Twin bed and box spring set

BritBoxUK

2020.02.19 23:38 Jprhino84 BritBoxUK

BritBoxUK is a community for discussing the British version of the BritBox streaming service. We are not the BBC or ITV nor affiliated with them. This subreddit is fan-run.

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2020.10.03 21:09 zabblleon MTG Captain is Dead

MTG Captain Is Dead

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2020.10.04 08:21 raw_hawk Magic The Gathering: Captain

This is a democratic subreddit dedicated to the Magic The Gathering card game, Captain format.

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2023.06.03 19:59 meesy77 [H] Cheap Private/HQ Shared Accounts With Warranty Incl Netflix,Hulu,HBO MAX,Disney+,ESPN+,Spotify,Tidal HiFi,Crunchyroll,Paramount+,Showtime,DAZN,Fubo TV,Sling O+B,BritBox UK,DirecTV Stream,NBA League Pass,NFL Sunday Ticket,MLB TV,Curiosity Stream,Nord VPN,Udemy e.t.c [W] Paypal/10% off BTC

Welcome to my PRIVATE/HQ SHARED accounts shop.
Check out my listing:
Legend : Warranty plan・$ Amount
PRIVATE ACCOUNTS
Netflix UHD
6 months・$40
HBO MAX
6 months・$20
12 months・$30
Tidal HiFi Plus Upgrade
6 months・$20
12 months・$30
Tidal HiFi Upgrade
6 months・$15
12 months・$23
Spotify Upgrade
12 months・$12
Fubo TV Canada (380 Premier League Games+ Serie A)
12 months・$60
Fubo TV USA Ultimate
6 months・$110
Fubo TV USA All addons
6 months・$150
SHARED ACCOUNTS (one stream)
Disney+
6 months・$9
12 months・$14
Disney+ & ESPN+ (bundle)
6 months・$11
12 months・$17
Hulu w/Ads/No Ads & Disney+ & ESPN+ (bundle)
6 months・$20
12 months・$30
Paramount+ No Ads
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
Showtime
6 months・$9
12 months・$14
DAZN CA/DE/IT
6 months・$12
12 months・$18
Fubo TV USA
6 months・$15
12 months・$23
Sling Orange + Blue
6 months・$11
12 months・$17
DIRECTV Stream Entertainment
6 months・$12
12 months・$18
Curiosity Stream 4K
6 months・$8
12 months・$12
NBA League Pass
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
NFL Sunday Ticket (App)
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
MLB.TV
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
BritBox UK
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
Udemy Courses
Per course・$5
Nord VPN for all devices
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
Grammarly Premium
6 months・$12
12 months・$18
TERMS OF SERVICE

For private accounts only, the user is free to change the password. In this case, changing the password does not void your warranty. The user is free to utilize all the streams allowed to run simultaneously and share the account with friends/family at their discretion. These guarantee 99.99% uptime. I doubt that you will need a replacement but I provide a warranty nonetheless :) For shared accounts, the user can only use the service on one device (one stream) and they are not allowed to change any login details. This will enable the account to last even longer past the warranty period. Warranty is as specified above. In case of issues with the account, please PM me with the current details of the account for a replacement. Kindly allow for at most a day for the replacement. This may also apply to regular deliveries. I am not online 24/7 but I try to be online for as long as possible. Kindly be patient as you wait for your ordereplacement. I accept PayPal and BTC (10% discount-may not apply to all items). These prices are in USD and do not include the PayPal transfer fees. The buyer bears the fees. In case you have issues with the payment process, PM me. Sales are final. No refunds or charge-backs will be entertained. However, I retain the right to refuse to transact with anyone and the right to refund proportionately at any point during service. It's the buyer's sole responsibility to find out if the service they are interested in works in their country with/without a VPN and with their specific streaming device before purchasing. Kindly PM me before any purchase to confirm availability and payment instructions. For quicker service, please include the warranty plan you want and your payment method in your first message. The warranty on private accounts does not cover the buyer's personal password hygiene issues or any adverse changes made on the account settings other than changes to the login credentials. It is generally assumed that the password is changed immediately after receipt of the account. The warranty plan starts at the time of purchase and runs uninterrupted unless otherwise stated. It is assumed that the account is used continuously by the buyer after purchase. Limited stock available. Prices and terms may vary over time so kindly refer to my latest thread. All buyers are assumed to have read and agreed to these terms before purchase.

Kindly PM me or open chat if you have any further questions.

submitted by meesy77 to sidehustleideas [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:57 AutoModerator Here's How To Watch "The Little Mermaid" (2023) Streaming Online Free FOr [Reddit] At Home

‘The Little Mermaid’ is finally here. Find out how to watch Disney's latest live-action adaptation animated film The Little Mermaid online for free.Walt Disney Studios has established a remarkable trend of making live-action remakes of its classic stories. One after the other, all the fairytales of the past era are being brought to life by the studio in an attempt to tell the magical stories in a new light of living characters.
Download ⭆🛑⭆Watch Now: The Little Mermaid (2023) Movie Online Free
Download ⭆🛑⭆Watch Now: The Little Mermaid (2023) Movie Online Free
Get ready to go "under the sea!" The latest of Disney's hugely successful line of live-action remakes, Ariel (Halle Bailey) is set to return to theaters for the first time in almost thirty-five years with The Little Mermaid (2023). The Walt Disney Company once again invites audiences to travel under the sea to see Princess Ariel's story unfold like never before. Featuring direction from veteran musical filmmaker Rob Marshall and other roles inhabited by major Hollywood stars like Melissa McCarthy as Ursula the Sea Witch and Javier Bardem as King Triton, the film is bound to be a bona fide hit at the box office.

Though the upcoming and highly anticipated film will have stiff competition against two stand-up comedians on the weekend it releases, The Little Mermaid is destined to show that life is better down where it's wetter under the sea this Summer movie season. To find showtimes and streaming information on Disney's latest big-budget reimagining of an animated classic, here is where you can watch The Little Mermaid.

The new Little Mermaid is diving into theaters with a sparkling live-action look, three new original songs and a total treasure trove of a cast. Starring Halle Bailey as the fiery-haired Ariel who swaps sea for sand, Melissa McCarthy as the iconically villainous half-octopus Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King as Eric, Javier Bardem as King Triton, and the delightfully odd coupling of Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina as Sebastian and Scuttle, the live-action remake of the 1989 animated classic Disney Princess film is certainly going to make a splash. Longing to be part of Ariel’s world? You won’t need to bargain with a sea witch to make it happen. Here’s how to watch the new Little Mermaid, plus where to stream the classic Little Mermaid movie, The Little Mermaid sequels and more.

What Is the Release Date for The Little Mermaid?

Ariel's quest to go from a mermaid into a human begins anew when The Little Mermaid premieres this Memorial Day Weekend on Friday, May 26th, 2023. The film will be going up against not one, but two stand-up comedians and their films that weekend, with Sebastian Maniscalco's About My Father and Bert Kreischer's The Machine premiering on the same day. That said, The Little Mermaid will almost certainly be the choice for younger audiences and families.

While some Disney films are heading straight to Disney+, The Little Mermaid will first be shown exclusively in theaters.

Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait for it to become available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Amazon, Vudu, YouTube or Apple, or become available to stream on Disney+.

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

How to Watch The Little Mermaid

There's been no official announcement regarding The Little Mermaid's streaming release date, though we know it will eventually be released on Disney+, rather than Netflix or HBO Max.

It's difficult to guess when to expect The Little Mermaid on Disney+, as the company hasn't been consistent with its streaming-release cadence; its past five live-action reimaginings were released directly onto Disney+. The company has brought the last few Marvel movies to streaming within two-three months, however, which potentially puts The Little Mermaid on Disney+ between July 26 and August 26.

The Little Mermaid will be shown exclusively in theaters. We expect the movie to come to Disney+, but based on Disney's past release models, the film won't be made available to stream before 45 to 90 days after its theatrical release.

Will The Little Mermaid Be in Theaters or on Streaming?

Unlike several of Disney's other live-action remakes such as Pinocchio and Peter Pan & Wendy, The Little Mermaid will be exclusively in movie theaters first with tickets available for pre-sale now.

After The Little Mermaid has completed its exclusive theatrical run, the film will be released on the Disney+ streaming service. Based on Disney's past release models, the film won't be made available to stream before 45 to 90 days after its theatrical release.

When will The Little Mermaid be streaming on Disney+?

The Little Mermaid Disney+ premiere date is tentatively estimated to be August 30, 2023.

While no official Little Mermaid streaming date has been confirmed by Disney, most of its major movie releases drop on Disney+ following a minimum 90-day period, and typically premiere on the platform on Wednesdays, making Wednesday, August 30 the most likely date for Disney’s The Little Mermaid live-action streaming release.

Will The Little Mermaid Be Streaming On Disney+?

The 2023 version of The Little Mermaid will only be in theaters initially. After The Little Mermaid has completed its exclusive theatrical run, it is likely to stream on Disney Plus. You can also watch the animated version of Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale of Ariel on Disney Plus now.

While you will only be able to catch the new "The Little Mermaid" in theaters starting next Friday, you can still sign up for Disney+ now to refresh yourself on the characters, song, plot and magical fun from the highly anticipated film. The 1989 version of the movie was a catalyst for Disney's animation renaissance throughout the '90s and it still holds up today.

An ad-supported Disney+ subscription starts at $8 per month, but you can get an ad-free access to the service for $11 monthly or bundle the Disney streaming service with Hulu and ESPN+ starting at $13 per month. Disney+ boasts a huge collection of movies and television series, including Marvel and Star Wars content. If you add in Hulu and ESPN, you have nearly unlimited entertainment at your fingertips.

Is The Little Mermaid streaming on Netflix?

No, The Little Mermaid will not be on Netflix — at least not any time soon. In the meantime, you’ll just have to head out to a movie theater or wait for it to become available to stream on Disney+.

Will The Little Mermaid Be On HBO Max?

No, The Little Mermaid will not be on HBO Max since it’s not a Universal Pictures movie. Last year, the company released its films in theaters and on the streamer on the same day. However, they now allow a 45-day window between the theatrical release and the streaming release.

Is The Little Mermaid Available On Hulu?

Viewers are saying that they want to view the new animation movie The Little Mermaid on Hulu. Unfortunately, this is not possible since Hulu currently does not offer any of the free episodes of this series streaming at this time. It will be exclusive to the MTV channel, which you get by subscribing to cable or satellite TV services. You will not be able to watch it on Hulu or any other free streaming service.

Most Viewed, Most Favorite, Top Rating, Top IMDb movies online. Here we can download and watch 123movies movies offline. 123Movies website is the best alternative to The Little Mermaid (2023) free online. We will recommend 123Movies is the best Solarmovie alternatives.

There are a few ways to watch The Little Mermaid online in the U.S. You can use a streaming service such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. You can also rent or buy the movie on iTunes or Google Play. You can also watch it on-demand or on a streaming app available on your TV or streaming device if you have cable.

The Little Mermaid Cast and Characters

The Little Mermaid was written by David Magee and directed by Rob Marshall. It stars the following actors:

Halle Bailey as Ariel

Melissa McCarthy as Ursula

Javier Bardem as King Triton

Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina

Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric

Daveed Diggs as Sebastian

Awkwafina as Scuttle

Jacob Tremblay as Flounder

Art Malik as Sir Grimsby

What is The Little Mermaid About?

The official synopsis for The Little Mermaid by Walt Disney Studios read:

submitted by AutoModerator to LittleMermaidSK [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:56 alenepasserine Taming (and other) Improvements!

Do you wish you had more binding stones to catch that monster you had your eye on? You're in luck then, as Tyler has started supplying binding stones, both individually and in bundles! Furthermore, taming probability has now been overhauled, and you'll find the odds are more in your favor than before. Getting knowledge levels will make a far greater impact than before, and whether you are taming a Gribble, a Cow, or the Giant Worm of Despair itself, the chance is the same for the same knowledge level. Capturing a Dire Wolf has never been easier!
Additionally, damaging a foe beyond half their life will improve your odds of capture, but you also don't need to beat them to within an inch of their life for the best chances.
While this is friendly for newer players and those who wish to catch all manner of creatures, beware, however, as elites have become far more difficult to challenge. Only the most learned of hunters can catch these empowered foes! To better assist our hunters, chests of higher grade binding stones are available in the Chrono Den, with reduced pricing on Celestial Binding stones as well!
Finally, a few changes and bug fixes to accompany this update: *Damage reduction on "Blacksmith Enchantment" effects was fixed to set damage to the remainder rather than the reduced amount *Damage reduction on "Blacksmith Enchantment" effects no longer affects Pure damage *Logs of battles will no longer track enemy numbering *Anti-ambush check will now examine either attack vs enemy defense OR defense vs enemy attack, rather than requiring both as before. This makes it easier for those who are trying to hunt a specific enemy down earlier on. *Talbot Spring will show items that are pending or ready for pick-up *HP/MP/Energy regen outside of battle will now correctly fill to your calculated max rather than your max without boosts from other stats or equipment *Slithers now take 1-2 physical damage on hit again *Crimson stat gain is colour-coded to #BB99FF *Viewing a custom's item info page will display in parenthesis the respective info for the item it is set to, if any *Viewing a belt's item info page will now display the number of item slots the belt has *Rebirth scaling on enemy attack and defense will now be accounted for in anti-ambush checks
As always, we appreciate our players! Chronicles of Denzar Staff

https://preview.redd.it/moaejqkjdu3b1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=09767f9957cf72767b14b6ecb5b824a9cc26d628

submitted by alenepasserine to chronoden [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:56 Equivalent-Pick-6696 Hormones or husband issue?

Currently 34 weeks pregnant with number 2, our oldest is 23 months old. My husband rarely compliments me anymore and it's been bothering me for a hot minute. Every once in a while I've put forth alot of effort to look nice and I have to ask him if I look okay. Sometimes this gets a compliment but more then not it doesint. Yesterday he wanted to know if we wanted to go to a cookout happening today. I haven't seen these people in years and I said idk, I don't feel comfortable socially with them right now or comfortable physically with my body. Then I said I don't know if I want these people to see me when I look like this, I'm not feeling very confident. He says nothing.
Before bed I bring up my self esteem issue with him and he basically says he thinks I'm beautiful, tells me it all the time, and that I am setting him up to fail for saying I wasint feeling confident and then getting upset that he didint compliment me or try to make me feel better about myself. So I'm still mad. And he decided to go to the cookout without us. Even though he's spent all day working outside and tomorrow he will be hanging with friends from noon to like 6. Am I hormonal or is my husband kind of being an inconsiderate jerk? I'm sensitive right now and just want more support and don't feel like he's giving it. I know he's stressed about work but I'm super stressed too and need more right now.

submitted by Equivalent-Pick-6696 to BabyBumps [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:55 pantufles do you experience this?

does anyone else feel chronic debilitating fatigue regularly, but if you go to anything, be it, the dog park, regular errand, any kind of new setting with social interaction for a few hours and then come back, the next day you feel extreme fatigue, but moreso, physical pain all over your body, like neck back head chest legs? for those who are ambulatory is it even harder for you to walk around, the day following any activity outside of the usual reduced adl?
for me…yes. i feel like i can’t move out of bed, i’m in so much pain all over, walking around is more like shuffling in bits, holding on to things, i always take ibuprofen cause i don’t have anything else and see what adl i’m capable of doing, always reduced.
i know some of my disabilities would make me more tired after doing stuff but i don’t think any of the disabilities i know about so far, would lead to experiencing that kind of pain and exhaustion, which basically takes me out of things for days…a week…
please let me know if this sounds like something you are familiar with. my dr suspected fibro but i haven’t been able to see a rheumatologist yet despite trying several.

submitted by pantufles to disability [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:54 meesy77 [H] Cheap Private/HQ Shared Accounts With Warranty Incl Netflix,Hulu,HBO MAX,Disney+,ESPN+,Spotify,Tidal HiFi,Crunchyroll,Paramount+,Showtime,DAZN,Fubo TV,Sling O+B,BritBox UK,DirecTV Stream,NBA League Pass,NFL Sunday Ticket,MLB TV,Curiosity Stream,Nord VPN,Udemy e.t.c [W] Paypal/10% off BTC

Welcome to my PRIVATE/HQ SHARED accounts shop.
Check out my listing:
Legend : Warranty plan・$ Amount
PRIVATE ACCOUNTS
Netflix UHD
6 months・$40
HBO MAX
6 months・$20
12 months・$30
Tidal HiFi Plus Upgrade
6 months・$20
12 months・$30
Tidal HiFi Upgrade
6 months・$15
12 months・$23
Spotify Upgrade
12 months・$12
Fubo TV Canada (380 Premier League Games+ Serie A)
12 months・$60
Fubo TV USA Ultimate
6 months・$110
Fubo TV USA All addons
6 months・$150

SHARED ACCOUNTS (one stream)
Disney+
6 months・$9
12 months・$14
Disney+ & ESPN+ (bundle)
6 months・$11
12 months・$17
Hulu w/Ads/No Ads & Disney+ & ESPN+ (bundle)
6 months・$20
12 months・$30
Paramount+ No Ads
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
Showtime
6 months・$9
12 months・$14
DAZN CA/DE/IT
6 months・$12
12 months・$18
Fubo TV USA
6 months・$15
12 months・$23
Sling Orange + Blue
6 months・$11
12 months・$17
DIRECTV Stream Entertainment
6 months・$12
12 months・$18
Curiosity Stream 4K
6 months・$8
12 months・$12
NBA League Pass
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
NFL Sunday Ticket (App)
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
MLB.TV
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
BritBox UK
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
Udemy Courses
Per course・$5
Nord VPN for all devices
6 months・$10
12 months・$15
Grammarly Premium
6 months・$12
12 months・$18
TERMS OF SERVICE

For private accounts only, the user is free to change the password. In this case, changing the password does not void your warranty. The user is free to utilize all the streams allowed to run simultaneously and share the account with friends/family at their discretion. These guarantee 99.99% uptime. I doubt that you will need a replacement but I provide a warranty nonetheless :)
For shared accounts, the user can only use the service on one device (one stream) and they are not allowed to change any login details. This will enable the account to last even longer past the warranty period.
Warranty is as specified above. In case of issues with the account, please PM me with the current details of the account for a replacement. Kindly allow for at most a day for the replacement. This may also apply to regular deliveries. I am not online 24/7 but I try to be online for as long as possible. Kindly be patient as you wait for your ordereplacement.
I accept PayPal and BTC (10% discount-may not apply to all items). These prices are in USD and do not include the PayPal transfer fees. The buyer bears the fees. In case you have issues with the payment process, PM me.
Sales are final. No refunds or charge-backs will be entertained. However, I retain the right to refuse to transact with anyone and the right to refund proportionately at any point during service. It's the buyer's sole responsibility to find out if the service they are interested in works in their country with/without a VPN and with their specific streaming device before purchasing.
Kindly PM me before any purchase to confirm availability and payment instructions. For quicker service, please include the warranty plan you want and your payment method in your first message.
The warranty on private accounts does not cover the buyer's personal password hygiene issues or any adverse changes made on the account settings other than changes to the login credentials. It is generally assumed that the password is changed immediately after receipt of the account. The warranty plan starts at the time of purchase and runs uninterrupted unless otherwise stated. It is assumed that the account is used continuously by the buyer after purchase.
Limited stock available. Prices and terms may vary over time so kindly refer to my latest thread.
All buyers are assumed to have read and agreed to these terms before purchase.

Kindly PM me or open chat if you have any further questions.

submitted by meesy77 to SatoshiBets [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:53 Eldritch_Flame [PF2E][FoundryVTT][Wednesday][Saturday][CST-12:30PM][PAID] -- Experienced GM seeking both new and experienced players! Forming two groups for personalized homebrew setting/campaigns! -- [3-week trial period at (5$) per session. After that it's just (10$)!][2/10 slots open]

🌍✨Are you looking for a Collective Storytelling game using dice? What about a living semi-sandbox world that reacts to the choices and backgrounds of not only you but the group as a whole? Well than apply here: https://forms.gle/DTQibvQMgbNa37NcA.✨🌍
Buuut...if you wanna be sold on it a bit more, keep reading.
Come join me in crafting an incredible adventure where possibilities are infinite with each roll of the dice. As Game Master, I'll personalize the world according to your group's preferences and decisions. Together, you will have to figure out how to move forward through difficult choices and potentially-change the setting. There will also be plenty of fun opportunities - combat, puzzles, or just light hearted banter. Don't worry if you're new - I'm happy to teach and guide you! Come with an adventurous spirit and open mind ready to explore a living world that will treat you like a part of it. So what are you waiting for? Let's go on an adventure!

🚩 ((Basic questions and answers)) 🚩
~(what do you mean by personalized?)🎨
During session zero (and to a lesser extent throughout the whole game) I will be discussing with all the players in both groups what sort of campaign/setting that they want to play/explore in. As well as the sort of themes and goals they would enjoy personally as a player.
There will be a Google Form at the bottom of this thing (and at the top) that will have just under a dozen questions that will allow me to match players together that have compatible aspirations and expectations for the game.
~(5$ 3-week trial? Why charge at all?) 🤔
Fair question with two answers. One, people who are willing to jump over even a small monetary hurdle are way less likely to not show up to games regularly or be intentionally disruptive.
Two, it incentivizes me to be best I can be, as I can as well as enabling me to more easily afford things like Dungeondraft or Inkarnate to create custom maps or battles for you guys! Also I kinda need more food money lol.
~(What can I expect when we start?)👀
Well of course there is the aforementioned session zero will be the first order on the docket. Our starting point will be the Pathfinder 2E's Beginner Box. I find the Beginner Box to be a genuinely good way to introduce players to both PF2E and FoundryVTT so im gonna use it as a sorta jumping off point for the homebrew. (it also gives me time to work on the homebrew content since it will be customized to your group specifically)
🚩 ((Basic requirements and social expectations)) 🚩

Discord will be required for voice chat, and yes voice chat is required.💭
FoundryVTT is the program we will be using as the games interface. Don't worry if your new to it, we'll figure it out together!🐉
-Paypal is the payment method 💰.
-Be kind to your fellow players and me! No bigotry, racism, ect, ect...😱
-100% LGBT friendly!🏳‍🌈
-Please remember your fellow players are people too. So don't be disruptive or intentionally mean to another player or I will drop you as a player. 💕

🚩 ((Basic campaign/character info)) 🚩

Milestone leveling system! (no need to worry about min-maxing exp. Allow for more freeform play where exploration and roleplay can be just as valuable to the group as combat.) ⚔
We will be using standard Pathfinder gods/monsters/magic (aka Golarion). But my custom world will have minor tweaks to races/basic lore depending on what players are wanting from the campaign/themes of the setting.🌍
Characters/backgrounds and the overall ideas and themes of the desired feel for the campaign/setting will be discussed as a group during session zero as well as some basic questions in the google form below! 👁
Other addons like Free Archetype may be discussed at the end of the beginners box if players are interested!🐱‍🏍

🚩 ((Google Application form!)) 🚩
The Form!
This is basically half basic form and half personality quiz with pretty fantasy pictures. Please read anything in bold it's probably important!
Hope to start forming the groups as soon as this weekend and starting session zero next week!

submitted by Eldritch_Flame to FoundryLFG [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:52 rubyshade [USA-CA][H] HP Envy 17 Laptop (i7-7500u, nvidia 940mx, 16gb ram) + iPhone 6s for parts [W] Paypal / local cash

What's up swappers? Got a laptop and a broken-ish iphone to get rid of here. First is the laptop. It's a 2017 HP Envy 17m-ae0xx and it boasts a 17-inch screen, which is frankly insane for a laptop. But it could also be a statement piece? Your call.
LAPTOP TIMESTAMPS. One or two of these may say April 22 on them - just a previous batch of pics I never got around to listing. Hoping it's clear this is the same laptop from environmental cues and current timestamps. Happy to take another round if needed.
SPECS

2-core intel i7-7500u
Nvidia Geforce 940MX discrete GPU w 2GB Vram
240 GB Sandisk SSD

NOTABLE FEATURES

17 inch screen (BIG)
CD drive! ooo ahh
Ethernet port
touchscreen, but NOT an x360 model laptop - screen does not rotate around to become a tablet. Do not try to flip the screen around.

$250 OBO. Pickup preferred.
Laptop has a number of cosmetic dings and scuffs, mostly on the bottom. One noticable dent in edge. There's a clean, square mark on the top deck where there was a sticker. Comes with power cable, which has some weird bites (?) taken out of it. Not sure what happened there. See timestamps for details.
I reset this laptop after I got it a few months ago and set it up with a local admin account, installed firefox and VLC media player, stripped out some of the bloatware, and let windows update install a bunch of little updates. Then I closed it and let it sit on my shelf. If you want, I'm happy to reset it again before shipping and you can walk through the Microsoft setup out of the box.
If you need a beater laptop you could beat someone to death with, and also has 16 gigs of ram and an Nvidia chip in it, this could just the thing for you. You could even game on it.
THE IPHONE
Timestamps HERE. I have no idea what to charge for this. 20 bucks?
LORE and SPECS

iCloud activation locked
iphone 6s, model A1688 👍
screen cracked and flaking a bit at upper left edge inside bezel
could be literally any storage size but knowing my brother it's probably not more than 64 GB and is almost certainly less.

Used to belong to my brother, who bought it secondhand and never bothered to get the apple id transferred to himself. Time passed, he forgot his password and tried resetting the phone and now it's bricked forever. Really sad stuff. Comes with a case I will throw in for free! Nasty damage to the charger port but still totally usable. Looks kind of badass honestly. See timestamps.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to ask any questions. PMs only please, no chats. local to 90815, willing to drive a couple miles to meet up. LMK.

submitted by rubyshade to hardwareswap [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:51 PrimaFate Words Cannot Describe How Frustrated I Am

In June of last year, I saw a Facebook post in a queer group about how a trans couple was homeless and needed a place to stay. My partner and I (both of us are trans and age 30) talked about it and invited them to live with us. We weren’t looking for roommates, just wanted to show some solidarity and help.
The first few weeks were fine as they were very shy and didn’t really want to talk. We understood that being houseless is traumatizing so we didn’t really want to push it. We did the chores and let them be.
Weeks turned into months and any attempt at direct communication was met with avoidance. They took hour long showers (there’s one bathroom) and brought things out from storage and instead of keeping it in their room, they piled most of it in the common area. We got assurances that they would move it but it still hasn’t happened. They also refused to clean up after themselves which is problematic but I’m in a wheelchair and doing most things is incredibly difficult and I get tired easily due to an immune condition so my partner, who is also disabled, ended up doing most of the chores.
Our main method of communication is Facebook Messenger. We finally got fed up and messaged them MULTIPLE times about dishes and tried to work with them. We tried to set up a system where one person rinsed and one person loaded so it wouldn’t be as difficult. Our language was things like “Hey, mind doing dishes today?” or “Please help out today.” We were very neutral and calm as both my partner and I have had extensive therapy due to severely traumatizing childhoods.
One of our agreements was that there would be no yelling. Our roommates kept smoking weed and raising voices at each other and then one week, it was constant yelling. I sent a very firm text about how they had violated our boundaries and the yelling needed to stop. We got no response. They just left us on read.
Things are coming to a head. Back in March, I became severely ill (went into respiratory failure) and ended up in the hospital for five days. The doctors determined that something in my current environment is triggering pulmonary fibrosis. It’s a specific disease and it is very deadly. I’ve had three doctors tell me I need to move and even have a letter stating this for my landlord (we’re on a month to month). I came home from the hospital and we told them that we were moving in June so that everyone had time to get their shit together. They were like “of course! Do what’s best for you!”
Now it’s June and they are having meltdowns, accusing us of “springing” this on them and telling us that they might unalive themselves if we leave and that we are “putting them in danger.” I told them, again, that I am seriously ill and must move and doctors told me to. I’m also moving closer to a better medical facility that will hopefully have answers. They just ignored it. Didn’t even address it. Just kept abusing us.
We’re leaving on our move date no matter what because staying here is literally killing me. I’m just so done and tired and I’m not looking forward to the next few weeks.
Thanks for reading. Sorry for the novel.
Also, my roommates smoke weed, which is fine. I do edibles for my chronic pain on occasion. But the issue is that they’re high whenever they’re awake and I mean really high. It makes communicating very difficult because nothing seems to register.

submitted by PrimaFate to roommateproblems [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:50 Dry_Ad1078 Results from first box

Here's the results from my first box of halves. I found (and am keeping) 1 40%er, 1 proof, 2 NIFCs, 3 "house" coins, 16 silver plated, a couple nice looking ones for my book. I found the proof on my very last roll which was fun. It's my first proof and first silver doing crh so I consider it a win!
I'm gonna keep the plated ones for a while at least, maybe get another book and try to complete the set.
I also took a couple pictures of my setup (while searching, so it's messy) in case anyone is curious.
Next box comes Wednesday. Happy hunting everyone!

submitted by Dry_Ad1078 to CRH [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:49 Choice_Equipment788 PC for games for a life-long Mac User. $2k or under if possible.

What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.

Gaming only. I’m not a super high end graphics pusher, but would like to run my games on something other than the lowest settings.
Play the new Diablo 4. Cities Skylines (would LOVE to be able to crank the settings here some), occasionally the new Battlefield, and various other much less graphics intense games.

What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?

Maximum is $2k but optimally somewhere in the $1500-1750 range (USD)

When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.

Even understanding that things advance quick, somewhere in the next 1-3 months.

What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc)

I have a decent monitor, keyboard and mouse. So only really need the box itself and power cable. I’ll handle speakers and stuff at a later date.

Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?

North Carolina USA. I think the closest micro center is ~200miles away. So don’t really have close access.

If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.

Amazon brand mouse and keyboard (I’m good with scraping the bottom of the barrel here for a while if it means allowing more budget for the actual PC). Dell 27” monitor (thunderbolt 2, DVI, and HDMI ports).

Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?

I’m not sure. If the performance gain is significant enough to justify the extra cost of cooling/over locking capable hardware, then yes.
I’m from a video production background, so gpu is my automatic thought, but I am not knowledgeable enough as to the benefits of overclocking cpu over gpu or cpu with gpu.

Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)

Definitely a SSD. Not going to be storing photos or videos here. So if it’s a PCI-e SSD of 512, that’s plenty. Otherwise a standard SATA SSD anything greater than 512.

Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?

No preference. It can be the ugliest hunk of metal and plastic in the world, but if it performs, I’m happy.

Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?

Probably? Do I need more than the free version? Lol

Extra info or particulars:

I have been a life-long Mac user. I still use it at work every day and for video production at home. But it’s just not cutting it for games (nor is any console gaming).
So that’s the background information that explains my general lack of knowledge or frame of reference in this area.
Be gentle

submitted by Choice_Equipment788 to buildapcforme [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:46 AutoModerator Here's To Watch The Little Mermaid Online For Free REDDiT

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Animated Film! Here are options for downloading or watching The Little Mermaid streaming the full movie online for free on 123movies & Reddit, including where to watch Disney's latest live-action adaptation movies at home. Is The Little Mermaid 2023 available to stream? Is watching The Little Mermaid on Peacock, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Netflix or Amazon Prime? Yes, we have found an authentic streaming option/service.
The new live-action 'The Little Mermaid' movie stars Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy. Make sure to keep on reading to learn where you can watch and stream it.
Folks, it's time to dive under the sea once again. Over the last few years, Disney has recreated their top animated musical films into live-action movies. The Little Mermaid is no different, and viewers can't wait to swim into theaters to catch a glimpse of how the movie will stand up against the original version.
Walt Disney Studios has established a remarkable trend of making live-action remakes of its classic stories. One after the other, all the fairytales of the past era are being brought to life by the studio in an attempt to tell the magical stories in a new light of living characters. With the live-action Peter Pan & Wendy due out in April, Disney will continue their string of live-action remakes a month later with The Little Mermaid.
Get ready to go "under the sea!" The latest of Disney's hugely successful line of live-action remakes, Ariel (Halle Bailey) is set to return to theaters for the first time in almost thirty-five years with The Little Mermaid (2023). The Walt Disney Company once again invites audiences to travel under the sea to see Princess Ariel's story unfold like never before. Featuring direction from veteran musical filmmaker Rob Marshall and other roles inhabited by major Hollywood stars like Melissa McCarthy as Ursula the Sea Witch and Javier Bardem as King Triton, the film is bound to be a bona fide hit at the box office.
Though the upcoming and highly anticipated film will have stiff competition against two stand-up comedians on the weekend it releases, The Little Mermaid is destined to show that life is better down where it's wetter under the sea this Summer movie season. To find showtimes and streaming information on Disney's latest big-budget reimagining of an animated classic, here is where you can watch The Little Mermaid.
Actress Halle Bailey as Ariel, the iconic mermaid princess who longs to be part of the the mysteriously world housed above the ocean floor. When she saves the handsome Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) from a shipwreck, she makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) in order to gain human legs and go on land to impress him. But there's one catch to the transaction: Ariel must trade her voice in order for her to try and see the things she's after. But as fans of the original 1989 film know, this comes with a series of consequences that threaten both her existence and the lives of those she loves.
Before we ask if you're interested in seeing this, we know you are. But like us, you're probably wondering how to watch and stream The Little Mermaid online. Luckily, we have some clues and it's likely to land on a major streaming site very soon. So climb aboard, because here's where to watch and stream The Little Mermaid online.

What Is the Release Date for The Little Mermaid?

Ariel's quest to go from a mermaid into a human begins anew when The Little Mermaid premieres this Memorial Day Weekend on Friday, May 26th, 2023. The film will be going up against not one, but two stand-up comedians and their films that weekend, with Sebastian Maniscalco's About My Father and Bert Kreischer's The Machine premiering on the same day. That said, The Little Mermaid will almost certainly be the choice for younger audiences and families.
While some Disney films are heading straight to Disney+, The Little Mermaid will first be shown exclusively in theaters.

Where To Watch The Little Mermaid Online:

As of now, the only way to watch Fast X is to head out to a movie theater when it premieres on May 26, 2023. You can find a local showing on Fandango.
Watch Now: The Little Mermaid (2023) Movie Online Free
Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait for it to become available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Amazon, Vudu, YouTube or Apple, or become available to stream on Disney+.

How to Watch The Little Mermaid

At the moment, you can watch The Little Mermaid at your local theater. But like most movies these days, it should hit a streaming website in the near future.
Like its predecessor, The Little Mermaid is a flick produced by multimedia conglomerate Disney. What's more, the production studio owns a number of other famous franchises, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. Titles made under these umbrellas have both hit Disney+ sometime after arriving at the box office. Fans may also know the original Little Mermaid is currently available to stream on the site as well. So, if the 2023 version follows the same pattern, folks will likely get to see The Little Mermaid on Disney+ later this year too.
As for an exact release date for The Little Mermaid, that's more complicated. Most movies produced by Disney often go to its streamer site within three months after debuting in theaters, like the most recent Marvel film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. If this is the case for The Little Mermaid, it will probably drop in late August 2023 or sometime near Labor Day in early September.
When the time comes for The Little Mermaid to splash onto Disney+ though, make sure you're all prepared to watch it. If you don't have access yet, you can opt into a 30-day free trial before choosing a plan that start at $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. After your account is all set, click on the title page on Disney+'s official website or the Disney+ app.
As you wait for The Little Mermaid to hit the streamer, why don't you watch the animated version and its sequel The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea? Or if you want to immerse yourself in another live-action version, click on the 2019 ABC TV special The Little Mermaid Live!. Enjoy!

Will The Little Mermaid Be in Theaters or on Streaming?

Unlike several of Disney's other live-action remakes such as Pinocchio and Peter Pan & Wendy, The Little Mermaid will be exclusively in movie theaters first with tickets available for pre-sale now.
After The Little Mermaid has completed its exclusive theatrical run, the film will be released on the Disney+ streaming service. Based on Disney's past release models, the film won't be made available to stream before 45 to 90 days after its theatrical release.

When will The Little Mermaid be streaming on Disney+?

The Little Mermaid Disney+ premiere date is tentatively estimated to be August 30, 2023.
While no official Little Mermaid streaming date has been confirmed by Disney, most of its major movie releases drop on Disney+ following a minimum 90-day period, and typically premiere on the platform on Wednesdays, making Wednesday, August 30 the most likely date for Disney’s The Little Mermaid live-action streaming release.

Will The Little Mermaid Be Streaming On Disney+?

The 2023 version of The Little Mermaid will only be in theaters initially. After The Little Mermaid has completed its exclusive theatrical run, it is likely to stream on Disney Plus. You can also watch the animated version of Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale of Ariel on Disney Plus now.
While you will only be able to catch the new "The Little Mermaid" in theaters starting next Friday, you can still sign up for Disney+ now to refresh yourself on the characters, song, plot and magical fun from the highly anticipated film. The 1989 version of the movie was a catalyst for Disney's animation renaissance throughout the '90s and it still holds up today.
An ad-supported Disney+ subscription starts at $8 per month, but you can get an ad-free access to the service for $11 monthly or bundle the Disney streaming service with Hulu and ESPN+ starting at $13 per month. Disney+ boasts a huge collection of movies and television series, including Marvel and Star Wars content. If you add in Hulu and ESPN, you have nearly unlimited entertainment at your fingertips.

Is The Little Mermaid streaming on Netflix?

No, The Little Mermaid will not be on Netflix — at least not any time soon. In the meantime, you’ll just have to head out to a movie theater or wait for it to become available to stream on Disney+.

Will The Little Mermaid Be On HBO Max?

No, The Little Mermaid will not be on HBO Max since it’s not a Universal Pictures movie. Last year, the company released its films in theaters and on the streamer on the same day. However, they now allow a 45-day window between the theatrical release and the streaming release.

Is The Little Mermaid Available On Hulu?

Viewers are saying that they want to view the new animation movie The Little Mermaid on Hulu. Unfortunately, this is not possible since Hulu currently does not offer any of the free episodes of this series streaming at this time. It will be exclusive to the MTV channel, which you get by subscribing to cable or satellite TV services. You will not be able to watch it on Hulu or any other free streaming service.

How to Watch The Little Mermaid Online For Free?'

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There are a few ways to watch The Little Mermaid online in the U.S. You can use a streaming service such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. You can also rent or buy the movie on iTunes or Google Play. You can also watch it on-demand or on a streaming app available on your TV or streaming device if you have cable.

The Little Mermaid Cast and Characters

The Little Mermaid was written by David Magee and directed by Rob Marshall. It stars the following actors:

Halle Bailey as Ariel
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
Javier Bardem as King Triton
Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina
Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric
Daveed Diggs as Sebastian
Awkwafina as Scuttle
Jacob Tremblay as Flounder
Art Malik as Sir Grimsby

What is The Little Mermaid About?

The official synopsis for The Little Mermaid by Walt Disney Studios read:
“The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
There is not much mystery in The Little Mermaid's plot. As seen in Disney's many other live-action remakes, it is anticipated that the film's plot will largely stick to the original. With the well-known song "Part of Your World," in which Ariel sings about her wish to be a part of the world beyond the water, i.e., the human realm, the teaser already alluded to Ariel's fascination with the human world. Fans will get to see Ariel and Prince Eric's romance as they deal with the challenges posed by their differences.

submitted by AutoModerator to LittleMermaidhdfre [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:46 Eldritch_Flame [PF2E][FoundryVTT][Wednesday][Saturday][CST-12:30PM][PAID] -- Experienced GM seeking both new and experienced players! Forming two groups for personalized homebrew setting/campaigns! -- [3-week trial period at (5$) per session. After that it's just (10$)!][2/10 slots open]

🌍✨Are you looking for a Collective Storytelling game using dice? What about a living semi-sandbox world that reacts to the choices and backgrounds of not only you but the group as a whole? Well than apply here: https://forms.gle/DTQibvQMgbNa37NcA.✨🌍
Buuut...if you wanna be sold on it a bit more, keep reading.
Come join me in crafting an incredible adventure where possibilities are infinite with each roll of the dice. As Game Master, I'll personalize the world according to your group's preferences and decisions. Together, you will have to figure out how to move forward through difficult choices and potentially change the setting. There will also be plenty of fun opportunities - combat, puzzles, or just lighthearted banter. Don't worry if you're new - I'm happy to teach and guide you! Come with an adventurous spirit and open mind ready to explore a living world that will treat you like a part of it. So what are you waiting for? Let's go on an adventure!

🚩 ((Basic questions and answers)) 🚩
~(what do you mean by personalized?)🎨
During session zero (and to a lesser extent throughout the whole game) I will be discussing with all the players in both groups what sort of campaign/setting that they want to play/explore in. As well as the sort of themes and goals they would enjoy personally as a player.
There will be a Google Form at the bottom of this thing (and at the top) that will have just under a dozen questions that will allow me to match players together that have compatible aspirations and expectations for the game.
~(5$ 3-week trial? Why charge at all?) 🤔
Fair question with two answers. One, people who are willing to jump over even a small monetary hurdle are way less likely to not show up to games regularly or be intentionally disruptive.
Two, it incentivizes me to be best I can be, as I can as well as enabling me to more easily afford things like Dungeondraft or Inkarnate to create custom maps or battles for you guys! Also I kinda need more food money lol.
~(What can I expect when we start?)👀
Well of course there is the aforementioned session zero will be the first order on the docket. Our starting point will be the Pathfinder 2E's Beginner Box. I find the Beginner Box to be a genuinely good way to introduce players to both PF2E and FoundryVTT so im gonna use it as a sorta jumping off point for the homebrew. (it also gives me time to work on the homebrew content since it will be customized to your group specifically)
🚩 ((Basic requirements and social expectations)) 🚩

Discord will be required for voice chat, and yes voice chat is required.💭
FoundryVTT is the program we will be using as the games interface. Don't worry if your new to it, we'll figure it out together!🐉
-Paypal is the payment method 💰.
-Be kind to your fellow players and me! No bigotry, racism, ect, ect...😱
-100% LGBT friendly!🏳‍🌈
-Please remember your fellow players are people too. So don't be disruptive or intentionally mean to another player or I will drop you as a player. 💕

🚩 ((Basic campaign/character info)) 🚩

Milestone leveling system! (no need to worry about min-maxing exp. Allow for more freeform play where exploration and roleplay can be just as valuable to the group as combat.) ⚔
We will be using standard Pathfinder gods/monsters/magic (aka Golarion). But my custom world will have minor tweaks to races/basic lore depending on what players are wanting from the campaign/themes of the setting.🌍
Characters/backgrounds and the overall ideas and themes of the desired feel for the campaign/setting will be discussed as a group during session zero as well as some basic questions in the google form below! 👁
Other addons like Free Archetype may be discussed at the end of the beginners box if players are interested!🐱‍🏍

submitted by Eldritch_Flame to lfgpremium [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:44 AutoModerator Here's Where To Watch The Little Mermaid Online For Free Streaming On REDDiT

‘The Little Mermaid’ is finally here. Find out how to watch Disney's latest live-action adaptation animated film The Little Mermaid online for free.

Watch Now: The Little Mermaid 2023 Movie Online Free

What Is the Release Date for The Little Mermaid?

Where To Watch The Little Mermaid Online:

How to Watch The Little Mermaid

Will The Little Mermaid Be in Theaters or on Streaming?

When will The Little Mermaid be streaming on Disney+?

Will The Little Mermaid Be Streaming On Disney+?

Is The Little Mermaid streaming on Netflix?

Will The Little Mermaid Be On HBO Max?

Is The Little Mermaid Available On Hulu?

How to Watch The Little Mermaid Online For Free?'

The Little Mermaid Cast and Characters

The Little Mermaid was written by David Magee and directed by Rob Marshall. It stars the following actors:

Halle Bailey as Ariel
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
Javier Bardem as King Triton
Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina
Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric
Daveed Diggs as Sebastian
Awkwafina as Scuttle
Jacob Tremblay as Flounder
Art Malik as Sir Grimsby

What is The Little Mermaid About?

submitted by AutoModerator to LittleMermaidhdfre [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:44 NamelessNanashi [The Gods of Dragons: Beginning] Ch 15 - Burn Baby Burn

--- Table of Contents ---
Autumn 4986, 16 Aoimoth
Shon and Nangran hobbled their horses at the base of a steep hill deep in the woods north of Hamerfoss. They'd left at fourth bell, before any of the other Squires had woken for their morning run, and it had still taken them hours of riding through narrow trails to reach this place. At least they hadn't run into any monsters. The snow that had dusted the landscape during the night lay thick here, crunching underfoot and occasionally flopping noisily to either side as it fell from the tall evergreen branches.
Shon adjusted the strap of his sword across his chest and reached his left hand back to brush shaking fingers over its hilt. He'd been glad when the Paladins insisted he take it with him. To them, it marked Shon as a representative of Hengist and the Temple. To Shon, it was a sign of his hard work and resolve. Having it was a comfort.
Nangran started up the hill, and Shon hurried to follow. The smith hadn’t spoken a word since they set out, not even to try and ease Shon’s anxiety, for which Shon was grateful. Master Daunas had tried to sound confident as Shon saddled his borrowed horse, and The Major General had offered him encouragement as they mounted. Neither realized how much that just drove home the desperation of the situation in Shon’s mind.
The smith pulled his heavy cloak tighter, and Shon looked away. He hadn’t bothered to wear his cloak. He'd never really felt chilled in the winter like others seemed to. Now that he knew why, he wished he had. Cold continued to swirl around him, enhanced by his worries. If he could just block those emotions, the power would never have been a problem to begin with.
The trees thinned the higher they climbed, disappearing almost entirely as they crested the top of the hill. The clearing looked over the treetops, offering an unimpeded view of the horizon. Forest all around, with flatland to the south and rocky mountain peaks to the north. Only a handful of small trees grew in the clearing, and in the middle stood a little ramshackle hut only slightly larger than an outhouse.
Nangran threw his arm out, stopping Shon from walking past him, "Don't touch anything. And don't be surprised if he says no right off."
Shon nodded, trying to swallow down his fear so it wouldn't be seen in his eyes. Dropping his hand, Nangran started forward again, finishing, "Be honest, but not insulting." The instructions, -or perhaps advice?- seemed like common courtesy, which made Shon wonder why quiet Nangran had bothered to say anything.
As they drew closer to the little shack, Shon could make out a sign on the door. He squinted to read it and had just made out 'No Soliciting' when the door swung open, banging against the wall and sending birds into flight. An old man, so thin he looked like a skeleton with yellow skin pulled tight across its bones, stormed out. Wearing nothing but a loincloth, he was shaking a thick stick at them that glinted with red rubies in the low autumn light.
"I already paid my dues for this decade! So you can take your request and shove it-" Shon’s hand instinctively reached for his sword, but Nangran just crossed his arms over his barrel chest. The old -virtually naked- man stopped yelling mid-rant and lifted one shriveled arm to shade his eyes as he squinted at them, "Eh? Flintchest, what’re you doing way out here with a blasted mage in tow?"
Rather than answer, Nangran started forward again, he didn't much care for talking, let alone shouting. Looking from Nangran to the loincloth man, Shon slowly lowered his arm, but still took position to the left and just behind the Smith as they approached the crazy man with the glittering club.
"No mage." Nangran said as he came right up to the strange old man, "Squire." he glanced over his shoulder at Shon and finished, "Sorcerer."
The old man spat on the ground and moved his squint to Shon. Running his eyes from the top of his black head to the tip of his polished boots and back, exaggerating the movement before he stopped at the Squire’s cold blue eyes.
He spat again, then barked "Where's your familiar?" scanning first the ground at Shon's feet then the sky above his head.
Shon blinked at him, furrowing his brow in confusion at the question. The mage snapped his fingers impatiently, "Your familiar! All Sorcerers have a familiar."
Nangran came to his rescue, "Just woke last night," he said shortly.
The mage spat again but didn't argue, "Well, come in then." Shon looked sideways at Nangran, but the Smith had already begun following the skinny old man into the shack. Shon hurried to catch up.
Inside, Shon's eyes were assaulted with a sparkling rainbow of colors. The room they'd entered was considerably larger than the outside would suggest, with plush carpet and a stuffed high-back armchair in front of a blazing fire in the opposite wall. Shelves full of exotic plants, glowing glass jars, and glittering stones filled every available space, reflecting off one another and setting streaks of light to dance on the floor and walls like sun rays through crystal.
There was too much to take in, so Shon focused on their host. The old man was slipping into a thick robe of deep purple velvet. He'd hung the club on the wall beside the door, which looked just as decrepit on this side as it had on the outside.
"Make a habit of greeting visitors half-naked and swinging an old fireball wand?" Nangran asked as he slipped out of his cloak.
"Keeps the conversations short." the old man replied tersely, tying his belt and turning to his guests. With boney knuckles on boney hips and glare firmly planted on his wrinkled face, he snapped, "Don't bother getting comfortable, Flintchest; you'll be leaving soon enough."
The Smith ignored him, hanging his cloak on the hook that had presumably held the mage's robe. "Got a favor to ask," he said, but the old man was already shaking his head,
"More like a favor to cash in. That's the only reason you're in here and not smoking in a hole outside."
Nangran ignored the threat and motioned from Shon to the old man and back. "Archmage Ivelm." The mage looked Shon up and down again as Nangran made the introductions, “Squire Shon.”
"Not much longer, I'd say." Ivelm said to Nangran as he finished his second examination, "It's to the Guild with this one. Too much magic." he turned his head and spat in a brass can by the door. It rang out with a loud ‘ting!' and Ivelm sniffed, looking down at Nangran again, "What do you want, Flintchest?"
"Need a seal. So the boy doesn't freeze Hamerfoss more than it already is." the smith crossed his arms, watching the mage and somehow still seeming completely at ease.
"Eh?!" Ivelm exclaimed, leaning far forward. Shon had to try hard not to crinkle his nose as the old man brought his face close enough that Shon could smell Ivelm's breath. Garlic, the mage ate a lot of garlic…
"So… you don't want to be a mage, do you?" he demanded, glaring down his nose at him. Shon shook his head and would have answered with a 'no ser.' except the mage continued, "Rather swing around some hunk of metal like a brute?"
Shon blinked stupidly, and Nangran cleared his throat, "Watch what you say about my swords, old man."
Ivelm ignored the smith as soundly as Nangran had ignored the Archmage, and continued to Shon, "The powers of the universe are at your fingertips. Blood blessed with the strength of the elements, and you wanna throw it all away," he threw his arms into the air, still uncomfortably close, "And for what? Some illusion of an honorable death by the sword?"
Shon didn't know what to say. He looked past the affronted mage's face, only an inch from his own, to Nangran. But the smith gave no sign he was going to help. Shon’s future depended on convincing this strange old man, this Archmage, to help…
Shon wasn't the type to try and convince anyone of anything, but the least he could do was explain himself. Shon stepped back from the mage to address him from a more comfortable distance. "I chose to dedicate my life to perfecting my art, and my art is martial combat," he said. Ivelm wrinkled his nose, his mouth twisting as if he were going to spit again, but Shon continued, "magic would be better served in the hands of someone who wants it badly enough to work for it. Like I've worked for my martial skills."
Ivelm leaned away from Shon, his eyebrows lifted into his frizzled gray hair. Shon looked to Nangran, hoping for some sign that this was a good response. The smith smiled from behind the mage.
"Soooo…" Ivelm drew the word out, "You think only those who dedicate themselves to strict study and practice should wield the power of the universe?" he leaned forward again, turning his head and fixing one eye on Shon like a bird. As if trying to catch him in a lie.
Shon nodded, confused, then asked, "Isn't that what it takes to effectively wield magic? Focused study?"
Ivelm didn't answer the question, instead turning his face to examine Shon with the other eye, scanning him up and down yet again. The old man had looked him up and down so much Shon wouldn't be surprised if the next question were about his hair or boots.
But Ivelm didn't ask another question. Instead, he stood straight and spat into the brass can with another ringing 'ting!' "I like this one," he said, turning his back on Shon and facing Nangran, "But it's too much." he shook his head, lifting his hands in helpless surrender, "Too much power, and ice at that. Stubborn element that one. And it's so finicky to block just elemental magic..."
Ivelm continued talking but Shon heard very little of it. A hole had opened in his gut, and it felt like his heart was racing his stomach to fall into it. But Nangran just rolled his eyes at the mage, interrupting, "Used to be the name in new magic items... made shackles to hold Archmages." he squinted at Ivelm, who had frozen mid-head shake, "Must've gotten rusty out…"
Ivelm snapped his fingers under the Smith's nose to stop him talking, "The mind does not rust, Flintchest!" he huffed, one bare foot tapping under his robe, "Not like your swords and shriveling muscles." Nangran just stared stubbornly, his thick, muscled arms still crossed over his broad chest.
The mage continued to tap his foot, his nose in the air. But as the silence stretched, Ivelm looked down at the smith, who continued to say nothing. The silent battle of wills ended when Ivelm threw his arms up in disgust and shook a finger under Nangran's nose, nearly hitting it, declaring, "I'll show you. I'll make a gem especially for this lad, and you'll see the mind only continues to grow sharper!"
He spun on his heel back to Shon, who had just made out the smith's returned smile from behind the mage when the old man snapped his fingers in Shon's face, making him jump. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come here so I can take some measurements!" Ivelm swung around again and marched across the room to a large workbench with plants and gems scattered across it. Shon scrambled after him, praying his thanks to Hengist and suddenly feeling light enough to float. His anxieties dropping away and melting like snow in summer.
***
It was already noon, and no one had come to see Her. She jumped up to grab the bars of Her window, pulling Herself up to peak out but seeing nothing but new snow and tree trunks. She was full to bursting with nervous energy, amplifying every sound and sensation. Footsteps sounded outside Her door, and She dropped from the window, sprinting across the room and resting Her ear on the wood.
“Ran, recheck the lab. Brom, with me.” Archmage Morndancer spoke with his strange alternation between draconic and common as he passed Her door without stopping. She could easily make out the swish of their robes on the stone hall leading away. Three people, Brom, Ran, and Archmage Morndancer. And yet the scurrying of too many feet to be only the two apprentices and Archmage Shaloon, sounded from the floor above. There were strangers in her tower again. Many strangers. Something was happening, something big…
She ran to Her window again, just for something to do, seeking some way to burn off some of the anxiety of not knowing what was going on around her.
A roar from down the hall, a roar of pain, sent ice washing through her veins. She slammed into the door at full speed. Pounding on the wood, She called out, “Brom?! Ran?!” Nothing. Then a yip cut short, followed by barking and yowling.
She shook the handle with both hands, rattling the door on its hinges, “BROM! RAN!” Something was happening to Her treasures, something terrible… The door handle began to glow, the metal warping and sagging as it melted. The knowledge that She would be in more trouble than She had ever been in before was nothing compared to Her terror. She wrenched the handle back with all Her might, splashing molten metal across Her bed, lighting fires that flared in her panic, and sending smoke to curl up to the ceiling.
She didn’t care. She shouldered the door open and ran.
“Red?!” She passed the first open door but couldn’t stop as Ran called out to Her. Reaching Her treasures' room, She tried to stop but slipped, slamming into the ground with a sticky splash. A final whining bark started a buzzing in Her ears as She stared, transfixed, at Her hands. They were painted red. Warm and sticky. The overpowering stench of iron nearly made Her gag as She looked up to see Morndancer toss aside a glittering golden wolf pup, the body flopping limply over the corpse of its mother and siblings.
Her world went red.
***
The last sample was taken care of, but something roared with enough ferocity to shatter glass.
Morndancer's head snapped around in time for him to fall back, shielding his face with his hands as the Firewyrm exploded. White-hot fire engulfed Her and spread out to the stone floor and walls. His robes began to smoke, the new fire protection spells woven into them being overpowered by the sheer ferocity of the blaze.
Brom had no such spells, and he had only managed a single step towards the girl before he fell to the ground, writhing for only a moment before lying still. The Archmage heard Ran scream from the hall before the journeyman stumbled past the door, flailing wildly. Barely discernible as human inside the flames.
The Firewyrm moved towards him, stepping through Brom’s head, turned to ash, and blown up to dance in the air on the same heatwaves causing the girl's hair to wave wildly about Her. She didn't seem to notice, Her face was expressionless and her eyes glowed as red as the scales across Her cheek. Morndancer tried to snap his fingers, but the golden collar around Her neck melted, Her clothes burning off and leaving Her naked and terrible in the flames.
His robe was burning now, and only the pain of that could pull his eyes from the Firewyrm as he pointlessly tried to beat the fires off. He fell back, hitting the wall, which drooped, sagging and dripping molten stone onto his head and face. Then he fell further back, into a gate that opened behind him.
Shaloon pulled him through the portal and into the library three stories up. The Firewyrm roared again and the tower walls shook with the force of it. The gate closed, but Morndancer continued to burn. He could hear screaming. Was it him? Was he screaming? Fire burst up the spiral stairs in the middle of the room, and apprentices, both their own and many sent from the central and western Talon, scrambled about in a panic, some even leaping from the windows.
Shaloon cursed, holding out her hand and summoning her sword again. She had to draw the circle five times before a second gate finally formed, and she dove through it, pulling Morndancer along with her as it quickly closed. An apprentice reached through, and his arm fell at Morndancer’s feet, miles away in the sitting room of his manor back in Smildna.
He laughed. Shaloon slapped him, and he laughed. Ronni, his daughter, burst through the door, her own daughter, only a year old, perched on her hip, and still, he laughed. “What’s wrong?! What happened to him?!” he barely registered his daughter's words and continued to laugh, rolling around on the ground in mirthful madness.
“The Firewyrm She…” Shaloon started, but Morndancer yelled over her in draconic,
“She is true! She is pure! She is rage! The children will come and raise the grandchildren! We have only to await the coming of those Chosen!” the room faded around him, becoming washed out and gray then finally black as he continued to laugh and shout, “They take those who slew them and use them to raise themselves anew…”
He couldn’t feel his burns or the hands trying to settle him. He saw only darkness and stars. And the eyes of his Master boring into his soul from the outer planes.
***
Shon couldn't remember ever feeling so drained in his life. He'd been tired before, exhausted even, but it had never felt quite like this. The eccentric Archmage Ivelm had ordered him to 'empty his energy' into stone after stone. Measuring the weight, color, and temperature of each. Making notes in chalk directly on his table and talking to himself. Shon was shocked the first time he saw the smooth rock handed to him change from a translucent white to an onyx as black as his hair, but by the time they'd gone through the twentieth stone, Shon had decided to stop counting.
Ivelm, however, seemed to get more and more excited with each one. Giving Shon reason to suspect the mage may be taking the energy for himself. After what felt like hours, Ivelm finally stoppered the potion he'd mixed with the most recent jewel, glowing a soft pale blue, and stepped back from the workbench, bony hands on bony hips.
"It can be done." Ivelm swiveled to face Nangran, "He's strong, I don’t know how he managed not to manifest until now, but it's all focused in one elemental direction." he rubbed his chin and looked at the ceiling, completely ignoring Shon's arched eyebrow. "It has a bit of divine flavor as well. But I suppose that shouldn't be surprising for a training Paladin." The mage stopped musing and glared down his nose at Nangran, who had made himself comfortable in the oversized wingback chair by the fire, "It will have to be a lot bigger than a piece of jewelry would allow."
The smith just hummed and sipped at his mug. When had he gotten a mug? Shon looked from one old man to the other. It was apparent Ivelm wanted Nangran to ask him for details, but the ever stoic smith said nothing.
Shon was tired. His limbs felt heavy, and the weight of his simple uniform felt more like platemail. He was just about to ask what the Archmage meant, to hurry them along, when Ivelm threw his hands in the air and said, "You'll need to find somewhere to put it. I would recommend that." he pointed at the hilt of Shon's sword over his shoulder, continuing, "If the lad is insisting on swinging a metal stick around instead of harnessing the ultimate powers of the universe then that same stick might as well sap the power literally as well as figuratively." Shon arched an incredulous eyebrow but Ivelm wasn't paying attention, finishing, "I can get it down to about an inch and a half orb. At the smallest. If you want something different, say so now."
Nangran set his mug on the ground and stood with a grunt and a groan. Shon just wanted to go home and sleep for a week, so when the smith reached for the hilt of his sword for a closer look Shon hardly noticed, until the squat smith jerked it down to eye level. Shon swung his arms like a drowning man and stepped wide to prevent himself from falling over.
"Quit wigglin'," Nangran grumbled, studying the sword's pommel with a professional eye. "One and a half'll do, preferably in a tear…"
The mage snorted and continued to ignore the struggling half crouched Shon, his voice dripping sarcasm as he addressed the smith, "Shall I wrap it in silk for you as well?"
"Na." Nangran let go of the sword, and Shon stood straight, lifting his leg to shake out the knee. "Drop it off when you’re done." the Mage snorted again but didn't counter.
None of them were interested in extending the visit, so Nangran grabbed his heavy cloak and shrugged it on while Shon waited by the door. "It will be at least a fortnight," Ivelm called from his position by the workbench, not about to walk them out.
Nangran grunted his confirmation and opened the battered and decrepit door, letting the wind and early autumn snow blow in on their way out. Shon followed numbly, his eyes unfocused as he walked, and ran right into the much shorter man. Nangran hardly moved as Shon bounced off of him. He was squinting into the distance, one large hand shading his eyes. Shon stared at Nangran for a moment before following the direction of his gaze over the tree line.
Smoke. A LOT of smoke. The black clouds billowed violently into the sky, occasionally lit from below by sparks shot high into the air.
"Elm!" Nangran shouted. Shon had never heard the man call so loudly. The Archmage must have also been shocked because the door to his hut swung open and he stuck his head out to look to either side, eyes wide.
"Flintchest, what?" but he soon saw what, "But, that's the old chemist's tower… What?" he stood in shocked confusion for a heartbeat before turning back into the hut. Shon looked from the shack to Nangran, but before he could say anything, the mage was back, struggling with two long rods, one blue with what looked like waves painted all around, the other black and studded with diamonds.
"Don't just stand there!" Ivelm snapped at the two as he finally managed to slip the blue rod into a sheath at his side. He then pointed the diamond rod at the space between two close-growing trees. Shon heard him say something unintelligible, and one of the diamonds shot out of the tip of the rod to hover between the trees before expanding into a portal.
Beyond the magical gate, Shon could hear the fire roar. It sounded how he imagined the burning hells might sound, but as he followed the two men through, he realized his imagination was tame by comparison.
The smell of burning flesh and hair choked him as they stepped clear of the gate's magic. The heat smashed into them like a wall, and all three brought their arms up to shield their faces. Around them were the charred remains of what looked like humans, their faces buried in the mud as if they'd been trying to run from the blaze. Shon had to swallow the bile that rose in his throat and focused instead on the fire Ivelm had said was a tower.
It was completely engulfed in bright flames of all colors. Squinting through the light, he could see the stone walls melting like wax. The arch of the doorway sagged in the middle, and Shon's eyes went wide. Someone was in there.
He would've had to shout over the roar of the flames, but it didn’t matter; Ivelm was already raising the blue wand, jerking his fingers in strange ways and mouthing words impossible to hear. Water shot out the tip of the wand with the force of a ballista and hissed against the glowing stones.
It wasn't possible. It must be a trick of the flickering flames. But the figure turned its face to them, long hair whipping about as it took steps in their direction.
"Don't just stand there, boy!" Ivelm screamed. "They must have a fire-resist spell; those things don't last forever!"
Nangran grabbed Shon’s upper arm, pulling him a step closer to the fire and down so he could shout in his ear, "Freeze a path."
Shon swallowed. He was so tired, literally drained. He didn't know what to do or how to do it. But the figure in the fire reached out to them only to pull away from a drop of molten rock. Shon fell to his knees, placing his hands on the ground and pleading silently to Hengist. He didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to control the power. He tried picturing a path of snow between himself and the tower base, concentrating on it until the mental image overlaid the real world, as he did when imagining phantom fighters during practice.
Ice snaked its way from Shon's fingers towards the burning tower along his mental path, powered by the fear that he wouldn't be fast enough to save the person inside. The water from Ivelm's wand helped carve the way, and Shon grunted physically as he struggled to push mentally. His breathing came heavy and ragged. He could feel the fire melting the edges of the ice as if it were a part of him. Still, he fought back and forced it to continue to form into solid sheets moving closer and closer to the figure still trapped in the tower.
Wherever the ice formed solid, it stayed. The fire drawing back from it until, finally, it reached the doorway. He urged the ice to climb up the doorframe, to hold it in place and keep it from falling, from moving at all.
Shon was seeing double. He struggled to focus on the figure and flinched as they stepped onto the frozen path. The ice hissed and melted under their bare unsteady feet, he could feel it... feel them, their heat, on his ice.
It was a young woman. Or an older girl. She was naked; her clothes burned away by the fire. Her long hair was being blown forward by the heat of the burning tower, obscuring her face. As she moved closer, Shon could make out strange red stripes snaking around her body, standing in stark relief against her pale skin.
Ivelm stepped in front of him then, throwing Nangran's cloak around her shoulders as she crumpled to the ground. Nangran himself knelt beside Shon, resting one massive hand on the Squire's back. "You can stop, lad…" his voice trailed off, and Shon felt an emptiness open in his chest. No one could have survived that, not if they hadn't already made it to the entrance like the girl. As if to punctuate the thought, Shon managed to focus his eyes only to see the tower's entrance wall fold and collapse in on itself, the stones flowing like soft wax.
--- Table of Contents ---
Sorry for the double post today. I wanted to keep Ch 14 & 15 together.
Thanks for making it this far, you are the real MVP

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2023.06.03 19:43 D_SLB_PT GF F25 broke up with me M25 out of nowhere and I want to understand why.

Hi everyone.
First of all, I have a lot to write. It will be a long one and I'm sorry for that. Nonetheless, I hope you read it as I would really appreciate other opinions.
Since we broke, I have been thinking about it nonstop. Not necessarily about her but about how it ended, trying to understand what led to her wanting to give up on us. To be fair, now that I can remove myself from the situation, a lot of things come up to my head but, because she never expressed some of them, I'm still unsure about what was/were the problems.
For context, we met 6 months ago and been talking since then. I asked her to be my girlfriend 3 months after.
In the beginning stages, she was a lot more interested than me. I was challenging because, honestly, I wasn't really interested in meeting someone and was busy with work and surrounded with a great group of friends that were with me all the time.
I eventually gave "us" a chance. Everything was perfect, honestly. We both work but we managed to make time to be with each other and spend the nights together - 3 times during the week and weekends. This started happening after 2 weeks (or so) of us starting talking and least for about 2 months. Looking back, it was extremely crazy how fast we were going but it felt very nice. Please keep in mind that she was the one always coming over and, most of the time, was asking to come over.
I only asked her to be my girlfriend because everything was going perfectly. Everything was aligning and I actually saw wife potential in her. So, after 3 months of a great nonofficial relationship, I asked her and she accepted it. Funny enough, on the following week, I noticed some changes. The constant texting that we had became slower. She started to take hours to reply and the conversation wasn't flowing how it was before, it seemed forced. For a week I gave back the same energy. After a week I decided to have a talk with her and asked her if my request freaked her out. She said that it didn't, everything was good, she was happy being my girlfriend, but she was busy and that some times she just doesn't have it in her to constantly be texting. Even though it never happened before, I saw it as valid. She said she understood my point and that she was going to do better. It did get better for a week or two but, eventually, went back to the same, if not worst. Once again, I called her out and she said that us being so attached messed with her life. Her siblings, who are also her roommates and best friends, were calling her out for never being home, and she wasn't seeing her family as much as before. Totally reasonable, she proposed that we should start seeing each other during the weekend and one/two times during the week. I completely understood her reasons as they very reasonable. It got better and it worked for a while. However, it started to get worse and worse and I got tired. I called her out and told her that if this was her definition of relationship, I wasn't interested. We had a deep conversation and we solved it.
She did community college, finished with a 4.0 GPA. However, after those two years, decided to take a break and work. She started working and has been working ever since. When still getting to know each other, she always mentioned that she needed and wanted to go back to university to finish it and get her degree. So, I started pushing her as the new school year is coming up. She appreciated the help and we agreed that we would both do that, as I also need to go to university to maintain my US visa. We were pushing each other but she started having doubts. She was no longer so sure if she wanted to go back to studying. Additionally, she hated her job, rightfully so. Her paying is unbelievably low, the job isn't what she wants and it's not enjoyable. However, it is a very nondemanding job and she is very comfortable (airpods in all day, watching Netflix, while performing very simple tasks with friendly people). Alongside university, she always expressed her desire to get a better job. As I pushed her to start applying in order to do and be better, she started second guessing it because she is comfortable where she is. I really disliked the indecisiveness and had a serious conversation with her about what she actually wanted. This conversation was one of the deepest conversations of my life.
In this conversation, she broke down to tears. She said that she feels like a loser because a) she is 25 and has yet to get her degree, b) she shares a house with her siblings, all younger than her, and she is the one making (considerably) less money, c) has a bad job, with no career progression possibilities. She recognizes all of this and says that she knows she can change all of it but that she has no ambitions, no goals, no motivation to do anything. This really caught be of guard as she always convinced me that she was going to do what she told me she wanted. Even though I realized right away that those were HUGE red flags, as well very unattractive, I believe that they could quickly disappear if I became someone who motivated her. In that conversation, I told her that we were in a relationship and that we are supposed to help and push each other out, to which she initially contested because she always refused help and always claimed that relying on someone else was one of the last things she wanted. Despite that, with a very emotional and, what it seemed to me, very real ending to the conversation, we decided that we were going to follow our goals and push and motivate each other from that moment on. That is exactly what I did.
She is in a routine of working, getting home, chilling with her roommates (her best friends), smoke weed, go to bed, and repeat. This is a lifestyle she loves and I'm sure she wants to keep. She has no idea what the real world is and it seems to me that, at this point, she just wants to keep living that life and, therefore, is more than willing to maintain everything the way it is. I do think that such is one of the reasons as to why she is thorn between doing what she knows she wants/needs to do, and stay the same.
Recently, as I know the college deadlines are coming up, I brought up the subject again. That was our last conversation. She told me that I had my goals, had everything planned, knew what I wanted for myself and what I wanted from her. She said that she didn't know what she wanted, and that she doesn't want me pushing her, she wants to do everything on her own terms and on her own pace. She also told me that she feels like she isn't giving me what I want - better communication and more time together. She felt that she could even be wasting my time and that, after 6 months, we have both have yet to say I love you. She also mentioned that she never actually had time to be single (as she was always in two long relationships before) and was starting to feel like she wasn't ready for another relationship, especially one with a guy who was so sure of what he wanted. She said that she likes me deeply, I was always nice with her, everything was still there, but she needed to work on herself before making a commitment of having a relationship so serious as it was with me. Now that I'm writing this, it's starting to sound very obvious that there is no going back and that she just doesn't want to be with me. However, it is confusing, as 2 days before I went to a barbeque her family did, she told me to have a deep conversation with her mother so that she could get to know me better, a few weeks ago it was my birthday and she gave an extremely off budget present and her postcard was a clear love letter, and the relationship was the best it had it been for a few weeks. It came out of nowhere.
The day before she did tell me she started her period and was very sensitive, so she asked me to only go see her the next day. I told her that I would bring ice cream and she happily request for her favorite flavor. This is a very simple and, probably, meaningless thing, but (in my opinion) it shows that she wanted to see me and had no intentions of breaking up. This contributed a lot to how blindsided I was at the moment of the breakup. After her expressed her feelings, we spoke about it and I tried to understand everything (still haven't been able, clearly). I clearly expressed my intention of wanting to still be together as she still said she liked me deeply, and I believed that I could be the solution to her lack of motivation problem. We kept going back and forth until I got tired and I asked her if she was sure of it, to which she said yes. She wanted to still be friends, text, and even go out every now and then. I told her that I just don't text like I did/do with her. I only texted her the way I did because she was my significant other and I cared deeply for her. If now I have to change that, I would not keep on texting her like if we were still on a relationship. I also expressed that I would not be going out with her and her friends because that is what they are, her close friends not mine. I was going there because of her and our relationship, if that was done, there was also no reason for me to come. Also, did not want to hang out with her alone because she was more than just a friend to me, to me it's either everything or nothing. Bottom line is, it seemed like she didn't want me out of her life but she didn't want to commit.
Part of me still believes that she will come back and say that what happened was on the heat of the moment and due to her constant changes of mind. I like her and told myself that I would give her 2 - 4 weeks to come back. If I haven't moved on by then, I will consider giving it another chance and try to work it out if she is honest with me about what she wants to do. Anything after that, it's too late. Until then, I will not be making any contact with her after she gives me what I had in her place back, which will be in the next few days. I will not have any conversation, I will just give her space. I'm in a waiting process.
What I did wrong, in my opinion: we both went way too fast; I got used to how close we were and started being over affectionate and needy; put a lot of my life on hold/plan B because of her as she became my priority. Additionally, I'm also a overthinker, so it doesn't help, it makes me come out as insecure even though I'm extremely confident, borderline cocky.
I want her back. I saw wife material on her like I haven't seen before. The huge red flags can quickly be erased if she just "jumps" out of her comfort zone and chases the new things that she wants and needs to do. I see potential and I think we can come back and be stronger than ever as we would both know what we need to work on.
Any feedback is appreciated! I'm sure I'm missing out a lot of parts that I will remember as the thread develops. I believe this thread can be good for me overall become a better partner and, possibly, get closure.
Should I wait for her? Is she coming back? Does it sound like she is set on the decision?

submitted by D_SLB_PT to relationship_advice [link] [comments]

2023.06.03 19:40 Seamoose_Art NoP 2177: Blue Moon [8]

Credit for the original story goes to u/spacepaladin15. I have to say, this was easily my favorite chapter to write. I hope you enjoy!
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---
Memory transcript subject: Trish, Venlil civilian
Date [Standardized Human Time]: February 29th, 2177
Location: Lower sprawl of City 23, Venlil Prime
It was a long drive back down to the Den, and the whole group held their breath for every second of it with spines bristling and skin crawling. To all of them, it felt like exterminators might appear behind them at any moment if they let themselves relax for so much as a second. The only noise (aside from the whiny roar of the engine) was the hiss of a spray bottle, as James disinfected the wound at Sasha’s side with some mild antiseptic and threw a light cover of bandages over the whole affair. Those aside, the vehicle was filled with a deathly silence.
By the time they were back at the Tipped Quill, even Beast seemed cowed. Trish set it down in the adjacent side-alley, and its doors opened without so much as a screech of the unoiled hinges. They silently disembarked for the bar with all the cheer of a funeral procession, each of them constantly sneaking looks behind them. James and Burai were in front, Tressa and Trish in back, with Sasha and the cargo shielded from all angles as though they were under attack. The thick tension in the air further silenced their movements, leaving only the sound of the ashen wind outside as they walked.

As soon as the door to the Den slid shut behind them, the tension snapped. A roar of exuberant emotion from every angle nearly pushed Trish to the ground, as the rest of them erupted with cheers. It was like being at the center of a supernova, a feeling of being crushed from all angles. Trish just barely managed to stay upright from the sudden shock, ears failing to adjust for several seconds to the new baseline of noise.
“—and just threw himself at them, crying some sob story about a human hunting him. And they bought it! They actually bought it!”
“No shit they bought it! What were they gonna do, let an opportunity to put those flamers to work pass them by?”
“You know, there was a fire escape ladder on the other side of the building. If you’d let me say something before jumping, maybe I wouldn’t need to pull this quill out of your side.”
“You and I both know we— mhfff— didn’t have that sort of time. ”
The dizzying whirl of socialization around her faded into a manageable hum, nervous sharp laughter giving way to more gentle chuckles as the adrenaline faded. Trish managed to drag herself to a chair, nausea fading but legs still shaky from the sudden outburst. She should’ve thought to bring earplugs.
“Hey Trish, you good? You’re looking pretty faint yourself…” James wrapped up his work and paced over to her, his face a bizarre mix of mirth and concern.
“Fine, I’m fine. Just a lot of noise, that’s all. Is Sasha OK?”
“Yeah, just a spine in her side from that fall. It didn’t get past skin, so she’ll be just fine. Here, why don’t I get you some… hmmm, how do you feel about champagne?”
“I don’t— Champagne?”
He grinned, almost literally ear-to-ear. “Yeah, ‘course! Or cider, if that’s more your style. You know, this is a big occasion! A mysterious unmarked bag from the same contact who got us those pistols last time, we can afford a bit of celebration!”
“...Cider sounds good. This has human amounts of alcohol, right? I don’t want to dull my perception if anything comes up.”
“Relax, relax! You’re acting like there’s a squad of exterminators waiting ‘till we’re drunk to kick the door down. Trust me, it’s all downhill from here! Here, let me get you a glass…”
—
The backpack was set upon a footrest, and all lamps trained on it to make a sort of spotlight. To a rapt and silent audience, Trish walked up to their little makeshift shrine and carefully unzipped the gray fabric.
After only a couple hours and far fewer drinks than might be expected, curiosity had gotten the better of them. They all knew it would be better to wait until morning to see what was in the backpack; for something as potentially monumental as this, being well-rested and sober would be invaluable. They kept their curiosity at bay for long, agonizing hours. But it couldn’t hold. Burai made some joke about holding a ceremony to open the thing, and that was all the push they needed.
Inside the backpack, an expensive-looking technological box lay cushioned in a nest of nondescript white fabric. Trish mercilessly gutted the bag, lifting the contents up high for all to see for a moment before placing the device on the spot where the backpack had set seconds prior. After a moment’s inspection, she found a clearly-marked button on the side which she pushed without so much as a moment’s consideration. A hiss of air and a blink from the green light on the side, and the entire box split in two before sliding open. The blast of heat from the inside made Trish recoil slightly. She peered in.
Her gaze was met by a small oval, glistening slightly under the light of heating elements and LEDs. Blue, glossy with a slightly rough texture, and barely the size of Trish’s paw. She ran a claw across the side; tiny bumps coated the surface. It was extremely warm to the touch. With great care, she lifted it from its metal cocoon and held it up for the rest of the group to see what exactly they’d risked life and limb for.

The only person who seemed to recognize it was Sasha, who all but collapsed at the sight. Mouth covered with a hand, eyes wide and frantic, breathing unsteady. Burai practically dragged her to a nearby chair.
“W-What the fuck? How? How!?”
“Sasha, are you—”
Without waiting for Burai’s question to finish, Tressa rushed over to her and practically tackled her with a hug. He was coming at her from an awkward angle, so rather than a graceful embrace, it ended up with him sliding down an arm head over tail. Undeterred, he righted himself and wrapped his tail around her shaking hand.
“Sasha, breath. Five seconds in, five seconds hold, five seconds out, remember? We’ve got you.”
Gradually, her breathing stabilized, and her hands began to steady. Her eyes, however, remained wild and dilated, still roughly focusing on the small blue object in Trish’s paws. After several long seconds, she finally took the hint and carefully set it back in the case.
“Sasha, talk to me. What is it?”
Sasha’s voice was still unsteady, hands still slightly trembling as she pointed at the container. “...What is it? Do… any of you know what that is? What you’ve brought?”
“It’s an egg, isn’t it? I mean, it’s in an incu—”
“It’s an Arxur.”
“...What?”
“That’s an Arxur’s egg.”
Her words rang out like a gunshot, leaving still silence in its wake as the rest of the group processed the meaning behind them. Each person went through a set of reactions in series, timings offset. Shock, disbelief, denial, awe. Their faces and tails formed a silent orchestra of emotion.
Burai was the first to recover, and the first to speak. “How are we going to feed it?”
Sasha looked at him as though he had three heads.
“Well, it’s not like we can get synthesized meat anymore… there’s not exactly anywhere it could hunt, either. Maybe we—”
“Feed it? What fucking part of Arxur don’t you understand!? This is the same species that tore… Burai, you were there! On the cradle, you saw what they did! You should remember better than anyone! They had no empathy, no morals… They killed for fun, ate children out of their parent’s arms! And you want to…”
Sasha’s voice broke, but she continued. “...you want to raise it?”
Burai met her gaze but did not answer. In a truly rare moment, he seemed to be at a loss for words. Sasha looked around at the rest of them; they all wore the same look of determination and all failed to justify their decision with so much as a whisper of argument.
“You want to raise it?” she repeated again, louder this time, as though questioning them at higher volume would make them realize the error of their ways. “Do you think it’ll love you because you were the one feeding it flesh from birth? And… then what? What about every other species in this goddamn ash heap, will it love them enough to starve itself?” She looked around expectantly, but was met with the same steel glares.
“Well? Say something!” she spat. “Any of you!”

“Sasha…” Burai began gently, “Do you remember when Cilany’s interview first leaked?”
It was Sasha’s turn to go silent with a cold glare, apparently not seeing where the question led. The rest of the room shuddered; they’d heard the story before. He continued regardless. “The news that the Gojid once ate meat… it hit a lot of people hard. I was in a refugee shelter on Earth at the time. Nobody took it well. Nobody even talked for days afterwards. I heard a couple people tore out their claws and tried to remove their teeth. And there was this one kid… Teveq.
“He was so energetic, always off doing something. With the pups, usually, keeping them out of trouble. Or praying. He prayed to the Great Protector every night for his family to be found hiding somewhere on the cradle. Or sketching, buildings and burrows and skyscrapers. He wanted to be an architect, told me about it a few times. He was always so chatty… he kept me company when I couldn’t even bear to get out of bed. I found him in his room a couple days after we learned. He had a gun to his head.
“He didn’t pull the trigger, but it didn’t make a difference. He stopped eating, stopped talking. He stopped crying too after a few days, and he was just a breathing corpse, a corpse that lost more and more weight each day. He didn’t even pray anymore. The god he’d prayed to for protection hated him.
“When the Kolshians surrounded Earth, he didn’t leave. He wanted to burn. He thought he deserved it, because his people once ate meat.”
Sasha’s look of rage was replaced with sheer horror, but he wasn’t done. “The Federation killed him. Tore out his heart and soul, and incinerated what was left. Not just him, either. Nobody knows what the Gojid were once like before the Federation ‘cured’ us of our meat-eating sins. Nobody knows what we could’ve been, if the Kolshians had used their forces to save the cradle. Maybe they wouldn’t have done so even now, for our status as cured predators.
“The unhatched Arxur sitting on the chair; was it on the cradle? Did it personally kill Gojid? Or do you want us to kill it, burn it in cold blood just because its people once ate meat?”
This, finally, managed to shake Sasha from her stunned silence. Her rebuke was a far cry from the snarling fury she’d held just minutes ago, but she tried to make her voice firm. “Once ate meat? The Arxur can only eat meat, flesh they—”
“The Arxur are dead. They are dead, except for this little unhatched lizard. A being which has committed no sins, except by virtue of being born with a carnivorous digestive system. An innocent child, which represents everything the Federation tried to burn.”
The room was silent for several minutes. Sasha sat with her head buried in her hands, occasionally stealing glances at the container within which the egg sat and the Gojid sitting across from her. Each time, she wordlessly returned to her stance with a fresh layer of unease across her face.
A voice broke the silence. Shaky, muffled and laden with apprehension. Still, it sounded somehow firm, as though it had reached some sort of conclusion. Sasha sat up slightly straighter, though she kept her face covered.
“How… how are you going to feed it?”
—
Memory transcript subject: Burai, Gojid business owner
Date [Standardized Human Time]: February 30th, 2177
Location: Lower sprawl of City 23, Venlil Prime
The rest of the group was already asleep downstairs, but Burai couldn’t make himself sleep. He’d dragged himself up to the empty bar and gotten back to work; though physically tired, the flame in his soul wouldn’t let him rest until it burned out. His passionate argument from earlier still filled his spirit with a fire which couldn’t be extinguished; he could at least put it to work tackling the awful pile of now-dried sludge he’d left for himself to clean up later.
There wasn’t much else for it to do, even if the rest of them were still awake. Sasha had conceded to not interfere with raising the Arxur; although she still wasn’t exactly thrilled about the prospect of one living at the Den, Burai’s defense had clearly knocked the wind out of her sails as far as killing it was concerned. The rest of them, having never lived in a world where the Arxur were a spectre of death and agony, were fully onboard from minute one. He might have to hold them back from cutting off their own fingers to feed the hatchling. After nearly an hour of debate, they still hadn’t established where they could get food for it.
A sharp knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and forced him to leave his task before completion once again. In his exhausted state, he nearly opened the door without even thinking. His claw was on the handle before he remembered that he’d left the hidden door to the Den wide open. He dragged himself over to the switch and lazily jabbed it, pointedly ignoring the knocks as they became more insistent.
Finally, once his little show of security theater was concluded to his liking, he sauntered back towards the door. One claw smoothed out his quills absentmindedly. He knew he probably looked like a wreck, although he didn’t have a mirror to prove it. Hopefully, whoever was outside wouldn’t take much notice. He unlocked the door and slipped it open.
“Hey! We’re closed today, but—”

[Subject death detected Memory transcription ended]
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2023.06.03 19:39 NamelessNanashi [The Gods of Dragons: Beginning] Ch 14 - Ice Ice Baby

--- Table of Contents ---
Autumn 4986, 15 Aoimoth
“Slow down, Squire!” Master Daunas walked around the sixteen Squires. They were all going through the basic motions of knife fighting together, but Shon knew the Weaponsmaster was talking to him specifically. He'd fallen into the rhythm of steel clanging off steel as the eight pairs of Squires went through the practiced strikes of a rehearsed fight. His partner was keeping up, but just barely. If Shon sped up, the boy would fumble, and Shon could disarm him. But that wasn’t the point of this exercise. It wasn’t a sparring match; it was a two man kata. Shon let out a long exhale and slowed down, matching his partner’s pace.
“Sorry,” Kefir, muttered to Shon, “You should try and get Zihler next time. He won’t slow you down.”
Shon arched an eyebrow at Kefir as the two pivoted in unison, spinning but staying together, so they switched places and continued without breaking rhythm. Or that was what was supposed to happen. Kefir stumbled just a little. He still wasn’t very good at quick pivots like that, and knife forms were full of them. Shon slowed down to wait for him to recover, matching his thrust with a counter as rehearsed.
“Don’t give me that look. I know you want to go faster. Zihler’s the most likely to keep... up...” Kefir had to space the last two words as they dodged each other again. More twists and turns he tended to overshoot.
He wasn’t wrong. Shon did want to go faster, wanted to push himself to his limits, and always just a little beyond, but “Speed isn’t the point of this exercise.” Shon said, and Kefir’s brow furrowed. Though if concentrating on Shon’s words or the continued form Shon didn’t know, “It's precision and practice. Keep partnering with Rerves, who's even worse, and you won't improve.”
They slammed together, the hilts of their daggers locking together as they sidestepped in tight circles. Shon could see at least ten different ways he could end a match right here. His left hand was free, as this was a single dagger exercise, and his opponents hardly ever paid attention to his feet. But that wasn’t the point, and Kefir would learn nothing from Shon downing him now, even if it was.
“Thanks,” Kefir spat sarcastically. Shon gave him a purposefully deadpan look in response, and he continued, “You’re the same, though. You won’t get better if you pick the weakest partners.” the two disengaged, jumping back and falling into a ready stance in one motion. Kefir took a heartbeat longer than some of the other boys but didn’t stumble at this speed as he had the last three times they went through the drill.
“I’m better than Zihler…” Shon said, not in pride or arrogance but in truth. When they had first started knife fighting weeks ago, he had partnered with those who seemed to be at the same level as himself or higher. Pushing himself to reach their level and surpass it. Add to that the fact that he often used his free time for more practice, and Shon had jumped to the top of the class as usual only a week into this new weapon.
Shon brought the topic back around to his point, “Practice is practice no matter how fast I go, as long as I have precision.” and, as if to prove his point, the form reached the culminating move, where Shon and Kefir needed to thrust at each other while turning just enough for the blade to pass by their chests. Shon slowed his thrust only at the end, just enough for Kefir to finish his dodge. Adjusting speed in the middle of a strike without pulling it completely wasn't easy, and they both knew it.
That was the end of the kata, and they both stepped back. Kefir looked down at his knife, sighing, “I suck at this, give me a shield or a hammer, and you wouldn’t have to hold yourself back.” he glanced up at Shon and forced a smile he obviously didn’t feel, “Then maybe I could teach you a thing or two…”
Shon nodded, perfectly serious, and when Kefir didn’t seem to understand, he added, “Exactly.”
The bell rang and the other Squires started heading for the weapons rack to return their knives, but Shon held Kefir in place with his eyes. He looked confused, his expression asking the question before his words could, so Shon explained, “You're better at armor and shields than me.”
That actually got a genuine smile from Kefir, “Everyone is better with armor and shields than you, Shon.” Shon humphed but couldn't argue, and Kefir laughed, “You know, if you spent your extra time actually practicing with the stuff you need practice in, instead of the things you're already the best at, you would get better.”
Shon ran his fingers through sweaty hair. It was only two finger widths long but still needed to be cut. He wanted to argue that practicing with the heavy weapons without armor in his free time was the only reason he was still the top in those as well. But instead, he nodded in acquiescence to Kefir’s observation.
“Hey,” Kefir stepped forward and poked Shon with the hilt of his dagger. Even with his thicker winter uniform on, they avoided touching him, “I get what you’re saying. We each have our own strengths and weaknesses. Thank you for trying to help me with mine.” The thanks was genuine this time, now that the frustration of the practice was over, and Shon nodded. Kefir continued, “Why don’t we make a deal? I’ll let you help me catch up to you in this if you let me help you with armor work. Master Daunas wants to get you in plate, but if you can’t even move in banded mail, you’ll never make it in the heavier stuff.”
Shon let his head fall back in frustration but nodded. Kefir laughed and the two returned their daggers without further words. Shon split from the rest of the stragglers in the courtyard, moving towards the bench beside the wall and the barrel for catching rainwater beside it. This deep into autumn, the water was sometimes frozen in the mornings, but Shon preferred it that way. Reaching in, he splashed handfuls of it on the back of his neck. The others would be heading for the hot showers, but with sixteen of them and only ten shower heads, Shon would wait until they were all done before washing properly.
“I’ll meet you after study time!” Kefir called as he walked by to try and reach the showers with the first group. Shon waved without turning around. He knew Kefir was right. He should focus his extra time on improving his weaknesses. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.
***
The mess hall where they had their meals had one long table set in the middle with enough space for fifteen Squires on each side. Around it were set smaller circular tables for the Paladins stationed in Hamerfoss and one larger near the door for the officers. Against one wall was another long table with plates, bowls, and food where they would each gather their meal before finding their seats.
The seats weren’t assigned, but Shon always sat at the farthest end of the Squire’s table, with his left facing the walkway so he wouldn’t bump anyone with his elbow as he ate. No one ever took the spot. It was an unspoken consensus amongst the Squires that that was Shon’s seat. The rest tended to congregate in the middle, talking and poking friendly fun at each other, extending their break into the dinner meal.
Shon took his place and started eating without joining in. They didn’t try to include him most of the time, and he was content to just listen. “Hey, Shon,” Rerves called from down the table, and Shon looked up from his plate to show he was listening, “I hear Kefir’s going to help you with armor tonight. Can I come?” Shon shrugged, turning back to his meal. Rerves went back to his conversation, and dinner continued as usual. The Squires ignoring Shon.
They filtered out of the mess hall as they each finished their dinner at their own pace, some heading to the chapel for prayer and others to the library for study. Shon made his way to the library, pausing in the doorway and debating with himself. If he joined the others at the larger table, they would try and talk to him. They seemed to think it was their duty to include him if he was there. But if he sat alone at the two-man table by the window, they would leave him alone. It meant he wouldn’t be able to ask them questions if one came up, but it also meant they wouldn’t bother him with pointless asides…
Tonight, he joined the study group. The subject they'd started a few weeks ago wasn’t one he had taken to easily, an in-depth history of Gasha province, so he wanted to be able to talk when needed.
It started as soon as he finished the first page, “So Shon, when do you think Master Veon-Zih will be back?”
“Winter Solstice,” Shon answered shortly, rereading the sentence. The others whispered around him about Master Veon-Zih, something about if he would dance with the pretty baker again this year…
“Hey Shon, do you know if Monks train in dancing too?”
Shon placed his finger over the paragraph he'd reached, knowing he would have to reread it after the interruption. He shook his head. When they continued to look at him, he sighed, glaring up at them. This was supposed to be study time… “He learned how after he left the Monastery.”
He reread his paragraph and managed to finish the chapter before running his hand through his hair in frustration at the text. Looking up, he said, “We’ve read about the war between Gasha and Swailand, but this doesn’t say anything about why they went to war in the first place.”
“Fishing rights, I think?” Thom answered, flipping through his own book, “Knowing those Horsa Bast…” he cut off before finishing the curse, glancing at the Paladin acting as librarian, before continuing, “I bet they wanted to extend their fishing to the area around Gasha, and they are just as likely to fight each other as us.”
Rehlien slid a new book Shon’s way, “Here, read this one next. It gets into the justification a little more than that one.” Shon nodded his thanks, taking the book and placing it under the one he was still finishing.
But his question had opened the door to more derailing chatter, “You really like to know the why of things, don’t you, Shon?”
Shon nodded, hoping this talk would at least be relevant, but “You’re like that in etiquette too. That’s probably why you struggle so much.” Shon shrugged. Etiquette didn’t seem to have a point, but that wasn’t what they were supposed to be studying now, “I find some things ‘just are’ because of tradition…” the boy trailed off as Shon glared at him, his words freezing in his throat. When silence had returned, Shon went back to his book. He should've just sat alone.
***
Kefir and Rerves were already waiting in the sparring ring by the time Shon showed up dressed in his banded mail. The armor rubbed uncomfortably around his neck and the thick gambeson underneath bunched at his joints, limiting his range of motion by at least a few inches. It also weighed him down, which he'd managed to convince himself was good for strength training, but was incredibly frustrated by for sparring.
Kefir already had his sword and shield and held an extra bastard sword for him, so Shon went right for the ring, stifling a frustrated sigh as he took the proffered weapon.
Rerves grinned at the look on Shon’s face, saying, “We figured you'd be miserable enough in the armor alone, that we should channel some of Soleil's compassion and let you use your best weapon instead of the hammer.” to which Shon was grateful. Making him practice in the armor with a weapon he still hadn’t mastered would've been adding salt to the wound.
“Let’s do some stretches and warm-ups first.” Kefir started, “Your problem isn’t being afraid to take a hit with the armor,” Rerves laughed out loud, but Kefir continued with only a grin, “It’s in having to adjust your mobility. So let's re-imprint that before we try any sparring.”
They went through stretches, the two of them seeming to match Shon in flexibility only because he was hampered by the armor, then moved on to solo sword forms. Even though the armor was only about thirty-five pounds evenly distributed, Shon still felt sluggish. When they moved on to sparring, Rerves beat him soundly while Kefir watched, tilting his head back and forth like Master Daunas and trying to give advice that didn’t help. Shon could fight, he knew the proper blocks and parries better than they did, but too often he would either not make up for his lack of speed or would overcompensate and swing too hard.
Kefir took his turn, lifting his shield and watching Shon raise his sword to the ready, “Honestly, Shon, I don’t know what to do besides have you practice more and just get used to it.”
“Sometimes that’s all you can do,” Rerves said from the side as he slipped off his helmet. Shon knew they were right in some regards but couldn’t entirely dismiss his frustration at the thought that he was missing something that he needed to learn and not just have beaten into him. He was grateful for his companion’s help but annoyed at their inability to teach.
Rerves gave the order to "Lay on!" and Shon and Kefir engaged. Shon could predict Kefir's moves, could practically see them in his mind's eye, but barely reacted in time, his arm not bending as far or fast as he wanted it to. He gritted his teeth, glaring at the other Squire, trying to sidestep around but moving too slow compared to Kefir, who just needed to turn in place. Shon took a step back and planted his feet. If he could force Kefir to make the larger motions, then perhaps he could focus on redirecting the boy’s attacks.
Kefir hesitated. Shon was most dangerous when he stood his ground, and they both knew it. The hesitation just gave Shon more time to try and strategize. Not that it had helped at all before. Maybe if he could somehow slow Kefir down, or focus on trapping his weapon, then it wouldn’t matter that Shon wasn’t as fast as he would be without the damn armor. Kefir tested Shon’s guard with a few half-hearted attacks that Shon deflected, waiting. When the other Squire finally committed fully, Shon let go of his sword with his left hand, twisted to dodge, and grabbed Kefir’s sword arm.
Just stop. Stop long enough for me to hit you… Kefir tried to pull away but couldn’t. Despite the poor grip Shon had with the thick gloves that were part of the armor, the two Squires seemed lashed together. Kefir twisted his shoulders so he could lift his shield to deflect Shon’s oncoming attack, but his feet didn’t move. His eyes went wide, and his shield came up barely in time to hit Shon’s sword, the tip still reaching over to clang off Kefir’s helm with a glancing blow.
Kefir fell backward and Shon, still clinging to his arm, was pulled on top of him. The boy yelled, and Shon rolled, letting go of Kefir and hearing something like glass breaking over the clanging of armor and screaming of his fellow. Shon rolled to absorb the shock of the fall and twisted to find Kefir on his back, his knees still straight and his boots stuck to the ground. Encased in ice.
The ice climbed up his boots to his shins, but Kefir was gripping his arm, trying to pull more ice from where Shon had been holding him. It continued to grow, soon encasing his hand and sword hilt. Rerves rushed forward, trying to help pry the sword free while the ice on his legs grew past his boots and under his greaves. Kefir screamed again, in pain and fear.
The Paladins on the wall began yelling, their leader taking command, sending some to help the boys and others to run for the fortress. Shon watched in horror as Kefir’s legs and arm were slowly encased in ice, his lips trembling and turning blue. He would be covered soon, Shon knew it, could picture it happening, like a waking nightmare. It would trap his brother Squire and anyone else touching it…
The ice started clawing at Rerves fingers, trying to gain hold and freeze him too.
“What in all the hells?!” Master Daunas showed up with a gaggle of Paladins and the Cleric, who all fell around the boys. Some took out their belt knives and tried to break the ice apart; others began to chant spells to either melt the ice or keep Kefir warm.
Master Daunas searched above the throng for answers and, finding Shon, cursed. He ran around the larger group, grabbing Shon by the arm and wrenching him away, practically dragging him across the courtyard towards the fortress proper. Someone called out in triumph as Shon reached the fortress door and Daunas forced him through it.
What had happened? Had they freed Kefir? Would he be alright? What happened?!
Daunas was still cursing as he slammed the door and spun on Shon, who stared blankly through the Weaponmaster. Panic, he was trying so hard not to panic. Was trying to figure out what had happened, trying to play through the entire thing again, picturing it from outside his body. Was the ice what had allowed him to hold on to Kefir? Was it still climbing up Kefir's legs? Was that why the older Squire wasn’t able to pull back and block properly? Had Shon...
“Calm down, boy.” Daunas reached for Shon’s shoulders but pulled back a moment later, shaking his hands and cursing as they reddened from the cold, “Breathe, boy. Look at me, think warm thoughts.”
Think warm thoughts? What did that even mean? Shon found Daunas’s eyes and saw the Weaponmaster scared for the first time, “Breathe, slow and steady, like old man V taught you. You need to control your energy…” his lips were pale and trembling, his breath coming out in a cloud before him. had it been that cold outside? Shon couldn’t feel it...
Shon closed his eyes and breathed. Control his energy… He pulled himself in, finding his center and gathering around it, “That’s it, boy, like that.” Shon breathed in his energy, his ki, holding it in his gut, storing it for later when he could use it to focus a strike and give it more power, just like Master Veon-Zih had taught him. And just like Master had taught him, he tried to let go of his worries, to clear his mind, if only for now.
Kefir would be alright, almost every adult here could cast healing spells, and at least half of them were with him now. It was okay. Shon could relax, let go, calm down… Suddenly exhausted, Shon nearly collapsed right there in the hallway. Daunas caught him, slowly lowering him to the stones.
Shon could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness, but not fast enough to miss Master Daunas’s last curse, “Damn it, boy, why did you have to be a Sorcerer?”
***
“He has to go to the Mages Guild.” Major General Davies Selibra, Paladin head of Hamerfoss, stated to those gathered in his office. It was a simple room containing two sets of closed cabinets on either side of a large desk facing the door with two seats positioned in front of it. Shon sat in one of those seats, his head hanging and fists clenched tightly in his lap.
Master Daunas slammed his palm down on the desk. He seemed too agitated to sit, or perhaps he just didn’t want to sit next to Shon, who was radiating cold like a fire radiated heat, “We can’t, Selibra! He’s the most promising fighter I’ve ever trained. He’ll lose too much time.” the Weaponmaster's words puffed out as white fog from his lips.
Major General Selibra sat behind his desk and rubbed his temples, “It’s the law Daunas, he either needs to get a clearance or be sealed.”
“Can’t be a Paladin with the tattoo…” Smith Nangran muttered from his position leaning on the door. Shon was too focused on his predicament to wonder why the Smith was even here. A thin layer of ice began to form at his feet.
“It’s the law…” Selibra said again, weary, “If he had awakened sooner, he might have been able to get his clearance before training, but…”
Daunas threw his hands into the air, bellowing, “It takes years to get a clearance. If they even let him. Those Mages would rather just mark the boy up and be done with it!”
A sealing tattoo. They would want to block the magic. Seal it away in his body where it couldn’t hurt anyone. Kefir had suffered severe frostbite as well as a broken ankle. Lucky for him, he was surrounded by divine conduits and was fine, but what if Shon lost control again? Who would the ice entomb? Master Veon-Zih? Innocent citizens he was supposed to protect? Shon’s nails dug furrows into his palms as he clenched his fists tighter. The ice crawled up the legs of his chair and crystalized on the backs of his hands.
The adults continued to talk around him, “The law is clear, Daunas. The magic either needs to be trained or sealed. There are no exceptions.” The law never made exceptions. It’s what kept everything running at top proficiency. Shon admired that… and understood it, as even now he couldn't control the sorcerous ice.
Shon tried to slow his breathing, relax his hands. The ice cracked over his fingers as he forced them out of their fists. It was responding to his emotions, his fear, and horror at what he'd done. What he was. If he could just pull it in, stifle the emotions feeding it, then the magic wouldn't be able to control him…
Ice continued to inch up the chair, and Selibra rubbed his hands together to warm them. They'd been pointedly and purposely ignoring the winter-like cold since bringing Shon to the office.
“Tattoos aren’t the only way to seal magic…” Nangran stated from the door. Daunas and Selibra stopped arguing, and Shon’s head shot up. He turned slowly to watch the Smith who combed absently at his beard, “Law says sorcerer magic needs to be trained or sealed, doesn’t say how.”
“I know the law Nangran,” Selibra still sounded defeated. “A council of Mages, including one of the rank Archmage, must determine if a Sorcerer is capable of controlling his or her power. If they determine the power is too great a risk to the kingdom, then said power will be made unable to manifest. Sealed.” the Major General recited, most likely for Shon’s benefit. Shon's heart pounded in his chest, and the fires that lit the room dimmed.
“What are you suggesting?” Daunas asked Nangran curiously. The smith only talked when necessary, using grunts and nods instead of words whenever possible. That was probably why Shon liked him so much. It also meant he wouldn’t have contradicted Selibra unless he had a reason.
“Know a guy. Used to make sealing items for the guild…” Nangran said with a shrug, as though Shon’s future didn’t hinge on his point, “Owes me a favor…”
“You’re not talking about that mad hermit who comes barging in here once or twice a year, are you?” Daunas asked, looking stunned.
Nangran nodded with a confirming hum. “Still Archmage in good standing…”
The Weaponmaster looked ecstatic, shouting, “Nangran, you’re a genius!” he slammed his hands down on the desk again, breath puffing out in thick clouds as his excitement grew. Nangran grunted.
Daunas turned back to the Major General, who actually looked intrigued. Shon’s heart tried to beat its way out of his chest. “This is it, Selibra! This Archmage can make the boy a sealing item. I’m sure the Temple will vouch for him. He’s our top Squire.” Shon was still too terrified to feel proud of the compliment and watched Major General Selibra with wide desperate eyes. Ice started forming on his hands again, looking like clawed talons.
“The Mages Guild hasn’t given out sealing stones for generations…” Selibra hummed, and Shon barely stopped the desperate whine before it could escape, his fingernails drawing blood on his palms as he balled them into fists again, breaking the ice claws. “but we can at least try.” Selibra finished, focusing on Shon, his brown eyes still looking sad, “Are you sure you want this, Shon? As a Paladin, you won’t be able to train with your elemental magic unti-”
“Yes, Sir!” Shon shouted, leaning forward in his seat and breaking the ice off its legs. He fell back a moment later, embarrassed by his outburst. More quietly, he said again, “Yes, Sir. I don’t want this magic. I want to be a Paladin.” more than anything in his entire life, he'd wanted to be a Paladin…
“Very well,” Major General Selibra stood, resting his fingertips on his desk. Speaking as if to himself, he muttered, “Perhaps this is a sign from Hengist.” looking up, he addressed Nangran, “Tomorrow you will take Squire Shon to this Archmage friend of yours. Gods willing, he will be able to seal the sorcerer magic without hindering his divine capabilities.” he failed to hide a shiver from the cold.
***
Her candles burned hot and bright, flickering wildly as She paced around Her little room. Something was happening in Her tower. There were far too many people with strangers' voices out Her window and beyond Her door.
Brom and Ran continued to visit, but they wouldn’t answer Her questions, wouldn’t take Her for samples, or to see Her treasures. The first made Her angry, the second gave Her energy, and the last scared Her enough to stop asking questions. What if they took Her books again? They hadn’t given Her a reason She couldn’t see Her treasures, so maybe they would soon… maybe tomorrow...
***
“Tomorrow,” Morndancer stated as Shaloon let herself into his room. The transfer preparations had taken months. MONTHS! They were Mages. No. Greater than Mages. They were Warlocks. And yet, everything still took far too long. They could instantly communicate with allies across the kingdom but still had to spend time making the proper arrangements. They could travel miles in a blink but still had to painstakingly pack every book and file, disassemble and disenchant the golems guarding the tower over days and even weeks. If it had been a true emergency -if they'd been found- they could've destroyed everything, vanishing all evidence of their presence and research. But the Master Archmages had forbidden it in this case.
“The western Talon is ready to receive us,” Shaloon confirmed, “What of the subjects? Archmage Yarna has no interest in animal husbandry..."
“The Firewyrm is all she is interested in. It is the only reason she agreed to take us.” Morndancer sat on his bed and stared at the pseudodragon perched on his desk, its leathery wings half furled and its tail twitching over the side of the desk, “I will handle the animal subjects tomorrow. Just make sure you are ready to open the portal out when I am done.” she could only open one portal a day, sometimes two but it would leave her incapacitated for at least a day after.
“Tomorrow then,” Shaloon confirmed, leaving him alone with his running mind and the little pretend dragon, that seemed to stare through his skin and into his soul.
***
Shon couldn’t sleep. Once again, his entire future hung on what would happen tomorrow. And just like the divine test and the road to Hamerfoss, there was nothing he could do to speed up the process. It was out of his hands. Out of his control. Just like the ice now clouding the window and the frost freezing the blankets to the mattress.
He tapped the blank page of his open journal with his pencil. The images running through his mind were the last he wanted to solidify on paper. He tried drawing something else… Kefir smiling warmly at him for the second thank you. Rerves leaning forward and shouting to him across the dinner table. The study group conversing in whispers instead of studying…
He wrote about it all between the drawings but everything that happened after pushed at his mind, the scenes forming in his vision. Shon drew Kefir again, lying on his back and tugging at the ice forming on his sword arm. Then a group scene with the Paladins falling around him, their faces focused, and hands glowing with spells to try and save him… Master Daunas’s scared eyes as he ordered Shon to ‘think warm thoughts...'
With two pages full of various sketches and commentary, Shon dropped his pencil and rested his head on his desk. Why? Was this why he was so cold to the touch? Sorcerers were rare; those with ice power were the rarest even amongst them. Should they have noticed something was wrong sooner? Would Hengist really accept someone like him? Chose a Sorcerer to be one of his extensions in Daanlin?
Shon closed his eyes, breathing slowly and trying not to cry. If they forced him to go to the Mages Guild, he would never be able to fight again. He was sure of it. All his hard work and dedication. All those years of disciplined practice, gone in one instance where he lost control. Where he almost killed a friend.
Everything he was, everything he would be, hinged on the following day. “Tomorrow…” Shon whispered into the dark, his candle finally flickering to die in the cold.
--- Table of Contents ---
Thanks for making it this far, you are the real MVP

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2023.06.03 19:37 tankgirl2000 Ideas for organizing a hoarder corner

So I'm very lucky to have a job where one of the perks is getting a lot of swag from various companies — I've received everything from T-shirts to kitchen appliances to vibrators as a result of this. I like to save all this stuff and give it away to friends/family/strangers, but I don't have a great set-up for storing it, hence what I've mentally been referring to as The Heap (but is now officially approaching hoarder vibes).
Photos: https://imgur.com/a/oJrKNca
I know something needs to be done — at the very least, I could find a better way to stack and save the cooler boxes that stuff has come in (currently a decent percentage of The Heap). As for general storage of things like T-shirts and the like, I'm considering buying an IKEA Kallax unit with box inserts or similar. But I wanted to see if the brilliant creative minds of Reddit might have fun suggestions for how to tackle this mess before I invested any money in a specific solution — and I thank you heartily in advance for your suggestions!

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2023.06.03 19:37 Intrigued_by_Words Weekly Wrap Up Monday May 29 - Friday June 02, 2023 (no show Monday)

They did what to Taggert? After years of speculation, the writers finally cut off Taggert's family ties when Trina's paternity test revealed that Curtis is her biological father. Sure DNA isn't everything, just ask Michael why he's feuding with a guy he calls "Dad" when he could call him "the guy who killed Dad" and choose to have nothing to do with him.
The cherry on top is that Curtis is not displaying many redeemable features these days. Does Trina know she went from legacy to a leg up or over? Curtis was playing Jordan by leading her to believe they might have a second chance while at the same time moving back into the beach house with Portia. Detective Jordan figured it out and said she was getting on with her life. Humbly, I say, I've said that to Jordan since she recovered from her kidney transplant. Can we please find someone new for Jordan? By new, I mean not related to Curtis or Portia.
As for Trina, she dragged her billionaire boyfriend out of the pool and forced him to go to the bank because his rich uncle died and left him all his - I want to say marshmallows, but that's wrong. Thankfully, for Trina's reputation, Victor did not leave Spencer gold, but instead, evidence of Esme drugging both Trina and bartendephone dealewannabe environmental law attorney Oz Haggerty. Victor said it was something to "safeguard his family." He placed the key to the safe deposit box under the turtle dove earrings that Spencer bought for Trina when she was with Rory. Apparently, Esme is now the biggest threat to Spencer's family. But what will they do with this proverbial smoking gun?
Michael gave Carly the smoking gun video of Sonny helping an international illegal arms dealer. The plan is to trade Sonny to the feds to get them off her back. Carly is adamant that Michael destroy the tape. Michael can be slow on the uptake but it's loony for him to think that he has the skills to play Sonny and Carly against one another.
Victor's will be done. Get it? The reading is over and he has set traps for a bunch of them to do what he wants. Anyway, he gave Ava a picture of a gargoyle saying it was her first true love. Ava, of course, is most interested in what people will learn of her last love, Nikolas. As a reminder, Ava has no clue what happened to Nikolas. Last she knew, she killed him by hitting him over the head. She stuffed his body in a closet. When she looked again, his body was gone. I have no idea what is going through this woman's mind. Someone should clue her in that human bodies don't disappear. Yeah, sure, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, but typically that takes more than a few days.
In his video, Victor does not hint that he knows what happened to Nikolas. He acknowledges that he left town, but that's it. He left Nikolas a deed to a house in Chechnya. Laura decided she has to go there because she in incomplete without her son. You know that old saying, when your ears are burning (feeling warm) that means someone is talking about you, Lucky's ears are nice and cool.
Laura tells Valentin she has to go to Chechnya to find out if Nikolas is hiding out there. He insists on going along to help her. Ava thinks it is a bad idea. Austin thinks that it will take Laura and Valentin a long time to plan the trip. Austin dear, in the time since we've last seen you, Laura and Valentin have been to Greenland and back. They've deciphered and stopped Victor's plot to release a deadly pathogen that would have killed untold millions of people around the world. As a bonus, Laura prevented the latest version of the Cassadine weather machine from turning Port Charles into an igloo factory. I think they can manage a trip to Russia.
Victor gave Alexis some antique nesting dolls to represent her and her daughters. She thought that was nice. He also gave her a deck of Tarot cards for Sam, to one day make herself "lucky in love for once." Alexis thought that was mean, but you know what they say, the truth hurts. The only thing we have to worry about is if Lucky does come back to town that he'll hook back up with Sam.
Victor gave Valentin a literal finger. Anna received a more figurative one when Victor released information about her doubleagent activities with the DVX back in the day. The new Director of the WSB who replaced Frisco opts to fire Anna to save the agency from embarrassing questions and answers. With the demise of any formidable Cassadines and Anna losing her agent status, maybe it is time finally to say goodbye to the 80s. Problem is they don't have anything to replace it with. Dex and Spence sizing each other up in saunas and poolside is something, but hardly the stuff of legends.
I know you have only read this far to find out the most important thing happening in Port Charles. Even though this was a short week because of the Memorial Day Holiday on Monday, each day was fraught with tension. Enough with the filler, here is the real information. I won't drag it out and act as if everything hinges on this answer. Every character does not have to be motivated to achieve one unitary outcome. They don't have to be, they want to be. I write this, you read this all because you want to know the answer to the eternal question: How is Willow doing? Tune in next week...
... Willow is now will still be alive.

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2023.06.03 19:35 HannahRoseGold LCWRA HELP Mobility Scooter

HI,
I'm contemplating a move from working tax credits to UC (as my partner will potentially be moving in with me to care for me). I get PIP enhanced rate care and enhanced rate mobility.
I'm going through the descriptors, I was wondering if you could help me with them. I use a mobility scooter daily. I cant sit for longer than 15 minutes without getting severe pain (even in the mobility scooter) and needing to take morphine. I am self employed however this has become increasingly tough. I can only work, by returning to bed every 20 minutes, which I am sure a work place would not allow! Due to the morphine I am not awake on a set schedule, so I cant have a work from home job either.
1. Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid is normally, or could reasonably, be worn or used. Cannot either: (i) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion or (ii) repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion. - Does "aid" include a mobility scooter? I cannot use a manual wheelchair as I cannot self-propel. I cannot walk.
Thanks

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2023.06.03 19:32 MaryJanesBestestBud Nornia Server Beginners Guide

Okay, so I'm a newbie and it took me forever to go from start to installed. Here are the instructions for the next person

Install windows version of Minecraft (Java Edition)

Run the Minecraft Launcher on your PC at least once. This makes some directories. You don’t need to actually launch the game. Close the launcher.

Make sure the Minecraft Launcher is NOT running.

Run the Vivecraft Installer. Note the installation option checkboxes

Hover your mouse over each option to see what it does. Generally you should leave the defaults.

If you want support for Forge mods check the Forge box. If the installer cannot detect Forge already installed it will download and run the installer for you

Click install. The program will download some files and set up your launcher profile.

Run the Minecraft Launcher. In the bottom-left corner there is a drop down box where you select your profile. The profile for “ViveCraft 1.12.2” should already be selected.

Click Play.

Go to Multiplayer

Click on add server

Input the following into the top and bottom fields
nornia.net 104.128.55.155

Continue and then you should be able to just click in and join!

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