Black rock gallery auction

With the dark angels now having access to sternguard and vanguard, theres seems to be some confusion about their role in regards to the inner circle and their paint scheme, especially with newer players as our chapter organization is not very straightforward as most chapters. So I thought I’d try to clear it up for new people who just want a straight answer. This is not to discourage people to paint their models as they see fit but to clear up some questions I’ve seen floating around regarding chapter organization and paint schemes, and who gets to be members of the inner circle.
Company Veterans: company veterans are not the same as sternguard. They’re senior members of battle company who have not been promoted to the ravenwing or deathwing but have distinguished themselves above the normal battle brother. Though they are respected for their experience, they have not been indoctrinated into the circle for whatever reason. This is why they are painted in green as they are still members of the battle company greenwing.
Ravenwing: The average member of the 2nd company has not been indoctrinated fully into the inner circle but are on their way, being told only half truths. Those that show promise are promoted.
Black Knights: The black knights are members of the inner circle. That way if the deathwing are not available, there are members of the company that can still be trusted to capture the fallen when necessary.
Deathwing: All members of the deathwing are indoctrinated as one of their primary purposes within the chapter is to hunt and capture fallen. This includes terminators, blade guard, and sternguard/vanguard veterans. Now although all members have access to terminator armor and are trained to use it, this doesn’t mean they can only use terminator armor. There may be a situation where terminator is not the best suited so a brother of the 1st may choose to wear tactical armor such as in the case of the sternguard. The Dark Angels simply have the ability to field a whole company of terminator armor, where most chapters simply do not posses enough sets of to do so. So as members of the inner circle, sternguard and vanguard would have their armor painted in bone not green like company vets.
DW Knights: The only real separation between brothers in the deathwing are the knights. They are trained to be the ones to physically detain dangerous fallen and escort them to the interrogators in the rock’s dungeons. Company Masters are selected from knight masters who show a good sense of leadership. Usually returning to company which they served in before.
If I’ve made any mistakes, or if there is more you feel should be added, feel free to do so in the comments.

Day 1:
Few of the tributes got much sleep that night. The parties all throughout the Capitol did not end until dawn, and the noise could be heard in the accommodation building. Vannery and Carton ate breakfast slowly, like zombies. They were subsequently taken to the holding rooms. Organza wished Carton good luck before accompanying Vannery in her cell. She kept trying to reassure her as she put on her beige shorts and t-shirt. The young girl attached her hair with a purple ribbon that had been provided and climbed into the glass tube. Organza hugged her one last time, feeling her tears soaking her shoulder.
It was Platonia Travers who accompanied Carton. She muttered to herself about the outfit choice for this year. She tried to be cold to the boy, but she accepted to help him tie the purple ribbon to his wrist. He gave her a sad smile : “I probably won’t come back, but it’s nice to know that everyone in the Capitol isn’t heartless.” Platonia stood, mute, as the boy’s platform started to rise. She couldn’t keep the tears in this time.
A few cells over, the atmosphere was as morose. Alexandra had finally deigned to discuss their strategy with Delta. She accepted his plan of staying on the sidelines while he ran to the cornucopia. Still, he looked at her suspiciously and hounded her about working together for the whole breakfast. Halifax gave Delta one last pill to combat the morphling withdrawal, assuring him that the only symptoms he would experience were a mild headache and maybe some stiffness. He subsequently accompanied him to his holding room while Sean Callahan went with Alexandra.
Halifax took advantage of being alone with his mentee : “You shouldn’t trust her. I know these kinds of girls. They look harmless, but they’ll stab you in the back as soon as you let down your guard.”
“But-but…”
“You like her, huh ? Too bad, she doesn’t. So, man up and move on !”
Delta did not know what else to say. He climbed into the glass tube in silence, his brows forming a single black line over his dark eyes.
In the next holding room, another conversation was happening. “You don’t plan on allying with Delta, do you ?” asked Sean Callahan. Alexandra looked away coyly. “ I have other plans… With Angelo, we have an agreement.”
The mentor sighed, but he did not criticize the girl. He just told her to be prudent. You couldn’t trust careers. Alexandra nodded then flinched as the glass tube started descending from the ceiling.
The first thing she noticed as she rose into the arena was the noise. She hadn’t even emerged that she could hear a cacophony of bird songs. It was almost deafening, and she covered her ears before protecting her eyes from the sunlight.
The racket made Delta’s headache intensify. He first looked to his sides ; Hattie (3) cowered on the left while Angelo (2), on the right, was focusing on the cornucopia. This year, it had been made out of a thin weave of golden metal, almost like a very shiny basket. After this zoom on the cornucopia, the cameras started moving around to show off the arena. The tributes stood in the clearing of a dense rainforest. The terrain was relatively flat, with a few creeks and an explosion of colorful flowers. The main attraction of it was the birds, however, as thousands of them fluttered about, sang, and screamed.
As Carton looked around for his allies, Head Gamemaker Vishwa welcomed the tributes and wished the odds to be ever in their favor before starting the 30 seconds countdown. With Borea (5) and the girl from 10 to his sides, he didn’t feel safe. He finally found what he was looking for, but he didn’t like that his allies were so spread out. He made eye contact with Rivage and Vannery but was unable to see Sardine, who stood on the opposite side of the cornucopia.
Vannery caught sight of her district partner, as well as Sardine. She gave them a small wave, but made the mistake of looking to her left, where Perfecto (1) was sneering at her. Georges (N), on the other side, was just as intimidating. Instead, she looked straight ahead. As the countdown reached ten, she spotted a coil of rope on the outside of the cornucopia.
Delta had been pondering, unsure if it was worth entering the bloodbath. Alexandra, who happened to be just two podiums over, winked at him. She then pointed to the cornucopia. He understood. At that moment, the countdown reached zero. He sprinted to the center of the clearing, expecting her to follow, but she stayed on her podium.
On later replays, it was shown that Alexandra was winking at Angelo and not her district partner. As the boy from 2 sprinted forth to the cornucopia, the girl waited for a few seconds. She moved only when most of the other tributes were too occupied and grabbed a knife as well as a small bag of food. Angelo acted like he helped the other career tributes in order to pick up weapons and supplies, but as soon as they were occupied, he joined Alexandra. The pair was actually one of the first to leave the clearing, not counting Circuit (3) and the pair from 10 who had run away immediately.
When Vannery realized that she was running side to side with Perfecto (1), she immediately changed course and ran to Carton. She had to give up on the rope but managed to pick a water bottle off of the corpse of the boy from 9, who had just been stabbed by Glare (9).
If the career pack didn’t notice the disappearance of one of theirs, it wasn’t the case for Delta. When he saw his district partner escape with Angelo, he became enraged. He tried to exit the cornucopia. Fraxen then attacked him to try and steal his backpack. Delta threw him to the ground and punched him so hard it broke his neck. Now he had lost trace of Alexandra. As the fighting started to die down, he ran in a random direction.
Carton had dodged one of Glare’s knives and grabbed a bag of food and an unwieldy lance before Vannery and Rivage joined him. The trio heard Sardine scream from the other side of the cornucopia. Carton wanted to go and help her, but a second gargled wail convinced him that they couldn’t do anything else, especially since Proserpina (2) had now retrieved her axe from Sardine’s chest. As they left, they could hear the crunching of Ora’s neck (12) at the hands of Georges (N).
Meanwhile, Alexandra and Angelo were already far away, giggling at each other. It was only after Perfecto had stabbed Hattie (3) to death that the career pack noticed Angelo’s absence, but they didn’t seem bothered by it.
Delta was halfway to the perimeter when the five bloodbath cannons sounded. He was still seething, and the running helped him calm down. Eventually, he collapsed on the side of and old mossy tree, out of breath. Once he was a little better, he explored his surroundings. The big tree had a hole in his roots where Delta could fit, although it was a squeeze. He decided to stay there for now and used moss to hide himself. He also put some in his ears, which helped with his headache.
Carton, Rivage and Vannery had been running in the opposite direction. They wanted to put the most distance between themselves and the other tributes. They stopped long after the bloodbath cannons had sounded. They set up camp a few hundred feet away from the Northern part of the perimeter, next to a creek. Carton helped Rivage to take inventory. He had the lance, Rivage had gotten a trident, and between the three of them they had enough food to last two days at most. The bottle Vannery had taken was only half full, but the water of the creek was clear and drinkable.
The trio decided to stay put. Vannery and Carton would work on a shelter while Rivage fished for their dinner, as they had agreed to during training. In the early afternoon, they heard hurried footsteps coming their way. The boys readied their weapon, protecting Vannery between the two of us. Circuit (3) came running into their little encampment, which took him by surprise. He skidded to a halt and turned around as quickly as he’d arrived, leaving the trio dumbfounded.
Angelo and Alexandra had quite enough supplies to last a while. He held a sword in his hand and an “emergency axe” strapped to his back, while Alexandra held two knives. At first, they wanted to get away from the careers, but Alexandra eventually convinced Angelo to follow them from afar. They weren’t really hard to track, their bickering could be heard over the constant chatter of the birds. The noise also covered them. Proserpina, Glare and Perfecto were circling around the central clearing, slowly moving away from it. In the late afternoon, they discovered Forger (12) who was lying unconscious. He had received a deep wound during the bloodbath and was now at the mercy of the other tributes. Proserpina killed him.
The subsequent cannon surprised Vannery. She had climbed on top of a tree to get a view of the arena, and the sudden sound almost made her loose her grip. She didn’t fall, but while reaching her hand for a hold, she grabbed something warm and spherical. It crumbled and a viscous liquid dripped onto her finger. She looked up. She had inadvertently grabbed an egg from a nest. She was silent a moment, and a bright purple starling looked at her. “Oh no !” she whispered to herself. The bird screamed louder than she thought possible. Then it attacked.
All the birds in a radius of 50 feet coalesced into a multicolored tornado. Vannery fell to the ground, fortunately not hurting herself on the way down, and a feathery mass started clawing and pecking at her. They also attacked Carton and Rivage, who had been chilling at a distance. They batted the volatiles away, trying not to get scratched. Vannery managed to get up and run to the makeshift tent they had built. She picked up Carton’s lance and swung it, hitting some of the birds. She swung a second time and hit the metallic water bottle with a resounding CLANG! It seemed to stun the birds, but Vannery was too busy keeping them out of her face. Carton, however, noticed their reaction to the noise. He shouted loudly and flailed his arms : “Make noise ! They don’t like noise !”. Just his screaming was enough though. Eventually, the three tributes managed to drive the mutts out by hitting their weapons against rocks and the water bottle and screaming as loud as they could.
Delta also had an encounter with some angry birds. Those were red, with a long curvy beak and fearsome talons, but he managed to kill them all with a big branch he used as a bat. He then ate them, cooked over a small fire. Argus berated him for building a fire that could alert the other tributes to his location. However, the “Aviary Jungle” as it had been baptized by Urania Whimsiwick herself, was way too dense for anyone to see the smoke.
As the sun started to set, Delta squeezed himself back into his root hole, being careful to camouflage himself with moss. He held his branch in front of him just in case. An hour later, two cannons sounded in quick succession. They belonged to the pair from 10, who had had the great idea of making an omelet. The flock did not appreciate that…
When the sun started to set, Angelo suggested he and Alexandra find a place to sleep, preferably away from the career pack. She agreed, so they stopped following. They looked for a safe spot in the light of the dusk, eventually settling on the middle of a tight thicket. It was complicated to get inside, but the small space was comfortable, and the pair even had a view of the darkening sky. They ate some food then laid down, hand in hand. “Your district partner doesn’t seem to mind that you ditched her” joked Alexandra.
“I don’t think she cares. Maybe they believe I’m dead. But they’re not looking for us at least.”
“I think Delta is, though. You should have seen his face when he saw us. I almost feel bad about leading him on.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get rid of him if he isn’t dead yet.”
“I’m sure he’s feeling the same thing”, responded Alexandra before going to sleep. Angelo kept the first watch.
In another section of the arena, Carton took the first watch. He had spent the remaining hours of daylight cleaning his wounds, along with Rivage and Vannery. The two of them slept, hoping to feel better the next day.
A little before midnight, Rivage awoke. He came to sit next to Carton, and the boys talked about their families, their school. Suddenly, a cannon sounded. It belonged to Ulma (7), who had stumbled upon Quinoa’s (9) camp by accident. The younger girl had not hesitated to stab a pointy branch in Ulma’s throat. This cannon prompted Carton to go to sleep, Rivage taking second watch.
At midnight, the hymn of Panem resounded in the arena and the portraits of the 9 fallen appeared in the sky : Hattie (3), Sardine (4), Fraxen and Ulma (7), the boy (9), both (10), Ora and Forger (12). This left 17 tributes after an eventful and interesting day.
Day 2:
Delta didn’t sleep much that night. The uncomfortable position coupled with a strong headache meant that he was up before the sunrise. As the first hints of blue appeared to the east, Delta got up. He needed to occupy his mind. The moss had stuck to his clothes, and he decided to take advantage of it. He caked his face and hands in mud and used it to stick more moss to his clothes. Urania commented that he looked like a green Orang-utang, which prompted laughter in the Capitol. Once he was fully camouflaged, he started roaming the arena. Stealthily at first, but as the sun rose and the birds started their cacophony as well, he allowed himself to move a little faster.
Alexandra and her district partner had spent a restful night. As she awoke, she was surprised to be cuddling with Angelo. Her rousing awakened him, and he turned around to look at her, puzzled. “I guess you’re the little spoon”, she joked. They ate cereal bars in awkward silence. Soon, the voices of the career pack walking in their direction prompted the pair to hide. Proserpina and Perfecto were loudly arguing about someone stealing their water bottles. Unbeknownst to them, it had been Glare who had hidden them in her own bag.
As they moved away from her, Alexandra suggested they follow the trio like the day before. Angelo thought it was a safe strategy as long as they kept their distances. They made their way out of the thorny thicket and followed. A few minutes later, a scream warned them that something was going on. It was Glare (1). She’d walked into a trap laid by Georges the day before and was now hanging upside down from a rope. Perfecto started to help her, but the stolen bottles fell from her bag, along with a few hidden knives and more food. Instead of killing her, as Perfecto wanted to do, Proserpina convinced him to leave her there. She screamed and screamed. Proserpina and Perfecto left her there wiggling. Before Alexandra and Angelo could arrive, the thin rope holding up Glare by the ankle snapped. She fell headfirst on the ground and her cannon sounded. Alexandra winced, but Angelo told her that it was better this way, since you could survive for many hours hanging this way. Then another cannon sounded.
Delta had been unsuccessful for a few hours. He had avoided a couple of poorly made traps and fought off a flock of tiny yellow canaries but had been unable to find another tribute. Eventually, he decided to change tactics. He found a path that clearly looked like it was in use and hid in proximity. His ambush eventually worked. Lavandine (11) walked past him, clutching a meagre stick in her pale hands. She didn’t even notice him getting up and following her, his branch raised. Many viewers thought it looked cartoonish, the tiny girl, followed by a big man with a club, not noticing anything. Glare’s cannon gave him the signal he expected, and he swung at her head. Lavandine flew and crashed into a patch of ferns. Her head was bloody, but she was still alive. Delta walked up to her in order to finish what he had started. The cameras cut to another group of tributes.
For the whole morning, Vannery, Rivage and Carton had been staying put. They foraged, fished, and built rudimentary spears just in case. Vannery climbed trees, very carefully in order not to disturb any more birds, so she could spot any tributes. Eventually she did, a little after midday. The pair from district 5 was heading their way. They were armed.
Vannery transmitted the information to the boys, who debated leaving or fighting. “Let’s fight !” said Vannery. There were 3 of them against 2, and they had weapons. Carton had his lance, Rivage his trident, and her… a spear and a rock would do the trick. So, they waited for what felt like a century. As soon as Borea and Zapp entered their field of vision, they attacked. The pair was surprised, but not enough to let themselves be killed that easily. Borea shouted at Zapp to run while she fended of Rivage’s trident with her sword. She had wrapped metal coil all around her arms, as she had seen on one of the older games. They clashed for an instant, enough time for her to disarm him, and then she ran too. On the way, she threw an egg she’d hidden in her pocket to the group. A flock of angry sparrows was the distraction the pair from 5 needed to escape.
Proserpina and Perfecto seemed to have made up a little and were now actively hunting. Still, they weren’t aware of the couple _ the “double A couple” as they were now called in the Capitol _ following them from afar. They dared not speak, but the looks they shared meant a lot more. They say love makes you blind, and maybe that’s why Alexandra didn’t see the orange and turquoise pheasant she walked on. It screamed and ran away, catching the attention of Proserpina. She turned around and shouted, “I knew it !” before charging at Angelo and her ally. Her first axe hit a tree a few inches above Alexandra’s head. She was hesitant to fight a career, but Angelo had already jumped into the fray and was now battling his district partner. So, she ran at Perfecto, who was lagging behind. He quickly turned around and sprinted when Proserpina’s cannon sounded. Angelo had managed to stab her in the gut. The look of betrayal was still printed on her face as the hovercraft claw took her away.
The pair was unsure if they needed to pursue the boy from 1, as Angelo assured that he was an “ego-inflated wimp” . Instead, they rifled through the bag Proserpina had dropped and decided to rest a little. They could have stayed there longer if it hadn’t been for the fire…
After getting rid of the birds, the trio decided to keep following Zapp and Borea (5) in order to get their supplies. Vannery managed to track them thanks to their footprints and the trail of broken branches. They found them quite quickly. Indeed, the gamemakers had decided to trigger a forest fire in order to move the tributes around a little. This explained why they had seen so many birds flying away. The pair from 5, however, had found themselves cornered on three sides by the flames, and the last side was where Carton and his allies arrived from.
Rivage thrusted his trident straight into Borea’s back, sounding her cannon. Carton’s lance, however, flew past Zapp and into the fiery inferno. The boy from 4 barely had the time to pick up his trident before a tree fell, smashing into the boy from 5 and sounding his cannon. As other trees started to creak and groan, Vannery led the boys back to the creek, where she believed the water would keep them safe.
Delta ran as soon as he smelled smoke. He ended up in a small clearing in the Southern part of the arena. As the grass quickly burned, he jumped into the flames. Many viewers gasped, thinking he had just killed himself, but he just ran a few seconds then stopped. Argus explained that the fire had been controlled in a way that it burned quickly and extinguished itself just as fast. From his spot of scorched earth, Delta was safe for now. From the sky descended a small silver parachute bearing the number 6. It contained a water bottle and some aspirin. Delta was the only one to use this strategy successfully. A few minutes after him, Circuit (3), who was shorter and weaker, tried. He fell face first into the fire and did not get up, his cannon sounding a few moments later.
Angelo and Alexandra were some of the closest to the central clearing, so it was after the three cannons that the fire reached them. They ran. Angelo was practically flying but the fire was catching up to Alexandra. Another tree cracked. It crashed onto the girl, pinning her legs to the ground. Thankfully, it was a much younger tree, and it did not cause her much more damage. For an instant, Alexandra thought the boy from 2 would just keep running. That he would be glad to get rid of yet another opponent. But he turned around. He used his axe as a lever, bending it in the process, to get the girl free. Then he picked her up onto his back and ran again. Angelo was not a very muscular tribute, but he proved to be quite a strong one.
Neither Carton, nor his allies had suffered any injury thanks to Vannery’s quick thinking. The creek was wide enough to protect them from the flames, and they avoided any falling branch. Quinoa (9) had had the same idea. She internally debated reaching the small group, but eventually decided not to. In the late afternoon, it started to rain, revealing that many of the trees and plants of the forest were actually fireproof. It was much sparser now, but the rain cleaned off the soot and, soon enough, the forest was green again.
Rivage, Vannery and Carton huddled together. They stayed that way for the whole evening, until Carton took the first watch while the other two went to sleep.
Delta was almost unharmed too, apart from a few minor burns on his ankles. The aspirin had taken effect, and for once in a long time, he felt totally clear headed. He hoped his district partner had died today.
The fire had changed the landscape quite a lot. What used to be a lush jungle was now less green. The ground was visible in most places, and the humidity levels had gone down. The sky was more visible. It also meant that the traps set by Georges and Odette (N) on the first day were either destroyed or very conspicuous. The boy from 6 avoided them all.
Delta found a pond where he cleaned himself from the soot and the half-charred moss. The fresh water also soothed his burns. He ended up settling close by, between two fallen trees.
Angelo and Alexandra, however, had suffered many burns. Fortunately, as they were setting camp and trying to remove their singed clothes, a silver parachute descended over them. It contained two containers of oil, as well as a blanket and a note from Angelo’s mentors, which he did not show to Alexandra. It would later be revealed that it scolded him for keeping his plan of betraying the career pack secret. The oil was perfumed and designed to almost instantly heal burns. It worked a charm. As the massaging continued, the two tributes started to get more and more steamy. They were intimate that night.
While they were busy, the portraits of the fallen appeared in the sky. The second day of the games had seen the loss of Glare (1), Proserpina (2), Circuit (3), Borea and Zapp (5), and Lavandine (11). This left only 11 tributes for the third day, with better odds now that a few strong tributes were gone.
Day 3:
On the morning of the third day, an announcement was made by Head Gamemaker Vishwa. She informed the tributes that a feast would be held at noon, three hours from now. The 11 surviving boys and girls would find supplies they desperately needed there. She then wished everyone a glorious day and the dampened sound of the birdsongs came back in full force.
The announcement awoke Delta, but he decided not to go to the Feast. He still had food and a source of water nearby, as well as his heavy branch. A real weapon would have been nice, but he didn’t feel safe going to the central clearing. Instead, he decided to just sleep more. He only woke up again when the first cannon sounded.
As for the couple, they were lost in bliss. Their show from the previous night had to be censored, although it was available for those who had enough “connections”. Let’s just say that it was quite memorable, and cemented Angelo and Alexandra’s place as favorites. They got ready after a long cuddling session, grabbing their bags and their weapons and heading to the cornucopia. They arrived with minutes to spare. Actually, they were the last tributes to arrive.
Vannery had been the first on site, scouting for other tributes. Once she had been sure the coast was clear, she had signaled to Rivage and Carton that they could come. They hid in the bushes nearby; this area having been spared from the fires. Little by little, other tributes started to arrive. Kumquat (11) hid behind a tree, Perfecto (1) stood in the open, Odette and Georges (N) huddled together.
As Quinoa (9) and the “Double A couple” finally arrived, the cornucopia started receding into the ground. It reappeared at once, and a bell rang.
Vannery stayed behind. She watched all the tributes run to the center where laid 8 numbered bags, including Carton and Rivage. The fighting raged in the cornucopia. Her allies attacked Alexandra and Angelo, as Kumquat escaped with his bag. Quinoa (9) almost got out, but Perfecto (1) caught her by the ponytail and stabbed her in the throat, sounding her cannon. He then picked up her bag in addition to his.
Alexandra and Angelo fought side to side, covering each other. She scared Odette (N) away, while he pushed back against Rivage. The boy from 4 tried to hit Alexandra again, but her ally caught the trident and almost tore it out of Rivage’s hands. Instead of trying again, he attacked Georges. The trident hit him in the back and sounded his cannon a few seconds later. Angelo took advantage of this distraction to slash at Carton with his sword, causing the boy from 8 to bleed out.
Vannery screamed and ran out of her hiding place, almost colliding with Odette (N) on the way. Rivage grabbed the district 4 and district 8 bags in one hand, and Vannery’s arm in the other, and they ran away together. The young girl cried and struggled to keep up the pace. She wanted to go back, but Carton’s cannon sounded, ruining her hopes.
Angelo and Alexandra were the last tributes to get their bags. One of Perfecto’s knives punctured Alexandra’s. The pair turned back, giving Kumquat (11) enough time to flee. They chased Perfecto into the woods. He was quick, however, and they had a hard time gaining on him.
The following hours were very quiet, boring, even, so Urania and Argus invited a few guests to discuss the bloodbath and the tributes’ different strategies. It was only in the late afternoon that Delta deigned getting up. He was well rested. He ate what remained of his food and started camouflaging himself once again in order to hunt. The tributes were now very spread out, however, and it appeared that Delta was in an area devoid of them. He walked until it got too dark to continue, before letting out a scream of rage. His sudden outburst scared some resting birds. They flew away and hit Kumquat (11) square in the face as he was in the process of climbing up one of the taller trees. The surprise caused him to lose his grip and he fell to his death a few feet away from Delta, his Feast bag laying next to him. Suddenly, Delta laughed and thanked the birds. He emptied the contents of the bag, glad to find some fresh food and water. He settled right there for the night.
Angelo and Alexandra eventually gave up on hunting Perfecto. Every time they thought they heard him; it turned out to be another bird. He was nowhere to be found. The pair settled down near a creek, right where Carton and his allies had camped earlier, in order to clean themselves. It was another spectacle to behold. The couple played in the fresh water, wearing only their underwear, and at one point, Alexandra winked at one of the cameras. This resulted in the appearance of a sponsor gift a few seconds later. She caught it and opened it discreetly once she was dressed again. She checked that Angelo was busy with the campfire before peeking inside. There was a water bottle and a tiny, sheathed stiletto knife, about two inches long. There was also a note that said : “You will only get one chance” – S. She acted nonchalant, thanked her sponsor for the water, and hid the knife in her sock. She took the first watch, jumping when a cannon sounded.
Since they had come back from the Feast, Vannery felt that Rivage was acting strange. He kept pacing and muttering to himself and seemed unhappy even though they had received enough supplies to last five more days in the arena at least. They found another place to sleep, Vannery built a new shelter. As she was about to go to sleep, Rivage approached her, trident in hand. He didn’t speak, so she asked him what he wanted. “I’m sorr-“ he started. Vannery interrupted him : “Behind you !”.
He spun around and threw his trident. It caught Perfecto in the head, sounding his cannon before he had hit the ground. He had been sneaking up behind Rivage with a knife in both hands, but Vannery had a keen eye. Rivage seemed to deflate. He cleaned up his weapon and went to sleep. Vannery tried to ask him what he wanted to tell her, but he didn’t answer. Instead, she took the first watch.
At midnight, five portraits appeared in the sky : Perfecto (1), Carton (8), Quinoa (9), Kumquat (11) and Georges (N). The six remaining tributes were spread out around the arena : Rivage and Vannery to the East, Angelo and Alexandra to the North, Odette (N) in the South and Delta to the West.
Day 4:
The sound of a cannon startled Delta out of his slumber. He was feeling well rested and decided to head to the cornucopia with just his branch and a knife he had taken from Kumquat. With only 5 remaining tributes, he knew that the showdown was about to take place and was about as excited as the viewers in the Capitol for it to happen. On the way, he stumbled upon a suspicious mound of leaves. He almost let it be, until he saw two feet poking out of it. As he bent down to look at it, a sharp pain entered his shoulder blade. By pure reflex, he swung his club backwards, hitting a barefoot Odette (N) in the forehead. She stumbled backwards, clutching her knife, and tripped on a rock. Delta jumped onto her, planting his knee in her stomach, and stabbed her with her own knife. He added it to his “collection”.
The atmosphere between Alexandra and Angelo had been quite tense since they’d woken up. They hadn’t slept so well. When the first cannon sounded, they set out to get to the cornucopia, and by the time the second cannon echoed throughout the arena, they were in position. “We’ll fight together, right ?” asked Alexandra. Angelo nodded solemnly : “Until there’s no one else. I’m so glad I got to meet you.”
“Me too… Too bad one of us will have to die.”
As she said those words, a twig cracked in a nearby bush.
The first cannon had shocked the viewers quite a bit. As Rivage finished his watch, he looked at Vannery, asleep next to him. He murmured “I’m sorry”, so low that it had to be subtitled. Then he plunged his trident in her throat. Before leaving, Rivage let out the longest sigh of relief.
Alexandra climbed onto the cornucopia, hiding herself, a length of rope held tight between her hands. She waited as Rivage entered the clearing. He was focused on Angelo. Delta appeared a few seconds later, on the other side of the cornucopia. He walked under it, oblivious to the girl awaiting him. As Angelo charged Rivage with his sword, Alexandra lowered the rope. Delta let out a choked growl as she pulled. He was much stronger, however. With one labored step, he yanked her off the roof. The rope was still around his neck, but his hands were now around Alexandra’s. Nevertheless, she held on to the rope, using it to hold him at bay. Just before she fell unconscious, she kicked him in the groin. She let out a few coughs, before grabbing the two ends of the rope again and pulling Delta against one of the steel columns of the cornucopia. Delta tried to stab her, but she was behind him, and he was quickly loosing consciousness. With one last brutal pull, the rope crushed his windpipe.
Alexandra watched Angelo dispose of Rivage with one final feint of his sword, and his cannon sounded at the same time as Delta’s.
Silence fell on the clearing. Even the birds had shut up. The couple was breathing heavily. They hugged tight. Something glinted in Alexandra’s hand. She almost reached Angelo’s neck when he gripped her wrist. He smiled, but his eyes were full of sorrow. “I had to try at least !” she half-laughed, half-whimpered. He sat her down and hugged her once again. She told him that he deserved to win. That he was a good man. He took his swords and gently stabbed Alexandra in the heart. She barely cried as he looked into her eyes. A cannon sounded. The last one. Jahani Vishwa announced Angelo Clearfell, of district 2, as the victor of the 119th Hunger Games. He had to be forcefully removed form Alexandra’s corpse in order to be retrieved.
Aftermath:
The games took an immense toll on Angelo, who was unable to speak for more than a month. Even when he had gotten the use of his words back, he fell into a lengthy depression. His interview with Urania Whimsiwick and Argus Brown had to be cut short as soon as they mentioned Alexandra.
After that, he remained alone in his home of the Victor’s village. He received no guests and did not act as a mentor the following years. The other victors of his district described him as “disillusioned” and “a killjoy”. The situation stayed the same until his disappearance two years later.

Hocus Pocus remake/sequel thing ?
​
1 . This one is a different kind of massacre. It's not even a remake, we don't even have some magical unbeatable cartoon to compare it to, it's simply just this really depressing sequel of a story that ended perfectly. Perfectly. Understand? It was done perfectly, it was the One, it was the One remaining classic, it was an anomaly of untouched flawlessness. But the same exact people came back to look the same exact way and do the same exact shit, only in the shittiest way imaginable as 93 year olds just to sing the universe's most underwhelming version of "one way or another" (???) like that's not even relevant to Your time, to Our time, to the Sanderson Sister's time, to these Kids Today's time, wow as if trying to hurt all of our feelings and make us know once and for all that we really do exist in the lower hell dimension version of a past universe or timeline and everything we ever knew and loved really is gone forever.
which is nuts because i feel like that's how sex and the city fans just got through reacting to her sequel tv show thing about it. so it's like You especially sarah, what are You in specific doing at this juncture of your and all of our lives, please.

1. The story gets way, way too heavy and sad. Part of the magic was the fun and light-hearted wonder of the quick funny little thing. What have you done? How could you fucking do this? Literally, like ravenous hyenas, ripped to pieces all of the greatest elements:

a. Book is ripped away from the main redhead witch and given to some random ass new teenager ?
b. Two of the friggin witch sisters get sacrificed and die, before the main one in despair sacrifices herself to join them in the afterlife, indirectly as she is tricked by her own friggin Book to do so ?
c. Three new witches arise ? tessa thompson + america ferrera look-a-likes, plus one token white girl? One who happens to already be a witch anyway ? and another two who just luckily happen to be that one's friend and occasionally hold her hand ?
Huh...? How fucking sad. Why. What is this garbage Who are these random ass bitches and why do they have their freaking mitts all over the redhead's freaking Book?

1. These ancient witches who were last activated in the 90's are pretty up to date on the modern lingo this time around. Like even more so than me. I had to google certain terms the black-haired one was using to get hip with it according to her representation of my own society. Granted that's not saying too much because I live under a rock, but I mean still.
   
2. "Pure," idiots. You can just say "Pure," when a child asks you to define a "Virgin." Pure of Heart, Innocent, I mean there are many. Stop prolonging the joke and snorting like perverted pigs, are you stupid? Are you trying to make us stupid? Are you trying to make sure children in theaters and homes everywhere are all, "heY what is Virgin and why is it so funny and what is seX and why is it funny that i have never done it or known about it . . ? " Like, What's the goal? What's the joke? Who all wrote the script? Kill them. Who did they write it for? No worthwhile audience could appreciate this.
   
3. In conclusion, this remake-sequel thing was very obviously only made as an excuse to continue desensitizing the public to the concept of "eating babies," which is about 68% of what they all do out there in the industry and government and shit. Because man did they really milk that whole subtheme for reasons beyond anybody's care to understand for some reason.
   

hello, reddit! i am seeking one lighting designeelectrician for a fun summer job.
the employer is buck’s rock camp, a studio and performing arts program for teens in new milford, connecticut. i’ve been there for 30 years, first as a camper, then as staff, and now as the production manager for performing arts. this place is my home away from home.
http://www.bucksrockcamp.org
i’ll summarize below, but the detailed job post is here:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6001241735ba2f68ba253e30/t/6373eef907ad085ea0817610/1668542201341/Lighting+Counselor.pdf
dates are june 21 through august 21, residency required. we do one week of training, setup, and get-to-know-you stuff before the campers arrive. once they arrive we produce about 15 plays, musicals, dance shows, sketch comedy shows, and concerts and about another five or six open mic-type events.
we have a 35x60’ indoor black box theater and a semi-outdoor 350 seat proscenium stage. we rent about 80 source fours, about 30 colorsource pars and cycs, six colorsource spots and six max auras. we use an ion xe for most shows, and nomad or qlab for a few small shows.
starting pay offer is 2500 to 4000 plus room and board; negotiable. please feel free to contact me directly with details, or apply through the website above.
thanks!

This is a follow up to a post from a few weeks ago.
So through an increase in pay to $120K and some revised budgeting I have calculated that I will have the ability to contribute the following to retirement:
16% To Traditional Pre-Tax 401K - $19,200 (Employer Match 100/3%, 50/2%)
5% To a Roth IRA - $6500 - Maxed Out
My company utilizes Voya and also does offer a Roth 401K (After Tax).
Current 401K Allocation is : 46% Voya Target Solution 2050, 9% Stable Value Fund, 22% Fidelity Total Bond, 18% BlackRock Russell 3000, 5% American Funds Euro Pacific. Not sure if these are good or not.
My first questions is, how do the limits work with that? Does the combination of a traditional 401k contribution and the Roth 401k get added together and weighted versus the $22500 limit? I'm unsure if its even possible to do a combination of Roth 401K, Traditional 401k and a separate Roth IRA, or if that's even worth it. If I can do them all, besides maxing out the Roth IRA at $6500 and Employer Match, where should the rest of my savings go? My understanding is places like Vanguard provide a better selection of investments for a Roth IRA but I don't have any experience.
I know its a loaded questions but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

The Contemporary Art Center in Peoria is very dear to my heart. So if you are looking to join an already thriving community of artists and like minded individuals come visit. I personally am looking forward to the Flowers for Ukraine show, I expect it to most wonderous.
Tldr: Things happen almost every Friday night and it's better than doom scrolling on your phone.
If reddit is the front page of the internet, then is the Contemporary Art Center the front page of Peoria art? 🤔
‐----------------------
Live at the Five Spot:
Dexter O'Neal and the Funk Yard (Funk/R&B)
Friday, June 9, 2023 ~ 6:30-8:30pm
Every 2nd & 4th Friday
BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $12-nonmembers, $8-members, + fees
(till 5:00pm the day of event) Tickets at the door*: $16-nonmembers, $12-Members
Tickets at door are sold only if max capacity is not reached.
Dexter O’Neal and Funk Yard is a multi-faceted Peoria-based cover band performing a variety of R&B hits that appeal to all ages. Dex and the gang have the ability to change musical forms right in front of your eyes. You can't beat the steady driving rhythms, heavy bass lines, crazy guitar leads, sultry sax melodies, and the powerful vocals of Dexter O’Neal.
Seeking wine and gift item donations for future receptions and raffle baskets
Contact Darlene or William via email, [email protected] or phone, 309-674-6822

Support for Elevator Repair
In October 2022, the passenger elevator that serves our 4-story building and our neighbor’s building stopped working. Months were then spent exploring why it failed, possible solutions and choosing who to make the repairs followed. We have explored grants and there are none that pays for elevators. To make matters worse, there have been many surprising obstacles for the repairmen. The price tag continues to rise from the initial quote of $107,000 to now well over $275,000 and the elevator still has not been restored. The lack of an elevator has impacted our business significantly.
Help us raise money to pay for the elevator repairs. We don’t yet know the final price tag. Our part will be ¼ the final cost which at this point is at least $75,000. We share the elevator with 311 Water and other owners of our building, 305 Water.
Choices for supporting the cause include:
GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-elevator-repair?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1 Facebook fundraiser at https://www.facebook.com/donate/1350067748888975/ on our website at Donation Page - Contemporary Art Center of Peoria (peoriacac.org) cash in person during business hours
Preston Jackson:
Biographical Tracings
April 29-June 19, 2023
Preston Jackson Gallery
Offering a surreal but personal form of reality, Preston’s energetic work is filled with stylized figures inspired from nature and childhood experiences. This series of paintings reads like chapters from a fantastic memoir. Preston is also busy with commissions and continues to garner accolades with the City of Decatur naming a park after him. The exhibit will culminate with his special presentation at the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Sunday, June 18th, 6:30-8:30pm.
Morgan Elser:
The Other Side of Joy
April 29-June 19, 2023
Gallery 3R
23 years ago, Delavan artist Morgan Elser discovered her passion for creating in three dimensions and has since explored many mediums including bronze, fiber, stone, stainless steel and found objects.
As she progresses, a story also unfolds. The Giving Tree, a 21’ tall stainless-steel sculpture, was unveiled in Morton IL in 2017.
Flowers for Ukraine
June 30-August 11, 2023 - Preston Jackson Gallery
July 15 Reception: 6:30-8:30
free admission, donation requested
To show our support for Ukraine and to raise donations, Central Illinois artists have created artwork and patrons are invited to purchase them and/or to donate directly to various organizations serving in Ukraine. Donations can also be given to CAC to be passed on. Contemporary Art Center will donate 20% of sales and any donations to Doctors Without Borders. Besides live music and complimentary snacks and drinks, the reception will feature a flower sculpture by Kira Santiago that can only be seen at the reception.
Vera Scekic: Synthetic Being
June 30-August 11, 2023 - Gallery 3R
Vera Scekic is especially fond of manipulating paint as it surrenders to gravity. Her playful works evoke biotic forms growing like microbial blooms in petri dishes. Scekic has exhibited throughout the country and runs a contemporary art gallery (OS Projects) in Racine, Wisconsin.
Besides live music and complimentary snacks and drinks, the reception will feature a flower sculpture by Kira Santiago that can only be seen at the reception.
Day and Night, acrylic, graphite on MDF, 24” x 30”, Untitled (fluorescent tracers), acrylic, inkjet print on MDF, 8” x 6”
Photographer Seeks Subjects
Photographer Qingjun Huang seeks subjects to immortalize in a photograph. He wants to photograph some people in Central Illinois in the next few months as Fuji is sponsoring him to participate in a traveling international group photography exhibition. So far, he has created one of Peorian Whitney Jensen, that was displayed in his exhibit at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria in 2022. Read More
Upcoming Education:
Tango Practica Peoria
weekly tango practice and lesson
Sundays, 6:30- 9:00 pm - May 7 - June 11
$5.00 cash per person
Hosts: Vlad Niculescu and Constance Estep
Contemporary Art Center of Peoria 2nd floor art gallery, rear entrance (Commercial
Beginning Salsa Dance (level 1)
Tuesdays, July 11 - August 8, 6:30-7:25 pm

Beginning Salsa Dance (level 2)
Tuesdays, July 11 - August 8, 7:30-8:25 pm
Upcoming Events:
Whisper & Shout: Open Mic for Poetry
Thursday, June 15, 2023 ~ 8:00-10:00pm
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday
BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-nonmembers, $5-members, $3-poets + fees (until 6pm day of event). Tickets at the door: $12-nonmembers, $9-members, $5-poets. Tickets at door are sold only if max capacity is not reached.
Feature Poet: Ladies Cipher featuring Eve Bell
Salsa at CAC
Friday, June 16, 2023
Every 3rd Friday
Introductory Dance Lesson: 8:30-9:30 pm
Learn the basics of several Latin Dances by Eduardo & Beverly Caballero
Open Dancing: 9:30-midnight - music by of Eduardo Caballero
ADMISSION AT THE DOOR ONLY: $8.00 nonmembers, $5.00 CAC members
3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration at the CAC
Sunday, June 18, 2023 ~ 6:30-8:30pm
The Contemporary Art Center’s 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration will take place Sunday, June 18, 6:30-8:30pm at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria in the Preston Jackson Gallery. The public is invited to this free event. No food or drink will be offered but guests may bring their own food and drink.
Artist Preston Jackson, founder of the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, will share insights into his paintings on display in the gallery. Other speakers include Romando Dixson, Executive Editor of Peoria Journal Star, Whitney Jensen, spoken word poet and co-host of Whisper & Shout: Open Mic for Poetry and Carl Adams, author of "Nance: Trials of the First Slave Freed by Abraham Lincoln."

In-between speakers, music will be performed by Judy Page, Preston Jackson and their band.
We are grateful to Weston Meuth for sponsoring the music for tonight's performances.
Live at the Five Spot: Nathan Taylor and Friends (New Orleans Style Jazz/Pop )
Friday, June 23, 2023 ~ 6:30-8:30pm
Every 2nd & 4th Friday
BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $12-nonmembers, $8-members, + fees
(till 5:00pm the day of event) Tickets at the door*: $16-nonmembers, $12-Members
Tickets at door are sold only if max capacity is not reached.
Live at the Five Spot: Beth Bombara (folk/rock/americana)
Friday, July 14 ~ 6:30-8:30pm BUY TICKETS
Tickets in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-members, $12-nonmembers + fees
(till 5:00pm the day of event) Tickets at the door*: $12-Members, $16-nonmembers
Combined Art Reception
Saturday, July 15, 6:30-8:30 pm
live music, complimentary drinks and snacks ● free admission, donation requested.
Meet the exhibiting artists and view their artwork in three galleries.
Featuring a sculptural flower dress by Kira Santiago
Flowers for Ukraine
June 30-August 11, 2023 - Preston Jackson Gallery
Vera Scekic: Synthetic Being
June 30-August 11, 2023 - Gallery 3R

Inspired by another post. What say you metalheads?
View Poll

IGSRep Page
RULES: NO NEW accounts. MUST HAVE rep page or barter.
HAVE:
Dragonball Xenoverse 2 Legendary Pack Set DLC - bought it a 2nd time not realizing i owned it. PayPal: $7 F&F Trade: Offer
MAY CHOICE
*Spiritfarer Farewell Edition
*WindJammers 2
*Builder Simulator
*Operation Tango
*Bendy and the Dark Revival
*The Invisible Hand
*Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery
JUNE CHOICE
Honey, I've Joined a Cult
Turbo Golf Racing
Meeple Stations
Eternal Threads
OTHER
Killing Floor 2 Digital Deluxe
Hollow Knight
Bloodstained Ritual of the Night
Blasphemous
Luck be a Landlord
Jack Move
Tropico 5 Complete
Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen
Evan's Remains
Zombie Army Trilogy
Streets of Rogue
Red Solstice 2
Black Book
MotoRacer Collection
Switchball HD
Ampersat
One more island
Our world is ended
WANT:
Deep Rock Galactic
Super Lesbian Animal RPG
Dreamscaper
Godstrike
The Metronomicon Deluxe
Bound By Blades
Rain World
Lost Ruins
Lone Fungus
Gordian Quest
Monster Hunter Rise
The Hong Kong Massacre
Coromon
Destroy all Humans
BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE
Valkyria Chronicles 4
Kingdom Rush, KR Origins, KR Vengeance, Legends of KR
Trine 1-3
Nine Parchments
Generation Zero
The Ascent

IGSRep Page
RULES: NO NEW accounts. MUST HAVE rep page or barter.
HAVE:
Dragonball Xenoverse 2 Legendary Pack Set DLC - bought it a 2nd time not realizing i owned it. PayPal: $7 F&F Trade: Offer
MAY CHOICE
*Spiritfarer Farewell Edition
*WindJammers 2
*Builder Simulator
*Operation Tango
*Bendy and the Dark Revival
*The Invisible Hand
*Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery
JUNE CHOICE
Honey, I've Joined a Cult
Turbo Golf Racing
Meeple Stations
Eternal Threads
OTHER
Killing Floor 2 Digital Deluxe
Hollow Knight
Bloodstained Ritual of the Night
Blasphemous
Luck be a Landlord
Jack Move
Tropico 5 Complete
Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen
Evan's Remains
Zombie Army Trilogy
Streets of Rogue
Red Solstice 2
Black Book
MotoRacer Collection
Switchball HD
Ampersat
One more island
Our world is ended
WANT:
Deep Rock Galactic
Super Lesbian Animal RPG
Dreamscaper
Godstrike
The Metronomicon Deluxe
Bound By Blades
Rain World
Lost Ruins
Lone Fungus
Gordian Quest
Monster Hunter Rise
The Hong Kong Massacre
Coromon
Destroy all Humans
BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE
Valkyria Chronicles 4
Kingdom Rush, KR Origins, KR Vengeance, Legends of KR
Trine 1-3
Nine Parchments
Generation Zero
The Ascent

These are items I think are extremely budget but are super useful or great for quality of life items. All of these are generally less than $20-$50
Travelambo Leather Squeeze Coin Purse You can find this for $5 on Amazon. Very sleek looking. Super useful when traveling to countries where you are dumped with change.
Noopel Emergency Whistles - This is just a whistle. But it's very sleek looking as far as whistles go. I like it in silver. $8. Very small and compact.
O-Cedar sponges, a 6 pack can be found for about $7. Imo some of the best sponges out there. Very much worth the cost. I think it won a bunch of kitchen awards.
CICIMELON Pencil Case can be found for $8. They look fine in black. But a great price.
Sawyer Squeeze. About $29. Arguably better than Life Straw. But definitely worth the cost.
Smelly Proof bags. Tacky name. But they work fantastic if you need to hide the smell of anything. You can use them in the fridge for smelly food, use them for take-out food in your car. Smells like nothing was there. I think its intended use is for hiding the smell of ambition-killing plants and it works for that too. They're almost as good as Lopsak Opsak bags at a fraction of the cost.
Earthpak Waterproof Drybag at $20 are a fantastic deal imo. They're a waterproof compression sack. I like to put waterless car wash bottles in them and a few rags so I can clean my car anywhere in an emergency. I also put anything that's soup or liquidy in them too.
Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set - Clunky and ugly but a fan favorite. I personally returned mine because I found it just a bit clunky and ugly. But at $14 with a lifetime warranty, could be super valuable for a camper. Popular with campers. You might like it.
UCO 9-Hour White Candles at $8. Could be a life-saver.
Olight flashlights are fantastic and often very inexpensive. Almost always worth the cost.
Civivi pocket knives are very much bang for your buck in terms of ease of use, materials, aesthetics and portability. Good value for the dollar.
The Knipex Cobra XS at $29 might be viewed as expensive but it's so useful that it is worth every dollar.
The Herschel Chapter Toiletry Kit 3 Liters at $28 is a fantastic 'dopp kit'. It's not called a dopp kit. But it is that. It's just as good as much more popular dopp kits at a fraction of the price.
Slice 10515 Mini Box Cutter, I bought this 5 times. At $9.99 I definitely recommend it. It's basically a box cutter but the tip is safe, yet sharp. Hard to explain. You have to watch the video to understand. It's genius.
Viperade VE1. Good price for an EDC organizer at $19.
SMALLRIG Super Camera Clamp Mount, I bought 4 of these. These are about $14 right now. Incredibly valuable for cameras and microphones or just anything. It's super useful.
HOTO Precision screwdrivers at $29. Very sleek looking. And easy to bring along in an EDC kit or V/EDC kit.
Seki Edge Nail Clippers. The hype is real. These are fantastic nail clippers at $17. Often mentioned in BuyItForLife
RESQME The Original Keychain Car Escape Tool, at $9. There's no excuse for NOT buying this. It could save your life.
TERRO T300B Liquid Ant Killer, at $13, these work amazing at wiping out ants.
Zebra Sarasa Pens. Very inexpensive. But they write so well. One of the best bang for your buck Japanese pens. I like them in 0.4 or 0.5
OXO Good Grips Dish Brush, just a dish brush. But I'm amazed at how good it is. $7.99
Maximm Extension Cord White Flat Multi Plug, 1 Ft - 360° . Found for $13. These have been so handy for travel. The head rotates 360 degrees which allows you to put it in slots you normally wouldn't be able to in various areas.
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug, Black, 16 Ounce (matte black) - I freaking love this thermos. The way you press the button and how the lid flaps open makes it super useful. Usually about $20 to $30, very much worth it.
RockDove Men's Original Two-Tone Memory Foam Slipper, these are about $18. Super useful when you just are lazy and need to wear slippers to throw out the trash or pick up mail.
Chums wallets - Super cheap. $11. But many different colors and styles. An excellent travel wallet. Super minimalist. Good quality.
Hero Clip $17. Putting a disclaimer that I didn't find it useful. But you might. It's a carabiner you basically put on your backpack so it doesn't touch the shit on the floor when you're in a bathroom. Honest to god that's its apparent main use according to onebag Onebaggers go gaga over this shit. You might like it. But an ever-reminder that hype does not mean something is useful for you.
Vitafusion gummies. Cheap. They give you a lot. Tastes good.
Boogie Board at $16. It's an LCD tablet. You write on it. You press a button and it clears. Very useful for saving paper. No computer needed.
MTrack Solo at $50. Probably the cheapest interface that doesn't suck. (Audio gear)
The XM8500 at $20. A $20 microphone that performs at the level of $100 XLR microphones, ie the Shure Sm58. (Audio gear, an interface required)
Invisible Glass at $9. It's a glass cleaner. An amazing one.
Furinno Turn N Tube 5 Tier. $24. It's hard to explain. But it's so useful. It's basically like a 5 level shelf. But it's so useful to have. Good for books. Good for random pictures. Good for work stations.
KitchenAid All Purpose Shears, 49,000 people who like it. I like it too. It's only $8.99
Bissell Natural Sweep, $39. I still use this to this very day to just sweep up random shit in my carpet. It's not for deep cleans, more just a quick maintenance fix.
KitchenIQ 50009, knife sharpener. Yeah, there's knife snobs who say you shouldn't use these. But for the average Joe these are great. $10.
Amazon Basics Hanging Organizer File Folders. A bunch of file folders you put in your file cabinet. But very good amount for the price. Price keeps changing but it's worth it.
PVC placemats. They're cheap. But seriously don't bother with cloth placemats for your dinner table anymore. These are heat proof and if you want to clean them, just run the sink for 10 seconds and it's clean. Usually $9.
Greenies. You can get them for about $6 for a pack of 11. Makes dogs so happy!
A Lodge Cast iron pan at $20
Carrd. It's a website maker. It's free. But the paid version is $9 a year. Not per month. For the entire year.
Kirkland microfiber towels (Yellow) are maybe about $14 for a stack of 26. Very good value for the dollar.
Koss headphones. ie KPH 30i, Koss Porta Pro, Koss KCS75. These headphones are very good for the money. Often about $30 or so.
OLFA Household Scissors L-Shaped 112B at $14.99. These are fantastic scissors. Learned these from a lot of tools people. They cut through zip ties and plastic. Definitely a Quality of Life item
I think that covers all the cheap ones.
If you have any you'd like to add, please comment below. I love buying and testing all of these things! :P

I’ve been in this group since I made reddit basically but only today did I take the time to read some of the entries you all have made. I love the open community to be ourselves and speak what’s on our minds in the search of likeminded individuals to befriend on this journey we call life. As I read, I felt compelled to say something myself because why not; I also want a bond just as anybody else but in 2022 it isn’t so easy am I right? I’m a 23 yr old Black Hispanic pretty fit guy in the DMV area. I like long car rides either blasting music or having a deep conversation with someone, to draw and maybe even rap whenever I get the inspiration to, to play video games whenever I have a partner to do so whether it be significant othefriend/cousin, and to go on random little adventures to whereever my heart desires. Interests would be: anime, movies (specifically comic ones), cosplay, airsoft, skating, art, drinking, speeding on open road, and daydreaming. On here I’m hoping to meet someone similar in the sense that even if we don’t have too many things in common, we both have an openmind and can join eachother in activities of interest, preferably in person but if only by text then aye so be it, never turn down a good friend or more am I right? Someone to be open and honest with and have deep conversations. Maybe even be intimate here and there, I mean hopefully better said. And shoot maybe if you’re also looking for a place to stay or a roommate to help with rent, So am i so theres that aswell. Can’t wait to see who responds Whoever reads this, hope you have a wonderful evening.
[pics of me] https://imgur.com/gallery/Qcmk9VA

I’ve been in this group since I made reddit basically but only today did I take the time to read some of the entries you all have made. I love the open community to be ourselves and speak what’s on our minds in the search of likeminded individuals to befriend on this journey we call life. As I read, I felt compelled to say something myself because why not; I also want a bond just as anybody else but in 2022 it isn’t so easy am I right? I’m a 23 yr old Black Hispanic pretty fit guy in the DMV area. I like long car rides either blasting music or having a deep conversation with someone, to draw and maybe even rap whenever I get the inspiration to, to play video games whenever I have a partner to do so whether it be significant other or cousin, and to go on random little adventures to whereever my heart desires. Interests would be: anime, movies (specifically comic ones), cosplay, airsoft, skating, art, drinking, speeding on open road, and daydreaming. On here I’m hoping to meet someone similar in the sense that even if we don’t have too many things in common, we both have an openmind and can join eachother in activities of interest, preferably in person but if only by text then aye so be it, never turn down a good partner or more am I right? Someone to be open and honest with and have deep conversations. Maybe even be intimate here and there, I mean hopefully better said. And shoot maybe if you’re also looking for a place to stay or a roommate to help with rent, So am i so theres that aswell. Can’t wait to see who responds Whoever reads this, hope you have a wonderful evening.
[pics of me] https://imgur.com/gallery/Qcmk9VA