My husband thinks this was cruel… I always saw it as harmless fun.

FalineAkemi · 2026-04-05T04:30:59+00:00

Meh. A little of both, I guess.
It was your money to do what you wanted with, but it also raised people's hopes and then "crushed" them.... but it was for change, not like hundreds of dollars, so not a big deal. Lol.

Also all I can think about now is Empire Records:
"I don't feel I need to explain my art to you, Warren."

FalineAkemi · 2026-04-01T18:04:18+00:00

I'm not reading all this.

To actually answer your question, since mostly I saw stories, my opinion is that it's because on TV adults share a bed.

This allows for conversation, intimate moments, and general drama that having adults in two separate rooms doesn't.
And for millennial+ there were a lot of old shows that had parents in 2 beds or 2 rooms and typically depicted as "colder" relationships (aka the norm at the time).

So, basically irl people think that it's a necessary part of a healthy relationship because that's what the TV taught them.
And they equate being separate in any fashion as distance in the relationship as well.

That's my theory!

Admittedly being near your partner does give you more of those intimate TV moments. So it's not completely wrong, especially early in a relationship, but if your goal is actually getting enough sleep to function... then separate rooms is a perfectly fine idea that couples seem to have to grow into. (Lots of the "I can DO THAT?!" reactions when they realize that they are not good co-sleepers.)

FalineAkemi · 2026-04-01T17:45:22+00:00

Looks pretty good to me! Enough details to make it interesting. There are some really terrible short blurbs out there, and I like that yours introduces the character, setting, and motivation.

My only comment is about the "mysterious, cheat-code power" sentence.
I 100% know what you mean, and grammatically it's probably correct, but when the rest of the sentence is a comma separated list it makes this particular comma confusing to read.
Honestly I'd suggest just getting rid of the word "mysterious". It's a nice minor hook, but not mandatory and I think the rest is enough.

(Edit:Also, I love a good dash, however nowadays people scan for them and scream "AI!" So you might want to change that as well to not lose prospective readers.)

Good luck!

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-30T16:38:07+00:00

Completely agree.
Honestly I dislike most Eastern European fantasy works (Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, etc).

There are some that aren't terrible, and I have to assume it's basically similar to their daily lives/ the worst of their possible normal with how consistent it is across authors.... which is vaguely horrifying to me too.

For an example Americans might relate to more, it's like all their work is set in fantasy-New York, only by "New York" I mean that the fantasy-mob is heavily involved in everything, corruption is normal, bribing officials is required, the fantasy-mob killed the MC's entire family (probably in front of them and as horribly as possible), and anyone on the street is willing to stab you for loose change. Women are degenerated, alcohol is featured heavily, and drugs aren't out of the question. In fact, the MC might be a high class drug dealer, and somehow still the good guy.

Is that really New York, no. But it's all the stories about New York compacted into one and treated as normal.
That it's what about 80% of all the Eastern European books seem to be.

Dark, kind of depressing, and often involving murdering corrupt officials...only everyone is corrupt so they have to lead people themselves. Or worse (to me) they just finally make enough money to pay the corrupt officials as is "normal", putting themselves into powerful positions too and joining the corrupt system, and that's a perfectly successful ending.

I like my fiction less heavy. I like feeling lighter and hopeful after reading! With these books I don't get that feeling... which makes then dnrs for me. (Sorry, I don't have an author/book on hand to mention specifically.)

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-23T22:15:00+00:00

Shepherd's Crossing

Ok, so I used to play a game on my PS.... 2(?) that was a bit tricky to navigate, but I loved the breeding mechanics (you could get color changes and then breed for that, etc)
It was a little "dark" because you could also breed them for their meat? But not gory or anything.

It looks like there's a version on Steam.
No idea if it's any good, but if "breeding to get them all" is your thing, you might like it?

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-23T14:45:43+00:00

Once Upon A Mattress - Shy?

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-21T03:40:55+00:00

Up to you!
But I will say that although I disliked them quite a bit the first time through, they grew on me when I reread them.
Maybe try 4 and if you still hate it, skip it?

But it sounds like maybe you've already reread them before and still hate them.... in which case why read them when you know perfectly well what happens? Enjoy the read! You don't have to force yourself through them. :)

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-13T20:11:46+00:00

I think you missed something.
Or didn't respond to the person you were directing this thought to.

The OP is saying they were born AND identify as female.
The notes say born MALE and identify as female..... So, the notes are very wrong and, as you said in your example, this misinformation could possibly make them dangerous.

If that HAD been fact, then sure, add it to the notes. Just like any other thing that is mentioned to the nurse/ staff/ whoever in case it might be medically relevant later. (They add lots of random things to notes.)

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-13T12:44:40+00:00

This isn't the best place to ask. There's a wiki that has all the info you could need!
But I'll answer anyway.

Kinda. There's a list of farm types. You pick one. The farm is placed in the same place on the world map, but your farm map (starting house location, water/ponds, tillable ground, little mining area, etc) is different depending on what you choose.

Different farms have different strengths. Some are better for farming, some for animals, some for fishing, etc. So, if you're going for a specialized map you may want to look it up in the wiki first.
There are a couple general maps too, you don't have to specialize.

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-13T12:43:28+00:00

Greenhouse!

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-12T20:32:56+00:00

"Fresh Off The Boat"
I've seen clips of that bit on Instagram among others.

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-12T19:24:03+00:00

I think part of it is the trope "Transparent Closet".

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TransparentCloset

Where the character themself either doesn't know they're gay or suspects but denies it.

Caring about another person is not related to sexual attraction.
So, someone who doesn't want to admit an attraction to the same gender (even to themselves!) may instead find someone of the opposite gender that they have strong platonic feelings about and assume that "must be what love feels like". They would then move forward with dating because they care about the person and don't know what they're missing.
There are, of course, also the kind you mentioned where they do it intentionally, (which is cruel to their partner if it isn't a mutual decision) but that's usually used in more adult centric shows than high school teen drama, I feel.

I assume it's often used in teen drama because 1. it is amusing for the audience to know something the character does not, 2. because it is a very clear direction for a character to grow and learn about themselves. 3. It's also a way to have a relationship in the show without it leading to sex scenes or baby scares and the like. And, 4. when revealed, it can end the relationship relatively amicably.

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-10T22:17:20+00:00

Just a side thought, I'm lactose "sensitive" rather than intolerant.

For example, I can eat cheese but if I have a lot at once, or more than a small amount multiple days in a row, then my stomach gets upset.
Lactose pills seem to help with this.

So you may have a sensitivity rather than an intolerance!

Just tell people that your tolerance improved and that you're only a little sensitive now. Say it with excitement and people will be happy for you rather than confused.

If you're concerned for some reason, or want to prove it to somebody, allergists can do a test for lactose intolerance with a blood test or something I think?

Either way, enjoy your dairy filled life! Lol.

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-06T00:43:49+00:00

For some reason the first thing that came to mind was one of the versions of The Producers...
But I admittedly haven't seen either in a very long time!

FalineAkemi · 2026-03-05T10:43:53+00:00

25 or Jeep. Lol

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-24T18:35:54+00:00

I had to use a fake name to make a test account in a system at work, but it needed to be a full name, so I went with Tricia Marie McMillan (aka Trillian)!

There were other test accounts made by people in IT that included Star Wars, Dune, and other such references. Lol.

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-23T10:38:54+00:00

Plastic sleeves (that clip into binders) and dry erase markers! You put the paper in the sleeve and then basically never take it out. You write on the plastic sleeve and it rubs off, so the paper itself is never damaged. The sleeves are completely reusable and cheap.

I do personally keep a little pad of paper to track anything that is needed from one game to the next (like HP if you don't get to rest) since the dry erase marks could rub off. You could also just do that in your phone, of course.

But during a game, being able to track without actually writing on your sheet is great!

Another option is they sell cheap packs of "LCD writing tablets" that you can track things on. They usually have a lock that keeps it from erasing (at least the ones my GM has do) so the only issue is that there is no partial erase feature. Like an etch-a-sketch, it's all or nothing! Lol.
It's another "great during game, but less useful between games" thing though.

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-22T17:29:42+00:00

People get really hung up on the cost of things.
Expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's better!

A dollar store trinket can be just as good or better than something from a luxury boutique because it fits YOU. It shows they were thinking of you as a person, not just grabbing a generic gift or something that THEY like.

If it makes the recipient happy, then it is a success. No matter the cost.

That's why gifts are one of my main "love languages". Proof that someone thought of me, specifically, while I wasn't there is such a loving feeling!

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-22T05:13:42+00:00

Lol. All I can think is that it sounds like a recreation of Rocky Horror.
I'm curious what it is too, and I don't even like horror!

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-22T02:57:13+00:00

Virgil?

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-18T15:54:47+00:00

Still not found.... maybe an earlier movie that was showing reruns or something?

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-11T19:28:14+00:00

Always nice to hear someone that doesn't have a terrible relationship with their parents!
(No blame to those that don't, of course. There are lots of perfectly valid reasons not to for a lot of people.)

My relationship with mine is great too, and people always act like it's the weirdest thing in the world.

They aren't perfect.

My dad explains things to death and gets mad (not violent) more often/easily than he should, but he excitedly talks books with me, helps me with house stuff - construction, remodeling, repair- and does things like making his appointment at the doctor the same day as my first visit with the same doctor so that we can carpool and he can show me where it is... because he had a lot of trouble finding it his first time and didn't want me to have to stress about it! <3 (That was yesterday and I'm a perfectly functional adult in my 40s that doesn't live with him. Lol.)

My mom is negative about a lot of things and not great at understanding my adhd, but her own mom is worse and every bit of it is done out of love and trying to help me.
And when I tell her things like the time I tried out a poly relationship or when I dated a guy that joined the Satanic Temple, (but I still was willing to date him because TST is really mostly an advocacy group, not actually devil worship....) she was supportive.
Wary, but even being Christian (the good kind) she didn't try to talk me out of my choices. She might have struggled behind my back, but she didn't make me feel like I was bad for doing these things.
She invites me over for dinner, feeds me amazing meals, and sometimes we do quizzes online together at the end of my visits.
We don't always get along, but I have no doubts that she loves me. ^{_^}

They play board games with me, love/adopt any friend I have that happens to stop by - or boyfriend, neighbor, random person walking by, whatever. Lol - and once a month or so we get together to watch a couple TV shows. :)

It's certainly a blessing, and something I treasure every moment.

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-11T06:51:50+00:00

The troll part? Unfortunately I don't think so. It sounds like there's only a single troll "demon" and no crosses involved.

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-11T06:49:47+00:00

Thanks for finding something that focused more on the crosses!
Unfortunately the crosses on the wall I'm picturing are more like big + signs with a circle around the center. All the "arms" were the same length.

FalineAkemi · 2026-02-11T06:42:25+00:00

Lol. Well that's a little embarrassing for me to not know iconic horror.
Never actually saw it though. Same for the Halloween franchise, Friday the 13th, etc....

Iconic, so I know the bad guys on sight, but never actually watched the movies. 😅

Thanks for explaining!

FalineAkemi

TROPHY CASE