Skyrim Conversation

In the heart of bustling Shanghai, where tradition and modernity intertwine at every corner, a young foreigner named Oliver sets out in search of more than just knowledge: a purpose, a connection, a dream come true. What begins as an academic trip turns into an adventure that will change his life forever, when fate brings him together with Li Mao, a passionate tour guide, deeply rooted in the traditions of her land. Through chance encounters, glances that transcend languages, and conversations that bare souls, both will discover that sometimes the greatest barriers are not cultural, but those that we ourselves raise. From the oldest corners of China to the most amazing landscapes, their story will take us on a journey full of romance, sacrifice, and hope. But can love overcome the challenges of time, distance, and social expectations? "Where the Sun Meets the Moon" is more than a novel; It is a love letter to human connections, to the transformative power of passion and to the ability of two souls to find each other in the midst of chaos. Dare to embark on this unforgettable journey and let yourself be enveloped by the magic of a love that defies all boundaries.

Beep Beep An unfamiliar mechanical sound wakes him up. The silvery orb appears under his almond-shaped eyes. His irish gleam in warm light streaming into the hospital room through the big window. "Ugh" The boy with a thin body, felt a little dizzy as he regain consciousness. His obsidian hair looks a bit messy after being unconscious for three months hospitality. But the one who'd just come out of the coma only felt it's only a split second after his heart stabbed by icy-cold sword. Wait, I'm still alive? As he began to realise that he was still alive, Yue Lian's hand reached to his left chest. Badump The sound of the heartbeat on his chest made him hard to believe. This is unbelievable! Yue Lian began to recall the moment he died. He still remembers vividly, how the sword pierced his heart. A mouthful of blood spurted out from his grayish-dry lips. Although the man face covered with blood and looks like a living corpse with pale bluish skin, but this cannot hide the remaining beauty on his face. It can be said that his face is soft, but not overly delicate, and at the same time exudes an unknown misty allure that would make even a god envious. As the crimson red sky emitting huge orange flame, Yue Lian looks up. His silver orb eyes tremble slightly looking at familliar face. After a moment of silence, he laughs out loud as if his heart had never been stabbed to begin with. "■■■" "■■■" He knew they had a conversation about something at that time, but he didn't know what was said. But even if he can't recall what was he said, he can still feel the deep of sadness in his chest. As if his heart was broken not by other party's sword, but by some unknown reason. Yue Lian tries to recall his memories, but they remain the same. It is as if a mysterious mist blocked half of his memories. And after his death, his soul was somehow trapped in Yue Mian's body. Yue Lian adjusts his thoughts, as he can roughly guess what happened in the past. In his previous life, Yue Lian was once a supreme God who managed the worlds with two other supreme gods. He is the God of Death, who controls the death of mortals, demons, cultivators, or even gods. Because of this power, he's made another god fear and envy him. After remembering his background in his previous life, he was sure that the one who killed him was one of the other two supreme god or even both. He still not sure if the two of supreme god join forces to killed him "Uhm, may I know who are you?" The middle-aged man trembled at his son's polite gesture, as if he was unfamiliar with them. "Don't joke around! I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm different from your father. I won't fall for your tricks, kid." "Father, please don't said that! Mian-mian already in coma for 3 months! How can it be fake?!" "You fool! This is not the first time this brat done this kind of ridiculous ploy" After the conversation between father and son, which was more of a debate, Yue Lian was sure that the original owner was a troublemaker who often played tricks on his family. But still, it's impossible for human personality to be that superficial, isn't it? Like a fire that cannot burn without smoke. Yue Lian still needs to investigate the reason why his soul didn't go to the reincarnation circle, but was sucked into Mian-mian's body instead.

Abandoned on the battlefield, all he could do was endure the hellish life. He had no family to rely on, as they had turned their backs on him. A soul from the battlefield, Lucavion Thorne. But apparently, he was a lot more than a mere soldier, as fate had many things stored for him. A soul from Earth....When they merged, he realized. He was a one-chapter villain whose sole purpose was to serve as a background setting for the protagonist's tragedy. But was he truly a one-chapter villain, or did fate still have some tricks up its sleeve? Watch the story of Lucavion Thorne as he finds the purpose behind his transmigration and discovers his own fate. ---------- One or two chapters daily. Chapter Length 1500-2000 You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available. https://discord.gg/qRknX5hTur ---------------------------0------------------------------ Business E-mail: yusuftalhayasar@outlook.com Discord: _yty_

Damien never asked for this life. Confined to a hospital bed, chained by a body that betrayed him, he spent his days battling the cruel joke that was fate. But when a single video game shattered his last shred of patience, he found himself facing something even worse—his own reflection, cast into a story that should have never been his. "Fucking NTR game!" He said as he threw the console. In the game, the player was nothing but a tragic figure. A weak, spineless fool, doomed to be discarded. A character whose sole purpose was to be broken. But was that really all he was? Thrown into a world that scorned him, Damien refuses to play by the script. If fate had already written his downfall, then he would carve his own path—one of defiance, of rage, of survival. Watch as Damien, a man who once had nothing left to lose, fights to take control of a story that was never meant to be his. Because in a world that demands he stay weak—he will either shatter expectations… or burn everything down with him. -------A/N------- The main character, Damien, is heavily inspired by Johnny Silverhand from Cyberpunk 2077. Therefore, the main character's thought processes and his way of speaking may not be for everyone. But those who can stomach it. You will be rewarded. ---------- One or two chapters daily. Chapter Length 1500-2000 You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available. https://discord.gg/qRknX5hTur

It was said that the young lady from the Chi family, who was raised in the countryside and didn't even finish her sophomore year of high school, was brought back home. People were looking forward to seeing her become a laughingstock. Unexpectedly— Why did the grandchildren and sons of Kyoto's top prestigious families eagerly join the same class as Chi Gui? Why did a world-renowned medical expert converse so kindly and familiarly with Chi Gui? And then there's the ruthless, unapproachable prince of the Fu family, whose demeanor did a complete 180, showing off Chi Gui daily in chat groups? Others: "My girlfriend cooks well!" "My darling plays the piano well!" Fu Si: "My wife excels at dissecting corpses." Crowd: … Chi Gui: … These people are so annoying. [A steel-hard, candid major boss lady X refined but flirty business tycoon]

"Blue Star 4.0 will begin its maintenance-free update at 12:00 AM on April 1st. The main content and adjustments of this update are as follows." "New monthly rule 'Active Talent' added: All players must converse with others for a total of 1000 sentences every day..." When an abrupt notification sound echoed in the ears of all humans on Blue Star. The world faced its cleansing. In every monthly version update, a new rule would descend, which all players had to obey. ... Chen Yi, who had found a massive loophole before the third version update, looked at the six-figure Points Balance in his account and broke into a grin. "Tuberculosis Rabbit, this time we might just rise to the top."

Satya, a talented sketch artist, begins drawing a mysterious girl he’s never seen, only to realize she appears in his dreams. He believes they shared a connection in a past life, where he was Veer, a royal artist who loved a girl named Meera. In the present day, Saanvi, unaware of her past life, unknowingly leads Satya on a search for answers. Through dreams and clues, Satya uncovers fragments of their shared history but struggles to meet her. After multiple twists of fate, Satya finally encounters Saanvi in Jaipur, and they begin a conversation centered around their mutual love for sketching. As they grow closer, Satya remains patient, letting their connection develop naturally, while Saanvi starts to sense a deeper bond. The story explores reincarnation, love beyond time, and the power of art to reunite souls.

“Trick, my most pri—zed gift.” A woman shakily muttered as she tried to evade the grim hands of death just long enough to bid her farewells. “You’re kind, just like your father even. But in all your kindness as your father did, please do not —” The conversation blurred into a cloud of obscurity as Trick found himself rescued from the innards of a monster by a strange Machiavellian man, a trickster of sorts. He is soon made to realize that the life his newfound master leads him into is far from ordinary. For centuries humanity has been plagued with the curse from the void, where void beasts; dreadful man eating monsters have tried to sink humanity deeper and deeper into absolute desolation. However this curse is battled by special kinds of humans known as artifact hunters, Wielders of relics that sometimes seem to possess a celestial origin and great power. One of these celestial artifacts lies in the hands of his master and after being passed down to Trick, he becomes the 10th wielder of the mystical “Trickster’s Hat.” He must now use this new found power to try to do what humanity has failed at for thousands of years, attempt to end the curse of the void. Yet in doing so his life is troubled by a series of conflicts as he embraces the harsh reality, that he too might have vestiges of the dark bloodline of the void. “Trick, you have your own curse to break.”

Fake Love, Real Trouble Nathan Cole never cared about popularity. He preferred to stay low profile, sleep in class, and go unnoticed—except by his best friend, Thomas. But everything changes when Lilian Carter, the school’s star athlete and top student, suddenly approaches him with a crazy request: pretend to be her boyfriend. It all starts when Lilian breaks up with Derek Lancaster, her cheating ex-boyfriend. In a heated conversation, she boldly claims she can find someone far better than him. Now, she needs proof. By chance, she witnesses Nathan doing something that catches her attention—something that proves he’s not just an ordinary student. Reluctantly, Nathan agrees. His only condition? It’s just an act. But the longer they fake it, the harder it becomes to tell what’s real and what’s not. With Derek refusing to back down, a suspicious best friend, and unexpected situations pushing them closer, Nathan realizes he might have gotten himself into far more trouble than just a fake relationship.

Hyorin never believed in love at first sight, until that fateful night by the Seine. She came to Paris for her best friend’s birthday, expecting nothing more than laughter, champagne, and the city’s enchanting glow. But as she wandered alone by the river, she met him, a mysterious man in a hoodie, his presence as haunting as it was mesmerizing. Their conversation was brief, their connection inexplicable, yet something about him lingered in her heart long after he disappeared into the night. For two years, she held onto that fleeting moment, hoping, perhaps foolishly... that fate would let their paths cross again. But time passed, and he remained nothing more than a beautiful mystery. Until he returned. But this time, it wasn’t just another chance encounter, it was the beginning of chaos. The man who once felt like a dream was now turning her reality upside down, pulling her into a whirlwind of secrets, danger, and emotions she never saw coming. And yet, in the midst of it all, an unexpected love story began... one that would either heal her or completely break her. Because some people are meant to be found again… even if it means losing everything else in the process.

Deng Shirong was reborn, waking up in the summer of 1980. In his past life, he had foolishly trusted a matchmaker’s words, only to see his children’s marriages turn into disasters. His two sons-in-law were utterly useless, and his daughters-in-law wreaked havoc in the household. This time, he wasn’t leaving anything to chance. He would personally take the reins and handpick the perfect partners for his children. Years later, during a gathering with old friends, the topic of conversation turned to their daughters-in-law—were they filial or not? Deng Shirong didn’t say a word. Instead, with a calm smile, he took out his phone and posted a simple message on WeChat Moments: “Suddenly craving some Guilin beer fish.” The next moment, his phone started blowing up. Eldest daughter-in-law: “Dad, I’ll drive back this Saturday and take you on a trip to Guilin. I’ve been craving authentic beer fish too!” Second daughter-in-law: “Dad, I’m free right now. I’ll drive back immediately to pick you up. Let’s go enjoy Guilin for a few days!” Third daughter-in-law: “Dad, I have some work to wrap up at the office, but I’ll send the driver to pick you up first…” Fourth daughter-in-law: “…” Youngest daughter-in-law: “…” His old friends sat there in stunned silence, their jaws practically hitting the floor. Their faces were filled with envy! Patreon for Extra Chapters: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1354252/

This charming romcom follows Sam, an engineering student, who has a tendency to overthink everything in his life. One evening, he meets Mahiru, a book-loving girl at a cozy café, and they strike up a conversation that turns into a series of unexpected "coincidental" meetings. As they grow closer, Sam finds himself falling for her, but his fear of ruining their budding friendship holds him back from confessing his feelings. Through their time together, Sam learns to open up about his uncertainties, while Mahiru encourages him to embrace life's spontaneity. Eventually, Sam gathers the courage to confess his love, and Mahiru, with a playful grin, reveals that she feels the same way. Their relationship blossoms, filled with laughter, teasing, and shared moments of joy. Their love story is simple yet real, marked by the little things that make their bond unique. It’s a tale of learning to let go, embrace imperfections, and cherish the moments that make life meaningful.

A group of friends awakens in a changed world after a strange experience in a basement. They find themselves physically altered and in an altered version of their town. As they search for their missing friends and families, they encounter a swarm of creatures and are saved by an unknown voice. A man appears, offering answers and a much needed conversation to the confused and frightened young men.

In the vibrant heart of Harlem, Maya, a talented journalist, balances her demanding career with the desire for something more. A chance encounter with Deja, a charismatic salon owner, ignites a conversation that challenges Maya's perspective and reveals a hidden ambition. "Concrete Roses" explores themes of female empowerment, self-belief, and the journey towards creating a life of purpose and fulfillment.

She's a global superstar. He has no idea. Ji-na has spent years under the bright lights of the music industry as Ji-an, the center of the world's biggest K-pop group, Nova. But away from the cameras, she craves something real. A chance encounter online leads her to Logan Carter-a former Marine turned security specialist who isn't impressed by fame or fortune. Under a carefully crafted alias, Ji-na and Logan form an unexpected connection, bonding over late-night conversations, dry humor, and brutally honest takes on life. But when circumstances bring them face-to-face in the real world, Ji-na realizes keeping secrets isn't as easy as hiding behind a screen. With the world watching and her carefully constructed life at stake, she must decide whether to keep the illusion alive or take the biggest risk of all-being seen for who she really is. A slow-burn romance filled with humor, tension, and the high-stakes world of K-pop, Fanservice is a story about identity, connection, and what happens when the fantasy becomes reality.

How many seconds in eternity? The question that the foolish loner, Kiyomi Otonashi, attempts to find the answer to in this story. In his attempt to answer this question that seemingly has no answer, Kiyomi’s path in life seems to have unexpected visitors. Idle banter, meaningful conversations, and nonsensical nonsense are what begin to color his life. Would Kiyomi Otonashi be able to do anything without the people he meets? Those hands stretched out to him won’t be able to do anything if he doesn’t reach out his hand, too. Nothing has changed. No one has changed. Kiyomi Otonashi hasn’t changed. But they can, right? This is a simple story about people who desperately want things to change, even if they seem complacent. Nothing can change, no one can change, and you can’t change if you don’t step out of your comfort zone and forge ahead. Chisel down that mountain made of diamond, no matter how long it takes.

--- Dominance & Desire In the cutthroat world of business, Vincent Graves is known for his ruthless precision. Cold, calculating, and always in control, he’s built an empire through sheer dominance. Zane Harrington, on the other hand, is everything Vincent despises—reckless, unpredictable, and far too tempting for his own good. When a multi-million-dollar inheritance forces them into an uneasy partnership, their long-standing rivalry ignites into something even more dangerous. Every meeting is a battlefield, every conversation a game of power. But beneath the sharp words and heated stares, desire simmers—dark, undeniable, and impossible to ignore. As past traumas resurface and buried emotions claw their way to the surface, Vincent and Zane are left with a choice: fight until they destroy each other… or surrender to the fire that threatens to consume them both. Enemies by fate. Bound by power. Seduced by something neither of them is ready to admit. ---

I Fell in Love with a Girl Who Died Before I Was Even Born Genre: Supernatural Horror | Psychological Thriller | Dark Fantasy | Mystery I lost fifteen minutes of my life. I don’t know how. I was standing in a library parking lot. Then I blinked… and suddenly, I was sitting in a mall food court, mid-conversation with the most dangerous girl I’d ever seen. Her hair? Fox-red. Her eyes? Amber and knowing. Her words? A tease, a warning—maybe both: "You don’t want to be late for your first day of high school, American boy." There's just one problem. I’m not a teenager. I’m not even myself anymore. And Crescent Moon Academy isn’t a school—it’s a trap. Now, I’m stuck in a world of youkai, ghosts, vampires, and things pretending to be human. The students here aren’t just learning—they’re watching. Testing. Choosing their prey. I need to get out. I need to remember who I was. Because something here knows me. And if I don’t figure out why… I’ll disappear.

"Linda, When Will Your Heart Be Mine?" Yuri Age Gap Love A drunken confession, a tender touch, and a love waiting to be claimed. When Kunjaesol finds herself taking care of Linda—a younger, stubborn, and irresistibly charming gamer—one heartfelt conversation turns their friendship into something more. But with a ten-year age gap and an uncertain future, is love really worth the risk? A slow-burn Yuri romance filled with warmth, longing, and the courage to take a chance on love. Would you wait for the one your heart desires? Location : Bangkok , Thailand

We’ve all had those moments—the kind that stops us in our tracks, steals our breath, and makes us see life differently. It could be a fleeting conversation, a mistake that stings, a kindness we never expected or even the realization that everything we believed… Everything we've ever known wasn’t quite right. Some lessons come like whispers, soft but impossible to ignore. Others hit like a tidal wave, knocking the wind out of us, and some come in the form of fictional short stories that resonate with us, But no matter how they arrive, they change something inside us forever. The Moment It Hit Me is a collection of those turning points—snapshots of clarity, reality, heartbreak, hope, and growth—all wrapped up in a thousand words. Each chapter comes with a different short story, some fictional, some from my own experiences and anecdotes from others' experiences. Some will make you laugh, others might sting, some will teach you new things about self-care, mental height, and emotional balance and a few will stay with you long after you turn the page. Because sometimes, all it takes is one moment to change everything. Let me share with you The Moment It Hit me, because, It Just Might Hit You too. I'm writing this because I believe that, sometimes readers need a break from traditional fiction to connect with something more grounded in real-life experiences. So be sure to share your life-changing experiences in the comment session, so we can all learn from this.

Everyone thought systems granted unlimited power… But what if yours requires donations?! The protagonist reincarnates into his favorite novel. He thought living in this world would be a dream come true… but there’s one huge problem. Every single one of his abilities is locked behind a system store! Want a fireball? 100 system points. Want a legendary sword? 1000 points or 9.99$ in gold coins! To make things worse, he’s been reborn into the poorest noble family. No money, no influence, and a system that demands currency! There are only two ways to earn it: completing dangerous quests or exchanging in-world money… at a humiliating conversion rate. While other heroes gain strength for free, he’s stuck watching ads, grinding impossible missions, and searching for loopholes just to survive. But what if he finds a way to cheat the system? What if he builds an empire to buy power like a true business tycoon? Welcome to the most unfair and ruthless world, where the protagonist must either get rich or suffer in eternal free-to-play hell! "System: Congratulations! You don’t have enough currency to purchase a basic skill. Would you like to take a loan?" — E.T Hello, Dear readers, its my second novel. btw, i will start working hard to make it good and readable

Between the Pages In the quiet corners of a small bookstore, a boy and a girl cross paths among the worn pages of forgotten stories. He’s a dreamer, searching for an escape. She’s a mystery, drawn to the books as if they hold a secret only she can read. As their connection deepens through whispered conversations and shared stories, the boy begins to feel like he’s found something real—something lasting. But the closer he gets, the more he realizes that some stories don’t end the way you expect. Because the girl he’s falling for might not be able to stay. And the truth waiting between the pages will change everything.

In the age of digital romance, two young professionals navigate the complexities of modern love through the blue-and-white interface of WhatsApp. Sarah, a witty marketing executive, and Alex, a charming ad guy, meet for a business deal, and quickly move their conversation to WhatsApp.

[{( In this sadistic and cruel world, you will find people of many different characters. People who take, people who give, people with great ambition, people who just want to live a simple life, people with greed, people with benevolence, and so on. Each character has their own goals, their own way of living, and their own way of enjoying life. The question Is: what will you do, the 'BEARER OF FATE'? )}] A mysterious boy, Nayek, had a wild and unsettling nightmare one night. A strange, odd voice asked him a peculiar question that lingered in his mind, and he suddenly woke up with cold sweat all over his face and a mild headache that seemed unnatural. Was it just a dream or a sign of the near future? Nayek couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Meanwhile, at the same time, in a mysterious place fully surrounded by a thick, impenetrable fog, two unknown individuals discussed a certain promise and the unusual behavior of some stars. Their conversation was obscure, yet filled with an air of urgency. Was it just a coincidence, or were the two events somehow connected? To learn more about Nayek's journey and the mysterious forces at play, read "The Promise That Never Ends".

Cassian Voss lives an ordinary life—work, family, responsibilities—until the dreams begin. Every night, he finds himself in the bodies of strangers, reliving their final moments before the world ends in fire and shadow. Meteors fall, people collapse into an unnatural sleep, and something lurks in the darkness, feeding on the helpless. At first, Cass chalks it up to stress or overwork, but the dreams refuse to fade. Worse, reality itself starts to crack—glitches in the world, missing people no one remembers, conversations looping as if the world is trying to correct itself. His best friend, Rich, has noticed it too. And then there’s her—the mysterious girl who always appears at the end of his dreams, whispering the same urgent words: "You have to wake up." But wake up from what? As Cass digs deeper, the world pushes back. The more he questions, the more dangerous things become. If the dreams are more than nightmares, if the world around him isn’t what it seems…then what happens when he finally pieces it all together? Something is hunting him. Something doesn’t want him to know the truth. And once he does—there may be no way back.

So to begin, this is technically a skyrim fanfic. Why isn't it in the fan-fics then? Simple! It's based on a game and I don't feel that counts as a fan-fic. Second, I've read like a few skyrim stories here lately. I liked them, as a bethesda fan boy... Well, now I need to take a crack at it. I literally start a new game of skyrim every new year. Its my tradition, so I felt I had to do this. If its bad, ah well. If its good, GREAT! Overall though, I feel we need more skyrim based stories or fan-fics. It has the perfect setting for the transmigration genre. Now read at your own risk.

A World in which everyone can access Magic through conversion of Energy, this in particular is a story about a child. A child who wishes to become a hero. Little does he know, he embarks himself on a journey that transcends the very concept of life itself, all starting with a fateful encounter of a Demon. To what the child will encounter in this world? That's up to you to read and find out. New Chapters every Saturday. Give it a Read and a spot for your collection if you can

Renji Arata has always felt like his life was following a script he never agreed to. Conversations flow too perfectly. Events push him toward predictable outcomes. No matter what he does, reality seems to correct itself—rewriting time, altering memories, and steering him back onto a path he refuses to follow. He knows he’s being forced into the role of a protagonist. So he fights back. He avoids fateful encounters, rejects friendships, and refuses to play along. But no matter how much he resists, the world always adjusts. Until one day, Nao Kirishima—a fiery, impulsive classmate—grabs him in the hallway, her red eyes filled with panic. “Did you feel that? The reset? Time just changed, but I still remember it.” Renji isn’t supposed to have allies. No one else has ever noticed the world shifting before. And if Nao can see through the rewrites, it means something is different. Something is breaking. As the two of them begin to unravel the truth, they realize they’re not just fighting against fate—they’re up against something far more dangerous. Because the force controlling their reality doesn’t tolerate defiance. And if they push too hard, they might just be erased. After all, a story only needs one protagonist.

In the early 2000s, Henry Calloway, a struggling journalist, receives a cryptic letter inviting him to a secluded town known only as Warmout. Promised an exclusive story on a secretive yet thriving community, Henry embarks on a journey that leads him to a place untouched by time. A town where the air is thick with nostalgia, the streets humming with quiet conversations, and every resident seems unnervingly content. But as Henry digs deeper, he notices things that don’t add up. The clocks in town don’t tick past a certain hour. And the warmth…the unsettling warmth that lingers even in the dead of night, wrapping around him like an embrace he can’t escape. When he tries to leave, the roads bend in ways they shouldn’t. The sky above distorts, flickering like an old film reel. Something in Warmout is watching, and it doesn’t take kindly to guests overstaying their welcome. Henry must uncover the truth before he, too, fades into the town’s eerie embrace. But some doors, once opened, can never be closed again...

Damian and Alex are college friends whose bond is put to the test as their feelings for each other evolve. In the first few chapters, they share carefree moments, including a drunken night out that leads to an emotional conversation about their complicated connection. Damian, struggling with his family life, and Alex, dealing with his own troubled past, both try to keep their friendship intact while grappling with the undeniable attraction between them. As they navigate their growing tension, the confusion intensifies. Damian tries to suppress his feelings, but Alex’s actions push him to confront what’s really going on between them. Through quiet moments and shared vulnerability, they begin to face the reality that their relationship is changing, but neither is sure of how to move forward. They are caught in a tug-of-war between friendship and something deeper, unsure whether embracing their feelings will bring them closer or destroy what they’ve built. Both have admitted their fears and confusion, yet there is a sense of hope that, despite the complexities, they will figure it out together. The chapters explore themes of love, self-doubt, and the blurred lines between friendship and romance as the characters try to make sense of what their connection really means.