Discord: tealeafy
Character Name & House: Daena Waters (House Velaryon)
Age: 24
Appearance: Daena is the one on the left.
Gift: Autodidactic
Skill(s): Alchemy (e), Burglar (e), Medic (e)
Talent(s): Etiquette, Herbal Knowledge, Magic Tricks, Slight of Hand
Starting Titles: Corlys’s bastard
Starting Location: Starting Feast
Alternate Characters: Briony Brax
Family Tree: https://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=pw4g3vryp6&f=289019500873617691#view:START

BIOGRAPHY

Daena Waters is the elder twin sister born to Corlys Velaryon and Alys (a smallfolk sailor’s daughter) in 183 AC. Alys passed upon giving birth to Daena and her twin sister Aelinor. The twins were lucky that Corlys brought them to Driftmark to be raised.
From a young age, Daena felt ashamed of being a bastard. Above all in life, she has strived to be worthy of the Velaryon name and hopes to one day be legitimized. The fact that her cousin is named Daena Velaryon serves as a constant reminder of what Daena Waters is not: trueborn, nor legitimized.
Daena decided early on that she would work hard to prove that she was worth the investment. She turned her mind to all sorts of learning, beginning with her studies as a medic where she was taken under the tutelage of Mira, a herbalist in Driftmark (medic (e)). At first, Daena sought comfort in the healing arts as a way of doing good in the world. But she was to learn a lot during her apprenticeship. Some women came begging Mira for a solution to their problems in a darker way: a husband to be rid of, a father, a rival, a child. Daena realized that life was not so simple as good and bad, and began studying balms and potions known to have ill effects (alchemy (e)). One day, she hopes to even come up with a cure for her trueborn half-brother Corwyn’s blindness.
Daena is constantly offering her services to Addam Velaryon and the rest of the trueborn Velaryons. Her need to be useful is vicious and deep-seeded. Insecure of her place in life, Daena finds solace through kleptomania. Stealing things gives her a sense of control in her life that she otherwise does not have. Her twin, Aelinor, has taken the blame more than once for something that has gone missing so that Daena may continue to be viewed as the ‘better’ twin.

Auxillary Character

Character Name & House: Aelinor Waters (House Velaryon)
Age: 24
Appearance: Aelinor is the one on the right.
Gift: Admiral
Skill(s): Sailing (e), Beastmaster
Talent(s): Drinking, Lying, Cursing
Starting Titles: Corlys’s other bastard
Starting Location: Starting Feast
Born in 183 AC as the younger twin sister to Corlys Velaryon and Alys (a smallfolk sailor’s daughter). Alys passed upon giving birth to the twins, who were lucky that Corlys brought them to Driftmark to be raised.
For a set of twins, Aelinor and Daena could not be more opposite in personality. Aelinor has proudly carried the mantle as a black sheep, bucking tradition and generally running wild. A compulsive liar and a free spirit, Aelinor is secretly Corlys’s favorite child. She takes after his love of sailing, and were it not for the sake of her sister Daena, Aelinor would have long ago left Westeros to seek her fortune and future in Essos (sailing (e)).
Whereas Daena attempted to appease and longs for legitimacy, Aelinor feels life is too short for apologies. From a young age, she found a kindred spirit in her cousin Laena Velaryon, much to Addam Velaryon’s chagrin.
As a young girl, Aelinor discovered that she had a knack for lying. It became a pastime of hers, to seed a lie and amuse herself with the results, though she has never lied to either Daena Waters, nor Laena Velaryon.
Growing up as a bastard, Aelinor had little responsibilities. While Daena poured herself into reading and apprenticeship, Aelinor was often out exploring or tagging along with Corlys. Or, when there was no one to look after her, Aelinor found herself spending a lot of time with the Driftmark maesters in the rookery, learning how to care for and train ravens and other types of birds (beastmaster).
Starting in 203, Aelinor decided to travel Westeros. She felt guilty about leaving Daena at Driftmark, but resolved that it would only be for short periods of time after all. During her travels, she would make various friends and lovers. For as many moons as she would be away, Aelinor made sure to return to Driftmark to spend as much time with Daena as possible before jetting off onto her next adventure as a hired sail-hand.

Archetyped NPCs

Duncan - Swords - A hedge knight who Aelinor met upon her travels. He often tags along with either of the Waters twins, scrapping up the odd coin or two with protection jobs.
Maester Rocke - Scholar - One of the maesters at Driftmark who both of the Waters twins are quite close to.

Previous/
The wagons or tanks rolled through the gate in a caravan that was more akin to a carnival than a group of tradesmen; all the wizards with their pointed hats were shaped magnificently against the browns and grays, some wore white porcelain dramedy masks beneath headwear as dark as pipe resin, men and women and those between—as that was common from where they hailed. Their company was perhaps forty and their mules and mares were thirsty and were led to troughs to idle while the wizards removed goods from their wagons or tanks and although it was not a spectacle for them to arrive within Golgotha’s walls, it was something still and the citizens gathered to greet whatever wizards they might know but mostly perhaps to whisper rumors on them. The wizards seemed a taller folk, but that was because of the hats, and they seemed wider too, but that was for the robes they adorned with costume jewelry, trinkets, or fingernail-sized lanterns which contained magical properties hung off their clothes as ornaments (some metal and other crudely wooden). I never knew a people that could trek the wastes in that time as well as me till I knew them.
Boss Maron was there at the gates with his wall men, hollering—shouting really, “The Whores of Babylon have come again!” And the bells signaled from atop the highest tower over the hall of Bosses and I met the front square with a morning headache and a cigarette. The Boss sheriff was clothed, cowboy hat pulled tightly to his ears, and he waltzed through the square, inspecting the new arrivals with his crotch out in front of him as he moved in a swagger like a cup of shifted water. Morning sunlight crested the wall to reflect on the pistol in his holster as it did on the star pin of his hat.
Among them, there was only one wizard I cared to see. Their name was Suzanne.
The hanged bodies of the men remained on the wall, dead and stiff and shifting to the little wind there was.
The square had filled with carts (some drawn by animals and others pushed on oil), and even if it were not for the bells which signaled their arrival, I’d have surely known their presence for the clatter of their metal engines.
“Well goddamn!” said Maron while examining a wizard, “What’s that you’ve got on your legs?”
The wizard, a young woman in plain pants wore a set of leg braces and whenever she moved, she did so in shifting her hips around. “Braces,” she said.
“What’s it for? Or is it some of your all’s secret whodo?”
“I’ve got bad legs. The braces help.” She said plainly, attempting to angle herself straight like a stick against one of the traveling party’s wagons.
“Bad legs?” Boss Maron’s expression was incredulous. “Who has bad legs? What sort of nonsense is it? If a lady like you’s made it this far in life with bad legs, then someone’s done you a disservice.”
She looked on questioningly while the other wizards continued with their unpacking or their conversating—whether it be amongst themselves or with the freckle-spaced citizens in the square.
“How are you to outrun trouble when you’ve got them?” He nodded at the young woman’s legs.
“I don’t.” Her face was red either because of the sun or because of the scrutiny. “I’m just bow-legged.”
“Damn,” he shook his head, “Well how much you want for one of them?”
“One of my braces?”
“Yeah. All I want’s the one anyway.”
“I need both of them.”
“C’mon. You wouldn’t notice just one missing. I mean, you’ve got a spare right next to it.”
Upon noticing a robed figure I recognized by the animals at the troughs, I moved to them instead and let Maron’s conversation fall to the wayside. The chatter of the crowd was wild and startled words came as a wizard exposed their collection of tonics to passersby.
“Suzanne,” I said.
The figure turned to face me, moving their head to look away from a mare they’d been brushing to expose one of those white porcelain masks.
I knew it and could not contain a smile.
“Harlan?” asked the figure. The mask on its face was split in the middle with hinges on either side and they opened it to show their face; it was Suzanne. They’d grown some hair around their throat and wore lipstick on their lips and dyes on their eyes.
“It’s good to see you.” I pushed myself into a hug with them and I could smell the travel off them but didn’t care.
They shifted timidly before hugging me back and I pretended not to notice. Once we’d separated, I looked on Suzanne’s face again and they were looking on at the hanging men on the wall. “Again?” they asked.
I nodded and shot a look towards the Boss across the way.
“What justice?” they asked no one while shaking their head.
Trying an answer, I said, “Justice is something man made, I think. I’ll leave men to men and the rest to God.”
“God.” Suzanne nodded glumly then shook their head. “Which one?”
I laughed a good laugh that felt real but nervous too then kicked the ground and took the last drag off my cigarette before chucking it to the ground. “What’s brought you here?”
Suzanne answered plainly. “We took a long time east out near Pittsburgh.” Their eyes scanned the buildings further on from the square. “The people there are worse than here, it seems. At least you still have your walls.”
“Pittsburgh’s fallen?”
They frowned. “Not completely. They’ve mostly gone underground. A skitterbug infestation caused a plague directly before an attack of proportions I’ve yet seen.” Suzanne’s brow furrowed. “It was awful.” The words hung in the air for a moment. “But we’re here now and thought we’d stop for a rest and some guns and ammo before returning to Babylon. We’ve brought some medicines to trade.”
I learned from my friend that Pittsburgh’s infrastructure and fortifications were decimated in an attack the wizards only caught second-hand and the survivors—holed away in the tunnels beneath Pittsburgh—told of how the demons ran the walls once their reserves were low.
Then the wizards gathered there began unpacking books, some scrolls, and there were medicines too and some of the Bosses other than Maron (he pushed his harassment of the young wizard with leg braces) graced us there with their presence as they came on and began to pick across the goods, haggling prices. Boss Frank was there, and he stood before a wizard by a tank with a wooden table of jars—capped elixirs of varying colors—he grew increasingly frustrated with their selection and took on in his braggadocious way, speaking of numbers. A few of the idle wizards leaned against carts or even took across town and a small group of them had gathered for a quick show near the guard posts, playing instruments (strings over the vocals of “In My Life”) and there in the front of them was a young wizard man that had removed his hat to show how he played with fire flames off his hands—it was a sideshow play—and the citizens wore variations of bemusement or disgust. The children of Golgotha, all dirty faced with sprigs of hair jutting about from their morning’s waking, seemed totally bewildered in the joy of song and clapped their hands or shook their hips all with smiles.
I stuffed my hands in my jacket and prodded Suzanne, “What’s with the plague? I mean, was it contained? None of your lot got sick, did they?”
Suzanne scoffed, perhaps a little pridefully, “No. I wouldn’t worry about that.” They patted a nearby mule then withdrew a brush and moved it across its thin coat before looking over its hooves. “I’ve brought you some books I found out that way though. You still read?”
I nodded.
“Don’t expect any of that fiction. The only ones I’ve found recently are old pamphlets or medical texts.” Suzanne paused and smiled, returning the animal brush to their robes, “You haven’t happened upon anything that might interest me, have you?”
Their shown teeth were infectious. “Mayhap. I’d need you to come back to my place so I could give them to you.” An awkward pause followed and the roar of the still accumulating crowd overtook the space between us before I continued. “Mostly interesting containers and a few flecks of gold I took from some old computers—they’ve been waitin’ on you for weeks now. I got some parchment that might be of use to you too. You can take what you need as always.”
“How about we get some food? I’m famished. Riding through the night takes its toll.”
Me and Suzanne took from the square up a narrow route that led through residences where the lower levels had their curtains drawn and then we took stairs toward balconies and catwalks configured from reinforced metal; we spoke as we went and a few odd glances from passersby met the wizard as we did.
“The tide on the east is rising again,” said Suzanne.
“Worse than before?”
“Worse than before.”
“God, I don’t think I’ve seen the ocean for a decade or more.” I slid my hand along the railing once we came to what was essentially my front porch; it was a perch among the catwalks that cut against the domicile where I shared walls with others on three sides and we stopped there outside my door. “We saw a dragon only a few days ago.”
Suzanne’s interest seemed piqued. “A dragon? And what direction was it traveling?”
“Well,” I craned over the railing, looking down the narrow walkway that separated my building and the one across the way; I couldn’t see the front square from outside my home, but I could still just make out the music echoing from that direction, “Could’ve been north or west. I was preoccupied, but I wouldn’t worry much. The wall men gave it a pretty good thrashing before it took off.”
“Hmm.”
“So, the ocean? It’s rising, huh?”
They joined me there on railing, supporting themselves against their forearms. “It is. Faster than ever. Some bad magic’s taken the water. I imagine by the end of the year Pittsburgh will be under it. There’s something bad coming. You might call it intuition if you want, but I know it’s coming. Something bad. Revelations bad. There comes a time when even those of us forsaken are brought worse.”
“Bah!” I couldn’t help it, “John thought it was the end times while he wrote the damn thing. And what about all the other books? Hm?”
Suzanne put up their hands. “I didn’t mean it like that at all. You know I’m only the mildest scholar on the topic.”
“Anyway. You’d better not start having visions. Got enough to worry about as is.” I’d not realized my shoulders were tense until their hand touched me, and I flinched.
“You’ve a bruise around your neck. Care to elaborate there?”
I shook my head. “Got into a fight.”
Suzanne laughed, removed their pointed hat and playfully put it on my head. “C’mon. Cook me something. You might not know a thing about spices, but your cooking’s always tasted better.”
We took through my door to my small single room where simple amenities awaited and an ancient, decommissioned pump-shotgun hung on the wall over the bed. “That’s just ‘cause you ain’t the one laboring over it.”
Across a meal of potato cakes and toasted bread, we drank coffee until I broke into the liquor to spice my coffee and alleviate my hangover, and we shared the drink and Suzanne took to wash in the sink while I smoked outside on the overlook. Upon returning to the room, I saw them there with a wet rag stuffed beneath an armpit and they were beautiful caught without robes, frame cast in sunglow through the crack in my doorway. In a moment, our hands glided around one another in a scramble of arms at the middle point between us and we took to bed for a while.
Come midday, we remained there, staring at the ceiling, chests bare, and blanket strewn across our lower halves.
“You’re going gray,” said Suzanne.
“You’re getting old too, ya’know.”
“Yes.”
“How long did you say you’ll be staying?” I asked while trying to mask whatever excitement may be present.
“Few days. Once we’ve enough ammunition.” They traced their index finger along my ear lobe.
“Stay.” I offered.
They frowned. “Come.”
“I did already.”
They gave me a light shove and cut their eyes at me. Hazel. How good that color was. “Really. What keeps you here?”
“Things.” I pushed up in the bed to sit, finagling my underwear from the jeans on the floor.
“I wish you would.”
“I’m no wizard.”
“You don’t need to be.”
“Maybe there will come a time when I take you up on that offer. Who knows?” I slid into the drawers.
“Is it Maron?” they asked, “I don’t know your fascination with him. He’s the worst combination cruel and dumb I’ve seen.”
“Like an animal.” I nodded. “Like something real bad’s wrong with him. But no. He’s not my fascination.” Lying was always hard with them. “I worry about this place. I wouldn’t do the things I do if I didn’t. What if I were to leave it and then it turns out like Pittsburgh.”
“Oh, you’re an expert in plagues now?”
“No,” I scoffed, “I guess it’s just a place that weighs on my conscious.” I went to sit on the bed alongside them.
“You hate it here. I can see it more on your face every time we meet.”
“That I do. Call it an investment dilemma. I’ve put time in it, and I want it to be well.”
“That doesn’t sound like you.”
I caught Suzanne’s face there, staring up from the flat pillow, flustered. My reasoning was hard, but I continued, “There is one thing I should undo before I leave here. It’s a long time coming, and I don’t know if I can. But it’s important,” upon seeing their quizzical expression, I added, “And it is secret.”
“I wish you’d come with us. You’d be welcome.”
“I’ll visit Babylon sometime next month. I promise.”
“You shouldn’t call it that. I don’t like it when you call it that.” The wizards never called their home Babylon; that was a name conjured by the many religious fanatics that considered their magic evil (even if they did trade with the ‘heretics’ from time to time). The name they’d given their own city of medicine was Alexandria; it was fitting for I’d seen their expansive libraries and could become lost in them easily.
“Fine. I’ll be there.” I squeezed their hand in mine. “I’ll miss you once you’ve gone.”
“Don’t get sappy,” they said before planting a kiss on my forehead.
The day went and then the next and another and the wizards packed their belongings. No more music for Golgotha, only quiet agony. As Suzanne said, they’d left me a few books and I’d given away my parchment, jars, and gold. While they were in town, I even was able to snag a few more bottles of their famous wizard liquor along with a few vials of medicine—always good to have whenever I set foot beyond the walls or when someone within might need it.
There came a time finally—as every time it does—where I watched the caravan, with gray smoke clouds off the engines, take on north first where there was an opening wide enough in the ruins to accommodate vehicles, then it hooked around a wide bend that took them west then their black shapes against the red morning skyline disappeared like fading ink as their magic cloaked them entirely. I wished them well, but at the moment of dissipation, I felt an urge to leap from the top of the wall, charge across the field, scream that I was coming and scream it loud enough that I’d hurt myself. I think I just loved—though I never said it aloud and neither did they—and love is a bad thing more often than it is good, for the longing it leaves in its absence drives a person mad and I did not want to be mad; the feeling burst from me quietly there on the wall while I was flanked on either side by guards. I was sure all along the way they went that I could just make out Suzanne among them; that was probably a fault in my vision, but I imagined they were casting glances back, hoping to hold me as strongly as I wished to hold them. I went to the streets of Golgotha where the town quieted from the previous days’ engagements with the wizards.
Normal came and settled and then came chanting from Lady as she moved through sullen quiet streets. She was so far off that I was not sure it was her at all and then came the lines as she drew nearer by the hydroponics towers, and she shouted them vigorously and shook her fist above the air and held a staff with a swinging lantern of incense in her opposite hand, partly for ceremony and partly for support. The words came harshly, gravelly:
“They called to the mountains and to the rocks, fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
“The lamb will be your shepherd. He will guide you. Hallelujah! He will lead you to the springs of living water and wipe away every tear!”
“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand! Do not be tempted by the deviousness of the whorish Babylonians for all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
A person, among the catwalks, shouted down at Lady, “Shut-the-fuck-up!”
I watched her come fully down the avenue as she dodged a thrown egg from somewhere unseen, then dashed away toward an offshoot alley to hide somewhere, incense lantern smoking, clanging against her back while she screeched off more scripture from memory. After she was long gone, I moved to the spot where the egg was, rubbed it into dirt with the sole of my boot and looked up through the spiderweb network of catwalks overhead; there was no one.
Without a thing keeping me, I took off the following day, and upon meeting the gates, Maron was there and I could see he was the proud owner of a used leg brace; he grinned upon seeing me, patting his mustache down with his forefinger and thumb.
“Whatcha’ think?” He motioned to his left leg. “It’s a bit of a conversation starter, ain’t it?”
“Get your boys to open the gate, I’m going out.”
He shook his head. “Won’t find anything out there. It’s all dirt and rubble, you know.”
“Just open it.”
“You know what?” He cut his eyes at me. “There’s gonna’ come a day when you won’t be so able bodied or maybe the Bosses won’t like you coming and going as you please.”
I inhaled heavily then let it go. “Now can’t we skip to the end where you acquiesce to my request?”
“Words words words you’ve got. You’ve got a lot of words. Acquiesce. Psshaw.” Boss Maron waved for the guards to open the gate and they did, and I stepped by him, and he spit somewhere behind me before I heard him hobble around with his single leg brace.
The path was clear and open on all sides and in no time, I’d taken across the field to the east and found myself on the edge of the ruins where things stank, and I was free from no other thought than to live. Creeping hot overcame me and brought my hair to my forehead and I holed off in a shadow to drank from my gourd before continuing. The sun was red in the sky in the places where I could see sky from around the black shadows of towering structures. I ducked beneath an old shop counter when I heard the skittering of fart heads and pulled a sleeve to kill the scent of their chlorine breath.
Once they’d gone, I pulled through the wreckage more and more till I came upon the markings for an old safehouse in the back office of a garage I’d not been to in a while. What were my intentions? Was I going to go all the way to the coast? Throw myself into those bad magic waters? There’s a thing they don’t teach you in religion. They prattle all day to do this or that and they say that Hell awaits sinners or Hades or maybe its in layers or circles or what have you. They’ll tell you about the places and they’ll say that if you take life into your own hands, you end in Hell, but what’s a person to do when those creeping intrusions come along—the ones that call to a person in the darkness, the ones where they tempt you to jump from a high place or there’s always a gun or a poison. Maybe a person could bribe another to do it for them. Where do they end up then? What are you supposed to do to stave off those thoughts? Should a person contend such melancholies with prayer? That did not seem helpful. What is the soulless to do without the promise of those pearly gates anyway?
Anyway, I took on past the safehouse and found a utility hall in the side of a tall industrial building just beyond a partially erect chain link fence. The wall was opened up like a cracked shell from years of standing alone, and after ducking through there, I found some old matches in a drawer, plastic gas cans whose contents had long since congealed within; I kicked them (not that I expected anything more). Moving further down the wide hallway, there were shelves of dusty tools, and I took some hammers and knives (cheapo stuff).
Further still down the hall, there was a staircase, and I took it quietly; the stone stairs made hardly a sound against the bottoms of my boots, and I took the stairs more quickly till I was out of breath and caught myself on a landing where I supped silent air before rushing further up the stairs. An old metallic cabinet or console—I couldn’t make it out—lay strewn across the steps to the second-highest floor and I climbed over it before coming to the building’s roof access. Upon coming to the door with a metal push bar across its middle, I gave it a shove and it did not budge but a minor clink and I took a moment to collect myself before rummaging through my gear.
Slung through a loop on the inside of my pack was a short prybar that was so worn around its tooth it was more rounded than an edge; I shimmied the piece of metal into the spot where the door latched into the way and began crimping the spot apart, trying all the while to maintain a relative quiet in the dead ruins. Once I’d bent away at the door for a few moments, I elevated my body weight at an awkward angle to pop the door free and it did so, half open, with a rusty screech that forced a long pause from me; I stood there by the newly opened doorway for a full minute, holding the prybar, holding my breath. Upon hearing nothing in response to the noise of the door, I slid the tool into my pack and slipped through the threshold.
The flat roof of the industrial building sloped to one corner—where the opening in the wall of the first floor was—and sitting there in the middle of an open platform was an old helicopter, blades half torn away or rusted off and the remaining slanted from the top of the old vehicle, touching the platform it sat upon. The roof access looked like a little square house atop the flat headed structure and around the side of the access, I found an old corpse (entirely bones) wrapped in black plastic-like armor, the white dry fingers laid across its lap, several digits gone and its hollow eye holes staring off into the sky with a permanent smile. I moved to the thing that hadn’t been human in a long time and prodded it; the skeleton slumped to the side and looked on the ground by its shoes. How long had it been staring at the sky and how long had it been waiting for me to come and change its dead visage?
I moved to the edge of the building, to the corner where the building sloped and looked off the edge to the ground below; all was quiet, and nothing moved save the shadows’ stalwart creep across the ground. Examining from above, I could see the opening I’d climbed through and beneath my shifting feet, I felt the ground give a little; timidly, I angled more forward and for a moment I thought I knew why I’d gone up there in the first place. Suddenly six-stories felt high. The urge to jump came. Perhaps on the way down, I’d have just a blink to convince myself I’d slipped.
“Hey!” A shout from somewhere down below came from the direction I’d come from. I shook my head as it felt as though it was a ghost echo, a noise that wasn’t. Then it came again, “Hey!”
I squinted my eyes and there in the crumbled road below, there was a human I didn’t initially recognize; it was only after the figure tumbled through the remains of the chain link fence that I recognized it as Dave. I blinked.
Out of breath, he angled over to the opening at the base of the structure and called up at me, “Hey! I see you up there!”
Whisper-yelling, I cupped my hands, “Shutup!”
I took back to the stairs, and he hollered after, “Where you going?”
With reckless abandon, I took the stairs many at a time, leapt the cabinet on the stairs, scrambling while also reaching for the prybar I’d put away. I held the cold metal in my hand and charged toward the industrial storage hallway where I could see him silhouetted in the frame of the crumbled opening.
His chest heaved and he wiped at his brow; slung across his shoulder was a small supply bag and worn like a necklace was a pair of binoculars. “God, you move fast. Like a fuckin’ cockroach in light.” His eyes shifted from my face to the prybar in my hand as I approached him.
Standing within the echoey hallway, I lifted the weapon and pointed it at him. “What’d you follow me for?”
“You wouldn’t use that on me.” He took his eyes from the prybar. “I don’t think you would anyway. You might be shady, Harlan, but I don’t take you as a stone-cold murderer.”
“You take me wrong,” I said.
“Maybe.” He seemed to think on it a moment. “You wouldn’t?”
“If you’ve given away my position to those things, I might.”
“Lots of bluster.” Dave offered an incredibly forced smile, and I could see just from the little shine of the sun in the opening that his eye had blacked but remained functional. “I been watching you.”
“Oh?”
He nodded. “I snuck out after you.”
“You ought to go back.”
“You ought to just listen. There ain’t a thing back there for me.”
“I don’t care.” The sharpness in my voice felt good. “I don’t need some sorry sack sneaking up on me when I’m mindin’ my own.”
A quiet laugh. “There’s nothing there for me. I been farming all my life and if I die,” he shrugged, “So be it.”
“Idiot. Fuckin’ idiot.”
“You manage out here! Wizards can too!”
“Wizards have magic.”
“You got some of that?”
I lowered the crowbar.
“We’ve got to stop starting our conversations with fights.” He paused and moved into the shadowy hallway of the building before perching in a half-sit half-lean against the wall near me. “I never was violent anyway, so if you want to hit me with that then do it.”
“Hmm.”
His shirt clung to him, sweat thick and dark on his chest and pits. “Goddamn you move fast.”
“You should wear a jacket or something. Long sleeves keep the sun off and a thicker material gives you a modicum of protection.” I took to squatting too, maintaining ample distance betwixt us. “A hat helps too, but I’m always losing hats.” I chewed on my tongue while mulling over whether I should leave him.
“Are you going to try and slink away while I’m not looking?”
I blinked. “No.”
“Liar.” He took a healthy gulp from his water gourd then wiped his mouth. “East is the ocean?”
I nodded.
“Is it far?”
I nodded. “For you.”
Dave sighed. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Telling me.”
“Okay.”
“You ever have any kids?”
I shook my head.
“It’s somethin’. Henry had so much energy—especially when he was little—there was times I didn’t think he’d ever settle down.”
“What are you doing out here?” I asked.
“Helen told me she was the same way when she was his age. She had energy too. I feel so tired.”
“Dave. What the fuck are you doing out here? Why’d you follow me?”
He took one last swallow from his gourd before shoving it into his pack. “I wanted to talk to you about killin’ the Bosses.”
I laughed into my hand. “That’s—that’s a thought.”
“I mean it.” His stare was like pinpricks.
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[RoyalRoad](https://www.royalroad.com/profile/190707/fictions)
[Neovel](https://neovel.io/use15712/lucas-whorley)

Contact me if you are interested in Iman Gadzhi Courses by chatting me on +44 759 388 2116 on Telegram/Whatsapp.
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For context, we were together for 19 months and at one point she told me she lost feelings for me and a short while later she broke up after trying to make it work for a week. The breakup was pretty smooth and there wasn't any begging or screaming, just tears and understanding. Since then we hadn't talked much, but I did send a text every now and then, at first it was just saying stuff like "You're in my thoughts and I love you," (Im assuming it didn't mean she was in love though). That happened twice shortly after the breakup and she responded in kind with I miss/love you too but I cut that out after a little.
We ended up meeting up at one point like 3 weeks post breakup and walked my dog together and had a talk, at first it was fun and lighthearted with laughing. I tried to put my hand on her leg while sitting down which she said she wasnt comfortable with right now, so I didnt press it. We ended up talking about the breakup and that she said she would be willing to maybe try again when summer ends since she is still grieving and that she doesnt think she's ready to talk either until summer starts for the same reason. She said she thinks the breakup feels too fresh to do anything right now together but maybe in the future it could be something we do.
That leads up to now, 5 weeks post breakup. I wrote a letter apologizing for being clingy since that was where I think the feelings were lost from and I truly did mean it. Along with it I said that it wasn't an act and that Im not asking to get back together, but would like to rebuild our friendship sometime soon and see where that takes us. I dropped it off with a sweater I thought was hers (turns out it was my friend's... oops) as well as some candy and a scarf I got for her.
Her response was:
"Thanks for thinking of me, that's really nice of you. I appreciate the letter also.
Only thing is that's not my jacket lol it's prob your mom's or your sister's?? I leave on thurs so lmk if you wanna come by and then grab it lol."
I swung back by shortly after and had a short conversation. It was a little awkward due to my nerves and her looking tired so I didn't press for talk if she didn't look like she was in the mood.
SO, I think this was a really good sign for me that she isn't walled off and knows I am willing to change. Obviously I can see that she doesn't really have romantic feelings for me at this time or is really good at hiding it so I am likely the one who is going to have to keep stepping up to bat which is fine.
I could use some advice on where to take this. Some things worth noting is that every conversation we have had has been super friendly, like heart emojis and smiley faces in the majority of messages (granted we haven't talked much so that is like a total of 5). She still has photos of us up online and hasnt taken me off any of her socials. She has 100% not been with any guy since the breakup and I know she isnt even considering it (don't bother with the usual stuff about this in the comments). Finally, when she says leaving Thursday she means she is leaving to New York over the summer for an internship across the country.
Feel free to ask any more questions about my situation. I'll put the letter I wrote in the comments.
Tldr: I wrote my ex an apology letter for things I did to contribute to the breakup and she gave me a pretty warm response. Looking for advice on where to go.
My question is, where should I go with this next? I plan to obviously step back and give her more space so I don't smother her, but I'd like to have a game plan for when it feels right to contact again. I'd like to know what to do after that though. I do truly plan on building a relationship from scratch rather than pressuring her into what we had in the past.

Hello, I was wondering if anyone knew of a good farming game for mobile? When I search for farming games on the Play Store, all I see is the same thing.. farming games with a boring story that's mainly focused on a town and development with like 10 plots to grow crops. I'm looking for something more along the lines of the original Farmville from Facebook back in the day. Just planting and harvesting with different animals and fruit trees to tend to, and that's really it. The store is saturated with the same farming games with a town and factories to tend to, and that's not really my style. I miss the original Farmville from Facebook so much! Any recommendations would be appreciated! :)

I got badly strung along by a guy and I haven’t been the same since. I have this wall that makes it hard to be vulnerable romantically with guys. I don’t see the point in meeting people anymore.
He gave me massive trust issues, self esteem issues, and worsening depression. I’m starting to come out of it now but I still can’t trust.
I realized I badly want to be with someone because I feel shame for what happened to me. I feel shame for not putting my foot down earlier instead I got strung along for 8 months.
He used his ex and who was actually his gf to make me jealous. It wasn’t until he ghosted I found out he had a gf. He told me a story on how he thought his ex wanted him back but he didn’t. I think this was done to get a reaction out of me.
He got very shady when I opened up about my insecurities which is something I also deeply regret.
I want to one day be able to connect with others again and not worry I will have this happen again. I want to be able to be more social. I want to feel confident making friends.

We're looking to plant privacy trees/ hedge in our corner lot in Toronto. The space is not against a fence but in our side yard along the pathway which leads from the front to the back of the house. Since this won't be along a fence, would you recommend Emerald cedar trees or an eastern white hedge? We think Emerald might give a neater look than Eastern White, but not sure. The area is not too large, about 20 feet and we were thinking of planting 10 trees max.
Thank you.

Is there any God/deity that thinks they're a savior of some kind, but in reality they actually bring fear and despair or something along those lines
Trying to come up with an alias for a character in a story I wanna make, and a God with a savior complex would be the perfect name

Just making sure does this mean that my license will be suspended for 1 year and then will be restricted with interlock for another year after that. Got a dui sleeping in my car with it on because it was 20 degrees outside. Blew over .15 after I refused the first test.

I got an extra gold camping (30 amp) ticket along with a extra GA ticket due to some ordering issues. Not looking to upsell them just looking to make some money back and to make someone's day. :) In Spokane area just DM.

I’m curious how the guys like me are getting into relationships. I don’t drink, party, go out or any of that stuff. I enjoy nature, working out, hiking, fishing, dirt biking. I’ve been finding it extremely difficult to find women. I follow a pretty strict diet so I’m never going to restaurants, coffee shops or anything like that and my job is all men the only time I see women is in stores. There are no women in my friend group and I’ve been on dating apps with no luck. Im good looking, in shape, fairly confident I just don’t have any way to meet people. I’m not sure what my next step is, I’ve thought Id approach random women in the grocery store but it feels odd.

If you are interested in Iman Gadzhi – Copy Paste Agency contact us at +44 759 388 2116 on Telegram/Whatsapp.
I have Iman Gadzhi – Copy Paste Agency.
Iman Gadzhi – Copy Paste agency is the latest course by Iman Gadzhi.
Copy Paste Agency is designed for established agency owners, who can use these lessons to scale their business.
In Iman Gadzhi – Copy Paste Agency, you will learn:

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• How to command higher retainers… and retain those clients for longer
  
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To get Iman Gadzhi – Copy Paste Agency contact us on:
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It's me again! This is what I managed to scrounge up and surprisingly the only things I would have to get used are the cpu (but it's a gift from a friend) and the gpu. All for about 560 dollars approximately. My plan is to put a somewhat decent PC and then upgrade it way down the line, first the cpu of course and then go from there.
My main questions are if the psu isn't overkill? Newegg calculator said that I needed 500-600w but PPP says I only need 300! What gives? Or maybe I should get a higher wattage one for future proofing? Also I'm not sure about the monitor, I just went with the cheapest one that had speakers and supported 1080p/60Hz and it was on sale (about a 100 dollars). But any other observations are more than welcome!
Thanks!
[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/rgtyv3)
TypeItemPrice
:----:----:----
**CPU** [AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/J8drxamd-ryzen-3-3200g-36-ghz-quad-core-processor-yd3200c5fhbox) $95.00 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** [MSI B450M PRO-VDH MAX Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/kRTzK8/msi-b450m-pro-vdh-max-micro-atx-am4-motherboard-b450m-pro-vdh-max) $74.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** [Patriot Viper Steel 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mCHRsY/patriot-viper-steel-16-gb-2-x-8-gb-ddr4-3200-cl16-memory-pvs416g320c6k) -
**Storage** [ADATA Legend 800 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2GXV3C/adata-legend-800-1-tb-m2-2280-pcie-40-x4-nvme-solid-state-drive-aleg-800-1000gcs) $47.99 @ Amazon
**Video Card** [Asus STRIX GAMING OC Radeon RX 570 8 GB Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/GzpmP6/asus-radeon-rx-570-8-gb-strix-gaming-oc-video-card-rog-strix-rx570-o8g-gaming) -
**Case** [Deepcool CC560 ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/YLGbt6/deepcool-cc560-atx-mid-tower-case-r-cc560-bkgaa4-g-1) $66.98 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** [Gigabyte P-B 650 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/HbfhP6/gigabyte-p-b-650-w-80-bronze-certified-atx-power-supply-gp-p650b) -
**Monitor** [Asus VP228HE 21.5" 1920 x 1080 60 Hz Monitor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/YYsnTW/asus-vp228he-215-1920x1080-60-hz-monitor-vp228he) $89.00 @ Amazon
**Keyboard** [Logitech G213 PRODIGY RGB Wired Gaming Keyboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/PGjWGX/logitech-g213-prodigy-wired-gaming-keyboard-920-008083) $44.99 @ Walmart
*Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts*
**Total** **$418.95**
Generated by [PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com) 2023-05-30 23:27 EDT-0400

I live in an area that has a ton of new houses being built, minimal restaurants within 2miles, and a lot of traffic due to a large hardware store. There is absolutely demand for a cheaper, take-out restaurant.
However I make good money in a WFH job, have zero food service experience, and with the full time job, limited availability to cook and serve food (and tbh, no desire to).
Is it stupid/unrealistic to even consider opening some type of restaurant/food truck/taco cart if I wouldn't be hands-on in day to day operations?

I want to take multiple insta360 files and create 1 big file. I also want to edit them to remove content in the middle of some of the files the files. I want to upload to Youtube in a 360 format so people can look at whatever they want as I am walking along. Not what I choose... but what they point their viewer at. I am lost at the very beginning of this process. I do see how to do any of that in insta360 studio 2023. Thanks in advance for pointers.

Top 10 Women's Dresses for Every Occasion: From Casual to Cocktail
Every woman deserves a versatile collection of dresses that can effortlessly take her from casual outings to formal cocktail parties. Dresses are the epitome of femininity and can make a bold statement while providing comfort and style. In this article, we present the top 10 women's dresses for every occasion, ensuring you're always dressed to impress.

1. The Little Black Dress (LBD): No wardrobe is complete without the timeless little black dress. This iconic piece can transition seamlessly from day to night, making it perfect for various occasions. Opt for a classic A-line or sheath silhouette that flatters your figure. The LBD is incredibly versatile and can be dressed up with heels and statement jewellery or dressed down with flats and a denim jacket.
2. The Maxi Dress: For a bohemian and effortlessly chic look, the maxi dress is a must-have. Whether you're strolling along the beach or attending a summer garden party, a flowing maxi dress in a vibrant print or solid color will make you stand out. Pair it with sandals or wedges and accessorize with a wide-brimmed hat and oversized sunglasses for a glamorous touch.
3. The Wrap Dress: The wrap dress is a universally flattering option that suits various body types. Its adjustable wrap-around design cinches at the waist, creating an hourglass silhouette. Choose a wrap dress in a sophisticated print or a solid color that complements your skin tone. It can be dressed up with heels and statement earrings or dressed down with sneakers and a denim jacket.
4. The Shift Dress: When it comes to effortless style and comfort, the shift dress is a winner. Its loose and relaxed fit makes it suitable for casual occasions. Opt for a shift dress in a breathable fabric like cotton or linen for warmer weather. Pair it with sandals or espadrilles and accessorize with a straw bag for a laid-back yet stylish look.
5. The Fit and Flare Dress: For a touch of retro-inspired charm, the fit and flare dress is perfect. This dress style features a fitted bodice that flares out into a flouncy skirt, accentuating the waistline. Choose a fit and flare dress in a playful pattern or a solid color for a feminine look. Pair it with heels and a clutch for a polished and sophisticated ensemble.
6. The Shirt Dress: The shirt dress strikes the perfect balance between casual and formal wear. It exudes a polished and put-together vibe while maintaining comfort. Look for shirt dresses with a tailored fit, collared neckline, and a defined waist. Opt for solid colors or subtle patterns for a professional touch. Pair it with ankle boots or ballet flats for a versatile and stylish outfit.
7. The Cocktail Dress: For those special occasions that call for a touch of glamour, the cocktail dress is a go-to choice. This dress style typically falls above the knee and features intricate detailing, such as lace, sequins, or beading. Choose a cocktail dress in a flattering silhouette that accentuates your best features. Pair it with statement heels and elegant accessories for a show-stopping look.
8. The Slip Dress: The slip dress has made a comeback in recent years, offering a sleek and minimalist aesthetic. Its lightweight fabric and slinky silhouette create an effortlessly chic look. Opt for a slip dress in a solid color or a subtle print. Layer it with a lightweight cardigan or a tailored blazer for added versatility. Pair it with strappy heels or ankle boots for a modern and fashionable ensemble.
9. The Midi Dress: Midi dresses have become a wardrobe staple for their versatility and sophistication. Falling below the knee and above the ankle, midi dresses offer a balanced and elegant silhouette. Look for midi dresses in classic designs and fabrics. Made to order dresses: www.AlanStyle.Etsy.com Source: https://alantino.com/blogs/blog/top-10-womens-dresses-for-every-occasion-from-casual-to-cocktail

Naari sighed deeply, closing her eyes for a moment in the cool shade of her working area under the hot, summertime sun. She heard and felt the relaxation in the muscles of those who came to visit her, as well. Felt it in their hearts, their bellies, the sound of their laboured breathing. Her patient today was Rina, her younger sister, though neither were their mother’s hara. Perhaps that was what drove Naari to become a rādejut, living and helping women who were with child. It was nearly Rina’s time for birth, and Naari could smell in the sweat beading on her sister’s brow that they were both in for a long afternoon and night. Rina swayed and hummed a low, tuneless music, the vibrations deep in her ripened belly. Those were good sounds, sounds of the earth. Naari dipped a cloth in a bowl of cool water and wiped Rina’s forehead and naked back while she moved, careful to always move with her, and to never impede her movement. Movement was good, even the earth moved, and women needed to ground themselves to give birth properly. Women were the mediators of the earth, after all.
Naari was grateful that she lived on the outskirts of the village for many reasons. Firstly, so that sounds like the ones Rina would soon be making would not trouble the others. Two, it meant that no one was quite sure how much food she had stocked up at any given time. Naari knew, though. She knew exactly how much she had, down to the last urn of sorghum. Everyone who wanted her care at any point had to bring an urn or two of sorghum, or an equivalent amount of dried bison meat, or some other gift of their land that could be stored and saved. Naari had been keeping track of who had given on a piece of parchment, drawing out symbols for each family with ink made from bone char and a raven’s quill. The extra food went to the sick, or the pregnant. Chewing on dried bison is very healthful for women in labour, but of course Naari had no way to get bison meat on her own. However, men who were about to go on raids could bring her raw bison strips as a sort of future payment against the medical care she might need to provide them afterwards. Then she would mark a symbol on her parchments, and give the man a small piece of parchment with her own symbol. She didn’t need to give the man the bison that he provided, no, quite the opposite. After all, it could be months before he would need her medical care. No, the food went to the one who needed it then. And if the village was healthy? Well, Naari prospered anyways, for a healthy village always had children, and most everyone was willing to give something, because everyone wanted there to be extra food when it was their turn to be sick.
That was how Naari was able to provide Rina with dried bison to gnaw on while she laboured. Now walking, now squatting, now on hands and knees. Naari did not watch her every second, that would not be required for many hours yet. She was busy making a strong tea for Rina, made of sagebrush and sunwort, grinding the leaves and stems down with water from the firepit.
“How are you feeling? You must let yourself breathe, slowly, your music is good.”
“There is pain,” Rina replied, a low groan escaping at the end, belying the true level of pain she was in.
“You do not need to speak to me as if I were a man, sister.”
“It is awful, then. How do women do this four, five, times?”
“Drink this. It will help,” Naari replied. “It is cooled, and I have added mint and berry to make it sweet.”
Rina took the cup and nodded gratefully, drinking it in slow but steady sips. Already her breathing grew more laboured, and her moving became less moving and more swaying and rocking. Progress. Hours passed.
In the night, under a coyote moon, Rina held her baby boy to her breast, relieved and thankful. Naari waited to deliver the blood-tree, and only when its roots were empty and white did she thank it for its service and sever it from the new child. The blood-tree itself would be planted somewhere on Rina’s land, along with a walnut tree.
“Thank you, sister. You are a talented rādejut,” Rina murmured in the cool dark.
“You have given freely of your bounty when others were in need, and now it was your turn to receive the bounty of others. While your son eats, tell me more about this watering hole you’ve dug. I think it could be very helpful. Clean water is good for the health, and if I had one here, it would make things much easier. Do you think some of the young herdless boys and the women would be willing to help…?”

Link and Zelda are separated after a conflict involving the reincarnation of Ganon, followed by Link waking up in an isolated, elevated piece of land with no way to make the drop safely. There he meets the spirit of a past King of Hyrule who instructs Link to go to a couple shrines that are similar to what he will find across Hyrule and obtain four powers that he can use to traverse the world for the duration of the game. He receives four orbs which he uses at a statue of the Goddess Hylia so he can receive either a heart container or stamina vessel, followed immediately by him gaining the ability to leave the elevated piece of land after one final conversation with the King’s spirit. At this point, the King will have given something of his to Link that will be incredibly essential to his journey. His ultimate goal: defeat the reincarnation of Ganon. In the meantime, Link is tasked to visit the main settlements of the Zora, Gerudo, Goron, and Rito people (one of which specifically the game subtly tries to direct the player to go to first), where he must assist them each in solving an issue that only exists because of something else Ganon did which affected the entire kingdom, then after fixing said issue, he receives a special ability from an important member of that species’ civilization that has a cooldown time. Along the way, he visits shrines in which he must use his powers to solve puzzles and obtain additional orbs to exchange four of with the Goddess statues to obtain heart containers or stamina vessels. He also might stumble across some of Hyrules many hidden Koroks who give Link some of their shit to exchange with Hestu the Korok for more inventory space (shields, bows, and weapons). He will also see Dragons in the sky occasionally.

My brother-in-law and his fiancé will be tying the knot in October. They have known each other since high school, while my husband and I go way back to our preschool days. However, life took me in a different direction, and I pursued my MD degree and got married five years ago.
About a year ago, my brother-in-law introduced his fiancé to our family. Unfortunately, despite my efforts to build a relationship with her, she doesn't seem to like me. Our interactions always end up with her complaining about me and twisting my words in a way I never intended. Interestingly, she acts extremely nice in front of everyone else. I must admit, at times I have tried to mend things by buying her expensive gifts as graduation and welcome presents.
Currently, my husband and I live with my in-laws, including my mother-in-law and brother-in-law. However, after getting married, my brother-in-law plans to move to another state with his fiancé, as she has secured a residency spot there.
Recently, we organized an event to introduce her to our extended family. Coincidentally, I found out that I'm pregnant with twins and am due around the same time as the wedding. This news brought me immense joy, especially considering my struggle with infertility for the past three years. Although the event was primarily meant for her introduction, my growing baby bump became the center of attention, and everyone started asking about my health and the well-being of the babies. I had made all the arrangements for the event, decorating it with a backdrop featuring her and my brother-in-law's names, along with customized invitations and other decorations.
Furthermore, my mother-in-law generously gifted her entire family to make them feel at home.
However, just after the weekend, she suddenly started making accusations against me to my brother-in-law. He became angry, believing that I had spoken ill of him and that my intentions were fueled by jealousy due to not securing a residency spot.
To be honest, none of this makes any sense to me. While I may have engaged in some teasing and had pleasant conversations with her and her family, I never said anything negative about my brother-in-law. He is a great person and happens to be my husband's only sibling.
This isn't the first time she has done something like this to me. On a previous occasion, she made false claims about me. Fortunately, my mother-in-law was present throughout and vouched for me, affirming that I could never say or do such things.
Coming from a family of four supportive sisters, I truly desired a similar bond with her. However, the excessive drama she brings into my life is wearing on my nerves.