Lyrics i speak jesus

I was born to two immigrant parents, who, insofar as love, affection, providing, were the absolute best parents a kid could ever ask for. My dad was the hardest working person I have ever known (and likely ever will know), working a hard manual labour construction job, usually 10+ hrs a day. He did so to be able to provide as best as he could for my mum and I. Up until I was 13, we rented a small apartment in Toronto, but at that age, my parents decided they wanted a house (despite not being able to afford one on our single-income finances), so my mom got help from her brother for a downpayment, and we got into a house north of the city, in the suburbs. I was never "taught" finances at home, and never paid attention in school or cared to learn them on my own, so it was largely never discussed, outside of the odd argument I'd hear between my parents about money.
A few years into living at the new house, my mom talked my uncle (who lives overseas, and who at the time was doing much better) into investing into a second home as a rental property that would only increase. Which it of course did. That house was flipped, small profit made, and another bought, which remained for about 15 years with various tenants.
Despite my dad working like a dog, his pay could never cover all the bills, but this was always kept from me, I always thought we were fine, and I kind of just blew any money I made in my 20's on random stuff, no savings to speak of. Again, finances were never really discussed.
In my early-20's, as I was in the midst of establishing myself (and on an upward trajectory) in my respective field (creative field), my father got diagnosed with a really awful illness, which by my mid-late-20's ultimately took him from us. I didn't get a whole lot out of my 20's, but that's okay, and I wouldn't change a thing, because I was at home helping with dad, getting to enjoy what time I had with him (despite the ugly nature of the illness and how it changes the sufferer).
This now left my mum and I alone, with her in imperfect health as well, and my income shoddy at best. But it also forced me to finally better familiarize myself with the financial situation... which, when I did, I had a major breakdown, and, frankly, have not been the same since. It very much robbed me of any "colour" I had in my already mediocre life. I suddenly felt that this great big burden, which entailed second mortgages and lines of credits on both houses, fell on my shoulders, and felt overwhelmed and stuck in the truest sense of the word, totally unable to escape. My relation with my mom also suffered temporarily, but we bounced back- even with this slew of financial havoc, she is still my mom, and I love her more than anything... I won't let even an insurmountable debt tarnish my perception of her, or our very special relationship.
In time, I suppose what was inevitable happened, and she was forced to sell the second property, only coming away with something like $100k (on an almost $2mm home at present market value)... that should illustrate, in part, how bad the situation was. I had another breakdown when this happened, not because I saw what I thought might someday be my inheritance-- I never thought that; I always knew there'd never be anything, and have always been fine with that, not expecting a thing-- go up in flames, but because it was the end of something I know my parents worked so hard towards, and hoped would someday lead to a more comfortable life for them (which, sadly, they never had- and it kills me to know how hard my dad worked, only to come away with absolutely nothing).
That just recently happened, and, well, really lit a fire under my butt to at the very least start getting my own financial situation in order, which is why I'm posting here.
I don't know what awaits my mum and I- specifically, our living situation. More than likely she will be forced to sell our primary residence of the past 20 years as well. I'm totally fine with that- it stinks to see the house I spent my formative years in have to go, but if it's what's necessary, so be it.
I have no semblance of a social or romantic life for various reasons, partly due to all that transpired throughout my 20's, and just wanting to work on myself before I get to that. I'd love nothing more than to have a family of my own, but for the time being, it's just a distant dream (for various reasons). But what is important now is that I will have to be the primary bread-winner obviously, but more than that, that I get my financial situation, spending habits, and credit situation in order so as to set myself up for a future that is hopefully not near as destitute as that which my parents found themselves in.
My line of work, in the creative industry I work in, is inconsistent at best, which has forced me to, after 12 years in the industry, look elsewhere. I see it as lost time, but also experience gained. Time to grow up and move on, and seek out something stable with room to grow. I never finished college, so am not sure what that might be, but I'm open to pretty much anything. I'm great with people and words, so some have suggested a career in sales, which goes against most everything I've ever believed in, but, again, time to grow up and do what's best for my mum and I. I am actively looking for work, but of course still accepting paid commissions in the field I have worked in for the past decade+. Additionally, I have a smaller scale "side business", mostly for cash, which I've done for the past 6-7 years, which I'm looking to take legit and incorporate, and ideally build up to the point I'll be able to open a storefront eventually. Some friends are advising I keep it online and build it that way for the time being, while some others suggest I draw up a business plan and present to investors with the same enthusiasm I pitched it to them with. But that's all secondary, even tertiary, to what I want to focus on now.
That side business has made it such that I've got some liquid assets I could sell off, which were bought as investments (and have already yielded nice returns in a short period), the profit of which I was planning to put back into it, to keep growing and generating, BUT being about $30k in CC debt, I'm thinking of getting out of some of these assets and paying down at least 1/3-2/3 of this debt. My credit score has greatly suffered the last year, going from 680 down to 570 currently, the lowest it's ever been, and I desperately want to fix that, again, hoping that a good credit score will someday come in clutch when applying for a mortgage, car loan, whatever. I hate having that CC debt looming over me, only ever making minimum payments which only ever cover the interest... The debt spans about 8 cards from 3-4 banks... all maxed out long ago. It was an awful way to go about it, I'm only now recognizing that- better late than never, I suppose. And of course it's not fun to pay it off now, months/years later, but I'm trying to be responsible for once. Learning as I go...
I don't exactly know the point of posting this lengthy story here... It's partially just to get this all off my chest, to have in writing at least part of what I aim to achieve (so that I can hopefully look back in a year or two once I'm at least partially out of this hole), but also a plea for your general advice on what you'd suggest I do outside of the obvious (which is to find a steady job and pay off the CC debt).
I have a friend who often talks about opportunity cost, and I know he'd say to keep the money in the appreciating assets which would continue to make me more money as I sell them and use the profit generated to get into new ones which would also generate more income (basically flipping), but I feel like that'd keep me locked in for too long, and I really just want to start paying down this debt ASAP.
But besides that... and besides getting into a steady job... what all should I be doing to set myself up for a relatively comfortable future? I am presently at rock bottom, and am ready to accept any and all necessary changes required to put me on the right path.
My apologies for the long post... I wanted to be as thorough as possible in conveying my situation and my aspirations... I greatly appreciate, in advance, any and all advice you might be able to offer.

As the title implies, my parents are going through an especially difficult time right now. My younger sibling (#4) raduated from college and decided to go home for a few weeks. For context, there are five of us. I'm the oldest and I've been living on my own since I was a teenager. I have my own financial struggles, but as of just two months ago, I started making enough money that I'm not drowning. But I still have significant financial anxiety.
I had a fight with my mom about a year ago about how felt alone and abandoned because I had to move out at 16 due to (1) the fact that my parents treated me terribly (2) they didn't have the financial security to support me and all of my siblings (3) in my times of need since moving out, parents have been extremely hard on me about contributing to their household. My dad asked me to lend him money when I graduated from college and was looking for a job and I did, I've given thousands to my grandmother, to my siblings etc. My mom at one point asked me to pay for a life insurance policy for my dad which I did. All of that stuff was so stressful for me - I am not making a ton myself. When I brought that up as a reason why I felt abandoned and overloaded with responsibility that wasn't mine, my mom completely denied any of this ever happened and told me I needed to contribute and that I've never done anything for her.
So I have not been on speaking terms with my parents for a little over a year. I had no idea how bad things were until sibling #4 calls me yesterday to tell me there are no groceries in the house, the laundry machines are broken, and the water is turned off while they wait for the plumbing to get fixed. So no showers, no hygiene, no food in the house at all.
What really bothers me is that its all my dad's fault. He drives for Uber as his main income. To keep up with the Jonses, he went and bought a brand new tesla and sold my mom's car without telling or asking her. Tesla breaks down and he can't drive Uber for a few MONTHS while it gets fixed. Now, enter all these unexpected issues and expenses around the house - in addition to one which is very predictable - the need for FOOD. #4 tells me everyone is rationing to only have one meal a day - and that meal is mostly just bread. No eggs, no milk, no vegetables, no fruit, no groceries - no food.
My mom has no steady income - she has a transplated critical organ and is more vulnerable to COVID - so she can't work a traditional job. So its like this is just the status quo.
I feel terrible for my mom - my dad sold her car but forbids her from ever driving the tesla. So she is stranded at home, vulnerable health, no food, and the water situation is bad. I make okay money, but not enough that I can just give at a moment's notice. I feel somehow guilty for the fact that they are in this situation even though it has nothing to do with me.
Part of the issue is that they are living paycheck to paycheck, part of it is that my mom is financially dependent on a man who abuses and exploits her. This is terrible and I somehow feel like if I don't sacrifice a need of mine to help them, then its my fault theyre in this position. But then I remember how they've treated me - and it makes me so angry that I feel like I would be a sucker to sacrifice paying one of my bills, adding to my (very low) savings, and paying of my own debts to help them. This is the worst feeling.

Shazam failed me at a restaurant so I’m hoping some of you guys can help me find this MV/song.
Video was a just an orange haired girl dancing by herself in a room that was mostly blue lights with occasional strobe lights. There were bass drops where the girl would be dancing on a bed. Vibes of the song were more EDM-y and the girls voice was a bit lower in pitch. I think the song ended with English lyrics and it was a line about drum beats?
Sorry for the lack of details but that’s mostly what I remember, thanks in advance for any replies~~

Lies are so polite. Honest people have no friends. Nobody wants the truth, not when the lies are what make them happy.
And when the truth, the rude truth, dispels those safe and happy lies, there is a very special kind of horror. I experienced it as terror, as I was forced to learn all about the truth of the real world.
I've spent years as a therapist, delving into the depths of the human psyche and trying to help those burdened by their own demons. My practice has seen its fair share of troubled individuals, but none quite like the three patients I currently attend to. Each one possesses a unique darkness that sets them apart from the rest of my clientele.
First, there's Thomas, a middle-aged man whose words cut through the air like a razor-sharp blade. His brutally honest nature spares no one, as he revels in frankness. He spews forth his bitterness, never holding back his cruel rudeness. It's as if he derives pleasure from watching others squirm under the weight of his words.
Then there's Emily, a woman of few filters and even fewer boundaries. Her honesty is a double-edged sword, slicing through the facade of social niceties with surgical precision, with scathing candor. She has no qualms about revealing uncomfortable truths, making every session a tense dance of revelations and discomfort.
Lastly, there's Jacob, whose coldness could freeze the warmest of hearts. His icy demeanor and calculated words chill the room whenever he speaks. He thrives on manipulation, using his intellect to exploit vulnerabilities and leave emotional wreckage in his wake.
These three patients have tested the limits of my own resilience, forcing me to confront the darkest corners of the human psyche. Little did I know that soon I would encounter a terror beyond anything I had encountered within the confines of my therapy office.
In the dimly lit room of my therapy office, I listen to the unsettling confessions of my three patients. As their therapist, I've grown accustomed to their brutality, their unfiltered honesty. But it's in the aftermath of my aunt's funeral, on that fateful night when my car stalled in the desolate darkness, that I would come face to face with a horror beyond comprehension.
The funeral of my beloved aunt weighed heavily on my heart as I made my way back home, the clock ticking past midnight. Exhausted and emotionally drained, I navigated the winding roads that cut through the barren countryside. The night wrapped around me like a suffocating shroud, and a sense of unease settled deep within.
Suddenly, my car sputtered and came to a halt. Panic coursed through my veins as I desperately tried to restart the engine, but to no avail. With a sinking feeling, I realized there was no cell signal in this desolate stretch of road, leaving me stranded in the oppressive darkness.
I stepped out of the car, the chill of the night embracing me like an unwelcome companion. The moon cast an eerie glow on the silent landscape, emphasizing the desolation that surrounded me. I had no choice but to abandon the safety of my vehicle and venture forth on foot in search of help.
As I walked, the world around me transformed. The familiar countryside gave way to an unfamiliar path, lined with gnarled trees that seemed to whisper secrets in the wind. The air grew heavy, laden with an otherworldly presence that sent shivers cascading down my spine.
After what felt like an eternity, I stumbled upon an exit sign, its rusty metal gleaming faintly in the moonlight. With a mix of trepidation and hope, I followed the arrow, hoping it would lead me to some semblance of civilization.
As I passed through the exit, a peculiar town emerged from the shadows, shrouded in an unsettling silence. The streets, devoid of life, stretched out before me like a labyrinth of forgotten dreams. Inky pools of darkness clung to the corners, stubbornly resisting the feeble rays of the rising sun. It was as if the town itself had been tainted by a sinister force, refusing to surrender to the light.
I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a cracked storefront window, and a shiver shot down my spine. The glass distorted my features, twisting them into a grotesque mockery of myself. Before I could fully comprehend the sight, whispers reached my ears—inhuman voices murmuring in the shadows.
Words like "truth" and "bringer" slithered through the air, chilling me to the bone. It was as if unseen entities were aware of my presence, aware of my role as a dispenser of truth in my profession. The weight of their attention pressed heavily upon me, filling me with a sense of foreboding.
As I cautiously explored the desolate streets, I encountered a townsperson—a perfect mirror image of one of my patients. Seeking assistance, I approached a townsperson who bore an uncanny resemblance to Thomas, my patient known for his brutal honesty.
With a polite smile adorning his face, the townsperson greeted me. "Good day, sir. How may I assist you?" His words dripped with an unsettling charm, a stark contrast to Thomas's usual abrasive nature.
"I'm in need of help. My car broke down, and I require a tow truck or a mechanic," I explained, trying to maintain my composure despite the growing unease within me.
The townsperson's smile remained unwavering as he replied, "I'm terribly sorry to hear about your predicament, but unfortunately, our town is quite isolated, and the services you seek are not readily available. You see, there's no mechanic around, and our tow truck is currently out of commission."
His response sent a chill down my spine, for I knew that Thomas would never shy away from speaking the unfiltered truth. The stark contrast between the patient's brutal honesty and the townsperson's polished lies made the conversation all the more disturbing.
Undeterred, I pressed on, determined to find a solution. "Is there a place nearby where I can make a phone call to seek assistance?"
The townsperson's expression remained placid as he nodded. "Of course, we have a public phone booth just around the corner. However, I must warn you, the line seems to be down at the moment. Perhaps you can try later."
A sense of unease gnawed at me. The deception in his words was palpable. I couldn't help but wonder if this facade of politeness was merely a thin veil concealing something far more sinister.
Growing hungrier by the minute, I decided to inquire about a place to grab a bite to eat. "Is there a restaurant or a café nearby where I can find some food?"
The townsperson's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling glimmer. "Ah, I'm afraid all our dining establishments are currently closed for renovations. You won't find anything open at this hour. I apologize for the inconvenience."
Every word he spoke felt like a twist of the knife, the pleasant tone mocking my desperation. It was as if the entire town conspired to deny me even the most basic assistance.
As I ventured deeper into the enigmatic town, my desperation intensified. Seeking aid for my stranded car, I approached a townsperson who bore an uncanny resemblance to Emily, my patient known for her scathing candor.
She greeted me with a disarming smile, her eyes glinting with a deceptive warmth. "Hello there, stranger. What brings you to our humble town?"
Feeling a sense of unease, I mustered the courage to explain my predicament. "My car broke down, and I'm in need of assistance. Is there a mechanic or a service station nearby?"
Emily's smile remained fixed, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "Oh, how unfortunate. I'm afraid our town is quite secluded, and we don't have any mechanics or service stations here. It's such a pity, isn't it?"
Her response sent a shiver down my spine, for I knew all too well the biting honesty that usually emanated from Emily's words. The stark contrast between her usual cruel rudeness and the townsperson's polite deceit heightened the unnerving atmosphere.
Undeterred, I decided to probe further. "Is there a place nearby where I can make a phone call to seek help?"
Emily's eyes gleamed with a chilling delight as she nodded. "Why, yes, there is a phone booth just around the corner. However, I must warn you, the line has been acting up lately. It seems luck is not on your side today."
A knot tightened in my stomach, the realization of their collective deception growing clearer. This town had woven an intricate web of lies, and each encounter served to deepen my unease.
Growing weary and famished, I sought information about a place to satisfy my hunger. "Are there any restaurants or cafés where I can find something to eat?"
Emily's smile widened, revealing a hint of something unsettling beneath the surface. "Ah, I'm afraid all our dining establishments are closed for a private event. They won't be open to the public for quite some time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."
Her words sent a chill coursing through my veins. The townsperson's demeanor was an unsettling reflection of Emily's uncensored honesty, twisted into a sickening semblance of pleasantness. It was as if the town reveled in tormenting me, taunting my helplessness with their deceptive charm.
As I continued my journey through the mysterious town, a sense of foreboding weighed heavily upon me. Seeking aid for my broken-down car, I approached a townsperson who bore an uncanny resemblance to Jacob, my patient known for his cruel rudeness.
A twisted smile spread across the townsperson's face as our eyes met. "Well, well, what do we have here? Another lost soul in need of help?"
My heart skipped a beat, for the malicious glint in their eyes mirrored Jacob's usual sadistic pleasure in causing pain. The contrast between his usual brutal demeanor and the townsperson's chilling charm sent a shiver down my spine.
Summoning my courage, I explained my predicament. "My car has stalled, and I require assistance. Is there a mechanic or a service station nearby?"
The townsperson's smile grew wider, revealing rows of unnaturally sharp teeth. Their voice took on a sinister tone as they replied, "Oh, dear traveler, how unfortunate. Our town is quite isolated, you see, and the mechanics here have a penchant for breaking more than they fix. It's best to avoid their services, if you value your life."
A surge of unease swept through me, the words sinking deep into my core. The townsperson's perverse enjoyment in my misfortune left no doubt that they relished in the suffering of others.
Refusing to succumb to fear, I pressed on. "Is there a place nearby where I can make a phone call to seek help?"
Their laughter, low and menacing, echoed through the empty streets. "Ah, a phone call, you say? How quaint. Our town isn't one for modern conveniences. The phones here... well, let's just say they have a mind of their own. They tend to connect you to places you never wished to reach."
A chill ran down my spine, the revelation leaving me trembling. It was as if the town itself conspired to keep me trapped, severed from any means of outside assistance.
Growing increasingly desperate, I inquired about a place to find sustenance. "Are there any restaurants or cafés where I can find something to eat?"
The townsperson's eyes gleamed with a sinister delight, their voice dripping with malice. "Ah, food... sustenance for the weak. I must warn you, stranger, our town's cuisine is... unique. It caters to more peculiar tastes, if you catch my drift. But fear not, for we have delicacies that will make your skin crawl."
My stomach churned at their words, the realization that this town reveled in the macabre sinking in. The contrast between Jacob's cruel rudeness and the townsperson's wicked charm only served to heighten the pervading sense of horror.
With every interaction, I could feel the town's grip on reality loosening, and the true nature of its inhabitants unveiling itself in unsettling ways.
With a sinking feeling, I realized that the veneer of politeness in this town concealed something far more malevolent. The contrast between my patients' cruel candor and the townspeople's twisted facades served only to deepen the sense of dread that hung heavy in the air.
Questions burned within me, demanding answers. I demanded honesty from these townspeople who insisted on politely lying about their inability to help me. Their deceit extended beyond the realm of car repairs and basic necessities—it seeped into every corner of this enigmatic place, where even the simplest requests were met with pleasant but false assurances.
Driven by my thirst for truth and growing frustration with the townspeople's deceptive façades, I delved deeper into the heart of this enigmatic place. With every step, the atmosphere grew heavier, and an air of impending doom seemed to hang in the murky shadows.
Unbeknownst to me, my relentless pursuit of honesty had begun to unravel something dark and ancient. Ominous portents manifested in the form of flickering streetlights and whispers that danced on the edge of my consciousness. The town itself seemed to pulsate with an unseen energy, as if it were a living entity responding to my unsettling inquiries.
As I caught glimpses of my reflection in broken glass and shattered mirrors, my own visage twisted and contorted. It was as if the very act of seeking truth had tainted my soul, leaving visible scars on the surface. Each crack in the glass seemed to mirror the fractures within my own psyche.
The inhuman voices that had whispered before grew louder, their words filling my mind with their sinister presence. They spoke of a bringer of truth, a harbinger of revelations that could shatter the delicate equilibrium of this town and unleash untold horrors upon its unsuspecting inhabitants.
I was drawn to confront the townspeople once more, hoping to break through their veneer of politeness and unearth the hidden truths they guarded so fervently. However, as I ventured deeper into their midst, a chilling realization took hold—an entity lurked within the shadows, feeding off the collective denial and deception of this town.
As the day wore on, the sun began its descent, casting elongated shadows that danced upon the desolate streets of the eerie town. Doubt and unease gnawed at the edges of my sanity, but I refused to succumb. Determined to find a way out, I continued my search for assistance, unaware of the horrors that awaited me.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a figure approaching. As they drew nearer, a cold sweat broke out across my brow. The person who stood before me bore an uncanny resemblance, mirroring my own visage. It was as if I were looking into a grotesque reflection of myself.
I stammered, my voice trembling with disbelief. "Who... who are you?"
The doppelgänger grinned, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. "Ah, my dear visitor, it seems we share more than just an appearance. I am but a fragment of the truth you seek."
Confusion gripped me as I struggled to comprehend their cryptic words. "What truth? What do you mean?"
They leaned closer, their breath chilling against my skin. "This town, this facade, it is a sanctuary. A sanctuary that hides a truth so abhorrent, so unspeakable, that the collective acknowledgment of it would grant it unimaginable power."
My mind reeled, the fabric of reality fraying at the edges. Was this some twisted delusion or a glimpse into a sinister reality?
Refusing to believe their words, I clung to the remnants of my sanity. "No, this cannot be true. You're just trying to deceive me, to keep me trapped here!"
The doppelgänger's grin widened, their eyes devoid of empathy. "Believe what you will, but know this: by revealing the truth, you risk damning not only yourself but all who inhabit this wretched place."
A chill wind swept through the town, whispering haunting melodies that seemed to echo the doppelgänger's words. Shadows swirled, tendrils of darkness creeping closer.
Fear and desperation mingled within me, tearing at the fragile threads of my sanity. I had ventured too far, dared to seek answers that were better left unspoken.
Before I could react, the doppelgänger was engulfed by the encroaching darkness. Their form contorted and twisted, morphing into a grotesque, malevolent version of myself. The horrors I had encountered in this town had taken physical shape, manifesting as a twisted caricature of who I once was.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the town into a suffocating gloom, the other townsfolk emerged from the shadows, their distorted visages revealing the true extent of their malevolence.
Driven by their anger at my disruption of their carefully constructed facade, they advanced toward me, their polite words of harmlessness contrasting grotesquely with the weapons they brandished.
Terrified, I turned and fled, the haunting cries of the mirror versions of my patients echoing behind me. The town had rejected me, casting me out into the night, a lone survivor grappling with the lingering doubts of my own sanity.
Days later, when a kind soul finally stopped to help me on the desolate road, I searched for the town on maps and GPS, but it had vanished without a trace. A chilling realization settled upon me: the town existed beyond the realms of conventional reality, a dark pocket where truth and sanity intertwined, forever questioning the limits of human comprehension.
As I drove away, the memories of that nightmarish encounter etched deep within my mind, I vowed never to speak of the town again, burying the chilling secret deep within the recesses of my soul.

Sometimes I wonder why this sub is filled with egotistical idiots who are incapable of letting someone speak their mind and then i remember i am on reddit and this is a kanye west sub

I have two questions I would like to be answered if possible.
I use to take abilify but before that I had two very active alters and one had a innerworld that I could only see into but not go into but once I started taking abilify those alters went away and only me and one other alter remained. But once I got off the other two game back still barely show themselves and hard to tell when the are around but the innerworld is completely gone is that even possible? What happened?
Also I hear people say they communicate with their alters. Is this like actual talking or is this like how we do it where it's what we can sense what each other want when cofronting together or around each other. We rarely can speak.

First of all I am not native English speaker So I can’t really tell if I use ne fi or me ti because of the describing of fi and ti or if I am enfp or entp. So like I will give you examples. So like most of the time i adjust my personality base on the person I am with without even thinking about it .. like I joke a lot but my cousin from Denmark doesn’t like joking a lot he like casual conversation so whenever I am with him I would go off on anything he want like I would try to be anything that he want. Like he like Elvis Presley and although I don’t like him I told him that I love his music idk why I saids that but I guess so he could like me. Or whenever people talk I can always find arguments in their statements. And I been reading bible and the New Testament really confuse me because Jesus and God. There are verse that show Jesus is god but there are verse where he mention “ father” and pray so I criticize people at my church for not understanding trinity but claim they believe in God because I don’t think you can believe in something you don’t understand. I was really stress and I pray and after prayer I think and realize that everyone in this world suffer too so why would I asked God to help me. I didn’t understand the fact that out of all these people why would he favor me and only answer my prayer so I just accept thing as it is. My mom is very blunt person and when she called out my aunt like I would feel so embarrassed for my aunt and I would tell my mom that she should’ve to say that in her face. And unlike people at my church I don’t care if the pastor rape someone or beat up his wife as long as he doesn’t give out wrong information to people I won’t judge him. PLEASE HELPE me ! And explain me entp fi blind ad enfp ti blind

Pseudosidist - a coven deception role, that can fake their own death...
This role essentially gives you an ability that allows you to "kill yourself" at night. Furthermore, if you do this you get the choose the method of death and the role that pops up when you fake die. This could be used to throw town off and put sus on an innocent. While fake dead, you cannot vote, speak, or be put on trail. You also do not count towards the majority. When the first night comes after being fake dead, you can chose a player to "sneak attack" and deal a unstoppable attack to. The kill message will say "attacked by a psuedosidict". After that night, whether or not they sneak attacked, they will be forced to make a choice whether to flee town and maintain cover, or to reveal themself. They will have 10 seconds to submit their choice or flee by default. If they flee, they are essentially real dead. If they reveal, they will likly be hung immedietly unless coven majority.
Catfisher - a town investigative that discovers what roles people are by using themself as a test dummy
They pick a player to bait every night, and that player is forced to use their ability on the catfisher. The catfisher cannot bait the same player twice.
If a roleblocker visits the catfisher will see "attempted roleblock but ur immune" for hopefully obvious reasons
Note: I considered adding hangman immunity for if they catfish a vigilante, but then I decided nah...

Hello! It's the time of the month again where I become aware that I might be feeling a little bit lonely. It's my day off so I have some time to myself(which I'm not complaining about), and it would be nice to talk to someone outside of my social circle.
I'm an Asian woman. 5'7. Plus sized. Can speak 4 languages and learning french. Currently really into french rap, with Népal being my favourite. Black is my go to colour and I am more of a homebody. Although I occasionally like full days out exploring the city.
I'm polite but I also can be pretty aloof sometimes. Mostly so that I can sit back and observe to see if it's safe to be myself yet.
Anyway, hit me back*, just to chat. Truly yours, your biggest fan, this is Ann.
*Preferably someone who is willing to swap pics.

Texting is such a poor communication style. Yes - there are many ways to look at it, but in my opinion, texting should NOT be the main way to communicate when dating and/or in relationships.
Texting for me is more like sending memes, hinting reminders, or things that are just 'thinking of you' kind of messages. It is not a way where I want to have a CONVERSATION. I've seen so many posts on social media where girls and guys would post their messages of long, long explanations to each other, and every time I see it, I think "Are you both that cowardly to stay behind digital screens and not say it to each other's faces?" It sounds hypocritical and selfish of me to say, but it's the truth!
You're in long distance relationships, and texting is only what works? No - anyone who truly wants to see you in person should make time to see you in person NO MATTER WHAT the circumstances are. Facetimes are okay too, but that's another take for another day. The point is that anyone who wants to make the relationship work, distance should not be a problem.
Especially when going on a date for the first time. Here is my take on texting before going on that first date - DO NOT DO IT! That first date is supposed to be where you and your matched partner (assuming it's on dating apps) are supposed to talk, ask questions, and have the actual conversation. The only text that should be sent is plans for the date and reminders like, "Hey! Just checking in to say I'm excited for our date! I'll see you then!" THAT'S IT! STOP THERE~
There is also the illusion we tend to fall into sometimes and that is - "Oh, they're not texting me back. That must mean they are not interested." I've been guilty of this many, many times, and I'm still working on it. And truthfully speaking, as I am trying to unlearn this mindset, I'm understanding that I cannot control the other person to reach out to me just because I am feeling anxious about their lack of communication. That's just wrong. At the end of the day, you don't know them. And they don't know you. Let them continue living their lives, and you too should do the same. Because although the text isn't there, someone who really likes you and is interested in you will make time to reach out. Don't freight over them not texting you!
And lastly - you really have to learn THEIR communication style, too. While you may feel anxious they are not texting you back immediately or they respond dryly, you also need to realize relationships are a two-person effort. You also have to take time to learn how they communicate and ask yourself, "Will this work for me?" If not, then move on~ There's no shame there!
I just don't believe that texting alot = they like you, want a relationship, etc.
Agree or disagree? Up to you! ☺️

I want to start out with saying hello and I'm new to actually playing D&D, I've been interested in the game since I can remember. I'm a huge RPG gamer so D&D has always made sense to me as a game I could get into. I've listened to hundreds of hours of D&D podcasts and their games from multiple different DMs and groups. So I have an understanding of an outsider's perspective and concepts just not the get down and dirty of making a character, at least not an understanding of a solid 100% great build for a long term game. So what I'm getting at is I know stuff, but I could be overthinking or maybe not understanding everything as far as the player perspective or maybe even the DM's too.
To start off I would like some perspective of fellow lovers of fantasy and character crafting and maybe some DM's for homebrew rules that could be possible so let's go!
I've bought the Grung character creation booklet for D&D Beyond and did some research on these creatures. I created a character for a possible future group once I either find a group or eventually create my own, once I finish my main focus of college. So this character is named c'Doon, he's 2 years of age, is lawful(Grung lawful) natural, and has a weakness of curiosity. The main draw of this character is he has a secret, a secret that I think help from a DM could help me in the future. But my basic overall plot for my character's background is actually plagued with mystery and my character doesn't even fully know.
c'Doon was actually a prophet seen from a neighbor Grung faction that did some ritual magic to change his destiny of being a golden tier Grung. Who would be a great King and make positive changes towards the race as whole (or maybe just his faction of Grung). Either way this neighboring faction plotted a plan and took action. They snuck into the tadpole hatcheries were c'Doon was living his little tadpole life. And they brought a long with them a Bullywug cursed with Lycanthropy or in this case WereFrog (or a WereBullywug if that's possible) either way I want this to be the dividing factor for c'Doon. I believe he should be able to have some control over it since tadpoles are kind of a fetus like state so it could be like he was born with it in a way to make it easier on the DM for my character to have such a powerful trait from the beginning. But back to the story the higher ups catch wind of this and a war happens and before this little c'Doon is fully developed his faction wins out. They strip c'Doon of his gold color and take him down to the lowest tier green. He is stripped of this memory and just believes he's always been a natural born green Grung. And the worst part is they just took a green Grung in his place and swapped them. There's hateful banter between the two of them, but that's because the green Grung turned Gold knows this secret. They let him keep that memory in favor of the idea c'Doon might not being killed for his secret of his curse and the prophecy. All these events causes a weird shift and the faction is much harsher than other factions and in turn c'Doon seeks redemption like I believe most green Grung would and he'd like to rise in the ranks if possible. So he seeks out treasures (he has a weakness for shiny things or anything of value plus his curiosity doesn't help) and his main focus is to seek out the ultimate slave (This is only here bc Grung are a slaver race). His WereFrog only takes over during extreme stress and mostly anger. This also leads him to leaving after 2 years of living on the edge of his society he wants to be cured and given respect for being more than what he feels (a green Grung).
This is where my character starts out able to join a party for adventures. He's able to speak common and Grung, he's a ranger class, and he carries a bucket to submerge himself everyday for at least an hour so he doesn't dehydrate and eventually die (this is part of his race not my decision) but I think the coolest part is I think this bucket should be like a backpack/quiver for him holding his arrows and gear. Of course he applies poison damage on all piercing damage which I find interesting. Which brings me to another part of the character is the race, Grung, has extra traits to their poisons. Does anyone think the Green paralyzing effects should be applied in anyway or maybe like a once a day or once an encounter (per short rest maybe?) type of an effect and depending on the color of c'Doon should there be other effects or multiple added to the character? I plan on seeing how the DM of whatever campaign I could play this character in would allow, but I want other perspectives and maybe just some input. I also would like to explore the idea of controlling the WereFrog aspect and seeing if changing does anything for my character's need for hydration or other things like what are the benefits and things like that. I know in later playthroughs it just becomes annoying to have or just a chore or an extra thing that doesn't get used. So depending on the campaign and how things play out I might lean towards exploring more about it with the DM or getting rid of the curse while also having a story points where my character progresses up the cast system of the Grung. Maybe skipping a few tiers since it might get annoying to do all the ritual stuff everytime. I'm thinking green to purple (skipping blue) then to orange (or red if I want to do magic as a multi class) and finally gold!
That is my first real attempt at a D&D character, sorry for the book 😂😂 hopefully I can post thing long thing and thank you for the input!!

The amount of casual homophobia going around in this sub is disgusting, but I guess that's just what happens when an impresionable audience takes everything their favourite rapper says as gospel.
Just wish more of you guys would grow the fuck up and stop trying to defend him for homophobic things he's said or implied in his lyrics.
Like no, Eminem calling Tyler the f-slur on Fall is not up for debate. It's open bigotry and homophobia.

First of all I am not native English speaker So I can’t really tell if I use ne fi or me ti because of the describing of fi and ti or if I am enfp or entp. So like I will give you examples. So like most of the time i adjust my personality base on the person I am with without even thinking about it .. like I joke a lot but my cousin from Denmark doesn’t like joking a lot he like casual conversation so whenever I am with him I would go off on anything he want like I would try to be anything that he want. Like he like Elvis Presley and although I don’t like him I told him that I love his music idk why I saids that but I guess so he could like me. Or whenever people talk I can always find arguments in their statements. And I been reading bible and the New Testament really confuse me because Jesus and God. There are verse that show Jesus is god but there are verse where he mention “ father” and pray so I criticize people at my church for not understanding trinity but claim they believe in God because I don’t think you can believe in something you don’t understand. I was really stress and I pray and after prayer I think and realize that everyone in this world suffer too so why would I asked God to help me. I didn’t understand the fact that out of all these people why would he favor me and only answer my prayer so I just accept thing as it is. My mom is very blunt person and when she called out my aunt like I would feel so embarrassed for my aunt and I would tell my mom that she should’ve to say that in her face. And unlike people at my church I don’t care if the pastor rape someone or beat up his wife as long as he doesn’t give out wrong information to people I won’t judge him. PLEASE HELPE me ! And explain me entp fi blind ad enfp ti blind

Hi everyone,
I need some advice.. I don't know if I am crazy and this situation was my fault or if I was right to think that this 'sadist' was verging on abusive..
​

• I was in a short dynamic with a sadist, he claimed he wanted to 'break me' completely, physically and psychologically. I would say I am a pretty extreme masochists with pretty few limits..and he seemed like the type to be 'on my level.' Anyways, we got on well had good chemistry, was having fun with dynamic. But the conversation came up about having a 'cuckold fetish'...it is something I enjoy in fantasy but it is a HARD limit in reality. Anything resembling cheating in reality is just not okay for me, whatsoever.

​

• I explained that to him but he continued to say that he is the one in control and that he wants to break me and he will do what is necessary including cheating. I felt heartbroken, I explained to him that I am open to basically anything other than that. I explained to him that it would make me feel worthless and he said 'that is exactly how I want you to feel.'

​

• Afterwards, he also admitted to me that he was speaking to another girl after he told me explicitly he would never cheat on me and when I asked him if he was talking to another girl he said no.

​

• I asked him why, he said because he knew it would hurt me, and that he had spoken to her since I ghosted him (which I felt v bad about and went to apologize later for..leading to us talking now) and it was an act of 'revenge.'

​

• Finally, he told me I was too fragile to handle it, and that he doesn't believe I can withstand what he wants me to endure. Which, whilst true in the sense that I will not handle it, was unbelievably degrading. He told me I was not able to handle a sadist. It made me feel like I was a complete failure as a sub.

​

• Essentially, he told me that he wants me to accept that he will cheat on me with other women to 'hurt me' and that he cannot control these urges or respect that boundary - if I accept then we can have a 'relationship.' If I don't accept then he basically does not want to be with me. I am too "fragile."

​

• Obviously I said no. Even though, I wanted to say yes, and I almost actually did. I just don't understand why he could not respect that boundary because I felt that we could have had a good relationship otherwise.

Anyways, I am just hoping to find some solace here. Was I right in thinking that this behaviour was verging on manipulation and abuse? I feel like there is such a fine line between BDSM (specifically Sadomasochism) and abuse...I am not sure if I should 'suck it up' because it was part of the deal????
Also the breaking my trust thing was just completely fucked.
​
TLDR; Dom/Sadist says I have to essentially accept cuckolding kink or else, whilst having this discussion I find out he has already broken my trust and been speaking to another woman after he said he had not and explained he would never cheat on me. Feeling lost and confused after ending it. Is it my fault?

I am from Toronto. I visited Montreal not too long ago and the worst experience here. First, I ordered food at a fast food joint in English. The attendant rolled her eyes at me because I didn't speak French. What the hell?
Second, some dude tried to sexually assault me two hours at a bar on Crescent Street. He was a groom to be. He chased me around a bar and demanded a kiss. I said no and he said "why won't you kiss me?" He is at least 270lb and he kept chasing me around the bar. At one point he pinned me under a bar table and I honestly thought I would be raped. Luckily I got out, since his friend got him off me. I thought I was safe and tried to go home. He found me outside of the bar, grabbed me and kissed me. His girl took a photo. After this, the girl told me that this was a bachelorette/bachelor party and kissing me and taking a photo was some game.
WTF.
I heard French people have a liberal attitude to relationships (cheating etc) but this is sick. I have no idea if this is some French/ Montreal thing. However the worst thing is that no one really helped. There were at least 10 bartenders and a security guy who saw me pinned to the floor and no one helped. I give the customers cuz they were probably drunk too. In addition, it sickens me that some couple has a photo of kissing me against my will and gets a kick out of it. I am deeply traumatized.
What is wrong people....I seriously want to pepper spray him, kick him in the nuts, maybe more. I hate the woman too.

I (35f) work as a teacher and have a family blog. My husband (35m) is a doctor.
2018: baby 1
2020: IVF round 1 unsuccessful. Husband started gaming more often. Family time was limited. Requests for date nights, etc always met with “I have too much work”.
2021: IVF round 2. Husband still distant, on PC a lot. Blames work.
2022: Pregnant. I have a lot of anxiety about something going wrong because for 4 years nothing went right.
Summer 2022: 17 weeks pregnant, ovary twists and I require emergency surgery. Baby is fine. I go to my moms to recover. Husband occasionally comes around because he is “busy” with work. My family steps up.
2 weeks later, I go home to recover on bed rest. Husband leaves for outing with friends so I check his PC and I see he is gaming every night for 3+ hours. Messages from female gaming friend daily even during work hours, usually about times to meet online to game, some additional friendly convo.
Times he was too busy or couldn’t come help with pregnant me + toddler, he would be meeting friends online to game. I was ready to leave him when I saw all of this but I figured I’d wait things out. During this time, he also lost 200K+ in the stock market.
November 2023: 8 months pregnant, working full time, taking full care of daughter and home, surgery and bed rest.
December 2022: c section … doctors cauterize my intestine - situation has mortality rate of 50-70%. I require emergency surgery with open wound recovery. Went to my moms for help with kids as I couldn’t hold baby or take care of toddler. Husband is present, active, and supportive, but would go home to sleep. Gaming has subsided.
Fast forward to present.
Gaming has increased over the last month. He has denied gaming in the past so I find a website to track his usage and had been monitoring for weeks. “I’m busy” excuses resumed. But I could see he was gaming about 1-3 hours a night.
IVF + pregnancy + extensive bed rest caused some weight gain that I’m self conscious about. He suggested I do cardio at night when kids are sleeping. I said I’m exhausted by then and suggested I wake up at 6am to workout a few days a week and if kids wake up he tends to them so I can workout and shower.
He gets upset because he doesn’t have time and I expect him to be “on” and “working” from 6am until he finishes work for the night. I try to explain that he’s describing my life plus night feedings and he says that’s my job and it’s what all our mothers did. I said our mothers didn’t have to work until we were older and kids were well adjusted at school. He said I also didn’t have to work as he provides enough for both of us. My response? “You can’t afford me”.
Did I mean it like that? No. Am I that expensive? No. My big ticket spending this year has been physiotherapy, Pilates rehab to rebuild my core, and as a Mother’s Day gift I bought myself a designer bag (he didn’t get me a gift so I got my own).
What I meant was that without my income our lives would be different.
We aren’t speaking.
AITA?

my mother and i lived alone although i have many other siblings all step or half siblings except my youngest sister (14F) who is 100% biologically related to me. i despise the rest of my family apart from my mother or sister because when i was younger i was rped by my brother and mlested by my father and only my mother believed me.
my mother was the kindest woman you could know, of course she had her issues but who didn’t.
she had drinking problems, i always begged her to stop but it never worked. my younger sister pleaded with her as well but it never helped.
my entire life i had never gone more than 2 days without talking to my mother, we were as close as you can be to one another.
the week prior to her passing her drinking was exceptionally bad and she had a fall during the week and i wanted to maybe speak to my school and see if they could help me get her help, the entire staff dismissed me. throughout the week i was being super bitchy and blunt to my mum because i was sick of her drinking, she was so bad i started taking photos and recording all our conversations. i even tried calling helplines for her but nobody wanted to speak to me. saturday night i had a party to go to and i was having a friend come back to my house after the party to stay the night but before i left for the party my mums room which she hasn’t left most of the week reeked and she wasn’t eating any of the food i was giving her even after se complained her blood sugar was dropping and her blood pressure was rising, doctors described her as a ticking time bomb because her medical issues were so bad. but that night i still felt like going to a party. at the party i started feeling extremly sick although i hadn’t drank or anything i was looking at myself and i was going green and i couldn’t help but just lay backwards on a bed trying to keep my eyes open. i started saying something was wrong and i tried calling and texting my mum for an uber home because i wanted to leave but she wasn’t replying, when i eventually got an uber home i didn’t greet my mum like i usually would when i arrive home from an event i just went straight to bed with my friend. and in the morning i went to say good morning to my mother andi just saw her laying on the floor with blood streaming from her nose i went to go her cpr But i couldn’t work up the courage to touch her so i screamed for my friend to call the ambulance and i ran outside throwing up and calling my other best friends bc i know i couldn’t do this alone.
i had to see my brother who raped me as he was the only family i had in the state which just made it all so much worse for me and as i’m only 17 my brother was made senior next of kin and he was making all the decisions on everything.
mums memorial was this past saturday and today is one month since i found her, i have never gone over two days without speaking to her and it’s been a month. i don’t know how i’m gonna do this it’s so scary for me and i need her so badly i miss her with my whole heart i act like i’m okay but i can’t do it the dark scared me running water scares me simple noises scare me the wound of abulace scares me i am so scared i’ve never imagined life without her i always told her we would live together when we’re both old now i’m 17 and i’ve moved in with a friend but i have so much love around me but nothing is the same as it was before.
i don’t know what to do without her all i see when i close my eyes is her dead body just laying there and i try leaving her alone that night so badly.

So I been with the mother of my child for about 6 years and she's a great person and great mother! I proposed last year on her bday and the weeding is sep 2nd. This year's been the worst ever and I'm unhappy and I feel like she is as well and we're both not speaking about it..idk what to do.

Got this part finished! It took some doin, but I got there. Anyway, let me know what you guys think, and I hope you enjoy. I'm not very good at these intros.
First / Prev / Next (Coming eventually)
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“-ck.”
David’s apartment wasn’t overly furnished to begin with. He lived with the bare essentials that came with state housing, but the fiks decided to make it more homy. Their idea of a home was converting it into a flophouse. Beds, cots, and pallets soon spread out along the walls while boxes and crates soon took up residence in the middle of the room. His coffee table, end tables, and small dining set were conspicuously absent.
He stared slack-jawed for a moment before a crash sounded from his kitchen. “Saa! No food!”
“Lie! How can human starve?” After a brief pause, “Saa! No food!"
David was about to investigate when a short…well, relatively short fik stood in his way. “Ah, David! Yes, yes, we come as soon as we could.” He was just a few inches taller than David and wearing more ornate garb. About as ornate as something stolen from a seamstress’ dumpster. He was also an albino. That was important to fiks, right?
“Am Wesh. Clan Ermin.” That sounded important, alright.
“Ermin? Are you the one in charge here? Tell them to stop ripping up my-“
Another clatter sounded from the kitchen. “Look, look! Hidden door!” Oh right, the pantry. Great. Now they’re in his walls.
With a content smile the Ermin said, “Yes, this will be good den. The wise clan lives close.” He illustrated his point by interlacing his fingers. “Builds strong bonds. And now with human! Wise human no less!”
“Wise? Look man, if I was wise, I’d be doing better than I am. Now, will you tell them-“
“Bah! Yes, human wise…Maybe David does not see. Or hear. Wesh hears wisdom you recite.”
“…You could hear me in the shower?” he asked sheepishly.
“Saaaaa. Yes. David sings song of fik! Sings of fik’s struggle in new world. About lies and hate fik suffer. But our fighter spirit keeps us going. Keeps us strong. You sing such wisdom without knowing?” He placed his hands on David’s shoulders, “Fear not! Wesh will hear and speak David’s wisdom. Even if David cannot see.” With a pat on the shoulder the albino shuffled away to the warriors who seemed at odds over sleeping arrangements.
“I guess it’s good to know they like Simon and Garfunkel.” He mumbled to himself. David summoned his courage to finally investigate what was happening in his kitchen when the door chimed, and the apartment went abruptly silent.
*****
Sarif didn’t need a canid nose to know something was off. The various tables and bits of broken furniture stacked up beside the building leading a trail of dust and debris to David’s door was a decent tip off. Another would be the small din coming from the building. Sure, any tenant could be having company over making a decent noise, but they wouldn’t stop after pressing David’s chime. But of course, she could also smell the small number of people who’ve passed by recently. It didn’t seem likely David would give up being a recluse overnight. What worried her was the smell of his pursuers from last night.
After a moment of silence, Sarif pounded on the door as a bit of anxiety seeped into her mind.
“Who’s there?” called David.
She let go of a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “It’s me. I’ve come to check on you, and…And apologize.” She struggled to get the last word out.
After a brief pause the door slid partially open revealing David’s suspicious expression. “Apologize?”
“Yes…Who’s in there with you?” She looked above him, but no one was in view. The place looked like a mess.
“Just, uh…Just some friends. Could you maybe come back another time? Now’s a bit…Busy.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “Please let me in. It’s-“ She caught herself before saying ‘my job’ “Important to me that I know you’re safe.”
With a grimace David looked back into his apartment before relenting and opening the door. Her eyes quickly scanned the room looking for the intruders as she stepped through the threshold. The fiks were hiding in the doorways to the kitchen and bedroom. She caught sight of the impromptu bedding and realized this was an infestation.
She took a couple strides to put herself between as many of them and David as she could. “David, what are they doing here?” she demanded in a hoarse whisper. “They were the ones chasing you last night. You’re letting them move in?”
“I’m not letting them do anything.” He replied as hushed as he could. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m a bit on the short side. When someone twice my height wants to do something there’s not much I can do about it.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked over her shoulder before leaning down and whispering in his ear, “Do you need me to get rid of them? If you feel in danger I’ll-“
“No! No. They’re fine. Just a bit…excited? Eager?” He sighed, “Look…Last night was a bit of a misunderstanding. I didn’t know all of this was happening until a few minutes ago. It’ll sort itself out.”
“You can’t let these people stay here. It’s not safe. They’re…”
It was David’s turn to squint, “They’re what?”
“You know.”
“No, I don’t. Enlighten me.”
“They’re dangerous. They steal, they’re violent-“
“Violent? Violent? Everyone in this galaxy is violent. So far, they haven’t stolen anything, and have been polite with everything I’ve asked. Meanwhile the other high and mighty races have done their very best to make my life a living Hell. They haven’t beaten me. They haven’t starved me! They haven’t shoved shit in me without my consent like those fucking snakes or big fuckers did!” David shouted while pointing to the scar behind his ear. He realized he was shouting and leaned around Sarif to see a dozen or so eyes staring at the two.
Sarif closed her eyes and took a breath. “Look, I…I’m sorry. I’m sure they’re fine. I just…” She looked up and around, searching for the words. “I’m trying my best to keep you safe. I really am. Sometimes that…Sometimes that makes me come off a little harsh. You know the galaxy isn’t a nice place. So do I. I tend to see the worst in people.” She looked down into his eyes, “Will you meet me halfway? Help me, help you? I just want to help you however I can.”
The tension left David as he sighed and rubbed his forehead. He opened his mouth to speak when there came a rough knock at the door.
*****
Hilda took a seat at the bar in the Aimless Wind Café. It had mostly emptied out as the breakfast rush died down. She perused the menu on her comm then checked for any upcoming entertainment. Looks like authentic human music was a random flash promotion. After a brief wait, a black furred felinoid walked up behind the counter.
“Can I get you anything?”
“Yeah, I’ll take a tea and is the owner in today?”
She looked the taurian up and down before replying, “Sure. I’ll go grab him.” With that she disappeared into the back. A few minutes passed as Hilda looked around the restaurant. It wasn’t small exactly. The bar and stage took up a good portion of the room, but judging by the tables the place could seat just over fifty patrons.
“Well, if it isn’t our resident human wrangler. A bit wilier than herding troqs, huh?”
Is my accent that bad? The man rose to eye-level on the hidden step that ran the length of the bar. He was dressed in more conservative clothing with a handkerchief tied around his nubs holding his hair back. While he readied the kettle and dug out a large earthenware cup, Hilda cleared her throat.
“We grew nist, but yeah. I’m here to-“
“Learn what you can about our little music-man.” He set the cup down in front of Hilda and began wiping down the immaculate counter. “He’s been here a few times; engaging in his impromptu therapy sessions. Not much of a talker I’m afraid. What were you hoping to learn?”
Hilda went back and forth in her head about just how much she wanted to say, before deciding honesty would be best. “This is…only our second day with David. So far, we’ve only read his file, picked him up from the hospital, then chased him through half the station. We can’t get a word in edgewise because he doesn’t trust…Well, anyone. But, he kept coming here. I just want to see why. Maybe find something we can do to help him.”
The owner raised his eyebrows then leaned on the bar, “Well. I suppose things have nowhere to go but up, now. If you were looking for some great truth or revelation about David, I’m afraid I have none. All I can say is the man loves-no, needs to sing. I don’t know why. Maybe it distracts him from the here and now or takes him back to when life made more sense to him. Though, if I were to guess…I would say he probably always loved singing. Might well have been his drive before everything was stolen.”
She mulled that over. For someone without all the answers the man had a better bead on David than most of the evals in his file. “That’s as good a guess as any. I just don’t know what I can do with that Mr…”
“Rodrik, and it may be a bit selfish on my part, but it also may bring David a bit out of his shell. Maybe you and your partner could finally bring our bard to perform on that stage over there.” He pointed to the back corner. “I’m more than willing to accommodate whatever he needs.” Standing straight again he told her, “I’ll be here whenever if he decides to perform up there or in the back. I live on the floor above. For now, Shasa here will take care of you.”
Stepping back down, the man passed the felinoid and returned to the backroom. Hilda nursed her tea and thought when Shasa spoke. “I do hope you get him to perform again. I’m a bit of a fan now.”
Hilda eyed the woman. She realized her fur wasn’t solid black but covered in hazy, faint spots. A bit on the taller and bulkier side for felinoids she seemed a bit out of place, but she didn’t know why. “Have you spoken to David much?”
“Not as much as I’d like to. He’s adorably uncomfortable whenever anyone is…particularly friendly to him. But I do love a man with baggage. They melt in your hands once they’re comfortable around you. Lean on you for support. Oh, but you’re not here for that kind of advice. Or are you?” She smiled mischievously.
Squinting at the other woman, Hilda rose and paid her tab, “Thanks. I guess.” She left the café and headed for David’s apartment, learning all she could and a bit more besides. I’m gonna have to keep an eye out for that one.
*****
The room was silent for a beat before Sarif opened the door. She was staring at a leather clad chest before she craned her neck back and saw the single largest fik she had ever seen. I didn’t know they could get that big.
The fik woman seemed equally confused to see Sarif and looked past her to the other fiks approaching the door.
“Chief!” called a fik.
“Chief?” parroted David and Sarif in unison.
A grin split the chief’s lips as she bowled past Sarif and strode in to meet her clan.
“Hey! You can’t just barge in here!” cried Sarif as she rebounded off the wall and planted her paws.
“Why? Am chief. Chief can go anywhere.” The fik giant explained as if to a child. Ignoring the canid, the chief’s gaze wandered the apartment before settling on David, “You!” She took a couple quick strides before bending down and scooping David up in a bear hug.
Sarif launched herself with reckless abandon at the fik’s back with teeth and claws bared. The chief spun as she hauled David up throwing Sarif’s lunge off causing her to shoot past. She dug her claws in the floor and spun around. David was effectively a hostage and meat shield.
I’m gonna have to go low or else I’d rip David open with her. But what if she lands on him? That could be just as…Wait, what’s she saying?
The fik, seemingly oblivious to the attack was rocking David side to side saying, “So happy to finally find you! Humans so hard to find. Always hiding. Always running. But now I have you! You’ll be so safe and happy now!”
She blinked. That wasn’t quite what she expected, but violence still hadn’t been ruled out. She was plotting her next move when she noticed a sharp blade of some description enter her peripheral, threatening her to stay still. Right. The others.
Then the door opened.
*****
Hilda heard voices and a scuffle as she approached the door. Deciding she needed to get in there quickly she opened the door and stepped inside.
She didn’t know how to process what she was seeing. There were almost a dozen fiks around the redecorated room. One was just about her size, clutching a squirming David while another was holding a knife to Sarif who had murder in her eyes. And all eyes were on her.
The door slid shut behind her when she turned and glared at the big fik. “Put. Him. Down.”
A confused expression crossed her face. She looked down and saw the human struggling for air then released him. He dropped to the floor gasping for breath, bracing his hands on his thighs.
Her gaze settled on Sarif who was beginning to relax. “What happened?”
“These f-“ She glanced at David, “These people broke in and seem to be trying to move in.”
A white fik stepped forward, “There are lies! Fik was welcomed into new den. David is most gracious. Fik would not break anything!”
“I broke something!” Piped up a fik in the back.
“Silence!” the white fik yelled, spinning around.
“You about broke David’s spine!” Sarif growled and stalked up to the chief. “Where do you get off thinking you can just whip him around like that?”
She seemed unperturbed by the chastisement. “Human is fine. Sulta knows her own strength.” The argument carried on for another couple minutes when the door chimed again.
*****
That’s it! I’m ripping the chime off and bricking up the door! No more visitors! No more headaches! David had slipped out of the middle of the verbal clash in case it became more physical, but that put him closest to the door. With a roll of his eyes and a groan he answered it.
Standing in the doorway was a blue and red colored avian. It gave David a quick glance before handing him a slim paper package. “You must be David. Not a lot of humans running around here. Anyway, have a pleasant day!” he called before striding down the street.
David tried to get a question out but the avian’s long legs carried him away before David even knew what to ask. With a sigh he inspected the package. It was more like an old Earth manilla envelope, bulging with something weighty. It had his address and even a description of him, but no return address or even the name of the sender.
Frowning down at it he turned around and closed the door once again. Then looked up and realized he was once again the center of attention.
“Uh…You all keep doin…Whatever. I’m gonna go check my mail.” He shuffled along the wall until he entered his bedroom then shut the door. Thankfully he was alone.
He sat down in his desk chair by his comically oversized desk and pulled out the envelope’s contents. It held a pad and a card. He set the pad aside a read the card with someone’s face on it.
You are formally invited to attend the celebration of life/graveside service of Mortemer J. Albrecht.
A funeral? I don’t even know this guy. He quickly read the dates and brief life summary on the inside before setting it aside and powering on the pad. It blinked to life before displaying the front camera view. God, I look terrible.
It blinked a couple times before scanning his face, with special attention to the eyes. I wonder if I get to keep this thing. Passing whatever check, the pad displayed the directions to the desolate planet Mr. Albrecht was going to be buried on. It drew up a diagram of the landing zone, gravesite, and where the Guardians will wait.
Guardians? Plural? Realization dawned on him. Multiple humans in one place. They never did that. David never fully understood why. He missed that bit of collective trauma. In some instances, it made him feel more disconnected to humanity than he already was.
He continued reading the invitation. It seems Mr. Albracht wanted as close to a traditional funeral as he could have, but he had no surviving family. That’s where David and the other invited humans come in. He pondered his options. He really didn’t want to venture out. He didn’t want to meet people and see that all too familiar pity in their eyes. Especially other humans. He didn’t know if it’d be worse to see them looking as bad as himself or doing better.
On the other hand…He was lonely. It’d been so long since he’d spoken to another human. Another person with a shared background and experience. Someone who’d just understand. He thought about it for a minute before reaching a decision.
He opened the door, and it seemed everyone really went back to arguing and shouting.
“Hey!” Silence. “You.” He pointed at Ruk’sa, “Keep everyone from wreaking my apartment. You.” He pointed at Sarif, “Keep them from getting into trouble while I’m gone. You.” He pointed at Hilda, “Come here.” He stalked back into his room while everyone looked at each other.
Hilda followed him to his room. “Gone?”
David spun around and squinted at the towering taurian, “You and Sarif really want to help me?” She nodded immediately, “Then take me here.” He pointed at the uninhabited planet displayed on the pad.

A part of me knows I’m wrong, because I only interpret this in certain parts of the song but whatever. I think it’s about how someone got out of a abusive relationship and finally escaped but they got caught by the abuser and the cycle restarts but worse and the victim just gives up. I think this mostly at the part where it says “You’re coming back and it’s the end of the world, we’re starting over and I love you darling, i am done dear.” To me it sounds like they escaped but were caught and their world is crumbling so all they can say is “I love you” so they won’t get beat as bad. The rest of the song reminds me of the victim getting manipulated into thinking they love the abuser, the car part makes me think of a mental breakdown. But then again, I do know what the song is really about and I really relate to the original lyrics so this is just a random thought