After a week of not sleeping but still pretending everything is okay, today I woke up and it is “the” day, the day that I cant mask anymore, I cannot even muster a vague smile. I dont want to get up, I dont want to see people. I dont wanna listen, talk, laugh and pretend like Im enjoying myself. I dont want to go outside. I dont want anyone touching me. I want nothing but to cease existing, just for a day.
But its my boyfriend’s birthday. Birthdays are difficult for me anyways, Ive had many birthdays where nobody contacted me, not even my parents. I was emotionally neglected and physically abused as a child. That complex trauma combined with my autism and add. Recipe for disaster. So his birthday. His parents are coming over, and that sounds like literal torture in my ears. We have to spend the day together, do fun stuff, till late at night, sleep together, while all I want is the opposite. The guilt of how that makes me an egotistical and horrible person is also all consuming. This day is not about me. Now I know its all not personal towards my boyfriend but does he? Does he really? Im never sure so im going to have to pretend, and I know its gonna cost me another week of feeling like im feeling today. In the grand scheme of things this is so futile but I can feel like wanting to end it all on days like this, thats how dark it gets.

"I wanted to nab the thief while Exbo here wanted to get his buddy back. Although it was our first meeting, we fought together. That guy may have escaped, but we've decided to battle together from now on. Even if I meet new Pokemon along the way, I will still treat them the same way, because to me...Pokemon are my partners! We work alongside for the same goals, because...we are partners!"
Gold was raised around Pokemon, his home having so many it was known as the Poké House to those in the community. But after a chance encounter leads to his Pokemon being stolen and being the sole witness to a boy stealing Professor Elm's Totodile, Gold gives the police a false description of the thief before setting out with a Pokedex and a Cyndaquil to hunt him down himself. Along the way, Gold demonstrates a deceptive fighting style, often using his cue to send Pokeballs in strange directions and using other members of his team to hide the key play another Pokemon is performing, as well as an ability to nurture the full potential out of any Pokemon from as early as them being in an egg, earning him the moniker of 'the Hatcher'. With these skills, Gold would prove a key player as he faced off against the likes of a revived Team Rocket, a masked man seeking to rewrite time, and even Arceus themselves.
All feats are tagged with the chapter they appear in.

Gold

Physicals

Strength

• Shattered the Masked Man's mask with his cue¹⁷²
• With Silver, holds back a large metal boulder⁹⁸

Durability - Blunt Force

• Kicked in the face by Crystal⁴⁶⁰
• Struck in the back by Whitney's Miltank¹⁰⁵
• Kicked away by Sapphire while in a suit of armour³²⁸
• Hit back by the Masked Man¹⁷²
• Slammed into the ground by Ho-Oh¹⁶⁶
• Sent flying back from Arceus hitting the ground near them⁴⁵³
• Hit away by Arceus⁴⁵⁴
• Kicked by Arceus⁴⁵⁹

Durability - Other

• Thrown about by water as an island sized water construct strikes the Battle Tower³²⁹
• Sent flying into a distant wall by Guile³³⁴
• Bitten on the hand by Silver's Totodile⁹⁸
• Falls a distance onto a beach after his Mantine was struck out of the air by Lugia¹⁴⁸
• Struck by Masked Man's Deliberd's Icy Wind¹¹³
• Caught in Masked Man's Deliberd's Blizzard¹¹³
• Seemingly caught in Jirachi's Doom Desire³³⁴
• Seemingly knocked back by a beam from Arceus⁴⁵⁹

Speed

• Dodges an attack from a group of Bellsprout⁹⁷
• Dodges a beam from a Gyarados¹¹²
• Dodges a beam from Arceus⁴⁵³
• Dodges a spike trap suddenly appearing from a wall⁹⁸
• Saves a girl from an Ursaring strike¹⁰¹

Skill

Cue Shots - Regular

• Curves a Pokeball behind an opponent⁹³
• Hits Aipom's ball to the top of a tree, where they're then released⁹¹
• Hits a fleeing Pokemon with enough force to relocate its jaw¹⁰¹

Cue Shots - Ricochet

• While being swept away in a river in a storm, hits Exbo's ball so it rebounds off of two surfaces and gets him safely to shore⁹⁵
• Bounces a pokeball repeatedly between the walls, ceiling, and floor of a room with a single strike to make several Yanma dizzy¹⁵⁴
• Ricochets a Friend Ball repeatedly around two Pokemon before hitting a Heavy Ball at their two feet, sending both pokeballs to Gold's and Silver's hands respectively¹⁰¹

Other

• Throws his cue to block a pair of shutters from closing on Emerald³²⁸
• Drops a distance onto a board on a rough sea, maintaining balance for a short distance due to it being 'not so different' from skateboarding¹⁴⁶

Intelligence

Battles

• On numerous occasions has used a Pokemon as a distraction while a second Pokemon enacts his actual strategy in secret¹¹¹
• Returns Aibo before curving his ball around an opponent, allowing him to strike their behind⁹³
• Has the other Pokedex holders withdraw their Pokemon before having Aibo ride his skateboard with them at Guile Hideout, allowing all the Pokemon to be released directly on top of him³²⁹
• Throws Aibo in front of a charging Donphan before he uses his tail to pull himself to safety, in that brief moment successfully confusing the Pokemon and causing them to charge into a wall⁹⁶
• Goads a team of Bellsprout into stacking on top of each other, allowing Cyndaquil to take them all out at once⁹⁷
• Has a school of Remoraid attack Lugia's mouth, stopping the legendary from closing it and being able to use Aeroblast¹⁴⁸
• Calculates how long a Pokeball could endure a Dragonite's Hyper Beam, uses the fact that said Hyper Beam is not changing direction in midair to tell that its trainer isn't present to give it orders, and uses this to get the Dragonite to attack in a specific direction and allow Togbo to attack them from behind⁴⁴⁴

Deception

• Drops a straw doll from a tree as a decoy, allowing him to get behind the Masked Man to attack him¹⁰⁴
• Disappears in a smokescreen, intending to drive the Masked Man into pursuing him through a forest, while he had actually climbed a tree so he could climb back down when the coast was clear to save a trainer and his Pokemon¹⁰⁴

Other

• Modifies his skateboard with bike parts¹⁰⁵
• Hits Aipom's ball up a tree to release him before using a heavy pack as a counterweight to lift him up⁹¹
• Uses the fact Yanma have 360 degree vision in a plan to make them dizzy and have one drop a baby¹⁵⁴
• Has Aipom strike the centre of a stack of blocks, allowing the rest of his team to easily smash through the entire stack while they previously were only able to break through a few, winning him the round against a Machamp which could easily smash through stacks on his own⁴⁴³
• Memorizes all the obstacles on a course by going along it the wrong way on his skateboard, allowing him to guide his Togepi around it flawlessly when the Pokemon was blinded⁴⁴²
• Had the foresight to hold onto Emerald's broken mechanical hand, causing Archie to grab hold of it and allowing Gold to let him drop³³⁵

Gear

Pokedex

• His Pokedex shows a Pokemon's strength and attacks⁹⁵
• Identifies four Pokemon at once¹⁰³
• Identifies an attack as the Pokemon is lunging towards him¹⁰³
• Can perform trades with other Pokedex owners¹⁰⁹
• Is capable of tracking the energy of a specific Pokemon the owner has made contact with¹⁴⁹
  • Can't do this if the Pokemon's been caught by someone else⁴⁹
• When three Pokedexes in possession of their true owners are close to each other, all of them make a noise¹⁴⁶

Pokeballs

• Pokemon are held in pokeballs, which have a translucent top which Gold can see Pokemon through⁹³
• They and their Pokemon can return to Gold's hand as he wishes⁹³
• Protect Pokemon from attacks, though they can be destroyed⁴⁴⁴
• Pokemon can move their balls from the inside¹⁰⁷

Cue

• A cue, which he uses to perform trick shots with his pokeballs⁹³
• Clashes with Guile Hideout's sword³²⁹
• Used to quickly change his direction on a skateboard⁹⁶
• Throws it to stop metal shutters from closing on Emerald³²⁸
• Is collapsible³²⁸
• Holds it in his clothes, not his bag¹⁴⁵

Other

• His pokegear allows him to make and take calls⁹⁵
• A pair of goggles, used to protect him from the likes of Exbo's Smokescreen⁹⁸
  • Protect him from Sunbo's Flash¹⁰⁰
• Carries rope to climb up a pagoda⁹⁷
• Uses a skateboard to get around⁹⁵

Other

• Is given the title of 'The Hatcher' by Professor Oak, with him causing a Pichu egg to hatch the instant he touched it¹⁷⁸
  • This ability was developed due to him having lived with Pokemon he considered his family all his life, and allows him to draw out the full potential of a Pokemon¹⁸⁰
  • A Pokemon will have its personality influenced by the emotions felt by Gold as they hatch¹⁷⁹
• Guides his team into winning the Skill, Jump, Stamina, Speed, and Power Pokeathlon courses^442-443
• Despite all his skill, still cheats at pool at a games corner¹⁰⁷

Aibo the Ambipom

As An Aipom

Physicals

• Breaks a block with his tail⁴⁴³
  • When deliberately placing cracks on the centre of the top tile, Aibo could smash through ten plates at once⁴⁴³
• Holds up Gold while clutching a branch with his tail⁹¹ https://imgur.com/a/0NPzvXW
• Lifts up and throws an enormous Snowball⁴⁴²
• Thrown about by water as an island sized water construct strikes the Battle Tower³²⁹
• Struck away by a Donphan's Horn Attack⁹⁶
• Catches a nearby Sunkern in his tail so that Gold can catch them⁹⁹
• Reacts fast enough to catch Gold after the floor's broken beneath them⁹⁷
• Rapidly spins Gold's cue with his tail to enhance Exbo's fire³²⁸

Moves

• Scratch - Aibo repeatedly scratches a foe⁹¹
• Swagger - Confuses a Hoothoot, causing it to attack its trainer instead of falsely calling out that a timer's up⁹²
  • Is briefly in front of a charging Donphan before getting pulled away, with the Donphan getting confused and crashing into a wall⁹⁶
• Double Team - Creates an illusionary duplicate, allowing him to dodge an attack¹¹³
• Agility - Greatly increases Aibo's speed¹⁷²
• Baton Pass - Passes stat increases, such as that gained through Agility, to another of Gold's Pokemon¹⁷²
• Double Hit - Allows him to attack opponents on opposite sides of him at the same time with his tail, and immediately causes him to evolve⁴⁴⁸

Other

• Hears the sound of Unown through a wall in some ruins¹⁰⁰
• Has the ability Run Away⁴⁴²

As An Ambipom

Physicals

• Sent flying back from Arceus hitting the ground near them⁴⁵³
• Poked back by Arceus⁴⁵¹
• Hit by a beam from Arceus⁴⁵⁹

Moves

• Double Hit - Strikes a foe with his tails⁴⁵¹

Other

• Is level 83 and has the Technician ability⁴⁵⁶

Exbo the Typhlosion

As A Cyndaquil

Physicals

• Breaks through a wooden floor⁹⁷
• Gets bitten and scratched by Silver's Totodile⁹⁸
• Intercepts an attack which is about to hit Gold¹⁰³

Moves

• Ember - Shoots a tall pillar of fire from his back, burning Silver's hand while he's hanging on to a tall branch⁹⁴
  • Knocks out a tower of Bellsprout at once⁹⁷
  • Hits back a Primape while boosted by Sunbo's Sunny Day¹⁰⁸
  • Rapidly heats a large metal boulder, allowing Totodile to cool and shatter it with Water Gun⁹⁸
  • Creates a ring of fire around Silver to stop him from escaping⁹⁴
  • Breaks through a wall in a ruin¹⁰⁰
• Tackle - Exbo charges into an opponent⁹⁸
• Smokescreen - Covers an area in obscuring smoke⁹⁸

Other

• Used to cook food for Gold, though he increases the heat and quickly burns it¹⁰⁰
• Can't emit fire while bound up¹⁰⁰

As A Quilava

Physicals

• Alongside Silver's Croconaw and Crystal's Bayleef, stops Lugia's wing from crushing their trainers and hold it up before evolving¹⁴⁸
• Struck by Silver's Croconaw's Water Gun¹¹¹

Moves

• Ember - Works alongside Silver's Croconaw and Crystal's Bayleef to slightly deflect Lugia's Aeroblast¹⁴⁷
• Double Team - Creates an illusory duplicate, making Croconaw bite down on nothing¹¹¹
• Flame Wheel - Creates a wheel of fire around him, catching several Pokemon¹¹⁴

As A Typhlosion

Physicals

• Breaks three blocks with a punch⁴⁴³
  • When Aibo deliberately placed cracks on the centre of the top tile, Exbo could smash through ten plates at once⁴⁴³
• Alongside Silver's Croconaw and Crystal's Bayleef, continues to hold up Lugia's wing to stop it from crushing their trainers¹⁴⁸
• Thrown about by water as an island sized water construct strikes the Battle Tower³²⁹
• Sent flying back from Arceus hitting the ground near them⁴⁵³
• Hit by a beam from Arceus⁴⁵⁹

Moves

• Blast Burn - A stream of fire which, alongside eleven other Pokemon, destroys an island-sized water construct^335-336
  • Seems to knock back Arceus' head⁴⁴²
• With an unnamed fire attack enhanced by Aibo rapidly spinning Gold's cue, creates a powerful blast of fire which knocks back Guile Hideout³²⁸

Other

• Is level 84 with the ability Blaze⁴⁵⁶

Sunbo the Sunflora

As A Sunkern

Physicals

• Bounces extremely high, bringing Exbo's Pokeball up close to a flying Skarmory⁹⁹

Moves

• Flash - Emits a bright light which blinds several Team Rocket grunts and their Pokemon¹⁰⁰
• Growth - Presumably increases Sunbo's strength, though its effect has not been clearly shown¹⁰³
• Mega Drain - Presumably absorbs energy from an opponent, but it's not seen in use¹⁰⁴
• Sunny Day - Increases the power of nearby fire-type moves¹⁰⁸
• Giga Drain - Absorbs the energy of a Magcargo and a Sloking alongside Crystal's Parasect¹⁶⁴

As A Sunflora

Physicals

• Sent flying back from Arceus hitting the ground near them⁴⁵³
• Hit by a beam from Arceus⁴⁵⁹

Moves

• Sunny Day - Increases the strength of Exbo's fire attacks¹⁷²
• Solar Beam - Used off-screen⁴⁵⁹

Other

• Is level 75 with the ability Chlorophyll⁴⁵⁶

Polibo the Politoed

As A Poliwag

Moves

• Water Gun - Sends a Donphan flying back with a stream of water¹⁰⁸

Other

• Draws water from underground while using water type moves¹⁰⁹

As A Politoed

Physicals

• Breaks a block with a punch⁴⁴³
  • When Aibo deliberately placed cracks on the centre of the top tile, Polibo could smash through ten plates at once⁴⁴³
• Alongside Red's Poliwrath, breaks apart Archie's armour³³⁵
• Struck with Guile's knee³³⁵
• Sent flying back from Arceus hitting the ground near them⁴⁵³
• Hit by a beam from Arceus⁴⁵⁹
• Struck by Masked Man's Deliberd's Icy Wind¹¹³
• Caught in Masked Man's Deliberd's Blizzard¹¹³
• Dodges a beam from a Gyarados¹¹²
• Dodges a beam from Arceus⁴⁵³

Moves

• Water Gun - Harms Tyranitar with a stream of water, possibly shooting three streams at once though this could simply be representing how fast Silver's Murkrow is moving to block it¹¹¹
• Whirlpool - Creates a whirlpool at the Lake of Rage to stun a Gyarados¹¹²
  • Uses the destroyed rubble left behind by a giant Piloswine to defeat it, with Silver reasoning that it can do so because the Piloswine's earthquake shockwaves made the solids act like liquids¹¹⁰
• Double Slap - Repeatedly hits an opponent¹¹²
• Dynamic Punch - Polibo lunges forwards with a powerful punch¹¹³
• Hypnosis - Puts a crowd of Pokemon to sleep at once¹⁶⁶
• Perish Song - Instantly knocks out Masked Man's Delibird, but also knocks out Polibo himself¹⁷²
• Bounce - Used off-screen⁴⁵⁹

Other

• Is level 80 with the ability Water Absorb⁴⁵⁶

Sudobo the Sudowoodo

Physicals

• Lifts up a large piece of rubble¹⁶⁶
• No-sells Whitney's Miltank's Tackle and Exbo's Ember¹⁰⁵
• Sent flying back from Arceus hitting the ground near them⁴⁵³
• Hit by Silver's Ursaring's Fury Swipes¹¹¹
• Bitten by Ho-Oh¹⁶⁶
• Hit by a beam from Arceus⁴⁵⁹

Moves

• Focus Punch - Strikes a Rhydon, knocking it out¹⁰⁶
• Low Kick - He extends his leg forwards at crazy angles, tripping up an opponent¹¹¹
  • Seemingly used fast enough to create afterimages⁴⁵⁵
• Dynamic Punch - Lunges forwards with a powerful strike which breaks stone¹¹¹
• Mimic - Sudobo uses the move his opponent's most recently used, allowing him to trade Fury Swipe blows with Silver's Ursaring¹¹¹
• Mud Slap - Throws up mud in a failed attempt to hold off Ho-Oh¹⁶⁶
• Flail - After being bitten by Ho-Oh, sends the legendary flying away¹⁶⁶
• Rock Tomb - Used off-screen⁴⁵⁹

Other

• Is level 78 with the ability Sturdy⁴⁵⁶
• Is capable of growing to create a highly convincing tree disguise, shrinking when revealing himself¹⁰⁶
  • Tricks a Gligar into landing on him like this in order to catch it¹⁰⁷

Togebo the Togekiss

As A Togepi

Physicals

• Immediately after hatching knocks Gligar back a short distance before getting hit away¹⁰⁷
• Seemingly endures part of a Dragonite's Hyper Beam after the Pokeball took the brunt of the attack (with said beam being able to destroy stone), then takes out the Dragonite with an attack to the back of the head⁴⁴⁴
• Struck away by a Dotrio⁴⁴²
• Sent flying back from Arceus hitting the ground near them⁴⁵³
• Struck away by Arceus before being hit point-blank by a beam⁴⁵⁹
• Hit by a beam from Arceus⁴⁵⁹

Moves

• Metronome - Uses a random move, in its debut appearance hitting a Gligar with a beam strong enough to knock them out¹⁰⁷
• Double Edge - Pierces into a Tyranitar's foot, taking it down¹¹¹

Other

• Is level 81 with the ability Hustle⁴⁵⁶
• Runs at full pelt around an obstacle course, following Gold's commands to dodge obstacles⁴⁴²
• Is a delinquent from birth due to Gold taking them to Game Corners while they were still an egg¹⁰⁷

As a Togekiss

Physicals

• Flies carrying Gold⁴⁶⁰

Moves

• Double Edge - Charges into Arceus, staggering them⁴⁵⁹

Tibo the Mantine and 20 Remoraid

Moves

• Water Gun - The Remoraid all blast Lugia with streams of water, forcing its mouth to stay open¹⁴⁸

Other

• Flies through the air with Gold hanging on with his cue¹⁴⁷

Pibu the Pichu

Moves

• Enhanced by Raikou's power, releases a powerful electric blast dubbed Super Rising Thunder to attack Pryce¹⁸⁰

For context, I've recently completed season 2
Judging by how impulsive and emotional (angry) he can be, you would think he would've considered smoking at some period of time and gotten hooked to it
But not once do we see Doakes smoke. Almost every main character has smoked at one point but not Doakes. We haven't seen him drink either
This makes me believe that he was as cold as Dexter but put on that mask to hide that.
& no guys it's not poor writing 😂

Hello! My husband started on CPAP in February and after some teething problems was getting along with it really well. He uses an Airfit F20 mask (he has tried lots of other masks, including nasal cushions/pillows and the Dreamwisp and unfortunately these don't work for him for various reasons. Despite being a nose breather he needs a full face mask that goes over the nose, so he went back to the F20)
A few weeks ago (so about 3 months in) he gradually started getting a lot more leaks. After trying various adjustments, mask liners etc we thought maybe the mask cushion and/or harness was getting worn out, and his clinic kindly gave him a full new mask.
He used the new mask with a mask liner and got really great results for several days. After about 10 days he started getting leaks again so we figured it was time to change the liner for a new one. That's when things got weird, as immediately the leaks were much worse with the new liner (exact same type, from the same pack). We've tried everything in terms of adjusting the mask (loosing, tightening, pulling the cushion away slightly to allow it to inflate, running mask fit, adjusting it while lying down, making sure he washes his face before bed, etc etc) over the past week. Last night we tried removing the liner and that was even worse! He would fit the mask, turn the air on and adjust the straps while lying down until there were no leaks - but then lying down in the same position without moving, completely awake, the mask would suddenly start leaking. This happened all night, keeping us both awake and we are at our wits end!!
He's on a fixed pressure of 9. He hasn't lost any weight recently, nor has the temperature/weather been much different. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or there is anything obvious we are missing here? Could the new mask/cushion be faulty? We just don't understand how it was working so well a few weeks ago and now seems back to square one. The strangest part is the spontaneous leaks when he hasn't changed position. Thank you so much

Eyeliner is one of the popular cosmetic products used to emphasize the beauty of the eyes. This product is available in different types and colors in the market, and depending on the type of application and need, it can be in the form of liquid, gel, pencil, or magic.
Types of eyeliner Liquid eyeliner:
This type of eyeliner has a thin brush that can be used to draw precise and sharp lines. It is suitable for professional use and requires a trained hand. Gel eyeliner:
Gel eyeliner is applied using a special brush. This type of eyeliner is suitable for creating thicker and longer-lasting lines. Pencil eyeliner:
Pencil eyeliner is easier to use and more suitable for beginners. It is also suitable for everyday use and softer lines. Magic eyeliner:
Due to its flat and hard tip, this type of eyeliner makes it easier to draw uniform and long-lasting lines and is suitable for people with less experience. Tips for using eyeliner Choosing the right type: Choose the right type of eyeliner depending on your skin type and needs. For example, if you have oily skin, choose waterproof and sweat-resistant eyeliner. Practice: Drawing eyeliner requires practice. If you are a beginner, start with pencil eyeliner first. Product storage: Store the eyeliner in a dry and cool place and close the lid tightly after each use. Correct removal: To remove the eyeliner, use special eye makeup remover solutions so as not to damage the thin skin around the eyes. Makeup tips Drawing a straight line: To draw a straight line, place your hand on a flat surface and draw carefully. Use masking tape: If you want to draw a cat eye, you can use a piece of masking tape to make your lines smooth and uniform. Exfoliation: Before applying eyeliner, make sure that the skin of your eyelid is clean and dry so that the eyeliner sits better on the skin. Eyeliner, as one of the important cosmetic tools, can have a great impact on your appearance, and with proper practice and use, you can achieve your desired results. There are many different types of eyeliner styles and they can help change the shape and highlight of the eyes. Here are some of the most popular and used eyeliner styles:

1. Classic Eyeliner Features: A thin and precise line drawn close to the lash line. Suitable for: everyday makeup and formal occasions. How to draw: Using a pencil or liquid eyeliner, start from the inner corner of the eye and continue to the outer corner.
2. Cat Eyeliner Features: A sharp and elongated line that extends upwards from the outer corner of the eye. Suitable for: attractive and impressive makeup. How to draw: Start from the inner corner of the eye and draw a line towards the outer corner. Then, from the outer corner of the eye, draw a line outward and up and connect it to the previous line.
3. Smokey Eyeliner Features: A soft and faded line that gives depth and charm to the eyes. Suitable for: night makeup and parties. How to apply: Apply the eyeliner close to the lashes and then blend it out with a small brush for a soft, smoky look.
4. Winged Eyeliner Features: Similar to cat eyeliner but with longer and often thicker wings. Suitable for: Dramatic and fantasy makeup. How to draw: Same as cat eyeliner, but draw the wings longer and thicker.
5. Double eyeliner Features: two parallel eye lines that give the eyes a special and artistic look. Suitable for: Fantasy and artistic makeup. How to draw: first draw a classic eyeliner and then create a parallel line above it.
6. Egyptian eyeliner (Cleopatra Eyeliner) Features: Thick and sharp lines that make the eyes stand out. Suitable for: fancy makeup and special occasions. How to draw: thick, sharp lines from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner, then a vertical line upwards.
7. Invisible eyeliner (Tightlining) Features: A very thin eyeliner that is drawn inside the lash line to make the eyes look more natural and the eyelashes look fuller. Suitable for: natural and everyday makeup. How to draw: draw the eyeliner exactly inside the upper lash line without it being visible on the eyelid.
8. Lower Eyeliner Features: eyeliner drawn on the lower eyelid. Suitable for: special and different makeup. How to draw: draw a thin and precise line on the lower eyelid, you can fade it to make it look softer.
9. Graphic Eyeliner Features: Artistic and unusual designs using eyeliner. Suitable for: fashion and creative makeup. How to draw: Using your creativity, draw unusual and artistic designs and lines on the eyelid. These styles can be changed based on your taste and needs, and with practice and experience, you can achieve the necessary skill to perform each of these styles.

Finally, remember that:
Practice and patience are the keys to success in eyeliner. Appropriate and high-quality tools can make your work easier.
خط چشم یکی از ابزارهای قدرتمند در دنیای آرایش است که می‌تواند به چشم‌ها عمق، جذابیت و تغییرات چشمگیری ببخشد. با وجود انواع و سبک‌های مختلف خط چشم، هر فرد می‌تواند با تمرین و تجربه، بهترین روش و سبک مناسب خود را پیدا کند. از خط چشم کلاسیک گرفته تا سبک‌های گرافیکی و فانتزی، همه این‌ها می‌توانند به تقویت اعتماد به نفس و زیبایی طبیعی شما کمک کنند.

Tried to post in the ADHD subreddit but my post wasn’t working for some reason so here I am 😊
Hello everyone, I’m very sad and frustrated because my ADHD evaluation came back negative. I got neuropsychological testing done and he suggested I have persistent depressive disorder and anxiety. I don’t feel like I’m depressed since I still enjoy things I like to do. The thing is that I’ve been on anxiety meds but they made me feel numb so I got off of them. I still could only hold on to my job for a year as a special ed teacher with a mental health break (fmla). So when I explained to my doctor I think there’s something else going on she just gave me a different anxiety med. I loved working with special needs kids but everything else made it hell. My therapist said it’s because I was a teache fast food worker only so I haven’t had a chance to find a job I like. Fair but I also struggled in college: constantly being late and almost dropping out even though I think I’m smart.
As a kid I daydreamed and was buried in books. I had a hard time making friends and was very shy and anxious but was gifted. Social anxiety has gotten better as an adult but I still feel like I never fit in. I have to write everything down or I will forget it, I hate getting ready in the morning for work and want to do stuff but it’s hard for me to get myself to do it. I fixate on foods in cycles it’s really weird and didn’t understand until I learned about adhd. I have sensory issues but don’t know if that is an adhd thing. I can obsess over certain things and then get bored super quickly. I had a job as a 5th grade teacher and quit within 2 weeks because I was so overstimulated and could not for the life of me figure out how I was going to execute these lessons and be organized for grading of 28 kids.
I bite my nails until they are bleeding and also have a hard time concentrating on driving and my online schooling. I find the everyday tasks of getting ready, working and then coming home and cleaning and cooking takes so much effort. My working memory was in the 23rd percentile while everything else was average. But he said it was my anxiety affecting my working memory. Two of my sisters have ADHD. I’m so tired of being dismissed by everybody. Im not trying to self diagnose and maybe i am just lazy or have something else. Maybe C-PTSD? All I know is that I need help. I mask and seem normal to everyone in my life, so maybe I am making everything up. Sorry for the long rant. Should I get a second opinion or do all my symptoms sound like depression? Please be nice I am sensitive lol.

In the 19, nearly 20, years I have lived my life, I was raised a Christian by American conservatives in a middle class environment and am fortunate to experience countless memories of joy, laughter, and growth with (mostly) everybody I have met. Each memory with the people in my life holds a special place in my heart, and I will forever cherish the bond we built.
The thing is that until the end of eighth grade, I had a strange obsession with East Asia. Looking back, it was very embarrassing and I condemn my parents for enabling me to become a weeaboo (by “weeaboo”, I mean “a person who is overly obsessed with East Asian culture, especially Japanese culture, to the point that they fetishize the culture in an unhealthy way”). I was the textbook example of a weeaboo who had a terrible case of “yellow fever” (sexual preference towards East Asians). Loving the image of East Asian culture without having any real idea what it stood for and seeing the East as a utopia, my fetishization of East Asia, especially Japan, was born out of the shame I have with the Western culture I was raised in. I never felt like I could fit in with my Western peers who I often looked down upon and did not want to be associated with. It got to the point that I became unsatisfied with my home town, my physical appearance, and even my closest friends. This combined with the surge in anime, K-pop, and other media on the internet really got me hooked and believing really fetish-y things about the Sinosphere. I hate being reminded of it and have tried to move on.
However, I am thankful for my exposure to Eastern culture, though it was through a very bastardized, Westernized lens. I am grateful for my exposure, even though it started out with something as intellectually undemanding as Vocaloid music (songs sung by a Japanese voice synthesizer). The best part about the exposure was that it helped me leave Christianity and join Buddhism at age 11, which greatly helped with my mental health considering I was experiencing suicidal thoughts since the age of 8. Though I had awful misunderstandings of Buddhism in the beginning and still do not really have a Buddhist teacher, I am glad that I have the resources to connect myself with other Buddhists and take refuge in the Triple Gem.
As I left my gross misconceptions of the Sinosphere behind back when I was 14 while still having a healthy interest in it, my eyes were eventually opened to perils which threaten not only the homelands of Buddhism (East, South, and Southeast Asia), but also the sustainability of modern humans. These two perils are Western culture and capitalist fascism.
The West exoticizes and misrepresents Buddhism and the culture of its home, the East, as a whole. I am ashamed to be born in a culture where this was encouraged, which I am worried could lead me to fetishizing Eastern culture again.
But what I know for sure is that the West’s hyperindividualism is harming people, both those whose lands are invaded and its own people. This combined with the West’s growing rejection of education, including that of the knowledge the West itself has given to the world for humanity’s benefit, makes it clear that it is lacking some of the Sinosphere’s cultural strengths. Everybody should hold collectivism and education to the same degree that the Sinosphere does, otherwise we would be left with an unsustainable society that would destroy itself.
There is nothing wrong with speaking Western languages, eating Western foods, watching (most types of) Western media, wearing Western clothes, and especially nothing wrong with using Western inventions, but we are now seeing that the West’s hyperindividualism and rejection of education is destructive and spreading like a cancer.
It is only Buddhists who make an effort to assimilate to the East (had they not been born into it) who can see the West with its hyperindividualism and uneducatedness, promoted by its creation of its spreading ideologies such as capitalist fascism and social Darwinism, for what it really is: a cancer. I can now see the direction the United States, the most populated and powerful country in the West, is going due to the rise of ultra-capitalism and/or fascism supporters.
Rarely the phrase “Western”, as in “formed by the combined foundations of Greco-Roman civilization and Western Christianity” (Gabbe), raised positive thoughts in my mind since I learned about it shortly after discovering Buddhism. “Western” when used in the context of medicine is an exception to this, but we are now seeing more and more Westerners dishonor the progress their ancestors made towards modern, mainstream, dare I say, Western medicine as they fall for anti-vaccine and anti-mask pseudoscience.
Nowadays, some who use the word in a derogatory context are uneducated reactionaries that bash anything and everything Western, yet hypocritically promote the Western political ideology of fascism. A strength that a majority (though now a decreasing number) of Western countries have is their progressivism, supporting scientific advancements, women’s rights, racial equality, and the LGBT+. However, this is not just becoming less common; being a progressive Westerner is not enough, not enough to end Western imperialism, to save the sacred truths taught to us by the Shakyamuni Buddha, or to empower the working class.
Although I never fully approved of Western culture after my weeaboo phase ended, my early teen self still ended up falling into the anti-social justice warrior side of YouTube that I now recognized hindered my understanding of what actually ruined my country, the United States of America. I still did not feel comfortable calling myself a Westerner but mainly because the West did not widely accept Buddhism and has several times in its history persecuted Buddhists. At the same time, I was deceived by a bastardized form of Buddhism common among Westerners (known as “secular Buddhism”, which picks and chooses aspects of the Buddha’s teachings instead of accepting them as a whole), so I was a bit more of the classic, stereotypical atheist neckbeard who fetishized the East up until 2020. Since then, my views became more progressive similar to those of American liberals and I denounced traditionalist Western beliefs, but like the average American liberal, I did not see Western culture, both traditional and progressive, as the peril I now see it. It was not until around the end of 2023 when I discovered the Western problem.
It was a slow burn that started with my discovery of Buddhists on the internet talking about how the West misrepresented Buddhism to appeal to “self-help” consumerists, Christians, and New Age followers. In the Westerner, I originally saw only a person who followed harmless customs, traditions, and other norms that came from a part of the world where Buddhism was not the dominant religion (if you could even call the non-theistic dharma as taught by the Gautama Buddha a religion). And so, I did not believe that Western civilization needed to fall for the safety of the dharma, let alone for its own people. After all, I thought to myself, the West has contributed so much to science and the modern world as we know it. I still believe to this day that there are no superior cultures and that each one simply has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, some of which are only subjective. However, while looking through Buddhist forums, I was shocked to hear about the West’s pollution of Buddhism and my knowledge on Buddhism skyrocketed as I learned that I fell victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect. I started reading sutras and immersing myself with Buddhism by listening to those who have much more experience than I do. There are hardly any Buddhists in my community and the only Buddhist center within reach is a New Kadampa Tradition meditation center (FYI: the New Kadampa Tradition must be avoided since it has a reputation for financially exploiting members and its monastics have allegations of drug trafficking and sexual abuse), so books and the internet are all I have left.
Practicing Buddhism in the West is nearly impossible without a community, without a Buddhist teacher, without any resources written by Eastern Buddhists. Reddit user u/Tendai-Student, a “lay Tendai Student [sic] with aspirations to become a Priest [sic]” states the following:
It is exceedingly challenging for a Westerner who is interested in Buddhism to find reliable information. Bookstores' Buddhist sections are rife with myths about the religion (we will come to some of these misconceptions below). Buddhism-related disinformation abounds in university classes. Misinformation about Buddhism abounds in publications with a Buddhist theme. Even Buddhism-related english-speaking [sic] Reddit boards are prone to carry false information.
Buddhism is constantly distorted in the same way: to make it more agreeable to Abrahamic faiths(especially Christianity in the west) [sic]. To imply that it is subject to Western standards, Western religion, and Western consumerism and materialism.
…Asian teachers are frequently excluded from English-speaking Buddhist places (meditation centers, university forums, periodicals). Asians make up the majority of Buddhists in the United States, despite the fact that popular images of Buddhism in the West make it appear otherwise. In the minds of Westerners, Buddhism is a religion of white converts. They don't even pay attention to the odd lack of Asians in some Buddhist areas. (u/Tendai-Student)
It is no wonder that I went through a phase when I was a weeaboo with “yellow fever”. The Westerner commodifies and commercializes these Buddhist practices and East Asian customs like they do with several other cultures. Its misuse and stealing of Buddhism is the worst because its teachings are for us to end suffering by ridding ourselves of the three poisons: greed, ignorance, and hatred (which the Westerner promotes).
My realization of this drew me away from the West, similar to when my obsession with the East began. The difference is that my interest in the East now is not because of a fantasy born out of misguidance, especially not a sexual one. I now know that there is more to the East than its pop culture. But I cannot help thinking that none of this would have happened and I would better understand Buddhism had I been born to and raised by Buddhists in East Asia, or even a majority Buddhist country in South or Southeast Asia.
However, the possibility of a cycle starting with a yo-yoing fetishization of the East makes me anxious. When I realized what I was doing at first was fetishization, I did further research and found out that the West is to blame for its portrayal of the East in its media. This in turn makes me denounce the West and brings me back towards my obsession with the Sinosphere, which could lead to more fetishization.
Despite this, I am glad that at the very least, my interest is more than just wanting to live a kawaii lifestyle, hoping to have a “submissive housewife who will look young forever”, or all that neckbeard squick. I do have to say that there is something else that is drawing me towards the Sinosphere, not to mention that it is the region where Buddhism is dominant (the same is true to a lesser extent with the Indosphere). Even though I am not a huge fan of tradition since I am very progressive, when a region’s culture gets something right, they get it right. In addition to Buddhist values, the Sinosphere holds education and collectivism to a high degree. It is no wonder I find their people so much more intelligent and caring than people from my culture.
It is common knowledge that countries such as Japan, China, South Korea, and Singapore have the highest average IQs. To add to this (unbeknownst to many), even less developed countries, e.g. Mongolia, with high Buddhist populations around the same region, have average IQs higher than developing and undeveloped nations outside the region. The most agreed upon reason for this is cultural factors rather than genetic or economic factors. To conclude, Buddhism combined with values in the East Asian cultural sphere creates the best “brains” to represent humanity, thus the West should make way for them, especially considering the East’s superior collectivism.
Of course cultures do not stay the same forever because they change over time. One big thing that is different now in the Sinosphere and Indosphere (the latter I am mentioning because it is where Buddhism came from, though it is not as dominant in the cultural region as it was) is that they are generally much more patriarchal and anti-LGBT+ than they were up until the last several centuries. However, Buddhism treats same-sex relations and being transgender the same as heterosexuality and being cisgender (preferring celibacy among monastics, though depending on the school of Buddhism, those in the monastic order may be treated as their birth gender, even if they are transgender), and in addition, the Buddha taught that women are just as capable of attaining enlightenment as men. Even outside of Buddhism, there are records of same-sex relations as early as the Shang dynasty in China and the temple walls in Khajuraho, India depict homosexual activity. As for feminism, China was matrilineal until the Han dynasty era, when Confucianism and filial piety became mainstream in the area, while India, home to over 100 different ethnic communities, has had a few matriarchal and egalitarian societies pre-European colonization. In the modern era, numerous people in the two cultural spheres are becoming more supportive of gender equality and the LGBT+, which in some cases may be due to Westernization (not that it redeems it) or simply the individuals’ progressive political views not influenced by Western culture.
What has stayed the same for the most part, besides Buddhism, is the Sinosphere’s and Indosphere’s value of collectivism in honor-shame societies and the former cultural sphere’s emphasis on education; this is what Westerners, as well as people all over the world, need for themselves. If the West is going to fall due to hyperconsumerism, late stage capitalism, and uneducated leaders, those living in the West would be better off joining Buddhism and assimilating to the East. Arguably, the best way to do this is to move to a majority Buddhist country, preferably one in the Sinosphere (its core countries being China, Japan, the Koreas, Taiwan, and Vietnam). Leave everybody you know from your home behind, especially non-Buddhists. Just to make things clear, Westerners are not necessarily evil and it is not their fault they were raised in a Western culture, but having these people in your life will hold you back from collectivism, quality education free of anti-intellectual quackery, and above all, understanding the dharma.
After you have left everybody in your life and started anew, you can immerse yourself in the culture. Again, abandoning Western food, media, clothing, and especially inventions and scientific breakthroughs is very unnecessary. Your main focus is reprogramming your mind to think like a person (specifically a Buddhist person) in the Sinosphere/Indosphere, utilizing the high educational standards, putting the collective over the individual, and taking refuge in the Triple Gem. Before moving, though, it is best to make yourself familiar with the customs and learn the language of the place you are moving to. To aid your assimilation, it would not hurt to start dating one of the locals who strongly identifies with the culture, regardless of their race. Someone living there who is not ethnically East, South, or Southeast Asian who is still very involved in the culture would be very helpful to your assimilation as one who is ethnically East, South, or Southeast Asian (I am clarifying this to discourage racial fetishization). This may be difficult as you would have to win over approval from their parents, let alone convince them to see you as another Easterner, but if you manage to do so, that would be fantastic. To make things easier, you could plan to move to a country where people treat women as equals and are relatively accepting of the LGBT+ so you would not have to worry about gender roles or whatever. Think of places in the Sinosphere such as Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, or if you are planning on going to the Indosphere (which is not too big of a step down) since they did give us Buddhism after all, Nepal and Thailand. Your most important goal, however, is to rewire your brain to think in a more Sinic or Indic way and be more in touch with Buddhism.
You can hardly consider yourself a Westerner if you manage to do so, being Western only in your country of origin (and possibly race as well). I am definitely not like those other “people” from the West who strongly cling to Western culture because they just do not understand. Western cultural merit is almost solely from the proxy of our ancestors’ inventions, scientific discoveries, and political revolutions. Considering that the West is being brought towards the wrong direction in the modern era, we should get out of there culturally, if not physically, until it all hits the fan.
If the West continues its defilement of the rest of the world, when it falls, it will bring it all down with it. We must not lose or else everybody loses.
This pressure has a good side; because the bigger the great threat becomes, the more we will push ourselves to assimilate and raise children to fight for us. Considering the infectability of Western anti-intellectualism and “main character syndrome”, how could our Western peers know better? Buddhism is not a proselytizing “religion”, so our best bet is eliminating the promoter of the three poisons, the Westerner (especially the Christian Westerner), from our own lives. How it will run to us as its society collapses under itself and we welcome it to assimilate but say “we told you so”! The older I get, the better I know the Westerner. The better I know the Westerner, the easier it gets to excuse hostility against them, especially from the Sinosphere.
From my perspective, the ones to blame are not the angry, low-middle class white males in the rural United States nor the boba conservative bananas and right-wing coconuts who suck up to the West’s biggest scum, but rather the ones who have brainwashed them to fall for chauvinism, reactionarism, and laissez faire capitalism.
Realizing this, I am now closely investigating the sources of these beliefs which make up the foundation of social Darwinism and, when combined with totalitarian thinking, capitalist fascism. This is after I noticed that these systems are unsustainable and would destroy themselves from the inside out. The slow, painful destruction of communities who fall victim to them are well known to me. If one looks carefully, they can see the consequences that have been unfolding since the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic. You may wonder: were the founders aware of this? My guess would be that they were not but were evil nonetheless because they were too selfish to think about the future, their descendants.
If this is the case, then it is the duty of us, the opponents of these ideologies, to spread the word faster than the ideologies are currently spreading in the West. It is hard for me to believe it is not the case considering that both Western political ideologies are fundamentally reactionary. Besides, I doubt they would want civilization as we know it to collapse.
I have a social Darwinist as a maternal uncle who sometimes meets with my parents, maternal grandfather, and younger brother and with his political conversations, often sourced from flawed studies, Russian news, and 4chan, I can easily study the principles of its theories. Both of my parents are also conservatives who support Trump and other immoral American politicians. Being raised by the two of them, I bet I could disguise myself as a Western right-wing traditionalist, maybe even a social Darwinist, since I know the way they speak, to whom they flock to, and how to make them give one their full attention. It would probably be easy to do this as some right-wing grifters can fool American right-wing audiences into thinking that they share the same beliefs (e.g. Thomas MacDonald).
Their kind are gullible because they do not listen to fact checkers and often do not do research to see if who they are listening to really practices what they preach.
Even though there are Westerners who are not like this, the West cannot coexist with Buddhism, let alone the cultures where it is dominant, as the West ruled by colonizing tirthikas and it will likely always be for as long as it lasts. And just because their culture is not as viable as the one founded on Buddhist, Sinic, or even Indic values does not give them the right to imperialize the rest of the world and bring it down with them. We can welcome the Westerner willing to change its ways, turn it into one of an Easterner, and have its culture go through a quick and painless demise, or the Westerner can continue its power trip, destroy everything it touches along with itself, and society will suffer a slow and painful death. This is what the conclusion that I have come to so far as I examine capitalist fascism and Westerners’ connection to it.
The Western doctrine of capitalist fascism rejects an aspect of maitrī, fulfilling beings’ basic needs, and substitutes it for a privilege towards the bourgeoisie and the exploitation of the workers’ labor (also known as Vergegenständlichung or “objectification”). Thus it denies the worth of the collective, only concerns itself with greedy individuals, and thus is immoral. Unlike what the non-Buddhist capitalist wants people to believe, all beings have an altruistic Buddha nature, but it is corrupted, being difficult to notice as it has only conditions without a beginning (listed in the Avijjā Sutta). Abandoning capitalism, both fascist and non-fascist, gives power to the people as it ensures a more guaranteed right to life instead of having not even one thousand billionaires own more than half of Earth’s population combined, more than each one of those billionaires could ever spend in their lifetimes.
Should the Westerner, especially one who pushes capitalist fascism, strengthen its grip on humanity, it can be said that it would make its own naraka.
And so I stand by my plan and encourage others to do the same because it is in the name of the Unsurpassable Enlightened One. By protecting our kind against the Westerner, we are defending the Triple Gem.
If it is not already clear, the disapproval I feel towards the societal values and prevailing norms of the West has led me to question my place in this environment. I believe that meaningful change can only be fostered if the West is put into its place and the Sino-Buddhist East motivates our minds.
In Vietnam, where the culture is predominantly Sinic with some Indic aspects and little European influence, we can see the promotion of quality education, collectivism, and Buddhism (practiced by a forgivable 15% of the population), very unlike the nearby country of the Philippines. In the Philippines, its citizens cling to the Anglo-Saxon and Hispanic culture brought to the country by American and Spaniard imperialists. The effects of this are very clear in their average IQs (Vietnam: 89.53 vs. Philippines: 81.64) and PISA scores (Vietnam: 1403 vs. Philippines: 1058). They are both developing countries in Southeast Asia that were colonized by the West, but because Vietnam kept its culture more pure and stuck to Buddhism (or at least Sinic philosophies), its people are better educated compared to the nearby Westernized countries in a similar economic situation.
In short, Westernization leads to the following:

1. The native culture becomes diluted
2. If Western thinking intrudes, mental degeneration takes hold of the native population and its society slowly degrades along with the West itself as it eats itself from the inside out

Those who cause this to happen must be stopped, especially those who endanger Buddhism. We must not wait for the fruition of their karma for their sacrilege of the Tathagata’s teachings because by then it would be too late, and even if it is instant karma, every bodhisattva’s job is to end suffering.
Those who spread the harmful ideologies bring themselves and others away from the Buddha’s word are polluting humanity by having them join their rat race that will only end in their own demise. They are leading to the ruin of many and thus, I do not consider them to be human but instead parasites.
There is a disgraceful Western belief that for a short amount of time was not held by the majority but is now very pervasive in the West and also is the foundation of reactionarism, chauvinism, and capitalism in all cultures. It says: “My individual rights matter the most and freedom means my right to violate the rights of others.”
This Western babble is followed by numerous all around the world and sows disharmony in societies where it becomes the norm. This idea provides basis for several types of Westerners, including but not limited to:

• the “Karen”; a middle-aged, entitled, often white and anti-mask/anti-vaccine female who makes trivial complaints
• the “Chud”; a racist, misogynistic, right-wing male (usually young) who browses 4chan everyday and has a high likelihood of becoming a mass shooter
• the dayangma (Hanzi: 大洋马); a sex-obsessed young adult Western female, majority white but sometimes POC, is conventionally attractive (to Westerners), sleeps around, and in some cases creates spawn that do not know their father(s)
• the angry white male; self-explanatory, right-wing and traditionalist (sometimes a social Darwnist or capitalist fascist), commonly rural, evangelical Christian and have never seen a POC before
• the “Trad Wife”; a prudish, sometimes uneducated, female who lets Western males walk all over it and raises spawn who are likely to become angry whites
• the New Agehippy; generally a teenager or young adult, a well-meaning but poorly educated white liberal or social democrat who misappropriates Buddhism and appeases Muslims
• the AmeriKKKan fathegrandfather; a middle-aged to elderly, chauvinist male with children, sometimes also grandchildren, and is unconcerned about social justice and similarly to the “Karen”, falls for pseudoscientific conspiracy theories
• the neckbearded otaku (Hiragana: おたく); a hairy white male with “yellow fever” and mediocre hygiene, for the most part subreddit/Discord server moderators who stalk and kidnap East Asian ladies (if not teenage girls)

The growth of these groups is evidence of the degradation of Western culture, showing that it must retire as the dominant culture and make way for the much more sustainable East. Once the manuṣya realm on Earth is completely tainted by the West, Buddhas can no longer arise in the world because the dharma would be known by nobody and the Vinaya are forgotten or destroyed.
The future generation will not remember the dharma unless we halt the growth of the parasitic culture that promotes overconsumption, hyperindividualism, and anti-intellectualism.
The Westerner has a remarkable contrast to the Sinic or Indic. The Westerner has a grasp on this world so strong with its weaponry since the 16th century, using force to disrupt the traditional lives of whatever native people it saw, safe for those in a few countries (even though some of those countries are still being Westernized). The Dutch, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish built colonies from the Americas to Southeast Asia. The kingdoms were blessed with powerful militaries, strong economies, stable governments, and advanced technology that allowed their cultures to spread. But after half a millennium and looking back, was any of this really earned? And is the Westerner’s conquest over yet?
Since the Great Schism of Christianity, the Westerner trained itself for roughly one thousand years. It trained itself in several aspects, but it forgot an important piece, the dharma. The cunning Westerner, blessed with advancements, used them to tyrannize other peoples on a scale never before seen. This was the beginning of the Latter Day of the Dharma. The dharma is declining because of the savage Westerner. And so, it leeched off of any people it got a hold of, including predominantly Buddhist peoples. Even during the decolonization of the 20th century, fundamentalist Christianity spread and threatened the dharma. To make matters worse, previously Buddhist peoples clung to Christianity as taught by their colonizers; the French in Vietnam and the Spanish and Americans in the Philippines. To this day, the Philippines is a lost cause along with its majority Muslim neighbors in Maritime Southeast Asia. The cunning Westerner turned the Filipino against us and now Buddhists make up only 2% of the Philippines’ population. Now, the Westerner sees Buddhism as nothing more than an aesthetic, a self-help lifestyle, or a decoration that they can commercialize and cherry pick aspects to integrate into their religion or lack thereof.
It is excellent for someone from the West to learn the dharma as this will turn them into a more compassionate and wise person, but they must not enforce the Western gaze onto it and discard parts of the Shakyamuni Buddha’s words they do not like. To be fair, some aspects of Buddhism would be nearly impossible for a Westerner to understand unless they assimilate.
Buddhism is not materialist or blind belief without evidence and it belongs to the East, so stop pretending to be something you are not while pushing stereotypes of Asian Buddhists.
However, even though Buddhism is not materialist or very in line with the Western worldview, it is uniquely human. Walpola Rahula, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and writer explains it this way:
Among the founders of religions the Buddha (if we are permitted to call him the founder of a religion in the popular sense of the term) was the only teacher who did not claim to be other than a human being, pure and simple. Other teachers were either God, or his incarnations in different forms, or inspired by him. The Buddha was not only a human being; he claimed no inspiration from any god or external power either. He attributed all his realization, attainments and achievements to human endeavour and human intelligence. A man and only a man can become Buddha. Every man has within himself the potentiality of becoming a Buddha, if he so wills it and endeavours. We can call the Buddha a man par excellence. He was so perfect in his 'human-ness' that he came to be regarded later in popular religion almost as 'super-human'. Man's position, according to Buddhism, is supreme. Man is his own master, and there is no higher being or power that sits in judgment over his destiny. (Rahula 3)
How could one even consider the Westerners who diluted Buddhism human themselves at this point? If it were not for them, Westerners may have a better understanding of the teachings of the “man par excellence”. We are lucky that the only Westerners who necessarily see us as inferior are white nationalists and fundamentalist Christians, otherwise the Westerner could have committed a genocide that would have left millions of us dead. Westerners are competitive beings, so they rarely act in concord towards each other. It is only when there is something that draws them together or away from a common danger.
If everybody on Earth becomes a Westerner, they would wallow in their shamelessness and would have nobody left to exploit except for each other until they destroy themselves.
Until they are the only ones left, they will vilify and exploit anything non-Western until they only have each other, then leading to a chaotic world of undignified militaries, economic inequality, corrupt governments, and little or no innovations.
Unless the Westerner considers even the slightest of inspiration from the East, it will continue to follow hyperindividualism and have apathy towards its education. That is why the West is falling. Those from the West who are smart enough to realize that the West’s flaws that it spreads are deciding that the West is not worth maintaining and its resignation is overdue. If those from the West abandon it to assimilate to the East, it would make the West’s death quicker but more dignified.
This is more than a fad but rather the realization that Western society would be best being a passing fad itself. The West gave us great inventions, food, clothes, scientific discoveries, etc. and once it is gone, the East can pick up where it left off just fine.
We will never abandon the Triple Gem because we recognize it to be more than a spiritual, exotic aesthetic or trend. To do so would make us just like those others in the West who Asian Buddhists look down upon. When the time is right, each and every one of us will surround ourselves with the people who know the dharma better than anyone you have met in the West and we can finally be at their level. We shall be Western only in our country of origin and/or race, but in every other way, we will be Easterners; Buddhist Easterners who will take back what rightfully belongs to us.
When we (and hopefully Buddhists outside of both the Eastern and the Western world) do this, consumerism will lose some of its biggest prey. Even though it may not seem like it at first considering we are abandoning everyone we have ever known, we are doing our ancestors a favor by joining the culture that strives towards the end of suffering. We will be leaving our cultures’ ways of thinking behind, but doing this will save face for our lineage, especially the Western lineage as we would be preventing the creation of more “Karens”, “Chuds”, dayangmas, “neckbeards”, and other degenerates. We will not be annoying dorky nerds and certainly not “neckbeards” who are overly obsessed with and fetishize the culture but people making an effort to get closer to the dharma and surrender to the East.
Although we are collectivists, we must seek personal liberation first for the good of other beings. Once the West collapses and its former supporters come running to us, we shall welcome them. If some do not recognize this before it is too late, well boo hoo! They will have a better birth with the world we will create. Some of them, especially their unlucky spawn, would probably be better off dead and reborn into a better life, maybe even the Pure Land.
The way it is looking now, the West is falling and becoming the world’s laughingstock, which is a good thing. The quicker it falls, the less painful it will be for the Westerner and everybody else. Western culture will not be missed, but we can keep the best of it and continue the innovations that the creators would wish to see. We will remember the legacy of them and be thankful while never forgiving or forgetting the ones who ruined the West.
Works Cited
“Ignorance Avijjā Sutta (AN 10:61).” Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. Dhammatalks. 2017, https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN10_61.html. Accessed 31 May 2024.
Gabbe. “Western Culture.” Wikipedia. 25 May 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_culture#:~:text=The%20core%20of%20Western%20civilization,Roman%20civilization%20and%20Western%20Christianity. Accessed 31 May 2024.
Rahula Thero, Walpola. What the Buddha Taught. Oneworld Publications, 1959. Accessed 31 May 2024.
u/Tendai-Student. “栄真Eishin (u/Tendai-Student).” Reddit, 31 May 2024, https://www.reddit.com/useTendai-Student/. Accessed 31 May 2024.
u/Tendai-Student. “Buddhism is being MISREPRESENTED in the West Marginalisation, cultural appropriation, misconceptions and what you can do.” Reddit, 2023, https://www.reddit.com/WrongBuddhism/comments/14zc6xg/buddhism_is_being_misrepresented_in_the_west/. Accessed 31 May 2024.

I am absolutely floored, this is a current, ongoing happening!
So, storytime. Back in college, I used to have a little cringe, but harmless, pastime: I liked to LARP in such a way that I would, when I felt like it, cosplay as some of my OCs, go to school, and ask my close friends to refer to me by the names of my OCs while I played those characters for the day (or days). I never asked my professors to do so, and if a friend didn't want to do so that day, that was fine--I never demanded or pushed boundaries, nor did I ever act outrageously. It was just acting and playing around, and I had a good time, as did my friends! Cringe? Yeah, kinda. Harmful to anyone? Nope! I never referred to it as DID--if anything, I always stressed to my friends and others who asked that it was NOT DID. I never consumed any mental health resources for people with the disorder, and I was never not in control of myself. Just a younger person having fun.
And then, I met Jenny (fake name). Jenny was someone I met in a class, who I clicked instantly with. She shared my sense of humor, we enjoyed the same shows and games, and she completely accepted my hobby of RPing my OCs. To me, I felt like I'd made another true friend, someone who really got me.
Jenny and I hung out together for over a year, almost every day after our classes, and she never once showed any signs or symptoms of DID. And, of course, she could have masked it--but she and I were so close that we'd confided in each other for other very personal things, and I felt that she would have confided in me about something so important by then.
That's why, when Jenny started prodding me more and more about my LARPing habit, something felt off. She asked, again and again, if I was SURE that it wasn't a dissociative disorder. Was I absolutely certain that I wasn't experiencing ANY amnesia? When I roleplayed, did I ever feel like I wasn't in control of the characters I was playing? When I got really quiet and didn't talk for a bit while we hung out, was I SURE I wasn't dissociating? (No, Jenny, I was just enjoying your company and the moments of peace I got to share with you!)
The other shoe finally dropped a few weeks later, after she pushed me about it one time too many. I asked her to just tell me what was going on--did she notice something about me and was trying to express concern? Was something wrong and she didn't know how to tell me? I begged Jenny to be honest, as my friend, as someone I'd grown so close to in all that time.
And that's when Jenny told me that SHE had DID. And, on top of that...she had DID, and she had formed alters of the original characters, MY original characters, that I larped as. And, on top of THAT? She wanted me to stop larping, and respect that her alters--I cannot stress this enough, my OCs, that I CREATED--felt uncomfortable with my playing their characters. My OCs. Went to her headspace. Because they felt more comfortable there.
I wish I remembered the conversation in more detail, but at that point, I think I genuinely had a moment of dissociation--my mind just checked out entirely. I was floored, I felt betrayed by Jenny, and I had no idea how to respond to her confession and request. I asked her in very plain terms why she'd never expressed symptoms before, how she could "split alters" of characters that only I had the full details of, if she had seen a doctor or gotten a diagnosis, and if there was any help I could give her in working through this, since something felt wrong with the behavior, but it didn't feel like DID. No. Jenny just insisted that it had always been this way. She had fictives, like Sans the Skeleton from Undertale and the Joker from Batman (this is its own individual can of worms), and they had apparently interacted with me multiple times without me knowing and had deemed me "safe". In that moment, I felt like I'd lost the friend I'd grown so close to. I felt, and still feel, extremely close to my OCs, especially having played their characters in real life, and to have Jenny just...take them from me, even in a fake way, broke my heart. So I left, and gradually, I stopped talking to Jenny altogether.
And yet...I did still follow Jenny on her social media accounts. I still cared about her, and I wanted to keep an eye on her in some way, just to make sure that if something happened to her I could still help. And Jenny's accounts were devolving rapidly.
All at once, her blogs talked about nothing but systems, she engaged in immense amounts of discourse on the subject, proclaimed a deep hatred of those faking the disorder, and referred to herself as a long-time system who had been diagnosed in early childhood. I would normally make a joke of "Who are you, and what have you done with Jenny?!" but, well... A little on the nose, that.
Jenny created a carrd with pages and pages about her alters--STILL MY OCs, who I had tons of public posts about!!!--with not just the details I wrote about them, but new, Jenny-original material with added backstories, trauma, and their roles in the system. My head was spinning. I watched, again and again, as she and her "alters" (my OCs, I can't stop stressing this) made reply after reply of arguing with "system fakers" online, and even posting vague, indirect shade about a friend who abandoned her in her time of need after she finally confessed to them about her DID. Hmmm... I wonder who that could have been?
I cut Jenny out of my life after that, and unfollowed all of her social media. It just wasn't worth the stress and sadness. I also pretty much stopped my hobby of cosplaying--the joy was gone from it at that point--and moved primarily to writing and posting my works on my writing accounts. But over the years, I'd still think about Jenny from time to time and wonder how she was, if she was okay, if she'd given up the faking at a point...
Color me surprised when today, unprompted, a post appeared on my social media that was shared by someone I follow, that was written by Jenny. A detailed, in-depth argument written by her and my OCs-turned-alters about some DID discourse (keeping vague to avoid others searching it up) that had countless lies about her own disorder! Years later, Jenny was still using my original material to fuel her online discourse! And what's even worse? When I checked her account, she'd gone as far as to take even more of my characters from writings I'd posted in the years since we stopped speaking, and had them "form as alters" as well. Years later, and Jenny is still so out of touch that she's continuing to steal my work all while never speaking to me.
I'm not going to bother revealing her faking or calling her out. It wouldn't be worth the toll it'd take on me. But damn if I can't laugh about every posts she's made and watch from a distance as she continues to dig her hole. Go on, Jenny! Let's see which character you'll take from me next!
Now that I've found this sub, I would love to hear if anyone else has experienced something similar to this. I finally feel a little less baffled having seen the people here call out these behaviors, and it's nice to finally have that comfort after all this time. And nice to have somewhere to cringe about the mind-bending reality that is someone telling me to stop using my original creations! Thanks for reading all this if you did, and I hope it's cringe enough to feel fitting here, hahaha.

In the realm of magic and imagination that is Disney World, there's always something new and exciting on the horizon. From enchanting attractions to captivating experiences, here's a roundup of the latest news from the most magical place on earth. Check out: Disney News

1. New Attractions on the Horizon: Disney World continues to expand its lineup of attractions, promising thrills and adventures for guests of all ages. Keep an eye out for upcoming additions such as the highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, where guests will embark on an intergalactic journey alongside Star-Lord and his crew.
2. Celebrating Milestones: As Disney World commemorates its storied history, several iconic attractions are marking significant milestones. Join in the festivities as beloved rides like Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean celebrate their anniversaries with special events and surprises for guests to enjoy.
3. Immersive Experiences Await: Immerse yourself in the magic like never before with Disney World's immersive experiences. From interactive dining adventures to themed hotel stays, Disney is continually pushing the boundaries to create unforgettable moments for guests. Get ready to step into the worlds of your favorite Disney films and become part of the story like never before.
4. Seasonal Celebrations: No visit to Disney World is complete without experiencing its enchanting seasonal celebrations. From the dazzling lights of the holiday season to the vibrant colors of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, there's always something special happening at the parks. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events and festivities to plan your visit accordingly. Visit here: Disney World News
5. Dining Delights: Indulge your taste buds with Disney World's culinary offerings, which are constantly evolving to delight foodies and Disney fans alike. From innovative cuisine at signature restaurants to mouthwatering snacks at kiosks throughout the parks, there's no shortage of delicious dining options to satisfy every palate.
6. Technology Enhancements: Disney World is harnessing the power of technology to enhance the guest experience in exciting new ways. From the My Disney Experience app, which allows guests to manage their itinerary and make dining reservations on the go, to the integration of cutting-edge immersive technologies in attractions, Disney is at the forefront of innovation in the theme park industry.
7. Sustainability Initiatives: As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, Disney World is implementing sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing its ecological footprint. From solar energy projects to waste reduction efforts, Disney is taking proactive steps to protect the planet while preserving the magic for future generations to enjoy.
8. Community Engagement: Disney World is deeply ingrained in the fabric of its surrounding communities, and the company remains dedicated to giving back through various philanthropic initiatives. Stay updated on Disney's community engagement efforts and learn how you can contribute to making a positive impact both inside and outside the parks.
9. Enhanced Safety Measures: In light of recent global events, Disney World has implemented enhanced safety measures to ensure the health and well-being of its guests and cast members. Stay informed about current health and safety protocols, including mask requirements, social distancing guidelines, and sanitation procedures, to enjoy a safe and worry-free visit to the parks.
10. Special Offers and Promotions: Keep an eye out for special offers and promotions that can help you make the most of your Disney World experience. From discounted ticket packages to exclusive hotel deals, Disney regularly rolls out enticing offers to make your visit even more magical.

From thrilling new attractions to immersive experiences and everything in between, the latest Disney World news is sure to spark excitement and anticipation for your next visit to the most magical place on earth. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with wonder, adventure, and enchantment!
For more information regarding Disney World Planning Tips visit our website: https://disneyaddicts.com/

Hey guys! I would like to share my story with you. Nobody knows I'm a narcisse, only my brother pointed out to some of the traits. Even he doesn't know my deep dark thoughts and doesn't have a clue I'm entitled as hell etc. But deep down, well, meet the dark queen of the nether vortex.
My N story began in my childhood. My mother has most probably BPD and back then I was having just a little bit of asperger traits - I had my rituals, was conservative in food and clothing and was just different. She was furious that I wasn't doing what she commanded me to, so it ended up with a lot of abuse, physical and emotional. From her, I've never heard any kind words like "you're great, I love you". My brother, as a younger kid, wasn't that exposed, he's just avoidand, I guess.
My dad and his family, on the other hand, were different. For them I was prepared to make miracles. They enjoyed every achievement with me. I would not say it was a toxic praise, but my mother's attitude was sooooo different, that it made a huge contrast and that's the point where my obsession with perfection began. I was the best. Everytime. In everything.
This is probably what made me a narcisse. Although, the alternative - living solely in my mother's hell - would be much worse. Thanks to this I have a great life. I have the best education I could get in my country, I speak several languages and I was able to buy a house in my 20ish. The alternative would be some whiney bordeline loser like her.
But then I had a relationship with another narcissist. Grandiose, manipulaltive, abusive. He used my perfection and fear of abandonment against me - I had to be perfect, otherwise he would leave me. I fulfilled his every desire, eventhough I didn't want to. He once said he's only with me because I'm beautiful and intelligent. He used it against me, the thing that I was the most proud of. It was several years. I was still a kid, basically.
And then, broken as hell, I had the greatest luck. I started dating a cute nerd, younger than me, but very intelligent and insightful. It didn't work out, I had no clue how to make a normal relationship work, but when we broke up, he sent me the most beatiful letter I've ever received.
Among other great things, it sais: "And slowly, I started to see the other you. Not the perfect girl you showed to the world, but your real, sensitive, beautiful soul, and I love you for that deeply."
So someone could love me for me and not for the show!
Then, I started to work on myself with my shaman (who knows, knows). Alas, I met another guy who fell in love with the show and I spent years with him. It didn't work out, because he wasn't able to accept that I am not perfect and don't wanna be perfect (among other things people can use this to manipulate you).
Slowly, with my shaman, I succeeded in analyzing my soul and my true self. I didn't gave up on my grandiosity, I still have it. I just... connected the elements of my grandiosity with respective parts of my soul. So it's not a charade, it's not a show. I use my grandiose performances to communicate with the world. I try to be honest in a way that people would know who I am.
Like, I still feel I am more important than other people and I should be treated better and I hate the rules, but those are things I am ok with. I am focusing on my close relationships, I want them to be true, authentic and real. I really don't want to fall into the "I love your mask" trap again. And I am still working on my insecurity and abandonment issues, but I will manage, because I am the best.
I guess you guys get it, but who else could be great at therapies than us? :D Some borderline crybabies?
Plus, I found out that the idea I will meet someone great once helps me. Having this idea of my future husband on my mind helped me with my drinking problem - I take it as something I have to do for both of us. I wanna be ready. And I still hope there is a soul out there, who will understand me and we will have this beautiful meaningful relationship in which we can share time, laughter, thoughts, travels and silence. I really do.
It's long. Sorry, not sorry. I like to listen to myself. :D

A few days ago my parents and siblings got back from a family friends uni graduation. To preserve my health and sanity I made a really hard decision to not attend:
The graduation was a few states away. Nobody attending masks or take any precautions day-to-day. When I’ve had to travel with my family, I can usually make them mask in the airport/on the plane. It still got frustrating to beg them to mask in the airport just for them to eat indoors, go to parties and gatherings, visit packed tourist spots, etc. when we got to our destination. These trips pretty much always ended with me isolating in my room with an air purifier…
I decided I’m done being pressured to travel with them. It was exhausting and I had too many close calls. I’ve sat out of a few things now but the graduation was by far the hardest. Lots of friends I haven’t seen in a while attended.
But now it feels like my sacrifice doesn’t matter anyway. They brought something home. Only my dad wore a surgical in the airport, outside of that they went to the actual graduation ceremony (packed/indoors), the grad party, and restaurants. They all came back coughing and/or sneezing, and my siblings are also congested. I’ve been wearing a mask outside of my room but it’s been a few days now and i currently have a sore throat, loss of smell/taste, I’m constantly sneezing and very congested. I took a Covid test when they first came home that was negative, but right now I feel very similar to past positive infection. I’m going to test again but I’m pretty sure I have Covid. My family refused to test even though they’re obviously sick.
All of this is so defeating. I’ve completely restructured my life to mask, test, etc. but the people I live with literally could not care less, so I’ve been exposed and gotten Covid multiple times (outside of now). I’ve done everything I can think of and gently talked to them so many times about Covid, I provide information, I buy and offer masks, I buy air purifiers. I’ve already looked into moving out and I just can’t afford it right now, but I’m working towards that. It’s not in my near future though, and that’s really bothering me. I had some really difficult lingering Covid symptoms from a past infection, and even talking to them about my experience isn’t enough. They’ve been sick very often this year, definitely more than in the past. Ex. One of my sisters has been violently coughing in her sleep. But whatever happens, they just refuse to change their behavior.
I keep thinking about the long term health implication of me getting Covid this frequently, I’ve had it several times over the past 4 years. I have chest pain every once in a while. I also feel like my cognition has gotten worse, like I don’t feel as “sharp”. I try not to think about it too much but it’s hard, esp knowing the risks.
Have any of you guys had Covid multiple times? How do you cope? Especially with thinking about your long term future?

TLDR: my family are arseholes and have high expectations which is ruining my life and I don’t know how to cut them off.
Every event I’m left exhausted. The interrogations I get every time about why am I not doing this, or doing that, why am I not eating enough, why am I ordering the same thing I do every time telling me about ‘who I am’ but half these people don’t know me.
I had work all day and had mums birthday after told my mum I’d be with her by 530 but had about 3 panic attacks, said I’d skip meeting her earlier and go to the restaurant. Arrived 720 she said 715 for the meal, got there and they all applauded me when I walked in because I was ‘late’ I wanted to die. ONLY BECAUSE SHE WANTED ME TO GO TO HER HOUSE BEFORE FOR NO REASON BUT TO BE SOCIAL WITH MY COUSINS??
They make me so sad, I leave and I’m crying and angry, overstimulated from them all arguing over each other. Victimising themselves for everything, but then criticising everything I do and say and how I say it. We don’t have conversations they just talk all over another, cannot get a word in edgeways, they’re all probably AuDHD and it’s madness.
I can’t do it anymore, I hate these people and I can’t stand to spend time with them. I’m getting to that really dark place, it makes me feel so shit about myself. Keeping up the charades of pretending to be a family, spending my weekends, birthdays, Christmas with these bunch of satans.
Anyone else have this? Should I cut them off and just be happy? Or mask and deal with it for the sake of my parents?

The other day, I mentioned to my coworker that I don’t drink because I don’t like the taste of alcohol. The first thing out of his mouth was the most predictable line that I’ve heard dozens of times: “You just haven’t tried the right drink!” I AM SO OVER IT. Every drink I’ve ever tried has been the nastiest thing I’ve ever tasted. Why would I try any more, when I know I don’t like alcohol? I’m pretty sensitive to strong flavors, so I guarantee that there’s not a single cocktail on earth that would completely mask the flavor of the alcohol for me. I also hate fruit-flavored anything, so that automatically disqualifies most cocktails. Oh, and another thing! My coworker also said something along the lines of how fun it would be to get me drunk! Aside from the fact that that’s an inappropriate thing to say to a coworker (especially a female coworker), I have no interest in getting drunk and don’t feel like I’ve missed out on anything in life by never having been drunk before. I’m happy with my choices, but there are so many people who swear I “just haven’t found the right drink” or want to get me drunk, and it makes me so uncomfortable. I’ve never told anyone that they should drink less, so why is it so hard for them to respect my choice not to drink at all? I’m about to start telling people that I don’t drink because I’m allergic to alcohol, because then I might actually get taken seriously!

I haven't played mmorpgs in a long time so I don't know how relevant this is,
but I remember when I used to play them all the time, people often laughed about skipping every quest and just speed running the mmorpg. I mean, good for them, but in my opinion storylines' importance is fundamental in the making of a good mmorpg because they allow for immersion. Immersion is the maker or breaker of mmorpgs and makes all the difference between a good one and a bad one. Yet, it feels like there is less and less focus on storylines and more on gameplay, which to me is silly because the two are intertwined.
A good storyline doesn't just mean a book you read via quests and then go off to kill the same monsters again and again with no connection between the two. A good storyline is integrated in the game, makes you feel like you are an active character of it.
It's why even with all its flaws, the original TERA was really close to my heart. They did a really good job at creating a simple but truly engaging story, which kept making me want to see "the ending". I really disliked when they changed the entire "introduction" chapter, where you are part of an expedition team sent to a mysterious island after the previous one disappeared without trace, and have to set up camp with the rest of your expedition members. It made the game so much more alive and it felt very real from the beginning, it also made me feel like I became a part of the story. Instead, they changed it to a really cliché, short intro chapter where it's all about you killing this big monster and moving on.
The same goes for Age of Wushu. The game did a fantastic job by letting the player pick one out of 4 backstories, which would become your character's motivation to learn martial arts and become as strong as possible. I only remember two of them : one is your entire family being killed off by a masked assassin, and the other one is your little sister, your only family, being kidnapped by members of a (martial arts) sect, without you knowing why. So your character seeks revenge, and hence why you are doing martial arts in the first place.
However, for some reason I still don't understand, the game completely removed the storylines, and just let every player go through the same cinematic introduction. There are no more "main" story quests in the game, at all. You just "get stronger" again and again with no real motive.
Maybe it saves the game makers a lot of money, but I think it's a mistake to remove this important aspect of immersion. The most flawed mmorpgs I can think about were the most fun to me because the creators just had fun with the story (aura kingdom, revelation online, even the complete mess that is onigiri was fun for a while!).
Wondering what everyone's 2 cents on this is.

🔥 Trading Extravaganza! 💼🚀
Hey fellow traders! 👋 I'm thrilled to announce a massive inventory worth $350,000 up for grabs, featuring 350 knives, gloves, and a treasure trove of skins! 💼💸
Whether you're buying, selling, or up for trades, I'm all in! Crypto, PayPal, skins, or cash - I'm open to all offers! 💳💰
skins + cash offers welcome too <3
Feel free to reach out on Steam or send your offers directly. Let's make some epic deals happen! 🎮💼
Steam Profile : https://steamcommunity.com/id/filimon-trade
Trade link : https://steamcommunity.com/tradeoffenew/?partner=169178735&token=NOaCmr8O
Ready for exciting trades! 🌟💼
feel free to send me your offer
Name Price B/O Tradability ★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Sapphire) - FN - 11509.52 - -
★ StatTrak™ Paracord Knife Slaughter - FT - 9651.61 - -
★ Karambit Doppler (Sapphire) - FN - 9265.64 - -
★ Karambit Doppler (Black Pearl) - FN - 7817.60 - -
★ Talon Knife Doppler (Sapphire) - FN - 4560.43 - -
★ Talon Knife Doppler (Sapphire) - FN - 4560.43 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Fade - FN - 3575.96- Tue May 28 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Talon Knife Doppler (Sapphire) - MW - 3510.81 - -
★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Gamma Doppler (Emerald) - FN - 3096.46 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) - FN - 2880.96 - -
★ StatTrak™ Butterfly Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) - FN - 2808.50 - -
★ Karambit Fade - FN - 2808.50 - -
★ Sport Gloves Superconductor - FT - 2412.83- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Karambit Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 2410.52 - -
★ Karambit Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 2410.52 - -
★ StatTrak™ Karambit Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) - FN - 2316.42 - -
★ Hand Wraps Cobalt Skulls - FN - 2316.27 - -
★ Hand Wraps Cobalt Skulls - FN - 2316.27 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Lore - MW - 2179.02 - -
★ Karambit Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) - MW - 2120.97 - -
★ Karambit Gamma Doppler (Phase 4) - MW - 2120.97 - -
AWP Medusa - FT - 2084.76- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Web - FN - 2084.63 - -
★ Specialist Gloves Crimson Kimono - FT - 2041.34 - -
Souvenir AWP Desert Hydra - MW - 2026.43 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 1923.56 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 1923.56 - -
★ StatTrak™ Butterfly Knife Slaughter - FN - 1880.35 - -
AWP Desert Hydra - FT - 1722.83 - -
★ Huntsman Knife Gamma Doppler (Emerald) - FN - 1722.68- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Butterfly Knife Crimson Web - MW - 1708.07 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Autotronic - MW - 1686.56- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Huntsman Knife Doppler (Sapphire) - FN - 1664.85 - -
★ Skeleton Knife Fade - FN - 1663.33 - -
★ Karambit Doppler (Phase 4) - FN - 1650.30- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Karambit Doppler (Phase 4) - FN - 1650.30 - -
AK-47 Gold Arabesque - BS - 1644.29 - -
Souvenir M4A1-S Welcome to the Jungle - MW - 1621.48 - -
Souvenir AK-47 Gold Arabesque - BS - 1580.95 - -
★ Karambit Doppler (Phase 1) - FN - 1549.10 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 4) - FN - 1547.65 - -
★ Nomad Knife Crimson Web - FN - 1544.04 - -
★ Karambit Marble Fade - FN - 1512.90 - -
★ Karambit Marble Fade - FN - 1512.90 - -
★ Karambit Marble Fade - MW - 1434.73- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Driver Gloves King Snake - MW - 1375.37 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Marble Fade - FN - 1375.23- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ M9 Bayonet Marble Fade - MW - 1330.20 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Crimson Web - MW - 1324.70 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 1) - FN - 1317.46 - -
★ StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 4) - FN - 1310.22 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 3) - FN - 1305.15- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ M9 Bayonet Doppler (Phase 3) - FN - 1305.15 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Lore - FT - 1297.92 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Slaughter - FN - 1230.59- Mon Jun 03 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Karambit Tiger Tooth - FN - 1195.12- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
AK-47 Fire Serpent - MW - 1189.99 - -
M4A1-S Imminent Danger - MW - 1172.68- Fri May 31 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Sport Gloves Vice - FT - 1172.33 - -
★ StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet Slaughter - FN - 1158.20 - -
★ StatTrak™ Karambit Tiger Tooth - MW - 1146.62 - -
★ Karambit Blue Steel - FN - 1143.72 - -
★ Bowie Knife Doppler (Ruby) - MW - 1090.62 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Autotronic - FT - 1069.73- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ StatTrak™ Talon Knife Doppler (Phase 1) - FN - 1056.87 - -
Souvenir M4A4 Eye of Horus - MW - 1056.72 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Freehand - MW - 977.96 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Freehand - MW - 977.96 - -
★ StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet Autotronic - FT - 974.34 - -
★ Karambit Black Laminate - MW - 935.26- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Karambit Black Laminate - MW - 935.26 - -
★ StatTrak™ Nomad Knife Fade - FN - 933.81 - -
★ Sport Gloves Superconductor - BS - 932.36 - -
Sticker Team Dignitas (Holo) Cologne 2014 - - 926.56 - -
★ Bayonet Gamma Doppler (Phase 1) - FN - 923.66- Mon Jun 03 2024 09:00:00 -
★ StatTrak™ Butterfly Knife Black Laminate - WW - 919.33 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Damascus Steel - WW - 895.44 - -
★ Karambit Lore - FT - 887.19 - -
★ Karambit Lore - FT - 887.19 - -
★ Karambit Blue Steel - FT - 885.96- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
StatTrak™ AWP Lightning Strike - FN - 882.84 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Slaughter - FT - 880.24 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Slaughter - FT - 880.24 - -
AK-47 Fire Serpent - FT - 877.26 - -
★ Specialist Gloves Marble Fade - MW - 865.76 - -
★ Talon Knife Marble Fade - FN - 859.39 - -
★ StatTrak™ Bayonet Fade - FN - 854.18 - -
★ Falchion Knife Crimson Web - FN - 854.10 - -
★ Bayonet Fade - FN - 849.76- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Bayonet Fade - FN - 849.76 - -
StatTrak™ AK-47 Case Hardened - FN - 825.23- Fri May 31 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 817.98 - -
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 817.98 - -
★ StatTrak™ Karambit Night - MW - 796.27- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Sport Gloves Slingshot - FT - 796.12 - -
★ Sport Gloves Slingshot - FT - 796.12 - -
★ Karambit Forest DDPAT - FN - 796.12 - -
★ Karambit Case Hardened - WW - 792.57 - -
★ StatTrak™ Karambit Black Laminate - BS - 784.54 - -
★ Skeleton Knife - - 773.10- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Skeleton Knife Slaughter - FT - 767.31 - -
★ Skeleton Knife Slaughter - FT - 767.31 - -
★ StatTrak™ Butterfly Knife Crimson Web - BS - 760.00 - -
★ Skeleton Knife Crimson Web - FT - 752.83 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Night - FT - 749.94- Mon May 27 2024 09:00:00 -
★ M9 Bayonet Black Laminate - WW - 749.65 - -
AK-47 Vulcan - FN - 744.72 - -
★ StatTrak™ Butterfly Knife Stained - WW - 744.07 - -
★ StatTrak™ Karambit Damascus Steel - FT - 738.36 - -
★ Flip Knife Fade - FN - 735.75- Tue May 28 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Flip Knife Fade - FN - 735.75 - -
★ Sport Gloves Amphibious - FT - 729.67 - -
★ Sport Gloves Amphibious - FT - 729.67 - -
★ Karambit Case Hardened - BS - 728.22 - -
AK-47 Fire Serpent - WW - 723.81 - -
★ Karambit Freehand - MW - 706.50 - -
M4A1-S Imminent Danger - FT - 702.89 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Stained - BS - 700.64- Sat Jun 01 2024 09:00:00 -
★ StatTrak™ Stiletto Knife Doppler (Phase 4) - FN - 694.92 - -
★ Karambit Stained - FT - 694.92 - -
★ Karambit Bright Water - MW - 694.92 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Crimson Web - FT - 691.89 - -
★ StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet Ultraviolet - MW - 687.69 - -
★ Sport Gloves Nocts - MW - 684.79 - -
★ StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet Bright Water - FN - 680.44 - -
★ Talon Knife Tiger Tooth - FN - 672.91- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Karambit Freehand - FT - 664.52 - -
★ Bayonet Doppler (Phase 3) - FN - 658.44- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
M4A4 Eye of Horus - FN - 651.49 - -
★ Bayonet Lore - MW - 649.97 - -
★ Bayonet Marble Fade - FN - 643.82- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Karambit Bright Water - FT - 637.01- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ M9 Bayonet Scorched - FN - 637.01 - -
M4A1-S Blue Phosphor - FN - 622.39- Sat Jun 01 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Classic Knife Fade - FN - 619.64 - -
★ Classic Knife Fade - FN - 619.64 - -
MAG-7 Cinquedea - MW - 618.19 - -
★ Gut Knife Crimson Web - FN - 618.17 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Scorched - FT - 614.58 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Case Hardened - BS - 610.95- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
Souvenir M4A1-S Welcome to the Jungle - BS - 607.91 - -
★ Butterfly Knife Urban Masked - WW - 593.58 - -
Sticker Titan (Holo) Katowice 2015 - - 593.58 - -
★ Karambit Night - BS - 593.37 - -
★ Driver Gloves Black Tie - MW - 588.59 - -
★ Driver Gloves Black Tie - MW - 588.59 - -
★ Ursus Knife Fade - FN - 586.26 - -
★ Kukri Knife - - 584.89 - -
★ StatTrak™ Kukri Knife Slaughter - MW - 578.96- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
Sticker Crown (Foil) - - 575.70- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Ursus Knife Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 562.88 - -
★ Specialist Gloves Emerald Web - WW - 550.07 - -
★ Talon Knife Case Hardened - FT - 528.43 - -
★ M9 Bayonet Rust Coat - BS - 526.98 - -
★ Bayonet Tiger Tooth - FN - 525.83- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Skeleton Knife Crimson Web - BS - 521.19 - -
★ Skeleton Knife Crimson Web - BS - 521.19 - -
★ Navaja Knife Doppler (Sapphire) - FN - 513.95 - -
M4A1-S Icarus Fell - FN - 509.61- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Falchion Knife Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 503.82 - -
★ StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet Ultraviolet - FT - 498.03 - -
★ Kukri Knife Case Hardened - MW - 498.03 - -
★ Karambit Forest DDPAT - FT - 495.85 - -
M4A1-S Icarus Fell - MW - 489.99- Sat Jun 01 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 3) - FN - 489.19 - -
★ Flip Knife Doppler (Phase 1) - FN - 488.91 - -
★ StatTrak™ Karambit Forest DDPAT - FT - 484.13 - -
★ Karambit Forest DDPAT - WW - 480.66 - -
Souvenir M4A4 Eye of Horus - FT - 477.61- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Ursus Knife Doppler (Phase 3) - FN - 474.86 - -
★ StatTrak™ Ursus Knife Doppler (Phase 3) - FN - 471.96 - -
★ Kukri Knife Stained - FN - 470.53 - -
★ StatTrak™ M9 Bayonet Bright Water - BS - 463.28 - -
★ Stiletto Knife Tiger Tooth - FN - 463.21- Sat Jun 01 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Flip Knife Marble Fade - FN - 463.13 - -
★ StatTrak™ Talon Knife - - 461.83- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Huntsman Knife Fade - FN - 456.05 - -
AK-47 Vulcan - MW - 452.55 - -
AK-47 Vulcan - MW - 452.55 - -
AWP Oni Taiji - FN - 450.42- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Paracord Knife Fade - FN - 448.73 - -
★ Sport Gloves Omega - FT - 448.37- Sat Jun 01 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Skeleton Knife Stained - MW - 448.08 - -
★ Bowie Knife Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 447.35 - -
★ Driver Gloves Snow Leopard - FT - 427.09- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Driver Gloves Snow Leopard - FT - 427.09- Tue May 28 2024 09:00:00 -
M4A1-S Printstream - FN - 426.87- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
M4A1-S Printstream - FN - 426.87 - -
M4A1-S Printstream - FN - 426.87 - -
★ Sport Gloves Nocts - FT - 419.56 - -
★ Survival Knife Fade - MW - 416.81 - -
★ Moto Gloves Cool Mint - FT - 416.73 - -
★ StatTrak™ Kukri Knife Blue Steel - FT - 414.93- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
M4A4 Eye of Horus - MW - 410.95 - -
★ StatTrak™ Gut Knife Case Hardened - FN - 407.79 - -
★ Skeleton Knife Stained - FT - 406.46 - -
★ Bowie Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 397.40- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Nomad Knife Crimson Web - FT - 380.69 - -
Sticker LGB eSports (Holo) Katowice 2015 - - 378.74 - -
AK-47 Case Hardened - FN - 376.41 - -
★ Flip Knife - - 367.58 - -
★ Talon Knife Crimson Web - BS - 365.56 - -
★ Specialist Gloves Fade - FT - 361.80- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Bayonet Lore - BS - 354.70 - -
★ Huntsman Knife Marble Fade - FN - 354.63- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Bayonet Freehand - FN - 354.12 - -
★ Specialist Gloves Buckshot - FN - 351.80 - -
★ Ursus Knife Case Hardened - FN - 339.50 - -
★ Nomad Knife Blue Steel - FT - 336.97- Mon Jun 03 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Moto Gloves Smoke Out - MW - 334.14 - -
★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Slaughter - MW - 332.26 - -
★ Hydra Gloves Emerald - FN - 327.19 - -
SSG 08 Death Strike - BS - 325.74 - -
★ Moto Gloves Polygon - MW - 325.67 - -
★ Specialist Gloves Mogul - MW - 317.78- Wed May 29 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Specialist Gloves Mogul - MW - 317.78 - -
★ Classic Knife - - 317.06 - -
Glock-18 Synth Leaf - MW - 316.57 - -
Desert Eagle Emerald Jörmungandr - FN - 314.88- Tue May 28 2024 09:00:00 -
Desert Eagle Emerald Jörmungandr - FN - 314.88 - -
★ Specialist Gloves Foundation - FT - 305.05 - -
★ Gut Knife Gamma Doppler (Phase 2) - FN - 302.58 - -
Desert Eagle Fennec Fox - MW - 301.85- Thu May 30 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Stiletto Knife Case Hardened - WW - 298.24 - -
★ Stiletto Knife Case Hardened - WW - 298.24 - -
★ Sport Gloves Scarlet Shamagh - FT - 295.34- Mon May 27 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Sport Gloves Scarlet Shamagh - FT - 295.34 - -
★ Sport Gloves Slingshot - BS - 292.45 - -
★ Falchion Knife Marble Fade - FN - 291.72 - -
★ StatTrak™ Flip Knife Crimson Web - FT - 291.00 - -
★ StatTrak™ Classic Knife Case Hardened - MW - 289.19 - -
★ Paracord Knife Crimson Web - MW - 288.69 - -
★ Hand Wraps Cobalt Skulls - BS - 283.76- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Flip Knife Lore - FT - 282.96 - -
★ Talon Knife Scorched - MW - 280.72 - -
★ Driver Gloves Crimson Weave - FT - 278.18 - -
★ Specialist Gloves Marble Fade - FT - 275.08- Sun Jun 02 2024 09:00:00 -
★ Flip Knife Autotronic - FT - 275.08 - -
★ Flip Knife Autotronic - FT - 275.08 - -
AK-47 Case Hardened - MW - 274.79 - -
StatTrak™ AK-47 Bloodsport - FN - 273.41 - -
StatTrak™ AK-47 Bloodsport - FN - 273.41 - -
★ Classic Knife Crimson Web - FT - 269.14 - -
★ Moto Gloves Turtle - MW - 267.61 - -
AK-47 X-Ray - BS - 262.75 - -
StatTrak™ M4A4 Asiimov - WW - 260.31 - -
★ Paracord Knife Slaughter - MW - 258.86 - -
★ Skeleton Knife Scorched - WW - 256.18 - -
★ Bowie Knife Case Hardened - MW - 255.77 - -
StatTrak™ AWP Wildfire - FN - 255.53 - -

Chapter 1: Hope’s 16th Birthday
As the rays of the sun hits her eyes Hope Moonshine wakes up excited, she was waiting for this day for all her life
She jumps out of her bed and rushes to her mom's room excited and she accidentally flung the door open too fast making a loud cranking noise waking her mother, Queen Matilda up
"Oops didn't mean to wake you up" hope said awkwardly"Honey I know you are excited for your birthday but you need to be patient the sun has just risen everyone is still asleep" Matilda said tiredly, "please go back to sleep darling you will have a long day today and you will need the energy, your party wont be begin till noon"
"Ok mom, sorry for waking you up" said Hope as she was trying to close the door slowly enough that it doesn't crank but it still did "Not an issue dear", said Matilda
As the door closed Matilda took a deep breath and closed her eyes her emblem on her right shoulder a pink diamond glowed she opened her eyes and she made a finger gun with her right hand pointing at the hinges and a shiny pink light zaps comes out of her index and zaps the hinges, the beam turns into a hand and it open the door and then closes without making a cranking noise, "I should have done that a long time ago" said Matilda
She removes the blankets from her bed to reveal she is already clothed for a serious occasion, as she goes towards the mirror she is wearing a long cyan dress that trails all the way to her feed her top being smartly tight with short shoulder sleeves, she puts on long white gloves and glances over her diamond ring she lets out a small sigh and frown and puts it on, she trances over the mirror for a few seconds before snapping out of it, and she looks over to a miniature painting of her an her daughter when she was 6 she picks it up and smiles "I know you are eager dear you won't have to wait for long"
After Matilda ready's herself she open her window and conjures a light bird of the palm of her hand, the bird flew off to Hope's room where it sees her lying in her bed on her stomach, the bird soon returns to Matilda's room and land on her palm her eyes glows for a moment and the bird fizzes into a yellow cloud, "Well it looks like she actually listened not very common of her to do so, it means I can continue to do my plan unobstructed" she said with a smile.
Matilda leaves her room and walk across the hallway to the main hall then she claps her hand twice, and snap her finger, suddenly a figure jumps into the window it spins 180° and a muscular women stands up, she has a scar on her left cheek and short brown hair, she wore knight armour that cuts of at her shoulder emblem that looks like a dark grey shield.
"At your service my queen", she said with a salute
Matilda is startled for a moment, but then composes herself, "Sally there is no need for you to enter that way you can just wait for me at the hall entrance", she said.
"I was scouting the perimeter we have to make sure this place is safe and to make sure no one can harm the princess at her important day, I was up all night with my team searching every corner of the upper ring for any danger and-" Sally was abruptly cut off by Matilda.
"It was not your fault Sally, there is no need for you to prove yourself to me" Matilda said remorsefully, "You tried your best so you must eventually forgive yourself it wasn't anyone fault, it truly came from nowhere"
Sally's serious expression break into expression of regret as she shamefully looks at the ground
"Now is not time to punish ourselves over who we failed to protect but to make sure my daughter has a great birthday" Matilda said with determination
Sally's expressions of regret turned to a smile, "Yes my Queen, me and the royal guards have spent last few weeks clearing a safe path from the upper ring to the more presentable areas of the lower ring that ends at the great barrier" Sally says with a salute.
"Well I trust your judgement, you are now dismissed" said Matilda
Sally goes down the stairs of the central hall towards the doors "I won't mess up again" Sally said with determination
"Oh Houston" Matilda said while turning her head left and right, "where is he when I need him",
"I am right here your majesty" Houston whispered from behind, Matilda was startled and was annoyed on how everyone seems to sneak up on her, "Sorry for spooking you" said Houston as he polished his monocle "We are well prepared to begin celebration soon" he said as his hand pointed towards the empty hall.
Matilda stared at him, he then clapped his hands and an army of servants entered the hall setting up the chairs and tables, followed up by waiters quickly setting food on the table, and then 6 waiters came together to slowly lift the large 4 layered birthday cake with a milk white colour with chocolate cream on top of each layer, with "happy birthday Hope" spelled with strawberry topping on the side of each layer, with the glowing yellow number "16" candle at the top.
"As I was saying my Queen" Houston started "We just need to wait for the guests to arrive, I will let you know when you can call your daughter" Houston stops from a moment "Do you want anything else your majesty or am I dismissed?" he asked.
"You are dismissed Houston" said Matilda
Matilda walks up to Hope's room and slowly opens the door to find her laying in her bed
"One thousand one hundred and forty-two" Hope counted to herself, she paused and took a deep sigh, and tried to continue but then paused scratching her head "Um One-".
she was interrupted by her mother saying "Thousand one hundred and forty-three", "Unable to sleep dear?" She said with a smile, Hope gasped and she had the biggest smile in her face, her mother was a bit startled and asked "what is it you are smiling at?".
Hope pointed at her, jumped from her bed and as she was taking heavy breathes pointing at her mother clothes, "You don't sleep in this" she takes a deep breath and exclaims "which means I have got to get ready" and she runs to her closet to pick up something to wear.
Matilda takes a glance down at her clothes and rolls her eyes "so much for a surprise"
"I am ready mom" Hope said ecstatically, she was wearing a beautiful turquoise dress which complemented her hair colour styled in two plates with with joined with a pink band and wearing her favourite golden necklace,
"That was quick" her mother commented
As they enter the main hall a bunch of guests are seated drinking beverages and helping themselves to freshly baked foods, "Attention everybody, I would like you to welcome the birthday girl" said Houston, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their heads towards the princess.
She gets a bit nervous and let out an awkward "hey guys", she didn't recognize any of them but she had to pretend to know all of them while hoping they don't ask her if she knows them, they all continue to stare as she and her mother get seated.
Houston lets out a forced cough to break the awkward silence, he says "and now Princess that you have come here you may blow the candles", the table the cake was on was carried towards Hope and her mother seated on there high chair, Hope tries to mask her excitement as she takes a deep breath and gently blow the candles, which fire off the cake and make a small explosion spelling out "Happy Birthday Princess!", Hope's eyes lit with joy.
Trumpets play and two royal servants come into the hall holding a gold plated chest decorated with diamonds, the chest is slowly opened and a blinding bright light shined from inside it, "Go ahead dear" said Matilda as her eyes pointed to the chest.
Hope goes down towards the chest and slowly lowers her hand inside of it and grabs what inside, as she removes her hand from the chest it reveals her to be holding the magic wand, it had a purple handle with a sparkly cyan diamond at its back end and a translucent turquoise sphere at it top decorated with a white glowing shape which resembled the combination of a two star into two different planes inside, and topped off with a small yellow crown at the top
Hope's shoulder emblem a pink heart with a tiny crown on top of both curves starts glowing, she raises the top of the wand at eye level, "ooh what's this" she says as she tries to stick her finger inside it to touch the spinning star
"HOPE DONT" shouted her mother, as soon as hope touched it burnt her finger and she let out a painful screech and fires a yellow glowing beam fires from the wand at some guest who were quick enough to duck, it hits a glowing orange decorative plant crushing it against the wall,
"hehe this could have been worse", Hope said awkwardly, the wreckage catches fire...
"FIRE" yells Sally, the guards that were standing by the walls quickly moved and shoved away all nearby guest as Sally goes and faces the fire here shoulder emblem glows and she fires yellow beam at it from her hands she then she clenches her fist and the beam turns into water extinguishing the fire and a yellow cloud evaporates from it, she quickly turn over to Hope and rushes over to her "ARE YOU OKAY PRINCESS" she exclaimed worryingly.
"I am fine it's just my finger is a little -" before she finishes her sentence Sally picks her up and running with her in her arms and runs up to the door and out of the Palace.
Queen Matilda is left with the guests and lets out an awkward chuckle and says "so who wants some drinks?", "Please help yourself to the finest wines in the whole kingdom" she said as a servant reveals a bunch of wine bottles in gold coating, the guests all rushed to get a sip
"I am telling you I am fine it's just a little scratch its rude for me to leave suddenl-" Hope was interrupted by Sally kicking the door open.
"PA-" Sally yelled before being interrupted by a "SHHHH", she was shushed by a woman with a white robe that cut offs at the shoulder, and a hand crafted necklace made of cotton around her neck, she had red hair tied into a bun and a green plus sign as her shoulder emblem.
"Seriously Sally how many times do I have to tell you to be quiet in here" said healer Pam with frustration she lets out a sigh and asks, "So what seems to be the problem?" Sally pulls out Hope and holds her at arms length right Infront of her Hope lets out a "Hi".
Pam gasps "Oh my princess sorry I didn't know you were coming, are you hurt?"
"No not at all it's ju-" Hope was interrupted yet again it seems like although she is becoming a grownup no one seems to want to listen to her
"She burned herself quickly check up on her" commanded Sally as she lowered Hope to her feet, Pam glanced at her up and down
"Where was she hurt", asked her confused. Hope sheepishly pointed to her left index finger it was a bit red which could be easily seen as it contrasted with her smooth white skin, but it was also accompanied by a yellow 'liquid', Pam conjured a white napkin to clean the site of the injury and singled out the injured finger from Hope's hand and put her hand on it and made into a fist and then she took a deep breath and closed her eyes her shoulder mark started having a green glow for a few seconds and then it suddenly went dim, she opened her hand to find the finger fully healed like it was never even scratched.
"Oh wow t-thanks" said Hope with a smile.
"Oh it's nothing" said pam, she took out her napkin it had some yellow glowing spots of what looks like fluid except its it didn't soak in but floated around it, "I see you can use magic now, what was your first spell" Pam said with excitement.
"I-i just shot this out of the wand" she said as she pointed at liquid on the napkin that started evaporating considerably, she then lowered her voice and talked faster "and it hit a plant and set it on fire" she was saying as she looked at the floor, Pam laughed and Hope was starting to blush.
"Oh don't worry dear we all mess up at the start, when I first started I accidentally broke a boy's arm" Pam said with a laugh.
"Is he okay now?" Hope asked with curiosity
"Well when I was your age healing wasn't what it is today they just put his arm in a cast and said if he was lucky his arm would be usable in three years", "I never was interested in healing like my mom but I wanted to fix my mistake so I studied and practiced for months to focus my healing and one day it just clicked, I got back to him and I was able to heal his arm and this happiness a patient feels when they are treated makes this all worth it" she let out a calm sigh and continued "It was not an easy journey but in just 8 years I was able to reach my peak"
"Eight years?" Hope said in disbelief
"Don't worry your path is way longer than mine my peak is at least four levels lower than you" Pam said with a grin
"It isn't that huge difference right?" Hope inquired hoping her journey wont be in the double digits because that's a very long time
Pam laughed and then said "Oh it way larger than it looks, but don't worry royals don't have a peak at least not one that one knows off" she put her hand on Hope's shoulder "Don't let the long road overwhelm you as long as you are better than yesterday you will be a great princess"
Hope smiled at her and said, "Thanks a lot Pam"
"So is everything alright with her, she stuck her finger into the wand are you sure there wont be any complications" asked Sally
"She will be alright she might have lost her finger if she went deeper and then It will actually a challenge to fix, but this is what pain reflexes are for, it a blessing in disguise", replied Pam
Sally clapped her hands and said "Well we got to go now we cant keep the guests waiting thanks for your help Pam"
Hope looked over to her and said "You should come over it's my birthday you can go change the setting", "No dear being a Healer is big commitment what if someone is in need of assistance and I am not here but I appreciate the gesture, maybe I could arrange my schedule to be there next time, go enjoy yourself".
"Pam the amputee is ready for his second regeneration session" a voice called.
"The what?" exclaimed Hope.
"Oh it's a bit graphic you really don't want to see it, I got to go now send your mother my regards" replied Pam as she ran over to a patient
Sally and Hope went to the door and left.
"You know I was really fine, it was just a scratch" Hope said as she looked up to Sally, "It's kind of rude to just leave the guests hanging I could have just sucked it up-"
Hope tried to continue when Sally muttered under her breath "I won't forgive myself".
"What was that?" asked Hope.
"Nothing, it's just you can never be so sure and no one was stupid enough to stick there finger in the wand I was just making sure but since it wasn't serious we don't need to worry" Sally said with an anxious fake smile, Hope sensed there was something off about her tone but she didn't want to push Sally into an uncomfortable spot so she left it at that
Sally and Hope make it back to the palace and Matilda rushes to her daughter "Oh dear are you ok"
She said as she gave her girl a hug, Everyone was staring and Hope got a bit embarrassed "yeah Mom I am ok" Hope said, Matilda stood up and was about to say something before Hope pre-emptively said, "I know I know it was pretty stupid from me to to do what I did, I know the wand is not a toy and I promise I will be more careful with it" she said while avoiding eye contact
Matilda smiled and said "Well I appreciate that you understand that you messed up but that not what I wanted to say" Hope made eye contact and Matilda continued "As princess and future queen we will have you visit the LOWER RING" Matilda took her daughter's hand "Sure its not the safest or best place in the kingdom but a hermit ruler is a bad ruler"
Hope got extremely excited over this as she always wanted to see the rest of the kingdom the Lower ring, the Outer ring but she was always told no because Sally's word "It's way to dangerous, you are not ready, you aren't old enough" or her mother's word "Is there something there that you cant find at home?, The place isn't very hygienic" but how bad could it be it was still under the rule of the Moonshines. Life in the Upper ring and the palace get boring after a while, why would she wants to stay put there when there a whole world to explore?
"The escorts are waiting for us outside those who want to go with us are welcome to go" Said Matilda looking at the guests with a forced smile almost knowing the reaction. All of them tried to mask there faces of disgust as if Matilda just asked them to bathe in mud or even worse she said that the food at the legendary "façade haut de gamme" was just an overpriced scam. They didn't look very impressed, Matilda coughed and asked "Well?".
One couple went towards the exit and when they got to Matilda the man said "We are truly flattered by your invite my queen but I am afraid we have something important to do" the man paused and scratched his head trying to think of an excuse Hope looked over him and asked
"What's more important to than a trip to see the rest of kingdom its not like we can always get to do it" with an ecstatic smile the woman who was scratching her head stopped as if she got an idea she went over looked to Hope with a stupid fake smile and said
"Well sweetie we forgot to sign up our son for school and registration will be closing today" she turned over to her husband and elbowed him in ribs and asked "Isn't that right honey?"
The man nodded in agreement and they walked out and they led out an audible sigh and when they were just outside of earshot the man told his wife "Moonshines huh? You would think after what happened a decade ago they would get the memo" the woman looked back at the Queen then waved and looked back at her husband and said
"She is weak if this happened to me I will make sure those pigs wish they weren't born".
Following into there footsteps and sensing an opening other guests decided to excuse themselves outside and at this point Matilda stopped resisting she knew some wouldn't want to go but she didn't think that many would go and she looked defeated Hope turned to her and said "Well mom we don't need those nose in the airers it's there loss anyways"
A woman walked up to them "She is right you know in-law" that woman was Hope's paternal aunt Mary, she had short blonde hair and brown eyes wearing a yellow dress for the occasion "The only reason any off these arrogant buffoons came here is societal expectations much like basically everything here" she said while rolling her eyes "and they all dipped the second they had the chance, come on lets go"
As they walked past the doors Sally was standing just outside the door scanning the setting with her eyes, her eyes wandered and locked with Mary "You should relax Sally no need for you to be so tense" she said with a smile she then changed her tone suddenly and said with a frown and a in a low voice that Hope and Matilda couldn't hear "Me and Matilda can protect ourselves and we aren't relying on you and my niece was under my protection since she was six, all you need to do is drive the horses and look menacing" and then she put her hand on her shoulder and smiled and said with an audible voice "So you can feel a lot more at ease dear", Sally tried hid her feeling of guilt with a fake smile "Let's go" said Mary joyfully
Everyone got on the horse driven chariot, just a classical chariot nothing magical about it, it's a very ineffective method of transport but one of the most relaxing ones
"HEEEEEY WAIT FOR ME" yelled a girl from as she was she surfing a purple cloud wearing a long sleeved purple sweater and blue pants as she got closer she tried to slow down by tilting her body backwards but she lost control and started flying at high speeds towards Hope
"EM SLOW DOWN" shouted Hope.
"I CANT BRACE FOR IMPACT" they both closed there eyes with their arms covering there eyes but just before contact she was caught effortlessly by Sally one hand and her cloud in the other she crushed the cloud in her fist into yellow mist that faded away and put the girl on her feet she then crossed her arms and looked down and barked
"Miss Emberlynn Springfield you should know how dangerous using magic without experience is, and you can't just rely on something you can't even responsibly use to make up for your own lack of punctuality"
Ember looked taken aback but she didn't want to look stupid so she snapped back with "I didn't know Hope is celebrating her birthday early in the morning, birthdays are a night activity".
Sally who was crossing her arms now raised her eyebrow and simply replied with,"Lies you were told everyday for the last week not my fault you can't seem to be able to be punctual friend's birthday, do you simply not care?".
Ember now looked embarrassed and now was rolling her finger around her dyed purple hair "M-M-My rooster didn't wake me up" she said with a smile while shrugging her shoulder as if she is asking question and the question was 'will Sally let the lecture go'.
"This doesn't matter now anyways it's that Ems is here" interjected Hope with excitement as she put her arm around Ember's shoulder "We shouldn't be wasting time let's go" she said as she punched her hand up in the sky.
Matilda, Hope, Ember and Mary entered the Chariot while Sally rode one of the two horses moving it while the other was being moved by an over-armoured and visibly nervous man.
"Calm down Edmund its just a short trip by a defined path we will be in an out in an hour or two" commanded Sally looking at Edmund clearly getting tired of his lack of confidence.
"I am trying but its such a big deal, escorting not one not two but three royals into the lower ring, I am not sure if I can do this, If I mess up-- I am too young for the consequences" he said clearly on the edge of panic
Sally slapped her hands on his cheeks "Edmund calm down you can do this I know you can" she said, Edmund seemed to calm down a bit "The whole path is being heavily guarded you and me are the last line of an extremely deep wall of defences we are most likely just going to be there for company" she looked back at the cart and said "and besides it's not like the royals can't protect themselves, they are much stronger than us after all"
"That's what they said about fre-" Edmund mumbled before putting his hand on his mouth mid sentence, Sally expression changed to that of anger.
"What did you just say?" she barked.
Edmund realising his mess up and started shaking "Um- I was talking about ---- the nice weather we are having" he said trying to pretend that this wasn't the stupidest attempt at backtracking, before Sally was going to give him a piece of her mind Mary stuck her head out and said in annoyed tone
"Hey I am not getting any younger here", Sally and Edmund looked forwards and shook the horse reins and they got moving forward
As they got to the edges of the Upper ring they reached translucent yellow barrier "We are reaching the barrier you might feel a tickle" proclaimed Sally.
As the horse crossed the barrier the barrier walls phased through the cart and it phased through Mary and Matilda there shoulder emblems glowed a four pointed star and a diamond respectfully in a yellow hue when it got to Hope and Ember the cart got to a sudden halt and they were thrown forwards Hope fell on her mother while Ember face was slapped into the barrier which was at this point halfway through the cart.
Sally opened the door "Everyone ok" she took one look at Ember and let out an annoyed sigh she dragged her hand out of the cart and asked while trying to hide her frustration "Show me your emblem"
Ember scoffed and tried to tuck back her long sleeves but she couldn't get back enough and said while crossing her arms "I can't and I am not removing my shirt".
Sally wasn't having any of it and from tip of her index made a sharp grey magic beam, she flattened Ember's sleeve and made a small cut in her right shoulder showing a yellow star rotated slightly to the left, after the cut yellow gas evaporated from it "And this is why emblems aren't covered it's common knowledge Springfield" said Sally annoyed.
"My favourite shirt! This was very unnecessary" whined Ember and before she could say anything Sally went back to her horse leaving her alone she scoffed and went back to the cart and sat next to Hope crossing her arms.
"You okay there", asked Hope concerned.
"Yeah I am fine just another lecture", said ember looking at the windows
As Hope looked out the window the lower ring didn't seem so different from home, people dressed and walked smartly roads were clean but something was off she couldn't help but notice everyone wore long sleeves even though it was a summer and it's not proper etiquette and that's something else it was surprisingly hot, She took her head out through the windows "Hello stranger" she greeted a man walking nearby he took one solid look at her and looked towards her mother and Sally who was frowning and her hands free with her emblem glowing, he didn't say anything and turned back and proceeded to speed walk away in a few seconds he ditched the subtlety and ran away, Hope was pretty disappointed and got her head into the cart
"What did I do wrong?", Hope asked.
"Girl it's either because you were too friendly it felt fake" said Ember, Hope looked down "Or they were made to feel unwelcome by misses buzzkill in the driving seat" she remarked
A loud sound of crashing wooden boxes was heard and cart went to a halt
"What was that" commented Mary
"Something that isn't boring" Hope said with excitement before leaving the cart.
"Make sure all of them stay put in the cart I will be gone for a short while" said Sally to Edmund before running to the source of the sound Hope tried to follow her but was body blocked by Edmund with his arms crossed
"Sorry I can't let you go princess, Superior's orders", he glanced to the left of him to seeing Ember touching a fancy table Infront of a café just for it to poof into a yellow cloud,
"Ow splinters" she cried, the yellow cloud fizzled reveal a wooden table barely clinging to its shape with a bunch of makeshift wooden fixes that don't even match in colour
Edmund looked like he just saw a ghost and ran towards Ember who was now transforming outdoor expensive furniture into splinter traps
"Stop touching it" said Edmund before shooting out a grey magical hands towards her subduing her, "What's your deal" he scolded annoyed.
"No what's this place deal why is everything here so fake?" snapped Ember "You hearing this Hope this place is fa-" she then stopped and asked "Aye were is Hope?"
Edmund let her go and pulled on his hair "Oh no no no no no no no" he cried
"Is everything alright where is my daughter?" asked Matilda concerned, Edmund didn't know what to say but before he could make up an explanation Mary interjected
"Oh don't worry Mati she will be ok she is probably with Sally and besides she still has this necklace I gave her so I am sure she will be just fine" Mary said with her hand on Matilda's shoulder "and we can go have some tea and chit-chat while we wait I heard that Gilbert's tea shop has actually potable tea" she suggested Matilda sighed and decided to go with what Mary said and walked towards the shop. "What about me?" asked Ember, Edmund turned towards her with anger and barked "You are staying right here!".
"Sally where are you?" called Hope as she was walking she saw a little girl wearing a cute pink dress and smooth brown hair walking alone Infront of her, she approached her and asked
"Hey do you happen to see a tall lady around here?" she tapped on her shoulder to get her attention and suddenly a cloud of yellow gas evaporated out of her Hope and the little girl coughed and as the smoke cleared the little girl was wearing a poorly knit patchwork of randoms scraps of fabric and her hair was covered in dirt she had a brown circle on the side of her shoulder, Hope froze in shock "I- I am so sorry, it was an accident" she apologised "I can go get you a new dress or--" the girl just looked at Hope her eyes glanced her wand which was in her right hand as well as her royal emblem and then she started hyperventilating and burst into tears.
Hope got on to her knees and she gently put her hands on the girl's shoulder "Calm down calm down, it's alright, It's not your fault but mine"
"P-P-pwease do-don hu-hur meeee" the girl sobbed.
"What hurt you? no no no no" Hope explained trying to figure out from where the girl got the idea
Hope hugged the girl "Here calm down see I am friendly" she soothed, the girl seemed to calm down a bit and she started sniffing
She let her go and asked "So what's your name?"
"R-R-Rosie" replied Rosie.
"Ok Rosie I am so sorry for ruining your dress, do you remember were you got it from?" she asked
"Ms Bea had guys gib it to us" Rosie said
"Misses Bea huh" she wondered out loud "Well can you tell me were misses Bea is"
"Sowwy I can't tell you misses moonnnn" Rosie was saying before she looked she wanted to cry again
"Please don't cry" Hope pleaded "You don't need to tell me where you live just wait" Hope passed her wand to her left hand and put her now free hand to her pocket and pulled out a purple wallet and she pulled out a golden note with 50 written on it she passed the note to Rosie and said "Here give this to misses Bea and tell her I am so sorry for destroying your dress also" Rosie grabbed the note and stared at it, Hope pulled some wrapped candy she got from the party "Her have some candy too" the girl put her the note in her pocket and grabbed the wrapped candy she struggled with it a bit and she then passed it back
"Open it please" Rosie asked
"Oh you can't? it's quite simple here" Hope said she gently tapped the candy her emblem glowed for a moment and the wrapping fizzed out.
Rosie put the candy in her mouth and quickly chewed and swallowed it, she then gave Hope a hug, she let go after a moment "Thank you miss, Ms Bea says Moosines are scawy but aren't scawy"
"Scary why would we be scary" Hope asked in disbelief with a smile
Rosie looked around and said "I am sowwy I need to go" she turned back and ran away and took a turn and was just out of sight.
"You couldn't just stop causing trouble for one day? what did we pay you for?" Hope heard Sally barking.
The sound of Sally's voice came from an alleyway, as Hope entered the alley the clean white paint started fading into rotting maroon bricks and the smell became foul coming from the open dumpster "Ewwwww" Hope said as she lowered the lid to try and lessen the stench
"Hey you know it's rude to close the lid on someone trying to fetch themselves a meal" a bald man barked as he popped out like a jack in the box he had a white beard wearing over shoulder strapped brown pants with a black plastic bag for a shirt and a metal can of beans for a hat and his left eye with a grey iris spinning his shoulder emblem only consisted of a simple brown circle, Hope screamed and ran away "Oh beans was that a Moonshine?" the man asked himself "Well I probably should skip town" he said to himself with a goofy smile while snapping his fingers.
Hope stopped running and started panting "Now you are lucky I am not here in head bashing duty or I would have sent you to a one way trip to the Outer ring and the monsters there could deal with you" Hope heard Sally scolding, she walked to the end of the alleyway the place beyond it was extremely different people clothes were worn out in which the holes were covered up by half baked sewn rotting fabric the road didn't exist it was simply a dirt undefined path and walls were all made of rotting bricks same as that of the alley, windows were broken and the stench of garbage filled the air, Hope saw Sally tying up a bunch of muscular men with a magic rope.
Sally glanced over and saw Hope "Princess what are you doing here?" she asked with dismay the rope holding the gangsters vanished they got up and shook of the dust and looked up and saw Hope and they all ran away in terror "Moonshine here run awway". All of a sudden all the people went indoors and the windows were sealed shut with wood and hammered with nails and just like that the place looked like a ghost town.