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Ceele strolled through the damp grass along the outskirts of the village, a spring in her step and the dwindling scent of dew following behind. It rained yesterday, which had prevented her from going out to gather supplies, but the mild morning air had been accommodating enough for her to get an early start and make the trip. She was glad she did.
One hand clutched her new prize to her chest, while the other held a fraying wicker basket filled with herbs and some edible roots she gathered by exploring the forbidden forest. Despite her reservations regarding where she chose to go, her excitement now lingered like a steady thrum of shifting stones, giving her energy that defied how long she had been walking. She all but pranced beneath the burgeoning night's sky, gleefully toeing the line between the dirt pathways of the settlement’s outskirts and the trees of unclaimed land. Normally, her path back home would never be so close to the village, but she was far too gleeful to mind. She had come back with a sense of fulfillment and a rare object—or if not rare, then hopefully of great value.
It was hard to point to any one specific reason that she came across the orb. There had always been a ‘draw’ during her travels, urging her that there was something missing in her life, yet it was no more than a mild whim to walk in a particular direction more often than not. Once she reached this part of the continent, she was compelled to wander, never quite able to explain why she obliged the sensation besides having nowhere in particular to be. Even when she finally settled somewhere, it stayed in the back of her mind, suggesting that she was close to whatever would make the pit of vacancy go away. She ignored it, purposefully distracting herself with her work and responsibilities, yet that could only last so long. When she awoke this morning with plans to resupply, and all of her newfound spots had been picked clean by wildlife, she turned to the depths of the forest where she was warned not to tread. It was all too easy to follow the subtle tug in her chest through the loose justification.
The urge to be somewhere grew unbearable with every step closer to the forbidden area. That sense of having a direction she needed to go became stronger and stronger, until she was well into land long since forgotten. She came across an overgrown depression in the hillside, and was entranced by the foreboding image. Something about the cave just…beckoned her. She was far too weak to resist.
Horrible tales echoed into her ears as whispers of fearful voices, warning and unending, yet but a dull drone compared to her hammering heart. She navigated the trees and brushed aside unkempt vines, stepping into the cavern with a mix of expectation and trepidation, then laid eyes on the small obsidian stone perched atop a crumbling pillar. The feeling of needing to travel somewhere…stopped.
The pull was absent, which was why she held the orb close instead of placing it into her basket. She wasn’t sure what it was exactly, but she recalled overheard tales of hidden gemstones, deep cavernous expanses, and the untold terrors that lay within. Comparing the scenes of those fables to the cave seemed foolish now; it wasn’t some torturous chamber, but a dusty depression in a small hillside. Besides, anything this pretty was sure to be worth a fair sum, and she needed the coin. Yet the thought of selling the precious-looking stone was a conflicting one. She shook off the thought for the time being, turning her attention back towards where she was going.
Shadows stretched and faded as the moon stole the last of the illumination afforded by the sun, replacing it with a calming glow that caressed the log frames and thatched roofs of various homes. A star-filled sky came into prominence as clouds lazily drifted away, revealing the promise of tomorrow’s fair-weathered arrival. It was too late for anyone to notice her treading on the edge of their town while lost in thought, but she was still careful not to get too close to the houses or livestock pens where people might be finishing the evening’s duties. It was best that they didn’t see her returning from a place she was told not to go. Still, her feet carried her near the dwellings as she took in the noises.
Ceele enjoyed the comforting chatter from a distance. Indistinct words floated freely. Meaningless gossip and warm goodbyes were exchanged between friends and family. Places of various occupations were dark and quiet, only the faint contented mewls and clucks of livestock coming from their pastures as they ate what was recently put out for them. No metal rang throughout the streets as it was struck inside a centralized smithy, no heated bartering came from an overactive trade house, and the crunch of dirt beneath transport or merchant wagons was absent, replaced by the rapid steps and yelps of children rushing to their homes before it got too dark out. It was all just gentle conversation and life drifting through the wind, taking the rustle of leaves along for the ride, just so she could hear it. Tranquil, in a word.
She wondered what it would sound like if she were yet one more voice within that crowd of kindness. Would it be loud like the larger cities? Would she struggle to maintain a thought with so many stray topics floating about? Would she once more yearn for the peace and quiet of solitude that she had grown used to, or would she immerse herself, free of judgment and laughing like the carefree young that scampered about? Did thinking about it even matter?
Her smile fell from its genuine intensity—still worn, but not as fully. She glanced downward as her stride lost its jubilant bounce, her tail losing its sway as her grey eyes examined the dry black scales that adorned her body against her wishes. It was the ugly hue of tarnished oil, unlike the skin of any other kobold she had met. Some had reds or greens, yellows or whites, while most were between a sandy tan or earthen brown. The rainbow of peculiarities was displayed by the lucky few, and she was one of them…
…Yet she was different in the worst of ways.
Even if she would rather any other colour, she supposed it was that way to make sure no one came near without accepting the unspoken risks. That was what her mother always said, anyway, though the woman hardly feared much of anything in her old age, and dedicated herself to giving her offspring all the love she had left to give—a perk of living a full life. She would always help her daughter bathe, complimenting the colour of what most were unnerved by. That was more than a decade ago now, however. Ceele’s parents had passed on while she was still young, and she took to travelling not long after, working at what she could to afford what little she needed. Never for long, though—just enough to get to the next town between where she was and where the urge to go lay. There were certainly moments she looked back on fondly, but the journey had taken its toll.
The crude material of her ‘dress’ was coarse, old, and heavy, but it helped ease the worst of spring's chill—even if it was more of a modified sack than proper attire. Still, it was all she had after the last of her clothing fell apart, and giving the repurposed material a name that reminded her of something else made it less uncomfortable to wear, somehow. It would have to do until she could afford a pitying seamstress or the like. Until then, she would pretend she didn’t look so desperate, even if it only highlighted her status and made finding work difficult.
But it did. The dishevelled garment was a far cry from the wonderful silks or breathtaking designs she had seen some women wear, harshly marking the distinction between herself and those of affluence. The clothing of commoners was also a leap in style and quality, so she couldn't say her attire was up to even modest standards. No matter how hard she squinted, and no matter how much she fantasized otherwise, she seemed every bit like the vagrant she was, down to the soil embedded in the curvature of her claws and the stains throughout her fabrics. She looked like a serf from the more oppressed lands, yet they too wore crude cottons, which said a lot about how she appeared to those who had never lived a life of servitude. It was obvious that she was an outsider. That she didn't belong amongst the rest. It made changing something as simple as her appearance all the more difficult; prospective employment always saw a young woman who seemed more likely to steal or swindle than make an honest day’s living.
There was one good twist of fate in recent memory, however, and she came upon the result of it after leaving the slowing bustle of the village behind. Her steps carried her through a small copse of trees on the outskirts of town, the small shaded path leading to the back of a large, carefully pruned clearing, a scattering of fruit-bearing trees providing even darker shadow than the already dim moonlight. She skirted along the aging fence on the border that kept predatory animals away, carefully hoisting herself over the barrier where a large vegetable garden she was responsible for tending resided. If one were to tell her she would be living in such an area several months ago, she would have smiled politely and walked away, yet here she was.
A modest, warmly lit home occupied the middle of the clearing, sitting front and centre when one approached from the village path. It looked quite cozy, surrounded by berry bushes that were just beginning to bloom as the last dregs of winter slipped away. A front patio displayed a nice table and well-loved chairs, the rustic appearance only adding to its charm as a place where friends and family spent the warm summer afternoons. A smithy to the left of the house functioned as an additional heated building during the colder months, but usually served as a storefront and to muffle the sounds of hammered iron, though that had become less common. An old stable was nearby, close enough to be accessible, but not so close as to disturb the once occupying animals with sounds of iron craft. It hadn't seen a horse in quite some time, apparently, so it was mostly a workshop for whatever tasks didn’t require fire or metal.
There was a long history attached to each little detail—from the scuffs along the wooden siding to the depressions in the ground where daily routine wore into the earth. Every fault suffered throughout the years was matched by a thousand quirks that made it feel welcoming, like the house itself was merely waiting for the next friendly face with one of its own. She knew that the inside of each building would look just as cared for.
Her concern lay outside, however. It was a comparatively miniscule space just barely visible through the sheltering trees, true, yet it was where her efforts turned into tangible results, and where a stranger’s trust was painstakingly repaid. Once overgrown grass had been laboriously trimmed, the weeds plucked and disposed of, and now nothing distracted from what she could claim she had done.
The small plots of rock-bordered soil had little buds of growing vegetables, a sense of pride never failing to bloom in her breast with the knowledge that it would be barren without her touch. When her troubles and concerns grew heavy, and fears of the future or spectres of the past loomed over her head, she could look at where she had brought life where it wouldn't otherwise be. Some days, that was enough. She smiled in appreciation at what was admittedly amateur work, the night’s sky helping to hide any inevitably made mistakes.
She enjoyed the sight for a moment longer, then turned to walk towards a neglected old tool shed that was well out of sight within the trees, far away from whatever warmth and comfort the larger house offered to everyone and anyone. She put a hand on the degrading wood of the entryway, giving one last sad smile at the garden as she dismissed selfish thoughts of taking the eventual harvest for herself. A breath cleared the uncertainty from her voice, and she pushed open the door.
“I'm home!”
= = = = =
It took a while for Altier to adjust to his situation, and even once he accepted that his mana wasn't being siphoned, he was still reeling from confusion. He had spent centuries with every year passing by without his notice, yet now he was painfully aware of each creeping second languidly dragging on with the expediency of growing grass. It was as disorienting as it was painfully nostalgic.
Time was something he was never good with, and it only got worse as a dungeon. He'd get lost in creating rooms, corridors, creatures, and whatever else needed doing, only pausing to watch or listen to the few adventurers he became interested in. There was a stint where he spent what felt like hours agonizing over new abilities or options while he let the system manage things in the background, though he supposed it might have been much longer. So many wasted days, yet he still hadn't managed to try everything he had gained access to. Some abilities were simply too niche, came with concerning titles, or held descriptions that made him wary. Anything with ‘Decay’ in the name was instantly ignored—he didn't need more reasons to fear his affinity, and from the few he took the effort to read through, they were always vile.
But his existence for the moment was no longer like those endless stretches spent pondering the minutiae of what would help his adventurers grow stronger. Now, he could follow the rhythmic sounds of footsteps and steady breathing that set a calming pace. They were someone else's, yes, but they contextualized how easy it was to slip away without the subtle noises of life that he had long since surrendered to help his family. Of course, there were more differences that he noticed since being removed from his crumbling cavern, and his sight was the newest change.
He never gave much thought to how far he could see before. Why would he? As a man, his world extended as far as he could fathom, yet was also confined to the room where he spent his days, and as a dungeon… Well, who was he to consider distance when an event happening miles away could be seen with a flicker of thought? Nothing was too far when it was within his creation. Or his ‘body,’ he supposed. Sadly, his entire perception currently consisted of the small sphere of his obsidian core, and maybe a finger's length beyond it—which is to say, not much. He could make out the fine details in the dirty burlap he was held against, and how pale moonlight slowly took over the blurred reds of sunset, but hardly anything more. It was all just frosted colours after a certain point, and he found it infinitely frustrating. He just wanted to peer beyond the haze and scaly hand holding him to confirm that the sky he remembered was still there. Alas, the sunlight faded at too quick a pace, yet one oh so agonizingly slow.
The ensuing darkness gave him nothing to do but think about where he was, not that he had any ideas. He was too curious about why he wasn't dead to bother much with his blurry surroundings after the soft-spoken kobold abducted him, thus why he only belatedly noticed how limited his worldview had become. There might have been a forest beyond his cave, but the greens and browns were gone, and the sounds of steps through brush was replaced by the distant din of a village. An idle curiosity pondered if he would recognize any descents of his ‘family tradition’ adventurers there, but he was being carried by what most considered a monster, so likely not.
That short musing was short-lived, however, and he brought his focus back to the matter at hand. He supposed he was being taken somewhere specific, but that was an obvious deduction, considering he was taken at all. The why of the matter was less so; for what purpose would someone want a Decay-aligned core? He hadn’t heard of them before…well, before he was made into one, but he couldn’t imagine many uses. Maybe he was being sold? His…kidnapper? His sudden companion seemed rather pleased by their discovery of him, so that might be the case, and it was morbidly amusing to think that a frail, sickly young man might one day become a coveted, highly valuable item. His abduction could also be a part of some cult’s nefarious activities, but he didn't want to think about that too hard. He experienced enough odd ceremonies from the adventurers who took the time to tell him their tales.
Either way, he wasn't in the dungeon anymore, and he couldn’t see where he was going. He tried to query his menu to glean an answer, but was met with a scrambled mess he suspected read ‘Synchronizing…’ and little else. It gave him a headache trying to make sense of it—which he didn't know was possible anymore—so he dismissed the text and distracted himself with blurs from whatever diluted senses he still had. There wasn’t much to observe other than the constant footfalls and the flicker of shadows on his companion’s burlap garment. They might have travelled through brush again, but it was too dark to really say for certain.
Eventually, there was something new. He heard an old latch rattle and rusted door hinges groan, then a shuddered clack that confirmed he was now in a building. His kobold acquaintance gently cooed at something before moving about the nearly pitch-black space, finally setting him down on a… He wasn’t sure what it was, besides old and wooden.
[D$#@m$n E@$*ded]
The headache from before became a blinding migraine that suffocated him under a flash-flood of suffering. Seconds passed in abject torture until it blissfully abated, the mental blinks clearing his mind enough to notice a change in his existence. Specifically, he could actually see something besides the rotting wood grain he was placed on top of.
And it wasn’t anything promising…
He was more or less in the centre of a room no bigger than twelve paces by maybe ten. Not a terrible size for a space, but it was clearly never meant to house someone. His resting place looked about as neglected as he surmised; it was an upturned feeding trough, he supposed, since calling it a table seemed too generous. The surface was rife with holes and degraded iron, so it was something that once saw regular use before being replaced and tossed into storage, never to see the light of day again.
Actually, most things in the room seemed to fit that description. The window shutters were installed with metal hinges that had since rusted them closed, the misalignment letting in a draft—and whatever weather was outside as well, most likely. A poorly carved bowl sat on the floor, the stain beneath it hinting that it collected any rainwater that slowly dripped from the leaky roof. The wooden floorboards looked old, splintered, and in need of maintenance or replacement, though an effort had been put into abrading it somewhat smooth lately.
A tiny and decrepit fireplace was to the left of the door upon entry, its brickwork slowly crumbling due to weathering and age. It was sized more for keeping the room warm during mild days than to keep away the frigid chill of night. Its base only held cold ashes, but there was a collection of deadwood and scraps nearby, so that would probably be rectified soon. A small wheel-less cart had been turned into storage against the opposite wall, some herbs and other foraged items stowed away in it for future use. Various things he remembered seeing his father and brothers use in the fields were scattered about, too. It was nostalgic to see, honestly, even if his recollections had blurred over time.
Bundles of tattered blankets formed a pair of nests in the far corner, the smaller of the two had a pile of rough plants nearby. That answered his silent pondering of the room's purpose somewhat, though he was pretty sure the bedding material was salvaged, and there didn’t seem to be any hay or padding underneath whoever was sleeping on it. He didn’t know what to think about the weeds; they were purposefully placed there, and whoever did so had taken the time to wash them, but it was still strange.
He couldn’t see a doorway besides the entrance, yet most of the hallmarks of residency were put where space could be afforded, however crude. All in all, he surmised that it was a gardening shed of sorts, and his new acquaintance apparently lived here. He wasn't sure what he was expecting when a creature he had only read about came into his dungeon, but it wasn't being brought to a rundown and decrepit shack for unknown purposes.
Even if he had been raised by parents who made a humble living at the best of times, and they had emptied their coffers for unsuccessful attempts to ease his ailments, his acquaintance's living space made him uncomfortable. His family's house was never anything fancy, true—it shared some of the worn qualities that inevitably gathered over the years—but it was never this bad. His home benefited from a father's touch keeping it robust and a mother’s love keeping it warm, whereas this place had seen neither in quite some time. Oh, there was evidence that such was once the case; a wall was adorned with carefully made and well-spaced hangers for the various gardening tools, though the implements themselves had become a victim of neglect. That being said, he could make out the fresh soil and recent scratches exposing furrows of silver, so they were seeing use again.
A scrape and clack of flint drew his attention to his kobold companion. They were kneeling in front of the fireplace, methodically sparking life back into a dead flame with twigs and dried leaves. A slow, steady breath into the reddened base illuminated its face with a dull orange glow, revealing its weary visage and the permanently etched smile that rested beneath its cold grey eyes. The black-scaled kobold looked tired, if he were to guess—much the same as Altier did when he spent countless days watching everyone living a life he could never have through the mossy window of his bedroom. He was probably humanizing it too much. Still, he was surprised by the muted pang of sympathy, and how he would feel much more than blithe curiosity after spending so much time alone in the crumbling crypt of his own making.
A mental breath cycled through him as he looked at the odds and ends yet to be observed. Hardly anything else was of note—everything else was degraded and neglected, too. He did notice a nest of blankets move though, which was as good a distraction as any. The answer to his previous ‘pile of weeds’ inquiry poked a tiny nose from a crease in the fabric, then rapidly pawed at the blankets to dig itself out. Altier stared at the creature in both recognition and confusion.
It was a rabbit…or at least it looked like one, assuming you were to also describe a porcupine and a sea urchin as well. He was pretty sure he didn’t remember any hare that had jagged metal-tipped fur, nor that had said fur arranged into a row of spiked horns that flowed down its spine, terminating at a large fluffy tail, which was equally bizarre to see. The whole of its coat could double as a weapon, with semi-sharp barbs sticking off seemingly at random, yet he remembered an adventurer saying most animals used that sort of thing defensively. He increased his focus as he tried to make sense of the odd creature. Surely he would have heard about—
[Hoppittttttt#%%÷ — Ferro-o-orabbit-it (Ma%$le)
Abil—]
[Null]
[Er0Rrrrrrrr—]
[Und#$f—]
He bit back the pain caused by the sudden intrusion of his menu, blanking out the text and mentally retreating to hide from the source. Did he just inspect something? How? Shouldn’t his entire…‘framework,’ was it…? Yes, that was it. Shouldn’t that have been corrupted? Why could he see the creature’s information when his entire framework was damaged? That was the first ability he lost, so why is it the first to be functional? How was it functional? Was it? It did just spit garbled text at him, but it was something, and that was more than he had gotten from it in a very long time. If it was somehow working—no matter how poorly—then that left the question of why he hadn't heard of anything called a ‘ferrorabbit’ before, assuming he read that correctly.
A soft thud vibrated the tro— table, startling him out of thought. He turned his attention to the button nose wiggling erratically at him, the short, stubby muzzle leading to surprisingly expressive and curious red eyes. Dull brown fur jutted off in random tufts and patches, changing to a darker tint on its paws and the upper half of its ears, while the tips of its spikes were a muted hue of iron. It still seemed just as soft as the less pointed variety he remembered, if a touch dirty. Upright ears twitched this way and that way as its head vigorously shook, eventually settling on pointing in his direction when it calmed down enough.
It was apparent that he had its undivided attention…for all of a few seconds. His scaly companion called something out in their foreign tongue, and whatever conclusion the pointy-furred animal came to, it seemed more interested in the kobold, parting from him after nudging his core with its nose.
[Cre-e-e—]
[Errrrrrr0r: Undefiiiiiiii—]
[Acceeeeep-t-t-t??]
[Yeeee— s s / Nnnnnnn—]
He winced at the intrusion, but the contents detracted from the pain. He couldn’t remember the system ever asking him a question without his explicit intent being involved. It wanted him to…accept something? Was it the system prompting him, or the animal? What was he to accept?
[Creatuuuuu—]
[Acce-e-e-%#@ed!]
…What?
= = = = =
“Hoppit, that's not food!” Ceele admonished half-heartedly, placing a larger branch on the burgeoning flame before she got to her feet. She wasn’t actually that worried; the stone was as big as his head, and she was pretty sure he couldn't bite into it. Hopefully. “Come here, momma has a treat for you!”
The ferrorabbit playfully bumped the gemstone and jumped off the low table, landing with a soft thud that belied how heavy he was for his tiny size. He wiggled in excitement, his ears flailing and releasing a slight clack whenever the two connected. It got even louder when she grabbed her basket and put away the useful herbs, taking out a specific item that she had gathered just for him. The little bun wasted no time in scurrying over and standing tall on his hind legs to judge if the offered plant was to his liking—and it was, based on how he dug in with enthusiasm. She stifled a laugh as she contentedly watched him nibble away on the treat, ignoring the guilt that came with knowing she couldn't afford proper vegetables for him. He had a hard life too, and it tore at her to have so little to give.
She came across Hoppit a year ago, during a storm that worsened while she was travelling between towns. The day had darkened to night in spite of it still being about noon, but the weather didn't care for how bright it was supposed to be. Wind and rain became a typhoon, forcing her to seek shelter in a thankfully abandoned den of what was probably a larger animal. She was fine with waiting out the squall, since the stone roof over her head was more than she usually had back then, but the sounds of dull bangs and thuds near her hideaway was followed by cries of animals yelping in pain. Curiosity won over reason, and she left the safety of her shelter to see what was causing the disturbance. Truthfully, she was hopeful that she'd come across scraps or the like, her hunger driving her forward, and she could always turn back if it seemed dangerous. Yet when she arrived at the source of the commotion, she found herself thinking of anything but food.
Two predators had fought over a small burrow, both trying to dig out a meal and taking offence to the other doing the same. What they didn’t know was that they were assaulting the home of ferrorabbits. Specifically, the home of an angry, protective, and well-fed mother that was keeping her newborns safe from the storm when predators decided to try their luck. From the scene Ceele came across, it was certainly obvious why most people dislike trying to hunt the creatures.
Sadly, the rabbit didn't survive an attack from two predators, but she did make their victory pyrrhic; neither could do much about their hunger with their bodies full of cuts and holes, and it was only a matter of time before they succumbed to blood loss or infection. The mother's sacrifice meant that the babies had avoided the imminent threat, but they were left unattended as a consequence, and it took an opportunistic bird swooping down to shake Ceele out of her shock. Despite her subsequent hurry, she only acted in time to save one of the orphaned young. The warren was new and barely dug out, which meant that it didn’t take much effort for the kits to be found—by both her and hungry maws. All she could do was scoop the ball of fluff into her arms and run back to the cave before anything else tried to eat it.
In retrospect, it was a stupid decision for a number of factors. She barely had the resources to supply herself, and an attempt to raise offspring of any type would only make the inevitable heartbreak worse. But when she saw how quiet and scared he was… How his tiny, shaking body calmed in her arms, those terrified red eyes seeking comfort… She should have just walked away when she knew there wasn’t going to be anything to fill her stomach. She should have put the baby animal down and let nature take its course…yet the preciously furry face stole her heart far too quickly for it to grow so cold. The next day was spent backtracking to the nearest town to get him something suitable to eat, which used most of her meagre savings. Still, it was worth every coin.
Hoppit had been accompanying her ever since. He grew quickly, transitioning from something she saved that stormy night into a presence she had grown to love like a child. The little lagomorph would bounce along beside her during her travels, then ride in her arms as he rested—though the latter happened with worrying frequency as of late. She hadn’t learned much about the springy herbivores, but she knew enough to say that he wasn't as big as he should be, nor was his fur as sharp. No matter how startled he was, his spiky coat never managed to do more than stiffen slightly, which was apparently a side effect of poor diet, according to snippets of conversation she had overheard on the topic. She wanted him to be healthy, but she didn't know what he needed. Not many farmers raised ferrorabbits, and those that did were far away, so she didn’t have anyone to ask what she should be doing. Her best course of action was to give him what little she had.
Ceele was well aware of how he would be better off on his own, but he followed her whenever she tried to set him free. Hoppit just kept launching into her arms and wiggling his ears, ecstatic that he was with her again, uncaring that food was scarce and that they spent most of their days travelling. No amount of cold nights spent bundling up under the tattered blankets she managed to find ever dampened his spirits, and he was content to eat the grass or flowers whenever he felt like it, oblivious to the fact that he wasn’t getting enough nutrition. He would dig and excitedly drag back oddities that he found, and the one time he found a plant that looked particularly good for him, he insisted that it be shared with her.
A black pit still lingered in her chest when she recalled how pleased he was while he munched on the rare vegetable he discovered, then how distressed he became when she wouldn’t have any as well. He bumped and nipped at her, all but begging her to eat. His ears pinned back against his head, his fur bristled in a way she hadn’t seen since. It was only when she took a small bite and let him inspect the new teeth marks that he seemed to calm down, but perhaps she had been looking too deep into the actions of her tiny friend. All she could say for certain was that he was scared she was going hungry.
A morbid thought wondered if his first mother had refused food shortly before being attacked, and he—as small and simple as he was—had connected the two events in his mind, making him absolutely terrified that something would happen if Ceele didn’t have something too. All of that fear, and desperation overwhelmed him, just because she was happier watching him eat. She was determined to erase that issue. She would find something that needed a worker and earn enough to feed them both. One day, she would be able to smile at how big and healthy her little fluffy boy had become, but until then, it was becoming increasingly difficult not to think about how she was spending so much time growing vegetables and fruit that he couldn’t have…
Every morning was an exercise in tending to the gardens while actively shoving down images of a pleased ferrorabbit happily eating the results. That never went well; no matter how determined she was to complete her duties without a single selfish thought, most tasks were done while picturing his full belly and delighted bounces. There were a few weeks until the fastest of the crops would be ready for harvest, and Ceele would have to collect them while fighting the urge to bring back just a few for him.
She couldn’t, because she knew exactly how quickly that could escalate. It would start small—A vegetable here, a fruit there—but seeing Hoppit happy was one of the precious few good things she had in her life. Crossing the line would only become easier each time. They couldn’t risk losing their new home over greed, and she was already betraying the trust given to her by housing a wild animal, especially one known to be a pest for crops. She didn't want to know how angry it would make her benefactors if she was caught taking their vegetables for one.
No matter how tame and precious Hoppit was, and no matter how well he listened, they would only see him as the same creature that ruined harvests in droves. Thus was why she had to tell him to stay cooped up by himself while she was working or scavenging. And to her surprise, he did.
Honestly, she had made the initial request with the expectation of needing to carry him back into their home until he understood that she wasn’t leaving him forever. There wasn’t much she could do to stop the ferrorabbit from digging through the old wooden building if he wanted to get out. He wouldn’t need to damage anything either—a rotting board on the door only needed a little push to nudge it out of the way, and his natural curiosity made sure he was aware of it. But no, Hoppit was well-behaved as always, keeping hidden until she walked through the door, where he would leap from the shadows to personally show her how good he was and how he stayed put like she asked him to. It never stopped amazing her that he had such a surprising level of understanding despite being an animal, and that was to say nothing of how young he was.
All that intelligence, joy, and companionship he offered her…and yet the best she could give back to him was the weeds from the garden and the odd plant she found while scavenging…
Soft clacks of flicking ears dragged her from her pondering, her mind returning to the present. Hoppit finished his treat of the small plant, then bounced in place and scurried over to his bowl of water, perfectly happy to have eaten only that. He was so joyful with how little she provided, approaching every day of scarcity with the same enthusiasm she could never muster, as if certain that everything would be alright.
“It’s bedtime, Hoppit,” Ceele announced through a soft sigh, stoking the fire with enough branches to hopefully last the night. The ferrorabbit perked an ear in her direction, then sat on his haunches to extend the rest of himself up, his two little forepaws adorably held to his chest as he inspected the room like he always did. She smiled and made sure everything was stored away, then laid down on her bundle of blankets, covering herself with the warmest one. Hoppit bolted over to snuggle once he decided everything in the shed was up to his standards, throwing himself to the floor in a dramatic flop of comfort. Her quiet laughter subsided as they both settled in for the night, her tail completing the rabbit’s encompassing cuddle, but her eyes fell towards the obsidian orb on the table, her thoughts following suit.
It sat there, just as she left it, as benign as anything else ever placed atop the improvised furnishing. Yet there was a sense of ease and purpose as well. The old wooden trough seemed…important with its adornment firmly laid upon its surface, and she couldn’t puzzle out why. She was starting to doubt her earlier excitement.
Should she sell it? Would anyone know where it came from? Would anyone know what it was, or if it was worth anything? If she could get even a modest sum for it, she would be able to buy clothing, food, and new bedding. It would be easier to convince someone to give her work if she was dressed better and wasn’t so thin, and then she would have the income to slowly improve both of their lives. She could pay for a wandering merchant to ask a ferrorabbit rancher about the animal, even if it would take time to get back to her, or maybe she could hire a local if they needed to go near one for some reason. The cost didn’t matter to her as long as it happened.
But there was something else bothering her about the idea of selling the stone. She had travelled so far with a tug in her chest, only for the feeling of wanderlust to dissipate as soon as she held it. Was that a sign? She was never one for things like ‘fate,’ but a niggling doubt in her mind discouraged the idea of making a profit off her discovery. Even if what she could gain was so very tempting, and even if Hoppit would be happier if she did…
She tore her dampened eyes away and closed them, ignoring the burning trails running across her face. It would be another early morning, and she needed to sleep so she could take care of the garden. Decisions like this could wait. Once she had nothing else distracting her, and she had time to properly think about it, she would see how she felt about the stone.
Eventually, she dozed off with Hoppit pressed against her chest, and a longing in her heart.
Next
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A/N: Patreon and Ko-fi will be 1 chap ahead this time around, and I've set it so everything from the lowest tier up can read the newest trashfire! Anything above that is sheer show of love. Hope you enjoyed!

I am a highly motivated and experienced game developedesigner with a passion for crafting engaging and immersive gaming experiences. I possess a diverse skillset spanning various game development disciplines, including:
Programming:
​

• Proficient in Unreal Engine, Unity Engine, and Godot.
• Experienced in gameplay mechanics, scripting, AI, and optimization.

Design:
​

• Narrative design: Compelling story creation, character development, and world-building.
• Level design: Engaging level creation, encounter design, and flow optimization.
• Graphics design: Strong visual design sense for creating captivating environments and assets.
• UI/UX design: User-friendly and intuitive interface creation for seamless player experience.

Genres:
​

• FPS/TPS
• RPG
• MMO/MMORPG
• Free-to-play
• RTS
• Simulation
• Puzzles & Platformers
• Card Games

Availability: Open to both short-term and long-term freelance projects.
Rate: Negotiable based on project scope and complexity.
Contact: PM

I have posted on here a year or two ago, I was 12, and started boxing and kickboxing and wrestling, anyway I need to get this off my chest and I don’t really know who to tell but theses past two years have been really good for me, so, I started the combat sports, before them I was never good at anything sporty, like, get picked last for PE (America has like idk sports class?) and terrible fitness, boxing and the rest of them used most of my days up so I didn’t have much free time, about 1 year into training we ran cross country. 1st place, my PE teacher couldn’t believe it, anyway during this time I was always in a friend group with kids I made friends with from primary school (like kindergarten and elementary) but then, the most popular lad in my class joins boxing, we spar, i batter him and now we are best buddies, i slowly grow apart from my old friends and am in a much better friend group. I started every Tuesday biking 5 miles to a hill mountain thing and then jogging up it. So I was in the teens class of boxing because the adults class is 16+ but, I became the first 14 year old to make it to the adults class off boxing and kick-boxing. I’m really sorry to waste your time but I needed to put this down because I feel content, what should I do? I really wanna join the Royal Marines when I’m older so?

I'll be leaving uni for home in a few days time, but I just got off the phone after talking with my parents and siblings and had felt triggered about the past 2 years and how I almost commited suicide because of all the stress and pressure of putting up with what had transpired. For context, I'm 24 (F) in my last year of uni, and I have two brothers 30(M) and (5M) who live with my parents (Both in their late 50's), who live in the country side. I had been diagnosed with heart disease when I was in highschool and since then things have been tough for me, with losing all my weight and having to go through three different schools just to complete high school because of my health, but since then I have got the hang of taking care of myself and my symptoms, I have gained weight, made it to uni (which was a suprise not only to myself but my teachers as well) and am almost done with uni, and I could not be prouder. However, this past week has been a roller coaster, with thoughts of committing suicide lurking in every corner, I didn't know why at first but after talking to my parents on the phone bits of memories came flooding back to me about how I thought I reached my point of living and that my heart was gonna give out any moment or that it would be better if I'd just off myself with that sharp knife in the corner by slitting my wrists open. You see, my mum had this really bad lung infection the Christmas of 2022 while I was home for the holidays, and I took on most of the responsibility of taking care of her from 5am in the morning to the next morning where I'd sleep at 3am after ensuring she was okay, then wake up to do it all again. Don't get me wrong, I loved taking care of my mum, it made me happy that I could be there when she was at her weakest to lend her the strength and care she deserved after taking care of me all these years. It all happened one afternoon when my brother has come home afted being gone all day and did not even receive an earful from my parents (or mainly my dad) like I did for being out for just 2 hours to unwind from taking care of my mum and nursing her back to health all while not having any contact with friends or the outside world then our yard for almost 2 months, I was called selfish by my dad and told that my actions were stupid that if my mum would die I'd look stupid crying for her just like my mum's sister who chose to go out and meet friends the day her father died, that I was supposed to be at home with mum taking care of her. My dad is a stay at home dad, my older brother dropped out of college and my mum is the sole bread winner of the family. While my mum was sick, my dad would get groceries, attend to church meetings, ensure the yard was kept clean lend a hand when it was needed with caring for mum while my brother ate, slept on time, had time to meet friends, throw his plates in the sink without washing them and not lending a hand with helping mum. Meanwhile I spent my days bathing her, dressing her, feeding her, massaging her body, changing her hot water in her mugs to ensure she stayed hydrated because that's all she could drink without coughing , cleaning her sleeping area and sanitizing it everytime she had to go to bed after a warm bath as well as watching over her as she slept to ensure her pillows were placed in a way that didn't obstruct her airflow all while also ensuring that everyone's laundry was done and put away, food was cooked and served, plates were washed and put away, my little brother was cared for also while doing part of my dad's work around the house to ensure he got enoughg sleep at night, since we lived by the country side there were a lot of chores to do around the house as most of the things were done manually or by hand. I did this until she got back on her feet and was able to do little things around the house without my help. After a week or two when my mum had improved told my parents that I'll be gone the next day after lunch to see my friend and that normally before mum got sick Friday was a free day for me that I get an off day of doing house work. So the day came, I dressed up (I felt pretty after not being able to do that in a whole) and left after ensuring that my big brother was home to assist mum whenever she needed and also checked on my mum to see if she was okay and that she didn't need my help before I stepped out of the house at 2pm. The walk to my friend's house felt like heaven, with sun in my face, the breeze on my face and the skip in my step. I spent the afternoon talking, laughing and having a good time with my friend before going home at 5pm, happy and satisfied that the day had brought me so much joy and relieved my stress. I got and came in with a big Hello, to everyone in the house, my dad didn't say anything, he just sat there looking so mad. And that's when he proceeded to call me selfish and compare me to my mother's sister all while my mother and brother sat there saying nothing, I atleast thought they would've spoken up to say that I needed the break, but they didn't. I cried as ai stood there listening to my dad utter out harsh words until I couldn't listen to him anymore. I proceeded muster up a less shaky voice and said the following "I apologies for going out to see my friend and I apologies mum and dad it won't happen again, but the thing is I needed this, after taking care of mum and the house I just needed a break. My brother gets to go out, meet friend and talk to them and even stay out till late but he never gets scolded but when I do it's different. I do everything in this house, I take care of mum, wash all of your clothes, cook the food, feed you all and even wash up after everything and you big brother can't even wash your own plate or lend a hand. Oh and dad I spend the time I get after mum finally rests during the day to do some of your chores to cut down the amount of time you spend doing them in order for you to get a good night's rest and I go to sleep early in the morning just to wake up after 2 hours and do it all again. So I'm sorry that I had to go out, but I really needed it." After saying all that, I went up to my room and cried the whole night. The next morning I came downstairs at 10am to find my dad washing up and my mum on her phone, it was a quiet day, I thought my brother was in his room, then the we got heard that he had actually left in the morning to go visit my aunt who is a 30 minute drive from our house, where he spent the day hanging out with friends and cousins before coming back home at 6pm with my grandma who came to spend a week with us. My dad upon hearing the news that my brother was had left in the morning just shook his head and said that my brother should have stayed and lend a hand around the house, but after my brother got back I was hoping he'd get the same scolding my dad gave me, well that never happened. I went to my mum and asked her why wasn't daddy scolding my big brother and she did not say anything so I spoke up and said aloud, "wow, so I get a scolding for staying out for just 3 hours but he gets to stay out for an entire day without helping out around here and he gets welcomed home?" I then went to my room because I didn't want them to see the tears that started to fall, then it hit me when I was in my room crying, everything that happened over the years on how differently I was treated, my accomplishments my birthday's and even my sickness. It hit me how differently I was treated, my brother had big graduation foods prepared and his graduations were celebrated from primary all the way to high school and little courses while I just had a well done from my parents even after taking in prices since I was in elementary, thought they'd take me out to eat a celebratory lunch after my high school graduation because it was the hardest part of my life to pass but all I got was a disgusted look and a 'thats what your wearing?' after at my graduation after I took my gown off to take pictures. I can't remember the time I blew out candles for my birthday or when a party was thrown for me, but my brother somehow has a cake for most of his birthdays and he had a really big party once with four big cakes, a whole roasted pig, lots of food and even had all his friends invited. When i reaches the age of 14, the same age he was when my parents threw him a party, I thought I'd have the same too, but I didn't, and still had not one party until I turned 24. The day I turned 23, was a month after my mum got better, I spent the whole day cooking for everyone, was wished happy birthday after realising it was my birthday, I then told them I'd come down to eat later after I take a nap and that they should serve the food and leave mine on the dining table. I came down to find they ate most of the food, and I was only placed only a bit of food in my plate. I got mad and hit my plate on the table with just a little food spilling over, my dad saw this and screamed at me and told me that my future husband would beat me up and that my life will be miserable and bad because of what I did. Well you guessed it, I went back to my room crying, and that blade in my bag looked so tempting against my wrists. I also remember when my brother dropped out of college that I was blamed by my parents, with my dad telling me on my way back from the grocery store that I'm the reason my brother ended up like how he is because they show me too much favour growing up. And when my big brother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after dropping out of college after misuse of alcohol and drugs my mum religiously took to the internet to search for diets, information and everything to do with it until he became better and she continued doing so for every little sickness like flu, meanwhile my heart disease was never on her search list. She even signed up for YouTube videos and lessons on everything to do with my brother health, and mind you my heart disease was diagnosed 6 years before he got bipolar. I left for school after the holidays, still exhausted and stressed from the entire experience. My body had reached its lowest point, I could feel my heart was tired, I was ready to die in my bed in my dorm, I had made peace that if my heart passed out before while rest I'd be okay with it. That's third year of uni was hell for me, my body never really recovered, I kept getting sick, had malaria countless times as well as typhoid three times in a row the same year. The stress combined with with the state of my immunity caused me to be sent to various medical officers and clinics to get my blood samples and x-rays to find what was wrong with me, why after being treated and cured my body felt sick. They thought I had tuberculosis, others thought I had STI's but all tests came back negative, and mind you all these tests cost money and my parents weren't happy with what they were spending for me to get this tests. It came to a point when I called my mum to tell her that I feel really sick and I'm stressed with my assignments, only for her to say "you're always sick, everytime we call you're sick. Don't you know we're tired of this, stop trying to get sick!". I'm tired of getting sick too mum, I thought to myself as I got off the call and stared at the pile of medicine Infront of me prescribed by the doctor as well as my heart meds, and they were too much, my mum's words over the phone kept playing in my head I I got my the blade on my study table and pressed it into my left wrist lightly drew it over to cut the skin, the pain felt soothinf, calming even, then I wondered how it would feel if I placed the knife on my study table and fell on it to pierce my heart, would the pain feel good? Would the thoughts stop? Would mum stop complaining? Would they mis me? What would happen to my body? Then I thought better of it and wrote in my dairy ro stop myself from doing ealxactly that then I was distracted by my medicine Infront of me with thoughts of "they would never know if you take all these and overdose, it'll be a painless death." The remainder of third year continued like these, with sickness and suicide thoughts until I went for job internship at a company I've always wanted to work in and life was good because i didnt for home for the holidays and I spent the holidays at school in my little dorm room with friends who looked out for me. Then 2024 rolled around and I'm properly rested, no stress and I'm happy. That's is until a month ago when my parents bought me my ticket to go back home to see them for the holidays that I spiralled, I had completely locked those memories away, but after every phone call this past month I'm left a crying mess with flashes of words said and feelings felt during that time and I go back to thinking of suicide. I nearly commited suicide on the 16th of may, i was truly gonna go throught with it, I wanted to so bad if only I did not see the bible verses in front of me amd if my roommates hadn't come back early. But I know, if I do go home now, I might actually commit suicide, if something like what happened in the past happens again, or if they say another harsh word, I wouldn't think twice of dying, because I'm done, I truly am.

Hi! So, first of all, I'm from Italy, so sorry in advance for my bad english. And secondly, sorry for the reaaaally long post.
Anyway, I've finally found the courage to try to approach game developing, something I've been wanting to do for years. It will be in my spare time since I've gotta work, but hey I gotta try it now before it's too late for my small brain to learn something new. I don't have the money or time to enter a school, so I'll try to learn as much as possible on my own, following online courses ecc. For the kind of game I have in mind I think I'll go with game maker. I used rpg maker and other "light" softwares many many years ago, completely forgot how to use them, but they wouldn't be flexible enough for my project anyway. So, as far as the game developing software goes, either I learn how to use it or I don't and the project dies right at the start. Fortunately, the gameplay ideas ar not too complicated to realize, but the real obstacle on my path, about which I'm asking for help in this post, is the creation of assets. I'm learning to draw (actually re-learning, I could produce something not too horryfing to look at when I was much younger, then I stopped drawing and now I've got to start over) so that I can create my own assets, since everything will be in 2d and in a kind of hand-drawn style. But still, I'll be real, I know for a fact that I won't be able to make great art, it would be a miracle to make something passable. That's why I'm researching some tools to help me achieve a better look for my future assets and to compensate my lack of skill (and yes, patience too). I know you can buy pre-made assets, but I want to at least try to make my own if I can. We're living in a time where each day there's a massive technological leap that makes a lot easier to achieve things that once were extremely difficult to do, especially with AIs. I studied cinema, so I know some softwares in the video editing field, but I know very little in the game development one, so I'd like to know which softwares could help me in this task. Example: I need to draw the face of a character to show during a dialogue. Even if stylized, I have (and fear I'll always have) difficulties drawing a face from scratch, like actually imagining it in my head. With ai tools I can generate some faces based on facial features and decorations given by me in the prompt, pick some pieces here and there from different results, toy with them in photoshop (I'm pretty skilled with ph) and drawing over the final result, adding my own ideas to it. It would also be useful to find a software that, starting from a "plain" expression makes other expressions (you can somewhat do that in photoshop too). Obviously I'd redraw every change, but it would be a starting point. Other example: I found this software that offers a massive help in creating a sprite sheet starting from a single drawing. Yes, you still have do make some corrections, that I can do, while animating it from scratch it's a different story https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iUks4wuYkUU
I've been ranting for too much, let's wrap this up by describing briefly what kind of game I'm designing, so that you know what kind of tools could be useful. But generally speaking I'm open to any tool that you might find useful, you never know what I could need for future projects. Anyway, the best way to put it would be an extremely story-driven game like To the moon (with a hand-drawn style, not in pixel art), but with a lot of dialogue options and some "actual" (not in an offensive way, I love Too the moon lol) gameplay, not only puzzles. It would be visualized from a semi top-down view, so I'll need to think about everything from that perspective, other than cut-scenes and dialogues. As for the cut-scenes I think I'll just have to draw the single moments and cross-fade them; as for the dialogues there will always be a small portrait of the face of the character who's speaking.
I hope it's clear what I'm looking for. Aaaaand now let's see what you come up with :)
P.S. I know that AIs are a sticky subject and I couldn't summarize in this post what I think of them. Let's just say that I think that for a small, self-published project their use is justified as long as the raw asset produced by them is reworked so much by the artist to the point that he/she made it their own. Artists have always used collages and references to help create original artwork, so I see them as a starting point, especially for unskilled individuals like me, not as a final product, at least if you're profiting out of your project. If your project is completely free, eh, you could get a pass depending on the circumstances. If you're a big company and you're using AIs to avoid paying an actual artist, well you can go f yourself :) But this is not the point of my post

Just what the title says. This is a half rant/half what the actual fuck do I do type of post.
Basically we're all 18, I'm a female the other two are a guy and a girl, all highschool seniors, yes this is petty highschool drama I'm sorry.
This year in general has been pretty shit for me, with a serious blow of mental stuff, family, eating disorder and school, bad relationship I left and my friend group situation has been uncomfortable for awhile.
We've all been pretty close for awhile and friends since elementary school. Some people think we're dating each other, it's annoying but whatever. I've never had romantic feelings for either of them to be very very clear. Strictly platonic.
My friend Markus has had a crush on Ava for awhile. The last several months he's called me several times for hours talking about his crush on her, either what she said that day, what she texted him, if he has a chance, asking me to help take good photos of him to send to her, asking about stuff she likes, should he ask her out, etc etc etc. sometimes late into the night asking for advice. Point is, he's talked my ear off about his crush (which I'm fine with and glad he was comfortable enough to talk to me about it).
Ava implied she wasn't into him (described a different type than him, said she would never date anyone in our school, would maybe try dating apps after highschool, and that Markus seemed a little fruity - which people assume a lot but no he's straight). When Markus asked me if he had a chance, I said no and was brief but mentioned the points above that I figured he didn't have a chance.
Issues started a few months ago whenever we would hang out as a group it felt like I was the third wheel with them talking about stuff I didn't know about, me constantly stuck behind them when walking together, they kept asking me to sit in the back in the cars, small shit like that. Sometimes they would make plans to hang out and not invite me even if I was sitting right there. A few months ago I did mention "hey, dude if you guys wanna hang out individually that's fine, but just don't do that in front of me, kinda hurts and it's not very nice. Its fine if you guys wanna hang out individually, but just don't make the plans in front of me." They mentioned I should just know to self invite but eventually Markus admitted he himself has been in that situation and agreed self inviting is tacky and an uncomfortable position to be in.
It started again with the above and I just felt too uncomfortable to say anything. Fast forward to senior prom, they upset me a lot. There was a guy I was sorta talking to that I found really cute. They dragged me by my arms (with me kicking, yelling and tripped over the chairs) to talk to him. Like hoisted me by my arms. I managed to break free and run off. Markus caught up to me and told me "hey I spoke with the guy you like, he said he has a crush on you too!" I didnt believe him at first but he swore up and down that he was telling the truth. Ava didn't hear Markus say this stuff but still tried to drag me again. So I walked over to said guy, and it becomes extremely apparent quickly that Markus lied just to get me to talk to him. It becomes really awkward and humiliating and I cried at prom that night. Markus apologized later and said he took it too far by lying about that stuff. Ava never apologized.
We went to a nearby city for prom weekend, I paid for the hotel for all three of us. Same stuff happens where I feel like the third wheel. Whatever, life moves on.
Recently I felt again like I was being excluded and I was just so frustrated. They brought me over today and told me they started dating 2 weeks ago. I was like WTF? And they said Ava had lied to me and was just nervous about her crush on Markus (which is fair, it's her privacy) and Markus was the one who said to wait on telling me about them dating. Then he teased me about being single. Which sucks because they often tease me about being a boy hopper (which idk, I don't feel like I agree with that but whatever). He bragged about him getting more pull than me because I'm single and he's not now.
Idk, I'm just frustrated. Frustrated that I wasn't told which I also understand because it's their relationship and their privacy but also just frustrated because I felt so excluded these last few months and it would've been nice to have not wasted all that emotion being upset about being excluded. Had I known from the start that they were more seriously talking ish with each other maybe I wouldn't have felt so hurt these last few weeks because then I would've known it was because they were dating and not because they were trying to exclude me? But also I just feel frustrated in general and I don't know how to navigate this friendship at this point.
I'm also frustrated about the comments about me being single. I got out of some pretty horrible relationships before (which they know about, there was physical, verbal and sexual abuse involved in a good portion of them). I also just feel frustrated because of what happened at prom where they ganged up on me to drag me to the guy and it bexame so awkward that we haven't really spoken since (it's been a few weeks). Markus said he was being helpful because at least now I know he doesn't like me that way, but it would've been nice to find that out in my own terms, and not through being humiliated. Markus already apologized for that lying part, and there's nothing really to do other than Apologize so it feels wrong to hold it against him because I do know he's sorry and that he wouldn't pull that stunt again.
I don't wanna hold it against Ava because I didn't talk with her after about how it bothered me so that's why she didn't apologize, and she also had good intentions (to have me stop being shy). Not saying what she did was right, but I'm hoping it was through good pure intentions.
Idk, this is also half a vent bexausw I'm just so frustrated but I also don't know what to do.

In your guys' opinion, which American politician do you think is the most anti-LGBT and why?
In my opinion, I think Roy Moore is by far the most anti-LGBT politican (thank god he lost the 2017 Senate election) because aside from him being a pedophile, there are some other facts that make him the biggest piece of shit to ever exist:

• Moore believes that homosexuality should be illegal, has argued that same-sex couples are unfit to raise children, and that openly gay individuals should be prohibited from serving in government, and that the legitimization of various forms of "sodomy" may cause suffering in the United States. He believes that homosexuality goes against "the laws of nature" and stated it is comparable to bestiality and incest.
• In 1996, while he was presiding over a divorce case, Moore ruled that a mother who had a lesbian affair would lose custody of her children to the father and that she wouldn't be allowed to visit her children unless she was supervised. Moore wrote in his ruling, "The court strongly feels that the minor children will be detrimentally affected by the present lifestyle of [Mrs. Borden] who has engaged in a homosexual relationship during her marriage, forbidden both by the laws of the State of Alabama and the Laws of Nature."
• In 2002, Moore issued a controversial opinion that expressed his belief that the State should use its powers to punish homosexual behavior and that a parent's homosexuality should be a deciding factor in determining which parent gets custody over children, by stating: "Homosexual behavior is a ground for divorce, an act of sexual misconduct punishable as a crime in Alabama, a crime against nature, an inherent evil, and an act so heinous that it defies one's ability to describe it. That is enough under the law to allow a court to consider such activity harmful to a child."
• In 2016, Moore was suspended (again) from the Alabama Supreme Court for instructing state probate judges to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples, in contravention of Obergefell v. Hodges. Moore said that the Obergefell ruling was worse than the Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling (which declared that African-Americans whether enslaved or free, were property and could not be American citizens).
• In August 2017, Moore suggested that 9/11 was a punishment by God for Americans' declining religiosity. Moore has also suggested that the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, which killed 28 people (including 20 children), was "because we've forgotten the law of God". Moore has also said that suffering in the United States may be because we legitimize sodomy.
• In November 2017, Moore suggested transgender people "don't have rights".
• Moore has called for banning Muslims from serving in Congress, described Islam as a "false religion" and made unsubstantiated claims about Sharia law in the United States.

Hey everyone! I’m Madeline 19F, and I’m looking for a long-term, role-play partner! I’ve been role-playing for about five years and I’m interested in doing something drama and romance based. I write in the first (sometimes third) person with FxA. I don’t have many requirements for my partner, but here are my top four asks:
-18+
-Can write 2 or more paragraphs Detail is a must!
-Creativity. I love partners who think outside the box with all sorts of plot twists and make the story there’s as much as it is mine!
-Literacy. Pretty self-explanatory.
I would also love someone who communicates with me rather than ghosts me when something isn't to their liking. Communication is key and I would love the story to be yours just as it is mine. I love incorporating ideas from both parties. <3
Right now, I'm looking for a partner that’s interested in doing an imbalance power-dynamic role play.
My DMs are open, so if I piqued your interest at all, feel free to message me, and all I ask is that you put effort into what you’re saying to me.
Here’s my idea:
My brother and I were complete opposites. He was a ruthless mafia leader while I was…well me. I was fragile, sensitive, and just really weak to put it bluntly. Practically the complete opposite of what I was expected to be. That’s why he, Jacob, was so protective over me. He never put me in dangers way instead he took all the precautions when our parents died. He took me out of high school and trapped me in. I wasn’t allowed to leave, have access to the internet, or do anything that included other people knowing I existed. The only reason he did this was because he had tons of rivalry, The only reason he did this was because he had tons of rivalry, he knew if they knew about me they’d do about anything to hold me for ransom. It made sense. I questioned him the first few months but got used to it. You were his right hand and the only person he let around me. The both of you have known each other practically since elementary and built this whole empire together. Despite that I never actually spoke more than two sentences to you. Not because I hated you or anything but because you intimidate me and I tend to shy away from people like that, including my brother. He never spoke to me too much anyway so it wasn’t like it mattered either way. A couple months ago things actually took a turn for our relationship when I built up the confidence to have a conversation with you. I liked you for a while so I thought maybe I had a chance? Ever since then we surprisingly got closer behind my brothers back and that developed into a romantic relationship - My brother was downstairs in a meeting with a few other people talking about a possible drug trade and what-not. Despite being told to stay in my room I came downstairs with a small pout on my face, “Jacob,” I called out. In the midst of speaking he paused once he heard my voice from outside. He rubs his face and turns to you, “Do you mind helping me out with this one?” He asks, “Just take her back to her room and see what she wants.” He whispers, crossing his arms.
This is obviously very open-ended, there’s a lot of room for plot twists and drama.
(I’m open to brainstorming as well!)

Live Music

• Gary Douglas Campbell, The Cellar Upstairs Wine Bar & Restaurant, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Joe Targove, Backyard Island Cafe at Meehan's, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• Redfish Rich, Conch House Marina Resort, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• David Watt Besley, Aunt Kate's, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• Lonesome Bert's Thick and Thin String Band, Marina Munch, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Dewey Via Band, Fish House & Oyster Co., 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Jonathan Lee Dotson, Embassy Suites by Hilton, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Fond Kiser, Oasis Deck & Restaurant, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Josh Ford, Schooner's Seafood House, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Ivan Smith, Guy Harvey Resort, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Heather Craig, Crabby's Beachside, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Denny Blue, Kingfish Grill, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Caleb Joye, The Cellar Upstairs Wine Bar & Restaurant, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Duffy Bishop Band, Fuzion 904 Eatery, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Aaron Esposito, O.C. White's Seafood, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Allen Arena, Hurricane Patty's Bar and Grill, 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
• Micah Gilliam, Chez L'Amour, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• ZaZa Flamenca, River & Fort, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Alexis Peramas, Pierre's Pub, 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm
• Baba Caiman, Colonial Oak Music Park, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• One Good Ring, Mellow Mushroom — Murabella, 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Mike Cook, Meehan's Irish Pub & Seafood House, 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
• One Good Ring, Mellow Mushroom — Anastasia Island, 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Annie Dukes, Pierre's Pub, 8:00 pm – 8:45 pm
• Smokin' Joe Schauer, Mr. Chubby's Wings, 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm
• HORNIT, Tradewinds Lounge, 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
• Fortune Child, Pierre's Pub, 9:00 pm – 9:45 pm
• House Cats, Stogies Cigar Bar, 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
• El Castillo, Pierre's Pub, 10:00 pm – 10:45 pm
• Cumberland, Prohibition Kitchen, 10:00 pm – 12:00 am

Kiwanis Club Trot & Walk

• Kiwanis Club of St. Augustine hosts a Family Fun Trot & Walk event to raise money for their foundation to help those less fortunate. The one-mile walk around the Osceola Elementary School field and other activities will start at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
• Kiwanis Club, a service organization, supports outreach programs worldwide, including ones that benefit struggling children and families. Participants will make a difference in someone's life while also enjoying the bounce house, games, and food trucks onsite.
• Many community partners participate and sponsor this event. Sponsorships are available, and donations are much appreciated. Check the website for more information about these opportunities.
• Admission: Entry is $10.00. Children 12 years old and younger are free.
• When: Check-in is at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. The opening ceremony is at 8:20 a.m., with the walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the ribbon ceremony following at 9:15 a.m.
• Where: It will be at the Osceola Elementary School multipurpose field, located at 1605 Osceola Road, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

# Amphitheatre Farmers Market

• The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market offers visitors a variety of goods such as local fresh produce, handmade arts and crafts, baked goods, plants directly off the farm, freshly-caught seafood, cheeses, and more. The farmers market makes for a morning of family-friendly fun with live entertainment on select dates.
• In addition to the impressive variety of organic produce offered by local farmers, a number of local artists and craftspeople also display their wares at the market.
• Admission: FREE
• Where: St. Augustine Amphitheatre located at 1340 A1A South St. Augustine, FL 32080.
• When: Every Saturday morning from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm.

# Fort Mose Militia Muster & Training

• Fort Mose Historic State Park hosts Militia Muster and Training on the first Saturday of each month — except for July.
• The Fort Mose Militia bring the 18th century back to life by practicing their firing drills, and by teaching new members historic weapons use and safety. Park visitors witness the weapons demonstrations, which include musket firings. This unique experience provides great photo opportunities and is a wonderful way to spend a day enjoying a state park.
• Admission: The program itself is free. Admission into the Visitor Center is $2.00 for adults and free for children under six.
• When: The first Saturday of each month (except July) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Where: Fort Mose Historic State Park is located at 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

I am unable to post the sources because they are getting flagged as spam since they are all similar in name. So please visit this site for the list.
Written out urls here tinyurl.com/yjkw32kd

For future events please visit the Discord.

https://discord.gg/NG4eZSWAgR

Live Music

• Gary Douglas Campbell, The Cellar Upstairs Wine Bar & Restaurant, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Joe Targove, Backyard Island Cafe at Meehan's, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• Redfish Rich, Conch House Marina Resort, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• David Watt Besley, Aunt Kate's, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• Lonesome Bert's Thick and Thin String Band, Marina Munch, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Dewey Via Band, Fish House & Oyster Co., 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Jonathan Lee Dotson, Embassy Suites by Hilton, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Fond Kiser, Oasis Deck & Restaurant, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Josh Ford, Schooner's Seafood House, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Ivan Smith, Guy Harvey Resort, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Heather Craig, Crabby's Beachside, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Denny Blue, Kingfish Grill, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Caleb Joye, The Cellar Upstairs Wine Bar & Restaurant, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Duffy Bishop Band, Fuzion 904 Eatery, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Aaron Esposito, O.C. White's Seafood, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Allen Arena, Hurricane Patty's Bar and Grill, 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
• Micah Gilliam, Chez L'Amour, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• ZaZa Flamenca, River & Fort, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Alexis Peramas, Pierre's Pub, 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm
• Baba Caiman, Colonial Oak Music Park, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• One Good Ring, Mellow Mushroom — Murabella, 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Mike Cook, Meehan's Irish Pub & Seafood House, 8:00 pm – 12:00 am
• One Good Ring, Mellow Mushroom — Anastasia Island, 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Annie Dukes, Pierre's Pub, 8:00 pm – 8:45 pm
• Smokin' Joe Schauer, Mr. Chubby's Wings, 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm
• HORNIT, Tradewinds Lounge, 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
• Fortune Child, Pierre's Pub, 9:00 pm – 9:45 pm
• House Cats, Stogies Cigar Bar, 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
• El Castillo, Pierre's Pub, 10:00 pm – 10:45 pm
• Cumberland, Prohibition Kitchen, 10:00 pm – 12:00 am

Kiwanis Club Trot & Walk

• Kiwanis Club of St. Augustine hosts a Family Fun Trot & Walk event to raise money for their foundation to help those less fortunate. The one-mile walk around the Osceola Elementary School field and other activities will start at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
• Kiwanis Club, a service organization, supports outreach programs worldwide, including ones that benefit struggling children and families. Participants will make a difference in someone's life while also enjoying the bounce house, games, and food trucks onsite.
• Many community partners participate and sponsor this event. Sponsorships are available, and donations are much appreciated. Check the website for more information about these opportunities.
• Admission: Entry is $10.00. Children 12 years old and younger are free.
• When: Check-in is at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. The opening ceremony is at 8:20 a.m., with the walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the ribbon ceremony following at 9:15 a.m.
• Where: It will be at the Osceola Elementary School multipurpose field, located at 1605 Osceola Road, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

# Amphitheatre Farmers Market

• The St. Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market offers visitors a variety of goods such as local fresh produce, handmade arts and crafts, baked goods, plants directly off the farm, freshly-caught seafood, cheeses, and more. The farmers market makes for a morning of family-friendly fun with live entertainment on select dates.
• In addition to the impressive variety of organic produce offered by local farmers, a number of local artists and craftspeople also display their wares at the market.
• Admission: FREE
• Where: St. Augustine Amphitheatre located at 1340 A1A South St. Augustine, FL 32080.
• When: Every Saturday morning from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm.

# Fort Mose Militia Muster & Training

• Fort Mose Historic State Park hosts Militia Muster and Training on the first Saturday of each month — except for July.
• The Fort Mose Militia bring the 18th century back to life by practicing their firing drills, and by teaching new members historic weapons use and safety. Park visitors witness the weapons demonstrations, which include musket firings. This unique experience provides great photo opportunities and is a wonderful way to spend a day enjoying a state park.
• Admission: The program itself is free. Admission into the Visitor Center is $2.00 for adults and free for children under six.
• When: The first Saturday of each month (except July) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Where: Fort Mose Historic State Park is located at 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, Florida 32084.

I am unable to post the sources because they are getting flagged as spam since they are all similar in name. So please visit this site for the list.
Written out urls here tinyurl.com/yjkw32kd

For future events please visit the Discord.

https://discord.gg/NG4eZSWAgR

I’m looking for a show I used to watch where contestants were in a Saw like room and had to guess phrases from pictures or license plates. I believe they are called rebus puzzles.
I would watch it in Canada, I believe it was filmed in the states.
For example: -—— READ ———
Would be read between the lines.
Any help would be amazing as it’s driving me crazy!
EDIT: This show was also on somewhere roughly in 2009-2015.

Chapter 27: Supply and Treachery at the Station
As the Great Human Convoy prepares for its most daring venture yet, Inspector Xilthar, with a newfound sense of purpose, navigates the bureaucratic labyrinth of the Hub Station. His efforts are not in vain; he secures a squad of the notorious Florida Men as his personal guard and orchestrates the clearance for Convoy members to engage in trade on the station.
The station's market sector is a hive of activity, with groups from the Convoy mingling with station residents and traders from across the galaxy. The air is thick with the scent of exotic spices and the hum of bartering voices.
In a secluded corner of the market, Bubba, the enigmatic mechanic, haggles over a bulk order of power transfer units. His companions, Bobby and Jeff, exchange puzzled glances and quips.
Bobby: "I tell ya, The last time I saw this many power units, I thought I was at a robot's family reunion! So, Bubba, what's with the mountain of power units? You building a second Convoy or what?"
Bubba: (just shrugs, giving a knowing smile)
Jeff: "I tell ya, man, that Bubba's like one of them... them dang ol' prophets, man. Sees the future or somethin', man."
Bobby: "Yeah, and I'm the King of Mars. Seriously, Bubba, give us a hint!"
Bubba: (points to the power units, then to his head, and finally makes a gesture of something expanding)
Jeff: "Dang ol', boom, man! Like, mind blown, man. He's sayin' it's gonna be big, Bobby. Real big."
Bobby: "Big, huh? Last time Bubba said something was gonna be big, we ended up with a new distillery wing on the Hodgepodge."
Jeff: "Yeah, man, that was a dang ol' good time, man. Moonshine so strong, you could fuel a starship with it, man."
Bobby: "Alright, Bubba, we trust you. But if this thing blows up, I'm blaming you for the hangover."
Bubba: (just nods, still with that mysterious smile)
Jeff: "Mm-hmm, man, I tell you what, man, that dang ol' Bubba, man, he's like one of them, I say, chess players, man, thinkin' 'bout next move and all that, man."
Despite their confusion, they trust in Bubba's mysterious foresight, knowing that his intuition has never steered the Convoy wrong.
The scene is lively, with hawkers pushing everything from advanced nanotech to basic tools and hardware stretching out before the Chessmaster's holographic form , projected from her 'inside' drone, built with the help of Glark and Bubba, standing as a beacon of calm amidst the bustling crowd. Her group, a collection of the Convoy's finest minds and hands, disperses into the station's sprawling Tech District, each member on a quest for components that will bolster the fleet's capabilities.
The Chessmaster, with her avatar's hands clasped behind her back, surveys the scene. Her digital eyes flicker with calculations as she delegates tasks to her team.
Chessmaster: "Remember, we're not just looking for parts. We're looking for potential. Each piece must fit into the greater design of our Convoy's future."
Glark: (nodding) "Understood. Efficiency and synergy, that's the game."
Hamtonio: (revving his hovercycle) "And a bit of haggling for good measure!"
The Chessmaster smiles, a rare display of 'emotion' from an AI, as her team scatters like pieces on a chessboard, each moving with purpose.
Scene: The Shielding Vendor
Glark and Hamtonio find themselves at a stall, its vendor boasting a shielding system that could protect a small moon.
Glark: "Impressive specs. But can it adapt to fit a moving fleet?"
Vendor: "Absolutely! It's the latest model. It can even recalibrate on the fly in response to spatial anomalies."
Hamtonio: (whispering to Glark) "We'll take it. But let's play it cool, get a better price."
After a series of technical questions and light-hearted banter, they secure the shielding system at a fair price, their excitement contained but eyes gleaming with the success of their find.
Dawn and the Flower Girls weave through the stalls of the Green Market, their laughter mingling with the chatter of the crowd. Dawn, in a sedate purple ensemble, and the Flower Girls, draped in their colorful robes, exchange stories and laughter with the vendors as they peruse the stalls.
Dawn: "So, Marigold, any new tales from the Convoy?"
Marigold: "Oh, Dawn, you wouldn't believe the rumors swirling around! They say there's a ghost haunting the lower decks of the Shining Princess."
Dawn: (smiles) "A ghost, you say? Perhaps it's just one of the goats playing tricks again."
The Flower Girls giggle, sharing knowing looks as they continue their shopping, their baskets filling with exotic plants and spices.
Dawn: "Marigold, have you heard about the new hydroponic tech they're showcasing?"
Marigold: "I have, and I'm more interested in the stories the plants could tell. Imagine the gardens we could grow!"
Their conversation is a blend of technical expertise and whimsical musings.
As the day progresses, the Chessmaster's team reconvenes, each member returning with their treasures. The Chessmaster reviews their acquisitions, her avatar nodding in approval.
Chessmaster: "Well done, everyone. Today, we've secured not just parts, but promises of a stronger, safer journey. Let's return to the Convoy and begin the next phase of our work."
The group heads back to the fleet. The Convoy's departure may not be imminent, but when the time comes, they will be ready to face the stars as one.
W'ham B'ham's towering presence is unmistakable as she enters the auction house. Her hand-forged weapons, relics of a bygone era, draw the eyes of collectors and historians alike.
Auctioneer: "Ladies and gentlemen, These are not merely weapons; they are masterpieces from the hands of A Void Dragon Forgemaster herself!"
W'ham B'ham: (nods silently, her weapons displayed proudly)
The crowd murmurs with excitement. Collectors lean forward, their eyes gleaming with avarice and admiration.
Collector 1: "I'll start the bidding at five thousand credits!"
Collector 2: "Ten thousand!"
The numbers climb furiously, each bid outdoing the last as the collectors engage in a fierce battle of wealth and desire.
Collector 3: "Twenty thousand credits!"
The room falls silent. The bid is unprecedented, but these are no ordinary pieces of metal; they are echoes of the forge, resonating with the skill and dedication of their equally rare creator.
W'ham B'ham watches from the back, her expression unreadable. The blades were a part of her routine, a means to keep her skills honed. Yet here they are, commanding a price that speaks of their true value.
Auctioneer: "Going once, twice... Sold for twenty thousand credits!"
The gavel falls, and the deal is sealed.
Once the dust has settled, W'ham B'ham's blades have found new homes, and the credits she receives are more than enough to acquire the advanced servos she needs to boost her EVA suit's strength twofold.
Accompanied by his bodyguards, exploring deep in the archives, Xilthar's keen eyes catch a discrepancy in the docking logs, a thread that unravels to reveal a web of deceit. Admiral Vortan, a high-ranking official with a polished record, stands at the center of this web. Xilthar, invoking little-known ordinances, calls for a full investigation, his voice echoing through the corridors of power.
Xilthar: "Under Galactic Council Statute 47-C, I hereby initiate an investigation into the misuse of authority and resources within the governance and military sectors."
Thus the gears of order begin grinding, seeking to remove the corruption. One side effect is the military fleet is broken free and begin heading towards the rendezvous.
As the investigation gains momentum, danger lurks. An assassin, cloaked in the anonymity of the crowd, fires at Xilthar. But Sgt. Leroy Jenkins dives in the way of the shots, covering his ward.
Sgt. Jenkins: "Get down, Inspector!"
Guns blaze, and Jenkins's shield flickers with each impact, his nanites working overtime to repair the damage that makes it through.
Jenkins makes sure the Inspector is safe, and screams out his name as the madman charges full speed at the assassin who breaks and runs. Jenkins disappears into the crowd in hot pursuit.
Later, at Xilthar's safe house, the mood is somber until Jenkins arrives, with a hover kart loaded with buckets of fried chicken. The team gathers, the scent of comfort food mingling with the tension in the air.
Jenkins: "Nothing like a little chicken to patch up the holes, eh?"
Xilthar: (smiles weakly) "I suppose every cloud has a silver lining... or a greasy one, in this case."
Jenkins: "And look what I found. ID codes for a bounty on your head. Seems you've ruffled some feathers, Inspector." He tosses a datachip onto the table.
Xilthar's resolve hardens. It's time to strike the final blow against the bureaucracy and seek refuge with the Convoy.
On the Convoy, over the Comms, Jeb: "First time with a bounty on yer head? Welcome to the club, Inspector!"
MetalHead: "Heh, you get used to it. Just another day in the life of a spacefarer."
Suicide Jockey: "Bounties? Oh, I've had my share. Ended up claiming them all, too. But you don't wanna know about that part." He gives a slightly unhinged grin,
Xilthar: "I'm beginning to think I've chosen the wrong career."
The banter lightens the mood, and Xilthar finds camaraderie in this motley crew as he prepares to show everyone the men behind the curtain.

Weekend Events
Manhattan Project B Reactor Tours The B Reactor National Historic Landmark, Richland Daily, 8:30a-12:30p Free
Petting Zoo/Hobby Farm Jostens Petting Zoo 10a $8
Mushroom Fest Adventures Underground, Richland 10-7p Fri-Sun
Auditions for Disney's Newsies The Broadway Musical ACT, Richland June 3 & 4 3-6p
Slamtastic IV - Indoor 3on3 Tournament Mid Columbia Hoops, Richland June 1 & 2 8a-5p
Friday May 31
Events
Opening Weekend Rise & Shine Bake Shop, Kennewick 9a-4p
CBC Dental Hygiene Club Fundraiser Red Robin 11a-8p
Huge Yard Sale First Lutheran Church, Kennewick 9a-3p
A Drag Queen Hoedown Out & About, Pasco 5-9p $15
Classes
Mini Van Gogh class Bristle Art Gallery, Kennewick 6p
Kaizen League Tri-Cities Triple Crown Classic Judges/Referee Clinic Pacific Kicks Tae Kwon Do, Kennewick 7:15p
Apollo Presents Water Follies Spring Splash Playground of Dreams 9a-10p
ImproveIntermediate Level Line Dance Lessons Branding Iron, Kennewick 6-9p
Fck it up with Lacey Lifted Lotus Yoga, Kennewick 6-7:15p $7
Crackle! Boom! Pop! Honeycomb Studio, Kennewick 2p $Unk
Yoga for TC Cancer Center Kaylor Ace Wellness, Richland 11:15a-12:15p $Donation
In Bloom Acrylic Class Yellow Dog Art Studio, Richland 6-8p
Community Healing Through Breath The Studio Bespoke, Richland 6:30-7:30p
Sporting
TC Thunder Twilight Meet #1 (Youth, Open, Masters) Southridge High School, Kennewick 5:30-10:30p
Jet Ski and Boat Rentals Howard Amon Park, Richland 5-6p
Games and Comedy
Solar Spirits Trivia and Taco Truck Solar Spirits Distillery & Tasting Room 6-8p
Karaoke with Pam Rose Tumbleweeds West, West Richland 7-10p
Art Krug Comedy w/ Drew McGrath Jokers Comedy Club, Richland 7:30-9p $12
Macrame Class: Wall Plant Hanger with Metal Hoop Anything Grows, Richland 6:30-8:30p
Music
Ben Naught Iconic Brewing
Fifth Friday Fete Barnard Griffin, Richland 6-8p
EMO Night Rays Golden Lion, Richland 8p
Blue Hour Open Mic Caterpillar Cafe, Richland 6-8p
Dr. ROCK & The Sturgeons At Michelle's, Richland 7-10p
Cindy McKay and Sally O’Neal Emerald of Siam, Richland 5-8p
Live Music with Jack Rothwell Rattlesnale Brewing Co, Richland 7-10p
Live Music with Frazer Wambeke Goose Ridge Winery 5-7p
Saturday Jun 1
Events
Artist Alley at the 23rd Classy Chassy Car Show & Shine Downtown Kennewick 10a-3p
Kids toys, clothes, & shoes release Wood & Neutrals, Kennewick 10a
Everyone's a little gay in June! DSH3 #156 Sam's Saloon, Kennewick 12p
Book signing- Kurtis Dolman Barnes & Noble, Kennewick 12p
Pride Kickoff Moonshot Brewing, Kennewick 12-9p
Cards, Cars & Collectible Show Kennewick Public Market 10a-5p
National Dino Day celebration Gesa Carosel of Dreams, Kennewick 5p
MCBA Field day 3619 W 4th Ave, Kennewick 10a
Food Truck Crawl Summers Hub, Kennewick 11a-8p
The Backyard Festival The Tin Hat, Kennewick 4p $20
Clothes by the bag & $ .75 Pants The Family Resource Center, Kennewick 10a-3p $8/bag
Hot Mess Cool Night Market Hot Mess Burgers & Fries, Kennewick 6-10p
20 Year Anniversary Celebration Hobby Town, Kennewick 11a
Abandoned Vehicle Auction Police Impounds and Private Impounds Rad Towing, Pasco 9a-12p
Cards, Cars & Collectible Show Kennewick Public Market 10a-5p
76th Annual Rose Show Columbia Basin College 1-4p Free
Pride Prom Columbia Basin College 7-11p
Huge Yard Sale First Lutheran Church, Kennewick 9a-3p
DSAMC Flower Planting Play Date Mac's Garden Center, Pasco 11a-1p
National Dino Day celebration Gesa Carousel of Dreams, Kennewick 5p Free
Terrarium Workshop Studio Paloma, Richland 3:30-4:30p
TCAB Recital 2024 John Dam Plaza, Richland 3p
1st Saturday Flight & Bites Lunch Monterosso’s, Richland 11a-1p $Var
Midsummer Festival + Summer Wine Club Release Longship Cellars at Horn Rapids, Richland 1-5p $64
Classes
Orchid Arrangement Workshop It's All In The Details, Kennewick 6-7:30p $75
Prancing Peacock Paint & Sip Art YOUR Way, Pasco 6-8p $42
Como la Flor Selena Paint & Sip The Medusa, Pasco 6-8p $42
STEAM Workshop: Pollinators! Columbia Park Trail, Richland 10a-12p
Hat Burning and Decorating Class Red Mountain Trails, Benton City 2:30-4:30p
Sporting
Level 7 - Mid-Columbia Tennis Junior Spring Championships 2024 Kamiakin High School 8a-4p
Big River Inagural Year Race Big River, Pasco 8a-11a
Outdoor Survival Training by Mid-Columbia 99s Columbia Basin College 9a $99
Summerfest Open Horse Show Franklin County Saddle Club, Pasco 8a-6p
NAMI Tri-Cities Walk Your Way Event 2024 Howard Amon Park, Richland 9a-12p
LAGERS & LUNGES on the lawn Iconic Brewing, Richland 1:30-4:30p
Games and Comedy
Trivia Night with Musical Bingo Aub's Lounge, Richland 5-7:30p
Karaoke Night Wine Social, Richland 8-11p
PRIDE Month Karaoke with Amber Bamber The Emerald of Siam, Richland 5-8p
PRIDE Month Karaoke The Emerald of Siam, Richland 9p-12a
Music
Stompin Ground Outside Longbranch Saloon, Finley 8p
Montez de Durango & Pattulla 81 Rancho De Las Vacas, Pasco 8p $Unk
Jägernauts Rattlesnake Mountain Brewing Co, Richland 7-10p
James Hunnicutt, Yotes Dog Bite Harris and Cory Peterson Ray's Golden Lion, Richland 8p
Frank n' Debi Jazz The Emerald of Siam, Richland 9p
Tresspasser Tumbleweeds West, West Richland 7-10p
Sunday Jun 2
Events
Tri-Cities Pride Festival Peanuts Park, Pasco 12-6p
Pride Night Drag The Emerald of Siam, Richland 7p $Unk
KA 10U Spaghetti Feed Village Bistro, Kennewick 4-6p $20
Father's Day Market/Bazaar Gesa Carousel of Dreams, Kennewick 12-4p
Storm Fest 2024 Ray's Golden Lion, Richland 6:30-11:30
Rest & Reset Day-Long Retreat The Yoga Community, Richland 9:30a-5p $150
Classes
Charcuterie workshop Muret-Gaston Wine Bar, Kennewick 3-4:30p
Beach Sign, Paint Party! D's Wicked Cider, Kennewick 5-7p $39
Food & Wine Pairing Dinner Monterosso's, Richland 5:30p
Sporting
SSSCC Event 6 Tri-City Raceway at RMEC, Benton City 7a-4p
Branded by M - Summerfest Open Horse Show Franklin County Saddle Club, Pasco 7p
Poses and Pours with Trinity Hot Yoga Goose Ridge Estates, Richland 10-11a $50
Games and Comedy
The Pub Prelims 1 The Pub, Kennewick 9p
Music
CBC Spring Choir Concert Columbia Basin College, Pasco 7p
Monday Jun 3
Events
Tri-Cities Pride Festival Peanuts Park, Pasco 12-6p
Transportation Improvement Plan Open House Cafe con Arte, Pasco 4-6p
Classes
Charcuterie workshop Muret-Gaston Wine Bar, Kennewick 3-4:30p
Games and Comedy
Game Night Live Round Table Pizza, Richland 5-7p
Music
Open Mic The Emerald of Siam, Richland 7-11p
Tuesday Jun 4
Events
Transportation Improvement Plan Open House Cafe con Arte, Pasco 4-6p
Future Eagle Day and Open House Heritage University TC, Kennewick 4-6p
Mobile Market (drive thru) 2nd Harvest Eastgate Elementary Kennewick 11a-1p
Silver City Brewery Tap Takeover The Underground Taphouse, Pasco 6-8p
Classes
Birds Of A Feather, Paint-N-Sip Shooters Sports Bar, Kennewick 6:30-8:30p $39
Stepping Stones Class Paws to Play Dog Daycare, Pasco 7:30p
Richland Rod And Gun Club Catfish Seminar Richland Public Library 7p
Sporting
Southridge Volleyball Camp for 6th-8th graders Southridge High School, Kennewick 4:30-7:30p
Music
CBC Orchestra Concert Columbia Basin College, Pasco 7p
Live Music with Siena Christie Wine Social, Richland 6:30-8:30p
Acoustic Night with Steve Carver The Emerald of Siam, Richland 6p
Wednesday Jun 5
Events
Transportation Improvement Plan Open House Cafe con Arte, Pasco 4-6p
Night Market Summer's Hub, Kennewick 5-8p
Life in Richland: Hanford Workers and Their Families Walking Tour The Uptown Theater, Richland 9-11a
Classes
Sips and Stems-Peony Party Richland Dugout, Richland 5:30-6:30p
Big Foot Beach Vacation- Art with Aubrey Crepe Haus + El Compadre, Kennewick 6:30-8:30p $Unk
Sporting
Pride Bowling Spare Time Lanes & Arcades, Kennewick 6-9p
Music
Jazz Jam's Hosted by Collin Wilson The Emerald of Siam, Richland 1p
White Bluffs' Howling Choir Club Performance White Bluffs Elementary, Richland 7p
events can be found on allevents.in and just a note, some events may have tickets required or payment at the door information I was unable to find

-The war of the sister Queens threatens the integrity of the continent, sundering the heavens with the echoes of ancient warfare and vast sorceries. Below the agony of the pain-wracked lands, the earth sings a dirge of remembrance, aching with the sorrow of the deeps at the losses burdened by the hearts of countless innocents. Within its cavernous embrace, an empire struggles against the chains of an indifferent, divine mistress, whose cruel vice threatens the future of countless lives more. It is with bound hands and a newfound height of desperation that the maiden-seers of the hidden empire have reached out for aid, extending their reach to the dreams of those mortals on the surface whose potentials yet resonate with the whispers of power. What mysteries lie just out of sight of the mortal realms, wrapped in the shroud of the unending labyrinth of the subterranean Underdark? And, what hope is there, for outsiders to aspire towards the salvation of the unknown that calls their name in the dark?-
Hello! I’m expensive— student, artist and DM! If the blurb above is of any interest to you, please, consider filling out the following form and hopefully join me for a story of rebellion against the divine and the founding of an empire. I’m a 21+ year old DM, looking for 3-4 players to join me in a campaign to be held over discord, using primarily pbp and occasional voice/music elements to host regular sessions that we will, as a group, settle upon with scheduling. As I am in the EST time zone, I will ask that prospective players consider their own times and availability relative to mine, for ease of planning for all parties involved. My hope is to start players from levels 3-5, and to carry them onward to high-level gameplay by the campaign’s conclusion. I expect players at my table to be flexible, willing to collaborate, and excited to share in a story together!
My DMing style tends to lean more towards the social and puzzle/exploration aspects of the game, but I do not shy away from engaging combat and daring narratives. Some themes I hope to explore with this campaign are as follows; mild horror, mid-to-high fantasy, magical radiation, political instability/rebellion, minor warfare, supernatural elements, and cosmic horror.
If any of this sounds like it’s of any interest to you, feel free to fill out the form below, and let me know! I hope to hear from you, soon.
https://forms.gle/nVnFM74qkh5dR1gA6

There are some truly ridiculous things my elementary and high school have put me through - almost all of these for the sake of uniformity or the church. I am finally free of the bullshittery and I can leave god out of my life for good. I will never hear about him from an authority figure again.

Hello. I'm a 22-year-old guy who is a virgin ( which is normal at this point me thinks.) I feel frustrated with my current situation.
My college situation is not the greatest: this is essentially my 2nd time entering the 2nd year, all because I procrastinate. I wouldn't be surprised if I had ADHD at this point. Maybe I just subconciously hate studying without even knowing it. My mind is poisoned with things like anime and video games. As a person from the Balkan region, it's kind of difficult for me to afford things like consoles, but maybe that was for the best, since I grew up without having anything advanced, aside from a laptop and a Nintendo DS, which were both gifted by other relatives. We were kind of poor back when I was still in like elementary and middle school, but things started looking up for us once high school rolled around; to keep things simple, both of my parents got better jobs.
The english language is something I just tended to gravitate towards all the time, and even acting as well, but I didn't have much of a choice when it came to picking my college for the first time. By the time I finished high, it seemed like I was destined to follow the english path.
My first year of college began when CoVid was a fresh thing. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty going online, but we had no choice but to adapt to the situation really. The following year came and I dropped that responsibility after like 2.5 months, mainly due to 2 reasons: parents constantly fighting and mom getting CoVid (she recovered after a week). I didn't feel great myself; I was actually thinking about ending it all, but then I realized what I'd put others through. Back then my mindset was that nobody would miss me if I were gone; that I'm just an NPC everyone glances at sometimes, and I still feel like that from time to time.
Current me is thinking about leaving the country, regardless if I get to go legitimately or be shoved inside a box and transported there. Any job would do, just so I can start fresh and leave everything behind me. But alas, I'm not that brave, and solutions to problems don't fall of the sky.
I did have some friends in my high school years and before, but most of them treated me poorly; I was pretty naïve (or stupid rather) and pretty vulnerable. I tried my best to ignore the jabs, but even those became hard to manage.
I started playing handball for about 5-7 years. I was good at it, but I quit because one day nobody showed up, not even the coach (he moved to another country to be its player.) I tried football as a kid, but because I got picked on sometimes, I was forced to quit.
My mother is simply the best; we may bickeargue over tiny things, but we genuinely love each other a lot, like a true mother and son, but even she isn't perfect. She shielded me from the world a lot; I was barely going out during night time, hence why I didn't have many friends. The situation right now is the same: no money means no apartment, which means I don't get to be with my peers.
Regarding my dad, I can't say I hate him, but I also don't love him either. I genuinely would not care if something happened to him in thr future (God forbid). As a typical father, he was around, but not enough. He is CONSTANTLY going out of the house, to the point that mom and I just wonder when the f**k is he going to leave the house and leave us alone. I wouldn't be surprised if they divorced either.
I've never been in a relationship. Well, I have, an online one, but even I knew that wasn't meant to last. Conflicting time zones + life things getting in the way made it hard for us to talk to one another. To be fair, we were roleplaying in the beginning (early Instagram was wild back in the day), but then those emotions became real over time. I broke it off after 4 years, because someone had to do it, and we weren't talking all that much anyway. I'm quite shy: I don't have the confidence to just approach girls and ask them for their number or whatever.
I only have 3 actual people I can call true friends at this point: 2 of them I know from the city I go to college (2 years of friendship) and the other one I know through Discord (6 or so years of friendship), and they're the best thing that happened to me; I wouldn't trade them for anything.
As of writing this, my June exams are beginning, with me, as always, not taking it seriously. Going to the gym gives me an excuse to get out of the house and not sit all day in it, and I have been thinking of getting a driver's licence. Cars never really interested me, but I'm going to need a licence in case I fail to get into the next year of college and find a job in my hometown.
Well, I suppose that's all for now. If you have anything to say, please feel free to ask them.

A mesmerizing take on RPGMMO Towny Survival experience with fancy custom items, mobs, bosses, classes, skills, magic and more. PvE Survival with a whole lot more flavorful content!
▣ Embark on an epic journey and choose from several classes with various skills and abilities. Level up RPG style and craft hundreds of unique custom items. Battle dozens of thrilling and diverse mobs, and challenge 40+ new and menacing bosses in an immersive towny experience.
▣ Descend into massive and intricate dungeons. Feel the excitement of each battle and the satisfaction of solving each puzzle. Explore detailed rooms for exclusive loot and unique gear.
▣ Take to the skies flying on dragons and discover dozens of colourful new biomes in the open-world wilderness to build your thriving town using the 300+ vibrant new blocks and furniture pieces. Like music for one's eyes.
▣ Engage in the bustling economy with player shops, auctions as well as functional factories and farms to bring your town to life.
▣ Protect your majestic fortress and riches with land claims and the ability to lock containers. Griefing and stealing are forbidden and can easily be undone.
▣ Enjoy an immersive and captivating experience with new textures, models and sounds, No mods are needed. Simply accept our resource pack on join. We are 100% free to play with no P2W elements.
▣ Realmportal has a decade-long online presence that has an experienced and active owner, mature and responsible staff, and a non-toxic community. We frequently add new updates and value community insight and feedback for new content.
▣ Discord server link: discord.gg/eVvG4ad
▣ Planet Minecraft: https://www.planetminecraft.com/serverealmportal/
▣ Screenshots: https://realmportalmc.xyz/screenshots.html
▣ Website: https://realmportalmc.xyz
Join at: realmportalmc.xyz
Java 1.20.2 / 1.20.4