In 3x19 Barry travels to the future to meet his broken future self. This is in 2024 a few months before crisis was meant to happen (which is still implied to happen). Barry would probably become the paragon of loss and then vanish in crisis like the newspaper says. But this Flash somehow returns after crisis (diffent from what's implied in season 5) to give the most vague warning ever about Savitar in 2065.
Another tangent about season 3 2065 Barry: How the fuck did he know who Savitar is? Season 3 2024 Barry didn't know and he already trapped Savitar in the speedforce for all of eternity. Somehow he found out Savitars identity between returning after crisis (most likely after 2049) and 2065.
The message from the future is the most half-assed plot device the Arrowverse has ever produced.

Grusch gave his evidence to Congress according to TheDebrief article and his whistleblower reprisal complaint was investigated by the congressional intel committees.
Also it is said that he gave all his non human origin craft retrieval program evidence to congress in 2022. And the article makes it sound like again to the congressional intel committee.
The article actually says he gave this to the "staff" of the intel committee and he held private closed door meetings with congressional intel committee "staff" as well.
This twitter link below has Ross Coulthart, the interviewer of Grusch, responding to a FoxNews clip of the Chair of the House Intel Committee (Mike Turner) and the Ranking Member of the House Intel Committee (Jim Himes) being asked by Brett Baier about David Grusch's claims about the government having non human space craft. The Congressmen pretty firmly say there's no evidence of it.
Ross then quote tweets the clip and tweets himself: "With no disrespect intended to the honorable Reps quoted below, neither of them were in the room when #UAP whistleblower David Grusch gave his testimony to the House Intelligence Committee. They should ask the HIC staffers what THEY know. A full transcript is available. "
Tweet: https://twitter.com/rosscoulthart/status/1666271865885855750
Really? The staffers never gave the heads of the House Intel Committee such world altering evidence? Why?? Was the evidence that dubious? Why else wouldn't the 2 most important members of the committee be aware of that? Or did they not take it seriously at all? Grusch started giving his evidence in 2022 and now it's middle of 2023.
This seems like a big red flag. I'm not saying it destroys the whole credibility of the article but how do you explain this? I don't think these 2 congressmen would knowingly lie to the American people?

Hi everyone.
To start with, I want to reassure you that I have shared the following report to my Medical Practice and I am waiting for a meeting with healthcare professional to get help for my back issue. I am a italian white woman, 31 years old, 176 cm 69 kgs. back Pain for over 10 years.
I would like to have an opinion about my MRI scan, how bad it looks and your ideas about the possible interventions I can go through.
My back pain has been dismissed for YEARS. I was too young to have back problems or they invited me to seek for psychiatry help. I had to go private to have this MRI done (I live in the UK, so the majority of health troubles are treated for free).
"LUMBOSACRAL MRi - UNENHANCED.
Investigation performed with an open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, with a strength of 0.51 Tesla. Left convex scoliotic posture with a reduction of physiological lordosis. Abnormal regional metameric differentiation at the lumbosacral junction: the last significantly underdeveloped disc has been interpreted as
S1-S2. At the L5-S1 level, degenerative discopathy with central annular fissure and disc protrusion is observed, located laterally and intraforaminally on the left side. There is also moderate degenerative hypertrophy of the articular masses. The neural foramina are only slightly reduced in size. At the L4-L5 level, degenerative discopathy with diffuse disc protrusion is present, causing only a slight indentation on the spinal sac on the left side. There is moderate degenerative hypertrophy of the articular masses.
The remaining lumbar intervertebral discs show only mild degeneration. The spinal canal has regular dimensions. No morphological or signal alterations are observed in the conus medullaris or cauda equina roots. No focal bone lesions are identified."

Hey, my name's Josh, what's yours?
I'm looking to meet anyone, I'm not super picky about looks, but please send me a picture so I know you're a real person. I'm looking to date someone no older than 30 and of course at least 18.
As a heads up I work the night audit at a hotel so my sleep schedule is pretty rough, even on my days off. I'm usually up at like 6pm and awake until 9AM (EST) but maybe we could pull all nighters together? :)
It won't be a permanent job, it's just something I do for now because I like it, so I'll go back to having a normal sleep schedule eventually.
I'm super into video games, and just recently got into watching more anime. To name a couple games that I like: League of Legends (Over 3000 hours across multiple accounts... Its sad I know.) Also Overwatch 2 and Smite as well. Some of the Series I like are: Resident Evil, Halo, Mass Effect, Yakuza, Batman Arkham, Borderlands, Bioshock, Dark Souls, The Witcher, Assassin's Creed, Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing, (and anything else Nintendo of course!) to name just a few. You can ask for my steam profile if you want to see everything I've played! I have a gaming PC and Oculus Rift, a PS5, an Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch just to name a few of my consoles.
As for anime, I've seen Higurashi, Mirai Nikki, FLCL, Jojo's Bizzare Adventure, Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, and Durarara!! If you have any suggestions let me know, I'm always looking for more!
I've also watched a little bit of TV - all of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, You, Squid Game, and Game of Thrones to name a few.
I've also been going to the gym for a little over 3 years now, I've lost a ton of weight and packed on a little bit of muscle from going, it'd be nice to talk to someone whose also into fitness and could inspire me to work harder!
Anyways, feel free to DM me and we can swap pictures, let's talk nerdy things. I don't mind long distance relationship, but bonus points if you're close to me.
Please be more creative than just a simple "Hi" or "How are you?"
Here's 3 pictures of me, first one is most recent.
https://imgur.com/a/fkYwvbN
https://imgur.com/a/mphKRJO
https://imgur.com/a/sMrQOvJ
Look forward to meeting new people, hopefully we can spend long nights calling over Discord and eventually meet up. :)

So, umm, hi. I'm here (again). Great intro, eh?
- First, the post flair. Platonic and intimate aren't necessarily mutually exclusive (for me) since I can have an intimate relationship with a platonic friend, and I can also be intimate with someone without being sexual. Both can mean sex-free/less, but there's a part of me, although covered, who still wants to keep it open for that (the physical touch) in the future. I'm seeking, at the very least, someone with whom I can be my true self in a safe and accepting environment, and that requires a level of intimacy beyond the definition that either of these flairs encapsulates. But that's me... a stickler for word definitions, giving them room for nuance and interpretation, whilst also understanding that the words we choose can be quite impactful.
- That segues seamlessly into my second point, the "A" in looking for "anyone" is for NB, M, or FTM. I am looking for someone with the potential for something beyond an emotionally and intellectually connecting relationship, though it's not my first or even second priority. I just want there to be a possibility.
- My third point, if you identify as F and find yourself connecting to my words in a way that you feel compelled to reach out and communicate? Please do. I'm all for following someone's rules and guidelines, and I also know that I need to leave room for that nuance I mentioned. It's not easy for me, and I still know it's necessary I at least try.
On that note, I'm here, trying. Here's a bulleted run-down of the woman behind the words:

• This is my 18,036th username.
• I sometimes exaggerate (the quantity of) things.
• I love parenthetical expression (it just works); most punctuation can help me get my point across without ever opening my mouth.
• Laughing and cannabis are truly my best medicines, and I have a prescription for one; the other just needs more cowbell.
• If you can't talk comedy, we won't connect in the way I am seeking. It is in my veins. When I say "talk comedy", I mean I weave humor throughout my serious messages, I bring up comedians ALL THE TIME, I love watching and discussing stand-up specials, I listen to comedy podcasts (mostly Smartless and Conan), and I believe that in another life, I was a comedian because I just relate so much to so many comedians.
• On the note of relating, I'm Autistic. The spectrum isn't linear, it's everything and everywhere. I do have strengths. I just also have a lot of weaknesses. Additionally, I also suffer with ADHD. However, because of the other alphabet diagnoses I have (C-PTSD, MDD, GAD, and BordPD), ADHD medication didn't help me when we tried a couple of years ago, it made everything worse. So, see above, laughing and cannabis are the only things that give me relief. Keep in mind, though, I live with suffering daily. There's no "fixing" or "curing" me. If you aren't comfortable with a highly emotional, intense, angry, passionate, believe it or not, kind, f'ed up woman, then, well, that's okay... I wouldn't be either. :D Just maybe don't reach out as we'll both end up super disappointed.
• Oh, did I mention I'm also agoraphobic? I mean, come on, how are you not pushing "send message" already? The figurative line will be around the door once I press post, I'm sure of it. (But seriously, I have mild/moderate agoraphobia that was activated by the pandemic, then the protests after George Floyd, then the Jan. 6th insurrection, then the anti-progress movement, and of course, as a Jewish person, seeing Nazis disguised as Conservatives just pretty much running things because they have the most money for some f'ing reason. Ugh. I don't trust anyone anymore. I don't have friends. I haven't spoken to a family member in more than two years. I haven't had a hug in two years. I haven't gone out for entertainment in 3.5 years. I am essentially still living like some did in April/May of 2020... so, yah, it's bad.)
• But I'll refer back to my initial opener and repeat, "umm, hi. I'm here (again). ".
• Okay, I'm back.
• I love football (NFL) and have become a decent baseball fan in the last 7 years. Football has been a part of my life since I was 13 years old. It's a toxic place (nfl makes me want to punch air), but I can't stop because it's a part of my core, my special interest. If you know anything about Autism, the one thing that pretty much remains consistent is that a special interest can be a life saver! Also, though, many of us become hyper-focused (especially us ADHD people) and only be able to talk about that one thing. It's annoying to me, and it's also me. :D If you can relate to that, maybe we have a chance to connect. I'm a values-based person, so it sometimes pains me to know that one of my core interests goes against a lot of my core values (safety, duh). It's one of those both/and things for me... Like how I know I love someone and also hate them. What do you think about that theory? That love and hate are separate between a thin line... (philosophical talk around psychology and human behavior is a big interest of mine.)
• Where was I?
• Oh yah, I play fantasy football and baseball. I love it. I focus on it almost year-round.
• Cats. Period. (I am a silly lady who talks to them in a very specific cat voice, but also, that voice is used to talk to birds, squirrels, bunnies, spiders, bees, and the little gophers that live under the houses around here.)
• (Side note: I'm an omnivore, and also an animal advocate. If you can't handle someone both/and, well, that's okay, I can't handle a lot, either, so I get it. It's one of those things where removing a food group from my diet would be more harmful to me, though I fully subscribe to moderation and not eating animal products for every meal; the corporate world has tried to make us lowly citizens think we have any real "carbon footprint", but someone I met through here reminded me that's just capitalists trying to blame us so they can charge us more for "eco-friendly" shit that's probably not even eco-friendly. Ugh. Where was I?)
• Oh yah...
• Back to the agoraphobia for a second... I'm a fear-based person. Not because I want to be, I just am. I'd love to find more peace, and right now, that's not the case. However, I used to socialize. I did. I have pictures to prove it. I sometimes like to reminisce in what I used to do, but I don't do anything I used to. My identity crisis is real, and I get frustrated about it, often. I retreat. I avoid. I get defensive. And, then I reflect and try be as self-aware as possible while not projecting onto you, the proverbial you. Constant communication is necessary. If I say, "I'm having a bad day," and your reaction is to wait until I'm feeling better? Then, I'm not for you (or you're not for me?). I need someone who will figuratively sit with me through those bad days, even when I say, "I don't want to talk". I need someone who can be there, even if you're only there on the other side of the screen and you say something like, "I know you are hurting today. I know you don't want to talk. I know this is hard. I am here for you. You don't have to feel better, and I'll still be here. If you want to yell, cry, or do nothing or everything in between, I'm here." I say that in such detail because I know what I need, but oftentimes, I can't ask for it in the moment when I need it, if that makes sense? My ex-husband ended up feeling like my needs were unreasonable (I was with him before my diagnoses, so to him, I was just going to therapy and "not getting better"), and I was doing what I was taught, to ask for what I need, and he, along with many others (I read people's lists of red flags) thought that I shouldn't need so much.
• Well, I do.
• (Side note: I'm not pining for my ex; we've been apart for four years, but it was the last relationship I had, and I believe in learning from experiences and those lessons need to be communicated. If you can't handle someone talking about a previous relationship here and there, that won't work. A lot of my memories directly pre-pandemic are with him, so it will come up from time to time. I assume you've had relationships, and I'll want to hear about them, too! I just don't do ex-bashing. Not cool. I loved the guy, and he doesn't deserve all the blame for our relationship ending, and I know your ex doesn't, either.)
• I own an old home that's worth less than a lot of people's cars, I assume, and I'm not handy; you being handy would be the best thing so I could ask you about all of the things. :) I also own a cheap EV that doesn't go very far, but is there when I need it. I'm a pretty poor person who lives in poverty, but makes it work because I'm a fucking survivor.

You know, I think that's a great place to end this random list of words. I've posted here over the last few years, responded to posts, and sometimes I include a picture, but I'm not going to this time. It makes me upset not to share in advance, but I also think that I tend to get responses from people who didn't read my post and just looked at my picture. I want to be attracted to you aesthetically and vice versa, I just don't want you to see the aesthetics first and forget about the words. My outsides don't match my insides. My outsides are what contributed, I'm positive, to my Autism going undiagnosed. I'm partially disabled, but you can't see my disability unless I show it, and believe me, this entire post? That's me showing it a little...
On that note, I'll bid you adieu. Please think before reaching out. I mean it, if you are someone who is just looking to chat with someone out of boredom and are nowhere near the CDT time zone, please spare us both. Potential future meeting is something I know I want. I haven't done it yet, but man, that's the goal.
Okay, seriously, I'm going now. For real...
But wait, don't go yet, I prefer PM's than chat. The Reddit app sucks, and chat isn't on 3rd party apps, plus, I like the long form communication of a PM than a live chat as that seems more casual? I don't know. That's me. Perhaps one day we could move off here, but for now, PMs are my preference.
Okay, bye.

Hi I am a 23 year old male and this is the story of the person who seems like one of the most important woman i will ever meet. I can't seem to shake her out of my mind, we stay in touch and talk every 2 months, reply to each other's post. for context, I met her in 2019 and fell head over heels for her since she was there for me during my most vulnerable time when my dad passed away. I have dated several women after her, smarter, funnier and prettier but haven't experienced anything like the way i felt about her. i know she doesn't feel the same way about me but everytime her picture comes up. I take a trip down memory lane and idek why. we flirt and go radio silence for another 2 months. I am thinking to block all contact with her by sending her this text. "Whenever I think about my dad, I think about you Its weird and I dont think I ever appreciated how big of a help you were during that time. Maybe this what makes you special for me. You caught me in my vulnerable time and I have never been able to be that vulnerable with anyone else like that again. Often i found myself blaming you for keeping me hooked and while that might be true to some extent. I think it was your kindness that won me over. I just wanted to thank you for being kind and funny and particularly as awesome as me! haha sorry cant help it. But for all the memories. I know it seems like a loser move but I think its about time I bid you farewell. I did try to replace how i felt about you by dating other people and found kinder, subjectively prettier and smarter people with some i even synced alot. But what I couldn't find was the way I felt about you. I dont know what you are doing with your life, what are you upto and its kind of a blessing in disguise. If I am being completely honest, I dont get the same butterflies by seeing your stories and pictures anymore. But they are always a reminder of how I felt about you. You said " Eat, sleep and repeat, one day at a time" and that became my mantra. I hit rock bottom back then 4 years ago and didn't really know what I was actually doing till june. What I know is if I keep staying in touch with you I am gonna feel this way and my forgetful ass who forgets his own birthday, forgetting how i felt about you is something I am unable to do. Maybe I made more of what it was and maybe someday it will make up for a good story. Thank you for everything. yours truly, the one who got away

Hey, my name's Josh, I'm 5'8 160 pounds, I have hazel eyes and strawberry blonde hair.
I like to think I have a pretty kickass moustache.
I'm looking to meet anyone, I don't care what you look like, but please send me a picture so I know you're a real person. I'm looking to date someone no older than 30 and of course at least 18.
As a heads up I work the night audit at a hotel so my sleep schedule is pretty rough, even on my days off. I'm usually up at like 6pm and awake until 9AM (EST) but maybe we could pull all nighters together? :)
It won't be a permanent job, it's just something I do for now because I like it, so I'll go back to having a normal sleep schedule eventually.
I'm super into video games, and just recently got into watching more anime. To name a couple games that I like: League of Legends (Over 3000 hours across multiple accounts... Its sad I know.) Also Overwatch 2 and Smite as well. Some of the Series I like are: Resident Evil, Halo, Mass Effect, Yakuza, Batman Arkham, Borderlands, Bioshock, Dark Souls, The Witcher, Assassin's Creed, Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing, (and anything else Nintendo of course!) to name just a few. You can ask for my steam profile if you want to see everything I've played! I have a gaming PC and Oculus Rift, a PS5, an Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch just to name a few of my consoles.
As for anime, I've seen Higurashi, Mirai Nikki, FLCL, Jojo's Bizzare Adventure, Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, and Durarara!! If you have any suggestions let me know, I'm always looking for more!
I've also watched a little bit of Netflix, all of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, You, Squid Game, and Game of Thrones on HBO was amazing.
I've also been going to the gym for a little over 3 years now, I've lost a ton of weight and packed on a little bit of muscle from going, it'd be nice to talk to someone whose also into fitness and could inspire me to work harder!
Anyways, feel free to DM me and we can swap pictures, let's talk nerdy things. I don't mind long distance relationship, but bonus points if you're close to me.
Please be more creative than just a simple "Hi" or "How are you?"
Here's 3 pictures of me, first one is most recent.
https://imgur.com/a/fkYwvbN
https://imgur.com/a/mphKRJO
https://imgur.com/a/sMrQOvJ
Look forward to meeting new people, hopefully we can spend long nights calling over Discord and eventually meet up. :)

We had such a small family now. All that was left was just me, my parents, my two older brothers with their wives and my sexy Aunt. Every major birthday or holiday you'd make the trip across the country to see us and we put you up in our cozy guest house just behind the main house.
We had just finished off an incredible day celebrating your birthday with an amazing dinner that my mom had put together for everyone and the champagne had now been opened. When the third bottle was finished and everyone started talking about heading to bed you asked if anyone wanted another couple of drinks, to which I agreed. You were the most fun person in the family after all.
I said I'd meet you in the guest house in a few minutes and went back to my room to change into a comfortable pair of grey jogging pants and a plain white T-shirt before grabbing an extra present I had bought for you. When I got to the guest house I let myself in and quickly found you sitting on the sofa and walked up behind you before placing two tickets on your lap and wrapping my arms around you in a cuddle before whispering in your ears "Happy Birthday. I hope it's everything you dremt of...". The tickets were for a cruise you had mentioned to me a few times through the year.
So I'm looking for a taboo rp between a guy in his mid 20s and his smoking hot aunt.
How would she react to the gift he had given her? Had they ever done anything together before? These are things we can discuss before if you want or we can just dive in.
I'm open to almost anything with my only hard limits being Age play, permanent scarring and pegging. So feel free to suggest anything you want to include.
I added in the second ticket as the boy hopes to be invited along if we want to make it long term, though I am happy to play it short term too.
Now as for preferences, I love to write in first person but am competent and happy to write in third person depending on the partner.
I live in Scotland and therefore am in BST and understand the vast majority of people who post/reply on these boards won't link up ideally in terms of time so am happy for something with slower replies as long as there is the quality to back it up.
The characters are open to input, so please feel free to suggest ideas for the aunt or nephew. I'm open to discussions on both if you have ideas on the nephew's looks, especially if it's to line up with kinks you have.
Hope to hear from you soon

We have been in relationship for 1yr and half but have know each other for 8 years. Within these 8 years, we usually take turns to buy each other things ( we are like a couple eventho we are not in relay ). But when we decided to be in a serious relationship ( starting from Jan 2022 ), things got kindda...unfair for me?
In our first half year being in a relationship, it was fine. We didnt get to meet up or date so much ever since i quit my job and started to work from home so i decided that the least thing i can do is sometimes buy stuff or food for my bf. He dont really treat me to anything unless he thought that its been awhile since he bought me something or when we were in a fight ( we rarely fight since we dont really meet up frequently )
But i still think it was okay because he still sometimes offers to buy me something, example, when i was getting some ice cream, he did offer to pay but i decline nicely, but i feel happy when he did that because it make me feel he is attentive towards me? ( Do you understand, its just the happy feeling when people actually offer to pay for you eventho they dont end up pay for it )
But lately, it has always been me that pays for everything even when we are out for a date. He eventually stops offering to pay and let me get all the bills.
I feel like its a bit unfair for me since he has been expecting me to pay all things. I wanna try to ask but im not sure how cuz i think it might sounded like im a materialistic / gold digger if i tried to ask him about this. I did once casually asked if he could buy me a chocolate but he said ( nicely tho ) that he dosent have any money.

I am very undecided for the moment. This person has been my closest male friend throughout high school. He confessed his feelings to me (which developped after we started college) during our first year of college. We dated for a year and a half. (which was mostly during COVID) We mostly had a good relationship. In the end, we broke up due to some communication issues and honestly both of us being kids. (this was my first serious relationship, i did and suggessted some things I would have never done and suggested now, so inexperience played a big part, I think) Some key dynamics that contributed to our break-up: the fact that I would have to console him every time after I expressed how he hurt me, making me feel like I am responsible for his emotions, the fact that our connection was more of an emotional one (we were attracted to each other for sure, but we weren't each other's usual type, before me all the people he dated had a very specific type that I did not fit, and he was not conventionally attractive per se, making my then "friends" question why I am with him) and communication issues in general (since we had been friends for so long, I would interpret what he said and not ask for clarification, but this builds up over time. For example, if he said something that hurt me I'd simply say oh he didn't mean that), I was anxious the entire time because the relationship felt way too serious for a 20 year-old and last but not least my mom did not approve of the relationship at all. (she is a perfectionist who thinks I can do better than him more handsome, more well-off, more educated etc., it is true that I'm a bit more well-off but the difference is not so harsh that we can't work it out). After breaking up we did not speak for 1.5 years. During that time, I jumped from relationship to relationship. I either had a fwb, a boyfriend or a girlfriend the entire time and none of them lasted more than 2 months. I didn't give myself the time to process the breakup. Around 4 months ago, I realized that I still had some problems left over from the relationship and really focused on them and resolved most of it. This was when I realized I was trying to emulate my relationship with him with different people. Then I got a boyfriend. We had known each other prior to my "enlightenment". We flirted for a month and then we started dating. A month after I started dating my boyfriend, my ex texted me saying he wants to meet up. At this point I had no feelings for him whatsoever and I had worked through my issues. My best friend convinced me that I should see him for closure, that he deserves this since he was such a good friend for so long. I informed my boyfriend of all this and reassured him that nothing would happen. He was uncomfortable but tried to support me as much as he can. I met up with my ex, we talked for two hours. We talked about our relationship problems. He never actually understood why we broke up. (I was the one who broke up with him) We realized the extent of our miscommunication. He said that he used to put me on a pedastal, that's why he belittled himself and tried to accommodate too much to me, a habit he let go in his following relationships. (also the reason I think he'd cry and berate himself every time he hurt me) After that we talked a bit about what we were doing with our lives. We talked about stuff like major life events and our current obsessions. It was clear that a lot of time had passed but it was nice to see that we could still share a lot. We understood each other in a way no one else could. From our niche interests to our emotions... I realized that he became the strong, ambitious and goal-oriented man I always wished him to be. (during our relationship I was very much an over-achiever while he slacked-off playing video games a lot but I think that was because it was mostly during COVID and we were 21) He had started his own business and was thriving, I was really happy for him! He also seemed a lot more confident which I appreciated. And the fact that he was working out didn't hurt him either. During the talk, I clearly explained to him that I had a boyfriend that it would be unfair to him if we were to talk, I myself wouldn't want to date someone who is still in contact with their ex and that I couldn't risk hurting my boyfriend's feelings for him. However, once I got to thinking, for the next couple of days all I could think of was my ex. I realized that either I wasn't happy in my current relationship or I wasn't ready for a relationship so I had to break it off with my boyfriend, and I did. Now, as for my confusion, my ex now wants to get back together. We met again once and it is clear that we both have very strong feelings towards each other. We see the world simiarly, we have similar goals, we can understand each other, and we push each other to grow. But I am not sure if this is just continuing the pattern of serial dating, if I should even BE in a relationship, let alone with him. I asked him some time, saying that I am not ready for a relationship. And he seems ready to wait for me. But I know that this is taking a mental toll on him. He sees me as his girlfriend already. (making plans for the summer vacation etc.) In a way, I want to get back with him so bad. I feel like we were the "end-game". I have always felt that. But then a part of me says that I shouldn't date anyone for at least a year, and learn how to be by myself. I rely a lot on my partners for emotional regulation which I find is not the healthiest way to be in a relationship. (causes dependency) I am not sure if I want to get back together with him for the wrong reasons. So Reddit, your insight is very much appreciated. Because I am very confused.

From The Detroit Times, June 7, 1915.
When Darby saw the setting sun, He swung his scythe, and home he run, Sat down, drank off his quart, and said, “My work is done, I’ll go to bed.” “My work is done!” retorted Joan, “My work is done! your constant tone; But hapless woman ne’er can say, ‘My work is done,’ till judgment day. You men can sleep all night, but we Must toil.”—“Whose fault is that?” quoth he. “I know your meaning,” Joan replied, “But, Sir, my tongue shall not be tied; I will go on, and let you know What work poor women have to do: First, in the morning, though we feel As sick as drunkards when they reel— Yes, feel such pains in back and head As would confine you men to bed, We ply the brush, we wield the broom, We air the beds, and right the room; The cows must next be milked—and then We get the breakfast for the men. Ere this is done, with whimpering cries, And bristly hair, the children rise; These must be dressed, and dosed with rue, And fed—and all because of you. We next”—here Darby scratched his head, And stole off grumbling to his bed, And only said, as on she run, “Zounds! woman’s clack is never done.”
At early dawn, ere Phoebus rose, Old Joan resumed her tale of woes; When Darby thus—“I’ll end the strife, Be you the man and I the wife; Take you the scythe and mow, while I Will all your boasted cares supply.” “Content,” quoth Joan, “give me my stint.” This Darby did, and out she went. Old Darby rose and seized the broom And whirled the dirt about the room, Which having done, he scarce knew how, He hied to milk the brindled cow. The brindled cow whisked round her tail In Darby’s eyes, and kicked the pail. The clown, perplexed with grief and pain, Swore he’d ne’er try to milk again: When turning round, in sad amaze, He saw his cottage in a blaze: For as he chanced to brush the room, In careless haste, he fired the broom. The fire at last subdued, he swore The broom and he would meet no more. Pressed by misfortune, and perplexed, Darby prepared for breakfast next; But what to get he scarcely knew— The bread was spent, the butter too. His hands bedaubed with paste and flour, Old Darby labored full an hour. But, luckless wight! thou couldst not make The bread take form of loaf or cake. As every door wide open stood, In pushed the sow in quest of food; And, stumbling onward, with her snout O’erset the churn—the cream ran out. As Darby turned, the sow to beat, The slippery cream betrayed his feet; He caught the bread trough in his fall, And down came Darby, trough, and all. The children, wakened by the clatter, Start up, and cry, “Oh! what’s the matter?” Old Jowler barked, and Tabby mewed, And hapless Darby bawled aloud, “Return, my Joan, as heretofore, I’ll play the housewife’s part no more; Since now, by sad experience taught, Compared to thine my work is naught; Henceforth, as business calls, I’ll take Content, the plough, the scythe, the rake, And never more transgress the line Our fates have marked, while thou art mine. Then, Joan, return, as heretofore, I’ll vex thy honest soul no more; Let’s each our proper task attend— Forgive the past, and strive to mend.”

I was denied a B2 visitor visa to go see my wife and I’m mad. I don’t even understand why they denied me, didnt look at any piece of evidence I prepared. Asked me total of 5 questions and made their mind up. 1: why are you going To visit/ on a holiday 2: are you visiting someone Yes (as I mentioned in the online form) my spouse 3: How did you meet Online 4: what are your salaries what does HE do what do you do She’s an engineer I’m a teller, been working at ___ for just over a year. I earn about 25k GBP i work in uk and live in uk 5: have they applied for a spouse visa? No I dont want to move to the us I have family obligations here I care for an elderly family member were looking for her to move here. Thats it, I asked if he wants to see work contracts statements flight itinerary, marriage certificate… no
Looked at my passport saw a one day visa written in Cyrillic gave me a weird look.
Denied with no explanation.
Can someone explain to me wth I got denied?
At this point it’s the second time and I’m simply tired I guess ill never get to see where my wife has lives for most of her life. I detest the us at this point I can see why many people do I wouldn’t step in the country if they paid me

So, I've been working for Dollar General for a little over a month now. I started as a Lead Key Holder but was promoted to Assistant Manager on Monday (6/5) after busting my ass for the last 3 weeks helping my Store Manager prepare for inventory (which was last Wednesday). The current employee situation is a MESS. We have 1 Lead Key Holder, 1 other "assistant manager" (she transferred from out of state with the title, my SM did NOT give her the title...hence, why she promoted me), 1 stocker and 1 regular cashier. The other ASM has been unreliable in the last few months prior to me being hired....the other Lead and I were hired the same week and went through training together. The cashier has been there for about 2 months now. The stocker is kind of irrelevant in this story.
A few weeks before the other Lead and I were hired, there was an issue with the EOD deposit and it was $500 short and the other ASM was on duty at the time. For the past few weeks since being hired, the other ASM, the Lead and the cashier have ALL had cash accountability issues....shortages, stupid mistakes, etc. My SM has coached and re-trained everyone multiple times (no write ups on file) and has been more than patient and generous with them all. Because our inventory was pretty much a loss, we are having to follow up with Loss Prevention and our store is under a serious "watch" to help get the store back to a successful state....therefore, my SM and I have been trying to enforce policies and procedures and run a tighter ship. One of the major issues is that the other ASM, Lead and cashier have been using each other's drawers from time to time (MAJOR NO!) and even though they have been told multiple times, it still happens. My SM and I are the only ones following the cash handling protocols and accountability and we have NO issues when it comes to any of our drops, end of shift counts and EOD deposits.
Yesterday, my SM and I opened the store together so she could walk me through some new duties as ASM. We had NO issues during our shift whatsoever. Right before we clocked out and left for the day, the Lead and other ASM approached us to let us know that the Lead had done a transaction where a customer wanted to upload $500 on his Cashapp with his bankcard/credit card....and apparently, the transaction showed as "going through". My SM told them both that they knew better than to do a transaction like that and as "key-holders" they are in leadership roles for the store and need to hold themselves to higher standards. She did toss the word "write-up" out there if their behaviors on the registers were not corrected from here on out. Not even 2 hours later, the other ASM accepted two $100 bills that were counterfeit! And when they had started counting the Lead's drawer down for EOD, it showed that it was $500 SHORT.
My SM told her that she needed to call our District Manager's substitute (our regular is on vacation) immediately and let him know what happened. Well, the substitute called my SM and pretty much blamed HER for the keyholder and other ASM messing up so bad. And he will be visiting our store at some point today with Loss Prevention to review the security footage and take corrective measures. My SM is convinced that SHE is going to be fired for these two employees being idiots. But here's the thing: SHE trained ME....and I haven't had a single issue since I started with being short when I've been MOD, on my drawer or on the EOD deposit. Not once. So, obviously in my mind...my SM is NOT the problem here. The other ASM wants to be a Store Manager and I honestly think that she is trying to sabotage my SM in any way that she can to make my SM look as bad as possible.
Today is my scheduled day off but I told my SM that I am willing to come in and meet with the Sub District Manager and Loss Prevention with her.....but she told me that she doesn't want me to get thrown under the bus alongside her. I have told her repeatedly that I don't have anything to worry about and if LP and the DM are going to try to fault her for this bullshit, I will gladly take the fall along with her....if she goes, I go. But I also want to make sure that LP and DM have the FULL story from start to finish....because the other ASM plays the victim all too well.
Not to mention, we have had several complaints last night over the ASM's customer service (or lack there of) and apparently, she was yelling/swearing at customers who gave her attitude. Like, honestly, how in the hell is she getting away with that crap?
Sorry for the long post....I just wanted to give as much background as I could. Does anyone know what the policy is on the counterfeit money and possible $500 scam through Cashapp? Can my Store Manager really be held accountable for these actions when she has done EVERYTHING possible (aside from write-ups) to make sure our staff has been adequately trained with the policies and CBLs?

Okay ive been thinking of donkey from the shrek, like you know he fucked a dragon i have a story:
So the mc and a dragon have been in a relationship after lots of time and fights and they and journey then they end up together and built a big territory big enough and comfortable for the dragon and mc to rest and work with. Then one day the mc wants to pleasure her dragon the mc and dragon have been having sex but the is the only one who can get pleasure since hes a human and not that big but ofc they used some toys big toys mc made and the feels the dragon isnt satisfied and just acting since its not his actual penis, and thats what is inside the mind of mc, since the mc wants to also fulfill her dragon's pleasure but ofc the dragon is too big, the mc decided to find some kind of magic and spell to make one living thing big overall size or make the dragon human temporarily and if mc where ever to find thst spell or magic mc is able to make it one of his pocket abilities and wants to know stuff about this since mc feels like his love isnt enough, thats what he thinks and also wanted to feel the dragon fully and embrace her but the dragon said it is fine she loves him the way he is and dont need such thing and shes pleasured enough with their doings and the mc insists "no im gonna find a way" , but then one time when the mc had to left their home (the mc wanted the dragon to come but the dragon said she has to take care of chores and shit like that then the mc insisted that its okay and will do it together just like before but the dragon said it is fine she wants to make the mc comfortable and make things ready for him to relax after the meeting (so its like some kind of treat) then the mc said "oh i see, alright then im excited now, please dont work to hard" then the dragon kissed the mc before he left. Then now the mc is about attend some kind of meeting with something, like u know guild stuff or shit like that in rpg, but apparently the meeting was cancelled when he got there now he excitedly wants to go home since all that meeting is just some unimportant stuff and now he thinks he should surprise the dragon and bought something the dragon likes. Then when he came back home, meeting was supposed to last like 4hours so thats why he wanted to surprise the dragon, then when he was close to home he heard a loud noise and its a moan of a dragon, then mc hurriedly came real fast cause he thought shes in danger and he also heard a male voice dragon then when he got there he discovered the female dragon, is having sex with some big strong dragon and he can see how pleasured the female dragon and at this moment he knew hes right about the dragon getting what she needs, and must be containing this, this whole time, but ofc he was hurt since he already told he'd find a way for them to fully pleasure each other since the mc also wants to fully feel her and then the mc yelled to them saying "what the fuck is this" then the they were startled and the mc charged to the male dragon and almost killed him if it wasnt for the female dragon stopping him then the female dragon was scared and worried and trying to reason then they had a lot of arguing for a minutes saying she has needs then the mc said "i already told u i'd find a way for us but u insisted and now this?!" then the mc left in tears and were deeply hurt. The female dragon tried stopping him and begged to not leave her but he vanished (he has some kind of abilites since its rpg and hes strong)
Then when the mc left crying while wandering around somewhere dont know what to do and feel lifeless, the mc got a notification from the meeting saying the reason why it got cancelled, turns out theyve been busy trying to raid some big level boss for days and if they managed to defeat it, they'll be able to get a huge amount of valuables, then the mc came hurriedly and in despair and wanted to take all his anger and sadness to that boss.
The guild was surprised how much stronger the mc was than before and saw him in a state they've never seen before, he was in rage and sadness when he defeated the dragon with ease and didnt feel enough that he almost killed one of his mates, when he was about to kill his mate, something in boss home came out of nowhere turns out it was a daughter of the boss theyve killed and its a dragon, ( the boss dragon [the father] was actually torturing his daughter into becoming a dragon made for killing) so it means shes strong but the boss [the father of the dragon that appeared to stop the mc] was so cruel that all his doing is evil killing innocent kinds and even the daughter wanted to kill him, but she cant since hes strong and was surprised that the mc was able to take it down easily.
So when the dragon, [daughter of the boss] stopped the mc, the mc was surprised and also almost killed her, but then when shes on the ground, wounded, she told the mc she meant no hurt and explained his fathers evil doing and also wanted to kill him, and said they've also saved her from his cruel evil doings of his father, his guildmate said its a trap and might be just reasoning so they said to the mc to end her, but then mc remembered how he also saved a dragon, her gf who now cheated, the mc treated the the dragon daughter with his skills healing and such, but still have to rest, the guildmates was surprised and tried arguing with him but the mc showed them a face he never showed before so they just let him be then they took the valuables, loots all that.
Then the guildmated asked if he wanted to come home with them the mc responsed in a calm manner and wanted to stay with the daughter dragon since shes wounded by him and wanted to take care and its hes responsible for it, so they understand him and told the mc to be careful and gave the mc foods and comforting stuff so they dont have to worry for the mc.
And the mc ofcourse apologized deeply for the guild and specially the one he almost killed, and thank them for this, and he said, he'll take care of this dragon, and told their goodbyes and they said to expect the mc to join the celebration (just like before) of after everytime they succeed in killing a boss, specially this one since this was the hardest took a great amount of guildmates/members, and mc said yes he'll try to, and said that he just have a lot of things going on, and so they said their goodbyes.
Then a moment later the mc treated the daughter dragon for fast healing while the daughter dragon is sleeping/resting then he fell asleep.
Next day he woke up and was surprised its already afternoon and the celebration is always celebrated at night the day after they've killed a boss.
Then he heard someone is doing something and when he saw it, its a woman and threatened her who she is and why is she here and wheres the dragon, then the female dragon calmly explained. Turns out shes the dragon and can shape shift with her abilities, and the mc was shocked and sad when remembered his gf (his gf is around 30+ based on her age and looks, she looks like a mom) and this woman also looks like a mom but shes inexperienced about such and tried having relationship with other dragons but she just cant find the interest even when she tried having intercourse (one time when the dragon who she tried having sex with showed his penis the daughter dragon didnt feel any interest but then the dragon tried force her she said sorry but she really dont feel like it then the dragon tried raping her then she cuts off the dragon penis and left) and also was because of his father forcing her to get stronger, so she never had any interest in relationship.
Then the mc was shocked, the daughter dragon cooked a meal for both of them and she said to sit and they'll have a meal, then they talked about the things that happened yesterday, and had a cry and laugh. Then after eating, the mc helped the daughter dragon in human form to do the dishes then after, he sit on the bed and explained why he was in raged that time when he killed the boss, her father, after explaning what happened he couldn't help but let a tear out, then the daughter dragon comforted him and ended up them having lovey dovey. <3
Then after that they go outside and had an interest to each others abilities and teached eachother so the mc learned a skill to be a giant and can even be dragon because when they had seggs they apparently in surprised both of them got some of their skills, and now mc can turn into a dragon and even change his size overall and human size too so thats why he can be a giant, the for the daughter dragon she learned some of his skills too and even felt eachother emotion. (While the fmc dragon his old gf, is trying to find the mc and is in deep regret and still trying to find the mc anywhere).
Then the mc remembers the celebration if his guild/mates, so he invited her to come with him and celebrate, she agrees.
Then after they come to the celebration and had lots of food and drinks, the daughter dragon got drunk easily and mc took her to a room then the daughter dragon tried kissing the mc and the mc said shes drunk but they can easily remove it with abilities but mc said she gotta experience how it like to be drunk, but the daughter dragon knows she is drunk and wanted to kiss mc, and tried saying to the mc its fine, since its the mc and she knows its mc, but the mc said shes drunk she needs to rest since its her first time the mc wanted to let the mc what it feels to be drunk, since when they talked lots of things earlier, the dragon daughter said she never had any alcohol and never had interest with it plus his father never allowed her to buy for herself. So she drink in the celebration in appreciation of mc and what theyve been through, the she kept talking and mc then mc layed her down to bed then fell asleep, the mc stays there to accompany her, then a moment later mc heard her talking, and mc thinks shes just dreaming, then while shes talking she accidentally transformed or shapeshift into a dragon then took the mc outside and ofcourse the room was damaged then the daughter dragon took mc somewhere high like a mountain where there is no one.
Then the old/ex gf of mc heard something and hurriedly came into that noise then she saw something on the mountain, then she sneakily go in there, then she saw mc and a female dragon, their position is the daughter dragon is pinning mc in a dominating way while the mc is in human form while they're talking then after a minute of talking while the ex gf is watching she was about to stop them (the ex gf was hesitant if she should interrupt them, because shes still guilty as hell) but then the daughter dragon and kissed the mc erotically then the ex gf was shocked and was about to interrupt then the mc transformed into a dragon, so the ex gf was stunned of what happened, then the mc was hard in a dragon form then kissed the daughter dragon erotically then inserted his big dragon penis, even the daughter dragon was surprised, and the ex gf too of how the mc is bigger than most dragons.
Then the daughter dragon said to be gently since it'll be her first time then mc said, he will be but not for long, with a smirk, then the daughter dragon blushed and said "baka~ uwu~ <3" then when the mc was rubbing his dragon penis to the daughter dragon pussy, and was about to insert it, the ex gf interrupted them and yelled to them to stop! The mc was surprised also the daughter dragon then, the daughter dragon used her immobilizing ability to the ex gf, then the ex gf is stuck and cant move and said what is this and said to let her out or she will kill the daughter dragon, then the daughter dragon said "is this the gf dragon you're talking about?" Then the mc nodded, "then who do you choose me or her?" Then the mc had a moment then said "sorry but i think were done the moment u betrayed me" Then the ex gf dragon said "NO! NOO! I WONT DO IT AGAIN I PROMISE, I DIDNT MEAN TO DO IT, PLEASE COMEBACK! I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITHOUT YOU!" Mc said "sorry, i tried fixing it, but u made it worse" then mc proceeds to instantly penetrate the daughter gf, then the daughter dragon said, "oooooh, wh-what d-did i-" while her eyes is white as paint in pleasure mc proceeds to slowly take out the shaft of his cock, *while the dragon daughter is in heaven from pleasure and mc said "oooh~ mmmh~ didnt know dragon felt this good~, while the ex gf is just watching trying to convince mc to stop and comeback, then ex gf said while crying "nooo~ this isn't you what are u doing~ then mc proceeds to feel heaven and kept penetrating and said "sorry maybe if u were faithful, you'll be the one im penetrating right now", then mc transformed into a human, in giant size, then proceeds to penetrate her daughter dragon said "ooohh human cock in dragon form~ we should do this more often" then the ex gf was so jealous and seeing them like that, the dragon ex gf proceeds to pleasure herself while crying and saying the mc's name.
Til morning the mc and daughter dragon kept having sex while transforming and testing lewd sex, theyve never knew would be beyond heaven, while the ex gf is in lifeless state and angry and sad she dont know what to feel, and deeply regretted of what she did and remembering all the time they've spent together with mc.

• 3 Years Later *

The mc now own a country and living with her wife (daughter dragon) and have multiple children, and plans to make them stronger by sending them out to other place, and ofc some of their children didnt want to, so the female children stayed with the mc and his wife, (this is 17year later the "sending" them out, but the mc and wife and gf is still young because of their abilities" while the ex gf became an obedient dog to the mc since she wanted to go back with the mc no matter what, but mc is still hurt, so mc didnt really treated her like before, and treats her new wife more, so the old gf mc had to begged and be a good dog if she wants pleasure with mc, (she also learned the abilites of mc and the daughter dragon through sex) and then the mc also had children and the plan is included for both of the children of daughter dragon and ex gf dragon.
And thus mc lived a happy long pleasurable fun life, with his wife and his dog.
Thanks for reading and my bad with grammars. Pls ask if theres a question.

Chapter One
Chapter Seventeen
Martinez slouched his way into the kitchen. He wasn’t really paying attention to his surroundings; in his defense it was early in the morning and he’d failed at getting some appropriate shut-eye before he went and, you know, bared his entire soul to Chao. At least that was his plan. But as usual, the universe laughs at plans.
He placed a sealed plastic package into the coffee machine, then put a styrofoam cup in the appropriate location. He yawned as the machine began its burbling.
“Hey.”
Martinez snapped his head over at McCoy, who’d suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She leaned against the counter, with a big and very evil grin on her face.
“Um…” began Martinez, before he was interrupted by a voice from his other side.
“Hey.” Matt leaned there, and if McCoy looked evil then Matt looked positively diabolical. Martinez glanced behind him and saw more soldiers, all with looks of ill intent on their faces.
The corporal didn’t waste time in asking what the hell they were up to, he just started throwing hands and feet. Future scholars would count the resulting battle as one for the ages; Martinez even managed to tag Toke with a couple of pretty good punches and one really sweet roundhouse kick.
But in the end, it was still a case of one against many.
__________
“Mmmm mm mmm m mmm!” protested Martinez.
Chao sighed as she beheld his bruised and very taped-up state. “What did those idiots do to you?”
“Mm MMM mmm mm!” The corporal’s mouth was now duct-taped shut, so verbal acuity was not amongst his strong suits at the present.
She put her hands on her hips. “For crying out loud. Matt goes and gets me all worried that you’re somehow in trouble, he leads me over to some random closet and shoves me in here and I find you like this. What’s the game?”
“Gmmmm?”
Chao squatted, examining his bonds. “Well, they sure got you trussed up like a roast for the feast. Hey, if you want me to pull the tape off of your mouth just nod.”
After a moment, Martinez nodded. She reached for the tape covering his mouth, then hesitated. “Um. I don’t have much experience with this so I’ll leave it up to you. Is it better to go fast or slow? Blink once for fast, two for slow.”
With deliberation, Martinez blinked once. Chao nodded and yanked the tape off. They’d even left a convenient tab for her to grab ahold of.
“FUCKING OW!” yelled the corporal. “Um, sorry.”
Chao seated herself before his figure, which was tied up in a fetal position. “You know, the last few weeks have given me a bit of a crash-course on the types of grab-ass shenanigans you soldier types get up to. This is a new one, though. Care to educate me?”
Martinez stared at her in horrified disbelief. “Toke didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what? He just said you were in trouble and that I needed to help out.”
“That…that evil, evil son of a bitch. He said he’d explain everything!”
“Explain what? Luca, I am just about ready to walk out and leave you in here to eventually soil yourself.”
Now that he was literally hog-tied and unable to escape, Martinez realized he had to ‘fess up. “I like you,” he said in an almost-gasp. “I mean, I like you like you. In that way. I mean, I know it’s sudden. We’ve only known each other for maybe four weeks but you’re so smart and pretty and…and, you know about Asimov and Heinlein and Clarke and about orbital mechanics and star spectra.”
She sat in stunned silence while he continued. “I don’t bring much to the table, I get that. But I want to learn. After we come back from the Rithro’s repair mission, I want to go to college…I’ve started looking into that. I’m not much of a catch right now, but maybe one day you’d consider liking me that way as well…”
He was interrupted as she leaned down, grabbed his head, and planted a firm kiss upon his lips. After a moment of pure bliss for both of them, she pulled away. “You utter and complete idiot,” she said, but she said it with a smile. “Did you never think that perhaps you have some attractive qualities of your own?”
Martinez tried to shrug as best he could, being all tied up. “I mean, Toke did mention that I have some pretty nice abs?”
Chao’s eyes glinted in good humor. “Pretty nice? You’ve got an eight-pack. I could shred cheese on those bad boys.”
He looked up at her. “Wait. When did you see my abs?”
“Back when we were sequestered within Cheyenne Mountain, and we were strictly on sponge baths.” She patted his taut stomach, feeling up those aforementioned abs. “Anyways, do you want me to get you out of these bonds?”
“Um…”
Her good humor turned into a diabolical grin. “Or, would you like to remain in these bonds? Toke said something about a safe-word and safe-gesture, he said you’d explain it.”
“Of course he did. That fucker. Um. Chao, this has gone better than I could ever have imagined but I don’t think you need to know…”
“Know about what?” Her caressing of his unprotected stomach did not cease. “Does my corporal have a bit of a fetish?”
His brain seized up again at her emphasis on ‘my’. “I…”
“Let me put it this way. Would you like me to be all mean and nasty, or more cuddly and dommy mommy?”
After a long, long moment of silence he finally murmured, “Dommy mommy.”
“See? That wasn’t so hard. Well, admitting it wasn’t hard.” Her hand continued its explorations. “Now this here is indeed quite hard. Hmm. Good thing you are just too cute for words.”
“Cute?” He looked in disbelief at her, and then flinched at her continued caressing.
“One can be a badass and also cute, my dear corporal. You tick both boxes. Not to mention you’re into a fetish which I’ve wanted to indulge in for a while. Never found anyone who was into it, until now.”
Outside the closet, McCoy stood guard. She smiled in triumph as she heard Martinez yell out in pleasure, and turned to give Toke a thumbs-up.
“It’s about fuckin’ time,” she said.
Matt smiled back at her. He now sported an epic shiner under one eye. “Eh, some kids just need a bit of a nudge, you know?”
__________
It was…it was a wall. A wall he was looking at.
A wall covered in white stucco. Nothing too fancy, but it was indeed a wall and Joachim realized he was looking at it. That might seem like a substandard feat, but for a man who’d been in Joachim’s proverbial shoes it was a grand accomplishment.
His mouth worked as he swished his tongue around in his mouth. He looked around. He sat in a lawn chair in the middle of a beige room, lined on every wall with the stucco he’d just realized he was looking at. “H…hello?”
His voice felt old and clotted. Joachim looked down at his hand, and he saw wrinkled skin and age spots that he didn’t remember seeing there before.
This room only had one exit door, and now it opened. A lean man with dark skin entered. “Joachim Neimyer? I’m Zawahir Ibn Harith. How are you feeling, sir?”
Joachim fixed the newcomer with a steady eye. “I’ll be feeling better once I know where I am. And where is Corina?”
“Corina is on her way, she should be here within minutes. We had great hopes that your treatment was progressing well. Do you know what day it is, sir?”
“Of course I know what day it is! It’s…” Joachim trailed off as he realized that he didn’t know. The last few…years? Decades? He had glimpses of moments in time, as if viewed via a strobe-light. He now realized it was much, much later in time than he thought. “I…what happened?”
“Alzheimer’s, Mr. Neimeyer.” Zawahir’s eyes were kind. “You’ve been suffering from it for the last seven years. But we discovered…or, I should say, we adopted a methodology for treating it. It not only stops the damage, it has a way of reversing at least some of its effects. I fear you will never regain the memories from the time during which you suffered the most, but from now on your mind should function properly once more.”
Joachim rubbed his now-bald pate. “Is Corina all right?”
Zawahir pulled over a chair next to him and seated himself. “She is, blessedly, un-marked by the same affliction. We are, of course, putting her on a similar treatment as yourself just to make sure she remains so. With her consent, of course.”
The old man fixed Zawahir with a direct stare. “This whole thing smells experimental. Why choose me?”
“Mmm, you are as sharp as ever, sir. This is indeed an experiment, and we chose you because you are one of the preeminent rocket experts who ever lived. We need such skills now.”
“What?”
Zawahir leaned forward. “I will do my best to catch you up…”
__________
She walked through the door, supported by a cane. The one person, the beacon in Joachim’s life. Corina lit up upon seeing his gaze. A gaze with intent, with purpose. “They said you were feeling better!”
Before he or the surrounding interns could react, Joachim now found himself with a hundred-ish pounds of enthusiastic elderly woman in his lap.
“Tell me something only you know,” she whispered.
Joachim smiled. “Do you remember what I told you when we saw the green flash? That one time, in Hawaii? During our honeymoon?”
“I do. You said that the flash was the souls of those who’ve gone before.”
“And I promised you that, if I passed before you, that you would just need to look for the flash to see me.”
She clasped his wrinkled face in her own equally-lined hands. “You did better than that. You came back to me.”
“I guess I did.” He kissed her, reveling in the fact that this time he’d remember it.
Zawahir motioned to everyone else in the room. They all quickly got the hint and left the pair to their mutual happiness.
__________
The door of the simulator cracked open and Kifa came scuttling out. She peered up at the normally stony face of Master Sergeant Wilkes; right now the latter looked like he’d just been kicked in the chest by a donkey and was still trying to process it. “How did I do?” asked the xyrax. “It seems like I did quite well.”
“Um…Kifa. Well. Um. Did the controls seem to operate right?”
“Oh, yes! Very much, quite intuitive! It’s been ages since I simulated combat within an atmosphere! That was fun!”
“Fun. You do realize that you were going up against aces. I mean real, human aces?”
“Oh. I thought that was the case.” Kifa peered back into the simulator. “Was I not supposed to know that?”
Wilkes finally laughed, something that was fortunately captured by several cameras and used as blackmail material for many years after. “You did fine. You also just utterly smoked several of the finest pilots on Earth, and that includes non-Americans.” He regarded her with a steady gaze. “I wish I could recruit you to TOPGUN, I’d love to see you show those strutting peacocks a thing or two.”
“What is TOPGUN?”
He sighed. “Right now, it’s in the same exact department as buggy-whip manufacturing. You just showed these punks that, even in atmosphere, you’re death from above.”
Kifa seemed to shrink into themselves. “I didn’t mean to…”
“Now, now, Kifa, this is a good thing. Gotta keep those aforementioned strutting peacocks on their toes. But soon we’ll be dealing with fighting using orbital mechanics, something with which our air-combat people have about as much actual experience as they do with chatting up the fairer sex.”
“Which fairer sex? I mean, my kind is hermaphroditic so I know the mechanics but…” Kifa trailed off as it blinked its four big, oil-drop eyes.
“You are too damned cute for your own good. Pick a sex, any one, I for one do not give a fuck anymore. Point being, we humans need a crash-course in how to fight in space. No atmo, so trying to maneuver using flaps and wings and things is right out. We need to understand how orbits work. Not just intellectually, but in our bones.” Wilkes patted the simulator. “We need you to teach us. We need you to teach an army. Well, navy. Technically. I guess it would count as a navy. Either way. You know how to do this shit, and you just proved that even in atmosphere you can run rings around our best and brightest. So. Are you willing to show us your voodoo?”
“My voodoo…” The blue-furred spider suddenly rose on all of its legs. “Of course! This will be used against the Breakers, yes?”
“Of course.”
“Then it will be my greatest pleasure to show you all of my voodoo!” Kifa paused. “Although, if I received a headpat or two it would also help me properly consider how best to teach you.”
Sergeant Wilkes sighed and reached down. Kifa purred in delight as the usually-taciturn sergeant unleashed the full might and power of Human Headpats upon the alien pilot.
__________
Sadaf watched as the two dark-haired women and one blonde-haired woman had a black-and-white cap fitted over their heads. Both had received a haircut for this day; Parvati for one seemed to be less than thrilled about losing some of her tresses.
“This is the snoopy-cap,” said the aide who stood between the two women. The surroundings were sterile and very, very white. “This cap contains your communications, and it will keep your hair in place during launch.” This was the actual process getting shown to the world. Behind them, Ravindar and Martinez were also in the process of getting suited up, but this was done with much less fanfare. The aide’s words carried to them all, of course.
“Arms up!” Everyone going into space today raised their arms, and a large tubby-looking upper suit then slid down over five figures. Many human hands made sure that their heads made it through the upper ring. “This is the upper part of your pressure suit,” said the aide. “The gloves and helmet will complete that part, but that will come later. Now I will need you all to step into your pants…”
Everyone did so; Chao was the one who didn’t quite make it look elegant. She grinned at Martinez as she fumbled for a bit getting her pressure-suit trousers on; his resulting blush was caught for the cameras but it wasn’t until a week later that someone realized what it meant.
“Latch!” The aide’s voice was hard as metal.
Many hands reached out, twisting multiple metal rings to lock the upper and lower halves of the four pressure suits into one cohesive piece.
“I still say we could make them some proper hardsuits,” said Sadaf to Takh. The two stood off to the side, not exactly part of the dance but not apart from it either.
“No, I think this is better,” said Takh. “We need to make this look more like a…human effort.” Her XO stood at parade-rest, with both sets of arms clasped behind his back.
Sadaf nodded. “I will default to your judgement. By the way…how are you and Corporal McCoy getting along?” She nodded towards the last-minute addition to the crew.
“Um…Ma’am, I…” His faltering was not helped by watching the humans in the clean-room getting clear helmets fixed over their heads. Each latching was followed-up by a tap on the shoulder and a thumbs-up.
The big human, Ravindar, waved his arms over his shoulders as he got the feel for the suit. He’d managed to get the helmet on without an issue, in spite of his substantial beard. “Need more air?” asked a much smaller woman at his side. He shook his head, while he continued to flex and get comfortable with how the suit restricted his motions.
Getting the Sikh to this moment had been a master-class in diplomacy. Not least of which was because he still carried a weapon upon his person. Sadaf had no experience with ‘Sikhism’, but she could appreciate any culture or creed which dictated the need to carry a protective weapon at all times. It appealed to her nature.
“Do you think Parvati knows that he’s, well, into her?” asked Takh.
His captain’s voice became damn near sultry. “Now Takh, and here I thought you were all clueless. I’ve heard of the effort these humans went through to get Chao and Luca together. Would you like me to ask them to perform a similar effort for you and Corporal McCoy? Hmmm? It would make for quite the photo-op, as the humans would say.”
Takh felt a bit of panic, somehow. “No!” His panicked reply was low, hopefully not picked up by the surrounding cameras. “I mean, she’s so small. I could hurt her…assuming she wants to be romantic, of course.”
“Romantic? Takh, I admit I am still learning about human body language but trust me…if you want that, she wants that.” She pondered the humans in the room still going through some last-minute checks of their pressure suits. “Let’s put it this way. If you don’t make a move, then I just might ask Dhuz if it’s okay to add a human to our harem when we get back.”
“What?”
“I have learned quite the delightful human phrase. It is, as they say, Time To Nut Up Or Shut Up. I do find McCoy really cute, after all. As do you.”
Her XO grumbled semi-silently for a bit. “Fair enough, Captain. I’ll ask her. While we’re out there.”
“Good.” The humans in the clean room were now about finished with their checks, and Sadaf felt a bit of a thrill. She was, after all, witness to a species taking their first steps into a larger universe.
Five hoses were now shoved into five chest-mounted receptacles, each hose leading to its own hand-held air-conditioning unit. Another complicated round of checks, slaps, and thumbs-ups then followed.
“They do know that we’re just going to walk beside them right into the landing boat, right?” asked Takh. “This whole process isn’t really necessary.”
“Let them have this moment,” said Sadaf with a gentle smile. “They’re having fun.”
__________
The five white-suited individuals emerged from the hallway to pretty much universal uproar, both in person and online. The suit color was all NASA, but the logos were not. All four wore the emblem of the United Nations at their shoulder, a pair of olive branches surrounding a polar view of the world. The four humans all did their bit and waved for the cameras. Those in charge of the cameras did as instructed, and ignored the two black-and-sliver figures behind the quartet. The latter weren’t wearing any sort of pressure suit.
In the middle of the courtyard hovered the real talking piece, a landing boat from the Rithro. Its entry door was already lowered, and with another wave to the cameras from each of the five humans, they walked up the ramp and into the craft.
The five of them then looked at each other as the door began to close behind them. They’d trained together for a bit, enough to get a feel for each other. But now there was a real sense among them of holy shit what now?
Their mutual what-nows were interrupted as Tofa appeared. The arachnoid alien held a tray in one pedipalp, and upon that tray sat a little dish of what looked like Brazil nuts.
“Greetings!” chirped Tofa. “Welcome to Rithro Air, I assure you we have an excellent safety reputation. Well, almost excellent, if you don’t count the affair around Barnard’s Star. You may now take off your pressure suits. May I interest you in a nut?”
The four humans (and a few of the aliens) flinched as Ravindar let loose with a hearty belly-laugh. He reached up to undo his helmet while he beamed a brilliant white smile at their greeter. “You? I like you. We’re going to be fast friends.” He reached down to pluck a nut from the tray. “Madame? Do you want to take the first nut? Or should I taste it first?”
“Um…” For once, Parvati looked uncertain within her glass-and-cloth cocoon. “If you wish to taste, then please go ahead.”
“As you wish.” Ravindar held her eyes as he bit into the proffered nut. “It seems to be all right,” he pronounced.
After the great ceremony with which they’d been ensconced into their pressure suits, the humans then with reluctance emerged from their cocoons.
“We set up some chairs for everyone!” exclaimed Tofa, who gestured to the sides of the landing craft.
“Um, where do we put all of this?” asked Martinez as he held up a pressure-suit gauntlet.
The alien spider blinked. “Oh, right! Kexal, would you mind helping our guests stow their material?”
__________
The conference room at ULA now looked out over an even-greater bustle of activity. They were determined to at least match SpaceX in terms of tonnage-to-orbit; maybe they’d do so more efficiently? The mere notion had set a fire under everyone.
Joachim sat in a wheelchair while he studied those in front of him. “Ladies and gentlemen. I have, through some strange technological miracle, been re-granted the use of my mind. Not only that; they tell me that I and my wife might, if certain tests go well…we could become that which we once were. I intend to make sure that this gift does not go to waste. Not for me, nor for my wife, nor for the rest of humanity. Anyways. We have some aliens who need our help, we have some psychotic robot idiots who are fucking things up for everyone, and we need to get some serious tonnage into orbit as a result. Is that about the shape of things?”
“That’s pretty much the shape of it, sir,” said Dwight.
Joachim pointed a wrinkled finger at the speaker. “You. I’ve been caught up enough that I know you were the one to advocate for the use of Sea Dragon.”
“Just as a Hail Mary,” Dwight protested.
Clara cleared her throat. “I mean, I understand the enthusiasm but nobody has ever fired a pressure-fed engine that big. A single engine, mind you.”
Joachim rubbed his chin. “I understand your concern. But also keep in mind, this is a pintle injector, not a shower-head like they had on the F-1s on the Saturn-Five’s first stage. Pintle injectors were classified at the time. That’s a pity, because pintle injectors are safe as houses.”
Clara looked over at him. “Really?”
“Oh yeah, they’re pretty much bomb-proof.”
The team regarded the design now up on the screen. Clara was the first to speak their mutual thought. “Could…could we make this work?”
Joachim’s exclamation brought them all up short. “Of COURSE we can!” He thumped his cane into the floor for added emphasis. “Gentlemen…and ladies, please forgive me Clara…not one month ago I was a drooling wreck of a human. Today I come before you with my mind re-borne and in full function. I intend to make full use of that function. As does my wife, God bless her. We are going to set an example.”
Joachim stood, levering himself upright via his cane. “Here I stand,” he said. “Like Martin Luther before me, I can do no other.”
After a moment, everybody else in the conference room stood as well.
“Welp, we’re all standing,” said Dwight. “Okay, so what do we do now?”
Joachim pointed his cane at the screen. “Now, my dear Dwight, we Build. That. Fucking. Thing. We’re gonna show these Coalition assholes how we humans put some serious fucking tonnage into orbit.”
“Fuck yeah,” said Clara, as an unholy light came into her eyes.
“Fuck yes indeed,” replied Joachim. “The question now is, what do we put into it?”
The other people in the room looked at each other, just before bursting out into exclamations as to what they wanted put into that first launch. It was the sound of people on an expense account to beat the band.

Just finished Flynn's route and holy fucking shit, that was definitely better when it came to horror and made me did hit me in an emotional spot with that ending.
If I am talking about which route had been way more horrifying (neither of them were really that horrific), then I would obviously pick Flynn's because of how much it put me on edge in the end.
I feel like I could relate with Chase in TJ's route for the most part but it got a bit more complicated with Flynn's due to the fact that we never got sexually intimate with TJ made it easier for me but since we were sexually intimate with Flynn, that made the switch Chase made at the Town Hall way more fucked up.
If I had to pick which route between the two had emotionally hurt me more, without a doubt, it's TJ's (it is probably a tie right now but not because of the ending in Flynn's route) because that ending was so perfect that I still haven't recovered.
The better ending in my opinion goes to TJ's route as well because I wasn't to shocked with Flynn's ending and it seemed too cliché and it honestly made me think of Monster's Inc. for some reason at the end. 😭
The only thing that tore me up in Flynn's route was the intimacy between Flynn and Chase to only be broken by Chase when we try to stop Flynn from realizing we killed Sydney. That is the only time I truly felt utterly horrible for Flynn in his route (the ending hurt me a bit but not too much) because all the bonding and the lust in his route made it so much worse when Chase covered himself up by accusing Flynn of horrible actions.
I love TJ's route so much due to how the ending was written so flawlessly and I feel like it should get a good ending (I talked about it in a comment I made a while a go so check that out if you are curious) and in fact, both of them should because it only seems fair to their routes for being so amazing that it deserves to be given more content.
Edit: When we are given the only option to condemn Flynn, I feel like we should get a fourth option if we meet certain requirements (the requirements would be that you were always there for Flynn, you told him the truth about the promise, you do have to get intimate with him at The Smoke Room, and also always question him to make sure he is ok) and the fourth option would be "Tell The Truth" and selecting it would make you tell the group what you did, causing the hysteria to never happen but once you complete telling the group that you were the one to kill Sydney, TJ butts in and tells the group what Sydney had tried to do to him before Chase intervened and this would cause the group to all understand except for Flynn who will run off to Lake Emma, and you would get the **option** (one singular option) to ""Go Follow Flynn" and since you have to choose this option, there would be dialogue from Leo telling you to not trust him. After following Flynn you find him skipping stone whilst sitting down on the sand when you walk up to him and talk to him about Sydney and then you would fall asleep on Flynn's shoulder and you would dream about how rude Sydney was to TJ the day Syd has drowned. Once you wake up, Flynn makes sure you are alright and then tells you that him and Carl would try to go to Pueblo and leave Echo all behind them (Maybe Daxton could tag along but I don't know where that would be added), leaving Leo to also end up going to Pueblo and get the DAMN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HE HAS FIGURED OUT (that also goes for pretty much everyone in the friend group.

LESSON 158. Today I learn to give as I receive.
What has been given you? The knowledge that you are a mind, in Mind and purely mind, sinless forever, wholly unafraid, because you were created out of love. Nor have you left your Source, remaining as you were created. This was given you as knowledge which you cannot lose. It was given as well to every living thing, for by that knowledge only does it live. You have received all this. No one who walks the world but has received it. It is not this knowledge which you give, for that is what creation gave. All this cannot be learned. What, then, are you to learn to give today? Our lesson yesterday evoked a theme found early in the text. Experience cannot be shared directly, in the way that vision can. The revelation that the Father and the Son are one will come in time to every mind. Yet is that time determined by the mind itself, not taught.
The time is set already. It appears to be quite arbitrary. Yet there is no step along the road that anyone takes but by chance. It has already been taken by him, although he has not yet embarked on it. For time but seems to go in one direction. We but undertake a journey that is over. Yet it seems to have a future still unknown to us.
Time is a trick, a sleight of hand, a vast illusion in which figures come and go as if by magic. Yet there is a plan behind appearances that does not change. The script is written. When experience will come to end your doubting has been set. For we but see the journey from the point at which it ended, looking back on it, imagining we make it once again; reviewing mentally what has gone by.
A teacher does not give experience, because he did not learn it. It revealed itself to him at its appointed time. But vision is his gift. This he can give directly, for Christ’s knowledge is not lost, because He has a vision He can give to anyone who asks. The Father’s Will and His are joined in knowledge. Yet there is a vision which the Holy Spirit sees because the Mind of Christ beholds it too.
Here is the joining of the world of doubt and shadows made with the intangible. Here is a quiet place within the world made holy by forgiveness and by love. Here are all contradictions reconciled, for here the journey ends. Experience–unlearned, untaught, unseen–is merely there. This is beyond our goal, for it transcends what needs to be accomplished. Our concern is with Christ’s vision. This we can attain.
Christ’s vision has one law. It does not look upon a body, and mistake it for the Son whom God created. It beholds a light beyond the body; an idea beyond what can be touched, a purity undimmed by errors, pitiful mistakes, and fearful thoughts of guilt from dreams of sin. It sees no separation. And it looks on everyone, on every circumstance, all happenings and all events, without the slightest fading of the light it sees.
This can be taught; and must be taught by all who would achieve it. It requires but the recognition that the world can not give anything that faintly can compare with this in value; nor set up a goal that does not merely disappear when this has been perceived. And this you give today: See no one as a body. Greet him as the Son of God he is, acknowledging that he is one with you in holiness.
Thus are his sins forgiven him, for Christ has vision that has power to overlook them all. In His forgiveness are they gone. Unseen by One they merely disappear, because a vision of the holiness that lies beyond them comes to take their place. It matters not what form they took, nor how enormous they appeared to be, nor who seemed to be hurt by them. They are no more. And all effects they seemed to have are gone with them, undone and never to be done.
Thus do you learn to give as you receive. And thus Christ’s vision looks on you as well. This lesson is not difficult to learn, if you remember in your brother you but see yourself. If he be lost in sin, so must you be; if you see light in him, your sins have been forgiven by yourself. Each brother whom you meet today provides another chance to let Christ’s vision shine on you, and offer you the peace of God.
It matters not when revelation comes, for that is not of time. Yet time has still one gift to give, in which true knowledge is reflected in a way so accurate its image shares its unseen holiness; its likeness shines with its immortal love. We practice seeing with the eyes of Christ today. And by the holy gifts we give, Christ’s vision looks upon ourselves as well.

It's odd how Americanism encourages this way of thinking for today's society.
The constant, "never forget what the black slaves did for you", while there's a point of view on how "white folk have it easy going for themselves".
Just to raise argument how we live in a separate world.
Talk about "where there's a blame there's a claim".

Discord Username: JB Allye#1218
Character Name and House: Stanton Swann
Appearance: Stanton Swann is an older man, regal in bearing and strong-backed despite his mostly-grayed hairs and wizened eyes. He stands a bit shorter than the average knight, five foot and ten with a lean and powerful frame honed by constant exercise and battle. Scars line his body beneath plate, male and cloth, and a blade wound traces a white streak from the left side of his neck nearly to his ear.
Age: 45
Gift: Leadership
Skills: Strategist(e), Tactician, Cautious, Covert
Talents: Running, Horse breaking, Swimming
Starting Titles: Lord of Stonehelm
Starting Location: King's Landing, with Quentyn Baratheon.
Family Tree:

• Stanton Swann (MC) - 162 AC
• Carolei Estermont (spouse) - 169 AC
  • Shirei Swann (AC) - 187 AC
  • Serra Swann - 197 AC
  • Sylva Swann- 206 AC

Biography

"Shelter Beneath Our Wing"
Stanton Swann was born in the first moon of the year 162 AC to the Lord Ryger Swann and his wife, Lady Lynesse. He was the second born of their children, but the first to survive past his first year, and he bore his elder brother's name. An altogether normal child, at least by most standards, Stanton grew up healthy and mostly happy, though not without challenges. Ryger Swann was a harsh taskmaster and an equally stern father, and though Stanton would not be a man until his sixteenth year, he wasn't a 'boy' by his ninth.
Stanton took to his harsh instruction well, and though he was not the most skilled warrior in the Seven Kingdoms (not even the most skilled in his own keep), he was a very intelligent young man above all else, something that his father both appreciated and cultivated in the boy. In matters of state, he was competent, in matters of court, he excelled, but it was in tactics and warcraft that the boy showed his genius. His father, no slouch in command himself, was overshadowed by the son, and he hardly minded. Instead, he simply drilled the boy further.
By now, though, it was time for the future Lord Stanton to start doing the business of Lords, and part of that was squiring for a worthy knight. That worthy knight was Brus Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, and while not as harsh as Ryger Swann, Brus didn't take it easy on the boy. In his own words, he knew 'the lad can take it'. Take it he did. Stanton proved a worthy second to the Lord Baratheon, and along the way would cross paths with, and befriend, his son, who he affectionately knew as 'Billy'. Though Billy himself would be afield as a squire, they spent some time together as children that would only become more common as they both stepped into lordship.
After his ascent to knighthood, and with it, his ascent to manhood, Stanton would return home a different figure than he was when he left. He walked with a newfound confidence and ease about him, with the look in his eye of a young man who had supreme faith in his own abilities and poise. Already a strapping young man, this made him something of a heartthrob within court, and he had no shortage of flirtations with various women of the realm in his wilder years. One such conquest, and the one nearest to his heart, was Carolei Estermont, second daughter of the Lord of Greenstone. Arranged to marry a Rosby man, Stanton would charm her into breaking her arrangements and eloping with him to be wed in Stonehelm, and through means that no man or woman in the House of Stonehelm can decipher to this very day, he was somehow able to convince the Estermonts that he'd done them a favor. Alas, the marriage was far less eventful than the courtship. Despite... vigorous attempts, the two could not seem to conceive, and Stanton worried that the troubles that plagued his own parents with their children had been passed down to him, after a fashion.
Sadly, the life of a lord is not all flirtations and dalliances. Soon enough, Theory would become Practice, and Stanton marched to war for the first time at the age of 24... alongside his friend, the Lord William Baratheon. Stanton was no warrior, or at least, not a particularly outstanding one, but as a tactician he was immaculate. Mostly an outrider for the Marcher forces accompanying the host, Stanton would claim few notable scalps of his own, but his men would demolish the flanks of the opposing force in concert with the royal army, and he would quickly acquit himself well as a leader of men, earning praise from his father and his fellow Lords alike. What few were willing to talk about openly, including Stanton, was his other, more... unsavory activities in the war. Stanton was the leader of the forces ordered to flush the would-be-usurper out of hiding in the Dornish villages and countryside, and he took to the task with grim determination, hunting his quarry with a viciousness and ruthlessness that disturbed his men, though they followed their orders without much protest. Many scars still line the Boneway, and Stanton can claim credit for a troubling number of them.
Though his father would linger on for five more years after the Red War, he would abdicate his seat in favor of Stanton due to his advanced age, leaving the 25 year old as the Lord of Stonehelm. By this time, he had finally had a child, born while he was away at war. A hearty baby girl, who his mother named Shirei. Stanton, uncharacteristically, was rather miffed at the situation. Seven years he'd been wed, and after seven years of trying the gods saw fit to spite him with a daughter. He would never share his feelings with his wife and daughter, however, instead doting on her in the same fashion he doted on his wife. Despite his actions in the war, the image presented to the realm was one of a devoted husband, a devout knight, a fair lord, and a loving father.
All that would subtly begin to change.
As he aged, Stanton would continue trying for a male heir, but once again, a long drought would plague his line. In that time period, William would be blessed with a family of his own, something that caused no end of private envy in Stanton, though he dared not speak it aloud, out of love for his dear friend. He would quickly take to the heir to the house of Storm's End, Quentyn, and even at his young age Stanton treated the boy with the same love and respect he held for his father.
That said, Stanton's subtle descent continued. Conflicts with the Marchers of the Reach over their new conquests drove a wedge between former allies, and Stanton was quite vocal of his personal distrust of their former comrades-in-arms, a position he still holds to this day with much more vitriol. Once a gregarious and outgoing man, Stanton would slowly become reclusive and stern, much like his father. A public feud with Richard Morrigan drew censure from William, and similarly verbose and public displays of vitriol towards their Reachman neighbors only served to make it clear that something was very wrong with Stanton Swann.
That wrongness would only elevate further with time. As he grew older, Stanton became paranoid that the Marcher Lords of the Reach were spying on their Stormlander neighbors, a belief that he came to hold so closely that he would pace the floors at night, seeking anyone who acted suspiciously. A long-time family servant, Lyle, would be found to be acting 'suspiciously' one night, and rather than act reasonably,... Stanton would beat the elderly man to death with a fire iron...in front of his daughter. As it turned out, Lyle had been skimming from the Swann coffers to afford better accommodation for his family, but Stanton had no proof of such a thing, or even a suspicion of it, before killing the man.
Stanton's new demeanor was not a temporary fit, and his episodes have continued, though much more commonly in private now, as William was able to convince his longtime friend to ease his temper, if only somewhat, and the one thing that hasn't changed about Stanton in his later years is his love for 'old Billy boy'. Even going into his fortieth year, the man had no sons, only two more daughters to his name, which meant that unless there were some miracle, Shirei would be the executor of his will and estate, if not the Lady of the house, as he himself had only one brother, and that brother is a Maester. Atop all this, his daughter was hardly a 'catch', a plain, mannish woman much like her father in her stoicism but not nearly as intellectually inclined. If anything, he wished more that Quentyn Baratheon, or Damon Morrigen, the nephew of his hated rival Richard, could be his son, but alas, such a thing was impossible.
Now an aging, bitter man, Stanton Swann turns his attention towards his legacy, that of a good man turned a bitter, wizened butcher by war and time. Skirmishes alongside the Carons against the Dornish, border disputes with the Reachman, and the appointment of his dear friend William as Hand of the King loom large over his head along with the state of his house, and Stanton has come to a realization. He cannot die without a male heir. He mustn't. And he would do anything, and he meant anything, to make that happen.
Even things that no sane man should consider.

AC

Character Name and House: Shirei Swann
Age: 21
Appearance: Shirei is a tall and lean girl that looks much like her father when he was a younger man. with a slight figure, sharp features, and deep brown eyes. She has a few scars of her own from afield and minor accidents with the family sword, but otherwise remains an unassuming, if not particularly beautiful woman.
Gift: Champion
Skills: Swords (e), Defender
Talent(s): Swimming, Singing, Woodworking
Starting Title(s): Heir to Stonehelm
Starting Location: King's Landing, with the Hand.
Note: Shirei is the current bearer of Swan's Song.

Biography

Shirei Swann is the first of the three daughters of Stanton and Carolei Swann, and from birth she was always a strong, boyish little thing, though not as much so as she is now. Stanton and his wife doted on her, as any good parents would, and Shirei grew up loved and healthy, surrounded by care and comfort. Among her household servants, an old man named Lyle, who had seen her father reared, was her favorite, and the old man would constantly watch over the little Lady as she played in the yard or caroused around court.
Shirei never knew her father as the world had known him before his turn for bitterness and hatred, only seeing how others reacted to the man. With her, he was mostly gentle, though sometimes his temper got the better of him, or he was harsher with her than was warranted. The man never struck her, never abused her, the most he did was perhaps raise his tone to her a bit too harshly, and he would always apologize upon doing so, assuring her that it was not her fault that he was troubled so. She believed him, of course. She loved her father dearly.
Alas, this perception of her father was colored dramatically by the death of her first and oldest friend. She was hardly ten when Lyle was caught 'acting unusually' by her father and beaten bloody before her, her mother, and her then infant sister Serra. The beating was an uncomfortably long one- Lyle, an old and frail man by now, was dead long before Stanton stopped swinging the iron. The experience traumatized young Shirei, and she's never quite gotten past it. She also hardly believed the tale that Lyle had stolen from the family coffers.
Aside from that, however, her childhood was fairly typical, though not entirely so. Family friendship with the Baratheons meant that Shirei spent some time around Quentyn, and she envied the heir of Storm's End's skill at arms, learning the sword and shield to better accompany him in the yard and join in on his carousing, whenever he stayed in Stonehelm for a short time. The same would be said for Damon Morrigen, nephew of her father's most heated and hated rival at court, who she bore very little ill will towards. In fact, as they were both about the age where one begins to think of such things, Shirei quite fancied him, though as the heirs of their respective houses, such a match was all but impossible.
Stanton did not discourage his daughter's pursuit of arms, especially when she showed quite the knack for it, and grew into a rather tall and lean woman, taller than him in fact. He didn't encourage it, either. If anything, to Shirei's dismay, the man seemed utterly indifferent, passing off onto her the family sword, Swan's Song, and telling her not to do something stupid.
Now a woman grown, unwed at twenty, and positioned that she may one day lead a House Swann that has alienated all but its closest friends, Shirei is uncharacteristically nervous under her mask of stoic acceptance. Fearing for her father's declining mental state and her own place in the wider world, Shirei nonetheless does what she sees as her duty. Currently, she's petioned her father to remain in King's Landing, partly out of loyalty to her 'Uncle Billy', and partly out of a desire to be away from her father for some time.
​

Timeline

• 162 AC, First Moon: Stanton Swann is born
• 170-174 AC: Stanton Swann is drilled relentlessly in warcraft and tactics by his father, Ryger. Ryger approves of the boy, and calls him a genius.
• 174-178 AC: Stanton Swann is squired under Brus Baratheon, and serves under him for a short time as a sworn sword, before returning home as a knight.
• 180 AC: Stanton Swann elopes with Carolei Estermont, and weds her, to a fair bit of controversy. Said controversy is resolved peacefully and without issue.
• 186-187 AC: Stanton Swann serves in the Red War under the command of his friend, William Baratheon, and while away on campaign, his daughter, Shirei, is born. Stanton commits to the massacre of multiple Dornish villages while on campaign.
• 190-195: Stanton Swann begins to noticeably change in demeanor, becoming more belligerent with fellow Stormlords such as Richard Morrigen and with the Marchers of the Reach, resulting in public censure from William Baratheon. He no longer causes public incidents after this, but outburts continue behind closed doors.
• 197: Stanton's second daughter, Serra, is born, after nearly a decade of attempting. Stanton, catching one of his servants 'acting unusually' in the small hours, beats him to death in full view of his family, who are awoken by the sound of shouting and a scuffle. Stanton's relationship with Shirei is permanently damaged by these events.
• 202: Stanton comes to the aid of Lord Caron during border skirmishes with the Vulture King, and fights alongside Quentyn Baratheon and his daughter. After these battles, Stanton bequeaths the family's Valyrian Steel blade, Swan's Song, to Shirei.
• 206: Stanton's third daughter, and likely final, Sylva, is born. Due to the strain of the pregnancy on the aging Carolei, she asks that they stop trying, and love their daughters. Stanton acquiesces. Stanton begins searching for means to extend his life.
• 207: Stanton and Shirei travel to King's Landing to celebrate Willian's appointment as Hand of the King.

Honestly, the title does not even begin to explain the relationship that I had with this person and what transpired after. I think he uses Reddit as well so I'm just gonna hope that he doesn't see this. I really need help. I have been thinking about this so much that I'm unable to go on with my daily life.
I met him when we started high school. In the beginning I thought he was kinda dumb and quirky so I wasn't really friends with him. But then one day, when we were returning home from school we started talking about philosphy and he was very insightful. Me being the dumbass with teenager with 0 EQ at the time (literally 14 years old) told him : "oh wow, you're actually smart!" (we joked about this moment a lot in the later years) Throughout high school we were great friends. He lived abroad with an exchange programme for a year in third year of high school but we kept in contact. When he came back we became closer than ever. We have supported each other through ups and downs and we had a lot of fun together. By the time we graduated, he was my closest male friend.
After graduation, we went to the same university. Naturally, we introduced the friends we made in university to each other and we were in the same extended friend group. However, our friendship has always been more about spending more time one-on-one. I started liking a guy when we started university from that extended friend group. He didn't like me back. I was left heart broken (but honestly the whole liking him and confessing took like 2 months so it really wasn't a big deal but I was sad at the time, because I firmly believed no one would ever love me, very much tied to mommy issues) After that, I kept saying that I wish I could start from the middle of a 2 year relationship where the love and the trust is already established. Now at the time we started this relationship my relationship with my parents was SHITTY and I considered myself to be unloveable. The fact that one of my best friends, who really knew who I was, and still loved me, whom I trusted, was like a miracle. (it is safe to say that I learned that I was loveable thanks to him loving me so dearly.) Up until then, I had never considered him like that. I asked for some time and exactly 2 days later we were a couple. We didn't tell our mutual friends about the relationship for about a month because I did not want to deal with the drama and just wanted to have sort of a honeymoon. Some of our mutual friends really questioned why I would be with him when I told them but by then my feelings for him were sorted, I liked him. (their reasoning lied in him not being conventionally attractive they thought I was in a different league, and him not being manly enough. It is true that I never thought of him as handsome at the time as well but I did not care. And as for manliness, I wasn't into manly guys at 19 anyways) As we started our relationship, I was kind of scared for two reasons : First, I did not really have any relationship experience my longest "boyfriend" having lasted two months, whereas he had a long relationship one after another 1 year long one, and then a 6 months one and then a 1.5 year long one. Basically he had never been single since 16. He was sure of me because he had previous experience under his belt to compare. I, on the other hand, was very inexperienced. Second, I knew that our relationship would be very serious since it evolved from a long friendship. I wasn't sure if either of us were ready for that kind of a relationship. (see how dumb and anxious I am?) I would say we had a good relationship, despite most of it being during COVID. We lived close by so we could spend a lot of time together. We mostly spent time alone and indoors or we went out to swim in a boat, again mostly alone. We even had a summer vacation together with my friend group. (the ones that didn't really approve of my choice at first) In the end, we dated for 1.5 years and it was mostly filled with good memories. On my part, there were a couple key problems: first of all, every time I shared how something he said or did upset me, he would cry. Literal tears. Or he would bash himself so much that I would end up consoling him. This was not because he was knowingly trying to manipulate me. I think it was more because he put me on a pedastal and wronging me in any way hurt him a lot and he couldn't deal with it. Second, Last but not least, I was very anxious in general.
After we broke up I had a period where I would just sleep around with only athletes and models for about three months. What followed was a period of non-stop relationships that lasted somewhere in between 1 to 3 months. I was either dating someone, was in a relationship or liked someone. I also had the opportunity to realize I was bisexual at the time. Ever since I broke up with him, I never had a time to really cool down
When we met, I realized what I lacked in my relationship. I wasn't growing. Although I had emotional support, I couldn't talk about what I'm passionate about. People in my life would listen to me but htey were unable to contribute to the conversation. (for example, recently I was very interested in sustainable finance
I don't know if you can tell from the way I write but I am a very analytical person and an overthinker. Now I need to know if I should get back with him. Something in me tells me that I shouldn't, that I need more time alone and that I will "settle" and regret not waiting for my perfect person. In a sense he is perfect for me (really knowing me well, getting along well, having fun together, similar life goals except for where to live, supports me), but on paper he is not (looks and family wealth-wise although not so striking that we cannot go on trips together or something my parents are well-off to buy me an appartment in a nice part of town, his are well-off enough to buy him a smaller appartment in a not so well-off part of town. Some things that I consider very normal are not normal to him like having jewellery that is passed down from generation to generation. I am kind of worried little things like this would create expectations on my part, that he wouldn't be able to meet, creating friction).
TLDR; should one get back together with their ex after most problems are solved?