I am a man.
Theres this girl I see around a lot and we keep giving passing glances to each other, like every time I look at her it seems like I just narrowly caught her staring at me. I finally walked up to her and said hi. We hung out and got along really well.
Eventually I told her she could come over (not an explicitly sexual invite, we had an actual activity planned) and one thing lead to another.
She wouldn't kiss me. She wouldn't make eye contact with me. She asked me to wear a condom and then didn't communicate anything else until we were done. Every once in a while when I stole a kiss she wouldn't kiss back at all. I asked her afterwards if she just doesn't like kissing and she said that she's "scared of getting that close" as if we weren't already doing the most intimate thing possible. I told her she could stay the night because it was late but she insisted that she had to get home
Is this what women mean when they say that men use them for sex? Why the fuck did we do all that if she didn't even want to kiss me? Or is this a normal woman thing that I'm too inexperienced to understand? I asked several times if what we were doing was okay and she always said yes. But it felt like she didnt even want to be there. Literally feels like I got used for my dick

So this is going to be a long story, but a very intriguing one (or so my friends say). Bear with me and if you could offer some advice on what to do please share. I know I'm probably just young and naive but I feel like the pain will never stop. Like I'm going to always be held back by this particular experience.
Also sorry for any grammatical or spelling errors, English isn't my first language.
So all of this begins October of 2022 when I 18 (at the time) Male moved to a new city to study film. I was lucky enough to have good grades and be so passionate about this art that it kind of felt incredible to have this new beginning. I rented a small house which I decorated with my collections and all my stuff and ended up loving every second spend in it.
I'm Not very social. Thats just a fact. I've always had my school friends and some people from other activities but none of them really felt like they understood me. No sade to them, I really love them, it's just that I know my hobbies and personality are niece and weird so we don't always see eye to eye. So I wanted to overcome my social anxiety and meet new people.
For the first semester I was all alone. Completely. Spent days upon days without leaving my house if I didn't have school and even didn't have any actual human interaction if not necessary. I didn't realise how much I was hurting myself. The Second semester, someone approached me in school and asked if I could help them with the editing for their final movie, let's call him Jacob. I already was searching for a group project to join in order to pass the class so this felt like a sweet deal. The group was Jacob and 2 girls, let's call them Ellie and Hannah.
With time we started talking about more then just the movie. I was really surprised by how many things we had in common. It was the first time someone I met liked musical theatre or (and this is gonna sound sad, please don't judge me) people didn't want me to leave whenever I approached them. They invited me to things, to their homes and after school and to trips at the beach ect. We were together almost every day. Till late at night or through it. Just the 4 of us. Felt like we could rule the world.
One day i thought Ellie was flirting with me. That was a weird feeling. I'm not very good looking and had a lot of extra weight so that was pretty much the first time but my friends told me that was the case from what I was describing. I mentioned it to Jacob and he told me something I didn't expect. He told me him and Ellie were in an open relationship and were hiding it from everyone except Hannah because of his ex who was in school with us. He also confessed he once had a crush on me and that's why he approached me in the first place. He also saw Ellie flirting with me but was ok with it due to the "rules of their relationship".
I was ok with not having a romantic relationship with Ellie. She would actually become one of the closest friends I've ever had. Or so I thought.
I actually started having a crush on Hannah. She loved some of the movies I loved. Had some of my quirks so I didn't feel ashamed around her and she started watching my favourite tv show with me. During our time together everyone (even her sister and Jacob who found out I liked her) told us that when we were together we could only see each other. As if we had a unique way of communication that nobody else could understand.
I confessed my crush and she told me she felt the same way but that there where 2 problems. First that she gets very anxious about relationships, has only ever been to one and had never kissed anyone. I assured her I wasn't going to pressure anything and I only cared for her and wanted to go on a date sometime. She replied she would like that very much. The second problem she confessed was that she was in love with Jacob for months now but nobody knew. Then everything made sense. The things she did for him and all. How she acted around him. I was surprised I didn't notice it before. She told me she wanted to get over it and proceed to ask to kiss me. We kissed a lot but nothing more that night. She went home after a few hours.
The next day Hannah she felt very distant. We wanted to go to the movies with Ellie but she disappeared all day. Late at night she asked my to go for a walk since we lived near each other. Then she told me she wanted to forget everything and last night was a mistake. That her anxiety has gotten into her and although she really wanted a relationship she couldn't be in one. The next few days we talked again and she said she didn't share any of this with Jacob to have someone in the group I could talk to if I needed help. Ellie was that for her.
It was already summer so we all went to our home towns. I missed her a ton. We stilled talked and the other 2 knew something was off with me. About 2 moths later we all went to Hannah's summerhouse for vacation. We were having fun, getting drunk and all that 19-year old stuff. One night me and Hannah were watching my show together and the time felt right so I asked to kiss her. She told me no and finally told me the truth. Turns out she liked that we flirted but after kissing me she realised it wasn't anything more. Also everyone knew except me. But after all this time I had realised I was in love with this girl. I told her if she could keep all of this to herself and she said yes.
We were all still friends. But I couldn't let go. My mental health began to decent and I started feeling like they would leave me out of stuff to go hang out alone and during October I tried talking some time away to see if they would even talk to me if I didn't. They didn't even say good morning once. I tried again and again. Jacob and Ellie said we all need to talk together. They repeated the same words. Like as if it was rehearsed. I went to "the talk".
Jacob did most of the talking. He talked about boundaries and how after everything between me and Hannah the group hasn't been the same. That after I didn't tell him what happened in our vacation they went to her and forced Hannah to do so. They where all attacking me. I heard lie after lie and all followed up with "we just need some time" and that all of this was cause they loved me.
I have discussed what they accused me of with friends, family and therapists. Although I didn't not believe it at first they all confirmed it was finding little details in my day-to-day behaviour (unrelated to all of the above) and using it to kick me out. They didn't intend of even speaking to me again. Lies feed to everyone by Jacob.
I went away. I don't know if it was for the better. But for a few weeks at first and then months later, I went back to my home town. Their lies became actual blame and I got a message from Ellie saying that we are done (just one month after trying to convince me they needed time and confessing she in particular didn't even notice anything until her boyfriend accused me).
Last time I saw any of them was in December when I gave Hannah her Christmas present. I told her I wasn't trying to get her back and I would continue to keep my distance since my first priority is what she wants and I meant that. I really do love her and would do anything for her to be happy. But I miss her a ton.
It's been 5 months since then. I stopped going to school and kept my distance from anyone related to that life. I have depression and cannot think about anything else. I heard that Jacob still talk shut about me to everyone. I have realised what has happened and have discussed this with multiple common friends who have confirmed this. Jacob is Manipulating the other 2 because of the bad relationship with his parents. He knows Ellie won't do anything with anyone else despite the "open" relationship due to her luck of confidence (so it only works for him). She need him to operate in public and to deal with her extreme anxiety so he takes advantage of that and Hannah follows him everywhere with the excuse of just being a good friend.
There are so many things I couldn't include (this is a hugh post already) about more lies and proof that they where bad for me. But I can't move on. I have seeked medical help but I just cant imagine my life in the future without them. Everything is a reminder of what we've been through. Jacob used to call me his family and when I begged him for our friendship back he didn't even care. Not on my birthday, not on new years... never. I lost all of them.
I'm back now. Not sure why, whether I'm back to continue my studies or to see if I could win them back. If I could have Hannah in my life in sime form. But I'll probably see them tomorrow morning (I randomly walked behind them today, don't think they noticed me).
Please if you have any advice share it. I just want to feel happy again. Even for a second.
TL,DR: The girl I'm in love with stopped talking to me along with my 2 best friends. I can't move on and I'm supposed to face them again in school after not seeing them for months. They all lied to me and nothing seem to help. I have depression and I dont want to feel like this for the rest of my life.

I don’t know what to do in this situation. Any advice?
My gf and I of 1 year have gotten into many arguments regarding my “will to see her” and that many times resulted in her accusing me of not loving her or falling out of love, and it really hurts me.
As I said, we’re both 18, and we both live with our parents, so as most of you may know, “as long as you live under my roof, my rules” Yeah I have that kind of parents.
So, the issue is my gf is extremely attached to me. Like she waits for me to make some plans 24/7 (and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE MAKING PLANS WITH HER) but my mom, just isn’t happy about it. She feels like I am leaving my friends aside, and that I’m going to her house (or she coming to mine) way too much. And she isn’t wrong. I mean, there have been weeks in which I haven’t shared a single meal with my mother or any of my siblings due to being with my girl. (Now, many of you may say “well, why won’t your girl go to your place” well yeah but it’s not that simple, I’m not getting into details but trust me most of the time that isn’t an option) So sometimes I have to say “no” to my girl at least once a week, and that freaks her out.
For example, this week (today is sunday) we’ve together EVERY SINGLE DAY, including today (I woke up at her place and stayed until lunch because my grandma was coming to have lunch with us before leaving on vacations. I invited her but she refused to come as she had to work) Anyways, today before my grandma even left I went to where she works to pay her a visit in between. She was glad but said “well, what we’re doing today?” And I explained to her I am not feeling well (she already knew this) and would like to use what’s left of today to get some rest and make better plans for tomorrow. She got mad at me, like very mad. She just started hating on me and making me feel guilty saying things like “why tf don’t you rested before”
So that’s my issue. My mother who can’t stand me disappearing every week and my girl who can’t stand not seeing me a single day.
How tf can I solve this? Both my mother and my girl get mad at me and insult me whenever I don’t do what they would want me to do. I don’t get it. Like, anyone even thinks about me?

Hey, I'm being tracked and need to dump some equipment. These goons shouldn't harm you as long as you don't push them too hard. That being said? If you stall them I'll give you two. Nothing major. Just lie. Tell them I was going somewhere cold and dark. Just throw them off my trail. Stretch the story. Tell them I've dyed my hair purple. Keep them talking a bit longer. Something small could help.
Either way. Just take one. At a minimum, it will split the trail. I don't have time to tell you what they do.
Take One unless you are willing to lie for the stranger. In which case take Two. Or just lie to him and take two anyway.

1. Cyber glasses: When you put these on, they immediately drill into your temples giving you a split-second extreme nerve shock before it ends. You now have perfect vision, can see slightly above and below in the normal light spectrum, and can tint to a chosen color at will. These also can serve as a monitor for any machine/console/computer within 50 feet. You'll need to know the passwords still. But you'll be able to interface with them without using your hands and can control the transparency. This is full brain interface. Don't get yourself killed.
2. Vape pen: The button on this vape appears to toggle between 3 different flavors. Each has 5 puffs per day. Brown = Coffee: Each puff of this is like getting a 30-minute nap. This can replace real sleep with no issues. There is no downside to this. No drop-off. Your body just basically slept a bit in the single puff. Red = Cherry Punch: This seems to give you a .25x boost in your physical stats for 30 minutes per puff. You keep all gains from this. This includes things like endurance. They do stack. Green = Sour Watermelon: Each hit heals you as if you had top-of-the-line modern treatments for 48 hours. However, it is also able to very slightly treat issues outside of current capabilities at a much-reduced rate. This includes very slowly healing most disorders even genetic and even slowly repairing spinal damage. If no immediate damage needs repairing it will start to halt your aging. It isn't perfect, but if you are fully healed 3 puffs a day will completely stop aging that day. Each additional puff would essentially de-age you an hour or two.
3. Magician's Wand: On taking this item, you gain a magical assistant of your chosen gender in any magician's assistant garb that will appear. It doesn't have to be revealing, but it does have to look like a magician's assistant clothing. They'll be your magician assistant without hesitation and they are great. This individual will be a near-perfect match for you in personality to be a bff at minimum. They live inside of a pocket realm in the wand. It has plenty of space. With their consent, you can come and go from the Wand which has internet and most gaming systems. It is a full house. If you are nice they'll let you move in. It is a 4 bedroom 2 bath. You can also invite others if your assistant allows it. At will, you can know anything you've put inside of the wand, and able to manifest it before you in a puff of smoke or flash of light.
4. Pair of Dice: These dice passively increase your luck. This attribute is hard to define in this reality, but this is the equivalent of being 2x more lucky in all situations than average. As long as the dice are on you. The first time you roll the dice each day determines the following. If the pair adds up to more than 6, $500 USD adjusted for inflation will show up on your person in the next few hours. If you roll under 6 half a pint of blood will vanish from you.
5. Old watch: This old watch always tells the exact time in your current location. An extra button on the side allows you to stop time for all but you and the things you touch. Press it again for time to resume. This builds up a charge at the rate of 5 minutes per hour. This caps at 24 hours. You don't seem to age during this time.
6. PI Trench coat: This coat keeps you at the exact right temperature in any temps between -50f - +150f. It will try its best at anything above or below those temps, but it will be overwhelmed. Rain seems to ignore you while you wear this coat. Inside of the left pocket, a packet with 3 cigarettes appears daily. These don't harm you or cause you to cough. Instead smoking these increases your attention to detail and focus for a short duration. Often giving you a quick insight into problems. The coat slowly self repairs

Consequences: If you feed the goons bull information that isn't too insane they'll leave you. You'll never see them again. Interfere or feed them too much bull and they will kill you. Don't disrespect them and you'll be fine.
If you tell them everything you know, they'll thank you with 10,000 USD in your currency. The man who offered you the items may or may not be coming for you.

(I LIVE!! I have no idea what's hit me as hard as it did that Friday. But I needed Saturday to recover as well. Clearly wasn't the CPAP as that's working fine now. But good god is this unpleasant. Thankfully I'm clearly on the mend. I think I may have gotten food poisoning from KFC. Pity.)
~First~
Love and Longing
Little Fina’Noir and Dri’Noir still don’t like getting along all that much. So of course they need daddy between them to behave. They lay across his stomach, each out of reach of the other. For all that they ‘don’t’ get along, separating them is worse. They’re clearly best rivals already. They reach for each other and there are tiny puffs of sparks and little tongues of flame. But considering the soft and thin bed of moss on their daddy’s torso, it does nothing but make their little bits of bedding all the more comfortable.
Cia’Noir was visiting again, to be fair she visited so often she had almost moved in, and she was also currently mixing up a meaty broth in the kitchen while humming a nursery rhyme that most of the girls adored. Especially Uma’Noir and Jiti’Noir as they tried to keep tempo with it as grandma semi-swayed, semi-danced to the tune to their delight.
Ari’Noir, Mala’Noir, Gia’Noir and Lia’Noir were all having an extra nap. They had managed to get each other excited and rushing around as best they could earlier and wore themselves out. Leaving Miro’Noir the proud mother to luxuriate next to their shared napping blanket and pillows, casually reading a book.
“Oh? A call?” Vernon asks as his communicator starts buzzing. This grabs the attention of Fina and Dri as he pulls it out. “Observer Wu? Oh, the new ship.”
He activates it and then has the phone levitate away to give a broader look. “Sir, you’ll forgive me for not standing at attention I hope.”
“Yes.” The Asian man says after a moment. “We can excuse the lack of decorum considering that you seem to be thoroughly pinned.”
“What can I say? My little girls are fighters. I’ve heard some rumour about you through The Dark Forest. How may I help?”
“I am doing a preliminary call and evaluation of the situation with humanity off of Earth. We’ve found enough confusion information coming back to us that it necessitated the appointment and dispatching of an unquestionably trusted individual, myself, in order to ascertain exactly what is going on.” Observer Wu stated. “Unfortunately due to the sheer amount of nonsense that’s being sent towards The Inevitable and by extension, myself, I have been forced to place several administrators on duty to sort out the sheer number of calls I’m getting. The galaxy knows this is a second Dauntless Class Vessel, which means more humans.”
“Which means more men, and many women that decided to take a wait and see approach have likely decided that they’ve waited long enough.” Miro’Noir states.
“Indeed that is true madam. I take you are Lady Miro’Noir?”
“Princess, Lady is a more ennobled title. I am a War Princess, a military rank, directly empowered by and under the command of the Imperial Family of Serbow, in particular, The Empress.” Miro’Noir says and Observer Wu nods.
“And the third adult looking into this conversation?” Observer Wu asks.
“I am Cia’Noir, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother depending who in this room you are asking.” She says. “My little girl has worked a miracle in that she’s locked down a husband all to herself. So she needs a bit of a hand to caring for her first clutch, no sister wives to assist you see.”
“I believe I do. Still, I have been informed that Officer Shay and Princess Miro’Noir are largely responsible for the excellent relationships the Apuk have with humanity. If you would be so kind, could you tell me how that came about?”
“Oh... it was silly, sweet and wonderful all at the same time...” Miro’Noir gushes. “We met at a bar and I tried to get some attention, a few credits for a conversation. At first I thought he was a Tret.”
“The near human species, yes.”
“Well, I was proven wrong, not only human, but an INTERESTING human as well. A trinity of criminal fools attacked, and as I rose to show off, he did as well. And displayed a terrifying Axiom power.”
“Terrifying power?”
“Transmutation sir. A very complicated Axiom Technique I had stumbled on and managed to create my own version of. Basically I had bumbled into a way to rapidly learn a monumentally difficult trick and make it extremely lethal in human hands.” Vernon explains.
“I see. Are the notes of your research available on The Dauntless?’
“Yes sir they are, I hope you’ll forgive that... hey!” Vernon is cut off when Fina’Noir starts smacking his stomach. “Be nice little lady!”
“Bah! Bah! Bah bah!” Fina’Noir counters as she smacks him in the stomach again and again.
“Fina’Noir you must be nice with family!”
“Adabababa!” Dri’Noir adds in with a smack of her own to her daddy’s stomach.
“Dri’Noir! Don’t follow your sister’s bad example! Be nice!” Vernon chides her and a smiling Miro’Noir rises up after marking her place in her book and sweeps the more active little girls into her arms.
“There, have your talk with your officer now dear.” Miro’Noir says giving him a peck that he gestures for her to come back to and he gives her a longer kiss in return.
“I’ll be back shortly.” He promises before rising up. The communicator floats into his hand and he offers a salute to Cia’Noir who sends one right back. “I’ll be just in the back yard.”
A few moments and the door is closed behind him. The communicator floats out of his hands and he slips into parade ground ‘at ease’ stance. “Sir.”
“This is a preliminary communication. Not that formal. How well regarded are humans by the Apuk?”
“We have been invited to build a community on their homeworld sir. That kind of privilege is usually extended only to species that are sworn to each other in some way.” Vernon answers.
“That’s very interesting.”
“It was a very strategic move sir. The Empress... she’s one of those kinds of politicians where any action you take short of directly opposing them or attacking them is something they benefit from, and they also know how to handle someone directly opposing or attacking them. She’s friendly and benevolent, but when you realize just how many of her strings you’re dancing on... it’s disquieting.”
“I see, so how did setting up a human community on Serbow help?”
“She requested a specific type to explore the human ease at learning Apuk Sorcery. She did this to not only develop a large number of sorcerers that are more mentally stable than most, but to get ahead of the next few sorcerers, put her in well with humanity, distract the more troublesome nobility and likely more. That was one action. One.”
“Ah... one of those types. Is she scrambling to get things done or does it all seem effortless?”
“Effortless.”
“... Frightening.”
“She’s been directly ruling an entire species for multiple centuries. Even if she was originally installed as a puppet of some kind, which she was not, then she would have had enough time to gain all the skills she needs to be an unstoppable force in the political side of things.”
“I see, anything else?”
“You’ll need some context for this. You are aware that Apuk are naturally inclined to breathe fire using Axiom right?”
“I am.”
“Those trained to use it properly manifest Warfire, it’s... hard to describe. A fire where the heat lingers and pervades much more than normal. It’s like the fire contains their aggression.”
“I see, what of it?”
“There are four grades of Warfire easily distinguished by colour. Red is standard, Blue is considered an expert level, Green is the sheer strength of Battle Princesses only, but the final level is White Warfire, and only The Empress can manifest it at will.”
“I see.” Observer Wu states and Vernon shakes his head.
“Sir, Red Warfire can burn a hole into a starship over the course of a few minutes. It takes a single minute or less for Blue Warfire to do the same. A mere moment for Green Warfire and is so instantaneous for White Warfire it would cause an explosion as the solid metal is converted into a gas instantly.” Vernon explains.
“Really? They’re that dangerous?”
“Sir, it’s legally a form of suicide to attempt to fight a War Princess with odds any less than five to one.” Vernon says and Observer Wu looks impressed.
“I see, and your involvement with their cultural traditions and such?”
“Well, first was the Broken Shell Tournament. A large martial contest with six person free for all fights. The aim is to break the armour or ‘shell’ of all your opponents, not kill them or force them out of the ring. I made it to the final round before I grew upset at one of my opponents, locked her down entirely, and then broke my own armour and walked out. More or less ruining the woman’s reputation and social standing while imprinting myself into the cultural zeitgeist.”
“What happened to the woman in question?”
“She joined a monastery and after achieving journeyman status I offered her a recommendation into The Undaunted as compensation. She’s taken it from my understanding, but as you can imagine, she and I are not on good terms. Or really speaking terms.”
“I see, and the community that has been built?”
“It... kinda ties into our initial journey through Cruel Space.” Vernon says somewhat ruefully. “A lot of us played all kinds of pranks and jokes and things like that to try and stave off the boredom and cabin fever. One of which was banding around a soldier who has ninjas in his ancestry and... pretending to be his legion of ninjas.”
“... The people that took part in that are mostly in the community aren’t they?”
“Yes sir, we’ve built a hidden ninja village in The Dark Forest of Serbow. A massive communal entity that is simultaneously a single mind and the mind of every single thing in the forest.”
“A communal entity? Wait, you said everything in the forest. Does that include the men currently inside it?”
“And me right now. Think of my like a brain-cell to a larger body if you must. While I cannot ignore the needs of the rest of the body, I can also guide it, learn from it, and it’s strength is mine as my knowledge and skills belong to it.”
“And it’s not a security breach?”
“I’m able to keep secrets from it, but what I share with it stays with it. It has however flash taught me the local language of Cinder Tongue, as well as Classical and even Ancient Cinder Tongue. I know the Apuk language and much of their history better than some dedicated historians. Couple that with the extreme area control and tactical advantages of being bonded to the forest and it’s been regarded as a more than fair trade.”
“Area control?”
“The Dark Forest as an entity can absorb heat and grow stronger. I can cause a temporary extension of this ally to appear wherever I am. And considering lasers and plasma are the most commonly used forms of weaponry and Apuk Warfire, it’s a nearly perfect defence. Couple that with just how much it understands about Axiom use towards animals, plants and the earth itself and I can shatter the ground under me with a blink and refuse any solid ground to stand on to my enemies as well. Add on Woodwalking and I am untouchable to my enemies.”
“Woodwalking?”
“The Forest is alive and on my side. I carry a whisper of it within me wherever I go. The Forest can call me back to any extension of itself at any time. Meaning I can in effect always retreat to a safe location no matter the distance, access the supplies I have stored there no matter where I am, and have backup by my side at any moment. Facing a Dark Forest Sorcerer is such a tactical nightmare that we’re considered direct counters to Apuk Battle Princesses, which may I remind you, are legally suicide to fight one to one.” Vernon says. “To say nothing of the other Sorcerers. The Dreadmoss, The Blood Bark The Burning Stone, The Bonechewer, The City Shaker, The Leviathan Lord. Or my own title, The Bloody Prophet.”
“You’re The Bloody Prophet?”
“I recreated the Plagues of Egypt to stop feuding families from slaughtering each other. I am the only Sorcerer who’s title wasn’t earned with a body count. Even if only by a technicality.”
“A technicality?”
“Dare’Char Crushclaw is the Lydris born son of Brin’Char The Bonechewer. He assisted in one of his father’s rampages against his hated enemy by providing transport. While Dare’Char didn’t kill anyone directly, he still enabled his father in that regard.”
“So those nicknames are for supernatural serial killers?”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“Please explain then.”
“It’s rather hard to, until I became the first human sorcerer, all sorcerers were the result of an Apuk boy or man being pushed to the breaking point. They then flee in the night and find solace in the shadow of The Dark Forest, it bonds with them, protects them and teaches them. But it also reminds them of what drove them to the forest to begin with. Which means that in a few short years, the former victim returns from The Dark Forest, immensly powerful and filled with unthinking rage. Until humans were on the scene, all sorcerers went on at least one rampage and earned their nicknames from them. Since we showed up... there were only two... technically three. One was Brin’Char finding his ancient enemy still alive, so he was set off. Another was when Cals’Tarn joined us, his home was under attack and we counterattacked for him. Saving his home and family. Then there was mine, but no casualties, does it really count as a rampage?”
“I would say bringing the literal wrath of god onto someone would count as a rampage, yes.” Observer Wu states. “I think we will be speaking face to face in short order. It’s quite clear that you are responsible for some fairly major changes.”
“I look forward to it, is there anything else?”
“Not at this time.”
“Good, because I’d like to get back to my wife.”
“You’ve only been apart for...” Observer Wu checks his watch. “Four minutes.”
“Five minutes too many. If you’ll excuse me.”
“You are excused.” Observer Wu says and he turns off the communicator.
~First~ Last

So I (15F) have been friends with my best friend (16F) for around 2 1/2 years now. She is one of my closest friends and we have this insane bond where we literally trust each other with everything. I know that if I tell her something, she'll never tell anyone else, and vice versa. We tell each other EVERYTHING. Anyways, she has been on and off with this guy (17M) for about two years now. I third wheeled them a lot and the three of us used to hang out together a lot. We also are in a go together and the three of us used to call all the time. Anyways, me and him are friends because of that. Fast forward to a few months ago, my friend and him are having problems and she decides to break it off with him. They go no contact. Suddenly, he is texting me a lot, asking about her, wanting to call me and rant. I checked with her to make sure she's okay with it-and she always says yes. She says she trusts me to not flirt with him, and that she wants him to have someone he can talk to. I almost always tell her the overview of our conversations so she doesn't worry (he knows I do this). Lately, he's been calling me just to talk because he's a bit lonely (it's usually him who texts first, I rarely do). I don't tell her about every single interaction that we have anymore, because it feels repetitive, and I'm not sure if she wants to hear about him. It doesn't feel like l'm hiding it from her, but something feels wrong.He's invited me to hang out with him a couple of times, and I've only said yes once. Even though I know nothing is going on between us, and my best friend says she's okay with it, I get the feeling she's a bit weirded out by the whole situation. However, whenever I ask her she always says she isn't. I still feels like it's a bit weird whenever we talk and I start to feel really guilty for talking to him, even though I'm not doing anything wrong. I don't have many friends, so it's nice to have someone who calls me. I'm very antisocial, and also extremely depressed. I have a lot of trouble making friends. Me and my best friends bond is an incredibly lucky situation that I never thought would happen. I never want to lose her. What do you guys think? Is it weird that I talk to my best friends ex? They are on good terms, but I'm a bit weirded out by it. What do I do?

• my mother kicked me of her car when I was a teenager. It was not a walkable place, I tried not getting ran over literally and walked looking for her
• my parents stopped attending any parent teacher conferences after primary school
• There were weeks were my parents would ignore me and talk/act as if I was not there when they were pissed
• They would laugh at me if I was in visible distress
• they convinced me I was clinically insane as a kid as a form of gaslight
• They made me do household chores and watch my brother at 8 every weekend
• They told me if I struggled academically its best to quit school
• they would invite multiple families over even when I had a fever and a headache
• I wouldn't get attention even if I broke my leg or was sick
• I was called weak for being bullied and talking abt it to by my parents
• they kept insisting everyone around me hated me and I was a desperate freak
• when we went places they would exclude me
• if I told them something they wouldn't reply or answer and if I got mad they would yell at me saying they heard me
• my father would be extremely amused if I was hurt and actually try to psychologically make me scared by claiming they will kll him or smth (making stuff up) just to laugh when I got scared or threaten to beat me
• my father used to tell me I draw like sht when I was 4 and tried to impress him via art
• my dad told me I look average at best and am not that smart casually many times
• my mother convinced me I was a genius but then called me names 2 secs later
• my mother spit on me and grabbed my hair
• both have hit me
• both claim it never happened
• they kept saying if I was to contact cps they would treat me worse and I would finally realize what amazing parents I had

Its been a while since I expressed myself, so here it goes for today's events.
I'm 34M. I developed a crush on a 22F which I supported into joining the same company as me and really want to see her stand on her own legs and make a name for herself.
Unfortunately for me, I developed feelings for her. At some point she told me she would like to keep the relationship professional because of my position being higher than hers. Mind you, its not like Im her manager or anything, we're simply working in the same group, not on the same project though. Anyways, I respected her decision.
Fast forwards months, we go on a hike today. I see her being very intimate with a muslim colleague. I'm talking fairly traditional one, respecting ramadan etc. So here I am remembering her talks about "me being senior to her and that she doesn't want other to thing she's getting the easy way upwards" as if Im some sort of higher management? Im not! And there she is being close with this guy.
I've wished for this! I've wished for someone special to be that close to me! And I found someone to come work for the same company as I do and what does she do? She dates that guy!
Apologies to any muslim person who might be reading this. My last best colleague who used to have coffees with me was muslim, albeit not a religious one. I cannot for the sake of me understand why would anyone, especially a woman, have any dealings with a religious one. He seems the whole package, trying to wow her, being all kinds of nice to her and Im 100% sure he will follow the stereotype of being the proper muslim guy; making sure the male children are muslims, that she converts to islamism just to please the parents, that she treats her badly etc
Sorry, I know that all muslims are not like this, but there are some that are. And I have a strong feeling he's one of them. He's too "nice". I simply don't like him. Call it jealousy, call it whatever, I don't like it.
Im at a loss. I've been to this hike today with him and her. I've been to a colleagues dinner invitation later, where I drunk 3.5L of beer that made me really drunk. Now Im here writing this and tomorrow I have to go to work and face her?
Fuck this shit.

I am currently using the Lamzu Thorn and the Hayate Otsu, and im noticing the sensor cannot track anywhere near correct when the mouse is turned 45° or even close to that, is anyone else having this issue and how do I fix it? Is it just a sign I need to deepclean my mousepad?
EDIT: Here's a clip to *try* and show what I mean

CDL 2024 Major 3
Game Starts at 5:30pm est
Welcome!
This is OpTicGaming's official discussion thread for the OpTic Texas vs Atlanta Faze. A surprise upset in the winners final and all of a sudden we have Faze up next. OpTic clutched up earlier against the Subliners. Hopefully this is the time where OpTic gets a win against Faze. Been a rough head to head this year.
Please use this thread for everything related to the match--discussions, predictions, and opinions. As always, please keep both OpTicGaming's rules and Reddit's site-wide rules in mind when commenting.
Informational Wiki Page for the Event
Streams:
Call of Duty
Scump
Methodz
Mboze
OpTic Texas 0-0 Atlanta Faze
Map Set
Hardpoint: 6 Star (W)
SND: Highrise
Control: Highrise
Hardpoint: Vista
SND: Invasion
**Hardpoint 6 Star**
OpTic Texas 250-208 Atlanta Faze

OpTic Texas	K	D	A	DMG	Miami Heretics	K	D	A	DMG
Dashy	27	25	10	5446	Simp	27	26	9	4858
Kenny	27	29	16	5479	Cellium	17	23	13	3930
Shotzzy	39	26	5	6428	Drazah	36	31	11	6631
Pred	19	26	12	3892	Abezy	26	32	14	4660
Karma (coach)					Crowder(coach)

Detailed Map Statistics
**SND Highrise**
OpTic Texas 0-0 Atlanta Faze

OpTic Texas	K	D	A	DMG	Miami Heretics	K	D	A	DMG
Dashy					Simp
Kenny					Cellium
Shotzzy					Drazah
Pred					Abezy
Karma (coach)					Crowder(coach)

Detailed Map Statistics
**Control Highrise**
OpTic Texas 0-0 Atlanta Faze

OpTic Texas	K	D	A	DMG	Miami Heretics	K	D	A	DMG
Dashy					Simp
Kenny					Cellium
Shotzzy					Drazah
Pred					Abezy
Karma (coach)					Crowder(coach)

Detailed Map Statistics
**Hardpoint Vista**
OpTic Texas 0-0 Atlanta Faze

OpTic Texas	K	D	A	DMG	Miami Heretics	K	D	A	DMG
Dashy					Simp
Kenny					Cellium
Shotzzy					Drazah
Pred					Abezy
Karma (coach)					Crowder(coach)

Detailed Map Statistics
**SND Invasion**
OpTic Texas 0-0 Atlanta Faze

OpTic Texas	K	D	A	DMG	Miami Heretics	K	D	A	DMG
Dashy					Simp
Kenny					Cellium
Shotzzy					Drazah
Pred					Abezy
Karma (coach)					Crowder(coach)

Detailed Map Statistics
Come talk with us on discord in the #cod-gameday channel during the match!
Official OpTic Discord Server
Official OpTic Gaming Twitter
OpTic Update Twitter Account
OpTic Texas Twitter

I know there's also her perspective of the situation but I'll try to be as neutral as possible because I want honest opinions.
I (M30) was dumped by my gf (27F). I gave her my all and I'm feeling terrible. We had an on-off relationship for several months. At first when we dated I was able to set boundaries, but this changed. Before forming a relationship she asked me if she should be worried I'm seeing some other girl, I thought it was cute and assured her she didn't have to worry and asked her the same thing to which she responded "of course not". Several weeks later she became cold and distant. I confronted her when she was out drinking with a friend she didn't want to tell me who it was and asked "are you seeing somebody else?" to which she responded that her feelings for me had disappeared and she wants to cut off contact with me to go see other guys. I said "Ok bye."
Post forward a month, my feelings started to rise for her during the time I was away from her and my thoughts started wandering. "What if I wasn't comitted enough?", "did she think I was with her only for the sex?" and so on.. I had to contact her and find out. She agreed to meet me, we met and she said she missed me and so we started dating again. It was all lovey dovey just like before til' she became cold some weeks later again. Until this point I had been acting great towards her, not taken a wrong step at all. She tried to break up with me out of nowhere because she said she had to work on herself and I was shocked, I told her I would offer her unconditional love, support her mental health journey and even spilled the thought I would be ready to move to her city in the future because she had been sending signals she wanted that. This night she cried, told me how much she hated herself, was unlovable and had a history of seeking attention from guys but not anymore. She then wanted to try to make things work and that she would not flee from the situation because she was fearing commitment. I felt I lost self-respect and let go of my pride to save the relationship.
The following week I was hurt and cold towards her thinking I couldn't accept being treated like this, that this cycle will only repeat over and over again, her behaviour wasn't healthy and mine was neither since I'm allowing her to keep doing this. I watched videos on Youtube and stumbled upon a video about how to date someone with Borderline (later on I realized she probably didn't have that diagnosis) and got my hopes up to keep trying because I'm not a quitter and really like her. I thought her sudden changes in feelings and behaviour towards me was a repeating defense mechanism. Since I was now acting colder for the first time because I was hurt and ready to leave her if this behaviour continued she cried out she wanted to have a serious relationship with me and didn't want to lose me. I asked her if she was willing to build love, respect and trust and she said yes. We had a serious talk where I told her I didn't want to be used because I saw the risk of being that and she agreed that would not happen. Prior to our meetup she had planned on seeing her friend who is a guy but she cancelled it to prioritize seeing me and fix things.
At this point I was invested in the relationship and honestly felt a bit traumatized by it all. I had a bad feeling about her snaping and texting with alot of different guy friends. I was worried and reacted bad as soon as I saw a guy's name pop up on her phone screen. She ensured me it was only friends and I had a hard time trusting that at first. It took some time and convincing for me to feel cool with it and then I let go. She met this friend (who has confirmed romantic feelings towards her) of hers alone at his place drinking some wine but I wasn't really worried anymore and trusted her since she said she's feeling guilty he doesn't have alot of friends in the city. I thought maybe you shouldn't do that while in a relationship, but she thought otherwise and I just had to accept that our opinions differed and I was mostly fine with it. I really don't have any right to control her from seeing her longtime friend, but also thought it might have been that she wanted some attention or just talk to her friend.
Time went on and things were mostly really good between us, I still had some issues with trusting her because I always thought the time could come when she turned to this cold, distant version of herself. So I had some insecurities and needed her to ensure me from time to time that she's not about to flip again and that she's still into me and doesn't have interest in other guys. I noticed my behaviour started to annoy her and that my constant anxiety pushed her to distance herself from regular emotional talk. She kept snaping guys, mostly her co-worker several times a day, also while we were hanging out, they had a long snap streak and I asked about it after I reacted disturbed/troubled with my gf. She once again ensured me it's only a co-worker and they only talk about silly stuff with each other. I asked why they talked so frequently and about my worries and fears of stuff like this evolving into potential emotional cheating and maybe later on even physical cheating. That I myself would not text a girl buddy this much out of respect to my partner. She had a different opinion than me, but eventually agreed that you should not do some stuff with the opposite sex out of respect for your partner, but she thinks it would be totally fine going out alone just the two of them and having drinks as long as it's a friend. I didn't really agree it's cool but that it's probably no problem in some cases with very specific friends where there's no romance involved, but we agreed to disagree.
Fast forward to some weeks later when we had a conflict over the phone. I once again didn't really feel she was comitted since she didn't want to spend the whole upcoming weekend with me despite we haven't seen each other for two-three weeks. I just wanted her to want to spend all days of the weekend with me but she wanted to rest by herself one of the days, I reacted badly to this and regret I questioned it at all and didn't respect her need for some alone time. She also told me out of the blue she wanted to move to another city to which I reacted shocked and responded "but what about us and our plans of me moving to your current place?". She then responded that it was just a temporary thought that occurred to her and it wasn't that serious. I told her I was disappointed by this and that I hoped she would have considered my feelings in it all, it was a big step for me just moving to her current place further on. She said "I thought we had a really stable relationship but after this I'm not so sure anymore.."
After this she successively became colder and more distant in her texts. My anxiety increased, I apologized to her for my behaviour and wanted to work things out but she just said "we'll talk about it when we meet, not now". When the weekend came she was all cold towards me and in the evening told me she had to break up with me, she had talked to her colleagues and they all said I tried to control her and was an insecure guy. They said she needs to leave me and if I say I would do better she would just be controlled by me again, so she could never return to me for her own health-safety. Before this they really liked me and said I was such a sweet and nice guy and I've also met most of them too. I was shocked. I'm thinking to myself "that's not me, I'm actually a genuine guy with good moral and traits". Now basically everything I'd say could be considered as manipulative behaviour. She also told me she went to eat lunch alone with her co-worker she had snaped with the day after our fight but was afraid to tell me because of jealousy. Since I was so invested (talking about kids, house etc which is my big dream to do with someone I love) in the relationship and so in love I just couldn't let her go and I did everything I could to convince her to stay with me. She agreed to giving me "another chance" since I had given her another chance before but it really didn't feel like it. She was cold towards me but also gave me glimpses of hope during a whole month and this totally drained me. It was hot n cold and mixed signals all over the place and she also did some mean stuff like sexually teasing me and then saying "nope, no sex for you". I was supposed to go on a trip with her and her family but she said it got cancelled, then they went to another place anyways without inviting me. After this she came to my place, returned my stuff and actually had a long talk about our relationship and how she didn't want to keep working on it. She listened to me for the first time after basically stonewalling me for a month and I was of course very sad since this was the end for us and I tried everything to convince her to stay with me but ultimately was left alone.
After all this I've been depressed and even suicidal most of the days. I'm going to therapy and trying anti-depressants. I do have a history of depression, but it's never been this bad. Trying to take care of myself, seeing friends and family, working out even though it's hard. I tried reaching out to her after NC for 6 weeks but she said she has moved on and that I should too. My self-worth is at the bottom now, way worse than before the relationship. I'm also worried I won't find anyone I love again in my small city to maybe start a family with some day. I feel like a failure and don't have really any other big life goals, it's all dark right now. I'm aware of the codependency and unsecure anxious attachment i developed towards her while she was being avoidant. I've really done reflection and analyzed it all but I just want to hear your opinions about the situation and maybe some support.

28 - The Fountain Build

Point Summary

Point Total: 1000 CP 1000 (Base)

Jump Details

Document name: 28 - The Fountain Version: 1.1 Author: SJ-Chan Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J9PF3AIk-7AcY8Gd2R7CJXaqDZPdxgeO/view

Jump Duration

Years: 10 Months: 0 Days: 0

Perks

Noble Thought (Free)
A noble is a creature of excess, and excess has a way of blinding one to reality. Well, not you. No matter how much you have, you will never forget the value of things, the realities of the lives of people who aren’t you, and truth that the world does not, in fact, revolve around you. You will not forget to treat people with the respect due them, nor will you disregard their suffering simply because it doesn’t affect you.
Noble Deed (Free)
Things you do echo further, have greater impact, are remembered longer. History books never leave you out and, when you visit places you once tread, you will find relics and signs of your passage no matter how much time has passed. You will not be forgotten. But you might not be remembered fondly.
Inventor's Vision (Free)
When you look upon a problem or issue that you understand even a bit, you instantly get a sense for how you might solve that problem, upgrade that item, or improve that situation. The longer you study some situation or item, the greater the insight will be and the more far reaching the solution. You might look at the state of education in your society and within a week have a dozen workable plans for small ways to improve the situation, and within a year of study have a comprehensive and feasible plan for a complete overhaul of the system. While not guaranteed that all your ideas will be good ones, improvement becomes far more likely with time and effort. Unforeseen side effects might still crop up though.
Inventor's Intent (Free)
One of the worst things an inventor can experience is discovering that someone has used their invention in a way they would not approve of... or even worse, that their invention has some horrible side-effect. Now this is much less likely to happen to you. Processes, techniques, and tools invented by you are much harder to abuse in ways you would not approve of, and you’re much better at foreseeing potential problems ahead of time and figuring out ways to head them off or, at least, lessen the fallout that will result from them.
Improved POV (Free)
Somehow, wherever you go, you always seem to be in five closely related locations at the same time. Well, that’s not quite right. Let me try again. When you are anywhere, four versions of you that aren’t quite really there, but could be there if you weren’t there... are there. Does that make any sense? Probably not. But what it boils down to is that for every event you experience, you have not one but five points of view on the event. Maybe one of you was right in the middle of a bar-fight, while another you was in the corner watching, and a third was working a pick-up shift behind the bar, and a fourth was an EMT who responded to the event and the fifth was a bum on the sidewalk outside listening. Only the primary you is the one who was really in the moment, but you can freely remember what all the four... let’s call them shadows... would have seen and experienced from their own unique POVs. You can’t really choose what they were doing, as they are more like echoes of potential you’s, but their experiences will be close enough to what you’d have experienced to be easily internalized and all the details will be as true as anything you actually experienced.
Bystander (Free)
When you don’t want to be involved in the events unfolding around you, be that a war, a fight, or a natural disaster, you may remove yourself from the flow of events almost entirely. As long as no individual or entity involved wants to target you specifically, you may become an all but intangible, unperceivable, untargetable observer. Even area effect things like, say, atomic bomb blasts, will pass harmlessly through you, though you might want to get out of there before the radiation gets to you. All Together Now (Free)
You have grown tired of casting off the memories and emotions each Jump layers over your basic identity. You may now choose to absorb the personality of any self you gain or have ever been into a gestalten whole. While this may dilute your basic youness, it also makes it much harder for anyone but you to make sense of your memories or to use any specific traumatic experience against you. Although there is now more of you, your essential sense of self only grows stronger the more times you do this, as all these facets of yourself serve to reinforce your fundamental identity, and you realize that the more you appear to change, the more you explore the limits of who you are. In layman’s terms, each apparent change is more akin to uncovering further digits of pi. Pi itself never changes even as it grows more complex.
500 Years of Practice - Teaching [100/900 CP]
You have spent five centuries mastering (and beyond mastering) any singular skill or artform. Sure, you might be a bit obsessed with that subject, but that obsession will fade as the jump comes to an end. Your compulsive delving into the limits of this singular area of study has granted you insights that no other living being has ever reached, allowing you to casually compose masterpieces which can profoundly move those who witness them, or create stunning refinements undreamt of by mere masters. A painter could trace a perfect circle in black on a white background and viewers would stare for hours. A dancer could reduce the audience to tears simply by standing still. A sculptor could carve hard stone until it was all but impossible to tell the sculpture from a living being. A poet’s words could touch the hardest heart or sway public opinion like a gale-force wind.
Soothing Presence [200/700 CP]
You have achieved inner calm and can project it at others as long as you are not currently experiencing any strong emotion yourself. Merely being in someone’s presence is enough to calm them dramatically, but physical contact, oratory or song, or simply allowing them to see you can all boost the effect by orders of magnitude. This can sooth mental, emotional, or spiritual suffering, or simply induce a sense of lassitude over the target or targets. This can work on any number of people as long as you can reach them with your presence.
Absolution [300/400 CP]
If you can convince someone to willingly pour out their deepest fears, regrets, or sins to you, you can grant them true absolution, allowing them to forgive themselves and move on. This does absolutely nothing for you as it does not work if you make it conditional. Their repentance must be genuine for this to work and they cannot desire gaining absolution for any immoral or unethical purpose.

Items Stipend: [+200/600 CP]

Meditation Garden (Free)
The Body. The Mind. The Soul. A perfect trinity, working in harmony to reflect the Self. But when one of these is disrupted, balance can be at risk. Balance must be maintained. Upon purchase, your Warehouse gains a small Meditation Garden attachment, that while it cannot be used for storage, it will always fit whatever form you are wearing. Its aesthetics will always change to represent what you interpret as an environment of perfect serenity and 'oneness', and a significant time meditating in this space will help you reach an intrinsic understanding of the self and how your experiences can define you. The past cannot always be changed, but the present can forever be gleaned on... so that the future is always one of your design. You can, if you like, plant a few small plants in your Garden as well. Any plant inside the garden will always be in the full flush of life.
Biosphere [200/400 CP]
The body is but a vessel of the mind, with one changing as the other does, constantly learning from what it experiences and accomplishes. It is only natural then, that the experiences of those around the body will likewise help shape it. To gain the perspective and change you desire, your environment must reflect that. For this meager price, your Warehouse has gained the properties of a Biosphere; self-contained, but controlled. The walls and ceiling can be made 'open', to make it appear as though you were in the middle of an open field in the summer, or a cliffside as the night sky illuminated the plains. While you cannot store anything outside of the Warehouse boundaries, and you will always be aware of these boundaries... the weather and the environment around you shall be in your control, with even simulacrums of wildlife that may fly around. Perhaps by expressing your mind in here, you can begin to understand it. The higher price unlocks the Biosphere Supplement and grants you 800 BP to spend there instead of the default 600.
Tree of Life Sapling [400/0 CP]
You have managed to obtain a fully viable, albeit fairly young Tree of Life. It produces both bark and, once a decade, six fully viable fruits that will (if left on the tree) mature to seeds. Each takes a hundred years to become a sapling, and a thousand years to reach full maturity. The sap is incredibly deadly, so it’s a good thing the flesh of the tree is all but impenetrable to anything short of divine weapons. If you purchased the Meditation Garden, the Sapling will initially be planted there. If you did not, it will be planted in a small reflecting pool attached to your Warehouse. Those who eat the fruit of the tree of life can live forever in the prime of life and free of all disease, gaining the effects of the Perfect Health Perk above.
Note - Perfect Health [Free in the Future, 400 to Keep]: Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, you have gained perfect health, immunity to all diseases, the ability to heal from any non-lethal wound, and to live, essentially, forever.

28A - Biosphere Supplement Build

Point Summary

Point Total: 800 CP 800 (Base)

Jump Details

Document name: 28A - Biosphere Supplement Version: 1.7 Author: SJ-Chan Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XhaR5HSde1GKV_kbfp2u_YQEYFGqOg2a1GIBOgp8FfQ/edit

Items

Biosphere Basic and Freebies (Free)
Note: Main island is 64km diameter (3217 sqkm area - basically the same size as the county I live in) , 2 islands are 16km diameter, 3 islands are 4km diameter, etc. "World" zone is 25,736 sqkm area (181km diameter)
The Sphere is divided into an inner “Land Space” World and an outer “Air Space” Shell. If the World expands, it does not increase the thickness of the Shell and vis versa. The sphere is always a perfect sphere.
The initial World is 1 km from edge to edge and contains your base island. The Island is 1 km in diameter. It is mostly circular, with an area of 0.785 km2. It is 200-250 meters thick and all jagged on the bottom. The World is a sphere, though the half above “sea level” is likely to be largely full of air. It is exactly as tall as it is wide. Your warehouse is always at the exact center of the World’s horizontal axes, though it can be raised or lowered vertically if you have the means.
The initial Shell is also 1 km. This means it is ½ km give or take, from the edge of your initial island. If you fall off the edge of the island, you will fall to the bottom of the sphere and need to get someone to come and get you if you cannot fly. Building within ½ km of the outer edge of the Shell is prohibited.
Gravity is Earth normal.
Biosphere Day Cycler [Free] - Now you can run your Biosphere through a day night system.
Utilities [Free if you have them from the Warehouse or Housing] - Electricity, Intranet with wifi (will only connect to outside data net if you have that upgrade), Running Water (Fluoridated or not, your choice), Sewage System, AC & Heating to all buildings.
Basic Pollution Scrubber [Free] - This pulls all incidental contamination out of the atmosphere of your Sphere.
Rope Ladders [Free] - Extends off the bottom of all your islands so you can climb up.
Biosphere - The Huge Island [90/710 CP]
Your Island is now 64km in diameter / 3,217 km2 in area. The thickness increases to 1600-2000 meters. Your World expands to contain this respectably sized landmass.
Biosphere - Double Archipeligo [150/560 CP]
You really like land, don’t you? Okay, just for you. You now have 2 Secondary Islands, 3 Tertiary Islands, 4 Quaternary Islands, and so on. You may also have up to 200 smaller islands that may not exceed 4 m across. This doubles the size of your World one last time.
note: each island is 1/4th the diameter of the last. If your main island is 256 km across, your other islands will be 64 km, 16 km, 4 km, 1 km, 250 m, 62.5 m, 15.6 m.
Biosphere - Snowball in Hell [20/540 CP]
The thickness of your Shell is now 4 km in all directions.
Biosphere - The Ocean Not So Deep [50/490 CP]
Instead of just being surrounded by air, your Island is surrounded by water. This water is freshwater and drops down to the bottom of your island, but only has a seafloor for the first 100 meters in all directions. It does not have tides or waves and has no flora or fauna. This ocean extends out to within 1km of the walls of your sphere, including down. Requires at least Snowball in Hell.
Biosphere - The Seafloor [20/470 CP]
The ocean around your islands now has a seafloor that extends out as far as your ocean does. It gets progressively deeper the further from land it is, down to within 200 meters of the bottom of your thickest island. Requires The Ocean Not So Deep.
Biosphere - Ocean Life [20/450 CP]
Your ocean now teams with freshwater plants and fish, shellfish, and bivalves. Nothing poisonous or dangerous exists in this environment naturally, but you could import it if you like. There are no marine mammals, but you could bring those in too if you like. The native species are self replicating, even if fished to extinction. Requires The Seafloor.
Biosphere - Weatherworks [15/435 CP]
Want to do a spot of sailing or just like a breeze? This machine makes the wind blow. There are now heavy updrafts for you hang-gliders. There are now big white fluffy clouds floating around inside your Biosphere. You have complete control over weather if you have the Observation Deck.
Biosphere - Season Simulator [10/425 CP]
Like variation? Now you can set the seasons to cycle anywhere from once a day to once a century. Don’t like Winter? Skip it! Want to make up your own seasons? Cool! Requires Weatherworks & Day Cycler.
Biosphere - Climatology [10/415 CP]
Now you can designate latitudes inside your sphere where the climate varies, either arctic at the center and tropical at the edges or vis versa. Need not be that extreme. Requires Season Simulator.
Biosphere - Terrain Modification Engine [40/375 CP]
All the flat getting to you? This machine can raise hills or create valleys or rivers or any other terrain features you might want within your Biosphere. You could even make mountains that tower up to 30 km high if your Sphere is big enough. Terrain features rise or fall no more than 1 meter per 24 hours. High mountains will develope snow caps if you have the Weatherworks and Oceans.
Biosphere - Floral Universe Creation Kit [20/355 CP]
All the endless grass getting to you? This machine can create forests, jungles, savannahs… you name it. Plants grown with this machine grow 1 meter per day and each machine can create up to 5,000 cubic meters of living plant matter every day. This system can generate 10,000 different species of plant and adding a new one simply requires a genetic sample. Only natural plants can be generated. The machine can be removed from your Biosphere for up to 7 days before needing 28 to recharge.
Biosphere - Small Fauna Generator [25/330 CP]
Want some chipmunks, birds, butterflies, bees? Nothing this machine generates is overly dangerous or a pest species, and the system automatically keeps everything in check, even if you’re a dick to nature. Each Generator can produce and maintain up to 500 species of small (5kg or smaller) animal life, both terrestrial and aquatic. Each machine can create up to 5,000 kg of animal life per day. To add a species to this machine’s databank, you must have at least 50 different genetic samples of that species. Only natural animals can be generated.
Biosphere - Big Fauna Generator [50/280 CP]
Want some more… aggressive or majestic species? Or just some sheep or cows or piggies? This is for you. Each machine can generate and maintain up to 50 species of large (500kg or smaller) animal life, both terrestrial and aquatic. Animals made by this machine will not be hostile, but can be dangerous if provoked. Each machine can create up to 5,000 kg of animal life per day. You will need to acquire at least 50 different genetic samples from the same species for this machine to add it to its databank. Only natural animals can be generated.
Biosphere - Celestial Bodies [5/275 CP]
Suns, Moons, Stars, Rings, Comets, Meteor Showers, Other Planets? You name it, all of them can progress across your fake sky. They’re just images, but comforting ones. You have full control of them.
Biosphere - Transport Disks [20/255 CP]
These disk platforms are all over your Biosphere. Each one can carry a person at 10km/h to anywhere within the sphere and each can carry up to 750kg. THey can be programmed to follow you around and there is even a Transport Disk launch station at the very bottom of the sphere in case someone gets stuck down there. Biosphere - Industrial Disks [10/245 CP]
Removes the weight limits from Transport Disks.
Biosphere - Airport & Marina [20/225 CP]
Not only does this give you a place to store, maintenance, and launch all your watercraft and aircraft, it also allows you to generate a world rift that allows you to bring them into or out of whatever world you happen to be visiting.
Biosphere - Observation Deck [25/200 CP]
This structure is at the top of the Sphere and allows you to look down upon all your creation, like some kind of god. If you have controls, they can be accessed from here instead of from the warehouse. You can even move your bedroom up here. Only you and those you invite can enter.
Biosphere - Restricted Zones [25/175 CP]
You get to set areas of the Biosphere (like the warehouse) off limits to some people. Like keeping kids out of the arsenal… or your friend who’s on a diet out of the fridge.
Biosphere - Hydrogeology [20/155 CP]
Your islands now have a complete hydrogeological cycle, meaning that water, in the form of cold, freshwater springs, will form on all your islands, providing rivers and ponds as appropriate.
Biosphere - Farming Zone x6 [30/125 CP]
Farms for your Farming Needs. Covers 20 hectares initially, but can be purchased multiple times, doubling the farming area each time. The soil is always perfect for whatever crops you plant in it. (total 640 hectares: 1581 acres / 6.4 sqkm)
Biosphere - Freestanding Buildings [10/115 CP]
Each of the various add-ons to your Warehouse now are freestanding, forming a nice compound, or spread out across your entire domain.
Biosphere - Industrial Plant [100/15 CP]
Your Biosphere includes a complete factory system, including advanced Atmospheric and Hydrological Pollution Scrubbing. You'll have to find someone to do the actual production, or find robots. It is the size of Detroit and automatically up to whatever tech-level your science has reached.
Biosphere - X - Spaceport [15/0 CP]
I just made this up, it's not in the doc, but this seems reasonable. Requires Airport & Marina and sufficient space

I want to preface what I'm about to say by first saying I am not using depression as an excuse, but rather an explanation.
I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder back in 2012, but have been living with depression since 2010.
Fast forward to April 2019 and I have gotten progressively worse mentally, but was finally able to move out into my first apartment with my boyfriend. Now, 5 years later, we're still together in a different apartment and I have somehow let it get so terribly unclean. My boyfriend understands me and my depression, but I think he's starting to be over it because he's stopped helping clean entirely.
My cat vomits up his food a lot so there's just random piles of dried up cat vomit in places (I do clean it up occasionally but because it happens all the time, it feels fruitless.). There are empty Amazon boxes stacked up in the corner of two different rooms. We have several trash bags full of pop cans that I hate bringing back to the store so they just sit in the laundry room. Speaking of laundry, I have 3 baskets of clean clothes sitting out and a huge pile of worn/not quite dirty clothes on the floor and a massive mess of clothes we don't wear in our bedroom closet on the floor. (We both hate putting clothes away. We also each have a dresser with empty drawers for aforementioned reasons.)
Dust has collected on practically any possible surface you can think of in every room. The dining room is full of empty pop can boxes, two bicycles, and my cat's hair all over the dining chairs. We never eat at the table, by the way. There is random trash sitting everywhere: on the kitchen counter, on the floor in the living room, in the computer room, in our bedroom.
I could probably keep going, but I think you get the point. Being plagued by depression has made it so difficult to keep up a clean environment and I feel bad my boyfriend has to live with me. I have a therapist and she is helping me to be proud of myself even if I pick up one single piece of trash, but it doesn't feel like enough when my whole apartment is a disaster. I never have anyone over visiting so I don't ever have an incentive to TRY to keep it clean.
I asked my mom, who has 20 years of professional cleaning experience, if she could help me deep clean my apartment, as well as help organize it properly (and yes, I am paying her).
As I am working with my therapist to understand my mental, I'd like to work to maintain my apartment better. I want to put effort into it and be happy with the appearance of my home, rather than be embarrassed at the thought of the state of it. I want to be able to spontaneously invite my dad or a coworker and not be like "oh wait, it's a pigsty."
I think I'm going to try to set up a sort of cleaning schedule for myself and I have asked my mom to give me tips and tricks, but can anyone offer any extra advice? I want to put effort into keeping everything clean.
TL;DR: My place is a mess. My mom is coming to my rescue. Any advice to keep my apartment from going back to being a mess?

Petite Fitness Challenge Round 49!
This is our 49th round of a 4-week fitness challenge.
To join, participation is REQUIRED in Both of the following:

1. A google sheet doc where we log daily ( one or more of the following: calorie intake, workout activities, weight) which enforces accountability. You must log in some way for participation.
2. A group chat (using Discord) where we talk about anything fitness related, support each other, vent about fitness frustrations, share non-scale victories, etc.

WHAT:

4-week fitness challenge (maintenance, weight loss, or recomp) that requires active participation in logging daily on google sheets and discord group chat.

WHO:

kind and supportive petite women looking for a fitness group who will actively participate, see "Eligibility" section below to see if you qualify.

WHERE:

Discord app and Google Sheets

HOW TO JOIN:

Send me a chat or PM (I prefer chats over PMs) with your height, CW, and ultimate goals (i.e. GW, recomp, maintenance, weight loss, be able to do 100 push ups, deadlift 2x CW, etc!). I will then privately send an invitation to join discord where you will find the google sheets link. PLEASE, ONLY OPT IN IF YOU ARE 100% SURE YOU ARE GOING TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE.
By joining this community you agree to the following rules:

ELIGIBILITY

”Petite”: This group is open to women 5'4" and under. Please do not join if you are taller, it gives you an unfair advantage. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petite_size#:~:text=In%20fashion%20and%20clothing%2C%20a,(5%20ft%204%20in)).

SERVER RULES

Discord Name: You must use your discord username in the google sheet, not your reddit username.
New Members: Must join the Discord server & Google Sheet within 7 days of being accepted from reddit

CONDUCT

Zero Tolerance: Any form of hateful behavior (racist remarks, antisemitism, etc) or bullying will not be tolerated and result in an immediate ban. If you observe these behaviors or feel that you are being bullied, please report it to a moderator immediately.
*Health Advice Disclaimer: *Any information given by other users should not be taken as professional healthcare advice. If you have important and private questions about your health, please speak directly to a healthcare professional.
*Do not promote Eating Disorder (ED) Behaviors: *Do not promote eating <1200 calories/day or any other ED-related behaviors. We want everyone to feel safe here, so please be mindful of posting potentially triggering language. If you see this happening, please contact the mods.
TRACKING
*Inactivity: *The primary purpose of this group is accountability. Any member that has not tracked activity for 5 days on the Google Sheet without notifying the admins of extenuating circumstances will be removed from the Sheet and the Discord server. We follow a 3 strikes rule. Members who are kicked a third time for inactivity will be banned from the server. Members deemed inactive will be removed every Sunday.

MEMBERS FROM PREVIOUS ROUNDS SEE HERE

Members may appeal removal one time per round by messaging an admin. Appeals are tracked on the "Appeals" tab of the Google Sheet. If you were in a previous round you are not counted as a new member but as an appeal, so you can rejoin at any time during a round.

Previous part
I stood in my doorway, frozen to the spot as Shaoni walked past me, into my house.
“Weren’t you going to invite me in?”
Shaoni cooed at me, somehow making the arbitrary question sound like a threat.
“I uh… what can I get you.”
I stammered out, automatically reverting to subservient. I know it sounds bad but when you’ve seen what I’ve seen her do you listen first, ask questions later.
“Is water alright? It’s all I’ve got since I only just moved here because… well I guess you know why already.”
I said, wanting to keep the orange juice I was currently hiding behind me in the fridge for myself.
“The visions? Yes I do know about them. It’s what drew all of you here, just like I wanted. Though you weren’t supposed to see the stage yet, none of you were.”
She said, narrowing her eyes at me, presumably because of my earlier expedition into the mine.
“Why do you keep saying “you” like there’s more than one of me?”
I asked, finally working up the confidence to question her.
“Because there is, do you really think you’re the only one I marked? Keith your a special case yes, but not that special.”
“Special case? What do you..”
“If you let me finish I’m getting to that.”
Shaoni cracked back at me, I could feel the pressure in the room rise with her temper.
“Sorry ma’am… it just slipped out.”
She seemed to find my knee-jerk formal apology amusing and the pressure in the room returned to normal.
“I offered several people the same deal I offered you, most accepted. These are the others I refer to, all of which are here or on their way here now. That’s what the dreams, visions, whatever you’d like to call them, were for.”
“So you wanted us here, all together in this one specific town, why?”
“The trials of course, if you remember you agreed to take a burden from me. I guess I would describe it more accurately as a gift but it has become a burden for me.”
“What is it?”
“Now where’s the fun in telling you now? Besides your smart enough, I’m sure you’ll figure it out on your own.”
She answered, smiling devilishly at me and sending little pin pricks of ice down my spine. I let the conversation fall silent for a bit, watching Shaoni sip absentmindedly at the glass of water I’d given her before I asked another question.
“So what exactly are these trials for?”
“I want to use them as a selection process, it separates the wheat from the chaff as the saying goes. Only one of you will take on my burden and I want to make sure its the right one.”
“Ok, that makes sense but I’ve still got one more thing. Why did you say I was special before?”
I inquired, as Shaoni got up and started to leave.
“Well, because this is all new to you, you have no idea of the forces really at play in the world, the “supernatural” is what you’d call it. You’re at a particular disadvantage because you didn’t know what you were getting into so I figured I’d help out of the kindness of my heart. In addition to that, many of those I’ve chosen came from my own followers. You are one of the few I found on my travels that accepted my deal. I believe in keeping things fair, and so I came to warn you of what’s to come.”
Shaoni told me as she walked out the door without so much as a goodbye. The storm that had been brewing outside left with her, dropping bits of cracked branches and loose leaves to the ground as she got further and further away. I finally realized I was still standing at my front door, glued in place watching her. Once I closed and locked the door I heard a shrill screech pierce the night as Shaoni shed her human appearance and took to the skies as I saw a single shiny grey feather flutter to the ground.
I didn’t get much sleep that night, I didn’t even try. After something like Shaoni waltzing into my home like she owned the place and telling me I’m about to be part of some kind of “trials”, I just gave up on sleep that night. What I was worried about more than anything was the fact that I didn’t have a choice. Sure, she had never said that out right but if she showed up to tell me the trials were starting and I said no, that wouldn’t go well. I’d probably end up like those men in Imalone, just ashes on the wind. There was something she wasn’t saying as well. Shaoni wanted to flaunt that there was some sort of reward at the end of this, that the whole process would help her select a “worthy candidate”. But the reward was also the burden I had agreed to take. If whatever it was was something she wanted to get rid of why would anyone look at it as a reward? Something just wasn’t adding up in my head so I decided not to think about it for a bit. I instead I threw on some clothes as the sun finally rose and made my way over to Bianca’s house to pick up my backpack that she still had.
“Hey there Frank. Where’s Stein I wanted to ask how that research was coming, and has anyone seen Bianca?”
I said as soon as I’d walked in the front door. Rocco was eating something out of a bowl on the counter top and shot to attention as he saw me.
“What do you just live here now?”
He remarked, whirling around to face me. Frank looked up from the paper he’d been reading at the counter and gave me a half hearted wave.
“Stein’s in the basement testing a few samples of thunderbird feathers Tuck brought in.”
“You know Tuck? The mountain that just so happens to run a bar in town, that Tuck?”
“Yes of course, he’s helped us immensely with developing a suppressant for lycanthropy.”
“I… we’ll unpack that one later I guess but I’ve got too find Bianca first, she still has something of mine. Let Stein know I’m looking for him if he comes back up.”
I told Frank as he nodded in acknowledgment and I made my way over to the stairs leading up to the second floor.
“Oh god dammit, I just got that!”
I yelled to no-one in particular as I knocked on Bianca’s bedroom door. I heard a crash behind it as Bianca came flying towards me, throwing open the door and almost smacking me in the process.
“What the hell is going on why are you here! And what did you just get?!”
She belted out at me, apparently startled by my outburst. She had a long loose t-shirt on and maybe something on underneath that, I wasn’t going to check. I must’ve turned crab red as I saw her but it didn’t stop me from telling her what I just pieced together.
“Their names, Frank and Stein, Frankenstein. They did that on purpose didn’t they? I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on that sooner!”
“What are you… oooh, OOOH! I’ve been around them how many years and I’m just picking up on that too.”
She said, sounding a little disappointed and smacking herself in the head with the palm of her hand.
“So what’re you doing here anyways Keith?”
“You still have my backpack from yesterday and I could use that back.”
“Oh sure I forgot about that, come in.”
She said holding open the door for me and causing her shirt to hike up a bit, She did not in fact have anything other than what you’d expect on under it.
“Ummm… do you maybe want to get dressed first?”
Bianca turned redder than I’d ever seen anyone get in an instant. Her eyes Immediately started glowing and she slammed the door shut, apparently just realizing she had answered the door in nothing but a T-shirt and underwear. I heard of muffled groan of embarrassment from the other side of the door and decided to leave her to it.
When I came back downstairs into the living room Frank and Stein where waiting for me on the couch. It was a sight to see, two old scientists sitting in the middle of a lavish black leather couch that wrapped the outer edge of the room. The two looked out of place, like a time traveler trying desperately to look normal in a society they knew nothing about.
“Before you guys start I’ve got to know, did you do that intentionally?”
“Did we do what, what are you talking about?”
They both asked in unison.
“The names, Frank and Stein, did you do that on purpose?”
Frank smiled at this and looked toward Stein who seemed to be fuming.
“It’s been 60 years since I’ve heard that question and no, its purely coincidental. We just so happen to share similar names with this Frankenstein”
Stein replied, actually shaking with anger. Frank on the other hand, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. In light of this I decided to push my luck just a little further.
“Ok, but I’m still going to call Rocco Frankenstein’s monster from now on, I can’t just pass up that opportunity.”
Frank laughed at this and Stein shook his head in disappointment.
“Children, both you.”
“Oh come now Stein, even you have to admit its a little humorous.”
“I will not be compared to some fantasy doctor and their failed facsimile of life! Rocco is a proper experiment with guidelines and uses that monster from the story is just a harebrained pet project!”
Stein fumed, seemingly offended at the concept of being compared to doctor Frankenstein. After a short tirade, none of which I really want to repeat here, we got Stein calmed down. Then the two got me seated and asked a question I wasn’t expecting.
“Do you know why we decided to settle down in this town in the first place?”
The question took me by surprise, I had assumed they just ended up here for no particular reason. Like a tumble weed being blown across the desert. They were here now caught on a fence or something but I always got the sense the wind would blow them along to somewhere else eventually. I hadn’t given much thought as to why they would be here at all. My vacant stare must’ve clued them into the fact that I had no idea how to answer the question.
“Let me rephrase, do you have any idea why things like Bianca or Tuck or even us seem to be concentrated here?”
Stein asked again, a calm tone to his voice like he was explaining something to a child.
“Tuck? What does Tuck have to do with this? I get you two are supernatural researchers and Bianca is a succubus but Tuck is just a really, really string guy right?”
I shakily asked, slowly drawing a connection to what Frank said about Tuck and lycanthropy when I came in.
“Tuck is a werewolf, a repentant one but a werewolf nonetheless.”
“That… actually would check out, It would definitely explain why the guy is built like the Rock’s bigger cousin. But what exactly are you getting at?”
“This town Keith, There’s a reason it attracts people like us and the Thunderbird is a big part of that. It had been sleeping in the mines as far as Frank was able to tell, once it woke up it caused the collapse and it made a huge stir. Obviously reports came out about this massive thing coming out of the ground and talking flight but you’ll never find any of them. The government stepped in to help Eagles peak cover up its existence, if people knew about the Thunderbird there would be uproars and questions as to what else was out there, questions no-one really would’ve had answers too. Instead they buried it and tried to bury most records of this town, turning it into a haven for the supernatural, especially those who would rather be left alone.”
Stein’s lecture made sense, if the town was basically wiped off the map as far as recent information goes it would explain its small size. I really hadn’t seen anyone in town besides those people getting off the bus the day I met Tuck and a few employees at local stores I went to. But not all of them could’ve been supernatural beings right?
“So are you trying to say everyone in town is some kind of what… supernatural entity?”
“Nothing as grand as that but there’s certainly more supernatural beings than usual concentrated in this town. Even some of the normal people have ties to the supernatural here. It’s a place were people who know about these things can pass through without to much scrutiny. What’s more interesting though is the other Thunderbird sightings we were able to dig up. Almost all of them lead to a town like this, taken off the usual map with a barley visible digital presence. Tiny little nowhere places that aren’t known for much and never show up on the news. The Thunderbird seems to be making these sanctuary’s for the supernatural throughout the world. It doesn’t seem to monitor these places afterwards but they certainly never recover from the coverups after the Thunderbird makes an appearance.”
Stein continued to lecture, speaking just as much with his hands as he did with his words.
“Has she ever come back to any of these sanctuaries she’s created.”
“She!? You don’t mean the woman you saw in Imalone? I had chalked her up to a stress induced hallucination.”
I had to briefly explain to Stein that I had not in fact hallucinated the naked woman that ultimately turned out to be Shaoni, to his displeasure.
“So you saw this woman then?”
“Yeah, in the cave attached to what I’d have to guess were the mines. She even showed up at my house last night.”
“It… she, talked to you?”
“She said that there was going to be some sort of trials to see who takes on this burden of her’s. The whole thing was really unclear if I’m honest.”
“So she’s coming back then, not only that but she’s in the town or the forest right now. I don’t get to say this often but I really don’t know what’s going to happen with this Keith. Frank and I will keep an eye on what we can but we’re researchers, if she decides to pull you into these trials we won’t be much help.”
Stein said, growing concerning on his face. I don’t think seeing Stein in this state did anything to assure me. This is someone who worked on the wrong side of world war 2 and he seemed scared by the thought of what Shaoni might be up to. It was at least nice to know someone would be monitoring the situation when I got myself killed.
“I could go with him.”
An unexpected voice cut through the silence of the room, Bianca’s voice. She had wandered down from her room wearing a black leather jacket paired with a tight red shirt and ratty jeans, my ratty jeans I noticed. She had the backpack she owed me in one hand and her eyes locked on us.
“What?”
We all said, in shock of what Bianca had just offered.
“I could go, watch your back and see what’s going on with these trials. I’m familiar enough with the supernatural, not as much as Frank or Stein but I could help.”
She said with raw unfiltered confidence that was unusual for her.
“I couldn’t ask you to do that, I told you the story, you know what Shaoni is capable of.”
I bargained, hoping to keep her out of the line of fire for some reason. I knew it would probably be smarter to bring her with me if I did get forced into these trials but some protective instinct kicked in. I’d seen her barley able to keep herself together just talking about her past and shut down when someone grabbed her. I didn’t want to see her get hurt trying to look out for me. Her past obviously still effected her in a big way. Another part of me wanted to bring her with me just to see her fight against the power her past still held over her. When we were on the way to that mine yesterday she finally seemed alive. Bianca wasn’t just this this scared person living in a gilded cage with two people who took her in like a kicked puppy. Yesterday she was her own person again, if only for a little bit.
“Look I can’t stay here doing nothing forever, besides you helped me out watching the house way back when you first got into town. You didn’t hold the fact I manipulated you into it against me and you never really cared about what I was. I at least owe you this Keith, please.”
Bianca begged, I didn’t feel like she was trying to pul me one way or another this time, the choice was my own. I could also tell it was hard for her to give me a choice, her nature was to just use her power and make me agree with her. That single fact meant more to me than whatever fight was going on in my head, I nodded to tell her I agreed.
Frank and Stein weren’t particularly thrilled with the idea of Bianca watching out for me. They were worried it put her in too much danger. Despite the situation surrounding those three I could tell Frank and Stein really did care for her, or at the very least worried about her. She may not realize it but she was like a daughter to them, anyone could see that, anyone but her apparently. Or maybe she had closed herself off from the world so much to try and survive on her own that she just couldn’t bring herself to realize it anymore. I think that’s the more likely option but it begged the question. Why exactly does she keep going out of her way for me?
Bianca managed to convince them to let her keep an eye on me. Thanks in no small part to the fact that she claimed living anywhere near Rocco for prolonged periods of time was hazardous to her health. At which point almost as if on cue, Rocco shot out of a wall. Not off of it or out from around, no straight out of the wall sending plaster flying like shrapnel. Right after this we smelled the beginnings of an electrical fire. Rocco ran back into the room and jumped back through the hole in the wall with a fire extinguisher. Frank and Stein lost their minds at this point and went to find the proper equipment to deal with that. They agreed with Bianca on the spot after that one. Rocco claimed he was “trying to update the wiring in the house”, whatever that meant but you could never tell with him. Once everything had calmed down I headed over to the kitchen to make lunch for myself. I settled for a bologna and mustard sandwich and sat down to eat. As soon as I took a bite of the sandwich my phone rang with a number I didn’t expect a call from, Mom.
“Hi, what’s going on?”
“Are you ok, You never call, I just got your message.”
My mother Carla said, in that worried but angry tone only mothers can pull off.
“I’m fine mom I just wanted to let you know what was going on with me, I don’t think I ever told you I was moving and I didn’t want you to worry.”
Bianca walked into the kitchen at this point in the conversation and looked at me. I put my finger to my lips and shushed her. She just sat down across from me and took a bite out of MY sandwich.
“You didn’t, I know I don’t see you much and your fine on your own but I still worry. We were never the closest but that doesn’t mean I don’t wan to know If you’re moving halfway across the country on a whim.”
“I know mom, I know. A lot of things happened at once and it was such short notice I just… forgot.”
“I understand… just call me next time alright, and if you ever just want to talk I’m here. Just because we weren’t all that close doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear from you now and then. Anyways I have to get back to work.”
“Oh, ok Just… how’s dad doing?”
I sighed knowing the answer to my question already.
“He’s… he’s the same Keith, Love you.”
And with that Carla hung up.
Bianca eyed me with a mildly stunned look on her face. Like she just realized I was born not raised in a test tube somewhere.
“That was your mom?”
She asked, pointing at the phone in my hand and still eating the sandwich I had made for myself.
“Yes, Oh come on give me that!”
I yelled, reaching for the sandwich in her hand. She laughed and pulled it away, finishing it. She tried to speak with a mouthful of sandwich but I couldn’t make out a thing till she gave herself a minute to chew.
“I haven’t talked to my mom since the whole thing with Brooke. She never approved and that was that, I went my way and she went her’s.”
“What about your dad?”
I asked her, suddenly not as mad about her stealing my food.
“I never really knew him. Apparently he left when I was really young but that’s about all I know.”
“Is there a single question I can ask about you that won’t just leave me feeling sorry I had a moderately normal life before this? Really I just… that’s terrible.”
Bianca looked a little sullen as she thought about her family, her real family. I realized that as strange as this whole relationship with Frank and Stein was it was the closest thing she had to something stable. Hell, I might be the first real friend she’s had outside of the house in years.
“Tell you what, I’m suddenly hungry for some reason so why don’t we head down to the Eagle’s Roost and get something to eat?”
I glared at her just a little bit as I said that first part.
“It’s like 1o’clock now I don’t think Tuck opens up till 5 or so.”
“Well I’ve got a few questions for him now, besides last time I went down there early too and he was just hanging out behind the bar, didn’t seem to mind either. Wait, you know him? He didn’t really look at you when he saved us yesterday, come to think of it he barley mentioned you.”
“Yeah I’ve seen him coming in and out of the house when he helps Stein with his experiments, giving blood and tissue samples to him, that sort of thing. I don’t know why he didn’t say anything to me. Maybe cause he thought Frank and Stein didn’t know I was out there so he just didn’t want to stick his toe in that situation?”
She had to think for a second about that last part, furrowing her brow and shrugging when she couldn’t come up with anything better.
“Could be it, anyways its just one more thing I can ask him. So are you coming with me or what?”
“Yeah sure, just let me pack a few things.”
“Pack a few things? What do you mean it’s just…”
But Bianca was already running up the stairs back towards her room.

I'm in my 30s in a social work masters program with a cohort of others who are in their mid-20s. We're studying to be social workers so I thought it'd be people who would be empathetic and understanding toward each other. Man, they are mean.
There's one girl they seem to not like for some reason, and the rest of them talk mad shit about her behind her back. She left the room during break and they started mocking the presentation she just gave. But they were so nice to her face when she gave the presentation. She invited them to her house for her birthday, and behind her back they were talking about ways to get out of it. Just don't go if you don't want to go? It's not an obligation to attend. What's with the need to tear her down? They say the meanest things about her when she's not there, then I see them send really nice texts to her and be really friendly to her face. It's so two-faced and confusing. They say really mean things about our faculty and other people, like harsh judgments based one phrase someone used, or a tone someone used, or something someone said they disagreed with. Can't people just have a bad day sometimes and not make it mean the entire person is racist or sexist and terrible? Jeez. They say terribly judgmental things about their clients, one called a client trash. :( Felt really bad for that client for opening up to someone who's just gonna shame them behind their back.
It makes me really uncomfortable and wonder if they're doing the same thing to me. I wish I knew what I was doing that was turning them off, or if it's just the fact that I'm older, or if it's just them being insecure and young and pushing away people who are different from them, but it's excruciatingly uncomfortable to be around. The feeling of you walk into a room and they stop talking and give each other a side eye. I get this uneasy feeling they don't want to be around me and disapprove of me for some reason I have no idea about, because I've seen them do that to other people. Seriously. I'm in my 30s but it feels like I'm back in high school. What do you think is going on with these girls? I could use any advice that would make not feel so shit while doing this masters program.

Good morning all!
Wanted to make a small report for my tournament today win at our Local Ozarks Pauper Series. It is a set of tournaments with a invitational in October for the point leaders down in North West Arkansas area. Recent event was at Final Boss Games in Springdale AR. We had 5 rounds cut to top 8 with a cash entry and cash payout.
Round 1- Slivers with my boy Eric He stomped me pretty handedly with a Manaweft in to Heart with me being behind and unable to dismantle the board well. Game 2 goes pretty much the same with a winding way in to 3 lords. 0-1
Round 2 - The Bye 1-1
Round 3 - Mono Red with Mark Mark is a very good player and current point leader in the pauper series. We had 3 games I got stomped game 1 game 2 I clawed it back and game 3 I could not put it together. A note I did not see a breath weapon all 3 games. 1-2
Round 4 - Bogles with Hunter
This was hunters first tournament and he came with his brother in law who is a L2 Judge back with WPN Was a thing. He was playing bogles which is not a matchup I want to see on a losing streak. Game 1 I was able to disrupt enough with Counterspell and Destroy Evil eventually killing with birds. Games 2 I sided in the God-Pharaoh's Faithful and was gaining a lot of life to keep me out of range. Breath weapon while casting auras cleaned up pretty well. Beat him with 3 Kenku'ed lands. 2-2
Round 5 - RG Ponza with Noah
Noah is round 3 Mark's son. He was talking trash about blowing up my lands and I said if he did I would blow his lands up. He didn't believe me which honestly is fun. He acid mossed a land. I Cleansing wildfire his forest with 3 enchantments on it. Leaving him with only 5 green mana and him floundering for the rest of game 1. Games 2 was pretty much the same. He deglamered my bridge, I blew up a forest with 2 enchants on it. He was a little tilted but over good sport. 3-2
Cut to top 8 I squeaked in to top 8 on a 3-2 record. I was hyped because I am at least in some cash for the day. the top 8 decided to split the cash evenly leaving everyone with a 55 dollar return and we all decided to play for points as it matters for the end of the year. I play against seed 1 he is undefeated for the day on BG Gardens. My deck is leaned toward Control and Aggro because my meta is pretty much on those 2 variants. I have a Late to Dinner and Archomancer and Ardent Elementalist for control lists.
Top 8 BG with Daniel
Daniel was the number 1 seed for the day on BG Gardens. I have play a lot of BG so I know I can take it slows keep counter spell for rats and removal for what gets through. I love initiative when I get to take it with a errant bird token from a mystic. Game 2, he had relic pretty early i shifted gears and just forgot about the graveyard and just made birds and flying lands and punched my op. 2-0
Top 4 Mono Red Tron with Jason Jason is a good friend AND a very good player. Mono red tron is a weird deck but I instead thought "sure lets disrupt" Cleansing wildfire found a tower 2 times and I slowed him down enough to stick a mystic and grind him with mancer loops. Game 2 I didn't have enough land drops to keep making them so I used my cleaning on my bridge to get me to control easier. A Massive golem came in and found a relic. He started eating my grave yard while beating me down, Eventually I got torched for 11. Game 3 Decent start for me, I got to wildfire mine and ramp while he want for a slow start on mountains. He found a assembler and started hammering 4/4's in. I union of the third path and mancered it back to gain alot of life. Stuck a mystic and made birds enough to stall out the assemblers until I got a loop going to stop him in his tracks. Eventually I birded him out with 3 counterspells and a Ephemerate in hand. got a relic, got a pyroblast, He had no cards in hand and conceded after. 2-1
Finals BW Blade It was 8PM already and I am zonked. Brain dead and tired I ask if my opp was planning on continuing to play for points in the top 8. If he didn't need the points and didn't care to play the game would concede to me so I can use the points in the series. He accepted and and we got the hell out of there.
Overall 6-2 with Jeskai, I love this deck and It is a lot of fun with a lot of interactive game play and back and forth with my opponents. Loss to Slivers and Mono Red I didn't see breath weapons to those games and I heavily lean on those as well.
List: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6393881

So I (15F) have been friends with my best friend (16F) for around 2 1/2 years now. She is one of my closest friends and we have this insane bond where we literally trust each other with everything. I know that if I tell her something, she'll never tell anyone else, and vice versa. We tell each other EVERYTHING. Anyways, she has been on and off with this guy (17M) for about two years now. I third wheeled them a lot and the three of us used to hang out together a lot. We also are in a gc together and the three of us used to call all the time. Anyways, me and him are friends because of that. Fast forward to a few months ago, my friend and him are having problems and she decides to break it off with him. They go no contact. Suddenly, he is texting me a lot, asking about her, wanting to call me and rant. I checked with her to make sure she's okay with it- and she always says yes. She says she trusts me to not flirt with him, and that she wants him to have someone he can talk to. I almost always tell her the overview of our conversations so she doesn't worry (he knows I do this). Lately, he's been calling me just to talk because he's a bit lonely (it's usually him who texts first, I rarely do). I don't tell her about every single interaction that we have anymore, because it feels repetitive, and I'm not sure if she wants to hear about him. It doesn't feel like I'm hiding it from her, but something feels wrong. He's invited me to hang out with him a couple of times, and I've only said yes once. Even though I know nothing is going on between us, and my best friend says she's okay with it, I get the feeling she's a bit weirded out by the whole situation. However, whenever I ask her she always says she isn't. I still feels like it's a bit weird whenever we talk and I start to feel really guilty for talking to him, even though I'm not doing anything wrong. I don't have many friends, so it's nice to have someone who calls me. I'm very antisocial, and also extremely depressed. I have a lot of trouble making friends. Me and my best friends bond is an incredibly lucky situation that I never thought would happen. I never want to lose her. What do you guys think? Is it weird that I talk to my best friends ex? They are on good terms, but I'm a bit weirded out by it. What do I do?