Hey guys,
31M Moving to Aberdeen this weekend from the South of England on a permanent basis for work. Im being put up in a serviced apartment for a month & would be great to get some advice on the following:
Renting - where would you recommend for a 2/3 bed flat of a fairly large size and no parking issues? Budget can be up to around £1000 p/m exc bills. Also any good estate agents and any to avoid?
Pubs/bars - any recommendations for nice pubs/cocktail/whisky bars in the area?
Outdoors - I’m a huge outdoors lover and would regularly wild camp and hike. Looking forward to going to the Cairngorms, are there good hiking locations potentially closer? Also, any groups of outdoorsy people around Aberdeen that meet?
Meeting people - I’ve lived in England my whole life so all of my friends are going to be too far away to see regularly and I’m moving by myself. Are there any groups to meet some like minded people?
General tips - any general advice or tips about the city, or Scotland as a whole that might be useful?
Thanks

Hey all, Main binder updated

• Main Binder here: https://imgur.com/a/Jr7iqYO
• Paldea Evolved: https://imgur.com/a/dFKOacj This is currently TRADE ONLY
• WOTC C/UC (and a few Rares): https://imgur.com/a/3AsZ8DU Conditions range from NM to HP, although most are LP. Let me know which card you need from which set and I'll gladly see if I have it. All cards are Unlimited ! Stacks are ordered by set, and the only holo in here is the Wiglytuff (other holos in Main Binder).
• CGC Slabs (Prices in Imgur description): https://imgur.com/a/9i6SfsN
• Japanese cards: https://imgur.com/a/PNVfMSr
• French cards: https://imgur.com/a/tmclAt0
• Groudon Collection (considered PC): https://imgur.com/a/ZZZ4dGx A couple updated things since last time.

I am currently prioritizing trades over PP.
Wants

• TG / GG / SV Wantlist: https://imgur.com/a/8WTq8aq (Almost there, thanks to all the awesome traders in this sub !)
• Groudon. Any NM and all languages !
• I'll take a look at binders but will be picky about some trades not involving my main wants. Please provide a link to all binders. I don't plan on chasing down someone's post history.

For these cards I am looking for Raw Trades Only (not purchasing) and M / NM condition.
Groudon

• The Groudon collection is Trade Only !
• I will only trade Groudons from this collection for other Groudons !
• The side products (and license plates) are NOT for Trade. However, if you have some side items that feature Groudon, I am interested ! (I may already have it and not pictured, but I will gladly take a look)
• I am looking to improve my Groudon collection. Most of the non-graded cards in the binder are NM- or lower.
• I will only trade these towards Mint cards, or already graded cards.
• For already graded cards, I am looking for CGC or PSA 9+. Obviously higher the better.
• NO BGS, I had previously traded for one and found that BGS has awful grading standards.
• I do not plan on downgrading slabs I already have, but upgrading and trading towards the difference is open ! However, to keep it fair I would prefer a trade up to be with the same grading company.
• I have cards in 4 languages (English, French, Japanese, Chinese), I am looking for cards in all languages !
• Depending on the card and condition, I can potentially offer a trade slightly in your favor.
• The only exceptions to this rule are the 2 slabs in the CGC album, and the Primal Groudon EX in the main binder, although it is still trade only, will trade towards other stuff. It is LP/MP and pics here: https://imgur.com/a/2hlf6c6, it's TV is $40

Slabs

• BMWT or Package Shipping only.
• Prices for Slabs are in the Imgur link and are F&F, and include shipping !

Trades

• If your trade count is under 60, I expect you to ship first, and I'll ship after receipt of your cards. If your trade count is over 60, we can send at the same time.
• If the trade value for each side is over $25, BMWT is preferred for trades. Under that PWE is fine.
• Values for all English cards will be TCG Player Market for matching condition.
• Values for foreign cards based on Ebay Sold if found, or listings if found.
• Cards involved in trades will be sleeved and top loaded regardless of value. I am expecting the same on your end. Thank you !

Sales

• For purchases, I am ONLY looking for Paypal F&F.
• Shipping: $1 for PWE / $4 for BMWT. Any purchase over 10 cards and/or over $35 will require BMWT.
• Prices will be around 5-10% lower than TCG Player lowest Verified 1000+ Seller for Matching Condition !
• However, if 10 or more cards are purchased, I'll enter it all in the TCG Player app (which only gives Market Price), match condition, and I'll take 15% off that value before shipping.
• Foreign Cards 10% off pricing from Ebay Sold if found, or listings if found.

Background - I served in the US Navy for 6 years in the 90s and I did a deployment to the Persian Gulf with a carrier battlegroup USS Lincoln. No VA rating.
Last month, I had a simple mastectomy to remove a stage 1a breast cancer. After the surgery, my dad (100% rating) told me about the Pact Act and I should apply.
If I do apply, it appears I would be eligible for 100% temporary rating for six months for having an active cancer. My DD214 does not show the port visits in the Jebel Ali, UAE but I do have the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Sidenote - our ship collided with the carrier so was definitely inport a lot for repairs.
?s - just having breast cancer enough to presume it's service connected with my deployment in the Gulf under the Pact Act? Is 100% rating right for my situation? And what are the chances of an active cancer being approved 28 years later? Is it worth it to apply?
Your knowledge and claim experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Freddi stood at the river and looked toward the wooden shack built into the hillside in the distance. Smoke came from its chimney. Waves rippled on a nearby beach.
Inside were three survivors of some far off accident, some catastrophe in the upper atmosphere — its rubble still periodically raining down on them.
Where Freddi stood — one day that place would be a cotton field, one of many fields surrounded by extensive walls, water mills, an Imperial landing pad.
Trade caravans would come and go. Dozens — hundreds of visitors would come to stay and leave grateful gifts.
There, a group of mysterious strangers would arrive one day to meet under a red flame in their dining room only for a raid to arrive, evade their defences, shoot their secretive guests in the head then leave without a word.
And there, an invasion of mech clusters would land to the south-east and lay waste to the settlement, bombarding it for days on end, blowing apart its many rooms, then shooting down its residents. The Great Invasion.
Teed, as they called it, would be brought to the edge of total destruction.
But Freddi would survive. Freddi would live to mourn his dead children, and after the madness subsided Freddi would live to fertilize a whole new generation of Teedies.
Years later — many years from now as he stood as the river — they would call him Freddi, Father of Teed.
Teed — now greatest city of the Bassalo Forest. Then but a lonely shack as he crossed the river one cool evening.

So, for context, I am 18 and my sister is 25. We both still live at our parents house. We are both working full-time, but here's the thing: She does not help with house chores, does not take care of her own laundry, does not contribute to the household financially, does not buy groceries, or really anything else. She leaves a mess everywhere, and my mother is the one who has to bathe it out every time. She is very entitled most of the time. My mother does her laundry every time and even makes the effort to sort it for her, in her own room and wardrobe, at home, for her, a grown adult... My sister always snaps when something does not go her way, and today it was the same all over. Her laundry, which my mother washed, was missing, according to her, and she lashed out on my mother with full force, screaming, cursing, being unthankful, and even threatening her. Not only that, my sister and her friends had planned to go on a trip to the holidays, and my mother offered her house there for her and her friends, for free and without rent. She also accused me of "Taking her clothes", in which I even offered her to look at my whole wardrobe, which she did and made everything chaotic, and I had to sort it out and all in again, guess what, she found nothing...
It all then started anew today; her laundry was washed by our mother, as always, for the last 6+ years of her adult life, and she complained that her socks were missing, her jeans were missing, this, that, etc.You get the idea. I was sick this time, as it was evening, and she suddenly started screaming to my father as well, who is ill physically and is not to be under too much stress, and my mother is the one taking care of him and his illness every single day, with medication and all. He asked her to stop, but she refused and stomped on the ground. She screamed at my mother's face, and then I snapped. I
told her "You are 25 years old, ffs; what kind of behavior is this for your age? You don't know how to do chores, laundry, or the household; how the hell do you want to live in your own apartment one day?". She then started cursing at me too, and it was the usual ordeal. I just don't get it... I help my family with the chores, household chores, helping my mother and father with bills, groceries, etc.Her behavior honestly disgusts me for her age, at this time and age...
It even got physical multiple times with her and my mother, and my father once even got in between them, which didn't end well. I had to intervene, and even then, it was still chaotic; one time even the police had to come... My sister said she wants to move out and that we are all... and she said this for the last 5+ years and does not even have 10% of the money needed to properly move out. We don't even know where all her cash goes, nor is it any of our business, but one thing is certain: 0% goes for the family or the house.
AITA for snapping at her like this?

A recent and unsent letter, covered partially in blood, is discovered on a dead Colonial soldier in the lull of the Battle for Howl County, by a Warden Medic. A short ceasefire has been called to collected wounded and dead. Birds are heard chirping for the first time in days. The Medic looks over the dead Colonial, unfurls the folded, blood-stained parchment, and begins to read:
Dear Vincenzo,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I wanted to take a moment to write to you and share some news about the ongoing war between the Colonials and the Wardens. I know you've been following our progress with great interest, and I'm delighted to inform you that things are going remarkably well for our side.
First and foremost, I am proud to announce that the Colonials have made significant advances on all fronts of the conflict. Our combined efforts and unwavering determination have led to several major victories against the Wardens. One of our most notable achievements was the recent capture of the Great Warden Dam, a crucial strategic location that had long been under their control. This accomplishment has dealt a significant blow to their morale and logistical capabilities.
Despite the Wardens' development of Widows, those fearsome tank destroyers, we have managed to adapt and counter their advancements effectively. Our resourcefulness and resilience on the battlefield have proven to be key assets in overcoming their formidable technology. The Wardens may have their impressive weapons, but we have something even more powerful—the unbreakable spirit of the Colonial Army.
Our soldiers continue to display immense courage and dedication in the face of adversity. Each day, we witness acts of heroism and solidarity that reinforce our conviction in the righteousness of our cause. We fight not only for our own freedom but for the future prosperity of the entire region. It is an honor to be a part of such a courageous and united force.
Remember, my dear brother, that victory is not solely measured by territorial gains or technological advancements. It is the indomitable spirit and unyielding resolve that sets us apart. The tide is turning, and the Colonials are proving that we can triumph against all odds.
I understand that this war brings about uncertainty and worry, especially for loved ones like you waiting anxiously for news. But take heart, for our unity and determination ensure that we are on the path to success. Our commanders and strategists are constantly assessing the situation and making calculated moves to secure our ultimate victory.
Stay strong, little brother, and keep your faith in the justness of our cause. We will overcome the Wardens and restore peace to our land. Your support from home means the world to us, and it fuels our resolve to fight with everything we have.
Please take care of yourself and our family, and know that I am thinking of you every day. We shall celebrate together when this war finally comes to an end, and we can embrace one another in the warmth of peace.
With love and unwavering determination,
Antonio
The Warden Medic grimaces after reading the letter, shakes their head, and throws it into a nearby fire. Gun shots and Artillery fire are, once again, heard in the distance, and the sound of the birds chirping dies to the roar of cannon fire.

Just in the last two years I have dealt with:

• A trans woman who became bizarrely fixated on me when I politely declined to do an in-person tour of the apartment she was subletting. She left me threatening and abusive voicemails for a solid month calling me a c**t and other gendered insults.
• A trans male roommate who stole rent money from the rest of us (cis gay women) and used it to buy drugs instead of pay utilities.
• Another trans male roommate who told me to my face that I was only performatively lesbian so I could 'make friends'. I've been engaged to a woman and out for 7 years.
• Several dates where I was not informed prior that the person I was speaking to was pre-op, pre-hrt trans. Essentially like going on dates with men, one of which tried to convince me that their penis wasn't 'gross' like a straight male penis and continued to push the point even after I reiterated that I do not do dick and am not really into penetration.
• A former best friend who blocked me for 'transphobia' after I complained about being catfished through dating apps by trans women, including one instance where I thought I was sexting a cis woman and sent pictures to someone who I now know is trans.
• A trans nb who also became bizarrely fixated on me when I declined to live with them and began fabricating outright lies about me to my friend group. This person works as a counselor for trans youth and I can say with certainty that they are batshit insane. They also admitted to enjoying it when their AMAB partner belittled them in gendered ways (demanding they do more cleaning, abusive sex etc).
• A purely psychopathic nb housemate who we overheard at night sadistically ranking the much younger queer women he was fucking by their looks and mocking them, while intentionally instigating them to fight each other over him and cheating on them.
• My current NB housemate who is making my life hell with daily microaggressions and seems to take issue with the fact that I wear a bra (therefore am not a true feminist).

I come from a conservative background in the deep south. My brother is a Mormon. I work in a notoriously male dominated field full of incels. Yet I have never dealt with this level of direct abuse, disrespect, sexism, homophobia, and harassment from any other sphere of my life. Frankly, going forward I will be actively avoiding contact with people under the trans umbrella. Congratulations, I'm done giving out chance after chance and I don't care that you're losing your 'rights'. Thanks for dragging gay people down with you and please leave lesbians like me alone and just let us date each other without invading our spaces and harassing us just because we aren't interested in your 'girldick'.

Hello, I am looking for a camera that I could get for under $1000. I am fairly new to this but I have experience in drone videography. The main use I would plan on using this for is to try to get some cinematic footage and b-roll mainly when I’m traveling. I want something that gives me full manual control over the settings such as iso as well. Would the Canon EOS SL3 be a good option for that? I’m seeing some places say it would t and is mainly for streaming, as well as not having 24FPS 1080p is kind of a bummer. If this couldn’t do what I wanted is there anything else that can be recommended? Thank you in advance

Some time ago, I made two posts with some of Percy's best feats. The first one can viewed here. And the second: here.
Now I know that Jason isn't the most liked character in the fandom, but I like him. So I wanted to scale him.
Contents: Strength, speed, reaction speed, skill, durability, actual powers, Tl;dscaling, closing segment.
​
He was able to throw a club hard enough to knock down a Venti. Even causing it to curve so that it would hit Dylan when he tried to doge:

Jason threw the club. It seemed useless with the winds so strong, but the club flew right at Dylan, even curving when he tried to dodge, and smacked in the head so hard he fell to his knees
The Lost Hero

He was able to deflect a spear hit from a giant:

Jason raised his javelin to block the giant's next strike-a big mistake. Don't fight force with force, a voice chided him-the wolf Lupa, who told him that long ago. He managed to deflect the spear, but it grazed his shoulder, and his arm went numb.
The Lost Hero

The same giant was able to cause the entire mountain to shake just by slamming the butt of said spear into the ground:

Before they could get very far, Enceladus slammed his spear against the ground. The entire mountain shook.
The Lost Hero

Moving onto House of Hades, we see him casually shatter a metal with a kick, firmly putting him into the superhuman category of strength. Not only that, but he managed to stagger and knocked a giant to his knees:

One last time Jason flew at [Clytius], kicking him in the chest, and the giant's breastplate shattered. Clytius staggered backward..He fell to his knees, and the demigods encircled him
House of Hades

He was able to cut through a statue made of metal with help from Piper:

Piper and Jason went to work on Hygeia. They slashed through the statue's knees
Blood of Olympus

We are now done with Jason it the strength department. Obviously, he lacks many feats in this department, especially compared to Percy, but he is definitely stronger than an average human.
Speed:
He was able to stab a giant:

[Jason] rolled away from the giant's first spear thrust and jabbed Enceladus in the ankle. Jason's javelin managed to pierce the thick dragon hide, and golden ichor-the blood of immortals-trickled down the giant's clawed foot.
The Lost Hero

This might not seem that impressive, but Jason was being slowed down by Gaea. The Giant was being helped by Gaea. Finally, the giant was predicting Jason's attacks:

Enceladus' spear missed him by a millimeter. Jason kept dodging, but the ground stuck to his feet. Gaea was getting stronger, and the giant was getting faster. Enceladus might be slow, but he was not dumb. He began anticipating Jason's moves, and Jason's attacks were only annoying him
The Lost Hero

We see this here again:

Enceladus let him approach, grinning with anticipation. At the last second, Jason faked a strike and rolled between the giant's legs. He came up quickly, thrusting with all his might, ready to stab the giant in the small of his back, but Enceladus anticipated the trick. He stepped aside with too much speed and agility for a giant, as if the earth were helping him move.
The Lost Hero

Reaction/ combat speed. This is where Jason really shines. As he has several impressive feats:
He was able to keep up with Lit. The same guy who was so good, he earned the name Reaper of Men:

Lit charged.
The guy was fast. He slashed and sliced, and Jason could barely dodge the strikes, but his mind went into a different mode-analyzing patterns, learning Lit's style, which was all offense, no defense.
The Lost Hero

He can react to giants:

Jason raised his javelin to block the giant's next strike-a big mistake. Don't fight force with force, a voice chided him-the wolf Lupa, who told him that long ago. He managed to deflect the spear, but it grazed his shoulder, and his arm went numb.
The Lost Hero

He scales to Percy in reaction speed and was able to amaze Piper:

[Piper] rolled to the edge of the road and looked back, dazed and horrified, as [Percy and Jason] crossed swords, gold against bronze. Sparks flew. Their blades blurred-strike and parry-and the pavement trembled. The first exchange only took a second, but Piper couldn't believe the speed of their sword fighting.
Mark of Athena

The same guy who I scaled to have reaction speed as fast as 10 milliseconds. And the average human reacts at 250 milliseconds.
He can react to lightning:

Jason called down another lightning strike, but Ephialtes caught it on his spear and deflected the blast, melting a life-size plastic cow. He slammed a stone column out of his way like a stack of building blocks. Percy tried to keep the lake churning. He didn’t want Otis rising to join this fight, but as Ephialtes closed the last few feet, Percy had to switch focus. Jason and he met the giant’s charge. They lunged around Ephialtes, stabbing and slashing in a blur of gold and bronze, but the giant parried every strike. “I will not yield!” Ephialtes roared. “You may have ruined my spectacle, but Gaea will still destroy your world!” Percy lashed out, slicing the giant’s spear in half. Ephialtes wasn’t even fazed. The giant swept low with the blunt end and knocked Percy off his feet. Percy landed hard on his sword arm, and Riptide clattered out of his grip. Mark of Athena

While technically not reacting to lighting, Percy fought a giant who could, so Ephialtes' reaction speed=Percy's. What I'm getting at here is Ephialtes can react to lightning. Percy can keep up with Ephialtes. So Percy=Ephialtes' reaction speed. Jason=Percy reaction speed. Therefore, Jason=Ephialtes' reaction speed.
Too much for you to follow, here:

Jason swung at the first spirit. His blade passed through it and the creature's smoky form disintegrated. The second spirit let loose a bolt of lightning, but Jason's blade absorbed the charge. Jason stepped in-one quick thrust, and the second storm spirit dissolved into gold powder
The Lost Hero

There you go.
He reacts to arrows:

This time Jason's senses were on high alert. He felt the air ripple as an arrow materialized, racing towards Nico's chest.
Jason intercepted it with his sword and deflected it sideways.
House of Hades

Now, Romans use a type of composite bow called a Sagittarii. Composite bows can shoot arrows as a speed of 250 to 370 feet per second (76 to 113 m/s).
Also keep in mind that he is nearsighted. Giving him even less time to react than normal:

"Oh, of course!" Asclepius said. "You're a bit nearsighted! Simple fix."
He opened the drawer, whipped out a prescription pad and an eyeglasses case. He scribbled something on the pad, then handed the glasses and the scrip to Jason.
Blood of Olympus

So all in all, he has some fast reaction speed. Well above human.
Next up, skill.
He can keep up with Lit, a man so deadly, he was named the Reaper of Men:

Lit charged.
The guy was fast. He slashed and sliced, and Jason could barely dodge the strikes, but his mind went into a different mode-analyzing patterns, learning Lit's style, which was all offense, no defense.
The Lost Hero

He did all of this:

"I slew the Trojan sea monster," Jason continued. "I toppled the black throne of Kronos, and destroyed the Titan Krios with my own hands. And now I'm going to destroy you, Porphyrion, and feed you to your own wolves."
The Lost Hero

He killed the Trojan sea monster and killed a Titan without a weapon.
Durability:
He is immune to, or at least, resistant to electricity:

Dylan's form flickered. "That was enough lightning to kill twenty men!"
The Lost Hero

He survived this:

Enceladus let him approach, grinning with anticipation. At the last second, Jason faked a strike and rolled between the giant's legs. He came up quickly, thrusting with all his might, ready to stab the giant in the small of his back, but Enceladus anticipated the trick. He stepped aside with too much speed and agility for a giant, as if the earth were helping him move. He swept his spear sideways and met Jason's javelin-and with a snap like a shotgun blast, the golden weapon shattered.
The explosion was hotter than the giant's breath, blinding Jason with golden light. The force knocked him off his feet and squeezed the breath out of him.
The Lost Hero

While this is an already impressive feat, we have this to make this even more impressive:

The javlin's destruction had released so much energy, it had blasted a perfect cone-shaped pit thirty feet deep, fusing the dirt and rock into a slick, glassy substance.
The lost Hero

He was uncut by plastic shrapnel:

Together, the giants picked up a fake mountain as big as Percy's New York apartment and hurled it at the demigods. Percy and Jason bolted. They dove into the nearest trench and the mountain shattered above them, spraying them with plastic shrapnel.
Mark of Athena

He can tank a hit from a giant trident, although he was in a lot of pain:

Jason managed to avoid the prongs of the trident again, but the giant swung the other end around and smacked him in the chest.
Jason reeled back, stunned and in pain. Polybotes came in for the kill. Just before the trident would have perforated him, Jason's ventus acted on its own. It spiraled sideways, whisking Jason thirty feet across the courtyard.

Powers. This is another place he is impressive in. He has several abilities he can call on in a clutch:
He can correct aim of things he throws:

Jason threw the club. It seemed useless with the winds so strong, but the club flew right at Dylan, even curving when he tried to dodge, and smacked in the head so hard he fell to his knees
The Lost Hero

He can control air pressure:

[Jason] felt a tugging sensation in his gut, and the air pressure dropped so rapidly his ears popped.
The Lost Hero

He can summon Tempest, a horse made of wind and electricity:

Suddenly the air turned cold. Piper's ears popped. About fifty yards away, a miniature cyclone three stories tall tore across the tops of the sunflowers like a scene from The Wizard of Oz. It touched down on the road next to Jason and took the form of a horse-a misty steed with lightning flickering through its body
Mark of Athena

Jason and Percy working together can create a massive storm:

On the deck of the Argo II, Percy and Jason stood together, their swords crossed. Annabeth got a tingle down her spine as she realized the boys were working together as one, summoning the sky and the sea to do their bidding. Water and wind churned together. Waves heaved against the ramparts and lightning flashed. Giant eagles were knocked out of the sky. Wreckage of the flying chariot burned in the water, and Coach Hedge swung a mounted crossbow, taking potshots at the Roman birds as the flew overhead.
The Mark of Athena

Jason can fly and carry people with him:

Jason summoned the wind to carry him and Piper to shore
Mark of Athena

He can cause water to boil and temporarily blind Piper:

BOOM! Lightning stirred the water into a boiling cauldron, steaming and hissing with electricity. Piper blinked the yellow spots out her eyes as the god Achelous wailed and dissolved under beneath the surface
Mark of Athena

He can use wind offensively:

The demigods rolled to either side, and Jason summoned the wind, using the giant's own momentum to shove him into the water
Mark of Athena

He can get angry enough to generate electricity:

the air turned electric-literally, as Jason started throwing off sparks.
Mark of Athena

He can melt iron and cause gold to steam:

Just then, thunder boomed overhead. Lightning flashed, and the bars on the nearest window burst into sizzling, melted stubs of iron.
Jason flew in like Peter Pan, electricity sparking around him and his gold sword steaming.
House of Hades

Jason has the ability to track people who use winds as a method of transport so things like air spirits can't run from him:

Jason couldn't exactly see him, but he'd had enough experience controlling the wind that he could track the angel's path-a warm wisp of red and gold zipping across the street..
House of Hades

He can control the four winds and even construct this out of wind:

[Jason] thrust out his hand. A swirl of dust shot toward the nearest horse. A lasso-a rope of wind, more tightly wound than any tornado-wrapped around the horse's neck. ..In less than a minute he had tethered all four venti. He reined them in, still whining and bucking, but they couldn't break Jason's rope. It felt like flying four kites in a strong wind-hard, yes, but not impossible.
House of Hades

He uses wind defensively:

Jason summoned gusts of wind to last aside javelins and arrows. He deflected a vial of Greek fire right up the throat of a gryphon, which burst into flames and spiraled into the pit.
House of Hades

He can carry others without having to fly himself:

Three dead Romans rose into the air and flew across the chasm. Then three more joined them. Finally Jason flew himself across and his squad began cutting through some very surprised-looking telkhines
House of Hades

He can use a sword or a javelin:

Jason slashed his gladius in a wide arc, vaporizing the nearest suitors; then he vaulted onto the table and jumped over Antinous' head. In midair he willed his bade to extend into a javelin-a trick he'd never tried with this sword-but somehow he knew it would work.
Blood of Olympus

He once more demonstrates his ability to create objects from air and now he can encase himself in air armor:

[Jason] raised his arm and summoned a lasso of wind... He lashed out with his wind rope, searching for strongest, most ornery *ventus in the storm.
He lassoed a nasty patch of storm cloud and pulled it in. "You're serving me today."
Howling in protest, the ventus encircled him. The storm above the ship seemed to lessen just a bit, as if the other venti were thinking Oh, crud. That guy means business.
Jason levitated off the deck, encased in his own miniature tornado. Spinning like a corkscrew, he plunged into the water.

Jason is capable of summoning weird lightning stuff at the bottom of the ocean. Also worth noting it is still as deadly and didn't shock Percy who was also in the water next to him. On top of that, he can now separate the volts to attack multiple targets instead of just one:

But [Jason] couldn't think of a better option. He thrust up his sword. Immediately the blade glowed red-hot.
A diffuse cloud of yellow light billowed through the depths, like someone had poured liquid neon into the water. The light hit Jason's sword and splayed outward in ten separate tendrils, zapping the basiliks.
Blood of Olympus

He can carry a current throughout his body, holding it for latter:

With a deafening blast, a white-hot bolt arced from the sky, straight through Jason's body as he leaped, wreathed in lightning, at the giant king.
Jason fell on King Porphyrion with such force that the giant crumpled to his knees-blasted with lightning and stabbed in the neck with a golden gladius.

He can blast a 30 foot giant off a clif:

Porphyrion lashed out wildly with his spear, but Jason cut it in half with his gladius. He charged in, jabbing his sword through the giant's breastplate, then summoned the winds and blasted Porphyrion off the edge of the cliff.
Blood of Olympus

Tl;dr and scaling: So Jason is powerful. He is definitely superhuman in al physical states. I am going to say, city level durability. His power level is at mountain level.
Closing segment: Honestly I think he could have been more powerful if we'd seen him in more books. Also I didn't use a Trials of Apollo feats as there I didn't find any. If you see any feats I missed let me know so I can scale them. So what did you think? Did this make you see Jason as more or less powerful than you originally thought? Who else would you like me to scale?
Respect Jason Grace, son of the sky god, Zeus!

I awoke in the darkest hour of the night, sweating and cold. I felt as though something had just left us there, or perhaps still remained. A cold fear crept along my clammy skin. I looked over to where my talking crow was asleep, nested on the pillows.
Detective Winters was snoring in his own bed. The open window was watching me until I looked up. Then the feeling was gone.
I laid back down. When I slept again I dreamed of the woman I had left behind in my home. It seemed so long ago. I wondered if she was still there. Somehow I knew she was. I suddenly couldn't stop thinking about her. I really didn't like her, yet my instincts told me to worry about her. So I did.
As dawn crept light across the twisted landscape outside the hotel window I thought of her. Then I got up and ate my sandwich out of the fridge and drank some water out of the sink. I left piece of it for Cory and went to brush my teeth.
Detective Winters woke up as his phone was ringing. He listened and said very little. I could tell he was talking to his boss.
"Ready to go?" He asked me as he laid back down.
"I am; are you?" I nodded at his prostration.
"Let's stay and eat." Cory suggested as he fed.
We all shuffled out of the hotel room to the car, Cory flitting from place to place and finally gliding to the car, boldly.
Three crows took the opportunity to scold him from the wire above. He avoided them and looked at me. He said:
"You should know your old home. Or sadness will prevail." Cory told me.
"I know." I took him with me into the car, hugging him gently to me.
"What is it?" Detective Winters asked me with consideration, looking in his rearview mirror at me.
"There is a woman I left behind in my home. I have started worrying about her." I told him the truth.
"I thought you were homeless." He handed me his phone.
"Are you?" I asked him. Sometimes I adopted Cory's mannerisms when dealing with people, not intentionally.
"Touche' Mr. Lord, touche'." Detective Winters went ahead and lit a jacked-up looking rolly: all bent and with bits of tobacco sticking out of it. He opened the car door a crack while we sat there. I dialed the number.
"Isidore?" I said her name when she picked up.
"Christ, Lord! I thought you were gone forever!" She exclaimed. She started saying a bunch of stuff about the house and bills before I said:
"I don't care about the house. I called for you." I said.
"I need you to come back. I can't do this on my own. I know you won't leave me, why are you gone?" Isidore started crying into the phone.
"Isidore, how can you say that? We barely know each other. I invited you in, I didn't think you would stay. That's why I left, because you wouldn't." I explained honestly. I had only just spent a few nights with her and we barely had more than a conversation before that. Then she had just decided she was in love with me and moved in. Not that she had anything to move, she had arrived with her toothbrush and pajamas. I'd thought it cute, until she stayed.
"I know you." Isidore sounded strange.
"Yeah, I know you too. It's not like that. What do you want from me?" I must have sounded different to her than I meant to, for she simply said:
"Just your love."
"I can't just love you." I claimed. I was lying. I fell in love with people all the time. I did actually care for her, I was just being very cowardly about it at the time.
"Then accept my love for you." She negotiated.
"Fine. Is that all? Are you okay?" I asked.
"I am not okay. I literally need you." Her voice was very quiet when she said this. I believed her, even though I did not want to.
"I have to go. I have work to do. I will call you..." I paused as Detective Winters made a gesture of walking fingers and a knock on a door. I hate charades. "I will come see you later."
Then I hung up as she said 'goodbye' and told me she loved me.
"Let's go. She's fine." I shrugged and restored his phone to his hand.
"Her name's Isidore?" Detective Winters chuckled. "That's like calling a girl Charlie. It's kinda cute, I guess."
"She doesn't need a cute name." I promised him.
He ignited the engine and drove us to the scene of murder. Beholding the darkness within the earth filled me with fear and dread. Detective Winters told me over and over that I was going with him into the darkness. I refused to go down there, panic sweeping me in strokes instead. I was suffocating on my own doubt of survival, anticipating such an adventure.
Cory was left behind as he dragged me by handcuff to his wrist into the dizzy and pale threshold. Then by mere candlelight we went amid the cackling specters of the dim. I closed my eyes to see, knowing it is the way in such a place.
I remembered the mirrored veins of the paths above this place. All of them followed the water and it rode the top of the stones. Therefore I knew my way, as surely as I knew the paths that had formed directly above, in the young forests amid the ruined heath. Without the sky, without my bird, without my sight, I was paralyzed by fear of the dark dwellers. There was only one way out and that was forward. In my paralysis I had no control over myself except to know I was fleeing in panic, unable to stop.
I looked down to find the handcuff was free and the light shone from the floor, spinning. With his thumb broken to free his hand, Detective Winters was laying there examining the injury.
"We have to leave." I hissed in terror. I hunched down.
"You ruined my thumb." He snarled back. His eyes rolled and he actually fainted where he lay. I took up the flashlight and used it to bath his body in light. There I left him and continued to escape the place he had brought me.
Upon the kill I stumbled, alone. There the chalk outline remained. Two children. Looked like they were dragged and discarded in a heap. The extension cords all went to one junction and split into the three lanterns that shone in that one room as day. I was in the heart of the labyrinth, I had escaped nothing. The handcuff hung freely and I looked at its shiny surface.
Reflected there in the polish of the cuffs I could see the shape of one of the dark dwellers. It was on the wall and ceiling behind me, watching me from the darkness. I turned and it skittered into a crack in the wall with lightning quickness, its many centipede legs making it look like the animation of a flipbook, its length rippling in the darkness.
I staggered back in mortal mystery. My eyes were wide and I choked on the breath I had exhaled, trying to scream in sheer terror. Then I closed my mouth on my tongue, knowing with reptile swiftness not to make a sound.
For they were all around me.
The ceilings and the corners of the floors and the corridors filled with their monstrous shape. They were more like spiders, or something I cannot even describe. Their movements in the darkness were so quick it was as though they were one shape and then the other as they flailed and flung themselves at blinking speeds through the shadows.
Without the light I would be torn apart as the two victims that were taken before we arrived. I could not breath, knowing I would die in the darkness. One of them put its dark spindly scythe of black chitin into the light for a split second and I saw the urticating hairs bristling, ready to impale me with a thousand needles just by touching me.
I lifted what I thought was a rock, to defend myself. I pulled it free from the edge of the corridor, from under some rags. As I held it up I found a better grip, shifting my fingers into its grooves. The creatures scattered. I was breathing heavily, still gripped by terror.
I had to escape back out of there and I somehow took a step out of the light back the way I had come. Or so I thought. I turned and turned again, feeling my way along with my left hand on the wall. My right hand held the object which now felt light for a stone. My panic had subsided and I had moved without thinking. I was lost in the darkness.
I felt my way along. I kept thinking I could hear the creatures. Then up ahead I saw the light. In the middle of the light stood a policeman, gesturing for me. I stopped and watched. It came closer, the eyes horrible and empty of life. Then as it escaped the light I saw it was merely an illusion. Somehow it could hide what it looked like, refusing to be seen in its entirety. The creature came for me and then I screamed.
It was a flash of scythe-like spider legs by the thousands and its many horrible eyes and its beak-like mandibles. It was coming for me out of the darkness, a silhouette against the lanterns beyond. I was screaming and curling away from it, about to be torn to pieces by it.
Resounding gunblasts flashed brightly and lit up its awfulness. The bullets tore into it, black ichor splashing where its flesh was. Then it fell over, twitching and curling and steaming. It quickly dissolved into a puddle of nightmares.
"What in Hell was that?" Detective Winters was shaking violently and still aiming his gun, even though he had emptied it.
"How should I know, Detective? This is your crime scene." I complained. I was shivering and sweating and knew there were more. "There are more of those things."
"My Lord, are you alive?" Cory called into the hole.
"It's your crow." Detective Winters sighed in awe.
"I know that. How did he get out of your car?" I wondered, distractedly.
"I left my window down, I think." Detective Winters realized; his own mind easily choosing to think of something else.
"You think, or you know?" I demanded, severely stressed. I accepted the flashlight and trembling, he removed my handcuff without reason, while I was holding the light. I tried to hand it back and he gestured for me to wait a second by holding up one finger. He looked at my freed hand without realizing what I was holding.
"Jesus, I just 'think', okay? Sorry." Detective Winters reloaded his weapon and grimaced. It looked very difficult with his ruined thumb.
"My Lord, are you alive?" Cory asked a second time.
That is when we all heard them. I heard them and Detective Winters heard them and Cory heard them. Their voices froze my blood. The damned things were speaking! The penultimate horror I felt was a sweeping and cold knowledge of them. That they could speak and had their own language was fearsome in its perversion. Nothing like that should exist and to give it intelligence was the work of a mad creator. Their language challenged Man's place in Creation, putting something so blasphemous in place of the Will of Man. Such a horror could break my mind with every syllable that they uttered with inhuman mouths. They did not only speak their chittering abomination, for some of them whispered plain English from the darkness as well:
"This is the home. This is the darkness. It belongs rightly. All the food. The flesh is food. This belongs, too, the flesh, the food." They spoke in a unified and horrifying whisper.
"My Lord, you should come out of there. The Folk of the Shaded Places will kill you for trespassing. Then they will eat you." Cory called to me from above.
"I got that!" I shouted back and the sound of my voice stirred the one nearest to us.
"Time to go!" Detective Winters made me go first with the light.
We made our move and instantly it was as though the walls and ceiling had come alive. They were all around us, shifting rapidly, each taking the place of another to avoid the light and the gun. I shone it on them and they fled the beam. Likewise, Detective Winters let them have a taste of his firearm as he shot a bullet into each one that got too close.
Breathing rapidly and wide eyed we emerged to find the rest of the policemen had already departed. Only Detective Winters's car and Cory remained. I had expected some sort of rescue, as though getting out would mean safety. I looked at the object I held: it was a skull.
I turned back and stared into the darkness down there. Cory flitted to my shoulder and said into my ear:
"They will come right on out that hole and snatch you back in if you get too close."
"Thanks." I nodded, my mouth hanging open as I stood in waves of terror. Part of my mind had not escaped. I needed to go back down there and get it real quick. It would only take one second.
"Hang on." Detective Winters curled over and threw up a bunch of thick chunky bile onto a hapless banana slug. He reached down and used a leaf to flick it out of the vomit onto some nearby moss. "Sorry about that."
"Must go now." Cory advised in urgent repetition.
I went and got in the car and watched the horror hole with dreadful apprehension. I set the skull up front on the passenger seat. Then I tried to learn how to breath normally again. I noticed that Detective Winters's driver side window was actually down.
Eventually Detective Winters had managed to light the smoke he had kept behind his ear that entire time. It was sagging with sweat and he took a few unhappy puffs before he flicked it down into the hole. I prayed none of the Folk would come flailing out and entangle him, kicking and screaming, into the dark.
"We are lucky to be alive. If that really happened." Detective Winters decided we both had merely freaked out in the dark down there as we drove away. He held up his dislocated thumb and added: "We couldn't die."
"Death will always happen." Cory objected.
Detective Winters handed me his phone and I put in the address. Then the GPS guided him to my old house as the sun went down. When we pulled up she was waiting, her bags packed. She got into the car.
"I'm coming with you." Isidore told me and Detective Winters. "I won't stay here alone. Oh Lord, I've just got to say it. I just have to tell you."
"Well, not right now, maybe later." I looked out the window, away from her. In my mind I could still see the outline of those creatures. The horrible flash of their bodies. My heart pounded in anxiety, just thinking of them. I had always known of them, knew they existed. I had never, not even in my most dreaded nightmares, dreamed of meeting them.
"Your husband works with me. I am Detective Winters." Detective Winters introduced himself, again holding up his dislocated thumb. Isidore said nothing to him. She had her own ways.
"I am Cory." My crow spoke to her. She did not understand. She said:
"He is so cute!" Isidore told me. Then she wouldn't tolerate me looking away from her. She took my hand and placed it over her belly. I was very surprised to find that so much time had passed already, since I had left. I looked and she was glowing as we drove under dappled streetlights.
"Nine months." I realized.
"I have wanted to tell you for so long!" Isidore smiled.

Chapter 1: A Dark Room
​
If somebody would have asked me how I'd like to have died, I wouldn't have picked being turned into a fine pudding by a rogue book cart. I'd spent the last 12 years of my life working in the George Peabody Library, going from a janitor to a full time librarian over my tenure. But one careless mistake was all it took to snatch it all away from me, and not in the most dignified of ways either. I wasn't sure if I was more upset at having my dream job torn from me, or the offer I received post mortem.
My old literary arts professor would have been through the moon to know there was in fact an afterlife. But I couldn't say the same.
Not even a few seconds into my afterlife I was confronted by an being who claimed to be my family's very own guardian angel. He told me my death wasn't fated yet, and that I didn't have to remain in the hereafter should I not wish to. He offered me a simple, if a bit odd, proposition. I could carry on my work as a librarian and more in my very own library, but to do so I had to become a dungeon.
"A dungeon?" I ask the odd being before me.
It nodded. "That is correct. Sadly I am unable to return you to your former life as your time in that world has come to an end, regardless of how prematurely as it was cut short."
I mulled over what the being offered. A chance to not only continue my passion, but to become my passion.
"I accept." I say with a smile.
I can feel the entity radiate a sense of joy as it snaps it's many fingers. I feel myself becoming lighter and my form scatters to dust.
"I'm glad I will be able to watch over you, a little longer." The entity says as everything goes dark.
--- Derelict Building, New Dungeon Manifested ---
I never thought I'd get to open my eyes for the first time, for the second time. But I don't really know how else to put it. I'm no longer floating in a serene space in the heavens, instead I'm staring into a dark and mostly empty room.
Moving really takes some getting use to but after a moment I get the hang of it. I can drift and focus my perspective on a number of rooms in fact, not just the one. I admit to spending more than a few minutes simply careening my sight around the few rooms I have under my control, at least until two things grabbed my attention.
Cat Spawner - Level 1
Slug Spawner - Level 1
The cat spawner was rather unassuming to my surprise, it was just a pile of crates covered in a few old bolts of cloth and a lot of dust. But sure enough a fluffy and healthy looking grey tabby hopped out from behind the cloth and simply began wandering around the room.
"Well aren't you just adorable." I cooed to it, trying to get it's attention.
The cat didn't even seem to hear me as it just kept sniffing and padding around the rather barren room.
"Alright be that way." I sighed in defeat as I shifted my focus a few rooms over to the slugs.
Their nest was far less subtle that the cat spawner had been. Instead of a pile of boxes the slugs already seemed to have a small corner of one of my lower rooms all to themselves. An almost coral like structure was molded into the wall of the room, and a decent handful of slugs were already in the process of slinking about.
The slugs themselves were either a muted blue or a sandy red color, but apart from that I couldn't spot any real differences between them.
I withdrew myself and let the slugs go about their business and was about to look around for other spawners before I noticed a smaller less pronounced presence in the room adjacent to the cat spawner.
Focusing in on it I read the label above it.
Core
It was my core.
And it wasn't much to look at either.
The core was about the size of a coffee bean and shaped in a rough spiralling pattern, it did give off a comforting blue light though. As it sat very exposed on the floor, in the center of the room.
I tried to move it but I couldn't see any way as to how. I tried willing it to move, but it stayed still. I tried to select it like the spawners, but nothing appeared.
Alert - Core In Danger
Snapping my focus from the tiny shard itself I noticed something approaching it... it was a frog?
A small slimy green frog hopped lazily across the floor, and directly towards my core. I began panic as I tried to interact with damn near everything in the room! Despite not having my former body I still had my near crippling anxiety in the face of pressure!
But before the frog could even make it halfway across the room, a cat bolted into the room and practically speedballed into the tiny amphibian. With as much mercy as any cat has towards small rodents the frog had swiftly been dealt with.
As the cat sauntered off once more a small meter appeared just in the top of my few, it just said mana. It was barely anything but at least that frog had generate some mana when it died, and it seemed safe to assume mana was going to be my primary currency going forwards.
Even though it didn't acknowledge me I gave the new black cat that had saved the core a generous mental petting. Focusing back into the cat room I noticed a few more cats had appeared not just the black cat and tabby. I did notice the new cats seemed to almost hear me when I spoke to them, but they still didn't seem to pay me any more attention than a cat normally would. However when I ordered a few of the cats to guard the room with the core, I was thrilled to see two of them actually went into the room and made themselves comfortable on a few old tables in the corner.
I watched them for a while as they ate and stemmed the slow but steadily flowing army of frogs that had slow begun to enter the building I was in, or the building I am? Still wasn't to sure on that.
I didn't have any working clocks or even a sundial in this place, and if not for the light coming in through a few windows I wouldn't be able to tell the time in here. I know I watched the cats for at least a few hours as late afternoon slowly approached. By now I had a decent stock of mana and decided it was time to put all those long hours working in logistics to work.
Now that I had my equivalent of money on hand I was able to actually do things!
The first order of business was upgrading my cats, as I already owed my continued existence to them. With the mana I had gained I made my first purchase in this new life and bought a cat! This one however was a bit different from the rest though, it was bigger and seemed more aware. It gracefully climbed from the boxes of the spawner it's white fur shining in the dim light, and better yet it seemed to glance up towards where my perspective was viewing it from.
"Can you hear me?" I tried asking it.
Of course it didn't say anything back but it's gaze didn't leave me for a few more seconds, then it just went about wandering like the rest of the cats.
Scion Cat - Tama
I'd have to wait a bit to upgrade my slugs as creating my new scion took most of what I had built up, but I wouldn't keep them waiting long. Their own nemesis has arrived, beetles.
I can't says slugs are the quickest things in the world to respond to being attacked, but they do get the job done. The beetles swarm a bit quicker than frogs do, but they are far less durable. The slugs actually seem to have a ranged attack that is perfect to deal with them, they can spit out streams of pressurized water that knock the little pest away like leaves in the wind.
My hyperfixation also gets the better of me again as I spend another length of time just watching the constant game of tower defense between my bold slugs and their chitinous rivals. Of course I have to shake myself from this and I decide to see what my new scion would be like.
I look towards the spawner and notice that it costs a bit more mana to spawn a slug scion than a cat, yet the upgrades for the spawner itself were cheaper.
But that would have to wait I still don't have the mana for it yet, and I may need a few more hours of tower defense before I could.
In the meantime it was time to actually defend my tower, and that started with picking a better spot for my core!
______________________________________________________
This story is a fan created project inspired by - Dungeon Life by Khenal
This story is a personal project and any criticism and advice is welcomed and appreciated, hope you enjoyed!

"I hate zingers. I was told, growing up, that they are for the weak-minded. Like a 'Jedi mind trick', you know?" Detective Winters was doing something on his phone in our hotel room. His voice startled me as I lay half asleep on my own bed. He was sitting on his bed, half undressed, smoking under the fire alarm. I had no idea what he was talking about.
"Will you open a window? Cory has very small lungs." I requested.
"Cough." Cory said in perfect English. Then my talking crow imitated the hacking and coughing of Detective Winters in the middle of the night. It went on for about as long as a mummer's dance and then ended with the sound of a man spitting.
"Jesus would have sworn for a bird like that." Detective Winters applauded the performance and then used the lit cigarette in his mouth to light another and then he put the smoldering one in his mouth and used the lit one again to finish lighting the fresh tobacco. Then he accidentally scattered the rest of the brown stringy stuff all over the floor. He swept the remains of his new rolling kit off with the spill and shrugged, laid back, and puffed away.
"Goodness." Cory flitted down and inspected the stuff. He liked it too much and I told him to stay out of it.
A knock came upon the door. I already had a bad feeling. I'd read my horoscope and Detective Winters's too. We both had it coming our way. Nothing good could come from 'non-dairy starlight' and 'niche holes on the border'. Those phrases meant no sense, and yet our stars translated to those words, as they danced drunkenly across the keyboard of the starry skies.
"You get that." I stiffened.
"Uh, I always get it." Detective Winters smiled at me weirdly for being weird. He wasn't feeling the terror I felt. For a man who hated zingers: he sure took fear literally.
"One knock, my Lord. Very bad." Cory told me. I nodded, I already knew something was terribly amiss. Just because the armed and half naked policeman in my bedroom was blundering forward to grip the doorhandle without regard, didn't mean that we were safe. Only terror gripped my heart as my crow went to the bedpost and squawked in alarm, "Must go now!"
He opened the door and it was the same maid from before. She was wearing her regular street clothes instead of her uniform. She reminded Detective Winters that he was a policeman. He agreed and she asked him if, as a policeman, he could help her. He agreed to that too.
I didn't want to go, but I had no choice. Gagging and swaying stiffly like a terrified zombie I went with them; knowing this was going to be very bad, because I had read those weird horoscopes and believed them. Sweat shot out from my upper lip as I gibbered helplessly in dread:
"Where are we going?" I asked in apprehensive discernment, finally getting the words out of my sweaty lips.
"We are going to Sesame Street and Brooklyn Ave. You ever gone there before?" He accepted one of the woman's menthol cigarettes and fumbled with the book of matches from the hotel that was in the ashtray of his car. Then he put the cigarette to his lips and lit it while driving. He eventually cracked the window and let out most of the smoke.
"Why don't you open your window?" The woman asked. I was very afraid of the kind of trouble she was asking for. If I opened the window I might lose Cory in an awful way. Trembling I reached out and took the window's lever and opened the window a crack. Then I reached over and got the other one too. She smiled, like a golden devil, and cracked her window and then got her's down to about halfway. By then only the odor of the smoke remained.
"That's probably good." I gulped.
We got to her apartment and went inside to meet her husband and her son. The boy was tied to his bed and his eyes were terrifying and horrible. His face was monstrous and contorted and looked like a bad makeup special effect. Except that was his actual flesh. He struggled mightily and for a moment it was as though he would break free and rampage like an angry animal. His teeth glowed in the shade, sharp and ready to bite. He looked at us.
As his eyes met Detective Winters, the man froze. Then some of his hair started to wither and wilt. It became brittle and grey. He staggered backward and fell. I tried to avoid the gaze of whatever that was. It only wore her son, but something else was with us, watching us from within him. As Detective Winters made the communion of eye contact it had known him and known itself to him. Thus kin to its ways, he had fallen to the shock and horror of something unfathomably horrifying beyond words. The meaning of such a thing is simply instinctive, and to not know it is a blessing, and it cannot be known to someone until they have seen it, smelled the fruit-candy sweetness and the sulfur of its breath. Heard the voice of an angel, but not one from Heaven.
"Open the window." It commanded. The voice of this creature was not made by a human-will, yet it was from the lips of a child. Horrible and deep and grinding like a thousand souls on wheels of torture, all crying out this one phrase in unison, and then as one voice together and tormented and irresistible.
I quaked and fell back against the wall, refusing to look at it. I crept along the wall until I got to the shades. Then I drew them and let in the light. I gasped at the surreal horror I could see then:
The whole city was covered in flesh. Parts of people twitched and dripped and dangled everywhere. Skinless ones dragged their feet, leaving trails of themselves as they went. I heard a rumbling, or rather saw it, sensed it somehow. The clouds convulsed and began to drip and it was then raining. The rain was blood.
I screamed and fell back. Cory flapped around the room and the demonic thing with us was laughing. I clawed my way to the door, frantically. Detective Winters got up suddenly, and with a wild look in his eyes. His head was struck upon the shelf and a clacking monkey doll with chimes fell free onto my back as I crawled out the bedroom door.
The vision of ultimate horror burned the landscape into my memory. Once it is seen, it cannot be unseen. As I looked around I could still feel its presence on everything. I clawed at the floor, slick with the butcher's offal, but it was just the carpet. The fear was real, and as I held myself and cried in terror: I knew the carnage was still all around me, invisible. There were bodies hung from ropes, and chopped apart, and torn, and there were dead staked to the ceiling, and vivisectioned. Only I knew they were there, even if I couldn't see them. I had seen them and knew they still remained. My heartbeat slowed and I felt the clacking of the monkey on my back. I shook myself free of it and went and hid in a corner.
"My son, he is feeling better! You two have cured him! How do you do this? No exorcism? Nothing?" The father was in tears and holding up his son for us.
"Let's get out of here." Detective Winters helped me up. Cory rode on my outstretched left arm, nervously. I kept lowering my arm to which he would click his disapproval, each time. Detective Winters helped my shocked frame into the car and tossed the toy monkey onto the seat next to me. It had most likely followed us out of the apartment, or else he had carried it. Certainty is for the weak-minded, I concluded, as I stared at its malevolent glass eyes.
We got back to the hotel room and one of us put the monkey on top of the television.
"Time to get some sleep." Detective Winters stated. He laid down stiffly, like some kind of rigid corpse.
"Must go now." Cory hid behind my head on the pillow and softly called.
I watched sleeplessly as the horrible thing sat there atop the television. I could only speculate that it was the cause of the child's malady and that removing it had made everything better. I stared at the infinite evil in its dark glass eyes. Suddenly it started to chime its little chimes, clashing them loudly in the darkness.
"Oh, gawd! It's awake!" I yelled and sat up. Cory fluttered around on the bed, flapping frantically.
"What! What's happening?" Detective Winters woke to a start.
We laid back down and I started to fall asleep. As my eyes slowly started to close the absolute terror I had felt since the beginning was starting to subside just enough to catch my breath. Maybe I would not get left forgotten in the starry skies. Perhaps the wall of sleep had an unlocked door for me to get through safely to the other side. My eyes were fluttering shut when suddenly the monkey chimed again, evilly and terrifyingly in the dark.
"That thing!" I shrieked in gross terror as I woke suddenly.
In the darkness its shape sat there ready to pounce on the sleeper. It was watching our eyes close with its own eyes always wide open and staring, shining in the darkness. The toothy grin of the diabolical creature anticipated this third calamity upon our dying nerves.
My sleep brought the image of the mirrored eyes. I stared into a mirror, seeing its marble glass amid the tufted spiky hair. The monkey in the mirror wanted out; as I dreamed in a delirious fog. My dreams told me of its true nature in the true world. The one we shared alongside it.
The doll was merely where its existence met ours, like a kind of intact vortex. The space between the walls of the whirlpool, as it drains into the darkness, gurgling. I was staring too deeply into that darkness and there it was. I could see its true form there. It clambered up out of the darkness, held back only by the glass of the mirror.
Enraged, the monkey glared and snarled at me. It showed its sharp teeth and then it began hitting the glass. It threw itself against the glass over and over. As the glass fractured and broke, it began the crawl through, shrieking and snarling in terrifying rage. Its flesh was cut to the bone and it peeled off its own face coming through the broken glass like that. Then it came crawling across the floor to get to me, its hate-filled eyes glimmering over its vicious teeth.
Sleep was not a safe place to be. The chime blasted again, clanging loudly and diabolically. I jerked to my feet with a start, the image of the nightmare still clinging to what I thought I was seeing.
Except as I blinked away the nightmare I could see the dark liquid of its true form writhing back into the shape of the doll. Its shadows scattered across the wall like animated flames with no color. The foul smell of sweet and rotting things filled the air. I could hear its growl from the doll and from all around and from within my own mind, echoing from the memory of Dream.
Then without warning there was a loud detonation and blinding flash. The doll exploded into thousands of tiny sticks that were painted in red stripes. Detective Winters put his gun back into the holster.
"Perhaps now, we can get some sleep." He had a bent rolly in his mouth with bits of tobacco sticking out of it every which way. He managed to get it lit without setting it on fire and smoked it for a minute before he snuffed it out.
"I am too afraid to." I yawned.

Hi everyone,
I hope you're all well. I thought this might be of interest to fellow dub viewers and Duel Links fans. Emily Bauer Jenness, the dub voice of ARC-V's Bracelet Girls and Ray Akaba, who has already reprised Zuzu Boyle for Duel Links, made an interesting post on her Instagram recently. The post is in the link, but here's the text below:
"VOICE ACTORS AND ANIME FANS It’s been a really rough road for the voice over industry and for voice actors in the fight for our rights against AI technology.
I was recently asked to voice a character I originated, but I had to turn it down. Why? The company wants to retain the right to use my voice for AI technology. This means they can choose to use my voice at any time for anything. They can Clone my voice, use it for games, commercials, TV shows or movies, AI training…you name it, with no permission and no compensation. Effectively putting me out of a job.
If we knew 10 years ago what we know now, actors would have made very different choices about what rights they sign away. Well, here we are, and I am taking a stand.
I had hoped that instead of replacing me, this major company would put a clause in their contracts prohibiting AI use and protecting actors. This didn’t happen. I hope that we can work together again someday, with respect for the talent of voice actors and the art of voice acting.
Much love to my fans. Many thanks to the producers who give us fair contracts. And a big thank you to my fellow actors out there who have and continue to turn down auditions and unfair contracts."
Firstly, to address the obvious if you didn't click the link. The body of Emily's post doesn't specifically mention Yu-Gi-Oh!, Duel Links, Celina, KONAMI etc. so there's always a chance it's referring to someone else, and I certainly would hope that to be the case. However, the picture Emily used for the Instagram post IS a still of Celina. I'd say that makes it more likely than not the character she's referring to is therefore Celina and it's a Yu-Gi-Oh! project.
Which Yu-Gi-Oh! project would make the most sense? Duel Links. If you watched ARC-V you know Celina is a very logical next addition of an ARC-V character to Duel Links, and if we only get one more ARC-V character this year I think it will be her. We just got Yugo last month and he and Celina debuted around the same time in the show. Yes, some other characters did too but Yuri became more prominent much later on and for Dennis more than half of his cards are still anime only, so if they want to print more of them it makes sense to hold back on Dennis too. Yuri and Dennis make more sense as 2024 inclusions anyway IMO.
That being said, this doesn't mean Celina is coming to Duel Links very soon. We just got Shay's unlock in February and Yugo's last month. So we're probably waiting at least another few months for Celina. We still haven't had our GX slot for the year, and I think we'll get at least one more character each for ZEXAL, VRAINS and ARC-V this year, but we also don't know for definite what the September plans are. So far this year we haven't had a skipped month for an unlock. In previous years either April or May was skipped. We usually get 12-13 new characters a year, so if you think about it, if we get no skipped months this year (including an unlock event in September instead of a new world) we'd still have the same amount of new characters.
Plus, to bring things back to Celina. As someone who has interviewed cast members that worked on Duel Links, both those reprising roles and new VA's taking on roles, they usually record at least a few months in advance of a character being added. I'm sure they record sooner in Japan than the dub does as well, but they record a few months in advance for the dub. A couple I remember off the top of my head are Justin Badger recording for Antinomy in April/May 2020, who was added to DL via a roaming event that July. Noah Benjamin recorded Yuma in June/July that year, who was then added of course with the ZEXAL World launch that September. So, even if Celina is recorded we might not see her in DL for a few months at least.
Of course, that also brings things back to Emily's post. She says: "I had hoped that instead of replacing me, this major company would put a clause in their contracts prohibiting AI use and protecting actors. This didn’t happen." It sounds like, whether this is Yu-Gi-Oh!/Celina or not, she knows she will be recast. Obviously I'm not privy to details, but it doesn't mean Celina or whatever role it is has been recorded yet, but it could mean Emily was informed she'd be recast. I don't know how long it is between a cast member being contacted to reprise/an agreement being reached etc and their recording, so that's why I said I don't know if the recording is done, but it sounds like Emily knows one way or another she was (or will be) recast.
I've mostly been looking at it from a Yu-Gi-Oh! and Celina perspective but I do have a lot of thoughts on what Emily said, both Yu-Gi-Oh! wise and looking at it from beyond YGO too. First of all, Celina's one of my favourite ARC-V characters and naturally I'd love to hear Emily reprise her for Duel Links. I'll always prefer to hear the original voices reprise and, while I'm not opposed to recasts when needed and understand they sometimes have to happen, I'd always prefer the original voice reprisals. No shade to the Duel Links recasts as a lot of them have been good though.
However, this is also very different if Celina is indeed being recast. For starters, we have an amazing number of characters in Duel Links (over 90 different unlocks I think at this point) and only around 10-15 recasts which is also amazing really. However, we know why very few of the recasts happened. We've only become privy to a few of them. Cassandra Lee Morris choosing to decline reprising Yubel due to a videogame strike at the time. Eileen Stevens saying she decided to "segue out of" (move on from) non union work and become a Union VA and YGO, Pokémon etc are non-union. Sean Schemmel had a rant about being recast as Bronk (later recast as Paradox too) but nothing about why he was recast. He might not know himself as apparently he wasn't even asked to reprise Bronk. Schemmel's a Union VA too so that could've been the reason he was recast. They could risk it once with Crowler, but had to do the weird "Dr Crowler- Dr Crowler" credit where the latter should be the VA's name. Nothing definitive but I think not even trying to get Schemmel again was probably a Union reason.
However, this with Emily would be a first as it's a VA telling us in advance that they might be recast rather than acknowledging why after the fact. Certainly interesting to think about it like that. Again, it might not be Yu-Gi-Oh!/Celina related, but I suspect it is since she used Celina as the picture for the post.
My thoughts on what Emily said though are this: I think it's a good thing Emily has come out and said this. Yes, I'll be disappointed if Celina's recast but I completely support her on this. The AI technology and what it can mean for voice acting shouldn't be taken lightly. I'm not a fan as it's no substitute for actual acting and I can't even imagine how the voice actors feel. The fact that a major company wanted to put a clause in Emily's contract, KONAMI or otherwise, saying that they could use the voice for AI use in the future, plus with no compensation, is crazy to me. If it's indeed KONAMI, I at least hope it was something the higher ups were pushing and not something voice director Darren Dunstan, also a major anime actor himself of course, and his team wanted. I can't imagine how a VA like Dunstan himself would be ok with it.
Emily also said: "I hope that we can work together again someday, with respect for the talent of voice actors and the art of voice acting." I think it's a great thing Emily's still open to working with the company despite them trying to put the AI clause in. Not everyone would be, let's be honest. Maybe if it's too late for Celina they could still try and get her back for Lulu and/or Rin, but who knows? Maybe if they haven't already recorded Celina with a new dub VA replacement Emily putting the post out there might've made KONAMI want to get her back after all. If they have already recorded a new VA with Celina it's probably too late though. Would be wasting money doing another recording session after already paying the new VA.
Whether it's indeed KONAMI or a different company, trying to put AI clauses in contracts is not a good look. IMO it reeks of companies trying to find another way to save money. As Emily said herself, she wouldn't be compensated and would effectively be put out a job. Whenever they'd need new Celina dialogue, they could just use the AI to generate it. It's NOT the same as a VA recording new lines. I'm glad a well known anime VA is calling it out and warning other voice actors and fans about it. The fact that a major company would want to do this is awful IMO.
Some of you might be thinking why has this come up now when Emily reprised Zuzu a couple of years ago for Duel Links? I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of how the VA negotiations work for Duel Links, but I think there's most likely different negotiations if the reprisals are far apart like a couple of years. If a VA is voicing a couple of roles in quick succession, maybe they can do one negotiation, but I don't know. I'm sure some think it, but no, I also doubt they get someone like Emily to record Zuzu/Celina/Lulu/Rin in one session and then hold onto dialogue recordings for many years like that. No, IMO it's more likely whenever they need a VA they reach out to them again. Plus, the sessions from the VA's I've interviewed were a few hours, like 2-4. Considering on lots of lines they're probably doing multiple takes to find the best one, I really don't think they're recording multiple characters in one session. Maybe if there's a quick turnaround where the same VA is voicing characters coming to Duel Links around the same time, or also adding new dialogue on older unlocks (see DM/DSOD characters), but I doubt they're sitting on recording sessions they won't use for years.
Plus, here's another way to look at it. I might be wrong as voice actors will know it better than me, but it feels like the issues with AI technology replacing voice acting have become a lot more talked about in the last year or year and a half. I think it most likely wasn't a clause when Emily was asked to reprise Zuzu, but was a new clause added for this year when she was asked to reprise Celina or whoever the character was. That's why Emily has done the post and used a picture of Celina. Like I said, if the character is Celina it most likely was for a Duel Links recording, and now that AI is more talked about it was added as a clause.
Like I've said, I completely support Emily's stance on this and think it's a terrible a major company would try putting an AI technology clause in. KONAMI or otherwise, but I suspect it is because Emily used Celina as the picture for her Instagram post.
From a fan perspective, I also felt it was important to give fellow dub fans a heads up about this. One, because the AI thing is becoming an issue that is concerning the voice actors we like. Two, if Celina's indeed being recast I know I'd rather know in advance rather than open the game when she's added and find out she has a new VA. IMO it definitely feels different opening the game and finding out there was a recast than knowing/expecting it in advance. For example, despite preferring Paradox to Bronk of Schemmel characters it certainly surprised me less seeing Paradox recast after Bronk was. So despite it being disappointing now, if it's indeed Celina Emily was referring to (she's the character pictured in her post after all) IMO it's better to expect a recast now then only find out when she's added.
If she's indeed recast, curious to see who Celina's new VA will be. I sympathise with them especially when we already know why Emily will be recast if it's indeed Celina her post is about. I'm sure they'll do their best but yeah, knowing why Emily might be recast certainly isn't nice and I fully support Emily on her stance and sympathise with her too. The AI thing should not be a clause in any VA's contract.
I wanted to do this post, not just because of Yu-Gi-Oh!, but because I think this is also bigger than Yu-Gi-Oh! AI technology is becoming a much bigger thing and a lot of voice actors are talking about it. If you're a fan of voice actors you've probably seen some talking about it, but this is the first I've seen of a major company actually trying to include it as a contract clause.
What do you think about Emily's post though? While she doesn't name the character, Duel Links, KONAMI etc her choice of picture for her post is Celina. Certainly makes it likely she's the referred to character IMO.

As we all know, Caesar's Legion is, in the words of Caesar himself, "a nationalist, imperialist, totalitarian, homogenous culture", one that is modeled after Ancient Rome even if it diverges considerably from it. This means that the Legion does things the Romans would have never done, such as their disdain for technology and forcibly assimilating tribes to the point where even Caesar is mortified of them being closer to the hordes of Gaul than Ancient Rome.
With all that said, there are fictional factions and groups we can compare the Legion to, and the best comparison would be the Republic of Gilead from Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Like the Legion, Gilead is a totalitarian society based on a previous historical culture (New England Puritans/Ancient Rome) that emerged from a previous democratic society in North America (United States of America/New California Republic) and engaged in a conflict with them (Second American Civil WaNCR-Legion War) as well as controlling a good chunk of territory disputed by their opponents (Mojave Wasteland/most of the United States). More importantly, Gilead is a caste-based theocracy that is extremely misogynistic, where almost all women are relegated to breeders and denied every basic right, including literacy apart from a single class (Aunts/Priestesses) while the slavery and rape of these women are commonplace, similar to Caesar's Legion though with Greco-Roman paganism centered around the war god Mars in place of Puritan-influenced Christianity. Also, Gilead practices a cherry-picked, distorted form of Christianity that leaves out portions of the Bible that don't fit their beliefs, such as verses that show women playing a role beyond just mere housewives and the condemnation of rape, just as Caesar's Legion cherry-picks Ancient Roman history and doesn't include the parts that don't fit their beliefs as well such as Rome allowing foreign tribes and peoples to keep their identities like the Celts and Greeks as long as they were loyal or embracing new technology. Furthermore, the histories of Gilead and the Legion are tied to catastrophes that changed the world forever (Fertility Crisis/Great War), although more so with the former since their rise to power is closer to the Fertility Crisis than the Great War was for the Legion. Another thing is that Gilead is also known to violently persecute and try to eliminate other forms of Christianity and religions such as Catholicism or Islam, like how Caesar's Legion destroys the distinct cultures of post-War tribes (including their religion as the Hangdogs can attest) and both disdain homosexuality/LGBTQ. Then there is the fact that Gilead and the Legion have their own brand of executions for people who do not fall in line (Crucifixion/Salvagings and Articulations). Additionally, Gilead and the Legion have characters who are the main antagonists of their respective works (Commander Fred Waterford/Edward Sallow aka Caesar) as well as one who worked with the antagonist from it's founding but was disillusioned with them and defects to another side (Nick Blaine/Joshua Graham aka the Burned Man).
Even with the shared aspects between Gilead and Caesar's Legion, there are differences between the two. The Legion is a horde army trying to conquer all of the Mojave Wasteland and make New Vegas their new capital, whereas the former already is somewhat a proper country with Washington DC as their de facto capital and the Legion is ruled by one man while Gilead is ruled by the Committee which is comprised of Commanders. Additionally, the roots of Gilead come from the religious fundamentalist group known as the Sons of Jacob and the Legion's roots come directly from Caesar himself instead of a specific group. Gilead overthrew an existing government in the United States (apart from the surviving remnants) against the will of many citizens, while the Legion was formed by the Blackfoot Indians willingly under Caesar before subjugating several tribes. Also, the book's author Margaret Atwood has said that Gilead simply uses the trappings of Christianity to form a totalitarian regime and they're cynics who don't believe their propaganda while Caesar's Legion actually does believe everything they preach.
Reading about Gilead and the Legion through videos and wiki articles has created such comparisons but what do you think? Do you believe such comparisons between Gilead and the Legion are apt?

So next year my sister is planning on moving to nyc and is taking my/her dog with her. I’ve gotten the dog trained- she has akc certification and a few other classes under her belt, is a good girl, and is apartment friendly- two years in an apartment and by the time my sister leaves she will have 2 years house living. She gets taken on walks by dog walkers, goes to daycare in someone’s house with other dogs, and is an overall peach.
Since her decision to go, Ive been doing my best to make sure the pup is going to be a good fit for the move. I’m planning on paying for expenses that might occur as my sis is doing me a favor taking pup as I have four dogs currently.
How much should I expect to pay monthly for the dog? I’m thinking she’ll get her own Barkbox, walks, daycare, groomers, and boarding, food delivered. I’ve seen the average around 4-600, but are there any other expenses someone can toss in? I honestly want to be overly prepared and have the expenses/ resources/contacts ready for WHEN the pup makes the move.
Ofc she’ll have a vet savings account, but she’s an overall very healthy pet who takes recommended supplements and has a great diet so for a large breed her joints and hips are great. She’s also crate trained and can last max 8 hours(had a hospital visit during work so she had to stay there till my partner was able to drive home to take her out. No mess and pet camera showed that she slept the whole time)

Hi everyone,
I hope you're all well. I thought this might be of interest to fellow dub viewers. Emily Bauer Jenness, the dub voice of ARC-V's Bracelet Girls and Ray Akaba, who has already reprised Zuzu Boyle for Duel Links, made an interesting post on her Instagram recently. The post is in the link, but here's the text below:
"VOICE ACTORS AND ANIME FANS It’s been a really rough road for the voice over industry and for voice actors in the fight for our rights against AI technology.
I was recently asked to voice a character I originated, but I had to turn it down. Why? The company wants to retain the right to use my voice for AI technology. This means they can choose to use my voice at any time for anything. They can Clone my voice, use it for games, commercials, TV shows or movies, AI training…you name it, with no permission and no compensation. Effectively putting me out of a job.
If we knew 10 years ago what we know now, actors would have made very different choices about what rights they sign away. Well, here we are, and I am taking a stand.
I had hoped that instead of replacing me, this major company would put a clause in their contracts prohibiting AI use and protecting actors. This didn’t happen. I hope that we can work together again someday, with respect for the talent of voice actors and the art of voice acting.
Much love to my fans. Many thanks to the producers who give us fair contracts. And a big thank you to my fellow actors out there who have and continue to turn down auditions and unfair contracts."
Firstly, to address the obvious if you didn't click the link. The body of Emily's post doesn't specifically mention Yu-Gi-Oh!, Duel Links, Celina, KONAMI etc. so there's always a chance it's referring to someone else, and I certainly would hope that to be the case. However, the picture Emily used for the Instagram post IS a still of Celina. I'd say that makes it more likely than not the character she's referring to is therefore Celina and it's a Yu-Gi-Oh! project.
Which Yu-Gi-Oh! project would make the most sense? Duel Links. If you watched ARC-V you know Celina is a very logical next addition of an ARC-V character to Duel Links, and if we only get one more ARC-V character this year I think it will be her. We just got Yugo last month and he and Celina debuted around the same time in the show. Yes, some other characters did too but Yuri became more prominent much later on and for Dennis more than half of his cards are still anime only, so if they want to print more of them it makes sense to hold back on Dennis too. Yuri and Dennis make more sense as 2024 inclusions anyway IMO.
That being said, this doesn't mean Celina is coming to Duel Links very soon. We just got Shay's unlock in February and Yugo's last month. So we're probably waiting at least another few months for Celina. We still haven't had our GX slot for the year, and I think we'll get at least one more character each for ZEXAL, VRAINS and ARC-V this year, but we also don't know for definite what the September plans are. So far this year we haven't had a skipped month for an unlock. In previous years either April or May was skipped. We usually get 12-13 new characters a year, so if you think about it, if we get no skipped months this year (including an unlock event in September instead of a new world) we'd still have the same amount of new characters.
Plus, to bring things back to Celina. As someone who has interviewed cast members that worked on Duel Links, both those reprising roles and new VA's taking on roles, they usually record at least a few months in advance of a character being added. I'm sure they record sooner in Japan than the dub does as well, but they record a few months in advance for the dub. A couple I remember off the top of my head are Justin Badger recording for Antinomy in April/May 2020, who was added to DL via a roaming event that July. Noah Benjamin recorded Yuma in June/July that year, who was then added of course with the ZEXAL World launch that September. So, even if Celina is recorded we might not see her in DL for a few months at least.
Of course, that also brings things back to Emily's post. She says: "I had hoped that instead of replacing me, this major company would put a clause in their contracts prohibiting AI use and protecting actors. This didn’t happen." It sounds like, whether this is Yu-Gi-Oh!/Celina or not, she knows she will be recast. Obviously I'm not privy to details, but it doesn't mean Celina or whatever role it is has been recorded yet, but it could mean Emily was informed she'd be recast. I don't know how long it is between a cast member being contacted to reprise/an agreement being reached etc and their recording, so that's why I said I don't know if the recording is done, but it sounds like Emily knows one way or another she was (or will be) recast.
I've mostly been looking at it from a Yu-Gi-Oh! and Celina perspective but I do have a lot of thoughts on what Emily said, both Yu-Gi-Oh! wise and looking at it from beyond YGO too. First of all, Celina's one of my favourite ARC-V characters and naturally I'd love to hear Emily reprise her for Duel Links. I'll always prefer to hear the original voices reprise and, while I'm not opposed to recasts when needed and understand they sometimes have to happen, I'd always prefer the original voice reprisals. No shade to the Duel Links recasts as a lot of them have been good though.
However, this is also very different if Celina is indeed being recast. For starters, we have an amazing number of characters in Duel Links (over 90 different unlocks I think at this point) and only around 10-15 recasts which is also amazing really. However, we know why very few of the recasts happened. We've only become privy to a few of them. Cassandra Lee Morris choosing to decline reprising Yubel due to a videogame strike at the time. Eileen Stevens saying she decided to "segue out of" (move on from) non union work and become a Union VA and YGO, Pokémon etc are non-union. Sean Schemmel had a rant about being recast as Bronk (later recast as Paradox too) but nothing about why he was recast. He might not know himself as apparently he wasn't even asked to reprise Bronk. Schemmel's a Union VA too so that could've been the reason he was recast. They could risk it once with Crowler, but had to do the weird "Dr Crowler- Dr Crowler" credit where the latter should be the VA's name. Nothing definitive but I think not even trying to get Schemmel again was probably a Union reason.
However, this with Emily would be a first as it's a VA telling us in advance that they might be recast rather than acknowledging why after the fact. Certainly interesting to think about it like that. Again, it might not be Yu-Gi-Oh!/Celina related, but I suspect it is since she used Celina as the picture for the post.
My thoughts on what Emily said though are this: I think it's a good thing Emily has come out and said this. Yes, I'll be disappointed if Celina's recast but I completely support her on this. The AI technology and what it can mean for voice acting shouldn't be taken lightly. I'm not a fan as it's no substitute for actual acting and I can't even imagine how the voice actors feel. The fact that a major company wanted to put a clause in Emily's contract, KONAMI or otherwise, saying that they could use the voice for AI use in the future, plus with no compensation, is crazy to me. If it's indeed KONAMI, I at least hope it was something the higher ups were pushing and not something voice director Darren Dunstan, also a major anime actor himself of course, and his team wanted. I can't imagine how a VA like Dunstan himself would be ok with it.
Emily also said: "I hope that we can work together again someday, with respect for the talent of voice actors and the art of voice acting." I think it's a great thing Emily's still open to working with the company despite them trying to put the AI clause in. Not everyone would be, let's be honest. Maybe if it's too late for Celina they could still try and get her back for Lulu and/or Rin, but who knows? Maybe if they haven't already recorded Celina with a new dub VA replacement Emily putting the post out there might've made KONAMI want to get her back after all. If they have already recorded a new VA with Celina it's probably too late though. Would be wasting money doing another recording session after already paying the new VA.
Whether it's indeed KONAMI or a different company, trying to put AI clauses in contracts is not a good look. IMO it reeks of companies trying to find another way to save money. As Emily said herself, she wouldn't be compensated and would effectively be put out a job. Whenever they'd need new Celina dialogue, they could just use the AI to generate it. It's NOT the same as a VA recording new lines. I'm glad a well known anime VA is calling it out and warning other voice actors and fans about it. The fact that a major company would want to do this is awful IMO.
Some of you might be thinking why has this come up now when Emily reprised Zuzu a couple of years ago for Duel Links? I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of how the VA negotiations work for Duel Links, but I think there's most likely different negotiations if the reprisals are far apart like a couple of years. If a VA is voicing a couple of roles in quick succession, maybe they can do one negotiation, but I don't know. I'm sure some think it, but no, I also doubt they get someone like Emily to record Zuzu/Celina/Lulu/Rin in one session and then hold onto dialogue recordings for many years like that. No, IMO it's more likely whenever they need a VA they reach out to them again. Plus, the sessions from the VA's I've interviewed were a few hours, like 2-4. Considering on lots of lines they're probably doing multiple takes to find the best one, I really don't think they're recording multiple characters in one session. Maybe if there's a quick turnaround where the same VA is voicing characters coming to Duel Links around the same time, or also adding new dialogue on older unlocks (see DM/DSOD characters), but I doubt they're sitting on recording sessions they won't use for years.
Plus, here's another way to look at it. I might be wrong as voice actors will know it better than me, but it feels like the issues with AI technology replacing voice acting have become a lot more talked about in the last year or year and a half. I think it most likely wasn't a clause when Emily was asked to reprise Zuzu, but was a new clause added for this year when she was asked to reprise Celina or whoever the character was. That's why Emily has done the post and used a picture of Celina. Like I said, if the character is Celina it most likely was for a Duel Links recording, and now that AI is more talked about it was added as a clause.
Like I've said, I completely support Emily's stance on this and think it's a terrible a major company would try putting an AI technology clause in. KONAMI or otherwise, but I suspect it is because Emily used Celina as the picture for her Instagram post.
From a fan perspective, I also felt it was important to give fellow dub fans a heads up about this. One, because the AI thing is becoming an issue that is concerning the voice actors we like. Two, if Celina's indeed being recast I know I'd rather know in advance rather than open the game when she's added and find out she has a new VA. IMO it definitely feels different opening the game and finding out there was a recast than knowing/expecting it in advance. For example, despite preferring Paradox to Bronk of Schemmel characters it certainly surprised me less seeing Paradox recast after Bronk was. So despite it being disappointing now, if it's indeed Celina Emily was referring to (she's the character pictured in her post after all) IMO it's better to expect a recast now then only find out when she's added.
If she's indeed recast, curious to see who Celina's new VA will be. I sympathise with them especially when we already know why Emily will be recast if it's indeed Celina her post is about. I'm sure they'll do their best but yeah, knowing why Emily might be recast certainly isn't nice and I fully support Emily on her stance and sympathise with her too. The AI thing should not be a clause in any VA's contract.
I wanted to do this post, not just because of Yu-Gi-Oh!, but because I think this is also bigger than Yu-Gi-Oh! AI technology is becoming a much bigger thing and a lot of voice actors are talking about it. If you're a fan of voice actors you've probably seen some talking about it, but this is the first I've seen of a major company actually trying to include it as a contract clause.
What do you think about Emily's post though? While she doesn't name the character, Duel Links, KONAMI etc her choice of picture for her post is Celina. Certainly makes it likely she's the referred to character IMO.

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Astro Gaming A40 Tr Gaming Headset For Xbox One - Black	$159.99	$179.99	$20.00
Audio Technica Ath-gdl3 Gaming Headset - White	$159.98	$179.99	$20.01
Audio Technica Ath-gl3 Gaming Headset - Black	$129.99	$149.99	$20.00
Audio Technica Ath-gl3 Gaming Headset - White	$129.99	$136.99	$7.00
Bloodborne (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy Vii Reunion (ps5)	$49.99	$64.99	$15.00
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy Vii Reunion (ps4)	$49.99	$64.99	$15.00
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy Vii Reunion (switch)	$49.99	$64.99	$15.00
Days Gone (ps4)	$29.99	$49.99	$20.00
Deathloop (ps5)	$24.99	$79.99	$55.00
Deathloop (xbox Series X)	$24.99	$79.95	$54.96
Far Cry 6 (ps4)	$29.99	$49.99	$20.00
Far Cry 6 (ps5)	$29.99	$49.99	$20.00
Far Cry 6 (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	$29.99	$49.99	$20.00
Forspoken (ps5)	$59.99	$89.99	$30.00
Forza Horizon 5 Deluxe Edition (xbox Series X/S / Xbox One / Windows ) - Digital Download	$49.99	$99.99	$50.00
Forza Horizon 5: Premium Add-ons Bundle (xbox Series X/S / Xbox One / Windows) - Digital Download	$29.99	$59.99	$30.00
Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition (xbox Series X/S / Xbox One / Windows ) - Digital Download	$64.99	$129.99	$65.00
Forza Horizon 4 (xbox One)	$24.97	$69.97	$45.00
Forza Horizon 4 (xbox One) - Digital Download	$24.99	$79.99	$55.00
Forza Horizon 5 (xbox Series X/S / Xbox One / Windows ) - Digital Download	$39.99	$79.99	$40.00
Forza Horizon 5 (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	$39.99	$79.99	$40.00
Ghost Of Tsushima Director's Cut (ps5)	$39.99	$89.99	$50.00
Ghostwire: Tokyo (ps5)	$24.99	$79.99	$55.00
God Of War Iii Remastered (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
God Of War (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
God Of War Ragnarok (ps5)	$64.99	$89.99	$25.00
God Of War Ragnarok (ps4)	$54.99	$79.99	$25.00
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	$39.99	$79.99	$40.00
Gran Turismo 7 (ps4)	$39.99	$79.99	$40.00
Gran Turismo 7 (ps5)	$49.99	$89.99	$40.00
Gran Turismo Sport (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
Halo Infinite (xbox Series X/S / Xbox One / Windows) - Digital Download	$39.99	$79.99	$40.00
Halo Infinite (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	$19.99	$79.99	$60.00
Harvestella (switch)	$49.99	$79.99	$30.00
Horizon Forbidden West Launch Edition (ps4)	$39.99	$79.99	$40.00
Horizon Forbidden West (ps5)	$49.99	$89.99	$40.00
Hyperx Cloud Alpha Over-ear Gaming Headset - Black	$109.98	$119.99	$10.01
Hyperx Cloud Stinger 2 Core Gaming Headset For Ps5/ps4 - Black	$39.98	$49.99	$10.01
Hyperx Cloud Stinger Core Wireless Gaming Headset For Ps5/ps4 - White	$84.99	$99.99	$15.00
Hyperx Cloudx Stinger 2 Core Gaming Headset For Xbox Series X/S / Xbox One - Black	$44.99	$49.99	$5.00
Hyperx Cloudx Stinger 2 Core Gaming Headset For Xbox Series X/S / Xbox One - White	$44.98	$49.99	$5.01
Insignia Carrying Case & Protection Kit For Switch Lite - Black - Only At Best Buy	$19.99	$24.99	$5.00
Insignia Carrying/protective Case For Meta - Only At Best Buy	$29.99	$39.99	$10.00
Insignia Cleaning Kit For Meta	$19.99	$29.99	$10.00
Insignia Glass Screen Protector For Switch - 2 Pack - Only At Best Buy	$9.99	$14.99	$5.00
Insignia Go Carrying Case For Switch Lite - Black - Only At Best Buy	$14.99	$19.99	$5.00
Insignia 5m (16.4 Ft.) Usb Type-c Cable For Meta Quest Vr Headsets - Only At Best Buy	$59.99	$79.99	$20.00
Insignia Nintendo Switch Steering Wheel - 2 Pack - Blue/red - Only At Best Buy	$12.99	$16.99	$4.00
Just Dance 2023 (ps5)	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Just Dance 2023 (switch)	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Just Dance 2023 (xbox Series X)	$39.99	$79.99	$40.00
Kontrolfreek Fps Freek Galaxy 4-prong Thumbsticks For Ps4 & Ps5	$19.99	$24.99	$5.00
Kontrolfreek Fps Freek Galaxy 4-prong Thumbsticks For Xbox One & Xbox Series X/S	$19.99	$24.99	$5.00
Kontrolfreek Fps Freek Inferno 4-prong Thumbsticks For Ps4 & Ps5	$19.99	$24.99	$5.00
Kontrolfreek Fps Freek Inferno 4-prong Thumbsticks For Xbox One & Xbox Series X/S	$19.99	$24.99	$5.00
Littlebigplanet 3 (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
Logitech Driving Force Shifter For G29/g920 Racing Wheels - Dark	$70.98	$79.99	$9.01
Logitech G333 Vr In-ear Gaming Headphones For Meta Quest 2 - White	$39.99	$69.99	$30.00
Madden Nfl 23 (ps4)	$34.99	$54.99	$20.00
Madden Nfl 23 (ps5)	$39.99	$44.99	$5.00
Madden Nfl 23 (xbox One)	$34.99	$54.99	$20.00
Madden Nfl 23 (xbox Series X)	$39.99	$64.99	$25.00
Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope Cosmic Edition (switch) - Only At Best Buy	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 (switch)	$49.99	$79.99	$30.00
Marvel's Midnight Suns Enhanced Edition (ps5)	$44.99	$49.99	$5.00
Marvel's Midnight Suns Enhanced Edition (xbox Series X)	$44.99	$49.95	$4.96
Meta Quest 2 128gb Vr Headset With Touch Controllers	$419.99	$529.99	$110.00
Meta Quest 2 256gb Vr Headset With Touch Controllers	$489.99	$589.99	$100.00
Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition (windows) - Digital Download	$29.99	$51.99	$22.00
Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition (xbox Series X/S / Xbox One) - Digital Download	$29.99	$51.99	$22.00
Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	$29.99	$49.99	$20.00
Mlb The Show 23 (ps4)	$49.99	$79.99	$30.00
Mlb The Show 22 (ps5)	$14.99	$39.99	$25.00
Mlb The Show 23 (ps5)	$64.99	$89.99	$25.00
Mlb The Show 23 (switch)	$54.99	$79.99	$25.00
Mlb The Show 23 (xbox One)	$54.99	$79.99	$25.00
Nba 2k23 (ps5)	$19.99	$29.99	$10.00
Nba 2k23 (ps4)	$19.99	$29.99	$10.00
Nba 2k23 (xbox One)	$19.99	$29.99	$10.00
Nba 2k23 (xbox Series X)	$19.99	$29.99	$10.00
Nfs Unbound (ps5)	$49.99	$64.99	$15.00
Nfs Unbound (xbox Series X)	$49.99	$64.99	$15.00
Nhl 23 (ps4)	$34.99	$54.99	$20.00
Nhl 23 (ps5)	$39.99	$64.99	$25.00
Nhl 23 (xbox One)	$34.99	$54.99	$20.00
Nhl 23 (xbox Series X)	$39.99	$54.99	$15.00
Nier:automata (switch)	$39.99	$54.99	$15.00
Pga Tour: Road To The Masters (ps5)	$59.99	$89.99	$30.00
Pga Tour: Road To The Masters (xbox Series X)	$59.99	$89.99	$30.00
Playstation 5 God Of War Ragnarok Bundle	$669.99	$729.99	$60.00
Powera Dual Charging Station For Xbox Series X/S / Xbox One - White	$24.99	$34.99	$10.00
Powera Dual Controller Charging Stand For Xbox Series X/S / Xbox One	$24.99	$39.99	$15.00
Powera Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller For Switch - Black	$44.99	$49.99	$5.00
Powera Zelda Heroic Link Enhanced Wired Controller For Switch - Green	$29.99	$39.99	$10.00
Rabbids: Party Of Legends (switch)	$29.99	$49.99	$20.00
Ratchet & Clank (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (ps5)	$39.99	$89.99	$50.00
Razer Kaira X Gaming Headset For Xbox Series X/S - Red	$53.98	$79.99	$26.01
Red Dead Redemption 2 (ps4)	$19.99	$79.99	$60.00
Red Dead Redemption 2 (xbox One)	$19.99	$79.99	$60.00
Riders Republic (ps5)	$29.99	$39.99	$10.00
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (ps5)	$29.99	$79.99	$50.00
Seagate 512gb Storage Expansion Card For Xbox Series X And Series S	$124.99	$149.99	$25.00
Seagate 1tb Storage Expansion Card For Xbox Series X And Series S	$209.99	$274.99	$65.00
Seagate 2tb Storage Expansion Card For Xbox Series X And Series S	$389.99	$489.99	$100.00
Seagate Xbox Certified 2tb Usb 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive With Green Led Bar (stkx2000400)	$106.99	$109.99	$3.00
Sea Of Thieves (xbox Series X/S / Xbox One / Windows 10) - Digital Download	$24.99	$49.99	$25.00
Sonic Colors Ultimate (switch)	$34.99	$49.99	$15.00
Sonic Frontiers (ps5)	$49.99	$79.99	$30.00
Sonic Frontiers (switch)	$49.99	$79.99	$30.00
Sony Inzone H9 Wireless Gaming Headset - White	$349.99	$399.99	$50.00
Soundcore By Anker Vr P10 In-ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones - White	$99.99	$129.99	$30.00
Spider-man: Miles Morales (ps5)	$29.99	$64.99	$35.00
Spider-man: Miles Morales (ps4)	$29.99	$64.99	$35.00
Spider-man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition (ps5)	$49.99	$89.99	$40.00
Starlink: Battle For Atlas (xbox One)	$5.99	$7.99	$2.00
Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro X Wireless Gaming Headset For Xbox - Black	$432.98	$449.99	$17.01
Surge Dual Controller Charging Dock For Ps5	$22.99	$24.99	$2.00
Surge Dual Usb-c Controller Charging Cable For Ps5	$10.99	$12.99	$2.00
Surge Fps Grip Kit Controller & Thumb Stick Grips For Ps5 - Black	$9.99	$10.99	$1.00
Surge Multi-function Charge Stand For Ps5 - White	$54.99	$59.99	$5.00
Surge 11-piece Controller Accessory Starter Kit For Ps5 - Blue/black	$19.99	$29.99	$10.00
Surge Playstation 4 Controller Phone Mount - Black	$4.99	$7.99	$3.00
Surge Powerpack Battery & Charge Cable Set For Ps5	$14.99	$19.99	$5.00
Surge Temperedshield Screen Protector For Switch - 2 Pack	$9.99	$12.99	$3.00
Tactics Ogre: Reborn (ps5)	$39.99	$64.99	$25.00
The Diofield Chronicle (ps4)	$34.99	$49.95	$14.96
The Diofield Chronicle (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	$34.99	$37.98	$2.99
The Last Of Us: Part I (ps5)	$64.99	$89.99	$25.00
The Last Of Us Remastered (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Eswap S Pro Wired Controller For Xbox Series X/S / Xbox One / Pc - Black	$129.99	$169.99	$40.00
Thrustmaster Eswapx Pro Controller Module Pack - Blue Camo	$59.99	$69.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Eswapx Pro Controller Module Pack - Green Camo	$59.99	$69.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Eswap X Pro Controller Module Pack - Led Orange Crystal	$59.99	$69.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Eswap X Pro Controller Module Pack - Red	$59.99	$69.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Eswap X Pro Wired Controller For Xbox Series X/S / Xbox One / Pc	$179.99	$199.99	$20.00
Thrustmaster F/a 18 Grip Flight Stick Add-on	$299.99	$349.99	$50.00
Thrustmaster F-16c Viper Add-on Grip Stick	$299.99	$349.99	$50.00
Thrustmaster Ferrari F1 Racing Wheel	$239.99	$249.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Formula Racing Wheel Add-on - Ferrari Sf1000 Edition	$449.99	$499.99	$50.00
Thrustmaster Open Wheel Add-on	$239.99	$279.99	$40.00
Thrustmaster Tca Captain Pack Airbus Edition For Xbox Series X/S & Xbox One/pc	$349.99	$429.99	$80.00
Thrustmaster Tca Quadrant Add-on Airbus Edition For Pc	$139.99	$149.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Tca Quadrant Airbus Edition For Pc	$149.99	$179.99	$30.00
Thrustmaster Tca Sidestick Airbus Edition For Pc	$109.99	$129.99	$20.00
Thrustmaster T.flight Hotas 4 Flight Stick For Ps5/ps4/pc	$99.99	$119.99	$20.00
Thrustmaster T.flight Hotas One Flight Stick For Xbox Series X/S & Xbox One/pc	$109.99	$119.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Tfrp Flight Rudder Pedals For Ps4/pc - Black	$169.99	$179.99	$10.00
Thrustmaster Th8a Gearbox Shifter	$249.99	$269.99	$20.00
Thrustmaster T248p Racing Wheel & Magnetic Pedal Set For Xbox/pc	$439.99	$549.99	$110.00
Thrustmaster Tpr Pendular Rudder	$739.99	$799.99	$60.00
Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel & Magnetic Pedals For Ps5/ps4/pc	$439.99	$549.99	$110.00
Thrustmaster T128 Racing Wheel & Magnetic Pedals For Ps5/ps4/pc	$239.99	$279.99	$40.00
Thrustmaster T128 Racing Wheel & Magnetic Pedals For Xbox Series X/S & Xbox One/pc	$239.99	$279.99	$40.00
Thrustmaster T300rs Gt Racing Wheel For Ps5/ps4/pc	$529.99	$649.99	$120.00
Thrustmaster Tx Racing Wheel Leather Edition For Xbox One	$649.99	$699.99	$50.00
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	$29.97	$34.97	$5.00
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (ps4)	$29.99	$59.99	$30.00
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (xbox One)	$29.99	$59.99	$30.00
Turtle Beach Battle Buds Gaming Headset For Switch - Black	$39.98	$44.99	$5.01
Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 70 Gaming Headset With Microphone For Playstation 4 - Black	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 70 Over-ear Gaming Headset - Blue Camo	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 70 Over-ear Gaming Headset - Green Camo	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 70 Over-ear Gaming Headset - Silver	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 50p Playstation 4 Headset - Black	$34.98	$39.99	$5.01
Turtle Beach Gaming Headset With Microphone For Switch - Black/red	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Recon 500 Gaming Headset - Arctic Camo	$59.99	$69.98	$9.99
Turtle Beach Recon 500 Gaming Headset - Black	$59.99	$69.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Recon 70 Gaming Headset With Microphone For Xbox One - Black/green	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Recon 70 Gaming Headset With Microphone For Xbox One - White/green	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2 Gaming Headset - Black	$64.98	$79.99	$15.01
Turtle Beach Recon 70 Over-ear Gaming Headset - White	$39.99	$49.99	$10.00
Turtle Beach Recon Spark Gaming Headset With Microphone - White/lavender	$49.99	$69.99	$20.00
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max Multiplatform Wireless Gaming Headset - Arctic Camo	$139.99	$169.99	$30.00
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max Multiplatform Wireless Gaming Headset - Midnight Red	$139.99	$169.99	$30.00
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max Wireless Gaming Headset - Black	$139.99	$169.99	$30.00
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max Wireless Gaming Headset For Ps5/ps4 - Arctic Camo	$139.99	$169.99	$30.00
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max Wireless Gaming Headset For Ps5/ps4 - Black	$129.98	$139.99	$10.01
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max Wireless Gaming Headset For Ps5/ps4 - Midnight Red	$139.99	$169.99	$30.00
Uncharted: Legacy Of Thieves Collection (ps5)	$29.99	$64.99	$35.00
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
Until Dawn (ps4)	$9.99	$19.99	$10.00
Watch Dogs: Legion (ps4)	$24.99	$29.99	$5.00
Wd_black D30 Game Drive 2tb Usb-c External Solid State Drive For Ps4 (wdbatl0020bbk-wesn)	$254.99	$294.99	$40.00
Wd_black D30 Game Drive 1tb Usb-c External Solid State Drive For Ps4 (wdbatl0010bbk-wesn)	$159.99	$164.99	$5.00
Wd_black D30 Game Drive 2tb Usb-c External Solid State Drive For Xbox (wdbamf0020bbw-wesn)	$314.99	$354.99	$40.00

Play at Best Buy

Item	Sale Price	MSRP	Savings
Acer Nitro 5 15.6" Gaming Laptop - Black (intel Core I5-11400h/512gb Ssd/8gb Ram/gtx 1650/windows 11)	799.99	999.99	200.00
Acer Nitro 5 15.6" Gaming Laptop - Black (intel Core I7-12700h/512gb Ssd/16gb Ram/rtx 3050 Ti/windows 11)	1299.99	1699.99	400.00
Asus Rog Strix G16 16" Gaming Laptop - Eclipse Grey (intel Core I7-13650hx/512gb Ssd/32gb Ram/geforce Rtx 4050)	1799.99	1999.99	200.00
Asus Tuf Dash F15 15.6" Gaming Laptop (intel Core I7-12650h/512gb Ssd/16gb Ram/geforce rtx 3060/win11)	1399.99	1699.99	300.00
Asus Tuf Gaming F15 15.6" Gaming Laptop - Black (intel Core I5-11400h/512gb Ssd/16gb Ram/rtx 2050)	899.99	999.99	100.00
Asus Tuf Gaming F17 17.3" Gaming Laptop - Mecha Grey (intel Core I7-12700h/1tb Ssd/16gb Ram/rtx 3050)	1299.99	1399.99	100.00
Asus Zephyrus G16 16" Gaming Laptop - Eclipse Grey (intel Core I7-12700h/1tb Ssd/16gb Ram/geforce Rtx 4050)	1899.99	1999.99	100.00
Dell Alienware M15 R7 15.6" Gaming Laptop (intel Core I7-12700h/1tb Ssd/16gb Ram/geforce Rtx 3070 Ti)	2399.99	2899.99	500.00
Dell G15 15.6" Gaming Laptop -black (intel Core I7-12700h/512gb Ssd/16gb Ram/geforce Rtx 3060/win11)	1499.99	1899.99	400.00
Forza Horizon 4 (xbox One)	24.97	24.97	45.00
Forza Horizon 5 (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	39.99	39.99	40.00
Halo Infinite (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	19.99	19.99	60.00
Meta Quest 2 128gb Vr Headset With Touch Controllers	419.99	419.99	110.00
Meta Quest 2 256gb Vr Headset With Touch Controllers	489.99	489.99	100.00
Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition (xbox Series X / Xbox One)	29.99	29.99	20.00
Msi Katana 17.3" Gaming Laptop - Black (intel Core I7-13620h/1tb Ssd/16gb Ram/geforce Rtx 4060)	1999.99	2099.99	100.00
Msi Pulse 17.3" Gaming Laptop -titanium Grey (intel Core I7-13700h/1tb Ssd/32gb Ram/geforce Rtx 4070)	2399.99	2699.99	300.00
Msi Stealth 16 Studio 16" Gaming Laptop - Star Blue (intel Core I7-13620h/1tb Ssd/32gb Ram/rtx 4060)	2449.99	2599.99	150.00
Msi Thin Gf63 15.6" Gaming Laptop - Black (intel Core I7-12650h/1tb Ssd/16gb Ram/geforce Rtx 3050)	1199.99	1299.99	100.00
Msi Vector Gp77 17.3" Gaming Laptop -core Black (intel Core I9-13900h/1tb Ssd/32gb Ram/geforce Rtx 4070)	2849.99	2999.99	150.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black	59.99	59.99	15.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black	59.99	59.99	15.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Deep Pink	59.99	59.99	15.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Electric Volt	59.99	59.99	15.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Pulse Red	59.99	59.99	15.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Robot White	59.99	59.99	15.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Shock Blue	59.99	59.99	15.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Stellar Shift Special Edition	64.99	64.99	15.00
Xbox Wireless Controller - Sunkissed Vibes Opi Special Edition	64.99	64.99	15.00

Top Deals

Item	Sale Price	MSRP	Savings
Acer 31.5" Fhd 165hz 1ms Gtg Curved Va Led Freesync Gaming Monitor (ed320qr Sbiipx) - Only At Best Buy	$269.99	$399.99	$130.00
Asus Vivobook M515 15.6" Laptop - Slate Grey (amd Ryzen 3 3250u/512gb Ssd/8gb Ram/windows 11 Home)	$499.99	$649.99	$150.00
Danby Portable Air Conditioner - 13500 Btu (sacc 10220 Btu) - White	$549.99	$699.99	$150.00
Dji Mini 3 Quadcopter Drone Fly More Combo & Remote Control With Built-in Screen (dji Rc) - Grey	$989.99	$1,108.99	$119.00
Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum - Nickel	$399.99	$549.99	$150.00
Google Nest Cam Wire-free Indoooutdoor Security Camera - 3 Pack - White - Only At Best Buy	$499.99	$599.99	$100.00
Google Nest Wifi Pro Wi-fi 6e Router - Snow - 3 Pack	$419.99	$529.99	$110.00
Google Pixel Watch (gps) 40mm Matte Black Stainless Steel Case With Obsidian Active Band	$399.99	$399.99	$0.00
Google Pixel Watch (gps) 40mm Polished Silver Stainless Steel Case With Charcoal Active Band	$399.99	$399.99	$0.00
Hp Deskjet 2755e Wireless All-in-one Inkjet Printer - Hp Instant Ink 6-month Free Trial Included*	$74.99	$104.99	$30.00
Hp 15" Laptop - Jet Black (intel I5 1135g7/512gb Ssd/16gb Ram/windows 11 Home)	$699.99	$829.99	$130.00
Jbl Charge 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker - Black	$179.99	$239.99	$60.00
Jbl Charge 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker - Blue	$179.99	$239.99	$60.00
Jbl Charge 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker - Pink	$179.99	$179.99	$0.00
Jbl Charge 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker - Red	$179.99	$239.99	$60.00
Jbl Charge 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker - Teal	$179.99	$179.99	$0.00
Lenovo Ideacentre 3i Desktop Pc - Cloud Grey (intel Core I5-12400/256gb Ssd/8gb Ram/windows 11)	$599.99	$799.99	$200.00
Logitech Mx Keys Wireless Backlit Keyboard - English	$129.99	$149.99	$20.00
Meta Quest 2 128gb Vr Headset With Touch Controllers	$419.99	$529.99	$110.00
Meta Quest 2 256gb Vr Headset With Touch Controllers	$489.99	$589.99	$100.00
Nanoleaf Shapes Mini Triangle Panels - Smarter Kit - 5 Panels	$59.97	$149.97	$90.00
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 In-ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones - Black	$139.99	$189.99	$50.00
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 In-ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones - Lavender	$139.99	$189.99	$50.00
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 In-ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones - Olive Green	$139.99	$189.99	$50.00
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 In-ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones - White	$139.99	$189.99	$50.00
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 (gps) 44mm Smartwatch With Heart Rate Monitor - Blue	$329.99	$389.99	$60.00
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 (gps) 44mm Smartwatch With Heart Rate Monitor - Grey	$329.99	$389.99	$60.00
Samsung Galaxy Watch5 (gps) 44mm Smartwatch With Heart Rate Monitor - Silver	$329.99	$389.99	$60.00
Samsung 65" 4k Uhd Hdr Led Tizen Smart Tv (un65cu8000fxzc) - 2023	$999.99	$1,099.99	$100.00
Samsung 55" 4k Uhd Hdr Neo Qled Tizen Smart Tv (qn55qn90cafxzc) - 2023 - Titan Black	$2,299.99	$2,399.99	$100.00
Sony Wh-ch720n Over-ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones - Black	$149.99	$249.99	$100.00
Sony Wh-ch720n Over-ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones - Blue	$149.99	$249.99	$100.00
Sony Wh-ch720n Over-ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones - White	$149.99	$249.99	$100.00
Canon Eos R10 Mirrorless Camera With 18-45mm Stm Lens Kit	$1,199.99	$1,329.99	$130.00
Napoleon Rogue 425 42000 Btu Propane Bbq With Grill Cover - Black - Only At Best Buy	$899.99	$999.99	$100.00
Samsung 30" French Door Refrigerator; Electric Air Fry Range; Dishwasher; Cookware Set - Stainless	$2,999.99	$3,749.99	$750.00
Seagate 1tb Storage Expansion Card For Xbox Series X And Series S	$209.99	$274.99	$65.00
Sonos Arc Sound Bar - Black	$879.99	$1,099.99	$220.00

Outlet Center Sale

Item	Sale Price	MSRP	Savings
Apple Ipad Pro 12.9" (6th Gen) Apple M2 Chip / 256gb / Wi-fi / Space Gray - Open Box	1349.99	1629.99	280.00
Bitdefender Total Security Bonus Edition (pc/mac/ios/android) - 5 User - 3 Year - Only At Best Buy	59.99	159.99	100.00
Lg 24" 46db Built-in Dishwasher With Third Rack (ldts5552s) - Stainless Steel	899.99	1049.99	150.00
Lg 23.8" Fhd 75hz 5ms Gtg Ips Led Freesync Gaming Monitor (24mp44b-b) - Black - Open Box	99.00	212.00	113.00
Naz Dynamo Mid-back Mesh Office Chair - Black	99.99	139.99	40.00
Open Box - Apple Watch Series 8 (gps) 45mm Midnight Aluminum Case With Midnight Sport Band - Medium/large	484.99	569.99	85.00
Open Box - Sonos Ray Sound Bar - Black	239.99	299.99	60.00
Refurbished (good) - Samsung Galaxy S20 Fe 5g 128gb Smartphone - Cloud Navy - Unlocked	243.37	700.37	457.00
Samsung 65" 4k Uhd Oled Tizen Smart Tv (qn65s95bafxzc) - Open Box	1839.99	2079.99	240.00
Samsung 49" Wqhd 240hz 1ms Gtg Curved Va Led G-sync Freesync Gaming Monitor (ls49ag952nnxza) -open Box	1699.99	1827.99	128.00
Sonos Roam Bluetooth Wireless Speaker With Google Assistant And Amazon Alexa - Black - Open Box	149.99	219.99	70.00
Sony Bravia 55" 4k Uhd Hdr Led Google Tv Smart Tv (xr55x90k) - 2022 - Open Box	899.99	1019.99	120.00
Sony X80k 75" 4k Uhd Hdr Led Smart Google Tv (kd75x80k) - 2022 - Open Box	1359.99	1359.99	0.00

Smart Home Sale

Item	Sale Price	MSRP	Savings
Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) Smart Display With Alexa - Charcoal	69.99	99.99	30.00
Amazon Echo Show 15.6" Smart Display With Alexa & Fire Tv - Black/white	249.99	329.99	80.00
Arlo Essential Spotlight Wire-free Indoooutdoor 1080p Security Camera - White - 4 Pack - Only At Best Buy	339.99	399.99	60.00
Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera Security Bundle With 3 Wire-free Indoooutdoor 2k Cameras - White - Only At Best Buy	399.99	599.99	200.00
Click And Grow Smart Indoor Garden (sgs1us) With Basil Seed Capsule Refill - 3 Pack - White	99.99	129.99	30.00
Eufy Eufycam 2 Pro Wireless Security System With 2 Bullet 2k Cameras - White	349.99	479.99	130.00
Ge Cync A19 Smart Led Light Bulb - Multi-colour	12.99	17.99	5.00
Google Nest Cam Wire-free Indoooutdoor Security Camera - 3 Pack - White - Only At Best Buy	499.99	599.99	100.00
Google Nest Hub Max Smart Display With Google Assistant - Charcoal	238.99	299.99	61.00
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) Smart Display With Google Assistant - Charcoal	79.99	129.99	50.00
Google Nest (wired) Wi-fi Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) - Ash	199.99	239.99	40.00
Google Nest X Yale Wi-fi Smart Lock With Nest Connect - Black Suede	339.99	358.99	19.00
Nanoleaf Shapes Mini Triangle Panels - Smarter Kit - 5 Panels	59.97	149.97	90.00
Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus Outdoor 1080p Hd Ip Camera - White	169.99	259.99	90.00
Ring Wi-fi Video Doorbell Pro 2 - Satin Nickel	234.99	328.99	94.00

So a little over a year ago I rebuilt the 4.0 in my 2004 wrangler, found out it had busted piston skirts, bad lifter and burnt valves on the head. That was dec 2021.
https://www.reddit.com/Jeep/comments/qq19c6/in_frame_rebuild_for_my_2004_40_sounded_like_a/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
https://www.reddit.com/Jeep/comments/rjxu2getting_closer_update_on_the_in_frame_rebuild/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
I ended up getting it all back together and was fighting low oil pressure and crazy vacuum problems. I put in undersized crank bearings and a high volume oil pump and put the ccv elbows in the valve cover in the right spot and I had been nearly daily driving it for around 10k miles with no problems. Then an emergency braking ( or lack of) situation put it back under the knife in February this year. Emergency stop with 33’s, no ABS, or functioning rear brakes doesn’t make for the best stopping distance and I rear ended another vehicle on my way home from work one evening.
Ended up smashing the front end pretty good, airbags deployed, and it wouldn’t run. At the time it had a 3 inch body lift, (bought it that way) the force from the accident actually deformed the body on the mounts, but luckily frame and all running gear was fine.
I was able to rebuild it. And here is a link of the pictures of the progress…
https://imgur.com/a/GNFbcke
First thing I did was get rid of all the damaged parts, good, grill, fenders, radiator, ac condenser,fan and clutch, and power steering pump pulley.
I started putting it back together to see if it would run. I replaced the fan and clutch, the power steering pulley and put the belt back on just to see if it would fire. It didn’t. I had no gauges and it would t fire, it would crank without any bad sounds though so that was a good sign. Turns out the fender got pushed back into the firewall and damaged the ECM. Used one on eBay that was for the same year, engine, and transmission, plugged it in and and it fired right up.
I still had no radiator or cooling so I didn’t run it long but drove it into the yard to try and straighten the body mounts. I was slightly successful, pulled from the bumper with board against a tree and the firewall to hold the body but pull the frame to shift everything. It’s still offset a bit but it was a little better.
I decided I didn’t like the 3 inch body lift, too much hanging down under the body and you could still see the lean in the body mounts exaggerated because of the height. Also the extensions on the grill mounting locations broke, so I started looking for a new body mount set. I ended up getting a 1 inch body lift because I could get it with all new mounts and new bolts cheaper than going back with original, so I changed those out.
Since I got it running it was time for bodywork.
I got a used grill on Facebook marketplace and a new hood ( Houston auto parts.com was 240 cash and I picked it up, new stamping but I can tell it’s thinner gauge) and I painted them with rustoleum gloss black and a rattle can 2k clear coat in my barn. For anyone wondering it’s not a perfect match for px8 paint code, looks more brown in direct sunlight but it works for me for now hahah.
For fenders I found a used set that had been cut and got the smittybilt tube fenders, both of those together would be cheaper than new fenders and flares so I went that route.
Got a new ac condenser on Amazon, used radiator on fb marketplace, new radiator support rods that tie to the firewall from eBay, and bolted everything together, filled up the radiator and found the water pump leaking. So took everything back apart to replace the water pump.
I replaced the back brakes, new drums and shoes and now those work and I have a parking brake now.
After that since mechanically it was good, I pulled the whole dash apart to replace the airbags, got those on eBay. They are not easy to replace let me tell ya. Also ended up having to replace the steering wheel clock spring also, but after that no airbag light on dash and everything is back together.
Now it’s all back together and I’ve gotten a little over 1000 miles on it. This thing is a love hate relationship. Ended up right under $3k on repairs.
Just Empty Every Pocket

Hi everyone. Born and raised in Lancaster. Been here ever since. My partner and our 2 kids recently moved out of our apartment to help family with medical issues. That family member happened to end up booting us out on the street without a moment's notice in April, on my daughter's birthday. We've been more or less homeless ever since. This isn't the norm for us. The rental market around here is not what it was 5 years ago when I signed my lease. I'm not sure what to do, we're running out of options. We've been staying at a hotel in lititz lately.
I'm wondering if anyone knows any private landlords or scenarios like that, who would accept my family as tenants, even though our credentials on paper are not looking very great. We need a 1-3 bedroom, under $1200 (utilities included). Anywhere 20mi radius of Lancaster pa.
I rented from my last landlord for 5+ years with no problems, fell through the wall in the last month whilst moving things out, wasn't able to fix it, so now my rental history is not a viable Reference. My credit is non-existent, and my partner has a current civil case with his mother going on.
We have NEVER been late on rent. We have never struggled for rent. We have always been clean and quiet. But on paper, nobody wants us. Please help, what is everyone else doing ???? I know we're not the only family in Lancaster with these types of issues.
I'm trying to find that HUMAN landlord who can see us as the family we are, good honest people, just struggling right now to get back on our feet, and getting nowhere.
Any resources or pointers please please drop them below. Thank you so much.
Edit: I'm 23, female. My daughter is 2 years old. Help please !

I’m in a really difficult situation. I’m in Florida and rents are rising fast. I’m going to try and get a better job that pays more so that I can stay, but the truth is is that those are hard to come by. I’m going to do my best, but I don’t think I can stay here much longer.
If I do need to move, I need to move someplace where there are studios and 1 bedroom apartments under 1k. But it can’t be a small city. I’m 26 and single and gay. I want to find a husband eventually and that’s simply not going to happen if I’m someplace where it’s a college town or too red.
While beggars can’t be chooser, if possible I’d also like to LIKE the city im moving to. Some place with culture.
Places I’m considering:
Pittsburgh- love the architecture. Love the hills. Rust belt has me kind of sus tho.
Albuquerque- beautiful weather and mountains and culture. Seems small and isolated tho
Houston- ticks almost all of my boxes but the state government scares me.
Chicago- people say this is affordable but I’m not sure I’m seeing what others see?
Kansas City- same as Texas basically and smaller
Thank you