Poses for drawing

I have the following games to offer:
911 Operator
A New Beginning - Final Cut
Acceleration of SUGURI 2
Age of Wonders III
Amnesia: The Dark Descent + Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
Armello
Bear With Me - Collector's Edition
Bioshock: The Collection
BioShock™ Remastered
Borderlands 3: Super Deluxe Edition
Broken Age
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Brutal Legend
Company of Heroes 2
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2!!
Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX)
Darkest Dungeon Shieldbreaker DLC
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition
Darksiders Warmastered Edition
Deponia: The Complete Journey
Drawful 2
Driftland: The Magic Revival
Duke Nukem Forever
Duskers
Endless Space® - Collection
Equilinox
Evergarden
Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered
Forged Battalion
GameGuru Classic
GOD EATER 2 Rage Burst
The Golf Club™ 2019 featuring PGA TOUR
Gonner
GRID 2
GRID Ultimate Edition
Guns of Icarus Alliance
Gunscape
Hacknet
Hand of Fate
HIVESWAP: Act 1
Hyper Light Drifter
In Between
Just Cause 3 XXL Edition
Kerbal Space Program
Killing Floor 2
Kingdom Classic
Kona
LEGO Batman
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
The Long Dark
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Magicka
Max Payne 3 (rockstar key)
MirrorMoon EP
Monaco
Mr. Shifty
Music Maker EDM Edition
Music Maker EDM Edition $10 voucher code for in-app purchases
Nex Machina
Niche
No Time to Explain Remastered
observer_
Overgrowth
PAC-MAN™ CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2
Paratopic
Party Hard
Pathologic Classic HD
Pikuniku
PGA TOUR 2K21
Pool Panic
Psychonauts
Punch Club
Quake Champions
Quantum Break
Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered
Regular Human Basketball
RPG Maker VX
Rustler
Ryse: Son of Rome
Samorost 3
Sega Bass Fishing and Eastside Hockey Manager
Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI
Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode I
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II
SpeedRunners
Spelunky
Starbound
Starfinder: Pact Worlds Campaign Setting
Stealth 2: A Game of Clones
Super Hexagon
Super Time Force Ultra
SUPERHOT
Surviving Mars
Supraland
System Shock 2
System Shock: Enhanced Edition
The Ball
The Final Station
Wandersong
This is the Police
This War of Mine
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead - 400 Days
The Walking Dead: Season Two
The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier
The Walking Dead: The Final Season
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Wizard of Legend
WWE 2K BATTLEGROUNDS
Titan Quest Anniversary Edition
Vertiginous Golf
VVVVVV
Wizard of Legend
World of Goo
Worms Revolution
XCOM: ULTIMATE COLLECTION
X-COM: COMPLETE PACK
Yoku's Island Express
REP: https://www.steamtrades.com/use76561197963435625

I would really appreciate some help here. I’m at a loss on what to do. Apologies for the really long post, TLDR below.
TLDR; I’m considering ending a relationship of 1.5 years with my girlfriend after her roommate and I got into several fights this past weekend over moving a couch into their apartment. Her roommate prohibited me from stepping foot inside ever again, threatened to call the cops on me, threatened to lawyer up, and accused me of aggravating her. She might have also punctured one of my car’s tires as it was flat the following day in their parking lot. My girlfriend has continuously said she understands the situation and will be coming to my place going forward, but I’m afraid of what might happen in the future since she shares her location with her roommate, have been friends for 17 years, have a matching tattoo together, and the roommate has shown to be a very explosive and volatile person. Her roommate has also been convicted in the past for assault and I’m afraid of what she might do. I feel like I don’t fully know my girlfriend and don’t know how to move forward. Should I leave the relationship or continue to fight?
A bit of a background
My girlfriend, let’s call her Ana, and I have been together for 1.5 years. We met through a cousin of mine at an outing back in December 2021 and started dating right away. Ana is caring, loyal, and has always listened to what I have to say. Our relationship has gone through some challenges, but nothing we have not talked through and somewhat agreed on - we see life differently to some extent when it comes to matters like politics and religion but have always sat down to talk through and resolve those issues. My parents did not get a good impression of Ana when I introduced them to each other, but she has worked hard to do so ever since. When we met I also asked her to go back to school to keep pursuing her degree, which she had stopped years ago, but listened to me and is currently on her second semester. It is important to note that Ana (and Betty, shortly introduced) was in a religion for 22 years that prohibited her from making friends outside of it. She left 5 years ago and had to cut all communication with her family.While together, in June last year, I bought an apartment and moved about 1.5 hours north of her to be closer to my job. Ever since that happened we have had this sort of long distance relationship where we only see each other on the weekends - every other weekend Ana comes to visit me, staying overnight, while I do the same the weekends she does not.Ana was living in an apartment by herself up until two months ago, when her lease was over and the landlord increased her rent by 30% or so. She had to go somewhere and asked if we could live together, to which I declined as I did not think we were ready - moving in together has been something I’ve refused to do because of a very sour experience with an ex-girlfriend. Since that was not an option, Ana decided to move into a new apartment with one of her best friends, Betty, who I barely knew. They decided to move about 30 minutes closer to me. Betty promised Ana she would take care of her, to some extent, by paying more than half of the rent and covering the security deposit. Ana does not make much money and has racked up some credit card debt which she is managing now, so the arrangement made her financially happy. It’s sort of important to note, however, that with the new arrangement Ana is paying about the same monthly rent. I helped her move out and into the new place with two other friends.Betty and Ana have known each other for 17 or so years. They have traveled together and even during our relationship Ana, during the weekdays, has visited Betty overnight to watch movies and whatnot, without me there. At the start of our relationship Ana refused presenting me to Betty several times despite my insistence, because Betty had had serious fallouts with two of Ana’s friends and she was afraid I might not like her. Before meeting Betty I had a sense I would not like her when I noticed that Ana, when Betty texted, was afraid of not replying right away, which I thought was odd. I confronted her but she always ignored what I was saying. Other friends of Ana’s had also noticed the same. I ended up meeting Betty six months or so after Ana and I started dating, which was right after Betty’s ex broke up with her after almost five years of a verbal- and physically abusive relationship. Betty, I recently found out, has even been to jail before due to explosive episodes that have ended in physical aggression, and is currently trying to expunge her records. She was also adopted as a kid and her adoptive father has beat her for years in different occasions. Betty and I only hung out then, when we met for the first time, and one other time two months after, for her birthday. I never had any sort of altercation with her, but noticed she always had some fight with someone, always talking down on people and blaming others for her tragedies. Something that took me by surprise last year was when my girlfriend and Betty went one day to a tattoo parlor and got the same exact tattoo in the forearm as a sign of their friendship. Up until then my girlfriend only had two other tattoos that were very small - one by her ankle and another one by her ribcage. This one that she got with Betty is the only truly visible one. That day I remember being extremely surprised when she showed it to me, seeing how she had not even mentioned she was going to get a tattoo, but comes home with the biggest one she has had, and on the forearm.Fast forward to Saturday: Betty and I lose it with each otherMoving forward to last weekend, I visited Ana at her apartment for only the second time in the last two months after she moved in. I drove over Saturday early in the morning and was greeted by my girlfriend making breakfast for me and her roommate. We all ate and Betty asked to spend the day with us, since she needed to go to the library to study for an exam, which my girlfriend and I had planned on doing, so that she could study for one of her classes. They also made me aware of a couch one of Betty’s friends was giving her for free, and Betty asked for my help to pick it up later. The day went well at the library (4 or so hours) but started to shift when we went out for late lunch after - Betty asked for spicy wings at a local bar and threw a fit when the wings came with not sauce, calling the manager of the place and insulting the cooks and staff. After that ordeal we went to UHAUL to rent a truck for the couch. Like idiots, we ended up breaking what we thought was the ignition key (it wasn’t, just an attached key for the back doors) inside the car’s key hole. This sent Betty screaming and insulting me, out of the blue, calling me an idiot and other words I cannot recall. I yelled back at her which only escalated the situation. UHAUL management stepped in and they got us a pickup truck at no additional cost. We live in a big city in South Florida. I drove with Ana in the middle seat and Betty on the passenger side for about 40 minutes to pick up the couch. It is 10PM on the dot when we get to the community where Betty’s friend lives. A security guard, as I parked the truck, approached us to say the HOA does not allow trucks at that time. Betty starts insulting him several times as I drive away and parked about half a block from the community, at a plaza right next to it. We proceeded, for the next two hours, to carry out the couch from a second floor to the first, moving it over a 5 feet wall (with me jumping over) to avoid going around the community, then walking with it for half a block and than putting it on the bed of the pickup truck. All in 90 degree humid weather.As I am sweating and huffing while fastening the couch on the bed of the truck by myself, with Betty and Ana talking by the side of the truck, I notice Betty looks tired and miserable, to which I asked jokingly “why the long face?”. Betty proceeds to tell me I am not being funny with that question and starts to yell at Ana, saying how she is useless, how she herself (Betty) had to do everything regarding the couch and no one helped her, how “her man” (meaning me) was not able to afford a couch for her, and other stuff I cannot remember. She called me an idiot, and called me slick, and said I was not funny with my stupid jokes, and kept yelling I was not helpful. I started to yell back at her saying how it had been six hours since we had been helping her. I also, at that point, lost it all and said “where are your friends right now to help you? Holy shit, I am literally on the bed of this truck fastening your couch and you are so ungrateful”. I was yelling as she was yelling back, and in that moment the yelling match turned something like the following:Betty - “you are so fucking useless, IT’S ALWAYS ME GETTING SHIT DONE, no help from anyone, ALWAYS ME”Me - “what the fuck are you talking about? We are LITERALLY helping you right now, what the fuck”Ana - “guys please stop, can’t we all just get along, please?”Betty - “Bro you are not funny man, who the fuck said you are? I am so tired of your shit, your stupid comments and jokes throughout the day”Me - “where the fuck are your friends to help you? You are so fucking ungrateful; you jump from dick to dick and will never find love, you have no fucking friends”Betty - “WHAT THE FUCK. Your bitch is a whore man, she doesn’t even wear condoms. A fucking whore and a fucking submissive bitch, that’s why you are with her”Ana - “guys please stop”Me - “Don’t you fucking dare talk about Ana that way, be fucking respectful”Betty - “A fucking whore is what she is, and submissive, and worthless”At that point we are yelling at each other and Betty starts saying that I am assaulting her, and threatens to call the cops. She grabs her phone to make a call and I start filming with mine, making it very clear that at no point have I put my hands on her or planning to, at all. She starts yelling at me for recording her and bring up her lawyers and the cops, and how recording her without her consent is illegal. We are calling each other names and I continue to film. She is also in disbelief at how my girlfriend is “not defending HER”. In reality Ana was trying to stay out of it.Needles to say, the way back to their apartment with the couch was extremely uncomfortable. It was very quiet for the first 20 minutes until Ana asked us why we can’t just get along, which made Betty go off again, yelling at how I am slick, worthless, and so many names I cannot remember. Betty said she does not want me to step foot in HER house, and continued to say she would break the lease and have my girlfriend’s stuff out of her place. When we got to the apartment I let them carry the couch inside and asked my girlfriend to bring my stuff (a backpack and a duffle bag) out of the apartment. I did not want to step foot inside for my own safety. Betty does not have a gun but I am sure she would have used it if she did, either to threaten or God knows what. As I was leaning on the frame of the door Betty asked if I would come in, to which I said no, and she also slammed the door on my face and prevented Ana from opening it, positioning herself in front of the door and yelling that “if she steps foot outside she would kick her out” to which I kept yelling that Ana is also in the lease. When Betty opened the door I told her I would call the cops if she tried one more time to hold Ana hostage inside. She went off again and threatened to lawyer up and kick Ana out. After much yelling and cries from Betty, I ended up stepping inside, closing the door behind me, and talking to them both to de-escalate the situation.At this point it is 2AM and after much yelling I apologize to my girlfriend’s roommate for stepping over the line when I basically called her a whore. I was a total piece of shit in that regard and sincerely felt like apologizing. Betty did not apologize but she said I could stay over. She said she will forget about the whole situation and that all she needed was to cry and get over what I had said. She went to the balcony to smoke weed and I left the apartment to basically cry out of frustration. Ana followed me and after 30 minutes or so talking outside I told her I had to leave. I did not feel safe sleeping over and did not know if I could ever feel safe again in that space. I walked over to my car and drove home for an hour. I went to bed at 3:30AM and woke up at 6:50AM, took a shower, and headed back to my girlfriend’s apartment complex to return the truck which we had to do by 9AM.Sunday: flat tire and location sharingIt’s now Sunday morning. I get to my girlfriend’s apartment at 8:15AM, where I leave my car parked, and with her on the passenger seat drive over to the UHAUL, which is about 20 minutes away, to return the truck. Everything is done on time and after getting my girlfriend’s car from the UHAUL parking lot we stop at a diner to have breakfast. We get back to her apartment at around 10:20AM and by 10:25AM we are driving over to my place, each of us in separate cars. About 10 minutes after leaving I get a flat tire notification on my car’s dashboard and pull over at a near gas station to see what was going on. The car had gone from 35PSI in one of the rear tires all the way to 15, and kept going down. I end up driving the car over to a TiresPlus close by, which later confirmed the flat tire was due to a hole on the outside which “had been caused by an object that went in and out, more than likely a screwdriver or a knife”. Needless to say I had to pay ~$200 for a new tire.I told Ana there is no way this was coincidence and that I suspected Betty had done something to that tire. She said she did not think it could have been the case since there is no way Betty knew where I parked. I did not think that logic made sense since Betty knows exactly what car I drive and she was in the apartment, in her room, when Ana and I left earlier to return the truck. She basically had two hours to do anything. On top of that, I found out that Ana actively shares her location with Betty via iMessage, and vice versa. Ana and I also have that sort of arrangement. They have been doing it for years.Ana and I spent the Sunday sleeping at my apartment pretty much. I could not get the situation out of my head and barely slept, but being together made me feel better. We talked about the future extensively and Ana promised me that she will cut all communication with Betty once the lease is over, but currently there is nothing she can do. She also brought up living together again, and the following day also told me how she was looking into jobs that are close to my place.Monday: going on a break with AnaAna went to work on Monday morning (5AM) from my house and I worked from home. I did not get anything done thinking about the whole situation and later in the afternoon Ana and I continued to talk about it. Later at night, as Ana was sending me text messages on how she was cleaning the house, Betty was also posting on social media about it. I told the whole story to my best friend who seemed mortified about the situation and asked me to be careful. Monday night I sent Ana a long message explaining that I need some time to think about our relationship. I said that I could not trust her judgement and was afraid for what might happen if she still hangs with this crazy person not now, but in the future as we think of a life together. Will she be at our wedding? At her birthday parties? Will she be involved in our lives? Even though she has told me she will not, I know that Ana has been well aware of how Betty is but nothing has changed in their friendship these past 17 years. It has only become stronger.Ana was very hurt from my message and called me right away. After a one hour conversation where she pushed me to decide on breaking up or continue the relationship she hung up when I told her to please give me until Friday. She does not understand how it is that I am re-thinking our relationship if it is that I love her. I do, and care so much about her, but have not been able to move past what happened and the fear that she might introduce me to similarly dangerous people or environments, be it with Betty or with someone else, is severely impacting my ability to think there is a future here. To keep the story short this is the third time Ana has tried to, or has introduced me to, people or situations that pose a danger to me and her. I also have not been able to get out of my head how it is that she is friends with this person, Betty, who is so visibly crazy and with whom she has a matching tattoo, years of friendship, experiences, etc.Tuesday: Ana’s early morning call and social media login attemptAt 7:30AM today, as I was getting ready for work, Ana called me to tell me she was sorry for blocking me on social media and on iMessage. By doing that I no longer have access to her location. I was not aware since she had done that at night, after I had asked for some time. She told me she “did not want me to think the posts from her story were directed toward me”. She also told me that “she wanted to have some sort of control seeing how I was having her wait for a decision and felt lost”. She also confessed she could not sleep and had gotten to work very early, thinking through everything in her car at her workplace parking lot. Ana begged me to please consider our relationship and after trying on the phone we hung up for the day, and have not talked since.I am in a situation where I have to decide whether to have Ana move in with me, live with the fact that she is with a psycho for the next ten months, or simply leave it all behind despite how much I care about her. I don’t know if I am ignoring some red flags and that’s really the reason why I needed the time and am seeking some help on here. I don’t know if I am in the wrong and would like some clarification because I truly feel so lost. Ana has done so much for me in the sense that she listens and I know she loves me, but I am just afraid of her judgement and what she might bring into the relationship in the future. I also feel like I don’t know her like I thought.Should I lie the relationship or continue to fight? Would sincerely, wholeheartedly appreciate some advice.

After 6+ years of dialysis, I've finally the call and received my deceased donor kidney transplant. The call came last Saturday early morning and quickly got confirmed on followup. Drove a few hours to the hospital. They did further tests like chest x-ray, ekg, blood draws, simple fitness tests and some general questions. Surgery when smoothly and woke up next morning with all kinds of wires and the Foley catheter which I absolutely dread. Pain was minimal lying down but did increase as the medications wear down and when I started getting up to walk. Walking for difficult with all those wires and catheter connected. But as the days go by one by one of those wires is removed and finally the catheter. My donor kidney has not fully woken up though producing good urine. I'll need to do a small volume of PD treatment until that happens hopefully soon.
Now I'm back home and dealing with all new information about medications, labs, appointments and food safety. A new journey starts...

So I just wanted to come on here and let y’all know what I did to pass my drug test. I knew I was going to use my friend’s pee, because it’s free and more reliable than fake pee. I did a few test runs with my own pee. If you’re a girl, best route is to stick it on top of your vag, right in the lips going into the crack, lid up. My temp stayed constant for about 2 hours. 100.4 hour 1, 99.2 hour 2, so I knew I was safe. Collected my friend’s pee an hour before my appointment. I used a travel shampoo bottle. I kept the inside of my car like satan’s asshole. My thermometer broke before going inside, so I was a nervous wreck. But after the nurse and I did some conversating I calmed down, didn’t help that I had to get a TB blood draw before my test and almost passed out lol. She accepted the sample and prepared it for shipping, I would’ve been called out had the temperature not been right at that moment. In conclusion, borrow a friend and use a reliable thermometer lol.

We got a new kitten about 2 weeks ago (Finn) and spent the last two weeks slowly introducing him to our resident cat (Aveena)
Normal procedure of separating them, only dealing in smells, etc. After about 4 days she would trill at the door with her tail up so we took that as a sign that we can move along so we started sight, which went well for another 4 or 5 days. He would play around the gate and she would just watch him and try to interact through the gate.
Today we took him out and were playing with him while she perched and watched what he was doing. No bad body language.
Then she kind of jumped down from her perch, to do what I'm assuming was play. She was sniffing and interacting, but then she would chase him around. Still no bad body language. Ears forward, no hissing, the only thing was that her tail was in the question mark pose but was puffed up like she was irritated.
Was she just super excited to play with him or was she hunting him like prey?
​
Thanks for any input.

Hi all, hopefully someone much smarter than me can assist as my GP is out on an extended leave and I will not be able to be seen for ~4 months.
I (F30, 5'6, ~68kg)) have been on levothyroxine 50mcg for the better part of 10 years (diagnosed Hashimotos ~2012, even had a pretty decent goiter!) I am on no other medications and take no supplements aside from a daily multivitamin. I had been feeling sluggish and was experiencing some classic hypothyroid symptoms (hair thinning, unusual menstruation, skin sensitivity) so my doctor ordered a blood draw. I had the blood draw last week and got my results today and I'd just like some help interpreting them because I cannot get any additional levothyroxine until the return of my GP as I have no refills on my RX (USA, if you couldn't tell from the convoluted process!). I do have some options as I am able to purchase levothyroxine from my home country over the counter and was planning to do so until my GP returns. But, that being said, my question is: will I likely continue on my 50mcg dosage or should I seek a higher dosage, say 75mcg, based on the lab results?
Lab results:
TPO - 1380 IU/mL Free T3 - 2.5 pg/mL Free T4 - 1.2 ng/mL TSH - 1.1 uU/mL
Thank you!

Hey! I need a code for toy house! I'm willing to draw your oc in return <3

Notes: This script is okay for monetization. Can be used on Patreon, just let me know if you do. If you use it, please give credit. You can change pronouns if preferred but otherwise please don't edit the script. My scripts are meant for adult audiences and all characters are 18+. For clarification on the format of the script, any place that says (Pause) is a place for the Listener's response. Anything in \asterisks and italics** isn't meant to be read aloud, it's there to either hint at the tone or provide context that might help the script make more sense.
​
Summary: Listener, an elven royal, wakes to find Narrator, their enemy and a vampire royal, in their bed. Upon waking, they immediately get into an argument where their mutual confusion leads them to realize that they may not hate each other after all.
​
Word Count: Approximately 2,563 words (Not including any actions or cues left in asterisks and italics)
​
Writer’s Notes: Did I mention this idea in a poll form like, 6 months ago? Yes but shhhh. Not gonna lie, I'm really pleased with the outcome of this one, so I hope you enjoy it too!
Script Below:
​
\Listener wakes to the sound and feel of soft breathing on their neck, and they realize they are in their own bedroom, but they don’t know who the person next to them is. After a moment, the sheets begin to shift as the Listener’s unknown bedmate pulls them closer.**
\Sleepy, content** “After all this time, I’ve found you. So many centuries I have worn this blindfold and participated in this tradition, knowing that you were somewhere in this world, I would find you. I was beginning to fear that you were avoiding me, but I was a fool to think as such, wasn’t I? All I needed to do was search elsewhere. To think, this entire time, you were hidden here, in the walls of an enemy kingdom. If I had known I should find you here, I would have come to one of these pointless meetings long ago.”
\Narrator chuckles, pulling Listener closer.**
“But I suppose this meeting wasn’t pointless. At long last, I’ve found you. My beloved. My fated. My darling. The one who shall rule by my side until we are taken by death’s hand.”
\Narrator leans in to kiss Listener, but Listener, finally coming to their senses, pushes Narrator away.**
\Surprised, a little hurt** “My darling? What issue is there? Why do you push me away?”
(Pause)
“Please, tell me why you distance yourself from me. Have I done something wrong?”
(Pause)
“My darling, I can hear your breathing - You sound panicked. Please, tell me what the issue is, tell me how I might help you resolve it. I will do whatever it takes to set you at ease.”
(Pause)
“Your pounding heart is causing mine to ache, darling. Please, I beg of you, tell me what makes you so nervous.”
(Pause)
“You still say nothing. Is your fear that you know so little of me? While I’ve known of my fated love, you might have no idea. I can’t deny that it hurts me to think that you have felt no draw to me like I have to you, but I would understand, if that were the case. If you would please take this blindfold from around my eyes, it would be my honor to explain everything to you. I would gladly explain the circumstances of my love.”
(Pause)
\Soft, gentle** “Please, my darling. Allow me to look upon you. Allow me to explain myself to you. I swear on my life that I’ll tell you everything, I won’t spare a single detail.”
\Listener, confused but increasingly angry at Narrator, unties their blindfold before letting it fall to the ground.**
\Grateful, gentle** “Thank you, my darling, you-”
\Surprised, angry** “You?!”
\There’s a commotion as both scramble away from the bed and each other. One of them bumps a table and a nearby vase falls to the ground, shattering. Narrator snarls at Listener, looking at them accusingly.**
“You! Why are you here?! What have you done with my fated?!”
(Pause)
“You wretch! You dare take (them/him/her) from me?!”
(Pause)
“Don’t lie to me! I have no time to waste on you when the one I’ve sought after for years has finally been found! Now tell me where have you put (them/him/her)!”
(Pause)
“What do you mean? (They were/He was/She was) here, I know (they were/he was/she was)!”
(Pause)
“That look on your face - Why do you seem so surprised? Could it be that you did not expect the (King/Queen/Tyrant/Ruler) of the Vampires to feel love?! Did you think I was heartless, you knife-ear?!”
(Pause)
“Remember? What do you mean? What memory could have possibly been brought to you at this moment? Because unless it is anything in regards to the location of where you’ve taken my fated, I do not care what it could have been.”
(Pause)
“I will answer no question about (them/him/her) until I know that they are safe. Lead me to them now, lest you wish to find your ribs torn away from your spine.”
(Pause)
\Indignation, anger** “How dare you suggest such a thing! I know my fated! I know the taste of their blood when it passes my lips! It was the taste on my lips when I held (them/him/her) last night! I would know it anywhere! The fact you dare to question my love is beyond stupid!”
(Pause)
“Are you playing the part of a fool on purpose? Of course I know the smell of (theihis/her) blood!”
(Pause)
“Drawing a blade after committing such a vile act against myself and my fated? You truly have a death wish, don’t you? Just tell me where (they are/he is/she is) and I might spare you.”
(Pause)
\Still angry, a bit confused** “What are you doing? Why do you bare your neck?”
(Pause)
\More confused, a hint of worry** “Your blade - you aim it at your own neck. Why?"
\Listener cuts a shallow line into their neck, stunning Narrator, who quickly runs over to Listener’s side.**
"By the gods, what have you done?! Your blood is not…”
\Narrator trails off, surprise washing over them at the familiar smell. The shock causes their anger to drain as they stare at Listener.**
“You… Why does your blood smell as (theirs/his/hers) does?”
\Narrator’s breathing is heavy as Listener tells them that Listener is their fated.**
\Disbelieving, stunned** “No… No, that cannot possibly be. You and I, we could never be…”
(Pause)
\Firm** “No. There is no chance that you’re the one who holds my heart. It cannot be so.”
(Pause)
“Because you are my enemy! We’ve been the head of our kingdoms for centuries, and not for a second of those many years have we’ve been friends!”
(Pause)
“Our kingdoms may be at peace, but that does not mean there is no tension between the two of us. We share no history besides our hostile arguments and drawn out duels.”
(Pause)
“In fact, we do. I’d met (them/him/her) before I even had the chance to participate in our tradition.”
(Pause)
\Assertive** “Yes, truly! It was how I recognized the taste of (theihis/her) blood!”
(Pause)
“And what would you care, hm? Why should that matter to you?”
\Listener sighs and asserts that Narrator should just tell them. Narrator reluctantly huffs.**
“Fine, but only to prove that you could never be (them/him/her), do you understand me?”
\Listener scoffs but agrees. Narrator sighs.**
“It was several hundred years ago, when I was not yet the (King/Queen/Tyrant/Ruler) over all of vampire-kind. I was the only heir to my parents’ throne, but I’d only been a full-fledged vampire for a century. I was still unruly and wild with the bloodlust soaking into my brain worse than any liquor could manage-”
(Pause)
“Oh, be silent, I’m sure you weren’t any better in your youth. I’m sure there is not a single soul who hasn’t heard the rumors of the sinful parties you held in the depths of the human forests. Tell me, is that where you met that last lover of yours? The one who tried to steal your face and name some centuries ago?”
(Pause)
\Smug** “Yes, that’s what I thought. You shouldn’t throw stones when you’re surrounded by walls of glass, you know.”
(Pause)
“Fine, fine I’ll continue, provided there are no more interruptions.”
“Though it was in fact, a similar type of party where I met (them/him/her). Though, rather than a forest, it was in the center of a human village. One of the larger ones, in fact. It was the night of a festival, though I could never keep track of which human holidays happened at what point of the year. What I did know was that where there was a party, there was alcohol, and where there was alcohol, there was always a willing throat. Every face was hidden by a mask, and I bought one from a vendor so that I might not stand out. The dark streets were lit by large fires that blazed at every crossroad, the largest of which was in the center of the village. The townsfolk were dancing around it as lively music was played and drinks passed between hands.”
“Then I saw (them/him/her), golden in the firelight. (They/He/She) moved unlike anyone else, a vision amongst the flames, and I couldn’t help but to stare. Evidently, (they/he/she) noticed my gaze, and it must have sparked (theihis/her) interest. (They/He/She) pulled me into a dance, and I could not deny (them/him/her). We danced until the song finished, and then danced to the next one, and then to the one after that. So entranced by (them/him/her), I had forgotten the entire reason I came there. We danced together until the fires were all but embers drifting away in the wind. Then, with only the weak flickers of ash in the air, (they/he/she) told me that they’d seen the gleam of my fangs against my lips. (They/He/She) told me that (they/he/she) would not allow me to leave without experiencing the feel of them.”
“I was but a weak, romantic thing who was captivated and hungry, and I gave in so easily. I pulled (them/him/her) into a dark alley and asked that (they/he/she) bare their neck for me. (They/He/She) smiled at me and-”
\Listener interrupts Narrator.**
\Slightly surprised** “Yes, that is right. (They/He/She) pulled me close and (they/he/she)-”
\Listener interrupts Narrator.**
\Slightly more surprised** “Yes, and then (they/he/she) told me that I could drink my fill from (them/him/her), but only if-”
\Listener interrupts Narrator.**
\Stunned** “Yes… ‘A kiss for every drop to pass my lips.’”
(Short Pause)
\Realizing** “It was you, wasn’t it? All those centuries ago, it was you that I danced with and drank from. It’s your blood that I have tasted on my tongue for all these years. It’s been you, in my every waking thought. You are the one that I imprinted on so long ago.”
\Narrator chuckles, still stunned from the shock of their realization.**
“It’s almost funny, in a way. I’ve spent so many years searching for you, and yet here you are, the person I’ve glared at from across a war room table while we exchange words sharper than swords. I’ve stood so close to you that I could count your eyelashes, and yet, the tradition has never taken place close enough for me to find you before last night.”
(Pause)
“Yes, the Moon Hunt. After we’ve imprinted on someone, we create a link to their soul. However, it’s quite common that we create an imprint without realizing it. It might be years before we realize that our hunger is for a particular person’s blood. Such was the case with me, so I decided to go through with the Moon Hunt in an attempt to find you. But, since it only lasts from the time that the moon is at its pinnacle to sunrise, I’ve never been able to make it to you. I’ve woken in the forest a great many times, cursing that even in winter, I did not have enough time to reach you. But this time - This time, I did. At long last, I was close enough to find you.”
(Pause)
\A bit confused** “Then you… Last night, when the Moon Hunt took place… What happened?”
(Pause)
“No, I remember nothing. Once the moon has reached the peak of its path and my eyes are covered from its light, the mind goes blank and the heart commands our journey. What took place?”
(Pause)
“An attack? You thought that I was attacking you? What could make it so?”
(Pause)
“Oh. Yes, I suppose that trying to bite your neck in your sleep would seem like an attack.”
\Narrator sighs, troubled by this information.**
“I… I didn’t know I would be so violent in such a state. I apologize, that was quite horrid of me. To attack someone so defenseless is nothing less than deplorable.”
\Listener says that it’s not too horrible, as Listener knocked Narrator out before they could drink too much of Listener’s blood.**
\Amused** “Well that would explain the terrible headache I’m suffering right now. I’m actually quite impressed; it’s hard to get such a good angle on a hit while still lying in bed. I always knew you were a formidable fighter, but I didn’t expect that you had so much experience in warding off night-time attacks.”
(Pause)
“Ah, fair enough. I’d imagine that you’ve seen many assassination attempts in your years, as the current (King/Queen/Crown/Ruler) of the elven kingdom.”
(Pause)
\Playful, kinda flirty** “Well I should hope I’m better than any assassins that come after you. You are my fated, after all; fighting our enemies is now something we shall do together.”
(Pause)
“Is it too soon to say such a thing? My apologies, I have simply dreamed of this day for so long that the words find themselves on my tongue without thought. I will try to refrain from using them again.”
(Pause)
“You mean that you are not opposed to the idea?”
(Paused)
“I cannot say that I’m not surprised. After so long of being enemies, it is a shock to hear those words from your lips.”
(Pause)
“I suppose you’re right in that regard. ‘Hate’ is too strong a word for what I feel for you. Admittedly, I’ve always had a begrudging respect for your mind; your intellect has invaded my thoughts on more occasions than I would care to have told you before. And your sharp tongue has often left me wishing to hear you speak more. I thought that perhaps it was a result of a fiery rivalry, but should my thoughts be seen in other lights, they might be confused for those of an admirer.”
(Pause)
\A bit flirty** “Oh? Is that the case?”
(Pause)
“Then, if I might make a bold suggestion, would you be willing to consider entering a courtship with me?”
\Listener accepts and both laugh before Listener winces in pain.**
“Ah, you’re neck! You’re still bleeding. Allow me to patch you up.”
(Pause)
“Perhaps, if I was a younger vampire, or if I hadn’t fed in a long enough time, I might. But seeing as I apparently took some of your blood last night, I’m not so hungry as to be ravenous. I promise that I’m in full control of myself.”
(Pause)
\Surprised** “You wish for that? Even after my brazen attack on you last night?”
(Pause)
\Hesitant** “Are you quite certain that’s what you want…? I cannot…”
(Pause)
“No, it’s not that I do not wish to feed on you, but I fear that I won’t be able to control myself. If I were to bite you without any regard last night, then who is to say that I might not do it again?”
(Pause)
“I know what I said, but it’s not just any blood that I’m drinking - it’s yours. I have dreamt only of your blood for years. You are my longest held craving, the one thing I desire above all else. Even I cannot guarantee that I won’t take more than I should.”
(Pause)
“Why must you fight me on this? I worry on your behalf, and here you are, willing to throw your life into my hands - worse yet, into my fangs!”
(Pause)
“Oh? And what deal should keep my mind from turning to that of a beast’s? What combination of words could keep me grounded when I have your throat in my mouth?”
\Listener tells them, and Narrator pauses before laughing.**
“‘A kiss for every drop to pass my lips?’”
\Narrator sighs fondly.**
“Perhaps you know me better than I expected, for I think those very words shall manage to do the trick.”
(Pause)
“Yes, I’m agreeing to your deal.”
(Pause)
\Playful** “Such a smug grin that you wear. I’ll steal it from you before long.”
(Pause)
\Playfully sarcastic** “Oh, but of course, I’m sure you will. Now, move your hand from your neck. I’ll drink from the injury you’ve already created. Though I’ll warn you, I’ll still have to bite into your flesh.”
(Pause)
“I’m not stalling, I was just giving you a fair warning. But fine, if you want me to speed the process along, then I will.”
\Tender** “But please, you must warn me if I start to take too much. I would never forgive myself for hurting you more than I have.”
(Pause)
“No, I need you to promise me. Please, darling.”
(Pause)
“Thank you. Now do your best to set yourself at ease; straining would only earn you a bruise that would be far too difficult to cover.”
(Pause)
“Patience, my love, I’m just savoring this moment. I can’t tell you for how long I’ve dreamed of this moment.”
(Pause)
“Fine, I shall delay no longer. My own wants will not allow it.”
\Narrator breathes out softly before leaning forward and sinking their teeth into Listener’s throat. They begin to drink Listener’s blood.**
“Oh by the gods, love, you taste better than even my clearest memories. My head feels light and my knees feel weak. My darling, you are addictive.”
\Narrator continues to drink Listener’s blood for a while before pulling back.**
“There. I can take no more, lest I lose myself to you.”
(Pause)
“More? I won’t take any more blood from you. I refuse it.”
(Pause)
“Then why should I take more? What reason could there be for that?”
\Listener leans forward, kissing Narrator.**
\Surprised** “My darling?”
\Listener explains that if Narrator drinks more of their blood, then Narrator must kiss Listener more, as dictated by their deal. Narrator laughs.**
“My darling, I know what our deal dictates, but you need not give me any more blood to draw a kiss from my lips. Those, I will give willingly and at your request.”
\Flirty** “Though, if I recall, I owe you at least one for every drop of your delectable blood that passed my lips.”
(Pause)
“If that is your request, then I am happy to oblige.”
\Listener and Narrator kiss for a while. This can last as long as Narrator sees fit.**
\Fond, flirty** “This may not have been what I expected to happen when I finally met my fated, but I dare say that it is even better. I think that this will be a very happy courtship indeed.”
\The audio can either end here or can have more kissing before ending.**

For fucks sake no one cares and I’m tired of this sub being filled with random edgy alt teenage girls when it could be filled with more pooner and boymoder drawings. We all know you’re a true valid transsexual and Emily is wasting your testosterone but if you could refrain from posting about it every two seconds I think we would all benefit. And how come it’s exclusively pooners who care so much about this? I never see any posts from trans girls complaining about how hrt femboys are ruining the horse piss estrogen supply

"Those in the international community that refuse to put red lines before Iran don't have a moral right to place a red light before Israel." - Benjamin Netanyahu
[Private]
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen, is to travel to Europe, with the first meetings in the French Republic for meetings with their French counterpart.
France and Israel have long been close partners and allies, with the joint purpose of safety, stability and security in the Near Middle East. France has gone as far as acknowledging Israel's right to exist recently when others have undermined it time and time again.
Therefore we speak as friends, and as cultural siblings. Over the past number of years, the situation in the Middle East has rapidly shifted, and the biggest threat to the region, Iran, has become ever more aggressive towards peaceful nations like Israel. While other Arabs have begun to turn away from anti-Semitic remarks, the Iranians have clamped down on it.
We are particularly concerned about the potential naval threat from the Iranians on the Red Sea. We believe that Israel need to protect itself by having the ability to deploy our present fleet of F-35s further afield, and a light aircraft carrier (helicopter carrieVTOL carrier) has been proven to be a cost-effective solution for countries like France and Algeria.
Therefore we propose a joint project between France, Israel and Poland. France will provide the naval expertise. Israel will provide the technical equipment and armaments. Poland will lead the construction in order to reduce labour cost.
Additionally, we wish to ask France to push for an EU implementation of an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) on Israeli fossil fuel products, as an ACAA doesn't currently exist for this particular industry.
Minister Cohen shall then travel to the United Kingdom for meetings with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Israeli-British friendship has been a strong component of our relationship since independence. From the Suez Crisis to the present day, our two nations have come to rely on each other for security in the region.
As a result, as the UK might be aware, the security situation is rapidly deteriorating and Israel will need to take all measures possible to secure our position in the region. Therefore we would like to put in an order for two Dreadnought-class Ballistic missile submarines.
As well as that, Israel would like to move forward and negotiate a free trade deal with the UK, similar to the one we currently have with the EU and expand upon our continuity agreement that was signed post-Brexit.
The Minister shall then travel to Poland to meet with the Prime Minister of Poland
Friends. Romans. Countrymen.
The relationship between Israel and Poland is like any other. We've had our ups, and our downs. But common threats to both country's easts may lead to a common need for cooperation.
It is quite clear that both Moscow and Tehran have grown quite close in recent years. In order to achieve any sort of Polish-Israeli cooperation to tackle the Moscow-Tehran Axis of Evil, the Israeli Government firstly requests that the Polish Government withdraws the property restitution law which prevents victims of the Holocaust from claiming back their property as this poses a roadblock to better relations.
Secondly, the Israeli Government is willing to offer Poland discounts on certain defensive equipment if Poland is willing to join a joint Franco-Israeli-Polish project to build a light aircraft carrier to accommodate the F-35, or a possible variant thereof. Poland shall assist with reducing labour costs in the construction phase.
Lastly, we require Poland to lobby on Israel's behalf to the US and the EU. We require more and more nations to withdraw support of Palestine and move their embassies to Jerusalem, (including Poland) in order to tackle growing Iranian influence, and we believe Poland is instrumental in this.

Am bored, and looking for friends that we can talk often idc about the gender yet the age should be 15-18. A bit of myself is that I draw sometimes, I love music, and I want to start working out. As well am down to play minecraft (on my phone/tablet) or any games on mobile or Xbox. So let's get to know each other! I will respond to everyone

Hi all, I am afraid of asking this here because I feel like people ask for help with fursonas a lot so if there is a better place to go to feel free to tell me
I really want a sona, but I am really stuck settling on a solid decision. I don't want it to "look nice" just so I could be some random fluffy boi on the internet. I want it to reflect me. Who I am, how others see me etc. Basically I want my sona to be a complete representation of everything I am. I need help figuring out the basics.
For a species, I don't really have a favorable animal or an animal that I can relate to. I know the species is not everything but it is the base. All I know is I do what it to be a mammal. Are there any resources that you can reference where I can learn on the different significances of each animal and what they represent and mean? Also, is there any surveys or what not that I can take that could give me like my "spirit animal" or whatever?
Another problem I have is coming up with what the furr will look like. I know there is this thing out there called color theory. Where different colors and patterns are associated with different feelings and thoughts. Once again, is there any place I can go to learn more to where I have enough knowledge to make a design that will accurately fit my personality?
Lastly, I would like to know who I could commission to draw my sona. I can't even write correctly let alone draw a square. The thing is, I am scared/terrified because I don't want to waste the artists time with stupid questions and forcing them to deal with my indecisiveness. I also want it to come out the way I imagine and I lack the necessary engrish skills to communicate what I am seeing in my mind.
If you are knowledgeable in creating fursonas that accurately represent there owners. Could you please be willing to leave some advice or talk to me? I would love your input. I have always wanted a sona but I feel so utterly lost.

Thank you to everyone who sent a card! Here's the image
u/SaintMeris - love the pair of birds on the card. Thanks for the advice and I've sent a thank you card in return.
u/Rura_Penthe924 - thanks for the flowers of Idaho card! The only thing I know about the state is potatoes aha. Will definitely have to make a trip out there as it sounds beautiful.
u/inconsolableonion - thank you for the vintage Rickshaw Inn card. My dog loves to lick my toes which I don't mind. If she bit them however it would be a different story. aha
u/LostFloridaGuy - thank you for the chair card. My username is based on the word synthetic but I wanted to give it some character with the misspelling aha.
u/wiifitboard - thanks for the adorable fashion cards and drawings! I'm a sucker for the color pink.
u/DianaPenPal - Thanks for the birthday card and stickers! I also enjoyed the little moon phase card. I went to Knott's Berry Farm and waited for the Ghostrider coaster for three hours. Forgot summer break has started so all the kids were out. My old knees reminded me that I'm not young anymore aha.

It’s a popular Twitter reaction image for cuteness aggression. A drawing-style yellow emoji facing slightly left that’s squeezing a smaller blob, possibly with hearts around them.
If you search “emoji squeezing another emoji to death out of love” it’s pretty close, but I remember the image is less blurry, the face is facing the other way, and one of the emojis is larger than the other. Similar to the style of @/mothcharm on Twitter but not made by them.

When you're rich enough, you get perks you can only dream of. Literally. But somehow, my paradise turned into hell.
And now I'm paranoid.
Have you ever had a dream so amazing, you wished you could relive it? Explore it? Relish it? Well, when you're rich enough, you don't have to wish. It's a reality thanks to dream banks. You may have heard of them and their pricy services, which include recording, saving, and projecting dreams.
For example, if you'd like a dream recorded, you can book one of their luxurious suites for the night, where the dream techs will fit you with a special helmet, offer you a sleep-friendly snack, and leave you to rest. The next morning, they'll replay the recorded dream for you via the helmet and ask if you want to shell out the extra bucks to save it. If you don't, they'll delete it and you can pay to book for another time to try again.
If you do decide to save it, you must select an item within the dream that will act as the exit key. (This will come in handy during projections.) While still wearing the helmet, you must touch the item, and the dream techs will label those electric signals as the key.
Afterwards, everything is saved under your name, and you can now relive your dream at any time by booking a suite for three, five, or eight hours. Unlike recordings, during projections, you don't have to wait for sleep to come. After you enjoy a snack of your choice, the helmet is fitted and you're immediately transported to your dream, where you have free will and can enjoy it at your leisure. And if you ever need to leave early, this is when you touch the key, which will shut down the helmet right away.
In my case, the key is the stegosaurus leather rug I have hanging on the wall of my throne room. I never have a reason to touch it otherwise, making it a perfect key. I've also never had to touch it. Experiencing life as an all-powerful, worshipped being who lives on my own planet and hunts dinosaurs in my spare time, I relished my dream to the last second.
Yes, the fees are exorbitant, but at the time, I felt it was worth it. The techs were skilled, the system was sleek, and the dreams were private. Each could only be unlocked by the unique brainwaves of the dreamer.
Or so I thought.
My literal nightmare began when I booked a five-hour projection on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. After taking a sip of champagne to wash down the cranberry brie bites, I settled into the cool silk sheets with a smile. My usual dream tech smiled back as she fastened my helmet, and the last thing I heard was her wishing me pleasant dreams before I was plunged into darkness.
I waited for the split-second adjustment from reality to the dream world, and my confusion grew when I didn't find myself on my throne surrounded by fawning gods and goddesses.
Instead, I found myself in the middle of an endless street. Alone. There were no cars, no life, not even wind. Towering street lamps lined the sidewalk as far as I could see, arcing over the road and tinting everything an eerie red. Behind them, identical buildings stood side by side, silent, their dark, narrow windows hollow.
My pulse spiking, I whipped around. The other direction was just as endless. Uneasy confusion prickled beneath my skin. This had to be someone else's dream. The techs must have made a mistake. I didn't know how it was possible, but there was no other explanation.
My unease piqued as my situation sank in. I was in a stranger's dream and I didn't know the key. I was stuck here until my five hours ran out. Or until the techs realized their mistake. I was ready to rip them a new one once I was out, but until then, I had no choice but to wait.
I studied my surroundings with a frown before I walked over to the curb and sat down, and that was when I noticed I couldn't feel anything. I also noticed I was naked. It didn't matter. There was no one here, and none of this was real anyway.
Time passed, and I tried to distract myself from my nettled offense by humming, but no sound came out. Sitting up, I took a deep breath and screamed. Not even a squeak was heard. I slapped my hand against the ground. Nothing. This place was like a black hole of the senses.
Sighing, I lay down on my back and stared at the red light above me, wondering if I could fall asleep in a dream. I tried, but the more I wished to escape this silent, crimson prison, the more it seemed to come into focus. Soon, the utter lack of noise and movement grew from slightly unnerving to completely intolerable.
There was no way I could wait. I'd go insane. I had to get out of here. I had to find the key.
Jumping up, I ran to the nearest building and wrenched open the door, and a pitch black void greeted me. I gasped, and gasped again as it felt like my very breath was being suctioned out of my lungs. Panicking, silent wheezes rattled in my chest as I struggled to yank myself out of the vacuum, jerking my limbs and bucking my body until I toppled over backwards on the sidewalk.
Gulping in fitful breaths, I scrambled to my feet and ran down the road without looking back, my wide eyes scanning the horizon for salvation. I just wanted out of here, but the hellish path stretched on forever, making me feel like I was running in place as every identical building and street lamp mocked me. Even my silent stomping and mute panting served to draw insanity closer.
And then, a person showed up.
There, in the distance.
With my hope spurred, I raced towards them, desperate. I didn't care who they were. I needed to break this monotony.
As I got closer, hope morphed to confusion, and then to despair. The person was me. It was a mirror, propped up across the entire street.
Sweat-soaked, I slowed down to a jog before I stopped right in front of my reflection. It was me alright, naked, exhausted, and frustrated. But the eyes, something was off about the eyes. With an anxious frown, I stepped closer, staring into them, and they stared back …
… until they glanced behind me.
I gasped and jumped away, and so did my reflection … before it glanced over my shoulder again.
A chill trickled down my spine. My reflection had nothing behind it but the empty street, so I gulped and turned around, and my mouth fell open in a silent scream as a lovecraftian behemoth barrelled its way towards me. With its slick shell gleaming red beneath the lights, it slammed down one spiny tentacle after the other as its five mouths bared their dripping, concentric fangs.
Drenched in undiluted horror, tremors gripped my body as I stumbled away until my back was against the mirror. I knew death was a foolproof key in a dream, but I didn't know if this creature would kill me right away or leave me to suffer in agony until my five hours were up.
With it only inches away, I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed myself into the mirror, and my stomach flipped as I fell backwards. I opened my mouth to gasp, but there was nothing for me to draw in. Floating in an airless void, I flailed and thrashed, my wild eyes scanning the darkness for answers as I began to spin around.
Although death would free me, one of my greatest fears was suffocating. On one of my weightless rotations, a red, glass cube passed me by, and I grabbed it, hoping it was a breathing device. I brought it close to my face, and I gawked at what it held within.
Me.
Surrounded by identical buildings and red street lamps while a lovecraftian behemoth tore me apart.
Horrified, I threw the cube as far as I could and increased my efforts to escape this void. Yet all the flailing and thrashing was for naught as the darkness revealed no end. My eyesight began to go red as my lungs spasmed, and I clawed at my throat as my pulse stuttered in my chest.
The red kept growing and growing until it engulfed my entire vision, and I gave up. There was nothing to do but face my fears and die. With my straining heart lumbering, I let myself go limp as I stared at the red and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
I wasn't dying.
In fact, I could breathe just fine.
Frowning, I opened my eyes, and intense unease spread through my core. Above me, a red moon had taken up the entire sky, each one of its craters crystal clear, like eyes watching me. I turned my head away, and I realized I was in a park, laying down on the grass. Sitting up, I blinked in surprise at the pond right beside me, its opaque water reflecting the moon's red light. Ducks were swimming in a circle across its surface, their movements smooth with nary a splash.
Trees surrounded us, so dense I couldn't tell when one began and the other ended. It was mind-numbingly quiet here as well, and I still couldn't feel anything or make any noise, but at least the ducks were moving. This place seemed more tolerable than the last, and I was willing to wait out my five hours here. I hoped at least an hour had passed already, but with dreams, one never knew. All I knew was that I was too exhausted to search for the key. And too scared. I didn't know whose dream this was, but they had to be masochistic if they saved this nightmare.
Curling up beside the pond, I worked on calming myself down as I watched the ducks swim in their systematic circle over and over and over. I tried counting the rotations the way one would count sheep, but that still didn't lull me to sleep. I wished I'd chosen the three-hour projection, but at least I hadn't chosen the eight-hour one.
Distorted circus music crackled around me and I jolted up, my heart ricocheting in my chest. There was finally sound, but the last thing I wanted to hear was a cliche horror movie soundtrack. Gulping, I looked around. The music was coming from the trees, and my stomach dropped when I spied a shadow behind one of them. Then another. And another. They emerged into the crimson moonlight, and my blood turned to ice.
Clowns.
I whipped around, trembling to the rhythm of my frantic pulse. They were surrounding me. Dozens of them. As classic as any clown could be. Colorful clothes, big shoes, silly hair, exaggerated makeup. I wasn't scared of clowns, as long as they were where they belonged. And they didn't belong here, staring at me with empty eyes and toothy grins.
I tried to convince myself that they weren't dangerous since they didn't have weapons and didn't seem monstrous, but when they took a step closer in unison, I jumped back, nearly falling into the pond. The ducks remained oblivious, still swimming in their circle. The distorted circus music got louder, and my hair stood on end when I saw the grass ripple in front of each clown. They were sending something my way through the ground.
Panicking, I jumped into the pond, and I screamed as I sank right in. There was no bottom. There was no water either. The pond was filled with red, translucent spheres, each the size of a tennis ball. Still able to breathe, I began swimming through the spheres with clumsy breast strokes, just hoping I could end up as far away from the clowns as possible.
After swimming for what felt like enough time, I tried to swim up, until I realized I had no idea which direction I was facing. Remember a trick for those stuck in avalanches, I spat, but my glob of saliva just hovered in front of me. Before panic could set in, I noticed what looked like an office desk floating amidst the spheres in the distance. After blinking a few times to make sure it was really there, I swam towards it, desperate for any change in my situation.
It was an office desk, a wooden one with carved borders and locked drawers. Tucked beneath it was a stool, and the moment I pulled it out and set it under my ass, an office replaced the red spheres.
I grunted as gravity returned, and I looked around in bewilderment at the cluttered bookshelves and grimy floors. Dust was floating everywhere, highlighted by the red light filtering in through the blinds behind me. I jumped as a clock hanging on the wall chimed. Its glass was too dirty for me to tell the time, but I was glad I could hear. I coughed at the dust. And I could make noise. I dusted my hands. And I could feel. I could even smell, which I now wished I couldn't as I wrinkled my nose at the faint stench of rot.
After failing to read the spines of some of the books on the shelves, I studied the shadowy corners of the room. A slack-jawed skeleton hung in the far end, and a faded poster with anatomical diagrams curled off a cupboard. This had to be a doctor's office. Was the creator of this dream a doctor?
A silhouette slid in front of the frosted glass door, and I gulped as the knob began to turn. A hand reached in, gripping the edge one finger at a time, and my heart dropped as I knew this horror cliche was only going to be followed by another. Having no time to think, I slid off the stool and crouched beneath the desk, my hand over my mouth as cobwebs clung to me.
Praying spiders wouldn't swarm me, I peeked through a small slit in the wood, and I froze when an emaciated nurse walked in the room. Layers upon layers of blood coated her scrubs, so much so that I couldn't even tell what color they originally were. She had no shoes. No feet either. Just ankle stubs, and my stomach turned as I heard bone clunk against the tiles.
A surgical mask covered her face, as bloodstained as her scrubs, and grimy lab goggles obscured her eyes. I was grateful, because judging by the pus leaking out of her scabbed, balding scalp, I didn't want to know what her face looked like. The closer she got, the stronger the stench of rot became, and I struggled to keep myself from retching.
She stopped halfway into the room, and I gawked at her hands. They were transforming. Her fingers elongating into razor-edged blades. She then began to hunch over, and I cringed as her spine cracked and popped until she was as bent as a candy cane, her face staring at her pelvis.
As if that wasn't unsettling enough, her head creaked as it spun around 180 degrees, now facing the front, upside down. Right after, her arms shot to the ground, and I watched with increasing dread as she bent them at the elbows and wrists so they flanked her head like distorted T-Rex arms.
She spread her fingers out and took a few more steps towards me, and I held my breath, hoping she couldn't hear my rabid heart or smell my fear. Her ankle bones clicked and clacked against the tiles as she made her way around the desk, and I cowered as my frantic eyes searched for a weapon. I found none, but I did spy a brass button beside my head.
With her legs now an arms distance away, I had nothing to lose as I jammed my thumb into the button. The back of the desk flung open, and I scrambled to my feet and dashed out from my hiding place, screaming in response to the nurse screeching behind me. Bursting through the door, I held up my fists and began punching like a maniac in fearful anticipation of a horde of nurses swarming me.
Except I was no longer in a hospital. I was in an outdoor parking lot. Alone. And judging by the roiling red clouds, a storm was brewing. After a second to collect my bearings, I dove into the closest car, thankful it was unlocked. The moment I slammed the door shut, lightning blinded me as thunder cracked and the downpour began. Sighing in relief, I tried to shake away my adrenaline, but the bloodshot eyes in my rearview mirror reignited my panic.
Before I could react, a belt snapped over my neck, pinning my head back against the headrest. With a frightened wheeze, I clawed at the leather, and I flinched as hot, heavy breath wafted across my ear. Gagging at the putrid smell, I reached over, desperate to scratch my strangler's face or poke their eyes out.
I felt their hair and tried to pull it, but my fingers refused to hold on. I tried again and again, but the strands just kept slipping out of my weak grip. Shifting focus, I tried to claw at their eyes, but it felt as though I was moving through molasses as my hand slid down their face. Even when I felt a wet, bulbous eye, I didn't have enough strength to do anything.
My frustration clashed with my terror and I tried to punch them, but my arm swung back in slow motion and merely prodded a stubbly cheek. Tears welled in my eyes as I writhed and gasped, my strangler's laugh adding insult to injury. Despite knowing death will set me free, fear and self-preservation rummaged through my mind, searching for a solution. And they found one.
Hoping I had enough grip and energy, I reached down and found the reclining lever. Wrapping my fingers around it tight, I jerked it up and heaved my body back, and I gulped in a deep breath as I fell backwards, the belt now slack. Not at all prepared to face my attacker, I slipped out from beneath the belt, flung open the door, and zoomed out into the storm.
Sheets of rain obscured my vision, but not enough for me to see that the keys were left inside a red convertible. After making sure no one was hiding in the back, I jumped in, started the engine, and took off, the wheels squealing through the puddles. A sole street curled down a hill, and I took it, adrenaline pumping in waves through my quivering body.
This rush was a confusing mixture of exhilaration and apprehension. I wanted out, but I wasn't giving up. I made it this far, and I was going to survive every cliche this masochist dreamed up. Spiders? Snakes? Zombies? Bring it on. And afterwards, I was going to detail every single trial and tribulation I went through as I sued the dream bank for all the trauma they caused me.
Up ahead, the road curved, and I gasped as it ended in a cliff. I slammed the breaks, but they didn't do anything. Breaking out in a cold sweat, I slammed them again and again as I yanked the hand break as far as it would go. The car refused to slow down, and I cursed myself for not anticipating this cliche. In a move of desperation, I swerved, but it wasn't enough as the car careened over the edge and took me with it.
My heart hung in my throat as I hung on to the steering wheel, my knuckles white, my screams frozen in my lungs, the raindrops like needles. An endless body of water spread below me, and I knew sharks were my next challenge. I screwed my eyes shut as I awaited the inevitable plunge …
… and I gasped as a gentle hand woke me up.
I sat up, my pyjamas plastered to my damp skin, the silk sheets soaked. The tech gave me a sympathetic smile and asked me if I wanted to review the dream or if I wanted to delete it right away, since she could sense it was a nightmare.
I stared at her in furious disbelief as I yelled and cursed, accusing them of misconduct, and she gave me a confused frown. She said I had booked a recording session, not a projection one. After I called her a liar, management got involved, and they showed me my file with proof that I'd booked and paid for a recording session.
I told them they must have mistakenly charged me for a recording session, but I was one hundred percent sure I went through a projection session. I asked for five hours on a Tuesday afternoon. Not eight hours on a Tuesday evening. I had champagne and cranberry brie bites, not chamomile and honey-glazed almonds.
Their concern increased as they told me I was wrong. They said it was Wednesday, I'd slept the entire night, and they had my recorded dream to prove it. I demanded to skim through it, and they obliged. There it was, every scene of that nightmare. But it wasn't mine. It couldn't be. Could it? I hated scary movies. I also rarely had nightmares unless it involved me going broke. Why would I dream of an amalgamation of every horror cliche?
For a second, I was afraid I was still in the dream. This nightmarish scenario would fit right in with the others, taking it to Inception levels. But everything seemed real. I could hear, feel, and speak. No one was growing tentacles or blades. Nothing smelled pungent. Nothing glowed red.
I groaned and buried my face in my hands, confused and uncomfortable. I didn't know what the truth was anymore. One tech reminded me it was impossible for dreams to be projected to anyone but their creator. Another tech gently touched my shoulder and suggested I see a doctor if I continued to get spells of confusion like this. Not knowing how to reply, I paid them to save the nightmare before I got dressed and left.
Back home, I talked to family and friends, nothing seemed suspicious. Nothing seemed ready to kill me. I'm typing here on Reddit, and I'm sure I'll get replies. I'm out of the dream. I'm certain of it. But that leaves two other options.
Either I really did book a recording session and had my own nightmare, in which case I should take the tech's advice and see a doctor because my memory doesn't add up …
… or something sinister is going on at the dream banks, and they're using their clients as guinea pigs. Perhaps they're planning on branching out and creating a mental house of horrors where clients can get a near-realistic experience without fear of death. But why wouldn't they ask for volunteers instead of traumatizing loyal customers?
So I have to ask, have any of you experienced something similar? I know the odds of finding another multimillionaire who frequents dream banks is slim on Reddit, but even one other account can help my case.
SR