Quandale dingle stop messaging me

Assalamualakium everyone i put my trousers and pants above the ankle because you have to (I put source below). My Muslim friends tell me you only have to do it for prayer or for wudu. They made fun of me and laughed at me putting it above my ankle and I told them it’s kuffar to make fun of the Deen I don’t know if they cared or not. How should I advise them to stop or that it’s a serious matter? How do I properly give Dawah To the Muslim friends? JazakAllah Khair حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ، وَاقِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ مَرَرْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَفِي إِزَارِي اسْتِرْخَاءٌ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ ارْفَعْ إِزَارَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَرَفَعْتُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ زِدْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَزِدْتُ فَمَا زِلْتُ أَتَحَرَّاهَا بَعْدُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ إِلَى أَيْنَ فَقَالَ أَنْصَافِ السَّاقَيْنِ ‏.‏ Ibn 'Umar reported: I happened to pass before Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon bin) with my lower garment trailing (upon the ground). He said: 'Abdullah, tug up your lower garment,, I tugged it up, and he again said: Tug it still further, and I tugged it still further and I went on tugging it afterward, whereupon some of the people said: To what extent? Thereupon he said: To the middle of the shanks. Sahih Muslim 2086 https://sunnah.com/muslim:2086

Assalamualakium everyone i put my trousers and pants above the ankle because you have to (I put source below). My Muslim friends tell me you only have to do it for prayer or for wudu. They made fun of me and laughed at me putting it above my ankle and I told them it’s kuffar to make fun of the Deen I don’t know if they cared or not. How should I advise them to stop or that it’s a serious matter? How do I properly give Dawah To the Muslim friends? JazakAllah Khair
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ، وَاقِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ مَرَرْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَفِي إِزَارِي اسْتِرْخَاءٌ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ ارْفَعْ إِزَارَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَرَفَعْتُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ زِدْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَزِدْتُ فَمَا زِلْتُ أَتَحَرَّاهَا بَعْدُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ إِلَى أَيْنَ فَقَالَ أَنْصَافِ السَّاقَيْنِ ‏.‏
​
Ibn 'Umar reported: I happened to pass before Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon bin) with my lower garment trailing (upon the ground). He said: 'Abdullah, tug up your lower garment,, I tugged it up, and he again said: Tug it still further, and I tugged it still further and I went on tugging it afterward, whereupon some of the people said: To what extent? Thereupon he said: To the middle of the shanks.
​
Sahih Muslim 2086
https://sunnah.com/muslim:2086
​

I (17F) have caught serious feelings and it’s the worst.
I was in a relationship at 15 with a guy I thought was going to be my husband. Turns out, he was a dick who never put in any effort, and I’m a lesbian. Since then, I haven’t really thought about love, or what it might feel like. I just assumed when I met the right girl things would fall into place. I don’t want to run the risk of sounding cringe when I say I’m a “loner”, but I am. I don’t have too many friends and I’m very content with that. I prefer my circle small and manageable and I like to do things by myself. So I thought about love even less. To be very honest, I don’t even know if I assumed I was ever going to be in a serious relationship after that boyfriend because of how homophobic my family is. They’d never come to my wedding, and I don’t even like most people, so what’s the point?
But then I met J (F17). We met through her artwork. She’s seriously talented, and she does a lot of artwork for many of the same shows we like. And whatever you’re thinking of when I say ‘insanely talented’, think more. I’m not being biased when I say she is AMAZING. I would totally drop her @ if I wasn’t scared she’d somehow find this post through it. I followed her, and I usually do some comedy bits and literary dissections on my platform, and she followed me back. We got to chatting, which eventually moved from DMs to text messaging to phone calls.
At first I thought it was just a really close friendship, but I slowly started to realize that it’s different than that. She makes me laugh more than anyone else, and my humor is sort of hard to grasp, but she has it. We both went through an awkward middle school phase. We both love cats. We’re both Leo’s, if you believe in astrology, which we don’t, but it’s pretty neat. I can tell her anything and vice versa. It’s honestly hard to believe we hadn’t known each other a year ago. When we first met, I told her about my secluded proclivities, how I’m not very talkative, and how I used to get into fights and how I don’t really like being around people all that much. But she just brings out that other side of me so much it kind of makes me want to eat those words. Out of the two of us, Im the more talkative one, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I’ll drop almost anything to text her back. Every time I do something I’d usually do alone, I can’t help but think how much better it would be if the voice in my headphones was hers talking to me, and not whatever song I had put on. And speaking of music, I cant hear a single damn romance song and not think of her. I used to think those songs were dumb because they all basically said the same thing. I used to say that if I ever felt like that, I’d have better words. Well, I don’t. All that cheesy cliche B.S. I used to hate on is now biting me in the ass.
Every little thing makes it worse. She’s so genuine, selfless, kind, thoughtful, and funny. And did I mention beautiful? Lord she’s gorgeous. Like, stunningly so. Now I know why Shakespeare wrote so many soliloquies about peoples beauty, because her’s definitely deserves one. We just work so well together. Sometimes we’ll go a while without texting but that’s perfect for me because we both have our own lives to live, and even though I always want to talk to her, sometimes I need my alone time to do extracurricular stuff or school. I can confidently say that this is the first time I’ve ever had real, honest, deep feelings for someone. I don’t want to call it love yet, but I almost feel like I’d be willing to tell my family to just suck it up or never talk to me again if she was my girlfriend.
My only problem is that I can’t tell her. (Also, she’s bisexual, and I think I’m her type ((?)) so that’s not an issue.) We live in different states, and I don’t think she’s over the guy she used to have feelings for. I’m okay with long distance, I don’t think she is. I haven’t talked to her about it. I’m afraid she might catch on. But I cant keep it all in my heart anymore—I have to tell someone else. J’s one of the best things in my life, but it hurts to just keep this a secret. I’ve dated other girls before, but she’s the only one I’ve truly felt serious about.

A little bit of backstory: I (18M) was born with aplastic anemia, a disease where my bone marrow is constantly attacked by my immune system. Since I remember, I have never been able to do things normal boys my age could so I found it hard to make friends (I am also autistic). When I was about 5 years old, I was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor (that's why I'm studying medicine right now) so doctors said I was going to die, they did MRI's in a few hospitals and every single one said the same things, I was going to die, the tumor was increasing the pressure inside my skull which in a short time would lead to death. However, about a week later they did another MRI on me, which showed my brain without the tumor I had, the doctors were shocked and even used my story to show it in congress.
My parents and the rest of my family are incredibly religious, I grew up always being told to pray or I would go to hell, I also was born (and still live) in Mexico, a country where beliefs other than the catholic church are basically forbidden. My parents during my brain tumor incident used to go pray with the hope I would be healed. And although I do not deny what happened to me being what is seen as a miracle, I cannot bring myself to believing in a God since what loving God would put me through all that.
Growing up I've always been clear about me being an atheist, despite all I've gone through you'd believe my parents to be the most loving people of all time, but no. I was constantly told by my mom all her problems were because of me, that made me cry every time and each time I cried she would hit me, not with a belt, with her fist, even going as far as pushing me down the stairs or locking me hours without food in a room.
I have gone to several therapists to help me deal with my emotional problems, but every time they go back to the same thing, my mom, they get her to come to therapy and that is always where it ends since she cannot accept that she is a piece of shit mother so I have to change therapists midway all the time.
Notice how I haven't mentioned my father, that is because he is never here, he is a trucker and I see him maybe once a month if I'm lucky, and although he is far better than my mom, if my mom lies about me or says that I did something I clearly didn't, I know he will always take what she says as absolute.
The physical abuse stopped when I was 14, since at that age when she tried to hit me I punched her gut and I DO NOT REGRET IT, not even a bit. But it did not end there, I still had a bit of love for her until one day she passed out (she has nephrotic syndrome therefore having a bad diet can cause her that) and when she was a bit more stable my brother and I were with her in her room, then she told me the most heartbreaking line a mother could tell a son 'You are not my son, only he is' (pointing to my brother) at that point I left her room and have never felt anything other than resentment. She always has said that I have not suffered as much as my brother and that I do not deserve to be loved as he is (my brother had asthma and that is it).
Since that happened I have never been able to completely feel emotions for other people and when I do I get extremely attached which I guess is a type of way to cope with everything I have dealt with.
I am still sick with aplastic anemia but it hasn't caused me that much trouble, my hematologist told my parents I was not going to learn like the other kids but look at me now, studying medicine and being top of my class by far.
If you are reading this far thank you so much, and if you are a parent, use this as an example of what not to be to your children.

A few months ago I cranked up the difficulty sliders and started a new dynasty file with a goal in mind: experimenting on defense. For years I have worked with offensive playbooks altering audibles, formation subs, and crazy formations, but always kept it simple running standard 4-3 defenses. A base 4-2-5 defense is by no means 'crazy' but it does afford me an opportunity to work with unique personnel and fun blitz packages. As a Buffalo Bills fan, the versatility of the safeties and the coverage skills of the linebackers in this formation was something that I undoubtedly looked towards as inspiration in my teambuilding and recruiting strategy with a college team. Implementing the 4-2-5 into my arsenal is where I was able to recruit and play with my favorite player thus far: Kevin Dodds, SS #8.
For those who might not be familiar, base defenses are typically labeled by the number of defensive linemen followed by the number of linebackers. Some of the most common base defenses are the 3-4 (three d-linemen and four linebackers) and the 4-3 (four d-linemen and three linebackers). A 4-2-5 differs in that it maintains the pass-rushing benefits of the four linemen with a boost in coverage by sacrificing a linebacker for an additional secondary defender. A common downfall of the 4-2-5 is a struggle stopping the run because typically an outside linebacker can tackle better than a secondary defender. Sometimes the fifth secondary defender is a nickel corner, but in NCAA 14 that fifth defender is the backup strong safety. The 4-2-5 formation has that second strong safety acting as a hybrid-type player in the box, close to the line of scrimmage.
The key principles behind the defense are being fast and physical. Some key personnel characteristics are as follows:

• DL: big linemen who can plug gaps and engage multiple blockers
• OLB: excellent tackler capable of pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run
• MLB: great zone coverage and better-than-decent at stopping the run
• CB: excel in press coverage and quick enough to stay with with a receiver
• FS: blazing speed and elite zone coverage
• SS1: similar build to FS, usually converted from FS or CB
• SS2: high speed, medium/high strength, great hit power and tackling

I encountered Kevin Dodds in either the first or second season of the dynasty. He was a 200 pound, 5'-11" four star recruit at the strong safety position with an overall in the mid-to high 70s. The dude had speed like a running back, strength like an offensive lineman, and tackling and block shedding skills like a defensive end.
It was early in the dynasty of a one star school so the existing talent around him was far from ideal. I decided to redshirt him his true freshman year and dedicated lots of recruiting capital to filling out the defense around him over the next couple of seasons. Dodds immediately stormed the scene of college football and asserted himself as one of the premiere defensive players - at any position - in the country. Initially, most of his time on the field was while the defense was in its base 4-2-5 coverage as a hybrid safety, but as the coaching staff learned how to utilize his strengths the defensive playbook evolved to showcase him.
The dollar 3-2-6 formation was utilized more when necessary and a formation sub put Dodds in the fourth cornerback spot behind the left defensive end. This position keeps him near the line of scrimmage to disrupt any potential running plays, but it also includes a wide variety of DB blitz packages. Dodds thrived in this formation in particular on obvious passing downs in the NCAA Blitz series of play calls, which has man coverage, cover 2, and cover 3 variations. Whether or not his blitz was disguised didn't matter. He had the speed to evade the offense's right tackle and the block shedding and strength to get past any half back in pass protection.
A bit later in his career, after a couple of off-seasons in which he could continue to be in the weight room gaining strength, the coaching staff got creative and subbed him into the 5-2 formation as the right defensive end. This effectively allowed him to play this formation in a three point stance in the 9-tech, although the right defensive end does assume coverage responsibilities in the flats in cover 2 and cover 3. A huge benefit of this formation allows him to set the edge on outside run plays when a slower, traditional edge would have a tougher time.
In all defensive sets he was afforded the chance to be on the field as a pash rushing, run stuffing, havoc wreaking disrupter. Run heavy offenses were stifled by the crowded box of the 4-2-5, not knowing which defenders would blitz and which would drop into coverage. Quarterbacks couldn't get rid of the ball fast enough to evade the rush of the 5-2, particularly the 5-2 Pinch which sent the OLB as described above blitzing alongside the five linemen. When offenses tried to spread the field by adding wide receivers: good luck. The dollar formation assigned Dodds to the tight end, the running back, or the slot receiver who he was more than capable of covering. In a pinch, many plays in the formation sent him on a blitz towards an overloaded offensive line. Even in quarter formation the strong safety lurks in the box near the middle linebacker and can control the pace of the opponent with an occasional blitz or short yard zone coverage near the line of scrimmage.
Dodds made a huge impact as a redshirt freshman, leading the team to one of the best statistical defenses in the country and joining Charles Woodson by winning the triple crown for defensive backs: the Bednarik, the Nargurski, and the Thorpe awards.
His sophomore season was cut short due to injury, but during that time the defense around him really started to take shape. He sprang right back into shape his junior season and won the Thorpe and Bednarik awards.
Halfway through his senior season he set the school record for career sacks and continues to build upon that record to the point in which it seems insurmountable. He also holds the NCAA record for the most number of sacks by an individual in a single game. He is a finalist for many of the same defensive awards he won in years past and is looking to cement himself as the greatest defensive back in all of college football late in his senior season, leading his team to an undefeated record with hopes of the national championship game.
Kevin Dodds is likely the greatest player I have ever developed in my time as a coach in NCAA 14. I had never prioritized ‘hard hitting’ safeties before installing and building around a 4-2-5 defense, so I had never been able to coach into action formations with incredible defensive back blitzes.
I hope reading this reminds you all why NCAA 14 is the greatest sports video game of all time. After a decade of playing this game on and off I still find myself returning with more to learn and more to experiment with. Thank you to those who took the time to read this and follow the career of Kevin Dodds and my journey through a custom defensive playbook.
—
Kevin Dodds, Senior (RS) - Player Skills
OVR: 98 SPD: 95 ACC: 99 AGI: 83 AWR: 99 TAK: 94 MCV: 80 ZCV: 82 PRC: 85 HPW: 89 CTH: 78 PUR: 96 STR: 80 PCV: 84 BSH: 93

My (31M) ex (29F) started getting close to her coworker and I found out from a conversation with another female coworker that she was really into his body, found him attractive and felt like he was going "get her in trouble with her husband". I felt uncomfortable and told her about this and she kind of gas lit me into thinking its nothing.
Fast forward a year and they have become even closer, hanging out after work and during lunch breaks smoking weed together and walking home together. I discover this and told her im uncomfortable with it. She says ok and agrees to limit their time together.
A month or 2 later I ask if shes still spending time with him (she says no and tries to prove it with screenshots of their messages which are few and far between)
A month later I found out she skipped college classes to hang out with him alone because I checked the phone records and saw that they had been texting a lot more than she led on and was deleting messages and hiding their private hangouts. She slowly started to come clean but swore up and down it was platonic and that he was like a brother to her. They were only discussing the issues in their relationship and there are no romantic feelings involved. Not too long afterwards in a completely separate conversation she casually mentioned to me that she is no longer sexually attracted to me and gave no suggestions or insight on how i could work to fix that for her.
I couldn't take the lying, gaslighting and the uncertainty and things were already on the decline. Sex life slowed down a lot, lots of emotional neglect, insecurity from micro cheating, invading privacy and then trying to tell her not to talk with her coworker who was a threat to our marriage. It wasn't going well, broken trust from the inappropriate conversations she would have with coworkers and strangers, it was all too much and I finally decided to move out and end it all with hopes that she would see my value and come back ready to be a good wife now.
5 months later I was doing well in life, new job, new apartment, 30 lbs lost and a boost of confidence from meeting new women with lots of successful moments. I felt like me again, then her and I started reconnecting again.
We were yet divorced and we missed each other and both agreed to still be friends with benefits and see where things go, possibly in the future we would get back together and i held onto that because of the length of our relationship (10 years) and the fact that she was my best friend.
Things went well at first and it felt like old times and there was clear chemistry and familiarity but she wasnt overly aggressive with her feelings towards me, basically played the friends with benefits role well and never let herself get too into the sexual moments. It made me feel like she was not really into that part of our current relationship and that the friendship was more important. I was just happy either way.
About 2 months after we reconnected she comes over one day, we grab some food and head back to my place to do the deed. It went well and afterwards we were just hanging on the bed chilling when she fell asleep naked next to me. I went out to the living room since i wasnt tired and played some PS5. I hear her phone go off and realize she left it in the living room. I got super curious and realized my fingerprint still worked for her phone.
I snooped around and eventually found a picture of the same coworker in her phone, but it was a picture of him shirtless, in our old apartment, only a few weeks ago. I immediately open up his contact to see he is saved as "Daddy Jason" I do a quick skim through and see all the graphic messages and pictures shared between them and lost my shit.
This looks like it had been going on for a long time but it doesnt look like they started having sex until we split.
I took a picture of her naked on my bed from her phone and sent it to him saying you can have her bro. Then kicked her out of my apartment at 2am. Told her I knew what she did and we cant speak anymore. I will call you with next steps for the divorce.
I then proceeded to draft her the nastiest, most cruel message I could while also letting her know just how much this devasted me. She never responded.
She followed up a week later obviously condemning me for everything I said (I wasnt proud of saying any of it and my only purpose was to hurt her just as bad as I was hurt in that moment). It all went over her head. She called me insecure, said the resentful sex she would give me once every other week was never good enough and the worst was all she had to say regarding what I had discovered was "Im sorry I hurt your feelings".
I'm struggling to move on with other people now because I'm afraid that I'm not enough and that if they dont show their interest the way my ex used to show interest in me (no she shows interest in that way to her coworkers) that it will never work. I just want a girl who likes me for me, thinks im good enough and will always choose me even when we are old an saggy and have been together for decades.
I just never thought women like her existed. I thought she was better than that.
Did she cheat?

Hi everyone! I just got diagnosed with OCD by my therapist. I’m new to all this so forgive me if I use wrong or offensive terminology. My OCD is focused entirely on my thoughts and doesn’t really result in compulsive behaviors, so I don’t wash my hands a lot or obsessively clean and I don’t do repetitive tasks. The only behavior rituals I have are that I can’t go to sleep at night without physically locking the front door myself and doing prayer-like things if my family is sick or going on a trip (even though I really don’t believe in anything at this point). I also have trouble throwing away certain kinds of objects (clothes, stuffed animals, physical memories) but I’m not exhibiting hoarding tendencies.
Instead, what I do is if something happens that is an anxiety trigger for me (usually centered around people being mad at me, me getting in trouble, people not liking me, or getting in a confrontation with people) it will consume me for days on end. I literally can not stop thinking about the situation.
Anyway, my therapist said that medication is my best bet but I’m already on Effexor for my GAD (and it has been a godsend). I’m assuming that the only thing a psych could put me on treat the OCD is just more anti anxiety meds? Would that even be effective? She also said that the therapies available for OCD are focused on exposure and response and wouldn’t really be something they could do for my kind of OCD. Is this true? Or is there another sort of therapy that is out there?
I just don’t want to live like this any more. I’m a teacher and I don’t want to be consumed with constant anxious thoughts every time a parent gets mad at me or my principal wants me to change something in my instruction.

hello everyone! i’m in a three year relationship with my partner and it has been my healthiest relationship by far. we typically don’t argue, are able to talk things out when a problem arises, and she’s always been kind to me. when we first met, i dressed in the typical style of an 18 year old girl but over the course of our relationship, my style has changed drastically. i moved out of my parents house and was able to do the things they wouldn’t allow me to. i got multiple facial/ear piercings, dyed my hair black, started to wear darker clothes, and it’s made me feel extremely confident. i grew up very insecure so now that i’m able to express myself, it’s helped me let go of those hard feelings. my girlfriend has been mostly supportive, but there’s some things she is very adamantly against. she thinks MOST facial piercings are trashy, except the ones i have, so she tells me that she won’t stop me from getting them but she may not be as attracted to me as she is now. whenever i do my makeup in a more trad goth style, she doesn’t outwardly say she dislikes it but makes small comments (like i’m too pale, which is the style, or it would be a good look for halloween). i told her that i know she doesn’t like my makeup, but it makes me feel confident so i will continue. we’ve talked about it in the past, she has said that she just doesn’t like certain things and i can’t force her to like it but she can’t force me to not do things she doesn’t like. basically, i’m my own person and she won’t stop me but she won’t like it. i love her and i want to continue being with her, but i feel stuck between wanting to make myself happy and make her happy as well. how should i go about this? i want us both to be happy. also sorry about rambling, i haven’t been able to talk about this anywhere else.

You can chat +447593882116 (Telegram/WhatsApp) if you want The System By Todd.
I have The System By Todd.
Todd Valentine - The System is a revolutionary course, created by the famous pickup instructor - Todd Valentine.
The System by Todd covers everything you need to know to play the game. This program is applicable for beginners, as well as intermediate students.
In The System by Todd you will learn how to OPEN (Open, Premise, Establish, Narrative) as well as much more on how to lead proper interaction with girls, and how to close them (infields included)!
Todd Valentine's The System is one of the best and most effective courses ever created on dating, and one of the best choices you will make if you have decided to improve your game.
To get The System By Todd contact me on:
Reddit Direct Message to u/RequestCourseAccess
WhatsApp/Telegram: +447593882116 (@multistorecourses)
Email: silverlakestore/@/yandex.com (remove the brackets)

You can chat +447593882116 (Telegram/WhatsApp) if you want The System By Todd.
I have The System By Todd.
Todd Valentine - The System is a revolutionary course, created by the famous pickup instructor - Todd Valentine.
The System by Todd covers everything you need to know to play the game. This program is applicable for beginners, as well as intermediate students.
In The System by Todd you will learn how to OPEN (Open, Premise, Establish, Narrative) as well as much more on how to lead proper interaction with girls, and how to close them (infields included)!
Todd Valentine's The System is one of the best and most effective courses ever created on dating, and one of the best choices you will make if you have decided to improve your game.
To get The System By Todd contact me on:
Reddit Direct Message to u/RequestCourseAccess
WhatsApp/Telegram: +447593882116 (@multistorecourses)
Email: silverlakestore/@/yandex.com (remove the brackets)

I’ve had an mg zs for 3 years. Real range supposedly 145 but obviously varies in weather, id say 120-130 in summer, 100 in winter I’m getting a new job in a couple of months and the commute is 70 miles each way. I have to do it twice a week but I want to be comfy. I can’t find a car in price range that’s for me. (I have to lease, cannot afford to buy)
Car needs to have some height for a back issue I have Range to cover 140 a day without stopping to charge Realistic budget per month £400
Understandable that longer ranges are more expensive but they seem to be doubling what I’m paying now.
Any ideas

23M, working out for some time now and I recently started running again after a long time. My legs and glutes were getting sore at first and I remember telling my friend a couple days ago (we run together) that I was very sore on my right side glute the next day after our run. He found that strange and told me that he never had that issue before. I went running again today, and my right side glute started hurting and feeling sore and I stopped after 15-20 minutes. So that got me thinking that this might have something to do with my posture.
My father has kyphosis and I also have the same on a moderate level. I assume there's a connection with that and my side glute soreness. Am I right?
On another note, I know there are exercises to help bad posture but do they actually work or it's a genetic thing? And do you have any to recomend that actually work?

Hey there! I am in search of a friend who is willing to do movie nights, read books togheter, voice calls, exchange memes and maybe play some video games togheter. :D (Exchanging cooking recipes and pet pictures is a bonus).
I am a horror enthusiast, listen to lots of metal and goth music, love make up, hair care and goth fashion.
As long as you are older than 18, and understand I am after platonic friendships, we can talk! Send me a message!

Message me if interested

Look at this post that got massively upvoted: https://www.reddit.com/ontario/comments/144bk76/comment/jnetyax/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
The reason is because it was short and quick to the point, and was posted in the right thread, so it evoked a positive emotional response by the masses, and due to that positive emotional response, they agreed with that post and gave it upvotes.
Now compare to this post of mine (done as an experiment, and my hypothesis unfortunately came true, hypothesis being: 100% of the function of upvotes/downvotes/people agreeing/disagreeing is due to tone/emotion, and 0% logic), when my main point was the EXACT same, and on the SAME subreddit, but I posted it on a thread about an antiLGBT baseball player, and I wrote more words, so this evokes a poor EMOTIONAL response by people, and thus DUE to that EMOTIONAL response and INCORRECTLY interpreting my post AS A RESULT of their EMOTIONAL/anti logical response, they disagreed with what I said and downvoted me into oblivion:
https://www.reddit.com/ontario/comments/13wnj9t/comment/jmdjrvg/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
It is the direct equivalent to saying 1+1=2 if written with Arial font, but 1+1=3 if written with Times New Roman
The issue is that downvotes=censorship, because they hide posts, and if too many downvotes, karma goes down to the point of not being able to post at all. So downvotes need to either be abolished, or stop doubling up as a censor. Otherwise, subs will turn into echo chambers, and now allow healthy discussion, which is unfortunately largely already the case.

I cheated on my boyfriend on a trip to mexico by flirting with some other guys at a club. I had called him that night and confessed everything and how awful i felt about it. The next day i was coming back home and he came late that night and dropped my stuff off, broke up with me, and demanded i get everything that his and give it back. I was hysterical cause he was just ending all with out even talking so he just left. A few days later i was going to have a mutual friend drop off his stuff, but he asked he come to pick it up and we can talk before his work. I agreed and we talked it all out. He went to work and picked me up after again and parked in a dark parking lot. I thought it was weird but i wasn’t sure how much he told his mom so i figure maybe he was hiding me from her so he didn’t have to explain. (i found out after he never even told her) He asked to lay in the back seat so we put the seat down and laid out a blanket to cuddle on. I thought he just needed that physical connection right now. We started making out and i thought that maybe we should wait for our emotions to settle before sex but he seemed like he really wanted it so i obliged being the offender. It started fine but then he got really rough really fast. He said i fucking hate you and then Purposing putting me in positions i told him hurt and forcing his whole dick in when he knows that hits my cervix sometimes. I asked him to slow down and he said to shut the fuck up. It went on like this for a little before it felt like something was really wrong down there. It hurt so bad. I told him to stop and all he said was did you stop in the club? and then i said it hurts to bad please stop and he told me to shut the fuck up. i started crying at this point and he responded by flipping me over and holding my head back with his hands covering my mouth and elbows digging into my back. This is where it gets really fucked up. I’ve told him before about a previous SA and how the guy did it, and i think he tried to replicate the position. i felt him move so that his whole body weight was on my and his knees where digging into my legs and he was holding my face, grabbing my hair. i really think he wanted to recreate it in some fucked up way to punish me. after he was done i got dressed and asked him to just take me home. he put a little protest before just taking me home. i got up from the car as soon as we pulled up and ran inside. I don’t know what do but I just needed to tell someone or document it or fucking something before my head explodes. I’m sorry

I am a 16 year old male and i am addicted to porn. It started when i was about 8 and this kid in my neighborhood that was a little bit older then me around 13 introduced me to it and ever since i haven’t been able to stop i will every once in a while take a day or two break but nothing more then a week though. The thing is i am not an ugly person i always have women that want to hangout and do stuff but i never commit to hangout because i can just get the same feelings from my self. I just need help on what to do to stop because it is slowly taking my life over and preventing me from making actual connections with girls my age. Please Help.

I keep getting these notifications. They are always from subs I never subscribed to or have absolutely no interest in. It is extremely annoying. I'm sitting here trying to get some work done, when my phone beeps and tells me I have a new notification from Reddit. I open it up, and it is something to do with that stooopid "real housewives" show, or something to that effect. How can I make that stop?

Sorry this is so long and pretty venty, I am pretty pissed off. TLDR at the bottom of post.
I’m a cis woman and have been in a relationship with my boyfriend for a year and a half, but we’d been seeing each other long-distance for the past 3 years. He’s not at all religious, but his family is really conservative. I didn’t think he was as conservative because he’s very pro gay rights and pro choice, but the other day we got into a huge argument (over text messages) and I don’t know what to do. Basically, I mentioned that I was a little worried about going to my local pride parade this year because of everything that’s been going on lately and where I live is more red than not. He said he wasn’t caught up on the news lately, so I just told him a rundown of what’s been happening in places like Florida, and I mentioned some recent violent hate crimes against trans people. He said, “Oh I don’t agree with the violence, but…” What do you mean but?!! People are dying! Anyways, he was arguing thru texts for HOURS with me about it. The whole time I was basically just saying it’s literally none of his business, who is he to have opinions on people’s lives, he’s not a doctor, etc. And he was just sending me paragraphs about how “people shouldn’t “mutilate” themselves, minors shouldn’t be doing “irreversible damage” to themselves, what if they regret it, people don’t know the longterm effects of hrt, it’s a trend, it makes sports unfair, I wouldn’t want amab people in the bathroom with my (hypothetical) daughter.” Which is all complete bullshit. I didn’t have the time or energy to even deal with that, so I just stopped responding to him and didn’t talk to him till a day later, and then I just kind of didn’t mention it but made sure he knew I was upset. I don’t know what to do. I love him, we were literally about to move in together, but his views on this disgust me. He’s a generally reasonable person, I feel like if I provided him actual sources on this, he might change his opinion. But he seems very stuck in this view. He’s had awful experiences with the healthcare system, so he’s so distrusting of all doctors. He thinks they all have some “agenda,” which is my only concern about getting him to change his mind. I don’t know. (See the end of the TLDR for my actual question.)
TLDR: I’m pretty sure that my boyfriend’s transphobia comes from a biased education/ignorance. If anyone has scientific/scholarly articles and such on the facts of transitioning, history of trans people, etc., I would love to send them to him. Thank you.

Hey everyone, I went to replace my old hot water tank and ran into an issue.
I shut off the valve to the cold water line into the tank and drained it by opening the hot water knob at my sink (took 20 mins to drain) and then I put a hose on the tank and drained the rest of the water. Hours went by and the water kept draining out of the bottom of the tank which struck me as odd.
Nevertheless I went to cut the copper piping (planning to use Sharkbites to re-attach). When I cut the hot water pipe to disconnect the tank however, a solid trickle of water started coming out. At first I thought it might be residual water in the pipes but when I shut off the master valve to the house it stops dripping (if it was residual it should keep going). I also thought the cold water line’s valve might be leaking but when I cut that line and inspected it it was just fine.
So the TLDR version is I have water leaking back into my hot water tank through the hot water line (should be exit only) that isnt just residual water in my pipes. What should I do? Do I have a leak somewhere? Should I be concerned? Should I just say fuck it and install the new tank? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Here's a link to either AO3 or Fanfictiondotnet if you wanted to read it over there.
Chapter 18
The ornate trimmings that lined the roof of the Iris dorms came into view as the two Battleships slowly made their way up the long path from the docks.
Long shadows stretched from the old worn out street lamps merging quickly with the surrounding darkness before disappearing completely as the lights flickered to life.
Lost in a daze, a ponytail danced in Massachusetts's eyes. Its ash-blonde sheen dimly glowed, glinting off the light of the old street lamps.
Somewhere in her heart she had hoped this slope would continue on forever, that the warmth around her hand would never disappear, but stopping in front of the marbled steps of the Iris dormitory, that warmth finally retreated.
"Why're you still following me around?" Jean spoke, looking down at Massachusetts from the corner of her eye as she made her way up the steps.
The Eagle Union Battleship hadn't moved from where they parted, staring down at the ground by her feet. Part of her grew anxious, waiting with false hope that she would be invited in.
"I-!" Her voice came out louder than she had intended.
"You've had a long voyage…" Jean interrupted, her words strangely soft, "go get some rest."
"...and besides…" the former Flagship continued, scratching at the back of her head, "I've caused enough trouble for my roommate already…"
"Okay then…" Massachusetts giggled, "goodnight!"
"Hmph!" Jean turned away with a huff, "good-", she went to say back, but peaking back around, the silver haired Battleship had already run off.
"-night… I swear," Jean disparaged,scratching at the back of her head, but unbeknownst to herself, the little smile on her face betrayed any sort of foul mood.
Stepping back into her shared room, Jean looked around for any sign of her Cruiser friend. The darkness that greeted her wasn't unusual as Le Malin was usually lying about asleep most of the time anyway, either on the couch or in her room, but a quick glance only revealed an empty sofa. Peeking her head into her companion's room she found it empty, just as it was earlier today.
"I'm back…" the door to the suite swung open.
The little Cruiser hobbled into the room looking more listless than normal. Richelieu did mention she was out doing something important, but whatever it was, it looked like it took a lot out of her.
"Le Malin! Where have you-" Jean quickly held her tongue as a look of fear crossed her companion's face, "n-nevermind… forget it."
"O-okay…" Le Malin released the breath she was holding, fully expecting a dressing down of some sort. She had been hiding out all day so a level of guilt did hang over her, but it was Lady Richelieu that suggested it to begin with. Plopping herself onto the sofa, Le Malin melted into its cushion as the fatigue of consuming a few pounds of brownies slowly washed away.
"Uwaahhh~" a sudden kneading at her shoulders elicited a sudden moan. These hands felt so good~, "yeah… r-right there~"
The Cruiser's relaxation was cut short as she stretched her neck upward, her eyes meeting those of her former Flagship's staring down at her from behind the couch.
"W-wha?!"
"Relax!", Jean commanded feeling the Cruiser's shoulders tense.
'Relax!? How can I relax?!', La Malin screamed in her head, 'why is she acting like this?! First she was super pissed, now she's being super nice! What's going on?!"
Her heart and her body were in conflict, on one hand Jean's hands were absolute magic, never has a massage ever felt this good. But on the other, this was still incredibly weird. For as long as she's served under her former leader, this level of skinship was unheard of.
"What?" Jean scoffed, still feeling a level of resistance in the little Cruiser's shoulders, "you don't appreciate this?"
"N-no!" Le Malin let out quickly, "I- I mean I do! Its- It's just that this is…kinda…" the Cruiser scrambled to come up with a word, "new… for you."
The little Cruiser chuckled nervously as a silence filled the room. The kneading at her shoulders became heavier. Jean's once delicate touch now much rougher.
"Ow ow ow!" Le Malin cried, "sorry sorry!"
It was only for a brief moment, but she could've sworn she saw a smile on her former leader's face as she squirmed underneath the Battleship's strong hands.
<><><>o7<><><>
"You don't have to come with me," Brooklyn said beside herself, continuing her pace down the hall.
"I-I know, but…" Val gulped down her anxiety, "It's your fault you know!"
"Mine!?"
"You just had to blurt out I was your advisor!" Val said in a harsh whisper, "now I have to keep up appearances with your sisters."
"W-well…" Brooklyn turned away with a look of guilt, "look, it's only for a few days, once my other sisters get here I'll tell them straight up, that…"
"That-" Val parroted after Brooklyn's pause.
"That, we are…"
"Uh-huh~"
"Thatwereengaged," Brooklyn rushed in a hushed voice looking around to make sure no one heard her.
"I still don't get why we have to be so hush-hush about it," Val said with a frown, "are you embarrassed about me or something?"
"W-what?! No!" Brooklyn denied vehemently.
With her head down, the blonde Cruiser says back in a quiet tone, "I just don't want my sisters finding out through hearsay."
"Fine~" Val let out an exasperated sigh before changing the subject to their task at hand, "so anyway… What should I be doing right now? How can I be more… advisor…y?"
"Don't talk like that for one," Brooklyn listed off, "y'know what? Don't even talk, just stand there and nod."
"Am I that unconvincing?" Val says, straightening up her clothes in vain attempt to look presentable.
"On second thought," Brooklyn pinched at the bridge of her nose, "I shouldn't have brought you here, these two are…"
"Huh?"
"Remember what Biloxi said back in Panama?" Brooklyn tries to jog Val's memory, "you have to be cautious around these two, they can be a bit… touchy"
The door to the main office swung open in front of them suddenly.
"Ah! Frau Brooklyn!"
Val stood in shock with her jaw hanging open, unable to turn her eyes away from the bombshell of a woman standing by the office threshold. The smile the woman wore was almost reminiscent of St. Louis' but there was something more behind it, Val thought, like some kind of unquenchable hunger.
"Prinz Eugen," swiftly recovering from her initial shock, Brooklyn greeted back with a curt nod.
"It has been far too long," the Iron Blood Heavy Cruiser stepped past Brooklyn's extended hand before wrapping her arms around the Light Cruiser suddenly.
Val blushed as the silver haired beauty, pressed up against her fiance, her hands roaming a but too close to her posterior.
Before Val could voice some sort of protest, Brooklyn had already pushed Eugen off, keeping the Heavy Cruiser at bay with a firm hand in her face.
"Always playing so hard to get~" Eugen pouted, muffled by Brooklyn's palm.
"And your skinship is as irrepressible as ever…"
Eugen let out an accepting chuckle, finally relenting her attempts at a hug.
"Brooklyn!" Another voice from inside the office greeted, "it's always a pleasure to have you!"
"Wales," Brooklyn dipped her head once again.
"You truly are a sight for sore eyes," Wales takes the Cruiser's hand into her own, before placing her lips upon it. The glint on Brooklyn's finger not entirely lost on the Battleship.
ahem Val audibly cleared her throat.
"Oh dear~,this one appears displeased with us," Eugen held her cheek with a playful smirk, "so~ who is this tasty little morsel?"
"Valentina," Val answered with a stern voice, but even she herself couldn't tell what kind of face she was making as Eugen politely shook her hand, "Valentina Hermosa."
"Ah! So you are miss Val-" Wales went to take her hand as well but Brooklyn quickly brought her lips close to the Battleship's ear.
"If you lay a single inappropriate finger on her," Brooklyn whispers, "I'll be sure to let Hood know the goings on in this office of yours…"
A shiver shot up the royal's spine heeding the Cruiser's words. Everything finally clicked into place as she shakily took Val's hand into her own, feeling the same cold metal band around the girl's finger.
"I-it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." An abnormally stiff Wales greeted, hoping that was enough to appease the Eagle Union Diplomat.
<><><>o7<><><>
Blocking out the sun with her palm, Massachusetts continued to look up. Not at the sky above but at her hand itself. She missed the warmth that had gripped it so tightly last night.
Closing her eyes, she could still see the slender shoulders of the Vichy privateer walking out ahead. To think such a small frame held such a vast amount of power and ferocity. With her thoughts turning back to their brief but intense fight back during war, Massachusetts couldn't help but shudder at the memory of Jean's blood soaked visage, her wavering posture as she struggled to even stand, but even being on the verge of sinking, the almost savage smile that she wore stuck out most to her.
"Oof!" A familiar voice let out as it bounced backwards on the floor.
Lost in her mind, Massachusetts barely felt the impact at her chest, but looking down she found Helena rubbing at her butt after her fall.
"S-sorry!" the girl cried, "I-I wasn't looking where I was going!"
"No. It's my fault too," the Battleship helped the Cruiser off the floor.
"Thanks," the youngest Brooklyn blushed with embarrassment as she dusted herself off, "I was trying to get a list together in my head…"
"A list?"
"Yeah," Helena nodded, "I was headed to Akashi's to pick up some ingredients for Brooklyn's party."
"I can help you out if you need a hand." Massachusetts offered, seeing as how she had nothing better to do today. The Battleship couldn't help but smile to herself as she watched Helena rock her head side to side, contemplating if she should accept her offer or not.
"It'd be no big deal really," Massachusetts reassured.
"It is gonna be a lot of stuff…" Helena mulled to herself, "sure! If you don't mind."
It had been a long while since Massachusetts had been alone with the youngest Brooklyn but watching her from behind as she led the way, there was an air of confidence that wasn't there in the past. Like each step she took was infused with a level of certainty not unlike her eldest sister.
The bell over Akashi's door rang in Massachusetts's ears yet again as she followed the older Cruiser inside. She stood by the entrance watching Helena list off a bunch items at a nodding Akashi. Whatever the girl was planning seemed fairly extravagant just with the sheer amount of things she requisitioned. Massachusetts guessed it made sense, seeing as how this was the first time Helena will be seeing all her sisters in one place after a so long, she couldn't blame her for being a little excited.
"Massachusetts!" Helena called, "did you want anything while we're here?"
"Me?" The Battleship was caught off guard by the offer, "n-no its alright…"
"Aww~" the girl pouted, "I still wanna pay you back since you're helping me out'n all and we haven't seen each other in a while."
"Really I'm good so dont sweat it," Massachusetts smiled back. It wasn't a surprise to see this girl was still so concerned with ever body else and their wellbeing, it was nice to see somethings about her haven't changed.
"As the older one it's only right that I do something for you," Helena puffed out her chest in an attempt to look more authoritative to the much taller Battleship, "I'm going to be baking once I get these ingredients back, so why don't you join me in the mess hall later? I-if you aren't busy."
Helena's home made snacks? How long has it been she's had any? The thought echoed loudly in Massachusetts's head as an eager look crossed her face, "sure!"
After waiting for several minutes for Akashi and her Meowficers to return from the depths of the store, they came back carrying stacks of bags, one on top of the other.
"Sorry for the last minute request!" Helena bowed after seeing the mountain of supplies.
"Its no problem nyah! Anything for one of my best customers!" Akashi reassured.
Attempting to take the stacks of stuff into her arms, Helena starts to teeter along with the goods.
"Woah there," Massachusetts caught the Cruiser by her back, stabilizing her before taking several of the bags into her arms. "I'm here to help, remember."
"He he," Helena chuckled sticking her tongue out like she forgot.
She's still a klutz…
<><><>o7<><><>
"Don't be a stranger now~" Prinz Eugen sang into Brooklyn's ear, her goodbye hug seemed like it wouldn't end until Wales had pulled her off.
"Yes, my door will always be open to you," the royal bowed, nervous to make any sort of physical contact with her two guests, "and since you two are here on holiday, please relax and enjoy all that this base has to offer."
"Of course," Brooklyn smiled back, "I'd like to see where all the budget goes."
With that said Brooklyn and Val disappeared out the office doors leaving just the two prince's inside.
"Even when she's not working she's working," Wales chuckled, allowing herself to breathe now that Brooklyn was gone.
"Something's changed about her," Eugen said next to Wales' ear as she draped her arms over the Battleship's shoulders from behind.
"So you didn't notice it?" Wales brought her own hand up in front of herself, "the ring on their fingers."
"A ring? Oh dear…" The Iron Blood's eyes went wide, "...I fear I have to apologize to little miss Valentina when I get the chance."
"Oh~ So even you're capable of remorse," Wales said with an exaggerated look of shock.
"Hmph," Eugen pushed off the Battleship's back, making her way towards the door, "even I won't be as crass to take something someone has already claimed. Now…" Eugen placed her hand upon the door, staring at it for a bit, "if only someone here wasn't such a coward…"
"C-coward? What do you mean by that?!" Wales shot up from her seat, but her secretary had already left the room.
<><><>o7<><><>
Brooklyn craned her neck upwards, staring up at the team of Manjuu setting down the giant wooden crate she had delivered from Panama.
"So that's supposed to be a gift for Queen Elizabeth?" Val asked as the shadow of the crate passed over her.
"That's what Wales said, yeah."
"Any idea what it is?"
"Probably a statue of some sort," Brooklyn shrugged, "knowing that little Queen."
"Extravagant…"
"Quite…" the Light Cruiser disparaged the Royal Navy's callous use of funds.
With a thump, the large crate came to rest at the center of the circular path, kicking up some dust in the process.
"So this is what they had you carry?" Massachusetts said from behind the pair.
The Battleship had dozens of bags hanging of each arm as well as stacked above them, making it hard to see her face.
"That's what I was carrying," Brooklyn said back in surprise, "but what in the world is all that?!"
"Just some supplies!" Helena had poked her head around Massachusetts from behind, startling her older sister a bit.
"She was gonna carry them all herself," Massachusetts tried gesturing to the Cruiser behind her.
"I told you to let me carry some at least!" Helena pouted at the Battleship.
Brooklyn froze up for a second, as a memory of the old Helena overlayed itself into her mind. Whether or not there was an old Helena, Helena is still Helena and it wouldn't change the fact that the girl standing in front of her is her little sister.
But she wasn't expecting to run into her sister so suddenly. Of course she wanted to see her but her nerves weren't quite ready. Brooklyn did mean what she said the other day when she first saw Helena again after four long years, that she looked good. Too good for someone who could barely crack a smile at the time. Watching her banter with Massachusetts now, it's as if she hardly had any trouble at all. Helena has grown so much, and she didn't need the help of her older sister at all…
"One step at a time… remember?" A memory of Val's voice echoed in Brooklyn's mind.
If she wanted to be a part of her sister's life as she once was, it would have to begin right now. Missing this opportunity would be something she could come to regret for the rest of her life.
"H-how about this?" Brooklyn grabbed half of the stack from Massachusetts arms before distributing some to Helena and a few to Val, "we can all help carry some."
Helena pouted even further as she stomped her foot at her older sister. "Brooklyn~" she whined behind her stack, "this is supposed to be for you! So you should let us handle this."
"If that's the case," Brooklyn already started walking off, "then that's all the more reason I should be helping out."
"And besides," Brooklyn yells already a distance away, "I get to spend time with my little sister!"
"Geez~" Helena burrows her face in the bags she was carrying, the tips of her ears glowing red.
Val quietly laughed to herself, knowing Brooklyn was probably too embarrassed to say that to Helena directly.
"Brooklyn! Wait!" Helena shot her head back up.
"Uh uh!" Brooklyn refused from a distance, "I'm helping and that's that!"
"No! You're going the wrong way! Helena shouted again, "we're going to the mess hall!"
Massachusetts and Val broke out in a snicker as Brooklyn stopped in her tracks, laughing all the while as the off duty diplomat swiftly about faced, retracing her steps in a hurried fashion.
<><><>o7<><><>
"So~" Wichita said over the rhythmic clinking of whisks beating against the walls of several bowls, "Cleveland…"
"Hmm-" the Light Cruiser hummed, not looking up from what she was doing, "what's up?"
"Whatcha workin on?" Wichita poked at the blonde's cheek trying to get a reaction out of her, "Helena's got you helpin her again?"
"Helena hasn't got me doing anything," the Light Cruiser said with a huff, "I'm helping out because I want too."
"Okay okay…" Wichita backed off.
"Why are you even here?"
"Everyone's busy doing something and I'm bored."
"Then why don't you put on an apron and help me out?"
"Hahaha!" The Heavy Cruiser's boisterous laughter startled the Manjuu in the kitchen, "y'know me! I prefer eating my food to cooking it!"
"Then just go sit down and watch!" Cleveland said more than a little annoyed.
Wichita held her arms out in front of her to calm the Light Cruiser down as she did what she was told, but sitting around calmly fiddling with cooking utensils could only placate the Heavy Cruiser for so long.
"Pst… Cleveland…" a small smirk formed on Wichita's lips as she just thought of something that was for sure going to get Cleveland to react, "psstt…"
"What?!" The blonde snapped with a harsh whisper, matching the Heavy Cruiser's attempt at trying to be discreet.
Tugging at Cleveland's apron, Wichita's smirk only widened, "say~ why don't we surprise Helena?"
"And do what?"
"And by we, I mean you," the Heavy Cruiser spoke into Cleveland's ear from behind, playing with the hem of her apron, "you could try greeting her in nothing but this apron~ I'm sure that would totally make her day~"
Cleveland's brow furrowed trying to make sense of Wichita's words. Why would she greet her in nothing but an apron? Nothing… but… an apron. Nothing…
"W-w-why would I do that?!" Cleveland's face glowed a bright red finally catching on to Wichita's dirty joke.
"Hahaha! Oh man!" The Heavy Cruiser nearly doubled over in laughter, "the look on your face!"
Cleveland did her best to ignore Wichita's teasing but the bowl of cream she was working at was whisked way past its intended consistency.
"I bet Helena could pull the look off," Wichita wiggled her eyebrows at Cleveland, "she does have that rockin' body~"
No sooner she said that, the sound of a bowl clattering onto the countertop rang throughout the kitchen. Wichita's laughter had transcended past the audible seeing as how Cleveland's entire face lit up all the way to the tips of her ears like a beacon.
"W-w-what are you even saying?!" The Light Cruiser whipped the whisk in her hand at Wichita, flicking batter in her direction.
With an audible splat, the creamy batter dripped down the Heavy Cruiser's face.
"Oh~ you've done it now!" The chocolate covered lids of Wichita's eyes slowly cracked open. Scooping what she could in her hands, the Heavy Cruiser slung it straight back at a still flustered Cleveland.
Before long the Manjuu in the kitchen scrambled out for the sake of their own safety.
<><><>o7<><><>
The mess hall should have stayed the same as Helena left it, quiet and calm. With the busy chatter and commotion that came during lunch still a few hours away. But the panicked Manjuu huddling near the entrance to the kitchen and the loud clattering coming from within betrayed any sense of tranquility.
"What's going on?" Val had asked Helena who had been beside her the whole time, but when she turned her head, a gust of wind had blown in her eyes and the Light Cruiser was gone.
Val's eyes darted around, spotting Helena already by the kitchen's entrance. There was a good seven ~ eight meters from where they first entered and she couldn't recall Helena even moving in the first place.
"Ya can't hit me throwing like that!" A familiar voice can be heard yelling inside.
"Wichita…" Brooklyn shook her head, watching helplessly as Helena slammed the kitchen doors wide open.
The two sole occupants inside turned towards the door in shock. The heavy overwhelming pressure radiating from the kitchen's entrance freezing them in place.
"Y-yo~ H-Helena!" The hand full of chocolate batter had dripped off Wichita's fingers. The audible splat it made filled the silence that fell over the mess hall.
"I-I was just h-helpin out… y'know…" The color from Wichita's face had drained, stuttering her words as she forgot how to breathe.
"T-take it easy n-now…" the redhead tried to back away as Helena slowly approached, but her feet wouldn't budge.
"I-I'll help you guys clean up!" The Heavy Cruiser's voice sounded almost desperate as Helena closed the distance.
"W-wait! T-think about this!"
That was the last everyone heard from Wichita's mouth as a loud thud echoed from the kitchen.
Brooklyn and Massachusetts winced as Helena emerged back out, dragging an unconscious Wichita by her collar out of the kitchen.
"Looks like I have a little cleaning to do before we start," Helena sighed, dragging Wichita to a nearby wall, letting the Heavy Cruiser's body slump to the ground after letting go.
<><><>o7<><><>
Cleveland counted herself lucky she didn't end up like Wichita. For a second there, she thought, that she too was done for. Closing her eyes bracing for a knockout, all she got was a towel to the face as Helena tried to clean the mess that she found herself coated in.
"Geez~" Helena frowned at the blonde, "it's my fault for leaving you guys alone."
"N-no!" Cleveland let out, "it's my fau-"
"It's fine~" Helena giggled as she wiped a glob of chocolate batter off of the blonde's nose, "Just help me clean up!"
Cleveland's face grew a little red as she watched Helena lick her fingers clean.
"Mhmm~!" Helena beamed, "that's really good!"
"I-I was only following the recipe on the note…"
"Dunkerque really knows her stuff…" Helena rubbed at her chin as she tried to analyze the flavor in her mouth.
"Dunkerque?" Brooklyn asked as she plopped down the supplies on a clean spot on the counter, "I didn't realize she was at the Joint Base."
"No. She's not," Helena shook her head, "Richelieu gave me one of her recipes."
"That's rare…" Brooklyn said to herself, knowing that Battleship wasn't known to just hand out her treasured recipes so easily, "so what's the occasion?"
"It's probably not much of a secret, but…" Helena furrowed her brow deliberating whether or not she should say or not.
"It's fine~ whatever you say won't leave this room," Brooklyn smiled before turning to the other girls in the room for confirmation, "right girls?"
Val and Massachusetts both nod.
"They're for someone's launchday," Helena, still reluctant to give up all the info.
"Intel is power," Brooklyn held up her finger, "so if you've got some to share…"
"But…" saying it would be like betraying Richelieu's trust.
"Jean Bart…" Massachusetts spoke, coming to a sudden realization.
"H-how'd you know?!" Helena panicked.
"I-" the Battleship blushed, "I just happened to remember… just now…"
"Oh ho~" Brooklyn and Val shot a knowing look towards Massachusetts simultaneously.
"She's that girl you were with last night," Val said, "hand in hand…"
"Oh ho~" Brooklyn said louder in surprise, "you work fast."
"I-I was just walking her back to the dorms…" the normally aloof Battleship fidgeted in place staring a hole in the ground by her feet.
"I didn't know you guys were friends?" Helena asked, "but that's great! You could help us bake some Pain au Chocolat for her if you want."
"Y-yes!" Massachusetts agreed a little more enthusiastically than intended.
"I could help out too if you don't mind," Val raised her hand, "if you don't mind an extra hand in the kitchen."
"Sure! I didn't really want to bother anyone else but we do have a lot to prep for."
"Val is one of the best cooks I know~" Brooklyn vouched.
"Is that right?!" Helena enthused, happy to meet someone else who knows their way around the kitchen.
"Well~" Val chuckled, not used to the attention she was receiving, "I'm definitely better than your sister here."
"That's not saying much…" Massachusetts laughed.
Cleveland couldn't bring herself to join in on the conversation seeing as how she was largely responsible for the mess they currently cleaning. And now that they had to start from scratch that feeling just compounded itself.
"Hey Helena," Brooklyn called, "where do you keep the extra aprons?"
Aprons, Cleveland blushed, cursing Wichita for putting weird thoughts in her head. The younger Cruiser's cheeks darkened even further not even realizing she was staring at Helena as she carefully hung her apron around her neck. Watching intently as she deftly tied the knot behind her back, before pulling her long and beautiful hair out from underneath. The air in Cleveland's lungs grew thin, watching in slow motion as Helena's hair fell back down, like some kind of swan decending upon a lake, framing her body like an exquisite portrait.
Cleveland wasn't blind, she was always aware just how beautiful her best friend is but she always tried to push it into the back of her mind. An act she was almost always successful at, but Wichita's recent words did wonders to destroy that. The Brooklyn sister's uniforms were quite the sight to behold and Helena's was no exception. Cleveland thought she was used to it by now, given how often the two were together, but she was finding it difficult to pull her eyes away from her best friend's figure.
"Clevie?" Helena said a little worried, "what's wrong? Your face is all red."
"N-nothings wrong!" The shorter blonde let out a nervous laugh, "Just Wichita putting weird thoughts in my head!"
"Great… what'd she say this time?" Helena said, all too familiar with the Heavy Cruiser's antics.
Cleveland would sooner scuttle herself than reveal the whole truth of what Wichita said, "It's… just forget I said anything…"
"Alright…" Helena pouted, a little disappointed Cleveland wouldn't tell her.
<><><>o7<><><>
With the clean up done, the girls were finally able to start their prep work. With each of them in their own little station responsible for each step of the process.
Val stared at the little note Helena had shown her committing the directions listed to memory. It was a shame she couldn't tell anyone else about this apparent super secret recipe but she figured it wouldn't be a problem if she used it for herself every now and again.
Helena and Val moved about the kitchen like some kind of synchronized, well oiled machine, stunning the rest of the girls as they struggled to keep up the pace.
Brooklyn was always fascinated with the way her sister and fiance worked, but seeing them both at it together all at once was something else.
Cleveland at the best of times could barely keep up with Helena when she was in the zone, but now, with Val involved, there was absolutely no hope.
Massachusetts was off in her own little corner making almost as much of a mess as Wichita did, whisking her bowl with a little too much force.
The team of Manjuu worked like an assembly line, rolling the dough that would become the pastries base.
"Hey Helena," Val called to her newly found cooking partner, "you think you could give Brook a hand? She looks a little confused as to what to do next."
"Brooklyn?" Helena turned to her sister who had just begun pouring the molten chocolate into each mold.
"W-what? I'm good," Brooklyn answered back, slightly confused as to what Val was doing," I don't ne-"
"-Here like this," Helena cut in, guiding her sister's hand as she helped to evenly pour the chocolate.
Val smiled to herself, knowing her fiance didn't really need help, and if she did she herself could step in lend a hand, but if she could engineer a way to get Brooklyn to spend some quality time with her sister she would take any opportunity she saw.
<><><>o7<><><>
Denver and Colombia could barely contain a snicker as a red faced Wichita sat down on the floor with her arms and legs crossed, still coated in a fine layer of chocolate, doing her best to ignore the two Light Cruisers.
"For a second, we thought you just came from the Iron Blood dorms, pfftt" Colombia broke out into laughter.
"Oh, its only chocolate…" Denver said in relief as she swiped some from the Heavy Cruiser's face.
"What the hell did you think it was?!" Wichita lost her temper as the two ran for cover inside the kitchen.