hi, im 19f and a college student currently. this is my first time posting. I have a couple hundred over 1k in savings and I would like to know if that's good as an emergency fund.
here are the facts:

1. I currently have no debts
2. I go to uni on a full ride so I pay only for things like transportation to and from school.
3. I relatively recently got part time jobs when at home and at school, which depending on how much I work, nets me anywhere from 1200 to 1800 per month.
4. half of my paychecks go towards savings. I don't really have any bills besides two subscriptions as I live either at home or school
5. I usually don't spend much; the biggest expenses go towards transportation and my hair care
6. I have a student credit card (discover) but I have no begun using it yet.
7. I have nothing for retirement or investment currently but plan to in the future

can I start trying to build credit? am I in a good situation currently for investing and trying to save for retirement? or should I add a little more to my emergency fund first (im thinking 2k)?

Hello there everyone happy sunday 🙏
I've been pressured what career should I take kasi laging sinasabi ng mga kapamilya ko to go to Government Jobs kasi daw madaming benefits and pwede pa maging long term, pwede kapa maka loan, di mo na aalahanin yung pag ibig, sss, at yung iba pa. Whereas In being a Virtual Assistant is wala namang kasiguraduhan whether long term or short term ka.
23 palang naman ako and graduate na, I started working from home this year palang and I already have 2 clients (30k monthly and part time lang yan as their Graphic Designer).
I've seen alot of successful freelancers, VA na mas malaki pa sahod sa mga taga Government. I don't mind the salary naman po kasi ako nag eenjoy talaga ako sa Graphic Designing nayan. Araw araw hindi ako napapagod kakagawa ng mga pinapagawa ng clients kasi gusto ko and mahal ko trabaho ko.
Pero gulong gulo lang din talaga ako kung saan nga ba talaga ako pupunta, so the question is may ilalaban ba talaga si work from home in the long run?
pa share naman po ng kweno nyo na mas better and work from home kesa sa mga nag work sa government

Hello, I'm posting this on behalf of a friend for advice as we are incredibly worried about him, and his mental state is spiraling due to how long this has been occurring.
Sex: M Age: 61 Height: 5'10" Weight: ~160 lbs Medical conditions: rheumatoid arthritis Medications: currently none; previously: etanercept, and before that, prednisone. Unsure on specific dosages. Drugs: no hard drugs or alcohol, smoked prior to etanercept injections but has since stopped Location: BC, Canada
​
My friend has RA and was taking prednisone for the pain and inflammation in his joints and extremities, around late March/early April he was prescribed an etanercept injection to further improve his condition. It is an injection that he takes to the abdomen, once weekly.
The first two injections he took as prescribed. He experienced fatigue, which he was told was a side-effect to the etanercept, but that it would go away as his body got used to the medication. The pain and inflammation went away but the fatigue lingered, he just fought through it during the work day. A few days after he took his third injection (Thursday), he fell sick with what was presumed to be a cold. The first day he had regular symptoms of coughing, headache, etc., the second day he said he felt a bit better. But by the third day (the weekend of April 19), he was bedridden, and has been so for the past 7 weeks.
His symptoms up until 2 weeks ago included extreme shortness of breath and fatigue. He could not sit up for longer than a few minutes as he would get tired, he could not walk far as he would get winded. Basically any activity that he could do with ease previously became extremely difficult as he would run short of breath and get tired very quickly. Some examples: he would get tired from things like getting out of bed, walking to the washroom (which was 20 feet away), eating, blowing his nose, even talking for more than a minute had him catching his breath as if he had just run a marathon. A shower would knock him out for the rest of the day due to the amount of movement and standing this required, and he could not do this on his own either as he did not have any strength. His life the past 2 months have been completely bedridden aside from the occasional eating and washroom. He also cannot sleep properly like before, his sleep is very broken and he usually is not able to doze off until around 3-4am for a couple hours, which may also be contributing to the fatigue.
2 weeks ago, we went to ER after his symptoms began to worsen, and he was admitted for one week. He had just taken his 4th dose of etanercept one day prior to his admittance - he had called his rheumatologist to see if he should still be taking this medicine, but the specialist was not in and the receptionist was not sure either, basically they said that it's not a medication that he should just start and stop, so he ended up taking it. At the ER, they performed a chest x-ray initially thought there was something in his lungs, and was prescribed antibiotics via IV. I'm not exactly sure what was given to him. The dark spot that they saw turned out to be a false alarm, but I believe they did finish his round of antibiotics since he had already started.
The doctor said that his kidneys and his liver had basically started to fail, and if he had been admitted 2 weeks later, his lungs would have collapsed. His muscle enzymes were extremely low, which we were told was the cause of his lack of strength. He also had these rashes on his legs, red spots all over under the skin but were not bumpy or itchy to the touch, which we were told was a symptom of liver failure. Since then, the doctor said that his kidney and liver function has stabilized and should recover over time, as well as his muscles. The spots on his legs have cleared up a lot for the most part.
He has been home for about a week and a half now, and his condition, while improved since prior to his hospital visit, seems to have stalled. His breathing has improved a lot, he no longer gets short of breath after a short walk to the washroom, but still cannot go far. However, the fatigue is still there, and he is still incredibly weak, and still has trouble getting out of bed, or out of a chair if it is too low. The doctor said it may take a few weeks for the etanercept to completely clear from his system, but we haven't seen much improvement in the last few days. Some days he has a bit more energy than others, but he still gets tired after eating or using the washroom, or showering, and has to lie down for a while before feeling better. Sometimes after eating, he will have occasional diarrhea, this has lessened since his return from the hospital but still occurs. Since he has fallen sick in April, he has lost over 20 lbs.
Is there anything that we are missing in terms of helping his recovery? Anything we should be doing, or anything he should be taking, either supplements or vitamins or such, anything he should be eating or drinking, etc? All he does is eat and lie in bed since his strength has not returned, and due to how long this has been ongoing, it's starting to negatively affect his mental state. I'm incredibly worried about him and am looking for any insight as to what we can do to help him recover and feel better sooner.
Thank you all in advance for your responses.

My friend (22f) and i (22f) have been friends for 20 years. We use to be best friends but with how little we talk or know about each other i really wouldn’t call us that anymore. 2 weeks ago i told her that i could afford to drive the 3 hours back to our home town to be able to go to her graduation party, that she didn’t tell me about until a month ago. I told her that i had a concert to go to at the end of the month and is been planning to go to that for a year and that i couldn’t even afford that, i have to pick up a bunch of extra shifts to be able to afford to go. She didn’t respond to me. But 2 hours later i get a text from her mom saying “So I’ll see you at my house for ‘friends’ graduation party right?” And i told her that i couldn’t afford to go and apologized because i wish i could be there. Her mom then kept sending me texts trying to guilt me into going, even going as far as to saying she will pay for me to come and pay for the shift that I’m missing. I told her I’m not comfortable with it and she then said “‘friend’ would move mountains for you. Who would you move mountains for.” But i literally have had 5 texting conversations since December, 4 of which i started. There would have been more but i decided in December that i wasn’t going to put effort into our friendship if she wasn’t putting effort in because i was tired of her never trying to contact me. The reason i came to that decision was because in the 6 months leading to December we had 15 texting conversations and i started 14 of those. Anyways. Her birthday was last week and i sent her a message saying “Happy birthday!! Love and miss you!” And she hasn’t even opened it. I don’t get why she’s so mad at me for not being able to go to a party. If it was her actual graduation ceremony that i was invited to i would have done everything in my power to go, but it’s just the party. Am i wrong for not being able to go? I don’t feel like i am. I feel like a actual friend would have been like “I get that. It sucks but i get it. When is the next time you’ll be up so i can see you?”

My current table is playing 5e, and the DM is gonna hand the reigns over to me for a SF campaign once our 5e one is finished! Most of them are skeptical of sci-fi, so I’m wanting to lean in on the fantasy as much as possible. I can home brew if needed, but even then, seeing an official adventure that focuses on fantasy could be helpful for ideas.
Starting at level 1 would be preferred, but I’d be willing to start as high as level 5!

This is the official story content for Garou. Posting it separately from the fandom pages. Some of the details are different from other sources. Feel free to have it double-check if you can.

• Website Prologue
• Website Backstory
• Website Character Bios

Just because you're hungry doesn't mean you're really hungry.
Fighting not to starve, and by continuing to seek, it will only make sense.
-Kain R. Heinlein
Once upon a time, there were men who risked everything in battle...
"One burns with revenge, while the other harbors ambitions..." Justice didn't matter to them. However, he put his beliefs into his fist and fought...and settled himself.
It's an old story now... Ten years had passed since then.
Ever since the invitation arrived, the boy had been lost.
・・・・・・・・King of Fighters.
A martial arts festival that brings together martial artists from all over the world. However, it has not been held since the organizer, Geese Howard, died mysteriously.
・・・・・・・・Why is that?
The boy read the letter again.
"Maximum Mayhem King of Fighters"
Notice of holding
We have decided to hold "King of Fighters" for the first time in 10 years. I would like you, the former winner, to participate as the defending champion.
Also, I would like to ask you to bring Mr. Howard with you. I've heard rumors of Rock's strength, so if you participate, there's no doubt that you'll have a blast.
In addition, if you win, we will prepare a large amount of prize money more than the previous time.
In addition, there is a special winning product from our family head who is the organizer.
that is········
"Maximum Mayhem King of Fighters"
About Rock's mother... I'll just say that for now.
I will tell you all the details when I win.
I look forward to hearing from you.
-Heinlein family butler, Arnold Sebastian
When the boy finished reading the letter, he closed his eyes again. And after a few seconds, he opened his eyes with a determined look, and he said to the man who was getting ready to go.
"Okay......I've decided."
"Yes, what are you going to do?"
The boy got up from his chair and answered.
"Oh, two tickets to Second South, Terry."

Backstory 01

Kain and Grant...
"These two had an immeasurable deep bond..."
​
Going back, 19 years ago. When Kain was still in the slums, he had a man he could call his best friend.
The man's name is Abel
Ever since they met each other as orphans they have come to understand each other.
​
One day, Kain and Abel witnessed a boy of the same age being lynched.
It was clear from their words and deeds that the attackers were a group of thugs who were famous for their viciousness in the slums.
Even so, the boy continued to be beaten without resistance. He knew if he resists, they would beat more... He had no choice but to endure.
However, the sound of creaking flesh echoed through the city dozens of times, and when the thugs finally left, the boy had already died...
​
After several hours·····. Kain and Abel generously buried the boy on a hill overlooking the sea.
The two of them were looking out at the sea. After a while, Kain turned to Abel.
"...I...don't like it. To rot in a place like this without fighting...I don't like it!"
"Kain... you?"
"Someday I'll get out of here. And I'll take everything! Then come with me! Abel!"
Abel was silent for a moment, but he soon turned to Kain as if he had made up his mind.
"...Okay, I understand. I don't want to die here either. If you want to push forward, I will push forward too. ”
“That’s right! We won’t die in a place like this!... I can't stand to die! ”
Kain clenched his fist... and further strengthened his resolve.
"I want power... power to have it all... and for that, I need your help, Abel!"
"... OK, Kain. I'll help you. If you're on the front, I'll be on the back..."
The evening sun casts its shadows on the ground. The two shadows were tight, holding hands.
Grant
Grant's true identity is Kain's best friend since childhood, Abel Cameron.
The ambition he dreamed of with Kain when he was a child... In order to embody true freedom in the Second South, he volunteered to assist Kain behind the scenes. Despite his dangerous backroom job, Abel's work was always flawless and helped strengthen Kain's power within the organization.
However, at one point, he was betrayed by an organization executive who was jealous of Kain's early promotion and received a bullet in his chest.
He managed to survive and had no problems with his motor function, but it hit so close to his heart that it could not be extracted. And the bullet is definitely approaching his heart, and it is said that when it reaches it will be Abel's end.

Backstory 02

"Relationship between Geese and Rock"
A room in an old apartment on the outskirts of Southtown.
A seven-year-old boy, Rock, lives a modest life with his mother.
His life wasn't very rich, but it was a happy day surrounded by his mother's love.
He know his father, but he never wanted to meet me.
"Don't cause trouble for that person." Was his mother's wish.
However, Rock's desire to meet his father someday grows stronger.
One day, his mother falls ill with a mysterious illness.
Rock took care of her, but it was too much for a child to handle.
He hears her calling his father's name in a whimper.
Thinking about his ideas, Rock decided to ask Geese for help.
Rock headed to Geese Tower alone.
And he finally met his father for the first time.
Rock immediately tells him about his mother's condition, and he begs for help.
However, Geese did not listen to his wish and sent Rock back.
That night... his mother quietly took her last breath...
Since then, he has come to hate Geese.
​
"Rock's State of Mind after the Death of Geese"
Time passes, and it's been a year since Rock came to Terry.
Terry finally settled with Geese.
However, it also meant the death of his father.
Ever since his mother's death, Rock has held a grudge against his father but now has mixed feelings.
It may have been the sentiment of losing his last relative.
But Rock didn't care why.
Unable to think of anything else, Rock challenges Terry to a street fight.
Without saying a word, Terry accepted and the two fought all day and night.
And that night...
Naturally, there was no way he could beat Terry, so he was beaten up and lay motionless, looking at the moon.
The moon and myself. He could faintly hear his heart beating.
It was strange that he felt life even in his powerless and small self.
And he was thinking... Wondering where he's headed...
And a few years later...
Rock was on an aimless journey with Terry.
It was also a journey of self-discovery that he desperately thought about.
​

Rock Howard

Profile
Age:	17
Height:	178 cm
Weight:	70 kg
Birthday:	June 24
Blood Type:	B
Nationality:	America
Fighting Style:	Kobu-justu + Martial Arts
Hobbies:	Touring, playing the base (he can perfectly copy any song he hears once)
Specialty:	Cooking (since making food for fast-food-loving Terry, he became a pro at it)
Most Important:	The hat that Terry gave him, his bike (Honda)
Most Unpleasant:	Women (growing up with a bunch of men, he's become a little shy)
Likes:	Driver Gloves
Dislikes:	People who boast all the time
Favorite Food:	Jumbalaya (but he doesn't like the sausages)
Favorite Music:	Hard Rock
Favorite Sport:	Street Basket (3 on 3)

Geese Howard's progeny was picked up by Terry.
He lost his mother to an illness when he was young, and holds a grudge against his father, Geese, for not helping her.
However, contrary to his feelings, he has inherited his father's natural fighting senses. He was unmatched even as a child, eventually taking up street fighting as a living.
He had absorbed many things from living with Terry. From learning martial arts to the ways of life.
He is currently traveling aimlessly with Terry, honing his skills at the various fighting tournaments he visits. His growth over the last few years has been remarkable, and rumor has it he's already on par with Terry.
This time he decides to join the "King of Fighters" in search of the truth about his late mother.
"Come on, Terry, let's get started!"

Terry Bogard

Profile
Age:	35
Height:	182 cm
Weight:	81 kg
Birthday:	March 15
Blood Type:	O
Nationality:	America
Fighting Style:	Martial Arts
Hobbies:	Wall Paint
Specialty:	Making 50 3-point shots in a row
Most Important:	Ukee, his monkey (ran away from home)
Most Unpleasant:	Cigacigarettes
Likes:	Vintage Jeans
Dislikes:	Slugs
Favorite Food:	Rock's Special Club Sandwiches (he overate recently and is a little chubby)
Favorite Music:	Country
Favorite Sport:	Basketball

Terry Bogard has settled his long battle with Geese Howard.
After a fateful encounter with Rock the boy of fate, Terry left the now peaceful Southtown and set out on a journey without a destination. On this journey, Terry teaches Rock everything he's learned so far and gives direction to his wavering mind.
Terry receives an invitation to the fighting tournament "King of Fighters", which will be held for the first time in 10 years. What is the purpose of the tournament now that Geese is gone? Suspicious, Terry returns to the stage to solve the mystery.
"My fists don't rust! Take care!"

Kim Dong Hwan

Profile
Age:	20
Height:	181 cm
Weight:	78 kg
Birthday:	June 13
Blood Type:	O
Nationality:	South Korea
Fighting Style:	Taekwondo
Hobbies:	Hitting on girls
Specialty:	Gluttony (his record is 60 plates of clams)
Most Important:	His girlfriends
Most Unpleasant:	His father (although he does respect him)
Likes:	High-cut Sneakers
Dislikes:	Rats
Favorite Food:	Korean Barbeque
Favorite Music:	J-Pop
Favorite Sport:	Winter Sports (especially Snow Boarding)

The eldest son of Taekwondo master Kim Kaphwan.
While Jae-Hoon is serious like his father, Dong Hwan is lazy and tends to skip the dojo. Each time he neglects his training wonders off he is scolded by his father.
However, his fighting sense is endowed with natural talent, and he uses a variety of techniques that are unique and varied. Some say that his strength surpasses that of his father in his prime. His younger brother Jae-hoon is also worried... If only he could come to training.
Though Dong Hwan seems to like doing whatever he pleases, he's actually a gentler man than most people. This time, he heard that Jae-hoon would follow in his father's footsteps and participate in the "King of Fighters", so he decided to participate in the same way in order to help him.
"Well, I'm a curious person too... but, I don't know what I'm gonna do!"

Kim Jae Hoon

Profile
Age:	19
Height:	177 cm
Weight:	72 kg
Birthday:	December 29
Blood Type:	A
Nationality:	South Korea
Fighting Style:	Taekwondo
Hobbies:	Study Taekwondo's history
Specialty:	Reciting Pi to the 27th decimal place
Most Important:	His family
Most Unpleasant:	Really sweet candy
Likes:	Small animals (rabbits, hamsters, parrots, etc.)
Dislikes:	Evil people
Favorite Food:	Really hot Chi ge
Favorite Music:	Techno
Favorite Sport:	Mat exercises

Second son of Taekwondo master Kim Kaphwan.
Even among the students at the dojo that Kaphwan taught, he is the most hard-working. Above all, he has a strong desire to improve and likes practicing more than eating. The way he practiced was enough to make his older brother, Dong Hwan, say, "I'm full just by looking at him."
However, at the end of that effort, he finally mastered his father's secret technique, "Phoenix Kick".
In addition, he was able to carry on his father's ideal of "spreading taekwondo to people around the world". And in order to put it into practice, he decided to participate in the "King of Fighters" this time.
He loves justice even more than his father and does not tolerate evil.
"Watch me, Dad! Now, I'm going to once again prove how great taekwondo is!"

Hotaru Futaba

Profile
Age:	16
Height:	156 cm
Weight:	42 kg
Measurements:	B78 / W54 / H80
Birthday:	May 11
Blood Type:	A
Nationality:	Japan
Fighting Style:	Chinese Kenpo "Juu-kei" (Internal Kung Fu) (Taijiquan, Baguazhang, etc)
Hobbies:	Cute ribbon collection
Specialty:	She can make any animal out of snow
Most Important:	Itokatsu, her ferrot
Most Unpleasant:	Strong alcoholic beverages
Likes:	Dangling-style Linear Coasters
Dislikes:	Earthquakes
Favorite Food:	Chocolate Ice Cream Banana Parfet
Favorite Music:	Pop
Favorite Sport:	High jump

A girl who continues her journey with her friend, Itokatsu.
She is searching for her father and brother, who went missing at the time of her mother's death. Though she behaves cheerfully and usually never shows weakness in public, she sometimes gets depressed.
The incident six years ago was the cause of such a trip. At that time, Hotaru was with her kind family. A strict father, a kind mother, and an older brother who protects her more than anyone else. Hotaru felt that he was a happy family even though he had strict training.
It all came crashing down with a sudden tyranny. When Hotaru rushes to her after noticing something strange, her father and brother are nowhere to be seen, only the cold corpse of her mother lying in the dojo.
From the time she lost her family, Hotaru's journey began.
This time she heard rumors of a man who looked like her brother at the "King of Fighters" fighting tournament, and she decided to participate.
"I might be able to meet my brother here... I have to do my best!"

Gato

Profile
Age:	26
Height:	180 cm
Weight:	82 kg
Birthday:	May 27
Blood Type:	A
Nationality:	Unknown
Fighting Style:	Chinese Kenpo "Gou-kei" (External Kung Fu) (Bajiquan, Xinyi Liuhe, etc)
Hobbies:	Calligraphy
Specialty:	He can hold his breath underwater for 10 minutes
Most Important:	Mother's necklace momento
Most Unpleasant:	Paying attention
Likes:	Anything grand, dynamite, beautiful
Dislikes:	Anyone who humbles himself
Favorite Food:	Tomyankun
Favorite Music:	Homey
Favorite Sport:	Swimming

A solitary lone wolf who follows his own path.
He seeks power to overthrow his father who caused his mother's death. He is training all over the world to acquire the ultimate martial arts. He is absolutely confident and doesn't shy away from anyone.
Much of his background is unknown, but he does not appear to be of Chinese nationality.
"...this little fish!"

B. Jenet

Profile
Age:	19
Height:	167 cm
Weight:	49 kg
Measurements:	B 86 / W 57 / H 89
Birthday:	January 23
Blood Type:	AB
Nationality:	England
Fighting Style:	LK Arts
Hobbies:	Nail Art, invading territorial waters
Specialty:	Her "internal clock" is never off by more than one minute
Most Important:	Her "Lilien Knights" companions, and the newest weapons of the "Lilien Knights".
Most Unpleasant:	Mornings
Likes:	The silence and stillness of 1000 meters deep in the sea.
Dislikes:	Diesel ships (because they stink)
Favorite Food:	Sirloin Steak (she saves them valuably in the galley)
Favorite Music:	Euro Beat
Favorite Sport:	Tennis, Equestrian

The Byrne family; one of the world's leading conglomerates. Jenny was their only daughter.
In her carefree life, she always came to think the same thing.
That the purpose of life... Is doing something that only you can do that no one else can. Why was I given life, and why is she here?
In order to come to that conclusion, Jenny thought... If you can't find it while waiting, go find it yourself. If you can't find it, create it yourself. If you do it anyway, it will be thrilling and exciting! I want to surprise the world with flashy things!
That was the moment when the thief group "Lilian Knights" was born.
The purpose of this time is to go to the most mysterious fighting tournament "King of Fighters" and receive a huge prize.
"For me, it's a tournament!"

Khushnood Butt (Marco Rodriguez)

Profile
Age:	40
Height:	183 cm
Weight:	91 kg
Birthday:	September 4
Blood Type:	A
Nationality:	Brazil
Fighting Style:	Kyokugen-style Karate
Hobbies:	Reading picture books (Cries reading Disney stories)
Specialty:	Sewing, tailoring.
Most Important:	His black belt, his Kyokugen signboard
Most Unpleasant:	Sake
Likes:	His hut for training
Dislikes:	Cockroaches
Favorite Food:	Chicken curry, rakkyou, grilled (roasted) chicken
Favorite Music:	Samba (it boils his blood)
Favorite Sport:	Shotput

A student at Kyokugen-ryu Dojo Brazil Branch.
When he was just starting out, he heard rumors about Kyokugen-ryu and went to challenge the dojo in Southtown, but was defeated by the dojo's owner, Ryo Sakazaki. In that battle, he learned the strength and depth of Kyokugen-ryu, abandoned his previous martial arts, shaved his head, and entered Kyokugen-ryu.
After that, he continued his efforts and steadily raised his skills, and finally grew up to be appointed as a substitute teacher.
His karate was wild and full of agility, making use of the unique springing of his body. He made Ryo Sakazaki, the current leader of the Kyokugen-ryu, say, "Even if he's the king of beasts, he'll turn into a cat in front of him."
Among his disciples, now that Ryo has retired from the front line, he is rumored to be the strongest Kyokugen-ryu, or in other words, the strongest fighter in the world.
"Khushnood has mastered Kyokugen... you should try it on Chimi!"

Hokutomaru

Profile
Age:	14
Height:	154 cm
Weight:	40 kg
Birthday:	October 7
Blood Type:	O
Nationality:	Japan
Fighting Style:	Koppou and Shiranui-style Ninjustu
Hobbies:	Going to the hot springs in the mountains with monkeys
Specialty:	He can climb the tallest tree in the mountains in 16.3 seconds (now attempting to break the record)
Most Important:	His master and all the Shiranui-ryuu people
Most Unpleasant:	Big Sis Shiranui
Likes:	Hot springs
Dislikes:	Hairy caterpillars
Favorite Food:	Shabon Nabe
Favorite Music:	Japanese Kotone (Big Sis Shiranui plays it for him)
Favorite Sport:	Athletics

A lively boy currently training in the Shiranui style deep in the mountains.
From an early age, he has trained in the Shiranui style. His master was a foreigner, but his technique was solid, and Hokutomaru respected such a master and immediately worked on his training.
However, when Hokutomaru reaches the age of 14, he will enter puberty. Various questions and worries come out in the training that continues every day.
Is he really good at his ninjutsu? How strong is his power?
And then, the outside world... What is going on in the world that I don't know...?
Once you start thinking about it, the thought becomes stronger and stronger.
Then one night, Hokutomaru finally decides to go down the mountain. The world he saw for the first time... What he jumped into was a poster for the "King of Fighters" event.
"Let's try my ninjutsu to see if it works in the city!"

Freeman

Profile
Age:	24
Height:	185 cm
Weight:	80 kg
Birthday:	November 21
Blood Type:	Not Clear
Nationality:	England
Fighting Style:	Self-taught martial art "Shame"
Hobbies:	Popping bubble wrap
Specialty:	As long as his head can fit, he can slip through anything
Most Important:	Drill necklace (He likes it)
Most Unpleasant:	Flowers with a lot of pollen
Likes:	The edge of needles and blades
Dislikes:	The middle of a big crowd
Favorite Food:	Fish & chips
Favorite Music:	Heavy Metal
Favorite Sport:	Nothing Special

"It's a boring day......"
He wanted to take risks.
It's already been 20 years since he was born into this world. The only thing he learned after spending most of his life in a dangerous slum... It is the conclusion that "it is only when you are next to death that you can always feel alive." He couldn't think of a way to keep his identity in the peaceful days.
The only thing that can satisfy his hunger is a serious street fight. The tension of fighting in a concrete ring... If you can beat it, it's not enough.
Alive or dead...? It was his favorite moment. To those who know nothing about that way of life, it may seem self-deprecating. But he thoroughly enjoys the insane danger.
This time, he hears that the strongest and worst demon of destruction will participate in "King of Fighters", and he feels excitement like never before and participates in the battle against this unprecedented enemy.
"...this moment...this moment is the only time I'm alive..."

Tizoc (Griffon Mask)

Profile
Age:	27
Height:	215 cm
Weight:	118 kg
Birthday:	April 25
Blood Type:	O
Nationality:	Mexico
Fighting Style:	Pro Wrestling
Hobbies:	N/A
Specialty:	He can hold 5 average men on his bridge
Most Important:	His Griffon mask
Most Unpleasant:	Magazine interviews
Likes:	The Smile of children
Dislikes:	Illegal moves, and the wrestlers who use them nonchalantly
Favorite Food:	"I eat anything a lot!" (quote from Tizoc)
Favorite Music:	"The Theme of Griffon" (His entrance song in wrestling)
Favorite Sport:	Triathlon

Tizoc: a man who has maintained an undefeated record since his debut and climbed to the top at once. Once upon a time, he was a hero to children all over the country.
However, he loses to a mysterious man who suddenly appears.
For a moment, he loses self-confidence and completely loses sight of himself. But with the encouragement of the children and his fans, he regains himself.
From that day on, he began rigorous special training to regain everything.
And two years later………while being hit by a waterfall, he discovers the only weak spot in the stream. This is the catalyst for creating his strongest new special move "Big Fall Griffon".
With this new power, he returned to the stage of "King of Fighters".
"Children, I was revived by your cheers! Come on, let's go undefeated!"

Kevin Rian

Profile
Age:	37
Height:	187 cm
Weight:	89 kg
Birthday:	December 17
Blood Type:	B
Nationality:	America
Fighting Style:	SWAT Mercenary Techniques
Hobbies:	Collects goods from a certain Sci-Fi movie (all 6 in the series, apparently saw it for the first time)
Specialty:	Survival
Most Important:	His best friend (Marky)
Most Unpleasant:	Medicine (He won't drink even if he catches a cold)
Likes:	Loose clothes
Dislikes:	Tight clothes
Favorite Food:	Spare Ribs
Favorite Music:	Jazz
Favorite Sport:	Darts

"You're Uncle Kevin, aren't you? Take revenge on Papa...!"
That was last week. He had a close friend, but someone assassinated him. Even if he seeks revenge, he does not know who the culprit is.
When such days were piled up, the child appeared.
"But Bowes, I feel the same way, but I don't know who it is."
"I know who."
"What? For real?"
"Yeah, and my name is Markye, not Bowes."
"OK, let's go, buddy!"
Kevin immediately began to identify the route to Second South.

Grant

Profile
Age:	Unknown
Height:	201 cm
Weight:	105 kg
Birthday:	January 8
Blood Type:	A
Nationality:	America
Fighting Style:	Ankoku Karate
Hobbies:	Making Pottery
Specialty:	Suppresses any emotion
Most Important:	A picture of him, Kain, and Marie from long ago
Most Unpleasant:	Highly humid locations
Likes:	His Ethnic Mask
Dislikes:	Begging for Life
Favorite Food:	Beef Stew
Favorite Music:	Doesn't listen to music
Favorite Sport:	Weightlifting

"My fist is the admiration of destruction...the one who sneers at God's scorn and worships power..."
Wherever he appears, it is said that there will always be conflict. In fact, there are countless cities that have turned into ghost towns. At some point, people feared Grant as a symbol of destruction.
It is said that the power that he obtained by selling his soul to the devil has the destructive power to overwhelm even the best fighters.
His motives are unknown, but while he prefers fighting above all else, he seems to have an extreme dislike of the weak.
It is rumored that the "King of Fighters" that will be held this time is actually controlled by Grant from the shadows.
"Come quickly... strong man... I am Grant, a martyr of battle..."

Kain R. Heinlein

Profile
Age:	26
Height:	183 cm
Weight:	76 kg
Birthday:	February 16
Blood Type:	B
Nationality:	America
Fighting Style:	Dark Void Fist
Hobbies:	Reading
Specialty:	Can see emotions through the eyes
Most Important:	All the people that surround him
Most Unpleasant:	Information
Likes:	Starry night skies
Dislikes:	Inertia
Favorite Food:	Apple Pie
Favorite Music:	Classic music
Favorite Sport:	None in particular (but, can do anything)

A clever man who wants to get everything in the free city, "Second South". His only purpose is... It is the complete independence of the Second South. And he is trying to create a slum of the whole district, a true law of the law.
The source of his ambitions is based on his childhood experiences. His hometown was in the worst part of the shantytown. He had no parents and was forced to live hand-to-hand with his only immediate relative, his sister.
A city where only power is everything. The only food you can get is the chips you get in street fights. Cain fought with a small body and came out alive.
That's when he realized. He is a protected human and a non-protected human. Humans who fight and pave their own way, and humans who are incorporated into the system and swept away. In this world, which one is facing the issue of "living" with sincerity...?
His position at birth is irrelevant. He wanted to create a truly free world.
When he was 8 years old, he got the chance to put that idea into practice. The appearance of Kain during a street fight caught the eye of Don Papas of the family (secret society) who happened to be passing by.
Kain, who was bought for his beauty and strength above all, was picked up by Don Papas and became a member of the family.
A dozen years later... Using his gifted talent as a weapon, he created his own power within the organization, overthrew Don Papas, and became the boss of the family. And now... at last, he has begun to put his long-standing idea into practice...

I wanted to make this post a long time ago. It's something I felt for so long but I couldn't bring myself to ask for clarity on that matter.
It's going to be a long story because you need context to guide me better in understanding what I'm feeling right now.
I had a group of friends back in high school and it was great to be part of something. It gave me a sense of belonging, but then I expanded my social groups and I went to multiple other friend groups because I was in a lot of sports teams back in high school, so I talked to a bunch of people. I began to neglect my main group of friends a bit. Then I had my injuries and I stopped hanging out with my other group friends and went back to the "original" one. It did feel weird because they were talking in code on certain topics so I wouldn't know what they were talking about and it made me feel left out (I think, they felt uncomfortable to talk around me because I have been hanging out with them for so long). I eventually left this group. So now fast forward, I'm in college and I am getting closer to an old friend (we are going to call her Valerie) from high school. A lot of drama happens between her and her partners and I feel mixed up in this in some way when I have nothing to do with it. (Because I solely hang out with her, their drama becomes my drama). I often chill with them, so I often feel like a third wheel. I fell off with that friend multiple times. Valerie is someone that I feel I can't truly be myself with and she always judges how I am and what I'm doing. I feel like she doesn't truly like my company. And she made me insecure about how I present myself to the world.
Okay, bare with me. I'm going to talk about two more friends and make a parallel between them. You are going to understand later.
I had a friend. Let's call her (Georgina). Georgina was also an old friend of mine that I used to be cool with. I thought I was close to that person, but last year, when it was my birthday, she said that she was pleased to have an acquaintance from high school that she still knew of. I invited her to my birthday and she used to come to my apartment all the time, so I was blown away when I received this happy birthday text.
I met Georgina in high school before I met Valerie. I have known Georgina since I was 12 years old. And she met Valerie through me, so we became to hang us 3. I always invite Georgina to activities but I never receive this energy back. She would invite Valerie but not me. So Georgina and Valerie became close friends in college and I felt pushed to the side. I had a fall off with Valerie and a few weeks later, I saw they had a party for Georgina's birthday and Georgina didn't think of inviting me. She said it was like a private party.
So fast forward to this situation. I stopped being friends with Georgina because she clearly didn't see me as one of her friends. I installed the Bumble app so I could find some new friends, which I did. I felt like I needed it to connect deeply with other people without questioning my friendship with them.
The first person I met, let's call her Florence. I met this person and she seemed really cool. We still talk but then Valerie decides to make Bumble friends as well. I explained to her that I had met this friend called Florence and I really vibed with her. Valerie matches with Florence as well and now she asks me to hang out with her and Florence, but my goal was to develop a deeper connection with one person without being in a group dynamic and I also feel like I could lose her to my friend Valerie. So I became insecure. I know, I can't gatekeep friends and I hate that I think like that, which is why I'm writing this post today.
Briefly, I'm almost at the end of the story. I met another girl on Bumble. Let's call her Dylan. Dylan is fun to be around and I can be myself with her. I was so happy that she was MY friend finally. I talked to Valerie about Dylan and Valerie confessed to me that Dylan is her type and she kinda has a crush on her. So Valerie texts her and they even go on a date and kiss. They have a huge crush on each other but then something happens & they just stop talking to each other. I start feeling more at ease and comfortable again (I know it's fuck up). Until now, they started to talk again, but as friends now and yea, I feel like I'm losing Dylan and I just want to cut the friendship and "give her" to Valerie so I don't get hurt again. I know it's weird how I think.
I'm also feeling recently because my birthday is coming soon and I don't have friends or a group of friends that I feel close to and it makes me sad that I'm gonna spend my 22th bday alone without deep connection or whatever. If that's being an adult , I don't want it 😭😭

Im in my late 20’s, husband is early 30’s. I think he’s actually addicted to porn now. Im really, really chill with porn. I’ve never controlled it and I think it’s a form of sexual manipulation to tell someone what they can and can’t do privately but that’s my opinion and I know that this topic can start a dumpster fire. If you subliminally tell me I deserved this, eat your own words.
I’m not perfect and I have my faults but I genuinely believe I was meant to be a wife. I love to nurture, I am loyal and devoted to a fault and I just want to please. I’m attractive. I turn heads everywhere I go. I don’t give two cents about that because the only person whose attention I want is my husbands. The last couple of years have been up and down and the most recent argument has put me in a place I’ve never been in. I have therapists telling me that they’ve never met anyone with the patience that I have for what he’s putting me through and that I have the ability to leave and it would be valid. He’s been distant but lately he’s been a lot happier with me and kinder which lead me to believe that maybe his mental health was getting better and he was going to stop treating me like a fly on the wall.
Last three months have been a deadbedroom. A couple of nights ago, he reached out to me in bed and we embraced but it lead to sex. I fucking love sex. I think about having sex everyday, every hour. I have an incredibly high libido. I know he does too but he’s had health problems and anti depressants that cause ED.
So this past week, we’ve had sex a couple of times but a number of those times, he had difficulty cumming or can’t and I have finally had enough.
I’m not a fool. I do his laundry. Cum shirts daily. I can clearly visibly see what he’s doing in his computer. Every fucking min of everyday he’s on torrent sites, seeding content or downloading content and viewing images or videos of porn. Porn porn porn porn.
It’s one thing to watch porn but it’s another to be one of those seedy people that are constantly on these sites to upload and download this shit. Like fuck. Every hour.
The grossest part of this is that after three months of being put aside and him treating me the way he did, he comes to me only at night for affection and it leads to sex. After the first time, a part of me thought maybe I could just enjoy the physical aspect of this because I’m so sexually frustrated and I want to fuck but when I catch him checking these sites, it’s like a rock dropping in an ocean. I feel empty and used and I think I’m just a warm hole he gets to use because he’s tired of jerking off.
I’m not really asking for advice because I logically know what’s going on and how I need to address this. I think I just need girlfriends to tell me “girl he doesn’t deserved you girl” blah blah. I’m just upset and hurt and I feel stupid for giving my body away to someone with scummy behaviour.

I had a really fucking bizarre encounter as I was trying to leave for work this morning. There was a whole family who had been standing outside my door for at least 5 minutes, the dogs freaked out for a second when they knocked but I didn't hear them over the dogs. So I open the door, they startle the shit out of me, Wakko (pugger) runs outside and the dad ended up grabbing him but no one fucking moved to let me get my dog! All the while that guy is starting to get pissed that I'm not paying attention to him because the only reason they stopped by was to give me a flyer to some event. I just put the dog back inside, closed the door behind me and drove off. I figured it was just some neighborhood Mormon thing. Nope. I get home and finally look at the thing one of his kids handed me, and it's a fucking JW thing. My dog got assaulted by jehovas witnesses

Hi all, I’m 24 and looking into purchasing my first home in a few months. I’ve always wanted to live in the country so when I heard about USDA loan I was ecstatic. I had an appointment at a PNC branch to learn more, but they were unprepared and were not able to answer my questions.
Here are my questions: - as this is my first time, I’m not sure how buying a home really works. I always thought you would get pre-approved for a loan, and then start looking in that price range (but when I was filling out an application they asked for my home of interest), do you look first? How long does approval take? - Do I even qualify? for TX, I believe you qualify as low income if you make under 70k. I currently make $61k (but am expected to get a raise this July.. hopefully not pushing me over the limit). I have a 720 credit score and have $27k in student loans and $7k in credit cards (I’m working on it, I did not have help throughout college and dug myself in a bit of debt. But it could be worse). I have a masters degree and just started my first job in October (although I interned at my current job in 2021 and worked there for a few months up until my start date in 2022) I mention this bc I believe you need a 2 year work history. I am hoping to get a home in Fort bend county. - can I apply for this loan directly with USDA? Or do I have to go through a 3rd party lender?
Thank you for taking the time to even read this. I really appreciate any guidance you can provide.

My stepdaughter (15) is getting worse. She is no longer living with us thank god but I’m actually starting to get freaked out. She is lying about my husband and I or exaggerating stories. She tried to get an anti harassment order on my husband because he didn’t get her an iPhone 14 and was in agreement with her therapist that she needed residential. Yesterday she broke up with her boyfriend and said he was verbally abusive all year and sent screenshots. One of them he was calling my husband horrible things and said he hopes that he burns in hell. She said she never told him anything and that he just says things like that out of the blue. Now I started thinking that I hope she’s not telling people lies and getting them all worked up and angry at us (which I think is happening) because I do not want anyone hurting anyone in my home. I know I’m going to worst case scenario. But my other stepdaughter contacted me and said that she’s now concerned because she told her a bunch of lies about her father (nothing too crazy). So I messaged my stepdaughter today and told her to stop spreading lies and she just wrote “ok”. My husband is livid and we just don’t know what to do other than limit contact. But she keeps bringing and creating the crazy!!!!

I took my 6mo male kitten to the vet because he keeps urinating on the bed. The vet recommended castration, which we went ahead with. Since he’s been home for a few days, I let him in the bedroom again and he immediately peed again.
I took him back to the vet to check the surgery site. The vet has confirmed his urinalysis was clear. We agree it is a behavioural and he’s given me Zylkene.
This all started when I had a friend, a man, stay here to catsit. I have a feliway diffuser and for now I’m keeping him out of the bedroom.
Oh, and when we got back from the vet this morning he pooped on the carpet.
What should I do? I’m going crazy.

Just had my install done and I’m super happy with the results. I do a/v editing work and having 2G sequential speeds is life changing. I can now work with other team members(that also have fiber) on large projects in real time. Of course I had to ditch fidiums crappy router they give you for my own much higher tier router, but that was the plan anyway. All that being said I have one glaring problem that is no where to be found in their marketing or FAQs before I started the service. A tech support employee told me when I called to ask…the frequency they broadcast on doesn’t allow for 2.4ghz networks? Does anyone know if there’s any way around this? 75% of my smartphone devices(lights/cameras/doorbell/appliances) all run on the 2.4ghz band and won’t recognize a 5ghz signal. Do I have to buy all new lights and cameras(the things I can easily afford to change) and abandon smart home usage for the more pricier connected devices like my dishwashegrill/refrigerator? Another huge problem is my uncles pace maker. We take care of him alot and his pacemaker sends real time info back to the hospital and will report/set off and alarm for major irregularities. This does work with 5ghz but that signal drops out if he goes outside or to our 3rd floor bathroom. Any work around appreciated or just info that tech support was right and there’s no way to create a 2.4 network on a dualband router with fidium fiber. Cheers

I am sorry that i am so direct but i really want some way out of this. I am a 16y/o male,bisexual and currently have a girlfriend who i can visit only once a week(no, we haven’t had sex yet) and i’ve been watching porn since 13(puberty ofc), but i struggled many times to quit it, the only way it worked it was when i was busy with my life(school, friends, events…) but when i am in summer vacation i spend a lot of time at home (no i cant go out with my friends anytime i want, i live in a rural area) and that’s when i start to watch porn more frequently, and i know how porn affects you psychologically and physically(brain), i watched documentaries and articles about that kind of stuff, but i cant seem to get off it. I tried different methods: dns filters, writing down, etc… Everything works only temporarily.
I watch mostly gay porn, and not because straight porn doesn’t turns me on but because i respect women too much to see them abused and used as sexual objects in very violent way. But gay porn, well… i watched extreme content and i am very ashamed of that, in real life i show compassion to both men and women (i have to say that i am kind person because i invested in that(reading,social interactions)), but when i watch those videos it’s like i am another person.
And last day i did something that i am so ashamed and disgusted, i entered on a chat-webcam-sex platform ( ofc i didnt showed my face but still). And it’s like i cheated on my girlfriend that i respect so much and we really have a very healthy relationship, but porn ruins all.
Sry for my english, and i would very appreciate your help!

I wanted to make this post a long time ago. It's something I felt for so long but I couldn't bring myself to ask for clarity on that matter.
It's going to be a long story because you need context to guide me better in understanding what I'm feeling right now.
I had a group of friends back in high school and it was great to be part of something. It gave me a sense of belonging, but then I expanded my social groups and I went to multiple other friend groups because I was in a lot of sports teams back in high school, so I talked to a bunch of people. I began to neglect my main group of friends a bit. Then I had my injuries and I stopped hanging out with my other group friends and went back to the "original" one. It did feel weird because they were talking in code on certain topics so I wouldn't know what they were talking about and it made me feel left out (I think, they felt uncomfortable to talk around me because I have been hanging out with them for so long). I eventually left this group. So now fast forward, I'm in college and I am getting closer to an old friend (we are going to call her Valerie) from high school. A lot of drama happens between her and her partners and I feel mixed up in this in some way when I have nothing to do with it. (Because I solely hang out with her, their drama becomes my drama). I often chill with them, so I often feel like a third wheel. I fell off with that friend multiple times. Valerie is someone that I feel I can't truly be myself with and she always judges how I am and what I'm doing. I feel like she doesn't truly like my company. And she made me insecure about how I present myself to the world.
Okay, bare with me. I'm going to talk about two more friends and make a parallel between them. You are going to understand later.
I had a friend. Let's call her (Georgina). Georgina was also an old friend of mine that I used to be cool with. I thought I was close to that person, but last year, when it was my birthday, she said that she was pleased to have an acquaintance from high school that she still knew of. I invited her to my birthday and she used to come to my apartment all the time, so I was blown away when I received this happy birthday text.
I met Georgina in high school before I met Valerie. I have known Georgina since I was 12 years old. And she met Valerie through me, so we became to hang us 3. I always invite Georgina to activities but I never receive this energy back. She would invite Valerie but not me. So Georgina and Valerie became close friends in college and I felt pushed to the side. I had a fall off with Valerie and a few weeks later, I saw they had a party for Georgina's birthday and Georgina didn't think of inviting me. She said it was like a private party.
So fast forward to this situation. I stopped being friends with Georgina because she clearly didn't see me as one of her friends. I installed the Bumble app so I could find some new friends, which I did. I felt like I needed it to connect deeply with other people without questioning my friendship with them.
The first person I met, let's call her Florence. I met this person and she seemed really cool. We still talk but then Valerie decides to make Bumble friends as well. I explained to her that I had met this friend called Florence and I really vibed with her. Valerie matches with Florence as well and now she asks me to hang out with her and Florence, but my goal was to develop a deeper connection with one person without being in a group dynamic and I also feel like I could lose her to my friend Valerie. So I became insecure. I know, I can't gatekeep friends and I hate that I think like that, which is why I'm writing this post today.
Briefly, I'm almost at the end of the story. I met another girl on Bumble. Let's call her Dylan. Dylan is fun to be around and I can be myself with her. I was so happy that she was MY friend finally. I talked to Valerie about Dylan and Valerie confessed to me that Dylan is her type and she kinda has a crush on her. So Valerie texts her and they even go on a date and kiss. They have a huge crush on each other but then something happens & they just stop talking to each other. I start feeling more at ease and comfortable again (I know it's fuck up). Until now, they started to talk again, but as friends now and yea, I feel like I'm losing Dylan and I just want to cut the friendship and "give her" to Valerie so I don't get hurt again. I know it's weird how I think.
I'm also feeling recently because my birthday is coming soon and I don't have friends or a group of friends that I feel close to and it makes me sad that I'm gonna spend my 22th bday alone without deep connection or whatever. If that's being an adult , I don't want it 😭😭

I [21f] have been with k (24m) for over 3 years. The start was great, he was my dream partner, he was patient and loving, he allowed me to move in with him in a time of need, he took me on dates and walks and late night car rides.
Our issues were small and infrequent, until recently. He picked up a hobby that required him to not see me alot ( about 2 hours a day, if I had not fallen asleep by the time he got home)
And for the most part I was upset, but understanding he has his life and I have my own hobbies too.
But when I sat him down and directly expressed my needs for more time with him, he said nothing.
When I cried myself to sleep over this, he did nothing.
When I was upset everyday at his lack of communication he just got angry.
So I gave him space, and he told me the more i ask for time with him, the less he wants to spend time with me.
This doesn't make sense to me, I feel 2nd priority, I feel invisible.
He then promised me Sunday, then invited his friends round (the ones he's seen every single day for 8 hours a day)
I feel like I'm fighting for attention, and whenever I get upset he just doesn't care. I don't understand how he has turned so suddenly, from loving and caring to this.
Am I just being crazy and overdramatic?
(I haven't exactly been kind to him or said very kind words about this whole thing, but I'm not an angry person and only blew up when I was so emotionally overwhelmed about him just refusing to communicate)
I'm not sure what I'm trying to get at i just don't anyone to tell and it hurts me so much that i Don't even recognise the man I love.

Once upon a time, there was a dragon.He was a huge purple and gold scaled creature with long teeth, strong wings, a spiked tail. He lived on the top of a mountain overlooking a village which was full of people who were terrified of him. The dragon was a nice dragon, though, and he was terribly sad because every time he tried to visit the villagers, they ran and hid or shot arrows at him. Every time he thought about it, he would cry rivers of tears which would flood the village. It wasn't a terrible flood, it was, however, a terribly annoying flood: everyone's shoes got wet and the basements had to be mopped, and the flower beds became mud beds.
No one liked it.
One day, after a flood, the bravest knight in the village decided to go see what was going on and handle it. He got on his trusty steed and rode up the mountain until he came face to face with the dragon who had just stopped crying.“Ho there, dragon,” said the knight. “Why are you flooding our village?”The dragon looked at the knight with big, wet, green eyes and said, “I'm crying because I am so lonely and you are all afraid of me.”
​
The knight looked at the dragon and heard, “ROAR roar ROOOOOAR.” Then, the knight pointed his sword at the dragon, announcing “You better beware! I am the greatest knight in the village. I do not want to have to use this, but I will.”
​
The dragon began to cry again as he said, “See? This is what I mean. I just want to play and you always think I'm threatening you!”Once again, the knight heard, “Roar? Rooooar!” At that moment, he had an idea. He looked into those green eyes and said, “I will be right back.” Then, he turned his horse and rode back to the village as fast as he could.
​
He rode directly to the home of the crazy scientist who had just finished wringing out his lab coat.“Professor!Professor!” called the knight as he rode into the yard, “I need your help!”
​
The scientist looked up and wiggled his bushy eyebrows, “Sure, sonny. What do you need? I'm always ready to invent something!”So, the knight explained that he needed a something to help him understand what the dragon was saying to him.
​
A few hours later, the knight was riding back up the mountain wearing a pair of blue headphones which let him have a wonderful chat with his horse as they traveled because the headphones translated every whinny. When he got to the top of the mountain, the knight walked up to the dragon and smiled his most friendly smile.
​
“Ho there, dragon,” called the knight, “I propose we try this again. Why are you flooding our village? It is annoying and inconvenient and we just don't like it. Please stop.”The dragon sighed a heavy sigh and said, “I do not mean to annoy or inconvenience you. I'm lonely and so sad that you always run away when I come to visit.” The dragon heaved another sigh and then lifted his head, his eyes widening in surprise. “You... you are not running away! Do you understand me? Nod if you understand me.”
The speechless knight nodded, his mouth hanging open in shock. He took a deep breath and nodded, “I understand you. The others do not, though. All of that roaring with all of those teeth and spikes made us think you were coming to eat us. We did not know where the floods were coming from. We assumed it was something you were doing to try to eat us.”
​
The knight turned and started down the path, calling over his shoulder, “Come, dragon. We will straighten out this miscommunication.”
​
The people began to panic when they saw the great purple and gold dragon following the knight. They met him at the edge of the village, pitchforks in hand.“Hold! Hold, my friends. The dragon does not want to eat anyone. He is not hungry, he is lonely. He wants to play.”
​
The villagers weren't sure about this and held back, though they dropped their weapons. No one moved and a hush fell over the crowd until one small girl walked up to the dragon and reached out her hand to touch his nose. The adults gasped and then the little girl giggled. Hearing this, the other children ran up to the dragon to touch his scales and climb up his tail. From then on, the dragon came to the village most days to play with the children and there were no more floods.

We are second year university students and generally find our own accommodation with our choice of people to live with after the first year. So a group of us decided to live together and it seemed like a great mix of people since we got along so well. And we still do. However, I did not expect one of the guys to suddenly change the way he did. At the start, he did not have many friends but we welcomed him to join us. He was one of the sweetest people I had come across in uni and looked forward to making more memories.
I think it is important to mention that we have both been attracted to each other too and would casually hook up at times this year. He especially made it clear that nothing serious will happen between us and I agreed. We had tons of fun as friends in the first semester and it was overall a good dynamic. However, since he found a group of friends outside his flatmates (and I'm very happy for him for finding a group of friends), his behaviour started to change drastically.
He has started picking on me about random things including the way I behave/my mannerisms, my general knowledge, my personality, etc. I'll include some examples. Me and my other flatmate went clubbing one night and did not have a big group of friends like we usually do. So I thought it would be cool to join him and his friends to dance and his friends were very welcoming. But he then gave me a talk on needing to gain more self-respect and finding a different group of people to go clubbing with. This is after him knowing that I've struggled with my self-esteem and still do. He constantly takes jabs at me and is very mean in front of others to the point where my flatmates are noticing it now. A few months ago he also made comments about someone I had a crush on and hooked up with at the club (when he has also hooked up in front of me before). He told me that his friends said I downgraded from him to my crush and that "my stock" went down. I don't understand why he had to bring it up. He then proceeds to tell me not to overthink what he said, despite knowing that these things tend to affect me.
A few other instances on the top of my mind include always dragging me unnecessarily in front of everyone. In one instance he was complaining about a friend to his group of guy friends and said that she always attracts problems and that she is exhausting to be around and suddenly points at me saying that I am also like that. It was a horrible feeling because I am starting to refrain from asking my friends for advice or sharing any problem with the fear that I am exhausting others. I have to now walk on eggshells whenever he is in our common room because I am scared he will insult me.
In a conversation with my other flatmate, she was telling me about all the people she is talking to and I jokingly mentioned that she is becoming like how I used to be in the first semester. It seemed like she did not hear me so I repeated myself to which he responded "ok we heard you the first time" even though my friend admitted to not hearing me afterwards. The entire situation sucks because as a friend I have been there for him but I don't know what happened for him to treat me this way. I took time out of my day to buy him Coke but accidentally bought Coke Zero and he gave me such a hard time for it (calling me an idiot) and throwing the can in the bin.
My question is how do I deal with another year of this? I am considering avoiding doing things with my flatmates because his comments hurt too much and I always miss what we had in the past. But my flatmates are my best friends which makes it hard. What can I say to him for him to realise how it is affecting me? I have opened up to him but he says I can't take a joke. I also don't know how someone's behaviour changes so much. Why could this have happened?