Animal ear scarf hoodie

Femboy bingo thing

2024.05.23 08:51 Plagoop Femboy bingo thing

If only I was acoustic 😔

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2024.05.23 08:45 senamena_7 I (22F) am getting married in two days and my Mum (48F) is infuriating me, how do I calm down?

I don't even know where to start. At the moment I am just feeling so confused and angry.
The planning of my wedding with my fiance has begun early enough. I was so nervous and wanted to plan and finish everything early. Everyone calmed me down and told me that we have enough time left.
I asked around and requested offers for decoration, for the venue, food etc. Again, everyone told me they had it under control. My FIL took over the venue, my fiance and I decided on the menue. It wasn't that much to think about but still, I wanted it done.
I was deciding on which offer I should take for the decoration of the restaurant we chose. My Mum's best friend which also happens to be our neighbour said she would do that and decorate for me since it would be a lot less expensive. I said that it was fine as long as she was sure she could do it. So we started looking at decoration online and I ordered everything she told me to order. I also told her that money doesn't matter I would rather have more of something than not enough. She said that it would be enough and to order just as she said. I did and told her that it his her responsibility now and she has to take the lead. She agreed and also told me that she know of a great florist where she can get all the flowers from and that she would organise vases for them too. I let her do her job.
Turns out she didn't do her job. She called me twi days ago and asked me if I ordered any flowers and vases. Immediately I was angry because she told me she would do it. And now months have passed and nothing happened? I stayed calm and told her that I didn't do any of that. The wedding was 4 days away at that point. She then said it would be fine and she'd do that the same day.
She also told me my Mum has been crying because I wouldn't follow any of the traditions of our home country. Like that the groom and his family come with multiple cars to pick me up at our place etc. Turns out my FIL spoke with my fiance about this and my fiance said he would organise that. He didn't. I never knew about it because my Mum hasn't said anything to me. I didn't even know about this tradition until she screamed it at me over the phone while I was at work.
I then started to organise this (while at work) because the wedding was 3 days away. I ordered everything and too much of it I'm sure but I didn't care. My Mum has been picking and scolding me for the last 4 days and every day she found something different that hasn't been taken care of and she blames it all on me. I literally don't understand if it's really my fault that the flowers weren't order, that the vases haven't been purchased, that the tablecloths I was told to order weren't long enough, that I didn't have any idea about the tradition of being picked up. Is it my fault?
Last night I finally burst. I cried and screamed at my Mum when she came into my room and told me that "I would even tell you all of this if your FIL was here" reffering to the scolding and how everything is my fault. I started crying and told her to not speak to me like that when I'm getting married in just 3 days and I'm emotional anyways. I told her that how could she tell me stuff like that and get angry with ME when it wasn't MY job to order and organise everything. I asked her how could she swear at ME when I didn't know that they would come pick me up until yesterday. I asked her how she could seriously tell me (more than once) that I srewed up and cause 100 problems for HER to fix. Of course she denied she ever talked to me like that. (She's been like this my whole life, denying everything and putting herself in the place of the victim.)
During my breakdown my mother was on the phone with my older sister (27F) who wanted to show us things she had left from her own wedding a few years ago. She heard my cries and tried to calm me down saying how she knows exactly how I feel. When she was getting married my mother and her whole family told my sister to have her wedding dress shortened by a friend/neighbour of our uncle. My sister was hesitant and would've rather did it professionally but my Mum somehow convinced her. Everyone told my sister that the woman does her job right etc, Well, guess what, She fucked up massively. And everyone turned on MY SISTER and told her it was her own fault and she should've let it done professionally. Including my mother.
I understand that she gets me and knows how I feel, but it doesn't help me. I just couldn't listen to any more bullshit about how everything is my fault from my mother.
I went to my room to cry and she eventually came in to swear at me even more. I totally screamed at her and asked her if she even listens. If she even listened to any word I said? If she even listened to any fucking word SHE said to me? Does she listen to herself? How could she deny literally everything? She then got up and said she would get her phone to prove to me she didn't say any of those things. I literally just screamed at the top of my lungs at how ridiculous she was. She wanted to get PROVE that she was in the right? Against her own daughter who is about to get MARRIED? I couldn't believe my ears.
It didn't even matter if she was in the right or if I was. I just got so hurt because she thought whe has to prove to me and everyone that ma feelings and the things I said are wrong.
I just picked up a random hoodie and stormed out of the house and ran into the woods nearby. When I found a spot I sat there crying and bawling my eyes out for almost 3 hours. It was cold and raining but I just didn't care.
My little sister (16F) texted me asking where I was and if she could help me in any way. She heared the whole screaming contest at home but didn't interfere. I ignored her and everyone else (my mother didn0t even try to call or text me).
I got home after it got dark. Our neighbour was in our living room planning something, actually doing the job she said she would do months ago. I didn't care. I didn't spare her or anyone else a look and went straight to my room and to sleep.
I definitely got a little sick from being out in the cold yesterday and my eyes were never this puffy from crying so much.
Please, I just want my wedding day to be good and drama free. But I just know I cannot look my mother in the eyes in 2 days because of how angry I am at her. How do I calm down? What do I do? Any advice is appreciated.
TL;DR: I am getting married in 2 days and stuff hasn't been organised by the people who said they would do it. Now my mother has been telling me for days how everything is my fault and that I caused every problem. How do I calm down and ignore her continuing scolding?

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2024.05.23 07:58 Spoongamer19 Not a femboy though.

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2024.05.23 07:51 grazeb What is this Nakano Miku's hairstyle called?

I'm really curious if there's a name for the part of her hair where her long bangs loop around under her right ear leaving a gap for her right eye to peek through. Pretty sure some other anime characters have this hair feature too.
https://preview.redd.it/bx3xb5js742d1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dd185194bc3e9fbe30a64a9b4051570089980aef

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2024.05.23 07:16 MrDeedle776 [US] [Selling] Monogatari Art books + merchandise, sets of Berserk Deluxe, Fullmetal Alchemist, To Your Eternity, Mob Psycho 100 etc

Timestamp https://imgur.com/a/804sHoW
Buy two things and get the third thing half off. Shipping is 5 bucks or free if you buy more than one thing. Thanks in advance for looking.
Monogatari stuff
Bakemonogatari Key Animation Volume 1 $45 (Box is a bit scuffed from previous seller, a 3 volume set of animation frames from some of the first episodes of the show)
Bakemonogatari Character Production Note Red Ver. $45 (book comes in a red sleeve)
Buy both for $80
Colorful Dreams by Vofan (monogatari illustrator)$20
Monogatari series Heroine Art books set of 8 $190 (Hitagi, Mayoi, Tsubasa, Yotsugi, Nadeko, Kanbaru, Shinobu, Karen & Tsukihi some come with obi, some do not.)
Buy all the ^Monogatari books for $270
Spare Hitagi and Shinobu art books not part of set $35 (scuffing noticeable om hitagi)
Senjougahara Good smile figure (bought 2nd hand, the attachments do not work and the packaging has some dried glue leftover from the previous owner trying to glue the stationary together.) $75
Hajime Ueda Style Figures of Senjougahara and Hachikuji $150 each, $270 together
Aviot Monogatari series ear buds (purple ver.) $145
Video Games Overlord Escape from Nazarick $28
Yuru Camp Have a Nice Day switch Limited Edition (comes with figure, game and extras) $145
Manga + LN sets
Berserk Deluxe 1-11 $333
To your Eternity 1-19 complete $125
Haunted Bookstore LN 1-6 $36
The duke of death and his maid 1-6 $45
Mob Psycho 100 1-13 + reigen $115
Madoka Magica omnibus + different $25
Fullmetal Alchemist Fullmetal editions 1-18 Complete + 20th Anniversary book $260
Vivy Prototype LN 1-3 $25
Vampire Hunter D omnibus 1 $11
Toilet Bound Hanako Box set $55
Flying Witch 1-11 $77
Is this a Zombie? 1-8 complete $100
Mashle 1-12 $75
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K 1-26 (Japanese bound set, well worn and used) $70

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2024.05.23 07:14 dopamineparty Trip report: four nights in Mexico City

Here is what I packed vs what I wore for four nights in Mexico City. I was unable to wash clothes on this trip. I wore two outfits a day (daytime, nighttime) as I typically do when traveling. The first photo is what I ended up packing, with the flight clothes on top and the linked photo is a picture of every outfit I wore: https://imgur.com/a/VDIJ0NM
Flight clothes: 2 tees, long sleeve tee, hoodie, jacket, jeans, sneakers
Packed clothes: 2 denim long sleeves White pants, black Capri pants 4 dresses, 1 jumpsuit 4 blouses 2 tees Sandals Maryjane’s
Day 0 Outfit #1: sneakers, jeans, t shirt, long sleeve, hoodie, puffer. I don’t know how anyone wears less on flights, even with my pashmina scarf I was cold and shivering.
Arrived super late to the Airbnb. I thought I’d need an outfit for this first night but ended in pajamas hanging around the house.
DAY ONE Outfit #2: red wrap dress and sandals. Hat and the light layer. Went to a long lunch, museums and galleries. Didn’t need the layer.
Back to the house to regroup and change.
Outfit #3: blouse, white pants and sandals. Went to Lucha Libre and bars after.
DAY TWO
Outfit #4: green dress and sandals and hat. Grabbed breakfast and coffee nearby, spent the day between el bazar Sabado and the Frida Kahlo house.
Back to the house to regroup and change.
Outfit #5: black jumpsuit, maryjanes, denim shirt. Went out to a rooftop dinner, dancing and bars. It was a breezy night and the denim shirt was nice to have.
This night I wore one of the clean t shirts as my pajama top.
DAY THREE Outfit #6: scrunchie dress, hat and sandals. Ran around a lot today: Condesa and Roma and the Museo Nacional de Antropología. It poured rain briefly and I just ran through it to shelter. So much walking today.
Back to the house to regroup before dinner.
Outfit #7: My feet are so sore. Happy to switch into the Mary Jane’s. Little black dress to a fancy dinner and cocktails. The denim shirt was nice to have because we sat outdoors.
DAY FOUR Last morning here 😢 black pants, blouse and Mary Jane’s for a breakfast at a local cafe.
Changed into flight clothes with a fresh t shirt.
Regrets: I would have brought slippers or flip flops for inside the house, pimple cream and saline nasal spray and cough drops for how dry the air feels here.
What I packed that I didn’t wear: two blouses, and a t shirt.
In retrospect I could have skipped the black pants, a blouse, tee and one denim shirt. My last trip to Mexico a month ago I wore the denim shirt all day for sun protection and then at night when I needed it for warmth/wind protection it felt grimey, hence packing two.
Had a great trip, such a fantastic city and made memories! Safe travels ✌️

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2024.05.23 07:11 Sweet-Count2557 Best Travel Toys For 5 Year Old in 2023

Best Travel Toys For 5 Year Old in 2023
Are you looking for the Best Travel Toys For 5 Year Old?
It can be a challenge to find something that's both entertaining and compact enough to pack in a suitcase. But don't worry!
I'm an experienced traveler with expertise in choosing great toys, so I've got some fantastic recommendations for you. Whether you're heading off on a plane or just going on an extended car ride, these fun, engaging toys will help make the trip more enjoyable for everyone involved.
So grab your bags and let's get ready to hit the road - because it's time to find the perfect toy for your little one!
Magnetic Building Sets
Magnetic building sets are a great way to keep kids entertained while traveling with magnets. Not only do they provide hours of fun for the young ones, but also promote their development and creativity in a safe environment.
With magnetic blocks, your 5 year old can build towers, bridges, cars, animals, and much more!
Safety is an important factor when dealing with magnets – especially when it comes to small children. It’s essential that you make sure all magnet pieces are kept away from electronics such as phones or tablets which could be damaged if exposed to the strong magnetic fields.
When choosing a set of magnetic blocks for travel purposes, look out for lightweight options that come in handy storage bags or boxes. This will make packing up easily without having to worry about any pieces being lost along the way!
From bright colors and creative shapes, there’s an abundance of fantastic magnetic block sets designed specifically for keeping kids entertained on long journeys.
Portable Art Kits
When it comes to travel toys for 5 year olds, magnetic building sets are a great way to keep them engaged and entertained. But if your child loves expressing their creativity, then portable art kits might be the perfect choice!
Being able to pack up everything they need in one place means that you can take these supplies with you on any adventure - whether at home or away.
Here's what every parent should look out for when selecting an art kit:
Quality materials that are non-toxic and safe.
Variety of colors (including pastels) as well as tools such as paintbrushes, watercolor sets, erasers etc.
A convenient carrying case so the art supplies don't get lost along the journey.
An age-appropriate art kit will help encourage your little ones’ creative expression while traveling. Portable art supplies such as sketch pads, colored pencils and markers give children the opportunity to create anywhere and everywhere - from long car rides to outdoor picnics or even beach days!
Plus, having all their favorite art supplies within reach makes them feel like real artists in no time! So why not let your 5 year old explore new ideas with exciting art projects? Get ready for some memorable moments creating masterpieces together!
Storybooks With Audio
Picture your five year old sitting in their seat on the plane, surrounded by toys that have been carefully selected for them. They are about to embark on an adventure and you want them to be entertained yet engaged throughout the entire journey.
What if there was a way to make this trip even more special - with interactive stories filled with audiobooks?
The best travel toys for 5 year olds should not only keep them occupied but also captivate their imagination and stimulate their senses. Audio storybooks can provide just that; creating a vivid world of intrigue for your little one's mind as they listen to tales from faraway lands.
With these interactive stories, children can become immersed in a new world where anything is possible while developing essential language skills along the way.
Providing hours of entertainment during those long flights or car journeys, storybook sets featuring audiobooks offer parents peace of mind knowing that they don't need to worry about packing bulky items or worrying about battery life!
And with multiple sets available, it ensures there will be something exciting each time around – perfect for introducing young adventurers to the joys of traveling.
Music Players
After exploring the world of storybooks with audio, there’s no better way for a 5 year old to explore their own music than through a music player.
Music players are great travel toys because they provide hours and hours of entertainment without interruption or distraction from external noises.
The sound quality is key here – noise reduction technology will ensure that your child hears every note in crystal-clear detail on their travels.
An ideal travel toy should be lightweight enough for them to carry easily, but durable enough to weather the wear and tear of long journeys.
Many models even come with headphone jacks which allow you to keep both ears open while listening to tunes - perfect for when out hiking or playing at the park!
Plus, some have built-in games too, so not only can your 5 year old listen to their favorite songs all day long, but they can also play fun interactive activities along the way.
Music players are an effective way for kids to express themselves creatively while they're away from home.
And it's important that this experience doesn't get compromised by poor sound quality; investing in one with advanced noise reduction features means that your little ones can make the most of their journey into musical discovery.
Busy Bags
When traveling with a 5 year old, many parents worry that their child may get bored and restless. But this doesn't have to be the case! With careful planning, you can make sure your little one stays entertained on your next trip by preparing busy bags filled with fun activities and toys.
Busy bags are easy to assemble and don't take up much space in your luggage. They contain age-appropriate objects such as coloring books, puzzles, travel games, and other educational items that will help keep kids occupied during long hours of transit or waiting times at airports.
Here's an example of what you could include in each bag:
Coloring Books & Crayons
Travel Games (e.g., tic tac toe)
Educational Toys (e.g., flashcards)
Puzzles (e.g., Sudoku for older kids).
These small but powerful packs offer endless possibilities for engaging your 5 year old in traveling activities while also ensuring they stay educated along the way. Plus, the convenience of having everything organized ahead of time makes packing so much easier than rummaging through different suitcases looking for something to do when boredom strikes!
In addition to keeping children occupied during trips, busy bags provide parents with peace of mind knowing that their child is engaged in meaningful play instead of just staring into space or flipping through screens without any structure. By providing them with interactive learning experiences while away from home, these handy kits help foster independence and creativity too – all while giving mom and dad some well-deserved rest throughout the journey!
Educational Games
Switching gears from busy bags to educational games, there is a multitude of ways to keep your 5 year old engaged while on the go.
Activity books and travel journals make great companions for any journey, providing hours of drawing fun as well as opportunities to explore their creativity. As an added bonus, these activities can also help them learn about geography and history along with other topics like math and science in some cases!
For those seeking something more interactive, tabletop games such as dice or card games can provide plenty of entertainment and be easily stored during transport.
Additionally, many classic board games fit nicely into carry-on suitcases which is perfect if you're looking for something that will last longer than one flight or car ride.
If it's raining outside then why not bring out a puzzle or two? These small yet engaging tasks always seem to put smiles on kids' faces when they see how quickly they can solve them.
No matter what type of game or activity you choose for your child, remember that this is an opportunity for them to use their imaginations without having to worry about screens or batteries - just good old-fashioned family time!
With so many options available today ranging from pencils & paper to complicated strategy simulations, variety truly is the spice of life when it comes to travel toys for 5 year olds.
Miniature Play Sets
Miniature play sets are the perfect way to keep your 5 year old entertained while on the go, allowing them to explore and express their inner creativity. From role-playing with tiny figurines or creating a world of their own design, these travel-sized playsets provide endless possibilities for curious minds.
An anachronism in this context is that many miniature playsets come in classic 'old school' designs – featuring archetypal characters from decades ago like cowboys and Indians; bringing nostalgia into playtime.
These small-scale worlds can also spark imagination and help children use their problem-solving skills, as they develop stories around the characters contained in each playset – whether it be two outlaws facing off at high noon or heroes saving princesses from dragons!
Meanwhile, by utilizing different objects within the set such as trees or rocks, kids will learn how to create scenes using multiple elements.
No matter what type of adventure your child chooses to find themselves immersed in, miniature play sets offer plenty of stimulating fun both inside and outside of the home.
It's easy to see why they make great companions for those long car rides when you're moving between cities: leaving enough room for the little ones' imaginations to wander until you reach your destination!
Magnetic Puzzles
Magnetic puzzles provide a great option for travel toys that are both educational and entertaining.
Magnetic letters, in particular, can help kids learn letter recognition while they play and have fun.
These magnetic puzzles come in various sizes, so you can choose the right one to fit your 5-year-old's needs.
The smaller ones are perfect for when you're on the go as they take up minimal space in luggage or bags.
The puzzle pieces attach to each other magnetically via their edges so that kids can create shapes out of them without having to worry about losing any pieces.
With these types of puzzles, children will be able to explore patterns and colors while developing letter recognition skills - all at once!
Plus, since the pieces stick together securely, it makes cleaning up after playtime much easier too!
This type of toy is truly versatile; whether you’re looking for something to keep your kid occupied during long car rides or flights or even just something for them to do indoors on rainy days - this is definitely an excellent choice!
Kids won't get bored with magnetic puzzles because they offer endless possibilities; no two creations need ever look alike.
So let your child expand their imagination and creativity with this highly engaging activity!
Lacing Toys
As the saying goes, “A stitch in time saves nine”.
Lacing toys are a classic way to keep kids entertained while traveling and they also provide many benefits! Not only do lacing toys help children work on their hand-eye coordination but they also further explore sensory development.
The act of threading the string through holes is a great example of problem-solving as well as engaging fine motor skills which will come in handy when it comes to writing and other day-to-day activities.
Lacing toys are an excellent choice for 5 year olds who love exploring different materials like plastic, wood or fabric.
If you’re looking for something eco-friendly, there are plenty of options that don't involve any single-use plastics that can be used over and over again.
There's no better way to encourage creative thinking than by providing them with fun shapes such as animals or flowers which spark imaginative play and storytelling.
When choosing a lacing toy for your 5 year old, make sure not to pick one too complicated that may lead to frustration or boredom quickly setting in; look for simple designs with larger pieces so they don't struggle with dexterity or patience levels reducing from being stuck trying to lace small pieces together.
With just the right level of challenge involved, these travel companions offer hours of entertainment without having to worry about battery life running out!
Travel-Friendly Board Games
Traveling with kids can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be! There are a variety of travel-friendly board games that will keep your 5 year old entertained and engaged during long road trips.
Here's a list of the top four:
Rush Hour - This classic game is perfect for helping children learn problem-solving skills while having fun at the same time!
Pathwords – A great educational game that helps develop their language skills as they create words from clues given on the cards.
Spot It – Ideal for sharpening visual recognition skills and concentration as players race to find matching symbols between two cards.
Suspend – An exciting balancing act where players must add pieces without making the structure collapse!
These fun activities will help pass the time quickly and make traveling stress-free for both parents and children alike. Plus, there are plenty of travel-friendly apps like Animal Planet Animals or Road Trip Bingo which you can download onto your devices for extra entertainment value when out on the road!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Type Of Travel Toy For A 5 Year Old?
When it comes to finding the best type of travel toy for 5-year-olds, there are many factors to consider.
Cost-effectiveness and educational value should be at the top of your list when making a decision.
As a travel and toy expert, I recommend looking for toys that can easily transition from home to on the go without losing any of their appeal or functionality.
This will ensure your child is entertained during long trips and still learning something new in an engaging way.
Toys with this level of versatility have an added bonus - they help foster a sense of freedom in kids!
Are These Toys Safe For Young Children?
When it comes to age-appropriate toys for travel, you may wonder if they are safe enough for a 5 year old. Surprisingly, the answer is yes!
With playtime rules in place, there are plenty of options when it comes to finding the perfect toy for your little one's travels.
As a travel and toy expert, I'm here to tell you that these toys offer an engaging experience that will keep their attention while also providing them with a sense of freedom that subconsciously drives their curiosity about new places.
How Easy Are These Toys To Pack And Transport?
When it comes to packing and transporting toys, ease of use is key. Most travel-friendly toys come in a variety of sizes that can fit easily into any bag or suitcase while having a noise level low enough not to disrupt your fellow travelers.
Toys should be lightweight, durable, and easy to pack up quickly - all features you'll want when trying to get from point A to point B with minimal stress. Look for toys that are small yet packed full of entertainment; ones that won't take up much room in the car but will keep your child engaged during long trips.
With thoughtful design and careful consideration of size and noise level, you'll find plenty of fun travel toys perfect for 5 year olds!
Are These Toys Suitable For Both Boys And Girls?
When considering gender neutrality, age appropriateness, and transportability all at once, it can be overwhelming - but not anymore!
With careful consideration from an experienced toy expert and traveler, you can rest assured that these toys are designed to provide your child with equal amounts of fun regardless of gender.
By sparking imagination and creativity through adventure-filled playtime, they'll feel empowered to explore the world around them in a safe yet exciting way.
Are These Toys Durable And Able To Withstand A Lot Of Wear And Tear?
When it comes to buying the best travel toys for 5 year olds, durability is a key factor. It's important that these toys can withstand wear and tear during playtime without limits!
That's why I always put my picks through rigorous testing procedures to ensure that they are up to standard. My top picks also have more than enough features and benefits to keep any 5 year old entertained from place to place - so you know your child will be having plenty of fun while staying safe at the same time.
Conclusion
Traveling with kids can be a challenge, but finding the right toys for them to take along on your trip doesn't have to be.
As a travel and toy expert, I'm here to tell you that there are lots of great options out there when it comes to age-appropriate travel toys for 5 year olds.
From safe, easy-to-pack puzzles and play sets, to durable dolls and action figures – all perfectly suited for both boys and girls – you'll find something perfect for every little traveler's needs.
So don't let packing stress get in the way of an unforgettable family vacation; grab some fun and functional toys before your next adventure starts!

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2024.05.23 06:37 Far-Air-183 been unable to play consistently without errors after moving my mod list to 1.5, not sure what's causing it

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2024.05.23 06:35 NotCarsonFrank “This is stupid.. okay I’ll fill it out”

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2024.05.23 06:22 Darkblade51224 Shopping Trip with the Ladies

The sun was high in the sky, watching the busy Streets of Aguris curiously. A couple wisps of white decorated the light blue sky, and a gentle breeze greeted a wooden sign board hanging outside a shop. It swung lazily in the breeze, on its surface was a carving of a thread and needle. Occasionally someone would walk in or out, but the traffic in this store was quite low.
"Hey, wait stop! Fuck, if you're gonna be that pushy. . . Hey, don't touch there!" a voice slipped out from the store as a customer left. The interior was brightly colored, and rows of clothes greeted the customers as they came in. At the back the store's floor was raised and a larger mirror could be found along with a desk where a worker stood. To the left sat a line of changing rooms, each had a curtain to hide the customer as they changed. One of those rooms had a violently shaking curtain.
"Come on, just take those off and try this." Another voice leaked out.
"Hey wait, stop pushing and huh stoooop!" Skarlet exclaimed as she stumbled out of the changing room, she wasn't wearing much. Through the fumble and bumble they'd managed to get her down to her panties and bra, this wasn't a super big deal. It was a girl's store and the likelihood of a guy walking in was low. Skarlet frowned at the person who walked out, Amethyst, her new friend. Skarlet looked a bit pitiful as she sat on the ground covering herself and glaring at the girl in front of her.
"If you're gonna be so pushy I'll just do it myself, just stay out of my changing room!" Skarlet grumbled in annoyance. Amethyst's tail was wagging and she was practically oozing excited puppy dog energy. But it sank as Skarlet said that, her ears dropped and she stepped aside.
"Sorry."
"Dummy." Another voice spoke up, Aiko was standing nearby with her arms crossed. She was wearing short black shorts and a sleeveless black shirt with a long scarf that was pulled back so both ends rested around the base of her tail. She had thick black boots with golden buckles and fingerless gloves, and the way she was standing made her seem like some kinda punk. The continued black from her shorts and shirt was broken by a brown belt that held two short swords on either side of her waist.
Amethyst was dressed in a short skirt that was bright red like a cherry and a white shirt with a color splash design, or maybe she just got carried away with some paint at some point. Her shirt had long sleeves but one was bunched up, she also wore a belt with a magic bag on it for money and stuff. She had a necklace around her neck with a purple gem in it. She was also wearing loose shoes meant for running and activities.
Skarlet sighed as she got to her feet and stepped into the changing room.
"I know what you're gonna say, but come on she's looking so cute!" Amethyst exclaimed while looking at Aiko, the cat girl just let out a sigh and looked away. "What, are you jealous, you're not pouting cause I'm not fussing over you right?" Amethyst asked as she got closer. The rustling sound of Skarlet changing faded into the background, Amethyst slipped up next to Aiko and blew a little air into her ear. A shiver ran through her as a small blush appeared. Aiko snapped her attention to Amethyst, who was smiling coyly at her as she stepped away. "You're cute Aiko." As she finished saying that the curtain blew out as Skarlet reappeared, she was frowning deeply.
"You're making fun of me aren't you!" Skarlet accused them as her face was a mix of embarrassment and anger. She was dressed in a short pink skirt with multiple layered frills, tall white socks and a shirt with ruffled sleeves. There was even a bow on her shoes. "I'm not a kid you stupid mutt!" Amethyst burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, just you're so small I thought you'd fit clothes from the kids section, hehe. You look so cute though!! Ahh, hey why don't you try this next!" Amethyst thrust her another outfit and hurried her back into the changing room. Skarlet was stuttering and stumbling over her words as she tried to protest, but it was futile.
"You're a bully." Aiko spoke again looking at Amethyst, the girl in question looked back at Aiko.
"Maaaaaybe, but I only bully those I like. Besides doesn't she just feel like a little sis? I wanna spoil her, won't you let me indulge a little?" Amethyst asked. Aiko sighed again, but didn't comment. "Thanks bestie!" Amethyst exclaimed happily, moments later Skarlet stepped out again and she looked furious. She was wearing a one piece white dress with pink trim and a bow on the collar. Amethyst ran over and circled around Skarlet with a smile before messing with her hair. "If you ask me to put my hair up in tails I'm going to stab you."
"Woah, um heh, I wasn't thinking about it at all, promise ya. Hey um why not try this on." Amethyst seemed slightly taken aback by Skarlet's blatant hostility so she quickly grabbed an outfit from the women's section, but Skarlet seemed more interested in Aiko. Aiko was taller than Skarlet but also had the same petite build. Seeing this Amethyst smiled and grabbed Aiko's hand and dragged her into the changing room.
"Amethyyyyyst!" there was an exclamation, a look of pleading directed towards Skarlet then she was gone. Skarlet smirked in satisfaction, but then a realization came up. I'm having fun. . . She frowned with a bit of worry. I shouldn't be here, this is wrong, I don't deserve it. She wasn't truly angry, and her aggressive stance was more her trying to hide her happiness. Mostly due to fear. But this reminded her that things were changing a bit around here, not with the people native to Aguris. There were newcomers, like Cody and this group, Aiko and Amethyst. They didn't know about her and treated her with kindness. She had half a desire to relish that feeling, and another half to run from it.
Her line of thinking struggled to continue as Amethyst reappeared to show off Aiko now dressed as a Gothic maid, a black and white color scheme with lots of bows, frills, and a headband. Skarlet burst out laughing and Aiko glared at Amethyst, who just smiled happily while admiring her work. Aiko promptly turned around and tried to escape but Amethyst snatched her hand and pulled her closer.
"Awe don't be like that, call me Master please! I wanna hear it." Amethyst was in full blown happy dog mode. Tail running at a hundred miles an hour as she stared expectantly at Aiko. who hesitated, trying to not look at her friend's eyes. But she couldn't help it and soon was defeated by those pleading puppy dog eyes. Aiko looked down and began fidgeting with her dress before finally she opened her mouth.
"M-master." Aiko mumbled with a blush, and Amethyst immediately hugged her and started patting her head. "Good girl!" Aiko's tail shot straight up from that and she struggled from Amethyst's grasp. Skarlet was quiet though, she was staring with surprise at Aiko. Damn, that was unexpectedly really cute. Skarlet couldn't stop the smile as Aiko eventually slipped away and bolted into the changing room.
She came back out wearing her usual gear, after they finished teasing, they ended up helping Skarlet pick some proper outfits. This all started because they decided to visit her place, and apparently Amethyst loved to design outfits and was greatly disappointed by Skarlet's lack of a wardrobe.
Skarlet tried to protest but was promptly dragged around town to various clothing stores, she was aware that she was getting close to these two but couldn't stop it. She was afraid though, scared of how her curse would affect them. After they finished shopping they started the walk home. Amethyst and Aiko were quite close, Skarlet noticed this while hanging out. As they walked home, the energetic dog girl was hanging off of Aiko eagerly chatting her up. Aiko rarely spoke but Amethyst seemed to be able to almost read her mind, they conversed even if one didn't speak.
On the way home they passed the market and Amethyst dragged the group over to an outdoor restaurant. Plopping down on one of the chairs, Skarlet followed, at some point she decided to stop thinking about it so much and just go with it. So she was absent-mindedly following them.
"Say ahhh." Skarlet stared at Amethyst as she tried to feed Skarlet. "Awe no fun." Amethyst pouted as she realized Skarlet wasn't gonna go with it. So she turned to Aiko. "Ahhh" she repeated, Aiko sighed again for the upteenth time that day and opened her mouth. Amethyst was overjoyed and plopped a piece of meat in her mouth. Aiko chewed it as she eyed Amethyst from the side. "See it's good, this place makes the best meat!" she exclaimed, Skarlet was enjoying watching them interact as she casually ate her own food.
Skarlet closed her bedroom door, leaned against it and sighed, I've done it now, there's no way this will end well. I don't wanna hurt more people, I'm scared. She was conflicted due to her newfound closeness to them which made her feel good and her belief that she didn't deserve to feel these things. That coupled with her belief in the rumors about her, the bad luck charm. I'll only harm them in the end. I'm taking advantage of them at this point. She thought cynically as she plopped onto her bed.
Author note: I realized that I needed to find a way to force Skarlet to form relationships. This led to the creation of Aiko and Amethyst, a duo who form an interest in Skarlet as the only other Lithian adventurer in town. Amethyst being a massive extrovert and Skarlet being an Introvert, it made a good pairing I think. Also Aiko and Amethyst might be a couple lol that happened while writing, I wasn't planning or thinking about it. Just kinda happened.

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2024.05.23 06:16 Hot-Low-2797 Alot of random mlp questions for thought and discussion.

Would discord vanish if he went to the equestria girls world?
Why doesn't princess amore have wings?
Was it out of character for pinky pie to hate on mauds bf so much, she's usually making everyone happy?
What happens when horses or ponys from equestria girls go to the pony equestria? I almost want to say other animals would just stay the same but with horses?
Why does Mistmane’s mane flow and what kind of pony is she? Her horn is different and the only other pony that looks like her horn is king sombras, but according to the comics he's a umbrum and was made to look like a pony and seem like a pony, yeah when he found out he was not happy, but are still ig called shadow ponies oh and not the pony of shadows.
What happend to all twilight sparkles friendship lessons and friendship journals in g5?
What happend to the tree of harmony/treehouse in G5, and its manifestation of twilight as its embodiment for communication.
So discord can take away ponys horns, magic, tails lol ect, can he create actual life? I don't mean singing tea or a piñatas come to life I mean to make a pony.
Can discord bring ponys back to life?
Do you think when discord has copies of himself to talk to that it's himself going back in time to be with fluttershy? Probably not but it came to mind. That goes to question if he can time travel forward or back but if he could do all that I'm sure in the g5 comics he wouldn't be crying over loosing fluttershy in an abandoned ponyville, or he would just tell twilight of the future for her to come up with a plan to fix it before it ever happend.
If twilight used starswirls spell and took all her friends with her to the past during the starlight episodes where she tries to stop rainbowdash from doing the sonic rainboom would they just disappear or create a third party of the them 5, beacuse twilight was able to travel back and also back to the future and she never ran into herself.
Where did the magic of Inspiration Manifestation even come from and how did it influence rarity and how did she get to basically keep the magic if not for spikes honesty, and what do you think the rest of the book could have talked about, she only read one page.
Do you think princess celestia took the legs of her enemies severed hooves and what we see on the walls when rainbow dash and applejack see it they get freaked out over severed hooves, they should have questioned that more Lol.
Do you think ponys in the past were cannibals?
How do you think rainbowdashs wing was cut off during the episode where starlight changed the past, and cut ear?
Was that Halloween special where they showed granny smiths skull an easteregg saying she was gunna die by the end of the show, really it hurts seeing that episode after seeing the final episode.
What's the darkest thing to you about my little pony?
Do you think there are other alicorn rulers outside of equestria, outside there map around the world could there be other lands for ponys?
Do you think the ponies find it weird when they break out into songs and some ponys know the lyrics somehow Lol, I mean they are aware they break out into songs so it's not just an us audience thing, they never get weirded out about the music being in sync, or how ponies just start singing along even when they solo sing.

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2024.05.23 06:08 adorabletapeworm Orion Pest Control: The Mechanic Gave Me A Ride

Previous case
The infected deer are starting to become a real problem. That being said, as the title suggests, the worms are the least of my worries.
(If you're not familiar with what Orion Pest Control's services are, it may help to start here.)
On my drive home a few nights ago, I saw the reflection of eyes in the distance. As I slowed down, I discovered a buck standing in the middle of the road, head bent over gray fur.
It was eating an opossum. Or, more accurately, the worms puppeteering it were coiling around the opossum, their mouths leaving huge holes in the poor animal's fur as they dragged it between the deer's open jaws.
Like the infected doe I'd encountered before, the buck’s stomach was pulsating as the worms moved. Its fur was unruly, the white patch over its throat stained with layers of dried blood.
My stomach fluttered in disgust at the way the parasites protruded from its mouth. God, those worms… Steeling myself, I snatched my toolbelt off of the passenger seat along with the shotgun and went out to take care of it. Unfortunately, I only had regular shells that time. After the incident at the farm, I hadn't had the time to restock on salt shells. They would've made this process much faster and easier.
I just had to shoot it in the head, then pour salt on each worm afterwards. Same as before. No problem, right?
The sound that the worms made as they devoured the opossum made my skin crawl. The sliminess of their skin as they slithered around each other combined with the wet tearing of flesh and fur. Whatever you're imagining, I assure you that the noise was far more nauseating in real life.
Before the worms or their host had a chance to notice me, I took aim and pulled the trigger. The side of the buck's head exploded. It let out a deep, guttural groan as the worms dropped from around the trapped rodent.
The buck then lowered its antlers at me. Fuckfuckfuck! I sprinted for my car as it charged me, the worms flopping around as they were dragged across the road by their host. I got out of the way just as the buck's antlers pierced my G6's hood. It shook its head violently, my little car shaking along with it as it tried to get its antlers free.
Why was it so much more aggressive than the doe? Had it been infected longer?
Just as I raised the shotgun again, I felt something brush against my foot. I was so glad that nobody was around to see me yelp like a coyote as I expertly flailed away from the worm that had taste-tested my boot.
There was an ear-splitting, metallic groan as the buck got its antlers free. I stepped away from the worms as I fired again. The buck fell to the side, causing the worms to lurch to the ground like cut ropes. Heroically, I backed away from them even more as they began to convulse, fumbling with shaking hands to get the salt out of my toolbelt.
The area around me became much brighter as another vehicle made its way down the road. I got off to the side to lower the chances of getting hit, then otherwise ignored it as I finished the job by seasoning the parasites, grimacing as they writhed against their salty demise.
From behind me, I heard the oncoming vehicle start to slow down. I had just finished salting the final worm when the driver completely slowed to a stop. Glaring against the headlights, dread pooled in my stomach as I recognized the old, boxy blue Ford pickup. I'd seen it parked at the mechanic's shop every time I've had to go over there.
What was he doing here?
Coincidences don't exist in this line of work. I hadn't seen the mechanic since that day he'd turned me into a dog. I'd went out of my way to try to avoid him, which in hindsight, I probably could've been more subtle about.
It occurred to me to run. A frightened, primal impulse. But if I'm right about what the mechanic is, that'd be a horrible idea. They take cruel delight in hunting their prey down. Not knowing what else to do as my heart raced, I made sure that the buck and the worms were dead, shooting the infected animal in the head one last time. It didn't move. Neither did the worms.
The truck's door creaked open, then slammed shut. And with the sound of his boots on the gravel, I said a quick prayer, hoping that whatever god heard me would be a merciful one.
The mechanic grimaced at the dead worms, “Hoo, those things are nasty.”
All I could think of to say in my state was, “…Yeah.”
Brilliant, right?
He clicked his tongue, then walked over to my G6, shaking his head. “It sure did a number on this.”
For the first time, I got to see the extent of the damage that the buck had done to my poor little car. The hood was crumpled and riddled with several small holes. I had left it running, but after the attack, the engine had gone quiet. My dread worsened as I noticed that some sort of fluid was pooling beneath the front of the car.
The mechanic popped the hood, absent-mindedly nudging a dead worm out of the way with his heel as he examined my suffering car.
“Yeah, that's the fuckin’ radiator.” The mechanic commented. “This thing ain't going anywhere.”
You've gotta be kidding me.
I'm not a car person. I didn't know if he was messing with me or not. I stammered, “Are… are you serious?”
He closed my hood, “You see me laughing, puppydog?”
Prick.
“Please don't call me that.” I said, keeping my voice as even as possible.
He snickered, “What would you like me to call you, then?”
I replied, “Let's go back to ‘stranger.’”
He pursed his lips, “But we're really not strangers anymore, now, are we?”
I didn't like that he'd taken enough of an interest in me to want to use something other than a generic nickname for me. I didn't trust this. Not one bit.
The mechanic patted the G6's hood noisily before stepping over a worm to stand in front of me, “Well, I can tow this thing to the shop, then start workin’ on it in the morning. In the meantime, why don't you let me give you a lift?”
Oh, FUCK no.
“Thanks, but I have people I can call.” I replied, eyes on his chest to avoid his gaze.
He chuckled, “You really don't like accepting help when it's offered, do you?”
That was a warning. Don't push it.
Doing everything in my power to keep my voice calm, I asked, “Will you expect something in return?”
With a grin, he replied, “Just the pleasure of your company.”
I don't like this.
As much as I would've preferred to take my chances walking home and dealing with literally any other atypical animal that could be prowling the night, I was too afraid to wear the mechanic's patience any thinner.
He either read my mind or my thoughts showed on my face because he then added with a smirk, “You can bring your gun, if that'll make you feel safer.”
Unable to shake the feeling that I was going to the gallows, I reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat of his truck, flipping the safety switch on the shotgun before setting it on the floor against my leg.
The interior smelled pleasantly of black cherries. I'd expected the stench of motor oil. He wordlessly nativated the truck in front of my broken down car, then jumped back out again to hook everything up.
While he was busy with that, I quickly texted Victor and Reyna, ‘broke down. mechanic found me. taking me somewhere. not sure where yet.’
For good measure, I also shared my location with them. Afterwards, I jammed my phone back into my pocket, then peered into the side mirror to watch the mechanic. He was pulling on the chains he'd attached to my G6, testing their tightness. He looked like he was almost done.
My phone buzzed, but I didn't dare take it out again.
The mechanic climbed back into the driver's seat with a sigh. As the old pickup started down the road, my unease kept building. I felt like I shouldn't move or breathe too much, for some strange reason. This might sound dramatic, but I would've felt safer being trapped in a cage with a hungry lion. At least a lion would just shred me and be done with it.
I reminded myself that I was still wearing my toolbelt. He'd let me take the shotgun. I didn't know how effective salt, shells, or a silver blade would be against him, but it was slightly reassuring to know that I wasn't completely defenseless. Just slightly. The fact that he'd let me keep all of it told me that he didn't consider me a threat to him, even while armed.
The mechanic glanced at me, “I don't know about you, but I'm starving. I was on my way to Dillon's when I found you.”
Dillon's is an old 50's style diner that’s about a half hour walk away from my apartment. It's cheap, greasy, and gets the job done, especially when you're hungover.
The mechanic looked and sounded deceptively friendly as he spoke again, “Though, I am glad that we ran into each other! There's something that I've been wanting to discuss with you.”
That couldn't be good. I stared through the windshield, only looking over at him occasionally to avoid any possibility of him catching my eye.
The mechanic continued, “You remember when I told you the other night that you impressed me? I meant that. And humans don't normally impress me much, so… make of that what you will. However, you also tried to get smart with me and that is the shit I hate. You can be as polite as you want, but insolence is insolence, no matter how much you try to sugarcoat it.”
Even though his tone remained light, the nervous pit in my stomach grew into a gaping chasm. Was he still angry? And if he was, what did that mean for me?
The mechanic side-eyed me briefly as if he expected me to say something.
My phone buzzed in my pocket again. One of my coworkers tried to call me.
Another thing yinz need to know about dealing with the Neighbors: never use the words ‘I'm sorry,’ the reason being that an apology is an admission of a debt to them. If you have to atone for a transgression (and it is highly recommended that you do so), your phrasing matters.
I hoped that humbling myself would appease him, “My actions were a waste of your time and I absolutely regret them. It won't happen again.’
The mechanic snickered, “See, that's just it. You're so… fuck, what's the word I'm looking for? I heard it just the other day and it reminded me of you. Oh, right! Unctuous. You ever hear that word before?”
I told him I hadn't.
“It means someone who's insincerely polite. They tell you what you want to hear just to get what they want. Sound familiar, pup?”
He'd never been this ruthless in our interactions before. I needed to be careful.
Feeling my mouth get dry from impending panic, I shook my head, “That's not it. I just try to watch what I say. I don't mean for it to come off as disingenuous.”
Throughout this whole conversation, his smile stayed in place. He was enjoying making me squirm. As much as it killed me to give him that satisfaction, I couldn't hide it: even without that banjo around, I was terrified of him.
He replied, “You see why I'm glad we ran into each other? This is something that's been on my mind for a bit. Coulda gotten it outta the way a whole lot sooner, if you hadn't been hiding from me.”
I knew better than to insist that I wasn't avoiding him, especially since I was already on dangerously thin ice. And we were still far enough away from town that if he were to decide to pull over right then and there, no one would notice what happened to me until it was too late.
Swallowing back my nervousness, I asked, “What happens now?”
“That whole nasty business two weeks ago didn't need to happen. All you had to do was find your boss, which you already wanted to do anyway. But instead, you decided to be a smartass. From now on, don't get smart with me and just do your job. That ain't asking for much, is it?”
Trying to get more saliva in my dry mouth to swallow again, I hurriedly nodded, “No, it's not. I’ll do better.”
“Glad we're understandin’ each other, pup.”
Despite the mechanic's relaxed demeanor, I still didn't feel safe in that truck. We were getting closer to town. My phone didn't stop vibrating. I just hoped that he was taking me to where he said we were going.
There is a bit of conflict in our records as to whether or not the Neighbors can lie. Some sources state that they can only speak the truth, others say that they are able to be just as dishonest as humans. Either way, it's best to operate under the assumption that their intentions are to manipulate.
The mechanic then cheerily asked, “Now that we got that unpleasantness out of the way, I gotta know, how'd you get so good with a gun? I've seen ol’ blue eyes shoot, and that man can't hit the broad side of a barn, so I know he ain't the one that taught ya.”
Military records are public. If he learned even something as miniscule as my last name, it wouldn't be hard to identify me or my mom from there. The Neighbors have been known to seek out the family members of those who've slighted them. Entire bloodlines have been destroyed in this manner. I've seen it happen before, but that's a story for another time.
I can't stress this enough: never let a Neighbor learn your name.
I struggled to find a balance between being vague enough to protect myself, but detailed enough to satisfy him, “I wanted to learn how to defend myself when I was younger, so I found some good teachers.”
I must've missed the mark because the mechanic shook his head and chuckled, “You're doing it again. That annoying indirect shit. Why don't you try giving me a real answer, for once?”
Feeling my heart flutter, I muttered, “Armed forces.”
That was still vague. I didn't specify which of the armed forces. He could deduce when I served based on my age, but even then, that was still thousands of soldiers to sort through. Hopefully, that would be enough to protect us.
“Thank you for your service.” He said, his tone slightly mocking.
He could taunt me as much as he wanted. At least he accepted that answer. I just hoped that I wouldn't face any repercussions for being too vague earlier.
More streetlights were appearing. We were in town, getting closer to Dillon's. Assuming that he had been telling the truth about our destination.
This was the longest drive of my life. If the truck hadn't been going so fast, I would've been tempted to tuck and roll. And again… if the mechanic is what I think he is, he'd probably love it if I gave him the opportunity to chase me.
I had to know for sure, though. Just so that I knew how to properly deal with him.
Doing my best to sound meek (not hard, in the moment), I tried to word my question carefully, “Are you a Wild Huntsman?”
Once again, not taking the risk of typing or saying the ‘S’ word, especially since I haven't heard from that one person that commented that term on my last post.
Speaking of… are you still alive and in one piece, u/Holiday-Space?
The mechanic laughed, “Too afraid to say it, huh? Come on, I dare you!”
“No thanks.”
One of you is bad enough. Don't need any of your hunting buddies to show up.
The mechanic shook his head at me as he snickered, “Coward.”
Up ahead was Dillon's old purple neon sign. To my relief, the mechanic pulled into the parking lot. With it being so late, there were only two vehicles there besides the mechanic's truck (not including my comatose G6.)
Anxious to get out of there, I reached for the handle only for the door to swing open before I could grab it. The mechanic was holding the door open for me. I hadn't even heard the driver's side open.
See why I didn't try to run from him?
It took a lot of effort to sound sincere as I said, “What a gentleman.”
He nodded towards Dillon's, “After you.”
Even though the idea of having to spend more quality time with the mechanic made me want to crawl out of my own skin, I felt marginally safer in public. He wouldn't risk exposing himself when he has a shop to run. At least, I didn't think he would.
The girl that seated us blushed the moment she saw him. For her sake, I hope he doesn't ever decide to take advantage of her crush.
I was so keyed up that food was the last thing on my mind. It took our poor, flustered waitress asking me twice before I could order only a glass of water.
After she walked away, the mechanic leaned forward, forearms resting on the table as he said in a low voice, “You know, you don't have to act like a hostage, right?”
Wasn't I though? He did take me there against my will, after all.
I whispered, “Why am I here? What else do you want?”
“I already told you. I want your company. We're just talking. That's it.”
If that was true, then why go through the effort of intimidating me? Granted, he didn't have to do much. My mind raced as I tried to remember anything helpful that the boss could've told me. I recalled then that Victor had said that the mechanic couldn't do anything to him while he was still alive. There must be some sort of condition that has to be met.
The waitress scurried over with the mechanic's coffee and my water, turning an even deeper shade of red when the mechanic flashed an admittedly charming smile at her. When her eyes met mine, she looked somewhat embarrassed. It occurred to me then that to someone on the outside of all of this atypical nonsense, it probably looked like I was his extremely anxious and somewhat disheveled date.
Christ. Just kill me.
Now that I had humiliation to add on top of all of the other negative emotions I was experiencing, I sipped at the metallic-tasting ice water, grateful to give my parched tongue some relief.
As the mechanic added at least ten sugar packets to his coffee, he said, “Try to relax a little, alright? If I'd wanted to hurt you, I coulda taken care of that out on the road.”
Was that supposed to be reassuring?
After a deep breath, trying to lessen my nerves, I uttered, “You… want a little coffee with your sugar?”
He snorted, “Judge me all you want. It's like a drinkable candy bar.”
I stared down at my paper placemat that doubled as a menu. The last thing I wanted was to meet his gaze. It was harder to avoid it when seated together in a small booth. In retrospect, I think that's what he was counting on.
He'd said something alarming about Victor that made me reflexively glance up in shock, aiming to just look at his chest again. I don't even remember what he'd said.
The phone ringing in the kitchen… Mom kneeling down to hug me, making my shoulder wet… My father glaring at me through bullet proof glass…
I shook my head, blinking. What? Fingertips on my chin, leaning in as if to kiss me. The mechanic's eyes are hazel.
Our garage spray painted ‘MURDERER’... A fist pummeling my nose in the school hallway… My black kitten Maisie trotting towards me… That recruiter’s shit eating grin… Sargent Wilcox screaming, ‘Come on, you useless fucks!’... Yelling for a medic as I held my hands over Oliver's bleeding stomach…
Wait… what happened? A warm, gloved hand over my eyes. My cheeks were wet. When did I start crying? As I came to my senses, I recognized Reyna’s perfume.
The mechanic's voice made me stiffen. It's tone was sultry, with a menacing edge to it, “And who might you be?”
“No one.” She replied hurriedly, her voice bearing a slight quiver. She then whispered to me, “Let's go.”
Even though I couldn't see him, I could tell the mechanic was smiling as he told us that he'd see us later.
Due to our height difference, (I'm 6'1 while Reyna meets the requirements for the Lollipop Guild) her hand uncovered my face naturally as I stood up to leave. I refused to look in the mechanic's general direction. We rushed out. I could tell he was watching to see which car we'd go into. Fortunately, Reyna had the foresight to park behind the building.
I should also mention that Reyna had disguised herself. She wore red heart-shaped sunglasses and a scarf over her head, like a starlet from the golden age of Hollywood. She even wore platforms to try to appear taller. While it wasn't very discreet, it would hopefully keep the mechanic from recognizing her. Once we got to her Monte Carlo and peeled out, she ripped the sunglasses off.
Glancing into the rearview mirror for the what felt like the eighth time as Dillon's faded away behind us, Reyna frantically asked, “What did he do to you? I walked in and… you were just…”
He'd flipped through my mind like the pages of a book. I told her as much. She asked me if I was okay. I wasn't sure.
“We’re going to my place.” She informed me, checking the mirror again. “Vic and I agreed it's probably safest since the mechanic knows the least about me. And I'd love to keep it that way.”
I nodded, still unreeling from having my memories dug into, “Sounds good.”
Further on down the road, she noticeably stiffened when she saw a pair of headlights come up behind us. I reminded her that he didn't know what her car looked like. She didn't speed up, keeping the car at the speed limit to not draw attention to ourselves.
The headlights got closer. Turns out, it was just some impatient idiot with a lifted Dodge Ram truck. We both let out groans of relief when the ugly, oversized vehicle passed us.
“I never thought I'd actually be glad to see a pavement princess.” Reyna commented with a nervous laugh.
She then suddenly asked, “Is the mechanic an incubus?”
Feeling the beginnings of a headache behind my left eye, I answered, “I wish. That'd be a lot simpler.”
“Ah, okay. Wonderful. Lovely. And uh, don't worry about answering everything I say. I'm just kinda talking because I don't know what else to do, so if you want to ignore me, feel free.”
I ended up calling Victor, putting him on loudspeaker so that Reyna could hear.
He answered on the first ring, “What happened? Are you alright?”
I caught him up on everything. After I was done, he sighed, “Okay. If you don't mind me asking, when he got into your head, what did he see?”
“My sperm donor getting arrested, me getting beaten up in middle school, bootcamp, and a buddy dying after an ambush in Afghanistan.”
“Was your name used in any of those memories?”
“No.”
“Okay. That's good at least. I'm sorry you were forced to relive all of that.”
I didn't know what to say. Thankfully, Victor saved me from having to respond by continuing, “I was afraid of this. When a Hunter takes an interest in someone, especially someone that they can't take right away, they start off with trying to break the target down. Using fear and intimidation to make the person feel isolated, sometimes even driving them insane. The mechanic is trying to start that process with you.”
What he was saying checked out with everything that I'd researched about The Hunt. They are said to be attracted to bereavement, often pursuing those who've experienced a great loss or heartbreak. They interpret it as weakness. The more vulnerable their victim is, the easier it is for The Hunt to devour them. That explained why the mechanic had gravitated towards some of the most traumatic experiences of my life.
I'd read somewhere that they find brave, good-natured people especially appetizing, even though they're the hardest for The Hunt to take. By being unable to cry out when I was transformed, I think I’d unintentionally convinced the mechanic that I was that type of person. And it made him hungry.
Victor bitterly informed us, “He's not going to chase you tonight. He has your gun and your car. He knows you’ll go to him.”
Slowly, the fear became replaced with anger. And spite. The mechanic could disarm me and use my worst moments against me, but I resolved then that I wouldn't let that fucker intimidate me. I wouldn't give him what he wanted.
If he wanted to think I was something special, I'd give him something fucking special.
“Vic, can you get her things so that she doesn't have to deal with him?” Reyna asked.
Before he could answer, I shook my head, “No. I don't want the mechanic to think that I'm afraid. I mean… I am but he doesn't need to know that.”
Victor warned, “By confronting him, you could make the hunt more thrilling for him. That might encourage him to be more aggressive towards you.”
I shrugged, “I'm screwed either way. At least this way, I'm screwed on my own terms.”
For the first time in a long time, Victor sounded like he might've been smiling. I haven't seen him smile since before he showed up with that bandana covering his slit throat. “We can start by finding a hagstone. That's easier said than done… but, something's telling me that there'll be one at Beaver Run. Check there.”
According to our records, draugr have a limited ability to see the future. Maybe that ‘strange feeling’ was actually a premonition. It certainly wouldn't hurt to check.
“Tomorrow morning, while the mechanic is at his shop, it's hagstone time.” I announced.
“I'll help.” Reyna offered, but then quickly added. “Unless you need me to cover for her tomorrow, Vic.”
“If you wouldn't mind doing a half-day, that'd be best.”
“Okay, can do!”
Victor wished us luck, then hung up.
Forgive me, but I'm going to go off on a brief tangent: Reyna has a pet skunk. Her name is Fireball. I'm mentioning this because that little skunk was basically free therapy after the night I'd had. And in all my days of having to dig the little guys out from under people's houses, I never really had a chance to appreciate how cute they are.
“She can't spray.” Reyna assured me when the little critter trotted over to sniff me. For those that aren't aware, skunks are typically quiet, but when they do vocalize, they sound like weed whackers.
Reyna stared down at Fireball, “What are you ‘meeping’ at?”
Fireball stomped at her, then jumped back. In the wild, they do this when they're trying to intimidate predators, so if you encounter a skunk and they do this, it's best to back off. However, in Fireball's case, they might also stomp when they're feeling sassy.
Reyna put her hands up in an annoyed gesture, “What's with the attitude?”
The skunk stomped again. Reyna huffed, “Jeez, you act like you're starving to death. You still have food in your bowl, idiot! Just because you can see a little bit of the bottom doesn’t mean it's empty!”
After we quadruple-checked to make sure that every entrance into Reyna’s apartment was salter, I settled down on the couch to get some sleep. At one point in the night, Fireball ended up curled up in my lap. That healed me.
The search for a hagstone wasn't going to be an easy one. They're stones with holes in the middle, normally found near bodies of water. In the old tales, these stones are valuable tools against the Neighbors for a variety of reasons, one of them being they can protect against curses and ward off evil. They also have been said to allow humans to see things that would normally be hidden to us when looking through the middle of the stone.
In other words, if our records were accurate, it was the key to leveling the playing field when it came to the mechanic.
I was in the river not long after the sun rose. Even though the water was cold this early in the summer, my spite kept me warm. I dug through the riverbed for hours until I came across a white stone with a large hole in its lumpy center.
Good to know that Victor's newfound draugr intuition was accurate.
I have the hagstone hanging on a chain around my neck, tucked under my shirt. I wasn't sure what effect the hagstone would have on the mechanic. At the very least, maybe I could see what he actually looked like.
Later that afternoon, Victor called to tell me that my car was done. Moment of truth. Even with the hagstone, I wasn't looking forward to being in close quarters with the mechanic again. But I reminded myself that I wasn't going to let that sadistic fuck frighten me into hiding again. No more avoiding him.
The mechanic greeted me, boyish grin in place, “Long time no see, pup!”
Feeling the weight of the hagstone as a comforting weight around my neck, I said, “I was told that my car is done. Think I left my shotgun in your truck, as well.”
“You did. You left in such a hurry. Probably had a lot on your mind, I imagine.”
Fuck you.
He set my keys on the counter, along with my shotgun, then leaned forward to rest on his forearms, “Come and get ‘em.”
I didn't know if the hagstone would keep him out of my head and I wasn't about to find out the hard way. He already knew more about me than I was comfortable with. I kept my eyes low.
As I approached the counter, he suddenly stepped back, eyes narrowed. Unfortunately, he didn't lose that grin. That was a shame; I was hoping to wipe it off of his face.
The mechanic let out a short laugh, “I see you came prepared.”
I sounded braver than I felt, “Of course I did. Now, how much for the repairs?”
His smile turned mysterious as he gave me my total. He didn't come closer to the counter while I stood by it; I had to back up for him to be able to run my card. After that was done, he set it on the counter next to my other belongings, leaning against the back of some old clunker he had lined up to work on.
As I hurried to get my things, the mechanic suddenly asked, “You can't tell me that you ain't curious.”
“Curious about what?”
“‘Bout what I really look like.” He smirked, folding his arms across his chest. “Go on. Take a peek.”
As tempting as it was, it wasn't hard to deduce his ulterior motive, “You just want to know where I have the stone hidden.”
He chuckled, “Yeah, that's true. You got me there. But wouldn't you like to know what you're really dealing with?”
“I already do. I don't need to see a monster to know it's there.”
Judging by the way his eyes slitted, he did not care for that comment. I knew I was probably going to regret that later. He already wanted to hunt me for sport. What did it matter if I clapped back at him just one time?
His voice lowered, “When your heart stops, puppydog, you better pray the devil finds you before I do. You'll crave Hell before I'm through with you.”
Hoping that he couldn't see my hands shaking, I grabbed my things and got out without another word. The G6 was working even better than it had before the deer incident.
After that interaction… I think I'm going to look for more hagstones. And I'm going to restock on salt shells.

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2024.05.23 06:02 InternationalWay729 First Turkey

 Being a hunter, you are asked why do you hunt? As a young and immature hunter I always answered this with “I love nature and it's not like I'm doing anything wrong I'm eating everything I hunt.” This almost sounded like I was trying to justify my actions to myself and I didn’t truly know why I hurt! I know that I get enjoyment but I don’t know why. However, when I killed my first turkey I found a new meaning of why I hunt.

On a foggy Kansas morning. A buddy and I drove about an hour and some change to this land we had scouted about a week prior. Also, we were told there was a vast amount of birds in the area. Shotgun turkey season opened April 17. The season had been going on for a month already and I have been scouting constantly and went out to hunt about 4 times before this moment. To set the stage a little more I had passed on a beautiful tom about a week before on some private land because the shot was about 60-65 yards away. As a novice turkey hunter this was too far for me. After arriving to our spot we began calling. We heard no gobbles and began moving towards our desired spot a timber line that was looking out on a field. Moving cautiously just in case we walked towards the tree line. As soon as we set foot into the timber we had spooked 2 birds out of their roost. Not a great start. We proceed to go an hour without hearing a single gobble or having any sign of a turkey. We begin to move around because sitting and trying to call in was not the move. We navigated a creek and started moving to the next open field we planned to hunt. As we climbed up the edge of the creek I poked my head over the ledge to get a peak at the field. This was a sight to see. About 15-20 turkeys were in the field. We setup under a tree. I glassed the group and neither my buddy nor I could spot a long beard. This was a large group of Jakes and hens. A jake. A juvenile turkey about 1 year in age. A jake will not have an as even fan as a tom and will have rounded spurs. There are some other differences including beard length but for the sake of the story I feel that we have explained a jake enough. We had tried to call and hopefully get a bird in range however no luck. I had decided at that moment that I would take a jake to fill my tag. There is a stigma around taking a jake there are a lot of people for and a lot of people against. At the end of the day, you are getting turkey in the freezer. Taking a jake doesn't make you any less of a man or women that is my opinion. We get back into the creek and are back on the hunt. We walk through the creek some spot actually had some pretty deep water. After sweating a ton and walking so far we got to the next field. We see a group of 5 jakes across the field about 100 yards away. The plan was for me to use the jake decoy as a reaper fan. Needless to say, this plan failed miserably. We pack up our hunt and begin our trek back to the truck. My buddy and I get into some pretty deep conversation about is tagging a jake ethical or not. We concluded that there is no biological consequence to me tagging a jake. In mid conversation my buddy hits the deck with his hands covering his ears he shouts “Shoot em!!!!!” I look over to the fence that we crossed and see that group of 5 jakes dart out. They were about 45 yards away I shouldered my shotgun picked out the bird in the back of the group and let it fly. I had shot my first turkey and just like that emotions started to pour into me. Why do I hunt? I love these animals why do I kill them? First, thing that comes to mind is how good these animals taste! Next is this amazing meal and celebration I’m going to have with my buddies. However I feel the overarching factor is this. I'm going to get my meat from somewhere. Nothing can beat how I obtained this animal. I will cherish the memories I made from this hunt years to come. The reason I hunt is because I am getting the rawest form of nature. I'm getting back to the roots and getting back to what God had intended for man. We are supposed to enjoy the hunt and make memory of the hunt. Then from the fruits of our labor we shall be nourished from the land. I hunt not only for the enjoyment of making memories but that I am bringing a nutritional gain to myself. I'm enthusiastic that I know where this meat is coming from and I know that the memory of this turkey will live on as long as I speak its story into existence.
The freezer is full.

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2024.05.23 06:01 No_Marzipan_1230 Industrial Mage Chapter 06 – The [Quest], Making Soap, Pet(?) acquired

Synopsis:
An engineer in another world—blending science and magic to achieve greatness in a world where skills and levels reign supreme.
—
Ethan was just a plain old engineer, but everything changed when he was reborn into a world of skills, levels, and magic. With his advanced knowledge far ahead of the time period he finds himself in, this new reincarnated life will be much different than his last, especially because he can construct, deconstruct, and reconstruct runes—something no one else can do.
But with royal politics, looming tax collectors, a mountain of debt, dungeon incursions, cults, and hostile fantasy races mixing together into a cocktail of bullshit that threatens to bury his dreams; Ethan must bridge the gap between steel and sorcery to grow stronger. — Runecrafting is slow burn. — What to Expect: - Weak to very strong progression - Hardcore wish fulfillment - A balance of action, kingdom building, and runecrafting. - MC will trigger an industrial revolution, revolutionize magic, modernize agriculture, communication, commerce, textile production, education, transportation, sanitation, weapons manufacturing, leisure & entertainment, and medicine.
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Chapter 06

There were fifteen wolves in total, their white fur stained with dried blood as well as ash from the forest itself as their maws opened to reveal sharp teeth. There were several gashes on their body and one of them seemed to be in a really bad state.
Roland had a tight grip on his sword. Roland spotted Ethan’s head poking out. “Lord Theodore, please hide inside!” Roland yelled. Ethan didn’t respond, however. Is it dumb that I want to fight?
The guards were surrounding the beasts and held their swords ready. However, the wolves weren’t attacking. Instead, they snarled and bared their fangs, but didn’t lunge.
They weren’t attacking. They were protecting. And that changed Ethan’s thoughts almost instantaneously. At the center, a female wolf, bigger than the rest, growled in pain. Blood trailed down her fur and a gash ran across her body. It was a wound that seemed to be bleeding a lot, but she kept it covered with her paw, snarling whenever anyone got near. Ethan stared from his carriage. The situation seemed to have taken a turn, but not a bad one, at least, not yet. The guards were ready to attack, but the wolves didn’t. And Ethan was certain that the guards would kill the creatures unless he ordered otherwise.
Ethan stepped outside. Roland and the rest of the guards were alert as they glanced at him.
“Wait,” Ethan said, his voice calm. “Don’t attack.”
The wolves immediately relaxed, albeit only slightly. Interesting. They understand me?
He stepped forward and walked to them. “Can you understand me?” He said.
“Lord Theodore!” Roland yelled, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back. “Please step back.”
“Wait,” Ethan replied, holding up a hand, his eyes focused on the wolves. The guards didn’t move. The wolves snarled at him and bared their fangs, but didn’t make a move. “I’m not going to harm you.” Ethan raised his hand. “Calm down. You’re hurt, right? I can help you.”
The wolf’s snarl faltered. She looked at Ethan with a confused gaze, then growled again. Ethan, too, was confused now. Could she really understand him?
“You can understand me, right?” He said. “I need to know.”
“Lord Theodore, what is happening?” Roland asked.
“Shh. Be quiet, Roland. I’m trying to communicate,” Ethan replied, raising a finger, and silencing Roland.
The female wolf snarled, looking at the guards and baring her teeth. Then, her gaze landed on Ethan, and her snarl was gone.
“She can understand me. I think.”
“How?” Roland asked.
“That’s not important,” Ethan replied. [Myriad Tongue]... I didn’t know it stretched to animals—no, beasts as well...
Ethan stepped forward; his hand extended towards the beast. “I won’t hurt you.”
The wolves growled and bared their fangs at him. The female growled, then they stopped. Ethan neared, then knelt a couple feet from the biggest wolf. The gash on her chest stained her white fur, the blood flowing and dropping to the ground. The creature was panting.
“What happened?” Ethan asked.
The beast looked at him. Her eyes held strange intelligence. It’s a magic beast, obviously she’s intelligent.
“Can I look at your wound?”
She growled and bared her fangs, causing Roland to slash his sword at the ground in a line. The intention was clear, neither side could pass, or a confrontation was inevitable.
Ethan held up a hand. “Stop, Roland.”
“But Lord Theodore—”
“Stop.”
Roland didn’t respond.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” Ethan frowned. “If you want me to help, let me have a look.”
The wolf stared, her red eyes piercing, her ears folded and tail stiff.
The tension was thick, and everyone waited. Then, she removed her paw from her wound. The cut was deep, and the fur around the gash was charred. It seemed that it wasn’t a natural wound. Ethan could guess it was the result of magic. The cut’s too deep, and we don’t have a [Healer]...
Suddenly, the wolf spoke, “{I don’t want healing, human.}”
Ethan blinked, surprised. Her voice was deep, yet feminine. It wasn’t the type to scare children, but it wasn’t soft, either. More surprisingly, he could indeed understand her.
“What happened to you?” He asked, glancing at her, wondering how [Myriad Tongue] worked. He knew he was still speaking the common tongue of Nur—Leineh—and that the wolf was still growling, but he could understand that growl.
She looked at him, “{That is none of your concern.}” Then, she looked below and moved her muzzle to the ground, and moved something. In a few seconds, a small pup appeared from beneath.
Ethan widened his eyes, “A baby!”
“{You are to take care of him,}” she said—no, she ordered him.
“What?” Ethan said, taken aback.
“{You will take care of him},” she repeated.
Ethan was flabbergasted.
“{You’re touched by the light, and the light has guided me to you,}” she said, then growled. “{I trust the light. However, if anything happens to my Wynd, know that your death will not be painless.}” Saying so, she looked down at her pup, and nudged it forward.
Ethan was still flabbergasted.
The female wolf looked at him, her red eyes piercing, and the snarl in her voice gone, replaced with a soft tone, “{Please.}”
The pup was still far too young to know what was happening so it curiously tilted its head toward Ethan. Its red eyes stared into his, and it yapped.
“I...” Ethan blinked, about to deny.
The [Quest], Guardian of the Wild, has arrived.
“I...” He repeated, and then stopped to look at the [Quest].
~Guardian of the Wild (Uncommon)~
You have encountered a pack of magical wolves led by a gravely injured female. Through a surprising twist of fate, you understand their language through [Myriad Tongue] and learn of their plight. The female, gravely wounded by a magical attack, entrusts you with her newborn pup, Wynd. She believes you, touched by the “light” (the nature of which remains unclear), are the best hope for Wynd’s survival. Why and how, and many other questions, however, remain unclear.
Objective:
● Take care for the young wolf pup, Wynd. (Uncertain Duration)
Rewards:
● The eternal gratitude of a magical wolf pack. (Potential Ally)
● Unlocking the secrets of the “light” may grant unknown benefits. (Uncertain)
● Levels
● Skill Tokens
● A chance to get an invitation to [???]
Failure:
● Should Wynd come to harm, the wrath of these magical wolves will be swift and merciless.
● You may lose the trust of the pack, and of [???], potentially putting yourself and others at risk.
● You may lose the interest of the “light”
Would you like to accept the quest?
YES NO
So, this is what’s been coming since I arrived in this world? Are these wolves related to my arrival? Or whoever this “light” is? Why’re they injured in the first place. Does it have anything to do with that humanoid creature? I do recall Roland saying that the humanoid creature was fighting wolves. It seems likely, given these wolves’ injuries, but what happened after? Is that humanoid creature dead? If not, where did it go? Should I be worried? What if it attacks Holden?
His mind churning with multiple questions, Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll take care of him.” He said, and mentally selected ‘YES’.
She stared at him for a second, then turned to the pup and licked his forehead. “{Thank you},” she said to Ethan. “{And now, I have to go.}”
Ethan’s lips parted, but she didn’t let him say it. Black tendrils of shadows enveloped her and the other wolves, then they all disappeared.
...
After Ethan entrusted the pup to Roland, who was also surprised and confused. Regardless, they all set back on their journey. The pup slept most of the way, curled up in Roland’s arm.
“What a strange encounter,” Ethan murmured.
He glanced at the wolf. It had a white coat and a black streak on his head. He was cute, though he still drooled a lot, and that was gross. However, it wasn’t hard to accept.
“Lord Theodore,” Roland said. “How were you able to have a conversation with the beasts?”
“I’m not sure,” he lied.
Roland looked at him. Ethan shrugged.

Back in Holden Town. The gates opened, and Ethan could see people move aside as they drove their carriages to the estate. They all looked at him with respect and bowed—more out of fear than respect, really. Theo hadn’t been a respectable fellow, but he’d certainly been one to be afraid of. This kind of reaction had taken Ethan off guard for the first time, but now, he didn’t quite care. When he entered his manor, he immediately wanted to head for the one thing he was craving—a bath.
Before that, however.
“Lord Theodore, what of the pup? Where should I put it?”
“The pup?” Ethan paused for a second, then walked and extended his arms out, “Give it to me.”
Roland was surprised but obliged and gave Ethan the young wolf, “If I may ask, why are we keeping the beast?”
Ethan made a thoughtful noise, his gaze focused on the baby wolf as the pup yelped at being given up to the stranger, but after a little while, he sniffed a little before settling in Ethan’s hold, his head finding itself a comfy. It was strange to think how quickly the creature had accepted his place there. Ethan chuckled a little, his voice becoming gentler than Roland had ever heard it as he took care to keep the wolf upright against himself.
“This is no ordinary pup.” His gaze shifted from the animal onto Roland. “That wolf, she could talk with me. I do not know how, but the fact is that she could.” Ethan gave Roland the lie he’d concocted. “She was intelligent, not a beast. And she entrusted her son to me.”
“A Beastkin?” Roland made a surprised noise. “On this part of the world?”
“Beats me,” Ethan said. “Regardless, she could talk. And I...” Ethan sighed. If he wanted to have a good life here, he needed someone he could trust in, and Roland had proved to be capable enough as well as trustworthy enough. Roland had taken care of Theo, even though the bastard was a worthless scum of a human being.
“Yes, my lord?” Roland asked.
“I got a [Quest].”
Roland’s eyes widened, his voice louder, “A [Quest]!?”
“Hush, be quiet, now, be quiet, Roland,” he said and patted the pup gently on his back, murmuring to soothe the waking animal. [Quests] were a rare phenomenon and the rewards were always worth the trouble, or so he’d gathered from Theo’s memories. He just hoped his decision wouldn’t come back to bite him in the future. “So, I will keep him, at least until she comes to claim him. Which she will.”
“My lord, you would require specialists... [Beast Trainers], I don’t believe we have many in town, only a few. Or else, a [Druid] perhaps? But finding one is not easy—”
“A [Beast Tamer] is fine. We don’t need much, just someone to take care of him.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Ethan spent the next hour in a bath.

The pungent smell of wood ash filled Ethan’s nostrils as he peered into the large cask. Lye, a strong alkali traditionally made from wood ash and crucial for soap-making, needed to be extracted from the ash. With a grunt, he grabbed a thick wooden paddle and plunged it into the gray mixture, stirring it vigorously. This was the beginning of the leaching process—a crucial first step in his soap-making endeavor, where lye is coaxed out of the ashes by boiling them in soft water and then allowing the water to seep through the ash.
Thus, this wasn’t just about mixing; it was about coaxing that exact lye out.
Across the room, Roland watched with a furrowed brow. “My lord,” he finally spoke, “what precisely are we engaged in here?”
Ethan straightened; wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “Patience, Roland,” he chuckled. “This is the art of soap-making. We’re separating the good stuff—the lye—from the leftover ash, like sifting gold from sand.”
Roland’s expression remained dubious, his gaze lingering on the murky concoction in the cask. “Ah, I see.”
“Yeah, once we’ve extracted it properly, it will be the foundation for our very own soap. It’ll be my very first masterpiece—gentle on the skin, fragrant, and oh-so-satisfying to use. Blight-repellent properties would be a bonus, though that still depends on Jack. He hasn’t graced us with his findings yet.”
“Indeed, my lord,” Roland replied, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. “Master Jack has been... unresponsive lately. He insists we leave him to his work and promises to report back when he has something concrete.”
“I see.”
With the leaching process nearing completion, they left the cask to settle, its contents swirling like a slow, gray storm. The next step awaited.
“Did you manage to save the fat from the recent butchering?”
“Yes, my lord, I took the liberty of asking the cook to—”
“Excellent. No time for formalities, bring it here!”
Roland scurried away, returning moments later with a large, heavy wooden tub. Inside, a mound of white fat, glistening faintly. “My lord,” Roland said. “Got all the rendered beef fat you requested,” he said, holding up the tub. “But are you certain it’s for…” he trailed off, gesturing vaguely towards the tub.
“Absolutely, Roland,” Ethan replied with a smile. “The fat needs to be rendered first, which means melting it to remove impurities. Then, we can boil it to separate the tallow, the perfect white fat for soapmaking, from the glycerin, a byproduct with its own uses. I need the white, creamy layer that forms on top, and the clear liquid underneath.”
Roland appeared to be confused regarding the terms he used, so he spent the next few minutes explaining the boiling process to Roland.
...
The next day dawned, and the routine began anew. It needed to be repeated after all. The charade of noble life continued as usual, and as the day waned, Ethan returned, Roland in tow.
“This should suffice,” Ethan declared. “The impurities have settled at the cask’s bottom. Now, we only need to collect the lye water, combine it with fat, and voila—soap!” Noticing Roland’s confusion, he offered a brief scientific explanation. “The interaction creates saponification, a chemical reaction that transforms fat into a solid surfactant.”
Roland raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?”
“Precisely,” Ethan confirmed with a grin.
The following morning, Ethan followed his usual routine, attempting to maintain focus. Yet, his steps carried him back to their quarters with a scale, a bag of oatmeal, and a water jug in tow.
Soap-making time had arrived.
For a superior tallow soap, the fat and lye mixture needed a specific ratio—which took some experimentation—to the combined weight of tallow and glycerin. Ethan meticulously measured and combined the ingredients, allowing the mixture time to undergo saponification, gradually forming a solid bar of soap.
Once the reaction finished, he introduced the scentless oatmeal. Its purpose was threefold: to provide a gentle scrub, enhance the lather, and leave the skin feeling soft—pure luxury. Finally, a few drops of a floral scent, along with the vibrant red dye extracted from a flower’s petals, were incorporated. With a final stir, the mixture was poured into a cake pan lined with wax paper.
Given the limitations of their tools, Ethan had essentially performed a rudimentary form of alchemy to create this supposed pinnacle of soap. He had never really been much interested in learning soap-making, but he thanked his science teacher sincerely. Had it not been for her enthusiasm, Ethan wouldn’t have been able to make soap today.
A few hours later, Ethan admired the beautiful pink soap atop his hand.
“Finally,” he said with a smile.
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2024.05.23 05:41 IndependentButton589 no bingo just a lot of random stuffs :3. I am gods largest femboy (6'2 170)

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2024.05.23 05:20 Tobig_Russia Hello, New Sector - Chapter 2

Well it's done, took me awhile as I was finishing the outline(I'm stupid that I didn't finish it first, was a bit excited too write this idea to you all)
And also I have to mention a fanfic called Smoke and mirror as the guy mentioned my fanfic I might aswell mention another fanfic crossover about statsector that is being created at the same time. Quite a coincidence.
Well anyway feedback is always appreciated as I'm quite new to this writing thing.
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Memory Transcript Subject: Cenci, The Great Explorer of the Forest
Date: [standard human time] September 27, 2136
As the gentle water brushed against my legs, I gradually regained consciousness, like waking up from a good rest during a school day but wanting to sleep some more. Suddenly, a warm, coarse sensation hit me, like hot sand scattering across my fur.
Opening my eyes, I was greeted by a sight both mesmerizing and heart-wrenching: the Wirtwood forest across the river was ablaze in vibrant hues of orange and red, its towering trees engulfed in flames that danced and flickered in the night sky. It reminded me of an ancient painting I once saw, capturing the fiery beauty of the northern hemisphere's forests.
Tears welled in my eyes as I lay on the muddy ground, the distant crackling of fire and the gentle flow of the river forming a haunting melody in the background. I stayed there what felt like hours, but it was propobly only a few minutes, I wanted to cry but I forced myself to rise, holding it in, I turn away unable to bear witness to the devastation unfolding before me.
Wiping my eyes with my left mud-covered arm, a sharp pain shot through it as my face touched the area. I quickly foundy arm is bruised but is relieved to find it wasn't an open wound, I took a moment to soothe the spot.
After soothing the pain, I surveyed my surroundings. I spotted the brightened, darkened greens of the forest mingling with the fiery glow of the inferno. A towering river wall had swaying shadows, and nearby, a slope cuts through the river wall like a deep scar. But my attention was drawn to the riverbank, where many beached trees lay lifeless and rotting on the muddy shore. On the ground was the unmistakable sight of the white, fire-resistant exterminator suit—Big Brother—laying among the wooded debris. Rushing to my brother's side, I found him lying on his side, his suit torn and damaged.
With difficulty, I removed his backpack from its strap and carefully dragged him onto the drier ground near the river wall, mud clinging to his suit as I dragged him there. After ensuring his comfort, I scrounged through the backpack for something to drink as I felt a bit parched. I found the bag dry inside, probably just waterproof—nothing too surprising as exterminators usually use this brand of bag for long expeditions. After finding a bottle, I took a swig of water, put the bottle back, and leaned the backpack against Kalip before climbing up the slope and venturing out into the darkened forest in search of shelter and aid.
Navigating through the dimly lit trees, I soon came across a rusty fence with gaping holes, a sign of neglect and decay. Finding an entrance large enough for me to pass through, I ventured deeper into the forest, guided by the faint glow of the moon above as the flames cant pierce through the forest.
I can't stop worrying about Big Brother as I walk. Will he be almighty? I didn't look properly. Why didn't I look properly? I stop myself from thinking about Kalip by looking around the forest as I walk, naming every tree and plant. Oh, is that palicintino? Oh, that's rare. Oh, is that...
I walk through the forest, trying to remember the names of plants and animals on the trees. I wish I had my book on animals and nature. It's probably burnt and turned to ash, all its knowledge, my knowledge, all gone. Now I've made myself sad by remembering my book diary.
I eventually emerge from the forest, wiping some tears from my eyes, and see something quite disappointing, yet also, I hope, my salvation: an open-pit mine. Its effect on the surrounding environment makes my heart wrench, but thankfully it has only been in operation for [6 years], so its destruction has not been widespread. I can still see trees within the fenced-in parameters that the company has created, and even from the top of the big hill, there are still some trees standing defiantly. The company calls itself "The Mud Diggers," if I remember correctly. It's mainly a mining company, sometimes doing burrow construction.
I walked to the edge, looked around, and saw abandoned, enormous vehicles that carried unrefined dirt containing tiny ores, probably titanium, as their netsite says. These ores could be harvested and made into usable materials. I noticed one wrecked and destroyed vehicle at the bottom of the mine, near a large stack of industrial boxes and some inactive floodlights. The floodlights seemed to be pointing at a metallic dome in the middle of the mine.
Wait, is that a white metallic dome? I had to rub my eyes to see if I'm imagining things, but lo and behold, the metallic dome is still there—ancient and majestic, well, I think it is, but there seems to be no rust on it from what I can see. It has some blue discoloration in some spots. Are those rust? No, it's more like some kind of scars. High temperature? Did it crash from space? It also is not reflecting the moonlight as I would expect. I'm surprised I didn't notice it before because it's the most conspicuous thing in the mine, even more so than the abandoned mining vehicles.
The metallic dome is has some big blacked windows like its burnt to a crisps, some are cracked, some are broken showing it's inside but I can't see much from where I am at this distance.
There are many boxes and tents near the big dome, and some kind of trailer that has many solar panels and antenna, probably a mobile research station.
I look elsewhere, like at the other side of the mine. There is a building that has a large refinery outside of it. That refinery would refine the titanium the mine harvest, which is then transported to the city of Flatville on the plain east of here, where it's then mixed with chromium and,or vanadium for use in ships' hulls or armor and engines, respectively.
I shake my head and laugh at myself for remembering such things from lessons in school. Well, I've always been a curious prey, trying and learning everything at least once, even if my brother would scold me for it as it was "un-prey-like" behavior. Bah! I would usually ignore his chastisements and advice on that kind of topic.
I compose myself by rubbing my face. I look around some more for something to put a roof over our heads. I turn my gaze to the left and see a tall metal tower with a trailer right beside it. It is quite close, so I feel like I made an idiot of myself for not finding it before the metallic bluish dome below the mine.
Although it is quite more intriguing than something that could put a roof over my head tonight.
I walk toward the trailer, dismissing the signal tower looming over it. In front of it is a tent with some metal industrial boxes like the one's near the white dome. I look inside one, but its contents seem to be missing. There is also a plastic table with plastic chairs, some toppled over, and there are half-empty alcohol bottles strewn across it and on the ground. I guess they were in a hurry or just had a party, or both. As water starts sprinkling the ground and hitting my spiky head, I look up and see dark clouds encroaching on the bright moon. I hurriedly run to the trailer, pull open the door, and enter it, taking refuge from the impending rainstorm.
Inside, there was a messy room with many boxes sprawled around. I guess this is the stuff the boxes have. The dark room was only lit up by the moonlight shining through the windows, though it was getting dimmer and dimmer. There was a lot of equipment I couldn't identify in such darkness. Luckily for me, an open box was right in front of me, highlighted by the moonlight from the window-door. Inside were some industrial flashlights. I picked one up and turned it on, lighting up a portion of the room and revealing some things I couldn't see before.
Like the many communication equipments and consoles, and would be beeping and booking if the power is on.
There was something else that also piqued my interest: a door with a bed symbol on it, unlike the others, on the other side of the room. There was also a standard industrial light switch right next to it instead of the more common touch-sensitive switches—quite low-tech but reliable and simple. I approached it and tried to flick it upward, hoping it would turn the lights on, but sadly it didn't. So I flicked it back to its original position and opened the door.
It leads to a dark room with a single window. I flooded the room with light, revealing a bare-bones barrack with four beds, each with its own footlocker. Nothing personal can be seen anywhere, and it is quite clean—quite the opposite of the room behind me. I noticed another light switch right beside me and tried to turn it on, but like the light switch behind it, it did not turn on the light in the barrack as expected.
I wanted to look around some more, but as the moonlight disappeared and the droplets hit the window pane, I remembered that I had left Big Brother outside where a rainstorm was brewing. I scrambled out of the trailer, the rain becoming stronger with each step, which made me run faster toward the river where Kalip lay unconscious. Using the flashlight to guide me through the dark forest where the forest canopy blocked most of the falling droplets, I retraced my steps, but I had to rest when I reached the fence, calming my burning lungs and pounding heart. A gojid is not made for running fast or long those are predatory traits, or so my teachers told me. After a short rest, I continued jogging the rest of the way and reached the river but got lost for a bit as the slope was not where I expected it to be. I quickly found it, though. The rain was now pouring its even more powerful torrent down on me, hitting my spines like tiny pebbles.
As I walk toward the slope, I see the rain dousing the raging flames of the forest fire from the other side of the river, extinguishing the flames and making the area look like a wasteland—a wet, black, desolate wasteland.
I reached the slope and pointed the flashlight down it, where rainwater was running down and turning it muddy and slippery. I carefully climbed down slowly and, thankfully, I was able to descend the slope without any problems. Going back up would be a problem, though, but I'll ignore that for now. I need to find Kalip.
I quickly found Kalip where I left him but he is awake, sitting and hugging the backpack while the rain made him wet, and its droplets seeping through his exterminator suit.
Slowly approach him, pointing the flashlight away from him so as not to startle him. However, he didn't even see or notice me as I got closer, even when I knelt beside him with the flashlight shining in his field of vision.
I tried to tap his shoulder to get his attention, and my movement this close to him seemed to make him notice me. A gasp came from his mouth as he looked at me as if he were seeing a ghost. His spikes bristled in fear, and his face showed loss and disbelief, but joy came afterward. In an instant, he wrapped his arms around me, hugging me and not caring about the possibility that he would injure himself on my spikes.
The rain poured down, hitting us. No sound came from either of us. It was silent except for the pitter-patter of droplets splashing on the muddy ground.
I just sat there, surprised and immobile, my paw up, the flashlight pointing up, held by Kalip's strong and firm arms. His body was shivering. I didn't know what to do in this situation. I had never seen him like this. I would always be the first to hug him when something bad happened, not the other way around.
His hug became tighter and tighter, before he let go of me as fast as he hugged me, he look at me and touch my rain soaked cheeks and rubbing it affectionately.
"Im glad y-your alright" he said, his voice wavering but firm, his body shivered from the cold, his green eyes lock into my abnormal ones, his ears dropping a bit.
"I-I'm... I'm alright, brother, but we need to get out of the rain now. You're cold. I found somewhere with a roof over our heads," I said, conveying that I didn't want to smell like a wet Gojid with my ears. I stood up and extended my arm to pick him off the dirty ground.
"Good, because I feel pain everywhere" he said, regaining some of himself as he grins a bit. Even though his tiredness, he grabbed my paws, which I pulled him up after, he stood up though a bit wobbly.
"Give me the backpack, Big Brother. You can't walk properly with such a burden, especially with your injuries," I said, extending my paw as he tried to balance himself.
He was going to say something before grunting in reply as he balanced himself. Then, without much fuss, he willingly gave me the backpack, which I grabbed.
I tried to help Kalip walk, but he waved me off and used his ears to say, "Lead the way." I was a bit worried about his ability to walk properly, even with the backpack on my paws, "You sure, brother?" I asked.
"Yes, I'm sure now. Lead me to where we'll find shelter," he said, waving me off again. Despite the pain he was enduring, he started to walk to the slope.
"It's in the mine that harvests titanium. There's a trailer near where I entered it," I shouted as I caught up to my limping brother, who had stopped at the base of the slope.
"The titanium mine?" he said as he waited for me.
"Yes, the mine that Aunty hates," I said as I caught up with him.
"Ah, that mine, I saw it before the..." He fell silent and still, his face showing pain, sorrow, anguish, and misery in a single moment. But he shook his head; his eyes showed determination replacing the previous emotions, he looks back at me nodding his head and went to climb the slippery slope as if he is not injured.
Just now, knowing how much pain his heart is in right now from losing so much after the devastation, I made sure he didn’t fall and roll down the slope, as that’s all I can do at this moment.
Even with the flashlight’s light, I slipped multiple times before we reached the top. We entered the forest, where its dense canopy gave us some reprieve from the rain.
He rested his shoulders against a tree, rubbing his left shoulder as he looked around the dark forest. I suppose that burst of energy tired him out. He looked at me with worry, likely wondering if there were night-stalking predators prowling about. I saw an opportunity to raise my brother's spirits, albeit at his expense.
"There is no predator at this season brother, the big ones that want to eat us that is, as the greatest explorer and discoverer of the forest, I should know" I proclaimed with pride, pointing the flashlight into the forest, and sweeping it around, to prove my point.
He rolled his eyes with irritation at my proclamation but had a slight smile. I guess that works. Good job, me, for being a bit of a narcissist, but he was still worried as his spikes bristled as he looked around for anything out of the ordinary.
"There are still probably predators stalking around, even if they are small. Cenci or not, we still must be careful; they eat meat." He said as he unclipped his holster and took out his modified laser pistol with his right paw.
I just rolled my eyes at his cautious behavior and walked deeper into the forest. I looked behind me and saw Kalip walking, his left arm hanging in the air, while being alert and ready to shoot any poor thing that would come out of the many bushes near our path.
Thankfully, nothing happened when we reached the rusting chain-link fence, which I entered through the hole I exited, but Kalip had to duck through.
"Is your left arm okay, brother?" I ask with concern.
"It's fine, Cenci. It's just painful to move too much," he replied without much worry. It probably wasn't the first time he'd broken one of his arms, as one time he'd come home immobile for a month after an intense cleanup expedition on the other side of the planet.
we walk a bit more and finally reached the open-pit mine where the forest opens up.
I tugged on his right shoulder and pointed to the trailer with the blinking tower. "There's the trailer!"
We dashed toward the trailer. As we entered the open, the rain hit us again. Its door was still wide open when I burst out of it. We entered the trailer, safe from the rain and cold. Kalip was the last one to enter, and he slammed the door shut behind us.
Kalip sat down with his back to the door, resting himself from the short sprint. A sudden light came from the windows, lighting up the entire trailer. I quickly covered my ears with my paws, barely muffling the boom that soon reached my covered ears. But big brother wasn't fast enough and got startled, and the most unexpected, cutest yelp came from his mouth.
I just looked at him before I had to cover my mouth, suppressing the laughter that was ready to burst out at any moment. He glared at me and pointed his claw, but his mouth formed a smirk. I guess he found it funny that he made that unexpected noise too.
"Don't laugh at me," he said with irritation as he stood up. "I'm tired, wet, and in pain."
He explored the comm room. A wet, squelching sound is heard with each step he took as he made a trail of water because of the damaged exterminator suit sagging some of the cardboard boxes. He stood over a nearby inactive comm console and tinkered with it.
I calmed myself by rubbing my cheeks and steadied my breathing. Composed and no longer on the verge of laughing my tail off, I picked up another flashlight where I had found the first one, inspected it to see if it had a battery, which it did, and approached Kalip with a fully charged flashlight.
I placed the flashlight on the console he was inspecting. He thanked me before asking if there was anywhere for him to lie down, as his injuries were causing him pain. I directed him to the barracks, telling him to rest but not to sleep, as I was going to find something to treat his wounds. With a roll of his eyes and a flick of his ear in agreement, I handed him the backpack before he walked off and disappeared into the other room. His limp seemed to have lessened in effect from his walking.
With him in the barracks, I explored the other two rooms. One was a bathroom where the operators would usually clean themselves or relieve themselves. It had everything a bathroom would have: a toilet, a sink with a mirror, and a shower. However, there was a compartment on the wall that would usually contain a medical kit. This meant there should be one in one of the many boxes on the floor.
The other room was probably going to be used for storage, as there were many shelves for containers and boxes to be placed on. However, it is empty except for the shelves themselves, a mop, and a mobile bucket.
I return to the comms room, closing the door behind me. I look around the room once more, looking at boxes for labels or markings that say they contain some kind of medical supplies. After a while, I find a pile of boxes with the iconic green paw symbol introduced by the medically inclined Zerulians when they entered the Federation, a symbol of health and healing. I cut the tape that holds the top cover of the cardboard box with my claw. As the symbol suggested, there are many pill bottles, most of them painkillers. I open and eat one, putting the opened one aside for Kalip. I set the box aside and open the other one beneath it.
This one has what I was looking for: gauze and bandages. I inspected one of the gauze pads and decided they were what I was looking for. I returned the gauze and put the painkiller in it. I took the entire box and walked toward the barrack room where Kalips is. I nearly tripped on another cardboard box in the middle of the floor but was able to steady myself. I threw a few silent curses at it before continuing on.
I entered the barracks and saw Kalip, out of his exterminator suit, standing near the window. His eyes were closed, his laser pistol was disassembled and sprawled over the windowsill, his flashlight was extinguished, and his body was still. Rain and thunder flashed in the distance. His paws were on his chest, and he was praying, though his left paw was shaking, likely from the pain. I was a bit worried and angry because he wasn't resting as I had told him to, more worried than angry. I put the box down on a nearby bed where the backpack was also lying and silently snuck toward him.
I turned the flashlight off so as not to disturb him as I got closer until I was at a sufficient distance, and I waited patiently.
He finished his prayer, whispering his last words before looking out the window, to which I pounced by saying what I wanted to say. "Didn't I tell you to rest?"
He flinched as his spikes bristled before he turned around slowly, like someone caught eating the last strayu at night.
"Why are you just standing there and not resting as I told you to?" I repeated, my ear flicking with irritation.
"I was praying, Cenci, so don't scare me like that. Those are predatory traits," he replied quickly, calming himself by rubbing his ears.
I just sighed before motioning for him to follow, to which he obliged, still rubbing his ears.
I sat down on the bed where I had put the box full of bandages. Its soft sheets bent to my weight. I’m eating too much of the mushroom strauyu.
Opening the box, I took out the bottle of painkillers and offered it to Kalip. "What is it?" he asked as he took the bottle from me and inspected it. "Painkillers for the pain you're currently feeling."
He popped it open and took a bit more than I would recommend, but remember how tall he is. He thanked me before he sat down, waiting for the drug to take effect and soothing his shoulder.
At this distance, I can now see the full extent of his injuries outside his exterminator suit. Thankfully, it's not as bad as I thought, although there are still many small cuts, bumps, and bruises all over his body, his left arm having the most of them. "Can I see your arm, Brother?"
He gave me his clotting, injured arm without a word. He was silent as I looked for a way to bandage it properly, trusting me as I had done it before. I looked him over; his left arm seemed to have taken the brunt of the damage when we fell into the raging river. All seemed okay, meaning he would be fine, but I had to sling his left arm if I found something to sling it with until his wounds fully healed.
I took out a water bottle from the backpack and poured its contents onto his wounds. He hissed in pain, and I smirked. "Painful?"
He suddenly and temporarily stopped feeling the pain and gave me the most deadpan stare I have ever seen from him. "Of course it is, Cenci, why wouldn't it be?!?"
"Just asking," I said with mirth. I then used a bandage as a rag to rub the dirt, grime, and mud off his arm.
"It's a shame there's no ice here or even a freezer," I said as I started to bandage his arm without constricting it too much.
"Yeah what an absolute shame" he said with a bit of a sarcastic tone.
He returns to stare silently as I work as I shush him. I look into his eyes, which he didn't notice, which have this unfocused look on them, like he is thinking hard with a hint of being lost, usually about bad stuff. I don't know what he's thinking, and that worries me, especially after what happened on that riverbed. He can't stop me from questioning him about it.
As I finished bandaging him, I tightened it hard, making him yelp—now with a sound that I would expect from an exterminator.
"Why in the holy Cradle did you do this, Cenci?" he shouted as he frantically tried to loosen the knot in the bandage I'd made.
I slap his paw as it tries to untie my knot, and I loosen it myself. He glares angrily and tries to shout again, but I talk over him. "Are you alright, Big Brother?"
He was taken aback by my question "wha-what yes I'm alright. but what in the predators fang on my neck did you do that?" He said shimmering his anger.
"Your doing the THAT stare again and it's quite bad this time" I said putting a point on that, as I remembered the first time he had that stare, the time he got that long scar from his left eye to his right cheeks.
He was a bit speechless that I notice the unnoticeable, he scratch his face scar and whispered "I'm doing it again."
I waited as he reoriented himself, worried.
"I'm fine, Cenci. I'm just thinking about how we could get out of this somehow," he said, whispering the last bit. I highly doubt that's what he's thinking.
"Brother, what is actually going on in that mind of yours? I can't ignore what happened on the riverbed," I said, my eyes fixed on his.
He wavered, thinking of a retort, but relinquished what his true feelings were right now, he held and gripped my paw, closing his eyes "I- I'm just glad that your alright, I don't want to lose what is truly important to me"
It was silent in the room except for the droplets hitting the windowpane. I smiled and hugged him, careful not to pierce myself on his spines. It would usually be a shouting match for him to say what was on his mind, so he didn’t truly reveal all of it, but he did at least unburden himself somewhat. And he needed a hug—a hug from his sister.
He hug back this time not piercing himself on my spikes, "Thanks Cenci I needed that"
We exit out of our embrace feeling a bit better, "what do we do now? You said you have a plan."
"No, I was just making excuses. Do you have one?" he said, a bit embarrassed, his face a bit blue. Oh, is he blushing? That's rare. I would have taken a photo if I had my padlet.
I shake my head as I was not focusing on what he said, getting a weird look from Kalip, I think a bit on what he said, tilting my head side to side, either we could exit the mine first thing by daylight or explore the weird dome down in the mine, now I know where my minds is going, but I need to make an excuse for Kalip. There was many industrial boxes that could contain supplies and food, and the weird mobile lab.
With a plan and an excuse to convince Kalip to go on with the plan, I told Kalip about it, telling him the vast amount of food and supplies we could find from those unopened boxes.
"Hmm, I was thinking of leaving the mine, but your plan is quite sound. However, I know you're leaving something out of it. What is it?" he said, suspicious of my true intentions. Well, he caught me. I might as well tell him now rather than later.
"Well... I want to explore the dome," I said, fidgeting a bit. Kalip had this unsurprised look on his face, as if he had been expecting me to want to explore every nook and cranny of the mine to discover its secrets. Well, he was mistaken. I only explore old mines that have been built since before I was born.
He sighed and stood up. I was afraid he would not let me go near it. "Where is this thing?"
That caught me off guard, removing me from my thoughts. "Y-you mean the dome?" He nods. "Oh, at the bottom of the mine."
He stood there, thinking, I suppose, for a while before he spoke to me again. "Very well, then. We'll go explore it tomorrow, after we scavenge whats on those box you told me."
That made me shiver with excitement. Before I could shout with joy, he tempered my excitement by telling me to go to sleep. I countered that he should also go to sleep, but he said he wanted to clean his pistol before going to bed. He went to the windowsill, carefully taking the disassembled parts to the nearby bed, and started cleaning it with a rag probably torn from the bedsheets.
While he does that, I prepare my bed for sleep. The bed is rectangular, as is standard for the Federation so all species can sleep in it comfortably. However, the Gojids and Farsuls have circular beds because they like to curl themselves up. So, it took me a while to get comfortable enough to close my eyes and fall asleep. I am excited about the interesting dome, even if the world is falling apart. At least I have my brother; he will protect me. But I'll have to make sure he doesn't go crazy from the madness those murderous lizards created...
———————————
Is it too long? You tell me.
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2024.05.23 04:56 Daagii1231 How do I apply background here?

This shows "No pictures applied" even though I have pic. How do I get background? My first character

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2024.05.23 04:38 bikinibottom_ 25M. I would still be your friend if you turned into a worm 🪱

I am looking for someone to talk and be friends long term. I have dark humour. Will annoy you like crazy because that's what friends do. And I also give good advice and can lend an ear when needed 😄
I like watching anime. Shows and movies (usually romance movies or superhero or horror so any recommendations are appreciated). I enjoy indie/pop music. Reading manga. Sometimes watching football and mma. I also workout (barely these days😂)
Hmu if you are at least 25 years old. Have a good day/night

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2024.05.23 04:37 bikinibottom_ 25M. I would still be your friend if you turned into a worm 🪱

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2024.05.23 04:36 bikinibottom_ 25M. I would still be your friend if you turned into a worm 🪱

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2024.05.23 04:35 bikinibottom_ 25M. I would still be your friend if you turned into a worm 🪱

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2024.05.23 04:21 Real_chuckles How?

I was testing the intelligence of the new Google AI and I got this

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http://activeproperty.pl/