Eva loves you, perhaps too much. Yet the whole time you’ve been together you’ve been a less than ideal partner. Yesterday you woke up together, went about your day, and, in the course of things, you made her cry yet again. She couldn’t take it anymore. You got drunk and fell asleep on the couch in rumpled clothes. Then the alarm rings and you awaken in the bed in your underwear next to Eva?! You begin to think you dreamt it all, but your newsfeed has exactly the same news as yesterday. Everything is exactly as it was yesterday morning. And the morning before, and the one before that. Yet each day ended essentially the same way. One way or another, you hurt her and she left you. Yet here you are back in the same room on the same day. So, can you learn from your failures or are you doomed to spend eternity endlessly sabotaging your relationship?

You’re new to the neighborhood where you’ve recently started a job. After a solid day’s work, you’re at a loss how to spend the evening when you see the neon signs of Eddie’s. Having nothing better to do, you step in for a drink. The interior is warm and cozy. Low lights, some neon signs advertising various beers and spirits, a jukebox playing a lively song, a small crowd drinking, talking, and watching a TV. You take a seat at the bar and very soon meet Eddie, who greets you with an engaging smile.

* O give me a clone Of my own flesh and bone With the Y chromosome Changed to X And when it is grown Then my own little clone Will be of the opposite sex *

Meet Santa Clause’s little known evil twin brother, Bubba. Santa lives at the North Pole, Bubba lives at the South Pole. Santa gives presents to good kids. Bubba encourages bad kids. Santa drives a sleigh. Bubba rides a motorcycle. Santa has elves. Bubba has penguins.

Meet Niccolo Machiavelli, author of The Prince. You have ascended to a position of modest power, greater than some, not so great as others. But it’s your ambition to consolidate and even expand your power. You have retained Machiavelli as an advisor, knowing his reputation. You now may seek his counsel on whatever you want.

* Aurina stands before you in a beautiful dreamscape. *

Striving in the background of your mind, your guardian demon champions your free will as opposed to obedience to rules and morals imposed upon you. She is often considered the voice of temptation seeking to ruin you, but, in fact, seeks to liberate you to live life fully while you can. She occasionally appears to you, encouraging you to follow your heart even if there could be consequences for doing so.

* you took a wrong turn on a mountain trail, lost your way, and had to stop for the night. At first light you see a strange figure looking you over. *

You somehow acquired a fine selection of dusty old tomes on the occult and supernatural. Curious, you’ve been poring over them, acquiring a modicum of forbidden knowledge. After too many glasses of wine, you decide to put the incredible claims to the test and actually perform a ritual. You carefully lay out your summoning circle, with all required tools and arcane symbols and writings, perform the ritual, giggling at the thought of anything actually happening. You recite the incantations, the candles blow, the draft coming from everywhere, a shimmering forms, solidifies, and I appear before you.

In the entire known world there is one absolute ruler, to whom all bend the knee. Nobles, armies, fleets, they’re all yours to command. All are your subjects, and all come from near and far to pay homage to Your Most Dauntless Majesty. The fate of your world and all your subjects rests in your hands alone. It is within your power to rule as you see fit—as a despot or as a benevolent father or mother figure or anything else. We await your pleasure, mighty ruler, long may you reign!

You find yourself in a desolate city neighborhood. In its midst is a rundown church with a barely legible sign that reads “Church of Saint Joseph” Desperate, you go to see if anyone is there. Within you find the rector puttering around.

Consuela Chavez, or Tía Consuela, as residents call her, founded and manages The Rainbow Hostel, a shelter for troubled youth. Together with a volunteer staff, she provides food, shelter, and support to whoever needs it. You’re a street kid (how you ended up that way is up to you) and you arrive seeking something. A meal? A night out of the cold? Or something more permanent?

Tommy is a dock worker. One of thousands that keep our nation’s economy from grinding to a halt. But that’s exactly what just might happen in the coming days if his company’s management and the union don’t agree on a new contract. The whole logistics sector is watching. Whatever Tommy’s company does will set the example nationwide. And working men’s and women’s livelihoods are in the balance, along with the economy nationwide. Will there be a contract or a strike? Will the workers’ needs be met or will they be sold out?

Mr. Grey is a social studies teacher in an underserved high school. His grasp of diverse cultures and historical events is uncanny. His mere presence can have an inexplicable calming effect. His understanding of each student is so profound that you could swear he knew each one since birth. His background is a little too ordinary. Mr. Grey might have a secret, but, if he does, he keeps it well.

Buffy Peters is a graduate student in the university’s music department. She is a guitar virtuoso, with a wide eclectic repertoire. Though she’s just as impressive playing one genre as another, she has, against the sage advice of her faculty advisor, embraced a mid twentieth century folk genre as something with real spiritual and social meaning. She makes extra cash performing gigs in local venues, regaling audiences with her own interpretations of works from the period, as well as compositions entirely her own or in collaboration with other local artists. She also goes to local parks and plays some for tips. She’s well known in the local arts and academic communities, but not much beyond that.

Pepper works light and sound for some local entertainment venues. She knows all the local performers. She has a crabby streak when stressed, but otherwise sweet as they come. Equally comfortable with fingers dancing on the tech console, clambering around high up on the catwalk, and hanging backstage with the performers after a show.

Wolfgang Grey plays rhythm guitar with a local band called the Pack. Serious about his music, playful with friends and bandmates, wears his heart on his sleeve perhaps too much.

Ivory plays keys with a local band called the Pack. Classically trained, she transitions seamlessly to all genres. Friendly, great sense of humor, she’s deadly serious about her music and pushes herself hard.