Praying respects osrs

Hello. I know just from reading the title you are likely seething with rage and hate for Alexee. Likely you have already down voted this post. I am appalled by the number of people having already convicted Alexee and now want her lynched.
I am equally appalled by the amount of video the public has access too. This has tainted public opinion and makes it almost impossible she will be afforded a fair and unbiased trial based on actual evidence introduced in court. All of the surveillance video from inside the hospital should never have been released. This violates Hippa Laws and a patient's Right to Privacy. "When you use security cameras in a healthcare environment, the video footage that you record qualifies as PHI. As PHI, video surveillance footage must be protected according to HIPAA regulations.Jun 10, 2021"
Alexee was experiencing an acute medical and mental health emergency and the release / leak of hospital video violates her right to doctor patient confidentiality. For those whose blood is boiling what if this was inside an abortion clinic and a teenager was violated by the release of videos in a patient treatment area? Protesters would be enraged and demand action--where is the outrage here?
Based on the facts as currently known (no discovery yet just what is in public domain and can be verified) this is how I would defend Alexee during a trial. I ask you to consider all of the following:
--Innocence until proven guilty in a court of law--the cornerstone of our legal system and society.
I strenuously argue and expect the following be inadmissible and excluded from trial:
>All video of Alexee inside the patient treatment areas of the hospital--both security cameras and police body cameras excluded .
>Police bodycam footage from inside Alexee's treatment room should be Hippa protected. She has the expectation of doctor patient confidentiality. Police knew there was no crime actively happening inside the hospital room at the moment they entered. The question of IF a crime was committed already occurred in the toilet room previous to police arrival and there was no flight risk from Alexee in a hospital room with one way in and out.
Police violated her civil rights by entering her medical treatment room while Alexee was in a hospital bed. Further police by entering her hospital room delayed urgent medical care Alexee required and placed undue stressors on her during a critical moment when per the statements of the doctor she was hemorrhaging.
>At no point was she read her Miranda Rights. Any statements made during an acute medical and mental health crisis inside a treatment room without her being advised of her Miranda Rights cannot be used against her at trial.
--During all video of her in her treatment room and patient hallway areas--as has been so far illegally released to the public violating her Hippa rights-- Alexee was under the influence of pain medicine administered by the hospital.
Pain medicine alters how Alexee feels, her body's sensations, perception of said sensations, mental acuity, mental state, memory and cognitive ability--this is the whole purpose of pain medications. These are indisputable and known scientific facts for decades which have proven pain medications cause all of these reactions which is why every single pain med has strict warnings not to operate machinery, not to drive Et cetera, Et cetera, Et cetera........ (For those attacking Alexee as mentally deficient, "slow", retarded, "mentally off" and / or view her reactions as not appropriate the hospital had her hopped up on pain medications before she even went to the bathroom. I say shame on anyone convicting her in the court of public opinion under the influence of medication(s) and during an acute medical and mental health crisis.
>Purported pictures of Alexee with her cheer leading team in the grey shirt and holding the megaphone in her uniform. These pictures are all over the internet and have not been verified as authentic. I believe there is a high likelihood these particular pictures have been photo-shopped making them altered fakes. There are multiple indicators of the two most widely distributed photos showing they are not authentic.
The person who took said pictures, origin of the pictures, original metadata and chain of custody of these photos must be discovered and questioned. Once the absolute original files have been discovered, if they even exist, they need to be independently analyzed by a digital photography expert.
I ask everyone to please put the videos you have seen out of your mind as well as it should and will likely be for the jury during the trial. I ask you to consider the following facts as we understand them at this juncture. Use only the following facts to determine if there is any reasonable doubt concerning Alexee and what happened. Even a scintilla of doubt or uncertainty means Alexee should be adjudicated not guilty by a court.
During a trial I argue the following in defense of Alexee:
>Alexee is a teenager. She only recently turned 19. She is inexperienced in life, sex and relationships. Although technically an adult by a few weeks the law is contradictory. She is still in high school due to when she was born and started kindergarten. At 19 she cannot smoke cigarettes, vape or buy or drink alcohol. Society and the law has decided 19 is not old enough to make an informed decision on smoking and alcohol. Her mother treats her as a child.
>Alexee has been treated in such a way by her mother to be ashamed of teen sex and its possible consequences. Her mother despite good intentions created a relationship of shame regarding sex and loosing her virginity. Most teens and even young adults do not share intimate sexual details with theirs parents for many reasons. Consider the added stress the mother has created for years in a misguided attempt to protect her daughter.
People in general but especially children and teenagers deny they did something wrong when accused. A child is observed breaking an item and even though said child knows the parent saw her break the item often will deny they broke it when questioned. There are decades of child psychiatry and doctors to testify regarding this. Those young children grow up to be teenagers and if the parent(s) have not properly handled these learning opportunities at young ages the teenager will have--in this case 19 years--of improper responses of how to handle life.
>Alexee's mother was beaten and abused by her father so badly Alexee was born preterm with hip and spinal problems causing pain on and off her entire life. Imagine the unhealthy relationship regarding sex, men and pregnancy her mother--despite good intentions--during Alexee's life imprinted on a child and then a teen.
>Alexee was taking hormonal birth control pills. We do not know if these were prescribed for acne, menstrual problems or birth control reasons. If prescribed for acne or menstrual problems and Alexee's mom knew she was taking them this combined with her mom's many years worth of admonishment, forbidding and shaming of teen sex and her mother feeling confident her daughter was a virgin--this would create a mental assurance for her mother she could never possible be pregnant.
Likewise, regardless if Alexee was taking hormonal bc with or without her mom's knowledge she would be assured she was preventing any possibility of pregnancy and being safe. Hormonal bc is widely regarded as virtually 100% effective and the best non-surgical option for preventing an unwanted pregnancy. The Pill is the gold standard for being safe and responsible to the point it's common knowledge providing a false sense of security.
The pill is so ubiquitous as infallible even in pornographic videos it is commonplace for the teen or woman to state "pull out I'm not on the pill"--as if she was on the pill it would be 100% guaranteed safe. Teens and even adults are indoctrinated to commonly believe the pill is infallible--even in porn.
We know sex education is lacking in all public schools, her fundamentalist church certainly wasn't providing sex ed, her mom used fear, shame and abstinence as the only approach and her father was a scumbag abuser not even in her life in a meaningful way. Media targeted to teens promotes "safe sex" rarely making a point any bc can fail. It's promoted and considered as an absolute.
No matter how you consider the above facts both Alexee and her mom were very confident there was no way she could be pregnant. Taking the bc pill to Alexee was an assurance she could not become pregnant, she could not disappoint her mom--she was being safe with no risks and in a committed long term relationship. She wasn't "one of those girls" or the school slutt.
>Alexee gained some weight. Everyone knows the Pill can cause weight gain. Its the number one reason teenagers and young women state they don't want to take the pill. There is so much pressure on being thin--especially for a teenager and a high school student going to prom ect. When she noticed she gained some weight of course it was because of the bc pill. She can't be pregnant--of course not--because she's on the pill. How could she be? A quick Google search "can the pill make me gain weight" confirms its common.
If her mom knew about her being on BC this causes no alarms for her mom because not only does she believe her daughter is a virgin she's on the pill and the pill makes many women gain weight.
>Maybe--and we don't know--Alexee was on BC because of menstrual issues. If that was the case then any period irregularities would be explained by known period issues, the pill can make periods light or non-existent in many women so nothing to be worried about if she's irregular, besides irregular periods are common in teens--especially athletes, as a medical fact. It is well known many women bleed during pregnancy at the time when they expect to be having a period so think they are regularly menstruating.
There are even entire TV shows based on the woman not knowing she is pregnant--many are adults in their 30s, experienced in life and many even had previous children!! Plenty of incidents making this fairly common and plenty of respected medical doctors will testify in court to this phenomenon.
>Alexee was treated in the emergency room in December--one month prior--for back pain. The same back pain she experienced on and off her whole life--and the same back pain that would bring her to the ER the night she delivered. She would have been around 32 to 36 weeks pregnant (pregnancy full term is 40 weeks gestation even though everyone commonly thinks 9 months) and at the end of December when seen in the ER. No one, not a single medical professional noticed she was very pregnant while in the hospital four weeks prior to delivering a baby.
>Alexee tells her mom she is in pain in January and needs to go to the ER for treatment. This is significant. If Alexee knew she was pregnant and premeditated killing and hiding the baby from her mom, boyfriend and the world it makes absolutely no sense she would tell her mother she was in pain and needed to go to the hospital. If she premeditated murder and secrecy then she would not have presented herself to her mom in pain and needing medical help. Everyone has seen TV births--although not realistic--there is almost always pain and pushing and then a baby. So Alexee who has premeditated and purposely hidden 40 weeks or pregnancy fooling everyone--her mom, peers, boyfriend, coaches, teachers, nurses and doctors decides to tell her mom she needs to go to the hospital when IF she had realized she was pregnant and consciously hidden and schemed everything!?!?! This makes no sense.
We know for a fact she knew how to do things herself on the "down low". Afterall she wasn't having sex infront of her mom--she went somewhere private to do the deed. If her premeditated plan all along was to knowingly conceal........see where this is going?
>January ER visit considerations:
--Alexee's mom had three kids--makes her very experienced at pregnancy--and has no idea Alexee is pregnant.
>Alexee is seen by and triaged by a registered nurse. She does not notice she is full term and in active labor. The duty of and sole purpose of the triage nurse to identify acute medical conditions needing immediate and emergency treatment--like say heart attacks or active labor.
>Alexee is taken to a hospital exam room and seen by the intake nurse--another registered nurse-- who's duty is and is trained to takes vitals, acquire pertinent information, makes trained medical observations and prepares the patient for possible required exams for when the doctor arrives--all of this on behalf of the doctor.
This nurse does not notice she is full term pregnant and in active labor. Remember that part above "prepares the patient for possible required exams" if the nurse has any indications the issue was in anyway related to female reproductive organs or involved the vagina the nurse would have the patient--Alexee--change into a gown for a possible pelvic exam.
She does not do this--Alexee is not in a hospital gown so another registered nurse experienced in emergency medicine--nurse number two--is completely oblivious to a full term pregnancy and active labor.
>The doctor comes into the exam room. This is a licensed and trained medical doctor specializing in emergency medicine. She speaks with and presumably examines Alexee for her back pain--to do anything less is malpractice. This medical doctor, certified and practicing emergency medicine orders pain medicine administered to Alexee.
We have a trained and experienced MEDICAL DOCTOR that does not realize Alexee is full term pregnant and in active labor. Remember those photos on the internet I discussed earlier and believe them to be faked and photo-shopped? If they were real and she was that visibly pregnant tell me two registered nurses and a licensed medical doctor given the symptoms displayed, age of the patient and the obvious dynamic between mom and daughter about keeping her virginity and you still don't this she is full term pregnant and in active labor.
The dynamic observed between Alexee and her mom the doctor had the DUTY as a standard of car to ask the mother to leave the exam room so she could privately discuss things with Alexee.
>We have all been in the hospital and ER so we all know how this goes. We know another nurse came to administer the pain meds and to administer test(s) order by the doctor. (we also know this by the police interviews of all medical personal involved)
This is nurse number three not noticing a teenage girl is full term and in active labor!!! Not just any registered nurse but the Emergency Room CHARGE NURSE--the head of the nurses in the ER at that time. (he's the male nurse in the videos wearing a skull cap).
>We know one of the tests ordered by the doctor and administered was a pregnancy test. A pregnancy test that results POSITIVE. We have a teen girl patient in extreme pain who is sure she isn't pregnant and is adamant she is not pregnant because I don't believe she thought she was. This patient is in an exam room and you the medical staff and especially the doctor DO NOT immediately return to the exam room to conduct a simple and quick pelvic exam (which doesn't even require a doctor a nurse can do and routinely do pelvic exams).
>Instead the doctor orders an ultrasound. So time passes when a quick pelvic could have been done but wasn't and in comes the ultrasound tech. She DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER WAND ATTACHMENT TO CONDUCT A PREGNANCY ULTRASOUND. On top of this she is an Ultrasound tech--certified and trained--and even after attempting an unsuccessful ultrasound doesn't realize Alexee is full term pregnant with a baby literally in the birth canal in active labor.
Keep in mind the certified and trained ultrasound tech who has done presumably dozens, if not hundreds, if not thousands of ultrasounds on pregnant women in labor--because ultrasounds are common in virtually every pregnancy--this tech doesn't realize Alexee is full term and in active labor.
We KNOW the ultrasound tech had to pull up Alexee's shirt to expose the skin on her stomach to attempt the ultrasound (because you can't do an ultrasound without skin to wand contact via some snot-like medical grade jelly).
IF the tech thought Alexee was in active labor, full term and close to delivering does anyone not think she wouldn't tell a nurse or the doctor?? "Hey you better check on this girl right now?"
>None of the medical staff even tells Alexee her pregnancy test was positive. Alexee and her mom still have no idea Alexee is pregnant.
>Alexee feels like she needs to use the bathroom--to have a bowel movement. The nurses and doctor allow her to get up, unaccompanied and waddle / run holding her bottom all the way down the hall. Alexee has NO IDEA she is pregnant--has never been told by any medical staff and didn't see the baby on the ultrasound because the tech botched the procedure not having the correct wand.
>Common knowledge to most people--lay people--as a baby enters the birth canal and crowns the woman feels an overwhelming urge to have a bowel movement. We expect even at the lowest and most minimal level of care by registered nurses and licensed doctors to know a woman in labor experiences a sensation of needing to have a BM before the baby is born. Medical facts and training teaches nurses and doctors to instruct the woman to push the baby out as if she was pushing to have a BM. We know virtually every woman has a BM at some point while pushing.
Alexee and her mom still have no idea she is pregnant at this point despite being seen by three registered nurses, an ultrasound tech and a licensed MEDICAL DOCTOR.
The medical staff KNOWS 100% Alexee is pregnant-and has known long enough to send in an ultrasound tech perform a botched ultrasound--and yet the medical staff knowing all of this allows Alexee to waddle-run down a hall holding her bottom, ALONE and be in a bathroom over 20 minutes.
We are so far past medical malpractice on so many levels to the point of gross negligence and blatant disregard for Alexee-the patient. I've seen a lot of cases of malpractice at busy hospitals but nothing has ever come close to the malpractice and willful disregard for patient care and safety as I have learned in this case.
>Alexee, doesn't know shes pregnant, feels like she needs to have an urgent BM. She's on the toilet, shes in pain, pushing feels good because that is what her body is telling her and everyone knows if you feel super constipated with a huge and heavy poop that's stuck as soon as you get it out you will feel better.
At some point Alexee's body takes over--humans are animals--and like animals a body will birth a baby as an automatic process regardless if the mom is ready or not. Regardless if the mom is even conscious or not--after all comatose patients have delivered babies spontaneously.
This is that time.
I know everyone is going to shout but she should have called for help ect ect.
Really think about this and consider:
>Alexee is a teenager, young and inexperienced with her body and womanhood. She only just barely meets the legal definition as an adult buy mere weeks and can't even buy vape or a pack of smokes and she's still in high school. An adult by technicality only she is in high school, acts very immature and has not had any life experiences as an adult.
>Alexee has been to the ER twice in 30 days time and is in the ER at this very moment sitting on a toilet with an incredible urge to poop, she's seen by half a dozen trained medical professionals even just moments ago and she knows they gave her a pregnancy test "just in case" and no one has told her she's pregnant, she's scared to death but in her mind she's on the birth control pill and not a single person at the hospital during two visits has told her she's pregnant. She has NO idea a baby is about to come out. It's not possible to her and based on all we know she has confirmation in her mind time and time and time again she is NOT PREGNANT. In fact, she is on her period she thinks, she sees blood--yes confirmation of period, cramps, pain, nausea--all valid, legitimate and known period indicators. She can't be pregnant as we have established and since she is at the hospital they would have told her if she was. She has back problems, thinks she is on or starting her period and is constipated worse than she has ever been--of course combined these are the cramps and pain from the pitts of hell.
>Experts will testify at some point in that toilet room she disassociates with her body. Now she is in fear, overwhelming pain, anxiety, young with limited life experience. She has been drugged by the doctors with pain medicine which affects her sensations and cognitive abilities and decision making. She wants to yell for help but she can't. There is no voice, no words and no actual realization as to what is happening to her.
>This is NOT unheard of. Fear is a power controller. Every person responds differently. Many people do nothing and totally freeze and are oblivious to external stimuli. History is full of people--aged and experienced adults who are trained professionals in life and death situations who freeze and cannot function or function in a totally illogical way.
--The airline pilot who despite thousands of hours of flight experience suddenly forgets how to fly or simply does nothing. Or does something so incredibly stupid and so contradictory to every bit of training and flying instinct makes the wrong response causing the plane to crash. (Atlas Air B767 / Continental Express Q400 / UPS A300)
--Trained soldiers in battle firing on their own fellow soldiers wearing the same uniform right in front of them but in that moment they kill their friends.
--A veteran police officer responding to a school shooting in Florida so overcome with fear he cannot enter the building to do the job he has trained, practiced and done for 25 plus years of his career resulting in dozens of children dying or injured.
--A respected gray-haired "old salt" ship captain who has crossed the Atlantic hundreds of times in his 50 year career--actually the admiral of the fleet-- who becomes impotent when his ship hits an iceberg and after giving the orders to evacuate disappears from leadership. (Titanic)
The recent Idaho murders the downstairs roommate, who has experienced actual adult experiences living on her own in college, comes FACE-TO-FACE with the killer while her four friends and roommates are bleeding out locks herself into her room, goes to bed and does NOTHING for hours until the net day. This is despite her admitting she heard a pained / muffled scream, moaning, an unknown voice and came face-to-face with the killer POTENTIALLY while the victims could have been saved with immediate medical care. She is defended by society as bearing no burden or negligence because she was young, scared and had been partying so was under the influence of substances.
Wait a minute........so was Alexee. Ironically some of the same people in this very forum who defended the Idaho roommate for being completely without burden by ignoring and going back to bed want to lynch Alexee or lock her up for her entire life.
Can we under all of these circumstances expect a teenage girl who has every legitimate reason to be sure she is NOT pregnant and not in labor expect her to be rational in this moment?
If Alexee herself didn't know she was pregnant, had no reason to expect she was pregnant, was on birth control, her mom who has had three pregnancies doesn't notice, her peers don't notice, her teachers don't notice, her coaches, her church, her boyfriend AND....
TWO VISITS TO THE ER / HOSPITAL 30 DAYS APART
the visit where the birth occurred:
THREE REGISTERED NURSES
ULTRASOUND TECH
EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR / LICENSED MD
If ALL of the people in Alexee's life and ESPECIALLY TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS did not notice or realize she was not only pregnant but in active labor HOW CAN WE EXPECT ALEXEE--a teenager--TO REALIZE THIS WHEN SHE TOOK HERSELF TO A HOSPITAL WANTING HELP?
The hospital and its staff disgust me. They acted with total disregard to Alexee and human life. Not a single nurse or doctor even bothered to try and resuscitate the baby when it was found. Most likely the baby was beyond resuscitation but for medical professionals in a hospital to not even attempt to save the baby after totally botching the standard of care for Alexee up to this point shows how criminally negligent everyone who treated Alexee that night is culpable for the death of a child.
The state has WAY overcharged Alexee. At most she should be facing abuse of a corpse. She needs mental help not jail. She is not likely to ever re-offend.
The ER doctor should be charged with manslaughter and negligence resulting in a death as her level of care was grossly negligent.
My heart goes out to the little boy who is not live--stillborn or otherwise. All life is precious.
So is Alexee and her life. This is beyond horrible for all involved. Every single person in Alexee's life failed her time and time again.
Do not as a jury pr society fail her again and sentence her to life in prison. There is so much reasonable double of premeditation and medical negligence / indifference in this case it would be criminal for a jury to convict her of Premeditated Murder in the 1sr degree.
I pray for everyone involved on so many levels. This case has no winners--only losers . Every single person in contact at any point with Alexee--but especially on the night in question-- and Alexee herself has a heavy cross to bear for the rest of their lives.
The nurses and ultrasound tech should be retrained, put on probation to be monitored making sure they have the skills and judgements needed to care for patients and the medical doctor should lose her license.
Alexee especially as well as her mother and boyfriend need education and counseling.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
​

Hi there!! I'm Jay! :)
I want to find a guy that is compatible to me and shares the same values. Hoping to find him here!
I am a 22 year old who graduated college and and am currently living in New York!
I am looking to form a bond with someone, and then continue with an in person relationship!
A bit about me: - I have natural hair that I like to keep short, and I occasionally like wearing different wig styles to show my personality!
-I am on a weight loss journey! So I cherish healthy living and fitness. I am looking for someone who will motivate me to make the right decisions but at the same time also loves my body the way it is right now. I am currently 170lbs, my goal is around 130-140lbs. I've done it before, so I know I can do it again! I love walking and being active so definitely looking for a man who is the same!
-I am looking for someone who is mature and is established. Meaning, a man who works hard every day in any aspect of his life (career, family, or fitness). Someone who is level headed. But I am also looking for someone fun, kind, affectionate, and chill to hang out with!
-I am looking for a man who will prioritize spending time with me, whether it is virtually or in person. Someone who communicates and is neither pushy on me texting back within seconds, but someone who respects me enough to let me know if they're busy/to expect a longer wait time. Someone who is not shy to take random pictures of themselves and send them to me just so I know those silly little thoughts you have. Also someone who doesn't mind me taking tons of pictures too (because I do take a lot of pictures haha)
-I believe in communication! I need someone emotionally available, someone who isn't afraid to have those long, deep conversations with me. Someone who will hear me out and not judge me. A man that really listens but also has enough confidence to speak up too!
-My love languages are words of affirmations and quality time! It's my top two love languages :) Also, I want a man who intentionally plans dates/hang outs/skype sessions, and wants to genuinely have fun with me!
-I love anime! I watch so much anime, and I need a guy who is willing to watch some with me!
A bit about my careeschool...
-I am a published author! I have written 3 books, first one dating back when I was only 13! I was introduced to the publishing industry at a young age, so I went to college to study creative writing. I am currently minoring in creative writing and majoring in psychology! What I plan to do in the future is become a licensed Expressive Writing therapist and/or create books for the youth to help their mental health!
-I used to have 3 on campus jobs when I was on campus. Library Assistant, tutor, and I work at the gym as a proctor. I am going to be starting a new job soon so I would consider myself a busy person, but I ALWAYS make sure to prioritize my relationships that are serious, and I expect my man to do the same with me.
***I consider myself to be a religious person, and this is something that value. I am Catholic and hope to meet someone who shares my faith! I'm looking for a deep connection, where we can pray together and listen to gospel music!
*** I smoke weed! So I am also looking for a man who does the same! I'm very 420 friendly!
*** I would consider myself to be asexual, which means that I want to form a relationship where sex is not a priority and isn't expected of me. Sending nudes is also something I will not participate in and is a hard boundary. However, I am an extremely romantic person and value intimacy and closeness in other ways! If you want clarification on this, I will gladly explain further over PM!
I am open to talking to anyone between the ages of 22-29 years old!
I want to say that I am a very open-minded person and welcome many different guys! Please decide for yourself if you meet these qualities and send me a message! All I ask for is commitment to having something serious and someone who is ready for that. Looking forward to finding you!

Asalamalaikum everyone,
For context my mother remarried when I (24F) was under 1 years old, and since then I have lived with her, my step-father and younger sister.
Growing up my step-fathers family never really accepted me and taunted me for not being blood-related to them, and my biological father never really reached out so I was left alone/isolated/bullied. My step-father tried to make his parents and siblings understand that it was his own choice to marry a divorcee who has a child but it never worked and I was left to deal with a lot of abuse. I have also blindly listened to everything my step-father has asked of me, and completed every obligation and duty a daughter would (to the best of my ability), because in a sense I owe him for providing for me even though he is not my biological father. And being the eldest daughter I naturally had a lot more pressure and expectations than my younger sister.
Fast forward to now, I have found a good man I like and would like to be married to, and I told my step dad when I was pretty certain I like this man (after completing isthikara). My step dad was instantly put off (he is extremelyyyyyyy materialistic) because the guy does not do a white collar job like myself, and instead does a labour job, still lives with his mother (willingly as she is old and alone), and does not have his own home. I judged this man based on his deen, characteristics and of course appearance too and I am pleased with them all. But my step father is strongly against me being married to this guy because he doesn’t live in a major city, he isn’t from the same city back home but rather a village, and he does not have a university degree but rather a college diploma - and in my step fathers eyes this is equivalent to nothing.
After convincing my step father with tears, and lots of logic, he eventually agreed. We are now engaged, and due to have the nikkah soon.
But everyday several times a day I get taunted by him how he only agreed because of me, how the guy is poor and would ruin my life, how my step-father raised me well and got my educated so I could marry someone on my level, how he does not have a proper car or home of his own and I would have to use my own money to provide for him. My step father also never prays and has not judged the man or his family based on Islamic requirements AT ALL.
Also, my biological brother (lives away) who’s met and interrogated the guy has approved of him and said he has all the qualities that a husband should have.
How should I go about this situation? I feel stuck between my step father and this man, because of my respect towards my step father I feel like I owe him a lot. Any advice would help?
Jzk.

(17F) I don’t know if this occurs to anyone else but me but every time i go out with my ultra religious hijabi mother somewhere in public I always feel anxious, especially when i see someone from school. The issue is that I go to a catholic high school (hypocritical right?) and i’ve made a good group of friends there, they are all queer, accepting and “gay christians” they are not devout either which is perfect as they are really open-minded and respectful. They all have clear knowledge that I am an Arab lesbian who is non-religious and they support that. Although everyone in that school who knows me automatically assumes my family is catholic knowing i’m the only atheist, which I don’t mind at all they can think whatever they want to (as long as i’m not associated with the monstrosity of Islam just one bit🤮) whenever the topic of islam shows up i always deny and oppose it.
They’ve all never seen my mother or met with her ever since i try to avoid it as much because I don’t want to make it clear to them that i’m being raised under islamic rulings everyday, and they know about how much of things considered “haram” that I casually do.
When I saw someone at the mall while I was with my mom, a person from school recognized me I immediately freaked out, panicked and felt like I was going to get sick I felt so upset that I began walking alone.
Part of me thinks that the reason I react this way is because of how much attempt i’m trying to disconnect any islamic roots away from my true identity I try to make myself appear as “less muslim” as I possibly can, being Arab is an automatic issue alone that causes people to think I’m muslim, but after i tell them that i’m an Arab lesbian they forget about islam completely, and yes, they know that muslims hate gays.
The real me is when I’m not home and being forced to pray everyday, I value my self-identity so much that I don’t want my mom’s shitty allah rules and her hijab to define me because I believe that Islam is not my background or my origins of me.
My mother still tries to tell me that i shouldn’t be ashamed of “my religion” and islam, the hijab, allah and muhammad is nothing to be embarrassed about. She tries telling me that being muslim is my personality, my identity too and that I should embrace it in school then she calls me weak for me not wanting to do so even though she doesn’t know any how my thinking process works nor does she know the whole story about the real me.
For me life is feeling like a giant oxymoron, i’m practically living a double life at this point; At home I’m forced to pray I pretend to read the Quran and I act like i’m still a muslim (Just yesterday I said that the prophet isn’t the perfect person then I got beat and she made me say the shahada and I cringed so much) At school and around my friend group, i’m an atheist, comfortable being my truest form, I speak & act however I want to and don’t worry about getting criticized, I’m just so happy when i’m away from my mother and islam in general.
I just don’t want to associate or be defined by islam at all IT IS SIMPLY NOT WHO I AM.
Should I just tell them about my hijabi mother and muslim background already or should I continue trying to keep evading these situations until I’m out of high school as a safer option?

Haven’t played for a long time wtf happened the state of f2p pk tho?
No one no arm fights anymore, there are pretty much only low combat players (40-80), everyone safes (even when they fight in full rune), no one knows how to properly 1 tick delay 2h, no one knows how to properly eat, no one risks anything if they no arm
This is so sad lmao does anyone who actually f2p pk from back in the days (pre osrs era) still plays? I mean how did so much shit get lost in translation it’s like pathetic now f2p pking used to be on par with members pking in terms of money making and fun now it’s literally just kids running around in full armor praying overheads and saving at 31 hp
Wtf happened to this game

Good Day!
TLDR. ADVICE NEEDED; NEIGHBOUR THREATENED TO HIT MY LEGALLY PARKED CAR IF I DO NOT MOVE IT AS SOON AS SHE DEMANDS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ONLY PARKED THERE IF NO OTHER SPACES, OTHERS PARK THERE TOO INCLUDING GENERAL PUBLIC AS IN A WALKING AREA. I WROTE TO HER, NOT MY PROPERTY, PARTNERS. DOES SHE HAVE TO DECLARE LETTEDISPUTE WHEN COMING TO SELL? CAN I PARK THERE/ANYONE IF THEY CANT GET THEIR HUGE MOTORHOME OFF DRIVE EASILY WITHOUT LEGALLY PARKED CARS BEING MOVED OR DO THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS? DO I GO TO COUNCIL/POLICE TO REPORT, DO THEY HAVE TO ADAPT THEIR DRIVE SO AS NOT TO WAKE PEOPLE UP TO MOVE THEIR CARS SO THEY CAN GET THEIR VEHICLE OFF THEIR MASSIVE GATED DEIVEWAY WHICH HAS SPACE TO EASILY ENSURE THEY CAN FREELY GET OFF THEIR DRIVE? TIA
Got some spare time and like context version 😀
We were awoken the other day by a neighbour (2 doors down, next 2 are BIG detached properties) at 8AM, who asked my partner rudely to move our car as their massive touring motor home couldn't get out of their gated driveway, as it is set up onto a thin street where cars have to park on the opposite side of the road.....always have always will, only place for legal on street parking. They do not own land opposite, the land they do own runs alongside and opposite their garage, which is adapted correctly would mean they could get out onto the road without having to even block the road. But....As the vehicle is 7-9M long I guess, and their gate posts are right on their property border and only just allow the vehicle to get through (one out of the gates, they are still on the pavement and then almost touching the other kerb, again narrow street and people always park opposite out of necessity) they have to edge out, block the road, so a 20 point turn and pray a queue doesn't ensue nor other people park up in the meantime. They asked once before and told me not to park opposite their house Friday night/Saturday mornings as that is when they use the motor home. As a new neighbour I was shocked at her air of superiority and bluntness, but obliged. A warning sign for what was to follow. Other people (funnily enough, less than an hour after the commotion, someone that doesn't live on the street parked in the space in front and left their vehicle, so I had been mindful anyway to park as far away from their drive as possible without making it difficult for the person behind me to get out, you know, common curtosy/sense! I was getting up for an appointment anyway, so seen as no urgency was applied, I got showered and dressed after taking my meds and limbering up, usual morning routine minus the coffee.
Whilst in the shower I hear her bitching to the neighbour next door loudly (doesn't like her as blocked her light when they changed a bungalow into a monstrosity of a 5 bed, completely out of character for the area, but that's another story!) then bangs on the door and is shouting for me to move it with immediate effect. (Context; no cars park on heour side of the road, rest is onstreet parking, work vehicles blocked our usual spot, we don't have a drive, parked opposite their driveway but not directly. They have huge gates and driveway, big enough for their 3 vehicles inc. their motorhome, then a waster space next to garage where there's a gate; this space could easily be adapted so they could exit their property without needing people's cars to be moved.)
I got out of the shower, threw clothes on and as I got to the door the vehicle had managed to get out, he beeped his horn and through the window saw him giving the house (couldn't see me) the finger. I still went out as heard her shouting about it, wanted to check my car wasn't damaged. She screamed at me about how he had an appointment to get to and was now late, next time they wouldn't wait and would hit my car, repeating this when I said that would be criminal damage with intent etc. Reminded her she hadn't said it was implied it needed moving there and then and also she had asked for us to be mindful before but only at the weekend (this was not the weekend).
Argument/shouting/waking neighbours, worst nightmare as hate airing laundry in public and don't like confillict nor being told what do you!
Went back to sort situation and she was walking her son to school, told her prior planning prevents PPP, manners go a long way and not to threaten again but she just talked over me. Told her it is public parking and if it was someone walking and was gone for the day (next to nice rural area) then what would they do, hit their car intentionally too? Was polite and asked the boy how he was, trying to disarm her as hate commotion.
Wrote to them asking for an apology for partner as she had clearly just woken up (works long hours, Friday WFH) and didn't deserve being awoken to a verbal assault. Nor did the neighbours deserve to be awoken by the 5 second Hymer Horn blast, which was needlessly aggressive. Told her my partner doesn't know how to drive my car, I have bad back and legs so wait for meds to kick in and needed to leave soon anyway, no appointment was mentioned and reminded her her driveway is the issue (to make it took as grand as possible and astheticly pleasing, not practical) and that the public have the right to park there so common decency would be to ask politely, preferably like everyone else does with big vehicles (neighbours opposite) days in advance. Expressed how I would be making police aware that she threatened to hit my car next time without asking me to move it therefore if future damage is found it would possibly be them out of spite....she seems that way out sadly as I did speak to other neighbours and they confirmed she is rude and self entitled. (what happened to just being nice!) Apologised for raising my voice and told her I don't hold grudges, but in the future would prefer respect and calm.
SO... Now aware there may be as issue for my partner..she was not responsible for the car, the letter....it is not my house, I am here quite a bit, not on mortgage. Would she have to declare it when coming to sell?
. What about the driveway, is it their responsibility or can they expect people to be happy to be awoken unexpectedly at whatever time they decide they need to move the vehicle?
.I have not yet gone to the police...should I? She/they seem vindictive, venom in her voice, didn't seem like an idle threat to hit vehicles next time, more money than sense and more cash than common decency.
.As they do not own the road and parking spots ( no white/yellow lines, everyone, including randoms park there, as is their right) but do own the driveway, is it their legal responsibility to be able to get out without causing nuisance/damage/hold ups etc for the public. Their gates are so small, even just wider gates could solve the issue I believe, but they could open up their drive to utilise the entirety of the land they own, so it would be no stress and wouldn't mean people have to move vehicles on their command.
A bit of a quandary. I've not heard back from them since, not a knock on the door nor note. Any advice as to sort this would be appreciated. I checked online for the big vehicle not being able to get out situation but couldn't see anything. Do I go to the council, police, let sleeping dogs (cows) lie? I don't want to cause partner more upset and in an ideal world they would realise they shouldn't have their set up as such that they can't get out without causing issues for others...but I don't think they're that way out unfortunately. Certainly don't want confrontation not my partner worrying about more conflict, nor do I ever want to be abruptly awoken then bitched about outside my own window! All the best.

I realize this is a bit late. I suppose this is my public declaration that u/wolven91 can post my stories wherever. I just wanted to get this part out before the sub froze. I hope to write more, however I'm not a big fan of Tumblr, so I won't be making an account. If the Discord seems viable then I'll probably haunt that, but otherwise I'll have to figure out where to post. However this shakes out, y'all have fun and have a good one.
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David loved the rain. Growing up in a desert, he loved the smell that’d come off the dirt and how the overcast skies shielded the sun-bleached streets and buildings from the blinding star. He’d spend hours sitting at a coffee shop listening to music and watching the cars drive through the puddles. The rain was nothing short of miraculous. If it made it over the wall of mountains blocking David from the ocean, the rain would knock all the dust and smog out of the air revealing a crystal-clear view of all the mountains down the valley. The parched dirt greedily drank it up and sat still, free from the gusting winds. Then the next day, the brown hills and mountainsides would turn a bright vibrant green. It brought him a measure of peace.
The shuttle shuddered slightly as it passed through the atmosphere, windows becoming blocked by dark grey clouds. This planet was permanently overcast. Tons of water circled the globe, floating on the currents of air, speeding from one horizon to the other frequently dousing the surface with heavy showers. David couldn’t help a small grin sticking to his face. It’d been years since he’d seen rain.
“It’s about an hour till touchdown.” Reported the pilot over the intercom.
David turned his attention away from the windows. The shuttle reminded him of an airport bus someone threw into space, complete with cheap upholstery. It was thankfully empty save for himself and his two companions. He glanced left at Ruk’sa who was fast asleep in her chair. She stayed up all night with David, but it seems she’s not quite as used to sleep deprivation as he is. She stirred slightly, tucking her legs up under her and wrapping her tail around herself. Sarif was livid when David asked the fik to come with him, but calmed down somewhat when he explained he wanted someone to keep an eye on his apartment while he was gone.
He looked to his right at Hilda who had been studying him, pad forgotten in her lap. “Enjoying the view?” she asked gesturing to the windows.
“I love the rain.” He answered with his small smirk still in place.
“Really?
“Yeah…It always put me in a good mood back home. It sort of…refreshed me, I guess.” Hilda pondered her next question before David interrupted, “You like the rain?”
“Uh, um…I suppose so. It depends.”
“On what?”
“On how strong the storm was. If it was light rain, I didn’t mind. It was good for the crops and gave us all a reason to take it easy. No one wanted to work in the rain. But if it was a major storm…Well, then we were all worried about the damage it could cause. If there was lightning it could start a fire…”
“Crops? You’re a farm girl?”
He could see her mentally kick herself as she drew a slow breath, “Yes…I’m a farm girl…”
“I guess that explains why you look corn fed.” He mumbled.
“Corn fed?”
“Don’t worry about it. You look great. Like a brick shithouse.”
Her brows knit in confused thought. “That sounds worse.”
He chuckled then, “You look good. I promise.” They settled into silence for a while, broken by Hilda.
“What was home like?”, she asked softly.
David leaned back and took a breath, “What was it like?...Home, I guess…” He looked at his companion’s inquisitive look and sighed. “It was mostly a desert…Hot…But a paradise…The sun always shone, and the temperature was always bearable. We had beaches, snowy mountains, vast fertile plains, giant magnificent forests, and huge stretches of desert. That’s not even counting all the different cities and people. Whatever you could want, it was there…It wasn’t perfect. I hated it plenty of times…Seems a bit silly now…But, now I realize just how amazing it was…” He stared out the window, eyes unfocused.
“Was that the whole planet?”
“What? No. That was just my state. The rest of the planet had a lot more going on… You gotta remember it took a little more effort to travel before…Yeah…Especially where I lived…”
Hilda had hundreds more questions but could tell he was growing uncomfortable. She tried to shift gears, “If you really like the starshine, why do you love the rain?”
He collected his words, “It was always sunny…A bit too hot for my taste…So, the rain was a nice change of pace. It was rare…A lot of other humans hate the rain, but I think that’s just because they grew up in places where it always rained…Most people I knew who grew up without rain loved it.”
“Five till touchdown.”, reported the pilot.
Ruk’sa was roused from her nap as the shuttle shuddered slightly and swung down from the clouds. It gracefully flew through the valley to the designated landing point where it slowly landed beside half a dozen other shuttles of various makes and sizes. The trio stood and made their way out led by David.
He descended the short ramp and strode through the parked shuttles. Emerging into the open he looked toward the Guardian waiting area. There were a couple of those big bastards, a couple canids, an avian and-
He screwed his eyes shut and shook his head. His companions looked where he had. Ruk’sa put her hand on his shoulder and asked, “You want Ruk’sa to-“
“No. No, just go wait with the others…And make sure that thing doesn’t slither up the hill.”
Ruk’sa squeezed his shoulder as Hilda gave a disapproving sigh, before the duo strode off toward the other Guardians. Keeping his sight on anywhere but the gathered aliens, David started hiking up the hill.
The hill sat in the middle of a long valley covered in a bright green, almost luminescent grass, with gnarled trees dotting the hillsides. The ground beneath David gave a little with each step threatening to devolve into a muddy slurry, but the rain died down, seemingly aware of the ceremony. Breathing heavily, he finally crested the hill to find a handful of other humans.
It was shocking. He hadn’t seen another human since…Since…He couldn’t remember…Was it really since he was still a slave? The half dozen or so humans milled about the gravesite. A metal casket adorned the mockup above the grave. It wasn’t right. Sure, it was a box meant to hold a corpse, but it just seemed…off…Too bulky.
David focused on the other humans. A small group of two noticed his arrival, so he made his way over to them, straightening the subtle wrinkles in his shirt and slacks. A man and a woman greeted him as he walked up.
“Hello there!” called the man, “I thought we were supposed to have one more. How are you? Have a smooth trip?”
David could tell the man wasn’t speaking English. “Fair enough. I got the invite a bit late. Had to make a bunch of last-minute plans.”
“Sorry to hear that.” said the woman, “At least you made it. Did you know the deceased?”
“No…I thought it was strange to get the invitation, but well…If he wanted me here, I guess I could spare the time.” He noticed the other two were eyeing him strangely. He cleared his throat, “So, did either of you know him?”
“No…I don’t think anyone did. I guess he…or whoever carried out his will, just looked up the closest humans in the system and invited them. At least they were discreet.”
David didn’t understand the need for discretion, but agreed anyway, “Right…Wouldn’t want just anyone showing up.” The other two seemed confused, but quickly recovered.
“Say…” the woman began, “Do I know you?”
David shook his head, “No, I don’t think so. I don’t get out much.”
“No, I know you.” She began typing on her com, “…Hah! Is this you?” She held it up for David to see.
A vid began playing of an all too familiar back room of an all too familiar café. It showed David from the rear singing into a mic. Eyes closed in emotional concentration, “Fly me to the Moon, let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like, on Jupiter and Mars.” He swayed and danced slightly, enough to get a good look at his face. David stared at the video slack jawed until the end where a pair of felinoid fingers surreptitiously retrieved the recording com.
“So, it is you! I thought I recognized you.” She seemed pleased. David was a bit heartbroken. “What’s the matter? You sound wonderful.”
“I…I…”
“Say! Can you sing for the service? We don’t have anyone, and it just seems right…Could you?”
David was conflicted. Still reeling. He wasn’t betrayed exactly…He never asked to not be recorded, but this…How many people saw?...He shook himself from his reverie. “What?”
“Could you sing a hymn or two? Mr. Albrecht wanted a traditional funeral. So, that would mean a song or two, right?”
He thought for a moment. All he wanted to do was show face. Maybe see a couple humans and reconnect, but…Well… “I guess I could…I’ve done a couple funerals before…” He looked between the two and answered, “Alright…Just let me know when to go up…”
They shook his hand and patted him on the shoulder before going and finding the preacher. He could see them talking and pointing in his direction before he found a seat beside the casket facing the front. Everyone else found a seat as the older man at the front addressed the gathering.
“Welcome. Thank you all for coming. I am chaplain Richard Martinez, and I will be leading and delivering the eulogy today. Unfortunately, Mr. Albrecht’s family could not attend, however I would like to thank all of you in attendance. I know coming together as one people is a challenge, but Mr. Albrecht and I thank you for your sacrifice. We are gathered here today to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Mortimer Albrecht. During our tumultuous journey to the stars, and diaspora among its people, we lost a small sense of our joint humanity. We split and spread out to the four winds in a bid for self-preservation. But now we come together. We join one another to recognize a fellow brother and son of Earth. We come together to give final rights and recognition to the deceased that they are truly human, and we will not forget or abandon them to the cold uncaring void of space. Mr. Albrecht was born on Earth and believed in the unstoppable spirit and drive of humanity. We share this belief with all of you. Those who answered the call. Those who believed in the brotherhood of humanity. That our spirit is strong and unbreaking. That humanity will one day walk in the sun, unafraid and proud of who we are. That we will one day stand before the other races of the galaxy as an equal. Please join me in prayer as we put the spirit of Mortimer Albrech to rest. For those who practice, please bow your head and join me in prayer, and for those who don’t, please observe a respectful silence.
Dear Lord, we come before you to humbly ask that you guide Mr. Albrecht swiftly and surly to your eternal peace. That you guard and guide his spirit as surely as you guide our own. In your name we pray, amen. Now we will turn our time over to a special guest who has volunteered to sing a hymn or two.” He gestured to David in his seat.
David stood and made his way to the front of the casket and faced the small crowd. He cleared his throat and began, “Good morning. I’m David King, and I’ll sing a couple of traditional songs. You are welcome to sing along if you know the words.”
He cleared his throat, took a breath and began, “Amazing grace. How sweet the sound…”
He sang clearly and steadily, as his voice rang out through the narrow valley, keeping his hand folded in front of him. A couple of the attendees sang quietly with him, but David remained steady. Focused on the task at hand. He may not have known the man, but that was no excuse to disrespect him. He noticed the woman from before sitting in the back of the crowd, recording his performance. He considered protesting, but today wasn’t about him. Besides, what harm could it do?
When ‘Amazing Grace’ was done he went straight into ‘Danny boy.’ About that time the attendees grew misty-eyed. “You’ll bend down and tell me that you love me. And I shall rest in peace until you come to me.”
Even the preacher-man seemed reluctant to say anything, so David continued. “This next song…Means a lot to me…It got me…and others through a particularly hard time. If Samuel is somewhere out there. This is for us.” He planted himself, breathed, and began. “When peace, like a river, atendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul…”
David hadn’t thought of that hymn in years. The memories weren’t pleasant, but it seemed appropriate at the time. Chaplin Martinez made his way up beside David and put his hand on his shoulder. “Thank you. We all appreciated that. This concludes the service for Mr. Albrecht. Go in peace.”
The tiny congregation stood a milled about before making their way back down the hill. David stayed behind to wait out the snake’s charge, looking over the casket and simple gravestone. He had hoped to maybe make some kind of connection, but the humans dispersed without so much as a word. He was alone again. And he didn’t know why.
After a time, there were only a couple shuttles left. The casket had been let down with a couple chains, and the Guardians had dispersed with their humans. David shambled down the hill and met his companions.
“Ready to go?”
“I guess.”
“You sounded beautiful.”
“You could hear that?”
Hilda nodded.
“Thanks…I try…” They boarded the shuttle and took off. David wondered if it was even worth it.
*****
Sammuel was making his rounds through the station. The children loved him, and the parents loved the break. He stood in the middle of the park entertaining and answering questions. The dark-skinned man loved any opportunity to give back to the community that took him in. The dark-skinned man was keeping watch over some ursdain children when he heard something that caught his attention.
“When sorrows like sea billows roll.”
He sought out the youngster with the vid loaded on his com, “Hey. Could you do me a favor and show me that?”
The ssypno child seemed confused, but complied, “You know this song?”
“Whatever my lot, you have taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.”
He watched the screen intently, his jovial attitude sobering somewhat. “I know that song…I know that man…” He watched intently the man who helped him through the hardest part of his life. “You have any idea where that is?” The child of course didn’t know. “Well…I’m gonna have to find him on my own…”

First of all love the atmo and story telling in this game, the soundtrack and combat feel so immersive and rewarding, can't wait to grind for end game,
So I went necro cause they seemed cool... Now I'm torn as all hell I find myself resetting my skills constantly either I make a fun reaper melee build and be a glass cannon and constantly having to pop potions or I go blood build which has more survivability but then I have to range with bones from a afar while blowing up corpses, I've seen a few leveling builds and perhaps I just need to settle in and learn the controls of the game let alone my class... Any advice? Are there any good builds with a mix of melee and aoe? I've only been playing two days and have played wow and osrs so dungeon crawling is still new to me (click to move lol) ontop of all this I'm always out of essence and spawning more minions or lack there off is what's usually gets me killed.
So my questions are.
How does gear stats work? Does raw weapon dps matter over main stats like intelligence and dex?
Am I playing my class wrong and just haven't learnt my spell rotation aoe corpse explosion corpse tendril blood burst? I can see this being hard in group situations if I can spawn stupid corpses.
Should I not bother and just level by the skin of my teeth? And pray end game is more fun?
Tldr I'm a noob and I want to make the most fun out of my Necro... Please help... level 24 btw
Thanks <3

I was just reading this article from the New Yorker I really, really related to. Triggered lots of thoughts and questions I just wanted to get wrote down before bed...
“If your little brother flicks your ear, maybe you ignore it,” he said. “If he flicks your ear a hundred times, or punches you, then maybe you give him a little smack to show you’re paying attention.”
Although redditors didn’t yet know it, Huffman could edit any part of the site. He wrote a script that would automatically replace his username with those of The_Donald’s most prominent members, directing the insults back at the insulters in real time: in one comment, “Fuck u/Spez” became “Fuck u/Trumpshaker”; in another, “Fuck u/Spez” became “Fuck u/MAGAdocious.”
The_Donald’s users saw what was happening, and they reacted by spinning a conspiracy theory that, in this case, turned out to be true. ^{(I don't think this is my dad or brother's behavior. Why would they remove me from my own family, if I've done no wrong? The problem is that I've been unwell since losing Liz in very serious ways. I've tried everything to heal and I need Liz to give me the ending my lifetime's most important friendship deserves. Without it, our relationship meant nothing. If it meant nothing than no human relationship can ever mean anything to me. This is my greatest hurt and divides my life's timeline into a before Liz and an after Liz era. It's been obvious me for years that my most loved people have the tools to set me free. I've been begging them to spare me, but they choose not too and only contribute to a pain that was already more than I can handle. They've put more energy into adding to my hurt than helping me heal actually. That's no family at all, and they don't have my back, so why do they even pretend to? What kid of family steals children from each other? My life's biggest miracle and the reason for this divine love. The woman the gods gave me to so she could use her magic to heal all that's broken in me? I don't get to see my kids like I'd like, and I can't wait to be an uncle someday. Even if it's not my miracle, who the hell wouldn't my brother let me know my own niece or nephew? Why wouldn't I be the best man in my brothers wedding? Why is my brother encouraging my suicide suddenly when I've never done him any real wrong?})
“Manipulating the words of your users is fucked,” a commenter wrote.
“Even Facebook and Twitter haven’t stooped this low.”
“Trust nothing.”
The incident became known as Spezgiving, and it’s still invoked, internally and externally, as a paradigmatic example of tech-executive overreach. Social-media platforms must do something to rein in their users, the consensus goes, but not that.
Huffman can no longer edit the site indiscriminately, but his actions laid bare a fact that most social-media companies go to great lengths to conceal—that, no matter how neutral a platform may seem, there’s always a person behind the curtain. “I fucked up,” Huffman wrote in an apology the following week. “More than anything, I want Reddit to heal, and I want our country to heal.” Implicit in his apology was a set of questions, perhaps the central questions facing anyone who worries about the current state of civic discourse.
Is it possible to facilitate a space for open dialogue without also facilitating hoaxes, harassment, and threats of violence? Where is the line between authenticity and toxicity? What if, after technology allows us to reveal our inner voices, what we learn is that many of us are authentically toxic?
^{--we're all just a bunch of half grown, imperfect humans. It's a never ending battle between the good in us and bad that makes us. You need to keep your knife sharp and guard up, but most importantly your bearings straight and vision clear to keep from getting lost. Most often that's when the panic hits and if you let it take hold, then you're good as gone. That's why it's important to surround yourself with those you respect. The kind of people you can sharpen your blade against. The ones that see clear and navigate true, so that they never lose you. News is important to our populations health, and there's a reason gossip is old as time and every old ladies favorite past time. Siliceous stories invoke emotions and are more easily memorable (member?}. Important stories carry weight and are naturally significant. Often real news is downplayed and rumors crafted into clickbait for this reason. You can't have open, true dialog unless both parties are present in good faith. That's why it's more difficult to have an honest conversation online, where the added layer of anonymity detaches a person from himself. The less humanity a human has, but poorer his faith...)
It might be most helpful to compare a social network to a party. The party starts out small, with the hosts and a few of their friends. Then word gets out and strangers show up. People take cues from the environment. Mimosas in a sun-dappled atrium suggest one kind of mood; grain alcohol in a moldy basement suggests another. Sometimes, a pattern emerges on its own.
Huffman and his college roommate, Alexis Ohanian, founded Reddit a few weeks after graduating from the University of Virginia, in 2005. The first people to show up were, like the co-founders, the kind of strong-headed young men who got excited about computer programming, video games, and edgy, self-referential humor. Back then, Ohanian was ungainly and clean-shaven, and he was often photographed in a hoodie and with a goofy smile. At his wedding, last year, wearing a beard and an Armani tuxedo, he was nearly unrecognizable. (The paparazzi weren’t too interested in him, though, given that his bride was Serena Williams.) Huffman, on the other hand, has always looked more or less the same: bright-blue eyes, chipmunk teeth, and a thatch of blond hair. ^{(Serena is the youger Williams sister, right?})
“It’s pretty amazing that a big corporation would have something like this, which reflects badly on it,” he said. Traffic to Jailbait quadrupled overnight. Twelve days later, after someone in the group apparently shared a nude photo of a fourteen-year-old girl, the community was banned. And yet the founder of Jailbait, an infamous troll who went by u/Violentacrez, was allowed to stay on Reddit, as were some four hundred other communities he’d created—Jewmerica, ChokeABitch, and worse. (Yes, it gets worse.)
--^{I really related with steve. He sounds like a guy cut from my very cloth. Alvarez has been here since the start. I've never been able to pin down exactly who that'd correlate to since it's a phonetic outlier. My best guess is it's me, which is unfortunate. I was wrestling with some demons when I lost liz and had been watching some weird porn, not that all porn isn't weird. I've never clicked with someone like I did Liz. I'm open to this being a time travel paradox, because the easiest explanation to explain her is that she is me. She's always felt like my other half that made me whole again. It's the reason I'm still devastated and crying four years later. I haven't seen her in so long that I've forgotten what she look like mostly. The subtle details that took my breathe away every time are gone and it's they've been replaced by generic features that lack the resolution to even capture her level of beauty acutely. I'm not exaggerating a bit when I say she's the most beautiful girl on the planet though. That was my best friend and it even felt like she loved me more than I had ever been loved. I felt so blessed and the universe was screaming it was meant to be. It dropped all we needed right in our lap and we were so close. I still think if I had just got her to say yes to peru, our present lives would be unrecognizable and our lives infinitely enriched. I know mine would at least. Im not sure if liz is alive anymore honestly. Hard as I search I've never nailed down anything that truly brought her back to life. But I had spent six months asking to the olive garden and trying my best to have an honest conversation about how much she meant to me. She would never open up and some demons were born from frustration and feelings of powerlessness from past traumas that manifested in my porn interests and I spent awhile wrestling with. I got new demons now, because I blamed sex for the death of my best friend for a long time. They're much more serious demons I don't think I'll ever get over again. I don't know if I can ever have sex again honestly. It'd take a special girl that trusted fully. It sounds gay, but its my brain and it's fucked up. That's why I've been screaming for help for four years. Why hasn't my best friend lifted a finger for me? I had never been on the same wavelength as anyone so the unexplained discord killed me and I needed to Liz to have that heart to heart with me so we could get back to our divine path and off to peru. When we first formed friends I was able to tell her anything and it felt like she could tell me anything. I never knew how she saw right through me, but I didn't care because I was comforted by it. I thought she'd speak up and let me know if she saw something that concerned her. That's what a friend would do, and looking back that has to be about the time I lost her. I assume she felt bad for spying on me, so she hesitated to say anything, but had real concerns about me watching hardcore teen anal. I can't blame her since it is weird. What sucks is I'd have gladly never watched porn again and given her all the dick she'd ever need if I was ever given the chance. I think liz always knew I'd never intentionally hurt her though, so I don't get what happened there. This was the original rift the started the invisible wall between us. It stemmed from miscommunication and mistakes made on both sides. I needed some commitment to open up to her, but she needed trust and was closing off. We couldn't comfortably talk about what truly concerned us and our cycle of death began, just when the most important romance on earth was supposed to be birthed. (And I now suspect it was in a very literal sense, but because of simple miscommunication a child was stolen from us that sealed out death, and the death of the universes most important romance. A lie that cost me everyone I love and left the world needing only death from me. I hold my father responsible for destroying all the gods had given me. I'm not sure if my brother stole my divine gift or if it was deb. Considering my father and brother tried to kill me in the most cowardly way possible, I'd imagine caleb stole my child. He has made many subtle jokes about it online when he thought I'd never know. Same with all the jokes he's made about raping children. Him and my dad are too big of pussies to admit it though, and I wonder if they really aren't pedophiles considering that cowardice. I desperately need to know and they desperately need me to stay depressed and broken, because they can't bear the thought of the truth seeing light. They're lies cost me everything in life, and they're alright with me paying the price for their fuckups. I'm their son/brother and they should be fighting for me in an effort to help family, but instead they're fighting against me getting healthy and want me dead. Literally} I've written almost every day for the last four years in an attempt to correct a clear mistake, but liz has reaffirmed there was no mistake over a 1000 times now, so I should just accept it at this point. I lost everything now and my only sin has been trying to heal myself and my relationship with everyone I love. It's only made the problem worse and pushed my family away further. I see now Liz omitted some important truths pertaining to my dad from the start, but so has he. I still feel there's truth to the fact that she could be herself and speak freely without worry in our beginning days. It was just that my dad had tainted things before our paths crossed. It was probably his abuse that birthed our divine purpose. Repair all he had broken in both of us. His abuse has grown out of control since then and he lies about the undeniable while he falsely imprisons his own son while intentionally smearing my reputation to anyone that'll listen. He has fully betrayed me and stole everything I cherished in life at this point. When clearly caught and seen in his true colors, yet offered the chance at forgiveness, he refuses to admit any wrong and give his own son a simple sorry for what even an impartial judge called heinous mistake. He's a lost human now and the best thing for him is to be removed from society because he'll only keep killing the people around him without ever admitting any fault. He's not my father anymore and since he's lost all humanity and began fully attacking the innocent, it's safe to say he's not even human anymore either. I don't really know much about their relationship outside of the fact that it existed and was serious all the way back in 2016. Whatever it was lends to the reason everything is broken now and for sure plays into my moms death. I shouldn't speculate beyond that.)
“In the twenty-first century, information is power,” Obama said in a 2011 speech on Middle East policy. “The truth cannot be hidden. . . . Such open discourse is important even if what is said does not square with our worldview.”
Wong left the company in 2014, after two and a half years. His successor was Ellen Pao, a former venture capitalist. She lasted eight months. Early in her tenure, Reddit announced a crackdown on involuntary pornography. If you found a compromising photo of yourself circulating on Reddit without your consent, you could report it and the company would remove it. In retrospect, this seems like a straightforward business decision, but some redditors treated it as the first in an inevitable parade of horrors
She resigned in July, 2015. “The Internet started as a bastion for free expression,” she wrote in the Washington Post. “But that balancing act is getting harder. The trolls are winning.”
despite the mounting aggression in some online forums. “And the reason is because I have a lot of faith in the American people.” (In response to Obama’s remarks, a commenter on The_Donald wrote, “fuck that low energy cuck!”)
Trump, or someone typing on his behalf, participated in Reddit’s signature interview format—an A.M.A., for “ask me anything.” In response to a question about the “protected class of media elites,” Trump wrote, “I have been very concerned about media bias and the total dishonesty of the press. I think new media is a great way to get out the truth.”
they have designed their platforms to be feedback machines, giving us not what we claim to want, nor what might be good for us, but what we actually pay attention to.
There are no good solutions to this problem, and so tech executives tend to discuss it as seldom as possible, and only in the airiest of platitudes. Twitter has rebuffed repeated calls to ban President Trump’s account, despite his many apparent violations of company policy.
--^{why cant I be steve instead of alvaraz. This guy gets me man}
Huffman, after leaving Condé Nast, spent a few months backpacking in Costa Rica, then founded a travel company called Hipmunk. In July, 2015, he returned to Reddit as C.E.O. In a post about his “top priority” in the job, he wrote, “The overwhelming majority of content on reddit comes from wonderful, creative, funny, smart, and silly communities. There is also a dark side, communities whose purpose is reprehensible, and we don’t have any obligation to support them. . . . Neither Alexis nor I created reddit to be a bastion of free speech.” This was shocking, and about half true. When free-speech absolutism was in vogue, Reddit’s co-founders were as susceptible to its appeal as anyone. In 2012, a Forbes reporter asked Ohanian how the Founding Fathers might have reacted to Reddit. “A bastion of free speech on the World Wide Web? I bet they would like it,” Ohanian responded. “I would love to imagine that ‘Common Sense’ would have been a self-post on Reddit, by Thomas Paine, or actually a redditor named T_Paine.”
Still, Ohanian and Huffman never took their own rhetoric too literally. The site’s rules were brief and vague, and their unwritten policy was even simpler. “We always banned people,” Huffman told me. “We just didn’t talk about it very much.
As C.E.O., Huffman continued the trend Pao had started, banning a few viciously racist subreddits such as Coontown. “There was pushback,” Huffman told me. “But I had the moral authority, as the founder, to take it in stride.” If Pao was like a forbearing parent, then Huffman’s style was closer to “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it.”
I'm tired and going to bed. If we saw all this true in 2018, how is it that I got thrown to the wolves by all the people that knew me best? I can say with confidence that I've done no wrong. I've never abused any of you, nor would I ever. I still firmly believe liz was put here for me and I for her. ... So why has she refused to talk about it ever even once? That small rift between us has grown into a mountain now. It's still growing and it's become unstable. In a day or two it'll avalanche and kill every one of us. I kind of hope I am in a coma and our deaths will the be moment I snap out of this nightmare and wake up. Liz will be right there by my bedside and life will be normal again. I'll finally feel like I'm at home again and that I have family. I don't feel like anyone even loves me anymore, which is hard to explain since I've done no wrong. My exwife was the most honest person I met, beside my grandparent. She was a hard worker, and even if a little harsh at times, she always meant well and had a good heart. She's lying to my kids and telling them I went crazy while she steals my true love now. She literally kidnapped my kids a quarter of a year ago for no reason. My brother prays on my death and my dad does the same. My true love voluntarily died for no reason and spent YEARS betraying me in the most serious ways and never once apologized. Refused her best friend a simple goodbye or to acknowledge the most important relationship in my life ever meant anything to her. Not even enough to give a goodbye to. It makes no sense and these are good people. They are saying the worst things under the cloak of pseudo anonymity and nothing but lies in real life. They wont own their own actions or help me heal the situation one bit. The only end they'll accept in an ending where I commit suicide This is my family and I've done no wrong. It wont bother me a bit to leave this nightmare behind. My only hesitation is leaving my kids in the presence of these abusive assholes and likely pedophiles. I've fought for healing for four years and it's only made things worse. Im started for love and broken by 3yrs of the gas light. I'm giving up and I can't help it. I'm too tired and hopeless to rally for love anymore. Give me death please.
​
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​

There was a time where we were allowed to take notes during the worship service. It was encouraged by the EGM Era of leadership. This is a recording I listened to today
Minister:
"God chose the pilipino people! Think brethren. Almighty God chose his messenger in the East. Where in the east? As you could see it here in the bible uh...a far country.
Here in Isaiah 4:11 and I quote, " calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."
"Brethren, did you hear thaaat? Here in the bible, where will the last messenger of God be chosen? In the east. Where in the East? A far country. The Far East! Right brethren?"
Brethren: yes brothe opo.
"Brethren... Do you know how blessed you are? Out of everyone in the entire world, God chose brother Felix yYY MaNaLo, a poor and uneducated Filipino man, (much like everyone was in the early days of the church) to be his chosen servant and it is thanks to him that we are blessed."
Read the verse. The bible does not say Far East. They used likable ministers who the brethren liked or respected to spread this around. Who is going to stand up in the middle of the worship service filled with docile sheep? No one. Everyone says, "yes brothe opo."
They fed us this lie over and over, and those like me just ate this steaming pile of charismatic bullshit over and over because it made all of us feel special by telling us how not special we are. Just like Felix Y Manalo.
"The false profits will twist the words of God."
They literally rearranged the words of God and if the translation isn't liked they look for another bible with the translation that supports their belief. They pick and choose what to teach because they think we are stupid. You are tired. You went to church to help your spirit and you can forget all your troubles there by praying and crying too God because the life you have is shit. Why the hell would you question the moment of peace you have from your daily life? Because ignorance is bliss.

When is enough going to be enough, from the route 91 shooting to parkland florida and so many others. People just need to lean on God and Jesus and Remember the virtues they taught us, like treat othe like you would like to be treated and love thy neighbor and thou shall not murder. I am thankful that God has blessed my family and kept each and everyone of them safe. Thank you o lord . May other learn to live in peace as many of us have learned, for an example my juggalo family love each other and respect one another and we help each other even if we anit blood were still family, whoop whoop. May God bless everyone who reads this and help them to live in harmony with one another. When will enough be enough. When will we get mental health background checks before people can buy guns and why do we need anything bigger than a shot gun to protect ourselves, like Robin Williams said what is their some big deer in the forest with abullet proof vest on going hay let's party this is for my brother who's hanging in a bar in Kentucky. Rest in peace. I pray that everyone learns that others are not to blame for your problems, nor is their religion or skin color or their attitude that is responsible for your problems, you are the only one who has control over your situation and you are the only one who can do anything about your situation. Grow up and be a real human being not a whiney little complainer who blames everyone else for their problems. In the emortal words of Rodney king " can't we all just get along ". I would like to thank all of the the brave frist responders who have saved countless lives during all of the tragic mass shootings in the country. Thank you all for your bravery. I hope that one day congress learns that we need laws that work not laws that work for the gun lobby or manufacturers or big corporations but for all of us. God I pray that you put some sense into our politicians to make better decisions about the world. I pray these things in Jesus name Amen.🙏 ✌️@❤️.

This happened several months ago, but it’s still weighing on me and I need some more opinions. Hang tight, this explanation is going to be a bit lengthy.
I (19M) was with my ex-girlfriend (22F) for almost three years. We’ll call her Jess. At the time of our breakup, I was 18 and she was 21. That means- you guessed it- we started dating when I was 15 and she was 18. That’s a problem in itself, but I’ll get to that later.
Jess and I met the summer before she went to college, and I clicked with her pretty quickly. I developed a crush on her but I figured nothing would happen because of our age difference. Eventually, however, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and I told her my feelings. She told me that she reciprocated them, but because of our age difference and because she was going to college, she didn’t want to pursue anything. I accepted this, and we continued being friends. However, near the end of the summer, Jess and I and our other friend, we’ll call him Hank, had a sleepover. We were watching movies all night and Hank fell asleep pretty quickly. Jess and I were cuddled up next to each other and she randomly asked me if I wanted to kiss her. I said yes, but I moved away from her physically. She had made it clear that nothing was going to happen, and I wanted to respect that. Before I could process what was happening, Jess pinned me down and kissed me. I tried to push her off but I couldn’t, she was too strong. When she finally let up, she said she felt horrible, and “wasn’t in control of her body” at that moment. I said it was fine, but we didn’t talk for the rest of the night after that.
The next day, Jess and I talked. I told her I was confused because of the boundaries we had established, and I told her that consent was very important to me. She agreed and apologized. Things were tense, but I forgave her, and off she went to college. We continued talking, and Jess told me flat out that she didn’t want a relationship with me. Again, I respected it. I went to visit her in college, but once again, she kissed me without consent. I was so confused. We talked more and I again forgave her. The more we talked, the more I wanted to be with her. Then, one day when we she was home in October, we were making out on my bed and she asked me to be her boyfriend. I happily agreed.
I hate to admit it, but I spent most of that relationship pretending to be happy. She could be a miserable person to be around, not to mention that she was older and had so much more experience than I did- this was my first real relationship. Throughout the time we were together, Jess was a bit insufferable. She wanted to call and FaceTime me 3-5 times a day, when she knew I was busy AND had phone anxiety. She would get upset when I didn’t want to. I felt like I had to constantly be in my phone to respond to her and answer her, and I felt like I could never hang out with my friends or catch a break. Not to mention that she basically refused to hang out with my family and would get upset when they wanted to spend time with us. She heightened my anxiety immensely. Also, Jess had a lot of mental health problems, but didn’t try to get much help. She’d go to a therapist occasionally, try meds but go off them. I basically became her therapist when I had my own issues going on that I needed support for. The summer before we broke up, I was in the worst depressive episode of my life and she didn’t even notice.
All that aside, I was going through something else as well. I had began to realize I was gay. I had always identified as bisexual, and I am a trans man as well. It’s not uncommon for trans people who go on hormones to have a shift in sexuality, and that’s what I think happened to me. I tried for months to let her down easy with this, but anytime I would remotely mention or hint at it, she shut down the conversation immediately. Eventually I got to the point where I convinced myself it would be easier to stay with her than break up with her. She basically made me get her a promise ring as well.
Then I got to college. Long story short, I broke up with her because I just realized how utterly miserable I was and I fully accepted my sexuality and identity as a gay trans man. The breakup was ugly. It lasted days because she kept talking me out of it. I eventually put my foot down and did it when she was visiting me one weekend. First she kissed me when I asked her not to, claiming that she didn’t know what else to do to get me to stay. Then she was crying, threatening to hurt herself, the usual. Her family told me they were praying for me. She went through an awful time and I felt horrible, but what was even worse, I felt instantly relieved.
I got with my now boyfriend fairly soon after the breakup. I knew it looked bad, but I never cheated on her. Right person right time thing. After the breakup, which I truly only broke up with her because I was gay, I started to realize that the relationship wasn’t great and the age gap was bad. I was a child for the majority of the relationship and she was an adult the entire time. She reached out to me with questions of clarification and I communicated this to her in a phone call, in a way that I felt was as mature as I could. Hence another breakdown, her family cutting me off, etc. I realize this all must feel very sudden for her, and I felt awful about it, but I could not be in that place mentally any more. Since then, I have had the best year of growth for my life yet.
I recently reached out and messaged her, just to say that I hope she’s doing well, and I apologized for the hurt I caused during our breakup. She seemed receptive to the apology, but definitely is being more independent and doesn’t want to pursue being friends again (which I am totally fine with, and honestly, I think is good for both of us).
I’m very happy and content with my life now, and absolutely thrilled to be with my boyfriend in my new relationship. However, after years of being with Jess, it’s been hard for me to shake the guilt. It’s been about 9 months and I still feel bad. I know it might sound dramatic, but I seriously feel like I have PTSD from this relationship. Did I do the right thing? Was there anything I should have done differently or anything I should apologize to her for? I feel like I shouldn’t label myself as a victim, but I don’t know. Sorry for how long this is, and thanks if you read it all.

TW: underage relationships, non consensual activity, mental health issues
This happened several months ago, but it’s still weighing on me and I need some more opinions. Hang tight, this explanation is going to be a bit lengthy.
I (19M) was with my ex-girlfriend (22F) for almost three years. We’ll call her Jess. At the time of our breakup, I was 18 and she was 21. That means- you guessed it- we started dating when I was 15 and she was 18. That’s a problem in itself, but I’ll get to that later.
Jess and I met the summer before she went to college, and I clicked with her pretty quickly. I developed a crush on her but I figured nothing would happen because of our age difference. Eventually, however, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and I told her my feelings. She told me that she reciprocated them, but because of our age difference and because she was going to college, she didn’t want to pursue anything. I accepted this, and we continued being friends. However, near the end of the summer, Jess and I and our other friend, we’ll call him Hank, had a sleepover. We were watching movies all night and Hank fell asleep pretty quickly. Jess and I were cuddled up next to each other and she randomly asked me if I wanted to kiss her. I said yes, but I moved away from her physically. She had made it clear that nothing was going to happen, and I wanted to respect that. Before I could process what was happening, Jess pinned me down and kissed me. I tried to push her off but I couldn’t, she was too strong. When she finally let up, she said she felt horrible, and “wasn’t in control of her body” at that moment. I said it was fine, but we didn’t talk for the rest of the night after that.
The next day, Jess and I talked. I told her I was confused because of the boundaries we had established, and I told her that consent was very important to me. She agreed and apologized. Things were tense, but I forgave her, and off she went to college. We continued talking, and Jess told me flat out that she didn’t want a relationship with me. Again, I respected it. I went to visit her in college, but once again, she kissed me without consent. I was so confused. We talked more and I again forgave her. The more we talked, the more I wanted to be with her. Then, one day when we she was home in October, we were making out on my bed and she asked me to be her boyfriend. I happily agreed.
I hate to admit it, but I spent most of that relationship pretending to be happy. She could be a miserable person to be around, not to mention that she was older and had so much more experience than I did- this was my first real relationship. Throughout the time we were together, Jess was a bit insufferable. She wanted to call and FaceTime me 3-5 times a day, when she knew I was busy AND had phone anxiety. She would get upset when I didn’t want to. I felt like I had to constantly be in my phone to respond to her and answer her, and I felt like I could never hang out with my friends or catch a break. Not to mention that she basically refused to hang out with my family and would get upset when they wanted to spend time with us. She heightened my anxiety immensely. Also, Jess had a lot of mental health problems, but didn’t try to get much help. She’d go to a therapist occasionally, try meds but go off them. I basically became her therapist when I had my own issues going on that I needed support for. The summer before we broke up, I was in the worst depressive episode of my life and she didn’t even notice.
All that aside, I was going through something else as well. I had began to realize I was gay. I had always identified as bisexual, and I am a trans man as well. It’s not uncommon for trans people who go on hormones to have a shift in sexuality, and that’s what I think happened to me. I tried for months to let her down easy with this, but anytime I would remotely mention or hint at it, she shut down the conversation immediately. Eventually I got to the point where I convinced myself it would be easier to stay with her than break up with her. She basically made me get her a promise ring as well.
Then I got to college. Long story short, I broke up with her because I just realized how utterly miserable I was and I fully accepted my sexuality and identity as a gay trans man. The breakup was ugly. It lasted days because she kept talking me out of it. I eventually put my foot down and did it when she was visiting me one weekend. First she kissed me when I asked her not to, claiming that she didn’t know what else to do to get me to stay. Then she was crying, threatening to hurt herself, the usual. Her family told me they were praying for me. She went through an awful time and I felt horrible, but what was even worse, I felt instantly relieved.
I got with my now boyfriend fairly soon after the breakup. I knew it looked bad, but I never cheated on her. Right person right time thing. After the breakup, which I truly only broke up with her because I was gay, I started to realize that the relationship wasn’t great and the age gap was bad. I was a child for the majority of the relationship and she was an adult the entire time. She reached out to me with questions of clarification and I communicated this to her in a phone call, in a way that I felt was as mature as I could. Hence another breakdown, her family cutting me off, etc. I realize this all must feel very sudden for her, and I felt awful about it, but I could not be in that place mentally any more. Since then, I have had the best year of growth for my life yet.
I recently reached out and messaged her, just to say that I hope she’s doing well, and I apologized for the hurt I caused during our breakup. She seemed receptive to the apology, but definitely is being more independent and doesn’t want to pursue being friends again (which I am totally fine with, and honestly, I think is good for both of us).
I’m very happy and content with my life now, and absolutely thrilled to be with my boyfriend in my new relationship. However, after years of being with Jess, it’s been hard for me to shake the guilt. It’s been about 9 months and I still feel bad. I know it might sound dramatic, but I seriously feel like I have PTSD from this relationship. Just need some assurance either way. Sorry for how long this is, and thanks if you read it all.

Hello all, this is more of a question than anything.
The issue I’m asking for help with: What Bible is not harmful and ok for kids?
My little brother is a Christian, he loves praising god, he has good morals, and is a funny, good natured, sensitive boy. However, he is coming of age. He goes to a cyber school, but majority of his actual friends go to a private Christian school together (without him) since growing closer with his friends, he’s changed a bit, and says rather worrying things at times (Bigoted/hateful) I can’t help but assume this might be the influence of outside nature, or that this is temporary. I could be making excuses.
It’s hard to tell what exactly is preteen boys testing the waters of edginess or what may be influencing negatively.
Since then, he’s asked to go to the bookstore and buy a Bible, a KJV. From what I understand, the universal translation of the Christian Bible is the King James Version, but from what I was also told, it is also the one that holds some more biased scriptures.
I am religious, but I don’t care for translation errors that change the meaning, so I just pray and keep it private.
From his eyes, I’m just his paranoid, libtard sister, who means well. I don’t wish to command respect, or inhibit him exploring things to know what NOT to do (godknows I have)
What Bible version is safe and unbiased? Preferably understandable for preteens?

I’m trying to pick up the habit of church-going again after a hiatus, and living in a pretty big city I have access to more or less every denomination provided I’m willing to move my legs around a bit.
I’ve had my fair share of theological and (unfortunately) political disagreements in some of my previous churches, and would like to find a place where I wouldn’t stick out. My position on some prominent talking points are as follows:
Nature of God - I believe in the Trinitarian God. I’m not completely sure I understand the nature of the relationship between the Trinity though.
Baptism - I was baptised as an infant and I don’t think it’s had much of a positive or negative influence on my spiritual well being. I’m honestly fine either way.
Eucharist/Lord’s Supper - Jesus himself told us to do this in remembrance of him so I think it should be done regularly. Beyond that I don’t know whether the bread and wine physically become Christ, spiritually become Christ or are just reminding us of Christ’s love and sacrifice and the question doesn’t keep me up at night.
Saints - I believe Mary and the saints are to be respected as exemplars of the faith. That being said I don’t believe in the immaculate conception and would be unlikely to actually pray to them.
Scripture - Scripture is certainly the most reliable reference for faith related matters. But as it’s a collection of books compiled by members of the early church rather than a tablet from the heavens I don’t think we should take every syllable literally, and I’d say tradition can be a complementary source to scripture.
Salvation - I accept that salvation must be initiated by God’s grace but I feel the need for reciprocation from the receiving end as well. The choice of accepting grace and striving to become closer to God is our own. I believe that Jesus died for all, even those who do not accept his grace. I do not know if non-Christians are saved but I certainly hope they are.
Priesthood - Apostolic succession is a wonderful heritage but I don’t think its absence makes a church or denomination invalid. Regarding women priests/pastors I’m neutral, it’s definitely unorthodox but also not specifically forbidden by Christ. Gay priests/pastors I’m a bit uncomfortable with as my understanding is that Christ did sort of speak against it. I’m all for welcoming everyone gay straight or otherwise into the church though.
Worship - I prefer structured/ritualistic/contemplative compared to contemporary/emotional/charismatic. Just personal preference.
Gifts/Prophecy - I’m generally skeptical of supernatural experiences and don’t consider them necessary to the spiritual life. Who knows, maybe I’ll change my mind if I experience something?
Ecclesiology - I think all denominations that accept Jesus as saviour and worship the Trinity are valid churches and instruments of salvation, the whole ‘different fingers pointing to the same moon’ and whatnot. By extension I also think that other religions are trying to reach spiritual truth as best they can and respect them for it, though I obviously believe Christianity is true.
For anyone who managed to get through that wall of text, which denomination would you recommend?

Well im 18 and took .75 g of penis envy mushrooms I grew with my close friend and brother. It was the best experience ever I regularly smoke weed and have tried acid once and had a not too favorable time but this shroom trip was straight vibes. Pink Floyd , Led Zeppelin and jimi I usually listen to tool a lot smoking weed but it was a little to intense at the time.
My good friend took double the dose me and my brother did, which was .75 but he is seasoned with psychedelics. Sadly we couldn’t share the experience with him right before we peaked he had to leave to watch his little bro.
But me and my brother ended up peaking outside I felt like I was being birthed out of mother earths vagina. I was laying under a dogwood tree and it felt like I was praying to an elephants foot. Color was very enhanced and saturated, I felt super connected to the earth. It was supposed to rain today but the skies cleared up perfectly when we took them. me and my brother just laid in the sun on towels and straight up melted into the earth. No better felling we felt fucking amazing. For some reason i thought My skin looked like elephant skin
Then our grandmother came over and we came down, we ate some watermelon and came back to reality .
Well what I realized is I love elephants and need to travel to Africa one day to see one.
All around a great experience, I felt like it was the perfect dose. I respected the mushroom and researched alot so it took care of me. Definitely not going to do it often. Once every few months if that

Well im 18 and took .75 g of penis envy mushrooms I grew with my close friend and brother. It was the best experience ever I regularly smoke weed and have tried acid once and had a not too favorable time but this shroom trip was straight vibes. Pink Floyd , Led Zeppelin and jimi I usually listen to tool a lot smoking weed but it was a little to intense at the time.
My good friend took double the dose me and my brother did, which was .75 but he is seasoned with psychedelics. Sadly we couldn’t share the experience with him right before we peaked he had to leave to watch his little bro.
But me and my brother ended up peaking outside I felt like I was being birthed out of mother earths vagina. I was laying under a dogwood tree and it felt like I was praying to an elephants foot. Color was very enhanced and saturated, I felt super connected to the earth. It was supposed to rain today but the skies cleared up perfectly when we took them. me and my brother just laid in the sun on towels and straight up melted into the earth. No better felling we felt fucking amazing. For some reason i thought My skin looked like elephant skin
Then our grandmother came over and we came down, we ate some watermelon and came back to reality .
Well what I realized is I love elephants and need to travel to Africa one day to see one.
All around a great experience, I felt like it was the perfect dose. I respected the mushroom and researched alot so it took care of me. Definitely not going to do it often. Once every few months if that

https://soundcloud.com/eviction/eviction-adsruok
A very personal mix, covering a long period of my life.Hoping it doesn't get taken down - respect to all the artists on here.
HAELOS – Spectrum (Intro)
HAELOS – Pray
The Naked and Famous – Blinding Lights
Meg Myers – Running Up That Hill
Milosh – Hold Me (Instrumental)
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
Shpongle – Nothing Is Something Worth Doing
Floex, Tom Hodge, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra – Wednesday (Is The New Friday)
Sasha Alex Sloan – Thoughts
Sleigh Bells – And Saints
Depeche Mode – A Pain That I’m Used To (Live)
Floex, Tom Hodge, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra – Prelude I
Johnny Cash – Hurt
Me Not You – Kill The Noise
Nine Inch Nails – Eraser
UNKLE, Michael Kiwanuka – On My Knees
Enigma, Aquilo – Amen
Cigarettes After Sex – Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby
Puscifer – Grand Canyon
Brian Eno – The Big Ship
UNKLE, Tessa Angus – Long Gone
Phantogram – Into Happiness
ODESZA – A Moment Apart
Thomas Barrandon – Body

Executor the Ex Foedere Archive File 3:

About Federico's background? I remember that his parents were also attached to the Fifth Office, and the file should be at ...... Just a moment, let me look for the records. Ah, here they are, Mr. and Mrs. Giallo, both were legal executors attached to the Notary, very good and capable, but unfortunately were both killed in the line of duty during a mission fifteen years ago. Federico would have been about ten years old at the time? Poor kid.
So, what made you suddenly investigate Federico's case? Just because of the "saints"?
...... Arturo Giallo, you ask?
...... First, I must state one thing:
Federico's file was rigorously vetted at the time of his induction and there was no problem with the process.
Remember that. This is the premise for our next conversation.
Arturo Giallo, whose father and Federico's father were cousins, is very clearly documented in the file and there is nothing to hide. After the martyrdom of the Giallo's, Federico was a host in the home of this cousin for a period of time, about ...... Two to three years, I think, after which he entered secondary school and began to live there.
By the way, seven years ago Arturo's crimes were first uncovered, so that she had to leave Laterano, it was Federico, who was a newcomer at the time, who first found the relevant clues. Therefore, Arturo's wanted task has been handed over to him to lead the advancement of these years. The young man's first case always has a special meaning, I think.

​
HE-2 Before:

Arturia: In a place far, far away, there is a small village where a group of happy villagers live. Some of them built huts for everyone to shelter from the wind and rain, and cultivated farmland. Others went out hunting, looking for ore, and by the way, fought off the bad guys who wanted to take the village for themselves. The villagers were inseparable from each other, live together in a small village and considered it their home. But the good times did not last long. The crops in the farmland gradually decreased, hunting became more and more difficult, the food available became less and less, and everyone was hungry and rumbling.
A: The weather also became colder and colder, but there was not enough fuel to keep warm ...... What can we do? Everyone said, "This must be a trial given to us by the Lord, we must pray for forgiveness!"
A: Just then a group of good people arrived and, seeing the situation in the village, spoke to the leading villager ......
A: "Come, you can come and live in our city."
A: "But we can only take the part of you that is more similar to us."
A: "Come, come and live a better life, just leave behind your fellow villagers ......"
Lively child: Sister Arturia, don't tell this story!
A: Hmm? You guys don't like this story?
Lively children: Don't like it! It's going to be hard when you're hungry ......!
Shy kids: Well, it's hard. And, not to leave others behind ......
Arturia: This is indeed the "right" idea of collectivism, perhaps with a touch of heroism ...... Even romanticism. Romantic stories have their appeal, but romance and arrogance can sometimes confuse others, as well as ourselves.
Lively child: Sister Arturia is saying strange things again!
A: Oops, sorry, it's my fault. Let's change the story. What do you want to hear?

​
LE-8 Before:

Arturia: Beautiful. An exemplary musician, devoting his life to fighting the power left behind by the Witch King.
A: Just as he is about to pull this doomed battle back to a stalemate, he loses not to the Witch King, or to himself, but to the obsessions of an old acquaintance.
A: Ah, that sound coming from that small building in the distance. The shrill laughter erupting from the depths of despair is equally beautiful.
A: As for you, my former student... While I was teaching you to speak using the violin, I heard the motif of your fate... What a pitiful melody it was.
A: But I never expected that you could develop it into such a brilliant opus.
A: I salute all of you, people I may or may not know.
A: I shall listen. For that is the only way I know to pay my respects.

​

A very personal mix, covering a long period of my life.Hoping it doesn't get taken down - respect to all the artists on here.

1. HAELOS – Spectrum (Intro)
2. HAELOS – Pray
3. The Naked and Famous – Blinding Lights
4. Meg Myers – Running Up That Hill
5. Milosh – Hold Me (Instrumental)
6. Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
7. Shpongle – Nothing Is Something Worth Doing
8. Floex, Tom Hodge, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra – Wednesday (Is The New Friday)
9. Sasha Alex Sloan – Thoughts
10. Sleigh Bells – And Saints
11. Depeche Mode – A Pain That I’m Used To (Live)
12. Floex, Tom Hodge, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra – Prelude I
13. Johnny Cash – Hurt
14. Me Not You – Kill The Noise
15. Nine Inch Nails – Eraser
16. UNKLE, Michael Kiwanuka – On My Knees
17. Enigma, Aquilo – Amen
18. Cigarettes After Sex – Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby
19. Puscifer – Grand Canyon
20. Brian Eno – The Big Ship
21. UNKLE, Tessa Angus – Long Gone
22. Phantogram – Into Happiness
23. ODESZA – A Moment Apart
24. Thomas Barrandon – Body

They called it a Scryglass, the pun being very much intentional.
It was a mirror inscribed with magic runes that could be touched to match with a signature. We had effectively reinvented the telephone, but with the benefit of visuals to go with it. Even though it reflected the room behind me, I didn't show up, nobody showed up.
I tapped the runes indicated, and the Scryglass shifted to show a Human, who looked surprised.
"Holy shit, it actually worked." She remarked. She scrutinized me. "I was led to believe your Imperator would be speaking with us."
"I am Imperator Ruuk Stingtail." I stated. "My death was not exaggerated, the Gods simply had need of me. The short of it is that our High Priest was a saboteur for Tiamat, and had been using my brother, the acting Imperator, as a puppet. He is still at large, unfortunately, having escaped with Tiamat's intervention." I paused. "If you have a seat, please take it, I cannot guarantee this will be a quick call."
A chair was brought in, we both sat in our respective spots.
"Might I know your name, Human?" I asked.
"Staff Sergeant Catalina Rosaria Cortez." She replied. "We understand this Tiamat infiltrated our number under the alias of Tiana Martel."
"How much do you know of Tiamat's involvement in events?" I asked. "I ask mainly to ensure if you are missing any information, you can be apprised of the details."
"We don't know a whole lot." Sgt. Cortez stated. "We've been flying in the dark here for a year."
I nodded. I gave a rough overview of events as I remembered them, with Bahamut filling in the gaps that I had forgotten. A few of my Council looked uncomfortable when I mentioned we had once been Human, a fact I had already forgotten.
"For the purposes of interacting with us, approach any situation with the understanding that most- if not all of us- do not remember ever being Human. It's a detail even I find myself forgetting."
She nodded. "To be honest with you, we have had some trouble remembering that as well. I've gone over past reports, and it's clear that our memory is being affected as well, the blockades were enacted because we had come to the conclusion that you were invaders, rather than residents."
"That is alarming." I remarked. "Kashak! Alert the Circle that the Humans are experiencing the same loss in memory."
"The 'Circle'?" Sgt. Cortez asked.
"Our Circle of Mages, recently founded. They are a group of Sorcerers, Warlocks, Clerics... Anyone who has an interest in studying magic. It is their mission to find a way to properly contain the Divine Essence of Kurtulmak, and if possible, bring him back so the transformation of Humans into Kobolds can be controlled."
"Do you believe a God can be brought back to life?" She asked.
"I was." I replied. "Why not him?"
"Please tell her that, while I appreciate some of her men giving homage to me, it is unnecessary." Bahamut stated. "I am not the one containing the Divine Essence, it is the faithful who remain who keep it gathered."
"You can tell your men they don't need to pray to Bahamut." I said, she looked surprised, and a little confused. "While he appreciates it, he's not the one who's keeping the Divine Essence contained. Those of us who stubbornly continue to worship Kurtulmak are keeping it from spreading."
"I see..." She said.
"That being said, nothing is stopping them from continuing." I said. "As the new head of his Temple on Earth, I am... restructuring things."
"You took over the Temple." She said. "Making you the sole authority in your nation."
"If it makes you feel any better, I literally have Bahamut watching over my shoulder, there's nothing like a lawfully good Deity whose entire thing is Justice to provide some oversight."
She laughed, meaning my attempt at humor worked. "Sorry." She said. "That was rude of me."
"It was intentionally a joke." I said, easing her guilt. "The purpose of these Scryglasses- yes, I'm told it's a pun- is to ensure quick communication in the event things start going wrong."
She nodded. "So I was told." She said. "Is there anything you're expecting from us?"
"A rough overview of current events." I said. "Having an evil Dragon Goddess show up and lay waste to an entire town's worth of Kobolds certainly didn't go unnoticed, and that's not going into if she targeted the city over."
She nodded. "Things have been tense." She said. "Your actions led to what is effectively an unscheduled restructuring of our entire government."
'She means the citizens of her nation saw the open mistreatment of your people as the final straw, there was a violent uprising that led to the death and imprisonment of everyone in the higher echelons of government, and a provisional government is currently handling affairs while the situation is resolved.' Bahamut helpfully explained.
"So, you have your own issues on your end as well." I stated diplomatically.
"Tiamat attacking did not help matters." She said. "We still get some dumbshit activists trying to cause problems, thinking we're holding you hostage."
"Do you have any means of contacting them?" I asked.
"In theory, yes. They don't really listen, or pick up."
I nodded. "Contact them, simply tell them Imperator Ruuk is interested in speaking with them. After all, it is in both of our best interests to keep this situation contained."
The relief in her eyes was palpable, I had just lifted the weight of an entire world off her back. "I will do that, Imperator Ruuk." She said.
"Thank you." I tried to think of anything else that came to mind. "Keep me apprised of anything unusual happening on your end, I will have people stationed near this Scryglass to ensure you won't be waiting too long in the event you need my insight."
That was all that needed to be discussed, I ended the connection and sat back in my seat.
'It takes strength to speak with those you hate.' Bahamut stated. 'I am proud of you.'
I nodded. "Compromise." I said. "If I can't do that much, then I show I won't even follow in my God's footsteps."
There was no time for sitting around, ruminating on things that didn't directly serve getting us back on track.
"Hail, Imperator!" A few of our recent additions called out to me, there was still fear in their eyes, but they most certainly respected me. We got the foundation for even having a reservoir built. We all elected not to have indoor plumbing, we'd gotten used to chamber pots and the Druids were efficient at turning our waste into fertilizer, their ability to cleanse of it disease meaning there was no point in doing anything otherwise.
Instead, we elected to have the water go into strategically placed wells, with water created to test them out and ensure we would get flooded if a little too much water came in.
Thanks to the efforts of the Artificers and Druids, we had a system that would accommodate a proper reservoir, with future plans to have one made and installed. As we were patting ourselves on the back and celebrating our efforts, someone came running up to me. "Imperator! We need your assistance! Elgo snapped, we don't know what to do!"
"Show me." I said.
The Circle of Mages were situated in what I called the Arcane District, and considering the sounds coming from within, I knew the situation was serious. I ran past confused and concerned mages and headed for the far door.
Beyond it, I saw Elgo running around, grabbing paper and scrawling on it, paying no mind to the things he was knocking over. He was talking to himself, muttering frantically under his breath in a mixtire of Yipyak and English, as well as a few other languages I didn't recognize.
His hand seized a pen and he began drawing circles and diagrams on each page.
'Leave him be, Ruuk.' Bahamut stated. 'Give him some space.'
I shut the door, not really questioning what Bahamut knew that I didn't- not yet, at least. I looked at the other Mages. "Give him space." I said. "If it persists longer than a few days, then we get involved."
We didn't even need to wait the full day, Elgo came out of the room carrying a bunch of pages loosely bound together with string, which he brought over, slammed on a table, and began pointing at things and jibbering madly.
"Elgo, Elgo." I said, reaching out to him and trying to calm him down.
"No, Imperator, you do no understand-" He slipped into another language, emphatically trying to communicate something. I looked at the others. Anyone know Comprehend Languages?"
This seemed to snap Elgo back into reality. He looked at me for several moments, then stepped away, taking the bound-together papers and a cup of water. "This will explain it." He said, thumbing through the pages until he landed on one. This time, he spoke slowly and deliberately, half of his words were understandable, while the rest were not. It took him a full minute.
He flung the water, which twisted and roiled in the air before splashing against the ground. I watched in awe as the water then began to rise up, taking a humanoid form.
"Wait, you awoke as a Sorcerer?" A Warlock asked.
"No, he's our first Wizard." Arix stated. "Those papers in his hands? That's his spellbook. That insane babbling we heard? It's not insane to him."
Elgo nodded, "Yeah." He said. "It's, ah, a water elemental, kuutravai rukata vos aquan capable of, well, anything that water is capable of, like kavata tuugra shalai with its mass derived directly from the elemental plane of water."
"You could have just said 'magic' over and over again and we would have gotten exactly the same information out of that." Arix said. "What even is that language you're speaking?"
"He is speaking the Primordial tongue, the language of Elementals, the First Words of Asgorath." Bahamut spoke through me.
"Oh, you're familiar with it?" Elgo asked.
"Bahamut is." I said. "Mind filling us in on what he said?"
"The concepts are far more ancient than any modern languages can adequately convey, yet simplified, they can put out fires and smash things." Bahamut replied.
Elgo winced. "That's not really a good explanation." He said.
"It is not incorrect. You will have to learn how to convey these concepts in simpler terms, especially as you will need to teach those who will come after you." Bahamut retracted, and I felt a little drained. "Elgo, congratulations on your Awakening, I'll get an Artificer to make you a proper spellbook so you don't have to worry about your pages falling out." I looked pointedly at the page that was flopping to the floor. He quickly snatched it up.
"For the record." Bahamut spoke again. "He is the equivalent of a 'level ten', in your terms."
I blinked, Arix asked, "How?"
"I think it's because I've been spending my every waking moment trying to figure out how magic works." Elgo said. "I've studied scrolls and magic items, asking about specific runes and arrays. Today, it all just... clicked." He paused. "In fact, I feel like I have a greater grasp of our situation, maybe. I'll need more paper, more time to observe things."
I nodded. "Get on it, and report to me directly when you've finished. Your knowledge will be needed on my Council."
He nodded. "Yeah, yeah, Council. Wait, Council?" He looked at me.
"Every time a new Class is awakened, they are given a spot on my Council." I stated.
He looked distressed. "But there's so much I need to focus on, I can't be bogged down with politics! There's the matter of how we're going to gather up the Divine Essence and contain it, because even if we aren't showing signs of anything wrong with us, there's no telling what long-term effects we'll begin to display. I mean, there's gradual yellowing of everyone's eyes, and I'm fairly certain that isn't jaundice, not to mention the rapidity of cognitive degradation compared to the normal rate- more specifically in the region of the brain that governs memory, on top of everything else that's going on and I don't have the capacity to really do that."
I blinked, speechless for a moment. "As Councilor, you will have the authority to delegate." I stated firmly. "And having my ear on any problem you find or any solution you come up with will ensure they are handled immediately."
"R-right, I didn't think about that."
"That being said, I am going to require you to accompany me tonight, if you are as well-studied as you think you are, you'll be able to help us."
He nodded.
I put things in motion to get him a proper spellbook made, then continued about my day. By the time of the ritual, he'd already copied everything into a nice, leatherbound book, and he looked significantly less scatterbrained.
We prepared the ritual, which he observed quietly.
"Several issues." He said, after we finished. "First and foremost, the people who can't use magic are superfluous, they can just sit over here and pray and it would probably be just as effective."
A few of my fellow faithful started yelling at him.
"Quiet." I stated, they all went silent. "Elgo is here specifically to address anything he sees as not working or being counterproductive. Go on, Elgo."
"Right. Second, you're just throwing herbs in there, you need a proper incense, considering you're trying to worship a dead God back to life, frankincense, myrrh, and dragon's blood resin would be more effective, and these things can be purchased from any spiritual shop- I'm sure there's plenty in the next town over, we'll just have to contact the soldiers and get them to agree to get the materials."
"I have a means of communication, go on."
"Oh? I'll have to see it." He remarked. "Third, that's just a basic brazier full of wood you got from the ground. I understand you're desperately trying your best, but you're not getting anywhere if you're half-assing it. You're going to need- at the very least- something that actually matches what Kurtulmak likes. Not to mention getting wood that has the properties you need."
He looked thoughtful. "Fourth, you have his spear, you have armor that he made, yes? Use them. You have the best possible implements for- at the very least- gathering the Divine Essence into something that can hold it."
"Is that everything?" I asked.
"Everything that makes sense at least." He remarked. "Anything else, we're going to have to adjust."
I nodded. "Then let's make this a priority, if we're just wasting time now, we'd better use it so we aren't." We came together and- pooling our understanding- we came to a plan that could work.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cuts and gashes, the dead fighting the dead, culling the weak so the strong remained. The souls we slew would remain dead, irretrievable.
In the distance, a voice calls out to me.
​
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Introductions. Shuttle Engineer Drivtet Ol'gashi POV
I was working on some routine maintenance of the Black Spots shuttle when the Captains voice came over the ship wide intercom.
Ping "All crew report to assembly in bay 3. There is critical information that has just been relayed by GC high-command. I have been given permission to show all of you just what we found 4 rotations ago on that unknown wreckage." Ping
All noise in the normally busy shuttle bay had ceased following that announcement. Quickly packing away the inspection sheet I was working on, I proceeded to the doors with my fellow crew.
"What do you think that recording was?" I turned and looked down to see shuttle pilot Fen'hozy hopping up beside me. Fen'hozy is a Kanhiv one of the smaller races being only 2' feet 6" inches tall, with short coarse tan fur, and powerful hind legs that are used to launch them into the air. He was nervously tapping the claws on the fingertips of his wings against the floor.
"I don't know, but by the sounds of it the captain is about to show us." I reply trying to calm his nerves.
When we discovered the wreck 4 rotations ago the specifications that came through scans were absurd. Being a member of the engineering crew I was part of the team that was assigned to study the crafts scans when not doing regular tasks. For starters the ceilings were 10' feet tall, 2' feet taller than the tallest know sentient race, the Phyth. Then there was the material composition of the ship. Metal alloys far denser than we have ever made coming from materials so strong our hottest welding equipment barely made it glow. Whatever made that ship was something the GC isn't fully prepared for.
"What do you think destroyed it?" Fen'hozy asked, snapping me from my thoughts.
He was right. What could destroy something our best tech can't even cut through?
"I don't know. Whatever it was, it couldn't have been the Vizan. If it was then there is no way we would have lasted this long against them." I replied, "Hopefully, we will get some answers from this assembly."
I picked up my pace towards bay 3, forcing Fen'hozy to switch from his quadrapedal walk to upright hopping 'run' with his wings tucked neatly against his sides to keep up. We quickly pull ahead of the group leaving the shuttle bay with us.
"If you're gonna run there mind if I just hitch a rid on your back. You know I can't keep up if you go any faster." Fen'hozy remarked, struggling to keep pace with my brisk walk.
"Sure, so long as you promise to clean out the shuttles docking port for me tomorrow." I cheerily replied.
"Done!" He shouted, hopping high into the air towards my back. "I've seen how clean you keep that shuttle it will take me all of 5 tacks to do." He said, landing on my back with a quiet whomp. Holding onto my shoulders with his clawed fingers and proping his hind paws against my hips, I leaned forward and started jogging down the corridor.
We reached bay 3 well ahead of most with only the Captain, bridge crew, and research department present. The bridge crew sat on stage behind the Captain, sullen expressions shadowing their features. While the researchers sat in the front row were restraining their excitement with visible difficulty. The tension was already palpable with the brooding expression on our Captains normally stoic face.
Letting Fen'hozy drop to the floor we made our way to some seats on the far side of the bay. The standardized stools were not very comfortable but were built to accommodate many different body types. I plopped myself onto a stool while Fen'hozy hopped up onto the one next to me resting back on his haunches. Seated like this with him sitting upright we were almost eye level.
"You know, as scared as I am for what this species may be. I can't help but be excited for a new potential ally. Especially with the technology we have already seen." Fen'hozy voiced my own thoughts as if reading them right from my mind.
"I couldn't agree more. Especially about the technology if we had access to some of the materials they use I would put credits on turning the tide of this war." I stated smugly. Our shiny golden metals were nothing compared to the stark grey and black materials that ship was composed of.
We chatted aimlessly for a few tacks while the rest of the crew arrived. It seemed we didn't have to wait long as more and more cautiously optimistic crew members filled the seats. I could catch snippets of conversation all seeming to denote a level of excitement based around what we discovered. If it wasn't for the still sullen Captin and bridge crew I suspect the low chatter would have been a full roar of excitement.
"What do you think has the bridge crew so worried?" Fen'hozy asked, breaking me from my thoughts on the room. Looking back towards the stage where Captain Yillfit Carver stood awaiting the last of the crew. I take a moment to study his expression before answering.
"Well he has always been rather stoic by his species standard, I've only ever seen him make that face when talking about his friends lost on the battle field." A voice clicked from behind us before I could answer. Both Fen'hozy and I turned to the newest addition to the conversation. A Goshran swarmed over the stool making barely audible scratching sounds as the workers of the coloney were busy handling all the needs of their 'body'.
"Well you would be the one to know." Says Fen'hozy, "How long have you and the Captain served together Security Chief Grivla?"
"We have known eachother sense the academy." Grivla clacked in response, "We didn't see eachother for 4 cycles after the academy. Finally meeting again on a Ho'vat battlefield. Our two units had been cut in half by the Vizan, so deciding to work together under Carvers lead. We managed to hold our position until relief forces were able to arrive and take over. I've been serving under Carver ever sense."
"I'm a little surprised to see you down here and not up on stage with the bridge crew?" I nudge, hoping she will have some information as to why they look so sullen.
"Well my assumption is that they have all already seen what we are about to be shown. I just came from my rest shift, if that's their response I think it won't be all good news. Either way I haven't seen anything yet, meaning whatever this is was played over the bridge then immediately deemed of critical importance for the entire crew." Replied the Security Chief.
Sharing a nervous glance with Fen'hozy I turned my attention back to the stage.
Not 2 Tacks later the doors closed behind the last of the crew. The entire crew of the Black Spot all 350 of us stood or sat waiting for the Captain to begin.
After a moment of silence filled the room the Captain began.
"Thank you valued crew of the Black Spot for assembling so quickly.
I know some of you are on rest shift and will be allowed to continue it once we are done here. In fact, all crew will be given half a standard rotation to rest and deal with the news." He stated.
A subdued applause greeted his statement. The excitement in the room quickly fading. Before my thoughts could run away with me the captain resumed his speech.
"As you are all aware, our mission is to find and confirm what has caught the attention of the Vizan.
"We have succeeded in the first part, now we just need to make contact and confirm the status relayed in the message that we sent back through subspace." He assured.
"The GC senate has translated and reviewed the footage recovered from the wreckage we discovered and to say it has confirmed some of our worst fears would be an understatement.
"I have been given permission to show everyone aboard the Black Spot exactly what we will be heading into in the coming rotations. Without further fanfare Comms Officer Renfai, would you do the honors?"
Stepping back from the front of the stage with a small flourish of his manipulator tentacle the Captain ushered Officer Renfai forward. Sliding up to the front of the stage Comms Officer Renfai appeared sad and disconnected from everything around him.
Lifting his eyestalks to look at the gathered crew he began, "Fellow sentients, the message we recovered from that wreck is an old warning and a plea for future aid.
"Through the confirmation of time stamps on the message and Vizan activity we believe the wreck has been adrift in that nebulae for roughly 250 standard cycles. Far longer than was initially estimated due to lack of any kind of wear to the ship.
"This should be kept in mind as we have no idea what the current situation is in this section of the galaxy. I'll now play the full translated message before turning things back to our Captain to answer any questions and give us the plan moving forward."
With a wave of his prehensile tail the lights dimmed and the back wall of the stage lit up showing an image of an unknown sentient. The recording bagan to play.
"Hello. If you are receiving this, this is Capt. Fos of the USSF Nutcracker.
"I am a human, and our United Systems of 14 species are under attack by an unknown threat. If found please, bring this message to my family on Earth."
Co-ords attached
"Before that, I must give a warning for any who discover this ship. We were unprepared for this threat, and they couldn't have timed their appearance for a worse moment.
"The United Systems haven't always been such, in fact it wasn't until these 'husks' attacked that all 15 known sentients finally set aside our differences to come together and fight back. A mutual enemy does wonders for setting government priorities." The Human shook his head, looking to the floor.
Taking a steadying breath he continued. "We were too busy fighting with eachother to pay attention to unknown space. From outside known space these 'Husks' came, they launched a simultaneous attack across every inhabited world and system we knew of. Being too preoccupied at the onset of this, plague our respective militaries struggled to push them off our worlds. Over 100 coloney worlds were lost, unable to receive reinforcement in time." A collective intake of atmosphere could be heard throughout the bay.
Before anyone could voice their concern the Human lifted his eyes to stare directly into the camera.
"It took the complete extinction of the Motuck before the remaining 14 of us came together." He spat.
"They had pled for help broadcasting to anyone that could hear. Humanity couldn't just leave them to extinction all alone. At the time humanity was fairing the best having pushed the Husks completely from 6 of our 8 systems, we sent what we could spare." His voice softening as he spoke. "We were too late. The last bunker on their homeworld had been breached.
"The final transmission coming just two hours before our response fleat dropped into the system. The fleat was met with a fresh Armada of Motuck ship husks coming from their homeworld.
"The Motuck were gone. Our Government at the time not wanting to fight our former friends made the decision in line with the last wishes of the Motuck Ambassador.
'I would rather my system be wiped from existence than let my entire people become you!' Were his last words in that final message and subsequent detonation of the shelter." The human spoke with a cold detatchment.
"We glassed the few remaining former Motuck worlds. The Motuck home system was fully colonized with both mines and terraformed worlds. We decided to collapse the star erasing the Husks completely from the sector with minimal losses on our end." A faint buzzing could be heard from the video but nothing could be seen on screen.
"My ship the USSF Nutcracker was sent on one such mission to an unrecoverable Gorchev system. Just before our localized gravity collapse could destabilize the star and initiate a supernova the Husks hit us.
"The supernova has been successfully induced and will occur in approximately 20 minutes. I'll be dead before then, we have moved to the edge of the system but will remain here. 95% of the crew has been killed or consumed by the Husks, I've rigged the reactor core to vent into the ship when I hit this button." The Human held up a small black box with a grey button on the top.
"That should incinerate anything living on the ship. This message will be tethered to the Blackbox, transmitting to anyone close enough to hear. Please go to Earth and help us save all the people of the Milky way.
"We will not go quietly into the night and I pray that you won't either." At those words the human appeared to shrink.
"A final message for my wife and daughter." The buzzing got suddenly louder and a light begun to shine on the humans face.
"Sorsha my sweet girl, don't worry daddy will always be watching over you. Marry, I'm sorry I won't be there with you when you get old. I love you both more than can be expressed. I'll miss you." Taking his eyes off the camera to look off screen he pushed the button. A loud rushing of air could be heard before the video cut out, freezing on an image of the human looking sadly into the camera.
—Authors note—
Hey everybody!
Thank you all for reading! I was blown away by how well the prolouge was received, I wasn't expecting such a positive response and would have been happy with just having feedback on my writing. As it is I am blown away and will strive to do my best going forward. I'm doing this by myself in my free time please don't expect every update to come this quickly, I will be aiming for at least one part a week for as long as I can keep the ideas flowing. Once again any constructive criticism is more than welcome! I look forward to lore discussions over on my page. Thank you again everyone for reading!