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Crazy heart rate, numb and discolored extremities, pain… what is happening to me?

2023.06.10 02:01 DoesSheEvenGoHere1 Crazy heart rate, numb and discolored extremities, pain… what is happening to me?

Hi all,
I’m 27F, 5'4", about 155lbs (recent loss of about 20lbs in the past month or so due to incredible loss of appetite).
History of anorexia and bulimia (in teens and early 20s), PTSD, depression and anxiety. Also diagnosed with potential POTS and/or SVT as my heart rate ranges from ~40 anywhere to ~210 bpm. Gluten intolerant, if that matters at all.
Current meds: Lamictal (200mg bid), Adderall (20mg bid), Abilify (5mg), clonidine (0.1mg), Vitamin D (mega dose 1x per week). No recreational drug use, no smoking, occasional alcohol consumption.
I have no idea what is happening to me and it feels like all of these symptoms have been getting progressively worse in the last year or so (sorry if some of these are not related):
Mayo Clinic appointment in a few weeks but really struggling mentally and physically and I have no idea what to expect. Driving is scary because legs sometimes fall asleep. I'm horrified of what all of this could be. I have a recent fear that some of this sounds like MS but I could be WAY off (I am really hoping this is incorrect). I know I am driving myself nuts, but this feels like SO much more than POTS and it's honestly feeling unbearable to live because I just can't function normally (yes, I'm in therapy thank God). I of course will explain everything to the doctors, but I also don't know what to expect and what questions to ask. Does this sound like anything in particular? Any suggestions as to what this could be or what I should ask at the Mayo Clinic would be so greatly appreciated.
submitted by DoesSheEvenGoHere1 to medical_advice [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:57 Frank_Leroux Molossus, Chapter Nineteen

First Chapter
Chapter Eighteen
Chao peered at the holographic display at the front of the landing boat as she talked to an international audience. “Okay, folks! You can now see the Coalition Exploration Bureau’s ship Exultant Finger of Rithro. It’s missing its usual armor configuration; normally, this corvette would have triangular cones of armor at the front and back. But they re-configured that armor material into a shell to prevent us from seeing them as they flew towards Earth. Merely as a precaution; they flipped the shell around a few weeks ago to display their ship to us. They even extended their radiators towards our planet, which to them is a signal of surrender.”
She smiled at Parvati, who floated next to her. “Pretty cool, right?”
“Very cool indeed!” exclaimed Parvati. “So where is the damage?”
Chao pointed. “See these toroidal tanks around the middle of the ship? They hold hydrogen for the ship’s fusion drive, but after tangling with that Breaker some of them got punctured. You can see the holes there, there, and there. That means they’re now limited in how long they can burn the reactor. Plus the FTL drive is now pretty much kaput. It apparently uses a lot of energy.”
Parvati pondered the display. “Faster than light,” she mused. “We need that. After we get the fusion drive technology, of course. Assuming that ever comes out of committee.”
Chao laughed. “Well, that’s why we’re here, right? To show all of humanity what could be ours.”
“Will we go outside? I mean, for real outside?” The actress reached towards the display, halting when she realized there was no physical screen.
“We’ve got pressure suits. Should be okay, we did plan for going out for a few minutes to get some direct video. It’ll be limited in time, those suits aren’t really meant for proper EVAs…”
“Oh, that’s no problem!” said Takh from behind them, causing both women to do the equivalent of a zero-g jump. For someone so big, he somehow managed to just…arrive on the scene. “We’ve got plenty of components on board, we can make you all some proper hardsuits!” He grinned at the camera on Chao’s chest; watching an udhyr grin was an awe-inspiring sight, what with all of the teeth and mandibles. “It’s all snap-together for any body type, it works just like your Legos!”
Parvati, of course, was the first to regain her composure. “Thank you Takh, I’m sure that will be very welcome. One thing has occurred to me; even if our material is successful in allowing you to patch your tanks, you will still require hydrogen to fill them, yes?”
The XO’s cheer didn’t fade. “Of course. We’ll find a nearby ice-containing body and extract us some hydrogen. We already have a few candidates chosen. You can all come and ride along! It should be fun to watch.”
“Yes, very fun.” Parvati met Chao’s eyes in a clear unspoken message of is this guy for real?
A much smaller hand crept its way around Takh’s leather-armored shoulder. “Now, my dear,” said McCoy. “We mustn’t interrupt the PR people. They’re half the reason we’re out here, after all.” She winked at the two other women; both of the latter winked back.
“Oh, of course!” Takh bowed formally to the two. “Forgive me.”
“No worries,” said Chao.
“There is nothing to forgive, my good sir,” replied Parvati with an equally formal bow.
The huge alien and petite corporal vanished, leaving the two women to watch the ship as the boat headed for its docking cradle.
“They are utterly adorable,” said Parvati.
“So are you two,” said Chao.
“Sorry?”
“You and Ravindar. I’m not saying to make your move right now. We’re gonna be on camera for a while, and I know I just made a bunch of people on Earth go squee. But you need to tell him how you feel.”
For once the actress looked flustered. “I…I couldn’t, he’s so brave and strong…”
Chao’s voice sounded out like the slamming of a vault door. “Stop. I had the same problem. I was into someone who was brave and strong. Not as big as Ravindar, but then again few people are. Then I found out he was into me too, but because he thought I was smart. I’m not as smart as he thinks I am, but I’m not going to tell him that.”
Parvati glanced into the rear of the landing boat, where Martinez was in the midst of puttering around with the human and alien crew. The actress now looked thoughtful. “I see.”
“All I’m saying is, you don’t need to be exactly in-sync in terms of what you see in each other.” Chao smiled. “Heck, you might even find out that you’re in-sync in ways you didn’t see coming.”
The dark-haired Indian fixed Chao with a stare. “I sense there is a story somewhere in there that you’re not telling me. Ah well, as you say it can wait until we are all no longer under the camera’s gaze.”
__________
Master Sergeant Wilkes smiled down at the spidery alien. “Kifa, there’s someone I’d like you to meet. Consider it part of your helping us to train. This person made a living while driving one of the highest, fastest aircraft we’ve ever made.”
“Oooh!” Kifa looked very pleased at the idea. “That’s a good area to focus on! Where orbital mechanics and aircraft mechanics meet.”
“Indeed.” Wilkes nodded at the near door. “You may come in, sir.”
A man walked in, his face stretched taut in the way which only scar tissue can appear.
Kifa peered up at him. “Forgive me, this is probably very insensitive, but…were you injured?”
He laughed. “I sure was! Burned to a fare-thee-well!”
“Oh, I am so sorry!”
He smiled. “No need to be sorry. Hey, do you want a headpat? Word on the street is your species like that sort of thing.”
The xyrax rocked back and forth on its legs. “Well, a human headpat is always welcome….”
The man reached up and wiggled his fingers, making a great show that his pinky had full range of motion. “See this? Pure miracle that I can do that. The surgeon putting my hand back together, just on a whim, decided to put a pin in here so’s that my pinky finger can grasp properly. Good thing too, otherwise I would’ve never made it through the physical training.”
He then reached forth and with that rebuilt hand dispensed quite a few righteous headpats onto Kifa. After a mutual moment of happy bonding, the xyrax spoke again.
“What training were you pursuing?”
“The same thing you and I are gonna be doing for a week or so.” His eyes, narrowed with scar tissue, lit up. “My dear Kifa, I’m gonna make you into a Sled Driver. God willing and the creek don’t rise, we might get to do it for real and not just in the simulators. They’re already pulling a bunch of Blackbirds out of mothballs. Hell, even the Russians are offering us titanium for building new ones. Seems like everybody’s got a fire lit under their kiester.”
Kifa’s eyes, already big and black, got even bigger. “What is a Sled Driver?”
“Why, it’s only the best profession on the planet, my little blue-furred friend. We get to go fast.”
__________
Joachim regarded the cylindrical, human-sized tank with some trepidation. It looked far too much like a transparent coffin. “You want to stick me in that thing?”
Zawahir nodded. “I know it’s a lot to ask, sir. It is entirely up to you, in the end. But if this works…” He waved at the tank. “If this works, then you will emerge from that tank physically in your twenties.”
They both regarded the tank for a moment, which was full of a clear and, at the moment, a very exclusive liquid.
“Corina too, of course,” said Joachim as he leaned back in his wheelchair. “If it works on me first.” He still wasn’t quite sure where he was; there had been a lot of back-and-forth with planes and whatnot.
“Of course,” said Zawahir. “That goes without saying.”
“Then the two people injured in the DC attack. This will regrow their limbs, correct?”
“Well, naturally.” Zawahir smirked. “They’re the Borlaug Institute’s big publicity stunt, after all. Testing on two people before-hand should be enough to let us know if it’ll work on them.”
“Of course.” Joachim gazed at the tank. “I’ll do it, on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“If…if I don’t come out okay, I want everyone to know that I tried, right? And I do mean everyone. All of humanity.”
“I’m just one person. At the moment, I can only promise that I’ll say what I can.”
After a moment, Joachim nodded. “Then put me in there. I just need to talk to Corina beforehand.”
“Of course, sir.”
__________
The blue-suited woman with a blonde pony-tail smiled as she stared into the camera. “Welcome to Summit Technologies’s livestream of Point-Counterpoint, I’m Amy Coulson. We are currently talking about and debating the latest announcements in space-based systems. As everyone is aware, this has become a source of great concern in the last month or so.” She nodded to the beige-suited man next to her. “This is Walter Higgins, formerly of TRW and who now works for Northrop-Grumman. Walter, to start with can you tell us what the current status is of the repair effort for the alien craft?”
Walt leaned forward, putting his forearms on the desk in front of them. “Well, the main concern is if the plates we’re providing for patching will actually work. So only one of the Rithro’s boats was launched…the one with Chao Me Chu and Parvati Devdhar, they’re towing the fifteen-ton loft provided by ULA to avoid wasting too much energy. Just in case the patching doesn’t work.” He winked at the camera. “I assure you, as someone in the aerospace industry, ULA is going to be very proud of that for a good long while. Anyways, at the moment, they are approaching the L5 point and we should be able to get some spectacular pictures of, well, everything. Of the Earth from near the Moon’s orbit, of the Moon itself, and most importantly of the Rithro.”
Amy nodded in a comradely fashion, but Walt was not fooled. He’d dealt with reporters before. “Sounds intriguing, and I’m sure everyone on Earth looks forward to such sights. But mere patching will not be enough to solve the ship’s issues, correct?”
He sighed. “You’re right. One of the ship’s fusion engines was damaged, and that limits their top speed. Think of it as…you’re a big ocean liner with three propellers, and one goes down. You might still be able to steer using just the other two, but you’re not going to be as effective or fast as you might be.”
“Effective,” she mused. “I suppose that our helping fix their fusion drive is among those bits of alien tech currently prohibited?”
“Yes. I have heard some rumors that the Borlaug Institute in Iceland has had some great initial success, so I hope that soon we will be able to tackle the fusion drive problem.”
She stared at him a bit, which he knew was a bit of theatricality. “Such a repair would make them more capable against these so-called ‘Breakers’, correct?”
“So-called? Now, Amy. Don’t tell me you’re agreeing with those lunatics?”
In the weeks since the simultaneous attacks, a few manifestos had cropped up online. All mostly spouted the same nonsense; at least, nonsense in Walt’s eyes. They all said the same thing; that the Breakers were fake. That this whole rigamarole was a false flag effort by the Coalition, one intended to get all of humanity under their thumb.
“I don’t agree with them,” said Amy, to her credit. “I’m merely stating the other side of the conflict. Yes, I think most people agree that there is an alien ship up at the L5 point which has been grievously damaged. I do trust the evidence of my eyes. I’m sure our two…”
“Five.”
“…five brave souls heading out to that very point at L5 will see exactly the same thing as the Hubble did. But. Have you considered, just for the sake of argument, that evidence of an attack is not evidence of Breakers? Perhaps this is some local dispute, and the crew has set up some sort of fake attack. They could intend to use us as shock troops to settle it.”
Walt leaned back in his chair as he went through the longest twenty seconds of his life. He knew things, thanks to his role. He also knew that if he spoke them aloud he would be burning his entire career right down to the waterline. “That is somewhat possible. But not probable.”
She leaned forward, as if sensing she had him on the ropes. “Why?”
“Because they didn’t need to.” His gray eyes were calm as he stared at her and measured his words. “Do you have any notion, any single clue, of the firepower that ship possesses?”
“Um…well, no, that part’s still classified.”
“I will give you a hint. They have a spinal railgun that could, with around three shots, turn any metropolitan area on earth into a molten crater. They have nuclear-tipped missiles, even one of which could burn a city to the ground. They didn’t need to play nice, Amy. Those aliens could have stood off in orbit, smacked a few cities, and then gotten on the radio to dictate terms of our surrender. We’d have no choice but to comply.”
He stared daggers at her, half expecting some black-suited guys with earpieces to jump in and haul him away. But nothing happened, it was as if the world was holding its breath. “They did their very best to treat with us fairly, to treat us as equals.”
Amy looked away. “I…I hope that is true.”
“It is.” He glanced behind his shoulder for any Men In Black, but nobody was there so far. Maybe he should continue. He assumed a smile, one which he did not feel. “Anyways. We will see what they see, when they get there. There is, also, the international consortium’s proposal for the Sea Dragon.”
The reporter rallied, clearly grateful for the change in subject. “Ah, yes. You’ve reviewed the designs of this craft. Is it really necessary?”
“At the moment, yes. Starship holds a great deal of promise, but they’re still trying to crack the reusability and multiple-refueling issue. This design does permit reusability…of the first stage, if nothing else…but it isn’t strictly necessary for success. Success, in this case, consists of tons to orbit.”
“Why something so big, though? Won’t it be an issue?”
He chuckled, feeling surer of himself. “That’s why we’re launching it in the ocean, in the middle of nowhere.”
She actually looked troubled, so he figured he’d throw her a bone. “The first launch won’t have anything…controversial.”
“But Walt, the second launch is the issue! Nobody has launched this much radioactive material into space.”
“We need to, Amy,”
“But on an almost untested rocket? From a design which is decades old?”
“We have top people on it,” said Walt. “Including people from that era, who know exactly the pitfalls and also have access to modern technology.”
“Which people?”
“It’s still secret as to their identities. But like I said, I can confirm rumors that the Borlaug Institute is already paying significant dividends.”
Amy rolled her eyes. “Over a billion dollars funneled into a figurative black hole in Iceland. Why would you believe anything they say?”
“They’re going to have some serious proof soon,” said Walt.
__________
Iceland. Joachim had never, ever expected to visit Iceland. But yet here he was…again. He stood with no cane, with nothing supporting him but his own two legs. He stared at a nearby volcanic massif, one covered with green lichen. The spring was coming in, and the ground around him was similarly strewn with fuzzy green growth. His beard and hair were now coming in dark again, with only a hint of gray at the tips to betray his true age.
He heard some light-footed steps coming up the trail behind him. It must be Zawahir.
“Why the hell am I back in Iceland?” Joachim replied.
"This is where the tech is, at least for the moment. How are you feeling, sir?”
“I feel…like my old self, Zawahir. I forgot what it was like to have knees that don’t hurt anymore. How is Corina’s, er, ‘tanking’ proceeding?”
“Very well, sir. I am overseeing the procedure of her ‘tanking’ myself, I just wanted to come and let you know that everything is looking good.”
Joachim looked down at the back of his hand. It was no longer wrinkled, no longer showed a welter of age spots. “When?”
“She should be out in…seventy-two hours. That’s how long it took you.”
“Good to know.” He turned to face Zawahir. “My friend, I am going to need every single internet connection you have for the next seventy-two hours. I have a lot of design work to take care of in that time frame; I will need to have a lot of meetings using those oh-so-clever ‘online’ apps. I’ll be indisposed after that.”
“Sir?”
Joachim stepped forth and placed a newly-strong hand on Zawahir’s shoulder. “My dear Zawahir. I am now physically twenty again. In the next three days my wife, the love of my life and she who I hold dear above all else, will also emerge from your magic alien goo and she will also be physically twenty years old. What do you think will happen after she is thus reborn?”
Zawahir’s eyes widened. “Oh. OH! Yes, of course. Please, follow me.”
Joachim chuckled to himself as he followed the man towards the low-roofed buildings of the Borlaug Institute in the distance.
__________
Chao was now clad back in her pressure suit; fortunately, the aliens were quite adept at helping the humans back into their cloth-and-glass cocoons. She looked over at Parvati. “Neil can bite us.”
Parvati grinned. “For sure. Neil was a very great man, but sadly he never got to see an alien starship.”
Chao checked the readout at her wrist, ensuring that she was indeed sealed up and pressurized. She looked over at her four fellow humans, and received nods in return. “We’re go, Captain Sadaf.”
The on-board crew of the Rithro were now back in their chromed, faceted hardsuits. “Depressurizing,” said Sadaf. “Please monitor those to either side, sing out if you see any stress.”
Chao reminded herself to breathe normally as things just got…quiet. Very quiet. She managed, through sheer willpower, to not have an utter panic attack as she realized that there was nothing between her and a life-sucking nothing except for a few layers of fabric and plastic.
She glanced over at Parvati, who looked to be also in the midst of trying (and fortunately succeeding) at combating her own panic attack behind her Plexiglas helmet. “Doing okay?” asked Chao, and immediately felt like an idiot for asking such a stupid question.
Still, Parvati nodded. Chao felt a tap at her shoulder, and looked over at Martinez. The corporal grinned at her from behind his own transparent head-cocoon. “Doing okay?” he asked with just the right bit of cheekiness.
Chao slapped his shoulder, but it was a playful slap. “Dipshit.” She forgot, in the moment, that she was begin transmitted live to the world. Her curse was thus broadcast to pretty much every kid on the planet, who then gleefully repeated her curse-word until they all got smacked by their parents.
She didn’t know that at the time, her entire world was the airlock door that now opened to reveal…black.
Utter black.
Chao had enough experience in zero-g maneuvering to push herself towards the door. “Oh. Man. Folks, this is it. Gonna step outside, for at least a little bit.”
She could feel both Martinez on one side and Sadaf on the other. The latter figured; the captain struck Chao as a ‘lead from the front’ type.
“Grip the frame,” said Sadaf. Through the translator bead her voice was deadly calm. “No big muscle movements, just kind of…drift where you want to go.”
Chao obediently swung herself up and out of the boat, reveling in the fact that now she was seeing the Exultant Finger of Rithro in real time. The long ship stretched alongside a clamshell-like shield, its radiators stretched out towards the Earth in a gesture of surrender.
Speaking of which…
Chao kept a firm hold on the doorframe as she looked behind her. A small, fragile, blue-and-white marble floated before her, a sphere which looked to be the size of her thumb-tip held at arm’s length. Chao did so with her free gloved hand, watching her thumb occlude that fragile-loooking sphere. And in that moment, her world was completely changed.
It is one thing to know a fact. It is one thing to meet aliens, to accept that they are from oh so very far away, that your world is but one little dust mote drifting in the vast and limitless cosmic ocean. But it is quite another to see that fact laid bare before you, where you can witness it in real-time through nothing but a Pexiglas helmet. Chao now knew. Everyone she’d ever known, everyone she’d ever heard of, every king or warlord or emperor or internet celebrity who anyone had ever heard of had lived down there, upon a sphere that looked to her like the most ephemeral of soap-bubbles. She had the crazy notion that she could just reach out one gloved finger and pop it.
She also knew that millions, perhaps billions, were watching this live via her bodycam. Perhaps they were going through the same epiphany.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she knew she was on the verge of tears. No, that was a bad thing. She was in freefall; there was no way for those tears to stream down her face. They would just collect over her eyes and blind her. So Chao breathed in deep and managed to tamp down those threatened tears.
“Chao?” called out Sadaf through her comm. “Are you all right?”
“I’m good, Captain. Just…next time…, we send up a poet.”
__________
Shaw hated, hated, hated having to use a wheelchair to get around. Most of the time he could wheel himself around using his substantial arms, but every so often the nursing staff would try to get oh so helpful and try to push him towards where he was going. Several of them had nearly lost limbs of their own thanks to such efforts.
Still, he was alive and that was a good thing. Although…watching Agent Milton Vila and his family, who were nearby as he went through his own convalescence, made Shaw reevaluate his life choices. It would be nice to have a wife and kid to hug while one went through the worst thing ever. But he was too old, such things were well behind him. While on autopilot, Shaw wheeled himself down the tiled and very off-white hallway with a sour air. One which told the entire staff that he was Not To Be Disturbed. He was thinking of a particular girl, one with the cutest pigtails and the sunniest smile. Yeah, she would have been the one, if he’d had his head on straight back then.
And then, in spite of his ‘Fuck the Fuck Off energy’, someone did block his path.
He stared at a pair of narrow legs, clad in narrow pants, then looked up with a distinct lack of humor. “I do believe you are in my way.”
The dark-skinned man blocking his path smiled, but it was a gentle smile. “I am. But, I am very sure you will want to hear my offer. Both you and Agent Vila.”
Shaw regarded him with gimlet eyes. “Oh, really? What’s your name?”
“I’m Zawahir Ibn Harith. I am the head of the…”
“I don’t give a single solitary fuck,” said Shaw. “I’ve had plenty of people trying to get me to tell them my life story since I got my leg removed with extreme prejudice. I don’t know how you got in here, but you strike me as someone just like them, Harith. So. I may be minus one leg, but I can still fuck you up but good. I can fuck you up so bad you’ll never shit right again. Do you wanna get out of my way now?”
The man’s smile didn’t change. “Borlaug Institute.”
“What. Really?”
“Really, sir. Both you and Agent Milton Vila. It sounds…very cynical, but you were the two that we wanted to heal first. As an object lesson to humanity. Do you understand?”
The notion made Shaw’s mind reel. “Heal?”
“Fully. We have successfully restored two people to the prime of life, and we are now certain that we can do the same for you and Agent Vila. With all of your limbs intact. We have done a great many tissue-sample experiments, and it appears that the regeneration also re-grows limbs.”
Shaw looked down at his missing lower leg. “And you’ll do the same for Milton?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Stop calling me sir, I work for a living. Call me Mack.”
“Very well…Mack. I won’t lie to you, this has been planned well in advance. But it turned out that limb re-growth for humans also unlocked certain regeneration within our cells, particularly the telomeres…”
Shaw held up a meaty hand. “Just…I’m a dumb grunt in such matters, don’t bother to tell me how it works. So you have some kind of magic goo that you slather over me and hey presto I’m twenty again?”
“That is more or less the shape of it, si…Mack. You will need to be immersed in the ‘magic goo’ for at least three days. Perhaps more, since this will also be regenerating a limb.”
“Either way, I go first,” said Shaw, with a flinty glare up at Zawahir. “I’m the test subject, and you need to test me good after I get re-birthed from your goop. I know you said you’d done it on two people, but we need to make sure this doesn’t give me some kind of bullshit super-cancer before Milton goes in. He’s got a wife and a kid. If he has to use a prosthetic instead of magic alien goo, then he has to use that instead. Understand?”
Zawahir gave Shaw a little bow. “Of course. I do believe you are quite the appropriate test subject.”
“Oh, go fuck yourself. Where is this shindig taking place, anyway?”
submitted by Frank_Leroux to HFY [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:56 Art-Of-My-Mind [WTS][CANADA] Starter kits, Soaps and Aftershave set bundles & Add-ons

Hey Bazaar!
I've got a few bundles for you once again, and some starter kits.
The add-ons at the end are $5 ea. or 3 for $10 and can be added to any bundle.
Everything is 95% new or brand new.
Sale prices include shipping, are in CAD and will ship only to Canada.
Paypal F&F only. Not looking to split bundles at the moment.
Thank you!
 
https://imgur.com/a/ZlzHFrt
https://imgur.com/a/K1oeqRB
https://imgur.com/a/jDBp0Hw
 
Bundle #1 * A&E - Kaizen set * Bignoli - Aghi Di Pino set * Le Père Lucien - Vetiver soap * Saponificio Varesino - Pro Victis Repair
Bundle #1 for : $97 CAD
 
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Bundle #2 for : $97 CAD
 
Bundle #3 * Abbate Y La Mantia - Krokos set (6.76 oz.) * Highland Spring - Mystic set * Zingari Man - Hydration Potion * Truefitt & Hill - Pre Shave
Bundle #3 for : $117 CAD
 
Bundle #4 * Saponificio Varesino - Desert Vetiver set * Faena - Greek Skinos set * Fine Accoutrements - Lavender Pour Homme aftershave
Bundle #4 for : $95 CAD
 
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Bundle #5 for : $85 CAD
 
Bundle #6 * Lothur - Oregon set * Phoenix Artisan Accoutrement - Sacre Bleu set * Castle Forbes - Pre Shave
Bundle #6 for : $89 CAD
 
Bundle #7 * DR Harris - Windsor set * Phoenix Artisan Accoutrement - Brush Soap * Nordic Shaving Company - Pine Tar soap * Nordic Shaving Company - Lilac soap * Nordic Shaving Company - Menthol & Pine soap
Bundle #7 for : $85 CAD
 
Bundle #8 * Farzad's Barbershop - Tobacco set * Moon Soaps - Union set (splash and balm) * Zingari Man - Unscented splash
Bundle #8 for : $85 CAD
 
Bundle #9 * Moon Soaps - Old School set * Stirling Soaps - Arkadia set * Castle Forbes - Lavender set
Bundle #9 for : $95 CAD
 
 
https://imgur.com/a/K1oeqRB
Starter Kit #1 * Henson AL13 safety razor - Medium * Proraso White preshave * Proraso Green soap * Proraso Green aftershave * Fine Accoutrements - Synthetic shaving brush * Blade sampler : Silver Blue, Nacet, Feather, Rapira Platinum Lux, Boker, Crystal (all full)
Starter kit #1 for : $80 CAD
 
Starter Kit #2 * Gillette King C safety razor * Taylor of Old Bond Street - No. 50 shaving cream * Proraso White preshave * Tabac - Spray afthershave * Simpsons TT Synthetic shaving brush * Blade sampler : Silver Blue, Nacet, Feather, Derby, Crystal, Dorco (all full)
Starter Kit #2 for : $61 CAD
 
 
https://imgur.com/a/jDBp0Hw
Add-ons : $5 CAD for one, 3 for $10 CAD * Cella Aloe Vera shaving cream * Old Spice aftershave * Speick Men set * Stirling Soap - Eucalyptus Mint - witch hazel & aloe * Stirling Soap - Vetiver - witch hazel & aloe * Adelco - Aloe shaving cream * Haslinger shaving soap * Proraso Cypress & Vetiver preshave * Proraso Cypress & Vetiver balm * Prep - Good Morning cream
 
 
submitted by Art-Of-My-Mind to Shave_Bazaar [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:54 AFKeeker The new upcoming Warzone map in Call of Duty MWII includes a paintball tournament field at a stadium. I wonder if they’ve properly programmed the inflatables to deflate when shot…

The new upcoming Warzone map in Call of Duty MWII includes a paintball tournament field at a stadium. I wonder if they’ve properly programmed the inflatables to deflate when shot… submitted by AFKeeker to paintball [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:52 DoesSheEvenGoHere1 Neurology or cardiology? Who do I see? I don’t know what is happening to me

Hi all,
27F, 5'4", about 155lbs (recent loss of about 20lbs in the past month or so due to incredible loss of appetite).
History of anorexia and bulimia (in teens and early 20s), PTSD, depression and anxiety. Also diagnosed with potential POTS and/or SVT as my heart rate ranges from ~40 anywhere to ~210 bpm. Gluten intolerant, if that matters at all.
Current meds: Lamictal (200mg bid), Adderall (20mg bid), Abilify (5mg), clonidine (0.1mg), Vitamin D (mega dose 1x per week). No recreational drug use, no smoking, occasional alcohol consumption.
I have no idea what is happening to me and it feels like all of these symptoms have been getting progressively worse in the last year or so (sorry if some of these are not related):
Mayo Clinic appointment in a few weeks but really struggling mentally and physically and I have no idea what to expect. Driving is scary because legs sometimes fall asleep. I'm horrified of what all of this could be. I have a recent fear that some of this sounds like MS but I could be WAY off (I am really hoping this is incorrect). I know I am driving myself nuts, but this feels like SO much more than POTS and it's honestly feeling unbearable to live because I just can't function normally (yes, I'm in therapy thank God). I of course will explain everything to the doctors, but I also don't know what to expect and what questions to ask. Does this sound like anything in particular? Any suggestions as to what this could be or what I should ask at the Mayo Clinic would be so greatly appreciated.
submitted by DoesSheEvenGoHere1 to AskDocs [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:49 ryu289 One heck of a freaudian slip.

From here:
"This issue has unfortunately does put… some Muslim families on the same side of an issue as White supremacists and outright bigots,"
What he thinks it means:
"Now Muslims are now considered White Supremist for objecting to LBGTQ curriculum on basis of their religion? White Supremist? Muslim? How the fuck does that work? Just another term to dilute since Nazi has lost its sting. It's getting to the point you can be a fucking Andorian, you know blue skinned aliens from Star Trek, and still be a White Supremist because you object to the LBGTQ stuff. "
On the same side is not the same as being the same thing. The fact he thinks that is just pure fearmongering.
Also this:
"Protecting one's children is not an act of "white supremacy" but a biological/psychological drive that has been with us since day one and you see that throughout the animal kingdom. Nor having religious convictions is either."
Where does the swatiska flags and starting violence come into it? https://twitter.com/Esqueer_/status/1652376571548782595?ref_src=twsrc^tfw https://twitter.com/Esqueer_/status/1638175222544338944?ref_src=twsrc^tfw https://twitter.com/PplsCityCouncil/status/1666271554538463232?ref_src=twsrc^tfw https://twitter.com/SkySpider_/status/1666827125540917248 https://twitter.com/PplsCityCouncil/status/1666271554538463232?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
submitted by ryu289 to Persecutionfetish [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:37 DabbyBear [WTS][MA] ASG USW-A1 + mags, APS CAM870 AOW + shells, KC-02 parts, Wii tech Mp9 x2 bundle, 3x Scorpion Evo 3 2020, AKs, UBG local items

Timestamp - 06/09/2023 - ASG USW-A1 Please message me if there is not enough gap between links and you cannot click different timestamps!
Album - 06/09/2023 - Vortex gear
Posts take me ~ one hour to organize, so please tell me if the formatting is fucked!
Album - 06/09/2023 - APS MK1 CAM870 AOW
​
Album - 06/09/2023 - Stocks for KC-02 (two PMACA)
​
Timestamp - 05/22/2023 - HSP, Spiritus, Mission Spec gear
Please look at my posts across other markets - I typically mark things as sold, but feel free to ask (about stuff in other posts). I have plenty of flair, but I always use timestamps regardless.
Pushed for swap meets at Ultimate Battlegrounds in Bridgewater, MA and its been finally happening! If you can match value to value, I may be willing to trade as well - lower flair sends item first (or local).
Prices have shifted down since my last post - and I am willing to do BOGO50% off OR buy two, get one free - it will be more for bundles including larger items (don't ask for three mags to get one free).
**PLS READ THIS** \- If you cannot listen to instructions, there's a chance I will not do a sale with you.
  1. MESSAGE MY INBOX.
  2. GO TO NOTICATIONS MESSAGES.
  3. COMMENT ON THE POST AS WELL SO I KNOW YOU ARE NOT BANNED
  4. TYVM
  5. Shipping info below We can discuss shipping based on bundling - shipping will depend on weight/size, but it likely will be $15 or less. CONUS only.
Newly Added:
ASG USWA1 w/ 8 CO2 mags - Timestamp - 06/09/2023 - ASG USWA1 - (same album as above)
Vortex Gear -
APS MK1 CAM870 AOW w/ upgrades - Album - 06/09/2023
Stocks for KC-02 - would prefer selling in person unless there is complete understanding that modification is needed to fit on a KJW Kc-02
Gear:
Plate carrier + Mask Imgur album - https://imgur.com/a/unw0KiX)
Condor LCS Vanquish Armor System - worth around $220-230, selling for $180 shipped/$170 local Gear that I used as back-up that hasn't seen use in a while. Great for someone jumping in who also wants to carry water or has a hpa tank.
Pilot mask (6mm ProShop) - $40 on evike - $30 local only
Additional pictures for HSP, Spiritus, Mission Spec gear shown above (old timestamp)-
​
KWA MP9 (foregrip model) with a second MP9 (rail model) for parts - old album https://imgur.com/a/k3EsBDh
**Not splitting at this time. Not the mags. Not the adapter.**
If you're building a mp9 from scratch and you're trying to get all of the upgrade parts, you're going to end up spending more than what I am offering here.
​
Other GBBs - old album https://imgur.com/a/Pbzn0qR
AEGs
ASG Scorpion Evo smg - https://imgur.com/a/PKsSFJD with sold spicy scorpion
ASG Scorpion Evo carbine barrel - https://imgur.com/a/GCR6pOd
Thanks for getting all the way down here! I will likely be bringing these items to the local sale. Here's some items I have, but have not yet taken pictures of because interest is likely very limited.. Most of this stuff would be miserable to ship so I have only included local prices. Message me if you want pictures of any of these items TO BUY LOCALLY IN MA.
Local items - old timestamps
AKs & King Arms PDW Shorty https://imgur.com/a/eSniMhz
Local Items w/o pictures - feel free to reach out for pictures if you're local to UBG
Accessories/attachments
Disclaimer: Please do your own research on these parts. I am not responsible for getting your KC or G-series gbb working 100% after purchasing upgrades. There are no known issues with the upgrade parts, but the stock parts are unknown. I will inspect before sending out. No returns. Prices have already been reduced. Talk to me for negotiating further. Rogueworx KC-02 parts - Please check out Rogueworx's website for these parts. - https://rougeworx.com The bolt carriers and pistons are newer versions than what I have here. If you have a kc-02 and you didn't already know, there is also a discord which proves to be very helpful. Spreadsheet broke so - First number is cost on from Rogeworx/supplier, not including shipping cost from the UK. KC-02 parts album
There are many items here so if it's a stock part I won't be listing the price here (G-series and KC-02). The going rate of most g-series/kc parts will be what jk-army charges but without the shipping cost of shipping from HK. The main purpose for these parts is to help those in desperate need of a fix for their kc and to get rid of these parts. If you want to offer me a lot price for the stock parts, go ahead. G-Series parts - [pictures](https://imgur.com/a/Zpuzvhl) - Plastic slides x2 (One with the trades messed up) - Stock hop-up (G17) with stock barrel and bucking - 3 stock G17 barrels, 2 with stock bucking
Items that I will accept for trading purposes but remember - CASH IS KING
Accessories:
* G-series/AAP-01 mags (boneyard or working)
Airsoft replicas:
Thank you for getting all the way down here. Now please, make sure you send an INBOX MESSAGE to me - do not use the instant chat! Message me and we can talk airsoft - worst I can say is: no thank you.
submitted by DabbyBear to airsoftmarket [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:34 YukawaCattle [My Mister] I now believe that the song 'FAR AWAY PLACE' is Park Dong-hoon's way of expressing his failed marriage and longing for his loved one

[My Mister] I now believe that the song 'FAR AWAY PLACE' is Park Dong-hoon's way of expressing his failed marriage and longing for his loved one
As I mentioned in these two articles,
​
My Initial Thoughts on My Mister
FAR AWAY PLACE: Park Dong-hoon's Song Conveying Marital Emotions
​
when I first watched My Mister, I considered 'FAR AWAY PLACE' as a song Park Dong-hoon sang for Kang Yoon-hee.
At that time, I believed that the lyrics of "love in a faraway place" or "beloved in a faraway place" did not refer to actual physical distance but rather represented a literary concept.
For example, Park Dong-hoon and Kang Yoon-hee were drifting apart, and it seemed difficult for them to return to the past. The author transformed this idea into a literary sentiment and depicted it through the lyrics.
For instance, the following lyrics seem to describe Park Dong-hoon's feelings about his failed marriage:
​
"Where the golden evening sunset descends
It's not because love lingers there."
​
Later, after reading online analyses and considering my own understanding of Park Dong-hoon's previous singers (Sang-hoon&Ae-ryun and Jung-hee), I realized that Park Dong-hoon's song might lean more towards being sung for Lee Ji-an. The argument seems to be based on the lyrics:
​
"In the peacefulness of the blue forest by the lakeside
It's not because my beloved stays there."
​
People believe that from these lyrics, we can infer that the song is meant for Lee Ji-an because they think Lee Ji-an left Park Dong-hoon and went to a faraway place, and the line "It's not because my beloved stays there" fits this scenario.
​
However, considering Park Hae-young's values - she likes to interweave multiple emotions for her characters rather than clearly distinguish different emotional definitions like most people - I also considered the following:
"Maybe Park Dong-hoon's song simultaneously expressed his feelings about his failed marriage and his emotions for Lee Ji-an."
Honestly, if Park Dong-hoon's song was simply for Lee Ji-an without intending to express any sadness about his failed marriage, it would seem a bit strange in the context. Because we know that Park Dong-hoon was heartbroken about his wife's affair before he sang the song. And he looked very sad.
https://preview.redd.it/3h2li735u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bbaec8ab7365c0b3020010894d309cb94eb022ff
https://preview.redd.it/66olf935u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75ad6c1f7339bf0c1314cfa25e1f858f9dc06b8c
https://preview.redd.it/11e97a35u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1b7eeae8985523ba76be3d2f1fb428778a0f822d
https://preview.redd.it/d2wj4oc4u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3c2dbe5f5d6b29479dc1af644776c167d7c541e
https://preview.redd.it/cxnxh5o3u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8db0313c69204bf689b72c092890a9b650e81527
https://preview.redd.it/2aztxcx2u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4f9a340640a662b35c0a48350dc2f27709f1c339
So, in this context, I think he would want to express his emotions through singing a song.
​
In Chinese discussion forums, some users find it surprising that Park Dong-hoon sang for another woman after his wife left, considering Park Dong-hoon's loyal personality towards marriage. They believe he would have reserved his feelings for his wife even when they had marital problems. So, the storyline of 'singing for another woman after the wife leaves' might confuse many people.
Therefore, I think it's quite odd that he didn't have the intention to convey his feelings about his failed marriage and simply wanted to sing the song for Lee Ji-an.
​
Moreover, I also feel that the fact that "Sang-hoon chose Dong-hoon's song" seems to strengthen the persuasiveness that "Dong-hoon's songs express the feelings of a failed marriage." After all, when Yoon-hee left, Sang-hoon knew that Dong-hoon was feeling heartbroken because of his marital issues.
https://preview.redd.it/wbdcymm8u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31cd907f3dfc7459303f54dfd8f7b9122282bd5a
https://preview.redd.it/4m048e08u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=121d1056e0f64a28ee96a42ad439dbf22a5e13c1
https://preview.redd.it/mhwc4e08u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a3631fb019b562ef96725a94153fe3c054c535d
https://preview.redd.it/mtbeuo47u25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=168add6a2554a7327b55e4a7b9e439fb581bb588
https://preview.redd.it/u0j2k55cu25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c737fae6f33cd8ae28e26cad6d4cce821103e77a
https://preview.redd.it/8132q3jcu25b1.jpg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d0671ec85cc518d1e7776377134ff1c9158e46d
If you were a good brother like Sang-hoon, who cared about your younger brother, I believe you would have wanted to let him sing a song to express his emotions at that time.
​
So now, I think when Park Dong-hoon sang 'FAR AWAY PLACE,' it wasn't just for Lee Ji-an. He included the sadness of his failed marriage in his performance of this song.
In other words, I think Park Dong-hoon's emotions at that time could be understood as the following thoughts:
"My marriage is failing, and on top of that, the girl I love isn't by my side to accompany me. It's truly a double sadness. So I want to express my feelings by singing 'FAR AWAY PLACE."
As for my interpretation of the lyrics:
​
"Where the golden evening sunset descends
It's not because love lingers there"
→ This segment of the lyrics expresses the feelings about Dong-hoon's failed marriage.
​
In the peacefulness of the blue forest by the lakeside
It's not because my beloved stays there
→ This segment of the lyrics expresses Dong-hoon's feeling that Ji-an is not by Dong-hoon's side."
submitted by YukawaCattle to u/YukawaCattle [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:19 Disastrous-Lab-9474 What am I supposed to do when I get very short of breath, for like, almost all day, every day.

My other symptoms are fine right now, I just feel like, that feeling when you breathe out and hold it, like even when I breathe in it feels just like that. I can breathe enough to stay alive but I can't breathe fully, it's like there's something blocking air from going all the way to my lungs. Just feel like so little oxygen is getting in. It's making me breathe harder and then causing chest pain.
I tried my blue inhaler but it did nothing except give me those intense side effects which just means I can't breathe AND I get shaky and anxious. I don't want take even more, but a er is ages away and they would just tell me I'm fine anyway.
Is there anything I can do? I know some of you are just going to say go to the doctor, and fair enough, but can you also suggest something in the mean time for relief if youre going to. Thanks.
submitted by Disastrous-Lab-9474 to Asthma [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:15 CringeyVal0451 Two Girls, One Cuck (Funky P. Beard, Part 6)

Chapter 6: Two Girls, One Cuck
Me: Is he always like this during gaming weekends, or is this all my fault?
Athena: He’s always ranting and raving about his crusade of the week. And he usually gets into a screaming match with Mori over something dumb. But this is some next-level rage.
Sage (to Athena): You ummm... told...
Athena: She knows, babe. She already knew.
Sage: Okay. So sorry about that, by the way.
Me: It’s fine. It’s nothing new.
Sage: He usually has some nasty chick come over on Friday or Saturday. They go... do whatever they do, and then he comes back either completely chill or completely enraged. And fucking RANK.
Me: Maybe I should have packed his fleshlight for him.
Axton: Why the hell does he need a fleshlight when he’s got you?
Me: Oh, he hardly ever tries to do anything with me. And the last few times he tried; he was too plastered.
Snorlax: Whisky wang?
Me: Bingo.
Axton: That’s criminally negligent. Do you need a hug?
I smiled. “It’s fine. The whisky wang lets me off the hook. But I’m not gonna turn down a hug.”
I crawled over to him and let his arms envelop me. As I had been starved for affection for nearly a year, this was better than sex. Underneath the general aura of cigarette smoke and whiskey that permeated the room, I could smell his skin. It was intoxicating. So I nestled into that rare, delicate balance of euphoria and tranquility until we heard the back door open and close. Axton and I scrambled to opposite sides of the room. But it was just Mori.
Mori (grinning mischievously): What did I walk in on?
Athena: Nothing that would excite you, Mori.
Mori approached me and sat down. “I think he’s chilled out. Right now, he just needs to know that you’re not mad at him. Are you up for going to talk to him.”
I blinked. “I am mad at him. I’m embarrassed. And anything I say to him is just gonna piss him off.” Plus, I was high as a fucking kite on Adderall and affection. “Let me think about it for a minute?”
I considered a novel approach. After the puke-inducing fight that he’d had with Mori last night, they had made peace. I decided I would mimic Mori’s actions and try call a truce with as few words as possible, which would ideally prevent FPB wasting hours playing the victim and assassinating my character.
Me: I’ll let him know that it’s chill. That’s all I can do.
Mori nodded.
I headed for the back door and stepped onto the porch.
Me: FPB?
He grunted. He was sitting slumped in a chair on the porch, smoking a cigarette. I moved around so that I was standing in front of him and I offered my hand.
Me: Peace?
FPB: From now on, you only talk to Athena and Sage. No talking to ANY of the single dudes.
He was pointing his cigarette at me and punctuating each phrase with a little jab of the cherry in my direction.
Me: That’s not reasonable. Would you prefer it if I just left? How am I supposed to play if I’m not allowed to talk to half the people on the team? Or the GM?
FPB: Then you only talk about game-related stuff. Mori’s junk doesn’t go anywhere near you, you don’t share beer with Snorlax, and you don’t so much as look at pretty boy, Axton.
Me: If it’s game-related stuff, Axton’s the one I need to be talking to the most. You talk to Snorlax when we’re planning an attack.
FPB: That’s different.
Me: HOW?
FPB: Because Snorlax isn’t trying to get in my PANTS.
So much for a succinct truce. I decided to try and steer the conversation in a different direction.
Me: I’m being serious. I tagged along this weekend so that I could try to have FUN learning to play this game you love so much. (I extended my hand more fervently.) Peace?
FPB: Swear to me that you won’t so much as look at that jizz-mopping pretty boy.
Me: Only if you swear to me that some girl didn’t come over here to hook up with you last night.
FPB went white.
Me: It is what it is. But if you get to receive booty calls here, I’m allowed to interact with your friends. ALL of them.
FPB grunted dismissively.
I wanted to say, “If you’re allowed to LICK, I’m allowed to LOOK.” Again, I refrained from deliberately angering FPB out of respect for the other people whose time was being disrupted by his rage. And he was no longer snarling and shouting. That was as about as good as it was gonna get. I went back inside and took my seat. Everyone looked at me, appearing anxious to hear what had happened.
Me: Well, he had some unreasonable demands... I refused them. But I think he’s calm enough to play again. No promises.
FPB slammed the back door and trudged back to his assigned seat.
Mori: Axton and Sage, please trade places.
FPB: Why? Do you think I’m gonna...
Mori held up his magic Funky-silencing hand. “My run, my rules.”
It was FPB’s roll. It wound up being successful. Very successful. As he entered the media station, a swarm of heavily armed guards surrounded him, but he managed to obliterate all of them, wielding a sword in one hand and an SMG with homing bullets in the other hand. This might have been just the thing we all needed to calm his ass down!
Mori: Show of hands for all who consider this an epic success!
We all voted affirmatively.
Mori: Then my Assistant GM shall prepare the finest tincture in the land for our supreme Street Samurai, Funky P. Beard.
Sage soon returned with a shot of Johnny Walker Blue. FPB sniffed it deeply, toasted to the team, and slugged it back in one gulp. I think I even saw a small smile on his face, although it was hard to tell underneath that behemoth of a beard.
I exhaled and felt myself relax as much as I could with Adderall fueling my wakefulness. I planned a super sick (albeit risky) complex action, rolled, and... got hit with Tar Baby. That was a giga-glitch.
FPB looked over at me with menacing eyes. But I had an idea.
Mori: OP, come accept a staff punishment!
Me: Game Master... Sir? FPB, our epically successful Samurai, suggested to me that I should kiss Athena instead of kissing your staff.
I glanced nervously at Athena. She was giggling. Good. I hadn’t offended her. I also glanced nervously at Sage. He was grinning from ear to ear. Good. I hadn’t offended him, either.
Mori pretended to ponder...
Mori: ACCEPTABLE! You shall kiss for 15 seconds. Assistant GM, you keep time.
Sage: No way, dude. I’m watching.
Snorlax: I’ll do it. No promises that I’ll keep my eyes on the timer.
FPB growled at him.
Athena and I turned to each other, trying to keep from laughing. This was nothing new to me. I had kissed girls onstage, at theatre parties, during games of truth or dare... And I was confident that this wouldn’t anger FPB in the slightest. If anything, it might put him in a better mood.
Snorlax: 3... 2... KISS!
Everything was fine at first. Athena was giggling, which made me giggle, but we kept our lips locked. Then, after only a few seconds... she seemed to vanish. I opened my eyes and saw that FPB had grabbed her, pulled her away, and was now dragging her to the corner of the War Room near the staircase.
FPB: YOU WICKED THUNDER-SEE-YOU-NEXT-TUESDAY! HOW DARE YOU KISS MY GIRLFRIEND?!?!
With an almost feline stride, Sage crossed the room and put FPB in a chokehold. FPB was screeching and furiously thrashing about, but Sage seemed to be trained in martial arts (couldn’t tell you which one, specifically).
FPB: OP, YOU’RE A DEMENTED SLUT. I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN HOOKING UP WITH AXTON. I KNOW YOU AND MORI HAVE BEEN SNORTING COKE OFF EACH OTHER’S ASSES. NOW YOU’RE KISSING GIRLS, TOO! I SHOULD MA...nhjsnjvB...SVJLjvvvvvv... And then he passed out.
Silence fell over the War Room.
Mori: So... You wanna go snort coke off my ass?
I laughed. “I’m good with the Addy, Mori. But thank you.”
I glanced over at Axton, and he raised his eyebrows, silently making the follow-up to Mori’s joke. I felt the corners of my mouth involuntarily turn upwards and I raised my eyebrows in return.
But the beard stirred. Sage was still in full attack mode and Athena stood by at a safe distance. I crossed the War Room and asked if FPB had hurt her. She shook her head.
Athena: No, I’m fine. I just don’t want another fight to break out.
Me: I’m so sorry. I had no idea he’d get mad about THAT.
Athena: Right?! What’s wrong with him? I thought all guys liked to watch girls kiss.
Mori made his way over to a defeated FPB and an enraged Sage.
Mori: Gentlemen... Shall we take a break from the planning phase and settle this score with some PVP?
Sage: NO. We’re not settling this in game. Funky P. Beard called my girlfriend a horrible name, he physically attacked her...
Athena: I’m fine, babe. Can we just play without FPB for a while?
Sage: Okay, maybe he didn’t hurt her. But he definitely crossed a line.
Mori: I agree. There should be consequences.
Sage: No dick slaps or looking at your butthole or sitting in your lap as “punishments” this time. Actions have natural consequences. The natural consequences are that he scared my girlfriend, he embarrassed his girlfriend, and he pissed me off. He also disrupted our game, so I assume the rest of you are pissed off?
Before anyone could answer, FPB played the victim and pretended to cry over Sage choking him out after he grabbed Athena and called her that awful name. Nobody cared. Once he realized that he wasn’t getting any sympathy, he began to rage about being forced to watch his girlfriend “cuckold” him and how he was being made to feel like he wasn’t manly since he was offended by the sight of two girls kissing. Mori used the magic Funky-silencing hand and invited the rest of us to express our grievances. He also challenged Funky to take it all in without verbally (or physically) attacking anyone.
Snorlax offered FPB some weed to help him calm down, and FPB launched into an irrational tirade about how much he hated drugs. He also mocked Snorlax for his weight, which isn’t cool. If your personality sucks, your physical appearance is fair game for mockery. Otherwise, it’s just rude. Plus, Snorlax is a cute chubby guy. They do exist.
Axton basically told him he needed to take the stick out of his ass, and FPB barked out some more accusations of lust. In the midst of these accusations, he referred to me as “his property,” and declared that I was too “shallow and FEMALE” to make my own decisions. Axton clenched his fists and took a few steps towards FPB, but Mori intervened and gave a very flowery speech about going outside and letting the fresh air carry away the aggression.
Snorlax followed Axton outside, merrily carrying a bong. The whole thing wrapped up when I said, “I’m not your property. I agreed to be your partner once upon a time, but this isn’t a healthy partnership. I’m out. I’m done trying to be a girlfriend to someone who thinks so little of me.”
This was far from the first time I’d delivered this speech to FPB, so I had it memorized. Of course, it never “hit” the way I hoped it would. FPB wasn’t contrite. He didn’t seem sad to lose me. He seemed, as always, righteously angry over having a possession confiscated. So I went to join Axton and Snorlax on the porch. Athena whispered, “Good for you, girl!” as she followed me out, leaving the principal and the vice principal to deal with the delinquent.
A lot of commotion ensued in the corner of the War Room after FPB muttered a very offensive term for “lesbian” at Athena as she exited. Mori had to physically restrain Sage from beating the tar out of FPB. Mori also apparently got a little excited whist restraining his Assistant GM, and they traded some colorful words. Athena closed the door on the hullabaloo.
The bong was bubbling away and the sweet, skunky scent of gonja filled the air.
Snorlax: Want a hit?
Me: Nah. I feel like I might have to dash any minute now if FPB keeps raging, so I need to keep my head clear.
Axton: You’re not leaving with him, are you?
Me: Hell no! I’ve got my car here, and he’s NOT coming with me if I feel like it’s time for me to ghost.
Axton: Is there any way we can vote his ass off the island and convince you to stay?
I cautiously approached the bench where Axton and Snorlax were sharing the bong. They shifted a little to make room for me, and I sat down next to a still shirtless Axton. Athena pulled up a chair next to the bench and took a tiny flask from the pocket of her PJs and slugged back a few sips of liquid tranquility.
Me: For the sake of the other people on the road, I wouldn’t let his drunk ass get behind the wheel. Does Sage have a soundproof basement where we can lock him up?
Athena: I WISH.
Axton unapologetically threw his arm around my shoulder, and I brazenly laced my fingers through his.
Athena: OP, why did you start dating FPB? That might be too personal...
Me: No, it’s fine. Believe it or not, he was incredibly nice to me at first. He thinks I keep pulling away from him because he’s too nice, but... Let’s just say that he and I have very different definitions of “nice.”
Snorlax: Maybe I’m just high, but I think he was pretty chill when we first formed the team.
Axton: I didn’t join until last year, so I’ve only known him as a raging psycho.
Me: You’re both right. That’s his M.O. He’s nice and normal until he’s secured his place.
Before I had the chance to fully explain my perception of FPB’s uncanny ability to simulate sanity, Sage and Mori stepped onto the porch, with FPB trailing dejectedly behind them.
Mori: We’ve decided to wrap it up for the night. Feel free to get drunk as hell, smoke weed, snort coke off each other’s asses, party like rockstars! We’ll reconvene at noon tomorrow.
But fucking Funky lifted his head and roared, “You’re cheating on me AGAIN???”
Me: I told you, Funky. I’m out. I quit. We’re done. And you hate my living guts, so what the hell do you care???
FPB: I didn’t agree to that. So we’re still together.
Sage: That’s not how breakups work, FPB. And what exactly is your definition of cheating?
FPB: She’s cheated on me with EVERYONE. Except you, Sage. You’re actually the only one I still trust. OP’s a SLUT.
Me: WHEN have I cheated on you?
FPB: You let Mori put his dick on your face...
Me: So did literally EVERYONE here...
Mori: Hell, I’d put it on my own face if I were flexible enough!
FPB: I’m still talking. You also stuck your hand in Mori’s butt crack. You shared a beer with Snorlax. You kissed Athena. And now you’re sitting there canoodling with Pretty Boy in front of everyone. CHEATER.
Mori threw his arm around FPB. “This? Is this a good canoodle, or is your noodle still limp?”
FPB shrugged him off. “Barf me a river, Mori. It’s the intention.”
Mori (hugging FPB around the waist): Okay, suppose I’m imagining going to Pound Town with you right now. (He added a few demonstrative pelvic thrusts.) Does that mean we’ve hooked up?
FPB flailed about until Mori let go of him, bellowed some barely intelligible insults towards everyone, made some random animal noises, and stomped back into the house. As much as I hated to see my new friends on the receiving end of his wrath, I don’t think I would have ever been able to effectively stand up to him without five witnesses to his bizarre behavior who miraculously had my back, despite having a long history of friendship with FPB.
I had tried to discuss our problems with close friends in the past, but FPB would always be on his best behavior in front of them, so I always wound up looking like the asshole. It took the presence of people with whom he felt comfortable enough to stomp around (sans mask) in order to gather witnesses to the insanity. And gather them, I had. I was FREE.
submitted by CringeyVal0451 to ReddXReads [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:07 Anderdale Friday Night Sale

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/dhUYGul
Happy Friday swap!
I’ve got some price drops and some new listings. Need to pay off a credit card so pricing these aggressively.
I accept PayPal FnF or Venmo only
  1. BBK Raptor v2 - $255
Satin M390. Bead blast frame. This has a full zircuti kit installed. The blue ano hardware is also included. Original owner sharpened the blade to a bear mirror finish. When doing so the heel bear choil was nicked by the stones on both sides. The only wear I see if a hairline scratch near the pivot. Besides those items the knife is unused and uncarried. Action and lockup are amazing! Comes with pouch, coa, original hardware, and outer box.
https://imgur.com/a/xQjOTkR
  1. Hinderer XM-18 Swedged Spear - $345
Blue g10. Battle blue frame lock Ti. Working finish M390 swedged blade. Tri way pivot. This has been lightly used, carried and touched up on fine stones. Some signs of carry on the lock side scales. The blade has a couple spots that can be seen under certain light. The working finish hides any scratches well. There is a scratch near the pivot from the tool slipping. Also some minor marring on the pivot screw. Lockup and action are fantastic! Comes with box.
https://imgur.com/a/4RYeNxL
  1. Kizer Gemini Left Handed - $120
Full ti version with s35vn steel. This was purchased from Bladewelove and they put a sick ano on the scales. It has been minimally used and carried. Great action and lockup. No box but it does come with the kizer pouch. This is a LEFTY!
https://imgur.com/a/NyzI00j
Kansept Reedus** - $105 SOLD Full dark bronzed ti with bronze hardware. S35vn steel. Beautiful Tanto blade of s35vn steel. In my opinion this is one of kansepts best models. Carried once or twice. Never used. These retail for $179. No box but will come in its pouch.
https://imgur.com/a/PtPy729
MBK Iron Horse Slipjoint** - $135 SOLD Lightly used and carried. K390 steel. This is a sweet little slippy from MBK. Black micarta scales. Excellent walk and talk. A few marks from carry on the bolsters. It comes with a nice leather slip. These were $225 new and this configuration is sold out. No box.
https://imgur.com/a/wPXhavF
Pena Apache Slipjoint** - $135 SOLD K390 steel. Reverse Tanto blade. Beautiful cf inlays. Great walk and talk. Comes with a nice leather slip that it fits in like a glove. Very little carry and used at most a couple times on packages. No signs of use on the blade. It looks near mint. No box.
https://imgur.com/a/sayKRfm
  1. Miguron Koraki 2 - $135
Amazing knife from a relatively new company. Milled titanium handle bronzed. M390 steel. Front flipper deployment. I recently got a Dawn and this knife is right there with it in terms of front flipping. Extremely underrated. This was $189 on Amazon. Never carried or used. Near mint. Comes with box and cloth.
https://imgur.com/a/bE0iwUH
  1. Big Idea Design TPT Slide with Timascus Bead - $120
Black matte finish. I got this in a trade. It has a pretty sweet Damascus blade in it. I’m unsure where it came from. Also has a nice Timascus bead tethered to it. I am not 100% but I believe it is from Metonboss. Lastly, it has a beautiful leather slip with pocket clip. It fits perfectly in the slip. Killer little utility blade. The blade is unused. I carried it once. I don’t believe the original owner used or carried as well. The bead alone was $100.
https://imgur.com/a/mSUDfor
  1. T.E.D. Grizzlar - $260
Blade Show exclusive Spec Ops. Magnacut Steel on a bad ass Tanto style blade. Nice big GlowRhino tritium vial inlayed in the black Frag G10 handles! Haven’t ever use but it has a minor scratch on the blade. Comes with kydex sheath. No box. This is currently $375 on ReC.
https://imgur.com/a/obCEZFw
ADD ONS:
  1. Kizer Bugai - $50 or $35 with another knife.
Sweet knife with a 3v drop point/Tanto style blade. This has been carried a couple times and used to test on an Amazon package. Excellent action and lockup. No box just the knife. These retail for $89 at BhQ
https://imgur.com/a/YY9U1Iq
  1. Cold Steel Spike - $30 or $20 with another knife.
Like new no box. Drop point. Awesome Fixie especially for the money. Comes with kydex sheath.
https://imgur.com/a/VYD6Eu3
  1. Kabar 1480 Fixie - $30 or $20 with another knife.
Lightly carried and used. Awesome tactical knife. Aus8a steel.
https://imgur.com/a/pYhAKrx
  1. Schrade SCH54 Push Dagger - $35 or $25 with another knife purchase.
Awesome dagger from Schrade. Comes with box and sheath.
https://imgur.com/a/F6r0U8H
submitted by Anderdale to Knife_Swap [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:07 MrParticular79 43 [M4F] San Jose - Sweet and sensual in an open marriage seeks similar for stable connection.

Hi there! I’m in an open marriage and I’m a Dad.
I am looking for a woman who is also in an open relationship or at least has some experience with that. I look to find someone to date and see long term in a secondary type relationship. I’m looking for emotional intimacy that feeds into physical intimacy. I’m poly in that I’m open to romantic feelings if they develop but I also am not trying to force anything. Just want someone to appreciate and feel connected to. Ideally, once we are established you enjoy texting when we can’t see each other in person and you’re available for meetups once a week-ish as schedules allow.
I’m 43, white, 6’1”, 190lbs. I workout and run regularly. I am kind of a cute nerd type in the face crossed with a surfer dude. I have jaw length ashy/brown/blonde hair (still have all of it and it’s wavy/curly and thick), blue eyes, clean shaven and I wear glasses. Personality wise I’m quietly confident, laid back, stalwart, sweet, sensual and introverted.
I like nerdy stuff like board/video games and I also enjoy football (Niners!), hiking and occasionally going out to dance. I work as a lead software engineer in video games. I am a native of the Bay Area. I also enjoy weed so be friendly with it please. Generally open as well to limited use of party/psychedelic type drugs and enjoy experimenting with the right person (combine this with dancing?).
In the bedroom I have a natural, passionate and sensual way. I enjoy being the masculine one in general but I am not formally kinky or a dom type. I have a strong carnal desire, I’m sensually very intuitive and I enjoy causing pleasure. Good stamina and control. Also, I’ve had a vasectomy.
My life is missing an affectionate sweetness and a sensual openness. For these reasons I seek to find someone who can sweeten up my life while also providing a well of sensuality. Would love if you are on the shorter side too!
A word about my relationship; we are open but not swingers. I look to find a purposeful connection with a like mind. I am not looking for something quickly or for the short term. The goal is certainly to find amazing physical chemistry, but with someone whom I know, care for and respect.
I live in San Jose and I am quite mobile and happy to drive almost anywhere within reason.
Thank you for reading this far and I hope to hear from you!
submitted by MrParticular79 to SFr4r [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:05 sugi201 [USA-NY] [H] Galaxy S23 Ultra 256GB, Galaxy Watch 5 44mm LTE, Gaming Mice, CPUs [W] PayPal, Local Cash

Up for sale are a few items:
Timestamps: https://imgur.com/a/TYfXise
submitted by sugi201 to hardwareswap [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:04 Hedgehog_5150 Janissary: The Joy Ride Ch8

Credit to u/bluefishcake for writing the original SSB story and building the sandbox for us to play in.
And a big thanks to the authors and their stories that inspired to get off my ass and put my fingers to keyboard. RandomTinkerer (City Slickers and Hayseeds), Punnynfunny (Denied Operations), CompassWithHat (Top Lasgun), Rhion-618 (Just One Drop), UncleCieling(Going Native), RobotStatic (Far Away), Kazevenikov (The Cryptid Chronicle), Also to the editor # Fan Beta Readers and KLiCkonthat .
As always comments, complaints, and suggestions are welcome.
This is a fair use notice. Any and all aspects of this may be used on and within this subreddit only, with attribution. All other uses are exclusive to the author.
/*******************************/
Nanorix took the news from the advocates in stride, better than Linda. They had spent the night mutually venting at the injustice of the situation while putting away bottles of gin. Max sounded almost broken by the news while Nora the optimist in the family, firmly held to the belief that things would work out. Rufus was, well, Rufus. Intuitively compassionate, which is why he was laying in the front seat of the truck with his head on Linda's lap as they drove up to Flagstaff.
Linda was trying to sleep off her hangover, her eyes closed but not asleep. Alila had been honest that the only reason Garquile was not tied up in this was that he had her direct protection as a territorial governess. Tommy did not have that level of security and without it, he was in more danger than Robert. From what Alila had said, elements in the Interior wanted Robert dead, other interested parties wanted him alive because of his potential. The situation was so bad the Planetary Governess had stepped in and ordered the house arrest of six high-ranking members of the Interior and let it be known that if anything happened to young Mr. Pierce they would die publicly.
Neither Alila nor the planetary governess knew why the Interior wanted Robert dead, she did. After she heard that the pod found the children and what was being done to them. Her lieutenant had completely lost it, she rounded everyone operating the orphanage and lined them against the wall, and had them shot. The Interior had come in and had done what they always did, cleaned up the mess, and protected those who were important and connected. Before the interior got there one of the girls found a large data server and they made copies. There were four full copies still on Earth and one that she knew was off-world, and she had one of them. It had been too dangerous to keep at home so she had setup a remote server that would once a week send out a heartbeat signal. There were major safety measures in place to prevent access.
She had managed to go to Flagstaff for brunch about once a month to establish a pattern of behavior. Those trips with Robert and sometimes Tommy had always been good, nothing special just good days. She and Linda would have brunch and she would trigger a download to her server buried under the barn. When they had spoken with Alila, Max, and Nora, Max had commented that if anybody could stack the deck and pull inside straight now was the time to do it. She did not tell Linda why they had to come, just that she needed to come up and check on something.
She and Linda had a quiet brunch on the patio of the restaurant to allow Rufus to join them. As they ate she triggered the data transfer. The data transfer would take at least thirty minutes to complete, so they would have a nice long brunch and talk about anything but the boys, she even took a couple of selfies of the two of them to cover what she was doing. Rufus camped out under the table but never relaxed, she was not sure if he sensed her unease or something else was going on that she could not see.
They stayed and chit-chatted until Linda finished her third cup of coffee. She did not want the third cup but they needed the extra time to let the data transfer complete, and by that time Linda's hangover had started to subside. The drive home was uneventful, but traffic was horrible due to the festival of colors going on, it was the 4th of July after all.
/*******************************/
Ishani was tired and hungry but had little interest in eating. She and Ensign Tha'xur had been up half the night working to translate the new equations that Robert had created yesterday, with a new understanding of how the translation needed to work. Thoughts of Robert consumed her mind, and she had to fight the urge to look over and watch him, the singular human male. His name seemed to roll off her tongue, lingering from her dreams the previous night as she drifted off to sleep. Those dreams had been far from innocent, filled with exotic and seductive images of him, even in his baggy exercise clothing.
Returning her attention to her food, Ishani shifted uncomfortably. She would need to change her underclothes if she continued dwelling on him like this. Taking another bite of the fruit, nut, and sauce mixture, she tried to enjoy it, but it did little to distract her from watching him. He moved slowly, almost as if dancing, though she couldn't grasp the purpose behind his movements. Ensign Tha'xur's timely arrival saved her from making an obvious fool of herself by staring at a boy nearly two years her junior. It always felt like she was the only one looking.
Ensign Tha'xur sat down with a tray of food and jokingly said, "Ground control to Crewwoman Vevreix, are you awake?" Ishani returned her gaze to her food and responded, "Yes, ma'am, I am awake, just..." Before she could finish her sentence, Ensign Tha'xur interrupted, "Distracted?"
Signing without looking up and absentmindedly playing with her food, Ishani replied, "Yes, ma'am, horribly. It's just... he's just one boy. I have enough common sense to know that there is no way I should even consider... why couldn't he be old, wrinkled, and fat..."
Ensign Tha'xur completed Ishani's thought, saying, "Instead, he's young, fit, and I would even go as far as to say he's attractive in a very unmasculine way, with that wounded, sad boy aura."
Looking up, Ishani was taken aback and asked, "What do you mean 'you could call him attractive'? Are you blind? I mean, he may be a little short, but other than that, he is..." She trailed off, unable to find the right words.
Smiling and taking a bite of her burrito, Ensign Tha'xur replied, "He is desirable, and deep down, I believe you could take away all his pain and sadness... but please don't go there." Shifting into a serious tone, she continued, "I overheard Cmdr Norroe and Lt Cmdr Ashix talking about him the day we arrived. What caught my attention was Cmdr Norroe mentioning his thousand-yard stare that is measured in miles. There are significant parts of his life that we don't have access to because they've been redacted by the interior."
Ishani looked over at Robert, who appeared to have finished his morning workout and was heading towards the mobile kitchen. She murmured, "No one is ever so lost in the deepest of caves that they cannot be found by the beating of their heart. There is always hope and always a way out."
Ensign Tha'xur wiped her face clean of the red sauce that had dripped from her burrito and commented, "You, Crewwoman, are an optimist."
"With all due respect, ma'am, have you looked?" Ishani responded quizzically.
With a wry smile En. Tha'xur replied smoothly "I am technically a married woman and my husband and kho wives are going to be here in three days. I am hoping that my leave request will be honored, we were supposed to go to Tel Aviv for 14 days." Frowning slightly with the last statement.
Ishani gave an understanding smile "Well, that explains why you are not interested. You know, if you want to get the time off then ask for help. What is the worst he can do to say no?"
En. Tha'xur almost laughed at that, "So what should I do ask him over here for you to ogle him and for me to get a chance to go on leave, I do not think he would like that, being that he is here under guard."
Ishani took another bite of her food, ‘alright girl put up or shut up’ she thought to herself, before standing. "Ma'am if you never ask for help you will never get any." This is not a good idea, turning to find Robert who was looking for an open table to eat at. "Robert, can you join us over here, please?" Blessed Nest mother, that sounded so bad she inwardly cringed.
/************************/
Robert had gotten his food-laden tray and was looking for an empty place to sit. It felt a little weird not having a personal shadow always with him. The petty officers had told him last night that he would be given some space and an opportunity to interact with the people here. "Go out, mingle, talk to people, that's a winning idea," he thought sarcastically. Yup, everything was normal again. Alone in a room full of people and completely clueless about how to do the most basic of things, like talking to anybody.
Now, the people he could talk to were a problem. Being the only male and the only human, he received looks. The looks could be categorized into three groups: lust, curiosity, and pity. Dealing with lust was easy; he just chose not to care, and thankfully, they were discreet about it for now. Pity, on the other hand, infuriated him because most of the time, it was fake. Whenever someone expressed their sympathy for all the things he had been through, he wanted to scream. At best, it was a polite social convention, and at worst, it was a selfish and internalized burden of guilt that had nothing to do with him.
Just as he spotted an empty table at the far end, somebody called out his name. "Can you join us over here, please?" Shit, it was Ishani, the one person in the whole damned place who had a very unsettling effect on him. She was the only one here who scared the shit out of him. Taking a breath to collect himself, he acknowledged her with a nod and proceeded to join her and the Ensign at their table.
He noticed that when he acknowledged her, she just beamed and got all bubbly. That was the best word for it. Her glowing tattoos seemed to brighten for just a moment before she sat down, leaving him to wonder what those tattoos looked like on the rest of her body. He made it to the table and sat down on autopilot while his mind indulged in a little fantastical daydream, leaving him noticeably flushed and uncomfortable in ways that only men could be.
Setting his tray and bottle of maple syrup down on the table and taking a seat, Robert tried to say thank you, but neither Ishani nor the Ensign had their translators running.
En. Tha'xur noticed him stop trying to use hand speak and realized that they had just messed up a little. "I am sorry, that was rude of us," she said as she tried to get her translation app up and running. Meanwhile, Ishani was no help; she was head down in her food, blushing and trying very hard not to be noticed. "There, we're set."
Robert was relieved when En. Tha'xur got her translation app running, so he wouldn't have to stare at Ishani across the round table from him. He returned his attention to En. Tha'xur. "I was trying to say thank you for asking me to join you, and it's okay. You at least figured it out."
Ishani looked up from her half-eaten food when En. Tha'xur's translator started speaking. Fuck, she thought, this is so embarrassing. Inviting a boy to come over and eat with you only to ignore him when he gets here. Idiot. Turning to face him, her brain failed as she smiled stupidly and took another bite. "Hungry?"
En. Tha'xur couldn't help but cringe. The situation unfolding before she seemed straight out of a cliché "coming of age" story, where a girl meets a boy and the universe seems to pause just for them. It reminded her of the sentimental videos her older brother and his friends would tear up over. Poor Ishani, the other girls around her would roast her mercilessly, yet she remained oblivious to the fact that she was being watched. En. Tha'xur couldn't decide if it was cute or tragic. Determined to intervene and save Ishani from herself, she spoke up, "Robert, the reason Crewwoman Vevreix invited you over is that I need your help."
"Hungry?" Robert was caught off guard by Ishani's question. Did she even understand what she was doing? He found her confusing, and he just wanted to finish his meal quickly and GTFO. En. Tha'xur was speaking, but he had missed what she said. He decided to play dumb and replied, "OK."
En. Tha'xur thought to herself, "This is good." She then explained, "Well, my husband and my three kho wives are going to be arriving on Earth in three days. I had scheduled a 14-day leave, but then I received an emergency assignment here, and I don't know if they will honor my leave request."
Robert had managed to pay enough attention to understand that she needed a favor. He had two basic choices: give a hard no and explain that the advocates wouldn't allow him to help until they gave the go-ahead, or try to answer her questions. His best option was to listen and see if he could offer some hints. "I am quite restricted by what my advocates have told me to do, but I will try to point you in the right direction."
Finally, Ishani managed to gather her thoughts and interjected, "See, I told you, all you need to do is ask."
En. Tha'xur rolled her eyes, silently expressing her frustration towards Ishani. She replied, "Thank you, can you help?"
Talking with his mouth full wasn't polite and attempting to gesture while eating proved to be a challenge. Robert sighed as he reluctantly set down his fork, his stomach growling in protest. "Yes, I will genuinely help you. And if you're wondering why," Robert paused, trying to understand his willingness to assist, "it's because you asked. Now, the big question is, do you even know what you want to ask?"
Ishani eagerly jumped in, unknowingly giving En. Tha'xur some time to formulate a proper question to ask. "Okay, if I can ask one too, please?"
Robert held up one finger as he obeyed the demands of his stomach and shoved a load of runny fried eggs and hash browns in his mouth. "Sure, since you saved me from eating alone." Robert swallowed hard after he finished speaking, realizing he had just unintentionally flirted with her. Thinking inwardly, "Shut up, dumb ass. You are going to get yourself in trouble."
Ishani sputtered like Joe Pesci for just a couple of seconds before getting to her real question. "Ok, ok, ok, ok." Pointing to the work area where the Charger was, she asked, "Why is the car so important? Why did you build it?"
Robert shoveled another load of eggs and hash browns into his mouth. "Why would a human boy on Earth, living in North America, want to build a fast car and one that could fly?" Pausing to inhale the bite of his eggs and hash browns, he continued, "Because it was fun, and it would have been cool to have a hotrod and be the only one to fly. Well, that would be a show-off, a little, and to have a shitload of fun flying around in it."
En. Tha'xur cluelessly responded, "What is a 'hotrod,' and why would a flying car be 'cool'? I guess that means good?"
Robert had to roll his head back before responding, to the idea of attempting to explain custom car and motorcycle cultures. "Humans like to personalize cars and other things as expressions of their personalities and rolling pieces of art in some cases. For a human boy to be able to build a car and go fast is a dream. Hotrods are the result of those builds."
Taking another break to move the French toast in front of him and pour on the maple syrup, he continued, "Back to the first part of your question, 'Why is it important?' Other than a personal attachment to the memories connected to it... it is not, in the grand scheme of things, it was a mistake. A very valuable mistake, it disproved one of my approaches to a bigger challenge."
En. Tha'xur and Crewwoman Vevreix just looked at each other and mouthed the same words, "It was a fucking mistake!!"
Robert tried to hide his smug satisfaction. Nobody ever considered just how much of his work was critical and applied to his big challenge. Ishani looked at Robert as he dug into his French toast. "If that was a mistake, what is the prize?" Robert just smiled and shrugged in response to the question. En. Tha'xur sat dejected, "Well, that did answer one of the big questions. The car is a stepping stone to the bigger thing."
Watching the Ensign sit dejected and look a little lost made Robert feel like a little shit. Flipping the bird to the bureaucratic machine that was the Imperium always felt like a "fuck yes," but trolling a person was different. She had asked him for help, and he had used it to be petty and spiteful. "You don't need to ask right now, and if you loan me your data slate, I will give you a couple of hints," he said, reaching out for the device.
En. Tha'xur handed over the data slate wordlessly. Robert opened a new document and wrote:
"If you have 'The Right Stuff,' you can connect the dots."
"Space-Time Gravity is not the same as Gravity Space-Time."
When he finished, he handed the data slate back to the ensign and returned to his food. En. Tha'xur picked up the data slate, read the hints, and found the first line to be of no use other than some devotional wisdom that would be preached in a temple. However, the second line held interesting possibilities. Grabbing the data slate, Ishani quickly scanned the text and handed it back to En. Tha'xur. "Thank you, I think we can work with this," she said. Turning to En. Tha'xur, she added, "Ma'am, I think we need to work in conference room 2 today. It has the other digital whiteboard, and I think we need the space."
En. Tha'xur picked up the data slate and looked right at Robert. "I don't get the first one. The second one could be applied in a dozen or more places."
Finishing his first piece of French toast, Robert tried to remember the order of the equations to point her in the right direction. "Show me my work from last night, and I will show you the one to work against. Don't try to finish it, just try to understand it."
En. Tha'xur handed the translated copy of Robert's work back to him, and he looked at it with a mixture of fascination and difficulty. It was strange to see his work presented so neatly, but it was also challenging to read. He had to mentally retranslate it to the original version he had written. Working through the problem brought his headache back in full force, making the surroundings too bright and diminishing his appetite. Robert tried to hide his discomfort, squinting his eyes and taking deep breaths.
Concerned, Ishani noticed his strained expression and asked, "Are you alright? You don't look well."
With a weak smile, Robert replied, "I shouldn't have done that. I usually take a couple of days off after my little flying trips. It's like working out too hard and feeling extremely sore the next day, then trying to work out again. Not fun."
En. Tha'xur felt uneasy knowing that Robert was enduring pain to help her. She thought of her father and how he would be disappointed in her. "Are you sure you don't need a doctor?" she asked, genuinely concerned.
"I'll be fine, I just need some sleep," Robert reassured them, pushing his plate of food away. "If either of you wants to finish this, go for it. At the very least, don't waste the bacon."
Ishani reached for the plate and admitted, "I've heard about bacon, but I'm a little afraid to try new foods. I don't want to be disappointed."
En. Tha'xur reached for a piece of bacon, saying, "I love bacon. I'll even taste-test it to make sure it's okay." She smiled at Ishani and took a bite.
Robert observed as En. Tha'xur's eyes widened in shock. Oops, he remembered that he had coated the bacon in maple syrup. However, she didn't spit it out, which was a good sign. His mom loved crispy bacon dipped in maple syrup. Sometimes, she would devour an entire package of bacon if there was maple syrup in the house, and then she would try to conceal the fact that a pound of bacon had disappeared. She would even do her dishes, a chore that was usually Robert's.
En. Tha'xur bit into the bacon, expecting a salty taste but experiencing the combination of sweet and salty. The flavor was incredible. She paused to savor the taste before chewing again. "You have to try this!" she exclaimed.
Ishani, with anticipation in her eyes, sniffed the remaining piece of bacon. "Here goes nothing." She cherished this moment, as it was the closest she had come to tasting her nest mother's nectar. Grabbing the plate, she declared, "I'm finishing this!" and devoured the last piece of French toast without bothering with utensils.
Despite his throbbing headache, Robert couldn't help but smile as he rose from the table. "Enjoy. I need some sleep."
/*******************************/
Tommy had to roll his eyes at Valenlina's latest attempt to "improve" his wardrobe with a purple satin shirt with a matching sea green scarf. No matter how many times Valenlina tried to have Tommy dress like a proper male, Tommy always simply said no. Early on in the dating, Valenlina had gotten so frustrated that she also broke up with him, not that she ever told him. Her father and kho mother Tearhart had stepped in and explained that she could not make a human be like a Shil. The Imperium still tried, and the Humans resisted more. There were several semi-celebrities on the data-net that advised Shil’vai women on dating human males and females. The most common rule for dating a human male is not to try and change them to be acceptable in your circle because they will resent you for it. You have attracted a human male for a reason, embrace it.
Their walk through downtown Prescott was a moment the Tommy did not have to think about the meeting tomorrow. Early this morning he and his mother had gotten almost an hour of one on one time with Advocate Roskin and she was able to explain in greater detail what was expected of him tomorrow and how things could go right or wrong. Withholding information was one of the worse things he could do. After the meeting, Valenlina noticed the additional stress in Tommy. It was so bad that physical affection had no effect. There was only one thing other than sex that could distraction, window shopping.
Their window shopping trip started as a serious attempt to make him presentable in Shil’vati society, ow her attempts to help him look more presentable were just something they did to have fun. In many ways, it was closer to foreplay now, as Tommy now attempts to have Valenlina dress like a human girl. Tommy did have one big win, a pair of 4-inch-high heels, he had said they improved the view coming and going. Her big win last year was a shirt and tie set for his tailored charcoal suit, he was finally willing to wear formal attire with a splash color.
Valenlina could see her best effort to pull Tommy out of what his mother called a 'funk' were not working. He was still not willing to talk to her about it, she could understand that he was pissed but his silence bothered her. While he had not pushed her away, he still felt distant. Last year's fireworks had been the warmup act for what had followed. She could never look at Mr. Scott's old Ford pickup without blushing just a little bit.
Tommy smiled with a wicked little smile, "Thinking dirty thoughts again I see." he said holding up a pair of women's cowboy boots in hot pink.
Playfully Valenlina put on her pouty face, "What would you wear with them?"
Taking his turn to think dirty thoughts and hoping to see her turn dark blue Tommy put on his most innocent face, "First this is a girl's color, and they would be for you, but what would I wear if you wanted me to try them on? Nothing?" Emphasizing the last word.
With a facade of indignation, "Why Mr. Sandoval, are you implying that the Governess's daughter would be involved in anything so uncouth as to make a respectable male present himself for inspection with only what the Goddess endowed him with?"
Tommy returned the boots to the display and stepped forward to steal a kiss."My Dear Miss Seskie, you know dammed well that you would take full advantage of that situation."
Returning the kiss, Valenlina smiled. "Yes, Mr. Sandoval I would." She bent down to whisper into his ear. "I think we both need to cool off or we will never make it to the fireworks show."
Tommy took her by the hand." Looks like I'll have to settle for mint chocolate chip ice cream."
Valenlina put on a hurt expression. "You are so cruel."
They left the window shopping and continued walking back to the courthouse square. The roads around the court were closed for three days for Frontier Days and the Festive of Colors. This opened the court square up for a giant art show and sales venue. This was the change for local artisans to show off their wares in the hopes of making one or selling to a noble patron and then getting follow-up commission work. The north side of the courthouse was dedicated to custom motorcycles and the east side was for classic custom cars. The west side, known as "Whiskey Row" is where the food vendors and their destination Jacksons Ice Cream was set up right in front of the Palace Restaurant and Saloon.
Turning the corner to walk up Whiskey Row Tommy could not help but feel he was being watched. Tommy had to keep Valenlina from heading off to go look at this or that. He had to remind her, that ice cream was first or he would have to give her a spanking. Valenlina would always retort with, "Promises, promises".
When they were getting their ice cream Valenlina nudged Tommy and told him to look across the street. Standing in front of a face painting booth was a short portly balding human male with a puggy round face. He wearing a well-made black suit, the only thing missing from the 1930s gangster getup was a fedora hat.
Taking their ice cream and heading off to a wood sculptor's booth Tommy kicked himself mentally for not seeing him earlier, he was the only person wearing a business suit. He should have stood out like a sore thumb, but he just seemed to blend in. The booth was impressive, boasting several pieces commissioned by various members of the nobility. Tommy ate his ice cream and kept an eye on the gangster while Valenlina inspected the various pieces and got sticker shock.
Tommy tried to get Valenlina's attention when the gangster entered the booth and proceeded to the cane rack. By the time Valenlina noticed, the gangster was already paying for the cane he had selected.
When the gangster finished his transaction, he turned to Tommy and Valenlina." Well if it isn't the young man of the hour, Thomas Sandoval. It's a pleasure to meet you. As well as you, Miss Seskie."
Flustered, Tommy stuttered out, "Who the fuck are you? Have you been watching me?"
The man smiled, but it felt unnerving, maybe a little malicious, too., "My name is Mr. Rojo and I watch everybody. It's my calling, but I will admit that you and your brother have piqued my interest. I go through life watching the world go by, I enjoy the shifting mosaic of peoples' lives, and how they interconnect. For example, the car that you and your brother build was a 69 or 70 I could not tell with what is out on the news media.”
Tommy waited to tell this to go pound sand, but he need to talk and tell Mr. Rojo what even he needed, Tommy forgot Valenlina was listening as he spoke.” It is a 69, why is that important?”
The gangster slowly dropped part of his smile as he replied, ”It is not important, it is merely a curiosity just like why not use the Confederate battle flag and why the name Valkirey?”
Eagerly Tommy responded, “The Betsy Ross over the Stars and Bars, because it is more appropriate at this time and the Shil’vati Imperium has no idea what it means, instead of erasing human history maybe the Shil’vati could try learning from it.” almost quoting Sean Connery about goose stopping morons and burning books. “ Now for Valkire over General Lee, that is easy, Valkire’s are sexy and cool. and General Lee would get us in trouble, just like the Stars and Bars.”
The gangster's smile was completely gone, and his expression and tone had changed to serious but neutral almost professorial, “But I have a simple question for you, and I'd greatly appreciate it if you would give me an honest answer, Thomas what is gravity?"
Thomas could not stop himself and replied without hesitation. "Gravity is a higher dimensional construct. When projected from a higher dimension it appears to be a force, but to use it as a dimensional construct the space-time gravity interpretation must be inverted to be the first-dimensional construct so that space-time gravity becomes gravitational space-time with an indeterminate number of dimensional constructs between gravity and space."
The gangster looked surprised, while Valenlina looked utterly confused. "Is that your brother Robert's words or yours?"
Thomas hesitated only slightly before he replied. "Mostly Robert's, I can't dream up the shit he does but once he explains it, I can see it. He uses me as a sounding board." Tommy suddenly realized what he was saying. "Who the fuck are you?"
The gangster took Tommy's hand to shake it. "Mr. Sandoval, I told you I am a watcher and now I get to watch you. Have a glorious life Mr. Sandoval" nodding to Valenlina, "and you too, Miss Seskie."
Tommy watched as the gangster walked out of the booth noting that nobody noticed his passing.
Valenlina had been too engrossed in Mr. Rojo and Tommy's conversation to say or do anything, but now that Mr. Rojo was no longer there she angrily turned to face Tommy."Thomas, you have some explaining to do!"
Tommy would not realize until much later, that the gangster had placed the cane in his has as he left.
/*******************************/
First:
Janissary: The Joy Ride Ch1 : Sexyspacebabes (reddit.com)
Previous:
Janissary: The Joy Ride Ch7 : Sexyspacebabes (reddit.com)
Next:
Chapter 8
Extra:
Janissary: The Son Of War : Sexyspacebabes (reddit.com)
Janissary: Vision from Zy'Verila : Sexyspacebabes (reddit.com)
submitted by Hedgehog_5150 to Sexyspacebabes [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 01:01 CringeyVal0451 The Lap of Luxury (Funky P. Beard gets in trouble)

Looks like it might be time for a cast list refresher! So let me reintroduce the chummers!!!!
OP (c’est moi!)
Female, late 20s
Grad student
Perky emo girl with purple hair
Likes crass humor
Nerdy, petite, beard bait
Decker
​
Funky P. Beard (FPB)
Male, early 30s
Bona fide psycho piece of shit
Street Samurai
​
Mori
The GM
Male, early/mid 30s
Hypersexual kinky bastard
Likes exhibitionism, vomit, and illegal substances
Charismatic, cult-leader vibes
Very amusing, always nice to OP
The only person who seemed capable of getting FPB to behave
​
Axton
Male, late 20s
Grad student
Sexy, pleasant to be around
Has a sense of humor that meshes well with OP’s
Usually able to ignore FPB’s psycho behavior
The primary target of FPB’s jealousy
Rigger
​
Sage
Male, early/mis 30s
Assistant GM
Host of the gaming weekends
Typically level-headed, but losing patience with FPB
Skilled in martial arts
Mage
​
Athena
Female, early 30s
Sage’s girlfriend
Co-host of the gaming weekends
Increasingly intolerant of FPB
Petite, pretty, friendly... probably also beard bait
Shaman
​
Snorlax
Male, early 30s
The funny fat guy (NOT a neckbeard)
Easy-going, friendly, rarely directly involved in the weekend’s drama
Stoner
Adept
​
Chapter 5: The Lap of Luxury
We had been moving back and forth between the garage and the living room (it wasn’t the “War Room” until the gaming began) for the past hour or so. This was actually my favorite part of the weekend. I wasn’t exhausted yet, nobody was plastered yet, and I was genuinely getting to know FPB’s buddies. Snorlax told me about his former career as a semi-pro wrestler, and how an injury had forced him to start working as a mall cop. Athena and Sage were both pharmacy techs, and they were considering opening their own gaming shop. Mori was a paralegal for an LGBT law firm and ran a fairly lucrative fetish website on the side. Axton was going to grad school for social work and was the bass player for a classic rock cover band. Damn it, we had genuine common interests. Why couldn’t he have been a parolee or a gong farmer?
And I was able to chat comfortably with all the team members because FPB had taken to the master bathroom upstairs to get “re-ready.” Not only did he desperately need to change his “dew-covered” underpants, but he also needed to take a full shower (using Athena’s bathing products, of course). He would then spend nearly a full hour blow-drying, flat-ironing, and spiking his jet-black hair so that he emerged looking like some bizarre mash-up of Hagrid and Discount Tom Sandoval.
I’m also assuming that he manscaped, and I sincerely hoped he’d brought his own pink razors for this task. But as for his bushy behemoth of a beard? He took absolutely NO care of it. I never understood the statement he was trying to make by being fastidious AF with every aspect of personal grooming, save his defining feature. No matter. He was absent, and I was finally having fun! Alas, the fun wouldn’t last. The time for pre-game was approaching, so Sage and Athena went to the kitchen to arrange the shots.
Athena: How many do you want, OP?
Me: I think I’d better stick with two since I’ve already had a beer.
A freshly showered and finally dressed FPB turned to me, “Yeah, you need to stay sober.”
Oh, now that bullshit made me want to drink...
Me: Athena, make it three for me.
FPB shot me a menacing look.
Me: What? I’m not gonna get wasted off one extra shot.
FPB: I’m saving you from yourself. You could at least TRY to appreciate my chivalry.
Me: Right...
But then I had second thoughts about angering the already rage-prone beast. I didn’t want to ruin the evening for the other team members. And FPB’s temper tantrums definitely had the potential to ruin the evening for everyone in attendance.
Me: I’ll shoot two and just sip on the third one. Does that sound reasonable?
FPB shrugged.
Me: Come on! I feel like such a sissy compared to the rest of you.
FPB: Whose fault is that? You didn’t take advantage of your years and years and years of being a “student” to practice handling your liquor?
Me: No, mostly I studied. And when we partied, we did drugs. We didn’t drink. Not like this, anyway.
I was getting pretty mad, and I did NOT want to have a full-blown screaming match with FPB in front of everyone.
Me: Do you mind if I take five? This isn’t something we need to argue over. I really am trying to learn how to play, and to play the way YOUR TEAM plays. The guide books were no help at all.
FPB: If I catch you asking Mori for coke, so help me...
Me: I just need some air. That’s not code for anything untoward. I just want to go outside.
FPB: I’m coming with you.
Snorlax stepped in.
Snorlax: Bro. Just let her go outside. I’ll stand by the door and make sure Mori doesn’t follow her.
FPB: I don’t care about Mori! You make sure that dick-wipe Axton doesn’t follow her. I *know* he’s trying to bang her.
I could hear all this rancor on my way to the back door.
Me: Dude!!! Chill! I’m not going outside to get drugs. I’m not going outside to shag anybody. I just want five fucking minutes of peace!
Mori stood up. He was shirtless that night, wearing nothing but ultra-sheer light pink boxers that complemented the pink streaks in his bedazzled beard. But despite his wispy attire, the group still kowtowed to him.
Mori: I hereby grant OP *TEN* minutes of solitude on the back porch. FPB, you will use this time to meditate. Think about what it means to be kind to your significant other. Think about what it means to show empathy and acceptance. Think about what it means to enjoy the company of your fellow chummers.
I slipped outside and inhaled the pleasant dusk that was beginning to fill the air. And I found myself feeling indebted to Mori and wondering if this was some sort of cult indoctrination malarkey... or if he’d just known FPB longer than any of the rest of us and had learned how to effectively handle him. And then I decided that it didn’t matter. I finally had the peace and quiet I so desperately needed.
But how *did* FPB know that Axton was flirting with me? I thought we’d both been pretty covert about it. Uhhh... In front of FPB, at least. I decided that he didn’t actually know. He was constantly accusing male friends of “trying to bang me” when there was not even the slightest hint of attraction on anyone’s part. It was a numbers game. If you throw out hundreds of accusations, one might happen to stick. And then you can say, “I TOLD YOU SO.”
I often felt like an alternate universe version of Anne Boleyn, imprisoned by a skinny and even madder version of the famous king. FPB certainly fancied himself a regal figure, worthy of everyone’s fealty. Wait... was Henry VIII the OG neckbeard??? (note... I thought I had made an original observation here, but I came across a year-old post on ReddXReads from u/Raidan1084, so props to you for beating me to this observation!!!)
My unfocused mind ran amuck for a bit longer, and the ten minutes were almost up when I heard a quiet voice calling my name from around the side of the house.
I rounded the corner to answer.
It was Athena.
Athena: OP, I know it’s none of my business, but FPB is a douchebag. That girl who came to the door last night? She’s one of his hook-ups.
I laughed a little. “I know. He’s got loads of them... Hey, do you mind if I ask you a stupid question that I ask myself all the time?”
Athena: Sure.
Me: Why do you guys put up with his shit?
Athena: He and Mori have been best friends since before the team formed. He’s kind of a “package deal.” If we want to keep Mori as our GM, we have to accept FPB. And Mori does run a really fun campaign.
Me: So if he ever crosses a line with Mori, he’s out?
Athena: That’s what we’ve all been hoping for! But Mori’s insanely patient with FPB.
We sighed and returned inside.
FPB was sitting in sulky silence, staring at his polished Chelsea boots. I took a seat on the other side of the room, next to Mori.
Mori: You good?
I nodded.
Mori whispered, “You want some coke?”
Me: Shhhhhh!!! No, I don’t do that!
Mori mouthed, “Adderall?”
I smiled and mouthed, “Later.”
Mori stood. “Tonight, we are making a seating chart. There are six numbers on the floor. You will each draw a number from my underwear, and you will sit on the corresponding number. Is that clear?”
Everyone bellowed in unison, “YES, GAME MASTER.”
This was exciting! I had a decent chance of not having to sit by FPB that night! I was completely fed up with his constant criticism of my character sheets and his suggestions for future moves. He was messing me up more than he was helping.
Mori took a seat on a throw pillow, shoved 6 folded pieces of paper down the back of his boxers and called us up, one by one, to draw our numbers from his drawers.
Being the newbie, I was the last to draw.
Mori: Get all the way up in dat crack, OP.
I laughed and fished the paper out of Mori’s boxers.
FPB took a loud breath and fumed, “MORI, YOU FU...”
Sage put a hand on FPB’s chest, and said very sternly, “Take it down a notch.”
Mori: Tonight, we will find peace amongst ourselves and rain fire and terror on the mega-corporations! Are you with me???”
“WE’RE WITH YOU, GAME MASTER.”
Mori: Then inspect your numbers and take your seats. You should also feel free to sniff the papers.
No one did that.
I got #3. Motherfucker. FPB was sitting to my right. But at least Athena was sitting to my left. I felt like I could trust her, and I felt like she would call him out if he pulled any more of his rage crap. Tragically, Axton was sitting to FPB’s right. That wasn’t going to go well. Snorlax was sitting to Athena’s left, and Sage was in his usual spot, as Mori’s right hand. So it went: tech, muscle, tech, magic, muscle, magic. Not ideal.
Mori surveyed the room. “Not at all how I had hoped,” he muttered. “But nevertheless! The team has been assembled. The time has come...”
“PRE-GAME!!!!!!”
I actually knew what to shout this time. I remembered to pound on my chest, and I looked to Athena in an attempt to learn the tribal dance. I got close enough.
We charged into the fuel station. I stood by the non-threatening triad of shots, while all the other team members stood before their seven shots.
Mori: Fireball. Each tincture shall light a fire in our bellies, improve out spell-casting, and lead us to victory. Chummers... DRINK!!!
I slammed two shots and picked up the third to nurse during the game. Just like the night before, all the other players downed their seven shots with astounding ease.
We returned to the War Room and took our assigned seats.
Mori: The Rules!
Everyone groaned, just as they had previously. Apparently, this was customary.
Mori: If you glitch, you must take a shot of Fireball to boost your skills. OP, you may take a SIP of an alcoholic beverage. You may also do a bump of coke.
FPB clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and growled. This was delighting me to no end!!! Not only might I get a little taste of my former favorite drug for the first time in YEARS, but Mori also seemed to be actively antagonizing FPB. It was delicious.
And here’s one for the philosophers: AITA... If you’re antagonizing the asshole, doesn’t that kind of make you the hero?
Mori: The second time you glitch, you must kiss my staff or endure a smack in the face from my staff. FPB, you must suffer The Lap of Luxury upon your second glitch... Or if you misbehave.
FPB: Explain that.
Mori: It will become clear in good time, my sweet little Samurai.
FPB shifted uncomfortably. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
Mori: All subsequent glitches will result in escalating staff punishments, the anal gaze, removal of armor, or a spanking. Anything the team deems an epic success shall be rewarded with a shot of Johnny Walker Blue. And my trusted Assistant GM has a few new rules to add, just for the time being. Sage the Mage, the floor is yours.
Sage: We can’t afford to pay for another round of professional cleaning for... the time being. We are now asking that ALL team members please use the restroom if you must pee, poop, or puke. Gentlemen, feel free to pee in the backyard, but please refrain from peeing on the porch. Thank you. Back to you, Game Master.
Mori: Place your hand on your chest and pledge your loyalty if you agree to this; and take off your pants if you object.
FPB put his hands near the button of his trousers. Everyone watched him with bated breath. But then he placed his hand on his chest.
Mori: Then we continue planning the station takeover... NOW!
We had barely gotten through two combat turns when Mori decided it was time for leftover Taco Bell, more liquor, and pornography. Tonight, Snorlax rolled for Bat Pussy, an older film that is widely considered to be the Plan 9 from Outer Space of porn. It was definitely on the “softcore” side since no one ever actually banged. It’s a spoof on Batman, and the main character gets a little “twitch” DOWN THERE whenever she needs to go fight crime. I found it wildly entertaining!
In fact, I laughed hysterically throughout the entire movie. Most of us did. FPB even snorted once or twice. As the main character was bouncing on a hippity hop alongside the highway, wearing a cheap costume, I was howling with laughter. Possibly because everyone was a little drunk and the drunken laughter was contagious, possibly because it really was absurdly funny. Or both.
FPB: It’s not THAT funny.
Me (gasping): I can’t help it! This is bat-shit crazy!
Mori: We gotta get OP a Batgirl costume and a hippity hop!
Me: You’re ON! I will absolutely do that! When can we film it???
FPB: You’re gonna recreate a scene from a PORNO??? With MORI???
Sage: Dude! WHAT is sexual about this scene? It’s ridiculous. That’s why we’re all cracking up!
FPB: You have to understand. I’m an intellectual...
I was painfully familiar with the insufferable tripe that typically followed this statement. Apparently, so was the Shadowrun crew. Everyone groaned dismissively. And then something vaguely resembling a sex scene started up, and Mori shushed us all.
Mori: Shhhh! It might finally get good!
It didn’t. Not in the way Mori meant.
The movie ended, most of us lit a ciggy, and we all returned to our assigned seats.
Mori: Shall we refuel before we resume?
A chorus of “HELL YEAH” rang out. I wasn’t in the mood for booze. I was once again beginning to fade around this time, and I needed to find a way to get some Adderall from Mori without FPB noticing. It had already been an incredibly long day for me, even though I had been having fun (aside from having to tend to FPB’s nonsense). Maybe the beardo boyfriend was the reason I was getting exhausted at these gatherings.
Constantly having to talk him down from a temper tantrum, having him constantly looking over my shoulder and scrutinizing my every move, suffering through his ceaseless (and useless) suggestions for my next move, having to defend myself for not drinking enough, then having to turn around and defend myself when I decided to have an extra shot, enduring his seething wrath every time I so much as spoke to Mori or Axton... It was exhausting.
As everyone was refueling, FPB had managed to trap Sage and Athena and was lecturing them about why it was disrespectful to FEMALES to combine humor with sex.
FPB: To make a mockery of the female anatomy, and then to depict sexual acts so crudely is offensive to me as a feminist.
Athena: YOU’RE a feminist?
FPB: Obviously. I would lay down my life to defend the sacred honor of the feminine spirit.
Sage: I’m pretty sure it was just a bad movie. Plus, the superhero was a woman, so...
FPB: But they had to make her superpowers connected to her genitals. That’s objectification. It’s not funny, even if it’s meant to be “so bad, it’s funny.” I’m offended.
I wasn’t part of the discussion, but I interjected, “I feel like humor can be sexy. Being able to laugh during sexual experiences can create a bond. And if both partners are deliberately goofing off, what’s offensive about that?”
Axton raised his glass in approval. I couldn’t help smiling at him.
FPB: Oh, Miss Sex Therapist knows everything.
Me: I don’t know anything. Clearly. It’s just an opinion. Based on research. That I learned in graduate school.
FPB: Some idiots actually researched LAUGHING during sex? That can’t be a real thing.
Me: I’ll print out the articles.
FPB: From where? Hustler?
I didn’t have the energy to argue with him.
Me: Yes. I cite Hustler in all my papers.
Axton: I’ve read the same thing. Laughing releases endorphins. Sex releases endorphins. Plus, why do you think adult novelty stores are always so funny? The elephant trunk underwear?
Mori: I have a pair of those.
Of course he did.
FPB: You want a bottle smashed over your head, Axton? STOP TALKING TO MY GIRLFRIEND ABOUT YOUR DICK.
Me: FPB, he literally said nothing about his dick.
FPB: WRONG. He was *agreeing* with you. He’s trying to ingratiate himself. Because he’s thinking with his DICK.
I rolled my eyes.
Mori saved us by clapping his hands. “Back to the War Room, chummers!”
We headed back, and Mori was following close behind me. He tugged on one of my pigtails. I turned around to see him holding an Adderall in the palm of his hand. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure FPB wasn’t watching. He was too busy staring daggers at Axton. I snatched the pill, thanked Mori, and slipped it in my mouth.
When my turn came around, my sleaze failed, and the security subnet sent my coordinates to the mainframe. It was my first glitch of the evening, and I didn’t want to pile cocaine on top of Adderall. So I had to take a sip of an alcoholic beverage. Since I didn’t have one of my own, FPB offered me his Jack & Pepper (Jack Daniels and Dr. Pepper... 90% Jack, 10% Pepper).
Me: Is anybody drinking a beer? Or something a little less potent?
Snorlax offered me a sip of his beer.
Me: You’re sure you don’t mind?
Snorlax: It’s all good. Have a sip.
FPB was fuming again.
Snorlax handed me his beer and I took a sip.
Me: Thank you.
FPB: You’re drinking after another man??? You didn’t even wipe off the mouth of the bottle first? UGH! It’s like you’re kissing him!
Snorlax started making kissy sounds at me. I made them back. Everyone laughed. Everyone but FPB, of course.
Please remember that this was in the Before Times...
I sat back down. FPB pulled me into his lap and growled, “Snorlax now? Really?”
I twisted to look him in the face and said through clenched teeth, “It was a sip of beer.”
FBP kept one long arm tightly wound around me and used his free hand to slug back loud gulps of Jack & Pepper. I dared to glance over at Axton. We locked eyes for a few seconds, but Axton abruptly whipped his head around to face Mori.
FPB roared, “WERE YOU JUST LOOKING AT MY GIRLFRIEND, FUCK-WALLET???”
Sweet Athena spoke up.
Athena: Funky. Seriously. We’re supposed to be a team. We can’t even look at each other? Mori, can we outlaw the outbursts? We’re never even gonna get past the planning phase if FPB keeps screaming at every single person who interacts with OP.”
Mori: I’m inclined to agree with you, Athena. FPB, why did you invite your girlfriend here if you didn’t want her to play our game and get to know us?
I felt FPB take a deep breath in preparation to react inappropriately to Mori’s innocuous question.
Mori was able to effectively silence him by simply lifting his hand. Dude, he was gonna have to teach me his tricks!
Mori: We’d like to be able to get to know her in peace. OP, would you like to get to know us in peace?
Me: Yes. I really would.
Mori: FPB, these outbursts have earned you a new punishment... The Lap of Luxury. Get on over here, Tall Boy.
Mori patted his lap.
FPB: Are you serious?
Mori: I am. You sit right here until I say you may rise.
FPB didn’t move.
Mori: Should you refuse, OP can come sit in my lap. (Better Mori’s lap than FPB’s.)
FPB scrambled up, sending me flying out of his lap. I gleefully lit a cigarette and made googlie eyes at Axton that were sure to go unnoticed by the incredibly incensed FPB.
FPB awkwardly folded himself into Mori’s lap, grunting and grumbling the entire time. The rest of the team was desperately trying not to laugh (which of course, made it even funnier).
Once he had settled in (as much as he could), we continued the planning phase. Athena was successful, so was Snorlax, so was Sage. But Axton glitched. This was sure to be a problem. Mori was stuck under FPB, so he was unable to “whip it out” and administer the customary punishment.
Mori: Axton, remove a piece of your armor.
Axton reached around with one hand and pulled his t-shirt off in a single fluid motion. I’m quite certain that my pupils noticeably dilated. The rest of the room “whooped” like we were at a Chip ‘n Dales show.
FPB looked like some sort of cartoon villain who had just been foiled. As he sat indignantly upon the Mori Throne, he twitched and shifted, snarling curses, teeth gritted. And then he froze. His eyes widened. He started to stand, but Mori wrapped his arms around him tightly, trapping him in the Lap of Luxury.
FPB: YOU HAVE A HARD-ON, BRO. LET ME THE FUCK GO.
I squealed with laughter. And it seemed that I had been right about Mori letting people off the hook when they were legitimately uncomfortable with the “gross-out” punishments, because Mori loosened his grip, allowing FPB stomp off to the back porch.
“OP! OP! OOOOOOOO PPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!,” FPB screamed from the porch.
Mori: OP, you’re free to go tend to his meltdown if you want to. But I’m happy to handle him if you need a break.
Me: I definitely need a break.
Mori got up to tend to the bearded ball of rage.
I heard a bit of unintelligible yelling, then the door slammed. We all looked at each other with something across between nervousness and bemusement, waiting for someone to speak. I decided to break the silence...
submitted by CringeyVal0451 to ReddXReads [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 00:52 autobuzzfeedbot 17 Celebs Who Discovered Family Secrets Later In Life

  1. Rihanna reportedly didn't know she had three older half-siblings until she was 15, and her oldest sister, Kandy, showed up at her front door out of the blue.
  2. In her memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy revealed that, after her mother's death, she learned that the man who raised her, Mark, was not her biological father. Her bio dad was actually a local jazz musician named Andrew.
  3. Jack Nicholson was raised to believe that his grandmother, Ethel May, was his bio mom, and his birth mother, June, was his sister. He didn't learn the truth until he was 37. Time magazine's researchers were doing a profile on him, and they called to get confirmation of what they'd discovered — June was actually his bio mom, and his bio dad was still alive.
  4. When Jackie Chan was a kid, his parents fled to Hong Kong, abandoning him and his siblings in mainland China. Through research for the documentary Traces of a Dragon: Jackie Chan and His Lost Family, he discovered that his dad had been a gang leader and Nationalist spy, and his mom had been a well-known gambler, opium smuggler, and part of Shanghai's underworld.
  5. Tim McGraw was raised by his stepdad, Horace Smith, and he went by Tim Smith until college. When he was 11, he was searching for Christmas presents in his mom's closet and stumbled upon his birth certificate. He discovered that his biological father was actually famous MLB pitcher Tug McGraw.
  6. Liv Tyler thought that her stepdad, Todd Rundgren, was her biological father until she saw her bio dad, Steven Tyler, in concert with her mom. Liv figured it out when she saw Steven's younger daughter, Mia, standing at the side of the stage and noticed their uncanny resemblance.
  7. For most of his childhood, Sean Astin thought that he was born from an affair his mother, Patty Duke, had with Addams Family star John Astin, who kept their relationship a secret until his divorce, then married her. However, when Sean was 14, Patty confessed that his bio dad was actually Desi Arnaz Jr., who was only 17 during their relationship (she was 23). However, when Sean was 26, he met a relative of Michael Tell, the "total stranger" Patty had married then left after 13 days following her breakup with Desi. The relative suggested a DNA test, so, living his own version of Mamma Mia!, Sean took a paternity test with John, Desi, and Michael. The results believed that Michael was his true biological father.
  8. After his mother's death, Sir Michael Caine found out that she'd had another son before meeting his father. She kept her oldest child hidden from her husband and two younger sons, but she visited him every Monday, no matter what.
  9. Clint Eastwood reportedly didn't know that Laurie Murray, his oldest child, had been born then given up for adoption by her bio mother. Laurie spent 30 years searching for her biological family, then connected with Clint in her 60s.
  10. Growing up in Hong Kong, Anthony Wong Chau-sang knew very little about his British father, Frederick William Perry, who left the family when Anthony was 4 and stopped sending him letters when he was 12. After spending decades searching for him, Anthony shared his story with the BBC, which inspired a trio of international women to join his search. Within a few weeks, he was connected with his British half-brothers, twins John and David Perry.
  11. Danny Trejo's mother wasn't part of his life, and growing up with his father's relatives left the actor feeling like he could only "either be a laborer or a gangster or an informant." However, on his episode of Finding Your Roots, he found out that his paternal great grandfather (Cirilo Garay) had owned a home and a grocery store after moving from Mexico to the US. He also learned that his maternal fourth great grandfather (Luciano Agundez) had been "a serious landowner" in Mexico. Danny felt that "this history could've changed [his] whole family's life."
  12. When Darryl McDaniels, aka rapper DMC, began researching for his autobiography at 35, he called his parents to ask about the day he was born. To his surprise, they called him back an hour later and revealed that they'd adopted him as a 1-month-old.
  13. Actor Judy Lewis's mother, Loretta Young, reportedly hid her in orphanages for the first year and a half of her life, lied about adopting her, and surgically altered her ears when she was 7 all to protect her secret — Judy was born from an affair between Loretta and her The Call of the Wild costar Clark Gable. Two weeks before her wedding, Judy had an identity crisis, and her fiancé informed her that her bio dad's identity was "common knowledge."
  14. In 2007, Olympic gymnast Dominique Moceanu received a letter from fellow gymnast Jen Bricker — the biological younger sister her parents had given up for adoption because she was born with a disability. Jen had been trying to get in touch with Dominique for four years. They finally met up in 2008, then went public with their story in 2012.
  15. On his episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, Game of Thrones actor Charles Dance found out that he had two secret half-sisters who were born nearly 50 years before him. His father, Walter, was 72 when Charles was born in 1956. The actor's sister Norah was born in 1898, and his sister Mary was born in 1903.
  16. When Keyshia Cole was 2, she was adopted by Yvonne and Leon Cole, who were close friends with her birth mother, Frankie Lons. However, she didn't know her biological father until she was 34. After years of searching, a paternity test concluded that he was famous boxing coach Virgil Hunter.
  17. And finally, while on a joint family vacation in Greece, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson learned that there's a chance they could be half-brothers when Matthew's mom said she knew (and seemingly implied she may have had a relationship with) Woody's dad.
Link to article
submitted by autobuzzfeedbot to buzzfeedbot [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 00:47 HyperActive1DUK [TOMT][Artwork] Surreal anatomical artwork of a brain in a cube

I remember there was a brain in a glass cube on the upper left side attatched to some lungs in the bottom left and something else on the bottom right; maybe eyeballs. The entire thing was shades of red and blue on a white or beige background. May have been a tattoo, but I'm not entirely sure. I've seen it multiple times this year, but I have no clue when it would've been made originally.
submitted by HyperActive1DUK to tipofmytongue [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 00:43 villainocity Cold Steel AD-10, Kizer, Boker, and Reposted Budget Bundles(Reduced!)

Back once again to sell stuff I don’t use. None of these have ever cut or been carried by me and all are in great shape. Looking for sales not trades, unless you have a Hogue Deka Magnacut wharny or a low-end Demko AD20.5 with the sharkfoot blade. Paypal can be used to balance those trades, as well, either way.
Timestamps: https://imgur.com/a/RRW7gV9
Cold Steel AD-10 ($90) – Bought this just the other day and to be honest, I’m more interested in the Lite version of this with the tanto blade or the AD-15 Lite. I’d just feel a lot better about beating those up outdoors. Excellent condition. S35VN, G10, TriAd lock. This thing is a tank.
https://imgur.com/a/XEZ6D3N
Kizer Sheepdog XL ($60) – Love this knife, but I’ve got way too many big honkin’ chonkers and I need to pare down, starting with this guy. Excellent condition, but the deep carry clip shows a tiny bit of wear. Thinner blade and handle profile than most knives this size, so while it’s a really big boy, it’s very slicey and much easier to carry. BD1N blade w/ brown micarta.
https://imgur.com/a/CpCVV4p
Boker Urban Survival ($45 - $40) SOLD– Little guy. Bought this new and haven’t used it to cut anything other than myself. Thing is a nasty little razor. Feels good in the hand, but my hands are too big to effectively use the thumb stud without trouble. I can roll it fine, but not flick it. 440C with aluminum handle. Comes with box, taco pouch, and everything Boker included. The smudge on the second pic is oil.
https://imgur.com/a/mc2XXbR
The Miscellaneous Cool Knife Bundle (4 knives) - $65 $60
Picked these up at different times. All are in great shape. Only one was bought used and I never cut with any of them. Shikra comes in its box, the rest will come wrapped in bubble wrap.
QSP Penguin – This is the one I bought used and the only one that’s been carried. Couple scratches on the blade and it looks like it’s been tumbled or something. I think it looks really good and it hurts to let it go. Best thumb stud action out of any knife I own. Letting it go because I want to buy a more premium version for the rotation, I think. Micarta feels good and is nicely broken in.
Ontario Shikra – I like it, but I don’t love it. It’s good and all, but I’m just not crazy about knives that only have the micarta on one side and I didn’t know that when I bought it new. Never cut, never carried. Aus 8 with green micarta. Very pokey.
Gerber Pledge –Bought this new from an Academy store. Out of all of the cheaper Gerber knives, this is my favorite. If it came with a more premium steel, I think it would be talked about a lot more. Really sharp and it feels good in the hand. Has one of those flat thumbstud shelf thingies. GFN handle with 7Cr17MoV. I really like the sheepsfoot blade. It’s long and useful. Came in a blister pack I had to murder to get it out, so no box.
Kershaw Reverb XL – Man, this thing looks cool as hell. Deep carry clip and a frame lock, but another one of those “scale on one side, steel on the other” jobs. I struggle flipping this one. It has milling or something in the blade to flip it out with, but I cant get a good grip with these hams I’m workin with. I can roll it out, though. Nice and useful carabiner on the end. I really dig the profile and it feels good in the hand. Carbon fiber overlay on the show side and a carbo-nitride titanium coating on the illustrious 8cr13MoV blade. This one’s packaging also gave its life to my access, so... no box!
https://imgur.com/a/hQn53h1
The Chinese Sampler Bundle (5 knives) - $50 $45 SOLD
Picked these up in various bundles here and there. All have been used (not by me), but have good action and are in good condition. Will come individually wrapped in bubble wrap. Excuse my prints on the Ganzo.
Tunafire - Nice flipping action. I like the orange pivot collar with the green micarta. D2.
Sitivien ST139 –Someone tumbled the blade and pocket clip. I like the look. Good, comfortable finger choil. Flips well. Black/Green G10 & Sandvik 14C28N. Comes with a utilitarian plastic lanyard/fob thingy.
Land 911 – Great thumb stud action and really nice liner lock cut out . Green G10 & Sandvik 12C27. I really didn’t expect much here, but Land makes some pretty solid stuff.
Ganzo Firebird F755 – Great thumb stud action. Has Ganzo’s version of the axis lock (G-Lock). Black carbon fiber overlay on G10, I’m assuming. Blue screws, pivot, and thumb stud. Really good finger choil and jimping on top that makes this feel really good in the hand. I have a bunch of cleaver-style knives and damnit if this one doesn’t feel the most useful lol.
Dispatch ? –Spring assisted and it really fires out. I read somewhere that they sold these on Amazon for 15, but I don’t see them anywhere now. Their website doesn’t have it, but it does have a lot of gas station looking knives being held by dudes in fingerless tactical gloves. Rad. They have some actually attractive stuff too. Steel blade and… metal handle. Feels really solid and has some decent heft. Be a good knife to throw in the vehicle or to take fishing.
https://imgur.com/a/shwuwK4
You know the drill. Yolo > Chat and since I don’t have 25 swaps yet, it’s Paypal G&S for your protection. Age 18+ please.
submitted by villainocity to Knife_Swap [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 00:39 BreastPlayThrowAway 44 [M4F] #NorCal - My moniker makes it no mystery what I'm seeking...

...and who knows, some women here might find my focus a match for their own secretly-held predilections, something they've always wanted but have been afraid to ask for. Anyway, I'm here to explore it, to find those matches; if you're one, or think you might be, you should definitely say hi.
My quick stats: I'm 44, 6'2", fit, blue eyes, educated, professional, overall a decent and normal guy. Just with a little quirk, a secret side, that I'm exploring here. I hope to find my counterpart - and best of luck to everyone out there searching for theirs!
submitted by BreastPlayThrowAway to r4r [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 00:37 Throwaway32586375 Theory/Thoughts regarding 'Project Blue beam' (US/NASA), WEF, and the Mainstream Media shift.

Im usually a lurker, not a poster - so apologies any misused forms. I wanted a share my thoughts/theory about Project Blue Beam, so thank you for reading, if you do. There are probably many other examples I've forgotten as due to work this has taken me most of the day to write please share if you have anything to add. I am quite tired, so apologies for any potential ramblings or spelling errors.
For those of you not familiar there's this very unbiased article on the subject, or my attempt at an introduction below. Project Blue Beam is (allegedly) a U.S. program (NASA) that was exposed by Canadian Investigative Journalist Serge Monast. After he exposed the program, he was in heavy legal troubles for being involved with “networks of prohibited information”. He conveniently died of a heart attack at home, just 24 hours after being released from jail after his second arrest. Project Blue Beam (PBB) consists of the theory that the US government along with certain groups both governmental and "privately run" organizations have an agenda for a World Government and planetary control. Three of the steps though of in the 1990's according to Serge was these:
  1. To abolish all religions and replace them with a one-world religion based on the “cult of man”.
  2. Abolish all national identities to create a “one-world” movement.
  3. To remove the notion of “family” and force everyone to work for a new one-world Government.
It makes sense in the years later as technology progressed to take Crypto into consideration, along with control of the already global food, mineral and oil/gas supply. It's name comes from point number one, where they planned on using an alien invasion as a rallying cry for the world to unite, and this would be done essentially with holograms.
Okey, so these are certain points that I've been thinking of:
- There's been a huge shift in the discussion surrounding Aliens as of late, along with their constant prodding of "Its maybe aliens" - The Media has gone from calling them Conspiracy Theorists who only deserve ridicule, to the current "Whistle blower" which should be taken seriously. Article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/06/whistleblower-ufo-alien-tech-spacecraft Article2: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/military-whistleblower-public-claims-us-secret-ufo-retrieval-program-terrestrial-arms-race
- Whether you're for or against the LGBTQ Agenda, It most certainly does exist. I am not here to come off as bigoted, what you do with your partner in your home is none of my business. The simple fact remains, with the recent news surrounding children's involvement, schools hiding much of what they're teaching to the young from their parents creates a divide. The idea of the strong nuclear family, or the "traditional family" which whether you like it or not, built every civilization in existence is being broken down. I am specifically thinking of the new wave of Ped*'s "MAP's" and the overwhelming focus on transgender-ism which is being forced onto the young by the "woke" left.
- The very idea of nationalism in the west has been and is still being demolished. Through good intentioned mass immigration, to European native's not being allowed to be proud of their origins, to the very corruption of our history and literature through Hollywood/Nnetflix and similar producers.
- Many countries in Europe, which were the major food producers in the region, have either been immobilized (Ukraine) or had their hands tied by their very own government (Netherlands and others). When there isn't enough food to go around in the proud European countries, what better save than a global effort with strings attached to save the day. This is also the case with limitations essentially in most continents where "the west" holds sway, either in terms of limits on Nitrogen Fertilizers, Bio-engineered seeds with the famous 'one harvest, no regrowth' properties etc. Article (Amsterdam): https://www.americanexperiment.org/the-war-on-agriculture-netherlands-is-shutting-down-3000-farms-to-meet-climate-goals/
- If nothing else, Covid showed how easily the general public could be controlled, and how quickly people could be thrown to the curb by not following along. With the problems international trading, society, and governments faced during this time as well, the sheer mass of opportunities for those in charge to leverage their way into otherwise difficult positions, or otherwise un-held positions would be child's play.
- The renewed threat of mutually assured destruction. Every day there is another article about the current two sides - the Glorious West versus the evil Russian/Chinese. Makes you think - wouldn't it be nicer if we all just got along, working as one?
- If you were ever in doubt there's someone in control, just look at the media. Currently there are protests all over Europe, and in many locations around the North American continent, and i would assume many other places in the world, And the global western Media speaking of these what so ever. So if it was needed, there is ample proof that they are consistently working together on an international level, taking the same orders, following the same agenda.
- A failing global economy, fear of global war and years of famine leaves WEF's and G7's CBDC as the perfect candidate for solving all international economies, forcing countries, companies and private citizens into using the CBDC's, and by doing so giving them complete control. With the disdain the western society have for religions today, money has become the new religion, which they can control.
We as the global population would of course not dig too deep into this, because with this agenda of scaring us, along with the major potential revelation of aliens, we would simply be too occupied to think. It feels like the perfect storm, and seeing how things are progressing, It genuinely feels like we're being groomed for something big. It might not turn out to be Project Blue Beam specifically, but it does fit the description.
I would love to hear it if you have anything to add, another point of view or anything of the like!
submitted by Throwaway32586375 to conspiracy [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 00:32 Lost-Ad-5392 I'm tired, don't know what to do, and a hair from being broken

I'm tired of being alone, spending my weekend sitting at home, and just existing. But no matter what I do, nothing ever works out for me. I have tried everything to make friends at this point and nothing works. If something does happen, something always goes wrong. At this point I have a feeling its my destiny to be forever alone, and I joke that I would have better lucky winning the lottery than making good friends.
This past couple of weeks is where these feelings came to a head, and I just have been numb to everything since. I'm not sure what else I can do, because the few times I felt like I became good friends with someone, they abandon me. Ill explain, but quickly I am in my mid twenties, and the other people mentioned are within 2 or 3 of my age currently.
Firstly, I had a friend I'll call Lavender. Lavender and I were friends for 1-2 years, we met online via one of many apps, I don't recall which. But we would talk almost daily via discord. With the Occasional Video and voice chats. We were both nerds and into art, and even did a live stream where we did a drawing collab with each other. We even did a gift exchange with each other Xmas of '21. Physically we lived 90ish minutes from each other and never had a reason to meet in person, we were both busy with work/school. this was until last summer when the Ren Fest opened for the season. We decided to meet at the ren fest and spend the day there. It was a fun trip, and I bought them some horns for their birthday. Besides being nervous I don't know what could have gone wrong, but they slowly stopped responding, and I haven't heard form them in a little under a year. Even when I sent this a Xmas gift this past year. When I try to message them, I just get left on read.
This past April I matched with a person on a dating app, Lets call them Violet. Violet and I got along great, they even brought up going on a date, which honestly cause me to panic a little since I never been on a date, this would be my first. But we managed to lock down a time, and we went on this date, we talked for hours and had dinner before I drove them home. We talked about meeting again, which we did next week. But just like Lav, Violet slowly stopped responding and without an explanation why.
Finally this is the thing that happened most recently, that is completely breaking me. This person I'll call Scarlet, and they live on the other coast of the US compared to me. We again met on an App, but we been chatting with each other almost daily for around 2-3 years at this point, and the past 2 Christmases we did gifts exchanges. While it was very unlikely we would have the time or reason to meet, being across the country, I considered them a great friend of mine that I could talk to about anything with. We have video and voice chatted, and I thought I knew them and who they were. Which is why this completely blind sided me.
I had a week of vacation time I had to use before a lost it, and I brought it up to them, and one thing leading to another we agreed to me flying over and visiting them for a week. I gave them 2 or 3 weeks to choose from and I took that week off. I spent almost 600 dollars buying tickets and travel items just to visit them and the city. And for the weeks leading up to it, we discussed what we planned todo for the week. When it can time to fly over, I got on the plane for the first flight and landed. Scarlet is a night owl and I assumed was still asleep when I first got on the plane, but sent them a message on discord before I left. when I landed for my lay over my next flight was delayed, so I tried to call them to let them know, but they didn't pick up, again chocking it up to them sleeping or napping, I sent a message on discord and got on the next flight. I didn't get any error message at this point to tell me something was wrong. My second flight went by, and I land and gathered my things from baggage claim, when I tried to contact them. And quickly found out they blocked me on everything.
This came so far out of the blue I didn't know what todo, and slowly started to spiral into a panic attack (or at least that's the only way I can explain it), my first ever. I was across the country, the person I was supposed to meet Abandoned me before I even Landed. and I didn't know what I was going todo. I just Broke, It was a good hour before someone even noticed my decent into this panic attack. I felt more helpless and alone than I ever had before. Luckily my airline was able to help me get the next flight home, and helped me through the panic attack, but I have been numb since.
I told myself that I wont give up, but its hard. I just feel that no matter what I do, I wont ever make true friends. Ill just be discarded the second they feel like it. I have been trying to make friends since the end of high school, and I can count on my fingers the amount of lasting connections I made, yet none of them really talk to me any more.
I'm lost and looking for any advice on where to go next. I'm tired and loosing the will to keep trying feeling like nothing is going to change. I'm tired of hearing about my siblings getting in and out of relationships while I cant even manage a friendship, especially when they lie about understanding about my situation.
submitted by Lost-Ad-5392 to offmychest [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 00:15 ralo_ramone An Otherworldly Scholar [LitRPG, Isekai] - Chapter 12

The audience hall was a long room with a high ceiling. From the ceiling hung metal chandeliers that held hundreds of small white shining stones that illuminated the room with a warm and gentle light. Sunlight cascaded from the tall, arched windows over a row of rose beds aligned through the side of the room. For a moment I forgot I was inside the Great Hall and I was transported to a summer garden.
The ornate wooden pillars guided my sight to the center of the room. An exquisite carpet embroidered with fantastical animals and monsters went from the entrance to the foot of the Marquis throne. Captain Kiln guided me into the room where the nobles from the balcony leisurely chatted around the throne.
“That man over there,” Captain Kiln pointed at a man near the window. “He is Marquis Tauron of Farcrest.”
The Marquis was a tall man with a squared jaw and wide shoulders dressed in a simple white shirt and a red vest. From his belt hung a gilded scabbard and a short cape with his crest, a man impaling a wolf, covered his left shoulder. His tanned skin stood out among the paleness of the rest of the courtiers.
“Might I ask what his class is?” I asked.
The Captain gave me an amused glance before replying. “The Marquis is a high level Flame Fencer. I can beat his ass though.”
Abei walked up to the Marquis and after a few words, he walked to his throne. The rest of the courtiers sat on the chairs by the sides of the room, chatting in lower voices.
“Robert Clarke from the City of Light, please come forward.” Abei announced with his voice magically amplified and I felt all glances falling on me.
The old man continued speaking, invoking ancient laws, but I zoned out. Unlike the rest of the people I knew, the Marquis seemed to overflow with magic. If I narrowed my eyes I could almost see red sparks of mana floating around him. A shiver ran down my spine, the Marquis’ mana pool seemed to violently boil inside him. There was something his mana had that mine lacked, but what?
As my mind wandered, a servant dragged an odd brass nest with a dark blue orb embedded inside. I instinctively identify it.
System Shrine Fragment. [Identify] ???
The System prompt caught me off guard. It was the first time [Identify] couldn’t give me extra information about what I had in front of me. I wonder if the System had a reason to keep the information about the fragment to itself.
“Put your hand in the Identify Orb if you are an innocent man, Robert Clarke.” The Marquis spoke out loud. I recognized his words were some sort of ritual because of the little spirit and great disinterest with which he spoke them.
I begrudgingly obeyed, there were a dozen courtiers in the room and I wasn’t eager to show them I was a [Lonely Boy]. I wasn’t eager to know if I had any hidden titles either.
Abei gave me a reassuring nod and I hovered my hand a few centimeters from the nested orb. Suddenly, a blue light surrounded my hand and a second later my data sheet appeared in the middle of the room for all to see. At least there was no cavity search in this world. Or so I hoped.
Abei gasped and the room fell in a sepulcral silence.
New title acquired!
Favorite Teacher (96): Going to school isn’t that bad with you at the whiteboard. [Identify] You have not only managed to teach your students but to earn their respect and affection.
Reward: Slightly increased mana pool (96).
​
New title acquired!
Confidant: A title for those who are deemed trustworthy and reliable. [Identify] Your wisdom and welcoming nature
Reward: Increased mana pool.
​
New title acquired!
Father Figure(2): Someone has to do it. [Identify] I guess you are a better father figure than none.
Reward: Increased mana pool (2).
​
New title acquired!
Classroom Fiend: Not even flies fly when you are around. [Identify] They know you are not like those pesky substitute teachers.
Reward: Increased mana pool.
​
New title acquired!
Master Tutor: Title awarded to those who had mastered the pedagogic arts and techniques, and have a deep understanding of what being a teacher means. [Identify] You should’ve considered early retirement by now.
Reward: Doubled mana pool.
​
New title acquired!
Silver Scholar: Title awarded to those who had a deep understanding of multiple sciences and techniques. [Identify] Neeeeeerd!
Reward: Greatly increased mana pool.
​
New title acquired!
Stalwart Mentor (7): No matter how many times they fall, you helped them stand again. [Identify] Having too much trust in humanity isn’t always a bad thing.
Reward: Increased mana pool.
Other titles kept popping up but my mouth went dry as I felt my mana pool deepening inside my chest far beyond what seemed possible. But even that sensation disappeared into the background as I came to the realization of what those titles meant.
There was no way in the world I was the favorite teacher of ninety six kids, and the notion I was someone’s father figure was just preposterous. I knew I was a mediocre teacher at best. The System was wrong, after all, I was one of those teachers who didn’t really make the difference.
Before I had time to dwell on it, my character sheet appeared with all of the new titles on it, for everyone to see.
Name: Robert Clarke, Human.
Class: Scholar Lv.12
Titles: Lonely Boy, Hot for Teacher, Confidant, Classroom Fiend, Favorite Teacher (96), Father Figure (2), Master Tutor, Silver Scholar, Delinquent Reformer (5), Stalwart Mentor (7), Role Model, Expert Mathematician, Expert Physicist, Adept Historian, Adept Linguist, Journeyman Biologist, Novice Chemist, Novice Orator.
“A-aren’t you too young to be a [Silver Scholar] and a [Master Tutor]?” Abei stuttered as he glanced at my titles like a child looking at a particularly colorful breakfast cereal commercial. The Marquis was at the edge of his throne and even the most gossipy of the courtiers was silent.
Something completely unrelated clicked inside my mind. I knew why Holst had abandoned the kids. He was farming them. The breakthrough Zaon was talking about had to be a mana improving title just like mine.
I withdrew my hand off the orb before it showed [Homicide Planner] or something along those lines because the System probably knew my [Awareness] was working overtime to plan Holst’s death. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.
“M-master Clarke? Are you all right?” Abei’s whispering brought me back to the audience room.
“Yes, yes… I just… I’m a bit embarrassed, that’s all.” I lied, hoping everyone had seen my [Hot for Teacher] title.
Abei gave me a reassuring glance from the side of the throne before speaking again.
“Most of us Scholars fell in love with a professor at some point in our formation, there is nothing to be ashamed of.” Abei opened his character sheet effortlessly and showed it to me without resorting to the Identify Stone.
Name: Abei Luzian, Human.
Class: Scholar Lv.51
Titles: Silver Scholar, Bronze Tutor, Favorite Teacher (2), Expert Astronomer, Adept Mathematician, Adept Architect, Journeyman Orator, Novice Musician, Passionate for the Professor, Archivist, Translator, Thaumaturgy Theorist.
Even if Abei’s character sheet was intriguing, I wished I hadn't seen it. By my Earthling standards that was a blatant breach to privacy. And yet, I couldn’t help but notice that [Passionate for the Professor] was a lot tamer than [Hot for Teacher].
“How long have you been walking the path of the Scholar, Master Clarke? I can’t fathom how much effort it took to get two expertises and one mastery at such a young age.” Abei asked, this time loud enough for everyone to hear.
The silence in the room was replaced by the whispering of the courtiers. Abei’s interest in my person felt nice but I didn’t want to attract that amount of attention towards me. I didn’t want to fall into any intrigue games that could be developing in the Marquis court.
“We have witnessed the titles of an innocent man. For that reason I shall grant you free passage across the kingdom.” The Marquis announced and got a round of applause. Now he glanced at me with predatory eyes.
Abei took out a scroll from his sleeve and with a movement of the hand, the Scholar made it float in the air. With another movement, mana emerged from the tips of his fingers and washed over the scroll like the waves of the sea. With each clash, the words were imprinted in the yellowy surface until the document was complete. Abei took it to the Marquis who pressed his ring against the scroll, leaving a gleaming symbol that slowly lost its magical shine.
“Here you are, Master Clarke.” Abei handed me the passage permit.
“Accept my humble thanks, milord. I will not take more of your time.” I mumbled, still confused by the whole experience. I knew one thing, I had to get away before anything happened.
As I started my getaway when the Marquis spoke again.
“Your knowledge and potential hasn’t passed unnoticed to me and I will like to reward you properly.” The Marquis said with a mysterious grin on his face, but I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Whatever the Marquis was offering me wasn’t a reward but a deal I wasn’t in position to refuse without insulting him.
“I can’t think of a reward other than a letter of recommendation for the Imperial Academy.” The Marquis announced with his mighty voice. “The royal family would be thrilled to have such a promising young man helping with the academic development of the kingdom.”
There it was. The Marquis wanted to turn me into a gift for the King of Ebros, and part of me was okay with it. A recommendation letter would greatly expedite my journey to the imperial capital for a foreigner like me, however, something prevented me from jumping headfirst into the offer.
“Can I ask a question, milord?” I said before I could stop my tongue. “I have been watching the comings and goings of the inhabitants of Farcrest and there is something that bothers me.”
I couldn’t accept the recommendation letter without an answer.
“Speak your mind, Robert Clarke. I’m well aware Scholars have ten questions for every answer they have.” The Marquis' attention was fixed on me.
“I couldn't help but notice a great amount of vagrant kids in the northern district while the farmlands around the city lack laborers and some parts of the city lack proper maintenance. Farcrest seems to have enough resources to flourish and yet they seem arranged in the most peculiar way. With a little investment in the orphanages, the Marquis could educate the kids so they become useful classes for the city.” I said.
Suddenly, the Marquis wasn’t as amused with my presence anymore.
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I understand that for a Master Tutor every problem can be resolved through education.” The Marquis replied with a derisive tone.
I didn’t mention that the actual solution to many social problems was indeed education. Instead, I clenched my teeth and waited in silence. If I was to open my mouth it was going to insult the Marquis’ ancestry.
“Master Clarke lacks the context…” Abei started talking but the Marquis silenced him.
“Miserable orphan lives are a small price for Farcrest’s prosperity.” The Marquis rested his hands together and gave me a winning smile.
The picture of Elincia and her kids eating watery soup came to my mind and I had to bite my tongue to not open my mouth. I saw the tears of the small snake kids, Zaon’s doubts about the future, the bravery of the tiny harpy Shu. I saw Elincia clenching her jaw to withstand the pain of her wounded leg to return faster to the orphanage.
There was something I wasn’t catching.
“The King’s war machine can only be quenched with gold or blood, and orphan blood is cheaper than gold coins. We just take the surplus kids that can’t be fed in the orphanages and send them to the Royal Army.” The Marquis taunted me.
For an instant I didn’t believe what I heard. The Marquis was sending orphans to their certain death just to avoid paying the royal war tax.
“In any case, they are given a chance to survive but the Farlands are a treacherous enemy. Even if they die, they are doing a great service to the prosperity of Farcrest, and the realm.” The Marquis said with a predatory smile, then, he got comfortable in the throne, awaiting my answer.
“A cunning solution for a tricky problem, milord.” I bit my tongue.
The Marquis smiled full of himself, thinking he had secured a nice present for the royal family while outsmarting me in front of the court. The courtiers spoke of how benevolent the Marquis was for offering me a recommendation letter. But the mere idea of leaving Elincia and her kids to their fate made me want to puke.
“I can’t accept the letter of recommendation, milord.” I raised my voice, catching the attention of the whole courtroom.
The Marquis’ face fell apart.
“If you accept my proposal, you will be a Sage in no time. You will be freed of the shackles of a support class once and for all.” The Marquis couldn't hide the venom in his words.
My heart still yearned to accept the recommendation letter, travel to the Imperial Library, and become a spellcaster. But I couldn’t accept it. My new titles reminded me of how I felt years ago when I was a young and idealistic teacher. I felt like I could change the world for me and for others and no matter how naive it was, I wanted to preserve that feeling.
“I can’t accept the letter. The System made me a Scholar, and a Scholar I shall remain until it decides otherwise. Trying to change that unnaturally goes against my oaths. I hope you can understand.” I said, praying that invoking the System would save me from the Marquis wrath.
“Then you are a fool. We have nothing more to discuss, get out of my sight.” The Marquis growled and I felt the captain’s iron grip closing around my arm. She dragged me out of the room. As soon as the gates closed behind us, she let me go.
“That’s the biggest shitshow I have seen in a while, congratulations. The Marquis is going to hold a grudge.” Captain Kiln said as she signaled one of the guards to grab my backpack. My heart raced inside my chest but at least I was outside the courtroom with my head still glued to my body.
“Today I remembered something I had forgotten long ago.” I said as Captain Kiln walked me, or rather pushed me, back to the main entrance.
“And what is that?” The woman inquired, now more intrigued in my person than ever.
“I used to have strong ideals at some point in my life, might as well start following them.” I extended my hand, offering her the two silver coins she had lent me. “These are yours.”
“You are going to need them if you are going to do what I am thinking.” Captain Kiln said, pushing me through the door. The guardsmen at the gates glanced at me with amused expressions. It seemed that not every day the Captain kicked some random dude out of the Great Hall.
Despite her treatment, I noticed an approving look in her eyes. She took the money and put it into her pocket. I was having a hard time reading the woman. Was she loyal to the Marquis or did she have her own honor code?
“I’ll tell you a rumor I heard the other day.” Captain Kiln grabbed me by the jacket and drew me near to her so nobody else could hear. “Someone had been threatening lower nobility to not donate money and the merchants to not deal with orphanage owners. Do you understand what I am saying?”
I nodded in silence. The Marquis wanted to starve the orphanages so the kids had to join the army early. What I couldn’t understand was why the captain of the city guard shared that information with me.
“Lay low. Stay out of trouble, stay out of the Marquis’ sights.” Captain Kiln whispered as she turned around and returned to the Great Hall, leaving me in the middle of the main street.
Before the guardsmen could push me away from the gates, I turned around and entered the busy market knowing exactly what I had to do.
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