dark One and you was to be the terror of the world til the end of time and you had a different name but I’m not at all going to speak that name and she said you was to be the warrior of Evondire.” King Luther said as he looked a his handsome boy and he smiled at him.
“Econdire? The evil prince?” Gabriel asked confused.
“Yes son and....” Luther told him all what had happened even to the point where they searched for the good witches mages sorcerers and wizards.
“They said Love is the first thing that change this fate and they said have more children as many as possible before My death and to surround you with Love and train you to be the best of yourself that love and good will overcome evil.” King Luther said as he tried hard to make sure His son knew to not loose his Live for others and those who loves him.
Gabriel looked at his father he didn’t know what to say but he swallowed and said.
Gabriel: I will live to the best of my ability to Love and be good to all.
“Good now go be with your mother and the child they need you...” King Luther didn’t finish his statement when he took his last breath and he left this world.
“Father! Father! No Father come back! Father!!!” Gabriel shouted and wept over his dead father.
King Luther died, Gabriel put his head on his fathers chest and wept the tears fell from his face on to his fathers chest. One of the Priests of Shalom walked up his name was Dagon Gibbs.
“My son he’s gone hey come here hush now.” The Priest Gibbs said with comfort.
“Bring him back Father Gibbs! Bring him Back!” Gabriel shouted still crying.
“Hush now I can’t do that I’m not God my son. I’m sorry for your loss I will prepare his ceremony but you mother gave birth to a son you need to go to her. Your coronation to be Crowned King after the ceremony of your father’s funeral. Life must go on Prince Gabriel you have a lot of priorities and obligations that Have to be done be strong Prince Gabriel.” Priest Gibbs said with a comforting voice.
Gabriel walked to the room his mother was and heard the cry of the baby he opened the doors to see his smiling mom holding her baby boy her blue eyes sparkled. She saw her firstborn and her smile faded. She then said to Gabriel.
“Gabriel come see your baby brother! I named him Logan!” Isabell said as she noticed the look on Gabriel’s face.
Gabriel held his baby brother.
“He’s so handsome and healthy, Luther would be so so happy.” Isabell said as she put her hand on Gabriel’s shoulder.
Gabriel looked at his mother and the tears fell from his eyes as well as his mothers.
“I know he be in here if he wasn’t gone but he is I know it. It was prophesied by that witch.” Isabell said as her voice shook with grief.
Gabriel put his head down.
“Oh I know baby you tried your best but his time was up sweetie. We talked long about this. I can’t grieve now you got to be ready for what’s come Gabriel.” Isabell said with sadness.
She began to weep, as she held Gabriel close to her. Gabriel gave the baby to Drakeul and hugged his mother as they wept for her for their loss. They had the beautiful ceremony for King Luther they buried him in a tomb under the castle.
Seventeen years passed the palace grew and the people where happy everything looked great Gabriel had a beautiful women they got married his it was so beautiful they had two sons identical twins Trevor and Alucard.
The year started off wonderful but then an man named John Bayn a wicked king from the deepest part north he was full of rage and sought nothing but power he attacked Transylvania and declared war against Gabriel, the king caused Gabriel to loose his source for food and he cut his supply of water king Bayn got some men inside Gabriel’s city who turned some of the people against Gabriel.
“Gabriel my brother what is your plan we have to do something we have to fight against these basters or we going to loose the city!” Drakeul said as he looked at his brother who was now king.
“Easy Drakeul getting angry at the King won’t fix this.” Samuel said as he grinned.
“He has a point Samuel we got to do something!” Nathen said to them both.
Gabriel turned around and looked at his brothers.
“Tonight we will gather the most faithful soldiers and we will attack and kill that king. I will not loose my city I will destroy my enemy!” Gabriel said with determination.
The Priest Gibbs walked up to the war table And looked at King Gabriel.
“Your Majesty. Think before you act I pray you. I dreamed of you last night, you was dark cold bitter your eyes were as red as the blood I seen you drink from the cup of Holy water from Shalom’s Temple but it was filled with blood blood that came from the Wolf’s tears you must not give in to this anger it take you far then you want to go.” Priest Gibbs Said with a Urgency and a warning.
Gabriel looked at the Priest as did everyone in the room.
“King Gabriel I beg you sir be patient don’t go wait the Lord will make away and give you Victory! Please Your Majesty stay they will come to you and the witches prophecy won’t come to pass! If you go out there, My King. The curse will happen three years early then what was told!” The Priest Gibbs said again with Urgency.
“Father Gibbs. I will not give into a witches curse I will not let a curse stop me from protecting my people I will do what has to be done and show them I am not to be played with they will know not to come against me! Like they knew not to come against my father.” King Gabriel said as he began to give out his plan.
“My King...” The Priest Gibbs said as he put his hand on King Gabriel’s shoulder.
“No Father Gibbs! They killed your son today! It stops now!” King Gabriel said as he gently put his hands on the Priest Cheek. “I will not give in to the Curse I will hold on to my Love for others and the Love y’all have for me” King Gabriel said as him and his knights went out the war room.
The Priest swallowed hard, tears fell from his eyes he didn’t know he lost his son last he spoke he sent him to the market to get bread.
“How...” He asked his voice shaky.
King Gabriel turned and looked at the Priest “They skinned him alive and put him on a spike right out the gate I’m sorry we took him down and took him to his chambers.”
Tears fell down his cheeks he walked towards Gabriel. One of the knights put their hand on the Priest shoulder to push him back, the king lift his hand stopping the knight, Gabriel walked to the Priest. The Priest put both his hands on Gabriel’s cheeks.
“Gabriel please I beg you my son is dead please heed my warning don’t make me loose another son. Listen to me don’t go out there bad things will take place that will hurt you in a way that you will curse the Lord in His temple! Please Gabriel hear me.”
Gabriel hugged the old priest as he wept over the lost of his son, not knowing that the old man was weeping over him that night was the last night of Gabriel would be a human king but Gabriel didn’t realize that the Lord himself was trying to talk through Gibbs and Gibbs was weeping because he knew Gabriel would not take heed to his warning.
Later that day just before the king and his twelve knights were going to fight for their land he kissed his wife Hope, and his two sons Trevor and Alucard.
“Here Sweet Husband.” Queen Hope Said with a sweetness in her voice.
She put a letter in his hand.
“I will be waiting their.” Hope said with love in her voice.
“Ok I’ll meet you and the kids there.” King Gabriel answered as he smiled at his beautiful wife.
Logan came running up.
“Brother!” The Prince Logan shouted.
“Logan what are you doing?” King Gabriel asked seeing Logan was decked in armor.
“Let me fight I can fight!” Logan asked determined to fight.
“No Logan you must stay here!” Gabriel demanded.
“But Brother I can fight I’m not a child I’m seventeen! I killed a Lion and stopped a thief and kept several prisoners from escaping! Please let me fight for our kingdom!” Logan asked with hope in his eyes.
“I know! What you been doing it has not been unnoticed. That’s why I need you here protect my wife and kids stay with them ok! Please Logan do this for me brother.” Gabriel said as he walked passed Logan. Logan didn’t like it but he nodded and went and stood by Hope.
They walked out the city Drakeul, Nathen, and Samuel walked side by side with their king brother Gabriel tonight was the night for Victory! The 12 Knights walked behind them as well as fifteen thousand of the faithful soldiers.
The war began the fight was harsh side by side the Bolton brother’s fault side by side and backed to back fighting the enemies as well as the twelve knights who was protecting them they fault and killed many, then faced the face King Gabriel and King Bayn began to fight each other it was a hideous battle Gabriel took a lot of wounds but before it was over King Bayn was on his knees.
“You Won but I have brothers and friends they come and avenge me! You will not stand! Your own people don’t even trust your leadership! Hahaha!” King Bayn taunted.
Gabriel swung his sword cutting Bayns head off, he picked up Bayns Crown and handed it to a red haired knight named Andrew Archer, who seemed to loose his helmet during the battle.
“Take this that will be one of my trophies.” King Gabriel said as he handed the crown to the red haired knight.
The Red head Knight Spoke.
“What about the rest any prisoners?” Andrew asked with concern.
Gabriel looked at the village that was still burning and relived walking through and seeing again what they did to those poor people. He looked at Andrew and said very coldly.
“We will show no mercy they all will die but slow I will hang them on a spike and point the towards the village they destroyed and the people they murdered so they see why they are dying so painfully!” Gabriel said with anger in his eyes. Andrew Swallowed hard and they all did as they were told and they left back to the city the screaming and pleads for mercy echoed in their ears.
Back at the castle of Transylvania a war broke out Gabriel’s soldiers was fighting for their lives against some other soldiers who was turned by the King Bayns men. Hope Trevor and Alucard was in the Temple of Shalom and the Logan was fighting to protect them Hope was a Mage she used her magic to destroy the last few guards that turned against her, she looked at Logan.
“Logan You Ben and Cole take my Sons and go!!! Go Now!!! Keep them safe!” Hope said scared for their lives.
“I can’t just Leave you!” Logan shouted.
“You must Logan protect my babies please!” Hope said with urgency.
Logan Ben and Cole took Trevor and Alucard and ran them out of the city they got on their horses and headed south. Gabriel came and saw what was going on they went and fought killing every betrayer and every last one of Bayns men. Then Gabriel remembered the note and ran to the temple and when he Got there he saw the Priest Gibbs knelt down by Hope her stomach was carved into with a knife her hands cut off her throat slit. Gabriel fell beside her.
“NO!!!! MY BABY!!!! HOPE!!!! NOOO!” King Gabriel shouted tears falling downs his cheeks as he wept. He stood up anger and raged filled him he cursed cursed the temple and the wolves he cursed everything that the temple represented and he pointed at the Priest and yelled!
“THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!!!” King Gabriel shouted in anger tears screaming down his cheeks falling to the floor.
He cursed the priest. All the 12 knights stood around him his brothers got between him and the Priest.
“Gabriel! What are you doing! It’s not his fault!” Drakeul said trying to get Gabriel under control.
“Gabriel calm down you.... Oh My God!” Samuel said as his mouth dropped open his eyes widen.
Gabriel turn to see what everyone was looking at and saw the statue of the Wolf of Shalom from its eyes were tears of blood that dropped into the Holy Water cup. Gabriel was then immediately A trance he walked to the cup.
“NO!!! STOP HIM DONT LET HIM DRINK FROM THE CUP!!!” The Priest Gibbs said with urgency.
His brothers ran to him and pulled on him he sent them flying back with a wave of his hand.
“That ain’t no magic I ever seen.” Nathen said his eyes widen and his voice shaken with fear.
Gabriel picked the cup which was full of blood and began to drink it the priest and Drakeul yelled!
Drakeul and Priest Gibbs Shouted as One. “GABRIEL!!! NOOO!!!
Gabriel drunk the cup all of the blood in the cup then the curse happened but three years early. Gabriel yelled as his body changed and his face went pale and fangs grew in his mouth and his eyes went from a beautiful blue to crimson red.
Then the Angel of the Lord appeared and said. “My name is Gabriel I am the Messenger of the Lord you have defiled this temple of the Lord and you cursed the God that created you and came against the church of the most high God you our forever cursed to walk this earth as a monster til the end of time you will bring fear and terror....”
The Angel stopped when Drakeul walked up to him, Drakeul look the Angel in the eye fear filled him he trembling knelt down grabbed the Angel by his feet he felt the Archangels Power he spoke his voice shaky.
“Please I inquire a audience with the Lord!” Drakeul asked shaking.
“You cannot see the Lord you will not survive.” The Angel Gabriel said.
“Then please tell him applaud him to have mercy no he didn’t show mercy and he did the most worse thing but please I beg you don’t let him be damned take me instead give him another chance! Please don’t let him be damned!” Drakeul pleaded with him and his brothers salvation.
Drakeul began to weep at the Angels feet, The Archangel looked at Drakeul was a little fascinated how he a soldier who Stern and cold would be weeping over his brother who did such terrible deed. Then the Lord Spoke to the Angel.
“Gabriel Bolton will still be cursed but there is away that he can redeem himself but he will have to find it but he is forever bound from the temple of the Lord until he redeems himself and only you Brothers can help him find the boy that can change him the boy must become Him and he must become the boy and the certain deeds must be done, only then shall the spirit of your Brother be redeemed however the curse of Your Brother will be on a innocent Christian who will battle to redeem the Spirit of Dracula. Your brother Gabriel’s name will change this day he will be known as Dracula the rest of this worlds time! You will share his curse soon and help him walk the right path.
The brothers looked at each other confused.
The Angel looked at the twelve knights.
“From this day till the end y’all are the wolves of Shalom there shall be many of warrior wolves through y’all and y’all will fight against Dracula and all that becomes as he is that choose evil over good and there will come a time where Vampires and Werewolves will join together to fight an even. Greater foe an evil that has been locked away. There will rise a dark mage who will set the dark lord free and become the dark lord this will be the road that may redeem Dracula. But as of now your fight is to get and keep Dracula out of the temple this day!” The Angel of the demanded.
The twelve Knights became Werewolves the first ever to walk on earth. The Angel looked at Gabriel.
“Take him Out!” The Angel commanded. Then he disappeared!
Gabriel attacked the Werewolves and the fight was extremely hideous the werewolves gave a beating but each place they clawed open healed instantly, Gabriel beat them till the turn back in human form his blood was ragging but the. The power hit them and they arose again as the werewolves and begin to drive him out of the temple.
As Gabriel taught them he saw himself in a mirror the monster he became the crimson red eyes sharp fangs pale face the sharp claw like finger nails and at that moment he saw what he done and he saw what he did to the knights and as he saw them in wolf form walking towards him wounded even but still coming he didn’t want to hurt them they were his men his people and he was hurting them and he defiled the Lords Temple. He ran out the temple his brothers followed him.
“Gabriel! Gabriel! Drakeul Shouted.
He turned around quickly he put his hand around his brothers shoulder and with that same hand lifted him off the ground like he was paper without the help of his other hand.
“My Name Is not Gabriel!!! I am Dracula!” Dracula shouted. Gabriel Bolton was no more.
He threw his brother into his other brothers Nathen and Samuel caught Drakeul and the impact knocked them three feet back they pulled themselves up off the ground and they saw his face pale as the dead his eyes which used to be beautiful blue was now bloody red, he spoke again.
“My name is Dracula every King every army will never dare to attack my country or my family I will crush them and they will know the meaning of fear!!!” Dracula shouted crazily.
Dracula said his blood boiling hot as things were transitioning in his body.
And so the prophecy was fulfilled but three years before the time. And so fear filled the land the terror of Dracula spread through each city of Transylvania and Castlevania where Dracula’s Castle was the place which was beautiful and full of light was now darkened and full of fear.
Three days later at the docks of Dragons Bridge Logan asked Ben and Cole to take his little nephews to a safe place he was going back to his brothers to help fight.
“Logan! Are you crazy man Hope asked you to get Alucard and Trevor to safety man come on with us.” Cole said with concern for Logan.
“Yea man we’re young we got to get to Safety” Ben said.
“I must go back make sure it’s safe and send for y’all. And no y’all can’t come with me y’all thirteen and fourteen” Logan said sharply.
“No I’m fifteen Logan and you need to come with us man” Ben shouted at Logan.
Cole: And I’m two days from Sixteen. And your not seventeen yet your three days from seventeen and Hope asked you to save her nephews!
“I know y’all keep them safe now please go! I will not hear anymore.” Logan said as he turned from them.
And with that Logan turns away from them in the boat and went off towards home with his friends calling for him to come back and to not be stupid, but Logan kept on walking. Ben spoke.
“Come on Cole he’s not gonna listen to us.” Ben shouted angrily.
They set out for the other side which lead to a country called Albion and to a city called Camelot where King Constantine Pendragon III ruled and Uther Pendragon was a young mighty Prince who had a Amethyst who used a spell to keep him young for a thousand years. The children would be safe there the Ben and Cole thought.
As for Logan three days passed it was his birthday he turned seventeen and he was not happy for the things he was seeing and home the enemy that attacked the city was outside the gate dead hanging from a spike he heard on of them groan he drew his sword and thrust it through the dying mans heart to end his suffering he heard more, and saw a whole line of them he went by killing them ending their suffering. Dracula stood in front of his brothers and spoke.
“No one will dare to attack me now unless they want to die which I’m more then happy to oblige, brothers with this power we’re unstoppable I can give you this gift and you can be stronger.”Dracula said to his brothers. Drakeul Samuel and Nathen couldn’t believe what they were hearing from there Brother. “Was Gabriel really gone.” They both thought. Drakeul walk up to his Brother.
“Brother! Listen to yourself this is insane! look at you! this ain’t no gift it’s a curse! The Father Shalom Cursed you made you this monster, I will not become this thing you are!” Drakeul shouted out. Dracula looked at his brother with a elite shock look the laughed mockingly
“O dear Brother you actually think I’m giving you a choice that’s rather cute.” Dracula Taunted.
In a flash he grabbed his brother he moved faster then lighting he but Drakeuls neck and began to suck his blood Drakeul went limp almost dead Dracula bit his wrist and let the blood poured down to Drakeuls lips then Drakeul died. Samuel turn to run as did Nathen out the door, Dracula flicked his hand and the door slammed shut in his face Dracula grabbed him and done the same thing to Samuel as he did Drakeul. And Nathen tried to fight Dracula but failed and suffered the same fate. Dracula took a red towel and wiped his mouth and turned around to see Logan looking straight at him fear hit him hard he watched his brother suck the blood from his other two brothers.
“Gabriel what....” Logan said scared and shaken over what he saw.
“Hush now Logan they be back and my name is no longer Gabriel it’s Dracula I am a Vampire”Dracula said with a soft a soothing voice. He was hoping to calm his baby brother.
“What Happened to you what did you do what did you become? This isn’t right Gabriel it’s not right!” Logan said still scared and shaken he never seen something like this before.
“It’s a gift Logan and I can give it to you and you never be weak again!” Dracula said trying to tempt him.
“No!!! Your a Monster this is a curse you are not my brother I don’t want your gift!” Logan shouted.
Logan turned and walked outside straight into Dracula’s arms. Fear jumped in Logan’s chest his heart started beating very fast. Dracula embraced him with a loving hug put his cheek to his brothers in a gentle hug.
“Easy baby brother I hear your heart beating way too fast trust me you be way stronger.” Dracula said as he pulled Logan back in the door and closed it then he tilted Logan’s head to the side and he bit his neck as Logan screamed.
“NOOO! BROTHER!!!! NOOO! PLEASE!!!! NOOO!” Logan screamed.
Logan died with the blood of Dracula running through his vainest and Dracula’s blood was very powerful. Dracula put his brothers in three tombs and closed them up and said. “In Three days they will be reborn more powerful then before.”
Three knights past and Dracula’s brothers came out of their tombs.
“I refuse to be evil!” Logan Shouted.
His eyes red as blood face pale white he looks like his brothers as they all looked like Dracula.
“We all refuse to be evil!” Drakeul said.
“Lets remove ourselves from this Kingdom of Dracula!” Nathen said.
“I Agree!” Samuel said.
Suddenly The Angel of the Lord appeared it was the Angel Gabriel again.
“No harm can be done to Dracula. Like you he is immortal and will forever be so as for you friends your decisions and Trevor and Alucards decisions will be the results of Dracula’s salvation or his soul forever damned. Now go you are the Guardians of Shalom save the world from your brothers wrath and hunger and save your brother.” The Angel Gabriel said. Then the Angel disappeared Logan up looked and said to his Brothers.
“Y’all go I’m going to Dracula!” Logan said as he walked to the Throne Room of Dracula.
“Little brother you can’t.” Samuel said with concern.
“Yes I have to!” Logan replied.
Logan went out to find his brother. He found his brother in the Castle sitting on his throne with a golden cup full of fresh blood.
“Logan! How’s my baby brother? You looking handsome.” Dracula asked.
“Dracula I will not follow you I will not be evil...” Logan snapped.
“Brother I’m not evil! I did what I had to do!...” Dracula interrupted and said as Logan interrupted him saying.
“Shut up Brother look at yourself look what you become look at the hideous mess you done at front gate half of them was still alive! No brother there’s nothing you can say or do to get me to follow you! You can burn in Harcarsh with the devil! But as long as I can breath you never see your children again.” Logan shouted at Dracula. Logan walked out the door and flew like lightning towards Albion and to the city Camelot he was going to do all he could to make sure those baby boys never be in reach of Dracula.
Ben and Cole made it into Albion and got off at the docks in at a small village of Noplend. No sooner then they showed up Dracula walked the land. Cole was looking at the beautiful land, Ben spoke.
“Cole this is so beautiful!” Ben said
“Yes it is!” Cole replied.
“So glad to see my little brothers friends are keeping my two boys safe.” Dracula said behind them.
They both turned around and saw their King they heard the rumors that spread about the good Great King Gabriel turned to an evil monster known as Dracula, when they saw him fear hit them their kings face was Pale white hair to his shoulders his eyes bloody red his fingernails were like claws and talons.
“My King Gabriel...” Cole said shaken as he tried to bow.
“Stop! My name is Dracula! You two kept my children alive for that I’m grateful but Logan will soon join you and I must show him something when he finds you you be dead and the message will be clear of what I can do, and when you come back as the same as he is he realize I could have kept you both dead!”
In a flash he rushed at Ben but His neck drained his blood and gave him his blood forcing him to swallow it then he broke his neck. Cole seen what happen drew his sword and attacked Dracula yelling at him for killing his best friend. Dracula drew his sword blocking Coles blade and he played with Cole speaking to him as each time the blades met.
“Cole don’t take it personal boy, it has to be this way.” Dracula said to him.
“You killed my Brother.” Cole shouted in anger trying to kill his King that looked like a monster with his red eyes and sharp fangs showing as Dracula started laughing.
“And your next it has to be this way and o yes y’all thank me later.” Dracula said as he grabbed Cole.
“Do you hear your self Dracula or who ever you are now your killing your own!” Cory shouted scared.
Dracula thrust his sword into Coles chest and pulled it out, Cole dropped his sword and feeling the life drain drone him as he felt Dracula bite his neck and drink his blood, Cole pulled away fast Dracula held his weak body closer to him Cole was getting weaker by the second, Dracula bit his wrist and forced Cole to open his mouth and the blood poured in Cole spit it out and Dracula did it again and Cole tried to resist but Dracula covered his mouth with his hand Cole kicked and and tried to get away he died with Dracula’s blood in his mouth the blood went down his throat and spreading through his veins. Dracula heard his sons crying he went and picked them up.
“Hush now it’s ok they both be back watch them and watch Logan. Logan needs to learn you can’t take my sons from me and not get away with it.” Dracula said as he kissed both his sons before he disappeared in blood red smoke.
Logan came and saw what Dracula did to his friends he fell to his knees and wept.
“NOOO!!! NOOO!!!” Logan shouted crying.
He heard Cole gasp air and he rose up quickly as did Ben they both were now vampires their eyes bloody red as Dracula’s and Logan’s was.
“What NO! I’m sorry I’m so sorry this happened to you!” Logan said as he could feel a sharp pain in his heart. The pain was intense more then usual and it stayed it didn’t ease like it used to after awhile.
Dracula laughed.
“Well now sense everyone is up and doing good let’s have a talk about my children!” Dracula said still laughing.
“Brother why did you do this?!?” Logan shouted his tears dropping to the ground like rain.
“Because I can and you learn to love it! Now as for my sons you should know better then to try to keep my children away from me. Y’all will protect my children and y’all find a good family for them and let them be raised by a mother and father and you protect them. Yes I’m not crazy look at me I know I can’t raise my children alone don’t ever try to keep them away from me?” Dracula said stern and angrily.
“Take my kids to King Arther and Queen Guinevere make sure their safe.” Dracula demanded not knowing that Arther and Guinevere didn’t exist yet.
“Um King Gabriel...” Cole said his voice shaken.
Dracula looked at him with a cold glare.
“Dracula Sorry. Um their is no King Arther Or a Queen Guinevere.” Cole corrected himself and then said plainly.
Dracula put his head down confused he started having visions that morning and he was have more he shook his head again.
“Right King Constantine III Arther Pendragon is not born yet. Take my sons to Constantine.
“Dracula are you ok? Brother” Logan said. Despite the situation Logan still Loved Dracula and he could feel the love.
“Shut up and Go!!! Get my kids there!” Dracula shouted he could feel Logan’s love and it was a warmth to his cold heart and it hurt him cause all he could think about was Hope.
When the red smoke he disappeared from them. Logan covered his face and shook his head and looked at the children sleeping and he looked at his friends and said.
“Ben, Cole, I’m sorry I’m sorry he did this to you.” Logan said tears falling from his eyes.
“It’s ok Logan I feel good and strong better then I ever had. But we need to figure out what to do to keep Trevor and Alucard safe.” Ben said hoping to make Logan feel better.
“Your right well let’s go to Camelot.” Logan replied.
“I’m so thirsty. I... I want blood!” Cole said as he held his stomach.
Logan’s thirst hit him to as well as Bens.
“Logan the babies.” Ben said with concern.
A mage appeared he was old his hair and beard was long and white his name was Amorous.
“Logan Bolton Son of Luther Bolton the Vampire that will save Emyrs and Merlin and set them on their paths to their destiny.” Amorous said very happily.
Logan, Ben, and Cole, looked at the mage their mouth was open the smelt his blood and he looked like food to them. Amorous pulled out three big water bags that were full of blood.
“Here drink and get your strength there’s much you have to learn. And let’s get the little ones to a good home.” Amorous said as he gave them the blood to drink. Their long journey began.

Throwaway because I don't know if he'd see it. My (25F) boyfriend (29M) and I have known each other for 7 years and started dating 4 years ago. For background, we've always been each other's "what if" person. We originally met on social media when I was studying abroad and he was back in the states, and immediately had an intense emotional connection, but have never lived in the same place, even when I came back to the US. So for years we thought of each other as a "maybe one day" and then when the pandemic started, we found ourselves on the phone for 7-8 hours/day, and decided to pursue a proper relationship.
In the last four years we've grown a lot both together and separately. We've gotten to an excellent space of trusting, honest, and emotionally responsible communication. We've confronted difficulties that break most couples. We've navigated family health issues, distance, differences in communication styles, career changes, trauma healing, and more. We have broken up before, mostly because of distance issues, but we've always found our way back to each other and have come back stronger. No one on this planet knows me better or has more of an impact on me.
Part of the premise of our relationship from the beginning – and especially after having gotten back together a year ago after 4 months of no-contact– is that this is a life partnership. We have always talked about marriage, how we'll raise our kids, details of the life we're working toward etc. This has been initiated by him, honestly, but it's a fundamental part of the way we relate to each other. We also are both Latino and somewhat traditional and it's always been part of our shared desire and understanding that he'll be the main breadwinner and I'll be a SAHM (I want nothing more than the ability to devote my time and energy primarily to a family. Not because I don't want to work. We both see being a SAHM as a massive amount of work.)
A couple years ago he gave up his high stress job to do crypto full time. (Please, if you're going to go in about the merits/shortcomings of crypto, respectfully, argue with your mother not me.) He's really good at it and made an immense amount of money, but due to some poor choices, and some extenuating circumstances outside of his control, a lot of that money is gone and he has a house that is mid renovation (not livable) that he cannot afford. He's someone who grew up in poverty and early on decided he will never live like that again. For better or worse, finances are deeply intertwined in his identity and self esteem.
A few nights ago, he let me know how much pressure he's been under in detail that he hadn't fully divulged until now (specific numbers for finances, family members who are going to be financially dependent on him soon.) I'd been feeling slight distance for the last couple weeks, but assumed it was just the stuff he'd been dealing with. He let me know that he feels an immense amount of pressure not only because of his circumstances, but also in our relationship and that he feels guilty and worthless when I tell him how much I miss him or how excited I am for our future because by this point in our relationship we should've closed the distance, maybe been engaged already, and instead he can't say when those things will happen because of his financial situation. He said I deserve so much more, and that also being a good partner in such a serious relationship is a lot of mental and emotional energy, and that he can't see a way of getting out of this financial situation without putting our relationship on the back burner to a degree that would make him feel even more guilty than he already does. Also visits back and forth to see me get expensive. He said he still wants to have a life with me one day, but he asked for an indefinite "break" so that he can focus on grinding this out, basically. He's also extremely depressed, which makes me worried about him isolating himself, because he doesn't have much community where he currently lives. After talking it out we agreed on taking space for 2 months and checking back at the end of July.
I am at a loss. I don't know if this is a breakup or a break. I kind of feel betrayed, worried, resentful, compassionate, patient, hopeful, and sad all at the same time. I can understand where he's coming from, but I also want the chance to stand beside him through this difficult time and if we're building a life together, this is just one of the many hurdles that's sure to come. The reality is, I would – and do– love him with or without money and I would gladly live with him in a cardboard box. He couldn't live with himself in a cardboard box though.
I would love a reality check from a male perspective, especially those from cultures where men are expected to be the provider. Like, is this kinda bs or is this understandable? I also want to know if I'm delusional for waiting for him for the next two months and possibly longer.
TLDR: my boyfriend of four years went broke and asked me for a break because the future we planned together felt like too much pressure for him.

“Led By The Wolf” In the year of the Storms in the land of Hawkvile a male white wolf was trying to find shelter for his mate and twelve wolf pups. He came upon a cave and put his mate and pups in there then he turns to see if the storm would soon pass then all of a sudden lighting struck a oak tree! It fell on the wolf crushing him the wolf turns his head to see his mate then died. The female morned for her loss but she knew she must be strong for her pups so she began to explore the cave. She notes a strange sent about the cave It was a mixture of wolf and man mixed then the hair on he back and neck stood strait up as she stumbled on the skeleton of a creature it’s body had the head and feet of a wolf but it’s chest legs and arms was a man! She backed up in hotter for she and found the bones of She found the bones of the Old Werewolf Lord Dagar! The body was dead but the spirit was still there. As the female wolf continued to explore the cave, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She tried to push the thought aside and focused on finding a way out of the cave with her pups. Suddenly, she heard a deep growling voice behind her, "Who dares to disturb my slumber?" She turned around to see the ghostly figure of the Old Werewolf Lord Dagar standing before her. The female wolf was frightened but stood her ground, "I apologize for disturbing your rest, but I needed shelter for my pups during the storm." The ghostly figure of Dagar studied the female wolf for a moment and then spoke, "You are a brave and loyal mother to protect your young. I can see that you are in need of guidance and I am willing to offer my assistance." The female wolf was hesitant but knew that she needed all the help she could get to protect her pups. She nodded her head in agreement, "Thank you, Lord Dagar. I accept your offer of guidance." And so, the female wolf and her pups were led by the ghostly figure of Lord Dagar through the cave and out into the storm. He taught her how to hunt and protect her young, and she became a great leader of her pack. From that day forward, the female wolf and her pack were known as the Shalom pack, and they always remembered the guidance and wisdom of the Old Werewolf Lord Dagar. As the years passed, the chosen wolf continued to grow in strength and power. His pack looked up to him as their leader and protector, and he led them with wisdom and courage. The chosen wolf had a special connection with the spirit of the Old Werewolf Lord Dagar, who had split his spirit into twelve parts and entered into twelve of the wolf pups. The chosen wolf had the most potent infusion of the Werewolf's power, and he knew that he was destined for greatness. One day, the chosen wolf received a vision from the God Shalom, who revealed to him that he had been chosen to lead the wolves on a great quest. The wolves were to journey to a far-off land and recover a powerful artifact that had been stolen from the God Shalom's temple. The chosen wolf gathered his pack, and they set out on their journey. They traveled through forests and mountains, facing many dangers along the way. They fought off rival packs of wolves, battled fierce predators, and braved treacherous terrain. Finally, after many weeks of travel, the chosen wolf and his pack arrived at their destination. They sneaked into the enemy's stronghold and fought their way through to the inner sanctum, where they found the stolen artifact. The chosen wolf and his pack returned the artifact to the God Shalom's temple, and they were rewarded with great honor and respect. The chosen wolf knew that he had fulfilled his destiny, and he continued to lead his pack with courage and wisdom, always remembering the lessons he had learned from the Old Werewolf Lord Dagar. “Led By The Wolf.” Chapter 1. (The Beginning Of This) In the Year of Shadows. It was a very sorrowful time. There lives a boy fourteen years old name Jacob Cole Bodrick. Jacob was a very smart boy a inventor he created things, and he was a little dare devil he was constantly in trouble he was scolded punished even beat with a whip but that would not stop him he kept making things he was determined to make something to help the king. He invented a boat that looked like a cherieot with two robot horses it could run on lad and sea he couldn't wait to get back home to show his mom and dad. Jacob rode on his Black Mare heading home when he saw the smoke, he raced his horse toward the smoke his house was on fire and the barn and yard was a blazed with the fire his parents was no where to be found so he raced around the barn and he found his father who was dying with a sword in his chest. “Father!!! Father!!!” Jacob shouted “Save the Horses and go save your mother son!” His father said breathing heavily. He said as he died, Jacob freed the horses and fell on his fathers dead body and he cried. Later that night after barring his father he went to his lab he was going to kill the one who killed his father, he made his weapons and created a long sword from fire and ice and alyrim steel he would get his revenge so he thought. He made his way to where he saw the tracks of horses and he began to track down the killers, he passed a house where a tall dark haired man was standing watching him. “Hey have you seen a gang of men with a women ride by here?” Jacob said with anger and determination in his voice. “Yes I did son you gonna take them on your own?” The stranger said as he looked at the young boy. “Why don’t you hop down and we plan together on finding your mother.” The man said. Without another word Jacob rides off. The stranger looks down at a picture painting of a beautiful woman that was in his hands of him and a beautiful woman and his heart jumped. “Oh No... he has her eyes.” The man said with a very serious look on his face. From the distance Jacob saw smoke and he drove his horse towards it and he saw them and what was happening anger hit him as he saw his Mother and the hideous man, Jacobs teeth clinched when the killer spoke. “I am Slaygar now tell me where is the boy!?! I want the boy!” Slaygar with a growl in his voice. Jacob's mother spit in Slaygars face, Slaygars hit her to the ground with his cane long and black with a gold skull handle, Jacob went to attack Slaygar when a hand clutched his mouth and he was pulled back he fought and fought. “Ezy kid Ezy!” The stranger said as he pulled him down and covering his mouth with his hand. Jacob kept fighting then the Stranger hit him hard knocking him out. “Sorry kid but all you would have done was get yourself and your mother killed.” The man said quietly as he watch Slaygar and the boys mother. The stranger watched as Slaygar ties the women to the horse and got on his Black Horse it’s eyes was red the man never seen such a horse. “I will find you boy I will find you!!!” Slaygar shouted angrily. He said that then looked at the boys mother. “Oh he find us over the momma heh heh.” Slaygar said with a evil laugh. The men that was with him laughed then Slaygar felt two presence the young boys anger he sensed it. A wicked smile came to his face. “Your Not Ready To Face me. Come On Save Your Mom don’t let her die!” Slaygar taunted. Suddenly he made a fire ball in his hand and said. “Naw! On second thought I will just kill her now so you can see it.” Slaygar laughed as he threw the ball of fire at the mother and the the horse setting them both on fire, The screams of Jacobs mom and the horse woke Jacob out of his slumber from being knocked out. “Watch her burn!” Slaygar shouted. Jacob heard His mother screaming along with the horse and Slaygar laughing he saw his mother and the horse in one big flame of fire he heard the screams it echoed in his mind that would haunt him in his dreams. “Bloody Hell No!!!” The stranger said as he pulled Jacob with him two his horse. He fire two arrows one hit the mother in the head putting her out her misery and the other hit the horse. He turns and saw the boy watching what happened tears filled his eyes he couldn’t make a sound. The stranger grabbed him he pulled back the boy started screaming at him. “No! NO!!! MY MOTHER!!!” “Come on son she’s gone I’m sorry kid but you can’t avenge her death now come with me you can trust me boy!” The stranger said sadden because the woman who was Jacob’s mother who he just had to kill so she wouldn’t suffer was his true love. The man picked him up got on his horse and took out running for the mountains Jacob screaming at him to put him down as he did. He got him on the horse and ran as fast as he could twards a particular mountain. Slaygar and his men were hot on their heels trying to catch up he wanted that boy. “Come on yall I want that boy. Guys let’s get them kill the man I want that boy alive! Slaygar shouted angrily. The stranger kicked his horse making her run faster. “Come on girl let’s go yah yah!!!” The stranger shouted to his black mare. He saw an elf behind a tree he was raising to, he whistled and mages witch’s warlocks saucers Druids and minotaurs and centaurs Elves and Dwarfs came out to fight against Slaygar and his army. Slaygar yelled. “Retreat they have an army!!! This ain’t over I’ll have that boy!!!” Slaygar shouted. Slaygar and his men left. Jacob from shock was loosing consciousness the last thing he remember was a young Elf with black hair named Jake pulling him off the horse and carrying him to a cave. When Jacob awoke he saw a centaur there. “Ezy now you need to rest you been through a lot.” Kane a big centaur said as he stood over Jacob and handing something to drink. “O shut up Kane let the boy alone and don’t give him any of that mess to drink you kill him and he ain’t even sick.” Aurther who was the stranger that saved Jacob said with a smirk on his face. “Oh and look who’s talking joke all you want you know if it wasn’t for me and that mess as you call it you be under ground by now that is if someone took the time to Barry you and not throw you in the creek for the sharks!” Kane replied. “Yea well if I didn’t pull your big horse tail out the rocks when that mountain caved in you be a big bunch of warm food aye.” Aurther said as he began to chuckle. The Centaur walk out the room cursing. Jacob watched him walk out and his eyes was wide like he seen a ghost. Aurther came and sit by him and said. “He’s a centaur yes I know I was shocked to I thought it was just some child’s story but if it wasn’t for him I be dead there’s also minotaurs and High Elves Dark Elves Wood Elves Dwarfs and I heard there were dragons to but never seen them.” Jacob looked and seen the stranger that took him and killed his mother. “You Killed My Mother!” Jacob said with tears running down his cheeks. He pushed away from him and said “Get away from me!” “Son I’m sorry about your mother but would you rather have her burn alive because I sure couldn’t! So I stopped her pain.” Aurther said tears came down his eyes. “My Fathers Dead. My mother’s dead! she’s…” Jacob said. As Aurther put his hands on his shoulders.” “I know I’m sorry man I really am.” Aurther said as the tears ran down his cheeks as well. Jacob hugged Aurther. Aurther didn’t know what to do he took his hands off his shoulders and wrapped them around Jacob in a fatherly embrace and said. “Um Son. Um ok there now your fine everything is gonna be just fine.” Jacob said trying to comfort him. Aurther let the boy grieve his mother and father. Jacob finally fell asleep in Aurther’s arms. “Um kid kid.... umm come on kid.” Aurther said awkwardly as he was holding him keeping him from falling. Kane walked in and just a running his mouth and saw Aurther and the kid asleep in his arms. “Ooooh Aurther are you getting attached to the boy gonna take him in as your own, Ooooh you gonna let him call you daddy? “ Kane said laughing” He gasped. “Shut up Kane! Help me!” Aurther said aggravated. Kane went over and helped Aurther put him in a bed, then Kane looked at Aurther. Then antagonized him as he watched Aurther cover him with a blanket. “My my Aurther Morris is taking my job over a young blond headed boy.” Kane said shaken his head. Ooooh what would the other boys say and what about Kiara she might feel jealous. Hehe.” Kane said laughing. “Shut up you fool!” Aurther said red faced. looking around trying to make sure no one else noticed. “You keep your mouth shut about this you fool!” Aurther said with a threatening look. He looked around again then walked up to Kane and pointed his finger in his face. “If you say Anything to humiliate me…” Kane interrupted Aurther. “O give it a rest Aurther Morris everyone knows about Mary I’m Sorry you had to take her life and everyone knows how much the children mean to you and how special this one is to you. By the way Aurther here Mary told me to give this letter to you if the boy winded up in our care if something happened to her. I thought I never see that.” Aurther graved the letter. “Read it Aurther don’t burn it like the other one because it hurts too much over the choice you made read that letter!” Kane said sternly to Aurther. Aurther looked at Kane. “I’m Serious Arthur read it!” Kane said. Aurther unrolled the letter and read it. (Letter.) Mary: Dear Aurther. I’m sure you burned that last letter I wrote you so ima tell you again. Arthur I love you and I always will, I want to be with you but you chose a different path and I cannot do that. I heard you went back and took those children in and I want you to know that I’m truly grateful and I know their gonna be safe between you and Kane and Duke and Hosea. Now if your reading this letter then something happened to me and Jacky. I hate that y’all met on bad turns you would have liked him. Like I said if your reading this then I’m dead and my boy is with you like the Wizard said all those years ago we were kids but it’s true heh we made fun of him. Take care of my boy Arthur Jacky wasn’t the father but he tried to raise him like his own. Arthur please take care of my boy. I love you Arthur. PS: He’s your son Arthur. Your his father. Always yours Mary. Arthur swallowed hard tears filled his eyes. Arthur: He’s my Son? Kane looked at him they went into a cave where no one could see or hear them. “He’s my son he’s my son it can’t be!” Aurther scratched his head confused. “It’s true Aurther I can tell y’all share the same blood, you know I can tell by the smell and looks I see and smell what others cannot that’s how most my kind when we go on the full war path we don’t stop till all their kin are dead the minotaurs are the same. And Mary sent me a letter telling me about it when he was born.” “I know I know you ain’t got to give me a history lesson if y’all centaurs. I mean it’s impossible we ain’t been together or done anything in over 14 years. And I never knew Mary wrote you to. “Hey I known her way longer then you! In fact I introduced you two.” Kane said. Hosea walked up and spoke to them interrupting there conversation. “Hey y’all it’s me Hosea. Aurther that boy is Fourteen years old you know and he even looks like you when you was that age.” Hosea said as he walked up. Hosea found Aurther when he was a baby his family were killed by a unknown gang and Hosea had road up after seeing the smoke. All the houses were burnt to the ground only thing standing was a wooden shed. Hosea looked around the place and was about to get on his horse when he heard the sound of a baby crying in the wood shed. He ran in there and picked up the baby and seen a letter on the baby. It said. Letter: If you make it here and my baby is alive. His name is Aurther please take care of my Baby boy. Hosea looked at Aurther and said “Aurther that boy looks like you remember I raised you that boy has got to be your son”
Arthur shook his head and was about to speak when Duke showed up in the cave. “Aerther! Hosea! Good Kane your here look y’all meet me at the entrance we got to talk. Duke shouted. Things are about to change and it’s gonna be life and death. I got to keep y’all safe so y’all come on now!” Duke shouted at them. “What is it now Duke why hear and it better not be more of that prophecy mess.” Hosea said as he rolled his eyes “Hosea! Think man think! Centaurs Minotaurs dwarfs Elves you think because they exist that magic don’t look I have to do this now for all of you if I don’t all of y’all will die a dark dark time is coming and Gabriel Bolton will not be able to fight it. I dreamed about a Vampire again a good man drove to evil defiled the Temple Jirah And and the sacred cup filled with blood from the hands of the Wolf Statue his eyes glowed blood red and his mouth had fangs then the beast part man part wolf came their where twelve came to trap the monster the man became and Gabriel Bolton was dead!” Duke said with excitement. Hosea interrupted Duke. “Duke Holloway! That’s just a bad dream Duke there’s no such things as Vampires or Werewolves that’s just an old story to scare children there’s no such Thomas Dracula ether enough is enough.” Hosea shouted at him. “Its not a story Hosea it’s Prophesy it’s going to happen we’re here Kane please trust me put a little of your blood in this bottle.” Duke wouldn’t hear anything that would change his belief. Kane looked up and huffed “Here you go Duke” Kane said as he let him collect his blood. “Oh my God this is so ridiculous.” Hosea said as he took his hat off and with the other hand slapped his forehead. “Great! Now I need Hogan the minotaur now. Hogan!” Duke shouted Hogan came inside the cave. “Yes Master Duke.” Hogan said as he looked at Duke who had raised him when he was a young little kid Minotaur. Duke saved him from a cave that was collapsing down. “Hey big man look I need a little of your blood in this bottle.” “Sure Master Duke here you go but why do you need it?” Hogan asked. “To protect y’all.” Duke said with a serious tone in his voice. “This is Crazy Duke have you lost your mind do you want some of the children’s blood now?” Aurther said very agitated with Duke. “No Aurther I know you think I’m crazy I’m not and I got what I need and I will show you.” Duke said very serious. “It’s ok it’s ok here Duke if it help take it.” Hogan said as he gave the blood. “Duke we are starting to worry about you man.” Hosea said with much concern. They all loved Duke he saved them from a gang that were trying to burn them alive and he killed them all and he lead them to safety. So they all decided to follow Duke there were all with him 15 years now and he started to act strange the last three years when he got ahold of some scrolls found in a cave. “I’m fine Hosea I’m fine you see.” Duke tried to reassure Hosea. “Ok Duke now what are you gonna do with that.” Kane asked very interested in all that mixed blood. “I’m gonna combined it with this now” Duke said as he pulled out a bottle that had dragons blood in it then a long white feather A small bottle of Angel water that’s What Duke called it but it was water from the crystal river in the Sunny Valley it had the power to protect and heal any wounds or disease most people called it Shalom’s Grace. “Now the gift from my feathered friends.” Duke said smiling. “O what now you seeing Angels and they gave you what fairy dust? Come On Duke you know that’s a load of bull!” Aurther shouted. “Watch Aurther! Please!” Duke asked. Arthur shook his head and said. “Duke? I....” “Please Aurther! All of you I know y’all think I’m crazy but I’m not Trouble is Coming and I got to do as I can to save you all Just Like Noah and the Ark but I don’t plan on my friends dying and we sure got more then eight.” Duke said as he spoke of the Ancient scrolls. “Duke I read the Sacred scrolls to man but you going to the extreme on this man.” Aurther said as he looked at Duke. “Just Watch Aurther! You see something you would never dream of Aurther. Duke started putting all the blood together and when he had it in place he started to pray. “Jirah My God My Savior please provide us protection we are in need of it now we will be lost unless you have mercy on us please my Lord shine down on us the blood of the centaur minotaur the Angels feather the dragons blood and Angel water please except this and save us!” He began to call every name in the Camp and closed it. “John and Angela Morgan and me Duke Calloway.” Duke prayed They watched him pray and saw his tears Aurther covered his eyes and said. “O My God Why Duke.” Aurther said frustrated. Then the earth shook and from the sky what looked like White fire started coming down! Hosea put his arms on Kane and Arthur’s shoulders He almost fell. The Minotaur Hogan kept him up Hosea became a believer at that moment. “That was the fire of Salome!” Hosea said. “What are you Talking about Duke stop!” Aurther shouted. “I tried to tell y’all. Aurther this is Gods Will.” Duke said unwavering. What looked like a wall of stone was about to close the in except for a doorway That was hold on for John Morgan and his wife Angela they showed up and looked at Duke and said. “What is this and what was that bright light coming from the heavens?” John Morgan asked as he ran up.” “That was the fire of Shalom now I’m going in so you can be safe.” Duke replied. “Wow so you was right all this time!” John said shocked.0 “It’s all about faith my boys my brothers now we can be safe! Wait a minute. John who is this?” Duke said and then asked as he noticed the people with John. “This is one of those Foreigner girls her name is Zoe She was on a chain of a slave master I killed him to save her if I didn’t he would have beat her to death and this is Cole Morgan my cousin he’s 13.” John answered him. Duke put his hand over his eyes. “I couldn’t let that just Happen to them Duke I stand by my decision.” John said sternly. “No no you did what was right John you did what was right i’m proud of you son but I don’t know how to save her I called all the names already.” Duke said with concern. “Well we got to do something!” John said with a sense of urgency. “I know I know!” Duke replied. Duke passed back and forth then stopped and looked up at the Heavens again. “Dear Lord Jirah please hear my cry once again you see the situation of this young child and the little boy please replace my name with hers and add the little child so that she and he may be saved and I will fight to keep them safe!” Duke Prayed to the Lord. The door opened for the Zoe and the child went through, The door started to close. “Duke no no way no Duke you take my place!” John Shouted “John you got a family get in there!” Duke shouted back. Duke pushed John and Angela in and the door started to close once they were in they couldn’t get out Arthur John and Hosea was beating on the wall that was invisible they couldn’t get through to Duke but they could see and hear him. “Hosea, Aurther, John, Angela, Hogan, Kane, I Love y’all and always will y’all are safe and when the time is right y’all be free from here I’m sorry for this but it’s the only way y’all can live! Duke turn and walked away the wall turned to stone, Aurther walked back and forth trying to register in his mind what just happened he yelled: “What just happened what just happened!!!! Kane Hogan get it open get it...” Hosea graved him Aurther. “Calm down boy calm down he’s gone and we’re safe that what Duke wanted Aurther!” Hosea said as he tried calming Aurther. “Oh my God Oh my God what have I done!” John said with his hands on his head. “You did what Duke would have done saved someone now you calm down Aurther go check on your son and....” Hosea said as Aurther shouted. “He not my....” Hosea interrupted Aurther. “Hush Arthur go see your son Kane go with him John Hogan lets get her and and the child something to eat in fact it’s time to get supper ready come on.” Outside the wall of protection Duke and a Angel with the name Gabriel talked with each other. “So they gonna die in the mountains.” Duke asked “No they will live til the end of the protection which will probably be about a Thousand year form now there it move fast for them but they will notice they ain’t getting older wile they in there their immortal now the spell breaks they will have a choice rather to be a vampire or a werewolf however the boys Jacob and Cole are special type of Mages they can do what any other that can use a form of magic and then they will be masters of all magical creatures.” The Angel Gabriel Said to Duke “OK good so what now.” Duke asked “Come follow me I’ll lead you where you need to go next.” The Angel Gabriel said. Arther and Kane went back where they left Jacob and saw him holding his mothers letter to Arthur in his hand. Jacob looked at Arthur. “So your my real daddy! Why you didn’t raise me why you ran off?” Jacob said upset. “Son I....” Jacob interrupted Aurther. “NO!!! Stop you can’t call me that you killed my mother and you was never there for me!” Jacob shouted. “I.... Your Mother would have burned alive Jacob!” Aurther told him softly. “I was about to save her and you stopped me!” Jacob said. “You would have gotten yourself killed with your momma I didn’t know you existed until yesterday and I didn’t know you was my son until today!” Aurther explained. “Hey!!! Y’all quit fighting! Kane come over here Arthur look at this you to boy.” They came and looked. “Duke gave me his Journal and look here at the last page he wrote it ten days ago, it says. I got to get my boys and brothers and sisters safe I got to make sure they stay alive no matter what!” Dukes Journal: Arthur will soon bring his son up here and then we got to protect the children and keep them hidden from Slaygar we got to keep Slaygar away from our children. The demon will soon be born his name will terrorize the world forever they will call him Dracula the Angel Gabriel cannot stop Gabriel Bolton one his wife is dead he will give in to evil and he will go too far may Shalom have mercy on Him. Hosea! Hold this dear you need it when the wall breaks I probably be dead when you come out but this journal will lead you to my next Journal and you need that Journal to understand the changes you see. Love Duke “Ten days ago you mean he saw me bring my son home? and why keep them away from Slaygar?” Aurther said confused. “Yes Apparently Slaygar wants to kill these kids for some reason?” Kane said. “We got to keep these boys safe no matter what so until this spell where’s off there’s nothing we can do but survive we have a whole mountain so we can hunt so we got to survive, this is a magical place Aurther so we must be careful.”

21+
please message me with more than "hi, how are you?" + do not chat message me, send me a DM! it's so much easier for me since i use the app on my phone.
just your local girlfriend stealing, alternative, bisexual here. 👋 but you know what? let's set that aside for now (your girlfriend is safe for the moment) because i'm looking for friends that are as good to me as i am to others, which is apparently *harder than it should be. i am a genuinely kind, loving person even if my face says otherwise. oops. i have a severe case of resting sad face, so sorry.
i'm smitten with people who are weird but not weird enough to make others uncomfy, or unable to enjoy the weirdness, ya know? i know you know. i like people who are into things that others mostly aren't: tarot, astrology, deep conversations, things like that. i might not actively be participating in said things but i like hearing the perspective of people who are! my friends always joke that i'm the person people say "i can fix her!" about but uh, i'm awesome. i don't need fixed. ✨i will admit though, i hesitate about people a lot because while i do want a best friend -- mine have scorned me, so i need someone patient with me and understanding of that, please. please. i adore social connections but i do come with a social battery and it needs refilled. me needing that time does not negate the connection i have built with you and am nurturing with you.
i will genuinely offer you diamonds in the form of friendship, just reciprocate it. i will offer you the safest, most non-judgement free zone you can imagine, you are always - always, safe with me. i just ask that you are a good, kind, compassionate friend to me. you can literally tell me anything in the world and if it isn't hurting anyone else, i will listen without judgment. i promise you. i'll also send you spotify songs that i really like, so hi. hello.
on to the fun tingz (and the stuff that will hopefully bring you in),

• watching my first ever anime, try to guess it [let's pretend my first actual one wasn't death note & that it wasn't the live action]
• i'm the best wingman, hypeman & support team all in one
• horror fan through & through, but honestly, i prefer them less gory now lol, especially emotional horror
• cat loverrrr but will accept your frog [& all other animals] - so send pics. stat.
• known for dirty looks when i'm dissociating
• graphic design major who switched to cybersecurity & will be starting june, wish ya girl luck 💅
• gamer [valorant, ow2, cs2, hunt: showdown, pummel party, modded Minecraft, modded stardew,++]
• i don't play league, my mental health is terrible enough, thank you. i also don't play wow, my attention span could never. i do, however, play valorant because i don't like myself that much. i got you there, didn't i?
• loves to make make random noises but forgets my krisp isn't on
• mexican food 4 ever
• someone give me a banh mi please, they look so good, i'm desperate

i am ✨sPiCy✨so if that bothers you, i am sorry. i, again, am a genuinely kind person but i do have a snarkiness to me that is meant to be a slight "i love you" + dash of bully. ❤

This will be a rant of my story with hytale, TL;DR at the bottom
okay, so I used to be like, the single biggest hytale fan on the fucking planet, look at my username lol, like i lost a friend (i wasnt very close but still) years ago partly bc i was too annoying about the game lmao, and its still not out yet. I rewatched the trailer dozens of times, i listened to Slamma's music and "upcoming" mod music, i watched all the Kweebec Corner and some of CanadianFlash's theory videos and such about it, I joined KC's discord and read all the blogposts, I based my whole online presence on it, I even started conceptualizing a fanfiction which turned into just an original story. I know this was unhealthy lmao, i was young and that was only for like a year or something then like on and off until now, mainly because of the story lol. Even to this day i still watch KC sometimes to get the updates, but can i tell you am i disappointed, its like a revelation coming to me now.
Anyways, some backstory is that Hytale originally sparked my interest after watching Logdotzip's reaction to it in like 2018 (6 years ago!! what!!), and it was because it looked like my most ideal game ever, like I was into open-world shit, I loved terraria, and i raved about how good 1.13 and stuff was going to be for Minecraft (also because Logdotzip made weird videos about how Emerald Armor was coming in 1.13 lol), so it just looked like it was going to be a better minecraft, or a 3d terraria! Anyways as time went on (still very very early on), it seemed like they were dedicated on providing for the people yk, making modding accessible inside/ as a part of the game, communicating frequently and consistently with the community, and actually managing their time and shit (as we've come to see is not the case at all anymore), everything to be in dialogue with the players to make the game for them. And plus there was the modding thing! which i wanted to be a game developer when i grew up then, so i thought it'd be great to practice on Hytale, the upcoming game with accessible and user-friendly modding capabilities! but its still not out yet.
After like 2021 they ended the blogposts and shifted to postcards and, not having twitter, I became less into it, and i very much became less annoying about it, but I was still hopeful, I believed it was coming out last year and I decided to put it away until it came out. of course, its still not out yet. The Riot thing didn't even really phase me as much as it did some others worried about microtransactions and corporatism and stuff, in fact it gave me hope that it was going to come sooner and better, especially as they were taking their time with the engine to make it better for modded etc.. (I was still a tinyy bit bitter abt the engine thing because it looked like they had a working version of my ideal game, and there wasnt even talks of a beta). As the years have gone on, and especially recently, hypixels issues with communication have become more and more apparent, part of the reasons i loved the game in the first place. Even to like january this year, i excused their corporate-speak, excuses, and lack of community engagement because they were reworking the whole thing, it would be boring hearing those updates, right?, and they had the giant Q&A on twitter! I even almost made a twitte x account just to respond to the q&a even with my hatred of Musk and x lol.
this school year ive had a lot of issues with maintaining my friendships and ive gotten more politically in-tune, especially with the genocide in Gaza, so its kinda been a depressive spiral for me, and a few months ago I hit a low point, so i tried to bounce back and started getting into and playing the Wakfu MMO, and I feel like my story with Wakfu is very similar to my story with Hytale. basically Ive known and watched the Wakfu tv show since i was really young, in fact it inspired some of the ideas in my hyatle fanfic idea when it became more of just an original, and it was still one of my top favorite tv shows last year, the worldbuilding and environment was so visually appealing and cozy and i remember wanting to just live in that world when i was young, similar to how i obsessed over how Hytale was my ideal game, and Ive known about the MMOs for about a year now. so anyways, when I hit that low point, i just wanted to escape, and i, like i did for hytale, based a lot of what i did online from Wakfu, my tumblr and new youtube channel banner is a wakfu concept art lol, and the MMO aspect felt very community-oriented, and i met a few friends from it too. If you don't know, Ankama, the company that made Wakfu, is notorious for being terrible at communication with its players, if your email isn't verified for some reason when making an account they want you to contact support, but its actually easier just to make a different email because they take years to respond sometimes. Earlier, i chalked it down to "the company is bad, but the game/ show is good", but now even the new content is becoming bad, the design changes from season 1-2 and 3-4 of wakfu's show is terrible and gets rid of any of the reasons why the environments and towns felt so appealing, and ankama's new MMO Waven follows that same bland design, and the writing on all their content contradicts itself on every point now, so i cant even say their game/ shows are good anymore. Though, if you have the time, wakfu season 1 (and 2 at parts), have one of the best villains in television ive seen. Now I can't even enjoy the cozy aesthetic of it without seeing a new thing to take issue with. Anyways, to summarize, with Wakfu, I went from idealizing and obsessing over it for the vibes and supposed community-orientation and basing my online presence (somewhat) on it, to realizing the apparent lack of communication Ankama has, to seeing flaws in the content they make overall.
Anyways, I brought up Wakfu and Ankama (it was like a whole post in itself omg) because I think it really helped me see Hypixel's issues now. Just earlier today, I was reading some of the F2P vs P2P posts on this sub, and originally, and since i watched the trailer all the way back in 2018, I've been staunchly in the F2P crowd, because I knew, or assumed, that Hypixel would be so community oriented, have their modding tools so integrated and accessible, that F2P would be fine because they wouldnt monetize like the others in my ideal game, right?? But now that I saw the "live free-to-play Game-as-a-Service" thing, and knowing their with a big company and their history of being uncommunicative, I'm fearful its going to be like Roblox, a big monetized and monopolized mobile-game mod mess, and/or like Ankama, with no communication and no community, or theyre going to have things locked behind paywalls, etc.. At this point, the things I liked about the game aside from the visuals, the accessibility, communication, and community engagement, Hypixel have fucked up on all of them, and I don't know if the actual game will be any good anymore because of it, or any sort of revolutionary with things like Vintage Story having been released or Godot being an actual good game engine, etc..
In conclusion, i dont think i will be able to appreciate Hytale anymore
TL;DR: I used to idealize hytale because it looked like it would be my ideal game, open world, beautiful graphics, accessible modding, etc.., and i liked it for 3 main reasons, vibes, community engagement/ accessibility, and dev-player dialogue. After having a similar experience with Wakfu and over the course of the development of hytale, ive realized the apparent lack of dialogue, and seeing the F2P Game-as-a-Service update, the lack of accessibility comes up with very possible paywalls and monetization, being inconsistent with the "free integrated modding and character customization," and thus the lack of vibes, as the monetization will very much get in the way of my enjoyment and experience with the game, and I don't think I'll be able to appreciate it the same ever again.

21+
please message me with more than "hi, how are you?" + do not chat message me, send me a DM! it's so much easier for me since i use the app on my phone.
just your local girlfriend stealing, alternative, bisexual here. 👋 but you know what? let's set that aside for now (your girlfriend is safe for the moment) because i'm looking for friends that are as good to me as i am to others, which is apparently *harder than it should be. i am a genuinely kind, loving person even if my face says otherwise. oops. i have a severe case of resting sad face, so sorry.
i'm smitten with people who are weird but not weird enough to make others uncomfy, or unable to enjoy the weirdness, ya know? i know you know. i like people who are into things that others mostly aren't: tarot, astrology, deep conversations, things like that. i might not actively be participating in said things but i like hearing the perspective of people who are! my friends always joke that i'm the person people say "i can fix her!" about but uh, i'm awesome. i don't need fixed. ✨i will admit though, i hesitate about people a lot because while i do want a best friend -- mine have scorned me, so i need someone patient with me and understanding of that, please. please. i adore social connections but i do come with a social battery and it needs refilled. me needing that time does not negate the connection i have built with you and am nurturing with you.
i will genuinely offer you diamonds in the form of friendship, just reciprocate it. i will offer you the safest, most non-judgement free zone you can imagine, you are always - always, safe with me. i just ask that you are a good, kind, compassionate friend to me. you can literally tell me anything in the world and if it isn't hurting anyone else, i will listen without judgment. i promise you. i'll also send you spotify songs that i really like, so hi. hello.
on to the fun tingz (and the stuff that will hopefully bring you in),

• watching my first ever anime, try to guess it [let's pretend my first actual one wasn't death note & that it wasn't the live action]
• i'm the best wingman, hypeman & support team all in one
• horror fan through & through, but honestly, i prefer them less gory now lol, especially emotional horror
• cat loverrrr but will accept your frog [& all other animals] - so send pics. stat.
• known for dirty looks when i'm dissociating
• graphic design major who switched to cybersecurity & will be starting june, wish ya girl luck 💅
• gamer [valorant, ow2, cs2, hunt: showdown, pummel party, modded Minecraft, modded stardew,++]
• i don't play league, my mental health is terrible enough, thank you. i also don't play wow, my attention span could never. i do, however, play valorant because i don't like myself that much. i got you there, didn't i?
• loves to make random noises but forgets my krisp isn't on
• mexican food 4 ever
• someone give me a banh mi please, they look so good, i'm desperate

i am ✨sPiCy✨so if that bothers you, i am sorry. i, again, am a genuinely kind person but i do have a snarkiness to me that is meant to be a slight "i love you" + dash of bully. ❤

21+
please message me with more than "hi, how are you?" + do not chat message me, send me a DM! it's so much easier for me since i use the app on my phone.
just your local girlfriend stealing, alternative, bisexual here. 👋 but you know what? let's set that aside for now (your girlfriend is safe for the moment) because i'm looking for friends that are as good to me as i am to others, which is apparently *harder than it should be. i am a genuinely kind, loving person even if my face says otherwise. oops. i have a severe case of resting sad face, so sorry.
i'm smitten with people who are weird but not weird enough to make others uncomfy, or unable to enjoy the weirdness, ya know? i know you know. i like people who are into things that others mostly aren't: tarot, astrology, deep conversations, things like that. i might not actively be participating in said things but i like hearing the perspective of people who are! my friends always joke that i'm the person people say "i can fix her!" about but uh, i'm awesome. i don't need fixed. ✨i will admit though, i hesitate about people a lot because while i do want a best friend -- mine have scorned me, so i need someone patient with me and understanding of that, please. please. i adore social connections but i do come with a social battery and it needs refilled. me needing that time does not negate the connection i have built with you and am nurturing with you.
i will genuinely offer you diamonds in the form of friendship, just reciprocate it. i will offer you the safest, most non-judgement free zone you can imagine, you are always - always, safe with me. i just ask that you are a good, kind, compassionate friend to me. you can literally tell me anything in the world and if it isn't hurting anyone else, i will listen without judgment. i promise you. i'll also send you spotify songs that i really like, so hi. hello.
on to the fun tingz (and the stuff that will hopefully bring you in),

• watching my first ever anime, try to guess it [let's pretend my first actual one wasn't death note & that it wasn't the live action]
• i'm the best wingman, hypeman & support team all in one
• horror fan through & through, but honestly, i prefer them less gory now lol, especially emotional horror
• cat loverrrr but will accept your frog [& all other animals] - so send pics. stat.
• known for dirty looks when i'm dissociating
• graphic design major who switched to cybersecurity & will be starting june, wish ya girl luck 💅
• gamer [valorant, ow2, cs2, hunt: showdown, pummel party, modded Minecraft, modded stardew,++]
• i don't play league, my mental health is terrible enough, thank you. i also don't play wow, my attention span could never. i do, however, play valorant because i don't like myself that much. i got you there, didn't i?
• loves to make random noises but forgets my krisp isn't on
• mexican food 4 ever
• someone give me a banh mi please, they look so good, i'm desperate

i am ✨sPiCy✨so if that bothers you, i am sorry. i, again, am a genuinely kind person but i do have a snarkiness to me that is meant to be a slight "i love you" + dash of bully. ❤

Marry Me Macbeth would be advertised as an unpublished or "lost" film that finally gets to see the light of day, at first glance it'd be about a smooth & jazzy Romantic Comedy from the early 1990s known as Marry Me Macbeth with a simple but enjoyable story. It'd tell 2 different stories at once, a surface level story and a chilling story below the surface that we have to pick apart for ourselves.
Surface Plot: Macbeth is a damsel mourning over her awful minimum wage job so she comes up with the idea to look for the perfect husband because she can't bear to pay her rent anymore so if she marries him, she'll never have to pay anything again so she finds a good man and does her best to speed up the relationship as fast as she can portraying herself as a simple housewife and talking about a wedding even though they've only been acquainted for a couple days, the entire story pans out over a week requiring really good pacing before she somehow convinces this man into marrying her. Setting would be early 1970s
Hidden Plot: At the beginning of the film, we get pre-debut promotional interviews from the 90s with the stars of the film talking about how amazing the film is and just hyping it. In reality the film that we the audience are watching was made on a haunted studio and tragic events occurred during the making of this film, the producers ignored the locations tragic events and tried to complete their movie on it since it was the cheapest option, but chaos ensues as the creation of this film proceeds, midway through the film there'd also be an extended cut of the pre-debut promotional interviews with the film's stars talking about their strange experiences on set during the creation of Mourning Macbeth. As the surface level story progresses minor eerie events and details would occur throughout Mourning Macbeth that have no connection to the story whatsoever such as a visual/auditory malfunctions and apparitions briefly appearing in scenes without the protagonist paying any attention to them at all would begin to appear, almost as if it's not even a part of the movie.
How it blends together: The idea of this film is to make a deceptively horrific film that acts as an unpublished romcom when it's actually a horror movie about a haunted film project made in a cursed studio.
Cinematography: The film would feel liminal in a sense only ever giving us wide shots on interior areas in very specific angles similar to liminal spaces photos, we'd never see any outdoor areas, the only way we'd know the time of day is light behind windows or no light behind windows. The camera would always give scenes wide shots showing fully what is happening in a location, but we'd be made to feel a strange sense of unease as we are made to focus on the background more than the protagonist, for example the camera might be positioned on the wall presenting a wide shot facing Macbeth doing the dishes with the living room connecting to the kitchen behind her being pitch black and some indistinguishable figure is lurking, watching, not at her, but its looking at you, it knows your there, this movie may be fake, but that sinister abnormality isn't, it notices you. However, something important to mention however, is that the eerie details should never take up the entire screen, they should be minor enough that you can never become accustomed to it, but you can always vaguely have an idea of what it looks like or what it could possibly be but nonetheless even if the protagonist is in the room it should always feel like the deity is focusing on us specifically and not the protagonist, like it is looking through the Lense of the screen. Another way to instigate fear is change the angel at which the scene is being capture when nothing unnatural is happening, hide the corridor out of view when there is nothing unknown to be seen or the audience is no longer intended to pay attention to that area.
Prevalent scenes throughout the film:

• Commercial Break: The film would have a simple short commercial break with a pizza kitchen commercial in which an apparition appears in the background of this scene blending in but standing out, some may not even catch it, those who notice will be left uneasy.
• Dishwashing Scene: The camera is against the wall facing the face of Macbeth as she is doing the dishes for her boyfriend before he can get home from work, behind her is a corridor that leads to the living room, the light is off, and we see a face barely peeking out of the corner, or it looks like a face but it's too grainy, too far to fully describe especially in the darkness, moving too slow to tell what its intent is but fast enough to feel it could be a threat in a matter of seconds. But soon before we get too fearful the angle switches hiding the corridor out of view as the man comes in to greet his future wife in surprise.
• Date Night: Macbeth is having a date with her man at the table, the scene draws to the awkwardness of Macbeth waiting for her date having no one to hold conversation with as jazz is playing in the background and extras are talking to each other on their own date, but there is a symmetrical corridor in the background leading down a hallway but its dark for no reason, something would move into the doorframe just outside of the light without physically moving itself at all, it'd seem to have a face, but its indistinguishable between male or female and it's too far away from the camera to say for certain what exactly it was. Then when Macbeths future husband finally arrives the camera angle switches hiding that corridor from view and giving us a different perspective on their date.
• Bathroom Scene: Macbeth is cleaning the bathroom but leaves the shot to get supplies for an extended time period leaving us to feel like a child without a parent, Macbeth was the little comfort we had but now we don't even have that, there is a small compartment door on the wall beyond the corridor facing the bathroom, after 10-15 seconds of Macbeth being gone it slowly opens, so slowly in fact not a single sound can be heard from it but before it can open to the point we can see inside Macbeth returns back for the scene, as she begins cleaning the small door opens up quickly but the shot cuts off only showing it open half way revealing an eerie unhinged face that can barely be made out from the quick frame, and then it cuts to a normal version of the bathroom scene from the corridors perspective.
• Ending: There'd be a wide shot of a set without any actors, it's the fancy quinine restaurant from the date night scene, dimly lit with a corridor symmetrical to the camera in the background, the apparition slowly creeps out of the corridor towards the camera, moving inhumanly, blending the human and the uncanny, we'd here it is whispering something in an indescribable voice but in cohesive English, it is talking to us, how even when we can't see it, it will be watching from the furthest view, how we thought this was all part of the joke but in fact we are a part of it, talking about how it will peel over our eyes with its sneaky fingers, before it can give us a good glimpse of its appearance the film ends with the credits to the romcom "Marry Me Macbeth". The ending would be ambiguous and leave plenty of things up for interpretation, because something that has always kept a film or any media alive is speculation.

Sources of inspiration:

• Inspiration: Inside No. 9 Season 4 Episode Special Live: Dead Line Oct 28 2018 - video Dailymotion
• Inspiration: The Curse of the Scottish Play Macbeth Royal Shakespeare Company (rsc.org.uk)

So, a lot of you aren't going to like this.
Those of you who work at agencies ESPECIALLY won't like this, because it's gonna make those of you who are lazy and blame everyone else for your problems...
Well it's gonna make you look like you're lazy, and blame everyone else for your problems.
So here's my central thesis for this post, done in my best Alec Baldwin impersonation:
"Facebook's not weak, YOU'RE weak!"
Okay, fair enough, Facebook is actually kinda shitty. But have you heard that old (admittedly misogynistic) joke, "Women, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em?"
Well that describes FB.
I hate FB. I despise it with every fiber of my being.
But... it also makes me a lot of money. So I still run a lot of ads on there.
Quick note about me so you know I'm not some random dipshit: Been in online marketing for a long time, been running ads for about 5 years. Currently do about $5mm a year in spend, a decent chunk of it with my own personal cash for my own business. I still consult and run ads in JV/partnership deals, however, so not ALL my own money.
So, lots of posts lately about FB being shitty. Interestingly enough like many things there have always been these posts en masse. ios14 was a huge turning point in this industry. And it seems to keep getting worse and worse.
That said there's still people CRUSHING it on FB on a daily basis. Individuals who are doing 50k - 100k in spend a day (I've been one of them, right now more like 20k a day though.)
And these are direct response guys, not big ass brands who can afford to throw cash away.
So the question is... why are you struggling and they aren't?
Well first of all let me let you in on a secret: FB sucks for them too. It sucks for me, it sucks for all of us.
But if you want to be successful, you need to focus on what you CAN control, not what you can't.
So here's my rules for success:

1. UNDERSTAND FACEBOOK SUCKS

I've run five copies of the exact same ad in the same ad set at the same time and gotten wildly different results. That's why I test the way I do (Test images/videos and copy at the same time, so I can have duplicates of everything and cross reference/aggregate performance)
Also understand something that works in your market is half the battle... you need something FB likes too. Which you'll never know what it is until you stumble upon it.
Which brings me to my next point...

1. YOU'RE NOT TESTING ENOUGH

I've seen SO MANY posts where people are like, "We've tested TEN IMAGES and nothing works!!!"
My friend. 10 images is what I test in a day. I've been known to test 100 videos a week. I'll write ten pieces of copy for one day's testing.
Do I do this every day? No. I wish I could. I don't have the time/energy. But ideally I SHOULD be doing this every day.
Now if you're running a budget of $100/day obviously you have a lot less you can test.
But my point is... even for those of us who know what we're doing... it takes a LOT of creative testing to get a hit.
Creative testing should be 80% of your time on FB. The guys who tell you it's about the campaign structure or whatever... I mean yeah that stuff is important and can help. But if your creative is good you can kind of ignore that stuff and still get decent results.
Oh and every account is different in terms of what it likes. So you kind of have to treat them separately and test creatives on each. Have fun!

1. IF YOU'RE A MEDIA BUYER AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND CREATIVE YOU SHOULD GET A NEW JOB

Look, not everyone is a great copywriter, or video producer, or artist.
But any good media buyer should be able to take a guess at WHY the creative isn't working, and what should be changed. They should know how to test in a way that is getting these insights that can then be used to further iterate on and improve creatives.
I have met some media buyers who don't know shit about creative but are great at scaling. They're rare, but they're out there. Maybe 10 - 20% of great media buyers are like this. But these people could never fly solo. They only shine in a team with a big creative producing "engine". And they still know how to test to get that learning - they just don't really know why.

1. YOUR TESTING STRATEGY SUCKS

Tests are experiments. They should, as much as possible, isolate one variable.
So many times I hear about people testing in different campaigns, or on different days of the week, or whatever.
No. Testing is in one campaign. Usually different ad sets because otherwise FB will pick a favorite, but if I could throw all ads in one ad set and have FB evenly spend I'd do that.
Furthermore, you should have a very clear goal when you test. "We're testing angles." "We're testing whether red or blue gets a better CPC." "We're testing which of these 10 pieces of ad text does the best."
Don't just throw up a bunch of random videos. At least not often. Test one element. An intro. A CTA. Whatever. Have a plan, and stick to it.

1. WHAT AGENCIES TELL YOU IS BULLSHIT

And the worst part is then the people working there start to believe it.
A small incomplete sample of bullshit things I've heard:
"Facebook has to get out of the learning phase."
False. A good creative will work pretty much straight away. FB's pixel's been dogshit since ios14. Yes, generally training a pixel will help, but this "it needs 7 days of learning" horse shit is just that... horse shit. Often said by people who want to make excuses rather than get down and dirty and do the hard work - making good creatives.
"The pixel takes time to learn."
A half-truth, see above.
"It takes a month to even start getting data"
If I took a month to get data I'd be destitute. You should be able to test if a campaign is going to work in a week, assuming you have the creative ready to go.
If you can't figure out whether something's going to work in a week or two and 1 - 2k of spend, you suck at your job.
If you can't spend 1k a week, then you're working with a client that's super small and that has its own set of challenges, especially on FB.
And if an agency tells you they can't give you some damn good data and an action plan on exactly what you should do in a week or two, run from them and find someone else.
There are more that get my goat but you get the point.
BTW... MOST (not all) agencies work like this:
They sell you a ton of bullshit. You sign on as a client. They give you a junior they get from the Philippines or Eastern Europe for like $400 a month while charging you $3k. They give you endless excuses for months on why results aren't there until you finally leave but hey at that point they got like $15k in profit out of you... they don't care.
WHY I POSTED THIS:

1. Because there are people on here who believe this shit and waste time spinning their wheels when they could be getting traction
   
2. Because I hate lies and incompetence
   
3. Because I enjoy watching all the terrible media buyers come out of the wood work and try to argue with me on why I'm wrong (seriously, do it. Let's go. I need to procrastinate when I should be writing copy.)
   

And if you think I'm looking for clients... I'm not. I don't really have the time. Unless you want to do a profit share deal and your biz is already doing at least $1mm a year in revenue, then yeah, PM me, but it's gotta be a very attractive proposition for me to work on your shit.
Full disclosure: I am considering starting a YT channel where I basically get drunk and/or high and rant about shit like this for 5 - 10 minutes at a time. But as you know there's no money in that.
IN CONCLUSION:
Most of the shit you've heard is dead wrong and spread by people who either don't know any better or want to sell you this fantasy that ads are impossible. They're not. They're just a lot of hard fucking work.
BTW, you can reach out to me via PM for questions but honestly I'd rather you post it here so we get a discussion going and please don't take it personally if I don't have the time to answer back.
Now stop being on reddit and go make some more creatives and write some more copy to test.
Oh, and to all the lame media buyers who are upset that someone's shining lights on just how lazy and useless they are:
Bring it on, bitch.
P.S. I don't know why the preview is showing all my numbers as "1". I swear I learned how to count, even if it took me longer than some of the other kids. If anyone knows how to fix that, please post a comment or PM me. Bonus points for a funny joke at my expense.

Chris recaps the last episode as the campers dug up their team members pictures to determine the teams, and says that these teams seem "oddly specific" in who is on what team (he rigged the team picking). Hockey Bros on different teams, Chase and Emma on the same team, although some got lucky that they were put together such as Julia and MK, and Ripper and Axel, but it will only be a matter of time until things start going in a different direction. Today is the day they figure out who is going home first in this third season.
The intro plays like usual
On the Far Apart Foxes: Priya is seen staring deep into thought in her bunk about pretty much everything Millie, Caleb, The game, and what her parents are thinking right now. Zee comes in and asks if she's ok, and she claims she is, and that she's not going to let any of this stop her, and Zee could tell something was wrong, but didn't want to say anything as it's only caused him problems in the past. Julia and MK are outside talking about what they could try doing as they believe their team is full of people who are gross, emotional wrecks, not all there, or just hate their guts, Julia knows that she could be booted easily if they lose, she says not if they cheat, MK brings up her cheating idea again, but Julia reminds her that she got caught last time and almost went home, MK believes that if she doesn't mess with anything of Chris', like the hairdryer, they should be fine, plus instead of cheating through challenges, they could cheat through messing with people, Julia likes the sound of that. Meanwhile Raj is seen crying in his bunk claiming he's been crying all night, and then he sees Wayne and Bowie coming in, with Bowie saying Wayne did the same thing in his bunk and he sits the hockey bros and gives them a pep talk, trying to lift up their spirits, but it doesn't work, Bowie tries to think of something. Axel and Ripper are then found talking about their history in the game from going from hating each other to loving each other, Axel then tells him that she and him need to cool down on the making out, as she's been noticing that it's been dragging her and him down, Ripper claims being gross is something he does best, Axel tries to tell him that she may believe that he's not super gross, but if they want to dominate the game, Ripper needs to clean up his act, both literally and figuratively.
On the Separated Serpents sides: Caleb and Millie are seen talking to themselves about Priya and then all of sudden they say the same thing out loud and gasp. Caleb then tells her that he owes her an apology, Millie says what for, and Caleb tells her for taking her best friend away from her, and saying that he was glad she was gone when she was eliminated, Millie tells him that she's said bad things more times than him, and they laugh it off, and decide to form an alliance, and Caleb promises that he will honest and truthful, and won't go behind her back, and all of sudden they hear a scream. We see Damien being chased by Scary Girl, whom somehow brought a jackhammer and said that she wants to have time to catch up, Chase is then seen hiding in a bush filming Damien saying he never knew Damien was so hilarious and would be great footage for his channel. Emma watches Chase from the cabin saying that he only cares about his own fame and the benefits, not the people he films, and still can't believe he's still the same Emma then stops and sits back and remembers season 1, and eventual flashbacks show her blowing up at Bowie, and claims that she was such a jerk to Bowie and that it was all her fault that their friendship ended, not Chase, she wants to talk to him, but she's not sure of when the best time to do so is.
Chris then announces it's challenge time!
Chris announces that he hopes the contestants have had their time to get used to their new teams and that it's time for the first challenge, will be a getting to know you game. Bowie says that isn't a little late since they've all known each other for a few years, but Chris says that he has eyes everywhere and has been watching, and Priya then starts twitching in her seat after hearing the challenge explained, and Millie asked her if she's ok, and claims she's fine she just didn't sleep well last night, Millie doesn't buy it. Julia tells her that even though she hates, she needs to pull herself together, if they don't want to win, Priya snaps at Julia to not tell her what to do, which surprises everyone, even Julia. Caleb said that was even worse than all the times Priya snapped at him combined. Chris says he'd love to keep this going, but he's on a tight schedule and that the challenge is that each person gets a point for every time they press their button admitting to the fact described to the other campers, if they refuse after 10 seconds, the other team gets the point, and that after one team gets 8 points will be the team that wins immunity and the losing team must send someone home.
First: Who was the first one is which camper accidentally peed themselves on their first date?
Emma presses her button, and Chase claims that he had no idea she peed herself, and thought he caused her to get a period, and she just growls at him. (Point for Serpents)
Next Question is: Which camper got suspended from school for going in the opposite gender's restroom?
Ripper presses his button (Point for Foxes), and says he's proud of it, and has no regrets, except for realizing he was wiping himself with pads instead of toilet paper. (Point for Foxes)
Next question is: Claiming they all should have done this at this point, Which camper has never gotten their driver's license?
Scary Girl presses her button, and She says who needs to drive, as she has her own ways of getting around, (Point for the Serpents)
Next question is: Which camper has sleepwalked while naked?
Zee presses his button, and claims that it was the soda, and had no idea what happened, and was not sure why he saw his door unlocked, and police at the door. Raj asks if he went to jail, and Zee said he luckily didn't since he had money from his soda sponsor, although they confiscated that soda from him. (Point for the Foxes)
Next question is: Which camper has never learned to tie their shoes?
Damien starts sweating but presses his button anyway, Millie is kind of surprised despite his intelligence, and Damien claims he just has never been able to figure it out, and sees quite a few of the other campers (Chase, Ripper, Julia, MK start laughing, causing Damien to hide himself in his jacket, with Scary Girl finding this interesting (Point for the Serpents)
Next question is: Which camper once got attacked while stuck in a zoo exhibit? MK sees Julia avoiding eye contact and presses her button for her, and presses her button for her, but Chris tells her that they don't get the point in doing so, but he asks Julia what happened in the exhibit anyway, she says that one of the monkeys came out of the exhibit grabbing her phone and started filming itself, and she got stuck by climbing into the exhibit because it deleted all of her content, Nichelle said that monkey was real for that.
Score is 3 for the Serpents and 2 for the Foxes.
Next question is: Which camper has a playlist on their phone dedicated to lullabies?
Caleb then pushes his button, claiming that his grandmas' love for lullabies is contagious.
Next question: Which camper has never gone a day without crying at least once?
Wayne and Bowie eyed up Raj, knowing it's him, and they give Raj a nod of encouragement from the other team, and he presses his button, MK asks why it's only him and not him and Wayne, and Raj claims that there was one night he didn't cry, the one in which he won the million dollars.
Then we get a montage of the remaining campers getting asked questions:
(Who once died their hair pink)? No one presses
(Who's afraid of rollercoasters)? Axel presses hers
(Who sneezed and got covered in snot during a school picture)? Millie presses hers
(Who broke their leg due to slipping on a banana peel?) Nichelle presses hers
(Who's pants have fallen down in a public mall?) Chase presses his
It was down to one more question, the question from Chris is who despises their parents so much that they want to move away? Priya having been relieved a bit for not having to say anything, all of sudden starts looking very distressed she tries to say it, and just stutters, Julia warns her that if no one admits it then they lose, and says that she's not a total drama expert if she causes the team to lose like that, angered at Julia she proceeds to tackle her, and as Chris watches feeling quite entertained as no one presses their button, that means that the Separated Serpents win the challenge. The team celebrates, but Millie and Caleb eye Priya in concern. Chris tells the Far Apart Foxes that they will see them at elimination.
At the elimination ceremony Chef calls out certain campers:
MK: She pressed Julia's button even though the rules were they could only press their own. MK tells her that she was doing what a "friend" would do.
Julia: She's made a lot of enemies throughout both of her seasons, and refusing to answer to gain a point, and provoking Priya to attack her, Julia tells him that she was just doing what she does best, and it's not good enough for them, then it's their problem.
Priya: Chef's been noticing Priya's not been herself today, and didn't seem to do much to help her team despite being a Total Drama expert, plus attacking Julia instead of securing the point for her team, Priya has no comments.
Chris then says those who get marshmallows are safe like usual, but then explains that since they are on boney island, the one who doesn't get a marshmallow must be carried away in the Casket of Cruelty. He then tosses marshmallows to the following:
Raj
Nichelle
Zee
Ripper
Axel
MK...
and the final marshmallow goes to...
Julia! Which means Priya is eliminated. Julia's jaw dropped when she got her marshmallow.
Chris is intially shocked by this, explains how Priya went from winner, to final 4, to first boot, and says that it's time for her to go. Priya has no comment towards anyone, which surprises even Julia as she thought she'd go ballistic. Priya then takes a breath and starts cursing out at her parents, completely censored and we cut to them watching with flabbergasted expressions, Priya says that Millie was right about them, and she can't believe it only took her till now to realize. She leaves in the casket, hoping that her parents got the message and hopes that her best friend and boyfriend will manage without her. and knows this is for her own mental being.
Priya takes a breath and admits in a confessional, that she told her team to vote her off, so that way she wouldn't have to quit, because she says she's getting the million she rightfully won, and she's not waiting until she's forty. "
Nichelle then appears in a confessional saying that even though Priya's out and she did vote for her, she says Julia better start counting her days, and says MK's not off the hook either.
Chris then closes own by asking how Millie and Caleb will react when the find out Priya's out first, what will Julia and MK do to keep themselves in the game, can Wayne and Raj make it work being on different teams, will any of the information revealed during the challenge impact the future of the game find out on the next episode coming soon.

21+
please message me with more than "hi, how are you?" + do not chat message me, send me a DM! it's so much easier for me since i use the app on my phone.
just your local girlfriend stealing, alternative, bisexual here. 👋 but you know what? let's set that aside for now (your girlfriend is safe for the moment) because i'm looking for friends that are as good to me as i am to others, which is apparently *harder than it should be. i am a genuinely kind, loving person even if my face says otherwise. oops. i have a severe case of resting sad face, so sorry.
i'm smitten with people who are weird but not weird enough to make others uncomfy, or unable to enjoy the weirdness, ya know? i know you know. i like people who are into things that others mostly aren't: tarot, astrology, deep conversations, things like that. i might not actively be participating in said things but i like hearing the perspective of people who are! my friends always joke that i'm the person people say "i can fix her!" about but uh, i'm awesome. i don't need fixed. ✨i will admit though, i hesitate about people a lot because while i do want a best friend -- mine have scorned me, so i need someone patient with me and understanding of that, please. please. i adore social connections but i do come with a social battery and it needs refilled. me needing that time does not negate the connection i have built with you and am nurturing with you.
i will genuinely offer you diamonds in the form of friendship, just reciprocate it. i will offer you the safest, most non-judgement free zone you can imagine, you are always - always, safe with me. i just ask that you are a good, kind, compassionate friend to me. you can literally tell me anything in the world and if it isn't hurting anyone else, i will listen without judgment. i promise you. i'll also send you spotify songs that i really like, so hi. hello.
on to the fun tingz (and the stuff that will hopefully bring you in),

• watching my first ever anime, try to guess it [let's pretend my first actual one wasn't death note & that it wasn't the live action]
• i'm the best wingman, hypeman & support team all in one
• horror fan through & through, but honestly, i prefer them less gory now lol, especially emotional horror
• cat loverrrr but will accept your frog [& all other animals] - so send pics. stat.
• known for dirty looks when i'm dissociating
• graphic design major who switched to cybersecurity & will be starting june, wish ya girl luck 💅
• gamer [valorant, ow2, cs2, hunt: showdown, pummel party, modded Minecraft, modded stardew,++]
• i don't play league, my mental health is terrible enough, thank you. i also don't play wow, my attention span could never. i do, however, play valorant because i don't like myself that much. i got you there, didn't i?
• loves to make make random noises but forgets my krisp isn't on
• mexican food 4 ever
• someone give me a banh mi please, they look so good, i'm desperate

i am ✨sPiCy✨so if that bothers you, i am sorry. i, again, am a genuinely kind person but i do have a snarkiness to me that is meant to be a slight "i love you" + dash of bully. ❤

We're now onto the Dress Up Days episodes. I had these episodes on DVD when I was a kid, and so I watched them many times. This ep in particular popped into my head a few years ago, and that's what got me back into this show. I'll admit that I'm partial towards this ep and some of the others I grew up with. Anyways, spoilers ahead, so read at your own risk.
We open with the gang at Strawberry's house (including Blueberry, the writers make good use of her character immediately after introducing her). They were supposed to have a garden party, but immediately starts raining heavily. While inside, Blueberry suggests going to her house and playing dress up, since all of the picnic food was "ruined" (It didn't look that bad from what I can tell). Also, sidenote: Blueberry's voice sounds especially high pitched in this ep, even more so than in her first appearance. Idk if there were some audio issues or if the VA was trying something out. Anyway, Strawberry has a bunch of extra raincoats that she gives her friends. She takes the last one, which isn't as cute/stylish as the other ones (although, I'm sure some people would find the appeal in it). Her friends make fun of her, which, come on y'all she gave you her pretty raincoats, be f'ing grateful. Anyway, we cut to when they're at Blueberry's house and start exploring her costumes. Strawberry sees her book collection, and she didn't realize that Blueberry had so many books (even though her love of reading was established in the first episode, and the whole gang helped her set up her bookshelf. Ik I say I'm gonna stop commenting on the continuity, but then something like this happens and I feel the need to say something). They have the idea of picking one of the stories and putting on a play of it. They settle on Cinderella, and Blueberry just so happens to have a pair of glass slippers (she stored them at the bottom of her trunk, which... uh, how did they not break?). The slippers happen to fit Strawberry perfectly. I get that Blueberry offered the slippers to Strawberry, but they were her slippers, presumably bought to fit her feet. But oh well, this show revolves around Strawberry Shortcake, so she of course gets the lead role (on a related note, it's kinda wild that Strawberry never lets power get to her head. I think it would have been interesting to have an episode where Strawberry is on a power trip and has to learn from her mistakes, but oh well). Custard and Pupcake become the equivalent of Cinderella's mice friends. Angel Cake insists on being the fairy godmother. Blueberry agrees to be the stepmother, meaning that Ginger and Orange are the stepsisters (there are some unfortunate implications with our only characters of color being antagonists, but I don't wanna get into it here. That discussion can continue in the comments). Apple is the queen of the castle. Then, they realize that they need a prince, so they go to Huck, the one boy in Strawberryland, and they have to bribe him with pies. We cut to some time later when the sets are built and they're ready to go. They get their pets to be the audience (and Cola's also here. The coach for the stepfamily's carriage looks a bit like Peppermint. It makes me think that the writers wanted to include Peppermint in this episode, but either they didn't know how to write her in or the VA wasn't available). Anyway, Blueberry narrates the opening scene and spends quite a bit of time highlighting how ugly "Strawberella's" clothes are, which are clearly based on her patchy raincoat. Strawberry tells Blueberry to knock it off, and then she checks the mail, making the "mailbox" fall over. This reminds us that this is a low budget play performed by a bunch of kids. We're then immersed into this story, where the stepmother takes the invitation, and reads it. The stepfamily tells Strawberella that she can't go to the ball, which makes her cry. Then, Blueberry, Ginger, and Orange break character and apologize. Angel has to stop them, since them being nice spoils the story. We get to the stepsisters fighting over a dress and it lands on Strawberella's head, which makes her think the lights went out (which is a really silly thing to think. She had to have felt the garment falling on her head). She asks her stepsisters if she can wear it, but then her stepmother rips it up and tells Strawberella to get back to work. We then go into the first musical number, where Strawberella fantasizes about how great her life would be if she only had nice enough clothes to wear. We then cut to the night of the ball and the stepfamily literally leave Strawberella in the dust. Then, the fairy godmother shows up and makes a carriage out of a strawberry, turns Pupcake into a horse, Custard into a coachman, and bestowing Strawberella a beautiful gown and glass slippers. On the way, the fairy godmother has to stop them and let them know that the magic only lasts until 8 pm (since midnight is past their bedtime), which begs the question, what time is it in that moment? The sky is clearly dark, but it doesn't seem incredibly cold out. That makes me think that it's 6 pm at the earliest, which doesn't give very much time for enjoying the ball. Anyway, we get to the ball where one of the stepsisters is dancing with the prince, but then he steps on her foot. I think it would have made more sense for her to step on his foot, which would have incentivized him to find another partner. Anyway, Strawberella shows up, and immediately catches the prince's eye. He awkwardly asks her to dance, and so they do. This scene and episode in general is probably the biggest one that Struckleberry shippers point to, but they conveniently forget that this is a play, and Huck had to be bribed to participate. Anyway, Strawberella loses track of time and the clock strikes 8. I think it would have made more sense if it struck 7:45 or smth, bc with the way that it is, it seems like the magic would have worn off right there in the middle of the ballroom, which is a plothole, but I kinda remember that being an issue with the Disney movie too so I'll let it slide. Anyway, she drops the one slipper, gets home just in time, and then we skip to the next day. The queen and prince show up with glass slipper. The stepsisters try it on, but Orange's foot is too big and Ginger's is too small. I kinda appreciate that Strawberella doesn't have tiny feet in this adaptation since that would have sent the message that smaller feet are inherently prettier. Ig there's a bit of a plothole that with Strawberella having average feet, that shoe could have fit multiple people, but it doesn't really matter. Strawberella fits the shoe, and we get into the musical number about how looks don't matter. I don't usually point out the lyricism in these songs, but I have to mention this one line, "Clothes don't make the kid, it's the other way around." I get what they were going for that clothes don't define you, but that line inspires the image of children in sweatshops, and I don't think that's the kind of thing you'd want to think about while watching a wholesome kids show. Anyway, the play ends and we come back to reality. The other girls apologize to Strawberry for making fun of her raincoat, and it's a happy ending all around. Overall, it's a simple retelling of the Cinderella story that we all know and love, and does a good job with that. There are several episodes later on that are also fairytale adaptations, and I'm not completely sure how to feel about it. I don't necessarily dislike these episodes, but they do make me think that the writers ran out of ideas and used fairytales as a fallback. I'm sure I'll expand on these thoughts later on.
Comment your thoughts below!

I was 11 years old when I first heard of the internet. Suddenly, all the information I could ever need was available at the touch of a screen. My parents were alien to this world. Tasks I complete with ease—registrations, payments, and document submissions—were, for them, a long day’s work of standing in queues, pleading with disinterested office staff, and rescheduled appointments.
Listening to my father describe a world without the internet made me think of the 640 million Indians without internet access, toiling every day for tasks I could complete with my thumbs. I wanted to change these people's lives.
I aim to provide internet access to the most remote areas of rural India. At the University of Sydney, I plan to leverage the Aeronautical Engineering course, which offers theoretical lessons, ground operations, hands-on experience, and opportunities with industry leaders to gain expertise in aviation, satellite communications, and sustainable engineering practices. The additional Space Engineering program will provide deep insight into space machinery, while the university's labs will help develop practical solutions.
With these skills, I aim to design and deploy affordable, efficient satellite networks, bringing internet benefits to underserved communities and transforming their daily lives.
Suggestions and feedback are welcome:)

Chapter 2. (Dracula)
Nine Hundred years later deep deep far in the the Shadow Forest a place called Castlevania in the black castles the kings chambers a beautiful black haired blue eyed woman named Isabell Bolton was travailing in pain as she was giving birth to her first born child, the queens maid that was there helping deliver the baby held the little child cleaned him up and wrapped him in the blanket.
“Is the Baby ok Sara?” Isabell asked very exhausted.
“Yes it’s a boy!” Sara said very excited as she gave the mother her baby.
“He’s So Handsome. Luther come quick see our boy!” Isabell said with glee.
King Luther Bolton came in and grabbed his son hugged him.
“My boy Oh my baby boy.” King Luther said very happily.
Suddenly a dark and evil witch named Festus appeared in the room with them she was pure evil.
“Oh! what do we have here aww how sweet the Dark One was finally born He will be called Dracula he will be a terror of this world he will be known all over the nation and he shall live till the end of time his power will come on his thirtieth birthday when he drinks from the cup of Shalom that’s full of blood of the wolfs tears no one will stop his destiny he is a warrior of Econdire!” The witch said with a wicked evil laugh.
King Luther drew his blade and pointed it to her as he gave the baby back to the mother.
“You will not take my child and he will not become what you said!!! You will die this night!” King Luther shouted as he charged at the witch. She disappeared as King Luther swung his blade.
“Hahahaha you can’t kill me mortal and you can’t change what is to come I’m just here to warn you if you don’t want that to happen then you must kill the baby you can change prophecy Luther Bolton! Or seek out the skull face man named Slaygar he will gladly take the child and the Prophecy will not come true! Or should I say. “Your Majesty” hahahaha! Oh Luther. Ten years from now on a day before your wife gives birth to Your fourth son you will die and Dracula will be crowned King then time will count down. Hahahahahaha!!!” Festus said laughing as she disappeared out from a window in black smoke. Luther ran to the the window she disappeared from then she went to his wife who was weeping and crying out of fear
“Honey shush it’s ok!” King Luther said as he looked with worry and concern out the window.
“We’er not calling him Dracula we’er not his name is Gabriel Luther Bolton!” Isabell said sternly. “He will be a beacon of Hope.” Isabell said smiling.
“Yes That’s Beautiful, Gabriel. I like that name. Gabriel.” King Luther said in his thoughts he was worried about the prophecy.
Years passed and Gabriel had three more brothers Drakeul, Nathen, and Samuel, Then his father got sick Gabriel was ten years old and he was trying everything he could to heal his father he was a mage a healer and he put all his herbs and couldn’t stop his father infection nor could he keep him from getting sicker. He was only able to take the pain away for a wile. But King Luther got worse and worse. The King grabbed Gabriel by the arm as he coughed and said.
“We got to get you better father I....” Gabriel said his voice shaken as he was interrupted.
“Gabriel listen it’s over there’s nothing more you can do. I feel my body shutting down before I go...” King Luther said as he winced in pain.
“No Father!” Gabriel said weeping.
“Shush! Gabriel be strong for your mother and your brothers she’s in labor now so you got to be Strong your a good man and you be a good king but I got to tell you something and you got to fight for what’s right no matter what! Your hear me son?” King Luther said as he was feeling weaker and weaker.
“Yes sir.” Gabriel said as he straightened his shoulders.
“Ten years ago when you was born a evil witch came and told us that you was the Dark One and you was to be the terror of the world til the end of time and you had a different name but I’m not at all going to speak that name and she said you was to be the warrior of Evondire.” King Luther said as he looked a his handsome boy and he smiled at him.
“Econdire? The evil prince?” Gabriel asked confused.
“Yes son and....” Luther told him all what had happened even to the point where they searched for the good witches mages sorcerers and wizards.
“They said Love is the first thing that change this fate and they said have more children as many as possible before My death and to surround you with Love and train you to be the best of yourself that love and good will overcome evil.” King Luther said as he tried hard to make sure His son knew to not loose his Live for others and those who loves him.
Gabriel looked at his father he didn’t know what to say but he swallowed and said.
Gabriel: I will live to the best of my ability to Love and be good to all.
“Good now go be with your mother and the child they need you...” King Luther didn’t finish his statement when he took his last breath and he left this world.
“Father! Father! No Father come back! Father!!!” Gabriel shouted and wept over his dead father.
King Luther died, Gabriel put his head on his fathers chest and wept the tears fell from his face on to his fathers chest. One of the Priests of Shalom walked up his name was Dagon Gibbs.
“My son he’s gone hey come here hush now.” The Priest Gibbs said with comfort.
“Bring him back Father Gibbs! Bring him Back!” Gabriel shouted still crying.
“Hush now I can’t do that I’m not God my son. I’m sorry for your loss I will prepare his ceremony but you mother gave birth to a son you need to go to her. Your coronation to be Crowned King after the ceremony of your father’s funeral. Life must go on Prince Gabriel you have a lot of priorities and obligations that Have to be done be strong Prince Gabriel.” Priest Gibbs said with a comforting voice.
Gabriel walked to the room his mother was and heard the cry of the baby he opened the doors to see his smiling mom holding her baby boy her blue eyes sparkled. She saw her firstborn and her smile faded. She then said to Gabriel.
“Gabriel come see your baby brother! I named him Logan!” Isabell said as she noticed the look on Gabriel’s face.
Gabriel held his baby brother.
“He’s so handsome and healthy, Luther would be so so happy.” Isabell said as she put her hand on Gabriel’s shoulder.
Gabriel looked at his mother and the tears fell from his eyes as well as his mothers.
“I know he be in here if he wasn’t gone but he is I know it. It was prophesied by that witch.” Isabell said as her voice shook with grief.
Gabriel put his head down.
“Oh I know baby you tried your best but his time was up sweetie. We talked long about this. I can’t grieve now you got to be ready for what’s come Gabriel.” Isabell said with sadness.
She began to weep, as she held Gabriel close to her. Gabriel gave the baby to Drakeul and hugged his mother as they wept for her for their loss. They had the beautiful ceremony for King Luther they buried him in a tomb under the castle.
Seventeen years passed the palace grew and the people where happy everything looked great Gabriel had a beautiful women they got married his it was so beautiful they had two sons identical twins Trevor and Alucard.
The year started off wonderful but then an man named John Bayn a wicked king from the deepest part north he was full of rage and sought nothing but power he attacked Transylvania and declared war against Gabriel, the king caused Gabriel to loose his source for food and he cut his supply of water king Bayn got some men inside Gabriel’s city who turned some of the people against Gabriel.
“Gabriel my brother what is your plan we have to do something we have to fight against these basters or we going to loose the city!” Drakeul said as he looked at his brother who was now king.
“Easy Drakeul getting angry at the King won’t fix this.” Samuel said as he grinned.
“He has a point Samuel we got to do something!” Nathen said to them both.
Gabriel turned around and looked at his brothers.
“Tonight we will gather the most faithful soldiers and we will attack and kill that king. I will not loose my city I will destroy my enemy!” Gabriel said with determination.
The Priest Gibbs walked up to the war table And looked at King Gabriel.
“Your Majesty. Think before you act I pray you. I dreamed of you last night, you was dark cold bitter your eyes were as red as the blood I seen you drink from the cup of Holy water from Shalom’s Temple but it was filled with blood blood that came from the Wolf’s tears you must not give in to this anger it take you far then you want to go.” Priest Gibbs Said with a Urgency and a warning.
Gabriel looked at the Priest as did everyone in the room.
“King Gabriel I beg you sir be patient don’t go wait the Lord will make away and give you Victory! Please Your Majesty stay they will come to you and the witches prophecy won’t come to pass! If you go out there, My King. The curse will happen three years early then what was told!” The Priest Gibbs said again with Urgency.
“Father Gibbs. I will not give into a witches curse I will not let a curse stop me from protecting my people I will do what has to be done and show them I am not to be played with they will know not to come against me! Like they knew not to come against my father.” King Gabriel said as he began to give out his plan.
“My King...” The Priest Gibbs said as he put his hand on King Gabriel’s shoulder.
“No Father Gibbs! They killed your son today! It stops now!” King Gabriel said as he gently put his hands on the Priest Cheek. “I will not give in to the Curse I will hold on to my Love for others and the Love y’all have for me” King Gabriel said as him and his knights went out the war room.
The Priest swallowed hard, tears fell from his eyes he didn’t know he lost his son last he spoke he sent him to the market to get bread.
“How...” He asked his voice shaky.
King Gabriel turned and looked at the Priest “They skinned him alive and put him on a spike right out the gate I’m sorry we took him down and took him to his chambers.”
Tears fell down his cheeks he walked towards Gabriel. One of the knights put their hand on the Priest shoulder to push him back, the king lift his hand stopping the knight, Gabriel walked to the Priest. The Priest put both his hands on Gabriel’s cheeks.
“Gabriel please I beg you my son is dead please heed my warning don’t make me loose another son. Listen to me don’t go out there bad things will take place that will hurt you in a way that you will curse the Lord in His temple! Please Gabriel hear me.”
Gabriel hugged the old priest as he wept over the lost of his son, not knowing that the old man was weeping over him that night was the last night of Gabriel would be a human king but Gabriel didn’t realize that the Lord himself was trying to talk through Gibbs and Gibbs was weeping because he knew Gabriel would not take heed to his warning.
Later that day just before the king and his twelve knights were going to fight for their land he kissed his wife Hope, and his two sons Trevor and Alucard.
“Here Sweet Husband.” Queen Hope Said with a sweetness in her voice.
She put a letter in his hand.
“I will be waiting their.” Hope said with love in her voice.
“Ok I’ll meet you and the kids there.” King Gabriel answered as he smiled at his beautiful wife.
Logan came running up.
“Brother!” The Prince Logan shouted.
“Logan what are you doing?” King Gabriel asked seeing Logan was decked in armor.
“Let me fight I can fight!” Logan asked determined to fight.
“No Logan you must stay here!” Gabriel demanded.
“But Brother I can fight I’m not a child I’m seventeen! I killed a Lion and stopped a thief and kept several prisoners from escaping! Please let me fight for our kingdom!” Logan asked with hope in his eyes.
“I know! What you been doing it has not been unnoticed. That’s why I need you here protect my wife and kids stay with them ok! Please Logan do this for me brother.” Gabriel said as he walked passed Logan. Logan didn’t like it but he nodded and went and stood by Hope.
They walked out the city Drakeul, Nathen, and Samuel walked side by side with their king brother Gabriel tonight was the night for Victory! The 12 Knights walked behind them as well as fifteen thousand of the faithful soldiers.
The war began the fight was harsh side by side the Bolton brother’s fault side by side and backed to back fighting the enemies as well as the twelve knights who was protecting them they fault and killed many, then faced the face King Gabriel and King Bayn began to fight each other it was a hideous battle Gabriel took a lot of wounds but before it was over King Bayn was on his knees.
“You Won but I have brothers and friends they come and avenge me! You will not stand! Your own people don’t even trust your leadership! Hahaha!” King Bayn taunted.
Gabriel swung his sword cutting Bayns head off, he picked up Bayns Crown and handed it to a red haired knight named Andrew Archer, who seemed to loose his helmet during the battle.
“Take this that will be one of my trophies.” King Gabriel said as he handed the crown to the red haired knight.
The Red head Knight Spoke.
“What about the rest any prisoners?” Andrew asked with concern.
Gabriel looked at the village that was still burning and relived walking through and seeing again what they did to those poor people. He looked at Andrew and said very coldly.
“We will show no mercy they all will die but slow I will hang them on a spike and point the towards the village they destroyed and the people they murdered so they see why they are dying so painfully!” Gabriel said with anger in his eyes. Andrew Swallowed hard and they all did as they were told and they left back to the city the screaming and pleads for mercy echoed in their ears.
Back at the castle of Transylvania a war broke out Gabriel’s soldiers was fighting for their lives against some other soldiers who was turned by the King Bayns men. Hope Trevor and Alucard was in the Temple of Shalom and the Logan was fighting to protect them Hope was a Mage she used her magic to destroy the last few guards that turned against her, she looked at Logan.
“Logan You Ben and Cole take my Sons and go!!! Go Now!!! Keep them safe!” Hope said scared for their lives.
“I can’t just Leave you!” Logan shouted.
“You must Logan protect my babies please!” Hope said with urgency.
Logan Ben and Cole took Trevor and Alucard and ran them out of the city they got on their horses and headed south. Gabriel came and saw what was going on they went and fought killing every betrayer and every last one of Bayns men. Then Gabriel remembered the note and ran to the temple and when he Got there he saw the Priest Gibbs knelt down by Hope her stomach was carved into with a knife her hands cut off her throat slit. Gabriel fell beside her.
“NO!!!! MY BABY!!!! HOPE!!!! NOOO!” King Gabriel shouted tears falling downs his cheeks as he wept. He stood up anger and raged filled him he cursed cursed the temple and the wolves he cursed everything that the temple represented and he pointed at the Priest and yelled!
“THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!!!” King Gabriel shouted in anger tears screaming down his cheeks falling to the floor.
He cursed the priest. All the 12 knights stood around him his brothers got between him and the Priest.
“Gabriel! What are you doing! It’s not his fault!” Drakeul said trying to get Gabriel under control.
“Gabriel calm down you.... Oh My God!” Samuel said as his mouth dropped open his eyes widen.
Gabriel turn to see what everyone was looking at and saw the statue of the Wolf of Shalom from its eyes were tears of blood that dropped into the Holy Water cup. Gabriel was then immediately A trance he walked to the cup.
“NO!!! STOP HIM DONT LET HIM DRINK FROM THE CUP!!!” The Priest Gibbs said with urgency.
His brothers ran to him and pulled on him he sent them flying back with a wave of his hand.
“That ain’t no magic I ever seen.” Nathen said his eyes widen and his voice shaken with fear.
Gabriel picked the cup which was full of blood and began to drink it the priest and Drakeul yelled!
Drakeul and Priest Gibbs Shouted as One. “GABRIEL!!! NOOO!!!
Gabriel drunk the cup all of the blood in the cup then the curse happened but three years early. Gabriel yelled as his body changed and his face went pale and fangs grew in his mouth and his eyes went from a beautiful blue to crimson red.
Then the Angel of the Lord appeared and said. “My name is Gabriel I am the Messenger of the Lord you have defiled this temple of the Lord and you cursed the God that created you and came against the church of the most high God you our forever cursed to walk this earth as a monster til the end of time you will bring fear and terror....”
The Angel stopped when Drakeul walked up to him, Drakeul look the Angel in the eye fear filled him he trembling knelt down grabbed the Angel by his feet he felt the Archangels Power he spoke his voice shaky.
“Please I inquire a audience with the Lord!” Drakeul asked shaking.
“You cannot see the Lord you will not survive.” The Angel Gabriel said.
“Then please tell him applaud him to have mercy no he didn’t show mercy and he did the most worse thing but please I beg you don’t let him be damned take me instead give him another chance! Please don’t let him be damned!” Drakeul pleaded with him and his brothers salvation.
Drakeul began to weep at the Angels feet, The Archangel looked at Drakeul was a little fascinated how he a soldier who Stern and cold would be weeping over his brother who did such terrible deed. Then the Lord Spoke to the Angel.
“Gabriel Bolton will still be cursed but there is away that he can redeem himself but he will have to find it but he is forever bound from the temple of the Lord until he redeems himself and only you Brothers can help him find the boy that can change him the boy must become Him and he must become the boy and the certain deeds must be done, only then shall the spirit of your Brother be redeemed however the curse of Your Brother will be on a innocent Christian who will battle to redeem the Spirit of Dracula. Your brother Gabriel’s name will change this day he will be known as Dracula the rest of this worlds time! You will share his curse soon and help him walk the right path.
The brothers looked at each other confused.
The Angel looked at the twelve knights.
“From this day till the end y’all are the wolves of Shalom there shall be many of warrior wolves through y’all and y’all will fight against Dracula and all that becomes as he is that choose evil over good and there will come a time where Vampires and Werewolves will join together to fight an even. Greater foe an evil that has been locked away. There will rise a dark mage who will set the dark lord free and become the dark lord this will be the road that may redeem Dracula. But as of now your fight is to get and keep Dracula out of the temple this day!” The Angel of the demanded.
The twelve Knights became Werewolves the first ever to walk on earth. The Angel looked at Gabriel.
“Take him Out!” The Angel commanded. Then he disappeared!
Gabriel attacked the Werewolves and the fight was extremely hideous the werewolves gave a beating but each place they clawed open healed instantly, Gabriel beat them till the turn back in human form his blood was ragging but the. The power hit them and they arose again as the werewolves and begin to drive him out of the temple.
As Gabriel taught them he saw himself in a mirror the monster he became the crimson red eyes sharp fangs pale face the sharp claw like finger nails and at that moment he saw what he done and he saw what he did to the knights and as he saw them in wolf form walking towards him wounded even but still coming he didn’t want to hurt them they were his men his people and he was hurting them and he defiled the Lords Temple. He ran out the temple his brothers followed him.
“Gabriel! Gabriel! Drakeul Shouted.
He turned around quickly he put his hand around his brothers shoulder and with that same hand lifted him off the ground like he was paper without the help of his other hand.
“My Name Is not Gabriel!!! I am Dracula!” Dracula shouted. Gabriel Bolton was no more.
He threw his brother into his other brothers Nathen and Samuel caught Drakeul and the impact knocked them three feet back they pulled themselves up off the ground and they saw his face pale as the dead his eyes which used to be beautiful blue was now bloody red, he spoke again.
“My name is Dracula every King every army will never dare to attack my country or my family I will crush them and they will know the meaning of fear!!!” Dracula shouted crazily.
Dracula said his blood boiling hot as things were transitioning in his body.
And so the prophecy was fulfilled but three years before the time. And so fear filled the land the terror of Dracula spread through each city of Transylvania and Castlevania where Dracula’s Castle was the place which was beautiful and full of light was now darkened and full of fear.
Three days later at the docks of Dragons Bridge Logan asked Ben and Cole to take his little nephews to a safe place he was going back to his brothers to help fight.
“Logan! Are you crazy man Hope asked you to get Alucard and Trevor to safety man come on with us.” Cole said with concern for Logan.
“Yea man we’re young we got to get to Safety” Ben said.
“I must go back make sure it’s safe and send for y’all. And no y’all can’t come with me y’all thirteen and fourteen” Logan said sharply.
“No I’m fifteen Logan and you need to come with us man” Ben shouted at Logan.
Cole: And I’m two days from Sixteen. And your not seventeen yet your three days from seventeen and Hope asked you to save her nephews!
“I know y’all keep them safe now please go! I will not hear anymore.” Logan said as he turned from them.
And with that Logan turns away from them in the boat and went off towards home with his friends calling for him to come back and to not be stupid, but Logan kept on walking. Ben spoke.
“Come on Cole he’s not gonna listen to us.” Ben shouted angrily.
They set out for the other side which lead to a country called Albion and to a city called Camelot where King Constantine Pendragon III ruled and Uther Pendragon was a young mighty Prince who had a Amethyst who used a spell to keep him young for a thousand years. The children would be safe there the Ben and Cole thought.
As for Logan three days passed it was his birthday he turned seventeen and he was not happy for the things he was seeing and home the enemy that attacked the city was outside the gate dead hanging from a spike he heard on of them groan he drew his sword and thrust it through the dying mans heart to end his suffering he heard more, and saw a whole line of them he went by killing them ending their suffering. Dracula stood in front of his brothers and spoke.
“No one will dare to attack me now unless they want to die which I’m more then happy to oblige, brothers with this power we’re unstoppable I can give you this gift and you can be stronger.”Dracula said to his brothers. Drakeul Samuel and Nathen couldn’t believe what they were hearing from there Brother. “Was Gabriel really gone.” They both thought. Drakeul walk up to his Brother.
“Brother! Listen to yourself this is insane! look at you! this ain’t no gift it’s a curse! The Father Shalom Cursed you made you this monster, I will not become this thing you are!” Drakeul shouted out. Dracula looked at his brother with a elite shock look the laughed mockingly
“O dear Brother you actually think I’m giving you a choice that’s rather cute.” Dracula Taunted.
In a flash he grabbed his brother he moved faster then lighting he but Drakeuls neck and began to suck his blood Drakeul went limp almost dead Dracula bit his wrist and let the blood poured down to Drakeuls lips then Drakeul died. Samuel turn to run as did Nathen out the door, Dracula flicked his hand and the door slammed shut in his face Dracula grabbed him and done the same thing to Samuel as he did Drakeul. And Nathen tried to fight Dracula but failed and suffered the same fate. Dracula took a red towel and wiped his mouth and turned around to see Logan looking straight at him fear hit him hard he watched his brother suck the blood from his other two brothers.
“Gabriel what....” Logan said scared and shaken over what he saw.
“Hush now Logan they be back and my name is no longer Gabriel it’s Dracula I am a Vampire”Dracula said with a soft a soothing voice. He was hoping to calm his baby brother.
“What Happened to you what did you do what did you become? This isn’t right Gabriel it’s not right!” Logan said still scared and shaken he never seen something like this before.
“It’s a gift Logan and I can give it to you and you never be weak again!” Dracula said trying to tempt him.
“No!!! Your a Monster this is a curse you are not my brother I don’t want your gift!” Logan shouted.
Logan turned and walked outside straight into Dracula’s arms. Fear jumped in Logan’s chest his heart started beating very fast. Dracula embraced him with a loving hug put his cheek to his brothers in a gentle hug.
“Easy baby brother I hear your heart beating way too fast trust me you be way stronger.” Dracula said as he pulled Logan back in the door and closed it then he tilted Logan’s head to the side and he bit his neck as Logan screamed.
“NOOO! BROTHER!!!! NOOO! PLEASE!!!! NOOO!” Logan screamed.
Logan died with the blood of Dracula running through his vainest and Dracula’s blood was very powerful. Dracula put his brothers in three tombs and closed them up and said. “In Three days they will be reborn more powerful then before.”
Three knights past and Dracula’s brothers came out of their tombs.
“I refuse to be evil!” Logan Shouted.
His eyes red as blood face pale white he looks like his brothers as they all looked like Dracula.
“We all refuse to be evil!” Drakeul said.
“Lets remove ourselves from this Kingdom of Dracula!” Nathen said.
“I Agree!” Samuel said.
Suddenly The Angel of the Lord appeared it was the Angel Gabriel again.
“No harm can be done to Dracula. Like you he is immortal and will forever be so as for you friends your decisions and Trevor and Alucards decisions will be the results of Dracula’s salvation or his soul forever damned. Now go you are the Guardians of Shalom save the world from your brothers wrath and hunger and save your brother.” The Angel Gabriel said. Then the Angel disappeared Logan up looked and said to his Brothers.
“Y’all go I’m going to Dracula!” Logan said as he walked to the Throne Room of Dracula.
“Little brother you can’t.” Samuel said with concern.
“Yes I have to!” Logan replied.
Logan went out to find his brother. He found his brother in the Castle sitting on his throne with a golden cup full of fresh blood.
“Logan! How’s my baby brother? You looking handsome.” Dracula asked.
“Dracula I will not follow you I will not be evil...” Logan snapped.
“Brother I’m not evil! I did what I had to do!...” Dracula interrupted and said as Logan interrupted him saying.
“Shut up Brother look at yourself look what you become look at the hideous mess you done at front gate half of them was still alive! No brother there’s nothing you can say or do to get me to follow you! You can burn in Harcarsh with the devil! But as long as I can breath you never see your children again.” Logan shouted at Dracula. Logan walked out the door and flew like lightning towards Albion and to the city Camelot he was going to do all he could to make sure those baby boys never be in reach of Dracula.
Ben and Cole made it into Albion and got off at the docks in at a small village of Noplend. No sooner then they showed up Dracula walked the land. Cole was looking at the beautiful land, Ben spoke.
“Cole this is so beautiful!” Ben said
“Yes it is!” Cole replied.
“So glad to see my little brothers friends are keeping my two boys safe.” Dracula said behind them.
They both turned around and saw their King they heard the rumors that spread about the good Great King Gabriel turned to an evil monster known as Dracula, when they saw him fear hit them their kings face was Pale white hair to his shoulders his eyes bloody red his fingernails were like claws and talons.
“My King Gabriel...” Cole said shaken as he tried to bow.
“Stop! My name is Dracula! You two kept my children alive for that I’m grateful but Logan will soon join you and I must show him something when he finds you you be dead and the message will be clear of what I can do, and when you come back as the same as he is he realize I could have kept you both dead!”
In a flash he rushed at Ben but His neck drained his blood and gave him his blood forcing him to swallow it then he broke his neck. Cole seen what happen drew his sword and attacked Dracula yelling at him for killing his best friend. Dracula drew his sword blocking Coles blade and he played with Cole speaking to him as each time the blades met.
“Cole don’t take it personal boy, it has to be this way.” Dracula said to him.
“You killed my Brother.” Cole shouted in anger trying to kill his King that looked like a monster with his red eyes and sharp fangs showing as Dracula started laughing.
“And your next it has to be this way and o yes y’all thank me later.” Dracula said as he grabbed Cole.
“Do you hear your self Dracula or who ever you are now your killing your own!” Cory shouted scared.
Dracula thrust his sword into Coles chest and pulled it out, Cole dropped his sword and feeling the life drain drone him as he felt Dracula bite his neck and drink his blood, Cole pulled away fast Dracula held his weak body closer to him Cole was getting weaker by the second, Dracula bit his wrist and forced Cole to open his mouth and the blood poured in Cole spit it out and Dracula did it again and Cole tried to resist but Dracula covered his mouth with his hand Cole kicked and and tried to get away he died with Dracula’s blood in his mouth the blood went down his throat and spreading through his veins. Dracula heard his sons crying he went and picked them up.
“Hush now it’s ok they both be back watch them and watch Logan. Logan needs to learn you can’t take my sons from me and not get away with it.” Dracula said as he kissed both his sons before he disappeared in blood red smoke.
Logan came and saw what Dracula did to his friends he fell to his knees and wept.
“NOOO!!! NOOO!!!” Logan shouted crying.
He heard Cole gasp air and he rose up quickly as did Ben they both were now vampires their eyes bloody red as Dracula’s and Logan’s was.
“What NO! I’m sorry I’m so sorry this happened to you!” Logan said as he could feel a sharp pain in his heart. The pain was intense more then usual and it stayed it didn’t ease like it used to after awhile.
Dracula laughed.
“Well now sense everyone is up and doing good let’s have a talk about my children!” Dracula said still laughing.
“Brother why did you do this?!?” Logan shouted his tears dropping to the ground like rain.
“Because I can and you learn to love it! Now as for my sons you should know better then to try to keep my children away from me. Y’all will protect my children and y’all find a good family for them and let them be raised by a mother and father and you protect them. Yes I’m not crazy look at me I know I can’t raise my children alone don’t ever try to keep them away from me?” Dracula said stern and angrily.
“Take my kids to King Arther and Queen Guinevere make sure their safe.” Dracula demanded not knowing that Arther and Guinevere didn’t exist yet.
“Um King Gabriel...” Cole said his voice shaken.
Dracula looked at him with a cold glare.
“Dracula Sorry. Um their is no King Arther Or a Queen Guinevere.” Cole corrected himself and then said plainly.
Dracula put his head down confused he started having visions that morning and he was have more he shook his head again.
“Right King Constantine III Arther Pendragon is not born yet. Take my sons to Constantine.
“Dracula are you ok? Brother” Logan said. Despite the situation Logan still Loved Dracula and he could feel the love.
“Shut up and Go!!! Get my kids there!” Dracula shouted he could feel Logan’s love and it was a warmth to his cold heart and it hurt him cause all he could think about was Hope.
When the red smoke he disappeared from them. Logan covered his face and shook his head and looked at the children sleeping and he looked at his friends and said.
“Ben, Cole, I’m sorry I’m sorry he did this to you.” Logan said tears falling from his eyes.
“It’s ok Logan I feel good and strong better then I ever had. But we need to figure out what to do to keep Trevor and Alucard safe.” Ben said hoping to make Logan feel better.
“Your right well let’s go to Camelot.” Logan replied.
“I’m so thirsty. I... I want blood!” Cole said as he held his stomach.
Logan’s thirst hit him to as well as Bens.
“Logan the babies.” Ben said with concern.
A mage appeared he was old his hair and beard was long and white his name was Amorous.
“Logan Bolton Son of Luther Bolton the Vampire that will save Emyrs and Merlin and set them on their paths to their destiny.” Amorous said very happily.
Logan, Ben, and Cole, looked at the mage their mouth was open the smelt his blood and he looked like food to them. Amorous pulled out three big water bags that were full of blood.
“Here drink and get your strength there’s much you have to learn. And let’s get the little ones to a good home.” Amorous said as he gave them the blood to drink. Their long journey began.

Hi guys
I'm debating York biomedical science vs UTM life sci. I have heard from a billion people that utm is hard(ppl kill themselves type hard) and york is easier to achieve a higher gpa in which is crucial for med skl app.
My debate is whether to just go utm and ignore the reputation, believe in myself, risk it all and work hard and hopefully achieve a good gpa or just go for the safe option york.
Can you guys tell me your experience, is it as bad as they say, is a 3.9/4.0 achievable and still have time to do ECs.
Thoughts and Advice?

graduating hs senior: never felt more lonely
i feel so distant from you guys now. i remember when we used to be so close last semester. The late night talks, the manicalnlaughing, the boba runs, rush of summer fun. i remember even choosing to skip thanksgiving dinner with my family cause i wanted to hang out with you guys. i get that ppl drift..so my awful emotions are not about you guys. they’re about me and my inability to cope with my loneliness.
Even though I know i’m horrible at initiating hangouts (i get anxious doing so but it’s no excuse), i always try to be a good friend in other ways like tiny but consistent acts of service (ex:staying consistent on our game apps, sending hw help, listening to vents, helping with projects and spending hours and literal days on it during my weekends—- which when i heard that you ended up not using the material i made i understood but kinda felt like, wow everything i did those 2 months was completely pointless when i could’ve focused on more of the stuff i wanted to do, and i have to act polite and be chill with it cause otherwise i feel like a petty weirdo) and don’t really know any other reason why I feel so lonely.
you guys know that saying, “in every trio there’s a duo?” I always thought that it wouldn’t apply to us but i think it does. when Im talking to you guys, all I can think of is how unfunny I am, how i can be more interesting…except they never really work and just instead are greeted with a quiet nod, a raised eyebrow, a forced smile, a “that was a weird thing to say”, or sometimes just being ignored…maybe I should just shut up and nod. Maybe I have nothing worthwhile to say and no story to tell and my only way to hold onto you as friends is to listen as much as possible. You guys seem so much more at ease and have so much more fun talking together.
I understand that maybe you guys click better together. And that’s fine. people drift. But even tho i tried to branch out to find other friends and spend time with them, by the end of the year, I realized that I really had no one I felt close with. No one I could take a picture with by the last day of school sign or throw papers with or feel safe to hug or cry with. Everybody had their own little clique and bubble that I had to stand around and just watch. and it made my feel so miserable and cry myself to sleep every night. at school i just wanted to stare in the distance and sink into a ball and cry forever for hours until my eyes were swollen, but i know that no one really wants to be around a negative person so i tried to remain calm or be smiley.
i have my own hobbies i focus on. i walk, i exercise, i play the violin, i paint, i sleep, i read, i bake and cook, but in a way i feel friendship is important to me and i spend a lot of time analyzing where i went wrong in a convo or pushing myself to stop over analyzing/being in my head and wondering why the fuck i am so awkward and pushed around by strangers and quiet and what’s wrong with me i hate myself and who i am. therapy doesn’t really help either..
but i get tired sometimes and i just give up the facade and just become quiet or be cold and stop talking or engaging in conversations. like on the last day of school for being so quiet. im really sorry.
I’m honestly really afraid to show this to u guys bc i didn’t want to sound like a victim or whiner or toxic or clingy or a “nice guy” that is entitled and expects that they’re owed friendship and make you guys feel sick of me. of course i can’t control how yall think of me regardless but I really don’t want to lose a friendship. at the same time, at this pt in the year I don’t think I have anything to lose since we’re all saying goodbye now. I also couldn’t tell if I was overthinking like always and that it was all in my head and maybe something else going on in my life was distorting my perspective, because it’s happened so many times in the past. maybe this entire entry is biased because it’s late a night, i’m alone, and i’m so focused on the negative that I neglect all the wonderful things you guys have helped me with or done together. my brain feels clouded.
i had to delete insta for a while cause seeing how much you guys hanged out together without me hurt or hid your insta stories from me, even tho i knew it was irrational to expect to always hang out or be together, i remember that time in winter we said something along the lines of how “we’d go to downtown and make our project and hangout a bunch”, but it ended up just being you two doing it multiple times without even inviting me. it felt purposeful to exclude me. which is also another reason i don’t really wanna talk to you guys abt it cause if yall are purposely wanting to distance yourself from me… what is the point of telling u guys how i feel if yall will just be completely apathetic abt it. but goddamnit idk what i did wrong. and im scared that this won’t be the last time ill be hurt. and that maybe i will never find a friend in college as im heading off there soon bc ill always be the forgotten or less of a priority friend.

about 3 weeks ago, i [20f] was dumped by my boyfriend [21m] and all i can do is blame myself for what it's become. i took it so hard. a larger part of me thinks that if i had just waited a week or 2, we would have eventually gotten back together. but i was honestly just so shocked and hurt that i allowed it to consume me in the worst ways in the wake of it all. we hooked up twice after the breakup, making it even harder for me. i texted him nearly every day until about 2 days ago because for a moment, it'd feel like things were back to normal. he texted back and answered all of my phone calls on the first ring, making me feel like he missed me too. it didnt even really occur to me that i was the only one reaching out and he was probably just being nice.
the initial surprise of the breakup stressed me out to the point that i have been throwing up every morning since the weekend it happened and am now on medication to manage it. when i wake up and eventually end up leaning over the toilet, i find myself just crying. i've lost nearly 20 pounds in this short time and i feel weak, it feels like i'm losing both mentally and physically. some days i wake up indifferent and others i just want him lying next to me again.
a few days ago i called him angry, seething, saying horrible things and just letting it all out on him. i felt so guilty afterwards and when we argued again the next day, it ended in us both screaming it out and saying the worst things to each other. he didn't deserve that either. our relationship didn't deserve that. he is now blocked on everything and he did the same to me. i don't think there's any hope of reconciliation given that he never wants to talk again. it was my first relationship and i noticed early on that it was bringing a lot of things out of me that i had never really had to deal with head-on, like a sudden constant fear of abandonment or major anxiety when he would pull away.
i don't know what it is i'm looking for from this, maybe just a release of guilt and emotion, someone to tell me that i'll live. i miss him a lot and it sucks that you do the breakup part on your own :/

For example: i thought Isabeau had a crush on Mirabelle based on a bathroom cutscene i got. I got the one where Odile and Mirabelle talk about Isabeaus crush on Siffrin, and one of the lines was "What do you....." "Mira." I thought this means that Odile was telling Mirabelle Isabeau had a crush on her. I didn't do the Suspicious Event until post-game when clearing up the achivements, so i didn't see the "This crush of yours shouldn't make you THIS dumb." line. Even though my gaydar was truggering all over for him, i didn't fully know Isabeau had a crush on Siffrin until the very end of the game. Hell, with the "I.... I lo-" line, i was thinking it was either he was going to say "I love mirabelle" or "I love you" and i dissmissed the second option with the misconception i had.

Was at the FC Dallas vs Real Salt Lake game tonight and there was a gaggle of missionaries I had to pass through to get to my seat. They were just there as spectators and were not proselytizing-or at least not officially. But still had to pass through them. I don’t see many mormons in the wild…There were many intense and conflicting feelings.

• An intense PTSD anxiety reaction where my stomach got tight and my eyes starting darting around looking for a safe path/place
  
• Gladness that they seem to have won mission president roulette if they were allowed to come to the game as spectators
  
• A desire to pick a fight with them and/or scream a warning to everyone around them
  
• The need to hug them all and tell them to get out now
  

My never-mo boyfriend didn’t understand but was supportive. I just walked past them and didn’t pass out or talk to them. Just wanted to tell some people who understand. Especially since it caught me off guard - I thought I was past it enough that they would have just been some kids at the game….but I was wrong. Does this happen to other people outside morridor? Does it shock and upset anyone else when the see “the church”?

-First- -Previous- -Next (on Patreon)-
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My second to last quarter just ended and I'm pretty swamped with final reports right now, but I'm almost through. Not to mention, the next seven weeks are going to be pretty light because of a sudden lack of classes, since I busted my butt finishing up my remaining credits. I've decided to dedicate this time to (among other things) a writing frenzy! I wanna get some serioussss backlogs up because who knows how busy I'm going to be after graduation. (Not to mention, I'm having some troubles getting my VISA renewed, but that's a personal issue).
Anyways, don't wanna bore you with irl stuff. You're here for food and gay furry romance! So as always, I hope you enjoy reading! :D
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Note: This is a Fanfic of the Nature of Predators series by u/Spacepaladin15, that is being reposted from the NatureofPredators sub. Please support the original content.
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
​
It wasn’t too long that I was absent from the event. Sure, Kenta and I had run into a few hiccups when trying to load up the cart, but that was to be expected. Just looking at the absolute behemoth of an edible pile that he had somehow been able to put together in such a short amount of time, it was a wonder just how we were able to fit them all on there in the first place. And the promise that there was still more yet to be brought out had left me astonished. If I hadn’t already seen the ravenous vortex of Venlil that had so efficiently done away with the other dishes, I might have actually been worried about leftovers.
The food in question, long tubes made out of some kind of starchy form of strayu and packaged in an even starchier husk, were stacked in circular pyramids atop three large trays. As it turned out, this delicacy was the same “Tamale” recipe that I had heard mentioned the day before, the sheer amount being the product of Kenta’s, Julio’s, and even Jeela’s preparations. Unfortunately, I hadn’t received the full explanation of what they were just yet, but Kenta had thankfully given me at least a quick rundown.
Using the same steaming methods as the gyoza, these tamales had been folded carefully over a mix of fresh, crisp vegetables whose scent floated around each in a rich aura. They were hot out of the steamer, a cloud of gaseous water encircling the air above it in a decadent plume. If I hadn’t known better, with the combined mass of the tamales and the sheer volume of steam they collectively released, it might have made me believe the cart itself to be on fire. But of course, there was no such thing, and the cloud that spread into the sky only served to sweeten the air.
As I rolled out the cart, I looked at one last addition to the ensemble. There in a large bowl was something that Kenta hadn’t mentioned in the slightest when explaining the recipe and reasonings behind the tamales, and I had been so urgent to get these out the door that I’d forgotten to press for more details. It had been left in the refrigerator since the day before, which I had only noticed when doing inventory after the fiasco of event preparations.
‘It completely slipped my mind until now… I’m glad I didn’t forget it. Especially after what that note said.’
When I had found the bowl, a small piece of paper had been taped to it. On which, an alien text had been inscribed that required me to use my visual translator to make any sense of. It had been nothing but obvious that holding up the translator informed me that the language was indeed Terran. But what confused me was that instead of the morphemic script that I had come to slightly recognize from Kenta’s subculture, it instead appeared to be something more alphabetic.
On it, the note simply read: “Make sure to serve this with the tamales, my friend. Don’t forget!”
Additionally, below those words had appeared to be an additional message. That one, however, was partially scribbled out. When I scanned that one as well, the translator had taken a long time to process, and its output remained considerably fractured: “**od l*ck wit* y*u* n*w boyf***nd.”
Having not thought much of the note, I had just barely remembered to retrieve the bowl from the fridge and put it on the card while Kenta was off busy grabbing one last batch of tamales before rushing me out the door. I shook it out of my mind for the time being. After all, right now there were more pressing things to manage.
Wheeling the cart back outside, I was hit with the briefest shortage of breath. It had only been a momentary respite, but shifting from the quiet of the empty diner to the lively atmosphere of a crowded party would never not be a shock. By now, enough people had shown up that the event could already be considered at max capacity. People from all over filled the street, chatting and conversing in a rambunctious, lively gusto.
To see so many people take the time out of their schedules and come down to my family’s diner just because of the promise of our food… It was almost overwhelming, enough to bring a brief tear to the eye reminiscent of my reaction to that very first wave of people Ginro had brought soon after I first hired Kenta. I took a moment just to bask in it. A feeling I had all but begun to grow almost too accustomed to. A feeling of success, and of pride. And as I once again continued pushing the cart past the crowds of chatty party attendees, along with the piles of wool that it entailed, that feeling continued to pour into me. It was all almost too much to hear at once.
“Hey Sylvan! Great party!” said one voice to my left.
“Amazing food as always, Lackadaisy guy! I can’t get enough of these little strayu things in the salad!” piped another to my right.
“Ooooo! What are those things?” asked one more as I passed by them, who excitedly eyed up the stack of tamales I was delivering.
I laughed along and chatted with people on my way to one of the tables, chuckling at their jokes and accepting their praise on behalf of both myself and the mysterious ‘Kahnta.’ With each pleased guest and hungry gaze, I couldn’t help but feel myself bloom in sheer joy at the tidal wave of enthusiastic complements.
That was… until one otherwise innocent comment sounded from behind me.
“So you’re telling me this was all made by one chef?” they asked one of their friends, not intending me to hear as they talked with their mouth half stuffed with food. Looking closer, I could see that they were two Gojids chatting with one another. “Better enjoy it now, I guess. Not gonna be long before some fancy place in the Capital comes and recruits them. Honestly, if the owner of this place wants to have any hope of holding on to them, he better marry them or something.”
The partygoer’s friend laughed, “Well if he doesn’t, then I will! Can you imagine eating something like this every day?”
I couldn’t help but bloom even more overhearing this. But this was a different kind of feeling. Not the gentle warmth of normal delight, but instead the torrid heat of surging emotions. And as I began nonchalantly transferring the steaming tamales to one of the tables, these emotions steamed to the surface of my mind as well.
It was a mix of things that fueled my silent reaction. At first, the implication of asking Kenta into matehood was… well it was certainly something. I was sure the two Gojids were simply making innocent remarks, assuming that the lie about my precious chef being another, completely ordinary Venlil was correct, not realizing in the slightest just how much the implication left me flummoxed. And in normal circumstances, it would have been just that, a simple perk of the ears and a brief daydream of something so far away from me. But after yesterday, things had changed.
The previous day had been eventful, to say the least. I had eaten some amazing pastries and listened to an even more amazing alien melody. Only for it all to come crashing down when my idiotic brain forgot to turn back on the translator before pouring out my entire menagerie of pent up emotions before Kenta. My one chance to seize an opportunity at the height of a courageous high, only to tumble and fall flat during the execution. Even worse, I couldn’t muster the bravery to say the same thing even one more time.
I had completely blown it. And needless to say, I wasn’t exactly keen on remembering my mistakes from that previous day, especially during such a pivotal event. The only mediocre condolence I could take from the whole ordeal being the opportunity of waking up next to Kenta that same day. But even that was cut much too short by the mad rush to get preparation ready for the event.
‘I can still remember how warm he felt… And how peaceful he looked when his eyes were closed…’ I thought to myself in deep reminiscence.
“Hey there Sylvan!”
‘I can’t get it out of my head…! Ugh! I wish it wasn’t just a one time thing…’
“Sylvan?”
‘If we really were together romantically, then maybe I could see that every day… But that’s not–’
“Sylvan!!”
The moment my attention was pulled away from my internal thoughts, I audibly bleated out a high pitched noise of surprise, “Eeep!”
My ears jutted up and my tail straightened like a steel beam. My attention shifted over to my side, where I soon realized Fehnel now stood. She had her paws held firmly on her hips, with a head tilted to the side in a half puzzled, half amused demeanor. Then, when I realized I had been staring a little too long without saying anything, I quickly turned my attention back to the table.
“Oh hey Fehnel!” I stuttered out. “Didn’t see you there!”
“Sorry if I sneaked up on ya, hun,” Fehnel replied with a single wag of the tail. “Got somethin’ on the mind, I’m assumin’?”
The image of Kenta and I huddled together on my couch flashed through my mind once more, before I quickly shook it away. “Uhhhh… Nope! I’m just really focussing here on getting these tamales out.”
“‘Tamales,’ huh?” Fehnel chuckled. “Well between this and that ‘gee-yo-za’ stuff, I think I’m startin’ to give up on predictin’ what crazy name Kahnta’ll come up with next.”
“Yeah it’s pretty… uh–” I coughed awkwardly, clearing something nonexistent out of my throat. “It’s pretty creative.”
“You can say that again. By this point, they’re startin’ to sound almost alien!” Fehnel laughed again, and I cringed as the irony fell over deaf ears. “But hey, who am I to judge! I mean, to me all the stuff on this planet is alien, so what’s another ‘Tamale’ added to the pile, yeah?”
I had to stop my ears and head from shrinking too far towards the ground.
“Anyways, I’m assumin’ these are the actual foods I requested Kahnta to create, right?” Fehnel continued to ask.
“Uh– Y-yeah, yes they ar–” I tried to say before one of Fehnel’s paws suddenly reached out and grabbed my wrist.
“Great!” she beamed, before dragging me away into one of the many chatty piles of fluffy wool that constituted our event.
It didn’t take more than a few rushed steps before I was suddenly pulled in front of another Yotul and Venlil, who I did well to recognize immediately. It seemed as though Kadew and Vuilen had arrived, the former of which looking just about as nervous as I had expected. Vuilen, on the other paw, was anything but. Her tail was wagging furiously, almost impossibly giddy with enthusiasm as her ears shifted around a swivel, likely allowing every new smell and sound to pull her attention to and fro.
Fehnel dragged me forward and plopped me down right in front of the two, before saying, “Tell them what you just told me.”
Vuilen leaned forward, bestowing me her full attention, while Kadew remained stationary, only doing as much as to straighten a single, skeptical ear.
“W-well, uh…” I stumbled, before quickly getting my act together. “Among a number of new strayu recipes, the main entree for today’s event is called ‘Tamales.’”
“Oooo!” Vuilen beamed. “What’s that, Lackadaisy guy? It sounds awesome!”
“According to Kahnta, it’s a mix of vegetables folded in a spongy strayu wrap and steamed inside a starchy husk. And…” I tilted my ears towards Kadew, “It’s supposedly a specialty that is designed to be eaten during times of celebration with family. Regardless of whether they be by blood, or found.”
Kadew huffed a short breath, before folding her arms. But before she got the chance to speak, Vuilen’s enthused voice overtook it. The black and white wooled Venlil leaned into her smaller Yotul partner and pulled them into a strong hug.
“Hear that, Dew? It’s like this food was MADE for your Running Day!” Vuilen piped, bouncing up and down like a cub and bringing the now deeply blooming Kadew along for the ride. “Well… I guess it literally was, but you know what I mean! Either way, there’s like a million new kinds of strayu foods here! Can you believe that? I think I even saw some sylvanas over on that table there! Can you even begin to wonder what they taste like? Oh my Sol, I’m so excited!”
Kadew, whose previously unimpressed countenance now had more steam coming out of her ears than the tamales off in the distance, stuttered out her response. “Uh– Uhmm– That’s… that’s great…”
“I know right!” Vuilen squealed. “This is going to be the BEST Running Day ever! I’m so happy for you!”
I couldn’t help but giggle out in response to this, something which Fehnel had long since been doing on her own volition. Unfortunately for Kadew, this did nothing to ease the sheer amount of embarrassment already flying around her dazed face.
“Of course, all guests are free to eat their fill, especially those invited by the Claw’s Lady herself,” I said, before gesturing a paw towards Fehnel. “All of it has been covered in advance by our generous sponsor.”
Vuilen retreated from her hug just as quickly as it had started, twisting her attention back towards Fehnel and I. “Really? I still can’t believe you’re just giving away all this for free!”
She walked towards the two of us, leaving a still dazed Kadew behind her, before rushing to give Fehnel herself another brief hug. “Thank you so much again for organizing something like this, ma’am.”
Fehnel returned the embrace, having nothing but pure pride and joy radiate through her voice. “Of course, hun. I hope you and my daughter enjoy your date.”
“Oh we will!” Vuilen replied quickly, pulling back once again. Just as fast, she began making a beeline for the buffet tables, almost disappearing into the crowd of fellow Venlil fluff before her voice was heard once more. “I’ll be back in a jiffy, Dew! I just gotta try some of this stuff before it’s all gone!”
Before she was out of range, I twisted around, raised a paw up to my mouth, and stood up high to help carry my voice after her. “Don’t forget to save room for dessert!”
Turning back, I joined Fehnel once again in her chuckling. It didn’t take long for Fehnel to comment on the situation now that Vuilen was out of earshot.
She leaned over and gently nudged me in the leg with her tail. “She’s a riot, ain’t she? Does my daughter know how to pick em’, or what?”
“Oh yeah, I’ve seen them together in the diner all the time. Honestly, I’ve been wondering how long it was going to take to knit that scarf,” I commented, referencing one of the more common and romantic Venlil courtship rituals.
“Guys I can HEAR YOU!” Kadew yelped, now seemingly freed of her hug-induced daze.
“Oh hun don’t you worry yourself about us,” Fehnel replied, a slight hum to her voice. “Us adults can’t help but watch the young love bloom.”
“That guy’s barely older than I am!” Kadew shot back, raising a finger to point at me.
I raised two paws in defence, much too similar to the way Kenta does when he’s been caught teasing me. “Hey, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate it when I see it. You’re doing great, by the way.”
The teasing, however, had been lost on her. I had meant it in good will, but my words had only served to aggravate Kadew, and she huffed out an annoyed breath. Then, she started stomping rapidly in place, her trained legs moving in a blur like overclocked turbines. From even the briefest glance, I could tell that something had been pulling away at her tail, and our comments were doing it no favours.
“Uhh… are you alright?” I asked tentatively.
“ARGH!” she groaned back. “No! No, I am very much NOT alright! Running Day’s here already, I feel like a pile of speh, my fur’s a mess, and I’m FREAKING THE BRAHK OUT!!”
‘Quite the vocabulary on this one, apparently,’ I judged silently, wondering how my mother would have reacted to hearing me talk like that.
“Honey, Vuilen’s not gonna care about any of that silly stuff,” Fehnel said jovially. “Why, I remember bein’ covered in dried mud the first time I went on a date with your father. We went down to the creek together and took turns tossing water at each other. Then, we went down to the local actin’ house and watched a show. But even after all of that, I still had a bit of dried mud crusted on my fur, but your father didn’t mind. Said it gave me ‘character,’ of all the silly things.”
“Isn’t dried mud just dirt?” I asked.
“Naw, see, dirt is sand, silt, and clay, but it only becomes mud when it has a higher content of clay.”
“So then what happens when dirt gets wet but doesn’t have a lot of clay?”
“Wet dirt.”
“Ah.”
“WHAT ARE YOU BRAHKING TALKING ABOUT!?” Kadew squealed in a panic, her stomping had not ceased in the slightest. She threw her paws up and pulled her ears down over her eyes. “Dirt and mud! That’s all that we Yotul talk about apparently! And trains! Can’t forget the brahking trains! Stars above, that’s all people ever say!”
“Trains are cool,” I said indifferently.
“I don’t care!” she huffed, before turning to Fehnel. “Mom. What if Vuilen comes back and sees you talking about dirt? She’ll just see that it’s the only thing a primitive uplift is capable of understanding! Do you really want to prove her right?”
Fehnel looked shocked, but replied nonetheless. “Has… she said something like that before?”
“Well…! No…! But…” Kadew stomped again. “She might, okay!? Especially if she sees you actively talking about it!”
“To be fair, I asked,” I replied. “Besides, Vuilen seems like a smart girl. She wouldn’t make a rash assumption about the Yotul based off some random remark. Relationships are stronger than that. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“What do you know about it!?” Kadew shot back, releasing her ears and letting them perk up to max height. “Unless I missed something, I don’t see you dating any other Venlil in that restaurant of yours! How do you know if any of this is fine!?”
Fehnel’s voice soured immediately. “Kadew! That is no way to talk to our new business partner! He was just tryin’ to help! Apologize this instant!”
Realizing something had shifted without my notice, I tried to mellow my voice in an attempt to calm the situation down. “Oh, that won’t be necessar–”
“No,” Fehnel interrupted. “I refuse to let my daughter be rude to anyone. We might not have much, but we at least have manners.” She turned her attention back to her daughter. “Kadew, if you have a problem, then I want you to tell me about it. If there’s somethin’ we can do to help, then–”
“No no, it’s not…” Kadew replied, bringing two fingers up to pinch the bridge of her snout. “It’s not that…”
“It’s not what?” Fehnel tried to guess. “It’s with Vuilen, isn’t it? You’re afraid she’ll not be able to appreciate the Runnin’ Day? Listen, I know this isn’t Leirn, but Sylvan and I are kickin’ our hardest to make it special for you regardless. Sure, it’s not the most traditional, but I’m sure Vuilen won’t mind! I understand that livin’ on a new planet is taxin’, the gravity here especially, but as foreigners it’s our job to show these nice people where we come from. We’re Yotul, and nothin’ will change that!”
“Mom…” Kadew grunted back, before taking a deep breath.
Before she could speak, Fehnel continued with a proud wag to her tail. “Do you remember what a Runnin’ Day is all about, Kadew? It’s about all the cubs that came of age that year comin’ together and sayin’ that they’ll be fine by themselves. But it’s also about family. It’s about knowin’ that no matter where you run off to, I’ll be there to support you. But you’re makin’ it real hard to do that every time you don’t tell me what the matter is! And if you don’t, how can I make this Runnin’ Day the best it can–”
“But it’s not a Running Day, is it!” Kadew yelled, instantly shutting Fehnel up.
Her mother stared forward blankly, stumbling over a few unclear words. “Wh-what do you…”
“It’s not a Running Day!” Kadew repeated. “It’s not! I mean look around you!” She lifted her arms up dramatically, motioning towards the crowds of unaware Venlil around us. “We’re the only Yotul here! We’re the only two people that even know what a Running Day is, and I’m pretty sure we’re the only people that care!”
I tried to speak, “Umm… I know what a Running Day i–” but the look of animosity Kadew immediately shot my way gave me Jeela flashbacks, and I shut up just as quick.
“Kadew… Hun, that’s not true,” Fehnel tried to defend. “I’m sure they’d be willing to open their minds if we just–”
“What? Tell them all about how great it is to come from an Uplift planet? Talk about brahking DIRT some more!? Careful there Mom, don’t want to spoil their meal!” Kadew continued her berating. “Because you and I both know that the only reason anyone even showed up to this thing is because of that guy’s food!” Another finger was shot out in my direction. “Even you know there’s nothing special about your stupid Uplift culture! There’s nothing here even remotely related to the Yotul! It’s all just Venlil decorations and Venlil food, for our solely Venlil guests! And look!!” She pointed directly at the statue Jeela had placed as the centerpiece. “They have a statue of a Venlil as the center of everything! It’s the star attraction, not us! They couldn’t give a damn about me or Running Day or our culture or… or anything!”
Fehnel appeared to be on the verge of tears.
“And now I’ve got to find some kind of excuse for all this!” Kadew added. “It’s bad enough I had to drag Vuilen into pretending to care about the Yotul. But now the entire town is a part of it too! They’re laughing at us, Mom! Just like at school! Just like everywhere else I go! They’re laughing at us and you’re proud about it!”
From the verge of tears, Fehnel’s voice had croaked into a soft weep. A glimmering stream of water had begun to crawl down the ridge of her rust-coloured face.
“I hate being born a Yotul! I hate this gross, rusty fur! I hate everyone thinking I’m primitive and that I must be in love with trains and steam engines! And I hate you trying to push your culture on me! Cause guess what? I’ve never even seen Leirn! It’s NOT my home and you need to stop pretending it is!”
Fehnel stood simply aghast, the occasional choked-up garble of sounds emerging from her throat. Meanwhile, I stood speechless as well. Obviously, I had accidentally walked in on and been exposed to something that had been going on for quite a while. But even worse, it seems as though I had done nothing but fanned the flame of this long-fueled fire. Instinctively, I began taking a few steps back to give the two their space, which went unnoticed by either party.
Fehnel swallowed, her eyes still welling tears. “I… I…” she tried to say, but no words would form. Instead, she choked on her own voice. And Kadew, who stood waiting for a response, sucked in heavy loads of air in the fleeting hope to catch her breath.
But instead of an answer, all that any of us heard was a scream.
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