A brother and sister doomed for eternal separation.
My name is Jaber Al-Haj. I am from Gaza, married to my wife, Menna, and we have a little son named Hashim, who is less than two years old. Like any Palestinian family, we dreamed of a simple and stable life. But the recent war turned our lives upside down. The sounds of explosions never left us, and fear has become part of our daily existence. My son Hashim suffers from health problems that urgently require treatment, but the war has destroyed everything, including the healthcare system, making access to necessary medical care nearly impossible. With each passing day, our suffering deepens, and the fear for Hashimâs health and future consumes me.
Alongside my small family, I used to work with my brothers, Aboud and Bilal, on our joint projectâa small lab for producing essential household cleaning products. We started this project with modest resources, dreaming that it would become a source of income to support us and provide job opportunities for our community. But the war left us with nothing. Our lab, which was once filled with life and hard work, was reduced to rubble under the bombardment. We lost our equipment, our livelihood, and with it, a part of our dreams for the future.
Even our home, our only refuge, did not escape the destruction. It was severely damaged and is now uninhabitable. We were forced to flee and live in a tent under harsh conditions unfit for human life. The cold, the heat, the lack of resources, and the absence of privacy have made life nearly unbearable. We try to cope, but every day brings new challenges and suffering.
Today, what worries me the most is my son Hashim's condition. His health is deteriorating, and he desperately needs treatment abroad. However, under the circumstances weâre living in, I lack the means to secure his travel and medical expenses. As a father, there is nothing more heartbreaking than watching my child suffer while being unable to help him.
This campaign is a lifeline for my family in our darkest hour. With your generosity, we can bring hope back into our lives and secure a better future for my son, Hashim. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a world of difference.
Please support us through the link below:
Thank you for standing with us and helping us through this difficult time. Your kindness means more than words can express.
With heartfelt gratitude, Jaber AlHaj
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Women these days are not allowed hobbies anymore
my evil chalice came in but its so fucking small. goddamnit. they're going to make fun of me at the wizards circle tonight
đâïž
In which you choose the club that caught your eye
Part 1
After much contemplation you've finally decided to pick the:
The basketball court was quiet for all of two seconds after you announced your decision.
Then Ace exploded.
"HA! I knew youâd pick us! I called it!" He was practically doing laps around the court, pointing at nothing in particular. "Ace Trappola: the ultimate recruiter, the club MVP, and now the guy who brought you on board! This is the best day of my life!"
"Eh, itâs about time," Floyd drawled, stretching lazily. "Took ya long enough to figure out where the fun is." His sharp-toothed grin widened. "Now we can play my version of full-contact basketball. Hehehe."
"Absolutely not," Jamil cut in, but Floyd wasnât listening.
"Donât worry," Floyd said, throwing an arm around your shoulders like youâd been lifelong teammates. "If you survive the first practice, youâll survive all the practices. Probably."
Ace jogged back over, breathless but triumphant. "I told you weâre the best club! No boring rules, no endless laps like in Deuce's lame track team, and best of allâ" He struck a dramatic pose, arms wide. "You get to hang out with me every day!"
"Please donât make them quit on the first week," Jamil muttered, giving you a look that seemed to say, Are you sure about this?
"Quit? Nahhh!" Ace grinned. "Theyâre gonna thrive here. Iâll even teach them my signature movesâlike my no-look, backwards, mid-air layup."
"You canât even do that," Jamil said flatly.
"Not yet," Ace shot back. "But itâs the thought that counts."
Floyd leaned in closer, his grin somehow growing wider. "You better keep up, shrimpy. Otherwise, I might have to⊠spice things up a little."
"Spice things up?" you echoed, immediately suspicious.
"He means doing things like replacing the basketballs with watermelons," Jamil deadpanned.
Ace snorted. "Or throwing the ball at the hoop so hard it breaks the backboard. Oh wait, that actually happened. Twice."
"It was fun," Floyd said, completely unrepentant.
Jamil sighed like a man whoâd aged a decade in the last five minutes. But then, to your surprise, he turned to you and offered a small, genuine smile. "Still⊠Iâm glad youâre here. Welcome to the team."
The words were simple, but coming from Jamil, they felt like a warm endorsement.
Ace clapped his hands together, clearly ready to move things along. "Alright, enough talking! Letâs get you on the court and see what youâve got!"
"Or we could start slow," Jamil suggested, but Ace was already dragging you toward the center of the court, Floyd trailing behind with a basketball under one arm.
"Donât worry," Floyd said, tossing the ball up and catching it effortlessly. "If ya mess up, weâll just laugh at ya a little. No big deal~."
"No oneâs laughing at anyone," Jamil said firmly, already pinching the bridge of his nose.
Ace threw an arm around your shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. "Ignore him. Weâre gonna have a blast! First practice starts now!"
You werenât sure what youâd gotten yourself into, but judging by their enthusiasm (and Floydâs maniacal laughter), you were in for one chaotic ride.
The moment you declared your allegiance to the track and field club, Deuceâs face lit up like someone had just told him he passed his midterms.
âYouâre⊠really joining?â he asked, like he needed double confirmation. When you nodded, his grin widened, the kind that made him look both relieved and excited. âThatâs awesome! Uhâwelcome to the team! Seriously, itâs great to have you.â His usual earnestness shone through, and he scratched the back of his neck. âI mean, Iâm still kind of learning the ropes, but we can figure things out together. Itâs gonna be great!â
Jack, standing beside him, gave a firm nod of approval. âGood call. Track and fieldâs a solid choice. Youâll fit right in.â His tail wagged just enough to betray how happy he was, even if his tone stayed calm.
"Yeah!" Deuce agreed. âAnd, uh, donât worry about keeping up or anything. Itâs all about improving at your own pace. Right, Jack?â
âSure,â Jack replied, glancing at you. Then he added, almost casually, âWeâll work on your stamina. Youâre gonna need it.â
It took you a second to catch the faint glint in his eye, and then you rememberedâoh no, the fridge comment. Jack had been disturbed ever since.
Deuce, oblivious to the subtext, chimed in, âYeah, Jackâs great at that stuff! Heâs got this crazy endurance. Like, he can run forever. Iâm still working on it, but, uh, youâre in good hands!â
Jackâs tail swished again. âJust be ready to push yourself. But donât worryâweâve got your back.â
âExactly!â Deuce said, his fists clenching like he was ready to run a marathon right there. âThis is gonna be awesome. I mean, not that it wasnât already great, but now itâs even better. Right, Jack?â
Jack gave a small, satisfied smile. âRight.â
As they led you toward the field, you couldnât help but wonder what youâd just signed up for. One thing was certain, thoughâJackâs still thinking about that fridge, and he will make sure itâs not an issue anymore.
The moment you declared your allegiance to the board game club, Azul adjusted his glasses, looking smugly pleased with himself, like he'd just negotiated the deal of the century.
"An excellent decision," he said, his voice as smooth as the perfectly polished board games stacked behind him. "With your addition to our club, I foresee a new golden age of strategic victories."
Idia, sitting half-hidden behind a pile of unopened game boxes, choked on his energy drink. "W-Wait, youâre serious? They actually chose us?" His hair flared a brilliant shade of pink for a moment before he pulled his hoodie tighter around himself. "Th-this isnât some prank, right? Like, Iâm not gonna look up and see them bolting out the door laughing, right?"
"Nope," you replied with a grin. "Iâm all in."
Ortho, ever the enthusiastic hype man, zipped into the room with his jet thrusters. "Welcome to the club! Now we have a full party for dungeon raids. This is amazing!"
Azul cleared his throat, waving a hand. "Ahem, while cooperative RPGs are certainly an option, I believe we should start with a game of strategy and wit to introduce them properly. Perhaps a round of Chess of Betrayal?"
Idia groaned, sinking further into his hoodie. "Ugh, that game takes, like, three hours. If youâre gonna scare them away, at least wait until theyâre too deep in to quit. Why donât we start with something easy, like Goblin King Gauntlet?"
Ortho clapped his hands. "Ooh, I love that one! It has a random trap mechanic! Letâs play that!"
Azul raised an eyebrow, his smile shark-like. "Trap mechanics are hardly a proper welcome. It would be far better to demonstrate the finer nuances of strategy, wouldnât you agree?"
Idia muttered something about Azul turning everything into a power play, but you interrupted before they could spiral into a full-blown debate. "Honestly, Iâm fine with anything. Just deal me in."
Azulâs smirk widened. "Very well, then. I shall prepare the game board. And donât worry, Iâll make certain youâre fully equipped for our upcoming campaigns. Youâll find we offer more than just funâwe offer victory."
Idia peeked out from his hoodie, a small, hopeful smile creeping onto his face. "Youâre not bad at this whole club thing. Maybe this wonât be so terrible."
As they started setting up the game, you felt an unexpected warmth. Sure, it was just a board game club, but there was something endearing about their chaotic enthusiasm.
Though one thing was clearâAzul would probably try to sell you game tokens at some point, and Idia would absolutely try to teach you how to min-max your dice rolls.
But hey, you were ready for it.
When you announced your decision to join the film studies club, Vil paused mid-sip of his herbal tea, one elegantly arched eyebrow rising. For a moment, he looked like he was considering whether he had heard you correctly. Then, with a practiced air of nonchalance, he set the teacup down.
"Hm. Acceptable," he said coolly, though his tone betrayed a slight uptick of satisfaction. "Itâs rare to find someone with enough taste to appreciate the art of cinema. I suppose your presence will be⊠useful."
But the slight curl of his lips gave him away.
He stood, brushing imaginary dust from his coat, and gave you an appraising look. "We have much to discuss. If youâre serious about this, youâll need to commit entirelyâno half-measures, no excuses. The camera is unforgiving, and I have no intention of allowing this club to falter under subpar contributions."
You opened your mouth to respond, but he was already pacing, gesturing dramatically like the star of an avant-garde production. "Lighting, blocking, compositionâthey are all integral to creating art, not merely entertainment. I trust you wonât embarrass yourself, or me, for that matter."
Despite his words, you caught the faintest hint of pride in his gaze as he turned to face you fully. "And, if for some reason, acting isnât your strength, there are other roles. Cinematography, set design, editing⊠Perhaps backstage work would suit you, should you fail the audition."
He didnât say it to be harsh; this was Vilâs version of encouragement. And as he continued outlining the clubâs visionâ"a modern renaissance in storytelling"âyou realized he was genuinely excited to have you there, even if heâd rather gargle poison than openly admit it.
Finally, he stopped and gave you a small, approving nod. "Welcome to the film studies club. Donât make me regret this."
Translation: Iâm glad youâre here.
The moment you announced your decision to join the science club, Rookâs eyes lit up like youâd just declared him the ruler of the universe.
"Ah, mon ami! What a magnifique choice!" he exclaimed, sweeping you into a theatrical bow so deep you thought he might topple over. "You possess the soul of an explorer, a true seeker of knowledge! Together, we shall unlock the mysteries of nature and celebrate its beauty in all its forms!"
"Uh⊠donât scare them off, Rook," Trey interjected, though he was smiling. He adjusted his apron, clearly relieved that you hadnât bolted under Rookâs enthusiastic greeting. "Weâre glad to have you. Really. Itâs nice to have someone else around who wonât accidentally set the lab on fire."
You raised an eyebrow. "Thatâs a low bar."
Trey shrugged. "Youâd be surprised how many fail to meet it."
Before you could respond, Rook was already spinning grand plans. "Imagine the adventures we will have! Scaling mountains, crafting elixirs, nurturing delicate blossomsâah, the poetry of science!" He clasped his hands to his chest, radiating so much joy that you were worried heâd break into song.
Trey, ever the grounded one, sighed fondly. "What he means is: we do a little bit of everything. Growing plants, chemistry experiments, cookingâyouâll fit right in. Assuming Rook doesnât scare you off first."
Rook turned to Trey with an exaggerated gasp, as if the very suggestion of him being overwhelming was the greatest insult heâd ever received. "Chevalier des Roses, how could you wound me so?" He turned back to you with a theatrical flourish. "Fear not! I shall be your guide, your companion, yourâ"
"Assistant," Trey cut in, giving you a knowing look. "We'll assist you. Donât let him take over your projects."
You grinned, feeling oddly at home already. Between Rookâs boundless enthusiasm and Treyâs steadying presence, you realized the science club might just be the perfect balance of chaos and calm.
When you announced your decision to join the Pop Music Club, Lilia was the first to react. He shot up from his chair with a dramatic flourish, his capeâwhere did the cape come from?âbillowing as if on cue.
"Ah, an excellent choice! Welcome to the most electrifying club in the entire school!" Lilia declared, his voice reverberating like an arena announcer. He played an imaginary riff on an air guitar, complete with sound effects that you were almost certain were magically amplified.
Kalim clapped his hands, beaming as brightly as the sun. "This is going to be so much fun! We can sing duets, make up dances, throw a party for every new song we writeâoh! We should have a welcome party for you right now!" He was already halfway to grabbing balloons out of thin air before Cater stopped him.
"Easy there, Kalim," Cater said with a laugh, pulling out his phone to snap a picture. "We havenât even started jamming yet! Gotta document this firstââNew Member Alert đšđ¶! Welcome to the coolest club at NRC!ââ He posed next to you, flipping through filters. "Ooh, should we do a pastel vibe or go all-out neon?"
"Why not both?" Lilia suggested, somehow holding a tambourine he hadnât been holding two seconds ago. He shook it with gusto, the jingles creating an impromptu beat.
Kalim joined in instantly, dancing around the room with energy that could probably power a small city. "This is going to be amazing! Do you play any instruments? Can you sing? Or maybe youâll write the songs? Wait, can you do all three?!"
Before you could answer, Lilia leaned in with a conspiratorial grin. "Donât worry, even if youâre terrible, I can teach you. After all, Iâve had centuries of experience."
"Centuries of experience at what exactly?" you asked, though you werenât entirely sure you wanted the answer.
"Everything," Lilia replied cryptically, shaking the tambourine once more for emphasis.
Cater gave you a wink. "Donât let him intimidate you. Heâs mostly harmless. Mostly."
As the chaos swirled around you, you realized joining the Pop Music Club was probably going to be as much about managing everyoneâs energy as it was about making music.
But looking at their genuine excitement, you couldnât help but feel youâd made the right choice. It was going to be loud, unpredictable, andâmost importantlyâa lot of fun.
When you chose the Equestrian Club, Riddleâs reaction was immediate and deeply Riddle. He straightened his posture, cleared his throat, and gave you a small but dignified nod, though his ears turned the faintest shade of pink.
âA wise decision,â he said primly, but his voice wavered just enough to give away his excitement. âThe Equestrian Club values discipline and care, and I trust you will uphold those values. Welcome.â He paused, then added with uncharacteristic softness, âIâm glad you chose us.â
Sebek, on the other hand, reacted with his usual intensity, which was to say, very loudly.
âAS EXPECTED OF SOMEONE WITH DISCERNING TASTE!â Sebek bellowed, saluting for no discernible reason. âTHE EQUESTRIAN CLUB IS A PLACE OF HONOR AND DILIGENCE. YOU HAVE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE, AND I, SEBEK ZIGVOLT, SHALL PERSONALLY ENSURE YOU MEET OUR HIGH STANDARDS!â
âYouâre going to scare the horses,â Silver muttered, patting a dozing mare who didnât even flinch at Sebekâs volume. Clearly, sheâd built up an immunity.
Silver turned to you with a sleepy but genuine smile. âWelcome. Itâll be nice having another person around who actually seems calm. Iâll show you the best places to ride, and weâll make sure youâre comfortable with the horses.â
âAnd with the rules,â Riddle interjected, already retrieving a stack of laminated pages. âEquestrian care is not something to take lightly. Youâll need to memorize these guidelines to ensure both your safety and that of the horses.â
Sebek leaned over your shoulder to inspect the stack and immediately saluted again. âAN EXCELLENT INITIATIVE, HOUSEWARDEN ROSEHEARTS! I, TOO, WILL MEMORIZE THESE IN CASE THEY EVER REQUIRE REINFORCEMENT!â
âI think theyâre fine,â Silver said. âWe donât need to make this harder than it needs to be.â
Riddle frowned. âStandards exist for a reason, Silver. Though I appreciate your enthusiasm, perhaps we canâSebek, stop shoutingâperhaps we can go over the basics first before overwhelming them.â
As Riddle and Sebek debated, Silver handed you a carrot to feed one of the horses. âDonât worry,â he said, as the horse happily munched away. âItâs not as intense as it seems. Usually.â
You glanced at the stack of rules in Riddleâs hand and the fervent look in Sebekâs eyes. It was definitely going to be an adjustment. But seeing how genuinely happy they all were to have youâyes, even Sebekâyou felt like this would be worth it.
When you announced your decision to join the Magift Club as their manager, the reaction was instantaneous and⊠surprisingly chaotic.
Ruggie let out a whoop, immediately dropping to the floor in a mock bow. "Ayo, everyone, bow to the boss! Finally, someone who can keep this circus in line!"
Leona, lounging on the sidelines, cracked open an eye and smirked. ââBout time. Herbivores usually flake out, but I knew you were better than the rest.â He stretched lazily, like heâd personally orchestrated your decision. âJust keep the snacks coming, and weâll get along fine.â
Epel looked between them and grinned, his enthusiasm much more grounded. âItâs great to have ya! With you around, maybe Leona will actually show up to warmups... or not just sleep through it.â He shot a pointed glance at their captain, who was, of course, ignoring him entirely.
âEh,â Leona drawled, flicking his tail dismissively.
âYou could work on that attitude,â you muttered, earning a low chuckle from him.
âSee, I told you theyâd fit right in!â Ruggie said, gesturing at you dramatically. âTheyâre already roasting him. This is gonna be great!â
Epel, suddenly inspired, added, âAnd theyâll keep Ruggie from stealing the fresh apple juice we get after games. Thatâs worth it alone.â
As the reality of your new role settled in, you felt a bit like a lion tamer walking into a den of mischievous cubs and one very lazy big cat. But their enthusiasmâexpressed in their own peculiar waysâwas endearing.
Ruggie threw an arm around your shoulder. âAlright, boss, first order of business: snacks! Letâs discuss our game day budget and whether I can convince you to sneak me a sandwich before practice.â
Leona snorted but didnât argue, which you took as a sign of approval. Epel pumped his fist. âWeâre gonna crush it this year!â
Maybe managing this bunch wouldnât be so bad after all. If nothing else, itâd definitely be entertaining.
When you joined Jade for a hike to "test the waters" of the Mountain Lovers Club, you had your doubts. You were prepared for a lot of thingsâmaybe getting lost in the wilderness, maybe Jade pulling out his eerie cryptid knowledge, or maybe just a weirdly formal lecture about moss. What you werenât prepared for was⊠actually enjoying yourself.
Jade led the way with an unhurried confidence, pointing out various wild plants, their uses, and fun facts about the environment. He wasnât his usual enigmatic self, either. He seemed lighter, almost enthusiastic, as he described a tiny wildflower you wouldâve missed entirely.
âThis particular species only blooms during the autumn months,â he said, crouching to show you. âQuite fascinating how it adapts to the cooler temperatures, donât you think?â
You nodded, trying not to stare too hard at how his face lit up when he spoke. Jade was⊠cute? When he wasnât talking about mushrooms in a way that made you question your mortality, he was actually kind of charming.
By the time you reached a rocky outcrop with a gorgeous view of the campus, you realized youâd been smiling for most of the hike. Jade noticed too.
âIt seems Iâve made a decent impression,â he said, turning toward you with a soft grin. âIâm pleased to see you enjoying yourself.â
âItâs⊠relaxing,â you admitted, surprising even yourself. âI didnât think itâd be this fun.â
Jade tilted his head. âDoes that mean youâd consider joining the Mountain Lovers Club?â
You hesitated for a moment, but as you looked at the breathtaking view and the rare, genuine smile on his face, the answer came easily. âYeah. Iâll join.â
For a split second, Jadeâs eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly schooled his expression into his usual composed smile. âWonderful. I must say, I wasnât expecting this outcome, but Iâm glad. Itâs not every day someone sees the beauty in what I love.â
There was an odd warmth in his voice that made your heart skip a beat. As he turned to lead the way back, he added, âNow that weâre a team, I look forward to our next adventure.â
Jade Leech was genuinely happy. And, you realized, so were you.
When you told Malleus you were joining the Gargoyle Research Society, his reaction was almost imperceptible at first. A slight widening of his eyes, a pause as though he was waiting to see if you were serious, and thenâpure, unfiltered delight.
"You have an interest in gargoyles?" he asked, his voice both surprised and reverent, as if you'd just confessed to enjoying a rare and ancient art form.
You nodded. "Yeah. I think they're fascinating. The designs, the history⊠Theyâre like stone guardians with stories etched into them."
For a moment, Malleus simply looked at you, his emerald eyes shimmering like the light of distant stars. Then, as if unable to contain his joy, he smiledâa soft, genuine expression that sent a wave of warmth through the chilly Ramshackle evening.
"This pleases me greatly," he said, his tone unusually light. âNot many share my appreciation for gargoyles. Often, I speak of them, and others⊠how do I put it? Pretend to listen.â
âWell, Iâm definitely not pretending,â you said, grinning. âIâm in for real.â
Malleus clasped his hands together in what could only be described as regal excitement. "Then I must share something with you. Sometimes, I create gargoyles myself."
âYou what?â you asked, laughing in delight.
âYes,â he replied earnestly, his eyes alight. âCarving stone requires patience, but there is a certain satisfaction in breathing life into something lifeless. Well, not literal life, of course, but a soul of sorts.â
You couldnât help but laugh again, the image of Malleus with a chisel and hammer popping into your head. âI never would have guessed. Thatâs⊠really cool.â
âI can show you some of my creations, if youâd like,â he offered, almost shyly.
âIâd love that,â you said, genuinely glad to have joined him. âI think Iâm going to enjoy this club.â
The glow in his expression was impossible to miss. It wasnât just that you had joined his clubâit was that, for once, someone truly shared his passion. âAnd I am glad to have you,â he said softly.
In that moment, under the watchful eyes of the stone guardians scattered around campus, it felt like you had chosen exactly the right place.
tags: @techno-danger
a/n: it completely slipped my mind that ortho is a part of film studies sorry :(
That's my favorite childhood serial
he's not mad that's just how his face looks
The Kiss (Klimt) Kyoko and Sayaka version drawn by me a few days ago âĄ
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