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5 days ago
Current A decade ago when we made that meme "get kid", this isn't exactly what we meant...
1 like
29 days ago
Do you think the reason Jesus Christ doesn't rise again is because we keep putting up crosses and he gets flashbacks on how that went last time?
5 likes
6 mos ago
Happy almost crisis!
9 likes
8 mos ago
it's not just a rock IT'S A BOULDER!...or whatever Spongebob said
1 like
9 mos ago
I will never show empathy for a bigot or a man who believed empathy is a made up term. Simple as that.
9 likes

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In Gif the User 5 yrs ago Forum: Spam Forum
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"The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are." Goldie Hahn



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"The road to hell is paved with good intentions.



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"Nanakorobi yaoki. If you fall seven times, then you stand up eight."




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"The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are." Goldie Hahn



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"The road to hell is paved with good intentions.



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"Nanakorobi yaoki. If you fall seven times, then you stand up eight."






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As the cool breeze hit the nape of Jade’s neck, she started to shiver and regret not wearing something more conservative. With just a mid-thigh-high black dress, boots that came just above her knees, her usual leather jacket that has become synonymous with Jade’s “look”, and a witch’s hat to complete the impromptu witch she dressed up as for her shift, she knew she’d regret it. She just didn’t think it would be so goddamn cold tonight.

But just put that on the list of things that Jade didn’t anticipate tonight.

It’s true, she didn’t think tonight would be as full of surprises. When she came into work around 8, she did so with the mindset she always had whenever she went to work: it’s just a normal day and nthing out of the ordinary was going to happen. There might be a few guys at Edge who might get handsy. It was the Southside, after all. Jade had come to accept that there were people among the Southside who still didn’t respect boundaries just as they should know that if you invade her personal space, she won’t hesitate to invade theirs.

But again, that was just how it was for her. Rey Rey might protect her per the Serpent and Fallen Angels brotherhood-esque bond, but that didn’t extend for everyone else who thought Jade was easy. She could be if she liked you enough, but when it came to those random strangers who saw her hand them drinks versus dancing around a pole, she maintained some professionalism with them only if they respected her enough to not touch what they didn’t earn.

Usually, that would be the extent of her day, but something more happened. After she knocked a few front teeth of some guy aptly named Bad Luck Rick, Jade began seeing...things. Maybe it was her fucked up sleeping schedule that was to blame. She recalled seeing flashes of people she knew to be dead. Old clients of hers that she mourned. Angels that she grew up with who died because of the life. She saw them at the club, raising a hand to them.

And as she found herself coming to a stop at a crosswalk, the chills that went up her spine at the moment was almost as intense as when she first saw those familiar faces. She didn’t know what the hell was going on nor if what she saw was even there. It’s also true that Jade had been relying on psychedelic drugs a lot lately. She kept having dreams about Charlie. They weren’t exactly meaningful dreams. Well, it was Charlie, so perhaps they were always meaningful. She always had dreams about Charlie.

God, how she missed Charlie. He’s been on her mind a lot lately. Even before tonight. Even before she thought she saw people from her past who were no longer alive. She has been thinking about him in the same way she’d imagine old people look back on their lives and think about their regrets. She had plenty of regrets when it came to the one person she felt she had let down the most.

And if there was anyone who could relate it was…

“Poppy?”

Speak of her soul sister and she shall appear.

Yet, it didn’t seem like she noticed when Jade waved at her.

“Wait, where is she going?” Jade questioned as if anyone else could hear her. “Poppy!” She called out, yet her sister couldn’t hear her.

As she watched Poppy move away from where Jade saw her, she decided, at that moment, that if she couldn’t get her sister’s attention, she would do the only logical thing that anyone in her position would do.

She followed her banana-cap wearing sister.


This is going to be my first year since 2014 that I will be skipping NaNoWriMo. My reasons being many, but probably the largest is that I just don't have the inspiration nor motivation to tackle it this year. As much as it pains me because despite the effects it has me after the fact (several months of writing fatigue), I do like participating in the insanity that is NaNoWriMo. It's a special kind of torture that I usually thrive in, but ever since last year, I just haven't felt that unique inspiration I usually do this time of year; all I feel is dread and stress in regards to it.

But having said all of that, to those who are doing it this year, I wish you all the luck in the world and I hope you complete it!


A @metanoia & @LovelyComplex Collaboration || featuring Marco Brady & Cat the Cat



The revved engine of a dark blue pickup came to a steady stop in front of the Godmother’s Sandwich Shop. Marco made sure to park it as close to the entrance as he could. The only downside was that his brother’s truck was lifted up somewhat, so Marco knew as soon as he stepped out, he’d feel that nice crunch of his limbs. That kind of earth-shattering crunch one always wants to feel after they’ve had an eye awakening experience.

As he watched in a painful limp, Marco found himself taking a seat at the nearest table inside. Surprisingly it wasn’t jam-packed as he assumed it would be. He didn’t know who else was seeing themselves, but Marco shrugged as he put pressure off of his left leg and was left to his own devices for a few minutes. He spent those minutes just thinking about everything his other self said. How that whole ordeal was all about his internal strife (or however the hell he phrased it). Said that he needed to deal with the external.

“What the hell does that even mean?” Marco cursed, slamming the table with his balled fist. “And now my hand hurts. Wonderful.

Looking up, Marco saw Cat hovering over him and he started to wonder just how long she’d been standing there. “Oh hey! Didn’t see you there.”

Raising an eyebrow, curious and concerned, Caterina, with painted whiskers on her face and cat ears on her head, gave the boy a quick glance over before smiling, “Oh hey, it’s a little early…” Cat looked at her wrist watch, then the door, then back at Marco. She was in her red pea coat jacket, which covered her black long sleeve shirt and pants (a budget cat outfit). She looked like she just arrived into the building, only moments before Marco came trampling in, “You’re my first customer today seeing how I haven’t opened yet.” Cat laughed to herself, realizing she must’ve forgotten to lock the door behind her. “I can fix you up a sandwich real quick. Let me guess, your usual? Irish reuben with extra sauerkraut?”

Today started awfully weird, on top of the sky having an odd hue of purple casting over their town, her kids actually sleeping in instead of jumping in excitement for the Belmonte party and trick-or-treating, Edenridge seemed… different. Gentle mist dancing throughout the streets. An unusual quiet. It felt almost magical, in a haunting sort of way, like they were stuck in a dream. She couldn’t tell why nor did she personally have any weird occurrences happen to her, but she could feel it in the air.

“Oh, and Happy Halloween!”

Marco had been lost in his own thoughts even as he sat there. His delayed reaction came in the form in an almost startled jump. “And Happy Halloween to you too!” would be the last thing Marco said as Cat disappeared behind the counter.

He could smell her make his sandwich, the smell being enough to awaken his stomach and make it almost eat itself. He didn’t know how long it’s been since he ate anything. He didn’t know what time he even woke up. He remembered it being night time when he was having that strange encounter with his other self, but maybe that was him thinking it was night time? Could have been early in the sunrise transition. It definitely felt like it was early, though. Something about the way his body felt whenever he pulled an all-nighter. That bizarre mix of hungry and sleepy lingered like a bad itch.

And smelling the corn beef brisket was more than enough to intensify that feeling.

Taking himself out of his head for a change, Marco looked up. And maybe it was just the first time him noticing, but he realized she had the whiskers and ears of a cat. “Say Cat, have you noticed anything...weird going on lately? I mean, like anything out of the norm?”

Placing his plate in front of him, along with a glass of water, Cat shrugged, “No, but I do have this weird gut feeling. Then again, I’m kind of on autopilot in the mornings. Why, what’s up?” Since she hadn’t officially opened her store yet, Cat decided to invite herself at his table, sitting across from the boy her little brother used to hang out with a lot. “Did you get spooked or something?” Intertwining her fingers together, she rested her elbows on the table and her chin on the back of her hands.

There was a vague instance where she saw her father talking to her late great uncle Cosimo in front of Palermo but she didn’t have her morning coffee yet so she didn’t think too deeply into it.

“I don’t know. Maybe?” Marco said, looking down at his sandwich. He hadn’t touched it yet and his stomach was making him suffer for it. “I still don’t know if it was a dream or not. It’s honestly so bizarre now that I’m thinking about it, but I kinda had a conversation with...myself. Minus the limp I’ve been…blessed with.” He laughed more at how crazy he probably sounded right now. Thinking about it made him want to tear some hair out and saying it out loud cemented that thought.

“Is that weird?” Cat tilted her head, wondering why this kid was beating himself up for his inner thoughts. “Sounds like you were self reflecting and maybe your subconscious just made it feel like you were talking with yourself?” Unlocking her fingers, Danny’s eldest sister leaned back and adjusted her ears, “What did you talk about? With yourself? If you mind me asking.”

Somehow Marco knew that she wouldn’t understand completely. Or maybe it wasn’t that and she was right? Could that actually be the case? Marco had no freaking idea which one it was, but that didn’t matter. As he took a bite of his sandwich, savoring both it and the time it allowed him to think on how to phrase what he was about to say, he looked up at Cat the Cat. “I don’t mind telling. I mean, okay so I guess it really was just about this...other me making sure I understand what happened to me--” He made a point to raise his injured leg up which more or less felt like dead weight, “--wasn’t my fault. And, I guess that I had to tackle my internal and external crisis, whatever that’s supposed to mean.” He laughed again and took a bigger bite of his sandwich, chewing as he thought about what the other him emphasized when he said external crisis.

In sudden passion, Cat slapped the table, “Why the hell are you blaming yourself for that fucking kid going pyscho?” Woah, reel it in Cat. Reel it in. “Did you know my daughter was shot near you, Marco? She’s given up completely on soccer, and you know what? That’s okay. Life doesn’t have a map. We don’t have this predetermined final destination. Things change, people change us. Do you think I always wanted to be a business owner? Fuck no. Originally, my dream was to become an actress. I was in my prime in high school, but shit happens. I lost my best friend and got pregnant, then I decided to use the gifts my parents gave me for a stable life.”

Marco knew she was right. His other self said similar things. So why couldn’t he bring himself to follow their line of thinking? On some level, he did blame himself even though Charlie Decker was the one who clearly was in the wrong. But as he sat there, slowly chewing on the last bit of the first half of his sandwich, he didn’t know that about Sofia. Or maybe he forgot when he was deep in his own despair and self-pity. “I’m sorry, Cat. I didn’t mean to…” He choked on his words. Even right now he couldn’t bear to make anymore excuses, not when Cat had proven that they held no merit.

And in a way, maybe this was what he needed. Not only because of the sandwich that helped satiate a hunger that lingered about, but also a sense of direction. If it wasn’t for Cat, Marco wouldn’t have been able to put the final pieces of this puzzle together. “Thank you, Cat. For the sandwich. I’ll probably take the other half to go. I think there’s something I need to do.” As he got up, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. “How much?”

“Free. It’s Halloween, kid, go enjoy yourself.” Caterina stood up and began to clean up the table. Swiftly, she grabbed him a to-go box, handed it to him, and began cleaning the table, “Listen, life is short. If I can give you any sound advice, don’t wake up with regrets. It’s exhausting.” As Marco got up, Cat paused from wiping the table and glanced up at Marco, frowning a bit, “If you get a chance, check on Danny for me? He’s been out of it since, um... our mother died.”

At the moment that Cat had mentioned it, Marco only smiled for the sake of Cat but internally he found himself truly worried about Danny. He couldn’t even begin to understand what that was like, to wake up one day and find that your mother was gone. Just the thought of not ever seeing his ma again terrified him, lord only knew what Danny might be going through right now.

He gave her a nod, holding his smile firm on his face. “I will. I’ll swing by later, I promise.” There was a sort of a conviction in Marco’s voice, the kind that seemed to say more than his words could ever.





What was Zestasia to do with this information that Etoile gave him and Pythia? What should he do with it?

As he stared at the older blonde, he tried to come up with a level-headed reaction to everything she just revealed. A logical summary of his feelings towards it all. He hated what they did to not only him, but his brother. They were the ones who forced Pagonia to leave him with Anatoli. They were the ones who captured Anatoli. And he hasn’t let go of that hatred. Anyone who was associated with them, by all rights, were the enemy.

But with Etoile, it felt like there were too many gray areas for him to think clearly. She wasn’t an inquisitor any longer. In the short time they had spent traveling through the forest, they watched each other’s back. She may have been bossy, but that’s the sort of thing that left an impression on the younger Calore.

“Damn damn damn!” Zestasia cursed a few more times, looking around (but more importantly away from Etoile’s gaze). He found himself looking at Pagonia who was with Clara. He frowned as he thought about all of the years that the two of them lost, him and Pagonia. “Do you know why I can’t stand the imperium?” Zestasia asked as his eyes remained on his brother. “There are too many reasons to count, of course: the time I lost with my brother, the death of my family, but the one that fuels my rage is when they captured my master. Two years ago the man who took me in and taught me everything I know about magic was captured and I swore to myself I’d do anything I could to rescue him.”

In what could only be described as a rare moment for Zestasia, who up until now had always had something funny or witty to say (obviously self-believed), but as he turned to face Etoile, he had a serious expression on his face. “I don’t know how I feel about you, Etoile. I’m not even sure what I feel right now, but…” There was a pause and he bit the inside of his lip, “but from where I stand, we’re fighting the same fight and I think that’s enough for me to put any animosity I hold for you to rest.” He put his hand out awkwardly as a gesture of good will, immediately feeling his face go hot with slight embarrassment. He just hoped that Etoile would accept his gesture so they could go back to acting like the band of makeshift amigos that they were before all of the revelations came down on them.


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