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Synopsis:
Juliette Contzen is a lazy, good-for-nothing princess. Overshadowed by her siblings, she's left with little to do but nap, read … and occasionally cut the falling raindrops with her sword. Spotted one day by an astonished adventurer, he insists on grading Juliette's swordsmanship, then promptly has a mental breakdown at the result.
Soon after, Juliette is given the news that her kingdom is on the brink of bankruptcy. At threat of being married off, the lazy princess vows to do whatever it takes to maintain her current lifestyle, and taking matters into her own hands, escapes in the middle of the night in order to restore her kingdom's finances.
Tags: Comedy, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Copious Ohohohohos.
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Chapter 17: Well Of Courage
Amidst a field of wilting wheat and crushed financial hopes, the most disparate thing was the well in the centre. To say that it looked abandoned was to say that bouillabaisse à l'encre de seiche was acceptable as an evening entrée. It wasn't. It was ugly and grisly. And so was this well.
I stared down into the abyss, feeling the cold air echoing within its depths. There was no hint of its bottom. No dripping or splashing of water. Only a sordid darkness resided here, giving way to a pit without end.
I looked up and frowned at Mary … Marina Lainsfont. She had the good grace to already look sheepish.
“The starflower is here?” I queried. “In this well? At the bottom?”
“I believe so,” she replied, looking less and less reliable with each passing moment.
I returned to gawking into the clear safety hazard. The well had no cover and no signage. And while the fates of those who accidentally tripped and fell to an agonising end mattered little to me, it did suggest a rather unseemly welcome for anyone who voluntarily climbed down.
Fortunately, whatever had accrued at the bottom couldn't be seen.
Unfortunately, whatever had accrued at the bottom also couldn't be avoided.
“Is there a reason you haven't collected the starflower yourself?” I asked, glancing back at the alchemist. “As ghastly as climbing down a well surely is, it must have warranted your investigation.”
“It did. I've … well, I've previously thought about climbing down, but it's not the well itself that has the starflower. It's the caverns.”
“There are caverns underneath Rolstein?”
“Only here. Underground waterways originating from a series of caverns feeds into this well. They're very old, and other than when there's an issue with the water supply, rarely traversed. However, I recently discovered records that suggest a unique ecosystem may be present down there which includes flora and um … other inhabitants.”
“And how many dozens of eyes do these inhabitants have?”
“The normal amount. Maybe. Tunnel bats are known to exit the well on occasion. The 'maybe' makes it too dangerous for me … but based on the ideal conditions, I believe that a starflower may very well be present.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“That, or some other array of rare apothecary ingredients, I imagine?”
“The thought did cross my mind, yes,” admitted the alchemist. “But whether or not a starflower is present is irrelevant if another suitably powerful curative can be discovered.”
“A fool's hope,” I replied. “Guesswork is unlikely to hand the keys to unlocking this cure.”
The woman's shoulders fell.
“Does … Does this mean ...”
“And yet, I believe that pursuing all avenues of investigation is warranted, given the severity of the Withering. As a result, I will personally order my future attendant to climb down this narrow and dangerous well and retrieve any rare medicinal reagents for your usage.”
Coppelia, who until now was content to examine the spiralling abyss she would soon investigate, looked up at me and beamed.
“Nope.”
“Now, Coppelia, I understand your apprehension. This well is disgusting. However, this is a matter of practicality. Your outrageous strength must surely confer above-average jumping and falling abilities. As there's no method for me to enter or exit without grave harm to me or my sense of hygiene, it leaves you with your unique skill set for physicality to conduct this investigation.”
Coppelia pointed at something in the wilted wheat.
“There's a ladder here.”
I leaned slightly to the side, then spotted the wooden ladder squashing what few crops had valiantly tried to remain upright.
“An excellent observation, Coppelia. Why, by spotting something unbeknownst to the rest of us, you've demonstrated your proficiency in taking on this investigative role.”
“True. I'm still in the 'nope' camp, though. I'm not valiant and brave like you. In fact, I have an idea! Why don't you use the ladder and I'll give moral support by constantly praising your courage from here?”
Tempting. But no.
I looked at the alchemist instead.
“Why is there a ladder conveniently placed here, and why are you not currently volunteering to lead the way into your own excursion?”
The woman glanced to the side as she played with her fingers. An embarrassed blush appeared on her cheeks.
“Um, well … like I said, I previously thought about climbing down … but it's … well, um, very dark ...”
I looked between the two individuals I found myself with.
One a clockwork doll, one an alchemist. Impudence with a brazen smile from one and cowardice with a bashful veneer from the other.
Then, I quietly groaned while rubbing my temples.
Ugh. But of course, what else could I expect from simple commoners? Gallantry was the realm of royalty. And as a princess, I was its champion.
If I was forced to climb down a damp and hopelessly unfitting well, then that wasn't a black mark against my standing, was it? No, of course not. It was a sign of boldness, determination and unmatched nerve. Qualities which were not only expected of me, but ones which I regularly performed each time my mother brutishly thrust me into the limelight of court to 'do some actual work'.
Indeed, I was no stranger to tenacity!
What was a well, compared to the horrors of conversing with the daughters and sons of lesser nobility as though we were peers?
A highly suspect hole in the ground was nothing! And if I told myself that, then it immediately became true!
“Ohh … ohoho! Very well. The both of you may rejoice. I will brave the darkness and scour the depths! Whatever reagents may be recovered within, I will extract for the sake of this kingdom!”
“Ooooh ...”
Coppelia began clapping her hands. The alchemist joined her after a moment's confusion. The applause was neither necessary, nor particularly fervent.
I accepted it nonetheless, smiling as I pointed at the ladder.
“Coppelia, please attach the ladder to the well. You may hold it steady while I descend into the depths.”
“I'll do better than that. Why, with a determination so fierce, how could I abandon a heroine to brave the unknowns on her own?”
“Me too! I'll join you. I told you I'll show you the way. I can't just leave you to explore on your own. I can help identify anything that may be of use.”
And just like that, my valour had roped willing servants to my side!
Not that I allowed surprise to leak onto my carefully crafted expression. Indeed, drawing the weak and the unwilling to my cause was a principle effect of my royal status, whether I proclaimed it or not!
“Ohhoho! Then let us make haste! Even as we stand, the livelihoods of those around us perishes beneath the evening glow!”
“Right!”
With enthusiasm which I already viewed as uncharacteristic, Coppelia skipped over to the ladder, then effortlessly lifted it over her head. The alchemist and I ducked as she swung it violently over the well with little heed to our heads.
“Hiee?! W-Watch where you display your brutish strength! I only have one head, and it's my life's goal to keep it on my neck!”
“Got it!”
Twirling it like a dancer with a baton, she gave a playful smile as she plunged the ladder down the well.
One thing was for certain. There was a bottom.
And one not as far as the unnatural darkness would suggest.
A frail splash echoed upwards, betraying the shallowness of the water. I peered down the opening once again, wincing as I failed to discern where the ladder vanished from view.
“Okay~” said Coppelia with a musical hum. “Lead the way, Lady Heroine.”
I frowned as I looked up.
“I'm not a Lady. I'm a Pri—ack-hack-ack-ughh.”
“Wow, you even have hacking coughs in your titles? You kingdoms really like your fancy names, huh? Where do I get one like that?”
After almost being caught out by the most fiendish of questions, I recollected myself and smiled with grace.
“The … The Kingdom of Tirea's peerage system doesn't allow those without hereditary claims to a noble birthright assume a title. It is not something you can 'get', with the sole exception of a royal proclamation.”
“… And how do I get one of them?”
I willed myself not to tut. Such a coarse question would never be levelled at me had she known who I truly was. As such, I would allow the tactlessness.
“Through significant contribution to the kingdom,” I answered, before reaching for the top rung of the ladder. “Should you wish to begin climbing that staircase of sweat and tears, I suggest you begin by making me a pot of chamomile tea.”
Indeed, as the feats I intend to perform will doubtless be recorded in the annals of our history, even the smallest contribution by those who aid me will be viewed with generous lenses … especially if they offer me hot beverages on demand!
I gingerly lifted myself across the rim of the well and planted my feet onto the ladder.
“I'm terrible at tea making,” she said, a black stain now inked on her history. “But I make up for it with my charming disposition and ability to ask questions at the worst times. For example, how are you going to see down there?”
I paused, already several steps down.
“M-My! Have no fear … that won't be an issue!”
Clearly, she believed me so focused on the task ahead that I'd neglected a vital practicality in achieving it. Understandable. But I was no clumsy genius fated to trip over her masterworks and journals. I was simply a genius.
And that meant being able to hop over every hazard even before I saw it!
For indeed … I did have a method for piercing even the darkest night.
“Voila!”
Starlight Grace shone as I carefully drew it from my sheath, one hand still gripping the ladder.
All of a sudden, the overwhelming darkness below was pierced by a light so radiant that it seemed to rebound within this small space. Each pearl of moisture was illuminated against the stone, shining like little stars painted against the damp surface.
In legends past, Starlight Grace's splendour was such that this artifact alone could pierce the foul blackness which shielded the Witch of Calamity once plaguing our fledgling kingdom. Noble as our ancestors' hearts, tenacious as the towns they founded and virtuous as the heavens which shone upon their labour, Starlight Grace was the symbol of the kingdom's spirit …..... and also my reading light.
Truly, my sword was astonishingly convenient!
What need did one have of candles and fireplaces when I was gifted the light of the heavens themselves? Yes, Starlight Grace could fell the hordes of darkness, but more importantly, it allowed me to finish the page turners that raced against my need for sleep.
I pointed my sword towards my feet.
A murky, shallow surface of water was illuminated at the bottom of the revealed well. Not one, but several buckets shorn of their rope were lying half-submerged amongst a wet collage of algae and foliage.
What were once leaves and florets of wheat blown from the fields above now formed its own habitat. I chose not to think about what ghastly species of caterpillars had opted to make their home within that mass of virulent green.
Above me, I heard a hushed gasp. I glanced up at my captivated audience.
“A-Amazing ...” murmured the alchemist, her eyes wide.
“I know,” added Coppelia, no less stunned. “I would've put money on there being at least one dead body down there.”
I redirected my gaze back down.
“If you still wish to make that wager, then you're free to.”
“Really? Will you bet against me?”
I narrowed me eyes at the pit of algae.
“No.”
“Shame. There's definitely something dead down there. So, going down?”
With that, Coppelia tapped the top rung of the ladder with her foot. I parted my lips, ready to discuss with her the non-existent notion of hurrying a princess when the alchemist let out a gulp so audible that it echoed within the well.
“Such a magnificent sword … How did you come to acquire it?”
“It was gifted to me as a young child. Not a day has gone by where I haven't had it by my side.”
“I see … then it's no wonder my father gave the task of delivering Apple to you. You must be a highly accomplished swordswoman to have earned his respect so swiftly.”
“N … Naturally! It's said that … warriors may take the measure of one another more keenly than even a merchant and their wares. My righteous soul and exemplary skill at arms is revealed to any who care to look.”
The alchemist wore an expression of fervent agreement as she studied the sword in my grip. For my part, I pressed it up against the side of the ladder as I began to climb down the well.
It was not the most dignified of activities, but I was saving the kingdom. I could easily spin this unbecoming descent into a far grander tale once the time came to pay off the bards and the minstrels. Why, this was something that would earn me the adoration of the masses! Most princesses only climbed up, and yet here I was, descending even deeper than where their knees fell as they grovelled towards me.
My, wasn't I just a princess of the people?
In moments, I heard, and felt, my far more fearful comrades finding purchase on the ladder. Accepting my natural role as leader, I led the descent with grace and maturity, never once noticing how disgustingly slimy this ladder was, or wondering how much fire would be needed to erase the smell of algae from my clothes afterwards.
“You spoke of dangers,” I said upwards, past Coppelia's graceful figure as she practically slid from rung to rung. “Aside from tunnel bats and tripping over one's feet in the darkness, what other dangers can be expected within the waterways?”
“I … ah, it's quite slippery isn't it? Um, I'm not sure. I would expect monsters to reside in the dark and wet conditions. But from what I know of the well, the only things other than tunnel bats to escape are water slimes and strangler crabs.”
“Creatures that even a newly trained soldier would be expected to readily dispatch. Is that all?”
“I believe so. It's the unknown that concerns me. But so far, I've seen no records to suggest that anything more sinister resides here. I think it'll be fine. Maybe. Probably. I would traverse these caverns myself, but, well … I don't have a glowing sword.”
The alchemist's voice faded with something between shame and embarrassment.
Of course, for an ordinary citizen, even common monsters were beyond them. Slimes, crabs and bats failed to worry me. After all, I had Starlight Grace. And more pertinently, I had a clockwork doll with enough arm strength to propel me to safety if and when required.
Still, I wondered why I could feel goosebumps beginning to appear?
And hmm … what was that ominous groaning in the distance?
“Hey, hey, Juliette?”
I glanced up and frowned. It was one thing for to be spoken to so casually, but the way Coppelia did it with such a blasé smile would have sent tutting hurtling her way in any other context.
Curiously, I didn't find it entirely displeasing. Perhaps because the handmaids who'd served my family longest were permitted in private to refer to us with a degree of informality. It was, in a limited capacity, refreshing.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Well, I just had this thought,” she said, animatedly pointing at her own head. “If we're not actually sure what's beyond this highly suspect well, would it not be prudent to pause, take stock of our limited supplies, re-evaluate the purpose of this hastily arranged venture and perhaps seek even just a little bit of information before ploughing head first into the uncharted darkness?”
I paused to consider a crack in the stone, then waved away Coppelia's concerns.
Really now! Nitpicking over plans is what my brothers and sisters did. And look where that had gotten them. Assigned to ghastly roles filled with royal duties and obnoxious responsibilities, without a minute to spend on their own whims.
That was not the life of luxury I intended to live.
… Moreover, time spent planning was time spent not doing! My livelihood was at stake and I had a long list to go through. I was here to hurry, not to worry!
Thus, I shrugged and continued climbing. But not without giving my answer.
“Ohhohohoho!! Darkness? What need do I have to fear the darkness? Indeed, it is the darkness who should fear me!”
I raised Starlight Grace ever so slightly, drawing on the last gasp of sunlight peering down the well to reflect off its radiant edge. A prism of blinding light momentarily lit up the entirety of the well, before falling solely against the bottom of the well once more.
“Ooooh …”
Coppelia applauded, not even requiring her hands to hold herself steady against the ladder. I accepted it with good grace.
That's right. I had nothing to fear!
For I was the Third Princess to the Kingdom of Tirea. And that meant even this darkness belonged to me. If it troubled me, I'd find a way to tax it!
And yes, that included the strange groaning in the distance too.
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He's really gone for good. My friends son lives down the hall from him. We talked last week and I told her what happened. I thought she had misunderstood me when she said he moved out with his girlfriend that she met one time. I thought she was talking about her son. I didn't ask her in the moment, she moved on quickly and told me about her mom's recent passing after a long illness, and that's way more important than my obsession. I figured I could bring it up again when I saw her Thursday. But she was sick, so I didn't see her. Aga But it's been hard to get out of my mind. So yesterday I got the idea in my head to just drive thru the lot of his complex, to see if I see his truck. I decided to go after work, because he gets up early and is usually in bed early, so it was a safe assumption he'd be home. My friend advised me not to. She asked what it would accomplish. She said that if I know where he is it would be a temptation to try to see him, and then I'm back in the trap I was in 2 months ago. Except this time it would be with the knowledge that there's a woman who believes this man is faithful to her. With the knowledge that he's been lying to me since the beginning. I am so weak when it comes to him. I can see that now, now that I finally figured out the game he's been playing. I can see everything I dismissed in my desperation to find someone good. Beginning with his boast about remaining faithful til he moved out of the house he shared with his ex, that she seemed to be trying to push him into cheating, so she could be the innocent victim in the marriage. Fucking lying piece of shit. He's been sneaking around and lying to this girl for 2yrs, and I'm supposed to believe he wasn't messing around on his then-wife??? I believed him when he said he was broken, that the last few years with his ex were really bad. I have years of experience working with clients in the mental health field. I've heard a lot of very sad, tragic stories. I've worked with people who are trying to recover from loss. The end of a marriage is a loss. It's a loss of an entire future that you had assumed you'd spend with your spouse. It's the end of the dynamic you've become accustomed to with your children. Can completely uproot multiple lives. I've had training in trauma-informed care. Meet people where they're at, not where you want them to be, where you think they should be. Let them set the pace for their recovery. When he told me his version of the breakdown of the marriage, I felt a ton of sympathy for him. Abusive relationships are very hard to recover from. Every boundary he set, I told myself it was because he doesn't feel safe to let his guard down. I had this image of him - yes, now I can see the image I had was completely fabricated by me. But this image - older, conservative guy with old-fashioned values. He treated me so different from anyone else I've known. Complete honesty - I had a lot of suspicions that I overlooked. I have a little self & awareness, and I know what triggers my PTSD, and I know my shortcomings. And one is repetitive thoughts patterns. When an insecurity got stuck in my head, I'd call him out on it. And all he ever said - all he ever needed to say - was you're overthinking, stop overthinking. And I know it's huge problem I have, I overthink until I convince myself I've found evidence to support whatever belief I had. Of course, I trusted him completely, and allowed myself be completely vulnerable with him. Big fucking mistake that I have made many times in my life, you'd think I'd learn. But yeah so it's in the back of my mind for a week now. I meant to talk to my therapist about it yesterday, but we are working thru a lot, and it slipped my mind. Last night I explained the conversation to another friend. Her very wise advice was to stay away. She said if I know where he is, I keep the door cracked open a little. She said it's not going to give me any answers, and it won't give me any closure. I in my infinite wisdom thought it would be the opposite - if I don't know where he is, I know it will never be an option. She said don't do it... I did it anyway. Never in the entire time since we met have I gone hunting him down. The times here & there when we weren't really talking much, when it was infatuation, before it became love, I never went looking for him, never felt the need to check up on him, to show up unannounced at his house, to look thru his phone. He made me feel so secure in us. I've never felt that way with anyone. And after it grew into love, I still never felt the need. I knew he had hang-ups, I knew he was far from perfect, and there were a couple things thru the last few months that I was having trouble letting go of, having trouble explaining it away. But I know I overthink. And when I called him out on these things, I get told I'm overthinking. But no. I wasn't overthinking, I was actually just THINKING. And he was gaslighting. So anyway after being advised not to, I drove to his place after work last night. I got there around 10:pm. He gets up super early for work, and usually crashes pretty early. But there's a lot he kept from me. Maybe he crashed early from being exhausted by living 2 separate lives. But anyway it would be a reasonable assumption that he'd be home snoring away. And I drove thru the lot twice. No sign of his truck. Last night - after having the 1st really good, clear-headed day I've had in almost 2 months, I came home and sat in my car sobbing, like it's a fresh ending. It's not a fresh ending. It's a confirmed ending. My head - fucking with me like always - says well I used to mostly see him on Mondays and Thursdays, and yesterday was Wednesday. Maybe Wednesday is a night he stays with his chosen one. So maybe I should go by on one of those nights. Like maybe tonight after work. I know I shouldn't. I know my friend was most likely talking about him and not her son. I don't understand why she wouldn't have told me when it happened. We don't catch up often, but I feel like if she saw him moving out and in with a woman, maybe she should have said something? But the woman spent 3 months watching her mother slowly wither away, that takes precedence over everything. She had no obligation to say anything about it to me. The last time I talked to her he never came up, we talked about her recent breakup and her mom. I'm not upset with her. I get it. Are you reading this? If you are, please tell me NOT to go by again. Not to go by ever. Yesterday was a good day. I felt GOOD. I felt well-rested, optimistic, energetic. I listened to music that wasn't angry music. I've avoided listening to anything sad, but I did listen to a lot of loud, angry music. Yesterday I listened to upbeat music that makes me want to dance. Please. Tell me not to go. If I don't know where he is, I feel like it's more permanent.

I (28F) have been with my boyfriend (27M) for a year, and for the most part we have had no issues whatsoever. He's sweet, kind, and incredibly loving. For most of our relationship I've actually thought he was too good to be true, and he's treated me better than anyone ever has. We have been looking to buy a home together, and have had extensive talks about getting married. As far as I've been concerned this is the person I've wanted to spend my life with.
We really haven't had many issues throughout our relationship, and I don't think he has a single malicious bone in his body, but there have been some things that have come up that caused problems between us (I will try to give the Cliff's Notes versions):

• I value honesty and transparency over most things, which he knows, and so we had disclosed to each other about our past dating history/relationships. However, he withheld information from me regarding his ex despite telling me that he'd told me everything; that she had been living with him for months during lockdown despite having her own place, and didn't tell me until 10 months into our relationship when I had to ask him about a mysterious YouTube account linked to his TV. His reasoning for not removing the account or even mentioning this situation is because he didn't view the relationship as being serious. This situation made me uncomfortable as I don't like to be surprised/blindsided with information, but we had worked through it.
  
• He had mistakenly made a comment to me about my appearance which made me feel very insecure and bad about myself. Our sex life has always been pretty great but just not as frequent as I'd like which is due to some health issues on his part, but even so, it felt to me like our sex life had slowed down slightly too (I figure more because we're in the comfy stage). I didn't feel as desirable to him after this had been said, despite him telling me otherwise frequently. Overall I just wasn't feeling very secure in the relationship or good about myself. He's making more of an effort to give me reassurance though.
  

After having some long talks with each other and him reassuring me, I later found out that he'd been talking about all of this to his best friends. However, what he'd been telling them were lies and fabrications about what had been going on between us. He omitted any wrongdoings on his part, and had implied that these issues had come completely out of nowhere and had stemmed from my own past of being cheated on..? (which was not relevant at all to what had been going on between us, and this was also not information for him to share with his friends, as I had told him in confidence about my past experiences). He had essentially thrown me under the bus and made me look unhinged so as to not look bad in front of his friends. He portrayed me as an insecure mess of a person, and allowed his friends to speak badly of me too. I take a lot of pride in my character as I think I'm a good and kind person, but he has gone to some of the people he cares about most and reduced me to nothing more than a future crazy ex girlfriend. I now know that because of this, his friends think badly of me and have suggested that he should reconsider the relationship. This hurts because I like his friends and I care what they think of me as I know how much they mean to my bf, and vice versa. I personally hadn't spoken to any of my friends about what had been going on between us as I wanted to protect his character and didn't want anyone to think badly of him...
Reading what they had been saying about me broke me. I'm absolutely heartbroken that he would hurt me like this as I never thought he could do something like that. We've talked about it and he says he's incredibly ashamed of himself for doing this and is trying to make it right, but I don't know where to go from here. He has spoken to his friends and told them that he grossly misrepresented me as a person, and lied about what he'd said to them. I know he's genuinely remorseful and feels terrible about what he's done, but the whole thing has riddled me with so much anxiety and I'm not sure whether there is any coming back from this. I've been having panic attacks multiple times a day since this had come to light as I clearly don't feel as safe and secure in the relationship as I once did. I guess only time will tell whether this can get better, I just wish none of it ever happened and that we could go back to the way things were. I guess I'm just having trouble accepting it and moving on.
Just needed to vent I guess, but any advice/perspective is appreciated.

Fortunate enough to get some great options, but am very debt averse. I want to be an admiralty lawyer, and Tulane has the best certificate program in the world. They offered a conditional scholarship (haven't received the conditions yet) and am wary about that. I don't' particularly like southern weather and my family lives near Wayne State. I received a full scholarship at Wayne, and could live at home and loans would be minimal (though I've lived on my own for 11 years and that sounds insane). They don't offer a maritime certificate, but I have friends that have found their way into maritime law without it, and know I'll have to do my own networking to find my way into the field if I don't go to Tulane. Would the maritime focus be worth taking out loans and moving away from family? Ultimately I want to end up on the coasts or Chicago and work for an admiralty firm and then work in public policy.
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I'm getting solar put in my home this year at some point. Going down that rabbit hole, I also realize that switching out my gas water heater over to a heat pump water heater should be relatively easy and eliminates a gas appliance in my house (screw you, Xcel!).
Has anyone here had a HPWH installed, and who did you use?

I(25f) finally got to meet my bf(24m) again after 8 months of being ld. We had met in person but then I had to go back to my home country. Yes we went through some up and downs with ld but we were solid. I moved back and into a house with him. The first week or so everything was amazing. He introduced me to some more of his close friends that I hadn't met before. On that night I had talked to one of his friends gf and she mentioned to us that they had a hard time in the beginning of their relationship because her bf cheated and they had to work that out. My bf and I talked of course and he never said anything weird. But I don't know I got a weird feeling with how he acted.
Two days go by and the feeling never left. He went to go cut his friends hair and because I don't have internet yet he left his phone so I could Hotspot off it. He always tells me I can go through it and i just grabbed it and went through his ig. There I found that he was talking to a girl for a few weeks. They had met on one of his nights out that I almost broke up with him for a few months back because he didn't message me for 3 days after going to a club. I was so hurt. I moved all this way to be together and he couldn't even be honest. We had just had a phone call before I came and we were asking each other question and he told me that he could never forgive cheating.
Now I know it wasn't the best idea but by the time he got home I was 2 bottles of soju in and working on my 3rd. I confronted him right away and told him not to touch me because he was trying to hug me and say sorry. He told me his excuses and told me he knows they're just excuses but he doesn't want me to leave. Of course I was to drunk and just continued to yell at him(at least that what he told me the next morning).
In my rage and feeling of lost. Especially because I didn't have anywhere to go the next few days I would drink and yell. He took off work and took care of me. Both of us crying and his apologizing. While drunk I also made him do stuff. (He's Muslim and I had him tell his sister that he cheated on me) at the time I thought it was like a "ha now people know your an AH" But the next day I apologized to him because I shouldn't have told him to do that. Granted he did tell her and told me that he would do anything to get me to stay with him.
It's been maybe 3 weeks now. A lot of ass kissing from him and me telling him that I need to work out what I want to do. I love him so much that I told him I would be willing to try but that doesn't mean I wont be gone tomorrow because it's litterally on my mind everyday. He told me he understands and we are working through it. He let me go through his phone completely and even though I didn't ask he put his instagram on my phone. I haven't looked through it since the first 3 days of me finding out. I feel just because I have his instagram doesn't mean it'll stop him from doing it again and also I can't bring myself to look.
These days I've been feeling happy again. We have worked a lot on us and are having very open conversations about what happened. He's not hiding away from it and is really open about everything that happened and just everything. We don't talk about it as much because after 3 weeks of talking what more is there to talk about. Now it's like I'm going through a wave of sadness after being happy with him. I feel like I'm stupid for being happy this soon after finding out he talked with another girl. And they didn't have sex but they talked about meeting up and missing each other from the one night they met. So am I allowed to feel this way? Like how much is considered cheating. Am I stupid for being happy even though its only been 3 weeks? Any advice please.
Tl;dr - my(25f) bf(24m) cheated on me. I found out a week after moving to a different country and in with him. They didn't have sex but they met at a club and continued to talk for a few weeks. What is considered cheating and am I stupid for feeling happy when I'm with him even though it's only been 3 weeks?

Hello there lovely ladies of the internet!
My name's Luca and I'm looking for something real with someone for the long term.
I will be happy to share more info in detail as well as exchange pictures when we chat, but for now, I hope this summary will get you interested in finding out more!
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About Me:

• UK, England, Hertfordshire - Happy to tell more specific whereabouts if we chat!
• 21 years old. - Soon to be 22
• 5'10" / 177cm. - I know height is a big deal for some people.
• Introverted - ISTJ - Never been into partying/clubbing stuff - I’m probably a “homebody” however I feel I would always be open to going out for some unique fun experiences to make memories with the right person for sure!
• Work full time - I have a day job, as well as a personal passion project I'm working on!
• Dog lover - Have a 6-year-old cockapoo, yes dw you will be spammed with pics of her! I would love to raise a dog with my partner in the future as well!
• Incredible home chef - I really enjoy cooking some great tasty homemade meals rather than suffering from some bland microwave or frozen meals. Let me know your favourite meal and I'll see what I can do!
• PC Gamer - At the moment I play a mix of Dead By Daylight, Apex Legends, Valorant, Warframe, Deep Rock Galactic and League of Legends. Would always be down to try out other games to play together as well!
• Self-improver - I have been enjoying my dedicated time per day focused on self-improvement between my daily exercise or chill drawing time to take a break from screens!
• Anime enjoyer - Will happily share my MAL if you are interested in my anime taste!
• Musical mess - My Spotify is quite a mess, you may enjoy or hate the rollercoaster if you dare to listen!
• Childfree - There are quite a few reasons for this decision, which we can discuss, but I am not looking to have any kids or be with someone with kids already.

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About You:

• Must be in the UK at least, preferably England - Not interested in an LDR across 2 countries.
• 18-27 years old - Looking for someone who is mature and knows what they want.
• Working or studying - Gotta have some life aspirations!
• No drugs + Non-smoker + Drinks in moderation - Not looking for someone who depends on any substances to have a good time.
• Good communication skills - I feel this is scarily uncommon in my experience.
• Childfree.
• Dog lover.

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I’m mainly just looking for a like-minded person who can be my best friend and partner to laugh through life's struggles together. Always dreaming about the possible future when the right person comes along. Maybe that could be you?
If my post has interested you, feel free to send me a message or chat and we will go from there, ideally moving to Discord if things go well!

Hi there. I’m a pre op trans woman who has always had an interest in feminization and have decided it’s time to find what I’ve been missing-a partner who has or wants to transition from male to female for a long term romantic relationship.
I am pre op, and unsure about whether or not I want bottom surgery. I think I’d be happy 100% either way, and have always felt that reserving that decision for my future partner and I to make together would be ideal. I’ve lived full time over a decade and consider myself pretty and passable.
About you-you should be in good shape and serious about wanting to leave your masculinity behind and become the woman you have always be meant to be, as well as wanting a long term romantic relationship. I’m sympathetic to home situations and we can discuss more one a person by person basis. It doesn’t matter if you are a masculine man, muscular, have already started to or have transitioned, or are that guy who likes panties or to dress-I want to find someone I can be their rock, their safe space, home.
Let’s unleash the real you. Let’s cook together, go shopping and buy cute outfits and lingerie and have a fashion show at home. Let’s get our hair and nails done together, and dare I say, fall in love?
I’m very real and VERY serious. Is my future lesbian wifey out there? Message me or send a chat if this is you!

Hi! I was wondering what is safer to put around the house for primarily silverfish, Boric Acid or Diatomaceous earth in a pet free home. At first I heard DE was safer, but I've heard mixed things saying that even food grade DE (which I have) isn't really that safe for humans if you accidentally breath it in. While I can use an N95 mask when applying it, I fear that when vaccuming some might get into the air etc. Also does DE harden over time? (unlike BA).
I have both BA and DE food grade, just wondering what I should use more. Thank you!
Another question, does Essential Oil diffusers actually work for repellant? I have orange essential oil and I heard that it is actually toxic for bugs and can kill them. I don't like the smell of the sweet orange essential oil, but I was wondering if it's worth it. Would other essential oils work just as well, such as lemon or frankincense? Thanks!

My cousin is a felon. He just got out of prison at the end of Summer. He's totally reformed, and trying to make a better life for himself. I got him a job at big yellow, and he's held the job for 6 months now and got converted to full time. Doing great in that aspect. Staying sober, going to councilling. But the problem he's facing is finding a place to live. Does anyone here know of any programs or landlords/rental companies that will work with felons trying to get back on their feet?

Hi there. I’m a pre op trans woman who has always had an interest in feminization and have decided it’s time to find what I’ve been missing-a partner who has or wants to transition from male to female for a long term romantic relationship.
I am pre op, and unsure about whether or not I want bottom surgery. I think I’d be happy 100% either way, and have always felt that reserving that decision for my future partner and I to make together would be ideal. I’ve lived full time over a decade and consider myself pretty and passable.
About you-you should be in good shape and serious about wanting to leave your masculinity behind and become the woman you have always be meant to be, as well as wanting a long term romantic relationship. I’m sympathetic to home situations and we can discuss more one a person by person basis. It doesn’t matter if you are a masculine man, muscular, have already started to or have transitioned, or are that guy who likes panties or to dress-I want to find someone I can be their rock, their safe space, home.
Let’s unleash the real you. Let’s cook together, go shopping and buy cute outfits and lingerie and have a fashion show at home. Let’s get our hair and nails done together, and dare I say, fall in love?
I’m very real and VERY serious. Is my future lesbian wifey out there? Message me or send a chat if this is you!

Hello there lovely ladies of the internet!
My name's Luca and I'm looking for something real with someone for the long term.
I will be happy to share more info in detail as well as exchange pictures when we chat, but for now, I hope this summary will get you interested in finding out more!
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

About Me:

• UK, England, Hertfordshire - Happy to tell more specific whereabouts if we chat!
• 21 years old. - Soon to be 22
• 5'10" / 177cm. - I know height is a big deal for some people.
• Introverted - ISTJ - Never been into partying/clubbing stuff - I’m probably a “homebody” however I feel I would always be open to going out for some unique fun experiences to make memories with the right person for sure!
• Work full time - I have a day job, as well as a personal passion project I'm working on!
• Dog lover - Have a 6-year-old cockapoo, yes dw you will be spammed with pics of her! I would love to raise a dog with my partner in the future as well!
• Incredible home chef - I really enjoy cooking some great tasty homemade meals rather than suffering from some bland microwave or frozen meals. Let me know your favourite meal and I'll see what I can do!
• PC Gamer - At the moment I play a mix of Dead By Daylight, Apex Legends, Valorant, Warframe, Deep Rock Galactic and League of Legends. Would always be down to try out other games to play together as well!
• Self-improver - I have been enjoying my dedicated time per day focused on self-improvement between my daily exercise or chill drawing time to take a break from screens!
• Anime enjoyer - Will happily share my MAL if you are interested in my anime taste!
• Musical mess - My Spotify is quite a mess, you may enjoy or hate the rollercoaster if you dare to listen!
• Childfree - There are quite a few reasons for this decision, which we can discuss, but I am not looking to have any kids or be with someone with kids already.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

About You:

• Must be in the UK at least, preferably England - Not interested in an LDR across 2 countries.
• 18-27 years old - Looking for someone who is mature and knows what they want.
• Working or studying - Gotta have some life aspirations!
• No drugs + Non-smoker + Drinks in moderation - Not looking for someone who depends on any substances to have a good time.
• Good communication skills - I feel this is scarily uncommon in my experience.
• Childfree.
• Dog lover.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
I’m mainly just looking for a like-minded person who can be my best friend and partner to laugh through life's struggles together. Always dreaming about the possible future when the right person comes along. Maybe that could be you?
If my post has interested you, feel free to send me a message or chat and we will go from there, ideally moving to Discord if things go well!

I feel like there should be a manual. Hell, I don’t know how I ended up with her in the first place. Meeting the perfect girl on Omegle? That doesn’t happen twice.
Just everything was perfect. She was almost the same age. She was beautiful in my eyes, gorgeous. She would never cheat and was super clingy. Try to find that in today’s generation.
I could be as clingy as I wanted to and she was just as clingy. Amazing
Both of us had so similar preferences. In the bedroom, talking, hobbies, values, everything.
She was all I could ever wish for.
Her family loved me, her mother, stepdad, sisters, brother, animals. I was welcomed with open arms and kind hearts into their lives.
The city she was in was amazing and I get home already.
She was just perfect and every other girl I saw, internet or reality didn’t even come close to my girlfriend.
I knew I only wanted her for the rest of my life. We were one, everything was us.
And every new side I discovered about her made me only fall in love with her more. I would’ve given up anything, sex, intimacy, my friends, family, she was my top priority. I just wanted to be with her. (Not for sex alone, just to clarify)
She was with me every day, during every new memory. And I imagined her in my old memories as well.
And now?
She fell out of love with me. And I wish I could’ve done something to prevent that.
Now I am alone. Again.
And I don’t know how to find a girl nearly as perfect as her again.
I don’t even know how I found her the first time. I wasn’t even looking for her.
How will I ever be with someone again who’s that perfect?
I don’t even know where to look, only where not. Clubs, bars, raves, no.
She would’ve stayed at home.
How the hell do I meet someone who’s favorite activity is to stay at home?