Job fairs in warner robins ga

Well, I guess this is my final update before I delete my throwaway and go back to my normal shitposting. Before I give the final update I just want to express how invaluable this community has been. We are a diverse set of people who are caught in a very unique situation. It’s been some time since “D-day” and since I questioned every moral and ethical value I have. I am pleased to say that I now have a boyfriend out of this situation. A boyfriend that I can talk to and see whenever I want. A boyfriend that has acknowledged his faults in his previous marriage and is dealing with the consequences of the divorce proceedings. He has been wonderful and respected my decision to remain distanced from his marriage/financial/custody battle. I’ve made him “date me from scratch” and we are getting to know each other on an entirely new level. We even had a fight! I know that might sound like a strange thing to be excited about but it’s really not. He is starting to experience me 24/7 and get the “real me”. Not the beautiful, curated mistress that greets him at the door. I’m not saying this will work, it may very well not, but I’m excited at the prospect of giving this an authentic crack. I’m so reassured to know that my feelings were in fact mutual, and not a fantasy. Thank you again to this community. You’ve given me so much strength xxx
Interim update: Well, after some NC and wonderful advice from my reddit family - we have gone legit! They have both engaged lawyers to start the divorce proceedings and divide the assets etc. They have done an intake for family mediation for custody arrangements. We have a wonderful dinner date booked for Friday and he is coming to spend the weekend (without secrecy!). Turns out all of my “very real” feelings were in fact real. He even told his family and they have cut him off and he is accepting of the consequences of his decisions. I’m still making him work for it. He needs to “date me” as a single man. I will update you all in a month or so. I’m very aware of what I am taking on and so is he. We are ready to give it a go. Thank you for the support x
Original post: It’s happened! DDay has arrived. Advice greatly appreciated.
He (34M) and I (30F) originally met at work approximately four years ago. I was attracted to him instantly and the feeling was certainly mutual. However I quickly found out he had a wife and three kids. Due to this, I wrote him off as a dating prospect. The thought of being the OW went against every moral fibre in my body. I have worked tirelessly to establish a successful career so I was also very conscious of the risk of workplace relationships in general. We slowly got to know each other over a year as just friends. We worked within different teams so whole-of-office work events was when we really got to know each other. One day we had work drinks and we shared a secret kiss. Oh. My. God. The sparks! Everything was so intense.
I have never been the OW before and the intensity of our connection terrified me so I ghosted him after that, unless it was work related, for around two years. Early this year, at another work event, we finally admitted our feelings. He was in the process of changing jobs so the workplace concerns were somewhat eased for me. He ended up lying to his wife about work meetings to come see me at my home 1-2 days a week. We went to concerts and bars together and we even had managed to go away for weekends. I had the most phenomenal, sensual and beautiful 5-6 months of my life. We would both frequently comment about how intense our connection was sexually and emotionally. We would have incredibly deep, raw conversations and absolutely incredible sex. We both became each others “go-to” for everything. He was extremely open about his family life and deteriorating marriage. I also respected that he never spoke poorly about his wife despite the relationship issues.
A few weeks ago he told me that his wife had discovered some messages between us when using his laptop. We decided to limit contact for a bit but she continued to deep dive (which I totally understand - I would as well). Well, she found all of our photos, videos, bank statements and emails about week ago. The fallout from this has been horrendous. She has attempted to contact me on social media (now deactivated) and told colleagues in my workplace of the affair. She has also told his entire family. On the day it happened he called me to tell me and said that we would have to end things so he could work on the marriage. I was very understanding and thanked him for our wonderful memories. He then reached out again shortly after saying that he couldn’t stand not having me in his life and retracted his wishes to end us. I didn’t agree or disagree. I just said that he needs to go sort his life out at home and we can discuss it later.
As of last night he has returned to their home after staying with his brother to discuss everything. While he is there he is basically on lockdown. We can’t communicate at all. He has acknowledged that he has an incredibly difficult decision to make and I have reassured him that if he needs to completely end our relationship I won’t be angry or upset but I will not continue to have him in my life as a friend. I wouldn’t be able to handle that. He was sad but understanding. I asked that he advise me as soon as possible of the decision so I am not just waiting around. Should I proactively set a timeframe within myself? How long is a fair time to wait? I’m so lost and need to prioritise myself and my happiness as well.
I’ve really tried to be as calm and as reassuring as possible for him as I want his decision to be carefully considered with minimal pressure or influence from me. What he doesn’t see is the devastated mess I am right now. The thought of not having him in my life makes me feel physically sick. I’m scared that if he chooses his wife I will be alone trying to recreate that connection with other people. Not being able to call or text him before bed is destroying me. I slept on the couch last night because the thought of going to bed without a call from him was heartbreaking. I even cried before because I saw his toothbrush when I got out of the shower (lame). I’ve opened up to a few trusting friends about the situation and they have been amazing but I don’t think they truly understand the confusion, pain and frustration.
This is such a unique situation and I am so glad I have found this group ❤️

Gays in Israel feel threatened by the Israeli ultra orthodox and nationalistic element of their society who denounce their lifestyles, sometimes with violence.
They are called ‘Beasts’ and other insults. In 2015 a teenage participant was murdered.
Ben Gvir’s attendance has been called provocative, and he was jeered. He has a history of anti gay rhetoric, though now seems to show some acceptance of these groups (calling them his ‘brothers and sisters’)
To be fair to this Minister, he was there doing his job as the man in charge of policing and security. It was good he attended personally to ensure this imo, in view of the spike in hatred on social media.
There seems to be a changed environment from the previous toleration of the LGBTQ community. Israel used to pride (pun unintended) itself on this toleration.
Our Hamas friends have called the Gay parade a ‘provocation’ (eh, what?).
Is this a new era of intolerance within Israeli society?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65754104.amp

So for context I am still a fairly new teacher, but I have stayed at my school since I started and I feel like I started to gain the trust of admin. I was told I would get new subjects this past year which I did and I absolutely loved. One of them was actually a dream of mine to teach so to finally have that subject and teach it was a dream come true. I felt like a lot of students enjoyed the class and many signed up anticipating I would teach it again next year. Now one of the older teachers is leaving for another job and my name has been thrown around as a potential replacement since it is an EOC class and there’s a lot of pressure to ensure the students pass. This also would mean I would no longer be teaching my dream subject. While I’m honored that they trust me with a new topic/class, the literal thought of giving up my dream class has been keeping me up at night. It’s even crept into my dreams where in them I threatened to quit. That’s something I would never do, but I’ve already mentioned once I would prefer not to change subjects. I worked really hard last year and I am taking on a lot of responsibility so I am concerned about working on a new prep again while having more work responsibilities. I have even mentioned to my department head that I prefer to stay in my current subject, but it appears I am being hinted at that I may not get that option. This whole situation is really causing me a lot of anxiety and sleepless nights. Am I just overthinking this? Does this happen all the time? Im really not sure how to handle this.

Okay, this is a throw away and all the names are changed because too many people use reddit lol
So, I'm getting married next year. My man and I have divided out families into two groups. The Capital C Christians(C3's) and everyone else. We're both from fairly conservative families that live really close, so we see uncles, aunts, cousins, etc on the reg and anytime there's a squabble in the family is blows up to stupid proportions. My man actually works for one of those uncles.
When we were first planning we were trying to come up with fun ideas. My Man of Honor works on a dude ranch and they have this really awesome outdoor space that they do weddings at, and there's three local food trucks that do amazing catering jobs. I don't really like traditional white wedding dresses, so we were looking at more colorful ones for me and suits for him. Really just having fun with our friends and family you know?
Then we realized that the C3's in our families would flip out about it not being godly enough or whatever. No white dresses, no churches, no priests telling me to obey my husband, have a Man of Honor instead of a Maid, etc.
We felt out some of those relatives too, to see if they'd be more open minded? Nope, at least four people went on tirades about not getting married in churches. We can't exactly exclude all of them or the drama would get us our own NBC show.
So we got the idea that we would have a second wedding. A stiff, traditional wedding at the church with just our family around us, and then a second wedding (more like a hyped up reception at this point, but we both think of it as our Real Wedding) at the ranch with all of our friends and the family members that we actually get along with.
My sister, one of the C3's, found out about it on accident from our brother and is furious with me. She thinks we're being horrible for excluding half our families from our real wedding and is threatening to tell everyone about it. She told me that my wedding is for our families to be bound, not for me to throw a party. She had her wedding in the same church last month and it was nice enough, I'm not trying to be special or detract from her wedding.
I'd rather just have a courthouse wedding if that's what it comes down to, but my sister was so hurt and it's becoming such an awful thing that I'm starting wonder if she's right and we should have just gone along with tradition in the first place.

I think it dropped about a week ago. It’s really good and illuminating, 3 hours long but never drags at all. Harley’s very ballsy for taking on Tom’s fairly chuddy and anti-woke audience and he did a great job shutting down trolls and idiots in chat. The final quarter they take some discord calls and it’s really funny cuz no one has a working mic for the first few calls, Tom gets really mad. Needless to say Tom is a good interviewemoderator and is very fair throughout. Highly recommend listening if you haven’t yet.

So I have been quite sober for most of the last 2 years. But in that time I had two relapses.
Currently experiencing my second.I do have support that I can and have contacted. Both of them are responsive (especially my close male friend), but what did someone say on here recently? They're tired of themselves? I am tired of myself. I need to claw back to sobriety. I tried to self-medicate last night to get back to where I was, because if I ever drink again (no matter how small the amount) I experience withdrawal and it is awful. And this has only happened twice since 2021. I have a somewhat important job (helping others) and I need to be present and able to function. This is my second time coming down so I have been here before. Fortunately, my body copes fairly well and I am usually good when I get to Day 3, with no seizures or DT's. Just punishing "WTF did you do to me?" responses from my body telling me to stop and stop now.My family is of no help. My parents are silent generation so they think you keep this shit to yourself, it isn't ok to talk about. Sister has her own health challenges that are not alcohol-related at all.
I literally read this sub most of my work day yesterday on my phone (thank God we were slow) and this morning. All of you save lives and I hope you know that.

Hier wurde gegendert -> https://reddit.com/Dachschaden/comments/13xbhzn/deutschland_und_seine_nie_entnazifizierte_justiz/jmpzlg1/ :
Reformen mit revolutionärem Punkt musst du mir erklären, das habe ich so noch nicht gehört.
Ich persönlich glaube, Reformen dauern grad zu lange und bringen nicht erheblichen Umschwung. So weit ich weiß hat in der Geschichte noch keine Reform sondern immer nur Revolution wirklich ganzheitlichen, gesellschaftlichen und politischen Wandel gebracht aber ich lasse mich gerne eines Besseren belehren, wenn du ein Beispiel dafür hast. Die Erde brennt, Menschen ohne Obdach erfrieren im Winter und überhitzen im Sommer. Alleinerziehende gehen 2 Jobs schaffen und sehen ihr Kind kaum, einfach um einmal im Jahr an die Ostsee fahren zu können. Der Traum ist aus, es ist vorbei. Du bist vielleicht einer der wenigen, denen es noch gut geht und das freut mich für dich, wirklich. Ich kenne dein Umfeld nicht. Mein Umfeld sieht niedergeschlagen und erschöpft aus. Ich arbeite in der Pflege. Manche meiner Kolleginnen sind älter als viele frühdemenzielle Senioren, die wir pflegen. Jeden Tag sind wir nicht gut genug besetzt also müssen von Zeitarbeitsfirmen Menschen gebucht werden. Diese kennen die Einrichtungen nicht, haben fast immer Migrationshintergrund, sprechen manchmal kaum Deutsch und haben nur minimale Vorerfahrungen in der Pflege. Eine vernünftigere Ausbildung, bezahlte Sprachkurse, fristloser Aufenthalt, faire Bezahlung, Aufstiegschancen: Alles das bleibt ihnen verwährt. Der Zugang dazu ist entweder teuer, langwierig oder setzt extreme Expertise in einem überbürokratisierten System voraus. Das ist noch lange nicht alles und das ist nur ein kleiner Ausschnitt nur meiner Erfahrungen. Viele meiner Freundinnen warten Jahr um Jahr mit Angst auf die Antwort von der Ausländerbehörde, weil diese ihrer Arbeit nicht nachkommen. Auf einen Arzttermin wartet man hier bei uns je nachdem zwischen einem und 12 (ja, zwölf!) Monaten. Als ich die Ausbildung begann, waren wir zwei Klassen im Jahrgang mit jeweis circa 30 Menschen. Am Ende waren wir eine zusammengelegte Klasse mit knapp über 20. Über 60% Abbruchquote. Ich kenne mich nicht mit vielen Dingen aus aber ich kenne die Pflege. Ich habe in Krankenhäusern auf Privatstationen und Pädiatrien, der NFT, Orthopädie und Onkologie gearbeitet. War in mehreren Pflegeheimen und im ambulanten Dienst und ich kann dir mit absoluter garantierter Sicherheit sagen:
Wenn nicht eine Revolution oder Reform drastisch verändert, wo wir als Gesellschaft den Fokus legen und was wichtig ist, dann kommt der Bürgerkrieg von allein. Schau dir mal Prognosen an, wie viele Pflegebedürftige DE in 20 Jahren haben wird. Wenn die Leute ihre Eltern nach Hause nehmen müssen weil die Pflegeheime voll sind, wenn sie dann aber trotzdem weiter 40 Stunden schaffen müssen, weil sie es sich sonst nicht leisten können sich um Mama zu kümmern. Und wenn sie dann eines Tages, nach 8 Stunden in denen sie die Privatpatienten gepflegt haben die es sich noch leisten können, nach Hause kommen und Mama ist während sie weg waren eingeschlafen dann brauchen diese Menschen keine Reform. Dann brauchen sie auch keine Polizei mehr. Ich weiß das klingt alles jetzt sehr dunkel und düster. Es ist Wochenende und da soll man gut drauf sein. Und das bin ich auch, hab jetzt 2 Wochen Urlaub und genieße das wunderschöne Leben. Und doch ist immer in meinem Hinterkopf der Gedanke, das Gewissen, dass viele eben nie solche Freiheiten genießen wie ich jetzt dieser Tage. Und dann will ich nicht warten müssen auf die Politik, die Polizei oder irgendwelche Reformen die sich Christian Lindner ausgedacht hat. Dann bekomme ich Lust auf Revolution. Bevor wir keine Gleichheit und Gerechtigkeit für alle haben, zählt unsere individuelle Freiheit einen Dreck. Und wenn sich dann jemand hinstellt und durch rassistisches oder anderweitig diskriminierendes Verhalten wiederholt als Gefahr für Gleichheit und Gerechtigkeit auftritt, dann ist er mein Feind. Ich setzte mich nicht an den Tisch und mache keine Politik mit Nazis. Wenn Reform bedeutet, mit Nazis und Neoliberalen Finanzfaschisten die Freiheiten meiner Mitmenschen zu verhandeln, dann lehne ich dankend ab und entscheide mich für die Revolution.
Insgesamt hat dieser User schon 3 mal gegendert! Sein Privileg: Gleichstellungsbeauftragte*r.

Hey guys. Here is a continuation of what I was writing. Sorry for the formatting, just typing it out in my notes and copy and pasting here.
Our story begins with our friend Jackie Chan and soon to be an unknowingly hero of the people as he journeys through a Bavarian jungle towing with him a group of people, a scholar and exhibitionists who would seek out a treasure to gain fame and attention from the world, either in academia or media attention, to announce to the world and peers that they broke through the many traps that the castle says to contain. Trudging through this weary jungle comes along the castle they seek, our friend Jackie, a lean individual, unassuming and gentle hearted who is deceptively athletic and studies and practices martial arts, continues his journey into the castle. "The mad king Ludwig would invite many guest into the castle but would fall victim to many of its deadly traps" says the scholar "Rude..." an exhibitionist joins in saying. "That's why his name was not Lovable Ludwig or good neighbor of Bavaria - Huh, stand back..." says Jackie. Jackie stops dead in his tracks with his group to follow, well enough light pours into the castle that would lead unbeknownst treasure seekers to rummage the castle recklessly to fall victim to its many traps, with nothing a stir and everything quiet, Jackie finds this to be too eerie and finds in their way a wire, though invisible to those who enter the castle, not invisible to Jackie as his fine tuned senses crafted by his self-discipline and with a sensible sharp mind are at work, lowers himself with aerosol can in hand and makes visible the invisible wire. "What are the odds that these traps still-..." remarks one of the men. Jackie motions over to the exhibitionist and grabbed his hat to drop on the wire, suddenly two walls collide into each other this time only in succeeding in killing a hat. Loud clicking noises and rumblings of the walls suggest that the mechanism for the trap is resetting and moments later the two walls come apart leaving the invisible wire intact waiting for its next victim. The exhibitionist stares in disbelief by the sudden closing and opening wall of death and has his jaw left gaped opened by his astonishment that he nearly just died was closed by Jackie and motions forward leaving an air of unspoken reason that following Jackie's lead may keep them alive. Following hallways left and right leading to a room with pictographs and decorations of stone statues, against the far wall has a human skull that Jackie handles to find a handle that releases the door. Looks of triumph that he beat the castles traps and looks of shock and excitement on the group, Jackie has found the treasure room. As the door rises revealing the treasure room, light pours into the room and Jackie leads forward to light torches along the wall and once was a dimly lit room is now glowing brilliantly with gold, gold coins, golden assortments from goblets to swords, gems and expensive stones covering the floor and piled high. "Ludwig's lost treasure..." remarks the scholar. "I'm sure that the booty is booby-trapped so don't-...." begins Jackie to everyone. With blind enthusiasm, the would be still alive exhibitionist runs towards the treasure picking up a golden sword hilted in rubies, sapphires and emeralds, then the room and door begin to convulse violently, another trap! As quickly as the room begins to rumble and the door jerks downward threatening to close them inside, Jackie kicks up a spear into the air and with a spin through the air, kicks it toward the closing door jamming it open as Jackie shouts "Go! Go! Go!". Motioning everyone out, everyone in a panic stricken run, all begin towards the door until Jackie finds himself running into the door when the spear snaps finding himself alone as the group escaped. Moments later an arrow shoots across Jackie's face and launches himself backwards as arrows after arrows begin ejecting themselves from the walls that would kill any person or persons who gets this far; yelping out the words "bad day! bad day! bad day!" Staggering backwards and leaping into the air, above these arrows, ducking more, spinning mid jump over treasures, in a leap lands over a golden shield emblazoned with some chicken scratch, begins to deflect arrows left and right cornering Jackie. Jackie in danger of never being seen again, looks up, a hole in the wall, Jackie wall jumps into a sliding tunnel and in a panic places the shield under himself to ride the shield down the trail and finally bursting out of the castle and within view the group is spotted to have also exited the castle, with Jackie landing and coming to a stop on the shield sliding on the ground, "Snowboarding works better with snow" says Jackie, relieved for everyone to have made it out alive. From a distance, strange men observing Jackie with binoculars, the seemingly men to appear to be the leaders issuing an order to their men. "Follow him..." "Follow him..."
Jackie returns from his trip to Bavaria to his home in San Francisco. Jackie resides in his uncle's two story antique shop, "Uncle's Rare Finds". In his room we carry on as Jackie blow by blow, ebbs and flows, as he strikes a dummy. In his studio room for his training displays a number of photographs, taken at events or jobs he was hired on to take people on exhibitions, there in all his photographs is a man who never has trouble finding his smile in all of them either as a leader or competitor. Jackie with another day of training in, is summoned by his uncle with the clattering of a bell. Jackie's uncle is a fairly old man, in his signature bright yellow vest, glasses, gray standing hair and his garlic and mung bean smell, that originates by his consumption of garlic and mung beans that he always believes is good for you. From the second story calls out to his uncle, "What is it Uncle?". "Come, give Uncle a hug", Jackie jumps over the railing and effortlessly twist in mid air to land and give uncle a hug, SMACK, Jackie was just struck over the head by Uncle's strong fingers that he uses to scold. "Ow!" Jackie yelps. "You did not make coffee this morning, coffee is the only thing keeping Uncle's ancient heart beating, you want dead uncle? No? Then you make coffee" "Ok" replies Jackie "One more thing" uncle begins again, "You received phone call from the University, they want you to translate parchments" "Ok" replies Jackie "One more thing" Uncle continues before Jackie begins his work, Uncle examines the newly brought in golden shield, talking out loud with his thoughts of the ancient chicken scratch on the shield with an odd encrusted pewter center with a rooster emblazoned on it, "I cannot translate inscriptions, very old writing, I must reference my journals." "Ok" replies Jackie "One more thing" Uncle continues "This is Jade, your niece, she will live with you for a year? Ok?" Jackie with no second thought on his list of instructions from Uncle, "ok" Taken back, Jackie exclaims "I have a niece?" Now discovering the child in plain view by the entrance as she wears a scowl under her black hair that spikes downwards with her arms folded. Uncle explains, "Your cousin Shin's girl from Hong Kong, Jade is not behaving well there, doing poorly in school, your cousin thinks she will do better with you" "Nobody asked me" exclaims Jackie. "Did not want to bother you" Uncle coolly states, then sends Jackie to tackle his new instructions. Jackie nervously chuckles, "Hello, I am Jackie". Jade, stiff as a statue, continues her scowling and looks with contempt for being in this dibilated antique shop. "No English?" Jackie tries another greeting, "Ne Ho Ma-...." Three men enters the shop. Jackie welcomes the new customers and begins exercising his retail sales abilities, as Jackie also helps Uncle in his Rare Finds shop as a salesman. "You're Jackie Chan, the archeologist?" Asks one of the three men. "Oh, I dabble in the study of past civilizations" replies Jackie. "Well, we are aware that you recently dabbled a shield from a Bavarian Castle, our extremely wealthy employer is interested in purchasing the shield"
Jackie seeing this is not the regular customer Uncle's Rare Finds usually receives, wearing a 70's style white suit, all red blazing combed back slick hair and seems to be having trouble clearing his sinuses and seems a bit on edge. His two companions, just as unremarkable and out of the ordinary among usual customers, one quite tall and burly, sporting a wrinkled black jacket, red tie and white shirt with dress shoes that could do with some polishing, Jackie faintly smells alcohol from where he stood and the other, short but stands tall with his bright orange sunglasses and leather coat suggest he may kick you up side along the head at the wrong moment.
Jackie with great suspicions, "I'm sorry, I have already donated that piece to the university" "Really...?" The man in red and white nods to the others behind him to send a small message, pokes out his wild swinging hand and pokes out a finger to drive an antique to the floor but unable to shoot straight misses with a hurried "whoops", tries again, sending two antiques rolling to the floor! Jackie thoroughly shocked, dives across the floor coming to a roll right under the falling antiques and catches them on his back - the shorter of the men with a smirk on his face sends flying an antique, but in a flash Jackie sends off a cushion from a nearby seat, throwing the two in hand and with a bounce with the cushion, Jackie runs forward to catch all three antiques in a snap, antiques in hand, puts them down safely and takes a seat with a smile. Looks of horror and awestruck coves over the three, as well as Jade, whose left speechless of his Uncle's ability, just stood standing in place. "It would be in your family's best interest to undonate the shield, Mr. Chan... places hand over Jades head by this time tomorrow", the three exit without another word. Uncle walks in "did they buy anything?" "No" Jackie answers "You are a terrible salesman!" "Watch the girl and hide the shield" Jackie instructs. "Where am I going to hide a big shield? sputters on where did I put the shield?" Uncle continues on as Jackie exited to follow the men and unknown to Uncle, so did Jade.
Jackie exiting Uncle's Rare Finds finding the vehicle leaving, quick and light on his feet, leaps for the fire escape of the building, leaping gracefully and the mastery of his body to do so, clambers onto balconies and shop signs onto a roof catching up to the vehicle. Running along side the vehicle, Jackie peers in, the man in red and white is hunched over and takes a great deep inhale, crushed powder in forms of lines on a plate is visible to Jackie. The wrinkled out suit man is also clambering with something in hand, Jackie is catching up as the vehicle comes to a stop, running to the ledge, down gutter pipes, SNAP, the pipes snatch free from the wall sending Jackie down BANG. Wrinkled out suit man chokes on the contents of his flask and sputters, finding his breath and the man in red and white being seen hiding his plate and all three wordless, Jackie continues innocently, "That will buff right out" pointing at the ding he has caused as if it's the only problem there. Angry, the gas petal is floored with Jackie and gutter still on top, coming onto and off side walks sending people wildly running in all directions to come to a sudden stop at a fenced playground. The three exit to introduce themselves more physically to Jackie, launches themselves at him. Jackie pulls back from attack, dishes one of his own with the gutter sending them away, Jackie jumps and rolls into the sunroof of the window, the men, SLAMMED by the doors that Jackie kicks open, ejects himself from the vehicle, musters up his strength and leaps over the fench, rolls to a stop, sitting upright begins to mock the men, "Nya Nya!" The three men remain to be unknown to Jackie, had not even realized they were watching him in Bavaria nor did he know that they're extremely wealthy employer has equipped them with military grade electric rods, these men were The Enforcers. The Enforcers leap forward with their electrified rods, melting the fence and sending Jackie backwards. As agile Jackie is, he swerves, ducks, rotates and spins, comes to a semi truck and takes the windshield wipers with him, coming to a landing with a flourish of the wipers in a stance that says I'm ready. With a chuckle of the Enforcers, Tap! Tap! Jackie has struck two over the hands, disarming them and kicked another away. Running off to the still occupied playground, Jackie yells out "No more playtime, Go! Go!". Children running and the enforcers come around, on the right slow going, Jackie kicks a tether ball right around to the man in the wrinkled out suit face and almost lazily falls over. Jackie looks up and finds another lunging from a nearby jungle gym, Jackie kicks and with a loud CRACK, finding a broken nose "that's where I put my drugs!". The third, short yet strong, comes to spare with Jackie, jabbing in and out, showing signs that he learned martial arts is swept backwards onto a rocking horse and sits down dazed and defeated. The other two continues still, after Jackie, they are led to a swing set, "Oh hey! - what the --" Jackie has tangled them together in the swings, stuck together now Jackie jumps onto a jungle gym with continually readiness. "Wow!" Says one "Let's get out of here" says another. The enforcers make a run for it, watching them run, leaps down to discover Jade has followed him, taken aback, "Jade?" We have another man appear from behind and with a weapon that released a gas, renders Jackie unconscious.
"Now he's coming too" remarks the men inside the van Jackie finds himself in, is saying. Jackie opens his eyes, "Aaahhh! Agustus Black!" Jackie opens his eyes and finds a familiar face with the others left in confusion, "hmmm?" Jackie continues "What are you doing here? Ow, what am I doing here?" "I'm afraid its official business, Jackie. Replies Black. "Where have you been? I don't hear from you for six years, BOOM, you're in San Francisco saving me from those thugs" "Jackie, I knocked you out" explains Black. Jackie outraged, the van stops to a screech, Jackie exits. "Why did you do that?" Jackie continues. "Jackie--" Black beckons "I thought we were friends" "We are, Jackie." Replies Black. "I'm sorry but this location must be kept a secret. "Oh, yes, I can see this is some very special garbage, maybe I will see you in another six years" "Jackie--" Black stammers Excuse me, while I call a cab" "Jackie--" Black calls out. Jackie turns to a lone telephone booth amongst the garbage. Enters. Jackie dials, "Oh?" With a sudden jerk, the telephone booth is swallowed by the wall and in a rush Jackie screaming for dear life, the booth is fast tracked along a corridor to a halt and let's out a sigh of relief but without warning it drops. Screaming once again trying to keep himself centered, DING! the booth landed, doors open with Jackie plopping out. "Tried to warn you" Black states. "How did you get down here?" "The stairs... Follow me." "Jackie, Welcome to Section 13." Leading Jackie in, Black shows him around. "I thought you were with interpol" "Even with them I was shepherding this agency in secret" answers Black. "You're a spy?... are they spies too?" "Law Enforcement, Jackie, Elite Special Forces." "So why give me the big tour?" Asks Jackie. "We are aware you've recently acquired an artifact in Bavaria" explains Black. "Why does everyone know that?" Jackie continues, "You are the second one to ask about the shield today" "I was afraid of that" Black leads Jackie to a terminal. "Secrion 13 was founded to investigate large scale international crimes - crimes which often can be traced back to The Dark Hand, a criminal syndicate. The Dark Hand has connections to nearly all criminal activity and their leader is this man pulls up image of a man in striking white long blonde hair that is tied back in a nice Italian suit Valmont. Today you met his cronies that Valmont sends on personal errands around town. Finn, who is Irish and believes disco will never die, another only known as Ratso then there is Chow, as you seen, Chow has some martial arts training. The three known as the enforcers but won't think twice to push over an elderly lady if it meant completing their orders.

I'm at a total loss now. It has been 3 months since my world fell apart. I have come to the conclusion that my ex is a covert narcissist. We had been together 11 years, were sleeping together until February this year and now he is living in our family home and has moved his new gf in. I worry I am a narcissist all the time.
When I (35, F) first met him (34, M), he love bombed me. He came back to my house one night and didn't leave. He told me he was in love with me not even 2 months in. Proposed after 5 months. Bought myself and my friends presents. I thought I was so lucky, he loved me so much, he put me up on such a pedestal. I used to joke that one day the love bubble for him would pop when he realised I was not perfect like he thought I was. I grew up with an abusive and absent father and my mother died when I was 11. He had a great big family that I was so desperate to be a part of.
I made many mistakes, I didn't trust how much 'he loved me' and at the beginning was still interested in someone else. He told me he would leave me if I didn't go and get some help. I have PTSD, anxiety and depression, amongst other things. I don't remember when it started, but I felt disconnected from him emotionally. I couldn't talk to him and he would often refuse to talk about issues we had. Instead encouraged me constantly to go to therapy, not to talk about our issues, but to deal with my trauma that was 'ruining the relationship'. I sought solace in a friend at work and formed an inappropriate emotional bond with him. I admitted this to my partner, who said he forgave me and we moved past it.
We looked and booked so many places for weddings, but they never eventuated. His mother was horrible to me, called me a gold digger and said I made no contribution to society because I wasn't keeping down a steady job. This caused a massive fall out, where I refused to speak to her or see her. He eventually convinced me that I had to go and make peace with her to calm the situation down and 'this is just what she is like'.
I got pregnant 4 years after we got together. I suffered a very traumatic pregnancy and had horrible pre and post natal depression. Ex did not come to many appointments and I was frequently in hospital. Both my sister and father moved in at different stages when I had a newborn because my partner was working all the time and rarely helped.
His mother and step father gave us a deposit for a house, on the proviso we moved to their suburb. MIL started being nice to me again, I guess because I gave her a grandchild. I had no say in the house chosen, partner and inlaws made the decision together.
Partner decided to leave his place of work and start a new business shortly after. He did not ask me what I thought about it, he and the inlaws decided it was the best thing. I had a 6 month old and post natal depression. We moved into the new house, which we did a little work on. I started wanting to leave him, he was never home or helpful and we would fight constantly. He started criticising me 'as a joke' constantly. I felt like nothing I did was good enough for him. But I was terrified of not having this family we had created or be alone. I did all the admin for his business for 4 years. The problems continued, 2.5 years later I got pregnant again. I felt his total lack on interest in this pregnancy. Again, I was on hospital frequently, towing a 2.5 year old along with me. I was admitted due to horrible pains, my friend took me to the hospital as partner was going to his brothers bachelor party. I had gallstones, but could not be operated on due to being too far along in the pregnancy. He then went overseas for the wedding for 4 days while I stayed home with a high risk pregnancy and toddler.
We fought more, then covid happened. At first it seemed ok. Then he started smoking weed again, listening to podcasts, refusing to get vaccinated, which put our home at jeopardy. He would rant and scream about the lockdowns and the rest of it. Eventually he got the vaccines and now says he is 'vaccine injured.'
After covid, I left him, I couldn't handle it anymore. I then found out I had a brain condition called IIH. We decided to stay together until we knew what was going on. He was completely absent from our lives. I was studying, working, raising two children, both who are neurodivergent. The house fell apart. I couldn't clean anymore. My dogs destroyed the floors, my children and I stayed in our bedrooms. I was horrible depressed and couldn't do anymore than I already was. He saw us for maybe an hour or so every night? Started working more on weekends, smoking more weed and was very aggressive.
Last year in July, I called an end to it. I said I wanted to move into a rental, he said it wasn't fair that he was left with a house that was falling apart. I stayed at the house with the children and he moved to his mums house 5 mins away. We continued to sleep together and do things as a family. We made a deal that I would see a therapist, he would see a therapist and then we would see one together. At the end of it, we would decide whether we would stay together or not. From July to February this year, I made it clear to him that I loved him desperately and wanted to stay together. We continued to have sex, he said he was 'helping me out'. I thought it meant we still had a future. I worked on all the things he asked for. I was much more attentive, physically, emotionally and sexually.
In January his attitude towards me changed dramatically. His parents decided to move to a different state and sell their house. He suddenly started hanging out with a female friend that had been overseas for a long time. I asked him about it and was told 'she is gay and lime a sister to me.' We had agreed to fix the house together and then decide what to do with it. He was living at his parents at this time. He said I should move out to a rental with the boys, he would move back into the house and fix it up. I found a rental and signed the lease the next day. He helped me move everything in. He was oh so nice. Then he stopped talking to me. He stopped seeing the children. Every second weekend he would take them, and they would spend the entire time with his new 'friend as well'.
I have now lost track of what happened in what month because it was so traumatising. But since then he took my elderly dog to the vet, who was still living at out family home, told them that I had abandoned the dog at his home and they should put it down. I found this out when the council called me and told me my dog was at the pound. He told me I should give him the house because I have done nothing to deserve it, and in return he will give me the car. A car that I use everyday to take my kids to school and appointments. This caused massive amounts of friction between us. He would call me unstable, said that he couldn't be around me when I was projecting such negativity. At the same time, he was taking his new 'friend' to all his friends and family events. When I left the family home, I left it in a hurry and in a mess. I hadn't been able to get back to the house to sort it out because I had the kids 24/7. So he took his mum and stepdad there, told them I had destroyed this house and it was all my fault. They hated me again. Cut me off, I wasn't allowed at their house anymore. Told people I was an evil bitch. He and his parents then told everyone their side of the story, and I effectively lost all my (his) extended family.
8 weeks ago, his mum and stepdad left for another state. Shortly before this, he confessed he was in a relationship with his 'friend'. We had recently had a discussion about not inteoducing the childten to any partners for at least 3 months. She spent every weekend with them. I don't know how long this had been going on for. He told me if I didn't give him the house, he would move in with her. 2 weeks after being together, they moved into our family home and 'fell in love'.
He refuses to see his children apart from every second weekend. He pays a certain amount of child support, but not as much as he should be paying. He doesn't come to any appointments for the children and brings his new gf whenever he drops off the children or picks them up. My eldest has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Ex refuses to give him medication when child is with him.
I am struggling so much with money because I signed a lease, stupidly, on a house that I couldn't really afford, but believed him when he said he would pay part. There are weeks where he earns $4000. We had a fight about him taking the children away and not telling me where. My lawyer told me that wasn't ok, I passed the message onto him. So he took it upon himself to show up at my lawyers office and demand to speak to them. Efforts at legal and mediations have been refused by him. He would vaguely threaten me by saying I would regret it and I had no idea how bad it would get if I did.
I can't catch my breath. I feel like curling up into a ball and not getting up. I worry that I am the narcissist because I would get so angry at him, call him names, was terrible with our finances. I have no strength left to fight anymore. I am hesrt broken, terrified and have no support. I feel like I am on the verge of a total emotional breakdown.
If you have any words of wisdom, any advice, anything that will help, please share with me. Am I a narcissist?
I'm so sorry this is so long.

I am preparing for a career change and will start applying for, and hopefully interviewing for, jobs as a paralegal in about 18 months. (Why wait 18 months? I'm completing a paralegal certificate program, saving money to move back to home country as I live overseas, finishing projects in the overseas country I'm in, and doing internships in new field to gain experience.)
Somewhat regularly, I attend online information or job-fair type sessions put on by different schools offering similar certificate programs, by recruiters that place people in legal industry jobs, and by law firms themselves. All in order to gather info on various firm environments, what skills they find most valuable, general process for applying and interviewing, job contents, and more. It's been very useful as I can go through my non-legal industry work experience to pluck out the same skills and knowledge, and also seek out volunteer or intern possibilities to learn the things I'm missing.
A couple of days ago, I attended a job fair put on by a law firm and I was so impressed that I wished I was ready to apply today! Everything hit right for me- the firm is in the city I would most like to live in, the type of law they practice is my preferred, they want people with international or cross-cultural work experience, people that are bi-lingual, they have a hybrid work style, benefits are good. Almost everything hit my "have that skill" list as well as my "I want that '' list. I did some Google hunting for reviews and opinions on the firm and it all looks good. The end of the session was a Q&A time for queries about the firm, and then we were given an email address to use to apply that is direct, not through a recruiter they also use.
Normally after online info or job-fair info, I just make some notes for future reference and move on. However, for this one, I'd like to send the firm a letter to express my future interest in applying. I'll add that while many online sessions have 30-100 people in them, this one only had 19 ~ so there was more actual interaction with the firm staff than usual.
I'm considering writing and sending something akin to a cover letter - and mention that I'm impressed and interested, mention my international work experience and bi-lingualism, say that I'm keenly interested in that area of law, note that as I'm overseas now and not at point to repatriate, but hope that they might remember me when I do apply in about 18 months. (Also thought I'd put something about being interested in an internship before then if remote is possible. They did mention in the session that they are putting together an internship program.)
Any ideas or advice on this? Anything to mention or not? I know such a letter isn't going to get me a guarantee of future interviews down the road, but I'd like to try to make a connection that might be remembered if I can.

I'm at a total loss now. It has been 3 months since my world fell apart. I have come to the conclusion that my ex is a covert narcissist. We had been together 11 years, were sleeping together until February this year and now he is living in our family home and has moved his new gf in. I worry I am a narcissist all the time.
When I (35, F) first met him (34, M), he love bombed me. He came back to my house one night and didn't leave. He told me he was in love with me not even 2 months in. Proposed after 5 months. Bought myself and my friends presents. I thought I was so lucky, he loved me so much, he put me up on such a pedestal. I used to joke that one day the love bubble for him would pop when he realised I was not perfect like he thought I was. I grew up with an abusive and absent father and my mother died when I was 11. He had a great big family that I was so desperate to be a part of.
I made many mistakes, I didn't trust how much 'he loved me' and at the beginning was still interested in someone else. He told me he would leave me if I didn't go and get some help. I have PTSD, anxiety and depression, amongst other things. I don't remember when it started, but I felt disconnected from him emotionally. I couldn't talk to him and he would often refuse to talk about issues we had. Instead encouraged me constantly to go to therapy, not to talk about our issues, but to deal with my trauma that was 'ruining the relationship'. I sought solace in a friend at work and formed an inappropriate emotional bond with him. I admitted this to my partner, who said he forgave me and we moved past it.
We looked and booked so many places for weddings, but they never eventuated. His mother was horrible to me, called me a gold digger and said I made no contribution to society because I wasn't keeping down a steady job. This caused a massive fall out, where I refused to speak to her or see her. He eventually convinced me that I had to go and make peace with her to calm the situation down and 'this is just what she is like'.
I got pregnant 4 years after we got together. I suffered a very traumatic pregnancy and had horrible pre and post natal depression. Ex did not come to many appointments and I was frequently in hospital. Both my sister and father moved in at different stages when I had a newborn because my partner was working all the time and rarely helped.
His mother and step father gave us a deposit for a house, on the proviso we moved to their suburb. MIL started being nice to me again, I guess because I gave her a grandchild. I had no say in the house chosen, partner and inlaws made the decision together.
Partner decided to leave his place of work and start a new business shortly after. He did not ask me what I thought about it, he and the inlaws decided it was the best thing. I had a 6 month old and post natal depression. We moved into the new house, which we did a little work on. I started wanting to leave him, he was never home or helpful and we would fight constantly. He started criticising me 'as a joke' constantly. I felt like nothing I did was good enough for him. But I was terrified of not having this family we had created or be alone. I did all the admin for his business for 4 years. The problems continued, 2.5 years later I got pregnant again. I felt his total lack on interest in this pregnancy. Again, I was on hospital frequently, towing a 2.5 year old along with me. I was admitted due to horrible pains, my friend took me to the hospital as partner was going to his brothers bachelor party. I had gallstones, but could not be operated on due to being too far along in the pregnancy. He then went overseas for the wedding for 4 days while I stayed home with a high risk pregnancy and toddler.
We fought more, then covid happened. At first it seemed ok. Then he started smoking weed again, listening to podcasts, refusing to get vaccinated, which put our home at jeopardy. He would rant and scream about the lockdowns and the rest of it. Eventually he got the vaccines and now says he is 'vaccine injured.'
After covid, I left him, I couldn't handle it anymore. I then found out I had a brain condition called IIH. We decided to stay together until we knew what was going on. He was completely absent from our lives. I was studying, working, raising two children, both who are neurodivergent. The house fell apart. I couldn't clean anymore. My dogs destroyed the floors, my children and I stayed in our bedrooms. I was horrible depressed and couldn't do anymore than I already was. He saw us for maybe an hour or so every night? Started working more on weekends, smoking more weed and was very aggressive.
Last year in July, I called an end to it. I said I wanted to move into a rental, he said it wasn't fair that he was left with a house that was falling apart. I stayed at the house with the children and he moved to his mums house 5 mins away. We continued to sleep together and do things as a family. We made a deal that I would see a therapist, he would see a therapist and then we would see one together. At the end of it, we would decide whether we would stay together or not. From July to February this year, I made it clear to him that I loved him desperately and wanted to stay together. We continued to have sex, he said he was 'helping me out'. I thought it meant we still had a future. I worked on all the things he asked for. I was much more attentive, physically, emotionally and sexually.
In January his attitude towards me changed dramatically. His parents decided to move to a different state and sell their house. He suddenly started hanging out with a female friend that had been overseas for a long time. I asked him about it and was told 'she is gay and lime a sister to me.' We had agreed to fix the house together and then decide what to do with it. He was living at his parents at this time. He said I should move out to a rental with the boys, he would move back into the house and fix it up. I found a rental and signed the lease the next day. He helped me move everything in. He was oh so nice. Then he stopped talking to me. He stopped seeing the children. Every second weekend he would take them, and they would spend the entire time with his new 'friend as well'.
I have now lost track of what happened in what month because it was so traumatising. But since then he took my elderly dog to the vet, who was still living at out family home, told them that I had abandoned the dog at his home and they should put it down. I found this out when the council called me and told me my dog was at the pound. He told me I should give him the house because I have done nothing to deserve it, and in return he will give me the car. A car that I use everyday to take my kids to school and appointments. This caused massive amounts of friction between us. He would call me unstable, said that he couldn't be around me when I was projecting such negativity. At the same time, he was taking his new 'friend' to all his friends and family events. When I left the family home, I left it in a hurry and in a mess. I hadn't been able to get back to the house to sort it out because I had the kids 24/7. So he took his mum and stepdad there, told them I had destroyed this house and it was all my fault. They hated me again. Cut me off, I wasn't allowed at their house anymore. Told people I was an evil bitch. He and his parents then told everyone their side of the story, and I effectively lost all my (his) extended family.
8 weeks ago, his mum and stepdad left for another state. Shortly before this, he confessed he was in a relationship with his 'friend'. We had recently had a discussion about not inteoducing the childten to any partners for at least 3 months. She spent every weekend with them. I don't know how long this had been going on for. He told me if I didn't give him the house, he would move in with her. 2 weeks after being together, they moved into our family home and 'fell in love'.
He refuses to see his children apart from every second weekend. He pays a certain amount of child support, but not as much as he should be paying. He doesn't come to any appointments for the children and brings his new gf whenever he drops off the children or picks them up. My eldest has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Ex refuses to give him medication when child is with him.
I am struggling so much with money because I signed a lease, stupidly, on a house that I couldn't really afford, but believed him when he said he would pay part. There are weeks where he earns $4000. We had a fight about him taking the children away and not telling me where. My lawyer told me that wasn't ok, I passed the message onto him. So he took it upon himself to show up at my lawyers office and demand to speak to them. Efforts at legal and mediations have been refused by him. He would vaguely threaten me by saying I would regret it and I had no idea how bad it would get if I did.
I can't catch my breath. I feel like curling up into a ball and not getting up. I worry that I am the narcissist because I would get so angry at him, call him names, was terrible with our finances. I have no strength left to fight anymore. I am hesrt broken, terrified and have no support. I feel like I am on the verge of a total emotional breakdown.
If you have any words of wisdom, any advice, anything that will help, please share with me. Am I a narcissist?
I'm so sorry this is so long.

hello i know you probably receive questions like this a lot but i really need to know so i can prepare.
i plan on going into the simulation and visualization (sim viz) course so any advice would be great
what is the cost (rent) that you pay for the apartment or dorms if they have them?
is there a work study program?
are there internships while studying?
what are the the job fairs liker and what is the potential one can gain from it?
and for anyone who has graduated from the school is there any job security for after leaving?
​
i know my questions are all about jobs and money but that for me right now is the only thing holding me back from going for i don't want to see my work go to waste because if I'm doing this I'm jumping in with both feet and going to push my self i just need to know these things so i can better prepare myself before going so i don't flounder around when i get there.
sorry for the rant and thank you in advance for your help any advice helps

This part got a little bit away from me. I only intended to have a brief moment between David and Ruk'sa, but it grew a bit more than I planned. It seemed like the right time for David to tell a little bit about his side of things. I hope you enjoy, and once again let me know what you think.
First / Prev / Next (At some point)
CW: Suicidal thoughts/actions
----------
David was all-too familiar with the ceiling of his bedroom. He’d spent many nights staring up at it praying for sleep to take him. Of course, then he had to deal with the nightmares. Tonight, was no different. Well, there were the two fik sleeping on either side of him, but the insomnia still had a firm grasp of him. The following afternoon he was supposed to catch a chartered shuttle out to the boonies for the funeral of a man he didn’t know. He could probably catch some sleep on the red eye, but if he couldn’t even sleep in his own bed…
He decided to stretch his legs. Thanks to a bit of luck, he wasn’t pinned down like last time, so he tried his best to stealthily shuffle off the foot of the bed. He padded silently to the bathroom, closed the door, then flicked on the light. Blinded for a moment, he blinked his eyes a couple times in the mirror until his vision cleared. Between the dark circles under his eyes and how gaunt his cheeks had become; his face took on an almost skull-like appearance.
He stared into his eyes, watching them dilate ever so slightly. Come on, man. You gotta get some sleep. Something. Anything. He ran his fingers through his mop, contemplating whether he should try and find some kind of barber. Perhaps one that could do something about his beard too. Knowing his luck, the aliens probably just grow perfect hair and have no concept of a hairstylist.
Resting his elbows on the counter, he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes until he saw spots. Just let exhaustion take you. It wouldn’t be the first time.
He flicked off the light and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dark once again. Once he could see, he padded back out of the bathroom and into the living room. The fik had overrun the small abode. Half a dozen bodies strewn about peacefully asleep on the floor, the room full of gentle breathing and the occasional snore. Chief Sulta had claimed the couch after being denied the bed by David. She made it clear he could also use the bed, but he didn’t feel comfortable letting a stranger into it. This of course didn’t stop the other two who were with him the previous night. Apparently, they thought they got a pass. He was too frustrated to object. Plus…They were warm…
David carefully stepped over the sleeping forms making his way to his kitchen. The chief seemed alright after a couple conversations. His guardians disapproved vehemently of course, but she seemed honest. A bit too honest. She really intended to do everything she could to keep David safe, but…Well, she wasn’t the sharpest bulb in the box.
Clearing the threshold, he made his way to the fridge for something to drink. As he sipped, he checked the time. It was still a few hours till morning. It was hard to tell on station. This one orbited a moon that orbited a gas giant that orbited another gas giant that all orbited a distant star. There was some kind of galactic standard time, but David could never get his head around it.
“Why are you awake?”
He looked up at Rus’ka leaning against the doorway. She was rubbing sleep out of her eyes.
“I can’t sleep.”
“Why?”
“I just can’t. I have insomnia.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s where I can’t sleep.”
She crossed the room to stand beside him as he turned to lean back against the counter.
“Sleeping is easy. Just close eyes and relax. Sleep come to you. You try too hard, maybe?”
He sighed and reminded himself that they were a relatively young species that didn’t come with countless medical journals or psychology papers. Lucky them.
“If only it were that easy. No. I broke whatever I had that let me sleep.”
“How can you fix?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“Well…How did you break?”
He closed his eyes and set his glass aside, “I don’t know…Well, I have some ideas, but I don’t know.”
“What ideas?”
He couldn’t tell if she knew what she was doing or was just stubbornly persistent. Probably a mix of both. “Probably what happened to me.”
“What happened to you?”
He took a deep breath and slid down the counter to sit on the floor. She joined him there. “I told you: a lot.” He looked her in the eyes. She didn’t look away. He didn’t want to talk about this. He’d do anything besides talk about this, but… If she wanted to live here. Live with him, then she should probably know. She’d find out one way or another. When did I accept that?
Looking down between his knees he sighed and began, “I was kidnapped. I don’t remember much of what happened. One minute I’m trying to figure out why my Honda died again, the next I’m strapped to a table.” He shuddered. “I was groggy, but I could still feel them-“ He swallowed, “cutting into me. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t scream. I just felt and watched. They were out of a nightmare. They couldn’t be real. But I felt it. It was real. It hurt. Oh God, it hurt.”
He screwed his eyes shut trying to force the memory down. To think of anything else. Ruk’sa put her arm around his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. “Then I could hear them. I could understand the snakes.” He fingered the scar behind his ear, “They put a translator in me. Then threw me in a cell. I was a slave.”
*****
As soon as he could move his arms, he began hammering on the metal cage around him. “Let me out! Don’t do this! Let me out!”
In a flash a blade whizzed past his temple scoring a shallow cut. “Silence! You will not speak. You have nothing to say anyway.”
His crimson captor ignored him and returned to the console before them. David took stock of his situation to find any possible way out. He was prone on his back in a metal coffin with a grate by his head, apparently there for easy stabbing access. He took a minute to control his breathing when the guard slithered out the door.
The box wasn’t tiny. It seemed to be made for larger creatures, but it was still a challenge for David to sit up. He grabbed onto the bars and pulled himself up to the hatch. A quick scan revealed the handle just outside. He thrust his hands through the bars, but he couldn’t reach the latch. It was so close. It looked like it turned toward him. All he had to do was pull it.
He sat for a moment contemplating what he had available. All he had on him was his rental tux. He regretted not going for the cummerbund, so the bow tie would have to suffice. He pulled it off his neck and stuck his hands out of the cage. It took a few tries, but he eventually managed to toss one end of the tie around the handle and caught it in his other hand. He didn’t have a lot of leverage, but with a steady pull he managed to pop the latch.
It was awkward twisting and dropping to the floor, but he was free…Free-ish. Now he just had to get out of the room. Glancing back to the wall of cells he realized he was the only one there. That made things simple. He stalked to the iris door and peeked out after it hissed open. The halls were empty, so he ducked outside. The place was massive, which made sense given its inhabitants. He noticed the halls had a slight bow in them. Must have made slithering easier.
He picked a direction and padded away as quietly as his dress shoes allowed. He’d stop at every intersection and listen. He chose the path with the least sound up until some kind of alarm sounded.
“Cell breach. Alert. Cell breach.”
He needed to hide, and fast. Looking around the circular hallway he noticed pipes and vents above him. Using the rounded walls to his advantage, he got a running start and ran up the side of the warped wall. It took a couple tries, but he eventually made his primate ancestors proud and caught a pipe above him. He hauled himself up and began shuffling awkwardly above the hallway.
Below him pandemonium broke out. He saw dozens of snake monsters slithering this way or that, looking for him. Each armed.
David channeled his inner John McClain and pulled a vent off the ceiling and climbed inside. As he crawled, he thought about what he was even looking for. There had to be some kind of escape pod, or shuttle he could steal. Maybe hide out on the next shuttle headed down to abduct some other poor dumb bastard. All he knew was he needed to get home. After scuttling around for a while his luck ran out. He crawled over a vent that couldn’t hold his weight and he fell into a hallway. Hauling himself upright with a groan he stopped dead at what he saw.
He could see Earth through the window. David never believed he could be an astronaut. He thought this view would forever be a dream, but there it was. Earth was beautiful.
Then he felt a sharp stinging pain across his back as a monster slashed him. He convulsed and collapsed, losing consciousness as he was dragged back to Hell.
*****
“I don’t know how long I was there…But that was the last time I saw home…I tried escaping. Many times. I saw home and damn it I was going to get back…Each time they punished me. Each time I ‘lost value’.” He looked over his scared arm then squeezed his eyes shut. Forcing the memories away. He didn’t want to be taken again, but they pulled. He could feel the cuts. The burns.
Ruk’sa rubbed his shoulders and leaned into him. Trying to keep him there with her.
With a shuddering breath, David continued, “Then one day, I was ‘rescued’. I don’t know if they were with the Community or just pretending, but some of those big bastards raided the ship. It got loud and violent. They hauled us off and took us to a little waystation. Refueling, I guess. They kept telling us we were safe. Then one of them…I think he was one of them, told us we needed a medical examination.”
*****
David and a couple of other escapees stared out the window at the strange planet. It was a pale-yellow rock drifting around some distant star. They were let off the ship to stretch their legs while it refueled for the next leg of the journey. David didn’t know where it was supposed to go. He just wanted to go home. He didn’t know or care how he’d explain what happened to him. There were plenty of crazy whack-jobs who claimed to be abducted. He could just roll with them. Or just pretend the whole thing never happened.
One of those big bastards who ripped him out of his cell and tossed him bodily off the ship appeared in the doorway.
“You there. You need a medic to look you over. Come on over here and let’s take a look at you.”
Seemed fair enough. David wasn’t sure how much blood was too much to lose, but the snakes flirted with that line all too often. He and the others shuffled over to the giant and where he directed. David entered the room and was soon pulled up by his arm. It felt like it might pop out of its socket. He struggled and thrashed before a giant fist sent the world to spin.
He woke up in another cell with another man. All he could do was weep.
*****
David didn’t notice when Ruk’sa drew him into her lap. He clutched at her arm to stay where he was. In the here and now. He could still see Sammuel’s face.
“The big bastards didn’t cut. They just hit you. Or starved you. All I could do was hold on. I tried to help Sammuel. Tried to keep him strong. If he was strong then I would be strong. We’d come so far. I held out. I did it once, I could do it again. And I was right. We were liberated once again after God only knows how long. We were free.” He swallowed and wiped away the tears forming in hie eyes.
“I can still remember the blinding light. I was numb when they hauled us off. They took us to some big station and asked where we wanted to go. I told them I just wanted to go home.” He let the tears fall now, “they told me it was gone. ‘What do you mean it’s gone?’ ‘It’s been destroyed. A terrible tragedy.’ I thought they were lying. It had to be another trick to keep me enslaved. I never escaped. They just refuse to send me home…Then they showed me…”
He clutched at her shoulders and buried his face in the nape of her neck, “That was all I had! I just wanted to go home! And they fucking stole that too!”
He wept and shuddered in her grasp. She stroked the back of his head while he collected himself.
“They tried to fix me. I broke down. I had nothing left. So, they sent me away to the loony bin. I just wanted to die. Is that too much to ask? Just bury me with the rest of my kind. But they had to try and fix me. They barely knew me or mine! How can you fix that!?”
*****
He was trapped once again. The fucking snake sat there asking questions like they didn’t destroy his life.
“David. Please talk to me. I’m trying to help you. If you just talk to me, we can help you.”
What fresh Hell was this? Making his tormentors try and fix him? David closed his eyes and refused to speak. If he looked at her, he could only relive what they did.
“I know what you went through was stressful…”
She didn’t know shit! How could she? He wouldn’t give her anything. Never again. He wasn’t a slave. He’d die first. Why didn’t he die? He should be with all the others. What’s left?
“David, please. I’m trying to help you. I just want what’s best for you.”
He knew what was best for him. He was tired of everyone trying to control him. This was no different. Well, no more. He’d seize the last bit of control he had. His hands were bound, but his mouth was still free. He bit down on his wrist. Maybe he could bleed out before someone stopped him.
“Nurse! Nurse! I need you in here!”
*****
David didn’t know how long it had been. Ruk’sa was rocking him back and forth. He felt tired. But he still couldn’t sleep.
“I was trapped there for a while…I couldn’t take it…Once they realized I wouldn’t talk to a snake, I started saying the magic words. ‘Oh, I feel better. I’m moving on. I’ll be fine I promise.’ They didn’t know the first thing about humans. I lied. They let me go thinking they’d done good… When they let me free, I tried taking all the pills they gave me. I tried ending it all a couple more times…They’re too damn good at stopping me.”
Ruk’sa couldn’t stop herself. She clutched David tightly to herself. “Saaaa, no! David, no! You can’t mean that! David must…David must….Saa!” She was ashamed for not having the words. She couldn’t fix him.
“I’m sorry…You just found a broken human…Just let me be broken.”
“No!...We fix you!...We must!” She held him tight as if he’d slip away. She didn’t know what to say. But she’d figure it out. She had to.
They stayed like that for a while before David asked, “Can…Can you hold me? Just like this? Please?”
She nodded, “Forever, if I must.”
David buried his face in her chest while she clutched him tightly. She tried to stop the tears from falling. To stay strong. To hold him and show him he was safe.
She tried her best, all the while a certain albino listened from around the corner, out of sight.

My ex left and it's been a couple of months. He's been very difficult because he's mentally unstable. I've been told that I'm liable for his belongings as long as they are in my possession. But this has been going on for months.
He co-operated for a bit and took a lot of it (mostly me driving it to where he is staying) but now we have fallen out and the last of his stuff is still at the unit that we lived in. He is not on the lease anymore already.
The place HAS to be emptied so the bond cleaners can do their job. Then the keys will be handed back by the end of this week.
If he doesn't collect his thing before the bond clean. What can I legally do? I have emailed him (only form of contact he will allow). I might mention here that he has already sold a phone I leant him (I'm still paying the contract off). He also has in his possession a large screen Dell laptop of mine that he agreed to pay for but I am pretty sure he has sold that too and doubt he will pay me for it because he didn't pay for the phone I leant him. (Yes stupid I know to trust him). Since he sold my property, I feel like I shouldn't have take care of his stuff anymore!
He has until Monday night now. I've already extended the deadline to Monday and it definitely can't be there any longer. I can't afford to have it sent to him by professionals and my family aren't going to take it to him as they don't like him and are telling me to throw it out. They are happy to pick it up and throw it out but they won't take it to my ex which is fair enough.
It's like he is holding this over me just to cause me problems. What can I do here legally? Can I throw his stuff out if he misses the deadline?
All it is, is 1 box of stuff that includes sentimental items maybe. And a wooden sideboard cabinet thing with a glass door. It's very big and heavy.
I just want this nightmare to be over so I can move on.

Having studied some law in college I can tell you any professor would recommend that you not use slang and that you phrase things as precisely and eloquently as possible. It's so that the judge respects you professionally, the jury find you clear and mature, and your statements are VERY straightforward for the public record (and ideally as timeless as possible because that record will live way into the future).
Even the stuff about slouching, OBVIOUSLY the professor was being unfairly harsh on how she presents because he's racist, but that's definitely feedback you could get if you're giving that kind of presentation trying to learn how to conduct yourself effectively in court :/
I just feel overall they could have done a way better job with this, because even though he's not giving these criticisms to other students and doing it especially harshly to Coop, the actual feedback is fair and helpful :/ I wish they'd made it stronger cus I feel guilty agreeing with him in any way

This happened in mid October 2022
In general I would say I’m really bad at socializing. I have trouble contiuing conversations, and when I try to act “extroverted”, I end up coming off as an asshole. So I usually try to stay quiet. I have lots of these moments where I don’t think about what to say, and instead blurt it out, often times saying or doing weird/awkward things that I always regret afterwards. Sometimes I do things that I never realized fame off as being as asshole or weird (i.e. my resting face looking like Im constantly glaring, and often times I forget to change that, or me constantly looking at peoples eyes by accident as I tend to look around my surroundings). So in general, I think missing social queues is a big trend of mine. I usually end up saying cuss words to briefly forget these moments out of my head, as they pop up. But I feel like this one needs some closure
So this happened in at a restaurant that was part to go part dine in. Because the place wasn’t too busy, there are usually two workers with the rest as kitchen staff.
I wanted a job so I applied there and got hired. I was immediately put into training with a manager. Second day I (19 at the time, currently 20 as of writing this) was paired with a high school senior girl who was to train me.
She was really friendly and we talked about things like high school as she was a sophomore when I was a senior there, so we knew about the school. As she trained me she would talk to me about things. I would also ask questions as well to keep the discussion going. She said she was going to stop working briefly to focus on college apps again.
Day goes by as usual, but then she drops alot of plastic containers thats used for shipping out food. I helped her pick it up but then she says she feels really bad. I ended up laughing, but then I put my hand on her shoulder as a joke like “its all good”, and said something like “Don’t worry, you killed a couple of sea turtles”.
Honestly nothing happened from what i remember, day goes by. But after we said goodbyes, I felt the realization that what I did was insanely creepy. I’m 6 Ft and fairly big as I used to do water polo, so doing that to a high school girl felt like I was making a move on her, and I felt really bad and creepy.
From there I didn’t see her again, as her schedule didn’t match up with mine. As expected, she would leave for some time (4 months to my knowledge). In that time I was promoted to head server, and I often oversaw who was in what chat. We have several locations in the same city run by the same manager, and after I was promoted, I was added to a second work chat, and I see that she returned, and was moved to the location where I wasn’t usually at, as that location was very busy. So the first time I’ve met her was also my last, as although I worked at the second, busier location, I wasn’t there often.
Since then I’ve left the restaurant, but I feel that moment always biting at me. I want to apologize, but I’m not sure how to. I thought about instagram (as she talked about it), but I worry that that would make me look like I’m stalking her. What should I do?

At Royal Rumble 2023, Asuka returned after a brief hiatus, sporting a deranged look reminiscent of her days as Kana. And since that point, the Empress of Tomorrow has solidified her powerful aura, winning the Elimination Chamber match and avenging her disappointing loss to Bianca at WrestleMania 39 by dethroning the EST at Night Of Champions. And while Asuka has been Raw Women’s Champion before, this time feels…different…
Monday Night Raw (5/29/23):
Following Night of Champions with the crowning of Asuka, it would appear the landscape of the women’s division has changed. While some individuals are surely eager to go after singles gold, this isn’t initially the case for the Way. In a backstage interview with Byron Saxton, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell express their desire to go after the Women’s Tag Team Titles, only to be interrupted by the lunatic duo of Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville. Deville tries to get under the skin of the pairing, particularly LeRae, mocking her struggles to get victories as of late. However, Candice retorts that Sonya and Chelsea haven’t done anything either, their only actual success as a duo being making Adam Pearce question his own sanity. After a few more moments of bickering, Green tries to slap LeRae, but Hartwell blocks it for her, shoving Chelsea to the ground. Sonya shoves Indi back, and Candice in-turn attacks Deville, forcing several officials to have to separate things.
This results in a singles match later in the evening between Deville and LeRae, with Sonya trying to make an example out of the “Poison Pixie”. It’s a fairly back-and-forth encounter, with LeRae starting the match off hot, but Sonya is able to adapt, using her MMA background to her advantage with increasingly strong shots. However, as Sonya gains control, her emotions also start to fluctuate a bit. Rather than just go for the win at points, she decides to inflict further damage, regularly targeting the right arm in particular with a combination of stomps and armbars. However, the turning point of the match comes when Deville kneels down, once again looking to apply some type of submission hold…only for LeRae to transition it into the Garga-No Escape! While Sonya doesn’t submit, it gives her enough breathing room to mount a comeback, eventually hitting her signature springboard moonsault to finish things.
Candice LeRae def. Sonya Deville via pinfall
After the match, Candice and Indi take a moment to celebrate the win…BUT HERE COMES ASUKA! The Raw Women’s Champion is in the building, and she looks as maniacal as ever. She makes her way towards LeRae…and offers a handshake? Candice is definitely hesitant to accept, and for good reason, as when she starts moving her hand out…ASUKA HITS HER WITH A ROUNDHOUSE KICK! Indi tries to avenge her downed partner, but Asuka takes her out with a spinning backfist. The Empress moves back towards LeRae, staring at the injured right arm…AND SHE APPLIES A VICIOUS ARMBAR, SNAPPING IT IN THE PROCESS! Asuka eventually lets go, with Johnny Gargano and a medical official coming out to tend to LeRae while Adam Pearce wants to know what’s wrong with Asuka…to which she merely replies with a sinister smile…
Monday Night Raw (6/5/23):
About half-way through the show, Johnny Gargano comes to the ring, ready to give an update on his wife Candice LeRae. He says that while LeRae is unable to compete, it’s only for a short period of time, and the fracture to her arm was small enough as to where she won’t require surgery. However, Gargano also says that LeRae wanted him to pass along a message…which is why he’s calling out Asuka to the ring! On cue, the Empress comes out, looking at Johnny Wrestling with a curious look. Gargano says that once upon a time, he and his wife both had respect for Asuka’s accomplishments, especially her record-setting run in NXT. However, with the actions of last week, they no longer have those sentiments, and when LeRae returns from this set-back, she’s challenging you for that Raw Women’s Title! As Gargano says this, Asuka just begins giving a deranged laugh. No one in the arena knows what to make of this…until Asuka picks up a mic…to simply say…bye bye…
As Asuka makes her way to the ring apron, Gargano is left staring in confusion at what transpired…but suddenly, the lights go out! When they turn back on…a trio of masked men are destroying Johnny Wrestling! He tries to fight back, but he’s just overpowered, and left to be stomped on as Asuka just watches on from ringside, enjoying the carnage. The biggest of the three hits Gargano with a top rope splash, before what appears to be the leader hits…a wheelbarrow neckbreaker. As the individual hits this, Asuka comes back into the ring, standing alongside the figures. She whispers something to them, and they move their hand to the top of the masks, pulling them off to reveal…IT’S SAnitY! Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, and Killian Dain are all back in WWE, and it appears they’ve aligned themselves with the Empress of Tomorrow. But the question left to be answered… Where is Nikki Cross in all of this?
Monday Night Raw (6/12/23):
In a backstage segment early in the show, the camera shows Nikki Cross backstage, alone and looking down, drowning in her own crazed thoughts…until Eric Young enters the shot. Cross raises her head, looking expressionless while a smile slowly creeps across the face of Young. He asks her…
“Won’t you join us?”
However, before Nikki can answer…HERE COMES JOHNNY GARGANO! He dives at Eric, looking to get revenge on one of the men who decimated him the week prior. He’s successful initially, but soon enough, Wolfe and Dain rush in, prying Johnny off Young and starting to beat him down. Luckily for Gargano, he came prepared, as he too has backup in the form of Dexter Lumis! SAnitY backs off as Dexter comes in with a steel chair, but not before Young mouths the words…This isn’t over…
Monday Night Raw (6/19/23): Johnny Gargano and Dexter Lumis vs. Eric Young and Killian Dain
With the tensions continuing to rise between the Way and SAnitY, it was inevitable they’d have to square off at some point, and Adam Pearce decides to see if a tag match can resolve this. The match starts off with Gargano and Young, Johnny Wrestling anxious to annihilate him while Young is more amused than scared. Johnny is able to get the upper hand initially, a superkick giving him the brief opportunity to then apply a Garga-No Escape. However, Killian Dain breaks up the hold by just hitting a Senton on Gargano’s back, a tactical maneuver to give Young the chance to gain control. However, Lumis enters the ring as well, grabbing Dain and trying to set him up for a side slam. However, Killian avoids it, and the pair move to the outside of the ring to brawl. By the end of the match, Gargano is weakened, but he’s still got the power of adrenaline on his side. He’s able to tag in for Lumis, getting in a flurry of offense against the big man Dain, including a pair of superkicks to knock him off his feet. However, as he goes for the One Final Beat, Young grabs his foot by the ring apron, preventing him from springboarding into the ring. Gargano’s able to kick him away, but when Johnny does go for the maneuver, Dain catches him, planting him in the center of the ring. He follows up on it with a splash from the top rope, with Young tagging in as he does so. And with Killian shoving Lumis off the apron, Young is able to hit the Wheelbarrow Neckbreaker to finish the match.
SAnitY def. Johnny Gargano and Dexter Lumis
After the match, Asuka makes her way to the ring, standing alongside SAnitY once again. She looks at the downed Gargano, now with a disgusted look on her face rather than an evil grin. She turns to Young, who nods and motions for Dain and Wolfe to pick Johnny up. But right before Asuka can seemingly hit him with the Mist…Here comes Nikki Cross! She rushes to the ring, sliding in and looking right at Asuka as she does so. Young walks up to her, asking her the question…
“Are you with us, Nikki?”
Cross stares at Young for a moment…then to Wolfe…then to Dain…then to Asuka. It’s to the Raw Women’s Champion that she gives the longest stare, Nikki’s eyes slowly growing wider and her expression becoming more intense. And with that, she mutters just a few words…
“You hurt my friends…she hurt my best friend… now she will pay.”
And with that, Cross dives onto Asuka, unleashing a flurry of strikes and catching everyone in the ring by surprise. However, Young pries Nikki off of the Empress, to which Cross responds by starting to attack him! However, it’s short lived, as Asuka runs up behind Nikki and drops her with a roundhouse kick. She quickly gets her locked in a crossface chickenwing as well, Nikki unable to escape and ultimately passing out. Before she fades, she’s left to only see the disappointed looks on the face of the SAnitY members…”You made the wrong choice Nikki”. But the attention soon shifts back to Gargano and Lumis now. They’ve slowly risen to their feet, and Gargano, looking directly at Young, demands another fight! Young sighs, seemingly bored at the prospect of SAnitY having to dismantle those two again…but it shall be done. However, before they can move in for the kill, we suddenly hear crashes echo throughout the arena. They happen for a few seconds, before the lights dim slightly. An unfamiliar melodic theme starts playing, sounding slightly reminiscent of that of a final boss, but as the lights turn back on, it changes back into the more recognizable song…
…NO ONE WILL SURVIVE! IT’S TOMMASO CIAMPA! After being on the shelf for months, he’s finally back, and as he gets into the ring, he looks at Johnny Gargano…there’s no shortage of history here. And while there’s a momentary tension as to what he’s gonna do, he sides with his former DIY partner, making it a more fair fight! Unfortunately, he doesn’t get the chance to lay into any of SAnitY, as they decide to make their exit, already having made a statement with the victory and assault on Asuka, nothing more needed to be done…tonight, at least.
Monday Night Raw (6/26/23): Indi Hartwell vs. Asuka - Non-Title Match
In her first match since beating Bianca at Night of Champions, Asuka looks to prove why she’s the champion. She starts off the match well, not letting Indi get any momentum by just rocking her with a series of kicks to the chest. After dragging Hartwell to the outside, Asuka begins going after the arm, slamming it several times into the ring post before deciding to inflict some pain to the skull with a tiger suplex. This momentarily causes the ref to check on her, potentially looking to end the match…but Asuka isn’t willing to let that happen. She gets Indi back in the ring, lining her up for a running hip attack…BUT HARTWELL TRANSITIONS IT INTO A GERMAN SUPLEX! Despite having just been on the ropes, Indi managed to use what she had left in the tank to take down Asuka, and as she gets to her feet, she feels the crowd surging behind her. She starts taking it to the Empress, getting her backed into the corner and landing a few solid chops. However, she gets a bit overzealous, trying to get Asuka on the top rope for a potential suplex attempt, only for the former Kana to kick her away and land a knee directly to the back of Indi’s neck. And with that, Asuka remains in the power position, eventually locking on the same Armbar that injured Candice LeRae and forcing Hartwell to tap or get snapped.
Asuka def. Indi Hartwell via submission
But before Asuka really has a chance to even get up…HERE COMES NIKKI CROSS! She runs out with a kendo stick, furious as to what transpired the week prior, and gets in a few shots on Asuka before Alexander Wolfe attempts to pry the weapon away. In response, Nikki shoves it into his gut, before hitting him with a swinging neckbreaker and sending a message to Asuka that she’s just as much of a force to be reckoned with. And it’s later announced that this match has been declared official for Money In the Bank: let’s see if these two dangerous competitors can live up to their classic from NXT…
Money In The Bank (7/1/23): Nikki Cross vs. Asuka (c) - Raw Women’s Championship
Despite not having a stipulation like their Last Woman Standing Match in 2017, the match is still intense from start-to-finish. Cross runs at Asuka immediately, getting in some shots with the elbow to the side of the face. Asuka is forced to a sitting position, allowing Nikki to gather some steam from running along the ropes before landing a kick to Asuka’s jaw! Unfortunately for Cross, her frenzied nature ends up backfiring, as when the action shifts to the outside, Asuka dodges a running attack and sends Nikki nearly head first into the barricade! With Nikki instinctively grabbing her head after the missed maneuver, Asuka sees what to target, dragging Cross to the ring apron and repeatedly crushing her skull into the ring post. And as the action shifts back into the ring, it’s just more of the same, Asuka being momentarily hit by mini-bursts of offense, but the damage inflicted on the skull clearly affecting her. This is evidenced when Cross has Asuka lined up for the swinging neckbreaker, potentially able to get her the win…only to collapse before she can properly hit it. With that, Asuka is able to apply the Asuka Lock, and as happened a couple of weeks ago, Cross passes out in the hold.
Asuka def. Nikki Cross via submission pass-out to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
On the Raw after Money in the Bank, Candice LeRae would make her return from injury, calling out Asuka for a match…only to learn she isn’t in the building. But she decides to still issue a challenge, saying that while she wanted the Raw Women’s Title initially…now it’s about more than that. Asuka took out Candice’s friends and family, and left her away from the ring for too long…now, she wants to beat Asuka for vengeance first, gold later. And later on, it’s confirmed that the match will be taking place when Asuka returns…except it’ll be for the title as well! Pearce claims that the decision is due to Asuka’s recent actions, as after all, letting someone try to break someone’s limb after a match with no repercussions is a pretty bad look. But while this choice of action would normally upset some superstars…it might just put a smile on Asuka’s face…
Monday Night Raw (7/10/23): Candice LeRae vs. Asuka
Before making her entrance, Candice LeRae gets herself prepared with the rest of the Way, with Nikki Cross sitting in a corner nearby as well. Indi tells her to be cautious…Asuka’s a very dangerous competitor. LeRae of course knows this, but she’s caught off-guard by some words of wisdom from Nikki several feet away:
“Destroy her.”
Candice looks at Nikki, who’s staring back at her with something in her eyes…A look of needing something… wanting Candice to kill the Empress. LeRae nods, and she heads out to the ring, more confident than ever…And she truly gives it her all. LeRae’s strategy is simple: prevent Asuka from using her signature kicks. And for most of the match, she executes on her plan, moving herself back whenever she senses a roundhouse coming and catching Asuka off-balance. However, this was never going to last, and once Asuka lands a kick to the gut, she’s able to gather steam. And while this doesn’t finish LeRae, the “Poison Pixie” even managing to hit a springboard moonsault AND lock in a Garga-No Escape at various points, Asuka eventually locks in an Armbar on the previously-injured limb that Candice can’t overcome.
Asuka def. Candice LeRae via submission to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
After the match, the rest of the Way comes out, helping Candice to her feet. As they do so, Asuka stares at them, and then begins…counting them? The Way and the commentary team are confused, but as Asuka only counts four people…a maniacal expression overtakes her. She starts walking quickly to the back, and a few moments later, it becomes clear what her intentions were…
As the Way walks backstage, they’re horrified to discover a brutalized Nikki Cross! They rush over to her, asking who did this…and to no one’s surprise, she says it was Asuka. However, it soon becomes clear to Gargano…Ciampa might be next! While Indi and Candice stay with Nikki, Johnny (and Dexter to a lesser extent) start rushing through the halls, trying to get to the right locker room…but it’s too late, as SAnitY and Asuka are seen moving away from it! While Lumis stands guard, Gargano rushes inside, and finds Ciampa not just taken out…but also sprayed by Asuka’s mist! Johnny rushes over, giving Tommaso a towel, but as Tommaso wipes the mist off his face…there appears to be a dark look in his eyes, something not seen in him since when he destroyed DIY…
Remaining Build To SummerSlam:
While Ciampa, Gargano, and Lumis keep their attention towards SAnitY for a bit, Asuka shifts away from LeRae, Hartwell, and Cross, having beaten all three after all. With an open mic, she begins giving one of her standard energetic promos, seemingly wanting to know who her next challenger is gonna be…even though no one is ready for Asuka. It’s not long before someone interrupts though…and it’s someone who Asuka has grown familiar with in 2023…It’s Bianca Belair! The EST remained off television for several weeks following Night of Champions, but now, she’s back and angrier than ever. Bianca grabs the mic straight out of Asuka’s hand, and cuts a quick promo:
“Asuka… you say no one’s ready for you. But you’re wrong… because I’ve ALWAYS been ready for you. I proved that at WrestleMania 39, when I beat you clean in the center of this ring. And what did you do? You had to use that mist, that cursed, blinding mist. And you know what? Congratulations, it got you the title, but not for long. Because I say we have ONE MORE MATCH. But I think it’s time to have a match where no excuses can be made, and there are no rules to be broken. Asuka… At SummerSlam…I challenge you to HELL… IN A CELL!”
The crowd are clearly in favor of this stipulation…And it appears Asuka is too! She starts nodding repeatedly, and Bianca just stares on with a prepared look, perhaps fazed in the past by Asuka’s personality traits but now just ready to finally vanquish her and get the Raw Women’s Title back in her possession. In the remaining weeks, Bianca competes multiple times, getting the ring rust off with multiple victories, while Asuka is content with sitting at ringside for both contests…studying her competition…
SummerSlam (8/5/23): Bianca Belair vs. Asuka (c) - Hell in a Cell Match for the Raw Women’s Championship
We’ve finally made it to the Biggest Party of the Summer, and what better of a place to host it than in Detroit at Ford Field (definitely no bias as a Lions fan)! Once both Asuka and Belair are locked in the cage, the match starts at a feverish place, Bianca hitting a strong shoulder tackle only for Asuka to respond with a spinning backfist a few moments later! As the dust settles on the first fifteen seconds, the competitors look at each other, giving a momentary smirk and scoff apiece before continuing with the action. Bianca showcases her power, getting the Empress lifted in the Gorilla Press position and just hurling her at the cell wall! The several-foot fall to the floor certainly adds to the blow, and Bianca continues the assault outside the ring, slamming Asuka’s head repeatedly into the cage! However, she decides to look under the ring for a weapon, a table quickly catching her eye. She pushes it into the ring, but makes the mistake of turning her back to Asuka while doing so, the former Kana grabbing her from behind and hitting a Tiger Suplex onto the floor!
With Asuka now the lone woman standing, she follows up Bianca’s decision to look under the ring, pulling out a kendo stick. She feels it around in her grasp, getting a good feel for the damage she’s about to inflict. Once Bianca groggily gets to her feet, Asuka just decimates her back, hitting the stick ten times in immediate succession! However, Bianca’s able to dodge an eleventh shot targeted towards the throat, pulling the kendo stick to her and snapping it in half! Asuka looks briefly stunned, but not before she gives a condescending set of claps. In response, Belair grabs her, picking her up for a powerbomb and sending Asuka’s back to connect with the ring apron! Bianca then drags Asuka into the ring, proceeding to set up a table and initially primed to hit a K.O.D. through it. However, Asuka grabs Bianca’s hair, weakening her grip momentarily and presenting an opportunity to escape. Upon doing so, Asuka roundhouse kicks Belair, before getting her positioned on the table, climbing to the top rope…AND HITS A SPLASH ON BIANCA RIGHT THROUGH IT! 1-2-KICKOUT!
Despite the table spot being unable to put away Bianca, Asuka appears unfazed. She exits the ring, bringing a pair of steel steps back into the squared circle. Asuka picks Belair up, seemingly trying to hit a brainbuster on it…But Belair dodges, landing backwards on the steps before turning around and hitting a mini-elevated Spear! This leaves both women down for a few moments, but Bianca rises to her feet first. She gets in some of her signature offense, including a spinebuster on the steel steps! However, her attempt at a K.O.D. on the steps doesn’t work in her favor, with Asuka once again avoiding it. And unfortunately for Belair, Asuka is able to hit her with a suplex on the steps, this being the key factor for the rest of the match-up. With Bianca’s power lessened a bit AND Asuka’s submission hold targeting the back, she faces a tall task, and is ultimately unable to overcome it, the Asuka Lock resulting in a pass-out.
Asuka def. Bianca Belair via submission pass-out to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
After an impressive victory at SummerSlam, Asuka has definitely proven that she’s going to be difficult to beat. But soon enough, she finds herself confronted by a potentially harmful numbers game…
Monday Night Raw (8/7/23): Damage CTRL Promo
Despite recent events not going so well for Damage CTRL, with Dakota Kai tearing her ACL and neither Iyo Sky nor Bayley able to capture the Money in the Bank briefcase, they’re still determined to get momentum back on their side. Bayley makes the bold decision to call out Asuka, saying that if she were actually a fighting champion, she’d consider accepting a match for the title. Asuka comes out, grinning at Bayley trying to goad her into a title opportunity. Asuka looks at Bayley as just another poor soul to be destroyed, but Iyo…Iyo has potential. Asuka even tells Sky…”Bayley isn’t your friend…but I am…”
This seems to get in Iyo’s head, as she begins looking questioningly at Bayley, who attempts to diffuse the situation by just pointing out Asuka being a freak who gets in people’s heads. In response, Asuka kicks Bayley square in the gut, and when Iyo instinctively goes to fight, Asuka shakes her head…I don’t want to fight you… You don’t need to be part of this…
Remaining Build To Extreme Rules:
Over the coming weeks, Bayley becomes a little more sympathetic, her intentions appearing less out of pure arrogance and more about striving to win championship gold back and improve her honor. She goes on a winning streak, but when confronting Adam Pearce about getting a confirmed title shot, he says there’s one more person she has to beat…Iyo Sky.
At this same time, Iyo looks perturbed whenever she’s on television, still at Bayley’s side but signs pointing to her being less convinced than when Damage CTRL began. And after Bayley does defeat Iyo to earn the #1 Contendership, Sky is just left sitting in the ring, staring down at the mat whilst utterly disappointed. Bayley offers her a handshake, but Asuka stands at ringside, motioning her to come roll out of the ring and stand tall with her. In response, Iyo moves in neither woman’s direction, rolling out to the entrance ramp and walking away alone, uncertain of what her future holds.
But with Extreme Rules approaching, there must also be a stipulation, and after a set of assaults from Asuka leave Bayley staring at the lights, Bayley decides it’s in both of their best interest to settle on…A Last Woman Standing Match! Asuka can try to keep putting her down, but she’s gotten back up each time, and come the PPV…The reign of the Empress will be history.
Extreme Rules: Bayley vs. Asuka (c) - Last Woman Standing Match for the Raw Women’s Championship
In a rematch of their TakeOver: Dallas encounter, the feel of the match is similar to what it was several years ago. Bayley, despite having been around in WWE longer, is the underdog, looking to prove herself against a terrorizing monster who we’re unsure can truly be beaten. The action quickly spills out of the ring, with Bayley even managing to hit a quick Bayley-To-Belly Suplex. Unfortunately, Asuka gets up before even a count of 5, disturbing Bayley. The action spills into the crowd for a while, with Asuka suplexing Bayley on the staircase and the former “Hugger” sent tumbling down for a solid five seconds. But eventually, Bayley recaptures the momentum, finding a trash can with weapons and using a kendo stick to start wailing on Asuka. And as the action approaches a set-up table, Bayley is able to not just prop her up on it, but successfully hit an Elbow Drop from a ledge through it as well! Bayley gets up at a count of three, and while Asuka is left stunned by the move, she recovers at a count of 8, continuing the match-up.
From there, the match spills back closer to the ring, with Bayley putting Asuka in the ring before grabbing a table. She sets it up, but Asuka manages to recover in time to avoid a Bayley-To-Belly through it, instead tossing Bayley to the side momentarily before going at her with a running hip attack. Asuka keeps control for a bit, but as she looks to put Bayley through the table…Here comes Iyo Sky! She slowly walks to the ring, not attacking Asuka initially, but giving Bayley enough time to send Asuka off the top rope and to the floor. However, with the action back on the outside, Asuka looks to be a bit desperate, using her signature Mist to blind Bayley! After this happens, Iyo rushes over to Bayley to try and help…But Bayley shoves her down hard to the floor, thinking it was Asuka! Meanwhile, the real Asuka appears behind Bayley, dragging her back into the ring. Asuka decides to lock on the crossface chickenwing, attempting to pass out Bayley, but this seems to only increase the fire in her spirit, Bayley able to back her into a corner to break the hold. Bayley rubs her eyes, improving her vision, and she drags Asuka to the table, seemingly able to hit the Bayley-To-Belly through the table this time…
…BUT IYO HITS BAYLEY IN THE BACK WITH A STEEL CHAIR FROM OUT OF NOWHERE! Bayley falls to her knees, slowly turning around with a look of heartbreak and pain on her face. Iyo returns the look with an icy cold stare, before Asuka pops-up behind Bayley, applying the Asuka Lock to pass the former “Role Model” out. But given this requires a ten count for Bayley to be down, and Asuka wanting to see what Iyo can do…she motions to the table. Iyo nods, getting Bayley set-up, climbing to the top rope, and hitting a Moonsault, crushing Bayley’s ribs, her friendship, and her hopes of winning the match in one fell swoop.
Asuka def. Bayley via KO to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
After the match, Sky raises Asuka’s hand, signifying the start of an absolutely lethal new duo in WWE…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
With Iyo Sky now having made her allegiance clear, Asuka would appear set-up to remain dominating moving forward. However, the enemies she’s made over the past several months aren’t so quick to forget what transpired, which could potentially create problems…
Build To Survivor Series:
Despite having already made an impact to this point, Asuka and Iyo Sky aren’t just going to put away challengers…it’s time to take out everyone. After a singles win on Raw, Becky Lynch would be blindsided by Iyo, being laid out with several shots of the Steel Chair before a Moonsault to cap things off. The following week, Bayley expresses her dismay at being left alone, to which Asuka and Iyo interrupt, immediately kickstarting a brawl that would seem to favor them once again…Until out comes Becky Lynch! Despite having been bitter rivals earlier in the year, Becky makes the save for Bayley, the pair nodding at each other afterwards to signify a slight respect…We don’t have to like each other… but there’s a bigger threat to be stopped…
But soon enough, this action spills past just being a two-on-two situation. Zoey Stark, the former tag team partner of Iyo Sky in NXT, decides that Becky didn’t suffer enough during their rivalry after helping Trish at Night of Champions, and that it’s worth it for these veterans like her and Bayley to be ousted. Along with that, Asuka’s power and general craziness draws the interest of the Unholy Union known as Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, the pair pledging loyalty to The Empress and perfectly willing to destroy Becky and Bayley. However, there are several other competitors backstage sick of seeing Asuka gaining an army, with Bianca Belair and the Way coming to the save to help even the odds. And of course, after a brawl featuring all of these competitors, William Regal comes out briefly to make his patented announcement:
“WAR GAMES!”
To determine which team gets the advantage leading into Survivor Series, we get ourselves a strong match in Iyo Sky vs. Becky Lynch, really the catalyst of what’s led into a two-on-one situation into an upcoming 5v5 match inside a destructive steel structure. Becky more than holds their own, but Iyo Sky shines even brighter, a cheap shot by Stark eventually allowing Iyo to hit the Moonsault and give the “heels” the advantage.
Survivor Series: Bianca Belair, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross, and Candice LeRae vs. Asuka, Iyo Sky, Zoey Stark, Alba Fyre, and Isla Dawn - War Games Match
Kicking off the match is Zoey Stark and Becky Lynch, with Becky initially successful in getting Zoey downed, but Isla Dawn coming in presents a problem. She’s initially able to hold her off, but a chop block by Zoey Stark and a subsequent attack of the leg leaves Becky in a rough spot. She’s able to get some assistance, with Nikki Cross coming in with a trash can lid and just whacking Zoey and Isla around with ease. However, Alba Fyre is next to come out, and upon seeing Cross staring her down from inside the cage, she grabs a kendo stick, ready to defend herself. While Nikki initially gets the advantage, Stark and Dawn are able to pull Nikki back, sending her into the steel cage repeatedly. Bianca coming in next is a game changer however, the EST taking control of the match-up and getting a slight breather while awaiting the fourth competitor…which is Asuka!
But as the rest of the field comes in, with Asuka being the last entrant for her team and Bayley for the opposite side, the action starts to get more and more intense. With all of the competitors brawling in one ring, Iyo sees the chance to hit a Moonsault from the top of the cage, wiping out everybody (including herself)! However, a table being brought into the mix benefits the bayfaces, Bayley hitting Fyre with a Bayley-To-Belly through it (she finally got to hit it… just not on Asuka). However, the ending sequence comes down to Asuka and Iyo on their feet against Bayley and Becky, back where it essentially first started…AND IT ENDS WITH IO HITTING A MOONSAULT ON BAYLEY! 1-2-3!
Team Asuka def. Team Becky via pinfall
Just like that, Iyo Sky has once again proved her worth, defeating her former stablemate to win the match for her team and cementing herself as a force to be moving forward. And though a fairly small shot, we can see Asuka glance over at Iyo, a slight frown on her face for a moment before moving back to stand with the rest of her team. What could that mean…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Build To Royal Rumble:
Despite the result of the War Games Match, Becky Lynch isn’t through with either Asuka nor Iyo by a long shot. She fights off both of them over the coming weeks, along with picking up several singles victory, establishing herself as the next #1 Contender. And as Lynch points out, she and Asuka have history at Royal Rumble. Asuka beat her in singles action in 2019…before Lynch went on to win the Royal Rumble and headline Mania. But this isn’t about the Rumble match now…it’s time to put away the Empress.
As for Iyo, she also has a run of singles success, carrying a lot of momentum heading into the Royal Rumble Match. And soon, we learn that she requested training from one of the most respected female competitors in the locker room, a former NXT UK Champion…Meiko Satomura! While Satomura doesn’t intend to compete right away, she’s more than willing to help Iyo, with vignettes being shown of them together and Satomura even being at ringside for her matches. However, as this keeps happening, Asuka’s looks towards Iyo become more and more strained. Sky is abandoning me… after all I did for her… something’s going to change soon enough…
Royal Rumble: Becky Lynch vs. Asuka (c) - Raw Women’s Championship
Earlier in the night, Iyo Sky does indeed win the Royal Rumble match, punching her ticket to WrestleMania. This doesn’t seem to affect Asuka’s thoughts however, the Empress looking as ruthless and as calculated as ever en route to using an Armbar to submit Becky after a pretty back-and-forth encounter. And while Asuka proved herself the master of the Armbar between the pairing, Iyo Sky coming out with Meiko Satomura to acknowledge the title win seems to aggravate something in Asuka. Her grin has become a definite frown, and she stares an icy dagger through the pairing. Something isn’t right here…
Asuka def. Becky Lynch via submission to retain the Raw Women’s Title
Build To WrestleMania:
In a conversation between Meiko Satomura and Iyo Sky on an episode of Raw, Satomura asks if Sky would be willing to use her Rumble Victory position to challenge Asuka. Sky doesn’t look too convinced about doing that, which Satomura says is fine, but it’s advisable to weigh all her options. However, in the background, Asuka can be seen, carefully listening to the conversation.
A week later, Satomura addresses the WWE Universe. She’s made the announcement that she wants to have one last run before she retires, and wants to face some of the best names this women’s division has to offer…which is why she’s challenging Asuka for Elimination Chamber! Asuka comes out, her face paint being more red than usual…but while it looks like she’s having to contain herself, she shakes Satomura’s hand, seemingly paying respect to a legend.
Elimination Chamber: Meiko Satomura vs. Asuka (c) - Raw Women’s Championship
Unfortunately for Satomura, this retirement run of sorts looked to hit the ground before it could even get going. While she catches the Empress off guard at the beginning of the encounter, as time moves on, Asuka appears to be getting more and more angry. This comes to a boiling point when after one Tiger Suplex, Asuka hits another…then another…then another…then another! The ref pleads for Asuka to quit the assault, which she does…only to pull a Bryan Danielson and just start repeatedly kicking Satomura in the face! This goes on for disturbingly long, and when it’s become clear that Satomura is passed out, the ref calls for the bell, him having made the discretion for the match to end.
Asuka def. Meiko Satomura via ref stoppage
After the match, Iyo Sky rushes to the ring, checking on the woman who’s helped her out tremendously over the past couple of months. Asuka looks down at Iyo, a look of disgust on her face, before demanding to know who Sky is facing at WrestleMania. And it better be a specific answer…
Iyo Sky: “I… CHALLENGE… YOU!”
The crowd roar in approval, Asuka somehow shocked initially…until a smile comes across her face. I’m not surprised you made that choice…but unfortunately, it’s the wrong one...it’s a shame this has to happen Iyo…so much potential…
WrestleMania 40: Iyo Sky vs. Asuka (c) - Raw Women’s Championship
Despite that inner monologue running through Asuka’s head at Elimination Chamber, Sky proves why she’s not to be taken lightly. On the Grandest Stage of them All, Iyo just looks…better. Having been around Asuka for several months, she knows the mechanics of her offense, doing a good job at avoiding those signature kicks while also having the speed advantage. And at the end of the match, Sky proves herself superior over The Empress of Tomorrow, hitting the second Moonsault of the match to pin Asuka, and end a spectacular title run while opening a new chapter for another one.
Iyo Sky def. Asuka via pinfall to win the Raw Women’s Championship

Still in my junior year but just researching.
ECs: Founder of 2 nonprofits with 6000+ members, 500+ volunteers. International Head at another large nonprofit ( Partnered with 10+ organizations across the continent to provide education to underprivileged children ). Coded a ML-based tool to provide mental support, and won an award for this at the largest science fair in the country. A couple of internships at US-based startups. USACO Gold. Participated in state-level debates ( won in a couple of them ). Gold medals in national Olympiads x 2.
Valedictorian x 1 ( Got a 100% merit scholarship )
Got into a few highly selective summer programs.
Grades: 9th 92%, 10th: 96% ( highest in my school this year )
SAT: will take this year ( but getting 1500+ in the practice tests and studying my ass off rn )
Taking 5 APs in total - AP Calc BC, AP Stats, AP CS A, AP Physics C: Mech, Physics C: E&M.
EFC: 20-25k..( will try to pay off the living expenses from part time on campus jobs )
Any safety school for me in the US/Canada/Australia?

Hi there. I’m a fairly seasoned PM and am feeling burnt by my current role. Not sure if it’s my attitude, but I like advice given on this thread and will humbly accept any fresh perspectives from this group
Problem statement (lol): My management chain only appreciated my role when nobody else was doing it. Now I do invisible work. I am a quiet professional often tasked with the unsexy work no one else seems to tolerate - privacy compliance, payments processing, interoperability, device compatibility etc - and have gotten very good performance reviews for the past 7 years of my pm life.
In the last year at my role, in a company where I’m new ish, I got a surprise bad review. My manager is a growth pm with a very different skill set. He seems to value optics over outcome
Maybe when reading this you want to say “get another job” … but I love the product, my teammates and the company. I very intentionally joined this company and I don’t want to let go of all of its good
I just want to do my job and launch products that matter. I have a hard time with the politics around me.
Is big company pm life just about politics? Or am I missing something?
Thank you in advance for any advice :)

First Previous Next
Skeeter had made an error. Not a big one, but one that did have significant downstream effects. He'd assumed that he could visit enough of each planet to give a sort of general feel to each one's character in three or four days, but it was looking more and more like he'd have to extend the stay at Corvian Home for at least a weak. He could scarecely remember being so excited by making a mistake. In most respects, Corvian Home was wildly different from Terra. From its many small islands to its ever turbulent storms, to its mediworld gravity, it was unlike any place found on Terra. It still baffled him that the xenos thought Terran gravity was heavy. The way in which it was similar had to do with the wide verity of culture, which made getting a general sense of the place a tad more difficult than planets with a more unified culture.
So, he had to ask Captain Vexkeed to extend the stay, which wasn't cheap. Additionally, it required the refund of any unsatisfied passengers who were on more time-sensitive journeys. However, it turned out that the majority of the passengers had apparently viewed the voyage as a "Sneaky Cruise," which made Skeeter laugh until he couldn't breathe when Captain Vexkeed told him. Likewise, when he told Suzie and Ivan, they found themselves completely overcome by mirth. Kip on the other hand couldn't see the humor in it. This, of course sent all three adults into the throes of hysterical laughter, which only further perplexed the boy.
The inscrutable, to Kip, Terran sense of humor aside, it turned out that apart from paying a fee to extend the journey and maybe five or six refunds, there was very little adjustment in terms of the We Bring Friends from Afar to Joyous Meeting making drastic changes to her manifest. Which was amenable to Skeeter's bank account, and his conscience. In any case, it let him fill out the itinerary with a wide variety of events from the local sporting events, to seeing interesting geological formations or particularly treasured vistas, to attending musical theater, to restaurant hopping in one of the larger cities with a conveniently cosmopolitan makeup. Even better, all of the things toxic to Humans, Doggos, and Lutrae were also toxic to the Corvians, so the risk of accidental poisoning was almost nonexistent.
"We actually discussed this in class last week," Kip was saying as the shuttle shook in the storm winds, "once a group went to a new island, the storms cut them off from the original group, except for the very few traders brave enough to fly in… well, this."
"That so?" Skeeter prompted genially.
"Yeah, for the most part I guess people would just float along with whatever everyone else thought, but I guess that's true for most places. Except, since they were separate and all, they didn't all go along the same currents, and so even islands that are pretty close can be crazy different."
"That, and it is ruining the landing shots," Ivan grumbled as he kept the camera trained on the trio.
"Well, back home rain's a good thing!" Suzie exclaimed exuberantly.
"Rain makes rye," Skeeter rejoined.
"Rye makes whiskey," Suzie laughed.
"You mean industrial disinfectant or emergency stomach purging doses," Kip said flatly.
"How'd you find out about that?" Skeeter asked.
"Greg George mentioned it in his book. He dumped so many doses in a glass that any sane person would think he was trying to poison someone with the fumes."
"Oh, I loved My Side," Suzie said, "It had always bugged me that the Lost Boys never got a fair say."
"Wait, isn't he a hero? He talks like you guys almost worshiped him…"
"It's complicated," Skeeter said, "I served on a ship with one of the Lost Boys once, Stephen the Line. It was hard to not be in awe of him. Hard to remember that behind the deeds was a man just trying to serve like me."
"Oh…"
"Were you discussing more about Corvian Home in the classes?" Ivan asked before the silence could turn cold.
"Oh, sure, lots. Like on this one island there's a big festival where they celebrate the harvest of these huge nuts, and then there's this island where they have 'Imitation plays,' where Corvians try to mimic exactly how the plays sound from other races. Tutor Brixvee showed us a video of one they coppied from the Star Sailors, and it was pretty cool."
"Do you figure she had lessons on Corvian Home since she knew we were headed here?"
"Of course," Kip said with a bitter scowl, "she's full of dirty tricks like that." His hosts couldn't contain their mirth, not that they tried all that hard.
Later that day, the intrepid travelers were in the throes of a local festival. They had surmised that it was probably related to local folklore, as various icons and masks were featured heavily, but the press was so active and exuberant, that not even the Terran implants could keep up, slaved as they were to the Terran compads with better translation matrixes than even the local networks. Therefore, three out of the four friends found themselves swept up in a feathered fury of dance and rough song, to their ears anyway, while the only clue to Ivan's immense pleasure at the experience was his swiftly wagging tail. Which the locals had no idea was the unconcealable tell that his exterior coolness was in fact, a complete sham.
The festivities seemed to show no sign of abating as night fell over the city sheltered in a rough and rocky crown from the storms of the sea, so in order to get a good night's sleep they were obliged to catch a local shuttle ride between islands to find a slightly less festive town to bed down in, and Suzie took the opportunity.
"So I hear Y'all's planet name isn't what anybody calls it," she said impishly to the shuttle pilot.
"INDEED, ahem, indeed. We know that you mammal-peoples, and the reptile-peoples, and the water-peoples, cannot do it."
"Come on, give us an example," Suzie said in that challenging, teasing way that made Skeeter both cringe and love her.
The pilot laughed, or at least Skeeter thought he, or maybe she? At least Skeeter thought that the pilot laughed, whichever sex they were. He had a hard time with regular Terran corvids, let alone these giant bird people that reminded him of the former. Then said piolet of undetermined sex made a weird clicking noise in the depths of the throat and said, "That is the name."
"I can see why y'all think folk can't do that. Hey Skeeter, why don't ya give it a shot?"
"No," he said flatly.
"Aw come on, it's their planet's name, you should at least try," she said with that wry smile she had that made promises. Promises that he had a very difficult time resisting for… reasons.
He then made a right proper fool of himself trying to replicate the sound by clicking his tongue in various ways before giving up and just saying, "I'm stickin' with Corvian Home."
After making a right proper fool of himself, the other passengers obliged to laugh at him, and Suzie turned on Kip saying, "Your turn."
Kip shot her a sullen look.
"Aw, c'mon, you gonna let these folk just laugh at Skeeter all by his lonesome?" she chided.
Kip downright pouted at her.
"Coooome oooooon," she taunted.
Realizing that she wouldn't quit unless he gave in, Kip also made a mockery of himself trying to replicate the throat clicking sound to the delight of all and sundry. "Shut up," he mumbled as he laid his ears back.
"Ivan?" she asked of her final victim.
He clicked his tongue once, and when Suzie gave him a pout he said, "That is as much as I am trying."
"Now you try," Kip shot at her.
"I know my limits, unlike you boys," she laughed to Kip's indignant sputtering.
Meanwhile, Jerry was having a less festive time. Instead of happening to land on an island that happened to be hosting a festival for one reason or another, he had purposely chosen the center of finance for his outing. He'd had a relatively uneventful series of meetings with financiers, entrepreneurs, and shipping guild heads, and various other parties interested in securing access to new markets for their various trades. It was all very productive, and very boring, and not for the first time he felt a stab of regret for the last time that he had interacted with Skeeter.
Even still, it was a satisfying day. There was a lot of troubling mentions of debts though. Jerry was no stranger to the lending industries of various planets of the CIP, and even had some Republican contacts in that realm, those who could stand his needling of the Republic's systems, but nobody he knew ever said anything about "debt masters" or "clan debt." Troubling indeed, but he chalked it up to clunky translation. Even CIP systems could have trouble with new languages, and he just knew that Republican datapads were inferior. They had to be, of course.
Still though, there was something about the references that bothered him. Something furtive behind the eyes of the avian people who spoke of either concept. Then, there was the fact that only those who were obviously startup businesspeople would speak about them, never the financers. Very troubling indeed. He resolved himself to investigate the matter if he could make the time the next day.
The following morning, the intrepid travelers went on the only "heavyworlder safe" zipline tours available on the planet, which just so happened to be in the heavily forested canyons and followed paths through the foliage designed to simulate danger. Skeeter and Kip found it thrilling, but Suzie found it merely pleasant while Ivan was actually bored by the thrilling experience. The man was pleased with getting a shot of kip chanting breathlessly, "Let's go again, let's go again, let's go again, let's go again!" Wile Suzie was more pleased to have sneakily captured a shot of Ivan's unamused expression as he sped along on the pullies.
"Sure, why not?" Suzie had said to Kip.
To which Ivan said, "Because is boring."
"What?!" Kip nearly shouted.
"You take ride in boarding torpedo, and you will be understanding then."
"The real answer to why not is I already booked a nature walk. There's this island where there's like this bowl formation full of flowers. It looks amazin'" Skeeter explained to Kip's dismay.
Meanwhile, Jerry was exhausted. He'd reshuffled the meetings so that he had mere moments between them to prepare, but he was good at his job, so long as his counterpart wasn't a Republican, and could get the proper contact details to the correct people for whatever the other party hoped to accomplish, so long as it was legal, and it all was. It was therefore by mighty effort alone that he had a scant two hours in which to seek out the information he sought before he would have to retire to sleep, or else be completely useless the next day.
He took snagged a gravcar and told the cabbie, "Take me to where you and the lads go for a spot of drink, or whatever the legal intoxicant is around here."
The cabbie gave him a one eyed beady stare and said, "Are you sure, mammal-people? The places we go are not the high class places, by the storms."
"I'm sure, I'm sure. I might not look it these days, but I came up from w working family. My dah still makes fun that I lost my calluses."
The cabbie blinked twice and raised his crest. Jerry had no idea whether that was a good sign or not, but the blue plumed cabbie lowered his crest and blinked again saying, "Sure, mammal-people. I will take you there, but do not cause the fights or my clan will have share of the debt."
Jerry thought about pressing the issue, but something about how the cabbie's feathers had puffed out and still weren't lying flat convinced him that social lubricant was the needed thing. "What is the preferred intoxicant?" he asked.
"We smoke an herb. It usually does not work for mammal-peoples, so you might not have the fun you look for."
"I see, we also have some intoxicants taken this way, do you draw the smoke through water first?"
"Yes, do you mammal-peoples do this too?"
"It's called hookah, and has a long tradition in several of our cultures. Or bongs, which have a somewhat younger tradition, as history is measured."
"Maybe then you will get the happy haze and no fights will be started, mammal-people."
"Maybe, maybe. I'm just after a good banter, and the banker types are too stuffy."
"You are right, you are right, debt masters do not laugh when you joke, they charge you more interest!" the cabbie laughed, and Jerry fell silent.
At the, well, Jerry would call it a hookah lounge, Jerry found that the lads about avoided him and shot him suspicious glances, and also found that apart from a relaxed feeling in his limbs, the smoke had no effect on him. It was a pleasant feeling, and he could maintain it by taking a draw from the hookah every two minutes or so. It seemed that was a prodigious rate of smoking though, for eventually the suspicious glances turned to those of curiosity or even grudging respect. Jerry surmised that despite his rather drab coloring, they knew an expensive suit when they saw one.
Eventually, a clearly intoxicated Corvain stumbled over to his table and sank down on one of the cushions, "Why do you smoke so well, mammal-thing-people?" he slurred.
"I am used to a much stronger herb, and this makes me simply feel good. Does it not feel good for you?"
"'Course it do. Can't smoke as much."
"Wondering anything else?"
"You a Sneaky?"
Jerry thought about correcting the error, but another glance at the state of his conversation partner dispelled the notion, so he said, "Yes, but I am not very stealthy."
"It's just what people call you… dunno why…"
"I'm not botherd, I know the reason and it's funny."
"Funny?"
"Yes, do you know it?"
"Ish a meme."
"The first one of us that the Star Sailors met was mistaken for a pet, and they named him Sneaky."
That, as planned, brought forth uproarious laughter from the intoxicated Corvian who confided, "That's the kinda thing people-things get bristly about."
"I know, people-things get brislty about all sorts of things. Like the bankers, they won't tell me what debt masters are."
"They own clan debts."
"Clan debts?"
"You know, the debts you clan has, from like way back."
"Do you mean to say you were born in debt?"
"Sssssure, isn't everybody? Well, not rich people-things I guess, but ever-peoples I knowed."
"And these debt masters, they merely collect the interest?"
"Mostly."
"Mostly?"
"If you're not… if the job doesn't pay… erm… they so like tell you to do stuff."
"Involuntary servitude," Jerry said coldly.
"Yeah, that. The hatchlings get that rough."
"Explain please," Jerry said with cold intensity.
It seemed that the intensity of Jerry's gaze or maybe the soft quality of a hammer that his voice emulated, gave the Corvian some degree of sobriety as he stammered, "Yes-yes. The erm, the uh or-or-orphanages. The hatchlings there have no parents to provide for them, so the debt masters have them do something useful."
Jerry was very close to becoming a very dangerous man as he asked, "Are the debts of these children for sale?"
"Y-y-y-y-y-yes?"
"Where does one go to buy debts?"
First Previous Next

Mag am I the asshole ta bi kai mas ma gets pa ninyu ang culture nato. Taas2x ni e explain so bear with me lang.
Going to be graduating by the end of the month and my closest and supportive best friend booked a ticket in advance to come see me graduate college. I was really looking forward to seeing her since most of my barkada resides in Davao and I haven't seen them in forever. She as well asked to stay over my place to save cost sa accomodation which I really didn't mind at all and of consulted my BF who I live with and he was fine with it too, he was only concerned for her due our 30kg dog thats about her height that lives inside our home.
Since I'm migrating soon pud, she somewhat convinced the whole group (3 people) to come to Cebu to see my graduate and hang out with me before I leave the country indefinitely. She was supposed to surprise me with them in the airport when I was only expecting her, yet caught her using "plurals" (Kami, namo, etc.) When talking about the upcoming trip and she admitted na she extended the 3 day stay to a full week with our closest friends. I was really excited and grateful for the thought of it yet was concerned about the costs sa ilang stay. I recently quit my job and bf cannot work, we are living on his emergency funds till we are able to get a clear on the papers abroad so we are trying to be frugal in a way where we are still able to live comfortably. Of course I had to run this pass my bf and he was happy to extend the invite to my friends and was just worried bout how we were going to fit them in our 1 spare bedroom (yes he is awesome lol)
By yesterday grabi ko anxiety while talking to her, this was a HUGE NEWS FOR ME. Wala jud sa ako plan to gasto for laag yet it made sense nlng pud kai it is a milestone for me too and may not see them again. I was anxious further talking bout the trip kai it seems like na pugos niya amo other friend na walai funds og ga duha2x og ari, and she specifically instructed me to not mention anything about the costs sa among tentative itinerary (laag) to my other friend kai for sure mu back out daw kuno. I really appreciate the gesture and I'm down to spend time with them yet I do not want to cover any extra expenses that may arise in case they fall short. I told her this and she took it the wrong way, She said "We’re going there not expecting for u to spend money on us", "We're working we can spend for ourselves", "We can afford this trip" mura siyag na lain like I'm belittling her ability to pay. I've been bag packing for 2 years and I know how tiny expenses like entrance fees can accumulate greatly especially in a span of a week, I was really deeply concerned kai she drop the figure of 10k to cover them 3 for 5 days of in Cebu so I just wanted to make sure she understands na mahal ang Cebu labaw na if gnahan sila mu laag2x, 10k is not enough for 3 pax in 5 days. So I made her an planed itinerary sa few places she mentioned and inserted things that we cannot miss too and its costing via spreadsheet down to details sa transport and expenses sa laag (wala pa labot ang food) para lang naa siya idea pila jud dapat nila e set aside (monetarily prepare) for the trip, this way it will give them a full month to save and re-evaluate kung mu dayun sila og tour2x or omit some to cut costs and be on an agreement to what is attainable.
Today, she surprisingly adds na naa daw lain guy na mu kuyog sa trip which she describes as "Uyab sa mama sa uyab ni (friend #2) hahaha nag laag lang ug Philippines na kedad ra nato" I was really shocked and reactive to this. I told her this was not cool and I was not comfortable with this. She added "He’ll pay for himself and actually help pay for ours too" and will be booking his own accommodation so I don't need to worry daw. Yet I am very worried, I don't know this guy and why do you need someone else to pay for your trip? So I think iyang perspective is if Kung daghan mi mas barato which is really not the case. Especially since I proposed to rent out a 5 seater car (she wanted to go to busay mountain tour) and upgrading that to a 7 seater will costs more to chip in. I really had a violent reaction to this and we argued over chat she ended up with:
"We’re going there only to see you and additional na na if we could spend time and enjoy going to places with u while ur here and one person is happy to cover the most cost for all of us in the trip, which will help them (friend 2 and friend 3) and of course will help u too kay problematic na kaayo ka sa spending If dili sad ka gusto we can still plan things out since we paman sad mi dira. If di ka, edi dili ka. Ana lang. ikaw man amo adtuan so we’ll respect what u want. Adto rami for ur grad and that’s it."
Feel nko na iyang idea for a trip to Cebu is to tambay along as long as naai ma tulgan ok na and e happy go lucky ra "or make it as it goes along the way" we'll be fine. Yet I am concerned to house 3 of them without income for any upcoming additional costs na she may not see comming.
I feel bad yet frankly I don't know how to make this okay for me, na suko pud siya, wala na siya ni reply I just responded with: To put it simpler, we simply cannot afford this right now especially when we are looking to move to a country that's very expensive we are both jobless and trying to stick to a budget. If the main reason why you're inviting a +1 is to help with your side of the expenses yet it will make ours more, it would be best to reconsider your trip. This is quite a pressure on our side too and I really hope you see that I am very concerned about the additional expenses that may occur that I would need to cover in case if your budget falls short. It's nothing against you, it's just being rational and practical.
Sooo, kababayan... AITA?