#its like how i feel after dealing with a terrible customer at work like i cant believe there are people out there that live like that

[emotargaryen]

sometimes i like to go on the blog of someone who's getting clowned on for leaving a stupid comment on a post and it always giving this vibe

[virgoilluminati]

Hospitality at its Finest

a Jude Bellingham oneshot

Inspo: Basically i have the shittiest job ever, and the only thing that got me through it was thinking about how jude would comfort me at the end of a long shift. I feel like a lot of you gurlies can relate so enjoy ☺️

You had had the worst day.

Probably the worst day you'd had in years

And the only person you could blame was your boss.

He was an A grade arsehole. He only cared about how much money your restaurant made. How it made him look in front of the restaurant owners.

He didn't care about your feelings, how crying had become a normal part of the shift or how every time he walked in, your stomach tied in knots.

Today was an exemplar of it.

At the beginning of the shift, everything was fairly normal. You were supposed to start at 12pm, but you had come in early, caring for your colleagues and knowing that they would need the extra staff for the new delivery. As you mentally prepared yourself for the shift, you started putting away the new stock and organizing the kitchen.

Quickly looking at your phone one last time, you clocked into work before admiring your lock screen with Jude. After all, all of this was for your future.

As you made your way to the shop floor, it was dead silent. So silent that you knew the second you opened the door in the backroom, you'd be greeted with a mess. But you didn't expect what you were greeted with. Stacks of dishes towered precariously, remnants of ingredients sprawled across counters, and an unmistakable odor of burnt food lingered heavily in the air.

Your closest colleague Haley was on the ground, covered by stock boxes. When she see's you walk in, she smiles, but the exhaustion in her eyes betrays her forced cheerfulness. Without wasting a moment, you rush to help her up, setting the boxes aside.

"Wha-"

"Don't ask. It's Jamie. He overestimated our multitasking skills again. We could use all the help we can get right now."

You nod, taking in the chaotic scene. Rolling up your sleeves, you dive into the mess, prioritizing tasks in your head.

The second the doors to your restaurant opened, a wave of eager customers flooded in, adding to the already hefty workload. You had only just made your way out of the heavy stock room before you were serving your first customer, your manager already shaking his head.

You grabbed a notepad, scribbling down order after order with precision. As you do such, you realise that no one has set up back of house, and whilst everyone was dealing with the stock, you'd be doing both positions, already.

Oh gawd it was going to be a long day.

The next issues happened just after the lunchtime peak. Your manager—ever the perfectionist—decided to go out and back home to get changed. He didn’t tell any of you, just putting your colleague Hetty in charge.

Now, for all of the reasons you loved Hetty, she was a terrible team leader. She spent half of the time bossing everyone around, whilst the other half chatting and gossiping about the managers. So when you realized that she was in charge, you knew it was going to turn sideways.

What made it even worse was halfway through the shift you suddenly got cramps. It could only mean one thing: your period.

You knew better than to miss your orders, so you managed to deal with the cramps and act normal. But as soon as anyone’s order was mentioned, you gritted your teeth. Deep down, you could feel your cramps churning up. But you managed to keep your cool. Or at least until Hetty began barking orders at you, telling you that while you were making a cheesecake, you also needed to clean the station, get the ice cream ready for service, and get the lunch menu ready that was just coming out.

Needless to say, you didn’t really listen to her orders, instead focusing on the four cheesecakes you needed to bake, twenty lusty turkeys, and the rest of your workload that’s coming in. You’d maybe gotten halfway done with the orders when suddenly your stomach muscles tightened and spasmed at the same time. It hurt to breathe in, so you tried to breathe in as slowly as possible, praying to God that the next person who insulted you would take it back as soon as they said it.

Now, you’re screwed, because between the pain in your stomach and the pressure from the customers, it was overwhelming. To make matters even worse, your restaurant owner Jiah, a certified misogynist, stood next to you as you prepared each of the dishes. Every mistake you made, or anything you said to Hetty, was being monitored. At first, it was fine—still stressful, but you were so preoccupied that you didn’t care. Until you accidentally spilled three of your cheesecakes on the ground.

Every time someone shouted at you, it felt like someone was digging into your sides. Your vision blurred slightly as you bent down to clean up the mess. As you rose, you saw Jiah’s disapproving glare. You braced yourself, knowing a reprimand was imminent.

“Do you even know how much those cheesecakes cost?” Jiah hissed, his face reddening.

"Sorry-"

You nodded, biting your tongue to keep from snapping back. Losing your temper wouldn’t help anything, especially not with Jiah watching your every move. Taking a deep breath, you focused on the tasks at hand, prioritizing the most urgent ones. Hetty’s voice cut through the noise of the kitchen, but you tuned her out as best you could. There was no time to waste arguing with her or explaining why you couldn’t drop everything to clean the station right this second.

The cramps were relentless, and you clutched your stomach briefly, willing the pain to subside. A few of your colleagues noticed and offered sympathetic looks, but they were just as swamped as you were. It was clear that everyone was feeling the strain of the lunchtime rush.

You managed to get the cheesecakes into the oven and started on the turkeys. The repetitive motions of seasoning and prepping gave you a momentary distraction from the pain. But it wasn’t long before Hetty was back, barking orders again.

“You still haven’t cleaned the station! And where’s the ice cream?” she demanded.

“Working on it,” you muttered, trying to keep your voice steady. But the frustration was building, and you could feel tears pricking at the corners of your eyes. You blinked them back, determined not to let anyone see you break down.

Finally, a small reprieve: the cheesecakes were done, and you could focus on plating the desserts and getting them out to the customers. But just as you thought you might be able to catch your breath, Jiah appeared again. He didn’t say anything, but his disapproving glare spoke volumes.

You could feel his eyes on you, watching your every move. When you accidentally spilled three of your cheesecakes on the ground, Jiah’s look was withering. He didn’t need to say a word; his expression made it clear he was counting this as yet another mark against you.

“Get it together,” you heard him mutter under his breath, just loud enough for you to hear. You nodded, biting your tongue to keep from snapping back. Losing your temper wouldn’t help anything, especially not with Jiah watching your every move.

Taking a deep breath, you focused on the tasks at hand, prioritizing the most urgent ones. Hetty’s voice cut through the noise of the kitchen, but you tuned her out as best you could. There was no time to waste arguing with her or explaining why you couldn’t drop everything to clean the station right this second.

Just as it began to calm down again, Jiah's glare disappearing from notion, Hetty came over to apologize for being stressy.

"Sorry for earlier," she said, her tone uncharacteristically soft. "I know I was a bit much."

You accepted her apology with a nod. "It's okay. We were all under a lot of pressure. I was just about to go to the toilet."

Before you could make your way to the restroom, a call came through the kitchen, telling everyone to gather in the staff room. You tried to hold yourself together, though you could feel tears threatening to flow. The cramps were still gnawing at your insides, and the stress of the day had worn you thin.

As you and the rest of the staff assembled in the cramped room, the air was thick with apprehension. Jamie, another manager, stormed in, his face a mask of fury. He didn't waste a second before launching into a tirade.

"I just got a bollocking from the owner! What the hell happened here?" he bellowed. "This is so embarrassing! We've had multiple complaints from customers, dishes sent back, and unacceptable delays. This is not the standard we uphold here!"

His words were like blows, each one landing heavily. You stood there, silent and still, trying to absorb it all without breaking down. The cramps were relentless, making it hard to concentrate on anything other than the pain.

For about forty minutes, Jamie continued his verbal assault, highlighting every mistake and misstep. You could feel the tension in the room, everyone too afraid to speak or move. As he yelled, you just stood there, taking it in, feeling smaller and more defeated with every passing second.

"This has to stop now," Jamie continued, his voice growing louder. "I expect better from all of you. No more excuses. The owner is furious, and honestly, I can't blame him. Today was a disaster!"

With that, he stormed out, leaving the staff in stunned silence. You could feel the tears threatening to spill over, but you fought to keep them at bay. The pain in your stomach and the weight of Jamie's words were almost too much to bear.

Hetty gave you a sympathetic look but didn't say anything. Everyone slowly dispersed, heading back to their stations or taking a moment to collect themselves. You made a beeline for the restroom, finally letting the tears flow once you were safely behind the closed door.

Just as you began to take a couple of minutes to calm down, Jamie pulled you over.

"Hey, I need to ask you something," he said, his tone softer but still urgent. "Are you willing to leave early today?"

You had already had to cut a shift recently, and your hours were pretty low. "I really need the hours, Jamie. I'd prefer to stay."

He frowned. "I need to get rid of some staff because there's too many on right now."

You tried to politely refuse again, but before you could finish, he called out, "Hayley! Do you want to leave early?"

"Sure," Hayley replied without hesitation.

"See, it's not personal," Jamie said, turning back to you. Feeling completely deflated, you turned to get your stuff and clock out.

As you gathered your things, Jamie turned to you one more time. "By the way, you sat down too much today."

You were gobsmacked. "I didn't sit down at all."

"No, you were," he insisted. "And that's not acceptable."

You went to protest again, but he cut you off. "No, you were, and that's not acceptable."

Feeling a mix of frustration, exhaustion, and defeat, you bit back any further response. As you clocked out and walked out of the restaurant, you felt the tears begin to well up again.

By the time you got on the bus, the tears were streaming down your face. You found a seat at the back, hoping no one would notice as you buried your face in your hands and sobbed. The day's events replayed in your mind: the stress, the pain, the unfairness of it all. It felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on you, and you couldn't hold it in any longer.

As the bus moved through the city streets, you cried, letting out all the frustration and sorrow. You knew you had to face another day tomorrow, but for now, all you could do was let yourself feel the pain and hope that somehow, things would get better.

When you arrived home, you tried to wipe away your tears, determined to put on a brave face for Jude Bellingham, who had just returned from football camp. You were emotionally drained but wanted to be supportive and positive for him.

As you walked through the door, Jude was in the kitchen, looking relaxed and cheerful. He noticed your subdued demeanor but decided to wait before saying anything.

"Hey, how was work?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light.

"It was... busy," you replied, forcing a smile. "But let’s not focus on that. How was camp?"

Jude’s face lit up as he started recounting his experiences. "Camp was fantastic! We had some intense training sessions and a lot of fun. You won’t believe the prank Trent and I pulled on the new guys. We got them to believe they had to complete this ridiculous obstacle course to join the team."

He continued with animated enthusiasm, "And then there was the friendly match against a local team. Trent and I were trying out these new moves, and it was amazing to see the crowd’s reaction. We felt like rock stars!"

You nodded and smiled at the right moments, trying to engage with his excitement, but your mind kept drifting back to the stress of the day. Despite your efforts to seem interested, you felt a growing sense of overwhelm.

Jude’s stories flowed effortlessly. "Oh, and the camp mascot incident was hilarious. Trent and I ended up in the costume, and we had this impromptu dance-off with the kids. It was one of those moments where you just can’t stop laughing."

As he chatted, you found yourself struggling to keep up the façade. Your responses became more mechanical, and you occasionally glanced at the clock, feeling the weight of your exhausting day pressing down on you.

Jude seemed to sense something was off but kept going. "You know, I was telling Trent about how you and I used to go to that little café downtown. He said he’s been there before and loved it. We should go sometime."

You forced a laugh and nodded. "That sounds great."

As dinner preparation continued, you made an effort to stay present, but the stress from earlier was starting to take its toll. You kept insisting you were fine, even though you felt increasingly overwhelmed.

In the midst of this, you were preoccupied with trying to balance cooking and maintaining a cheerful demeanor. As you pulled a dish out of the oven, you accidentally brushed against the hot rack. The sudden sharp pain in your hand was like a jolt that broke through your emotional walls.

You cried out and rushed to the sink, holding your burned hand under the cold tap, your composure finally shattering. Tears streamed down your face as the pain seemed to trigger a flood of emotions from the stressful day.

Jude, who had been in the living room, heard your cry and the sound of your sobbing. He rushed into the kitchen and saw you with your hand under the tap, tears flowing freely.

"Hey, what happened?" Jude asked urgently, moving quickly to your side.

"I—I burned myself," you managed to say through sobs. "I’m so sorry... I tried to keep it together, but I couldn’t."

Jude gently took your hand from under the tap and inspected the burn. His concern deepened as he carefully wrapped your hand in a clean towel.

“Hey, hey, hey. Don’t cry, m’love. It’s okay—speak to me,” Jude said, his voice filled with concern as he moved to your side.

“What do you mean? I’m okay, I just burned myself,” you tried to explain, though your voice was trembling.

“Y/N, do you think I was born yesterday? I know my girlfriend, and I know when she’s upset. What happened?” Jude asked, his tone gentle but firm.

His insistence broke through your remaining resolve. You burst into tears, the emotional strain of the day combining with the pain of the burn. “I—I had such a terrible day. Jamie was so harsh, and everything seemed to go wrong. I was trying so hard to keep it together, but I just couldn’t anymore.”

Jude’s expression softened, filled with empathy and concern. “No, don’t say that. You’re not stupid. You’re my Y/N. You’ve been through so much, and you’ve handled it with so much strength and grace.”

He gently took your hand from under the tap and wrapped it in a clean towel. Pulling you into a comforting embrace, he continued, “Your a trooper you know.”

You clung to him, the warmth of his embrace providing a much-needed sense of security. Jude held you close, his arms wrapping around you with tenderness. He stroked your hair softly and whispered in your ear, “You’re amazing, you know that? You’re allowed to have bad days and to feel overwhelmed. I’m here to help you through it, no matter what.”

You buried your face in his shoulder, letting the tears flow freely as he continued to hold you. Jude’s soothing presence and gentle touch helped ease the burden of the day. He spoke softly, his voice full of love and reassurance. “You’ve been so strong, but it’s okay to let go and lean on me. I’m here to support you, to lift you up when you need it.”

Jude carefully wrapped your burned hand in a clean towel, his touch gentle but deliberate. He then pulled you into a comforting embrace. “Why don’t you head to the living room and take a breather? I’ll sort out dinner. And try not to make any more of the place look like a disaster zone, yeah?”

You managed a weak smile as you headed to the living room, still sniffling. The sounds of Jude bustling around in the kitchen—pots clattering, the hum of the stove—provided a bit of distraction as you settled onto the couch.

A few minutes later, Jude walked into the living room with his phone in hand and plopped down beside you. He placed his phone on the coffee table and began gently wiping away the tears from your cheeks.

“I don’t want anyone treating you like that,” Jude said firmly, but with a soft edge. “I’ve had a word with the higher-ups about Jamie. It’s not on.”

You looked at him, surprised. “You did? How’d you manage that?”

Jude grinned. “Let’s just say I’m good at sorting things out when it comes to my people."

You chuckled despite yourself. “Well, thanks. I didn’t think you’d go this far.”

Jude gave a cheeky wink. “I was gonna sort it anyway, oh, also, um well now seemed like the perfect time.”

"Jude-"

He pulled out his phone and showed you the screen. “I’ve had a chat with my agent. "

"What?!!"

"Got you a photography gig lined up. It’s something you’ve always wanted to do. Figured now’s as good a time as any.”

You were stunned, your eyes widening. “What-? How-When? How did you even know I wanted this now?”

Jude’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “I’ve been paying attention, love. You think i haven't notice your Pinterest boards? Or your amazon wish list?”

You laughed, a genuine smile spreading across your face. “I don’t even know what to say. This is amazing.”

Jude squeezed your hand gently. “You don’t have to say a thing. Just remember, you’re brilliant, and you deserve all the good things. And if you ever leave me for a glamorous photographer life, just make sure to give me a shout-out in your interviews.”

You playfully nudged him. “Oh, so you’re worried I’ll become too famous for you?”

Jude grinned. "If that means sharing a bit of the limelight, so be it.”

You leaned into him, feeling a mix of relief and affection. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to have you.”

Jude wrapped his arms around you. “I’m the lucky one. Seeing you happy is what matters to me. Now let’s enjoy the rest of the night. And if dinner turns into a burnt mess, at least we’ll have a laugh about it.”

Jude’s comforting presence and playful banter started to lift the weight of the day, bringing a renewed sense of hope and connection. His support and Brummie humor made the evening feel a lot brighter and more manageable.

[mysteryshoptls]

SR Jamil Viper - Luxe Couture Vignette

"If I let this opportunity pass me by"

[Fairest City – Crystal Galleria]

Jamil: So, this is the "world's most beautiful plaza", the luxury shopping arcade Crystal Galleria.

Jamil: It's no wonder that the passage is lined with high-brand shops.

Ace: Woah! I totally dig those clothes in that shop's window! I'ma check 'em out.

Jamil: Hey, Ace! Ah man, I'll go and bring him back.

[Grim, Vil, and Azul look exasperated]

Shop Staff A: Welcome～!

Ace: Woooah! There's a ton of cool-lookin' clothes and accessories! This's so awesome!

Jamil: Hey… Don't just run off on your own. Come on, we're heading back to Vil-senpai.

Ace: It's just a little peek～ I saw somethin' I liked. Like see, like this T-shirt…

Ace: …Urk, it costs 100,000 Madol [1,000 Thaumarks]! That's waaay too expensive for me!

Jamil: That price is fairly standard for a high-brand shop… Hm?

Jamil: This stitching… It's pretty shoddy. Looks like they're using pretty low-quality cotton, too.

Jamil: Strangely, this doesn't look like the sort of thing that would be sold at this price.

Ace: Huh? Aren't T-shirts all made of the same stuff?

Jamil: Sure. But high-brand T-shirts are generally made with high-quality cotton.

Jamil: Better quality cotton is soft and have a nice feel to it.

Jamil: Not only does it not wrinkle easily, but when the cotton is made into T-shirts, it keeps its shape for longer and makes for a nice silhouette.

Jamil: The design of these other shirts isn’t too terrible… But the fabric quality is just too low.

Jamil: There's no way a shop selling at this level can have a store in the Crystal Galleria.

Jamil: Which means… They must have lowered the quality of their material after opening. Did they run into some kind of business issues?

Ace: Hey! That jacket's so rough-lookin' and cool! Excuse me, I'd like to try this on!

Shop Staff B: Ohh my, I'm sorry. I'm afraid that jacket cannot be tried on here.

Jamil: …

Ace: Huh? Really?

Shop Staff B: That's right. That is a really pricey jacket. If it is somehow dirtied or damaged, it would be on the customer to compensate the loss, wouldn't you say?

Jamil: …So essentially, he has to decide to buy it or not without trying it on?

Shop Staff B: Well, I guess that's right.

Jamil: …Would I be allowed to try these slacks on?

Shop Staff A: Unfortunately, that won't be possible either. Sorry.

Jamil: Ah, right. Thought as much.

Ace: C'mon. Isn't that a stupid rule?

Middle-aged Man: Oh nice, this is a pretty nice shop. The prices seem pretty reasonable, too.

Shop Staff B: Oh, what an important looking customer! Welcome～! Is there something in particular you're looking for?

Middle-aged Man: I'm wanting a jacket, see… Think you have something that'll suit me?

Shop Staff A: Well, if that's the case, how about this one? It's one of our most popular designs.

Shop Staff B: I'm sure it will be perfect for you. Please, try it on!

Ace: Wha―!? But when I asked earlier, they said it wasn't allowed to be tried on!!

Shop Staff A: Students like you can't possibly buy something like that, so there's no reason for you to try it on, is there?

Shop Staff B: Please go home before you start to disturb our other customers. We don't have the free time to be dealing with you two.

Ace: Huh...!?

Jamil: …Not only are their products low-quality, but so are the staff's customer service.

Jamil: There's no reason to stick around in a shop like this. Let's go meet up with Vil-senpai and the others.

[Fairest City – Crystal Galleria]

Ace: Wha was that all about, treatin' us like dirt just 'cause we're students!? That was terrible service. That pissed me off so much!

Ace: First they shoo us out, then they play all buddy-buddy up to the rich-lookin' guy.

Jamil: I bet that since they've been rubbing elbows with the rich and famous while working at that high-brand store…

Jamil: They've completely started to think that they've improved their own social standing.

Jamil: Thinking about those sorts of folks and getting upset about it is a waste of time. Just shake it off.

Jamil: Only the best brands, in both name and reputation, will flourish here at the Crystal Galleria.

Jamil: I can't tell if they had a change in management since opening, or if they've suffered business losses…

Jamil: But from what I saw, I can't imagine that place continuing to be suitable for this passage.

Jamil: Even if we do nothing, I'm sure they'll have no choice but to close down eventually.

Ace: It could ruin a brand's rep if they got kicked out of the Crystal Galleria. That'd feel sooo good to see, though!

―The next day

Jamil: I really can't relax at all while at Vil-senpai's side. I'll have to relax as much as I can during my personal free time here.

Jamil: Maybe I'll check out the café at the far end of the Crystal Galleria.

Jamil: Hm? This shop looks… I guess I can check it out.

Clerk: Welcome! Please feel free to look around.

Jamil: …This place is completely different than the one yesterday. Now, where's that outfit I saw in the window…?

Jamil: Ah, here it is. I thought it looked like a pretty nice jacket from outside, but the pockets and lining give off a more casual feel.

Jamil: This isn't something I see often. The material is good and the sewing and embroidery is delicately done…

Clerk: Would you like to try it on? Come this way.

Jamil: Thank you.

Jamil: Yeah, the size is good and it fits well. I think this color also actually goes well with the clothes I brought with me, too…

Jamil: …How much is this jacket?

Clerk: That would be 50,000 Madol [500 Thaumarks].

Jamil: I see. Would you allow me to think on it?

Clerk: Of course! And please take your time to look at our other items.

Jamil: A 50,000 Madol jacket… That's a bit of a steep price for me… Hmm…

Jamil: The fabric's quality, the design, and the superb stitching make this very high quality…

Jamil: If I think of those factors, even 50,000 Madol is fairly cheap. Also…

Jamil: I've found this in the Crystal Galleria, of all places. If I let this opportunity pass me by, there won't be another chance to buy something like this.

Jamil: …Excuse me. Could I purchase the jacket I tried on earlier?

Clerk: Absolutely. I'll go fetch a new one for you. Please wait a moment.

Jamil: Sure.

Jamil: …I was able to buy a sensible jacket from a reasonable shop here in the Crystal Galleria.

Jamil: Yeah. I'm definitely satisfied with this. And I'm sure this'll be a great memory.

[Fairest City – Queen's Palace]

Shop Staff A: KYAAA! VIL-SAMAAA! YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL!!

Shop Staff B: SO BEAUTIFUL! I JUST HAVE TO GET A PICTURE OF THAT STUNNING FACE!

Jamil: Hm? I think I saw those two screaming fans over there yesterday...

Shop Staff A: Oh, look! Do you think those guys walking alongside Vil-sama are models too? Should we ask for an autograph?

Shop Staff B: EXCUSE ME!! PLEASE GIVE US YOUR AUTOGRAPH!!

Jamil: …Hahah! You sure you want my autograph?

Shop Staff B: Absolutely! …Wait, huh? I feel like I've seen him before…

Shop Staff A: Wait! Isn't he that customer that we turned away yesterday…!?

Jamil: I'm honored that a mere student like myself would stir your recollections.

Shop Staff A: Wh-Who would have thought he'd be so famous to walk the tapis rouge…? And he looks so good in that outfit!

Shop Staff B: If we had sold clothing to those boys yesterday, it might've been such good publicity!!

Shop Staff A: H-Hey! Once you're finished here, would you care to come visit our shop once more?

Shop Staff B: We have a collection of garments that would look fabulous on you! Please allow us to design your new look!

Jamil: I have to decline. Your shop does not have any article of clothing that would suit me.

Jamil: After all, just as you said yesterday, there is no need to try anything on.

Shop Staff A/B: U-Uhhh… So when we said that yesterday, uh…

Jamil: If that is all, perhaps you should head home now? Not only are you bothering others around you…

Jamil: But I also do not have the free time to be dealing with you, either.

Requested by @ordinaryanon.

[theresattrpgforthat]

how many ttrpgs do you know of that came with soundtracks?

THEME: TTRPGs With Soundtracks

Hello friend! I knew of a few off the top of my head, and went searching for some more. Many of these soundtracks are playlists of already-created songs, hosted on streaming apps like Spotify, but a few are designed specifically for a certain roleplaying game. Either way I hope you find something up your alley!

Monster Care Squad, by Sandy Pug Games and The Fox in the Flowers.

Long after the crowns have fallen, long after greed has had it's day, long after war, poverty, hunger, and tyranny passed into memory, Ald-Amura's peace is broken by The False Gold, a terrible sickness spreading through its greatest guardians and most beautiful Monsters.

Unified by community and driven by a love for the planet and each other, The Monster Care Squad rises. Do you heed their call?

A game about caring for monsters in a fantastical world is already probably enough to sell a lot of folks on the pitch, but the love for this game shines through in the third-party work available, including Sounds of Ald-Amura, by The Fox in The Flowers. Sandy Pug Games is a creative collective that prioritizes support for the entire team behind any given project, which is probably why their games are so beautiful and so well-crafted.

Long Haul 1983, by SPC. (Spotify Soundtrack)

It’s 1983, and the world feels hollowed out.

LONG HAUL 1983 tells the story of a dangerous journey through an empty world. 

You play a long-haul truck driver trying to make their way home. Every day, you’ll hit the road, navigating treacherous highways, fleeing from menacing threats, and dealing with the psychological impacts of isolation.

And at the end of each day, you’ll find a payphone, make a call, and leave a message for the most important person in your life. 

They never pick up. You never stop calling.

This is a solo game, where the soundtrack is designed to enhance the experience of loneliness and isolation, using ambient sounds and hits from the time period this game is set in. The game comes with a list of songs meant to be played during certain moments, as well as a list of songs that are designed to be background atmospheric pieces. If you want something that elevates your solo journaling experience, this game might be for you.

Orbital Blues, by Soul Muppet Games. (Soundtrack)

It is an intergalactic age of cowboys, outlaws and bandits playing on an interstellar stage. It is a time of hyper-capitalism and a cut-throat gig economy. Unreliable trash-heaps carry scrappy underdogs to their next gig, and corporation freighters lumber across the horizon laden with an empire’s bounty.

These are the music-fuelled, moon-age daydreams of a rebel space age. 

These are your ORBITAL BLUES.

Games inspired by tv shows and movies have a great starting point in finding music that really fits the tone - you can start with the soundtrack of the things that inspired you. But Chris Bissette was not happy to simply show you the soundtracks for Cowboy Bebop and Firefly and call it a day. They created a custom album to play alongside the game that’s a little soulful, and a little rock n’ roll. A soulful space-western kind of game lends itself really well to music to evoke melancholy and loss, so I definitely recommend listening to some of this if you want to play Orbital Blues or any other game inspired by the same sorts of media.

The Wildsea, by Felix Isaacs, and Songs of the Lignin Tide, by Liam Peregrine Vaughan.

Your character is a wildsailor, part of a crew cutting their way across the island-studded wilderness of the treetop sea on a vessel of your very own. You’ll clash with survivor cultures and wild beasts, scavenge and salvage for wreckage and trade-goods, chase rumours, and uncover secrets. The focus of this game is on exploration, progress, and change - you’ll define the world of the Wildsea as you sail it.

I’ve talked about The Wildsea extensively in the past, so I’m just going to talk a little bit about Songs of the Lignin Tide. The Wildsea community is dedicated, inspired, and creative, and that leads to some amazing work created by players, for other players. Songs of the Lignin Tide is one of those examples. It uses a wealth of different sounds to add richness and texture to this unique and verdant setting, and it feels like the creator drew heavily from their own experiences of playing the game. I highly recommend you check it out if you want more Wildsea in your life.

Quietus, by Sinister Beard Games. (Spotify Playlist)

QUIETUS is a one shot, prep-less RPG of melancholy horror. It’s a game for a GM and one or two players, and emulates tragic horror movies like Oculus, The Strangers, The Babadook, Inside and the Netflix version of The Haunting of Hill House. If a piece of fiction can make you cry and scream, then it’s a great model for the sort of stories that you can tell with QUIETUS.

The music for Quietus is also a Spotify playlist, with a collection of songs that fit the tone of a tragic horror game. It’s an hour and forty-three minutes long, and since Quietus is meant to be a one-shot, I have a feeling you might have to play through it more than once, or let Spotify generate similar songs after the playlist finishes up.

GoblinMixtape’s Soundtracks, by Sam Leigh.

While creating a soundtrack on your own might be a daunting task, using established songs to fit the vibe of your ttrpg is much easier, and GoblinMixtape (aka Sam Leigh) has connected many designers to playlists designed to emulate the feeling of their games. There’s quite a few playlists already created by them, so I’d recommend checking out this list of playlists if you want to see the games she’s worked on before.

[weirdoinred]

I was really drowsy earlier and i thunk up some lore for my dynastyAU about soundwaves backstory. Buckle up yall this is a long one

Vos is a very large region of cybertron that was split up into four parts in order to make ruling easier. Vos is also one of the last two regions on cybertron that uses a monarchy. It was split up into northern, eastern, southern, and western kingdoms, each with its own ruling family. Eastern Vos is actually the biggest kingdom, both in size, population, and military, as its main focus is security and weapons development. Starscream, his trine, and most of the other seekers originate from eastern Vos, with Starscream being the last ruler before his whole power hungry usurping of the rest of Vos and the start of the great war.

Eastern, western, and northern Vos are completely cut off from the rest of cybertron and do not allow outsiders into their territory. They only allow trade and communication between the other parts of Vos and with other Vosians. Northern Vos is a lot more lenient with this policy as apposed to western and eastern Vos as both kingdoms see cross communication as treason and the punishment for being caught is severe. Southern Vos is vastly different and the rulers actually encourage interactions with other cybertronians.

Southern Vos was ruled by Empress Skyline. Long story short, she fell in love with a grounder before she was crowned Empress and after she ran away and had their first sparkling together she was found and brought back home. The grounder, a mech named Chambertune, snuck i to Vos to rescue here and was also caught, no surprise there, and was about to be executed when Skyline came running in and put herself between the excecutioner and her conjunx. She argues with her parents, theres an emotional moment, Chambertune is released, and for her bravery and idk true spark or something, shes crowned Empress as her parents retire from ruling and make Chambertune the royal ambassador and he deals with customs or something. Basically they put him in charge of opening the borders and integrating their society. Fun times yay.

So they had their first child, her name is Hurricane (theres a reason why please just trust me), while Skyline was in her running away era, and after she ascended to the throne, her and Chambertune proceeded to have six more sparklings over the course of several million years. Soundwave was the very last sparkling they had together. In this AU he also ends up working for Senator Ratbat but there is a lot that happens before that.

What i meant when i said Starscreams power hungry usurping of the rest of Vos, is that this dude went absolutely apeshit. The second he was crowned Winglord, all he wanted was more power. I wanna be clear that he is not a bad guy. Hes just incredibly spoiled and his entire childhood was his parents constantly feeding his ego about when he would finally be the ruler of eastern vos. Hes like 19-20 when hes put in charge. But once he got the throne it was horrifyingly anticlimactic. He expected to feel a lot more than he actually did and it was upsetting. He spent years yearning for this power and then once he got it, it wasnt enough. So the gears in his dumb little brain began to turn and he schemed an honestly terrible idea but bc he was Winglord, no one was brave enough to tell him other wise, not even his own brothers.

His plan was to take over the other nations of Vos. Spoiler alert, he did it. Vos was unified into one again. The ruling familys were taken captive and if they didnt bow to him, they were removed from the equation. His biggest problem was Southern Vos. Because of how they had been integrating their society for millennium before he was even created, half of the population was comprised of grounders. This didnt bode well with his ideal kingdom of Vos so he set his military wild. What they did to Southern Vos was genocide. They took the fliers and killed the grounders. The hybrids and halfbreeds were kept alive in hopes of breeding out the grounder genes.

Empress Skyline, Chambertune, and their three eldest children fought Starscreams military off the best they could while the younger four children fled the kingdom. They were unfortunately, spotted by a lost soldier, who reported to a general about the four escapees. That same lost soldier fire two rockets at them, intending to block their path but hit too close to them and knocked two of the kids out. The oldest of the four, who was not knocked unconscious, stopped to check on the younger two while Soundwave, a bit disoriented and dizzy, ran in a random direction. His brother saw him run but he was too far away to hear his call. As he reached the border, a stray rocket him close to him and the shockwave knocked him across. The blast also hit his left side and messed up a lot of wires and connectors in his processors, knocking him out and giving him amnesia and reducing his processing ability, leaving him mostly mute.

then it pretty much follows the idw backstory with him being found and taken in by ravage, buzzsaw, and laserbeak. I havent thunken how to weave in his telepathy but i have somewhat of an idea. In this au, outlier abilities are a mutation. that mutation gene, in rare cases, can be passed down genetically to offspring. Its more likely for a sparkling to have an outlier ability if both parents have the mutation gene. In this case, Chambertune has that mutation gene but Skyline does not. Out of their 7 offspring, only 3 of them, have the gene. Is a lot more than usual but thats only bc an ancestor of Skyline had a very weak outlier ability that was only usable when he was in danger. Hurricane is one of them (her original name was changed once her outlier ability developed), Soundwave of course is another, and i havent decided on a name for the last outlier child but his power is one of my favorites.

yeah yeah so hes found by those three, he spends a little while with them, then in a little stealing from the rich stunt, he gets caught by senator ratbat cuz it was his place they were stealing from. Ravage, bs, and lb are able to get away bur soundwave isnt so lucky. Ratbat finds out about his telepathy (hes got like three different powers but those dont show up until later) and decides “hey ur useful! Mine now” and adopts him. Hes a terrible person and an even worse dad but we’re not getting into that right now.

but yeah thats like the gist of the lore. Some of it is still in development so im open to suggestions for a few things, one of which is names for soundwaves 5 other siblings (two femmes, three mechs), and also maybe a better resolution for Skyline reconnecting with her parents and becoming Empress bc i have not thought that era through

[murmurmurl]

hiii pjsk oc ramble again :3

(this is super all over the place btw)

I feel like I should be developing Toshiro more, since he's the unit leader but I haven't come up with that much stuff about them compared to the others. BUT. I'm thinking about Seina. In the relationship thingy I mentioned that she works part-time at a café. I think it'd be funny if it's a café Ena and Akito go to somewhat regularly. then I'd have to change some stuff up though, because it wouldn't be just "met them once". Maybe I'd even make her friends with Ena. I did say I'll change a lot of stuff lol

Seina is very collected and pretty much knows how to deal with ppl, so I think she's pretty good at handling customers. It's still tiring for her though, more than you might expect, actually.

I think she deserves a break ngl (I say after being the one to make her need a break in the first place but uhm anyways)

I've also been thinking about their siblings... Seina and Toshiro both have siblings, actually. I haven't figured out their sibling dynamics as much yet. Like, I keep going back and forth on Seina's sibling especially, whether to make them older or younger. Because I have both options thought out, how they would have affected the relationship and in what way they contributed to how Seina acts. I know I'm gonna project with the sibling thing a lot, but uh. That's what OCs are for..? Kinda??? I guess?????

Fumi and Matsu are only children in their families, but I think with how they act with each other and their past connection, they act a little like siblings. I've also been thinking more about the period where Fumi wasn't as strong-willed and couldn't help or stand up for Matsu when he was bullied. Around that time, they had a bit of a falling out due to Fumi blaming herself too much and ending up isolating herself. They interact again for the first time since then already when the unit's story starts. Its awkward at first, and despite all this time working on being the best she could be to make sure nothing like that ever happens again, Fumi still blames themself and ends up avoiding Matsu at all costs. I can't say that he NEVER blamed her... of course, at first, back then, he felt hurt because no one would help, and when he needed his best friend more than ever, she ended up practically abandoning him. There is a little bit of that.. bitterness (??) left to this day, but overall, he doesn't really put them at fault. Fumi is extremely harsh on herself – that's actually something all of them have to a degree. Toshiro wanting to improve, be better at everything, be reliable because of his family problems, he wants to prove a certain person wrong. I now realize that this might sound kinda like the Shinonome dad situation, but it's still different. Seina blames herself terribly for accidentally hurting a dear friend in the past, she thinks of herself as unworthy of being forgiven and cared for, and tries her best caring for everyone around herself instead, devoting it so much time and effort that it leaves her exhausted and even puts a distance between her and the people she loves because she doesn't want to bother them with any of her personal struggles, even thoughts, she doesn't want to be a burden and upset them by having feelings. Fumi's case I already described here. With Matsu... I feel like it's less present in him, but it's still there. He tends to put a lot of pressure on himself about being good enough to be loved. Also because of stuff in the past, partially because of the bullying, partially because of how he as a child perceived Fumi distancing herself from him. He tries really hard to fit into the expectations others have of him, as well as be as independent as possible.

Of course, during the course of their story/ies I want to work through all of that. I think that coming to terms with things and starting to heal would take the longest for Seina. In part because she doesn't let anyone worry about herself as best she can.

ANYWAYS. Uhm. Stop the angst yapping, please, okay, thank you.

I like thinking through the sad and struggling parts of their characters, but I don't want to stop focusing on how they support each other and how much they care about each other. I also think I focused a little too much on their personalities and less so on the. Other necessary stuff... I've started thinking about their SEKAI. I think it should be something nostalgic in a way? With how much their stories seem to be dealing with the past so far, it'd make sense. I have a few ideas maybe, but I still need to flesh them out to even choose hehe

[grimaussiewitch]

100 warlock patron pack ideas: part 10

91: Over the years of adventuring and stealing treasures, you finally decide to settle down. One minute into retirement and four of your treasures on display shake and rumble. Four bright lights appear along with four different genies. Earth, Air, Fire and Water. They are impressed that you were able to steal but they want freedom. Choose one to become a warlock for and help the other three be set free or become patrons of other powerful adventures.

92: There’s a story that during a war an ancient dragon was killed in their nest in a deep, deep cave. Your adventuring party decided to see if this story was true or not. Many twists and turns later and you find it’s den! Treasure and gold still makes up a small pile. The party dived in, grabbing what their pockets could carry. But, there was something off. The air smelt rotten. Greed blinded your teammates or they actively chose to ignore the smell. You didn’t feel right. Suddenly, a giant dragon skull slowly rise from the pile. The dragon is now undead and your party soon to be dead. After a mighty fight, you remain as the last survivor of your group. The dragon stills. You stay frozen. Waiting for it’s next strike. The dragon slowly moved its head towards you. No open mouth. Just watching. You hear a voice in your mind, the dragon is making a deal. For you to leave alive, you must help the dragon return to life. Become its warlock to live. Bring the dragon back to life and the pack ends. Make your choice.

93: Shadows are strange. You can manipulate their shape to create pictures. As a child you would make shadow puppet shows for your family. You still do sometimes as an adult. The dull lifestyle of working in a shop everyday bores you. The same routine everyday. Sometimes you get so bored in this empty shop you will make shadow puppets to keep you entertained. You value your sanity and this job is so draining. One day, you caught a shadow moving. A bunny, then a dog, a sword and more random objects. You look around to see what’s causing this. No one is in the shop, no customers and your coworker left early. You think you are seeing things. But eh, beats this job. You start communicating back through shadow puppets. The moving shadows love that. Through a weird and lovely chit chat, the shadows make a hand and you shake it with your own shadow’s hand. It actually felt like something was solid. Congrats! This eldritch shadow is now your patron! Quit your job and become its warlock.

94: A future version of yourself contacts you in your sleep. They have reached litch-hood and wish to pass this onto as many versions of themselves from different timelines. You were but a poor farmer before being dragged into this mess. It was either become a warlock or die. Now that you have a pack with a litch version of yourself, you would hope they could tell you the future. Especially when your party is in dire means. Nah. Just don’t die and maybe you’ll get a level up.

95: Growing up in a stone tower with just your parent was quite a lonely childhood. I mean, they loved you very much but you always dreamed of exploring beyond the tower’s walls. You were told that your birth parents were very greedy farmers. Your parent is a powerful sorcerer who happened to stumble upon them while travelling the country side. They saw how the farmer couple was struggling and wanted to help. A magic user helping their crops! That will bring them money! Your parent made the plants stronger and healthier. On the last day your parent was saying goodbye and wasn’t expecting any money. The hospitality was enough. Well your birth parents pushed you into your parent’s arm claiming that can be their award for making the farmers rich. Your parent tried to refuse but figured that these farmers would be terrible parents. After years of being in this tower on your 18th birthday your sorcerer parent gave you a gift. Well, more of a deal. The contract is that you can explore the world as long as you make a pact with them. You get some of their powers to help guide you on your journey and a necklace that will always lead them back to you. They’re still a bit protective of you but at you can explore the world! You just need an adventuring party or else you will be killed by the wild.

96: Go into a museum and steal a bunch of stuff they say. It’ll be fine they say. You fellow thieves steal gold and you have to steal a sword in cased in a glass box. Some one sends off alarm and your roguish group have to run for your life. Everyone got good stuff and all you could grab is this weird ass sword. Inspecting would take all night so you decide to have a break and nap. Well one weird blood pact dream later and you wake up in the blood of your teammates and the sword glowing red. Time to grab as much gold as you can and run! With the sword a course.

97: Falling asleep caused you your doom. A powerful dream creature invaded your mind as you slept. You were stuck inside of a strange dreamscape with them for a long while. They want to be your best friend! You have to! It’s all strange and weird and all you want is to leave. Be in the real world. Eat real food talk to real people experience actual pain that doesn’t magically go away. The creature would not let you go. Fine, you will just simply not talk to them. No acknowledgment, just ignore and move on to face whatever madness there is. The dream creature was getting fed up. It gave you an ultimatum, you can wake up but become its warlock or stay in this dream world for as long as it wants. It was always a trap. There’s not point sleeping forever so you shake on it’s deal. Now you’re back in the real world with a little bit of warlock powers. You dread falling asleep.

98: There’s an old rumour that an ancient and powerful genie is trapped inside of a lamp. The location is said to be located in one of the towns elemental pray sites. You decided to see if this story is true. Plus you’ll get some sweet wishes out of this. Exploring one of the four temples took quite some time before finding the lamp. It didn’t take much to summon the genie. They tell you that they were an old ruler of a distance land cursed by a god. They want freedom so you’ll have to do. Break their curse and the genie will grant you immense powers. You’ll get a taste of it as a warlock. Take the deal.

99: What’s more terrifying, powerful unicorns or horse girls? Born and raised on a ranch, your family train horses and have for generations. You’re the eldest child and are expected to inherit the ranch, keep the business afloat, get married and have children with a rival business. All in the next few years. You are starting to dread this each day that gets closer. One day, you notice that one of your siblings is missing at the dinner table. Nobody has noticed that one of your sisters has gone missing. No matter how many times you yell your concerns, nobody listens. They just dismiss it off, tell you she’ll come back probably from the stables and to focus on work. Deciding to ignore their bull crap, you head off to find your sister. She’s a big horse girl so she’s either in the stables or the forest. Check the stables. Nothing. Check the forest. Few weeks into searching and you find her riding a unicorn. She’s looks so magically enchanted to this unicorn, a happy but dangerous daze. You don’t know if she’s physically okay. The unicorn stops right in front of you and you suddenly hears it’s voice. Your sister had foolishly wondered too close to the forest boarders and now magically charmed into wanting to be friends with the unicorn. A course being mortal, she will not survive. You know that. You demand for it to let her go. What would a unicorn want with a child. The unicorn ponders for a moment and said they will only agree if you become their warlock. Why would a dumb horse need a warlock for and why goes as far as stealing your sister? Either you sister goes freely or stays to die. Hey, if you really think about it, you won’t have to run the family business and continue the cycle. And your sister gets to leave with her life. Not all unicorns are nice. And you haven’t rode a horse since so that’s not nice either.

100: Your patron is all knowing. They know everything and everyone. You believe that they might of created this world. Created you and your friends. You tell your party this and no one believes you. A course you get asked when did you make such a pack. You think long and hard. Day 1 of adventuring. The day you met your party the pact was made. Skeptical they asked what’s your patron’s name. You smile. “The Dungeon Master

[talltoontales]

Don't Tapping the Glass!

Prompt: ANGER

Prompt by: Me

Started Writing: 05/31/2024

[WARNING: Heavy Feelings]

|| || || || || || || || || ||

Another one of those days.

I pull into the driveway after another long day at my minimum-wage job. Stuff left unfinished, customers & co-workers left pissed, and so many more problems left to solve.

“Put it behind you.” “Leave work at work.”

If I could, I would have by now, but…I dunno. I’m just not built like that. I pull out my phone and open up the manager's group chat. Where I spend the next thirty minutes texting, reliving the horribly eventful day in several large text blocks. Making sure the opening crew has a chance for a better morning. I look back on my day with a microscope to make sure I didn’t overlook any missed task, irate customer, or time-consuming task. Surprise! Surprise! This doesn’t make me feel any better.

You’d think after I’d send the text it would be over, heh. Nope, now I have to look at tomorrow and plan for all the problems that it’ll bring. I end up just slumped in my car, going through all of the worst possible futures and how to prevent them.

“Why do you work so hard for a terrible job?” “They don’t deserve real estate in your head.”

On my better days, I’d joke, saying something like, “I gotta switch, not a dial. It’s either one hundred percent or zero.” But I haven’t had too many “better” days for a while now. In all honesty, when I go to work, I go to work, I feel bad getting paid to just stand around and do nothing, even if I barely get paid. Plus, my associates deserve at least one good boss or one who tries to be good. I finally drag myself out of my car and make my way to the front door.

-Doctor’s appointments, car payments, school, family, friends (or lack thereof), groceries-

It’s amazing how, in the span of just under a minute, the human mind can speed-run through all of my problems, worries, and frustrations.

I get to the dimly lit front door, and I just stare at it.

-Laundry, cooking, dishes, self-care, all those shows I wanted to watch, reading, writing, having a proper sleep schedule-

Just more problems that other people don’t see as problems. I go inside, hang up my keys, grab another canned meal, and eat while watching a video on my phone—until I get a call from my mom.

Give her credit, she knows her son. Always calling just to make sure I’m ok, and like always, I lie and say I’m fine. She knows I’m lying, but what can she do? She talks about her day, and my brain does its job.

-She’s overworking herself, family problems, dad in his own world…again. I should spend more time with them-

The call never lasts too long unless I make it, and I never do. I can’t, I have to be back at work soon.

Teeth brushed, face washed, don’t smell, time for…lying awake in silence and being left alone with my thoughts.

// // // // // // // // // //

I don’t know, or I can’t really remember the last time I was happy. Like I said, I had better days, and I’ll probably have better days in the future, but I want to be happy. I don’t want to feel like I have to survive the next day, and I don’t want to see just all the problems I can't fix. I think back through my life, trying to find where I went wrong.

Maybe it wasn’t my fault, maybe I could have fixed it, had a better life, a life that would have made me happy. A life where I could deal with my problems like a functioning adult. A life where I don’t feel alone even in a room full of people who love me and want me to succeed.

But I know there’s nothing I can do now, just like there was nothing I could have done then. All I’m doing is fixing problems that were never meant to be fixed. Then why am I doing it? Why do I keep going through life, past, present, and future, looking for problems? Why do I keep doing this to myself?

\\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\

For the past few years, anytime I get angry, and I mean “nearing the breaking point,” angry, I have what I can only describe as a waking dream.

I’m walking down concrete steps into a cold, dark, basement-type room. Once I reach the bottom, a light turns on revealing a glass wall splitting the room in half. On the other side of the wall, is dim light. The other side of the room is covered in shredded paper with writing on it, the walls have deep scratches in them, and the glass is covered in smudges as if someone was wiping their hands against it.

There’s no one on the other side of the glass, no doors or windows to enter or escape from, just me. I look along the glass, seeing cracks in the wall where it meets the glass. I put a hand on the glass, it feels hot. Not enough to be painful but far from comfortable. I look closer at the paper on the ground, and some of it looks scrunched up like it was covered in water at some point. Both lights flicker off for a second. Once they’re back on, the smudges on the glass move, now looking like someone was dragging their hand towards me.

It doesn’t take a genius to know what’s behind the glass or what IT wants. It doesn’t care whose fault it is or why I’m here, it just wants to be free to do its job. But it knows I won’t let it. it knows that I fear what it could become if I let it out. I felt the glass push against my hand as if pressure was building on the other side, but it doesn’t phase me. As I walk away, I hear frantic thumping as it wails on the glass. Once, I get to the stairs I turn around for one last look, and scratched into the walls hundreds of times over is the same word:

!!!YELL!!!

It’s not a threat or an order. It’s a plea. It took me years and one mental breakdown to understand what I’ve done and what I still do to this day. Maybe I should give myself more credit. Maybe it would be okay if only for a while. Maybe it was always my fault I felt this way. But then, what would happen to me if I let it out? Could I forgive myself for what I’ve done?

...

I walk up the stairs. The banging continues but fades as I leave, only the faint sound of crying can be heard as I reach the final steps. At the end of all of that, I wake up. I don’t feel better, I just feel numb, but it’s better than walking around angry.

. . . . . . . . . .

Hey... So, peek behind the curtain time. If you haven't guessed, I'm not in the best place emotionally. If it helps, I'm not as bad as I used to be. So, progress! I've never felt in control of my life, and what little I do have control over never feels like it matters. Some days I just feel like I'm just floating through life, never making an impact on anyone or anything. Does wonders for my self-worth. And before anyone says anything, I know packing that stuff down is not even slightly healthy for me, but I've just never felt like I was in a safe enough space to unpack any of it. But I wanted to try anyway. so I wrote this. Didn't feel great putting my emotional baggage out on the curb for anyone to look at, but...I'm just tired of all of this just being in my head.

Aaaaaaaaanyway, Thanks for reading, and I hope you...enjoyed the story. If you have any comments, critiques, or criticisms, please don't be afraid to let me hear 'em (as long as they're constructive). Also, if you have some spare time, check out my blog for more stories like the one above. Stay safe, drink plenty of water, and, now more than ever, be kind to yourself and others. We all could use more kindness in the world. See you next time.

[nyrator]

Got the Rotten Nyan tumblr queued up with art I've neglected to post on there.. keeping a few more sketchy doodley art still on Twitter/the website, but should be all up a little after midnight my time~

... still feel really self conscious with the kind of content I've been making vent art of lately, please don't be afraid to message me with any concerns or criticisms... I tried tagging it all with a custom warning tag (that way it won't nuke the post, I think...) hopefully that's enough... if not hopefully people let me that as well

In other life news, I'm seeing a therapist, got a job, etc~ More in the cut

So, yeah. Life.

Still a vtuber, but feels like I've stalled lately... Not in terms of growth (if anything I keep growing), but in terms of motivation. I have a list of games to play, but I just can't focus on playing games anymore, it's rough.. mostly do zatsus, but even those are pretty hit or miss and sometimes I spiral into really dumb personal unprofessional rambles...

My art commissions are picking up- more than I can handle, honestly... My clients have gotten pretty big and it's getting me recognition, I have a few big offers in store once I can get around to them and I'm excited about it... but commissions are hard. I'm going to raise prices in January, and I try to accept five a month... but I can't keep up. I can't even do one a month it feels like... And yet I keep getting dozens of requests..

So in spite of this, because of my own doing and lack of doing, I've been bleeding a lot of money. I'm at a dangerous point of money... so I finally got a seasonal job at a local chocolate shop.

Haaaaaaaa.....

It's rough... I was in a huge depression over it, and I still don't want to work... The people are nice, the hours are light, and the pay is better than expected, but it's still so stressful... My social anxiety is terrible lately, it makes me want to curl into a ball and cry. I can't stand it, I can't stand being seen, I can't focus or memorize anything on the register, I can't handle dealing with customers or fast-paced environments...

They say the season lasts until Easter because of the nature of the store, but maybe I'll leave after Christmas time if it doesn't work out.. It's really a pain, and also could affect things like my food stamps and subsidized rent. Plus, the gas I have to spend, the clothes I had to buy, etc etc.. I wonder if it'll be worth it (probably, but nyeh)

I'm in need of money, though... one, my phone is on its last legs. The battery barely lasts an hour, it's very slow and unresponsive, and the 32 GB of storage is becoming more and more unwieldy.. Going to maybe buy one tonight...

My throat is also been a mess lately- I've had trouble swallowing, to the point I was unable to eat anything without a 50-50 chance of just choking on it. Drinking water was like waterboarding, it was like I was drowning. After raising my mattress, it's helped a lot, but not entirely, so I think it's something to do with scarring thanks to acid reflux- been trying to get an endoscopy for a year and finally have one scheduled in mid December. I'm worried how much it might cost.. hoping insurance covers it, but I still had to pay almost a thousand for my colonoscopy a few years back, which terrifies me...

Other small things- items I'd like to own, taking care of Bootsie (she's fine but overdue for a checkup and she's like 13 years old), etc.

But yeah, therapy. Also started taking that- we're trying to avoid me taking any medication, but I'm afraid I might need it.. I see her every week and I've been going since early October, and she seems like a decent therapist- she's the same age as me and understands a lot of internet culture, which.. is weird to talk to someone like that who "gets it" (she's a cosplayer, for example, and knows of vtubers), but it's nice.

Been reliving a lot of past stuffs... Been trying to improve, had some good phases, but fell back apart recently and not sure how far I can really get... keeping my apartment clean is hard, feeding myself is hard, drawing and doing anything is hard. I don't watch any media these days besides some indie vtubers I know, I don't really do much of anything but be depressed.

My biggest issue, as always, is my complex/trauma/whatever you want to call it... I've started trying to embrace it the past year. I've openly admitted to it, I made an alternate Twitter account for vent art of it, etc. But it makes me hate myself so much... It's become an addiction it feels like. Do I let it consume me and fully embrace it, even though it will push people away and make people think worse of me? Even though it will attract strange people who want creepy things from me? Even though it's expensive and gross and exhausting and uncomfortable to manage?

Or do I try to quit cold turkey? Get it all out of my system, and then never talk about it again. Delete the vent account, stop drawing it, stop being paranoid without things to take care of it, and just move on. I don't know. It's a part of me. But I hate it. And I really hate myself for it, it's my biggest tool to hate myself with.

But I've tried to embraced it, and that's what the RN update will have, and I apologize for it. I don't know how to move forward now. Therapy reopened a lot of thoughts about it- it really is a weird trauma, and a lot of it stems from my childhood... I want it gone. I want to be okay and not hurt myself mentally...

But such is life I supposeee. Again, I apologize that most of my art lately has been venting about it.. even if I embrace it, I don't want to be exclusively that kind of artist, you know? It's just one of many aspects. But it's invasive. And I don't want it to be invasive, but I don't know how to handle it.

The main goal of therapy is to get me drawing again. To give me what I've lost- a drive and motivation to continue. It feels like I just go through the motions when I draw. It's awful. I can't picture anything, no ideas. Rotten Nyan is completely stagnant lately. I don't know what to do about it. Life is just empty and depressing, it feels like. I gave up on myself, and now I don't know how to un-give up. But that's what therapy's for. Hopefully it helps... She brought up medication again, and I wonder if I should try it at this rate...

My anxiety is very bad. I end up relying on my complex trauma coping methods a lot when anxious. It's embarrassing and gross. And it just fuels my anxiety more using those things. I can't stand driving, or being around people, or crowded situations. I can't handle stress, or excitement, or being praised, or anything. My nerves are shot and I just have to curl into a ball. I don't know how I'm going to improve, but I have to try...

And then my focus, which I just can't focus at all anymore.. I don't know if it's depression/anxiety, ADHD, or what, but I just can't focus at all. It's awful. Very forgetful, very not-able-to-draw.

Otherwise, not much different. Got the new Nagata Kabi manga (I still worry about her a lot... she's so relatable though, she speaks to me, but she flares my anxiety like crazy too...) Still obsessed with my Disney anime boy gacha game, it's great, Vil's great. Vil, Cater, Lilia, Jade... so many good characters....

I guess that's all for now. Hope everyone has a happy thanksgiving- will keep doing what I can to try to improve.

And again, I'm really sorry about my art output and that most of it is just gross vent art about a gross personal trauma... I'm sorry...

[misty720]

Small note - Elodie is an OC from my second story and a main player in it. I just haven't worked on it in a long time...

Curses and Blessings - Ch 2:

Living on the Surface had its good and bad just like the Underground. Papyrus found society trying at times, but he was grateful for his little human and their three children. He was grateful to his sister in law for such an opportunity and for her unrelenting DETERMINATION to save them twice over. He loved his life, his career, his family, and all the opportunities afforded still. However, he realized he would have been just as happy back in Snowdin if he could still have his little family. He cared for people, his own kind and humans alike, yet he found some humans to be more tolerable than others, and the older he grew the less patience he had for nonsense. Whimsy, fun, and innocent jokes or pranks where not what he meant by 'nonsense' either. To put it bluntly, he didn't have time nor willpower to put up with bullshit anymore. Papyrus still believed in second chances, benefit of the doubt, and people having the potential to be better or do better, sure. It was simply that the man had found a threshold for his once unbridled patience.

Yes, life on the Surface had its curses as well as well as blessings. This thought hitched a ride in the back of his thoughts on his way to work which in and of itself was a blessing and a curse. Some days he felt more like a glorified babysitter than an entrepreneur or master chef and that included customers when necessary to deal with them.

Six in the morning wasn't terribly early for him specifically. Papyrus was used to waking up early, jogging, showering, and dressing for his role as Frisk's secretary until he was able to open his restaurant on the other side of town far from where MTT's sat. All of that went out the window the first month before he ever even served his first customer. His routine became more like wake up, run nonstop, drag himself home to either cook or eat whatever nice meal his wife could conjure, drag himself to the shower, and drag himself to bed. At least, until Monday rolled around giving him a day to rest and spend time with his family. Clising Monday was a promise he made Chara years ago when Kabel wasn't quite born yet. Six in the morning gave him a half hour to finish prep and help his bakers organize the baked goods before unlocking the doors. "ALRIGHT, PAPYRUS. TIME TO GET IN AND MAKE THIS ANOTHER AMAZING DAY. YOU WILL NOT FUSS AT THE NEW HIRES BECAUSE YOU'RE SLEEPY, YOU WILL NOT FUSS AT THE NEW HIRES BECAUSE YOU ARE SLEEPY, YOU WILL NOT FUSS THE NEW HIRES BECAUSE YOU ARE SLEEPY. THEY ARE STILL LEARNING AND VERY FRESH ON THE FLOOR. LET THE FLOOR MANAGER DO HER JOB. ELODIE IS CAPABLE AND A GREAT LEADER. DON'T HOVER OVER HER LIKE SHE'S STILL A CHILD. OKAY, IT'S GO TIME," Papyrus gave himself a little pep talk before entering his establishment. Even with its bad, Papyrus wouldn't trade a moment if it meant being anything other than a husband, a father, and a head chef of his own restaurant.

Meanwhile, Chara was giving herself a pep talk after making sure Serif had a way to school and quarantining her other two. "Sans! Thank you!" she greeted her brother in law as he pulled into the driveway.

"Hey, pal! How's the two little ones?" he greeted them rolling down his window.

"Kabel's fever is high, but Sylf is fine. I just don't want her going after being up all night sick. Frisk sent you instead because you can't catch it I bet."

"Oh yeah, ya think she wants that bug? I'll hafta go through Al's sterilization chamber before enterin' and leavin' work 'cause I could still be carryin' it. Ya sure ya wanna send this one? He could spread it. Meanin'... Luci and Cori will catch it. Meanin'... I can't protect ya from Frisk when she catches and feels better."

"If he was showing symptoms, I'd keep him home but I can't keep him out of school just because. Besides, the girls will probably have it soon enough and bring it home. It's been making rounds in school."

"Wonderful... Guess we better 'stock' up, eh?"

"Pfft! I would to be safe. Alright, son. Be good for your uncle and call me if you start feeling ill."

"Thanks for picking me up, Uncle Sans," Serif greeted him climbing in the passenger seat.

"You're welcome, kiddo. Just... try to stay away from your cousins and sanitize your hands," Sans advised leaving the driveway.

Chara went back inside not wanting to leave her five and six year old little ones alone for long. "Chara, you're not going to snap at your mini clone because you're sleepy, you are not going to snap at your mini clone because you're sleepy, you are not going to snap at her because you are sleepy. Kabel will need another dose of fever medicine in four hours, Sylf will be hungry in two, and I'll need to make sure that boy drinks something," Chara told herself.

"Momma, Bubby threw up on the stairs trying to get to the bathroom!" Sylfae called out the doorway.

"Fuck..." Chara exclaimed under her breath. "Thank you for telling me, my minion. Stay away from Bubby today, okay? I don't want you sick again." Her daughter agreed and went into her room that used to be her cousin Lucida's because it was pink and the girl liked pink over Corsiva's old purple room. Serif was the oldest therefore was privileged with Frisk's old bedroom with the built in bathroom Papyrus and Sans added on for her birthday one year. Chara's life, to her, was both a curse and blessing as well. She loved being a Mom and not needing to work, she loved that her husband was capable and loving, and she loved her friends and family, but in order for her to do all of the things she did and her family to have what they had, she had to sacrifice so much time with her husband. Many nights, he was home before midnight, but there had been plenty he didn't come shuffling in until two in the morning beat from running all over that restaurant. He had staff, he had a good name, and he took pride in his work as much as his family. It was just that sometimes, she felt he was more married to the restaurant than her. But, they had bills to pay and he already sacrificed one day of potential business to make her happy. How could she possibly put the pressure on him of choosing between his passion and his dream and his family when his business was supporting a comfortable life even with three children, one of which was a bottomless pit and could out eat both of them combined? No, she was a good wife and a fair partner so she would shoulder the downsides with the upsides. Afterall, the vow was for better or worse and she loved him deeply. "At least I have a puddle of half digested chicken nuggets, apple slices, and... when the hell did he get a hold of grapes?? The school doesn't serve them and we haven't bought any in weeks. Ugh! At least this and my minion will distract me for the day..." she thought aloud to herself grabbing the scrub brush and soap after checking on her sick boy laying in the bathroom floor.

"Momma..." Kabel groaned.

"Yes, love? Roll onto your side if you're going to steal the bathroom. I don't want you choking if you can't sit up in time. You'll suffocate. Here, try to sip on some ginger-ale and put some crackers on your stomach so you're not just hurling stomach acid," she told him setting a cold cup of soda and a sleeve of saltines in the floor.

"I'm not hungry..." he started tearing up. "I don't wanna be sick anymore."

"I know, baby boy, but you have to eat at least one cracker and sip this for me. The acid will hurt your throat if you don't." She sat on the side of the tub and petted his sweaty, rust colored hair. Yes, life for her was more good than bad and the bad wasn't even that bad considering what all she had been through, some her fault and some not. However, she wouldn't trade a second of it for anything else.

@papara-week

[queen-of-the-weenies]

The Bandit Queen's Bride: The Marketplace (Part 1)

Part 2 coming soon, I promise

~~~

“Tch… I hate the weather here. The buildings in town block the wind from the bay, so it’ll just smell like sweaty fish.”

“Speak for yourself, Merr. The heat makes women swoon, and I quite like it. Easier to woo 'em if they're already weak in the knees.”

“Are you sure it’s not the vile stink of your unwashed ass that makes ‘em swoon?”

“Shut up!”

Jin didn’t bother resisting the urge to roll her eyes. The lads were going to bicker the whole way into town, she could feel it. Already Gelvin and Merr had stopped walking to continue arguing about whose smell was worse. Jin thought they both smelled equally terrible… Then again, chances are that she didn’t smell much better. It’d been a couple weeks since her last proper bath--wiping her body down with damp rags could only do so much.

“M’queen, should we… I’unno, stop them, or something?”

The Bandit Queen glanced sideways at tiny little Miski, then spun on her heel mid-step to begin walking backwards, allowing her to focus on the arguing men. They seemed oblivious to being left behind by the others. She considered leaving them there aside the road… But then she’d never hear the end of it from Gallum, and her head already ached too much today to deal with the grumpy old man scolding her like a child. Plus Miski was giving her that doe-eyed, pleading look… The one she hated… The one that always worked.

With a heavy, perhaps exaggerated sigh, Jin changed the direction of her steps, heading back down the road. The argument had already shifted away from arguing about body odor; they had started fighting over who’d been with the most women. Unable to resist, the queen threw her arm around Merr’s shoulders, nearly knocking the scrawny man over.

“You louts ain’t ever gonna’ top the number of women I’ve had. No point in comparin’ numbers if you’re always out of first place. Now stop laggin’ behind or I’ll string you both to Tore’s saddle and send him running.”

Both men had the sense to look contrite. Merr grumbled a halfhearted “Yes m’queen,” then he stumbled away after being pushed toward Miski. Gelvin needed no such shoving--not that she could have moved him if she tried. Where Merr was lanky and close to her own height, Gelvin was practically a mountain of a man. She could shove her whole weight against him, and he might not even notice. Still, the Bandit Queen had no need for force. He was already following Merr down the road.

~

They made it to town without further delay. The lads might have begun to argue again, but Miski was an expert at distraction. Every time they got heated, she chirped about how excited she was to be surrounded by strangers again, her fingers itching to slip into new pockets and relieve them of their burdensome gold. She was especially adept at distracting Merr, using his particular affection for her to great effect. By the time they reached the port town, Merr had already agreed to obtain a pretty ring and some candies for Miski.

Jin lagged behind a bit once citizens began filling the space around them. The others already knew the plan: Miski would look around, taking note of any soldiers and possible targets; Gelvin would investigate temporary job prospects on the dock; and Merr would poke around the town inns, gathering any interesting gossip that might be useful. As for the Bandit Queen… She headed right to the market square to meet up with Gallum.

~

The sweltering heat was at its worst in the market. Bodies crowded together in the bright summer sun, sweat and spices and fish and salty ocean air mingled together with the ceaseless din of merchants shouting their wares while customers chattered and bargained. Gallum was glad for the meager relief of shade cast by his stall canopy. He was so old that even sitting hurt his joints, and all he wanted to do was watch life pass him by. A nice, cool glass of cider to wet his weathered lips wouldn’t hurt…

He spotted Jin long before she was close enough to reach him. She cut too imposing a figure to be hidden amidst the common rabble. Her long strides were cut short by the press of bodies, leaving her visibly irritated by the time she plopped down to sit beside him on the threadbare cushion. Gallum offered her half of a tiny red apple, but she pushed it back toward him.

“Nah, you eat it. S’got your gross mouth all over it already, I bet.”

With a chuckle, he took a bite, then used the apple-bearing hand to gesture at the crowd.

“Busy mornin’. Already sold out all them apples we appropriated, and I got a gentleman comin’ back later to buy that necklace Mitski lifted from that farmer’s wife last week.”

Jin eyed him skeptically as he spoke. He could pinpoint the exact second that her natural cynicism gave way to the more rational acknowledgement that he would never lie to her. Gallum was her oldest supporter, perhaps her oldest friend… Besides, the empty stall shelf was proof enough that everything had been pawned off. He reached under the cushion to withdrawn a small pouch, handing it to the Bandit Queen for inspection. The pouch was stuffed with gold bits, far more than the apples naturally should have been worth. Jin’s smile was sly as she counted a few pieces out of the pouch.

“You never disappoint, Gallum. These dullards’ll never know how much they overpaid.”

She tucked the pouch beneath the cushion again, keeping six bits in her hand.

“I’ll buy ya’ some cider. Stay here and relax. Gelvin’ll come by once he’s done.”

Gallum doubted he’d see the giant lad before the end of the day. Even if he finished his task quick, he’d likely linger at the docks to gamble with sailors. Jin reluctantly stood and stepped out of the shade… Then she froze to the spot. His attention snapped to the queen, then followed her line of sight across the market. From his spot on the ground, he couldn’t see what she saw… But he understood her reaction when she breathed “Blessed fuckin’ stars,” before making her way to the target, face flushed a deep crimson. The Bandit Queen has spotted a pretty girl, and Gallum wouldn’t be seeing her until tomorrow morning.

[cutthroatchorus]

i’m kind of dying to know what made jc penney so bad?? i’ve never had the pleasure of working retail tho

Ooooh well!! This is going to be long.

Let's start with a post I wrote about it, a year after I quit:

That post mainly talks about the most egregious shit that went on during my time there. I'm gonna put the rest under a readmore.

Like I mentioned, I've worked a hell of a lot of retail, and I'd never worked under such a dogshit management team... and I've had a manager who accused me of stealing a videogame prior to its release date ($5k fine at the time!) and sexually assaulted me when I put in my two weeks' notice.

Another manager (different job) would steal money from the safe, and then at the end of the shift, he'd make whoever was working that night "make up the difference" of the "lost" money. (This is super illegal btw! At least in the US)

You know the expression "I wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire"? I would rather work for one of those guys again, than waste my sacred urine putting out the flames on one of my former JCP managers. Because I KNOW how to deal with sex pests and thieves. Hell, I got the second guy fired, and I was only 21 years old at the time!

But the unique combination of incompetence, malice, backstabbing, and exploitation on display in that particular store? I only dealt with it for as long as I did by completely numbing myself out, and I lost a lot of myself in the process.

JCP was also the worst place I had worked in terms of all the shit I had to push on people at point of sale. Pretty much every retail job ever is going to involve pushing some sort of promotion on customers. Loyalty program signups, add-on sales, customer satisfaction surveys, or the dreaded... credit cards.

Retail credit cards are bad. They're just bad! Unless you shop at a specific store a LOT, they're probably not worth it. So having a set goal of getting X number of people per month to attempt to open a line of credit with terrible interest rates — and btw if you don't meet that goal enough months in a row, you get "corrective action" — feels bad!

But it wasn't just the credit card. I had to ALSO push the loyalty program. ALSO push the survey. ALSO push these weird gift card promotions, where I was supposed to convince someone to spend $X on gift cards and pay for their stuff that way, because you know what people love? Making their checkout process take three times longer than it should.

It made every customer interaction feel completely scripted from start to finish. Part of why I used to like retail was talking to people. I met so many cool people at most of my retail jobs! Not so, with JCP. By the time I quit, I had reached a point where I was physically angry anytime people talked to me outside of work. I didn't want to talk at all. Ever.

(Which also ties back to what I said about losing parts of myself because of this job. And as you can imagine, this was GREAT for my relationships at the time)

Ultimately, though, it didn't matter much because the customers also sucked shit. I'm sure a lot of them would have been cool and interesting had I encountered them in a different setting. But I think there is something about "non-essential" retail that makes people behave with a certain kind of callous entitlement. People NEED clothing, yes, but I wouldn't call 2 for $25 men's flannel shirts a "need" in the same way that, you know. Food is.

I had a woman argue with me about coupons not working on Nike products while my coworker was having a fucking grand mal seizure on the floor behind me because of COURSE I had to keep ringing people out while that happened.

One time I went to clear out the fitting room and picked up a garment that someone had ejaculated into and stuffed underneath the bench.

There was a guy where I don't even remember what he wanted or what he was saying, he was just so relentlessly aggressive over the phone that I had a panic attack in the back office.

So as far as what made JC Penney so bad... everything, pretty much.

[alex-multiverse]

Ranking arr class quests from lamest to coolest

Ff14 has a lot of jobs. And we all love them for different reasons. One of said reasons often includes the job quests, which help with contextualizing the flavor and place they have on the land of eorzea as a whole.

But what about the first step before achieving said job?

Today, im going to rank all the class quest plots in a realm reborn, from what i consider to be the most poorly executed, to the best story in this batch of content. This includes every starter combat job from levels 1 through 30. So no hw jobs who start in arr territory nor crafters or gatherers.

9.- Gladiator

The most boring of the class quests by a mile. The whole guild feels like a bunch of wannabee heroes who stick out their heads in places they shouldnt, and aldin, the focus character, kinda steals all the spotlight from the guild and the wol, even in the final lvl 30 duty. Mylla is cool otherwise and seeing every single gladiator sent to do plot things being near death in an obvious trap is something hilarious to me. And the plot to poison the sultana is funny on hindsight cause its not going to be the first time it happens.

Overall kinda boring, and still, it was better than dealing with paladin after hw

8.- Archer

Xenophobia: the class quest. While it is a good story that contextualizes the systemic issues thst gridania has, the main conflict between Silvairre and Leih isn't entertaining to watch. And the fact that the elezen's shittiness isn't really adressed and leih just kinda puts up with so they get along. And the whole "subduing the vil poachers" feels off when you consider the lore of the keepers of the moon in the twelveswood and their whole "actually living in peace with the elementals and being branded as poachers by the gridanians" all ends up leaving a bad aftertaste in ones mouth.

7.-Lancer

Drk isnt edgy as Dragoon is, and its predecessor is also quite edgy at times. Lancer quest focus character is Folques, who is yet another victim of gridania's aggressive culture towards outsiders, except he is a murderous bastard who thinks that getting stronger via murder is cool. So we prove he's wrong as we become stronger by killing him instead.

Overall kinda meh story about a rude rival that foreshadows some of the themes of revenge to occur in heavensward and stormblood.

6.- Conjurer

Weird how all gridanian class quests are relatively low.

However, conjurer is one i genuinely enjoy. Sylphie is sn amazing character and the explanation of the way conjury works is so good. Reason of it being a tad low, is because e sumi yan is a bad teacher, and sylphie is a terrible student. Other than that, im happy they returned for sb whm quest, closing a book on conjurer in a really good way that ill speak about later.

5.- Arcanist

Our favorite custom officers are a fun quest for beginners, fitting as summoner is the easiest job in the game. I particularly love k'lyhia's energy, as well as how the job includes aspects of its future job incarnations and its own core with her. The power of the summoner and the strategic might of the scholar.

Only complain is that i miss k'lyhia, and i need to see her in dawntrail.

4.- Marauder

You kinda just break rocks and chase after a big animal for 30 levels. Which is to say, they make work with what they had, and had to set in the conflict between beast and man to follow up with Gorge in warrior. Its not terrible, but its obviously just there for the warrior set dressing.

3.- Pugilist

Slapstick plot. The most hilarious class quest solely because hamon is such a riot to be with, abd his solo duty when you kicks his ass and he starts to level up is the best gag in all of a realm reborn. Besides that, the quest isnt particularly memorable besides the average ul'dahn crime sindicate plot.

2.- Thaumaturge

The cocogang is just shadow wizard money gang if it was real. I really love their whole "evil priest that do shady things in the shadows" except the shadows are 2 feet away from the place they do burials and stuff. basically they are all chunnibyious and im all here for it. Plotwise is really cool; it introduces voidsent and also adds some fun conflict in the form of the youngest -and magically deficient- of the coco brothers, and it ends with all of them broadening their horizons. whats not to love about this gang of arsonists?

1.- Rogue

The last addition to the basic classes, also is my personal favorite class plotwise. The rogues guild is full of character and so fun to have around. The whole concept of them being the actual people who punish pirates for their heinous crimes is genius, and the dumb rivalry they have with the yellowjacket captain is hilarious in the same way that lupin the 3rd does with inspector zenigata, and that one gag of Jacke being hanged in the hooks upstairs because he ate a sandwich is hysterical. couldnt expect less from ishikawa.

if i had to nitpick, is that the job loses me a lot aesthetics wise when it becomes ninja instead.

Will make a ranking of the arr job quests later when i feel like it. hope yall understood the weird ramblings of my mind

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on https://yaroreviews.info/2023/09/under-siege-wilko-staff-fear-for-jobs

'Under siege' Wilko staff fear for jobs

Getty Images

By Michael Race

Business reporter, BBC News

“We just do not know. We have no idea if we are going to have a job or not. We are completely in the dark.”

Working at Wilko has been tough recently to say the least, with staff anxiously waiting to see if their job will still exist in a few weeks’ time.

There are growing doubts about a potential rescue deal for the whole business, with administrators announcing that 52 stores across the country will close next week, resulting in more than 1,000 people being made redundant.

The company has 12,000 employees and so thousands still remain in limbo. Some jobs and stores could still be saved, but deals put forward so far appear to have stalled.

The BBC has spoken to two Wilko workers whose stores avoided the dreaded shut down list revealed on Wednesday, but remain fearful for the future of their branches, and more importantly, their jobs.

The women agreed to speak to the BBC on the basis of their identity being kept anonymous over concerns of potential repercussions.

One woman who has worked at a Wilko for more than six years said she woke up at three o’clock on Wednesday morning feeling sick with worry over whether her store was one of the 52 to shut.

Having waited anxiously for a phone call that did not come in the end, she learned at around 10:10 that her job was safe for now.

But after an initial feeling of relief, she felt “terrible” thinking of her colleagues at other shops around the country being told they were losing their jobs.

“I felt guilty because if it’s not happening to you, it’s happening to someone else,” she said.

This employee was on her day off when hearing the latest news, but she said work has been “horrendous” since Wilko first issued notice of an intention to enter administration last month.

The company, which was still owned by the Wilkinson family, frantically searched but was unable to find a buyer. Home deliveries were then suspended, supplies halted and administration followed with PwC calling the shots ever since.

Walking into work tearful the day after the collapse of the company, one of the workers said banners were quickly put up at her store along with sale and “everything must go” signs.

Getty Images

But staff were not stood around twiddling their thumbs waiting for more news. Both workers told the BBC their respective stores had been “busier than we have been in months”, with shoppers on the hunt for bargains amidst many empty shelves.

“The very next day people were in,” said one of the workers, describing being constantly asked about items on sale by customers, one of which “effed and jeffed” at her due to his unhappiness at the prices of some items.

“We get a 100 times a day, ‘when are you closing?’ I say, ‘you mean the day I lose my job? I don’t know when that is yet,'” she said.

“Its a bit like being under siege,” she added. “People have no idea what we are going through. I’m shattered at the moment.”

“It’s very sad,” said the second staff member, who has worked at Wilko for 15 years.

“Nearly half the store is empty. We are getting deliveries but it’s only a shelf full,” she said. “It’s just really sad seeing how the store used to be, to how it is now – there is nothing left.”

She explained while 90% of customers have been sympathetic some people have been “getting very nasty because they want a bargain”.

Getty Images

Despite being in administration, staff are still being asked to put holiday requests in and are also being given rota schedules four weeks in advance.

“I cannot tell you how difficult it is. We are all busting a gut, all doing extra hours. It’s testament to all the other Wilko staff that are working,” one of them said.

As well as being rushed off their feet, whispers and rumours about potential takeover deals have not helped things.

While both of them are sitting tight, they said colleagues, mostly less experienced ones, were “putting feelers out” for alternative jobs.

“It is taking its toll,” one of them said. “Not just on me but on every member of staff.”

“I found it very difficult to get a job, I am classed as disabled and as soon as you put that on an application form a lot of people do not want to hire you. I do have loyalty towards them [Wilko] for that,” she added.

A spokesman for administrators at PwC said they were “doing everything we can” to keep staff updated through “regular dialogue with employee representatives as well as calls and updates to the business”.

“We are mindful of the confidential nature of the ongoing discussions with interested parties and given the fluid and fast moving-nature of the situation we also want to ensure that all information provided to employees is both relevant and accurate,” they added.

“We know that this is an unsettling and uncertain time for all Wilko team members and greatly appreciate the dedication and patience they’ve shown since the start of the administration.”

Wilko had been struggling for some time with heavy losses before it collapsed into administration.

The discount chain was founded in 1930 in Leicester and by the 1990s had become one of Britain’s fastest-growing retailers.

But the brand, a stalwart of the High Street for decades, has faced strong competition in recent years from rivals including B&M, Poundland and Home Bargains.

The location of the majority of Wilko stores, in those High Streets which are struggling to attract shoppers, has also had an impact, with competition from suburban retail parks offering easier car parking.

‘It’s the hope that kills you’

One of the staff members said looking back now, there were signs that things “were not quite right” at the company.

“It did used to be a really good company to work for,” she says. “We were paid well over the minimum wage.”

Staff also got “perks” she added, including staff discount, a Christmas meal paid for and vouchers, but those days have since passed.

“You used to get a lot of perks just to say thank you for doing your job well, gradually that’s got less and less over the years.”

The staff member said she felt “let down” by Wilko’s owners, and both staff members the BBC spoke with said they do not have much faith in reports of a potential rescue deal.

“It’s just a nightmare,” said one. “It’s the hope that kills you.”

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[darthschabba]

I will never understand how this monster came into being.

I shall never understand how people got confused by him.

How he con ned them.

How he cashnoogled them.

How he has pulled the wool over the eyes of so many stupid stupid people.

You should have smelled his bull shit from miles away.

Everyone . Everyone should have felt and known what an absolute fuckfest he was gonna bring to the shityourpantschucklefucklefuck witt show.

First off.

He is physically ugly and so repellent to even look at.

His demeanor and posture should trigger warning bells in the bac k of your mind.

Your Spider-sense should already be tingling.

Every part of You should be triggered.

There is something wrong with this guy.

From 1500 feet away you should know this chucklefuck is going to shitt his pants or already has. And if he can , he will shit in your pants as well.

From his cheap cheap cheap looking style-less suits to the way he wears those stupid fucking long ties. You should know Something is most certainly wrong.

That face is fully ugly.

It is a big pile a beef.

He s not an attractive human being.

The fuckn hair.

That birds nest of straw and glue is

ridiculous.

His whole image is that of a clown.

A buffoon.

A ridiculous chucklefuck.

A moron.

But ... let's dismiss this.

Maybe you can't see well or you too are fashion impaired.

He has never ( ever ) ever done anything correctly in his entire life.

He was handed a huge fortune .

Which he pretended was his from hard work and genius. But like so many " billionaires " and other rich people it was inherited from some one else and they just let every one believe that it was their hard work.

He made his money from stealing from others. Year after year. Decade after decade.

When he wasn't out right grifting he was stealing by not paying people what he owed them.

He constantly low balled legitimate businesses into giving him services and merchandise at under cost just because he is such a shit of a person.

There is news articles and stories for decades about how he orders goods and services and products that are custom made just for him and he doesn't pay for them .

Many businesses have gone bankrupt or almost from his bullshit.

He s a liar. He s a known liar. A terrible human being. A shitty business man . A thief.

His charity was shut down because he was stealing from it.

When he was president. Of these united states. He did almost nothing. Except make himself rich.

He sowed dissent among the unsatisfied and content alike.

He pushed his nazis esque agenda onto the Country and allowed the worst of us to feel emboldened to come out into the light to shit their vile hatred upon the land.

He decreased Our standing among The World and damaged The United States ' reputation.

He fucked up our relationships with other countries.

He did damage to this Country and to The World that might never be repaired or fixed.

He stood idle , as a virus that killed millions ran rampant through the land .

As president ... he could have spoken to the whole land and all her people and encouraged everyone. He could have just let fauci ( who had decades of experience dealing with pandemic situations to handle the problem ) do his job.

But trump couldn't be bothered.

It s on his head that we all lost those 3 years.

Its on his head that a million people died from covid ( and some medical professionals say its more like 4million people. )

He didn't do anything . He washed his hands of it all.

He gave stupid advice on how to deal with the virus.

And even when he got covid ( and had the best medical care in t he whole world to help his old ass ) he did nothing but hinder the cdc s and fauci's ability to get things ameliorated.

His presidency was a grift. Like all the things he has ever done in his life ... his presidency was a joke and it was just there to make him money.

But. Of all the horrible and terrible things he has done... of all his crimes ...thee arguably worst is:

He stole classified documents and sold them to either the Russians ( or ) some other power. And got cia operatives killed .

Like the plot of a mission impossible movie...

This chucklefuctchucklefuck stole the Goddamn NOC list to our secret agents and gave it or sold it to a foreign power or foreign powers and got undercover c.i.a. agents killed.

This alone should put him in prison.

He betrayed this country on multiple levels . Multiple times .

He has committed treason against The USA and her people.

And he should receive the death penalty for what he has done.

How is he already not in prison.

And I can not forgive any one who voted for him or was for him.

And I do not know how repbz can still be for this guy.

If you are a repb at this point you are delusional.

Or stupid.

And that is what it comes down to.

For you to be on the side of the repb and or donald trump at this point :

You are either stupid . Very very very stupid.

Or you have some kind of severe brain damage or need for medication and should not be voting because your judgment is severely impaired.

Or

You are not just an asshole shitbrick.

You are not just some kind of creepie fuck who likes chaos ;

Your a legitimate bad person.

An actual evil fuck who wants to watch the World burn down .

Or at least you are an enemy of the usa and you want the country and its people to fall apart and suffer.

And it is unforgivable.

[decimalpointed]

So long ass drug addiction Steddie fic idea.

Steve's always bought weed from Eddie and as far as rich jock assholes go, he isn't a bad customer. Eddie always overcharges because he knows the Harrington's are rich and Steve never notices or throws any slurs his way during the deal, which all in all, equals good customer.

After Steve's very public break up with Nancy, his face getting beaten in, and his fall from royalalty he turns up at Eddies trailer and asks for something a bit stronger.

Which Eddie is like yeah, sure, of course Steve probly intends to throw a rager, get back into the good graces of popularity, and probly find some beautiful girl to rebound with. Cool. Win win since Eddie could really use some of that Harrington wealth for himself since this asshole has so much of it.

So Eddie shows him the wears and asks what he wants, but Steve doesn't go for the coke or the MDMA or the real wild party drugs. He asks about the very big bag of special k that Eddie had just bought for a pretty penny. Eddie hypes it up a little, because well he is a businessman trying to make a sale and Steve looks keen on the whole 'peaceful bliss' spiel. So he asks how much Steve wants and he just kinda shrugs and shrugs and says "All of it?"

Which Eddie is more than happy to make a quick sale and move product but he isn't a monster and thats a lot of drugs and the last thing he needs is for a party to go south with kids ODing on drugs he sold them cause they don't know what the fuck they are doing. So he pumps the breaks a little and tells Steve he won't sell him the whole bag until he tries a single dose first, here, with Eddie showing him how much he should take so he doesn't OD later.

Steve is hesitant but agrees after Eddie assures him his uncle is on night shift, he can crash on Eddies bed if he needs to while Eddie works on his nerd shit. So Eddie measures out a bump and watches as the King of Hawkins High snorts drugs off his coffee table and its a bit surreal.

Steve is out of it, loopy and sedated so Eddie puts him in bed, puts on a record, and sits at the bottom of the bed with a joint and his campaign notes spread out to basically babysit the dude.

Once he looks over and Steve is glassy eyed but smiling in a way he hasn't really seen before. "How you feeling your highness?" Because he can't help but tease just a little and be a bit smug. And Steve just kind of let's his head loll towards him and smiles wider. "Great." And Eddie laughs and thinks that's the end of it but then- "It's like I know I hate myself, but I just don't care" and he is giggling while he says it but. Eddie thinks he has made a terrible miscalculation. He thinks maybe there isn't any big party.

He isn't sure what to say so he just let's Steve zone in and out and decides once he comes to, he will tell him the deals off and that the first dose was just on the house this one time. He continues working on his campaign, stealing glances at Steve every now and then who shifts from blank contentment to sad smiles and he thinks he sees him crying once or twice.

Eddie is feeling a bit shaken because like what the fuck Steve Harrington is crying in his bed high off his ass and smiling while he does it so he lights himself another joint or two and then he accidentally falls asleep.

When he wakes up Steve is gone, his special k is gone, and in its place is a fat wad of bills thats actually way more than the figure he gave for the price of it all. Eddie feels like utter shit because he thinks he just made a massive mistake.

Que Steve becoming an addict because he just wants to sleep and his life has pretty much fallen apart from everything he has ever known and now his drug dealer seems to be stalking him for whatever reason.

Would love to see Steve being an extremely functional addict slowly getting worse and worse (especially his memory and zoning out), with Eddie popping up everywhere and anywhere trying to look for signs of him falling apart and in active addiction but struggling to find the signs since Steve is still acting so fucking normal but he knows there hasn't been any parties, so where the fuck did all the drugs he sold him go? Also Robin makes things just a tad better on Steve and the Russian drugs make him slow his roll a bit, but well he is an addict so he falls right back into it. Would also love to see Eddie refusing to sell him more but Steve can always find another dealer and then when shit hits the fan with Vecna he is going through withdrawal cause he never restocked and he can't really just do that while babysitting.