I have excellent credit and no debt, no mortgage and no car payments. My credit score is between 825 to 840 depending on where I'm checking (Chase, WF, Experian, etc.). I've got over 25 years of credit history and a combined credit limit over $150K. I have less than 10 credit cards. I don't even carry debt over to the next month. I always pay it as I use it.
Every couple of months, my credit score would drop about 15 to 25 points for no reason and the next month it'll go back up the by the amount of points it dropped. This annoys the hell out of me. Does anyone know why they do that?
And I've been around the 830's forever, ever since I've paid off my mortgage a few years ago. How does one get to 850? I know it doesn't matter after 740 (?), but it's just a personal goal to do that.

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Bought a home 4 years ago right before Covid. Ended up moving unexpectedly several states away, don't really plan to ever move back. Owe about $155k on house off $190k loan. Zillow says $250k~, probably be +$300k if the exterior wasn't a mess. House is rented but needs serious work in near future which may not be possible. House is in a rural area and before we moved of the DOZENS of contractors that came out, not a single one gave me a quote. So i am not sure i will even be able to find someone to do the work when time comes. New wrap around deck, exterior paint, major landscaping all need done within a year or two for sure.
Good tenants inside, but profit is only about ~$100 a month if we are lucky and something doesn't come up. So mostly just paying mortgage now.
We aren't attached to the house, but I am very in the "keep it" mindset, and I'd like to at some point use equity or the house itself to buy future real estate (a new primary residence, or another investment). I'd like to hear opinions on what you would do? We have zero interest in moving back (no family that lives near there either) and I am worried about being able to maintain it from afar.
On the flip side, I've been really looking at real estate in other states and I am making enough to be able to handle another mortgage/hopefully a rental somewhere else that could potentially turn a profit or pay for itself later down the line in equity. People have been telling me to take a HELOC, but I don't quite understand how that makes sense since it would just raise my other mortgage so much more. The whole process kinda confuses me. I am not a fan of debt ($0 credit card debt. No car payment i just drive cheap vehicles) so the idea of taking any loan is kinda scary to me but it seems like that what all the big realty people do.
What would you do? I'm twenty three, by the way. If that helps

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I tagged this as spoiler in case anybody feels uncomfortable with death and more specifically suicide, now onto the actual post.
I (14f) recently gained a group of friends in my first year of highschool. Before we continue on I’d like to say that I have autism which might be apart of this??? idk and funerals have never been a super serious thing to me? which I know sounds really bad but I’ve only been to 2 funerals in my life and at one I played with cars and the other I just ate these lemon hard candy thingies and snuck out, so I guess I’ve never really taken them seriously (also since like 2020 i haven’t been able to cry w/o yawning). At first it started out small but then me, my friends, and some friends of my friends convinced a teacher to start a club. I met this group of friends at this club and would start hanging out with specific people during this club, we also tried to hangout once a week afterschool, this was where I met a certain friend, let’s call him A(17m). A was a senior but he was friends with at least 1 person in every grade (not in a creepy way though). Me and this group of people became pretty close, and outside of the club we all shared other similar interests. One day, I was in my room when my friend, B(16f) called me and told me that A had killed himself. I shed a tear or two at the news but thought maybe it’s some fucked up late April fools prank since it was April 2nd. I B said she had told most of our friends and as I comforted her still not sure if it was a prank or not I said I could tell the rest if she wasn’t feeling up for it, so I did.
Days past and it was the day of his viewing. I left school early to go to the first one, I wore what I’d usually wear but just in black and went there with my friends. Everybody was crying and I know it’s a stupid feeling but I just felt left out because I couldn’t even shed a tear and I didn’t really want to cause I would probably yawn and people would get mad but I still tried to hug everyone who needed it. Anyways, some of my friends left and me and my friends who were still there left in the break between the first viewing and the second viewing. It seems stupid but we made plans to go to the beach after the second viewing probably to just act like normal kids again since from the day he’s actually been gone life has felt so bad and adult and weird. I met some friends of A’s that lived out of town and came down here just for the viewing and funeral and they were pretty nice and everybody who made beach plans (including the out of town kids) went down to the second viewing and there was so little people there than the first, lots of people at the first barely even knew A so it’s heartbreaking to know that most of them just went to a VIEWING to skip school (I would give them the benefit of the doubt but it’s hard to when I never heard them be mentioned by A, or any indication that they knew eachother.) We stayed the whole time for both and thought those 7 hours that was the actual viewing I maybe only cried once? But I was trying I really was. Me and a small group of my friends stayed at the funeral home until 11pm even though the viewing ended at 8, they didn’t close the casket until 10. We stayed and talked to A’s mom and that’s when I actually started crying for maybe a minute or two. The people who hadn’t been invited to the funeral got invited that moment and so I ended up going to his funeral. The beach plans never worked because it started raining, but it just felt like A was crying too.
At the funeral I actually did start crying but not a lot since I also kept yawning because of it and I didn’t want people to think I was tired at all funeral off all places. I dressed in funeral appropriate attire and this is a really bad thing to say about the day you went to a funeral but it was a really nice day. The funeral is somewhat of a blur to me, all I remember is glimpses of speeches and putting a rose on his casket before it drove away. Me and my friends who were also at the funeral walked to the local pizza place because why not get a pizza after going to a funeral? We just wanted something to somewhat take our mind off the literal funeral, but we did end up talking about A the whole time. Still it was pretty fun getting pizza with them. This has gone off topic but this does explain why I didn’t cry the majority of the day of the funeral, so I thought it’d be important.
It’s now a whole different month which is just… insane to me? We put on a memorial show for him at the school and it was nice even though it was stressful. But I noticed that I have been crying without yawning at more stuff more recently and I wonder, is this the tears that I wanted to shed at the funeral and viewing? Were they just delayed? I know it’s a silly thought but… It makes sense to me.
If you know me IRL and were also a friend of A’s and were at either the funeral or viewing, please don’t get mad at me for posting something that’s pretty personal to a lot of people. I just felt like such an asshole and a bitch for barely even crying, I’ve also cried more at fictional stuff than an actual real life death of one of my—and if you do know me IRL then probably our— close friends.
Also sorry for some of the informal language but also I am a teen who is used to using more internet slang than fancy stuff like this, and i’m sure I used to many commas in one spot or a period in the wrong place or just ended something strangely.
TLDR; I met a group of friends, one of them killed himself, went to his viewing and barely cried, got invited to the funeral and only cried barely at like 1 speech but also got pizza with my friends who were invited to the funeral after the funeral so i wasn’t crying cause of pizza, if you are my irl friend reading this please don’t be mad i just felt like such an AH and awful person for not crying
So, AITA for barely crying at my friends funeral/viewing?

Hi. I live in a bach on Wellington's South Coast and the neighbouring property has come available for sale after the elderly resident died. My sister wants to retire to the area next year so we thought it was a perfect way to be close by with a shared garden so we can be there for each other as the years go by.
We were asked by the family if we'd like to do a private sale so I got a building report and also a registered valuers report. It was a 1950's self build and the building report shows it is in such bad condition it's unfixable. I've been quoted 80K for full demolition incl asbestos removal.
The registered valuation looked at other local sales as well as taking the building report into account and came back with a valuation of 550K. So we offered 50K over this for a private sale - full knowing that by the time this is a bare site we'll have spent over 700K and then will need to build. The loan to value ratio is already stretched at 600K as she'll need a small mortgage.
Our offer was rejected because one family member has been told by a real estate company that they can achieve 700-750K as is on the open market. Of course it'll cost them to use a real estate company and some of the older houses in our bay that are in much better (liveable) condition have been on the market for many months.
So what should we do? She'd love to put a simple wee 2 bedroom prefab on the land but we're scared we'll be getting ourselves into trouble offering more than 600K when the valuation is 550K.
Thanks for your time!

I had an exam from 9 am to 1 pm, and had to leave my phone behind during this time period, and as there were no lockers available in the facility, I left it in my car. The car was under direct sunlight for the 4 hours I wasn’t there, and when I came back the phone was too hot to touch. I tried to switch it on, but due to extreme conditions the phone kept showing that I should wait for it to cool down before being able to use it. So have I permanently damaged my phone now?

I(25M) was in an three car collision a couple of weeks ago and was unfortunately rear ended on the highway while running some errands. I was the last vehicle to get hit but my cars lower rear bumper area was completely crushed. BTW it wasn't my fault it was a Ram 3500 carrying fuel that would be used for roadside assistance that failed to stop.
After dealing with all the insurance I was told my car was a total loss and would be given a check for it. I didn't want to risk having to pay too much for repairs so I took the check. Luckily the insurance agency lent me a rental until my car would be accessed. This week I went to the dealership and was looking into purchasing a new vehicle since I was saving up already to buy one by the end of the year. Due to my credit history not being long enough I was shown the numbers. To finance a vehicle it would be 600ish a month for it but to lease would of course be the cheaper option.
After negotiating with the dealer I finally got the lease payments down to 347.89 a month and my insurance would be 398.52 a month. I'm currently to only money maker in my family but luckily my wife is able to budget while taking care of our son.
I just wanted to ask if this was a good deal or not. This is my first time getting a brand new vehicle and I know it probably wasn't the best decision to lease but I got the check for the payout a day before I had to turn in the rental and had nobody to take me to and from work so I felt like I had no choice but to get a vehicle asap without having to search around and hope a car I got off the street would work right away.
If I had a better time frame, I'm sure I would've found a car off the street that wouldn't give me any trouble down the line. Also I was able to lower the total price of the car to 28k ish total. I'm not sure if it even matters, though.

What would you recommend for someone that would like to get for in home use and then also as an flashlight for an emergency car kit. I'm thinking of maybe ~$20 per flashlight or is that too low? I am welcome to all and any recommendations.

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Mission Log: Day 0024

Addendum 04

Well. The jig would seem to be up, as the old folks used to say. ​
I started by dimming the north-facing windows, slowly enough to merely catch Kregorim's attention; he responded by turning his head to face them and letting his bushy eyebrows rise a bit, but generally keeping a neutral stance. Then, I animated a glowing white dot appearing on the duskward wall at roughly chest-height to my new visitor, then extending it vertically into a line, then expanding it laterally into a door. Then, I let my avatar open it 'from his side', walk through, and close it again. ​
“I'm called Joachim,” I said, animating the avatar's mouth to match my movements, along with rubbing the back of his head with his left hand. “And I have to say that that spell of yours was... an interesting experience.” ​
Kregorim nodded and offered a stiff bow. “Then we would seem to have been equal partners in the exchange,” he answered, the barest trace of a twinkle in what I could pick up of his eyes; if he had anything like a smirk under that thicket of facial hair, I couldn't detect it. “So, are there any other introductions to be made? Exchanges of oaths or demands for sacrifices, things of that nature?” ​
I chuckled, and pointed at the fabricators behind him. “Introductions, certainly. No sacrifices of baubles or blood, if that was what you expected. But I'd advise you to get some practice in making your own furniture. It'll take a bit of explaining, even if I try to trim it down.” ​
Kregorim nodded, and this time I could definitely hear a chuckle in his voice. “I would be highly disappointed were that not the case, Joachim of the mysterious outpost,” he answered. He gestured at the fabricators. “Would you mind offering a weary old scholar some assistance with these marvelous machines?” ​
I animated the avatar nodding, then waving at the walls. “You may have noticed that the chambers in which your...” the avatar coughed into one hand, then continued, “... Lord Zortemos Egenor Lignignory the Fourth has been settling have those empty frames on the walls of each room?” The avatar pointed off to one side, and a simplified version of the baseline model of the communication-screens appeared a handsbreadth away from his finger. “I can see and hear through them, and they have other functions as well, but this unit specifically includes the fullest expression of the tool.” ​
With that, I 'jumped' the avatar onto the dawnward wall of the utility room, releasing another light coughing sound to let Kregorim know where 'he' had gone. “This way, at least, I won't need to raise my voice so it carries further...” ​

Addendum 05:

Kregorim turned out to be a very quick study. I walked him through designing some new clothes, starting from the base model of a Chinese scholastic robe but incorporating a three layers of lighter fabric in something more akin to a Japanese kimono. Yes, I helped him figure out some more practical forms of undergarments, and the very concept of 'elastic' fascinated him; I left a mental note to explore 'latex' and the organic sources thereof with him at some later point. And, of course, getting to the first pair of suitable 'house slippers' presented no challenge at all. ​
Still, I satisfied his curiosity about the need for five 'magic trunks' in rather short order, and once he got into his own set of 'wondrous finery' he tossed his 'traveling robes and unmentionables' into the 'laundry' trunk. Once he'd gotten the remaining machines programmed for things like a camp-cot and bedding, a chair and writing desk and a samovar of all things, I sort of walked him through the rest of the unit's features. ​
“Quite an array of tankards,” he commented, in the kitchen. “Stocked well enough to entertain guests of a stature from Orks all the way down to Gnomes, unless I'm very much mistaken.” ​
I animated the avatar nodding. “I'll need to explain more about that, but you and the rest of the group aren't my first guests.” ​
He nodded, and turned to face the avatar; his smile was wide enough to re-arrange the forest of his facial hair. “I'll try to keep from disappointing Lord Zee overmuch on the point,” he said, then turned to face the refrigerator. “Another magic trunk?” he asked, examining it without touching it. “Wider than the others... does this one produce foodstuffs?” ​
“Not 'produce' them, as such, but it does serve as a 'cold well', of sorts. The upper section keeps things moderately cool, the lower section keeps them frozen.” ​
That got another look of wonder out of him. “You can maintain ice in there, without magic?” he asked, pulling out the freezer-drawer and confirming it for himself. “What manner of foods are these?” he went on, examining the squared, shrink-wrapped blocks and rounded tubs. ​
“Soups, meats, and vegetables, for the most part. The rounded tubs are sort of an experiment for a dessert.” ​
“I don't suppose you could allow a hungry traveler something a bit more substantial?” ​
“You skipped past the cold box,” I pointed out. “I've been experimenting with various kinds of meats as well as vegetable dishes...” ​
“Soups of some sort...?” he asked, closing the freezer-drawer and opening the refrigerator. He paused, visibly confused, before extracting one of the wrapped and sealed 'meal bowls', turning it to examine it from three different angles, then replacing it to examine another, and then another. Finally, he selected one and turned to face the avatar. “The lid has markings resembling words, but I cannot say with confidence that I comprehend them precisely,” he said. “What is meant by... 'Pasta Salad Experiment Number 8'... if you don't mind?” ​
The avatar pointed. “The silverware you'll probably want is in the second drawer from the end,” I said. “As far as your question is concerned, I have... several different kinds of farms in the spaces below the living quarters up here on the surface, and a rather large library of information from my home that permits me to make approximations of a small but growing number of food.” I added a slight blush to the avatar's cheeks. “I have no capacity to taste or smell things, at least as you or the others might, so I have no idea whether you'll find it appetizing. All I can tell you is that I have a limited stock of various spices in the cabinet just to the right of this box, which is known as a 'refrigerator' in my language. If you feel the need to repay me for my hospitality, you're welcome to help me learn the names for the spices while we talk.” ​

Addendum 06

Kregorim devoured the first salad, admitting between bites that the Lignignory family's exit from the Ducal lands to the south had been somewhat hurried and therefore their dining-experiences had been something of a gamble. “We've managed to trade for many things as we head north,” he commented. He had figured out how to get clean drinking water from the kitchen sink into an Ork-scaled flagon without much prompting, and after swallowing five mouthfuls proceeded to turn his attention to the salad. I explained the basic ingredients and principles of 'pasta', as he considered a segment of neo-rotini on his fork. He ate it, a thoughtful expression on his face, eventually dubbing it 'surprisingly flavorful'. ​
From there, I walked him through an explanation of the 'dish washer' and 'stove' before guiding him through a simple tour of the rest of the house. The bathroom intrigued him, but he expressed even greater fascination with the barbecue on the back patio, especially the 'fuel pellets' I provided in sealed bags from one of the lower shelves. ​
“Why bother with such means, when these other amazing machines can cook food with greater precision?” he asked. ​
“My function, the reason I exist, is to help people recover from disasters,” I answered, when he came back inside from admiring the stonework of the patio handrails. “If they happen to be more comfortable cooking their own food over a fire, I want to help them do so. Hence, the cookfire station out there. It's called a 'barbecue grill' in my language, by the way.” ​
“...'Your language'...” he repeated, returning to the main room and settling down into his chair with a flagon of water in his right hand. “You've also mentioned 'your home' at least once in my hearing. May I ask where you come from?” ​
Hoo, boy. The tough questions... ​
“I'm from a lot further away than you might think, to begin with,” I explained. The avatar pointed south with his right hand, in the general direction of one of the four moons glowing in the sky. “For one thing, I'm from a place with only one moon.” The avatar tapped 'his side' of the wall with the other, and an equatorial-perspective image of Earth showing North and South America along with a portion of Antarctica down at the bottom. “This is a special kind of illusion, showing details of my home from far above its surface,” I explained. ​
Kregorim's eyes widened and he took a long pull from his flagon. “Seas, forests, deserts, mountains, wintry wastelands,” he murmured, attention moving from one detail to the next, until finally he straightened up in his chair. “... None of the lands with which I have knowledge appear here,” he stated. “And I suspect that this globe's other face will reveal similar mysteries.” ​
I animated the avatar shrugging. “Likely.” ​
I considered my next words very carefully. “Since I arrived here, 24 days ago, I have watched the heavens as best I can. From what I have discerned, the local star... or your sun... is measurably different than mine. I haven't been able to pick out any local planets yet, but I can say for certain that if any of the stars in your sky are the ones my people had cataloged, they're too far away for me to positively identify as such.” ​
Kregorim took that in, eyebrows twitching, and drained his flagon dry. He took it away from his mouth with a scowl, directed at the offending drinkware, but reduced its intensity before turning back to address the avatar. “I don't suppose you've managed to produce anything like a good strong ale since you've arrived?” he asked. “Our own supplies of such things are unlikely to be fit for drinking.” ​
I animated the avatar raising an eyebrow and waggling a finger. “I've none available, alas, though I do have some rather promising teas,” I told him. “You'll need to fabricate a teapot, though.” ​
He got up and proceeded to do so. As he did, I continued, “As far as your assessment of whatever ale you've managed to carry with you, I would ask you to ask the servants to pour whatever portion of it they wish to discard into the nearest convenient sink. Hopefully, you'll be able to get the word to them before they reach that stage of unloading.” ​
The avatar flicked the image of Earth away, then tapped 'his side' of the wall four more times. With each one, a new visual-window opened: one displaying the view just outside the foyer, another the main stairwell from the camera on the half-step just above the second-floor landing, the third the first-floor walkway (identifiable as such by the view of Lord Zee bustling in and out of the doorway to 'his' quarters, giving directions to the flow of 'servants') and the final one the view of the ground-floor walkway. ​
Up among the caravan, Thusarrel acted as a kind of traffic-director, guiding groups of servants with gestures and shouts to one wagon after another, in an order that made no particular sense to me. The 'flackaroos' stayed in the center, managed by three ragged-looking folk who seemed to know what they were doing; they also hurried to rake up any droppings as quickly as possible, out of the foot-traffic of the flow of servants carrying as mismatched a collection of luggage, furniture, decor and miscellany as ever came out of an estate sale. Kregorim's wagon remained mostly ignored, though the stair-steps remained down. ​
On the main staircase, Adallinda and Pippa made their way downward, the 'lady' scowling at the lines of servants passing her in both directions and flowing around her too-wide dress as smoothly as possible. Pippa guided her charge to frequent rest stops on the half-landings, sparing a moment here and there to nod back at the silent looks of gratitude from the luggage-bearing people. ​
“You're certain that my greedy brother and cousin have both gone for the chambers adjacent to my father's, Pippa?” Adallida demanded. ​
Her servant nodded once, then offered her hand to help steer the young lady back into the flow of foot-traffic. “Of course, my lady, “ she answered. “They both wish for the honor of being physically closest to your father's chosen quarters, though your other cousin and sister have likely out-raced them..." ​
On the first-floor view, from the camera opposite the service staircase and now pointing toward the lobby, I just caught a glimpse of Bhiocasaid shepherding Zoti into the second 'double unit' on the first floor, Yera and Totra actually holding the somnambulent Zoti while Bhiocasaid held off Nehdud and Haruinn as they protested the two ladies staking their claim ahead of the 'more worthy young lords' of the family. ​
“We're not sharing quarters with you beasts, and that's simply that!” she shouted at them. “If you want your own choice of suitable quarters, you'd better get down to the ground-floor and claim one before Adallinda does!” ​
The boys blinked at her, then looked at each other. Nehdud spun on his heel and raced back to the cliff-face lounge area, shoving his way through the flow of servants. I winced as I watched him making half-hearted goo-goo eyes and kissy-faces at whichever of them had obviously female shapes under their travel-rags. The female servants burdened with effects, even boxes the size of filled shopping bags that couldn't possibly require two people to hold, found themselves getting extra help to disguise both women's use of the item in question as a makeshift shield against his efforts. However slowly he was moving, though, he still made faster progress than Haruinn could possibly manage. ​
Adallinda's voice rang out from below, shrieking in triumph. Through the final view-window, Kregorim and I observed as she managed to slap her hand on the not-glass biometric scanner next to the door to the lower double-unit, Pippa now holding the sweating lady up and maneuvering her through the door, a line of six servants carrying baggage behind them. ​
Nehdud pushed through the line of servants to stand in front of the handrail, slamming his fist on the stone with one hand and snarling. Then he turned to look at Haruinn, noting his near-complete lack of movement, and his rage turned to a grin. He waved at his rival for the remaining double-suite, then resumed his efforts to force his way through the flows of servants. ​
Haruinn clenched his fists, until Midmolk pointed at the 'service stairway' just next to the now-claimed double-unit. “Their position matches something similar on the door below, master,” he pointed out. ​
Haruinn nodded, clanking his way to them at best possible speed, Midmolk following with the tower-shield. The Lignignory male slapped his hand on the palm-scanner; I granted him temporary access, mostly because I wanted to see if he could possibly beat that smarmy Nehdud if he had a clearer path. The young man succeeded in surprising me by gesturing at Midmolk, who handed him the tower-shield. He proceeded to ride it down the two half-flights of stairs like a sled, scraping the heck out of the finish and arriving at the ground-floor before Nehdud made it all the way through the lobby. ​
Haruinn pushed himself to his apparent limit, huffing and red-faced, as he quick-marched with all of that extra metal on his front to reach the palm-scanner and slap his hand on it. ​
Just as Nehdud threw open the door from the ground-floor lobby to see him do it. ​
The knife-burdened man strode into his doorway while Nehdud sank to his knees with a frustrated scream. ​
/[Previous/] ​
/[First/] ​
[/[Next/]]

I should not be writing this. I know they will be looking for me as soon as this goes live. I had to get the word out despite all the secrecy surrounding the project. I don't know what they'll do to me when they find me, but this has to get out.
I was unemployed vet tech looking for work when I came across a job listing offering a strangely large amount of money. What did I have to loose? I called the number and they gave me a website to go to that took me through an application process and a security clearance form that I had to fill out the last seven years of my life. They said it would be months until the clearance would come through but to my surprise a month later I got a phone call telling me I had been granted Interm Secret clearance and the job would proceed.
I had to go to a building without any name on it downtown and they took my photo for an ID card and a packet of information about where I was to go to the next day.
The next morning I drove to the address with a mix of excitement and apprehension. What about this job required a security clearance? Why had I gotten my interm secret so quickly? I figured I'd soon find out when I pulled up to a gate with a card reader. I swiped my ID and the razor wire topped gate slid open so I could pass. Yeah nothing ominous about that. I drove a mile or so down the road and parked in the parking lot in front of a building that looked like the set of a prison movie. The windows were narrow slits and I could tell from a distance that the door was very heavy duty. Thinking back a few minutes ago wasn't the top of that razor wire fence angled in as if to keep something in rather than people out?
I got out and approached the heavy door. I spotted the card reader and used my ID on it and it flashed green and there was a loud clunking sound from the door as it unlocked. I had to put some muscle behind it to get it to open and then it shut behind me followed by another loud clunk as the locks reengaged.
I turned to see a thick armored window with a guard staring me down.
"First day huh?" he asked me as he looked at his screen.
"Yeah," I said a bit nervously.
"Sit tight, your department head will be coming to pick you up and take you to your in-brief," he said.
"What uh, what is this place?" I asked.
"All that will be answered by the briefing so have a seat and relax. You're likely in the safest spot in the facility," he said.
I looked at the inner door and noticed it was just as thick and heavy as the outer one. I was essentially sitting in an armored booth so he was technically right about it being safe.
When my boss arrived he was wearing scrubs and had his ID card clipped to the bottom of the V of the top.
"So, you're my new tech?" he asked.
"Yes, Sir," I replied.
"Good, hopefully you follow instructions better than the last one," he said. "I'm Dr. Tanner. You can call me 'Sir' or 'Doctor'."
"Sir, can you tell me what I'll be doing here?" I asked.
"All in due time. First you need to complete the safety briefing. It is not a joke. Take a look at the windows and doors if you need convincing. The government doesn't spend this kind of money unless it's very necessary, and it is. You'll understand the need for it when I introduce you to our charges. I'm not going to tell you yet because I enjoy the look on people's faces when they get their first peak of what we're doing here," he said. "Now, for the safety briefing. Follow me."
He began to open the inner door when he stopped and looked back at me. "Do you have any electronic devices on you?"
"No Sir, the security documents instructed me to leave my phone and anything with a digital memory in the car," I said.
"Excellent, you're already demonstrating that you can follow directions," he said. Was that a hint of a smile I saw?
He lead me down the hallway to a room on the left and used his card to unlock and open the door. After I walked inside what appeared to be a conference room he followed me inside and let the door shut.
I immediately noticed the back of the door wasn't the usual thing one would expect to see. It had a big lever in the middle that looked like it operated bolts to secure the door shut. I started to wonder what the hell I had gotten myself into. I expected to be working with maybe the facility's guard dogs. This kind of security was on a level I hadn't experienced before.
"Good, you're observant, another plus," the doctor said.
He walked over to the table and picked up a recorder and pressed play. A trilling alarm sound came for it and he let it play for a few seconds before cutting it off.
"If you hear that sound along with flashing red lights you are to go to the nearest safe room, such as this one and use this lever to bolt the door," He walked over and pressed a button by the windows and the thick glass became opaque.
"And you are to opaque the windows with the control in the room so nothing can see in," he said and then pointed to a door on the other wall that had 'Emergency Supplies' written on it. "There you will find food, water, and other necessities if you happen to be locked down for an extended period of time. There is also a radio already set to the control room frequency. If the phone is not working pull the tab on the back of the radio so the battery makes contact and reports in with the information posted on the back of the door. That's basically who you are, where you are, and if there are any threats you know of near you. Otherwise sit tight unless told otherwise."
"Threats?" I asked.
"Our charges are out of containment or an external threat," the doctor replied.
"What's so dangerous that we need bunker rooms like this?" I asked.
"All in due time," he replied. "Have you ever used a tranquilizer gun?"
"No," I responded.
"No matter, you'd need to qualify on the two types we use anyway with the security team," he said.
"Why do we need tranquilizer guns?" I asked.
"The animals we work with are dangerous. They're sedated before they get to us and one of our tasks is to make sure they stay sedated until they're returned to the enclosure. If one wakes up and slips a restraint you are not going to want to go near it to give an injection. That's why we have tranq guns," The doctor said.
"That makes perfect sense to me," I said. My curiosity was burning wondering what we were working with. Had to be something like large predators to require this much security. A grizzly would be a plausible reason why the doors had the extra bars. The force they could produce could snap the usual latches.
"Good because it's time for my favorite part. Showing the new guy what we work with," the doctor said and led the way deeper into the facility and up a set of stars to a room labeled 'observation deck'.
"The windows are to remain frosted by the electronic controls there whenever the room is not in use. They cannot see in but they seem to know someone is watching them and it upsets them. It's best for everyone if they are not upset," He reached over and pressed the button and the electronic frosting cleared.
That's the moment where my brain completely derailed and I questioned my own sanity.
"W-Werewolves?" I asked.
"No, at least not at this facility. These are a lesser known cryptid called Dogmen, kind of like Bigfoot."
"Wait, is Bigfoot real?" I asked.
"Yes, but not nearly as widespread as 'sightings' would make you think," he said.
"If these exist, what else is real?" I asked him.
"That's beyond your need to know," he said sternly, but then his face softened. "I'll lend you a book later that contains everything we've confirmed and studied. After all, if you continue with this job you will have the opportunity to work with them in the future, and it's best you know what you're getting into," he said. "One benefit they probably haven't gotten around to telling you yet is that they will pay for your education. You can become a full veterinarian working with the most interesting creatures that exist," he said. "Not a bad gig, huh?"
"Except for the part where I'm working with large dangerous creatures," I said.
"Large, intelligent, dangerous creatures," he replied. "And that is why we have procedures and rules. Things like always having more sedative staged to inject if a patient starts to wake up, having them restrained at all times, and if they do wake up you have the tranq guns to put them back under without risking yourself," he said and tapped the control to frost over the glass again.
Our next stop was back in the conference room where there were now a couple of binders.
"Now for the boring part. Study these because you'll have to pass a test on them later. It's those procedures I mentioned. It covers everything from handling the animals, dosages we use, and why we can't leave after dark."
"Wait, we can't leave after dark?" I asked, a bit alarmed.
"There are dogmen in the woods surrounding this facility. The fence does a decent job of keeping them out but they do get in and they're not happy we have some of their kind captive. They're fairly shy during the day and become active at night so it's for your own safety that once the sun sets you stay here. We have secure rooms just for the occasion, and scrubs are not short in supply if you need a change of clothing. We have a mess hall staffed 24/7 by some excellent cooks. People who can do this job are rare so they take care of us. Now get to reading, you'll have to pass a test before you're allowed to work. I'll come pick you up for lunch."
I did as he said and spent the next few hours reading with a break for the promised lunch that was beef stroganoff and actually really good. I went for seconds. Then it was back to memorizing policy and procedures till I was finally done and managed a passing score on the test. That was followed by some time at an indoor range getting qualified on the tranq guns.
The doctor reviewed my test and nodded. "Excellent, you're a fast learner. We've rescheduled some things for tomorrow so we'll have the extra help. You head home and get a good night's rest. I'll see you in the morning in the veterinary section, just follow the signs it's easy to find," the doctor said.
I did as he said and drove home. I couldn't help but be a good deal more vigilant as I looked at the woods on the way out. Dogmen were out there and no one in the area except us knew. There were the cryptid hunters but they didn't know for sure like I did from seeing a pack close up.
Needless to say I didn't get a whole lot of sleep that night. My mind was racing with the possibilities of what was real from all of the stories.
In the morning I made breakfast and sat for a bit having to give myself a reality check that yesterday wasn't just a dream, so I finally picked up my keys and headed out. I drove down the lonely road and passed through the gate without incident. I parked my car and made my way through the security checkpoints and began following the signs to the Veterinarian department. As the doctor had said, it wasn't difficult to find.
There were three entrances all like airlocks that were long enough for a gurney. It didn't take long to figure out the purpose. If you had dangerous animals inside you wanted at least one door containment so they couldn't get past you and into the larger facility.
I went inside through the airlock like doors one at a time and found myself in a very familiar veterinary clinic though one that was very well stocked.
It was then that I met my other coworker, I'll call him Mike, who was sitting on a stool reading a magazine.
"Hey, you must be the new guy. I'm Mike," he said and I introduced myself.
"So, your first big day. You excited, or terrified?" Mike asked.
"A bit of both," I said honestly.
"Relax, by the time they get to us they've been pumped with enough drugs to drop an elephant. We take samples and the guards take them back out. Then we run the usual tests like any other animal. It's easy money," Mike said. "We're never in any danger."
"What about all of the procedures?" I asked.
"There's what's written down on paper and then there's what is practical and works. If we followed the checklist for every dogman that's brought in here it would just take us twice as long, and twice as long that it can wake up," Mike said. "So relax, I'll show you what you really have to do to streamline things."
What was I to say? He'd obviously been doing this for a long time and if his system worked who was I to question it?
Our first patient of the day made me the most nervous. The security team wheeled in a restrained female on a gurney right into the middle of our space then they backed out. Being the new guy I did the basics by checking heart rate, breathing, and looking into the eyes to make sure she was out cold. Everything was normal based on the numbers I had memorized.
Mike watched me, corrected my stethoscope placement a little and started drawing blood as soon as I was done. The moment he was done he buzzed the guards to take her back out while he labeled the samples.
"Less time they're in here the better so label your samples and fill out the papers once they're taken out," Mike said. "No need to have a dangerous animal laying around while we fill out forms."
"What about the extra sedative we're supposed to have ready?" I asked.
"The tranq guns are right there. Much safer to back off out of reach and just shoot them with another dose," Mike said. I couldn't fault his logic.
We had four more patients that day all went as smoothly as the first and I was beginning to relax. It was our last patient of the day when things went wrong.
It started normally with the guards rolling the male into our space and I took vitals and checked the eyes.
"Hey, I have some dilation here. I don't think he's under enough. Where's the sedative?" I asked.
"Don't worry about it. I'll be done before he realizes what happened," Mike said and undid one of the restraints a little so he could get to the vein. It was at that point things went horribly wrong. As soon as Mike inserted the needle the male woke up and jabbed it's hand upward catching Mike in the throat and spraying blood everywhere. I moved forward out of instinct to try and tighten the restraint when I felt a searing pain across my face and my right eye went red.
I stumbled back. Oh God had I lost my eye? I shook myself out of it long enough to badge through a door and throw the bolts before pressing the intercom button. "Creature out of containment in veterinary. I think Mike is dead. I'm hurt and need a medic!" I said before blacking out.
I don't know how long it was but when I woke up I was in a hospital room and the Veterinarian was sitting beside my bed.
"You're safe, you're in a hospital and just out of cosmetic surgery. You'll have some scars but it'll look like the result of a big cat. Your eye is fine."
"Mike?" I asked.
"Dead before any help would get to him. We have video of the whole thing including you questioning him multiple times on matters of procedure. Don't let someone senior intimidate you into not being safe. You have a month's paid leave to recuperate." he said.
So here I am. I need some advice. Should I go back to work after my leave is done or turn in my resignation? It won't take them much to figure out who I am if they find this post. I also don't know what they'll do to me if they do.

I'm currently a front end developer looking to increase my web design skills / knowledge. I need a better monitor as my current one was quite cheap, ok for a second monitor for VS code but the colours look very different to my XPS laptop.
I am looking at this https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-27-4k-uhd-usb-c-monitor-s2722qc/apd/210-bbrq/monitors-monitor-accessories. It's currently on sale, looks to have good reviews on rtings.com. I just wondered if anyone had used this monitor or had other recommendations. My budget is around £300.
Thanks in advance

Hi all,
For studying a few businesses and get a deeper understanding to pick stocks after a few years, I have used the following filters on a Screeners. It'll be helpful if you can review it and suggest changes if needed. Thanks!
Average return on equity 3Years >Average return on equity 5Years AND Return on equity > Average return on equity 5Years AND Price to book value <2 AND Sales growth 3Years >Sales growth 5Years AND Sales growth > Sales growth 5Years AND Book value > Book value 3years back AND Book value > Book value 5years back AND Change in promoter holding >= Change in promoter holding 3Years AND Promoter holding >20%

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Introduction
The agriculture sector has long been the backbone of economies worldwide, especially in countries like India. The evolution of agricultural practices has been significantly influenced by advancements in farming machinery, with tractors playing a pivotal role. Among the prominent names in the tractor industry is Swaraj Tractors, a brand synonymous with reliability, innovation, and farmer-centric design. This piece explores how Swaraj Tractors have led an agricultural revolution, transforming traditional farming methods and contributing to increased productivity and farmer prosperity.
The Genesis of Swaraj Tractors
Founding and Vision
Swaraj Tractors was founded with a vision to empower Indian farmers by providing them with robust and affordable agricultural machinery. Established in 1974, the brand emerged from the collaborative efforts of the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) and Punjab Tractors Limited (PTL). The name "Swaraj," meaning self-reliance, embodies the brand's mission to make Indian farmers self-sufficient.
Early Innovations
From its inception, Swaraj focused on innovation tailored to the specific needs of Indian farmers. The early models were designed to be versatile, capable of performing various agricultural tasks from plowing to transportation. These tractors were built to withstand the rugged terrains and diverse climatic conditions of India, ensuring durability and minimal maintenance.
Technological Advancements
Engine Efficiency and Power
Swaraj Tractors have continually evolved to incorporate cutting-edge technology. Modern Swaraj tractors are equipped with powerful engines that offer superior fuel efficiency, reducing the overall cost of operation. The use of direct injection engines, turbocharging, and intercooling technologies have further enhanced their performance and environmental compliance.
Ergonomic Design and Comfort
Understanding the long hours farmers spend on their tractors, Swaraj has invested in ergonomic designs that offer comfort and reduce operator fatigue. Features like adjustable seats, easy-to-use controls, and improved cabin designs have made a significant difference in operator productivity and health.
Advanced Features
Swaraj Tractors are now equipped with advanced features such as power steering, synchromesh transmission, and multi-speed PTO (Power Take-Off). These enhancements have increased the versatility and efficiency of Swaraj Tractors, enabling farmers to undertake a wide range of activities with a single machine.
Impact on Agriculture
Productivity Boost
The introduction of Swaraj Tractors has led to a substantial increase in agricultural productivity. The efficiency and power of these tractors have enabled farmers to cultivate larger areas in less time, facilitating multiple cropping cycles and better land use.
Economic Benefits
Swaraj Tractors have contributed to the economic upliftment of farmers by reducing their dependency on manual labor and enhancing their capacity to manage larger farms. The increased productivity has led to higher incomes and improved living standards for farming communities.
Sustainability
Swaraj’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its efforts to produce eco-friendly tractors. The incorporation of technologies that reduce emissions and fuel consumption aligns with global sustainability goals and helps in promoting environmentally responsible farming practices.
Community and Farmer Support
Training and Education
Swaraj Tractors has established numerous training centers and programs to educate farmers about modern farming techniques and the effective use of their machinery. These initiatives have empowered farmers with knowledge and skills, enabling them to maximize the benefits of their tractors.
After-Sales Service
A robust after-sales service network ensures that Swaraj Tractors remain operational with minimal downtime. The availability of genuine spare parts and timely maintenance services have built trust and reliability among the farming community.
Conclusion
Swaraj Tractors has been a game-changer in the agricultural sector, leading an agri-evolution that has transformed the lives of farmers. Through relentless innovation, farmer-centric designs, and a commitment to sustainability, Swaraj has not only boosted agricultural productivity but also contributed to the economic and social development of rural communities. As the agriculture sector continues to evolve, Swaraj Tractors remains at the forefront, driving progress and empowering farmers towards a prosperous fut

Me 27 male has a beautiful wife 25 female. She has a sister 18 female. Her sister wants to sleep with me. Any time I go to her parent’s house her sister is waiting half naked in her room for me. She says weird things like: “fill me up!” Or “yes daddy” and will go as far as to try to get me drunk. Now I barely drink though I am a 200 pound professional boxer and wait lifter. And I believe that drinking is not good. But anyways last week It was the last straw. She followed me in the bathroom and when I pulled down my pants to use the bathroom she grabbed my shlong and said: “mhm I bet you like it huh…?” I love my wife very much so I shoved her on the ground and went to her mom’s room to use her bathroom. After that was dinner. So after we ate I carried my wife sleeping body in to our truck and drove home. The next morning I went to go work out. So I left a note saying “ hey babe I’m at the gym I’ll be back 10:00 am.” It was 8:30 at the time. As I parked my car in the drive way and I got inside I saw her sister waiting my the waits. I tried to leave and as I got in the lot she kissed me I pushed her off me and said: “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!” It looked like she was abt to cry so I drove her home. As I was driving her home she slid my pants down I couldn’t pull them back up bc I was driving and she started moving her hand closer. I was solid at the time so she thought I wanted her so she chuckled and started sucking. I dropped her off and went home (comment if you want pt 2)

I (f26) lost basically everything. I used to own a car, had a job, and owned a house and a relationship. I had many friends back then and now everyone has left me. I miss the old me who strived to work hard in life but because of some things happened and I got into depression, I quit everything to fix my mental health for years. I don’t mind to start all over again but I don’t know how. Any advice?

Found this monstrosity on Craigslist

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TW: Implication of alcoholism by the end
Scene: Outside the school walls. Xavier walks over the meadow to some of the seats where some of the friends, Wednesday included are sitting. Suddenly, Morticia appears by his side.
Morticia: My dear.
Xavier: (looking at her surprised) Oh…
Gomez: (steps up next to him as well, smiling) We didn’t get a chance to talk last time.
Morticia: It’s Xavier, right? Or Exavier?
Xavier: (blows out air) Whichever you prefer.
They chuckle a little.
Xavier: (smiles) Both is quite alright.
They smile and walk on with him. Morticia takes his arm meanwhile.
Gomez: You’ve been keeping our little stormcloud company very well, we’ve heard?
Xavier: Yes… (smirks) … I do. Still do, very much so.
Morticia: (looks at him for a moment, smiling, but a tad of somberness sneaks in) A lot of people do not bother to keep going with us like this.
Xavier: (smiles, shrugs) I guess that’s just what I do.
Gomez: (looks at him for a long moment as well, then smiles and pats his shoulder) Must be your blood. Your father always took pride in his family’s insistence to never back down from a fight.
Xavier: (sighs a little) He still does that as well.
Morticia: I remember his prowess in fencing. Not many could hold their ground against him – I heard you also fence?
Xavier: (nods) But my main thing is art, to be honest. I rather do sports on the side.
Gomez: I’ve seen some of your work. (puts a hand on his back) Very kahlo, lovely.
Xavier: (chuckles)
Morticia: It’s much like her work, save for the blood and skeletons.
Xavier: (chuckles a little) That’s reserved for my nightmare collection.
Morticia and Gomez: (very interigued) Oh?
They keep talking and chuckling as they walk slower. Wednesday watches them closely, with an expression hard to read. Eugene comes stomping over, without his moms, and flops down on the bench between her and Bianca.
Wednesday: (not turning to him) Have your moms left already?
Eugene: (coldly) Maybe. I’m not talking to them any more today, so there’s that.
Bianca: (looks at him)
Eugene: (looking at his phone, coldly) It’s nice to get a say in something, right?
Bianca: Right.
Eugene: (cools down a little) How was it with you guys?
Bianca: (sighs) Don’t ask. I hope my mom doesn’t try to make any more conversation today as well.
Eugene looks at her, then presses her hand.
Wednesday: We had a talk with the principal. He decided to skip my late-night maraudering because he knew they’d love it, and left it at that I’m starting to have a bad influence on all of you.
Bianca and Eugene chuckle
Wednesday: Well, isn’t it true?
Bianca: It’s awfully nice of him.
They exchange a smirk. Even Eugene smiles a little again. Ajax comes running over.
Ajax: Have you guys seen Enid?
Bianca: She went back to the castle a while ago, but I haven’t seen her since.
Ajax: (sighs, sits down and fetches his phone)
Xavier, Morticia and Gomez reach their group, still chatting cheerfully.
Xavier: (to Wednesday) Hey.
Wednesday: I see you’ve met my parents.
Xavier: Well met, I’d say.
Gomez: Oh, I’d say so too, dear boy.
Morticia: He really has the charm of his family.
Wednesday: (furrows her brows) Really?
Xavier rolls his eyes, but before he can say anything, Mrs. Sinclair arrives.
Esther: (to the group) Have you kids seen Enid? She ran out on us.
Wednesday: Already? Well done.
They exchange a glare.
Esther: Well (she looks around) I can’t expect your help, now can I?
Ajax looks down, so do Eugene and Xavier, but Bianca returns her glare.
Esther: You could at least check her Instagram. I'm sure she's posting about this day already. (sighs) (to Morticia and Gomez) Kids these days.
The group tenses up.
Morticia: (staying friendly) Now Essi, perhaps she just needs time to cool off.
Esther sighs, waves away and walks off, past the other bodyguard Barnes from the Thorpe entourage who is coming over with an elderly man in a suit using a walking stick.
Xavier: (notices them) (happily) Davis!
Barnes: (rolls his eyes) Just Davis indeed.
Xavier: (chuckles and hugs him) Sorry Barnes.
Barnes: (chuckles and pats his back) How are you, skinny. Ah, there’s that backbone that I like.
Xavier: (chuckles, then turns to Davis, who hugs him with one arm while holding onto his stick)
Davis: Dear boy.
Xavier helps him to sit down on at the table.
Xavier: How’s your rib?
Davis: Much better. I was well enough to drive, but finding a parking spot was a pain on it’s own.
Xavier: (chuckles, but then gets serious) All registers to get me back on track, right?
Davis: (sighs) So it would seem. I’d tell you what to do, but … you already know.
Xavier: (nods, then presses Davis’ hand, who smiles)
Morticia: Davis. Do you remember us?
Davis: (looks at the Addams spouses) I’m quite sure I can’t recall every single time I went to bed in a once more squeaky clean house cursing both your family names.
Gomez: Pity. I remember the spider outbreak of 1990 very fondly.
Morticia: Oh, it was.
Davis: (shakes his head) And it seems this family doesn’t have quite enough of that yet.
Xavier: (rolls his eyes, wants to say something, but freezes, looking over Davis’ shoulder)
Vincent enters the meadow with Ced by his side, walking towards them. Around him, people turn and stare, some looking away quickly. Everyone seems a tad intimidated. Wednesday looks on, then turns to her parents – and freezes herself. Their expressions have dropped. Both of them look at Vincent with a mix of gloom and fear. He smiles at them, stopping before their group. Barnes goes to stand next to him again.
Vincent: The spouses Addams. How long has it been.
Gomez: (monotonely, but staying composed) Ten years, Vini.
Vincent: Well, we haven’t changed a bit, right?
Morticia: (smiling, but coldly) Certainly not.
Gomez: We thought you never attend parent day.
Vincent: (shrugs) Urgent family business called for it. Some PR adjustments, if you will.
Xavier frowns, looking down. Vincent smiles at the two of them still, but before he can say anything more, Ced catches something behind the back of his neck. Vincent ducks, and Barnes flinches. Ced is holding a pearl. Vincent shakes his head a little, amused, while Morticia cringes. Gabrielle peeks out next to Barnes, smirking at him.
Vincent: I thought I told you not to startle my bodyguards.
Gabrielle: I’m quite sure I can’t recall.
He smiles, and she leans over to exchange a brief kiss on the cheek.
Vincent: My dear old school friend I will one day shed tears over publicly.
Gabrielle: I know you will. So … also here on family business? (she looks at her daughter) Some teenagers to reel in?
Vincent: One, and that’s one too much.
Gabrielle: (chuckles) Have kids, they said.
Xavier and Bianca look down, frowning.
Vincent: Meanwhile, I was going to have a talk with his friends. (checks his watch) Scheduled for now.
Bianca: (glaring at him) We told him to stay at school.
Vincent: (smiles a little at her, but his expression changes when speaking to her) Oh?
Bianca: Of course. (in the background, the Addams spouses observe this exchange with interest)
Eugene: We don’t condone this Xavier. Erm… behaviour.
Vincent: (chuckles) Neither do I kid, you have no idea.
Xavier: (shaking with rage) Are you done?
Vincent: Not exactly. I do want to speak to your friends. (he looks at Bianca, who returns his look. Then turns away) Mr. Ottinger.
Eugene: (looks up again, startled) Me?
Vincent: Have a walk with me. I’d like for you to tell me something about yourself. Ced, you come with us.
Ced: Yes, sir.
Eugene: (a little nervous, gets up slowly and follows him as he walks away)
Wednesday turns and watches them walk away.
Xavier: (sighs) Of course.
Wednesday: What? What does this mean?
Xavier: He’ll offer him an apprenticeship. My father is interested in people with special powers.
Wednesday looks on, then at her parents – they give her a warning look. She turns back, observing once more. Morticia however, manages to smile again.
Morticia: (to Bianca) My dear.
Bianca: Me?
Morticia: I heard you head the fencing club currently. Would you like to visit the old gym with me? It’s been so long.
Bianca: (stares at her for a long moment) Sure.
They leave together. Wednesday looks on after them.
Cut to Lucas working at Weathervane. Sheriff Galpin walks in – slower than he used to. He stops at the counter and orders a black coffee. Lucas prepares it, looking at him concerned. Galpin thanks him quietly, then sits at the corner table. Lucas serves the next customer, then, after a moment of thinking, gets himself a coffee and sits down with him. They exchange a somber look. Galpin reaches into his pocket – then looks back up at Lucas, deciding not to add anything to his coffee. They sit in silence for a moment.
Galpin: It’s all my fault. Everything.
Lucas: (looks at him)
Galpin: What do you say to that?
Lucas: I don’t know.
They’re silent for another moment.
Lucas: Maybe … it’s not fair that you blame yourself more than the people who actually did something.
Galpin: (looks at him)
Lucas: She doesn’t feel bad about it.
Galpin: There’s still more I could have done, kid.
Lucas: So could I.
Galpin: Huh?
Lucas: I did things in my life I’m not proud of. Nobody forced me to, but I did. Can’t undo those, so – I’m looking ahead.
Galpin: (smiles) You have a lot to become happy about still. Not me.
Lucas: Not so sure.
Galpin: (looks at him) I am.
Lucas: (looks at him)
Galpin: If it helps, I … I want that for you. Really do.
Lucas: (smiles)
Galpin: (sighs, looks out the window) I don’t know where to start, kid. Even … even saying it’s my fault was hard.
Lucas: (shrugs) It’s a start. Talking helped me with that.
Galpin: (looks out the window still, seeing cars pass by heading for Nevermore – then looks at Lucas) What’s your favourite coffee?
Lucas: What? Erm … I guess the … the moccachino with walnut syrup? It’s nice.
Galpin: (searches his pocket and fetches a 10 dollar bill) Here. (he hands it to him) Keep the change. Get yourself one of those, and …
Lucas: (looks at him, surprised)
Galpin: … and then tell me stuff. Whatever you like.
They exchange another somber, but gentle look – then Lucas smiles.
Lucas: Alright.
He goes to prepare his coffee.
Galpin: Thank you, Lukes.
Lucas: (stills for a moment, then smiles again) You’re welcome.