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You Can't Kill The Boogeyman
The light clicks in the upstairs hallway as the familiar creaks of my parents door echo throughout the house. The small living room is bathed in light as the swoops of a pale blue news logo pan across the screen. “Good evening everyone, I’m Laura Faden with the Faden Report. We return with horrifying news in Hamtramck tonight, as yet another in a long line of home invasions has taken place, this time at the residence of the Wiśniewski family. This marks the fourth missing child in Wayne county, accompanied by eight others in the Monroe, Washtenaw, Oakland, and Macomb counties. We have reporter Rob Townlee on the scene tonight with more details. Rob?” “Thank you, Laura. A really disturbing scene tonight where parents Harold and Madison Wiśniewski were found dead with their ten year old son, Adam, missing. We heard earlier from police chief Matthew Krzeminski that at roughly eight forty-five tonight, an unknown assailant made their way into the Wiśniewski residence with the assumed purpose of abducting young Adam. All of the doors and windows were locked when police arrived on the scene, begging the question; How did he or she enter? This all comes just under twenty hours after the abduction of twelve year old Hailey Wells, who was taken from her home in Warren under similar circumstances. This has lead officers to believe that these cases may be connected. We currently await more details, and are actively accepting any information on the whereabouts of Adam, or any of the other thirteen missing children. Laura?” The TV cuts back to the visibly shaken blonde haired reporter, who clears her throat before I change the channel. “Another one?” A sigh trailing my lamentation as I subconsciously rub the charm bracelet on my wrist. “What is it, Marce?” Sarah’s voice projects from the speaker of the landline as I read her name on the bracelet. I switch the channel to the VCR. “The news, another kid disappeared. This time in Hamtramck.” I reply as I push a tape in. “Aww, another one? And so close to you—” The line crackles and hums with the sound of static. The microwave beeps in the kitchen. “Sarah? Sarah, you there?” I walk to the kitchen. Her voice returns. “Yeah, sorry. It’s been storming over here for the past few days, so the power’s been a bit weak.” I pull the hot bag out of the microwave. “It’s okay. Things have been tense around here. I think I've seen, like, four different cop cars in the last week.” “Well, are you doing anything that’s less of a bummer? It’s kinda sad to end your birthday with such a downer.” “Yeah. My parents are asleep now, so I’m finishing the day with a horror movie.” I grab the popcorn bag and peel it open. “Really? What movie?” “Halloween. I’m sixteen now, so I think I can handle it. Plus, I really want to see the new one when it comes out.” I reply, grabbing the remote. “Oh, good one. I watched the first one with my older brother in the theater. We should totally go see—” The line cuts again. “Sarah?” No response, just the monotonous beeping melody of a dead line. I push down the hook, sliding my finger into the holes on the rotary dial and redialing Sarah's number. It beeps again. “Man.” I hang the phone back up. Hopefully she calls back. I jump over the arm of the couch as the thunderous shaking of the stormclouds rattles the house. “Looks like the storm’s here. Bummer.” I rest my thumb on the remote and press play. A man in a tan trenchcoat bends over to grab a pack of cigarettes labeled “The Rabbit in Red Lounge – Entertainment Nightly”. He turns and quickly runs back into his car, where he peels out of the parking lot and speeds away from the gas station. I shovel a fistful of popcorn into my mouth, thin, filmy butter dripping from the peaks of my lips. The scene changes, cutting to a playground full of children, some in halloween costumes or carrying pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns. The phone rings as a kid walks out of the school with a large pumpkin, being harassed by three other boys. Pausing the movie and setting the remote on the arm of the couch, I get up and walk over to it, pulling it from the hook. “Hello?” Dead air with the faint hiss of normal background static. “Sarah? Is that you?” “Leave me alone!” A boy screams through the phone. Probably Sarah’s idiot brother. “Derek? Where’s Sarah at?” “He’s gonna get you!” Another boy yells. “Who is—What’s going on here?” “He’s gonna get you! He’s gonna get you!” Multiple young boys start chanting repeatedly, their voices gradually pitching downward and distorting with a strange, high pitched digital whining. “Who are you?! What did you do to Sarah?” “Look at the TV. You’re going to miss the set-up.” The buzzing of a man’s voice whispers. I turn, finding it frozen on a still of the boys. My skin shudders. I look to the stairs. “Mom? Dad?” I call, barely above a whisper. I take a hard gulp as I turn back to the TV. A line begins burning around the middle boy while the image begins layering and distorting. It curls into a near circle, the tail flicking around like a lizard’s tongue as I walk over to the remote. I navigate to the picture settings and press the degauss option to fix it, but it doesn't do anything. I try the power button, to the same result. Looking down at the remote. It shakes in my hand as I lay a finger on the play button. I push. One of the boys shouts: “The Boogeyman is coming!” The screech returns on full volume through the TV speakers as digitized sparks fly from the screen where the ring is circling. The lights dim and flicker all around the living room, a leather-gloved hand slowly breaching the screen and wrapping around the left bezel. The boys begin chanting in unison: “The Boogeyman!” “Dad?!” I shout, another hand materializes and grabs the other side of the TV’s frame. I repeatedly press the power button, to no avail. “The Boogeyman!” They cheer again. “Mom?!” I yell, jumping to the other side of the couch. A head with glowing eyes pushes through the screen, fitted with a black leather mask with large, round goggles radiating a bright blue light from the lenses. The lights go out completely, leaving only the glow of the TV to bathe the room. “The Boogeyman!” They shout again, and again. A slender figure emerges from behind the mask as the masked man peels himself from the screen, landing on his hands and knees. He's covered head to toe in black; black pants tucked into tall black boots, a dark gray turtle neck sweater caged beneath a black leather trench coat, and that mask with a now visible talk box where the mouth should be. I drop behind the couch. Peering under it, I watch as he pulls himself to his feet, clears his throat, and looks in my direction. “You know, I could see you through the TV, Marceline.” The flickering buzz of his voice freezes me down to my core. My name! He knows my name! I pull my hand over my mouth and stifle a breath, listening as his footsteps tap against the hardwood floor on their path toward me. “Maaaarrcie…” I begin crawling around the other side of the couch, trying for the stairs up to the bedrooms. “Now where do you think you're going?!” He shouts as he kicks the couch into the wall, cracking our family portraits. I scream in return, clambering to my feet and bolting for the stairs. “Dad!” I scream again, racing up the stairs. His hand wraps around my ankle and pulls, my forehead meeting one of the steps. I press a finger to my forehead, a small bead of red returning with it. I lift my other foot and force it into his leg, though it doesn’t seem to faze him. “Grah! You are so annoying!” He growls. I scream once more as he starts dragging me back toward the living room. “Get your hands off my daughter!” My Dad yells from the stairwell, a shotgun in his hand. “Uh oh, Daddy’s up.” The intruder chuckles. He drops my leg and begins walking toward him. Dad pulls the trigger, blowing a massive hole in the body of the attacker and sending small, glowing, fragmentary shapes flying around the narrow hallway. He peels the gun from Dad’s hands and slams it against the side of his head, forcing him to the floor. The intruder begins laughing as he winds back, barrel in both hands, and lays blow after blow upon Dad’s head. “Marcie! Run baby!” He gurgles between strikes. I push by them and run up the stairs. As I lose sight of them, a loud, staticy shriek echoes from downstairs. “Mom! Mom help! Dad’s hurt!” A wet crunch punctuated with a gasp emanates from the upstairs hallway. I slow as I reach the top. “Come here, Baby. We’re upstairs!” She calls back, a low buzz in her voice. We? I look back down, my foot upon the final step. Dad is laying at the bottom of the stairs. Alone. A hand wraps around my throat as I turn to face down the hallway. “Yeah, Marcie. Come join Mommy and I.” The attacker giggles. “How did you—” I look past him to my parents' open bedroom door. Mom. Her face is caved in to an unrecognisable degree, looking like a drooping pile of her assorted features. Her long, brown hair draped across her back, her eyes like two small sapphire beads amongst a twisted grin of broken and missing teeth. Through her midsection protrudes a corner bedpost, pinning her through her back in a backward arching position to the floor. “Mom!” my hand lurches toward her body. He looks at my wrist, analyzing the bracelet. “How cute, does she have one that matches?” A familiar ringing chirps from the yellow landline sitting halfway up the hall. The intruder turns to it. “Now who could that be at this hour?” He rests a finger on it. “Oh! It’s our best friend.” He walks toward the phone while I claw at his grasp. He hooks his fingers around it and pulls it from the bracket. “Hello, Sarah.” “Who are you? You don’t sound like Mister Brakes.” Her muffled panic barely cresting my ears “I’m sorry, Mister Brakes can’t come to the phone right now, I had to arrange a permanent meeting between his eyes and the back of his eyelids.” “Sarah!” I scream, causing him to tighten his grasp “Marcie? What’s going on there?!” “Sorry,” He says, tightening all the more: “Marcie’s a little choked up.” There’s a shuffling from the stairs. “Don’t worry, Sarah. I’ll visit you soon.“ “Drop her, you bastard!” Dad shouts. His face is bubbled over, blood leaking from his matted, blonde hair. His emerald eyes were completely consumed by bruises, his left barely visible. The intruder turns toward him. “Gah, how could you-” Another loud blast ricochets down the hall, removing the intruder’s upper half mid sentence. I drop to the floor, his right hand still firmly wrapped around my neck. I pry the fingers off one by one, a gasp of breath filling me as I drop the hand, followed by a cough. “Marcie!” Dad wheezes. “Mrs. Johnson’s house! Quickly darling!” “But, Mom’s—” “Go!” The stranger grabs me with his already regenerated arm and throws me into one of the other doors in the hallway. The shapes shoot glowing tendrils that attach to him, finding their places and reforging his visage. “Impressive. I thought you were dead.” He backhands Dad into one of the other rooms and grabs the shotgun from the floor. I shut and lock the door as I hear it go off for a third and final time, followed by a loud, wet thud. I press my back to the door and slide down to a sitting position, wiping the tears from my face. He clicks his teeth three times. “What’s wrong, Marcie? I already told you I’m here to save you.” “Why? Why us? What did we do?” “Oh, you didn’t do anything. You were just home.” I hear him slowly, calmly meander toward the door. I watch his shadow sink low toward the side of the door I’m on. “You want to hear something funny, Marcie?” He whispers. I sniffle. “I can see the TV in there.” I glance at the small tube in the corner. He stands and walks in the direction of my parents room, followed by another shriek. The TV screen ignites, followed by his head ejecting from it. I unlatch the door and run as he pulls himself out from the screen, cackling. I run down to the kitchen and grab a knife from a drawer before making my way to the front door. The TV flashes with a loud shriek. I run down the entryway as the path behind me is filled with the frantic thudding of approaching footsteps. As I reach for the knob, I am thrown into the wall, crashing against a picture of my smiling family. My breath is taken from me as a knee meets my gut. I drop to the ground, choking and gasping. I lie over the knife as he drags me to the illuminated living room TV. “When are you going to learn? Honestly, for sixteen I expected far better. Smarter, at least.” I struggle to grasp the carpet as he begins entering the screen. His legs disappear. I flip to my back and catch sight of the TV cord. His torso vanishes. I reach out to grab it. His left arm. I manage to hook it with the edge of the knife. “Welcome home, Marceline.” His head. I sever the cord. The screen snaps to black from the corners, the stranger’s right hand is sliced off. Not with pixels, but with a gory mess of meat and bone. I squeal and recoil as it slowly begins staining the carpet with a puddle of maroon. Sirens echo up the street outside and end with the screeching of car tires. “Wayne county Sheriff's department, open the door!” I stumble over to the door and wrap my hand around the cold, brass knob, and push it open. “Help me, please.” “Good lord, someone get a medic! Are you okay, sweetheart?” “I think so, but my parents! They’re hurt upstairs!” I gasp. “Okay, we’ll go help your parents. Is there anybody else in the house?” “I don’t think so.” “Okay.” He looks over to two other officers and points to me. “Get her over to the squad vehicle and get her something to warm her up.” “Yes, sir!” They shout in unison “The rest of you, come with me.” He leads the others inside. “It’s okay, we’ll get you taken care of.” One of them carries me over to a squad car and sets me in the back seat, handing me a blanket to warm myself from the chill of the downpour. “How did you know?” I sniffle. "What?" She inquires. "How did you know I was in trouble?" A thin cough trails the question. “Oh, your neighbor called. She said it sounded like you guys were in trouble.” The other officer replies. I looked past her and toward the little red house bordering mine where I watch a curtain shift. Thank you Mrs. Johnson. “Oh, Mrs.?” “Deputy Rosie, sweets.” “Deputy Rosie, could you send someone to my friend Sarah Banahan’s house? She lives in Monroe, I think the man that attacked me is going to get her!” “Of course.” She turns and walks to another squad car. “Thank you.” “Now, I need you to scoot in so I can close the door. We’re gonna take you somewhere where we can keep you safe.” The other officer chimed. “Okay.” I shuffled over in the seat. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome, girlie. We’ll take care of you.” I shudder as she pushes the door shut. She seats herself on the passenger side and latches the door shut. I look down and twirl the charm bracelet on my wrist. I hope Sarah's okay. After a short while, Deputy Rosie enters the driver's seat and turns the key. The engine roars to life, the sirens soon following as we peel down the boulevard. “Chief Bradford? This is Deputy Rosie Williams. We’ve got one of the victims and are currently en route to Highland Park PD. What is the situation?” A suffocating static returns her inquiry. “Chief Bradford?” “Blood every—two dead—severed hand—carto—television.” “Chief Bradford? We’re not quite getting you! What is the situation?” The line clicks, followed by a strange metallic groaning before finally falling silent. “Chief?” A soft clicking emanates from the speakers before they begin to whine. The static ceases. “There-There-There’s nothing to be sc-sc-sc-scared of.” A female voice skips like a dirty tape. It sounds like Laurie Strode from the movie. My muscles tense. “What is—” The passenger whispers. “Who is this? How are you on this channel?” Rosie shouts. “Are you sure?” The voice of one of the young boys, I think his name was Tommy. “Rose, what’s goin’ on?!” The other officer shouts. “Yes.” Laurie tells him. “I don’t know, Jackie.” The deputy reaches over and messes with the dials on the console. “How?” Tommy asks. “Turn it off Rose!” Jackie screams, her focus on Rosie. We begin to drift off the road. “I can’t!” The car turns to face a tree. “I kill-kiiill-kiiiiill-kiiiiiiiiiiiillled hiiim…” Laurie reassures him, her tone slowing with each repetition. “Rose!” “I’ve got it!” Rosie snaps. “But,” Tommy starts. “No Rose, the tree!” A familiar buzzing voice captures the speakers. I brace against the seat in front of me. “You can’t kill the Boogeyman.” submitted by /u/Conscious_Year5651 to r/TalesFromTheCreeps [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
Conscious_Year5651 |
May 25, 2026 |
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You can't tell me she wasn't in a post concert orgy with Melodie
I mean, I think it goes without saying that a tall, gorgeous, and confident idol like Melodie most likely gets with the groupies after every concert, and the better ones turn into her harem. So imagine Starr Nova there. Just picture the overwhelming amount of endorphins fuelling the cheers from the crowd as Melodie’s concert comes to a stop, the signs that profess the fan’s love for her still bounce up and down as some are struggling not to faint at the presence of such a woman. Starr Nova, as all other fans, is ecstatic at just seeing her idol’s thighs in the flesh and not on a screen. -“Holy shit!!…”- She practically moans, trying to contain herself before her own passion gets to her. She curls up and covers her mouth before her excitement backs up and blows up like a volcano. The music already stopped playing, and while some people were still cheering, it wasn’t nearly as deafening, some fans were already too passed out to scream, making her voice echo as much as possible through the stadium as a cry of desperate lust rips through her throat like a firework -“MASTEEEEEEEERRRRRR!!…”- The sheer adrenaline pumping through her veins made her forget how audible that actually was. The entire crowd turns in confusion and looks over to her. Once noticing her make up, her weird eye contacts, and her outfit that looks like a poor woman’s Sailor Moon cosplay, their stares practically become law, judge, and executioner… But not all stares were insulting. As Nova looks around like she’s waiting for the Earth to swallow her, Melodie steps down to the crowd, demanding space to walk. While she makes her way over to her, two other women follow her footsteps in a mix of loyalty to Melodie and curiosity for Nova. Melodie stares her down with each step, eyes flicking up and down the nerd’s body with a gaze that almost tries to rip through her clothing. She snaps her fingers -“Everyone else… what the fuck are you staring at?!”- Her eyes never leave Nova’s as she waits for the crowd to go back to whatever they were doing. -“As for you…”- She raises her hand slowly, looking like she’s about to caress before gripping Nova’s jaw firmly. -“You really have a nice mouth on that face of yours… I’d love to have you in the backroom for a little fan meetup…”- She looks at the fangirls behind her, 2 fans she knows all too well. Nova’s eyes drift away from Melodie, and onto the caryatids behind her. Standing the farthest back, her height only the same as the second because of her nervous hunch. She straightens up once she catches Nova’s eyes on her. She stammers and struggles to make out a coherent sentence -“H-hey- I- uh… h-hi I’m… M-My name’s… C-Colette”- Her eyes look like she hadn’t slept for days, her teeth look like a health code violation, and her hair thankfully sees shampoo once every 2 weeks. It’s a look that explains her lack of charm in a single snap of the eyes. Nova looked to Colette’s side, looking at the shorter girl who briefly spoke up in reaction -“I’m Bibi…”- She had short, slicked back hair that only let her side bangs down. Her abs were visible through the glisten of her sweat and the cropped bottom of her T-shirt. Melodie’s grip remains firm and claiming on Nova’s face as she starts walking, pulling on her face like a dog leash -“You’ll tell us your name backstage, is that okay with you?”- She asked, looking into her eyes with a gentle smile that hid her dominance in plain sight. The clicking of Melodie’s heels drummed across the floor as the 3 fans all looked at different places to hide their blush and anticipation. Melodie chuckled, and teased -“If you’re ALL gonna be this shy on the way here, it’s gonna be pretty boring when we are all backstage.”- Colette’s face exploded in a blush, she replied like a puppy trying to avoid scolding. -“Y-You know I get… s-shy… around new people…”- Her words then quickened, trying to close off the sentence with non existent confidence. -”And Bibi does too, e-eeven if she doesn’t want to say it.”- She pouted. Bibi glared at Colette like she was about to kill her for saying that, and trying to salvage her persona, she replied roughly. -“Well, we can always just start fucking the moment the door closes, we won’t give her a moment to breathe…”- She faked a smirk and looked down at Nova’s ass. Turning the smirk to a truthful one as she burns the curves into her eyes before slapping and grabbing it roughly. -“That’s ok with you, right?”- -“M-M-More than ok…”- She stuttered, her tone coming out breathy and impatient as she saw Melodie’s anticipating smirk. Bibi groped her ass harder, like she’s trying to squeeze another sentence out of her, she succeeds. -“My name’s… N-Nova, b-by the way…”- Once backstage, Bibi and Colette practically tackled Nova and went straight into business. Their hands dive in and begin the assault on her body, their unforgiving fingers groping every corner of her softness with flesh tearing addiction, they start ripping her clothes off like a pack of starving zombies as their lips, tongues, teeth, and fingers trace over every crook and curve of Nova’s exposed skin, tasting her like they wanna commit her body to memory. Nova doesn’t push back, but rather, she starts removing whichever piece of clothing is closest from the two girls. She slides her hand under Bibi’s jacket, feeling the contrast in texture between her stomach and her breasts, she gropes and caresses the curve of her mounds before tracing her finger in the crease of Bibi’s abs. Colette’s knee comes up to press roughly against Nova’s pussy, and Bibi jumps up to maul Colette’s mouth. Melodie finished taking off her bow, gloves, and boots, only to be left to watch over the scene with a slightly jealous expression. She claps her hands loudly, interrupting the erotic flow of her groupies -“Hey, eyes on me!!… Wasn’t I the reason you are here, anyways?”- Her tone was demanding, possessive, and echoed too firmly for any of them to argue against. The order is heard clearly as Nova frees herself from the army of hands and fingers that buckled her knees and made her have to stumble towards Melodie’s still clothed figure, already drunk from lust and warmed up for whatever her idol has in store. Melodie waits with crossed arms and a stern look as Nova’s legs give out and makes her plummet onto her goddess, wrapping her arms around Melodie’s neck and nipping at the the skin of it, sucking on it and giving the idol too many hickeys for her to cover up tomorrow. Melodie remains unimpressed and disapproving as she starts guiding Nova’s hands to the hem of her skirt, her thigh highs, her clothed tits. She bites down on Nova’s shoulder and nearly draws blood, her entire body tensed by a fine line between frustration and impatience -“Come on… rip open your present, you fucking slut.”- She whispered firmly Nova’s fingers obey like a slave and claw into Melodie’s clothing, tearing away her top and sliding down her skirt. She rips open Melodie’s yoga shorts and digs her nails into the newly exposed flesh, and instinctively wraps her fingers around Melodie’s shaft. -“Good girl…”- her master rewards, scratching her behind the ears before gripping Nova’s mandible to claim her in a near enchanting kiss that makes Nova squeal right then and there, the sound muffled by Melodie’s own moan. Colette and Bibi kept themselves ignorant to that sight by staying pressed against the wall, devouring each other with learnt passion. It’s not until Colette’s eyes drift off from Bibi’s neck and onto Melodie’s body that they realise it. It has already started. There were 4 women in that room, 3 were just fans, 2 had their virginity already claimed by the 1, the 1 idol who invaded all their thoughts when they touched themselves or had a wet dream, and the one who decided to conquer those fans with the fulfilment of those fantasies. The only commonality between them and their master was their naked bodies, with all of their clothing torn apart beyond what they could put on. Melodie’s girlcock was already hardening. From 8 to 9 inches, it still curved down and wobbled slightly as she took off her bracelets; from 9-11 inches, precum had already started to form at the tip as she started to press her hips against Nova’s stomach, but the weeb kept stroking it; 11-12 inches, it looked like it could tear open a torso and had veins that ran thick as pipes across the shaft. -“Don’t be shy now…”- She said as she pressed Nova’s fingertips harder around the base of her cock. She leaned down to speak into Nova’s ears, the air flowing with anticipating softness. -“The girls can tell you how gentle I’ll be when I break you…”- Bibi came up from behind Melodie, groping her tits and sucking on her neck, Colette ripped away Nova’s grip on Melodie so she could replace Nova’s hand. Nova’s arms wrapped around Melodie’s waist, going to worship her girlcock with whatever friction her stomach can offer. Collete’s hands and mouth are all over the place, tongue is throat deep in Melodie, one hand strokes her shaft, the other hand fingering Nova’s pussy, she scissors inside it to open up Nova for her idol’s cock. Nova was starting to grind desperately down both women, biting down on Melodie’s shoulder like a stress toy while her hips vigorously pushed Colette’s fingers deeper. Bibi’s body started to go lower and lower, hands massaging Melodie’s legs, and mouth worshipping her inner thighs like it’s her final meal. Melodie’s eyes are glistening with lust, not even a squirm forming as her groupies diligently work to pleasure her and themselves. Bibi’s hand goes to finger her own pussy as she continues her masterpiece on Melodie’s thighs, Colette’s hips are grinding against the master’s thigh like a dog in heat, and Nova could have an orgasm from just another whisper to her ear. Bibi, Nova, and Colette start taking turns tasting Melodie’s tongue, pushing and pulling on her face like a bunch of spoiled pets to keep their idol’s mouth to themselves. Melodie chuckled in the space she was given between kisses. -“Brats…”- She pushed down on Colette’s face to say -“Enough foreplay… you three, bend over.”- Her tone was still demmanding, but had a firm gentleness finishing off the order. The demand straightened them up like a mass of soldiers as they all laid down on top of each other on the couch. Melodie walked forward and slapped her cock onto Colette’s ass, her hand coming up to her chin as the dense mass of her dick crashed down on the flesh. -“Right… who should I do first?”- She said as she ran her dick between each of the girl’s bodies. Her hand came to grope each hip before she settled her fingers into Nova. -“Riiiiight… I have to welcome the new girl.”- She sang playfully. Nova was sandwiched between Bibi and Colette, their arms already around her to keep her from squirming out. Melodie’s slick, glistening tip struggled to get inside, Nova’s moans of pain pleasure at the stretching muffled by Colette’s chest. Melodie grew bored of gentleness quicker than she promised it, and thrust her hips 6 inches deep without warning. Nova’s scream of pleasure made Bibi frown with worry and Colette laugh like a hyena. Melodie’s thumb came down to caress Nova’s pussy lips with contradicting gentleness. -“Good girl… such a good girl… you took half of it like such a champ.”- She accentuated each pause with a playful smack. Colette couldn’t contain it anymore, she gripped Nova’s head and crashed her lips into a teeth breaking kiss, biting down on the bottom lip. Bibi was already sneaking her hand to rub Nova’s clit as Melodie started grinding her hips slowly. Minutes of this happened before Melodie decided her groupie was ready for another thrust. She grabbed Nova’s legs, threw them over her shoulders, and thrusted balls deep into her, the tip punched her cervix like a battle ram as her torso bulged up and forward from the 12 inch intrusion. Melodie groaned in satisfaction -“Fuuuuuck… You don’t get much action down there, do you? You’re so tight I don’t think it’s gonna…”-She pulled her hips back before thrusting roughly again, making Nova scream into Colette’s mouth. -“Fuck… yes…”- She gasped -”It’s pulling me in like a suction cup!! I might…”- She paused to see if she could thrust the tip right inside the womb, then moaned loudly as Nova’s walls sealed her owner’s shaft. -”I might ‘acidentally’ cum inside if it’s this tight…”- Her thrusting quickened into a drilling pace, breeding her can like a rabbit as the tip got so deep inside that her pre-cum was already leaking into the womb. She continued. First 20 minutes, she needed to shred her insides and threw off Colette from over Nova to put her in a mating press, leaving Colette as just a pent up witness as Bibi was getting crushed under the weight of Nova and her master’s thrusts. 40 minutes, Nova’s already come a couple times, Melodie came once without warning or notice, she gripped Bibi’s ankle and threw her off from under Nova, sliding her cock out before placing herself behind her. She rubbed the tip of her cock against Nova’s slit, waiting for her to inhale so she’s caught as off guard as possible when she thrusts balls deep again, this time with Nova’s pussy loosened enough to take it in one go. Melodie wrapped her arms under Nova’s knees and pulled them all the way up to her head, pinning her in a full Nelson. Her balls were already tightening as if waiting to cum, the suspicion confirmed by her frantic moaning -“Breed… breed… breed breed breed BREEEED!!”- She squealed. Bibi and Colette were jealous, their master never wanted to put a baby in them, and this new girl can just get that treatment TWICE because she had a pretty outfit and didn’t speak much? Nova, on the other hand, had just been too lost in pleasure to speak. She knew that if she spoke, it would just be an incoherent moan or whimper, her brain was fried and turned to mush. 10 minutes later, Melodie pushed her down on her cock for the last time before cumming. The tip thrusting so hard against her cervix her cum hit the womb like a missile. Nova plopped down onto the couch, and whimpered at the loss of Melodie’s thick length, having spasms from being fucked so roughly through her orgasm. Melodie sat down spread her legs on the couch before giving a confused look to Colette and Bibi, who were just standing there in awe and envy. Melodie pat her inner thigh before ordering -“Hey, there’s at least 6 more rounds I wanna go for. What are you waiting for?”- In the same vein as with Nova, Melodie bred her groupies for hours before half the rounds she said were done.After doing a concert, and jackhammering 3 fans into risk of pregnancy for 3 and a half hours. She decided to take it slow, and focus on the women that were so dedicated to her. She took all of their still squirming bodies and placed them down gently on the couch: she massaged their legs, kissed their stomachs, she ran her fingers through each of the women’s hair before lying down with them. Starr nuzzled into her breasts like a puppy, Bibi gave small kisses to Melodie’s shoulders, and Colette licked and sucked on her neck in her usual bizarreness. They stayed like that for another hour. Melodie whispered sweet talk into each of her followers’ ears. She leaned to her left and told Bibi how much she loves when she blushes everytime someone laughs at the corny one-liners that come out in competitions or fights. She leaned slightly to her right to tell Colette that she’s never seen anyone be so smart, so articulate, and so passionate, but still hide her blush with her notebook when she meets new people. Her head tilted down as she looked at Nova, her face softening as she realises she doesn’t know her enough to gift her with a compliment. Regardless, she places a soft kiss to her cheek and whispers -“And I can’t wait to see all those quirks you’ll show me, Nova”- They spend 20, maybe 30 minutes cuddling like that, resting on Melodie as their bodies start to stretch out the aftermath of their orgy. Colette starts to nestle in more comfortably, until her leg accidentally rubs against Melodie’s cock again, noticing how hard it still is. -“Oh, right…”- She starts stroking her length to full hardness, her wrist moving in a slow, constant rhythm that makes Melodie whimper in satisfaction -“You still had 3 more rounds left in there…”- Bibi and Nova look at Melodie’s cock, diving in to suck the pleasure out, and making Colette follow through. Melodie looks down at their adoring stares, Colette’s pointed at her cock, Bibi’s at her thighs, and Nova’s at her eyes. She speaks up -“Y-You girls don’t have to…”- Her hips buck forward as a smooth moan slips from her mouth when Colette sucks on the tip. Nova strokes the base and kisses the shaft as Bibi sucks and licks Melodie’s groin and balls. They keep a slow and steady rhythm, and Melodie lets them adjust their positions all they want. Colette slowly stretches her throat out until she can suck deep enough to meet Nova’s lips on her shaft. Nova comes up and decides to make out with Melodie as she keeps her hand stroking the base of her cock, the other gently massages her breast. Bibi wastes no space and climbs up to kiss and bite Melodie’s torso, tracing her worshipping lips across the crest of her hips, digging her fingers into her sides, leaving marks all across the waist she knows Melodie has no outfits to cover. Their hips all grind against her, Colette rubbing against her shin, Bibi at the thigh, and Nova at the forearm. Melodie’s soft orgasms have the noise swallowed by the cosplayer’s tongue, the seed swallowed by Colette, and her spasming core kissed to relaxation by Bibi. This harmony of tongues, hands, legs, torsos, lips, and eyes that look to say “I’m here for your pleasure” to whoever they meet continues for longer or shorter than they can remember, eventually leaving every single body in the room spent and satisfied. Gentle stretching and hydration follows suit as Melodie calls her chauffeur to pick them all up. They get dressed with whichever clothes weren’t ripped apart in their passion. The trip to the hotel is a sloppy, tired make out of 4 souls that need each other too much to care about the exhaustion off their bodies, they tilt and press against each other’s faces in whichever way they can find for all of them to kiss at the same time, making every lip touch every lip, and every tongue embrace every tongue. Every hand touches every thigh, every palm and finger fondles every breast. The car comes to a stop, and Bibi opens the door with hesitation, knowing the room is more comfortable, but not wanting to stay apart from their touch for even a second. Colette clings onto Nova’s arm as they walk towards the elevator. They steal a couple of French kisses from each other before they get to the room. And finally plop down on the king sized bed. Melodie lies at the bottom, offering her body as a fire to be warmed around. Colette buried her face in Melodie’s waist, then wrapped her arms around it, and finally wrapped one of her master’s legs around her to secure that safe sense of submission to steady her heartbeat. Nova brings one of Melodie’s arms to her cheek as she rests her head on her chest, she places one hand on the thigh secured around Colette, and the other stroking her idol’s tricep on her face. Bibi’s resting her entire body on the other side of Melodie, face and torso trusting her goddess’ to keep them supported, Melodie’s arm is wrapped securely around Bibi’s shoulders, and stroking mindless patterns into her exposed back. The last love sighs of the night are breathed out, and heartbeats synchronise into a lulling vibration that ends this concert on a high note. submitted by /u/Mettalyn to r/BrawlstarsCirclejerk [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
Mettalyn |
May 22, 2026 |
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You Can't Kill The Boogeyman
The light clicks in the upstairs hallway as the familiar creaks of my parents door echo throughout the house. The small living room is bathed in light as the swoops of a pale blue news logo pan across the screen. “Good evening everyone, I’m Laura Faden with the Faden Report. We return with horrifying news in Hamtramck tonight, as yet another in a long line of home invasions has taken place, this time at the residence of the Wiśniewski family. This marks the fourth missing child in Wayne county, accompanied by eight others in the Monroe, Washtenaw, Oakland, and Macomb counties. We have reporter Rob Townlee on the scene tonight with more details. Rob?” “Thank you, Laura. A really disturbing scene tonight where parents Harold and Madison Wiśniewski were found dead with their ten year old son, Adam, missing. We heard earlier from police chief Matthew Krzeminski that at roughly eight forty-five tonight, an unknown assailant made their way into the Wiśniewski residence with the assumed purpose of abducting young Adam. All of the doors and windows were locked when police arrived on the scene, begging the question; How did he or she enter? This all comes just under twenty hours after the abduction of twelve year old Hailey Wells, who was taken from her home in Warren under similar circumstances. This has lead officers to believe that these cases may be connected. We currently await more details, and are actively accepting any information on the whereabouts of Adam, or any of the other thirteen missing children. Laura?” The TV cuts back to the visibly shaken blonde haired reporter, who clears her throat before I change the channel. “Another one?” A sigh trailing my lamentation as I subconsciously rub the charm bracelet on my wrist. “What is it, Marce?” Sarah’s voice projects from the speaker of the landline as I read her name on the bracelet. I switch the channel to the VCR. “The news, another kid disappeared. This time in Hamtramck.” I reply as I push a tape in. “Aww, another one? And so close to you—” The line crackles and hums with the sound of static. The microwave beeps in the kitchen. “Sarah? Sarah, you there?” I walk to the kitchen. Her voice returns. “Yeah, sorry. It’s been storming over here for the past few days, so the power’s been a bit weak.” I pull the hot bag out of the microwave. “It’s okay. Things have been tense around here. I think I've seen, like, four different cop cars in the last week.” “Well, are you doing anything that’s less of a bummer? It’s kinda sad to end your birthday with such a downer.” “Yeah. My parents are asleep now, so I’m finishing the day with a horror movie.” I grab the popcorn bag and peel it open. “Really? What movie?” “Halloween. I’m sixteen now, so I think I can handle it. Plus, I really want to see the new one when it comes out.” I reply, grabbing the remote. “Oh, good one. I watched the first one with my older brother in the theater. We should totally go see—” The line cuts again. “Sarah?” No response, just the monotonous beeping melody of a dead line. I push down the hook, sliding my finger into the holes on the rotary dial and redialing Sarah's number. It beeps again. “Man.” I hang the phone back up. Hopefully she calls back. I jump over the arm of the couch as the thunderous shaking of the stormclouds rattles the house. “Looks like the storm’s here. Bummer.” I rest my thumb on the remote and press play. A man in a tan trenchcoat bends over to grab a pack of cigarettes labeled “The Rabbit in Red Lounge – Entertainment Nightly”. He turns and quickly runs back into his car, where he peels out of the parking lot and speeds away from the gas station. I shovel a fistful of popcorn into my mouth, thin, filmy butter dripping from the peaks of my lips. The scene changes, cutting to a playground full of children, some in halloween costumes or carrying pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns. The phone rings as a kid walks out of the school with a large pumpkin, being harassed by three other boys. Pausing the movie and setting the remote on the arm of the couch, I get up and walk over to it, pulling it from the hook. “Hello?” Dead air with the faint hiss of normal background static. “Sarah? Is that you?” “Leave me alone!” A boy screams through the phone. Probably Sarah’s idiot brother. “Derek? Where’s Sarah at?” “He’s gonna get you!” Another boy yells. “Who is—What’s going on here?” “He’s gonna get you! He’s gonna get you!” Multiple young boys start chanting repeatedly, their voices gradually pitching downward and distorting with a strange, high pitched digital whining. “Who are you?! What did you do to Sarah?” “Look at the TV. You’re going to miss the set-up.” The buzzing of a man’s voice whispers. I turn, finding it frozen on a still of the boys. My skin shudders. I look to the stairs. “Mom? Dad?” I call, barely above a whisper. I take a hard gulp as I turn back to the TV. A line begins burning around the middle boy while the image begins layering and distorting. It curls into a near circle, the tail flicking around like a lizard’s tongue as I walk over to the remote. I navigate to the picture settings and press the degauss option to fix it, but it doesn't do anything. I try the power button, to the same result. Looking down at the remote. It shakes in my hand as I lay a finger on the play button. I push. One of the boys shouts: “The Boogeyman is coming!” The screech returns on full volume through the TV speakers as digitized sparks fly from the screen where the ring is circling. The lights dim and flicker all around the living room, a leather-gloved hand slowly breaching the screen and wrapping around the left bezel. The boys begin chanting in unison: “The Boogeyman!” “Dad?!” I shout, another hand materializes and grabs the other side of the TV’s frame. I repeatedly press the power button, to no avail. “The Boogeyman!” They cheer again. “Mom?!” I yell, jumping to the other side of the couch. A head with glowing eyes pushes through the screen, fitted with a black leather mask with large, round goggles radiating a bright blue light from the lenses. The lights go out completely, leaving only the glow of the TV to bathe the room. “The Boogeyman!” They shout again, and again. A slender figure emerges from behind the mask as the masked man peels himself from the screen, landing on his hands and knees. He's covered head to toe in black; black pants tucked into tall black boots, a dark gray turtle neck sweater caged beneath a black leather trench coat, and that mask with a now visible talk box where the mouth should be. I drop behind the couch. Peering under it, I watch as he pulls himself to his feet, clears his throat, and looks in my direction. “You know, I could see you through the TV, Marceline.” The flickering buzz of his voice freezes me down to my core. My name! He knows my name! I pull my hand over my mouth and stifle a breath, listening as his footsteps tap against the hardwood floor on their path toward me. “Maaaarrcie…” I begin crawling around the other side of the couch, trying for the stairs up to the bedrooms. “Now where do you think you're going?!” He shouts as he kicks the couch into the wall, cracking our family portraits. I scream in return, clambering to my feet and bolting for the stairs. “Dad!” I scream again, racing up the stairs. His hand wraps around my ankle and pulls, my forehead meeting one of the steps. I press a finger to my forehead, a small bead of red returning with it. I lift my other foot and force it into his leg, though it doesn’t seem to faze him. “Grah! You are so annoying!” He growls. I scream once more as he starts dragging me back toward the living room. “Get your hands off my daughter!” My Dad yells from the stairwell, a shotgun in his hand. “Uh oh, Daddy’s up.” The intruder chuckles. He drops my leg and begins walking toward him. Dad pulls the trigger, blowing a massive hole in the body of the attacker and sending small, glowing, fragmentary shapes flying around the narrow hallway. He peels the gun from Dad’s hands and slams it against the side of his head, forcing him to the floor. The intruder begins laughing as he winds back, barrel in both hands, and lays blow after blow upon Dad’s head. “Marcie! Run baby!” He gurgles between strikes. I push by them and run up the stairs. As I lose sight of them, a loud, staticy shriek echoes from downstairs. “Mom! Mom help! Dad’s hurt!” A wet crunch punctuated with a gasp emanates from the upstairs hallway. I slow as I reach the top. “Come here, Baby. We’re upstairs!” She calls back, a low buzz in her voice. We? I look back down, my foot upon the final step. Dad is laying at the bottom of the stairs. Alone. A hand wraps around my throat as I turn to face down the hallway. “Yeah, Marcie. Come join Mommy and I.” The attacker giggles. “How did you—” I look past him to my parents' open bedroom door. Mom. Her face is caved in to an unrecognisable degree, looking like a drooping pile of her assorted features. Her long, brown hair draped across her back, her eyes like two small sapphire beads amongst a twisted grin of broken and missing teeth. Through her midsection protrudes a corner bedpost, pinning her through her back in a backward arching position to the floor. “Mom!” my hand lurches toward her body. He looks at my wrist, analyzing the bracelet. “How cute, does she have one that matches?” A familiar ringing chirps from the yellow landline sitting halfway up the hall. The intruder turns to it. “Now who could that be at this hour?” He rests a finger on it. “Oh! It’s our best friend.” He walks toward the phone while I claw at his grasp. He hooks his fingers around it and pulls it from the bracket. “Hello, Sarah.” “Who are you? You don’t sound like Mister Brakes.” Her muffled panic barely cresting my ears “I’m sorry, Mister Brakes can’t come to the phone right now, I had to arrange a permanent meeting between his eyes and the back of his eyelids.” “Sarah!” I scream, causing him to tighten his grasp “Marcie? What’s going on there?!” “Sorry,” He says, tightening all the more: “Marcie’s a little choked up.” There’s a shuffling from the stairs. “Don’t worry, Sarah. I’ll visit you soon.“ “Drop her, you bastard!” Dad shouts. His face is bubbled over, blood leaking from his matted, blonde hair. His emerald eyes were completely consumed by bruises, his left barely visible. The intruder turns toward him. “Gah, how could you-” Another loud blast ricochets down the hall, removing the intruder’s upper half mid sentence. I drop to the floor, his right hand still firmly wrapped around my neck. I pry the fingers off one by one, a gasp of breath filling me as I drop the hand, followed by a cough. “Marcie!” Dad wheezes. “Mrs. Johnson’s house! Quickly darling!” “But, Mom’s—” “Go!” The stranger grabs me with his already regenerated arm and throws me into one of the other doors in the hallway. The shapes shoot glowing tendrils that attach to him, finding their places and reforging his visage. “Impressive. I thought you were dead.” He backhands Dad into one of the other rooms and grabs the shotgun from the floor. I shut and lock the door as I hear it go off for a third and final time, followed by a loud, wet thud. I press my back to the door and slide down to a sitting position, wiping the tears from my face. He clicks his teeth three times. “What’s wrong, Marcie? I already told you I’m here to save you.” “Why? Why us? What did we do?” “Oh, you didn’t do anything. You were just home.” I hear him slowly, calmly meander toward the door. I watch his shadow sink low toward the side of the door I’m on. “You want to hear something funny, Marcie?” He whispers. I sniffle. “I can see the TV in there.” I glance at the small tube in the corner. He stands and walks in the direction of my parents room, followed by another shriek. The TV screen ignites, followed by his head ejecting from it. I unlatch the door and run as he pulls himself out from the screen, cackling. I run down to the kitchen and grab a knife from a drawer before making my way to the front door. The TV flashes with a loud shriek. I run down the entryway as the path behind me is filled with the frantic thudding of approaching footsteps. As I reach for the knob, I am thrown into the wall, crashing against a picture of my smiling family. My breath is taken from me as a knee meets my gut. I drop to the ground, choking and gasping. I lie over the knife as he drags me to the illuminated living room TV. “When are you going to learn? Honestly, for sixteen I expected far better. Smarter, at least.” I struggle to grasp the carpet as he begins entering the screen. His legs disappear. I flip to my back and catch sight of the TV cord. His torso vanishes. I reach out to grab it. His left arm. I manage to hook it with the edge of the knife. “Welcome home, Marceline.” His head. I sever the cord. The screen snaps to black from the corners, the stranger’s right hand is sliced off. Not with pixels, but with a gory mess of meat and bone. I squeal and recoil as it slowly begins staining the carpet with a puddle of maroon. Sirens echo up the street outside and end with the screeching of car tires. “Wayne county Sheriff's department, open the door!” I stumble over to the door and wrap my hand around the cold, brass knob, and push it open. “Help me, please.” “Good lord, someone get a medic! Are you okay, sweetheart?” “I think so, but my parents! They’re hurt upstairs!” I gasp. “Okay, we’ll go help your parents. Is there anybody else in the house?” “I don’t think so.” “Okay.” He looks over to two other officers and points to me. “Get her over to the squad vehicle and get her something to warm her up.” “Yes, sir!” They shout in unison “The rest of you, come with me.” He leads the others inside. “It’s okay, we’ll get you taken care of.” One of them carries me over to a squad car and sets me in the back seat, handing me a blanket to warm myself from the chill of the downpour. “How did you know?” I sniffle. "What?" She inquires. "How did you know I was in trouble?" A thin cough trails the question. “Oh, your neighbor called. She said it sounded like you guys were in trouble.” The other officer replies. I looked past her and toward the little red house bordering mine where I watch a curtain shift. Thank you Mrs. Johnson. “Oh, Mrs.?” “Deputy Rosie, sweets.” “Deputy Rosie, could you send someone to my friend Sarah Banahan’s house? She lives in Monroe, I think the man that attacked me is going to get her!” “Of course.” She turns and walks to another squad car. “Thank you.” “Now, I need you to scoot in so I can close the door. We’re gonna take you somewhere where we can keep you safe.” The other officer chimed. “Okay.” I shuffled over in the seat. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome, girlie. We’ll take care of you.” I shudder as she pushes the door shut. She seats herself on the passenger side and latches the door shut. I look down and twirl the charm bracelet on my wrist. I hope Sarah's okay. After a short while, Deputy Rosie enters the driver's seat and turns the key. The engine roars to life, the sirens soon following as we peel down the boulevard. “Chief Bradford? This is Deputy Rosie Williams. We’ve got one of the victims and are currently en route to Highland Park PD. What is the situation?” A suffocating static returns her inquiry. “Chief Bradford?” “Blood every—two dead—severed hand—carto—television.” “Chief Bradford? We’re not quite getting you! What is the situation?” The line clicks, followed by a strange metallic groaning before finally falling silent. “Chief?” A soft clicking emanates from the speakers before they begin to whine. The static ceases. “There-There-There’s nothing to be sc-sc-sc-scared of.” A female voice skips like a dirty tape. It sounds like Laurie Strode from the movie. My muscles tense. “What is—” The passenger whispers. “Who is this? How are you on this channel?” Rosie shouts. “Are you sure?” The voice of one of the young boys, I think his name was Tommy. “Rose, what’s goin’ on?!” The other officer shouts. “Yes.” Laurie tells him. “I don’t know, Jackie.” The deputy reaches over and messes with the dials on the console. “How?” Tommy asks. “Turn it off Rose!” Jackie screams, her focus on Rosie. We begin to drift off the road. “I can’t!” The car turns to face a tree. “I kill-kiiill-kiiiiill-kiiiiiiiiiiiillled hiiim…” Laurie reassures him, her tone slowing with each repetition. “Rose!” “I’ve got it!” Rosie snaps. “But,” Tommy starts. “No Rose, the tree!” A familiar buzzing voice captures the speakers. I brace against the seat in front of me. “You can’t kill the Boogeyman.” submitted by /u/Conscious_Year5651 to r/anxietypilled [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
Conscious_Year5651 |
May 8, 2026 |
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(Fanfic) Is Starr Nova part of Melodie’s groupie harem?
I mean, I think it goes without saying that a tall, gorgeous, and confident idol like Melodie most likely gets with the groupies after every concert, and the better ones probably turn into her harem. So imagine Starr Nova there. Just picture the overwhelming amount of endorphins fuelling the cheers from the crowd as Melodie’s concert comes to a stop, the signs that profess the fan’s love for her still bounce up and down as some are struggling not to faint at the pressence of such a woman. Starr Nova, as all other fans, would be ecstatic just at seeing her goddess’s thighs in the flesh and not in a screen. -“Holy shit!!…”- She practically moans, trying to contain herself before her passion gets to her. She curls up and cover her mouth before her excitement backs up and blows up like a volcano. The music already stopped playing, and while some people were still cheering, it wasn’t nearly as deafening, and some fans were already passed out, making her voice echo through the entire stadium -“MASTEEEEEEEERRRRRR!!…”- The word rips off from her like a firework, and the sheer adrenaline pumping through it made her forget how audible that actually was. The entire crowd turns to her, looking over her and noticing her make up, her weird eye contacts, her outfit that looks like a poor woman’s Sailor Moon cosplay, and their stares practically become law, judge, and executioner… Except for three women there. As Nova looks around like she’s waiting for the Earth to swallow her, Melodie steps down to the crowd, demanding space to walk as her tall height makes her stand above the crowd. As she walks, two other women follow her footsteps, but in a weird mix admiration for Melodie and curiosity for Nova. Melodie stares Nova down with each step, eyes flicking up down the nerd’s body with a gaze that almost tries to rip through her clothing. She snaps her fingers -“Everyone else… what the fuck are you staring at?!”- Her eyes never leave Nova’s as she waits for most of the crowd to go back to whatever they were doing. -“As for you…”- She raises her hand slowly, looking like she’s about to caress before gripping Nova’s jaw firmly. -“You really have a really nice mouth on that face of yours… Now, let me just introduce you to these two here…”- Nova’s eyes drift off from Melodie and onto the caryatids before her. Standing the farthest back, her height only the same as the second because of her nervous hunch. She stammers and struggles to make out a coherent sentence -“H-Hi- uh… h-heya I’m… M-My name’s… C-Colette”- Her eyes look like she hadn’t slept for days, her teeth look like a health code violation, and her hair thankfully sees shampoo once every 2 weeks. The shorter girl then briefly spoke up -“I’m Bibi…”- She had short, slicked back hair that only let her side bangs down. Her abs were visible through the glisten of her sweat and the cropped bottom of her T-shirt. Melodie’s grip remains firm and claiming on Nova’s face as she starts walking, pulling her face like a dog leash -“You’ll tell us your name backstage, is that okay with you?”- She said with a gentle smile that hid her dominance in plain sight. Melodie’s heels became the only noise present as the 3 women all looked at different places to hide their blush. Melodie chuckled and teased -“If you’re gonna be this shy on the way here, it’s gonna be pretty boring when we are all backstage.”- Colette straightened up and replied and replied with a hurry that almost looks like a puppy trying to avoid scolding. -“Y-You know I get… s-shy… around new people… And Bibi does too, even if she doesn’t want to say it.”- She pouted. Bibi glared at Colette like she was about to kill her for saying that, and tried to salvage her persona. -“Well, we can always just start fucking the moment the door closes, we won’t give her a moment to breathe…”- She looked down at Nova’s ass, burning the sight onto her retinas before slapping and grabbing it roughly. -“That’s ok with you, right?”- -“M-M-More than ok…”- She stuttered, her tone coming out breathy and impatient as Melodie became more and more excited for what will happen. -“My name’s… N-Nova, b-by the way…”- Once backstage, Bibi and Coletteung towards Nova, ripping her clothes off like a pack of zombies as their lips, tongues, teeth, and fingers trace over every crook and curve of Nova’s exposed skin like they wanna commit her body to memory. Nova doesn’t push back, but rather, she starts removing whichever piece of clothing from the two girls is closest. She slides her hand under Bibi’s jacket, feeling the contrast between her hard, firm stomach and her soft breasts, she gropes and caresses the curve of her mounds before tracing her finger in the crease of Bibi’s abs. Colette’s knee comes up to press roughly against Nova’s pussy, and Bibi’s currently devouring Colette’s mouth. Melodie finished taking off her bow, gloves, and boots, only to be left to watch over the scene with a slightly jealous expression. She slaps her hands loudly, interrupting the erotic flow the three groupies had -“Hey, eyes on me girls… Wasn’t I the reason you are here, anyways?”- The demand is heard clearly as Nova stumbles towards Melodie’s still clothed figure, already drunk from lust and warmed up for whatever her idol has in store. Melodie waits with crossed arms and a stern look as Nova plummets onto her, wrapping her arms around the idol’s neck and giving her too many hickeys for Melodie to cover up tomorrow. Melodie, remains unimpressed, and starts guiding Nova’s hands to the hem of her skirt, her thigh highs, her clothes tits. She bites down on Nova’s shoulder and nearly draws blood, her entire body tensed by a fine line between frustration and impatience -“Come one… rip open your present, you fucking slut”- Nova’s fingers claw into Melodie’s clothing, tearing away her top and sliding down her skirt. She rips open Melodie’s yoga shorts and digs her nails into the newly exposed flesh. -“Good girl…”- her master rewards, gripping Nova’s jaw to guide her mouth onto hers, claiming her lips and tongue in a knee buckling kiss that makes Nova squeal right then and there. The sound is only muffled by Melodie’s mouth. Colette and Bibi were too busy making out on the door to notice what had just gone on, it’s not until Colette’s eyes drift off from Bibi’s neck and onto Melodie’s body that they realise it’s started already. There were 4 women in that room, 3 were just fans, 2 had their virginity already claimed by the 1, the 1 idol who invaded all their thoughts while touching themselves or having a wet dream, and decided to take that chance and take those wet dreams. The commonality between them was their now naked bodies, some already had their clothes teared away beyond what they could put on again. Melodie’s girlcock was already hardening, from 8 to 9 inches, it still curved down and wobbled slightly as she began taking off her bracelets; from 9-11 inches, precum had already started to form at the tip as she started to press her hips against Nova’s stomach, but she kept stroking it; 11-12 inches, it looked like it could tear open a torso and had veins that ran thick across the shaft. -“Don’t be shy now…”- She said as she placed Nova’s fingers on the base of her girlcock. She leaned down to whisper into her ear. -“The girls can tell you how gentle I’ll be when I break you…”- Bibi came up from behind Melodie, groping her tits and sucking on her neck. Nova’s arms wrapped around Melodie’s waist, trying to worship her girlcock with whatever friction her stomach can offer. Collete’s hands and mouth are all over the place, tongue is throat deep in Melodie, one hand strokes her shaft, the other hand fingering Nova’s pussy and scissors inside it to open her up for her master’s cock. Nova was starting to grind desperately down both women, biting down on Melodie’s shoulder like a stress toy while her hips vigorously pushed Colette’s fingers deeper. Bibi’s body started to go lower and lower, hands going to massage Melodie’s legs and mouth worshipping her inner thighs like it’s her last meal. Melodie’s eyes are glistening with lust, not even a squirm forming as her groupies diligently work to pleasure her and themselves. Bibi’s hand goes to finger her pussy as she continues her masterpiece on Melodie’s thighs, Colette’s hips are grinding against Melodie’s thigh like a dog in head, and Starr Nova could have an orgasm just from a gentle whisper to her ear. Bibi, Nova, and Colette, are all taking turns tasting Melodie’s tongue, pushing and pulling on her face to keep their idol’s mouth to themselves. Melodie chuckled in the space she was given between kisses. -“Brats…”- She moves away from their kisses to say -“Enough foreplay… you three, bend over.”- The order straightened them up like a mass of soldiers as they all laid down on top of each other on the couch. Melodie walked forward and slapped her cock onto Colette’s ass, her hand coming up to her chin thoughtfully as the Deane mass of her dick made the flesh echo. -“Right… who should I do first?”- She said as she ran her dick between each of the girl’s bodies. Her hand came to grope their hips before she settled her fingers into Nova. -“Riiiiight… I have to welcome the new girl.”- Nova was sandwiched between Bibi and Colette, their arms already around her to keep her in place. Melodie’s slick, glistening tip struggled to get inside, Nova’s moans of pain pleasure at the stretching muffled by Colette’s chest. Melodie grew bored of gentleness, and she thrust her hips 6 inches deep without warning. Nova’s scream of pleasure made Bibi frown with worry and Colette laugh sadistically. Her hand came down to caress Nova’s hip with contradicting gentleness. -“Good girl… such a good girl… you took half of it like such a champ.”- She accentuated each pause with a playful smack. Colette couldn’t contain it anymore, she gripped Nova’s head and crashed her lips into a nearly teeth breaking kiss, biting down on the bottom lip. Bibi was already sneaking her hand to rub Nova’s clit as Melodie started grinding her hips slowly. Minutes if this happened before Melodie decided her groupie was ready for another thrust. She grabbed Nova’s legs, threw them over her shoulders, and thrusted balls deep into her, the tip hit her cervix like a dart as her torso bulged up and forward from the 12 inch intrusion. Melodie groaned in satisfaction -“Fuuuuuck… You don’t get much action down there, so you? You’re so tight I don’t think it’s gonna…”-She pulled her hips back before thrusting roughly again, making Nova scream into Colette’s mouth. -“Fuck, yes, It’s pulling me in like a suction cup!!”- Her thrusting quickened into a drilling pace, breeding her can like a rabbit as the tip got so deep inside that her pre-cum may be accidentally leaking into the womb. She continued, 20 minutes, she threw off Colette from over Nova and decided to put her in a mating press, leaving Colette as just a pent up witness as Bibi was getting crushed under the weight of Nova and her master’s thrusts. 40 minutes, Nova’s already came a couple times, and Melodie gripped Bibi’s ankle and threw her off from under Nova, sliding her cock out before placing herself behind her. She rubbed the tip of her cock against Nova’s slit, waiting for her to inhale so she’s caught as off guard as possible when she thrusts balls deep again, this time with Nova’s pussy loosened enough from the abuse to take it in one go. Melodie wrapped her arms under Nova’s knees and pulled them all the way to her head, pinning her in a full Nelson’s. Her balls were already tightening as if waiting to cum, the suspicion confirmed by her frantic moaning -“Breed… breed… breed breed breed BREEEED!!”- She squealed. Bibi and Colette were jealous, their master never wanted to put a baby in them, and this new girl can just get that treatment because she had a pretty face and didn’t speak much? Nova, on the other hand, was just too lost in pleasure to speak. She knew if she spoke, it would just be an incoherent moan, her brain was fried and turned to mush. 10 minutes later, Melodie pushed her down on her cock for the last time before cumming. The tip thrusting so hard against her cervix that her cum probably hit the womb like a missile. Nova plopped down onto the couch, and whimpered at the loss of Melodie’s thick length and having spasms from being fucked so roughly through her orgasm. Melodie spread her legs on the couch and gave a confused look to Colette and Bibi, who were just standing there in awe and envy. Melodie snapped her fingers -“Hey, there’s at least 6 more rounds I wanna go for. What are you waiting for?”- In the same vein as with Nova, Melodie bred her groupies for hours before half the rounds she said were done. Now, she had just done a concert, and she just jackhammered into 3 women in 3 and a half hours. She decided to take it slow, and focus on the women that were so dedicated to her. She took all of their still squirming bodies and placed them down gently on the couch: she massaged their legs, kissed their stomachs, she ran her fingers through each of the women’s hair. Starr nuzzled into her shoulder like a puppy, Bibi gave small kisses to Melodie’s shoulders, and Colette licked and sucked on her neck in her usual bizarreness. They stayed like that for another hour. Melodies whispered sweet talk into each of her fans’ ears. She told Bibi how much she loves how hard she blushes when someone laughs at the corny one-liners that come out whenever she’s in any kind of competition. She told Colette that she’s never seen anyone articulate enough to rant for as long as she does when she’s excited. She then looked at Nova, her face softening as she realises she doesn’t know her enough to say anything yet. Regardless, she places a soft kiss to her cheek -“And I can’t wait to see all those quirks you haven’t shown me, Nova”- she whispers gently. They spend 20, maybe 30 minutes cuddling like that, with their bodies resting on their idol’s as their bodies start to stretch back to how they were before the orgy. Colette starts to nestle in more comfortably, until her leg accidentally rubs against Melodie’s cock again, noticing how hard it still is. -“Oh, right…”- She starts stroking her length to full hardness, her wrist moving in a slow, constant rythm that makes Melodie whimper in satisfaction -“You still had 3 more rounds left in there…”- Bibi and Nova look at Melodie’s cock, and they immediately dive between Melodie’s legs, making Colette follow through. Melodie looks down at their adoring stares, Colette’s pointed at her cock, Bibi’s at her thighs, and Nova’s at her eyes. She speaks up -“Y-You girls don’t have to…”- Her hips buck forward and a smooth moan slips from her mouth when she feels Colette sucking the tip. Nova strikes the base and kisses the shaft as Bibi sucks and licks Melodie’s groin and balls. They keep a slow and steady rhythm, and Melodie lets them adjust their positions all they want. Colette slowly stretches her throat out until she can suck deep enough to meet Nova’s lips on her shaft. Nova decides to make out with Melodie as she keeps her hand stroking the base of her idol’s cock, and the other gently massages her breast. Bibi wastes no space and climbs up to kiss and bite Melodie’s torso, tracing lips across the crest of her hips, digging her fingers into her sides, leaving marks all across the waist she knows Melodie has no outfits to cover. Their hips all grind against Melodie, Colette rubbing against her shin, Bibi at the thigh, and Nova at the forearm. Melodie’s soft orgasms have the noise swallowed by Nova, the seed swallowed by Colette, and the spasming core kissed to relaxation by Bibi. This harmony of tongues, hands, legs, torsos, lips, and eyes that look to say “I’m here for your pleasure” to whoever they meet continues for longer or shorter than they can remember, eventually leaving every single body in the room spent and satisfied. Gentle stretching and hydration follows suit as Melodie calls her chauffeur to pick them all up, and they get dressed with whichever clothes weren’t ripped apart in their passion. The trip to the hotel is a sloppy, tired make out of 4 souls that need each other too much to care about the exhaustion in their bodies, they tilt and press against each other’s faces in whichever way they can find to kiss all at the same time, making every lip touch every lip, and every tongue embrace every tongue. Every hand touches every thigh, every grip fondles every breast. The car comes to a stop, and Bibi opens the door with hesitation, knowing the room is more comfortable, but not wanting to stay apart from their touch. Colette clings onto Nova’s arm as they walk towards the elevator. They steal a couple of French kisses from each other before they get to the room. And they finally plop down on the king sized bed. Melodie lies at the bottom, offering her body as a fire to be warmed around. Colette buried her face in Melodie’s waist, then wrapped her arms around it, and finally wrapped one of her master’s legs around her to secure that safe sense of submission to steady her heartbeat. Nova brings one of Melodie’s arms to her cheek as she rests her head on her chest, she places one hand on the thigh secured around Colette, and the other keeping her idol’s hand on her face. Bibi’s resting her entire body on the other side of Melodie, face and torso trusting her goddess’ to keep them supported, Melodie’s arm is wrapped securely around Bibi’s shoulders, and stroking mindless patterns into her exposed back. The last love sighs of the night are breathed out, and heartbeats synchronise into a lulling vibration that ends this concert on a high note submitted by /u/Mettalyn to r/BrawlstarsCirclejerk [link] [comments]
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Mettalyn |
Apr 21, 2026 |
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With the ankle monitor is crazy
We all knew she would be casual about it but she really acts like she went and did something good with her life 😂😂🥲 submitted by /u/Open-Goat3212 to r/AlyssaStevensSnark [link] [comments]
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Open-Goat3212 |
Apr 8, 2026 |
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Hell's Kitchen Season 24 - Episode 11
Previously, on Hell’s Kitchen… The final 11 participated in Chef Ramsay’s own personal version of Wheel of Fortune, in which they spun for their ingredients and built their dishes from the ground up. In the blue kitchen, egos clashed, but it was Thomas who took over the leadership role, much to the annoyance of Grace. In the red kitchen, with Shane out of the picture, the undermanned red team managed to work together on their creation. When Ramsay tasted the dishes, it was the red team who had the edge, and they were rewarded with a horseback ride through the Santa Monica mountains, along with a scenic picnic with Ramsay himself. Meanwhile, the blue team were punished by cleaning both kitchens and prepping grouper for tomorrow night’s service, and tensions quickly arose between Thomas and the rest of his team. In service, both teams got off to a slow start on appetizers, but while the blue team managed to right the ship on entrees, the red team sank due to a shocking performance from Deidra on the fish station and Everett’s confusion on garnish. Ramsay declared the blue team as the clear winners, but named Michael the best of the worst and asked him for two nominees from the red team. At elimination, Michael decided to nominate… Michael: “Deidra.” And… Michael: “Everett.” But Deidra’s meltdown on her supposed best station was the last straw, and with that, her dream of becoming the head chef of Gordon Ramsay Steak in Vancouver, British Columbia came to an end… https://reddit.com/link/1rgbf1u/video/j14i1shpd2mg1/player And now, the continuation of Hell’s Kitchen… The chefs went back upstairs to the dorms after Deidra’s elimination, with Ramsay’s instructions to the blue team still echoing in their minds. Melody said in her confessional that she liked being on the blue team, and definitely didn’t want to leave Lauren again after they had just been reunited. As the blue team returned to their side of the dorm, Lauren said they should try to work this out as quickly as possible, and the three of them went into the bedroom to discuss it privately. Lauren asked Melody and Thomas what their thoughts were, and Melody said she wanted to stay and continue to prove herself as a leader on the blue team, while Thomas said that he wanted to go back to the red team, as he felt that he could help them get back on track and show Ramsay his leadership qualities in the process. Melody asked Lauren what she was thinking, to which Lauren hesitated. In her confessional, Lauren said that this was a tough decision, as she had already jumped to a new team once, and she felt comfortable working alongside the blue team. Finally, Lauren said that if Thomas wanted to go to the red team, she would support him, to which Melody agreed. Back in the main dorm, Grace said in her confessional that she hoped Thomas would leave so he would stop imposing his will on every challenge and she could start to assert herself as a leader. Meanwhile, Travis was relaxing and trying to keep his mind off his nagging injury, saying in his confessional that it wasn’t going to get any easier, but there was no way he was giving up on his dream. On the red team’s side of the dorm, the four remaining chefs were in a somber mood after yet another loss in service, and a frustrated Michael said they needed to get their shit together and start winning services again. Everett was still shaken up after his second consecutive nomination, and said in his confessional that he absolutely could not afford any fuck ups in the next service, or it might all be over. Faye tried to assure him though, saying that they would bounce back from this and no one else was going home from the red team from now on. Ramona was also feeling frustrated, as she had only won a single dinner service out of the first ten, and said she was sick and tired of always being on the losing team. Everett agreed that the losing had to stop, but also said Ramona needed to step up and prove why she deserved to have her immunity pass. Ramona defended herself though, saying she had a good service tonight aside from one mistake, while Everett had totally failed on garnish. Faye tried to calm them down, saying they were all frustrated right now and just needed to get some sleep. And soon afterwards, both teams did finally turn in for the night. Challenge The next day, the chefs came downstairs and found Ramsay waiting for them, along with Jon and Christina, and Michael said in his confessional that this had to be a special occasion for the sous chefs to also be present. First, Ramsay pointed out that out of the 20 chefs they had started with, there were now just 10, which meant he was expecting each and every one of them to start standing out as individual leaders, while continuing to be strong team players. With that said though, he reminded the blue team of what he had said last night, and asked Thomas who was going back to the red team. Thomas announced that he had volunteered and gotten everyone else’s agreement, and Ramsay told him to step forward, put his red jacket back on, and rejoin his old team. With both teams now balanced again at 5 chefs each, Ramsay was ready to announce the challenge, but he started by saying he needed the help of some special guests. As he said this, the door opened to reveal season 2 winner Heather, season 6 winner Dave, and season 12 winner Scott, who each held a large poster displaying dishes which Lauren described in her confessional as looking absolutely delicious, while Melody said in her confessional that it was amazing to be in the presence of so many former winners. Ramsay told the chefs that all of these dishes did not come from a michelin-starred restaurant, but from right here, designed by chefs in previous seasons. Ramsay continued, saying that to celebrate 20 years of Hell’s Kitchen, he was bringing back the classic red vs. blue menu challenge for tonight’s service. To that end, he instructed the chefs to go back to the dorms and take some time to build their menus. Then, they would prepare 2 appetizers and 3 entrees for him. As a further incentive, he revealed that the sous chefs and the three past winners would join him in tasting their dishes and giving feedback, so he urged them to put everything they had into their respective menus. Back in the dorms, both teams quickly tried to get to the task of designing their menus. On the blue team’s side, Lauren took on the role as the leader, as she asked the team for suggestions for her to write down. Travis said in his confessional that this was a huge deal, as he knew none of them wanted to disappoint Ramsay in front of several former winners, and they had to put their best foot forward with this menu. Early on, Melody began suggesting several ideas, saying they should go for a classical French menu with items such as mussels, beef bourguignon and a creme brulee dessert. Grace became annoyed very quickly and said in her confessional that Melody was just one of those chicks who liked to hear herself talk. Lauren, though, approved of many of her suggestions, and put forward a venison tenderloin as her own contribution. Travis also suggested they should try a flatbread, while Carole suggested a bistro salad. Lauren asked Grace if she had any suggestions, but Grace stood up and grumbled that it looked like the blue team clearly had this under control and walked out. Travis said this was getting ridiculous, while Carole said they could make a lot more progress without Grace anyways. On the red team’s side of the dorm, it didn’t take long for Thomas to take over the leadership role again, though Faye said it needed to be a group effort. Ramona suggested adding lamb chops, as she felt confident she could work with it given her five star signature dish. Thomas changed it to a rack of lamb with his own garnish, and after getting the approval of the others, added it to the menu, though Ramona was annoyed in her confessional, saying that Thomas wouldn’t let anyone’s ideas stand on their own. Michael wanted to add veal parmigiana, which Thomas said seemed a bit too basic for what Ramsay would be looking for. Michael said in his confessional that it felt like Thomas had just walked in and assumed command of the team, while Thomas said he was simply trying to ensure they had the highest quality food to present to Ramsay and the former winners. While the others tried to toss out ideas, Faye noticed that Everett wasn’t saying much, and noted that he seemed much more quiet than usual, but Everett replied that he simply didn’t feel as confident in putting his own ideas out there. However, he finally suggested adding red snapper, which Thomas said was a great idea, though again, he decided that his ideas could elevate the dish, but Everett said in his confessional that there was no point trying to change his mind. Faye managed to get ribeye added to the menu, while Michael had better luck with his suggestion of a creamy butternut squash risotto. With both teams having worked out their menus, it was now time for them to return to their respective kitchens and prepare their five dishes for Ramsay’s approval. As the chefs were heading back downstairs, however, Travis suddenly stumbled and cried out in pain, and had to be supported by his teammates the rest of the way down. Travis grimaced as he said it felt like something just snapped, and his ankle felt as if it were on fire. Melody said in her confessional that this was not good at all, and went to find the medic. While Travis was being examined, the blue team entered their kitchen, and Ramsay noticed that they were down a man, asking where Travis was. Carole explained the situation and said he was being checked out by the medic. Ramsay nodded and said while it would obviously be difficult, as their concern was rightfully on Travis’ health, the blue team needed to keep it together and cook to the best of their abilities. However, it was undeniable that the wind had completely gone out of the blue team’s sails, as Lauren said in her confessional that Travis was the level-headed person that had always kept them somewhat even keeled, and made the transition to a new team much easier for her and Melody. Melody tried to encourage the team by saying Travis was coming back and they had to give him a great menu to work with, it was clear that each of them were now feeling extremely anxious about Travis’ future in Hell’s Kitchen. Outside the kitchen, Travis was being tended to by the medic, who said he would need to go back to the hospital, as the injury had worsened. Travis was close to tears in his confessional, as he said he would do anything not to leave, and knew if he left now, he might never get this opportunity again. Ramsay himself came out of the kitchen to check on him, and Travis pleaded to be allowed to stay, saying he could fight through this, but Ramsay said his health was the priority and he needed immediate treatment, telling him to wait until after service to make a decision on whether or not he wanted to continue. Travis finally accepted Ramsay’s advice and agreed to go to the hospital, saying in his confessional that he was about to make the biggest decision of his life, and the worst part was that he felt completely useless in his current condition. Back in the red kitchen, the only one who really seemed to feel confident in the menu was Thomas, as he said in his confessional that it was annoying to have his team doubt him after all of the times he had come through in the past, but he was confident that Ramsay would love the food. Ramona said in her confessional that Thomas seemed like a good chef, but his personality made it very difficult to work with him, and she was tired of always having someone push her ideas aside. Meanwhile, Michael was cooking his risotto, saying in his confessional that he had to make this his best risotto yet, and despite his earlier annoyance with Thomas, the two of them still talked back and forth, and Michael joked that he like Thomas better when he was in a good mood, to which Thomas replied that if they won service tonight, he’d be in an even better mood. Everett chimed in, saying the blue team was in for a good old fashioned ass whooping tonight, as he was done playing around, and Michael said that’s exactly what they needed to hear, as he said in his confessional that it was great to have the old Everett back after he had gone quiet during their menu creation. Faye said in her confessional that her ribeye was looking great, and she couldn’t wait to show it to Ramsay. As the thirty second warning was called out by Ramsay, the chefs began plating their dishes, and brought them to the pass as time expired. With the cooking portion of the challenge complete, Ramsay had some troubling news for everyone, as he pointed out what each of the red team’s members had already noticed, which was that Travis was missing from the blue team. Ramsay said that Travis had been taken to the hospital, and would not be participating in tonight’s service. Faye was stunned, saying in her confessional that she would never have wished something like this on one of her fellow chefs, especially after the way she went out last season. Thomas asked if Travis was alright, which surprised Ramona, as she said she didn’t know he had a heart, and Ramsay answered that it didn’t look good, but there could be no definitive statements made yet. Thomas said in his confessional that they had all made sacrifices to be here, and just because he saw himself as the clear best chef on either team didn’t mean he wanted his competitors to go out due to injury. With all this said, though, Ramsay said the focus right now had to remain on the challenge, and now, it was time for the chefs to present their dishes to him, Jon, Christina, and the three former winners, starting with the blue team, who presented Melody’s mussels, Travis’ onion flatbread, Lauren’s venison tenderloin, Melody’s beef bourguignon, and Carole’s sole meuniére. Ramsay noted that everything worked well on paper, to which Dave agreed, as he said it looked like the blue team had a plan and executed it, which Lauren admitted should be mostly credited to Melody, who had come up with the concept itself. Ramsay asked what Grace’s contribution was, to which she said that the blue team clearly didn’t value her ideas very much, to which Lauren shot back that she could have had something on the menu if she didn’t storm off. Ramsay ran a hand through his hair in exasperation and said the menu looked more unified than the team at the moment. He then said it was a good start, but the taste was the most important factor. The dishes did get good reviews overall, though Jon pointed out that the presentation on Carole’s sole could use some cleaning up, and Christina cautioned Lauren and Melody on their meat temps, as the venison and beef were slightly dry, but Scott had high praise for the presentation on Melody’s dishes, with Ramsay noting that had been one of her strengths from day one, even if consistently cooking the food to an edible temperature had taken a bit more time. Melody laughed nervously in her confessional, as she said this felt as awkward as having a parent-teacher conference, but Scott said the creativity was definitely there, which got a huge smile from her. Overall, everyone seemed to agree that the menu was tight and cohesive, with Ramsay saying that they just needed to execute where it counted, during service. Next, it was time for the red team’s menu to be put under scrutiny, and they presented Michael’s butternut squash risotto, Thomas’ lobster ravioli, Thomas and Ramona’s mint crusted rack of lamb, Thomas and Everett’s red snapper with an orange-mango beurre blanc, and Faye’s ribeye. Ramsay said that it all looked delicious, which Christina agreed with, as she said she was proud of the red team and how far they had come. Michael said in his confessional that it was an honor to get such a high compliment from their sous chef, and he hoped she would still feel that way after tasting the food. Thomas was showing some rare nerves in his confessional, as he said his fingerprints were all over this menu, and he knew it was good, but if for whatever reason, Ramsay and the others didn’t like it, the blame would swiftly fall on him. When it came time for reviews, the biggest criticism came on the rack of lamb, as Heather noted that it seemed undercooked, and Ramsay schooled Ramona, saying this was not what he expected at this stage, especially since she had cooked lamb better than that on day one. Dave also pointed out that the presentation of the snapper dish needed a lot of work, as it didn’t look as appetizing as it could have. However, the ravioli was praised as being restaurant quality, while Christina loved the flavor in Faye’s ribeye, and Jon said Michael’s risotto was one of the best he’d ever tasted, to which Ramsay agreed. Ramsay concluded that the menu was up and down, but had potential, and told them to make the necessary adjustments. Ramsay thanked the former winners for coming back to help him critique the menus, and said he looked forward to seeing them tonight in service, which got all of the chefs’ attention, as Lauren said getting to serve their own dishes to former champions was all the motivation they could ever have needed. Pre-Service Now that the menus had been tested out, Ramsay told the chefs it was time to start prepping the kitchens and familiarizing themselves with their menus, as he was expecting an amazing service from each team tonight. In the blue kitchen, Melody said in her confessional that it was tough to concentrate when Travis’ absence was the clear elephant in the room, and she was just hoping he would be okay and they could win this service for him. Grace, on the other hand, said in her confessional that while she wasn't actively rooting for injuries, she was here for one reason and one reason only, to win, and she wasn’t about to get all weepy and sentimental over a competitor leaving. Carole seemed more nervous than usual, and Melody checked in with her, as she said that she felt like she had been struggling in the past few services, but Melody said they had to keep their heads in the game right now. Lauren said in her confessional that this was her time to step up as the leader of a demoralized team and show Ramsay that she had what it took to become his executive chef, and with their own food on the menu, there were absolutely no excuses for failure. In the red kitchen, Thomas was annoyed that Ramona and Everett had made such basic mistakes in the menu tasting and made perfectly good dishes look subpar, but he was determined to lead the red team to victory tonight. Michael said they had to win this one with the blue team being a man down, and Ramona said in her confessional that she was going to have a perfect service tonight, no matter what station she was on, as it was the only way to avoid being nominated. Everett was also eager to avoid nomination, as he had gone up two nights in a row, and knew he couldn’t afford to fuck this up, not when it was a menu they had created themselves. Faye said in her confessional that Michael, Thomas and herself definitely seemed like the top contenders right now on the red team, and hoped that Ramona and Everett could put their inconsistencies aside and step it up. Ramona ended up asking Faye for advice, as she felt like Thomas had something against her, but Faye said it was only going to get more cutthroat from now on, as this was uncharted water even for her. Ramsay gathered the chefs one more time and reminded them that it may be their menus, but it was still his standard, and he was not going to put up with any bullshit. With that said, he told them that they were all still here for a reason, and now it was time for them to show him, then, he turned to Marino and told him to open Hell’s Kitchen for Red vs. Blue Menu night. Dinner Service Diners streamed through the doors for the 11th Hell’s Kitchen service of season 24 for a very special event, as the red and blue teams’ menus would be competing against each other for the first time in ten years. As guests took their seats, including three very special guests - the former winners and their families - it wasn’t long before orders began to enter the kitchen, and it soon became clear which menu had the early edge in popularity, as all of the tickets were for the blue team. With their menu getting all the early attention, it was up to Lauren on appetizers and Melody on fish to get the blue team off to a great start, while Grace was on garnish and Carole was on meat. With one chef on each section, Lauren said there was nowhere to hide, and it was time for each of them to put up or shut up. Lauren had no problems early on with Travis’ flatbread dish, as she was able to get her first table accepted, and said in her confessional that this one was for him. She was also able to communicate well with Melody on fish, who also had no issues serving the first table of mussels. Grace on garnish said she was here to show out and kick everyone’s ass, regardless of team, as she was still pissed off about being left without any dishes on the menu. Her first table of salads though, was overly watery, and Ramsay said he did not expect that from her when she had made better salads than that weeks ago. Grace was able to bounce back though, and appetizers continued to be smooth sailing for the blue team, although Lauren said in her confessional that having the more popular menu also meant a greater workload, but she was confident that she and Melody could handle this. Sure enough, with their excellent communication and teamwork, appetizers were flying out of the kitchen at a steady pace, and a very important guest, season 2 winner Heather, was seen enjoying her meal. Melody said in her confessional that she was very impressed with Lauren’s leadership, as she really seemed to have things under control on apps. Soon, the blue team was ready to get started on entrees. In the red kitchen, Faye was on appetizers, Ramona was on fish, Thomas was on garnish, and Everett was with Michael on meat. Unfortunately, their menu was not turning out to be as popular as they had hoped, as they had to wait for several minutes after the blue team to get their first ticket, and Thomas said in his confessional that this was just getting embarrassing. Finally though, orders did begin to stream into the red kitchen, and early on, Faye and Ramona communicated well between their sections, as Faye noted in her confessional that Ramona was really speaking up and sounding confident for the first time, which she was proud of, and they were able to successfully deliver their first table of risotto and lobster ravioli. Ramona said in her confessional that nothing was going to stop her tonight, as she had to prove why she belonged in the top 9. Both did have some stumbles though, as Ramona didn’t make enough ravioli for a table, and had to be asked by Ramsay if she knew how to count, while Faye sent up a bland risotto, and was schooled by Ramsay, as this was a Hell’s Kitchen staple. Faye kicked herself in her confessional, saying these little mistakes added up in Ramsay’s mind, and she couldn’t let them affect her. Faye and Ramona were able to recover though, and it wasn’t long before food once again began to leave the kitchen to very satisfied diners, including season 12 winner Scott. With both kitchens still neck and neck, the red team was now ready to get started on entrees, Back in the blue kitchen, the focus shifted the Carole on meat to keep the blue team’s momentum going, Carole was nervous in her confessional as these were new menu items, but knew she needed to deliver a strong performance to keep herself from falling behind. Unfortunately, the issues would begin as early as the first table, as Grace called out inconsistent times from garnish which threw off both Melody and Carole, and Ramsay demanded to know when exactly the food was going to start coming out. Once they finally brought their dishes to the pass, Carole’s beef was rejected for being chewy and inedible, and Grace said in her confessional that Carole seriously needed to either get a grip or get the hell out of here. While Carole was able to recover and the first table eventually went out, progress continued to be sluggish as Grace was not talking to her team and rushed garnishes to the pass, which led to Melody bringing up undercooked sole, and she expressed frustration in her confessional with Grace not being a team player. With the kitchen still moving slowly, Ramsay called out for the venison and got no response from Carole, much to his frustration. Melody was able to calm Carole down temporarily and the two of them managed to finally get their sole and venison to the pass. Ramsay now called out for the garnish, saying the ticket was dying, only to receive soggy, burnt vegetables from Grace, and he demanded to know if that was really her best. Lauren said in her confessional that Grace was absolutely sinking the service right now, and decided to try to help her out on garnish, but Grace said she had things under control, saying in her confessional that Lauren just needed to leave her alone, but Lauren said Grace clearly needed the help, and with the kitchen still stalled, Ramsay had enough and took everyone into the pantry, asking them what the fuck they were doing. Carole explained that Grace wasn’t talking to anyone, while Grace said that Carole was supposed to be driving the tickets from meat, and she went silent on them. Ramsay was pissed and told them to get it figured out, and quickly, because this was absolutely unacceptable. While the blue team struggled through entrees, the red team hoped that Everett and Michael would propel them to victory from the meat station. Everett said in his confessional that this was redemption night, and he needed to have his best service yet to earn back Ramsay’s respect. On the first table, though, both Everett and Michael had issues as Michael served rare ribeye, while Everett’s lamb was undercooked and poorly sliced. Thomas said in his confessional that the red team could not afford to be having these struggles at this point, and the meat stations needed to get their shit together immediately. Fortunately, both Michael and Everett were able to recover and, along with Ramona, get their first table out. Ramona did serve raw snapper, which got her schooled by Ramsay, but she was able to bounce back quickly. From then on, entrees began to flow out into the dining room, with Ramona continuing to be more vocal from fish, while Thomas kept everyone on schedule from garnish. With the orders for the red team still lagging behind those from the blue team, Ramsay became annoyed with Everett dragging on his lamb, but with Michael’s help, they were able to avoid it becoming a larger issue, and Everett was able to serve beautifully cooked lamb, with Ramsay saying he wanted it to be like that every single time. Everett said in his confessional that he had no intentions of stopping, and a fire had definitely been lit under him tonight. With Michael, Everett, Thomas and Ramona all working in sync with each other, the red team was able to push out entrees and complete a very solid service, with several guests seen enjoying their meal, including Scott While the red team started to pull ahead on entrees, the blue team were in the pantry trying to sort out their issues. Melody told Grace and Carole that they needed to be more vocal, and that Grace needed to accept Lauren’s help. Lauren agreed and said they weren’t cooking like a team right now. With Carole promising to try to do better, and Grace throwing her hands up and saying she would do whatever would help the team win, the blue team finally emerged from the pantry and resumed working on entrees. With Lauren helping out on garnish, communication finally improved, but Grace still managed to serve bland, watery puree, while Carole had problems getting the temperature right on her venison, as it was overcooked on the first attempt, and “still moving” on the second attempt, as she said in her confessional that this service had been an absolute nightmare for her, and she had a feeling she could be going home tonight. However, they were finally able to serve acceptable dishes along with Melody’s sole, and the blue team eventually managed to serve the rest of their entrees and complete service behind the red team, with Heather and Dave seen enjoying their food in the dining room, but Ramsay said that was more painful that a fucking root canal. Post-Mortem Ramsay had the teams line up and said tonight was all about these chefs, the supposed best half of the field, proving that they could build and serve their own menus, and that was why, after the strong start both teams had on appetizers, he was deeply disappointed in the fall from grace, which he pointed out was a very appropriate choice of words, from the blue team, as he still wanted to know where the fuck the communication was on entrees, ans wondered if Travis had really been the one holding them together all this time. With that said, there was one team who did justice to their own menu, and that was the red team, who were declared the winners of Red vs. Blue Menu Night. Ramsay then told the blue team to go back to the dorms and think very hard about the two people they wanted to nominate for elimination after that embarrassing performance. With that, he told them to piss off. Back in the dorms, the decision seemed simple for the blue team at first, with Lauren saying that Grace was a disaster on garnish, and refused to talk to anyone. Carole agreed and said it was clear she was only looking out for herself at the team’s expense. Grace shot back that she had to look out for herself, as it was obvious that everyone else here wanted her gone. Melody told Grace to stop putting words in their mouths, as she had been nothing but supportive, but Grace said she was voting for Melody due to being fake and overly inconsistent. Lauren asked if everyone else agreed to nominating Grace, to which they did, and Grace angrily said in her confessional that they could each go fuck themselves for all she cared. For the second nominee, Lauren and Melody agreed that Carole’s performance in service was the weakest, as she had struggled to get meat temperatures right. Carole tried to defend herself by saying she had been more consistent throughout the season than Melody, and simply based on the process of elimination, would have to nominate Melody due to her up and down performances. Melody was annoyed with this, as she said she had been doing her best, and despite her terrible last service with the red team, felt herself getting stronger and more confident with each passing day. On the red team’s side of the dorm, Michael was pumped up to finally be back on the winning team in service, which he celebrated with Faye, while Everett was relieved that even though he didn’t have a perfect service, he delivered when it counted and helped his team win. Thomas said in his confessional that he did nothing but win, and after turning around both the blue team and red team, he was sure Ramsay was taking notice of his leadership abilities. Ramona went over to chat with Everett, with the two of them being excited to still be here, with Ramona saying she and Everett were definitely the most vulnerable ones here, and they needed to stick together, especially since Thomas would push for them to go out as soon as they lost. Everett said in his confessional that Ramona was a feisty chef, which he admired, though he was worried about the fact that she still had her immunity pass, and if it came down to the two of them, she had a get out of jail free card, while he would be screwed. Even so, he agreed that they should watch each other’s backs. Elimination Ceremony The four person blue team entered the dining room, and as they stood before Ramsay, it was clear that the nerves of the competition were starting to get to them. Ramsay said they were down to the best 10, and this had been their own menu, and the more popular one, no less. There should have been no excuses for such a disastrous service. He did concede, though, the fact that the stress of losing their teammate before service may have played a role in throwing them off their game, and that was why he wanted to let Travis tell them how he was doing. With that, the door opened, and Travis entered the dining room, supporting himself with crutches, which drew some shocked silent reactions from his teammates. Ramsay asked Travis what he had been told at the hospital, to which Travis replied that his ankle was in much worse shape now, and it would take an extended period of time to heal. Ramsay sighed, as he told Travis that they both knew what this meant, and Travis nodded, as he appeared to be fighting back tears, and said he would not be staying in Hell’s Kitchen. Melancholy music Ramsay: “I don’t say this lightly, young man, and I sincerely mean it: you could have won this competition. I’m very sorry you won’t be able to go on. And I wish you all the best with your recovery and future in the industry.” Travis: “Thank you for everything, chef, I really can’t thank you enough for this. It’s been the experience of a lifetime.” Ramsay: “Thank you, Travis. Keep the jacket, you earned it, and keep your eyes and ears open, because the next voice on the phone could be mine. Please, take care, and get well soon.” With that, Ramsay and Travis shook hands, and Travis exchanged a goodbye with his team as Ramsay opened the door for him. Travis’ comment “It’s so fucking hard to walk away from a competition that you know you could have won, for reasons completely out of your control. I pushed my body and mind to the limit in Hell’s Kitchen, and for whatever reason, my body just couldn’t handle it. I’d give anything to go back and change that one step, but it’s over now. I guess all I can do is try to ignore the what if’s and remember all the good that came from this…but dammit man, it’s a big “what if?” and it hurts. I can’t pretend that it doesn’t.” With Travis’ tragic withdrawal, Ramsay announced that the man who just walked out of those doors was far from the weakest chef here, and that was why Ramsay announced that he was not done, and still needed to hear from the blue team. Dramatic music Ramsay asked Lauren for the blue team’s first nominee and why. Lauren announced that the team had unanimously voted for Grace, due to her attitude constantly bringing the team down and poor performance on garnish. Ramsay asked for the second nominee and why. Lauren hesitated, and announced that…the blue team had not been able to reach a consensus on the second nominee, as they were split between Carole and Melody. Ramsay was pissed, as he said even in the dorms, the blue team still couldn’t fucking communicate as a team. Finally though, he told Grace, Carole and Melody to all step forward, and started by asking Melody why she should stay in Hell’s Kitchen. Melody: I’ve had some low points, chef, I fully admit that, but ever since I joined the blue team, I feel like I’ve just been getting stronger. I have confidence now that I didn’t have when I first got here. I know I’m a good chef, and I try my best to help the team whenever and however I can.” Ramsay paused for a moment to consider her words, then said that he agreed completely, and sent her back in line, much to her relief as she shared a quick hug with Lauren. Ramsay then moved to Carole, asking her to explain why she was getting worse and less visible the longer the competition went on. Carole: “Chef, I do feel like I get pushed around sometimes by my team-” Ramsay: “Well push back then! For god’s sake, young lady. You have to act like you want this!” Carole: “I do want this, chef! I want to be the head chef of Gordon Ramsay Steak, I know I have the experience and the talent to run it, I just need to start showing you.” Ramsay said she needed to start showing him weeks ago, and he was running out of patience. Finally, he moved on to Grace, asking her really, truly, why she should stay in Hell’s Kitchen when her team was desperate to get rid of her? Grace: “Well chef, I think the reason they’re so desperate is because they know I’m strong, I have leadership qualities, and they want to get rid of the competition. I think it’s as simple as that.” Ramsay said he was getting tired of all the bullshit in the blue team, and demanded to know when she was going to start talking to her teammates. Grace responded that if they gave her a chance to lead, he would see just how talented she was. Ramsay sighed in frustration, as he said that both of them deserved to go home on the back of tonight’s performance, but with that said… Ramsay: “My decision is…” Ramsay: “Carole.” Elimination music Ramsay: “You’ve gone invisible, it’s like the competition is too big for you. But…I know you can cook, that’s why I’m giving you another chance. I need to start seeing some leadership, I need to hear your voice. Get back in line.” Dramatic music As Carole gratefully returned to the blue team, Ramsay turned to Grace. Ramsay: “Step forward, young lady, and listen very carefully to me…This. Is. It. No more bullshit, show me that you can work with your team, or get out of here. Back in line.” Ramsay confirmed that no one else was going home tonight, as he said both Carole and Grace were very lucky that Travis had been unable to continue, and told them to take advantage of this second chance and show him something in the next service. With that, he told everyone to get back to the dorms and get some sleep. As the chefs exited, several of them had confessionals. Lauren said it sucked that they had lost Travis instead of Grace, as their team was now much worse off. Grace said that she was still here and all these bitches better watch out, because she was going to outlast them one by one. Thomas said that the blue team was a clusterfuck as long as Grace was there, and while he felt sorry for Lauren, it shouldn’t be too difficult for the red team to rack up some wins. Faye said it was devastating to see Travis go out the way he did, and it just went to show how quickly it could all end. Placement https://preview.redd.it/vqq7vp7sd2mg1.png?width=2511&format=png&auto=webp&s=8d7241e70982c0e0c67fddb52264949d7164b8ce submitted by /u/Alex72598 to r/HKFanFics [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
Alex72598 |
Feb 27, 2026 |
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Transworld Skateboarding Magazine, Vol.7 No.2 1989 contest results contest results contest results you might be in this or maybe a friend or maybe your dad. (this is 12 pages by the way, so I took detail images so you could read them.)
The first page style ,man brings you back do you look at the power out the pants with the elastic ankles? Those are great. Limpy’s pants I remember those contest results. I’m assuming the first ones are left over from the New England St. style 2a. And then we got the ESA central Pennsylvania District followed by the ESA Northern Georgia district super skateboard shop and ESA eastern Pennsylvania district and all those were in September 1988 Shepherd Fairey in the last set as an amateur. I just scanned these names real quick and nothing‘s really jumping out at me Then we get the Dewing skates 103 bucks baby Selling ramp plans is doing the lords work. RESULTS of Washington skateboard Association Steve South Coast Mini ramp contest Flint skateboard club Street style contest in Flint Michigan all street style skate park benefit contest in Florida. The forest city summer spectacular in Rockford Illinois font size changed. Got smaller at the bottom. It’s just my notice as a Designer. Hot deals dude I wish they made Vision streetwear in a 13 that’s what I wear. I would buy some and walk around in them like a kook More ramp kits, how to, snowboards then we got let’s go wind surf and skate sugar fest in Austin Texas followed by Hudson surf and skate presents turkey shoot for in Florida once again. I’m skimming these names. nothing jumps out at me first annual Nicholasville skateboard and jamboree Street sale contest that’s a Maletic Kentucky And Kris Stein Koch doing a rad ramp air and more fucking cheap skateboards those decks man. I did this as a voice text so I know some stuff is wrong, but you get the idea. It’s hard to fix on your phone and the text slide up and down. submitted by /u/macnerd243 to r/SanDiegoSk8History [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
macnerd243 |
Feb 4, 2026 |
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You'll know when it's your turn to find The Crossroads Inn
She was really gone. A six-year battle, one final breath, the planet kept spinning. As if she were nothing. She was young, happy, engaged even. Her whole life ahead of her. Until the day she got the news, the day her life came to a standstill. A waiting game. I swallowed my thoughts and pulled into the petrol station: I was almost empty. I filled the tank and went to pay, a laminated “out of order” sign was taped to the reader. The guy behind the counter barely looked at me. “ATM outside.” Great. I withdrew enough for the petrol and some extra just in case, my destination was the small village we grew up in - I wasn’t sure how useful my card would be there anyway. I paid in silence and returned to my car. Tomorrow was my sister's funeral; it was all I’d thought about since the day was set. It wasn’t especially far but I’d booked a hotel nearby to spend the night anyway. I’d barely slept the past few days and thought a proper night's rest somewhere nicer than my home would do me good. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a creased photo. My sister and I, before the diagnosis. We had been on holiday in Italy. It was one of the last times I’d seen her smile and mean it. She was beautiful - golden hair twinkled in the sunlight, ocean blue eyes that truly brightened a room. She wore a white summer dress and an ankle bracelet. I traced the photo with my fingers, delicately, as though too much pressure would make it turn to ash. I folded it back up and started the car. A couple of hours later and I was about to exit the motorway, the lack of sleep was catching up to me, all I could think about were the 'what if’s'. I turned the radio up, hoping to drown out my thoughts. It didn’t work. “Police have officially suspended the search…” What if they’d caught it earlier? “...the three victims all shared…” What if I’d been able to afford better treatment? “...lake remains a point of interest…” What if I could’ve done more? “...no signs of a struggle…” What if it were me instead? I wish it had been. I turned the radio off as I reached the small village. silence so loud I could drown in it. The hotel was only a few minutes away now. I needed to rest, to stop thinking, everything to just stop for a moment. A growing pain was forming in my left temple and an uneasiness washed over me. Could I even do this? I could turn around and go home. I checked my phone: 8:30 pm. No messages. I could barely think straight anymore. No. That was a stupid idea. I had to do this. I pulled into the car park and stepped outside. The winter air was sharp and unforgiving; it hit my face immediately as my eyes began to water. I shoved my hands in my pockets and buried my face in my coat, hurrying to the door. The sudden drop in temperature had turned the growing pain in my head into a heavy, dull throb; I just needed to get inside, get my room key and everything would be okay for a while. Everything was a blur, had been a blur. I hardly even remembered getting here. Just one foot in front of the other. I felt like a ghost, like time had stopped the moment she took her last breath. Time *had* passed, but I was still stuck in that hospital room. Frozen in a memory. As I pushed open the doors to the lobby, I was hit with the smell of perfume and wine, the sound of music and laughter from down the hall began to fill my ears. To my left was a door, slightly ajar and a small table with a glittery “welcome” sign. Curious, I took a few steps forward and peered through the gap, barely making out the people dancing and enjoying themselves. Maybe I stood there a second or two too long. “Are you here for the wedding? I just need your name and I’ll find you on the guest list.” I looked back down the hall. This was the best day of their lives. I was plagued with guilt and resentment. I should’ve been happy for them. But I wasn’t. I couldn’t be. All I saw was the life my sister could’ve had, should’ve had. A life that was ripped from her grasp. She deserved happiness more than anyone, but life dealt her someone else's cards. I hated that my grief was being projected onto them, they were strangers. I began to feel out of place. I didn’t belong here. “Are you? Here for the wedding?” The receptionist's cheerful voice snapped me back, “...Wedding?” My throat went dry and I buried my face further into my coat “No.” His smile slipped slightly, “Ah. You do have a reservation, though, right? We do require guests to book in advance. Most of the rooms were booked by the wedding party, but I do see a couple of other bookings.” I’d booked my room two weeks ago, in fact it was the last room available for the next week. Chances were, my room would be next to someone in that hall. Walls are thin in places like these. I couldn’t spend the night hearing echoes of their joy. “No.” I blurted out before I even had a chance to process what I said. “Ma’am. As I said, we do require guests to book in advance,” he looked at me for a moment, really looked at me. I was a dark stain on this place, infecting it with my misery. I swear he could see right through me, “Even if I wanted to help, we have no rooms available tonight… but I think there’s an inn, not too far from here. It’s hardly what you’d call nice, but they always have rooms and they don’t require reservations.” He wrote general directions on a napkin and handed it to me before turning away, signalling that was all the help he was able, or willing to provide. Was I really that pathetic? That weak? How could I let someone else, a stranger, do that to me? I clenched my fists. Was I really walking away from a room I had booked and paid for just because I couldn’t stand to see people so happy when I was going through something so terrible? I was. God. I sat in my car for what felt like hours. I could go back; I did have a reservation. I sighed, they probably thought I was crazy. I definitely acted that way. That receptionist didn’t ‘see me’- he just wanted me gone. I didn’t blame him. I looked down at the now crumpled napkin. I didn’t need something nice at this point, just a bed. Anxiety was beginning to get the better of me. I had just put myself in such a ridiculous situation. I wanted to melt away. I breathed in deep and began to hum a simple melody, something my sister had made up when we were little - a song she would hum whenever I cried. It helped a little. I fixed my posture and put the closest address I knew into the satnav, it would only take ten minutes - I could keep myself together for ten minutes. The inn was further out, closer to the motorway I’d come from than the village. It was situated near farmland, a wooden, chipped sign not-quite-welcomed me, ‘The Crossroads Inn’ it said in paint so faded it was hardly legible. It was the only place in the area I could see so I assumed it was right. The journey took around 8 minutes, thanks to the lack of traffic. It had felt strange watching the streetlights become more sparse until they disappeared entirely and the road transitioning into something narrower and neglected, like I was driving to another world. The building itself was ancient. Updated to have modern features like electricity but there was no denying its history. I wondered just how many lost or defeated people had wound up here. The only glimmer of something once beautiful was a nearby lake, almost hidden in the trees if not for the fact it was almost illuminated by the moonlight. I stood still for a moment, for the first time in so long, I looked up to the sky. The stillness of the air was almost jarring. I expected a starlit night - light pollution was so low here, one of the few things I’d genuinely missed about home. We… my sister and I, that is, spent countless nights staring up at this sky together as children, ‘discovering’ constellations and stars, wondering what was up there, just out of reach. I was met with an inky black void, devoid of light. Devoid of hope. Barren. It was alluring, in a way. There were no clouds, not even the sound of a distant cricket. Just a vacuum of nothingness, as though every star, every planet had been erased, stolen. Empty and silent. A blank canvas, only the moon, full and low - a sole survivor. My eyes drifted back towards the lake, the ethereal glow of moonlight danced across the unnaturally still water, hauntingly beautiful like a siren's call. I felt as though, maybe, I was finally waking up. I averted my attention back to the building in front of me, a soft yellow light leaked out the ground-floor windows. From a distance, it had a sort of charm about it - it was clear the owners had kept most of the original features. But as I stood before it, it became increasingly obvious it was falling apart. Blighted ivy covered the exterior walls, choking them, claiming the inn as its own. Windows were caked in years of dirt and dust, and a thick tarp covered a section of the roof, weighed down with large stones, maybe the same stones as those at the edge of the lake. I wondered if perhaps this was a result of dwindling business, maybe the owners had simply ceased to care about maintenance… or both, had they reached a point where what must have been constant repairs eventually stopped being worth the time and effort? Sometimes, fixing something that keeps breaking time and time again becomes meaningless. I reached for the handle; the metal was cold and uninviting against my fingertips. As I pushed the door open, the wood scraped and dragged against the uneven flooring and the rusted hinges screeched. The violating mixture of sounds made me clench my jaw as I made my way inside. Nobody was behind the bar, so I took a seat on a stool that creaked and groaned as I sat and began to wait. I looked around, taking everything in. The walls were cluttered with old watercolour paintings of the village. I remembered it as being quaint and homely, but these paintings… something was slightly off, I couldn’t tell exactly what, but it made me uncomfortable. I shifted in my seat and scanned the room for something else to focus on. Near the back of the room was a traditional fireplace with an impressive, ornate mantle. Grey ash piled high and spilt over onto the floor, keeping the flames low and weak. Hardly comforting. I’d expected to be the only person here, the inn wasn’t exactly inviting or super easy to spot without knowing the location prior, but next to the fireplace sat an older couple with a black dog lying at their feet. They looked normal enough, though I couldn’t help but feel weary. They didn’t just notice my presence; they watched me. Their eyes were fixed on me. Calm and expectant. I locked eyes with them, just for a moment. Their expression was impossible to read. I had to focus to pull my eyes away, almost as though if we kept eye contact for a second longer, I might not ever look away. I was painfully aware of my own presence. I wanted to just get up and leave. I didn’t. It was late enough that I would struggle to find somewhere else to go. I took my phone out of my pocket. I could call someone, my parents would probably be asleep by now, but it was still worth trying. Zero bars, 6% battery. I had pretty much expected that. Before I could decide what to do, a door opened behind the bar that I hadn’t noticed before. A tall woman walked out, probably mid 40s, she didn’t look at me - just poured herself a drink. I could still feel the couple's eyes fixed on me, waiting. Like they’d been expecting this, anticipating my arrival. “You’re here for a room?” She asked, though it didn’t feel like a question. She still hadn’t looked at me, just stared at her glass without drinking. Her voice was soft, calming, but her tone was dry. “...Yes,” I replied, to utter more than that one word required energy I no longer possessed. I just wanted this night to end. “£45 per night.” She opened the till and waited. I pulled out my wallet and emptied it onto the bar, one twenty pound note… one ten… one five…three… She grabbed the money and shoved it into the till, closing it with a loud clank. I knew I didn’t have enough. Maybe she took pity on me? She glanced up at me, barely, sliding a heavy, brass key over to me. I took the key and she smiled slightly, a gentle smile. Though, it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “One night. Up the stairs, second room on your right.” She spoke as though she were reading a script. I took the key and began to stand. “Did you want a drink?” I glanced over to the bottles behind her, they were dusty and the liquid inside was dark and murky - almost syrup-like in texture. I shook my head and walked towards the stairs. I glanced behind me, the couple and the innkeeper were watching me, their eyes tracking my movement. My body shivered involuntarily. I arrived at my room and stepped inside, throwing my shoes and coat onto the floor. It was cramped and sad. The walls were covered with a sickly yellow wallpaper, peeling and ripped. I could see the damp and smell the mould, someone had sprayed perfume in a failed attempt to mask the smell - instead, the scents mixed, creating what could only be described as ‘sweet rot’. The bed was a single with a metal frame, painted black and chipped with time. I sat down, the mattress felt solid, the pillows flat. There was no duvet, but a thick, handmade patchwork blanket that itched and scratched at my skin. The bedside table had a small tray with an old-fashioned kettle - the base coated with a thin layer of limescale, two dirty glasses, several tea bags and a few small packets of biscuits - several months out of date. Next to the tiny window was a laminated piece of paper, stuck to the wall with Blu-Tack. In bold letters, it read ‘Notice to guests’ and in smaller print below, ‘Please follow these guidelines: 1. All doors to enter/exit are locked and service ends at 10 pm for our security and safety. Be advised that if you are outside the inn after hours, there will be no one to let you back in. 2. There are no individual facilities; please use the public bathrooms downstairs. 3. Entry to the cellar is forbidden, these are our personal living quarters, we expect you to be mindful of our (and our other guests') personal spaces. 4. Guests should vacate their room by 10 am. Violations of these guidelines may result in fines and/or bans from our establishment. Enjoy your stay.’ Sure. that made sense for the most part. The curfew felt odd, but it wasn’t as though this was some fancy hotel with key cards or whatever - it was either locked for everyone or open for everyone. I checked my phone: 10:32 pm. 5%. One flickering bar. No messages. My head still throbbed and the sweet rot smell was settling into my lungs - maybe fresh air would help? I took a deep breath and stood up, walking towards the window. A sharp pain radiated from my foot. I’d stepped on something, something metal and round. I picked it up and held it close to my face. A ring. It looked… familiar. I turned it over in my hands, inspecting it. It looked just like it, just like her engagement ring. White gold with a centrepiece diamond decorated with two rubies on either side. The only difference was the chip in the side of the diamond, my sister treasured her ring - she would never allow any harm to come to it. Or take it off. I was so lost in thought that the sudden sound of the groaning pipes coming from down the hall startled me. The sound wasn’t just normal old-building-noises but something that almost mimicked a song. The same song my sister would calm me with when I scraped my knee or ran to her room to escape the ‘monster’ under my bed. I didn’t understand. None of this made any sense. The pipes continued to groan, a low, distorted vibrating sound, slightly louder now. I wanted to leave, I’d figure something else out. I couldn’t sit here and listen to this, to let such a warm memory be twisted and warped into a mockery of her. I grabbed my things and checked my phone one last time: 10:52 pm. 5%. No bars. No messages. As a made my way out, I couldn’t help but listen as the methodical melody penetrated my mind. There it was, the door out. It was open. Not just unlocked but open, just a crack. I slowed my pace, taking a moment to question it. The main doors were supposed to be locked, it was past the 10 pm cut-off time. Why was I questioning that? I wanted to leave, didn’t I? Well, there was the exit, right in front of me. Footsteps. Soft and delicate. The pipes silenced instantly. I held my breath and turned around slowly. Was the innkeeper coming to lock the door? The old couple, maybe? About to complain about the racket I’d made? No… Golden hair, white summer dress, ankle bracelet. She didn’t look at me. Didn’t even acknowledge my presence. As though I wasn’t there. I could’ve been a ghost. She just continued walking, stopped behind the bar, opened the door and descended a set of stairs that must’ve led to the cellar. I called out to her. No answer. I didn’t think, didn’t question - just followed. My body moved on its own. The floor creaked as I walked, my footsteps echoing against the walls - hers were now silent. The staircase seemed to stretch on forever - and every step I took, she got further and further away. I quickened my pace, almost falling as I went. I reached out to her, desperate, but she was gone. I’d reached the bottom of the stairs, the living quarters of the innkeeper. I wasn’t met with a furnished living room; I paused, taking in my surroundings. A large, cold room, empty except for an elegant banquet table. Silverware, plates, bowls and glasses decorated the table - yet there was no food or drink in sight. Five people sat at the table; six chairs remained empty. The barmaid, the elderly couple, a young boy and at the head of the table - an old man. They watched me carefully, without blinking. My rapid breathing filled the silence. They looked wrong. Waxy, pale skin and glassy eyes. I took a step backwards. I’d clearly intruded on… something. “Welcome.” The man at the head of the table tapped his nails against his plate, one after the other. The rhythmic ‘clink’ rippled into my ears. “Are you ready? You seem to be.” My body froze. His words seeped into my soul, keeping me in place. The throbbing in my temple softened, pulsing in time with those clink. Clink. Clinks. Was I ready? He smiled, tilting his head slightly. “It’s okay, that’s a difficult question - isn’t it?” His tone was gentle, the same way you’d speak to a child. “Sit. Listen. Your mind is yet to understand what your soul has known and craved for a while now.” He gestured towards the empty chair next to him. I sat, my limbs were no longer under my control. The others had stopped watching me, their eyes fixed on him. Waiting. He was their shepherd. “You’re so tired. The pain must be excruciating. Your mind and body have given up, yet you remain. Let us help you.” He stroked my hair softly. As he spoke, weeks of exhaustion and repressed guilt hit me at once - crushing me. He’d reached inside me and dragged it all out, my very being laid out on the table. He continued, “People don't just stumble upon this place, the universe finds a way to bring them here. None of this was an accident, you know. You were meant to be here. You went out of your way to come here, made it your only option. You could have left, the door was open. But you didn't. You chose to follow a memory.” He tapped the plate again. “You wanted this. You want what comes next. Sometimes people like you need someone to guide them - show them the path. That’s why we exist.” The barmaid reached for something in her pocket and dropped it on my plate. The ring. They didn’t say anything about it; they didn’t need to. The ring spoke for itself, an eternal promise that was never able to be fulfilled. His words made little sense to me, but they cut deep. What help could they possibly offer me? “You can’t fix this.” Slurred and faint, I hardly managed to get the words out. Every syllable required strength I didn’t have. Every word he spoke drained me, sucked out my will. He wasn’t just talking to me, he was changing me. A lamb to the slaughter. The man's brow furrowed “Fix it? Fix you? Poppet, attempting to fix something that breaks time and time again is meaningless.” I opened my mouth. No words came out. “No. Every fibre of your being is begging you to let go. I know you feel it. It’s time for you to leave. You’re ready now, go.” My body was finally my own again. I picked myself up. My joints ground against eachother with every step. I reached the stairs, holding the wall for support - I began to climb. My body ached. My mind numb. I hunched over, vomiting. I couldn’t get back up. I planted my hands on the stairs and crawled the rest of the way. I wanted to give up, but I saw it. The door, the way out. The night air washed over me; I continued until I couldn’t. I collapsed. Sprawled out on the grass, I let myself rest. I was at the edge of the lake, I closed my eyes. There was no sound, yet the man's words pounded in my mind. I wanted to give up before this place, but being here - it was taking away my choice. The Crossroads Inn was a void of nothingness with no escape and it stole my ability to even try. “You forgot this.” I opened my eyes. The boy stood over me, in the palm of his hand was the ring. He didn’t give it back to me, though. He sat down, focused on the lake. “What was she like?” He asked. “She was… special. She was more than just my sister - she was my guiding light.” I didn’t expect a child to understand the grief I felt, the emptiness. “And now she’s gone.” “Yeah.” “She’s not coming back.” “I know.” That was it. He stood up and walked away without another word, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a sense of finality. I used the last of my strength to pull myself towards the lake. It called to me, beckoned me closer. I looked into the water and saw her reflection staring back at me. I’m ready. submitted by /u/365DaysOfRunning to r/nosleep [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
365DaysOfRunning |
Jan 22, 2026 |
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Hey all! I've been working on a shopping term and brand/shops list! Please let me know if there's anything I can add at all!!
I do not know what shops are open and this is not a compete list!! Please lmk if there's anything I can add! Color search terms: • Pastel • Light • Baby • Pale • Pastel rainbow Character/other search terms: • Kawaii • Unicorn • Strawberry • Shooting/Star, heart, moon • Cotton/Candy, icecream, cake • Bunny, bear, deer, ducky • Little twin stars, My melody, Cinnamoroll, Sugar bunnies, Hello kitty, Tuxedo sam, Sanrio • Kirby • My little pony • Carebears • Strawberry shortcake • Fluffy, Ruffle, lace Shops (websites/Etsy): • Kei collective • Diccha • MerbunnyBaby • Miss Octopie • Incontrol Clothing • Ocean in space • Miss alphabet • ShopChrissaSparkles • CloudCastleShoppe • Mazs Boutique • WonderlandAttitude • Kawaii goods • DarlingAslan • PreciousBbyz • LittleBanshees • KawaiiCraftsWithLove • SugarPopPartyShop • DreamyPUNKShop • IchigoBlack • PlusHiiKawaii • VelvetValcano •Holley tea room •CyberCherryClothes •DreamyBows Brands (may need special ways to order): • Milklim • Bodyline • 6% DOKIDOKI • Spank! • Nile perch • ACDC RAG • My violet • Listen Flavor • Swimmer Secondhand/ Vintage: • ROSE • Adele Clothing piece search terms: Tops: • Shirt • Blouse • Ruffle sleeve • Sweater / jumper • Cardigan • Tanktop Bottoms: • Tutu/petticoat/pannier • Ruffle skirt • Shorts • Fuzzy pj pants • Tights Clothing accessories: • Leg Warmers • Arm warmers • Fuzzy scarf • Ruffle socks • Fuzzle ankle/Knee high socks • Detachable collar Accessories: • Bows • Ruffle headband • Hairclips • Badges/ pins/ buttons • Chunky rings • Chunky necklaces • Chunky bracelets submitted by /u/Distinct-Ad8973 to r/fairykei [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
Distinct-Ad8973 |
Jan 5, 2026 |
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Phoebe Augustine (Ronette Pulaski/American Girl) made a great album "Smitten" with her band Cling. in 1996
Phoebe Augustine (Ronette Pulaski/American Girl) made a great album "Smitten" with her band Cling. in 1996 Phoebe Augustine (Ronette Pulaski in Twin Peaks: 1, 2, & Fire Walk With Me & American Girl in Twin Peaks 3) made an album called "Smitten" with her band Cling. in 1996. I found a copy of the CD on Discogs, and have been listening to it a lot recently. Phoebe's singing/lyrics are tender and heart-centered, and the record is a solid dreamy pop ride, bright with a hint of night. It's been a comforting listen going into these darker months. The album is of the era and in the sounds/spirit of some other great music: Velocity Girl, The Softies, Black Tambourine, The Spinanes, Blake Babies/Juliana Hatfield, Tiger Trap, Autoclave/Helium/Mary Timony, Belly, Stina Nordenstam, etc. Fans of those groups would find a lost classic in "Smitten" I highly recommend checking out this great album made by Phoebe, who is also such a special part of Twin Peaks and the Twin Peaks community. on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNfUufFE0Vg&list=OLAK5uy_n_Ly97whcDnDlOxmUiOQ8Wxhoh9T4ddjI&index=2 on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/78E46uNxSoMRj8rQQ1WK3k?si=eufn_AwvQo6zvZDa_AibVw on Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/10036214-Cling-Smitten?srsltid=AfmBOoqi4akHhPvwWFN4CZwJ_94ZLK-H9MNzqpB78zdDwAijvUNO8sfM lyrics: https://genius.com/albums/Cling/Smitten submitted by /u/the_shifting_easel to r/twinpeaks [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
the_shifting_easel |
Dec 8, 2025 |
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4 Very Scary TRUE Truck Stop Vanishing Horror Stories
"See You Soon…": I had just turned twenty-two that summer—fresh out of college, restless, and ready to start a new life out west. My younger brother Tom, nineteen and always chasing a thrill, insisted on joining me for the cross-country drive from Boston to Los Angeles. We packed our battered old station wagon with everything we owned—clothes, books, half-broken guitars—and started west with the kind of blind optimism only siblings our age could have. Tom was the energy in the car, always humming, always tapping the dashboard, always telling some ridiculous joke to keep the long miles from swallowing us whole. “If this thing breaks down,” he’d say, flicking the steering wheel with a grin, “I’ll thumb a ride with the first cowboy who stops. Bet he’ll have better stories than you.” By the time we reached Wyoming, the world had stretched into nothing but open sky, sun-bleached plains, and distant mountains that looked painted on. Around midday, we pulled into a truck stop near Fort Bridger—rows of big rigs lined up like patient giants, a diner with chrome counters and sticky menus, a gift shop selling dusty maps and stale candy. We grabbed sandwiches in the diner and walked back to the car, still joking, still laughing—completely unaware of the crack in our timeline about to split everything into “before” and “after.” I turned the key. The engine sputtered, coughed, died. Tom groaned, popped the hood, and bent over it with absolutely no plan. “Alternator, maybe? Or… something alternator-adjacent.” He gave me a helpless shrug. “We’re stuck.” A few minutes later, footsteps crunched on gravel. A man approached. Mid-forties, flannel shirt, jeans, a faded baseball cap pulled low. The kind of man you’d never remember in a crowd—a face worn by sun, long hours, and the loneliness of highways. His voice was calm, steady, almost too steady. “Having trouble?” Tom stepped back from the engine. “Yeah, car won’t start. Think it’s electrical.” The man peered beneath the hood like he’d seen a thousand dead engines before. “There’s a parts shop ten miles up the road. I’m headed that way. I can drive you there—won’t take long.” He pointed to a red pickup a few yards away, tools scattered in the bed. Tom looked at me, concerned but trusting. “I’ll go grab the part, come right back.” Something about the man felt wrong. Not obvious—subtle. The way he kept his eyes on the engine, never on us. The way he spoke like he already knew what we’d say. But we were stranded. And it seemed safer than waiting hours for a tow. “Okay,” I said, though the word felt heavy. “Be quick.” Tom hopped into the passenger seat of the truck and gave me a wave—carefree, confident, trusting the world the way nineteen-year-olds still can. I watched the truck pull onto the highway, shrinking into the horizon. Fifteen minutes passed. Then thirty. I bought a soda. Walked the lot. Watched trucks rumble in and out. An hour crawled by, sticky and slow. Worry settled in like cold water. I asked a few truckers if they’d seen a red pickup leave. Most shook their heads. One older man with a tobacco-stained beard paused before answering. “Haven’t seen him. But… folks disappear around here. Happens more than people like to admit.” My throat tightened. “Disappear how?” “Hitchhikers, travelers, tourists. They trust the wrong driver, and poof.” He tapped the side of his head. “Highways attract all kinds.” He walked away, leaving a chill where he’d been standing. By two hours, panic had its hands around my lungs. I ran inside the shop and told the clerk—a gray-haired woman with tired eyes—what happened. “My brother left with a man in a red pickup for car parts, and they haven’t—” “Red pickup?” she cut in, frowning. “Honey, I’ve been watching the lot all morning. I never saw one.” “But—it was right outside.” She let me use the phone. My fingers trembled dialing. I told the dispatcher everything. She told me to stay put. Outside, pacing, I noticed something on the ground where the truck had been parked—a crumpled receipt. Chains. Rope. Purchased that morning. My stomach dropped. When Deputy Harris arrived—a tall, serious man with windburned cheeks—I handed him the receipt. His jaw tightened. “We’ve had cases like this,” he said quietly. “Young people accepting help. Then disappearing.” “What cases?” “Last year, kid on a motorcycle broke down. Driver offered him a ride to a parts store. Kid never came back. Bike turned up abandoned on a dirt road. No sign of him.” My voice was barely a whisper. “That’s exactly what happened to Tom.” The deputy sighed, looking out toward the endless highway. “These stops attract predators. Some of them drive long haul routes. They know the backroads, the timing, the blind spots.” He shook his head. “Once someone gets pulled into the wrong vehicle… they’re gone before anyone notices.” I wanted to search, to run into the desert screaming Tom’s name. Harris insisted it wasn’t safe. I didn’t feel safe anywhere. That night, in a motel the sheriff arranged, I lay awake listening to the building breathe. Every sound felt like a warning. Every silence felt like an accusation. The next day, they found Tom’s wallet tossed in a ditch five miles away. His ID still inside. Cash gone. No signs of a struggle. Just abandoned—like trash. Weeks passed. Then months. Search crews combed ravines, fields, old service roads. Nothing. Investigators eventually mentioned the same horror whispered across the interstate system—the “highway killers,” truckers who lived in the liminal spaces between states, picking up vulnerable travelers and leaving no trace. One FBI agent showed me a map dotted with red pins across the country. “Your brother’s case matches the pattern,” he said gently. I asked about the man. He shrugged helplessly. “They blend in with everyone else.” One night, months later, the phone rang. A man’s voice—muffled, low, almost amused. “Your brother shouldn’t have trusted me.” Click. The call couldn’t be traced. Years have passed. I still drive those highways sometimes, pulling into lonely truck stops and scanning the faces around me. Every red pickup makes my pulse stutter. Every stranger’s smile feels wrong. Tom vanished into the spaces between mile markers—into the silence of the road, into the hands of a man who offered help with a calm voice and steady eyes. The case remains open. And somewhere out there, that man might still be driving, scanning the lots, looking for the next stranded soul who believes the world is kinder than it is. Some roads take you where you want to go. Others never let you come back. "The Side Door": I pulled into the truck stop just off the interstate sometime after midnight, my fingers aching from gripping the wheel for the last three hours straight. Driving alone this late always made the darkness feel heavier, like it pressed in from every direction, but my friend Lisa had called earlier, saying she needed a ride after her shift at a diner down the road. We said we’d meet here, maybe grab something fried and terrible for us, then head home together. Simple enough. The place was alive in that way only truck stops are at night—big rigs rumbling like giant mechanical animals, engines idling low, men in reflective jackets drifting between fuel pumps, the air thick with diesel fumes, hot asphalt, and the unmistakable smell of salty fryer oil. I parked near the entrance, checked my phone—no new messages—and headed inside. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead with a sickly hum, washing everything in a harsh, pale glow. The counter was sticky under my elbows, the kind of tackiness that never fully dries no matter how much someone wipes it. The woman behind it looked like she’d been awake for three shifts straight, eyes half-lidded as she refilled mugs for a couple of flannel-wearing men hunched over their phones. One of them barked a laugh so sudden and sharp it made me flinch. I ordered a soda and moved to a window booth where I could watch the parking lot. Outside, headlights sliced through the dark as trucks pulled in and out, giant silhouettes shifting like walls. A few people wandered between them—mostly men, faces unreadable in the dimness, some carrying duffel bags, some just stretching their backs after long hours behind the wheel. Lisa arrived about ten minutes later, shoulders slumped, her diner uniform wrinkled, hair tied back in a messy ponytail. The bells over the door jingled as she spotted me and slid into the booth, giving me that tired, crooked smile she always wore after a long shift. “God, what a day,” she sighed, rubbing her eyes. “Customers wouldn’t stop coming. Half of them were rude, the other half clueless. Thanks for picking me up, Jen. If I had to sit on that busted bus again, I’d lose my mind.” “You know I don’t mind,” I said, pushing the menu toward her. “Let’s eat and get out of here. Something about this place creeps me out.” She glanced around, nodding. “Yeah… the vibe’s off. Anyway, burger and fries. Comfort food.” We ordered from a younger waitress—“Karen,” according to her tilted nametag—who took our order with a practiced blankness that only comes from working late-night shifts under fluorescent lights. While we waited, Lisa told me about a kid who spilled milk on himself and screamed like he’d lost a limb, and the table of tourists who left her a stack of pennies like it was some kind of joke. I told her about my classes and how my professor could make even the apocalypse sound boring. For a little while, it felt normal again—two friends catching up in a place built for transience. Our food came steaming hot, and we dug in. We were maybe five bites in when the bell over the door jingled again, and a man walked in. Tall. Fifties. A plain, forgettable face under a worn trucker’s cap. Clothes clean but aged—jeans faded from years on the road, scuffed boots, a shirt that had been washed thin. He paused when he spotted us. Actually paused. His eyes lingered just a little too long. He sat at the counter, ordered black coffee, but kept glancing over. Not quick looks. Not curiosity. Watching. Lisa noticed it before I mentioned it. “He’s staring,” she whispered. “Probably bored,” I muttered, shifting so I wasn’t fully facing away from him. But my stomach tightened. He finished his coffee quickly, paid in crumpled cash, then—without hesitation—walked straight toward our booth. He stopped at the edge like he belonged there. “Evening, ladies,” he said. His tone was polite but empty, like he’d practiced the line a thousand times. “Saw you two sitting alone. Figured you might want some company.” “We’re good,” I replied, keeping my voice neutral. Firm, but not rude. Lisa, ever the people-pleaser, gave him a gentle smile. “Just grabbing dinner before heading home. You a driver?” He nodded and, without asking, pulled a chair from a nearby table and sat down at the end of our booth. “Name’s Dave,” he said. “Been hauling cross-country for twenty years. Seen it all. Where you girls headed tonight?” “Back to town,” Lisa answered, casual as ever. “Town?” he echoed, leaning in slightly. “I go through there on deliveries sometimes. If you ever need help on the road—tire pressure, directions, whatever—my rig’s right out front. Big blue one with the silver stripe.” I wanted to grab Lisa and walk out right then, but she kept chatting out of politeness. He answered her questions with short, bland stories—mountains in Colorado, beaches in Florida—but the whole time, his eyes stayed locked on her face like he was memorizing it. After a few minutes, he stood abruptly. “Nice talking. Safe travels.” The second he left, I exhaled hard. “Okay, that was creepy.” “He was just lonely,” she said lightly. “Harmless.” I didn’t argue, but my nerves didn’t settle. We finished eating, paid Karen, and walked back into the night. The parking lot felt different now—quieter, colder, shadows stretching long between trucks. Lisa reached into her pocket and froze. “Crap. My phone. I think I left it at the booth. Hold on.” She jogged back inside. I leaned against the car, twirling the keys, watching her disappear behind the glass. Minutes passed. Then ten. My chest tightened. I headed back inside. The tired counter woman—back from break—looked up lazily. “Did you see a girl come in?” I asked. “She grabbed something from where you were sitting,” the woman said. “Then went out the side door.” A cold weight slid into my stomach. The side door led directly into the truck lot. I thanked her and pushed outside. The night air felt colder now. Sharp. Wrong. Rows of semis stretched into the dark, engines murmuring like low growls. I called Lisa’s name. No answer. I walked between rigs, peering into shadows. At the far edge stood a truck exactly like Dave described—a big blue rig with a silver stripe, parked under a flickering light. The cab door was slightly open, a thin sliver of warm yellow spilling out. Something inside me whispered run. But I moved closer. Voices. Muffled. “Lisa?” I whispered. I pulled the door wider. She was inside—sitting on the edge of the sleeper bunk, relaxed, chatting—while Dave stood beside her holding a map. She wasn’t scared. She wasn’t tense. Just curious, oblivious. “Oh, Jen!” she said, smiling. “Dave was just showing me his setup. It’s like a tiny apartment!” Dave smiled too—but his eyes stayed cold. Glassy. “Come on in,” he said. “Plenty of room.” I climbed in because leaving her alone with him felt worse than going in. The smell hit me first—cleaner mixed with something metallic. Something wrong. The cab was too tidy. Too neat. A rifle case in the corner. Papers stacked perfectly. Dave moved behind me and shut the door. Click. Lisa pointed at the map, completely unaware. “He marked all these routes! Look at this one—” I barely heard her. My eyes caught on a dark stain under the floor mat. Thick. Old. Too dark to be coffee. “And this,” Dave said pleasantly, pulling a plastic bag from under the bunk. Inside were women’s clothes. Folded. Lisa’s smile faded. “What… what’s that?” “Left behind,” he said simply. “Happens a lot.” Something inside me snapped. “Lisa. We need to go.” Dave’s face changed then. Dropped its friendliness like a cheap mask. “Sit down,” he said, voice lower. Lisa stood. “What’s—” He grabbed her arm. “Sit.” She yanked back, terrified now. “Let go!” I didn’t think—I lunged for the door, shoved him hard, and tumbled out onto the gravel. “RUN, LISA!” She scrambled after me, but he caught her sleeve, jerking her back. Her scream tore through the night. I sprinted toward the restaurant, hammering on the door. “HELP! CALL THE POLICE!” The counter woman ran out with her phone already dialing. Drivers emerged from their rigs, confused but alert. The police arrived fast—lights flashing, boots pounding gravel. They tore open Dave’s truck. What they found inside wasn’t just stains. It was women’s things—phones, wallets, jewelry. Items from states apart. A timeline hidden in plain sight. Lisa wasn’t there. Her purse was. Dave insisted she left. But forensic teams found blood behind fresh paint. Hair stuck in a vent. A bracelet lodged under the bunk. Days later, they linked him to missing women from truck stops across three states. Weeks later, they found Lisa. Miles away. Now, every time I pass that truck stop, I look at the blue glow of the rigs and think about how easily the road swallows people. How close I came to disappearing into the dark with her. And how many others never got away. "The Last Turnoff": The night I pulled into that truck stop off the interstate in northern Georgia, the air felt unusually still, like the world was holding its breath. I’d been driving for hours with barely any stops, trying to outrun the thoughts clawing at me after a rough week at home. My name is Kayla, and I was on my way to see an old friend in Rome—someone who always seemed to understand me when life got heavy. The place was called the Flying Eagle, a truck stop that glowed like an island under the harsh yellow lights above the pumps. Big rigs idled in long, humming lines, their engines vibrating through the ground. A diner was attached, a squat building with fogged windows and a neon sign that flickered like it was tired of its own job. I parked my little white sedan in the back lot, away from the semis, convinced it would be quieter there. I didn’t know then that this one small choice—this harmless, practical decision—would unravel the entire night. Inside the diner, the air smelled like freezer-burned fries and burnt coffee. A waitress with tired eyes wiped at the counter with a damp rag leaving streaks behind. Her name tag said Rita. She gave me a weary smile. “What can I get you, hon?” she asked, her voice soft, thick with the exhaustion of too many overnight shifts. “Just a black coffee,” I said as I slid onto a stool. “And, uh… directions to Rome? I’m not familiar with the area.” She poured my coffee into a foam cup and handed it to me. “Straight down I-75 about an hour. Watch for deer—they’ve been bad lately. Drivers hitting ‘em left and right.” We talked for a moment about nothing—weather, long roads, how truckers kept the place alive at night. At the far end of the counter sat a man, maybe mid-forties. Scruffy beard, baseball cap pulled low, nursing a cup he barely seemed to sip. He kept glancing at the door like he was waiting for someone who was late… or someone who wasn’t supposed to show up at all. He never looked directly at me, but something about him brushed up against my nerves—maybe too still, too quiet, too… watchful. When I paid and stepped back outside, the night felt colder. The lot was mostly empty now, the chatter of earlier traffic fading. I tossed my backpack into the passenger seat, but the moment I closed the door, I realized something—I’d left my phone charger inside. I sighed, locked up out of habit, and jogged back toward the diner. Rita noticed it on the counter as soon as I walked in. “You almost forgot this,” she said. “Safe travels, hon.” The way she said it—gentle, almost motherly—settled something in me. Calm. Normal. But that feeling vanished the instant I returned to my car. My driver’s seat was pushed back an extra few inches. My purse on the floor looked disturbed, the zipper half open. I froze. My mouth went dry. Had I… left it like that? No. I knew I hadn’t. I opened it—wallet there, cards untouched. Nothing obvious missing. But someone had been inside. Someone had been sitting where I now stood, breathing in my space. I scanned the lot. All quiet. Too quiet. I forced myself to start the car and pull out. I just needed to get back onto the highway. Get away from here. As long as I got moving, I’d— My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: “Need help with that flat tire?” My heart knocked into my ribs. I didn’t have a flat tire. In my rearview mirror, from a dark corner of the lot, a pair of headlights flicked on—slow, deliberate. A black pickup eased out, dented and old, pulling onto the road behind me. Not tailgating. Not passing. Just… there. Matching my speed. Sitting in my blind spot like a shadow made of metal. “Okay, Kayla,” I whispered to myself. “Stay calm.” I took the next exit, hoping to lose him in the grid of a small town. The truck followed. I pulled into a closed gas station, parking under a single streetlamp. The truck rolled to a stop across the street, engine rumbling, headlights off. Watching. I dialed 911. My voice shook. “H-hello? There’s a truck following me. I—I think someone messed with my car back at the Flying Eagle.” “Ma’am, stay on the line,” the operator said. “Where are you right now?” I gave the address. She started to say something, but the sound of a door slamming made my skin crawl. The man from the diner stepped out of the truck. Same cap. Same beard. Same dead-quiet presence. He walked toward my car slowly, like he had all the time in the world. I locked the doors. My breath fogged the glass. He tapped on the window with two knuckles. “You break down?” he asked, expression blank. “Saw you pull over funny.” “Go away,” I snapped through the glass. “I’m calling the police!” A thin smile crept across his face. “No need for that. I’m just tryin’ to help. You left your lights on back at the stop.” “I didn’t.” He gripped the door handle. Tried it gently. Then harder. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a thin tool—something meant for locks. The clicking sound made my stomach drop. The door yanked open. Everything happened fast—a hand on my arm, the sting of pain as he twisted, the world tilting as he dragged me. My scream tore out but vanished into the empty night. My phone fell, screen cracking on the asphalt. He stomped it out without even looking. He pulled me into the cab of his truck and zip-tied my wrists so tight my fingers tingled. The inside reeked of old cigarettes and something metallic—coppery, sharp. Blood. Or something close to it. Tools rattled behind the seat. Chains. Rope. A tarp. “Where are you taking me?” I whispered. “Away,” he said simply, starting the engine. “Quiet now.” He drove down backroads, deeper into woods where the trees seemed to swallow the headlights whole. He hummed a song under his breath—tuneless, low, rhythmic, like something he’d hummed a thousand times before. When he stopped, it was in front of a shed half-buried in brush, as if the forest had been slowly trying to reclaim it. The inside smelled like dust and damp rot. A single bulb swayed, casting shadows that seemed to breathe. Dark stains marked the floor—too dark, too old to be dirt. “Sit,” he ordered, pointing to a chair bolted to the concrete. “Why me?” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “You were alone,” he said with a shrug. “Easy.” He tied my ankles, stepped back, studied me like I was inventory. “I do this sometimes. Pick people who won’t be missed right away.” He left. Locked the door with a final, echoing clank. Hours passed. Maybe a day. Time blurred. The bulb flickered. Sometimes footsteps paced outside. Sometimes humming drifted through the cracks. When he returned, he tossed me a sandwich and water. “Eat,” he said. “You’ll need strength.” “For what?” My voice cracked. He paused. His eyes gleamed. “For the game,” he whispered. “I let you run. See if you make it.” The laugh that followed was soft, breathy, but it hollowed me out. When he left again, I bent over, working the plastic ties against my teeth until my gums bled. Pain sharpened me, fueled me. One hand slipped free. Then the other. When he came back later, flashlight in hand, he nudged me with his boot. I stayed limp, breathing slow. He leaned closer. I moved. I grabbed a loose board near the chair and swung with every ounce of terror in my bones. It cracked against his temple. He dropped, groaning. I ran. The forest tore at me. Branches sliced my arms. My lungs burned. Behind me, his voice rose—ragged, furious: “You won’t get far!” I dove behind a fallen log, trembling as his flashlight beam swept inches from my face. Minutes stretched like hours. When he moved deeper into the woods, I slipped away, heading toward the faint glow of distant highways. I burst out onto asphalt, waving down a passing car with what strength I had left. Police searched the shed. It was empty. He was gone. No tools. No tarp. Just the chair. The ties. Silent proof. My car was still at the Flying Eagle. Nothing missing. Just the seat pushed back. They told me another man went missing days before from the same stop. Found later in a marsh. Ruled “overdose.” His family insisted he was clean. The scene didn’t add up. Sometimes, late at night, I get texts from unknown numbers. “Missed you.” I delete them. But the fear stays like a bruise that never fully heals. And every time I pass a truck stop, I check the mirrors. Twice. Sometimes three times. Because out there somewhere, a man with a low baseball cap and dead eyes might be watching a door, waiting for the next person who looks “easy.” "Westbound": I remember the exact feeling of pulling into that dusty truck stop off Interstate 45 in Texas—how the whole place shimmered in the evening heat like a mirage you’re not sure you should trust. The gravel crunched under the tires of the old pickup that dropped us off, and when Lisa and I climbed out, the warm air smelled like diesel, old rubber, and something metallic I couldn’t place at the time. We were both nineteen, stupidly fearless, and hitchhiking to California like it was some rite of passage. Lisa, with her wild red curls and laugh that sounded like she’d never once been scared of anything, kept talking about touching the Pacific Ocean for the first time. Me? I just needed to run—from home, from expectations, from a life that felt too small for me to breathe in. Three days on the road had turned us into dusty shadows of ourselves. We’d been eating greasy burgers, washing up in gas station sinks, and sleeping in the backs of pickups under thin blankets of early summer heat. But that night, our legs were tired and our throats were dry, and we needed rest—and maybe a ride heading west. The place was called Big Rig Haven, though nothing about it felt haven-like. A crooked row of gas pumps glowed under buzzing lights. The diner’s neon sign flickered like it was blinking out a warning. And the semis in the lot sat like enormous sleeping animals, impossible to read, impossible to trust. The old farmer who had given us our last ride waved once before pulling away, dust swirling behind his truck. Lisa stretched, cracking her neck. “Coffee,” she announced. “Or I’m gonna die right here in the parking lot.” We slung our backpacks over our shoulders and walked toward the diner. Inside, the air was a thick mix of fried eggs, burned coffee, and engine grease. A few truckers sat hunched at the counter, their faces lit by the yellow glow of the overhead lights. The waitress—gray hair pinned sloppily back, tired eyes that looked like they could read your entire life in one glance—poured us both coffees without being asked. “You girls seem too young to be out here alone,” she said, sliding the mugs toward us. Lisa flashed her usual smile. “We’re fine. Just headed west. You know anyone going that way?” The waitress shook her head slowly. “Some of the folks here are good men. Others… aren’t. Just mind yourselves.” I took a sip—too hot, bitter—and let my gaze drift around the diner. That’s when I first saw him. A tall bearded man in a flannel shirt sat alone in the corner booth. He didn’t look at anyone, didn’t touch his food—just stared at his plate like he was thinking of something else entirely. Something far away. Something cold. I didn’t like the way his shoulders never moved. Like he barely breathed. Lisa didn’t see him. She had already pulled out her folded map, spreading it over the table like she was plotting a treasure hunt. “If we get a ride to El Paso tonight,” she said, tracing the route with her finger, “we could hit New Mexico by sunrise.” I nodded, but a sour heaviness had settled in my stomach. The man from the booth stood, slid a few crumpled bills onto the table, and walked past us. He smelled faintly of metal and something faintly sweet—almost chemical. When he glanced at us, his eyes lingered for a second too long. Too empty. Lisa kept talking, oblivious, folding the map. After a while, she pushed back her chair. “I gotta pee. Watch my stuff?” She grabbed her backpack and wandered toward the back hallway. I stayed behind, picking apart a napkin, trying to shake the uneasy feeling crawling up my spine. Five minutes passed. Ten. I glanced at the restroom door. Fifteen. Finally I stood, walked toward the door, and knocked lightly. “Lisa? You good?” Silence. I opened the door. The restroom was empty—two stalls, a sink, a mirror streaked with old water stains. “Lisa?” My voice sounded wrong. Too small. Both stalls were empty. No backpack. No Lisa. A cold tremor went through me. I hurried back to the counter. “Did you see my friend leave?” I asked the waitress. “Red hair. Blue jacket.” She frowned. “No, honey. I saw her go in there… but not out.” My chest tightened. I pushed through the diner door into the humid night, calling her name. “Lisa!” The lot swallowed my voice. Semis idled, engines rumbling like distant thunder. Huge shadows stretched between them. I walked aisle after aisle, knocking on doors, asking if anyone had seen her. Most shook their heads. One man didn’t even look up—just muttered, “Ain’t seen nobody. Keep moving.” Back inside, my hands trembling, I told the waitress, “She’s gone.” This time, without hesitation, she picked up the phone and dialed the police. “Happens sometimes,” a trucker at the counter said without looking at me. “Pretty girls get picked up fast. Maybe she found a ride.” “No,” I said sharply. “She wouldn’t leave me.” The police arrived twenty minutes later. A tired-looking officer with a mustache took my statement and Lisa’s description. He searched the lot with me, flashlight beam slicing through the darkness. No signs. No screams. No struggle. Just absence. A shape cut out of my world. Hours went by. Truckers came and went. The officer left after promising to patrol nearby highways. submitted by /u/rob822 to r/horrorX [link] [comments]
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rob822 |
Nov 24, 2025 |
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Exclusive: Max B’s First Day Out 🌊 | GQ
After sixteen years in prison, your favorite rapper's biggest influence walked free this Sunday. GQ’s Frazier Tharpe rolls from the Jets game to the jeweler to the studio as rap’s erstwhile Wave God makes up for lost time. 8 a.m., Sunday morning. Two black SUVs pull up outside a W hotel on a quiet side street in Hoboken. Within seconds, the tranquility is shattered, and suddenly this slice of North Jersey bears more resemblance to a block in Harlem. A phalanx of friends, family members, and New York goons—led by French Montana, himself a matrix of all three—materializes in the horseshoe driveway, their attention focused on one vehicle specifically. Behind its tinted windows sits Max B, your favorite contemporary rapper’s biggest influence. Twenty years ago, Max was one of hip-hop’s most promising rising stars, a prolific figure in the New York City mixtape and DVD scene who’d quickly established his own unique sound and style—until a conviction on conspiracy charges to commit armed robbery brought him down to earth hard and fast, with a 75 year-prison sentence that began in 2009, recasting Max, formerly the Next Big Thing, as one of the genre’s greatest What Ifs. In 2016, Max took a twenty-year plea bargain, and with that gained a new lease on life. And after several stop-starts and delays, here he was at a hotel just outside of the city, finally home—or just across the river from home, anyway. Max emerges from the backseat, pausing for a beat to take in the scene before him. It's the only real breather he will take for the next 18 or so hours. Max uncorks his trademark Donald Duck cackle—Shh-shh-shhh—and disembarks from the truck, his energy turned up to 100. And with that, we're off to the races. “Make me look like Trump!” Max yells out, to no one in particular. The commotion swirling around him is certainly presidential. Well-wishers click their camera incessantly and thrust their phones in his face, eager to be the first to post a “Max B Home!” video on Reels or TikTok. Max alternates between giving daps or hugs depending on who’s in front of him at any given second. It’s like being in a moving mosh pit until we finally make it to the elevator bank, where a few personal security guards filter out the extras and funnel everyone into a car headed up. Inside the elevator, Max is unfazed, and focused on the woman he got out of the car with, a petite girl in a bright red tracksuit and matching hair. This is Allison Wingate, Max’s wife—they connected during his incarceration and were married this past Valentine’s Day. Max is cooing sweet nothings to her, like an uptown Pepe le Pew, for everyone to hear. French Montana can barely contain his amusement. “He like a walking movie theater, I swear,” French says with a laugh. For French and most of Max’s friends and family, a morning like this once seemed unlikely to ever come. But now it has—in a stroke of divine timing, on French Montana’s actual birthday. Everyone around Max appears to be in a state of disbelief as they moved through a packed itinerary meant to welcome him home in style. I wondered if he’d have preferred more time to bask in the moment, or to spend the day relaxing and catching up with his family instead of the schedule laid out before him—dinners, appearances, and a Jets game. Does Max B even watch football like that? “I like the action, I like the motion,” Max tells me when I ask, sounding like Tom Sizemore in Heat. “She wanted it quiet,” he said, gesturing to Allison. “I said, ‘Baby, it ain't going to be quiet.’ No, there's no quiet. This is a movie, 24/7. We out here, we outside.” For Max, the vision couldn’t be clearer. He’s had a lot of years to picture what his return might look like, and he emerged that morning with a plan set in place—and didn’t want to waste one second on that first day not moving towards it. Cue the opening credits. “I ain’t wake up this early in years,” French Montana deadpans, wide-eyed. The forecast originally called for a full day of clouds and rain, but the sun—perhaps as charmed by Max B’s infectious energy as the rest of us—is making an unplanned cameo, perfectly illuminating the downtown New York City skyline. The view from the twelfth floor of the W is a picture-perfect tableau until Max shatters the stillness, blowing onto the balcony to hurl his prison shoes into the Hudson River, shedding the last physical vestiges of incarceration. Upstairs, Max’s suites are a revolving door of family and close friends; every other minute brings another mini-reunion. Max stands on the balcony in his socks, receiving walk-ins as they come. He affectionately hugs an older woman he endearing refers to as “his second mother”; later, his actual mother Sharon slinks in, cooing “What’s up, wavy?” and affectionately hugging Montana, whom she refers to as “my Frenchman.” The scene is, understandably, mildly chaotic, oscillating between heartwarming (Max embracing his son Carter and daughter Chloe), heartbreaking (Max encouraging his younger brother to “let it out” as he bursts into tears and tightens his hug) and dramatic (Allison did not know Max’s baby mother would be in the suite, which leads to the briefest of tension spikes and raised voices). Work is already also creeping in, too—there is content to film, there are obligations to fulfill, and people such as myself are taking up space in increasingly cramped rooms that would otherwise be teeming with family members. The area is split between friends eager to see “Max” and family happy to see “Charly.” At one point, one of his aunts grows a little frustrated, remarking that she can’t wait for Charly to have more of a moment to himself, that there are “cousins he never met” who deserve an audience with him. Max’s smile never wavers, his laugh never falters, and his energy never wanes. His celebrations started last night with his fellow inmates, whom he reasons will now have to get along without his wisecracking energy to pass the time. “I’m tired of helping make other n-ggas bid’s better,” he mutters quietly. “I won't lie,” Max tells me. “It felt like [this day] wasn't going to ever get here— but it came.” Hip-hop fans of a certain age will recall the specific hold Max B had on the tristate rap scene in the mid-aughts. In 2005, a young Charly Wingate, fresh from his first stint in prison, came home and ingratiated himself with the friends he grew up with and who were now rap superstars, including Cam’Ron and other members of the Diplomats. He rechristened himself Max B, short for Biggaveli—a portmanteau of his three favorite rappers and influences: Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z (Jigga) and 2Pac (Makaveli). Perhaps inadvertently, Max’s moniker also describes what made his style so captivating. He has the distinctly New York swagger and lyrical dexterity of hometown legends Jay and Biggie, Pac’s command of melody and soulful machismo, and the pop sensibilities of all three. He was at the forefront of a total sonic vibe shift in hip-hop, employing a distinctive sing-songy flow even when the subject matter was hard-edged street shit, marrying melody and bars moreso than anyone before him. Max quickly helped solidify Dipset’s radio dominance, particularly with the ascendant Jim Jones and his sub-crew Byrd Gang—he’s credited as a co-writer officially, but is largely alleged to have provided the full framework for “We Fly High,” still Jones’s biggest hit to date. When the Diplomats went to war with Jay-Z, Max provided the hook for Cam's infamous diss track. (Recalling the idea of having to diss his namesake, Max laughs now, remembering his mindset as being “when he hears this, I want him to be like, ‘Yo, the song ass but that n-gga on the hook is special.’”) Max’s stylistic influence on that period of Dipset remains undeniable—the only thing more prolific is the amount of music he released himself both concurrently and then on his own. Library of a Legend—the hip-hop archivists who collect all manner of otherwise lost media like radio freestyles and rare verses for artists with extensive catalogs like Jay-Z—have Max’s complete discography broken down into something like 24 volumes. “Well, I just didn't give them all my sauce,” Max says referring to the Diplomats and Byrd Gang. “When I was with them, I gave them 75 [percent].” After leaving Dipset sessions, he says, “I had a whole secret studio I was going to, working on my own shit.” These days, rappers go live on Instagram when they want to play new music and talk shit; in the early '00s, they did the same on hip-hop DVDs, and Max’s personality shone through quickly. The sudden souring of his relationship with Jones (more on that later) only gave him more fuel. In any given clip he’s cuttingly hilarious in a way only Harlemites can be. Slowly but surely, he was beginning to reshape popular hip-hop in his own image, through his music and the unique lexicon that came with it. To be tapped in was to be “wavy”—a state of effortless cool. Biggaveli himself, often seen holding a stack of cash with his hair in a billowing perm, was The Wave. Max became a fixture straddling the mixtape underground and the mainstream, and his new creative chemistry with another ascendant New York rapper, French Montana, gave him a new partner to bounce off of in the wake of his falling-out with Jones. That Max would blow up seemed all-but guaranteed. Until it wasn’t. But although he was imprisoned before his wave could crest, the seeds of Max’s movement endured and blossomed in the rap classes that followed. Those who know ball would argue that you don’t get Drake as we’ve come to know him without Max pioneering that melodic style—or that at the very least, Max was destined for a similar pop ubiquity. Artists ranging from mavericks like Young Thug to A Boogie have cited him as an influence. A$AP Rocky’s best album has a track named after him (A$AP Yams was an avid supporter). And when Wiz Khalifa chastised Kanye for considering naming his seventh album Waves without paying proper respect to the man who made that word an official staple of the cultural lexicon, Kanye countered by reaching out to French Montana to get Max to record his own standalone interlude for what became The Life of Pablo. To that point, of all Max’s rap peers, none kept his name ringing out as loyally as French, even as Montana’s star rose, from Cocaine City DVDs to hip-hop’s A-list. The two continued to collaborate even through Max’s incarceration; one of French’s albums even features a track putting Biggavel alongside The Weeknd. “I was just telling him that the game is missing him,” French tells me, recalling the tenor of his and Max’s conversations these last two decades. “I was keeping him going, putting him in all the music, keeping his name alive—I mean, what's a brother supposed to do? I knew one day he was going to come home and really get what he deserved.” “Proud ain’t the word—that shit kept me going,” Max says of witnessing French’s rise from behind bars. “It's hard to describe when you are genuinely happy for somebody and you really want to see them win. To see him win from where we came from, it was just like—I done been on the phone with everybody, he put me on the phone with all his girlfriends,” Max cackles, referencing French’s storied dating history. “That's Sanaa Lathan? Let me say hi. That's Khloe? Let me say what's up to Scott [Disick]. I spoke to everybody, to the princess of Dubai”—Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, French’s fiancée, whose father is the ruler of Dubai and the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. “One time,” Max adds, “I called the n-gga, he’s like, ‘Hold on’...He handed Vin Diesel the phone. Me and bro had a wild experience…we been through the trenches.” Ask any family member or friend about Max’s demeanor during his prison bid and they’ll highlight his overwhelming positivity and optimism. “He would be talking to me like I was the one who was locked up,” French recalls. Montana once stole the show on a track with Drake and Rick Ross thanks to the palpable pain with which he rapped about Max’s sentence: “Gave my n-gga Max seven-five…got me feeling like I’m 75, a n-gga ain’t even seen 30.” Sixteen years is still a long time though, and Max admits that some stretches were harder mentally than others. “There were some long nights in prison, nights with nothing,” Max says. “I'm talking about no TV in this cell, no sheets, no pillow—cold, cold shit, bro. This shit humbled me down, but I used it for the better. I lost myself a couple of times, but I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I just kept pushing along the way. [But] it was a long journey.” Part of what helped bring him back was his relationship with Allison, which began sometime around 2013. “I mean, sometimes it's been rough,” Allison admits. “People on the outside got ups and downs, so imagine—it's a little bit harder with him being in there. But we built our relationship on communication. So that's key.” “She wrote me,” Max recalls. “She was the only one that was concerned with my mental health. I had never even heard that [term] before. She was like, ‘How you doing? How are your spirits?’ It kept me afloat. It brought me back.” Later when I asked him if all that time inside left him with any regrets about the series of events that led him there—allegedly conspiring with his then-girlfriend and another partner to rob a man, which then led to the man’s murder, which Max wasn’t physically present for. Max described his 16-year sentence as “paying his dues.” “Listen, man, where I'm at now in life, I wouldn't do nothing different,” he says. “It's all part of the journey, I don't know if it gets any better. Where I'm at now with it, everything is working out. Everything is fruitful. I'm blessed.” “Someone told me a tidal wave just hit New York City!” Cam’ron says over FaceTime. We’re in a Sprinter van on the way to watch the Jets play the Browns at MetLife Stadium, where Max hopes to have an audience with Brons QB Shedeur Sanders. Killa is just one of many of Max’s peers who’ve reached out to welcome Max home; rappers Duke da God of the Diplomats has done the same, and so has Maino. One person no one in the car expects to hear from is Jim Jones. Their relationship soured around 2008, when Max alleged that Jones forced him into a predatory deal that left Max with very little revenue from all of the music they created during the three years they worked together. Jim and other Dipset members became the target of Max’s ire on those aforementioned rap DVDs and in his music; before Max began his prison term, the blood between them was about as bad as things could possibly get, short of getting actually violent. In a recent episode of the podcast Jim co-hosts with fellow New York rappers Maino, Fabolous and Dave East, Maino asked Jim if Max’s impending release after all this time inspired him to let bygones be bygones. Jim responded firmly with a resolute, “No.” Max, for his part, is unbothered. “I'm on peace, love, and harmony time, you heard?” he says at the mention of Jones, without actually mentioning his former friend’s name. “Maybe n-ggas not on that time. That's their fault. I'm with the family, we working, we getting money, we making music. Where's there room for anything else but prosperity and positivity? So if anybody got a problem with me, that's all on them. Good luck trying to get to me because we with the shits, but we ain't going to go there.” We arrive at MetLife, and Max is so charged up you would think he’s an actual Jets fan; he and French hit loopy dances like the clips from their old DVDs that have been immortalized as gifs today. In those scenes and other lost media from that era, Max was suave but also gleefully, winkingly silly—he could be straight cool, shades on, dissing and threatening to take your chick, or he might be shimmying his body, high out of his mind. Even at 47, Max still has the demeanor of a Hanna-Barbera character, all cackles and excited, cartoonish bursts of dialog and energy. Walking along the sidelines of the field in the minutes before the game almost feels like a mini homecoming parade. Every two minutes a pimply-faced suburban white teenager asks French Montana for a picture, but before long, Max’s natural charisma has curious onlookers asking what his deal is, too. Jets employees approach Max directly and welcome him home; everyone who recognizes him is surprised to see him at a sporting event barely hours after the first clips announcing his release went viral. A swagged-out photographer on the restricted part of the field comes over and greets Max warmly as if he knows him—it’s Method Man, a diehard Jets fan who’s been provided with his own photo pass. The Browns finally take the field to warm up, and Shedeur Sanders comes over to the sidelines to build with Max and French for a few minutes. “I’m charged up—I feel like I could catch a pass,” Max beams afterwards. Despite currently having one of the worst records in the NFL, the 1-7 Jets would go to 2-7 that afternoon. The Wave God effect? It’s as good an explanation as any. But after watching the first two touchdowns from the owner’s box, Max is ready to keep moving. He’s tired of being in New Jersey—it’s time to touch the city proper. Max’s next stop is the place where every rapper of note goes to celebrate themselves: Avianne Jewelers. As we push through tunnel traffic, though, Max starts thinking about the studio. The plan was for us to go in the wee hours, after French’s birthday dinner and the following party. But The Wave is itching to start creating sooner. Max reveals working on music inside was what kept him clear-headed. “I had a studio in there, a workstation,” Max tells me. “Listen, I'm going to tell you this. That was the best place to be—in my mind. If I wasn't [outside] in the physical, the best place to be was in my head. There’s always action going on there. So that's where I lived at [while I was] in prison.” Max also read avidly while he was inside, and even kept up with pop culture— Game of Thrones is his favorite recent series (“I’m a Lannister, I always pay my debts”) and the last movie he watched was Weapons (“I liked it, it was decent,” which, in Harlem-talk, is roughly a 3.5 on Letterboxd.) Did knowing that he’s become a reference point for the next generation at least offer a small comfort while he was forced to sit on the sidelines? “I don't do it for that, bro,” Max says waving the idea away. “We ain't worrying about that. It's all for the love, that's why it lasted [that] long. That's why we still here. This ain't about, Are they going to remember? You just got to do this shit for the love and the passion.” In past conversations from prison, Max has shown love to the likes of hometown new jacks like Cash Cobain and A Boogie. But today, he’s hesitant to name-drop any specific collaborators he’s interested in getting with, instead putting all the focus on himself. “I don't listen to a lot,” Max says of contemporary rap. “You can't listen [to other people’s] music when you create.” “I’m here to restore the culture—there’s a culture lack,” Max says. “Guys my age don't trust [the game] no more. I'm going to make them believe again.” Max rejects the idea that his movements both today and going forward are the actions of a man desperate to make up for lost time. “Listen, man, there is no catching up,” he says pragmatically. “We're going to create. We're going to appreciate the time out here. We're going to be grateful, thankful. Your boy's back, and full of breath.” As clouds roll over Manhattan and rain finally starts to fall, Avianne, who’s normally closed on Sundays, throws open his gates and welcomes Max with open arms. The boisterous jeweler laces Max’s wrist with a new watch and bracelets, new rings for his fingers and an appropriately icy chain for his neck; Max eats it all up as he and French narrate the scene. “You see these diamonds dancing, baby? You see the baguettes?” Max says with a chortle. “They dancing like Michael Jackson,” French says approvingly. “It’s your birthday, I won’t go too crazy,” Max assures French after his fourth or fifth piece. “Nah,” French says. “It’s our birthday.” This is all on the house, in the name of giving Max the welcome he deserves. “This has been overdue,” Avianne practically yells at me. “Max put mad people on at the end of the day. I got to have him looking crazier than everybody else. I’m 45, that’s my era.” Avianne explains that he’s been on calls with Max for close to a year, in anticipation of this day. “We go back because before Max went in, he fucked with my brother Joe,” Avianne says. “Right before he went in, he came and sold all his shit to us. So it's only right we get him back, you know what I'm saying?” While Max is getting his wrists frozen, a very important clarification from his P.O. is relayed: since weed is legal in New York, Max is indeed allowed to smoke. One of Avianne’s associates presents Max with a cartoonishly big joint. After a few puffs, it’s like a switch has been flipped. “OK,” Max says slowly, as the high sets in. “Now we have to go to the studio.” At Quad Studios in Times Square—the same studio 2Pac was leaving when he was shot while resisting a robbery in 1994—various people from the neighborhood pull up like the Magi to pay respects and offer Max gifts. But Max is focused, locked in, and ready to work. Karen Civil, Max’s publicist, plays the intro to JMSN’s “Love Me,” suggesting they loop that as an intro for a track to really get Max talking his shit. (Coincidentally, Drake will post this same portion of the same song days later on his Instagram.) French is into the idea (and asks me to explain JMSN’s whole deal) but he has beats already loaded. We start off with a dark, haunting, hard-hitting track that has a woman singing forebodingly about the Coke Wave, reminiscent of the era when French Montana would rap over chopped up Lana Del Ray samples on mixtapes like his Mac & Cheese series. Max instructs French to keep the beat running as he opens his Notes app and begins muttering and pacing around the room. But after about 10 minutes, his enthusiasm wanes—he’s not as into the beat as he thought he was. French begins cycling through more beats, each a different vibe, from jiggy Bad Boy type-tracks to chopped and screwed beats sampling classic hooks from The-Dream. “I’m picky,” Max says to the room. “It has to be some shit I could listen to for the rest of my life. Load ‘em up, French, keep going.” Max stares ahead through his shades, not speaking much except for when he’s ready to pass to the next beat—The Silver Surfer, searching for the perfect wave. The briefest flicker of frustration passes over French’s face, but he presses on. Finally, the seventh or so instrumental: a smooth, synthy, 80s-inspired vibe. “Now we’re talking!” Max exclaims. “I know the shit that’ll hit your soul, B!” French says confidently, feeling reassured. If it seemed, even for a second, like maybe French and Max’s storied chemistry had faltered, here was the proof—for the room, and maybe themselves—that they’ve still got it. As Max whispered ideas and started to form a melody, he leaned over to me, so confident in what he was creating that it made him crack up laughing. “I’m not going for what n-ggas think I’m going for,” he said. “N-ggas thought I was gonna come home on some kiddie pop,” he says with the Max Cackle, referring to the sound of contemporary rap. “Some Spider-Man shit. Nah! I’m here for a cultural restoration.” (Describing modern rap as “some Spider-Man shit” was a sure sign the Max B who made his name with uniquely incomprehensible shit-talk on ‘00s DVDs hasn’t lost a step.) I thought back to something he’d said to me in the Sprinter, about the endurance of his sound and style, his wave. “If you meant to be here, you're going to be here,” he said. “That sound is meant to be here. But it's really a warm-up. I'm just thinking like… I'm not finished with the story. I'm still telling the story.” At the studio, just as Max starts to lose himself in the music, the real world pulls him right back out. There is still more on the agenda, Allison reminded him, including a birthday dinner for French. For the first time today, Max seems annoyed at the idea of having places to be. “Load the shit up on my phone and give me some headphones at least, damn!” Max says as we pack up to leave. And with that, he makes his way out of the studio, to go be outside for the rest of the night. The 24-hour movie continues. Source submitted by /u/RugasRibShack to r/dipset [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
RugasRibShack |
Nov 19, 2025 |
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Runaway/Alive AU where everyone lives happily and William dies lol
A long time ago, there was an ordinary family. A husband and wife, and three children. But there was internal strife. The man, William Afton, spent too much time working on a new business with his partner Henry Emily. William's wife was upset and argued that William should spend more time with their children. William grew more and more annoyed until finally, he initiated a divorce. After the divorce was started, there was the custody battle. Two of the children were too young to testify in court, but Michael was old enough. William scared Michael into saying untrue things about his mother, which resulted in William winning the custody battle. Mike immediately planned to run away and find his mother. She seemed so sad, and heard her wonder out loud if her children really thought it'd be a better place without her. One night, Mike gathered his siblings, packed a small backpack of provisions to share along the way, and made a run for it. He realized he chose a cold night to try and run away, but there was no turning back now. He was afraid what his mother would do to herself if he was too late. A few days later, as Mike tried to feed Elizabeth, she leered away from the bottle. "You're not hungry?" Mike asked her. Suddenly, she threw up. She was sick. Mike tried again to feed her, but she started crying, obviously in pain. Mike carried Elizabeth and tucked her in his jacket to keep her warm. He had memorized his mother's new address, and scrutinized over a city map he printed at the library to try and find the way there. He constantly got lost, but he didn't give up hope. His food was running low, and he sacrificed most of the food to his younger siblings. They each got skinnier and skinnier, and Mike fought to keep them happy despite sleeping on the streets. Dave cried constantly, scared of every shadow. Elizabeth cried from her sickness. And Mike secretly wept, because he didn't know if they would live to see their mother. He still held on to what little hope he had left. He looked at the street signs, and the map proved he was getting closer and closer to their mother. He knew that she would take care of them. He told his brother and sister that as soon as they were back with their mother, she would feed them, give them baths and clean clothes, they would be able to sleep in a bed once more, Elizabeth would be cured of her sickness, Dave would have no reason to be afraid. And Mike told himself that all this was worth it to escape from their father, the man who forced Mike to contribute to this mess. It was the least he could do after everything. One day, there was a grate that had spaces that were too wide, and Dave tripped and got his leg stuck. Mike made quick work to free him, but Dave's ankle had twisted. He cried and cried as they tried to keep moving, so Mike carried Dave as well. All that strain and hunger was getting to him, and one day, he collapsed. Dave started freaking out, trying to wake him up. Elizabeth was trapped beneath him, but Dave got her unstuck. Both of them kept close to Mike as strangers passed by. One particular person crept close, not believing their eyes... Mike woke up abruptly. He was in someone's house. He was in someone's bed. He sat up, dizzy. He realized his brother and sister weren't there, and started panicking. He quickly got up and raced to the house's living room. There, he saw Elizabeth and Dave happily eating and playing... with his mother..? "Mom..?" "Mike, you're up!" Mike started crying tears of happiness. "Mom!!" He ran towards her, holding on tight. He made it, he did it. He succeeded. He was safe. His siblings were safe. Elizabeth had medicine and was feeling better already. Dave was no longer crying and scared, and he was able to rest his ankle. Mike's mom held him, comforting him and rocking him back and forth. "I'm sorry I said those things in court! Dad made me do it! He threatened me!" "I know. I know. Shhh. It's alright now. You're safe. Here." She held out a PB&J sandwich. "I know you're hungry. Eat." Mike ate the sandwich hungrily as his mother continued to hold him. William and Mrs. Afton returned to court, and Mike testified that William forced him to say untrue things about Mrs. Afton, and William was put in jail for it. Mrs. Afton was rewarded full custody, while William was murdered in jail because he had abused his children. Henry continued the business, and Chica's Family Diner was created. Mike made friends with three other teenage boys, and they each wore a mask of one of the Mediocre Melodies. Dave wasn't scared of the masks, and thought Pigpatch was funny, so Mike volunteered to be the Pigpatch mask wearer. Charlie, Sammy, and Elizabeth played together in the diner, and Dave and the four friends played games in the arcade. Mike inherited the company when Henry retired, and he and his siblings and friends lived long, happy lives, free from William's influence. submitted by /u/Plokilup to r/GachaFnaf [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
Plokilup |
Nov 7, 2025 |
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When Gods Sleep
Chapter 2 - The Job The Eidolon Run slid away from Kirell Station 12 on a thread of thrust, station lights dwindling into a ragged necklace hung on the throat of the dark. Dock C-27 shrank to a pale wound in the wheel. Beyond it, the Kirell Spine lay like a bruise across the stars - dust, fields, the occasional blue vein of lightning stitched silently through gas. Lyra watched until the station became something memory-sized. Then she let the glass go and the ship claim her attention: engine readouts marching in subdued greens, nav pebbles blinking on the scope, fuel budget a coin purse with a hole punched neatly through the bottom. “Hollow,” she said, “give me a slingshot arc to shave us a few hours without shaving heat from the coils.” “I can give you a slingshot arc that shaves most of a few hours,” Hollow said. “The rest will have to come from your outstanding charm with local physics.” “She’s persuasive,” Rix said from the jump couch behind her, one ankle propped on a knee, hands busy with the metal fidget everyone pretended not to notice. Lyra dragged a slider with two fingers; the Spine obliged by letting their plotted path graze the shoulder of a thin gravity well. “If physics won’t be charmed,” she said, “it can at least be confused.” Seyra’s face popped into the corner of the canopy feed, the camera in Engineering set too low so it caught mostly her jaw and the smudged gleam of a weld mask pushed to her forehead. “Coil temps are purring. Purring politely. If anyone disrespects them, they will hiss and pee in your shoe.” “Duly noted,” Lyra said. “Not my shoe,” Seyra added cheerfully. The feed cut; a gust of static like a cat shaking off water pattered across the speakers and was gone. They fell into the rhythm a crew makes when the universe is briefly indifferent to them. Rix dozed without admitting to it: bone-plated chin low, one hand still on the fidget, a soldier’s sleep that watchful animals practice. Hollow hummed nothing melodies through the ducts, faint as old lullabies. Somewhere aft, the cargo bay’s environmental system ticked as it matched ship atmosphere to crate tolerance - cool, dry, careful as winter. Lyra let herself feel the ship settle. The Eidolon was not a proud vessel, but she had personality, like a stubborn mule that understands one rider and no other. She thought about the bed with springs she’d promised herself out loud and in secret and cut the thought off at the root before it flowered into longing. Longing ate competence. You gave it just enough to live and made it wait. “Mess in twenty,” she said, because routine fed people. “If you don’t come, I’ll eat your share and tell you it was terrible.” Rix made a noise that might have been assent. Or caution. Or: try me. The mess was smaller than a generous closet but kinder. A table folded down from one wall and pretended to be wood the way station kiosks pretend to be polite. A cupboard held a nest of bowls that Seyra insisted were not mismatched, they were characterful. The heating unit had a personality disorder, but today it decided to act professional, and the pot obliged by becoming stew. Seyra arrived with three collars of solder wire around her wrist like bracelets, smiling the way you smile when the day hasn’t beaten you yet. Rix showed up with a limp he’d deny and an appetite that had learned obedience. Lyra poured stew: rehydrated protein softened with the last of a spice packet that claimed to recall a planet’s sunset, two handfuls of grain beads that met the teeth with a hearty crunch-sound. “Varn’s payment came through,” Lyra said. “Half. Actual cred, not Station tender.” Rix arched his brows. “You check the chips?” “Twice,” she said. “They hissed but they didn’t bite.” “What’s the plan for the other half when we land?” Seyra asked around a mouthful she absolutely deserved. “We insist politely,” Lyra said. “If that fails, we insist impolitely.” “Order is Mercy,” Rix intoned in a perfect copy of the station broadcast, and got stew thrown at him in a neatly shaped spoonful. It hit his shoulder and stayed there. He looked down like a man receiving a medal, then scraped it off with two fingers and ate it. “You are disgusting,” Seyra said fondly. “Fastidious,” Rix said, and cleaned the rest with a crust of bread as Seyra stared at him with a quiet judgement intermixed with amusement. They ate. They let their bodies understand there was food, warmth, a table, other bodies. These were civilizational facts older than empire and less fragile. When the bowls were empty, Seyra reached into a storage nook and withdrew a chipped tin, shook it, and poured three thumb-lengths of a liquid that burned as it met the air. “Contraband,” she announced. “Do not ask where it came from. If you ask, Hollow will answer.” “I will,” Hollow said through the speaker. “It came from a man named Harlo with seven teeth and a laugh that frightened the condenser pump.” “Bless Harlo,” Lyra said, took her ration, and held it an inch away from her face to let the fumes make a promise. “Drink slow.” They did. It was very bad. It was perfect. It braided with the stew into a feeling that the ship, for a rotation or two, was a city you could choose to live in. Rix set his tin down and looked at Lyra over the rim of his cup. “You looked at the lacquer,” he said. Not a question. Lyra thought about lying and decided the crew she’d chosen didn’t deserve the sugar. “I did. It gleams wrong when it cracks.” “High-density,” Seyra said softly. “The kind you don’t use for plows or hull patch. The kind that goes into coils. Or guns.” Lyra set her tin down with more care than it needed. “We’re not arms runners.” “We’re breathers,” Rix said. “Breathers need air. Air costs money. Money needs jobs.” “I know the catechism,” Lyra said. “I taught it to myself.” Seyra’s eyes flicked to the ceiling as if the ship were a confidant with an opinion worth hearing, then back down. “We never move bodies,” she said. Old declaration. A line painted on a deck. “We never move slaves. We never move poison.” Lyra nodded. “Add one: we don’t move slaughter. If this is going to outfit a massacre, I will dump it into the Spine myself and eat my way through next month on pride.” Rix leaned back and measured the shape of those words against the shape of their lives. The ship creaked once, settling. Somewhere far aft, a cooling fin adjusted. He stared at his hands, at the way the stew had left a gloss in the lines of his palm. “How do you know,” he said, “before you know?” Lyra looked at the bulkhead, not finding the answer there, then at them. “We ask,” she said. “We see what Varn’s men say when you ask a question with your face. We see who meets us. We look. We listen.” She spread her fingers. “And if my skin hums wrong, we walk.” A thin smile. “Float.” Seyra pushed her tin away and laced her fingers behind her neck. “I like the plan where our skin doesn’t hum wrong.” “I like the plan where my orthopedics don’t hum at all,” Rix said, and popped a knuckle that sounded like a pistol in a vacuum. “But I’ll take what we get.” Lyra stood, the chair’s foot scraping the deck with a sound too loud for the small room. “All right. Eat the crumbs, clean the bowls, and go pretend you trust me.” Seyra scowled. “We don’t pretend.” Rix sighed like a man who found the right answer too sincere to argue with. “We don’t.” Lyra smiled at them and felt it land somewhere private. “Good,” she said, soft enough the ship kept it. The Eidolon’s cargo bay held the smell of cold metal and sealing varnish and the crisp nothing that meant a vacuum had just been and gone and left everything feeling a little too clean. The crates were stacked in neat ranks secured with straps Seyra had woven like a sailor, knots locked and sealed with a flick of her tool that left a carbon-smell thread. Lyra rubbed a thumb against a crate’s corner until the lacquer warmed. The tiniest scuff gleamed like milk under glass and then dulled as the compound reset itself. Almost too pure, Seyra had said, and she was right. Ore wants to be ugly, wants to be a little wrong. This looked like it had never had a mother rock at all. Rix came in slow, a scanner in one hand and a look on his face like a man told to disarm a joke. He set the scanner against one crate, watched the readout blink green, then another, green again. On the third, he frowned. “See that?” He angled it so she could. The graph was textbook until, under the sheen, a spike ticked and vanished like a fish touching the surface then taking the reflection down with it. “Trace?” Lyra said. “Trace,” he said. “Nothing that sets off alarms. The kind of additive you use when you want a thing to behave exactly how you planned under stress.” “Someone loves their metallurgy very much,” Seyra said from the catwalk above, leaning on the rail like a gargoyle. “This is romance. Someone wrote sonnets to this alloy.” “Is it a problem,” Lyra asked, looking up without tilting her head so far the ship could suspect uncertainty. “It’s a problem if you’re building something that wants to be perfect,” Seyra said. “Perfection and morality are not friends.” Lyra planted her palm on the warm crate and stood there long enough to make the gesture into a promise of some sort. “We deliver,” she said. “We watch. We judge with our eyes open.” Rix nodded once. He trusted decisions spoken like vows. “Hollow,” Lyra said, “give me a path through the Spine that keeps us close to the rocks. I feel like being small in a big place.” “Path plotted,” Hollow said at once, and if an AI could be pleased by that order, he was. “I adore hugging boulders that have not yet decided whether they are planets.” “Good,” Lyra said. “Let them keep their options.” They strapped themselves in for the brush with gravity. The ship’s bones thrummed as the well reached for them and the Eidolon reached back, using its edge the way a knife uses the seam in wood. The dust of the Spine smeared against the canopy in long pale streaks. Lightning walked one cloud’s insides and lit their faces briefly as if a photographer had found them in space and asked for a portrait. Lyra felt the lift in her chest that good pilots confessed to in bars: the way a line flown just so thinned you down to the parts that make decisions and let the rest wait politely outside your skull. “Clean,” Hollow murmured, after a beat that could have been a song if you added nerves to it. “We shaved two hours and a little bit of my dignity.” “You had dignity?” Seyra said, voice tinny in the channel. “I was renting some,” Hollow said. “The deposit is gone.” Rix’s laugh was quiet and brief. Lyra allowed herself a small one too. Then she let the console swallow her fingers again and kept the ship where the ship wanted to be. Time turned into the small tasks that keep death in the other room. Rix ran a weapons check even though they had almost none: a pair of stubby coil throwers Seyra had made respectable with aftermarket appetites, a drone that could pretend to be mean if you didn’t look at it directly. Seyra put her head into vents and spoke to ghosts. Hollow told them, with an air of tragedy, that a coolant pump had developed an opinion about music and would not be persuaded it was wrong. When the Spine finally unfurled and let them into cleaner dark, the ship felt lighter, like a chest after a long cough. The nav ping picked out Brenn’s Moon as a green dot under text that tried to sound official and ended up sounding like a child’s neat handwriting: coordinates, courtesy warnings, a list of docking bays that had not been updated recently enough to trust. Lyra sat back and flexed the ache out of her hands. “All right,” she said. “We-” A soft tone clipped her words in half. Not danger; etiquette. A hail ping, too polite to be pirates, too early to be a welcome. Hollow spoke before she asked, voice gone careful the way you speak to drunk men with knives. “Incoming channel, marked Velkaar Patrol-K. Identity tag affixed to the word ‘courtesy’ with an unreasonable number of pins.” Lyra didn’t blink. “Put it through.” The canopy dimmed and made room for a flat window of somebody else’s air. The figure that took shape wore Dominion green; armor made for ceremony and brutality both. The helmet was off. Young face, sharp, elegant in a way that made Lyra think of knives displayed under lights. “This is Patrol-K to freighter Eidolon Run,” the officer said. He didn’t sound bored. That was worse than bored. “You are approaching restricted customs grid. Prepare for inspection and stand by to receive boarding coordinates. Refusal will be interpreted as an admission of guilt.” Rix said nothing. Seyra said nothing loud. Lyra let her mouth measure out a pleasant line. “Patrol-K, this is Eidolon Run. We are on contracted delivery to Brenn’s Moon with sealed cargo. Our papers are in order, our bribes already pre-spent, and our sense of humor robust. We will comply.” The officer’s eyes flicked, reading a feed Lyra could not see. “Your registry is Freehold. Your last port of call: Kirell Station 12.” “Yes,” Lyra said. “We enjoyed their cuisine and their civic slogans.” A muscle ticked at the corner of his jaw at the word slogans. He’d heard them too many times. Or he didn’t like laughing. Or both. “Stand by. Coordinate packet incoming.” The window snapped off. The canopy returned them to their ship and her private light. The silence afterward had a weight to it, like air before a storm. Rix cracked his knuckles one by one like slow punctuation. “He’s new,” he said. “Or he’s good at pretending,” Lyra said. Seyra blew out a breath that fluttered through the channel. “We’re clean,” she said. “We’re mostly clean. We’re clean enough to pass for clean if no one looks at the lacquer with a lover’s eyes.” Lyra’s smile was a thing with no joy in it. “Then let’s make sure they don’t fall in love.” A soft chime marked the packet’s arrival. Hollow parsed it and made a sound like a shrug. “Boarding coordinates received. They are precise to the point of flirtation.” “Dock them,” Lyra said. “And put on your good voice.” “I have one voice,” Hollow said. “It is layered. Like cake.” “Make it taste expensive,” she said. “Ah,” Hollow said. “Counterfeit cake.” Lyra closed her hands around the armrests and let the ship know she was here. In the bay below, the ranks of crates shone under their lacquer, demure as knives in a drawer. “Everyone to places,” she said. “Helmets off. Smile like station clerks. We’re honest traders with an appointment and a dwindling patience for literature.” The comm light glowed. Patrol-K’s signature sidled up the hull like a cold hand looking for a door. Lyra breathed once, in and out, evenly. She thought about beds with springs and the smallest garden you could call a garden and the sound of a ship when it was happy. Then she let the breath go and left those thoughts in the air for the ship to keep warm while she went to be convincing. The Eidolon Run rolled gently to align with the vector the patrol requested. The clamps touched with a kiss she didn’t like. Somewhere inside the ship, a hatch decided it would open if asked firmly by a stranger. “Boarders incoming,” Hollow said. Lyra stood, smoothed a sleeve that didn’t need smoothing, and walked toward the bay with the even stride of a person who had practiced it in mirrors that never told the truth. Behind her, Rix flexed his fingers to remind them of their names. Seyra tucked a wrench into a pocket because wrenches are honest. The ship listened to the voices and the footsteps and steadied itself like an animal squared to weather. The interlock cycled. The first figure through wore Dominion green and a face that had not yet learned to hide its hunger. He smiled the way a wolf does when it’s been told to be polite at a dinner party. “Captain Vehl,” he said, very pleased with how much he knew, and stepped into her ship as if stepping into his own story. Lyra lifted her chin and showed him a welcome meant for guests. “Officer,” she said. “We’ve set out the good napkins.” He didn’t laugh. It was going to be that kind of inspection. ------------------------------------------------------ Previous chapter / Next chapter submitted by /u/DangerDuck-O_o to r/OpenHFY [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
DangerDuck-O_o |
Oct 21, 2025 |
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Our weekly Saturday punk show in Indianapolis turns 25 years old
submitted by /u/punkrocknight to r/punk [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
punkrocknight |
Sep 30, 2025 |
TALLAHASSEE WEEKLY EVENTS, 7/31/25 – 8/6/25
Events are listed by the day. Events that happen every week appear first, one-time stuff after that. If you have anything you’d like people to know about, comment here or message me and I’ll add it in. If you’d like further info about any of the events, look it up! I usually don’t have any extra to add. Events may be cancelled unexpectedly. If in doubt, contact the venue. Large Scale, Ongoing, and Multi-Day Events Cat Video Fest 2025 at Challenger. Imagine, It’s the weekend.. August 2nd and 3rd to be exact. You’re sitting at home with loved ones wondering, “what shall we do today?” Well wonder no more. Do we have an event for you! It may be a bit presumptuous to assume that because you follow us, that you spend countless minutes watching viral, funny cat videos just like we do. Right? Well, if that sounds like you, do yourself a favor, click this link and make it a date to be remembered! https://www.tallahasseefilms.com/film/cat-video-fest-2025-clc-607/ Now remember, the more tickets and seats we fill, the more funds we can raise! So if you feel like having a meowvalous time that weekend, all while helping your local cat rescue, meow is the time! 8/2 and 8/3, 2pm-5pm Local Running, Walking, and Biking Info: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/ Tallahassee Film Society Showings: https://www.tallahasseefilms.com/tickets/ Book Clubs for all tastes: https://www.facebook.com/midtownreader/events A Load of Crafts, watercolor and painting classes: https://www.aloadofcrafts.com/ LeMoyne Arts, classes, events, and exhibits: https://www.lemoyne.org/ Cap City Video Lounge: Tally’s only video rental store and independent theater specializing in cult films, weird horror, and forgotten classics. https://www.facebook.com/capcityvideolounge Live Theater: Making Light Productions. Our mission is to provide an inclusive and empowering arts education to children, teens, and adults of all abilities. We believe that the arts belong to everyone, and we embrace diversity in all its forms. https://www.makinglightproductions.org/ Theatre Tallahassee. Broadway in your backyard since 1949. https://theatretallahassee.org/ Mickee Faust Club. The Mickee Faust Club is an arts/activist Community Theater for the Weird Community of Tallahassee. And it’s funny as hell. https://www.mickeefaust.com/ Monticello Opera House. Community theater in a gorgeous venue built in 1890. Hey, I hear it’s haunted! https://www.monticellooperahouse.org/ FSU School of Theatre. Top tier entertainment in a beautiful setting. https://theatre.fsu.edu/productions/ Young Actors Theatre. Long regarded as a community treasure, YAT is one of the nation’s few independent children’s programs with its own on-site theater, specializing in musical productions. https://www.youngactorstheatre.com/ Quincy Music Theatre. North Florida’s largest all-musical community theater. https://quincymusictheatre.com/ Tallahassee Hispanic Theater. Presenting contemporary Hispanic theater productions for the cultural education and enrichment of the of the community while building cross-cultural awareness. https://tallahasseehispanictheater.wordpress.com/ White Mouse Productions. A student theatre company for positive social change. https://www.facebook.com/WhiteMouseProductions Events at the Leon County Public Libraries: Including story times, play dates, book clubs, and other fun stuff! https://leoncountyfl.libcal.com/calendar Outdoor/Farmer’s Markets: Downtown Market: Take a stroll in the park among dozens of local artists, craft vendors, and food trucks- all in the heart of downtown! The Downtown Market takes place every Saturday from 9-1 in Ponce De Leon Park (127 E Park Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32301). The market season runs from March-November. Parking on the street is available near the market. FSU Farmer’s Market: 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 10am- 3pm. Seminole Dining and the Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association have partnered to bring fresh produce and homemade goods to Florida State University’s campus. The market aims to foster personal connections and mutually beneficial relationships between local farmers, artisans, and the campus community. (Not sure if this happens over the summer.) Frenchtown Heritage Market: Currently rolled in with the FSU Farmer’s Market. https://www.instagram.com/ftfarmersmarket/ for updates. Tallahassee Farmers Market: 2904 Kerry Forest Pkwy, Saturdays, 8am to Noon. Come see us at Tallahassee's longest-running farmers market! We are a year-round market, featuring local farms and vendors that provide the best seasonal produce, meats, baked goods, and more. We welcome you and your whole family (leashed pets included) to come out and meet your local farmers! Ample parking is available between our lot and the shopping center lot next door (by Red Elephant). Come early for the best selection. St. Marks Community Market: Saturdays, 9am to 1pm. Come enjoy local artists, crafters, bakers, farmers, and gardeners in beautiful downtown St. Marks! THURSDAY, 7/31 The Hub at Feather Oaks: Throwback Tunes Music Bingo. 6pm The Sound Bar: Open Blues Jam. 6pm Kleman Plaza: Downtown Yoga. Need a break from the hustle and bustle? Downtown has got you covered! 🧘♀️ Join us for FREE Downtown Yoga sessions in Kleman Plaza, starting Thursday, August 1st from 6-7pm. Classes will continue on Thursdays through January. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced yogi, everyone is welcome! Just bring your mat, some water, and positive energy. 6pm Pedro’s: Karaoke. 6pm Lewis Park: Music Under the Oaks with Two Foot Level. * Two Foot Level will play the night away, and Hayward House will be on-site with food and beverages available for purchase. Bring chairs, blankets, and your friends to enjoy the melodious sounds under the oaks. This free series will take place on the third Thursday of each month from June to September.* 6pm The Getaway Grille and Bar: Music Trivia. We have enlisted Feddun, a seasoned trivia host, historian, and comedian, to get us rocking and rolling with some great music trivia with a new theme every week! 6:30pm Lake Tribe: Trivia. 7pm Amicus Brewing: Trivia. 7pm Proof: Bingo. We provide all the bingo cards and dobbers, and host Gary Davis kicks off the action at 7 pm sharp each Thursday! All ages are welcome to play, and the prizes (gift cards, swag, koozies, etc ...) are handed out to all of the round winners! 7pm Nelson's Burger Bar: Free Comedy Night. 7pm Cap City Video Lounge: MST3K Thursday with Killer Fish and Beyond Atlantis! Join us Thursday as we climb aboard The Satellite of Love along with Joel, Tom Servo and CROOOOW as we head to the beach for a double dose of freaky fishy cheesiness! 7pm/free but donations encouraged Smitty's Taphouse: Trivia Lab Thursdays. Teams of 6 or fewer players can compete for $40/$30/$20 Prizes + The Golden MacGuffin prize table! New format! Interactive smartphone answering for your comfort and safety! 6 Fun Rounds - 42 Total Questions. 7:30pm Studio D: Bachata Fever. We always have a bachata workshop at 8 pm before Bachata Fever. We dance afterwards to the sounds of DJ Bacharod. The class is at 8 pm and Bachata Fever will start at 930 pm. Many times people are learning in class and may feel uncomfortable social dancing while they are still learning moves. We have a welcoming environment so stay and have fun and dance with everyone. That is how we learn. 8pm/Class $5/Bachata Fever $5. Stix: R&B Bingo. 8pm Finnegans Wake: Open Mic Night. 8pm Brass Tap in Midtown: Karaoke with DJ Rah. 9pm 926: Karaoke with DJ Phoenix. 9pm Bird’s: Karaoke with Nathan. 9pm Blue Tavern: July Babies Birthday Party. 5pm The Getaway Grille and Bar: Colby Scheib. 6pm Oyster City: Katrina Young. 6:30pm Blue Tavern: Free Film Night: Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. 8pm 926: Challenger Deep w/ Four Stroke Baron, Medians, Saturnal. 8:30pm FRIDAY, 8/1 Hobbit West: Friday Night Dart Tournament. Anyone can Enter! Sign ups at 7:30, Darts fly at 8:00/$10 entry fee Ouzts Too: Karaoke with DJ Nathan. Best karaoke DJ in town. 8pm The Moon: Stetsons. 8pm Just One More: Karaoke with DJ Rah. 9pm-11pm/21+ 926: The Hot Friday Night Party and Drag Show. 9pm/$5/18+ Lincoln High: 50th Anniversary, The Golden Celebration. Join us for a special celebration marking 50 years of students on campus at Lincoln High School! The evening will feature campus tours, dedication ceremonies, musical performances, and the exciting Midnight Madness—the first full-contact football practice of the season. Enjoy a variety of local food trucks on site throughout the evening, offering delicious options for all tastes. Come reconnect with old friends, celebrate Lincoln’s legacy, and help us kick off the next 50 years of Trojan pride! 4pm Fish Camp: Joe Morgan. 5pm Hobbit East: Brett & "Dangerous" Dave. 6pm Southwood Golf Club: Seminole Uprising. 6:30pm The Getaway Grille and Bar: Steven Ritter & Ryan Stidam. 7pm The Sound Bar: Wild Ginger. 7pm Monticello: Victorian Haunted Town Tour. Come join us for an adventure at 420 W Washington St where you'll explore the haunted history of Monticello. Our experienced guides will lead you through the eerie streets and share chilling tales of ghostly encounters. Get ready to uncover the mysteries of this historic location as you visit and hear the tales of love some of the most haunted spots in town. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, this tour is sure to send shivers down your spine! Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience Monticello like never before. Book your tickets now and prepare for a night of frights and fun! Tickets are $25/person cash only due at start of tour. 7pm JoEllen’s: First Friday Social featuring jazz music from Aaron and Friends. 7pm The Wine House on Market Street: Kenny Hill Band. 7pm Oyster City: Michael Miller. 7pm American Legion Hall: The Rhythm Remedy Rockin’ Soul Dance Revue. 7:30pm/$10 The Bark: K9, Canine Denim, The Icks, and Red Mustang. 8pm Legacy at the Riverfront: Wild Things. 8pm House of Music: The Mae West Band. 8pm/$5 Blue Tavern: LCP Band Annual Grateful Dead Night. 8pm SATURDAY, 8/2 Tom Brown Park: Ultimate Frisbee Pickup. Come out for some fun, casual pick-up, all levels welcome! We’re at the soccer field by beach volleyball courts. 9am Gamescape: Saturday Gaming. Gamescape has relocated from Railroad Square to the Huntington Oaks Plaza (Suite 302, next to the Library) at N Monroe St and Fred George Rd. Open gaming tables are available. Noon-6pm Midtown Reader: Book Club – Saturdays in Silence. Need help getting through your TBR list? Join us for our Saturdays in Silence Book Club. A place to gather with other book lovers, get some reading done, discuss what you’re reading or just finished reading, and enjoy a nice treat from the Piebrary all at once! 4pm Corner Pocket: Tallahassee Area Dart Association Blind Draw (Random Partner) Tournament. Signups are 6:45pm/$10 entry Duke’s and Dottie’s: Line Dancing Plus Lessons. 7pm/21+ Birds: Laughterday Night Fever. Join us every Saturday for a night of free stand up comedy! 8:30pm Glory Days: First Saturday Cars & Coffee. l makes, models, and cars are welcome at this family-friendly event. Please note: This event is not sponsored, organized, or affiliated with the Tallahassee Car Guys. Be respectful of local business owners and residents—no burnouts or disruptive behavior, please. See you there! 8am-10pm Ashley’s Feed & Supply (Wakulla Springs Rd): August Farm Swap. Calling all local vendors and shoppers! Join us on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 9am for our farm swap. Buy, sell and trade fruits & veggies, craft items, food, animals, antiques and more! No reservation required. Set up starts at 7:30am (store doesn't open until 8am). This is a free to set up event. We supply the space, you supply everything else. See y'all there! 9am Redemptive Love Farm & Rescue: Summer Water Play. Join us for an OPEN FARM FUN DAY! Enjoy visiting all our farm animals on our 12 acre farm, entering our petting area and swings & play equipment as we open our farm to the public once a month! Included: Animal Story-time with llamas at 9:30am. Learn about llama fleece and spin yarn at 10am. Animal Care Talk: Camelid care at 11:30am. Water Play area with inflatables from 11am-1pm. Llama encounters throughout the day 9am-1pm. Try our delicious homemade FRUIT sherbet! 9am Challenger: Skies Over Tallahassee. Presented by the Tallahassee Astronomical Society, this free planetarium show reviews prominent constellations, stars, and planet positions that can be seen during the upcoming month. 10am Lake Jackson Community Center: Game Tally Gathering XVIII. A whole day of gaming in the capital city. Bring your friends! A great opportunity for heavy games, light games, and everything in between. Regulars and new players welcome. Join us! Once again a raffle! There will be a few items up for raffle at the August 2nd game day event. These items are all donated. Every attendee will receive two raffle tickets. You can get additional raffle tickets by the following: bringing a new person to the event, sharing the event in a positive way on social media, being a first timer. Raffle will be drawn at 4pm and you must be present to win or have a designated person claim on your behalf. There are nearby restaurants and please feel free to bring snacks to share. There's a kitchen area with an ice maker, fridge, etc. 10am FSU Museum of Fine Arts: Storytime Studio, The Rainbow Weaver. Storytime Studio is back, and this time, we'll be reading "The Rainbow Weaver" by Linda Elovitz Marshall! "The Rainbow Weaver" follows the story of Ixchel, a young Mayan girl who wants to follow in her family's footsteps and create woven textiles. In our workshop following story time, participants will learn how to make woven bracelets and charms! This Storytime Studio will take place here at the Museum of Fine Arts on August 2nd from 10 am to 12 pm. Free parking will be available in the Call Street Garage. We hope to see you there! 10am Native Nurseries: Fermentation Basics with Joe Walthall. Joe will share tips, tricks, and best practices for fermenting kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles and peppers for hot sauce through a demonstration-based lesson. You’ll have the opportunity to watch the process firsthand, enjoy some samples and take home several recipes to try on your own. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED via PHONE ORDERThere is a $5.00 fee; your payment holds your spot in the class. Please call (850) 386-8882 to pre-register. No refunds on same day cancellations. 10am LeRoy Collins Library: Fall Seed Library Kickoff! Celebrate the season with the Fall Seed Library Kickoff! Pick up a variety of free fall seeds, take part in hands-on seeding activities, and get expert advice to help your garden thrive. This fun, all-ages event also features gardening tips, a healthy cooking demonstration, and the Ask-a-Master-Gardener booth. Staff from UF/IFAS Leon County Extension and the Leon County Office of Sustainability will be available to answer your gardening questions. After the kickoff, visit any library branch to check out up to five seed packets per month with your library card—or three per month without one—while supplies last. The seeds are yours to keep! 10am-noon Fish Camp: Kit + Char and Genezone. 1:30pm Kleman Plaza: Anhinga Music & Art Festival. Join us on August 2nd from 3–9 PM at Kleman Plaza for a vibrant celebration of creativity and community. Brought to you by Tallahassee Downtown and COCA, this brand-new festival features live music, local artists, and food trucks. Mark your calendar and come support the arts! Here’s the lineup of musical artists: Rachel Hillman Band (3:00-4:00), Miss Mango (4:30-5:30), Revival (6:00-7:00), Grass Is Dead (7:30-9:00) 3pm-9pm The Hub at Feather Oaks: Dana and Lily King. 5pm Oyster City: Gage Cowart. 7pm Blue Tavern: Peak Dive. Peak Dive has carved out a niche with a sound rooted in indie rock, post-punk revival, and alt-country, their music feels like a lost classic rediscovered. Drawing inspiration from icons like The Chameleons, R.E.M., Spoon, and Ween, Peak Dive weaves introspective lyrics and soaring melodies into a tapestry that’s both nostalgic and fresh. 8pm/$10 The Sound Bar: Big Poppa & The Shuffle Brothers. 8pm/$5 The Bark: Queens of The Bark DRAG. 9pm SUNDAY, 8/3 926: Sunday Drag Brunch. Come out and enjoy some amazing food, mimosas, and DRAG!! Hosted by Justina Hole and the amazing Tallahassee talents of Kelly Kelly, Jaeda B Lavish, and Aida Lott! 11am-4pm/$10 Flippin’ Great Pinball: $25 Sunday Funday. Every Sunday spend a fun-filled time with the family for only $25 plus tax at the arcade! Our normal all-day family admission of $34.99 is just $25 and that includes up to a family of 6 (two adults and four kids). Experience affordable family fun that everyone will enjoy. Noon-8pm E Peck Greene Park (Behind the LeRoy Collins Library): Food Not Bombs Free Mealshare. We offer free vegetarian/vegan food, water, coffee, personal care & hygiene products, bus passes, and clothing when we have some available to those in need. Contact [email protected] to find out about getting involved. Noon-2pm Gamescape: Pokémon League. Come learn, play, and trade with the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the Pokémon video games! We LOVE seeing new players, so come learn how to play! We play both the Trading Card Game and the Video Game casually and competitively. The store offers lots of different seating arrangements to meet our group's needs, as well as food, drinks, and Pokémon products for purchase. We are also hold regular, officially sanctioned tournaments for Pokémon Trading Card Game and Video Game Competitions! 2-4pm The Getaway Grille and Bar: Sundays with Maurice. 4pm The Sound Bar: Sunday Karaoke with Mary & Big Daddy. 8pm Native Spirit: Psychic Readings & Tarot w/Storyteller Readings. 1pm Common Ground Books: Monthly Community Clothing Swap. Join us for our free monthly clothing swap. First Sunday of every month, 2-4pm. Rain or shine. Bring clothes, take clothes. You do not need to bring to take. Left over clothing will be donated to the free CGB Gender Affirming Closet, other local mutual groups, or City Walk mission. 2pm-4pm Fish Camp: The J.Morgan Band. 2pm Tallahassee Nurseries: Sunday in the Word Garden. In partnership with esteemed Florida artist Katee Tully, Tallahassee Nurseries presents a celebration of poetry and spoken word. We welcome several locally-renowned poets and writers as they share pieces of prose. 3:30pm The Hub at Feather Oaks: Maurice Mangum. 3:30pm The Getaway Grill and Bar: Paul Boyle and Bill McGuire, A.K.A "You Two". 4pm MONDAY, 8/4 Just One More: Bingo. 5pm-6:30pm Gamescape (Lake Jackson): D&D Adventures. Currently there's only a few volunteer DMs but we're always looking for more. 5$ to sit at the table. Newbie and LGBTQ friendly! 7pm Marking Awesome: Open House. Check out the 3d printers, lasers, woodshop, camera studio, and more. 5:30pm-7pm Honest Living Tea House: Game Night. Cards Against Humanity, Dungeons and Dragons, oh my! Join us every Monday night, bring your games or play ours! 6pm-9pm Hangar 38: Bingo. 6:30pm TUESDAY, 8/5 Oyster City Brewing Company: Tuesday Night Beer-go! 6pm La Florida Coffee & Wine: Trivia Night. 6pm Healing Hideaway (111 W Bloxham St): Let’s Jam. Drum and dance! Healing Hideaway is a safe space to facilitate community and healing. This is a free event. Donations are accepted and appreciated. Non alcoholic mocktails and snacks will be provided. 6:15pm Beef O'Brady's: Trivia. 7pm Crave Social Eatery: Boombox Bingo. Join us for BoomBox Bingo—a lively twist on the classic game! Instead of numbers, you'll mark off songs as our DJ plays a mix of hits from various genres and eras. It's a fun-filled evening of music, friendly competition, and great food and drinks. Whether you're a music buff or just looking for a good time, BoomBox Bingo offers an entertaining experience for all. 7pm Island Wings: Wingo Bingo. 7pm Brass Tap in Midtown: Trivia. 1st Tuesday of the month is General Knowledge with rotating themes the rest of the month. 7pm American Legion Hall: Tallahassee Swing Band Tuesday Night Dance. 7:30pm 4th Quarter: Professor Jim's Tuesday Night Trivia. Popular for a reason! 8pm Finnegans Wake: Trivia. 8pm The Sound Bar: Karaoke with Nathan. 8pm 926: Tacos and Trivia. 9pm Skate World Center: Nerf Night. Get ready to DODGE, DASH & BLAST your way through the wildest Tuesday night EVER at our FIRST-EVER NERF NITE — a high-energy, non-skating event packed with foam darts, themed missions, and family-friendly FUN! Here’s what’s locked and loaded: Foam Dart Blaster Battles inside the rink. Choose your side in character-themed NERF missions. Action-packed NERF-style games & challenges. Doors open at 4:30 PM – gear up, squad up, and get ready. $10 admission (bring your own blaster). $15 admission (includes blaster rental). Closed-toe athletic shoes required — no sandals or Crocs allowed. Photo ops with your battle crew. Darts provided – please leave yours at home! Perfect for ages 6+ and their favorite grown-ups – bring the whole crew! 4:30pm Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship: Kidpreneur Marketplace. Join us for an inspiring and energetic showcase of young talent, creativity, and entrepreneurship. We proudly invites families, local leaders, and the entire community to attend our upcoming Kidpreneur Marketplace—a one-of-a-kind event where youth entrepreneurs share their business ideas, sell products, and practice real-world business skills. Come shop with our Kidpreneurs, hear their stories, and help fuel their dreams! This is more than a market—it’s a movement to empower youth through hands-on entrepreneurship and community support. Let’s build a stronger future—one Kidpreneur at a time! 5:30pm Hobbit East: Tallahassee Nerds & Geeks Beer and Cheer. Join us after work at Hobbit American Grill East for a relaxed evening including beer, a variety of food ... and good company! Fun conversation which can go anywhere! 6pm The Bark: Dumpster Meds, Paul Petrol, and Dog Gone Planet. 6:30pm WEDNESDAY, 8/6 Hearth and Soul: Open Play Mahjong. Join us for complimentary open play mahjong all summer at the Hearth! 12:30pm-2:30pm Tallahassee Elks Lodge: Bingo. 5pm Common Ground Books: D&D at CGB with DM Florian! Join us every 3rd Wednesday for an epic (and inclusive) high fantasy quest! This game night is free to join and open to people of all levels from the novice to expert. Ages 16+ welcome to join! 5:30pm Goodwood: Wonderful Wednesday. 6pm/$5 Warhorse Whisky Bar (Cap Cir): Game Tally Open Board Gaming. Bring your own games or play something with new friends! 6pm Island Wings: Chris James. 6pm American Legion Hall: Sue Boyd Country Western and More Dance Class. Session 2 - Beginner 6:30 to 7:45 pm What: East Coast Swing and Waltz. Cost: $8.00 per person. Wear comfortable shoes you can turn in. 7:45 to 8:15 - Practice dance with paid admission. 8:15 to 9:30: Intermediate - 2 Step and WCS. $8.00 per person or $13.00 for both classes. Vaccines are required. Face masks are optional. Changing partners is optional. 6:30pm Perry Lynn’s Smokehouse in Quincy: Wed Night Open Mic w/ Steven Ritter and Friends. 6:30pm Hangar 38: Trivia. 6:30pm Oyster City Brewing Tallahassee: General Trivia. 7pm Smorgasbord Café: Wine Bingo. Free to play, fast paced bingo. 7pm Proof: Trivia. 7pm The Sound Bar: Music Trivia. 7pm SOS Pizza and Grill: Trivia. 7pm Fermentation Lounge: Trivia. 7pm Blue Tavern: Wednesday Open Mic with Doc Russell. The open mic night that has run continuously for almost 20 years, once housed at the Warehouse, lives on at the Blue Tavern. Doc Russell continues as the host with the most. Sign up starts at 7:45pm/free to attend Dukes and Dotties: College Night and Line Dancing Lessons. 8pm Birds: Wednesday Night Comedy. 8:30pm/free The Bark: Karaoke with DJ Nathan. Best karaoke DJ in town. 9pm Peppers: Karaoke. 9pm Amicus Brewing: Drag Bingo. Drag, drinks, and bingo realness! Join us for Drag Bingo hosted by the fabulous Justina H. Avionce with performances by Milk Marie and Illyana Taylor Joy — all to support Tallahassee Pride! 7pm The Sound Bar: Old Porch Swing. 7pm submitted by /u/clearliquidclearjar to r/Tallahassee [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
clearliquidclearjar |
Jul 31, 2025 |
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Fixing Outfits Part 20!
Hey everyone, I'm back! My last post was me starting to really tackle some of the Invictus wardrobe horrors, so this one is continuing, until I finish them all! Check out my previous post on this sub to see the previous outfits that I have fixed! My wrist is all healed and I don't have to go to the occupational therapist anymore as I have quickly regained mobility and strength. Let's get right into it! Baggy outfit to give awards, featuring Dave the vein Before https://preview.redd.it/bo8sib50cqte1.jpg?width=320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8f3c3eb635a3c667c438448203d5a23e5e7fc90 Pants ending right before the ankles make her ankles look toothpick thin and emphasizes how big her feet are. The pants are belted with a huge belt, which makes her look thicker, on top of the pants being belted right under the boobs, which makes her short torso look even shorter. And again, why is she in all whites and creams when she has left the royal family who supposedly dictated her color choices? Fixed https://preview.redd.it/ll1n40cgcqte1.jpg?width=320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe62229797d56d759173a884239f8b28b143d10b I got rid of her heels and added sneakers as it is a sporting event. I gave her lighter wash jeans and an Invictus tee, even though the design is from a different year. It matches the event that which they are handing out medals for. I gave her a small silver bracelet instead of her huge gold stack to match with the grey of her shirt and put on a necklace that she already owns. The weather during this time was very very warm where they were, so I killed the coat. I also gave her a side part. Beige full coverage ensemble in high heat Before https://preview.redd.it/fas1mh61dqte1.jpg?width=293&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=23e274e96e2c62c588934bd770da13368de66f05 The shoes don't match and instead clash, the pants are a bit too long, her arms should be through the coat sleeves if she is going to wear it. The turtleneck kills what little neck she has and us the wrinkling looks,,,,,, suspicious. The camel colors are all different hues. If I remember right, it is like 70 or so degrees Fahrenheit that day. The bun is also super duper severe. Fixed https://preview.redd.it/iduknl4ndqte1.jpg?width=293&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=afeb81b856adbfa533b7edf5a76b075be2ba7d1e I gave her a cute curly lob to help soften the look and changed the colors to red. The pants changed color as well. I gave her an Invictus pin to help tie her to the organization. The three quarter sleeves can help to elongate her torso and prevent any bulking up around the waist. I also changed her makeup a tad so her lips would stop blending in with her foundation. Land Rover Invictus Even during RF days Before https://preview.redd.it/vf8icy48eqte1.jpg?width=735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d2485ddb1952b0bf62d0fce15a644898e12b092 A short coat just cuts her torso, making it look smaller. The wide leg mom jeans make her look so thick in the leg that the rolled up cuffs revealing her ankles make them look jarringly thin. The flats are just so high end when you are supposed to be running around for a sporting event. Again, the hair is too severe. How hard is it to represent Invictus with your clothing???? Fixed https://preview.redd.it/98ud2wlneqte1.jpg?width=735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e4ec526071aa8790c4c3a9c91c2faeb3b4567f9 I gave her a simple pony to give her more movement and turned her designer jacket into an Invictus long sleeve polo to show what brand she is representing. I thinned the pants around the thigh and had them flare out around the ankle in a bootcut, which can help reduce the twiggy look. I also turned her designer flats into basic ones that she wouldn't mind getting dirty. Invictus white blazer Before https://preview.redd.it/w2a2ca64fqte1.jpg?width=320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f93b88e8c3ef71c390bff7eca8b673d84f7479ab The concept is there, but she missed the mark. Again, in white with no color. The brown of her shoes ties in nowhere with the rest of the outfit. The jeans are pretty good, though. Also, she should not be wearing heels on a track. The waist of her jacket is placed too high to be flattering to her shorter, boxy-er torso. Fixed https://preview.redd.it/t2i1somffqte1.jpg?width=320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9f29bd205c5032b52eead90541f42b6c651d541 I put her in a nice coral color and matched the shoes, changing them to a wedge so that since she wanted to wear heels, she could without damaging the track. I pulled down the placement of the belt to help elongate the torso, making sure that the gathering stays as it can help with the illusion of an hourglass shape. I also changed her makeup to match a little bit more. Visiting the First Nations horrific photoshop face Before https://preview.redd.it/bqsq5vqrfqte1.jpg?width=835&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e25512373f6aeb532954a79cf34c5c8d081ebd9f She wore this hideous outfit that was wrinkled to hell and back, the pants are too high, the pants and shirt are two different colors, both the pants and the shirt are too baggy, and the shirt's collar did not do her any favors. The coat is also ugly on her, removing any hint of a waist or hourglass figure. Fixed https://preview.redd.it/rdhvw6c3gqte1.jpg?width=835&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2ce670f197075ec4c35802d1189cab900f26813e I did some research on some actual indigenous Canadian fashion designers and artists so that she should actually be representing the people that she is visiting instead of European fashion houses. I found this beautiful dress by Dorothy Grant, the pattern representing humming birds, since she has such a 'connection' with them. The necklace and matching earrings are from Grant Pauls, and the bracelet that replaced her bracelet stack is by Victoria Harper- all three different pieces of jewelry depict humming birds. I kept it cool toned with the jewelry because of the blue of the dress. I also gave her a softly waved bob. The cut of the dress would allow for her to show her shoulders ,but would not elongate them. I also raised the neckline to make it a bit more professional for a work engagement. Short shorts and a blazer Before https://preview.redd.it/16920zhtgqte1.jpg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2afd8b99b6971105e2933885c0ad62a942a1553c The shorts are belted under the boobs, the cardigan unnecessarily rolled up, and her shoes don't match the outfit as it is beige and her outfit white/cream. The linen of the shorts is also unattractively wrinkled. The shorts are huge, which makes her legs look like twigs. Fixed https://preview.redd.it/5r2mew84hqte1.jpg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6eb945063bd991b7220f934a865057758e9f2f37 I added a necklace, lowered where the pants landed and made them boot cut to help balance the thinness of her legs. I unpointed her shoes and gave them solid backs instead of slingbacks. Her cardigan is now yellow and supports an Invictus pin so it shows that she is actually supporting the group. Wheelchair curling horse blanket Before https://preview.redd.it/j7re5u4hhqte1.jpg?width=459&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c9c86fa7c2c1e30a85ae6922da90a4caf753a9b Why the weird boots? The gloves, even if they are a rewear do not match the brown of her saddle blanket coat, clashing as they are olive toned. The velvet or suede fabric clashes with the matte wool of the coat. The jacket also swamps her, shortening her neck and making her legs look even more twiggy. Her hair is also a bit odd for this look, hiding within her jacket. After https://preview.redd.it/w6xzytbthqte1.jpg?width=459&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73e86899605835ad1e32ab388eaeaf6d78cae5ff I decided to put her in something more sporty and in Invictus colors. I gave her sneakers and workout pants, the v-shapes that I have used throughout the design helping to giver her a more hourglass shape instead of square. The neckline elongates her neck, and the thicker straps of her shirt allows for her to bare her shoulders but prevents them from being too wide. I kept the ponytail but drew it on her other side. Whistler Training ugly reversible jacket Before https://preview.redd.it/kw1y4akaiqte1.jpg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8530f6bb90d490d6ec3b221000ccc2b3194d4ddb The huge puffer coat that ends at her hips paired with skinny jeans makes her look super top heavy and again, that her legs are sticks. The rewear of the leather gloves is awful- they bunch unflatteringly and do not match with the more matte finish of everything else in the ensemble. Fixed https://preview.redd.it/phsjd44miqte1.jpg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d4e83849a7cc3330dea0e3275e9bf159482a965 I made the coat long, changing her gloves to end at the wrist instead of bunching. I changed her boots, hat, scarf, and gloves to be red to match the main color on the Canadian flag, since that is where they are. I also added a bit of color to her lips so she didn't look so sickly. White Ralph Lauren sweater vest Before https://preview.redd.it/44uv7qewiqte1.jpg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee66ca29f054a0305a29ac5e295099511480658f The tuck in of the sweater makes no sense as well as carrying a knit sweater that she would have to put over the chunkier knit of the sweater she has on, which would not look good. Her pants are wayyyyy too tight and that is why they are so wrinkled. The ankle straps on her shoes cut into the line of her leg and also focuses the eye on how big her ankles are. Fixed https://preview.redd.it/3a3lu739jqte1.jpg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c1f5b0026c8b6820ee7b6a91b8db054a35b0f91 I gave her a tee shirt from the year that they were attending, giving her bootcut jeans to match the casual look. I also killed the stupid and unneeded ankle straps. The tee also makes more sense to have on if you have that striped sweater to put on over it. Whistler Training camp, pushing away the cameras that they have hired Before https://preview.redd.it/7jj6jusijqte1.jpg?width=634&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d9b5248bee93a6438f73c73e07e822bbd8f7247 The absurd number of coats that she wore during this trip and the games themselves was gross and absurd. She should just bring one winter weight coat of goodness' sake. The cream of her sweater does not go with the almost blue toned white pants that she has on. The tans and browns of the coats and boots don't work together well. Also, this is a new designer hat that makes no sense; she already wore a different hat- it is also blue toned in its nature. Fixed https://preview.redd.it/z0zbrtwwjqte1.jpg?width=634&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7782876e52fcbe341ae9b3ce5e1f66dd6da68df1 I changed her coat to be black, intending it to be the same coat that I edited together above this one. I changed the hat so that it matched the other edit's hat. Her boots, hat, and sweater I turned red, to once again root for the country that she filmed suits in, fled to, and is now attending the games there- you would think she would have more respect and want to represent such a personally significant country. I also killed some of the yellowing that the bronzer caused, reducing the look of jaundice that she had. I added some color to her lips as well. submitted by /u/rangerhorsetug to r/SaintMeghanMarkle [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
rangerhorsetug |
Apr 9, 2025 |
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AIO to being chained to the radiator?
I (19f) have been with my boyfriend (53m) "Dave" for three years. We met through a "Bring your daughter to work day." He's my dad's boss. It was love at first sight. He offered to let me move into his four-bedroom house after two months of dating. My parents weren't happy but my autistic twin brothers (35m) have always been the golden children so I don't think they're being fair about it. Our relationship has been great but after completing my GED, Dave insisted that I stay home to take care of the house. He fired the maid and gardener and said that he can spend that money on me instead. He buys me jewelry and designer clothing and I don't want to sound ungrateful. I love him a lot and he's always super sweet and we have date nights every other month where I cook him a meal and he lets me have the leftovers. He gave me a really thick bracelet to put around my ankle the other week. Honestly I think it's kind of ugly but I didn't want to sound ungrateful. Yesterday he asked me why I was out of the house at 3:49pm. I was taking a walk. We have cameras in the house so he would've seen me leave, but he had the GPS coordinates, so I'm not sure how he did that. I told my only friend about it but she's been telling me to leave him for years so I don't think she's really fair about it. This morning we had a bad argument because I went outside to water the flowers. He said there's no need for that and he's rehiring a gardener. He said I am not to leave the house under any circumstances. When I asked about getting the mail, he got very angry and loud. He said I am not allowed to leave and he is just keeping me safe. Then he chained me to the radiator in the bathroom. I'm typing this on my phone with one hand. Other than this he's really sweet. I always thought I would marry him but I think being chained to the wall is too much. I don't want to be ungrateful because he's supported me for three years and takes care of all my finances. AIO??? (inspired by all the bullshit circulating on AIO, relationship_advice, and as always, AITA) submitted by /u/lunarinterlude to r/AmITheAngel [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
lunarinterlude |
Jan 3, 2025 |
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Elves and Battlecruisers 24/??
Ori'elen Medresiya Far'gosh Ostolyed V2.0 PVT Tara Levin ART FOLDER - updated: 2024/10/06 (Slowly cleaning up) Glossary Chapter with Illustrations - because moar content and I want to show off the fact that I can draw (or sketch at the very least, in this case)... also... forgot to change access so that was awkward 😳 *** ELVES AND BATTLECRUISERS - 24 *** First| Previous | Next “We will act as catalysts of the spell.” Words said with meaning bought with the conviction of offering two thousand five hundred years worth of memories to act as fodder for extracting someone else’s own. A spell requiring access to the zeitgeist that culminated from the city of Meshid’s entire lifetime. Two thousand five hundred years of cumulative experiences and understanding that can only be harvested because of their Elven heritage and the unique nature of the Cyclings. For whenever an Elf cycles, their previous memories compress and lighten within their souls and form a false cloak of mana around them perceived only by their individual minds and accessible only as dreams within dreams. It is through this Harrowing Cycle granted to them by the very gods who bore them that elves are able to transcend the limits of time and be the repositories of this world’s cultures and experiences. Proof positive being the branded rings upon their eyes for every Cycle they… survived. However, there is a caveat, of sorts, for it is that the fewer the Cycles, the less dense the mana-memories become, and the easier for them to be accessed. And for every Cycle experienced, the difficulties of successfully getting through the next one will be multiplied as much. And it is because of that that only those that had but one ring on their eyes be the offerings for the Rite of Recollection. He and the four other elves with him were freshly out of their first Cyclings, barely a dozen years since they each came out of their own respective hometowns and villages. It is by oath that they and others like them offer their first Cycle in the search for The Hero, Ori’elen, Lichslayer, godspawn, and avatar of Words. And when their chapter of the Hidden Cult of the Remnants were called upon to invoke the Rite of Recollection upon the Newcomer who claimed Edaria’s godmark, there was no hesitation from all five of them who stepped forward for the task. The five would-be Observers all nodded to each other as their wooden platforms floated down on streams of magic towards the center of the court to surround the Human for the spell. A spell they have practiced and prepared for for almost all of their first five hundred years. They readied themselves to hear the parameters for the Rite. “Everything before the day of the crimes I’m charged with, sir.” She spoke with a practiced manner that betrayed a certain tradition that he couldn’t yet make out. The woman’s voice was crisp, full of intent, with just the hint of mockery that he’s sure was just his imagination. “What can I say, guilty on all charges for those, I’m not gonna deny that I beat up these two and was more than a handful for the guards.Force of habit.” The woman’s admission of guilt as if there was no shame in her crimes hit the five of them like a thundercrack in the middle of the night. Integrity in the face of shame like that comes so few and far between in their collective lifespans. The stuff of stories passed down and talked about for years on end in towns and villages like rumors of hidden nobles in derelict mansions or bards just behind the next hill. The Observers cast the first spell, tendrils of mana materializing from just off their field of vision as they directed it towards the strange mass of existence that was the strange woman. His forehead twitched as his third eye strained to detect the coating of mana that was supposed to be how it recognizes the shape and location of a soul. The mana they locked onto her wrapped around her invisible soul in the shape they were familiar with, but still, it’s as if it were a fish under a murky river. They know it’s there and what it looks like, but they just couldn’t see what it is. For the first time in all their lives, the group of five were both puzzled and disturbed over the realization that this may be what the other races without manasight perceived the world. However, they still had a spell to cast and did not want to dally. Using the shape of the soul as a base, they were able to rummage through the layers of her experiences until they found the time point of which the woman was accused. From there, it was mere calculations that they were able to find the day prior to her crimes. Now, all they need is to structure the mana in a way that traces the entirety of her life. Fortunately, the “heft” they felt of her soul meant that she was roughly less than a century old. “Twenty five, actual.” The woman said in that strange, crisp manner she has conducted herself for the latter part of the trial. What a strange way to word it though. Is it from this tradition of speech she has obliged herself into? Nevertheless, the way the spell fitted perfectly upon a count of twenty five major divisions on her soul made her statement ring true. So the five of them crafted the latticework that would be the “window” from which they will peek through the woman’s entire life, each thread constructed of chains of mana, each link a circle of five circles connected by another five smaller ones. There was however, something strange with the structure that the window had settled into. A bulge, about ten times the size of the entirety of the temporary cage they created can be felt but not perceived somewhere within the confines of the soul itself. It was a strange feeling thing. Like the ghosts of a hefty meal you never ate stuck in the confines of the wrong side of your gut. But still, this must be a result of the woman’s strange nature of the woman’s magically uncaged soul. “Very well, you may proceed.” The judge ordered. They pushed on with the spell. The woman’s memories opened up to them like a flower. Raw and divorced from any context, words without meaning, thoughts without derivations, an incomprehensible, chaotic gestalt of experiences that none can penetrate simply because they were not of the same mind. Which is where the five Observers came in. The five elves reached into themselves down through the depths of their third eyes and into their minds as they pulled out their own memories. Streams of mana flowed out of them converging above the woman, floating like seaweed in shallow water. A globe made of an assembly of pure mana crystals then manifested on the ceiling and pulsed out a wave of magic perceptible only to those who were involved in the casting. The wave caught the stray strands of memory emanating from the five of them and pulled it towards the globe hovering over them. As the threads of their memories swirled closer towards it, they began to split apart. One thread of memory became two, two became four, on and on until their memories became incomprehensibly numerous fibers of mana slowly revolving around a central point and connected to the elves. He saw his memories diverge into their component experiences, the basest of thoughts, the dissections of each moment split off and sorted according to what they are and how they may be required. A scraped knee during his first years was taken away from a merry run across the fields which in turn was taken away from the touch of his Father’s hand on his shoulder. The pain of his injured flesh taken away from the surprising jolt and loss of balance when his foot stubbed on a stray root. The split second of fear when he saw blood on his hands no longer related to the sharp smell that came from the fluid that oozed out from his knee. To their third eyes, an image of the globe itself then lowered down unto the cage that reflected the woman’s being, connecting not physically, but by some strange force from its own mass as both seemed to want to pull towards each other. The closer they got, the more that some sort of distortion in their shape began to take place, as if there was some pronounced upwards curve in the forces at play closer to the surface of each metaphysical element. A strand of the woman’s thoughts touched the globe’s mana and her voice shot through the room like an arrow whizzing by their ears. “If y_- th_k -’m _i- for t_e –ew, I’- y_-r_ ga-, Sk_pp-_” The distorted, chopped up syllables of a language none of them know rode the stray streak of mana that pierced the globe above them. The swarm of their own unraveled memories stained the memory with their “color”, if such a word existed for mana, changing it, morphing it into something they, and by extension, the crowd within the Chamber understood. “Private Tara Levin, your contract is hereby leased on to the Civilian services of Captain Lucas Ibrahe, CSF, SEF and the Military command of Commander Itorri Vasquez, CSF, SEF.” It was a strange weightless yet gravelly voice like someone speaking underwater but with the clarity of a siren in song. The inflection and cadence strikingly similar to the way the woman did in her trial. The words, all of them understood, but the voice itself was a mystery. A mystery that would be solved soon enough when more of Tara’s memories are exposed to the recontextualizing powers of their extracted experiences. “Successful completion of your lease will grant you the rights to your Military Custom rig with a 20N85B configuration and maintenance manuals less the combat capable equipment should they be installed in future iterations prior to lease completion.” It continued, “Failure to pay the required amount and its subsequent interests will result in increased penalties along with forfeiture of any and all rights to your assigned rig and as well as an extension of your service requirements.” A disturbed array of emotions washed over him at hearing those words. Because his memories are intertwined with the others and the woman’s he wasn’t sure who felt those. Be it his own, his compatriots, or an echo from her memories when she was caged in a most heinous and insidious trap made of debt and obligation. But he knew it was himself who balked at the idea that she was sold into the service of two men. A slick sour wetness started to claw at the base of his throat at the very thought. But there was a spell and Rite to complete. He endured his first Cycling… this was nothing compared to that. The memory they just witnessed was but a stray thread from an entire fabric of a person’s being; a mere minute in a life of twenty five years. Whole bundles of the woman’s memories kept reaching out from within the cage they made towards the mass of mana they have created above her. As soon as each memory touches the crystals within after being colored by the individual strands of experience to give them context, a pulse burst forth connecting the minds of everyone within the chamber even closer to the subject. The memories accelerated the pace of which they reached towards the globe and then, when the last piece of magic flowed out from Tara and gathered and mingled amongst the elves’ dissolved experiences, a flash of light burst forth engulfing the room in a blinding white flash. They all found themselves gathered on top of a mountain of sorts, surrounded by sheer cliffs on all sides. The ghostly images of the people in the Chamber looked around worriedly at the scenery around them. The first thing they all saw was the sky. Blue, outstretched and cloudless from horizon to horizon as they stood on the top of an isolated cliff. Tall, leafless trees jutted out from the center of this isle in the sky like giant needles piercing the heavens. From beneath them, an indescribable noise made out of an uncountable number of bleating and howling of animals they don’t recognize. And yet, when they looked down from the edge, all they saw was this thick, off-brown fog with only hints of the ground below as small twinklings of light and lurking shadowy formations. Around them, they saw more islands like the one they were in, spires too far to register any color, each one distinct from another. The elf saw his fellow Observers and the people they brought with them look around with absolute perplexity in their eyes. These were people from scattered places in A’kasiya and he was willing to bet that they have not seen from experience or stories a place quite like this. Not with the sky that shade of blue-green, not with the strange seamless rock this mountain was made of, nor even with the material those trees in the center of the island were made of. Then, suddenly, a great bird flew over their heads, wings so wide, it blotted out the sun. It didn’t flap, but it roared. A roar so loud and unabating that the air around it shimmered in terror. It flew so low, the sound of its passing threatened to blow away the skin on their backs despite them not really existing there. Beneath its belly, was stuck an array of downturned cauldrons spilling strange gasses and smoke from within its insides that glowed an intense blue. The great orb hanging from the real ceiling hummed, taking in the ghosts of true memories accumulated within the city for the last two thousand five hundred years. The ghosts of the city’s memories mingled with the disassembled real memories from the five elves and threaded themselves along Tara’s. The orb pulsed as if echoing an entire room voicing a collective understanding. A wave of magic issued forth from the construct and the spell shifted and twisted, as if searching for the owner of the memory herself. The location changed from the top of the cliff they found themselves in to the bottom and suddenly the scene couldn’t make sense. They found themselves on a wide yet impossibly smooth black pathway surrounded by towers of light stretching out towards a sky they cannot see. Humans of all shapes, sizes, and color traveled along the edges of the road while these massive legless beasts crawled on the middle at speeds that don't align with their shapes. Light burst from the faces of these beasts blinding the crowding witnesses as they rushed along the road and straight through some of the less fortunate members of the nobility. Fortunately, they were all aware enough that these images were but memories projected for them to play around in. The ones who were were almost run over by such a massive beast looked at it with pale faces and widened eyes over the idea that there was a non zero chance that that would have actually happened to someone real at some point. Truly, the Observers themselves, who had the images go through their minds first before it was filtered and digested for the Council and others to understand, can confirm that that was actually the case. Especially here, in this place where Tara came from, where it is much more common than the woman can be shamed into admitting. The only thing preventing the people from crossing the road into danger were railings of impossibly straight and sturdy wood lining the entirety of their path. Looking around, they found people coming out of shacks made of stone and transparent leaves leading towards tunnels that provide access to the other side of the dangerous street. They saw more of those shacks, all identical, all constructed the same strange way on every corner they found, eliciting questions from everyone along the lines of “why would these Humans exert so much effort for such infrastructure?” He Observed the scene before him as did his fellow elves. The shadows of slender mountains so tall, they blotted out the sky to but slender streaks of blue, loomed over all of them as a crowd of thousands drowned out their little group of mere hundreds simply walking in their daily routines. Speaking of the crowd, they all marveled at the sheer diversity of cloth and quality that surrounded them. As each moment passed, a new person came into being, becoming a permanent part of their simulated experience of Tara’s world. The place rapidly became a crowded street not seen outside of the busiest hours of Meshid’s marketplaces. Each person is a singular expression of their individual self that even though the humans all looked somewhat the same to them, you can pick one out based on their dress alone. A woman passed by him, wearing a jacket of fur so fine and so long, the fibers wafted along with her motions as if she were swimming. The fur was dyed in the most vibrant shade of blue, it almost hurt his eyes looking at it. Her hair was arranged in a way that invoked the image of a hooded cloak over her head and it too was dyed in the same colors as her clothes. From her nape was more of her hair, decorated in beads that looped around on the front to her back from under her arms, mimicking a shirt of sorts. She was clad in clothes so tight that it might as well have been skin. In fact, he thought it was until he noticed the strange gems adorning her suit like jewelry but without strings that let it hang on her like necklaces like the pattern on her body suggested. What’s even more startling to him, though, was that she adorned herself even further with strings of light hanging in loops from her ears and as bracelets on her wrists. Both of which attracted him to the reflective surface of her second skin and on the mask she wore. A full-faced mask that shimmered like polished gold and he could swear that if he were there in actuality, he would see his distorted reflection staring back at him in shock. The woman walked past him, sauntering in boots that reached to her thighs in ways that flattered her form to the extremes. Heels so tall, he wondered how her ankles functioned. But when he focused on her feet as he thought so, he realized she was actually walking on tiptoe as her legs tapered off to an impossibly sharp point that looked like she was stabbing the ground with every step. He may have witnessed someone of some reputation as there seemed to be a clearance around her as she walked along this seemingly increasingly densening crowd. The number of people is slowly increasing to the point that there are pockets of the population actually walking shoulder to shoulder and back to front. He tore himself from looking at the woman to marvel at the sights around him, still unsure at what they all beheld. The towers of light had on them images and texts they could not comprehend rolling up like scrollwork at a steady pace. One of the nobles with them, a Degreri, which is rare here in the Shared Lands, walked over to the base of one of the towers to touch it and it recoiled its hand from the heat of whatever was emanating the images.The mushrooms on its head and face shifting into a shape that mimicked pain and awe while spores shed all over in reaction to its emotions. Above them appeared more of the beasts on the road but this time, they flew in defiance of gravity. They were not as numerous as the ones on the ground, but there was enough to elicit attention to their presence. That one caused the majority of those with them to abandon pretenses to dignity to gawk and point. These beasts - no, they saw one of the flying ones disgorge a crowd of twenty onto a platform not far from them before lifting away into the distance. These were not beasts, these were carriages; carriages that flew without anything to pull them with. True, there are such things all over A’kasiya, but they were mostly considered frivolous displays of excessive uses of mana and material. But to see them here in such quantity and triviality? Yes, he understood full well why the nobles acted as they did. But it all didn’t make sense just yet. The shadows of the mountains that overpowered the sky above them emitted lights in cliffsides that seem to say there was something in them. The buildings around them are constructed with this strange monolithic rock that was too smooth to be of any practical use. What seams they found in the architecture was from the not-wood that pervaded almost everything using joinery techniques they don’t recognize. Everywhere were these strange boxes with transparent barriers showcasing their contents that were even smaller boxes made to look like the things that housed them. They were cold to the touch in front but scalding hot at the back. A… unique way of creating a cold space, if not harsh for everyone around it. Everywhere they looked, giant floating images of what they can only assume were market stalls of such magnitudes, it was bordering on ludicrous. Everywhere around them, people were displaying wealth that rivaled kings and poverty that can crush saints in ways that made the Observers balk at the actual disparity and scale when Tara’s memories provided them with the context firsthand. None of it made sense and they were all at the verge of panicking because the Observers were starting to lose grasp of the reality of which they provided. That was when the spell shifted again, but instead of putting them someplace else, Tara’s memories echoed along with the strands of magic orbiting the construct in the Grand Chamber. Suddenly, knowledge, or rather, a strange equivalent of it, flooded the Observers’ minds. Elements of Tara’s memories suddenly changed and shifted to accommodate their newfound understanding. These beasts on the road. They were known as cars and trucks. Their forms changed ever so greatly from crawling misshapen things to objects on wheels of black leather filled with air. These were this world’s primary form of long distance transportation, ferrying between one person to hundreds at a time from personal to public use. They were also used to transport goods and commodities in such scales and speeds that it almost shook him from his maintaining concentration for the spell. Again, such wonders made him ask one more time to himself, “Why would these humans even need such logistics?”. He can remember, such as it was now that he can feel his memories fading for every moment Tara’s are being translated, studying up on such matters. Such scales of supply lines would mean that they are produced in such quantities in singular locations. Which then leads to another question of, “How many of these people are there in just one Kingdom to need such quantities of anything?” The spell increasing the amount of their comprehension continued to change the land around them. The transparent leaves they found to be abundant all around the place turned into what it actually was. Glass. Which extracted another wave of gasps from the crowd including the Observers. Glass was the lowest tier fire-touched item that can be remotely obtainable. And even then, it was so hard to transport that acquiring it may as well be a luxury expense all by itself. Were it not so fragile and heavy, glass would have been an excellent currency. And it’s everywhere here. In every shape and color imaginable. A stifled scream rang out from behind him and he turned around to share in the shock. The mountains they were looking at were not mountains at all. They were buildings. Clad in glass. One of which was made of a solid piece of seamless glass that was so thick, they can see the green beneath its surface and so solid, it barely let out a sound when they rapped it with their knuckles. Was it the way it was constructed that lent to its strength? He would need to ask a Constructor Mage, none of whom, unfortunately, are present with them. “Metal.” the word was uttered beside him. It was the goblin, Professor, Sadadorious Melor. His hand was palming the strange barricade that lined the streets that shepherded the crowd away from any oncoming cars. “Impossible!” replied Councilor Soratia as he appeared next to the redstripe. His eyes wide beneath his hooded scowl. The professor, seemingly overwhelmed by the sights they are bombarded with, slapped it with his hand. A clear sound that echoed and reverberated along the railing’s structure. It was melodious as it was heavy and it caused the Councilor to recoil in surprise. “You and I have been around the substance, F’len,” Sadadorious said. His eyes, tired from keeping up formalities, simply looked at the markings on the councilor’s face, a scaled pattern of triangles on warped and discolored skin all across his lower jaw. “It would benefit us both if you could be objective in the matter.” “It’s metal!” The Elf said, the four rings on his eyes flaring brightly amidst the near-black of their sclera. “And yet they have it everywhere!” Sadadorious absently waved his hand behind him, the spell itself sending a wave of added comprehension at the scene before them as if to illustrate the educator’s point. Suddenly, the vehicles gained more definition. Stone and rocks, wood and leaves, all gave way and became iron wrought and shaped into forms and angles they didn’t know were possible. The ground beneath them suddenly littered with plates of squared metals of unknown purpose. The building around them, the material they initially thought was joined wood sloughed away to reveal painted metals underneath. Metals used to prop up structures smaller than his house. Metals used to decorate the streets. Metals, the stuff of legends, used as containers for their refuse as the smell wafted towards them. A hideous, heavy, rotted stench so foul that more than enough of the crowd gagged at the very scent of it. And yet, the spell compelled them all to go to the alleyway where the noxious scent originated. It was dark, barely three feet across between the two buildings so tall, the sky was missing from view. However, as they went deeper into the alley, amidst the shadows of two impossible giants, where the scent of decay started to inch closer and closer to overpowering, the distance between the two walls started to widen, revealing a somewhat more open space. It wasn’t a very large space in proportion to everything they saw, only about twenty feet wide, but at the very least it allowed for the stench to vent away from them. In front of them, was a fence that stretched from wall to wall made of metal wire that stood at teen feet high. Imposing despite the flimsy nature of its make. Even more so when they saw the top of the fence was decorated by wires brandishing wickedly shaped blades that upon closer inspection, were sharp enough to cut to the bone if not snag on your skin. If not a weapon, it was definitely the most terrifying of deterrents. Yet somehow, they found signs of infiltration on the very thing that was supposed to ward off intruders itself. For on one side of the fence, the deterring razor-enhanced-wire was bent and misshapen as if something was pressed down upon it from above. Looking at the set of clothes on the other side, it seemed evident on how the infiltration was done. They found themselves on the other side of the fence, suddenly in the presence of what seemed to be a shanty town. Interlocking boxes of rotting fabric and thin, battered, and bent metals shaped in what could only be assumed as habitation. Everywhere they looked, there was a person in varying shades of discomfort, disinterest, and duress. And even though the spell hasn’t yet completed filling up the place with a proper rendition of the population around them, the oppressive air was palpable. They were not so pampered to know this was what counted for slums in this city of wonders as they, despite being incorporeal here, avoided the sludge that inched along the center of the “town”. It was when they noticed a streak of blood rounding a corner when they knew where to go next. “Of course I’ll be there tonight, we don’t want Mama Martha to come over to our unit and hand us our asses again, right?” The voice was light, high pitched, and sounded exceedingly young. “Yeah yeah, it went fine. Gut cutter nicked a vein something bad but at least they slapped some re-gel on it before I left. At least I got us some slog for the next week or two, liver’ll be fine next month for ‘nother cut.” The… the what, now? The question unexpectedly lanced through the Observers, halting them in their tracks and staggering some of their guests with it. The implications and explanations from Tara’s memories are disturbing and terrifying in equal measure. “Don’t worry about it, at least it’ll keep the other kids from turning sour.” Was she talking to herself? The Observers and the assembled crowd of nobles came closer to the tiny figure in the dark and damp corners of the slum. She was hunched over, obviously in pain. Blood streaked on the wall she was leaning on from a wound on her side. Her pale skin reflected what little light came through. A neat, impossibly straight scar ran through most of the right side of her shaven head and all across the back of her nape. From her head jutted out strange metal plating that seemed to be more than just decoration. Strangely and disturbingly enough, they found on the child’s neck, was a hole of sorts just under the base of her skull. “Anyway, gotta hang up, got a client waiting for me. Yeah. No, it’ll be quick, he knows I’m cut. Don’t worry!” The way and cadence of her speech was that of someone talking through a sending crystal, although they could find nothing on her ear other than the garish metal piercings adorning them. The girl inched closer to the end of the alley she was on, the light from beyond a straight line in the darkness. Just outside, was a car of the flying kind just waiting for her to exit. As soon as she did, someone tossed her what seemed to be a small, palm sized tube of sorts which she caught midair. Her expression at receiving it was a mix of gratitude and annoyance, what about, the Observers couldn’t say. She pressed a button on one end of the tube and a wicket looking needle suddenly poked out from the other side, and without hesitation, she stabbed herself with it. Right on her injury. The Observers and all their guests flinched at the barbaric sight. But yet, there may have been some sort of potion within that tube, a kind of potion that requires such crude and careless delivery that caused her to steadily even out her breathing and within a scant few seconds, stand up straight. The girl tossed the tube aside, its contents spent as it rolled towards the nearest corner to join an innocuous-looking heap of trash. “My favorite gofer.” A voice came in from the car. The shadowy figure only had a hand out through its window holding what looked to be a finger-sized wafer with gold leaf at the end. Tara took it and promptly slid it into a hole at the back of her head. The elf didn’t know who it was who was retching at the sight, but he knew he wasn’t that far behind in doing so. Especially since the spell is explaining to him that whatever she put into her head is injecting information straight into her mind like some perverse idea of a book. “Well Tara? You taking the job?” the voice from inside car asked. Tara just smiled crookedly, despite obviously still in pain. “Yeah, why not? It’s not like I got nothing else to do.” *** End of Capter 24 *** First| Previous | Next ****** Lore Notes: (Slowly cleaning up) Glossary Post mortem notes and thoughts: I just realized that describing magic and its intimate effects is like trying to describe the direction in which quarks “spin”. Both fun and confusing. This delay was brought to you by… groceries, dayjob crunch, and taking too long playing on Cyberpunk 2077 researching the mood for Verdant First| Previous | Next submitted by /u/JustThatOtherDude to r/HFY [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
JustThatOtherDude |
Oct 6, 2024 |
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Nick n’ Rick’s Pizza: Rules for delivering to Nerissa
Hello Daryl, We’re glad to hear that your last delivery didn’t take any unfortunate turns. Things could’ve easily gotten out of hand quickly with Macuil, given his unusual cravings. But, since all is well, we’ll be sending you back to Cribble-Rock Run shortly. More specifically, we’re sending you to another regular customer of ours from Broken Hand pond. For what it’s worth, this one isn’t anywhere near as irritable as Macuil. She is, however, a tad bit....... possessive. So, as always, we’ve provided detailed information regarding this customer to help you out. Be sure to read it thoroughly. Customer name: Nerissa Address: 2991 Champ Ln. Regular order: Large Hawaiian pizza, topped additionally with raw clams and oysters. Residence description: Small sandy inlet on the northernmost bank of Broken Hand Pond. It’s enclosed almost entirely by ferns and willow trees. Numerous shells and small teeth litter the sand. Customer description: Nerissa resembles a beautiful young woman with ghostly pale, olive colored skin. She wears a long, delicately sewn white gown, and her arms are adorned with several large bracelets. She carries an enormous oyster shell with her wherever she goes, the inside having been so thoroughly polished and glazed that it casts a reflection like a mirror. The girl’s long flowing hair is primarily black, though it slowly turns ashy gray at the ends, and her big, brilliantly purple eyes have an inherently friendly look to them. However, nothing else about Nerissa is even remotely human: she has a set of large gills lining the sides of her waist, with several smaller ones running along her cheeks and across her wrists. Her finger nails have sharp, jagged edges, and her flowing white gown is badly torn at the bottom as though it’s been hooked and snagged on countless branches and rocks. Additionally, while Nerissa’s in the water, her legs occasionally take on a monstrous form: the long tapering body of a massive eel, patterned brilliantly with white banded stripes across muddy brown scales. More concerning, however, is Nerissa’s teeth: each one of them is surprisingly shark-like, being lined with sharp, serrated edges. Disturbingly enough, there even appears to be an additional set of teeth lining the back of her throat. Rules for delivery: Before leaving for Broken Hand Pond, take a set of earbuds with you from the supply room. They can be quite invaluable around this customer. Remove your name tag before leaving the restaurant. For reasons that should become clear soon, you do not want this customer to know your name. Since you’ll have to park on the side of the road once you’re close to the inlet, be sure to park on the side opposite the pond. There’s a few creatures here that might tamper with your car if it’s too close to the water. The ground between the road and Nerissa’s inlet is slightly steep, and notably rocky. While you certainly don’t want to lose your footing here, be especially careful not to cut yourself on the rocks. The smell of blood can make this inlet’s inhabitants quite antsy. Given how restless they’ll be from your presence alone, you do not want to make the situation worse. Additionally, as you navigate your way down to the inlet, be watchful for any rocks that appear to be moist or slick. A fair number of unusually large eels live around this inlet, and they occasionally like to climb around the rocks, weaving and entwining themselves amongst them. The eels are surprisingly good at hiding, but tend to leave a noticeably wet trail as they slide across the ground. Do not get closer to them than necessary: these eels have a nasty bite. Once you reach the inlet, Nerissa will surface near the water’s edge. She’ll greet you cheerfully, asking if you’d like to swim with her. For more than a few reasons, it’s best you don’t acknowledge this invitation. Nerissa is extremely charming, and very endearing to anyone who meets her. You’ll greatly enjoy talking with her as a result. However, it’s best you make this delivery as quick as possible: Nerissa has sinister intentions for you. The longer you stay on her beach, the more time she has to act on them. Be particularly watchful for the aforementioned large eels while you’re on the shoreline. A few of them will always stay near Nerissa, and those slender brown fish are surprisingly strong, as well as notably clever: they’ve been known to sneak up on Nerissa’s visitors from behind while she talks to them. Once they get close enough, the eels then grab the hapless victims by their ankles and help Nerissa drag them into the pond as they fall. Nerissa is extremely flirty. She’ll make more than a few flirtatious remarks, complimenting you as “naturally beautiful” and “a sight for sore eyes”. Do the best you can to ignore her: she’s trying to distract you so her eels can get behind you. Nerissa will try to encourage you to take your shoes off and step into the shallow part of the pond, claiming that it’s extremely refreshing. Again, don’t acknowledge this invitation: you’ll be an easy victim in the water. Nerissa will regularly hum and sing while you’re on her beach. When she does, mentally count to yourself until she stops. This is beyond important: you must keep your thoughts occupied while Nerissa is singing. Her voice has a powerful pull over everyone who hears it. If you don’t distract yourself from it’s melody, you’ll be completely entranced. Nerissa can simply just ask you to come into the water at that point. Do not trust anything Nerissa tells you. She will try to earn your trust by giving you advice and information about the pond, claiming to have your best interests in mind, but this isn’t quite true: her only interest is getting you into the water. She’ll say anything she thinks might get you into the water, whether that be today or even weeks from now. Avoid staring at Nerissa for prolonged periods. The longer you look at her, the more beautiful she’ll seem to be. Eventually, she’ll look like the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen(she’s even taken on the appearance of a man before this way). You’ll find yourself being physically drawn towards her if that happens, and she’ll be quick to act on it. If rule two wasn’t warning enough, do not tell Nerissa your name. She will ask for it. Just tell her you have the pizza she ordered, simply saying that you’re the delivery driver. She will insist that you give her your actual name, but absolutely do not give it to her. Names have power, and she’s one of the few creatures who know how to use that power. Nerissa will be persistent in trying to get your name. She’ll probably try to guess it when she realizes you won’t give it to her yourself. If she does manage to guess it, do not give her even the slightest hint that she got it right. Your name can’t effect you if you don’t acknowledge it as your own. To repeat the above rule, do not acknowledge your name if Nerissa says it. There’s a chance she’s already gotten it from one of our other customers, but even if Nerissa does know what your name is, she can only use it against you if you’ve actually acknowledged it as your name. But if you do acknowledge it, you won’t be able to refuse anything Nerissa says: she’ll be able to simply ask you to walk into the pond, and you won’t be able to resist it. If Nerissa’s gills suddenly appear to start vibrating, followed by a high pitched ringing sound filling the air as she inhales, quickly put the earplugs in your ears and back away from the water immediately. She’s about to sing her song in it’s purest form. There’s not a single creature that can hear this sound up close without being drawn towards it. Nerissa will pay for the order with several shimmering hand sized scales. She’ll motion for you to come into the water to take them from her, but that won’t be necessary: Nerissa will slowly get closer the longer you stay on the beach. By the time you go to get the payment from her, she’ll almost be close enough to touch you. Tell her to toss the scales onto the beach, and quickly collect them without taking your eyes off of her. There’s a good chance Nerissa will try to give you a few large cowrie shells as a tip. Do not accept the shells: she can sense where they are at all times, and can hear anything spoken around them. This is the most common way she gets our employees’ names. If Nerissa failed to enchant you, she’ll probably come out of the water after paying in a last attempt to claim you. When she does, try not to let her physically touch you: her skin contains an unusual toxin that can cause strong euphoria, as well as various hallucinations and mild numbness of the senses later on. She often attempts to hug people as a way of saying “goodbye”, then pulls them into the water as the toxins take effect. Nerissa will also probably try to kiss you at least once. While letting her touch you at all is bad enough, absolutely do not let Nerissa kiss you: this is how she feeds. Her “kiss” can suck the life force right out of your body, along with many of your internal organs. Do not turn your back on Nerissa as you go to leave: the creature might try to grab you if she thinks she’ll have the element of surprise. Once you’re out of the neighborhood, pull over and check your clothing thoroughly: Nerissa’s been known to hide cowrie shells in peoples’ pockets and clothing as they leave. Be very thorough: several of our employees have found cowrie shells in their clothes when Nerissa never even got close enough to touch them. Rules for dealing with the toxins: If Nerissa managed to touch you, her toxins will begin taking effect on you shortly. While it’s effects will eventually fade on their own, they last for approximately an hour, getting more intense with every minute. Read the following rules to help deal with it’s influence. Get back into your car and drive out of the neighborhood immediately after you were touched. The toxins initially only cause feelings of euphoria, which will make you hesitant to leave, but you must be out of the area within 20 minutes. After those first 20 minutes, your hands and limbs will begin to go numb, followed shortly by the appearance of mild hallucinations. It’s best you get out of Cribble-Rock Run before they take effect: you won’t be able to drive in that state, making you an easy target for the neighborhood’s inhabitants. Once you’re out of the neighborhood, find a safe place to pull over, pulling the car’s emergency break to be safe. As soon as the hallucinations begin, driving will be dangerous. Most of what you’ll think you see will be nothing more than strong illusions: you’ll quite likely find yourself swerving to miss things that aren’t there. Worst yet, you won’t be able to tell when the things in front of you are actually real. Try not to react to the hallucinations vocally in any way. While you should be safe from Cribble-Rock Run’s inhabitants on the side of the road, many of them have keen ears. Any unusual or frantic sounds will possibly draw their attention. After about 35 minutes, your arms and legs will go completely numb, resulting in partial paralysis. Rest assured, however, that this is only temporary. It’s meant to ensure that Nerissa’s more persistent victims can’t run from her, and should wear off a few minutes after it began. However, the hallucinations will still persist for around 20 to 30 minutes. While the numbing of your limbs is temporary, it’s best you make sure the car’s doors are all locked before it takes effect. Heaven forbid anything tries to get into your car before it wears off, you won’t be able to stop the intruder from opening the doors. Never open your car doors, no matter what you see. Whatever you think is out there is(hopefully) just a hallucination meant to lure you out of the car. If you do leave the car, the imaginary image will always try to lead you back to the source of the toxin itself: Nerissa. You’ll probably think a police officer has stopped by to check on you at one point. They’ll instruct you to exit the vehicle, saying that they’re taking you to the station. Do not fall for this: the police force around here doesn’t patrol near Cribble-Rock Run. Listen to the “officer”, and they’ll lead you right through the neighborhood and back down to Nerissa’s beach, assuming nothing else finds you before you get that far. Do not be alarmed when your hands start twitching wildly. This is actually a good sign: the toxins are finally leaving your body. Right as the toxins wear off, you’ll most likely hear people you know screaming frantically in the distance. Again, ignore them: this is a last ditch attempt to get you to chase the hallucinations back to Nerissa. After you’ve fully recovered from the toxins, double check to make sure Nerissa didn’t hide any cowrie shells on you before driving away. Again, she is disturbingly skilled at hiding those shells in peoples’ clothing. That should be everything you need to know about Nerissa. She’s one of the ponds more troublesome inhabitants thanks to her charming nature and entrancing song, as well as the main reason we don’t send employees new to the neighborhood to Broken Hand Pond first. It’s worth noting, however, that Nerissa isn’t completely wicked, despite her method of feeding. She does genuinely enjoy people’s company, only eating them as a necessary means to stay alive(Nerissa’s kind cannot survive without draining life energy from other creatures), and believe it or not, every flirtatious comment she makes to you is actually genuine: she truly considers all people to be beautiful. And while she does quite literally suck the life out of her victims, Nerissa can’t actually bring herself to part with any of them: instead, she takes each of their remains and reshapes them, stretching the corpse and rolling it thin until it looks like a snake, then detailing it with gills and fins. In truth, each of the eels surrounding Nerissa is one of her previous victims, and despite what she’s done to them, they seem to love her just as much as she loves them. That said, we think many of the eels climb those rocks so regularly because they’re trying to return to their old lives, only to be forced back to the pond instead by an inability to breathe air. But of course, it’s best you don’t sympathize with Nerissa’s eels in the slightest. If you do, you just might end up keeping them company....... permanently. Sincerely, Rick and Nick Castillo Next customer: The Mockhide submitted by /u/TheGeckoWrangler to r/Ruleshorror [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
TheGeckoWrangler |
Mar 1, 2021 |
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FurloughFIRE: Okay, not really, but here's some notes from a FedFIRE diplomat and what's going on in Washington, DC right now
For reference, here's a long-winded post I put up a few months ago: https://old.reddit.com/r/financialindependence/comments/9e788m/fedfire_or_how_a_us_foreign_service_officer_can/ Anyway, on to bidness (I say ‘bidness’ cuz I’m from the streets). And yes, this is rambling, but I ain’t got nothing to do right now. Being FIRE in Furlough This seems to be a bit of a no-brainer. If you are pursuing FIRE, you should likely have an emergency fund, right? Well, we do, no problems there. The thing is, many people overlook the fact that, even if you are a FIRE adherent, some are just starting out. I mentor people, and I try to push financial responsibility as part of the job (FIRE in a bubblegum wrapper, maybe)…and technically, financial responsibility is important to maintaining clearance eligibility, so it’s not a bad idea to stick it. If you’re just starting…a year or two in, you may not have saved up that much, you may be shoveling more into debt, paying for living in the DC region, and having to take on new-ish car debt (because some countries don’t let you bring in vehicles X years or older). My friends in the civil service (non-diplomats) don’t have the exact same problems, but even in the government, a lot of people…they may not all be living paycheck to paycheck, but they can only miss one or so. Our efund will let us last about two months before we would have to start raiding personal stock holdings, those stocks would probably let us last out any length of shutdown (assuming this one doesn’t last until 20 Jan, 2020). FIRE was invaluable for letting me go to sleep in this situation. Certain folks may not have declared a national emergency, but this furlough has now reached the point of being a financial emergency for many. I will say, efund aside, this happening directly at the holidays was probably one of the most terrible ways for it to go down. People splurge at the holidays. It may not be sensible, but it’s a fact. Compound that with a missed paycheck (or more), and things get nasty quickly. I’m sympathetic…happy I’m not currently in that situation…but a decade earlier, I sure as heck would’ve been. Just Go Get Work or Barter with Your Landlord Gee, thanks OPM…the administration being tone deaf as usual. Funny thing, many federal employees are restricted in their outside employment. You have to get permission from your supervisor, from higher echelons in your office, from HR, from Legal, depending. This is for ethical reasons, security reasons, and proprietary info reasons…plenty of reasons more, I’m sure. Guess what you can’t do when the government is closed? Get government approvals, oddly enough. I’m not allowed to enter a federal building without explicit orders to do so—it is literally against the law right now, just like any other random citizen trying to enter a federal building without permission. Working without permission is also against the law. Read into that what you will, but technically, if I check my email for work purposed, I’d be breaking the law. So, the recommendation to get additional work applies to some, but certainly not all, otherwise we’d be in violation of regulations, and could be ousted from a government job once we returned. Would a reasonable boss do this, probably not. Would administrators put into place to disrupt or co-opt the mission of certain agencies do that? Well…I wouldn’t put it past the Zinkes or Pruitts of the world to gleefully fire employees after the furlough was over for seeking outside work without approval. Just following regulations, after all. The whole barter with your landlord thing…come on. I don’t know a single apartment complex in the area that isn’t run by a real estate corporation. Your ‘landlord’ is a board of directors in Nevada or some other place with low incorporation fees. Individual renters, sure, maybe…but landlords gotta eat, too, and painting or odd jobs don’t buy groceries. This also sticks with me because, right now I’m in the DC region, but if I was overseas, I’d be working (most of my colleagues at post are working without pay). Still, can State or other civilian employee do side work to make ends meet overseas? No. We’d literally be stealing their jerbs. No rent, most of time, but there are still bills. This Is Just Hurting Those DC Elites 85% of federal employees work and live outside the DC area (to be clear, DC area is DC, Virginia, and Maryland). National parks are, well, nationally found. NASA has a big presence in Florida and Texas. Air Traffic Control and TSA are in every state…border patrol, USDA inspectors…not all these people are considered “Essential”…the security apparatus, sure, but you know who is not there? Administrators, processors, plenty of IT folk, and others who actually make sure things run smoothly. The way it normally works when a shutdown occurs is that people are pre-identified as essential and non-essential (various agencies have different terms for this). There are also mission critical people (they know from day one they don’t get time off in emergencies or shutdowns or zombie apocalypses). Depending on your organization some people have pay funded from the previous fiscal year, some don’t. It really kind of depends on what bills your funding falls under. I have a friend right now who is currently working under DoD and getting paid. Meanwhile, the guys two offices down from him are working but not being paid, and the office further down the hall has been furloughed. It seems like a crapshoot from the outside. The kicker with this is, not that much work is getting done. We are in a holding pattern (to use the parlance of overworked and unpaid air traffic controllers). The Federal Government is not really operating right now, rather, just enough is operating to make sure nothing incredibly terrible happens. You are less safe now than you were 20+ days ago, and it has nothing to do with the border. Who Wouldn’t Love a Long Paid Vacation? Here’s a thought experiment. Your employer tells you that you can go on vacation. Great! While you are on vacation, regardless of your vacation days, you will not get paid. Wait! Also, your employer can require you to return to work with no more than 12 hours notice. Uhh… Doesn’t sound so good, does it? We now know—two weeks in—that Congress is authorizing backpay. That wasn’t true at first, and I’m not holding my breath that it’s a done deal. I can’t go visit my folks for a long weekend because I don’t know if I’ll be at work on Monday. We’re not allowed to take time off in lieu of furlough, either. I certainly can’t go on a real vacation (sorry, mom and dad, but you’re not exactly Disney World). Even then, traveling takes money, which will be tight for plenty of people. Maybe it’s a taste of Early Retirement [insert angels’ choir sound here]? Nope. I am definitely not experiencing a sense of independence, freedom, or lack of financial concern. I’m not sweating my next meal, but I also kind of feel like I’m under house arrest…or maybe just wearing an ankle bracelet with a DC-area range. To add insult to injury, many organizations are having employees come in for a day here, a day there (in the sense that you are “essential” one day and return to furlough status the next), so that everyone would at least get some money in a paycheck in the event Congress did not authorize backpay. Kudos to our bosses who do this. It’s good foresight, but it definitely makes doing anything but waiting around for a phone call difficult to accomplish. To reiterate, not how most people spend a “vacation”. What About All Those Free Meals and Discounted Cocktails? So, in the DC region, there are places offering “furlough” deals. Some places are giving discounts on food or drink, some places a free meal…and all you have to do is show your ID. This is marketing. I mean, yeah, you can take advantage of it, I guess, but a lot of it is in DC proper, not the ‘burbs where a majority of the employees live. And are you going to try to do that every day? Probably not. And does it apply to your kids or spouse? Most likely not. I’m pretty sure this also isn’t happening much in other states, either…again 85% of the federal workforce is not in DC. On top of that…well, there’s the issue that it’s also typically against regulations (possibly the law, though don’t quote me on that) to receive benefits based on your federal status. Approvals can be given, and there are exceptions here and there (GEICO, for example, gives a discount to government employees as a standard practice). The idea here is that we’re supposed to avoid reciprocity…you give me a discount and maybe I’ll help you out later. Admittedly, the likelihood of my State Department role affecting a pub in Arlington is pretty low, but I don’t get to choose which rules I want to follow, and there’s literally no one to consult about that right now. I Don’t Work for the Government. Who Cares? Even when the government is working, there are still disasters, still romaine lettuce that will make you sick, still bad guys doing bad things…all that is, well, not entirely unchecked, but certainly not as well-guarded against. There is no significant food inspection going on right now. You still go to the grocery store, don’t you? Water safety, environmental protection, all that is limited or non-existent. Probably nothing to worry about, but if you were an amoral company looking dump something toxic, when would you do it? No risk, right now. Customs and Border Patrol gets paid pretty poorly, TSA too…now they’re not getting paid at all. This isn’t even to imply their doing their job less, but rather, how long can they show up and not get paid? You do depend on interstate commerce, and travel, and flying, and all other sorts of things. No one should really have to make an argument that the federal government provides vital services, but here we are. If a few more TSA folks stop showing up at Atlanta, Chicago, JFK, and maybe LAX, air travel is going to be messed up. That impacts things like Amazon deliveries, too. It’s not just business or vacation travelers that will feel it. Following this, I wouldn’t expect Q1 numbers to look great if this continues for another paycheck or so. It’s not just federal employees…it’s contractors, contract services (like cleaning or maintenance), stuff as simple as office supply companies, vending and cafeteria services, all sorts or stuff that are suspended or operating with skeleton crews. How many of these companies can survive weeks without being paid? It ripples out. Heck, let’s go a step further…800,000+ federal workers are non-essential, and almost a million more are working but not getting paid. Two million people, so even assuming these employees are terrible with money and aren’t investing anything, the government is still investing 1% of their salary into TSP. If everyone is being paid $50,000, that’s about $40,000,000 that didn’t get invested with this past (missed) paycheck. The average salary in the federal government is higher than that, and the average TSP investment is definitely more than 1%. When institutional investors (and the TSP most definitely qualifies) aren’t buying stock…is that good or bad for the economy…? I forget. Some Personal Notes and Being Reminded of FIRE on Furlough Meh, that’s a lot of doom and gloom. I’ve been at work four days since the holidays. Moral is not good. Maybe a needed to vent. Fortunately, right before the holidays, I sold my underwater townhome for mortgage value + $3500. I found a local “We Buy Houses” type company (just a realtor with a bunch of investors backing him up), and they bought the townhome with the renters still in place. After owning the place for 12 years…I literally broke even (probably less, since I’m not really accounting for inflation). But hey, I’m not shelling out $200 a month in excess of my renters’ rent anymore. A weird thing that happened included my going to a pre-pre-retirement seminar on Monday and Tuesday. This was training I had paid for out of last year’s budget, so I could still go (no refunds). It was a seminar designed for people more than five years from retirement. There was some good stuff, and they talked specifically about FERS, FERS Special, and Foreign Service Retirement. I am still on course to able to really retire at 50, so, yay. There was some great stuff on legal and financial planning, particularly regarding springing power of attorney, revocable trusts. The lawyer who spoke for that part made a point of indicating that from 18 years onward, all family members should have springing powers of attorney, and possibly limited powers of attorney. This was particularly important for those of us in foreign service, since we find ourselves in tough situations every once in a while, but just for general financial security in a time when you or a spouse is incapacitated, it’s good to know you can accomplish critical business if needed. Revocable trusts were an interesting concept from an estate planning perspective. Those of you who plan to have more than once residence or property in multiple locations may want to look into that to possibly simplify probate / estate planning. It does not work in all situations, but it might for some. The financial planner presented a case for having a mortgage in retirement, which I thought was interesting. He made a point to not to use it to overbuy, but rather—and this was particular to people with pensions—it can used to avoid some tax liability. Much of this was dependent on current mortgage rates, but it could be tax advantaged if you have a pension to also have a mortgage interest write off. I found it funny, because he specifically called out Dave Ramsey and his “anti-debt at all cost” schtick. I probably won’t have a post-retirement mortgage, but it’s food for thought. The Financial Planner also made a great analogy about the market (it hit home for those of us in the DC area): Being in the market is like being in traffic. You pick a lane, and you’re going along to your destination. Then your lane starts to slow and you see people to the left and right of zooming past. After some swearing, you pull out into another lane, zip along a few car lengths, and then stop. Now, the rusted-out Ford you were behind for the past ten miles is passing you in your old lane, so you switch back, but there are a few more care between you and the Ford. Waitaminute! I’m losing progress! Better switch lanes again. Rinse and repeat. This isn’t to say there aren’t some true fast lanes, but unless you have really good financial GPS, all you’re doing is weaving in and out of the market on a hunch, and losing position along the way. The destination, and progress toward it, are still pretty well-known / predictable factors. There wasn’t anything particularly illuminating about the financial planning part of it, (though the fact that these guys charge 0.5 - 1.5% to give advice we talk about here daily is a thought for post-retirement income…though I’m not sure what’s all involved in becoming a Certified Financial Planner). He went over opportunities for backdoor Roth contributions, and made a point that Roth isn’t always better depending on where you are in your career, and where you expect to be, tax-wise, in the future. For federal employees, unless you choose to work after retirement from the government, it would be hard to have more earned income post retirement. Our pensions are always a fraction of our past earnings. Again, not mind-blowing, but Backdoor Roth is often chanted as a mantra here, but everyone is different in their situation. He also mentioned this step-by-step guide for the backdoor Roth from Physician on Fire. So, the guy knew about FIRE, but never actually mentioned it by name…heh. Some Fed-Specific Stuff For those who are federal employees, a guy from the TSP board talked to us and told us that significant positive changes to withdrawal options are coming, and they are looking at growing fund options in the next 3-7 years. He said there’s usually very little pushback in that area, so don’t do anything drastic (i.e., moving all funds to another brokerage) if you don’t have a better reason than you just want a little more diversity. As a final note, the guy from TSP board mentioned three huge mistakes they see all the time: Keeping everything the G Fund—don’t do it unless you’re already retired and the low return meets your needs. Moving everything into the G Fund when the market dips (happens a lot, good ol’ buy high and sell low). And last, having some money in a target date fund (L Funds) and in a regular fund (G, F, C, S, I). If you’re going to use an automatic balancing fund, having any of the same funds outside there is silly, and if you want more control, just mimic the allocations of your preferred target fund once a month (or quarterly, or whatever). Creating combinations of target funds (like having 25% in aggressive 2050+ and 75% in the 2020 fund) is fine (though maybe not optimal), since they’re still all automatically rebalancing. For those who are FERS-RAE or FERS-FRAE (people who pay more for their pension plan), the poison pill retirement adjustments pushed by zombie-eyed granny starver Paul Ryan (credit to Esquire), we were shown math that indicates you still benefit, obviously, from a full government career (the health care coverage being a primary factor), but the inflection points are about 8 and 12 years for RAE and FRAE. If you quit before then, not a huge loss, if you quit after then, you’re likely cheating yourself financially. I can’t replicate the math here, but I don’t think he was lying. He did point out that if the healthcare situation in US changes for the better (Universal / Medicare for all), many federal employees might find themselves re-evaluating the benefits of their benefits. tl;dr: Pimpin’ ain’t easy, but neither is being a federal employee on furlough, that said, sticking to FIRE ideals really really helps. Also, please reiterate with people…the furlough is national…it’s not just DC. This affects Americans as a whole. submitted by /u/dipsplode to r/financialindependence [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
dipsplode |
Jan 12, 2019 |
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Game VIII: Unlucky Thirteen
The straining tensions finally broke on the thirteenth day after the first murder. Each faction had gathered in their respective local pubs - the humans at Merlotte’s Bar & Grill and the monsters at Fangtasia. There they discussed how they wanted to proceed. Could they work past the events of the past two weeks and continue living together in peace? Or had the Werewolves succeeded in opening a rift between the two factions? Song of the Day At Merlotte’s Bar & Grill, the humans came to a unanimous decisions fairly quickly. Some hummed ‘We’re All in This Together’ as they cast their votes for a village victory. They wanted to return to living in peace with their monster brethren. Meanwhile, over at Fangtasia, the monsters had adopted a much more bloodthirsty attitude. All but four of them decided that the time for peace was over, and the humans had to die. The Goblin Queen knew what was going to happen. She spread a tattered black blanket over the fallen leaves on a hillside overlooking Night Vale. She gathered /u/ari6av, /u/awwsoclose, /u/cranialnerve13, /u/spludgiexx with her for a picnic of mugwort tea and moon cakes. These four monsters were the only ones who did not choose to betray the humans, and therefore the only ones she could stand to be near. Together they watched the ugly scene playing out in the village. The humans were just emerging from Merlotte’s, carrying friendship bracelets and a large cake, when the monsters fell upon them. /u/tali214 attacked /u/Srslywtfdood, dragging the sharp edge of her wing across his throat. /u/Srslywtfdood begged /u/tali214 to use her powers to heal him, but she just hovered over him, glittering maliciously. /u/funkimon gored /u/kariert with his horns, disemboweling her. /u/Skillex67 gave a great banshee shriek right into /u/MsSunshine87's ear, scaring her to death. /u/andreaslordos tore /u/Aurthurallan limb from limb, leaving his appendages scattered across the town square. In the chaos, /u/derive-dat-ass tried to escape by climbing onto the roof of Merlotte’s. /u/xboxg4mer was there waiting for her - he headbutted her with his great stone gargoyle melon, caving in /u/derive-dat-ass’s forehead. Back on the ground, /u/suitelifeofem wrapped her arms around /u/Sevilyra and turned into a tree, suffocating /u/Sevilyra inside her trunk. /u/megabanette was trying to sneak through the alleyways, but /u/Korsola phased through a wall next to her, grabbed hold of her, and pulled her through the wall. Since /u/megabanette was a solid human, her passage through the wall wasn’t as smooth as the ghoul’s. /u/findthesky fled towards the forest, but /u/emmach17 lashed out with a vine and caught her around the ankle. She lifted /u/findthesky up and slammed her into the ground repeatedly until she stopped screaming. /u/Chefjones wrapped creepers studded with inch-thick thorns around /u/dep61, puncturing him all over and laughing while the blood seeped out of him. /u/Penultima tried to retreat back into Merlotte’s, but /u/tana-ryu was waiting inside. She pummeled /u/Penultima into a pulp with her huge ogre fists. /u/kaybee41906 snatched /u/knon24 and dragged her to the nearby swamp, where she held /u/knon24 beneath the water until her frantic struggling ceased. /u/bubblegumgills had managed to make it to the outskirts of town. She raced parallel to the shoreline, and the farther she got from Night Vale, the closer she felt to safety. But then she heard a peculiar sound coming from the sea. She froze, then slowly turned towards the source of the unearthly melody. /u/CanadianSalmon was standing in the freezing waves, singing her siren song to /u/bubblegumgills. /u/bubblegumgills fought, urging herself not to succumb to the siren’s pull. She could feel her body yearning to jump off the cliff and into the sea. As she stood there struggling, /u/VeganGamerr came up behind her and gave her a great shove. /u/bubblegumgills plummeted to her death on the rocky shore. The monsters congregated in the town square, coordinating corpse-removal duties and divvying up the belongings and houses of the humans. The Goblin Queen had crumpled into a pitiful heap on the picnic blanket. She shuddered with sobs, her grief palpable. Her four faithful monster companions helped her to her feet and pulled her arms over their shoulders, helping her walk as they made their way into the haunted forest. The five of them left Night Vale that tragic day. There was nothing left for them there. The remaining villagers were monsters in the truest sense of the word. Together they founded a new hamlet in the heart of the haunted forest. The Goblin Queen dubbed it ‘Halloween Town.’ She was determined that this town would always remain peaceful and free of major conflict. And she vowed that one day she would seek vengeance in Night Vale. The first step of her vengeance was to re-form her beloved Homunculus from earth and ether. 'Will you serve me more faithfully this time?' asked the Goblin Queen. 'Probably not,' answered /u/Moostronus. The Goblin Queen thought for a moment before going: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The game is over! Well done, players! Stay tuned tomorrow for a formal announcement of the winners, superlatives, and an AMA! submitted by /u/MacabreGoblin to r/HogwartsWerewolves [link] [comments]
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reddit.com |
MacabreGoblin |
Oct 16, 2016 |