Dallas love field centurion lounge

What colleges do you think I would be a qualified applicant for?
I already know I’m going to apply To UT Austin, NYU, Columbia, and rice even thought some of those might be a reach. I just love new York so much I’d hate to not apply if I had a chance to get in.
Desired Major: majoring in computer science gonna minor in business
Location: Urban area or downtown area, I hate the country.
Financial info: Parent makes 200k+/yr so I’ll be looking for merit based scholarship. My parent is willing to pay a good amount.
GPA: Highschool GPA: UW - 3.5, W - 4.5. College GPA: 3.8. I did really bad during my freshman year ( Covid year) because of a multitude of issues but I’ve slowly been coming back. The college gpa stems from taking dual credit classes. I’ll graduate in may of next year with my associates.
Highest SAT: didn’t take the SAT bc I had Covid that week, but I’ve been practicing and i get around 1400.
Ext. Activities: Currently developing a telemedicine website (alpha.afyadux.org) with a few partners. Also developing a coding learning index for my schools coding club (codinginitiative.org). And also lol making a website for web development firm that me and my friends are making (spearheaddesigns.dev). Qualified for SkillsUSA nationals for the Web design and development competiton ( gonna compete in 2 weeks). Regional runner up in TexasUIL computer programming (district champion). State runner up in SkillsUSA entrepreneurship completion ( present a software-as-a-service company). SkillsUSA Computer technology Vice-President, National English honor society Secretary and Co-Founder, Schools coding club vice president and co-founder. Technology student association President and founder. Managing tech communications at school district football games. Managed live streams at a local church (Directed cameramen, setup video tech). Spent last summer fixing school chromebooks, redoing bios system’s, and other comp-tech stuff. Doing it again this summer.
LOEssays: I’m pretty good at writing and my uncle is an English college prof so I’m sure essays will be good. gonna try and get LOR’s from my counselor who I’m really close with, my tech internship manager, maybe my ap or Dc teachers, and then my mentor who’s the head of IT at a large finance firm in NY.
Current In-State Options: UT Austin, UT Dallas, UT Arlington, Texas tech, Texas A&M, UOH, Baylor university, rice, st. Thomas, and a few others.
Thank you in advance, and apologies for this being so long by the way.

Context: I grew up with my grandparents and there is a complex relationship between them and my dad (their daughters husband). Also, my family is pretty loaded. The total family collectively owns 2 separate islands. )
Currently living at the house is my dad, my sister, and me.
My grandparents are selling my childhood house. Obviously I'm a bit sad about that but such is life. I'm not upset about that.
My grandparents are real old and in a nursing home so my uncle is dealing with the logistics and communicates with us living at the house through my brother.
Through the whole selling process we've been given very very few details but been ensured that we would all have somewhere to live. My sister just graduated high school and is heading to college, my dad has been looking for a job and essentially running the house hold for a good while, and I am starting my junior year in college, starting a (paid) internship in the area where the house is.
Just recently we were given more details. Turns out the current plan is:
-I live with my gf who lives in government funded housing.
-My sister lives with one of her friends (whose parents have not been contacted about this plan)
-Something will be figured out for my dad (apparently), with my 23 YEAR OLD BROTHER paying for his housing from his savings.
Funny wrinkle in their plan: My girlfriend lives an hour and a half away from my job where my shift starts at 7AM.
The house is getting sold on July 1st, which I found out a few days ago, was actually pushed back from the original move out date which was ON MY SISTER'S GRADUATION DAY, which would have been a week after I came back from college.
We have been given absolutely no time to prepare for this. They've told us not to worry about money and just focus on what we've been doing saying we'll have a stable foundation. Now, at the 11th hour, it turns out none of that was true.
I was let go from my job recently at my college (which didn't pay great to begin with) due to budget cuts and they assured me that things would be fine and to focus on my schooling and getting an (paid) internship. So I believed them.
If my car broke down they would get it fixed. My car just broke down, my dad mentioned this to my uncle (who is the point person for these kinds of things) and he said "Well do you have $2,000."
(Little side note. He also called my dad, who did the job of a live in nurse for my grandparents for an entire year and a half, being on call 24/7 without pay. "replaceable" because he wanted some actual professional help to help out my elderly grandparents. Then got mad when my sister asked him what he was doing to help)
----
So it looks like I'm gonna be either out of a house or out of a car or both, while they expect me to still be able to work the internship in a field that I love and desperately want to go into at a company that I dreamed about getting an internship for. (Don't worry. They haven't forgotten to mention how I'll probably mess up the internship)
Another note: The reason that they want to sell the house so soon is because it would make the most money if sold early in the summer.

So I'm currently a fully-funded PhD student based in the UK and as part of my scholarship I will be undertaking an internship. I'm essentially allowed to approach any organisation I'm interested in to ask if I can intern there and my funder would pay me a salary.
Now the thing is, my PhD is in History (more specifically in the history of medicine) and I'm well-aware of the state of the academic job market, so I want to make sure I can really get some experience in a field I can potentially work in after I finish my PhD. However, I genuinely have no idea what I would be good at and what job I would enjoy - until recently I'd only really considered working in academia. I figured I'd ask here if anyone can recommend any particular jobs or fields that may be a good fit for me? Or more generally what kinds of industry jobs people with humanities PhDs ended up with? I thoroughly enjoy critical thinking and doing research, I can read and summarise texts pretty quickly, I know how to construct arguments and gather evidence, and I absolutely love public speaking. Things I'm terrible at: maths, economics, anything to do with numbers really..
Thanks!

I know this question was already asked but I still can't decide which one of these I am. Also this will be long so sorry for that.
I feel like I'm both striving for logical accuracy and I'm perfectly capable of understanding emotions.
Two things I really enjoy doing is talking with my boyfriend, or myself, about moral, philosophical or religious topics. Usually it's regarding some controversial behaviors or claims I see online or just some existential question that appears in my head. I study astrophysics but I wouldn't say I enjoy rigid mathematical proofs tho, I don't find it fun or interesting, and I'm not very good at it either. I enjoy contemplating stuff much more than that. When I'm making any sort of statements, I very much care about being logical and that I don't commit any logical fallacies. And that comes very natural to me, I don't need to pay specific attention to keep myself from making bad arguments, sooner or later I realize that on my own. And as you could have guessed, my talents are all useless in the job market... I look down on people I find stupid. And by "stupid", I mean those who defend their beliefs against a mountain of evidence against them and are never willing to change their views just to satisfy their ego at the expense of other people's happiness and the greater good. Also I wanna say that if I'm just thinking about stuff for fun, I just think and argue with myself; if I actually have to present ideas, I of course search sources and data to support my statements.
On the other hand, I saw a lot of ENTPs claiming that in their teenage years, they were very emotionally aloof. I don't think I was, but I also have a terrible memory... I know that during my childhood, I was very stubborn and argued with people a lot, but I also remember that I genuinely cared to make those around me happy. I was very rebellious against my mother tho, but my father was abusive to me and forced me into submission... I feel like a socially awkward extrovert, I really wanna spend my time with people but it always becomes uncomfortable as I don't know how to behave in certain situations. I think I may complain too much and vent too much, as when something is bothering me, I really need to tell that to someone, or I may be too loud and annoying at times. I often get told I'm not, but I have a hard time believing that. People usually lie just out of "politeness". But what is polite about not letting me know why people avoid me and cut me off in the middle of my sentence?! I'm obviously doing something wrong but I just don't know what it is and how to change it. I often get caught up in details in people's behavior. Such as a tone of voice could send me into a spiral of overthinking about what I did wrong and so on. However when I start worrying about having offended someone, I don't really give a fuck about their feelings. If someone has the audacity to be offended without explaining why my behavior could be offensive or annoying, they deserve none of my respect. What does worry me tho is that I do need people's help and I'm worried that I will lose access to it if I say something wrong. I hate my situation and I feel pathetic for being on the bottom of the social ladder but I don't have enough mental energy or intelligence to pass school on my own anymore. So many times I had to sacrifice my own feelings and thoughts just so people around me are happy, and it makes me genuinely furious thinking about it. I can be both emotionally supportive and rational when someone is in need, but I'm emotionally supportive usually when the person receiving it means nothing to me. I give people what they want and tell them what they wanna hear, just so I can have access to their shit and be left alone by them. To maintain the status quo. When I care about someone, I care more about their improvement and I like to logically explain to them where they're wrong. For understandable reasons, that often backfired and now the only person I love and respect is my boyfriend.
However I'm not a robot, I think I have a rich emotional life, if I feel shit, I really can't pretend I'm happy, and when I'm feeling happy, I show my happiness. I withdraw from people only when I have to and it makes me angry. I do it only when I know that no one cares about what I have to say. Occasionally I do get so extremely overwhelmed by negativity and negative social experiences that I withdraw from humanity willingly and don't talk with anyone for months. As I already said, I have to vent my frustration very often (trauma coming from my abusive family) and I think life without emotions would be boring. I just think logic is supposed to guide emotions and emotions are supposed to guide logic. I'm aware that science doesn't explain everything. And moving in the science field, I know first hand how extremely arrogant these people can be, but that's not the fault of logic, that's the fault of their ignorance towards their own emotions.
Now i don't know how to end, so just thanks if you read and answer.

A little bit of background: I am a former civilian mariner sitting at the rank of OSV AB. I have traveled to several different countries and have spent a good chunk of time at sea and have lived a very transient lifestyle but recently I am wanting to settle down. Before that I have about 15 years of amateur computer repair experience starting in 2008 and I have been fixing PCs for my friends since. I absolutely love any type of technology and it is my dream to enter the IT field as it is my passion to help others and work with computers in a professional manner to better advance my dream career. Even a remote helpdesk job would be a dream come true for me and I relish at the oppertunity to obtain one. I do not charge others for repairing or building their PCs as I love doing it and I have built up a reputation for myself as the go to guy for tech. I also have soundboard ops experience DJing for local events since 2014 and am curently employed as a soundboard operator at a local radio station.
Recently I was employed as a civilian Mariner aboard a corporate fleet in the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribean but I left that behind about a year ago to go back to college to get an IT associate's degree. I estimate I have sent about somewhere around 571 applications and have only gotten one phone call back which I believe to be a scam because they never scheduled the phone interview they promised and have ignored my followup email.
I live in a very remote, rural ,and isolated coastal community in the deep southern US If that matters. As a matter of fact ,we are an island connected to a wetland by a canal bridge. There aren't a lot of IT options here and the main industries here are Seafood and Maritime work so getting hired by reference is out if the question as almost nobody here works in IT. There is one guy at the radio station that does and he took my resume but it's been 2 months. Is this typical for this field? He's always stressed and swamped with work so I don't know why they just wouldn't hire an extra guy to help out. I'd rather not go back to the boats but I will if I have to because right now I'm only making 7.25 an hour for my efforts in the studio and it's honestly really quite depressing and starting to physically affect my health. Should I just keep going on or should I go back out to sea? I'd make lots more money but I really have my heart set on IT.

DRAG RACE!
Chronologica struts the runway wearing a Spider-Man suit, and long red wig.
Hello world!
Welcome to Drag Race.
Princess Papaya, you’re back! How are you going?
“Fabulously.” Papaya grins, touching the back of her head. “OH!”
What?
“Nothing.” Papaya smiles.
Rachelle, are you a lover?
“Always.” Rachelle smirks. “We were lovers.”
Once!
Floss, are you a lover?
“I’m a fighter, bitch.” Floss smirks. “I’ve survived snipers, baby.”
For our Challenge, our racers were tasked with competing in Duos in Lovers: The Musical.
And on the runway, they’ll be wearing Royal Couture.
It’s TIME!
~
Category is… Royal Couture!
Yasmin strides confidently onto the runway in a super-elegant Irene Galitzine cream shift dress, with a structured dress collar, built-in pockets, and a subtle black geometric pattern, accessorized with sleek black boots, black gloves, a neat blonde bob, triangular cream glasses, and a simple tiara studded with black diamonds.
“I’m hungry.” Papaya laughs.
Aguacate struts, jade scepter first down the runway. She is covered in a bronze robe, and her face is concealed by a jade mask reminiscent of Pakal the Great. At the end of the runway, she removes the mask, revealing a mug that is beat for the Mayan Gods.
“Ooooh….” Floss eyes light up.
Zazu Nova enters the stage in a fitted bodice adorned with intricate beading and lace in a regal royal blue, a voluminous skirt made of silk, structured with hoops to create a dramatic effect and an oversized collar, made of beads with metallic accents to add the final touch.
Beaded for the GODS.
Fiore Stravaganza struts out in a pearl coloured ballgown, with layer upon layer of white pearls upon her chest, structured around her gown. She has a stark painted face in a clown white, with a huge updo that itself has pearls wrapped around it, with a crown in white to add the final touch.
“A pearl necklace? Gross!” Papaya yells.
Jaslene Bangus has become Cinderella! In a gorgeous blue gown, Jaslene spins around, her dress glittering in the shining light. Her hair is placed up in a shining blonde, with a blue ribbon headpiece wrapped around it as she smiles.
Cinderella’s Ball.
King Omari Star enters the stage as an African King! He’s got a huge bronze cape, with a suit in a shining gold with geometric shapes throughout. Around his neck are various beads and jewels, along with a huge top hat in the same embroidered fashion as his cape as he proudly stomps through the stage.
“Power, baby.” Floss grins.
~
Hi Racers.
Let us chat.
Starting with… Aguacate & Yasmin.
The two grin.
What a fun combination. You both are really campy Queens, and you brought it this week.
“We always do.” Aguacate winks.
“I feel like you aren’t SINGERS.” Papaya adds. “But, you really had the confidence and skill in the delivery that brought yourself forward. For that, you should be pleased.”
“Thank you.” Yasmin nods. “I wanted to fight for this, and I believe collectively, we did.”
Good work.
Jaslene and Fiore.
The two stand tall.
“First of all. You look amazing- both of you.” Rachelle says.
Jaslene grins, and Fiore nods.
“Princesses.” Fiore smiles.
“I feel as if the vibe, though- the two of you, together, didn’t really work like I wanted to. Jaslene, you are a performer, and that was shown, through and through.”
“Thank you.” Jaslene responds.
“Fiore, I wanted so much more then what you did.” Rachelle responds. “This competition- we’re almost at the tail end, I need you to give us more. You struggled.”
“I did.” Fiore purses her lips. “But I did try-”
“Is that enough?” Rachelle adds. “I don’t know.”
Fiore looks at Rachelle. “Okay.”
Finally, Zazu and Omari.
“Pisces.” Zazu winks.
“You two bring such a fun chemistry, baby.” Floss smiles. “When it’s bad, it can be bad.”
“No more hosting.” Omari smirks.
“But when it’s good, it’s fucking good.” Floss grins. “I loved ya’ll.”
“Thank you!” Zazu smiles.
“There was such a level of fun, such a level of entertainment- you were stars on the main stage, and I loved to see it.” Floss grins. “Well done.”
The two look happily.
Thank you, racers. Whilst we deliberate, you may untuck backstage in the Crystal Lounge, sponsored by Princess Papaya Tropical Drinks.
Papaya winks.
~
The racers enter the Crystal Lounge.
“The final countdown…” Aguacate sings. “Da do do da… da da dee da da…” Aguacate grabs her drink. “The top 6.”
“It feels fantastic.” Yasmin grins. “Also because I am surviving another week.”
Fiore and Jaslene, at the other side of the room, both roll their eyes at the back.
“I feel as if-” Omari purses his lips. “This week, I was challenged, I felt as if at times- I couldn’t do it. But not only did I fight, have fun- but I engaged with my truth with a fantastic partner.”
“Me?” Zazu looks over in surprise.
Omari chuckles. “Yes, you.”
Zazu blushes. “I just wanted to enjoy this. I know I am not- the most mind blowing, the most talented artist but I love to perform. That’s what is in my heart.”
“I think that’s-” Yasmin tears up. “Beautiful. Because all of us here, we’re all fighting something and giving our all. And you’re a survivor, girl.”
Zazu smiles.
“We’re all survivors.” Aguacate wipes a tear and nods. “That’s what makes us powerful.”
Jaslene and Fiore look at each other.
"Well." Fiore purses her lips.
"Well, this has been quite the journey, hasn't it?" Fiore says, breaking the silence between them.
…
"Well, what?" Jaslene raises an eyebrow.
Fiore takes a deep breath. "Look, Jaslene, I may not have been the easiest person to work with, and I apologize for my behavior. I let my competitiveness and my desire to win cloud my judgment and affect our partnership. I didn't give you the respect and support you deserved."
Jaslene looks surprised and nods. "Thank you for saying that, Fiore. I appreciate it… And I'm sorry too. I let my frustration get the best of me, and I didn't always handle our conflicts in the best way either. We both made mistakes, but it's not too late to make amends."
Fiore's voice cracks slightly as she continues, "I know we don't have the best relationship anymore, and I can't promise that everything will suddenly be perfect between us. But I don't want us to be at each other's throats anymore. We're both here for a reason, and we should focus on supporting each other, rather than tearing each other down… and I have honestly missed our friendship these past few weeks.”
“Me too, girl.” Jaslene nods, also becoming emotional.
“…and I hope we can eventually go back to how we were." Fiore sighs.
Jaslene smiles, extending her hand towards Fiore. "Truce?"
Fiore hesitates for a moment, then reaches out and shakes Jaslene's hand. "Truce." She says with a small smile.
…
"Aww, look at them. They're having a moment." Yasmin whispers to the group, as the two walk over to the mirrors.
Omari smiles. "Seems like they've finally found some common ground. It's about time."
Zazu raises her glass. "To growth and second chances. May they slay this lip sync and leave the past behind."
"Go out there and show them what you're made of, skanks!" Aguacate yells.
"You've got this, ladies!" Yasmin adds with a supportive nod.
~
Welcome back, racers.
King Omari Star and Zazu Nova, this week, you were amazing- and I was living- no, LOVING it. Condragulations, you are the winners of this week’s challenge!
“AHHH!” Zazu cheers, hugging Omari, who chuckles.
King Omari Star: “A win, and damn does it feel good.”
…
…
…
Aguacate and Yasmin, you’re safe.
The two grin.
Fiore and Jaslene look at each other.
That means Jaslene Bangus and Fiore Stravaganza, I’m sorry my dears, but you are up for elimination.
The time has come… for you to lip sync to your life!
**You Belong with Me by Taylor Swift starts to play**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuNIsY6JdUw
Good luck… and don’t fuck it up!
Fiore and Jaslene both look at the other and sigh.
Aguacate: “Two frenemies, lip syncing for their lives… oh this will be delicious.” Aguacate chuckles.
~
Next Time!
Racers, it’s time for The Gods Ball!
This is our FINAL challenge before our grand finale!
Aguacate: “There’s no way I am NOT going to win this challenge before the finale. I want that SPOT!”
“Am I serving?” Yasmin looks at her garment.
“Something.” Zazu says, awkwardly.
“This is it, racers….” Omari smirks. “Who’s gonna take it?”
~
Stats
Voting
Spreadsheet

DRAG RACE!
Chronologica struts the runway wearing a Spider-Man suit, and long red wig.
Hello world!
Welcome to Drag Race.
Princess Papaya, you’re back! How are you going?
“Fabulously.” Papaya grins, touching the back of her head. “OH!”
What?
“Nothing.” Papaya smiles.
Rachelle, are you a lover?
“Always.” Rachelle smirks. “We were lovers.”
Once!
Floss, are you a lover?
“I’m a fighter, bitch.” Floss smirks. “I’ve survived snipers, baby.”
For our Challenge, our racers were tasked with competing in Duos in Lovers: The Musical.
And on the runway, they’ll be wearing Royal Couture.
It’s TIME!
~
Category is… Royal Couture!
Yasmin strides confidently onto the runway in a super-elegant Irene Galitzine cream shift dress, with a structured dress collar, built-in pockets, and a subtle black geometric pattern, accessorized with sleek black boots, black gloves, a neat blonde bob, triangular cream glasses, and a simple tiara studded with black diamonds.
“I’m hungry.” Papaya laughs.
Aguacate struts, jade scepter first down the runway. She is covered in a bronze robe, and her face is concealed by a jade mask reminiscent of Pakal the Great. At the end of the runway, she removes the mask, revealing a mug that is beat for the Mayan Gods.
“Ooooh….” Floss eyes light up.
Zazu Nova enters the stage in a fitted bodice adorned with intricate beading and lace in a regal royal blue, a voluminous skirt made of silk, structured with hoops to create a dramatic effect and an oversized collar, made of beads with metallic accents to add the final touch.
Beaded for the GODS.
Fiore Stravaganza struts out in a pearl coloured ballgown, with layer upon layer of white pearls upon her chest, structured around her gown. She has a stark painted face in a clown white, with a huge updo that itself has pearls wrapped around it, with a crown in white to add the final touch.
“A pearl necklace? Gross!” Papaya yells.
Jaslene Bangus has become Cinderella! In a gorgeous blue gown, Jaslene spins around, her dress glittering in the shining light. Her hair is placed up in a shining blonde, with a blue ribbon headpiece wrapped around it as she smiles.
Cinderella’s Ball.
King Omari Star enters the stage as an African King! He’s got a huge bronze cape, with a suit in a shining gold with geometric shapes throughout. Around his neck are various beads and jewels, along with a huge top hat in the same embroidered fashion as his cape as he proudly stomps through the stage.
“Power, baby.” Floss grins.
~
Hi Racers.
Let us chat.
Starting with… Aguacate & Yasmin.
The two grin.
What a fun combination. You both are really campy Queens, and you brought it this week.
“We always do.” Aguacate winks.
“I feel like you aren’t SINGERS.” Papaya adds. “But, you really had the confidence and skill in the delivery that brought yourself forward. For that, you should be pleased.”
“Thank you.” Yasmin nods. “I wanted to fight for this, and I believe collectively, we did.”
Good work.
Jaslene and Fiore.
The two stand tall.
“First of all. You look amazing- both of you.” Rachelle says.
Jaslene grins, and Fiore nods.
“Princesses.” Fiore smiles.
“I feel as if the vibe, though- the two of you, together, didn’t really work like I wanted to. Jaslene, you are a performer, and that was shown, through and through.”
“Thank you.” Jaslene responds.
“Fiore, I wanted so much more then what you did.” Rachelle responds. “This competition- we’re almost at the tail end, I need you to give us more. You struggled.”
“I did.” Fiore purses her lips. “But I did try-”
“Is that enough?” Rachelle adds. “I don’t know.”
Fiore looks at Rachelle. “Okay.”
Finally, Zazu and Omari.
“Pisces.” Zazu winks.
“You two bring such a fun chemistry, baby.” Floss smiles. “When it’s bad, it can be bad.”
“No more hosting.” Omari smirks.
“But when it’s good, it’s fucking good.” Floss grins. “I loved ya’ll.”
“Thank you!” Zazu smiles.
“There was such a level of fun, such a level of entertainment- you were stars on the main stage, and I loved to see it.” Floss grins. “Well done.”
The two look happily.
Thank you, racers. Whilst we deliberate, you may untuck backstage in the Crystal Lounge, sponsored by Princess Papaya Tropical Drinks.
Papaya winks.
~
The racers enter the Crystal Lounge.
“The final countdown…” Aguacate sings. “Da do do da… da da dee da da…” Aguacate grabs her drink. “The top 6.”
“It feels fantastic.” Yasmin grins. “Also because I am surviving another week.”
Fiore and Jaslene, at the other side of the room, both roll their eyes at the back.
“I feel as if-” Omari purses his lips. “This week, I was challenged, I felt as if at times- I couldn’t do it. But not only did I fight, have fun- but I engaged with my truth with a fantastic partner.”
“Me?” Zazu looks over in surprise.
Omari chuckles. “Yes, you.”
Zazu blushes. “I just wanted to enjoy this. I know I am not- the most mind blowing, the most talented artist but I love to perform. That’s what is in my heart.”
“I think that’s-” Yasmin tears up. “Beautiful. Because all of us here, we’re all fighting something and giving our all. And you’re a survivor, girl.”
Zazu smiles.
“We’re all survivors.” Aguacate wipes a tear and nods. “That’s what makes us powerful.”
Jaslene and Fiore look at each other.
"Well." Fiore purses her lips.
"Well, this has been quite the journey, hasn't it?" Fiore says, breaking the silence between them.
…
"Well, what?" Jaslene raises an eyebrow.
Fiore takes a deep breath. "Look, Jaslene, I may not have been the easiest person to work with, and I apologize for my behavior. I let my competitiveness and my desire to win cloud my judgment and affect our partnership. I didn't give you the respect and support you deserved."
Jaslene looks surprised and nods. "Thank you for saying that, Fiore. I appreciate it… And I'm sorry too. I let my frustration get the best of me, and I didn't always handle our conflicts in the best way either. We both made mistakes, but it's not too late to make amends."
Fiore's voice cracks slightly as she continues, "I know we don't have the best relationship anymore, and I can't promise that everything will suddenly be perfect between us. But I don't want us to be at each other's throats anymore. We're both here for a reason, and we should focus on supporting each other, rather than tearing each other down… and I have honestly missed our friendship these past few weeks.”
“Me too, girl.” Jaslene nods, also becoming emotional.
“…and I hope we can eventually go back to how we were." Fiore sighs.
Jaslene smiles, extending her hand towards Fiore. "Truce?"
Fiore hesitates for a moment, then reaches out and shakes Jaslene's hand. "Truce." She says with a small smile.
…
"Aww, look at them. They're having a moment." Yasmin whispers to the group, as the two walk over to the mirrors.
Omari smiles. "Seems like they've finally found some common ground. It's about time."
Zazu raises her glass. "To growth and second chances. May they slay this lip sync and leave the past behind."
"Go out there and show them what you're made of, skanks!" Aguacate yells.
"You've got this, ladies!" Yasmin adds with a supportive nod.
~
Welcome back, racers.
King Omari Star and Zazu Nova, this week, you were amazing- and I was living- no, LOVING it. Condragulations, you are the winners of this week’s challenge!
“AHHH!” Zazu cheers, hugging Omari, who chuckles.
King Omari Star: “A win, and damn does it feel good.”
…
…
…
Aguacate and Yasmin, you’re safe.
The two grin.
Fiore and Jaslene look at each other.
That means Jaslene Bangus and Fiore Stravaganza, I’m sorry my dears, but you are up for elimination.
The time has come… for you to lip sync to your life!
**You Belong with Me by Taylor Swift starts to play**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuNIsY6JdUw
Good luck… and don’t fuck it up!
Fiore and Jaslene both look at the other and sigh.
Aguacate: “Two frenemies, lip syncing for their lives… oh this will be delicious.” Aguacate chuckles.
~
Next Time!
Racers, it’s time for The Gods Ball!
This is our FINAL challenge before our grand finale!
Aguacate: “There’s no way I am NOT going to win this challenge before the finale. I want that SPOT!”
“Am I serving?” Yasmin looks at her garment.
“Something.” Zazu says, awkwardly.
“This is it, racers….” Omari smirks. “Who’s gonna take it?”
~
Stats
Voting
Spreadsheet

I currently work in an elementary school as a para educator within the life skills class. We make slightly more money than other Paras. I just went down the rabbit hole looking at salaries for the school district. I just realized our superintendent makes a month almost what I make in a year. I am not here to bash her at all because she has way more degrees than I ever will have. But being on that website made me realize how little money I am making as a para for all the hard work I do. Working in the life skills class is extremely challenging and very stressful. I love working with them and love working on behaviors. Now one could say since I love my job I should be happy, right? But I need to survive. I am a single mom to one child. I bring home less than $2000 a month. I would love to perhaps get my bachelor's to work more with behavior or perhaps even speech. But it looks like for either of those, I would need a master's degree. I have my associates and don't foresee getting a master's. I am 47 years old. I love my job but I need to make more than $24,000 a year. Are there any jobs that are similar to this field that make more? I live in the PNW and cost of living is high.

Honestly it is a shame that one of the most popular hunting destinations for the worlds best big game animal(the Whitetail) isn't represented in Call of the wild. The American Midwest like Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio is home to some of America's biggest deer, and a large chunk of the player base I feel would love to hunt where we go every fall, I sure would!
As well, it would be a perfect time to bring in squirrels which have been very much requested. New England is almost perfect but the moose take me out of the immersion of feeling like I'm in my local hunting grounds irl, and mississippi feels like an alien planet with gators :(
Class 1: House Sparrow, American Black Duck, Mallard Duck, Wood Duck, Canadian Goose, Woodcock, Eastern Cottontail, Raccoon, Fox Squirrel.
Class 2: Grey Fox, Eastern Coyote
Class 4: Whitetail Deer
The landscape would be based off of Eastern Ohio/Western Pennsylvania, with lots of corn and soy bean fields and old maple and oak and elm woodlots with small hollers and swamps. I really wish this can happen since i feel the biggest chunk of the games playerbase including me isn't being represented :(

As the title suggests could someone please recommend movies which have political turmoil in the background with either journalists or everyday folks as main characters. I have been on a binge recently and loved the below movies so far
Missing (Jack Lemmon)
The year of living Dangerously
Salvador
Under fire
The killing Fields
Cry freedom ( have heard of this one but haven't watched it as yet)
EDIT: also watched hotel Rwanda, State of siege, Battle of Algiers, Gandhi, The hunting party

My daughter started to pick up field hockey and loves it. I know nothing about the sport, but want to learn and support her. Are there any leagues or clubs for beginners in the area?

Hey there. I’m 29 and I am looking for that genuine and special connection. Ideally we start as friends and then it evolves into something more if we click. I would consider myself a pretty laid-back person, but I am also very ambitious, career driven, and goal-oriented. There is a lot I want to accomplish in life. I’ll list some thing about myself below:
-Musician who works in STEM. I am passionate about both fields and would ideally like to do something in both someday.
-I love good conversation. I can talk your ear off about music, but I also enjoy listening and when you can talk to me about what you’re interested in. I love learning, so talk away!
-I love pizza!
-In my spare time I enjoy playing video games. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it would be fun to play something together. I play mostly on PC but I also have an Xbox.

• Child free and don’t have and will never want children of any kind ever. Pets are dope though!

-I am pretty active and workout at the gym most days of the week!
-I’m very romantic and looking for that bit of love we’re all searching for. My love languages are physical touch and quality time. I love being that couple who sends each other cute good morning and goodnight texts.
Although I do strongly prefer for you to be local, I’m ok with starting online if there are plans to meet up and be irl if we hit it off and have a super strong connection.
If any of this seems interesting to you, feel free to reach out! Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hi there,
Pretty much as per the title. I have a degree in what essentially amounts to social work in a specific niche, that has insanely good job security and travel opportunities. I loved every placement I did during my degree, to the point where I spent most of my free time whilst studying volunteering, and continue to lend a hand whenever I’m asked. I have been offered paid positions multiple times, the most recent being only a few months ago, however it is quite a low salary. Entry level salaries are slightly below the May ‘21 median as per ABS. The highest earning potential in the organisation tops out at around $120K, which a) is still quite low comparing with other similar roles, and b) I wouldn’t want to do anyway, as it’s less field work and more bureaucracy. I am also currently studying postgrad law, and finding it interesting, but not fulfilling in the same way.
I currently earn around $90K (in a job unrelated to either industry), I rent in the middle of Brisbane, and enjoy my lifestyle greatly. If I left my current job and quit studying law and started the “fulfilling career”, I would be taking more than a $30K paycut, would need to relocate out of the CBD, and would forfeit my chances of ever owning a home full stop.
Am I an idiot for even considering the other option?
Edited for clarity

I’m never bother on being open with people on what I do. I have a degree in the STEM field but I’m also a sugar baby. I was at the spa today and was sitting next to a lady which she was in her early 30’s and she’s doctor. First she asked what I did. Keep in mind I am just a SB and living my life bc I just got my degree last month and after years of working hard in school and being a SB during college , I’ve been able to travel and network while my lifestyle might not be ideal to people but I love being a SB. So I said I am a business consultant and working on having my own nonprofits which I’m planning to do with all the investors I have;) one of my SD always refers me as his business consultant when we are at networking events. Anyways she went into asking details and I said I help the less fortunate community and work handling inventory/task that my boss gives me then she proceeded to says somewhere along the line of oh it’s not like it's a cover you’re an escort saying your business constant after I have told her I was on the pre med route when I was undergrad. I just thought she had a big ego bc she’s a doctor and all that but to me I love being a SB and I make more than probably she does and I’m only in my early 20’s . Not to brag but I just bought a new BMW at my age from being a SB and no co-signer. Thoughts? Idk if that situation just shock me for her rude comment. How do I proceeded to tell people what I do I know it’s hospitality field but also women love to put other women down.

I have a question regarding how volunteer hours are counted up by admission officers/dental schools. I have the bulk of my volunteer hours as a volunteer dental assistant at a free dental clinic for the underserved - however this is considered within the "dental field." These are obviously volunteer hours as I received no compensation at all and was serving the community - it just happens to be within the dental field. According to AADSAS definition, it would go under "dental experience" section but I could still mark it as volunteer within that section.
Would dental schools still count these as "volunteer" hours? I still have a decent amount of volunteer hours outside of this (about 60), but the bulk of my volunteer hours were within the free dental clinic so I am a bit worried. Would love to get answers on this :) Especially if anyone has been/is in a similar situation

Hello, /GiftofGames! My name is Cheesy, and I wanted to properly introduce myself to this subreddit!
I previously posted my first request (which was fulfilled by a kind friend of mine), but I realized that it was my first post to the sub without any prior introduction. And while I did write a bit of one in said request, I figured that it would be best to make a separate introduction post before joining the community. Some of what I mention here may already have been stated, so I apologize in advance.
Without further ado, hello! I would like to start things out by discussing my gaming background and the kinds of games I like.
I have been playing games for as long as I can remember, with the very first game I ever played being the original 1991 Sonic the Hedgehog. Since then, video games have become a major part of my life, giving me something to do when I'm bored or want to have a fun time with family and friends.
When it comes to my favorite types of games, I love older video games, especially from the era of early 2000s PC games.
There's something about the old 3D renders of these games and the simplistic, yet still well-designed UI that I really enjoy, invoking a very comfy and "home-y" feeling when I play them.
A great example of these would be games by PopCap. I love their games like Plants Vs. Zombies and Peggle for this reason, and they hold nice memories when it comes to playing these games with my sisters.
In terms of my own personal background, I am currently a Computer Science major hoping to get into game development or something along those lines. I can't for certain say that that's exactly what my future has in store, but it's something I would love to get into.
I really enjoy being able to work on projects that involve computers, such as making spreadsheets or managing websites or other social media outlets, thus leading me to go into the CS field.
My favorite genres of music include Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Drum & Bass. Funny enough, I feel like they're all connected, in a sense. Jazz I like for the (generally) slower and smooth tones, Hip-Hop has a bit of a faster pace while still sometimes being around the same speed, and finally, Drum & Bass has a great sense of energy, while still maintaining a "cool" demeanor.
Hopefully, these descriptions make sense, but long story short, I love these genres of music for the smooth and cool vibes they give off.
When it comes to discovering this subreddit, I thought it was a really nice idea for people to be able to give games and receive games from random people, being able to make their day by simply being kind.
I may not be able to give any games to others, which makes me feel a bit bad, in a sense, but it is what it is. That being said, I aim to be as grateful as possible to anyone who may fulfill any request I make in the future, as I understand that no one is entitled to fulfill them.
I hope that this introduction helped give a good background as to who I am when it comes to gaming, and I hope that I can be welcome within this community. Thanks for reading and thanks for your time. :)
Steam Profile (Name: Burning Daisies)

I want to become a researcher for mycology, I was planning on going and getting a masters in microbiology, but the schools that offer it or transfer programs tend to be focusing on things that I’m not trying to do (like more agricultural research instead of medicinal) tbh I’ll do anything in the mycology field, I just love the mushrooms and learning about them, as well as have a passion for plants and nature in general, I could go back and get my MBA in accounting or business management and just work the corporate life. I’m conflicted and idk what the right answer for me is. I live in the south eastern region of the US, if y’all know of schools in that area or programs, I’d greatly appreciate getting some information on them, or what degree I should go for that will corollate with the mycology field the best.

In Acts 10 verse 20, we find the words of an angel speaking to the apostle Peter. The angel says, "Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them."
This verse marks a pivotal moment in the early church as God reveals His plan to include the Gentiles in the salvation message. Peter had received a vision from God, and now the angel confirms that he is to accompany the messengers sent by Cornelius, a Gentile centurion.
The angel's words carry an important message of obedience and openness. Peter is instructed to set aside any hesitation or prejudice and go with the messengers to Cornelius' house. This encounter challenges Peter's preconceived notions and expands his understanding of God's inclusive love and redemption.
This verse serves as a reminder that God's plans often stretch beyond our expectations and comfort zones. It calls us to be open to His leading, even when it challenges our preconceptions or cultural boundaries.
So, my dear friends, let us embrace the message of Acts 10:20. May we be willing to step out in obedience, setting aside hesitation and embracing God's inclusive love for all people.
Let us seek to break down barriers and share the good news of Jesus Christ with people from every background and culture. May we cultivate a heart that is open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, ready to participate in God's redemptive work in the world.
May Acts 10 verse 20 inspire us to respond to God's call without hesitation and to extend His love and grace to all, just as Peter did. Amen!

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Lots of thanks to u/Killsode-slugcat for helping me work through this chapter with editing.
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Memory transcription subject: Tevri, Venlil Romanticist
Date [standardized human time]: August 11, 2137
With eyes still closed, I stretched my legs and arms, paws pushing up against the inside of my sleeping bag. A sigh of contentment escaped my mouth.
I let the world in—light falling down in shafts that struck my still-waking eyes. No trees were around to provide cover from the rising sun that hung low in the east. The sounds of life surrounded me, occasionally being broken up by particularly strong gusts as well as a hint of something else.
My head turned to that hint, who still slept somewhat soundly off to my side. Last night Jack had set up his own sleeping bag less than an arm’s length from my own, citing our lack of a fire as the reason to gather closer to each other.
He tossed and turned, occasionally, muttering incoherently. At least he’s found some rest. After carrying me for over half of yesterday, he had certainly earned it.
It was actually quite surprising how well he had managed it all. His slim build compared to other humans that I had seen was betrayed by a hidden strength and incredible endurance. I suppose millions of years of evolution tends to allow such a thing.
Some part of me still felt bitter about what he had done the night prior to our last, but it was clear to me that his apology was sincere. I gave a quiet snort. He probably wouldn’t have carried you on your shoulders if he wasn’t at least somewhat sorry.
The covers of my too-big bag were thrown off and I sat up, holding my knocked knees with my paws.
Rocky rolling hills with low-grown shoots of grass lightly waved towards me. The nearby mountain range looked down upon us with its well-kept snow despite the summer season. Even three days of standing beneath them didn’t eliminate their wondrously looming presence.
I reached over to my nearby pack and grabbed my pen and journal. I clung to every thought that passed its way through my mind, marking them down the old fashioned way. There was something special about writing my feelings down on something physical rather than some pad or computer. It felt real in comparison to the alternative.
It was incredible to me how one of, if not the most dangerous planet to be found within known space was simultaneously one of the most fantastically beautiful worlds I ever had the pleasure of setting foot on. What a travesty it would have been had the federation actually managed to glass the biosphere. Ironically it had been the Arxur that prevented such a disastrous outcome. Those same savages had…
“Gah!”
Jack shot upright from where he had lain. He heaved harsh breaths, chest rising and falling as though he had just sprinted up the incline of a hill. I looked on with alarm, but didn’t think to disrupt the startled man. His eyes stared down at the dirt in front of him as he hung his hands between his legs.
“You okay?” I asked. He whipped to look at me like he had forgotten I was there. Slowly, he turned back to face the dirt. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” He took a curt sniff and ran his hands across his face as he took a deep sigh.
He was lying.
The restless sleep, the violent rise into consciousness, the obvious distress within those wild eyes—all signs of nightmares. It had been years now since I last worried about such things, but I knew all too well how difficult they were to deal with.
A thought, as intrusive as it was unwelcome, pushed its way through the crowded thoughts of my mind, forcing my heart to skip a beat. What would be enough to scare a predator—human—to scare a human within their dreams? Instantly, I shoved it back from wherever it had come. He needs you right now, just like how you needed her.
I gently crawled over to the distraught man and set a paw on an arm while he leaned forward. At my touch, he turned his head towards me, staring with those forward-facing eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.
A slight snarl of a smile crossed his face, but no answer came. Jack stood up and stretched his arms outward, leaning back and forth.
“C’mon, let's pack up and head out. S’always good to start out early.” He extended a hand down to me where I sat still. How could he just brush something so terrifying off so easily? My tail flicked absently I guess they always have been a rather resilient species. Why should they be any different mentally? I relented to his proposal, grabbing his hand and allowing him to pull me upright.
Breakfast—much like last night’s meal—consisted of dry pre-prepped rations. Without surrounding trees from which drywood could be scavenged, we were left fireless. The ‘breakfast bars’ as Jack called them were a sufficient substitute for warm food. Every meal with the human increased my interest in the cuisine of his species. I hadn’t imagined it would all be so wonderfully varied and delicious.
The bar itself was chewy, made of oats, filled with dried fruits and sweetened by sugar. Each bite gave a satisfying crunch as my taste buds reveled in the impeccably delightful taste.
After hydrating and filling ourselves with calories, we set off once more on the trail.
This time, I was actually able to walk properly, though less than an hour after we departed, I was left wishing that Jack could scare me sleepless again—that way I could guilt him into carrying me.
While we continued, I walked without thinking much about the placement of my paws. I worried for my human friend. His mind was clearly plagued by something terrible, but the answer of what continued to evade me. The only lead I had were my own experiences, and in chasing that lead, my mind wandered back to the past.
As I was dragged from our home without protest, Devra lambasted our parents. Velnik cowered to the side as he watched the ordeal, helpless with widened eyes. Dad practically had to peel my sister away from mom as I was shoved into our vehicle. The echo of her shouts faded away.
It was the first time my parents admitted me for predator disease screenings.
An iron grip held my hand and led me forward through the stark featureless halls of the facility. A glance over my shoulder revealed my parents walking along. They dared not to risk a look in my direction. Tears welled at the edge of my eyes as the echoes of distant screams shocked my ears and flooded my brain with fear-chemicals.
My tail wrapped around my body and my ears bent towards the ground. Why did they want to throw me in here with the monsters? All I did was explore.
The facility worker threw me in a chair within a purely white room other than the single large black wall. From the ceiling hung a projector that faced one of the three white surfaces. After the worker left, my eyes floated through the room, narrowing at a sight that practically screamed of its existence. Dark lines were scrawled into the furthest corner of the sterile chamber.
I didn’t have the time to think about its implications when the screen clicked on and the lights dimmed, enhancing the image before me.
The metal chair fell backward with me in it, creating a resounding clang that bounded back and forth across the walls.
My hands slipped and slid across the slick floor, carrying my body backwards. This scramble led the wall to smash against my back. Without a thought, my claws joined the countless other marks of those who had come before me.
A towering, onyx-shaded visage of the malevolent beast prowled beyond the edge of my vision, obscured by tears of terror that practically blinded me. The blood-orange eyes glowed greedily and its mouth was stuck in a perpetual snarl. Viscera of a horrifically familiar color dribbled down its chin from where the meat was in the Arxur’s razor-sharp teeth.
With a click, the sanguine show moved forward to yet another horrific display. Another click. Another. One more. Click. Click. Click. Silence.
My eyes were as raw as my bloodied paws. Their scraping and scrabbling joined me with the other souls who had faced this same experience. When the lights flicked on and the worker came back to collect me, I curled up trying and failing to back away. She stood me up, patting me down before pulling me from the room. Everything was a collective white blur, compressed into a single moment of unfocused voices until I heard the vehicle’s door slam.
The ride home was silent as I leaned my head against the padded surface of my seat. Shallow breaths rose and fell from my chest while Mom and Dad stared ahead. They hadn’t looked at me once since we left the facility—or even talked to me—since we left the facility.
Among the many questions I had, one clung to the surface of my mind before being swallowed by its sea of screams. Why?
When at last we arrived at home, I barely even noticed. Only when the door to the passenger cabin flung open did I somewhat rise from my stupor. A sudden surprise wrapped around me and pulled me from the car, dragging away from my supposed guardians.
In an instant, I was rushed to my room and placed upon the familiar comfort of my bed before being coated by two layers of warmth; one was the plush cloth of a blanket and the other the fluffy warmth of my sister’s fur. “It’s ok, Tev. You’re home. You’re safe.” My empty eyes had no tears left to give, so Devra lent me hers.
You’re home. You’re safe.
“Tev? Tevri?”
My repeated name yanked me from the memory. Ugh, I’ve got to stop wandering off like that.
“You in there sheep?”
With a grumble, I responded. “I told you to stop calling me that.”
Jack uttered a mischievous chuckle. “C’mon, let's get over this next hill then break for lunch. Sure seems you could use a rest.” Despite it going unnoticed moments prior, I now felt my heart pumping hard and each breath heaved just as harshly. A short break will probably do me some good.
Together, we crested the hilltop and sat down both our packs and ourselves. I greedily lapped up water from my bottle while the man beside me calmly took several swigs from his own canteen. The food he grabbed was a pair of packaged items that he called ‘pasta salad.’
The small noodles were coated in a layer of creamy sauce and mixed with a variety of colorful vegetables that I didn’t recognize, but just like everything else cooked up by these humans, it was delicious. The sweet, creamy sauce contrasted nicely with the savory taste of the noodles and the soft texture of the pasta paired with the lovely crunch of the vegetables made for a wonderful meal.
As I munched on my food, the wind lazily played with my tail. My heart drummed onward, steadying into an agreeable rhythm before finally, my breathing leveled out.
A field of purple flowers greeted us, climbing and falling with the rolling land. Down below us was the river we had loosely followed, bordered by nondescript bunches of shrubbery. Rapid white waters splashed up and against rocks, breaking the flow and sending up spray.
When together we finished our food, we sat there, enjoying the world around us. “So, Tevri,” as Jack spoke, I met his forward eyes, “we’ve been out here for two days now and I still know next to nothing about you. Why don’t you tell me a bit more ‘bout yourself.”
The sudden question caught me by surprise, but I tried my best to answer anyway. “There isn’t much to tell. I write stories and poetry about the nature of worlds I’ve visited.”
“Well, you must be one hell of a writer to throw around money like you do.”
At the compliment, I felt a rush of warmth to my face. “I—”
Jack’s calm demeanor became one of surprise in an instant. “Is your face ‘sposed to do that?” A pair of my paws clapped to my face, trying and failing to hide the spreading orange.
“Y-yes!” I squeaked. “It’s p-perfectly fine.”
“Huh, right.” He didn’t sound convinced in the slightest. “Well, uh, what about your family? You’ve met mine already, why don’t you tell me about yours?”
Just as the orange began to fade away, a shroud of mist met my eyes and my voice sunk with my ears. “I’d rather not.” The whiplash of jumping from a sense of contentment, to embarrassment, to sad longing was jarring to say the least.
“Ah.” He held his silence for a moment, allowing the blowing breeze and the distant rush of water to fill the space between.
“I’m sorry.”
“S-sorry? Sorry for what?”
Jack gave a huff. “You know it's funny really. You Venlil, us Humans. I never really saw it before, but even just a few days around you, it’s shown me just how similar our people really are.”
Again, wind and water.
“If it means anything, I’ve felt your loss.”
What?! How does he know? How could he possibly know?
He must have picked up my confusion before he responded. “After the battle of Earth I got used to hearing that answer of yours.”
Oh.
Jack rose, swinging his pack around his shoulders. “C’mon sheep, sun’s not getting any higher. Let's get going.”
“YOU—!” The dour mood was immediately washed away by my guide’s hearty laughter. Again with the emotional whiplash.
It was amazing how easily he managed to do that. Try as I might, I couldn’t stay mad at him. As I shook my head, I followed my guide’s motions and grabbed my bag to join him.
For a while we walked quietly, but once again, Jack tried to strike up a conversation. “So, you mentioned you’ve visited other worlds. What were they like?”
I gave the human equivalent of a shrug with my tail. “Some were better than others, but for the most part, they were quite beautiful.”
“You have any favorites?”
My ears perked up. “Oh yes! The sky cities of Nishtal were incredible. Dwelling among the clouds, it was a rather uplifting experience.” Jack groaned with a smile still on his face.
“That might be one of the worst puns I’ve ever heard.” In response, I simply chuckled.
“Nishtal, huh?” The smile on his face faded. “That’s the world of feathered sacks-of-shit, right?”
“What? The Krakotl? Don’t be dense now, they aren’t all that bad.”
Jack scoffed. “That’s easy for you to say. They didn’t try to wipe the Venlil from existence.”
“If they succeeded during the battle of earth, they very well could have. Not that it matters anymore. Nishtal’s skies are clouded by the ash of their once-lush swamps and their cities have been plucked from the skies. Their world died.”
Jack gave a gruff grunt. “What goes around comes around I guess.”
I was genuinely shocked at what I heard. The anger that began to bubble within me was not the same lighthearted stuff from earlier. “How can you say something like that?”
“They brought it upon themselves,” he barked.
“That bastard Kalsim was the one who brought destruction to his people and you know it. Billions of Krakotl were killed or captured by betterment. Can you honestly tell me, or even yourself, that any species deserves such a fate?”
Silence.
“No. No I guess I can’t” Mentally, I gave a sigh of relief.
With my tail, I gave him a gentle flick. “The Krakotl are functionally endangered now, you know? They may have killed a billion humans, but for each life taken, tens of their own were paid.”
My voice began to choke. “I had—have—friends among the Krakotl. If you think that the mourning you humans experienced was harsh, I just want you to think; how would you feel if less than a percent of your people survived death or capture”
These words of mine were followed by an air of silence. I wasn’t sure what it was exactly, but something I had said clearly struck a chord with the man. Unlike me, Jack seemed to ground himself in reality, but for the first time since I met him, his distant unfocused eyes made it clear enough that his mind was elsewhere.
The remainder of the day flew by beneath this same blanket of silence.
We passed from the wide grassy knolls into a sparse forest that was more brush than tree. The trail led beneath their branches and through the tall shrubbery, rarely veering one way or the other.
When we eventually stopped to make camp for the evening, the sun was still slightly above the horizon. The campsite was similar to the one we had stopped at on our first day. An old steel fire-pit was set in the middle and a steel food container lay to the side.
Even as we set up, the cold quiet remained.
Progress was slow. Jack usually did the majority of the work, but tonight, his movements were taken with less purpose than I was used to. More than once, his hands fumbled, dropping something only for him to robotically reach down and pick it up again.
Once he did finally unpack his belongings, he left to find wood for the fire. At least this time, I found myself less frightened than when he had last done so. The deafening silence of my thoughts was more disconcerting than the idea of any hunters prowling nearby.
Whatever I had said, it didn’t just strike a chord. No, this had shaken him. Not even those nightmares of his had affected him this deeply.
In much the same way that I hadn’t wanted to talk about my own family, it was clear that whatever this was, he had no desire to elaborate further. I did find it odd however that only after mentioning the near-annihilation of the Krakotl did he seem to change. Perhaps it had to do with whoever he had lost? If this was the case, then I couldn’t fully blame him for his hatred towards the Krakotl. Grief is a powerful accelerant for the fires of rage.
On the other paw, my poor heart broke for the poor avians. So many lost. So few left. When the news had arrived back on Venlil prime, I devoted every moment possible to comforting my grieving friends; to Dualo, Oqui, Icatl and Haiula.
For some though, the grief of their new reality was too strong. Several of my dear friends had been unable to overcome that grief. My ears fell and my head bowed. If nobody else would remember them, I would ensure I never forgot them. They deserved that much.
Despite the clouds looming over my mind, my ears perked up at the sound of footfalls and I turned to see a bundle beneath Jack’s arms. Minutes later, a brilliant blaze burned before us.
It felt good to have a fire again. The protective warmth felt like a familiar embrace. From my pack, I grabbed the same blanket my guide had lent me the day before and wrapped it across my body.
While I found myself shrouded in comfort, Jack prepared our food above the pit. It was yet another warm meal of packaged food. The smell of spice wafted up to the tips of my taste buds as he stirred it about with a metal ladle.
The clink of utensils against our metal bowls rose above the crackling flames. Their sun still peeked out from behind the trees, though soon enough, it fell and with it, came the night’s chill.
Countless stars that you simply didn’t get to see on Venlil Prime appeared in the night sky. A glance told me that I wasn’t the only one impressed by their appearance. My wide field of vision managed to capture nearly the entire sky. I wonder, which of those stars is home?
A gust of wind blew by sending shivers down my spine. The effect of the Wendigo’s story hadn’t been completely lost on me, but the terror it inspired had at least died down to a manageable amount. Staying near to Jack certainly helped.
Speaking of him, I’d had enough of this silence.
“Hey Jack, how would you like to hear a campfire story?” I asked, tossing aside the quiet that had covered.
“Hmph. A promise is a promise. Didn’t really have a fire last night to tell a story ‘round did we. Guess it’s only fair to give you a chance.”
My tail gave a flick of excitement at his agreeance. “I must warn you, this is a bit less of a story and more of a poem. It’s one of the last few that I wrote before my travels across the Federation ended. It isn’t quite as long of a tale as that Wendigo story you told me, but it means a lot to me.
Jack gave a thoughtful nod. “Very well, I call this poem ‘The Wandrer’s Curse.’”
“Across the stars we wandrers go, not caring much for threat or foes, The skies we see are not our own, But from them wonder’s always shown.
From Nishtal’s clear and crystal skies, To Fahl where golden deserts lie, And ‘cross the cradle’s fruitful lands, Our own horizons do expand.
It is amidst these very sights, That we the wandrers oft delight, For friends we seek and friends we find, Across the worlds of species kind.
Thru mountains, oceans and the woods, Where those long past once walked and stood, The wandrers seek to find the past; A simpler time, no clouds o’er cast.
Despite the friends which we have made, The clouds above us cast their shade, Upon the surface of our minds, And seek our hearts with chains to bind.
It is our lot to flee from pain, Brought on by smashing, lashing rains. Til weary broken and undone, We fall with legs which fail to run.
But such is life—that beautiful thing, That brings one joy and suff’ring. So with this final cloudless verse, Remember thee, the wandrer’s curse.”
At the end of my poem, the crackling fire picked up where my words left off. My eyes raised to the heavens once more and I realized just how wonderful this life was. There was something truly sublime about existing right here during this exact moment; under the stars, surrounded by trees the whistling, beside a warm fire that staved off the cold.
Sharing it with Jack made it that much better.
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https://pix4free.org/assets/library/2020-12-13/originals/alaska022.jpg (Cover Image)
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