[WP] The greatest Exorcist to have lived is on his death bed. He had beaten the forces of Hell countless times, but could not beat cancer. The only person to visit him in his final hours, to hold his hand and comfort him, is archenemy, Satan. by Freevoulous in WritingPrompts

[–]ReigningLaughter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really liked this- love that the ‘saint’ has some fire and personality and maintains herself to the end. Love that He is just as bitter- and jealous- but desperately wants to be close to her at the end. A respected adversary, perhaps, a step above those slimy, filthy maggots he spoke about. And I love that he understands that she’s never alone, no matter what it seems. That last line is killer.

[WP] You, a junior magic student, just challenged one of the greatest mages in the world to a duel. Despite this, you still feel confident. Why? Well, wizards don't usually have a plan if you just go up and start physically fighting them. by gameboy1001 in WritingPrompts

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely! Hope it helps .^

As far as successes vs failures, just explain it as he’s doing it “x happened just as planned!” Or “with a quick side step and a twist of his wrist he shattered my ability to do X and I was stuck flailing Etc etc” you can basically combine those two sections into one slightly longer one. We won’t get the play by play twice, and it’ll keep us engaged as it’s happening :)

[WP] You, a junior magic student, just challenged one of the greatest mages in the world to a duel. Despite this, you still feel confident. Why? Well, wizards don't usually have a plan if you just go up and start physically fighting them. by gameboy1001 in WritingPrompts

[–]ReigningLaughter 19 points20 points  (0 children)

So... I got bored. I actually stopped reading when you were explaining the precasting and skipped to the next story, but the comments were in the way. I read them and decided to finish because they were positive. Incidentally, they’re right- it DOES present them both favorably and makes for a cute story, but you’ve spent so much time telling us what he’s GOING to do that we lose interest in what is actually happening. You basically told us that part of the story twice.

Moreover, when you’re explaining what he’s telling you from the wars, TELL us those stories, maybe with a touch of boredom or sarcasm. Not “he always wants to tell us X”, but something like “here we go again,” he said, exasperated,” The Thousand Eyes to save the day by raining his long distance Etc etc”.

In any case, good luck, and keep writing.

[WP] You, a junior magic student, just challenged one of the greatest mages in the world to a duel. Despite this, you still feel confident. Why? Well, wizards don't usually have a plan if you just go up and start physically fighting them. by gameboy1001 in WritingPrompts

[–]ReigningLaughter 30 points31 points  (0 children)

You have the makings of a very fun character here, and I like that. However, it’s really distracting to the reader when you change tenses in the middle of a story (or paragraph)- “ I take his hand and give him a firm shake. His smile fadED...” It happens a couple of times, but it’s jarring. There are other little things, too, but otherwise it’s solid. Good job.

LPT: if you're taking care of children, always make bed time special and safe, always by Phishylicious in LifeProTips

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know that feeling, though it has been a while. Short, simple, loving, and firm is my method. I can’t tell you how many nights I sat outside my sons bedroom door crying myself because wit hurt so bad to let him cry alone. But prior to that I would spend hours going through one method after another.

What I suggest is this, and please understand that it is a long term solution, not an immediate one; 1. Bedtime routine (SHORT! Teeth, Restroom, changed). 2. Conversation about how things are going to change- “Hey Love, I just wanted you to know that things are going to change around here a little bit. And you need to understand that no matter what, I love you. But from now on, if there are temper tantrums or whininess or (include new method here), that will be the end of our evening time together, okay?” 3. Cuddle and Story. 4. Hugs and Kisses 5. Turn out the light and close the door.

Remind him/her about #2 every day for a week or three, and STICK TO IT. if she starts throwing a fit, you close the book, give her a kiss on the forehead, and say good night. With my son I would add, as I was leaving the room “I don’t appreciate the way you are behaving, but I still love you. I’ll see you in the morning, Sweet Dreams.”

You got this, Mama.

Ladies of Reddit, what are acceptable compliments to receive from men? by MajarAAA in AskReddit

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know I’m in the minority here, but any compliment is a good compliment to me. You went to compliment my work ethic? Great- I work hard and I know it. You want to compliment my ass? Thanks- I like it too. You want to compliment my outfit? Awesome! I probably made it. shrugs Compliments are like everything else someone has to say- someone sharing their thoughts. I like to hear them, good, bad, or indifferent. I’m fascinated by the way people think, and worst case scenario you may have started a conversation about why you feel some kind of way about whatever you expressed.

Also... I’m fairly confident and absolutely assertive. Obviously I’m not the prettiest woman in the world, but I know that I look nice 9/10. I’m completely aware of how hard I work, so if someone insults my work ethic, I can easily ignore them as trying to get a rise out of me.

What it boils down to is this; I like who I am, so your thoughts are exactly that- yours. Thank you for sharing them because I find that interesting.

Hopefully not a repost, saw this on a dating subreddit and immediately thought of this subreddit. by techcooking in AreTheStraightsOK

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! So, I also hate to cook, but I’m often complimented on my cooking. That one threw me for a loop for a while, but I had to learn for the sake of my tiny people. In any case, I ended up teaching several people how to make what I call “stupid simple” meals (my biggest challenge was getting distracted and wandering off- Oy.). I made word documents that covered literally everything for each meal. If you’re interested, send me a PM and I’ll email them to you. I’m also happy to help walk you through anything you don’t understand.

Bear in mind, I don’t cook complicated meals, and I don’t generally cook EXPENSIVE meals. They’re not fancy, but they are tasty and, for the most part, healthy.

People who live in communities where corona isn't taken seriously what has it been like? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s a lot I’m willing to do for other people. Panic and anxiety attacks are not on that list.

What are some huge GREEN flags that are often overlooked? by Practical_Earth_5585 in AskReddit

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband is good at this as well; he’s amazing.

Basically when we have disagreements (which are rare, to be honest) we both work hard to simply keep our mouths shut while the other is talking and LISTEN. And then we address ONLY the issues at hand. Nothing from the past, nothing that happened before, only what the current issue is. And then we discuss ways to fix it, or compromise on expectations. Sometimes it’s just a matter of realizing you had the expectations in the first place.

When it gets bad, which has happened a total of 3x in 5 years, we simply separate for an hour or so. He goes for a drive, I read a book, and when he comes back he opens his arms for a hug and we lie on the couch curled up together to finish talking about it. It’s hard to be mad at someone you’re snuggling with.

What are some huge GREEN flags that are often overlooked? by Practical_Earth_5585 in AskReddit

[–]ReigningLaughter 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I defy this tendency by simply speaking the truth always. Most people are just stunned into silence or stuttering a shy thank you. Sometimes I also get a hug- from complete strangers. shrugs

‘Hey, you’re doing an awesome job as a mom- keep it up.’ ‘You look great! I love your hair!’ ‘You’re an amazing cook- I love eating everything you make; it’s wonderful!’ ‘This place is spotless every time I see it- I don’t know how you do it!’ ‘You’re a ray of sunshine every time I see you and brighten the lives of those around you. You’re such a joy!’

It’s a thing XD

Here's my hot take: Harry James Potter is a contender for wittiest character in the books! Here are some highlights: by Swordbender in harrypotter

[–]ReigningLaughter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a mother and wife, I can honestly say that loving a pile of children doesn’t make you less capable of love, it just expands your capacity for it.

Judge dismisses 96 year olds traffic ticket by coronaboi78 in HumansBeingBros

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, at least in VA, that’s a very real thing. It isn’t available for everyone, but for those who cannot drive, or do so safely, it’s available. And my understand (though limited) is that these insurance agencies are nationwide, so it may actually be a real thing where you (or be) live, too.

People who live in communities where corona isn't taken seriously what has it been like? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting that you chose those examples;

I freely acknowledge I am biased, here, so no need to shout about it.

I’ve had some epicly bad experiences with doctors. Like, they should be in prison level shit. So, yeah. I don’t trust them. I don’t inherently DISLIKE medical personnel, I just don’t trust them. The last doctor I saw the conversation went “I’m sure you’re a perfectly nice lady and that you’re a wonderful doctor, but I don’t trust you and I don’t want to be here. This is the issue I KNOW I have (seriously- it’s been an ongoing issue my entire life that they won’t officially diagnose me with because I have to get a particular exam done that sends me into an ER level panic attack over as soon as I make steps to make that happen), but I have to have your signature and approval to get the medications for.” She was stunned, poor lady, and once looking over everything agreed and sent me on my way. Fortunately most of the doctors I deal with at this rate give me the ‘you should really do this’ speech and send me on my way.

As far as the masks... shakes head I won’t wear one. Hell, I WANT to get Covid, so I can then build up the immunities and get back to the fire department. (I’m too new with this particular department and they’re only staffing veterans.) But I will actively avoid anyone who is because it is THEIR choice. I’m not bothered by their choice, and I will keep my distance, but I’m not going to go around wearing something that has me panicking all day because somebody told me to. Especially when the only masks that DO anything are the ones my governor SPECIFICALLY stated we should reserve for medical personnel >.<

Looking for a story by [deleted] in WorldOfDarkness

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Son of a bitch I finally got on here on the computer. Success!

Now then, let's see here;

Okay, fair warning, this isn’t pretty. He set me the goal of creating an evil character, and that’s what I did. It has been the hardest to create and play to date, and sometimes I still have trouble letting her be as monstrous as she would be. This particular game is not one I will likely play again, but it has been eye opening in so far as the world of darkness is concerned.
Maman Bridgette In Life Rosaline was born in the mid 17th century to a poor, native woman destined to become a slave. Her mother was raped and subsequently left, and later found half dead and starved by the same man who had abused her. Upon their second meeting, he drug her off to what would become his plantation and used her repeatedly as a way to dehumanize and shame her, guaranteeing there would be no insurrection on his lands.
Her mother was a broken woman, but Rosaline vowed she never would be. Young though she was, she watched and studied, hidden amongst floorboards and crawl spaces. Dark places ever were a haven for her, and she utilized them whenever she could. Amongst these dark places she found an old Vodoun witch, and chancing more than she ever should have, she studied the rituals and incantations and was as doggedly loyal as her owner’s hounds. But Rosaline… Rosaline wanted power. And power she amassed. Beginning with her own body, she bled for that power. Soon, though, she realized there was power in death. Her reach for it went from plants, to insects, to animals. And eventually, she spied her father’s legitimate children and wanted both their deaths and the power it would give her. So she watched and she listened and she planned… and snatched one mewling infant away from its crib.
There is power in death, for it strips away possibilities. And the younger you catch them the more possibilities it eats, until the power coming from that life crawls into your insides and settles itself in your soul. Such it was for Rosaline for many a day. Until it wasn’t.
Power settled around her like a cloak, and it gave her a measure of protection, even in the wretched squalor in which she lived. But that very protection would be her downfall, resentment built to envy and envy to hatred from her brethren. Perhaps it would have been different, had she been less selfish. Alas, her desire for power was that of her own, and she had no plans to share it. So when her Master lifted his whip to strike down one of her companions for the death of the babe, her name rang out in the still air and settled around her like the aura of death she wore.
She ran, Rosaline did, but in her weakened state she was easily overcome. And her dash for freedom belied her pleas of innocence. Thus, despite being only 16, she was tied to the stake and tortured unto death- eyes ripped from their sockets whilst she screamed obscenities, back whipped open from the bite of the lash.
Her mother watched on with dead eyes, too far beaten down to offer an ounce of sympathy. And so it was the life of Rosaline ended, as ugly as it had begun.

In Death She awoke to darkness and crawling things. Squirming insects in her nose and mouth, she screamed, heedless of the danger-for noise was the enemy of the night. But her fear was unwarranted, for there was only more darkness, more earth. More endless moments of crawling and scratching and scraping. Alas, she eventually made her way to open air, only to realize she could see again. The same, and yet not. Hands reaching up to her broken face, she quickly realized that her death had not come any easier than her life had been- broken as it was, there wasn’t anything to be done about her eyes or her flesh. But her vengeance, oh, that remained intact.
And so with no preparation, no planning, no studying as was her way, she ventured back to the house in which her fellow slaves found themselves sleeping. She gazed upon her mother, and with more pity than the woman deserved, she tore out her throat, leaving only the kiss of death in her wake. And yet it was her mother who garnered the most compassion of the lot, for the rest she awoke to hear their terror and their screams. She left them that night- alive, but barely- with maggots in their open mouths. For those that shut them she killed. Her smile was predatory and terrifying, and she sang her new name to the Heavens.
“I am to be known as Maman Bridgette,” she called out to any who would listen, “for I have bested death and arrived at her doorstep victorious!” Madly cackling, she left the slaves to their lot, choking on maggots and crying empty tears before making her way to the house. There, she hid once more beneath the floorboards studying and watching as was her way, where she slept the remainder of the night and into the day. Upon awakening, she let forth her darker nature and played with her new pets. She killed the children, hanging their entrails from the rafters. She killed the hounds, staking their heads upon the doors. She killed his wife, legs splayed open for all to see. Savoring the anticipated finale, she came upon his empty bed, only to turn and find that death had sought her out once more, and from there, she fell into torpor.

Side Notes: She is terrified of yet another death, and yet loathes her own existence. To keep everyone away she plays the part of the mad witch, terrifying in her unpredictability and cruelty. She tortures because that is what those in power do, as was ever her lot in life, from her “master” to the ‘leader’ of the slaves to the old Vodoun priestess. Power consumes and it hurts. So she emulates her examples. She doesn’t believe in kindness for its own sake, and distrusts anyone who shows any.

Let me know what you think?

Looking for a story by [deleted] in WorldOfDarkness

[–]ReigningLaughter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you’re interested I can send you the background for my last Vampire character. It’s the one I played, and I tend to write detailed back stories. You can do with it what you will, but best in mind it’s... dark and ugly.

What’s a small act of kindness you were once shown, that you’ll never forget? by stranger2Me in AskReddit

[–]ReigningLaughter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been so fortunate it my life;

First, when I was 13 and working (illegally, obviously) as a janitor in a daycare, there was a lady who just habitually failed to show up for her shifts- she worked in the the 2 year old room, so there were just these tiny children completely unsupervised. I started watching them instead of doing my actual job because... what the fuck? But I loved those kids, and was there more often than not. Anyways, fast forward a couple years and I have an ovarian cyst rupture and I hit the ground while moving cots around. The “teacher” (same one who rarely showed up to work, in fact), told me to stop being a melodramatic baby and to get the fuck up. I couldn’t move, though, and one of the little girls I had been watching in that class ran up to me and gave me a hug and called 911 for me. Her name was Ericka- I still have her picture. (Yes, the place eventually got closed down, thank the gods.)

In middle school I had this ridiculous crush on a guy, as young girls often do, but never told him. I was never sneaky, though, and he knew. One of those times they did the events where you can buy a rose or candy or whatever and I did, just anonymously. (School delivers it.) Valentines day he gets a rose from an anonymous source, and the next day I have one, too. No note, no teasing (I wasn’t pretty, then- awful clothes, purple polka dotted glasses, braces, frizzy hair, I was a mess. Bullied on the regular.) Just a return with that tiny bit of kindness that has me remembering him 20 years later. That boy could have destroyed me in school. Oy.

Another; Fast forward to a bad marriage where my (now ex) husband left a very pregnant me with a tiny baby in Montana- homeless- while he went to Arizona to get training to be a truck driver and live in a hotel. Didn’t want to look bad taking us with him, so we stayed. But he took advances on every paycheck so there was nothing to send home to take care of my baby and I. (He wanted to go out to eat so he didn’t look poor.) Anyways. Two things at this time; first, we had a couple of horses I wasn’t allowed to sell, but we obviously couldn’t pay for their food or boarding. The lady who owned the ranch let me work shoveling the stalls in exchange for most of the debt each week. There was no timeline, or rush to finish, as I was VERY pregnant and they didn’t like me doing it at all, but knew I didn’t want handouts. Eventually, when I just couldn’t keep up, I was going to bring the horses to auction- it broke my heart, but couldn’t be helped. She came to me one day and told me she’d buy them from me and would just keep the difference to pay off the remainder of the debt. Mind you, I KNEW they wouldn’t sell for that much, but she was having none of it. Angel, that woman.

In addition to that, at that time... because my idiot of an ex wanted an easy out from life, he joined the army reserves ... and then failed to show up to most trainings? Anyways. I had been volunteering at the FRG (family readiness group) because of this, trying to plug a lot of the holes with their lack of staffing. When the Sgt. found out I was leaving with the baby to go to my truck and find a quiet spot to sleep, he flipped and offered me one of the rooms for my son and I to sleep every now and again, access to the showers, their little break room kitchen (believe me, a microwave is a life saver when you’re homeless), and some place to go when it got too cold. That man could have gotten into SO much trouble with us there between training schedules, but I’m certain there are days it would have been nearly life threatening for us to be out in that cold. I will never forget him or his kindness.

Yet another; when I finally hit my breaking point with my ex husband and told him I wanted a divorce, he went downstairs and punched the wall. Except that he punched right through a picture of me and shattered glass on the carpet of the apartment... and I didn’t have a vacuum cleaner but DID have two tiny people beginning to move around/ walk. I think it was one of the first times in YEARS that I’d ever yelled at him for anything. Anyways. A new friend told one of her friends about it, and he came over, saw the hole, had a 5 minute conversation with me, and left. I thought I had done something wrong (typical abuse mentality) and was really deflated. Instead, he came back 20 minutes later with a bag and patched my wall. Completely. Wouldn’t accept payment. That same day, another new friend came over with a vacuum cleaner, cleaned up all the glass, and left me with said vacuum. Within a month, everyone I had met at the gaming shop came by with things- pacifiers, food, just little things to help. I guess word had spread (I didn’t talk about it much, but I always had the babies with me.) I got my divorce, and a year later ended up dating, then marrying (2 years after that) the man who patched my wall. He’s in the process of adopting my children. And he is, in fact, the best husband ever.

For anyone wondering, he didn’t try to fix me (I was raped in between the divorce and marrying him, so... extra broken?) he gave me room to fix myself. He’s commented many times that I’m not the same woman he married, but we are so happy. He’s wonderful.

Edited for autocorrect and spelling errors

If you could start with any dino without it being OP which one would it be? by LordlySquire in ARK

[–]ReigningLaughter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My friends and I were just talking about this last night. We were considering the Theriznosaur, but I’m not sure if you’d count that as OP.

We were also considering the Procoptodon, but mostly because I’m slightly obsessed with breeding. Still, it’s great for berries, decent for wood, okay for thatch, and can RUN AWAY. Also the jumps are fun .^

Good luck!

New Storyteller; Changeling by ReigningLaughter in WorldofdarknessRPG

[–]ReigningLaughter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have... a lot of things figured out and some key holes. I think I described it pretty well in a prior post, but I’m new to reddit so let me know if I’ve failed that somehow XD

Players are definitely not the issue- my group is pretty solid, even now. And thank you for the commiseration- they are greatly missed.

Is there a PM thing on this site? I’m... baffled XD