Nail salons open on sunday near me

Sorry to have to come to this Reddit. Im genuinely concerned of the state my pc is currently in. For starters, I’m fairly new to the pc community. I actually just built my first pc two days ago and just gotten a keyboard so that I could set it up. Everything felt pretty good until I saw a screen pop up with the message from the title. I was honestly scared, so I asked the friend that had been helping me with my pc stuff. He said that would go away as soon as I installed the operating system. Unfortunately, that did not stop it. He said to just proceed forward with the installation of the drivers and that I would be fine. It was fine until it wasn’t. After downloading one of the motherboard drivers, which I think was the wifi one, I proceeded to go collect the “Auto Detect & Install” from AMD. Once I ran it for installation, i proceeded to finish up a driver download and install it. It prompted to restart my pc, so I proceeded. Then I checked if I needed to download anymore drivers. But this time it prompted me with a incompatibility message and I was confused. Assuming that maybe the pc didn’t register or read stuff correctly (I feel like this is where I made one mistake), I restarted the pc. But then a windows blue screen error message popped up. I was terrified and messaged my friend immediately. They said one way I could potentially fix it was to restore/reset my pc. Putting my full trust in my friend, I did as he advised. (I regret doing this tbh) And now, this made things worse. My pc is now in a never-ending loop of displaying the gigabyte loading/logo screen and a blue error screen with the error code “inaccessible boot device” to where it continues to restart and display the same screen over and over again. I reached out to Microsoft and hoped they would be able to assist me but they were unable to. I did leave a support ticket but I’m honestly too spooked rn, I don’t think I can wait tbh. I wanna fix this but I don’t think I can. Now I’m nearly tearing up…my first pc and I already jacked everything up. Maybe I’m not ready for a pc. I genuinely put so much money on a pc since I’ve been putting it off for years. Finally having the opportunity, it slipped right through my hands. I’m hoping I could get this fixed without having to take it in somewhere…I have no money to fix it. Not even 100 to spare for Geek Squad or something. Help…please…

You can chat +447593882116 (Telegram/WhatsApp) if you want The System By Todd.
I have The System By Todd.
Todd Valentine - The System is a revolutionary course, created by the famous pickup instructor - Todd Valentine.
The System by Todd covers everything you need to know to play the game. This program is applicable for beginners, as well as intermediate students.
In The System by Todd you will learn how to OPEN (Open, Premise, Establish, Narrative) as well as much more on how to lead proper interaction with girls, and how to close them (infields included)!
Todd Valentine's The System is one of the best and most effective courses ever created on dating, and one of the best choices you will make if you have decided to improve your game.
To get The System By Todd contact me on:
Reddit Direct Message to u/RequestCourseAccess
WhatsApp/Telegram: +447593882116 (Telegram: multistorecourses)
Email: silverlakestore/@/yandex.com (remove the brackets)

I recently bought a new to me home (built 1949) that is a fixer upper. What I didn’t realize is that it would be a money pit.
So what started out as an issue with the kitchen sink waste pipe replacement morphed into repairing the plumbing entire house and I still have more to do.
What needed to be done ( forgive me if I get the language wrong):
• Waste pipe from kitchen sink had to be replaced. Years of Drano use from pushing everything into the garbage disposal caused the cast iron pipe to fail. Lots of pitting on the exterior of the pipe. This pipe had polka dots. I’d never seen anything like this before.
• replace water heater (40 gal BW). The previous water heater was ~9 yrs old and had had some repairs. This was the one thing I knew had to be replaced so was prepared to spend about $1200 here.
• install water softener not having this seemed to be the root cause of a lot of my problems
• replace shutoff valves on main lines under bathroom sink, toilet, kitchen sink, washer, utility sink, water line to fridge
• replaced the exterior frost free sill faucets. I learned the hard way these had failed by having first use this spring flood the basement
• replace the main shutoff valve to my home
• I had cast iron, PVC, copper, and galvanized pipe in my home. Because the home at one time had a beauty parlor in the basement, had a rudimentary shower that no longer worked, and was party central complete with a bar sink with taps that no longer worked. There were pipes all over the place. Now only copper and PVC
• the home has a second kitchen in basement and the sink will be reused as my utility sink
• bathroom fixtures in bathroom shower were replaced
All of this cost $19K
I still have to get the following done:
• replace bath sink faucet ($650)
• replace toilet ($1200) Kohler comfort heigh elongated seat will be used but for this. I have not selected which model of toilet but would like a bidet seat I think. I need to do some more reading about those. I would prefer to have a skirted toilet so that it’s easier to clean but need some advice here.
• replace kitchen faucet ($745)
All faucets are Wolverine brass except for the utility sink that will end up being whatever 6” center faucet I can find. I’m looking at a Union brass model (https://www.chicagofaucetshoppe.com/Union-Brass-174-360H-p/ub-360h.htm).
• move laundry ($4800) the work for this will involve:

• Cap off old water lines for laundry in basement.
  
  • Furnish and install new 2" pvc piping from pt floor laundry room to basement.
  • Furnish and install new 1/2" water line from basement to new location of laundry room.
  • Furnish and install new gas line from basement to laundry room.
  • Furnish and install new flex laundry hose from upstairs to exit outside through brick. (I need more info on this before I agree to having this done.
  • Furnish and install new clear hose from condensate pump to old stand pipe in basement. (Not part of laundry but it’s currently draining into sink and needs to be moved)

So are costs out of line?
I ended up going with this company because I received no response from one other I called. The third had no availability to come out to do an inspection and bid the work. I called first week in April and they could not come until late May.
I am in IL near the Quad cities at IA border.

So, my lil fluffer, decided it's a good idea to rip open her hidey, which is made out of textile materials, which kept her nice and cozy during the winter. Temperature's fine in my room, where she resides, but just in case she got cold at times, this seemed like a good idea.
Now, the thing's open enough you can easily see fibers...
She got used to having this cozy thing, and now she keeps trying to munch angrily on her old hidey, which was a basic wood bridge. Annoys me endlessly with the sound alone. Don't think she can actually get through the wood itself, but still.
Question is, what do you think of having no hidey? She's very used to me, spending every waking hour with me basically, sleeping eyes closed near me, cuddles up to me, yawning, eating from my hand, yelling for attention, the whole shabang.

Hello, I've been going through a wild time recently, learning about my mom and dad from my moms side of the family. Turns out moms liked sleeping around but dad never suspected anything. I've always noticed that some major differences between me and my dad, like thick body hair on me and my dad being nearly hairless, I started losing my hair around 24/25 years old and my dad still has a nice piece at 53 years old. I am tall and my father isnt, and just overall face shape and this neat little cleft chin I've chosen to hide under a beard that my dad doesnt have. DNA tests are out, since i now live in Mexico and my dad in the US. My question is... are these obvious signs that my dad, whom i love more than anyone on earth, isnt my biological father? Its a shot in the dark without the DNA test i know, but is this likely?? Or did the drug abuse really make me extra critical about hypothetical ideas i get late at night.
Thank you for your time.

The expected date of Hajj this year is 26 June 2023 to 1 July 2023.
Hajj is performed over five to six days, from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar
When did Hajj become an Obligation?
The obligation of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, was established during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the year 9 AH (After Hijrah). It was during this year that the Prophet received a revelation from Allah instructing Muslims to perform Hajj. The revelation came in the form of a verse from the Quran:
"And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way." (Quran 3:97)
From that moment onwards, Hajj became a religious obligation for all Muslims who have the physical and financial means to undertake the journey. It is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the declaration of faith, prayer, fasting during Ramadan, and giving charity.
The Significance of Hajj in the Life of a Muslim:
Hajj holds immense significance in the life of a Muslim. It is a transformative journey that not only strengthens one's faith but also brings about spiritual growth and self-reflection. Here are a few key reasons why Hajj is considered so important:

1. Fulfillment of Religious Obligation: Hajj is a fundamental religious duty for Muslims. By fulfilling this obligation, believers demonstrate their obedience to Allah and their commitment to practicing Islam in its entirety.
2. Unity of the Muslim Ummah: Hajj serves as a unifying force for the global Muslim community. Muslims from different countries, races, and backgrounds come together in Mecca, dressed in the same attire, performing the same rituals, and reciting the same prayers. This unity showcases the diversity within Islam and reinforces the sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among Muslims.
3. Spiritual Purification and Forgiveness: Hajj provides a unique opportunity for Muslims to seek forgiveness and cleanse their souls. Through the rigorous physical and spiritual acts of worship, pilgrims engage in self-reflection, repentance, and supplication. It is a time to seek forgiveness from Allah and strive for spiritual purification.
4. Commemoration of Prophetic Legacy: Hajj is deeply rooted in the legacy of the Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham) and Muhammad (peace be upon them). It is a commemoration of the trials, sacrifices, and devotion of these prophets and their families. Muslims retrace the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim, who built the Kaaba, and perform rituals that symbolize his unwavering faith and obedience to Allah.

The Rituals of Hajj
Hajj consists of several rituals that pilgrims perform during their journey. These rituals are deeply symbolic and hold significant spiritual meaning. Some of the key rituals include:
The Ninteen Steps of Hajj At A Glance

1. Preparation and Intention: Before embarking on the Hajj journey, pilgrims make necessary preparations and declare their intention to perform the pilgrimage solely for the sake of Allah.
2. Enter the State of Ihram: Upon reaching the designated boundary known as the Miqat, pilgrims enter the state of Ihram by wearing the prescribed clothing (for men) and observing the necessary restrictions. This state signifies the beginning of the pilgrimage.
3. Tawaf x7: Pilgrims perform Tawaf by circumambulating the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Mecca seven times in an anti-clockwise direction. This act symbolizes the unity of Muslims and their devotion to Allah.
4. Safa and Marwa: After Tawaf, pilgrims proceed to the hills of Safa and Marwa and walk or run seven times between them, retracing the steps of Hajar (Hagar), the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). This commemorates her search for water for her infant son, Ismail (Ishmael).
5. Clip/Shave Hair (Umrah ends): At this stage, pilgrims complete the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) by either clipping a small portion of their hair or completely shaving their heads, symbolizing the completion of a major part of the pilgrimage.
6. Resting and Praying: Pilgrims rest, pray, and engage in supplication, seeking spiritual rejuvenation and connection with Allah.
7. Enter the State of Ihram: After resting, pilgrims re-enter the state of Ihram, preparing for the main rites of Hajj.
8. Arrive at Mina: Pilgrims move to Mina, a small town near Mecca, where they spend the day and night in preparation for the following day's events.
9. Day of 'Arafah: On the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat. They engage in prayer, supplication, and reflection, seeking forgiveness and spiritual elevation. This day is considered the most important part of Hajj.
10. Muzdalifah (Under the night sky): After sunset, pilgrims move to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night under the open sky. They collect pebbles here for the next ritual.
11. Rami (Stoning of the devil): Pilgrims return to Mina and engage in the ritual of stoning, symbolizing the rejection of evil temptations. They throw pebbles at three pillars representing Satan.
12. Hady: Pilgrims sacrifice an animal, typically a sheep or goat, in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah.
13. Shaving of the Head: Pilgrims shave their heads or trim their hair, marking the completion of the main rituals of Hajj. This act signifies humility and purity.
14. Tawaf al-Ifadha: Pilgrims return to Mecca to perform Tawaf al-Ifadha, another circumambulation of the Kaaba, and offer additional prayers.
15. Saai': Following Tawaf al-Ifadha, pilgrims perform Saai'—walking or running between Safa and Marwa seven times, replicating the actions of Hajar in her search for water.
16. Rami (Stoning of the devil): Returning to Mina, pilgrims engage in the stoning ritual once again, throwing pebbles at the three pillars representing Satan.
17. Spend the Night at Mina: Pilgrims spend another night in Mina, engaged in worship and reflection.
18. Rami (Stoning of the devil): On the 11th and 12th day of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims stone the three pillars in Mina once more, symbolizing their commitment to resist evil.
19. Farewell Tawaf al-Wida': Before leaving Mecca, pilgrims perform Tawaf al-Wida', the Farewell Tawaf, bidding farewell to the Kaaba and concluding their pilgrimage. It is a final act of devotion and gratitude.

Hajj 2023, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, holds immense significance in Islam. It is a journey that encapsulates faith, devotion, unity, and self-reflection. Through its rituals, Hajj allows Muslims to deepen their spiritual connection with Allah, seek forgiveness, and renew their commitment to live a righteous life. As millions of pilgrims prepare for this sacred journey, it is a time of great anticipation and spiritual transformation. May Hajj 2023 be a blessed and transformative experience for all those embarking on this remarkable pilgrimage.

So I've been friends with this girl for years since year 7 or 8 and she invited me over a couple days ago. When I went round yesterday I went round in the morning we hung downstairs a bit then went upstairs to her room where we just kept hugging and playing in her bed then I had to go for work and she invites me back over later where we won't upstairs again hugged etc then we locked eyes and she started a kiss ( my first not hers ) and we paused for a sec them carried on like before. I stayed for hours after that and she's invited me to go to watch her at a sports event on Sunday. How / when should I bring up this topic and do you think she wants to date?

I've got a pretty high sex drive, he can go weeks without any action.
We've been together for year's now and I'm really happy and love him but the sex life just doesn't do it for me.
I can drop hints and he just goes on with his day. I can outright tell him I'm horny and he might still just forget. If I get really annoying he might deign to offer a half-hearted handjob that's less satisfying than doing it myself, but, well...
He's very clingy in certain regards. When I fap without him he feels... I guess "left out"? Dunno how to describe it better... Obviously an open relationship or anything like that is an absolute no for him.
What do?

I’ve never been more open about myself and my mental health to someone. he understood me, he also came from a hard place. I liked having someone who also struggles with things and knows what I'm talking about. i didn’t feel alone for a second when talking with him. i felt heard. i felt i mattered. he listened. he was supportive. he was proud. all of a sudden he stopped reacting to my messages. I am hurt. I feel betrayed. Was all of this for nothing? was i too open about myself? I don’t know what i should do. my anxiety has never been that bad as some of the people on this sub. sometimes i feel like a bit of an imposter on this sub, but my anxiety surely exists and he was the man who told me my feelings are valid too. i miss that. since being ghosted my anxiety came back. i’m scared he hates me. i’m scared i’ll never find someone like him again. i lost it all. that one message from him could make my day. my anxiety is worsening. i’m doubting everything about myself

Ok so I was playing Skyrim SE on my computer it contains around 42 mods and then I closed the game and went to go eat. When I came back I opened the SSE mod organizer 2 all my mods were deactivated so I just reactivated all then but then it put them in a completely new load order it seems to be in alphabetical I tried manually putting everyone back the way it was and even used LOOT to sort the plugins, it worked fine but Sky UI kept saying it couldn’t find the necessary files and to delete and reinstall so I did that but it still kept saying that it couldn’t find the required files. So I just deleted Sky UI and started the game up again but now the game will crash as soon as I load into the game so I’m confused as what I need to do, I was thinking or deleting everything and reinstalling it but that took me awhile to do. Any help will be appreciated and I’ll provide any info necessary. It says my SSE is up to date and my SKSE is up to date.

[putting here because this was definitely written by a dude with a small penis]
So to start off, me(24) and my boyfriend(25) have been together since we were in school. He’s the only guy I’ve ever been with and I actually lost my virginity to him. He had one previous girlfriend before me but other than that it’s pretty much been just us two since the beginning. Without dragging this on too much with details, one day he asks me if I would want to be in a threesome with us and another guy. We’re both pretty open minded so I said yes. We downloaded a hook up app and found someone that was attractive to me.
So it’s the day of and we’re hanging out with the guy and getting to know him a little and then after we get a hotel room and the fun starts to happen. So for context I’m super small. I’m 4’10 and weigh 110 and my boyfriend is 5’9 and weighs 180. The main problem with sex for me and him is his size. His penis is kinda big and more often than not hurts like hell when we’re having sex but can still be pleasurable at times. When our third pulled his penis out he was just average so I’m thinking to myself “oh great”. NO. As much as it hurts me to say this, that was the best sex I have ever experienced. I didn’t feel like I was being ripped apart and he didn’t have to go slow. I had to hold most of my pleasure in during sex with him because I didn’t want to hurt my boyfriend. I’m so confused as to what to think or do. I really love my boyfriend, but the sex with him is just not great and is painful most of the time. I’m not sure if I should bring this up to him or how to bring it up to him without hurting him. I honestly wish he never would’ve brought the idea up of a threesome and wish we never would have done it. Any advice?

Hello,
I am looking for a new RP partner! I am a 20 year old female, looking for similar age range, but someone to play a male OC, as I typically only play female. (I don’t feel I can capture the essence of a male OC nearly as well.)
I am very interested in slow burn romance, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, anything fantasy, mafia based, things like that. Romances are my favorite to RP.
I have a few OCs prepared, as well as some specific plot ideas, but I am always open to hearing yours!
If you’re at all interested, please PM me and we can discuss and see if we are a good fit!
Thank you!

great start to the day. went offroading a lil bit for the first time, cuz not safe for grills. met an uncle feeding the birds there.. typical 45+ yo haryanvi uncle in his menopause phase lol. he didn't look much happy seeing me there, me taking pictures didn't help "aaj kl k bache sara time phone"
since last month, im one uping my social anxiety. a month back, i was shaking even talking to my family doc, on perma anxiety meds rn
so i talked to him, asked him what he doin, since how long hes been cmin here. he said "saari baatein thodi btate h"
earlier me wouldnt even start talking, tbh i wouldn't even go offroad, tbvvh i wouldnt even go. lol. but this time i replied back "k I'll tell you blah blah" told about animal loving gardening photographing things my dad taught me
he opened up, kept talking himself. birds to afterlife to kingfisher to ramayan to mentioning he notices me everyday.
(i thought his grumpy ahh never noticed me, I did.. i love seeing people's faces... intrigues me.)
then i talked to the owner of the model walk golden ret I mentioned in my first post about cycling i petted him hehehee. the owner was haryanvi gabbar. akhada Jane wale btw, sl yk it was kinda big.
but ive still got a long way to go cuz: a. i wanted to ask a pitbull owner how he got him 1. i love pitbulls; 2. theyre banned in india b. today is world bicycle day, and many ppl were getting their picture taken and I wanted to join but i ran off:/
anyhow talking to the uncle felt real nice, especially that i didn't shake at all, which is a real big deal for me, I used to shake talking to ppl i love too..
gon make a post soon about social anxiety cuz ive read sm cmnts here how "introverted" they are.. when they're actually anxious. like me.

You can chat +447593882116 (Telegram/WhatsApp) if you want The System By Todd.
I have The System By Todd.
Todd Valentine - The System is a revolutionary course, created by the famous pickup instructor - Todd Valentine.
The System by Todd covers everything you need to know to play the game. This program is applicable for beginners, as well as intermediate students.
In The System by Todd you will learn how to OPEN (Open, Premise, Establish, Narrative) as well as much more on how to lead proper interaction with girls, and how to close them (infields included)!
Todd Valentine's The System is one of the best and most effective courses ever created on dating, and one of the best choices you will make if you have decided to improve your game.
To get The System By Todd contact me on:
Reddit Direct Message u/upsetlid
WhatsApp/Telegram: +447593882116 (@multistorecourses)
Email: silverlakestore/@/yandex.com (remove the brackets)

The best friends I(30m) have ever had never tried to see me. Never tried to reach out to me. Never asked how I'm doing or what I'm up to. This is the only kind of friendship I've ever known.The kind where I put energy into a relationship and nobody gives me anything in return, I never ask for anything. The last time I had a real friend I was 16. I vaguely know what friendship feels like, and I've thirsted for it always. Some nights (like tonight) I'm kept up by my rage, filled with anger because I've spent the last 14 years trying to make just one decent friend, yet cant seem to do it like everyone else. I'm frustrated by my own efforts. I join clubs, running teams(I don't even like running), I go to bars sometimes, yet I cant seem to get anyone to remember my name. I have nobody to introduce me to their social circle. I don't have any family to talk to. I don't want pity. I despise pity. I just need actual input here.
I havent spoken in nearly three weeks. I don't know why I speak anymore. I don't know why I ever did speak. Nobody hears me. Nobody's listening. I crave sociality. I watch it happen all around me. There are billions of people on earth, but I can't seem to connect with anyone. I ask people questions, I try to get to know them, I'm always honest, I offer help when others need it, I even make great food. I don't get it. It makes no sense. Why does everyone else get to experience so much joy in front of me, but I can't have even a moment of it for myself? Can anyone understand this rage?
Edit: seperated the rant so that the second paragraph is just me venting.

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 60%. (I'm a bot)

June 3 - At least 233 people were killed and 900 were injured when two passenger trains collided in India's Odisha state, a government official said on Saturday, making the rail accident the country's deadliest in more than a decade.
Early on Saturday morning, Reuters video footage showed police officials moving bodies covered in white cloths off the railway tracks.
Video footage from Friday showed rescuers climbing up one of the mangled trains to find survivors, while passengers called for help and sobbed next to the wreckage.
Although Chief Secretary Jena and some media reports have suggested a freight train was also involved in the crash, railway authorities have yet to comment on that possibility.
On Friday, hundreds of young people lined up outside a government hospital in Odisha's Soro to donate blood.
According to Indian Railways, its network facilitates the transportation of over 13 million people every day.

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: train^#1 Odisha^#2 railway^#3 Friday^#4 state^#5
Post found in /worldnews, /IndianModerate, /Trending_News, /india, /IndiaOpen and /SeenOnNews_longtail.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.

At first I didnt get around to watching RRR because I thought it was just another Bollywood film. I heard about it. I even saw that it was on netflix at one point. But overall I assumed that I was not going to like it because from what I have seen of bollywood films from trilers and short clips it just doesnt seem like my cup of tea. At some point that Naatu Naatu song was floating around and I caught glimpses of it and was like "ok.. this seems like high budget bollywood and its funny... maybe Ill give it a shot sometime" But my overall thought was.. Its a Bollywood Musical so... idk... meh...
After a few months I was showing someone the Naatu Naatu video I was telling them how funny this scene was and they asked me if the whole movie was like this. I told them that I hadnt even seen the movie. One day I might watch it and let them know how the whole movie is.
That was 2 days ago.
Yesterday I sat down with nothign to watch and I was like. You know what.. Sure. lets find out if I like it or not.
Let me start by saying that first off.. I was wrong. Its not a musical. And second it doesnt even qualify as a bollywood. Apparently it is called a "Tollywood" because of the region its from. But dont let that fool you. It has many aspects of what ive seen from Bollywood in other places online.
​
So... The REVIEW:
Right from the beginning the story had claws. The whole openeing scene was so interesting and the quality and cinematography was better than anything I had expected. It sucked me in like no other and I was on the edge of my seat within minutes.
Having seen a few bollywood / hindi trailers in the past I was expecting over the top action. But what I got was a cinematic masterpiece. Every scene is done so well and with such attention to detail. While not sacrificing one inch of the story to show some over the top action.
The story just keeps on giving. over and over. Once I half expected the movie to be about to end and I was kinda bummed out I paused it to see how much longer there was and was overjoyed to see that I had over an hour and a half left.
Watching this on netflix with the english dubbed language with english subs was how I chose to watch it and I can not say that I was disappointed. Despite there being some language barrier issues between the audio vs the subs It didnt take away from the movie at all.
All and all i was worried there would be too much musical aspects to the movie but in the 3 hours theres only 2 "musical" type scenes. And they are not musicals. Musicals dont acknowlede the songs are really happeneing. RRR does acknowledge that they really happen in the story which makes it so much better. (not that I dislike musicals I just felt like this as a musical wouldnt interest me) So after all of that I have since watched the whole movie 3 times now.
So this is for anyone who might be on the fence about it because they dont usually watch Hindi films or whatever. Do yourself a favor and WATCH THIS MOVIE. It is literally one of if not the greatest movie ever made. Im currently in desperate search for more. About to watch KGF chapter 1 and 2 tonight and see how they compare.

okay so about a month ago, me and my friends decided to play red door yellow door.
my friends said that my arms dropped fairly quickly, everything was going fine at first, i'd already played the game before so i knew what i was doing. until i enter one of the rooms, it was a completely blue room. all of a sudden everything starts flashing, i jump up and shout to my friends "everything is flashing!" turns out my eyes were flickering as if i was having a seizure/possession. does anyone know why this happened?
the same day, i tried playing the game again. i saw a woman sat at a table, but i could only see her back. my friend tells me to leave the room, but as she did, the woman turns around and she looks similar to a nun, but what creeps me out is that she had NO EYES, just black balls in place of eyes.
a couple of weeks later, i tried the game again, this isn't that creepy but there was two doors with padslocks on them. the one door opened with the code: "2222", but when i entered the room and tried to get back in, the code wasn't "2222" again.
my friend also tried the game, and ended up seeing a blue room full of eyes, but no doors.

Can anyone tell me what the school vs work schedule is like in these locals?(how often, how long for school) Also looking for info on how strenuous these locals are with the curriculum. I know some locals vastly value OTJ training to school training(books still wrapped in plastic after moving to next year, open book tests, etc) 3rd yr apprentice looking at potentially attempting a transfer. Thx

I began with a mistake; around January of 2023, I was convinced by my dad and uncle to buy a property partnered with my uncle; essentially, my uncle and I were going to pay for it via a mortgage.
Now let me give a bit of background to this. First, this all takes place in Puerto Rico, and as you know, PR, well... it's not in the best state, I guess you could say; as for me, I was 21 at the time with no knowledge about real estate what's so ever, so as you can already see we're starting on the wrong foot, as for my dad he knows a couple of things but surface level nothing too profound, now as for my uncle his the one who brought us the deal. My uncle works on a small business owned by the property owner, also located on the property my uncle was offered. According to the owner, he wanted to sell the property to someone who would also take over the Air conditioning business. His sons didn't want it and were doing their own thing, so he decided to sell it to my uncle AKA "the son he never had," however my uncle, well, he doesn't have the money, and that's where I come in at the time I had recently received a lot of money from some insurance my dad had done a long time ago so my uncle came to us and pretty much sold us on the dream that the owner had promised which entailed the following: first from an original price of 1 million dollars he would sell it to us by half $500k it is a 3.88-acre approx. property and has two main buildings. But the cherry on top was that he was going to give us the business and that with the business, we would be able to pay for the mortgage plus, he was going to stay with us every step of the way for the next six months also it was a ten year 0% fixed interest rates with a 25k down payment. the owner flexed about how much the company made, how he owned X, Y, and Z, and that he had traveled to many places, etc., and like good little trusting fool, I bought into it.
I'm not that social my communication sucks and I'm way to passive I all ways had my questions and doubts but I never mustered the courage to state them or anything my dad and my uncle were full on head first trusting especially my uncle since he had been working there for years and according to him the business was doing great and moving a lot of money (emphasis on "Moving"), my dad did ask some important questions about numbers and debts and other things but the "numbers" were never really shown only checks and words that were tossed around with a lot of "yeah, yeah tomorrow" or "soon" it's also important to note that both my uncle and my dad can be quite gullible for reasons that we shan't name but yeah after merely a couple of weeks passed everything was extremely fast and rushed and we were told we could go seal up the deal anytime and we went with a lot of trust and hopes and so we took over the business and we quickly found out how false and shit everything was starting with day one the owner left for vacation and along with him went the promise to stay with us for the next six months and guide us we didn't even have access to the company's bank accounts till nearly a moth later so I spent the first moth learning with the secretary wtf I had in my hands and I quickly learned that what I had in my hands was a near dead horse full of NEGATIVE RED NUMBERS! as well as a horrible infrastructure and also an imbalance between income vs expenses I check with the business bank and its history for the past couple of years and found it full of negative numbers now I have no idea to this day what the hell the owner was doing whether he was laundering money, avoiding taxes, using the business as a credit card or some sort of other trick
Yesterday I finished up with the layer and stuff to undo all this. Thankfully it went smoothly with no issues with the owner or anything overall. I lost like $55k during the whole thing. Some fail, and some win. At least I got out of it fast and minimized my losses from and learned much one of which is always start small. TL;DR: I got scammed into buying a property and a business where the owner promised me the company could pay for the mortgage and then some, only to find out it was a dead business!? And the buildings needed expansion permits and water meters because the owner had it set up as residential and not commercial.

Thanks to "Sithking Zero" on the NoP Discord for editing help.
Memory transcription subject: Tellek , Farmer
Date [standardized human time]: January 19th, 2137
Has it really come to this, am I really this desperate?
I was, for all intents and purposes, broke. The last harvest had been terrible, in addition to the one before that, which was practically a deathblow for my new farmstead. The debts and missed payments had started to pile up, and I was one more bad harvest away from going completely bankrupt.
Like so many farmers before me, I was becoming another victim of the 5 harvest curse.
I told you that starting a new farm was a bad idea.
What was I supposed to do, brain, keep working in the office until I died?
I sat on my chair, surrounded by other farmers who were presumably in similar states of desperation, the room we were in akin to the schoolrooms I had been in as a pup; a desk and whiteboard up front sitting in front of the rows of chairs. Most of the twenty or so figures around me were fellow Venlil, except for a handful of Gojid and even a single Yotul who was sitting in the back, all of us awaiting the start of the ‘lesson’.
They claimed they had a solution to our problem, that they knew how to increase our yields. How could a predator know how to fix our farming issues?.
Human. Human Human Human Human. Not a predator.
Yes yes I know, I’m trying to be better about that.
I stopped my train of thought and corrected myself. Ever since the revelations about many of our allies being former predators, I had been making an effort to stop thinking of the world in terms of predator and prey. It was difficult at times, but given that I was working against a lifetimes worth of lies, I thought I was making good progress..
But even if “Predator” wasn’t the curse it used to be, how could a human claim to know how to fix our farming issues? Even if we ignored the differences between our diets, for all their advantages, humans were still far below our technological advancements.
Almost on cue, the door to the room opened up, and the figure of the human who had invited us here entered with an enthusiastic bounce, caring two large cases covered with black cloth
Unlike most, this human was unmasked, its piercing eyes and beaming teeth filled smile visible for all to see. I could feel the room start to fill with panic. Sure, logically I knew I was probably safe, but seeing the unmasked features of an apex predator caused fear to grip the edge of my heart.
I could proudly say I can walk past and interact with masked humans without wanting to flee anymore, but seeing those forward-facing eyes boring a hole into my soul was another task altogether.
Come on, you should be better than this.
I’m trying, ok!
"Hello everyone. My name is Joseph. I'm an ecology student, and I'm here to provide a solution to your farming yields." The human spoke with an unbridled joy, seeming to wait a moment while our translators attempted to explain what Ecology was, stopping half way through and seemingly giving up.
“You might be wondering why I’m unmasked, well we’re going to be covering a lot of ‘predatory’ concepts today, so if you can’t handle this? We’re gonna have bigger problems.” Joseph took a moment to broadly gesture to himself, leaving a feeling of dread to start in the pit of my stomach.
If this was just the start, what exactly was going to happen here?
Silence! Wait and see, knowing humans it’s probably interesting at the very least.
“I’ve finally been given authorization to start a trial of this program. Both the UN and Venlil governments are very interested in increasing food supply for both our people. As you might know we’re kinda at war, and logistics wins wars.”
The human paused for a moment, a shiver running around most of the room as he gave a large beaming smile.
“So to start: paws, claws, or tails up if you know about the ‘5 harvest curse.’”
The room immediately was filled with Federation species all raising their prospective limbs in affirmation. Of course we all knew what it was, that was why most of us were here.
How would the human know about that?
Basic research, simple reading, asking literally any farmer?
“Fantastic! I’m still going to explain it so we’re all on the same page. The ‘5 harvest curse’ is a phenomenon where new farms on Venlil prime often fail within the first five harvests. On a side note, the coincidental fact that five has a religious contention in Venlil culture is neat.”
I could feel an annoyance start to course through me, that the affliction currently driving me to destitution was being described as ‘neat’ by the callous predator. I mean human.
Stupid human.
Joseph either didn’t pick up or ignored my annoyance as he pressed a button, a graph appearing on the whiteboard showing expected yields over time, continuing on in his seemingly endless enthusiasm.
“So in general the five harvest curse follows a standard pattern of yields, with the first two harvests being up to 52% larger than even more established farms, plummeting after that until the business is non-viable and collapses. Officially the reason for this is unknown, with some vague religious stupidity about new farms being too far away from the center of the habitable strip.”
This was nothing new to me, I remembered feeling the joy of the sheer output from my first harvest, of wondering if I could finally make something of myself, a joy that had been whittled down as my last two harvests had been pitiful.
“However there’s an interesting thing, if you also plot the number of predator sightings during this time against the yields, you can see a direct correlation between number of predators and the success of each harvest.”
Wait, what? Is this human trying to say that predators… increase harvest? That can’t be right, that can’t be right at all. That would be insanity.
The data is literally there in front of you.
Yet it was there on the screen, a second graph had appeared on the whiteboard, tracking predator sightings over time in each of the farms afflicted by the curse.
“This tracks with most farms' general lifecycle. You buy a plot of untamed land on the edge of the habitable zone but you don’t have enough money to go full anti-predator. As the harvests come in you end up spending more and inadvertently messing it up.”
This caused a small amount of murmuring and energetic rejection by myself and the other members of the room, wiping away the previous undercurrent of fear. It was insanity, it went against everything I had ever known or been taught about farming and how the world worked. How could a predator of all things be beneficial?
Didn’t the introduction of humans also go against everything I had ever known or been taught about?
“If this effect is so obvious, how has nobody found this before?”
The sound of a Venlil challenging Joseph was greeted by murmurs of agreement from the group, causing the human to give a different kind of smile. Not a smile of joy or excitement as had been seen before, but the smile of someone who had something for this.
“Because you have. 150 years ago, a Venlil named Slavek wrote a paper regarding this. 119 years ago, Vicktal did the same. As well as Traval, Stralan, and Vilkin in between then and now. Those are just the ones I’ve found. Who can guess what happened to them?”
There was a pause, before the uplift in the back spoke up for the first time, a surety in the Yotul’s voice.
“They were diagnosed with predator disease.”
Joseph pointed at the Yotul in the back with both hands, the joy radiating from him.
“Based Space Kangaroo gets 10 points for being correct! Yep the federation has been actively suppressing anything that suggests that predators are more than some kind of eldritch evil, that and your surprising lack of hydroponics causes most planets to be dependent on the core worlds for food imports. Probably by design for control.”
Wait… that’s a good point, why aren’t we using hydroponics?
The human took a moment to switch to the next slide, showing a simple three part cycle.
“Most healthy ecological systems are made up of three parts: Plants, which are eaten by herbivores, which are in turn eaten by carnivores. In reality actual systems are far more complex than these, but as a basic understanding this will suffice. These three parts keep each other in check, each part dependent on the other, which-”
“Are you trying to say that predator attacks are a good thing? Are you suffering from predator disease?! ”
The Venlil interrupted once again to more murmured agreement, causing Joseph to give a sigh of clear annoyance in response. I wished the Venlil would shut up and just let the human talk.
“No, I’m not suggesting we airdrop a bunch of Nissa into the Capital, I'm explaining how natural systems work. Sapience obviously breaks this cycle, which if you deviate too far, you end up with something called trophic cascade."
The human seemed to wait a moment for the translator to once again fail to explain the meaning of the phrase.
I wonder how many basic concepts the federation lacks words for…
"Rather simply, the removal of one of these pieces has wider effects, reducing biodiversity and in many cases causing a complete ecological collapse. An example of this is the dust bowl effect, something the federation is well acquainted with."
There was a moment before the whiteboard changed before showing pictures of desolate barren worlds. Without any explanation I knew exactly what I was looking at. It was one of the… lesser talked about aspects of the federation.
"The Skivit grand herd are a species who go from planet to planet stripping ecosystems bare, devouring everything down to the smallest sapling. This removes important root systems that act as drainage, causing flooding and deserts to form as new plantlife lacks the structure to grow. In many cases these ecosystems are permanently destroyed, turning once lush planets into lifeless husks”.
I couldn’t help but feel sorrow for those planets. It was well known the impact the Skivit had on planets, once thriving planets of beauty. Although if I was following this human’s logic correctly did that mean…
“Now I’m not suggesting that the Skivit need a predator, that would be immoral.” Joseph cut off the thought I was about to have, seemingly understanding the logical thought many of us had picked up on. “But instead this is a real life example of damage an unchecked herbivore can have on ecosystems. If the Skivit didn’t have FTL travel they would have long ago driven themselves to starvation under their current society. It’s also not the only form of this trophic cascade.”
“Surely this doesn’t just apply to prey? Or are you saying prey are somehow inferior?”
The sound of the Gojid cutting in was filled with an unspoken challenge against the idea, inciting general sounds of agreement from those around him. Surprisingly however, Joseph seemed to respond positively.
“That is entirely correct, an overabundance of carnivorous species can also cause their own issues. Keep in mind what I’m describing here is an extremely simplified version, just the addition or removal of a single species can cause untold damage and harm to the diversity of ecological systems as the impacts are felt in the most seemingly unlikely cases.”
With that the human reached under the desk, taking one of the two covered containers he had brought with him and placing it into view.
“In Venlil Prime’s case, while the impact of Federation thinking has been reduced due to the day and night sides being mostly untouched, you still have the problem of overpopulation of certain species, and a lack of reasonable fear response from certain prey species. This has accumulated into the problem you all face.”
With that he removed the cover, causing a surge of fear to ripple through the participants around me until we all calmed down at what was underneath: A small cage, containing a single red bird busily eating seeds.
All farmer’s arch nemesis.
“This is a Flowerbird, a seed eating avian often coming in solid red, blue, or green. They are adorable, dumb as a sack of bricks and food motivated to a fault. They are also one of the biggest causes of farm yield destruction, with these birds alone being responsible for around about 41% of all losses. If we include Voidpins and other similar wildlife, farms can have up to 94% of their yield destroyed before they even get to harvest.”
Everyone in this room was familiar with the cursed avians. While your average city dweller would enjoy the sight of a flock of Flowerbirds, the farming community knew of them as a blight that devastated crops.
Joseph took a moment to open the cage, reaching inside and grabbing the bird. A small part of me wondered if he was about to devour it in front of us, before I tamped down on such an illogical idea. Of course the humans wouldn’t, we knew they didn’t do that. The Flowerbird also seemed completely unfazed about being in the meaty grasp of a predator, simply continuing to eat.
“Even worse, these things have basically zero fear response to noises and large beasts, probably due to all major predators having been removed. As you can see this specimen doesn’t mind a ‘scary predator’ grabbing it. As long as it has food, it couldn’t care less. This makes pest control tricky, as scaring them away is no longer an option. Poisons would be used in such a case, but they can have wider ranging effects, and poisoning prey is considered ‘Predatory’, not that many of you haven’t tried ‘accidentally’ leaving potential pesticides out.”
This caused a sway of discomfort to sweep through the room, tails switching in guilty movements as everyone tried to hide the truth of this human’s words. I knew I personally had considered such actions in desperation.
I mean, would ‘accidently’ leaving out a known poisonous chemical really be a sign of predator disease?
“Ha! I know enough tail language to know I’m right, that’s guilt isn’t it? I’ve read your internet, I know your discussions on loopholes about what is and isn’t predatory!” Joseph cried out in triumph as many of the Venlil of the room reached out to grab their traitorous appendages. “Now normally I would just tell people to stop being idiots, but in this case we can’t do that. Ironically because predators are actually dangerous. Because of your slaughter the only species left are ones aggressive and smart enough to survive. Shadestalkers are legitimately dangerous and can’t be left to interact with the farming community because people will die.”
The words from Joseph all sounded so… reasonable at this point. However, I, along with the rest of the room, were all desperately waiting for the other paw to drop. Because there would be, humans always had something they were about to do.
Almost in response to our thoughts the human placed the second container on the desk, covering up the first in response.
“Humans have dealt with this problem in a simple way, a way that our Yotul friend over there will know of. I need all of you to please remain calm and orderly, and to remember that you’re perfectly safe and there’s no need to overreact or panic. Humans dealt with this pest problem, through the use of safe predators.”
Before anyone could properly react to those words, the cover of the second container was removed, showing… a predator. An actual one, not a human but an actual real threat. Small piercing front facing yellow eyes attached to a brown feline form, sulking from the cage it was being held in.
Speh speh speh speh that’s a PREDATOR, A FERAL PREDATOR
If it was a danger the human wouldn't have-
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO DO NOT LIKE NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.
The panic in the room was immediate. Sapient human predators we had gotten used to, but none sapient ones were another deal entirely. Chaos started to spread as the 7 in the front row got up, pushing themselves up against the back wall as everyone else in the room did the same. Three Venlil made the choice to bolt out of the room, rushing past the human and his tiny devourer, while another clean fainted, hitting the floor with a thud. One even decided to take things further, jumping out of the singular window attached to the far wall in a frantic motion.
I could feel fear overwhelm me, desperately staring at the feline and waiting for it to make its move. What was the human thinking, it was going to attack at any moment, it was going to-
“STOP, Stop this stupidity. Right. NOW!”
The stern commanding voice of Joseph caused everyone in the room to freeze. The calm enthusiastic demeanor of the predator was gone, replaced with an emotion I’d never actually seen a human show before: anger.
“It has been six months! Do you really still believe that the UN or the Venlil government would put you in actual danger? You’re still thinking based on your stupid fascist Federation propaganda. Thinking that tells you that the Yotul are primitive, or the Venlil are weak. Propaganda that says genetically modifying people against their will is morally OK”
I knew that humans normally bared their teeth in joy, as a sign of happiness and friendship. This wasn’t the case right now, as everything in Joseph’s body language screamed of rage, of pain, of words spoken through gritted teeth. Nobody in the room was focused on the predator in the cage at this point, instead all eyes staring at the human. Suddenly the feline mattered a lot less than the anger of the human.
“That sort of thinking leads to the belief that killing over a billion innocent people is somehow the right thing to do. You are all presumably intelligent sapient adults able to think things through logically. Could you all please act that way?”
I could see the swishes of shame from the other Venlil’s tails, everyone in the room avoiding eye contact guiltily. Well, apart from the Yotul, who had remained seated and calm this entire time, staring almost joyfully at the feline predator. The human, of course, was completely right. Taking a moment to force myself to think, the predator was safely behind metal bars and was making no move to attack, seemingly content to stare lazily at us.
You finished overreacting?
Shut up, brain.
“Also, at the risk of ruining the angry vibe I’m giving off, is the guy who jumped out the window OK? Jesus Christ, we are two stories up, do we have to call someone or….”
Joseph had relaxed a little in response to the group calming down, allowing the normal empathetic nature of humans to come through once more. Slowly I made my way to the window, looking down to see a singular Venlil running off into the distance.
“I-I think he’s fine.” I responded, causing the human to give a sigh of relief in response.
“Good. Note to self, do this in a room without windows next time… or maybe just the ground floor. So, to continue where I left off, humans have used tame predators as a natural non-invasive form of pest control since we started farming. This is a cat, completely harmless unless you’re a small rodent or bird. They also have this effect.”
With a flourish Joseph removed the covering for the cage containing the Flowerbird once more, the red little avian had been busily eating during the entire presentation so far. However upon spotting the Feline predator did something none of us had ever seen before.
It stopped eating. Wait, the human managed to get a Flowerbird to stop eating! I didn’t even know that was possible…
Giving repeated alarmed chirps it moved as far away as it could from the predator, still trapped inside the small cage, a frantic fear obvious on the poor little thing. Joseph let this go on for a few moments more, before dropping the cover back on and silencing the Flowerbird once more.
Everyone in the room was shocked. You could literally scream and shout all you wanted at the dumb little birds and they would ignore you and continue to devour crops. The fact that the feral predator had managed to stop the bird from doing that simply with its presence… was huge. Was more than huge.
“As you can see, the instincts of the ‘prey’ animal still remain. Presumably, whatever predator used to hunt these Flowerbirds has a resemblance to our cats. Normally it would be sacrilege to suggest introducing cats to an ecosystem, but in this case your ecosystems are so messed up that’s exactly what we want to do: Provide any farmer who wants one with a kitten, in order to quickly reduce yield lost to pests.”
I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t interested. On the one hand having a vicious predator in my house, where my pups would visit seemed like something a predator diseased individual would only consider. On the other hand, nothing else I had ever tried had even come close to the simple effectiveness shown here.
Would I be this desperate and in debt if I had one of these “cats” already?
“So I can see you’re all still a little worried, so we’re going to have a little discussion, for which I need a volunteer-'' The Yotul in the back practically fell over with excitement, with his arm raised immediately as he interrupted, causing Joseph to give a small smile. “One who isn’t a Yotul. I know your history with similar pets, and we are totally going to hook you up with a cat, but for this I could do with a Venlil please.”
The Yotul sat back down, a look of disappointment plastered over his face as the rest of the room shifted uncomfortably. Nobody wanted to be the person to step up and presumably get closer to the predator. Until I found myself raising my hand.
Brain, what the hell are you doing?
You said you wanted to be better, and we’re desperate.
NOT LIKE THIS BRAIN!
In a blur I found myself being introduced to the room and being told to sit at a chair next to the desk in front of the rest of the members here. Then, to my horror, Joseph opened the cage and took the feline predator out of its holding cell. The human took a few moments to fuss over the beast before turning to the rest of us.
“So now that we have our volunteer, let's logically look at our ‘dangerous predator’. The first thing to notice is simply the size. Regardless of anything else, size matters, size matters a lot. It’s hard to feel threatened by something that you can literally throw across the room.”
Joseph took a moment to hold the small creature next to me for context, highlighting just how small the predator actually was: barely the size of a Skivit, like a furry little pup. Logically if it wasn't for the forward facing eyes, I might consider it… cute?
“But what about its teeth and claws? It’s a predator that will tear people apart!”
The voice of the Gojid sounded out, a shrill fearful voice filled with barely contained panic and fear, the source of the sound looking ready to flee even though they weren’t the one sitting next to the predator
“Let's compare these. Tellek can you please extend your paws and show your claws to the group.”
I did as asked, my four black claws visible for all to see as Joseph moved the predator close. He stretched out one of its paws and pressed on a knuckle, a singular sharp claw protruding as he did so, causing a fresh burst of fear to erupt in my heart from being so close to such a thing.
Although if I was to be fully honest, if I was comparing the two, the predator’s claw were…
“As you can see, the cat’s claw, while sharper, is far smaller and more brittle. A Venlil can do some serious damage with their claws, while the worst this cat’s claw could do is break the skin. The teeth are similar, if you could show the group your pearly whites please.”
I again did as asked, feeling embarrassed and weird just having my mouth wide open in front of everyone. I hoped that there was nothing stuck in my teeth. While I did Joseph manhandled the cat again, taking a moment to move the lips and display the sharp needle point teeth, doing so for a moment before the small predator gave a small lazy growl of annoyance, clearly reaching the end of its acceptability.
“Once again we have similar results: Notice the small size of the cat's teeth compared with the Venlil’s. These would pierce skin, the Venlil’s would pulverize bone. Gojid aren’t much better with your literal claws and a back full of knives. Ironically enough the two ‘predators’ in the room are probably the least physically imposing.”
There was a moment as the room seemed to ponder this statement, allowing Joseph enough time to place the cat on the desk next to me, the predator promptly giving a stretch then curling up into a ball. The human was right, even humans themselves were physically… underwhelming, apart from their endurance. No claws, small teeth, no defensive armor or spines.
It’s kinda sad to think the only reason we’re all so scared of humans is their eye placement.
“Now the UN and Venlil government are looking for people to use cats as pest control to increase farming yield, with an initial trial size of about 100 participants. We’re offering a stipend for food, instructional care of your kitten, and as much support as needed. There are risks, for instance you’re going to need warning signs near your property and a containment system, as cats are actually dangerous to the Dossur.”
I could hardly hear Joseph speak, my entire concentration focused on the predator right next to me. I knew logically that the human wouldn’t do something to bring me to harm, but it was difficult to think that with a potentially feral predator right next to me. I saw its eyes fixate onto mine and I quickly looked away.
Maybe if I don’t look at it, it won’t take it as a challenge.
However much to both mine and the rest of the room's shock, slowly and carefully the cat stood up, stretched once before walking purposefully towards me, the room erupting into cries of worry as it leapt off the desk and onto my lap, curling into a ball with me trapped underneath.
“H-h-help…. Help…..!”
The human turned to look at me, breaking into a smile seemingly at my misfortune and giving a small chuckle.
“Awwww, she likes you. As you all can see cats share a lot of characteristics with ‘prey’. They will often seek companionship from others, and have a lot of prey characteristics, being at times skittish due to having many natural predators.”
That was good and all, but didn’t stop me from being trapped under the beast.
I don’t want to think about what could cause a predator to become prey.
“W-What d-do I do?”
Joseph gave a small shrug in response, clearly amused by my reaction.
“You could try petting her. Her name is Sprinkles and I can confirm she likes pets.”
You see brain, this is what happens when I let you do things! Now I'm trapped by a predator and I'm gonna die!
Stop being such a pup, the thing is tiny. Besides, don't humans claim petting stuff is nice?
Slowly I reached out a paw, gingerly approaching the predator, those yellow slitted eyes regarding my exposed arm as I gently placed it on the "cat", running my paw across its back.
I felt my held breath release as the predator did nothing, some of the tension of the room releasing in the instant.
"So interesting thing about cats: they 'chose' to be domesticated."
Joseph had gone back to talking, seemingly happy that I wasn't about to be torn apart. I had stopped listening, entirely focused on keeping the predator satisfied by running my paws across its fur.
Isn't this nice? I gotta admit I understand why humans like doing this.
Fine. I'll admit that this isn't unpleasant, the cat is rather soft.
"When humans originally started farming, that also attracted pests. Cats just turned up, following their food source. They stuck around because humans would feed them and provide companionship."
I was entirely focused on the cat at this point, running my claws through the fur, feeling the predator press itself against my paw, seeming to be enjoying itself. Gently I moved my claw to the back of one of its tiny little ears, scratching behind it like you might do to comfort a young pup. It started to emanate a low vibrating noise in response, causing another wave of tension to emit from the rest of the room.
For some reason, even though this feral predator was sitting on my lap, the sound seemed to vibrate through my heart in a calming motion.
Maybe this is some kind of predatory hypnosis?
Really? Just shush and enjoy this. Being scared of everything all the time is so tiring.
"Nobody needs to worry. That is just the sound a happy cat makes, it's called purring. Although I do need to take Sprinkles back now."
Joseph motioned towards the cat on my lap, a motion I decided to ignore, enjoying petting the purring cat for a few moments more. Eventually the human reached down and removed Sprinkles from my grasp as I momentarily resisted before letting the feline go.
See, that wasn't so bad.
Brain, I will admit- reluctantly- that I would have preferred to keep doing that.
With a small amount of resentment I watched as Joseph placed the cat back inside the cage, before turning back to the rest of the room.
"So anyone who is interested, stick around and we can get the paperwork completed."
—-------------
In the end eight of us remained, 5 Venlil, 2 Gojid, and obviously the Yotul. We had spent the last half a claw having instructions and paper work thrust upon us. Many of the group had immediately left, with others dropping out as various facts of cat ownership became apparent.
Still, those of us who were left behind were now heading to our respective farms, each with a single carry case. Mine was currently containing a gray and black “kitten,” which had been “meowing” loudly during the entire journey.
I looked simply at the little bundle of fur and eyes that peered out from inside the cage I had been given. Part of my mind still screamed danger, but it was a part that was getting quieter and quieter as I continued to look at what was a small fragile bundle of fur that I was now ultimately in charge of.
How could you look at something that’s hardly bigger than your paw, and think it’s a danger?
As I reached my farm, I finally opened up the container and pulled out the tiny predator. My tiny predator. There would be work to do, fences to erect and warning signs to place, but for now I just held the tiny thing in my paws, supporting it in the way I’d been told to. I now knew why humans spent all their time trying to pet things: with the troubles on the farm I hadn’t felt this calm in several cycles.
He was more energetic then Sprinkles had been, but in a way the more skittish nature pulled at my heartstrings, as if it was a small innocent Venlil pup. I sat there stroking it, realizing I still needed to give him a name. He was fluffy, Tiny, innocent, fragile. Yet with an underlying spice as it continued to meow loudly as I held in my paws
“I will call you Fireberry. My little predator.”