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Valley of the Unknown Part Twenty-Six: A Bittersweet Ending

2023.06.07 21:13 Future_Ad_3485 Valley of the Unknown Part Twenty-Six: A Bittersweet Ending

Ember played with the boys on the floor, their hands reaching for him. Pouring over the files of the latest security breach on our magical borders, my eyes fell on Alex playing with his new friends outside. Waving at me, Jack embraced me from behind. Kissing the top of my head, it felt as if something big was going to happen today. A tender blush rose to my cheeks, my hand cupping his face.
“We need to raid an outpost today. Hopefully we can get information on the main headquarters.” He informed me warmly, biting my neck. Drinking his fill, my crippling anxiety stole any joy it normally would have given me. Missions like these frightened me, every cell in me wanted to turn into a raven and fly away for the day. Finishing up his breakfast, he set down an armored filled dress with leggings. Salford whispered something in his ear, sliding him a pair of car keys. Rising to my feet, I took my new outfit to our bedroom. Changing quickly, the dress felt heavy on my frame, the leggings seemed to be lined with chain mail. Pulling my hair into a ponytail, I ran into Jack on the way out. Embracing me lovingly, the keys dangled off of his fingers. Feeling his simple black suit, a light armor lined it. Chewing on my lips, our friends waited for us in matching black armor.
“We are ready to go.” Raven announced proudly, my eyes falling on Salford. “Salford said that he was going to watch the boys.” Adjusting their backpacks, weapons clanged in their bags. Guilt gnawed at me, the concept of putting them in danger sickening. My lips parted in protest, Raven raising her finger.
“We are coming. Those bastards killed my family and they are going to pay.” She asserted firmly, pulling her hair into a ponytail. “Besides, I want to back my friend up.” A deep sadness haunted her eyes, my hands cupping hers. A gentle but broken smile dimmed her features, silent tears staining her cheeks.
“I appreciate it and I apologize for not being there to stop it. I ruined everyone’s life by not being there.” I choked out shamefully, bowing my head. “I failed you and everyone else. I will make it up to you guys, I fucking promise you that.” Grabbing my shoulder, her other hand lifted up my chin.
“You were busy doing your own shit. I heard you showed up, girl!” She chatted pleasantly, my shaking fingers wiping away her tears. “You have a place where humans and monsters get along with ease. Have you been sleeping? You look like hell.” A deadpan expression appeared on my face, her last comment ticking me off slightly. Brushing it off, Jack cleared his throat. Placing me on his back, he carried me to a delivery van. Hopping off of his back, I let myself in. The Tainsworth twins sat in the front with their armor on, Raven climbing in with Ruby. Messing with her curls, Raven basically sat on top of her. Adjusting my bell sleeves, the leather hugged my slender arms. Oppressive silence hung between us, Ruby refusing to look at me. Folding her arms across her chest, something needed to be said. Choosing not to say it, the time passed horribly slow. The van screeched to a halt, Jack pulling me into a hidden compartment. The door squeaked open, heavy footfalls echoed in the back.
“Who are you?” A gruff voice demanded, Ruby speaking up. Clearing her throat, her voice tone seemed rather bitter.
“We wish to join your ranks. I can’t stand vampires, especially their fucking queen. She could die for all I care.” She snapped hotly, truth oozing from her words. “She is hiding somewhere in this van.” Horror rounded our eyes, her betrayal striking us in the heart.” Opening the compartment hiding us, she took a step back. The hunters slapped handcuffs on us all, Ruby grinning evilly ear to ear. Wicked laughter rumbled in her throat, her head cocking back.
“I have been working with them the entire time. There is no information, just the home of your executions.” She gloated sensually, the twins cursing in her direction. “I am not even a teenager. I am a witch who has been alive for centuries. Can I tell you a secret? I am the leader of the hunters. Everyone else was just a puppet.” Sighing with satisfaction, she circled us. Tears welled up in my eyes, Raven sobbed softly next to me. Pulling a gun from her pocket, Ruby shot her in the head. Time slowed, the twins crying out. Emptying her gun into them, a broken wail burst from my lips. Their bodies dropped forward, ruby dripping from the holes in the middle of their foreheads. Jack twitched darkly next to me, my mind officially broken. His bangs hid his eyes, his claws extended from his fingernails. Unlocking his handcuffs, he pretended to get madder as he worked on mine. The metal clanged to the ground, Ruby’s eyes widening with terror. Tears blurred my vision, my scythe sliding into my eager palms.
“You fucking bitch!” I screamed vehemently, pacing back and forth. Reapers held their souls in their palms, all hope of saving them was gone. “You are going to pay.” Shrugging her shoulders, she leaned forward.
“How pathetic for the queen to lose her cool so quickly?” She taunted cruelly, Jack fumed dangerously next to me. “You can’t damage me. You can kill this body and all I have to do is find another one. Angel of darkness! Kill all of my hunters and give me their lives.” The hunters holding us hostage dropped to the ground, thousands of white glowing balls flowing into her. Panic gripped my face, reapers burst from the ground surrounding her. Death himself popped up next to me, one raise of his hand stopping them.
“I am going to bring these souls to Heaven. Take her out.” He commanded urgently, the balls floating into a worn leather sack hanging off of his wrists. “They are all dead. You did all that you could. Good luck.” The last ball of light floated into the sack, a snap of his finger signaling his disappearance. The three of us remained, a ball of shadowy energy building in her palm. A low hissing noise echoed around us, the delivery truck fading to the base of a dead twisted tree. Violet grass danced around me, a chill running up my spine. Gripping my scythe tightly, rage mixed with depression. Sauntering out from behind the tree, a single wave of her hand sent us a couple of yards away. Gone was the armor she wore, a tight leather number hugging her body. Violet needles rested in between her fingers, dead man’s blood dripped onto the grass.
“I suppose you want to hear about my tale and why I am doing this?” She mused with a wicked chuckle, licking the blood off her hand. “I have a bomb ticking away. The lovely thing will release a virus that will kill all of the monsters in the world. Humans will be infected with a magical mind control. Don’t worry about your friends. I killed them because they were annoying me. Do you know how hard it was to pretend to be friends with you and arrange your fucking role? I made a deal with your father to kill you. How did you like the little bonfire?” Wanting to charge at her, Jack held me back. Raising my scythe into the attack position, the corner of my lips curled into a snarl.
“You freaking bitch.” I growled through gritted teeth, leaping into the air. Raising her hands in the air, thousands of needles floated behind her. Flicking her wrists, the rain of needles tore through my body. Jack would die, my boots pushing off the branch. Covering Jack with my body, the needles struck me instead. A burning sensation coursed through my veins, inky sludge pouring from my eyes. Cracks lined her face as needles struck the tree, an idea coming to mind. Jack trembled underneath me, his eyes falling on the blackened veins coursing lining my porcelain skin.
“Shoot her in the hands. She can’t throw her needles if her wrists can’t move.” I wheezed, coughing up blood. Dragging him behind the tree, my chains blocked the needles heading towards Jack. His hand quaked, his bullets hitting everywhere but the target. Lining my free arm up with his, my hand steadied his.
“I can’t!” He protested with wet eyes, his mental state beyond repair. “My friends are dead. My friends are dead! She used to be my friend!” Shimmering teardrops crashed to the grass, the grass darkening to an inky black. Confusion dawned on his face the moment I held his gun underneath his eyes. Teardrops flooded the chamber, my hand guiding his hand to the level of his eyes. Getting behind him, I clicked the safety. Aiming for her palm, a quick yank sent a blackening bullet up her arm. A wave of relief washed over me the moment her needles glitched, the muzzle of his gun aimed for her other palm. Pulling the trigger, the bullet shattered her other arm. Dropping to her side, cracks echoed in the air. The cracks on her face had deepened, my attention turning towards her tree. Swinging my scythe into the tree, her shrill shrieks filled the air as flames raced into the center of the tree. Water snaked around their branches, my chains clinking their way around the thick trunk. Mouthing a silent spell, the needles floated out of me.
“Water from my heart! Flames of the Dead! Chains from my master! I call upon thee to burn the tree down, drown it from the inside. Choke the shit out of it.” I ordered sharply, each word hurting. “Final spell, turn my blood into venom for a witch.” Raising my right hand, a bell rang the moment the tip of my scythe made contact. Closing my fist, the needles dug themselves into the tree. Flames devoured her skin, cold water filled her lungs. Chains snaked up her body, a sea of fiery orange coloring her skin. My vision blurred, Jack snapping out of his paralyzed state. Raising his gun, a bullet whistled into the tree. The bullet being the last thing we needed, the tree decayed to dust along with her. The dimension crumbled away, my legs giving out. Leaning against the destroyed van, fresh tears flowed freely at the sight of our dead friends. Jack picked up one of their backpacks, his tears soaking the top of the bag. Pulling out a medical bag, he ripped out a needle filled with milky liquid. Jamming the needle into my leg, the effects of the venom dying down. Pressing my ear to the ground, an ominous ticking echoed in my ear. Tick, tick, tick! Feeling around the dirt, a metal door clanged underneath my hand. One look in Jack’s direction, he understood. Spinning the rusty handle, he lifted up the door. Gathering the rest of my strength, I popped in. Shutting the door behind me, the lock sealed my fate. Jack protested outside, the top refusing to budge, my heart sinking at the only option. The only way to stop the bomb was to set it off in a dome, the spell caster having to be in the center of it. Praying that my reaper side would keep me alive even Jack had to know that he didn’t stand a chance. Using my scythe as a walking stick, my feet moved with adrenaline. Sniffing the air, the sweet smell told me where to go. Limping through the twisted concrete halls, my breath hitched at the orange angry metal ball. Taking a deep breath, the image of my dead friends and that town I called home flashed in my mind. Pushing through, I sank to my knees. The last of my power built around my hands, a sad smile haunting my face the moment I placed my palms on the surface. A water dome glittered over me, reaper’s flames reinforcing it. Channeling the rest of my flames into core, the metal rattled violently. Preparing for the worst, a giant raven folded its wings around me.
“I will protect you no matter what.” Dr. Death promised warmly, his energy providing me safety as the chemical blasted everywhere but us. “Dissolve the poison.” The colorful particles lightened to a snow white, everything hitting me at once. Ruffling my hair, he disappeared back into my mind. Jack sprinted in, his shattered expression speaking volumes.
“I am so sorry I couldn’t save them.” I blubbered uncontrollably, falling to the floor. “I don’t deserve you. You should just k-” Rushing over to me, he clutched me desperately to his chest. Tears flowed freely, neither of us able to move. Laying back, the clarified chemicals reminding me of snow. A tortured wail burst from my lips, my quaking fingers clinging to his jacket. Saphiro and Hazard skidded to a stop, their faces dropping at the sight of us. Shaking our shoulders to see if we were alive, gracious grins brightened their features at us breathing. Their words faded in and out, a rough darkness enveloping me in it’s sea of madness.
Jerking awake, an eager Alex and Hazel hovered by the white hospital bed. Covering my eyes from the blinding lights, their arms embraced me from either side. Eloise smothered Jack in love, his numb expression matching mine. Bursting into tears, their smiling faces taunted me. Holding me tighter, his words faded in and out. Jack screamed for everyone to leave him alone. Kissing Hazel on the head, Alex dragged her out. Walking over to my bed, his little sister sulked out. Crawling in next to me, his head rested on my chest. Wail after wail burst from his lips, my slender hands being the only thing comforting him. These were his friends and now they were gone. The fault was all mine, guilt eating me raw from the inside. Hours passed like this, him going numb then screaming with raw emotional agony. Swinging his feet over the edge of the bed, he tugged on his boots.
“Are you coming?” He asked hoarsely, offering me his hand. “We need to go home and raise our family.” Accepting his hand cautiously, he yanked me to feet. Placing me on his back, the look in his eyes begged for me to rest my head on his back. Walking into the hall, he ignored the pleading nurses. Saphiro blocked his path, his depressed smile not helping the situation. Tugging anxiously on his navy vest, my mind chose to focus on the midnight black blouse underneath his vest. Clearing his throat, clammy sweat drenched his skin.
“Come with me.” He begged kindly, Jack seconds from saying no. “Please. I have a couple of things to show you.” Caving to his request, we walked for a solid ten minutes to the cemetery. Three caskets waited to be lowered to the ground, Jack dropping me. Struggling to my feet, my heart shattered at him draping his arms over the coffin. Whispering a prayer to them, he took a step back. Pulling me close to his waist, his sobs grew louder as they lowered the caskets into the ground. Death popped up behind us with three letters in his hands, his head bowed in respect to the dead bodies.
“These are from your friends. Call it one final letter.” He informed Jack sullenly, turning towards me. “Thank you for your services. Unfortunately, I can’t remove the curse.” Offering me his hand, my fingers curled around his hand. Shaking it once, he bowed in my direction. Pressing his palms together, a twinkle glinted in his eyes.
“Once everything settles down, we should get together to have tea. I am sorry for your loss.” He expressed serenely, understanding death but not the grief part. Snapping his fingers he was gone, an eager Jack reading the letters. Curiosity burned a bit but my inside voice told me to leave it alone. Tucking them into his pocket, he placed me on his back. Following Saphiro back into town, his crooked grin lit up his face for a quick second.
“They said not to lose you.” He chuckled softly, a bit of hope glinting in his eyes. “Time will heal my wounds.” Hundreds of eyes watched us enter back into town, my jaw dropping at the statue of the five of us. The plaque read the heroes of the dawn, the two of us unsure of what to feel. Jack thanked him profusely, Saphiro pointing to the Victorian mansion at the top of the nearby hill.
“That mansion is yours to conduct your business as well as living in it.” He promised earnestly, fresh tears flooding from my eyes. “We hope you choose this town as your home.” Jumping down, I cupped his hands. A tender blush rose to his cheeks, my real smile illuminating my features for the first time since yesterday.
“Only if you'll have me, good sir.” I returned politely, his brow cocking at my response. Alex ran up to me with the boys in his arms. Accepting them, life was okay. Please karma, grant me peace for the rest of my life.
Epilogue:
Alex had his head buried in his work, the twins ran around the yard. Elise read in the tree, the two kiddos looking so grown up. The morning sun bathed the idyllic scene, a good five years had passed. Holding my swollen bump, two wails snapped me out of my trance. Jack stepped out with our white haired twins Sammy and Raven, the one year old girls reaching for me. Their fiery orange and red eyes glittered with love, my arms scooping them up. Wrapping his arms around my bump, Mark was due in a couple of months.
“Alex, Elise!” He barked with his trademark grin as they rushed up to him. Elise smoothed out her white summer dress, Alex adjusting his glasses in a brisk manner. An irked look greeted him, his stern gaze shutting down any protest.
“Watch the boys for us.” He ordered lightly, passing them wrapped boxes. “I need to take your sister somewhere. Boys, go in and watch a show with your uncle and aunt.” Sprinting into the house, Alex shot him a thumbs up as he followed them inside. Guiding me down the hill and through the town, his beard kept capturing my attention. Grabbing three bouquets on the way, he dragged me to the cemetery. Stopping in front of our friends' graves, he laid a bouquet on each tombstone. Dusting off his navy designer suit, my simple orange summer dress felt like a sad attempt to match him. Rubbing my back, he kissed my bump.
“We came by to tell you how things are going. Alex and Elise are learning how to drive. Yeah, that is as scary as it sounds. Sammy and Raven’s birthday happened a couple of weeks ago. They are both one year old. Crazy, isn’t it?” He chatted pleasantly, happy tears welling up in his eyes. “We have one more on the way. It’s another boy. We are going to name him Mark. I miss you dummies every fucking day. I wouldn’t have survived if you gave me that letter. Thank you.” Wiping away his tears, Sammy and Raven cooed in my arms. Kissing the top of my head, Jack guided me to the square. Sitting me down at the fountain, he took the girls in his arms. Passing me a bundle of envelopes, they were all from the townsfolk and monsters all over the world.
“Word got out about where you live and they all wanted to write their thanks.” He explained jovially, sitting down next to me. “Read them tonight and write back. They would love to hear from you.” Flicking through the pile, this was going to take a while. Popping to my feet, I could sense that Alex was getting frustrated. Walking back home, the fact that people wanted to thank me touched my heart. Opening the door, my boys bounced towards me. Dragging me to the couch, one of Alex’s shows was playing. Climbing onto the couch next to me, Jack took the other seat next to me. Hazel skipped in, her long hair grazing the worn wooden floor. Sitting down by my feet, Elvira laid on her lap. Basking in the moment, this was how life was supposed to be. Thank you for the gift of a good life. All the tragedy led to this moment. All of the scars told the tale of my twisted journey here. Jack leaned his head on my shoulder, the boys laying on my lap. Playing with their hair, I hoped sincerely that this would never end.

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2023.06.07 21:10 lagflag Please suggest a reputable moving company to move from East Coast to Mid-West

I recently contacted US Express moving (DOT# 1196999) and they quoted me a price to move my small bedroom apt (about 800 miles) from one state to another. stuff based on what I provided them.
They have been doing pretty good in terms of communications, but here are my concerns:
- They said, under 300 cubic feet it doesn't get any cheaper since this is the minimum, I read some where that this could be a red flag?
- They wanted a deposit before the moving date. I don't mind doing that if it is the industry standard, but again I read that it is one of the things that shouldn't do.
- The big one: They would send a small 26 ft truck, move my stuff to their warehouse to put it on a trailer in specific order with other people orders, and then move it. Along the way of the truck, will drop off other orders. That could take up to 14 days in-transit

I don't feel good about that (or I am being paranoid here?), so please suggest a reputable company... Also I contacted "TWO MEN AND A TRUCK" but haven't heard back yet.

Thanks!

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2023.06.07 21:03 CarleeS7 August Apartment Rental / Possible Roommate

Hi everyone! I (26f) will be moving to Raleigh at the end of July and I'm looking to start a lease on 8/1. I'm moving from PA and kind of looking for a needle in a haystack when it comes to an apartment but I believe I can find it with some help!
I'm looking to move to Downtown Raleigh or the North Hills area and rent from someone local versus a big company but it's been hard to find places when I can't drive around and look for "for rent" signs. I do have a cat as well as an 11-year-old pitbull mix (registered ESA). Because my dog is older he struggles with stairs so I'd like to avoid having them if possible. I'd also love to have laundry in my apartment. Other than that I really don't need a lot of space and I'm pretty low maintenance. I am open to a roommate of any gender if it is a 2b2b apartment and they are okay with the animals but do not have their own.
My goal is to stay around $1,000/mo without utilities included or $1,500/mo with utilities. I know that's below the average rent but I'm sure there are places out there. I can provide rental history, have a good credit score, and do have a co-signer if necessary. Thanks in advance for the help!

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2023.06.07 20:45 thrownawaz092 I don't THINK I'm an assassin? - Chapter 3 - Stalking the streets

As day turned to dusk, the reality of the situation Mike had found himself in was starting to dawn on him. It was already established he was in monster central, and in another world, and alone, and had no idea what was going on around him, but after the initial need of not getting spotted and probably mauled was satisfied, a whole new slew of problems were arrayed before him. Where would he eat? Drink? Sleep? If he injured himself, where could he get medical supplies? Where was he going? How could he get back home?
Could he get back home?
A stiff wind blew around him and stole the heat from his body, leaving him cold in an encroaching dark. 'How do I know I can even get back?' besides knowing it existed, Mike knew nothing about magic. He was fairly certain that kobold had sent him back the first time, but by the looks of it they had also summoned him in the first place. Something else pulled him in the second time, so there was a very real chance that he wouldn't be able to do anything. 'and of course, that all comes before the fact I have no idea how to find the little lizard.' Mike ducked into an alley to avoid some kind of flying fish as he considered his situation. Hopeless as it was, finding a needle in a haystack was the only option to present itself, so he reluctantly chose his only option.
Things hit an all time low as Michael sat under a bridge that would serve as his shelter for the night. Sure, there were plenty of haunted houses to choose from, but they all ran the risk of him being found by the monsters that lived in monster city. The bridge was a solid piece of work, being composed mostly of concrete and some kind of wood, and it passed over a wide river that was pretty turbulent for its size. Mike was suprised by the lack of metal, but it seemed to be holding up well enough so he let it go.
Slinging off his backpack, Michael decided to occupy himself by taking stock of his inventory and situation. Laying everything out, he had:
The gym clothes he was wearing, just a tee shirt and shorts. They were sweaty, dirty and didn't cover much
His regular clothes, thick jeans, another tee shirt and an over shirt
His phone, which had no service and 67% battery life. 'yeah, let's turn on airplane mode and the battery saver.' it wouldn't last long, but the calculator, flashlight, stopwatch, notepad and compass tools could all be useful.
Earphones, 'ha! I downloaded all my songs and can listen to them forever if I find a charger! Suck on that Spotify elitists!'
Shoes, nothing special about them
A bag of chocolates that monsters think they're too good for
An almost empty water bottle. 'pro tip, if you're lost in the desert, conserve sweat, not water.' Remembering that bit of survival trivia, he downed the last few gulps.
His pocket knife, score! The salesman had told him this thing could withstand his own weight on the blade, and Mike had really put it through its paces to confirm that claim. It was also a swiss army knife and had several tools in it, even a firestarter! That alone tripled his chances out here.
His wallet, full of useless bills, coins and cards
A gym membership, also useless
Ankle and wrist weights, with detachable pieces of metal to change the weight. 'Should I keep these on or off?' On one hand, he would like to be as physically capable as possible for whatever was coming, and the constant work out would only help with that, but on the other, they would slow him down and tire him out. Not good without a food source. He took them off for now.
And a gym bag, which is always good to have.
The first thing Mike did was change back onto his normal clothes. They would keep him a little warmer and weren't so smelly, which would be good for werewolves that might sniff him out. Walking down to the river, it seemed clear, so he filled his bottle - he could always not drink it later - and began washing the gym clothes.
As he scrubbed his mind moved onto the situation he was in. Another world, monsters, magic and local superpowers are all established. Judging by the state of things, that being the ruins and monsters, this was probably once a thriving nation that had since been overrun and was now populated with the monsters that did so. The biggest concern that came out of that was that this clearly hadn't been a medieval society. True, just about everything was alien to him but he could recognize a TV screen or a car, this place was just as if not more advanced than earth, and they still got wiped out by monsters.
As Mike started wringing out his shorts, his introspection was interrupted when he heard voices overhead. He immediately stopped and turned his head up. It was getting dark by now and whatever was above him had a light, he couldn't understand what the two, no three voices were saying, but he didn't like the tone or the fact that the light source seemed to be getting closer to the side of the bridge. He tensed, and slowly put his sopping clothes into his bag as quietly as he could.
With a loud grunt, whoever has the light jumped over the edge of the bridge, still out of view behind a support but that was as close as he was willing to get. Mike took off as fast as he could in the opposite direction of the ravine the bridge crossed. The ones still on the bridge pulled out another light and called out to the one on the ground, who growled a response back. 'crap, crap, crap!' rang through Mike's head as he put on more speed, the sounds of pursuit not far behind. Between the weights and wet clothes, Michael was worried he might have to ditch his bag again, but it wasn't weighing him down nearly as much as the thought it should. 'just wish adrenaline would come this easy at the gym!' he was making good speed all things considered and was glad to hear his pursuer falling behind.
His hopes of escape were shattered however as one of them proved able to fly, because he heard a screech overhead and saw a silhouette giving away his position! Come on, that's not fair! He had to lose the little cheater and soon, otherwise the others could just run him down at their leisure! Mike turned, slipping on the grassy turf as he aimed to go back in the city. If the universe would just throw him a bone for once, there wouldn't be many other monsters, and he could shake these jerks.
He ducked into an alley, left onto a street before swinging behind some buildings again. Looking up he could still see that cheeky little spy plane was still on him, and from the sounds of the voices, the ones on foot were taking a direct route instead of weaving around, they were closing in. Thanking the universe for actually not putting other monsters in his way, Mike ducked into another alley and saw what he was looking for; a dumpster (he assumed) right under an open window. The only issue was the chain link fence between him and it. 'Really though, who sets up a fence right in an alley like this?' another call from above reminded him of his situation. 'right, deal with it now, ponder neighbors who probably hated each other later.' despite his dismay at the obstacle, he practically leapt over the fence, which was at least 6 feet tall. Adrenaline was one hell of a drug, but there was no way he could do that!
He mentally stored that away as well as he hopped on the dumpster and into the window, waited a couple seconds and hopped back out. He couldn't see the spy anymore which meant they couldn't see him either. He just managed to crawl down a basement window of a building on the other side of the alley before his pursuers burst into the alley as well.
Watching through the window, Michael finally got a good look at the one on foot. That was a big guy, like 8 feet tall and built like a truck kind of big. He was the one with the light in his hand, a glowing ball that floated in his palm, and it cast a rather terrifying shadow over his crocodilian face. He was a crocodile man, no other way about it. Thick tail, heavy green scales that are more yellow on the underside, whatever you're imagining is probably right. The teeth didn't look too sharp but they made up for that in size and number. Besides, if he was anything like earth crocs he had enough bite force to make gums probably work.
Mike was thanking his lucky stars he hadn't been caught when suddenly a second head popped out from behind the first, and he realized the croc had a bucket strapped to his back with something poking out of it. After a bit of chatter, a second creature slithered out of the bucket and onto the ground. It was... Strange to say the least.
The creature stood at four feet tall, and was clearly an aquatic being, being covered in fins from head to toe to tail, along with burgundy scales so small he might've mistaken them for skin. Looking at its head it was decidedly a moray, with a mouth full of sharp teeth and an eels... Tail? Body? Let's say tail, coming out of the back of its head. Or would it be a humanoid body coming out of the moray's neck? 'This thing is weird to look at! Why do you need two bodies!?' Michael mentally screamed at the merfolk. He was just getting a grip on his mental image of it when the merfolk threw a wrench into his poor brains attempt to understand it, by flying. Well ok it wasn't flying flying, but with a little hop and spreading its wing-like fins it was able to glide along while hardly touching the ground. 'well this just keeps getting less and less fair.'
A call from above, undoubtedly from their flier, probably told Mr. Crocodile that Mike was in the building that he double backed out of, because his made some growling sounds of their own before he and the merfolk entered in through the window. Mike released a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding and took a look around the room he was in. It was dark in here, with only a bit of light coming from the twilight of a single window, but he could see place was almost empty, with little more than the occasional rug or bit of furniture that had been strewn about and a bit of debris by the stairs.
Seeing his way out, he ran to the stairs before noticing that there was more debris in the way than he saw in the dark. Turning on the flashlight on his phone, his hopes were dashed as he saw that the upper floor had caved in, blocking his access out. He hadn't seen the flier come down to enter the other building, so they were most likely keeping overwatch in case he tried to give them the slip, which he already kinda had, but he needed to make the same trick to work twice, and that always goes well.
Peeking out the window, Mike caught sight of what he assumed to be the flier making rounds overhead. There were only a few seconds on the far side that line of sight was broken, not enough time to run, but there were other hiding spots. Taking a chance, Mike crawled back out of the window as soon as the flier was out of sight and hopped into the confirmed dumpster. It was around now that he realized he didn't exactly have a plan, and his situation wasn't exactly improved either. 'I'm just making sure that I'm not cornered in case they find me. Yeah that's it!' now he had a plan, and his situation had improved too! Sort of, stop asking questions. A few seconds later he was out and under a shutter, and on the next loop he was out of the alley.
Turns out, it's not that easy. Mike had thought he was safe, after rounding a corner he ran until he was sure he'd lost them, only to hear more footsteps from behind. The flier must have seen him and Mr Croc was in pursuit again, at least Mike had enough of a lead he couldn't see them yet. Testing a theory, Mike found a balcony and jumped for it. Yep! Lower gravity was confirmed as he made it nearly two meters off the ground! He also undershot it and smacked his head on the underside of the balcony, eliciting a (hopefully) dignified shriek, ruining the momentous occasion. Still, he was able to hit the ground running and made for another escape.
It had not taken long for a pattern to establish, Mike would hide and lose pursuit only to be spotted by the flier as soon as he got any distance. His best bet was, somehow, to stay close, under the radar so to speak and lead them away. He wasn't sure how they always knew what direction he was in, considering how well he kept out of sight, until he saw Mr. Croc kneel down and sniff a footprint. Ahh, they were tracking him.
That might actually be a blessing in disguise, because they were moving from an abandoned looking residential area to an industrial complex that was more populated, seeing a bit of foot traffic and lights in windows. He just might be able to lose them in there. Mike had a bit of a laugh at the fact that monsters were living on a jobsite when there were some perfectly fine - ok dilapidated, but so is everything else - houses a few streets over. He snapped his attention back to the situation at hand, he was still being chased after all, and now he planned on escaping by walking through Monster City night life. 'how did I let this become my best option?' there was nothing for it though, he just had to hope he could still keep out of sight.
After a couple close calls where Mike had turned a corner only to see a wall or monsters that somehow hadn't noticed him, he got enough of a lead that he could try hiding. Finding a road with hundreds of footprints up and down it, he backtracked a few meters before diving behind a couple pipes that were sticking out of a building.
Mr. Croc showed up not long after with the eel in tow, and signed the flier to come down. He could finally see that dirty little spy plane! It was a... Moth! 3 feet tall with big black eyes, droopy antennae and some soft looking fluff on its head and body, Mike would have thought it adorable if it hadn't been snitching on him!
Being unfamiliar with monsterese, Mike had no idea what was being said, but the body language made it clear they were arguing. It actually looked like a parent scolding their children, with Mr. Croc being 8 feet tall while the others were in the 3-4 foot range. That didn't stop fire being flung both ways as the small pair clearly gave the kind of back talk that would have gotten the taste slapped out of Michael's mouth if he tried it on his dad. With someone saying something the conversation suddenly came to an end with Mr. Croc spitting on the ground and turning away. He fiddled with a latch on his chest and the bucket on his back came loose, hitting the eel on the head and soaking it, undoubtedly on purpose. With a few snide remarks the three went their ways, leaving Mike gracefully alone.
...In the middle of monster city.
Why did the universe insist on not improving the situation? 'Ok that wasn't fair universe, you're trying very hard, and I appreciate you getting me out of that.'
Karmatic retribution for his insolent thoughts hopefully averted, Mike got moving again.
.
Much to his own chagrin and with a hint of irony, Mike found himself tailing Mr Croc. Looking back it was ridiculous that nobody had noticed him running through the streets but he was found squatting under a bridge. Mr. Croc clearly had a reputation of some kind, because people seemed to avoid him like the plague. When Mike tried to backtrack he found himself relatively surrounded by monsters compared to the empty streets he was chased through, and he ended up finding sanctuary in the invisible bubble of Mr. Croc's presence, causing no end of irritation on Mike's end.
.
After nearly an hour of following, Michael's blood was boiling. Maybe because it was due to the lack of sleep, maybe it was due to being chased for hours for no reason, maybe it was due to being forced to hang around his least favourite semi-aquatic reptile. Or maybe it was because he was witnessing a mugging.
While sneaking along behind his quary, Mike did his best to hang back aways and keep an eye out for an escape route. They were still in the industrial complex, but must have been leaving the populated area, judging by the fact that fewer and fewer monsters were coming out after the crocodile had passed. Michael was just about ready to finally get away from him when he spotted someone walking in their direction, clearly having missed the memo to stay away.
The Croc was on them in a flash and the old bird -that's not an insult, she had feathers and a beak- tried to run but didn't get more than a couple steps away before the Croc had gotten a hold of her. Michael watched from the shadows as the bird lady was shaken, growled at and nearly had her head taken off by the snapping maw of an Egyptian god who had a chip on his shoulder. She was panicked, trying to run and begging, but the actual monster had her arm in a firm grip, and with his other hand he grabbed a pouch of some kind of the lady before shoving her onto the ground and walking away like nothing happened.
Michael was fuming. All that just to snatch a purse!? This thug who had chased him all throughout town, acted like he owned the place, who could probably rip Mike in half, did all that over a freaking handbag! His anger froze cold as the victim slowly picked herself up. Now that she wasn't being actively assaulted he could see she really was an old bird, with patches of feathers, wrinkles, generally frail looking, he was looking at someone's grandmother! And that crocodile... No, he would not get away with this!
.
Michael's anger had been subdued by the realization of what he was doing, now tailing the 8-foot lizard man a lot closer than before and armed with a pocket knife, one that felt a lot smaller in his hand as he realized what he was doing, he wasn't sure how to actually do this. The bastard deserved what was coming, but after cooling off Mike knew rushing in was a bad idea. Luckily this industrial complex, or whatever it was, was packed with rails, pipes, and other things so tightly there was practically a second road overhead. Mike's plan, if you could call it that, was to jump down onto the guy and take him out before he even knew what was happening.
Michael barely made a sound as he went up and over, stopping only when his target looked around. It seemed he could tell something was off, but wasn't ready to act on the feeling just yet, which wasn't the kind of opportunity that Mike was one to waste. He dropped, silent as a shadow.
The crocodile may have been 8 feet tall, built like a brick and was in a lower gravity setting, but the simple fact was that he wasn't ready for someone to suddenly land on his neck. He went down like a sack of potatoes with Mike clinging on, the tumble having left him momentarily disoriented. Still, he quickly righted himself, this needed to end fast, or it would turn into an actual fight where he would have the disadvantage. Wrapped around the monster's head Michael brought the knife to its neck and... Hesitated. Mike had been in fights before, but those were scuffles in the school yard, now he was about to kill. He knew his opponent deserved nothing less, but that seemed to fade in the face of taking a life. It was enough to take the fire out of him.
And so, instead of pushing the blade into his windpipe he only pressed it to the Crocs neck instead. "Alright listen up you big bastard," but the big bastard did not listen up, a fact made clear when a large hand grabbed and threw him off. Mike rolled as he landed and quickly got his feet back under him, knife luckily still in hand. The croc slowly stood up, cracking his neck as he did so before speaking. "Ev'uoy tsuj edam ym yad." It said with a toothy grin. Mike just glared from his crouched position. 'different language, nice to know I wasted my time!' kind of obvious in retrospect, but there's nothing for it now. Mike kept low to the ground, with a two foot difference in height he wouldn't even try to match his opponent in strength or reach, so he opted to keep low.
The Croc tensed for a moment before lunging at Mike, maw open and ready to swallow him whole. Mike lunged himself, keeping low to the ground and barely ducked under the attack and swiped at the exposed neck. He didn't expect to land the hit, but his opponent was taken off guard by his offence and didn't quite pull back fast enough, taking a superficial cut below the chin. Shock flashed in the croc's eyes and he lept back, lashing out with claws to keep Mike at bay. Unfortunately for him, Michael knew that playing fair was for suckers, and that you kick opponents when they're down, so he didn't let up. He was moving forward before the Croc had even landed, stayed below the counter and was in his guard again.
This time he didn't hesitate, and plunged his knife in the croc's side eliciting a shocked gasp from the titan and, keeping his momentum, moved just beside his opponent's shoulder before jumping just a little higher than intended and striking again. Still reeling from the first stab, the croc had only managed to make eye contact as Michael's knife sought his throat again, and this time did not stop. Michael landed on his feet as the croc sunk to his knees, blood leaking freely from his neck as he tried to stop the bleeding with his bare hands but it was already done. The crocodile was dead before he hit the ground, and Michael breathed a sigh of relief.
.
That purse wasn't the only property Mr. Croc had appropriated, as Michael found plenty of interesting things on his person. His things now, as he had no way of returning them. Despite the haul, his mind was elsewhere as he walked.
That guy did not know how to fight, probably used to just intimidating people around him. When an actual fight came he was honestly kinda sluggish, and didn't even think to use magic or the shiv that was in his pocket. Even so, that was a dumb thing to do. What was he thinking, attacking someone like that? What if he had known what he was doing!? Mike could not afford these kinds of mistakes in a survival situation, even if he did get lucky, even if he somehow got out unscathed! You just don't rely on that happening, and Michael resolved to remember that in the future.
Finding a good spot, he set the purse down in the middle of a road and retreated to a hiding place. Soon enough the bird lady passed by even slower than before, the only reason Mike got ahead of her was because she was slowly limping along. Seeing that made his hatred flare up again, but his anger faded away as with a shocked look, the bird lady found the purse, looked inside and sagged with visible relief before looking around suspiciously and continuing with just a bit more pep in her step. 'Well,' Mike thought, 'maybe that wasn't such a dumb move after all.'
____________________________________________________Author's note
Alright part 3 is out! Hope y'all enjoy.
In case anyone had missed it, large portions of Reddit will be going dark in protest of the removal of third party software on June 12th. I had originally planned to join the protest, but then I read the HFY 's official take on the matter (remaining neutral to act as an escape from stressful situations like this) and decided that's worthwhile. As such I will continue posting but otherwise will be off of Reddit in protest.
The first shall be previous and the next shall be in a week or so.

submitted by thrownawaz092 to HFY [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 20:35 BigToddFromSales Shop damaged engine while changing spark plugs?

Late last week, I brought my car (2014 Kia Soul) into a regional chain garage in southcentral PA to have new tires installed and for my annual state inspection. While there, the garage recommended a few additional maintenance measures, one of which being replacing the spark plugs. The car had about 106,000 miles on it, so that was consistent with Kia's recommendations. I told them to go ahead with it. When they went to change the plugs, they found some oil in the plug wells and said it would need a new valve cover gasket (I think that's what it's called? Please correct me if I'm remembering incorrectly). They didn't have the part, so I told them to skip that and I would handle it later. I'm a college student spending the summer in southwestern Virginia (300mi away) for an internship and had to head down before the shop would be able to get the part.
I arrived in Virginia Sunday night and dropped off the car at a local, trusted garage on Monday morning for valve cover gasket replacement. They ordered the part, and it arrived today. This afternoon, they called me to tell me that the metal rings at the bottom of two of the four spark plug chambers (forget the name, sorry) had apparently been bent and the seal broken to the point that oil was filling up the cylinders at a relatively rapid rate. They explained that this could potentially require replacement of the cylinder heads if they weren't able to bend it back into place, and they said it is very likely that this happened when the spark plugs were last changed.
Now, I'm not entirely sure what to do, as my car is 300 miles away from the garage that (maybe) damaged it. My question is the following: should my Pennsylvania garage pay for the Virginia garage to repair it / tow it back and work on it themselves? Or am I more likely to have to pay for this out of my own pocket? Is it likely that the PA garage did cause this damage in the first place? I don't want to drive it back, because I'm worried the affected cylinders could start misfiring.
Any advice you have would be very greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read over this!

submitted by BigToddFromSales to MechanicAdvice [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 20:31 Superteletubbies64 [H] Humble Choice June and more [W] Paypal, Bad End Theater, Super Lesbian Animal RPG (maybe), Boyfriend Dungeon (maybe), The Darkest Tales, Symphony of War, Ashina: The Red Witch, Fates of Ort, Ace Attorney Trilogy, Hidden Through Time, Coromon, No Straight Roads, Dusk Diver

Only interested in Paypal offers for now (EU region, i don't have set prices
I'm selling these for Paypal (my region is EU and buyer covers the fees if not from EU, I do not have set prices) or could trade non-headliner games for one of the games in the title I want. Not interested in anything else, i will ignore any lists of random games
Ghostwire: Tokyo (might keep)
GRIME
Honey, I Joined a Cult (might keep)
Turbo Golf Racing
Eternal Threads
Meeple Station
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters
Operation Tango
The Invisible Hand
I do not have a set price in mind for any of the games, if you ask "how much for?" you'll be asked if you have a price in mind. Only exception would be one of the indie games for Coromon or Lil Gator Game
Lost Planet 3 - Complete Pack
Strider
Orbital Bullet – The 360° Rogue-lite (might keep)
Death STranding Director's Cut (might keep)
Life is STrange 2 Complete Season (might keep)
Revita (might keep)
Just looking for Coromon and the games in the title and Paypal (my region is EU), nothing else. If you offer a huge list of games or anything that's not in the title or on my wishlist you might get blocked for not having basic reading comprehension
I know Coromon is in a pricy build your own bundle rn so could do multiple smaller games for it but no ridiculous offers please
https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/diamond-collection-build-your-own-bundle
Only interested in Paypal offers and games in the title don't comment if you don't have either to offer. For AAA games I'm only taking Paypal offers, not trades Any comments with lists of random games I likely already own will be ignored and possibly blocked. My region is EU, if you are outside of EU you have to cover Paypal fees. I do not have a set price for anything, if you ask "how much for" you'll be asked if you have a price in mind.
Golden Light
Batora: Lost Haven (might keep)
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
112 Operator
Agent in Depth
Alchemist's Castle
Arcade Spirits
Death Squared
Detached: Non-VR Edition
Doughlings: Arcade
Doughlings: Invasion
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Farming Simulator 17
Firegirl: Hack 'n Splash Rescue (might keep)
Frick, Inc.
Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
Guns & Fishes
Hack 'n' Slash
Hyper Gunsport
Izmir: An Independence Simulator
Little Orpheus (might keep)
Lust from Beyond: M Edition
Meow Express
MirrorMoon EP
Monaco
Mount & Blade: Warband
Non-Stop Raiders
Orbital Racer
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
PAYDAY 2
Planet TD
Project Chemistry
Quadrata
Remnants of Naezith
Rym 9000
Soul Searching
Soulblight
Soulflow
Space Crew: Legendary Edition
Stacking
Stick Fight: The Game
Strange Brigade
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
Sunlight
SYMMETRY
System Shock 2
The Amazing American Circus
The Inner World
Ticket to Ride
Worms Rumble
XCOM 2
X-Morph: Defense Complete Pack
Zombie Driver HD Complete Edition
DARQ (might keep)
Fallout
Othercide (might keep)
GameGuru Classic STAR WARS™: Knights of the Old Republic™ Driftland: The Magic Revival Red Faction: Armageddon Puzzle Chronicles STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy™ STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast™ Distrust Radio Commander
Main Assembly
RPG Maker VX (may keep)
Hamilton's Great Adventure
[Amnesia: The Dark Descent](httpsa://store.steampowered.com/app/57300/)
LEGO® MARVEL's Avengers (may keep)
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD (may keep)
Dungeon of the ENDLESS™
Go Home Dinosaurs!
Soulblight
Lust for Darkness
RPG Maker VX Ace - DS Resource Pack
RPG Maker VX Ace - Zombie Survival Graphic Pack
Iron Danger (may keep)
The Swindle
Morbid: The Seven Acolytes
Amnesia: Rebirth
X-Morph: Defense
Treasure Hunter Simulator
Orbital Racer
Nongunz: Doppelganger Edition
LEGO® MARVEL Super Heroes 2 (may keep)
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine
Monsters' Den Chronicles
Telefrag VR
NecroWorm
We are alright (Wszystko z nami w porządku)
RPG Maker VX Ace - Old School Modern Graphics Pack 2
Rebel Cops
Farmer's Dynasty
The Plague: Kingdom Wars
PlataGO!
LEGO® MARVEL Super Heroes (may keep)
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles (may keep)
Jetboard Joust
Forgive Me Father (may keep)
Aliens vs. Predator Collection
LEGO® Star Wars™ III: The Clone Wars™
Golf Gang
Maid of Sker
Hedon Bloodrite (may keep)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning FATE Edition (may keep)
Blade Assault (may keep)
DOOM Eternal (may keep)
Grow: Song of the Evertree (may keep)
Scribble It! - Premium Edition
[Liberated] (GOG)
[Wanderlust Travel Stories] (GOG)
My full list of games: https://barter.vg80b7/t/ (this link might be more up to date than the list above)
Full wishlist (bundled games are at the top so you don't have to scroll through tons of unbundled and upcoming games): https://barter.vg80b7/w/f/?filter=0,17,0,0
https://store.steampowered.com/wishlist/id/superteletubbies64/
IGSRep (no longer updating): https://old.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/p7k848/superteletubbies64s_igs_rep_page/

submitted by Superteletubbies64 to GameTrade [link] [comments]

submitted by Superteletubbies64 to indiegameswap [link] [comments]

submitted by Superteletubbies64 to SteamGameSwap [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 20:31 djwest97 [WTS] Semi-Gucci 5.56 13.9 Upper, MBUS Pros, PA PLx, Modlite 350, Surefire, Holosun 503cu/507 ACSS, Axeon Shotlite, ADM Eotech Mounts, Reptilia RMR/Acro Mounts, Misc Parts

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/MICRULU (also includes item pics/serials)
PLEASE READ RULES - All prices are OBO, PM me for offers - Dibs and then send a message to me to get payment info - Add $5-$10 shipping to CONUS depending on size/weight of item(s) purchased - If you want more pictures of something just ask me - I accept PayPal or Venmo F&F - NO NOTES
Built this 5.56 upper for myself but decided to just go for it with an 11.5” and get into the SBR game. This is NOT pinned/welded but the OAL is 16.5” with these parts so it’s ready to be p/w and avoid the ATF’s BS - I prefer to sell this as one complete piece, but if I have buyers for each part I will separate. Less than 100 rounds shot through this bad boy. Parts List: - Aero Slickside FDE Upper - $100 - Radian Raptor LT CH - $60 - BCM FDE BCG - $180 - Triarc 13.9/BA Hanson Lopro GB/Mid-Length Melonite Gas Tube - $280 - YHM Brake timed with one Shim - $70 - Geissele MK8 13.5” - $280
Buy the whole thing for $930 - Buy without the BCG/CH for $700
MBUS Pros - were rattlecanned but has been mostly removed: $130 - add to the upper for $125
PA PLx 1-8 FFP ACSS-Raptor-M2-5.56 (not the compact version) - LNIB + Butler Creek + PA Throw Lever: $870 - add to the upper for $850
Holosun 503cu - LNIB: $190 - add to the upper for $180
Modlite 18350 setup (Missing mount but I could include a black arisaka in-line for like $35 extra): $400 - Add to upper for $380 - Surefire SR07 - Surefire UE Tailcap - Modlite 350 body - Modlite PLH-V2 Head (minor carbon buildup on side but perfect other than that) - 1 extra battery - Efest Pro Charger
Modlite Scout Tailcap - No salt: $25
Surefire ST07 Pressure Pad - BNIB: $50
Holosun 507c ACSS - LNIB: $260
Axeon Shotlight (this is an inexpensive way to add a light to 12 Gauge Mossberg 500/Maverick 88, Remington 870, or Winchester SXP shotguns) - Minor cosmetic salt from use, otherwise LNIB - $25
ADM Eotech Riser R1 (Shorter one - I think this one is for the XPS series - please correct me if I’m wrong): $65
ADM Eotech Riser R2 (taller one - I think this is for the EXPS series - please correct me if I’m wrong): $65
FDE Reptilia AUS 34mm RMR ROF Top cap: $70
FDE Reptilia AUS 30mm Acro ROF Top cap: $70
Elite Survival Pistol Holster: $20
Aimpoint 34mm Picatinny Mount: $20
Cheap Stuff: - AK polymer Hanguard/Heat shield: $10 - AK Pistol Grip: $5 - FDE Mil-Spec Safety: $5 - Magpul AFG without mounting hardware: $3 - Standard Teethed AR Barrel Nut: $2 - Vortex Absolute Height 30mm Ring: $2 - Some kind of button loop lanyard thing: $2 - 2 Velcro loops of some sort: $2 each

submitted by djwest97 to GunAccessoriesForSale [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 20:23 pancake_buttons Is it possible to have self worth AND reconcile with your ex who cheated?

7 year relationship ended a few weeks ago and has thrown my whole world into turmoil. He cheated with someone (EA that turned into PA) for a few months earlier this year. We tried to work through things and have space but he ultimately ended it 2 weeks ago to focus on himself and his MH. Am utterly devestated, we own a house together and had a wonderful, loving relationship and never had any reason not to trust. He an avoidant and I am an anxious, so we are dealing with things from two totally different places.
Understand and agree with everything you read about workng on yourself after a break up while they work on themselves - no contact, therapy, self improvement, all that jazz. My question is - can you truly develop self worth/recover from being betrayed AND get back with your ex? I am hoping we can take this time to work on ourselves and find out way back to each other. He is in therapy and genuinely seems to want to understand where it went wrong for him (not just the relationship but his whole life and some unresolved trauma). I am hoping to better understand my attachment style and heal myself too so I can be happy alone. Is it possible?

submitted by pancake_buttons to survivinginfidelity [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 20:17 190PairsOfPanties Step Nine Revelations That Might Be Helpful For Everyone Here

Some revelations that my ex PA dumped on me while he was "making his amends".
· As soon as I had full access to his phone and laptop- he immediately got a new phone and laptop that I was unaware of. He would then leave the ones I had access to laying around unattended. He would do slightly sketchy stuff on the decoys that was explainable to keep me from catching on to the sneaky ones.
· Online subscriptions/porn mags/massages/whatever else, were all paid by a prepaid cc that he paid cash for, or with cash directly.
· He reverted back to magazines and adult video stores with "viewing rooms" WELL BEFORE I caught him by literally tracking him down. This was during times when he was being watched carefully at home and did this during work hours.
· He started reading PA spouse support blogs right from the beginning to see what we're looking for, and what the demands usually are. (He started journalling all by himself, and was sure to write everything he read women want to read.) Used language and advice from the blogs to appear as if he was making progress.
· Shopped for a counsellor who didn't view 🌽 as a legitimate addiction issue. Would use that against me in arguments.
· He was genuinely angry it was the iWatch that finally and truly "busted him". (I know you're not jogging in the bathroom at lunch. I know you wake up in the middle of the night every night to not jog. And I know you were at the massage parlor because I CAN SEE WHERE YOU ARE.)
· He knew every step of the way he was driving me crazy and tearing me apart and still lied to my face every single time.
· He felt really bad about it all though! And he desperately needed my forgiveness so he could move forward in his recovery.
I did not accept his apology. I wished him... "The life he deserves" (not in those words and definitely not acceptable to type here.)
I didn't trust my gut the entire time, and really should have. I'm still recovering from that even now, I second guess everything because he shook my compass to the point where it's all over the place now.

submitted by 190PairsOfPanties to loveafterporn [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 20:10 PuzzleheadedAsk6787 Re-Thinking My Relationship with my Psychiatrist/Psychiatrist Office

Hey Reddit!I have been seeing the same psychiatrist for several years now, but unfortunately he is switching to a medical director role of their practice and now have PA's seeing patients. I have not felt super great about the progress made/relationship I've developed with the PA I've been seeing.
I have not felt listened to regarding feedback I've been giving on various treatment methods/medication regimens. I feel like this PA is hearing me, but not 'listening,' and just kinda throwing medication at me willy-nilly.
An example of this is treating my PTSD diagnosis (my full diagnoses are ADHD, OCD, PTSD and GAD).
My provider opted to put me on Prazosin (blood pressure medication that has been shown to help with PTSD/nightmares). However, I am also on Lisinopril, a blood pressure medication. I take the Lisinopril in the morning. I took the Prazosin at night as instructed, and instantly my blood pressure DROPPED. Like, a lot. To the point where if any time I stood up I would immediately feel like I was going to pass out. It wasn't low enough to warrant a hospital visit, but I notified the physician and thankfully have a bff nurse who was there to watch and escalate if need be.
Fast forward to a couple weeks ago, my family was hit with a major tragedy that re-triggered and re-activated a lot of anxiety and increased PTSD flashbacks/night terrors and has affected my sleep. It wasn't the fear of sleeping, it was just my brain obsessively worrying and not turning off. I told my PA this, and they immed went to prescribe me Prazosin again. I had to insist and insist over and over again that they had already tried Prazosin, that I was NOT going to take it again because the adverse effects scared the absolute daylights out of me. And that it's not the dreams, it's the ability to sleep. I had to insist over and over and over again that they check my chart/prescription history.
There have been other things, but that's the most recent one.
Anywho, I'm curious if others have ever re-thought their relationship with their psychiatrist, and what steps they took, if any, when questioning it. Like, I've been going to this office for around 5 years. But this new person isn't the person who has been treating me for all these years. I'm too anxious to tell the PA that I'm not liking their approach, though.
I'm also like, is that a thing? Would I be looked at funny if I make an appointment with a psychiatrist because I'm not liking the relationship with my current/'updated' practitioner?
I want to also be very clear that I'm not looking for someone to prescribe me a specific drug that the current PA isn't prescribing me. I'm not looking for a pill mill. I just question her approach and the most recent interaction re: Prazosin really rubbed me the wrong way.
I'm just...idk. Either looking for validation that I'm making an 'okay' decision & that other people have gotten second opinions or changed dr's, or for feedback on what I could do to mitigate the thoughts/feelings I'm having.
Thanks for reading and apologies for the novel!

submitted by PuzzleheadedAsk6787 to ADHD [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 20:05 g-raven Search for Pet LOVING Housing

ISO: Homes for rent Lacey/Oly (primary point, but with a pretty wide range). I know there are a lot of search engines out there, and we’re using them for sure, but my family and I are looking to rent with high hopes of one really important feature: PET LOVING. Not just pet friendly, but pet loving. My wife and I run a small animal rescue so not only do we have pets, but we need the ability to have animals safely in and out of the home. Ideally, we’ll be able to buy in the next couple of years but in the meantime it would be so helpful to our cause to be able to rent a home from someone who truly loves and understands animals. Our family is fairly large (four adults, two children + pets), so we’re looking for 3+ bedrooms and preferably yard space. We’re clean, handy (more than willing to do yard and general maintenance!), have great rental history, good income, and we respect our space! We are looking to have a move in date sometime in July. If anyone knows of anything, or if you happen to have a rental coming available, please reach out! We’re pretty flexible and I would love to talk about any possibilities. Appreciate everyone who had bothered to read this and our community :)

submitted by g-raven to olympia [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 19:46 bitchyflowerpot I'm alive💕

On the evening of may 21st, I lost control of my car and collided with a truck and a van. I sustained minor injuries(thanks airbag) but ended up with a concussion, a broken nose, and broken bones. When I was being taken to the hospital, all I could think was about my family. What was going to happen to my kids if anything were to happen for me? Their lives are beginning. They have their whole lives ahead of them to think about.
I found my answers when I woke up. My boyfriend was there beside me, holding my hand and smiling like a hippopotamus. He told me my kids were with my sister. He's there for me. I need not to worry. This is what I ever wanted. Assurance. Security. Someone who will hold me at my worst. I was discharged this morning. He helped me with the papers but refused to come home because it was my kids waiting for me there and it wasn't the right time to meet them. He cooked for me.
I've been told that my ex husband was on Reddit for a few days. He deleted his account after figuring out that I was here. He didn't find my account. None of my friends snitched even when he begged them to. I've read his post and comments. I know he is remorseful. Remorse is for him. It doesn't change anything. You can't bring someone back from the dead and he killed me when he killed our marriage. I almost died had it not been for the airbags. God gave me a second chance. He gave me this chance to breathe and do what is right. To forgive and move on. Let him live his life and live mine. I don't hate him for what he did. My love died. It won't come back. Ever. I want him to move on. I want him to find someone who would love him more than I did. Because I've found someone I do💕

submitted by bitchyflowerpot to SupportforBetrayed [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 19:44 sarra1833 After watching YouTubers play their 1st time, let me offer this info to new players:

ZERO spoilers (I'm 99% sure there are none).
After playing 70% of the game so far, I decided to watch ppl like Jack Septiceye etc play for their first time. I'd only watch up to the point I was at and omg. I was yelling in my head at the screen due to them not knowing helpful things. So I decided to help new players here.

Absolutely do the standard orders. Don't just do Sam orders. Standards will never end but you do get higher scores for them and:
Absolutely keep delivering to everyone as many times as you can. It'll be back and forth and back and forth. A fucking lot. But:
Get. Every. Place. To. 5. Stars. You get goodies. Trust me.
Once you pack your cargo on your back, use the appropriate button to optimize it.
read the emails. 70% of the game IS story, and reading counts in that. You WILL miss out on one hell of an amazing, beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking lore and story if you don't.
do not skip cut scenes. See above.
it gets 100% better after ch 2 or 3. Trust me.
you can give more than one like to anything. Spam that button.
The end is a lie. Don't turn it off. Please.
That thing below Sam's feet in the cargo menu is his center of balance. Get him in the middle best you can (see the cargo note above).
in the menu when you click on a delivery and it shows you the info, there are 2 other info pages after that, hit the right (correct) button to access them. It tells you how many packages, weight of each, what dangers are on the way, etc.
on each delivery available, there are 2 numbers across from each one. The first is how many likes you'll get if you deliver in person. Second is total weight of that order.
when in a new area and you have a timed order available, find the best way to get there BEFORE taking the order on. Until the Distro is hooked up to the network, you won't have a map open. It'll take time but trust me. Find the place first and THEN go grab the timed. ESPECIALLY do this with a Sam Order that is fragile/deadly/temp/time reliant.
Trust me (again) in this one: fuck with the Demens. They're an amusing time waster if you get bored. They're hysterical dipshits until they actually lock on you and go red.
pay attention to the 10-12 light slots on the back right of your future trucks as you load cargo. What's on your back counts also.
Your Odradek points where the bad is. Pay attention to the spinning rate too.

Have fun and keep on keeping on!

submitted by sarra1833 to DeathStranding [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 19:42 Sphinxcee I’m so happy I finally did something that contributes toward my goals

So I’m 18, I’m a high-school dropout, and an entrepreneur, for about 1.5 years I’ve been saving 90% of my money from side hustles and reading tons of books so I can start my own junk removal business.
And yesterday I bought a truck : ) And ordered business cards and door hangers and shirts. I’m so happy I finally get to really start living out my dreams of being a business owner, I’m so nervous but so happy.

submitted by Sphinxcee to ADHD [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 19:36 Overall-Escape1128 Welcome to America

 For legal reasons the story I'm about to tell is not true. It did not happen. I was not there. In fact I am currently making this story up as I type solely for the purpose of this reddit. Any likes or similarities to persons or places is purley coincidental and there for unintentional. I will however be telling this story in first person as if I was there to help the reader follow along. Last but not least trigger warning! For self unaliving, domestic violence, and pew pew violence. Without further ado let the story begin.

I work for a donation center. Doesn't matter which. All you need to know is I work in the back room hanging up donated clothes all day long. That's all I do. One day I get to work and start doing my thing. It's a normal work day and everything going smoothly. Or so I thought... I could have not been more wrong. About hour and a half into my shift the dock worker comes running in from the back flustered and tells our manager there is an emergency out back and they need them out there now. Manager does not freaking hesitate! Manager takes off running. Honestly I was a little impressed. I didn't know manager could run so fast. Now of course I'm curious what's going on but I brush it off as nothing. Not my business, also I don't get paid enough to worry about these things, manager obviously has it all taken care of. Besides I'm sure I'll hear about it later. It's work, everyone talks. So I just get back to doing what I do. I actually really enjoy my job. It's amazing the stuff people just donate for free instead of reselling it online or something. So there I am just hanging clothes minding my own business. Until about three minutes later a police officer comes running through the back pewpew drawn and tells us to lock all the doors, no one in or out of the building, and then runs out the back entrance. At this point my coworkers and I are all standing around in shock staring at each other like wtf just happened? I should probably also mention that the doors in the back can't lock. They're those swing in and out doors. We couldn't even block them if we wanted to. There's literally nothing we can do but stand around wondering wtf is going on outside. In the area where we work there is a CCTV that shows us what's happening in the back. We have it for when people drop off donations behind the building or if there is an incident with one of the trucks it's all recorded. We gather around the tv and try to see what's going on but luckily everything is happening just to the right of what our screen can see. All we can see is maybe one cop car with an officer standing in front of it pewpew drawn. There's no sound but we can tell the officer is shouting. Probably something like "GET DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW!" Us being the idiots we are we're trying to guess what's going on. My guess was someone robbed the liquor store next door and was hiding out in one of our donation bins.. Nope. Not even close. Now this is where most of the trigger warnings begin. Please stop reading if this is going to upset you. The last thing you need to know is the donation center I work for is part of a long strip mall type thing. A bunch of businesses all in one long building. So turns out one of the beauty tech from the salon around the corner got into a pretty heated argument with her military man while at some military event. He was being a real hardass about something and she decided she has had enough. She tells military man she is leaving him because of his abuse. Then she gets in her car and drives off. Military man decided this is unacceptable gets in his own truck and proceeds to play bumper cars with her at about 55 mph driving down a busy street. Now of all the places she could have gone. The police station, a hospital, fire station, she decided to drive to work and continue the game of bumper cars in the parking lot. So they do.. Until her little car is completely totalled and she has no choice but to get out and run away. At this point military man has the mentality "If I can't have you no one can." He gets out of his truck and runs after her but not before retrieving his own government issued pew pew from the glovebox. Man has some very bad intentions and is trained to follow through. Beauty tech runs through her work place and out the back of the long building with military man not far behind. This is where things get real sad. Of all the many, many, doors she could have chosen to run through to get away. Unfortunately for her she chooses the one and only freezer door to the Mexican restaurant right besides the donation center. Just so happens restaurant manager is also in the freezer doing inventory. She runs in and tells him military man is after her with full intent. About this time military man catches up and puts pew pew in restaurant managers face, tells him to get lost. Restaurant manager does as he's told and beauty tech is left alone with military man and his pew pew. Now police have already been called thanks to the game of bumper cars in the parking lot and down the busy street. By the time they arrive military man has already unalived beauty tech in the freezer next door. Once police show up before they can even get out of there vehicles military man finally realizes what he just did and decided it's not worth life. Military man turns his pew pew on himself and unlives himself next to beauty tech. Now I need you to remember this all happens in the freezer of a popular Mexican restaurant. Police finally arrive and both military man and beauty tech are no longer with us. Their car and truck are completely totaled in the parking lot. People are scared but at the same time a lot of people dont even know all of this just happened. It all went so fast and since it happened in the freezer no one heard the pew pews. Unfortunately as an American pew pew stories like this one, I''m totally making up as I type, are quite common. They are things that we just learn to live with and move on. It's not the first time someone has been a victim not far from where I work or live. Even as a child at school or walking down my home street you have to be alert because it can happen anywhere at any time. You wanna know the craziest part about my completely made up story. It's not the unfortunate event of a beauty tech being unalived in the freezer of a popular Mexican restaurant by her military man. As I said before that's something I as an American am quite used to. It's the fact that not on single business closed for the day. Not one single business felt the fact that there was not one but two bodies in the freezer next door was enough to let their workers go home and process what just happened. Even the Mexican restaurant continued to stay open and serve customers all day. All I could think for the rest of the day while hanging up my donated clothes, as people continued to eat at the restaurant next door not knowing there were two bodies still in the freezer currently getting photographed by forensics, was Welcome to America.

submitted by Overall-Escape1128 to tryingtogetoverit [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 19:33 Khunepapol Unpopular Opinion: I would rather travel on Railways/Airways rather than Road in India

Yes, the Odisha disaster happens. One reason pointed out was the lack of funding and a lot of job vacancies. I wanted to post this as a counter to thinking that the railways is dangerous.
If I had to chose to travel intracity in India, I will always chose railway/airway over roads. Even if I have a car, I'd spend money for a train ticket.
Here's why:

Safety. This is an odd reason to put first because of the recent accident. However, I think airways are the safest, railways coming in second and roadways the most dangerous. People under estimate how dangerous road travel can be, especially because a lot of it turns city roads from children's cricket grounds to traffic and highway roads are accident galore. Most railway accidents happen at crossings while road accidents are so common that it doesn't become a sensational news show like a train crash.
Cost. If I take into consideration fuel cost, car maintenance, possibility of accidents, and environmental damage (It's a huge hidden cost). I'd think the cheapest way to travel intracity in India is train. Buses are fine but I think the train is much more comfortable and faster. Also, toll roads are there. I'd rather pay for a train ticket once and watch all my downloaded movies.
Reliability. Roads in India are highly unpredictable in quality. If I were to drive/get a driver, it's a huge responsibility to keep eyes on the road with concentration and without being tired. When it comes to a train/plane, hop in and hop off. It's infinitely better imo.
Environmental Responsibility. Trains are uncontested in this category because it uses less energy to transport more people. Cars are inefficient and collectively release a lot of greenhouse gases and make India's air pollution worse. I don't want to contribute to that.
Personal reasons. I get carsick easily, and trains/planes have much smoother rides. Since I don't have to worry about road quality, I can read books, watch movies or even talk on my phone without getting a headache.

Here's why I would think twice:

Most destination cities have no good public transport options. So, I have to use cabs, autos or rentals. This would make it much more costly than expected. Honestly, if most destination cities had good public transport, then I would sell my car.
"Freedom," I put this in quotation marks because having an option to use train doesn't make my freedom less. But, this refers to how I can't stop midway because it's a planned trip. I can't change direction instantly and go elsewhere.

I feel a bit sad to see our railways in this situations. And, I don't want negative publicity to make people opt for road transport.
Here's why you should support trains:

Efficiency. As said earlier, trains are great at transporting people and things with low energy usage for how much they're carrying. A nation of our size under using railways is stupidity because trucks for freight is not economic, especially for long distances. Even for people, it's better. Railways uses less space and carries a lot more than any highway can imagine. I'd rather have railways as the blood vessels of India rather than highways.
Improves AQI. This one is obvious.
More support = more attention from government to improve trains. I'd hope Vande Bharat attracts customers. I don't want a situation where the Government is forced to abandon the railways. Hopefully, they make them more attractive than it is by learning from their mistake in Odisha.

submitted by Khunepapol to india [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 19:29 redmyhome AITA for calling the cops on my neighbors?

My (33f) and husband (37m) own a lake front property. We went out on our porch this morning and we noticed a truck on our property down by the lake. We haven't ever seen this truck before and don't know who owns it. We've also noticed a circular wear pattern around a firepit we have down by the lake from vehicles circling it, though we haven't been able to spot the vehicle responsible.
We don't necessarily have problems with people using our lakeshore property to go fishing or boating, but they do need to ask us at least. My husband noticed some people in a canoe and tried to get their attention. They looked at him said something to each other about a man being on the lake shore and continued canoeing. He waited 2 hours and the didn't come to shore or try talking to him. I went out and tried hollering at them as well. They didn't respond to either of us.
At three hours in we called non emergency and it turns out they had permission from one of our neighbors but not from us. The police encouraged us to have the vehicle towed, but another officer suggested bringing their vehicle down and using the PA system to get them to come ashore. We opted to try to get them ashore to talk before having their vehicle removed.
Turns out the female of the pair was pregnant and had and active warrant for violation of probation and was feeling lightheaded. An ambulance was called by law enforcement which removed her from the property.
All my husband really wanted was to speak to them about coming to the residence and getting permission before launching a boat and leaving a vehicle parked on our property unattended for hours without us being aware.
Some acquaintances have said it may have been a-holish to involve the police but, we feel we gave them adequate chances to resolve it in a much more simple manner that they ignored.
Are we the a-hole?

submitted by redmyhome to AmItheAsshole [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 19:26 Critical_Oil_6001 I was curious about a local legend. Now, what was supposed to be a week-long trip might turn into my eternal nightmare.

I just hope that people see this post, that they might start spreading the news before it’s too late. Something big is coming, something ancient, something older than any of us could have ever imagined. It might be too late. I don’t know what will become of me, of the people I love that I might never see again, by the time you are reading this. But I implore you to listen and take this story seriously, because it could save your life. Or not. I don’t know yet how deep this goes. If it’s true, if what I think is true…God help us. Nothing can save us now that Nature is fighting back.
I’ll start at the beginning, because you need to understand how long this has been happening, and the implications of what is possible now that it’s getting worse.
Over winter break, I went to visit my friend from high school, Jackson, in Vermont. He goes to Bennington College, studies Social Sciences with a minor in Linguistics. Smart guy. He used to write my papers for me in English class, and I would pay him back in six packs. That’s always how it was: him, studious and put together, and me itching to get outside. I was constantly on the move, biking through the forests behind my house, trail-running, building a treehouse for my little brothers, you name it. I wanted to get my hands dirty, get into nature. I guess that’s why I opted out of college, and went for camp counselor positions and summer gigs until I secured a conservation job with a park near home. Nature is important to me, and I want to do my part as the generation that has a responsibility to heal the world.
The outside was what called me to Bennington, aside from the fact that I missed my best buddy. I don’t remember when it was first brought to my attention, but I became aware of murmurings of Bennington’s rocky past online about a few months before I was set to visit Jackson. Being an experienced outdoorsman, I wasn’t afraid; on the contrary, I was rather excited to get out there and prove my worth to Jackson and his college buddies, who were far less athletic than I am. Looking back, I’m kicking myself for being so cocky. I can’t believe I ever thought of my best friend in that way.
From what I could see on the internet, Bennington College’s history was a long and often sinister one. There were videos about people vanishing into thin air: a girl wearing a red parka went for a hike alone and was never found, an experienced man leading an outdoor expedition disappeared in the woods, a woman fell into a stream, doubled back to the campsite to change her clothes, but never made it to the site, a man on a bus disappeared from the vehicle at a stop but left all of his luggage, a teenage boy was waiting in his mother’s truck and when she came back, he was mysteriously gone…I wish I could say these stories deterred me from poking my head somewhere where it didn’t belong.
Instead, I only grew more curious. What was going on in this so-called “Bennington Triangle?” I was in a unique position to investigate this phenomenon for myself. Many people hear about strange occurrences and the intrigue piques their interest, but they never have the chance to see it for themselves. But I could. I knew I could hold my own out in the wilderness—it was literally my job! Besides, I was a strong, slightly stubborn young man, built steadily, and I could protect myself well. What could possibly happen to me out in those woods, much less to a group of young college-aged men? The people who went missing most likely made one fatal mistake that cost them their lives, or maybe it was all just a big coincidence. Either way, I was about to find out for myself.
It was halfway through December when I left to meet up with Jackson. I got there on the last day of classes, and Jackson told me he would be busy until later in the day. I assumed he was cramming for a final, and I told him it was no big deal, I would meet up with him and maybe meet some of his buddies later. Besides, I had some plans of my own.
The most famous missing persons case in Bennington went cold, and is still unsolved to this day. The case is a tragic one, and I didn’t want to be insensitive by going around asking for information or throwing around names. Everything I needed, I found online. Paula Welden was the name of the girl in the red parka that went missing. Allegedly, she left campus one day to go on a hike by herself. She left the campus around 3pm and hitchhiked to an entrance to the Long Trail, a trail that runs for almost 300 miles from Massachusetts all the way to the Canadian Border. She wasn’t dressed to be outside for long, but as the story goes, she never made it back from the trail.
There was one sighting of her, however, that particularly interested me. A man reported that he had seen her running around, rather erratically, in the bottom of a gravel pit near the entrance of campus, and I wanted to see if there was anything left of the pit. Because I’m experienced with many different kinds of natural phenomena, I initially wondered if there wasn’t a natural explanation for her distressed behavior. I thought maybe there might be an insect nest or an infestation of small animals at the bottom of the pit that she might have disturbed, so I decided to check it out in my free time. After the RA checked me in and I tossed my luggage into Jackson’s dorm, I packed a small backpack with essentials: water, sunscreen, energy bars, mini first aid kit, some rope, a utility tool, a flashlight, and a lightweight jacket. Then I headed out towards the pit.
The first thing I noticed was how much smaller the pit seemed. According to the eyewitness description of the incident, Paula was running up and down the side of a deep gravel pit, but what lay in front of me now was something much more shallow. I walked down into the center of what was left of the pit, but I could easily see over the edges. The small, dark fragments of rock crunched and ground together under my hiking boots, and the slowly sinking midday sun bounced off of the remnants of white snow around me. It was an unusually sunny day for winter, and the snow was, curiously, letting up for my visit. But the good luck for me ran out here—there seemed to be nothing to investigate at this location. My hopes of finding any evidence of insect or pest infestation that could have disturbed the girl were dashed, maybe buried several feet underground.
I lingered awhile, kicking at the bits of gravel in the small pit. I watched the small rocks scatter over the rest of the gravel, hitting up against the edge of the pit and rolling back down a few inches. I turned to go, but stopped. Maybe it was a trick of my eye, the sun reflecting harshly off of the snow and glinting in my sunglasses, causing me to not see clearly. I walked to the edge of the pit and kicked some more gravel at the side. The small rocks skipped across the uneven surface of the gravel pile, and scattered up the edge of the pit, farther than gravity should allow them to travel. I kicked more, and it happened again. My heart started beating faster.
I crouched down and picked up a small stone. I rolled it gently across the gravel, softly enough that it started to slow when it reached the incline of the side of the pit. I watched, astounded, as the rock slowly rolled uphill about a foot before coming to a stop. I gave a shout of excitement and jumped to my feet.
As I stood up straight I nearly fell back down. In an instant, my hearing seemed to go and I felt an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia. I spun around, thinking someone must be behind me, messing with me, but the sensation of closeness stayed pressing at my back. I spun around again, searching for an explanation. My head was fuzzy. I heard my footsteps, overwhelmingly loud, and I couldn’t hear anything else, almost as if my range of hearing was limited to my immediate surroundings. Like I was trapped in the pit. As soon as those words flashed through my head, the claustrophobia overwhelmed me, pushing up against the very air around my body. The silence built up inside my ears until all I could hear was my muffled footsteps, my desperate breathing, and the blood rushing faster and faster through my body.
I lunged for the edge, clambering up the side as fast as I could. Instantly upon passing over the edge the sounds of the late afternoon bore down on my ears. I stumbled and covered my ears, the chirping of the birds and rustling leaves almost too loud for me to bear.
It’s not that I was scared. Obviously, I was a little shaken up. As I hastened back towards Jackson’s dorm, I tried to rationalize what had just happened to me. Maybe I hadn’t drank enough water and I simply became dizzy. Maybe it was altitude sickness. Maybe a strange bug had bitten me and I temporarily lost my bearings. Nothing quite made sense. I tried to push it from my mind and focus on having a good first day, because soon I would be meeting Jackson’s college buddies.
When I got back to the dorm, Jackson was waiting for me. Fresh from the shower, his hair was damp and he was putting on a clean t-shirt. Pulling me into a hug, he expressed his excitement over my visit, asked me about my flight, what I thought about the campus—all the preliminary niceties. Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief. Even if he noticed, he didn’t pry and try to ask me about my slightly shaking hands, my pale face, or the vague disconnectedness with which I answered his questions.
That night eased my worries slightly. I ended up meeting Jackson’s group of friends and, together, we ventured into downtown Bennington. We hit a few bars and chilled at some of the many breweries in town. Live music, good company, and many, many beers did wonders on my nerves. By the end of the night, I had completely forgotten all about my encounter in the gravel pit. Jackson’s friends were nice guys, and I was too busy feeling proud about my best friend coming out of his shell in college. When he left, I had my doubts, but it was crystal clear that Jackson was really coming into himself at this school.
The festivities continued for the next few days: the guys were stoked to be done with their final exams and excited to connect with Jackson’s old friend, so we spent our time drinking and hanging out, bumping music and generally having a blast. It was almost enough for me to forget about one of the very reasons I was excited to be in Bennington in the first place.
It’s been a few days since that incident. I had even almost started to feel better about the whole thing. Maybe it was a mistake to poke around in old history, and maybe I should just focus on living my own life and fulfilling my own passions, working to heal nature as best as I can. But now Jackson and his friends want to go on a hike, and I’m starting to feel that same claustrophobia creeping back in. What the hell is out there, and why do I feel like I shouldn’t be messing with it?

submitted by Critical_Oil_6001 to nosleep [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 19:26 Overall-Escape1128 Welcome To America

For legal reasons the story I'm about to tell is not true. It did not happen. I was not there. In fact I am currently making this story up as I type solely for the purpose of this reddit. Any likes or similarities to persons or places is purley coincidental and there for unintentional. I will however be telling this story in first person as if I was there to help the reader follow along. Last but not least trigger warning! For self unaliving, domestic violence, and pew pew violence. Without further ado let the story begin.
I work for a donation center. Doesn't matter which. All you need to know is I work in the back room hanging up donated clothes all day long. That's all I do. One day I get to work and start doing my thing. It's a normal work day and everything going smoothly. Or so I thought... I could have not been more wrong. About hour and a half into my shift the dock worker comes running in from the back flustered and tells our manager there is an emergency out back and they need them out there now. Manager does not freaking hesitate! Manager takes off running. Honestly I was a little impressed. I didn't know manager could run so fast. Now of course I'm curious what's going on but I brush it off as nothing. Not my business, also I don't get paid enough to worry about these things, manager obviously has it all taken care of. Besides I'm sure I'll hear about it later. It's work, everyone talks. So I just get back to doing what I do. I actually really enjoy my job. It's amazing the stuff people just donate for free instead of reselling it online or something. So there I am just hanging clothes minding my own business. Until about three minutes later a police officer comes running through the back pewpew drawn and tells us to lock all the doors, no one in or out of the building, and then runs out the back entrance. At this point my coworkers and I are all standing around in shock staring at each other like wtf just happened? I should probably also mention that the doors in the back can't lock. They're those swing in and out doors. We couldn't even block them if we wanted to. There's literally nothing we can do but stand around wondering wtf is going on outside. In the area where we work there is a CCTV that shows us what's happening in the back. We have it for when people drop off donations behind the building or if there is an incident with one of the trucks it's all recorded. We gather around the tv and try to see what's going on but luckily everything is happening just to the right of what our screen can see. All we can see is maybe one cop car with an officer standing in front of it pewpew drawn. There's no sound but we can tell the officer is shouting. Probably something like "GET DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW!" Us being the idiots we are we're trying to guess what's going on. My guess was someone robbed the liquor store next door and was hiding out in one of our donation bins.. Nope. Not even close. Now this is where most of the trigger warnings begin. Please stop reading if this is going to upset you. The last thing you need to know is the donation center I work for is part of a long strip mall type thing. A bunch of businesses all in one long building. So turns out one of the beauty tech from the salon around the corner got into a pretty heated argument with her military man while at some military event. He was being a real hardass about something and she decided she has had enough. She tells military man she is leaving him because of his abuse. Then she gets in her car and drives off. Military man decided this is unacceptable gets in his own truck and proceeds to play bumper cars with her at about 55 mph driving down a busy street. Now of all the places she could have gone. The police station, a hospital, fire station, she decided to drive to work and continue the game of bumper cars in the parking lot. So they do.. Until her little car is completely totalled and she has no choice but to get out and run away. At this point military man has the mentality "If I can't have you no one can." He gets out of his truck and runs after her but not before retrieving his own government issued pew pew from the glovebox. Man has some very bad intentions and is trained to follow through. Beauty tech runs through her work place and out the back of the long building with military man not far behind. This is where things get real sad. Of all the many, many, doors she could have chosen to run through to get away. Unfortunately for her she chooses the one and only freezer door to the Mexican restaurant right besides the donation center. Just so happens restaurant manager is also in the freezer doing inventory. She runs in and tells him military man is after her with full intent. About this time military man catches up and puts pew pew in restaurant managers face, tells him to get lost. Restaurant manager does as he's told and beauty tech is left alone with military man and his pew pew. Now police have already been called thanks to the game of bumper cars in the parking lot and down the busy street. By the time they arrive military man has already unalived beauty tech in the freezer next door. Once police show up before they can even get out of there vehicles military man finally realizes what he just did and decided it's not worth life. Military man turns his pew pew on himself and unlives himself next to beauty tech. Now I need you to remember this all happens in the freezer of a popular Mexican restaurant. Police finally arrive and both military man and beauty tech are no longer with us. Their car and truck are completely totaled in the parking lot. People are scared but at the same time a lot of people dont even know all of this just happened. It all went so fast and since it happened in the freezer no one heard the pew pews. Unfortunately as an American pew pew stories like this one, I''m totally making up as I type, are quite common. They are things that we just learn to live with and move on. It's not the first time someone has been a victim not far from where I work or live. Even as a child at school or walking down my home street you have to be alert because it can happen anywhere at any time. You wanna know the craziest part about my completely made up story. It's not the unfortunate event of a beauty tech being unalived in the freezer of a popular Mexican restaurant by her military man. As I said before that's something I as an American am quite used to. It's the fact that not on single business closed for the day. Not one single business felt the fact that there was not one but two bodies in the freezer next door was enough to let their workers go home and process what just happened. Even the Mexican restaurant continued to stay open and serve customers all day. All I could think for the rest of the day while hanging up my donated clothes, as people continued to eat at the restaurant next door not knowing there were two bodies still in the freezer currently getting photographed by forensics, was Welcome to America.

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2023.06.07 19:22 TheChineseGeneral 37 [M4F] Portugal - Searching for a friend, and who knows what else

Bruno, 37, from the sunny Portugal.
My job is pretty much what makes me travel the whole country, as I am a truck driver.
As for what i like to do in my spare time, i enjoy the following:
Reading, Taking hikes, Playing League of Legends (i know, my mental sanity is going away), Manga and Anime I would prefer to start via Reddit Messages and as some sort of friendship, and we would see how it goes from there. Not limited to any specific region, age, race, etc.
Hope to hear from you soon.

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