My husband and I recently moved to JC from Manhattan. We are looking for good places to eat (both dine in and delivery). Any recs?
Especially looking for tacos, Italian, middle eastern and seafood.
We are a located in Newport.

We are in the process of getting a new bedroom set. Our neighbors are moving and we're getting a sweet, sweet deal on some Bassett furniture.
Our 25 year old JC Penney set is therefore up for grabs. The bed frame is in okay condition, the nightstands are in less than okay condition, but still useable. We are using them now. Edit: put on Freecycle.
Husband said we could offer up the bed frame, but not the nightstands. The drawers don't close and the hardware (plastic) is crap.
I carefully explained to him that there are people out there that will take absolute awful pieces and upcycle it and sell it for a tidy profit, OR someone just starting out could use it. We should offer it all. He has dug his heels in and said he won't do it.
This is not the first time he's done this-but I have prevailed in freecycling things, and they were taken. I should add, he's never been poor, never had hand-me-downs, never did menial labor. I have.
I am so mad that he's making this decision for someone else. Worst case scenario is that no one takes it and he gets to put it in the trash anyway.
Thank you. I just needed to rant to the hive. It just makes me so MAD!
UPDATE: LOL, I was talking to a friend and she's taking the neighbor's set-the nice stuff-ALL of it so we keep the old stuff for now.

https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/wife-shoots-husband-san-antonio-bexar-county/273-8b5613a0-72d1-4d53-b5f0-4e8a0e426eb7?tag1=kensshare&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3WAl0t6GqWwLw2xyko9kOwYdav9-wBJ7zWSQIQqgRPhi24dJ_AnEtd7zQ_aem_Aag1Gcm8xJiaA-Nk3uAWTLI8jcUv79d_CF0xBb66nISUZuRGcsJmlmaSALgL--zKRy_9eQPtEDHgbKoT6cgtvf0c#lw9jezia12wz98cofyqf

i hardly see them because I don’t leave me room. My grandmother gets meals we literally have to give most as in majority of them to my brother or uncle. I don’t watch those meals. The cooked meals too. Thats the truth i just dont eat those meals.. if i did i would tell the truth.. they not even bad its just food I don’t eat.. There is hardly ever any meals i can eat. Maybe a salad i don’t eat their fish they bring because its not fish i eat.. She ask about my grandmother meals to try to take control over them just like Teressa.and show her what she got. Meanwhile Marie is a hoarder. So in the south we use to have to scramble to find people who would want those mom’s meals often with many going in the trash.. alot of meals. They were frozen and she wants home cooked food to waste.. my mom bought her sandwich before she left she wasted it ate half we gave other half to my brother. My uncle made her pork chops i asked him did he wash it he said no i did not she told me about five times she didn’t want it she waste it if i was here she prob would have ate it you cant listen to her he said.. she messed up. I told my brother to eat the pork chops so they don’t get wasted. My grandmother has options galore she a waster. Big time.. i don’t waste.. when i lived with her the amount of good wasted was repulsive. Old jewish holocaust survivors save everything and eat food til its gone. A attribute found more in Adrienne than my Grandmother . Connie throws good out after 2 maybe 3 days. Im not even like that. my mom cooks for her my grandmom not even her own husband does she cook for. She gets these fresh meals she hardly wats we as in I give major to my brother so they don’t get wasted. Once in while my mom will ear them but not really. Or we give them to my uncle JC. To rid them. They come twice a week. These are not meals i can eat sometimes i can get a salad if its not rotten lately the quality been going down. So no she don’t be feeding me.. and never did the jews should tread lightly.. anyway Teresa use to try dictate these meals like we were starving her or we in LL africa. When my mom go out her way to make it seem she a priority over any of us even her husband. And she don’t work no more so you figure it out.. and we have two aide day and night shift. Not one aid or agency they have been with for over a year since she lived here.. which is the length of time i Bea Ardor took care of her spending my own last money for food with no help from her.. back them she only got four sometimes five hours. The other 20 ? I was told i would be there a week or two it turned into OVER a year. I had no clothes no anything that whole time tending to someone else who didn’t raise me . She did take me to drs appointment and pick us up from school if my mom had to work stuff like that but raise us absolutely not.. actually the truth be told as she always tells it truthfully we were children taken care of her. Before she knew she had tumors and our summers in south she was sick off balance but didn’t know what it was yet. we would always stop playing with friends outside and take care of her. She would always say she heard me outside saying we will be back we gotta check on my grand mom. And come in the house on Butler st to see if she needed anything before we went back out to play all day with friends at their houses or outside. Then when she got sick i was the only one who gave up my bed. My sister never gave up her bed. I would sleep on the floor. For long time. Or when my aunt connie was unstable literally crying she was always homeless or not stable needing a place to stay . So she would have to stay in our room who gave up their bed ? Me . For long time I slept on the floor .. discomfort for me so other people could have.. then fast forward when i gave that girl an expensive bed for free the only thing i said was pay for the movers she said ok (she never gave me a dime to stay with me ) i didn’t even know her and at that time i was on down swing because of my brother so i was helping her to try have new start but i was struggling on my own. Til I wasn’t. She said she would pay one electric bill never happened i never made a big deal out of it. I have treated to dinners lunches all that. But that one thing show gross disgusting disrespect! My mom does not like Mary. I really stay out of these things because its none of my business. Well she goes and says where her meals hun we literally give that stuff away because she doesn’t want them they cooked meals. She shows her i thought i heard my grandmother say no she didn’t want. Everyone who comes in here that try’s to dictate food gets fired. Meanwhile while this is going on my mom telling me she already replaced her because she telling me how Robin Ali is gonna be working day shift full time and how she leaving Harmony. So this conversation going on while she telling me Mary put a bag of her meals in paper bag and said she gonna eat all of them. My mom said now if ask her will she want them she will say no I don’t want them. I never heard my grandmother say that and we give them esp ones i know she wont eat to him because it saves him money. Plus he don’t really cook. He be struggling bad.. Mary felt so convicted she gonna knock on my door asking me do i want one of the two muffins she must of put in her room for her.. I’m a picky eater no i don’t eat those .. her own gilt consciousness. Because she knows it was one salad in their and i like to take those when they come .. if they come the salads are tiny I’ll take a photo to PROVE a point .. usually but not all time one will come . She was being so shady when I’m one trying say she do her job what you feel is personal. I have no personal acquaintance with any of them i don’t see them. Long as you taking care of Marie. I can separate the two. In my real life you wouldn’t even see me or be around me . When you cross lines of this grid and play games you got no business in getting too comfortable then you got problems.. whole time this going on she telling me about Robin Ali. Crown don’t belong with poor niggers and whites. Go to school.

I will try to make a long story short. I’m from Canada. For context, my parents separated when I (33F) was 1 yo. My mother had almost full custody of me and had my sister (29 F) and my brother with my stepdad before she passed away from an allergic reaction when we were 7, 3 and 1½ yo. I then went to live full time with my dad (and had two more half-sisters), and my stepdad started living with a woman (Cythia) and her 5 children. Well, Cynthia abused all her children but especially Anna, my sister, both verbally and physically. My stepdad also was physically and verbally violent towards my sister. My mother’s family never did anything, even though they knew what was going on. Her grandmother and aunt on her father’s side called CPS, and Anna was taken into a youth centre. But then they got more abusive towards our brother who called her, and she then said to CPS that she lied so that she could go back home and protect our brother. For a long time, I felt guilty that I couldn’t protect her. I witnessed some of the abused when I was 7 or 8 years old and asked my dad not to go anymore.
Fast forward when she’s 18, and in love with JC, also her age. I worry about her becoming pregnant because she’s in a precarious situation, and her stepmom comes from a line of 16 yo mothers (literally, Cynthia’s mother was a great-grand-mother at 48 yo). She gets pregnant and has Anthony (9M) and Clementine (8F), 10 months apart. I’m Anthony’s godmother as well. At the time that my sister was pregnant, we had a bit of a spat because I tried to tell her the gentlest way possible that it took money to take care of a baby (because she wasn’t seeing any problems with her having a child, and she even told me that at least he was going to love her). At that time, I also told her that I was her sister, and not her mother (I was feeling a lot of pressure). My sister treats money like it burns her hands. She struggles not to spend everything at once and even got into big debt a couple of times. She also complains a lot about here situation and string of bad luck in life.
So during the last 9 years I:
-Took care of Anthony and Clementine when asked, but also one evening a night during a year.
-Took them out and paid for a lot of activities, like the zoo, because my sister told me she didn’t have any money.
-Hosted some birthday parties at my house because my sister didn't have the place.
-Gave them more costly gifts than any other friend or family member because I felt like they needed it, like a slow cooker or a bike for the kids. I am by no means rich, but I’m generous and what to help.
-Helped her go through several breakups and 2 miscarriages (buying groceries, coming to help her with the kids and cleaning).

• Vouched for her for two apartments because no landlord wanted to lease to an unemployed single mother.

-Lent her some money on a couple occasions for her to pay her rent (she then paid me back in full, but my husband and I gave her 800$ of her debt to us).

• Encouraged her to pursue her studies when she talked about it (she stopped school at a grade 9 level) and motivated her to open her home daycare like she said she dreamed about.

-Did some tutoring to my nephews and helped her with some situations happening at their school, because I teach in the same school board. For the last 3 years, the children moved 3 times and had 3 different schools. Anthony never finished a school year at school (he was even suspended from school in kindergarten, and he is now finishing his 3^rd grade).
When I do something or want something from my sister, I have to constantly remind her because Anna, Anthony and Clementine all have ADHD. My sister uses this as an excuse to everything she forgets. And when someone tries to give her advice, she always say that this or that doesn’t work for her for X reason. I bought Anthony some soccer classes, but he went to a handful of them because she always forgot about them.
My relationship with my sister got better during the pandemic, until she decided to become a foster parent to her stepsister Kelly (16 or 17 yo at the time), without consulting her then boyfriend (she sold almost everything she had to go live with him, and they were together almost 3 years). My sister was doing her best before and put her children first. But when Kelly lived with her, it’s like Anna was back into her stepmother’s mindset. She isn’t physically abusive to her children, but she yells at them, calls them names sometimes. Anthony is clearly the golden child (she when to a neuropsychiatrist for him (we have the confirmation that he is suspected of having autism), and he had braces to straighten his teeth, she always said she understands him and praises him a lot) She spends a lot of time trying to accommodate him and make him happy. She belittles Clementine a lot, even in front of her. She doesn’t do her homework or give her the attention she needs.
Last summer, Anna moved with all 3 of them to my town (before they lived about 20 to 40 minutes away). I helped her lease a town house with 3 levels and a back yard so she could start her daycare. I was so happy that my sister moved closer to where I was and wanted to help more with her children, like helping with their homework. I took Clementine in Monday’s after school until the end of November to help with her reading (she was reading books to my 2 yo). When Anthony got suspended from school, I was the one to home school him (paid 1h a day by the school board but did more to help my sister out).
She had 2 cats in her apartment but took 2 more when she arrived. They don’t have enough litter boxes and they are regularly urine and feces elsewhere, even on their beds.
At that time, I was on maternity leave at the time and our first daycare shut down for my now 2½ yo. Where I’m from, daycare places are almost as rare as winning the lottery, especially for infants. When my sister opened in November, I was struggling with post-partum depression, so I thought that sending both my daughters (2 and 8 mo at the time) there was the right thing to do. Now this was before I witnessed all the verbal abuse going on. Once, I went by to get something because my children were sick, and she screamed at her kids in front of the other daycare children.
We talked a lot at that time, I was trying to be supportive. One time she told me dismissively that her doctor though she had borderline personality disorder. This explains A LOT.
I was fine helping Anna out because I had been luckier in life than she has. I was sometimes a bit peeved because it never seemed enough.
Well, this winter, my luck turned. I was just starting to heal from my depression and my husband fell hard into a PPD as well. He was anxious, having anxiety attacks and even screamed at me in front of the children. This was a hard no for me and said he had to start therapy, but his first therapist was not working for him. That was a hard boundary for me, but unfortunately, things got worse, and I accompanied him 3 times to the hospital in the span of a month because he threatened to unalive himself. CPS got involved because he also threatened the first responders. It was decided that he would stay at a friend’s house for at least a month.
During that time, my sister would bitch about the change in my husband's demeanour. She complained to me that he didn’t say hi or smiled enough for her. She was really happy when I was a solo parent because I could finally understand her struggles (her words).
I’m glad to say that my husband and I did couples and both individual therapies. I even saw an occupational therapist that confirmed that I was hypersensitive, as is my eldest daughter. My daughter also started verbalizing her needs, so that helped us too (she was not really speaking before February) . We are now striving.
Well, not two weeks after my husband and I started to live together again, my sister told me she would not be renewing our daycare contract (it was ending in two weeks). She basically told my husband one morning when he was dropping the kids off. He told her that she had to tell me this in person, so he took her home (the children were supervised by her assistant). She basically told us:’’ It’s not you, it’s me. I can’t handle being an aunt, and a sister and an educator. ‘’ She said when I asked that she preferred we respected the contract and stop in two weeks, but she could give us up to a month.
I really felt backstabbed and betrayed. I tried to take it the best way possible. I was nervous that she would not take care of my daughters properly because she was really spiralling at the time, not going out of her house (not even to go to the pharmacy to get her children’s medication). She told me that she wasn’t talking to any of her friends. The children in daycare were always sick and she would refuse for children to go for silly reasons.
Luckily we found the best daycare possible for our daughters (it really is a miracle), and my eldest started right after the two weeks were up.
My sister had some papers to make me sign, and I seemed important that I do so before Easter, but she forgot to come by at our established time. A lot of back and forth happened during the next week, as I also wanted to gat back an item that I lent her and a bottle (we only had 3). She wasn’t really responding to my messages or was always busy. As I said, she doesn’t go out. So on Monday the week after, I got fed up and told here that I was coming by to pick up the items and that I could sign her papers then. When I arrived, she told me that she lost the item (I found it on marketplace for 40$ but is was over 100$ of value). She had the bottle (and it clearly had been used for other children), but the papers weren’t ready. I asked her if I could help her look for the thing while she finished up with the day care. She said yes. Anthony was there, so I asked him if he knew where the thing was (children could have played with it). He said he didn’t know, but he was wiling to help look. When he suggested to look in his sister’s room, Anna started yelling at him that she already looked there. I was so baffled by this outburst that I told her ‘’no need to yell’’. I then went to look in the basement. I think I saw urine marks on the couch. The floor was covered in toys. My nephew doesn’t have a room, he sleeps in the basement living room. Just the smell was horrible.
I went back up, and Anna was still struggling to fill out the forms. She then had to copy 2 more times the same information. I offered her to copy them for her, as she has trouble concentrating because of her ADHD. She told me no, it’s my responsibility to do it (in a bitchy tone). I told here again that I could help her and do it for her. She yelled at me that she doesn’t need help and that she doesn’t tolerate being undermined in her own home. I asked her what she meant by that. And she was blaming me for telling her not to yell in front of Anthony. I was stunned. I sat there and almost cried, but then just decided to leave with my daughter’s bottle.
I thought about it a lot and 4 days later called CPS and told them what was happening at my sister’s house. It’s supposed to be anonymous, but it never really is. I. It was never my intention for CPS to take the children away, but I wanted it to be a wake-up call for my sister that she was on the wrong path for her children’s well-being. She sent me a text saying that she knew that I talked to CPS and that they had already been called 7 times!! ( I knew about 1 time that she called herself because Anthony had run away from school and she didn’t know what to do anymore). And that if she wasn’t a bad mother because CPS hasn’t taken her children away !! She latter apologised for yelling at me and said to me that she needed to go no contact for a while to calm down.
Well, I don’t think she would have contacted me again if it wasn’t for Anthony being homeschooled for the rest of the year. I was supposed to take him to play lasertag on Monday (it was a Ped day). I asked my sister and then reminded her 2 time. On Sunday night, she told my he had an appointment at 2. I called her and told her I was upset because I asked her multiple times if Anthony could come and if it was ok with her, and that I felt like she was purposefully sabotaging our moment out together. She then confessed that he was schooled at home for the rest of the year and that his music teacher was coming at her house during that time. She then told me that maybe she would be forced to ask me help because the music teacher couldn’t do all the required hours (5 a week). I was hurt and told her so, because Anthony and I had a great time last time I homeschooled him. I didn’t have any problems with him because we have a strong bond. My sister doesn’t have any place during the day for homeschooling, because all of he first floor is dedicated to the day care. She could set up the basement, but I as mentioned, it always looks like a tornado just passed.
Well Tuesday night I get a text message saying that she wanted to talk. She told me that it went badly with the music teacher (I wasn’t surprised), and that she wanted me to home school Anthony. I told her ok for this week, but we would have to have a conversation with her before I committed myself for the rest of the school year ( I took a longer maternity leave because I wanted to start teaching again only in September).
So Friday my husband took care of all 4 kids while I went to the restaurant to speak with my sister. Her thoughts were very chaotic and I had to go back a couple time to clarify that is she wanted Anthony to succeed this year, he would have to do some schoolwork at home too. She went on and on again about all the things that don’t work to her liking in her life. She spoke about how Clementine regressed so much in school that she forgot how to write the word mother and that she throws a lot of tantrums. I saw one of her tantrums and I suspect she also has autism. I suggested to me sister that she should have solid habits for the morning and evening. My sister told me she hates routines and can’t put them in place. Everytime I give her solicited advice, she complains on how she can’t do this or that. She also proceeded to bitch about all the people in her life (Kelly, her close friend, her children that leave the house a mess, etc.) She has a pattern of cutting people out of her life.
Sorry for the long post, I had to get all this off my chest. It was a lot to deal with. Honestly, I’m done trying to help her. When the children were young, she was trying to do the right thing, but now it seems like she’s given up. I will say in Anthony’s and Clementine’s lives for their sakes, because they have been let down by so many people in their lives (their dad told them when they were 5 that he couldn’t take them to Disney land because of the attorney fee’s their mom forced him to pay).
If any random stranger went through something similar, I’m open for advice.
I love my sister, I care about her, but I’m tired of feeling like I’m being used.

Hi there! My husband, toddler, and I are looking to move within JC next month (ideally near Hamilton Park, but open to other areas). We are respectful tenants and I’d love to find something where it’s a separate unit rented out by the owners of a townhome, for example, rather than a big apartment building with builder grade everything... I guess the point is I like living in places where the owner cares about their property.
Are there any secret or not so secret ways of finding rentals by owner, other than the main real estate websites?

I F[20] am now beginning to realize not all broken homes are consisting of drug users, alcoholics. Sometimes it's the those who seem perfectly normal on the outside.
I always was never respected when I said no. My earliest memories was trying new food. I was adamant about it not being a good taste bur I was forced to eat it. I would always get a bullshit reason like "Oh, if you're not going to try it you will always be a close minded person. Open minded people try everything."
At seventeen I was forced to learn driving, I said I wanted to enjoy my JC time but I was forced into it. I dropped out and H called me a failure and that "I never follow through with things."
My 'no', is never respected. I am always made to feel bad that I turned a request down,by saying that whatever I deemed important was a waste of time or phrases like 'I am trying to help you here, you know, be grateful.' But it would be said very harshly like "I don't care about your stupid hobby/choice anyway, I could refuse to help you if I wanted to but here I am."
Actually it's ironic how I managed to do well in school with everything going on, but the moment I didn't I was lazy, unintelligent and would go nowhere in life. H would always bring up my mistakes in an argument.
All this was always passed off as strict parenting, but honestly looking back, even strict parents care about their children. They are doing it in the name of love. I don't feel that in my household. I get the vibe that I have to obey because they said so.
Also, when cooking would always yell at me for being slow. I was always put down for not being " good at housework" according to standards. I find that it is not true. I can cook and baked several times.
That is also tied to misogynistic standards like "how are you ever going to find a husband like that? If you divorce don't come home crying. We also won't lend you money because you are adult then."
The last straw was when H threw away my bed even though I begged her not to, now I don't have a bed. I don't want to sleep on a new one because nothing feels right. That was the last straw for me to realizing how bad things were in my house. The bed sort of shielded me from things.
I never thought that someone could be so cruel to their kids but here we are. I sorr of toned down the bad stuff but it is really bad. When I got hurt, as a child, H would laugh and mock me for being clumsy. I was made to feel like everything else someone else's problem was my fault. I told H about my breakup. Biggest mistake ever. H said I was dumb and emotional and girls like me were vapid and should just quickly get a husband. And also said him cheating on me was my fault. It sucks that I can't tell my family anything. Because I'm social but my upbringing left me a pretty anxious and quiet kid so I don't have much friends. Also H claims to be a feminist.
My problem with religion also led me to pursue an alternative lifestyle. Biggest mistake of my life. I was a theistic satanist for four years and I sought out bad things. I realised the whole new age religion was built on rejected and lonely children's needs and appealing to them, and discarding them when you question the authority figures' motives. Just like my family dynamic. I regret it and I blame the presence of toxic people for my need for approval and acceptance leading me to such a dark path.
Also a major problem is that H doesn't respect my choices when it comes to religion. I don't believe in Christianity but it is shoved down my throat every Sunday. There is a more sinister side to it. Once it got really bad out of nowhere H wanted to pray for me a special "blessing" despite knowing I don't believe. And got really angry and said she would convince her god to hurt me and only her prayer could save me.
I used to have a social life/online friends but it feels like in H presence everything dies, doesn't last. I just want to get out. I have plans made to do so but I just don't have the money.

Full list
9 to 5 • 12 Clues of Christmas • 20 Pounds to Happiness • the Abandons • Accused 02 • Adulthood • Afterburn • Alice in the Palace • Altar • Appalachia • at the Sea • Athos 2643 • Avengelyne • the Awakening • the Ballad of a Small Player • Bet • the Better Sister • Beyond Paradise 03 • the Birches • Blade • Blood Yolk • Body County • Booster Gold • Branching Out • Bring Her Back • Chalino • the Change 02 • a Chris Farley Story • Crystal Lake • Daughter in Danger • the Devil's Room • Dexter: Origins • the Dimona Affair • Double Booked • Dream Space • Dreamquil • Dutch & Razzlekhan • Eklo: the Final Survivor • the End • Engaged to Be Murdered • the Equalizer 05 • Eternity • Exp • the Fantastic Four • Fast X: Part 2 • Fate • Fatherland • the Fear 3: the Exorcism of Morty • Floating Carousel • the Florist • Fools • the Forsyte Saga • Girls Like Girls • God’s Country • Godfather of Harlem 04 • Good Girl • Greg's Going to Rehab • Hamnet • Heartland 18 • the Hole • Home • the Hunting Party • Huntington • the Huntsman • I Am a Monster • I Giorni Più Intensi Di Guido Kalb • Identechal • Il Nibbio • Il Ragazzo Dai Pantaloni Rosa • the Institute • Iris • Jungles • Junkie Run • Jurassic Park • the Last Production • Law & Order: Organized Crime 05 • the Legend of Zelda • Lemonade Blessing • Let’s Have Kids! • Lethal Desires • the Loney • the Lost Book of Creation • Malory Towers 06 • Man on Fire • the Manor • Mansour • Masters of the Universe • the Materialists • Melody Next Door • Mimesis • Mind Reader • Miroirs No. 3 • Mistletoe Murders • Muny • Murder at the Embassy • Murdoch Mysteries 18 • the Mystery of the Golden Spear • the Necklace • Nothing Except Everything. • Overcompensating • Peaky Blinders • Peggy Jo • Permanent Damage • the Pitt • Processing Charlie • the Qb Bad Boy and Me • Reacher 03 • Revival • Rise and Shine • Saint Pierre • Scooby-doo! The Live-action Series • the Secret Agent • See You Again • Send the Rain • the Seven Dials Mystery • Shapeless • Side Hustle Nightmare • Sidelined • Sleeping Lions • Special Ops: Lioness 02 • Springwaite • a Spy’s Guide to Survival • Star Trek: Origins • Star Wars: Episode X- a New Beginning • Storm Witch • the Stunt Driver • Sugar Beach • Sunny Dancer • Switchback • T-minus • Thought My Husband's Wife Was Dead • the Thursday Murder Club • Tightrope! • Tiny Fugitives • Top End Bub • Untitled Alternative Medical Drama • Untitled Chronicles of Narnia Project • Untitled Jc Film Project • Untitled Leanne Morgan Project • Untitled Majorettes-inspired Project • Untitled Men in Black Project • Untitled Parallel Universe Sci-fi Thriller • Untitled Texas Project • the Upside of Unrequited • Verity • Waves & Radiation • Way of the Warrior Kid • the Wedding Banquet • Young Sherlock

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Welcome back to this write-up about a complicated artist's complicated book.
Don't be absurd, of course you have time!
Part 1 Part 2
Now that we've established what the book is about, let's take a look at The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls' rich publication and re-publication history. I promise, it's more scandalous than it sounds.

“HER SPEECH IS NOTHING, YET THE UNSHAPÈD USE OF IT DOTH MOVE THE HEARERS TO COLLECTION” (HORATIO, ACT IV SCENE 5)

As I've mentioned in the last installment, TAFWVG has been released multiple times, in multiple editions – four of them, to be precise. And I wish I was exaggerating when I say that three of those four releases have been veritable masterclasses in testing your audience's loyalty. In case you're wondering: the secret is to alter your source material in strange and unpredictable ways, while also constantly messing up on the customer service front.
Most of this installment condenses and combines these two excellent write-ups, which contain most of the receipts: TAFWVG: A History / The Bloody Crumpets: An Inconsistent History. 🔍 Anything that isn't sourced with links is in there. While there were only minor differences between the first and second pressings, the third and fourth editions came with significant alterations to the structure of the book and the story itself, notably the cast of fictional Asylum inmates... a handful of which had, in fact, been obvious avatars of EA's IRL friends and collaborators.
It turns out there are good reasons why most fiction authors don't do real-life inserts so overtly – but in EA's case, it did make sense, and was warmly embraced by fans upon release. When the book first came out, some of these people had been familiar to the fanbase for years, frequently appearing in candid pictures on EA's blog and leaving comments on the forum; some were also involved in her music and show. Recognizing that one character's name was a pun on So-and-So's username was a nice Easter egg for veteran fans, and newcomers got to learn about fandom lore; it brought the story to life and the community closer.
One side character, for instance, was named after EA's best friend from Chicago, whom many fans had had direct interactions with: she co-ran EA's online stores during the Enchant years, and acted as admin, main moderator and EA-liaison of the forum throughout its near-decade of existence.
One crazy girl who thinks she's a pirate is 100% OC... but her description and illustrations 🪞 were explicitly modeled after pictures of Bloody Crumpet Vecona (one of EA's back-up performers), who became the first stand-in pirate character 📺 in the live show. Captain Vecona was also celebrated as the “Asylum Seamstress” 🪞🔍: most of the iconic early Opheliac costumes were her design. She had a following of her own, even prior to touring with EA, for her professional costuming work and her collaborations with German photographer Angst-im-Wald. (Shitty archive link, sorry - most of those badass photoshoots seem to have been lost to time. But if you were a European goth in the mid-2000s, search your old hard drives: I promise you, you've downloaded some of those pictures.)
Inmate “Veronica”, a cabaret girl diagnosed as a nymphomaniac, was a doppelgänger of her namesake, burlesque dancer Veronica Varlow 🪞 – the ride-or-die Crumpet, whom EA often lovingly called her “husband”, saying they had been lovers in a previous lifetime. Veronica was part of every single tour post-Opheliac release and developed a solid fanbase of her own, which she maintains to this day.
Even the brave and well-mannered talking rats (oh yeah, there's talking rats in the Asylum story) were named after EA's real-life pet rodents, who had featured in glamorous photoshoots. (Slight NSFW for sideboob.)
You get the general gimmick by now: EA turns her personal life into art, which she turns into a fictional world, which she then prompts the audience to inhabit with her. The whole Asylum concept was essentially an open invitation to self-insert parasocial fanfic: “Here's this very personal world that I've created, in which I, the artist, exist as a fictional persona, alongside all these quirky inmate characters that you've seen in my stage show, and who are avatars my real-life friends. Come on in, make it your home, and populate it with your own zany Victorian alter egos.”
And it worked, to an extent: like I've said, most fans were on board before they'd even read the book, and the Asylum became “real” in that sense.
But it can get a bit disorienting to find your place in a fantasy world, when said world keeps changing based on the author's shifting feelings about her story, her target audience, and her friends... plus, you'd love to read the book, but the darn thing still hasn't shipped.

ROUNDS 1 & 2: THE HARDCOVERS

\A MINOR ADJUSTMENT\
TAFWVG was first teased in spoken-word bonus tracks 🎤 on a 2007 EP. In spring 2008, EA started reading excerpts from her upcoming book at live shows. Early excerpts from the Asylum narrative featured a character named “Jo Hee” 📺; in the story, she is a cellist from “the Orient” (love that Victorian geography) and Emily's childhood confidante.
In real life, Lady Jo Hee, Center of Happiness, was the OG Bloody Crumpet. 📺 She had been there since from the very first Opheliac show in Chicago in 2006, accompanying EA on the electric cello – the only instrumentalist ever featured in the line-up besides EA herself.
In August 2008, Alternative Magazine ran a feature about the upcoming book.🔍, teasing some of its pages. Fans were quick to spot a very sisterly picture of EA and Jo Hee 🪞, borrowed from a fan-favorite photoshoot of the two. (An aside: this specific picture also became famous in the fandom for another reason. At some point, someone made an edit replacing Jo Hee with Amy Lee from Evanescence; for a while, it kept making the rounds in alt/goth internet circuits, casual onlookers kept getting excited about it, and Plague Rats kept having to step in and disappoint them.)
Anyway. For reasons undisclosed by either party, Jo Hee quietly left the Crumpets after that tour, never to be mentioned again.
By the time the book came out in late 2009, the character of “Jo Hee” had been renamed “Sachiko”. (I guess it didn't matter whether the one non-white character in the story was meant to be Korean or Japanese.) Jo Hee's face had been edited out of the (still clearly recognizable) photograph, and eerily replaced with Nondescript_Asian_Woman_023.jpg from Shutterstock.🪞
You'd think that the switcheroo would have raised more eyebrows, or at least some awkward chuckles, among fans of an artist whose better-known lyrics include “If I Photoshop you out of every picture, I could / Go quietly, quiet - but would that do any good?”. Yet to my knowledge, it did not. Possibly because, by the time people got around to reading the book, some fans had been waiting for their copy longer than Jo Hee had been a Crumpet.
A ROCKY RELEASE
Although the book seemed just about ready for publication at the time of those 2008 readings, the initial release was delayed by technical difficulties (some data had been lost during the editing process). And then delayed some more when, a year later, EA cancelled the US leg of a tour and slammed the door on Trisol, accusing the label owner of exploitation and embezzlement (he was allegedly selling fake tickets to her shows on a phony website). In August 2009, she signed over to The End Records, and we were back in business, baby!
Not only was The Book on its way to the presses, but the long-awaited release would coincide with a “Deluxe” re-issue of Opheliac, with new cover art and bonus tracks. For $100, you could pre-order the “Ultimate Book/Album Collection”, which included the revamped album, the book, a t-shirt, a tote bag, a recipe booklet and some bonus digital downloads, to be shipped in October. Or, for a more up-close-and-personal experience, you could purchase a VIP bundle for her upcoming shows in the fall: $50 plus ticket price would get you the book, a swag bag, and a meet-and-greet. (VIP tickets were capped at 20 slots per show; from what I gather, informal interactions with fans at the merch table were becoming overwhelming on previous tours. Again: fast-growing audience.)
Alas, due to printing issues this time, the making and shipping were soon pushed back to December. VIP ticket-holders were assured, at the start of the tour, that their copies would be shipped first as soon as the books were printed, with handwritten dedications from EA. Purchasers of the “Book/Album” bundle would receive theirs shortly thereafter. This seemed like a reasonable trade-off for a minor delay, and no one was too upset. (Well, some might have been, but at that juncture in Asylum history – for reasons that will become apparent in a later installment, when we get to EA's altercations with her fans – I guess they knew better than to get mouthy about it.)
The bundles came first... and in many cases, “bundle” was a generous term, because they arrived incomplete. When the t-shirt or tote bag weren't missing, they were printed the wrong colors. Many digital download codes had to be requested via email. The book itself was beautiful, but poorly bound, typo-ridden, and missing entire pages. (This was largely fixed in the second hardcover release.)
As far as I know, everyone who complained to the distributor got their money back – and I imagine it was a nice surprise when some items showed up, inexplicably, months after they had already been refunded. But it was still a bit of a “sad trombone” moment for many loyal fans, who had to request a refund on the Ultimate Super-Cool Preorder Exclusive Bundle to purchase the book and album separately.
As for the VIP package books, those didn't start shipping until late 2010 – a whole year after the official book release, months after less invested fans had already received their non-preordered copies. Worse: none of the books were signed, much less lovingly adorned with a personalized handwritten note as EA had promised. (And had tweeted about doing during the year-long shipping delay!) After enough fans meekly expressed their intense disappointment, EA's BFF-forum-admin mailed out signed bookplates that people could stick in their book in lieu of a personalized autograph. No real explanation was given. As far as I know, this particular let-down didn't cause a mass exodus of disappointed fans – but, in the midst of other goings-on, it certainly contributed to eroding many fans' trust in EA's word.
EA TAKES ON HOLLYWOOD
The 2011 release of the largely-identical second edition was better planned and overall uneventful, which gives me time to catch you up on contemporaneous events – like the reason EA ditched the Opheliac red and went platinum blonde. 🪞
Around that time, EA got herself a supporting role and a solo number 🎵📺 in The Devil's Carnival, Darren Lynn Bousman's psychocircus-themed movie musical. (If you're scrambling to place the name: depending on what kind of deviant you are, DLB is either the guy who directed half of the Saw movies or the guy who directed Repo! The Genetic Opera.)
If you've clicked the last link: see the bad boy greaser she's dancing with at the end of the song? That's the titular “Scorpion”, played by Marc Senter, and they were totally hitting on each other while shooting this. 📝🪞 They've been an item for twelve years now, in what appears to be a loving and mutually supportive relationship, and they seem besotted with each other. That's only marginally relevant to the story, but it's nice to know that at least one nice thing worked out in all this mess.
Back to 2011. Through her friendship with DLB and the Devil's Carnival cast (a motley crew of top-shelf B-listers 🔍 that included Bill Moseley, Paul Sorvino, the chick from Spy Kids, and the clown from Slipknot), EA also made a bunch of new industry connexions. That's how she came to decide that TAFWVG was meant to be more than a book, more than a live show: it had to become... a musical. Full company, full orchestra, big names, the works. Her 2012 album, Fight Like a Girl, was written and recorded with this project in mind, with most songs narrating events from the book and EA singing as various characters – which turns love duets into finger food for Dr. Freud. 🎵
Shortly before the album release, EA announced on Twitter that the Asylum Musical was scheduled to debut in the London West End, under the direction of Bousman, in 2014. "Casting calls to be announced soon!" (They were not.)

ROUND 3: THE AUDIOBOOK

2014 came, and brought... another TAFWG re-release announcement.
But wait – this time, it was going to be an audiobook! EA had been teasing one since before the original release, so people were quite excited. (It also sounded like a more achievable goal for the calendar year than a West End debut.) In early 2014, recording was well on its way, and the 6-CD boxset was due to ship in May.
PLEASE STAND BY, YOUR ASYLUM WILL BE PROCESSED SHORTLY
First, EA discovered “a new microphone ... that, upon testing, produced a recording of far greater beauty and expressive quality”, which naturally meant the whole thing had to be re-recorded. Two month's delay. No biggie. Our girl is a perfectionist.
But our girl also had to write, coordinate and rehearse her upcoming “Asylum Experience” – an afternoon-long interactive theater event, directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, which would be performed at five dates of the Vans Warped Tour in August. (It's not exactly the West End, but it's a start! 🔍) And then she had to prepare for the filming of the Devil's Carnival sequel in the fall. So, obviously, the July deadline was not met. When she finally gave an update in late 2014, the ETA was basically “we are ever so close, but the audiobook gets there when it gets there; feel free to ask for a refund if you're not along for the ride”.
And then she signed with a literary agent. TAFWVG was going to be made into a “real” book, that readers could purchase in stores for a normal price and request from their local library – big event! (More for EA, I think, than for her fans. By that point, the second edition could be purchased as a PDF, and I believe most people who pre-ordered the audiobook had already read the story.) But this involved tailoring the narrative to a more general audience, which meant portions of the book had to be re-written... which meant further delays.

...Besides, and let’s have a teacup of “honesty time” here, if the new Asylum becomes an internationally best-selling novel, not only can we enact more change for good, but the Asylum Musical takes over Broadway faster, the Asylum Movie takes over theatres faster, and YOU are all dressed up as rats/inmates in said movie, you guessed it, faster (“Asylum Audiobook Announcement from EA”📝)

Well, you know what they say in show business: if you can't make it in London, there's always New York.
As EA assured her fans, their patience would be rewarded with a brand new, professionally polished version of the story – and in due time, I guess, a role in the movie. (“Let's hope she doesn't find another new microphone!” 🐀)
From that point on, there seems to have been an ever-widening gap between EA's enthusiasm and fan expectations. When audiobook snippets 🎤.mp3) were released, many fans were unimpressed by the oddly flat, overproduced recording (turns out a microphone can be so good it's a problem! 🐀), which highlighted EA's stilted, uncanny diction and not-quite-transatlantic accent. That caught everyone off guard, because she didn't use to read like... that. Even die-hard apologists had to concede through gritted teeth that, tragically, it was giving William Shatner. (If you're curious, you can find more previews here 🎤📝, along with EA's captions.)
Fans weren't just getting irritated with the various delays and excuses: they were baffled, angry, and embarrassed. When EA clapped back “U know U can just get a refund, right? That is totally within your power to do” on social media, and it came out that requests for refunds had been getting ignored for weeks or months 🐀, seasoned fans were like “Yeah, that tracks.” The whole never-ending ordeal was just starting to feel silly.
All told, the audiobook took two years to complete, with little to no new music in the interim. Two years is a long time for a young-leaning audience! Fans who had preordered at the end of their sophomore year were graduating high school by the time it came out. Others who had been in the middle of undergrad were now looking for full-time jobs. People had gotten pregnant, given birth and potty trained, or had houses built from the ground up. Genuine ultra-fans of the book had had time to... presumably, read other books. (“I wonder how many people passed away waiting for this shitty audiobook to be finished?”)
When the audiobook came out, many long-time Plague Rats had defected, either lamenting the misguided decisions of their favorite artist, or just calling EA a money-grabbing fraud and a lying liar. And a number of patient and unbothered fans had, quite simply, grown out of their EA phase.
Your humble servant, for one, ordered the audiobook the week it went on sale, and stuck with that preorder through five address changes and two graduation ceremonies. Now, bear in mind: through all the ups and downs, even as the charm dispelled, my taste in music evolved, and my perception of EA herself changed, I never formally stopped considering myself a fan. (Mama didn't raise no quitter.) To this day, and to my profound embarrassment, I give enough of a shit that I'm taking the time to write this story at all, and that I was able to draft most of itfrom memory.(Mama didn't teach me how to prioritize.) Well, get this: I have never once listened to the audiobook. I remember unwrapping the signed boxset (minimal artwork, flimsy cardboard, no liner notes), thinking “this could have been an email”, telling myself I'd get around to it for old time's sake... and then I never did, because it was ten hours long, and I just couldn't force myself to care about that story anymore. I was not an isolated case.
In light of this, I apologize in advance for any potential errors in the following paragraphs; others listened so posers like me wouldn't have to 🔍, and I'm going off of their word. The new and improved edition was, indeed, a different book – in that a bunch of things that felt meaningful to fans had been either reworked or excised.
THE AUDIOBOOK EDITS
The hospital narrative had been shortened in favor of the asylum story, and the controversial “Drug / Suicide / Cutting” diaries had been scrapped. Part of the fanbase applauded this decision, but others were disappointed 🐀, as they had found the diaries to be the most (some said only) personal, authentic, and insightful chapters in the book.
Curse words, some abuse, and all mentions of abortion had also been purged. It made the book tamer, but not by much... because Emilie's age had been changed from 27 to 17. Apparently, the literary agent had suggested this to make the book more marketable to a Young Adult audience. No other biographical detail had been altered, so the main narrator was now a 17 year old girl with no parents but an established music career, who checks in by herself into a high-security adult ward, no questions asked. (I'm still perplexed by this one. Did they not expect YA readers to know how hospitals work...?)
The pirate captain, formally known by her “mass of tangled black hair”, was now... a blonde. According to EA, this was a purely aesthetic change: it made the three main Asylum girls a redhead, a blonde and a brunette, which would look better in the stage adaptation. Between the lines, it also distanced the character from its original dark-haired muse: Vecona, who had left the Crumpets in 2008 after a rumored falling-out with EA over unpaid costume work.
The minor characters based on EA's old Chicago friends had been discarded entirely. Which likely made sense for EA – she hadn't lived there in years, the friend group had drifted apart as friend groups do, and by that point, there no longer was an EA forum to administrate or comment on – but not so much for her readers. Some fans had grown fond of these fictional inmates (wasn't that the point?), and weren't too happy to see EA symbolically treat them as disposable. Others were saddened that EA would just scrap these remnants of her old life, and of what felt like simpler, happier times in the fandom. Either way, children, this is why you shouldn't get a neck tattoo of your first boyfriend's name, OR openly base the “good guys” in your career-defining book on friends you made in your early twenties.
To compensate for the loss of... most named inmate characters, Veronica was given a much more prominent role in the plot. Namely, instead of being best friends, Veronica and Emily were now... in love! Lovers! Lesbian lovers! Which naturally meant that Veronica had to die. 🔍 Besides, fans famously love it when you pull a gay ship out of thin air between your two main characters, and then kill one of them off so that the other suffers more.
One last one, because I find it especially goofy: a scrappy teddy bear named Suffer, given to Emily by the talking rats, was replaced with...a Very Large Spoon, which gets its very own number in the musical. 🎵 The rationale was that Emily could use the spoon as a weapon in the climactic uprising against the Asylum doctors. Which, fair enough... except that, prior to being a cute and anachronistic 🔍 MacGuffin in the fictional Asylum story, Suffer the Bear had been a beloved mascot🪞 from the early Opheliac live shows. Some still remembered when EA had raised HELL, even starting a #FREESUFFER campaign on Twitter, because she thought someone had stolen Suffer from the stage (it later turned out that he had been misplaced in a flight case). All that noise back in the day... and now Suffer didn't matter anymore? The nerve. “She made shirts and everything!” 🐀
All this to say, reception was lukewarm. EA hadn't performed live since 2014 and the Devil's Carnival sequel had failed to make a splash (despite decent reviews, the franchise and main collaboration fell apart before the end of the promotional tour 🔍). People were checking out. There was only one way to correct this. A true paradigm shift. A fresh start – a new theme?
Hell no. It's another edition of The Asylum for Revisionist Tortureporn Friendfictions!

ROUND 4: THE E-BOOK & THE QUEST FOR THE SPOON OF ROYALS

In 2017, about a year after the audiobook release, EA self-published a digital version of TAFWVG through Amazon. The literary agent hadn't worked out in the end: publishers were put off by how dark the book was, even after the audiobook edits. EA explained that she hadn't been comfortable with some of the alterations in the first place; she respected the agent's input and had tried to give it an honest shot, but in the end, she wanted to do it the way she wanted to do it, solo... and this was it.
EA had reverted a number of the audiobook cuts (including swear words, mentions of abortion, and the narrator's age), but kept most of the changes to the Asylum narrative – namely, the omission of Former Friends Characters, and the romance between Emily and Veronica. In the newsletter announcement, she mentions being in the process of “re-recording the few little bits of the audiobook to reflect the current text version”. Not sure where we're at on that front; it's never been brought up again, and I don't think anyone's checked. (I assume most fans had war flashbacks when they read the word “re-record”, and instantly repressed that part of the communiqué.)
The “Drug / Suicide / Cutting” diaries were still omitted in the first release of the e-book, but re-included as a coda soon after, by popular demand, under the title “Evidence of Insanity” – with fantastical “doctor's annotations” like“W14A seems to have disassociated her own identity, episodic, each lasting for a longer period of time. We suspect she will continue further in this – stronger medication is needed, schedule electroconvulsive therapy.”
A physical paperback edition was released a few months later; in anticipation of this, the e-book was a stripped-down, text-centric version of the story. (Honestly not a bad call, because the digital version from 2012 was a scanned, non-searchable, 1.3GB PDF behemoth – not super Kindle-friendly!) No elaborate backgrounds and color photographs in this edition, but the pages were still illustrated with inserts of rats, keys, teacups, and... hold on... ciphers??🪞
As always in the Asylum, history doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes. In a throwback to the prelapsarian days of the Enchant Puzzle (remember? the one that no one ever managed to solve?), the e-book illustrations contained puzzles, which formed the master-key to... a scavenger hunt! And in keeping with tradition, the grand prize was an extravagant adornment hand-crafted by EA: the “Spoon of Royals”.🪞📝 Oh my!
Some of the puzzles are simple anagrams that can be solved for keywords. A clickable word within the adjacent text takes you to a password-protected link, which takes you through to an audio file – a song or an atmospheric instrumental that goes with that moment of the story. There are also more complex ciphers that decode into riddles. Each key depicted in the book has a number or letter engraved on it. The total number of rats in the book is apparently significant. One link takes you through to a blank page whose source code contains a list of coordinates from various bridges around the world.
Oh, it was a whole thing. When the book came out, you could send a picture of you doing EA's signature “rat claw” hand sign🪞 to request admission to a private Facebook group (the “Striped Stocking Society”) where people could help each other solve the clues and EA would occasionally pop in for a chat. There was also a series of mysterious newsletters in early 2018, culminating in a Los Angeles event where EA showed up in person to pass on extra puzzle-solving material to a handful of lucky fans (although said material raised more questions that it answered 📝).
Overall, it was a great idea! Although the fanbase was generally smaller and less active after four years without a new tour or album (and a fair amount of other drama, which we have yet to get into), the e-book puzzle did pique people's interest in purchasing yet another version of the same story.
Unfortunately, once again, EA overestimated either how intuitive her fans were, or how invested they would remain. After months of collaborative efforts across multiple platforms, a number of puzzles had been cracked 🔍, but it was still unclear how the individual anagrams and numbers and riddle-solutions all fit together as scavenger hunt clues.
EA kept up the hype for a while, but the few hints that she gave on social media only revealed yet more encryption factors without really helping fans connect the dots. One cipher remained unsolved on Instagram for days and days before EA caved in and hinted at which key to use. She did helpfully specify that if you didn't know how to read music, you'd better start learning. (...Was this a fun puzzle, or a prep school admission test?) The in-person LA event had also sown some confusion as to the rules and constraints of the game: would winning involve traveling to a physical location? That didn't seem very fair. EA had mentioned physically burying some items – but could you solve the puzzle from a distance? Is the Spoon of Royals literally just buried under the Shakespeare Bridge in Los Angeles, California?? 🐀
I'm just saying: if this had come up in 2008? People in corsets and platform boots would have been out there digging.
But this was 2018. As we've mentioned, the core of EA's active fanbase (a lot of whom had been teens and young adults when she was touring Opheliac) was fast aging out of the years when most folks have the spare time, dedication, or desire to essentially do super-involved homework out of love for their favorite singer. Uncovering new songs was a fun perk the first year – but after the new album came out in 2018, none of the passwords led to exclusive material anymore. It felt a bit lacklustre for something so labor-intensive.
(The new music itself wasn't a rallying point either. Behind the Musical was, quite literally, an intended vocal guide for the Asylum musical – so, basically a collection of demos. The sound was VERY Broadway Revival, somewhat Phantomish 🎵, in a way that's either good or bad depending on who's saying it. The violins, to fans' chagrin, sounded all-MIDI; no sign of actual instrumental recordings. EA sang all the parts herself, as she had on her previous album. I'm not saying there's no merit in a one-woman Andrew Lloyd Weber tribute. Many old fans enjoyed the new material well enough, some even really liked it – but most agreed that it just didn't hit like her earlier stuff used to, and that it felt rather unfinished.)
Unlike with the Enchant Puzzle, the prize itself was not much of an intrinsic motivation. While the Faerie Queen's Wings were a straightforward concept that evoked EA's own signature stage costumes, the Spoon of Royals was... a large spoon attached to a necklace, community-college-art-teacher style. It looked impractical both as a spoon and as a necklace, and more importantly, I'm not sure how many readers felt a deep emotional connection to the spoon in the story. The spoon that had usurped Suffer the Bear, no less!
In short: people gave up on the game because it was too hard, it came too late, and they had other things to do.
Thus, the Spoon of Royals remains unclaimed to this day, and I doubt I'll see anyone crack the puzzle in this lifetime. The Striped Stocking Society FB group was terminated in 2020, around the same time a bunch of fansites folded and EA closed her Instagram comments for the first time. By that point, both EA and her fans had bigger rats to skewer – but we have a ways to go before we reach that part of the story.
I would encourage you to give the puzzle a shot for the hell of it (in case you're a cryptography nerd and currently under house arrest or in a full-body cast) but... I just tried a bunch of the links, and the passwords don't work anymore. So I guess that's that. To quote old Bill by way of conclusion: “Much ado about nothing”.

ROUND TOO-MANY: I'LL SEE YOU ON BROADWAY OR I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL

So, what now? Well, not much.
By the late 2010s, what kept many fans semi-invested – if nothing else, because it clearly meant so much to EA herself – was the prospect of an upcoming stage musical adaptation. The way EA talked about it 📺, it was very much a “when”, not an “if”. Sure, ten years on, we were still collectively stuck in the Asylum, but it would at least be a new format – and a return to EA's main field of expertise, ie songwriting and performing. Not only did the core fanbase long for new music and new shows, but Fight Like a Girl and Behind the Musical had brought in small influxes of new fans who were very eager for any chance to see her live. So whether it was out of genuine enthusiasm for the project, or out of “let EA have her musical so we can maybe finally move on”, the fanbase was overall supportive.
Even though people still joked about the 2012 announcement of a “2014 West End debut” (seriously, what was she thinking?), EA had really buckled down in the intervening years, and it looked like the project was plausibly well underway. As in, we had more than just EA's word to go on: the involvement of other people, who did not reside in the Asylum, seemed to confirm that the musical was a thing.

[CONTINUED IN COMMENTS because Reddit is being ridiculous about the character count. I swear I was under 40,000!]

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18 Years Ago
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“Joshua! It’s Time!” Emmy called from her sitting room at the Jade Temple.
Joshua Stormborn stopped in his tracks, hand held poised to deliver a strike against Shamriel in the practice yard. “My appologies, Ladies. Duty calls.” He said to Shamriel, Karhma, Verdanta, and Clover.
The Five of them immediately rushed off to Emmy’s side. The younger students were already preparing the room, and Emmy lay half reclined on a mass of cushions on the main mat, concentrating on her breathing. She was holding her VERY pregnant belly, and wincing in pain.
“Are you sure you wish to be present, Two Chains?” She asked her brother-in-law. “This will not be pretty.”
Joshua swallowed hard, and nodded. “I was strong enough to put her in that position, it’s the least I can do to be with her through it.” He said.
“Good boy.” Karhma said with a wink. “Maybe he wasn’t a mistake after all.” She said to Emmy with a grin.
“Not now, Karhma…” Emmy said between breaths. “He’s just fine the way he is.”
Verdanta covered her lap with a blanket, and helped remove her clothes. “It’s time to push.” She said when she was done. She drew her knife, and wrapped a leather strap around the blade, and placed it in Emmy’s mouth. “Bite down.”
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“Thank you Kompa, Seamus, Seph.. For coming.” Hibiki said, glancing back at the small building, a whisp of smoke rising from the small chimney. “She will start soon, and when she does, many things may seek to take advantage of the situation. I will need you to watch the area, and stop any who approach. With predjudice. They will be looking to kill, so don’t hesitate.”
Seamus smiled, “Don’t worry, We’ll handle it.” Seph nodded silently.
Kompa looked out over the fields with a look of excitement. “Today, we will test our strength.” he said with still boyish enthusiasm.
“Don’t get cocky.” Another voice said from the roof of the small shed. The hunter perched on top of the roof and looked out over the fields. “Pandora is not a place to expect victory. It’s a place to comtemplate survival.”
“You made it!” Hibiki said excitedly.
“Of course I made it.” Hunter said. “You think I would miss the birth of your first child?”
“Hibiki! It’s coming!” Lenore called from her mat in the small building.
“Watch over us, my friends.” Hibiki said with a smile, before dissapearing into the hut.
“I shall watch at the gate!” Kompa said, pausing a bit as he remembered to put on his mask.
“I will watch the rear.” Seph noted, and simply strode to the rear of the building.
Seamus looked up at the Hunter. “I assume you will act as overwatch?”
Hunter nodded. “You will guard the house. Do not allow any to slip past your watch.”
“Oh.. Don’t worry, it will be difficult for anyone to bypass my watchfulness.” Seamus said with a grin, as he took his true form. A second later, a massive dragon was curled completely around the small building.
The Hunter watched. “Perhaps when the Child is old enough to walk and hold a sword, you and I can discuss a contest?” He suggested to Seamus. “I have quite a bit of gold stashed away, that I may wager with you.”
“Interesting…” Seamus said, “I’ll think about it, we can discuss it more later.”
**************************************************************************
“Twins!” Joshua exclaimed as Verdanta carefully placed them into his arms. “I suppose I should have known, They do run in my family.” He said with a grin, giving a look to his twin sister Riverra who sat across the room.
“Very big twins.” Shamriel noted. “Aristi’s tend to be a bit on the smaller side. I’ve noticed the same trait in the Stormborns.”
“Usually, yes.” Riverra noted. “However, a few generations back, we did have some goliath blood in the family. It pops up from time to time.”
“I’m more interested in the fact that there is a Boy!” Clover said with some excitement. “One of each!” She squealed in delight.
“Is that strange?” Joshua asked with some confusion.
“A bit,” Verdanta noted. “The Aristi’s are usually women. Been that way for a long, long time. Not sure why, but Male Aristi’s are rather rare.. Only one or two in a generation.”
“Huh.. Never realized that.” Joshua said.
“Of course you didn’t.” Riverra sniped from the side of the room.
“What do you mean by that?” Joshua demanded, He attempted to stand while holding the two large babies, he nearly fell over before Shamriel and Karhma took the babies from him.
“Calm down you two. Now is not the time.” Shamriel scolded them.
“Sorry.” Riverra said with a small smile. “Old habits, you know? Any thought about names, Emmy?” Riverra asked Emmy, who was quietly recovering on the Mat.
“Of course.” She said, still catching her breath. “The boy is Chance.. and the Girl? Fortune.”
*********************************************************************************
“They are smaller than I expected.” Kompa remarked, eying the two children in Hibiki’s arms.
“Well, Hibiki is a bit small for a Pandoran.” The Hunter said. “Lenore is also very tiny.” he noted.
Seph looked from Kompa, to the Hunter, and back to the absolutly gigantic babies in Hibiki’s arms. It was obvious that they did not know anything about newborns.
“Has Lenore named them yet?” Hunter asked Hibiki.
Hibiki nodded. “Yes.. This is Echo, My son. And this is Irezumi, My daughter.” Hibiki said, showing the babies off. “Quick, Help me wash them with Salt and Sake.” Hibiki said, using his foot to push a small wash bucket across the ground.
“Give me a moment to clean it up some, Hibiki.” Kompa said.
*********************************************************************************
Five Years Later.
*********************************************************************************
“They are naturals.”Jade said. Sitting on the raised Dais of the Mat, overwatching the students train. “They have already far surpased everyone in their age group. They have even begun to challenge the older students. I’ve spoken of them to Father, he assures me that he is not meddling. He’s not so sure about uncle Karhma, however.”
“Should we be worried?” Joshua asked, with a concerned glance to Emmy.
“You want to worry about a pair of Aristi siblings that show talent for fighting?” Emmy asked her husband. “Might as well be worried about a Skyweaver that shows a Talent for Magic.” She said.
“Have you met Vessarian Skyweaver?” Joshua said with a shudder. “It’s almost creepy.”
*********************************************************************************
“Echo! Irezumi!” Hibiki called, and his two children appeared. “It’s nearly time. Hunter will handle guard duty. I need you two to watch your siblings. Stay with them in the room, don’t let anyone but me in or out. If it comes to it, fight with everything you have. Understood?”
“Yes father.” Irezumi said, drawing her sword. Echo followed her lead with a slight nod to his father as he drew his blade.
“Excellent.” Hibiki said. He gather the two in for a big hug. “Stay vigilant. You must help me protect the family.”
“We will, Father.” Echo said.
*********************************************************************************
Ten Years Later.
*********************************************************************************
“It’s.. It’s.. It’s just n-not faaaaiiiirrrrr!” Fortune wailed as she sat with her brother on a bench in the practice yard. She buried her face in his shoulder as she cried, wiping tears and snot on his practice uniform.
“I know.” He said, awkwardly patting her should. “It’s not fair at all.”
“What’s the problem?” Clover asked. She approached the pair, followed closely by Cupid.
“Boys are stupid, Aunt Clover.” Fortune said bitterly.
“Gee, Thanks.” Chance replied.
“Do I need to break a shin, or a collerbone?” Clover asked. “Did someone touch you? Who was it?!?” She drew her sword and turned around, eyeing every man in the dojo dangerously.
“No!” Fortune said. “Put your sword away, Aunt Clover. It’s just that.. The boys are always looking at the Arachnae girls, with their smooth dark skin and perfect white hair. Or, Lauriel Windsong, with her perfect voice.. and perfect b-.. er.. face. They don’t look at me that way. They are scared of me. They prefer to pine after literally anyone else. They even follow after that Colbert girl. The one that wears the red ribbons all the time. I mean, she only ever wears armor, and the boys are all like.. Uwu, I want to unbuckle her pauldron… Disgusting.” She began to wail again.
Clover looked around for Emmy.. She was glad that she never had to deal with this.
Cupid placed a hand on Clover’s shoulder. “I got this.” He said, and sat down on the other side of her.
“Don’t worry, Fortune.” He said. “You are correct. Boys are stupid.”
“Hey!” Chance said. “I’m sitting right here.”
“But, They do get smarter as they get older.” Cupid said. “It just takes a bit longer. This may be a bit hard to hear. But because of your size and strength, many of them look at you as a threat or rival, instead of a potential partner.”
“But I don’t want them to look at me that way.” Fortune said, still wailing into her brothers shoulder.
Cupid smiled. “I know, don’t worry though.. You’ll find someone that is worthy of you, just make sure you are the best ‘you’ that you can be. So you can be worthy of them.”
Fortune stopped crying and looked at Cupid with a confused face.. “What?”
“I mean, don’t pretend to be someone you are not.” Cupid said. “You want people to see YOU right? You want someone to love all of you. Not just the 6 feet of perfectly muscled meat that you and your brother are.. but also, the kind heart, and the vengful spirit… and the warrior that just crushed a marble column with her bare fist, because she was upset that a boy didn’t ask her to Bernard’s dance this weekend. I know you don’t want to.. but you just have to wait until the right person presents themselves.”
“But.. What if I miss them?” Fortune said. “What if I never know they like me?”
Cupid laughed.. “You’re an Aristi.. that sort of bad luck doesn’t happen to you.” he said. “besides, You’ll know when you meet them.”
“How?” Fortune demanded.
“When you see them.” Cupid said. “Your heart will sing. And when you hear the music, you’ll know that this person is your destiny.”
Fortune’s eyes narrowed. “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” She said, and returned to wailing into her brother’s shoulder.
***********************************************************************************
“So, What happened to that boy the other day? When we were down at the market?” Echo asked his sister, as the two of them walked down the path to the Market field, a few miles from the farm. They both had humongous packs on, carrying all sorts of goods that they have for sale.
“The cute one that asked me to walk with him around the bazaar?” Irezumi asked.
“Yeah.. I saw you go off with him.. Just wondering how it went?” Echo said.
“Oh.. I stabbed him in the face.” Irezumi said with a shrug. “He wouldn’t shut up about how strong he was.”
Echo nodded. “Cool.. did you tell Father? I mean, just so we can be ready to defend against the parents.”
Irezumi gave him a confused look, then understood.. “No no.. I didn’t kill him. I mean, He IS cute. I just adjusted his attitude a bit.. And his vision.. He’ll be wearing an eyepatch from now on. At least, I hope he will.”
“You are such a flirt.” Echo said, dancing out of reach as his sister swiped at him with her knife.
“Have you talked to Father about your ‘Idea’.” Irezumi asked her brother.
“Not yet.” Echo said. “It’s not the right time yet. Kariudo and Kai may be mature enough to deal with things.. but Obake and Rei? I can’t leave our sisters to try and deal with those two hooligans without us. We’ll wait for a couple more years.”
“You sure you still want to do it?” Irezumi asked. “I mean, we may be good at selling at the market, but being a merchant? Are you sure we’re up to it?”
“Look.. Father always knew that he was a rice farmer.” Echo said. “I know, that I am a merchant. You are welcome to come with, but if you’re not a Merchant, you’re not going to be very happy.”
“I can work as a merchant, and merchant’s guard until I find what I really want to do with my life.” She said. “Besides.. I don’t know that I will like life without my brother. So, I’ll stick around with you for a while longer, until I’m ready to go my own way.”
“Thank you.” Echo said. “Come on, lets speed up a bit. Get some excersize in, and then set up early. Maybe we can shop for a nice eyepatch for your boyfriend.” He laughed and began running.
**************************************************************************
Present Day
**************************************************************************
“Night guard? Seriously Mom?” Fortune complained to Emmy, as she flexed in the mirror, admiring the definition of her muscles.
“You are a member of the Jade Dragons.” Emmy said. “You have a duty to protect the Jade Quarter, as well as the city of Qadar. Like I said, your aunts noticed some rough and tumble type strangers entering the city today. Until we learn their business, you and your brother will watch that Torii gate entrance at the square. Make sure no one that is not a resident of the Jade Quarter enters until dawn.”
Fortune made a face at her mother in the mirror. “Who would be stupid enough to try to cause trouble here of all places?”
“Someone that isn’t from the headlands.” Emmy said. “Someone that isn’t aware that we have the means and ability to protect ourselves.. and don’t make faces at me when you think I’m not looking.”
“Sorry..” Fortune said half-heartedly. “So, what do we know about these ‘strangers’?”
“Verdanta and Jade counted 35-40 of them.” Emmy said. “Heavily armed with swords, clubs, etc. Lots of hide armor. Kinda get the feeling that they’re from the Hands, maybe somewhere in the Heartlands. But, they mentioned that they’re eyeing people out in the square, and watching the Vangaurd closely. Verdanta gets the feeling that they mean trouble, and I’ve learned to trust her feelings. Look, just be vigilant. Don’t spend all night with your head in the clouds.”
“Yes mother.” Fortune said.
“In this case.” Emmy reminded her. “It’s, ‘yes Master’.” she said archely.
“Yes, Master.” Fortune said. “May we be excused?”
“Yes. Be sure to rest, you have a long night tonight.” She said.
“We will, Master Mommy.” Chance said with a smile as he followed his sister from the room.
***************************************************************************
“Simply sign here, and here.” Vessarian said, pointing to lines on a sheet of paper in front of Echo. They sat at a large table, across from Lord Speaker Quorin Astarte, and Mother Tiressa Arachnae.
Echo picked up the quill and neatly scrawled his name on the paper.
“Excellent.” Tiressa said. “Now, for the keys?” She looked at Quorin.
Quorin began making guestures to Vessarian. Vess took a breath preparing to translate to the rest of the room.
“No need, Lady Vessarian. I can hear him.” Echo said. “Yes, Lord Quorin, I understand, I have no intention of making any sort of additions or changes to the building without notifying you personally. Lady Arachnae took us on a tour of the location already, and I find it acceptable as is. In fact, it’s far better than we were expecting.” He said, glancing at his sister by his side.
Quorin looked at him, and smiled slightly.
“Yes sir, My mother and father have given their blessing on this venture.” Echo said. “Assuming that it’s acceptable for us to gate link with them in Pandora, that is.”
Quorin’s eyes looked a bit wild.
“No no, sir. Only those things with permission from my Mother may pass through either side. You won’t have to worry about an invasion of Face eaters or Sabertooth Spiders. At least until Sakusei and Sugure come visit. And even then, They are well trained.” Echo assured the Speaker.
Quorin smiled and stood, he held a key out with one hand, and extended his hand to shake Echo’s.
“I look forward to it too.” Echo said, shaking his hand. “Will you all join me in a drink?” he asked, and began pouring cups of Sake, and passing them out to everyone in the room.
******************************************************************************
Echo placed his mask on his face, making sure the open mouth did not block his lips, as He and Irezumi walked out into the night air of Qadar.
“I make it a bit after Midnight.” Irezumi noted as she looked at the sky.
Echo nodded. “They mentioned that our supplies will be delivered to the shop tomorrow. I say, we head to this ‘The Inn’ they mentioned and see if we can get some food, before we turn in for the night.”
“Food would be good. I’m starving.” Irezumi said, adjusting her mask as well.
The Two began heading to the square.
“You know, you could have worn more clothes.” Echo said to his sister. She was wearing shorts, and a simple bikini top, under an open net shirt, leaving very little to the imagination. “I mean, aren’t you cold?”
“Asks the man that refuses to wear a shirt.” Irezumi said, noting the tattoos that she could see from where his cloak flowed open.
“I know,” Echo said. “It’s colder here than home. That’s why I mentioned. You’re wearing even less than me.”
“Comfort takes a back seat to movement.” Irezumi said. “Dad would be so made to hear you tell me how to dress.”
“Dad isn’t here.” Echo said, stopping cold, just as they entered the square. “But, I kinda wish he were.” He pointed to the center of the square.
A group of thirty or fourty men, heavily armed, and very rowdy looking milled about. They were talking with a pair of large, heavily muscled people at a green Torii gate.
“What is it?” Irezumi asked. “I can’t hear them.”
“You will soon.” Echo said. “They are demanding entrance into that gate, It is a place called the Jade Quarter. The two people in green silk seem to be guarding it. They’ve turned them away. The group isn’t taking that kindly. What do the spirits say?”
“This place is filled with Spirits, Mostly benign..” Irezumi said. “Though, they tell me that danger is present.”
Echo loosened his sword in it’s scabbard, he began stretching. “Well, looks like we have an opportunity to protect our new home.”
Irezumi smiled, and slipped into the shadows of a nearby building. “Death from above?”
Echo nodded, and poured a small puddle of Sake near where Irezumi was hiding. He then shrugged his cloak from his shoulders and began casually walking toward the group of people.
*********************************************************************
“I don’t think you understand, Missy.” The ‘leader’ of this group of rag tag bandits was saying to Fortune. “I’m not askin’. I’m telling.. Stand aside, and let us in, or things are going to get ugly.”
“Looks like they already are.” Fortune retorted. She and Chance subtly readied themselves for a fight.
“Hold up now!” came a voice from behind the group in a strange accent. Fortune and Chance looked over the group to see a man in a mask walking towards the group. He stopped about twenty feet away from them. “It’s a bit late for an argument, and far to late for a fight. What’s the problem here.”
“Don’t interfere.” Fortune said to the new comer. “Best to get inside, before it get’s dangerous.”
“That’s a good Idea, stranger.” The gruff voice of the leader of the bandits said. “First though, why don’t you give us your money, and whatever you got in that jug on your hip.”
“This?” Echo said, He untied the cord that held the large jug on his sash. “If your interested in a drink, I’m sure I can oblige.” He pulled off the lid and took a long drink.
“Just toss it here, outlander.” The leader said.
Echo nodded, and with a quick motion, threw the jug high into the air, over the heads of the group. As it reached the Apex of it’s flight, he quickly drew his pistol, and fired a single shot into the jug. It suddenly exploded, in a giant fireball. From the flaming droplets, Irezume suddenly apearred, and fell into the group, along with the hot, flaming sake. Echo drew his sword and charged into the fray.
Fortune and Chance were simply stunned as they watched the brutal fight. She watched the masked strangers simply overwhelm the bandits. The man seemed to be everywhere at once, and the woman was death incarnate. She felt her heart skip a beat when the man literally pulled one of the bandit’s arms from his body, and then jammed it’s hand in another bandit’s mouth, as the woman’s Kama removed the head. The man then turned to an attacker behind him, He half drew his sword, sparks flying from the blade igniting sake he had held in his mouth. He breathed fire on this man as if he were a dragon.
Fortune could hear a song as she watched the fight.
https://youtu.be/oBwtUigJcQQ
It didn’t last long. The two strangers systematically butchered the bandits in a few minutes, leaving only the leader, gravely wounded, kneeling in front of Fortune.
“Sorry for the disturbance.” The man said to her, with a bow. “We leave in peace.”
The woman stepped up to Chance, whose jaw hung open as he watched her. “You’ll catch flies like that.” She said, and closed his mouth with a finger, and she winked at him as the two simply vanished in the night.
**********************************************************************************
“FATHER!!!” Fortune yelled as soon as she entered the door when they were done with watch.
“We’re in the Dojo.” Joshua’s voice came from deeper in the house. The twins jogged to the Dojo, scrambling to remove their shoes as they entered.
“We want to get married!” Fortune said, Joshua, Emmy and her sisters stopped their practice and simply stared.
“What?” Emmy asked incredulously.
**********************************************************************************
Echo hung the sign out front. Nezumi Spirits: Supplies for your Magical Needs. He nodded, and walked back inside, as he and his sister continued unpacking their boxes.
“Inks behind the counter, with the gemstones. Herbs and incence in the bins in the main room.” Echo directed the few people that Tiressa had sent to help. “Irezumi, How goes the gate?”
“Umm, Not sure.” Irezumi said from the back room. “There’s a strange wall in here.”
“Ok.. I’ll come look.” Echo said, and entered the back room. Irezumi was looking at a strange wall, made of ancient red/gold bricks.
“Mother’s ink doesn’t seem to stick to it.” Irezumi said.
“Hmm..” Echo said, looking around. “Put it on that wall, it looks like plaster.” he pointed to a different wall.
She walked over with her brush and ink, and began to draw. “Much better, thank you.” she said.
“No worries.” He said, and leaned against the bricks. He felt a strange shifting as the brick he leaned against sunk into the wall. A loud mechanical “Click” issued from the wall, and a door sized hole suddenly swung open, showing a dark staircase leading down. “uh oh.”
“Uh oh?” Irezumi asked as she concentrated on her spell work.
“I think I just voided our lease.” Echo said, looking into the dark staircase.
“Geebus Echo.” Irezumi said. “We haven’t even been here a day. Maybe we should have sent Rei and Obeke here instead of you. It would have taken them longer to destroy our store.”
“What do you think is down there?” Echo asked.
“We can explore later.” Irezumi said. “We have to get this place set up first.”
**********************************************************************************
“He was amazing. He even breathed fire like a Dragon!” Fortune said for the 30th time. Emmy rolled her eyes.
She grabbed her father’s hand. “Please dad, You have to get us an introduction!”
Joshua winced as she squeesed his hand. “Fortune, I know you’re excited. But, I don’t even know where to start. I haven’t heard anything about this.”
Fortune’s eyes began to well up with tears.
“Save your tears, Fortune.” Emmy said, done with her daughter’s drama. She turned to the rest of the room, “Cupid, this is more your area of expertise. What should our young Aristi’s do?”
Cupid gave a smile. “Oh.. You guys should learn Magic.”
Both Fortune and Chance looked up at him. “What?” they asked in unison. “We’re Aristi’s. We don’t do magic.”
“You’re also Stormborn’s.” Cupid noted, “And Riverra is very very conversent with Magic. Also, incase you’ve forgotten family history.. Your Grandmother was a Skyweaver, and the Archmage of Qadar. Trust me, you’ve got the lineage for it. Maybe it’s time for you to flex your brain’s for a change, instead of just your arms.”
“And this will help us meet these strangers?” Fortune asked.
“I dunno.. Can’t hurt though.” Cupid said. He pulled out a small note pad, and scribbled something on it. “Here, I heard this place is good for picking up some magicy type stuff. Why don’t you think it over for a few days, and go there, buy some beginners stuff, and see where it takes you. I mean, at the very least, you could learn to cast ‘Locate Person’ to find this man you’re looking for.” He handed the scrap of paper to Fortune.
She snatched it from his hand and read it. “What’s a Nezumi?” She asked.

In the remote village of Ashwat, Ajna was raised by her father Indr and trained extensively in martial arts. When agents of Lord Ravannavar torch Ashwat and murder Ajna’s father in front of her, she unlocks the strange power of absorbing other people into her own being. After seeking revenge against Ravannavar, Ajna uncovers the truth about her upbringing: she’s actually a piece of Kala, the malevolent deity that resets the universe every eon, and she’s fated to rejoin Kala’s being and usher in the end of all things. Ever the rebel, Ajna seeks to combat Kala instead. To get there, she must join strength with other spiritually strong individuals and learn the virtues of patience and forgiveness.

Ajna

Physicals

Strength

• Breaks out of Angwu’s magic restraints
• She leaps up and decapitates Lord Ravannavar’s human form
• Can chop down wooden obstacles
• Smashes a thick, metal grate
• Can destroy stone walls
• After being sucked into Kala’s massive mouth, Ajna breaks free

Other Physicals

• Takes a long fall into a nightclub unharmed
• [Limit] KOed by a body slam from a big monster
• Dodges a sword slash from Dhar

Exploration Abilities

Movement-Based
General

• Can dash along the ground
• Can wall-jump
• Can slide underneath obstacles
• Can slide, then vault her body into the air to move through narrow gaps or kick enemies
• Can dash forward in the air. She later upgrades the ability, allowing her to air dash in eight cardinal directions.

Equipment-Dependent

• Can use her axe to aid in climbing, chopping into walls to act as a handhold
• Ajna tosses the spear forward
• Using the spear, Ajna can pole vault over obstacles
• While airborne, Ajna can hold the spear point-down and bounce along obstacles or enemies
• Ajna punctures the ceiling with her spear, then jumps off to travel horizontally
• Can swing a sickle on a chain in wide arcs over her head

Archery
General

• Upon finding Zebei’s bow, Ajna can use the weapon to fire arrows. Despite Ajna using the weapon in exploration and combat, Zebei also carries the bow at the same time.
• Arrows disable large, mechanical enemies called Haathi
• Explosive arrows destroy cracked stone walls
• Arrows are heavily effected by sources of wind

Magic Arrows

• By enchanting an arrow with iddhi, Ajna can cover hazards like spikes and electric walls in protective flowers
• Charges an arrow with Nuna’s power, allowing Ajna to restrain enemies in vines. While restrained, Ajna can use the enemy as terrain to stand on or jump off of.
• After tangling an enemy in vines, Ajna can teleport to their position and strike them

Counters

• Can block, then counter strikes with a heavy punch of her own, starting the battle
• Can block, then counter with a strong throw to the ground
• While midair, Ajna can block and counter with a spinning throw to the ground

Heruka Transformation-Based
Heruka Form Maha Heruka Form Tara Heruka Form
Heruka Hustle

• Can run against a sandstorm that was previously pushing her back
• Used to ram through obstacles, like large rocks
• Later upgrades the ability to maintain her momentum after wall-jumping

Movement

• Ajna moves upwards while holding a blade, smashing through obstacles or damaging enemies
• Can move horizontally while holding a blade outwards, smashing through obstacles or damaging enemies
• While in the air, Ajna draws a huge axe and slams it into the ground, smashing obstacles or enemies
  • Smashes a large, metal ball
• Ajna can fire herself in any direction to cross distances. This move can be used unlimited times in the air, although it will expend iddhi or health when used.

Other

• Ajna can transform into her Heruka form at will, useful for intimidating others
• She projects a massive hand to smack enemies, breaking guards and dealing damage. This move consumes some iddhi upon use.

Combat Moveset

Moves

• Ajna’s primary attacks cycle through her various weapons, including:
  • Her bare hands
  • Her axe
  • Her spear
  • Her chain-sickle
• She can swing her axe into enemies as an uppercut, launching them into the air
• She can shoot arrows that puncture into enemies
• She can make two heavy strikes with her axe
• She can remotely detonate arrows with a quick chant

Supers

• She delivers a quick melee combo before ending it with a heavy swing of the axe
• She changes into her Heruka form and delivers a dropkick to one enemy
• She changes into her Heruka form before unleashing a wide, damaging beam of magic
• After transforming into her Maha Heruka form, she dives at a single enemy and tackles them
• She transforms into her Tara Heruka form and meditates before damaging all enemies on the field

Inner Realm

Entering

• Mid-battle, Dhar is brought into Ajna’s Inner Realm against both of their wishes
• Right after agreeing to join Ajna, Razmi is brought into the Inner Realm
• One party member just invites himself into Ajna’s mind
• Dhar’s leader Ravannavar is somehow able to push Dhar back into Ajna’s Inner Realm after snapping his fingers
• Kala manipulates time, sending Ajna and her allies back several minutes to the beginning of the boss fight. The next time, Ajna counters this by escaping into her Inner Realm.

Exiting

• Ajna stores her weapons within her Inner Realm. When she’s imprisoned, she’s able to produce her axe to escape her cell.
• While gameplay has Ajna group up with three of her allies at a time, cutscenes show that she can draw out all party members at once
• In co-op mode, Ajna’s incarnations can move and attack independently from Ajna. When they are defeated, they’re sent back to her Inner Realm.
• After her Heruka transformation and the fall from Mount Sumeru, Ajna spent three days sleeping. Her allies were trapped within the Inner Realm, unable to leave Ajna’s mind.
• While Ajna was unconscious for a week, many of the incarnations were free to leave the Inner Realm and travel the island continent

Other

• People are able to hold conversations with people inside Ajna’s Inner Realm
• Those within the Inner Realm can’t harm each other
• While her Inner Realm starts off as a single island, as she takes in more individuals, it grows to a number of islands with man-made structures, houses, cooking pots and bookshelves
• All of the Ajna’s allies have extraordinary amounts of iddhi, the spiritual source of magic in the world. Ajna’s strength augments her allies’ strength, and vice versa.
• The temperature and soil inside the Inner Realm is especially conducive to plant growth, and Ginseng uses it to cultivate a frozen specimen of fungus back to life. The resulting medicine is more effective than normal since it’s infused with Ajna’s iddhi, and it quickly cures Ginseng’s parents of a rare virus.

Relationship with Kala

• Ajna is, in fact, not a human, but a piece of the world-shaping deity, Kala
• After being restrained by Ravannavar, Ajna breaks free by transforming into a monstrous Heruka for the first time. This wakes up Kala, which creates a shockwave that eradicates Ravannavar and can be seen by people across the island continent. It also throws Ajna from Mount Sumeru’s summit and causes her to land in a desert.
  • Angwu claims that the shockwave was felt around the world
• When facing Kala, Ajna undergoes a transformation into a giant, three-headed monster. This form blasts beams of energy from its mouth, causing catastrophic damage to the landscape and disintegrating Dhar.
• In the end, Ajna joins with Kala once more and they choose not to reset the universe but reincarnate as a new being. The pair destroy Kala’s space station and disappear. After the credits roll, this new being is shown with features from both Ajna and Kala.

Miscellaneous

• When she’s trapped within a machine, Ajna blasts energy outwards to free herself
• She can expend a full Iddhi Meter to revive fallen allies and heal the party

Incarnations

The group of individuals residing in Ajna's Inner Realm during her journey. There are 20 combatants to call forth at any given time.

Shared Feats

Blocking

• Can block to minimize damage taken. Blocking right before an attack lands will heal Ajna rather than damage her, a technique called a Clean Block. Ajna later blocks attacks with her axe.
  • This defensive technique extends to all incarnations, as well
• Can block arrows
• Can block bullets
• Blocks automatic gunfire
• Can block elemental attacks, like flames and beams of energy

Combat Mechanics

• Can break enemy guards by alternating between high and low strikes
• Characters can break grab attacks

Dhar

An earth-manipulating swordsman and proud lieutenant to Lord Ravannavar. After killing Ajna's father and being trapped inside her Inner Realm, Dhar slowly comes to see the error in his ways. He sacrifices his life in an attempt to calm down a furious Ajna.
Feats

• Smashes Ravannavar’s instrument
• Creates two spiky barriers of earth

Moves

• He slashes forward with his sword. If he has earth charges, he causes rectangular ridges to appear from the ground to strike the enemy.
• Dhar jumps up and slashes downwards in a wide arc. If he has earth charges, he forms spiky rocks over his blade during the swing.
• Dhar stores an earth charge, represented by the rocks floating behind his back. He can have up to twelve active at a time.
• Blocks attacks with a slab of earth

Supers

• He plunges his sword into the ground, coats it in a massive pole of earth and slams it on enemies. Each level increases the damage of the attack.

Razmi

A witch who's been banished from her home town due to her knowledge of dark magics. She fights with a lantern that contains the soul of a demon and her pet tiger Bom.
Feats

• Takes a long fall into a nightclub unharmed

Moves

• Tiger claws made of flames slash at enemies
• Tigers made of flames batter enemies and launch them upwards
• Razmi glares at the enemy with a dirty look. This slows the enemy’s recharge rate, meaning they’ll take longer to attack, drefend or take any other action in combat.
• Blocks attacks with her lantern

Supers

• Razmi heals all party members with a short chant
• Produces a giant tiger head made of flames and throws it at the enemy
• Razmi creates a massive pillar of flame, throws it into the air and has it descend on the enemy, hitting many times

Ginseng and Honey

A kid and their root vegetable on a quest to become world-class botanists. Ginseng carries a giant mortar and pestle, used to grind up enemies and heal their allies.
Feats

• Ginseng gathers a bunch of rare specimens called Resurrection Lilies. When Ajna is out of commission for a week following her first fight with Kala, Ginseng revives her using the Lilies.

Moves

• Ginseng grinds the enemy up with their mortar and pestle. Using this move enhances the effects of their healing abilities.
• Ginseng splashes the contents of their mortar around, healing the group
• Ginseng ducks down while Honey tosses a randomly selected item from Ginseng’s backpack
• Blocks attacks with their backpack

Supers

• Ginseng looks around on the ground before finding a large vegetable, which they throw to Honey. This large vegetable is thrown the next time Ginseng uses their down attack or second super move.
• Honey reaches into Ginseng’s backpack and tosses a barrage of assorted pieces of junk at an enemy
• Ginseng grinds an enemy with their mortal and pestle until the contents explode. This launches the enemies and disperses the contents on Ajna's party, healing them greatly.

Zebei

A smug archer from a clan of nomads from the mountains. While initially skeptical about Ajna's ability to responsibly control her powers, he stays with the group to oversee Kala's defeat.
Moves

• Zebei shoots three arrows in quick succession at a target
• He leaps up, holds the bow with his feet and fires a spread of five arrows at the enemies
• He shoots multiple arrows at the enemy’s legs, popping them up into the air
• Blocks attacks with his bow and padded armwear

Supers

• Loads his bow with five arrows, then hits an enemy with three volleys. The second level shows Zebei launching four volleys, and the third level shows him launching seven volleys.

Tungar

A knight and a man of action, Tungar doesn't speak too often. He lets his urumi speak for him, a cloth-based weapon that doubles as a turban.
Moves

• Tungar swings his urumi, unleashing a hoop-shaped projectile
• He swings his urumi in such a way that he flings the enemy upwards
• He waves his urumi around himself, hitting multiple enemies at once
• Blocks attacks with a small shield

Supers

• Tunger charges up a stronger strike against a single enemy. The second level increases the damage.
• He slashes enemies with his urumi a dozen times, then sheathes the weapon back on his head. The moment he sheathes it, the damage manifests all at once.

Kushi

A member of the same tribe as Zebei and a Protector-in-training, Kushi fights alongside Altun, a massive bird of prey.
Feats

• When Ajna leaps off an airship and falls, Altun flies close and grabs her before she hits the ground

Moves

• In Standing Mode, Kushi punches an enemy. In Riding Mode, Altun screeches, damaging multiple enemies.
• Kushi enters Riding Mode, jumping off the ground and holding onto Altun’s talons. If she’s already in Riding Mode, Altun will soar up and dive bomb an enemy’s position for massive damage.
• Kushi will enter Standing Mode and plant her feet on the ground. If she’s in Standing Mode, she’ll send Altun out to swoop at an enemy.
• Altun blocks attacks with his wing, protecting Kushi

Thorani

A maternal healer who carries magic, restorative water in her hair. While she's typically benevolent and happy to heal anyone in need, she becomes aggressively protective when Ajna or her other teammates are in jeopardy.
Feats
Resuscitation/Healing

• Thorani splashes Ajna, waking her up after her fall from Sumeru and subsequent three-day nap
• Hydrates Qadira, with Thorani stating that her water is much more nourishing than normal water
• She heals an Ohma addict, purging the drug from the body. If she collaborates with Ajna, she can instantly heal severe Ohma abusers, restoring their bodies and minds.
• Channeling Ajna’s iddhi, Thorani is able to create a cleansing rain that cures most of Tai Krung’s Ohma users of their addictions

Other

• As a deva, Thorani is well over one thousand years old
• She’s able to sense the emotions and intentions of others, even on a city-wide scale
• Thorani senses calm and shame in a monster’s heart

Moves

• She fires water from her hair as projectiles, damaging enemies and forming a puddle at the point of impact
• She “activates” all the puddles on the field. If an ally stands in a puddle, they’re healed, while the puddles damage Thorani’s enemies.
• She splashes enemies with a small wave of water, damaging them and forming a puddle at the point of impact
• Blocks attacks with a hand formed from water

Supers

• Thorani flourishes her hair, leaving puddles all around herself and the party
• She becomes a puddle of water herself, becoming a stronger version of the activated puddles
• She generates a small raincloud over her head, healing herself and the party over time

Qadira

A warrior looking for her lost brother. Although she carries his sword, Qadira opts to do battle with only her shield, keeping the blade sheathed until she finds him.
Feats

• Trained in shield-fighting since she was a child

Moves

• Qadira rams her shield into the enemy, then thrusts her arm forwards for a second hit
• She delivers an upper to send enemies airborne, then can spike them back to the ground
• She sweeps the enemy’s legs, then can pop them up into the air
• Blocks attacks with her shield… duh

Supers

• She rams her shield into the enemy in a multi-hit attack. Each level increases the number of hits and the damage of the move.

Baozhai

A pirate captain that sails the seas in the warship Teotul. She loves sailing, cannons, women and drinking.
Feats

• Owns the Teotul, a massive, armored pirate ship, equipped with forward and side-facing cannons

Moves

• Baozhai steals a handful of coins from the enemy. These coins can be used to enhance her supers. This attack is also unblockable.
• She launches cannonballs from her back cannons. While strong, these attacks can harm allies as well as enemies.
• Baozhai leaps into the enemies hips-first, knocking them around slightly
• Blocks attacks with a treasure chest

Supers

• Baozhai throws some shiny coins at the enemy to distract them before tossing a harpoon into one
• She boots a treasure chest at the enemy, which opens and tosses several coins into the air. She then shoots a coin, which causes the round to ricochet and hit the enemy many times. The more coins she has, the more the round ricochets.
• Launches a barrage of rockets from her back cannons. By spending coin, she can fire more projectiles.

Phoebe

Once a freedom fighter alongside her husband, Phoebe watched her husband die in battle against her country's invaders. Now, she trains her two children in an effort to return to her home and fight off the invading killers.
Moves

• Using a spear, Phoebe flings enemies upwards
• She leaps into the air, grabs airborne enemies and performs a fireman’s carry slam on them
• Phoebe plants her massive bow in the ground and fires a spear that can pierce enemies and hit those behind them
• Blocks attacks with a spear

Nuna

A plant-manipulator from the underground community of Kaanul. While she's used her powers as a farmer for years, the rise of Kala has forced her to use her plants for combat.
Feats

• Creates vines that cover Hunoch's entire body, although he breaks out quickly
• She plants a bunch of seeds in a cave in Kaanul. As soon as the cave gets some natural sunlight, they instantly sprout into a roomful of massive vegetables.

Moves

• Nuna gets close to the enemies and quickly grows thorny vines around herself, stabbing her foes
• She sprouts a cornstalk under an enemy, launching them skywards
• Nuna plants a trap in the ground. When an enemy walks over it, a pumpkin quickly grows that stuns and damages the victim. Her cornstalk move also enhances the traps on the field, making them larger and more damaging.
• Blocks attacks by quickly sprouting a tree in front of herself

Supers

• She grows and plucks a dandelion, then blows the seeds at the enemies, which explode on contact. Each level increases the number of seeds.

Hunoch and Xiboch

Two star athletes in Kanuul's national sport, Tlatchlibol. Xiboch is deceased, having been killed by an Underworld monster, so now both souls take turns occupying the living brother's body.
Feats

• Hunoch breaks out of vines that cover his body by flexing

Moves

• The humanoid brother serves the spirit brother as a ball and bounces it off an enemy. When it bounces back, the humanoid brother can smack it back at the enemy, increasing the number of hits and the damage of strikes. This process can be repeated until the humanoid brother misses or they run out of action points.
• The spirit brother manifests and blocks attacks to defend the humanoid brother

Super

• Xiboch takes control of Hunoch’s body and uses Hunoch’s spirit as the ball. If used again, Hunoch reassumes control of the body and Xiboch becomes the ball once more. As the ball, Xiboch deals magic damage and fills the Iddhi Meter faster, while Hunoch delivers more physical damage and fills the Meter slower.

Naga Rider

The resident superhero, last of the Vahana Riders, and protector of Tai Krung’s upstanding citizens. His archnemesis, the Flying Terror, Garuda Cruel, trained with Naga Rider until joining up with the drug kingpin, Mara.
Feats

• Rides a motorcycle with wheels made of hard light

Moves

• Naga Rider performs a quick combo of jabs before ending with a stronger, energized strike
• He performs a flip kick, launching the enemy into the air
• Naga Rider drop-kicks the enemy at a 45 degree angle
• Blocks attacks by forming his armor into a domed shield around his arm

Supers

• Naga Rider chops his hand, discharging explosive energy at all enemies
• He disappears briefly before appearing and flip-kicking an enemy into the air
• He leaps up and wreaths his foot in energy before drop-kicking an enemy with a crushing blow

Yan

A dancer imprisoned in a Tai Krung nightclub. Once freed, Yan uses her absurdly long legs and affinity for dance as a means of acrobatic combat.
Moves

• Yan performs a spinning kick
• She performs a backflip kick, knocking enemies into the air
• Yan jumps up and performs a crescent-shaped downwards kick that can spike airborne enemies
• Blocks attacks with a leg

Kampan

Watching both of her parents die of illness, unable to afford medicine, changed young Kampan. Now a master thief and auteur of espionage, she steals from the Iron Kingdom’s rich and gives back to the poor.
Feats

• She punches the floor, destroying a nearby barrier of slime
• Breaks a barrier of slime with an uppercut

Moves

• She rushes at the enemy and punches them with her gauntlet
• Kampan uppercuts the enemy into the air
• She loads her gauntlet with one shell, with a maximum capacity of four shells. If she has a shell equipped, she’ll fire it a moment after the basic punch connects
• Blocks attacks with her gauntlet

Super

• Kampan knocks the enemy down with a stomp, then pummels them with punches. She then winds up her arm and uppercuts the enemy with a strong blow. This move consumes the entire bar of iddhi and all of Kampan’s remaining action points, making for an extremely strong attack.

Leilani

Leilani was a castaway guided to the island continent by a shark spirit called a 'aumakua until they were both caught in a fishing net. The 'aumakua gave Leilani its teeth and enchanted her leiomano, creating a magic-based chainsaw so she could escape.
Moves

• Leilani slashes with her leiomano. She can expend half a bar of iddhi to cause the chainsaw to spin, increasing the number of hits and the damage of the attack.
• She swings her leiomano upwards, popping enemies into the air. This move can also be used while revving the chainsaw.
• Leilani spins around with her leiomano held outwards. She can spin around for longer, but she runs the risk of becoming too dizzy to move after the attack ends.
• Blocks attacks by holding her weapon in front of herself

Latigo

Latigo was once the leader of a noble group of mercenaries called the Caballeros. His right hand man, Vasco, killed the wrong nobleman and sent the group scattering away from the law. Now, Latigo seeks to kill his old friend with a shot right between the eyes.
Feats

• Quickdraws on Vasco

Moves

• Latigo points his gun and fires
• He jumps and slashes the enemy with his gun’s blade. He can fire three bullets during the swing.
• He reloads his gun. Initially, Latigo only uses five bullets since he’s saving one for Vasco, but after confronting his old teammate, he makes full use of the six round chamber.
• Blocks attacks with his gun blade

Supers

• Latigo slashes at an enemy’s legs to floor them. He can then empty his firearm into the floored victim point-blank.
• He empties his gun and replaces the next five shots with special bullets. These bullets are compatible with any shooting attack and they pierce through enemies to hit multiple times.
• Latigo holsters his gun, takes a stance, then fires on an enemy with erratic shooting stances. He automatically reloads after performing this move.

Ren

An assassin without any kind of moral compass, Ren will kill any target for the appropriate price. A regular employee of Tai Krung’s underworld kingpin, Mara, Ren secretly hopes for a quarry that can fight back and show him a good time.
Feats

• Unharmed after three spear hits to the face
• Appears suddenly, hanging upside by a cable
• Disappears from sight

Moves

• He throws the axe-end of the kusarigama into the enemy. By using another action point, he drags it back to his hand, slicing the enemy along the way.
• Ren spins the kusarigama above his head, cutting groups of enemies several times
• He leaves a trap that impales enemies that walk over it with bamboo spikes. He can enhance this trap with two more bamboo spikes at the cost of an action point.
• Ren disappears briefly to evade attacks

Supers

• Ren wreathes his kusarigama in flame and slams it down on an enemy, leaving them with a damage-over-time burn effect
• He leaves a special trap on the battlefield. When an enemy walks over it, a scorpion tail shoots up and punctures them, leaving them with a damage-over-time poison effect.
• Ren summons two fireballs to spin around himself, then dashes at the group of enemies, leaving them all afflicted with the burn status. He then vanishes and reappears with his allies.

Zahra

A musician specializing in the stringed Oud. She left her village and her potential marriage in order to keep spreading her music to the world.
Feats

• By playing a “chaotic” riff, Zahra quickly causes a mechanical enemy to malfunction and explode

Moves

• Zahra plays a high-tempo song, increasing an ally’s movement and action speed by 50%. All three of her songs’ effects persist until Zahra takes a hit, can be used on multiple allies at once and can stack with each other.
• She plays a cheerful song to increase an ally’s attack stat by 50%
• Zahra plays a mournful dirge to increase an ally’s defense stat by 33%
• Blocks attacks with her Oud. Clean-blocking hits keeps her songs’ effects active.

Super

• Zahra snaps her fingers and plays a mesmerizing tune, stunning the enemies for a number of seconds and forcing them to dance instead of fight. If the player presses the attack button in time with Zahra’s snapping, the effect lasts for up to six seconds longer.

Lanshi

A very good doggy that lives in the monastery in Lhan. But was he always a dog?!?
Moves

• Lanshi barks at the enemy until he has to take a break, which inexplicably damages them
• Lanshi can take a ten second nap mid-battle, not waking up even when attacked. A spectral hand can pet Lanshi, which generates iddhi for the party.
• Blocks attacks by covering his face with his paws and cowering

Supers

• Lanshi sniffs out the enemies and marks them. The next time he uses the barking attack, all marked enemies will be struck by lightning.
• Lanshi takes a nap right next to the enemies. Petting Lanshi in this state will build up static electricity, which discharges and shocks all enemies when he wakes up.
• He howls to call forth a stampede of electric dog spirits, which sprint at all enemies

Non-Combatants

• Asiri, a seamstress, can dye the characters' clothing different colors
• George, a former dragon hunter, runs a training area in the Inner Realm. He can summon monsters for Ajna and her crew to practice against.
• The oracle Tharwa can point Ajna in the right direction to complete her objectives by scrying through a crystal ball
• Ratna and Mani are two religious beings that can increase the cast's offensive or defensive power when brought talismans called Ringsels
• Kogi, a professional chef

I need help with my debt. I’m at a point where I have nothing left over at the end of the month or I get overdrafts. I know it was insanely dumb of me to get into so much debt but now I’m here and I just want to get out of it. I can drown in self hatred for getting myself into this mess or I can find a way to get out of it. I work full time and am also a mom so I don’t have much free time to get another stream of income. I need help figuring out a way out of debt but with the income I already have. Please help! I appreciate anyone willing to give me advise. Any advice is welcome but just know nothing hateful you could say is worse than what I already think of myself.
Income: $1,070 weekly
My credit score was in the high 700’s and because of the amount of debt I’ve accrued, it is now 585 Transunion and 590 Equifax.
Here is a breakdown of my monthly bills:

• Mortgage-$1,398
• Car payment-$513
• JetBlue CC - $7,791.85 - monthly payment $218.15
• Amazon CC - $5,302.05 ($4,713.02 is interest free) - monthly payment $396.31
• PayPal Credit - $6,621.21 ($4,154.03 is interest free)- monthly payment $114
• PayPal CC - $2,188.88 - monthly payment $76
• Credit one CC - $968.20 - monthly payment $49
• Target CC - $1,269.96 - monthly payment $42
• Sephora CC - $355.10 - monthly payment $30
• Ulta CC - $149.49 - monthly payment $30
• Ashley Furniture loan - $2,950.26 - monthly payment $167.21
• Affirm $39.64 (until August 2, 2025 interest free), $98.57 (until June, 20, 2024)
• Cellphone bill $110
• Personal loan for home repairs - $3957- monthly payment $45
• Electric bill - $100
• Water bill - $35
• HOA - $42
• Sears CC - monthly payment $89
• JCPenney CC - monthly payment $114
• Groceries - $130 weekly
• Gas - $50 weekly
• Aftercare - $128 a month

All the credit card payments are the minimum payment. Sears and JcPenney I pay for my mom since she is unable to for health reasons, just know, those I cannot stop paying and they are over $6000 combined. As you can see I have little to nothing left over at the end of the month. As of right now all of my payments are in good standing. But I need help I don’t know how to fix this. Please help! Thank you!
Edit: To answer most of the questions: -I normally say my husband “left us” when I’m asked by strangers, mainly because the truth still doesn’t seem real but he was in a car accident a few months back. He did not survive it. I’m only adding this because so many people asked about child support which is obviously not an option. Also, most of the debt was in both of our names we bought all of this together and with his income it was never bad, as in, I never felt like we were struggling for money. For years we used the JetBlue card to visit family, we bought this house about a year ago and we bought some furniture we needed, the payments were 0 interest and did not seem bad at the time with both our incomes. The only ones that are mine alone are target, Sephora and ulta. They were much higher and I had chipped away at them but when the accident happened I let everything slide. I don’t know how to manage everything on my own. So I thought stupidly I’d ask Reddit for help and advice. But, wow most of you guys are so mean without knowing any of the backstory or details, you just assume and spew hate. I hope you never have to know the pain of losing your partner. -I’m still waiting on life insurance policy but I’m not sure how much that is going to be. It’s through his employer but he was only there for about 3 years so I don’t think it’ll be much. -My mom had a stroke a year ago, she used to have a good job and at the moment she can barely move or talk. I can’t help at all with her care since I’m far away, my sister does everything and so I offered to take some of her debt since she’s not able to pay it at the moment. She only has those two cards and an Amex that she pays with her SS. I understand that right now in the situation I’ve found myself in I can’t afford to pay it but it’s the only thing I can do for my mom right now so I don’t know how to tell my sister I’m not going to pay it anymore. I’m sure she’ll understand but it makes me feel like I’m helping and before all of this it wasn’t a burden to pay for them. -A lot of you suggested I seek help for my “spending problem” I don’t know if I necessarily have a spending problem but I am seeing a licensed therapist and psychologist and am on medication for depression (obviously) and anxiety which help some. -All of you who gave actual useful advice. Thank you, I appreciate your help greatly.

Your choices:

• Knife in the Water (1962): A couple pick up a hitchhiker on the way to their yacht. The husband invites the young man to come along for their day's sailing. As the voyage progresses, the antagonism between the two men grows. A violent confrontation is inevitable.
• Repulsion (1965): A sex-repulsed woman who disapproves of her sister's boyfriend sinks into depression and has horrific visions of rape and violence.
• Cul-de-sac (1966): In search of help, two wounded gangsters on the run find refuge in the secluded castle of a feeble man and his wife; however, under the point of a gun, nothing is what it seems.
• The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967): A noted professor and his dim-witted apprentice fall prey to their inquiring vampires, while on the trail of the ominous damsel in distress.
• Rosemary's Baby (1968): A young couple trying for a baby moves into an aging, ornate apartment building on Central Park West, where they find themselves surrounded by peculiar neighbors.
• MacBeth (1971): A ruthlessly ambitious Scottish lord seizes the throne with the help of his scheming wife and a trio of witches.
• What? (1972): During her Italian vacation, a young and beautiful American tourist finds herself as a guest in a coastal villa inhabited by some odd people.
• Chinatown (1974): A private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.
• The Tenant (1976): A bureaucrat rents a Paris apartment where he finds himself drawn into a rabbit hole of dangerous paranoia.
• Tess (1979): A strong-willed young peasant girl attracts the affection of two men.
• Pirates (1986): The adventures of pirate Captain Red and his first mate Frog.
• Frantic (1988): In a hotel room in Paris, a doctor comes out of the shower and finds that his wife has disappeared. He soon finds himself caught up in a world of intrigue, espionage, gangsters, drugs and murder.
• Bitter Moon (1992): After hearing stories of her, a passenger on a cruise ship develops an irresistible infatuation with an eccentric paraplegic's wife.
• Death and the Maiden (1994): A political activist is convinced that her guest is a man who once tortured her for the government.
• The Ninth Gate (1999): A book broker discovers his latest find may summon Satan.
• The Pianist (2002): During WWII, acclaimed Polish musician Wladyslaw faces various struggles as he loses contact with his family. As the situation worsens, he hides in the ruins of Warsaw in order to survive.
• Oliver Twist (2005): An adaptation of the classic Dickens tale, where an orphan meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.
• The Ghost Writer (2010): A ghost writer, hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy.
• Carnage (2011): Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the discussion into chaos.
• Venus in Fur (2013): An actress attempts to convince a director how she's perfect for a role in his upcoming production.
• Based on a True Story (2017): A writer goes through a tough period after the release of her latest book, as she gets involved with an obsessive admirer.
• An Officer and a Spy (2019): In 1894, French Captain Alfred Dreyfus is wrongfully convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment at Devil's island.
• The Palace (2023): A drama set on New Year's Eve 1999 in a luxurious Swiss hotel where the lives of hotel workers and various guests get intertwined.

I am not The OOP's, OOP's are:
The husband: u/OKOrganization9552
The wife: u/ThrowAwayWifeNBaby
AITA for kicking my wife out after she punched my mom in the face?
Originally posted to AITAH
Thanks to u/czechtheboxes & u/queenlegolas for suggesting this BoRU
TRIGGER WARNING: verbal abuse, physical violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting
Original Post Feb 10, 2024
Posted by u/OKOrganization9552
My situation went from bad to worse in a matter of a week and I don't know where else to turn. I need to know if I was wrong. Possibly a validation thing because life is fucking dumb right now. My wife and I have been together for 8 years and she just gave birth to our first (and last) baby 2 months ago. Up until my wife got pregnant, my mom loved her. I'm not sure wtf is wrong with my mom or why the switch happened but after my wife got pregnant, my mom started being very clingy to me and started avoiding my wife at all costs. Told everyone she wasn't excited about the pregnancy, etc. I threatened to go no contact with her when my wife was about 7 months along and after that she snapped out of it for the most part and stopped being so ignorant. The comments 100% stopped, at least. Though she still was clinging to me.
Now, a week ago my mom, my sister, my sister's husband and my sister's daughter (12) came over for dinner. I prepared the meal. Before my wife could eat anything, our daughter got fussy so my wife excused herself to go feed the baby and get her down to sleep. I thought I prepared enough but apparently not because my niece was still "starving" (she's 5'5" and 190lbs, I haven't seen her in a year and she was not that size then so I didn't exactly portion in an extra 3 helpings for a child- so it's on me). I apologized and told her that I hadn't made any more and offered her crackers, as I was putting my wife's portion in the fridge. After that, I just went outside with my sister's husband to smoke a cigarette and shoot the breeze. Didn't think anything of it. But then I hear yelling from inside. When I walk in, my wife and my mom were screaming at each other. Apparently my mom (who saw me put my wife's food away) gave my niece my wife's portion of food. As I was walking inside, I heard my mom say "looks like you can afford to skip a meal" and slapped my wife's stomach. Right as soon as I get ready to step in (literally fast walking toward them yelling "enough"), my wife winds back and punches my mother square in the face and drops her. The whole house went silent outside of my mom crying and holding her face. I tell everyone to "get the fuck out". Immediately everyone leaves and my wife just turns toward the counter and leans with her hands on the counter and face down, eyes closed. I look at my wife and say "you too, leave, now." She says "really?" She's crying at this point. I say a clipped "yup". She packs up her and the baby and leaves.
I text her that night and say I just need space. I need to decompress and come to terms with what just happened. She doesn't respond. The next 5 days I'm texting and calling and I get nothing. She shows up here today (so 8 days later) and hands me divorce paperwork and my baby and says "here, you have a bit to hang out with her while I pack. Where I'm breastfeeding we can work out a visitation schedule that is either at your place or my mother's until she will take a bottle." I told her that's not what I want. I don't want to separate. I just needed time to process her punching my mother in the face. She said "you needing time to process gave me time to process the fact that I refuse to be in this situation any longer. I defended myself. I initially felt bad and remorseful but you making me leave when I needed you made me see more clear. I'm done. I'm sorry for what I did but there's no fixing this." She refused to speak to me at all the rest of the time that she was here. My house feels so empty and I don't know what to do. AITA for making her leave after she punched my mom? I just needed some fucking space.
ETA: for the record, I am "team wife". My mom deserved it, wholeheartedly, and I've blocked her completely from my life. I literally just needed time to process what happened. My wife is a lot of things, violent is not one of them. So this came completely out of left field and would not have happened without her being provoked. After it all happened, my mom sent me a text saying "See! I told you she was crazy! That fat bitch doesn't belong in **our** life." I'm willing to bet she purposely tried setting my wife off. So no, I'm on my wife's side 100%. I truly just needed to process what happened and my wife took it as me giving up on her, not defending her and throwing her and our baby out (which did essentially happen because I knew she had to take the baby with her when I kicked her out).
eta: the reason "why": my dad was stupid abusive. I was beat. My sister's and brother were beat. My mom was put in the hospital multiple times. It took years for police to enforce restraining orders and he finally died in 2013. Violence scares the fuck out of me. I clam up and get anxious around violence of any kind now. My wife knows this and she too grew up with a violent dad (step dad) and she gets just as anxious and panicky around violence. Her punching my mom in the face triggered an anxious response and I needed her gone in that moment. I needed it far away from me. I don't know why I didn't just leave. I could have. But in that moment I just let my emotions and fear run the whole fucking circus and told everyone to get out, her included. My mom did slap her first.. I guess for some reason I was seeing my wife's punch as being worse than the slap. It wasn't a hard slap but my wife did kind of wince, looking back on it now. She was fine following but my mom was bleeding. Split her eyebrow open in good shape. Idk.
thanks for the responses. I'm the AH. I'm going to try to go kiss ass now.
RELEVANT COMMENTS/ADDITIONAL INFO
OOP

My mom did hurt her. She slapped her in the stomach and my wife winced back in pain before punching her in the face. As a few other people have pointed out.. I guess new moms have muscles separated in their abdomen so given the force that my mom slapped her in the stomach (like a little bit below the rib cage, full back handed slap, which could be heard from the door), I guess it's comparable to hitting my wife in her internal organs? Because her stomach muscles aren't healed? I just learned that.

PrettyLittleAccident

I’m sorry, you’re saying it wasn’t a hard slap but you could HEAR IT?!?!? Unless it was skin on skin, slaps are not usually something that can be heard at a distance

~
OlderMan42

Yup, YTA
Your mom wants to be your wife, or at least more important than her.
You really did need to prioritize your wife over your mother, end of story.
I hope you get another shot at it. Kinda depends on the past… if she has enough positive memories to make it worthwhile in her mind.

OOP

Starting to see that. My wife sent me a text about 10 minutes ago, saying "look up emotional incest", with no context. Definitely describes what my mom's doing. I did completely block her but it won't help my case.

~
CarrieFantastic6990

Info what other comments did your mom make about your wife?

OOP

That she was stealing me away. That she wasn't good enough. Made a few comments about baby trapping me. Never said it directly to me or my wife but it got back to us quick. She tried denying it at first but later confirmed she said it. Thats when I threatened no contact and nothing ever got back to us after that. I just assumed all had cleared up.

My response to my husband’s post “AITA for kicking my wife out after she punched my mom in the face?” Apr 7, 2024
Posted by u/ThrowAwayWifeNBaby
I’m still grieving at the loss of my marriage, but my friend had notified me about my husband’s post that had too may specific details that were hard to ignore. To clarify, this is my first time on Reddit. I read my soon-to-be ex-husband’s post and wanted to give my side of the story and include details that he didn’t provide in his post.
For those who hadn’t read it, long story short, my husband kicked me out of the house after his mother had physically slapped my stomach in front of him and I punched her in self-defense. I loved my husband dearly but his lack of action regarding his mother’s behavior was extremely disgusting to say the least, I tolerated his mom’s behavior long enough until I couldn’t take it anymore as he had overlooked his mom’s behavior over and over again that finally I had enough.
I was still recovering after giving birth to his child when his mom slapped my stomach, and my husband exaggerated when he said it wasn’t a hard slap. The slap itself was hard enough to be heard by everyone in the room. I had lost it at this point when his mother slapped my stomach with a turd eating smirk that wasn’t visible from my husband’s point of view, at least that’s what my husband claimed.
I had a mental breakdown when my husband told me to leave after kicking everyone out of the house, you should have seen his face when he told me to get out with a straight face and without hesitation. Our baby was crying at this point before I left, and I couldn’t do anything but cry that night after I went to stay with my mother. His mother sent me a text mockingly saying, "I am going to file charges against you for assault, you fat little whore!" Now stay the fuck out of our lives!" She ended the text with a smiley face at the end. I was livid and decided I did not want to be associated with this family anymore and served my husband divorce papers, and as you can guess he didn’t take it well and tried to get me to reconsider.
I told him that he overlooked his mother’s behavior one too many times, and I was done with him and his inability to establish boundaries with his mother. I recommended setting boundaries, but he didn’t think it was necessary even after I told him throughout the pregnancy about the nasty names his mother called me when he wasn’t around, and he always brushed it off, even though he did tell his mom to stop she would continue this behavior after a short pause for a while.
Before I left after handing him divorce papers he begged me for another chance and told me he cut contact with his mother permanently. I told him that he is sorry now that I handed him divorce papers and that he was too late to act now that I decided I wanted out of the marriage. I told him I loved him so much that he should look at it as a sign that if I didn’t than I would have divorced him long ago because he didn’t stand up for me multiple times. and I let his mother’s snarky comments and behavior slide at my mental expense.
I told him he needed help with the trauma because I understand that he is dealing with trauma since he already mentioned my abusive stepdad, but he didn’t even realize that his mother hadn’t gotten him help for his trauma that he is still being affected in his adulthood. What I can’t understand is why he didn’t leave if he needed some space instead of being such a heartless bastard and kicking our child out with me. I’ve been ignoring his texts and calls ever since, and I’m waiting for a divorce hearing.
Something that I wanted to point out is that his mother had attributed to his niece’s weight gain, since she lives with my husband’s sister to save money. I, once again, told my husband about his niece’s weight gain that it’s concerning that she weighs 190lb at such a young age, and she was indeed not that weight before. On the day of the incident I was making the niece’s second portion of food and then my husband’s mother came towards me and snatched the plate out of my hands and said "I’ll do it myself, let me take care of it!" and when I tried to take the plate back his mother said "I know what to fucking do, you don’t know how to properly feed someone as healthy as my grandchild!" I was shocked that she thinks that her grandchild’s weight was normal for her age.
I couldn’t take this harassment or abuse any longer and my breaking point was reached when he kicked me and our child out of the house, now I need to do what’s right for our child because she doesn’t need to be in a toxic household where she has to witness the drama going on. My soon-to-be ex-husband wants us to do marriage counseling, to which I have refused to do so because I am done with him. I’m starting to feel slightly guilty with his begging and gaslighting. I just want to be done with him. I’ve blocked him as recommended by my lawyer but he keeps reaching out through his other family members and siblings. What should I do to make him go away until the divorce hearing?
THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT THE OOP
DO NOT CONTACT THE OOP's OR COMMENT ON LINKED POSTS, REMEMBER - RULE 7

Black Sheep Family
Part 52
Arc 5
School War - Territories
”I'm a villain at heart. I'm a born villain.” ~ Roddy Piper
(B)(S)(F)
GO!
Anna and Hong Long made their way to the greenhouse without hesitation, much to Anna’s annoyance though it was overgrown with snapping, snarling plants that looked straight out of a nightmare. She leaped off of Hong Long’s back and slowed her descent with a practiced ease.
“Mr. Theo, I need you to call them off.” Anna shouted.
A muffled reply came from within. Anna sighed and shook her head when the plants did not retreat. Her anger flared to the forefront and the air in front of the plants sparked and popped to life like fireworks. At first she was afraid of losing her focus and the fire getting out of control, but Cassandra groaned in pain and Anna’s focus became a pinpoint of her own will and desire. The fire stopped crackling and popping like embers and roared to life at a point in front of the door.
“Let us in.” Anna snapped, “Or I let the dragon torch you.”
Hong Long snarled, and a gout of flame shot out of his nose from directly behind Anna. It parted on either side of her and she found herself oddly comforted knowing her tulpa had the skill and power to leave her unharmed. The plants emitted a shriek even Anna could hear and Cassandra thrashed in Hong Long’s coils. Anna then pulled her sister closer to her.
“Watch our backs, okay buddy?” Anna nodded.
The dragon twisted itself to spiral up and land in a long circle around the greenhouse. The plants recoiled even further from the heated and somewhat flaming body. Then Anna held Cassandra in front of her, laying her flat on a telekinetic field, and pushed the door in.
The greenhouse’s inside was very different. Masses of purple and black were plastered over everything, it almost seemed to be protecting the plantlife, if it weren’t for the fact that Anna could see the affected plants were coiling and growing up and out of the greenhouse.
“Mr. Theo?” Anna called out as the door closed.
“Good timing.” Theo’s voice came from a distended and pulsing sack of flesh that split open to reveal tentacles and eyes in horrific and unusual positions.
Anna blinked, “Any other day I’d be enthralled and a little terrified, but a psycho is taking over our school.”
One of the eyes focused on Cassandra as it moved to the end of a tentacle to get a better look, “You are only partially correct. He has control of Thrush and a small section of the buildings. Some other faculty and students.”
“Oh no.” Anna gasped, “What did he do to Cassandra though?”
“He turned her off.” Theo’s eyes blinked, “His magic must work on some weird rules. Almost fey like.”
“Cxaltho said he gave them something.” Anna said.
“Never take candy from strangers.” Theo sighed, “Look, I’ll take care of her, get her fixed up as best I can. I just need you and the fire lizard to protect us.”
Anna nodded and cracked her neck before quickly stretching.
“You’re adorable with your muscles and skeletal structure.” Theo chuckled as his tentacles coiled around Cassandra and pulled her into the mass of flesh they had come from.
“How are you controlling the building anyway?” Anna asked.
Theo chuckled. “Illidae said we thought about this possibility. He’s the security coordinator.”
“And?” Anna looked around her, perplexed by the answer.
“I’m the security system.” Theo’s voice got dark and he let a deep chuckle rumble before the door opened back up. “I need maybe a half hour, possibly more.”
Anna nodded and walked towards the door, sounds of a fight filled the air.
---B)(S)(F---
Agatha was watching the windows after the announcements, she saw the sky’s colors briefly tint and flash. Then she saw Hong Long’s tail flash around a corner as the school shook slightly. She was immediately up and moving to the door.
“Quain!” Canning snapped. “We stay put.”
“Bull shit!” Agatha snapped, “My baby sister is out there, I have to protect her!”
“Your sister is a power to be reckoned with. She can protect herself.” Canning countered.
“I’m not gonna sit back and wait, I still have Cassandra and Danny!” Agatha shouted.
Canning took a step forward. “You’re the oldest, you feel you have a duty. I know, saw that same look in your father’s face when Stephen was hurt a few times. But you can do what he couldn’t at the time, you can control your reaction, you can be better and do what’s needed, not what your heart is telling you.”
Agatha grit her teeth, “I’m not staying in here.”
“Neither am I...” A young man in a suit of armor with jaguar spots and Aztec designs stood up. He was called Shadowstrike, and kept his identity a secret. “Ma’am.” He added sheepishly.
“All right.” Canning nodded. “Scout the halls, find any student and bring them back, restrain them if you need to. Keep your wits about you. Illidae is powerful, he can handle this on his own, but I don’t know how you all will fare against our new enemy. We have no information on powers other than domination.”
Agatha nodded, “If we see him we retreat.”
Canning went to her desk and pulled out a heavy steel case that she unlocked and began to put together a weapon. “Shadowstrike, keep her back safe.”
“Yes ma’am.” Shadowstrike moved next to Agatha. “Fire control?”
“Hellfire Magic and summons, I’m gonna leave them as a last ditch effort, we don’t need to burn the school down.” Agatha said and extended her hand. “Hellafyre.”
“Shadowstrike.” Shadowstrike shook her hand. “Basically think Aztec Ninja.”
Agatha blinked, “I have so many questions...” She opened the door and looked around, “But those can wait, let’s go.”
“Quain.” Canning said as she finished sliding the last piece of her custom rifle together. “I will be watching the door.”
Agatha nodded as she and Shadowstrike slipped out.
---B)(S)(F---
Danny was sitting at his desk in his math class when the announcement went over the PA System. At first he was confused, then he understood the issue. Someone was trying to take over the school. He couldn’t understand why though, the most that would do is draw the ire of every hero in the city and even some villains. Then he realized that Thrush had been dominated and he was pretty sure he understood why; she was a powerful mage and could open portals to Fawl.
The teacher for the class was a normal man, Mr. Gabriel. He had no powers, no special technology and no magical gifts. He locked his door once the announcement was over.
“Okay, we’ll sit tight and school security will handle this.” Mr. Gabriel nodded.
“Should we put the desk against the wall?” One of the academic students asked.
“Danny, you’re a hero student, are we okay?” Another one asked, it caught Danny off guard.
“As long as we stay here we’ll be fine.” Mr. Gabriel said, “And Danny, no offense but you’re just a student. I expect you to stay here and behave.”
Danny nodded, “Didn’t plan on leaving. Unknown baddies in the halls and faculty are compromised. No thank you.” He kept his eyes on the door, a deep and unsettled feeling made itself home in his stomach and he scratched the back of his neck nervously.
“Well then we’ll sit here, I don’t expect you to study, but we can talk---” Mr. Gabriel was cut off by a thudding slam against the door and a feral growl.
“Kiddies...” The voice was twisted and broken, “Coach Iron Bear is recruiting for the new debate team...”
Danny stood up as he watched a black ooze seep into the form of the broken door and pull it back together. It took a moment for him to process the situation and he quickly realized it had to be Professor Theo actually controlling the building. He motioned for everyone to quiet down.
“I can smell you...” Iron Bear chuckled. “I can taste the fear.”
He slammed against the door a few more times, it would break, but not budge and then repair between each assault. Danny motioned for everyone to get against the windows and behind him. Several more thuds and the group felt Iron Bear roar at the door and move slightly off, then stop. Danny braced as he realized where Iron Bear had stopped. Seconds later the wall collapsed outward as several lockers and the walls were torn free.
The wall now had a gaping hole and Iron Bear stepped forward into the class. He grinned as Danny stood in front of him.
“Hello Daniel.” Irony Bear grumbled.
Danny never took his eyes off the larger, now dominated hero. He only thought of his sisters, probably also in dangerous situations. He thought of the kids and his teacher, now behind him. He raced forward and slipped past Iron Bear, but gripped his legs and focused and felt Iron Bear’s body descend slightly before he stopped his phasing power. Then he stood up and ran towards his class.
“Hold Hands!” Danny ordered.
“I hate quicksand ploys!” Iron bear roared as he strained to pull his legs out of the floor.
“Yeah, but now I got you Beary-boo!” Theo laughed.
“Hand snow!” Danny shouted as he took the hands of those between him.
He looked at them all and confirmed they were all connected and he focused as hard as he could, closing his eyes and imagining them all descending. There was an odd silence as he felt them pass through the floor and when he opened them again he realized that they had not just passed into the lower floor, but they were now in different dimension. He stepped away as he realized they were all floating in this dimension that seemed tinted an erie blue. Then he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He turned to see a reaper in green robes, a scythe held in one hand, a sword at his side; it was the same being he saw when one of Gravitas’ victims passed to the other side in front of him.
“Welcome, Daniel Alexander Quain.” The Reaper spoke, orbs of light were its eyes that otherwise filled an empty hood. “We have much to discuss.”
---B)(S)(F---
Anna stepped into the cloudy light of the day and quickly located the source of the fighting. It was a young man with a flaming skull for a head, wearing an old letterman’s jacket, he was on the defensive against a taller, slimmer opponent that Anna recognizes as Freddie Tidecaller, a Junior and acquaintance of Cassandra and the look in his eyes was distinctively feral.
“Come on Freddie!” Crispin shouted as he stumbled back.
“Hong Long; tangle both.” Anna said softly as she circled the side of their fight.
Hong Long nodded and snorted, then dove in and quickly coiled around Freddie and Crispin. He had them tight bound in his translucent body and floated them over to Anna. Anna approached and looked both of the juniors over carefully making sure they were safe. Freddie was completely immobile, but mumbling something about completing his mission. Crispin seemed to be staring at her and blinking? She wasn’t sure he didn’t really have eyes, but he wasn’t fighting back and wasn’t talking. So she reached out to his mind.
¶What happened?¶ Anna asked.
¶Freddie and I were just hangin’ out at the cars when this flash appeared in the sky and made a dome over the school, then Freddie flipped out.¶ Crispin said. ¶Can you let me go now? It's hard to breathe like this.¶
Anna nodded without a word and Hong Long dropped Crispin, then gave him a deep sniff. He then sniffed Freddie, he recoiled from Freddie and growled. Curious as to her tulpa’s reaction, Anna reached out and saw Freddie’s mind. He was lost in a fog maze and the deeper he went the more control the creator got.
“He’s being dominated.” Anna sighed, “I think it’s magic.”
“So what is going on?” Crispin asked.
“The new English teacher is trying to take control. He already has Thrush dominated along with Iron Bear and others. He also hurt my sister, Theo’s helping her in there.” Anna nodded back to the greenhouse. I’m keeping it safe.”
Crispin’s neck audibly cracked as he started stretching.
“What are you doing?” Anna chuckled.
“Correcting you, Sophomore.” Crispin said, “We’re protecting it.”
Anna smiled, “Thanks. I think Theo can help Freddie, or at least keep him contained until someone else can.”
“Sounds good.” Crispin took off his jacket and hung it on a branch that was poking out of the greenhouse. “I don't know how much help I can be. I’m big and clumsy outside of the fire and radiation powers.”
Anna nodded, “Your radiation doesn’t kill, right? It just made Danny sick.”
“The horn baby?” Crispin asked.
Anna crossed her arms. “That’s my brother.”
“Is that offensive?” Crispin asked, a dimming of his eyes seemed to signify a slow blink.
Anna nodded.
“Aww, jeeze.” Crispin sighed, “I’ll have to apologize, didn’t know that.”
Anan shook her head, “Don’t use horns when referring to him or Agatha and you’ll be fine.”
Crispin nodded. “Thanks.”
Freddie began to thrash in Hong Long’s coils.
“We should find a way to restrain him.” Anna said.
Black, inky tendrils seeped out from the greenhouse as if on command. Anna barely recognized the color as the same as Cassandra’s tail, Cxaltho’s body. She gripped Freddie and brought him over to the tendrils which latched around Freddie, even covering his mouth. Soon they overwhelmed the young man’s body and pulled it tight to the greenhouse.
“Theo’s pretty good.” Crispin nodded.
“Sure is.” Anna nodded, completely unsure if it was Theo who had done that.
---B)(S)(F---
Agatha and Shadowstrike slammed the door behind them, two more students were found in the halls, both were disguised creatures that had attacked them on sight.
“No one outside in the immediate area, ma’am.” Shadowstrike said.
“Move on to the next area?” Agatha asked.
Samantha Canning was about to respond when the P.A. System in the room crackled to life. “Stay where you are!” Theo’s voice hissed. “I told your sister to bring Cassandra to me to treat whatever this asshole did to her.”
Agatha looked up at the speaker in the room. “What did he do to my sister?” She clenched her fist.
“I’m not holding them back, Theo. They’re skilled and capable. We need eyes that aren’t you, anyway.” Canning said, “Unless you have every nook and cranny visible.”
Theo was silent for a moment. “Cassandra will be fine. I’m cleansing her of this weirdness. And if you really want to help, get to the basement, I lost connection to that area.”
Agatha let her held breath go. “Where’s Anna?”
“Guarding the greenhouse with another student.” Theo said as an electrical whine interrupted his talking.
“Attention students...” Brian Burlin’s voice took over, “We are experiencing a change in faculty. Please be patient as we quickly remove troublesome students and faculty.”
Agatha scowled, “What is he even doing?”
Canning thought for a moment, “I don’t know, it almost seems like a distraction. Take a school of kids hostage, the higher the profile, the better. But I can’t figure out the end goal.” She stood up and checked her rifle again. “You two get to the basement, I’ll watch the halls.”
---B)(S)(F---
Danny did not want to hear the words the reaper had spoken, but as the being spoke he felt each word as a ring of truth, each one binding him. It wasn’t until the reaper himself shook Danny that he actually listened once more.
“It is not a curse, nor is destiny.” The Reaper’s eyes seemed to form a gentle smile, “It is the greatest power any mortal has, choice and free will.”
“You don’t have free will?” Danny blinked.
“I am the concept of death bound to a once living soul. My existence is tied to the balance of life and death, I must help maintain that balance, but how I do so is up to me.” The Reaper explained, “You have the potential, in the far future, to join us. If you so wish.”
“To be a reaper?” Danny clarified.
The Reaper chuckled, “For now we can leave it at that.”
“Okay...” Danny nodded, “So why do you look like a nicer Green One?”
The Reaper laughed, “That you will learn in time.”
Danny sighed and ran his hand through his hair as he looked back at his class and teacher, suspended in this reality, completely unaware.
“You are needed now though.” The Reaper said softly, “Go, I shall watch over them.” The reaper held out two tonfas in an invisible hand. “Take them, you’ll need something other than a taser.”
Danny smirked and took the two weapons, they were lightweight and strangely flexible as he tested them. Then Danny nodded and focused on being back in the physical realms. He instinctively turned intangible when he heard Iron Bear’s roar, and rolled past the man as he opened his eyes. The classroom’s desks were now in splinters and the spot that had previously held the enraged and dominated teacher was now a hole in the floor.
Danny tried striking Iron Bear with his new tonfas, only to find they did nothing to the wall of flesh and muscle that was Iron Bear.
“Right, forgot, you’re like nigh invulnerable...” Danny laughed.
Iron Bear laughed as well as he turned to face Danny. “You should run now, it's more fun for me.”
A claw swiped through Danny’s form.
“But you’re not a threat to me.” Danny laughed.
Iron Bear roared, “Fine!” He started stomping off.
Danny raced up behind the teacher and put his hand through Iron Bear’s rib. He didn’t hurt the large man, the pain his attack did register though and the powerful mutant stopped to face Danny once again.
“No sense of honor.” Iron Bear growled. “Just like your papa.”
“You know, you’re right, it’s just really creepy when you say it while being dominated.” Danny smirked.
Danny dodged as Iron Bear rushed him. He didn't have to worry about being damaged, but he didn’t want to be caught off guard by any number of tricks the older hero could potentially pull. As he rolled he saw the chalkboard and the formulas the class had been going over, and a thought struck him. He popped up and dove for Iron Bear’s feet. He started to focus and tried to drag the large and powerful teacher into the spirit realm.
“What are you doing bogatyy malyy?” Iron Bear snarled.
“Taking you out of the equation!” Danny shouted as he felt his body shift involuntarily. He didn’t look up, but knew what was coming as he heard a satisfied grumble from Bear. Instead he just focused, expecting to have a hospital visit if he was lucky.
Then a shrieking wave screeched over his head and struck Iron Bear. The teacher reeled in place and tried to look around, Danny looked up and knew the signs of vertigo and redoubled his efforts to drag the teached into the spirit realm. When he opened his eyes again both he and Iron Bear were in the strangely colored realm. The Reaper was looking the teacher over, his eyes seemed to imply he was happy.
“Your teacher is proud of you. Both of them.” The Reaper said.
Danny stood up, “Cool. He’s safe here too, right?”
“Anyone you bring in this scenario, I will guard.” The Reaper said.
“And do you have a name?” Danny asked.
“I do.” The Reaper nodded, “For now you may call me Death or Reaper.”
Danny stared at the reaper, his neck tingled like mad and he absentmindedly scratched it. The Reaper laughed and shook his head.
“What?” Danny asked.
“You have no idea how common a trait that is in these realities.” The Reaper’s eyes that made the creepy smile did not stop. “For now. Go do what you mean to be doing.”
Danny nodded, and focused, this time keeping his eyes opened. He saw the world around him dissolve into bubbles and streaks of light as he reappeared in the math class. He looked at the hole in the wall and saw Angie Alton standing there, confused but waiting in her gear.
“Thank you.” He signed, it was a rough sign, but he knew enough to pass.
She put a gloved hand to her neck and spoke. “I’ll give your grammar lessons later, is he okay?”
“Safe, being watched for now.” Danny nodded, “Sounds like a one time thing though, so we need to solve this fast.”
Angie nodded, “I got a few others with me.”
Danny nodded and smiled, “Lead on.”
Angie tilted her head and turned to leave.
Danny looked around for his tonfas, before he felt them appear in his hands, now he noticed that they appeared as ghostly and incorporeal as he did when he shifted. He smiled and willed them away for the moment.
---B)(S)(F---
Endara Quain was doing paperwork in the den, the news was on as background noise. She was busy filling out documentation for opening a new branch of the S.A.F.E. Houses. It was her new project that Alan and Stephen had insisted on helping her with. Then her phone rang, it was the school’s ringer, she sighed and looked at the screen as she answered.
“Endara Quain, who has done what?” Endara asked, then a pre-recorded message played and her phone was dropped to the ground.
She wasn’t sure when but Alan was in front of her grounding her back to reality. She paused and saw she was outside, the front door was knocked off its hinges and one of the show swords from decorations over the fireplace was in her hands, wrapped in hell-rime. She stopped and hugged her husband crying in fear. Alan hugged her back as Stephen pulled the van up next top them. Daniel and Jazz were also in the vehicle.
“Come on, I don’t know if we can get in, but we can try.” Alan helped Endara to her feet.
“I’m gonna rip whoever did this to all those kids to pieces.” Endara hissed.
“That’s the Endie I know.” Alan gave a weak smile, he wasn’t going to argue.
“Alan.” Stephen spoke up, “Police are saying they can’t even get calls in. It’s in lockdown.”
Alan swore. “We’re stopping at Tesseract’s first. If anyone has a solution...” His phone rang, he didn’t even look at the screen. “Took you long enough.”
“I can’t get there.” Salem’s voice raged from the other end.
“Then get into the school’s network. It’s on lockdown which means it should be completely cut off, but if there is a way in...” Alan said.
“I’ll find it.” Salem assured Alan.
“We’re going to Tesseract, if anyone can get past their barrier, I’d put money on him.” Alan advised his tech guru.
“Should I alert the crews?” Salem asked.
Alan paused and looked at Endara who was focused on Daniel’s phone with live coverage.
“Hold off for now. Police are in charge right now.” Alan said, “I’ll call the others though to see if we can’t get it.”
“Good luck.” Salem said as Alan heard the clacking of keyboards take over the majority of the noise on the call.
“We don’t need luck.” Alan smirked, “We got us.”
“Keep working on it.” Salem snorted as he focused and ended the call.
Alan climbed into the van next to his wife and Stephen drove off. Alan began contacting Trident, Maisie Lane and his best friend, Nelson.
/////
The First Story
Previous Part! //// Next Part!
Arc 1 - Black Sheep Family - Arc 1, First Chapter /// Arc 1, Final chapter
Arc 2 - Paradigm Shift - Arc 2, First Chapter /// Arc 2 Final Chapter
Arc 3 - Gravitas Rising Arc 3, First Chapter /// Arc 3, Final Chapter
Spotify
/////
Credit where Credit is due:
Kyton & Cassandra Adams are © u/TwistedMind596
Obsidian is © u/Ultimalice
Ixton the Blade of the Wielder is © My friend Forged of Souls who does not use reddit
Furnace is © my friend Matt who does not use reddit
Cedric Stein Meissner aka Tesseract is © my friend James, who does not use reddit.
All other characters and Dross City are © u/TheSmogMonsterZX
////
Smoggy: This might actually end up a mini-arc...
Perfection: And he gets to go in full bore?
Smoggy: Wraith’s placement here was planned.
Perfection: And Danny being offered a spot?
Smoggy: Planned, but don’t think he’s going to take it.
Anna: Think?
Smoggy: Still mortal, even I can’t see if he’ll take it.
DM: He’s gonna roll dice for it I bet.
Smoggy: No... maybe... That’s actually a good idea...
Perfection: I guess! (assumes meme pose)
DM: So what is Wraith doing exactly?
Smoggy: Teaching Danny new uses to his powers!
Anna: And what’s wrong with Cassandra?
Smoggy: Remember those chocolates?Gravitas turned them into ruby laced elder signs among other things.
Perfection: (holding back Anna)
Smoggy: We have an Agatha there for that.
Anna: (Relaxes) Fine, but I get his ass after Wraith reaps him.
Smoggy: Why are all of you so overprotective of her?
Perfection: I’m not.
Smoggy: Why are you the reasonable one here?
Perfection: (points to FOXBOY!)
Smoggy: Fair...
Edit: I can edit again!

A massive defining trait of toon force is that it’s effectiveness is depends on how funny the given situation is. The best example of this is this clip from Who Framed Roger Rabbit (image version if you can’t see it). But a lot of people I’ve talked to about it just take it at base value and act like it’s high durability with a wacky twist. So I posit that in the future anyone who argues for a toon force character has to give a funny scenario for them to plausibly win. And yes, humor is subjective but there should be an attempt. Give your stupidest scenario for the character to win in.
“Bugs Bunny pulls out a comically large meat bone and makes Goku play fetch with it. Unbeknownst to Goku, bugs tossed the bone over a cliff.”
“Tom and Jerry trick Naruto into visiting a realistic looking ramen shop but it turns out it’s a trap and after entering it Naruto gets covered in feathers and a fake beak. A bunch of nearby dogs mistake him for a meal and he’s chased out of the arena.”
“Wil E. Coyote pulls out his ACME Luffy Killer (it’s a piece of meat under an anvil, 80 tons of dynamite, a hydrogen bomb, and a piano)”
And to keep things interesting if your opponent makes an even more bizarre scenario you lose by default.
“Bugs turns to see Goku could actually fly the whole time and is crushed when Goku drops the bone on him thinking it was part of the game.”
“Naruto returns to the arena with a chicken army after accidentally seducing the female chicken population, resulting in their rooster husbands chasing him too. The stampede crushes Tom and Jerry.”
“Will E Coyote forgets he was actually fighting Vegeta and gets beaten up.”
Stupid stuff like that

Hi everyone! My husband and I are considering starting a family and are curious about the logistics of hiring a nanny. We're wondering about the costs involved and how many hours typically nannies work. How do you find one, and what are the average rates and schedules for a nanny in JC? Any insights or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

First/Previous/Next
“So how far is this Grand Library from here?” Jack asked as he and Chiyo left the school quickly to avoid the afternoon rush at the end of the day.
The Etheria Grand Library is located towards the east of the city, Chiyo told him. About an hour away travelling on foot. Like the school, it was founded eons ago by a large congregation of Etheria worshipers, who is a Goddess of Discovery and Information.
“Wait, so why isn’t Etheria a patron god of the school?” Jack asked, feeling a bit confused. “It kinda sounds like that’d be their thing?
”She is a patron. Chiyo smiled patiently. However she is not a founder. She was unaffiliated with the founder gods at the time of the school’s creation, but supported the school once her church discovered it, which would likely have been soon after founding given their proximity, though since this we’re talking millenia not much is known other than that. Today the school has many gods that support it, though the founders are more publicly recognised and honoured.
“Fair enough.” Jack shrugged. “And you mentioned how big the place is before…”
It’s huge! Chiyo exclaimed, before turning more serious. We can have a look around if we have time, but we have a lot of specific research to do first, and I figured we might as well get you registered. I know there were some things you wanted to research yourself.
“Yeah.” Jack nodded with a sigh. “I still want answers. The Oracle didn’t have any, but what they did have just gave me more questions. I know Mr Sparrel says that this ‘Sable Krynn’ person can help me, but I might as well see what the library can tell me.”
I know, Chiyo told him, sensing the sadness in Jack’s aura that the deathworlder refused to let bubble to the surface. We won’t give up. There’s got to be answers somewhere!
“Speaking of answers…” Jack changed the subject, conscious of the fact that thinking too much about his situation would only make him feel shitty again. “Do you know what we need to focus on to get what we’re looking for?”
It’s tricky, because we have no names or references for the area we’re heading to. Chiyo sighed. The only things we have are coordinates and knowledge that there’s a Shrine to Elphil guarded by a Circle of Greenwardens. Not exactly much to go on.
“If the library does maps and stuff we might be able to refine our search if it tells us the landmarks?” Jack suggested, trying to be helpful.
It does, Chiyo acknowledged. However you will have to see it for yourself. At least we have the name ‘Cypherport’ to work with, perhaps that will give us some more information to work with…
“Hope so.” Jack nodded with a grimace. “The name of the river or surrounding areas would be something at least. The locals probably know more, but we won’t be able to talk to them until we’re actually there.”
Well, we’ll find out soon. Chiyo smiled. But first things first, we need to get you registered…
*****
That’s it in the distance, can you see? Chiyo asked a while later as the two of them made their way down one of the widest streets Jack had seen. Despite the easily accommodated heavy flow of traffic, there seemed to be an unofficial ‘order’ to how people walked, with most people walking on the left hand side in the direction they were going, with a few large megafauna species plodding along the very edges, while smaller species stuck to the middle.
Jack followed the direction in which Chiyo’s slender finger was pointing, and just as a large, elephant-like person moved out of the way he saw it.
A collection of connected, huge glass skyscrapers on the horizon was ablaze with light, as it caught and reflected the ambient glow of the neon-lit streets surrounding it. Almost like a translucent dome, he could see enchanted runes swirling ever so faintly in the air even from a distance in an ever-changing tapestry of colours that got more lush and vibrant with every passing moment, almost like the place reacted to being observed. Certainly, the library seemed to constantly pulse with energy, radiating an aura of power that clearly distinguished it apart from anything surrounding it.
“Well it’s kinda hard to miss,” Jack joked with a hearty chuckle, awestruck by the sheer grandeur of the place. “Bloody hell…”
It very much rivals the Temple of Hope in power and influence. Chiyo smiled, enjoying Jack’s obvious amazement. Many powerful mages over the eons have added their own contributions to the place. Not just knowledge or monetary donations, but magical defences too. What you’re seeing is one of the greatest magical barriers I have ever seen, and that’s just what you see from here!
“Is that kinda like the Eladrie magic thing Alora had with the home district?” Jack asked curiously.
Kind of, but this is infinitely more powerful and precise. Chiyo giggled. Not even the Killer Klown would be insane enough to attack the library!“
I can see why you like it so much!” Jack grinned as he gazed with amazement at the tall, elegant structures. Looking closer, Jack could see a few more crystalline buildings cresting the horizon, and he realised that they were also part of the same complex, seeing more and more as they got closer. The structures seemed to balance both elegance and functionality, as he saw one of the structures surrounded by scaffolding and large flying vehicles of some kind that looked as if they were aiding in the construction of another floor. “Damn, just how big is this place, Chiyo?”
It encompasses many large districts, though the clerics of Etheria try their best not to overextend, Chiyo excitedly told him. Though they have needed to extend into more districts in the past, it is only done by agreement of any residents, who are generously compensated and rehomed inside library territory. The residential districts around here all swear their fealty to the library in exchange for protection and employment opportunities, it’s really an ideal place to live!“
Damn, they even have drones too!” Jack pointed, as he spotted what he could only describe as a ‘flock’ of them, hovering in formation with crystalline wings around the perimeter of the districts, glowing with soft blue light as they danced through the air.
Of course they have drones! Chiyo laughed. Some of the best Magitech around, even Myrodin would struggle trying to match it!
As they got closer, Jack could see several holographic displays near the entrance to the library districts, that seemed to cycle through different planets, creatures, artefacts or anything else that looked exciting, which he presumed were for the benefit of the youngsters that stood there watching in amazement at the captivating holograms.
We’ll need to head straight to the reception. Chiyo told him. Though it isn’t mandatory, I think it would be best to get you registered first, then once their checks and processes are done you can take advantage of the more advanced benefits of the library and run some searches. Have you thought about what search terms you want to prioritise?“
Yeah, I have a few ideas.” Jack nodded. “But you mentioned that it’s more of a long-term thing to have running, right?”
For a search like that it will definitely require the use of the long-term services, the Ilithii confirmed. As well as the cooperation of the scholars to keep you informed with what they find. However, since you’re an Outsider, you might be able to negotiate something if you give them some information about where you’re from. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone took you up on that, but unfortunately it would take a couple of days for you to be fully signed up.
“Well, we’re here on business.” Jack shrugged with a grimace. “Plus Alora’s the negotiator. I’m not the most talkative, especially since I got here.”
You’ll be fine, Chiyo dismissed. I reckon the moment they mention on your account that you’re an Outsider looking for answers one of the scholars will be practically begging to talk to you. Whether or not they’ll be able to help though…
“We won’t know until we try.” Jack nodded, turning away slightly to avoid revealing the look of trepidation on his face. “But it can wait for now.”
After passing a checkpoint manned by several wizards and drones that simply scanned them on their way in, with a few strange looks at Jack for good measure the two of them made it into the library proper. Looking around, the streets of pale yellow brick were immaculately clean, with vigilant guards being a very common sight as they headed to the tallest skyscraper at the heart of the territory paved out clearly before them as the main path began branching off in a tidy order, highlighted by different coloured signs with runes not even Chiyo could identify. Many service robots were patrolling around the place, offering to guide the two of them more than once around the maze of smaller coloured crystal huts around them.
Approaching the large building, Jack was momentarily confused as he couldn’t find the entrance, before Chiyo patiently guided him to a seemingly blank metal wall, which gracefully parted into a gateway, almost as if the metal was made out of liquid. Several sparks then popped into existence and formed into arrows, bidding them to enter, which they both did without much need for prompting.
The massive reception area of the library was far larger on the inside than Jack expected it to be. It was a sprawling expanse of fine polished marble that reflected the lights above, with high ceilings adorned by floating crystalline chandeliers that each emitted a gentle glow, the colour of which slowly changed, fading in and out from one hue to the next.
Numerous desks were strategically arranged in the reception area, though Jack was quite surprised to find no queues at any of them for patrons who needed assistance, almost like there were just enough for everybody to not have to wait. Walking forward, he could see that the desks were quite uniform, consisting of sleek, dark wood with some metallic enhancements, each with an array of blue holographic terminals and droids working away on paperwork, while the blue robed receptionists happily spoke to the customers, looking comfortable in their oversized relaxation chairs.
As Jack and Chiyo looked around for a spare desk they could go to, the sparks reappeared as if reading their minds, quickly pointing and guiding them along the rows of desks, with nobody showing any signs that they saw them as they passed.
Soon enough, they were led to a free desk with a young looking avian being with huge, bulging eyes, reminiscent of an owl.
“Good afternoon!” They softly called out to them, gesturing with a feathered claw. “Please sit. How may I be of assistance?”
Greetings, Chiyo began, indicating Jack. We have a few inquiries, but I would firstly like to get my friend here registered to the library.
“Aaaah! A new scholar joins us!” The owl-like being chirped excitedly as he turned to the human. “Most excellent! Could you hold out your hand for me please?”
“Um…sure?” Jack did as instructed, not sure why he had to.
“Thank you,” The receptionist hooted as they gently grabbed Jack’s palm and cast a spell. Resisting the urge to yank away, Jack waited patiently for a few moments the owl-like bring did their thing, looking a little confused at places before finally ending the spell.
“Excellent, we’re mostly done with your registration, I just need to note down some details. You are an Outsider, are you not?”
“I am, yes.” Jack nodded with a sigh.
“I knew it! That’s why I had a little bit of trouble. My magic reacted a bit strangely with you, but I was able to get what I need. Would you be alright waiting a few minutes while I note this all down?”
“Sure, no problem!” Jack smiled, trying his best to look reassuring, though the receptionist did seem to wither slightly under his gaze.
They waited there patiently for several minutes in silence, occasionally interrupted by the receptionist asking Jack a few seemingly random questions that didn’t seem important to him at all, though Chiyo encouraged him to answer honestly.
“Alright, we’re almost done…” The receptionist concluded. “And finally, what name do you want to appear on your library card?”
“Jack Frost.” The human replied instantly.
The receptionist nodded, typing away quickly on their terminal, before a series of strange sounds occurred as a small, blue card magically materialised on the desk in front of Jack.
“And with that, your card is ready!” The receptionist grinned. “However it will take some time for you to be fully integrated into our system, so you won’t be able to access our advanced features at this time.”
“Right…” Jack nodded unsurely as he picked the card up and had a look. “Does it…like…do anything?”
“Do anything?” The owl-like being asked curiously. “Ah! Right! As an Outsider you may not be familiar with the concept of a ‘Library Card’. Basically, if you need any of our services, you can scan the card along with anything else required by the specific service, and you will need if if you wish to copy any digital records we have, or even borrow one of our tomes, though a magical binding would be required.”
“Alright, sounds good!” Jack smiled as he pocketed the card.
“Now was there anything else I can assist you wish?” The receptionist asked.
Yes. Chiyo nodded, while sliding a small credstick along the table. I need to know where I can find information on the wilderness to the west of the city, and I’d also like to run a search on a species of ‘giants’.
“Ah, certainly!” The receptionist excitedly replied as he pocketed the credstick. “Let me see…”
*****
I’m not bothered about where things are on the priority list, finding out a few things about River Giants is going to be simple enough, so I want to get that done first. Chiyo grinned, as the two of them had exited the reception and gone down the corridor the friendly sparks had indicated. Though the Lexicon of Sapient Species is gigantic, narrowing it down to ‘Megafauna’ and ‘Giant’ should make things a bit easier for us and narrow down the search time.
As they dutifully followed the floating sparks, Jack looked around at the expansive corridor, seeing that there was more than met the eye. The walls weren’t static, and had that similar fluidity that the outside did, with animated scenes playing out along them in intricate detail, with battles, sermons and other scenes coming to life. He could even swear that some of the depictions were reacting to the two of them as they walked past…As the sparks directed them to turn to their right, they found that this new corridor was now lined by magical statues sculpted from strange materials Jack couldn’t identify that almost seemed to defy the laws of physics, with several whispers speaking various one-lines with the gravitas that indicated famous quotes by famous people from history. And what followed was even stranger....
Occasionally as they walked they would see archways adorned with glowing runes, and it was one of these that the sparks directed them to enter. It was obviously some kind of magical portal, and as they both approached, Jack could feel the energy coming off of it, like static in the air. Not willing to let his trepidation show in front of Chiyo, he quickly followed after the Ilithii, closing his eyes tight as he went through. He cursed as, for a brief moment, it was as if the temperature had turned down to a polar level, leaving him clutching and rubbing at his arms, but after that nanosecond the heat was back to a much warmer room temperature than what they had just left.
Jack, are you okay? Chiyo asked in concern.
“Yeah.” Jack sighed as he opened his eyes again. “Not done that before though. That felt weird as fuck.”
It’s something you get used to. Sorry, I didn’t realise you might not have done it before. Anyway, here we are at the Lexicon!
The first thing Jack took note of was not the enormous bookshelves lining the walls, nor the detailed art of different peoples painted on the ceiling, but rather the strange aromas, like a great clash of ozone, ancient parchment and incense that stung his nostrils. He’d smelt something similar at his old school on Earth, where one of the lecture theatres simply stunk permanently, and it wasn’t a smell anybody else seemed to comment on.
“Alright.” Jack nodded. “While we might have a system on Earth for organising libraries, I don’t exactly see any decent signs here, just the numbers and letters of the rows…”
We need to access a terminal first, Chiyo explained for him, pointing at a set of blue screens in a nearby alcove. This might be the more tedious bit…
Sitting down on a pair of plush, comfortable chairs in the alcove, the two of them quickly got to work, quickly typing in the filters for ‘Megafauna’ and ‘Giant.’
The sheer number of results they got back emphasised a pretty big problem.
“Well, that’s a lot,” Jack noted. “And I can’t see the word ‘Giant’ anywhere!”
I believe the term ‘River Giant’ must not be the actual name of the species, more like an exonym, Chiyo lamented. And I don’t know what they call themselves.
“I guess we need some more filters then.” Jack sighed. “Well, we know they have a connection to rivers and they live nearby at least.”
That’s true. Chiyo conceded. Very well, let’s see what we get…
It took about half an hour to narrow the search results down just enough for the two of them to start looking through the shelves to see what they could find, and it wasn’t much. Though the Ootheethooshi, the sea-dwelling ‘Ocean Giants’ and the Seethuunatshi, the ugly-looking ‘Marsh Giants’ were quite close, Jack didn’t feel like he had found anything useful.
Jack, I might have something here, but it isn’t much. Come take a look? Chiyo asked, and he quickly followed the Ilithii’s signs to find her perusing what was little more than a few sentences.
“Shame they don’t have a picture,” Jack pointed out. “But I’ve had a few species with this ‘shi’ as a suffix, and all of them were giants. If we use that as a pattern, these ‘Asiideenoonshi’ might be what we’re looking for.”
Well, these are said to be green of skin and have some semi-amphibious traits, whatever that means. They worship Illis, who is a minor goddess of travel, and are culturally very religious and a primarily nomadic race that tend to keep to themselves most of the time unless arrangements have been made, though they take the hospitality of guests and fellow travellers very seriously. Unfortunately that’s all I have, and we’ve spent too much time on this already.
“Well if they’re going to be cooperative that’s great, if this is even the right entry for them.” Jack snorted in amusement. “Right, next I guess we’ve got to find out more about the area of operation. You said that was harder, right?”
Yep, though we want to find out what we can! Chiyo grinned, as Jack stifled a yawn. Let’s go!
*****
“Got anything on Cypherport?” Jack asked several hours later, as the two of them tried to compile as much information as they could on the area. Jack had discovered the river, which he had found about three different names for so far but was most commonly referred to as Gozrith’s Fingers, and that the wilderness around had a history of farming when it was settled, as the river provided a decent floodplain that kept the local soil fertile, so it opened up the possibility of still-standing abandoned buildings to take shelter in or comb for valuables.
I’ve found a little, Chiyo began. Cypherport is so named because of a strange runic obelisk of some kind that’s been there as early as records tell me. It’s apparently unbreakable, and the runes change every so often. Nobody knows what the obelisk is actually about, but that hasn’t stopped scholars from trying to find out. It’s something of a local curiosity, but aside from that, the records tell me that Cypherport began as a small community started by a cabal of wizards interested in it, which grew into the small frontier town it is today. It was described a century ago as a ‘quiet retreat from civilization.
’“So it doesn’t seem like an interesting place.” Jack shrugged. “I guess that’s good news?”
I’ll take it! The Ilithii giggled. And what did you find on the area?
“A few names on the river we can do some follow-up research on if we need to. Apparently it gets quite wild at times, so we’ll need to see what our ride is going to be like when we get there.”
That’s reasonable. Chiyo nodded. Though I somehow doubt a group of River Giants would be patrolling the river in a rubber dinghy!
“Hah! Wouldn’t that be a sight!” Jack chuckled, though he received an ethereal whisper in his ear telling him to ‘shush’.
What else did you find? Chiyo asked him.
“There’s previous signs of the area being inhabited by farmers and ranchers, though that was a long time ago. Who’s to say now?” Jack said. “Remnants of fields, fences and hedges probably, but we might have a road network we can use to make things easier.
On the plus side, that probably means no big hills or terrible terrain. Chiyo reasoned. However we might be exposed in the open if there are any enemies around.
“Yeah, I wasn’t able to find any accounts of possible monsters, but much of this information is old,” Jack noted. “It’s a shame these guys can’t seem to keep their records current.”
You’ve seen how huge this place is, Chiyo reminded him. And it’s not like the information is high in demand. Still, at least we know more now.
“That’s true.” Jack shrugged. “Though I was able to find a few references on the shrine, much of it is without any context.”
That’s good. Chiyo nodded. Did you manage to get any maps?
“Yep!” Jack grinned before his expression got more serious. “But again, not current. Still better than nothing, hopefully things won’t have changed much.”
We’d better compile and copy as much information as we can from this, Chiyo noted. We’ve managed to make the conclusions we can here, but Sephy can back it up with her datanet connections.
“And Nika will probably go over the maps with a fine toothcomb,” Jack agreed. “Alright let’s just get everything we can and we’ll go through it. We’ve still got tomorrow night, after all.”
Yes, I think we’ve done what we can here, Chiyo concluded. We’ve been working hard.
“Takeaway dinner?” Jack asked with a grin.
I’d never say no to that, but normally we’d save that for after the Run. Chiyo giggled. Nika says we need to eat super healthy beforehand, but it just makes me crave more sweets! I need energy to fuel my powers for goodness sake!
“Well…the others won’t know if we head to a bakery on the way back. I’d love to have a belgium bun or something sweet!”
I couldn’t agree with you more…
*****
As they left, a blue robed Squarri woman that had been working on the shelves nearby waited until it was safe, before quickly walking over and checking the search history on the nearby terminal.
She recognised the Outsider immediately of course - unlike her peers who were constantly too busy with research to keep up with current affairs. She felt a strong pang of guilt as she remembered seeing him on television, being lauded as a hero that fought selflessly to protect his fellow partygoers, many of whom were almost the same age as her own children.
The shame made her hesitate for a long while, but being reminded of her children strengthened her resolve.
She had done everything right, and everything she could. She and her husband had obtained an honest living working in the Grand Library, and worked hard to provide a stable living for her family, or at least the closest thing to it.
But when the attacks came, and the corporations started their war, the hard times got harder for her family every single day.
She had often gone without meals just so her children could eat what little food she could buy when Corvin Enterprises inflated the prices to extortionate levels. She remembered telling the kids that she wasn’t hungry and to eat up, when in reality the only reason she didn’t starve was the allocation of meals at the Library.
Bills were high, rent was due…her job at the library was stable and the work was good and kept them going so far, but with the chaos the city was in, it just wouldn’t be enough anymore.
The only thing she had left to pay with was her soul. She made the call.
“That Outsider you’re looking for, I know where he’s going to be,” she reported, not bothering with any pleasantries.
Nobody would ever find out, but a bounty was a bounty after all, and information like this paid well….
At least her family would eat tonight.
*****
First/Previous/Next
Hard times can force anyone into desperation...
But hey! I think the library was pretty cool!
Don't forget to check out The Galactic High Info Sheet! If you want to remind yourself of certain characters and factions. One new chapter a week can seem like a while! Don't forget! You all have the ability to leave comments and notes to the entries, which I encourage you to do!
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As always I love to see the comments on what you guys think!
Don't forget to join the discussion with us on Discord, and consider checking me out on Youtube if you haven't already! Until next week, it's goodbye for now!

I'm an atheist, my husband is Buddhist. Neither of us follow Jesus or believe in any God. For me, I spent years trying to believe, because I had joined a certain church (ahem...cult). I was never mentally all in, but tried. By the time I met my husband, I knew that I didn't believe in all of that, and it was fabulous. We have a 6 year old, and live in an area with lots and lots of churches and believers. We are also good friends with a neighbor who is a member of the aforementioned church (ahem...cult). She keeps hearing about JC and god... We try to explain, but also that it's not our jam. But tread lightly because she is that kid who would repeat it and I don't want her ostracized at school (we know that would be on those doing the ostricizing, but again, she's only 6). But REALLY. How do YOU explain this stuff to young kids?

Any advice is appreciated (and understood that no lawyer here is my lawyer.) I’m in RI and my understanding is this is a credit card debt of around 2k and originates in TX, where neither my husband or I have ever lived.
We just got a call from a process server saying they attempted to serve notice for a small claims suit from a JC Penny card open in 2008, with payments made until 2017. They were unable to serve it (“incomplete address”), but gave us the name of the law office handling it.
My husband is in the middle of making calls right now. This is not our debt. We have a JC Penney card in good standing.
We did receive a call about a card in his name at one point, 5 or 6 years ago, and filed a complaint about it with the debt collector and the credit bureaus. It has never appeared on his credit report—we’ve been checking both our reports as part of setting up good finances since we had our kid in 2010.
What steps do should we be taking to make sure we don’t end up saddled with this?
Possibly relevant: I handle all the financials and the only people either of us know in TX are in a cemetery.

I could really use some real-life insights, financial advice, critiques or experiences to help me decide if going to grad school is in my foreseeable future.
Here's some quick points:

• I'm nearly 32 yo.
• Married (husband is main $$ winner currently)
• Have a toddler in daycare part-time
• Am currently a SAHM working flexibly as a marketing freelancer with 8 years work experience (not making much $$ at the moment, but we get by)
• Did GE at a JC between 2011-2012
• Graduated from Cal Poly SLO in 2015
• Am only considering programs offered Online (I'm not in a city close enough that i'm willing to commute hybrid schedule)

The issue at hand:
I'm at a turning point right now because we truly need more income coming in, which means I probably SHOULD go back to work full-time, however, I can't shake the feeling that I should rather use this time to advance my career by means of doing a complete 180 and do what I believe I ACTUALLY want to be doing, which is studying Psychology.
Marketing work is super competitive at the moment, and since I've been out of full-time/agency work for the last 3 years, I'm finding it hard to compete in this industry, and my ambition to is simply not there because I don't want to be doing the work any longer.
I haven't been in a student in what feels like centuries lol so I have absolutely no idea on resources to accurately determine financial aid options, how to determine the best programs to apply to, and how online grad programs calculate their tuition (i.e in-state vs out of state?)
Any input from those who are in the process of applying, are currently studying, or have done it, please share your knowledge with me!
Sincerely,
A mom wanting to pursue her passions, not break the bank, and somehow not feel guilty for even having such thoughts 😶
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