Wedding hair and makeup madison wi
Female Fashion Advice
2010.12.23 06:56 pmocampo Female Fashion Advice
2023.06.07 18:13 ItsMyWayOrTheLiyue 21 [M4F/A] the intrusive thought to post here again seeing if I'll get any more genuine connections has won once again
hey people. on an alt for reasons but usually when i post here on my main, reddit often thinks it's spam. so im trying to get creative with this. and usually, when i post, it's mainly bc i get bored. so there's that. i know a cousin of mine also lurks around here, so if youre seeing this, hi! you know who u are :)
to cut it short, i just want new people to talk with. not that im bored and dreaded with my existing friend groups, just want something different every now and then. depends really, but i hope you get what i mean. another thing i wanna point out is my experience in reddit all these years, is a hit or miss, there are times i get actually good friends that i talk with every now and then (which is great!) and there are the ones that i just talk with for a few days then somehow no communication is to be found after that (not the great part sadge) but yeah hoping to achieve more low maintenance (or high if ever) friendships!
mainly my goal here has been to make friends, genuine connections, if you will. but ofc im open to the offchance that we'd go more than that (note that im straight) but usually, im not expecting that since meeting people online is a hit or miss like i said.
now I'll be putting the basics about me, all the ones that i can think of at the top of my head of course:
-fortnite (zero build, casual player but tryhards often)
-genshin (yuck) (one of the main gachas)
-arknights (another main gacha game)(in it for the lore)
-honorable mentions include: minecraft, stardew valley, and other stuff in my laptop
well anyway! if you reached this far, great! sorry for the long ahh post, there was just a lot of things i wanted to say, but yeah if youre interested, hmu in dms with an intro of at the very least your basics and we'll see if we could cook :D
submitted by ItsMyWayOrTheLiyue to PhR4Friends [link] [comments]
to cut it short, i just want new people to talk with. not that im bored and dreaded with my existing friend groups, just want something different every now and then. depends really, but i hope you get what i mean. another thing i wanna point out is my experience in reddit all these years, is a hit or miss, there are times i get actually good friends that i talk with every now and then (which is great!) and there are the ones that i just talk with for a few days then somehow no communication is to be found after that (not the great part sadge) but yeah hoping to achieve more low maintenance (or high if ever) friendships!
mainly my goal here has been to make friends, genuine connections, if you will. but ofc im open to the offchance that we'd go more than that (note that im straight) but usually, im not expecting that since meeting people online is a hit or miss like i said.
now I'll be putting the basics about me, all the ones that i can think of at the top of my head of course:
- i speak english mostly, occasional taglish, i can understand tagalog if you prefer it
- i am 6'2, not really fit but my friends say i have a dad bod but i wouldnt count on it lol, long hair with green highlights, wears glasses, rocking a pretty thick goatee that i plan on trimming soon maybe and other physical attributes that i can think of
- introverted mostly. but like most introverts im loud as fck once you get to know me
- a bad sense of humor. will laugh at anything i find stupid influenced by most memes
- gaming gamer. games include:
-fortnite (zero build, casual player but tryhards often)
-genshin (yuck) (one of the main gachas)
-arknights (another main gacha game)(in it for the lore)
-honorable mentions include: minecraft, stardew valley, and other stuff in my laptop
- 2nd year film student from fairview
- music taste is mixed but mostly japanese
- reads manga from time to time, rarely has time for anime
- chronically online and discord lurker
- that's pretty much all i can cook up rn
- im not asking for much, just dont be a d\*ck
well anyway! if you reached this far, great! sorry for the long ahh post, there was just a lot of things i wanted to say, but yeah if youre interested, hmu in dms with an intro of at the very least your basics and we'll see if we could cook :D
2023.06.07 18:09 StrawberryCobblers Off my chest - the brighter side of life
 | Can I tell you why I stopped contacting my mother? I would be interested in hearing from anyone in the same situation. submitted by StrawberryCobblers to EstrangedAdultChild [link] [comments] I was born to student parents and apparently I was a planned baby (don’t ask). My parents lived with my grandparents at the time and, as a result, had a lot of help with childcare. Living in a house full of people has its perks - there was always someone available to babysit or help out. In retrospect, I think my mother was a very unhappy mother. When I was a baby, I know she used to bash my head against the doorway not intentionally but through sheer carelessness until my grandparents had a massive go at her for this. As I got older, we never had any days out, I only ever trailed along when she was running errands. I was hit a lot which, on the one hand, you could say was somewhat normalised at the time but, on the other, the frenzied nature of her attacks on me went way beyond chastisement. For example, I was allowed to roam the area where we lived with my peers when I was just 3 years old. On one such occasion, we went to the local beach and lost track of time (apparently 3-year-olds are not the best at timekeeping). When I got back, my mother took me to the garden where she proceeded to lacerate my legs with a huge spiky rose twig for being irresponsible. On another occasion, I was in the vicinity of our house but didn’t notice the darkness descending and stayed out playing with others in the playground. I then saw my mother approaching wearing a purple floral dress, and I was squinting trying to see if she had anything in her hand. As she got closer, I made out a stick with which he hit me for staying out late. Another example is my mother dropping me off to nursery on the way to work. I said something to her and unfortunately I cannot remember what it was but it warranted a smack in the face which caused violent bleeding from the nose. I was very upset and shocked at all the blood however my mother thrust her handkerchief at me saying “for Christ’s sake, stop being such a drama queen!!!” I was told I had a type of nose which would bleed from the slightest squeeze and I believed my nose to be special in that way up until now, so for quarter of a century. It is also interesting to note that, whilst according to my mother she’s done nothing wrong but raise me like every other parent, all of this was kept in secret from my grandparents albeit of course they must have known about it to an extent. At the age of 5, my parents moved out and my life was turned into hell. The physical attacks included beating me on my forearms with a metal stick as I was shielding my head, for taunting my brother verbally until my brother took pity on me and intervened. I believe my parents’ marriage was deteriorating steadily over the years and in the process my mother became more and more bitter and furious at me. At one point, when I was about 10, my mother beat me (very normal, practically a daily occurrence) and then proceeded to strangle me. She kept squeezing my neck and digging her nails in. It was painful. I don’t know how it ended/whether she let go or somebody stopped her, but I caught a bus and went to live with my grandparents. That lasted a week, she was made to apologise to me and I was returned. Time was moving forward relentlessly and I was growing up. My hair grew long, I made a really good friend and was academically gifted. She was absolutely furious. Mental attacks intensified at this point and became a notable part of the abuse. I was told I was an embarrassment, my skin was disgusting, I had to wear a mask not to repulse people (I dabbed with makeup), my breath stank, no boy would ever touch me (I wasn’t interested in romance until much later), my hair was greasy and revolting. She absolutely hated the idea of me having it easier than she did at my age (she was sexually motivated from a much younger age than me which led to underage sex with creeps, and generally experienced a lot of insecurity in life). When I was 18, she started having online relationships whilst still being married. The relationships involved a lot of full on sexual interactions. One day, sitting in the kitchen, I said I think you should get a divorce because otherwise it’s almost like cheating. She said nothing. 5 minutes later I was in my room when she burst in saying “so I am cheating yeah?” There was no time to answer before a quick succession of blows to the head with a hairbrush landed on me. She pulled my hair in different directions with her hands and scratched my face with the nails. She then dropped me and destroyed every bit of furniture in my room by kicking it with her legs (she knew I had made a lot of effort with my room expecting someone I was seeing to visit). She weighed about 240lbs, I was just under half of that. I stood no chance. On the subject of weight, she regularly told me I need to lose weight because my arms are getting huge and no one would ever be interested in me (I had to ensure that someone would be interested in me at all times). I was late for work because of this attack and turned up with my face bruised and crying, however the boss wasn’t in so again this goes unnoticed albeit at this point I was prepared to tell the police as I was 18. I left home at 18 and moved 2k miles away. My parents divorced. I was never ever helped out in the sense of financial or any other kind of support parents usually offer their children. My mother though always said I should be helping her out and sending her money and I am not which is disgraceful. Eventually, coming up to the present times, she found someone interested in her. He was in prison for undisclosed reasons for years and she waited for him. We were in contact during this time, mainly my mother venting at me about work and sometimes sounding interested in my life. Her beloved got out of prison and arrived at her address, she clung on to him like he was her lifeline and has been fully housing and supporting him ever since. She said she’d never loved until now. He is her new family, her everything. Etc. etc. Our contact diminished to embarrassing levels. I would send her a message and she would take 3 days to open it, then respond in one line clearly having skimmed through what I said. I started to feel used because she’d keep me up at night talking on the phone before the love of her life arrived. My mental health started declining and my productivity plummeted. Long story short, I told her I won’t be waiting for crumbs of attention anymore and blocked her. Time has passed. I am doing really well. I feel at peace with myself and I cannot believe the amount of abuse I have been through. I think I really dislike my mother objectively. If she hated motherhood so much, she could have left — anything would have been better than psycho attacks she subjected me to. She could have seriously injured me, even killed me. Life is so much brighter without her darkness. It has taken me a long time to write my story, having listened to all of yours for a long time. Thank you everyone for sharing and empowering others to protect their interests. |
2023.06.07 18:02 MjolnirPants Jerry and the Adoring Fans: Part 2
Part 1
"You're right," I said. "I hate it."
"You got a better idea?" Inanna asked. I shook my head. "No, and no time, either, let's go."
"Dude, you need like, a sergeant or something. I got you," the man said as he and his girlfriend or wife followed us back to the lounge.
"What kind of leadership experience do you have?" Inanna asked him.
"Uh, nothing like your husband," he admitted. I couldn't help but smirk. "Good, you've got the job," I said.
"What?" he asked.
"I know how the show portrays things, but in reality, Jerry's less of a leader and more a guy who's just kinda good at planning and really well liked. He's actually more of a lone wolf, really."
He looked at his girlfriend, who looked back. Both of them looked worried. I didn't blame them one bit.
"Okay," Inanna said as we reached the door. "This is on you, babe. Maybe turn your aura on a bit, and give your voice some extra volume."
I felt my cheeks burning. This was even worse than going on stage a few hours ago. At least then, there was some structure, and I had Inanna with me to take some of the attention.
I opened the lounge door and stepped in, the others hot on my heels. I stared at the crowd and felt my heart begin to flutter. Everyone here could die if I failed. So no pressure.
I followed Inanna's advice and let my natural aura slip a little loose. I could feel the weight of the woman's gaze change as it reached her. A second later, a few people, mostly women, nearest to us turned to eye me.
Inanna took my arm in her hand. "Remember, you want to be a little bit arrogant, babe. You don't have to be a dick about it, you just have to be straightforward. Acknowledge who you are and what you've done. Speak straight to them, and above all, act as confident as you can. Maybe work up a little righteous indignation. You're always a lot more confident when you're angry."
I nodded, accepting her advice. I put a little magic into my voice and cleared my throat. The sound was loud, but only a few people noticed in the din inside. People continued to talk and speculate and cry all over the room.
"Excuse me," I said. Nobody really paid me any mind. "Can I have your attention, please?" I asked. Still, nobody noticed. I glanced at Inanna, who shook her heard slightly. I decided to take a different approach and channeled Gary.
"EVERYBODY LISTEN UP!" I shouted, goosing the magic on my voice a bit. My words carried through the large room and a silence fell as all eyes turned to me.
"Okay, that's better," I said. I began to pace back and forth, hands on my hips, trying to strike a confident-looking figure. I was probably failing.
"Most of you probably recognize me from the talk just now. For anyone who doesn't, my name is Jerry Williams. I'm the man whom the character of Jimmy Waters in the television show The Legend of Jimmy is based on. Not everything in the show is accurate, but the broad strokes are.
"I killed Astoram. I led the takedown of the Cult of Blood. I led the way in the fight against the primordials, and I was the one who killed Sarisa and saved the Sixteenth World. Those parts are all true."
A ragged cheer went up from the crowd, which made me blush again. This was not an appropriate time to cheer.
"As you all know," I continued once I thought they'd be able to make out my words again. "This ship is under attack. For those who didn't see it, it's a kraken. As it turns out, they're much bigger in real life than Hollywood ever prepared us for. The kraken is hunting, and it plans to eat us-" A collective gasp rose from the crowd, but I pushed on.
"It plans to. But it's an animal, and I'm a human being, so I'll put my plans against its, any day. But to make my plan work, I need everybody who can to help. As many people as possible. I can't kill or drive this thing off myself, at least not without sinking the ship in the process. But with your help, we can fight this thing off.
"My wife here is going to be producing some weapons. What I need is for everyone who can swing a sword or shoot a rifle to make an orderly line right here and get your weapon. We don't have a lot of time, folks, so it's important that you remain calm and orderly. An old maxim of combat is 'Slow is smooth, smooth is fast,'. We'll finish much faster by remaining orderly than by rushing. So please, start lining up now. Together, we can fight this thing. We can drive it back into the depths, and go home with a story to tell our families."
This time, the cheer was overwhelming. It startled me with its ferocity. Despite my admonition, almost every young man and quite a few middle-aged men, along with a surprising number of women of all ages surged forward, eager to be the first volunteers.
Inanna rushed over to push a couple of square tables together, along with the couple from outside. They got them laid out and got behind them just in time. I had never understood why Inanna kept an entire arsenal of weapons in hammerspace until then. I'd told her many times that there was no way she could use hundreds of slightly-enchanted swords or almost a thousand gen-1 through gen-3 assault rifles and a similar number of handguns she regularly collected from the DCM group in lieu of retiring them (depending on the exact sub-generation, they couldn't always be upgraded to the latest standards of enchantment). But now I understood. She'd been preparing for a day like today.
I wondered idly why it was that people felt the need to look to me as the hero, when really, Inanna was the one they wanted. She was smarter, more experienced, and a better leader than me, no doubt. But she seemed content to be an intimidating figure standing at my side.
I was jealous.
Inanna began producing weapons and handing them out. She didn't let the volunteers choose their weapon, but assigned them as she saw fit. She had quite the variety of weapons, too. Shorter folks got polearms, mostly large Dane axes with six-foot hafts. Larger folks got swords, either knightly sword or viking swords, but the largest folks got longswords and -in the case of a six-foot three woman with broad shoulders- a zweihander, not unlike Inanna's own blade.
The guns were also distributed to anyone who professed any military or other shooting experience. These, she passed out purely by request, asking if they'd prefer a rifle or handgun. I was initially surprised at the number who chose a handgun, until I remembered that a lot of people would have experience shooting those at gun ranges and in large, rural back yards. She quickly got the couple involved, so they could serve three people at a time. With each interaction taking only four or five seconds, we were arming several dozen people a minute to start with. Inanna was even smarter than I originally thought, though, and she began hauling out weapons by the armful and dumping them off, grabbing the occasional newly-armed volunteer and pulling them behind their impromptu counter to help assign weapons.
Soon, she was off the line entirely, letting the others do the assigning as she continued to add to a pile of swords and a pile of guns. A dozen people stood behind the table two minutes in, each one assigning a dozen weapons a minute.
The ship shook three more times as we passed everything out. I had each person join me outside after they'd retrieved their weapon. A few of the people with guns took potshots at the giant tentacles, but I had them lower their weapons. For this to work, we all had to attack at once. We needed to surprise the beast with pain.
Finally, Inanna joined me outside, letting me know she was there by slipping a hand between my legs to fondle me. I turned to face her and planted a kiss on her forehead. "You ready?" I asked.
"To be the first to ever fight off a kraken?" she asked with a laugh. "Fuck yeah."
I nodded and added more magic to my voice.
"Okay, listen up! I need to group you up into units! I need a hundred people per unit, that's about one for each of the eight tentacles-" I was interrupted by one of the ship's massive smoke stacks being ripped free by one of the tightening tentacles. As soon as it finished collapsing, I continued.
"Start grouping up now! We don't have a lot of time!"
The man -I still hadn't caught his name- from the couple who'd been helping us rushed forward and began grabbing people, assigning them the task of leading units. Huh, that was quite inspired. Maybe he should be leading.... I glanced over to see Inanna giving me a slight shake of the head, having figured out what I was just thinking. I shrugged and looked back to the crowd, which was now showing some divisions as people clumped up. I waited a few more seconds for the scattered people still not in a group to get into one before I continued.
"Okay, You guys are team one," I said. "Head all the way aft, to the very last tentacle. Start attacking as soon as you hear the rest of us shooting. The folks with swords will chop the bottoms of the tentacles, the folks with guns will shoot the tops. Try to get your people into the best positions to do the most damage possible. Go."
The group turned and began to jog aft.
"Okay," I said, gesturing to another group. "You're team two. Same instructions, just pick the next tentacle up. Go."
The other teams began to follow, not needing any more instruction.
"How much time do we give them?" I asked Inanna.
"Three minutes," she said without hesitation. I nodded, as that sounded about right. Still, it was going to be a long three minutes. The ship continued to creak and groan from the strain of the tightening tentacles.
"This is gonna be close," the woman said. I took my chance. "Hey, what's your name?" I asked.
"I'm Charlize, and my brother is Jason," she said.
"Your brother? Oh, I thought you two were, uh..." I stammered. She flashed me a grin. "We're from Alabama, but not that part of the state."
"I uh, just didn't expect a... A brother and sister to take a cruise... I mean... Ugh. Sorry. It's fine, apologies if I offended you."
The woman looked at Inanna, an eyebrow quirked. Inanna nodded. "Always. It's a part of his charm."
I watched the last team get into position near the closest tentacle. "Okay," I said. "Let's join them."
We all ran over. I decided to use my sword, summoning Godslayer from hammerspace. As the blade appeared in my hand, the magic caused everyone around me to turn and look. The shimmering air around the blade raised a lot of eyebrows.
"Wow, I can feel that thing," one woman muttered.
"I've been layering enchantments on it for years," I explained.
"Did you name it? All cool swords need a name," a younger guy who looked to be a fellow after my own (nerdy) heart asked. I pursed my lips and balked at the ridiculous question.
"Of course," I said. "This is Godslayer."
"Holy shit!" he said, his eyes widening. A few others turned to check it out.
"Yes, this is the sword I killed Sarisa with. I also took Tysrane's hand with it, but that's... I'm not exactly proud of that," I said.
"Bet Tysrane isn't, either," the nerdy guy said. The woman who'd first spoken looked at him and said, "Bet Tysrane makes a point of not pissing off Jim- er, Jerry."
"Fuck yeah," the nerdy guy mumbled. I blushed.
"Is everyone ready?" I asked loudly. A ragged chorus of agreements greeted me. I realized I should be more inspiring, so I tried again, adding the magic back to my voice.
"Are we all ready to show this thing what happens when it messes with us?!" I shouted. A harsh cheer erupted.
"Lets go, then!" I yelled at the top of my lungs and rushed forward to the giant mass of glistening flesh before me. Gunfire erupted behind me as me and dozens of others began slashing into the tentacle.
As the assault picked up in pace, a new sound emerged. It started as the crackle of broken parts of the ship's superstructure, the tentacles writhing in response to the sudden pain. But it changed into a gurgling roar that grew louder and louder.
Suddenly, the roar grew more hoarse and I glanced aside to see a massive shape rising behind the structure to my left. Using a bit of magic, I jumped onto the roof and rushed to the edge.
The kraken's body had broken the surface. I could see where the tentacles joined the body, and in between them, the beast's mouth. It didn't have a beak like an octopus or a squid, but a massive, gaping maw full of sharp, pointy teeth. As the mouth rose above the water, the sound grew deafening, drowning out even the gunfire.
I stared at the thing as the mouth closed and sort of drew back into the body, the roar dying out. With a sudden loud hissing sound, the mouth shot back out, almost like a goblin shark's jaws, opening wide and releasing an enormous spray of a steaming black liquid.
The fluid splashed over the ship, smoking and bubbling where it landed. A few people were splattered with it, and each and every one of them screamed and began to try to wipe the sticky substance off themselves.
"Get them to the pools!" I shouted. "Get the injured to the pools!" A few people heard me and I watched as one burly older gentleman grabbed a flailing young lady, tossed her over his shoulder, and rushed to the pool. He splattered himself with the fluid, which bubbled and smoked as it struck him, but he paid it no mind. When he reached the pool, he jumped in with the woman, and I saw him drag her under and start stripping her clothes. More bodies splashed into the pool, and I nodded in approval. Taking off whatever clothing was soaked in the stuff was a good idea.
I turned back to see the beast sucking its jaw back in again. This was no good. It had already knocked about one in ten people off the line, either suffering from whatever kind of acid this was, or helping those so afflicted. If it kept this up, it would stop us.
That's when I realized that my first plan was viable now. Its body was out of the water. I could target it, right now, and end this.
I rose into the air, charging my strike. I dismissed Godslayer and, having learned from my efforts against the primordials, dismissed my clothes as well. I really liked that T-shirt.
I flew up and away from the beast, reaching a point about two hundred yards away from the ship. I could see the ends of tentacles in the water below me, really speaking to the size of the creature, as those tentacles were currently still wrapped around the ship.
I closed my eyes and prayed. "Please let go, please let go." I opened my eyes back up and waited.
The beast spat more acid onto the deck, but it had already splattered the people nearest to its mouth, and those near to them had helped. Only a few people caught some of the acid, and a few more stopped to help them get in the water.
The beast was thrashing now. I could see the ship rocking back and forth, and the tentacles were coming loose and tightening down. I watched, waiting for my chance.
Finally, blessedly, it happened. Six of the tentacles lifted up, the ends slipping out of the water. They were no longer grasping the ship, having pulled back to end the pain our ragtag army was inflicting.
I drew in as much power as I could manage and shot forward, my shield forming a shell around me.
----
Charlize Mayberry, Totally Not Fucking Her Brother, Jesus Christ, They're Just Best Friends, I Mean, it's Her Brother For Crying Out Loud
Charlize watched as Jerry made the inhuman jump to the structure to her left to survey the battle. She could see the kraken's body, and she could see Jerry's shoulders and head as he regarded it.
He looked even more impressive than his counterpart in the show. Magic that she could see and feel surrounded him, making him crackle with strange colors she couldn't give name to. His sword shimmered, the blade a thing of immense gravity, drawing the eye to it. His shoulders were firmly set, and even from behind, she could sense the grim determination. She remembered a scene from the show, where Karen had watched him and whispered "Angel of Death," and she decided right then and there that that scene had actually happened.
When the kraken spat some kind of burning black bile over everyone, she heard him shouting, as if he'd been prepared for this. She found a man screaming to her right, trying to get the stuff off his face. "Come on!" she yelled, grabbing one of his hands and rushing him to the pool. By the time she got there, the water was gray and muddy, and partially or entirely naked people with serious-looking burns were climbing back out. She shoved the guy in, watching him go under. A few seconds later, he emerged, scrubbing at his face.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god... Thank you," he said, his eyes still squeezed shut. She could see the wound on his cheek where the acid had eaten into the skin, but he had managed to rinse most of it away.
"Come on," she called, "Get out." He blinked his eyes open, then swam to the edge. More people were coming in, and she worried that the pool water might get saturated with enough of the acid to become acidic, itself.
Charlize helped the man out of the pool, then turned to look back down the ship. The tentacles were rising, one after another, trying to escape the pain of gripping the vessel. Those armed with guns continued to fire, pouring lead into the savaged appendages as those with melee weapons caught their breaths.
She watched as all but two of the tentacle lifted off the ship. Hope swelled in her breast and she glanced over at a burly, older man with no shirt on, leaning on his knees and catching his breath, next to a younger woman in nothing but a pair of panties, laying on the deck with burns all over her legs and torso.
The man caught her gaze and flashed her a grim smile. "Almost," he said. Charlize nodded and raised her rifle, shooting at the distant tentacles that remained attached to the ship.
She had only fired once or twice when the entire ship shuddered and a deafening crack caused her to look up. She saw a golden streak flash into and through the beast's body, which was more clearly seen from her current position on the pool deck.
The kraken simply exploded.
Chunks of wet, slippery flesh flew outward with enough force to bowl over anyone they struck and leave dents in the metal sides of the ship. The two remaining tentacles on the ship let go, pulling back under the water as the six in the air flopped down, sending a cleansing wave of seawater over the deck.
The water ran red with the kraken's blood as it swept over the sides, carrying chunks of monster and a few people who'd been caught off guard with it. Charlize grabbed one guy and helped him catch his footing before the flow subsides.
She straightened up and looked over to where the dead beast was sinking beneath the surface. A gold-glowing figure emerged from the water, and Charlize recognized Jerry.
He was naked. His body was hard and tightly muscled, but lean and agile-looking. His skin glowed with a golden light, and she could see red lightning playing about his skin as he rose into the air and then glided over to the ship and sat back down.
The crowd, who had begun cheering at the beast's death, fell into a hush of awe as the all turned to the glowing figure. He exuded power, commanding every eye to look at him. His feet settled down on the deck and he walked forward.
With a sudden rush of heat in her cheeks, Charlize realized that he was rocking an enormous hard-on. Like, impressively big. If she'd seen one like that in a porno, she'd have assumed it was CGI or a prosthetic. If she'd been able to think straight, she'd probably have found it a little ridiculous.
He walked past her, turning his head and clasping her shoulder. "Thank you," he said with a smile. Her knees went weak as his touch and she began to reflect upon the fact that, at least in the show, Ishtar loved to bring women home for herself and Jimmy.
She watched him thank everyone he passed, until he finally found his wife. They embraced, and then a few seconds later, they vanished.
Charlize caught her breath and let her heartbeat slow down. A woman approached her, and she recognized her as the last person whose question Jerry had declined to answer during the talk.
"Do you know where there cabin is?" she asked. Charlize shook her head. Another woman approached, holding hands with an effeminate-looking man carrying a handgun. "They're in the Princess Suite, it's in the big stack up fore," she said with a gesture.
"I'm gonna go see if they're there," the first woman said breathlessly. The couple nodded, and all three of them took off. Jason put his hand on her shoulder and she looked at him.
"I'm, uh..." Charlize said, making up her mind right then and there. "I'm gonna go do something. I'll be around in a bit."
She hurried inside, found an elevator to ride to the top floor and the hurried down until she saw the door labeled "Princess Suite". She knocked on it.
A second later, the door was opened by a naked woman that Charlize didn't recognize. Looking past her, she could see a tangle of limbs. Moans and gasps already filled the air.
The woman stepped aside as Charlize stepped in and immediately began tugging at her shirt.
----
Jerry Williams, Just Wants a Quiet Vacation For Once In His Life
The next morning, I sat on a deck chair on the upper observation deck as the ship pulled into port for repairs. We'd all been given vouchers for a new cruise, as compensation for the one cut short by the attack. The captain of the ship had come to personally thank me for rallying the defense. Unfortunately, she'd done this during the orgy Inanna had organized right after the attack, and it had taken the bridge crew over an hour to locate her when she failed to return.
I winced, thinking about that.
Inanna had turned her chair to face mine and had her legs on my lap. A few other people were also laid out with us. Mostly women, but a few men as well. All of us had come up here from my cabin. All of us were naked, and though this wasn't a nudist cruise, nobody seemed inclined to complain. The staff had recognized Inanna and I, and we were being waited on hand and foot.
I took a sip of my champagne and rubbed Inanna's shin.
"See?" she said. I glanced over to see the sun glistening off the light sheen of sweat coating her dusky skin. God, she was so beautiful.
"It wasn't so hard, was it?"
"I'm still not so sure I'm cut out to be a leader. And I'm still not convinced that the risk of me turning in the asshole from my visions is past," I said.
"Bah," she replied dismissively. "You are a leader, whether you like it or not. You're a hero, like it or not. I know you wouldn't have chosen this position, but it's been chosen for you, and the best thing you could do is be the best damn hero you can be."
I thought about that for a minute, and honestly, I couldn't argue the point. Maybe she was right, and I should do a bit more in terms of being a good hero, instead of just keeping my head down and trying to help where I could.
"Besides," she continued a moment later. "Emperor Gerald had sixty years of Sarisa whispering in his ear to get that way. You've got me. I'll keep you on the straight and girthy."
I laughed. "Straight and narrow," I corrected.
"It's anything but narrow," she replied mildly. "Although, now that I think about it, I prefer when I'm the one on the straight and girthy." She reached down to grab my hand and pull it up to her pubic hair. I gave it a little tug, then ran my fingers along the stretch marks at the base of her belly. Those were possibly the sexiest part of her whole body, and even the least sexy part of her was jaw-dropping. She opened an eye to frown at me, until her gaze roamed down and noticed the effect that touching them was having on a different part of me. Her feet shifted over to that part and I felt that old familiar thrill as she touched me. It was just as intense this time as it had been the first time.
"Ready for another?" she asked.
"I think we should relax for a bit," I said. Inanna smirked and her eyes focused past me. "They don't," she said. I glanced behind to see two of the women from the orgy walking over.
"You forgot to turn your aura off, love," she said as she set up and moved to sit on my lap.
"Here we go again," I groaned as hands and lips began to touch me.
Don't tell anyone, but in all candor, this was the part of being a hero I enjoyed the most.
submitted by MjolnirPants to JerryandtheGoddesses [link] [comments]
"You're right," I said. "I hate it."
"You got a better idea?" Inanna asked. I shook my head. "No, and no time, either, let's go."
"Dude, you need like, a sergeant or something. I got you," the man said as he and his girlfriend or wife followed us back to the lounge.
"What kind of leadership experience do you have?" Inanna asked him.
"Uh, nothing like your husband," he admitted. I couldn't help but smirk. "Good, you've got the job," I said.
"What?" he asked.
"I know how the show portrays things, but in reality, Jerry's less of a leader and more a guy who's just kinda good at planning and really well liked. He's actually more of a lone wolf, really."
He looked at his girlfriend, who looked back. Both of them looked worried. I didn't blame them one bit.
"Okay," Inanna said as we reached the door. "This is on you, babe. Maybe turn your aura on a bit, and give your voice some extra volume."
I felt my cheeks burning. This was even worse than going on stage a few hours ago. At least then, there was some structure, and I had Inanna with me to take some of the attention.
I opened the lounge door and stepped in, the others hot on my heels. I stared at the crowd and felt my heart begin to flutter. Everyone here could die if I failed. So no pressure.
I followed Inanna's advice and let my natural aura slip a little loose. I could feel the weight of the woman's gaze change as it reached her. A second later, a few people, mostly women, nearest to us turned to eye me.
Inanna took my arm in her hand. "Remember, you want to be a little bit arrogant, babe. You don't have to be a dick about it, you just have to be straightforward. Acknowledge who you are and what you've done. Speak straight to them, and above all, act as confident as you can. Maybe work up a little righteous indignation. You're always a lot more confident when you're angry."
I nodded, accepting her advice. I put a little magic into my voice and cleared my throat. The sound was loud, but only a few people noticed in the din inside. People continued to talk and speculate and cry all over the room.
"Excuse me," I said. Nobody really paid me any mind. "Can I have your attention, please?" I asked. Still, nobody noticed. I glanced at Inanna, who shook her heard slightly. I decided to take a different approach and channeled Gary.
"EVERYBODY LISTEN UP!" I shouted, goosing the magic on my voice a bit. My words carried through the large room and a silence fell as all eyes turned to me.
"Okay, that's better," I said. I began to pace back and forth, hands on my hips, trying to strike a confident-looking figure. I was probably failing.
"Most of you probably recognize me from the talk just now. For anyone who doesn't, my name is Jerry Williams. I'm the man whom the character of Jimmy Waters in the television show The Legend of Jimmy is based on. Not everything in the show is accurate, but the broad strokes are.
"I killed Astoram. I led the takedown of the Cult of Blood. I led the way in the fight against the primordials, and I was the one who killed Sarisa and saved the Sixteenth World. Those parts are all true."
A ragged cheer went up from the crowd, which made me blush again. This was not an appropriate time to cheer.
"As you all know," I continued once I thought they'd be able to make out my words again. "This ship is under attack. For those who didn't see it, it's a kraken. As it turns out, they're much bigger in real life than Hollywood ever prepared us for. The kraken is hunting, and it plans to eat us-" A collective gasp rose from the crowd, but I pushed on.
"It plans to. But it's an animal, and I'm a human being, so I'll put my plans against its, any day. But to make my plan work, I need everybody who can to help. As many people as possible. I can't kill or drive this thing off myself, at least not without sinking the ship in the process. But with your help, we can fight this thing off.
"My wife here is going to be producing some weapons. What I need is for everyone who can swing a sword or shoot a rifle to make an orderly line right here and get your weapon. We don't have a lot of time, folks, so it's important that you remain calm and orderly. An old maxim of combat is 'Slow is smooth, smooth is fast,'. We'll finish much faster by remaining orderly than by rushing. So please, start lining up now. Together, we can fight this thing. We can drive it back into the depths, and go home with a story to tell our families."
This time, the cheer was overwhelming. It startled me with its ferocity. Despite my admonition, almost every young man and quite a few middle-aged men, along with a surprising number of women of all ages surged forward, eager to be the first volunteers.
Inanna rushed over to push a couple of square tables together, along with the couple from outside. They got them laid out and got behind them just in time. I had never understood why Inanna kept an entire arsenal of weapons in hammerspace until then. I'd told her many times that there was no way she could use hundreds of slightly-enchanted swords or almost a thousand gen-1 through gen-3 assault rifles and a similar number of handguns she regularly collected from the DCM group in lieu of retiring them (depending on the exact sub-generation, they couldn't always be upgraded to the latest standards of enchantment). But now I understood. She'd been preparing for a day like today.
I wondered idly why it was that people felt the need to look to me as the hero, when really, Inanna was the one they wanted. She was smarter, more experienced, and a better leader than me, no doubt. But she seemed content to be an intimidating figure standing at my side.
I was jealous.
Inanna began producing weapons and handing them out. She didn't let the volunteers choose their weapon, but assigned them as she saw fit. She had quite the variety of weapons, too. Shorter folks got polearms, mostly large Dane axes with six-foot hafts. Larger folks got swords, either knightly sword or viking swords, but the largest folks got longswords and -in the case of a six-foot three woman with broad shoulders- a zweihander, not unlike Inanna's own blade.
The guns were also distributed to anyone who professed any military or other shooting experience. These, she passed out purely by request, asking if they'd prefer a rifle or handgun. I was initially surprised at the number who chose a handgun, until I remembered that a lot of people would have experience shooting those at gun ranges and in large, rural back yards. She quickly got the couple involved, so they could serve three people at a time. With each interaction taking only four or five seconds, we were arming several dozen people a minute to start with. Inanna was even smarter than I originally thought, though, and she began hauling out weapons by the armful and dumping them off, grabbing the occasional newly-armed volunteer and pulling them behind their impromptu counter to help assign weapons.
Soon, she was off the line entirely, letting the others do the assigning as she continued to add to a pile of swords and a pile of guns. A dozen people stood behind the table two minutes in, each one assigning a dozen weapons a minute.
The ship shook three more times as we passed everything out. I had each person join me outside after they'd retrieved their weapon. A few of the people with guns took potshots at the giant tentacles, but I had them lower their weapons. For this to work, we all had to attack at once. We needed to surprise the beast with pain.
Finally, Inanna joined me outside, letting me know she was there by slipping a hand between my legs to fondle me. I turned to face her and planted a kiss on her forehead. "You ready?" I asked.
"To be the first to ever fight off a kraken?" she asked with a laugh. "Fuck yeah."
I nodded and added more magic to my voice.
"Okay, listen up! I need to group you up into units! I need a hundred people per unit, that's about one for each of the eight tentacles-" I was interrupted by one of the ship's massive smoke stacks being ripped free by one of the tightening tentacles. As soon as it finished collapsing, I continued.
"Start grouping up now! We don't have a lot of time!"
The man -I still hadn't caught his name- from the couple who'd been helping us rushed forward and began grabbing people, assigning them the task of leading units. Huh, that was quite inspired. Maybe he should be leading.... I glanced over to see Inanna giving me a slight shake of the head, having figured out what I was just thinking. I shrugged and looked back to the crowd, which was now showing some divisions as people clumped up. I waited a few more seconds for the scattered people still not in a group to get into one before I continued.
"Okay, You guys are team one," I said. "Head all the way aft, to the very last tentacle. Start attacking as soon as you hear the rest of us shooting. The folks with swords will chop the bottoms of the tentacles, the folks with guns will shoot the tops. Try to get your people into the best positions to do the most damage possible. Go."
The group turned and began to jog aft.
"Okay," I said, gesturing to another group. "You're team two. Same instructions, just pick the next tentacle up. Go."
The other teams began to follow, not needing any more instruction.
"How much time do we give them?" I asked Inanna.
"Three minutes," she said without hesitation. I nodded, as that sounded about right. Still, it was going to be a long three minutes. The ship continued to creak and groan from the strain of the tightening tentacles.
"This is gonna be close," the woman said. I took my chance. "Hey, what's your name?" I asked.
"I'm Charlize, and my brother is Jason," she said.
"Your brother? Oh, I thought you two were, uh..." I stammered. She flashed me a grin. "We're from Alabama, but not that part of the state."
"I uh, just didn't expect a... A brother and sister to take a cruise... I mean... Ugh. Sorry. It's fine, apologies if I offended you."
The woman looked at Inanna, an eyebrow quirked. Inanna nodded. "Always. It's a part of his charm."
I watched the last team get into position near the closest tentacle. "Okay," I said. "Let's join them."
We all ran over. I decided to use my sword, summoning Godslayer from hammerspace. As the blade appeared in my hand, the magic caused everyone around me to turn and look. The shimmering air around the blade raised a lot of eyebrows.
"Wow, I can feel that thing," one woman muttered.
"I've been layering enchantments on it for years," I explained.
"Did you name it? All cool swords need a name," a younger guy who looked to be a fellow after my own (nerdy) heart asked. I pursed my lips and balked at the ridiculous question.
"Of course," I said. "This is Godslayer."
"Holy shit!" he said, his eyes widening. A few others turned to check it out.
"Yes, this is the sword I killed Sarisa with. I also took Tysrane's hand with it, but that's... I'm not exactly proud of that," I said.
"Bet Tysrane isn't, either," the nerdy guy said. The woman who'd first spoken looked at him and said, "Bet Tysrane makes a point of not pissing off Jim- er, Jerry."
"Fuck yeah," the nerdy guy mumbled. I blushed.
"Is everyone ready?" I asked loudly. A ragged chorus of agreements greeted me. I realized I should be more inspiring, so I tried again, adding the magic back to my voice.
"Are we all ready to show this thing what happens when it messes with us?!" I shouted. A harsh cheer erupted.
"Lets go, then!" I yelled at the top of my lungs and rushed forward to the giant mass of glistening flesh before me. Gunfire erupted behind me as me and dozens of others began slashing into the tentacle.
As the assault picked up in pace, a new sound emerged. It started as the crackle of broken parts of the ship's superstructure, the tentacles writhing in response to the sudden pain. But it changed into a gurgling roar that grew louder and louder.
Suddenly, the roar grew more hoarse and I glanced aside to see a massive shape rising behind the structure to my left. Using a bit of magic, I jumped onto the roof and rushed to the edge.
The kraken's body had broken the surface. I could see where the tentacles joined the body, and in between them, the beast's mouth. It didn't have a beak like an octopus or a squid, but a massive, gaping maw full of sharp, pointy teeth. As the mouth rose above the water, the sound grew deafening, drowning out even the gunfire.
I stared at the thing as the mouth closed and sort of drew back into the body, the roar dying out. With a sudden loud hissing sound, the mouth shot back out, almost like a goblin shark's jaws, opening wide and releasing an enormous spray of a steaming black liquid.
The fluid splashed over the ship, smoking and bubbling where it landed. A few people were splattered with it, and each and every one of them screamed and began to try to wipe the sticky substance off themselves.
"Get them to the pools!" I shouted. "Get the injured to the pools!" A few people heard me and I watched as one burly older gentleman grabbed a flailing young lady, tossed her over his shoulder, and rushed to the pool. He splattered himself with the fluid, which bubbled and smoked as it struck him, but he paid it no mind. When he reached the pool, he jumped in with the woman, and I saw him drag her under and start stripping her clothes. More bodies splashed into the pool, and I nodded in approval. Taking off whatever clothing was soaked in the stuff was a good idea.
I turned back to see the beast sucking its jaw back in again. This was no good. It had already knocked about one in ten people off the line, either suffering from whatever kind of acid this was, or helping those so afflicted. If it kept this up, it would stop us.
That's when I realized that my first plan was viable now. Its body was out of the water. I could target it, right now, and end this.
I rose into the air, charging my strike. I dismissed Godslayer and, having learned from my efforts against the primordials, dismissed my clothes as well. I really liked that T-shirt.
I flew up and away from the beast, reaching a point about two hundred yards away from the ship. I could see the ends of tentacles in the water below me, really speaking to the size of the creature, as those tentacles were currently still wrapped around the ship.
I closed my eyes and prayed. "Please let go, please let go." I opened my eyes back up and waited.
The beast spat more acid onto the deck, but it had already splattered the people nearest to its mouth, and those near to them had helped. Only a few people caught some of the acid, and a few more stopped to help them get in the water.
The beast was thrashing now. I could see the ship rocking back and forth, and the tentacles were coming loose and tightening down. I watched, waiting for my chance.
Finally, blessedly, it happened. Six of the tentacles lifted up, the ends slipping out of the water. They were no longer grasping the ship, having pulled back to end the pain our ragtag army was inflicting.
I drew in as much power as I could manage and shot forward, my shield forming a shell around me.
----
Charlize Mayberry, Totally Not Fucking Her Brother, Jesus Christ, They're Just Best Friends, I Mean, it's Her Brother For Crying Out Loud
Charlize watched as Jerry made the inhuman jump to the structure to her left to survey the battle. She could see the kraken's body, and she could see Jerry's shoulders and head as he regarded it.
He looked even more impressive than his counterpart in the show. Magic that she could see and feel surrounded him, making him crackle with strange colors she couldn't give name to. His sword shimmered, the blade a thing of immense gravity, drawing the eye to it. His shoulders were firmly set, and even from behind, she could sense the grim determination. She remembered a scene from the show, where Karen had watched him and whispered "Angel of Death," and she decided right then and there that that scene had actually happened.
When the kraken spat some kind of burning black bile over everyone, she heard him shouting, as if he'd been prepared for this. She found a man screaming to her right, trying to get the stuff off his face. "Come on!" she yelled, grabbing one of his hands and rushing him to the pool. By the time she got there, the water was gray and muddy, and partially or entirely naked people with serious-looking burns were climbing back out. She shoved the guy in, watching him go under. A few seconds later, he emerged, scrubbing at his face.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god... Thank you," he said, his eyes still squeezed shut. She could see the wound on his cheek where the acid had eaten into the skin, but he had managed to rinse most of it away.
"Come on," she called, "Get out." He blinked his eyes open, then swam to the edge. More people were coming in, and she worried that the pool water might get saturated with enough of the acid to become acidic, itself.
Charlize helped the man out of the pool, then turned to look back down the ship. The tentacles were rising, one after another, trying to escape the pain of gripping the vessel. Those armed with guns continued to fire, pouring lead into the savaged appendages as those with melee weapons caught their breaths.
She watched as all but two of the tentacle lifted off the ship. Hope swelled in her breast and she glanced over at a burly, older man with no shirt on, leaning on his knees and catching his breath, next to a younger woman in nothing but a pair of panties, laying on the deck with burns all over her legs and torso.
The man caught her gaze and flashed her a grim smile. "Almost," he said. Charlize nodded and raised her rifle, shooting at the distant tentacles that remained attached to the ship.
She had only fired once or twice when the entire ship shuddered and a deafening crack caused her to look up. She saw a golden streak flash into and through the beast's body, which was more clearly seen from her current position on the pool deck.
The kraken simply exploded.
Chunks of wet, slippery flesh flew outward with enough force to bowl over anyone they struck and leave dents in the metal sides of the ship. The two remaining tentacles on the ship let go, pulling back under the water as the six in the air flopped down, sending a cleansing wave of seawater over the deck.
The water ran red with the kraken's blood as it swept over the sides, carrying chunks of monster and a few people who'd been caught off guard with it. Charlize grabbed one guy and helped him catch his footing before the flow subsides.
She straightened up and looked over to where the dead beast was sinking beneath the surface. A gold-glowing figure emerged from the water, and Charlize recognized Jerry.
He was naked. His body was hard and tightly muscled, but lean and agile-looking. His skin glowed with a golden light, and she could see red lightning playing about his skin as he rose into the air and then glided over to the ship and sat back down.
The crowd, who had begun cheering at the beast's death, fell into a hush of awe as the all turned to the glowing figure. He exuded power, commanding every eye to look at him. His feet settled down on the deck and he walked forward.
With a sudden rush of heat in her cheeks, Charlize realized that he was rocking an enormous hard-on. Like, impressively big. If she'd seen one like that in a porno, she'd have assumed it was CGI or a prosthetic. If she'd been able to think straight, she'd probably have found it a little ridiculous.
He walked past her, turning his head and clasping her shoulder. "Thank you," he said with a smile. Her knees went weak as his touch and she began to reflect upon the fact that, at least in the show, Ishtar loved to bring women home for herself and Jimmy.
She watched him thank everyone he passed, until he finally found his wife. They embraced, and then a few seconds later, they vanished.
Charlize caught her breath and let her heartbeat slow down. A woman approached her, and she recognized her as the last person whose question Jerry had declined to answer during the talk.
"Do you know where there cabin is?" she asked. Charlize shook her head. Another woman approached, holding hands with an effeminate-looking man carrying a handgun. "They're in the Princess Suite, it's in the big stack up fore," she said with a gesture.
"I'm gonna go see if they're there," the first woman said breathlessly. The couple nodded, and all three of them took off. Jason put his hand on her shoulder and she looked at him.
"I'm, uh..." Charlize said, making up her mind right then and there. "I'm gonna go do something. I'll be around in a bit."
She hurried inside, found an elevator to ride to the top floor and the hurried down until she saw the door labeled "Princess Suite". She knocked on it.
A second later, the door was opened by a naked woman that Charlize didn't recognize. Looking past her, she could see a tangle of limbs. Moans and gasps already filled the air.
The woman stepped aside as Charlize stepped in and immediately began tugging at her shirt.
----
Jerry Williams, Just Wants a Quiet Vacation For Once In His Life
The next morning, I sat on a deck chair on the upper observation deck as the ship pulled into port for repairs. We'd all been given vouchers for a new cruise, as compensation for the one cut short by the attack. The captain of the ship had come to personally thank me for rallying the defense. Unfortunately, she'd done this during the orgy Inanna had organized right after the attack, and it had taken the bridge crew over an hour to locate her when she failed to return.
I winced, thinking about that.
Inanna had turned her chair to face mine and had her legs on my lap. A few other people were also laid out with us. Mostly women, but a few men as well. All of us had come up here from my cabin. All of us were naked, and though this wasn't a nudist cruise, nobody seemed inclined to complain. The staff had recognized Inanna and I, and we were being waited on hand and foot.
I took a sip of my champagne and rubbed Inanna's shin.
"See?" she said. I glanced over to see the sun glistening off the light sheen of sweat coating her dusky skin. God, she was so beautiful.
"It wasn't so hard, was it?"
"I'm still not so sure I'm cut out to be a leader. And I'm still not convinced that the risk of me turning in the asshole from my visions is past," I said.
"Bah," she replied dismissively. "You are a leader, whether you like it or not. You're a hero, like it or not. I know you wouldn't have chosen this position, but it's been chosen for you, and the best thing you could do is be the best damn hero you can be."
I thought about that for a minute, and honestly, I couldn't argue the point. Maybe she was right, and I should do a bit more in terms of being a good hero, instead of just keeping my head down and trying to help where I could.
"Besides," she continued a moment later. "Emperor Gerald had sixty years of Sarisa whispering in his ear to get that way. You've got me. I'll keep you on the straight and girthy."
I laughed. "Straight and narrow," I corrected.
"It's anything but narrow," she replied mildly. "Although, now that I think about it, I prefer when I'm the one on the straight and girthy." She reached down to grab my hand and pull it up to her pubic hair. I gave it a little tug, then ran my fingers along the stretch marks at the base of her belly. Those were possibly the sexiest part of her whole body, and even the least sexy part of her was jaw-dropping. She opened an eye to frown at me, until her gaze roamed down and noticed the effect that touching them was having on a different part of me. Her feet shifted over to that part and I felt that old familiar thrill as she touched me. It was just as intense this time as it had been the first time.
"Ready for another?" she asked.
"I think we should relax for a bit," I said. Inanna smirked and her eyes focused past me. "They don't," she said. I glanced behind to see two of the women from the orgy walking over.
"You forgot to turn your aura off, love," she said as she set up and moved to sit on my lap.
"Here we go again," I groaned as hands and lips began to touch me.
Don't tell anyone, but in all candor, this was the part of being a hero I enjoyed the most.
2023.06.07 17:58 dlschindler My Crow And The Heist Of The Aeons
Books sat all around the Choir, who were mental hospital patients magically shaped as ravens. I was the first to take human form, as my raven's eye spotted what I hoped was ours. It was one book among many, but it was also Circe's diary. As a man I could thumb the pages.
We had come in through the open window of the room of the manor that held so many books. I'd noticed the old diary right away and begun to read it while the ravens shifted from void travelers to humans.
I frowned, realizing it was just a record of all of her lovers. An impressive body count of seventy-seven, I noted her notation on the last page. Then a chill ran through my blood. The sorcerer in me knew something about them.
"Cory, what sort of magic can be divided into parts, among lovers?" I asked.
"I have no idea, my Lord." Cory looked at the book. "A diary?"
"Yes. Circe's diary, but I suspect it is more than that. She had a second use for these creeps. I bet we could find something." I decided. The fortunate find was only a promise. I had no idea if there was useful magic or not. Whatever magic she had hidden would be worth hiding, obviously.
The others shambled past me and Cory in their open straight jackets and bathrobes and hospital gowns. They had all sorts of weapons: clubs, a broken bottle, a claw pincher and an uzi. I had my staff, carved from the unstable and formless magic between worlds into a proper weapon.
We needed our weapons, dried zombies stood in our way, shuffling among the books. Magical slaves, living corpses. They were still dangerous and had to be destroyed.
For a moment the dead stood in our path, their eyes shimmering blankly in the shadows. They regarded us, the intruders, then began to shuffle towards us. I felt a chill of revulsion at the sight of corpses walking and gagged on their stench. I'd seen far worse, but one never truly gets used to such things.
A loud rapid clapping noise and the merry tinkle of bullet casings erupted from the uzi. It was pretty ineffective. The rest of the Choir brandished their weapons and strode forward like the maniacs they were. Even Scarlet was in the mood to kill something and she tore apart more than one of the shambling dead.
She looked at me and I caught a gleam in her eye of psychotic delight. Some nervous feeling always rose up in me since the first time I had met her. Somehow the shift from a helpless hitchhiker to a hook handed murderer always caught me off guard.
When we'd finished killing the dead we sorted our way out from the books.
Time seemed distorted. How things played out always felt surreal as we partially entered entirely different worlds than our own. There was always a dreamlike perspective, as though I were merely an actor under observation rather than a participant. I often had to remind myself of the grim reality I was trapped in.
I had lost count of the rare artifacts we had stolen for Aureus and the worlds we had invaded and brought death and horror to. I loathed all of it, feared there was no salvation after my numerous misdeeds. What choice did I have?
I led the Choir through the manor, watching myself do so.
There were other servants, just as ghoulish as the dried zombies. We killed everything we met until we got to the master bedroom. The safe was too big to take with us.
"Cater?" I asked our safecracker. She was also totally nuts. Her wild eyes rolled around and beheld the safe as though pretending she hadn't noticed it. Her fake response of joy wasn't really fake, she was actually happy.
"Gots." She whispered and went to work on the safe. The Choir stood around breathing too loudly for her and drooling. Eventually she got it open and took out the green gem. It sparkled evilly. Circe's Emerald.
"Let's go." I said and we all returned to the books and found the ġedwimor was shimmering visibly where we could revert to ravens that could fly home. We leapt through it and into flight. Our rave cast the shadow of one great bird. The magics welcomed us, living and enchanted creatures that we were, and insane. Across worlds and time we flew back to our home.
At Dellfriar we arrived. Except I had finally found my way out. Aureus somehow knew before I did that I held the key to my escape. It was in Circe's Diary that the clue existed. There was more to her spell than turning the enlightened into ravens.
I dreamed of the unkindness of ravens watching me. Cory asked me in the dream:
"How many pigs are on her island?"
I began to count them and I took a step with each number. By the seventy-seventh step I was asleep again, within the dream. I looked at my sleeping form in the dreamscape, surrounded by pigs and watched by ravens. I was looking down from a great distance, it suddenly seemed, and then I was looking up from far below.
"Where are we?" I asked Cory. I stared at my crow and he seemed to be smiling. It was the dream that made it seem so.
"Seventy-seven steps to the bottom, my Lord." Cory advised me. "And each must be counted."
"Those were pigs." I pointed out.
"Pigs that were once men. Each of them descended further, marking a fraction of the way. Love is a journey, a dreamy journey, ever downwards." Cory chirped.
"What about the exact number?" I wondered. To a crow, numbers were more symbolic than literal.
"It's just a number of stairs leading into the dream lands. It means nothing." Cory sounded playful. Cory had learned that numbers were literal to humans. It amused him that I was confused.
"But the number of Circe's lovers?" I asked.
"Of course, they are permanently under her control. They made a bargain, surrendering their bodies. Each of them counts as the descent to the bottom. Their blood and hers is mixed. The blood of her lover's, her blood, they are helpless to her will." Cory explained. I was glad I had read so many books with my crow that we both knew the answers when we met in Dream.
"Where is she?" I sat up from the blue clouds and looked around. As I focused I found I was on an island. What I imagined Circe's prison to look like.
Someone spoke to me:
"You use my spell on yourself. A wereraven, part of a rave of lunatics just like yourself. You have stolen my emerald?" I heard the soft voice of a delicate female. I turned around and saw her there. She was staring at me, her eyes looked curious and a little hurt.
"I stole it for Aureus. They're making a weapon, and your emerald is a suitable component." I explained.
"Aureus?" Circe seemed somehow both amused and irritated at-once. "Neither a man nor a woman. Neither a human nor a creature of magic. Not a young soul nor an old one."
"The same." I sighed in sympathetic exasperation.
"You work for me now. You will steal my emerald from this weapon. You will seal Aureus in a moment stolen from the wheel upon which the ages turn. A moment among the aeons that never was and never will be." Circe smiled strangely for me. I sensed that to her victims she seemed irresistible. I found her charms to be crocodilian.
"You are right." I agreed with her. "We have searched for a long time for a way to defeat Aureus."
"Was the answer..." Circe started to ask a question and then paused for emphasis: "Right in front of you all along?"
"We thought that dying might be the answer. If we were dead we couldn't serve Aureus." Cory sounded cheerful and perky, like he was telling a very funny joke.
"Life." Circe swore. "Life is the answer. You are life from me. You wield my powers with ease, Greatson." Circe's smile looked maternal. It occurred to me that I was immune to her charms because I was her descendant only after I heard her say those words.
"You're my Lord's ancestor?" Cory cleverly surmised. "No wonder he is so valuable to Aureus. I thought it was strange that such a powerful sorcerer required help from my Lord!" Cory cawed with hilarity. The revelation held layers of humor for my crow, who felt like explaining further: "You know, because it is so funny. My Lord would be the last choice of most competent magic users. We've routinely made mistakes that could only be made during the hour that is reserved for amateurs!"
Circe tried to hide her amusement. "I'm sure my Greatson is learning. Even I managed to make a few embarrassing mistakes in my youth."
"Really?" I asked.
"No." Circe smiled. "I'm just trying to make you feel better."
"We shall know the plan?" I interrupted. Circe was standing before me, the short distance between us meant nothing in Dream. She looked serious as she drew upon my eyelids. I could watch her do so with my eyes closed.
Then I awoke in the dream I had descended from. I was again among the pigs and the ravens. From there I shook myself awake in the real world. For a moment I was tempted to shake myself again. Fear that I might wake up in a higher place from which I wouldn't be able find sleep made me hesitate.
"Do you recall the dream we have had, my Lord?" Cory asked.
"About Circe being my great grandma? With a few more 'greats'?" I answered rhetorically.
"Yes. She put a spell on you. Can you see anything that you couldn't?" Cory asked.
I blinked and looked around. For just an instant, out of the corner of my eye, I could see Aureus somewhere else in Dellfriar and busy with the artifact's assembly. Several components were still missing - though.
The theft of Circe's Emerald and the escape from Dellfriar had many outcomes. There is only one that I survived. Only one version that can be reassembled from the chaos of so many worlds collapsing inward, so many realities becoming undone. Circe was right, it was only life - the deepest magic I knew of.
Inspiration came with my new perception. I could see the path ahead of me. I could see that there was only one version in which I survived and escaped. If I had done anything differently, the butterflies of death would have touched me.
I saw the window of opportunity and I knew every step I had to take. I took my bag and my staff, collecting the implements of my magical heists into the bag. I clicked my tongue and my crow alighted upon my shoulder.
With a cunning plan in mind, I ventured into the heart of Aureus's lair alone. The dimly lit chamber was filled with intricate machinery and arcane devices. I could sense the pulsating energy of Circe's Emerald, beckoning to me from its secure pedestal.
Taking utmost care to avoid detection, I stealthily maneuvered through the labyrinthine corridors, relying on my years at Dellfriar as a master thief. The shadows embraced me, concealing my presence from any wandering guards or surveillance systems that may have kept sentinel.
As I reached the chamber, I surveyed the room for any potential traps or alarms. It seemed Aureus had grown complacent, perhaps underestimating the audacity of a lone infiltrator. With a wry smile, I knew this was my moment to strike.
Silently, I approached the pedestal housing the emerald. It radiated a mesmerizing glow, casting ethereal patterns on the walls. Carefully, I retrieved a set of specialized tools from my bag: a combination of lockpicks and arcane implements.
I began to work my way through the security measures protecting Circe's Emerald. Each lock and enchantment posed a challenge, but my skilled hands moved with precision and finesse. The emerald's aura seemed to dance in anticipation, as if recognizing the touch of someone who understood its power.
Minutes stretched into eternity as I delicately dismantled the final obstacle. With a soft click, the emerald was finally free from its confinements. Holding it delicately in my gloved hand, I could feel the vibrant energy coursing through my fingertips.
But my mission was not yet complete. I had to make my escape undetected, evading any Choir or enchantments that may lie in my path. The emerald, now securely concealed within a specially crafted case, remained a beacon of power.
Slinking through the shadows, I retraced my steps, navigating the treacherous corridors with the precision of a phantom. Every movement was calculated, every sound muffled, ensuring that my presence went unnoticed.
As I emerged from the depths of Aureus's lair, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins. I had accomplished what seemed impossible: an audacious heist of Circe's Emerald from under the nose of a powerful adversary.
With the emerald secured, I vanished into the night, leaving no trace of my daring feat behind. The power of Circe's Emerald now resided in my possession, a relic of immense potential. Its fate, and the choice of how to wield its formidable magic, rested solely in my hands.
Little did Aureus or The Choir suspect that their plans had been quietly usurped. The heist had been a success, an act of cunning and skill that would alter the course of their intricate dance. In the shadows, I contemplated my next move, knowing that the emerald would grant me the power to shape destiny itself.
As I reached the top of the castle, a gust of wind tousled my hair, carrying with it the whispered echoes of Aureus's approach. I could sense their presence, their energy tinged with frustration and anger. It was clear they had discovered the theft of Circe's Emerald and were now in hot pursuit.
Just as I was about to invoke the ancient spell, the very same one that had allowed Circe's spellbound to transform into ravens and traverse the realms, Aureus materialized before me. Their form exuded an aura of authority and power, yet beneath the surface, I could sense their desperation.
"You dare to steal from me?" Aureus's voice reverberated with a mix of fury and disbelief. "That emerald holds powers beyond your comprehension. Return it to me now, and perhaps I shall spare your wretched existence."
I stood on the edge of the castle, the vast expanse stretching out before me. Time and space awaited, ready to be conquered by the wings of the raven. With unwavering resolve, I met Aureus's gaze and spoke with conviction.
"The emerald has chosen a new path, away from your grasp," I declared, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. "Its power will not be wielded by your hands, for it belongs to a greater purpose."
Aureus's expression twisted into a mixture of rage and desperation. Their outstretched hand reached for me, a last-ditch effort to prevent my escape. But I was quicker, fueled by the magic I now possessed.
With a swift motion, I uttered the incantation, and my form transformed into that of a raven. Wings extended, I took flight, the wind carrying me away from the clutches of Aureus. The space between worlds beckoned, an ethereal gateway to new realms and infinite possibilities.
As I soared through the threshold, I glanced back, witnessing Aureus's desperate grasp falling short. Their fingers brushed against the empty air, and with a cry of frustration, they plummeted into the void, disappearing into the abyss between worlds.
In that fleeting moment, I felt a mixture of triumph and sadness. Aureus, once a formidable adversary, now lost in the vast unknown. But my purpose lay beyond their reach, and I knew that I carried the weight of Circe's legacy upon my wings.
Across worlds and time, I journeyed, guided by the whispers of ancient knowledge and the power of the emerald. As I soared through realms, I vowed to protect its magic, to wield it for the greater good, and to ensure that Aureus would never threaten the balance again.
The adventure had only just begun, and I embraced the uncertainty that lay ahead. With the wind beneath my wings, I charted a course through the tapestry of existence, carrying Circe's legacy forward, and leaving Aureus to face the consequences of their insatiable hunger for power in the ever-shifting space between worlds.
"We have but one flight, there will be no way back to Dellfriar when we land." Cory interrupted my musings. "Where are we going?"
I smiled at the question, for it was obvious. Cory was always there, upon my shoulder. For me there was somewhere I wanted to be:
"We are going home."
submitted by dlschindler to Nonsleep [link] [comments]
We had come in through the open window of the room of the manor that held so many books. I'd noticed the old diary right away and begun to read it while the ravens shifted from void travelers to humans.
I frowned, realizing it was just a record of all of her lovers. An impressive body count of seventy-seven, I noted her notation on the last page. Then a chill ran through my blood. The sorcerer in me knew something about them.
"Cory, what sort of magic can be divided into parts, among lovers?" I asked.
"I have no idea, my Lord." Cory looked at the book. "A diary?"
"Yes. Circe's diary, but I suspect it is more than that. She had a second use for these creeps. I bet we could find something." I decided. The fortunate find was only a promise. I had no idea if there was useful magic or not. Whatever magic she had hidden would be worth hiding, obviously.
The others shambled past me and Cory in their open straight jackets and bathrobes and hospital gowns. They had all sorts of weapons: clubs, a broken bottle, a claw pincher and an uzi. I had my staff, carved from the unstable and formless magic between worlds into a proper weapon.
We needed our weapons, dried zombies stood in our way, shuffling among the books. Magical slaves, living corpses. They were still dangerous and had to be destroyed.
For a moment the dead stood in our path, their eyes shimmering blankly in the shadows. They regarded us, the intruders, then began to shuffle towards us. I felt a chill of revulsion at the sight of corpses walking and gagged on their stench. I'd seen far worse, but one never truly gets used to such things.
A loud rapid clapping noise and the merry tinkle of bullet casings erupted from the uzi. It was pretty ineffective. The rest of the Choir brandished their weapons and strode forward like the maniacs they were. Even Scarlet was in the mood to kill something and she tore apart more than one of the shambling dead.
She looked at me and I caught a gleam in her eye of psychotic delight. Some nervous feeling always rose up in me since the first time I had met her. Somehow the shift from a helpless hitchhiker to a hook handed murderer always caught me off guard.
When we'd finished killing the dead we sorted our way out from the books.
Time seemed distorted. How things played out always felt surreal as we partially entered entirely different worlds than our own. There was always a dreamlike perspective, as though I were merely an actor under observation rather than a participant. I often had to remind myself of the grim reality I was trapped in.
I had lost count of the rare artifacts we had stolen for Aureus and the worlds we had invaded and brought death and horror to. I loathed all of it, feared there was no salvation after my numerous misdeeds. What choice did I have?
I led the Choir through the manor, watching myself do so.
There were other servants, just as ghoulish as the dried zombies. We killed everything we met until we got to the master bedroom. The safe was too big to take with us.
"Cater?" I asked our safecracker. She was also totally nuts. Her wild eyes rolled around and beheld the safe as though pretending she hadn't noticed it. Her fake response of joy wasn't really fake, she was actually happy.
"Gots." She whispered and went to work on the safe. The Choir stood around breathing too loudly for her and drooling. Eventually she got it open and took out the green gem. It sparkled evilly. Circe's Emerald.
"Let's go." I said and we all returned to the books and found the ġedwimor was shimmering visibly where we could revert to ravens that could fly home. We leapt through it and into flight. Our rave cast the shadow of one great bird. The magics welcomed us, living and enchanted creatures that we were, and insane. Across worlds and time we flew back to our home.
At Dellfriar we arrived. Except I had finally found my way out. Aureus somehow knew before I did that I held the key to my escape. It was in Circe's Diary that the clue existed. There was more to her spell than turning the enlightened into ravens.
I dreamed of the unkindness of ravens watching me. Cory asked me in the dream:
"How many pigs are on her island?"
I began to count them and I took a step with each number. By the seventy-seventh step I was asleep again, within the dream. I looked at my sleeping form in the dreamscape, surrounded by pigs and watched by ravens. I was looking down from a great distance, it suddenly seemed, and then I was looking up from far below.
"Where are we?" I asked Cory. I stared at my crow and he seemed to be smiling. It was the dream that made it seem so.
"Seventy-seven steps to the bottom, my Lord." Cory advised me. "And each must be counted."
"Those were pigs." I pointed out.
"Pigs that were once men. Each of them descended further, marking a fraction of the way. Love is a journey, a dreamy journey, ever downwards." Cory chirped.
"What about the exact number?" I wondered. To a crow, numbers were more symbolic than literal.
"It's just a number of stairs leading into the dream lands. It means nothing." Cory sounded playful. Cory had learned that numbers were literal to humans. It amused him that I was confused.
"But the number of Circe's lovers?" I asked.
"Of course, they are permanently under her control. They made a bargain, surrendering their bodies. Each of them counts as the descent to the bottom. Their blood and hers is mixed. The blood of her lover's, her blood, they are helpless to her will." Cory explained. I was glad I had read so many books with my crow that we both knew the answers when we met in Dream.
"Where is she?" I sat up from the blue clouds and looked around. As I focused I found I was on an island. What I imagined Circe's prison to look like.
Someone spoke to me:
"You use my spell on yourself. A wereraven, part of a rave of lunatics just like yourself. You have stolen my emerald?" I heard the soft voice of a delicate female. I turned around and saw her there. She was staring at me, her eyes looked curious and a little hurt.
"I stole it for Aureus. They're making a weapon, and your emerald is a suitable component." I explained.
"Aureus?" Circe seemed somehow both amused and irritated at-once. "Neither a man nor a woman. Neither a human nor a creature of magic. Not a young soul nor an old one."
"The same." I sighed in sympathetic exasperation.
"You work for me now. You will steal my emerald from this weapon. You will seal Aureus in a moment stolen from the wheel upon which the ages turn. A moment among the aeons that never was and never will be." Circe smiled strangely for me. I sensed that to her victims she seemed irresistible. I found her charms to be crocodilian.
"You are right." I agreed with her. "We have searched for a long time for a way to defeat Aureus."
"Was the answer..." Circe started to ask a question and then paused for emphasis: "Right in front of you all along?"
"We thought that dying might be the answer. If we were dead we couldn't serve Aureus." Cory sounded cheerful and perky, like he was telling a very funny joke.
"Life." Circe swore. "Life is the answer. You are life from me. You wield my powers with ease, Greatson." Circe's smile looked maternal. It occurred to me that I was immune to her charms because I was her descendant only after I heard her say those words.
"You're my Lord's ancestor?" Cory cleverly surmised. "No wonder he is so valuable to Aureus. I thought it was strange that such a powerful sorcerer required help from my Lord!" Cory cawed with hilarity. The revelation held layers of humor for my crow, who felt like explaining further: "You know, because it is so funny. My Lord would be the last choice of most competent magic users. We've routinely made mistakes that could only be made during the hour that is reserved for amateurs!"
Circe tried to hide her amusement. "I'm sure my Greatson is learning. Even I managed to make a few embarrassing mistakes in my youth."
"Really?" I asked.
"No." Circe smiled. "I'm just trying to make you feel better."
"We shall know the plan?" I interrupted. Circe was standing before me, the short distance between us meant nothing in Dream. She looked serious as she drew upon my eyelids. I could watch her do so with my eyes closed.
Then I awoke in the dream I had descended from. I was again among the pigs and the ravens. From there I shook myself awake in the real world. For a moment I was tempted to shake myself again. Fear that I might wake up in a higher place from which I wouldn't be able find sleep made me hesitate.
"Do you recall the dream we have had, my Lord?" Cory asked.
"About Circe being my great grandma? With a few more 'greats'?" I answered rhetorically.
"Yes. She put a spell on you. Can you see anything that you couldn't?" Cory asked.
I blinked and looked around. For just an instant, out of the corner of my eye, I could see Aureus somewhere else in Dellfriar and busy with the artifact's assembly. Several components were still missing - though.
The theft of Circe's Emerald and the escape from Dellfriar had many outcomes. There is only one that I survived. Only one version that can be reassembled from the chaos of so many worlds collapsing inward, so many realities becoming undone. Circe was right, it was only life - the deepest magic I knew of.
Inspiration came with my new perception. I could see the path ahead of me. I could see that there was only one version in which I survived and escaped. If I had done anything differently, the butterflies of death would have touched me.
I saw the window of opportunity and I knew every step I had to take. I took my bag and my staff, collecting the implements of my magical heists into the bag. I clicked my tongue and my crow alighted upon my shoulder.
With a cunning plan in mind, I ventured into the heart of Aureus's lair alone. The dimly lit chamber was filled with intricate machinery and arcane devices. I could sense the pulsating energy of Circe's Emerald, beckoning to me from its secure pedestal.
Taking utmost care to avoid detection, I stealthily maneuvered through the labyrinthine corridors, relying on my years at Dellfriar as a master thief. The shadows embraced me, concealing my presence from any wandering guards or surveillance systems that may have kept sentinel.
As I reached the chamber, I surveyed the room for any potential traps or alarms. It seemed Aureus had grown complacent, perhaps underestimating the audacity of a lone infiltrator. With a wry smile, I knew this was my moment to strike.
Silently, I approached the pedestal housing the emerald. It radiated a mesmerizing glow, casting ethereal patterns on the walls. Carefully, I retrieved a set of specialized tools from my bag: a combination of lockpicks and arcane implements.
I began to work my way through the security measures protecting Circe's Emerald. Each lock and enchantment posed a challenge, but my skilled hands moved with precision and finesse. The emerald's aura seemed to dance in anticipation, as if recognizing the touch of someone who understood its power.
Minutes stretched into eternity as I delicately dismantled the final obstacle. With a soft click, the emerald was finally free from its confinements. Holding it delicately in my gloved hand, I could feel the vibrant energy coursing through my fingertips.
But my mission was not yet complete. I had to make my escape undetected, evading any Choir or enchantments that may lie in my path. The emerald, now securely concealed within a specially crafted case, remained a beacon of power.
Slinking through the shadows, I retraced my steps, navigating the treacherous corridors with the precision of a phantom. Every movement was calculated, every sound muffled, ensuring that my presence went unnoticed.
As I emerged from the depths of Aureus's lair, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins. I had accomplished what seemed impossible: an audacious heist of Circe's Emerald from under the nose of a powerful adversary.
With the emerald secured, I vanished into the night, leaving no trace of my daring feat behind. The power of Circe's Emerald now resided in my possession, a relic of immense potential. Its fate, and the choice of how to wield its formidable magic, rested solely in my hands.
Little did Aureus or The Choir suspect that their plans had been quietly usurped. The heist had been a success, an act of cunning and skill that would alter the course of their intricate dance. In the shadows, I contemplated my next move, knowing that the emerald would grant me the power to shape destiny itself.
As I reached the top of the castle, a gust of wind tousled my hair, carrying with it the whispered echoes of Aureus's approach. I could sense their presence, their energy tinged with frustration and anger. It was clear they had discovered the theft of Circe's Emerald and were now in hot pursuit.
Just as I was about to invoke the ancient spell, the very same one that had allowed Circe's spellbound to transform into ravens and traverse the realms, Aureus materialized before me. Their form exuded an aura of authority and power, yet beneath the surface, I could sense their desperation.
"You dare to steal from me?" Aureus's voice reverberated with a mix of fury and disbelief. "That emerald holds powers beyond your comprehension. Return it to me now, and perhaps I shall spare your wretched existence."
I stood on the edge of the castle, the vast expanse stretching out before me. Time and space awaited, ready to be conquered by the wings of the raven. With unwavering resolve, I met Aureus's gaze and spoke with conviction.
"The emerald has chosen a new path, away from your grasp," I declared, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. "Its power will not be wielded by your hands, for it belongs to a greater purpose."
Aureus's expression twisted into a mixture of rage and desperation. Their outstretched hand reached for me, a last-ditch effort to prevent my escape. But I was quicker, fueled by the magic I now possessed.
With a swift motion, I uttered the incantation, and my form transformed into that of a raven. Wings extended, I took flight, the wind carrying me away from the clutches of Aureus. The space between worlds beckoned, an ethereal gateway to new realms and infinite possibilities.
As I soared through the threshold, I glanced back, witnessing Aureus's desperate grasp falling short. Their fingers brushed against the empty air, and with a cry of frustration, they plummeted into the void, disappearing into the abyss between worlds.
In that fleeting moment, I felt a mixture of triumph and sadness. Aureus, once a formidable adversary, now lost in the vast unknown. But my purpose lay beyond their reach, and I knew that I carried the weight of Circe's legacy upon my wings.
Across worlds and time, I journeyed, guided by the whispers of ancient knowledge and the power of the emerald. As I soared through realms, I vowed to protect its magic, to wield it for the greater good, and to ensure that Aureus would never threaten the balance again.
The adventure had only just begun, and I embraced the uncertainty that lay ahead. With the wind beneath my wings, I charted a course through the tapestry of existence, carrying Circe's legacy forward, and leaving Aureus to face the consequences of their insatiable hunger for power in the ever-shifting space between worlds.
"We have but one flight, there will be no way back to Dellfriar when we land." Cory interrupted my musings. "Where are we going?"
I smiled at the question, for it was obvious. Cory was always there, upon my shoulder. For me there was somewhere I wanted to be:
"We are going home."
2023.06.07 17:53 Neat-Ad-7103 Need advice
Okay so I live in a pretty small town in the only big store that carries any type of like Beauty stuff is Walmart so I need all of the best Walmart hacks! When it comes to makeup I'm starting a new job and it's front of the house to host and I need to look my best but I am new to make up so any tips, tricks, products you got please share with me!!
Also what is the best way to remove hair in the binkie area that's the least painful?? I used to shave but I used to get so many ingrown hairs that I just can't handle shaving anymore it's not something I can do anymore but I want to be smooth again I am tired of being a Sasquatch y'all!!! Is there a way to wax without it being painful? Does applying baby powder really work to make it less painful?
Literally have never been a girly girl I've always walked in the kitchen so I never had to worry about my appearance but now I actually have to worry about it and I actually am worried.
submitted by Neat-Ad-7103 to beauty [link] [comments]
Also what is the best way to remove hair in the binkie area that's the least painful?? I used to shave but I used to get so many ingrown hairs that I just can't handle shaving anymore it's not something I can do anymore but I want to be smooth again I am tired of being a Sasquatch y'all!!! Is there a way to wax without it being painful? Does applying baby powder really work to make it less painful?
Literally have never been a girly girl I've always walked in the kitchen so I never had to worry about my appearance but now I actually have to worry about it and I actually am worried.
2023.06.07 17:43 Heidirs Understanding ADHD sensory issues...?
Recently diagnosed and still learning things. I've heard people with ADHD can have sensory issues. My husband, who we think might be on the ASD spectrum, has "severe" sensory issues where loud sounds and bright lights can cause him physical pain. For example, a child screaming in a restaurant or store is a slight-to-no annoyance for me, while for him, it's like someone stabbed him in the ear. A light reflection on a car might just be bright to me, but for him, it's sharp and blinding and can instantly start a migraine.
Since my sensory issues aren't the same as his, I initially thought I don't have sensory issues. But lately, I've been noticing things that bother me that I once thought was "normal" but might not actually be?
I don't wear jewelry. Necklaces and bracelets feel "heavy" to me. I'm constantly aware of their presence on my body. I worry about losing or damaging them. Also, sometimes the metal can be really cold! It's very anxiety inducing for me, so I just don't wear jewelry except for my wedding ring and a necklace for job interviews.
Also, on the cold metal thread, I don't buy shirts with zippers (because that's cold on my skin!) and even avoid some jeans that have a zipper or button that I notice against my skin.
I hate the feel of make up. It's like someone took a baked cake with icing and spread it all over my face. It hate it. I don't want it. I don't know how people stand it.
I hate sleeves with elastic bands that hold around your wrists. They feel restrictive, and I can't stop noticing it, so I don't wear those.
I hate feeling hot on the back of my neck. I was explaining this to my husband when he asked why I cut my hair, and he didn't seem to quite get it. Is that weird?
I hate the feeling of cold on shaved legs. This is one of the things that got me into joining the men on "no shave November" (and eventually stop shaving all together).
I hate going to the beach because I HATE the feeling of sand and salt on my skin. It's awful. I don't like going to the beach for this reason, and if I do it to go along with friends, I HAVE to shower to get all the salt and sand off me immediately afterward. People think I'm weird.
Are these things normal? Surely neurotypical people have things they hate the feel of... how do I know what's ADHD related? Does it even matter in the long run? lol!
submitted by Heidirs to adhdwomen [link] [comments]
Since my sensory issues aren't the same as his, I initially thought I don't have sensory issues. But lately, I've been noticing things that bother me that I once thought was "normal" but might not actually be?
I don't wear jewelry. Necklaces and bracelets feel "heavy" to me. I'm constantly aware of their presence on my body. I worry about losing or damaging them. Also, sometimes the metal can be really cold! It's very anxiety inducing for me, so I just don't wear jewelry except for my wedding ring and a necklace for job interviews.
Also, on the cold metal thread, I don't buy shirts with zippers (because that's cold on my skin!) and even avoid some jeans that have a zipper or button that I notice against my skin.
I hate the feel of make up. It's like someone took a baked cake with icing and spread it all over my face. It hate it. I don't want it. I don't know how people stand it.
I hate sleeves with elastic bands that hold around your wrists. They feel restrictive, and I can't stop noticing it, so I don't wear those.
I hate feeling hot on the back of my neck. I was explaining this to my husband when he asked why I cut my hair, and he didn't seem to quite get it. Is that weird?
I hate the feeling of cold on shaved legs. This is one of the things that got me into joining the men on "no shave November" (and eventually stop shaving all together).
I hate going to the beach because I HATE the feeling of sand and salt on my skin. It's awful. I don't like going to the beach for this reason, and if I do it to go along with friends, I HAVE to shower to get all the salt and sand off me immediately afterward. People think I'm weird.
Are these things normal? Surely neurotypical people have things they hate the feel of... how do I know what's ADHD related? Does it even matter in the long run? lol!
2023.06.07 17:38 Big-Apricot-2651 WiFi Robot Vacuum and Mop with 2000Pa Suction for Pet Hair - 80% off
submitted by Big-Apricot-2651 to deals_tower [link] [comments]
2023.06.07 17:36 vinehex25322 My first IDWHL experience???
Not super crazy, but I thought it might be funny enough to share.
Some background: I (21F) work in an after-school piano class program that works with multiple school districts in my area. We are independent from the school districts, so I am not employed by them. During the summer, I have a small class that meets at a new school in the morning while the summer school students are also using the school.....
The story:
It's Day 1. I am talking with some parents outside after class. I can see that there are several summer school parents also lined up to pick up kids. I think nothing of this until I see Her....
This mom is wearing a full matching white athleisure set of some kind (I think high heels are part of this outfit, but I was too distracted by her open-mouth gum chewing to know) with her long hair curled in a high pony tail and her full face of makeup done. She looks to be in her early-to-mid-30s. I don't recognize her, but she is making a beeline straight for me.
Me: "Hi!"
Athleisure Mom: "Hi, I'm here for Firstname Lastname."
I know there is a girl with the name Firstname in my class, so I check my roster(open-mouth chewing noises are still coming from this lady btw). Nope, she's not the same girl.
Me: "Uhh, nope! I don't have a Firstname Lastname."
Athleisure Mom, dancing in her pants like she wants to stomp her feet, while also mocking my cheerful voice: eyeroll "Uh, yes. You do!" chews gum aggressively "Is this not where summer school gets out?"
Me: "Well... I think the summer school kids were out in the back but I don't know, I'm not part of their group. You can probably ask the office?"
Athleisure Mom: "Well where do the summer school kids get out then!?" chew chew chew
Me: "Ma'am.... My program is separate from summer school. I teach an external piano class, I don't work here."
Athleisure Mom: "Oh." chews gum aggressively while giving me a once-over "Hmph." turns and walks away
I honestly was just standing there trying not to laugh. I could also hear her loudly complaining about something to another mom several cars away but I couldn't tell you what it was about. I hope she found out where summer school gets let out 😂
submitted by vinehex25322 to IDontWorkHereLady [link] [comments]
Some background: I (21F) work in an after-school piano class program that works with multiple school districts in my area. We are independent from the school districts, so I am not employed by them. During the summer, I have a small class that meets at a new school in the morning while the summer school students are also using the school.....
The story:
It's Day 1. I am talking with some parents outside after class. I can see that there are several summer school parents also lined up to pick up kids. I think nothing of this until I see Her....
This mom is wearing a full matching white athleisure set of some kind (I think high heels are part of this outfit, but I was too distracted by her open-mouth gum chewing to know) with her long hair curled in a high pony tail and her full face of makeup done. She looks to be in her early-to-mid-30s. I don't recognize her, but she is making a beeline straight for me.
Me: "Hi!"
Athleisure Mom: "Hi, I'm here for Firstname Lastname."
I know there is a girl with the name Firstname in my class, so I check my roster(open-mouth chewing noises are still coming from this lady btw). Nope, she's not the same girl.
Me: "Uhh, nope! I don't have a Firstname Lastname."
Athleisure Mom, dancing in her pants like she wants to stomp her feet, while also mocking my cheerful voice: eyeroll "Uh, yes. You do!" chews gum aggressively "Is this not where summer school gets out?"
Me: "Well... I think the summer school kids were out in the back but I don't know, I'm not part of their group. You can probably ask the office?"
Athleisure Mom: "Well where do the summer school kids get out then!?" chew chew chew
Me: "Ma'am.... My program is separate from summer school. I teach an external piano class, I don't work here."
Athleisure Mom: "Oh." chews gum aggressively while giving me a once-over "Hmph." turns and walks away
I honestly was just standing there trying not to laugh. I could also hear her loudly complaining about something to another mom several cars away but I couldn't tell you what it was about. I hope she found out where summer school gets let out 😂
2023.06.07 17:35 Rainbow5235 Back out of Being Bridesmaid (for This Weekend?)
My apologies that this is so long!!
I’ve known my friend for over a decade now. We’ve been best friends in high school and then we started to drift apart when she went to college. Then one day mid way through her college career, I came out as queer to her. Everything seemed to change after that.
She is a very conservative, faith-based person who is not welcoming of the LGBTQIA+ community. And I knew this coming out to her as I was in the same position prior to coming out and was transitioning from that world to now accepting myself and the LGBTQIA+ community. When I came out, I told her that we don’t have to be friends and that if it makes her more comfortable, we can limit our friendship. She ran with the latter and we’ve only talked and seen each other maybe 2-3 times per year for the past three years. When we do talk, it’s mostly about her life. And if we do talk about my life, I feel her judgement through the follow up questions she asks.
She’s always been a bit wishy washy on her side of the relationship since the beginning. I would attend her family’s important events and as her mom said, “became a part of the family.” When it came to important events in my life, she’s attended only one. I remember on one birthday, she was going to come pick me up to celebrate. She never did show up and after an hour and a half of waiting for her (this was in high school), I drove over to her house to find she slept in, was still in bed, and was “just about to text me” that she was going to cancel. Same type of thing happened last year, I hadn’t seen her in a year and we made plans to see each other weeks in advance. That same weekend, her brother was coming home since he’s out of state right now (and she knew about this when we were planning) and decided to cancel on me the day of stating “she’d like to spend time with her brother” who was staying for a week. Or the time I cut my hair short earlier this year, and she preferred it long because it made me look more like I should be - a female - and not the nonbinary that I am.
Fast forward to six months ago, she got engaged to a guy who pocketed her for the first 6 months of their relationship and has only gone on a couple of dates with her for the second half of the year that they’ve known each other. To this day, she’s still embarrassed to not wear makeup around him and to show him her natural self with her interests, her goals, and her funny and awesome quirkiness, etc. She asked me to be a bridesmaid less than 3 months ago.
I don’t agree to the marriage and she’s definitely picked up on that from me, especially after I told her that he’s not the one after she’s told me how he treats her. I’ve never met the groom; she’s always had me stay the distance, even after requesting to meet him multiple times. Hell, she kept his identity a secret from me until three or four months after he stopped pocketing her and they were “official.” I was the last of her friends to know who he was.
I work in events and my main event was a couple of weekends ago. She told me that she made sure to not have her wedding on the weekend of my event (which I’m grateful for), but then I found out three days before my event, she scheduled her bachelorette party on the day of my event, so I was unable to go. She hasn’t included me on anything so far. Girls night out? “Family only.” Help with decor or planning? “I have a long time family friend who is my planner; I have it covered.” Wedding dress hunting? “Small group of family only.” Although I’ve offered help and a couple of my amazing group of 75+ aged friends (that volunteer at my event with setting up, decorations, performer hospitality, etc.) to help her with her wedding decorations (since she asked for help with setting them up), she ignored my texts, texted the bridesmaid group chat for help 30 minutes after I texted her and then again 7 hours after I texted her, and then 10 hours after I texted her, came back and said, “well it looks like I have enough people to help now, so I don’t want to put you all in a position where they don’t have anything to do. See you at rehearsal!”
I don’t feel apart of her life or that she wants me to be part of her life. I feel like I’m included only because I’m the only friend she’s known for 10 years and that maybe she feels like if she didn’t invite me as a bridesmaid that she’s “hurt my feelings.” I feel like I’m being pocketed - especially when she said she first mentioned me to her fiancé three months ago when she told him she asked me to be a bridesmaid after he asked “who is ‘X’?”
I don’t want to ruin her wedding and make her feel bad because I genuinely still want to support her - despite our differences - but I also don’t honestly know if I want to be in a place where I don’t support the couple and to just “grin” it. I know it’s late with me realizing all of this now - especially with the wedding being this weekend, but I tend to hold onto relationships that hurt me (but I’m working on it!) I need help on what to do.
submitted by Rainbow5235 to FriendshipAdvice [link] [comments]
I’ve known my friend for over a decade now. We’ve been best friends in high school and then we started to drift apart when she went to college. Then one day mid way through her college career, I came out as queer to her. Everything seemed to change after that.
She is a very conservative, faith-based person who is not welcoming of the LGBTQIA+ community. And I knew this coming out to her as I was in the same position prior to coming out and was transitioning from that world to now accepting myself and the LGBTQIA+ community. When I came out, I told her that we don’t have to be friends and that if it makes her more comfortable, we can limit our friendship. She ran with the latter and we’ve only talked and seen each other maybe 2-3 times per year for the past three years. When we do talk, it’s mostly about her life. And if we do talk about my life, I feel her judgement through the follow up questions she asks.
She’s always been a bit wishy washy on her side of the relationship since the beginning. I would attend her family’s important events and as her mom said, “became a part of the family.” When it came to important events in my life, she’s attended only one. I remember on one birthday, she was going to come pick me up to celebrate. She never did show up and after an hour and a half of waiting for her (this was in high school), I drove over to her house to find she slept in, was still in bed, and was “just about to text me” that she was going to cancel. Same type of thing happened last year, I hadn’t seen her in a year and we made plans to see each other weeks in advance. That same weekend, her brother was coming home since he’s out of state right now (and she knew about this when we were planning) and decided to cancel on me the day of stating “she’d like to spend time with her brother” who was staying for a week. Or the time I cut my hair short earlier this year, and she preferred it long because it made me look more like I should be - a female - and not the nonbinary that I am.
Fast forward to six months ago, she got engaged to a guy who pocketed her for the first 6 months of their relationship and has only gone on a couple of dates with her for the second half of the year that they’ve known each other. To this day, she’s still embarrassed to not wear makeup around him and to show him her natural self with her interests, her goals, and her funny and awesome quirkiness, etc. She asked me to be a bridesmaid less than 3 months ago.
I don’t agree to the marriage and she’s definitely picked up on that from me, especially after I told her that he’s not the one after she’s told me how he treats her. I’ve never met the groom; she’s always had me stay the distance, even after requesting to meet him multiple times. Hell, she kept his identity a secret from me until three or four months after he stopped pocketing her and they were “official.” I was the last of her friends to know who he was.
I work in events and my main event was a couple of weekends ago. She told me that she made sure to not have her wedding on the weekend of my event (which I’m grateful for), but then I found out three days before my event, she scheduled her bachelorette party on the day of my event, so I was unable to go. She hasn’t included me on anything so far. Girls night out? “Family only.” Help with decor or planning? “I have a long time family friend who is my planner; I have it covered.” Wedding dress hunting? “Small group of family only.” Although I’ve offered help and a couple of my amazing group of 75+ aged friends (that volunteer at my event with setting up, decorations, performer hospitality, etc.) to help her with her wedding decorations (since she asked for help with setting them up), she ignored my texts, texted the bridesmaid group chat for help 30 minutes after I texted her and then again 7 hours after I texted her, and then 10 hours after I texted her, came back and said, “well it looks like I have enough people to help now, so I don’t want to put you all in a position where they don’t have anything to do. See you at rehearsal!”
I don’t feel apart of her life or that she wants me to be part of her life. I feel like I’m included only because I’m the only friend she’s known for 10 years and that maybe she feels like if she didn’t invite me as a bridesmaid that she’s “hurt my feelings.” I feel like I’m being pocketed - especially when she said she first mentioned me to her fiancé three months ago when she told him she asked me to be a bridesmaid after he asked “who is ‘X’?”
I don’t want to ruin her wedding and make her feel bad because I genuinely still want to support her - despite our differences - but I also don’t honestly know if I want to be in a place where I don’t support the couple and to just “grin” it. I know it’s late with me realizing all of this now - especially with the wedding being this weekend, but I tend to hold onto relationships that hurt me (but I’m working on it!) I need help on what to do.
2023.06.07 17:27 bellumaster Generally Applicable
Cadropy entered the common area of the researcher’s collective. A dejected aura hung about the scholar, every possible physical indicator of defeat found about the alien’s long, lanky body.
Three of Cadropy’s peers immediately picked up on their classmate’s mood, their bodies tightly tuned to the vibrations of the room.
“Cadropy, what’s going on? Has something happened?”Cadropy slumped upon a stress pad.
“You know of my thesis?”
“Of course. ‘Optimal Design of Physical Appendages.’ The tutors are quite taken with it.”
“Well, I’m afraid it’s done.”
The disbelief in the room was palpable.
“Done? You’ve barely even scratched the surface of your research block!”
“What do you mean?”
“How can it be done? There are still calls to revise your first milestone report!”
Cadropy stretched, nearly splitting at the seams. “That’s what started it all! Tutor Vellopionee made a remark on how the pinching capacities of the Vull-”
“Oh, I’m so taken with that race.”
“We know. Continue, Cadropy.”
“Thank you. That their pinching capacities were eclipsed by a small species recently introduced into the accord.”
“Oh? What species is this?”
“Humans. Unassuming-looking things, but their AT meter is absurd.”
“Ahh...”
“Applicable tests. There’s barely any information on them at the moment, but every time I research the appendages of another race for my thesis- and I do mean every time- there is, unfailingly, a footnote that refers to a source of humans doing the same with their hands.”
“Come now, they can’t be that versatile.”
“Surely it’s a technical error. Remember when the Allik Complex was mistakenly linked to every reference point?”
“Cadropy, you’re drifting. The point, if you would.”
Cadropy lay motionless and stared dead ahead. “I’ve studied over eighty different limb endings and all their various methods of interaction with environments. All this with the sole aim of defining which of them is the most useful for the most tasks. Seventy-nine of them have examples of a human hand performing said task in the xeno-parallel section, the majority of them submitted by some Klein researcher who goes by the name Ishae.”
“Perhaps this researcher has some bias towards humans?”
“Bias or not, the evidence remains that human hands can, indeed, approximate the vast majority of interactions.”
Cadropy had grown tense while speaking, then suddenly deflated.“
How can I create proper tension in a thesis with so obvious a winner? With such vague information, as well?”
Cadropy’s peers immediately jumped to prove their peer wrong.
“Surely they can’t pull objects.”
“With their hands, there are over eight different variations in grasping and pulling alone.”
“What of the Kennly method? By using the hairs on their bodies, they can hold items through infinite application of friction.”
“Humans can do the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale. The hairs on their hands can hold tiny objects- its assumed the hair grew to keep pests from their flesh.”
“Suction?”
“They can create a vacuum in the palms of their hands.”
“Traumatic insertion?”
“They’ve shown able to jab into and through stage four materials with their fingers.”
“Cutting?”
“They have fingernails.”
“Abrasion?”
“Their fingerprints act as fine abrasives.”
“Fine motor skills?”
Cadropy looked as though it would cry. “Don’t even get me started.”
“Differential force applications?”
“Tactile sensory feedback?”
“Blunt bludgeoning?”
Cadropy rose from the stress bed, then threw itself down on it again for the sheer drama of it. “Yes to all of them! It’s a nightmare!”
The young scholar gestured wildly with the stubby lumps that served as ‘hands’, so wildly incompetent compared to the topic at hand.
“They can supinate, pronate, push, pull, crush, strike, craft, write, draw, build- twist, fan, swim, crawl, hang, balance, hold, support, arch, identify gender- it’s absurd!”
Cadropy’s peers fell silent, struck by the implications. To have a singular answer to a thesis without strong argument and counter-argument for discussion did not bode well. To submit such a thing might as well be the same as submitting a statement of fact and expecting others to argue against it, which wasn’t possible.
One of Cadropy’s classmates spoke.
“There’s only one thing for it. You need to change the basis of your thesis.”The other two classmates recoiled in horror as Cadropy exhumed stress. “There’s no other way- if things continue this way, I’ll have to declare intellectual bankruptcy.”
Cadropy’s classmates gave what words of encouragement they could.
“I’m sure the tutors will be understanding if you present the evidence.”
“To have such a lovely thesis so cruelly taken away from you- a tragedy, complete and whole.”
“If only this race hadn’t presented its appendages so callously.”
Cadropy winced. “They have those too.”
Cadropy stood and left the room of the collective to begin reframing its thesis.
“Those humans and their damned hands.”
-----
Author's note: I really don't know where we'd be without thumbs
Cadropy is referencing, of course, Ishae's work in Interactive Education
submitted by bellumaster to HFY [link] [comments]
Three of Cadropy’s peers immediately picked up on their classmate’s mood, their bodies tightly tuned to the vibrations of the room.
“Cadropy, what’s going on? Has something happened?”Cadropy slumped upon a stress pad.
“You know of my thesis?”
“Of course. ‘Optimal Design of Physical Appendages.’ The tutors are quite taken with it.”
“Well, I’m afraid it’s done.”
The disbelief in the room was palpable.
“Done? You’ve barely even scratched the surface of your research block!”
“What do you mean?”
“How can it be done? There are still calls to revise your first milestone report!”
Cadropy stretched, nearly splitting at the seams. “That’s what started it all! Tutor Vellopionee made a remark on how the pinching capacities of the Vull-”
“Oh, I’m so taken with that race.”
“We know. Continue, Cadropy.”
“Thank you. That their pinching capacities were eclipsed by a small species recently introduced into the accord.”
“Oh? What species is this?”
“Humans. Unassuming-looking things, but their AT meter is absurd.”
“Ahh...”
“Applicable tests. There’s barely any information on them at the moment, but every time I research the appendages of another race for my thesis- and I do mean every time- there is, unfailingly, a footnote that refers to a source of humans doing the same with their hands.”
“Come now, they can’t be that versatile.”
“Surely it’s a technical error. Remember when the Allik Complex was mistakenly linked to every reference point?”
“Cadropy, you’re drifting. The point, if you would.”
Cadropy lay motionless and stared dead ahead. “I’ve studied over eighty different limb endings and all their various methods of interaction with environments. All this with the sole aim of defining which of them is the most useful for the most tasks. Seventy-nine of them have examples of a human hand performing said task in the xeno-parallel section, the majority of them submitted by some Klein researcher who goes by the name Ishae.”
“Perhaps this researcher has some bias towards humans?”
“Bias or not, the evidence remains that human hands can, indeed, approximate the vast majority of interactions.”
Cadropy had grown tense while speaking, then suddenly deflated.“
How can I create proper tension in a thesis with so obvious a winner? With such vague information, as well?”
Cadropy’s peers immediately jumped to prove their peer wrong.
“Surely they can’t pull objects.”
“With their hands, there are over eight different variations in grasping and pulling alone.”
“What of the Kennly method? By using the hairs on their bodies, they can hold items through infinite application of friction.”
“Humans can do the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale. The hairs on their hands can hold tiny objects- its assumed the hair grew to keep pests from their flesh.”
“Suction?”
“They can create a vacuum in the palms of their hands.”
“Traumatic insertion?”
“They’ve shown able to jab into and through stage four materials with their fingers.”
“Cutting?”
“They have fingernails.”
“Abrasion?”
“Their fingerprints act as fine abrasives.”
“Fine motor skills?”
Cadropy looked as though it would cry. “Don’t even get me started.”
“Differential force applications?”
“Tactile sensory feedback?”
“Blunt bludgeoning?”
Cadropy rose from the stress bed, then threw itself down on it again for the sheer drama of it. “Yes to all of them! It’s a nightmare!”
The young scholar gestured wildly with the stubby lumps that served as ‘hands’, so wildly incompetent compared to the topic at hand.
“They can supinate, pronate, push, pull, crush, strike, craft, write, draw, build- twist, fan, swim, crawl, hang, balance, hold, support, arch, identify gender- it’s absurd!”
Cadropy’s peers fell silent, struck by the implications. To have a singular answer to a thesis without strong argument and counter-argument for discussion did not bode well. To submit such a thing might as well be the same as submitting a statement of fact and expecting others to argue against it, which wasn’t possible.
One of Cadropy’s classmates spoke.
“There’s only one thing for it. You need to change the basis of your thesis.”The other two classmates recoiled in horror as Cadropy exhumed stress. “There’s no other way- if things continue this way, I’ll have to declare intellectual bankruptcy.”
Cadropy’s classmates gave what words of encouragement they could.
“I’m sure the tutors will be understanding if you present the evidence.”
“To have such a lovely thesis so cruelly taken away from you- a tragedy, complete and whole.”
“If only this race hadn’t presented its appendages so callously.”
Cadropy winced. “They have those too.”
Cadropy stood and left the room of the collective to begin reframing its thesis.
“Those humans and their damned hands.”
-----
Author's note: I really don't know where we'd be without thumbs
Cadropy is referencing, of course, Ishae's work in Interactive Education
2023.06.07 17:18 ziphode24 [LFA] Lissianna Normandie, Shadow Sorcerer Dhampir (half-elf). Backstory in comments
![[LFA] Lissianna Normandie, Shadow Sorcerer Dhampir (half-elf). Backstory in comments](https://preview.redd.it/twlxacew4m4b1.png?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=948f040809b5f39814188ba0614e28492abeb82e "[LFA] Lissianna Normandie, Shadow Sorcerer Dhampir (half-elf). Backstory in comments") | submitted by ziphode24 to characterdrawing [link] [comments] |
2023.06.07 17:08 nordjorts George Clanton ruled out
 | submitted by nordjorts to DesertDaze [link] [comments] |
2023.06.07 17:06 YY-ORI George Clanton's "the tour" US dates announced
 | Tickets on sale Friday, June 9th! submitted by YY-ORI to georgeclanton [link] [comments] |
2023.06.07 17:05 I-touch-grass-daily I'm not gay.
I'm not gay, I'm completely straight. yeah... uhhh.. I love women, and their pretty eyes and uhhh... their hair, if they have hair... But I think it's not gay to think that men are handsome. I especially think it's not gay to think that my roommate is handsome... I mean... He has raven black hair that's super smooth and silky... His eyes are like the surface of a deep ocean... His smile is as sweet as honey... When he looks at me, I feel excited, but not because I'm gay, but because I simply appreciate handsome men. And no, it's not gay to fantasize going on dates with him, imagine our wedding or dream about raising children with him. They're just silly thoughts, everyone has them, right? Everytime I'm laying alone in the dark, and I'm supposed to sleep, I think about him and his beautiful face, his tall, muscular body and the kind way he talks to me. It's not gay to appreciate our friendship. And no, it's not gay to blush when he holds my hand... Or when he looks at me with his mesmerizing eyes or when he embraces me with his strong, gentle arms. It's not gay to kiss him, that was just a joke. I tried to laugh it off, but the excitement wouldn't just stop. And it's not gay to confess my love to him... When he said he loved me back, I felt happy... Oh... Maybe I am gay.
submitted by I-touch-grass-daily to copypasta [link] [comments]
2023.06.07 17:04 bonehouses Miami makeup artist
Does anyone know of a more natural/romantic/clean aesthetic makeup artist in Miami? My fiancé and I are getting married there next spring. I’ve had my makeup done for his cousins’ weddings there before, and I always ended up full glam regardless of what I asked for. I really don’t want that style for our wedding. Any help is appreciated!
submitted by bonehouses to BigBudgetBrides [link] [comments]
2023.06.07 16:49 Front-Grapefruit-257 AITA for wanting a room switch
AITA for wanting a room switch
So I'm a college student and because it's the summer I live in a dorm. The school had originally told us we'd be in apartments for the summer which I was excited for. But come the day I'm supposed to move in, I've gotten no information about where I'm staying so I call up the housing office just to find out on the move in day that we're going to be in dorms, not apartments. So much for having a kitchen and my own space. I moved in and met my roommate and everything was going fine for a while. From the first day we moved in, I didn't have my own toilet paper and garbage bags and I let her know that I can't buy them until I get paid within the next week so they say it's fine. We talked and went to the gym together and we had a nice thing going, until I made one mistake. One day I needed to use the bathroom, we shared it with the 2 girls next door, but when I went in there was no toilet paper. I really had to go and I couldn't find my wipes so I quickly grabbed one of my roommates rolls (which was out in the open and she had been sharing with me and the other 2 girls) and ran in. I had planned to ask her if I could use the roll afterwards but because I was in a rush to get off campus and because I have ADHD and am extremely forgetful especially when I'm stressed, I forgot to text her and ask. About an hour or so later, I got a text from her asking me if I had put one of her rolls in the bathroom. I apologized and let her know that I really had to use the bathroom and there was none in here and that I had planned to ask her but I had completely forgotten. I told her that I would be getting toilet paper within the next two days since I had just got paid and I would give her back the rule to make up for it. The reason I left campus was because I needed to run some errands quickly before the school took us to see the new Spider-Man later that day. I finished my errands return to school and she was not there so I prepared to go to the movies and then went and then when I came back and tried speaking to her and she ignored me completely. This went on for the next few days. Not only was she not conversing with me like the way we had been originally, but she was now just ignoring anything I had to say, even when it pertained to something about our room. A few days later, just like I said I would, I bought my own toilet paper and gave them a roll to make up for the one I put in the bathroom. I even put extra rolls in the bathroom because I felt bad that I had been using everyone else's when I didn't have any of my own before. They did not take the roll and claimed they were over it when their actions clearly said something else. Not only that but they constantly get things that got on my nerves like they love making phone calls in the middle of the night which is really annoying. Because they're always doing this I usually turn on my TV and watch an event to try to drown it out but they're also extremely loud and I have hearing issues. They also keep our window open when I do not like it open because I sleep with my head right next to it and I heard gunshots a few days ago and was not able to sleep because of it. I tried apologizing multiple times and I tried to mend the situation I gave the back of the world like I said and they were like I don't want it on over it when clearly they weren't since they were still acting Petty. I did not feel comfortable and I did not believe that her treatment was fair over me making a mistake that I tried to fix multiple times. If they didn't want us to talk the way we used to I suppose I can understand that but to just straight up ignore somebody that you're sharing a room with because you want to remain petty over a situation that you claim you're over, that's just wrong. A few days ago I spoke to my older sister about the situation and told her how uncomfortable it was making me and that I did not want to change the situation and after I hung up with her I asked an RA about switching rooms. Told me I would have to call back in the morning and that same night my roommate complained that apparently our room was filthy because of me. That I have too much stuff and that my hair was everywhere and it made her uncomfortable. I found it hilarious that she was perfectly willing to talk when it came to what she wanted or wasn't ok with but whenever I tried to voice my concerns I was ignored. But with the things they complained about, when I first moved in I brought more stuff than I had planned on. Me and my father had gotten up to the school later than we planned and we had to go to my storage facility which was 20 minutes away to get stuff for me to bring onto campus. I wanted to look through my stuff to see what I actually needed to bring into my dorm but because it had been so late, my dad was in a hurry and basically just told me to grab everything. I had recognized about a week or so ago that I had too much stuff in here but because I don't drive, I take the bus, I didn't really have a way of transporting the extra stuff back to my storage unit so my space wouldn't be as crowded. Also the hair thing, I am a black woman and I am currently wearing my hair out. I usually have braids in but the braids I had before I took out because they started to look bad. I had my hair out to let it rest for a few weeks before I got it done again. Whenever I do my hair it sheds and before we were having issues I would use their broom to sweep it up. But after the whole toilet paper situation I figured that they didn't want me using their stuff so I stopped sweeping up my hair. I would try to pick it up but wasn't always able to do so. I was just like I guess it'll just have to wait until I can buy a broom which isn't gonna happen for another week or so. I didn't even bother telling them these things because I wanted the room change as well. Plus the thing that they said that really pissed me off was that apparently every time I use the sink to do my hair, I leave the sink wet…IT'S A SINK. I had been the one to ask someone about it long before they did anyway. I understand that I made a mistake, I constantly make mistakes literally on a daily basis. The other day when the school took us to the movies, I lost my wallet. I constantly lose my wallet, I constantly make mistakes all the time and forget things all the time. I'm not saying that I personally should be given a patch but because we're only human and everyone makes mistakes, we should be willing to forgive each other. Especially when they try multiple times to show remorse and try to amend the situation. And before anyone asks how I would have felt if the situation had been reversed, I wouldn't have been mad because I knew they were going to buy some of their own within the next few days and we were all sharing it anyway. So AITA?
submitted by Front-Grapefruit-257 to AITAH [link] [comments]
So I'm a college student and because it's the summer I live in a dorm. The school had originally told us we'd be in apartments for the summer which I was excited for. But come the day I'm supposed to move in, I've gotten no information about where I'm staying so I call up the housing office just to find out on the move in day that we're going to be in dorms, not apartments. So much for having a kitchen and my own space. I moved in and met my roommate and everything was going fine for a while. From the first day we moved in, I didn't have my own toilet paper and garbage bags and I let her know that I can't buy them until I get paid within the next week so they say it's fine. We talked and went to the gym together and we had a nice thing going, until I made one mistake. One day I needed to use the bathroom, we shared it with the 2 girls next door, but when I went in there was no toilet paper. I really had to go and I couldn't find my wipes so I quickly grabbed one of my roommates rolls (which was out in the open and she had been sharing with me and the other 2 girls) and ran in. I had planned to ask her if I could use the roll afterwards but because I was in a rush to get off campus and because I have ADHD and am extremely forgetful especially when I'm stressed, I forgot to text her and ask. About an hour or so later, I got a text from her asking me if I had put one of her rolls in the bathroom. I apologized and let her know that I really had to use the bathroom and there was none in here and that I had planned to ask her but I had completely forgotten. I told her that I would be getting toilet paper within the next two days since I had just got paid and I would give her back the rule to make up for it. The reason I left campus was because I needed to run some errands quickly before the school took us to see the new Spider-Man later that day. I finished my errands return to school and she was not there so I prepared to go to the movies and then went and then when I came back and tried speaking to her and she ignored me completely. This went on for the next few days. Not only was she not conversing with me like the way we had been originally, but she was now just ignoring anything I had to say, even when it pertained to something about our room. A few days later, just like I said I would, I bought my own toilet paper and gave them a roll to make up for the one I put in the bathroom. I even put extra rolls in the bathroom because I felt bad that I had been using everyone else's when I didn't have any of my own before. They did not take the roll and claimed they were over it when their actions clearly said something else. Not only that but they constantly get things that got on my nerves like they love making phone calls in the middle of the night which is really annoying. Because they're always doing this I usually turn on my TV and watch an event to try to drown it out but they're also extremely loud and I have hearing issues. They also keep our window open when I do not like it open because I sleep with my head right next to it and I heard gunshots a few days ago and was not able to sleep because of it. I tried apologizing multiple times and I tried to mend the situation I gave the back of the world like I said and they were like I don't want it on over it when clearly they weren't since they were still acting Petty. I did not feel comfortable and I did not believe that her treatment was fair over me making a mistake that I tried to fix multiple times. If they didn't want us to talk the way we used to I suppose I can understand that but to just straight up ignore somebody that you're sharing a room with because you want to remain petty over a situation that you claim you're over, that's just wrong. A few days ago I spoke to my older sister about the situation and told her how uncomfortable it was making me and that I did not want to change the situation and after I hung up with her I asked an RA about switching rooms. Told me I would have to call back in the morning and that same night my roommate complained that apparently our room was filthy because of me. That I have too much stuff and that my hair was everywhere and it made her uncomfortable. I found it hilarious that she was perfectly willing to talk when it came to what she wanted or wasn't ok with but whenever I tried to voice my concerns I was ignored. But with the things they complained about, when I first moved in I brought more stuff than I had planned on. Me and my father had gotten up to the school later than we planned and we had to go to my storage facility which was 20 minutes away to get stuff for me to bring onto campus. I wanted to look through my stuff to see what I actually needed to bring into my dorm but because it had been so late, my dad was in a hurry and basically just told me to grab everything. I had recognized about a week or so ago that I had too much stuff in here but because I don't drive, I take the bus, I didn't really have a way of transporting the extra stuff back to my storage unit so my space wouldn't be as crowded. Also the hair thing, I am a black woman and I am currently wearing my hair out. I usually have braids in but the braids I had before I took out because they started to look bad. I had my hair out to let it rest for a few weeks before I got it done again. Whenever I do my hair it sheds and before we were having issues I would use their broom to sweep it up. But after the whole toilet paper situation I figured that they didn't want me using their stuff so I stopped sweeping up my hair. I would try to pick it up but wasn't always able to do so. I was just like I guess it'll just have to wait until I can buy a broom which isn't gonna happen for another week or so. I didn't even bother telling them these things because I wanted the room change as well. Plus the thing that they said that really pissed me off was that apparently every time I use the sink to do my hair, I leave the sink wet…IT'S A SINK. I had been the one to ask someone about it long before they did anyway. I understand that I made a mistake, I constantly make mistakes literally on a daily basis. The other day when the school took us to the movies, I lost my wallet. I constantly lose my wallet, I constantly make mistakes all the time and forget things all the time. I'm not saying that I personally should be given a patch but because we're only human and everyone makes mistakes, we should be willing to forgive each other. Especially when they try multiple times to show remorse and try to amend the situation. And before anyone asks how I would have felt if the situation had been reversed, I wouldn't have been mad because I knew they were going to buy some of their own within the next few days and we were all sharing it anyway. So AITA?
2023.06.07 16:45 carjaddi Hair extensions
I am doing a ponytail for my wedding hairstyle and my stylist recommended getting Luxy extensions for length and volume. They are around $275 which is hard to spend when I’m pretty minimal with my hair normally, so can’t imagine using them a ton after the wedding. Are there other brands that are more affordable but still good quality?
submitted by carjaddi to WedditNYC [link] [comments]
2023.06.07 16:23 Boopsoodles39 Hairstyle help
 | I am stumped on how to do my hair for my wedding this fall. It seems like all I can find are hairstyles for super long hair. I have hair that is like 4 inches past my shoulders, thick, and curly/wavy. I love the look of intricate styles with twists and braids but I can't find examples on medium length hair. submitted by Boopsoodles39 to weddingplanning [link] [comments] This is a photo of my dress for style reference. My hair is to about where the black clips on the straps are when it's straight. Does anyone have suggestions? |
2023.06.07 16:18 StrongEve4568 Advice for wedding makeup and hair ?
For hair makeup what is to much? Is paying for hair and makeup service 600 dollars to much? What did you guys pay for your wedding?
submitted by StrongEve4568 to wedding [link] [comments]
2023.06.07 16:13 swan0 [Review] Fortress Festival
Hi all,
I went to Fortress Festival in Scarborough this weekend just gone and had a blast. There's some discussion going on here but I wanted to do a write up specifically for those who couldn't make it. I've included links to respective bandcamp pages and all of the band pictures/videos are mine!
First of all...
The Venue
After driving almost five hours to get there and checking into the BNB, walking up to this was quite an experience. Right on the sea front, Scarborough Spa is made up of multiple rooms. The entire festival took place on one stage in this room. There was a bar at the end and another in a quiet room downstairs (which also doubled up as a great place to charge your phone). Carling, Madri, Caffreys, Aspalls, and a couple others on draft. Cheapest pints were £5 and there was a lovely Fortress reusable cup you could get for £3. Made the mistake of doing this straight away on Friday and having to carry it around for the rest of the day. There was also a lovely Fortress ale for this event but it ran out pretty sharpish. Also worth noting that staff were incredibly friendly, from the local security + bar staff to the festival organisers themselves.
The only food on offer were things like sandwiches and pots of salad and pasta behind the bar. I'd heard they wanted food trucks but couldn't get them in due to a wedding going on on the Saturday. Apart from a couple of hours during the wedding, there was a great big balcony with a fantastic view of the sea and plenty of places to perch.
Entering the venue was super easy, hand in the paper ticket and receive your wristband. I'd heard of a few people forgetting their ticket but apparently confirmation of purchase was enough to claim your wristband which was nice. IN the entrance foyer there was the Fortress Festival merch stand as well as a few others. One who's name I didn't get were selling tons of pins and patches, then there were records and tapes from Onism Productions and Dark Earth Records. If you know any of the other companies there let me know! The band merch was just inside the main room and there was some great stuff on offer. I left with a Nemorous t-shirt and a Panopticon tour t-shirt as well as a copy of Kentucky, which was kindly signed by Austin Lunn after I bumped into him in the crowd. That really made my weekend.
The Music
Friday
The important bit. Friday kicked off at 2pm with English BM band Andracca and what an opener it was. Crowd was disappointingly light for them and I felt a little bad but it was the very first set of the entire festival. They still earned some new fans, myself included. Great energy and intensity.
Next came another English BM band - Andartar. Heavier than Andracca but similarly great intensity. I knew I'd stumbled upon a brilliant festival already at this point. Another pic. Lighting was great throughout the whole fest.
Slight change of pace next with Devastator, a black thrash band from Derby. First pit of the weekend starts, even if it only consisted of around 6 people. They got a great reception and put on a good show and their set was 30 minutes, same as the two before.
Then we get to our first jaw drop of the festival. The Sun's Journey Through The Night. One man band from England recently nominated for Metalhammer's Song of the Week. Incredible performance and highly recommend them. Nice theatrics with the horned skull mask and just fantastic energy from everyone involved. I also got a drumstick from them, cheers!
Wode come next. 40 minute set this time. Manchester black/death metal. Loved his vocals.
Then we have Finnish pagans Havukruunu. Setting the 'atmospheric' tone for the rest of the evening with a nice intro. Place was looking full now, though it was amazing how spacey the room felt. Should also note the crowd was really chilled and friendly. Great set, loved the bassist's bullet crown.
Time for the headliners. I say headliners because they both played for the same amount of time and both felt like they had the right to finish the first day off. So - an hour's set from the magnificent Can Bardd from Switzerland. Beautiful atmospheric folky black metal, many people said they were their favourite band of the weekend. Great set and, as you can see, the place was really alive. Popped out for a smoke and thought 'what a place'.
To finish off, Saor from Scotland. First time hearing electric bagpipes which was a fun experience. Just like every other one that day it was a brilliant set, the crowd were really into it and I especially enjoyed the flute(?). Frontman Andy engaged spoke with the crowd a few times. Devastated to find out from someone that he was a Rangers fan but seemed a nice guy. Nice view leaving the spa. Day 1 over, time for this fucking incredible kebab. So good.
Saturday
Made the 30 minute drive to Whitby before the festival kicked off, mostly to see Dracula's gaff. Impressive place but cost £15 to get in - FYI, you can just walk in through the exit in the gift shop...
Made it back to Scarborough Spa - which was once again looking ravishing - just in time for the post-black metal openers from Birmingham, Lunar Mercia, at 12:30. Really nice sound and lovely vocalist who I'd spoken to the day before.
Next we have Nemorous. Basically Wodensthrone v2 as it's made up of mostly ex-members. Started amazingly, finished amazingly, but suffered a very unfortunate snapped guitar string in the middle that seemed to take an AGE to restring. The crowd was totally sympathetic but you could feel the frustration from the entire band, I can't imagine how disappointed they were. Think they only managed around four songs but they did a great job and I went and bought a t-shirt afterwards. Visceral vocals and first keyboardist of the festival.
My personal highlight of the weekend came at the end of Nemorous' set. Just before they started I checked in at the Panopticon stand and got myself a copy of Kentucky. £80 on Discogs currently but they were selling them for £35. That alone made me very happy, but, whilst watching Nemorous, I noticed a familiar face. There was Austin Lunn from Panopticon, the reason I bought the ticket to this festival, going ham at the barrier (the guy with the hair, obviously). Once the set finished he very kindly signed my copy of Kentucky after I frantically searched for a marker pen and got a photo with him. He stuck around to chat for a few minutes and was one of the nicest musicians I've ever met. So enthusiastic and asking loads of questions. My weekend was made and absolutely nothing could've ruined it at that point.
I missed Wyrdstaef and Glemsel, though I hear both were great, so I could take my merch back to my lodgings before I got stuck into the rest of the day.
After a short break and a few beers I got back in time for Ard. Described as 'Monastic Northumbrian doom', Ard is the project of Mark Deeks from Winterfylleth. As a one man project he was naturally assisted by the rest of Winterfylleth! This was a real change of pace from the black metal we'd been listening to since early Friday afternoon and he did thank everybody for sticking around for him 'even though there were no blast beats'. Really enjoyable set.
Next, Ante-Inferno, from Scarborough itself, with the drummer being the organiser of the festival, Gary. Really been enjoying their most recent album 'Antediluvian Dreamscapes' and they were a class act. In case you haven't caught on, everyone at this festival was fucking great. Really loved the vocals here.
Here we have one of my biggest highlights of the weekend and a band I've not stopped listening to since I left Scarborough. Afsky, from Denmark. They rendered me absolutely speechless. Sure, the wood and the torches and the industrial fan were a nice touch, but they played with an intensity I hadn't seen to this point. The sound was amazing and the screams were just top drawer. As you can see in this video, it was way busier on the Saturday. Room was packed but, like Friday, far from cramped. I've listened to them every day since Saturday and I finished one of their albums on the drive home.
It was getting real misty at this point. Eldritch powers or smoke machine, who can say?
Penultimate act of the day, English black metal darlings Winterfylleth. Mark Deeks from Ard back behind the keyboard this time. I'm a fan of Winterfylleth and it was my first time seeing them but I wasn't really blown away. They were good, I think I just expected them to be better. Or maybe it was the anticipation of Panopticon around the corner... either way, there was a better pit this time as well as a few corpse-painted balloons floating around. Very kvlt.
Finally, my time had come. I bought my ticket for Fortress the moment I heard Panopticon were there. One of my favourite black metal bands, with Kentucky being one of my favourite albums of all time. At this point, around 21:30, I hadn't had a pint for about 2 hours to avoid needing a piss and losing my spot at the front. I got right to the barrier, which was insanely easy, and waited it out. Soundcheck took a little while and the whole fest was probably running a solid 15/20 mins behind. Think Austin Lunn spent more time trying to balance his 'Commonwealth of Kentucky' flag on his amp than actually doing the soundcheck, not that I was complaining.
And then we were off. They were fucking amazing in every way. I was emotional. So much Kentucky material, including the wonderful little folky bits. Austin wasn't satisfied with the sound at the start and kept asking for more guitar, not that it interrupted his flow at all. Though, the string instrument they were using (fiddle? violin? idk) could've definitely been a bit louder. Austin's vocals were fantastic but I was utterly blown away by their keyboardist, who's name I don't know. Guitar work was fantasticand at times it sounded just like the studio album.
Austin did an impromptu meet and greet afterwards, just jumped down from the stage and started to chatting to people. Really phenomenal set. Sadly it was the end of the road for me, as I couldn't stay for Sunday's lineup due to work, but I had had an incredible time and finishing with Panopticon was a moment I'll never forget.
I heard Sunday was also good, though I think it would be fair to say the lineup was slightly weaker. Heard great things about Abduction and Cenotaphe, though I've heard a few things about Bolzer having a nightmare with soundchecking (as in it took fucking ages and he had a go at the sound engineer - and someone may have heckled him?) but I can't say much more as I wasn't there. A friend did say they were really good once that got out of the way.
Final thoughts
Favourite sets: Panopticon, Afsky, The Suns Journey Through The Night. In that order.
Best pint: Caffreys. What a drink. Don't see much of that down south.
Best moment: meeting Austin Lunn and getting him to sign my Kentucky record. And that kebab.
Fortress is one of the best festivals I've ever been to. Not because it was flashy or had the best lineup or anything like that (though Panopticon puts it up there for me), but just because it was so well organised and chilled. Everyone was super friendly, there was zero hassle, the venue was incredible, and all the bands delivered. They've already confirmed they're going again for 2024 and they're moving to the bigger room at Scarborough Spa which holds 1800 and looks awesome. It's going from 3 days to 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). Here's their Facebook page and there's a forum with plenty more pictures and discussion and links to other black metal gigs in the UK, worth joining.
There's nothing new here for people that did go, but I'm hoping it'll be an enjoyable read/watch/listen for some who didn't and it may entice you to buy a ticket for next year. I've got no affiliation with the festival, just a new regular! Thanks for suggesting I do a write up, ScarlyLamorna. Thanks to anyone who reads my wall of text. I'm not a writer or anything of the sort, this is just some personal musings with some action shots. Also, if anyone went Sunday and wants to add a write up, please do!
Feel free to ask any questions/request any more pics or videos.
submitted by swan0 to UKBM_ [link] [comments]
I went to Fortress Festival in Scarborough this weekend just gone and had a blast. There's some discussion going on here but I wanted to do a write up specifically for those who couldn't make it. I've included links to respective bandcamp pages and all of the band pictures/videos are mine!
First of all...
The Venue
After driving almost five hours to get there and checking into the BNB, walking up to this was quite an experience. Right on the sea front, Scarborough Spa is made up of multiple rooms. The entire festival took place on one stage in this room. There was a bar at the end and another in a quiet room downstairs (which also doubled up as a great place to charge your phone). Carling, Madri, Caffreys, Aspalls, and a couple others on draft. Cheapest pints were £5 and there was a lovely Fortress reusable cup you could get for £3. Made the mistake of doing this straight away on Friday and having to carry it around for the rest of the day. There was also a lovely Fortress ale for this event but it ran out pretty sharpish. Also worth noting that staff were incredibly friendly, from the local security + bar staff to the festival organisers themselves.
The only food on offer were things like sandwiches and pots of salad and pasta behind the bar. I'd heard they wanted food trucks but couldn't get them in due to a wedding going on on the Saturday. Apart from a couple of hours during the wedding, there was a great big balcony with a fantastic view of the sea and plenty of places to perch.
Entering the venue was super easy, hand in the paper ticket and receive your wristband. I'd heard of a few people forgetting their ticket but apparently confirmation of purchase was enough to claim your wristband which was nice. IN the entrance foyer there was the Fortress Festival merch stand as well as a few others. One who's name I didn't get were selling tons of pins and patches, then there were records and tapes from Onism Productions and Dark Earth Records. If you know any of the other companies there let me know! The band merch was just inside the main room and there was some great stuff on offer. I left with a Nemorous t-shirt and a Panopticon tour t-shirt as well as a copy of Kentucky, which was kindly signed by Austin Lunn after I bumped into him in the crowd. That really made my weekend.
The Music
Friday
The important bit. Friday kicked off at 2pm with English BM band Andracca and what an opener it was. Crowd was disappointingly light for them and I felt a little bad but it was the very first set of the entire festival. They still earned some new fans, myself included. Great energy and intensity.
Next came another English BM band - Andartar. Heavier than Andracca but similarly great intensity. I knew I'd stumbled upon a brilliant festival already at this point. Another pic. Lighting was great throughout the whole fest.
Slight change of pace next with Devastator, a black thrash band from Derby. First pit of the weekend starts, even if it only consisted of around 6 people. They got a great reception and put on a good show and their set was 30 minutes, same as the two before.
Then we get to our first jaw drop of the festival. The Sun's Journey Through The Night. One man band from England recently nominated for Metalhammer's Song of the Week. Incredible performance and highly recommend them. Nice theatrics with the horned skull mask and just fantastic energy from everyone involved. I also got a drumstick from them, cheers!
Wode come next. 40 minute set this time. Manchester black/death metal. Loved his vocals.
Then we have Finnish pagans Havukruunu. Setting the 'atmospheric' tone for the rest of the evening with a nice intro. Place was looking full now, though it was amazing how spacey the room felt. Should also note the crowd was really chilled and friendly. Great set, loved the bassist's bullet crown.
Time for the headliners. I say headliners because they both played for the same amount of time and both felt like they had the right to finish the first day off. So - an hour's set from the magnificent Can Bardd from Switzerland. Beautiful atmospheric folky black metal, many people said they were their favourite band of the weekend. Great set and, as you can see, the place was really alive. Popped out for a smoke and thought 'what a place'.
To finish off, Saor from Scotland. First time hearing electric bagpipes which was a fun experience. Just like every other one that day it was a brilliant set, the crowd were really into it and I especially enjoyed the flute(?). Frontman Andy engaged spoke with the crowd a few times. Devastated to find out from someone that he was a Rangers fan but seemed a nice guy. Nice view leaving the spa. Day 1 over, time for this fucking incredible kebab. So good.
Saturday
Made the 30 minute drive to Whitby before the festival kicked off, mostly to see Dracula's gaff. Impressive place but cost £15 to get in - FYI, you can just walk in through the exit in the gift shop...
Made it back to Scarborough Spa - which was once again looking ravishing - just in time for the post-black metal openers from Birmingham, Lunar Mercia, at 12:30. Really nice sound and lovely vocalist who I'd spoken to the day before.
Next we have Nemorous. Basically Wodensthrone v2 as it's made up of mostly ex-members. Started amazingly, finished amazingly, but suffered a very unfortunate snapped guitar string in the middle that seemed to take an AGE to restring. The crowd was totally sympathetic but you could feel the frustration from the entire band, I can't imagine how disappointed they were. Think they only managed around four songs but they did a great job and I went and bought a t-shirt afterwards. Visceral vocals and first keyboardist of the festival.
My personal highlight of the weekend came at the end of Nemorous' set. Just before they started I checked in at the Panopticon stand and got myself a copy of Kentucky. £80 on Discogs currently but they were selling them for £35. That alone made me very happy, but, whilst watching Nemorous, I noticed a familiar face. There was Austin Lunn from Panopticon, the reason I bought the ticket to this festival, going ham at the barrier (the guy with the hair, obviously). Once the set finished he very kindly signed my copy of Kentucky after I frantically searched for a marker pen and got a photo with him. He stuck around to chat for a few minutes and was one of the nicest musicians I've ever met. So enthusiastic and asking loads of questions. My weekend was made and absolutely nothing could've ruined it at that point.
I missed Wyrdstaef and Glemsel, though I hear both were great, so I could take my merch back to my lodgings before I got stuck into the rest of the day.
After a short break and a few beers I got back in time for Ard. Described as 'Monastic Northumbrian doom', Ard is the project of Mark Deeks from Winterfylleth. As a one man project he was naturally assisted by the rest of Winterfylleth! This was a real change of pace from the black metal we'd been listening to since early Friday afternoon and he did thank everybody for sticking around for him 'even though there were no blast beats'. Really enjoyable set.
Next, Ante-Inferno, from Scarborough itself, with the drummer being the organiser of the festival, Gary. Really been enjoying their most recent album 'Antediluvian Dreamscapes' and they were a class act. In case you haven't caught on, everyone at this festival was fucking great. Really loved the vocals here.
Here we have one of my biggest highlights of the weekend and a band I've not stopped listening to since I left Scarborough. Afsky, from Denmark. They rendered me absolutely speechless. Sure, the wood and the torches and the industrial fan were a nice touch, but they played with an intensity I hadn't seen to this point. The sound was amazing and the screams were just top drawer. As you can see in this video, it was way busier on the Saturday. Room was packed but, like Friday, far from cramped. I've listened to them every day since Saturday and I finished one of their albums on the drive home.
It was getting real misty at this point. Eldritch powers or smoke machine, who can say?
Penultimate act of the day, English black metal darlings Winterfylleth. Mark Deeks from Ard back behind the keyboard this time. I'm a fan of Winterfylleth and it was my first time seeing them but I wasn't really blown away. They were good, I think I just expected them to be better. Or maybe it was the anticipation of Panopticon around the corner... either way, there was a better pit this time as well as a few corpse-painted balloons floating around. Very kvlt.
Finally, my time had come. I bought my ticket for Fortress the moment I heard Panopticon were there. One of my favourite black metal bands, with Kentucky being one of my favourite albums of all time. At this point, around 21:30, I hadn't had a pint for about 2 hours to avoid needing a piss and losing my spot at the front. I got right to the barrier, which was insanely easy, and waited it out. Soundcheck took a little while and the whole fest was probably running a solid 15/20 mins behind. Think Austin Lunn spent more time trying to balance his 'Commonwealth of Kentucky' flag on his amp than actually doing the soundcheck, not that I was complaining.
And then we were off. They were fucking amazing in every way. I was emotional. So much Kentucky material, including the wonderful little folky bits. Austin wasn't satisfied with the sound at the start and kept asking for more guitar, not that it interrupted his flow at all. Though, the string instrument they were using (fiddle? violin? idk) could've definitely been a bit louder. Austin's vocals were fantastic but I was utterly blown away by their keyboardist, who's name I don't know. Guitar work was fantasticand at times it sounded just like the studio album.
Austin did an impromptu meet and greet afterwards, just jumped down from the stage and started to chatting to people. Really phenomenal set. Sadly it was the end of the road for me, as I couldn't stay for Sunday's lineup due to work, but I had had an incredible time and finishing with Panopticon was a moment I'll never forget.
I heard Sunday was also good, though I think it would be fair to say the lineup was slightly weaker. Heard great things about Abduction and Cenotaphe, though I've heard a few things about Bolzer having a nightmare with soundchecking (as in it took fucking ages and he had a go at the sound engineer - and someone may have heckled him?) but I can't say much more as I wasn't there. A friend did say they were really good once that got out of the way.
Final thoughts
Favourite sets: Panopticon, Afsky, The Suns Journey Through The Night. In that order.
Best pint: Caffreys. What a drink. Don't see much of that down south.
Best moment: meeting Austin Lunn and getting him to sign my Kentucky record. And that kebab.
Fortress is one of the best festivals I've ever been to. Not because it was flashy or had the best lineup or anything like that (though Panopticon puts it up there for me), but just because it was so well organised and chilled. Everyone was super friendly, there was zero hassle, the venue was incredible, and all the bands delivered. They've already confirmed they're going again for 2024 and they're moving to the bigger room at Scarborough Spa which holds 1800 and looks awesome. It's going from 3 days to 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). Here's their Facebook page and there's a forum with plenty more pictures and discussion and links to other black metal gigs in the UK, worth joining.
There's nothing new here for people that did go, but I'm hoping it'll be an enjoyable read/watch/listen for some who didn't and it may entice you to buy a ticket for next year. I've got no affiliation with the festival, just a new regular! Thanks for suggesting I do a write up, ScarlyLamorna. Thanks to anyone who reads my wall of text. I'm not a writer or anything of the sort, this is just some personal musings with some action shots. Also, if anyone went Sunday and wants to add a write up, please do!
Feel free to ask any questions/request any more pics or videos.
2023.06.07 16:05 sisetc Facial Hair
My partner came out almost two years ago after I saw one of their online female presenting profiles and learned he had been living in denial of his true identity for over 25 years. Since then he has come out to a few close friends irl and I have been doing my best to support his feminine expression. The primary struggle is facial hair. Even when he shaves there is a five o’clock shadow. I bought a contour kit and am teaching him how to apply makeup, but it isn’t enough to fully conceal the hair. He isn’t interested in laser hair removal because he also enjoys his masculine side.
Are there any relatively inexpensive concealers or primers that will provide proper stubble coverage and won’t clog pores? I don’t want to waste money trying all the different brands I see advertised. I’d rather hear it from those who know what they’re doing.
submitted by sisetc to CrossDresser_Closet [link] [comments]
Are there any relatively inexpensive concealers or primers that will provide proper stubble coverage and won’t clog pores? I don’t want to waste money trying all the different brands I see advertised. I’d rather hear it from those who know what they’re doing.
2023.06.07 16:01 auratus1028 AITA for getting upset with my fiancé for not helping with chores?
My fiancé has a very demanding, very busy job. He is exhausted all the time. When he isn’t working, I am happy to see him relaxing.
I do not work full time. I have a disabling chronic illness that makes full time work infeasible. Instead, I work part time as a nanny and spend most of my day either doing chores around the house or recharging my energy in bed. I make a tiny fraction of what my fiancé makes as a lawyer for a big firm.
I am the one who does about 90 - 95% of the housework because he literally doesn’t have time. He honestly works about 12-14 hours a day sometimes.
However, some days when he doesn’t work, he tells me — note, tells me — he’s going to help out with household chores. He usually plans on doing this when I am not home — typically, I am not home either because I am nannying or because I am taking care of wedding preparations.
He very seldom follows through on doing most, if any, of the things he says he is going to do. Normally he says it’s because he’s exhausted, and I believe him.
I feel like I should be giving him grace about this because he works such long hours and is so exhausted and I only work a few times a week. We don’t even have kids, just a cat, so it’s not like I’m working as hard as a mom.
Sometimes, after repeatedly giving him grace and telling him it’s ok, I start to point out things I wish he would have done on his own, without me telling him to do. Mostly, it’s cleaning up extra gross messes he has made, like mucus/beard hairs in the sink or crusted food on pans from the night before. Quick things that are gross but would only take a minute to clean up. Things he’s told me he will get to.
I feel like we are stuck in a loop of him promising to do something, me asking him to do that thing the next day gently, giving him the benefit of the doubt when he doesn’t, doing it myself, and then speaking to him in a snappy and unkind way either afterward over something stupid or rolling my eyes while doing it.
I feel like I have no idea how much work I am supposed to expect him to be able to do given his insane work load and exhaustion. I also feel like I don’t know how much work I should reasonably expect myself to do given my chronic illness, which involves pain and fatigue.
I feel like I am confusing him, and I feel confused. And I really feel like an AH when I snap at him.
AITA?
submitted by auratus1028 to AmItheAsshole [link] [comments]
I do not work full time. I have a disabling chronic illness that makes full time work infeasible. Instead, I work part time as a nanny and spend most of my day either doing chores around the house or recharging my energy in bed. I make a tiny fraction of what my fiancé makes as a lawyer for a big firm.
I am the one who does about 90 - 95% of the housework because he literally doesn’t have time. He honestly works about 12-14 hours a day sometimes.
However, some days when he doesn’t work, he tells me — note, tells me — he’s going to help out with household chores. He usually plans on doing this when I am not home — typically, I am not home either because I am nannying or because I am taking care of wedding preparations.
He very seldom follows through on doing most, if any, of the things he says he is going to do. Normally he says it’s because he’s exhausted, and I believe him.
I feel like I should be giving him grace about this because he works such long hours and is so exhausted and I only work a few times a week. We don’t even have kids, just a cat, so it’s not like I’m working as hard as a mom.
Sometimes, after repeatedly giving him grace and telling him it’s ok, I start to point out things I wish he would have done on his own, without me telling him to do. Mostly, it’s cleaning up extra gross messes he has made, like mucus/beard hairs in the sink or crusted food on pans from the night before. Quick things that are gross but would only take a minute to clean up. Things he’s told me he will get to.
I feel like we are stuck in a loop of him promising to do something, me asking him to do that thing the next day gently, giving him the benefit of the doubt when he doesn’t, doing it myself, and then speaking to him in a snappy and unkind way either afterward over something stupid or rolling my eyes while doing it.
I feel like I have no idea how much work I am supposed to expect him to be able to do given his insane work load and exhaustion. I also feel like I don’t know how much work I should reasonably expect myself to do given my chronic illness, which involves pain and fatigue.
I feel like I am confusing him, and I feel confused. And I really feel like an AH when I snap at him.
AITA?