It was late in the morning when Adam woke from his dreamless sleep. Warm sunlight poured through the cracks between the window blinds, casting bars of shadow along his naked body.
Sleeping naked was a habit he had picked up from Jen. She had insisted upon it, to his great bemusement. Because why would a man wear clothes to keep warm in bed when a woman could do the job much better? Being a young man, Adam couldn’t find fault in that particular orcish custom.
But some orcish customs… Adam had learned how disruptive they could be.
Adam threw his legs over the side of the bed so that he sat upright. He stared off into space, frowning.
Disqualified.
Somewhere in his mind, in a hazy construct of the great hall back home, that word hung over his portrait on a gilded plaque. Right next to the words Disappointment and Failure.
Adam shook his head, groaning. Was it frustration? Disgust? Adam couldn’t tell. He knew the thought was absurd. His family wouldn’t disown him for losing a tourney much less getting disqualified from one - especially since getting kicked out wasn’t even his fault.
The Castermans were a proud, ancient house, this was true. But they didn’t put so much value on trophies and medals and honors the way other Stakari houses did. They would never consider tossing their youngest aside… But that didn’t stop Adam from feeling fear and doubt.
Every young man who ever lived feared being a disappointment to his family. And as the fourth son of his father’s line, Adam had the unenviable position of being measured against his older brothers. Royce, Dane, and Garen, loving and supportive as they were, weren’t simply his older brothers. They were titans, looming tall and casting their shadows over their baby brother.
His brothers had all been exceptional at the paths they chose. Military man, beast wrangler, and a bonafide wizard. All impressive and noble occupations. Of course Adam was happy for them. But his brothers had set some incredibly high standards. All through his youth, the youngest Casterman feared he would never measure up.
But then, in his teens, Adam discovered his passion for history. Stories of kings, warriors, tyrants, and heroes. Of great bloody battles and fallen cities. Of ferocious beasts and mighty slayers. Adam drank it all in like a man finding an oasis after wandering lost through the desert sands. Especially so for the history of his home, the Kingdom of Stakaria, as well as his family and his own noble blood.
The Castermans had earned their greatness, Adam proudly reminded himself. Jorr Casterman won his knighthood defending the Lord of the Bluewater several centuries back. During a skirmish against a wild raiding party, the lord had been unhorsed and at the mercy of a monstrous ogre. He would have died on that battlefield had Jorr not slain the towering beast.
Adam had no towering beast to slay. The days where men could make their names with sword and shield were long past. So the youngest Casterman chose to sharpen his mind. His battles would be fought and won with pen and ink. Not at all the kind of man a she-orc would fall for, one might have thought.
The young noble pondered on that for a moment as he stood up and stretched. He groaned, his body still quite sore from the tourney matches he had managed to win. Then he went to the dresser at the foot of his bed and dug out a pair of boxers.
As he tugged them on, his mind drifted to Jen… and her sister, Sayla.
His girlfriend’s sister had interfered during one of his matches and got him disqualified from the tourney. Attacked him with real daggers, too. It was a wonder she hadn’t been arrested - though the security staff might have simply thought she was part of some viral stunt.
The whole situation was absurd. So absurd that Adam was more bewildered than upset - though he wasn’t without anger. He had worked hard to get into the lists. And to have it all taken away because of his girlfriend’s secret plan…
Adam tightened his jaw as Jen and Sayla’s “clan chief” business came to the forefront of his mind. He still needed to talk to them about that. He might as well, right? There was nothing that was going to un-disqualify him as far as he could tell. So why not learn more about the absurdity that screwed with his life?
He inhaled deeply through his nose, then frowned. The scent of sweat stung his nostrils. He would need to shower soon. But first, he would check his phone. He hadn’t answered anything from anybody after he left Jen and Sayla at the diner last night. No doubt his voicemail and email had some build up that needed some looking over.
Adam found his cellphone right where he left it, sitting on his desk. Sure enough, he found a long list of missed calls and unread messages. All of them from Jen.
The corner of his mouth twitched some at the sight. It wasn’t quite a smile, but there was a wryness about it.
In a way, the attention felt nice. It showed that Jen cared. Adam already knew that, of course. Jen was the kind of girl who was very open - and physical - with her affections. But the dozens of messages of apology proved that Jen at least felt appropriately guilty over the whole mess. The disqualification and the secret plan to make him her clan’s chieftain.
Chieftain Adam Casterman, leader of the G’Kalis Clan. Reader of books, slayer of essays, husband to she-orcs. Adam grinned at the sheer absurdity of it.
On the one hand, becoming a clan chief would have been a rather unique way of making a name for himself. And Adam had read up on orcish clan customs. He couldn’t deny that taking multiple wives had a certain appeal.
But Adam was nothing if not a realist.
Surely being a chieftain came with a whole mountain of responsibility. Even if Adam agreed to Jen’s proposition, where would he find the time to fulfill all of the duties that came with his new role? By the Allfather, he was a college student barely out of his teen years. He already had responsibilities here on campus. And what would he even tell his parents? That his girlfriend asked him to essentially marry her and her sisters and he said yes on a whim?
Adam rubbed his temple. It was way too early for such heavy thoughts. He put down his phone and switched over to his laptop to check his email.
His inbox was mostly as expected. Some newsletter stuff, spam that hadn’t been filtered out… And one message from Trevelyan Institute Administration.
That last one gave Adam a moment of pause. He stared at it, the email sitting unread on his computer screen. Dread slowly crept into him, slithering up his back, under his skin, making his hair stand on end.
It was a disciplinary response to the nonsense at the tourney. Adam knew it. Was he being put on probation? Was he expelled?
His mouth had gone dry. Surely, his face had gone ghostly white as well.
Adam collected himself, gathering his wits and nerves.
He ran the cursor over the email and clicked on it.
- - -
“Stop calling him.”
“Quiet.” Jenakka snapped, glaring at her clan-sister. The green she-orc turned her eyes back to her phone, staring at the message of apology she had just finished writing. She’d already written several others, but there was always something that Jenakka felt like she forgot to say. So she ended up writing another.
The G’Kalis clan scholar had been pacing around her dorm room ever since she woke up. She’d hardly gotten any sleep last night. Sayla, of course, had slept like a rock.
She’s as thick as one too…
The gray-skinned champion sat on Jenakka’s bed, her back pressed against the wall with her long legs stretched out. Sayla watched her sister walk back and forth across her dorm room, boredom clear in her red eyes.
Boredom and not an ounce of guilt. Typical.
Jenakka huffed through her nose and hit send.
“You’ve already left several messages. You’re making yourself look desperate.” Sayla droned in a flat voice. There was another look about her now, Jenakka noted. Distaste. The clan champion continued, muttering. “More than you already have…”
Jenakka whirled around on her heels, fuming. She pointed accusingly at her clan-sister, a scowl twisting across her face.
“You’re the last person who should be giving advice!” Jenakka was near-shrieking. The other students who lived on her floor might have heard her, but Jenakka did not care. Her relationship with Adam might have been irreparably damaged because of the brainless fool sitting on her bed. The clan scholar collected herself just a bit, breathing in. “After that debacle at the arena it was a miracle you weren’t detained. The clan can’t afford to have its champion behind bars, as you well know.”
Sayla was on her feet then, but Jenakka feared her little. Tall and strong her older clan-sister was, but Jenakka knew Sayla took her clan oaths as seriously as Mystic Akari. She would never hurt anyone of the clan. Still, Jenakka glared as the taller she-orc stepped up to her.
“Don’t lecture me, sister. Don’t you dare.” Sayla growled, her red eyes hard and cold. “I took action. You’re the one who spent a year playing Lord and Lady with her darling human. And such a wonderful choice, too.”
Jenakka’s anger flared hotter, now blazing in her heart.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You promised the clan you’d find us a chieftain.” Sayla raised her voice, her words hard with anger. “Instead, you spent all this time on some pretty boy lordling. Beyond ideal? Don’t make me laugh!”
Sayla turned away then, scoffing. Jenakka glowered, her hands tightening into fists.
“He beat you didn’t he?”
“He did not beat me.” Sayla snarled as she whirled back around. Her red eyes were now sharp like her daggers. Her lips tightened into what was almost a pout. “Our fight was interrupted.”
There was a knock at the door then. Both orc women turned their eyes towards it. Sayla merely looked annoyed at the disturbance, but Jenakka deflated some, her shoulders falling slack. It was probably one of the other dorm residents coming to check because of the shouting.
The knocking came again. Jenakka sighed and went to answer it, collecting herself just enough to put on a fake smile.
No problem here, ma’am. Just two orc sisters having a shouting match over the future of their clan!
She opened the door… and found her dear Adam standing in the hall!
“Hi.” He said, wearing a small smile.
Jenakka felt a rush of emotions then. Relief that Adam bothered to come see her. Happiness at seeing her love in the flesh. Embarrassment because she didn’t know what to say. All those text messages were nothing compared to seeing him again face-to-face.
Leaping forward, she wrapped her arms around him in perhaps the tightest hug she had ever given. With her face buried into his neck, she took in his scent. He smelled of paper and wood and steel. And a hint of soap as well. He showered recently, she noted. As she pulled back, she also noticed his clothing. He had dressed nicely. A brown coat over a white shirt and fitted jeans. Adam always made some effort to look presentable. But the fact that he bothered at all today was a good sign. Jenakka’s heart fluttered.
“I’m glad you came.” She said warmly, pulling the fresh-faced human into her dorm room. She closed the door shut behind them. Then she reached out and took Adam’s hands with hers. She stared into his eyes, hoping he would see the sincerity of her words. “And again, I’m so, so sorry about the tourney.”
Jenakka then shot an expecting look towards Sayla, who was standing by her desk with her arms crossed.
The clan champion gave Jenakka’s boyfriend a once-over. Then she wrinkled her nose.
“I’m not.” Sayla answered bluntly. She gave Adam a curt nod. “You still need to prove your worth as a fighter, pup.”
“He’s two years older than you.” Jenakka simmered. To her irritation, her clan-sister merely shrugged.
“Still younger than me. Still a pup.”
Jenakka frowned, fighting the fire inside her that Sayla was unapologetically stoking. She wasn’t going to break into another argument in front of Adam. He had dealt with enough problems because of her.
She turned her eyes back onto her boyfriend, giving him a regretful look.
“Sorry about her, too.” She told him.
“It’s no problem.” Adam said. A moment of silence passed, with Adam’s eyes roaming around Jenakka’s dorm room. Jenakka wanted to try and imagine what he was thinking, but the prospect made her anxious. So she simply waited. Finally, he spoke again. “So… I’m here.”
Jenakka stepped closer, hesitant but hopeful. She allowed herself a tiny smile.
“Does… does that mean you have an answer for us?”
Adam nodded.
“I spent a long time thinking last night.” Her boyfriend started. Jenakka tried to parse the tone of his voice, but the words came from his lips level and even. “Thinking about you. About us. I’d be lying if I said these last few months weren’t some of the best of my life.”
Another moment of silence. Jenakka drank in the lines of Adam’s face, watching him clench and unclench his jaw. She bit her lip, waiting.
“Growing up, I was always afraid that I’d never be as strong or as handsome or as skilled as my older brothers.” Adam spoke again, his brow furrowing as a sliver of discomfort weaved into his words. “I always questioned my worth as a man. Until I met you.”
Jenakka’s heart ached for him. She moved even closer, close enough that she could enjoy his scent again. On instinct, she darted forward and kissed him softly. The taste of his lips was quite welcome after the doubt and worry that plagued her last night. And surely Adam found the affection pleasing. He did not push her away.
The clan scholar pulled back after a time, sighing.
“I never cared if you were a fourth son. I wouldn’t have cared if you were the fortieth. I love you, Adam.” Jenakka spoke those words with her entire heart and spirit. She could only pray that her human would truly listen.
“But you still kept the truth from me.” He answered in a cool tone.
Jenakka winced. She averted her eyes from his for a moment. Was it shame? Regret? Embarrassment? Or all of them at once?
“I was waiting for the right time to tell you. But no moment ever felt right.” It was the truth. But Jenakka feared - no, she knew it wasn’t enough. She hadn’t told Adam about her intentions for him. For her clan. The fault for the resulting mess belonged to her and her alone.
Jenakka knew Adam was the understanding type. But was he the forgiving type? She could only hope.
“Do you have an answer or did you come here to waste more of our time?” Sayla’s sharp voice cleaved through their intimate moment.
Jenakka whipped her head around to shoot her sister a withering glare. A venomous retort bubbled up in her throat, ready to spew. But then Adam broke into a flat chuckle.
"Wow.” He said to Sayla, deep laughs rumbling in his chest. “You are a real piece of work.”
Sayla only gave a rude gesture in response. Jenakka felt a flash of anger, but it was tempered by the fact that Adam almost certainly had no idea what it meant.
“She’s always been like that.” Jenakka murmured into her boyfriend’s neck.
Adam chuckled again. Jenakka took it as a good sign. Next, he pulled away some so that he could look her in the eyes.
“I can… understand how your situation might have been awkward. I don’t like it, but I get it. If you told me about the clan stuff from the start, I might have just blown you off as a loony.” Adam pressed his lips into a line, appearing to consider his next words. “Being your clan’s chieftain… I take it that this is a big responsibility…”
Jenakka’s heart soared. He wasn’t refusing her outright. And that was enough for her. She jumped on the opening, seizing the opportunity as her clan-mother taught her.
“You wouldn’t need to carry that whole weight by yourself.” She insisted, clutching his hands tightly in hers. Her thumbs brushed over his knuckles, gentle and loving. “G’Kalis is a small clan, but you’d still have five of us to help you understand and perform your duties.”
Adam quirked his lips, weighing her answer in his head. He gave a short nod.
“That’s… good to hear, I suppose. And the extra free time will probably help, too.”
Jenakka blinked. She held her breath.
“What do you mean?” She asked cautiously. She needed to hear him say it.
Adam gave her a faint grin. He breathed in deeply through his nose.
“I got an email this morning.” Her tall, strapping human started, his grin widening some. “From the university administration. After that whole deal with Miss Daggers last night, I was afraid I was going to face some disciplinary action.”
“They didn’t blame you for that, did they?” Jenakka winced as the chaos from the arena flashed in her head.
“No. Turns out the email wasn’t about that tourney stuff at all. I’ve been exempt.” Adam gave her an incredulous look. “From all of my classes until spring. Special clan privileges, apparently. Clan members get excused from course work if they have spiritual rites that require their attention.”
Jenakka reeled back, bewildered. Why would Adam have special clan privileges…
Oh.
Realization struck her like a mace to the back of her head. The clan scholar turned and gave Sayla an accusing look. But the eldest daughter of G’Kalis appeared as baffled as any of them.
“Don’t look at me.” Sayla said, shrugging. “I only came here to initiate my chieftain trial.”
Jenakka narrowed her eyes, looking from Sayla to Adam. She only had to think for a moment before an answer presented itself to her. The only answer that made any sense, at least.
“Matriarch Hera.” Jenakka whispered. She looked into Adam’s eyes, hoping he was following along. He nodded back to her and she took it as a good sign. “Our clan-mother. She must have registered you as our chieftain already. Either her or Akari.”
“How?” Adam didn’t seem shocked or offended, only confused. Jenakka couldn’t blame him. These last several hours or so had completely turned his life into some absurdist comedy.
“I might have sent my clan your personal information.” Jenakka winced as she said it. A sour look crossed Adam’s face. She gave her boyfriend an apologetic look. “I just thought they wanted to know more about you! I’ll fix it. We’ll fix it! Sayla and I, we’ll head back to our clan and we’ll clear all this up! I promise!”
“We’re all going.” Adam told her. Jenakka was taken aback for a moment. She felt the urge to ask him to elaborate on what that meant. But the look in his blue eyes told her everything. And deep in her heart, Jenakka G’Kalis felt jubilation. Her boyfriend… her chieftain turned his eyes to Sayla, his words hammering out like black iron.
“If I’m going to be your clan’s chieftain, then it’s time I met the rest of you.”
- - -
First Previous
- - -
You can read the next two chapters on my Patreon.

She's 6 years old. She is now displaced, my grandmother passed away earlier today.
Right now, the cat is safe. My aunt lives literally next door to my grandmother. So she is feeding and cleaning the litterbox as needed. Once the estate is settled and the house is sold... We have no idea what to do. Nobody is in a position to be able to take care of the cat.
I tried a few shelters and no luck. I keep getting declined because I tell them that I don't know if the cat is socialized for other cats. And they all say their cat rooms are free range.
I'm trying to find a new home for my grandmother's cat.
She's 6 years old, had her shots and stuff, and is declawed on her front paws. My grandmother had the cat since a wee kitten. So it isn't socialized for other animals. I don't think she would do good with young children who might not understand how to interact with cats. But otherwise she is very sweet and loving.
I think she has a very sweet temperament, but my family (grandmother, aunt, uncle) say she's mean. I dont see it. I think she's just set in her ways. I can pet her and she'll come headbutt me and rub up against my legs, etc.
I think she's just used to being alone in a house with a 98 year old woman. She gets startled if I walk past her from behind, and suddenly she sees my legs as I walk past. And she'll hiss and sometimes swipe. But like I said... I think she's just over stimulated.
She loves back scratches. She will softly nip at you if she doesn't like how you're petting her but she restrains herself. She knows not to actually CHOMP.
She is fixed. Declawed on her front paws. I know she had shots but I don't know if they're up to date.. my grandmother (and aunt) are trying to find the paperwork...The cat is in St Augustine, but I'll transport her anywhere between St Augustine and Melbourne.
As a last ditch effort I think I'll need to bring her home with me and release her around my house. She'll become an outdoor cat...and hopefully won't stray too far away from my house... But she's declawed and an indoor cat her whole life so it would be a death sentence....
https://imgur.com/a/YZVl1Sg

I’m (F24) sure the guy (M32) I’ve been talking to doesn’t like me anymore. We’ve been talking for like 2 months btw. So yesterday we hanged out and we decided to do the deed. Everything was going good until we got to the bedroom. We we’re kissing before we got to the bedroom and he showed me how hard he was. But once we got to his room he went soft. We made out again and I felt him get hard. So I thought it would be a good idea to reach for it but before I did he said he needed my help since he had gone soft again. So I helped him with a blowjob and he got hard fast. We then decided to do it and everything was going good. He was telling me how he liked it and how much he liked me, etc. I then asked if we could switch to back shots and he said ok. He only did it for like 10 seconds before he stopped and said it getting late. I asked him if he finished which he responded no but it’s okay since you didn’t either. He said he wouldn’t finish if I didn’t. I then told him if it was really okay for him not to finish and he said yes, that next time would be better. He also made me promise him to see him again soon. I then got up and saw he was soft pretty fast. I quickly got dressed and he walked me to my car. We said our goodbyes and he hugged me and told me to text him when I got home. I got home texted him and he replied saying thanks for coming over. The whole point of this is am I tripping about him not being into me? I sincerely feel like he doesn’t have interest in me even though he says he does.
TLDR: I’m(F24) sure he(M32) isn’t into me and probably doesn’t want to hurt my feelings.

Sooo...got myself a new to me motorcycle (05 Suzuki GS500F) and the previous owner, likely, dopped and spray painted the fairings matte black. The paint is flaking off around the edges revealing what I can only assume is the original gloss black plastics.
What I wanted to do, since I don't care about this matte paint, was to acrylic paint some anime character, or cartoon character on the fenders. So with my idea in hand, I went to Google and YouTube my goto's for DIY and I came up empty handed. Video's revolve around painting them solid colors, but I am aiming for a design. I found videos of people painting helmets, but I imagine the vibrations of the motorcycle will cause issues.
I know acrylic paints aren't usually meant for moving surfaces so it will probably crack and fall off/look like junk, so is there a paint that I can use to paint my fairings? I read a post about someone attempting to use latex house paint, and forum members did not seem optimistic it would hold up at all since they are different type of paints.
Another option I was thinking about, I have a can of chalkboard paint from painting a kids room. I planned on painting the matte black with the chalkboard paint allowing me to ideally use chalk to paint my bike. It would also give the opportunity to have the kiddo that yells nice bike to draw something on my bike. Also when the inevitable private part gets drawn, I'm a wipe away from clean.

Can't access Hulu outside the United States? It's as if the universe has conspired against you, demanding you provide a US credit card and asking you to physically be in the country. This becomes particularly vexing when you're on a vacation in, say, Paris, and all you want is to binge-watch your favourite show while munching on a croissant. Turns out, renewing your subscription can be as complicated as explaining the plot of a time-travel movie to your grandmother.
So here's the trick: You need a VPN. Hulu, being the sly fox that it is, looks at your IP address to see if you're within the good ol' USA. But a VPN, with its digital cloak of invisibility, lets you masquerade as a Yank, regardless of your actual whereabouts. Meaning, you could be sipping sake in Tokyo or riding a camel in Egypt, but Hulu will think you're eating apple pie in the heartland.
Through diligent labour, my team and I scrutinized over 60 VPNs designed to finagle Hulu's geoblocks. And standing tall among the crowd, we have ExpressVPN. It's the Brad Pitt of VPNs, offering multiple US servers and lightning-fast speeds to let you access Hulu without as much as a hiccup. And just to sweeten the deal, you can take ExpressVPN for a spin without any risk, as it's protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn't tickle your fancy, getting your money back is as easy as pie.
Getting Cozy with Hulu Globally: A VPN's Role in Your Streaming Escapades
Ever tried to access Hulu outside the United States? It's like attempting to communicate with a mime—nearly impossible and often met with an unamused silence. Hulu, with its treasure trove of binge-worthy content, unfortunately, dons an armor of licensing restrictions that keep it securely tethered to the Land of the Free. Its digital gatekeepers, aptly called geoblocks, detect the non-US IP address and give you a digital cold shoulder. And if you thought that's the end of your woes, there's more! Setting up a new Hulu account would need a US credit card, a hurdle that's hard to leap.
In these dire times, one can count on the prowess of a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Picture a VPN as a savvy undercover agent, masterfully disguising your IP address as if you're lounging on a couch somewhere in New York, even when you're actually sunbathing in Barcelona. A VPN juggles your internet traffic, directing it through a server of your choice, thereby replacing your original IP address with a shiny new one from the chosen location. This high-tech sleight of hand can bamboozle streaming platforms into thinking you're within their allowed borders.
In layman's terms, pick a VPN server located in the US and voila! You get a US IP address. When Hulu gazes upon this borrowed IP, it believes you're a proud dweller of Uncle Sam's land, lifting the barriers. Suddenly, signing up, renewing subscriptions, and accessing your beloved Hulu shows become a cakewalk, no matter where on the globe you're perched.
ExpressVPN
Imagine you're trying to sprint a marathon on stilts - pretty inconvenient and unstable, right? Now swap those stilts with a pair of world-class running shoes, and suddenly you're Usain Bolt. That's precisely the upgrade ExpressVPN offers when you're trying to subscribe to Hulu or streaming in Ultra High Definition.
In a test of virtual athleticism, ExpressVPN's New York, Dallas, and Chicago servers gave a stunning performance. Clocking in at an average speed of 91 Mbps, they fell only a hair short of my prime 100 Mbps connection. It’s like running a race and placing a close second to a cheetah. Given that you need merely a humble 25 Mbps to stream in UHD, this VPN crosses the finish line with excessive energy to spare. Even when I indulged in a hair-raising episode of American Horror Story, buffering was a foreign concept.
In addition to its impressive speed, ExpressVPN offers a roster of 24 US locations, akin to a digital buffet of options for connecting to Hulu on your world travels. Even from the other side of the world (9,153 km away, to be exact), my New Jersey server stood like a steadfast guard, ensuring my connection remained unbroken.
What's more, ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer acts as a secret decoder ring, enabling you to watch Hulu on devices that usually don't shake hands with VPNs. PlayStation, Xbox, or even that one smart TV you got at a Black Friday sale years ago; all can be brought into the fold. The setup process was quicker than making a microwave popcorn bag. Simply jot down a code from your ExpressVPN account dashboard, feed it into your smart TV’s network settings, and voila! I found myself catching up on Hulu shows on my antiquated Samsung Tizen TV with no hiccups.
While ExpressVPN might ask for a few more pennies than its fellow VPN services, the sheer performance justifies the price tag. It's like paying extra for a VIP concert ticket - you're assured of the best experience. And with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test drive it on Hulu, no strings attached. And if you decide it's not your cup of tea, their customer support is there to process your refund without quibble. They’re rather nice about it, really.
CyberGhostVPN
Picture CyberGhost as the highly competent butler of your digital mansion, ensuring a seamless Hulu streaming experience. This ace up the VPN sleeve not only provides fast and reliable connections but serves them with a silver platter specifically designed for Hulu. Imagine a world where buffering is as extinct as dial-up internet, all thanks to CyberGhost’s Hulu-optimized servers. I frolicked in this paradise while renewing my subscription using their Miami server.
Using CyberGhost's Hulu-optimized servers is like walking through an automatic door; it's a breeze. The interface is as user-friendly as a Labrador puppy. A simple peck on your keyboard typing "Hulu" in the search bar under the "For streaming" tab, and you're given a list of servers that are specially designed to work magic on Hulu. Better still, some of these servers have undergone a digital personal training regimen to optimize their performance for Fire Stick and Android TV specifically.
While CyberGhost may not be as predictably consistent as ExpressVPN, akin to a weather forecast, its connections still hold strong. Think of it like a relay race with the US, UK, and Australia servers, each passing the baton without letting the speed dip below an 82 Mbps average. I was treated to uninterrupted feasts of "Santa Evita" and "House of the Dragon" in Ultra High Definition, without so much as a single awkward pause or hiccup.
Private Internet Access
Imagine a scenario where you have a myriad of IP addresses at your disposal for streaming Hulu like a monarch, that's exactly what PIA offers. This VPN is a playground teeming with server options in the US, reducing your chances of being in the middle of an overcrowded digital mosh pit. Trust me, you'd prefer your own breathing room when renewing your Hulu subscription, which I did with as much ease as butter sliding off a hot knife. With such an extensive server network, you have a buffet of alternative routes should Hulu unexpectedly pull the roadblock on one.
What sets PIA apart from the crowd is its penchant for personalization. Think of it as the bespoke suit of VPN apps. This little wonder comes with an array of widgets that are as flexible as a yoga instructor, ready to twist and bend to suit your interface aesthetic. Additionally, it hands you the reins of encryption, allowing you to choose between the Fort Knox of security - the AES 256-bit encryption, or the slightly more fleet-footed but still quite secure AES 128-bit encryption.
Now, this plethora of customization options could be a bit like being lost in a tech version of Narnia for the newly initiated. It's a lot to take in. But give it a little time, a few exploratory clicks and swipes, and you'll find the app's interface becomes as familiar and easy to navigate as your favorite neighborhood bistro.
Five Secret Passages to Hulu Land Without a US Credit Card in 2023
Juggling through the nuances of signing up for Hulu, especially without a US credit card, can make your head spin faster than a hamster on a wheel. So let's pop the lid off Pandora's box and unveil the five undercover methods to bring Hulu to your fingertips.
Before you sprint into action, let's cross off a couple of quick checks:
Make sure to equip yourself with a VPN. Any VPN on my coveted shortlist should do the trick, but I would tilt my hat towards ExpressVPN. It zips along at breakneck speeds and boasts a generous offering of US servers to select from
Now you're in the right gear, but you need to be in the right place. As Hulu only pays house visits to those who reside in the US (virtually, of course), that's where you should connect.
With these quick checks done and dusted, you're ready to proceed. Brace yourself as we unveil the five secret scrolls to gain access to the tantalizing world of Hulu.
MyGiftCardSupply: Your Key to Unlock Hulu's Magic Box
A Hulu gift card from MyGiftCardSupply is your golden ticket to the land of unlimited entertainment.
Step 1: Buying a ticket. Venture into the online bazaar of MyGiftCardSupply, and procure a Hulu gift card ranging from $25 to $100. The amount depends on how deep you want to dive into the ocean of Hulu content. Be sure to sign up if you haven't already - think of it as a friendly handshake.
Step 2: Sniff out the code. Once the gift card purchase is complete, you'll receive an email with the precious code. Open it, and gently copy the code.
Step 3: Claim your prize. Stride confidently to Hulu's redemption page, type in your hard-earned code, and create your account. Do remember to use a US address and zip code when signing up – they are quite particular about that.
Step 4: Let the show begin. Slide into Hulu's log-in page and gently type in your shiny new credentials.
Step 5: The Grand Finale. Now it's time to sit back, relax, and bask in the glory of endless entertainment on Hulu. Step into your personal streaming universe and enjoy the show!
Hitching a Ride on iTunes US: Your Unconventional Route to Hulu
Now, let's stroll down a different route, this time, a path known as 'iTunes US.'
Step 1: Set up camp in the Land of Apple. Visit Apple's website and pitch your digital tent by creating a new account. Consider this your personal American outpost in the universe of iTunes.
Step 2: Stock up on provisions. Replenish your digital coffers either directly through iTunes or via a US iTunes gift card, which is akin to your secret stash of apple cider in the cellar.
Step 3: Summon Hulu. Type "Hulu" into the search bar and download the app. Much like calling a pet, it'll come running and install itself onto your device.
Step 4: Enter the realm of Hulu. Use your iTunes funds to either get a shiny new plan or renew an existing subscription, and then log into your Hulu account. This is you officially checking into the grand Hulu Hotel.
Step 5: Savour the spectacle. With all these steps complete, you're now in a position to pay for and enjoy your Hulu account. It's time to kick back and indulge in the smorgasbord of entertainment that Hulu has to offer.
Hopping onto the Hulu Train with a Prepaid US Card: A Thrifty Globetrotter's Guide
Let's now venture down a pragmatic avenue, namely the 'Prepaid US Card' route.
The first station is "Prepaid US Card Central". You'll need to navigate your way to VISA or MasterCard, where you can choose your ticket – the prepaid card.
Next, we arrive at "Funds Station". Here, you need to fuel up your prepaid card. This can be done directly or by transferring money from your bank account, given that your card of choice supports such cheery transfers.
Having acquired your ticket and made sure it's packed with funds, it's time to board the Hulu Express at the "Hulu Account Terminal". Here, you'll need to check-in, select a subscription plan, and jot down the necessary particulars.
We're almost there. The last stop before you start your entertainment journey is "Registration Point". Here, you pay for the service using your shiny new prepaid card. Now, if this doesn't work for some reason, perhaps the ticket machine is being obstinate, don't fret – just try the gift card method instead.
With the ticketing process complete, you're all set to start watching. It's time to sit back, kick off your shoes, and let the Hulu Express whisk you away into a world of non-stop entertainment, right outside of the USA.
PayPal Your Way to Hulu Paradise: A Modern Maverick's Approach
Welcome to the "PayPal method", a trail favored by modern mavericks, digital nomads, and online shopping aficionados.
Begin this journey by constructing your own digital finance fortress – a PayPal account. You'll need to swing by PayPal and ensure you're setting up a US account. Now, it's imperative that you get this right, because Hulu can be a bit snobbish when it comes to foreign PayPal accounts. If setting up a US PayPal account starts to feel like trying to lasso a greased pig, simply revert to our old reliable – the gift card method.
Having established your PayPal account, you're now ready for the next leg of the journey. Head on over to Hulu, strut your stuff, and log in using your credentials.
Next up, it's time to pay the piper... or rather, the subscription. If your account is a newborn, fresh out of the internet womb, you can also kick off a free trial.
With these steps accomplished, it's time to kick back and start watching. Dive headlong into the ocean of your favorite Hulu shows, and swim around in the thrill of it all.
StatesCard: Your Magic Carpet Ride to Hulu Bingeing
Behold, the wonders of StatesCard, the 21st-century magic carpet ride to the land of Hulu bingeing!
Your journey starts at the port of StatesCard, where you'll need to carve out your digital presence by clicking the "Sign Up" button. Having successfully become a part of the club, add a little bit of that digital money to make it official.
Your next stop is Hulu. Log in with your carefully crafted credentials or take a bold step and create a whole new identity for yourself (strictly on Hulu, of course).
Once settled in, it's time to pay the virtual ferryman. Use the card information you secured from your new friend, StatesCard, to pay for or renew your Hulu subscription. If you do this right, you'll have successfully purchased your ticket to endless entertainment.
Having accomplished these milestones, you're now fully armed and ready to embark on the Hulu adventure. Sit back, relax, and let the world of your favorite Hulu shows envelop you.

Last night I(27F) went to watch the new The Little Mermaid with my male live-in friend (28m).
We had our discussion about the whole "should Ariel stayed white"... I personally don't care and I excited for the remake. If they had made her Asian or white, I would've been just as ecstatic as I was going to see the remake.
He preferred she stayed white. Which is fine. movie begins, everything is good but I noticed he wasn't paying much attention to it, shuffling around, looking at me (I can see him in my peripheral). I'm immersed in it, I love Disney movies. Any childhood remakes for that matter and looking forward to how the filmmakers and directors incorporated new ideas and little tweaks.
We get to the part where Prince Eric's mother, Queen Selina, appears on screen. I didn't expect him to have a black mother or a black queen at that. I thought "huh cool, maybe his stepmom, either way its fairytale". My friend on the other hand, scoffed and called it bullshot, "it doesn't make sense.. scoffs, they're trying to push an agenda..".. I tell him what I thought, "she could be his step-mom and just calls her mom bc they have a bond and she raised him".. he continues to complain about "woke movement" and how they are pushing forced diversity. At this point, I got tired to lightn up the mood since people kept turning around to us. I told him "stfu it's just a fairy tale. People can hear you ans you call your step-dad 'dad' sometimes when sharing stories, why couldn't it be the case here". He literally YELLS at me to shut up and not talk about his step-dad because he doesn't call him "dad".. a whole spectacle. We go back and forth, I'm trying to quiet him down and he's still raising his voice how diversity is being pushed on us.
I moved seats after telling him he is embarrassing because he is a grown 28yr old man acting like that over a live action remake of an animated movie from 1989. After moving seats, he followed me to it and I moved again 3x and he followed. I gave up and left to the restroom, came back 10mins later after gathering myself and moved to another seat where he finally left me alone.
Movie is over. We're walking silently to the car where he starts it up again. Talking about "woke agenda" "forced diversity" "what if we made Mulan black?!" "What if we made black panther white". I tried to explain to him those two stories their race matters bc it wouldn't make sense otherwise. Mulan is a Chinese ballad. Black Panther has various African cultural influences through out the movie..
He huff and puffs and two men are in the back laughing, looking at him ridiculously. He argues about the same thing on the way home and into the night, I argued back saying how it didn't matter, she's a made up Mermaid, it's a fairy tale..
He said some covertly racist things yet claims he isn't racist. He's upset that black people are now taking up space in the entertainment industry and "every corner of the media"
This morning I was already sad and yes I cried because it was so overwhelming and I couldn't understand how someone could be so angry about a mythical creature. I was so excited to see this movie especially after I saw snippets of the actress who played Vanessa, she ate and left no crumbs and she didnt even have 15mins of screen time!
He comes in, trying to play nice but I can tell he's seething still. Walking around my room, sighing and staring at me... after last night I wanted to be left alone and I told him this. Politely and calmly. He makes a scene all over again and this time I recorded becaaus i knownim not crazy or playong victim (and also i have a tendency to gaslight myself into thinking it's not a big deal or I was in fact the problem). He looked ridiculous. I'm debating to show family and friends because they think he is sweet. He is until certain topics comes up and he becomes verbally, emotional and even physically abusive and tries to turn it around on me when I'm depressed the next day saying "stop playing victim. You provoked me" "it's a new day why can't you let it go? You want to sulk all day? Great you ruined your own day"
Him: I saw an asian kid in it and I didn't care.. sp why do little black girls need to have black princess to feel better? Black people are over-represented.. how come the other minorities are represented?!
Everyone in that movie did an amazing job and it didn't take anything away from OG Disney Ariel's story.
My "friend" is Japanese and German. Looks mostly Japanese. He gets suprised people tell him they see him as Japanese or ethnic instead kf a white man, as he is "75% white"
I'm an Afro- Puerto Rican. I grew up in a diverse island, so seeing diversity isn't a shocker to me and I'm baffled at how angry people like him get over seeing "too many black people" on tv or "on every corner of media".
I was baffled instead at the LACK of diversity when I moved to the U.S.. maybe there was lack lf diversity in Puerto Rico, I never noticed but in the States, it was always something you noticed. In recent years, seeing more Asians, South Americans, Indigenous, Scottish, Latinos(as), and ethnic Europeans get animated and have influenced in our movies and have movies made of them is exciting to me and I've always supported those.
Race-swapping is only an issue with me is when their race is important to the story. Ex: you can make Mulan white or black... or Merida Asian or Latina.. it just wouldn't make sense.

After 24 years or pretty bad anxiety issues I finally started talking to a therapist. I’ve been twice and am anxious about the person I’m seeing.
They are out of network so costs nearly $200 every session. The first time we talked they asked I write down my anxiety levels throughout the day, seems reasonable to me. We only talked about the couple of peaks. It’s possible this is a reasonable “I just want you to be aware” thing but it’s also possible it’s a “eh, this sounds therapist-y” thing. Again, that’s fine. Not a big deal.
The the last session we talked about my anxiety at work. We made a T table or reasons supporting and not supporting something I’ve been concerned about. After confidently going through reasons supporting my anxiety they switched columns and I gave a very short list of reason’s not supporting. It concluded with them basically going “yeah, this might be reasonable.” I kind of expected a “but…”. There was none. Like, maybe it was a mistake but it felt odd.
They also mentioned that when I’m super anxious at work, since I work from home, I can use ice or a cold shower to calm down some. Once again I expected a “but” so they could explain some better systematic, long term plan. There was none. My homework this time is to fill out that T table as things come up. I expressed I was bit worried I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it and get more anxious. They brushed that off and gave me the paper we were writing on. Again, this could totally be a very reasonable exercise they have planned. I’m just unsure.
There are other small, possibly petty, things that throw me off. Because they’re out of network they use square for payments. There’s this whiplash enduring transition at the end before you leave the room where they take out the payment thing. I don’t know if this is normal but it feels incredibly strange.
I know it could be silly to expect any noticeable difference in two sessions but it just feels odd to me. I’m also prone to anxiety so it’s possible I’m seeing things that aren’t there. This whole endeavor has made my already high anxiety higher, I just think about the idea of anxiety and our sessions all day now which of course just makes me more anxious.
Am I reasonably concerned here? I don’t know if I want to end the sessions this early but I also don’t know how worth while they are and if I’m just throwing money away.
Side note: I don’t want to paint them as a bad person. They are super nice and might be very good at their job. I’m just very nervous about the whole thing. They did point out a behavior I had that I hadn’t notice which has been helpful. It sent me down a multi-day rabbit hole that has been a little helpful.

I am having issues with getting radarr to access the root folder. I have an odd setup as I ran out of room for additional hard drives in my server. To hold off the expense of getting a new case to fit more drives I set up an older synology atom cpu system. I put a new drive in the synology and setup nfs. In unraid I set up remote mount, I can click on the mount point and see the files on the drive. I had unraid install a 2nd copy of radarr dedicated to 4k. I pointed the host path to the remote mount /mnt/remotes/serveMovies 4k I could see and click on each one to point to the right folder. Access mode I have tried read/write, read/write slave, read/write share. When I open radarr settings media management and select movies which is what the container path points to I don’t see the folders inside it. when I click ok it doest get added. When I try to add a movie and select the root path it says invalid. Worst case I can install radarr on the synology for now but would like it all unraid for when I can add more drives.
Any ideas of what I might be missing?

So Im not sure if I have avpd or not so im hoping some people here could help me out.
What causes me to avoid leaving my room/house is the fear of being rejected/judged negatively and feeling inferior to everyone. I read alot about people with avpd being sensitive to criticism but i dont really have that. That being said I do think i am very defensive about criticism.
I cannot stand the thought of leaving my house, walking past people and feeling that every person is judging me negatively on my appearance. The idea of being rejected in their eyes dictates my whole mood, if I leave my room I am signing myself up for negative judgements which will then ruin my whole mood. My whole self esteem/mood is based on how others treat/view me.
Every time I talk to someone I have this deep almost mental feeling that they are better than me and there is something fundamentally wrong with me. Its like they are talking down to me and want nothing to do with me. Every smile and nice comment is fake and every negative body language signal is real.
I also read that avpd develops in childhood, for me these symptoms started primarily showing up when i was 13.
I can stay alone in my room all day everyday if nobody interferes. I ignore text messages for days on end because i feel like they dont want to talk to me or that my reply will come off as weird.
My mom is a covert narcissist so I know my problems came from her shitty parenting but im just not quite sure whats wrong with me.
Do I have avpd?

I dive the lakes in Minnesota. I am trying to get more dives in as I have my dad and husband to dive with (they don't dive well together so it is separate day trips). Well the lakes here take a long time to warm up and I get cold easy. I have a 7mm wetsuit, hood (I need a different one, xs is too big giving me air bubbles up top and a cone head!), Gloves, and boots. I got chubbier as I got closer to my 30s and I don't have much room under my wetsuit for another layer there unless it was thin like leggings or a long sleeve shirt. Any ideas on how I can keep warmer? I hit that thermocline around 30 feet in July and kind of nope out!

This is a long shot. But here it goes..
There's a video I used to see on television. The lead singer is peeking through a woman's window. She's in her living room and the band is playing on the TV. He's talking about coming after her. It was released last year or the year before. Anyone have any idea of the band or song? Its driving me crazy!
Btw: The lead singer is bald. Skinny white guy. Reminds me of John Malkovich.
Thank you

Hello!
I've found myself in a unique predicament so I thought I would get Reddit's advice as I am a home theater novice.
I've recently inherited a pair of Klipsch RP-6000F II L/R speakers. They inspired me to try and put something together on the home theater front, but our current TV console/cabinet does not have space to accommodate a matching center channel (working with about 18 inches in the center cabinet). Raising the TV/wall mounting is a no go due to existing shelving above the TV, and placing it in front of the TV console is a no go per the wife. We might replace the console down the road/move the shelving but we just recently bought our home so budget is a little tight in terms of overhauling the whole living room.
I know mix and match of the front three speakers is typically seen as a bad idea, but it feels wasteful to not make use of these speakers (and my wife likes how they look). I was curious if there was any advice for what center channel might pair well with the L/R speakers? I'd then see if any of those also fit the dimensions of the console. It's a long shot, but I appreciate any help y'all can provide!
TLDR: Are there any decent center channels less than 19 inches in width that play nice with Klipsch RP-6000F II L/R speakers?

Ok so I am a 15 year old girl with autism and adhd so I get hyper fixated on my intrests which include cats, coding, the sims, Minecraft, warrior cats and drawing. So I was beyond mad when I found out my neighbor did this. In this story I’ll call my neighbor Barf because she is the most vile woman I’ve ever met. Anyways, I had 2 cats at the time (Buddy a flame point rag doll and Maine coon mix and his sister Daphne, a brown tortoiseshell cat) Buddy liked to roam the neighborhood and greet people so he could get pets and food. Barf already had two cats when she kidnapped my cat. Buddy had a collar and microchip so I was pretty mad when I found him inside my neighbor’s house. So my brain thought it was a good idea to egg her house. Barf got mad and threw rocks at me. I called the police and they did nothing, I’m really mad and barf still has my cat with her. I don’t know what to do!
TL;DR: Nasty jerkwad stole my cat and I egg her house, got rocks thrown at me and cops do nothing to help me get my cat from this nasty woman.

This fanfic is intended to take place some time around late volume 6, and involves a lot of thoughts I've had on the Antinium and their situation in Liscor. I hope it's enjoyable.
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There were many quirks and oddities that surrounded the Wandering Inn, open secrets that could only be called ‘rumours’ because most didn’t believe them at first. Perhaps ‘attractions’ was a better word, people and connections and events and things that made the place much more than a simple inn. The [Princess] helping manage the place, for instance, who was really quite bad at lying if you caught her by surprise with the question. The [Garden of Sanctuary], which wasn’t open to just any random person who walked in, but they’d at least let you look through the door if you asked. The weight-lifting room, which had a clientele all of its own separate from the inn’s regular group of customers, muscular Drakes and Humans who talked about ‘feeling the burn’ and listed off numbers that were inscrutable to outsiders.
There was one tradition, one kind of event, that was older than most of the others though. Even through the Wandering Inn’s destruction, and then its second destruction, it had persisted. To the regulars of the place, it barely even passed the bar of noteworthiness anymore, because really, what was so special about another band of Antinium visiting the inn?
Still, they came, Workers and Soldiers who had never seen the sky before, newly hatched or older (though almost all of the old ones had been at least once by now), led by Klbkch, just as he had that first time. The task was no longer his responsibility, as most of the Painted Antinium would’ve been capable of handling it, and it seemed like he couldn’t walk in the Hive these days without tripping over more individuals. But when he was off from [Guardsman] duty, and the Free Queen didn’t require his presence, and he was thinking of going up to the inn anyway, well. Even to an old soul like him, there was something charming about watching young Antinium look around in awe, before gobbling down the acid flies they were given so fast they sometimes choked.
Erin came over as he entered with the latest group, mostly Workers this time, and they exchanged greetings. But she quickly went to busy herself with the new arrivals, which was fine by him. He stood and watched as she seated the Workers at their own table and explained the basic concept of a menu to them, how they could choose which of the food items they wanted. One of them asked which was the most nutritionally optimal, and she decided to give up on the menu for a moment and ordered them a large bowl of flies as an appetiser, which was another concept she had to explain.
The inn wasn’t particularly packed today, but most of the tables were occupied, and Klbkch ended up finding himself a seat opposite Menolit. The Drake seemed oddly reserved as he drank from a mug, only glancing up as the Antinium approached.
“May I?”
Menolit nodded, and Klbkch sat down. He caught Ishkr’s eye from across the room, the [Head Waiter] waving to let him know his usual order would arrive soon: A plate stacked with bacon, topped with whatever spices and chilis the kitchen had on hand. It was nice to be in a place where people knew you.
As he waited, he noticed Menolit gazing in Erin’s direction, watching her put the Antinium at ease. Without any prelude, the Drake spoke.
“It really is something. She’s done a lot for you bugs, hasn’t she? Helped you turn over a whole new leaf.”
There was a slight slur to his speech. Only a small dulling on the edges of his words, but still, it was there. Klbkch’s voice was mild and polite as he gave the Drake his attention.
“Erin has indeed been helpful in socialising Workers and Soldiers. We owe much to her.”
“You know, one of your Workers actually apologised for bumping into me the other day. Can’t imagine that happening a few years ago. More likely to stand in the way of a cart and get run over.”
Menolit snorted, before raising the mug to his mouth. Klbkch didn’t react.
“I recall several events of that nature, yes. The rate has thankfully declined.”
“Do you remember, when your Hive first moved in, we thought you’d all crawl out of the sewers and stab us while we slept?”
He spoke as if it was simply an embarrassing misunderstanding, an instance of confusion he looked back on with humour. But he refused to meet the Antinium’s eyes as he drank from his cup once more, and it occurred to Klbkch that he had never really spoken to Menolit much before. The [Veteran] stayed out of trouble, and while they were both regulars of the Wandering Inn, their paths didn’t overlap often.
Many people were interested in talking to the Slayer, the Relevantor of the Free Hive, about the Antinium and their past, and he was used to how such conversations went. He was used to barely-disguised hatred, or curiosity, or the guarded respect one had for a potential enemy. But he wouldn’t have expected such things from the inn’s regular clientele. This felt different.
“I recall. The suspicion was quite understandable, at the time, but I am glad that we are past that now.”
Menolit sighed, pressing his palm into his forehead as he looked down at the wood, idly tapping his cup on its surface. His eyes flicked to Klbkch, then away again to Erin, who was introducing the Antinium to the fun idea of throwing food at each other and catching it in your mouth, with limited success.
“Ten years. Or… just one, really. That’s all it took. The mighty Black Tide…”
He seemed to be half-talking to himself, and Klbkch was unsure if a response was warranted. Thankfully, any awkwardness was rescued when Ishkr came by their table, dropping off the plate of bacon, as well as a small serving of fries for Menolit. He moved without stopping, already turning to attend to another table, until the Drake called him back.
“Another fill-up, Ishkr?” He raised his mug, and the Gnoll frowned for a moment. But he took it anyway, and within a minute it was back in Menolit’s claws, filled with foamy amber liquid.
Nothing but the sound of eating passed between them for a short while, chewing and crunching as they enjoyed the delights of unhealthy cooking. Klbkch estimated that it would be at least half an hour before the Antinium were ready to leave, which left him plenty of time to make his rounds in the inn and get some advice. Liscor’s Watch had recently acquired a collection of chess sets, allegedly to help train more [Tactician]-type classes that the city could use, and the more competitive [Guards] had taken to playing matches against each other. Klbkch liked to figure himself as having a modicum of skill at the game, but when Beilmark had lanced through his formation while losing less than half of her own pieces, he’d had to admit he’d gotten a bit rusty. Perhaps a game or two against Palt, or Pisces, or… probably not Bird, would help refresh his understanding--
Menolit grunted, clearing his throat in that way people did when they wanted to pretend they didn’t have something to say. Klbkch pushed aside his plate, and waited patiently for the question to come.
“You lot came from Rhir, didn’t you?”
“That is correct.”
“I remember hearing about you, decades ago.” Menolit leaned forwards, as if trying to see something in Klbkch’s insectile eyes, before sitting backwards again. “Rumours from returning soldiers, about black-shelled monsters that dug up beneath your feet. I thought they were just stories. You can’t believe half the things you hear about that bloody continent.”
‘Bloody’ was right, Klbkch thought. And half the things he knew would’ve made Menolit fall right out of his chair. Hidden truths worth fighting a war over.
“I believe that many people would do well to give Rhir more attention than it receives.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“It is important.”
The Drake waited, until it became apparent that was all Klbkch had to say on the matter. He exhaled with frustration, taking a sip from his cup as he glared at the Antinium. A nearby Drake working under Chaldion lowered his notebook in disappointment.
“While I do not mind conversing with you on trivial matters, I am sure you understand there are certain topics that I am not at liberty to discuss in detail,” Klbkch continued. Menolit rolled his eyes, and his words came out slowly.
“You’ve got a lot of secrets, don’t you. Been living under our tails for the past decade, you’d think we’d know more about you. Don’t even know what your damn Hive looks like.”
Klbkch was once more struck by that odd feeling. It was as if he was a newcomer to the city again, bearing the enmity and distrust of a species on his back. He almost felt… insulted? No, absolutely not, he hadn’t gotten that soft over the last year. But it was certainly bizarre to encounter such a thing in the Wandering Inn. If nothing else, he was surprised that Erin hadn’t thrown Menolit out yet, if he was truly like this. And if not, then where was this coming from?
Klbkch spread his arms reassuringly. “Well, I am right here. Do you have any pressing questions you wish to ask? I promise to be truthful, as long as the answers are not confidential.”
Menolit waved a hand in the air, dismissing Klbkch’s offer as he finished his cup. That was his second drink since Klbkch had come in, and he’d had at least one before that, the Antinium judged. His tongue was looser, now, yet the sense of dancing around what he wanted to talk about was more palpable than ever.
“I was enlisted, you know. In the first war. There was news about you bastards every week, killing Drakes, claiming more of our territory. I served under Sserys. I… wasn’t here, though. When he broke the Tide, turned you back. Stationed at some damn city in the south, too far to help.” He winced at the memory, but the shame was dulled, only there when he focused on it. “I was discharged from the army by the time the second one started. Still would’ve dropped everything and gone off to fight, but for my kids. Barely old enough to hold a coin, back then.”
He sounded shaky, emotional. But Klbkch spoke calmly, trying to put him at ease.
“I am certain your family is thankful, Menolit. It is a tragedy for children to lose their parents.”
“It sure is. But I don’t see how you’d know anything about that.”
Klbkch thought for a moment, before nodding at Menolit.
“That may be true. I am, however, well-versed in warfare. With your experience, you would have been a formidable soldier to face, so as a representative of the Antinium, allow me to thank you for not killing hundreds of our forces.”
The Drake’s face lit up, his frustration vanishing for a moment at the compliment.
“You really think I would’ve done that well? I mean, I reckon I could cut down at least a couple dozen of you buggers before you got me, but hundreds…”
It wasn’t even a lie, if you considered kills over the duration of a campaign, and not a single battle. Klbkch estimated Menolit’s [Veteran] class as being in the low 20’s, which made him more than capable of cutting through any single Worker or Solider. Even against a handful, he would’ve had a good chance. Of course, in a real war the Antinium would never use such small numbers, but that wasn’t worth mentioning.
The two were distracted at that moment, as were others, by an exclamation from Erin. Apparently, she’d just had a brilliant idea for a new invention, running off to grab something as the Antinium waited patiently. The inn held its breath, visitors eager to see what she would come up with this time, wondering what they would get the honour of seeing first, of being able to claim that they were ‘there’ when it happened. The [Innkeeper] returned with a spring in her step, her arms full of as many pillows as she could hold, and she explained her vision in two words.
“Cushioned seats!”
Everyone paused for a moment, before letting out the breath they’d been holding and went back to whatever they were doing. Someone explained to her that they already had those, if not ones you could buy cheaply, which dampened her mood slightly. Nevertheless, she walked back to the Antinium and began giving each one a pillow to sit on.
Menolit laughed, snorts of mirth he failed to stifle. As they came to an end, he shook his head, smiling ruefully.
“It really is something. Just a single Human. Who would’ve thought something like that was possible, before she arrived? You ever think about that, Klbkch? Where we’d still be, if Erin hadn’t mixed everything up?”
“I have considered such a hypothetical. I find it likely the status quo would be largely in it's prior state, though it is hard to imagine what differences there would’ve been in events such as the Humans’ attempt to conquer Liscor.”
“Sure, sure. We’d still be ignoring you in the streets, you’d still be… doing whatever you were doing before. But this is better, isn’t it?”
It was on the tip of Menolit’s tongue, now, something he still didn’t want to say directly. Frankly, Klbkch was getting curious as to just what exactly was burning the Drake up inside.
“Yes, I would say so. It has been a vastly beneficial change to both Liscor and the Hive.”
“It’s just… it makes you think. Makes me think, anyway. Because she’s, she’s special, that’s obvious.” He gestured at Erin, trying to encapsulate what she was and failing. He turned back to Klbkch, and his voice became quiet as he addressed the Antinium. “But… she didn’t have to be, did she?”
Menolit quickly raised his cup, staring at its emptiness for a moment before letting it slump back to the table.
“What do you mean?” Klbkch was almost certain he knew. But he wanted to be sure.
“She gave you food, and talked to you, and taught you chess. That’s all anyone could tell me.”
“And that was enough,” Klbkch said simply. Menolit’s face fell.
“There were no secrets? No…” He searched for words, groping for what he wanted to be the truth. “No rituals? No special key to fixing you?”
Klbkch stared at the Drake, who grew increasingly uncomfortable in his seat. Finally, the Antinium spoke, drawing out his words slowly.
“Is it strange to you that we respond well to kindness and understanding?”
Menolit shifted in place, gripping the table with his claws hard enough to leave marks. When he finally met the Antinium’s gaze, he smiled, as if his internal struggle had finally been resolved.
“I guess not. Maybe that’s what we should’ve done. Just invited you to have a tea party, gossiped about the neighbours, gave you some… soft chairs.” He laughed again, a throaty chuckle that transitioned to a cough part way through, before he spoke again. “That’s all it would’ve taken, eh, Klbkch? Tea and crumpets, like the [Ladies] do it?”
The Antinium stayed silent, but Menolit didn’t stop, standing up from his chair as his voice began to rise.
“Well it sure would’ve been nice to know that! Could’ve avoided a whole bloody war, if only we’d been nice, hah! Doesn’t that say a lot about Drakes? It was our fault for being bastards! Dead gods, of course it was!”
He slapped his forehead theatrically, as if stunned at the enormity of this realisation. People at nearby tables were starting to look over, and it wouldn’t be long before someone drew Erin’s attention. Quickly, Klbkch got to his feet, placing a hand on the Drake’s shoulder.
“I believe you have had too much to drink, Menolit. It would not do well for you to make a scene.”
The [Veteran] froze, though Klbkch hadn’t activated any Skills. He looked around the room, like he was just now noticing his fellow eaters’ presence. His breathing slowed, and he stepped back, wobbling slightly before catching his feet.
“Of course. Of course.” He grinned at the Antinium. “Good old [Guardsman] Klbkch, always there to keep the peace. Don’t you worry, sir. I’ll make sure this unruly fellow gets home before causing any trouble.”
Carefully, he turned to go, and the little bubble of silence that had surrounded them eroded as nearby people started up their conversations once more. But he muttered something under his breath as he left, bitter words Klbkch couldn’t help hearing.
“If you were people this whole damn time, why did you act like monsters…”
Slowly, Klbkch returned to his seat, finishing up the bacon that still remained on his plate. It didn’t taste quite as good, anymore.
He could understand Menolit’s feelings. Because indeed, the Antinium had been monsters, a scourge plaguing the lands of Izril, slaughtering the Drakes without mercy, without even communicating any terms beyond the message their destruction left behind. That had been the plan.
And it still was, in a sense. Not one they were actively pursuing right now. But every Hive, even the Free Queen’s, had a plan of action in place for if they decided that a war was the best course of action. Liscor knew this, and the Hive knew Liscor knew this, and it would be a short and bloody chess match if either side ever decided to move first. Despite that, people trusted the Antinium in their streets, and slept soundly with tunnels beneath their homes, and Klbkch liked that. He had little against Drakes personally, and would’ve contested the notion of an all-out war, if it had been put forward by one of the other Hives.
If, on the other hand, his kin in Rhir sent more forces? A fully-trained [Queen], another Centenium, even just Workers capable of forming a proper Unistasis Network might tip the balance against the Drakes. And if the order came to conquer Izril and transform it into the Hivelands, then he would lead the Black Tide once more, from the South to the North, until either New Landing or him had finally fallen. Because Rhir was important, and what they had to do there mattered more than anything else, and that was all there was to it. All of this-- and Klbkch looked around the inn, Liscor, his life for the two decades-- all of this, was just a distraction. Busywork. An attempt for shipwrecked Antinium to do something that might one day be actually helpful in their real fight. They’d tried taking over, and when the Drakes had proven too tough, they’d stopped, and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference whether they’d been welcomed with open arms or hunted down from the first sighting.
If a second fleet did come to pass, though, he’d still argue for an exception. The Painted Antinium, Pawn’s… religion, these were genuine developments, evidence demonstrating the potential that could result from cohabiting with a friendly populace. But Liscor would never, ever, go along with it, and the mental picture felt wrong, unable to exist in reality. What Drake could possibly tolerate the rest of their species being overrun and slain, allowed to live in a single city so long as they kept having ‘interesting interactions’ with their new [Lords]? Every Drake he knew would rather fight, than let themselves be reduced to mere pets. And so they would die.
A memory rose unbidden in Klbkch’s mind, of Relc winking at him, and the Antinium flinched, before relaxing once more. He didn’t think about such things often, even if they were always held in the back of his mind. It was… unpleasant. Relc and Erin had never asked questions along such lines, and he hoped they never would.
Looking over, Klbkch saw the young Antinium sitting on their pillows, pouring over the menu that finally made sense to them. The [Innkeeper] was there, answering their questions (she’d apparently told them to raise their hands when they had something to ask, which had led to a short arms-race of one, then two, then three, then all four limbs being raised as they tried to get her attention first). But that wasn’t all. One member of the group had wandered over to sit with Olesm, who was explaining the rules to a game that astonishingly, wasn’t chess. Another, shorter one (some error in the birthing pod had stunted his growth, though he was still as strong as a regular Worker) was rolling a ball back and forth with Mrsha and a Drake child Klbkch didn’t recall the name of.
He would agree in a heartbeat that Erin was special. The closest person he knew to her was Xrn, and Erin was not like Xrn. But there had been something to Menolit’s words, Klbkch felt. Because if she had never arrived in Liscor, if things had gone on the way they had been, he could still imagine that years in the future, perhaps there would’ve been a young Drake with open-minded parents, who hadn’t witnessed the Antinium Wars herself. Who’d seen the ants working in the streets, and met the nice and friendly [Guardsman] Klbkch. And maybe one day, she’d have given them food, and talked to them, and played some kind of game with them, and it all would’ve happened anyway, if a little differently.
Or maybe not. Drakes could be bastards, after all. Still, he liked to believe something along those lines, or else he never would’ve come to Liscor in the first place.
Standing from his seat, he went to pay for both his and Menolit’s orders, before going off to find a chess set. Beilmark wouldn’t know what hit her.
​
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(Truthfully, I doubt Menolit would actually say the kinds of things he does here. But I do think there would be some Drakes who think along these lines, after spending time in the Wandering Inn.)

Obviously with the ever changing conditions of battle no dpHPDTPrtd calculations can ever be TRULY accurate. But by establishing some baseline assumptions and keeping them consistent across builds, reasonable comparisons can be drawn. I think we can all agree on that.
I also think we can agree that truly perfect, white room optimization is more or less a solved game, and that its much more fun to take an idea and try to make it as good as you can. If you aren't actually managing to meaningfully contribute to the team, that fun idea kinda stops being as much fun.
Now where I'm having trouble is with quantifying variables and resources. Take the fighter for example. Your baseline optimal fighter (which actually still has a lot of room to improve, I know, but that's more or less the point. It's a baseline to either keep up with,exceed, or compensate for when keeping up isnt possible) is going to be a variant human with 16 in strength for melee builds or dexterity for ranged builds (in order to compare apples to apples so to speak when judging your own martial damage dealers against it) with polearm master and great weapon fighting or crossbow expert and archery at level 1, great weapon master or sharpshooter at level 4, and increasing their attacking stat to 18 at level 6 and 20 at level 8.
In terms of burst/resource expenditure they will be a battle master who uses their superiority dice on precise attack in order to turn missed attacks into hits, which start at 4 uses that add a D8 to hit from level 3, scaling to 5 uses at level 7, d10s at level 10, 6 uses at level 15, and d12s at level 18. They can also action surge for an extra round of attacks once per rest from level 2, and twice at level 17.
So coming up with a fair estimate on how much damage that realistically adds to their average over the course of a day is...tricky. and that doesn't even get into things like fishing for advantage or buffs and debuffs for allies, though I'm willing to assume that those assumptions can be nullified by being also consistent across compared builds.
See, I really want to be able to make these sorts of assessments for myself, so that I can guess roughly how well I'm keeping up with the baseline damage and whether I'm bringing enough utility to offset any points at which it falls behind.

I did not believe my senior prank would backfire on me as hard as it did, but here we are.
This happened a couple of weeks ago but it's too funny not to talk about.
So I (18m) came out with the amazing idea to participate in the senior pranks in my school. There weren't many pranks being made at the school to begin with so it was kind of a disappointing way to end of the school year. For some background, my school has about 1,000 people in it, so it's relatively small; That also means word spreads incredibly quick, this is also important.
I came up with the genius idea to create a "mandatory penis inspection" that was going to be run by someone with the name of "Dixie Normis" and had it labeled as a graduation requirement. How did I come up with such a genius idea? The internet! More specifically, a reddit post with a similar idea. I cobbled up the document on my school Chromebook, working on and off on it for the next couple of weeks. Adding a tweak here, editing a date here, changing the wording there, forgetting it here and there. Eventually I found my time to strike and I was elated that some of my friends found it humorous and encouraged this prank to be done.
Now the setup; I've been in the school theater club for about 3 years now, I've familiarized myself with the way it works and the way rehearsals usually work out. I found my opportunity to strike, the 8 pm rehearsal days. I left for home, bringing a roll of scotch tape and the magnum opus that I created on my school Chromebook. I waited until rehearsals started and conjured my plan while I was tuning my guitars. I would wait until the 5 minute break before I strike on the unsuspecting school. So I did just that, a couple hours past after the final bell of the day rang and I conveniently had to take a bathroom break. Additionally, it was extremely convenient that the baseball team had just left the bathroom in question which gave me the impression that I would have something to fall back on if my genius plan did not go according. I stood in front of the door, the restroom unsuspecting on how I was about to defile it- and so I struck. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I dug through my bookbag pulling out my folder and pulling out the roll of scotch tape and tainting the stalls with my product. After 1 short minute, my prank was complete. I walked out of the bathroom pretending to be oblivious to what had just transpired and I kept it that way.
The next day, I woke up to dozens of reposts of the supposed "Mandatory Penis Inspections" that were supposed to happen at school the following day. It spread quickly among grade levels, the post being shared over and over again on different profiles, being exposed to different eyes each time. It got to a point where the school was alerted and then became a taboo topic to speak about. Any mention from that day about the penis inspection was met with scolding and threats of detention. Seniors and underclassmen were called down to the office by the number, only to be met with interrogating about what had transpired.
Here's where I fucked up. Not only did I forget about the camera that's in the hallway in front of the bathroom, but the fact it was only the theater club and baseball team in the school which narrowed the suspects down quite significantly. Did I also mention the day of the inspection was the day of the theater production? Nope. I did not. This amalgamation of "Not onlys" created quite the interesting scenario for the following day. I had slept in the day of the show, my plan to show up during my last period to show up before we began to ready the equipment and leave enough time to touch up any areas that might be work. I woke up to various missed calls by one of my band members, telling me that I fucked up and that I was in a lot of shit. One thing came to mind: The penis inspection. My bandmate had told me that I was at risk of getting kicked out of the show or even having the show canceled altogether (a production that we had been working on for about 3 months at the time) and having my graduation revoked if measures were to be taken that drastically. He told me that the principal required me at school that instant and threatened me with various disciplinary measures.
I rushed to school, frantically getting out of the house and sprinting down the sidewalk trying to get to school as quickly as possible. When I finally got to the school, I was greeted by the ever so friendly Ring doorbell summoning me to the office that instant. I timidly entered, trying my best to play stupid- I was being scolded for missing most of the school day. My moment of relief was quickly cut short by the piercing yell of my name down the office. My principal looked at me with a fiery scowl, eyeing me down across the room like a lion readying for it's next kill. She told me to go on with my day and that we were going to have a pleasant chat after.
My body was filled with terror the remaining 3 periods. I trudged through the hallways with ice in my veins, terrified of the impending scolding later. Fast forward to the end of the school day, I was walking down the hallway when I heard my name being called on the intercom. My body froze, my heart skipped a beat, and my mind went numb for an instant. I had felt the cold hand of death on my very body that instant. Knowing very well this was self inflicted, I had no escape as my legs walked to the office, my body wanting to run the opposite direction. What justification did I have for this you may ask? If you know it was going to cause this much of a turmoil, WHAT could possibly be the justification? It's funny. I walked with a pale face down to the office and was called down into the principal's personal office. The door slammed behind me and I stood before my principal, my stomach in my throat. She pulled out one of the inspection papers and slide it on the desk across to me, "Do you recognize this?" She began to read the first sentence and I could see the stern look on her face breaking slowly. She began to have a change of heart and wanted me to take accountability of it and realize that it was indeed- a fuckup. I was allowed to participate in the show (as the lead guitarist!) and I also am able to let this slide with little to no consequence with the only notable punishment not being able to participate in a school BBQ the following week which wasn't exactly world ending to me, but all is well.
TL;DR My senior prank spread a little too quickly and it backfired horribly on me, but I escaped with a slap on the wrist.
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(poster in question https://imgur.com/a/Px1v7JV)

Hi all!
I've perused quite a few posts trying to get some direction on a new monitor, and I'm drowning in information and I'm hoping I can get a nudge in the right direction.
Uses:
- General productivity with Macbook Pro (13-inch, retina, mid-2014)
- Hooking up to a newly acquired Xbox Series X
I would say it's about a 50/50 split between the Macbook and Xbox with maybe a slight lean to the Macbook (but with the priority for the monitor being future proof for the Xbox).
The monitor will be replacing a decade old ASUS with HDMI, and will be in a room that gets a fair bit of light in the daytime, though not directly at the moment.
Size:
I think 27"/28" is about the right size for me - I don't have a huge living space, so I can't go crazy with sizes. I also have a 65" LG B2 that I will also hook the xbox to occasionally, but I share that with my wife and kid, so a lot of gaming will still be taking place on the monitor.
Content:
I mostly want to play games like Flight Simulator, Farming Simulator, and AAA single player games like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Fallout, Skyrim, etc. I don't play many FPS, and I don't play online/competitively.
Budget:
$800 or less - I'm eyeing some open box deals to try to get value at a lower price point.
Currently Considering:
- Coolermaster GP27U - $869
- LG GP950 - $597 (Best Buy open box)
- Sony Inzone M9 - $631 (Best Buy Open Box)
- Gigabyte M27U - $529
- Gigabyte M28U - $599
I am also open to other suggestions - I'm honestly not sure what I need to be considering on the Xbox side of things, and I'm really just trying to take the fullest advantage I can of it's capabilities moving forward. I think I understand HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and all that, but I admit I have no idea how this stuff actually shows up in real world use (downscaling, etc). I know OLED is king, but I already have the B2 and OLED's don't come in small enough sizes for this particular use.
Thanks in advance for your help!

Original prompt: [WP] The Supervillan kidnaps their Archnemesis’s child, but it turns out the Hero(ine) of the city is also a terrible parent. (link)
My plan was nearly ready to reach fruition. This time, I would finally be rid of my nemesis, that goody-two-shoes the people call The Red Rider! I had the defenses and the doomsday device set up, I just had to get the foolish hero to fall into my trap!
I strolled over to my rolodex of victims to find a worthy hostage... No, the reporter girl was covering a war in some foreign country, grabbing her would take too long... No, not the mayor's daughter, she was off at college... Wait, why was his sidekick still in the rolodex? He graduated into a full-fledged hero a year and a half ago...
Well, it appeared that the usual suspects weren't going to work, so I'd have to find some new people the red jackass would jump through hoops to rescue. I called in one of my minions.
"Lord Halcien? How can I serve you?" the lizard man hissed. I couldn't remember why I'd mutated my spymaster, nor why I'd never tried to turn him back.
"Spymaster Alren, I need to get the Red Dunce here. Find me someone he'll go through hell or high water to rescue and toss them into the dungeon," I said.
"Yes, my lord..." he said, bowing. His skin shimmered and he turned invisible, the clicking of his claws indicating his departure from the room. More importantly, I remembered why I'd turned my assistant into a lizard.
I was putting the finishing touches on a new execution device when Alren returned. An ingenious thing, it would use a tiny needle to inject a number of microscopic devices into the victim's blood. From there, a secondary cycle would activate, emitting inaudible sound waves to make the devices reverberate, rupturing the blood vessels and causing severe internal bleeding while the prisoner thinks they're merely sitting in a cage.
"My lord, I have found that which you seek!" my spymaster said, letting out a hiss as he bowed.
"Ah, excellent, who did you find?" I asked, glancing over from my work to meet his eyes.
"Who better than the man's young son?" Alren asked.
"The Red Rider has a son? I didn't know Miss Dolores had the time to start a family," I said.
"No, not the reporter, my lord. He has an actual girlfriend," Alren said.
"Excellent work as always, Spymaster Alren," I said. "Inform the servants that we have a guest if you would, I've got to finish this up before the hero arrives."
"As you wish, my lord," the spymaster said, before slinking off.
It was nearly sundown, and there wasn't any sign of the Red Rider. Since I'd finished the execution device and put the finishing touches on everything else, I deigned to visit the prisoner. Inside the dungeon cell was a young boy. He was reading a book, and had a half-drunk cup of tea on a saucer next to him. As ever, I tried to keep my prisoners well, being a villain didn't mean one had to be a savage.
"Child," I said.
"Oh, hey mister," he said, looking up from the book.
"Halcien. Lord Halcien to you, boy," I said.
"Okay, Lord Halcien. I'm Tamolin," he said. "Could I get a flashlight? It's getting dark and I have to finish this chapter before tomorrow or I'll fail the assignment."
"This is the upper dungeon, we have lighting, but one of the servants can fetch you a flashlight if you would prefer," I said. "I'm more concerned with why your father hasn't come yet. Ordinarily he's quite prompt with smashing his way into my base when someone goes missing."
"Daddy's been gone a long time," Tamolin said.
"What? No, I just faced Red Rider a month ago, he's not gone," I said.
"Oh, you mean Mama's boyfriend... I dunno, he doesn't like me very much," Tamolin said. "I'm not allowed out of my room when he's home..."
Seeing the boy wince when I mentioned the supposed hero didn't exactly leave many possibilities in my mind. It made me remember the time I had my eye put out when I was small, though that was quite a while ago.
I turned toward the boy preparing to respond, but he had already returned to his book. Instead, I decided to simply start up the doomsday device. If Red Rider couldn't be bothered to show up, then I wasn't going to be a good sport about it. I was a villain, after all!
The evening sky darkened quickly with storm clouds, with winds picking up in the area around the base. As the howl of the wind and the crash of debris started to rattle the castle, I heard the faint screech of a motorcycle pulling to a stop.
The party had finally begun.
Red Rider had managed to weave between the electric defense pylons without being turned into a charred corpse, and he'd slipped past the automated turrets with only some minor damage to his bike. He had taken down the two guards who tried to apprehend him as he entered, and ended up facing down guardsman Velric. He'd been doing well at wearing down the armored behemoth of a man, until Shield-maiden Hilda finally clocked him over the head.
Now he was bolted, strapped, and tied into a chair. The three different bindings would theoretically mean he was now triply unable to escape, but I knew from experience that the hero was quite slippery.
"So nice of you to join us, Mr. Rider," I said.
"Fuck you, Halcien. Do you have any idea how much destruction you've already caused?" Rider asked. "You know the code, you've got to do a declaration before beginning a plan. Hoo boy, you're not gonna be a happy camper if the Omni-Regulations Board catches wind of this."
"Oh, I certainly did, but I doubt the board would find me in contention because you can't find the time in the day to save your own son," I said.
"Son? Shit, did I miss some really important email from Dolly?" he asked.
"No, the son of your other girlfriend," I said.
"Hm? you mean Patricia? She doesn't have a kid," he said.
I furrowed my brow and said, "Dare I ask if there's another woman in your life?"
"Oh, well there is Tabby... Wait, you mean you took that pretentious little shit? Good riddance," he said.
"'Pretentious little-' I'd hardly expect a hero to say that about his own charge," I said.
"Bah, kid acts like he's the smartest in the room, constantly whining about not being able to read or do his homework, and he's got that weird name, you can keep him for all I care," Red Rider said.
"Halci- I mean, Tamolin is not a weird name! You know what, forget it!" I said, placing my remote control onto the table after deactivating the doomsday device. It was linked to most of the technological devices in the room, but using them didn't feel right anymore. "I'd planned this whole thing, the shutters would open and you'd watch the city be reduced to ruins while you could do nothing, then you get executed by my masterful execution device, but now the mood's ruined!"
"Mood? Hah, don't tell me you're letting me go? Maybe I should hurl pointed insults more often!" Red Rider said.
"Letting you go? No, but all of that is for fun heroes who play along. I'll offer you a choice instead: Knife, poison, or strangulation?" I asked, opening a small chest and placing a dagger, a bottle of poison, and a length of cord onto the table.
"Uh..." he said.
"Aw heck, you're right, why choose?" I asked, pouring the poison on the dagger with one hand while coiling the cord with the other.
I was in one of the best moods I'd been in since I dug out my father's eye with a corkscrew. My mortal enemy was finally dead, I could finally get started on my long term plans, and I hadn't lost any of my magnificent devices or loyal minions in the process. I began formulating what to do next, when I walked past the cell where Tamolin was sitting attentively. It appeared he had finished whatever he had to do with the book, given the papers stacked on one side of him and the closed book on the other.
"Mr. Lord Halcien? Can I go home now? It's almost bed time, and Mama will be sad if I'm not there," he asked.
"Certainly, child, you being here has served all the purpose I needed," I said, opening the door to the boy's cell. "Though if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to ask a little about your mother..."

Authors Note: Hey! Original on the tune, today, at cause of my BCake Day on Reddit, I have decided to show off some advancements on a Fanfic project of around 20 chapters, rolling across the lines of codes, beta versions, viruses and use supplementary ideas interpretations to build the lore! This story won't start, nor end the way you expect!, I'll take any feedback it's possible, this story isn't suitable for people who expect a 'slice of life' or a 'harem' story, Starting with, and most clearly, that in this Fanfic our environment is a depressing, ethereal one.
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Enjoy the read then! (This chapter is a test one, therefore, it may and WILL look different on the final version.)
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Perfection...
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Do you think that a perfect world exists?, of course not, so trivial the phrase is that perfection does not exist, but it has a reason for being, what is perfect should not be different, the only perfect thing is that which is in unity, it does not have a feature that stands out from others ... We are imperfect beings because we are an anomaly, who will never reach unity with his cosmos, but nevertheless, perfection can cause the goal to never be reached, in this way, Imperfection can subdue what we believe to be perfect, because what is believed to be perfect, only knows how to stand out from the rest, but imperfection will never subdue what IS perfect, because there is no way to subdue the absolute nor to subdue the non-existent.
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A Production of u/SOOriginalAfter!
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Project DDLC:SMC!
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The dust rises, while a figure emerges in a monochromatic world, seems lost, was a teenager, medium build, short black hair and eyes that although they seemed dead, contracted when noticing their new place.
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==========- - ACT 1, Sequence 1: Like a dead flower - - ===========
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=. - Limbo, Nameless Home, XXXX, XXth, 0000.
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That figure rested on his bed, devoid of color like the rest of his room, it seemed that it would be a normal day, but apparently not, he could not distinguish between his memories, since he did not remember his own name.
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He lifted, with difficulty and wandered to his bedside table, a small open notebook with the writing "Press A to advance the dialogue, X to go back or SHIFT to advance a dialogue already seen"
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He asked himself several questions... When he looked out his window, he realized his surroundings, his house was on top of a seemingly floating street, on a void that could only distinguish white dots like the wake of a star.
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*This place was not his home... Although he didn't know how to call that more than "scary," until a small sound, different from cosmic dust hitting his window, made him jump, a phone.*
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He walked toward this sound, lifting it up
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A voice answered, quite animated that startled the boy.
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~[Phone:]°< Wow! You didn't fall into that pit... You're a lucky guy! Although... You're not in the best place... Get out of the room, my next call will be outside this house! Don't worry about charging your phone... It will stay at 100% always!
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Click!
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That voice had left him with no opportunity to answer... What was going on?, he decided to put the phone away... Then, the boy got down to work, and began to inspect the room, looking for any relevant details... He only found a couple of calendars that marked a date between September, October and November... Although, November was totally marked, crossed out.
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The boy couldn't find any more clues, What he thought, would be his room, was devoid of much life, being honest, He thought he would become crazy.
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Everything seemed... Unreal, impossible, at any moment he would wake up, right?, it did not seem that it would happen ... He pinched himself multiple times, He tried to hit his head, but nothing happened but the stabbing pain of that blow.
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He tried to go downstairs, holding onto the railing, and saw a house... Empty... Just a small kitchen... Quite reduced and uncomfortable, no one could cook there!, a small sofa next to it, but... Where was the living room...?, it looked like a house under construction.
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And... Just before leaving, he felt the wall creak, and he looked under himself, a crack had formed on his way to the door, with a quick reflex jumping out of the house before the piece of earth took him to the dark cesspool... He didn't understand what was so dangerous in that darkness, but he felt the insistent desire to stay out, or at least, not fall directly.
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When he could breathe again, he was on a porch... A very nice one, by the way, but quite a lot... Like the rest of the house, devoid of color or life... It seemed that only that part existed, since looking back, the yard extended infinitely backwards, and although the house had walls, there was no limit on that porch ... Or yard... It didn't even make sense.
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He stood up... Removing and shaking dust from his damaged clothes... He just realized how poor and worn his clothes were... It looked like it had fallen from a tree or something, A worn black polo shirt... A jacket torn in half and traces of some fall, plus baggy jeans that would have a couple of holes in their fabric, plus a couple of damaged sports shoes.
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RIIIIIING!
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Click!
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~[Phone:]°< WELL! If he is not our acrobat? That... It was pretty unexpected, but hey! You're still here!.... It's quite ironic... But it doesn't matter!, the place where you stand is called "limbo", A place... Wow, not very friendly, but it doesn't seek to stop you either, it's where we all go at some point... But you are different... You are in an impossible barrier... There must be a exit somewhere... Hope so!
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Click!
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Just before our guy could ask anything else, the voice on the other end hung up, leaving him a little dazed by the information overload... Without knowing much how to move in this new place, he began to move around the small... But mysterious neighborhood that He should remember.
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=. - The Neighborhood, Cloudy Road, XXXX, 0Xth,0000
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It seemed that He would reach the end of the road... But one voice, A girl, medium height, coral-colored hair distinguishable for miles...
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~[Sayori:]°< IVEEEE! Friend! How are you doing?, you saw this huge place!?
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When she mentioned the name "Ive", a wave of memories hit his face, as if it were water, and refreshed her vision of this place... He could remember this girl, although her name seemed peculiar to him, but... Was he really Ive? That name sounded familiar... But He couldn't remember the rest.
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In order not to be impolite, he returned the greeting, although not a single word came out of his mouth... What would he say?, he did not know the place at all, lying was not one of his qualities.
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~[Sayori:]°< I... I thought I had lost you... Silly... But... I see that we can meet once again!, like when you wanted to save me!, I will not be selfish anymore! They... They are not here... No?
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What was she saying?, The boy didn't seem to understand much... Or well... That was his provisional name... He wouldn't know whether to confirm it or not... What "others"?, what did this girl mean?... Save?
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The boy tried to make gestures of denial, but they fell on deaf ears, because Sayori pounced, hugging him without reaction.
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~[Sayori:]°< What I tried to tell you that day was... That I love you!... But... Yuri... She had to interrupt my moment! Why?!
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The girl had become aggressive, hitting her face to Ive, with an obsessive grimace
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The boy let out a small yelp, which was drowned in the void, That girl's eyes were terrifying to say the least, she tried to put him on the ground, he had to get out, this was no longer a game, but how? until a voice, more recognizable, warned him.
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~[Phone:]°< BOY! GET OUT OF THERE!
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Instinctively, The boy to get out of the embrace, by kicking Sayori in the abdomen, making her back out and start the chase, several rows of streets appeared where there was nothing before, they seemed to want to help the boy, who did not hesitate to jump, for some reason, those jumps felt different ... Gravity seemed to be reduced, so it fell a little slowly
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~[Sayori:]°< COME HERE! YOU AND I WILL BE TOGETHER! ALWAYS AND ALWAYS! MONIKA, YURI, NATSUKI! THEY WILL NO LONGER INTERFERE!
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*Although the boy was fast, this gravity was new to him, and sooner or later he would run out of energy, but the journey did not seem to end, or perhaps if...?*
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The boy managed to see a light, a way out of his path that was full of color, but when he tried to make his last jump, Sayori managed to intercept him, although falling together, Ive used his last strength to push Sayori, both fell in different places ... This was just the beginning.
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The boy let out a groan, which seemed to drown in infinity, would he fall? Or was that his end?, it seemed that it would be the first, because he felt that he fell in a somewhat soft place, being buried in white powder, but he felt the rocky aspect of that soil still.
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TO BE CONTINUED.