Hi consulting!
A friend of my is on the bench this week so, in the spirit of fun, I asked GPT-4 to write some appropriate lyrics to the tune of 50 Cent's "In Da Club". Hope this brings a smile to your faces on a Monday!
(Verse 1) Go, go, go, go, go, go, go Go consultant, it's your first day We gonna party like it's your first day We gonna sip Bacardi like it's your first day And you know we don't give a ****, it's not your birthday!
You can find me in the suite, laptop with the Chrome Look consultant, if you need it, got that PowerPoint at home I'm into having meetings, I ain't into making calls So come give me a hug, if you're into getting roles
(Chorus) You can find me on the bench, bottle full of gin Mama, I got the time, if you into cashing in I'm into making slides, I ain't here for making friends So come give me a job, if you're into making ends
(Verse 2) When I pull up out front, you see the Uber X on When I roll 20 deep, it's always 20 on Zoom Heard I crashed with SAP, yeah it's been reported on Every project go bad, and all the work is gone
In the boardroom, we be puffin', everybody drinkin' Poppin' bottles, we got that company ink sinkin' And we gonna take it off, no more corporate stinkin' So you better get to thinkin', if you see me blinkin'
(Chorus) You can find me on the bench, bottle full of gin Mama, I got the time, if you into cashing in I'm into making slides, I ain't here for making friends So come give me a job, if you're into making ends
(Outro) Don't try to act like you ain't know where we be, naah We in the business making all that mon-ney Once I'm off the bench, you'll see, I ain't no phoney Now homie, you can hate me, but why not hone me? Ha ha, Poor consultant, on the bench...forever lonely.

Summary: Sometime ago your mentor and idol retired from the hero scene, citing that they were too old to continue on with their duties. Behind the scenes though, you and a select few were notified that your mentor had lost their reason to continue fighting. You, being closer than others, knew why; You refused to tell anyone about it, after all, maybe, just maybe you could convince your mentor to return to the thing that you knew made them happy.
Roles:
- Major:

• The Hero H: The former apprentice of the retired hero and is in their own right a renowned superhero and the legacy of their mentor.

> Scene: Apartment, home of retired mentor
[There’s a series of knocks on the door, some seconds later, the door opens]
H: (Cheery) Hey there! Shocked that it’s me again? (Pause for 3 beats) No? Well, I can’t blame ya. I’ve been in ya hair so often as of late, it would be odd for me to not show up today too; Well is there any chance that uhm I can come in? (Slightly desperate) Please?
[Multiple steps out of sync are heard, before the door creaks closed, then with a click, it is locked shut.]
H: (Relieved) Thanks for having me…okay, I may have lied; I mean, not really, maybe just a bit. However I really did come here for a social call, the extent of the whole truth is that I need a place to relax, my place is kinda packed with fans trying to see if they can get my autograph, or picture, or whatever. You know how it is with fans. I mean, I remember when I would visit your old place and you couldn’t even walk on the sidewalk, all those people trying to get a glimpse of you, it still boggles my mind. But, I know how you feel when I start talking about those days, so I won’t. (Pause for 3 beats, pensively) While we’re on the topic of the old days, there is something else I want to bring up with you…
[The hero’s sentence was cut short as a teacup and its accompanying saucer is gently placed on the wooden table]
H: Oh! Is the tea already ready? (Pause for 2 beats) What am I saying, if you were waiting for me, of course the tea is going to be ready to serve. So, thank you, for the tea, and everything else; (Pause for 2 beats, pensively) Also, if my visits get to be too much, please do let me know. Last thing I want to do is take too many of your spoons away. (Pause for 3 beats) I know, I know that you were my mentor; That doesn’t take away from the fact that you’re still human and sometimes that means that you need your own space to recover and have some, you time; I get it, I have those days too. (Pause for 3 beats) Anyways, before I continue to ramble on, I just appreciate everything you’ve done for me; As both a mentor and a friend, I can never repay you. (Pause for 3 beats) Right, sorry, didn’t mean to begin to ramble on.
[The teacup is lifted from the saucer as a sip is taken]
H: About that other thing that I wanted to talk to you about. And before you give me that face, it’s not me trying to convince you to put on your suit again; I know the boundaries you’ve set and I have no intentions of betraying your trust; Besides, I’ve already voiced my opinions on your retirement; (Pause for 3 beats) Let me stop beating around the bush, I’ve actually come to get some knowledge out of you.
[Once again the hero takes another sip of their tea]
H: Okay, if you’ve seen the news recently, I’m sure that you’re noticing that a lot of, as we call them at headquarters, Golden Age Villains are suddenly finding themselves out of retirement and back on the scene. And it just so happens that they’re doing so when half of our own Golden Age Heroes are retired, or in the process of retiring; And with them, their in-depth knowledge of those Golden Age Villains going with them as they do so. But you don’t need me to tell you this to you, I mean you’re a First International after all, the baddest of all badass hero ages. (Pause for 2 beats) Well yeah, we’ve been reviewing old combat footage and after action reports between you all and them, but, something’s changed in them, they don’t fight like they used to. (Pause for 3 beats) No, I don’t mean that they’re older and their attacks are slower, I mean that their styles have changed entirely, even how they use their abilities has as well.
[The hero takes another sip of their tea, before putting down the saucer and cup]
H: I’m talking about, uhm, (finger snap) remember Devastator!? (Pause for 2 beats) Yeah, the one with earthquake causing powers; Used them more like a sledgehammer, battles would usually end with tons in collateral damage every single time. (Pause for 2 beats) Yeah him, well, recently we had to investigate a series of jewelry store break-ins. The odd thing about them was that they all happened during an earthquake. And after an investigation, as it turns out, Devastator used the earthquake as cover to break storefront windows. But because the break ins happened during an earthquake, the police chalked it up to earthquake damage. Which made the response time a lot longer than what it should’ve been. This of course allowed our old friend to empty out the stores with plenty of time to even steal from the registers, and well it goes without saying that if the store had a safe, those were emptied out as well. Very uncharacteristic of Devastator. (Pause for 3 beats then with a bit of a laugh) Yes, he did get an outfit change. I’m not going to lie, I do like their new outfit, it’s sleek and modern, not like that dreadful Golden Age outfit; (Nervously) I mean, yeah, there’s something to be said about classic outfits, sure, but this new outfit of theirs. Ugh it’s just so much more tasteful and easy on the eyes, Devastator absolutely called a designer to make their comeback outfit, cause yes. Ramblings aside, think you can help out?
[A series of sounds from distant cars honking can be heard before they’re eventually drowned out by an airplane passing overhead]
H: The way you can help is rather easy actually. I was hoping you could tell me the names of your rogues gallery, and anything personal about them that you can recall; I’m talking about hobbies, if they had a family, who they hung out with, anything and everything. If it wouldn’t be that much of an issue, could we go over your rogues gallery before I became your sidekick first; After that, maybe we could cross reference the villains that you and I faced, that way we could also make a rough timeline of when each villain showed up to the scene, and when was the last time that they appeared in public. (Pause for 2 beats) Why? Well, there’s a debate, some say that it’s simply old dogs learning new tricks. However, there are others, like myself, who believe that perhaps they haven’t learned new tricks, but rather that they have someone else pulling their strings. Maybe mind control, or cloning, it’s difficult to give any definitive answer yet; (Pause for 2 beats) Come on now, how could you think that we wouldn’t start at the beginning, we’re combing through the Golden Age Heroes in order to see if there are any villains with the ability to mind control others, barring that, maybe there was a villain with hyper intelligence and the resources to be able to create clones on a whim. And, just like you and the old timers taught us, the best place to look for said villains would be within the groups that our lovely Golden Age Villains associated themselves with.
[The teacup makes a noise as it slightly clanks against the saucer, as it is picked up, and the last bit of the tea is sipped up]
H: (Pensively) Profiling? Mmm, I don’t think you could consider it profiling, suspicion by association absolutely. However we have to begin somewhere, and well you all pretty much hammered it into our skulls. (Pause for 3 beats, happily and excited) You’ll help?! That’s wonderful! Thanks so much! I really appreciate it! And I know the other heroes at headquarters will also appreciate it. Mind if I step outside real quick? I need to make a quick phone call.
[There’s the sound of a chair scraping against the ground, along with the steps that lead to a door; Said door opens and closes. As soon as the door closes, a phone is taken out and a phone number seems to be dialed]
H: Yeah hey! It’s me! Good news! They’ve agreed to help! Yeah! I’m going to go get as much of their rogues gallery written down as possible. Maybe if we’re lucky, it’ll also be the catalyst for getting them back into the action. I mean they’re still in good shape, and I can definitely see the spark still being there in their eyes. We just need to jump start it. And this just might be the spark to get them going. Though, we may have to help them get over the incident. (Pause for 2 beats) yes ma’am, I know ma’am, I’m aware it’s a delicate subject; I was there ma’am, so I know how hurtful it would be if I brought it up before they’re ready.
[The sound of a few people passing by can be heard, they stop for a quick second, whispering among themselves]
H: (Away from the phone) Hi, yeah, uhm sorry I’m not doing autographs or pictures right now. I’m kinda visiting an old friend of mine, and I’m also on the phone with Sunspot. (Pause for 3 beats slightly bored expression) Yes, The Sunspot. (Pause for 3 beats) Thank you for being so understanding. (Pause for 2 beats) Okay, yeah, maybe next time. (Back towards phone) Eh, don’t worry about it, just some fans, or maybe just people who have seen me in that one famous magazine I did recently. (Pause for 4 beats) Yeah that one! Well I guess the sister publication…no, not the teen version, the hero version. Yeah Hero Mania Magazine; Regardless, they were very understanding of what I was currently doing. Oh! The people I just spoke to also say hi. (Pause for 3 beats) Yeah, don’t worry, my mentor knows that I stepped out to do this call. Though I’m not going to be able to stay on the line for much longer, I’m seeing more and more eyes on me from the people passing the hallways. Yes ma’am, don’t worry, my mission priority is to get the information out of them first, then I’ll be heading to headquarters before doing anything else. Alright, I’ve got to go, bye.
[The hero hangs up their phone, then proceeds to open the door and walk back over to the chair; After closing the door.]
H: Alright, thank you so much for letting me make the call, I really appreciate it; (Pause for 3 beats) Oh, it was Sunspot, just giving her a status update on my mission, and how it’s coming along. (Pause for 4 beats) Sunspot is doing well—at least as well as someone can be after having their new position imposed onto them—(Pause for 3 beats) Yeah don’t worry, she doesn’t fault you for that, she knows the circumstances of your retirement. Sides according to her (mocking in a friendly manner) Ain’t no bemoaning what’s already happened; Only thing yah can do now is ride the horse or get off the saddle. (With a little laughter) Besides, don’t tell her I said this, but I think she likes the attention. I mean it would make sense, what with her being from a family of rodeo stars and whatnot. But uhm where were we? (Pause for 2 beats) Oh right! Your rogues gallery, give me a second to take out a pen and a notebook…and, now I’m ready to write down the info, so let me hear them all. (Pause for 3 beats, thoughtfully) Okay so there’s Plague, Gamma Vortex, and Wraith to begin with, and who would you say was the first one to show up?
[The teacup clanks against the saucer as it is once again lifted and drunk, the scene slowly fades to nothing as the last bit of the final line is spoken and softly disappears, ultimately ending the scene]
> Scene: Headquarters
[The sound of a pair of mechanical doors opening is heard, followed by the sound of some steps making their way in]
H: And according to the information that we’ve gathered, we can surmise that…(Pause for 3 beats) huh? (Pleasantly surprised) Hey! Look who’s out of the apartment!? (Pause for 3 beats then with a slight laugh) I kid, you know it’s fantastic to see you here, especially after all of these years. (Pause for 3 beats) Oh, you noticed the remodel and, well, everything. Yeah, we brought it into the modern age! Or at least according to the New Internationals we have. You know how young heroes are; You let them breakout of their sidekick roles and suddenly they think that they’re all that. Calling into question your design choices, your outfits; (Pause for 3 beats, in denial) What? Nope, what are you talking about, we were never like them. (Pause for 3 beats, still in denial) That’s an utter lie, I did not question your own outfit when I broke out. (Pause for 2 beats) Yeah, well, you don’t have any sort of evidence to back up this claim of yours, soooo, take that.
[The Hero addresses the console, after hearing that there was snickering being heard through the screen]
H: (Shocked and embarrassed) Oh gosh, I can’t believe I just did that in front of everyone. I won’t be able to live this down. Now I have to retire, change my name, and never be a superhero again. (Pause for 3 beats, then continue with some laughter) I’m kidding, let me mute myself though, I don’t want to have a hot mic incident again, and also it lets all of you on call right now to discuss among yourselves the information we’ve gathered up.
[The Hero turns back to their mentor, after the snickering from the computers turns into murmurs of discussion]
H: (Nervous laughter) New hero candidates, am I right? You know the headache that they give you when you’re trying to get them used to working within an organization like ours. But I don’t have to remind you of that fact. (Pause for 3 beats) Okay, and? So what if my generation is three-fourths former sidekicks, the point still stands, the other fourth was still difficult to integrate once they passed the grace period, weren’t they? (Pause for 2 beats) Exactly, thank you for agreeing with me.
[The Hero walks a bit around the room, their steps being heard before the sound of a sliding door overtakes the noise]
H: Walk with me, yeah? (Pause for 3 beats) Sorry if you were looking forward to meeting some old friends, and former sidekicks. Unfortunately, most are in different outposts, it’s recruitment season and the marketing department wants our most recognizable heroes out there at the outposts to increase the numbers of potential candidates that we can reach; So you can imagine how stretched thin we are right now, but hey, if we couldn’t multitask, then what kind of heroes would we be?
[Another door opens up as the steps continue going towards their direction]
H: (With a slight surprise) Still, this is your first time stepping into the HQ in a while, right? (Pause for 3 beats) Oh yeah, internal security thought it was a good idea to beef up our systems, to prevent you know, shapeshifters from waltzing in, or telepaths who are mind controlling heroes from infiltrating and causing some chaos; So sorry if the security people were being a bit difficult, I see they gave you a visitor’s pass though; (Whistle) Level Five clearance, there’s only one other person in this building authorized to give that out, which means that you were able to catch Honor Guard just before they had to leave for their own outpost assignment, right? (Pause for 3 beats) Figures, I went out to get drinks with them one night, and they would not stop telling old battle stories that they had with you. Though to be fair we didn’t know each other that well at the time, so it was an easy commonality between the two of us. We went back and forth in sharing stories, so it wasn’t completely one sided. They're a really great person, and honestly, I’m glad that we got to talking with each other. (Pause for 3 beats, pensively) While we’re on the topic of internal security, let me know if you want to put your information into the system, just to avoid any discomfort with the security in case Honor Guard isn’t able to help you.
[The sound of two sets of steps walking are heard, though they come to a stop as soon as they hear the sound and sight of construction going on. Mostly hammers, saws, welding torches, and drills.]
H: So catching up aside, what’s going on? What brings you here? (Pause for 2 beats, surprised) Oh? You want to help a bit more? Uhm yeah we won’t turn away help, especially from a seasoned veteran like you. Minus any field work, we could always use more people to help comb through the archives; If you wouldn’t mind working there that is. (Pause for 3 beats) Wonderful! Great, uhm we’re actually not too far from it. (Pause for 3 beats) Yeah you’re entirely right, this was The Memorial Atrium, though we’re renaming it to…well we’re not sure yet, we have a pool going on across the entirety of the organization. So far it looks like The Resting Garden is winning. (Pause for 3 beats) No, we didn’t get rid of The Memorial Atrium, we just moved it. Actually that’s me lying, now it’s called Memorial Hall, it will have an atrium by the same name, and a plate that gives information to visitors. (Pause for 3 beats) Yeah, with all the heroes that announced their retirements, we figured that the atrium was going to quickly fill up; So we allocated some funds to build a new building, nothing fancy, but enough to host memorials to our heroes for a long while before needing an expansion.
[The sound of two sets of feet moving again are heard, as the sound of the construction slowly dims into silence]
H: I can’t even begin to tell you how much your help will do for us; (Pause for 3 beats) Oh no don’t worry, you’re not going to be the only person in the archives, we have some of the more eagle eyed and brainy sidekicks in there. We put them on intern duty and have them looking over the films and records. I’m sure they’ll benefit from having someone in there to guide them on what entries to pay attention to and which not to. (A bit excited) Although, I would feel pretty bad if I didn’t try to warn you about the fact that there might be some fans of yours in that group. (Whispering) If I had to give my own opinion, it wouldn’t surprise me if the others gained an interest in you from all the archive entries they’ve been going through.
[The walking stops, as the two stand in front of the room, there’s the muffled sound of old battle reels playing, and some clattering of heavy boxes coming from the other side of the door.]
H: Welp this is your room, again, sorry if you get swarmed in there; You know how sidekicks are…well, you know how I was when I was your sidekick. (Pause for 3 beats, then laugh a bit) Hey! What did you expect!? First of all, I was a huge fan of yours, and when you selected me as your sidekick I was over the moon. Second of all, I was just a kid back then (pause for 3 beats) Okay so maybe sixteen isn’t technically being a kid but you know what I mean.
[The Hero pounds in a code on the pad, the beep of the lock opening signifies that it was the right code; Which leads to the doors sliding open.]
H: (Leaning into the room, and slightly away from the mic) Hey everyone! Uhm I’ve got a special guest for all of you. They’ll help you the best they can, and I really respect them, so take very good care of them; Most importantly of all, listen to them because you’ll come to find out that this particular guest of mine has an incredible amount of experience. So, say hi to my mentor!
[The sound of people getting excited and even murmuring spilled out into the hallway, while the battle reels still very much were playing.]
H: (Normally) Well, I hate to introduce and run, however I do have a meeting to finish up, and then after that, I gotta go and check out some tips we got, I think a few of them could be the big break we’ve been looking for. (Pause for 3 beats) Yeah, don’t worry, I’ll be safe… I mean, you did teach me to keep myself safe first and foremost. Anyways, thanks again for coming down and helping out. If memory serves, some of the other heroes are due to return today, so I think a lot of them would love to see you walking the halls again, even if it’s just for your visit; It’ll be a huge morale boost, especially with some of the old timers you used to pal around with. (Pause for 3 beats, then once more with laughter) So what if I know most of those old timers (playfully cocky) Just because y’all were the first heroes to establish this group, doesn’t mean y’all are on top anymore. We could totally run circles around all of you; Some of us literally (Pause for 3 beats, playfully laugh) oh, experience beats raw power any day does it? That’s what you forget my dear friend, we’re not inexperienced sidekicks anymore, we’re full blown heroes in our own right. (Laugh again) Anyways, banter aside, it really will boost the mood around here to see one of the founding members walking around. I’ll catch you later okay? Can’t keep the others waiting.
[The sound of the Hero walking away, their steps getting quieter and quieter as they do is one of the last things heard before the door to the archives closes]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A/N: Feel free to edit the script as needed.
As usual, here's a bit of a key
- The [] brackets, tend to contain sfx cues/things that are happening.
- While the () Parenthesis often times have character cues/things that the speaker’s role is more or less doing.
- If you like what you see and want to see any other projects that I'm working on or generally know what's happening, follow me on Twitter, same as my username. I also now have a website! Feel free to check it out if you want to see all my previous and future works. Including stories, poetry, and other writing stuff I make.
- Feel free to record this to your hearts content if you think it's worth recording. Here's the scriptbin if ya'll want it.
- I'm always willing to improve my work, so constructive criticism is welcomed.
- The script is okay to monetize.

So I'm in a relationship with my boyfriend of 7 years (we both are 26 years old) and after some time we finally agreed on having a threesome with another guy and it was a nice experience but extremely odd I would say?
So to give context we used to think about doing it with some random person from an app but we both got scared of getting a possible STD so after considering the idea (for 2 years lol) we considering asking a friend, initially the idea was to have a girl join us but for accessibility we ended up with one of my boyfriend friends, he is a cool guy, nothing really special on the look side (and I think for the that same reason he hasn't been able to get a GF in a long time) but he is trustworthy and I feel comfortable with him. I have not the whole knowledge of how my BF convinced him but he said he was down to try it out.
So to get to the part I found curious, i had the idea it would be like <> and it was like it at the start except for the bye part, he ended up hanging around the whole weekend!! It's not like I hated it or anything and we are pretty open about our relationship, but what I thought would be just a regular sex date ended up with me getting fucked pretty much the whole day, satisfying some fetishes for his friend like sitting on his face, letting him lick my feet, calling him daddy (I don't really like that roleplay but he asked for it and ended up complaying) being asked to give him a blowjob while on my knees and looking at him and being fucked by him while my boyfriend went for groceries or while he was playing video games right beside us! (this was was extremely shocking to me in the sense of seeing my boyfriend playing with his friends while one of them was fucking his girlfriend, not saying I was mad or anything, but it was something that I never imagined happening). One other thing that surprised me was that I was expecting both of them to want to do me at the same time, but that didn't happen, they ended up taking turns more than anything so it felt more like casual sex than a threesome. My boyfriend doesn't have a big libido so he usually only last one round and after some hours he is down for another, but his friend had some crazy stamina, it was like he wanted to have all the sex he hadn't had in years and that was really exciting to me too see him so focused on me, what started with me being shy because someone else was going to see me naked ended up with me satisfying so many request that made me feel almost like I was getting paid for them lol In the end he left and thanked me greatly and asked if we could do it again, although I'm really not sure about that one because I'm fine with it a one time thing, but I feel like he weel end up feeling like I'm his girl too if I let him do me again.
My boyfriend seemed to enjoy it although he says the next one need to be a girl lol
Do you all think this was normal? Should I accept another threesome with his friend? And am I right thinking it was odd what happened or its really like this on your experiences?

Read Chapters 26, 27, and 28 Here: https://www.reddit.com/saw/comments/13v6mcx/legacy_from_the_book_of_saw_chapter_26_27_28/
________________________________________________
*** CHAPTER 29 **\*
Inside the exhibit, the faint whir of a helicopter flying overhead, penetrated the survivors’ ears, injecting their weary hearts with a frail glimmer of hope. Undeterred by adversity, Renee and Sarah persevered in their quest to uncover the key to the elusive lock box. With resolute determination, Sarah tore through the sandbags, while Renee upended the buckets of paint and dirt, hoping to unearth their salvation.
Confident of their impending rescue, Gavin remained reclined against the glass, observing his companions. His attention fixated on the box, turning it around to admire its design. Yet, the pain in his abdomen had intensified, transforming even the gentle touch of his shirt into searing knives. Placing the box on his lap, he unfastened a button, peering inside to discover a sizable hematoma, its purple hue speckled with dull pinks.
“I found something!” Renee said excitedly.
On the back wall was a ventilation shaft. Renee stood by while Sarah rubbed her fingers against the screws that sealed the screen to the duct, then retrieved another brick from the tower. She forcibly slammed the stone into the bolt repeatedly, but it wasn’t budging.
A piercing shriek echoed off the walls, drawing their attention to Gavin, who trembled as he peeled off his shirt. His face etched with fear and frailty. In a testament to his weakened state, his breath came in rapid pants.
Sarah rushed forward, “You have internal bleeding,” she proclaimed, “You need medical attention.”
Gavin blinked wildly, struggling to see, “Son of a bitch,” he said, wincing.
“How do you know that?” Renee asked.
Sarah grabs a sandbag and brings it closer to Gavin. “You need to apply pressure and stay elevated.”
“Goddamnit… Goddamnit. He knocked me down.” Gavin said.
Renee could see the fear on Gavin’s face, and despite his aggression towards her, she felt sympathy for him, “Sarah, are you sure about this?”
“I think so,” she replied, “I was going to be a nurse.”
As Sarah lowers the sandbag onto Gavin’s abdomen, he endures a sudden jolt of pain, “Jesus….” he whimpers.
Renee looks up at her, “A nurse?”
Observing the patient, Sarah explained, “I didn’t finish.”
Gavin’s voice trembles, “What happened?”
The memories of her children flock to Sarah’s mind, and she contorts her face in self-reproach. “I had kids,” she said, “I lost focus.”
“I always wanted to be a Mother,” Renee said thoughtlessly.
Trying to ignore the pain, Gavin asked, “What happened with your kids?”
Sarah leans onto a barrel and appears sunken, slow to respond, “It started as a game,” she said, remembering the day she was tested.
On an ordinary summer afternoon, Sarah strolled through the Oaks Mall in the company of her two children, Charlie and Charlotte. At the time, the youngsters were merely eleven and thirteen, with Charlotte assuming the role of elder sibling, ceaselessly provoking her younger brother.
While Sarah admired a jewelry display, Charlotte began arguing with Charlie.
“I said you could have a sip!” She glowered.
“I did!”
“You drank the whole thing!” Charlotte declared, tossing the empty drink at her brother, hitting him in the chest.
As the bottle tumbled to the ground, its lid catapulted off, scattering remnants of ice across the sleek marble tile. A gathering of shoppers paused to eavesdrop on the squabbling children, silently questioning when parental intervention would ensue. However, Sarah remained engrossed in her negotiation with the salesman, completely oblivious to the unfolding chaos.
The incessant bickering continued until a push gave way, toppling a display and capturing Sarah’s attention. A wave of embarrassment surged through her as she acutely sensed the disapproving gazes fixed upon her. Reacting swiftly, she tightly grasped their wrists and whisked them away from the store.
Their valiant attempts to vindicate themselves were futile; Sarah was livid. While in earshot of the customers, she scolded her children, relinquishing her promise to buy them gifts, and insisting she wouldn’t tolerate any more arguing.
Folding her arms, Charlotte pouted, displeased with her Mother’s verdict.
As they approached the exit of the mall, the anxiety of the situation had created an urgency in Charlie to use the restroom.
“I need to go,” he cooed.
Moving up the escalators, they stopped outside the laboratories, next to a concession stand, and Charlie hurried inside. With the jewelry store out of sight, they could finally drop the act. Charlotte reached into her pocket and produced the diamond bracelet that her Mother wanted.
“How was that?” Charlotte inquired about her performance.
Sarah fitted the stolen bracelet onto her wrist and smiled, “You’re a natural.”
Her daughter beamed at the compliment, “Let’s do it again. That was fun!”
“Soon, baby, soon. “ Sarah reached into her purse and pulled out a handful of cash, extracting a crispy twenty-dollar bill, “How ‘bout a lemonade, then?”
Charlotte grinned widely and stood in line with her mother. She reviewed the menu and decided a deluxe strawberry lemonade would be adequate for a thespian of her stature. More patrons would appear behind them, blocking their view of the restroom.
Before returning to the group, Charlie’s eyes locked on the enchanting display of an opulent toy store. He glided towards the shop, his heart aflutter with a potent blend of anticipation and awe. With a reverent gaze, he took in the kaleidoscope of toys that sprawled before him, each beckoning with its own unique allure.
Moments later, Charlotte joined her brother, her eyes reflecting his infectious enthusiasm. Their faces adorned with radiant smiles, the siblings gazed excitedly at the toys and gadgets, longing to claim them as their own.
“So, you taught your kids to help you steal?” Gavin asked, bemused with the story thus far.
Renee waited for Sarah’s response, but it never came.
“You’ve got money. Why would you do that?” He asked.
Sarah sat on the floor and looked off into the distance, “You had a mistress, didn’t you?”
“What?” Gavin was taken aback.
“It was exciting, right? She made you feel special... Important.”
Gavin remained quiet. It was hard to argue with the claim.
“We didn’t grow up with much,” she began, her voice trailing off as memories of her childhood flooded her mind. Sarah grappled with the words, struggling to articulate the complexities of her past. “My mother… she….” Her voice faltered, “Mom battled with anxiety and paranoia. She… She was confused. Maybe it was bipolar or schizophrenia. I don’t know. We couldn’t afford an evaluation. And my dad… He wasn’t there. He couldn’t handle the mood swings, y’know?”
“So what? Every family has issues….” Gavin said.
“Sometimes, it was the only way for us to put food on the table,” she explained, “but it became a compulsion for her.”
“It rubbed off on you?” Renee asked in a sympathetic tone.
“Maybe,” she replied, her eyes falling to the floor, “Maybe it was always there.”
“Where’s she now?” Renee asked.
Saddened by the thought, Sarah revealed, “She’s gone…. She passed, I mean. Almost twenty years now. Small service. She didn’t have a lot of friends.”
To the point, Gavin asked, “So, when did you get tested?”
“That night…,” She said, “We got home pretty late and the lights weren’t working. I thought nothing of it. A blown fuse or something, right?” A look of sorrow befell her, “My husband normally fixed those things.”
Renee met the gaze of Sarah and flashed her a sweet smile.
“Anyways, the kids dashed to their rooms while I looked for the electrical box.”
Concealed within the shrouds of darkness, Amanda Young lingered, her anticipation building as she waited for the imminent arrival of the unsuspecting family. In the dimly lit living room, Sarah’s searching hand came across a solitary candle. As she struck a match, its feeble glow revealed the haunting silhouette of a grotesquely contorted head, sending a chilling tremor down her spine. On the precipice of releasing a scream, Sarah’s world was abruptly invaded by the stealthy approach of Mark Hoffman. From the shadows, he ensnared her in a vice-like grip, swiftly pressing a rag infused with chloroform against her face, plunging her consciousness into an unsettling abyss.
“The next thing I knew, I woke up in a room like this,” she said, “but there was a window that separated me from my kids, and my wrist was pulled through a hole in the glass.”
Surprised, Renee asked, “Your kids were in the trap with you?”
Gavin spoke softly, “Wouldn’t be the first time….” he said, remembering the threat of death towards Dr. Gordon’s family.
Sarah let out a deep sigh and nodded, “When I woke up, I could see them lying across from me.”
Immersed in the flickering glow of white noise from a television screen, Charlotte and Charlie lay upon the grimy floor of a forsaken laboratory. The dilapidated chamber exudes a musty odor, its atmosphere saturated with neglect. The bluish-green walls, tinged with decay, reveal patches of a worn brown foundation, marking the passage of time.
Sarah's eyes widened with fear as the cacophony of static intensified, her heart pounding in her chest. She fought desperately, her wrist contorting and straining, in an attempt to free herself from the confining hole. And then, as if emerging from a nightmare, an unsettling puppet materialized through the static of the television.
“Hello Sarah, I want to play a game,” John’s chilling voice emitted from the doll and seized her attention, “Despite your advantages, you’ve chosen to lie, cheat, and steal. Well, Today, you will have a chance to give."
Startled by the haunting voice, Charlie emerged from his slumber. As he rubbed his eyes, he caught sight of his mother through the glass and hurriedly made his way towards her. A flood of relief washed over Sarah as she beheld her son unharmed. Sarah enveloped him in a tight embrace, pressing his little body against the cool surface, yearning to feel the warmth of his skin once more.
“Sarah, you’ve long considered your children to be an extension of yourself, using them like a tool for your criminal acts. Today, they will be the key, the key to saving your life.”
Charlotte is awoken to the sound of her brother pounding on the glass walls. Frightened, she rushes towards the window.
“If you are comfortable using their hands, perhaps, you don’t need your own?” Jigsaw suggests.
“Oh my God,” Sarah says.
“If you want freedom, I require a sacrifice. A sacrifice of flesh.”
Charlotte turns around slowly and watches the TV.
“There’s a tool in the room with you, and you will need it to be set free. But hurry up. In 10 minutes, the door will lock, and this room will become your tomb. Live or die, Sarah. Make your choice.”
A timer beneath the TV switches on, piercing the darkness with its red digits.
Charlie wipes tears from his face, his words nearly incomprehensible, “Mom, I want to go home.”
“Me too, baby. We’re gonna be okay, I promise you. It’s just a game.”
“I don’t want to play anymore!” Charlie declared.
Sarah’s throat swelled, and she was stricken with guilt, “Just once more, honey, okay?”
Charlotte quickly evaluated the room, searching for the tool.
“No more!” Charlie yelled.
Embracing her son, Sarah ran her hand against his head, soothing him, “Okay, sweetheart. It’s Okay.”
Charlotte remained determined as she searched the room, playing the role of Detective. Her love of movies crept in, and she was strangely fearless. She knew the good guys always prevailed based on the films she had seen. She knocked on the walls listening for a hollow point, and proceeded into the darkness. It was there that she felt something on her foot. Kneeling, she reached for a medium-sized box wrapped like a Christmas present. Tearing open the covering, she lifted the lid and found a rusty hacksaw.
Clutching the tool firmly in her hand, she made her way back to her mother, a sense of pride surging through her. Oblivious to the gravity of the situation, she remained unaware of the implications of her discovery. As Sarah’s gaze locked onto the object, an overwhelming wave of dread and regret washed over her.
“Good job, Char!” She said, concealing her inner turmoil behind a façade and forcing a smile upon her lips. “Now, look at me, okay?”
The children stared desperately into her watering eyes.
“I need you to do one more thing, okay? Both of you.”
Without uttering the words, Charlotte realized what was coming. “No, Mom, I can’t.”
“You have to, sweetheart. It’s a game, remember?” Sarah said, looking back at her son.
She continued, “You just play the role.”
Glancing at the timer, Sarah’s eyes met the display reading seven minutes. With a determined resolve, she quickly discarded her blouse, revealing a white tank top beneath. Wrapping the fabric tightly around her arm, she sought to staunch the impending flow of blood. “We can’t wait, honey. You can do this.”
Charlie began to tremble when his sister laid the saw against their Mother’s wrist.
“It’s okay….” She said, consoling Charlotte, but the young girl was terrified.
“You can do this, Charlotte. You can. I need you to do this.”
“Mom?” Charlie muttered.
Sarah pressed her hand against the glass, wanting to touch his face. “Just cover your ears, baby. And look away. I’ll be there before you know it.”
Charlie turned around, and Charlotte locked eyes with her Mother. “Hurry…”
Charlotte braced herself, inhaling a deep breath to steady her trembling hand. With trepidation, she commenced the arduous task of sawing through her mother’s arm, observing in horror as the serrated edges tore through the delicate flesh. Sarah turned her gaze away, concealing the excruciating pain etched across her face, her hand instinctively rising to cover her mouth. She clenched her teeth with a fervent determination, feeling a dizzying sensation overwhelm her. Each sway of the blade elicited a sickening peeling sound as her skin yielded, unleashing a torrent of crimson that spilled forth unrelentingly.
The ghastly scene proved nearly unbearable, pushing Charlotte to the brink of halting her agonizing task. Overwhelmed, she shut her eyes tightly, unwilling to witness the gruesome dismemberment unfolding before her. Tears welled up, streaming down her reddened cheeks, mirroring the profound anguish that weighed upon her.
When the blade reached bone, the endeavor became increasingly harder. “I can’t do it!” Charlotte’s voice echoed with desperation.
Sarah pivoted to face the gory wound, a surge of dizziness threatening to overpower her. Mustering every ounce of strength, she fought against the encroaching syncope, her voice wavering yet resolute as she sought to reassure her daughter, “You’re almost done, honey… Almost done.”
“It’s too hard! I’m not strong enough.”
Sarah tried pulling her arm through the hole, but it was no use; the opening was sealed tightly.
“I need help!” Charlotte said.
The pleading words of his sister prompted Charlie to remove his hands from his ears.
“Charlie, I need you. Your sister needs help.”
The young boy moved closer to the carnage but refused to look at the wound. He stepped into a large puddle of blood and gripped the opposite end of the hacksaw.
“Back and forth,” Sarah instructed them.
The two children synchronized their efforts, and with their combined strength, they propelled the blade to glide across the appendage in a hauntingly rhythmic motion. The eerie and nauseating sound of metal grinding through bone reverberated in the air as they skillfully maneuvered from side to side. As the bone finally yielded and severed, Sarah unleashed a primal scream. The agony displayed on her face became undeniable, impossible to conceal, yet the objective stood tantalizingly close to completion. A few more determined slices, and the blade mercilessly tore through the remaining layers of skin, marking the near-accomplishment of their grim task.
They dropped the blade and watched Sarah twist and pull on her wrist, trying to bring it through the hole. While the timer continued to count down, Charlotte acted swiftly, aiding her mother by forcefully pushing the tender stump through the hole. Within moments, Sarah was free from the trap.
Dazed by the significant blood loss, Sarah struggled to her feet, but with only seconds remaining, she forced herself up and staggered towards the exit.
“Jesus,” Gavin said in shock.
Sarah’s eyes remained on the museum floor, finding it difficult to stare Renee or Gavin in the face, “My husband left me after that. He said it would be easier for the kids. That I was a trigger for them. A reminder.”
“Your kids… How are they now?” Gavin asked.
“It took some time, but they managed. Therapy, y’know? Counseling. Medication. Truth is, they deserve better than me. After it happened, after I lost everything, I was… suicidal. I was lucky to meet Addy and Dr. Steward.”
“Right? A lot of good that did us.” Gavin said.
Renee looks back at the ventilation duct, “It’s not over yet. We have to keep trying.”
“What did you find over there?” Gavin asked.
Sarah’s pessimism comes through, “It’s probably a trap.”
Gavin conjures a weak smile, “At last, we agree on something,” he said.
Sarah smiles back, “Better late than never.”
“Y’all of little faith,” Renee quipped.
“So, what does he want? I learned my lesson.” Gavin declared, turning to address Renee, “And you’re basically in love with Jigsaw, so why are you here? None of this makes any sense.”
As Gavin spoke, Sarah’s mind lingered on the murderous assignment bestowed upon her. Wracked with grief, she wondered if the prize was real and if she even deserved it.
“Nurse Harper?” Renee said, offering her hand.
Renee lifted Sarah from the floor and they proceeded to the ventilation shaft. With their backs turned, Gavin deftly reached into his pocket with measured caution, and removed his own white card that read:
“Your aim in this game is to kill Sarah*.”*
Once more, he delved into his pocket, retrieving a gleaming silver key. Vigilant of the surrounding figures, he covertly unlocked the box, revealing its enigmatic contents. A delicate piano wire, tautly connected to two finely crafted wooden handles, lay before him.
***
TO BE CONTINUED....

​
#nintendo #gamecube #hackandslash --
Hunter The Reckoning for Nintendo Gamecube. Get the chance to be one of the four hunters, including an avenger, defender, and judge. Every hunter has unique strength, accuracy, speed, conviction, and stamina that affect the gameplay. Each hunter can own powerful weapons such as shotguns, axes, and knives. The game is consists of more than 15 levels so, get ready to face hordes of enemies in this fantastic hack-and-slash game. Explore atmospheric locations, such as an underground train station and tunnel. --
Hey check out similar videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05uKspxQ89s&list=PLVduyMnVQjzNYPljUBqwgAXdMPQ9CEKWY

<< Previous Index Next >> (ToC at Chapter 1)
(Original, Contemporary MC in supernatural setting, Magic, Afterlives, Souls)
Schedule: New chapters every Monday and Thursday.

Chapter 9

Kenny insisted on trying to reproduce the healing at the temple. But since we knew the 'Western Temple' was already busy, we settled on its twin across the street. The Eastern Temple, as we jokingly called it.
Thankfully it was vacant when we arrived. Many people were present at the square, of course. Most, in fact, never left it.
Some worked near the Pillar, and others were hanging around doing nothing, but it didn't seem that this particular building was of any interest to anyone at that moment.
"So, how are you so accepting of all of it?" I asked Kenny. "It's not that you believe any ridiculous claim you hear, but you think everything through. You never dismiss anything out of hand."
Kenny nodded along with the question.
"I guess I just came to terms with it," he said. "I don't think you paid any mind to it, but when we were in the mist, outside the city, it came as a real shock to me," he gave a weak smile. "It was like a scene from a horror movie or a bad dream. Wandering alone in the mist, visiting places I was not supposed to reach yet," he shuddered.
I didn't know it affected him so much.
"It's worse than just the monsters or being stuck underground," Kenny continued. "If you squint hard enough, you can come up with an explanation for it," he looked up. "But being moved around like that, things disappearing on their own... that was impossible, and I guess the idea that everything here is somehow less than real stuck with me. I can't shake it. Even if some Goddess is involved, or any other impossible explanation, if there is a pattern to it, if there are rules we need to know to understand what's going on, we have to know them," he finished with a defeated sigh.
I understood what he was talking about. Our world was shaken right under our feet. And for Kenny, it was even more literal. He was looking for something to grab onto, to regain-
"You are looking for control," I concluded. "Even if it means you must disregard things you think you already know or accept explanations that would have made you look insane."
He nodded at that.
"I'm with you, Kenny," I said. "I'm all open mind right now. We are going to crack this healing business and anything else. So you can say anything that comes to mind, anything you suspect. I promise I will not make fun of you or dismiss you."
He nodded again, looking relieved.
Whatever it was—witchcraft or prayers this place was running on, we would find out. We were going to understand it and use it to our advantage.

***

We started by going through everything we knew about Victor's miraculous healing again.
There were several things that we couldn't precisely reproduce. Things we would try to approximate. We couldn't use the Western Temple, and we didn't have a witch on hand. The wording of the actual prayer or spell was unknown, and we still didn't know if her claim to need a ghoul's body had any truth to it.
But some things we could follow to the letter. For example, we'll ask for consent to receive "a blessing to heal the mind and body." And we could draw the Ankh symbol with spit and blood and place it either on the chest or near a wound. We would not forgo the slightest detail Victor was able to supply us.
"Okay, let's do it," I said, scratching at a scab on one of the many minor cuts my hands collected yesterday.
I pressed around the wound so more drops of blood would squeeze through and held my hand out for Kenny to do his magic.
"Do you accept this blessing to heal your body and mind?" Kenny asked awkwardly.
"Yes," I kept a straight face, not willing to do anything to discourage him.
Kenny took some spit and traced the blood into a small misshapen Ankh under the cut. I felt like we were kids playing a disgusting game that went too far.
"Heal," he whispered, bowed over the wound.
We waited for a minute, but nothing happened.
"Try the other spells," I suggested.
We knew it wouldn't work on the first try.
Kenny went through them one by one. The prayers, the spells, and the commands.
"Heal, Heal, Heal," "In the name of the goddess, I command you to heal," "Goddess, I pray to you to close this wound," "Ankh," "Episkeu," "By the power of this temple, heal"...
Nothing worked. There wasn't the slightest change.
"What's with the Ankh, anyway?" I asked, trying to hold back the disappointment. "Everything here is Greek, and she uses an Egyptian symbol?"
Kenny thought it over.
"Well, they are connected. I think Greece conquered Egypt for some time," he said. "Or maybe it was Rome," he sounded less sure.
I understood the confusion. I couldn't come up with one difference between the ancient countries with a gun to my head.
"Okay, what about the symbol itself? What's its story?" I asked. All I knew about it was that it was used as jewelry and may have some significance in new-age mumbo jumbo.
"Ahem... I'm not sure. I think pharaohs had them, maybe as a talisman. Or maybe they were only illustrated with them as a symbol."
"And it stands for... What? Healing?" I asked.
"I think life in general," Kenny hedged uncertainly.
"Okay, so a symbol that represents life, that fits at least," I said. "What about witches? What makes someone a witch?"
"Maybe they need to be born to a witch?" Kenny asked. "Or to a person and a demon or something supernatural?"
It was too late for me to be born as anything other than a common pleb, so I needed a different option.
"What about making a deal with the Devil?" I asked. "That's a thing, right? Some kind of Contract?"
"Ahh... I am not sure I want to try that one," he said.
"Yeah, we are not jumping into anything here, but we needed to go over every little thing we could think of."
Kenny looked thoughtful.
"In video games, you can just choose to be a mage or maybe do some quest to unlock it," he said.
"What kind of quest?" I asked. I played several games, but I could only remember choosing a class at the start. What if those requirements that Kenny mentioned were based on real-life lore?
"Defeat someone strong so the order or school accepts you," he started listing. "Or getting all the needed items to do some ritual like a book, a stuff, or something magical."
"Signing your name in some book," I tried to recall a half-remembered story. "But that's probably connected to the deal with the Devil stuff."
Another dead end, it seemed.
"What about the spells themselves? What do they require?" I asked. "I know you can use a spell repeatedly in some games, with only the cooldown stopping you from spamming it. And in some, you need mana. What's the equivalent to mana in real life?" I asked.
"I don't think there is one," Kenny replied excitedly. "But, in some games, you can use stamina or health to cast, and we do have that."
"What else? How do you use a ghoul in a spell?" I asked.
"I don't know anything about ghouls specifically," He said. "Maybe a sacrifice in a ritual, or like in tabletops, you have a material cost to some spells, but Victor said she didn't use the ghoul."
"He didn't see her use it," I countered. "What if she used it before he came?"
"We don't have a ghoul anyway," Kenny reminded.
Kenny stopped in thought.
"A cost to the spell-" he mumbled. "Here, let me try again," He called louder.
I extended my hand again.
He didn't ask me to receive a blessing or redraw the symbol again. Instead, he stared intently at the little cut and the sign, took a big breath, and forcefully whispered a command.
"Close!"
I jerked my hand away from him. It wasn't painful, but I felt a strong tug at the skin surrounding the cut.
I looked at my hand. The cut was still there. In fact, it didn't look any different, but there was a palpable sensation. So he managed to do something, even if it wasn't to heal me.

***

"I felt it!" I exclaimed. "It didn't heal, but I felt it! What did you do differently? It looked the same to me," I tried to hold my excitement down.
Kenny breathed deeper and exhaled slowly, his shoulder slumping a little. It looked like the action tired him.
"Two things," He replied with a happy smile. "I visualized the cut closing in as much detail as possible, the skin coming together, the blood vessels connecting. And I tried to use my stamina to do it," he thought how to better put it. "Like having my body exert itself to make it happen. Sacrifice some of my stamina for the spell to happen."
I thought it over. "It felt like someone was physically tugging at my skin, trying to push it closed, but it didn't actually heal."
"I think I know why," Kenny said. "Let's try again from the top."
I considered holding him back, letting him catch his breath. But the breakthrough got me so excited that I went along.
"We are on holy ground, inside the temple," he proclaimed to the empty air.
Again, he took my hand.
"Will you receive this blessing to heal your body and mind?" He asked.
This time it didn't strike me as childish or theatrical. It felt real.
"Yes," I agreed without reservation.
"This Ankh drawn with your blood and my saliva represents life," He announced, pointing at the symbol.
I dumbly nodded.
"I use my life to bless you," he continued. "Heal and be restored."
He took a big breath and blew forcefully at the symbol and the cut.
Immediately, I felt all my aches lifting. My tiredness from the missed night's sleep, all the cuts and bruises I had on me, and everything that was not ideal for my sense of comfort just melted away.
In a matter of seconds, I felt better than I did in recent memory. I was so overflowing with energy that I could take a run, just for fun, to feel the air on my face. The last time I felt so physically charged was when I ran away from the squid.
"No way!" I cried out. "No fucking way it worked!"
Kenny dropped to the ground, breathing hard.
"We did it," he looked up, exhausted.
"You did it," I beamed at him. "You're a witch now, Kenny."

​
What is ashwagandha?
The ashwagandha plant is one of the most powerful herbs. Various parts of the ashwagandha plant are used for medicinal purposes, with ashwagandha extract mainly being used in supplements. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, a natural agent that reportedly helps the body cope with stress. As a result, it’s believed to be effective at helping reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. It may also therefore potentially help with anxiety and depression too.
What does ashwagandha do?
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Ashwagandha is known to help reduce stress and anxiety. One way it does this is by reducing levels of cortisol, a hormone that is released in response to stress. Additionally, ashwagandha has been shown to improve mood and cognitive function, both of which can be negatively affected by stress.
Enhances Cognitive Function
Ashwagandha has also been shown to improve cognitive function. One study showed that it improved memory and reaction time in healthy adults. Another study found that it improved task performance in people with ADHD. Additionally, ashwagandha may help prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Boosts Energy Levels
Ashwagandha has been shown to boost energy levels. One study showed that it increased stamina and reduced fatigue in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Additionally, ashwagandha may help improve exercise performance.
Additionally, ashwagandha may also help improve sleep quality and reduce inflammation. These effects can all contribute to enhanced energy levels.
Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
Ashwagandha has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels. One study showed that it improved insulin sensitivity in people with type II diabetes. Additionally, ashwagandha may help reduce fasting blood sugar levels and improve symptoms of diabetes.
Additionally, ashwagandha may also help lower cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease. These effects can also contribute to improved blood sugar control.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Ashwagandha has been shown to help lower blood pressure. One study showed that it improved blood pressure in people with hypertension. Additionally, ashwagandha may help reduce stress and anxiety, both of which can contribute to high blood pressure.
Is ashwagandha safe?
Ashwagandha is generally considered safe for most people. However, it can cause side effects such as stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting in some people. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's best to avoid ashwagandha.
What happens when you take ashwagandha daily?
As a sleep aid, ashwagandha may help people get to sleep faster and stay asleep for longer. It is also used to promote male potency. Ashwagandha has a variety of health benefits, including reduced blood sugar levels, inflammation, mood, memory, stress and anxiety relief, as well as an increase in muscle strength and fertility. Depending on your requirements, dosages vary from 250 to 500 mg per day for at least one month.
When it comes to stress relief, ashwagandha may be as effective as some prescription medications. A 2010 study found that the herb was just as effective as lorazepam (Ativan) in reducing stress and anxiety. click the link below to learn more about abhwagandha, and its real health benefits.
CLICK HERE

========☢️GROUNDZERO☢️======== The Plague Is Upon Us https://discord.gg/tyQuB774yX
🎮XBOX🎮 😈PVP/SURVIVAL👿 🗺️CHERNARUS [32 Slot]🗺️ 🌄Days- 3hrs ~~ Nights- 45min🌌
GroundZero is a freshly remade console server looking to bring back that classic DAYZ kinda vibe again, with some improvements to map locations and loot so it still feels new and fresh at the same time. We welcome all kinds of different play-styles and players to join so survivors can have all sorts of interactions from friendly to black screens. We do avoid the heatmaps/ npc traders/ base radars/ etc. because its not what DAYZ was all bout in the first place, its all about the journey and the blood, sweat, tears it took to get there. Hope to see you out there survivors Mahalos🤙
SERVER LIST:

 👀 - 1PP 🏃‍♂️ - 5X Stamina 🚗 - 2X Fully Built Cars ⚔️ - 24/7 Raid 🔨 - Build Anywhere 🔫 - Gun Rack Spawns 🌌 - Dark Nights 🏴‍☠️ - Factions 🗺 - Customized Locations ❄️ - Customized Weather 👑 - King Of The Hill Event 👷‍♂️ - Active Staff ⚠️ - Changes Are Prone To Happen ⚠️ - Always Improving 🛠️ - Server Events (W.I.P) 🛠️ - Faction Events W.I.P) 🛠️ - Zombie Hordes (W.I.P) 

========☢️GROUNDZERO☢️======== The Plague Is Upon Us https://discord.gg/tyQuB774yX
🎮XBOX🎮 😈PVP/SURVIVAL👿 🗺️CHERNARUS [32 Slot]🗺️ 🌄Days- 3hrs ~~ Nights- 45min🌌
GroundZero is a freshly remade console server looking to bring back that classic DAYZ kinda vibe again, with some improvements to map locations and loot so it still feels new and fresh at the same time. We welcome all kinds of different play-styles and players to join so survivors can have all sorts of interactions from friendly to black screens. We do avoid the heatmaps/ npc traders/ base radars/ etc. because its not what DAYZ was all bout in the first place, its all about the journey and the blood, sweat, tears it took to get there. Hope to see you out there survivors Mahalos🤙
SERVER LIST:

 👀 - 1PP 🏃‍♂️ - 5X Stamina 🚗 - 2X Fully Built Cars ⚔️ - 24/7 Raid 🔨 - Build Anywhere 🔫 - Gun Rack Spawns 🌌 - Dark Nights 🏴‍☠️ - Factions 🗺 - Customized Locations ❄️ - Customized Weather 👑 - King Of The Hill Event 👷‍♂️ - Active Staff ⚠️ - Changes Are Prone To Happen ⚠️ - Always Improving 🛠️ - Server Events (W.I.P) 🛠️ - Faction Events W.I.P) 🛠️ - Zombie Hordes (W.I.P) 

Hello Dears,
Im pro user of ACR phone Android app. I have got few "problems":
- If I connect my SIP account in top system bar is icon, that SIP account is connected. How to disable this icon?
- If Im connected to wifi incoming and outcoming SIP calls work fine. But if Im on data connection, I can only make outcoming SIP call but incoming SIP calls make error.
How to fix it?

My dog (5 lb, 7 year old male Pomeranian) swallowed a giant piece of jerky treat (which he stole from his much larger Labrador sis 😂) tonight; and immediately started hacking it up. Well, while the jerky treat was on its way out; he also hacked up about a shot glass’ worth of what my husband and I assume to be sebum (we picked it apart under a microscope; it def wasn’t tissue). And I seriously doubt it was food; as my dog eats a very controlled diet of wet food & soft treats (when he isn’t stealing from his sister lol- and jokes aside; that’s actually a really rare occurrence).
I should mention that he recently had six teeth removed; one of which had actually rotted so bad it was abscessed into his nasal cavity (don’t come at me; I take dental hygiene very seriously; but my dog was a recent rescue and he came to me in that condition). This whole time (since I’ve gotten him); he’s been snotting, sneezing, hacking, reverse sneezing, and snorting; all of which the vet attributed to the abscessed tooth. All these symptoms are much worse early in the morning/ late at night; after he’s had a drink of water; and when he’s active/ excited- which has obv impacted his stamina/ endurance negatively.
My husband is theorizing that maybe what he hacked up was “the contents of his abscess” or something like that. He’s thinking that maybe now that it’s out Peanut will be able to breath much better; and that his symptoms might finally abate. I wanted to hear other opinions tho. Based on what I’ve described; what do you think might be going on? And based on what I’ve described; do you think it’s a good or a bad sign that he coughed all this nasty shit out tonight?

12.[Damn I'm ugly] Here's the link for my opinion https://www.reddit.com/yourfavoritemartian/comments/1402pif/is_there_anyone_who_also_thinks_damn_im_ugly_is/
11.[Everyone clapped] The concept is just f**king stupid. The third verse just sucks, not even Benatar could save it, and what's with these gen 2 songs with theoretical situations? What if I got verified? What if I could flip any situation around? What if I was rich? Oh I'm a f**king hero, you got to believe me.
10.[Orphan tears 3] Its decent ig. I don't like the chorus at all, well I like Stevi's "sip sipin on, sip sipin on, sip sipin on orphan tears. Wax's rhyming is good, probably Wax's best performance of gen 2. I like the "we set the children free, free from the predator, before we left we took the cash out the register".
9.[Eff this job] Its just a worse version of Take over the world (which was already overrated) Wax is probably at his worse here, I hate when he sings the chorus. Also wtf are Puff and Wax doing in the chorus?
https://preview.redd.it/64makeca754b1.png?width=356&format=png&auto=webp&s=2ffeb812a5e2d2a7bf585dcb0494b1640ffa73d5
TF is that dance? A forced Doin your mom reference, has the same ending as TOTW. Your telling me you couldn't get Jessie Cale to sing "YEAH" in the song? Has a good instrumental, reminds me of 90s music.
8.[Gentlemen's balled] Kind of a boring song. The chorus gets repetitive. Dee Jay's part was funny. I don't have anything else to say. I hate Tig in gen 2, she's such a b**ch
7.[This is why I'm single] Good song. Puff and Shuba had good parts. Dee Jay's part was good(not as good as GB) this would be a lot higher if it weren't for F**KING WAX, BRO EFF OFF(except for Damn I'm ugly, he would have saved that f**king song).
6.[Rich people $hit] Good chorus doesn't get too annoying. Same for the verses. Overhated tbh. Also this is my first YFM song.
5.[Uno reverse card] Very nice chorus, more Puff then Wax, I don't like Wax's part. This should had been a Fat damon or Upside downs song when the meme was popular. Also I don't here Benatar at all in the chorus. You could get Jessie to sing "BAM UNO REVERSE CARD... IF YOU LAY THIS CARD DOWN, YOU COULD FLIP ANY SITUATION AROUND.....SORRY MAURY THE KIDS YOURS, GOOD LUCK PAYING THAT CHILD SUPPORT" But not "IM A HO, HO HO, A HOOOOOOOOOO, BUT NOW THAT IM WITH YOU, I'LL PROMISE I'LL LET IT GO". But FR does anyone even here jessie in the chorus?
4.[Orphan tears 2] It's good, Its not long enough(that's what she said) Wax's part was good for once, I like that extra sound that plays with the regular tear drop sound, idk how to explain it. Why tf doesn't Dee Jay sing? I mean there wasn't a voice actor for Dee Jay at the time, but Ray or Wax couldn't make their voices deep? Also why tf does Wax and Puff already look drunk when they enter the local dance spot?
https://preview.redd.it/banpida7f54b1.png?width=235&format=png&auto=webp&s=06b8953f85b78cfc444ef948b5dc6ccd8705b471
3.[Verified] Very close to gen 1 yfm, a little bit overrated. NO WAX. Also what's the song about? He got verified and now he's royalty? And HOW did he get verified? He seems to be hated by everyone. IK it's a dream but the song makes 0 sense.
2.[Brain rave] The beat..... SO F**KING GOOD, AMAZING CHORUS. I don't care for the OT reference. A lot of Easter eggs. I don't the dreams part. The dreams come along and eat the rave party? The video is kind of confusing.
1.[Date myself] First off NO WAX THANKFULLY. Good beat, good chorus, It sounds like Benatar sings the chorus or is it just me? A lot of Easter eggs, I got them on the first listen. Oh and THEY BROUGHT BACK GEN 1 LADYBUG PUFF. Its kind of gay but not really, not like The Smithers f*6 song. New thumbnail sucks, they used the old gen 1 puff from 2011 and not the new gen 1 puff tf.

RIn : Ofc i gotta start with him like hes a brocon what else to say potential wise and skill the best or one of the best bl players all he needs is a new better positive mentality he needs a new purpose one that does not meet beating sae itoshi but rather being the best in the world and the most important he needs to try enjoying football like isagi and shidou cause if he doesnt eventually he will have a breakdown from all the stress of tryna beat all the others players
Hiyori : Not much to say doesn't have the motivation or the drive to play football same issue as rin needs to find a new purpose to play football but unlike rin hiyori character is much more complicated due to his parents but he should stop caring about them and try to play more for himself not bcz he has to but bcz wants to and same thing as rin hiyori needs to find the fun in football
Tokimitsu :Hes a player whos highly underrated and underestimated with insane potential with his physique and unlimited stamina all he needs is to have confidence within himself and stop having so much anxiety and stress and use all these things as motivators to better himself
Reo : a player with extreme talent and really op with his Chameleon mode but struck on being with nagi cant escape the loop with nagi he should only have a dream of winning the world cup not caring about nagi in the process he should be a player like sae who chooses who is deserving of his support and passes instead due to his poor mentality he hinders his own growth
Ness :Do i even need to explain at the start he was a really good player known as the heart of bm but now he is insufferable both as a character and as a player. Him tryna sabotage isagi his own teammate and causing them to lose a goal was stupid at its own plus hes been losing the ball multiple times. In a team which is supposed to be rational he is the most irrational other then kunigami he needs to reset his mind and think more calm and rationally
Kunigami : Wait till pxg match thats all
I would include barou in this if it was before ubers match but now in ubers match we have seen he is following tactics and being more cooperative so he is already at the way for a better mentality and becoming a overall better player

​
What is ashwagandha?
The ashwagandha plant is one of the most powerful herbs. Various parts of the ashwagandha plant are used for medicinal purposes, with ashwagandha extract mainly being used in supplements. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, a natural agent that reportedly helps the body cope with stress. As a result, it’s believed to be effective at helping reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. It may also therefore potentially help with anxiety and depression too.
What does ashwagandha do?
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Ashwagandha is known to help reduce stress and anxiety. One way it does this is by reducing levels of cortisol, a hormone that is released in response to stress. Additionally, ashwagandha has been shown to improve mood and cognitive function, both of which can be negatively affected by stress.
Enhances Cognitive Function
Ashwagandha has also been shown to improve cognitive function. One study showed that it improved memory and reaction time in healthy adults. Another study found that it improved task performance in people with ADHD. Additionally, ashwagandha may help prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Boosts Energy Levels
Ashwagandha has been shown to boost energy levels. One study showed that it increased stamina and reduced fatigue in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Additionally, ashwagandha may help improve exercise performance.
Additionally, ashwagandha may also help improve sleep quality and reduce inflammation. These effects can all contribute to enhanced energy levels.
Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
Ashwagandha has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels. One study showed that it improved insulin sensitivity in people with type II diabetes. Additionally, ashwagandha may help reduce fasting blood sugar levels and improve symptoms of diabetes.
Additionally, ashwagandha may also help lower cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease. These effects can also contribute to improved blood sugar control.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Ashwagandha has been shown to help lower blood pressure. One study showed that it improved blood pressure in people with hypertension. Additionally, ashwagandha may help reduce stress and anxiety, both of which can contribute to high blood pressure.
Is ashwagandha safe?
Ashwagandha is generally considered safe for most people. However, it can cause side effects such as stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting in some people. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's best to avoid ashwagandha.
What happens when you take ashwagandha daily?
As a sleep aid, ashwagandha may help people get to sleep faster and stay asleep for longer. It is also used to promote male potency. Ashwagandha has a variety of health benefits, including reduced blood sugar levels, inflammation, mood, memory, stress and anxiety relief, as well as an increase in muscle strength and fertility. Depending on your requirements, dosages vary from 250 to 500 mg per day for at least one month.
When it comes to stress relief, ashwagandha may be as effective as some prescription medications. A 2010 study found that the herb was just as effective as lorazepam (Ativan) in reducing stress and anxiety. click the link below to learn more about abhwagandha, and its real health benefits.
CLICK HERE

Hi All, as the title says, I’m looking to invest in below ETFs and start a monthly SIP sort of thing on Zerodha
ETFs: 1. NIFTYBEES 2. MON100 3. GOLDBEES 4. BANKBEES 5. ITBEES 6. MID150BEES
I invest in 1 ELSS fund and pension fund through ETMONEY and have small capital invested in stocks (Reliance, ITC, hdfcbank, icicibank, idfcfirstbank, tata motors and united spirits) as well
I wanted to know and understand whether or not if it’s a good idea to do monthly SIP in all the above etfs on zerodha? and continue with the 2 funds on etmoney and buy more quantities of the above stocks? Or should I do something different?
Also, I’m planning to stay invested for a long time (>10 yrs)
Thanks

I've wrapped up most if not all of the main story quests and have the master sword, two stamina wheels, and one whole row of hearts. Should I grind more shrines or am I good to go now before heading to hyrule castle? What's the recommended strength you should be at before doing so and what else can I do to prepare for endgame?

About a week ago I cancelled my ESO plus subscription. Today it expired, only now I've decided I actually want to keep the subscription however it's impossible to renew the subscription. In my subscriptions list of account settings ESO plus appears as cancelled with the only option is to 'renew' but all that does is take me to the Microsoft store which offers the option of 'manage subscription' , which takes me to my subscription list in account settings... And round and round we go. There are no other options anywhere.
Any ESO plus options in the game take me to the store which then takes me to the subscription list which then takes me to the store etc etc.
Anyone else ever had this and know of a solution? There are no errors being thrown up anywhere.
Edit - incase anyone comes searching for this in the future. The answer Is that you have to resub via your Microsoft account in a web browser.

​
What is ashwagandha?
The ashwagandha plant is one of the most powerful herbs. Various parts of the ashwagandha plant are used for medicinal purposes, with ashwagandha extract mainly being used in supplements. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, a natural agent that reportedly helps the body cope with stress. As a result, it’s believed to be effective at helping reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. It may also therefore potentially help with anxiety and depression too.
What does ashwagandha do?
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Ashwagandha is known to help reduce stress and anxiety. One way it does this is by reducing levels of cortisol, a hormone that is released in response to stress. Additionally, ashwagandha has been shown to improve mood and cognitive function, both of which can be negatively affected by stress.
Enhances Cognitive Function
Ashwagandha has also been shown to improve cognitive function. One study showed that it improved memory and reaction time in healthy adults. Another study found that it improved task performance in people with ADHD. Additionally, ashwagandha may help prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Boosts Energy Levels
Ashwagandha has been shown to boost energy levels. One study showed that it increased stamina and reduced fatigue in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Additionally, ashwagandha may help improve exercise performance.
Additionally, ashwagandha may also help improve sleep quality and reduce inflammation. These effects can all contribute to enhanced energy levels.
Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
Ashwagandha has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels. One study showed that it improved insulin sensitivity in people with type II diabetes. Additionally, ashwagandha may help reduce fasting blood sugar levels and improve symptoms of diabetes.
Additionally, ashwagandha may also help lower cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease. These effects can also contribute to improved blood sugar control.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Ashwagandha has been shown to help lower blood pressure. One study showed that it improved blood pressure in people with hypertension. Additionally, ashwagandha may help reduce stress and anxiety, both of which can contribute to high blood pressure.
Is ashwagandha safe?
Ashwagandha is generally considered safe for most people. However, it can cause side effects such as stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting in some people. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's best to avoid ashwagandha.
What happens when you take ashwagandha daily?
As a sleep aid, ashwagandha may help people get to sleep faster and stay asleep for longer. It is also used to promote male potency. Ashwagandha has a variety of health benefits, including reduced blood sugar levels, inflammation, mood, memory, stress and anxiety relief, as well as an increase in muscle strength and fertility. Depending on your requirements, dosages vary from 250 to 500 mg per day for at least one month.
When it comes to stress relief, ashwagandha may be as effective as some prescription medications. A 2010 study found that the herb was just as effective as lorazepam (Ativan) in reducing stress and anxiety. click the link below to learn more about abhwagandha, and its real health benefits.
CLICK HERE