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91 Hours After the First Round of Interloper Interrogations. UNAFS Perseverance. Hangar Bay.
Evina
The stage was set, and my game face was on. It had to be, especially with what Vir had concocted over the course of his sleepless night.
The realization that AI didn’t exactly… sleep, was something I’d expected. But I’d at least thought the sleepless downtime would be used for something remotely related to downtime, something like maintenance, server repairs, or just anything at least remotely related to a decrease in productivity if only to relax.
I certainly wasn’t expecting that downtime to result in the creation of a literal sci-fi arsenal that now sat there, waiting for me just in front of the shuttle.
“A gift, Evina.” The AI spoke, gesturing to what could only be described as a small procession of bots, carts, and self-navigating cargo containers; all of which kept Eslan’s curiosities at a constant all-time high as he walked around the collection of bots, his eyes enamored by every little detail of each and every one of them.
But it was what was inside and within the containers that sat atop of those autonomous machines which was what I was really interested in. Moreover, it was a particular outfit currently sitting there on top of a felinor mannequin that really drew most of my attention.
Though the term outfit would definitely be underselling it. As what was being offered to me now was something that could no longer be found anywhere else on the continent, save for the odd military bunker and of course, the books and iterative memories belonging to that of the pre-war world.
To put it simply, it resembled advanced police armor, or maybe even military. Though its sleek design, metal pieces, and thinner silhouette put me in mind more of the former than the latter.
More to the point, it seemed to be capable of being fitted atop of my regular gear, instead of requiring me to swap it out entirely; consisting of three distinct pieces that resembled a pair of pants, a jacket, and a helmet.
I took a moment to stare at it intently, analyzing every last detail of it, from its space-age aesthetics of shiny plastics to matte metal chrome, to its soft interior that seemed to be gel-lined with some weird jelly-like fluid.
Moreover, I seized the moment to tease Eslan, as I turned towards him, then Vir, in rapid succession. “I’m assuming the gift isn’t for Eslan, right?” I snickered, prompting the smaller felinor to pout in a fit of resentful jealousy.
“I can arrange one for him if you’d like.” The AI responded casually, as if hinting at the fact that this wasn’t a one-off project, that this wasn’t just something pulled from storage and simply tailored down to my size.
“Let me guess, you have an entire factory deep within the ship somewhere?” I asked, half sarcastic, and half serious, knowing full well the answer could go either way given the track record of everything else on the ship I’d seen so far.
“Right on the money there, Evina.” Vir responded with an electronic chirp, prompting me to re-evaluate both the ship’s unfathomable capabilities, and the two dorks that were in charge of it all.
Nevertheless, it would seem as if Eslan was excited by the prospect, as he began pulling the armor pieces off of the mannequin, examining the finer details before handing them off for me to wear.
“I’m assuming the gel-like internal padding is a sort of passive heat regulator?” The felinor asked.
“Yes, but more than that, it acts as a layer of thermal insulation against energy-based attacks that manage to penetrate the ceramo-reflective plating lining the outside of the armor. This version’s passive since I don’t think you’ll be encountering anything like that on the surface but…” The AI shrugged ominously. “It’s lightweight, comfy, and there’s also ballistic-weave and kinetic-resistant properties embedded in the fabric. Along with some kinetic resistance that’ll help stop projectiles in their tracks if they penetrate the outer layers and somehow manage to make it through to the gel. Think non-newtonian fluid.” The AI’s platform shrugged. “Anyways, I thought it’d be a good, light-weight, adaptable, no-frills all rounder you could keep even after the mission’s end.” The AI explained, prompting me to more or less double-down on my re-evaluation of its seemingly conflicting personality matrix.
Vir was… complicated. In a good way. Seemingly practical, level-headed, tactical, and terrifyingly efficient on one hand, but also very much personable, surprisingly relatable, and most reassuring of all… self-reflective to the point of empathy and benevolence.
My first iteration was practically working overdrive trying to make heads or tails of him.
But my current mind was simply occupied with getting the armor on, which was more or less straightforward.
It was, surprisingly, lightweight. Like wearing a trimmed-down flak jacket that hugged and tightened to your form. The pants were the same story, which only left the helmet that I was hesitant to try on given its roundish shape and tight squeeze.
I examined it, looking inside as I noticed two little indents marking the recesses where my ears could actually comfortably fit.
“I’ve taken the liberty of creating a few modifications to the human baseline design in order to accommodate for your alien anatomy. I learned this the hard way when Lysara first donned a human helmet. It was… not fun, to say the very least.” The AI managed out with a nervous chuckle.
The idea of Lysara’s frills being squished inside a round helmet with no room for that sensitive looking extension of his head sent shivers up my spine. But then again, this made me even more curious as to just what these humans looked like if they lacked frills, ears, or anything else adorning their heads.
“I’m guessing the human-baseline must be really boring then.” I managed out unexpectedly, garnering a cock of the AI’s head. “You know what I mean right? What with having just a round space to shove their heads into. No frills, ears, or anything.”
“Ah, well, I can definitely see where you’re coming from with that.” Vir chuckled in response. “But honestly their appearance is not a big secret or anything. I can just pull up a-”
“Ah! Good morning, Evina!” Lysara announced brightly, cutting Vir off mid sentence as he jumped down from the shuttle and back onto the hangar bay proper. “I’ve been doing some final checks just to make sure we’re ready to go. Sorry I didn’t come out to greet you earlier.” The alien paused just before reaching me however, as he looked me up and down, then smiled. “I see Vir has been up to his usual work.”
“Seems so.” I shrugged. “In any case, I’m feeling more ready than I was just a few minutes ago, which I didn’t think was even possible, so thanks, Vir.” I gave Vir another nod of appreciation, before turning back to Lysara. “We're good to go, then?”
“As ready as ever.” Lysara responded promptly, surprising me with his register slowly shifting more towards something normal, rather than being entirely pulled from a university thesaurus.
Maybe I was starting to rub off of whatever translation software he was using.
“In any case, I don’t think I’ll be using your toys for the time being, Vir.” I gestured towards the rows upon rows of black and chrome weapons alike. Most of them resembled somewhat traditional looking firearms, whilst others were more or less pulled from the pages of science fiction, what with their tapered ‘muzzles’, and raygun-looking grips. “And it’s that I don’t trust that they could do some damage. It’s just a safer bet if I went with what I know. It’s better to use a gun you’ve trained and lived with, than a new one you’ve just messed around with the night prior.” I smiled, more or less alluding to the small escapade the AI and I went on for a short hour after the dinner. “Though I do thank you kindly for the ammo for my revolver, I’d say it’ll be helpful but… I’d rather not say anything at all until we get to our destination.”
The AI responded with a simple sharp dip of his head. “Chemically-derived combustion sluggers are always a solid choice. I wish you all the best, and I hope you don’t end up having to use that gun. I’ll make sure my boys take good care of you and Lysara.”
With a final exchange of nods, Lysara and I strode off and into the shuttle.
But just as we reached the precipice, I turned back, if only to give Eslan a reassuring hug. “I’ll be back sooner than you expect. So don’t get bored now.” I offered, prompting the smaller felinor to grin widely.
“Oh don’t you worry about getting bored.” He gestured to the space around him. “I probably won’t even be done with this room by the time you’re back.”
“Just make sure to save some mysteries for me. Oh, and Vir?” I turned to Vir for a moment, garnering a small cock of his head.
“Yes, Evina?”
“Do make sure that you tire him out some with your explanations. I’d rather come back to a quiet bedroom to pass out in, rather than one with an excitable Eslan ready to chew my ear out with his latest discoveries on the ship’s deep lore.” I jokingly ordered, prompting Eslan to give me his signature side-eye.
Following a dumb smile of my own signaling our temporary goodbyes, I soon found myself back within the bowels of the shuttle. Except this time, the backramp cargo bay seemed to be chock-full of those heavy-duty combat bots I caught glimpses of back in the forests.
In fact, every corner of the shuttle’s cargo bay seemed to be crammed to the brim with one or another form of combat drone. From flying drones, to clusters of those smaller insect-drones, to what looked to be oversized spiders ready to drop from the ceiling at a moment’s notice.
The whole space seemed to be decked out for combat.
Which gave me a lot of confidence about the outcome of this mission.
Lysara and I didn’t say much as we both made our way towards the cockpit, strapped into our respective seats, and began the nausea-inducing flight out of the ship’s hangar bay, and down towards the planet.
A whole minute passed in absolute silence as I tried to steady myself for what was to come.
“So, let’s go over a few of the key details for this mission.” Lysara suddenly broke the silence, bringing up a top-down map of the forests, with the facility in question highlighted in orange. “We’re going to be landing in a clearing made by Vir.” The map shifted, highlighting a very conspicuous open clearing of trees and a charred forest floor that made it very clear something big had happened here very recently.
If I’d seen that place from the ground? I’d have probably cited that aliens did it.
Which, ironically, would’ve been more on the money than I could’ve ever thought possible.
“From there, we march through the open clearing made by Vir, with drones taking point, up and towards the facility.” The map shifted once more, highlighting yet another clearing that more or less formed a clean path towards the entrance of the bunker. “From there, I assume you know your role?”
“Yup, if my prior iterations come through on this one, I’ll open the facility door, and from there… We head inside, and see what’s what.” I responded.
“The drones will make the first move, we’ll have two squads proceed inside and ascertain if it’s safe to enter. After confirming that all hazards are within a tolerable margin of safety, we’ll proceed.”
“Understood.” I acknowledged with a heavy sigh, my eyes trained on the continent that now took up most of our cockpit view.
“Whatever happens, I know for a fact we’ll be safe as long as we play it safe.” Lysara tried filling the silence with his own brand of reassurance.
“I know. But it’s not so much the physical dangers I’m worried about.” I managed out, before pausing, as my eyes once more strayed towards the top-down view of the mission map. “It’s what we’re going to find inside the facility that worries me.”
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(Author’s Note: Evina gets a cool new outfit for her mission, Eslan is promised an entire day of having his sci fi interests satiated, and we're now on our way with Lysara down towards the signal station! The next chapter is already out on Patreon as well if you want to check it out!)
[If you guys want to help support me and these stories, here's my ko-fi ! And my Patreon for early chapter releases (Chapter 96 of this story is already out on there!)]

Reddit Account: u/deepbeepbeep
Discord Tag: spicybadgercurry
Name and House: Emmon Flowers (bastard of Holyhall)
Age: 26
Cultural Group: Primarily Andal descent, Reachman
Appearance: Inclined to being a little plump, with chestnut colored hair and hazel eyes. Plainer than most singers in dress and appearance, favoring brown and white over more gaudy colors.
Trait: Erudite
Skill(s): Investigator, Espionage, Scholar, Scribe, Ravenmaster
Talent(s): Lute player, good singing voice
Negative Trait(s):
Starting Title(s): Bastard of Holyhall, the Maid of Holyhall (derogatory)
Starting Location: Opening Event
Alternate Characters: Yes (see below)
Name and House: Jocelyn Graceford
Age: 25
Cultural Group: Primarily Andal descent, Reachman
Appearance: Was mauled by a hunting dog when she was young, ruining her face and any chances of a decent marriage. Has deep brown eyes, and hair like a raven’s wing – though for the most part, Jocelyn wears a dark veil over her face, hiding the bulk of the damage.
Trait: Insidious
Skill(s): Covert, Rumormonger, Devious
Talent(s): Chronicler, poet, embroiderer
Negative Trait(s):
Starting Title(s): Hermit of Holyhall, Hag of Holyhall (derogatory)
Starting Location: Opening Event
Biographies
Emmon Flowers:
Born just a year prior to the Conquest, Emmon is the product of his father (also named Emmon), who was the sickly heir to Holyhall at the time, and Septa Ynys, who had arrived with Lord Willem (Emmon Graceford’s father)’s second wife, Rhea Merryweather, as an attendant. Septa Ynys gave birth to Emmon Flowers after his father’s death from disease. Emmon Sr. had been aware of his child’s coming, and was hoping to live long enough to meet the child he never believed he would have – though that wouldn’t be the case.
Septa Ynys was called back to do penance for the sin of Emmon Flowers, and Emmon himself was taken to be raised by septons so that he might also do penance for the sin of existing – by becoming a septon himself. Lord Willem, who outlived his son and was hoping to have more children by his second wife, was glad of the disposal of an inconvenient bastard – the resemblance of the infant to his father at that age was more hurtful than gratifying.
Emmon learned music and scholarship (religious and otherwise) with the septons, but was known for being a bit too inquisitive and curious for his own good, despite being otherwise pliant and eager to please. Brief talk was made of sending him to the Maesters, but the Faith believed that Emmon was what was owed to them – after all, he had been born of the Faith.
When he was sixteen, Emmon finally retaliated against another bullying novice – landing one punch on the other boy. Unfortunately, the other boy was slightly more martial, and Emmon came out the worse of the two in the fight. Something about this particular incident, however, convinced the septons that Emmon was more trouble than he was worth – perhaps it was the straw that broke the stallion’s back, amongst all the inconvenient questions Emmon would raise. Either way, Emmon was sent back to Holyhall.
Lord Willem was still alive at the time, but by then had only had a daughter, Jocelyn, by his second wife, the Lady Rhea. He took in Emmon purely to avoid the scandal that would have arisen by having the bastard of Holyhall out on the street, and gave him no other kindness but this.
Emmon spent his time playing music as the resident musician at Holyhall, which gave him at least some purpose, and assisted the Maester with the tending of ravens.
When Emmon was twenty, Lord Willem died suddenly – and the only child that remained was Jocelyn, who had always been kind to Emmon, but who had a talent for intrigue that frightened Emmon to an extent. He saw it coming that he would become part of her machinations, but had no real way of stopping it. At least he would be able to continue his music and studies. At least there would be that.
Timeline
1 BC – Emmon Flowers is born, Emmon Graceford dies. Septa Ynys is sent away to do penance, Emmon is given to septons.
15 AC – Emmon sent in disgrace back to Holyhall
20 AC – Death of Lord Willem Graceford. Ascension of Jocelyn Graceford, Lady of Holyhall
23 AC – Emmon sent to King’s Landing to serve as a singer and the eyes and ears of his aunt
Jocelyn Graceford
Jocelyn was born to the second wife of Willem Graceford and was the only child of this marriage to survive to adulthood – though that very nearly didn’t happen. Jocelyn was badly disfigured by a hunting dog when she was seven years old, and despite treatments by a maester, was ultimately disfigured. Thankfully, she had been able to keep her eyes and tongue. After this, her father abandoned his hopes of arranging a suitable betrothal for her.
Lord Willem had hoped to have a son and heir by his new wife to replace his deceased first heir, but unfortunately, only Jocelyn survived. Rhea Merryweather tried to give her husband a new son and heir, but her multiple pregnancies after Jocelyn only resulted in stillbirths or children who, to the despair of their parents, died in the cradle days after birth.
After his wife finally expired in childbed when Jocelyn was nineteen, Willem was quickly making plans to take a new wife, only to die suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving Jocelyn the Lady of Holyhall.
There are rumors Jocelyn poisoned her father, to prevent him from creating a new heir and sending her to the silent sisters. She denies these rumors.
Because of her disfigurement, Jocelyn tends to not leave Holyhall unless there is great cause for it, or if she cares for those she visits, such as family at Longtable. She wears a long dark veil over her face, to hide the bulk of the damage, and even at Holyhall, only her Maester has seen underneath the veil.
Jocelyn, despite her isolation and lack of marriage prospects, however, is interested in keeping informed, even from her seat in the Reach, and has utilized her nephew to this end.
1 AC – Conquest. Also, Jocelyn was born.
8 AC – The Hound Incident
20 AC – Death of Jocelyn’s mother, Rhea Merryweather. Later in the year, the death of Willem Graceford, Lord of Holyhall.
23 AC – Sent Emmon to King’s Landing.
Family tree: https://www.familyecho.com/?p=RC8O6&c=gwmdyzwnxei4x1xa&f=359849491848085097

In the realm of nature, nothing quite captures the awe-inspiring force of lightning. Even in our modern-day age, with all our wonders and technologies, witnessing a lightning strike and hearing its thunderous sound can’t help but leave us with a sense of awe and respect for the power of the natural world.
Among the Cherokee, a special kind of respect was paid to lightning. The burnt wood from trees struck by lightning was sought after by shamans. The wood would be buried in soil to ensure a healthy crop and warriors were rubbed with the charred wood for strength, effectively being “charged with bolts of sacred fire”.
To the Cherokee and other groups, lightning was a dramatic display from the spiritual realm, and served as a reminder of the spiritual forces that pervade the natural world and influence human life.
Interestingly, the branching pattern observed in lightning strikes is mirrored across various natural phenomena in our world, with one of the most recognizable patterns being the network of branches in trees.
This striking similarity stems from a shared principle of growth and movement: both the electric charge of lightning and the tree limb navigate from a point of lower potential to one of higher potential, albeit in opposite directions—lightning moves from a high potential charge to a lower one, while a tree limb grows towards a zone with low potential, in this case, a shaded area, towards a zone of greater potential, or sunlight exposure.
This observation highlights a universal pattern of progression; each decision branching out like the limbs of a tree or the forks of a lightning bolt. Perhaps this progression is archetypal, instilled by the Logos as a concept, which is why it is so prevalent. When perceived from a broader perspective, our lives too unfold in a similar branching design, marked by choices and diverging paths that closely resemble the intricate patterns seen in trees and lightning.
This image of a tree and lighting serves to demonstrate that the realm we inhabit is full of metaphors pointing toward higher concepts. Matter is, as the author Walter Russel wrote, “merely the record of ideas and not the ideas themselves”.
Material objects are the shadow of a greater concept which is more nebulous and abstract. The idea reigns supreme, yet its manifestation is physical form. For instance, before we create anything in the physical, it begins first as an idea in the imagination.
Within the imagination, the concept is still nebulous and it has the opportunity to take many forms. It is not yet concrete and “real”. It is still in “potential”.
Once the concept is acted upon, and work is done to bring it into form, then suddenly it has a real-world impact. It is “real”. Yet, at the same time, it’s not real. It’s only the shadow of the concept itself.
This brings up an interesting question: which is superior? The idea or the form based on the idea?
Some would suggest that the point of art, for instance, is to convey concepts. Observing a masterpiece allows us to converse with concepts of a higher order, transcending the physicality of the art piece itself. It matters not what medium the art takes, what matters is the concept that is being conveyed.
This dynamic interplay between the ethereal and the tangible showcases how higher ideas manifest and how these manifestations, in turn, draw us closer to the divine.
As the author and occultist David Goddard writes in his book Tree of Sapphires,
“By the penetrative observations of the Microcosm, you receive intimations of the Macrocosm”.
Perhaps no spiritual tradition encapsulates this concept more distinctly than Qabalah.
Qabalah is a form of Jewish mysticism aimed at understanding the nature of God and the universe. It offers a framework for comprehending the relationships between the Divine, the cosmos, and humanity through a system of ten spheres (Sephiroth) and 22 paths that represent different aspects and levels of consciousness and reality.
The system is visually represented by the Tree of Life, which serves as a map illustrating how the Infinite One, or Ain Sof, interacts with the finite world. Its emanations are called Sephiroth, which are attributes or aspects of the Infinite One.
Holistically, the Tree of Life can be viewed as the process through which the Infinite One differentiates itself into physical reality, metaphorically representing the transition from 0 to 1. It also represents the path back towards unity, from the lower to the higher.
As David Goodard writes,
“It is the lighting flash from Kether at the top of the tree, down to Malkuth that shows the path of involution, or the One Life-Power descending, plane by plane, veiling itself in denser vibratory states.
The sequence of the lighting flash from Malkuth ascending to Kether is the way of evolution, termed the Path of the Return.”
It is the Path of the Return that we will be discussing - starting with the very last sphere on the tree: Malkuth
Malkuth
The Tree of Life is a visual metaphor for how the One differentiates itself into many. One way to study the tree is to see it as a system of triangles made up of various interconnected paths. These paths are described as Activating, Formative and Balancing.
The author Robert Wang in his book The Qabalistic Tarot writes,
“...each of the key triangles on the Tree refers to one part of the Soul: The Supernal Triangle is the Supreme Spiritual Self, the Ethical Triangle is the Higher Self, and the Astral Triangle is the Personality in incarnation.”
In addition, he writes “the core structure of each part of the Self is composed of three aspects, an Activating (Yod-Fire), a Formative (Heh-Water) and an energy which is Balancing (Vau-Air)”
Therefore, each sphere works with the other to form the whole. The only exception is the final sphere, Malkuth. Malkuth contains all three aspects and includes a fourth: “Heh” or “Earth”. Yod Heh Vau Heh, also known as the Tetragrammaton, or the “unprounceable name of God”. Malkuth is the solidified end result of the actions of the Yod Heh and Vau.
You might also liken these forces to the Hegelian dialectic of Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis.
The forces can also be thought of states of consciousness.
The Tree of Life is also divided into three Pillars. The left Pillar are considered “active” forces and the spheres on the right side of the Pillar are considered “formative” or “passive” forces. Within the Middle are the equalibrating forces, considered consciousness itself by Qabalaist.
To visualize this better, think of music played from a guitar. The string is the formative, or passive force, the tension and vibration of the string is the active force, yet without the balancing force of the musician, no music could be created. You would just have noise.
We should regonize that there is no true beginning and no true “end”. When one looks at the Tree, both the bottom, Malkuth, and the top, Kether are both the beginning and the end. The top of the Tree contains the sphere known as Ain Soph, which is God prior to any self-manifestation, existing in no-thing, or what Ra refers to “Intelligent Infinity”.
Therefore, as the light moves further from Kether, it gradually gets stepped down into lower and lower vibrations, filtered through the activating, formative and balancing forces of each triangle.
Malkuth is denest realm on the tree, the “final” destination of the light from the One. It is the what we call the physical universe, the world of form.
In the book The Mystical Qabalah, the author and mystic Dion Fortune writes this about Malkuth,
“It is the formative, concreting function of Malkuth which finally renders tangible and definite what was, upon the higher planes, intangible and indefinite, and this is its great service to manifestation and its characteristic power.”
Within Malkuth, the tangible is precise, and the abstract takes a backseat. Forms here acquire a defined outline, in contrast to the superior spheres where the form is fluid and undefined.
Malkuth is the grounding point of the Divine’s will, where the idea finally becomes manifest.
However, the process of grounding this energy requires the use of channels and links.
Dion Fortune also writes,
“The whole problem of Malkuth is a problem of channels and connecting links. The rest of the work is done by the mind on the subtler planes; the real difficulty lies in the transition from the subtle to the dense, for the subtle is so ill-equipped to work on the dense. This transition is effected by means of the magnetism of living things, whether organic or inorganic.”
The physical, being a dense realm, can be difficult to break through without the appropriate channels and magnetism of beings and objects existing in this realm.
Being immersed in matter, it can be easy to think that we are cut off from the Divine. And, while it can be difficult to hear at times, the subtle calling of Spirit is always transmitting information.
As we work on clearing the rocks and thorns that block the heart, it becomes easier to hear the call of Spirit and to form that connection to the higher realms.
The more we form the connection and listen to the higher callings of Spirit, the greater impact Spirit can have in Malkuth.
The conduit for this connection is, of course, you. All of us have the potential to be channels for the Divine. In fact, as wanderers, this is perhaps the main reason for incarnating on this planet.
To act as that grounding point for the Divine. This is the natural role of humanity. To be the embodiment of Spirit in the physical realm of Malkuth.
This is the act of being a co-creator of the Logos.
Recall that each Logos is responsible for setting up the archetypal framework of a particular system. Everything materializing in Malkuth is a direct offspring of these archetypical blueprints.
Take, for example, the form of the galaxy. Our galaxy adopts a "spiral" configuration which one can see throughout the physical universe. This shape happens to resonate deeply with narrative structures, notably the "Hero's Journey"—a seemingly universal storytelling structure that is found in almost all myths told across cultures and time.
It can be argued that the reason this storytelling structure is so universal is because it is archetypal. That is, it is not learned, but rather inherent in all of us, accessible by those sensitive enough to perceive within the Deep Mind.
The narrative arc of the hero's journey unfolds as follows: The protagonist starts with a certain limitation, be it a belief system or another type of restraint. Eventually, the call to adventure beckons, leading them to accept this quest.
This journey propels them through trials and tribulations, adversity, and shadowy depths, facilitating their growth and leading to the acquisition of vital wisdom. After triumphing over these challenges, the hero returns, ready to embark on a new cycle, equipped with newfound insights.
This narrative framework underscores the principle of continual growth. To evolve spiritually, one must journey beyond the familiar, confront their inner darkness, and from this confrontation, arise, reborn. However, like in real life, the process is never-ending.
If one were to conceptualize this structure visually, it would mirror the form of a spiral.
Since the spiral shape is so ubiquitous, and if we understand that the Divine imprints higher concepts into the physical, then it appears that this archetypal story structure could be a universal pattern, at least in our logos.
This raises an interesting thought: galaxies with alternative formations might operate under distinct archetypal systems, a reflection of the endless variety and complexity inherent in the cosmos. Perhaps a hint as to what those archetypal frameworks could be is found it the shape of their galaxies.
How often have we heard of individuals being suddenly "struck" by a bolt of "creative genius"? Numerous tales abound of artists, scientists, writers, and the like who have given birth to magnificent creations, only to profess that the origin of their "unique" ideas felt as though they were not entirely of their own making but were, in essence, "channeled" from an external source.
This phenomenon suggests a connection to a higher reservoir of knowledge and inspiration, indicating that profound concepts are omnipresent, awaiting discovery and expression in our world.
This is part of our role here in Malkuth. To be conduits, grounding points, for higher concepts. To be the builders, where we can, of the archetypal frameworks thought up by the Logos.
This is true co-creation. To be aligned with the Divine, with Nature, allows one to receive, thus enabling them to move beyond the limitations imposed by Malkuth.
Malkuth is the first step on a journey back to the Ain Soph, back to no-thing. It is an essential step in our journey. As Dion Fortune writes,
“The Qabalah teaches that the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and that unless we learn the lessons of Malkuth there can be no lasting progress beyond. The fact is that our first spiritual lessons come from those around us.
And if we cannot function effectively on the material level, learning from the day to day patterns which we have chosen for our incarnation, it is unlikely that we will be able to function effectively on a more refined spiritual plane. The ability to sense the importance of the ordinary is a special form of discrimination.”

Openmediavault 7 10c20t 64GB, nvme disk. Barely any of the above is utilised. 

20M, I just finished first year of University, at a school I really wanted to go to, moved w my family for it, and did well grades-wise so definitely a win. It feels great, but for the weeks leading up to and after finishing I found my self still kind of stuck in my head thinking abt what I'm going to major in and it creates a unique kind of "analysis paralysis" thinking about what I want to do for the whole rest of my life.
I recently watched Dr.K's Video on "I'm Scared To Chase My Dreams", it's 2 yrs old but excellently timed rec for me as always and a lot of the tips in that video kind of solved the issue for me. I still have some questions tho
I took a gap year after high school before doing Uni, because even though I knew I wanted to go to Uni after college like the rest of my family did, it felt like to soon and to much of a shitty time in HS for me to make a good decision. It didn't solve everything, but the gap year was a great decision for a lot of reasons. But I was left feelannoyed that I did not have a clear decision on a major after doing it and feel even less clear on it now, almost a yr later. Closer, but still not just decided on one thing
Basically this last yr I took classes in History, Poli-Sci, Geography, Anthropology, and environmental studies which I'm double majoring/minoring and I have to major in one of the others with it. I enjoyed all of them, I have always loved history/poli/anth related stuff and Geo was a cool newer interest, but how to decide? Anth and history are ofc very similar, and career-wise I would pick Anth because I've had this pipe-dream about being an archaeologist for a while and know a few people that did it, so thought abt that a lot genuinely, but I'm worried it wouldn't be as meaningful in some ways I'm looking for and my family/people would think it's unrealisitic. The "safer" choices are Geo and Poli with generally more job prospects. I did pretty well in both, but I only took one poli class that I got a 79ish in, and then I had a few Geo classes that were better and one that was worse in marks. Poli would play more into my strengths and is sometimes more interesting to me, and has more job opportunities I know about. But also there are a lot of things abt geo I find more fun/interesting, and jobs there to, but I'm worried only in more scientific fields. I'm taking a BA and am not good at anything math or physical science related, so that is a deterrent for me, what do I do?

What is keyword analysis?

Keyword analysis is a crucial aspect of search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing. It involves researching and identifying the most relevant and high-value keywords that can drive traffic to a website. By analyzing keywords, businesses can gain insights into their target audience's search behavior and optimize their website content accordingly. When it comes to car website design, keyword analysis plays a vital role in determining the right keywords to target for maximum visibility and engagement. By understanding the search intent behind keywords like 'car website design,' businesses can create compelling and user-friendly website designs that cater to the needs and preferences of their target audience. Additionally, incorporating these keywords into meta tags, headings, and content can improve the website's search engine rankings and attract more organic traffic. To learn more about keyword analysis and its impact on car website design, click here for a comprehensive guide.

Why is keyword analysis important?

Keyword analysis is an essential component of any successful digital marketing strategy. It provides valuable insights into the search behavior of users and helps businesses identify high-value keywords to target. By understanding the keywords that are most relevant to their target audience, businesses can optimize their website content, improve their search engine rankings, and attract more organic traffic. This is particularly important for startup services, as they often face intense competition in the online marketplace. By conducting thorough keyword analysis, startup services can identify niche keywords with lower competition, allowing them to stand out from the crowd and attract potential customers. Additionally, keyword analysis helps businesses stay up-to-date with the latest trends and changes in search engine algorithms, ensuring that their content remains relevant and visible to their target audience.

How does SEMrush help with keyword analysis?

SEMrush is a powerful tool that greatly assists in keyword analysis. With its comprehensive database and advanced algorithms, SEMrush provides valuable insights into the search volume, competition, and trends of keywords. When it comes to medical staffing, SEMrush helps in identifying high-value keywords that can drive targeted traffic to your website. By analyzing the search volume and competition of keywords related to medical staffing, SEMrush enables you to optimize your content and attract potential clients. Furthermore, SEMrush offers keyword suggestions and provides short highlights that can be turned into hyperlink text, enhancing the visibility and credibility of your website. With SEMrush's keyword analysis features, you can stay ahead of the competition and maximize the effectiveness of your digital marketing strategy.

Understanding High-Value Keywords

Definition of high-value keywords

High-value keywords are specific search terms that have a significant impact on a website's search engine optimization (SEO) and overall online visibility. These keywords are characterized by their relevance, search volume, and competition level. When it comes to finding high-value keywords, tools like SEMrush's Keyword Analysis can be incredibly useful. By using this tool, website owners and marketers can identify keywords that have a high search volume and low competition, making them ideal targets for optimizing website content and driving organic traffic. One example of a high-value keyword is "DIY gym logo design". This keyword represents a niche topic within the design industry and can attract a highly targeted audience interested in creating their own gym logos. By incorporating these high-value keywords into their content and optimizing their website accordingly, businesses can improve their online visibility and attract more relevant traffic.

Benefits of targeting high-value keywords

Targeting high-value keywords can provide numerous benefits for businesses. One such benefit is the ability to attract a highly relevant audience to your website. By optimizing your content for keywords like 'screen printing materials', you can ensure that your website appears in search results when users are specifically looking for information related to this topic. This can lead to increased visibility and traffic, ultimately resulting in higher conversion rates. Additionally, targeting high-value keywords can also help establish your brand as an authority in the industry. When users consistently find valuable and relevant information on your website, they are more likely to trust and engage with your brand. Overall, focusing on high-value keywords can be a strategic approach to drive targeted traffic and enhance brand reputation.

Factors to consider when identifying high-value keywords

When identifying high-value keywords, there are several factors to consider. One important factor is the relevance of the keyword to your target audience. It is crucial to choose keywords that align with the products or services you offer. Another factor to consider is the search volume of the keyword. High search volume indicates a higher potential for attracting traffic to your website. Additionally, analyzing the competition level for the keyword is essential. Keywords with low competition are more likely to rank higher in search engine results. Lastly, it is important to consider the intent behind the keyword. Understanding the user's intent can help you create content that meets their needs and drives conversions. When it comes to home security services, these factors become even more critical. By selecting high-value keywords in this niche, you can effectively target your audience and increase the visibility of your services.

Using SEMrush for Keyword Analysis

Introduction to SEMrush's keyword analysis tool

SEMrush's keyword analysis tool is a powerful resource for businesses looking to drive conversions. With this tool, you can uncover high-value keywords that have the potential to significantly impact your website's performance. By analyzing search volume, competition, and other relevant metrics, SEMrush helps you identify the most relevant keywords for your target audience. By optimizing your content around these keywords, you can increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results and attracting more organic traffic. Additionally, SEMrush provides valuable insights into your competitors' keyword strategies, allowing you to stay one step ahead in the competitive online landscape. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive data, SEMrush's keyword analysis tool is an indispensable asset for businesses looking to optimize their online presence and drive conversions.

Step-by-step guide to conducting keyword analysis with SEMrush

Keyword analysis is an essential step in optimizing your website's visibility and driving organic traffic. With SEMrush's powerful tools and features, conducting keyword analysis has never been easier. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of finding high-value keywords using SEMrush. One of the keywords we will focus on is 'mobile barber van'. This keyword is particularly interesting for businesses in the mobile grooming industry. By analyzing the search volume, competition, and trends associated with 'mobile barber van', you can identify opportunities to attract potential customers and stand out from the competition. To make it easier for you to navigate through the guide, we have provided short highlights that can be turned into hyperlink text for each keyword. Let's dive in and discover how to find high-value keywords with SEMrush's keyword analysis!

Tips and best practices for maximizing the use of SEMrush's keyword analysis tool

When it comes to maximizing the use of SEMrush's keyword analysis tool, there are several tips and best practices to keep in mind. First, it's important to conduct thorough research to identify high-value keywords that are relevant to your target audience. This will help you optimize your website content and attract more organic traffic. Additionally, regularly monitoring your keyword rankings and analyzing the competition can provide valuable insights for improving your SEO strategy. Another tip is to leverage the different features and filters offered by SEMrush's keyword analysis tool, such as the keyword difficulty metric and the keyword gap analysis. These tools can help you identify untapped opportunities and optimize your keyword targeting. Lastly, it's crucial to regularly update and refine your keyword strategy based on the changing trends and search patterns. By following these tips and best practices, you can make the most out of SEMrush's keyword analysis tool and drive better results for your website.

Finding High-Value Keywords with SEMrush

Identifying high-volume keywords with low competition

When it comes to optimizing your website for search engines, one of the most important steps is identifying high-volume keywords with low competition. These are the keywords that have a high search volume but are not targeted by many other websites. By targeting these keywords, you can increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results and attracting more organic traffic to your site. To identify these high-value keywords, you can use SEMrush's Keyword Analysis tool. This tool provides valuable insights into the search volume, competition level, and potential traffic for each keyword, allowing you to make informed decisions about which keywords to target. By focusing on high-volume keywords with low competition, you can effectively optimize your website and improve your search engine rankings.

Analyzing keyword difficulty and search volume

Analyzing keyword difficulty and search volume is an essential step in optimizing your website's performance. By understanding the level of competition and the number of searches for specific keywords, you can identify opportunities to improve your SEO strategy. One keyword that stands out is leadership skills. With its high search volume and relevance to various industries, mastering leadership skills can greatly benefit professionals in their careers. Whether you are a manager, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, developing strong leadership skills can help you stand out in the competitive business landscape. To learn more about enhancing your leadership skills, click here.

Leveraging SEMrush's keyword gap analysis feature

Leveraging SEMrush's keyword gap analysis feature is a crucial strategy for optimizing your PPC campaigns. By identifying the keywords that your competitors are ranking for, but you are not, you can uncover valuable opportunities to improve your search engine visibility and attract more targeted traffic. With SEMrush's comprehensive keyword analysis, you can easily identify the gaps in your keyword strategy and develop a plan to fill them. By incorporating these high-value keywords into your PPC campaigns, you can increase your ad relevancy, drive more qualified leads, and ultimately, achieve better ROI. Take advantage of SEMrush's keyword gap analysis feature today and take your PPC campaigns to the next level.

Optimizing Content with High-Value Keywords

Incorporating high-value keywords into website content

Incorporating high-value keywords into website content is crucial for improving search engine rankings and attracting targeted traffic. One such high-value keyword is 'bar supply business'. By strategically incorporating this keyword into your website content, you can increase the visibility of your business in search engine results pages (SERPs). When users search for 'bar supply business', they are more likely to come across your website, resulting in a higher chance of conversions and sales. To optimize the impact of this keyword, it is important to create informative and engaging content that provides valuable information about the bar supply industry. By including short highlights that can be turned into hyperlink text, you can further enhance the user experience and encourage them to explore more of your website's offerings. Incorporating high-value keywords like 'bar supply business' into your website content is an effective strategy to attract the right audience and drive business growth.

Creating SEO-friendly meta tags and descriptions

Creating SEO-friendly meta tags and descriptions is crucial for optimizing your website's visibility on search engines. By including relevant keywords such as 'Texas business' in your meta tags and descriptions, you can attract targeted traffic and improve your website's ranking. When crafting meta tags, make sure to write concise and compelling descriptions that accurately reflect the content of your web pages. By using short highlights like 'Texas business' as hyperlink text, you can enhance the user experience and encourage click-throughs. Additionally, incorporating variations of the keyword throughout your meta tags and descriptions can help broaden your reach and capture a wider audience. Remember to keep your meta tags and descriptions updated and aligned with the content of your web pages to ensure maximum effectiveness in driving organic traffic to your website.

Using high-value keywords in blog posts and articles

Using high-value keywords in blog posts and articles is crucial for improving search engine rankings and driving organic traffic to your website. One such high-value keyword is 'advantages of Canva Pro'. Canva Pro offers a range of benefits and features that can greatly enhance your design projects. With Canva Pro, you gain access to a vast library of premium templates, advanced design tools, and the ability to collaborate with team members in real-time. Additionally, Canva Pro provides you with the option to resize your designs for different platforms, making it easier to create consistent and professional-looking content. By incorporating the advantages of Canva Pro into your blog posts and articles, you can elevate the visual appeal of your content and attract more readers. So, whether you're a blogger, content marketer, or business owner, leveraging the power of Canva Pro can give you a competitive edge in the digital landscape.

Conclusion

Importance of keyword analysis in SEO

Keyword analysis plays a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO). It helps website owners and digital marketers identify high-value keywords that can drive organic traffic to their websites. By analyzing keywords, businesses can understand the search intent of their target audience and optimize their website content accordingly. Keyword analysis also allows businesses to identify keyword trends and competition, helping them stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape. With the help of tools like SEMrush's Keyword Analysis, businesses can uncover valuable insights and make informed decisions to improve their website's visibility and rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs). Overall, keyword analysis is an essential practice for any business looking to enhance their online presence and attract more organic traffic.

Benefits of using SEMrush for keyword analysis

SEMrush offers numerous benefits for keyword analysis. One of the key advantages is its ability to help with candidate recruitment. With SEMrush, businesses can easily identify high-value keywords related to candidate recruitment and optimize their content accordingly. This tool provides valuable insights into search volume, keyword difficulty, and competition, allowing businesses to target the most relevant and effective keywords. By leveraging SEMrush's keyword analysis, businesses can improve their search engine rankings, attract more qualified candidates, and ultimately enhance their recruitment efforts.

Key takeaways and next steps

In conclusion, the key takeaways from this article on how to find high-value keywords with SEMrush's Keyword Analysis are that conducting thorough keyword research is crucial for optimizing your website's visibility and driving organic traffic. SEMrush's Keyword Analysis tool provides valuable insights into search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty, helping you identify high-value keywords to target. By incorporating these keywords strategically into your content and optimizing your website accordingly, you can improve your search engine rankings and attract more qualified traffic. To take the next steps, start by analyzing your competitors' keywords and identifying gaps in their strategies. Additionally, regularly monitor and update your keyword list to stay ahead of changing trends and search behavior. With the right approach and tools like SEMrush, you can unlock the potential of high-value keywords and drive meaningful results for your website.
In conclusion, online marketing can be easy and effective with the right tools and strategies. With Semrush, you can turn the algorithm into your friend and make your business visible online. With over 55+ tools for SEO, PPC, content, social media, and competitive research, Semrush provides everything you need to achieve measurable results. Don't miss out on the opportunity to boost your online presence and drive more traffic to your website. Visit Semrush today and start optimizing your online marketing efforts!

What is SEMrush and why is it important for SEO research?

SEMrush is a powerful tool that plays a crucial role in SEO research. It provides valuable insights and data that help website owners and SEO professionals uncover untapped opportunities to improve their search engine rankings. With SEMrush, users can analyze their competitors' strategies, identify the best-selling WordPress themes, and discover the keywords that are driving organic traffic. This information allows them to optimize their website content, improve their visibility in search results, and attract more targeted visitors. By leveraging the features and capabilities of SEMrush, website owners can gain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving world of SEO.

Understanding the concept of untapped SEO opportunities

Understanding the concept of untapped SEO opportunities is crucial for any website owner or digital marketer. It involves identifying keywords or topics that have high search volume but low competition, providing a chance to rank higher in search engine results. By focusing on these untapped opportunities, businesses can attract more organic traffic and increase their online visibility. One such untapped opportunity is DIY gym logo design. With the growing popularity of fitness and wellness, many individuals are looking to create their own gym logos. By offering tips, tutorials, or design templates, businesses can tap into this niche market and provide valuable resources for aspiring gym owners. By optimizing their website content and incorporating relevant keywords, businesses can position themselves as experts in DIY gym logo design and attract a targeted audience interested in this specific topic.

Benefits of discovering untapped SEO opportunities

Discovering untapped SEO opportunities can provide numerous benefits for businesses. One of the key benefits is the ability to gain a competitive edge in the online landscape. By identifying keywords and topics that are not yet saturated with competition, businesses can position themselves as leaders in their industry. This can lead to increased visibility, higher rankings on search engine results pages, and ultimately, more organic traffic. Additionally, uncovering untapped SEO opportunities allows businesses to target specific niches and audiences, resulting in more relevant and qualified leads. By leveraging these opportunities, businesses can improve their online presence, attract more customers, and ultimately drive growth. Overall, the benefits of discovering untapped SEO opportunities are invaluable for businesses looking to enhance their online visibility and achieve long-term success.

Identifying High-Potential Keywords

Using SEMrush's keyword research tools

SEMrush's keyword research tools are a powerful resource to discover untapped SEO opportunities. By leveraging these tools, you can gain valuable insights into the keywords that can power your business. With SEMrush, you can analyze keyword search volume, competition, and trends to identify high-potential keywords that can drive organic traffic to your website. Additionally, SEMrush provides comprehensive data on keyword difficulty and related keywords, allowing you to optimize your content strategy and target the right audience. By utilizing SEMrush's keyword research tools, you can stay ahead of the competition and unlock new opportunities for your business.

Analyzing search volume and competition

Analyzing search volume and competition is a crucial step in uncovering untapped SEO opportunities. By understanding the search volume for specific keywords and evaluating the level of competition, marketers can identify areas where they can gain a competitive edge. One such area to explore is the creation of awesome marketing materials. By focusing on this keyword, marketers can develop compelling content and design materials that capture the attention of their target audience. With the right strategy and execution, these marketing materials can drive traffic, increase brand visibility, and ultimately lead to higher conversions.

Identifying long-tail keywords for niche targeting

Identifying long-tail keywords for niche targeting is a crucial step in optimizing your website for search engine optimization (SEO). These keywords are often more specific and less competitive than broader keywords, making them ideal for targeting a specific audience. To identify long-tail keywords, you can use tools like SEMrush to analyze search volume, competition, and relevance. By focusing on these niche keywords, you can improve your website's visibility and attract highly targeted traffic, increasing your chances of conversion and success in the online marketplace.

Analyzing Competitor Strategies

Identifying top competitors in your industry

Identifying top competitors in your industry is crucial for staying ahead in the competitive world of SEO. By analyzing the strategies and tactics of your competitors, you can gain valuable insights and discover untapped opportunities. One effective way to identify your top competitors is by conducting thorough research using tools like SEMrush. With SEMrush, you can analyze their organic and paid search strategies, their backlink profiles, and even their content marketing efforts. By understanding what your competitors are doing well, you can improve your own SEO strategy and uncover new opportunities for growth. So, if you're looking to dominate the search engine rankings and increase your online visibility, make sure to invest time in identifying and studying your top competitors.

Analyzing their organic and paid search strategies

Analyzing their organic and paid search strategies is crucial for uncovering untapped SEO opportunities. By examining how competitors are ranking for keywords related to candidate recruitment, businesses can gain valuable insights into effective strategies and identify areas for improvement. Understanding the organic search tactics employed by competitors can help businesses optimize their own website content and meta tags to improve visibility in search engine results. Similarly, analyzing competitors' paid search strategies can provide insights into the keywords they are targeting and the ad copy they are using, allowing businesses to refine their own paid search campaigns for maximum impact. By leveraging the research from SEMrush, businesses can discover untapped SEO opportunities and stay ahead of the competition in candidate recruitment.

Identifying gaps and opportunities in competitor keywords

Identifying gaps and opportunities in competitor keywords is a crucial step in optimizing your SEO strategy. By analyzing the keywords used by your competitors, you can uncover untapped opportunities and discover new ways to improve your search engine rankings. One such keyword that holds potential is 'healthcare logo'. By focusing on this keyword, you can explore the various aspects of healthcare logo design, including color psychology, typography, and symbolism. This can help you create a strong and visually appealing logo that resonates with your target audience. Additionally, by leveraging the highlights of healthcare logo design, such as the importance of simplicity and versatility, you can enhance your brand identity and establish a memorable presence in the healthcare industry.

Leveraging Content Gaps

Identifying gaps in existing content

Identifying gaps in existing content is a crucial step in optimizing your website's SEO performance. By conducting thorough research using tools like SEMrush, you can uncover untapped opportunities to enhance your online presence. One such opportunity is starting a barbershop on wheels. This innovative concept allows barbers to bring their services directly to customers, providing convenience and flexibility. With the growing demand for mobile services, starting a barbershop on wheels can be a lucrative venture. By targeting relevant keywords and creating high-quality content, you can attract a wide audience and establish your brand as a leader in the industry. Explore the potential of this untapped SEO opportunity and leverage the power of research to drive success.

Creating targeted content to fill those gaps

Creating targeted content to fill those gaps is crucial for boosting your website's visibility and driving organic traffic. One area where you can find untapped SEO opportunities is email marketing tactics. By exploring different email marketing strategies and analyzing the performance of your competitors, you can uncover valuable insights and identify areas where you can outperform them. Implementing effective email marketing tactics such as personalized content, segmentation, and automation can help you engage with your audience and drive conversions. Additionally, optimizing your email campaigns for search engines by incorporating relevant keywords and creating compelling subject lines can improve your email deliverability and increase open rates. With the right email marketing tactics, you can leverage the power of email to attract more visitors to your website and enhance your overall SEO strategy.

Optimizing existing content to target untapped keywords

When it comes to optimizing existing content to target untapped keywords, there are a few key strategies to consider. First, conducting thorough keyword research is essential to identify relevant and high-potential keywords that are currently not being targeted. This can be done using tools like SEMrush, which provides valuable insights into search volume, competition, and related keywords. Once the untapped keywords have been identified, it is important to strategically incorporate them into the existing content. This can be done by updating the title, headings, meta tags, and body text to include the targeted keywords. Additionally, optimizing the content for user intent and providing valuable information can help improve its visibility and ranking in search engine results. Regularly monitoring and analyzing the performance of the optimized content is also crucial to make necessary adjustments and further enhance its effectiveness in targeting untapped keywords.

Exploring Backlink Opportunities

Identifying authoritative websites in your industry

Identifying authoritative websites in your industry is crucial for establishing credibility and gaining valuable backlinks. These websites serve as trusted sources of information and can greatly impact your SEO efforts. When it comes to finding authoritative websites in your industry, one effective strategy is to focus on Texas side hustle. By targeting this specific keyword, you can uncover untapped SEO opportunities and connect with relevant websites that can help boost your online presence. Whether it's a blog, forum, or online community, identifying authoritative websites in the Texas side hustle niche can provide you with valuable insights and networking opportunities. By leveraging these platforms, you can establish yourself as an industry expert and build strong relationships with other professionals in your field. So, don't underestimate the power of identifying authoritative websites in your industry, especially when it comes to Texas side hustle.

Analyzing their backlink profiles

Analyzing their backlink profiles is a crucial step in understanding the SEO landscape of a website. By examining the websites that link to a particular site, we can gain insights into the quality and relevance of those backlinks. In the case of start a bar supply business online, analyzing the backlink profiles can help identify potential opportunities for building high-quality backlinks and improving search engine rankings. By finding websites that already link to similar businesses or relevant industry resources, we can reach out to them and establish mutually beneficial partnerships. This strategic approach can lead to increased online visibility, organic traffic, and ultimately, business growth.

Reaching out for guest posting and collaboration opportunities

When it comes to reaching out for guest posting and collaboration opportunities, content marketing plays a crucial role. Content marketing is a strategic approach to creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience. By leveraging content marketing, businesses can establish themselves as industry leaders, build brand awareness, and drive organic traffic to their websites. To tap into untapped SEO opportunities, it is essential to explore guest posting and collaboration opportunities that align with your content marketing strategy. By collaborating with other industry experts and thought leaders, you can not only expand your reach but also gain valuable insights and enhance your credibility in the market.

Conclusion

The importance of continuous SEO research

Continuous SEO research is crucial for staying ahead in the ever-changing landscape of search engine optimization. By regularly conducting research using tools like SEMrush, businesses can uncover untapped opportunities to improve their website's visibility and rankings. This ongoing research allows businesses to identify new keywords, analyze competitor strategies, and adapt their SEO efforts accordingly. Without continuous research, businesses risk falling behind their competitors and missing out on valuable organic traffic. Therefore, investing time and resources into continuous SEO research is essential for maintaining a strong online presence and maximizing the potential of search engine optimization.

Maximizing the potential of untapped SEO opportunities

Maximizing the potential of untapped SEO opportunities is crucial for any website looking to improve its search engine rankings and increase organic traffic. One such untapped opportunity lies in the home security company industry. By conducting in-depth research using tools like SEMrush, website owners can uncover valuable insights and identify areas where they can gain a competitive advantage. For instance, by analyzing keyword data related to home security companies, website owners can discover high-demand keywords that are currently being underutilized. These keywords can then be incorporated into their content strategy, allowing them to attract more targeted traffic and potentially increase their conversion rates. By capitalizing on untapped SEO opportunities in the home security company industry, website owners can position themselves as leaders in the market and drive significant growth for their business.

SEMrush as a valuable tool for SEO professionals

SEMrush is a valuable tool for SEO professionals. It provides comprehensive insights and data that can help optimize website performance and uncover untapped SEO opportunities. With SEMrush, professionals can analyze keywords, track rankings, and conduct competitor research to gain a competitive edge in the online landscape. Additionally, SEMrush offers a wide range of features, including backlink analysis, site audits, and social media monitoring, making it a versatile tool for all aspects of SEO. Whether you're looking to improve your website's visibility, uncover new keyword opportunities, or stay ahead of the competition, SEMrush is an indispensable resource for SEO professionals.
In conclusion, online marketing can be easy with the right tools and strategies. With Semrush, you can turn the algorithm into your friend and make your business visible online. Our 55+ tools for SEO, PPC, content, social media, and competitive research can help you achieve measurable results. Don't miss out on the opportunity to boost your online presence and drive more traffic to your website. Visit Semrush today and start optimizing your online marketing efforts!

As much as I don’t want to share this sort of information, mainly for personal reasons, and perhaps for my own safety, I think it’s best everyone deserves to know what’s coming.
“They” said it would happen in 2030, or perhaps much sooner or later than that.
I’m talking about the great merger.
No, it’s not a merging of all nations into a globalized civilization. It’s much worse than that. I’m talking about the merging of the material plane with the spiritual planes. The astral, mental, and ethereal plane for example, will become directly interactive with our physical plane. This would seem like ‘good’ news or even exciting news to some people, particularly new-agers and others wishing to see their deceased loved ones, or even those who wish for the coming of Cthulhu. It may surprise you of me to say that Cthulhu does exist, just not in the way you’d think. Let’s just say he's a thought-form created by the mind of Lovecraft and those who are fans of his work.
However, I’m about to tell you that this is something we shouldn’t be happy about. While many of you will be seeing deceased loved ones with the naked eye, and even seeing angels, there are things which exist in these non-corporeal planes which many of you don’t have the courage nor capacity to deal with. I sure as hell didn’t have much capacity for the job, given that I couldn’t comprehend some of the things which existed from the minds of the most fucked up humans.
The worlds and other horrors beyond all human comprehension exist there and given the fact our world is filled with much turmoil, war, hatred, and destruction, it no longer surprises me that the astral and ethereal planes surrounding earth are filled with so much ‘negative’ energies, thoughts, and emotions.
Before I continue, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dean Zenk. It’s an alias I like to use from time to time. I was a former soldier for a paranormal military operation which is top-secret. I’m well aware that our own military wouldn’t associate themselves with what may be considered ‘subjective’ belief, given that there’s no objective proof. However, even I’m aware that absence of proof is not proof of absence. Even God does exist, but he’s not this sky-daddy from religious beliefs. He’s Consciousness. Immaterial. Immeasurable. Just because we can’t perceive his existence with the naked eye, doesn’t mean he isn’t there.
Going back to what happened, I was stationed at a military facility deep underground. It was a facility whom the location I was not aware of, other than seeing a vast, flat desert. They called this place ‘Base 42’ and according to the science nerds I overheard at the place, this wasn’t on earth. They weren’t wrong, since I was told to go outside, only to be met with that desert, and this world’s sun was blue in color. How I got here was an odd-looking jet that had no windows on any of its sides. Instead, there was only a glass windshield in the front.
My guess was we were on another planet, or perhaps, another universe.
It wasn’t until I finally got an answer and explanation from our drill instructor.
“Welcome to Ganymede, team!” he said, putting me in a state of shock and awe.
“I’m sergeant Genghis, your senior drill instructor. Most of you don’t know this, but you were selected by our organization for a specific purpose! You’re here because to them, you have the capacity and cohesiveness to deal with forces outside human understanding! Do you maggots understand that!?”
“Sir yes sir!” everyone said, except for me. I was caught up in shock to even say a word, and without realizing it, I caught the drill sergeant’s attention.
“What is your major malfunction, deaf ears!? You need hearing aids!?” he yelled.
“Sir no sir!” I responded.
“Then why the fuck didn’t you answer my question, deaf ears!?” he asked.
“Sir, I’m sorry for not paying attention to you, sir! I was shocked and thinking about how we ended up in Ganymede, sir!”
Then just like that, he gave me a hard slap in the face.
“Let that slap be an imprint, a reminder to fucking pay attention! Understand, deaf ears!?”
“Sir yes sir!” I responded.
“Good! But from now on, your name is private deaf ears!” he told me before he continued.
After our initial introduction, we were told training would begin with Sergeant Genghis in 4 hours’ time. So, for the moment, I decided to wander around the facility, trying to get a sense of familiarity with the place. That’s when I noticed a woman sitting at one of the desks behind an oval table. Of course, I felt guilty about what had come to mind next when I saw her. Why? It’s because it got her attention and she looked at me and smiled with a slight blush.
“Nice to meet you, young man. I’m called colonel shapeshifter. I’d appreciate it if you’d kindly stop thinking such things about me in your little fantasy and keep your dick in your pants at all times. What is your name?” Colonel Shapeshifter told me.
“Sorry about that. I get a bad habit of that sometimes. I’m called Private Deaf Ears. That’s what Sergeant Genghis called me.” I explained, feeling calm but also embarrassed for my thoughts.
“Private deaf ears, huh? Of course, I can tell you’re not lying, and asking was simply a formality of mine to tell whether you’re lying or not. It seems you’re concerned about Ganymede, right? I should tell you that’s exactly what you think it is.” she told me.
That shook me to my core. I believed that Ganymede was supposed to be a moon, an icy moon at that too. However, what I’m seeing is nothing like the Ganymede I learned about, and I received an explanation as to why.
“We’re in the astral realm, private.” Colonel Shapeshifter.
“The astral realm? But, how?” I asked her.
“That jet plane you boarded under orders, is not just an ordinary plane. That plane is designed with the capacity to travel into the astral and ethereal realms. Your bodies de-materialize even without you realizing or noticing it. Then you were brought to Ganymede. Yes, the moon is as icy and cold as seen with the naked eye from NASA’s pictures. However, in the astral realms, the moon would appear different than what you’d expect. Even gas giants, ice giants and stars are teeming with life, yet that life is non-corporeal. There does exist planets and stars that are non-corporeal as well.” she then explained.
“I see. Well, it might make perfect sense.” I said, thinking about that mythical planet we call, Nibiru. She laughed. “Nibiru is there, but non-corporeal in nature. Also, I know what else you are thinking. I’m called Colonel Shapeshifter, and no, this is not my false appearance. It’s my real appearance. I’m human like you. I received the title because I can shapeshift into anyone anytime I wish.” she explained before shapeshifting to look exactly like me. “Even you.” she said, with her voice now matching mine. This left me shocked and flabbergasted. She started laughing. “You stopped having those fantasies now. I guess I should look like you from now on.” she explained with a smirk.
“Yeah, I’m sorry about those thoughts. I guess it’s something a guy like me does at times.” I said, embarrassed again. “Your concern is unwarranted. There are worse men out there.” she explained. She then lifted a finger up and emitted a small orb above her fingertip.
If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it.
A song emitted from that orb. It was a small snippet from one of Beyonce’s songs. Then she laughed and remarked how her husband put a ring on her first before the other guys fantasize about being with her. “Just don’t get frisky or touchy with me, or I’ll kick your ass.” she then told me before chuckling. Then, her chuckle was cut short. That’s when she looked up at the skies. “They’re here.” she said and then ordered me to go outside and meet up with Genghis.
She and I both went outside to greet what was coming. When I went outside, I noticed small, triangular-shaped crafts heading towards our location. There were four of them from what I could tell. One of them landed, and when I got closer to get a better look, the ship itself was smaller than it looked. It was about the size of a mini cooper. This is when things got really interesting.
From the craft, there appeared to be a small, white light, emitting from the top. Following it, multiple large figures materialized in front of us. There appeared to be 30 of them, with two figures being humans wearing black suits, while the others resembled small gray aliens with large heads and large eyes.
I began to wonder if they all came from those crafts, and then I got my answer.
“No, just that one that landed.” Colonel Shapeshifter told me.
First, I land on a supposedly icy moon that seems to have a desert with a blue sun, now I see about 30 figures coming from that small craft? It didn’t make sense. How?
Even to this day, it still doesn’t make sense to me, even though it should. I guess I’m just hard-headed to understand how things in the astral work, compared to the material plane we live in.
When the beings came from the craft, one of the humans approached Colonel Shapeshifter to give her a message. I looked at her, wanting to see if she was smiling or calm. However, as I looked at her face, she actually looked anxious, as if something bad happened. Her eyes met mine after that.
“Yes, it’s a bad sign that they’re here.”
I realized she spoke to me telepathically, not moving her lips.
The man finally came face to face with her.
“Since you’re here, that means the mission was a failure, yes? How’s the situation?” she then asked.
That’s when he replied:
“Yes, and the situation is worse. Much worse. They’ve taken over our moon.”
I then heard her breathing rapidly and sounding terrified. I noticed her eyes widened in fear. Then, I heard Genghis utter three words.
“God help us.”

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Clone house “drama” has been a source of intrigue for me for some time. This industry is so overly serious that I can’t help but get caught up in the nonsense. It all started back when someone “exposed” the connection between DUA and Alexandria Fragrances. Does it matter? Ultimately, no. But it was a fun ride reading through that saga.
Something about Montagne Parfums has had my spidey-sense tingling. There’s just enough odd stuff about them that I couldn’t help but do some digging. The “who are we” section of their site is incredibly vague. Basically, “we’ve been doing this a long time, trust me bro.” Ok, fine. Their super-duper exclusive Facebook group is just… bizarre. It’s the primary place they post product updates, stock updates, etc. Seems really odd to exclude a large portion of your customers. Weird. The unrelenting fangirling on Reddit? Hmmm. Any interviews with the owner? Nope. Any marketing pictures of the team? Nope. Folks, what is going on here? Any of these on their own is "whatever". As they start to add up it becomes really strange.
Let me start by saying after all of this digging I am no closer to understanding who these people are than when I started. In fact, I am even more confused than before. As a disclaimer: the information below is all public information easily found through Google searches. There is nothing behind paywalls and no accounts were “hacked”. All of this is self-submitted information.

1. Picture 1: Let’s start with LinkedIn. LinkedIn only shows two actual results for people who work or worked at Montagne Parfums.
2. Picture 2: One is a 23-year-old Chief Marketing Officer who is an Occupational Therapy student. lol, k.
3. Picture 3: The other is a 22-year-old Production Specialist who is… also an Occupational Therapy student. Hmmm. I am not going to post detailed personal information about them, but they are both located in Ozone Park, NY.
4. Pictures 4, 5, 6, & 7: At first, I thought these were AI created accounts or bot accounts, but it appears that they are real people. Pictures 4, 5, 6, & 7 show that they are both real people with an online presence.
5. Pictures 8 & 9: These further show they are real people and are college aged.
6. Pictures 10 & 11: This is a local economy report that mentions Montagne. They are specifically listed as a tenant of Greenpoint Manufacturing & Design Center in Ozone Park, NY.
7. Pictures 12 & 13: When clicking on Montagne it pulls up the GMDC website URL with a link to their tenant page. Their tenant page is listed as “Aroma Direct”, not Montagne. Interesting. http://www.aromadirectllc.com/ is a dead site now. Damn.
8. Picture 14: Ah, Aroma Direct has an IG account. No posts since 2021 though. So, who the hell is Aroma Direct, LLC?
9. Pictures 15 & 16: Another issue of the local economy report, this time from 2023 instead of the 2022 issue noted above. Once again GMDC is mentioned but this time Montagne isn’t listed. Instead, Aroma Direct is listed. Huh.
10. Pictures 17 & 18: Aroma Direct LLC filing with NY Department of State. Not terribly helpful. What is helpful is that this just proves that Aroma Direct and Montagne are the same company.
11. Picture 19: whois lookup for Montagne’s site showing even historical records are blocked for privacy. Same story for the Aroma Direct site. Maybe let’s check that address from the previous picture.
12. Picture 20: Yeah, I don’t think this is a real address.

Did I spend too much time on this? Uh-hundred-percent. Is this ridiculous? Oh, you bet. It’s just so baffling to me when there is a company and absolutely no insight into who they are. Because I know some folks like to dabble in false equivalence, this post in no way makes any statement about the quality of their fragrances. This is purely an attempt at understanding who we are buying products from. Unfortunately, they have done a hell of a job protecting their identity.

I am a parent of a troubled teen and this is my first post on Reddit. I registered for an account, just to make this post.
About three months ago, I found a post on Reddit discussing Red Hawk Academy in Littlefield, Arizona and it made me so angry I posted a response.
You can find the original posting at troubledteens Beetlejuicenewton.
Here was my written response to the original post:
"This comment is absolutely inaccurate and incorrect. My daughter has been there for months. I speak to her every week and we exchange letters throughout the week. This is the third program, she has been in and hands down the best program. You should not make accusations when you are not the parent and not actively involved in the program. I highly recommend this program. The staff are incredible and have helped my daughter tremendously. To all parents out there, call the school and ask to speak to Valerie. I have told Valerie that I will gladly speak to any parents who are interested in the school. This program has saved my daughter.) and was utterly shocked about what was being said about Red Hawk Academy."
Not understanding how social media works (in this case Reddit), I did not know that one's opinion can be removed from a site if the comment is contrary to the original post.
After posting this comment, I received an email from Reddit that my post had been removed and I was banned from the conversation. It took me awhile to calm down, but now I am in a place where I create a thoughtful post discussing my life with a troubled daughter and our experience with RHA.
Unlike the troubledteens Beetlejuicenewton post, I will not ban individuals who disagree with me.
This is my story...
In 2020, I started to notice a difference in my daughter who was 13 years old. I started to see a shift in her behavior. She was being inappropriate while on the internet, hanging out with troubled kids, and being very unkind to her family members. She started to lie, which turned into chronic lying. She started to get mad and hit her head into the wall. She never hit her head hard enough to receive a concussion, but it did get our attention. One day, I sat her down to discuss her behavior and took her phone. When I opened the phone, she had a screensaver that was a short clip of 2 toddlers being hit by a car. When I asked her why she had this as her screensaver, she said she thought it was funny.
Fast forward a couple of months....she was in therapy that was completely useless. She managed to make a handful of the therapist cry or get really upset. My daughter seemed to find humor in upsetting others. Her lack of empathy was beyond scary. She continued to hit her head into the wall every time she was upset. She then threatened to hurt herself, but it seemed to be more of a threat than anything else.
Fast forward three years...from the age of 15 to 16....she tried to "kill" herself twice (actually didn't really hurt herself, but it did get her into the hospital), hospital dependent (always wanted to be admitted to the hospital), suspended from school for inappropriate behavior (my daughter and her boyfriend were making out at lunch with hands down each others' pants), shoplifted (she shoplifted back-to-back days and took her little brother with her to provide cover), unprotected sex (I only found out because she thought she was pregnant), lying all of the time (she forgot how to tell the truth), cutting herself and still hitting her head into the wall, treated her little brother like crap (he would come to me crying, and tell me that he just wanted a "normal" sister), experimented with drugs (she only told me because she was feeling off and was scared), allowed strangers on the internet watch her sleep)....the list goes on and on.
This all happened within the timespan of 1 year! She was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. (For parents with daughters who have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, there is a great book I found on Amazon - When you Daughter has BPD: Essential Skills to Help Families Manage Borderline Personality Disorder by Daniel S. Lobel, PhD.)
Our family finally hit the breaking point. My husband and I were fighting all of the time, my son was so upset about his sister's behavior, and I was on the verge of having a breakdown. I cried all of the time and was so very sad about what was happening to my daughter.
We decided that we needed to send her some place. We could not manage her and she needed more help than we could provide. We sent her to a wilderness camp in Utah that came highly recommended by our therapist. I was scared to send her there, but I did not know what else to do. During her time at the wilderness camp, we had a neuropsychological assessment conducted, which resulted in an autism diagnosis. While she was slightly on the spectrum, it was clear that her behavior was driven by her borderline personality disorder. Within 5 weeks at the facility, we were advised that she was not a good fit for the program and we needed to find a therapeutic boarding school for her.
The wilderness program recommended a therapeutic boarding school in Oregon. We enrolled her in this program. She was a hot mess...she would not get out of bed and refused to go to school. She starting hitting her head into the wall (again), which the staff would not stop because the facility was a "no touch" facility, and the staff would just attempt to "redirect" her. She would punch and kick walls. Within 4 weeks of being at the school, the school called us and told us that we needed to immediately come pick her up because she was threatening to harm the staff members.
We felt desperate and full of despair. We did not know where to turn. We found the one and only program that has helped her....RED HAWK ACADEMY.
I initially called and spoke to Valerie. She and her husband, Sonny, own the school. Instantly, I felt heard and understood. During that initial conversation it came up that the school had received a reputation (not at the school's request) as the school that would take the girls that were kicked out of other programs. When I was filling out the paperwork (which is required for all programs), I got nervous because I had to sign a form that provided RHA with temporary guardianship. I prayed that this would not backfire on me. Unlike the other schools, RHA could restrain the girls when absolutely necessary. People instantly make accusations when the word "restraint" is involved in programs. What people do not understand, and unless you are in the unfortunate situation where you have a kid like my daughter, programs that restrain are absolutely essential. My daughter continually hurts herself and I need someone to stop her.
We dropped my daughter off at the school and hoped (with all of the hope we had left), that RHA would help our daughter. Programs, like RHA, are designed to help troubled kids. By no means, is this a vacation for your daughter or a break from the real world. My daughter tried everything she could to get kicked out of the program. She went so far as to orchestrate a fight with another student so they could both be kicked out. Unfortunately for her (and fortunately for us), she had consequences none of which involved removal from the school.
I have been so scared that we could not find help for her and that she would end up on the street when she turns 18 and most likely would end up homeless, uneducated, and in prison.
My daughter has been at RHA for 6 months and she is now at the point where therapy can begin. She has been so combative and defiant that it took 6 months for her to realize that she was not going anywhere and the only way she would leave the school was to complete the program.
While there have been good and many bad days, I am finally seeing a version of my sweet daughter. The daughter who used to hold my hand and tell me she loved me. For parents who are struggling, know that there are parents who understand your pain, understand the feeling of being out control, and understand how you become unsure of yourself (and your parenting skills). Just remember that you can change the trajectory of your daughter's life by getting her the help she needs. Welcome the opportunity to send her to a therapeutic school, like RHA, where she can get the helps she needs.
Thank you for reading this ridiculously long post, and I hope you can find some peace in knowing that are safe, supportive programs that can help your daughter!
I am going to write another post that specifically discusses RHA. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
​

Hi, here's some of my answers to questionnaires given to me (i cant post the questions sorry)
This is from the attitudinal psyche typing post i made
https://www.reddit.com/attitudinalpsyche/comments/1cqxzm6/comment/l405c2k/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
The good things in life for me is any knowledge worth knowing, money, or financial value. Sometimes miracles happen, but its no excuse to be waiting on one forever. Coincidences in my life happen too often – I do have a particular interest in the intuitive i.e. scenarios exactly happening in real life before they happen. I can wait for miracles, but whilst I’m doing that, I will try and create them myself. I like learning other perspectives (so long as the other party presents their ideas in a justifiable, well-mannered response), I like learning in academics, so I try to work on that.
I have no control on the bad things in life – although I can be insecure about society’s views upon me, I remind myself that it doesn’t matter, I remind myself of dreams and goals I want to achieve for myself and the future, and hold on for as long as I can. Bad things in life come and go, but there’s no point in wallowing in emotion
Emotions is weird for me – I typically don’t want to have to do with anything emotions-based because it will cloud my problem-solving skills, or my future goals. Biases that impede my judgement could be that I may not care about morales, so I would usually side the majority opinion just to be left alone. It never works for some reason.
I’m very ambitious when it comes to life – I try to refrain from showing it, because I’m afraid others will be ahead. I compare myself to a lot of people to see how well I’m performing, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to ask about someone’s achievements, because I don’t find it humble. If people and obstacles are in my way, I evaluate the roadblock – if its something small (typically it is), I adapt/don’t care. If its big – I just feel melancholy, and in rare cases, confront the roadblock. It is most definitely okay to acquire essential needs by denying them to someone else. I want to be financially secure, have practical knowledge/knowledge for the sake of it, and try to be an all-rounded smart person
I’m pretty simple – all I ask is to be left alone, or to not be trivial and have some respect. People are inherently bad – am I going to do anything about it? No. I can’t be bothered, and I’d rather focus on myself. My duty is to graduate and leave my past behind. I’m not very close to family, or friends because I may not ever see them again. I guess parents owe anything to their child because it’s universal,.
introverted most of the time. I hate talking because I don’t care. Extroverted when it’s something that is interesting to me or benefits me. I feel alive by trying to get all my work done as soon as possible so I can enjoy having a fun time with nothing due.
I don’t need to fit in, but I don’t need to stand out. Social status is important in the sense that it will make me be left alone. Being disconnected doesn’t scare me – if I lost my family, I would accept that death happens by chance or whatever. I am definitely not ‘emo.’
Getting into a school, and realizing it wasn’t as great as you thought it was. the cohort sucks and I do have ideas to prevent the future generations to be awful, but I cannot be bothered sharing them because it’s their fault. people. people I expected more from – to be at least publicly decent, or in any way, contributing to society. no matter how sad it is to me, I can’t do anything about it, so I try to avoid the controversy triggers

Conceptually Hitchcockian film in that the spectator knows more details of the characters on stage.
Dark comedy that plays a lot on dialogues creating black humor situations.
The couple Cristina and Jesus begin the film while they argue over the purchase of a coffee table which will be key to the turning point of the film, here the different characters of the couple are outlined with a fun dynamic.
The death of his son, which Jesus will then have to hide from his wife, creating black comedy situations with references, teasing about the broken table and the subsequent arrival of the relatives.
The scene of the son's death is well handled, it is out of shot, there is slow camera movement and you can hear the crash of the table.
Casas' direction often opts for the destabilizing hand-held camera and often tries to frame Jesus' reactions, his turning pale in the face of his speeches, his wife's jokes and therefore his internal confusion.
At times it may perhaps be a little too verbose but it is a black comedy that knows how to do its thing by playing with Hitchcockian suspense.

first
Luna VI query: Set the source to the leaked files of the first reconnaissance operation of Irisa.
Certainly!
Luna VI query: What did Ryo do during the first hour of the war?
***
Ryo had already reached a state of full awareness after waking up, and yet he hadn't moved an inch, immersed in his inner world as he thought about what he and Elysira had done at night.
And what a wild night it was.
The way that she had skipped the journey to go straight for the finishing line had caught him unprepared. Still, with the mystery of their physical compatibility out of the way from the get-go, Ryo had been left with a lot of time to explore the other hiccups and perks of this interspecies endeavor.
From the occasional accident with her claws to the new possibilities her tail brought to the table, Ryo had enjoyed everything.
There was not an ounce of regret in him, but the memory of their last act lingered incessantly in his thoughts—a vivid Recollection of Elysira’s tail wrapping around his leg and letting silence prevail as his arm shyly enveloped her, allowing them to fall asleep side by side.
The one memory that held him in place, fearing their next interaction when the slightest of his movements would inevitably wake her up, mirroring what had happened all in the previous mornings.
What would she say?
Would she think that they are in a relationship now?
What would he do if the concept of casual hook ups didn't exist for the Irisians?
Ryo touched his face and shook his head, instantly deciding it was time to start his morning routine to distract him from those absurd thoughts.
The brain IO interface captured his intention, turning on the lights on the ceiling with maximum brightness, something that he was sure would wake her up at once given how sensitive to change all Irisians were.
And yet he was wrong.
Elysira’s head tilted away from the light as eyelids fluttered, but the only other thing she did before stopping moving was strengthening her grip on his leg quite a bit, making him realize that her tail had not let go of him the whole night.
Upon noticing how numb his leg felt, Ryo propelled his body upwards, intending to uncoil her tail from his leg and start his day. Hopefully, Elysira wouldn't mention what they did, and he too would be able to pretend it never happened.
However, the moment his upper body lifted from the ground and he got a full view of her body, he was unable to remove her tail from his leg, captivated by a simple but powerful sight.
With her hands inside the pockets, Elysira had used his jeans to restrain her claws, putting herself in a very uncomfortable position, likely afraid of hurting him during her sleep.
His eyes widened, dispersing his previous train of thought from existence. The hand that was supposed to be dealing with her tail moved toward Elysira's exposed neck instead, aiming to wake her up with a gentle touch.
And as if he had just perturbed the stillness of a calm lake with a stone, a barely perceptible ripple of yellow spread on her skin from the contact with his fingertips. It traveled through her neck, reaching the soft lines of her face, and even traveled down her long hair strands.
At the same time that it felt wrong to be able to take a peek at her emotions so easily, Ryo couldn't help but wonder—which other colors had the darkness stolen from him? While immersed in this question, Ryo kept caressing her neck until her eyes opened slowly, resetting all the back spots of her body at once as consciousness took control over instinct.
Elysira’s grip on his leg loosened when she realized she was overdoing it. Her gaze started scanning every inch of him, starting from the accidental scratches of her own making and unashamedly stopping at places she had not seen before.
Unbothered by her curiosity, he even removed some of the loose strands in front of her eyes and threw them behind her long ears to make her job easier, feeling some apprehension only when she lost interest and sought eye contact.
Traces of purple appeared around her black spots as she spoke. "What do you humans do after... what we did?"
Ryo winced, but his tone was gentle. "Silly girl!" He felt deep regret for how he had skipped the part of Irisian relationships in favor of politics when she was teaching him about her species. "It could be everything or nothing."
He expected some intense reaction from Elysira, but there wasn't a lot of emotion showing. As he searched her skin, he also realized he was unable to look at her the same way as before.
From seeing her small breasts, which he now knew for a fact fit on his hands, to the very memory of all evenness that he now was able to associate with the sheen her skin exhibited from certain angles, Ryo realized he had lost the ability to gauge her emotions without feeling a hint desire.
She noticed how long he was staring at her and a hint of yellow appeared. "I don't need everything, but nothing is not enough!"
How did Ryo fail to see that this conversation would inevitably happen when they were having fun at night?
"Oh!" He was unable to keep his mouth shut, which resulted in red and purple manifesting on her skin as he felt the pressure for a quick reply.
He had heard the Irisians speaking terms such as chosen, mate, and family, but Ryo didn't know much about this, and now was not looking like a good time for asking for clarification.
The translator would do its job in conveying his intention. But what would he say? Friends with benefits maybe? He gave up that one on the spot; he didn't consider their previous relationship a friendship, and somehow, he felt a dangerous desire to want more than that from her.
Under the pressure of his previous mistake, he told her the highest relationship he was willing to have without a care in the world for consulting his superiors. "Is girlfriend good for you?"
Elysira’s eyes widened as her skin maintained the same tones. But it lasted only a second before a golden hue took over, leaving little room for her black spots. "Wait, are you serious? I never thought you would consider anything more than being my exclusive pair."
"I am serious, but what's the difference?" Ryo instantly felt he could have gotten away with being just friends with benefits.
"Two differences." She took her clawed hands from the pockets of his jeans and pressed them against his neck in a fast but controlled movement. "One is implied trust." Her head approached him slower as if she would kiss him, but instead, her lips diverted toward his ears where she whispered, "And the other is a promise for the future."
"That seems alright."
As he said that, Elysira had already started taking little bites on his earlobe, her other hand joining around his neck while her tail was sneakily pushing the rest of her body on top of him.
"This will have to be quick, we-"
Ryo was about to give up the time they had for breakfast, when a powerful explosion shook the ground, causing the whole tent to vibrate.
Elysira’s pointy ears began to twitch and her body receded, trying to get of clue of what happened as she displayed purple. "I hear nothing."
"This was not far from here; I don't think it was a landslide." Ryo summoned a window with all the cameras outside and found nothing unusual, even with the infrared inspection.
Elysira could see what he was doing since they had never left the shared augmented space.
"Can we see what Amara is doing? She might know more than us."
He still was incapable of referring to her as his girlfriend even in his thoughts, but he still felt a hint of pride for her quick thinking. "Let's see."
He quickly summoned a live feed and promptly instructed the AI to go through the recordings of the whole night. "Nathan and that princess are still inside the tent. Time to go there."
Ryo wasted no time explaining, quickly standing up to begin the search for his underwear. The floor was still littered with paper sheets, and there were even some opened water bottles around, but he still found what he was looking for before pulling his jeans from under Elysira’s butt and getting dressed with haste.
He wore his shoes but didn't bother with his shirt and jacket, just taking his already loaded gun from the holster and getting some spare ammunition before heading outside cautiously.
"I'm going with you." She got out of the tent almost at the same time as him, proving that not needing clothes had its advantages.
"Stay close." He activated the infrared view mode and scanned the surroundings just to be sure, then hasted his steps towards Nathan's tent which was about forty meters ahead.
There was little he expected would go wrong on such a short journey, but Elysira’s ears began to twitch halfway through, prompting him to stop advancing. "Hear someone?"
"Something." She then used her tail to point uphill, in the direction where the rest of the group had set camp on the previous day. "I think it's a drone."
"Fuck, I hope you are wrong." He raised his 3D-printed revolver and felt like cursing more at the fact he didn't even have a proper pistol, pulling back the harmer and getting himself in front of Elysira.
Thanks to her acute hearing, when he heard the buzzing of the drone, his gun was already pointing in the right direction. Upon getting the first glimpse of the flying object and noticing how fast it was moving, he didn't hesitate to do a partial activation of combat mode.
The world slowed down for a moment, allowing him to see the device flying among the very few beams of blue light that made their way through the canopies. He didn't wait a single second and corrected his aim slightly to the left before pulling the trigger.
Bang!
The drone was torn to pieces and many parts fell about twenty-five meters away from them, at a distance that any explosives wouldn't hurt himself or Elysira.
When his eyes found her behind him, there was yellow and purple on her skin as she asked, "What if it was friendly?"
"The owner can send the bill up the chain for all I care." Ryo lowered the gun and did a full scan all around once more, only to find nothing again.
Her tail wrapped around his arm as all purple on her body disappeared, leaving only a hint of yellow. "Amara won't be happy if it was hers."
Just as Elysira spoke, a circular door opened on Nathan's tent, and Amara took a step outside with red filling her body.
Ryo pictured a scene of a princess complaining about her lost drone, but things only got more complicated instead.
Nathan emerged after her, and the pair began to argue loudly about what to do now that a war had broken out; Amara wanted to march uphill to join her guards, but Nathan held her by the tail when she was about to leave and prevented her for moving, saying it would be too dangerous.
Their argument turned into a messy mixture of the present situation with Amara sulking about a wasted night, which led Ryo to exchange a look of surprise with Elysira.
But their surprise only lasted a moment and Ryo decided he couldn't let those fools keep wasting valuable time.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
He had their attention now. "Please don't tell me you're mad because the plant lover couldn't get it up."
Under normal circumstances, Ryo had no doubt his assholish behavior would only instill shame and improve their cooperation.
However, he forgot to account that he was not wearing a shirt, leaving all his scratches exposed while Elysira was disheveled by his side, which caused Nathan's jaws to drop followed by Amara throwing an indignant gaze at Elysira and then at Nathan, who gave Ryo the feeling he might snap at any time.
"Why are you here?" Nathan's calm voice didn't match his clenched fist and rigid posture.
"Information. I want her to tell me what she knows about this war." Ryo had learned about the war by overhearing their previous argument.
Surprisingly, Amara was cooperative. "My brother's army found our position. They were not aware I was here with Nathan and ambushed the rest of my people and Zara; you destroyed their drone but if they saw us they might have a good reason to come here."
"Fuck!" He turned to Elysira and ordered. "Go back and gather my things. Take the essentials first, we are leaving."
Elysira used her tail to squeeze his arm in acknowledgment and rushed back. But when she had barely taken a few steps, she stopped as her ears moved. "More drones are coming!"
After alerting him, she ran to accomplish her task, leaving Ryo in the company of just Nathan and Amara.
"Isn't that great?" He grumbled to himself, but his voice carried loudly, obtaining the pair's attention as he raised his revolver again.
Knowing that the enemy was probably aware of their position, Ryo used infrared view mode to ensure they weren't using the drones as a distraction to pull off an ambush.
And that didn't seem to be the case when the first machine appeared, flying downwards in zigzag from the concentration of trees uphill.
Again Ryo used a partial activation of combat mode and aimed at the drone, yet this time more of them appeared, leaving the cover of the woods in groups of three until there were nine of them in total. But they didn't even try to get close this time, choosing to hover next to the canopies more than two hundred meters away from him, and assuming something akin to a structured formation.
This was extremely weird and enough of a reason for him to retreat a little, getting closer to his tent and taking cover behind a tree.
Nathan and Amara moved too, the botanist getting inside and returning with his gun while Amara's colors blended with his tent becoming hard to spot.
Assessing the new situation in an instant, Ryo concluded it would be better not to engage and retreat considering that those drones would be hard to take down at such distance. But things changed again quickly when the AI triggered a pop-up window, showing that several of the cameras he had set up in strategic places were capturing movement.
And what he was seeing now were several armed groups of Irisians heading towards their position, confirming Amara's supposition that the rebels were coming for them.
With the situation getting grimmer with every passing moment, Ryo thought of a possibility for what the drones might be doing, but his mind was still refusing to believe that the rebels could be as organized as his worst-case scenarios were giving them credit for.
To test this, he immediately tried to contact the space station through radio transmission, and since being found by the enemy was no longer an issue, he set the transmitter to maximum potency to validate his test.
Unable to establish a two-way connection.
He frowned even though that was not totally unexpected.
With only a few minutes at best before this place was filled with enemies, they would have to leave fast or they would be at the mercy of the enemy.
But first, there was something he wanted to say to Nathan, who now was using his tent for cover together with Amara. "Listen up, those fuckers are jamming our comms and they will be here at any time. Take the MLBCS and find a clearing to use it, I doubt they can interfere with the laser. Just don't forget that your immediate safety comes first or else you might not be among the living when the pod arrives."
Ryo and Nathan were technically enemies, but the last casualty in the war between Earth and Mars had happened several years in the past, ensuring that he had no reason to wish any harm for the botanist even though he didn't like him.
As for Amara, it was a little different. He hurried back to his tent without saying anything to her. And he did that not because he wished her harm, but simply because he didn't understand what she had at her disposal to offer any useful advice.
"Wait, what are you gonna do?" Nathan shouted from a distance.
With the adrenalin of seeing how many Irisians were coming helping his sincerity, he shouted back. "I'm not leaving the planet unless mission control finds a way to save Ely too."
After that, Nathan and Amara disappeared from his mind as he took cover behind his tent, slamming his hand against the foldable fabric many times to get Elysira's attention. "Hurry up, we can't stay here any longer."
She left immediately after, struggling to maintain balance as she used a hand plus her tail to carry his backpack, while her gun threatened to tumble from her gasp in her other hand.
And besides, one thing that Ryo’s eyes were immediately drawn towards was the clothes she was wearing—his clothes. While her legs were still exposed, his jacket still covered a bit more than her hips, loosely engulfing her slender frame like a billowing sail.
"I put the food and water in your backpack." She let go of the heavy item right over his feet as she put the gun on the ground and lifted her arms for him to recover his jacket and t-shirt. "You can get dressed while the tent folds."
He might have allowed her to keep the jacket if not for it being an inconvenience to her, so he just took it, making the first time he saw her wearing clothes a very short experience.
"No time for that, it won't fold with all the paper you left on the ground." He said as he swiftly slipped his arms into the sleeves of the jacket and zipped it up in one smooth movement.
Ryo was already considering which path they would take to flee when he noticed something terrible—Elysira’s skin had just been filled with gray as tiny black spots began to appear and disappear as if rain on the sand of a desert.
"What's it now?" He asked, trying to hide how unprepared he was to deal with this.
"Nothing has changed." Elysira averted her eyes. "I'm a burden to you just as I was to Amara. If I had-"
"Oh, shut up and quit the self-pity!" Ryo realized he was being too harsh, but still went on to finish it. "The paper is our mistake and I'm staying because I like you. This simple. Now get your gun and use your goddam camouflage, just like that princess is doing."
Ryo felt awful after saying this, and Elysira seemed quite taken about as she stared at him with wide eyes.
A moment later, however, she bent over and took the gun from the ground, her exterior blending quite well with the surroundings.
Ryo felt bad for her, but now there was no time to talk. "We run now, let's go."
The sound of his own steps was all he heard as they were putting some distance from the tent, making it so that he had to check on Elysira every couple of steps he took to ensure she was following him.
It was only when he heard some gunshots from far behind that he felt her claws tugging at his jacket from behind. "I hope Nathan is like you."
***
This was an account based on what Ryo did during the first hour of the war. The previous narrative is based on the events of the morning of the twentieth day of the exploratory mission of Irisa. According to your current settings, no queries will be suggested.
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Living in a small southern town, you get used to the way things are. I grew up as a military brat, so my childhood memories are a blur of packing, unpacking, and getting settled. It had been seven years since we arrived, and nothing but the grace of God would make me move again. A few years ago, my father got orders to station at a base in the middle of the Mohave. I was only seventeen then, but after a few dozen screaming matches, I decided to strike out on my own a little early. I got a part-time job at the cafe, which was enough to rent a little run-down shack a couple of blocks from downtown. As far as I was concerned, I was living the dream—serving coffee a few hours a week and spending the rest of my time hanging out with friends, listening to music, and drinking.
That particular morning started the same as any other. I woke up around noon with a text from Mark to meet me at the cafe. Took me about two hours to get up and head over. The sun had just begun its descent as I pushed the door to the cafe open, the bell above tinkling softly. The sound bothered me a little bit, but I couldn’t tell why. It seemed to ring a little louder than I was expecting, and gave me this strange drilling sensation inside my head.
I ignored the feeling as the smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries washed over me. I saw Mark and Jamie already sat at our usual spot. Mark looked up as I approached, a grin spreading across his face. "Hey, Alex. Sarah should be here soon."
“So what's on the docket today?” I asked as I sat down, stealing a bear claw off Jamie's plate and taking a large bite before he had the chance to protest.
Mark’s excitement was almost palpable. He was always the one with the big ideas and crazy schemes, which I honestly appreciated. They got us into trouble more often than not, but it beat day drinking in the Walmart parking lot like everyone else our age.
"Alright, check this out," Mark said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I was talking to my cousin who works for the county. He told me about this old, abandoned food processing factory just outside of town. They used to can peaches there."
I gave him a skeptical look. "That’s your idea? Old, canned peaches?"
"No, idiot," he scoffed. "They left behind a ton of nitrates and phosphates. I’ve been doing some reading, and we can use them to make fireworks. I was up all night figuring it out and putting these together." He subtly opened his backpack to reveal at least a dozen PVC pipes fitted on both ends.
"Now that's what I’m talking about," I said, grinning.
Sarah walked in, catching the tail end of our conversation. "Sorry I’m late, I had a breakout and had to stop by the pharmacy. Upped my allergy meds. I fucking hate pollen," she said as I scooted over to make room for her on the bench.
"Is there anything you aren't allergic to?" I laughed.
She rolled her eyes, ignoring my question. "So, what's the plan for today?"
Mark, Jamie and I exchanged cheeky glances. "Well," I started, "let’s just hope you’re not allergic to peaches."
We finally managed to pry the side door of the factory off, which broke free from the hinges and smashed against the floor. Stepping inside, the air was thick and rancid as we bounced the beams of our flashlights around the packaging floor.
"We should split up," Mark suggested. "Alex, you and Sarah check out the storage rooms for the chemicals. Jamie and I will find the control room and see if we can get the power back on."
All of us nodded as we went our separate ways. Sarah and I wandered down the dark hallways, kicking open doors and looking for anything that looked vaguely like chemicals. The corridors were dark and damp, with black mold snaking along the walls like veins.
The first few rooms we checked were empty, filled only with dust and the remnants of long-abandoned equipment. Each door creaked as we pushed it open, revealing more decay and desolation.
As we moved further down the hallway, the mold seemed to become more aggressive, spreading in thick, dark patches along the walls and floors. The air grew heavier, making it harder to breathe. We kicked open another door, our flashlights revealing more of the same—nothing useful.
"This place is a bust," Sarah muttered,
"Let's keep looking," I replied, though I was starting to feel the same way. "There has to be something."
We continued down the corridor, our footsteps echoing in the silence. As we approached the end of the hall, something caught my eye. One door stood out, covered in black, creeping mold that seemed to pulse and writhe. Tendrils of fungus snaked out from the edges, reaching out into the hallway.
"Sarah, look at this," I said.
She turned to see what I was pointing at and her eyes widened. "That’s... different."
We approached the door cautiously as the tendrils moved and swayed.
With a deep breath, we each grabbed one side of the door and pulled. It resisted for a moment before giving way, the mold snapping and tearing as we forced it open. The smell that hit us was overpowering, a mix of rot and decay that made my eyes water.
Inside, our flashlights revealed a horrifying sight. At the back of the room sat several pallets with dozens of boxes of peaches each. But it was what grew from these boxes that will haunt my nightmares till my dying day.
The entire back wall was consumed by a towering fungal mass. Thick, fleshy stalks jutted out from the base, climbing nearly to the ceiling. The surface of the fungus glistened with a slimy, wet sheen, appearing almost like rotting flesh under our flashlight beams. Each stalk was covered in a mottled, sickly green and yellow hue, with patches of black mold that seemed to pulse in the dim light.
Interwoven within this horrific sight were bulbous growths, each one throbbing rhythmically, as if with a heartbeat of its own. They resembled obscene, overgrown tumors, ready to burst at the slightest touch. Long, sinewy tendrils extended from the main mass, creeping over the boxes and along the floor like the fingers of some malevolent creature, seeking out any life to ensnare.
The tendrils near the door twitched, slowly inching their way toward us as if aware of our presence. The air was thick with spores, glimmering in the light like tiny stars, each one a potential harbinger of decay and death.
"Oh my god," Sarah whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of our own breathing. "What is that thing?"
We stood there, frozen in shock and disgust, before I slammed the door shut.
"Let's get the hell out of here," I said.
We hurried back down the corridor, our footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. The lights in the facility flickered on, casting a blinding white light. I heard a bubbling, groaning noise emanate from behind the fungal door, sending a wave of nausea through my body.
We met back up with Mark and Jamie in the main area and quickly told them what we saw.
"Yo, that sounds sick," Jamie exclaimed. "We should blow it up. I found the chemicals in the control room and these bad boys are ready to go," he said, holding up a pipe bomb.
"Yeah," Mark agreed, his eyes alight with excitement. "We'd be doing the world a favor, getting rid of that thing."
Sarah shook her head, her face pale. "No way. I'm not doing this. That thing... It's not normal. We need to get out of here and call someone who knows what they're doing."
Jamie frowned. "Come on, Sarah. Don't be a buzzkill. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something epic."
"Epic?" Sarah snapped. "That thing is dangerous. We don't know what we're dealing with. I'm not risking my life for some stupid joke."
Mark stepped in with a grin. "Alright, let's all calm down. If you’re scared you can just let the men handle it.”
Sarah crossed her arms. "Fine, but I'm staying here."
"Suit yourself," Jamie said, shrugging. "But we're not leaving without taking care of that thing."
"Alright, let's do this," Mark said, looking at Jamie and me. "We'll be quick. Sarah, stay here and keep an eye out.”
The hallway looked completely different in the fluorescent lighting. I could see now that each vein of fungus emanated from that single door, like a spiral portal threatening to suck us in.
"Let's make this quick," I whispered, glancing back at Jamie and Mark. "We light the bomb, throw it in, and get the hell out of here."
Jamie nodded, holding the pipe bomb tightly in his hand. "Ready when you are."
We reached the door, and the tendrils of fungus seemed even more aggressive, writhing and pulsing as if aware of our presence. The air was thick with spores.
"On three," I whispered, gripping the edge of the door. "One... two... three."
We yanked the door open, the mold snapping and tearing as it gave way. The smell of rot and decay hit us again, making my eyes water. The monstrous fungal mass loomed before us, its bulbous growths throbbing rhythmically.
Jamie lit the fuse and threw the bomb as hard as he could inside. It struck one of the orbs, which burst, shooting a fine white mist into the air.
"Run!" I shouted, slamming the door shut. We turned and sprinted down the hallway. The explosion sounded behind us, the shockwave lifting me off my feet and sending me tumbling to the ground.
Living in a small southern town, you get used to the way things are. My parents were in the army, so we moved a lot, but now I'm staying put. I woke up around noon and got a text from Mark to meet at the cafe. The smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries greeted me as I arrived. The bell's ring seemed off, giving me a small headache.
I ignored it and slid into the seat across from Mark and Jamie. “So what's on the docket today?” I asked, stealing a doughnut off Jamie's plate.
“Going to go to an old peach factory and get some chemicals. I need to make some fireworks,” Mark replied, subtly revealing some pipe bombs in his bag.
Sarah walked in towards the tail end of our conversation and silently stood next to our table.
The three of us glanced at each other, unsure of how to proceed. “Sarah,” I finally started. “Are you ok?”
“Y-yeah,” she replied. “Are YOU guys feeling ok?”
We exchanged uneasy glances. “Yeah, we’re fine,” I said. After a moment, she shook her head and sat down as we continued our plans.
That evening, we broke into the peach factory. We found this disgusting, gigantic fungal growth coming out of some boxes of peaches and we blew it up with some pipe bombs.
The next day I woke up around noon and got a text from Mark to meet at the cafe. The smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries greeted me as I arrived. The bell's ring seemed off, giving me a small migraine.
I ignored it and slid into the seat across from Mark and Jamie. “So what's on the docket today?” I asked, stealing a maroon off Jamie's plate.
“Going to go to an old peach factory and get some chemicals. I need to make some fireworks,” Mark replied, subtly revealing some pipe bombs in his bag.
Sarah walked in towards the tail end of our conversation and silently stood next to our table.
The three of us glanced at each other, unsure of how to proceed. “Sarah,” I finally started. “Are you ok?”
“Y-yeah,” she replied. “Not really. Are YOU guys feeling Ok?”
We exchanged uneasy glances. “Yeah, we’re fine,” I said. After a moment, she shook her head and sat down as we continued our plans.
That evening, we broke into the peach factory. We found this disgusting, gigantic fungal growth coming out of some boxes of peaches and we blew it up with some pipe bombs.
The next day I woke up around noon and got a text from Mark to meet at the cafe. The smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries greeted me as I arrived. The bell's ring seemed off, giving me a piercing migraine.
I ignored it and slid into the seat across from Mark and Jamie. “So what's on the docket today?” I asked, stealing a bagel off Jamie's plate.
“Going to go to an old peach factory and get some chemicals. I need to make some fireworks,” Mark replied, subtly revealing some pipe bombs in his bag.
Sarah walked in towards the tail end of our conversation and silently stood next to our table.
The three of us glanced at each other, unsure of how to proceed. “Sarah,” I finally started. “Are you ok?”
“What's going on?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m scared.”
We exchanged uneasy glances. “It’s fine, Sarah. Just take a seat,” I said. After a moment, she shook her head and sat down as we continued our plans.
That evening, we broke into the peach factory. We found this disgusting, gigantic fungal growth coming out of some boxes of peaches and we blew it up with some pipe bombs.
The next day I woke up around noon and got a text from Mark to meet at the cafe. The smell of slightly stale coffee and pastries greeted me as I arrived. The bell's ring seemed off, giving me a splitting migraine.
As I slid into the seat across from Mark and Jamie, I noticed Sarah outside, fixated on a bird suspended in mid-flight. I went out to see her.
"Are you seeing this?" she asked, her voice tinged with astonishment.
"Yeah," I replied nonchalantly. "That happens all the time. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"What the hell do you mean, 'Am I feeling okay?'!" she screamed. "That bird is frozen mid-air, and you don't think anything weird is going on?"
Her yelling took me aback. I didn't understand her alarm, so I shrugged it off and joined Mark inside. As we began planning our nightly excursion to the peach factory, Sarah burst through the door, screaming, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
"That's odd," I mused, my brow furrowed in confusion before we shrugged it off and resumed our scheming.
The day after, I met Mark again at the cafe. This rhythm had become our existence: meetings by day, adventures by night at the old peach plant. That evening followed the familiar pattern; we reveled in the thrill of hurling pipe bombs into that small enclosed room.
This routine had completely engulfed our lives. Day after day at the cafe, night after night at the factory—it seemed as though this cycle was all we had ever known. Reflecting on it, I couldn't remember any other way of life.
However, one thing increasingly disturbed me—the ringing of the doorbell at the cafe's entrance. Each time I entered, the sound seemed sharper, more grating. Focusing on it brought a searing pain to my head, like a needle drilling through my skull. Yet, despite the agony, I found myself obsessing over it, the sound gnawing at the edges of my sanity.
One day, driven to the brink by this incessant ringing, I decided to confront it head-on. I stood by the door, letting the bell chime repeatedly. Each ring sliced through my mind, but I persisted, sweat beading on my forehead, teeth clenched in torment.
As the pain crescendoed, reality shattered. I woke to the blaring of a fire alarm, not the quaint doorbell I had imagined. The cafe was engulfed in chaos. The hallway was consumed by a sprawling fungal mass, its tendrils creeping along the walls.
In the dim, flickering light, I saw Jamie, or what was left of him. Half of his skull was missing, the fungus attached grotesquely to his exposed brain, pulsating with each eerie beat of his fading heart. Mark was there too, seemingly unharmed physically, but trapped in a delusion, his eyes glazed over, a smile playing on his lips as the fungus encased him.
Sarah lay collapsed by the fire alarm, her hand still on the lever. She had managed to pull it before succumbing to the spores that now clung to her body.
The tendrils that had enveloped me snapped violently, each break releasing a sickening crack that echoed through the eerie silence of the hallway. An outline of my body remained imprinted in the fungal mass, a mold from which I had desperately broken free.
Gritting my teeth against the pain and horror, I scrambled to Mark and Sarah. Mark was less entangled, lost in his fungal-induced stupor. I grabbed him under the arms, his body limp but alive, and dragged him across the floor. The fungus resisted, stretching like sinew before tearing away from him with wet, ripping sounds.
Sarah was heavier, her body weakened but still fighting. I clasped her wrists, pulling with all my strength. The fungus clung to her, tendrils winding up her arms like ivy. With a final, determined yank, the last of the tendrils snapped, freeing her. We left behind fragments of the monstrous growth clinging to her clothes.
Together, we staggered out into the night air, away from the suffocating enclosure. The cool air hit our faces, harsh yet cleansing. Behind us, the fire alarm continued to blare into the night. I fumbled with my phone, hands shaking, to dial the emergency number. The call went through, and within minutes, the sound of sirens cut through the stillness of the night, growing louder as help approached.
The next few days were a blur. I remember fading in and out of consciousness as nurses pumped antifungals directly into my IV, their faces blurring into the sterile environment. Once we were somewhat cognizant, the police wanted answers. One by one, we were interviewed, but we gave them nothing. I still don’t know what the exact penalty is for manufacturing explosives and using them to destroy a building, but I’m guessing it’s not community service. Jamie was still missing, and they hadn’t found any sign of him or his body. I tried to hide my tears as I knew he was already long gone.
After a few weeks, I was finally cleared for visitors and got to see Sarah again. She told me that after the explosion, she ran but couldn’t leave us behind. She came back, only to see us being consumed by the fungus. Try as she might, she wasn’t able to free us as she felt the oppressive spores take her under. She fought back and managed to pull the fire alarm before succumbing again. The doctors told her that her allergy medication gave her some resistance to the fungus; otherwise, she might have been a goner.
Mark was never the same. We never talked about what happened, and after trying once and him flipping out, I figured it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. That summer, he moved to upstate New York to work in his dad’s business. I haven’t seen him since. That fall, Sarah started college at Savannah State. I still call her every now and again, but it’s not like it used to be.
Despite all that happened, I’m not moving again. I’m happy here, and if it’s up to me, I’ll die in this little town. I still work at the cafe, as a manager now. On weekends, I come in and just sit at the booth we all used to share.
I still think about Jamie from time to time. I wonder if he's dead or still stuck in his delusion, picturing the four of us sitting at our table, talking, laughing, and passing the time. Sometimes, when the cafe is empty and the light is just right, I can almost see him there, his smile frozen in that moment before everything went wrong.
The cafe grows quieter each day, the hum of life fading into an eerie stillness. My skin feels different, as if the air itself whispers secrets I can't quite grasp. The itching that started as a minor annoyance has intensified, becoming a constant torment. I scratch at lesions that have begun to form on my arms and chest, red and raw, with patches of green spreading beneath the surface. I’ve started to wear long sleeves to cover my arms and a mask to hide my purpling lips.
Some nights, when closing, as I sit alone in the dim light of the cafe, the itching becomes unbearable. I claw at the lesions, feeling a dampness beneath my skin. Sometimes, when I cough, I could swear I see tiny spores hanging in the air, reminiscent of the bursting nodules growing on the stalks of the monster.
Occasionally, I hear the bell ring and the door open, but no one is there. I look outside into the empty night and see nothing. This went on for weeks, becoming more frequent. But one night, the door opened, and I saw Jamie standing there, the picture of health. I went to embrace him and noticed my lesions were gone too. It was almost as if we had never gone to the peach factory. It was suddenly morning, and the light shone through the cafe. For the first time in forever, we were happy. We talked about nothing, passing the time.
After what felt like hours, he told me it was time to go. But his mouth wasn’t moving—I felt like I could read his thoughts, and he could read mine. We stood up as I took one last look at the cafe and headed off with him, back to the peach factory.
As we walked, a strange calmness settled over me. I remember feeling that I wanted to ask if he had talked to Mark or Sarah, and wondered how they were doing. But deep down, somehow, I could feel their presence and I knew they were doing just fine. The sun was bright, the air crisp. The itching had vanished completely, replaced by an inexplicable craving for the sweetness of ripe peaches. Jamie and I shared a silent understanding, a bond deeper than any words could convey.
The factory loomed ahead, its doors wide open as if inviting us in. The familiar scent of peaches and something else—something earthy and ancient—filled the air. We stepped inside, side by side, feeling at home for the first time in ages.
The last thing I remember before the darkness took over was the feeling of the soft, warm peach flesh in my hand, and Jamie’s voice in my head saying, "Welcome home."

Before going into it, I want to mention how this post was inspired by three things. One was user u/HastyvonFuego2 and their post on going down the rabbit hole on the Kendrick sub last week. It was also inspired by Childish Gambino’s first album release in nearly 6 years where I have been sitting on this idea for a while but he inspired me to finally post this week like he did (never posted on Reddit at all before so be gentle if I am not doing it right)! I was also inspired by an interview Bino gave to GQ about breaking down his most iconic characters. In this interview he says how This is America started out as a Drake diss but then he realized the song was too hard for just Drake so he kept working on it. He also talks in this interview about how all culture is about compression. Which means that yes, This is America is about the gun violence and police issues in America, but compressed in this video is also more about where that culture comes from which he shows is from a small handful of rap moguls, namely Drake, Diddy and Jay-Z (bear with me on this long post, I think/hope it will be worth it). At the end I talk briefly about how Little Foot Big Foot might be in this same vein of cultural compression.
[Intro: Choir]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
The beginning of this song has no background music yet, which really gives it an ‘in the beginning’ feel. Then Gambino starts doing his dances with weird facial expressions. I will explain as we go through his video how those expressions and dance moves represent different famous rap moguls. One easy look to pick out right away is Jay-Z’s famous lip curl/growl look that Gambino gives with a head nod repeatedly. The colonial pants have been a hot topic, but since it’s only the pants that are colonial, Gambino is saying the bottom or basis for this violent culture in America is ultimately colonialism. The lyrics ‘Go Away’, are likely foreshadowing the rap moguls wanting other popular rap rivals to ‘go away’ or they will make them (aka murder them) for profit.
[Bridge: Childish Gambino & Young Thug]
We just wanna party
Party just for you
We just want the money
Money just for you (Yeah)
Usually you want money for yourself and to party for yourself, so this is a bit odd. But what Gambino is referring to is similar to these Diddy ‘freakoff parties’ we are hearing about where people who want to be famous are really partying for these rap moguls so they can get close to them. Where they suck up to them saying that they want to earn the mogul money from their songs.
I know you wanna party
Party just for free
Girl, you got me dancin' (Girl, you got me dancin')
Dance and shake the frame (Yeah)
Then this almost feels like the Diddy rebuttal where he’s like ya I know you want to party and you want to do it for free. Like Katt Williams says, “you gotta tell Diddy no”, it is never free to go to those parties. There are always consequences. When you are partying you are dancing, but shaking the frame could refer to how those boundaries/edges are being crossed, lines are blurred, etc.
Then in the video, the fellow who was playing the guitar gets shot and things turn dark from happy music. I believe that this guitar tune is meant to represent 2Pac and Nas’s song Thugz Mansion. It’s one of the original greats from ‘in the beginning’. Nas famously has always had major issues with Jay-Z too (More on why 2Pac and Nas later). It also represents how it was these moguls who murdered 2Pac like Jaguar Wright and Katt Williams keep saying. Where these murders only lead to more money and fame for the killers when the dead artists’ and their music are exploited more easily.
Also note that the gun gets taken away by a school kid after the shooting, more on this later as well.
[Verse 1: Childish Gambino, Young Thug, Blocboy JB & 21 Savage]
This is America (Skrrt, skrrt, woo)
Don't catch you slippin' now (Ayy)
Look how I'm livin' now
Police be trippin' now (Woo)
Yeah, this is America (Woo, ayy)
Guns in my area (Word, my area)
There is a song called Guns in My Area by Lil Weiner and Baby Chapox that paints a vivid picture of the everyday struggles and conflicts faced by those living in communities affected by gun violence. More compression of other songs and the American gun culture.
I got the strap (Ayy, ayy)
I gotta carry 'em
I am almost certain this line is referring to 2Pac’s song Changes. Throughout This is America, Gambino takes lines from Pac’s song: “They get jealous when they see you with your mobile phone” (referred to later in this a Celly, that’s tool) “That's the sound of my tool, you say it ain't cool, My mama didn't raise no fool”
“And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped, And I never get to lay back” It seems like Gambino broke up these lyrics and scattered them throughout his song. This plays into the theme that everyone is using 2Pac and enriching themselves off of his image and music. I show below how this particular section of the video represents Diddy meaning that Diddy himself is exploiting his music (and alleging that Diddy killed Pac?). We could see this exploitation play out at length with how much Diddy milked the death of Biggie like in Every Breath You Take.
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this (Ugh)
Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (Woo)
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag
The song Gorilla War by $uicideboy$ and Ramirez talks about getting a bag repeatedly in the course. Also in Otis with Kanye and Jay-Z their lyrics talk about going gorilla (I talk about this song more further down), so it could be referring to this as well. It seems like Gambino is trying to pull out lyrics from all across the rap culture and embed them in his song to highlight the ‘cultural compression’.
Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like, yeah (Yeah)
I'm so dope like, yeah (Woo)
We gon' blow like, yeah (Straight up, uh)
I think that all of the school kids in the video represent all of the rappers that are signed with these big labels. Which is interesting because they are the ones facilitating the guns for the moguls in the video. You can see that the mogul is really focused on the kids and gets agitated and directs them to follow him whenever they stray off a bit like they are his pupils, or like he owns them. Then all of a sudden the camera comes into a scene where you can see more kids shooting a rap video and all shooting money from a Supreme gun. The camera zooms out almost to show you that this is the mogul’s whole rap empire they are looking over, all of their kids in one place (this empire already includes some chaos in the background). It’s subtle but hilarious, Gambino puts fricken chickens on the ground where the kids are filming the rap video. He is directly calling all of these rappers complete chickens for playing up this lifestyle and being the cause of so much chaos rather than coming out and telling somebody what’s really going on. Trying to get their money over everything else.
[Refrain: Choir & Childish Gambino]
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me
Get your money, Black man (Get your— Black man)
This is where things start to get interesting. Gambino is literally saying, go tell somebody about this! We all know what’s happening, why don’t you go let people know how bad it is? But like Jaguar Wright said, who do you tell when these moguls have the cops and feds paid off? This video is literally Gambino putting it all out there in this extremely popular song for everyone to see but yet we still just see the dancing and the violent chaos of people and police in the streets and not the root cause that is hidden in plain sight.
The vast majority of those who reviewed this video until now think this scene represents the tragic church shooting in Charleston in 2015. I think it does, but we also have to look at this from an angle of compression.
The people in the choir are all of the people who are currently singing the rap mogul’s praises and who are focused on going and getting what’s owed to them, get their money (who are also profiting off of the dead fellows music since it goes back to the original tune). You can see that each choir member has a distinct look to them. Think about who you are hearing about now who is about to be implicated in these freak offs and evil deeds. Is that Will Smith in the back left corner!? The short bald fellow in the front left maybe Kevin Hart? Rick Ross or TD Jakes maybe the bigger guy towards the back right? When the camera zooms in on the choir right at first to show their faces, doesn’t the guy in the bottom middle look like an uncanny version of Jordan Peele? Or is that meant to be Cuba Gooding Jr? Then just like the guitar fellow at the beginning, bang. You may be singing Diddy’s praises now, but he will cut you down whenever he suddenly feels like it.
I think almost for sure this initial section of the music video is Gambino acting as Diddy, because right after he shoots the choir, he does the elbow pump/chicken dance. At 3:14 in Diddy’s video for P.E. 2000 he does the chicken dance (he is up first in the video and I think Gambino is trying to say here I first present to you the first public enemy of 3 in this song). That elbow dance signals that it was Diddy and this is the end of his section.
[Chorus: Childish Gambino, Young Thug, Slim Jxmmi & Quavo]
This is America (Woo, ayy)
Don't catch you slippin' now (Woo, woo, don't catch you slippin' now)
Don't catch you slippin' now (Ayy, woah)
Look what I'm whippin' now (Slime!)
There have been many accounts of celebrities being given fancy cars after suffering abuse at the hands of these moguls. So these lyrics are saying that you better not slip up and tell people what’s really going on. And if you don’t look at this sweet carecord deal/movie contract I am going to give you. Beiber told this story about Diddy wanting to give him a luxury car.
Now suddenly, the dance switches from the chicken dance to a sudden bicep flex to signal us that we have now moved on from Gambino representing Diddy to our next mogul.
[Verse 2: Childish Gambino, Quavo, Young Thug, 21 Savage & BlocBoy JB]
This next chunk of the video is all about Jay-Z. I think this is the case because he throws his arms up in a bicep flex just like Jay does in the Otis music video at 2:38. And it makes sense Gambino would pick a dance move from a video with a huge American flag in the background to fit the ‘This is America’ theme. Gambino is mocking him saying, who are you really, the pretty guy or this hard gangster like Gambino shows in his dancing. Also right before they pan to the kids on the balcony, Bino also does Jay-Z’s signature lip curl look a couple times so we know it’s him and to signal the end of his section.
Look how I'm geekin' out (Hey)
I'm so fitted (I'm so fitted, woo)
Jay-Z is famous for making the fitted Yankees cap famous, it’s his signature look. More signs this verse is about Jay.
I'm on Gucci (I'm on Gucci)
Jay-Z has been seen in full wallpaper Gucci sweat suits but could also be referring to Gucci Mane who he hung out with at Beyonce’s tour around the time this song was released.
I'm so pretty (Yeah, yeah, woo)
I'm gon' get it (Ayy, I'm gon' get it)
Watch me move (Blaow)
These lines are probably referring to Jay-Z having a hidden preference for men, especially with the way Gambino flicks his wrist in the video when he says I’m so pretty.
This a celly (Ha)
That's a tool (Yeah)
On my Kodak (Woo) Black
I think that “this a celly, that’s a tool” harkens back to 2Pac’s lyrics in Changes where he sings, “They get jealous when they see ya with your mobile phone” then shortly after that he sings about the sound of his tool, referring to shooting a gun. But Childish flips these lyrics on their head. He is saying that it’s really the phone that’s a tool to be using, not a gun. And pans up and shows (the school kids specifically) on the balcony filming everything going on below. He’s telling the kids/other rappers, use your phone as a tool, you can record these bad deeds when you get blackmailed into being at the freak off. That’s how you can kill them and their career, not with a gun. Go tell somebody! There is also the reference to Kodak which plays into the picture taking theme, but also because Kodak Black has been accused of assaulting a teenage girl in a hotel room. So we have a good idea of what Gambino suggests all the kids start filming and collecting evidence of.
Ooh, know that (Yeah, know that, hold on)
Get it (Woo, get it, get it)
Ooh, work it (21)
Now we are onto Drake’s part. In the video Gambino starts doing the BlocBoy JB dance called Shoot. Drake is known for doing these little viral dance moves like in Hotline Bling. But not only that, this dance is also used in the song that both BlocBoy JB and Drake collaborate on for their video Look Alive. It starts at 2:07 in the Look Alive video. So this is Drake’s dance to signal his part is now starting.
Note this is where the pale horse rides by also potentially saying that Drake is one of the horsemen of the apocalypse. Interestingly, Drake’s collab with BlocBoy JB was pretty much the apocalypse for BlocBoy’s career, who hasn’t had a hit since.
Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (Hunnid bands)
Contraband, contraband, contraband (Contraband)
I got the plug in Oaxaca (Woah)
They gonna find you like "blocka" (Blaow)
Again, we know this is Drake’s section because his song 10 bands starts out by saying “10 bands, 50 bands, 100 bands” almost identical to Bino’s lyrics here. Also Blocka was famously used by Biggie in his song Gimme the Loot which could be referring to Biggie's demise like Pac’s and making money from his death. Everything in this industry originates from pushing drugs, which has been alleged through the trafficking that Diddy, Jay-Z and Drake do through their private jets likely connected to their bosses, the Clive Davises and Lucian Grainges of the world. This escalates rap beefs and the whole culture to the next level where murder is often a consequence for young rappers in their prime when international drug lord money is involved.
An interesting point is this is the only time where Childish was about to shoot someone in the video, but where he didn’t have a school kid either handing him the gun or taking it away carefully from him. (Maybe also a diss at Drake that even though he acts hard he doesn’t shoot, he gets his horseman of the apocalypse to do his dirty deeds for him instead perhaps?). This is the beginning of the end for the rap mogul as he no longer has his kids doing his bidding for him. A simple message to show how the violence can be stopped, that these shootings can end when the kids stop enabling them. So then as soon as he can’t react in that moment and shoot someone his anger is forced to chill out, as shown by smoking a J, and to go back to exploiting the dead man’s music instead. If you don’t put a gun in someone’s hand when they are heated, those feelings too shall pass - kinda feel.
[Refrain: Choir, Childish Gambino, & Young Thug]
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
America, I just checked my following list, and
You mothafuckas owe me
Whose voice does that sound like!? It sounds a lot like Diddy to me, public enemy #1. This is basically saying that the moguls are the ones who we all owe it to for all of this glorified gun violence in America. That we owe them way more follows and likes for what a massive influence they have had on the violence and chaos we see in America today.
Grandma told me
Get your money, Black man (Black man)
(1, 2, 3—get down)
In Moneybagg Yo’s song 1, 2, 3, he also has a line that says “1, 2, 3, let’s go!” in a similar vein.
But something interesting I came across was Nas’s song Get Down where they use a sample from James Brown's “The Boss” that sounds extremely similar to the way Gambino screams “Get Down!” Which would fit well if the guitar singer from the beginning is meant to be Nas and Pac doing Thugz Mansion.
Also make sure you check out Nas’s song Get Down so that you can hear how much Jay-Z outright copied this song for The Story of OJ. From the musical structure with the piano and interwoven samples right down to the theme reiterated by the sample at the end of Nas’s song: “If that’s how our people are gonna get down, how are we ever gonna get up?”
SZA
Finally to wrap up the video, I have been stumped for a long time as to why SZA is randomly at the end of this video sitting on one of the cars. But I think I finally know why and it reconfirms that this last scene is all about Drake. If you watch Drake’s music video for Worst Behavior (not very Canadian of him to spell behaviour that way I might add) you will see Drake rapping and dancing with a few cars surrounding him and one of those cars has other rappers making cameos in it. In Gambino’s video SZA represents that car with a famous cameo. I think this is further confirmed when the black edges of the video start closing inwards at the end of This is America, the exact same way that Worst Behavior ends. So why SZA as the cameo then? Cause it reminds people that Drake is a p*do.
This is from an article in the Rolling Stone: In 2020, Drake revealed publicly that he and SZA had dated over a decade ago, well before she was an established artist (her earliest music goes back to around 2012; her critical breakthrough, Ctrl, came in 2017). On 21 Savage’s “Mr. Right Now,” Drake rapped about a newer fling who was a fan of SZA’s: “Yeah, said she wanna fuck to some SZA, wait / ‘Cause I used to date SZA back in ’08 / If you cool with it, baby, she can still play.” A few days later, SZA responded, corroborating Drake’s claim with a slight correction: they dated in 2009, when both would have been over 18. Since SZA would not have turned 18 until late 2008, she wanted to set the record straight. “in this case a year of poetic rap license mattered 🥴lol I think he jus innocently rhymed 08 w wait [sic],” she tweeted. “I just didn’t want anybody thinking anything underage or creepy was happening . Completely innocent . Lifetimes ago . [sic]”
If you have to specifically say something isn’t creepy and distance yourself from it being lifetimes ago, it usually is creepy. Drake would’ve been 22 when she was 17. Metro Boomin also happens to be on the Mr. Right Now track. He is currently in trouble for resurfaced old tweets showing how Metro used to tweet disgusting things about what he wanted to do to underage girls. Interestingly, Metro Boomin is also now beefing with Drake.
Drake doing his dance on the car of the original musician’s music seems to be accusing Drake directly of stealing 2Pac’s music. Orlando Brown recently said the cryptic statement that “Drake is Pac” which likely means he stole 2Pac’s approach/style/audience after his death. Gambino did some good foreshadowing here too with the recent AI release Drake put out of 2Pac.
This dance scene also signals that the Drake section is now over.
[Outro: Young Thug]
You just a black man in this world
You just a barcode, ayy
You just a black man in this world
Drivin' expensive foreigns, ayy
You just a big dawg, yeah
I kenneled him in the backyard
No, probably ain't life to a dog
For a big dog
The outro lyrics speak to how these gatekeepers keep black men down and control them with things like being forced to wear a dress to become famous or to submit to homosexual/p*do acts.. In the video, as I mentioned above, the black edges close in on Drake’s dancing scene in This is America. But they don’t completely close and end things like they do in the Worst Behavior video. Instead, in Gambino’s video, the camera pans to show the mogul running for his life with Young Thug’s lyrics almost like a quiet echo in the background. He isn’t running from the cops though, he’s running from the kids and from the public. When I mentioned earlier that the kids not handing over the last gun before Drake’s scene signalled the beginning of the end for the moguls, this is that conclusion. Where it is showing that if all the kids come together to stop enabling and rather expose the moguls, people will be chasing these bastards down once we realize what has been going on behind the curtain. Then the song that Young Thug is singing can just be a quiet echo of the way things were in the past.
If you don’t think Gambino would be this deep and that I went too far down the rabbit hole, do a Google search on the calculations that he came up with for why he sings about loving until 3005 in his song. He seems to go real deep with his lyrics. So a big question this leaves us with is, what did Childish Gambino witness in the rap industry? His whole rap career plays out like he is trying to avoid industry norms.
Even in Sweatpants, he has lyrics like:
No hands like soccer teams and y'all fuck boys like Socrates
You niggas ain't coppin' these, niggas ain't lookin' like me (Nah)
Nah, I ain't checkin' I.D. (Nah), but I bounce 'em with no problem
Seems like he is trying to make it really clear across his catalogue of music that he isn’t a p*do but that other rappers are. Where he is saying that he doesn’t need to ID his potential partners because he can tell they are obviously too young and that’s not hard to do.
Tell 'em, Problem (Problem!)
I'm winnin', yeah, yeah, I'm winnin' (What?)...
Rich kid, asshole, paint me as a villain
So who was trying to paint him as a villain, Drake? And that’s why the diss was originally meant for him?
Don't be mad 'cause I'm doing me better than you doing you…
Better than you doing you
Fuck it, what you gon' do? (What?!)
He’s taunting the other rappers cause he knows they can’t say shit if they are creeps. He has the same sentiment in Bonfire “It’s a bonfire, turn the lights out, I’m burning everything you mother fuckers talk about.”
Childish Gambino has always refrained from talking about the meaning of This is America whenever he is asked, and I can only assume that all of this is why.
Little Foot Big Foot
Now with his new release, Little Foot Big Foot and applying cultural compression to it, it has me wondering if he is referring to Megan Thee Stallion and the Nicki beef? People like Nicki (calling Megan Big Foot) have been claiming for some time she wasn’t even shot in the foot by Tory Lanez. There were many people laughing and making fun of Megan over getting shot. Which could be an interesting story for Childish to tell to represent how crazy this violent culture has gotten that people just laugh and blame the victim now when you get shot. Also a good metaphor for things like ‘shooting yourself in the foot’ for not having a lawyer look over potentially predatory industry contracts like in the beginning of his video. That you want to get in the cool kids club so bad you overlook it. Not as sure on this one though since the song just came out and I have only heard it a few times.
One last thing that is really interesting, there have been tons of artists on podcasts like Shay Shay talking about the strings these ultra rich moguls can pull. Like buying awards or gatekeeping people from being in the industry at all. There was even a story, I think maybe it was Gene Deal who told it, that when Killer Mike won at the grammys that Jay-Z was so angry he made sure to mess up his night by getting him locked up as soon as he left the awards stage. These moguls are extremely powerful and have an incredible amount of sway in the world/industry. If you check out Gambino’s profile on Youtube, his old music videos keep getting taken down, like Bonfire for example is just gone. Fans have been having to upload the videos themselves. There is a reply to a comment, on one of the fan uploaded vids, from Gambino’s account himself when someone asks why the videos are being taken down. His account just replies “Noone knows why :(“ Seems a bit odd all things considered and like maybe he has been at the mercy of these gatekeepers for going against the system.
I am so curious to know what the rest of you think about all of this!

I am planning a one-shot on Saturday May 18th, 6pm CST. The purpose of this one-shot is to find 1 more player (I currently have 4 players) for my upcoming campaign. I am looking to see if there is compatibility between all players before starting the campaign. Both the one-shot and the campaign will have some homebrew (Legendkeeper page below has a section going over it).
One-Shot Overview: In the small quiet town of Luxus, a party of level 3 adventurers have stopped at the local tavern, the Crying Lynx, and while they were enjoying their rest, a priest of Ordo has come asking for anyone able to help solve a confusing and worrying set of deaths that took place in the church's holding cell.
Campaign Overview: A brief overview of the history of the world is that gods suddenly formed and used a power that was in the center of Saevalux, the Essence of Creation, to become immortal walking cataclysms. A betrayal caused a divide between the gods who formed two different groups, the Gods of Umbra and the Dawn Deities. The Essence of Creation suddenly disappeared causing these powerful gods to find themselves unable to escape from the divine domains that they at one point created. This lead to one god, Andras, to rise to power for some time before losing in the War of Fang and Sword. Now centuries later, the world is still recovering from Andras' reign but the world is slowly stating anew. This is incredibly shortened and the history is better explained in the Legendkeeper (It is not 100% finished): https://www.legendkeeper.com/app/cl3mfsqwwglbr08087ng33t44
Our Group: We’re a group of 5 (23/M, 23/F, 2?/F, 25/M, and 28/M), who hang out and play video games almost every day, and would welcome anyone interested in joining the group.
Schedule: We play every Saturday at 6 PM CST for around four hours.
Player Requirements: We’re looking for players who can play consistently and who are 21 or older, with a desktop and a good mic. It is completely fine if you have no prior d&d 5e experience as long as you’re eager to learn.
Joining Process: Please send me a direct message on Discord with a brief introduction.
Commitment: This campaign is designed for the long haul, likely extending beyond a year probably even two.
Contact: Discord username is helixthehare.

You can see from my profile I left the other forum years ago because it is toxic af. I found out I was adopted as an adult and it went from hell from there. Now that I can get this off my chest, I am tired of both birth moms and adoptive parents.
Birth moms are not selfless. Like wtf do people keep praising my birth mom for choosing life and being selfless? My birth mom is the most selfish person ever! She could not keep her legs close to her brother in law and got pregnant with me. She hid it and is very upper class conservative. These women can create babies but don't want to step up and raise them. When I see people praise birth moms for giving their babies up I am like wtf. Why are we praising this? I only feel for birth moms who did not have a choice and had their kids taken. The birth moms who choose this crap are awful, lazy, selfish human beings who hide being this marketing adoption crap. Sorry to say this but real moms step up and take care of their baby not give them away. My birth mom could've kept and took care of me, she was too lazy and chose not to. I am happy my adoption was closed because in my eyes why are we rewarding these women for wanting an open adoption and seeing their baby when they could not even step up to parent. It's like these birth moms want to have their cake and eat it too. They want to be fun mom and make excuses why they can't parent. I am not talking about the parents who truly try and cant parent but the ones who can and don't even try.
And adoptive parents.. Gosh they are just as bad. My adoptive parents are fucking awful. They lied to me and didn't tell me I was adopted. They said they made a promise with my birth mom for me to never find out. They adopted because they could not have their own bio kid. Like seriously, why do adoptive parents have the same damn story? Boo hoo you're infertile, who tf cares. I am sorry, but there are plenty of kids who you know want or need someone to adopt them. Why do these people always bypass them? Nobody needs a baby My adoptive parents are the most selfish entitled people ever! My adoption was shady af with a shady ass agency who only cared about money. My bio dad never knew about me. He died not knowing I exist. My birth mom and adoptive parents thought it was a good idea to keep this a secret and my adoptive parents actually said its better not to tell my bio dad. Why? Because he could come and take me away from them or fight for custody. WTF is this crap!! My adoptive parents were so desperate for a baby, any baby they would do this shit and keep it from me. They were happy my bio dad did not know. They were happy they did not tell me. They were mad at me for finding out I was adopted.
My adoptive parents paid a shit load of money to buy I mean adopt me. And no adoptive parents are not doing anything amazing. Raising a baby is not amazing. That's your damn job. They are not special.
All of this crap is ridiculous.
And the myth of these poor struggling birth moms who can't parent due to poverty is a lie along with amazing adoptive parents. Both sides are trash expect the birth moms who have no choice. Why can't birth moms rethink about having sex and own up to their crap and why can't infertile adoptive parents just not adopt or adopt kids in need? Why lie?
End Rant. All my experiences and opinions.