#i actually bought volume 6 the other day

[evilkitten3]

remember that time sakura just fucking. bit a guy. and kept biting him throughout ino's entire gayass flashback. more of that

[uniformbravo]

since i've spent the past few days essentially staring at nothing but natsuyuu volume covers i thought it'd be so fun and silly to try and redraw them all from memory tee hee. all 30 (thirty) (三十) of them!!! wheee!!!!

i haven't actually looked at them next to the originals yet so guess what time it is!!!! LET'S COMPARE

starting with volume 1. iconic. show stopping. masterpiece. the mona lisa of natsuyuu SURELY i reproduced every single detail perfectly such that it kickstarts my career as a forgery artist RIGHT

well feast ur eyes

(im using the english volumes for comparison btw they have a good clear view of the art)

CAN U TELL WHICH IS WHICH OOO THEYRE SO ALIKE BET U CANT!!! SPOT THE DIFFERENCE LEVEL 1000 WHICH ONE DO U SHOOT

all i remembered for this one was GREEN and it's not even the right shade of green ajgosugdjfkdgj i even made the fuckin. what do u call it. i'll just say yukata??? I MADE IT GREEN AND ITS SUPPOSED TO BE RED i stg if u held a gun to my head & asked if there was any red on vol 1 i'd be DEAD

but i remembered the book of friends is like. weirdly purple? ok well in this pic it looks p gray BUT ON OTHER COPIES...... IF U UP THE SATURATION GKSJKDNFKDG

why is nyanko sensei smack dab in the middle HUH i couldve sworn he was bottom left this is so fucked up and scary. haunted manga volume??????? i bought it from a grarage sale idk you guys-

at least natsume's pose is like kind of right but also that's most definitely a complete accident i can ASSURE u (im rereading this the next day and the pose isnt even CLOSE what are u TALKING ABOUT)

anyway can i just fucking point out the kanji on the book of friends bc that is from MEMORY YEEHAW here's what it's Supposed to look like: 友人帳

LIKE even tho i got the last one wrong ITS LIKE STILL PRETTY CLOSE??? i think i deserve 100 points for this objectively

MOVING ON THO....

OK NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT SURPRISINGLY im actually like. i thought i bombed this one completely but liKE THE COMPOSITION??? KIND OF ON POINT. KIND OF GENIUS TBH

i remembered Blue and Madara and like what else do u need rly. butterflies are optional in all scenarios imo

also i NEVER have any idea what natsume's wearing in any of these so i always just like default throw him into his school uniform LMAO u will see a pattern

why is the book of friends burgundy in this one btw. it was GRAY i mean purple definitely purple aha

ok volume 3 im actually scared for i know i fucked up SOMETHING

HGLKFKGLKFKGFN OK!!!!! OK NOT SUPER AWFUL!!!! just noticed i forgor to color the book of friends fukg

main thing i remembered abt this one was the color of natsume's... attire.... and which characters were present. whats sensei doing all the way up in the top corner tho 0/10

return of the school uniform lmaooooo hm. irrelevant who cares plus didnt ask. all things considered this wasn't as bad as i thought. THE NEXT ONE HOWEVER,

hsngjfgnfjn okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

sensei's way cuter in this one than i realized wait wtf this cover's cute af how did i never notice. underrated cover -10 @ me. look at his lil BLEP >:O!!!!!!!

i knew there was some fuckshit going on w the yukata in this one ourhg i was just like hehe greeennnn also sensei's there. my work here is done

what is natsume's pose even hgnkg i was straight up making shit up at this point LIKE the first 6 or so covers are SO hard for me to distinguish in my head i should get a free pass for the poses in all of them like i can do whatever i want IM the artist now

oh god whats next vol 5

OK!!!! like a straight 5/10 TBH i literally forgot i was planning on rating these LMAO

i remembered the like white v-neck shirt thing and his pose kind of??? i had NO idea what to do for the yukata tho i just made it orange and u know what?? close enough. my rule of thumb is just like pick a color and then throw flowers all over it u cant go wrong

taki looks so much more mysterious on the original and also wearing a skirt. i gave her a big stick bc i thought i remembered her having one in general but i think i made that up tbh wouldn't put it past me. got her hat right tho hee haw

cant believe i didn't get natsume's beautiful artwork tho look at that little shit sensei up there god hes so ROUMD literally moma material

PROBABLY my best one yet uhhhh but i maybe cheated JUST a little for this one ITS LIKE BARELY CHEATING STOP BOOING ME

as i was toying w the idea of doing this redraw thing i was still working on collecting my Images and Pictures so i kinda started taking note of a few small things here & there and one of them was just. the general gist of this cover SO LIKE that's why it's so good LOL

forgor the flowers tho. i literally forget everything that isn't a character like immediately BUT OK CUT ME SOME SLACK like after a point the covers start being whole ass scenes which are SO much easier to remember shit abt than the fuckin Green Void (p sure this is the last green void cover tho)

8/10 composition is gr8 but details like the shirt & the yellow flowers are wrong, also the stick is backwards. i literally looked up what that thing is called and forgot already tee hee

OK WE'RE NOT DONE W THE GREEN VOID I REPEAT-

fuck dude. fuck. i rly thought vol 6 was the last one LOL not to spoil but as i was grabbing these images i saw a Preview of what's to come and the green void lasts until fuckign volume TEN LOL collapses onto the ground and dies

so erhermrm this is vol 7 lolllll i remembered the bg flowers this time can u believe hahaha distracts u from the fact that LITERALLY everything else is wrong auhghg

u know what the green void turned into bushes and i think that's beautiful.... like points for creativity on my part tbh. like to be completely honest. 3/10 i got the characters right

YO????? GATE CONFIRMED LET'S GO?????? it's definitely the school gate but i choose to believe natsume & tanuma r in jail for crimes and u should too

actually this is shockingly accurate for how much i goddamn struggled w this one gkjsldkg the CHARACTERS are right the OUTFITS are right SENSEI'S THERE urgh i knew one of these covers had tanuma holding sensei like that but i couldn't remember Which

i can't believe i actually got tanuma's pose that close i rly thought i was bullshitting w that one wtf. +5 points instantly

do u like how i just scribbled sensei wherever lmaoooo i drew natsume & tanuma & went like. i think sensei's in this one. PLOP

6/10 honestly closer than i thought

OK........ I SEE........ literally dies

this one i was getting MASSIVELY confused w vol 4 bc i could remember nothing distinct abt either of them except Green and natsume w Big Doggie

i remembered the BARE essentials of the composition but not much else... since i thought the green void was gone i put the green i remembered into natsume's yukata (and then put him in the school uniform again LOL) and went WELP. GUESS I'LL DIE NOW

2/10 honestly one of the worst fucking ones lskdjflsdkg

OK THIS ONE.... i almost died irl trying to remember this shit, even before i started and i was still viewing the covers i was like there is no way in HELL im remembering this shit for vol 10. and i was right

like. Purple. White Mask. Antlers. WILD layered clothing. at first i drew the mask as an actual deer skull but later had a straight up epiphany and redrew it like that which... still not correct but I MEAN.... IT'S PRETTY GOOD

i cant believe most of the purple is the bg oughgh his clothes are WHITE..... this is fucked up. i DID remember the stick tho, bells and everything!! actually bells and nothing else!!!

7/10 ok it might seem high but CONSIDERING this design..... i think i did shockingly well TBH

NOT...... the worst...... one....... i could've sworn he was sitting on a pile of books this is so sad that woulda been so cute 😭

for a second when i saw the real cover again i thought he was sitting ON the bookshelf and i was about to RIOT but its okay it's a step stool. still physically possible

my version of natsume here is so much more like Proper gksld he looks like a school boy... studying in the academy's library... hardworking student.... but no the real one is just sitting there like a wet puppy orz he's not even READING i rly thought he was reading. this is such a huge L

cannot fucking believe i was right abt the window tho. like wrong shape but the fact that it's even there.... giving myself a whole ass point for that one

5/10 i rly thought i nailed this one gksgndfkj

also RIP TO THE GREEN VOID U WILL NOT BE MISSED o7

ah shit ok. well one of them was in the school uniform at least fjgugjdkf

why is my natsume lying there like hes abt to start a therapy session, boy would NEVER-

also the plushie hmnmhnmhngnf i dont KNOW i knew there was some kind of prop there but like gun to my head i woulda died again. main colors that stood out to me for this were green and that bluish purple so i got those into mine but i mean. well u can see

once again a random window in the bg i got correct let's gooooo 5/10

LMAO SPITS OUT MY DRINK WHOOPSIE!!!!!!

this is so fucking bad im choking im gurgling LOLLLL i was SO sure natsume's paper had an eye on it i was POSITIVE this is so fucked up. i mean obvs i picked that up from sensei but like i didn't even KNOW sensei was there. or that there were bg characters at all uuuuuououohghh (matoba ignored +5)

i was like. black yukata red flowers CHECK piece of paper w eye CHECK horns CHECK i even went back and edited the horns to be more accurate i was so proud of myself sobs

ok but i knew it was shit trasjh when those were the ONLY details i could remember bc obviously there was gonna be more going on I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH MORE.....

straight up dookie/10 no jk fr like 3/10 @ me u need to use ur EYES

OK..... I WAS VERY CONFIDENT ABT THIS ONE..... except for his outfit i knew i was bullshitting that BUT I THOUGHT I NAILED THIS ONE....... the one fucking time i didn't just default to his uniform LMFAO

even remembered the pink flower ball smh and for WHAT. i knew he was sitting in a pile of plushies & blankets or smth but no way in HELL was i even gonna attempt to draw them with a speck of detail. but HEY the plushie i drew for vol 12!!! i knew he existed Somewhere. he doesn't even have a horn tho thats so fucked up i thought he did

obviously the most striking thing abt this cover is the bg w that deep burgundy & the circular window so that was the main thing i nailed down right away (my palette was more muted tho). also natsume sitting there w paper in his mouth but i thought he was mid return when rly hes playing like keep-the-balloon-off-the-floor or whatever the fuck he's doing. i love u natsume

(if i thought he was in the middle of returning a name WHY didn't i include the actual book of friends flksglkd automatic fake fan/10)

8/10 this was like my ace in the hole i was like if i got nothing else i got U volume 14!!! and then

NOT THE FAMILY PHOTO......... FUCKING DIES

man idk shit just end me. whats even going on in this cover im gonna deck u natori. dont ask why this makes me want to commit violence hes just so. URHGHGHnH

i dont know whats happening to me rn looking at this im losing my fucking grip dude who let this happen im gonna hurl this volume into the sun??? i think???

why did i add the other two youkai i just thought they should be included but i played myself i had to draw them from memory and for WHAT. pls tell me i got them at least a little bit right i stg

it's the crossed legts dude if he was just sitting there like a board the way i drew him id be like ah shit it was just natori sitting not natsume too but he just HAS to cross his legs and the fucing elbow propped up holding the glasses im S MAD IM SO MADdestroy him

it's 1am i gotta go. i have to go. right now my mom is calling me i have to fukcng. 4/10 i got the couch colorr right. bye

---

tumglr...... only allows 30 pictures per post..... bc im not on desktop? or is that a site-wide thing now. in any case this is getting long so i think im gonna split it right down the middle into 2 posts so there u go, first 15 volumes. so far my score is ermmm

well i didn't rate the first few volumes.

vol 1: 6/10 decent

vol 2: 6/10 also decent

vol 3: 5/10 composition is Scramboled

vol 4: 2/10 it's SO BAD

so now my overall score is 74/150 fjggudjofjdkgjk doing gr8!!!!!!!!!

ok bye for real ✌️

[melanieratford]

I’M ENGAGED!

On May 5th, 2015, my best friend gathered a bunch of people to go see Avengers: Age of Ultron at the theater in the town next to my hometown. At the time, I was in no mood to be in a relationship... As I had only been single for maybe 6 months. When we got to the theater, she pointed across the foyer and said “There’s my college friends.”... I zeroed in on the guy that had the Sheldon Cooper shirt and yelled “OH MY GOD! SHELDON!”. I did NOT realize the guy I had just yelled at was super cute until AFTER I had yelled at him.

When we got into the actual theater, most of the college friends sat in the front, but the cute guy sat next to me. The more he talked, the more I liked him. I wanted to hold his hand, but I had just met him. It was kind of awkward because, on the other side of me was my best friend and her boyfriend who were cuddling...

After the movie, half of us went to IHOP and the others went to Rosa’s Tortilla Factory. The cute guy went to Rosa’s... He should have come to IHOP.... Because the other girl that was with my half of the group and I wouldn’t shut up about how cute the boy who sat next to me was. My best friend ended up scolding him the next morning saying stuff like “You’re in so much fucking trouble! My friends wouldn’t shut up about how cute they think you are!”. He asked her if he could have my number and she angrily said “YES! You can have her number!”. On April 4th, 2016, after almost a year of talking and getting to know each other, we started dating. A year later we went to see the live action remake of Beauty and the Beast. I got us rings that say “His Beauty” and “Her Beast”.

On May 5th, 2023, 8 years after we first met, we went to the theater in my town (the theater we met at closed down) to see Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. After the movie, he took me in front of the big poster in the theater’s foyer and proposed! Obviously I said “YES!”! His mom took pictures and gave us a $50 gift card to On The Border. When we left the theater, we went to the restaurant and ate Tex-Mex on the patio while we enjoyed live music. It was absolutely perfect!

Funnily enough, my fiancé accidentally let it slip what day he was gonna propose on before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania even came out, so I had time to prepare and make myself perfect. I got us shirts that were just like what we wore the day we met. I bought makeup and nail stuff to make sure my nails and makeup looked amazing and we both asked for the day off. I don’t wear makeup! Yet, for this day, I wore Sailor Moon eyeshadow and lip gloss, as well as eyeliner and mascara!

@candysweetposts edited Castiel’s proposal illustration to look like my fiancé and me. I sent her pictures of what we were gonna wear so that it would be as accurate to how the proposal would actually look as possible. I even sent her a pic of my engagement ring (because I helped my fiancé pick it out).

Drachea Rannak did a wedding image of our My Hero Academia characters, Slipstream and Kaiju, at their wedding. The background is the ballroom from the animated Beauty and the Beast and the arch is the Infinity Stones. Margot’s dress is the style I want, but I’m thinking about getting a black dress, so my fiancé is able to see her outfit and not have to worry about bad luck. We’re gonna use this image as our “Welcome Sign” for the wedding. Drachea also sent me the foreground of just the two of them so that I can get a custom acrylic stand made for the cake topper!

[josefavomjaaga]

Andoche Junot to Laure Junot, 13 October 1812 (II)

Sorry for taking so long with the next translation. This is the second (and last, I think) letter from Junot to Laure, intercepted by the Russians, his reply to her letter that I translated here. But just so it’s mentioned, before this one, the volume also cites a letter from Junot to his secretary Cissout, lecturing the poor guy on having sent him the wrong silk stockings and having bought eau de Cologne from the wrong manufacturer. Before giving him instructions on how to distribute the letters to the ladies, that is. This second letter was to be given to Laure only some time after the first.

Junot, Duke of Abrant��s, to Duchess Laure d’Abrantès, rue des Champs-Elysées, Paris Mojaisk, 13 October 1812, 6 P.M. I had written to you this morning, my dear Laure, in order to complain about you not writing to me, and I told you that I was eagerly awaiting the letters that would scold me. I've just been given this one, which I'll send back to you after I've taken a copy, because it's quite curious. The first page pleased me (to the word: pity, which is not noble), but when I saw that I was a fool, all the more guilty because I was the master of recovering my reason, and that I was a sick man who did not want to take medicine, I said to myself: "My Laure still has her head full of recipes from Aix and is a little out of sorts to tell me that it was not to me that she promised her esteem with all her friendship as the price of the noble efforts I would make to deserve the name of man, by stifling an unhappy feeling. This poor Laure adds that she has been saying this to me for many months. To this I exclaimed: "But it was eight months ago the day before yesterday that I last heard you speak!" Perhaps it's in her letters that she wants to tell me, I reread thirty-nine of them straight away, which are still there in front of me, and I didn't see any of that. As I don't have the drafts of my letters, I couldn't remember if I had asked you for medicine for my wound, and really if you sent me some balm, I wouldn't know where to put it. I do have a few scars, and I'd be very happy if you could erase them if, by making me more beautiful, it would add more charm to our friendship. Until then, the only thing that had gone wrong with the rather disjointed letter was the misquotes. But the general confession brought me back and I saw clearly that a woman who so openly accuses herself to her husband has made up her mind and from now on will have nothing to reproach herself for. Go on, my Laure, don't give rise to feelings that you can't share, and even less to those that you feel ready to share; the others are all right, but those void, I don't want. How much I would have shared your happiness, if your letter had actually found me between my mother and my son. Alas, this first happiness has long since been taken from me, and when will the other come? Will it be without bitterness? I thank you for not having made the trip to Geneva that I would have disapproved of; you didn't tell me about it, but that's all right. No doubt the happiness and glory of your life now lie in your children, and by allowing me to keep my unhappy feelings for you, by sharing them a little and giving me your esteem and all your friendship, you would not be deprived of any happy future, but we should only say these things to each other.

I think, my good friend, that this letter you expected from me is good and reasonable, but I beg you not to press me to change my feelings.I assure you that you would lose out, and allow me to use the word constancy to express the sweetness of this feeling. It is always better to fear a little than to give oneself without reserve to such a sincere friendship, which always ends up not being all that severe. As far as I am concerned, I guarantee you that no matter what you do, you will never take away from me the hope that one day my friendship will be stronger than yours and that I will be able to drag it along in spite of it; so, if you want to believe me, keep your fears, they are necessary. The report on your health is what I disliked most about your letter, because it tells me that you are still suffering. Farewell, my Laure, write to me often, but more directly than that. P.S. - Send me my last letter, which made you feel such pity, I'll burn it.

As to the »Write more directly!« - I share the feeling, your Excellency 😁. And it applies to you, too.

But mostly I’m struck by Laure Junot apparently really writing about her husband being close to his long-dead mother.

I’ve tried to look into the personal situation of Laure and her Andoche a bit but I feel I would need to read all the 14+ volumes in order to understand. So I’ll just leave it to @snowv88 or other people in the know to hopefully shed some light on it all. Is Junot deliberately misunderstanding some of what Laure had written?

If it is of interest, I can also translate the letter to Laure’s friend Madame Caroline "Calo" Lallemand, who was instructed to write to Junot about how Laure reacted to this letter.

[polycraftory]

Okay so we got a little lost in the sauce and we haven't done a book haul in weeks. So! Here are all the books we got (outside of AnimeNYC) from 8/20/24-9/9/24. Technically we actually got all of Hell's Paradise and most of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation on sale second hand which was exciting but that would have, like, doubled the number of books we had here so they were omitted.

We were so excited about The Husky & His White Cat Shizun (2ha) Volume 6 that both Gabe and I ate the entire volume immediately. You can find reviews for it on our Storygraphs and we'll probably make a spoiler free pitch for the whole series soon. Meatbun is our fav. Next up on my TBR is Exposed by H.L. Day since I originally subscribed to the Rainbow After Dark box from @rainbowcrate because of it.

Some other ones I'm particularly excited about are the danmei that I bought directly from Via Lactea: To Rule In A Turbulent World, Salad Days, & The Missing Piece. I'm going to be making a video comparing the quality of the ones shipped directly by Via Lactea versus what you can get from a third party like TikTok Shop soon.

Stay tuned for more soon! We are trying to un-loss ourselves from the sauce and get back into our cosplay crafting and book review posting so wish us luck.

[stepswowdsen]

【KagePro】 KuroEne AU: Kuroha pretends to join the Mekakushi Dan

KuroEne AU scenario where Kuroha/Saeru pretends to join the Mekakushi Dan, while getting intimate with Ene. Shintaro gets worried for Ene's sake as her friend.

Sen's KuroEne AU: Summary

(Kagerou Daze Manga: Ch. 64)

Mary confronts Kuroha... but with a twist :)

Credit: Feila

The credit for the KuroEne shitpost meme edit goes to Feila

They originally came up with the idea and made the shitpost meme edit, I just edited it over the JP scans (which are in high-res)

Since I haven't bought the Kagerou Daze Manga volumes in EN yet, only in JP

I'M CRYING LMAOOOO 😭😂

Ty for your service as always 🫡💞

Teamwork! 🎉

I'll put the summary of my rambles and my and Feila's discussion rambles under the cut!

Our discussion was really long so I'll just be pasting it here

9/07/2024 - 9/08/2024

Chats with Feila we had on 9/7 to 9/8

Original vs. Meme Versions

Original (JP)

Shitpost (JP)

Original (EN)

Shitpost (EN)

Text Version

Bear with me y'all since I haven't bought the EN volumes yet

I only have a few of the JP volumes rn. I'm planning to buy the rest eventually

I found out the exact font that the EN Official TL uses to typeset the KagePro manga's main dialogue with

I'm still trying to find the exact font for the JP one, so it's just really similar (but similar enough to fool people LOL)

Close enough since it's REALLY similar

I also found out the exact font used for Magi's main dialogue in Viz's EN Official TL too :)

...

F: YAAAYYYY

I'm gonna gaslight a few people into thinking this is the canon one

Me: IKR cuz now we have the exact same font as the official version LMAOOO 😂

...

F: WE DID IT 🤯🔥

Me: Power of teamwork, wahoo!!

F: Now time to fool people

...

F: GOOGLE TRANSLATE 😭😭😭

Me: HELPPP

F: It'd be funnier if the panel below was Saeru smirking while saying "hell yeah"

Me: WHDSHDHS HONESTLY IT WOULD

I should edit another image from the KagePro manga (later)

F: WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO 😭

Me: Like just take a panel of him smirking from somewhere else and then paste it instead of the bottom panel

But dang the last panel in the OG page overlaps with the 2nd panel

Maybe later but not rn

F: That's gonna take a lot of photoshopping

Tho it is possible

F: Pls focus on other things 🙏

F: Also isn't your birthday coming up?-

Me: Oooh yeah it is! I'm planning to draw something for it tho it might be late (which is fine)

September 12th ^^

F: Noted :3

Me: 6 days away from 9/6 Day and 6 is Ene's Mekakushi Dan code number. Ene we were made for each other wifey 💙💘💞💗

KuroEne AU: Kuroha/Saeru pretends to join the Mekakushi Dan

Continuation of these rambles.

Saeru's amassed power and resources

Minor thing but wrong particle in the 1st image

I think whoever edited the Wiki page copy pasted from Ayano's Eye Ability, Favouring Eyes (目をかける, Me wo Kakeru) cuz there's a typo here

What it says:

目をか冴える蛇 (Me wo Ka Saeru Hebi)

What it should be:

目が冴える蛇 (Me ga Saeru Hebi)

...

Other than that, the KagePro wiki mods are doing God's work fr

...

F: Also Saeru sees 2 disabled kids (HaruTaka) and went "Hell yeah let's kill them"

Me: HWHDSHSDH not only that but he's actually the reason why they were put into a Special Needs classroom for just the two of them

Like Iirc his manipulation while possessing Kenjirou got Takane and Haruka into their own classroom in the first place

F: Just gotta beg the principal bro, as long as they got the budget they're fine

F: I still stand by my old statement

Me: LMFAOOO

Me: Oh yeah I just remembered. He's also the reason why Takane Haruka and Ayano's deaths don't get mass reported to the media cuz he makes sure it stays rather contained within the school

F: 3 kids died on the same day

"Nah bro, nothing going here"

Me: RIGHT like 3 kids dying on the same thing would be a massive thing but apparently cuz of him it gets suppressed

F: Damn Kenjirou's co-workers trusts him that much 😨

Me: I swear I read somewhere that it's cuz of Saeru that the deaths of 3 teens gets swept under the rug so it doesn't ger reported to the media but I can't find it

F: Wait why was Takane put into his lab again?-

Me: Oh yeah that actually does bring up a good point.

Like it's possible that Kenjirou (while under the influence of Saeru) administers a poison of some kind to possibly kill her after she collapses from her chronic illness. Then he takes her body to the lab

Me: The fact that Saeru takes both Takane (who turned into Ene) and Haruka (whose body turned into Konoha) into his lab…

F: Yeah, she became a digital virus and all, and her body completely lost all consciousness, I'm just wondering why she was kept in the lab

To prevent it from rotting? I guess that's reasonable, or it's just for the plot???

Me: Yeah I don't think there's much details other than that she was separated from her physical body. Like I noticed Takane's hair grows longer in Novel Route (her bangs grew after 2 years) once she's reunited with her body

F: I'm gonna guess that it's to keep them from rotting

And perfect plot device for Ene to just suddenly "HELL YEAH I'M ALIVE AGAIN" in the anime

Me: Ooooh yeah true

Me: OH I FOUND IT

The 2nd image

And this is exactly why I HC'ed that he'd get a nice real estate for him and Ene to stay in in my KuroEne AU~

F: WHERE DID BRO GET THE BUDGET FROM WHA 😨

Me: Tax evasion /jk

Ok I'm kidding he probably has ways to convince/manipulate people

F: I know humans are dumb, but this guy took it to another level

KuroEne Meme

F: A very normal unedited panel (trust me)

Me: I'M SCREAMING

Me: Someone should definitely ask him this in my KuroEne AU 😭😂

F: Go for Mary wwww

Me: Mary or Shintaro asking him this would honestly be funny LOL

F: He'd be frightened about them knowing it too

Me: I think in my AU, he'd certainly be a bit surprised/caught off guard by others knowing and/or catching onto their relationship, but doesn't mind. For most Routes, he goes along with Ene's wishes to keep their relationship a secret.

It's so funny to think about the perspective of an outsider (another MekaDan member) on their relationship. Plans of trying to rewind the world and whatever those two (KuroEne) are doing

F:

"You're going to fuck her again, aren't you?" (Mary to Saeru)

"You're going to fuck him again, aren't you?" (Shintaro to Ene)

I've cracked the code 🔥

Me: LMAO

Shintaro: GOD, ENE!!! Don't make me witness your "games" with that guy!!!

F: Like yes he wants to rewind the world so he can keep living forever, but he also wants a gf :3

F: His jaw would drop so hard it de-attaches 😭

Me: Right cuz by causing the time loops he can live forever AND be with his lover for eternity ^^ It's a win-win for him

It'd be so embarrassing for him (Shintaro) like he never imagined the selfish cheeky Ene would get all flustered and embarrassed around that guy. Added with their relationship.

F: This trade is unfair man, Ene's friends gotta die and she can't continue to the future

Me: Yeah… he actively robs everyone of a future in order to serve his own selfish interests, and he knows it.

...

Me: It's so funny to think about how any MekaDan member who finds out about their r/s would be in disbelief.

Though some others would take it better.

Meanwhile Shintaro feels like a roof dropped on him

F: Momo is just supportive, not concerned about Saeru's background 😭

Me: Yeahh others like Seto and Momo are confused

And others would be confused but supportive

F: While Mary is all "😭😭???"

Ene with that "I can fix him" mindset is so funny

Me:

Kuroha: You can't fix me, but I can make you worse :)

I'll make you just like me -> I'll dye you in my colour

F: OH They both got worse indeed

Too freaky

Me: Let's just say that Kuroha seducing/enticing Ene and generally encouraging her to let go of her inhibitions/restraints causes them to indulge in their pleasures together.

While they play the game together, Kuroha decides to play nice… for now.

He knows he's just deciding to act tamer and finding something to entertain himself with (someone to play the game with) before he moves forward with his real plans.

Me: But yeah I do think a few members like Shintaro are kinda suspicious of Saeru's background.

Someone suddenly came and announced that they could make an android body for Ene, free of charge? Something doesn't feel right. He seems up to something...

Like Shintaro mostly dismisses it, but when he really starts thinking about it… It's too suspicious.

F: And Saeru's the only one who's good at keeping Ene under control as if he's playing with her mind

F: Ene has no filter around people unless she develops attachment towards them (kinnie moment-)

Me: YEAH cuz at first Shintaro's parading with Saeru's existence like "Wahoo! There's someone who can finally tease Ene and keep that pesky virus under control! Payback! I KNEW that life would finally reward me with good things eventually!!!"

Me: It's honestly funny to imagine Shintaro accidentally walking in on glimpses of their intimacy (them kissing) and finding out that they're romantically involved. And then, when he really starts thinking about it... Saeru's whole deal seems suspicious.

F: Also he has no degree in engineering but can build a whole android body??? FOR FREE?? Actually he is the degree he doesn't need one, does he?

Me: With his accumulation of knowledge, yeah

Me: Yeahhh it'd be fun if Shintaro confronts Saeru alone about how suspicious he seems. He came out of nowhere and suddenly insists that he made a body for her.

(Well… technically the entire MekaDan did but they feel more earnest and genuine)

He tells Saeru that he doesn't know what's in it for him and that it's not his business, but he's worried for her (Ene) as a friend

Tho Saeru probably knows how to counter Shintaro's answers just due to his knowledge. Shintaro still feels suspicious but lets it slide for now

Me: Same with me omg I mildly relate to Takane/Ene in a lot of aspects

This is apart of what makes her a very important and personal character to me

F: So Kuroha yapping is real, got it

F: Seeing her in MCA is like looking at a mirror for me omfg 😭

…

Me: He seems talkative/chatty when he wants to be

Me: I relate to Takane/Ene sm…

F: What if Shintaro questions Ene instead 🤔

Me: OH yeah Shintaro probably tries asking Ene first cuz Kuroha is honestly… unnerving/intimidating ngl

F: I mean, just look at him

I'D RUN BRO, THE DAN WAS STRONG FOR THIS

Or is Shintaro mad he can't pull and Ene manage to pull a random ass emo guy that looks like her crush's game avatar under a day?

Me: (KagePro Manga: Ch. 9)

(KagePro Manga: Ch. 17)

But Ene obviously doesn't want to tell him about their r/s and goes like "Don't pry into a girl's secrets!!!"

Ene gets embarrassed when Shintaro asks her about her r/s with him. Ene just tells him that he is a mysterious stranger that came and proposed that he could give her a body after hearing about her current predicament of being trapped inside the cyber world.

MekaDan members are just so compassionate as well

Shintaro: What's your deal with that guy!? Well, look, look, I know it's not my business, but—!

Shintaro: See! That sounds even more suspicious when you put it like that! I mean—! What kind of guy would do this all for free!? You can't tell me he's doing all this out of the GOODNESS of his heart!

Ene doesn't tell Shintaro that he (Kuroha) resembles Konoha.

Because she wants to keep her past to himself and avoid reminding him (Shintaro) of the past)

Though I think Shintaro eventually does put two and two together that he looks like Haruka.

And that eventual realization hits him like a brick

Shintaro: What if you get into trouble and something happens? That guy just looks like he's up to no good!

Ene: Awww~ Is Master worried about me?

Shintaro: Not!!! (-> He totally is)

Ene: But don't worry! He's been really nice to me! He always does what I ask~ Whenever I want something, he always finds a way to give it to me! Ene: He takes me places to go and sightsee, like the Amusement Park~ He gives me gifts, such as new clothes to wear~ Video games~ Unlike a certain someone who just stays cooped up in his room all day~

Shintaro: Heyyy! 💢

Shintaro: But isn't that suspicious?

Shintaro: (Why the sudden favouritism, though? He has a thing for her and wants to impress her, or something?)

Ene: I think you're just being a worryart, Master~

Me: Saeru fulfills his purpose as the "being that fulfills wishes" to an extent... He grants Ene's wishes and desires and pleasures.

But never completely grants his owner's wish

Ene isn't his owner tho so he can play along with her whims to appease her

...

F: Shintaro forgot genuinely nice people exists probably, but the fact that they're talking about Saeru in this context, he has the right to be suspicious

Me: Yeahhh like at this point I think Shintaro is still knee deep into his pessimism/cynicism, but slowly opening up cuz of the MekaDan

But with Saeru's context, showing up one day and building her a body? He finds it hard to believe. The situation is SO surreal to him.

F: Both Ene and Saeru are countering his arguments as much as possible lmao

Me: God Ik Shintaro gets super cowardly but he has some serious balls when he wants to 😭

Like when Kuroha goes on his killing spree at the end of Manga Route 1 (and starts killing everyone in the Mekakushi Dan after their Amusement Park trip).

Shintaro tries to shield Momo, his younger sister, from Kuroha when he points the gun at her and runs in front of her.

The adrenaline rushes in for him to protect a sibling/family member with his life

F: Bro hides his potential for plot duh

Me: OH yeah true

Me: And so, Shintaro realizes he has to confront Kuroha himself after he realized he's not getting any answers from Ene…

Shintaro: (Great...... Worst option. Ene wouldn't tell me anything when I tried asking, so now it looks like the only option is to ask HIM... He's frigging scary, though!)

F: And Saeru using reverse psychology on him 😭

Me:

Shintaro: (God, this is the worst kind of situation...! I mean, what am I doing? I know it's not my business, but… What the hell is this?)

Shintaro: (I mean, no matter how you look at it, it's just strange… He managed to accomplish something like transferring someone's consciousness to a robot...)

Shintaro: (How he'd manage to develop tech more advanced than this world's greatest scientists? It can't just be because he's some prodigy from a wealthy family or whatever. It doesn't make sense. And all for free? And I can't help but feel worried for her, too. What if she gets into trouble because of him?)

F:

Shintaro: What are you up to, huh??? Why would you suddenly create a fully functioning Android Body specifically for her? You're not gonna hurt her, are you?

Kuroha: Are you projecting right now?

F: Reminding back the trauma of losing his friends just because he doesn't keep an eye on them for 1 sec…

Me: ;__;

Me: Also knowing Saeru, he can definitely spin up some lies to get away with it. He's good at twisting words. He knows what to say.

Me: OOO yeah I definitely imagine they'd say something like this

…

F: The fact that your canon-verse KuroEne AU reminds me of RuiNene (ProSeka)

(Genius mfs inventing shit that benefits their gfs)

Me: Reminds me my friend Aya was like "Him and his autistic wife" 💜💚

F: They're both autistic actually, Sega told me-

Me:

I imagined a scenario like this

Shintaro: (Shintaro approaches Kuroha from behind and places a hand on his shoulder.)

Shintaro: Hey, hold it...!

Kuroha: (Kuroha raises an eyebrow with an amused smirk on his face when he turns around to face him.)

Kuroha: Hm? Oh, Shintaro? What is it?

Shintaro: I need to talk to you. In private.

Kuroha: Well? What did you want to talk to me about?

Shintaro: Ene said that you showed up one day and told her you could make a body for her. And all for free? It doesn't make sense! What's in it for you? You can't say you're doing this out of the KINDNESS of your heart.

Shintaro: Sometimes you guys disappear for days on end, too!

Shintaro: …Look. I don't trust you.

Kuroha: Oh? Are you really that suspicious of me?

Me: Shintaro's comment of "Sometimes you guys disappear for days on end" is in reference to Kuroha taking Ene to visit his real estates for them to be together during their trysts (games of intimacy)

F: And then he went on yapping about how much he banged Shin's digital malware, peak plot

Me: LMFAO 😭😂

Oh yeah I imagine that in Routes where Kuroha joins the Mekakushi Dan in Konoha's place, he knows that certain members will be more on guard around him than others

Thankfully he's good at talking his way around things (and he can see through Kano's Deceiving Eyes too)

F: Tbh, since he can easily manipulate Mary into resetting the time

Maybe he would play around like this

Me: Oooh yeah true

Like he's interested to see how much he can mess around (even when the others start to catch onto him).

He probably just thinks "You all can't stop me anyways"

Me: Mary would be confused but supportive. She's got the spirit. She'd still be like ❓

F: 8 (since Konoha is used as a vessel) red eyed teens vs. A snake demon with a glock

Me: WDSHHDSHDSH

This is going to end badly.

F: Does she not have any suspicion about him being Clearing Eyes orrrr-

…

Me: It seems like everyone is unaware of the Clearing Snake's existence before the start of the present day plot except for Kano (and Ayano, who is in the Daze in most Routes) in the present plot

Me: But yeah I wonder if Mary or any others would start to catch onto him. Cuz technically Kuroha can fool the others by saying he's Awakening Eyes…

He can use Konoha's Eye Ability, Awakening Eyes, and his eyes turn red when he uses it

F: True and everyone thought that he might have another someone that got sucked into the Kagerou Daze and he was the one who got out alive

I feel like Shintaro will most likely find out

He's got the highest suspicion for him

Me: Yeah I think Shintaro is one of the members most likely to catch onto Saeru first. Plus he's worried about Ene for the sake of a friend

Shintaro's technically clever and was considered an academic prodigy. He always aced tests due to his photographic memory Iirc

F: I FORGOT HE'S A GENIUS

Me: When Shintaro asks Ene, she just tells him she's decided not to delve too much into Kuroha'sbackground/past

Shintaro: But don't you find it suspicious? He just showed up one day and said he could do this for you. Something doesn't feel right...

F: Academically tho I don't think he can read people well

Me: It's cuz he's usually so pathetic /endearing

Oh yeah Shintaro has booksmarts he's not good at reading people emotionally

And obviously Shintaro is one of the only members aside from Ene to realize that he looks like Haruka

Like the realization probably hits him way later on

F:

Ene: But look! I can change my clothes now!

F: He was trying to forget Haruka too… Are you trying to re-torture this guy but with a KuroEne love/hate-sex twist onto it???

Me:

Ene: I'm not just stuck in your computer or phone anymore! I see it as a win! (⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡)

Me: HELPPPP

Oh god yeah I just realized the KuroEne AU routes where Kuroha joins the Mekakushi Dan ends up putting Shintaro through the wringer emotionally

Imagine having to deal with worrying over a friend and having to keep an eye on a guy you're really suspicious of cuz you don't know what he's really up to (and what his true intentions are)

F: I feel like making him notice that Ene looks like Takane and then realizing that she IS Takane

And witnessing her GETTING FUCKED BEFORE HE DOES is uh Idk cool plot but poor guy

Me: Yeah like he'd eventually put two and two together. And then it explains her infatuation with the Haruka lookalike guy (Kuroha)

F: You're making him relapse wow 😭😭😭

Me: Honestly sad for him cuz Ene wanted to avoid reminding him of the past but Kuroha's actions end up doing it anyways

F: So do I say fuck you, Author, or fuck you, Saeru???

Me: Didn't realize how much emotional baggage Shintaro would go through with this but it's interesting to think about from a writing standpoint

One of the things that Micchan pointed out to me is that apparently Haruka can see and hear whatever Konoha's body feels.

So when Black Konoha (Kuroha/Saeru) fucks Ene… Yeah.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT EITHER UNTIL SHE POINTED IT OUT TO ME

F: It does make it interesting from Shintaro's perspective but my man just wanna stay inside

F: SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT

SHIT.

Me: Kuroha's actions end up causing everyone the worst kind of slow eating heartbreak oh my god

F: WELL UH…

That was awkward 😨

M: Holy shit I’m loving that AU this is so angst fuel ⚰️🔥 I’m so sorry Haruka who’s in the Kagerou Daze watching all this unfold SHDJGHKAJSRGD

Me: MICCHAN WHDSHSDH

Me: Oh yeah KagePro LN 6 -over the dimension- canonized that Haruka can see and hear what Konoha's body experiences. So…

F: Haru and Shin are a victim here bro

Me: YEAH I'M MOSTLY JUST GONNA… LOOK AWAY FROM THAT LITTLE TIDBIT

F: ALSO CAN'T AYANO SEE TROUGH SHINTARO'S VISION??? CMIIW

Me: HELPPPPPPPPPPP

F: 4 VICTIMS IF WE INCLUDE MARY WTF

For Ayano though, it depends if this Route takes place after Manga Route 2 (MR2) cuz that's when Shintaro gains an Eye Ability (Ayano as the Snake of Retaining Eyes)

So yeah Ayano is included as one of the people exposed to learning about KuroEne's intimacy if it's post-MR2 AND if Shintaro learns about it.

Cuz Iirc Ayano visits Haruka in the Kagerou Daze and can see what Shintaro sees

Me: I'm just imagining before KuroEne get intimate with each other again...

If Kuroha's truly fucking evil, he can make a side comment like, "We have an audience here, don't we?" In reference to Haruka and Konoha being forced to be spectators to his actions.

And Ene would just be confused by his one off comment like "But there's no one here in this room?"

And he just grins to himself and goes like "…It's nothing" (^-^)

Technically all of the MekaDan members are victims but some especially get put through the wringer

F: Bro's gonna make Mary commit mass murder just to reset the timeline so she didn't have to witness this

Me: Ngl 5 victims if we include Haruka and Konoha. Aren't they basically forced to just be a spectator to Kuroha's actions (including killing everyone, and KuroEne's intimacy)

Cuz Kuroha suppresses Konoha's consciousness while he possesses him but he's not fully gone

Technically, all of the MekaDan members are victims, but some ESPECIALLY get put through the wringer in this.

F: Oh shit an accidental threesome-

Me: YEAH THIS WAS ME WHEN I REALIZED THAT HARUKA (AND PROBABLY KONOHA) WOULD SEE KUROENE'S GAMES... THAT THE "PLAY" TOGETHER...

F: I'm taking off my glasses

That's enough of seeing privilege

Me: I just mainly thought about and focused on the two of them (KuroEne) but then I realized the routes where Kuroha joins the MekaDan ends up causing the others sm pain

F: Positive thinking

He cooks for the Dan, does the laundry for the Dan, takes Ene to the amusement part, cuddles with Ene at night

AND THEN HE KILLS THEM

He did enough nice things ✌️

Me: LMAO

Oh yeah he'd be great at doing the Dan's household chores

And he'd take Ene to the Amusement Park and Ene would come back holding plushies and stuff ^^

F: The only way to gain trust around here tbh

Me: One thing I thought about is that when Shintaro starts to catch onto Kuroha by sifting info, he starts to look into his background and sees how abnormal it is that this guy has money and real estates under his name

When Shintaro confronts Kuroha about this he just tells him (lies) that he gained the inheritance from his wealthy family

F: Pssst… check his taxes

Me: Also another factor that plays into this is that Ene is honestly… gullible and easily trusting. So she wants to believe in Saeru

F: Wait what if Shin asks for his last name, to y'know

Find his possible relatives on Facebook?

Me: OOOOH. I still think Kuroha can still lie his way outta this just fine but Shintaro's probably still suspicious of him (in his mind)

Cuz I imagine Saeru generally secludes himself

F: Ene's mind is all like "Damn, you changed a lot Haruka, what phase did you go through, holy shit"

Me: YEAH I think Ene knows he's different from Haruka but still feels a certain fondness for him

In this Route it means that he would've gained access to resources and amassed money and power through Kenjirou, and when Kenjirou dies after he leaves the body to possess Konoha, Kuroha probably has all his resources forwarded to him

F: Tateyama Saeru, yeah that sounds real stupid

Me: YEAH I don't think of it as adoption but rather like passing it on to a successor. Saeru SHOULD be smart enough to create fake names and identities too

Oh I also just realized.

He can use Awakening Eyes to change his appearance, so he can just change into Kenjirou's appearance even after his death

He can make as many fake identities as he wants to avoid drawing suspicion

He doesn't even need to be labeled as Kenjirou's successor, but he can do whatever he wants to avoid raising suspicion

F: Fooling the government into thinking they're relatives lololololol

Me:

Shintaro: Take a look at this, Ene…

Me: Oh yeah and apparently Konoha stays at Kenjirou's home at first after Saeru ensures his creation

Me: Oh I also just realized. He can use Awakening Eyes to change his appearance so he can just change into Kenjirou's appearance even after his death

He can make as many fake identities as he wants to avoid drawing suspicion

Shintaro: Are you funneling money or something? How the hell did you get the resources to make a fully functional android body?

F: Ooohhh then… Kenjirou inviting both Hibiya and Hiyori into the city is also a setup…

F: TAX EVASION SHIN, TAX EVASION 🔥🔥🔥🔥 /HJ

F: So in Konoha's State Of The World…

Oh I get it now

The story is more complex than I thought

Me: People on the KagePro Wiki are doing god's work fr compiling all the lore

Me: Yeah it looks like Kenjirou (who's possessed by Saeru) inviting them (Hibiya and Hiyori) to the city at the start of KagePro's plot is a setup to orchestrate their deaths

[crystalelemental]

Rune Factory 5 is going to be the death of me.

I'm at the Forest of No Return at this point, and things are simultaneously going really smoothly and really badly.  On the one hand, equipment is unreasonably good.  I made a Wind Cloak, which is astonishingly low level for the stats it provides, and now we're all basically immune to damage.  Even bosses are dealing maybe a couple hundred.  I managed to forge excellent twin swords as well, which covers Alice and Hina perfectly, and a Spiked Hammer that makes Beatrice somehow even stronger than I am without an elemental affinity.  I haven't been able to upgrade Elsja's punching gloves, but we'll get to that.

Town friendship is going well, if a bit slow.  Everyone except for Ludmila is level 5 friendship, and Heinz recently had salted rainbow trout as part of his rotating stock, so I bought several to give Ludmila over the next few days to speed that process up.  My wife pushed past my progress, so I know full well another character drops in the town if I do the forest and subsequent section, ruining this progress.  I'm on hold until then.

Which means it's time for sidequests!  Part of it is building up crop levels, which is going okay.  Spinach is level 9 and Kumo has a quest for level 10, so provided my sickle can get to 10, we're in business.  I am less than optimistic, however.  The bigger issue is the other side quests, which are steadily killing me to death.

One is making a gigantic vegetable.  I don't know if Spinach isn't able to become giant, or if I'm doing something wrong, but the Gigantizer isn't working.  Priscilla tells you "when they mature," which I thought meant before fully grown, but that wasn't it.  I tried again with fully grown spinach, but that didn't work either.  So I'm kinda stumped on how to pull this off.  I guess I could try with the corn?  I legitimately don't know what to do with it.

Then there's the tree seeds.  Ryker mentioned wanting oranges, and after like three weeks of having no idea how to find oranges, I cracked and looked it up.  Turns out, there are two completely hidden locations where you can randomly find seeds for apples, oranges, grapes, and general lumber with twinkle trees.  I have found zero orange seeds.  It's been over a week.  I have so many twinkle trees and grapes, but zero oranges.  I need to find these soon, none of the trees do well in winter and Ryker wants goddamned 20 oranges, I don't think I have that kind of time.

Around all this, there's supposed to be a looming typhoon.  My wife told me hers hit in summer, and I'm bracing for that one.  I tend to skip a lot of introductory dialogue since it's repetitive, but I think I skipped Hina mentioning her mom sensing the typhoon coming in, because everyone else was also talking about a big storm...but the next day was a festival so it was super sunny and nice, and now nothing is happening, and I'm wondering if the holiday negated the typhoon and I spent over 200k on Wettable Powder for nothing.

But the grand supreme champion of frustration...is Palmo.  Upgrading shops is wildly expensive.  Not by actual cost, mind you.  In sheer money dollars, I have so much raw cash I could buy every upgrade twice over.  Not even with Seed points, although those are rarer.  With the newest badges, I can farm Seed points whenever I wish, and it's honestly not too much trouble.  No, I'm talking about lumber and stone costs.  The first upgrades were sane.  The second were pricey, but could be achieved.  3000 lumber is downright ludicrous.  Those Twinkle Trees better be packing lumber on the order of 500+ if this is to be in any way achievable.  I've heard Heinz' rotating stock can carry it, but at 500 gold per piece, we're looking at 1.5 million gold per upgrade, for something to the order of 9 million for all upgrades.  This is assuming you can even hold that much on your person in a day, given his rotating stock only opens around 3, and he closes shop at 6.  Just by volume that feels like a multi-day project.  It's outlandish.

I know a lot of this probably isn't required, and I'm reaching the point I very well may consider it optional and move on with my life.  The postgame is also in question.  I don't have any true opposition, but at present there are just too many factors hindering my general progress that I can't even think about that right now.  Between lack of oranges, lack of any substantial progress toward renovating the town, and inability to move forward on story until we get Ludmila to friendship rank 5, I'm kinda souring on the game a bit.

[cazort]

Ugh. Awful day. Six months ago my wife and I bought a washing machine and chose to buy a Speed Queen, which was much more expensive than most other brands, because it had a top-notch reputation and long warranty and we just didn't want to have to deal with breakdowns. This was a tough choice that we did not make lightly. Buying a house was a huge financial burden and my finances are now tighter than they've been in years, and the amount of money at stake matters. We were hoping to buy stability and leave us with one fewer thing to worry about during a stressful life transition.

Well a few days ago, it broke after 6 months, which is irritating enough, but the company has been hellish to deal with. They keep over-promising and under-delivering. Tuesday they said a local service company would reach out to schedule an appointment within 48 hours. Over 72 hours went by with no call. I called again today and the system said the wait time was 1 hour 6 minutes. This is literally the longest wait time I have ever had from any company. I put my number in the queue and they called me back...1 hour 50 minutes later.

The rep was barely helpful. She did not seem to understand the gravity or magnitude of the situation and spoke as if what happened to me was business-as-usual, rather than a rare, once-in-a-blue moon occurence that the company wanted to bend over backwards to fix. She tried calling the contractor and couldn't reach them. She did switch the ticket to a different contractor, who called me back later that afternoon, so now I have an appointment set up for next Thursday.

But I'm upset. I'm upset that I paid over twice the price for what I thought would be a premium product unlikely to break, and with a commitment to outstanding service, and instead I got a company that provides the longest hold times I have ever seen in my life, repeatedly makes promises it fails to deliver on, and reps that have no authority to escalate the issue or do anything to right the situation.

And I still don't know what is going to happen on Thursday. Will the contractor show up? Will they be able to fix it then and there, or will I have to wait days or weeks for a replacement part? Am I going to need to drag our laundry to the laundromat and incur additional costs doing so?

I have already filed a BBB complaint. I would like a partial rebate of the price I paid, because the value I have received is not worth what I paid for. I also am talking about my experience online.

Speed Queen has a top-tier reputation. They are a brand mainly used by laundromats, supposedly made to handle a heavy volume of use and last for many years. But the way they have treated me as a customer makes me feel like I've been cheated and would have done better buying a cheaper brand available at any box store.

I'm a reasonable person. I don't expect top-tier service if I buy a cheap, low-end product. I can even forgive mediocre service. But paying premium prices and then getting unspeakably bad service is just unconscionable to me.

If they had told me it might take a week to get contacted, I would be annoyed but it wouldn't be as bad as saying I would expect a call in a certain time frame and then have that call not come. And I might feel better if they did what most companies do, which is to at least apologize profusely and tell me they are really concerned with what is going on and escalate the situation. Like earlier this week I called my bank about something they messed up and the woman was like "Yeah you are right, the interface is actually really bad. I get why you are upset. We really need to improve that."

Like sometimes that's literally all it takes. Someone saying "Wow, we really messed up. I'm really sorry that sucks so much."

But no I didn't even get that.

And of course if this happens to me I'm gonna talk about it everywhere. So right now I am warning people about Speed Queen. They may have an amazing reputation but my experience with them so far has been awful.

[justfinishedreading]

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe Volumes 1 - 5

Oh god I’m hooked, I bought and read all 5 volumes over the course of a week! Oh where to start. I first learned about the Hades and Persephone myth a couple of years ago when it was mentioned in the TV series Harlots, a murdering aristocrat force feds pomegranates to a sex worker and calls her Persephone, they later share a genuine bond but it is ultimately doomed because… well he’s a murder. Over the years Greek mythology has come back into fashion, in particular with many YA and fantasy retellings, and the Hades and Persephone tale is one people adore, it’s the allure of a gloomy, scary king that turns out to be a softie. Before reading Lore Olympus, I had watched a show on Greek mythology, and was reading an old book I was given like a decade ago, retelling the myths for children, so I’m aware how the original myth goes in general; Hades kidnaps a young Persephone and takes her to the underworld, later she is rescued but she feels sympathy for Hades and agrees to spend half the year in the underworld and half the year above ground (she agrees but she is also forced to agree because she ate 6 pomegranate seeds and once you consume food from the underworld you must remain there. This myth explains why we have the seasons, in Autumn and Winter Persephone, the goddess of Spring is in the underworld.

When I heard about Lore Olympus it was on a YouTube video about society’s normalisation of older men with much, much longer women, and the reasons why such unbalanced, often abusive or controlling relationships are favoured by men and how the age gap portrayal in media excuses them. So not a great endorsement of Lore Olympus. I avoided getting it for a long time but still there was the allure, the promise of passion and melodrama, of gorgeous art and Greek mythology, in a seductive mix of modern and classical imagery. I picked it up in the bookshop several times, and put it back down again -the art looked promising but the layout of the book was awful. Now I’m a graphic designer so I care about these things, the comic was born as a webcomic and looking at volume 1 you could tell it wasn’t designed with a book layout in mind, the art was sparsely tossed across the pages. It was not good. So months went by and I resisted buying it. But in the end my desire for some romance with high emotion and angst won, and boy does it deliver. Within a week I’d consumed all published volumes, buying one at a time and devouring it and buying the next the following day. Happily the graphic design does get better from volume 2.

So here’s the good and the bad. The Age Difference, on one level this does not bother me because these are gods, in that old book I was reading about Greek myths I learnt that when the god Hermes was just a new born baby he escaped his cradle, stole Apollo’s cattle, sacrificed them to the gods, did some other stuff and then lied to Apollo when he came round accusing Hermes. The concept of age and knowledge and ability are not as we know them. The Greek myths were also OBSESSED with youth and beauty, so with the source material being already so problematic it isn’t a surprise that it bleeds through. However did the author NEED to make Persephone literally 19? She couldn’t just be a young women? The author went out of her way to specify that Persephone is 19, something that is so problematic that various characters and Hades himself acknowledges as being bad, he asks do you mean she’s 1919 years old? (Already a lot young than him if she were 1919 years old, him being thousands of years old) No?! Actually 19!?! I understand that the age difference is part of Lore Olympus’ appeal, the forbidden nature of it, but could her age have been left a little vague, perhaps even aged up a little? Because at the end of the day if we associate Persephone’s personality too much with her age… what happens to her and their relationship with Hades when she becomes older? Also the mention that her body will forever be that of a teenager is distasteful and sends the message that bodies older than teens are not desirable. I suppose since she is the goddess of Spring, to be forever youthful makes sense. 

On the good side, this series handles well difficult topics, it has examples of toxic relationships (not Persephone and Hades but Hades and a former lover) but shows why a person might fall into toxic behaviours, it also depicts well a case of rape and the victim blaming that follows, highlighting narcissistic personalities, and overbearing parents. The reason people love Hades and Persephone’s relationship in Lore Olympus is because they bring each other hope and joy in a world of both physical and emotional pain. 

Back to the bad, Persephone’s character is a bit of a problem, she’s the born sexy yesterday troupe, so young and naive but super overly sexualised, academically clever but clueless to the ways of the world. Of strong will… but easily led astray? Shown to struggle with prejudice but also given a lot of special treatment and privilege. That last point doesn’t bother me so much because at the end of the day the Greek gods were AWFUL people, they were forever throwing tantrums, meddling in the lives of humans, and causing havoc on a whim. The gods were the ultimate abusers of power and unpredictable moods. In that sense Lore Olympus is a good representation of the Greek gods, those guys were MESSY.

P.S Apologies that my photos have been so bad of late, my laptop died and my phone camera is really bad!

Review by Book Hamster

[dweetwise]

[Riconti] The Long Con (part 3/6)

Where Felix's play-act (or lack thereof) continues to give Ace whiplash. Rated T | 3.7k words | ao3 link [previous] [next]

Ace found the group in animated discussion amongst themselves.

Unfortunately, he couldn't quite make out the words; he'd read up on his German before the trip and could understand casual conversation well enough, but the noise in the tent was getting progressively louder as the day went on.

"Ace!" Lauren was the first to notice him, making the conversation instantly die out.

Okay. No question what they'd been talking about, then.

"Sorry about that," Ace said as he took his seat, then grinned good-naturedly. "Meg seems to think she has to keep me out of trouble instead of the other way around."

The group chuckled—even Felix, which made Ace startle a little and look at him in surprise.

"I, ähm." Felix cleared his throat, then pushed a full glass of beer in Ace's direction. "We ordered another round while you were gone."

"You mean you ordered. For four," Lauren said pointedly.

"...Yes," Felix said, still intently staring at the drink. "But if you don't want it—"

"No, no, this is great!" Ace's wide smile wasn't even fake as he grabbed the large glass. "I had no idea what type to get earlier. I trust your taste much more."

Something in Felix's shoulders seemed to loosen at that. "Oh. Good."

Reading the expectant atmosphere, Ace brought the mug up for a taste of the new beer. Meg would no doubt have yelled at him for accepting drinks from strangers, but that was mostly something Ace had drilled into her head for her safety.

The beer was…okay. Ace's choice of drink was usually wine—man, he'd kill for a chilled glass of good Chardonnay right now—but this particular brand at least went down much easier than the swill Ace had bought at first.

“Hmm.” Ace licked some beer foam from his mustache. "This is actually really good."

"I'm glad," Felix said and then—oh god, he smiled at Ace, making him somehow even more handsome. "It's my favorite. It's, ah…it's very light compared to most beers here."

"Felix doesn't like beer," Lauren attempted to stage-whisper to Ace, but because of the volume required to be heard she almost ended up shouting it.

"A disgrace to all of Deutschland," Daniel added, shaking his head.

Felix's mouth pressed into a line as he stared at the two. Ace merely barked out a delighted laugh.

"Oh thank god, then I can safely admit I'm not much for beer, either," Ace said. "I almost asked the bartender for a wine list, but I figured that wouldn't go over well."

Lauren laughed, but Felix looked curious. "Really? What's your favorite kind?"

Ace was still reeling from Felix's sudden interest in him. "I, uh, I'm kind of partial to Torrontés—call it Argentinian pride, if you will."

Ace's joke only received confused looks.

"Oh, right," Ace remembered. "I'm originally from Argentina. I moved to the states about thirty years ago."

Ace mentally winced at the slip-up. He usually pretended to be younger than he actually was, but now they'd all be able to place him at around fifty. How difficult was it to say, "My family moved to the states"?

If Felix realized that, he didn't seem bothered. In fact, he was turning to face Ace even more. "Where in Argentina?" Felix asked.

"Oh. Buenos Aires area." Felix smiled at that, so Ace added, "Have you been?"

"No, but I want to someday,'' Felix said. "Back in university, I actually did a project on sustainable low-income housing communities. I used the slums of Rio and Buenos Aires as examples and I'd like to go one day, since I read so much about them."

Something strange twisted in Ace's chest. "You wanna go…to the slums?"

"Not—not just there." Felix fidgeted. "I'm sure Argentina and Brazil are beautiful countries with many sights to offer. It would just be interesting to see the cities for myself."

"The tiny house utopia is his long-standing passion project of his," Lauren butted in. "Of course, it's impossible to implement outside of a small scale in a handful of cities, and even then the target audience wouldn't be able to afford the houses."

"That's why I'm refining the idea,'' Felix stressed, like they'd had this conversation a hundred times before. "If the infrastructure was lighter, it could balance out the cost but still support the needs of—"

"U-to-pi-a," Lauren repeated. Felix narrowed his eyes.

Ace awkwardly looked between the two as a tense silence settled over the table. He might not know anything about house building, but the idea of Felix strolling through Ace's old stomping grounds with nothing but a thousand-dollar suit and hopeless optimism was hilariously absurd.

Ah, out-of-touch rich people. Never change.

Eventually, Daniel sighed. "I thought you weren't supposed to talk about work today."

"Oh." Felix looked at Ace, seeming embarrassed. "Sorry. We must be boring you."

"No, no!" Ace said. "I'll admit I don't know the first thing about architecture. I guess I just always thought the projects were more…"

Felix’s lip quirked up in a small smirk. "Pretentious?"

Ace chuckled. "Yeah."

"Architecture is universal," Felix said. "Everyone needs a roof over their head as well as schools, hospitals and libraries. And before something can be built, someone has to design it—whether that's a famous architect or the village lumberjack is irrelevant."

Ace blinked at the impromptu speech. This was all way above his pay grade; philosophical ruminations about saving the world didn't tend to come up when you were professionally fucking people over for money in order to scrape by.

"I've never thought about it that way before," Ace admitted.

That seemed to have been the right thing to say, because Felix smiled again and they all sipped their drinks in comfortable silence. The atmosphere was notably different from before—Ace still struggled to believe Felix had said so many words in one go—and Ace idly wondered if his lucky charm had actually worked.

"So…" Felix finally said. "You're a father?"

Oh. That was what had brought on the sudden change of heart? Seeing Meg walk up and sass her fake dad?

Admittedly, Ace had never played the "devoted single father" role to get closer to a target before, but he could work that angle.

"Yeah." Ace chuckled. "Though Meg's at that age where she'd rather be anywhere but seen with her old man."

Felix smiled brightly and Ace's face suddenly felt a little warm.

"And her mother?" Lauren asked. "Is she here?"

She winked at Felix in a way that was probably supposed to be sneaky but was anything but.

Felix sputtered, then hissed, "Stop that!" in German.

Lauren merely smirked, but Ace's confidence rose about tenfold. Felix’s best friend trying to set him up with a man was a very good sign in Ace’s favor.

"Oh, no." Ace laughed politely. "It's just me and Meg—has been for a while. Even if she's an adult, it's just…difficult for some people to understand that the kid always comes first."

Felix was eagerly leaning closer and Lauren was practically vibrating in her seat from excitement. Wow, they were really eating this shit up, huh?

"You guys have kids?" Ace asked, looking between Lauren and Daniel.

"I do," Felix said.

Ace physically recoiled in surprise. "Really?" he asked, the confusion in his voice entirely genuine. "You do?"

"Yes, a daughter." Felix smiled warmly. "She's six. Her name is Klara."

Ace struggled to picture this man as a doting father. He'd been so cold and disinterested, but now he was smiling softly and Ace could practically hear the fondness for his daughter in his voice.

"That's…that's great," Ace said dumbly. 

It definitely was not; now Ace had to figure out if he'd been hitting on a married family man the entire time and Lauren was just fucking around. Had Ace missed a wedding ring? Dammit, he really didn't want a repeat of the shotgun incident.

Ace forced a chuckle. "Guess we have more in common than I thought."

"I suppose we do," Felix said.

There was a beat of silence where Felix kept smiling at Ace and Ace awkwardly grinned back, silently wondering if Felix was excited about a new dad friend or thinking about how to get into Ace's pants.

And then Lauren smacked her hands flat on the table and Felix startled and jumped in his seat.

"Well, I'm going for a cigarette!" Lauren loudly announced, moving to stand up.

Daniel frowned. "Since when do you sm—"

"And you're coming with me for company!" Lauren said, looking meaningfully at her husband.

"Ähm…should we move to another tent to wait?" Felix asked.

"No, no!" Lauren hurried to add. "We'll be right back. You two stay and brag about your daughters like proud single fathers."

Before anyone got a word in, Lauren was dragging her husband off.

Ace tried not to smirk as she watched them leave. That had been as subtle as a freight train, but at least now Ace knew that there was no wife-slash-husband waiting for Felix at home with a firearm in hand.

"So," Ace said, "you wanna start the bragging, or should I?"

Felix chuckled, seeming to relax again. "That's a risky offer. I've heard that once I start talking about Klara, I never stop."

"Well, fortunately, I'm stuck here for at least six more hours because of a concert my kiddo wants to see," Ace said, propping an elbow on the table and resting his head in his hand like he was in no rush to leave. "Do your worst."

"Alright." Felix was silent for a few seconds, then smiled. "Last year, Klara actually won an art contest in the local newspaper."

"Ah, an artist!" Ace exclaimed happily. "What did she draw?"

"She drew our house, and…" Felix paused. "Actually, I still have pictures on my phone, if you want to…?"

Ace grinned. "Bring it on."

═════════════ ♤ ═════════════

Felix really wasn't kidding about having a lot to say about his daughter. Over the next half hour, Ace saw what was probably a hundred photos of Klara; and sure, the kid was cute enough, but this was a little excessive. 

Still, this was the most effective way to get close to Felix, so Ace played along: even asking questions and "aww"ing at the right places.

He also pretended not to be upset by the realization that he didn't have any pictures of Meg. Had it really been four years without them taking even one single ugly selfie together?

Most of Felix's photos were taken in the same expensive-looking living room, or a large garden with a koi pond—seriously, who the hell owned a koi pond!?—or with a backdrop or what looked like a goddamn mansion, and it quickly became apparent that Felix's house was even more fancy than Ace initially thought.

And probably ripe with more luxury watches and expensive knick-knacks for easy pickings, if only he could get inside it.

But that might be too greedy. Yes, Felix seemed to like Ace on some level, but inviting him home was a big step from sharing a beer and bonding over their kids.

"Oh," Felix said, abruptly glancing at his super-watch. "I've been talking for nearly half an hour." He looked up at Ace, eyes widening in realization. "I'm so sorry—"

"Hey, no!" Ace held up his hands in surrender. "I was the one who asked, and you even warned me beforehand. This is fun, keep going."

"I, ähm." Felix paused to drink some of his neglected beer. "I'd like to hear about you and Meg, as well."

"My turn to talk, huh?" Ace said. "I can do that."

Now, Ace didn't know that much about Meg's life before he met her, but it was easy enough to make up fake accomplishments. Getting A's in gym class ever since first grade; winning a few spelling bees; kicking Ace's ass at poker as soon as he taught her the rules; being captain of the track team in high school…

And Felix was eating it all up. The more Ace humble-bragged about his fake daughter's fake achievements, the more Felix relaxed and leaned further into Ace's personal space.

"She could probably get a sports scholarship to almost any college," Ace lied. "But I don’t wanna pressure her into it if she wants to do something else instead."

"That’s a good mindset," Felix said. "She’s lucky to have a parent like you."

Ace took a strategically timed sip of beer to hide his almost-snort. Yeah, Ace was dad of the year material, all right.

Unfortunately, he was also starting to run out of things to tell about Meg that didn't involve hundreds of petty crimes. Ace glanced at the still-empty seats across the table and decided that since there was a natural lull in the conversation, he might as well bring up the elephant in the room.

"Well, that is officially the longest smoke break I've seen," Ace said, gesturing at Lauren and Daniel's seats.

“Yes, um…” Felix fidgeted. "Maybe I should call Lauren?”

Crap; that was apparently a bad move.

"I mean, it's not like they don't know where to find us," Ace hurried to add. "If I still smoked, we could join them, but alas."

Felix perked up at that. "You quit?"

"Yeah, a few years ago." Ace shot Felix a lopsided grin. "Feels a little hypocritical to lecture your rebellious teenage daughter about the dangers of smoking if you're going through two packs a week."

Felix smiled softly. "That's a very mature way to think about it."

Okay, crisis successfully averted. This was almost too easy, as Felix still seemed extremely attracted to anything that involved Ace doing dad things.

Time to pull out the big guns.

Ace smiled ruefully and slid his thumb over his beer glass. "And after what happened to her mother, smoking in front of Meg felt a little… I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear about that."

Felix looked interested and Ace spared a brief thought to recognize how messed up it was to use a dead woman's memory to manipulate a target.

But it wasn't like Ace hadn't already earned an express ticket to hell with the life that he'd led. He might as well embrace it.

And thus, Ace told the sob story about Meg's mother slowly losing the battle against cancer. For once, he didn't even have to color the events: just the truth was enough to tug at anyone's heartstrings.

"That's terrible," Felix said once Ace was done. His whole face was downcast, eyes swimming with sympathy. "I can't even imagine how it felt to lose a wife and mother who was so young."

Oh. Ace hadn't exactly planned to appear as a widower, but if it was working…

"I came out okay, I think—all things considered." Ace half-smiled. "I was more worried about Meg. She just…her entire world practically collapsed."

Ace's mind flashed back to seventeen-year old Meg, scrawny and scared and completely alone. He had to swallow a sudden lump in his throat; it looked like he wouldn't even have to bring out the crocodile tears for this one.

"I just…tried to be enough," Ace said, his mouth moving before he even registered what he was saying. "I know I can never replace her mom, but I can at least be there for her. Because I'm all she has left."

Ace bit his lip to shut himself up, something in his chest squeezing unpleasantly. He had to remember that Felix wanted the fake sob story of Ace being an amazing dad, not the ugly truth about crimes and homelessness and having no fucking clue how to take care of Meg or anyone who wasn't himself.

"And that's why we're here!" Ace said with fake cheer. "Meg's always wanted to go to Europe, she's old enough to drink now, and she used to listen to Kate Denson's music with her mom. This festival just seemed like the perfect fit."

"I'm sure she loves it," Felix said with way more earnesty than Ace's bullshit deserved. "It's nice that you're doing this for her. You're a good father."

Ace's face heated and something unfamiliar fluttered in his gut. It wasn't like he was a stranger to compliments, and it usually took a lot more than this to genuinely fluster him.

Maybe it was different to be praised for something he'd actually put a lot of effort into.

"Anyway, I didn't mean to bring down the mood with me and Meg's sad backstory." Ace grinned. "What about Klara's mom? Is she not in the picture either? And, god, please say your story is less depressing than mine."

Felix chuckled politely. "Ah, no, nothing that dramatic. We merely separated—almost five years ago, now." He winced, as if remembering something. "It turns out that having a child together is not the way to fix a failing relationship."

"Oof," Ace said in sympathy.

"We're on good terms now," Felix hurried to add. "I have Klara every other weekend. Which is…I would like to have her more often, but I work long hours. She shouldn't be alone while waiting for me to come home."

“Sounds like you’re alone without her, though,” Ace said.

Felix glanced at Ace with something akin to surprise. Then he looked down at the table, his posture slumping.

“It’s…not easy,” Felix carefully said. “To come home to a dark, empty house instead of Klara’s laughter. Every moment I’m apart from her feels like an ache deep in my soul.”

Ace felt a pang in his chest: a part of his shriveled, black heart somehow understanding the hurt Felix was going through. He might not ever have had young kids but the thought of starting a family, to love your daughter more than anything else in the world and only being able to see her a few days every month…it made him feel bad for Felix.

Ace shook the absurd thought from his head. Boo-hoo, poor rich boy, earning his millions at the cost of time with his daughter. Pull it together, Visconti.

“Sorry.” Felix grimaced. “That was pretty depressing after all.”

“Hey, I'm the one who asked,” Ace said, playfully bumping Felix's arm with his elbow. “And, technically, talking about how much you miss your daughter probably counts as bragging about her. So you're completely on topic, if you wanted to keep going.”

"No, that's alright," Felix said. "I think I've talked enough about Klara for one day."

"Alright, I'll ask again after a few more beers and you can gush some more." Ace winked, and to his delight, Felix's face pinked but he kept smiling. Ace tilted his nearly-empty glass at Felix. "Another round? My treat, but you'll have to place the order if you want anything that tastes halfway decent."

Felix's lip twitched up. "I think I can manage that."

Felix flagged down a lederhosen-clad waiter and ordered something Ace didn't even pretend to recognize the name of. Their beers arrived in record speed and Ace only died a little inside while waiting to see if his credit card would go through.

The payment, thankfully, went without a hitch, though Ace knew the balance on his card was fast approaching zero. It was pretty discouraging to realize that after several hours in a prime pickpocketing location, his net earnings amounted to a negative thirty-something euros.

But it would be worth it in the end. With a couple of Felix's watches or diamond cufflinks or whatever, maybe he and Meg could see more of the world without worrying about affording their next meal.

"Thank you for the beer," Felix politely said once the waiter left.

"Oh, no problem!" Ace said cheerfully, renewed with motivation. "It's only fair after you bought the previous round."

"But you don't even know if you'll like it."

"Well, only one way to find out." Ace raised his glass to Felix's. "Cheers—or what did Lauren say earlier? Prost?" Ace asked, deliberately pronouncing the word wrong.

Felix smiled. "Yes."

"Then, Prost!" Ace exclaimed, Felix following suit.

They drank some of their beers in silence. Ace barely tasted any difference to the previous drink, but at least this one was still cold, and that already made it better.

"This is really good too," Ace lied.

Felix side-eyed him with a conspiratorial little smirk. "For a beer, you mean?"

Ace huffed a surprised chuckle. "Damn, you see right through me."

Felix's smile widened before he went back to his drink. Ace did the same, figuring he might as well try to down most of it before it went room-temperature and gross again.

"About what you said earlier…." Felix suddenly spoke up. "I know what it's like. To doubt your skills as a parent."

Well, it looked like Felix wasn't done with their little heart-to-heart yet.

"Really?" Ace said. "Your kid was smiling in every single photo. I think she'd disagree with that."

Felix seemed to relax at that. "Maybe so. And, actually, she did make me…hold on, I'll show you."

Felix reached into his pocket and, with some difficulty since his pants were so tight (damn, Ace really had to sneak a peek of his ass in those pants at some point), fished out his keys and some sort of fluffy keychain hanging from them.

"Klara made this for me on her first day of kindergarten," Felix said, dangling the item between them.

The keychain was made of felt and had probably been a rectangle at some point, but now had pieces of fluff sticking up every which way. The main body of the item was a questionable shade of brown, with smaller bits of red and purple yarn randomly worked into it.

It was absolutely hideous.

"I was so worried she wouldn't fit in," Felix said, "and then she had the time of her life and even made me this." He fondly cradled the keychain in his palm, but it mostly looked like he was holding a piece of roadkill. "It's the first gift she ever gave me."

"That's cute," Ace said, trying very hard to sound impressed.

"I know, it’s…very ugly." Felix chuckled. "But she made it for me, and a father never forgets, hmm?"

Felix looked at Ace like they were sharing some sort of inside joke, and this probably wasn't the time to tell him that Meg's first gift to Ace had been a shoplifted new iPhone. Regardless, he'd been just as proud as Felix was now.

"Yeah," Ace agreed. "I know what you mean."

[skkpaws]

manga collection progress :3

wanted to keep record of my manga collecting progress since i’ve decided i actually want to try to collect ! rn mainly focusing on bsd but also jjk or others when i get the chance :D

Notes: bought JJK , HxH, SxF, & Soul Eater Vol. 1 soooo long ago back when I just wanted to collect the first volume of series I like so idk the date. also i tend to buy volumes out of order based on price, the cover, or the contents in the volume just fyi. dates are based on when i have the physical version, not when i order them.

Masterlist:

Bungo Stray Dogs:

Main Manga: 1-6, 15-23

WAN!: 2, 4-7

BEAST: 1-4 (COMPLETE)

Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen: 1 (ENG & JP), 2 (JP)

Gaiden Manga: 1-2 (COMPLETE)

Dead Apple Manga: 1-4 (COMPLETE)

Light Novels: 1-4, 6-8

Jujutsu Kaisen: 0-9, 11, 19

Soul Eater: 1

Soul Eater The Perfect Edition: 1

Spy x Family: 1

Hunter x Hunter: 1

Chainsaw Man: 6

Banana Fish: 1-2

The Girl from the Other Side: 1-2

The Girl from the Other Side Deluxe Edition: 1

Sakamoto Days: 1-2, 4-6, 8

The Case Study of Vanitas: 1, 1-9 (extra vol. 1)

Gokurakugai: 1-2

Given: 1-3

Timeline:

10/14

BSD Light Novel 1 (Dazai’s Entrance Exam) yes i did buy it thinking it was manga volume 1

12/12

BSD Vol. 21 & 23

JJK Vol. 4 & 7

12/13

BSD Dazai, Chuuya, Age 15 Manga Vol. 1

12/16

BSD Vol. 1

BSD Wan Vol. 6

JJK Vol. 0

12/25 (Christmas Gifts)

BSD Beast Vol. 1-4

BSD Light Novel 2 (The Dark Era)

BSD Dazai, Chuuya, Age 15 Manga Vol. 1 & 2 (Japanese Version)

1/7

JJK Vol. 3

BSD Vol. 22

1/13

BSD WAN! Vol. 4

1/27

BSD Light Novel 8 (Stormbringer)

1/29

BSD Vol. 2-6

2/2

BSD Light Novel 7 (Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen)

2/26

BSD Light Novel 3 (The Untold Origins of the Detective Agency)

BSD Light Novel 4 (55 Minutes)

BSD Gaiden: Ayatsuji Yukito VS. Kyōgoku Natsuhiko

3/2

JJK Vol. 9

BSD Dead Apple Manga Vol. 3

BSD WAN! Vol. 2

Banana Fish Vol. 2

Chainsaw Man Vol. 6

The Girl from the Other Side Vol. 1

3/18

BSD Vol. 20

BSD Gaiden: Ayatsuji Yukito VS. Kyōgoku Natsuhiko

JJK Vol. 2

Sakamoto Days Vol. 5-6

The Girl from the Other Side Vol. 2

3/28

JJK Vol. 19

The Caae Study of Vanitas Vol. 1

4/12

BSD Light Novel 6 (Beast)

4/16

Gokurakugai Vol. 1

4/18

Banana Fish Vol. 1

BSD WAN! Vol. 7

BSD Dead Apple Manga Vol. 2

JJK Vol. 8 & 11

Sakamoto Days Vol. 8

Soul Eater The Perfect Edition Vol. 1

The Girl from the Other Side Deluxe Edition Vol. 1

5/11

The Case Study of Vanitas Vol. 1-8

5/15

BSD Anthology Akatsuki, Kanade, Hana, Rin (JP)

BSD Bones Art Book 1 & 2

BSD Vol. 15, 17, 19

5/16

BSD Vol. 16 & 18

5/30

The Case Study of Vanitas Vol. 9

Sakamoto Days Vol. 4

JJK Vol. 6

BSD Anthology 1 Rei (ENG)

7/16

BSD Dead Apple Manga Vol. 1, 4

BSD WAN! Vol. 5

Given Vol. 3

Sakamoto Days Vol. 2

Gokurakugai Vol. 2

[sonicthedestiel]

Please donate what you can, if you can (link to gofundme)

My little baby boy Rufus has been in the ER for three four days now and the bills are going to bankrupt us.

He had complications after being neutered.

If you can’t please I am begging you please share it to people, like the damn post etc please do what you can

I’ll even give you guys the tea;

He likely would not be in hospital now had my partners cousin not been home at all, and if his mother hadn’t invited people over for a grandkid visit the day after he got home from his surgery.

The toddlers were running around screaming, one of them was being babysat by grandma and the other has lesbian parents who couldn’t bother to tell their kid to keep it down for a sick kitty more than 3 times in 6-8 hours. (That’s how long they were here for). If they had just respected that he was recovering from surgery he could be home right now.

They definitively stressed him out more than he could handle, I watched him bleed out of his penis and contract in pain over and over directly as a result of their loud obnoxious behaviors.

The screaming, the yelling over their screaming, grandma also thought it’d be a great idea to use actual hammers to crack open several of these geode things she got for them*(for herself she bought every single kit on the shelf that's over 20 kits for herself and two grandkids to do because she lost her husband two years ago and hasn’t been right since).

I haven’t even gotten into his cousin, who a few months ago got the cops to deliver a bong for her because her friends were being mean and wanted it back. People of color get shot down in the street for walking but she gets them to play delivery boy.

Ive tried so hard with her, i understand having mental health issues but I am convinced she is either simply a narcissist or actually psychopathic. She has no empathy inside her. I’d think she was autistic if she didn’t bully me for having sensory processing disorder every single day. Only when she’s being watched by his mom does she pretend to have it. Absolutely could be a masking thing but i digress. As soon as his mother is gone, she acts like a school yard bully. She said I "need to get a life” while company was over and everyone laughed. All because I asked them to “please be mindful of their volume levels for Rufus. He needs time to recover from surgery”

point is this could’ve been avoided had they had an ounce of decency in them. We need to get away from these people but we also need to pay for Rufus to get the treatment he needs to live.

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

For the book ask - 18, 33, 36 (yes I'm gonna make you total all the book purchases no you don't have to include gifted books 🤣)

thanks for the ask, referencing this post, even though you are ABSOLUTELY Coming For Me With A Knife, Here:

18. Least favourite books of the year 

unfortunately i nerfed myself by not lowball rating ANYthing, this year. on the one hand, that’s good, because it means i didn’t read anything TOO shitty, but on the other hand: yikes what didn’t i like lol.

i was most disappointed in A MASTER OF DJINN, because i love love love his shorter work, and his first Novel Length Thing didn’t quite deliver for me :/ the worldbuilding in that was still cool, though, so i think Least Favorite has to go to HE MELE A HILO: A HILO SONG by Ryka Aoki (yes, that same Aoki, of LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS), because it was Very Disjointed, Very Many POV, and Very Episodic. and i know it’s bad when i think something is too episodic...i was ensaddened by that, too, because the premise seemed very cool, and it also didn’t deliver for me.

33. Did you DNF anything? 

i did not!! unless you count the AFRICA: A BIOGRAPHY book that’s still languishing on my goodreads Currently Reading (i swear i’ll finish it someday, it’s just. today is Not That Day), or my ongoing HARROW reread, because i’m on page 294, currently. i am planning on remedying the HARROW DNF by tomorrow, though, so that probably doesn’t count either XD it also probably doesn’t count because i’m love harrow and the only reason my reread’s not finished yet is because of Time lol

i don’t, in general, DNF things, because even if they’re not sparking joy for me, i turn it into a Well Why? exercise and activate the writerly hat instead. i also read fast enough once i get going that it doesn’t feel like a time waste, and i thrive on a good cathartic Spite Read.

36. How many books did you buy?

oh coming for me with a KNIFE i see okay let’s go~~

criteria: books purchased this year (so i’m not counting preorders that were Delivered This Year), not gifted or as gifts (i tallied digitally-purchased gifts separately anyway, i had to, although in my defense i did do a lot more Knitting Gifts than Book Gifts this year so that number won’t be as high as it could be, and it’s mostly Bot by Volume), caveat criteria: i only actually tallied things i bought online, and i know i bought At Least Two Books IRL--two can probably be rounded up to five, but i didn’t actually enter too many bookstores and walk out with things this year because i know that’s Dangerous for my wallet.

method: i checked All The Websites i frequent for my book procuring needs. these are: 1. downbound, 2. barnes and noble, 3. bookshop, 4. prologue, and 5. HPB (also 6. brilliant books, but i didn’t buy anything from them this year). i tallied books as either purchases For Me, or Gifts.

results: look, i made a list:

prologue - 1 for me, 0 gifts

hpb - 0 for me, 1 boxed set (4 books) gift

bookshop - 3 for me, 0 gifts

b&n - 8 for me, 1 gift

downbound - 15 for me, 3 gifts

walking into physical bookstores, probably, conservatively: 5 for me, ?? gifts

bringing our grand total to: 32 for me, either 5 or 8 as gifts, depending on how you count the boxed set (all but 1 of the gift books was murderbot, btw)

that five (5) is Definitely Conservative, so probably truly i bought between 35 and 40 books this year, is my best guess, WHICH MEANS, i did, in fact, read more books than i purchased!! muahaha!! (we’re ignoring books i Was Gifted, also, because ahahaha yikes if we count those the books acquired to books consumed ratio is no longer weighted in the correct direction for knocking down my tbr)

thanks, friend, this was fun, DESPITE you coming for me with a naked blade XD !!!

[its-just-vax]

Answer 1-78 (all of em) :p

You asked for it!

1. First kiss? In a truck outside my parents house, I was 15 I think?

2. First time masturbating? Probs 14 ish, stole a playboy lol

3. First sex toy? The first one I bought was to use on someone else. But to use on myself? Just a simple stroker.

4. First kink tried? Bondage I think

5. First time doing oral? 16 on either side of it

6. First time having sex?
 17 or 18 I think

7. Biggest turn on? Hmm that's tough because I think it changes for me, currently I'm leaning toward deep eye contact and whispers in my ear.

8. Biggest turn off? Being an asshole /pressuring sex

9. Quickest way to get horny? Start a heavy Makeout

10. Weirdest thing that ever turned you on? Gentle scratching on my bald ass head.

11. Top 3 places to be touched? Neck, thighs, ears.

12. Ultimate fantasy? Spending a day in bed, watching shitty movies and just keeping a strongly horny vibe going all day. Full access to each other's bodies. Lots of hand play, mouth play, full on sex. No pressure for orgasms, just making one another feel good.

13. Do you like the idea of a three or moresome? I love both the idea and reality of a threesome. I am curious about a more than 3 but don't know who it'd be with

14. Do you send nudes? Do you like receiving them? I do in fact, though I'm trying to get better at taking lewds, for reasons. I fucking love getting any pictures! Nudes rule!

15. Sex or masturbation? See to me this is like asking do you want cake or bread? I like both things, and if I'm craving bread I don't want cake? Ya know

16. Spit or swallow? Swallow

17. Cut or uncut dicks? I guess I have a preference for what I know, so cut

18. Rough or sensual sex? Yes. Please?

19. Oldest person you’d sleep with? Idk man, anybody I vibed with that was interested!

20. Loud or quiet partners? I actually like both. It is much less about volume and more about enthusiasm. I don't care if you scream or just gasp. As long as I know you want to be there and doin things with me

21. How much foreplay do you like? Depends actually, but I'd say quite a bit

22. How much teasing do you like? A lot more than I realized tbh... Apparently something has been awoken in me

23. What is too big for you to take? I can't take too much tbh, definitely out of practice. Few fingers is usually plenty. Though I could probably work up to more.

24. Do you do hookups or only sleep with a partner? I have in fact only ever had 1 hook up, and it was literally an ex who had just dumped me, the day before. We had sex approximately once, after the break up 🤣

25. How much kissing do you like during sex? A fucking ton. All the fucking kisses.

26. What’s the most attractive part of the body? Hmmm I'm just gonna say the booty.

27. Would you have sex in public? I absolutely would

28. Last place you had sex? My bed

29. Where would you most like to have sex? I dunno that I have any place in particular. It's more about the with who than the where

30. Do you like spontaneous sex, or do you need to be in the mood? I like both. I am most often the initiater, but I absolutely love being pounced by a partner. I will also say I do very much enioy a planned encounter. Gives the opportunity to talk about it a lot and tease before hand

31. Could you go through with a hookup at a strangers house? I don't see why not

32. What’s your biggest kink? Hmm I guess creampies is probably the top seat

33. Are you okay with name calling in bed? I'd do it to a partner if they asked, but I dunno how I'd feel bout it. Im sensative!

34. Would you do any BDSM? I do quite a bit yes

35. Do you prefer to tie somebody up or be tied up? My current preference is to tie up. But I am interested in exploring being restrained

36. Do you like orgasm denial/forced orgasm? So I like to cause both if it's discussed. I like the idea of forced orgasms being done to me, but not denial

37. Do you like overstimulation? I like to cause it! Never been attempted on me

38. Do you like having pain involved? I like to inflict it! And revive it in a much more limited sense

39. Do you like biting/being bitten? Fuck yes I do

40. Have you ever been made to/made somebody beg for it? I have made someone beg. I've never been made to in person... Yet

41. Do you have any strange or extreme kinks? Can't thing of anything in my list that is particularly strange

42. Have any roleplaying preferences? Never actually done it

43. Do you own sex toys? How many? If you mean ones that can be used on me, probably like 10-15, if you mean the whole collection, like 40+

44. What do you masturbate to? Sometimes porn, sometimes spicy partner pictures (prefered), sometimes I get lucky and get to sext /mutually masturbate (favorite)

45. How often do you masturbate? Usually at least once every week or two

46. How often do you use sex toys to masturbate? Rarely, if I'm doin solo stuff I don't usually wanna bother with lube and extra clean up

47. Do you masturbate with penetration?... Sometimes

48. Do you go for multiple rounds or settle at one or no orgasms? One is usually plenty. I know I'm capable of multiple but never really figured out how to garuntee it

49. Do you enjoy giving oral? I absolutely love it.

50. Do you prefer giving or receiving oral? That's honestly tough. I think giving, but only by a little

51. What makes you orgasm the fastest when receiving oral? I honestly don't know, never had someone try to make me cum quick!

53. Can you deep throat? Never tried!

54-59 =N/A

60. How often do you do unprotected sex? I'm fixed and tested regularly, so all the time

61. How loud are you in bed? Infinitely louder the past few months than I had been before...

62. Do you enjoy having nipples played with? I don't mind it

63. Do you like/dislike cum? I like the visual of it? That's really about the extend of my interaction.... Though...

64. How good are you at dirty talk? Man idk! I'd have to ask a partner but I think I do alright

65. Do you get sleepy after an orgasm? So it's 50/50, I ethier get very mushy, or I get really wired and snacky

66. Do you trim, shave or leave pubic hair untouched? I keep it trimmed

67. How do you prefer partners pubic hair? My only preference is if you want my mouth somewhere, the hair should be managed. I apparently kinda have a pube thing now so I definitely don't need it shaved, but like oral is a little more complicated if it's a jungle down there!

68. How many orgasms can you have in a day? Idk never taken a day to try and figure that out!

69. How many other people know your bra size? Everybody! Cause I don't wear one

70. What do you wear to bed? Nothing! Or socks (gots bad circulation and my feet get icy)

71. Any funny sex stories? Hmm nothing like particularly silly. Lots of funny sounds and laughs. Though the time I got flipped and pinned like simba in the lion King is pretty funny...

72. What food if any would you use during sex? I'm kinda meh on most food during sex, cuz sticky!

73. Would you give somebody a sex toy as a gift? Absolutely. Want to go to a toy store?

74. What’s the weirdest porn you’ve ever seen? Skinamax porn where the ladies were being fucked by, I can't remember if it was a ghost or like a vampire doing magic fuckin. But it was just a lady pretending to get railed

75. Do you often get horny in public? Semi often

76. Ever used something that isn’t made for sex in the bedroom? Kitchen spoon as a paddle is the first example that comes to mind

77. Have you ever walked in on somebody or been walked in on? Not that I recall!

78. Do you have any friends you’d sleep with? Hmm probably a couple

[indigo474]

Flowers

I bought myself flowers last weekend. I will continue to by myself flowers. I bought Madison flowers today... I do not want her to be impressed by a man that buys her flowers- that's the bare minimum. I felt like crap the past 10 days or so.. in my head I think I think i think it's hormonal- it IS hormonal and I am not sure why it takes me so long to realize what is going on. The anxiety- the anxiety is horrible and what gets me. I am doing everything I can to be healthy -mind body and spirit- I am controlling what I can control- I get so frustrated. I did what any rational person would do- I added more supplements. I got my period today- exactly a month after I last had it- I feel better but for how long?

Today was the flower show- originally Marci wanted to get there at 10- we were seeing a show at 7 and I felt 10 was too early so we agreed I would get to her house at 10 to be at the flower show at 11. Somehow, in my head, I thought I was supposed to leave my house at 10, I only realized when I texted her to send he her address - when I arrived 40 minutes late, she was angry. what I heard her say was you ruined the whole day - she didn't actually say that.. she said, in a bitchy tone, that we would have to pay $100 for parking because the garages would be full and we weren't going to have enough time and she said I already pushed back the time for you. I busted out crying. I apologized .. I didn't mean to do it - it was an awkward way to start the day. i'm convinced we are all children - she sounded like a child have a temper tantrum, and I am sure I sound like a child with my crying and over apologizing. the flower show was nice and the comedy show was funny and all's well that blah blah blah. I felt like I had to defend my choice to not have a drink with dinner - a glass of wine would make you feel better - it really wouldn't make me feel better - are you sure? Just one glass - by the time we get to the show, you won't even feel it. I'm sure my body doesn't tolerate alcohol. if we were talking about any other drug, there wouldn't even be a conversation.. if I wanted a drink, I would order a drink. I don't need people telling me I should drink because THEY want to drink and have some rule where they don't drink alone

And there is MAdison who starts crying the other night telling me she doesn't want me to die. she asks me what I want for my birthday and all I really want is cake.. not a vegan cake that tastes like apple sauce or bananas - a real cake- I cant think of any thing I want that can be purchased from a store-other than a cake... the things I really want money cant buy.

I didn't have a PR this week. I wasn't feeling strong- I think its hormonal- I did volume and James tells me its a volume pr- sometimes I think he makes stuff up- is that a thing? I have no idea.. 205x5x3. he has me doing some sort of Nordic something- i hate them, almost as much as I have slit squats, almost. I'm seeing him monday- I was told I now have to work Monday 9-6- so, I'm gonna see him afterwards. i'm hoping to get in a run tomorrow.

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

                   Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 40                                                                                                  Week of October 23, 2023                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR: I submitted information to The Journal that I feel needs to be covered in its entirety over the next few issues to try to capture the love in this community that has spanned generations and families.  Over the course of the next few issues I want to share the heart of Christine Burgess. LRM 

Pat’s Cash and Carry 50th Anniversary:   Pat’s Cash and Carry began in 1973, when Christine and Perry Burgess bought the business from Eddie and Geneva Townes. Later they purchased the building and property from the landowner, the Oxford Oil Company in the 1990s.

Christine and Perry both have passed but leave behind children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to carry on the business in their place.

“Pat’s” has been a vital part in the Burgess family, where all the family came together.  Teresa, Chris, and Mark, children of Perry and Christine  congregated there with friends, helped their parents, and celebrated their own birthday parties there.  When they all married and had children of their own, again, Pat’s was a home away from home for all the grandchildren. And, today, great-grandchildren.

Town of SALEM:  Collecting for Toys for Tots through November. ****Downtown Market every Sat 8am-12pm.*** Tamassee-Salem Community Fall  Festival and Trunk or Treat on the ballfield.  October 27th 5:30pm-7:30pm.  Bring the kids out and have a wonderful time together!   

Haunted House  October 30, 31  6pm-8pm The Tamassee-Salem GYM  Admission $3 Adults 1 and up   $2 Kids 17 and under .  ENAC and the T-S Rec Department have something fun lined up for Halloween!                                                                                   

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP* 13412 N Hwy 11 Open  Wed–Sat 8am-9pm and Sunday 2pm-7pm.  Thurs: Food: El Charro lunch and supper. OLD TIME JAM at 6:30pm.  Fri:  Food:  Wing Wagon South, 5pm.  Music  Peanut Butter Whiskey, 6:30pm ( all female Americana, Rock &Roll..band)  at 6:30pm   Sat-  Food:  PaChuy 4pm    Music: Uhh  at 6:30pm and Grim Valley Ghouls to follow at 7:30pm. Gothic, Rock and Original sounds.   Sun: 2pm-7pm. Get your OYSTER ROAST Tickets for  Nov 5th! Info 864-873-0048. * Pisgah Roasters Coffee                                                                                                                      

     ASHTON RECALLS                                       by Ashton Hester            SALEM WAS ON THE MOVE 70 YEARS AGO - (Editor's note: There was a lengthy story in the June 17, 1953 Keowee Courier with the headline "Progress At Salem Going On And On." I will post the story in segments over the next few weeks. Following is the first segment). . .Chartered as a municipality only slightly more than two years ago, Salem today is experiencing civic growing pains, and its citizens are getting a kick out of watching it grow. . .One of its topmost expansion projects is the proposed straightening of the town's Main street, and Mayor Clyde Talley told the Courier Friday that highway crews only the other day had run some survey lines that must precede the actual beginning of work. . .The job is to be somewhat of a major operation since it will necessitate the moving back of several stores on one side of the thoroughfare and the moving of several houses on the other side. . .However, the Salem council is laying a firm foundation for the town's future in street building. With this accomplished, any future council will be able to lay out additional streets in squares and blocks. . .Another progressive venture is that a specially appointed committee of Salem men is hard at work right now on preliminary plans for obtaining suitable land and erecting a building for an industry, Paintset Fashions, Inc., which has indicated its strong desire to begin operation in the immediate area sometime around the first of next year. . .Paintset already has two plants in Walhalla, and they employ a goodly number of Salemites. Plans are for these employees to be shifted to the Salem plant, so that they will be working nearer their homes. . .Successful completion of this venture would mark Salem's first large-scale home industrial payroll--outside its fruitful lumber trade, of course. . .TO BE CONTINUED NEXT ISSUE  

CONSERVATION CORNER:  Text from Miz Jeannie:  “ Hey Lynne, My computer is not working this week.”  Lynne: “ OK.  Good.   I am conserving space this week due to so much news to share!”  :>)

NEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL:  We are excited to announce that Tamassee-Salem Christian Academy has plans to open its doors for the 2024-2025 school year!  Come hear all about the exciting plans in progress and see how you can be involved.  Tuesday November 14th, 6pm in the auditorium of the Eagles Nest Art Center.  We hope to see you there!  “ For those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they shall mount up as wings of eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31                                                                         

UPCOMING EVENTS! 

November 4th Tunes of the Cowboy Trail Tickets $10 day of event or on our website. $20 show&supper Hear the tunes of Cowboy Copus, Gene Autry and more by Jef Wilson.  If you want to ensure your dinner ticket it is best to reserve your evening by purchasing a ticket prior to this delightful event. We will serve dinner until show time or sell out, whichever comes first.

November 18th 7pm Oconee Mountain Opry. Tickets $10 day of event or on our website. Enjoy the beautiful tunes and voice of Fayssoux McLean  and Brandon Turner.  Fayssoux  sang vocals with Emmylou Harris for years, and they continue to collaborate as friends today.  Brandon is a brilliant talent among musicians who stays booked continually playing with multiple well-known artists. The Brown Mountain Lightening Bugs are a duo from Raleigh, NC who you will delight in their Appalachian Americana tunes.  Owen Grooms and Jennifer Linville are from Brevard, NC singing the tunes of Old Time and Mountain Bluegrass. Doors open at 6pm for treasure shopping and concessions. 

CHURCH NEWS                                                                          

Bethel Presbyterian Church(PCUSA), 580 Bethel Church Rd Walhalla, 29691, worships at 10:30 a.m. Love to sing?  Join us! Love to be in charge? Come lead us! All worshipers are welcome.                                                                                                                                        Salem Methodist Church:  Breakfast every Sunday 9am.  Sunday School 9:30am.  Worship at 10:30am                       Sunday Outreach Ministry with Adam Hopkins each  Sunday at 4pm in the Salem Methodist Fellowship Hall. 

PROPOSED CLOSING OF TAMASSEE-SALEM ELEMENTARY: The Oconee County School Board has plans to close our T-S Elementary in 2027 on the long range plan.  Anyone can call to be a speaker 864-886-4400 or sign up on your early arrival at the next meeting on Monday, November 13th  at the SDOC Board Room located 414 S Pine Street, Walhalla.

LOOKING FOR:  I’m looking for someone who has a China Berry Tree . Contact theoldsalempost@gmail.com 

JOCASSEE SANTA at Devils Fork State Park:  November 18th 12noon –3pm at the day area, Eclectic Sun.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, We see you in the glory of your beautiful creation.  Thank you for reminding us always that you are with us. Thank you that we live in America. We pray for your hand upon the decisions of our leaders.   God help our Brothers and Sisters who are being harmed by evil.  Deliver us all from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen

Enjoy the colors of Creation!    LRM