Hello, I have some starters that I am interested in trying out> They are a little strange and the character I play is disabled. I have a sample of the starter included
Aries, a 30-year-old construction worker, had been working in the industry since he was a teenager. He'd often visit job sites with his father, learning the trade by his side. Once he turned 18, he formally joined his father's company, Harper & Sons, as a construction worker. The family was tight-knit, and they spent a lot of time together. Aries was next in line to take over the company when his father retired, much to his older brother Jason's dismay.
Jason, who was a few years older than Aries, had always been bitter about being passed over for the top spot. He saw the company as his birthright and felt that his father was making a mistake by grooming Aries for the role. Jason didn't have the patience or creative mind to run the company; he was driven by greed and a desire for power. He spent hours trying to convince their father to change his mind, but it was no use.
Aries, on the other hand, didn't care about the money or the power that came with running the company. He just wanted to provide a comfortable life for his new wife, Rosalie, and their young child. He was practical and frugal, rarely buying anything new unless it was absolutely necessary. He'd squeeze every last bit of value out of an old truck, phone, or piece of clothing before considering replacing it.
But all this changed one morning when Aries woke up feeling off. He got up early and showered, noticing that his vision was cloudy and out of focus. He rubbed his eyes until it improved slightly, but it was still nowhere near what he was normally accustomed to. He brushed it off as exhaustion and overwork, attributing it to the long hours he'd been putting in to help cover for one of their coworkers who was out sick.
As he got dressed in his usual dark tee shirt and worn jeans, stained with paint and plaster from previous jobs, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. He laced up his work boots and sat down on the bench in their bedroom, staring at the clock. It was time to head out, but he wasn't sure what was happening to him.
He grabbed a cup of coffee from the kitchen and sat down at the table, closing his eyes and rubbing his head as he tried to fight off the lingering headache. He walked over to the counter and took a few Motrin with his coffee, then grabbed his keys and headed out the door.
As he climbed into his trusty Ford Raptor, he turned the key and tried to find his favorite station on the radio. But everything seemed fuzzy and indistinct, with black spots clouding his vision. He felt for his phone in his pocket and called his father, telling him he wouldn't be able to make it to work. He was nervous and unsure of what to do.
After trying Rosalie's number, he managed to get through to her on the second try. "Babe, please pick up," he muttered to himself as he waited for her response.

IF YOU KNOW OF A BANH MI IN METRO NASHVILLE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LIST PLEASE CONTACT ME
What is a banh mi? It is a sandwich of Vietnamese origin, which includes all the elements of southeast Asian flavors encased in a French-colonial inspired baguette. There are many varieties, but the ones I am familiar with include meat and vegetables including cucumber, pickled carrot, pickled Asian radish, cilantro/coriander, and jalapeno pepper. This is served on a crusty yet soft baguette which is smeared with spread made from pate, mayonnaise, hollandaise, hoisin, fish sauce, or none of those. And while there are many meat options out there, the original being made of traditional Vietnamese cold cuts, locally there is one option that you will always find: sliced roast pork. The sandwich is equal parts sweet, spicy, sour, salty, savory, soft, crunchy, meaty, and fresh. It is absolutely my favorite sandwich of all time. Nashville, Tennessee has a robust Vietnamese community (particularly in West Nashville) and with it quite a few banh mi options. But which one is best? My guide will help you navigate.
To rate these, I ordered a standard bbq / roast pork banh mi or its nearest equivalent and dined in the establishment if possible. The reported price is rated based on the minimum cost for the sandwich without any tip on date of purchase in May 2024. Any taxes or fees are included in that cost. Other categories include the bread, veg, meat, spread, convenience, and vibe of the establishment. As a result, these scores (as always) are entirely subjective and are rated not just by sandwich but the entire experience.
See the summary in the table below and scroll down further for more detailed reviews listed in alphabetical order.

Rank	Store	Total Score	Price (May 2024)
The Best	Kien Giang	5.0	$6.76
Great	Interasian Market & Deli	4.4	$8.00
	Pho T&N	4.4	$8.19
	Hoang Tofu	4.4	$5.00
	VN Pho and Deli	4.1	$7.65
Okay	Han’s Vietnamese Deli & Boba	3.7	$8.20
	Miss Saigon	3.4	$8.14
	East Side Banh Mi	3.0	$12.55
Bad	Banh Mi and Roll+	2.6	$13.77
	Love Peace and Pho	2.6	$15.72
	Vui’s Kitchen	2.3	$12.55
Terrible	Mitchell Delicatessen	1.9	$10.91

~Banh Mi and Roll+~ – 1808 20^th Ave S.
While this is a flavorful banh mi, unfortunately this setup seems like it’s built for delivery rather than customer service. The meat is sliced thin, then cooked and dried out while waiting to be scooped into one of hundreds of sandwiches that will be bagged and tagged without a customer ever setting foot in the store. All this means your meat will be cold when you get it. This may not put off some folks, in fact it could be argued a cold pork sandwich is a quintessentially authentic banh mi. But what it tells me is these batches of meat are being made all in the morning to be slapped together at lunchtime without any real care. The chefs know full well the food will not make it to its customer warm, so why bother starting warm? Zero parking, plus a mandatory “convenience fee” for one of the most inconvenient eateries in Nashville unfortunately brings the experience down further.
Bread 5 - Meat 3 - Veg 5 - Spread 4 - Price 1 ($13.77) - Convenience 0 - Vibe 0
TOTAL SCORE 2.6

~East Side Banh Mi~ – 1000 Gallatin Ave.
Don’t get me wrong, this sandwich is delicious. But this banh mi misses the mark in a few key areas. First, the bread is all wrong. This may be a delicious, house-baked roll but it is not the type of bread you associate with a banh mi. When eating banh mi, hundreds of crumbs should fall on your shirt with each bite, a light, delicate bread with a gentle chew. This bread is none of those things. The other major flaw here is the pork. These are chunks of pork shoulder, lovingly roasted in a caramel pepper glaze. Delicious, but this isn’t the cut we’re looking for. The place also suffers from a tiny parking lot right on a busy Gallatin Pk and east Nashville hipster vibe which is never what I want when I’m getting banh mi. If none of this offends you and you’re willing to pay the price, then may you enjoy this more than I do.
Bread 3 - Meat 3 - Veg 5 - Spread 4 - Price 2 ($12.55) - Convenience 2 - Vibe 2
TOTAL SCORE 3.0

~Han’s Vietnamese Deli & Boba~ – 5694 Nolensville Pike & 7318 Hwy 70 S, Ste 101
If I’m in the area, which I often am since they have two locations, Han’s does an okay job at making banh mi. The bread and meat are good. But it’s got one major flaw that takes it down a notch: This is a very mayonnaise forward sandwich. They are proud of their house-made mayo, which when spread with the pate keeps the sandwich moist. But the flavor profile is so heavy on mayo, sometimes you can forget you’re supposed to be eating a banh mi. The saving grace is a little cup of brown liquid (not to be confused with soy sauce) that gives the customer control on the sweet hoisin notes. Problem is it is a *very* small cup of sauce which will get messy unless its poured directly into the bread elements that aren’t coated with mayo. The cup is not large enough for dipping, and there’s simply not enough sauce to get the entire sandwich into banh mi unison. The pickled carrot is cut into thin shreds, and the cucumber is cut into thin round slices rather than sticks or spears leaving a relatively unsatisfying bite. Han’s always asks if you want your sandwich with jalapeno pepper (a banh mi staple in these parts) rather than automatically including it, which is both cost-effective and courteous if you’re not a chili person. But if you include yourself in that demographic then what are you doing eating a banh mi in the first place? Overall, the banh mi is fine, if a little bland. Regarding vibe, I have been to Han’s many times, and each time I’ve been the Asian music playing over the speakers clashed with the Ranchera music blasting from the kitchen which puts a damper on my enjoyment.
Bread 5 - Meat 4 - Veg 3 - Spread 2 - Price 4 ($8.20) - Convenience 5 - Vibe 3
TOTAL SCORE 3.7

~Hoang Tofu~ – 6333 Charlotte Pike
This is the only banh mi shop in Nashville that honestly makes you feel like you’re in Vietnam. Half grocery, half restaurant, there’s no menu except some items written on pieces of paper posted on the counter or refrigerator door. There is very little English going on in here. You decide which banh mi you want by looking at photos and you make your order by its number. You wait, the sandwich comes out, and then you realize there’s been some mistake because they’re not charging you enough. You can eat at a table if you like, you’ve already paid. To top it off, the banh mi is amazing. It’s a little smaller than the other options in town (which is why it is equal to Kien Giang in score on price), and there’s no radish leaving all the crunch to an abundance of carrot. But for the price, I really do not care. Just buy another one, you’ll still be paying less than you would at many other shops. There is a $10 minimum if you pay by card, which makes the decision to buy two even easier! Want an even better deal? Buy five banh mi and your sixth is free. For real, there are people in town who make this their lunch for the work week. I may or may not be included among them. It gets dinged on convenience because of the lack of English, $10 minimum, and a crowded parking lot that is shared with eight other businesses.
Bread 5 - Meat 5 - Veg 4 - Spread 4 - Price 5 ($5.00) - Convenience 3 - Vibe 5
TOTAL SCORE 4.4

~Interasian Market & Deli~ – 2160 Nolensville Pike
Now this is a banh mi. But this is no restaurant, it is a grocery store in every way. You walk in to find someone waiting behind the checkout counter and a menu on their sneeze guard. You place an order, and that person radios the back, or disappears entirely, to make your banh mi. You browse the store, maybe think about a snack, a beverage, or a dessert. Five or ten minutes later your banh mi arrives, you pay, and you leave. Everything about the banh mi itself is perfect. Try your best not to eat it in the car (you will fail.) Pro Tip: call the store and order ahead. It’s never busy and the best part is they don’t expect a tip. This has its disadvantages, because sometimes you want to sit and enjoy your meal before getting back to your destination. But the lack of a dining area means they can keep the cost low by selling it as a grocery item. My biggest gripe with Interasian is there are several banh mi options only available Friday through Sunday, including their Roast Pork made with crispy pork belly ($9.25) But if the biggest disappointment is you aren’t able to eat more, then that’s a great problem to have.
Bread 5 - Meat 5 - Veg 5 - Spread 5 - Price 4 ($8.00) - Convenience 4 - Vibe 3
TOTAL SCORE 4.4

~Kien Giang~ – 5825 Charlotte Pike
Open since 1993, this restaurant is now one of the oldest independently owned eateries in Nashville. It holds a special place in my heart since this was the first home of Nashville banh mi and my first experience ever having one as an impressionable teen, and I spent a lot of time in this establishment having lived in the neighborhood. But my personal feelings aside, this is a traditional Vietnamese bistro with a full menu of options. The clientele is going to be mixed, with equal numbers of people speaking Vietnamese and English. But we are talking about banh mi here. The main thing Kien Giang has going on that no one else has is the spread. I don’t know what kind of magic they’re wielding to make this bbq pork, but it’s slathered in this kind of salmon-colored hoisin-hollandaise which is unbeatable in terms of flavor. Add to this the perfect bread, perfect veg, courteous table service, countered with the price point and ample parking: This is the GOAT banh mi in Nashville.
Bread 5 - Meat 5 - Veg 5 - Spread 5 - Price 5 ($6.76) - Convenience 5 - Vibe 5
TOTAL SCORE 5

~Love, Peace, and Pho~ – 2112 8^th Ave. S.
The first problem you may encounter at this place is finding a place to park. The parking lot directly adjacent to this store is reserved by the grocery. The paid lot across the busy 4-lane avenue is free for the first hour, but you still have to register your car online. According to the staff, the parking for Love, Peace, and Pho is the same lot as Gruhn Guitars at the end of the block. Unfortunately, there’s no signage indicating as such and this lot is walled and fenced and in a tow-happy neighborhood. The other option is the three (!) spaces of street parking directly out front. You’re greeted by a lovely interior, which is a very modern Southeast Asian chic with a mix of pop dance tunes and traditional music. The banh mi itself is served on a very nice porcelain plate on a wooden slab, and comes with a side of crab chips (a real treat of a snack.) The sandwich itself, however, is sorely lacking. The bread and veg are nice, although buried under the meat. The cilantro here has been replaced with chopped scallion, a departure from the norm but not necessarily offensive. The meat is the real loser here: despite the description of BBQ pork on the menu, this is salty, greasy, stir-fried pork. There is no spread on the sandwich, leaving the bread dampened by the pickled veg and the grease from the pork. The worst part of this experience is the check, an eye popping $15.74 which includes a non-negotiable 42 cent processing fee. The sandwich isn’t great, but it’s definitely not worth the price or the hassle.
Bread 5 - Meat 2 - Veg 4 - Spread 0 - Price 0 ($15.74) - Convenience 2 - Vibe 5
TOTAL SCORE 2.6

~Miss Saigon~ – 5849 Charlotte Pike
This place is in the same shopping center as Kien Giang, and is the first thing you see when you pull up the hill into that enormous parking lot. This restaurant has an old-school feel with dark colors, wood paneling and booths to sit in, trying to be simultaneously upscale and working class. Appropriately, the same could be said about their banh mi. The roll has the right kind of bread, but unfortunately for me it’s a little stale. The veg is perfect, including everything expects to find on a banh mi. The meat, however, is problematic in that these are large chunks of roast pork that are very dry. Whether the pork is overdone in the oven, or is old roast pork that has been frozen and reheated, it’s so desiccated the only way to bring it back to life is by soaking it in a bowl of pho. Compounding the problem, the sandwich has no spread at all, leaving the only moisture on this sandwich supplied by the veg. The resulting banh mi is very difficult to eat, scraping up my mouth as if I’d just eaten a bowl of Cap’n Crunch after having recovered from oral surgery. It’s entirely likely this pork is intended to be used as the protein in other saucier and soupier dishes on their menu and that the banh mi is an afterthought. And that’s how you should consider this banh mi, as well. (Pro tip: Go to Kien Giang, it’s right there!)
Bread 4 - Meat 2 - Veg 5 - Spread 0 - Price 3 ($8.14) - Convenience 5 - Vibe 5
TOTAL SCORE 3.4

~Mitchell Delicatessen~ – 1306 McGavock Pike
Nestled deep in the heart of Inglewood, inconveniently away from the daily hustle and bustle of Nashville, lies a sandwich shop with a tiny parking lot. They serve many delicious sandwiches at this shop. Their banh mi is not one of them. The roll is a Silke’s hoagie, sliced all the way through, which is a nice piece of bread but absolutely wrong for this sandwich. Inside you will find julienne jicama masquerading as pickled daikon, which is a surprise addition that absolutely works. Mixed in with the carrot, pickled cucumber, and cilantro it does the job admirably. There is a lack of jalapeno here, and more importantly an addition of a giant pickle spear. I get it, this is a deli and that’s their thing, but it doesn’t belong anywhere near a banh mi. But I can forgive that. What I can’t forgive is the meat and spread. The meat is described as “house roasted pork” but this has all the hallmarks of a no-rub pulled pork that’s been pulsed in the food processor. The result is a flavorless meat paste which oozes out of the roll with each bite. Speaking of ooze, the fluorescent yellow lime mayo that’s glopped all over this sandwich reminds me of whatever the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crawled from. It’s a salty sour mess which evokes mustard aioli more than any citrus. The delicatessen vibe is great if you want a BLT or a Reuben, but not a banh mi. All told, this abomination is not only the worst banh mi in Nashville, it’s a strong contender for worst sandwich. I cannot recommend this at all, and if Mitchell removed it from the menu, the world would be a better place.
Bread 2 - Meat 1 - Veg 3 - Spread 1 - Price 3 ($10.91) - Convenience 1 - Vibe 2
TOTAL SCORE 1.9

~Pho T & N~ – 3745 Annex Ave.
You could easily have missed this banh mi since this restaurant is mainly a pho bistro, and they only have a single BBQ pork banh mi on the menu. But that lone banh mi is exceptional. First thing I noticed about this sandwich is the size, which seems to be the largest banh mi option we have in town. The pork is barbecued a deep red, almost magenta color, and the marinade they use penetrates the meat with moisture, employing a heavy fish sauce element. Indeed, if you were to eat this blindfolded you could be forgiven for thinking it was seafood, as those rich, briny, and umami notes combine with a sweetness that elevates the meat to another plane. If I had one complaint about this sandwich it’s the spread, which as best I can tell is only butter. But the meat does so much heavy lifting in the flavor department, the modicum of spread only accentuates the meat. It’s difficult to notice any pickled radish; not saying it isn’t there but it isn’t throwing enough weight around to be obvious and that extra crunch is missed. Otherwise the veg is great. If you’re at the Costco and need lunch, and the siren song of a hot dog and soda combo hasn’t lured your ship to crash upon its rocky shores, definitely give this banh mi a shot.
Bread 5 - Meat 5 - Veg 4 - Spread 3 - Price 4 ($8.19) - Convenience 5 - Vibe 5
TOTAL SCORE 4.4

~VN Pho & Deli~ – 5906 Charlotte Pike, Ste C
This is the kind of banh mi you want. Everything about the sandwich is very good, including the bread which is baked in-house. I feel like I could use a little more flavor with the spread or a little more of it as the sandwich is a bit dry. Where this banh mi fails isn’t in the sandwich itself, but in the convenience factor. This store is right across from the shopping center you find Kien Giang, on a very busy Charlotte Pk. The parking lot is very narrow, on a slope, and there are not enough spaces. Once you get to the door you will see a warning sign this place is CASH ONLY which in 2024 can present a huge problem. All power to these folks who’ve been keeping this restaurant open for so long on a cash-only basis, which is a true testament to the quality of their food. There is an ATM on site which charges $4 for its use (no thanks) or you can express your frustration to the owner who will lovingly give you cash in exchange for a Venmo payment that you turn right back around and hand in to pay for your food. Leaving the establishment, you have to turn LEFT onto the street to head back towards White Bridge and the nearest access to I-40, which if it’s lunchtime is no small feat. They are also closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, which is an uncommon schedule that you will definitely forget, especially when you’re hungry. If you are willing to brave these conditions, you will be rewarded with a great sandwich. But when Kien Giang and Hoang Tofu are within walking distance and incredibly more accessible, this option suffers greatly.
Bread 5 - Meat 5 - Veg 5 - Spread 3 - Price 4 ($7.65) - Convenience 2 - Vibe 5
TOTAL SCORE 4.1

~Vui’s Kitchen~ – 2832 Bransford Ave and locations in Gallatin, Nolensville, and Franklin
My mother always said if you can’t say something nice, it’s better to say nothing at all. So here’s what I can say about Vui’s banh mi. Their only pork option is a thick cut of pork belly which is chargrilled, giving it a very nice street-food flavor that takes the banh mi back to its roots. I suppose that’s technically bbq? But the use of thick-cut pork belly means you will be getting large mouthfuls of hot fat dripping in soy sauce, which if that’s your thing, you do you, boo, but it doesn’t make for appetizing banh mi. (Side note: crispy pork belly is a very common Vietnamese cut and if you want to have that on a banh mi, Hoang Tofu and Interasian weekend-only have that option!) The spread is the only one I can confidently say features pate as its main ingredient; in fact, it may be the only ingredient as it has an unmistakably in-your-face flavor, with no sweetness. The rest of this sandwich is unfortunately regrettable. The bun looks, feels, and tastes like something off an assembly line, too soft with no crust at all. The bread is cut completely into two pieces, allowing all the contents of the sandwich to fall out while its being eaten. And the contents, oh, the contents: the veg on this sandwich is mostly lettuce. That’s right, lettuce! The pickled daikon and carrot are shredded fine enough to be considered a slaw slapped with thin bias-cut cucumber and so little cilantro and jalapeno I cannot be certain they are even present. What I ended up with was a deconstructed banh mi style salad with a pate and soy sauce dressing. I understand culinary art is a subjective thing, but Vui’s has become incredibly successful in the area across multiple locations, and I can’t help but feel upset there’s any portion of Nashvillians who think that this sandwich represents a quality banh mi. The pounding techno-pop pulsing through the speakers is also not what I want to hear when I’m eating something like this. If you’ve made it this far and are still considering Vui’s banh mi, please take a look at a map of Nashville and see how close Interasian Market is. Go get a banh mi there instead, and you’ll be back before the rest of your party has even found parking.
Bread 2 - Meat 3 - Veg 1 - Spread 4 - Price 2 ($12.55) - Convenience 2 - Vibe 2
TOTAL SCORE 2.3

“Ho there! stranger what brings you to this cursed lands”.
The man who spoke was large ridiculously so. With thick veins snaking along his forearms and bulging muscles beneath them. His skin shone with sweat and dust. The man strained as he pushed a massive boulder up a broken hill. She could see his body strain under the weight. His muscle pushed, and the man grunted as the colossus rocked moved up the hill at a snail’s pace. The only article of clothing he wore was a tattered robe that hung loosely around his waist.
Elena could make out the man’s face behind the curtain of matted hair, the veins in his forehead pulsed with effort. His eyes, his eyes caught her off-guard. They were alive with joy. She had never expected to see genuine joy in a man cursed with a ceaseless task for all eternity. But there was something in there to. It burned, consuming all that he looked to. His honey-coloured eyes shone in the darkness with their hot intensity.
He was nearing the top, his steps thudded as he put one foot in front of the other. Slowly ever so slowly the rock moved. It seemed to grow heavier the closer he got to the crest of the hill. As though an invisible weight pressed against it with every step he took forward. Yet the man pressed forth a low groan escaping his clenched lips. He smiled the man actually smiled as he neared the very top. A row of pearly white teeth glinted in the dying light. A few more feet and he could clear it.
Thunder crashed shaking the world around them. The stone, as if tipped by a spectral hand pressed against him. The man’s feet dug gorges into the earth as he fought against the boulder. Ever smiling even with a boulder three times his size bearing down on him. From where they stood Elena could see how the man was losing. With a cry the man fell backwards, the stone rolling over him as he let go of it. It rolled a quarter down the hill before coming to rest.
As though tethered it pulled him backwards. The man dug his fingers into the earth him, struggling against a weight that mercilessly pulled him back. He fought against it, using every bit of strength he had left from the excruciating climb. He bared his teeth at the world letting out a hoarse yell as the earth tore free of his grasp. The man fell, bouncing as he rolled down the hill throwing up dust. Elena cringed hearing cracks and snaps the man rolled down. He came to rest as the foot of the hill just where he started.
An odd sound filled the empty corpse of a land. It was eerie and jarring, Elena cocked her head to the siding finding its source. It was coming from the man. He lay looking up at the dead sky, his chest heaved as he took great deep breaths as he laughed even louder. No wonder Elena couldn’t recognise what the noise was. It had no place in this hellscape. it was joy, there was genuine joy in his laughter. He was smiling, the bliss in it was so pure that it took her a moment to figure it out. She hadn’t had someone laugh like that in months. She hadn’t laughed like that in months.
“Why?”
“Hmm?”
“Why are you happy?”
“Wrong question stranger. The better question would be why not”.
He turned to her and Elena could see took for intensity was something else. It wasn’t the happiness that caused them to burn. It was madness, a madness that run so deep it manifested in every action he took.
“My hubris earned me this eternal torture. For a millennia I have pushed this boulder up that damned hill and for a millennia I have fallen down that hill. I am given a false hope every time I neared the top. For every time, I get ever so closer. But each time I fall.”
“So, I gave up, but the thing about eternal punishment is well…its eternal. Even if I gave up my punishment stayed the same. I was forced to push that same rock up that same hill. Oh, how I hated it all, it was the perfect punishment. So, I went mad with rage and hatred. I cursed my self for doing something as foolish as thinking my wit was the greatest there was. However, Know this young stranger. You will always be a big fish in a small pond. No matter, If the pond turns into an ocean and your skills grows better, there will always be someone greater.”
“So, what happens when your actions cause no change, but you are still forced to do the same thing?”
“I don’t know”. Elena whispered.
“You do what you can”.
“So, I did my best to find joy in this task. It was impossible at first but now, well now I have a rock to push”
Groaning the man stood up, stretching he pushed the rock back into position. The stone was scarred, with marks that counted something but stopped as well dried blood. Yet the man affectionate with it. With a smile he returned to his eternal task.
“Thank you” Elena said calling out.
But the man attention was already gone his mind focused on the task before him.

Figured I'd ask here since we're all suffering at this point. I had been managing things pretty well allergy wise until this week when my eyes have just turned into a runny, itchy, bloodshot mess.
This is the worst year I've had for allergies ever and that's saying something. What are you guys using to get legitimate relief?
I take a half of a Xyzal at night and then use Zaditor eye drops twice a day.

My two appointments with the optometrist last week determined that I have both astigmatism and a misalignment (eye turning outward when focusing) requiring correction. However, after asking the office for the details regarding the misalignment, they gave me this:
Neurolense Value : Neurolens Value: 2.0 BI ( Neurolense OD: 1.00BI - OS: 1.00BI ) - Prism Value for Neurolense only
They stated that the misalignment is what’s causing most of the double-vision and headaches, etc. but that the regular pair of glasses I just bought from them won’t help the issue whatsoever. They are adamant that these values cannot be used anywhere except for their office for Neurolenses. I have health insurance, but the lenses alone will still cost $820 out of pocket.
What are your experiences with this? Have any of you used Neurolens values as prism values online for other brands? I may just save up money and deal with the double-vision and headaches in the meantime, but I thought it was worth asking.

Been out for over a decade. As far as Reddit goes I think it’s a good place to vent. I don’t think it helps to get on here if you’re bum drunk. I’m guilty of it. It didn’t do me any favors. I fantasize about doing myself in on almost a daily basis. Won’t do it tho. I look back and realize how fast life has already gone by and realize I’ll be dead one way or another eventually. Gotta take the good with the bad. When it’s really bad you have to just embrace the suck for a little while and figure out how to make it suck less. It’s okay to be pissed off from time to time. I think most of us had lived through school of hard knocks before we even joined. Hold onto the pride you felt doing something for yourself. Never lose that. It’s something no one can ever take away from you. Not a lot of people can say that in their lifetime. Reflect/enjoy that time in your life with yourself. “Individual’s kill” EVERYONE on the outside is an individual! I understand now why you hear so many family members say such and such served but never really talked about it. I was pretty open about my experiences after I first got out. At the end of the day It left me deciding that non of them really rated to hear my experiences. Those are for me and the boys. They don’t understand, they can’t relate and everyone’s experience at the two way range is different. I thought it would be cool to share my experiences and thought it was something people would find interesting. It doesn’t. I’ve had failed relationships because of it. Most dads don’t want their (in their eyes) little girls dating a dude that’s killed people and can talk about it like it was just another day at the office lol. Don’t over share, their not like us. I’ve had people I work with make a mockery of my time in. People suck. I’ve longed for that same camaraderie on the civilian side and have gotten burned for it. It’s just not gonna happen. Life on the outside isn’t set up for that. If you have kids and wanna kill yourself at least wait until they are set up on their own. They didn’t ask to be born. Make it your mission to set them up for success before you check out.

What yall think?

• Wishful Ignorance: keep as is
• Hazardous Propulsion: keep as is
• Pyrogale Gauntlets: keep as is
• Arbor Warden: needs work. Alot of work
• Cadmus Ridge Lancecap: needs something
• Abeyance Leap: keep as is
• Point Contact Cannon Brace: keep as it
• Second Chance: keep as it
• Loreley Splender: keep as it
• Hoarfrost Z: cool but maybe do more too?
• No backup Plans: keep as is
• Path of Burning Steps: keep as is
• Cuirass of Falling Star: Give the same buff but to ballistic slam as well.
• Precious Scars: keep as is
• Icefall Mantle: let people still be able to jump while slowed. Increase overshield?
• Citans Ramparts: Remove the increased cooldown and reduced heath and duration in PVE activities.
• Severance Enclosure: change damage from kinetic to damage that matches your super and can inherent subclass verbs.
• An Insurmountable Skullfort: needs alot
• Eternal Warrior: ok I guess.
• Helm of Saint 14: fine for now
• Khepris Horn: keep as is
• Mask of the Quiet One: needs work
• One Eyed Mask: needs work
• ACD/0 Feedback Fence: fine for now
• Aeon Safe: fine for now
• Ashen Wake: Keep as is
• Doom Fang Pauldron: keep as is
• Stronghold: fine as is
• Synthoceps: return them to glory now
• Ursa Furiosa: Give super energy also based off damage blocked by overshields
• Wormgod Caress: fine for now
• Actium War Rig: perfect
• Armamentarium: fine as is
• Crest of alpha Lupi: should restore full health and shield for you and allies.
• Hallofire Heart: fine for now
• Heart of inmost Light: restore to glory
• Antaeus Ward: I don't pvp so sure
• Dunemarchers: fine for now
• Lion Rampart: fine for now
• Mk44 Stand Asides: allow to stack with juggernaut
• Peacekeepers: fine for now
• Peregrine Greaves: maybe include ballistic slam?
• Phoenix Cradle: keep as is

Hello all! As promised: the first update after being on 20/day isotretinoin (70kg bodyweight, 31F). I don't know how to refer to a previous post but my post history will show.
I have mixed type 1, 2 and ocular for years (unfortunately). Been on two rounds of doxy but wanted a more permanent solution. Scared to start iso but here we are.
The first update, after one month of being on iso: so far so good! I'm pretty relieved to say that my type 2 p&ps have reduced a lot. Seems to be very stable too!
Didn't notice any big changes the first two weeks but after that it has gotten steadily better. After two weeks I experienced slight headaches but nothing too bad. My skin started to dry out a bit more too. On the one month mark: I do feel pretty groggy in the morning, have sensitive eyes and if I don't slather my lips in vaseline they look like shit. My hair barely needs any washing now, I started doing hair masks for upkeep. My hands are also dry and I get tiny wounds on them easily. My (face) skincare was already on point before the iso so that's not a problem. My pore size has gotten a bit better lately so I hope that that will progress even further.
Overall I'm pretty positive after one month! My blood tests came back clear so my derm keeps me on 20/day at least for another month. Happy to say that my type 1 remains unchanged. I was terrified that the flushing would get way worse.
Talk to you next month when I'll post another update! Xoxo

After the covid season, all the minor league schedules were changed so teams play Tuesday-Sunday and have Monday off. So, have some Monday summary notes!

Columbus vs Indianapolis(4-2 record)

*Our favorite AAA team is tied for the 2nd most runs scored in the 20 team international league this year. They also are tied for the worst record, so please give the boys some pitching. This week the bats got 62 runs off of 71 hits, 33 walks, and 5 stolen bases. JRod made his return to CBus a real splash, as he went 14/29 with 4 doubles, 4 home runs, 16 RBI, and 2 walks across the week. All three home runs came in a monster game 3, where he hit a 2 run home run in the 8th, and then a 3 run and a grand slam in the 9th. Right there alongside him was Lavastida, who went 8/17 in 4 games with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 7 RBI, and 2 walks.
*I think you can imagine there are a lot of names to mention with 62 runs in one week… speedrun time. Brito gets at least one hit every day as he goes 10/29 with 3 doubles, a stolen base, and 5 walks. Jhonk keeps hitting with a 12/23 five game week, with 4 doubles and a triple. Valera has made a full return from injury with a 6/18 five game week that included a double, a home run, and a stolen base. Finally… MYLES STRAW… a name that may bring fear to subreddit members everywhere, he actually uses the bat and goes 9/23 with a double and two triples.
*While Connor Gillispie may not have actually started the games he pitched in (Gavin rehab says hi), he is certainly still a starter, with two appearances that combined for 10IP, 3H, 1R, 3BB, and 9K, that dropped his ERA from 5.89 to 5.02 on the season. Curry and Darren McCaughan both make starts, with Curry going 7IP, 3H, 2R, 3BB, and 3K on 83 pitches and McCaughan going 5.2IP, 3H, 2R, 0BB, and 10K on 90 pitches. Both of the runs off of McCaughan came off of solo home runs, and both of the runs off of Curry were in the first inning.
*Wes Parsons gets two outings for a combined 2IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, and 5K, and Andrew Walters gets two outings for a combined 2IP, 2H, 0R, 3BB, and 2K. Erik Sabrowski and Tanner Burns each had 2 scoreless innings of relief in the blowout 23-5 game. It may be some odd depth, but depth nonetheless if we need it, waiting in the wings at CBus.

Akron vs Portland(3-3 record)

*Last week, I prayed that CJ Kayfus would bring his offense to Akron with his promotion. This week, I happily get to say that he did, with his first AA week being 5 games, and going 9/18 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 8 RBI, and 3 walks. Hitting alongside Kayfus this week was Joe Lampe, who went 9/19 in his 4 games of work, hitting one triple and two doubles. Finally (they need more bats still), Alexfri Planez goes 6/21 with 2 home runs and a double.\
*Ross Carver had a short start, but it was best of the week, going 3IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, and 2K, and was followed by a Jaime Arias outing that went 3.2IP, 4H, 1R, 1BB, and 3K, with the only run being a solo home run. Next best outing would be Aaron Davenport, going 5IP, 2H, 2R, 1BB, and 6K on 90 pitches.
*So for the bullpen I try to find guys that had at least two outings with no runs allowed… Akron just had a bad week overall pitching-wise, with the sole reliever that had 2 scoreless outings being Bradley Hanner, combining to go 5IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, and 4K between his two appearances.

Lake County vs Beloit(4-2 record)

*So, speaking of recently promoted players, Angel Genao goes 6/20 with a double, a home run, 2 RB, and a walk in his first week at High A, a great start for our 11th ranked prospect. Guy Lipscomb went 7/20 with 3 doubles and a triple, and Jake Fox went 4/14 with 2 doubles and a home run. Slower bats this week at LC.
*Parker Messick is now consistently pitching long outings and getting better and better, with a 5.2IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, and 11K outing on 94 pitches, to drop his season ERA from 3.66 to 3.30. Tugboat also makes an excellent start, going 5IP, 3H, 0R, 3BB, and 9K on 95 pitches, maintaining his minor league lead in strikeouts at 96. Definitely worth mentioning Austin Peterson(5.2IP, 5H, 2R(1ER), 3BB, 8K) and Trenton Denholm(5IP, 2H, 2R, 3BB, 6K) as the Lake County pitching staff were the definite cause for the 4-2 record this week.
*The whole bullpen in games 2-5 gets the shoutout, with a combined line of 11.2IP, 6H, 0R, 4BB, and TWENTY FIVE strikeouts. When 25 of the 35 batters got out via strikeout, it’s pretty freaking impressive for the 8 men involved in the games out of the pen, especially for the only man appearing twice in Magnus Ellerts who struck out 6 batters in 2 innings of work.

Lynchburg vs Delmarva(2-4 record)

*We love on-base and hitting streaks, cause it means the hitter is doing the work. Wuilfredo Antunez currently has a 7 game hitting streak, and this week went 8/20 with 2 doubles and a home run in 5 games, while Jose Pastrano has a 14 game on base streak, and went 5/15 with 2 doubles and 3 walks across 5 games this week.
*Ralphy Velazquez is not just a fun name(imo), but also the 97th overall prospect in MLB for good reason. This week he only goes 2/17 but the hits are a double and a triple, along with 5 walks. Jaison Chourio also has a fun name (who doesn’t love food names?), and also is on the top prospects list as MLB’s 93rd ranked prospect. Across 5 games he goes 5/20 with 2 doubles, a triple, and a home run. Two kids to certainly keep your eyes on.
*Two different scoreless starts this week, one from Kyle Scott(5IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 6K) and one from Rorik Maltrud(5IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 7K). Alex Clemmy continues to drop his ERA and perform better, with a start line of 4IP, 4H, 2R, 3BB, and 4K on 60 pitches. Our number 8 prospect drops his season ERA from 6.82 to 6.57.
*Pitching is always funky just due to the nature of trying to figure out who should pitch where and when at the A level of baseball, and that shows as only three pitchers across the week threw only one inning or less. Deretd Parra, Wardquelin Vasquez, Jack Jasiak, and Matt Jachec all have outings of 2 scoreless innings, and Parra and Vasquez don’t allow a hit in their two innings of work. Vasquez even manages to strike out four of the eight batters he faced in his outing (one reached on field error, one reached on HBP).

I put the script in scriptbin for ease of recording (I heard some VA's prefer reading it from there): Virtual-Grade592: [A4A] werewolf gets hypnotized to not go berserk [hypnosis] [werewolf] [monster hunter] [transformation] - scriptbin
It's okay to fill this script and make minor adjustments. Please give me credit for writing the script and put a link in the comments so that I can find your audio. It's okay to paywall, but send me a copy of the audio then.
(You are a monster hunter. You have been hunting a werewolf. In the woods you have set a trap to capture them before the full moon rises tonight.)
[trap springs and a net falls over the werewolf]
*cries out in pain* Aaah! It burns! Why does this net hurt? Shit, it’s made of silver.
[sound of footsteps as the monster hunter reveals themselves]
*scared* You must be a hunter. What are you going to do now that you have me captured?
[pause]
*terrified* You want to take me prisoner? No hunter, don’t. Tonight is a full moon. Even with silver you couldn’t stop the beast. It’ll only anger it.
[pause]
*panicking* Please reconsider hunter. I am not able to control myself in werewolf form. I have seen others try and fight the beast. They didn’t make it.
[hunter approaches]
*desperate* I beg you, just let me go. I’m heading deeper into the forest. There no one will be around. The beast cannot hurt anyone if there is no one to hurt. Please hunter, you are in danger if you imprison me.
[pause]
You know what you are doing? Forgive me if I don’t believe you. I see all those weapons you carry. I’m sure you can deal with my human form, but it’s a different story when I turn.
[pause]
I won’t resist, don’t worry about that. If you remove this net, I’ll follow you and do what you say. I want to contain my curse as much as you do.
[hunter lifts the net]
*relieved* Thank you for removing the net. It feels a lot better without all that silver touching my skin.
[pause]
You’re taking me to a shack? I hope that is close, because it is getting late. The sun is already setting.
[sound of footsteps as the pair walks through the woods. A while later]
*nervous* Hunter? Are we nearly there? It’s getting dark and my transformation can start at any moment.
[pause]
Just a bit further? Let’s hurry up then, we have little time left.
[sound of hurried footsteps and a door opening and closing as they reach and enter the shack]
*catching their breath* Phew we made it.
*disappointed* Is this it? Just a wooden shack with some furniture? Where is the cage or the shackles?
[pause]
*confused* You are not going to imprison me? Then why bring me here? You don’t plan to execute me here, right?
[pause]
*relieved* Phew, for a moment I thought you had lethal intentions. But if you are not going to lock me up, what are you going to do?
[pause]
*perplexed* Sleep? You want to control my curse by making me sleep? How? The transformation is quite painful, it’s impossible to sleep through it.
[pause]
Hypnosis? You think that will work?
[pause]
*werewolf gives a sudden grunt of pain. They sound alarmed.* Shit, it’s already beginning.
[pause]
*distracted from the pain of transformation* A pendulum?
[grunts from pain get worse]
*A bit confused* I should focus on the pendulum?
[pain noises gradually lessen as the werewolf becomes fore focused on the pendulum]
*getting more calm* It’s pretty. The spiral pattern makes it so fascinating.
[pause]
*Curious* It’s going back and forth. Back and forth. Back … and … forth.
[pause]
*getting more entranced* There is nothing to worry about. I don’t need to think at all. I can just relax and watch it swing.
[pause]
Relaxing is good. Relaxing helps me.
[pause]
Good werewolves watch the pendulum spin. Good werewolves fall into trance. I am good, I obey.
[pause]
*now entirely enthralled* Laying down will help me go deeper in trance? Alright I’ll lay down on the bed.
[werewolf reclines on a bed]
*following along with the listeners words* My eyes feel tired. It’s difficult to keep them open.
*yawn* I’m so sleepy. This bed is so soft and comfortable.
[pause]
*werewolfs voice is getting quieter as they get more sleepy.* I shouldn’t fight the exhaustion. I should give in and close my eyes. Follow your voice and fall asleep, asleep, asleep.
[werewolf drifts of to sleep]
[werewolf sleeps soundly. You can add some snoring sounds here if you want.]
[scene changes to when the werewolf wakes up]
*happily surprised* Hunter, you are okay? My memory of last night is a bit fuzzy. What happened?
[pause]
*exhilarated* I didn’t go on a rampage? You made me fall asleep ? Thank you, thank you, thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me. How did you manage to do it?
[pause]
I never would have thought hypnosis could work like that. I can hardly believe there is something to counter my curse. Finally I don’t need to fear that I go on a killing spree during a full moon. You are truly a blessing to me, dear hunter.
[pause]
*sigh of relief* It feels like a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Ironically, the hypnosis has made me feel more liberated. My life finally doesn’t need to revolve around my lycanthropy anymore.
[pause]
*happy* Of course I’ll be glad to see more of you. Especially when I get such a good rest from you. I wouldn’t mind seeing you on days without a full moon as well. Hope to see you soon.

I put the script in scriptbin for ease of recording (I heard some VA's prefer reading it from there): Virtual-Grade592: [A4A] werewolf gets hypnotized to not go berserk [hypnosis] [werewolf] [monster hunter] [transformation] - scriptbin
It's okay to fill this script and make minor adjustments. Please give me credit for writing the script and put a link in the comments so that I can find your audio. It's okay to paywall, but send me a copy of the audio then.
(You are a monster hunter. You have been hunting a werewolf. In the woods you have set a trap to capture them before the full moon rises tonight.)
[trap springs and a net falls over the werewolf]
*cries out in pain* Aaah! It burns! Why does this net hurt? Shit, it’s made of silver.
[sound of footsteps as the monster hunter reveals themselves]
*scared* You must be a hunter. What are you going to do now that you have me captured?
[pause]
*terrified* You want to take me prisoner? No hunter, don’t. Tonight is a full moon. Even with silver you couldn’t stop the beast. It’ll only anger it.
[pause]
*panicking* Please reconsider hunter. I am not able to control myself in werewolf form. I have seen others try and fight the beast. They didn’t make it.
[hunter approaches]
*desperate* I beg you, just let me go. I’m heading deeper into the forest. There no one will be around. The beast cannot hurt anyone if there is no one to hurt. Please hunter, you are in danger if you imprison me.
[pause]
You know what you are doing? Forgive me if I don’t believe you. I see all those weapons you carry. I’m sure you can deal with my human form, but it’s a different story when I turn.
[pause]
I won’t resist, don’t worry about that. If you remove this net, I’ll follow you and do what you say. I want to contain my curse as much as you do.
[hunter lifts the net]
*relieved* Thank you for removing the net. It feels a lot better without all that silver touching my skin.
[pause]
You’re taking me to a shack? I hope that is close, because it is getting late. The sun is already setting.
[sound of footsteps as the pair walks through the woods. A while later]
*nervous* Hunter? Are we nearly there? It’s getting dark and my transformation can start at any moment.
[pause]
Just a bit further? Let’s hurry up then, we have little time left.
[sound of hurried footsteps and a door opening and closing as they reach and enter the shack]
*catching their breath* Phew we made it.
*disappointed* Is this it? Just a wooden shack with some furniture? Where is the cage or the shackles?
[pause]
*confused* You are not going to imprison me? Then why bring me here? You don’t plan to execute me here, right?
[pause]
*relieved* Phew, for a moment I thought you had lethal intentions. But if you are not going to lock me up, what are you going to do?
[pause]
*perplexed* Sleep? You want to control my curse by making me sleep? How? The transformation is quite painful, it’s impossible to sleep through it.
[pause]
Hypnosis? You think that will work?
[pause]
*werewolf gives a sudden grunt of pain. They sound alarmed.* Shit, it’s already beginning.
[pause]
*distracted from the pain of transformation* A pendulum?
[grunts from pain get worse]
*A bit confused* I should focus on the pendulum?
[pain noises gradually lessen as the werewolf becomes fore focused on the pendulum]
*getting more calm* It’s pretty. The spiral pattern makes it so fascinating.
[pause]
*Curious* It’s going back and forth. Back and forth. Back … and … forth.
[pause]
*getting more entranced* There is nothing to worry about. I don’t need to think at all. I can just relax and watch it swing.
[pause]
Relaxing is good. Relaxing helps me.
[pause]
Good werewolves watch the pendulum spin. Good werewolves fall into trance. I am good, I obey.
[pause]
*now entirely enthralled* Laying down will help me go deeper in trance? Alright I’ll lay down on the bed.
[werewolf reclines on a bed]
*following along with the listeners words* My eyes feel tired. It’s difficult to keep them open.
*yawn* I’m so sleepy. This bed is so soft and comfortable.
[pause]
*werewolfs voice is getting quieter as they get more sleepy.* I shouldn’t fight the exhaustion. I should give in and close my eyes. Follow your voice and fall asleep, asleep, asleep.
[werewolf drifts of to sleep]
[werewolf sleeps soundly. You can add some snoring sounds here if you want.]
[scene changes to when the werewolf wakes up]
*happily surprised* Hunter, you are okay? My memory of last night is a bit fuzzy. What happened?
[pause]
*exhilarated* I didn’t go on a rampage? You made me fall asleep ? Thank you, thank you, thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me. How did you manage to do it?
[pause]
I never would have thought hypnosis could work like that. I can hardly believe there is something to counter my curse. Finally I don’t need to fear that I go on a killing spree during a full moon. You are truly a blessing to me, dear hunter.
[pause]
*sigh of relief* It feels like a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Ironically, the hypnosis has made me feel more liberated. My life finally doesn’t need to revolve around my lycanthropy anymore.
[pause]
*happy* Of course I’ll be glad to see more of you. Especially when I get such a good rest from you. I wouldn’t mind seeing you on days without a full moon as well. Hope to see you soon.

Velask!
Sarsion here. It's been a minute.
Some of you may recall my efforts to transcribe and translate the Eliksni language.
Some of you may have no idea what rabbit hole I'm about to introduce you to.

Let's recap

Whether you've been on this ride with me from the start, or are just now picking up the trail, here's a quick recap of all the major events:
May 21 2015

Sarsion via /DestinyTheGame:
HoW gives us our first chance to translate Fallen language into English.

August 14 2015

Sarsion via /DestinyTheGame:
Fallen-English Translations - Mobs, Skolas, Taniks and Silent Fang's "Insult"!

July 18 2017

Sarsion via /DestinyTheGame:
Learn to Speak 87 Fallen Words!
[Reddit]
[YouTube]
[Ishtar Collective]

September 4 2018

Forsaken is released along with our first-ever Eliksni script.
Misraaks
Lord of Wolves
The Queenbreaker
Revolution

May 15 2019

Season of the Drifter
Outbreak Perfected

June 4 2019

Season of Opulence
Truth

October 8 2019

Destiny Grimoire Anthology, Volume II: Fallen Kingdoms
As transcribed by aflyingwelshman via /DestinyLore
Onslaught

December 10 2019

Season of Dawn
Burden Part III

February 16 2020

Sarsion via /DestinyTheGame:
We can now directly translate Eliksni (The Fallen Language) by translating lore entries in Traditional Simplified Chinese.
The Cryptarchy Discord community is launched.
@mallozee (game dev. writer. narrative @bungie) via Twitter X:
"the eliksni that appears in the written lore does not have much relation to the combat SFX that fallen units use. and though i don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun in looking for patterns in the combat SFX, they are, to my knowledge, nongrammatical syllables (just like the cabal)"
"everyone who has contributed to the effort of investigating the combat SFX deserves a medal for their valiant efforts. i really don’t mean to spoil it! and it’s not for nothing, because it made me realize how cool it would be to work on a game where that foley WAS meaningful"
"other people have realized that, too, and so if any of us have the opportunity to pitch that kind of feature in the future, we will try!"
"my hat is off to all of you!! i hope i have the pleasure of meeting some of y’all in the future so i can applaud you personally"
"mm, well — the eliksni that appears in the written lore from forsaken onward IS a constructed language"
"with syntax and everything!"

February 26 2020

Planet Destiny Podcast #229 (ft. Sarsion)

November 10 2020

Beyond Light
I. The Prisoner

May 11 2021

Season of the Splicer
I: Eggcloth

August 30 2022

Season of Plunder
I - The Long Drift
III - Chosen

December 27 2022

Season of the Seraph
Revision Zero is released, along with its catalyst.
This quest lifts words I created as part of my July 2017 effort. More than half of the words in this dictionary of 87 words are never heard in Eliksni combat Foley; I made them up based on patterns I recognised within prefix and suffixes.
They have henceforth been made part of canon.
Should You Choose to Accept It, Part I
'"Bar'den" is an Eliksni phrase. It means "forever unable to find the way."'
Should You Choose to Accept It, Part II
'"Di'dras" is an Eliksni phrase. It means "the end of all life."'
Should You Choose to Accept It, Part III
'"Ge'fres" is an Eliksni phrase. It means "to be hatched."'
Should You Choose to Accept It, Part IV
'"Shas'ki" is an Eliksni phrase. It means "to defy fear of a powerful being."'

February 16 2024

The Cryptarchy website is launched to celebrate 4 years since its founding.
https://cryptarchy.net/
https://engra.ms/

May 23 2024

Bungie announces the Dread will speak a translatable language.
They are extremely careful not to directly state the language's origin.

June 4 2024

Final Shape

All that, and there's every chance I missed one or two milestones.

Rumination

The localisation revelation in 2020 was something that, in retrospect, I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, it led to a reignited sense of excitement in the translation effort, culminating in the explosive creation of my Discord community, The Cryptarchy, which I feel may have been one of the most important events to happen in my life. But on the other hand, I worry sometimes that I may have stumbled onto, what Riven might call, the Anathematic Arc. We were not meant to learn any of this.
As mallozee said, "it’s not for nothing, because it made me realize how cool it would be to work on a game where that foley WAS meaningful".
I have been ruminating on this language since before Destiny began, since 2010. I mention in my first thread here on the matter that Bungie created a language for the Covenant for Halo Reach, which largely went unnoticed at the time, so I entered Destiny with a sense of wonder and apprehension; could this be done? Did they repeat the process?
We may know now they did not directly do so with the Fallen combat Foley, but looking back, perhaps retroactively, did Bungie redirect the course, and succeed? But if so, why was Eliksni never highlighted as such? A conlang is a huge undertaking, why do all that work for the Eliksni only to focus on the Dread?
As the years with the Cryptarchy went on, and I learned that the Eliksni language I had been translating was entirely of my own pattern-recognition-go-brrrr manifestation, I kept wondering why Bungie was never officially commenting on the language, beyond mallozee's tweets the same day I uncovered the localisation mishap. Was there a deeper meaning they could not comment on? Did I spoil something? Did I inspire something? I've been wracked with self-doubt and confusion. I want more than anything else to enhance this world for others.
I've been working with some of the most intensely bright Cryptarchs, helping their own projects to shine, casting light on otherwise forgotten and niche interests. I've been told about how many people have loved the work I did for translating the Eliksni language, despite its rough state. Fan-fiction, fan-art, role-play, entire worlds of imagination and creativity, all because I sat in my room for 2 years, tightly pressing my headphones against my ears, listening to barks of an alien species that turned out to be speaking gibberish, and making something of it.
So the day arrived when my work was surprisingly implemented into the Revision Zero quest in 2022, officially in the game, and something clicked for me.
In short?

Guardians make their own fate.

It doesn't matter whether any of this was intended originally. It matters that we gave it meaning, and it matters that Bungie has honoured all of us in doing so, with Final Shape. They called it a love letter, it absolutely got delivered. I heard the call.
Quite literally too, as a key for Final Shape appeared in my email inbox, from Bungie, highlighting me as a Bungie Creator officially. Now, whether this was because I applied to the Bungie Creator program on behalf of my community, or if they had predetermined this, I can't be sure. This was the first I had heard back from Bungie from any of my direct interactions with them, so either way the gambit coin landed, I was ready.
In the final days between the Final Shape ViDoc and Final Shape's release, I realised I had some work to do. I took 2 weeks off of work, dedicated every hour of every single day to translating Eliksni. My partner was of undying support during this time, and she even took a photo of me mid-process, which I didn't see until a couple weeks later. It captures the past 9 years for me perfectly. Sarsion, staring at the ceiling, full ADHD locked-in, stimming with his thinking cap, muttering randomly in cryptic tones, wearing his House of Judgment t-shirt.
My 87 words had grown by this point to somewhere far over 500 individual words and phrases. I am still nowhere near fully comprehending the language, but the plot thickened.

The Dread

As I worked, and tried desperately to ignore the Dread revelation, my fellow Cryptarchs investigated the Tormentors. They sent me through recordings. One of these recordings, taken during a Tormentor grabbing a Guardian and draining their energy, made me sit straight up with a shock.

Voskidraka

Now, I'm jumpy at the best of times. But these are all Eliksni words.

Vos. Ki. Dra. Ka.
Known[?]. Strong. Life. Burn.

This was midway through my process, so it was extremely raw, but those last three words were from my 2017 effort.
Maybe it was in my imagination.
I pushed it to the side.
As I played Final Shape, solo, Legendary, feeling nostalgically reminiscent of my days of pioneering TUE, Trigates, and LASO in Halo 2 and 3, almost 20 years ago, I had one of the most bizarre experiences I've ever had with any game. I kept catching snippets of the Dread's speech, and understanding them.
You know that feeling when you sometimes hear someone speaking, say French, and you don't quite know what they're saying, but you sure as hell know what they mean?
Yeah, that.
I kept trying to ignore it. Let's be fair, I was just off the back of an intense two weeks of translating Eliksni; I was surely just hearing what I was used to hearing, or perhaps rather, wanting to hear.
I get to the final campaign mission, desperately fighting for my life against the Witness and its Subjugators. I pick up the Aegis, I rush to the Traveler's fissure, as the Dread goad me on.

"[...] sovek."

I was so shocked that I actually wiped, despite it being the furthest I had gotten thus far.
Sovek? When Sjur had Misraaks bound, and performed her "perfect ireliis bow". Misraaks felt betrayed and enraged, believing this to be a trick, and proclaimed "iirsoveks!" to which Sjur simply said "nama".
Again, I was convinced I was hearing things. In the same instance, I heard a Subjugator say "Kapsok". Another Eliksni term used in Burden III, meaning something akin to "you will".
I began a thread on Twitter X to keep my thoughts rolling.
This thread rapidly turned into a series of revelation after revelation.
I discovered "irrealis" grammatical moods.

Is this a clear reference and hint to the Eliksni "ireliis"?
"ir" is benedictive. it's a polite honorific question.

• "ireliis" - {respectful formal address}
• I would later determine that "ir" directly means "court"

"iir" is interrogative. it's a question.

• "iirsoveks - "is this a trick?"
• If "ir" is "court", is "iir" antonymous to "ir"; [trialaccusecharge]?

I considered that if the Dread's language shared etymological roots with the Eliksni language, might the Hive?

"Al Eck Ruk Nam, Shu Nam Eck Ur"

• "She said, "That's your star, Sean Rigby. Follow it each night, when it's the last star hanging low, and sing to it. You sing, 'Al Eck Ruk Nam, Shu Nam Eck Ur,' until you call that star down to Earth. You do that, and your family will endure."

Cryptarch Adonna believes the Hive language is:

"protological patterns underlying quantum field theory, relativity, and paracausal phenomena."

I thought back to "ir" meaning court. Where have we seen that before?
The Hive.
Ir Yût. Ir Halak. Ir Anûk.
What does Crota refer to Ir Yût as? His courtier.

a person who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen.

Surely this is no coincidence.
How far does this stretch. Is the Ahamkara "Anthem Anatheme" part of this? "O [Subject] mine?". Is the "O" significant in that Auryx became Oryx after speaking to the Deep? Is there power in that single phoneme?
What of the Vex?
In my translation process, I focused extensively on iirsoveks, and pondered on how Mithrax became Misraaks. That quirk of "ks" and "x" made me wonder. Veks. Vex.
Let's break it down:
iirsoveks
i

{indefinite article}

ii

{indefinite article} {indefinite article}
{definite article}

iir

ii,r
{definite article} {description}
[proclamation accusation trial charge]

so

s,o
{action event state} {copula: to be}
is to be

ve

v,e
{imperative} {declarative}
how/what interrogation

vek

v,e
interrogation {subject agent}
suspect (noun) conjecture (noun)

veks

vek,s
suspect (noun) {action event state}
suspect (verb) inclining to think (verb) conjecture (verb)

iir, so, veks

proclamation is to be conjecture
Accuse of being suspect.
I don't believe it.

Sjur responds?

"Nama."
n,a
{manner} {mass: less}
empty
m,a
{noun: collective} {mass: less}
instance
na,ma
empty instance
"No."

Veks...Vex?
"Sus" "Suspect"?
"Inclined to Think"?
"Conjecture"?
Are the Vex quite literally named after the "Judgment" term for "an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information"?
If the Dread were shouting "[..] sovek", what were they saying?
"is to be conjecture (noun)"? Were they goading me? Saying I had no idea what I was doing? Flailing hopelessly. I had incomplete information. I was without a full grasp of what to do with the encounter? That I was an idiot?
Well, they were absolutely right.
I didn't have any idea what I was doing.
I didn't have any idea what was going on.
I never have, and I never will.
It's my greatest tool of the trade.

So, Veks

In Season of Undying, there were many weapons that were quite literally grammatical terms.
Each weapon has flavour text that exemplifies their meaning.
Optative

Expressing a wish or a choice.

• An irrealis mood.
• Event is hoped, expected, or awaited.
• "May I be loved!"

Flavour text refers to the Traveler.

• 'If only you could see yourself. But you have no eyes. Not the dimmest sense survives…'

Adhortative

Relating to the giving of advice; tending to adhort.

• "Hortative"
  • An irrealis mood.
  • Event is exhorted, implored, insisted or encouraged by speaker.
  • "Let us love!"

Flavour text refers to our Ghost.

• '"So... you think you can kill a god?" —Ghost'

Imperative

Expressing a command; authoritatively or absolutely directive.

• An irrealis mood.
• Event is directly ordered or requested by the speaker.
• "Love me!"

Flavour text refers to Ikora.

• '"We must stop the weavers before they seal the Garden and begin to summon back its heart." —Ikora Rey'

Subjunctive

Inflected to indicate that an act or state of being is possible, contingent or hypothetical, and not a fact.

• An irrealis mood.
• Event is considered unlikely (mainly used in dependent clauses).
• "If I were to love you..."

Flavour text refers to Vex, directly quoting Ghost Fragment: Pantheon

• 'Stop 'em? Pretty sure our deaths are just meant to be the early warning system.'

Pluperfect

Pertaining to action completed before another action or event in the past, past perfect.

• A verb form relating to an action that occurred prior to an aforementioned time in the past.
• "They Had Built"

Flavour text refers to how the Vex build and define their actions in the past.

• 'builds builds builds builds the past'

Temporal Clause

An adverbial clause of time; informing the reader about the time when the action of main verb of the sentence occurred.

• "After I had said this, he went out"
• "Let The Future Narrow"

Flavour text refers to how the Vex predict and define timelines in the future, and find the successful timelines which suit their directives.

• 'the future narrows narrows narrows narrows'

Could these have been our first hint to go looking for "irrealis" and make the connection to "ireliis"? Coincidence though it may be, there are many connections here. But what are they narrowing towards?

Judgment

It's like a game of battleship; knowing I am hitting something but have no idea the scale nor direction it takes.
I couldn't shake it:
The Dread kept saying Eliksni words.
The Vex think along the same lines as the Eliksni speak.
The Hive share morphemes with Eliksni, and their words grant them arcane paracausal abilities.
Ahamkara, similarly, gain power from the words of others and can twist them into paracausal outcomes.
Psions understand Ahamkara better than anyone in the Cabal, and many of them are now one with the Dread.
All of the Dread know the same language; countless beings reshaped and combined from countless eons of existence, newly formed and created within the Traveler, yet all in harmony, able to communicate.
Is this language a gift of the Witness?
A gift of the Traveler?
A fundamental principle of the universe?
Here's my hypothesis:

What if it was all cut from the same tapestry?

Eliksni, Dread, Hive... How deep could this go?
What if these languages share philological and etymological roots. Like Latin-derivatives; Italian, French, Spanish...
Since House of Wolves, I've thought I was translating "Standard Eliksni" but...what if the "High Speak of Judgment" Variks refers to is derived from some ancient "Judgment" language; their "old ways".
The Witness's precursors uncovered the Traveler on their homeworld, offended it with their attempt to begin their Final Shape, and thereafter it left unto other worlds. In its wake, the Witness reshaped, recruited, and repurposed. Punishing those the Traveler visited, and "saving" those it did not.
In Books of Sorrow and Entelechy, entirely separate aliens seem to understand one another.
The Ecumene, for example, was an interstellar group of individual alien species, who also knew of the Fundament system. Of note, is that the Dakaua were immediately able to understand Taox upon finding her after drifting in stasis for 24,000 years.
In Entelechy: it's incredibly apt, is it not, that the communications recovered of the Witness's precursors in both the tetrahedral ship and the Vex Minotaur were translated by Eliksni.
How could scribes like Eido translate these messages, so eloquently, from the Witness's precursors, if they were not capable of recognising and interpreting the morphemes that construct their terminology? The answer is given in Eido's notes: with the help of Servitors. The Eliksni were gifted by the Traveler, as were we, but Variks once asked us if the Traveler spoke to us, as it spoke to him. Did Servitors speak for the Traveler?
In stark intriguing contrast, also in Entelechy, we learn of the Noesis. Eido was able to transcribe overlapping concepts via "self-reinforcing group of informational units, which subsumes lesser concepts", rather than strictly semantical phrases; the Noesis spoke thought in a language akin to a moodboard; perhaps like birdsong.
The Noesis seemingly never encountered the Traveler, but are still comprehensible to Eido. Is it a result of the Noesis language also sharing etymological roots, or did the Witness intercept, supplanting their cries with a language of its own?
Eido muses on the theatrics of it all. Did it orchestrate this? Grant them some universal language millennia ago, knowing they would scream out to the wider universe? A harbinger of its own making?
Is "Judgment" a gift of the Traveler before it was silenced? Is it a psionic inception from the Witness's precursor days, with its abiogenetic Crèches? Both?
Are the Vex that language given form and function?
Non-artificial intelligent lifeforms created in the shape of natural language; pure sapience itself.
I know this sounds frankly Toland-esque, but, hear me out.
Could this "Judgment" be the underlying fundamental law of the Destiny universe? The language, and thus meaning, of life itself?
I aim to find out.

The Cryptarchy needs you

If you wish to assist us with this process, to see if there is more to this unified language theory, please join us in The Cryptarchy Discord server, and stay tuned to our website. I also hope to begin livestreaming my process of translation.
In the meantime, here is a WIP read-only access to what I have been referring to as "Eliksni 3.0". This is my live spreadsheet, so you may find that at any given time, it is being actively worked on and filtered. This is not the ideal way I intend to present this information down the line as the goal is to create a fully fledged dictionary, complete with etymological and philological roots.
I share this in the hope that others can see my process and build upon it. I have been doing this for 9 years, I would love if by the 10th for it to have been with an overflowing union of Cryptarchs.
For now, I will continue this process within the Discord server, and begin to migrate the results to our website as soon as I am able. I hope to begin streaming my process of translation as well. I have spent the last 4 years learning how to code, and have found my way into a career as a web-developer, so my hope is to utilise all of my skills to finally solve this mystery.
My only caveat is that I point-blank refuse to use generative AI in this process. In my eyes, language is a much more delicate process that requires pattern-recognition, context, variety, extrapolation, etymology, philology, human intuition, and the indomitable human spirit. AI can only ever give you pattern-recognition and extrapolation. The rest are key ingredients to constructed languages. I urge anyone interested in this to please respect that process.
Machine-learning, generally speaking, is great at understanding and executing explicit rules, but it operates like any other machine: garbage in, garbage out. It feels to me antithetical to translate what may be the essence of life in the Destiny universe with something that cannot comprehend it.
Thank you for reading, everyone, and thank you for your support over the years.
To close my thoughts, of which I know there were many, I would like to leave you with two quotes that have been circling my mind these past years. It has been a mantra that has kept me going.

It's so simple. Elegant like a knife point. It explains - this is not hyperbole, this is the farthest thing from exaggeration - EVERYTHING.
Why does anything exist?

My answer?

Aiat: let it be thus because it must.

So basically I just needed to rant somewhere and I decided to do it here.
I’ve been searching for a good sunscreen I could use on my face for several years. Initially I was able to use the chemical ones, and found some really good ones that I liked. A couple of years ago my skin stopped tolerating the chemical filters, and now if I use them on my face, my eyes get all swollen and I get a terrible rash.
Because of this I had to start looking for a good mineral sunscreen. Let me tell you, it’s been HELL. I’ve tried soooo many different ones, and all of them are problematic in one way or another. They either leave a terrible white cast, dry the hell out of my skin, feel super greasy, or leave me orange if they’re tinted. Usually it’s a mixture of looking like a ghost while simultaneously feeling greasy and drying on my skin. Basically just gives me sensory overload.. And of course I also have acne prone skin, and many of the products have pore clogging ingredients.
At this point I’ve spent hundreds (if not thousands, over the years) of euros looking for a good sunscreen, and most of the bottles have been left unused. I know how important it is to wear sunscreen daily, which is why I’m so frustrated. It’s just not worth it to prevent wrinkles and cancer if I have to constantly suffer while doing it. So, I’ve decided to stop looking for a sunscreen and start living. 😂 Can’t tell you how good it feels to just go outside without my face feeling itchy and greasy and looking all white because of sunscreen. Also I really hate how expensive most of the sunscreens are. I can’t afford to spend a hundred euros every month just on sunscreen..
Has anyone else had similar problems?

My eyes, my hair, my skin, my face, my body -
it's all perfect, I'm fantastic.
...but then again, she left for SOME reason.
well, i guess I'm not as muscular as i can be
maybe then she wouldn't leave.
so i lift, and i squat, and i pull, i exert.
my desire for muscle's an insatiable thirst.
my body's now bigger, and rougher, more solid, more tough
in my eyes, however, it still isn't enough.
but everything else is as perfect as grace.
my eyes and my hair, my skin and my face
I'm as blessed as can be, like the summer season
...but then again, she left for SOME reason.
maybe my jaw's not too sharp
my skin's also gotten as tight as a tarp
my acne looks rough, i can't look at myself
so I'll burn it with acid, and smooth it with gel
and chew caustic gum, to strengthen my jaw
hell, maybe mewing can fix that last flaw
my skin is now smooth and it's shiny like china
but we all know that won't stop me from tryna
change it, and burn it, and heal it back up
but hey, at least i got my eyes and my hair
though my vision gets blurry the longer i stare
at the stray strands standing, surviving
no matter the gel, and the clay, and the waxing
damn, this self-improvement is sure getting taxing
just a little more, and I'll have my freedom
I'll sear my eyes, tear out my hair
scar up my body and stip myself bare
just so i finally know of the reason
why she left me hanging on that rooftop last season.
this is my first post here, i hope you guys enjoy it :)
Feedback: https://www.reddit.com/OCPoetry/s/MnRv9c3DQi https://www.reddit.com/OCPoetry/s/B4vmBNEOgU

Inside my mind as a growing 8 year old…
I’m an adult now but these are ramblings from my journal. Someone special once told me, when we were talking about art, that once you share it with the world it’s no longer yours to have. I’ve never considered myself an artist, but I thought, maybe if I share my story, it’ll no longer be mine. It’ll no longer be one of the most deepest darkest secrets I hold, the art inside my mind. My intention with sharing this is to let it go, send it out to the universe. Releasing myself of the shackles, this ball and chain. This is written without edit, it’s just raw so don’t mind my grammar or sentence structure. I didn’t think, I just wrote. It was written from the depths of my soul, it was my inner child. The eight year old little pink starburst in me came out of the woodworks to write this little novel. I call it a novel because to me it’s just a story of a time, an experience I am ready to let go of. I didn’t fuck up, it was never me. I’m still working through it so it may end abruptly. Without making any sense at all. I took a dive into my mind. The mind of an 8year old child who deals with sexual assault and a growing body.
I’m scared because I developed as a young woman very early. It didn’t take the world long to show me that people are weird and sick. It wasn’t safe. I was so little I didn’t understand it I was confused. I thought and I thought, what did I do? I obsessed and overthank every step I took. I coundnt figure it out. I was 8 when I started my period and I realized I had no control. No matter what this was my life. I was growing in areas that I think I was too young to understand and comprehend. It finally hit me I realized I just had to accept that this was my life. I am weird, people poke me and they stare, they laugh and stare and make weird faces. I was a freak of nature, I felt like I was at a circus and I was the entertainment. The strange creature they came to see. While the feeling was strange it was more of a mind fuck to see peoples eyes. They say eyes are windows to the soul, and so many of them were not good souls. It’s strange how at 8 I didn’t really know what sex or anything was. But I could say I had my own 8 year old interpretation of what that was. But it was different, it wasn’t what I thought it was. I don’t think I ever thought much of it other than people like each other and they do sweaty things with not a lot of clothes on sometimes, but we really can’t see it cuz they always made us close our eyes with movies. Anyways, as I grew and developed, mostly from my breast. I felt like there was something wrong with me. Why did anyone else get poked and pointed at. Why did it have to be me. I honestly thought holy shit I’m definitely ugly. But I never fully understood why I loved myself deep down. But maybe I shouldn’t, judging by everyone’s reactions. I started to doubt myself. Well shit, what do I not see. Suddenly I was different. Like something people couldn’t believe. People looked at me differently. I had no confidence I just wanted to be invisible. People talk to me differently. Suddenly men looked my way, constantly, I hated it, I felt like their eyes burned my body with their vision. Old ugly grown men. Whose souls stared into my eyes and something told me they were evil, creepy, uncomfortable, the feeling you get when someone is devious. Crafty comments were made that, although they never made sense as 8 year old. I knew they couldn’t be right. Are people really like this. Men stare with a weird fucking drool. Women look at you angry like they are mad you have boobs. There’s no fucking winning. surely, the world couldn’t be so evil. Why do people say weird things, make weird jokes and everyone laughs when people look at my body. Shit that’s right, it’s cuz I’m weird, a freak of nature. And why does everyone want to touch me. I didn’t like this kind of attention. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and lay on the floor and die. But I didn’t really want to die I just wanted to be invisible. I wanted to be reborn, looking pretty. Like some of my friends so I wouldn’t be looked at like this anymore. I’d be normal and blend in. People wouldn’t stare or poke and I would feel happy again. I never stopped thinking, I fucked up as my dad would say. This was much later as a teenager but I said to myself first. I decided that I fucked up. I was born. Looking like this. Why couldn’t I just be normal like all my friends. Why did I have to be the freak. The kid that had a free pass to wonder whenever I wanted to from the classroom to the bathroom. Kids were annoyed and called me teachers pet. They told me I used to breathe weird. And hard. Some kids defended me. Then I was like shit I do that weird too. I don’t even hear myself. My nose doesn’t fucking work. That’s fucked too. These kids didn’t know how fucked it was. I was not the favorite, I was bleeding to death, or so I thought. Might as well be. It was fucked. I was exhausted trying to figure out what I did wrong. I overanalyzed everything, again, constantly replaying my steps. Ensuring I didn’t fuck up. I couldn’t figure it out. My dad always said people shouldn’t touch you. Here or here. Pointing you know where. But people did, a lot and it sucked. Most people made a poke and just laughed with a joke. What is wrong with me, if that is supposed to be funny why do I feel so uncomfortable and hurt. Truly I must be wrong again and I’m so weird I just don’t get it. But it was wrong, and I knew deep down it was wrong and that’s why it never sat well with me. There was nothing wrong with me. It was them. They were the freaks. The crazies the sickos. I was sick to my stomach, embarrassed, I believed I was the sicko. People couldn’t know who I was or they would reject me. Again, I’d be even more of a freak. It was wrong, my dad said never let anyone touch me and everybody did. It was my fault, I fucked up. He said it was bad for people to touch you. God I was embarrassed. And my parents had no idea, they told me they loved me and that I was the good one. I was easy, they could just leave me there and I did nothing as a baby. So maybe they haven’t discovered that I was a freak. My mom was mean and cranky a lot. I tried not to make her mad but I know I did. Somehow she still loved me sometimes. So I was good. Atleast I still had my family. They knew I wasn’t weird. Others, I think could see it cuz they told me I had a bird nose. It was starting to show, the freak in me was coming out. But for the most part I was safe. My parents said I was the good kid. My sisters called me golden. Gold was beautiful. It was shiny and everybody wants gold, no one would reject or laugh at gold. But it was weird. People only acted weirder. I lost faith in the good of this world. I lost faith in my own judgement when my grandpa touched my boobs. He laughed. I froze, I even said huh out loud. He could tell I was scared, he could tell it was wrong, he smiled. I felt disgusted and dirty. I FUCKED UP what the fuck!! What was wrong with me. Why is this funny to him. Why am I a fucking joke. I felt worthless. I was sad. I lost my happiness. The world wasn’t fun or nice anymore. Every day dragged like nails on a chalk board. The ultimate fuck up. Damaged goods. I was only 8. I had to live until 100? Like this. I was so sad. I felt disgusted I couldn’t even touch my own body that’s how gross it made me feel. I couldn’t get it off me. I couldn’t scrub the feelings away. I was broken. My spirit was crushed. But nobody knew. My secret was safe. My family still thought I was golden. So I calculated every step. To make sure they still liked me. I know some stuff I did was still making them mad. But I was a kid, I’m growing. I didn’t know what the fuck was going on. It was all so confusing. I was locked in a cage of my own body. Nothing I could do was safe. It was so scary. Internally There was a chaos around me even tho I was surrounded externally by butterflies. Maybe I was like the hungry caterpillar, he was kind of a freak and he became beautiful. But I couldn’t be because I have a secret. I was damaged goods and I’m the only one who knew it. I was numb. 24/7 in solitary confinement. I had a secret, I had to be happy so people wouldn’t know. So I joked around a lot. Partially it was still my spirit, but I was afraid of myself. Afraid of what else I might do to further curse me in this prison. Words hurt. They matter, it doesn’t matter what I physically see in my mirror. I can’t trust my judgement. I see one thing. People clearly see another, I can’t be the only one that doesn’t see it. I’m wrong, they are right. I’m hideous and horrendous. Once again, confirmed.
This is when I decided to be controlling, if I control the shit around me, I can’t get hurt. If I control my feelings and don’t let myself get close to people I can’t get hurt. If I don’t let anyone touch me and give people standoffish energy I can’t get hurt. I’ll be a statue freak in the inside and the times I’m not doing that I’ll be goofy. That was the plan. I thought if I do it right no one will discover me.
TLDR: I finally was able to put into words my feelings and thoughts from being SA. I’m putting it out there so I can let go of it. Today is the day I finally tell my dad. Which I’m scared about, but ready to move on from. So I told the world first.

Please read the rules and guidelines before participating.
Hi FemFragLab! Is your perfume collection getting too big to manage? Are you stuck with a blind buy gone wrong? Have you been eyeing a perfume, but don't want to pay retail? By popular request, here's the swap/sell thread!
Use this thread for the following:

• Selling samples, lots, and full and partial bottles.
• Trading your unwanted products with other members
• Posting "in search of..." requests

~~~~

RULES/GUIDELINES:

• Begin your post with WHERE you're willing to ship, and whether it's a SELL, SWAP, GIVEAWAY, or ISO (in search of). Then list your stuff and any additional information, like prices + shipping, preferred payment method (see below), how full a partial bottle is, etc. Links to images of what you're selling is encouraged.
• Post a reply to the seller in this thread prior to initiating a private transaction, for the purposes of tracking interest and activity.
• Sellers: Keep your listing updated. When something is SOLD, please edit your listing!
• Buyers: If a transaction goes well, consider replying again to the original comment to vouch for their legitimacy.
• Commonly used payment methods: PayPal, Venmo, QuickPay. PayPal is preferred because they provide buyer and seller protection.
• NOTE: You are fully responsible for the proceedings of the transaction. The mods cannot help if anything goes wrong, and we would hate to see things go wrong. So please at least check the post history of the other party, keep records of communication until the transaction is completed, and use your best judgment. That said, if you get burned by a seller, please message the mod team, and we'll deal with repeat offenders appropriately. For more safety tips, please see this excellent guide from Indiemakeupandmore.

New post every 7 days.

The first story I posted here was a response to the prompt: "We can't allow that, Mr. Hero. The evil villain employs far too many people as henchmen; his defeat would be disastrous for the local economy. Also, dragons are an endangered species and his castle is a heritage site." Now, I'm excited to announce Inorganic Chemistry and Other Dark Magic is for sale, containing that story and three dozen more of my stories and vignettes -- each a response to a WP and each expanded and polished from the initial version. The book was the Amazon's best new release in science humor...for about an hour on June 6, 2024.
Available on Amazon in all formats and internationally: COM / CA / UK / AUS
The collection has something for everyone. There’s a story inspired by the most unpopular comment in Reddit history, another inspired by the most infamous fanfic on the internet, and one about re-writing a children’s book to focus on a fascist dictator. Reverse werewolves, vegetarian dragons, canine Grim Reapers and a pun-powered super hero all make appearances. Its got a retelling of Dante's Inferno in the style of Dr. Seuss. The book also answers improbable questions - like what it'd be like to give tech support in Hell, what Game of Thrones would look like if Monty Python made it, or how the end times would go if the gang from Seinfeld were the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
To give you a preview of what’s inside, I’m sharing two of my favorite pieces below.
Sample 1: while the collection is mostly prose, I wanted to share the intergalactic diss track I wrote for [WP] “When someone is roasted they get burns based off how badly they were roasted. You are now being hunted for an attempted genocide due to a diss track of the entire world”

Io, I’m Murbl X-6 – I battle with synergy
Wicked flow that’s electric – I bring that dark energy
Gonna snatch out your Sol and leave y’all sightless
I got Milky Way bars and your lines are lifeless
I’m seekin' strong intellects – any of you seen ‘em?
Not these weak reekin’ rejects from the Creation Museum
Why they walkin’ unsteadily? They walkin’ bipedally
Give ‘em half a chance an’ they’ll homicide readily
‘Cause not even humans can put up with they kind
Dumb bumbling rebuttals to Intelligent Design, oh!
Defenseless and senseless from the second of their birth
Maybe that’s why they named a water planet “Earth”
60 years in space, barely passed they fuckin' moon
Life formin’ ‘round you is life fuckin’ doomed
Organisms ain’t orbitin’ in order ta go see ya
Human crew so weak – all they got’s one G, unh
Stomachs full of Tide pods, mouths full of vapes
Can smell ‘em mammals comin’, these some damn dirty apes
Sucklin' suckers, skulk off to your planet, B
Why’s it a disaster?
Oh, the Humanity.

Sample 2: [WP] A barbarian warlord, a goblin king, a mighty necromancer, and a dark elven high priestess meet for one reason... To play Suburbs and SUVs, the hottest mundane suburban family Tabletop RPG!
G’ol Bognil settled his considerable girth in a padded throne, letting out an expansive sigh. He looked around the gilded ivory and marble table. "Hearken! A threat to our very existence is nigh, and if you three do not band together to combine your might, all is surely lost. Now, before we begin our campaign to restore order to this blighted land…remind G'ol Bognil your names and classes again?"
Lethus did not move. "I am Chet.” His voice was a phlegmy mutter emanating from his black hood. He adjusted the Amulet of Darkest Night hanging around his neck and added, “The dentist."
G’ol Bognil gave a belch of acknowledgment and made a note on his parchment, hidden behind the wooden panels erected in front of him.
Polara was next to speak. Her glittering obsidian eyes dropped down to the character sheet in front of her. "I am a dual-class business executive/accountant named Mike the Magnificent."
G'ol Bognil blinked. "That sounds over-powered to me – as SM, I’m not sure I can allow it.” He leafed through the copy of the Suburb Master’s Guide in front of him. “What is your backstory?"
A ghost of a smile appeared momentarily on Polara's black lips. "My father dedicated his life to the Demon of Alcohol and my weakling mother squandered her time caring for her offspring instead of bathing in the blood of the innocent. I worked two jobs to put myself through college and then graduate school, where I received the tutelage of some of the mightiest professors in the land."
The bulbous, warty nose of G'ol Bognil wrinkled as he looked up. "Your characters always manage to receive the tutelage of some of the mightiest professors in the land. I’m not letting you be an apprentice in the League of Ivy again. Next time, you will play a barista."
Polara drew herself upright, the torch light reflecting off the onyx pendant around her neck. "The earthly vessel of Burkh the Unholy does not play a barista."
G'ol Bognil let out of belch of exasperation, then turned to look at the veritable mountain of a man to his right. "And you are...?"
The man’s face was almost completely lost behind wavy crimson hair and a bushy, fiery beard. "Garung,” he began, “the Decimator, First of His Name, Eviscerator of the Plainsmen, Bane of the Thrak, The Mighty Fist, Smasher of Thrones..."
“Not you, idiot,” Polara hissed. “Your character.”
“Oh,” Garung said. He squinted at his paper. "Millie, level 10 Soccer Mom."
Polara snorted. Lethus shifted slightly in his seat. He had no face to speak of, or lungs for that matter – shifting was about as close as he came to laughing.
G'ol Bognil, however, frowned. "What...can Myley do?"
"Millie,” Garung growled. “Her rumor and gossip skills are maxed out, so she is a powerful information broker. After years of training, the High Council of Hoa has made her queen, meaning she wields the full power of the Covenants of Sea-an-Dar. Her arch-rival is Kaylie, Supreme Leader of the Alliance of Parents and Teachers."
G'ol Bognil sighed. "Try to keep it in-character, please. In the faraway land of North Stripmallia, they do not have queens or supreme leaders – they have ‘presidents’ and ‘heads.’ And it’s H.O.A., not ‘Hoa.’"
A scowl emerged from behind Garung the Decimator’s beard, but he said nothing.
G'ol Bognil opened a flask of Mountain Brew and took a long pull, then let out a belch of readiness. "Alright. It is Saturday, and you all find yourselves at the Park of Cul-de-Sac. Mike, you are here for a company picnic/fundraiser. Chet, you are watching your son play in the Tournament of Soccer, where he and his companions – The Grasshoppers – are trying to best the All-Stars of Boxst’orr. And...Millie –"
Polara made an amused noise that she tried to cover by sniffing loudly.
"– you, of course, are coaching a different team nearby. The sky is gray – strangely overcast for a day in April. The green lawns squish slightly under the feet of the Tournamenteers, and various obese humans sit in flimsy makeshift thrones to watch. Do some of them pause to ponder how envious they are of G’ol Bognil, his wealth, his charm, and so on? Perhaps.”
Polara rolled her eyes.
“The silence,” G’ol Bognil went on, “is occasionally broken by barking of dogs ringing out from the nearby housing development, swelling ever louder...as you turn in the direction of the noise, you see a gazebo looming in the center of the park – "
Garung interjected, “A what?”
Green lids hooded G’ol Bognil’s yellow eyes. “A gazebo. And beyond that – “
Lethus shifted in his seat. “What color is the gazebo?”
G’ol Bognil sighed. “It is white. It is a gazebo. It is a white gazebo.” The players at the table stiffened. “Let’s not get bogged down in details, it’s not – ”
The others jumped in, speaking quickly.
Polara said, “I reach into my fanny pack of holding and grab my Whistle of Emergency, preparing for an altercation.”
“I unsheathe my magic ‘Celf-oan’ and cast a photography spell at it, then prepare an SMS cantrip to transmit the information to the other members of the High Council,” Garung said.
Lethus added, “I reach for my enchanted dental pick – plus one, plus three vs. salespeople – and give my battle cry, ‘To the root!’ That gives me a strength buff and plus one to initiative. Let’s see what this gazebo is made of.”
G’ol Bognil stared at them. After a time, he let out a long, low, melancholy belch. “Fine,” he said glumly. “Roll for initiative. Against the gazebo.”
Again, Inorganic Chemistry and Other Dark Magic is available on Amazon in all formats and internationally: COM / CA / UK / AUS.
If you would like to see more of my work, you can check out my sub, Shadows of Clouds.
Thanks for reading!