Hair salons near me open sunday

Really that should we are we the cloacas (cloacae?) for nearly causing a flood.
I am the Fluffleupagus, 8F ginormous dark grey fluffy cat. Some humans in this house claim my legs are purely decorative, and not used for movement. They say I levitate around the house.
Other possible cloacas are Little Cat (13 F feisty ginger), Pennycat (3-4 F floofy cat) and Beelzebun (1-ish male rabbit, but the less said about him the better).
So there I was, lying across the hallway and minding my own business, when the Female Human suddenly needed to go to the litter tray, which opens off the short hallway I was lying across.
Female Human: "Move Fluffy, I need to use the litter tray, and I can't step over you!"
I was still considering her request when she asked again: "Please, Fluffs, please please please get out of the way and let me go to the toilet".
Then I heard an, "Oh no", as she looked down the hallway and saw Little Cat was now sitting in the middle of the hallway behind her, blocking off her access to the ensuite bathroom off their bedroom. Pennycat and Beelzebun were peeking at her from around the kitchen doorway, blocking her journey through the kitchen.
By this time the Female Human was starting to look desperate and she yelled: "Move Fluffy, move Fluffy, move Fluffy, move! For !#$% sake, Fluffy move before the bladder bursts and we all drown!"
Shocked by her language (the furless kitten probably heard her!), I slowly got up and walked into the laundry (where we have a litter tray of our own), and let her past. More disgusting behaviour from the Female Human, she slammed the door shut and didn't even let Little Cat do a safety inspection.
Not to mention the whole strange thing with the flushing water. They don't even use proper litter, or bury it. I tried to encourage her, by burying my own business in the laundry litter tray, and thumping loudly on the adjoining wall while she was in there.
Female Human says we are all cloacas for getting between her and the human litter tray, but I am the biggest and fluffiest cloaca and she especially didn't appreciate the thumping. And I am an extra big cloaca for having legs and not using them.
I say she is the cloaca for not giving appropriate notice to visit the litter tray, not co-operating with the safety inspection, and generally having weird litter tray habits. And for using bad language.

I seek a younger woman I like to make smile, loudly, who is my pleasure to please and make so happy that we will want to be exclusive. I'm patient to gain trust, to build a connection by communicating and seeing if there is potential attraction. I'm open to begin as platonic friends, hanging out, dating, growing to be lovers, even LTR, whatever we desire. I like spontaneity, creating chemistry highs with teasing to pleasing, almost anytime, anywhere, once we are sure of our attraction. I like sharing affections, cuddles to kisses, to earn my turn, to prove myself, giving massages to multiples and more. Offering this munch loving makes me seek someone special, perhaps a shy inexperienced woman curious to explore the best feelings possible or a woman with an insatiable libido, yearning for one man to keep her full/filled.
For us to pursue things, I want attraction for more than just lust, to feel butterflies looking in each other's eyes, loving simply holding hands and spending quality time together. I like anticipating, feeling a non-stop romantic hunger, a primal passion in my belly that brings out the lover-giver in me (tho I love receiving too). For me, a spark starts with pretty eyes and smile, combined with personality, poise, voice tone, and even an accent. The eye shapes I prefer can be described as upturned, almond or cat-eyes (and any color). I like skin tones from white to dark olive tan skin. I like natural curves, in the right places on a thin to thick-voluptuous hourglass shape, natural bigger lips on your mouth and on your kitty (my username checks out-ies ;)
I'm cute, fit, fun/ny, 5'11", hygienic, healthy, white with blue eyes, brown hair, soft beard (for now), single with no kids. I enjoy reading, documentaries, podcasts, comedy, cooking, nature, hiking, exercising, science, arts. Keeping healthy is a passion of mine, including a whole-plant food diet, yet I may be open to 420/drinks during loving. While playing together, I like to listen to/make DJ mixes with styles including chillout, chillwave, deephouse, indiedance, nudisco, dubtechno, dreampop, downtempo, synthwave, ambient and open to other music. What are some of your favorite music genres/bands/songs? (No one ever answers this question :)
If you relate to what I wrote, we can use the Reddit live DM/PM to decide if we want to verify with voice, pics/live video, etc. I may be open to distance, but prefer Los Angeles losangeles LA L.A. SoCal, Ca

(Sorry it took awhile for me to post this to Reddit. Power was knocked out and I had to wait until it came back on to post it here.)
(As here usual, you can find this story and the pervious parts here.)
​
The New Year rang in as Irving and Enterprise counted the days until their wedding in February.
Irving looked at the calendar and chuckled.
“Huh. It looks like our honeymoon will be on Valentine’s day.”
Enterprise blushed. She never realized the coincidence.
They knew that the wedding was going to be on February 10th.
In January, Oklahoma had her baby shower. Before the baby shower, Oklahoma told the rest of the shipgirls that she was having a boy.
The shipgirls gave her things such as clothes for the baby. Akagi gave her a crib.
After a while, Oklahoma was tired of all the shipgirls trying to feel her belly. Her baby tried to kick as if to tell them to stop, but this only encouraged them to do it more.
Malcolm could sense his wife’s frustration. He leaned in and whispered into her ear.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”
After that, every time a person would try to feel Oklahoma’s belly, Malcolm would give them a death glare that would put the kibosh on that idea.
After the baby shower was over, Oklahoma embraced her husband.
“Thanks, honey.”
She knew she could count on him to protect her and their unborn son.
Soon, February dawned. Irving knew that his and Enterprise’s wedding was right around the corner. He decided on the plan for his bachelor party.
Malcolm couldn’t go, as even though he was his best man, he was busy helping Oklahoma in the late stages of her pregnancy. Denis could go, as he was not that busy. Fritz would go, as he had nothing better to do. Samuel and Warren could go as well.
Irving smiled as he thought about how wild his party could get.
Meanwhile, Enterprise was planning her bachelorette party. She knew Oklahoma couldn’t go for the obvious reason of being eight months pregnant.
She invited New Jersey, Bismarck, Arizona, and Kronshtadt. She knew that the Northern Parliament had a bar that served the best drinks on the base.
Soon, the soon-to-be weds were at their respective parties.
Irving and his group were at the same bar where they had Malcolm’s bachelor party.
“A shame Malcolm couldn’t go.”
Samuel turned to face Irving.
“Eh, He’s gonna be a father soon. What did you expect?”
Irving noted Denis did not drink that much. He was in no state to drive, but he only had a few shots of vodka.
“I cannot process alcohol well”
Irving laughed and nodded. The rest of the group was equally drunk. Samuel was trying to play pool, but he could barely keep his shot straight.
Fritz was dancing on a table, his arms flailing around like a scarecrow in a wind tunnel.
Warren was already vomiting into a toilet in the restroom.
Irving noticed the bartender was looking at him with an angry look. He knew unless he did something; they were going to get kicked out.
Irving grabbed his phone and picked a random contact.
It turned out that the random contact was Heinz.
Heinz picked up the phone. He was in his black boxers. Bismarck had already left to join Enterprise for her bachelorette party.
“Hello?”
“Ah, Heinz, my man. Listen, I need a ride back home. Do me a solid and pick me up, m’kay?”
Heinz’s face went blank. It surprised him Irving had his number. It was likely that either Fritz or Bismarck gave it to him at some point.
Heinz hung up his phone. He knew that Irving and his group were most likely at the bar at the Eagle Union part of the base.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Parliament part of the base. Enterprise and her group were busy getting drunk and partying something fierce.
Kronshtadt and Bismarck were busy tearing it up the karaoke machine. Apparently “Bismarck” by Sabaton was on it, and Bismarck did not want to waste an opportunity like that.
New Jersey was already asleep. Arizona was on her phone.
Enterprise tugged on Arizona’s sleeve. She was drunk and could barely speak a few words without slurring them.
“Hey, can you call Oklahoma to pick us up?”
Arizona sighed and texted Oklahoma.
Oklahoma awoke to a phone vibrating. She unlocked it and saw it was a text from Arizona.
“Hey, can you pick us up? We are at the bar in the Northern Parliament part of the base.”
Oklahoma sat up and sighed, which alerted her husband.
Malcolm sat behind her and placed his arms around her belly.
She turned her head and kissed her husband.
“What’s wrong?”
Oklahoma chuckled and felt Malcolm’s hands around her large middle.
“Oh, other than having to pee almost every fifteen minutes, my boobs leaking more than a broken pipe. Louis treating my insides like a soccer ball, my back aching like a geriatric, and now I got to be the drunk wrangler, I’m doing just fine.”
Malcolm froze and raised his eyebrows.
"What if you go into labor while you are driving? What if something happens and you crash?
Oklahoma kissed her husband again as she felt Louis kick inside of her.
“Mal, relax. I’m going to be okay. You treat me like I’m a dainty daylily. Like my water will break as if I so much as sneeze too hard.”
Malcolm calmed down. Ever since Oklahoma had entered the last trimester of her pregnancy, he had been more protective of her.
Oklahoma got up to put on a purple t-shirt with a white unicorn on it and some black leggings. Malcolm followed behind her.
Oklahoma turned around to face her concerned husband.
“Relax, if something happens I’ll call you or the Commander.”
Malcolm and Oklahoma embraced and kissed. Oklahoma made a slight moan. She placed a hand on her belly.
“Relax, it’s just him kicking me a bit too hard. Vestal, Bismarck, and Tirpitz told me I would feel it around this stage.”
Oklahoma grabbed her phone and got into her car. She drove to the Northern Parliament side of the base.
Heinz’s car stopped right in front of the bar in the Eagle Union part of the base. He saw Irving and the others make their way to his car.
Once they arrived, they noticed a very pressing issue.
There were not enough seats for all of them.
Warren piped up.
“I’m going in the trunk.”
Before Heinz could protest, Warren had already placed himself in the trunk and closed the door.
With Warren in the trunk, that left enough seats for the men.
Irving got into the back of the car with Samuel and Fritz. Denis got into the front with Heinz.
They drove to the Ironblood part of the base. They could get Irving’s clothes for the wedding tomorrow.
What mattered now was getting the men to a safe spot to sober up.
And Heinz knew just the place.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma was driving to the bar in the Northern Parliament part of the base. She had to stop to pee at least two times while she was driving.
Oklahoma put one hand on her belly and rubbed it. She knew she had woken up Louis, as he was kicking in anger.
Oklahoma made her way to the bar. She parked the car and waddled to the entrance.
She had to go to the restroom first. Once she finished, she walked to the group.
“I’m here to be the drunk wrangler.”
It surprised the group that it was Oklahoma who picked them up. Arizona stared at her with concern.
“Oklahoma, why are you here? You-”
Oklahoma cut her off. She stared Arizona in the eye, her eyebrows down.
“I don’t want to hear it. Malcolm already gave me the same spiel before I left.”
Soon, the group was inside Oklahoma’s car. Oklahoma decided she would drop off Kronsthadt first, as she was the closest.
Oklahoma parked the car next to the dorm. Yaroslav and Nikolay were ready, and they picked up Kronshtadt.
“Thanks for the lift, Okie.”
Nikolay and Yaroslav carried her to her dorm.
Next up was Bismarck. Prinz Eugen was at the door of the dorms and helped her into the building.
Prinz Eugen nodded at Oklahoma, and soon she drove to the Eagle Union part of the base to drop off New Jersey, Arizona, and Enterprise.
Oklahoma decided she would let New Jersey, Arizona, and Enterprise crash at her place, as she did not want them to be alone.
Enterprise woke up.
“I’m sorry you had to pick us up, Okie. I didn’t want you to be the drunk wrangler as you have so much going on in your life.”
Oklahoma shook her head.
“Enterprise, it’s okay. I already told Malcolm this. It’s not like my water will break if I sneeze too hard. I’m more durable than you think.”
Enterprise calmed down. She knew Oklahoma was a tough cookie.
Heinz pulled up to the parking lot of the Ironblood dorms. He grabbed the group of men and unlocked his trunk to let Warren out.
Warren came out of the trunk and joined the group. They all walked to the elevator and took it to Heinz and Bismarck’s room.
When Heinz opened the door, he saw Bismarck on the couch with a bucket near her. Helga and Joachim were looking at their mother, curious about what was wrong with her.
“What's wrong with Mutti, Vadi?”
Heinz knew he could not explain a hangover to a young girl that well, so he tried to explain it in terms she could understand.
“Mutti is sick, but don’t worry, you won't get sick as well.”
Irving and the other men quickly made it to Heinz’s kitchen. They grabbed any large bowls they could.
Soon, they all vomited. Heinz, Helga, and Joachim all watched this horrible event unfold.
Heinz expected Helga and Joachim to cover their eyes. Instead, they watched as if it was a magnificent spectacle. Joachim looked at his father.
“Did they have some of Mama’s horrible casserole?”
Heinz laughed and shook his head. He knew Joachim was referring to the night when Bismarck made a casserole. It was bad. Everyone was throwing up in the morning, including Fritz and his family, who came for dinner that night.
“No, this isn’t from a casserole.”
Joachim nodded. The casserole was a good thing in his opinion. He got a day off from school for it.
Meanwhile, on the Eagle Union side of the base, Malcolm was holding up a hungover Enterprise. Arizona was carrying a passed-out New Jersey to Oklahoma and Malcolm’s room. Oklahoma was in the front, waddling her way to the room.
Once they reached the door, Oklahoma opened it. Arizona laid New Jersey on the bed in the guest bedroom. Arizona decided that the living room floor was a great place to lie down and sleep.
Oklahoma sat down on the couch. She was exhausted.
Enterprise laid down on the couch and asked a somewhat odd question.
“Can I put my head on your belly?”
Oklahoma nodded and pulled her shirt up to expose her belly. Her navel had popped out, becoming sensitive to the touch.
Enterprise put her head on Oklahoma’s belly like a pillow. She smiled.
“I can hear Lou’s heartbeat. I can even feel him move.”
Oklahoma blushed.
Enterprise asked another odd question.
“Hey, Okie, what’s it like being pregnant? Is it like being hungover?”
Oklahoma raised her eyebrows. She didn’t think about it.
“At first, yeah, it was like being hungover. Then Lou began growing, and I felt him kick. It was cute at first, but then it hurt as he got bigger.”
Oklahoma could see Louis’s kicks from the outside of her belly. She knew Louis would cry his way into the world soon.
Oklahoma placed a finger on her belly to play with Louis. She moved her finger to see if Louis would kick where the finger was. He would do so, making her giggle.
“The worst part is the feeling of having to pee every fifteen minutes, and the backaches.”
Oklahoma turned to face her husband and blushed. He blushed back.
“The odd part is feeling horny. Malcolm had to learn that the hard way.”
She continued to blush. She knew she was sharing the not so fun parts about being pregnant.
“Well, that and the leaking boobs. I swear they have a mind of their own.”
Enterprise blushed as Oklahoma was oddly open about the more suggestive parts of being pregnant.
Enterprise yawned and asked the ultimate question.
“Do you think I’ll make an amazing mother?”
Oklahoma and Malcolm looked at each other with cheerful looks on their faces. Oklahoma stroked Enterprise’s hair.
“I think you would make an amazing mother, Enty. And I also think Irving would make an amazing father.”
Enterprise yawned and nodded her head. She fell asleep.
Oklahoma pulled a blanket on Enterprise. She left her head exposed. Malcolm wrapped a blanket around Oklahoma.
“ Are you coming to bed with me?”
Oklahoma shook her head.
“I think Enterprise needs me out here. She’s gonna need all the help she’s gonna get tomorrow.”
Oklahoma felt Louis’s kicking stop. She knew he had finally fallen asleep. She turned her head to look at Enterprise, who was fast asleep with her head on her belly.
Oklahoma sighed.
She could oddly get used to this.

tl;dr: Staying in Kyoto Sat-Wed (full days) Oct 28 - Nov 1. Would you do Osaka overnight (then straight to Nara and back to Kyoto the following day) on Sunday or Monday. Sunday would give me more week days in Kyoto to beat the crowds, but worried Sunday on Dotonobori (my main goal is eating my way through Dotonbori Street) could be deader than usual?
----
Read tl;dr for the setup.
I am going to be in Kyoto for full days Sat-Wed (getting into Kyoto Fri and heading to Tokyo Thur). I am going to go spend a day in Osaka and stay the night, then go straight to Nara the following morning for the day before going back to Kyoto.
The goals in Kyoto are like everyone else's: Arishyama day, Fushimi Inari early morning and walk north, shrines/temples, food/markets/neighborhoods. My goals in Osaka are small since my time is limited: stay near Dotonbori Street and spend the time eating, sightseeing, and record store hopping (there are a lot in the area). The day after Osaka I'll head to Nara early in the morning (try to get there by 8, so not planning to be out late in Osaka) to do the Park and Todai-ji, then head back to Kyoto in the afternoon and maybe stop at Fushimi inari for evening visit.
My crossroads: is it better to be in Dotonbori on a Sunday or Monday --vs-- is it better to have two of your three days Kyoto being weekdays. My concern is I'll be fighting more crowds with fewer week days in Kyoto, but with only one day in Osaka I am wondering if Dotonbori will have lots of things closed on a Sunday making it not super worthwhile.
Thanks for your advice!

Ahh, dear reader, hello there! So lovely to see you once more... well figuratively speaking that is… or is it?
After all, I am exceedingly well versed in The Arts. Maybe I am watching you at this very moment, with Clairvoyance or perhaps a Scrying Spell or maybe an enchanted object like the good old fashioned Crystal Ball? The Magus has one you know…
Just teasing… or am I? …teeheehee…
Anyway, this latest instalment comes to you courtesy via a Voice to Text application my Magus recently acquired for me, as he said listening to me speak aloud while typing is too distracting for him. I find that interesting considering his immense mental discipline yet understandable at the same time. After all, extoling ones inner monolog to an uncaring audience would be tedious to experience. Hmm… I’ve just thought of a new torture for the souls of the dammed, specifically for writers who think they are better than everyone around them. How ingenious of me!
In any case, I would prefer to distract him in other ways, mark you.
I also must say what wonderfully inventive creatures you humans are! An application of mathematical code, the base language of reality. It is very much like a spell in its function and nature I would say, that it allows my phone, yes the Magus got me one, to record all I say and transcribes it into neatly typed words on its electronic pages. It’s like having a monk-scribe in your pocket! Unquestionably wonderful!
So as I relax in my fabulously hot, luxurious scented, oiled bubble bath, I can easily regale you with further tales of the adventures I have had thus far on this wonderous blue and brown spherical rock that is third in line from our star. And I do not have to type with two fingers either, which is a massive bonus let me tell you!
If memory serves… ahh yes, we had just returned to the car where I saw a sign of my Magus’s humour on display in the form of his licence plate.
I do have to admit dear reader, I was indeed highly amused. He knows he’s going to hell, he just insists that it be on his terms! I love it! Such confidence, such audacious willpower.
That is exceedingly… stimulating for Succubi.
Ok dammit, it makes me tremendously horny, and I’m not talking about the ones on my head either you know! We are incredibly lusty beings, us Succubi, after all.
I was already in a highly ‘excited’ state when we got to the car, so much so that I had to use my Cell Adjustment Psionic discipline to tremendously dull down my inflamed senses as I did not wish to leave the tell-tale mark of my inflamed passion on the lower back portion of my new dress and also not on the car-seat when I sat back down in the vehicle.
Ahem…
After a few moments, which caused the Magus to glance up at me with a slightly puzzled expression, of standing outside the car (he had no idea nor cared… hmmph!) I opened the door and folded myself back inside the vehicle and resumed my seat. I later learned that I could have mostly avoided this… embarrassment… by actually wearing what you call absorbent lined underwear! I wasn’t wearing panties at the time as I was totally unaware of their existence. I do so now as its much more comfortable in lots of ways and in addition, stops the shiver when an errant chill wind blows unexpectedly up your gusset!
Moving on…
Getting into the car, the Magus paused until I had done up my seatbelt before starting the engine, waiting for another car to pass us by before safely pulling out and sedately driving off. I later learned that we could have gone screaming down the road in a cloud of burning rubber if the Magus was of a mind to. I would have if given the opportunity! Something to look forward to dear reader.
Instead, we drifted slowly through the placidly moving traffic as I watched the sun descend below the horizon of the ocean. I had only been back here on Earth for a few hours but every second was total bliss. I do not think that most of you humans realize how good you have it here. Even those who do not reside in the more developed and advanced nations, being on Earth is special.
There are infinity more worse places you can be, let me assure you of that.
We drove back mostly the way had travelled to this particular beach. This time though it was much later in the day, heading in the opposite direction, I became aware of many more things that had escaped my attention earlier on.
We passed by denser zones and clusters of buildings where I could see various shops, food outlets, restaurants and varying vendors, all brightly lit up now as the daylight was fading. I saw incredibly tall metal poles with blazing, glowing lights illuminating the surrounds with a warm yellowy orange glow making it still easy to see. Electric lighting will never cease to amaze me. Yes dear reader, I can experience a sense of wonder and joy at simple things, even beyond the act of slaughter and soul draining. Would it astonish you that I like flowers? Such strange lifeforms that had developed aromas they use as a method of propagation. Delightful.
Anyway… we shortly crested the hill that we had previous ascended westwards earlier on the way to the beach and I then saw it!
I was awestruck once again.
Towering edifices, glittering, shining buildings monstrously higher than Hagia Sophia was, the most immense human made structure in the world when I was last in it. These glistening towers of glass, metal and stone made that church look like a feeble children’s toy. I could see over a dozen of these buildings of varying size, clustered together in less than a square mile.
The Magus glanced to his left and saw me gaping at them.
“They’re called Sky Scrappers Meridiana. They’re generally office buildings, places of business where people daily work in their wage-slave jobs then go home at night. The buildings are left vacant but light up at night as you can clearly see.”
I turned and gawped at him.
“They’re empty at night?”
I could not comprehend why such space, that had amazing views, would be left empty of an evening?
“Yep. Well most of them are. There will be some that still have people in them, conducting various types of business overnight because its what they do for a living.”
“What do they do?” I asked in a murmur as I turned back to see the vista be obscured by a large set of commercial and residential buildings that we were currently passing.
The Magus shrugged.
“They’ll be doing all sorts of things, financial trading, working back late to do their jobs… various affairs of commerce and such. It’s not that important really Meridiana. I’ll take you into the city another day when we have time for you to be a tourist. Now, if I may, I want to know more about your Telekinesis. I got an idea of how much you can lift, probably over 1400 kilograms at least if my guess as to how much a warhorse in armour with a rider would weigh… maybe more? Probably more but we’ll test that later. Anyway, it’s your fine control skills I’m interested in.”
I turned back to the Magus who was looking ahead, driving us through the busy traffic that had become a factor. I later learned that it was a time of day called ‘rush hour’.
“I am capable of very delicate manipulation with my Telekinesis, especially in regards to the erotic arts,” I said to him with a husky, low, salacious purr.
“That’s cute but I really want to know if you could snatch out of the air and control a very small, fast moving bouncing ball, say the size of your thumbnail?” he asked in an offhand manner as he slowed down due to the traffic which was banking up in front of us.
I inwardly sighed once more. Such a challenge he was!
“Yes I can but why?”
He briefly turned to me and broadly grinned before returning his attention to driving.
“There’s a game that we will ‘play’ after dinner. It is called Roulette. The game features a spinning wheel with thirty seven little slots. Into the spinning wheel a little white ball is spun in and circles around, eventually slowing and bouncing into once of the numbered slots. The slots are alternately coloured red or black and all are numbered from 00 to 36. You can bet where the ball will land, either in red or black and specifically in a numbered slot. If the ball lands in a slot you bet on, you get a payout of thirty seven to one. Ever dollar you bet wins you 37 back. You can also just bet on which colour the ball will land in giving you your money back plus it’s value as a reward. Bet $100, you get your $100 back plus another $100.”
“Dollar... that’s money right?” I said as the implications slowly dawned on me. You could make a fortune from this!
“Yes Meridiana. Dollars are what we use as currency these days. Gold is still used but not in the way you were used to. It’s still valuable as are other precious metals but that’s going to take a long explanation which is a distraction for now. So, do you think you could perhaps catch the bouncing ball with your power, directing it into the number we bet on?”
I thought about it for a few moments.
“I will have to see how the ball moves but I think I could, yes.”
“Excellent. You stand to make us a lot of money tonight. There are other games like card games, slot machines which I’m uncertain that your powers would be able to mess with. Roulette is our hunting ground. We must be careful though.”
“Why?”
I was surprised by his tone of caution. We were power incarnate! What could possibly touch us?
“Casinos hate losing money. Roulette is going to be the hardest one they can prove that we’re cheating on if you use your Telekinesis. We will be closely watched the entire time we are in the casino. There are devices called cameras, similar to Crystal Balls, that observe everything they see, relaying the images back to people in other rooms whose task it is to spot potential cheaters in the casino. They also have people walking the floor, disguised as ordinary folk, always watching everyone else. And I want to avoid the eyes of any infernal beings who may be in the casino.”
“Ahh… I see… a healthy paranoia then, for them and us hmm?”
He nodded once, emphatically.
If you have a fortune, you need to protect it, especially from people like me. His caution in regards to our identity was also most prudent and he was correct that there was a possibility that there may be others of my ilk lurking in the shadows, walking in human form as we often do.
I have to confess dear reader, that I am a master thief as well as an expert assassin, in addition to being an accomplished warrior although I rarely fight in hand to hand combat, preferring seduction, subterfuge and skulduggery as my main methods of killing. Yet still, I can fight and kill extremely proficiently with many weapons, being skilled at one of the highest levels of melee combat, the use of weapons and ways of fighting with them. I’ve been around a while you know? You pick up on things like that if you wish to live as long as I have.
Besides… stabby, stabby, stabby, bash, slash and smite can be loads of fun when you’re doing the stabbing and bashing with a well-balanced blade or mace in your hands. But I digress…
“You have it Meridiana. Yes the casinos’ management are extremely paranoid. We will have to alter our appearance as well before we enter the casino. I shall use a minor low level spell while you can take a new face. We will do so after dinner.”
I nodded then a thought came to me. I asked,
“You said we were going to something called a buffet? I know what the word means as my abilities allow me to understand any spoken language, much like the enchantment known as Tongues. Yet I’m finding it hard to match the word with the concept.”
The Magus raised an eyebrow in interest at this revelation.
“Oh right. Just because you know a word doesn’t mean you automatically understanding it conceptually and in context either. Good to know. Well, a buffet is an enormous array of various foods, hot and cold, sweet to savoury, where you merely help yourself and consume as much as you wish. You pay for the privilege of course.”
“Truly? How much will this cost you?” I inquired wide eyed.
I noticed that we had moved through the traffic and had turned down a descending road and were now going into a massive concrete tunnel along with hundreds of other cars, all slowly moving in the same direction. It was quite honestly astounding that everyone was not smashing into one another. All the drivers were…well mostly were, attentive to their immediate surrounds and situation as we gradually merged our car into the main lane of traffic which was making its way under the earth via the huge yawning tunnel ahead.
Such staggering feats of engineering and construction which would have made the Emperor Justinian weep copious, bitter tears of pure envy. Oh how I wished I could make him see this and realise his idiotic boast was pointless when he finished Hagia Sophia. He bragged that he had surpassed Solomon himself with his church. He had but it wasn’t worth it. Justinian nearly bankrupted the Eastern Roman Empire, all for a useless church and his own vanity.
Moron.
Still, I shouldn’t care, his hubris ended up sending him to hell anyway so... yay! His actions also exacerbated the effects of the famine and plague that swept the through the empire and western Europe in the year 535 with his stupid desire to re-unify the Roman empire under his rule. You will be please to know dear reader, that he is burning in eternal torment for his multitude of sins so it is all good. My thoughts of deceased, vainglorious emperors and their fate was interrupted as the Magus spoke again,
“Hmm? … it should set us back about $80 each I’d should say? A small price to pay in all honesty when you see what is on offer. Drinks will be on top of that price, unless you just have plain water but tonight Meridiana, I shall introduce you to Champagne, one of humanities greatest achievements.”
This was enticing to hear!
“If you say so Magus. I completely believe you as you will not be lying to me,” I said, nodding and trying to think about Champagne.
So many new concepts were entering my mind, it was hard to keep my mind and thoughts in order. I understood that Champagne was a special type of wine, one which had a fizz embodied within it, making it highly regarded but that’s all I could deduce for now.
Also… I had a thought: the Magus could and would never lie to me. The feeling I had earlier, in being able to trust everything he said to me because of the oath he gave to me, was an unfettering sensation.
All my existence I have dealt with bare faced lairs, deceivers, misshapers of the truth who twisted words to suit their own selfish ends. With the Magus, all I had to be concerned with was his agenda, which actually had my interests aligned with his own. Truly remarkable.
I needed that champagne now!
We emerged from the tunnel, traveling with the traffic over wide dark river, again on another immense concrete bridge this time. There was a gigantic colosseum off to our right, all lit up with multiple coloured lights that ran around the circumference of the structure. It was like a it was enveloped in a rainbow. Frankly, it was amazing to behold.
Beyond that, I could see many more large towers and structures, lining the sides of the vast road we were hurtling along now. The Magus had increased our speed as traffic had thinned out. Never in my life had I moved so fast, well unless I was using a Haste spell to briefly increase my physical speed, which I use in combat if necessary.
I barely had the sense we were travelling in the car at roughly 80kph. Such an odd experience to have for the first time. There was no rushing of wind, no press of air on my face, just comfort and air-conditioning. Marvellous!
After a few minutes later I saw our destination.
Again I was nearly stupefied by the gigantic structure. Multiple massive buildings, all surrounded by lush green, well-manicured and maintained gardens made my jaw go slack with disbelief.
“That’s Crown Casino, Towers and hotel Meridiana. I can see you are impressed. Let me just say that if you think this is amazing, wait until we go to Las Vegas…” he said as he turned the car into the driveway of the complex.
“There’s even more impressive structures than this?”
My mind boggled dear reader. It was almost too much to take in.
“Yep. My city is a small one compared to other around the globe. We will travel to them, in due course. I know you can use your powers of Dimensional Walking, moving through other planes of reality and appearing on a different part of the planet. However, there will be times when we will need to travel together conventionally. Perhaps one day, if I learn the rights spell, we will be able to avoid having to fly in an aeroplane and by-pass the utter tediousness of baggage check-ins, airport security and so on…” he muttered darkly.
“HUMANS CAN FLY!?!” I said in a loud strangled astonished voice.
The Magus chuckled with genuine amusement.
“Think back Meridiana. I said humanity has been to the moon and back. I said we can travel safely and comfortably in a machine, called an aircraft, across the planet. Some ‘planes are huge while others are not much bigger than the car. Oh, that reminds me, we will have to construct an identity for you. We will begin that process tomorrow. You are going to need a passport soon enough,” he said as he found a relatively unoccupied parking area west of the massive structures.
He saw my puzzled expression and mistook it for wondering why we had parked here.
“It’s free to park here and there are hardly any security cameras in the vicinity.”
I nodded dumbly.
“But of course Magus…”
He saw my expression as he switched off the engine. A tiny look of… sympathy appeared on his face. He spoke to me in a soft, calm, soothing tone,
“Take a breath Meridiana. Close your eyes and focus upon the stillness within the vehicle. You are safe here with me. Nothing will harm us. Just breathe and relax, let each breath calm you. With every breath you are at peace within yourself and the world around you.”
I did as he said and instantly sensed my whirling mind begin to centre itself, become still.
I may be an ancient and powerful demon dear reader, however I have been imprisoned for nigh on a thousand years and now have been released into a world that I was unable to recognise at all.
The Magus later told me I was suffering from a psychological malady called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yes dear reader, even us demons can get mentally fucked up. I mean, compared to the average human, we’re all demented, tormented psychopaths which explains a lot about ourselves but still… even a psychopath can suffer from mental trauma. Demons can go insane.
I breathed rhythmically, each exhaling breath calming me. With one final exhalation, I opened my eyes, turned to my Magus and softly smiled at him.
“Thank you,” was all I said. I meant it.
He nodded briefly, his intensely burning eyes boring into mine, deeply searching, looking for signs of any madness that may still be lingering within. Well, there’s always the hunger for sex and mayhem, but that’s natural for me.
“Come on, you look fine now, let’s go,” he said as he got out of the car.
I followed his example, releasing my seat belt and stepping out of the car. Closing the car door behind me, walked over to the Magus then I threaded my right arm around his left as we walked off like a normal couple, casually strolling through the car park towards the casino and hotel.
I could hear the noise of all the adjacent traffic all still travelling busily along the massive road that went past the enormous complex. There was the calls of various birds I’d never heard before, the waft of scented flowering plants and the heavy aroma of moisture in the air from the nearby river. I closed my eyes for a second just to let it all wash over me as I sedately walked along with my Magus.
Soon we came to the entrance. Huge dark glass doors magically opened for us upon our arrival. To my right I could see various coloured signage, advertising the types of ‘fast food’ eateries that people could choose to dine at. They were all brightly lit and mostly clean.
It was at that moment I saw my first wretch.
A dishevelled, unkempt, shabby man sat listless outside the fast food eateries upon the low stone wall that contained a small, well-kept garden. He looked up at us as we approached, his eyes full of misery and despair.
“Got any spare change?”
“Sorry mate, no one carries cash anymore,” lied my Magus to him with a conciliatory voice, a sad but brief compassionate smile appeared briefly on his face.
The wretched man’s face became even more resigned. He nodded back in understanding, returning his fallen face back to morosely contemplating the ground at his feet.
We kept walking, leaving the broken man behind us.
I was about to congratulate the Magus in his treatment of the beggar when I had to stop as I was confronted by an incredible sight.
Before us, in the huge well-lit lobby of the building, was a huge pair of MOVING METAL STAIRCASES!
One staircase ascended while another came down from the landing some 50 feet above us. On either side were normal, marble clad stairs that some people were using. Yet many other people were on the moving metal stairs, all just taking the experience of being raised or lowered completely for granted.
“It’s just an escalator Meridiana. A simple machine that makes life a little more comfortable. Take it, go for a ride. I’m taking the stairs as I need the incidental exercise,” he said to me as he pried my clutching hands from his arm. I had been unconsciously gripping him tightly in my amazement at seeing such a machine.
The Magus walked off to the left, climbing the steps briskly while I gingerly walked forwards, watching the metal stairs endless appear and ascend upwards. The hand rail also moved in synchronicity with the metal stairs. I observed as a pair of young women, chatting intently to each other, walked past me and up to stand upon a metal stair which was part of dozens of metal stairs it seemed. I saw them be lifted by the moving stairs, rising above and away from me.
Summoning my courage, I stepped forwards onto a moving stair, wobbled slightly as I was not used to the speed which it moved, making me grab the moving banister tightly to steady myself as I rode my way upwards. I let out a small laugh as it was such a novel experience. The young women in front of me turned around at my laugh, raising their eyebrows at me as well as actually truly seeing me for the first time. Their smiles faded as I grinned back at them.
The young women could see my infinitely superior beauty on full display. They looked hesitant, now uncertain of themselves as they mistakenly believed themselves to be beautiful. They were, passible, not ugly but not worthy of a harem to be perfectly honest. I later learned dear reader that many foolish young women, especially in what you call the western world, regard themselves as queens, rating themselves ten out of ten on a scale of dazzling good looks. These sad women are delusional. I mean, if they were that beautiful, why weren’t their faces on the covers of the glossy magazines I see in various ‘supermarket’ check outs? No matter, vanity and hubris are all ways to damnation and misery. So many people sending themselves to eternal torment simply because they were raised by idiotic parents who never properly taught their children the need for humility. It’s all win-win for the pits you know…
My Magus met me at the top of the stairs, holding out his hand to me and then leading me through the vast interior of the complex.
“That’s the casino,” he indicated to our right.
Looking, I could see dozens of people making their way inside into the brightly lit and noisy interior of the casino. I caught the whiff of desperation, despair, avarice, lust, elation and a strong aroma of human urine. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Yes, even I have some standards dear reader.
“Magus, why does it reek of piss?” I asked as we strolled by and proceeded into the most immense, glass covered atrium I have ever seen.
“Oh, you can smell that?” He looked intrigued.
I nodded with a mild look of disgust.
“Hah… interesting. Well… some gamblers get stuck on a poker machine. They sit there for hours, desperately hoping that the machine they are playing on will pay out. The poor fools stupidly believe that if they play at the machine long enough, they’ll win big. So they stay seated, ignoring to relieve their bodily urges, to the extent that they prefer to piss themselves rather than abandon the machine that is draining away their money. The poor fools are incapable of understanding that the machine is designed to rarely pay out. Every time they play, it has a simple algorithm that calculates the chance of a payout. Most machines will payout a small amount of money occasionally, thus keeping the gambler hooked in the mistaken belief that the big one is just around the corner. It rarely, if ever, is.”
I stopped, stunned at what I just heard. The Magus stopped and looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
“That’s… diabolically genius!” I stuttered as I considered the fiendish brilliance of the whole concept.
Someone had made hell on earth not only possible but also could make a fortune from it as well as breaking people’s souls and spirits in the process! The concept of dangling hope in front of a damned soul, then snatching it away was one of the oldest known tortures of hell. This was a magnificent, a culmination of the perfection of thousands upon thousands of years of the torture, all neatly packaged in a fairly simple machine designed to beggar it’s user and turn them into slaves to it. Gobsmacking was the only word I could think off that fully encapsulated the way I felt at that moment.
“Yes it is, isn’t it? I have always suspected that those machines were most likely invented by a demon. It makes perfect sense,” he said as he shrugged, then tilted his head, indicating we should proceed onwards.
I noddled dumbly as again, I had been totally overwhelmed by the latest piece of information the Magus informed of. I barely registered the hundreds of people all wandering around the massive lobby of the hotel atrium. Many were dressed finely while others, mostly men, were dressed casually. My Magus was one of them, still wearing his novelty T-shirt and hemp pants. They were clean though and his shoes, a brand known as Babuuk, made him look somehow better dressed then the other men who were similarly attired. Maybe it was just his subtle aurora of power, his sheer confidence and his towering Will that made him stand out from the mouth breathers all around us? I guess it was.
We arrived at the entrance of the restaurant and the Magus was greeted was a short Asian woman, dressed neatly in the hotels livery.
I started to realise that there were people of so many different races of humanity all around us. I had come from a time where only what was left of the Eastern Roman Empire was this diverse, and even then it was but a shadow of the heyday of the full glory that was Rome. Here were people from almost all the lands of earth, all happily co-mingling, getting on with having dinner with family and friends. Very surprising indeed.
The Asian woman at the reception counter spoke to us with a friendly smile,
“Good evening sir, madam. A table for two for you then?” she asked politely, her voice tinged with a broad accent I had not heard before. She spoke English yet I could tell that wasn’t her first language.
“Yes please,” politely replied the Magus.
This was something I did not expect. Despite his and my obvious power, he was respectful and even kind to the servants. All of them. He didn’t condescend nor sneer down at the servants of the hotel. It is still something I have difficulty reconciling. I said nothing, just observed. Oh, he has since instructed me not to call them servants, they are members of staff and will be treated with respect until they show they do not deserve it, then they are fair game. I can live with that.
“Table seventy one is ready for you both, have a lovely evening.”
She actually meant it! I could see it in her eyes, she was truly enjoying her task. She was smiling and joking with her fellow staff members, politely greeting the next people behind us with her cheerful friendly demeanour.
Astonishing.
In my prior experiences, servants and slaves were a miserable lot but then again, that was understandable. They had no choice as to their circumstances. They had to obey lest they suffer harsh punishment.
As we proceeded into the large dining room, with over a hundred tables of varying sizes, I could see off to my left where the food was.
I stopped again and stared dear reader.
I have been to banquets with Emperors and Kings, Popes and Princes, all sumptuous feasts but nothing was like what I saw before me. Dozens upon dozens of people had plates in their hands, all calmly wandering around the incredible cornucopia of varieties of food that were on display, all brightly lit up for them to simply help themselves to as much as their plate could hold.
Roasted meats, all neatly carved by expert chefs, freshly shucked oysters all seated in enormous silver ice-filled serving bowls, trays upon trays of cooked vegetables of kinds I had never seen before and… a dazzling array of sweet desserts and treats that made me almost go weak at the knees at the very sight of them.
“Come on Meridiana, you’re starting to drool,” whispered the Magus gently into my ear as he dabbed my wet lips with a soft piece of paper that he withdrew from his pants pockets.
Once again I nodded dumbly as I allowed him to escort me to our table. He even seated me, pushing me and my chair in one I had sat down. After he had taken his seat, a young man, quite a handsome one from the Indus I believed?... came over to us, again dressed in the livery of the hotel.
“Good evening, sir, madam. Would you care for something to drink?” he inquired ever so politely.
“And good evening to you sir. Yes indeed, may we please have a bottle of Verve Clicquot, two glasses and a bottle of San Pellegrino sparkling water?” he asked with a real smile to the servant… no member of staff.
“Of course sir, I shall get that for you immediately,” replied the waiter with a pleased smile at being spoken to so politely.
“Thank you,” said the Magus then he turned to me and asked,
“Do you need a moment Meridiana? I understand this might trigger you again…”
I shook my head.
“No. It is overwhelming… but in a good way Magus. I have to ask, how can a place like this provide so many people with so much food? Even in the height of the Empire, there were magnificent feasts to be sure but… you say this happens everyday, that this is just a Tuesday and not a busy night?”
He nodded.
“This is the age of abundance Meridiana. Many of us, who live in what is known as The West, have dwelt in an age of such wealth and richness that almost all here never think on their incredible luck and privilege to live in such times. They do not know that it will come to an end. Maybe that is a small mercy. All golden ages end as you well know. So I say, let them dwell in ignorant bliss for now. We can enjoy it while it lasts.”
“Huh? Why do you believe that your golden age will end Magus?”
“It’s a long explanation and one I do not wish to go into detail here and now Meridiana but later, I will share my thoughts with you on this. Ahh, here comes our champagne.”
The waiter and another staff member had returned, with one carrying two bottles while the other had a metal bucket partially filled with ice. The waiter from the Indus placed both bottles on our table, displayed the label to the Magus who briefly nodded. Then, the waiter removed the cork from the bottle with an adroit twist of his writ. It made a pleasing pop and I could see a little haze of cold… smoke? lightly emanate from the neck of the bottle. He poured the brightly bubbling and fizzing wine into both our glasses, carefully making sure the foam did not overflow them. He was very good at his task.
“Thank you good sir,” said my Magus to the waiter who beamed back at him with a happy smile. He placed the bottle into the bucket of ice and withdrew, leaving us alone, amidst the crowed dinning room.
The Magus took up his glass, holding it in front of him. I mirrored him.
“Here’s to a good dinner with interesting company and later, ripping the shit out of a casino Meridiana.” He pushed his glass gently forwards, lightly clinking it against mine. I wasn’t familiar at the time with that form of salute and toast but went with it anyway, after all… when in Rome as they used to say.
“That sounds… delightful Magus. I am eager for it all.”
I then took a sip of my champagne and was transported into a realm of heavenly bliss.
It was exquisite.

Image Prompt
Zeke leaned back against a tree, trying to catch his breath through hushed gasps. Something warm spread at his side. With a shaky hand, he found a would just above his hip—it bled more than he’d like but didn’t hurt. Not too deep, then.
The pounding in his ears drowned out the sounds of the forest around him. So he held his breath, hoping it might steady his heart long enough to regain his focus. The pounding softened. What replaced it, though, was the sound of clanking metal and uneven steps along the wooded floor.
He shifted his gaze to the right, searching for Elias. Always stay close, he heard in the back of his mind. Separation is certain death in the Hollow.
“Fucking hell,” he mumbled, unable to locate his partner among the sea of brown and green. He pulled his hand away from his hip, wiping the blood against his armor. Red smeared across silver, his glove soaked through. With a dissatisfied grunt, he raised the glove to his lips. A metallic taste kissed his lips as he bit down on the fabric and pulled his hand free.
Behind him, the clanking drew nearer. A soft, wheezing growl sounded in sync with arhythmic steps. He took several quick, shallow breaths and gripped his sword with both hands. Then he let out a long, violent scream and leaped from behind his hiding spot.
The creature’s skeletal face locked onto Zeke. Its jaw fell open so wide he thought it might detach—then it let out a piercing shriek and lunged. Sharpened bones poked through its fingertips, ready to tear into whatever flesh it could get ahold of.
Zeke swung his sword with everything he had. It collided with the undead’s arm just below the shoulder. Bone cracked. Armer screamed as his sword scraped against it. And then an arm fell to the ground with a soft thud.
The creature reared back, then lunged forward with its remaining arm. Zeke swung his sword upward just in time to keep the claws from sinking into his cheek but lost his grip in the process. The sword fell to the ground as the undead regained its balance for another attack.
Zeke threw his right foot forward, kicking the creature square in the chest. It stumbled backward, surprisingly staying on its feet. The move bought him enough time to retrieve his sword. As the undead lunged yet again, he lifted his blade and sent it straight through its neck.
It snapped its teeth and growled, its one arm reaching out for Zeke’s flesh. He twisted the blade, grunting with the effort, and moved it until the creature’s head separated from its body. Only then did it finally fall do the dirt.
Before Zeke could bask in his victory, he saw another emerge from deeper within the forest. He took a step forward, lifted his sword, and crumbled at a sudden sharp pain in his leg.
He looked down and saw the creature’s claw dug into his ankle. The second undead stumbled through the forest, biting at the air in anticipation of its wounded prize. Zeke pulled a dagger from his hip and began to pry the undead claw from his flesh, blood pouring from each wound into the dirt below.
Once free, he tried to stand but fell at the slightest attempt of putting weight on his left side. His ankle was ruined.
“Gods be damned,” he muttered, rising to one knee. He held his sword at his side, ready to strike the second beast as soon as it closed the distance between them.
“You may take me,” he said, “but I’m taking you with me.”
It nearly tripped on a log but managed to stay on its decaying feet as it ran toward him. Branches crunched beneath it. A wheeze that sounded suspiciously like a laugh escaped its chest.
And then, when it was nearly upon him, a flash of silver appeared from its left and lopped its head off in one fluid motion. Its body fell harmlessly to the ground; its head rolled to Zeke’s side, the jaw snapping one last time as it stared up at him with fiery eyes.
Elias turned and smiled, sliding his sword back into its sheath.
“I had him,” Zeke said, letting himself fall to a sitting position.
Elias laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I bet you did.” He stepped closer, eyeing the blood covering Zeke’s armor in multiple spots.
“Gods,” he said, “they really did a number on you.”
“Nothing a few pints won’t fix,” Zeke said. He cut a piece of cloth from his shirt and wrapped it tight around his ankle, wincing at the pain. His adrenaline was fading; the wound on his side began to remind him it was there.
Elias chuckled. “Not sure Luke is going to let you drink with that many holes in you, but I’d love to see you try ‘n convince him anyway.” He crouched down, pulling Zeke’s arm across his shoulders.
“Least we cleared a couple of these bastards,” Zeke said. “Hopefully they stay gone a little longer this time.”
“Aye,” Elias agreed, lifting Zeke to his feet. “And this time the whole town’s gonna suddenly appreciate the work we do and double our wages.”
“Hey, if the dead can rise, anything is possible.”
Elias shifted his weight, finding a decent enough balance to sync up with Zeke’s hops. “You know, if you wanted me to carry you back you could’ve just asked. Didn’t need to go gettin’ your foot half-severed.”
“Oh, quite the jokester today, aren’t you? I don’t recall giving you such a hard time when that lake ghoul put an extra bend in your knees.”
“Hey, that was different,” Elias said with a shudder.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m sure it was.”
They limped on through the forest, trading insults and jokes, leaving a trail of blood in the dirt behind them.

This tournament sure was...something. In the 14 years that I have followed the NCAA Tournament I have never seen it get this crazy before. This was a complete 180 from last year's Tournament, where we only had Blue Bloods in the Final Four, and a blue blood champion. This year, it is not the case. We have CHAOS.
Now, let us take a look at the failures, and boy do I have a few words for some teams here...
Arizona Wildcats - For the third year in a row, we have a 15 over 2 upset in the opening round. And Arizona was offered up as this year's sacrifice. To be fair, this isn't as big of an upset compared to other 15-over-2 upsets. Believe it or not, I actually saw this coming. The moment Princeton was announced as the opponent, I knew Arizona was gonna go down early. The Tigers just outplayed them and held strong throughout the entire game. Just like in 1996, when they upset defending national champion UCLA in the first round, the Tigers' next upset would unsurprisingly come against a Pac-12 team. Man, 15-over-2 upsets are becoming a staple in March Madness now...future 2 seeds better watch out...
Virginia Cavaliers - This was yet another upset most saw coming, but my god...I'm still stunned by this. Virginia was even leading for most of the game, but then they just imploded near the end. That turnover...what the hell was that?
I swear, Virginia must have sold it's soul for a National Title back in 2019...
Iowa State Cyclones - I swear, the Cyclones are like destined to bow out early in the tournament. It's as if its required by law for them to fall early no matter how high expectations are for them. It wasn't even a contest, the Panthers just straight up slaughtered them. Iowa State is one of the next contestants for my next Legacy of Failure script. But only IF they meet certain conditions...
At least the Cyclones lost to an 11 seed, and 11 seeds at least have moderate success in the tournament.
At least they're not these sorry sacks:
Purdue's Boiler Explosion - What the fuck. What. The fuck. WHAT. THE. FUCK. WAS. THAT. Don't get me wrong, I knew you weren't going to make the Final Four this year. I knew you were going to choke. But as a #1 SEED IN THE FIRST ROUND?! When you were favored by TWENTY FOUR TO WIN?!! Do you realize what you have just done?! This is quite possibly the greatest failure in the history of college sports! This was your ALL-IN year, and you fall to a double digit seed for the third year in a row? Absolutely unacceptable. Matt Painter is on a SEARING hot seat now.
One word, Purdue: NUKE. Blow it up. You aren't winning with Painter. You aren't winning with this coaching staff. You aren't winning this core, and you aren't winning with these mentally fragile players who can't handle a shred of adversity.
Tick, tick, Painter and Lusk. It's time for a house cleaning in West Lafayette. Fucking Purdue... YOU BLEW IT!!!
Memphis Tigers - Penny Hardaway is getting Memphis on the right track. They won the AAC Tournament title over Houston, securing their second straight appearance in the Big Dance. But unfortunately, the Cinderella bug hit them, and it came in the form of Florida Atlantic, who won their first tournament game in school history. Memphis is still an interesting team nonetheless, and I'm eager to see how far Hardaway can take this team in the future.
Iowa Hawkeyes - Congratulations! Your team STILL can't make it past the first weekend of the tournament! This time you get rekt by Auburn. Fran McCaffrey continues to show that he cannot survive come March Madness despite his regular season successes. Iowa, if I were you I would find a new coach already. Fran is not the man.
Texas A&M Aggies - The Aggies had a solid regular season. They came close to winning the SEC Tournament title but got decimated by Alabama. Is this football or basketball I'm covering here? I'm confused. Anyway, it really seemed as if the Aggies had it in them to go on a reasonable run as they were a 7 seed, but then they went to Des Moines and got blown the fuck out by a team that hadn't won a tournament game in 22 years. The failure is always bigger in Texas...
USC Trojans - Despite losing the other Mobley brother to the draft last offseason, the Trojans still snuck their way into the Big Dance yet again. Unfortunately, Tom Izzo's Spartans killed any hopes they had of a deep run. The Trojans failed to conquer Sparta, and it's time for me to break out this scene from 300 again...
Providence Friars - After making the Sweet 16 last year, the Friars had another good team this season and were ranked for most of the latter half of the season. But unfortunately, Kentucky remembered last year's upset at the hands of Saint Peter's and decided to kill any hopes the Friars had of a deep run.
Baylor Bears - Once again, Baylor fails to make it past the second round. Despite maintaining most of the 2021 National Championship roster the Bears still cannot find it in themselves to get past the first weekend again. It wasn't even a contest, Creighton flat out controlled the tempo for the entire game. 2021 had better not have been a fluke for your guys...
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights - Congrats, FDU! You became the 2nd #16 seed to be a #1! Your consolation prize is blowing a late lead to Florida Atlantic in round two. Eh, who cares. You still pulled off the upset. The fact that this only happened 5 years after UMBC's stunning upset over Virginia is the most shocking fact about this too. Now, no #1 seed is safe. We are entering a period in the tournament where even the lowest seeds are now potential contenders. It'll be interesting to see how 2024's tournament goes...
Saint Mary's Gaels - Ah, it's that other WCC team. Congrats on winning another tournament game! Your prize is to get absolutely slaughtered by UConn. Great...
Penn State Nittany Lions - Congrats, Penn State! You won your first tournament game in 22 years! Even though you took the Longhorns to the limit, a big run just wasn't in the cards for you this year. Can we grant another tournament win to Penn State and put them in the Sweet 16 instead of Texas? They deserve it a lot more than Purdue...
Pittsburgh Panthers - Congrats, Pitt! You returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 7 years! You even won a tournament game too! Though all good things must come to an end, and you get upended by Xavier.
Indiana Hoosiers - What in the literal fuck was that supposed to be? Weren't you supposed to make a big run this year? This was the best team you've had in almost a decade and you just decided to crumble like that?! Sure, Miami was playing the game of their lives but it still shouldn't have been a 16-point blowout. Well, could be worse I guess. You could be Purdue...
Kentucky Wildcats - Let's start with the good news first: You were not upset in the first round this time. Instead you get eliminated by your old friends from K-State yet again. Which is good because we don't have to deal with more arrogance from the Kentucky fanbase this time. Nobody like Kentucky, so there was much rejoicing.
Duke Blue Devils - Even with Coach K no longer in the College Basketball world, the Blue Devils still manage to appear in the NCAA Tournament as a reasonably high seed. They managed to end Oral Roberts' foolish ambitions in the first round (I really wanted to make more sex jokes from that...), but then got absolutely BTFOd by Tennessee in the next round. The Evil Empire has been stopped yet again. But they'll be back here again. The Blue Devils never stay down for long...
Marquette Golden Eagles - HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO TEACH YOU THIS LESSON, OLD MAN?! Once again, Shaka Smart cannot make it past the first weekend of the tournament. Tom Izzo's Spartans put him in his place yet again. For fuck's sake, it's been a DECADE since Smart's coaching schemes got exposed by John Beilein in 2013. And he still has not gotten the message. Did I ever tell you the definition of insanity, Mr. Smart?
Auburn Tigers - Thanks for allowing us to laugh at Iowa again, Auburn. Now enjoy getting slaughtered by Houston in the next round.
Kansas Jayhawks - For the second year in a row, the defending national champion falls in the second round. Kansas appeared as if they would have this game in the bag, as they led by as much as 10 throughout the game. But then the team just imploded. The Razorbacks fought their way back and managed to eke out the win in the final seconds. Cherish that championship, Kansas. It may be the only one you win for a while.
TCU Horned Frogs - It seems like TCU sports are on the rise as of late. Their football team made the College Football Playoff, and their basketball team entered the tournament as a #6 seed! They even won another tournament game! But unfortunately they failed to make us laugh at Gonzaga again, as the Bulldogs narrowly escaped with the win.
Northwestern Wildcats - Welcome back to the tournament again, Northwestern! Even though this is only your second NCAA tournament appearance, you managed to win another tournament game! But a deep run just wasn't in the cards for you this time. Even after giving UCLA all they could handle, it just wasn't enough. I hope the Wildcats are able to make it back here again someday. Chris Collins seems to have something good going at Evanston. Let's see how things go the next few years.
Missouri Tigers - Congrats, Missouri! You won your first tournament game in 13 years! Your reward is to get absolutely blown the fuck out by another set of Tigers...who were seeded 15th. Come on now. Sure, Princeton was playing the game of their lives, but it still shouldn't have been a 15-point blowout. You're one of the contestants for a future Legacy of Failure script, Missouri. Give me something to truly laugh at and it'll be icing on the cake.
Maryland Terrapins - I'm gonna save the Big Bill Hell's rant this time. The Terps seemed to put a decent fight in the first half, but the Crimson Tide decided that was far enough, and put them out of their misery.
Princeton Tigers - Congrats, Princeton! You returned to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 56 years, and are only the fourth 15 seed to reach the Sweet 16! Third one in a row to do so, in fact! But all good things must come to an end, and there was another team looking to end their own demons. Creighton returned to the Elite Eight for the first time since the year Pearl Harbor happened.
Alabama Crimson Tide - The third #1 seed to fall this tournament. The Tide controlled the tempo most of the game, but the Aztecs eventually took the lead and never looked back. Once again, Alabama's dream to be a champion in both football and basketball like Michigan did in 1989 has not come to fruition. Maybe next year?
Tennessee Volunteers - Tennessee manages to return to the Sweet 16. And that's as far as they go. It's time for them to be upset by an inferior team again, and this time it's Florida Atlantic. The only time it appeared as if the Vols controlled the game was in the first half. But then FAU decided they wanted to go further. They took the lead in the second half, even leading by as much as 10 points, but they didn't relinquish it, making their first ever Elite Eight.
Michigan State Spartans - Congratulations! Your team finally made it past the second round! But the Sweet 16 is as far as you go. And they screwed up big time. This was yet another game where MSU's opponent was doing their best to hand the game to them, but they once again couldn't capitalize on their mistakes. K-State was literally handing them the game on a silver platter. They blew multiple leads and were even pushed into overtime. They even let you stay in the game until the final seconds! But then you just had to fuck up and let Markquis Nowell dance on your ashes, even letting him make NCAA history in the process.
Houston Cougars - What the hell was that, Houston? That has got to be arguably the worst performance by a 1 seed in the Sweet 16 in recent memory! This was the best team you've had since the days of Phi Slama Jama, and you go and do THAT?! Jesus Christ, you're pathetic. It wasn't even a contest, Miami barely even had to fucking try! Well, at least you're joining a real conference in the Big 12 next season. Hopefully the opponents from that conference can toughen you up and make you more formidable in next year's tournament.
Xavier Musketeers - Congrats, Xavier! You returned to the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years! Enjoy getting absolutely mauled by the Longhorns.
UCLA Bruins - Now this was a shock to see. This was the absolute inverse of 2006. The Bruins build up a big lead, only for Gonzaga to come back and build a big lead...only for the Bruins to storm right back and go up by 1. Or not. Maybe this is a repeat of 2006?
"Strawther for the lead...BULLSEYE!!!!"
And the Bulldogs have finally gotten their proper revenge for 2006, where they lost in the West region after blowing a big lead in the Sweet 16. Adam Morrison laughs, and the rest of the country breaths as sigh of relief as they don't have to see Los Angeles win another championship.
Arkansas Razorbacks - Great job, Arkansas! You managed to knock off the defending national champions! Your prize is to get absolutely steamrolled by UConn in the next round...by 23 points. Great...
Creighton Bluejays - Congrats, Creighton! You returned to the Elite Eight for the first time since WORLD WAR II!! And you're on the verge of becoming the first team from Nebraska to make the Final Four, beating out even the Cornhuskers! Imagine that! But it was not to be. The Bluejays built up a decent lead, and were on the verge of becoming the first #6 seed to make the Final Four since the Fab Five Michigan squad in 1992. But they couldn't hold it, as the Aztecs slowly crawled their way back. The Bluejays didn't really make any big mistakes, they didn't foul all that much, but at the end of the day it wasn't enough. They nearly sent the game into OT, but then...a last second foul call gave the Aztecs new life (Refball? You decide.). They would lose by a point. They were THAT close. But I honestly can't be mad at them. Still a successful season though. Hopefully next year you can get over the hump.
Kansas State Wildcats - I swear to god, K-State has to be the most unlucky team in NCAA Tournament history. This was their NINTH trip to the Elite Eight since their last Final Four berth in 1964 and they fell just short yet again. And like in 2010 and 2018, it was to a Cinderella team. First it was Butler. Then it was Sister Jean's henchmen from Loyola-Chicago. Now, it was FAU. Despite having a strong roster, the Wildcats once again could not end their long Final Four drought. Folks like to talk about Purdue being unlucky, but I think the real bridesmaid here is K-State. Just absolutely brutal. Which is why they're a candidate for my next Legacy of Failure script.
Texas Longhorns - This was very much a Days of our Steelers season for Longhorns basketball. Head coach Chris Beard was axed following an incident where he beat his wife (FUCKING IDIOT), and assistant Rodney Terry had to step in and clean up the mess. Thankfully, it was a good hire. Terry helped guide the Longhorns to their best season in ages, as they returned to the Elite Eight for the first time in 15 years. It appeared as if they were on the verge of returning to the Final Four for the first time in two decades! But then, the team straight up SHAT THE BED. Texas could not get anything going at all near the end of the game, as the Hurricanes came back from 13 points down to make their first Final Four. YOU BLEW IT!!!
Though lets be honest here, the refs were absolute dogshit. Calling blatant offensive fouls as fouls on the player guarding, are you fucking kidding me? Still, the Longhorns did screw up and blow that lead. Blame the refs all you want, but you want to know what would have helped? Not blowing a 13 point lead late in the second half. But at least Rodney Terry has shown that he can coach. Hopefully he can lead this Texas team to new heights in the future.
Gonzaga Bulldogs - pukes uncontrollably Fucking hell, are you kidding me? What the hell were you doing all game long? This was your ALL-IN year. You were the top scoring team in the country. You had the best player in the nation in Drew Timme! And you got absolutely beaten to a pulp by the team that beat you in your first Elite Eight appearance 24 years ago. Sure, UConn was playing the game of their lives, but it still shouldn't have been a near-30 point slaughter. You managed to unleash the Pandora's Box of Locusts known as UConn fans on the College Basketball world. Your Legacy of Failure continues. UConn is still getting the best of you after all these years, eh?
Florida Atlantic Owls - Oh my god, it's going to happen! The Owls are about to make history! They're up by 14! Sure the Aztecs cut that lead down to 1 in the final seconds, not to mention the refs are absolute shit, but the Owls are about to make history and become the first 9 seed to make the National Championship! Let's hear it for FAU!
"They don't have their scorers on the floor...it's Butler, with 2 seconds, he's gotta put it up and...-buzzer sounds- HE WINS IT!!! HE WINS IT WITH THE JUMPER!!! A San Diego State Miracle!"
OH MY MERCIFUL GOD!!! Well, this sucks. But it was still a successful season nonetheless. The third 9 seed to ever make the Final Four, and it happened in your second NCAA tournament appearance! Well, you'll be joining a better conference in the AAC next year. Hopefully you can make another big run like this again someday.
Miami Hurricanes - Congrats, Miami! You made your first Final Four in school history! And then the fun stops. UConn comes in to spoil the day. I would rip on Miami here, but nothing went right for this at all this game. Nothing. Missing 14 layups in the second half? Christ, that's brutal. Even though Jim Larrañaga tried his best to get Miami's stars on the right track, they were no match for the Huskies. Whenever Miami tried to strike back, UConn said 'Nope!' and put the Hurricanes on lockdown for the rest of the game. Nonetheless, this was a good run for Miami this year. You'll be back here eventually.
Whew, that was a crazy tournament. Now we're finally down to only two. And only one of these teams will be walking away with a championship.
Let's bring out contestant number one...
Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies have returned to the National Championship for the fifth time in school history, and for the first time in almost a decade. The last time they were here, the Final Four was held in the other major Texas metropolis of Dallas-Ft. Worth, and the Huskies became the first 7 seed in NCAA Tournament history to win a National Championship. Now, they are here for more.
The face of this revived UConn squad has been Jordan Hawkins, a sophomore from Maryland who has been this team's leading scorer in their past two matchups against Arkansas and Gonzaga, and it has been a long road for him. During the season opener he suffered his second concussion in his playing career and had to sit out the first two games, but he has thankfully made a full recovery and is playing better than ever. Joining him has been African sensation Adama Sanogo, a two-time first-team All-Big East award winner. He and Hawkins have been the bread and butter of this UConn squad, as both have been leading the team in scoring in a majority of games this season. Sanogo has also been this team's rebounding machine, as he has led the team in rebounds in all four of their tournament games so far. Rounding out UConn's Big 3 has been Andre Jackson Jr., who has been the Assists leader for this team in 18 games including the NCAA Tournament.
UConn has been the hottest team in this tournament thus far, as they've won each of their first four games by at least 10 points or more. Iona? 14-point win. #5 St. Mary's? 15 point win. #8 Arkansas, who just took down the defending national champs? 23 point win. #3 seed Gonzaga, who had three-time consensus All-American Drew Timme? Doesn't matter to them, they won by 28. #5 Miami? Even though the Hurricanes tried to put up a fight, they were beaten by 13. This Huskies team is absolutely unstoppable. The last two teams who won their first five tournament games by double digits both went on to win the national title - North Carolina in 2009, and Villanova in 2018. And it looks like history is about to repeat itself. UConn is hungry for it's fifth national title.
This #4 seed is playing like a #1 seed, and they are for sure the favorite to win it all. Just like every other time UConn has a solid team in the tournament, it's National Championship or bust.
Prepare for their wrath.
But not if their opponents have anything to say about it...
San Diego State Aztecs
The Aztecs have made it to the National Championship game. Exactly as everyone predicted at the start of the tournament. What this team reminds me of is the drug addict that has had numerous chances to get his shit together but constantly relapsed every time. And it's only through a reflection and a last second intervention that he starts to get clean.
For a while it felt as if San Diego State would never make it here. Former Michigan head coach Steve Fisher and his longtime assistant Brian Dutcher spent YEARS building this team into a contender. And the Aztecs have put up many elite teams over the years, but could only go as far as the Sweet 16 at best.
2011 seemed to be their year. They fell to UConn. In 2014, they were a 4 seed. They fell to Arizona. And after a series of first and second round eliminations, they finally got over the hump and made it to the promised land, though just BARELY.
This run has been far from easy for the Aztecs. They escaped by 7 points against Charleston in the first round. In the second they destroyed Furman, who just upset Virginia. Then came the Sweet 16, their opponent was the overall #1 seed in Alabama. It looked like another early exit for the Aztecs again. But then, a miracle happened. They rallied from 9 points down in the second half against Alabama to take the lead for good and make their first ever Elite Eight. And in their first Elite Eight, Creighton pushed them to the limit. However, they managed to overcome another deficit and escape by the skin of their teeth in the last second (Refball? You decide.). Same case in their first ever Final Four. They trailed by fourteen against Florida Atlantic, and it felt as if that was it. But then, the Aztecs pulled off another miracle to win by 1. That miracle's name? Lamont Butler. This team is the Energizer Bunny of the tournament. They will not die no matter how much stress you put on them.
SDSU's sudden appearance in the National Championship feels less like a "Glad you made it here!" and more of a "FINALLY!!". Considering all of the elite talent and top-tier coaching they've possessed over the years, it's still surprising that it took them this long to get here. But hey, better late than never.
Fuck you, Spanos!
The face of this San Diego State team has been Matt Bradley, a two-time First-team All-Mountain West selection. Alongside him is Ghanaian sensation Nathan Mensah, who is known for his immense wingspan of 7'4 ft, and has led this team in rebounds in two of their four wins this tournament. Other standouts on this Aztecs team include Jaedon LeDee, Micah Parrish, Darion Trammell, and Lamont Butler, who has led the team in Assists this tournament.
Brian Dutcher has built a winner this tournament, but we all know what his ultimate goal is - a National Championship. Though it wouldn't be his first. His first title came with the 1989 Michigan team led by Glen Rice and Rumeal Robinson, where he was an assistant under Coach Fisher. Now he's looking to win one as a head coach.
The Aztecs seek to become the first team from California to win a national title in basketball since 1995. That year, UCLA won their 11th National Title in school history by knocking off the "40 Minutes of Hell" Arkansas squad, a rather formidable opponent on par with this UConn team. And no team from California has done it since.
Will San Diego State be the team to break that drought, and become the fourth team from the Golden State to win a National Title? Will they become the first non-power five conference team to win a National Title since UNLV did it in 1990?
Will the Aztecs become the first team from San Diego to win a championship in either the pros or college, and break the San Diego sports curse?
And so, here it is. The Big East Empire of Doom, versus the Mountain West's only hope!
Time for battle.
EPIC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP JINXING
Unfortunately, there will be no miracles this time. I think UConn has this one in the bag. They've been destroying their opponents with ease, like North Carolina and Villanova before them. No matter what you throw at them, they'll just push it aside like a cardboard box. Their 28-point win over a stacked Gonzaga team is proof of this. They always seem to have an answer for whatever their opponents throw at them, and therefore the choice is easy.
UConn will steamroll the Aztecs by at least 10 points and cruise to a 5th National Championship, tying with both Duke and Indiana for the fourth most championships.
Have a nice day.

I’m not sure if this post should be TW: Sexual assault because I do not think or know if it falls under that category but it could be triggering for some so please do not read this if that is a sensitive topic for you but I hope you have an amazing day or night
My 26F boyfriend 27M of one year stayed at my place over the weekend and every single night as soon as I was nearly asleep he would pull my eyelids up and “check” to I guess make sure I was asleep? He would lift my arm to see if it would fall, “checking my eyes” as I said ? At one point during these nights I had fully opened my eyes and woken up during this to which he quickly pretended to be asleep and started to snore. Anyways.. once he would realize I was asleep (I had woken up once my eyelids were lifted and one of these nights he shined a handheld flashlight into my eyes as he lifted my eyelids) he would start to move my hand toward his penis and would make me feel him over his boxers but eventually pull those down and made me jerk him off. One of these nights he also put it by my lips and rubbed it on then and ejaculated on my cheek. He did clean that up but throughout this whole process kept checking to ensure I was asleep. I was too uncomfortable to bring up any of this up to him just yet as I am not sure how to and am still processing all of this as intimacy has never been an issue for us so I cannot understand why he would do this especially while I am asleep (but fortunately for me I was awake enough to know what was happening and then fully woke up, rather than going through the days not knowing what he was doing while I was asleep. The next morning I had also asked if he shined a light in my eyes while I was asleep and he completely denied it and honestly looked offended and confused as to why I would even ask that.
Sorry this post is so chaotic and all over the place, I feel that way myself to be honest but wanted to share here and hopefully get some advice or an outside opinion on how I should approach this or what you would do in this situation.

Walk with pride
‘ding ding ding’ goes the bell, signifying the end of first period. I walk through the crowded halls, head held high smiling at everyone who glances at me. School isn’t for everyone, but im different. I love school. I love going to class, working hard, and socializing with the strange mixes of people surrounding me. But most importantly I love seeing this one girl, Isla. I don’t think she even knows I exist. Every day I admire her beautiful blonde hair that lit up every room that was lucky enough to have her in it. Her eyes as blue as the ocean on a hot summer’s day. But when you really look into her eyes, they told of a lifetime of struggle that had never been put into words. This intrigued me. I had to find out more about her, but how?
As the day continues I keep an eye out for Isla. She is nowhere to be seen. “sir can I please use the bathroom?” I say to my biology teacher. He nods in reply. I walk to the toilet, as I get closer I can hear a distant cry. I wonder what’s going on? As I get closer I realise its coming from the bathroom. I stand at the door for a minute and prepare myself. I wonder who it is? I wonder what to say? I wonder what to do? I build up the confidence and walk in. The crying stops. “hello, anyone in here” I say. No reply. How strange I think to myself. “I hope your ok” I (add word that means say nicely).
“im ok” someone replys, I can hear them sniffle. The cubicle door creaks as someone opens it. To my surprise its isla. Butterflies instantly fill my stomach. Ive never felt like this before. I don’t know what to say or what to do. Weve never been this close together. “you just gonna sit there and stare” Isla snaps at me. Im paralised with nerves.
“no” I say shakily “what happened?”
“its nothing” isla replies as she pulls out a baggie from her pocked. She places one on her tounge
“you got any water”
“nah I don’t sorry”
Isla walks to the tap and takes a sip. “ I forgot to as, do you want one?’
“nah, that’s not really my thing” I reply.
“that’s cute, you’re a chicken” Isla replies laughing at me
My facial expression drops. She notices and says “theyre really not that bad. Are you sure you don’t want one?”
Everyone says don’t give into peer pressure. Ive never felt the need to do drugs before. But something inside of me is screaming at me to say yes. “I think ill be ok, what are they?” I say curiously,
“there some xans, they calm you down” she replies.
“I gotta go to class, bye” I say as I walk towards the door.
“bye tayla”
Im gobsmacked the biggest grin appears on my face, she knows my name
I place my headphones on and press play on my music. Change by Deftones starts playing. I basically skipped through the hallways back to my classroom. I cant believe she knows my name. I immediately open my laptop and start searching what are the effects of xans? What do xans do to you? What are the side effects of xans? All of this information is filling my brain like bees flying to a hive. Part of me couldn’t believe that I was actually considering doing drugs and the other half wants change. Of course it would only be once, and its for the experience. Ding ding ding.
The bell goes and I start packing up my stuff. “you look like your in a good mood today” says a voice behind me. I turn around its ethan one of my classmates.
“yeah, im always in a good mood” I chuckle, I continue to pack up my stuff and leave for lunch. I strut through the crowded hallway, head held high and a smile gleaming from my face. I was on a mission. A mission to find Isla. I walk around the school headphones on blast. Where would she be? I think to myself. I march towards the bathroom. The door creaks open.
“whats up tayla!”
“hey isla”
“did you come back for a xan?” she says scarcastically.
“yeah I did actually” I reply
“actual”
“yeah ill try it once, just for the experience”.
Isla passes me a pill. I place it in my mouth. It is sour. I walk to the tap, grab some water and swallowed the pill. “did you want to skip the rest of the day with me” says isla
“ive never skipped school before” I reply, I feel so small and innocent when im with her.

So I live in Philadelphia, the city where UPenn (an Ivy League) is located and I wanted to write this because I feel like this is definitely a hidden away obscure thing that most people who don't live here or go to one of the big feeder magnet schools in Philly fully grasp. Like I'm sure most people know what a feeder school to an Ivy is and that it exists, but I really don't think people fully understand it and everything that goes on unless you are actually from here.
I go to a Philadelphia public magnet school and Im pretty sure itd be considered a feeder school to Penn. Every year, about 30-70 students go to Penn. Every year. Last year, about 50 students ended up going. In like 2016, 68 students got in. Another school in Philly with about 100 students per grade sends about 20 every year. And I want to preface this by saying everyone who got in worked really hard and is smart and deserves it. But if I'm being honest.... I don't think some people would have gotten into a 6% acceptance rate school like Penn had they not had the high school´s name and connections to Penn by living in Philly. Simply bc there would be no advantages and it would all come down to luck/competition.
Guarantees for Penn exist in Philly. Yes, not everyone gets in, but guarantees for an Ivy League are most certainly a thing here, trust me. Im writing this bc people think its a crapshoot when its really not as crapshoot-y as you might think. Not here at least.
You see, what a lot of people don't know is that Penn is REQUIRED to accept a certain number of students from Philadelphia. I think its because of some sort of agreement with Philadelphia for letting Penn use their land??? not too sure. But Penn knows the local high schools. There are a ton of connections to Penn just because its in the same city.
I know kids from my school who have gotten Cs, kids who didn't submit SAT scores because they got a 1200, kids who didn't have perfect grades and had a bunch of Bs. Kids who take a bunch of regular classes and not the most challenging schedule possible. Maybe have around 5-6 APs (which is nowhere near the greatest amount you can take at my school). Kids who have maybe 1 or 2 good ECs and then everything else on their application are just random activities or are ¨mediocre¨ by Ivy standards. For example, I know someone who was captain of two varsity sports teams, which is amazing. I also know someone who was president of a club. But that was literally all they really put on their application. And every single one of them got in.
Now don't get me wrong, I really don't want this to seem like I'm making fun of these kids for ¨not being good enough¨ or smth. They are all hardworking and smart. If you think I'm looking down on these kids, that's not what I'm saying.
What I am saying is that I know there are a ton of kids out there who took 14 APs, all As, 1560 SAT, was president of 4 clubs, had two internships, did 200 hours of community service, captain of the tennis team, and founder of a business. And they were all rejected from Penn while kids from my school with half of that and had worse grades/way less APs got in. And again, I do believe the kids from my school are smart and hardworking... but they do get an advantage being Philadelphia students.
Circling back to my bolded point, this creates this sort of weird culture/vibe when it comes to college admissions season here. Kids here know that as long as you have good grades (doesn't even have to be straight As), a few APs, president/leader of a few clubs, maybe an internship here and there, and community service... you are pretty much guaranteed for Penn. Especially if you apply ED. Every single class president from my school in the past few years has gotten into Penn, every single member of Science Olympiad, and every single Editor-in-Chief. NOW IM NOT SAYING ALL STUDENTS GET IN bc people definitely still get rejected... but while kids from other schools are saying its a crapshoot for Penn, there are some kids here where you can call them a guarantee.
Forget college admissions even. There are a ton of summer programs/dual enrollment programs at Penn that are completely free for Philly public school students ONLY while everyone else had to pay like 9,000 dollars. Penn does have internships/paid programs/research opportunities only open to School District of Philadelphia students. And ofc the people who work at Penn and are professors at Penn... their children have to go to school somewhere in Philly, right? Tons of Penn legacies/children of Penn faculty in Philly schools ofc. There are Penn scholarships only for Philly kids. You see, advantages left and right.
I write this because I see those articles that list out the schools that send the most kids to Ivys like Penn. They be like ¨Horace Mann sent 12 to Penn!¨ or ¨xyz school sent 19 kids to Penn over the past few years¨. That doesn't even come close to the amount Philly schools send but no Philly schools are mentioned in the article. I also saw smth on Quora a while back where a question was like ¨Do Philadelphia high school students have an advantage to Penn¨ and the answers were like ¨No, there are no advantages¨. That is NOT true in the slightest. This makes me wonder if this is like a hidden thing that people from Philly arent aware of. People like know feeder schools exist but arent aware of the extent of it all.

Hi, I am writing this post in the hope you can help me better understand the situation I am in.
Me and my boyfriend (both 22 y.o) have officially been together for 3 months. The relationship is pretty healthy all around, we are both very open to communicate with each other, have never had a fight yet, and I would say we are pretty much alike in many aspects.
My problem is, however, with the attention he gives me. I feel like it is not enough. We have talked about it already, not too long ago, and I hoped we would have seen some improvements, even small ones, by now. But no.
He said himself that his last relationship ended because of her breaking up with him because: "You don't give me enough attention". I, in my last relationship on the other hand, had a very caring and present partner, who never really made me feel 'left beside'. So this whole feeling is quite new for me, and I don't find myself comfortable in it.
I want to give you a couple of examples of what I mean by feeling 'left beside' by my boyfriend.
Two weeks ago, we had the opportunity for the first time, to spend the entire weekend alone at my place. I knew my parents had to go on a trip, but did not have a set date, so I asked him when he would have been free from his commitments, to spend the weekend together. We had never even had sex at that point.
So, I thought, we would have spent the entire weekend together, because it was novelty and because we both couldn't wait for that occasion to happen. No, we didn't. He got to my house just in time to have dinner on Saturday evening, then told me he had to go away on Sunday after lunch, because he and his friends had planned a DnD match. Next morning, we wake up way too late, so I cook him a quick lunch and he rushes out to play with his friends. And by the way, he plays DnD with his friends pretty much every weekend. I didn't say anything right then and there, but I felt very much like another commitment he had to check on his to do list.
Now, second example, a few days ago he casually mentions him and his Airsoft team postponed a 3 day tournament (because some people could not be there at that date) to... my birthday weekend. He said: "I said I would be free that weekend because, well, your birthday is on Thursday". Which is true, but I would have liked to organize something with my friends and him on Friday or Saturday evening... or even, plan out a little trip for us to go for my birthday... but now I can't, and if I do throw a party... he be won't be there. This would be my first birthday with him. It's another special occasion we cannot have together.
In general, he always seems to make time for his friends first, and only then, if theres some time left in his schedule, make time for me. We have gone out on a proper date only 3 times since we've been together: two of which, with our respective friend groups to meet for the first time.
He never asks me questions about my hobbies, my interests, he just keeps up with the conversation when I bring them up.
He says he loves me and cares for me very often, and I can't help but start to feel like it just isn't true. I know you cannot give a precise opinion with just this little information I can give you. I am just a tad bit hesitant about bringing this conversation up again because I don't wanna sound like the nagging girlfriend who wants him all for herself and drag him away from his friends, this is not my intention. I have friends too, but I think it is normal, once someone gets in a relationship, that they may have to spend a little less time with their friends as they once did, in order to balance this new commitment into their schedule.
I don't know what to do, because we al ready talked about it and he said he recognized his actions and agreed to what I said, he said he was sorry and would try to do better. I don't want to put pressure on him, but honestly I am just not happy in this relationship because of this.
Thank you to anyone who will take some time to read and respond.
tl;dr: my boyfriend prioritizes time with his friends than with me. we already talked about it and i am unsure whether to bring it up again...

hi there i'm raph :)
short version :)

• me: 1.85m tall, thin, dark short hair, brown eyes, kind, accepting, :)
• usually do: work, anime, read, housework, stay home, go out or do things with you :)
• stuff i like: anime, read, jokes and puns, music (eurobeat, instrumental)
• look for: monogamous, forever commitment, any distance, daily chat or call :)

let's have a comfy, punny and fun conversation to get to know each other c: how about picking me up with a joke ? (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
longer version :D

• well a bit about me :) 1.85m tall, thin, dark short hair, brown eyes :) (and uses plenty smileys :D) i can also send a pic of me in my messy room :D how about your looks and quirks ? :)
• i feel i want a partner i can chat or call with daily :) i usually use reddit, discord or zoom :) what are you using and where might i be able to join you ? :) also i will try to take time for you each day :) so how about exchanging schedules ? :)
• what i do most of my time is reading or watch anime :) i would be happy to watch things together or to read a book together :) what are you interested in or do most of the time ? :)
• well and i'm bad at talking :D maybe i'm a bit shy or just speak like a grandparent :D i bought a book on it though :) (and oof it said senseless small talk is kinda just harmful ... :c) so maybe bear with me trying to improve that a bit :) i just don't know what to talk about or how to keep it going :/ though i think we can still get cozy, fun and punny conversation going :D i want us to try to build healthy habits together to get closer to each other :) like daily asking 'how was your day ?', 'how are you feeling ?', 'is there something you feel like sharing or that caught your interest today ?', etc. :) haha sounds a bit like a mom :D well and maybe greet each other good morning and good night :) i just wanna try to get in tiny steps closer and comfy with each other :) someone we can be vulnerable with and let out any feelings we feel we bottled up :) how would you feel about trying that together ? :)
• i don't mind distance and i will try to travel to you :) i was in a long distance relation for 2 years and i think we can make it work :) though you being close is also fine c: do you feel any fears about starting out at a distance ? :)
• well and i'm a loner :D though that doesn't mean i'm depressed or dislike fun :D except for trying to reach out for people here the only person i'm talking to recently to is my mom :D each day after work and on weekends i am at home and spend time alone :) all i do then is house chores, watch anime, read or nap :) how do you spend your time off usually ? :)
• i feel i'm looking for someone with whom i can become one :) like do plenty together, become really similar, yet seeing how different we are :) so how would you feel becoming inseparable from each other ? :)
• for my character i think i'm pretty patient and accepting :) i also feel like i can be passive :) i don't wanna try to pry too much and wait for you until you feel like opening up :) though i feel at the same time i'm sometimes insensitive and prying :c well you might see me in your own perspective when we might chat or call each other and get over that hurdle of awkward small talk :D how do you feel your character is ? :)

anyway if you feel you are ready to drink the love potion(poison) together then hit me up :) i think i shared some questions you can answer, but i'm also happy to get to know much more about you :)
see you soon darling, i love you ❤️

I didn't have very high expectations for this game when it was first announced, WWI games have a pretty low bar to meet for me. Your typical WWI game falls into 3 categories.

1. 1 A low quality reskin of a WWII game, typically very unbalanced or incredibly boring and stripped of content depending on how realistic they try to make it. Think of something like that WWI Squad game where they can't even fill up a server or how Battlefield 1 filled out its weapon roster with a bunch of shitty experimental guns with a handful of them having the best video game stats making them meta choices, there's also numerous mods for games like Hearts of Iron, Company of Heroes, Day of Infamy and Men of War that just make them worse to play.
2. A total conversion mod for a game originally designed for something before WWI, Napoleon Total War is the best example of this but there's also that mod for Holdfast, Mount and Blade Warband, other total wars like Warhammer and Shogun 2 and games like Rise of Nations or Civilizations where they already have WWI units available, just requiring a scenario for them.
3. A game where WWI is just used as a setting and it doesn't really have anything to do with how WWI was fought, like Valiant Hearts or Victoria 3.

TGW exceeded my expectations because it is a purpose built real time strategy game set in WWI and it felt unique to the war that was fought. Unlike a shitty WWI game which is about taking WWII and stripping out your options and making the game less unique TGW was built from the ground up for WWI to give you more options than you would get from a normal strategy game.
In a typical strategy game campaign such as Total War or Company of Heroes 3 you're expected to win battles decisively and go on the Offensive constantly, Defensive battles are just a thing that you sometimes have to do. but in TGW you can win on the offensive or the defensive as long as you're dealing more damage than you're taking and eroding the enemy's national will.
On the tactical level the core of the gameplay is about coordinating hordes of infantry in conjunction with their supporting elements mainly artillery to grab and hold ground, if infantry is caught out in the open unsupported they get massacred very quickly by rifle and machine gun fire but they have to move out in the open if they're on the offensive so the attacker uses artillery to suppress the enemy and soften them up for the infantry assault. Infantry is also controlled in entire companies of 225 men like in a Total War game. There's also things the defender needs to consider like having multiple lines of trenches so that they can have a reserve force to defend if the attackers make a breakthrough and both players have a limited amount of supplies at their disposal, serving as a currency to call in units, construct your defenses and supply ammunition for your artillery so you can't just constantly spam artillery.
Also the game does a good job of forcing you to use all the tools in your arsenal, you can't minmax and just only recruit one type of infantry because the infantry corps are assigned to you and you need all the manpower you can get to match the enemy force, so even if you would rather have regular infantry instead of conscripts tough shit, all you have is conscripts.
Now onto the bad parts of this game, and there are a lot of them.
I can't give you any commentary about all the other stuff you're supposed to have access to in this game like raider companies, tanks, airplanes, gas, flamethrowers, aircraft and siege artillery because I couldn't unlock them in my first campaign before I won the war, in fact I got nowhere near unlocking anything interesting because of the game's faulty research system.
The tech tree requires 240 points to max out with 40 points invested into each branch and you only get 1 point per turn, there are supposed to be events where you get bonus points throughout the campaign but unless they give you 30 at a time there's no way to make up for the fact you're not getting nearly enough research done.
I noticed a bunch of other faults with the tech tree, like if you start your campaign (central powers) in May of 1916 you have 37 research points with 35 invested and 2 free wheras when you start in December of 1914 you have 5 points with 2 invested and 3 free, meaning that you would have presumably gotten 32 points over 17 months which is closer to 2 every turn rather than one. Still though the latest piece of technology in this game is the A7V which was in production in September of 1917 so you should really be getting closer to 7 research a turn if you wanted to keep it historically accurate.
In the current system you couldn't even really max out a single branch unless you invested all of your research into it and so it encourages you into upgrading tried and true conventional weapons over experimenting with oddball designs. I think technology needs a complete overhaul. What I would like is to have a technology timeline where you can see when certain technologies will be unlocked depending on when the Entente and Central Powers introduced them and then the Research Points system could be recycled to focus exclusively on unlocking different passive buffs like increasing the amount of gold you earn every turn or the efficiency of different buildings.
I wonder if the problems with the AI not adapting to repeat strategies is simply the fact it's impossible for them to adapt with how gimped the tech tree is actually.
Another major gameplay flaw i noticed was the movement of infantry in trenches, the trenches are seemingly single file paths which makes sense but the AI likes to get stuck if you order multiple units at once, or worse they will jump out of the trench which can lead to you losing a unit if there are unsuppressed enemies around the trench that can shoot them. Also if you have infantry and enemy infantry moving in a trench together they don't get into combat instead they just get stuck on each other or walk past each other. which looks stupid.
It would also be nice to have some sort of indicator for unit firing ranges so that you can see where infantry can shoot from a trench or where machine guns can fire, especially enemy units when you want to stage infantry as close as possible without coming under fire for a planned assault.
Another sort of gameplay issue I have is the asymmetrical balance for the Entente and the Central Powers. This game was made in conjunction with the UK government through the Publicly owned Imperial War Museum so the gameplay is balanced with a twing of British propaganda throughout. part of that is the nationality system for the Entente where every Entente nationality gets a different bonus made up basically wholecloth. Most of these bonuses are so negligible that you would not notice them, things like the Brits having a bonus to their rifle accuracy of like 10%.
But then the French get a 40% discount on the cost of all infantry which is relatively huge especially when you consider the fact France makes up the majority of the Entente forces. The Central Power Bonus is that they get access to low quality Conscript infantry which are cheaper but less effective than standard infantry, so basically the same thing as France except with downsides.
Also these Conscript Corps are replacing regular corps you would otherwise have on the campaign map, the Entente starts with 54 Corps and the Central Powers 53. The downside of playing as the Entente is the minuscule 5% morale penalty for stacking troops of different nationalities on the same territory, but this only affects if you mix American, British or French troops together, if you have Belgians with the French it's okay and if you have Colonials with the Brits it's okay, so you're really just getting a slight straight upgrade over the Central Powers.
If you analyze this design choice from a historical perspective the French should also get colonial troops, the US should get black troops and the Central Powers should get troops from the various constitutent armies that made up their force like the Bavarians, Saxons and Württembergers, maybe even the Austrians too. Compared to the Canadians who get 4 corps in the campaign but only mustered one the Bavarians had six, any argument against this is faulty since they already opened the can of worms with the Brits. Based on their own gameplay mechanics a Canadian and an Australian is just a British guy with a different accent and flag, so it works just as well for the Central Powers who all speak the same language.
Anyways I'm probably forgetting something but I just wanted to hammer this out quickly since I just finished my first campaign. You can make fun of me for playing on recruit if you want but I was just learning to play the game, now i'm doing the Entente on Trainee.

So I have been talking to a girl for the better part of month. We have been on a few dates and all seemed to be going well. I am anxious by nature and have low self-esteem, so I tend to be quiet reserved. She was very patient and seemed to be understanding as she is also living with her own mental health issues.
Our last date was last Sunday. We went to a coffee shop and then went back to her place. She recently got a new cat and wanted me to meet her. We play with the cat, watch some TV, fool around a bit, and then cuddle. As I am getting ready to leave she comments how much she likes me and that she doesn't want me to go. We cuddle some more, She kisses me goodbye and then I leave.
Fast forward to Tuesday, I am feeling pretty confident after our interaction on Sunday. I plan for us to have dinner at a restaurant near my apartment before settling in for a movie night. She seemed to be onboard all week, and even recommended on Thursday that instead of going out, we stay in and make homemade gnocchi. She ask if Friday works, but then proposes Saturday as there was a grad school assignment that she forgot was due.
Saturday roles around and I am excited for the date. It has been nearly a week since I have seen her and I think I am really starting to fall for this girl. She is compassionate, intelligent, witty, and beautiful and I am feeling extremely lucky for this opportunity. We pin down the time of 6 (I live about an hour away) and all seems good.
At a around 5:30, I receive a text informing me that she isn't going to make it. That her sister-in-law is dealing with a family medical emergency and that she doesn't want to leave the area so she can be available if needed. I was understanding and expressed my condolences. I told her to reach out if she needed anything and asked if she wanted to reschedule for next weekend.
A few hours pass before she replies and I am now driving to parents house to stay the night to visit with my dog. She thanked me presumably for my offer of assistance and says next weekend would be great. While browsing Instagram I come across her story and she is out at dinner, drinking, and taking selfies in the restroom of the restaurant.
After seeing the post I feel hurt and upset. As I mentioned I was really looking forward to tonight and I am left feeling that it wasn't as important to her. Her sister-in-law's family member could very well be hospitalized and wanting to be there to support a loved one is admirable, but I suspect that this was not the case.
Am I overreacting, allowing my insecurities to get the better of me? Aside from sending her a video of my dog I haven't said anything to her about the post. Is this something I should bring up to her, or should I just cancel next weekends plans and move on?
And advice would be appreciated and I apologize for the long post.

So, summer of 2022 I contracted something which led to the growth of genital warts on my perineum. I had no idea what it was, and figured it would go away (thanks to improper sex education). After I started seeing my current boyfriend in august, I realized it wasn’t going away and was something serious. I was finally able to see a gyno in October and after much online self diagnosing, she confirmed it was hpv with just one look, didn’t do a pap or anything. I was never vaccinated (thanks mom 😊) and still haven’t been. I asked my doctor what this was going to be like, any advice for talking with my bf about this, anything. I was terrified and so ashamed. I asked if my bf and I were just going to give it back and forth to each other forever or how I should handle sex from now on, no answers. She was basically like I couldn’t say. I told my bf and to this day he’s been patient and understanding, but I still struggle with being open about it because I’m so ashamed of the behavior that got me here in the first place, which he isn’t fond of either but has never shamed me for it. He doesn’t have warts and we still don’t use protection and have sex frequently. Anyways, dr did cryo like four times, no luck. Kept growing back. Tried a couple cycles of podofilox, nothing either (ouch). Last appointment with her she looked at me and was like, “what do u wanna do” so annoyed. And I was like uhmm ok. Recently the warts have traveled north and south, near my urethra and I found one at the opening of my anus. I am so tired of this and I hate how it’s effecting my sex life and relationship. I saw another doctor recently in mid March. She was confused on why a pap wasn’t done so we did that and she prescribed me immiquimod. She said that the warts north of my vagina just look like skin tags (?) and ignored the part where I told her about the wart in my anus. Pap came back with mild precancerous cells and I really wasn’t given an explanation on what this means. They just said my immune system should fight it off and we’ll recheck in a year. I was and still am crushed by this. Basically, I guess I’m asking for a little bit of guidance here and possibly some advice. I don’t know what to do anymore, I’m at a loss. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I just did the first application of the immiquimod tonight. Can I have sex on the off days? How will this affect my chances of getting pregnant? I just have so many questions and don’t know anything, I don’t know where to begin. Anything helps, please be kind.

Not sure if allowed...or if anyone will read. But here's a little letter to my ex....
You stopped talking to me and texting me at all.... For some reason. I think i know why. Im sure i know why. You've mentioned it before more than once and i guess you thought I didn't care. Maybe i didn't or maybe when i cared it was too late. I know you must have been tired of waiting for me. And i cant blame you at all. Im sorry. I realized too late that it was that important for you. But am i surprised? No. You did mention that being with me was like being cheated by fate. I resented you for so long for that but i stuck around because of the things we shared i will always love the memories we made. Even if i know that you always had it in the back of your mind As it turns out, it was also important to me but i never wanted to make that move into making it happen... I dont know why or how. I began in February while we were still together... i didn't tell you out of fear of failing. I wanted to make some progress before telling you. i wanted it to be visible enough for you to notice but our schedules never aligned. You were busy with two jobs and your music stuff and church. I was working 6 days a week and tired. When i got out of work I'd rush to the gym, leaving no time to hang out. I wish i had told you.... maybe you would have replied to my last message.... anyway....Now that im in the process, i feel amazing. I feel better about me. I feel very good. I look good. not being cocky, but i look healthy. my skin is clear, i have energy, my hair is healthy, my clothes are fitting wayyyyy better and some very lose. but i am not okay inside. I miss you so much sometimes... and cant admit it to anyone. I cant tell people i miss you because i will be seen as weak and stupid. How can i miss someone who left me? How can i just not move on. Being with you was always my weakness. I was always hidden behind closed doors. You weren't. People in my life knew about you and what you meant to me. My best friends met you. They had meals with you, my siblings ..people knew you had my entire heart and that i loved you. You were my first everything. EVERYTHING. But nobody in your life knew about me. I settled for behind closed doors love because of i though nobody else would want me. I shouldn't have. I think thats still the case but i realized my own love matters more. I should have loved myself more than i loved you. I should have pushed myself for me then like i am doing now. Its hard for me to communicate with people around me because of you. I wish i was stronger with what i want to say.... I want to tell people what i feel but cant. Everything i wanted to ever tell you, i couldn't...out of fear. But I've realized i cant live like this at all. It hurts me to physically open my mouth and express myself... It is embarrassing the control you have over me...or had. Because even though i am struggling...i have made some progress. Ive met a young man who has slowly helped me forget about you. You still pop into my head when i hear some music or watch some video on YouTube. But not the same as before. He reminds me of you in a way. He also seems to want to hide me. And here i am... Accepting it. Hoping for more and settling for the crumbs of love. A few hugs here and there. Great sex. A couple kisses. A few conversations...some attention. A couple of compliments. All just barely enough to keep me close hoping for the next bit of "love". I hate that i put up with it but I'm so alone. I really am. I don't want to show my full capacity of love to him because we both agreed that this was a FWB only thing. But the truth is, thats all I want. I want someone to let me love them at full force. I have an immense amount of love inside me and i want to express it so badly it feels like my chest will burst sometimes. But i have to contain it and pretend im cold-hearted with very little emotions.
Anyway..... Enough about him. . .
I will never forget you. But i will have to forgive you. And i will do it for me. Not for your sake at all because i never had a grudge against you. I will always wish you happiness. Even against my own desires.

Ok, I don’t know what to think about this situation. It absolutely does my head in. In July last year, I started hooking up with this guy. All good. No issues. Absolutely awesome shag. I’ve known him for years, small town. Not some random. Bit of an age difference. I’m older. We started Snapchatting every day. A lot. Not just here and there. We’d sext, talk about work, our families and friends (we know a lot of people in common), footy, cricket, everything. He’d send me xxx, ♥️😘 etc, call me babe, darl, baby, all the time. He’d ask to borrow money. I lent it, like a fking idiot, never got paid back. Later heard off others he has a problem with gambling online. He’d ask to see me trying on dresses and lingerie while he wanked. No problem, I loved it. Anyway, we were hooking up, chatting every day (so much we were ♥️ on Snapchat), getting on really well. Told me he wasn’t seeing anyone. We even spent a good part of Christmas Day FaceTiming on Snapchat. Hooked up at New Years, and he told me he was going off socials for a bit, so we exchanged numbers. About a week later he added me again on Snapchat and reactivated his Instagram and Facebook. Carried on as usual, then he told me he can’t date me or be friends with me as I’m too old for him and he wants kids one day. Blocked me. About 3 days later, unblocked me. No contact. He started looking at my Instagram stories and my TikTok page. Same on Facebook. Added me back. Talking like nothing happened. Week later, back to blocking, no contact, orbiting, and re adding. Over and over again. On Valentine’s Day we hooked up. Then a week later gone again . Same thing happened. I put on Facebook that I’m so done with a certain 21 year old adding, blocking, deleting etc over and over again. This chick messaged me and asked me about it. Apparently someone’s been the same with a friend of hers and she had heard that this lad is seeing me, and the other girl thought he was seeing her, and had told her she was the only one. Turns out it was the same lad. Now he messaged me 2 Sundays ago and told me he was single again and wanted to see me. So we started talking again. Got a text out of the blue that he’s moving on and won’t be talking to me. I asked him if he’s seeing someone else and he said no, he’s just concentrating on himself. Absolute crap. He messaged me on Wednesday saying someone made a fake Facebook of him and has also been messaging this other girl on a public phone and he said he’s seen me on camera doing it. I absolutely 100% have NOT done anything of the sort. He told me if I don’t stop he’s sending the cops to my house to take my phone and he’s showing them the camera footage of me at public phones sending messages to this chick. First, I didn’t do that. Wasn’t me. He had told me a mate of his owns a shop near the pay phone and has camera footage. I decided to confront him about it this absolute bull crap, as I haven’t sent any messages, so I went to check out all stories near by. None had cameras. Went to send him the pics proving he’s a liar and of course, I’m blocked. Heard he has a long history of blocking, deleting, re adding, and other crap. I’ve been in tears for days, I don’t understand why he’d act like a boyfriend to me, then see someone else (after he told me he can’t date me because I’m too old and she looks older than me, she’s got wrinkles under and around her eyes and isn’t even pretty), then when it doesn’t work out, run straight back to me, then carry on like a psycho at me. He’s got me blocked on Instagram and snap but not on Facebook. He never blocks on everything, so he can keep an eye on me. Can anyone help me to understand this crap before I end up in the damn psych ward?

So I have been talking to a girl for the better part of month. We have been on a few dates and all seemed to be going well. I am anxious by nature and have low self-esteem, so I tend to be quiet reserved. She was very patient and seemed to be understanding as she is also living with her own mental health issues.
Our last date was last Sunday. We went to a coffee shop and then went back to her place. She recently got a new cat and wanted me to meet her. We play with the cat, watch some TV, fool around a bit, and then cuddle. As I am getting ready to leave she comments how much she likes me and that she doesn't want me to go. We cuddle some more, She kisses me goodbye and then I leave.
Fast forward to Tuesday, I am feeling pretty confident after our interaction on Sunday. I plan for us to have dinner at a restaurant near my apartment before settling in for a movie night. She seemed to be onboard all week, and even recommended on Thursday that instead of going out, we stay in and make homemade gnocchi. She ask if Friday works, but then proposes Saturday as there was a grad school assignment that she forgot was due.
Saturday roles around and I am excited for the date. It has been nearly a week since I have seen her and I think I am really starting to fall for this girl. She is compassionate, intelligent, witty, and beautiful and I am feeling extremely lucky for this opportunity. We pin down the time of 6 (I live about an hour away) and all seems good.
At a around 5:30, I receive a text informing me that she isn't going to make it. That her sister-in-law is dealing with a family medical emergency and that she doesn't want to leave the area so she can be available if needed. I was understanding and expressed my condolences. I told her to reach out if she needed anything and asked if she wanted to reschedule for next weekend.
A few hours pass before she replies and I am now driving to parents house to stay the night to visit with my dog. She thanked me presumably for my offer of assistance and says next weekend would be great. While browsing Instagram I come across her story and she is out at dinner, drinking, and taking selfies in the restroom of the restaurant.
After seeing the post I feel hurt and upset. As I mentioned I was really looking forward to tonight and I am left feeling that it wasn't as important to her. Her sister-in-law's family member could very well be hospitalized and wanting to be there to support a loved one is admirable, but I suspect that this was not the case.
Am I overreacting, allowing my insecurities to get the better of me? Aside from sending her a video of my dog I haven't said anything to her about the post. Is this something I should bring up to her, or should I just cancel next weekends plans and move on?
And advice would be appreciated and I apologize for the long post.

Hi! I the admin of a not too small Minecraft server with a decent enough economy, and we have a currency we use called Gold₦ote (₦otes for short). We initially printed only 100,000 of them into circulation on April of 2021, and since then, the only ₦otes we have printed have been to keep up with ones that were removed from circulation through destruction or players going inactive.
Now, two years later, our server still only has 100,000 notes in circulation. Great right? No inflation, and no devaluing of the currency, right? Well, here's why I'm here asking you all this question. The population of our server has nearly doubled since then, and we now have 4x the active playerbase.
Money has pooled at the top with only 3 players who collectively have 90,000 of the original 100,000, and with over 40 players, it's basically running on fumes at this point. The economy has become all but stagnant at this point as well. Since no one has money to buy anything, and often when someone opens a new store, it's faced with ruthless price gouging from 2 of the 3 exuberantly rich players. And everytime I try to create rules restricting the monopolistic chokehold, I'm faced with actual lobbying.
I know printing money isn't the solution to all of our problems, but is the fact that the wealth pool hasn't increased at all likely to be of compounding them? it was pointed out to me that if the money was redistributed perfecly evenly to everyone right now, there would only be 2500 notes to each players name, which is certainly a lot, but comparatively to the roughly 8500 notes that would have been distributed evenly between the original population, it's very low.
Any advice or tips on this would be helpful. I'm currently in the process of writing into effect some rules for the main shopping area to bring about more variety in the stores that appear there (as they are nearly all just general goods stores) and to foster small businesses more, but I also don't know much about economics myself so literally any information or resources would be appreciated.
TLDR; My Minecraft server is having an economic crisis due to wealth pooling at the top, and the money supply has not increased whatsoever, while our active playerbase has increased 4x in size. What should we do?

As the title says I'm a strict, but generally fair dad, fit, mid 40s, salt and pepper hair, former Marine, who would love to find a woman looking for a strong father figure in her life. Women with a closeted sub/slut streaks and daddy issues move to the top of the list of course.
I work in the city (midtown), and live in Suffolk County. Ideally I'd love to find a long term situation with regular physical contact in either of those areas, as well as daily virtual (text/etc). Absolutely open to newbies, people exploring the kink, and any age or race. DD/lg, D/d, 'step-dad what are you doing?' any and all of the above work for me.
Initially we will be limited to virtual as I am out of pocket for an extended period of time.
Any questions? Feel free to drop me a DM

Summary: You board a train for a long trip, but you’re not sure where you’re going. A friend you haven’t seen in a long time appears to comfort you, and you take some time to catch up.
Setting: An empty train car.
Tags: [A4A] [Ghost Speaker] [Deceased Childhood Friend] [Affirmations] [Starcrossed] [Bittersweet] [DW: Discussion of Death and Mortality]
Usage: - Monetization is OK. I’d appreciate being able to listen if you paywall. - Feel free to improvise or make small tweaks. Gender swapping is OK. - Sound effects are at your discretion, just suggestions. - For giving credit, mentioning my username or linking to the script in the video description are both fine. - Please reach out if you have any questions.
[Intro] - Listener stands on a train platform. A train arrives, listener steps into an empty train car. Doors close, train departs.
(Moving train ambience)
(Speaker arrives from another train car, or simply appears from somewhere out of sight)
(Friendly) “Hey! This seat taken?”
(Speaker sits across from listener)
“I know I could sit anywhere, sorry, but… The whole train’s empty, it’s kinda freaky. I just didn’t want to be alone, if that’s okay.”
[...]
“Thanks! I promise I won’t bother you.”
[...]
“Honestly, you look familiar too. Do you mind if I ask your name?”
[...]
“I had a friend with that same name! Haven’t seen them in a while, though. Just… Life, you know?”
[...]
(Uncertain) “Yeah, I, uh… I used to live there. Long time ago.”
[...]
“Can I, um… Can I say something weird? I promise I’m not trying to upset you. If you don’t want to talk anymore after this, I’ll just sit somewhere else.”
[...]
(Deep breath) “Okay, here it goes…”
“It’s… It’s me. It’s really me.”
[...]
(Earnest) “I did! I did die… That was real. I know this must freak you out, honestly that’s more than fair. But you’re not going crazy, and I swear I’m not messing with you.”
[...]
“Maybe you’re dreaming, I suppose you could think of it like that. Do you… Know where you’re going? Remember why you got on this train?”
[...]
“It’s… A train to the afterlife, I guess.”
[...]
“Which afterlife? I don’t really know. Kind of a bunch of them. Everybody goes somewhere, but it seems like not everyone goes to the same place.”
[...]
(Speaker and listener stand up)
“Yeah, it’s… It’s me.”
(Speaker and listener hug)
(Tearfully) “It’s me.” (Chuckle) “Hi.”
(Speaker rubs listener’s back)
“I’m so glad I got to see you again! It feels like it’s been forever.”
[...]
“Like a lifetime ago.”
[...]
(Chuckles) “Sorry, that was bad.”
(Speaker and listener separate)
“You grew up! And… I did too. I really wish we could have done it together.”
(Speaker strokes listener’s hair)
“I actually almost didn’t recognize you when they first asked me to do this. I mean, you still look like you, it’s just…”
[...]
“Honestly I still don’t really know who ‘they’ are. Maybe it’s God, or Gaia, or… The universe, or something. I guess today I just knew this was what I was gonna do. Be the first one to meet you over here, help you ease into things.” (Chuckles) “Hope I’m doing a good job.”
[...]
“Mm, I met my grandma. This is probably way harder for you than it was for me, I was just a kid and I bought into it right away. Though looking back, she probably wasn’t expecting to see me again so soon.”
[...]
“Yeah, it’s not so bad. We didn’t get to spend much time together before, but we do now. We’ve already done a lot of catching up. And speaking of, how have you been?”
(Speaker waits while listener answers)
“Life has its ups and downs, huh? I…”
(Speaker pauses, sighs)
“For what it’s worth, you were my first, best friend. Even though we both had to move on, I’ve always treasured you. No matter how much time passes, nothing can take that away from either of us.”
(Speaker hugs listener)
“So, thanks. For everything.”
(Hug for a bit longer, backrub, headpats, etc, then separate)
[...]
(Hesitant) “Is it alright if I ask how my family’s doing? You don’t have to tell me every little thing, I know this is a lot.”
[...]
“I’m glad. Thanks. I miss them, it’s not like I get to haunt them like a ghost or anything.”
[...]
(Listener asks if this means they’re dead too)
“Are you… Dead too?”
[...]
“I… I think so. I’m sorry.”
(A moment of silence)
(Confused but honest) “You know, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not actually sure if this means you’re… Definitely dead. I would guess it does, but of all the things I felt pretty sure about this morning, that wasn’t one of them.”
[...]
“I wouldn’t expect you to remember exactly what happened. I didn’t know what happened to me at first either. Maybe you’re in a hospital and they can still save you, or something.”
(Speaker sighs)
“I’m sorry, I… I shouldn’t make up excuses like this. Everybody dies someday, so this had to happen eventually. I just didn’t know how I’d feel seeing you again.”
[...]
“Of course I’m happy to see you again, but… Is it selfish of me if that also means you have to move on from what you had?”
[...]
“Yeah, it’s… A lot to process. I just thought I had it all figured out up until right now.”
[...]
“Well, one nice thing is you don’t worry about time so much anymore. Days still come and go, but nobody’s ever in a rush. You can sit and think about something for as long as you want. I… Don’t even know how many years it’s been since…”
(Train slows to a stop, doors open)
(Chuckle and sigh) “Hmm, looks like I guessed right after all.”
[...]
“You, um… You don’t get to come with me yet. I don’t know where exactly you’ll be when you get off the train, but… You’re still alive. Just got a hunch.”
[...]
(Choked up) “No, no, I can’t come with you. Once we pass on, we can’t go back.”
[...]
“I know what I just said about time, but you can’t stay here with me forever.” (Chuckles) “Are we just gonna stand around in an empty train all day?”
[...]
“I’m so, so happy I got to see you again, but you still have a life to live! No matter how rough things get, you’re gonna do great, I just know it.”
[...]
“And hey, now you’ve got a sneak peek at what comes after. Maybe we’ll get to do this again someday.”
[...]
(Chuckle) “Yeah, hopefully not too soon.”
(Speaker and listener hug)
“I missed you so much. I’m gonna miss you. But, I know I can handle it, and I know you can too. Now get out there and kick some ass.”
(Listener steps off train)
(Tearful but positive) “See you around.”
(Doors close, train pulls away)
[End]
I've always wanted to write something more bittersweet, and this is my first time giving it a shot. Any constructive criticism would be much appreciated, I know this is some heavy stuff that can be hard to write about. Hopefully I did an alright job.