Hi there!! I'm 32 years old, in a long term relationship. I'm looking for a female partner to enjoy the girly, cute things with! I'm not picky, just prefer 24+.
I love animals, music, biking, and reading. I'm friendly and I'm a mix of an introvert and extrovert. I really appreciate someone who can communicate often within reason! I always do my best to do the same.
Please be willing to verify.
Anyway, feel free to DM me even if you're not close :)

Common Channeling- 29 Ways Demons Enter

1. Ouija Board-Reputable spiritual leaders and experts have long warned against using Ouija Boards and their variants, as they can potentially expose individuals to malevolent forces. The idea of “safe” communication with angels through these boards is often a deceptive marketing ploy.
2. Angel Boards—While proponents may claim that Angel Boards provide a safe and spiritual way to connect with the divine, these devices can open the door to potential dangers. The use of such boards has been linked to occult practices and the summoning of entities that may not have our best interests in mind.
3. Consulting spiritual mediums—Spirit mediums claim to communicate with the dead. In a world of uncertainty, many people turn to spirit mediums for guidance, closure, and a connection to the beyond. These individuals claim to be able to communicate with the dead, see into the future, and uncover hidden truths. But are these abilities genuine or merely an elaborate illusion? However, the validity of these claims has long been a subject of skepticism and debate.
4. Consulting psychics – Delving into the realm of the occult, where demonic forces are said to hold sway, carries with it a weight of spiritual and moral consequence that should not be taken lightly. As rational beings, we must carefully examine the claims made by those who purport to possess the ability to peer into the future and question the true source of their knowledge.
5. Demon Teleaphaty – The mechanics of this demonic telepathy are not fully understood, but it is believed to operate on a metaphysical level beyond the normal bounds of the physical world. The demon’s consciousness somehow intertwines with the host’s, allowing for the seamless injection of foreign thoughts and urges. This creates an intimate, parasitic connection that the victim may be powerless to resist or expel.
6. Spells – These carefully crafted incantations are more than words – they are the fabric of enchantment, woven together to manifest desired outcomes.
7. Curses – These spoken words of harm or punishment, imbued with the power of magic, have the potential to wreak havoc on the lives of their targets
8. Fortunetelling – Whether through interpreting dreams, reading tarot cards, or analyzing astrological patterns, the art of foretelling offers a unique perspective on the unfolding of events.
9. Spirit guides – Through channeling, we can summon spirit guides that are aligned with our unique needs and highest good. These guides come in many forms – from departed loved ones to angelic beings to ascended masters – each offering a distinct perspective and specialized knowledge.
10. Satanism – Satanism is not about worshipping a literal Satan but rather an extreme form of individualism and self-worship. Satanists believe in taking responsibility for their own actions and pursuing their desires without guilt or shame.
11. Witchcraft involves harnessing the natural energies of the world around us and using them to manifest our desires. Whether casting a spell to attract abundance, performing a ritual to enhance personal growth, or simply connecting with the earth’s rhythms.
12. Automatic handwriting involves the spirit or energy of a deceased individual taking control of the subject’s hand and guiding the pen across the page to convey their thoughts and wisdom.
13. Astral Projections -This out-of-body experience allows the astral body to explore the spiritual dimensions beyond our physical world.
14. Generational Demons – These “generational demons” are dark patterns and destructive tendencies that seep into our lives through our bloodline. While it may feel like an inescapable fate, we have the power to break these cycles of darkness.
15. Spiritual Husband or Wife – plaguing unsuspecting individuals – the rise of the “spirit spouse” or “spirit husband/wife.” This demonic entity assumes the identity of a person’s spouse, infiltrating their lives and relationships with the sole purpose of spiritual and emotional destruction. Sexual demons
16. Physical sex-straight or gay

—

Negative Emotions

Negative emotions can serve as a gateway for demonic influences to take hold in our lives. It’s essential to be aware of how these toxic feelings can open the door for malevolent forces to infiltrate our existence.
Emotions like anger, fear, resentment, and jealousy can act as conduits for demons to enter and wreak havoc. Unresolved trauma, addictions, and unhealthy attachments also make us vulnerable to potential demonic possession.
We must be vigilant in addressing and overcoming these negative emotional states. Failure to do so can pave the way for dark energies to take root and cause untold damage. By cultivating positivity, self-awareness, and spiritual fortitude, we can safeguard ourselves against the insidious influence of demonic forces that seek to prey upon our weaknesses.

Understanding the Connection Between Demons and Negative Emotions

By understanding the connection between negative emotions and demonic presence, individuals can take proactive steps to safeguard their mental and spiritual well-being. Cultivating positive thoughts and emotions is crucial to creating a protective shield against these malevolent forces. Through forgiveness, mindfulness, self-reflection, and spiritual practices, we can fortify our defenses and reclaim our lives from the grip of these unwanted entities.
Anger, fear, resentment, jealousy, and other toxic feelings open the door for these malevolent forces to infiltrate our lives. Unresolved trauma, addictions, and unhealthy attachments also make us vulnerable to demonic possession.
By understanding the connection between negative emotions and demonic presence, individuals can take proactive steps to safeguard their mental and spiritual well-being. Cultivating positive thoughts and emotions is crucial to creating a protective shield against these malevolent forces. Through mindfulness, self-reflection, and spiritual practices, we can fortify our defenses and reclaim our lives from the grip of these unwanted entities.

Common types of negative emotions intensified by demons:

1. fear (all types)
2. Suicide
3. Jealousy
4. Bitterness
5. Strife
6. Depression
7. worry
8. pride
9. fatigue
10. Addictions
11. Gluttony
12. Generational bloodline Detecting these generational bloodline demons is no easy task as they remain hidden, subtly shaping one’s emotional state over time. The transfer of these demons through bloodlines perpetuates a cycle of negativity that persists until confronted and cast out. Understanding and addressing these vulnerable moments is crucial in breaking free from their grip and reclaiming emotional well-being for oneself and future generations.

Christians Can Have a Demon

Christians have a Demon because they sin. What are some other reasons Christians can have a demon?
In addition, Christians can have a demon if they invite a demon to direct communication. Christians participating in channeling activities can have demons because they have violated a very important spiritual law. This spiritual law states God does not want anyone to communicate with other spirits.
This is a common reason that all Christians have a demon because they sin and do not repent. In reality, many Christians can have demons because they do not believe in the devil or know how to protect themselves from the devil.
God does not force Christians to follow Him alone. If a Christian invites a demon to communicate, God will permit the demon’s entrance. Even if the person wants the demon to leave, the demon will stay unless it is cast out by self-deliverance (for Christians), self-exorcism, or exorcism with a deliverance team.

Platform: PC, but more specifically was a free game on the Internet (likely Flash based)
Genre: action/adventure? Not sure how to categorize it
Estimated year of release: sometime in the 2000s or early 2010s
Graphics/Art style: simplistic. Based on stick figure drawings
Notable gameplay mechanics: upgrade system, doing tricks to gather points/money, boss battles
Othelonger description: you would start out with a very basic bicycle, and would try and rack up as many points/money as possible in order to buy more upgrades for your bike. The upgrades would range from better wheels all the way to rockets/boosters eventually. I think the game might’ve had levels to it, since there was always a point where you’d progress enough and end up fighting a boss. I think there were at least two bosses, but the first one you encountered was a giant earthworm/sandworm. I don’t remember how you defeated the bosses unfortunately, but I think a lot of the earthworm fight was trying to avoid its attacks.

[ First / Previous ]
Memory Transcription Subject: Hileen, Krakotl Fugitive Recovery Agent
Date [standardized human time]: November 28th, 2136
It'd been a while since I sat in Marlig's office for a talk face-to-face. Given the agency's secluded location at the edge of the downtown region, it was a chore to drop by when it wasn't for business, but I'd deemed the matter at hand to be worth my time.
I passed by Nampi at her desk on my way to the door and she gave me a coy glare as I carried on. Trying to ignore her risible ear waggle, I turned the corner to the door with my boss’s name painted on the glass panel where I could hear the frantic crumpling of paper.
Quietly, I entered Marlig's office without prompt as I knew he hated to be spooked by knocking. My mentor was surprisingly spry for a bird at his age, sorting through papers with one wing and an eye while using his talons with the other to set away the papers he had splayed out.
“Hileen!” he chirped. “Glad you could make it in today. I was just finishing up my paperwork. Take a seat.”
It was always nice to hear him drop the professional motif for a more grandfatherly attitude when speaking in person. I did as he suggested and took a seat while he grumbled to himself over the sorting. My eye caught a few of the old contracts he was rifling through and saw that some dated back to his days as an agent.
Eventually, he left some sitting out as he sequestered the rest back into their files, sorted by a dichotomy that only he and Nampi could comprehend fully. He motioned with a wing for me to peruse and I turned the first one to face me to find it was my first contract, signed by me in a sloppy fashion. “This takes me back a couple of years.”
“Slick bastard thought he could get away on a forklift but you showed him! Certainly more exciting than my first day!”
“Mm-hmm. And it was when I nearly got impaled that you had the idea to commission all of us utility vests.”
He chuckled, “I really should’ve done so sooner. Cuts and scratches were already a risk, but a forklift was a new one!”
I flipped through the pages of each report, finding that Marlig's notes were filled with praises of my work. There were highs and lows, but I was flattered to find that the grizzled krakotl held my performance in such high regard.
“Flawless interception!” read one footnote about me catching a runner. “Couldn't have done it better myself!”
Marlig waited patiently as I browsed quickly through each page, realizing more and more how the notes also marked improvements in my work. How I found it easier to talk down a rowdy client, or apprehend them in the case that they were beyond helping on my part. Flowery language plastered most pages with him fawning over my work as a doting father would to his prodigal child.
The trend took a sharp turn as the notes became fewer and more critical the closer the dates reached to the present. I brushed the others aside with a wing to peruse the final paper. “And this…”
“Is Tac. Your latest contract. The most recent in a line of declining performance since the interview. This has become a pattern, Hileen, and its consequences are beginning to reach beyond yourself. Paji and Vesek resigned recently for personal reasons, which leaves us even less hands on deck than before. That's four people to cover the entire municipal region, and maybe even beyond, should needs arise. Three, if we include this little probation I have you on.”
“What was I supposed to do? Marlig, these ‘jobs’ you've got us working on overstep the contracts we were signed on with. Our job is to make sure people obey their court-mandated duties, not drag them off to the facilities ourselves!”
“... So the trip we took to the facilities did bother you.”
A sigh clicked in my throat as he reminded me. “Is that what happens to the people we take in, Marlig? Is that what would've happened to your wife?”
His feathers ruffled.
“That's what happens to those who are too dangerous to the general public to be left roaming free. Not everyone we deal with winds up there, but everyone can be subject to it. Miskela sued for her exoneration and proved in court that she was not diseased. I brought you there to show you how it helps the people, but I see now that it was a mistake. I understand why you were so perturbed, really, but it's how things have been for centuries. It's how we've protected ourselves from the dangers out there.”
“You were willing to let Barsul be interned there, too.”
Marlig flinched and sighed as he swept the papers towards himself once I'd signaled I was done. He turned one eye to me while he sorted them.
“There's no room for favoritism, girl. I negotiated for him to be allowed to walk free, and look where that got me. That boy - your neighbor - suffered the consequences of my nepotism. So too would the girl, had nobody intervened.”
“Like Richard.”
“The human, yes. Or you. Or the police. Where does this sudden obsession with humans come from, anyway? I get notifications of you talking about the acceptance of them all the time on forums.”
“Does it even need explaining?”
“Well, I guess not, no, but it's certainly an about-face from the way you used to talk about them with me beforehand.”
“People can change, for better or worse. Which one I fall under remains to be seen.”
Marlig stroked at the plumage on his neck as he finished his sorting. “I hope it's the former, for your sake. Was there any reason you came to talk, or were you just checking that I hadn't gone senile?”
“Well, I was hoping to borrow your secretary for the evening.”
He perked up while his eyes narrowed and he laced his fingers together with curiosity. “You… want to spend an evening with Nampi?”
“It's not what you're insinuating, but yes.”
“I was insinuating nothing,” he warbled coyly. “Go ahead and take her, and make sure to split the bill at dinner.”
“Pain-in-the-ass geezer. I'll keep in touch if your friend causes any more trouble.”
“Keep in touch regardless. Miskela and I get lonely in our old age,” he called back. “Take care.”
I stepped out into the hallway and turned toward the desk where I could hear the secretary's claws tapping furtively at her keyboard. Nampi sat silently with her ears and tail in a relaxed position that implied a bored demeanor. There was barely any response as I stood before her, waiting politely for her acknowledgment that never came.
Hesitantly, I cleared my throat.
An ear raised in acknowledgement, but her focus remained on the screen of her computer. “Mhm?”
“Do you…?”
Her ear rotated toward me, though she still maintained a passive attitude as she continued to glare mindlessly at the monitor.
“Are you free this evening?”
“Well, I'm quite booked, I believe. Why do you ask?”
I was surprised at her curt, dry tone. She hadn't spoken with me like this since we first got to know one another.
“Well,” I started. “I realized something. Every time we went out, whether it was clubbing, or dinner, or even walking around the parks, you always footed the bill. And so…”
Slowly, her other ear perked up and I saw her keystrokes slow down as she listened in.
“I wanted to return the favor?”
Her lips smacked as she opened her mouth, though paused before she spoke. “How could you possibly do that?”
“With a little gesture of friendship.”
Nampi's horizontal pupil turned up toward me and her tail twitched.
I continued, “So that belt you're wearing? It's the same belt you've worn since we first met. And I know you're the pragmatic type who'd never spend a credit more than she needs to, except for all the times you do"- her ears twitched in indignance -"I wanted to see about getting you a little something… extra?”
Her paws raised from the keyboard and she leaned in, resting her snout on her palms. “Go on.”
The bubbly venlil's tail sold out her collected facade as it twitched with anticipation. She was cornered and she didn't even know it yet.
“Well, I found just the place on the other side of town where we can start. It's a place almost as rich and indulgent as yourself.”
“The Platinum Paw? I mean3”
Her ears folded back in embarrassment as she cracked. She wasn't cut out for acting anyway.
“So that's what it's called! Jeez, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was called. Now what do you say? We go over there and find you something nice—”
I hadn’t even finished my thought before Nampi had grabbed her bag and was out the door, giving me a playful tail flick that said come and get me.

The place I suggested was in a shopping center on the opposite side of town, though easily accessible because of its proximity to the transport rails. Nampi had insisted on grabbing something to eat beforehand and so now gleefully bit into a bundle of stalks that had been “grilled” as explained from the food truck we'd stopped at.
Her tail flicked back and forth with her usual enthusiasm as we entered the massive complex of stores. The roofless plan allowed the natural, orange sun to flood the upper levels while artificial lighting illuminated the ground level wherever the light couldn't reach.
The place was built in the last decade by the previous City Magister in a bid for popularity, though ultimately for naught as he would lose the vote following a scandal involving an iftali priestess and a carved bar of soap. I had to say that despite being sick in the head, he sure had a great sense of decor.
Nampi snacked away, joining me in admiring the scenery as we continued to the place I’d planned out for us. Aimless chatter all melded together into a single, thrumming murmur as pedestrians navigated the many levels and stores offered in the place.
A troupe of children passed by us, held in a chain of tails and arms as they were escorted by a pair of venlil who I assumed were students and teachers on a school trip. I caught a whiff of a sweet, aromatic breeze and found it to come from a perfume shop on the same level as us; naturally, venlil were not to be found inside.
We passed a fountain where a couple sat on the edge, their tails twined together as they giggled and flirted. I turned and caught Nampi watching them as well, though she awkwardly returned to sucking the remains of her meal from her claws when we made eye contact. Her ears lifted when I raised a wing to signal to the store we were going to stop at first.
“Platinum Paw, The Greatest Fashion Emporium For Everyone!”
The title alone was painfully cliche, taken to the tenth power by the brightly lit store taking up three department slots. Despite the flashy exterior, though, it was the best place to shop for belts, brooches, and bracelets alike. Customers who looked like they earned my yearly salary in a week browsed the higher end brands while I brought my friend to the section I wanted to show her.
Her ears were held up as we stood together next to a shelf chock full of fashionable bags and bandoliers of every variety.
“Pick one,” I told her.
Nampi's ears shot to a straight pose in surprise, “Any?”
“Within reason. I've got a few extra credits to blow and I know nobody better to spend it on.”
With an inviting headtilt, I let Nampi peruse the shelves at her leisure. Her lips pursed together and her tail flicked with glee as she fingered at every piece that caught her eye. I chuckled at her outburst of enthusiasm while turning to find my own items to gloss over.
A breeze from outside nipped at my beak while I considered what I’d like to purchase. The place dripped with an atmosphere of faux hospitality, from the bright blue-stained floorboards to the radio prattling off advertisements in a sickeningly sweet tone to the faint, fruity aroma of scented cleaner. It was oppressive as only a fissan-owned company could be to the senses.
What I wouldn’t pay to see how a human would fare in such an environment.
I knew they were social creatures at least, but I had no doubt that the predatory senses of a human, so honed to hunting, would get overstimulated in this center of gaudy indulgence. Knowing I was something of a predator myself made me sympathize provided that even I had to squint to keep the pale lights inside from searing my eyes. I could only imagine how the arboreal eyes of a Terran would fare. I was so lost in thought imagining how lost the Terrans would be that I could almost ignore the obnoxious giggling and metallic rattling coming from behind me.
Risking a peek at the source, into my sight came a pair of venlil, one a male carrying a pair of bags as well as a couple more strapped to his belt. The bored expression in his eyes was not one of a man who was in high spirits. The other venlil was a woman who was the source of the noise.
Her mottled gray pelt was accented by a tasteful belt design, free of almost any practical functions but not flashy or excessive in garnishment either. At least, that’s what I would say, were it not for the braid of beads that dangled on the belt, jingling with each bounce of the lively woman’s stride. It was clear that such a gaudy accessory was intended to draw attention to her, though why was a mystery. Certainly, the shiny braids seemed designed as decoration first and practical second.
She turned about and I faced back to my browsing before she could catch me staring. Nampi was nowhere in sight, though I figured she was somewhere behind the shelf, sifting through every accessory on the section I'd suggested.
Clink.
Something pelted to my immediate right. I tilted my head to spot a tree nut shell clattering to the floor. Without being able to guess where it came from, I had to wonder what could've launched it over this way. Even with my keen eyesight, nobody in the crowd seemed to be a suspect.
Clink.
Another shell pelted my vicinity, ricocheting off of the floor and hitting the shelf I was standing next to. I ruffled my feathers in frustration - clearly, someone was trying to get my attention, though I couldn't make out who it was. Out of the corner of my vision, the woman from before eyed me curiously as I looked about, though I wasn't interested in engaging with her.
Thwack.
One more shell came flying and, unfortunately, the aim on this one was true, nailing me on the beak. Irritated, I stormed out of the store to find the source of the instigator. I scanned over the bodies to find anyone who could've been responsible for this indignity, eventually concluding that it came from the dining area across the walkway.
Whoever was responsible was in for an earful and I was already structuring which of the offender's family members would be acceptable as fodder for stray words. As I approached, I found the tables were mostly empty save for one, which made my heart begin to drop as I met eyes with the only occupant. Suddenly, I was much less inclined to hurl insults.
“Oh, hi there!” Qitel called out in a sickly sweet tone. “Come, take a seat! We have much to discuss!”
The Exterminator clutched a bag of tree nuts in his claws, a pile of discarded shells already gathered on the table next to him. He grabbed another as I approached, effortlessly prying the shell in half between two claws and tossed the contents into his mouth. “Good protein, these,” he commented as I sat down.
“Must be for that good arm you've got there,” I mumbled. I caught sight of a couple of bags beneath his chair, seemingly from one of the tech stores contained within the center.
“Bah, it's guesswork. So how are you? I haven't heard from you since we worked together!”
“I was just spending time with a friend, shopping and enjoying my time off.”
“Your time off? Oh, am I interrupting something?”
His snide tone irked me, though now wasn’t the time for interjections. “You are, Qitel,” I replied with no shortage of vitriol in my tone. “But I see no harm in chatting for a bit.”
“Good, because I have some merchandise”- he reached into his belt pocket and deposited a couple of items onto the table -“and you’re just the person to look into it, human sympathizer.”
I drew a terse breath in shock, but my worries were quelled when I considered that if Qitel had the power to do anything about it, he would’ve done so instead of approaching me so discreetly. A glance down at the item on the table showed that he was presenting what looked to be a tracker as well as a personal drive. “Found in the garbage,” he told me.
“The guild resorts to dumpster diving when they already have such a bloated budget now?”
“No, featherbrain, I have decided to keep this for myself. These items were found together, sealed in a plastic pouch, and placed in a garbage bin. The city has bans against electronics being placed into public bins, and so I was curious why this wound up in there. Managed to get my coworker, a techie, to crack it open and…”
Qitel reached into his belt again, glowering at me with the same condescending gaze he’d given me when I first saw his face. He seemed to revel in digging for the item as slowly as possible to waste my time. Finally, he found whatever he was looking for and revealed it as a printed piece of paper, folded into eighths. The snobby yotul threw the unfurled paper on the table and rolled it toward me.
I craned my neck to look at the parchment, though I was immediately perplexed by the text on it; it appeared to be some sort of form, going by the boxes with words on the inside, followed by blank lines. “Found on the drive, here,” Qitel told me, jabbing a claw to the storage. “Translator shows it as Terran writing.”
Drawing my holopad from my satchel, I held it over the paper with the translator to get an understanding. Surely enough, the language on it came up positive as a variant of Terran writing and I was affirmed in it being a form of some sort based on the wording of the text. The boxes seemed like an odd sort of job application, asking for the typical name, contacts, and prior work experiences, but quickly took a strange turn as it began asking for where their home on Earth was prior to arrival, what family they had on Venlil Prime if any, and where they worked, implying that they were seeking individuals who were already employed.
I knew little about human employment methods, but I didn’t imagine that sourcing individuals from other jobs was the most efficient way to gain a workforce. Terran service industries already dotted the planet while many humans also found work in local environments. So what was the angle that the creator of this application was going for?
Most concerningly was that the paper had no insignia, identifying marks, or noted address to return the form to. “And where did you find it again?”
“In the garbage, alongside this intact tracker that was activated at the time of recovery. Y’know, when I was dumpster diving. Text on the document showed it was addressed to one ‘Choctaw Nexus’.”
“A pseudonym of some sort?”
“Clearly. Short sorting through the archives shows the first name traces back to the group out east - perhaps you've heard about them. How the name and the items we have here are connected is beyond my understanding, but-”
“Well, this has been an absolutely riveting discussion about your collection of trash, Qitel,” I told him as I stood up to leave. “But this really sounds like an issue to be resolved by your fellow guildsmen.”
The sound of another shell splitting rang out as I turned away.
“I'm not through talking with you, predator.”
The sting as a piece nailed me in the back of the head prompted me to whirl back around, sticking my beak in the insolent yotul's snout. “Perhaps you've forgotten, little man,” I cooed in an equally bittersweet tone to the one he gave me before. “The krakotl never had a problem with settling issues the old-fashioned way before the interview. Try me and find out why I'm in the line of work I am.”
“Oh, we wouldn't want that in such a"- he waved his paw to a group of passersby who had stopped to gawk at my display -”public forum. Please, contain yourself.”
I had to force the feathers on my back to settle and I raised my head away from him. “What else is it you wanted, then?”
“Well, I'd appreciate if you took this merchandise off my paws,” he told me as he brushed the electronics and printout toward me.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you're closer to the humans than I'd ever care to be, and may be able to find out who this Choctaw Nexus is. Something about the package just feels… off. And I know when to trust my feelings. Besides, we both know that you know where Tac is, don't we?”
“I don't-”
“We have videographic evidence that you conspired with a human - of the aforementioned squatters, no less - and let the kid escape. You're not as sneaky as you think, and if we find this ‘Choctaw Nexus’ turns out to be a bad actor that can be traced back to them - and by extension, you - well, there’d be no talking down my boss from having you dealt with. By helping me find out who this is, you may yet be able to clear your name of any wrongdoing.”
I clenched my beak tightly to maintain a straight face. Qitel stood up with a flourish and discarded the bag he was carrying in a bin.
“See, the krakotl were never special for using threats and bullying to get results. It's because you were good at killing predators,” he jeered. “Now, if you don't mind, this primitive has appointments to attend to… old lady who got trampled courtesy of the humans and all. You stay out of trouble, Hileen, and stay in touch.”
The self-assured marsupial melded into the crowd in a matter of seconds, leaving me with a table containing dumpster trophies and a pile of shells. Reluctantly, I swept the shells into my wing and dumped them into the bin before gathering the other two items he'd left me and stuffing them into my bag. I'd been gone from Nampi long enough and she would notice my absence before long.
Crossing the walkway again, I could spot from where I stood that Nampi was indeed still in the Platinum Paw. I approached, and soon I found that while she didn't seem to have noticed me stepping away, she was definitely in a soured mood based on the sagging of her ears and tail. With my talons clacking on the floorboards, I hustled to her side and her mood chippered up ever so slightly as she heard me approach.
I chimed in, “Find anything?”
“Everything. I want everything, Red, and I can't decide on what I want. They all just look so great!”
From behind, a voice called out, “Nampi!”
We both jumped at the exclamation and turned about to spot the venlil lady I'd seen before spring from behind the shelf. The man poked his head from behind the shelf too, though less enthusiastically and with yet another bag in his clutches. My friend's eyes widened in surprise with her tail and ears perking up in kind. With a light in her eyes, she exclaimed, “Nalek!”
The two embraced with shrill squeals and laughter as Nalek's accompaniment and I traded awkward glances.
“It's been too long!”
“You never stayed in contact!”
The women exchanged giddy greetings and the pompous stranger turned to me, leering over me as though she was sizing me up.
“Who's your friend here?”
“Oh she's actually my-...”
Nampi paused for a moment, looking back to me.
“Yeah, she's a friend.”
“A friend,” Nalek repeated while her eyes flicked between Nampi and I. “Right.”
Somehow, I get the impression that that was judgemental.
“I'm Hileen, by the way,” I chirped, “if names are to be exchanged.”
“Hileen, that's a lovely name! And such plumage to match, it's a wonder you aren't swarmed by suitors!”
Internally, I groaned at the notion. The idea of being approached by someone to state their interest in me made me queasy, to say the least. Thankfully, I never had that issue growing up as most of the other drakes in school were too busy chasing girls who didn't have a lousy pigmentation mutation such as myself.
“I'm flattered,” I told Nalek before turning to the man whose name had yet to be introduced. “May we get your name?”
“Sask.”
His response was succinct and tonally flat, though there was a brief silence as I expected him to elaborate. Nalek's beads jingled as she lashed him on the calf with her tail.
“I'm Sask, Nalek's fiancée,” he added, throwing her a look to see if she was satisfied.
Nampi gasped with her paws over her snout. “Fiancée! Nalek, you're getting married and you never even told me!”
“Well, I felt a little guilty since it technically broke our pact we made when we were pups. You remember that?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I? ‘Let she who bonds through betrothal first be cast out unto the world for all to admonish her!’”
Sask and I both gave inquisitive expressions. “You two spoke like that as pups?” Sask asked.
“Well, I'm paraphrasing,” Nampi admitted with a playful ear waggle. “But you get the gist.”
“Indeed, they do, sweet Nampi. Now, may I ask what you're doing bringing your avian friend here into this store on this fine claw?”
“Oh, no no, she's the one treating me! Isn't that right, Red?”
I saw her tail twitch and was sure it took restraint not to tickle my neck with it as we stood before her old friend.
“She's been a good friend,” I explained. “So I wanted to reverse the roles for once and treat her to something myself.”
Nampi skipped over to me and wrapped her arm around me, glancing back to her old friend. “See? We'd all be so lucky to have a… friend like her.”
“So I've witnessed. But perhaps you're a bit stuck, as I've seen you prancing up and down these aisles for a while, no? Maybe you don't know what you want?”
“Nalek, you know I've never been good about making my mind up.”
“Some things never change, you ditz. Tell you what: you and Sask go find us a seat and we can catch up all we'd like when we're not taking up aisle space, yes? So shoo! I'll help Hileen here pick one out for you!”
With a bored grunt, Sask made off with the goods he had strapped to himself, followed by Nampi who gave me one more playful tail flick before dashing off into the crowd. I looked back to the mottled snout of Nalek who watched her friend wander off with a wistful glance.
“She was my first, you know.”
“Your what now.”
“Love. Way back when we were growing from pups into young adults back in private education, we explored much together. We saw each other through a lot, including the less savory parts of finding a mate. When Nampi realized it wasn't the boys she was into, she turned to me, and I offered my hand as her stalwart companion… to a point.”
“You weren't interested in her the same way?”
“I'd grown up seeing her as a sister of sorts, so ultimately, when we split it off, we stayed close as friends and she never seemed to be bothered by it. She struggled to find others in school who had the same interests as herself, but she never fussed about it.”
Nalek's claws browsed over a set of pouched bandoliers made with intricate embroidering. “Have you two… spent the night together? Alone?”
Spiritually, I reeled from the inquiry. The whiplash from that question was equitable to being smacked by a human. “Wha- why? How's that pertinent to the subject at hand?”
“That sounds like a ‘yes’ to me,” she purred with a smug glance my way.
I didn't need to begin to list the different ways such a question was violating to our privacy, and yet this woman was treating it like a game.
“Not really your concern, ma'am.”
Nalek chuckled as she picked out one of the bandoliers and inspected it with her claws. “I'd like to think that she and I still have that old connection, despite everything. And to that end, I know that she's no slag and doesn't trust easy. To see her be so vulnerable around you and to talk so highly of someone who's clearly below her income level as a predator…”
She stretched the bandolier out to appreciate the design in its entirety.
“Well, that's something special. Here"- she foisted the accessory into my wings as I stood gobsmacked -"this just screams her name.”
“This is, like, double my budget.”
“Love don't come cheap, darling. You wanna see good things happen, sometimes you've gotta step out of your comfort zone and grasp for it!”
“I'm being lectured by a rich woman on finances.”
“It's a philosophy that goes beyond money, ‘Red.’ The humans have a saying, in their horrendously predatory nomenclature, that contains a kernel of truth: ‘you miss every shot you don't take’.”
Yep, that's definitely a human phrase.
Nalek's steely braid rattled with every flick of the tail as we proceeded through the checkout.
“You want things to change between you and her?” she continued. “Don't just wait for it to happen.”
She let the conversation rest there as we finished the purchase, possibly to let me recuperate mentally from the damage done to my account. Outside, we found our respective partners sitting at a table with Sask looking up in boredom as Nampi chatted away, though she immediately shut up and turned to me with excited flicks of her tail as she saw what I was carrying.
I held it toward her and she happily shot to her feet, effortlessly removing the tags with her claws and clipping it to her belt. Nalek clapped and waggled her tail as the giddy lady did a whirl about to let us admire the accessory. While I'd have preferred one with pockets to give it a more practical use, I decided to let Nalek have the victory as our mutual friend clearly enjoyed it.
The rest of the paw was a blur as the two friends chatted without end until Sask eventually reminded his betrothed that they had a schedule to attend to. Though Nalek offered to call us a taxi home as a gesture of kindness, I saw through her ruse to determine that she was trying to pull a fast one on me - the clever ear flick she gave as we boarded the automated vehicle sold it for me.
We sat in the seats as the vehicle took the express ride home.
Nampi cleared her throat before she spoke, “Thank you for taking some time to spend with me, I know you've had a lot less free time as of late.”
“It's a prison of my own design, if I must be honest. A feedback loop of working a job that doesn't guarantee a paycheck to pay for rent that keeps going up, and thus needing to work more.”
The venlil giggled and chided me, “You really should've stayed in university.”
“There's a lotta 'should haves’ that've led me to this point. No use wondering what could have been.”
“There's always a use for wondering what could have been, Hileen.”
She wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“Every decision I make, I always wonder what I could've done differently that it'd have turned out better,” she explained as she waved her free paw to the sky. “It's how you grow as a person, Red.”
Her silky pelt felt heavenly in contrast to the chilly air from outside, making it hard to let her words sink in.
“You rich types seem chock full of philosophy. I wonder if I'll become a brooding orator when I get some cash to my name.”
The cab filled with laughter as we veered around the final corner to my neighborhood, as it was the closest stop. The door popped open accompanied by a chime from the drone, signaling for me to depart.
But before my talons could even hit the pavement, I felt Nampi's scrawny arms wrap around my waist and she let out a pitiful mewl again.
“You don't need to get off here,” she told me with a pouty expression. “We can spend the rest of the paw at my place.”
“I'd love it, but I need to water my plants and get the month's bills sorted before they're due. Again.”
One claw at a time, I plucked her paws from around my waist and the childish venlil conceded, giving me another ear waggle as I departed. “I'll see you tomorrow?” I asked her.
“If you still have eyes by then, then you can bet your ass!”
“I still don't gamble.”
“You'll come around to it eventually.”
I shut the door to the taxi and watched as it carted away the one venlil who I ever truly felt on the same wavelength as. Fiddling with the lock felt like more of a chore than usual at this time as I felt a little voice tugging at the back of my head.
“You miss every shot you don't take.”
The lock felt jammed as I began to jiggle it more vigorously with the electric key. Either the RFID or NFC readers were messed up, as the lock refused to accept my key. I looked up and down the street, though Nampi was now long gone for me to rescind my earlier rejection.
“Every decision I make, I wonder what I could've done differently.”
The door rattled as I grew more and more infuriated with the lock. Qitel's smug expression as he threatened me so boldly in public played back in my head, and I wondered what would've happened had I decided to go through with insulting his mother. Better yet, I wondered what could've been had I not backed down in the face of his unflinching confidence.
Bzzt. The lock rejected my key again.
“Raagh! You fucking useless hunk of junk!”
I squawked in anger and kicked against the door, careless of the consequences of having Markol back down here to admonish another of his tenants for causing a ruckus. The walls were surprisingly sturdy for how ineffective the venlil architecture looked on the surface and I reeled back in pain as my leg throbbed.
Click.
I looked to my left to see that it wasn't my door that came open, but that of the twins. The door cracked open ever so slightly, no doubt nudged by the force of my tirade and I sighed. Nobody was expected to be home at this time, with Vili being away and Luka leaving early to get a head start.
Luka had been given a stern talking-to by the landlord for allowing one of those cats into his apartment through neglect, and I was disappointed that he seemed to have not learned his lesson this time. In fact, it seemed he hadn't even thought to lock the door this time.
I took it upon myself to shut the door for him before turning back to my own apartment door. Grasping the key with one talon, I turned it ever so gently, though the lock still refused to give in.
With a bit more force, the torsion applied to the key felt as though it should've snapped it by now. Markol sure didn't waste any expense for the security for this place, doubtlessly as a result of his history in electronic security, but I wished now that he had provided a way in that didn't rely on privately sourced locks.
Considering my options as I stood trapped outside, I realized that I had never gotten around to paying for a new lock for Tadi. I'd considered contacting her to inform her that Tac had made it out of town safely, but that'd involve also telling her that her son was now in the care of humans, as if that was a better outcome to her.
Stepping out front, I realized that there was one more option I hadn't considered: my window. I usually forgot to lock it after I was through letting air circulate and I was silently grateful to myself for this absentmindedness now more than ever. Sticking a foot on the threshold, I lifted myself in a way that'd allow me to have leverage to force the window open.
The window made me fight for every inch, but I felt a strange satisfaction as it slowly opened up into an entrance that I could squeeze my way through. I let out a sigh as my talons clicked against the cool floor and slid the window shut.
I laid my satchel on the couch and turned back to the door, ready to unleash my fury on the disobedient object. But as I reached for the lock to manually open the door, I noted that the lights on the RFID interface both flashed at once, blinking erratically. Red and green flickered without rhyme or reason, indicating that it was both active and inactive.
As pretty as the colors were, I now knew that Markol's locks were not as reliable as he had touted them about: typically, such would not occur unless the device was damaged deliberately, and yet nothing indicated that I'd had uninvited guests. One could pray that those cats didn't secretly know how to cobble together an ECM jammer, but my personal wager was on faulty equipment.
Settling in, I browsed my favorite soaps on the television. For what was intended to be a day of relaxation and show of affection for a friend, I found myself rather wound up over all the things that added up. Couples threw around flowery words and swooned over one another on screen as I felt the tension diffuse. My holopad rang and I turned it over to spot that Nampi was informing me that she'd arrived home safely.
>>> Feels empty here, all alone.
She made sure to drive the point home with a sticker of a venlil making a pouty expression.
Next time, I thought to myself, I'll get it right for you, Nampi.
[ First / Previous ]

Hello there,
Coming from Lithuania and now calling Scotland home, I have spent over a decade perfecting my craft as a chef here. My life extends beyond the kitchen tho, I am a big hiker and mountain biker, always seeking the thrill of new trails and adventures (having the same attitude in my day to day life too). Traveling is a big thing in my life, I love to explore and experience diverse cultures, foods, meeting new people. In my downtime, I immerse myself in some gaming, reading, and binging TV shows or movies. I'm in to few other things like basketball, wrestling, poker, anime, tech, fashion (especially shoes) and much more. My Spotify plays music 24/7, even when I'm falling asleep. Love my music and I can't live without it. I believe that should be enough to start, for someone who wants to know me better. I consider myself very open minded and a free spirit that has lots of respect for people choices and the way they live their life, so no matter who you are, I'm free to talk with you.
Would love to meet someone new and exchange our daily life adventures with them. I use many different social platform like discord, snapchat and others. Feel free to say hello, I don't bite!

Hi, my family will be making our first trip this fall and I would like to get your opinion on our plans thus far. Hopefully traveling light with medium sized backpacks, we are happy to walk the city most days exploring and snacking. We have varied interests so are trying to do things each person wants, I could really use some suggestions as I will only be able to drag the rest of the family to a limited number of temples, castles, and gardens before they get fatigued, and likewise we have only so much stomach space to try all the great foods. Also wondering about the night life culture in regards to teens and if our kids will be welcome in venues/bars at night.
Day 1: Fly into KIX around dinner time, local transit to our hotel near Osaka castle, check in, grab a bite to eat, look around, then hopefully pass out.
Day 2: Osaka castle, rent bikes to explore, dotonbori in the evening
Day 3: Train to Nara in the morning, see the deer and Buddha then grab lunch. Train to Kyoto in the afternoon, check into the hotel and see Fushimi Inari late afternoon (we wont be climbing to the top), then to Gion for dinner and exploring.
Day 4: Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu-dera, lunch then off to Kinosaki Onsen. Take the cable car in Kinosaki to Onsenji temple, then do the ryokan/onsen thing.
Day 5: Shopping/onsen in the morning and after lunch train to see Himeji castle, then onto Hakata to our hotel. Nakasu area for dinner and nightlife.
Day 6: Free day in Hakata, just have to make it to Hiroshima at some point to check in to the hotel.
Day 7: Hiroshima peace memorial, possibly the ferry to Miyajima or just explore Hiroshima, catch a late afternoon train to Kobe for dinner
Day 8: Free day in Kobe, just have to make it back to Osaka to check into our hotel near USJ
Day 9: USJ, then hopefully nobinobi sunrise express to Tokyo (I realize this day is going to hurt)
Day 10: Yoyogi park(it will be sunday), Meji shrine, Hachiko statue, then check into the hotel and rest before exploring Shibuya
Day 11: Akihabara, Yodobashi Camera, Sunshine City. Does anyone have an observation tower recommendation for this area? Roppongi in the evening.
Day 12: Ghibli museum if I can get tickets, if not, Teamlabs Borderless. Train to Yokohama late afternoon. chinatown and Kishamichi Promenade
Day 13: Cup of noodles museum, a bit of exploring, then back to Tokyo. Rest of the afternoon/night is free time
Day 14: Enjoy the hotel gardens, sigh, wave goodbye and fly home in the afternoon
I know it's a lot, but we would like to experience the differences between regions. Train rides will at least be a chance to rest our legs. What are your thoughts?

Hello there,
Coming from Lithuania and now calling Scotland home, I have spent over a decade perfecting my craft as a chef here. My life extends beyond the kitchen tho, I am a big hiker and mountain biker, always seeking the thrill of new trails and adventures (having the same attitude in my day to day life too). Traveling is a big thing in my life, I love to explore and experience diverse cultures, foods, meeting new people. In my downtime, I immerse myself in some gaming, reading, and binging TV shows or movies. I'm in to few other things like basketball, wrestling, poker, anime, tech, fashion (especially shoes) and much more. My Spotify plays music 24/7, even when I'm falling asleep. Love my music and I can't live without it. I believe that should be enough to start, for someone who wants to know me better. I consider myself very open minded and a free spirit that has lots of respect for people choices and the way they live their life, so no matter who you are, I'm free to talk with you.
Would love to meet someone new and exchange our daily life adventures with them. I use many different social platform like discord, snapchat and others. Feel free to say hello, I don't bite!

i just had a major glitch. Went down, kept my gun and everything in the „spirit world,“ became untargetable. I was able to waste my ammo in the spirit world but did no dmg. But i was able to revive both myself (for free) and revive teammates from the spirit world. No life tokens. End Game board said I never died. This glitch ended up letting me carry. I was dying on purpose to save my teammates and then just reviving myself. the only downside was my game stopped registering hits/health bar, so i never knew if i was about to die.
anyone seen this before?

Hello there,
Coming from Lithuania and now calling Scotland home, I have spent over a decade perfecting my craft as a chef here. My life extends beyond the kitchen tho, I am a big hiker and mountain biker, always seeking the thrill of new trails and adventures (having the same attitude in my day to day life too). Traveling is a big thing in my life, I love to explore and experience diverse cultures, foods, meeting new people. In my downtime, I immerse myself in some gaming, reading, and binging TV shows or movies. I'm in to few other things like basketball, wrestling, poker, anime, tech, fashion (especially shoes) and much more. My Spotify plays music 24/7, even when I'm falling asleep. Love my music and I can't live without it. I believe that should be enough to start, for someone who wants to know me better. I consider myself very open minded and a free spirit that has lots of respect for people choices and the way they live their life, so no matter who you are, I'm free to talk with you.
Would love to meet someone new and exchange our daily life adventures with them. I use many different social platform like discord, snapchat and others. Feel free to say hello, I don't bite!

Emperor Zodiac Services is back on reddit to provide you my servicesI have been selling since TI10 and stopped due to complication with reddit postings.

But now I have returned to provide service to those who are interested as there is coin to be made.
For proof of legitimacy as a businessman please look at my steam profile
Mode of payment Gcash/Coins.ph/Paypal/Paymaya
Down payment of half or full payment is a must for transaction to proceed to avoid joy riders
If interested feel free to message me in reddit or in steam ( Prefer steam as I am more active there) ^^

1 Time Item CC for sale	Quantity	Price
Glory of the Elderflame (Lina)	(Available = 1)	$40
Lineage of the Stormlords (Juggernaut)	(Available = 1)	$40
Eyriebound Imperator (Skywrath Mage)	(Available = 1)	$50
Vision of the Seraph Scion (Vengeful Spirit)	(Available = 0) (Sold = 1)	$60
Indomitable Legacy (Sven)	(Available = 1)	$100
Footfalls of the Spore Fathers (Witch Doctor)	(Available = 1)	$120

TI8 Collectors Cache	Quantity	Price
Dread Ascendance (Doom Bringer)	(Available = 1)	$60

TI9 Collectors Cache	Quantity	Price
Prized Acquisition (Batrider)	(Available = 1)	$15

Nemestice Collectors Cache	Quantity	Price
Caerulian Stars (Enchantress)	(Available = 2)	$6
Litany of the Damned (Doombringer)	(Available = 1)	$15
Twilight Hex (Dark Willow)	(Available = 2)	$10

Aghanims Collectors Cache	Quantity	Price
Forgotten Fate (Mars)	(Available = 1)	$10
Perils of the Red Banks (Chen)	(Available = 2)	$10
Rare: Pyrexae Polymorph Perfected (Ogre Magi)	(Available = 1)	$35

Diretide Collectors Cache I	Quantity	Price
Crimson Dawn (Phoenix)	(Available = 4)	$6
Deathstick Shaman (Witch Doctor)	(Available = 1)	$8
Dirge Amplifier (Undying)	(Available = 3)	$6
Seadog's Stash (Clockwork)	(Available = 2)	$6

Diretide Collectors Cache II	Quantity	Price
Cursed Cryptbreaker (Pudge)	(Available = 2)	$6
Darkbrew's Transgression (Alchemist)	(Available = 2)	$6
Dawn of Darkness Foretold (Doombringer)	(Available = 1)	$8
Grand Suppresor (Silencer)	(Available = 1)	$8
War Rig Eradicators (Techies)	(Available = 1)	$8
Withering Pain (Boneclinkz)	(Available = 1)	$8
Rare: Grudges of the Gallows Tree (Treant Protector)	(Available = 3)	$15
Rare: Brands of the Reaper (Anti-Mage)	(Available = 1)	$30

Summer 2023 Collectors Cache	Quantity	Price
Ancestral Heritage (Jakiro)	(Available = 3)	$4
Astral Herald (Dawnbreaker)	(Available = 2)	$6
Beast of Thunder (Storm Spirit)	(Available = 3)	$4
Crescent Huntress (Spectre)	(Available = 4)	$4
Darkwood Eulogy (Death Prophet)	(Available = 3)	$4
Dezun Viper (Dazzle)	(Available = 2)	$6
Primeval Abomination (Primal Beast)	(Available = 2)	$6
Sea Spirit (Kunka)	(Available = 3)	$4
Spectral Shadow (Abaddon)	(Available = 1)	$8
Taur Rider (Alchemist)	(Available = 4)	$4
Tomo'Kan Footsoldier (Hoodwink)	(Available = 1)	$6
Triumph of the Imperatrix (Legion Commander)	(Available = 2)	$6
Tyrant of the Veil (Wraith King)	(Available = 3)	$4

Hello there,
Coming from Lithuania and now calling Scotland home, I have spent over a decade perfecting my craft as a chef here. My life extends beyond the kitchen tho, I am a big hiker and mountain biker, always seeking the thrill of new trails and adventures (having the same attitude in my day to day life too). Traveling is a big thing in my life, I love to explore and experience diverse cultures, foods, meeting new people. In my downtime, I immerse myself in some gaming, reading, and binging TV shows or movies. I'm in to few other things like basketball, wrestling, poker, anime, tech, fashion (especially shoes) and much more. My Spotify plays music 24/7, even when I'm falling asleep. Love my music and I can't live without it. I believe that should be enough to start, for someone who wants to know me better. I consider myself very open minded and a free spirit that has lots of respect for people choices and the way they live their life, so no matter who you are, I'm free to talk with you.
Would love to meet someone new and exchange our daily life adventures with them. I use many different social platform like discord, snapchat and others. Feel free to say hello, I don't bite!

i live in an area that has great weather and scenery for bicycling.
but boomer-age cyclists refuse to use bike paths as they claim they are "training" and need to be able to go "faster" than a bicycle path would allow them to... you are 80 you have a mcdonald's bod what are you training for...
they spend $4000 on a bike, hundreds and hundreds on gear... then stop in our local coffee shops to use the bathroom, sweat up the seats, get free water from a plastic cup... then leave the cup and half the water on the table... JUST WHY?!?!?!!!

Here's my theory:
Many years ago, there was once a species of Beavis on Earth, ruled by a special Beavis, the great Cornholio! Cornholio raised the Beavis species and took care of them, and kept them away from the Buttheads, but Cornholio became very sick, and the Buttheads were free to torment the Beavis species. Cornholio later died from his sickness along with most of his species, though his spirit sometimes possesses Beavis to protect him from getting in trouble.

Hello there,
Coming from Lithuania and now calling Scotland home, I have spent over a decade perfecting my craft as a chef here. My life extends beyond the kitchen tho, I am a big hiker and mountain biker, always seeking the thrill of new trails and adventures (having the same attitude in my day to day life too). Traveling is a big thing in my life, I love to explore and experience diverse cultures, foods, meeting new people. In my downtime, I immerse myself in some gaming, reading, and binging TV shows or movies. I'm in to few other things like basketball, wrestling, poker, anime, tech, fashion (especially shoes) and much more. My Spotify plays music 24/7, even when I'm falling asleep. Love my music and I can't live without it. I believe that should be enough to start, for someone who wants to know me better. I consider myself very open minded and a free spirit that has lots of respect for people choices and the way they live their life, so no matter who you are, I'm free to talk with you.
Would love to meet someone new and exchange our daily life adventures with them. I use many different social platform like discord, snapchat and others. Feel free to say hello, I don't bite!

Proclamation on the Devourer of Widow's Houses
(One Former Adherent's Response to the Official LDS Temple Recommend Questions [See Infra.] for Evaluating Member Worthiness)
Introduction (Questions 1-3): Moral and ethical frameworks should be grounded in reason, evidence, and concern for human wellbeing rather than supernatural doctrines. A divine savior is an unnecessary concept, being a man-made construct rather than a requirement for moral and ethical living. The LDS church's assertion that it alone represents the "restoration" of true Christianity is an egregious example of religious arrogance and exclusion. There is no reasonable justification or straight-faced argument for the church to view itself as the sole bearer of divine truth, while dismissing the validity of all other Christian denominations. This stance is antithetical to the inclusive spirit of the Christian faith.
Subjugation (4a-c): The LDS church's veneration of its president and other leaders as "prophets, seers, and revelators" is nothing short of a cult of personality. These individuals have no more claim to divine authority than the leaders of any other organized religious institution, sect, or denomination. To demand unquestioning obedience to such figures is a gross abuse of power that undermines the fundamental principles of Christianity, freedom of thought, and conscience. The subjugation of fellow humans is wrong. Humanity deserves to live fearlessly free from imagined supernatural horrors, fears, and violent delights.
Sexual Control (and Trade) (5a-b): The LDS church's stringent moral code and "law of chastity" are not rooted in any universal ethical framework, but rather in arbitrary Puritan religious traditions that were hypocritically twisted in unconventional directions under the guise of freedom of religion. Reason, empathy, and a commitment to human wellbeing - not rigid, outdated strictures of a hypocritical sect - remain the best way to engage with one's neighbors and fellow human beings.
Loyalty Tests to Identify Disloyalty and Lack of Devotion (6-8): The LDS church's insistence that its members conform to a specific set of religious practices, from Sabbath observance to sacrament participation, is a clear example of religious coercion. There is no inherent moral or ethical imperative for individuals to submit to such demands, which have more to do with maintaining the church's power and influence than with upholding genuine Christian values.
Further Financial and Behavioral Tests (9-16):
A. Financial Requirements ("Tithing"): The LDS church's demand for members to be "full-tithe payers," paying 10% of their income to the church, is a far more stringent and intrusive financial obligation than what is typically seen in mainstream Christianity and Judaism. Most Judeo-Christian denominations do not conduct such invasive "worthiness" interviews delving into members' personal finances.
Moreover, many religious institutions, regardless of ideology, offer entry to their sacred spaces either freely or for a modest, fixed cost accessible to all. This is in stark contrast to the LDS church's model, which uses financial tithing as a gatekeeper to determine who is "worthy" enough to enter their temples.
This financial prerequisite for temple access is not only more extreme than most Judeo-Christian traditions, but it also represents a troubling prioritization of monetary contributions over genuine spiritual devotion or ethical conduct. The LDS church's fixation on tithing as a measure of worthiness is a clear deviation from the teachings of Jesus, who decried the hypocrisy of religious leaders who "devour widows' houses."
Furthermore, the LDS church's intrusive questioning about members' personal financial obligations and debts is a gross violation of privacy and an unwarranted overreach into individuals' private affairs. There is no legitimate ethical or spiritual justification for the church to demand such detailed financial disclosures as a condition of accessing its temples.
B. Clothing Requirements ("Garments"): The LDS church's mandate that members wear specific "temple garments" as a condition of temple access is far more restrictive and intrusive than the clothing norms of ordinary Christian denominations. This requirement, which dictates the most intimate details of members' attire, is more akin to the dogmatic dress codes found in the strictest, most authoritarian forms of religious observance, such as certain Islamic fundamentalist sects.
In contrast, mainstream Christian traditions place no such prescriptive demands on adherents' undergarments or personal clothing choices beyond general principles of modesty. The LDS church's insistence on this garment policy as a measure of "worthiness" represents an unwarranted intrusion into the personal autonomy of its members, departing significantly from the inclusive spirit exemplified by the teachings of Jesus and the broader Christian faith.
Conclusion: The LDS church's temple recommend questions reveal dangerously misguided and arrogant flaws of theology and practice. By imposing a narrow, exclusionary set of beliefs and requirements, the church strayed far from the inclusive, compassionate spirit of the Christian tradition it claims to represent. The LDS church's interpretation of Christianity is anti-Christian, erroneous, and unjustifiably and arbitrarily restrictive.
The church is not honest in its dealings with its fellow man or even its own membership.
The Devourer of Widow's Houses (aka The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), itself, is unworthy to enter the so-called sacred spaces built with the resources of its former adherents' ancestors. The LDS church should start putting people over profits.
--- Here, below, are the LDS temple recommend questions (some are compound so listed here with ignored official version of formatting):
(1-3) Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost? Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
(4a-c) Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?Do you sustain the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local leaders of the Church?
(5a-b) Do you strive for moral cleanliness in your thoughts and behavior? Do you obey the law of chastity?
(6-8) Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others? Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?Do you strive to keep the Sabbath day holy, both at home and at church; attend your meetings; prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; and live your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
(9 - 16)
Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?
Are you a full-tithe payer?
Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?
Do you have any financial or other obligations to a former spouse or to children? 12B. If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you honor your sacred privilege to wear the garment as instructed in the initiatory ordinances?
Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?
Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?
TLDR 1 of 2: u/johndehlin my .o2 - (One Former Adherent's Response to the Official LDS Temple Recommend Questions for Evaluating Member Worthiness). The LDS church's temple recommend questions reveal its theology and practices to be anti-Christian, excessively dogmatic, and unjustifiably exclusionary. The church's rigid requirements around beliefs, behavior, finances, and attire depart significantly from the inclusive spirit of mainstream Christianity, rendering the LDS institution anti-Christian. The L.D.S. theology offers its membership, and their children, a poison chalice.
TLDR 2 of 2: My dead adherent ancestors would be rolling in their graves at how The Devourer of Widow's houses has been misbehavin'. [Although my less recent 500 year dead British ancestors would be much less surprised] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-znj7Uf9Oo&t=4s

Introduction
My name is Ash and I'm a twenty-seven year old midwesterner with over ten years of writing experience and countless half-baked ideas. I average between 200-2,000 words depending on the nature and pacing of the story and I'd definitely categorize myself as the sort of person who will make playlists, Pinterest boards and dedicated discord channels for miscellaneous information if the pairing holds a special place in my heart.
I have no preference for the gender I play as I predominantly play male characters but am happy to play a female or an array of side characters for the story and will possibly double if the plot is inspiring. I am mainly looking for MxF pairings but can be flexible.
I'm most comfortable collaborating with people who are at least twenty-five or older.
My primary method of communication is Discord but I wouldn't mind communicating via Reddit DMs.
Genres & Plots
My favorite genres are modern fantasy, supernatural, sci-fi, romance, post-apocalyptic and gothic/horror. I rarely, if ever, do fandoms with the exception of The Boys/Gen V, World of Darkness or The Witcher. For The Boys, I'd prefer playing as or writing against Homelander, Butcher, or an OC. For the Witcher, I'd prefer to use OC's. Below are a few plot ideas for the aforementioned fandoms:
✨ The Compound Escapees: Both experimented on as children, your characters escape a hidden Vought compound, their memories fragmented and powers unstable. They must navigate the harsh realities of the outside world, unraveling their pasts and finding a way to control their abilities before Vought hunts them down.
✨ Dog's Dinner: A 'retired' Supe, blacklisted for refusing to follow Vought's orders, joins forces with Butcher (and The Boys) to expose a Supe breeding program creating monstrous hybrids.
✨ The Witcher and the Warden: A Witcher accepts a contract that points them in the direction of a grove. Upon entering, he finds that reality has warped and in order survive, he forms an unlikely alliance with an elf who is also trapped within. Together, they unravel the ancient secrets of the grove, facing vengeful spirits, monstrous guardians, and a sinister plot by a rogue mage to exploit the forest's magic for personal gain.
✨ Revelations in Neon: Under the glittering façade of Las Vegas, two Kindred forge an unlikely alliance. As they delve deeper into the city's dark underbelly, they uncover a conspiracy at the heart of the neon and sin, forcing them to choose between personal passions and the fate of generations to come.
Below, I've included a few original plot points that are completely malleable. Feel free to build upon them or present your own.
✨ The Depart of Paranormal Affairs: In a bustling city where the supernatural run rampant, two individuals join forces as investigators specializing in supernatural cases. Together, they delve into the hidden world of mystical creatures, uncovering dark secrets, solving paranormal mysteries, and navigating the complexities of their own personal lives which become entwined with the fantastical.
✨ Ashen: After a cataclysmic event mutates the remaining population into grotesque creatures, two unlikely allies form a tenuous alliance to navigate the hostile post-apocalyptic world. As they confront prejudice and distrust from both humans and mutants, they seek to understand the cause of the mutation and uncover a dark secret that could change the course of their fractured world.
✨ Shadows over the Prairie: In the Wild West, a pair of bounty hunters finds themselves pursuing a notorious gang of outlaws rumored to possess supernatural abilities. As they chase the ghostly criminals through desolate canyons and cursed lands, they must grapple with their own beliefs about the paranormal. Drawn together by a series of eerie occurrences, they form an unlikely partnership to solve paranormal mysteries, navigate dangerous encounters, and possibly uncover a greater conspiracy that ties their abilities to the fate of the frontier.
✨ The Tourney: In a medieval kingdom, a grand tourney is announced, promising not only glory but also a mysterious and powerful artifact to the champion. Knights from distant lands arrive, each with their own secrets and ambitions. As the tourney unfolds, strange events occur. A knight is found mysteriously injured, another disappears, and rumors of sabotage and dark magic spread. Amidst the jousts and swordfights, a hidden conspiracy begins to unravel, involving a secret society seeking the artifact for nefarious purposes. Two individuals must join forces to uncover the truth.
✨ The Arena: On a distant planet, an intergalactic gladiator arena broadcasts battles across the cosmos. Combatants, both willing and enslaved, fight using advanced tech and weapons. A new recruit, falsely imprisoned, seeks to win not only the championship but also a chance at freedom. Along the way, alliances form, betrayals sting, and epic battles ensue.
✨ The Vow: A king’s guardsman is tasked with escorting the princess who is secretly a powerful mage, though this fact is unknown to the guardsman. The king has decreed that she must be taken to a distant, sacred temple to fulfill an ancient prophecy, which is believed to be the key to saving the kingdom from a looming, mysterious threat.
✨ The Unseen: A disgraced monster hunter stumbles upon a hidden guild peddling forbidden arcane knowledge. His estranged mentor resurfaces, claiming the guild's experiments are unleashing unseen horrors upon the city. With the help of a mysterious character, the monster hunter must infiltrate the guild's opulent masquerade, exposing their secrets before exposing the city to the creatures they conjure.
✨ The Arcanum Academy: Accepted into a prestigious mage academy, two apprentices must navigate the complexities of magical studies, face rival students, and uncover the dark secrets buried within the academy's walls. As they learn to control their magic, they shape their destinies and unravel a grand conspiracy threatening the realm.
*Below is a passion project I've been working on for a while. It isn't necessarily a plot but a western/horror themed setting where magic and monsters are common. If it sparks an interest, please let me know!
✨ Red Vale ✨
Nestled at the foot of the imposing Bloodstone Mountains, Red Vale once thrived as a bustling mining town during the gold rush era. With its picturesque wooden facades, the town boasts a prominent clock tower overlooking a sprawling central square, saloons with swing doors that creak in the wind, and a network of old mining tunnels woven beneath its surface.
For years, the residents of Red Vale mined a unique, deep-red ore called "crimsonite" that was believed to have properties unlike any other mineral. It was said to gleam brighter under the moon and was much sought after for crafting jewelry, enhancing magic, being a power source and spellcraft material, fetching high prices in distant markets.
However, in recent times, the once-prosperous Red Vale has gained notoriety for other reasons. As the crimsonite veins ran deeper and rarer, miners began reporting strange occurrences within the tunnels: ghostly apparitions of old miners, eerie whispers echoing from the depths, and shadows that seemed to move of their own accord. Some miners never returned from their shifts, with search parties finding only abandoned tools and lanterns.
Above ground, things started to take a turn for the eerie as well. Local legends spoke of the "Blood Moon Rituals" — on certain nights, when the moon turns a deep shade of red, supernatural events peak. The town's water source sometimes runs blood-red, livestock behave erratically, and dark shadows seem to roam every corner.
As more and more unexplained phenomena plague Red Vale, the town has seen a new influx of visitors — not miners, but ghost hunters, paranormal researchers, and thrill-seekers. The locals, a hardy and resilient bunch, have mixed feelings. Some believe the town is cursed due to the over-mining of crimsonite, while others surmise that the spirits of the mountain are reclaiming what is rightfully theirs.
Whether it's the allure of the supernatural or the remnants of its rich history, Red Vale remains a town shrouded in mystery, where the veil between the living and the dead seems ever so thin.

Would you have a concluding word to such world's setting?

Absolutely! Here are a few closing word options for your high-tech, low-life world, depending on the tone you want to achieve:
Hopeful:

In the flickering neon glow of the lower districts, a spark of rebellion ignites. Despite the hardships, the human spirit endures, seeking connection, hope, and a chance to build a better future.

Bittersweet:

The high towers of the elite cast long shadows over the bustling streets below. In this world of stark contrasts, the lines between survival and prosperity blur. But even in the darkest corners, love, ingenuity, and a flicker of defiance persist.

Grim:

The gears of progress grind on, leaving a trail of waste and despair. In this high-tech dystopia, the gap between the haves and have-nots grows ever wider. Will the lower districts rise up, or will they be forever locked in the underbelly of a world they can only glimpse from below?

Open-Ended:

Beneath the neon sky, stories unfold. Tales of hardship and hope, of rebellion and resilience. The future of this high-tech world hangs in the balance, waiting to be written by the choices of those who inhabit it.

Choose the closing word that best captures the essence of your story or setting. Remember, the world you've created is rich with possibilities, and the ending doesn't have to be definitive. It can leave your readers pondering the fate of its characters and the future of this complex and ever-evolving society.

If you should pick an item or an object that would clearly and cleverly symbolized such world, what would that be?

Here are two options for an item that symbolically represents the high-tech, low-life world:

1. The Glimmering Shard:

• Description: Imagine a small, jagged shard of metal or glass. One side is smooth and polished, reflecting the wealth and technology of the upper city. The other side is rough and chipped, etched with the grime and harsh realities of the lower districts.
• Symbolism: This shard represents the stark contrast between the upper and lower classes. The smooth side reflects the shiny veneer of technology and luxury enjoyed by the wealthy. The rough side reflects the brokenness and struggle of those living on the fringes.
• Additional Details: This shard could be a salvaged piece of technology, a remnant of a shattered building, or even a shard of a mirrored window that once divided the social classes.

1. The Glitching Holographic Ring:

• Description: Imagine a holographic ring that projects a constantly shifting image. On one hand, it might display a luxurious symbol of wealth and status. But as it flickers, the image might glitch and distort, revealing a hidden message or a glimpse of the harsh realities beneath the surface.
• Symbolism: This ring symbolizes the unreliability and instability of the world. The glitching hologram represents the way technology promises a utopian future but constantly fails to deliver. It also reflects the hidden messages of dissent and rebellion that exist beneath the surface of a seemingly controlled society.
• Additional Details: This ring could be a common fashion statement or a black-market tool used to spread forbidden information. The glitching image could be a coded message, a symbol of rebellion, or a reminder of the past that the upper class tries to suppress.

Both of these items are small, versatile, and can be interpreted in multiple ways, making them powerful symbols of the high-tech, low-life world. The choice ultimately depends on the specific tone and message you want to convey in your story.

Try something bit more distinct and specific.

How about the "Hacked Heart"?
Here's the breakdown:

• Description: A small, ornately decorated locket or pendant. Upon opening, it reveals not a picture, but a series of flickering LEDs embedded within a clear casing.
• Functionality: This locket is a bio-hacked implant worn externally. It interfaces with the wearer's nervous system, displaying a visual representation of their emotional state through the shifting colors and patterns of the LEDs.
• Symbolism: The Hacked Heart represents the constant clash between technology and humanity in this world. The ornate decoration speaks to a desire for beauty and connection, while the exposed circuitry highlights the invasive nature of technology and the commodification of even emotions.
• Distinction: This item is specific to this world because it combines high-tech bio-hacking with a sentimental object like a locket. It's a reminder that while technology can be used to manipulate and control, people still yearn for genuine emotional connection.
• Additional Details:
  • The Hacked Heart could be a status symbol among the wealthy, a way to display their emotional control or volatility.
  • In the lower districts, it might be a black-market modification, a way to express emotions freely or even manipulate others.
  • The LEDs could display a limited range of emotions, a commentary on how this world suppresses or simplifies human experience.

This Hacked Heart offers a unique and distinct symbol of the high-tech, low-life world. It captures the struggle for authenticity, the desire for connection, and the pervasive influence of technology in every aspect of life.

How about straight up hacksawed hearth?

The "hacksawed hearth" is a very evocative image, but on its own, it might be a little too literal. Here are a few ways we can build on this concept to create a more symbolic and distinct object for your high-tech, low-life world:

1. The Hacksawed Hearth Relic:

• Description: This is a piece of a broken fireplace grate, crudely hacksawed from a larger structure. It could be made of cast iron, bearing the ornate detailing of a once grand fireplace from the upper city.
• Symbolism: The hacksawed hearth represents the loss of a sense of community and warmth. It's a reminder of a bygone era where people gathered around fireplaces for warmth, comfort, and storytelling. In the high-tech world, these connections are fragmented, replaced by cold technology.
• Use: The relic could be a prized possession, passed down through generations in the lower districts. It might be used as a makeshift heating element, a symbol of resilience, or even a weapon in desperate situations.
• Additional Details: Engravings or markings on the relic could hint at the origin of the fireplace, perhaps a symbol of rebellion or a reminder of a specific historical event.

1. The Hacksawed Hearth Stove:

• Description: This is a makeshift stove cobbled together from scrap metal and scavenged parts. The centerpiece is a prominent, jagged piece of metal, clearly cut with a hacksaw, forming the base or firebox.
• Symbolism: The hacksawed hearth stove represents resourcefulness and defiance. It's a testament to the ingenuity of the lower classes, who repurpose the remnants of the upper world to survive and build a sense of home.
• Use: This stove provides heat and a place to cook for those in the lower districts. The exposed hacksaw mark could serve as a constant reminder of the struggle and the societal divide.
• Additional Details: The stove might be decorated with scavenged trinkets or symbols of rebellion, reflecting the personality of its creator.

1. The Hacksawed Hearth Hologram:

• Description: This is a portable holographic projector that displays a flickering image of a crackling fireplace. The image might be distorted or glitching, hinting at the artificiality of the technology.
• Symbolism: The hacksawed hearth hologram represents a yearning for a lost sense of comfort and togetherness. It's a reminder of something they can't fully possess, a ghost of a simpler life.
• Use: The hologram could be used for warmth (a psychological comfort), storytelling (creating a sense of community), or even bartering (a valuable commodity in the lower districts).
• Additional Details: The projector might be a salvaged piece of high-tech, repurposed by the lower classes. The flickering image could project not just fire, but also forgotten stories or historical events.

These are just a few ideas to build upon the "hacksawed hearth" concept. Each option creates a distinct symbol for your world, capturing the struggle, resourcefulness, and yearning for connection within a high-tech, low-life society.

Apologies, i meant hacksawed heart.

Ah, a "hacksawed heart" takes the concept a whole new level! Here are some potential interpretations for this unique symbol in your high-tech, low-life world:

1. The Literal Hacksawed Heart:

• Description: This is a gruesome yet intriguing object. Imagine a metallic heart-shaped locket, but instead of opening smoothly, it has a jagged, clearly "hacksawed" opening revealing a beating, pulsating red light within.
• Symbolism: It bluntly represents the harsh realities of this world. The exposed, almost violated heart symbolizes emotional vulnerability in a society that prioritizes survival and control.
• Use: This could be a black-market modification used by criminals to suppress or amplify emotions depending on their needs. It could also be a symbol of rebellion, worn by those who refuse to have their emotions controlled by technology.
• Additional Details: The exposed heart could change color or intensity depending on the wearer's emotional state. It could also be a painful reminder of past trauma or a forced emotional manipulation.

1. The Hacksawed Heart Pendant (Metaphorical):

• Description: This is a more subtle pendant, crafted from metal and shaped like a stylized heart. However, the heart shape is not solid, but rather consists of a series of interlocking gears or circuits.
• Symbolism: It represents the struggle between technology and human emotions. The gears represent the cold logic of technology, while the overall heart shape represents the desire for connection and love.
• Use: This could be a widely worn piece of jewelry, a reminder of the delicate balance between technology and humanity.
• Additional Details: The gears could turn or click subtly, representing the constant hum of technology in the background. The design could be simple yet elegant, appealing to people from all social classes.

1. The Hacksawed Heart Hologram:

• Description: This is a holographic projection of a broken heart, pulsating with a faint light. The cracks and breaks seem to have been repaired crudely, with rough stitches or patches.
• Symbolism: It represents the brokenness and resilience of the people in this world. The repaired heart shows their ability to mend emotional wounds and keep fighting despite hardships.
• Use: This could be a symbol used by resistance groups, a reminder that even though their hearts are broken by the system, they refuse to give up hope.
• Additional Details: The hologram could flicker and distort, highlighting the instability of the world and the struggle for emotional stability. It could also project messages of hope or defiance.

These are just a few interpretations of the "hacksawed heart" symbol. Each one offers a unique perspective on the world, highlighting different aspects of the struggle between technology and humanity, vulnerability and resilience, and the fight for emotional connection in a harsh environment.

And how about hacksawed earth?

The "hacksawed earth" is a powerful and evocative image for your high-tech, low-life world. Here are a few interpretations that capture different aspects of this society:

1. The Broken Globe:

• Description: Imagine a metallic globe, the size of a person's head. One side is smooth and polished, depicting a pristine Earth with lush continents and oceans. The other side is brutally "hacksawed" open, revealing a desolate wasteland beneath.
• Symbolism: This broken globe represents the stark contrast between the idealized world presented by technology and the harsh realities of the lower districts. The smooth side shows the world as it could be, while the hacksawed side shows the damage caused by progress and a focus on the elite.
• Use: This could be a symbol used by rebels or environmentalists, a reminder of the true cost of unchecked technological advancement. It could also be a prized artifact kept by scavengers, a testament to a lost world.
• Additional Details: The hacksawed side could reveal specific details like polluted oceans, ravaged landscapes, or scars representing ecological disasters.

1. The Cracked Terrain Model:

• Description: Imagine a detailed, three-dimensional model of the city and surrounding area. The model is crafted from metal and shows buildings, streets, and even the natural landscape. However, the model is cracked and broken in several places, revealing a dark, hollow space beneath.
• Symbolism: This cracked model represents the instability and fragility of the world. The surface world may appear organized, but it's built on a shaky foundation. The hollow space could represent the neglected lower districts or the potential for social upheaval.
• Use: This could be used by city planners to highlight potential areas of weakness or by rebels to show the vulnerability of the upper city. It could also be a symbol of the constant struggle between order and chaos.
• Additional Details: The cracks could be filled with glowing red lights, symbolizing the simmering anger and frustration of the lower classes.

1. The Fractured Hologram:

• Description: Imagine a holographic projection of the Earth that constantly fractures and reforms. It shows a beautiful planet struggling to maintain its integrity, with cracks appearing and disappearing over continents and oceans.
• Symbolism: This fractured hologram represents the constant environmental degradation and the fragility of the planet itself. It's a reminder that the consequences of unchecked technology and environmental damage will affect everyone, not just the lower districts.
• Use: This could be a warning displayed in public spaces, a constant reminder of the need for sustainability. It could also be used by rebels to spread awareness of the environmental cost of their society.
• Additional Details: The fractured Earth could pulse with a red glow, symbolizing the danger of inaction. The projection could also display messages or statistics about environmental threats.

These interpretations of the "hacksawed earth" symbol each offer a compelling way to visualize the societal and environmental consequences of the high-tech, low-life world. They highlight the impact on the environment, the fragility of the system, and the call for change.

What would be the very best thing in such world?

The "best thing" in a high-tech, low-life world depends on perspective and what holds the most value for different people. Here are a few contenders:
For the Struggling Masses:

• True Connection: In a world rife with social isolation and control, genuine connection with others – love, friendship, community – could be the most valuable thing. Sharing stories, offering support, and building a sense of belonging in the face of hardship could be a beacon of hope.
• Freedom from Oppression: The ability to escape the harsh realities of the lower districts, whether through rebellion, ingenuity, or a lucky break, could be considered the ultimate prize. Freedom could mean access to clean water, medical care, or a life free from fear and exploitation.
• Knowledge and Power: Unrestricted access to knowledge, either through scavenged books, hacked data, or forbidden information, could be a powerful tool for change. This knowledge could empower individuals to understand their world, resist control, or even find a path to a better future.

For the Elite:

• Absolute Security: In a world filled with danger and uncertainty, complete security could be a luxury only the wealthy could afford. It could involve advanced security systems, fortified enclaves, or even enhanced bodies that ensure their safety from threats in the lower districts.
• Unlimited Luxury: Unfettered access to the latest technology, exotic pleasures, and the ability to indulge in every whim could be the ultimate goal for some. However, such a luxurious life might feel hollow in a world so divided.
• Power and Control: Maintaining absolute control over society and ensuring their dominance could be the ultimate prize for some in the elite. This control could involve advanced technology, manipulation of information, or even a form of social engineering that keeps the lower districts docile.

A Different Perspective:

• A Spark of Change: Perhaps the most valuable thing wouldn't be a physical object or individual benefit, but the hope for a better future. It could be a growing sense of defiance, a technological breakthrough that could benefit everyone, or a leader who inspires change. Even in a harsh world, the potential for a brighter future could be the most valuable thing of all.

Ultimately, the best thing in this world depends on your story and the characters' values. What are they fighting for? What would make their lives better? By exploring these questions, you can create a compelling world where the "best thing" is a powerful motivator for your characters and a reflection of the themes you want to explore.

What would be the best possible symbol for high-tech-based dominance?

Here are a few options for a symbol of high-tech dominance in your world, each capturing a different aspect of technological control:

1. The Augmented Eye:

• Description: Imagine a stylized eye, perhaps metallic or with glowing circuitry. This symbol could be worn as a piece of jewelry, incorporated into clothing, or even projected as a hologram.
• Symbolism: The Augmented Eye represents the constant surveillance and monitoring of the population by the elite. It signifies the loss of privacy and the ability of the ruling class to see and control everything.
• Additional Details: The eye could have multiple pupils or flicker with different colors, representing the vast amount of data being collected and analyzed. It could also be embedded with a tiny camera, blurring the line between symbol and surveillance tool.

1. The Neural Network Spire:

• Description: A towering structure, resembling a branching network of wires or organic neural pathways, reaching towards the sky. This spire could be located in the heart of the elite district, a visible symbol of their technological prowess.
• Symbolism: The Neural Network Spire represents the vast computational power and interconnectedness of the elite's technology. It suggests their ability to access information, control communication, and manipulate minds.
• Additional Details: The spire could emit a faint hum or glow, hinting at the constant processing power it represents. Its intricate design could be both awe-inspiring and intimidating, reflecting the duality of technology.

1. The Glimmering Hand (Data Hand):

• Description: A stylized metallic hand, outstretched with its fingers spread wide. Each fingertip could have a different symbol or icon, representing different forms of data (statistics, surveillance footage, code).
• Symbolism: The Glimmering Hand represents the elite's ability to manipulate and control data. It signifies their power to shape information, influence perception, and control resources through technology.
• Additional Details: The hand could be made of a smooth, reflective metal, symbolizing the cold logic of data analysis. It could also emit faint streams of data or project holographic information, further emphasizing its control over information flow.

These symbols all offer a distinct way to represent the dominance of high-tech in your world. Consider the specific aspects of technology you want to highlight and the message you want to convey. These options provide a starting point to create a powerful symbol that embodies the oppressive yet awe-inspiring nature of technology in a high-tech, low-life society.

What would be the best set of symbols for resistance movements within such high-tech low-life settings?

In a high-tech, low-life world, symbols for a resistance movement need to be subtle, easily hidden, and adaptable to a world saturated with technology. Here are a few options that capture the spirit of rebellion in this unique setting:

1. The Flickering Flame:

• Description: A simple flickering flame, either a physical lighter or a stylized image. This could be a tattoo, a graffiti tag, or a hidden symbol incorporated into clothing or tools.
• Symbolism: The flickering flame represents hope and defiance against the cold, sterile control of the high-tech world. It symbolizes a yearning for a simpler life and the potential for change.
• Additional Details: The flame could be accompanied by a simple inscription or code that only members of the resistance understand. It could also be a specific color, like blue or orange, that signifies defiance.

1. The Glitching Gear:

• Description: A stylized gear symbol, but with a section that appears to glitch or malfunction. This could be displayed on a data pad, worn as a pendant, or even etched onto tools or scavenged materials.
• Symbolism: The glitching gear represents the disruption of the established order. It signifies the resistance's ability to exploit the flaws in the high-tech system and their fight for a more organic, less controlled society.
• Additional Details: The glitching portion of the gear could flicker or change colors, representing the unpredictable nature of the resistance and their ability to adapt to new situations.

1. The Broken Wing:

• Description: An image of a bird's wing, either broken or only partially formed. This could be a symbol of freedom yearning to be achieved, or the struggle of the resistance against the oppressive technological cage that confines them.
• Symbolism: The broken wing represents the desire for liberation and the belief that the people can rise above the control of the elite. It signifies the hope for a better future where freedom and autonomy are attainable.
• Additional Details: The broken wing could be depicted with feathers falling away, symbolizing the sacrifices made by the resistance. It could also be paired with an image of a rising sun, symbolizing a new dawn for society.

1. The Hacked Flower:

• Description: A simple flower image, but with its petals made of circuit boards or technological components. This symbol represents the fusion of nature and technology, hinting at the resistance's fight for a more balanced future.
• Symbolism: The hacked flower represents the reclamation of beauty and nature in a world dominated by technology. It signifies the hope for a future where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
• Additional Details: The flower could be a specific species native to the area before the rise of high-tech dominance. It could also be a symbol of a specific leader or movement within the resistance.

These symbols are just a starting point – get creative and consider the specific values and goals of your resistance movement. Remember, the best symbols are those that resonate with the characters and the audience, conveying the essence of rebellion in a way that is both meaningful and visually striking.