Paradox, Viciate, and Lorenzo continued on their descent into the castle to the Well of Wisdom. A sacred place bestowed on the Alphaverse since its creation. A well that possess the most valuable wisdom from across the Megaverse. Paradox had his group stop in one of the chambers for he assumed his prisoners will be awaking from the poison soon. He then had his chains wrap around King Alexander, Venessa, Cross, Tray, Selena, Malissa, Lucrest, Leoped, and Phonix. Viciate deployed several drones that aimed their weapons at the chained prisoners with Paradox standing resolute holding the Matrix of Eternity in his hands. The prisoners eventually woke up one by one and were greeted by crude words and jeers directed towards them. The chains that bound them prevented them from utilizing their powers to break their bonds and even if they did, the bullets from the drones will prove extremely lethal to their weakened state. Paradox ordered the prisoners to be placed in a line on their knees as he snapped his fingers which summoned imps and more infernal warriors to act as guards. King Alexander, "You can't restore the Matrix in the Well of Wisdom, it will shred you to pieces." Paradox smugly, "Maybe, but that's why I'll have each of you go in for me and see who can withstand the Well." Malissa, "He's going to sacrifice us! Where is Joan? Did she escape?" Paradox, "Oh I believe Tray knows the answer to that." Everyone turned wondering where Tray could be until he finally spoke, the others were shock at his new appearance for he appeared otherworldly to them. Tray did not lift his eyes towards the group, but rather hung his head low. Paradox's eyes beamed with sadistic delight as he spoke, "I guess one can say your sister is now very OPEN MINDED!" It took a few seconds for this joke to register in the minds of the prisoners, but when it did, all of them violently shook the chains in order to be free. "Go ahead use all your powers to break those chains, it only transfers your power levels into my soul. Lockjaw was right, all of you are complete fools in underestimating these accursed chains!"
He grabbed Phonix as his victim but stopped when what seemed to be an earthquake began to shake the foundations of the castle. The earthquake only intensified the longer it went, Venessa, "Does anyone else hear bass boosted music?" In a spectacular explosion of dazzling lights and rifts across space and time, Diamond's glowing body appeared in a giant hole in one of the castle's walls while blaring Hit Me Baby One More Time. Everyone was left speechless when they saw Diamond, believing it to be a ghost. "PARADOX!!!!!" In terror Paradox began to back away, "Impossible, I scarred you for life! HOW ARE YOU EVEN STRONGER THAN BEFORE?!" "It is not for you to know the circumstances that brought me here before you today. Regardless I am back. AND THIS TIME THERE IS NO POWER IN THE MEGAVERSE OR THE NETHERWORLD THAT IS GOING TO STOP ME!" Paradox ordered Lorenzo, Viciate, and the rest of his minions to dispose of Diamond as he journeys deeper to the Well of Wisdom. Viciate used his powers to generate clones of his allies as he slowly approached Diamond. Observing this, Diamond began to smile, "How about I even those odds." After finishing his sentence, 20 identical clones of Diamond manifested themselves behind him. Unlike other clones or copies, these 20 were able to act independently as a collective hive mind. The original Diamond attacked Viciate head on while the duplicates attacked the other clones and others attempted to free the prisoners. Viciate attempted in drawing his sword to strike Diamond in an exposed position, but Diamond's intense senses was able to prevent Viciate from using his sword. In a matter of seconds, Diamond punched Viciate to a bloody mess before leaving him stuck on one of the walls.
His abilities alerted him of several imps closing on his position, and in a swift motion, Diamond created a new Sword of Light, which was far longer and sharper to simultaneously decapitate all of the imps that circled around him. While watching all of this unfold before her very eyes, Selena could not help but smile at seeing Diamond restored to his former self, "He's back." A clone of Diamond randomly appeared next to her, "Nice to know I'm no longer on house arrest." The clone was able to free Selena from her chains and started to free the rest of the prisoners. After freeing them, he gave the group a new set of orders, "I may not know all of you, but focus your abilities in taking down those devilish warriors over there. I'll handle Paradox." The clone soon vanished alongside the other copies leaving only the original Diamond left. Just when Diamond started to follow Paradox's trail, Lorenzo used his acidic whip to suspend Diamond in place. Lorenzo was successful in his attack and used this advantage to expel fatal toxins into Diamond's lungs. "Ugh. Dude, you got some serious oral hygiene problems. Here take a mint!" Lorenzo's mouth was open due to him being stunned seeing his foe unphased with his lethal toxin. The supposed mint landed on his tongue, which resulted in a strong electrical shock being sent all over his body causing him to black out. "Nice whip though, I'm for real going to take this for my collection." Diamond bent over and collected the whip before resuming on his mission to destroy Paradox. Paradox was nearly at the entrance of the Well, but felt his body frozen in place, no matter how hard he tried to move. He finally realized he was frozen by Diamond's soul manipulation, yet when he made this realization, Diamond was already floating horizontally whispering into Paradox's audio receptor, "I think I am going to show off my newfound abilities."
Paradox tried to slice Diamond with a chain along his back, but Diamond vanished before he could land a hit. He reappeared behind him and with a simple flick, Diamond sent Paradox crashing through the castle's walls and ceilings. Paradox regained his stance as he morphed into Astros as he stopped a punch from Diamond which sent shockwaves, shattering any neighboring glass. Paradox kicked Diamond at his shin before hitting him with brute force across his face. He summersaulted backwards a few yards as he morphed into the Ice King. He then summoned several frozen daggers and sharp projectiles as he sent them flying towards Diamond at light speed. Diamond noticed the projectiles flying towards him as he achieved speeds that made time around him slow down several seconds. It was if things were occurring to him at a quarter speed, so with a wave of his arm, he took control of the projectiles and had them float around him before resuming time and sending them back to Paradox. Paradox moaned loudly as the projectiles lodged themselves in tight crevasses of his body and interfering with some of the vital mechanisms. The two teleported away from the castle into the depths of the grand city where they continued their battle. Paradox changed into Shen the disgraced Shogun as he desperately tried to slice off Diamond's limbs and head. Diamond casually dodged each attack with ease he summoned the Sword of Light which has grown longer and sharper to reflect his reunion with the Light. The two blades collided with each other, but Paradox was no match for Diamond's swordsman skills.
Diamond noticed Paradox's right arm malfunctioning from one of the ice projectiles and taking advantage of this weakness, he punched Paradox repeatedly in the chest before kicking him to the floor. He then created a revolver from his nanites and fired four bullets consecutively into his weak spot. He knew his bullets succeeded in wounding his opponent, for the sound of loose air began to hiss from broken wires and Paradox's arm glitching by morphing into many different appearances before changing back to its default appearance. Diamond smiled smugly as he released that Paradox was truly terrified in that moment, "Where has your self-confidence gone? Are those appearances not making you comfortable in your mechanical body?" "SHUT UP!" Paradox then changed into Mecha-Diamond as he was able to grab Diamond by his throat and threw him into multiple buildings. The two eventually landed on top of a commuter train before Diamond could free himself. Diamond sliced his opponent's arm to free himself and used his thrusters to fly backwards as he observed Paradox's body shifting gears to re-forge the missing arm. While in the form of Mecha-Diamond, Paradox had four mechanical tentacles grow out of him, which resulted in Diamond activating his suit to grow tentacles of his own. The two opponents had their tentacles wrap around each other as they fired their blasters at each other. Diamond tried to create two clones of himself, but Paradox's tentacles grabbed him and tossed him into one of the train carts as the civilians screamed in terror. He gradually regained consciousness as he prepared to find Paradox, but for a long minute, he could not sense Paradox. It was not until a lady screamed of a large spider approaching them from the other end when Diamond released it is Paradox crawling on all fours with great speed. Paradox shifted back to full height in a most grotesque fashion as his body spun in different ways before his head shifted back to its normal size. Diamond yelled at the passengers to run to the other cart as he dealt with Paradox. While the passengers fled, two extra mechanical arms began to form on Paradox's appearance of Mecha-Diamond as all four of arms ignited red plasma blades. "Attack Diamond!" The four arms began to spin in opposite directions of his body in quick movements as he rapidly approached Diamond that it was impossible to strike him above or behind.
Confused on what his next move should be, Diamond noticed parts of Paradox's chest plate were loose as it was glitching in and out. Out of options, Diamond swung at Paradox which he swiftly blocked with the four blades, but Diamond was able to have his nanotech grow on Paradox's arms as he then had the nanites send an electric shock on the foreign host, which granted him an opening in tearing off the chest plate and firing two blasts from his repulsers into Paradox's chest. This stunned Paradox as Diamond charged at him and began to tear all the vital wires, buttons, and controls that operated Paradox's mechanical body. Paradox's voice box became affected as it began to shift into different tones and voices as he tried to speak, "No, I will.....not.....be bested a.....second......time." Paradox was able to gain control of his arms as he threw Diamond out of the train cart out into the city's skyline. Diamond was able to shoot a grapple around Paradox's legs as he pulled both of them out into the air as his body began to glow golden with pure Light. Paradox descended towards him with chains around his body as he prepared to strike fatal blows on Diamond's body. Diamond closed his eyes as he extended his right arm while having his fingers form a finger gun. He whispered silently with firm conviction, "Through the power of Heaven's Light all things are possible......grant me the power to send this foul demon of a man back to the infernal depths where he belongs." Diamond then fired a large blast of pure Light towards Paradox as his enemy screamed in anger, "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" The power caused from this blast was so strong and hot that it started to melt the metal on Paradox's body and causing any remaining circuits to fry.
Diamond floated towards the ground as he stared at a ball of fire fall towards the ground as it created a large crater. He stepped forward and saw Paradox's mangled body as his soul still held possession of it. Paradox was still able to manipulate his body to change into whoever he chooses, and as a last resort he changed to Diamond's mother. "Trevor.......how could you do this.....to me......your own mother.......after all your father and I have done for you this is how you repay us?" "Quit your bull you pathetic character of a soul. If I had the power to judge you in the afterlife, I would create a separate place for sadistic manipulators such as yourself so all you scoundrels can do nothing more than hurt yourselves for your sins!" Diamond then used his power to lift Paradox in the air and was about to crush his body and seal his soul permanently, but as he did so a blazing portal appeared as a pitch-black arm reached out and snatched Paradox before Diamond had time to react. Dumbfounded, Diamond de-activated his suit and left his Light form in order to process what happened. Realizing there was nothing else to do he traveled back to the castle. When he arrived, he saw how the group of heroes easily defeated all of the devilish creatures and were tossing all the dead bodies into a giant pile. Only one thing concerned him, the fact Lorenzo and Viciate's bodies were both missing from the battle. He reasoned they managed to escape, but with the injuries they sustained, it would be a long while before they would show themselves again. After making this assumption, Diamond's family greeted him with open arms and hugs, yet even Diamond did not recognize Tray's new body. Tray had to explain his entire story again to Diamond so he would understand why he looked like "A living glowstick." Hearing Tray's story about Joan made Diamond sorrowful and offered to help in making sure Joan's body receives a proper burial. King Alexander and Diamond hastily organized the funeral and gave Joan's family time to grieve and remember their youngest member that was stolen from them.
While the mourners were conversing with themselves, the king wanted to lead Diamond through the many rooms and wings of the enchanting castle. He wanted to show Diamond the inner secrets and history of this castle, so he very discretely led him down a flight of stairs into an older section of the castle where even most of the king's court were not allowed to enter. The two stepped through two enormous emerald doors and continued on through the darkness. The king ignited a turquoise flame from his hands and led Diamond to a large wall. King Alexander, "Stare at these murals Diamond. Notice the story they tell." Diamond stared at the murals and paintings on the wall trying to understand the history behind them. He saw what appeared to be angels directing two races. To the right were humans with their leader baring a resemblance to Alexander with folded hands in prayer as their eyes gazed at the Heavenly specters, in addition it appeared that swords and shields were descending towards them. To the left were the ancient race of Enders who also had their gaze towards Heaven, but descending towards their hands were scrolls with quills, signifying their role to write and document. At the front of the line of Enders stood none other than Ranfus, although significantly younger. Diamond continued down the wall as the next scene involved the leaders of the humans and enders being coronated with the two leaders' hands being locked in agreement. The next scene depicted what was either a battle or war where many humans and enders were dead, brough to their demise by rebellious humans. It depicted how after the battle Ranfus took the remaining enders away to a place that could supervise the entire Megaverse free from human interaction. The last scene showed the battle worn king of the humans siting on his throne with a tear in his left eye, while his right side remained stoic. His left arm pointed downwards to a decree while his right arm pointed upwards with a grand castle and city floating in the palm of his hand. "The Enders used to dwell with you?" "Indeed, for you see, the king in those murals is actually my great-grandfather. Time goes by very slowly for us here, not only that but we tend to live for thousands of years. Originally, after the first man and woman were created and fell into sin, we were created in the aftermath of that event. We bear the same weaknesses as other humans after the fall, but we were created to protect the Enders, who would document the shifting tide of Creation across the Megaverse. Our special duty connected us more in tune with the messengers of Heaven and we strived to live up to our mission of acting as the second example for the Megaverse, the Main Omniverse being the first. Yet, a few of the humans of my great-grandfather's time were seduced by the powers of evil for the many fallen angels, now turned demons, preyed upon their fallen status and sparked division between human and ender. Eventually a genocide broke out where rogue humans wanted the power of the Enders to themselves and would slaughter anyone who opposed them. My great-grandfather and Ranfus ultimately triumphed, but the damage had been done for the Enders no longer trusted us and collectively agreed humans everywhere were unpredictable and destructive. Ranfus left this Omniverse with the survivors of his race, thus leaving us as the sole inhabitants of this realm. From the ashes of the old kingdom, my great-grandfather led the creation of a new one as you can see here, but the reason why his left side is sad is the fact he did not kill the leaders of the rebellion. He did not want to take their lives, so instead he banished them to the wildness of the Megaverse. After casting them out of this Omniverse, he placed a ban where no one will be able to enter or leave. Using his divine gifts, he was able to practically make it seem like this Omniverse was erased and could not be discoverable unless him or another king wills its borders to open up once again."
"And what happened to the exiled ones?" "Most of them died across the Megaverse but their main leader, Mek'el continued following the path of evil and grew stronger in the powers of darkness. This granted him an unnatural talent of cheating death, but when an event in Omniverse 63,745 occurred when that Omniverse's Celestial had an offspring with that Omniverse's name for an angel, Mek'el sensed the potential of such an offspring." "Hold on, that's the Omniverse the Megaverse Council and I had named Evangelion. Yeah, those creatures they call angels are definitely not real angels, but you mean to tell me that this Mek'el influenced The Devourer?" "No, Mek'el BECAME The Devourer. He transferred his soul into the newborn soul of the deadly offspring, completely fusing with the new soul. In response to this, my great-grandfather on his deathbed, ordered my grandfather to create a device that could end Mek'el once and for all. That device was the Matrix of Eternity. It was hastily crafted before my grandfather sent it to Omniverse 63,745 hoping it could destroy Mek'el there. Unfortunately, it did not fulfill its original purpose due to Mek'el fully becoming The Devourer and traveled across the Megaverse eating the Core of whatever Omniverse he entered. His travels would take a long time to reach his next destination, but nothing could stop him. The Matrix continued to grow with wisdom in Omniverse 63,745 before an apparition of an Ender ordered a singular person to send the Matrix in the direction of the Main Omniverse. Eventually, the Matrix landed in your Omniverse, but was kept hidden for a long time with only glimpses and rumors of such a treasure of untold power being passed on from dimension to dimension. Finally at last, you found it in 2021 just as The Devourer arrived in your Omniverse. Little did you know, but upon his defeat when you unleashed the power of the Matrix, it sent shockwaves across the Megaverse. Myself along with my people celebrated when we felt the destruction of The Devourer, finally knowing a dark piece of our history has been put to rest." "When I traveled to Omniverse 63,745 last summer, it was promoted that they created the Matrix of Eternity." "Their leaders simply changed the story and wiped our part out of their history books, for the select few who told you it was their ancestors that created it are not at fault. For they too believe this error, this is simply a mistake on their ancestor's part and nothing more. Come along now, let's head back up a few stairs back to where there was an intersection, there is more I need to show you."
The king led Diamond to a room with many floating orbs that had different colors symbolizing a different Omniverse. "I am aware that you and the Megaverse Council have a broad idea to all the soldiers at the disposal of our enemy. But I want to show you some specific souls that are.......unique. The person known as The Ageless managed to recruit several corrupted versions of the strongest beings in your Omniverse's hierarchy. Among them consist of a fallen Omniversal Tribunal, Protectors, Insanity Trio, Bad Time Trio, many alternate timeline versions of you, and other powerful individuals from the Megaverse. The Ageless and Demonic Council calls this elite group the Bad End Friends. King Alexander brings forth an orb that displays the souls of those fallen humans. This reveals the true thoughts of their soul and what their soul really says." Diamond leaned forward to hear the cries of their souls and was surprised to hear their souls cry out in unison. "We just wanted to heal but now our nightmares are real, and we'll never wake up for we're torn apart! We want freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" Diamond could not believe what he heard, for it caused him to step back to avoid their cries. "Secondly, I want to briefly touch on the Ageless' story. Thousands of years ago lived a man born with unnatural gifts, he could enter into violent places and leave with minor bruises. He was able to kill the celestials in his world with his mere hands and crude weapons. Yet, he was not satisfied, he wanted more power and more entities to kill, for he enjoyed the bloodlust. This led to him being sought out by the fallen Seraphim now named Black Hat. He offered him more power and an entire place beyond his imagination to live the rest of his days as a butcher. The man agreed and henceforth became an unwavering servant directly to Black Hat. Eventually, he earned a reputation by parading himself as a savior wearing polished white and gold armor, in order to win the trust of many defenders who protected their native Omniverse. Once he won their complete trust and learned their secrets and fears, it would be too late for that Omniverse. For it would be a matter of time before complete carnage would be unleashed on all the helpless souls in that Omniverse. Thus, he was given the title Harbinger of the End.......a human who is an undisputed champion in gladiator battles with a mind to match his muscles.......a man always youthful, laughing at the hands of time........The Ageless."
"The last thing I want to reveal to you is the location of our enemy's base. The Megaverse Council has discovered it and that is Omniverse 6,666,666. That Omniverse had so many events that ran parallel with your Omniverse it was almost an exact copy. However, before your Omniverse was assaulted by Black Hat's forces in 2021, they won a resounding battle in that Omniverse. Everything that could have gone wrong in that final battle, did indeed go wrong." King Alexander used his powers to generate a vision of that fateful day. The scene pans to a bloodied and defeated Diamond with a shattered Sword of the Omniverse with Black Hat towering over him. The two listened intently when Black Hat spoke, "The Initiative has fallen. Its members......lost. You have been deceived......betrayed.........purged." The vision hovers over countless bodies of Initiative members that had died in the battle with some of their corpses disfigured and mutilated they were unidentifiable. "I can feel you are scared of judgement day. You led millions of souls to their grave. Your lukewarm faith shaken due to your pleas and petitions being ignored. So, I offer you a choice. Join us and postpone the judgement day, have all the pleasures of the world handed back to you, and avoid living the life as a failure!" The defeated Diamond raised his teary eyes and spoke, "I......accept!" The crowd around him chuckled as Black Hat stepped away with Alastor taking his place, "It's a deal!" The defeated Diamond shook his hand and became controlled and a vessel for Alastor until his original body could be restored. After this moment a large echo of thunder echoes across the battlefield with a bright light shining in the distance. The Ageless, "What is that?" Black Hat, "The veil of the Main Omniverse has been lifted. We are no longer kept out! We must seize this opportunity before it's too late." Ageless remain here with Alastor's vessel." "Why?" "If things go sour for me and my forces in the Main Omniverse, I want us to still have a strong foothold here in the Megaverse. This Omniverse will be perfect. I will be taking half of our forces with me." "What of the few people who survived this battle, should I find them and use them as prisoners and entertainment?" Black Hat had a sadistic smile, "There are no survivors!" The vision then played the sounds of screams with Diamond begging Alexander to end the vision. "That's enough! I cannot watch nor listen to this vision anymore! Please end this nightmare!"
Alexander ended the vision as the two were brought back to reality. Alexander spoke with sympathy to Diamond, "I did not show you that vision to torture you. I revealed it, because you need to understand exactly what to expect from our enemy and take deep root in your faith." "Why did the pleas and petitions of that Diamond go unanswered?" "Truthfully, that Diamond did not pray for deliverance, he instead wanted more glory and praise. When he was in public and prayed, it was for show, and he was not sincere in the words he said. Even at the last moment, he received a message from Heaven begging him to repent from his prideful ways and deliverance would come. Yet, in that last moment, he refused with his soul saying no it has to be my way and I do not want to change the life I am living and that's final. It was his fault no Heavenly aid came, now he has no one else to blame other than himself for his misdeeds and wickedness." Diamond's body had a series of goosebumps when King Alexander finished speaking. He always wondered what would have happened in the final battle for his Omniverse if there was no intervention, now he wished for this catastrophic example to leave his mind.
After this event, King Alexander led Diamond to a sacred place called the Veil of the Celestial Plane to speak with his angelic friends. Along the way, King Alexander explained to Diamond the difference between True Balance and Perfection. How True Balance is the perfect imperfect form of Perfection, because as mortal creatures that are finite with flaws no person alive can reach True Perfection. He explained how demons fear True Balance and how the demons only focus on temporal goals not eternal, for all that awaits them in eternity is eternal punishment. (This is a footnote, because at the end of this post in the comment section I will share the entire conversation in greater detail, for some reason the Sub-Reddit automatic rules count it as a rating post no matter how hard I rephrased the dialogue. Very weird that happened because it never happened before, but hopefully I will be able to share that conversation in full under this post, because it took a lot of effort in composing the dialogue.)
Filled with courage and zeal from their conversation, Diamond entered into the Veil and soon found himself in a vast empty white plain where numerous figures of light floated around him before manifesting themselves as angelic beings. He observed how each of the nine choirs of angels were present. "The Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. All present here at this very moment." A Seraphim spoke up, "Why do you wish to commune with us?" "I am here seeking advice from my Heavenly friends in these trying times. I'm sure all of you are very much aware and can sense in the Celestial Cosmic Plane that the forces of evil are growing ever so powerful. I can feel it within my being that soon a final confrontation may happen." Saint Michael the Archangel, "You already possess all that you need. You know the prayers for deliverance and aid. Furthermore, you know how your enemy thinks." "With all due respect, this time it is different. Different than the way it was for the fate of the Main Omnvierse. This....is the fate of the Megaverse....of everything that had exist, currently exists and will exist. Please there must be some advice all of you may be able to bestow upon me." A Virtue floated towards Diamond's soul to speak, "These particular demons feast on fear, chaos, and revenge. They want nothing more than to see the righteous fall, yet their common weakness is the sin of pride." Uriel intervened, "Pride, that ancient sin which was the sole root that led a third of our former brothers and sisters into disobedience. Fully rejecting the True Love of the Father and willingly following the arrogance of the fallen light bearer, who now brings darkness and death to everyone." Azrael quickly followed up with Uriel's statement, "When they fell from grace, they still retained their position and powers. Now with their leaders nearly having their bodies restored before their fall, through the power of The Seed, they are more of a threat to the Natural Order."
Diamond came to a sudden realization, "With Cloaked Shadow having control of the Dark and shadows in general, does that mean he was a Power before he fell?" The choirs nodded as Diamond responded with his hands near his mouth deep in thought. "I see, well if pride is their weakness than surely arrogance is a key factor in their personalities. Perhaps if the Matrix of Eternity is re-loaded with the knowledge accessible from the Alphaverse, it could overwhelm them." A Cherub, "Yes! The knowledge from the Alphaverse can restore the Matrix and used to harm the demons!" Saint Gabriel the Archangel, "Do not be afraid in this next step in your journey, Trevor. Since the fall of man, the Devil and his minions have actively been at war with mankind, searching for ways to snatch souls from Heaven. Yet, in the history of not only the Megaverse, but your own world, you know that God conquers all, even in the darkest times. From the persecution of the early Christians under the rule of the Mad Emperor Nero, deadly heresies, scandals, political and religious wars, the French Revolution, Napoleon Wars, Russian Revolution, Mexican Revolution, World Wars, down to the present. The demons worked through man to not only bring ruin to the face of the Earth, but to attack the Church. However, both the Earth and the Church have endured and will continue to endure until the end of time when God will come in all His splendor and glory and reward the just while punishing the wicked. For they will receive their reward." A Throne, "There is one more thing that will surely turn the tide of the war, but only as a last resort." Diamond, "What is it? Please share." A Seraphim, "The hypothesis of you being able to fuse with your friends Ben Tennyson and Xavier is true. If Xavier is fully in tune with his scarab and enter into his phase known as Sacred and Tennyson into Alien X, you three will become the singular most powerful entity in the entire Megaverse." Saint Michael the Archangel, "Be warned for this should only be used as a complete last resort. For there can be no going back when you three become a singular entity. There might be potential for you three to separate from this final form, but if there is, it will be certain death for no mortal can yield that much power. Arise young warrior, take courage, and have total faith on the Lord, He will hear your prayers. Remember we are at your side and every warrior in the final battle will have their guardian angel with them at all times."
The Heavenly beings once again became balls of bright light, which slowly blinded Diamond before he awoke from his vision back in his own body just before the Veil of the Celestial Plane. King Alexander stared at Diamond before helping him to his feet. Diamond, "I know what I must do. I must re-load the Matrix in the Well of the Megaverse." Alexander, "That's suicide. For you to be exposed to so much power and knowledge, it will vaporize you." "Believe me, it will work. Just help me recover the pieces of the Matrix and I will reforge it with the nanotech from my suit." Diamond sprinted with great haste through all the flights of stairs Alexander had them take, back to where the pieces of the Matrix laid. He had Alexander hold the pieces together in their proper position as the nanotech from his suit crawled around the broken pieces and fused the Matrix back together again. During this time the other heroes caught up to Diamond and Alexander and decided to watch as Diamond would enter the Well of the Megaverse. King Alexander led the group to the entrance of the Well where everyone wished him good luck. Diamond transformed into his Light form and entered the Well. This form allowed him to withstand the pressure around him as he opened the Matrix to collect wisdom from all corners of the Megaverse both the good and bad. When he did this, thousands of images and lifetimes flashed in his mind causing him to scream, in order to avoid his mind from overloading he constantly switched to different forms and phases every 30 seconds. Everyone waited anxiously outside after hearing Diamond's screams and began to fear for the worst, but just when their hope wavered, a silhouette started to walk towards them. From the depths of the Well emerged Diamond holding the restored Matrix of Eternity firmly in his right hand. King Alexander, "Welcome back Diamond!" "Thanks. With the Matrix restored and the new alliance your Omniverse has made with the Megaverse Council, hope for our victory has reached an all-time high." The heroes only stayed for a few more hours at the Alphaverse before returning back to the base of the Megaverse Council. Upon arrival, the Council members were stunned to see the return of their leader, and with swift orders, Diamond once again regained leadership of the Megaverse Council.
Epilogue
In a desolate place with abandoned buildings in Omniverse 3. "Volxi, can you head downstairs into our storage to bring some refreshment to our party?" "You got it sis!" Volxi entered into one of the chambers to find a spare stash of spiked beverages but was startled when she heard a voice echo in the darkness. "Time's running out Vol." She leaned over to view where the voice was coming from until her eyes landed on a glowing dark green warrior. She gasped as she recognized it was her old friend from Omniverse 8. "Cayden what happened to you?" "That name no longer has any meaning for me." "You look so different. Your skin is green and your eyes black. You look like......" "A ghost? Phantom? Condemned Soul?! Truly a miserable fate I have fallen into. Given a body constantly degenerating and repairing itself, allowing me to phase between matter but how painful it is feeling my cells destroy themselves before regenerating and repeating the process all over again." "Is this a dream?" "No." "I thought not, if it was there would be something to replenish my throat." Cayden hands Volxi a bottle. "Thanks mate. I still have a cup on me. Here it's on the house." Cayden took a long sip before speaking. "We haven't seen each other since the destruction of your people's original home. A lot has happened since then. Last year a terrible event plagued the Megaverse and I tried to stop it. I made my own device that enabled me to visit other Omniverses. I could sense something sinister causing many Omniverses to die. I took my weapons and went to who I thought was responsible. That man was so strong and talented, he mortally wounded me without taking our fight seriously. I thought at that moment when I laid dying that I would give anything to get a second chance at life. To see my friends and family again. My requests were answered by a figure in black business attire and a top hat."
Volxi groaned for she knew who he was referring to while Cayden continued on with his speech. "I accepted his offer and became what you see before you. The only part that was positive is in our contract, I managed to still own partial control of my soul. Perhaps it is through this partial ownership that causes me to experience great pains and desperately seek liberation." "And you came back to your friend for aid huh?" "No, I came as a messenger." Volxi stared at him with concern. "You struck a deal with him too, Volxi. A deal before your home, the ninth Omniverse was destroyed, causing you and all the survivors to wander throughout the Megaverse." "I forgot all about that deal. It can't happen this soon, he did not even stay true to his promise." "Is that really a surprise?" "DANG IT! Alright I'll wager my way out of it. I always do." "You can't talk to yourself out of this one!" "How long do I have Cayden?" Cayden stepped close to Volxi where he was only a few inches away from her face. "That name has no meaning for me, I'm The Shameful now. You have only a few hours. He will send his terrible leviathan to drag you, your sister, and this entire Omniverse along with you! Already his army sets their eyes on this world, drawn by ravenous hunger, by the one who bears the crimson scar." The Shameful laid his hand on a piece of Volxi's face that was not covered by cybernetics. "Make peace with your losses and may it only be a swift end and not a contract of servitude. Alas, he always comes to collect what is his." In that moment The Shameful vanished from her sight and without a moment to lose, she started running back upstairs into the settlement screaming for everyone to pack their things and prepare to leave. Her sister, Val stopped her, "Did you fall down the stairs giving you that slash across your face? What's coming after us?" Volxi stared deep into her sister's soul, "We need to run as far as we can and get our people to safety before it's too late." From a few hundred yards away The Ageless stood waiting for the perfect time to strike with Maestro Zorro summoning the nightmarish Leviathan.

Basically what the title says. Right now I’m in university doing some summer courses, commuting and studying. I currently live with my mom, dad, sister and brother. Both my siblings are university aged as well. The point is that I have a very difficult and awkward relationship with all of them but am not financially independent enough to move out.
My mom is mentally ill in the sense that she is selectively mute, has what looks like severe depression (doesn’t take care of herself, can’t comprehend sentences), and picks at her hair when stressed to the point she had bald spots. Our family is south Asian and my parents are really old so the concept of seeking professional help for mental health is foreign to them. Growing up I was closer with my dad but as a grown up I feel he is a little emotionally abusive towards me and even sexually but I block that part out of my brain for my own sanity. I haven’t addressed this with a therapist yet. This relationship confuses me the most because he’s stopped being sexually creepy towards me and has a caring side where he buys me whatever I want especially when he knows he’s done something wrong.
My sister and I were also a little close growing up but drifted apart now that she’s back for the summer after a fight we had that got kinda violent and ended with me leaving the situation with a panic attack. We have given the silent treatment to each other for almost a month now and she’s gotten closer to my brother who I am also traumatized by. Me and my brother have a very awkward relationship now after growing up with sibling rivalry and has called me derogatory names in the past. Living with him is very awkward as I literally try to avoid him the best I can to the point that I hide just so I don’t have to interact at all if he enters the same room. Since him and my sister are closer now it frustrates me when they violate my boundaries by entering the room I unfortunately have to share with my sister without my permission.
Anyways, I somewhat miss my sister because she was the only sense of normalcy I had in the house except she doesn’t understand the trauma I have relating to my brother and has ignored some of my boundaries. I think our relationship was better when she was living separately in dorms but I just have to accept the way things are.
I don’t fully understand why I feel so upset, uncomfortable, angry and sick even when my brother is around but I’ve chalked it up to some sort of trauma.
To avoid this situation, my focus is on my courses and getting a part time job which in itself is challenging for me due to anxiety. I know once I put my mind to it though, I can achieve it and get the hell away from here. It’s so isolating but I try to focus on being grateful for what I have. I wish I had more autonomy and privacy.
TLDR; just a rant about wanting to escape my toxic household but not being able to and learning how to manage that while I still live in the same vicinity as these people. I’m in counselling already but haven’t told my therapist everything. If anyone has any advice I’d appreciate it, even if there’s anything I need to take accountability for.

Interestingly I was just in the middle of a 'should I reach out' post since it is feeling like I should/time is right.
Abbreviated story is 18 month relationship which was at its height, giddy happy both of us (and of course like anyone had issues), a month away from birthday I was being asked to by her basically get her an engagement ring. Whirlwind of events around the city, strangers commenting on our connection, one guy tapped us in the shoulder at a bar and said "I've been watching you two, your connection is amazing, you can feel your happiness all the way across the bar, you two look like you've loved one another since you were little children". Which was in fact exactly what it felt like. She made sure I didn't miss the significance "see babe. EVERYONE knows we belong together".
There is a significant age difference which was neither impediment or impetus. We just ... connected. The only times it was brought up was 1) after I met her mom she told me she told her mother the only thing that worried her was the age difference her mom said with the kind of love you found it won't matter and 2) once when we were laying in bed just laughing and vibing she started sobbing uncontrollably "I just realized you are going to die before me and I will miss you sooo much!" (meaning in 30-40 years of being with me).
She was torn between wanting a future with me and being terrified of commitment. She has reached early/mid 30s w/o having more than 8 mos relationship, most shorter. This from a tall pretty very social girl that lived alone for almsot two decades in 4 continents i.e no lack of opportunities. At 8 most told me I was the longest relationship officialy and first man she ever wanted to build a future with., She introduced me to each of her 3 besties whom she said she'd never introduced anyone to in the 5 years she lived her. Met each individually each turned to her independently and said the same 4 words while with us "You are so lucky". Told me one of them waited for the door to close after i walked them home to whirl around and say 'that is the nicest man I ever met and your connection with him is unbelievable'.
At around year mark she started texting me 'Babe do you stlll like me?" and I'd reply "Still? I like you more every moment I spend with you" and she'd break my heart replying "Reeealllllyyy???? 😍😍😍" as in not just happy but SHOCKED I still did.
Pushing for living together, pushing for what amounted to an engatement rind very hard for upcoming birthday after the final 3 months of our 18 mos relationship, 3 magical magical months where I was not only happy for the first time in years but happier than I'd ever imagined. Her as well. She'd text me at 3am about mising me, telling me how comfortable I made her, heck she'd fall asleep in my arms in 30 seconds, she'd facetime me so she could hear my voice while she fell asleep and know i was watching over her. Even up to the last hour I knew her she was pushing for her birthday 'ring'.
Broke up with me via text 2 days later, wanted 'distance' said 'do you think we'll stay in contact'. This girl I was joined to the hip with, 100,00 texts in 18 months, couldn't sleep wo my voice. The more I think about it the more I think SHE was convinced I did not love her and would not get her the ring since she'd repeat it over and over what she wanted.
In any event gave her the space BUT not NC style; texted every couple weeks, knew she was a mess, so just did a hey hope all if going well. After 3 MONTHS of this she broke and started texting me again like she used to; facetimes from bed in PJs, every day everything she did, subways when going to see friends, pics of her food, etc. She was very happy with changed I made. BUT was somehow terrrified to see me even though she'd reach out clearly wanting to then find some reason to back out.
Finally after 3 months of this and close to 3 THOUSAND textss from her and dozens of midnight facetimes she chased me down to my local coffee shop, fisr time I'd seen her in months. She want AWOL the next day basically. When I texted two weeks later she sent me a' sorry been busy at work plus started seeing someone and work is busy'. Last time we spoke. I didn't really buy the 'seeing somoene' since didnt gibe with gathering the courage to see me in person for first time in 6 months right then. Also I'd posted on FB something she could have easily misconstrued as very romantic first date which was not a date at all and might have been bushwacked after finaly gathering courage to see me.
So this brings us to this weekend, exactly 4mos No Contact, two people that shared 100k texts and woman who would hardly keep herself from texting me even after we parted company after 18 hours together. I was thinking of her all day yesterday, posted on FB a day trip I took.
I saw her this am on 'my' avenue where she has not shown her face for 10 mos. Ostensbily lost in texting and didnt see me though I'm sure she had to know. I went back to same cafe later on KNOWING she'd show up. And.. .voila. She did. Sat down, super affectionate funny vibe we always had.
Not sure of next move. Let her reach out. A huge component of our relationship was her always being sure she liked me more, I didn't want to be with her, I wasn't gooing to get her 'ring', she missed me more etc.
Not sure what i want except her back in my life, we made each other quite happy. I could text or wait for her. Sorta sure she showed up to see if I still had feelings or at least didn't hate her. Funny thing is turned out she had read my FB post from yesterday, she inadverntently made a comment making it clear not only she had but had knowledge of my other posts too.

The pain of ur ghosting has hit me so hard for awhile I thought I was less then u don’t want me and I was sad. Of course on a deeper level I know it’s so we can grow individually. But at first I took it personally.. was it how I would handle things.., no but we all do things differently. Your rejection has taught me to stand independent from anyone .. I can’t imagine even with this rejection living my life without love for fear I will be rejected again. Love is center in my philosophy for life .. without it nothing else matters. You were the first person in a long line of ppl that cared. So this is why u ghosting me hurts like nothing else.. but I know u are having it rough I check on you. I don’t know specifically why just that u are. When u first ghosted it was like a slap. But now I understand it .. when u left again after u came Back this last time I fell depressed I miss u and I am sure u don’t miss me although I feel u all around. I don’t understand why u can’t talk to me .. but I’m done blaming myself or anyone else. Do I miss u absolutely but I can’t make u see things from my view. Take care

I ended a 3-4 year relationship with my ex 1-2 years ago, but I can’t stop myself from missing her. It’s gotten better than before, but the matter of the fact is that I just can’t seem to move on.
I asked her why she broke up with me, but she didn’t want to talk about the past. I suspect a few things why

• Dependent on mom and still influenced by her decisions (didn’t have any boundaries and any boundaries I had were stepped over)
• She didn’t understand my need for independence
• I relied on her for most, if not all, my emotional needs
• LDR (last 1-2 years of relationship)
• Didn’t follow up on some of my promises (due to mom)

I feel like I’ve partially healed by learning about what attachment theory is and which attachment I am. I think that I am ready to present myself as a better person. The issue is that there was no ultimatum or hard cut to the end of the relationship. I always feel somewhat hopeful even though part of me also knows that the relationship is doomed and over.
What should I do? I’ve been talking to new people here and there, but I struggle to emotionally connect with them. A small part of me wants to reach out to potentially rekindle the relationship, but I don’t want to hurt her as I feel like she’s moved on.

Paypal/Venmo/Cashapp accepted. Friends and family payment accepted primarily. Will accept good and service if you cover the fees. Feel free to check my history I've sold lots on here previously already successfully. All codes are from bluray, 4K movies or DVD. If a movie is labeled as SD then its standard Definition 750P from a DVD. If it is not labeled then its HD 1080P and if its labeled 4K then its 4k Quality.
13 Hours-Apple TV/Vudu-2$
A Quiet Place-Apple TV/Vudu-3$
All is lost-Vudu-3$
Alien Covenant-Movies Anywhere/Vudu/Itunes/Google Play-3$
American Renegades-Vudu-4$
Anchorman 2-Apple TV/Vudu-2$
Assassins Creed 4K-Movies Anywhere/Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-3$
Blood Money 2017-Vudu-3$
Company of Heroes-Movies Anywhere-3$
Daddys Home 2 4K-Apple TV/Vudu-4$
Desperate Riders-Vudu/Google Play-3$
Downsizing 4K-Apple TV/Vudu-4$
Dredd 4K-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-4$
Edward Scissorhands-Movies Anywhere/Vudu/Google Play-3$
End of a Gun-Vudu-3$
Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-2$
Hacksaw Ridge 4K-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-4$
Hell or High Water 4K-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-3$
Hercules 2014-Apple TV/Vudu-1$ (2 Copies)
Independence Day Resurgence 4K-Movies Anywhere/Itunes/Vudu/Google Play-4$
I Feel Pretty-Itunes-2$
I Still Believe-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-3$
Jane Got A Gun-Vudu-3$
Joe-Vudu-3$
John Wick 1-3 4K-Vudu-10$
John Wick Chapter 2-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-2$
Joy 4K-Movies Anywhere/Itunes/Vudu/Google Play-4$
Overdrive-Vudu/Apple TV-3$
Last Shoot Out-Vudu/Google Play-3$
Lone Survivor 4K-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-4$
Manhattan Season 1-Vudu-5$
Megan Leavey-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-2$
Mid-Century-Vudu/Google Play-3$
Mission Impossible Fallout-Apple TV/Vudu-2$
Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children 4k-Movies Anywhere/Itunes/Vudu/Google Play-4$
Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol-Vudu/Apple TV-2$
Patriots Day 4K-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-4$
Pet Sematary 2019-Apple TV/Vudu-4$
Pompeii-Movies Anywhere-2$
Resident Evil Retribution-Movies Anywhere-2$
Robin Hood 2018 4K-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-3$
Scorpion King Book of Souls-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-3$
Serenity-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-2$
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark 4K-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-4$
Skyscraper-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-2$
Snow White and the Huntsman-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-2$ (2 Copies)
Star Trek Beyond 4K-Apple TV/Vudu-4$
Strange But True-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-3$
Super 8 4K-Apple TV/Vudu-4$
Texas Chainsaw 3D 2013-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-3$
The 300 Spartans-Vudu-4$
The Expendables 1-3 Collection-Vudu-3$
The Expendables 2-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-1$
The Expendables 3 4K Theatrical Cut-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-3$
The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-2$
The Fate of the Furious Theatrical Version-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-1$ (2 Copies)
The Girl on The Train 4K-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-4$
The Haunting 1999-Apple TV/Vudu-4$
The Huntsman Winter's War Extended 4K-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-4$
The Last Face-Vudu-3$
The Last Witch Hunter 4K-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-4$
The Perks of being a wallflower SD-Vudu-1$
The Scorpion King-Movies Anywhere-3$
The Scorpion King 3-Movies Anywhere-3$
The Scorpion King 4-Movies Anywhere-3$
The Spy who Dumped Me 4K-Apple TV/Vudu/Google Play-4$
The Turning-Movies Anywhere/Vudu-3$
Thumbelina-Movies Anywhere-3$
Trolls-Movies Anywhere-2$ (2 Copies)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets-Vudu-2$
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets 4K-Vudu-4$
Viking Destiny-Vudu/Google Play-3$
War Room-Movies Anywhere-3$
Wild 4K-Movies Anywhere/Itunes/Vudu/Google Play-4$
XXX Return of Xander Cage-Apple TV/Vudu-2$

As a neighbor of an alcoholic trying to set and maintain boundaries from the (near) start, I want to say thank you to this reddit community. Seeing your stories, experiences, and advice helps me every day to keep my distance, maintain my focus on myself, and absolve myself of any guilt if he ultimately dies.
The backstory is that up until about two months ago, he wasn't my neighbor. His elderly mom was. He is her only child. She was my dear friend, despite our 40 year age difference. She of course had health issues but she was fiercely independent and so so funny and full of life. She died about two months ago, and I watched as this man never went to see her in the hospital and consistently chose alcohol over her when she needed him the most. The day after she went into the hospital and effectively only came out for hospice 6 weeks later, I ended up babysitting him for 2 hours while he waited on the rehab pick-up. I then had to go tell her he wasn't coming to see her that day. Sitting with him was the longest two hours of my life and truly I wish I hadn't.
She ultimately didn't see him again until two days before she died and I was so mad for her, but she said "I just have learned to be appreciative of the times he is present". I think it broke her heart. Her nephew and I coordinated on her care and kept her son in the loop while he was in rehab for 3 weeks, then drunk at home for a week, then back in rehab for 2 weeks, coming out just for the end. Then he was drunk for the funeral.
He didn't always live with her, but he was at the moment and has a couple times over the 5 years she and I had been neighbors when he blows his life up and tries to get it back together. He lived in another state far away, and she had for years been funnelling money as he goes to rehab, or sober living, or needed to make rent because he lost another job. On paper he could get any job he wanted with his education and experience, but he hasn't had one since 2019 if not longer. His wife divorced him and has the house and custody of their kid and he has another older daughter. Now he lives in her condo.
About two years ago, in probably his 10th stint in rehab, he met a girl there who also struggled with alcoholism. She had a 1 year old baby at the time. For two years they rode the waves of being in love, codependent, sober together, drunk together, one sober supporting the other drunk, each in and out of sober living and rehabs and hospitals, so many welfare checks and ICU stints for her, etc etc. She died in February after an 8 day bender, leaving her 3 year old child behind while he was here living with his mom. Then his mom died in April. I know he mourns his girlfriend significantly more than his mom because that is nearly all he talks about. Her death is his excuse for "why it is so bad this time", but ultimately he just misses the codependency and enabling.
His mom gave him everything she had. Ironically though, because he hasnt been trusted to not drink his life away for years, she tried to set up some will stipulations where her nephew is the executor of the estate (which has basically just the house in it) and if he doesn't go to rehab or the hospital for a year then it will get turned over to him. He's already been to the ER and had a 6 day stint in the ICU. He does not have insurance and has not stopped drinking as I just saw two huge empty vodka bottles in our shared trash can. I anticipate seeing flies on the windows every day.
Because I took care of his mom and we talked a good bit while she was dying, initially he had it in his mind that I would be extending that goodwill to him (ie, enabling). The level of manipulation I saw him exhibit to make me his "babysitter" (his words) astounded me, but I am much smarter and more secure than he assumed.
Things he has said to me, a single young (er) woman: 1. You probably only have 2-3 friends tops. Do you think we could get together as friends sometime? 2. I would never hit on you or disrespect you. Mom would want us to be friends and I need friends. 3. We are stuck together whether you like it or not. 4. I gave my older daughter your number. I think you will like her, plus, you know for babysitting purposes. 5. You are so motherly. It is endearing. You have so much strength. You were so strong for my mom and I am so grateful. 6. I will be a good friend to you but you might have to see me sick. 7. I very much want you in my business. You should have been the executor of the estate. 8. I am in no shape to pick up my daughter from the airport for the funeral and have no one to turn to. 9. Can you pick me up? 10. If I end up homeless, I will just kill myself.
I do feel like he saw me as an easy target as a single woman, who he incorrectly surmised had no friends since she considered his mom as a good friend, who is nearby and couldn't possibly just watch him self destruct without doing something as a genuine, giving, reliable human being and person of faith. But he was very wrong. Effectively, I am playing the role of robot neighbor with an already full life of obligations to myself and others who doesn't want to be bothered which is very close to the truth. I feel like I have to ride a tricky line of stern and minorly concerned, just for my own safety, since I pass his door and windows every day and he is bigger than me.
Things I have said to him notionally about the above: 1. I have lots of friends. I am not opposed to meeting up for a neighborly coffee sometime. I just need at least a week's notice and we would drive separately. 2. If we make plans and you bail on them, I will never make plans with you again. 3. The friendship you want is not going to happen automatically or overnight. 4. You seem to be equating friendship to me helicoptering and babysitting. I don't have time for that. 5. You can choose not to hear me, but I have said what I have said. 6. I will never see you sick. I will not message you if I think you are sick. 7. I don't have time to be in anyone else's business. 8. --Silence, no response, or not responding for days even to a crisis-- 9. No. Call an ambulance. 10. You need a plan, and at least you have one in the case of homelessness.
I am not gonna lie, it has been hard being even this close to an alcoholic and feeling that someone needs me or that I am being called on to make some difference (ie, enable), and resisting. I can't imagine the strength I would need if I loved or had greater ties to this man. Of course as a genuine human being, and a religious one at that, I have been really wrestling with what I am being called to do. Not that I have let him know at all - it is truly better that he thinks I hardly care and that I will be annoyed if he disturbs my peace. I have been listening to podcasts, and reading books, and pouring over this subreddit and it has given me a lot of reassurance about my boundaries. So thank you all.
Mostly I wanted to write this for folks who might be in my shoes as a neighbor of an alcoholic and to remind myself. Your strength is not their strength, your energy is not their energy, your self-preservation skills are not their self-preservation skills, your time is not their time, your money is definitely not their money. Don't accept threats to your peace or obligations in a crisis. If you give anything, it is not because you feel obligated or the weight of expectation to be "good person" or to save them from natural consequences. The default expectation is to give nothing. This has been largely the case so far for me and will continue to be until I no longer have an alcoholic neighbor, however that may be.
P.S. This man is on dating apps.

My fiancé and I are visiting for 4th of July weekend and I’ve been so into this thread and everyone’s recommendations! I’ve been writing down creative places to visit in my notes app for when we get there.
For fun, I put our trip dates into ChatGPT and asked it to plan our complete trip, with options for breakfast, brunch/lunch and dinner for each day (even though we probably wouldn’t go for every meal but just wanted the recs) as well as fun touristy/must see and do things. This is what it gave me! In general we love trying new restaurants and bars and both love country music/live music. We’d love some guidance on how to spend 4th of July. We’re staying at The Conrad. This list below seems good but just wanted to ask locals/past visitors if this checks out?!
And please feel free to make other suggestions or changes, thank you!
Nashville 4th of July Weekend Itinerary
Thursday, July 4
Morning - Breakfast: Start your day at Frothy Monkey in Downtown Nashville. They offer a great selection of breakfast dishes, including their famous avocado toast and hearty breakfast bowls. - Activity: Take a leisurely stroll through Centennial Park and visit the Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens.
Afternoon - Lunch: Head over to The Southern Steak & Oyster. Enjoy Southern comfort food with a twist, like their signature steak and oyster dishes. - Activity: Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Dive into the rich history of country music with interactive exhibits and memorabilia.
Evening - Dinner: Make reservations at Husk. Known for its creative Southern cuisine and use of local ingredients, it's a dining experience not to miss. - Activity: Celebrate Independence Day by joining the Nashville 4th of July Fireworks Show at Riverfront Park. It's one of the largest fireworks displays in the country, accompanied by a live performance from the Nashville Symphony.
Friday, July 5
Morning - Breakfast: Enjoy a classic Southern breakfast at Biscuit Love in the Gulch. Don't miss their famous "Bonuts" (biscuit donuts). - Activity: Visit the Johnny Cash Museum to learn about the life and legacy of the Man in Black.
Afternoon - Lunch: Stop by Hattie B's Hot Chicken for some mouth-watering Nashville hot chicken. Choose your spice level wisely! - Activity: Take a tour of the Ryman Auditorium, known as the "Mother Church of Country Music." The guided tours offer a deep dive into its storied past.
Evening - Dinner: Experience the fine dining at Etch, known for its inventive global cuisine and excellent wine list. - Activity: Check out a show at the Grand Ole Opry. It’s a quintessential Nashville experience showcasing the best in country music.
Saturday, July 6
Morning - Brunch: Head to Pinewood Social. This spot is not only known for its great food but also has a bowling alley, making it a fun place to start your day. - Activity: Explore The Gulch. This trendy neighborhood is great for boutique shopping, murals for Instagram photos, and coffee at Killebrew Coffee.
Afternoon - Lunch: Try Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint for some authentic Tennessee BBQ. - Activity: Visit the Frist Art Museum for a dose of culture. The rotating exhibits ensure there's always something new and exciting to see.
Evening - Dinner: Enjoy a meal at 5th & Taylor in Germantown, offering a relaxed yet refined dining experience with modern American cuisine. - Activity: Bar hopping in Broadway. Visit famous honky-tonks like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Robert’s Western World, and The Stage for live music and dancing.
Sunday, July 7
Morning - Breakfast: Have breakfast at The Loveless Cafe. It’s a bit of a drive from downtown but worth it for the biscuits and Southern charm. - Activity: Take a scenic drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Stop by Belle Meade Plantation for a historical tour and wine tasting.
Afternoon - Lunch: Head to Arnold’s Country Kitchen for a classic “meat and three” meal. - Activity: Walk off lunch at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, where you can explore beautiful gardens and art exhibits.
Evening - Dinner: End your trip with a dinner at City House in Germantown, known for its Italian-inspired menu and cozy atmosphere. - Activity: Relax and unwind at Skull’s Rainbow Room in Printer's Alley. It offers a great atmosphere, live jazz, and delicious cocktails.
Bars to Visit: - The Patterson House: For craft cocktails in a speakeasy-style bar. - Acme Feed & Seed: A multi-level bar with live music and great rooftop views. - LA Jackson: A trendy rooftop bar at the Thompson Hotel with great skyline views.
Must-See Tourist Attractions: - Nashville’s Music Row - The Bluebird Cafe (make reservations in advance) - Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

Once again if there is anything I missed or any suggestions people want to make feel free to let me know.
NCR: following their loss to the ruler of the strip, and subsequent evacuation, ncr troops returned home to find California in an even worse state, the capital was destroyed nearly exactly as the second battle for the dam took place, and it's destruction plus the armies defeat sent the already struggling ncr economy into a steep decline, seeking a solution, the reformed government attempted another, larger invasion of the mojave a few years later, which led to significant losses on both sides and ultimately another defeat.
This time, troops returned to a nation in near complete chaos. Shortages of food, water, and a now nearly worthless currency led to poverty and famine not seen since the founding of ncr, and riots over said famine, draft protests, and the resurgence of powerful raider gangs meant police and army forces were unable to keep order in many parts of the country, during this time, Brotherhood forces also began to re-emerge, defeating the scattered army in multiple battles. At this point desertion within the ncr military reached its all time high, with thousands of troops either going missing or being confirmed deserters, many of these soldiers would eventually end up forming their own gangs and petty warlord kingdoms within abandoned territories, with most becoming only slightly better than the raiders they were originally supposed to be fighting.
Eventually, the strain on the nation became too much, and the ncr began to officially withdraw from the southern states, with boneyard being one of the first, followed by almost every settlement, one by one, until the line finally held, the new border stretching from Navarro and the coast in the west to the Big Circle and Reno in the east. The ncr was gravely weakened due to its withdrawal, and lost both much of it's citizens as well as much of its industrial and commercial centers, despite this it has consolidated what it does have, and it's remaining cities are enough to keep it standing as one of the major powers of the west, albeit much less capable of its previous feats and ambitions
As of right now, the ncr is pursuing a policy largely of isolationism, and the ideas and ideals of figures like former senator Hanlon and Tandi hold great sway over the republic. Since the collapse the ncr had mainly been forced to focus its energy into rebuilding the north and solving the lingering issues of the food and water supply, and while it still boasts a comparatively formidable army, that army is strictly defensive, with no plans to fight back or reclaim territory being put in motion.
SHI EMPIRE: following the collapse of the ncr, the shi returned largely to a more isolationist stance on the outside world, shutting their gates and sealing San Francisco off from much of the outside world. Despite this, rumors persist about secret weapons deals with various wasteland groups, ranging from particularly influential warlords to the ncr itself, though this is not confirmed
THE HUB: following ncrs withdrawal from the south, the hub fell under the control of a coalition of caravan companies, local officials and army officers, and eventually managed to mitigate the damage of the collapse, soon returning to its role as a hub of trade for southern California, albeit with markedly less profit and stability, they are also one of the only places left in the south that are still in constant communication with ncr proper, with the hub maintaining telegraph lines between the powers in exchange for ncr goods and ammunition.
RENO: during the collapse, New Renos crime families declared independence from ncr, retaking official control over the city and forming a loose alliance to govern it, however this coalition quickly broke down, and the city is currently embroiled in a civil war between the Wrights, who also lead the remnants of the alliance, and the Van Graffs, who are attempting to seize complete control. So far the conflict has remained within the borders of the city and its surroundings, however ncr and Follower presence on the border has increased, both in response to a refugee crisis as well as the possibility of further escalation
WEST COAST BOS: following the decline of ncr, the brotherhood got the breathing space in the war it sorely needed, the west coasts elders and clerics needed only to wait for the ncr to continue to weaken, and following their second loss in Vegas, as well as news from the east of their victories and incoming reinforcements, the western brotherhood pushed back, retaking many of its lost bunkers and pushing ncr forces back. Currently it has merged with a large contingent of the east coast brotherhood, and brotherhood forces have been seen attacking a remnant warlord force in the boneyard area, though the exact reason for this is unknown. (Also important to note, the brotherhood still holds very limited control of the regions identified as theirs, with most of the area being under warlord amd Hub influence, brotherhood only hold a presence in locations such as lost hills and the the observatory)
NCR REMNANT: largely regarded as a myth or hearsay, rumors persist about a large force of veteran rangers and soldiers who, upon receiving word or the retreat from Baja and later the south, remained in and defended the city of Dayglow, turning the city into a fortress, however due to the presence of multiple hostile groups and the lack of contact from the area, Dayglows remnants are regarded more as a theory than an actual unit. No attempts at contact have been made by either the Hub or ncr proper.
WARLORD TERRITORY: warlord territory refers to the largely lawless stretches of former ncr land that have fallen into the control of small territorial groups, whether they be raider gangs, former army units, former brahmin barons, citizens militias or whoever else may have the incentive and manpower to claim territory, quality of life in these areas is still barely better than it was in the collapse, and wars, raids, and starvation are still commonplace, as well as the re-emergence of practices like slavery
NEW VEGAS: following the victory of the ruler of the strip over ncr, little is known in the wider west about the state of Vegas, though it would seem that progress was being made towards greater stability following ncrs retreat, this wouldn't last though, as the second ncr invasion began, and was met with extremely stiff resistance from the securitron army, as well as numerous local groups. Ultimately ncr troops managed to inflicted major casualties on the strip forces, even attacking and breaching the strip itself, and the damage done seems to have shattered Vegas as much as it did the ncr, leaving whatever plans its ruler had unfinished
THE LEGION: following their defeat at hoover dam, as well as the death of Caesar shortly after, the legion began to deteriorate and eventually dissolve, with many of its tribes returning to their former ways or what was left of them, the legion remains however, mainly in and around the capital of Flagstaff, though severely diminished, they have largely taken to ruling over or pillaging the reformed tribal groups and former ncr border settlements. Though many within the legion still hold Caesars ideals, none have been able to recapture what was broken when he died, and so the legion continues to decline.
Post-legion Tribes: named Legionem Proditores (Traitor Legions) by The Legion proper, the term refers to those who have returned to their former ways following the death of Caesar and the destabilization that followed. Vast swaths of the legions subjects attempted to return to their tribes roots, often to little success. Instead forming new tribes that are often completely antithetical to the legions ideals, this has led to the early beginnings of a confederation of tribes and villages that have proven to be a powerful force against the ambitions of the legion and groups like it, using legion tactics and weapons against them in response to slave raids and attempts at reintegration
GREAT KHANATE: following their move to Wyoming, the Khans formed a powerful nomadic empire based off the Mongols of old, so far little is known about their new society, though there have been reports of khan riders as far off as the california coast
EAST COAST BOS: the east coast brotherhood continues to reign as one of the major powers on the eastern seaboard, being the most powerful military force in the area, the commonwealth is the current headquarters of the high elder maxon, as well as his most trusted clerics, choosing it for its abundance of technical artifact over the comparatively safer capital wasteland, however pressure has been mounting for the elder to move once more, as the CPG at large has been becoming much less favorable towards the brotherhood, which it sees as overly protective of its tech and as overstepping its bounds far too frequently
COMMONWEALTH PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT: following the destruction of the institute the minutemen, alongside the brotherhood and multiple prominent settlements reformed the CPG, a council of representatives from each group who would govern the commonwealth and surrounding areas, since its inception the cpg has grown by many settlements, and the minutemen have grown alongside it, developing a standing professional garrison in many major towns, though still relying on its militia as its major military force. Recently the cpg has begun to debate the brotherhoods place on the council, and many councilors are demanding an end to the confiscation of technology from their citizens, with many demanding a right to use force against such attempts or demanding an eviction of the brotherhood from their bases across the commonwealth.
THE FREE PITT: Following the Pitts liberation, progress on the cure was slow, and conditions in the Pitt remained dismal, albeit better than it was under the raider lords. As time went on however, improving conditions in neighboring areas such as the Commonwealth and Capital Wasteland led to marked improvements in the Pitt itself, as trade and interaction with the newly established CPG, capital wasteland towns, and the Brotherhood led to stability and an improvement in the quality of life for many of its residents. As of 2296, the Pitt, with the help of allied scientists, managed to create a cure to the plague, and due to its industry and trade, its residents currently enjoy a level of stability and prosperity not seen in the city for over a century. Currently the Pitts biggest concern is a mounting need to create a proper government, a proposal that continues to be widely unpopular and staunchly opposed, with many in the Pitt still preferring the anarchic freedoms that the Pitt has stood by since the revolution.
MONTANA BOS: Founded during the very start of the Brotherhood, the Montana chapter was founded by a military officer in the days following Maxons call to revolt. When the war started however, the Montana bunkers found themselves in a much better condition than the rest of the nation, with Montana, and specifically their area of it sustaining far less damage. As a result of this, as well as the relatively low local population, the Montana chapter is in a remarkably safe location, and has a very small number of active combat troops as a result. To compensate for this, the Montana Brotherhood have become some of the best scribes in the entire organization, and the chapters bunkers have become vaults of precious artifacts and texts ranging from FEV samples to the personal effects of Roger Maxon himself. The chapter is also responsible for much of the brotherhoods historical recording, though due to their isolation and the precarious situation the brotherhood had faced in previous years, they have only recently started analyzing and recording the events following the start of the D.C. expedition, and are not expected to finish it for some time.
THE ENCLAVE: Following their loss at the hands of the Brotherhood in Capital Wasteland, enclave forces in the area pulled back to their bases at Mount Weather, West Virginia and Chicago, since then they have largely kept out of major conflicts, attempting to regain strength and manpower before moving on the brotherhood again, however two of their recent attempts at restoration have failed, with an expedition into the commonwealth failing with high casualties, and a researcher in a west coast facility defecting with promising tech.

I’m an adult , independent and live on my own but my parents are still trying to keep a chokehold on me it feels. My family is Muslim and my parents really want me to come visit them for Eid coming up next week, but we aren’t even doing anything special. My siblings won’t be there , there are no parties or events , it would just be going to prayers and that’s it. I try to avoid visiting them as much as I can so I told them no and I had actually already made plans with friends to go away for the weekend (I didn’t realize it fell on Eid when I planned it but 🤷🏻‍♀️) and my mom got really mad at me and said I need to have more respect for religion , my dad tried to convince me to cancel it (even tho everything is already booked ?) and accused me of “getting into bad things” like drinking and partying when literally most of my friends don’t even drink at all and we’re just going for a wholesome outdoorsy trip. And now my mom won’t stop calling me trying to convince me to cancel it and visit them instead. She calls me several times in the middle of the night even
I hate that they try to control me so much. I stopped answering the phone but I wish they could just be like “oh, I’m sorry to hear you’re not coming , we’ll miss you” and that’s that. But instead they have to get angry , accusatory, and try to force me to come which only pushes me further away and confirms my decision to be LC with them.

My 13 month old has been refusing to transfer for naps for the past 2.5 weeks. He puts himself to sleep at bedtime solo (drowsy but awake) but we never mastered this for naps so I have always rocked him to sleep for naps and transferred 10 mins later. It has never been an issue. I have the capacity to do it. I love the cuddles. All is well.
Until… he now is absolutely refusing to transfer. He can sense when we are getting up to move to the crib no matter how long he has been out (10, 20, 30+ mins) and will instantly begin crying and sit up or stand as soon as he’s laid down. I’ve tried going down to one nap so he’s more tired, nope, still the same response. I’ve tried to Ferber it for a nap but after 50 minutes of absolute wailing until he’s horse, I caved because nap time was nearly over. I don’t feel like I can stomach doing a full extinction for a nap and letting him CIO for a full hour. He was SO distressed with our attempts at Ferber-ing, there is absolutely no way his nervous system would have calmed down and allowed him to sleep independently at that point.
Anyone have any thoughts of things I could be missing? I would love to not be spending 2 hours a day with him in a dark room.
Schedule is roughly: Wake at 6 AM, 1st nap 9:30 AM for 1 hour, second nap at 2:30 PM for 1 hour, bedtime 7:30 PM. (If we are trying for one nap, we try to hold him until 7 AM cause he stays asleep being held and have a 2 hour nap at 11:30/12). We have also been seeing increased night wakings (2-3xs per night) and early wakings at 5 AM during this time.

My family is looking for a service dog for me and I want to be sure it's going to be a good idea.
I currently own a dog and in anticipation of her getting older, I had been thinking about my next dog. I enjoy owning a dog, and cannot imagine my life without one. I got very lucky with my current dog in terms of her temperament (a rescue), and wanted to be extra sure that my next dog will be a perfect fit for me. I also would have difficulty with some challenging behaviors I see in other peoples dogs, (especially reactivity and barking). So, I had been looking into specific breeds, training methods, asking others for advice, which is how it came to be recommended a service dog. For the record, I became disabled after I got my current dog, which I've had for over 10 years.
Couple of things knock around in the back of my mind as I'm considering this path: I do find the care of a dog difficult at times when I'm sick (albeit doable) as much as I still enjoy it. I thought that having a dog that helped me in various ways, as much as I take care of them, will be a good middle ground. I also have certain aspects of my medical condition that aren't allowing me much independence at the moment, and having a trained service dog would be very helpful in allowing me to gain more independence. But I'm curious about in moments where I'm too sick to care for the dog, how you manage it? I'm curious about others experiences with baseline caring for a service dog while having a disability that affects your functioning. (Perhaps I'm just at the point where both my dog and I require more/maximum level of care because we're old and sick respectively, so my perspective could be skewed lol).
Additionally, I admit I am a bit reluctant about being in public with a service dog and the attention that attracts. I am quite private about my disabilities (not necessarily obvious) and think I would be uncomfortable being perceived as having something 'wrong' with me. I assume that once I learn ways to diffuse things and how to handle these situations, I'll get more comfortable. Or maybe I won't get as much attention as I think I will. But I'm curious if the feeling never goes away or if at any point it becomes more trouble than it's worth. I'm curious if anyone else experienced this and if so, how they dealt with it.
I'm being really honest about my motivations so just want to be sure my expectations are right. Is there something I am missing or should consider? Welcome hearing if others have experienced similar things in the beginning of this process.

English is not my native language, I am using Google Translate for some things, sorry
So me, F27, I have been with my boyfriend M30 for two years, I am an independent artist, I mainly dedicate myself to making unique and original pieces to decorate a room, this can range from paintings to wooden sculptures, I won't say more about that, just Which is going quite well for me because I have many clients, but this also takes up most of my time, I hardly have any free time.
I know you're wondering, "If I'm so busy, how do I have time to have a boyfriend?" Well, to be fair, I don't have it, I admit that I am a fairly absent person, I am affectionate but I am almost never at home, besides that, add that I am asexual and I am not interested in having sexual relations, my boyfriend is always the one It starts and I almost never reject it. Don't get me wrong, it feels good when I do it, but I just don't have that desire and I'm perfectly fine if I never had sex again for the rest of my life.
We met because he is a friend of my sister, and she wanted to introduce him to me so that he could leave my workshop and make something of a life, he is wonderful, he has been since day one, he is handsome and thoughtful, he also has a good job so He doesn't live off my money in any way, he also knows how to cook, which is splendid because I don't know, but for a while now he's been arguing with me about how absent I've been, I knew he was right, but it's hard to I change my schedule, since I work on assignment, there are times when I am not working for a whole month and other times where I am working non-stop for 3 months, this is what I dedicate to, it is my income, I have savings, but my jobs take a lot time, my clients literally have to book their order months in advance.
Now the situation, a few days ago my boyfriend sat me down because he said he had to confess something to me, he said he had been seeing another woman for 7 months, he said he felt very lonely and when this woman started flirting with him at work He simply fell for her charm, however after the emotion or "haze of infidelity" passed, he said he realized he couldn't continue and ended it.
I have to tell the truth, I didn't get angry, in fact, I could understand it, I knew that my boyfriend had needs that I wasn't attending to, so I asked him what he wanted to do, he told me that he would never see her again and that he would change, that we could get over this and do couples therapy, he would do anything to keep me from leaving him, in fact, he was almost crying, but I calmed him down and told him that I wasn't angry and that I wasn't going to break up with him. Since we were being honest, I thought it was a good time to confess to him that I am actually asexual and that, besides this slip-up, he has been an incredible boyfriend and I don't want to lose him either, so I suggested that we could just open the relationship, he could sleep with whoever he wanted but we would continue to be together emotionally and living together as before.
I must say, I thought he would like this agreement but he ended up getting very angry, he said that I was reacting very calmly after he was torturing himself with remorse, besides that I accepted it and I was even happy about this, and if I am playing, opening the relationship means I'm also seeing someone else and that's the real reason why I'm never with him.
Right now he's not talking to me, he's at home, I'm staying in my workshop, I know I've screwed up in some way, it's just not clear to me why I screwed up, that is, in which case, who was wrong? It was him, he was the one who cheated on me but I don't have a problem with that, shouldn't I be happy that I'm not leaving him? Can someone explain to me what I'm missing now?

Hello all. I have a cockatiel that I bought from the pet store about 2 weeks ago. The cockatiel is about 2 or 3 months old I believe, very young. But she's very sweet and steps up and is already clingy to me and my fiance. Anyway, once I got her home a couple days later she started crying like baby birds do for food. This baby was already weaned and eating seeds and pellets. I've even introduced her to broccoli which she loves.
The crying is so much tho. She wakes up and cries for an hour or so. I place her in her cage with fresh food and she's quiet for a bit, eating. Then she acts like she wants to come out so I take her out and immediately starts crying and head bobbing again. So I'll put her back at the food bowl where she will eat and be quiet again. When she's in her cage and I'm not in the room she eats and plays with toys. I was holding her bowl at first while she ate but decided she needs to be more independent and eat her big bird food.
I need to know if I'm doing anything wrong. She gets fresh seed and pellets everyday. Always has fresh water. She eats and poops normally while in her cage. I'll feed her broccoli from my hand sometimes. I just don't want her to be super hungry or something and I'm not feeding her right!! Is she just missing formula and hand feedings? Will fresh seed and pellets be enough? Is it something she will grow out of? Ugh so many questions lol but this is my first tiel. She does have an avian vet visit coming up next week as well for a check up.
Thanks!

"Nooo this reminds me of my dead wife!"
..
"My whole family is dead!"
"My wife died once. I'm still not over it."
...
"Nooo stop stop my wife used to love your hobby that's also your personality trait!"
...
"Hey do you want to get into animal husbandry? It sounds gross but it's actually very normal."
"Husbandry? I was a husband once. And then my wife died! Waaaaaaaa!"
...
"Hey Jorgen, what do you think of my new outfit?"
"Noooo stop stop I won't cheat on my wife!"
"Dude I'm married, and my child is also in this army, please stop saying stuff like this."
...
"I hear you have a wife even though you are a woman!"
"That's right! And if you have a problem with that you can kiss my-"
"Want to talk about our wives together? Mine's dead though. I miss my wife. *cries openly and makes everyone uncomfortable*"
...
"J-Jorgen, I-I'm afraid of g-ghosts!"
"You look just like the daughter my dead wife was going to have. *tears up* I can't stand to look at you any more! *runs away*"
"J-jorgen can't stand to look at me any more? Oh, stupid, stupid Becky! You scared him away with your ugly face! No wonder your parents never loved you!"
*FunnyFootsteps.mp3 continues playing as both characters cry*

I’m really begging to miss my old life and I feel guilty for saying that. I have a 4 month old and had to take a year out of uni to raise her. Now my days just feel the same, they revolve around my baby and everything I do has to be planned in advance but nothing I do is for ME.
I’m also incredibly insecure. I was before pregnancy but now it’s worse. My boobs sag and are different sizes, I have a belly pouch but skinny everywhere else. Now I’ve started dating it’s really impacting that.
I had to move back in with my parents and lost all independence.
Everything sucks right now.

Hey Reddit fam! Just thought I'd share a little story with you today. As a novice chess player, I've been trying to improve my game. I've always been pretty terrible at chess, and I kept wondering why. Turns out, I was missing some major strategic thinking.
So, I called my friend Linda, who happens to be a seasoned player. She suggested I try creating a mental image before making my moves. The idea is this: instead of viewing each move as independent, I should create a mental image of the entire game and how I want it to play out. Just like an architect seeing a blueprint in their mind before they start.
I was skeptical but decided to give it a go. With this new strategy, I could see multiple moves ahead, possible responses from my opponents, and visualize different outcomes. It was like a montage scene in a sports movie. By doing so, I was able to capture Linda's queen and win a game for the first time ever!
Compare that to a heuristic approach, a shortcut method that I usually use. Like always moving pawn to e4 or knight to f3 as first moves, because someone told me it was a strong opening. It did help me start the game strong, but I often lost in the middle because I didn't have a broader picture in mind. I just followed a set of 'rules' without really understanding the why's and how's.
With the mental image strategy, I didn't just follow a fixed pattern. Instead, I made decisions based on the dynamic picture in my head, which changed with every move. Both strategies have their merits: the heuristic approach helps save time while the mental image approach enables more strategic thinking in complex scenarios.
Next time you're facing a complex problem, maybe try using a mental image instead of sticking to your habitual rules (or heuristics). Might just surprise yourself!
P.S. No Lindas were harmed in the creation of this story. Also, I'm still pretty bad at chess. But now I lose with a better understanding of why I'm losing! Isn't learning fun?

My friend and I just finished reading erotic stories by Punjabi women. It's a pretty slow burn but worth it. In the book women got killed and abused because they didn't not behave the way men wanted. Let me explain a teenager ran from home cz her dad was abusive, he hired a bounty hunter to bring her back then killed her and made it look like suicide. Her cousin started snooping around cz she suspected foul play. She got killed too. Another girl got forced into an arranged marriage cz her parents didn't like the guy she was seeing. She found out her supposed mother in law and husband were having an affair. They killed her and made it look like she commited suicide cz she was caught cheating. Fighting against such is what inspired feminism. So that we get to have the same opportunities as men. So that our lives are not just limited to making babies and taking care of a home. However we have taken it too far with slogans like. "what a man can do, a woman can do better" and " am miss independent, I don't need a man". The two genders were created as opposites so that we exist interdependently. We need each other to survive and thrive. So maybe it's time we rethink the whole feminist movement and what we stand for. Personally I unsubscribed from that a long time ago

I am somewhat new to PKMs so I thought I'd have a bit of fun querying Gemini on workflow considerations. The outputs are interesting and fairly insightful. Hence, I'm posting here to share. Hopefully this will be a bit useful to other new-to-PKM readers.

Please summarize PARA, CODE, and Zettelkasten.

Here's a summary of PARA, CODE, and Zettelkasten, all helpful methods for managing information and knowledge:
PARA (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives):

• Focus: Organization system for your digital life.
• Action-oriented: Categorizes information based on its actionability:
  
• Projects (P): Actionable steps to complete specific goals (writing a book, planning a trip).
  
• Areas of Focus (A): Ongoing aspects you want to improve (health, finances).
  
• Resources (R): Reference materials for future use (articles, ebooks).
  
• Archives (A): Items kept for sentimental reasons but not readily needed (old emails, photos).
  
• Benefits: Reduced clutter, improved focus, better decision-making.
  

CODE (Capture, Organize, Distill, Express):

• Focus: Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) workflow.
• Process-oriented: Represents the steps for managing information:
  
• Capture (C): Gather information from various sources (books, notes, etc.).
  
• Organize (O): Store and categorize the captured information.
  
• Distill (D): Process information by summarizing, reflecting, or connecting it to existing knowledge.
  
• Express (E): Put your knowledge to use (writing, teaching, decision-making).
  
• Benefits: Active knowledge management, promotes critical thinking and learning.
  

Zettelkasten (Slip Box):

• Focus: Note-taking system for building a connected knowledge base.
• Content-oriented: Focuses on creating atomic notes (focused on a single idea) and linking related notes together.
• Key features:
  
• Atomic notes: Single ideas on separate slips (digital or physical) for flexibility and recombination.
  
• Linking notes: Creates connections between related ideas for a growing web of knowledge.
  
• Benefits: Encourages deeper thinking, fosters new connections, supports research and writing.
  

Choosing the right system:

• PARA: Ideal for general information organization and action planning.
• CODE: Applicable to any PKM system, emphasizes the knowledge management process.
• Zettelkasten: Useful for building a deep understanding of complex topics and fostering creativity.

Ultimately, the best system depends on your individual needs and goals. You can even combine elements of these methods to create your own personalized knowledge management approach.

Are PARA and CODE methodologies mutually exclusive or are they complimentary?

PARA and CODE are actually complementary, not mutually exclusive. Here's why:

• PARA focuses on organization: It provides a simple framework for categorizing all your digital information based on its purpose (projects, areas of focus, resources, archives).
• CODE focuses on workflow: It outlines the steps involved in managing your knowledge, regardless of where that information lives. (capture, organize, distill, express)

Here's how they work together:

• You can use PARA to organize the information you capture in step 1 of CODE. For example, notes captured during research for a project (P) would go in your project folder, while an interesting article on a broader topic (R) would be saved in your resources section.
• The CODE steps of distilling and expressing your knowledge can be applied to information within any PARA category. You might distill notes from a resource (R) to create a summary in your project (P) folder, or express an idea from an area of focus (A) through a blog post.

Benefits of using them together:

• Improved knowledge management: By using PARA to organize and CODE to process, you create a system that's both efficient and effective.
• Flexibility: You can adapt both methodologies to your specific needs and preferences.
• Deeper understanding: Integrating PARA and CODE encourages active learning and critical thinking with your captured information.

In short, PARA provides the "where" and CODE provides the "how" for managing your knowledge. You can use them independently, but using them together creates a powerful system for personal knowledge management.

Where does zettelkasten fit in?

Zettelkasten fits into the world of PARA and CODE as a specific note-taking system that can be used within the CODE framework and potentially complement your PARA organization. Here's how:

• Alignment with CODE: Zettelkasten aligns well with the Capture and Distill steps of CODE. You can capture ideas and information as atomic notes in your Zettelkasten. The process of linking related notes in Zettelkasten also contributes to the Distill step by helping you make connections and see the bigger picture.
• Integration with PARA: While Zettelkasten doesn't directly map to PARA categories, you can use PARA to organize your Zettelkasten notes. For example, you could create a project folder within your Zettelkasten for a specific project and link relevant notes from your main Zettelkasten to that project folder.
• Focus of Zettelkasten: Zettelkasten excels at building a connected knowledge base. By focusing on atomic notes and linking related ideas, it encourages deeper thinking and fosters new connections between concepts. This can be particularly beneficial for research and writing projects, but also for personal learning and exploration.

Here's a breakdown of how they might fit together:

1. Capture (CODE): You come across an interesting idea while reading a resource (relevant to your PARA "Resources" section).
2. Process in Zettelkasten: You capture the idea as an atomic note in your Zettelkasten.
3. Distill (CODE): You link the new note to existing notes in your Zettelkasten that share related concepts.
4. Express (CODE): When working on a project (relevant to your PARA "Projects" section), you can leverage the connections within your Zettelkasten to find relevant information and develop new insights.

Ultimately, the best way to use these systems together depends on your needs. You can experiment and find what works best for you. Here are some additional points to consider:

• Complexity: Zettelkasten can have a steeper learning curve compared to PARA or the basic idea of CODE.
• Customization: Both PARA and Zettelkasten offer flexibility to adapt them to your workflow.

By combining the strengths of PARA, CODE, and Zettelkasten, you can create a powerful system for capturing, organizing, and utilizing your knowledge for better learning and productivity.

Considering the 3 system approach you present, would it become too cumbersome to use daily or would it be very efficient? I don't want to spend too much time thinking about PARA/CODE/ZETTELKASTEN to the extent that I am messing with the systems rather than utilizing these systems to become more efficient and effective.

You're right to be concerned about the potential complexity of using PARA, CODE, and Zettelkasten together. While they can be very efficient, there's a tipping point where managing the systems themselves becomes counterproductive.
Here's a breakdown of how cumbersome it might be and how to achieve efficiency:
Potential for Cumbersomeness:

• Learning Curve: Each system has its own concepts to grasp.
• Friction Between Systems: Deciding which system to use for each piece of information can be time-consuming.
• Over-complication: Spending too much time on upkeep can take away from actual knowledge work.

Strategies for Efficiency:

• Start Simple: Begin with PARA, the most straightforward system for organizing information.
• Integrate Gradually: As you get comfortable with PARA, introduce CODE principles for processing information within your PARA structure.
• Focus on Workflow: Don't get bogged down in classifying every piece of information perfectly. The goal is to capture, process, and use knowledge, not to categorize it to death.
• Adapt to Your Needs: These systems are flexible. Tailor them to your specific workflow and learning style.
• Technology Can Help: Use note-taking apps or project management tools that can accommodate PARA and basic CODE principles. Some tools even have Zettelkasten-like features.

Remember:

• The goal is knowledge, not system mastery. Don't get hung up on perfectly implementing every detail.
• Focus on action. The true power comes from using the captured and processed information to achieve your goals.
• Experiment and iterate. Find what works best for you. If a system feels cumbersome, simplify or adjust your approach.

Here are some additional thoughts:

• You might not need all three systems. Maybe CODE integriert (integrates) well enough with PARA for your needs.
• Zettelkasten might be most beneficial if you're working on complex projects or research.

Ultimately, the best approach is to find a balance between organization and efficiency. The systems should empower you, not become a burden.

Thank you. If I were to select Tana as a tool to implement one, two, or all three of these systems, would that be a good/best choice or would some other tool be more suitable? I want to avoid Logseq, Capacities, Notion, Obsidian as I have reviewed them and don't prefer them.

Tana can definitely be a good choice for implementing PARA, CODE, or even all three of these systems, especially considering your preference to avoid other popular options. Here's why Tana might be a good fit:
Strengths of Tana for PARA and CODE:

• Simple Structure: Tana uses a familiar folder and tag system, making it easy to organize information according to PARA categories.
• Flexibility: You can create custom tags and attributes within folders to incorporate CODE principles like "stage of processing" (capture, organize, etc.).
• Focus on Writing: Tana emphasizes writing notes, which aligns well with the knowledge distillation aspect of CODE.

Strengths of Tana for Zettelkasten:

• Backlinking: Tana allows for backlinks between notes, which is a core feature of Zettelkasten for creating a connected knowledge base.
• Atomic Notes: While Tana doesn't have a specific feature for atomic notes, you can structure your notes to focus on single ideas and link them accordingly.

Here are some things to consider:

• Tana is relatively new: Compared to Obsidian or Logseq, Tana is a less established tool. While it's constantly evolving, there might be fewer features or integrations available.
• Zettelkasten Complexity: Tana can handle Zettelkasten, but it might require more manual work to manage backlinks and atomic notes compared to a tool specifically designed for Zettelkasten.

Alternatives to Tana (considering your preferences):

• Athens: This tool focuses heavily on knowledge management and creating a Zettelkasten system. It might be a good option if Zettelkasten is your primary focus.
• Bear: This note-taking app offers a clean interface and strong tagging capabilities, making it suitable for PARA and basic CODE implementation.

Ultimately, the best tool depends on your individual needs and preferences. Here's what I recommend:

1. Try Tana: Since you've already reviewed other options, experiment with Tana and see if its structure and features fit your workflow for PARA, CODE, or Zettelkasten.
2. Consider Zettelkasten complexity: If Zettelkasten is a major focus, evaluate if Tana's manual approach works for you, or explore Athens which is specifically designed for Zettelkasten.

I hope this helps!

This does help. How should I evaluate the zettelkasten vs para/code to understand my own needs best?

Here's a way to evaluate Zettelkasten vs. PARA/CODE to understand your needs better:
Consider your learning style and goals:

• Zettelkasten: Ideal for:
  
• Deep dives into complex topics.
  
• Building a web of interconnected knowledge for research and writing.
  
• Those who enjoy a more open-ended, exploratory approach to learning.
  
• PARA/CODE: Ideal for:
  
• Staying organized and action-oriented.
  
• Managing information for various projects and areas of focus.
  
• Those who prefer a clear structure and system for capturing and processing information.
  

Ask yourself these questions:

• What are your primary goals for managing information? (e.g., research, project management, personal learning)
• Do you prefer a structured system with clear categories (PARA) or a more open-ended approach (Zettelkasten)?
• How comfortable are you with linking notes and building a connected knowledge base? (Zettelkasten requires more effort)
• How much time are you willing to invest in learning and maintaining a system? (PARA is simpler to learn)

Try them out:

• Spend a week using PARA: Organize your digital information using folders for Projects, Areas of Focus, Resources, and Archives. See how this impacts your workflow.
• Spend a week experimenting with Zettelkasten: Start by taking atomic notes on topics that interest you and try linking them to see connections emerge.

Reflect on your experience:

• Did PARA help you stay organized and find information easily?
• Did Zettelkasten stimulate your thinking and help you see new connections?
• Which system felt more natural and enjoyable to use?

Here are some additional thoughts:

• You don't have to choose just one. Maybe PARA works well for your daily tasks, while Zettelkasten is a good fit for deeper research projects.
• Start simple and gradually add complexity. Don't try to implement everything perfectly at once.
• The most important thing is to find a system that helps you learn and achieve your goals.

By reflecting on your learning style, goals, and experience with these systems, you'll gain a clearer understanding of which approach best suits your needs.

These are all good inputs, and I will find them useful to implement. At the moment, I think I would lean toward PARA/CODE for most things, as I like to be organized and hierarchical, so to speak. My attraction to zettelkasten is mostly around back-linking and the associations that I miss if only using PARA/CODE.

That sounds like a great approach! Leaning towards PARA/CODE for most things makes perfect sense, especially if you value organization and hierarchy. Here's how you can incorporate some Zettelkasten principles into your PARA/CODE workflow to leverage the backlinking benefits:
PARA with Backlinking:

• Use Tags for Linking: While PARA doesn't have built-in backlinks, you can use tags to create connections between related information. For example, a note in your "Resources" section (PARA) on a specific topic could have a tag that links to your "Project" where you're applying that knowledge.
• Create a "Links" Folder: Dedicate a folder within PARA (perhaps under "Resources") to store notes that specifically explore connections between different concepts. This folder can act as a central hub for your backlinks.

CODE with Zettelkasten Inspiration:

• Atomic Notes within Projects: When capturing information in your "Projects" section (CODE), consider breaking down complex topics into smaller, atomic notes. This can help with processing and identifying potential connections to existing knowledge.
• Project Backlinks: In your project notes, use backlinks (via tags or mentions) to reference relevant resources (in your "Resources" section) or related areas of focus (in your "Areas of Focus" section). This can help you see the bigger picture and how different pieces of information contribute to your project.

Tools to Enhance Backlinking:

• Tana: As discussed earlier, Tana's tagging system can be helpful for creating backlinks within PARA.
• PARA-friendly Apps with Backlinking: Explore tools like RemNote or Bear which offer tagging capabilities similar to Tana and might have additional features for creating backlinks.

By incorporating these backlinking strategies, you can bridge the gap between PARA/CODE's organization and Zettelkasten's focus on connections. Remember, the key is to find a system that works for you. Don't be afraid to experiment and adapt PARA/CODE to incorporate elements of Zettelkasten that you find valuable, like backlinking and atomic note-taking within projects.

Do you have an opinion on a learning method once I have a collection of data? I've read a little about spaced repetition but I'd look as alternatives also and determine the best method for me.

Absolutely! Here are some learning methods to consider after you've collected your data, along with spaced repetition:
Spaced Repetition (SRS):

• Strengths: A highly effective method for memorizing facts and concepts through spaced-out reviews.
• Tools: Popular SRS apps include Anki and Memrise.
• Considerations: Requires active participation in creating flashcards and reviewing them at scheduled intervals. Can feel repetitive for some learners.

Active Recall:

• Strengths: Encourages deeper understanding by actively retrieving information from memory, rather than passively re-reading.
• Techniques: Techniques include writing practice exams, explaining concepts to others, or using flashcards without prompts.
• Considerations: Requires more effort than passive review methods.

Elaboration:

• Strengths: Improves long-term memory by connecting new information to existing knowledge.
• Techniques: Techniques include summarizing information in your own words, creating analogies or metaphors, or generating examples.
• Considerations: Requires some time investment to process and connect information.

Interleaving:

• Strengths: Improves understanding of different concepts by studying them in a mixed order, rather than consecutively.
• Techniques: Study materials from different topics in a single session or create a study schedule that alternates between subjects.
• Considerations: Can be initially more challenging than focused studying.

Retrieval Practice:

• Strengths: Similar to active recall, retrieval practice strengthens memory by forcing you to retrieve information from your memory.
• Techniques: Techniques include testing yourself on the material after reading, writing practice questions, or using spaced repetition software with retrieval cues instead of full answers.
• Considerations: Requires effort and focus to actively recall information.

Here are some tips for choosing the best method for you:

• Consider your learning style: Do you prefer visual aids, active participation, or deeper analysis?
• Evaluate the type of information: Are you memorizing facts, concepts, or procedures?
• Experiment and find what works best: Try different methods and see what helps you retain information most effectively.
• Combine methods: Don't be afraid to use a combination of approaches to create a well-rounded learning strategy.

Additional Resources:

• Spaced Repetition Software: Anki or Memrise
• Active Recall Techniques: retrieval practice article

Ultimately, the best learning method depends on you and the specific data you're trying to learn. By experimenting and combining different techniques, you can find an approach that helps you retain information effectively and achieve your learning goals.