Hey, nice to meet you all! This is my first time posting on this subreddit. I've reached out to agents with variations of the below query, but have had no luck. Please let me know what you think!
...
Dear _____,
EZDay revolves around Misri, a man in his 20's who works as an emergency medical technician in New York City. It is a 70,000-word coming-of-age and psychological story that is targeted to individuals in their 20’s or 30’s, takes place over a week, and is inspired by David Mitchell’s novel Number9Dream. Sequences in the past are similar in style to another of his works titled Black Swan Green.
Misri began working as an EMT because helping others seemed to be an activity which would fulfil him. While finding the work exciting, he is restless between shifts, drifting around and partaking in random pastimes, like going to the library or hanging out with roommates. After dropping off a collapsed diabetic patient at a hospital, Misri meets Kim, a nurse he starts dating. She introduces him to cuisine around Queens and invites him out to parties. Infrequently, he finds himself needing to communicate with someone named Naples; his exact relationship with them is unclear, and rather than call or text, he writes letters addressed to them that, upon finishing, he stores in a drawer.
Occasionally, memories from when Misri was a child surface and they evoke joy and structure within him; he recalls his first snowball fight and playing tag in his friend’s basement, among other memories. He listens to old video game music during especially lonely moments. While he can recall instances from 10 or 15 years ago with perfect clarity, he cannot recall events a week or even a day ago. However, when Misri stumbles upon a particularly confusing memory, he is no longer able to use reminiscing as a crutch. He is forced to make sense of it, seized by a painful steadiness.
Misri is a man who lives off his memories. When they are taken from him, he crumbles, and retaliation is inevitable.
Best,
_____

i don't know why some of u take the time out of ur day to watch the podcast when u clearly don't get the dynamic between tana and brooke. i guess that kind of comes with the territory of reddit sometimes that people are only here to find dirt on people but i just find that people in here over analyze very subconscious behaviours of tana and brooke. a lot of the time i read the comments here before i watch the podcast about how the vibe is awkward or there's tension between them and then i watch it and all i see is two friends comfortable enough to not have to do customer service voices around eachother. idk i just think it's weird to take small moments in podcasts and use it as evidence to pick apart their friendship.

Hi, I have gone on a losers queue from plat 1 to plat 4 and I know some of these games are a result of me losing lane. However, I often win lane and am wondering how to push those leads into a win. For the past 3 games, I have been able to amass a large lead on my laner but have failed to close out games. Is there anything that I am missing when it comes to pushing my lead?
op.gg: https://www.op.gg/summoners/na/DEREKISBAD123

We were so happy and great together. After journaling and doing some self reflecting, I needed to deep dive into where it went wrong. 2 years in, I was just so certain that I wanted him to be mine and in my life forever. Some factors came into play that made me realize that I could be resentful of him for what was out of his control, but a really strong physical atrophy coming in hot later on. I still loved him. We had chemistry, intimacy, and trust. I had been feeling the lack of depth from him for the past year, but given that we were so distracted attending birthdays, weddings and other events, we never had the opportunity to dive in and talk (we didn’t live together but I was over every weekend for 4 years). On Mother’s Day weekend of this year, I had apparently brought up the possibility of us to take a break ( I didn’t go travel with him to see his grandma, for some reason. I had taken 2 weed gummies that night of this phone call. I was shocked to find out from him that I had said something like this to him). I’m not the kind of person to be abrupt but actually talk things through. The next phone call once he got back home resulted in him taking what I said and running with it. He broke up with me. I was in shock and denial. Our mutual friends have been helping me pick up these broken pieces since then. After passing the anger phase, I now see that i neeed to get back to myself and heal my subconscious mind and also need to work on shadow work.
I went to pick up my stuff from his place this past Saturday. I’m glad that it happened this day considering the that this prior weekend would have been so bad, I was so angry and questioning if this relationship was even real.
Picking up my stuff should have taken 25 min or less but it was longer. I was so happy to see him but then got sad when I saw his eyes. They were such sad eyes and it hurt me to see him in pain. We hugged and cried. We had a lovely conversation, we even said it felt like our first date. I was so strong, a continuous thought that kept coming to me was “If we love each other and you are hurting, why don’t we JUST SOLVE THIS and be together again?”. I didn’t say that bc I don’t think it is the right way for us to be together. I love him and don’t care to be dating anyone else right now, I’m focusing on myself and my own spiritual life (I somehow have grown out of the habit). Is it silly to think this? I’m not a professional at breakups (as I’m sure is the case for many), but going back and forth mentally wit not believing it’s real and if it’s I still want to try again?

My dad had 10 upper crowns done in 2001 from the best cosmetic dentist in the city at the time - all intact 22 years later. They still look incredible, better than veneers of today but they cost a fortune (literally). In 2001 it was worth the money because so many dentists did unconvincing "chiclet" block teeth. IMO his only issue was doing uppers only, so the lowers were a different shade. My genetics isn't "pearly white" it's a "natural bone" colour so I'd get 10 upper + 10 lower. His were crowns but I'm only referring to veneers in the rest of the post.
I'm seeing amazing work for as little as $1k and up to $6k. I'm finding hard to distinguish $6k vs $1k per tooth, especially in different countries and currencies. Obviously theres many options inside that range. BTW I'm only considering legitimate regulated practices!!
Are technique/technology improvements bringing costs down? I've always understood cosmetic dentistry to be among the most expensive cosmetic work you can have done.
I know experience is a major cost factor, but even skilled dentists vary. What risks come with less experienced dentists (veneer longevity, enamel loss, etc)?
Something that confused me was looking at veneers from well-regarded prosthodontists... the veneers looked good, but not as natural/complicated/artistic as many from normal cosmetic dentists. I thought prosthodontists were supposed to be masters of restorations like this. This surprised me.
When I asked about veneers my dentist shut it down completely and told me to do Invisalign instead, which I did. I took this as a sign he's a good dentist putting the patient before money (4.5k/tooth). If the costs are justified, I'll definitely go with him... but that's roughly $90k for 20 veneers which I could put towards some other things I also want done.
TLDR; Basically I'm seeing some really amazing porcelain veneers (especially on instagram) in the 1-2k range now and I'm finding it really hard to justify (or at least understand) $5-6k per tooth with today's advancements in dentistry.

DRAG RACE!
Rachelle Mirage struts the runway wearing a pantsuit in orange and red.
“Hello world!”
“Welcome to Drag Race.”
Rachelle smiles.
“Ms Michaels, how you doing?”
“I’m fabulous baby.” Floss grins. “How YOU doing?”
“Amazing. Let’s kick out Chronologica!” Rachelle cackles.
Floss winks.
“Tanvi Lioness, are you ready to see these comedians shine?”
“It’s time for them to exit the house.” Tanvi smirks.
“For our Challenge, our racers were tasked with competing in the BIG MOTHER improv challenge!”
“And on the runway, they’ll be wearing Red Velvet looks.”
“It’s TIME!”
~
“Category is… Red Velvet!”
Crayola Boxx struts out in a red ball gown, uttering the shape of a cake. She’s got a big, swirly skirt, and she spins around and around, with little bits of ‘frosting’ spurting out of the stage. She’s got a big red updo and a smile on her face.
“Not the spurting.” Floss looks around awkwardly.
“It reminds me of what you used to-” Rachelle stops after looking at Floss’ rageful face.
Aguacate struts out in a full ball gown, with multiple layers of luscious red velvet cake. She twirls down the runway, revealing a big slice has been taken right out of her backside, exposing the real cake, which is completely bare. Aguacate takes a lick of her delicious frosting, and licks her fingers clean!
“Oh… Aguacate did it so much better than Crayola.” Tanvi whispers to Rachelle.
Wearing a surprisingly high-fashion number, Jaslene Bangus walks down the runway. Her hair is dark and slicked back into a high pony. The outfit itself, however, is a two-piece suit made entirely out of red velvet. The collar and front of the suit jacket is made to resemble the red curtains of a theater. As she walks, her face showcases class and poise.
“Thank God it’s not another cake look.” Rachelle says.
Zazu Nova arrives in a Lightning Mcqueen inspired form-fitting red velvet catsuit, hugging the her curves, with black accents in the form of lightning bolts paying homage to Lightning McQueen's design, and red velvet jacket with racing patches adding an edgy and rebellious vibe to the look as she struts with a smile.
“Vroom Vroom.” Floss smiles.
Granny Gorgeous enters the stage in a red velvet cape, a huge one that covers her entire body and makes her frame not so visible. With a long red wig, Granny is serving caftan velvet realness with a smirk.
“Oh, she’s giving Granny.” Tanvi smirks.
Fiore Stravaganza shines in a sleek velvet dress that hugs her body tight. She’s got a massive red headdress, made of the same red velvet material, replacing a wig like Fiore would normally rock. Her face is expressively painted, and Fiore looks like a star.
“Gorgeous.” Rachelle smiles.
Yasmin Raiz oozes sex appeal, strutting the runway in a deep red velvet bodycon dress that hangs low off her shoulders, with a little cream flower pin on her bosom. She wears sheer cream nylon gloves with a small ruffled bow at the wrist, a perfectly coiffed cream-blonde wig, small deep red glasses with flower-shaped frames, and carries a cream fur coat, as if she doesn’t even need the reveal.
“Delicious.” Floss winks.
King Omari Star stuns as he enters the stage in a red velvet kilt, with an asymmetrical shirt that has a matching long, flowy cape along with it. He’s got a massive pair of red platform boots, and as he walks, he gives every inch of royalty with a smirk.
“He loves a cape.” Rachelle chuckles.
~
“Hi Racers.” Rachelle purses her lips. “Nobody is safe.”
“First up… Yasmin.”
Yasmin smiles.
“You really have a soulful vibe, and I enjoy it.” Tanvi nods. “You hit the marks comedically, you enjoyed yourself and I was really quite pleased to see it.”
“Thank you!” Yasmin grins.
“It was a real fun time, and I do think you really were one of the highlights to see. Solid work, girl.” Rachelle smiles, “You have been consistent these past couple of weeks, and you only leave me wanting a little bit more, and I must say that I do think this look is a good switch for you. Keep up the good work.”
Yasmin bows.
“Fiore.”
Fiore smiles.
“You look gorgeous.” Racehelle grins. “Like, wow.”
Fiore flicks back her invisible hair and smirks.
“In this challenge, I did wish I got to see MORE from you in the challenge, though. It feels as if something is keeping you from fully going out like you did in, let’s say, the Snatch Game..”
Fiore nods.
“Just need- more engagement. I feel as if you’re hardening up, going back into that inner shell, when I want you to let us see even more of you. Pretty will only get you so far, Fiore.”
“I can assure you, this is me.” Fiore looks at Rachelle.
“Well…” Rachelle nods.
“Moving on, Jaslene.”
Jaslene looks at the judges.
“YAS! Girl, this look is great.” Floss smiles. “I damn love it.”
“Thank you.” Jaslene nods.
“I feel you have been middle of the road for a few weeks. But this week, I saw the effort baby. But it is not quite enough. I’m going to need you to keep driving- because at this point, I feel as if you’re lagging behind.”
“Noted.” Jaslene says.
“Zazu.”
“Hii…” Zazu says awkwardly.
“I think we know.” Rachelle says.
“Yes.” Zazu responds.
“This wasn’t quite the best performance. Well, you stumbled. I wanted to see you do well, but unfortunately- it wasn’t quite enough, and I’m going to need you to fight for this.”
“I do want to do this.” Zazu purses her lips. “For me, I feel challenged here. But I will always take every single critique and fight for the crown.”
“That is what I need.” Rachelle looks at Zazu. “Keep it going.”
Zazu nods in agreement.
“Omari.”
Omari adjusts his cape.
“You have a royal presence to you.” Tanvi says.
“King Omari Star.” Omari smirks. “Is my full name.”
“I can see it.” Tanvi responds. “I think you had a good balance of funny and real. I enjoyed you this week.”
Omari smiles.
“I wanted you to push yourself out of your comfort zone this week, and you did. And for that I have to commend you” Rachelle responds. “Well done.”
“Thank you.” Omari grins.
Granny.
“Hello.” Granny says.
“I am loving this look.” Rachelle looks at Granny. “It’s giving- a bit generic, but also- I do feel like you’re reinforcing that idea said a few weeks ago- I am seeing a lack of brand.”
“Okay…” Granny smiles, ever the pleaser.
“I want you to get dirty this week, but you did not.” Rachelle says. “And I'm going to need you to further think on what your drag is- what you bring. Because again- at this point, that’s really important.”
“I understand.” Granny smiles.
“Aguacate.”
“¡Hola!” Aguacate winks.
“You’re pure chaos!”
“AHHHHH!” Aguacate screams.
Tanvi giggles.
“That is what I liked.” Tanvi says. “Well and truly, you stole the show.”
“Thank you.” Aguacate smirks.
“I feel like unlike others, you do know who you are. My advice? Keep doing you.”
“I will.” Aguacate adds. “I can tell you that.”
“Finally, Crayola.”
“Hello dear.” Crayola smiles.
“You weren’t funny, baby.” Floss frowns.
“Oh.” Crayola looks surprised.
“As in- you know, I was expecting haha. But I got- oh, nah.” Floss laughs. “Like, damn, there was nothing fun- and I wanted to see you make me laugh!”
Crayola nods.
“For me, it came off- just like you were trying too hard, it wasn’t the smooth sailing we were looking for. And it just wasn't a very clever delivery, or very funny either. It was a shame.” Rachelle adds. “…And this gown doesn’t do you any favors- it looks frumpy.”
“I apologize.” Crayola responds.
“Racers, before we deliberate… I have a question to ask.”
Everyone looks at each other.
“Who should go home tonight and why? Starting with… Crayola.”
“I think this week I disappointed.” Crayola frowns. “And I do really enjoy this, but I am not delivering, and I will be truthful with that. I wasn’t the best, and I’m sorry.” Crayola says.
The others look surprised.
“Okay.”
“Zazu.” Aguacate says. “Ms Boxx at least has two wins. This is what, her… 4th time in the bottom 3?” Aguacate laughs.
Zazu frowns.
“I do agree, Zazu.” Granny sighs. “Sadly, at this point, she is not delivering as consistently as the others.”
“For me, Crayola.” Omari says. “I see a fighter in Zazu. I do not see that in Crayola, as… clearly, neither does she.”
Aguacate giggles.
“I think, Crayola.” Zazu nods. “I’m sorry, but I will not say myself- I can never...”
Rachelle nods.
“For me, Crayola.” Jaslene responds. “At this point, she is not showcasing herself at her best.”
“Now, Zazu is clearly at the bottom.” Fiore purses her lips. “But if I’m being honest, at this point, Jaslene isn’t delivering anything new either, I don’t think.” Fiore nods. “Like you have said she has been, for a lack of a better term… flat-lining these past several episodes.”
Jaslene looks surprised, as well as Rachelle.
Jaslene Bangus: “What the fuck?”
“Let her fight for the bottom.” Fiore shrugs.
Jaslene rolls her eyes.
“I do agree with Zazu.” Yasmin nods. “Unfortunately.”
“Thank you, racers. Whilst we deliberate, you may untuck backstage in the Crystal Lounge, sponsored by Princess Papaya Tropical Drinks.”
~
The racers enter the platinum lounge.
Jaslene stomps in, grabbing a drink before turning to face Fiore.
“What the fuck?” Jaslene says.
Fiore raises an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Jaslene? Did I say something wrong?"
Jaslene clenches her fists, clearly pissed. "You think it's okay to throw me under the bus like that? Saying I should fight for the bottom? What the hell girl? I thought you were my sister?”
Fiore smirks, taking a sip of her drink. “Please, Jaslene. I was just stating m ytruth, what I have been seeing these past few weeks- If you can't handle a little critique, maybe you're not cut out for this competition. I feel as if you haven’t been delivering, and to me, you’re dead weight, right now."
Fiore Stravaganza: “Real talk, I said her name because simply put, at this point, I feel the AE girls have been holding me back. I need my brand focused on me.”
Jaslene's trembles. "You have no right to judge me, Fiore. You act like you're better than all of us, but you're just a mean-spirited queen hiding behind a pretty face."
“Darling, you came up with the name PRETTY GIRLS, I’m not just pretty, I’m gorgeous.” Fiore growls. “I was just being honest.”
“Honest?!” Jaselene rolls her eyes. “You’re acting nasty.”
Fiore's eyes narrow, her composure slipping for a moment. "Watch your words, Jaslene. I may be straightforward, but at least I'm not deluding myself like some queens here. I speak the truth, and if you can't handle it, that's your problem. Now go fix your hair."
Jaslene looks as if she is ready to scream, as Omari raises his hand in between them. “Let’s not.”
“I just..” Jaslene rolls her eyes. “Whatever.” Jaslene walks off.
“Beef.” Aguacate giggles.
“...Can I ask, what is going on Fiore?” Omari asks. “Like, there’s this switch..”
“There’s no switch.” Fiore responds quickly, looking at Omari. “I’ve always been competitive here, and clearly you haven’t been paying attention.”
Omari rolls his eyes. “Alright.”
“How is everyone else?” Granny asks.
“I am disappointed to be in the bottom again, but girl- I love to perform.” Zazu puts in an earphone. “So, I'm going to give my all.”
Zazu Nova: “A stage is where I shine. That- I am not scared of.” Zazu grins.
“For me, it’s-” Crayola sighs.
Crayola pauses, and looks down. "I don't know, guys. I'm just... I'm really struggling right now. I feel like I'm not good enough, like I don't belong here. And seeing myself disappoint week after week, it's really taking a toll on me."
“You won last week, girl.” Fiore adds.
Yasmin puts a hand on Crayola’s shoulder. "Hey, hey, none of that talk, okay? You are talented, Crayola, and you absolutely belong here. We all have our off weeks, but that doesn't define who we are as queens. You have so much more to offer, and I believe in you."
“I just wish you didn’t say your own name.” Omari says.
King Omari Star: “I would never say my own name. I will always fight. And Crayola… it is a strange response.”
Crayola looks up at Yasmin, tearing up. "Thank you, Yasmin. I'm just scared of going home, you know? I don't want to let myself down or let anyone else down."
Yasmin pulls Crayola into a warm hug. "I understand that fear, but remember, this is just a moment in our journey. It doesn't define our worth or our future. We've come so far, and we're all here to support each other. You are loved and valued, Crayola."
Granny smiles. “We're a family here, and we lift each other up. Don't let negative thoughts bring you down. Embrace your uniqueness and shine."
Granny Gorgeous: “I feel the same, though. This is… scary.”
Aguacate chimes in with a grin. "Exactly, mija! We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but together, we make this competition fierce. Keep your head high and remember why you're here."
“Vroom vroom.” Zazu winks.
Jaslene looks in the mirror, combing her hair before sitting next to Omari.
Jaslene Bangus: “Well, I guess that’s over.”
Fiore and Jaslene look at each other for a second.
Jaslene Bangus: “Full steam ahead.”
~
“Welcome back, racers. We’ve made some decisions.”
…
“Fiore, Jaslene, you’re safe.”
The two look at each other before walking separate sides of the stage.
“Omari. Yasmin. Great work. You’re safe.”
The two grin.
“Aguacate, this week you made us CACKLE. Condragulations, you are the winner of this week’s challenge.”
Aguacate jumps for joy. “WOOHOO”
Aguacate: “Another one.” Aguacate winks. “I I think I’m a frontrunner.”
…
…
“Granny, you’re safe.”
Granny bows.
“That means Zazu Nova and Crayola Boxx, I’m sorry my dears, but you are up for elimination.”
“The time has come… for you to lip sync to your life!”
**Conga by Gloria Estefan starts to play**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ItEmCnP80
“Good luck… and don’t fuck it up!”
Zazu Nova: “I know this is my fourth time, but lip syncing is what I do. I’m never going down without a FIGHT!”
Crayola Boxx: “I’m giving my heart. That’s all I can do.”
~
Next Time!
Racers, it’s time to makeover your loved ones!
“My WIFE!” Omari yells, tearing up.
“Woah.” Aguacate stares awkwardly.
“I’m going to shit on these bitches.” Jaslene smirks.
“Oh, another bodysuit?” Fiore looks at Jaslene.
Fiore Stravaganza: “This is MY moment.”
~
Stats
Voting
Spreadsheet

DRAG RACE!
Rachelle Mirage struts the runway wearing a pantsuit in orange and red.
“Hello world!”
“Welcome to Drag Race.”
Rachelle smiles.
“Ms Michaels, how you doing?”
“I’m fabulous baby.” Floss grins. “How YOU doing?”
“Amazing. Let’s kick out Chronologica!” Rachelle cackles.
Floss winks.
“Tanvi Lioness, are you ready to see these comedians shine?”
“It’s time for them to exit the house.” Tanvi smirks.
“For our Challenge, our racers were tasked with competing in the BIG MOTHER improv challenge!”
“And on the runway, they’ll be wearing Red Velvet looks.”
“It’s TIME!”
~
“Category is… Red Velvet!”
Crayola Boxx struts out in a red ball gown, uttering the shape of a cake. She’s got a big, swirly skirt, and she spins around and around, with little bits of ‘frosting’ spurting out of the stage. She’s got a big red updo and a smile on her face.
“Not the spurting.” Floss looks around awkwardly.
“It reminds me of what you used to-” Rachelle stops after looking at Floss’ rageful face.
Aguacate struts out in a full ball gown, with multiple layers of luscious red velvet cake. She twirls down the runway, revealing a big slice has been taken right out of her backside, exposing the real cake, which is completely bare. Aguacate takes a lick of her delicious frosting, and licks her fingers clean!
“Oh… Aguacate did it so much better than Crayola.” Tanvi whispers to Rachelle.
Wearing a surprisingly high-fashion number, Jaslene Bangus walks down the runway. Her hair is dark and slicked back into a high pony. The outfit itself, however, is a two-piece suit made entirely out of red velvet. The collar and front of the suit jacket is made to resemble the red curtains of a theater. As she walks, her face showcases class and poise.
“Thank God it’s not another cake look.” Rachelle says.
Zazu Nova arrives in a Lightning Mcqueen inspired form-fitting red velvet catsuit, hugging the her curves, with black accents in the form of lightning bolts paying homage to Lightning McQueen's design, and red velvet jacket with racing patches adding an edgy and rebellious vibe to the look as she struts with a smile.
“Vroom Vroom.” Floss smiles.
Granny Gorgeous enters the stage in a red velvet cape, a huge one that covers her entire body and makes her frame not so visible. With a long red wig, Granny is serving caftan velvet realness with a smirk.
“Oh, she’s giving Granny.” Tanvi smirks.
Fiore Stravaganza shines in a sleek velvet dress that hugs her body tight. She’s got a massive red headdress, made of the same red velvet material, replacing a wig like Fiore would normally rock. Her face is expressively painted, and Fiore looks like a star.
“Gorgeous.” Rachelle smiles.
Yasmin Raiz oozes sex appeal, strutting the runway in a deep red velvet bodycon dress that hangs low off her shoulders, with a little cream flower pin on her bosom. She wears sheer cream nylon gloves with a small ruffled bow at the wrist, a perfectly coiffed cream-blonde wig, small deep red glasses with flower-shaped frames, and carries a cream fur coat, as if she doesn’t even need the reveal.
“Delicious.” Floss winks.
King Omari Star stuns as he enters the stage in a red velvet kilt, with an asymmetrical shirt that has a matching long, flowy cape along with it. He’s got a massive pair of red platform boots, and as he walks, he gives every inch of royalty with a smirk.
“He loves a cape.” Rachelle chuckles.
~
“Hi Racers.” Rachelle purses her lips. “Nobody is safe.”
“First up… Yasmin.”
Yasmin smiles.
“You really have a soulful vibe, and I enjoy it.” Tanvi nods. “You hit the marks comedically, you enjoyed yourself and I was really quite pleased to see it.”
“Thank you!” Yasmin grins.
“It was a real fun time, and I do think you really were one of the highlights to see. Solid work, girl.” Rachelle smiles, “You have been consistent these past couple of weeks, and you only leave me wanting a little bit more, and I must say that I do think this look is a good switch for you. Keep up the good work.”
Yasmin bows.
“Fiore.”
Fiore smiles.
“You look gorgeous.” Racehelle grins. “Like, wow.”
Fiore flicks back her invisible hair and smirks.
“In this challenge, I did wish I got to see MORE from you in the challenge, though. It feels as if something is keeping you from fully going out like you did in, let’s say, the Snatch Game..”
Fiore nods.
“Just need- more engagement. I feel as if you’re hardening up, going back into that inner shell, when I want you to let us see even more of you. Pretty will only get you so far, Fiore.”
“I can assure you, this is me.” Fiore looks at Rachelle.
“Well…” Rachelle nods.
“Moving on, Jaslene.”
Jaslene looks at the judges.
“YAS! Girl, this look is great.” Floss smiles. “I damn love it.”
“Thank you.” Jaslene nods.
“I feel you have been middle of the road for a few weeks. But this week, I saw the effort baby. But it is not quite enough. I’m going to need you to keep driving- because at this point, I feel as if you’re lagging behind.”
“Noted.” Jaslene says.
“Zazu.”
“Hii…” Zazu says awkwardly.
“I think we know.” Rachelle says.
“Yes.” Zazu responds.
“This wasn’t quite the best performance. Well, you stumbled. I wanted to see you do well, but unfortunately- it wasn’t quite enough, and I’m going to need you to fight for this.”
“I do want to do this.” Zazu purses her lips. “For me, I feel challenged here. But I will always take every single critique and fight for the crown.”
“That is what I need.” Rachelle looks at Zazu. “Keep it going.”
Zazu nods in agreement.
“Omari.”
Omari adjusts his cape.
“You have a royal presence to you.” Tanvi says.
“King Omari Star.” Omari smirks. “Is my full name.”
“I can see it.” Tanvi responds. “I think you had a good balance of funny and real. I enjoyed you this week.”
Omari smiles.
“I wanted you to push yourself out of your comfort zone this week, and you did. And for that I have to commend you” Rachelle responds. “Well done.”
“Thank you.” Omari grins.
Granny.
“Hello.” Granny says.
“I am loving this look.” Rachelle looks at Granny. “It’s giving- a bit generic, but also- I do feel like you’re reinforcing that idea said a few weeks ago- I am seeing a lack of brand.”
“Okay…” Granny smiles, ever the pleaser.
“I want you to get dirty this week, but you did not.” Rachelle says. “And I'm going to need you to further think on what your drag is- what you bring. Because again- at this point, that’s really important.”
“I understand.” Granny smiles.
“Aguacate.”
“¡Hola!” Aguacate winks.
“You’re pure chaos!”
“AHHHHH!” Aguacate screams.
Tanvi giggles.
“That is what I liked.” Tanvi says. “Well and truly, you stole the show.”
“Thank you.” Aguacate smirks.
“I feel like unlike others, you do know who you are. My advice? Keep doing you.”
“I will.” Aguacate adds. “I can tell you that.”
“Finally, Crayola.”
“Hello dear.” Crayola smiles.
“You weren’t funny, baby.” Floss frowns.
“Oh.” Crayola looks surprised.
“As in- you know, I was expecting haha. But I got- oh, nah.” Floss laughs. “Like, damn, there was nothing fun- and I wanted to see you make me laugh!”
Crayola nods.
“For me, it came off- just like you were trying too hard, it wasn’t the smooth sailing we were looking for. And it just wasn't a very clever delivery, or very funny either. It was a shame.” Rachelle adds. “…And this gown doesn’t do you any favors- it looks frumpy.”
“I apologize.” Crayola responds.
“Racers, before we deliberate… I have a question to ask.”
Everyone looks at each other.
“Who should go home tonight and why? Starting with… Crayola.”
“I think this week I disappointed.” Crayola frowns. “And I do really enjoy this, but I am not delivering, and I will be truthful with that. I wasn’t the best, and I’m sorry.” Crayola says.
The others look surprised.
“Okay.”
“Zazu.” Aguacate says. “Ms Boxx at least has two wins. This is what, her… 4th time in the bottom 3?” Aguacate laughs.
Zazu frowns.
“I do agree, Zazu.” Granny sighs. “Sadly, at this point, she is not delivering as consistently as the others.”
“For me, Crayola.” Omari says. “I see a fighter in Zazu. I do not see that in Crayola, as… clearly, neither does she.”
Aguacate giggles.
“I think, Crayola.” Zazu nods. “I’m sorry, but I will not say myself- I can never...”
Rachelle nods.
“For me, Crayola.” Jaslene responds. “At this point, she is not showcasing herself at her best.”
“Now, Zazu is clearly at the bottom.” Fiore purses her lips. “But if I’m being honest, at this point, Jaslene isn’t delivering anything new either, I don’t think.” Fiore nods. “Like you have said she has been, for a lack of a better term… flat-lining these past several episodes.”
Jaslene looks surprised, as well as Rachelle.
Jaslene Bangus: “What the fuck?”
“Let her fight for the bottom.” Fiore shrugs.
Jaslene rolls her eyes.
“I do agree with Zazu.” Yasmin nods. “Unfortunately.”
“Thank you, racers. Whilst we deliberate, you may untuck backstage in the Crystal Lounge, sponsored by Princess Papaya Tropical Drinks.”
~
The racers enter the platinum lounge.
Jaslene stomps in, grabbing a drink before turning to face Fiore.
“What the fuck?” Jaslene says.
Fiore raises an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Jaslene? Did I say something wrong?"
Jaslene clenches her fists, clearly pissed. "You think it's okay to throw me under the bus like that? Saying I should fight for the bottom? What the hell girl? I thought you were my sister?”
Fiore smirks, taking a sip of her drink. “Please, Jaslene. I was just stating m ytruth, what I have been seeing these past few weeks- If you can't handle a little critique, maybe you're not cut out for this competition. I feel as if you haven’t been delivering, and to me, you’re dead weight, right now."
Fiore Stravaganza: “Real talk, I said her name because simply put, at this point, I feel the AE girls have been holding me back. I need my brand focused on me.”
Jaslene's trembles. "You have no right to judge me, Fiore. You act like you're better than all of us, but you're just a mean-spirited queen hiding behind a pretty face."
“Darling, you came up with the name PRETTY GIRLS, I’m not just pretty, I’m gorgeous.” Fiore growls. “I was just being honest.”
“Honest?!” Jaselene rolls her eyes. “You’re acting nasty.”
Fiore's eyes narrow, her composure slipping for a moment. "Watch your words, Jaslene. I may be straightforward, but at least I'm not deluding myself like some queens here. I speak the truth, and if you can't handle it, that's your problem. Now go fix your hair."
Jaslene looks as if she is ready to scream, as Omari raises his hand in between them. “Let’s not.”
“I just..” Jaslene rolls her eyes. “Whatever.” Jaslene walks off.
“Beef.” Aguacate giggles.
“...Can I ask, what is going on Fiore?” Omari asks. “Like, there’s this switch..”
“There’s no switch.” Fiore responds quickly, looking at Omari. “I’ve always been competitive here, and clearly you haven’t been paying attention.”
Omari rolls his eyes. “Alright.”
“How is everyone else?” Granny asks.
“I am disappointed to be in the bottom again, but girl- I love to perform.” Zazu puts in an earphone. “So, I'm going to give my all.”
Zazu Nova: “A stage is where I shine. That- I am not scared of.” Zazu grins.
“For me, it’s-” Crayola sighs.
Crayola pauses, and looks down. "I don't know, guys. I'm just... I'm really struggling right now. I feel like I'm not good enough, like I don't belong here. And seeing myself disappoint week after week, it's really taking a toll on me."
“You won last week, girl.” Fiore adds.
Yasmin puts a hand on Crayola’s shoulder. "Hey, hey, none of that talk, okay? You are talented, Crayola, and you absolutely belong here. We all have our off weeks, but that doesn't define who we are as queens. You have so much more to offer, and I believe in you."
“I just wish you didn’t say your own name.” Omari says.
King Omari Star: “I would never say my own name. I will always fight. And Crayola… it is a strange response.”
Crayola looks up at Yasmin, tearing up. "Thank you, Yasmin. I'm just scared of going home, you know? I don't want to let myself down or let anyone else down."
Yasmin pulls Crayola into a warm hug. "I understand that fear, but remember, this is just a moment in our journey. It doesn't define our worth or our future. We've come so far, and we're all here to support each other. You are loved and valued, Crayola."
Granny smiles. “We're a family here, and we lift each other up. Don't let negative thoughts bring you down. Embrace your uniqueness and shine."
Granny Gorgeous: “I feel the same, though. This is… scary.”
Aguacate chimes in with a grin. "Exactly, mija! We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but together, we make this competition fierce. Keep your head high and remember why you're here."
“Vroom vroom.” Zazu winks.
Jaslene looks in the mirror, combing her hair before sitting next to Omari.
Jaslene Bangus: “Well, I guess that’s over.”
Fiore and Jaslene look at each other for a second.
Jaslene Bangus: “Full steam ahead.”
~
“Welcome back, racers. We’ve made some decisions.”
…
“Fiore, Jaslene, you’re safe.”
The two look at each other before walking separate sides of the stage.
“Omari. Yasmin. Great work. You’re safe.”
The two grin.
“Aguacate, this week you made us CACKLE. Condragulations, you are the winner of this week’s challenge.”
Aguacate jumps for joy. “WOOHOO”
Aguacate: “Another one.” Aguacate winks. “I I think I’m a frontrunner.”
…
…
“Granny, you’re safe.”
Granny bows.
“That means Zazu Nova and Crayola Boxx, I’m sorry my dears, but you are up for elimination.”
“The time has come… for you to lip sync to your life!”
**Conga by Gloria Estefan starts to play**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ItEmCnP80
“Good luck… and don’t fuck it up!”
Zazu Nova: “I know this is my fourth time, but lip syncing is what I do. I’m never going down without a FIGHT!”
Crayola Boxx: “I’m giving my heart. That’s all I can do.”
~
Next Time!
Racers, it’s time to makeover your loved ones!
“My WIFE!” Omari yells, tearing up.
“Woah.” Aguacate stares awkwardly.
“I’m going to shit on these bitches.” Jaslene smirks.
“Oh, another bodysuit?” Fiore looks at Jaslene.
Fiore Stravaganza: “This is MY moment.”
~
Stats
Voting
Spreadsheet

I feel like this is something I’ve always struggled with. If it’s someone saying hurtful things to me, it obviously upsets me and I understand that person has done something wrong. But instead of feeling angry I just get overwhelmingly upset and usually find somewhere quiet to cry when I get a chance. A part of me even feels like I’d hurt the person’s feelings if I talked back, like they deserve a second chance to prove they’re a good person without me saying anything. Does anyone else experience this or something similar? I feel like I’ve never stood up for myself enough because of this quality. It’s like the words or actions themselves hurt me more than the person, and as a result I don’t always speak up. I’ve read a little bit about repressed anger in HSP

Warning: some adult stuff/erp stuff is mentioned/some bdsm terms used
So, I've (29 F) been in an 8 year long relationship with my gf (28 F). A few years ago we became polyamorous because I'm asexual and sex repulsed and she has a high libido. For her sex is just something fun to do with friends like playing video games. I wasn't comfortable at first, honestly don't know if I've ever been completely comfortable. I basically agreed with the condition that I don't want to hear or see any details beyond who she's with. At first it was just a mutual friend (she actually offered to be my dom at one point but I turned her down) this was okay. I was comfortable with that. More recently gf's gotten into vr, especially erotic vr. She's making friends with people there and everything is virtual, but I've been extremely uncomfortable. We're renting a single bedroom so I hear and see way too much (she uses virtual desktop and sometimes what she's doing will be playing on the computer screen. I really don't like this, it's not intentional and she always fixes that when it happens.) Recently she's made a new friend, we'll just call them sillysub because it's all I can think of. Gf asked me if she could be sillysubs dom/make sillysub her pet. I thought about it and currently said no. I told her how I've been less and less comfortable since she's been making these new friends. We think it's because I don't know them. So I've met sillysub, talked to them. I do like them, we get along. I'm still unsure on the pet thing, and my gf takes idk for no thankfully. (I also want to add that gf constantly tells me that all I have to do is say stop and she will.) Anyways, all this backstory is because gf wanted to call sillysub and talk as they both fall asleep on the phone. I am not comfortable with this. I told her that feels romantic. She said it's not and that it's something friends do. I have never done this with any friends, which I said but she responded by reminding me that I'm not a social person. That's extremely true btw. She is respecting my wishes and not doing that, but she is also upset. I don't know what to do. Am I over reacting here? I constantly feel like I'm either being very excepting or like I'm being selfish and holding her back.
So, um, tl;dr am I in the wrong for viewing sleepy calls as romantic and not wanting my gf to be doing that with someone else?

I play co-ed soccer and I’m a pretty physical player for a female and I’m not going to back off. I’m sooo tired of males getting pissy about calls and wanting cards for a little bit of physicality. I was playing a game tonight and the guy and I were pushing on each other and I got him from behind and he turned around and said “keep playing like that and you’re going to get hurt”. This is soo annoying, it’s basically a beer league and if you can’t hold your fucking own, stfu. I really think he was just mad because I play defense and I never let him get further than arms reach away because he was fast. I hate when men and women get mad for a little bit of physicality. It’s fucking soccer, I’m not backing off because you haven’t played in 5 years, buck up and play the fucking game and push me back. I hate talking shit during games, I never talk back and never say anything because 99% of the time not worth my time and I’m already focused on the next play.

My dog stares at me expectantly every time I walk in a room. She won’t chase a ball, run around with me, play tug of war, interact with squeaky toys or do anything remotely resembling play. The only “game” I’ve found that she likes is for me to throw a blanket over her and let her walk around and figure out how to get out of it. Her tail wags like crazy and she seems so happy with that. But that’s it. If I sit on the couch or in the floor, she comes running and just stares while wagging her tail. She rubs her head on me for a min or tolerates 1-2 mins of petting/rubbing/scratching before going back to staring like she’s waiting for something. I have no idea what she wants! I walk her daily for about 45 min, and she has a fenced in backyard, so she gets exercise. I toss the blanket on her several times a day since she likes that, but surely there’s more for this dog to enrich her life? What can I do with her? She’s a 6ish year old lab mix. I’ve had her for a few years after she was rescued by animal control for neglect and all my efforts to teach her to play have been fruitless. She barely even interacts with the other dogs. Is there hope for fun for her? What does she want to do when she’s staring at me wagging her tail?

Hi! I'm a taurus girl and I seing this virgo guy for a month. We know eachother since febraury and we start to hang out first as friends. He comes to my house to spend time together tomorrow but when I said that today I was thinking about him he reponded:
😍 "I was thinking about you and stuff too" "But we talk about it tomorrow"
He has been the sweetest guy with me. He said things like he is happy by my side and that he likes that I'm very sweet and tender too. But I'm scared that I'm gonna end up hurt because sometimes I think nobody choose me
Opinions?

Number 5 is here, thanks for reading and hope you enjoy!
Thanks once again to u/SpacePaladin15 for the amazing universe! NatureofPredators for being an awesome community! And thanks to u/sgtmiller1233 for his assistance in writing this!
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Memory Transcription Subject: Kevri, Venlil Military Transfer
Date (Standardized Human Time): April 21, 2194
While the humans were talking, both me and the Tanned venlil were asking Vall about life aboard the ship. In her words, it's busy, The humans are always doing something even if its recreational. I had just happened to glance back and noticed Mac had a mischievous grin on his face while the other human looked embarrassed. I turned in ear to listen in and noticed the other two did as well. They were talking about the screams. Why would the other human be embarra….oh, Oh he caused the screaming.Wait what did Mac mean by a date, They aren't together right, they just transferred! Not even had the thought been conjured had I noticed the Tanned Venlil going stiff, his tail going ridged. Taking the Opportunity, I gave him a little wave of my tail, “You ok?” I ask only to not get a response.
“Sounds like someone works quickly, got a bit of a fetish for preds there “Chocolate chip” Vall chimes in from the counter, her posture shifting to have both elbows on the counter. She looks like what some of those human movies call “Gossip Girls”.
“Wha- no, oh no n- no nono, We just met! He is obviously male and I'm a female only kinda venlil. I don’t swing that way! Besides The other human is joking right, Right?!” Chocolate Chip replies.
“Eh, with mac you never know, plus-” she gets interrupted as Mac starts to walk up.
“Vall, I'll go ahead and sign for that equipment now, Think we took up enough of your time. Besides I’m sure these two are gonna want some alone time” He finishes winking at the tanned Venlil.
“We, we are not a….nevermind” the PFC walks up sighing in defeat.
“Whatever you say casanova.” Mac finishes
“Ma’am we were originally here to pick up some equipment, agent’s orders.” The Pfc continues directing his attention to Vall. I turned my eye to look at Mac, who seemed to have tensed up at the mention of the agents.
“Well, might as well get this done efficiently. Mac, here is your paperwork while I go fetch these crates, I'm sure I know which ones they are.” Vall says placing a clipboard on the counter and hopping down. I can’t see her anymore, but I do hear her claws getting further away. Mac got busy filling out the forms, cursing to himself under his breath all the while “Why the fuck do they need my signature so many times?! Like once ain’t enough…”
Looking toward the only other venlil currently, I realize that in all of that conversation I still don’t know his name.
I swish my tail at him in a quizzical manner "I'm afraid I didn't catch your name friend."
"Oh..uh my name is V-vibren"
"Very nice to meet you Vibren, I am Kevri." I then gestured to the doorway where Vall had gone through "And her name is Vallesh."
Soon enough she had returned with her crates, honestly it was amazing to see her carrying all that weight. I didn't think it was possible for a venlil to lift so much. She also must have overheard our conversation from the other room, as when she walked up to the counter she began speaking to us almost immediately.
Vall would chuckle, placing down the crates on the counter as she spoke "That's what they keep calling me, but most of the humans just call me Vall"
Vibren would say in a meek voice "I-i have noticed that humans tend to shorten our names…I wonder why, are they too complicated?"
I wasn't sure how to answer him, but he was right. I had noticed that most people, including Vall, would shorten the Gunnery Sergeant's name to just 'Mac'. Thankfully she would also pipe up with an answer. "The humans call them nicknames." She would twist her paw in the air as she continued to explain in an act that looked… human
"The way it was explained to me in boot was that humans always assign little pet names to their friends and family as a way for them to quickly refer to someone. In human militaries all throughout their history nicknames were often given as a term of endearment."
Vibren would stumble over his own words, ears flat against his head. "P-p-p-pets?! They see us as non-sapient c-creatures meant o-o-only for companionship??"
I too was disheartened to hear this, I wasn't willing to become some aliens pet. I felt my tail droop and my ears flatten against my skull. Vall must have noticed our dismay at the situation, thankfully however, she would continue to explain. "What? It isn't like that at all guys! Trust me the humans see us as equals, we wouldn't be here if they didn't. Just the other day I had to order a human private to clean the restroom as punishment because they lost some equipment."
I tilted my head “You can command humans? And they listen to you?”
She gave a meek chuckle “Well yeah, I’m a sergeant. It's kinda part of my job. The humans on this vessel are all military, so they follow a strict ranking structure. It's not too dissimilar to our space core.”
Well that made sense enough, it would make sense for the UNSC to have a ranking structure to assure a cohesive command in combat. I couldn't help it I was intrigued at this point, so i decided to ask another question that had been brewing in my mind,
“You mentioned something called boot?”
Her eyes lit up at my question “Yeah boot! It’s short for something the humans call Boot Camp. I had to go through it for about…” She scratched the side of her face in thought “ohhhh I would say about [8 weeks]. But I have heard it can go longer.” She then turned to me and chuckled “Seeing as you're with NAVSPECWAR Kevri, I think your time in boot might end up being on the longer side of things.”
She said that so cheery, why?!? Oh stars…
“Meanwhile I think we are getting folded elsewhere Vib, That is your name right? “A Voice pipes up from my left, it starts again as we all turn our attention to the pfc we had forgotten. “Honestly we are going to get alot more training. Well, except for the Sergeant of course.” he says as he continues signing a clipboard full of papers, looking to be mostly through it already.
Vibren, distracted from the previous train of thought it seems, walks up and picks up one of the smaller crates in the pile next to the Pfc. When had the Private moved the crates? How didn’t we hear it?! HOW QUIET ARE THEY?!
“Um, wha- What's in the crates um….” Vibren appears to be struggling as I watch his tail flick about.
“Marcus, Marcus Jackson, and Armor from what I'm reading. Pilots Armor.” he says without taking his eyes off the papers in front of him.
“Pilot, but I’m just a Weapons Officer, I don’t know how to fly!” Vib almost squeeks.
“They can’t expect me to just fly a ship! I could barely keep up on the weapons station in the simulator!”
Marcus places the clipboard down and directs his attention to Vibren, who in turn seems to shrink a little at the human’s gaze. “Well, I guess that will be part of what that training course they told us about is for. Besides, it can’t be that hard to pick up” he finishes giving a closed mouth smile.
*A whistle is heard over the intercom*
“Attention, all xeno personnel. Those who have just transferred are to report immediately to the Medical bay to receive Inoculations, Augmentations and Implants. That is all.”
Mac would then chime in, having long since completed the paperwork. “Hm, sounds like you'll be heading to the med bay sooner than I thought kid.” He then pats me on the back before looking between both myself and Vibren “Come on you two, I'll take you there.”
“W-why just the two of us? W-what about Vallesh?” I ask, my words barely escaping my mouth
Mac would simply chuckle before Vall interjected “Because I’ve already got my implants and augmentations.” She finishes pointing to one of her eyes.
S-so that's how you cou-”
Vall interrupted my query “How I can read human script? Yes, that is exactly how. And I'm going to hazard a guess that you, Kevri, are going to be receiving more augmentations than I did.”
m-more?
“How many more?!”
Mac placed his hand on my shoulder “More than you want to know Kev. Now come on, you guys have a date with the docs.”
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Air Thugger is just driving back from work when hot festival girl, Indica, flags him down and offers him the blowjob of a lifetime for a quick ride home. Air Thugger can’t resist the offer & ends up scoring even bigger when he gets roped into a sexy stepfamily melodrama with Indica’s hot new stepmom Lolly!"

When I first started my career as a millennial I frequently encountered an attitude of “I don’t know anything about this technology stuff”. This was back in 2010 and although technology was an important part of work back then, it was nowhere near how important it is today, but I’m still shocked at how this attitude has continued to proliferate. On one hand I am grateful because if there wasn’t a skills gap I wouldn’t be able to have my own business doing digital marketing stuff, but on the other hand I am continually appalled at the level of tolerance the business world grants senior leaders when it comes to how effectively they can use technology. Microsoft Office products have been a central feature of office work for the better part of 30 years and we have people leading teams who can’t collaborate on Word documents, or really use outlook outside their most recent 5 emails. It’s absurd! Stop letting your senior leaders skate by with this attitude, your losing so much potential productivity in your businesses by letting this culture prevail. There are dozens and dozens and dozens of free training modules for almost every software product, especially Microsoft office products. Would you want to follow a platoon leader into battle who can’t even fire a gun?? Hell no! I’m not disputing that managing people is a valuable skill, but in the forward looking future with large volumes of boomers retiring and younger generations not having kids, there will be less available workers. EVERYONE is going to have to be able to leverage technology to be more productive and meet consumption needs of the overall population. Clean out the folks who aren’t on board with the way the world is changing or your company will be in trouble moving forward.

My 3 year old daughter is obsessed with Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. It started by watching the movies, and then her obsession skyrocketed when we saw the BATB segment at Disney on Ice. She is fascinated by him killing the beast, and the beast coming back to life. She also keeps asking to be Gaston for Halloween. She has gone through character phases before, but usually it’s some princess like Elsa or Ariel.. this is a strange one, but I am all for it!

Heads up, this is gonna be a longer post- I debated about showing this for a while, but after some recent life events I figured it was time to talk about it. No jokes today, this is straight from the heart.
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If you told me three years ago I would be involved with VTubers, collecting merch and cheering about her little everyday things and interactions, I would have never believed you. At the time I was a completely different person; I rocked the emo look, I was wrapping my college life and even throughout COVID I still had plans for going to med school and overcoming those unique challenges. I had the same views on anime and the whole culture that the majority of people (or at least the US) has, never taking this seriously. But then again, there were also a lot of things going on with me at the time that I don't miss.
For starters, the pandemic really threw me for a loop. I had always planned on going straight to med school after college, and had a set plan for getting all my requirements and classes done over time to get into a really good med school. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way; Lots of research opportunities and classes I needed to take suddenly dissolved before my eyes, setting me back a few years as I had to work harder to get the same result. I graduated college just fine, but the fact that my dream was in jeopardy shook me. I still tried applying and getting into good schools, but got turned down at every point because they didn't yet make exceptions for the pandemic. It launched me into a depression, and for about 2 years after graduation I was more or less a NEET living at home barely able to function. I kept trying for different schools and working odd jobs, but constant rejections and nothing sticking for good only worsened my situation.
I was well into the weeds when I found Hololive, which wasn't the cure-all (like anyone would think that) but it was entertaining to say the least. This community isn't perfect, but I've met a ton of nice, funny and incredible people all over due to VTubers, so while it didn't help my situation, it made things more bearable.
Then along came Council- naturally I was excited, the EN members/speakers were my favorites. I liked all the new Gen 2 members, but Kronii hit different right from her debut stream. From the superficial points like her design, her voice, persona and talent- down to her more innate and special attributes like her humor, empathy and relatability. She instantly became my favorite, and I wanted to do more with her content and unique streams. I had no art skills, no limitless pools of cash for SCs, no real talent to make my mark- but I did like making shitposts, and when I remembered the popularity and fun people had here on Reddit, I thought to myself, "That's perfect- I'll go ahead and do that!"
To this day, I don't think of Kronii as a truly perfect person. She's got her flaws, but we all do; What's important was that she (or at least her persona) is what I aspired to be: confident, ambitious, funny, intelligent, in short what I dreamed of being like all throughout college and in the future. As the days turned to weeks turned to months, I've kept up the meme posts both because they cheered me up and because I wanted to keep supporting her. Throughout it all though, I think it was also what I needed to 'wake up' and shake me out of my stupor. Lying in bed all day sad about what could have been had got me nowhere, and it wasn't showing any signs of changing. But if I acted more like Kronii, being optimistic and working my hardest towards making the best of things, maybe things would change.
To my surprise- they did! My family said I looked and acted happier, I went out more and made some IRL friends, held a job for more than a few months and actively found/worked towards getting the medical requirements needed for school. Just three months ago I got accepted into med school- the studying and workload has been crushing, but I would rather go through ten years of it than back trapped in my own head. It's a surreal experience, one that I would not have believed had I not seen the results first hand, but here I am.
I want to end this on a serious note though: Kronii herself did not help me get to this point. I don't think a random person on the internet was the answer to all my problems, nor would I dump all of this onto her over several SCs as if she saved my life. This achievement and path of self-realization was my own doing, my own hard work and the persistence not to give up when times were tough. But Kronii did help show me the startline- not directly, not on purpose, but just a case of right place and right time. Without seeing the kind of person that she is and the kind of person I knew I wanted to be, who knows how long I would have been stuck in my depressive state or if I would achieve my dream.
So Thank You Kronii. You appeared at the right time in my life, showed me the possibility of what I could be when I couldn't see it myself, and I am proud to say I am thriving. It's my own hard work and patience that got me here, but throughout it all you've been a source of inspiration and laughs that made me happy. I'm going to keep working hard, not because I want to make you happy but to achieve self-fullfillment as a person.
...ok, small joke. TL;DR- "Just don't be sad." but it worked.