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2008.03.06 17:30 Adobe Photoshop

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2023.04.02 14:34 Twenty1Gun Here's everything you missed last week

General News & Politics

Shotgun/Subgun

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Handgun/Pistol

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Rifle

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Air Gun/Air Rifle

Ammo & Misc

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Optics & Muzzle Devices

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I’m Arlo. I 9 to 5 in the firearms industry and curate these weekly “wrap-ups” to stay informed while helping other colleagues and friends to do the same. If you want these no-bs updates delivered to your inbox once a week, toss me your email here and I’ll add you to the list.
submitted by Twenty1Gun to longrange [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:33 ComfortableCost6910 Relationship with my best friend

I'm 20 and only recently found out of the term and now it's all coming to me suddenly, but I still don't know what to call this type of relationship, idk if it's demi, platonic or something else if anyone can help me, please feel free.
So during our teens, me and my best friend were inseparable, would hang out occasionally at my place, probably most of our high school thought that we were dating. We would be so comfortable around each other to the point that she had no problem casually hanging around in bra and me without shirt while she was smoking and we were chatting on bed. We would cuddle, watch TV, play random stuff, hug each other etc, we were so intimate and open with each other but we never ever had sex. We kissed and make out more often than not, even playfully kiss on random places like: neck, chest, stomach, shoulders, arms etc, but never did the actual sexual act! We would do this almost every day, in school we almost didn't hang out with anyone else, just 2 of us alone whole day and night. We would even hugged and slept under the covers together.
I never knew of asexuality before and I just discovered it this year, now some things make sense but I still don't know the exact name of this kind of relationship, is there a specific name for it? Thanks in advance.
submitted by ComfortableCost6910 to asexuality [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:33 Twenty1Gun Here's everything you missed last week

General News & Politics

Shotgun/Subgun

⭐ New Releases:

🔍 Reviews:

Handgun/Pistol

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🔍 Reviews:

Rifle

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🔍 Reviews:

Air Gun/Air Rifle

Ammo & Misc

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🔍 Reviews:

Optics & Muzzle Devices

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✍️ Update/Info:

I’m Arlo. I 9 to 5 in the firearms industry and curate these weekly “wrap-ups” to stay informed while helping other colleagues and friends to do the same. If you want these no-bs updates delivered to your inbox once a week, toss me your email here and I’ll add you to the list.
submitted by Twenty1Gun to Firearms [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:33 Marlin1895mxlr First ever trip: 3.5g golden teachers lemon tek

Hi all,
INTRO (Skip to REPORT if not interested)
After reading Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake last year I became very interested in the potential of psilocybin. I've done a lot of hanging around on Reddit, reading Double Blind and watching a few videos. I was fascinated by the revelatory and therepuetic effects people were reporting.
I obtained some GT spores and a grow bag and within a couple of months had my own little harvest. My partner and I set the date a couple of months back, got everything ready but amazingly she became pregnant so would be my sober trip sitter!
I'm 45 (yes an old new father!), don't drink or smoke, I eat wild protein where possible (hunt deer), gym, BJJ, own a surf school and work part time in terrestrial conservation, lead a simple life. I became interested because I wanted to delve into my theory of what lies beneath the fundamental forces of the universe: electromagnetism, strong and weak nuclear forces, gravity. (Hobby natural scientist too).
I've had some rough times like everyone but have been journaling and meditating a lot last couple of months which has been quite freeing.
TRIP REPORT
(First experience of beauty)
1400: 2.5g lemon tek with honey, down the hatch, bits and all. I really don't mind the taste of the GTs.
Just relaxing on the sofa under a big clean white duvet with my partner watching Top Gun Maverick. Half an hour alter touch started to feel fantastic. My arms felt longer when I hugged my partner but nothing else was happening. After an hour I just thought I should do a bit more.
1500: 1.2g lemon tek as above. Half an hour later I saw a pattern appear on a white wall and then the wall started breathing. It was so gentle and natural and looked perfect. It felt like I had been sprinkled with magic dust and been 'let in'. I watched the window blinds appearing to gentle ripple in the breeze (the blinds are inside) in fascination. On my partners skin I saw blood vessels and intricate detail. It softly turned purple and began to move. I was stunned and in rapture at the beauty unfolding around me.
First closed eye visuals revealed a beautiful vaulting interior of a temple drawn in neon lines.
1600:
(Intense come-up)
Then a strong sympathetic nervous system response kicked in and I began yawning, heart rate increased and I needed to walk some energy off. We got the dogs together and put on warm coats. That all felt quite intense! Outside the intensity dropped a little but I was very cold with all the blood dumped to my muscles and away from the superficial skin. I felt very light (b/c blood in muscles I presume). More yawning to supply muscles with oxygen. I was completely aware of reality but could see wonderful neon tints in my dogs fur, movement in leaves, patterns on the grass, vibrancy in wood grain. We walked down to the ocean but it didn't look any different to normal. We passed a lot of other dog walkers, I wondered if I would get paranoid like being heavily stoned, but it was not so.
The adrenaline was coming in strong waves and bringing mild nausea with it. I felt it would be best to go home and face this head on. I had a bit of indecision getting to that point. We had agreed beforehand that the trip sitter would not mock the tripper, but I think a bit of banter and piss-taking would have helped a bit as everything felt a tad serious because of all the adrenaline sloshing around.
1700:
(Headphones and lie down: journey within)
I went upstairs to bed while she stayed downstairs to finish Maverick. I felt I needed to be alone rather than stressing out and having her rub my back and tell me it's ok! Headphones on and Spotify psilocybin playist. I was still getting moving and patterning visuals and my hands were particularly interesting. HR still high, still feeling very adrenalised and awkward. I tried to relax and lean into the stress and feel where it was, but got stuck in a loop.
I can't remember exactly what got me out of it but it might have been 5 seconds of mantra, just thinking 'what the hell' or perhaps the first dose wearing off a bit. Eyes closed, I found myself soaring towards a huge temple wall in the distance full of shapes and faces. Some with jagged teeth. I told myself nothing was here to do me harm.
I could see bright, purple and pink oceanscapes. Suddenly I realised I had sunk into a calmness and was feeling the beauty again. I had a brief moment of self doubt. I brought to mind my recently departed father (we were somewhat estranged) but saw him smiling and sunlit. I saw my ex of 9 years, I thought 'Oh don't let this trip be all about you' (the breakup was very sad but inevitable and we wish eachother the best). But she was soon gently carried away in some bright green lillies and lush aquatic plants. I could feel she was just fine and I wouldn't see her again this trip.
Now I could feel the love that these two people had poured into me. I became aware that we channel the universe's energy by way of chemical energy in our food and all our lives try to radiate the love out. I thought of my mother selflessy doing so much out of love for my sister and I (for as long as I've known her haha) and then tears started streaming. I could see the world as overlapping networks of love spreading out from families into other families. I felt that since the beginning of life love had been leaprfrogging through time via evolutions and down generations driving reproductive behaviours and guiding the ecology of species. 'Cruelties' of nature were the unvierse finding the clearest path for love to continue flowing as energy into the future.
I realised I didn't ever want two people I love to feel hatred towards one another. All of this was set to absolutely gorgeous visuals and colours. The patterns and vaulting scenes had given way to nature-scapes.
I thought of my upcoming fatherhood and saw bright colourful flowers above ground against a white backdrop.
The tears stopped and I opened my eyes. I felt as though I had resolved something or accomplished something very significant.
1800:
(Back in the room)
I went downstairs just as Maverick had finished. The inner journey lasted one hour. I told my partner that I had just experienced something amazing and that now I felt completely clear headed and could feel no further effects. My appetite had returned. I felt absolutely refreshed and calm. I could have stood on a platform and delivered a public speech. Before I wondered if there would be a hangover or some artifacts but I just felt calm and good.
It's a few days later and reflecting back I think I got insight into my question as to what is underliyng the fundamental forces of the universe. Why does it to what it does? Why do we have concentration gradients, electrical charge, electron distribution orbitals and so on? To me it seems that this is the way to continue to spread one love that everything has sprung from.
I've got decent second flush coming on in the grow bag but don't feel any need to go deep within again for a while. I'd like to go back to the breathing walls again, but don't know if I'll get struck by the same bliss as it was so unexpected this first time.
I understand now what people say when they describe these mushrooms as intense and what respect really means. This is unlike anything else I have experienced. It's not a drug, to me it doesn't even feel like medicine. Someone on here described it as a gift, that's what it feels like to me.
submitted by Marlin1895mxlr to shrooms [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:33 Pretty_Ad807 I'm sure I'm probably trans

Here is my story when I was 9 I had a dream I was female and I put on my mums lipstick and panties she asked if I wanted to be a girl and asked if I wanted it cut off(srs) confused 9 year old me was freaked out said no started crossdresing in her clothes in secret and I kept wishing I would magically become female this carried on for years until I was caught mum wanted me to ask in future I still did it in secret but less often eventually had an epiphany age 17 flashback to everything. In my mind light bulb 💡 I'm trans I think I told some people at school classmates but it wasn't until age 19 I had come out to my mum via letter and decided I wanted to transition she shaved my face and my arms iwore her bra and panties to school but I kept my coat 🧥 on all day worrying someone would notice and have a bad reaction I also worried I wouldn't pass so when my mum asked me If im trans for sure I said no when she again asked me If I still wanted to be a girl I said no and I just got on with life for years but in my mind I was thinking I would wait until I have a girlfriend or female BFF I have never had a girlfriend or kissed a girl I have no freinds sp that hasn't happened I didn't crossdress any more I basically tried to forget convince myself I'm a cis male but still the occasional regular thoughts in my mind I wish I'd magically become female in my mind now I'm 25 years old and since January I've been going back and forth I'm trans then I'd convince myself I'm not it doesn't work cycle repeats I'd use face app and similar apps to see myself as a woman I'd smile ☺ I'd delete but then do again and again I'd make profiles under my chosen female name but delete but cycle repeats i don't want surgery or hormones I want to dress female while keeping some of my male clothes my graphic tshirts with pictures and logos and other clothes like that.
submitted by Pretty_Ad807 to TransMTFtalk [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:32 AggravatingSwitch294 Rant about people

I was aware that Rottweilers are one of the most stereotyped dogs when I got my boy Leo 11 months ago. Recently, people have been getting on my nerves. We go for a long walk every Sunday where primarily dog walkers and cyclists go. Leo is off the lead as he’s great with dogs and people (if I see a dog on the lead he goes on the lead). He has a habit of having to say hello to every dog which I’m working on trying to reduce and keep his attention on me. 75% of people are actually really understanding of him just being a happy-go-lucky pup. However, today someone shouted “no” repeatedly at him as we passed. He was within arms reach of them and us and wasn’t in their space but I shrugged it off as maybe they just don’t like dogs or big dogs so I’m fine with that. The next couple we passed, the man held his wife behind him and acted like Leo was trying to go for them. I can’t reiterate enough that he doesn’t look threatening; he walks past with his tongue hanging out and a big smile. Absolutely nothing he does should cause alarm. It really does frustrate me how people look at him as if he’s just committed a crime for existing and it’s honestly now getting to the point where it’s making me nervous. This shouldn’t be the case as I do have faith in him. I know I’m not the only one who deals with this type of thing on a daily basis and I just want thoughts and opinions on how people deal with this type of stuff as it bothers me and my other half. Sorry for the rant but people just frustrate me sometimes.
submitted by AggravatingSwitch294 to Rottweiler [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:32 Twenty1Gun Here's everything you missed last week

General News & Politics

Shotgun/Subgun

⭐ New Releases:

🔍 Reviews:

Handgun/Pistol

⭐ New Releases:

🔍 Reviews:

Rifle

⭐ New Releases:

🔍 Reviews:

Air Gun/Air Rifle

Ammo & Misc

⭐ New Releases:

🔍 Reviews:

Optics & Muzzle Devices

🔍 Reviews:

✍️ Update/Info:

I’m Arlo. I 9 to 5 in the firearms industry and curate these weekly “wrap-ups” to stay informed while helping other colleagues and friends to do the same. If you want these no-bs updates delivered to your inbox once a week, toss me your email here and I’ll add you to the list.
submitted by Twenty1Gun to gunpolitics [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:32 Exact-Limit-2194 Glock store holster.

Hey folks, So I have a T-Rex arms sidecar 2.0, and a KJ concealment AIWB holster. Both holster I have no real complaints about, but when I am home and working around the house. AIWB can get bothersome/ uncomfortable when doing yard chores ( I know comforting over comfortable). Does anyone have experience with the cheap OWB holster on the team Glock store website? I mean for $15 to have an OWB holster for around the house can’t be to bad, or is it a complete piece of junk?
submitted by Exact-Limit-2194 to Glocks [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:32 Aforemore My Glaring Idol - Part 1

Have you ever stared at something that you knew was evil? For me this was a doll. Yeah, an innocent looking doll. It belonged to my mom as a kid. She always refused to keep it in the house because it triggered something in me. Upon locking eyes with this collection of cotton and fabric, I felt something glaring back at me. It knew everything that I feared and continued to keep smiling back.
We initially rented a small country home that was trouble free but as soon as she moved it into the house with the rest of the furniture, I started bedwetting in the midst of night terrors. Mind you this was her childhood doll. She loved it dearly and could not understand why it was causing such an intense reaction from me which led to her giving it to my grandmother. It was left happily sitting in a rocking chair. Smiling. Black eyes with no end. Looking right back at you no matter where you stood. Staring into its eyes was hypnotic. A deep black completed with a simple smile and two triangles stitched into a blank canvas of face to form eyes. Two ponytails carefully braided with red yarn. It’s been almost ten years since my grandmother passed and this random doll who sat patiently in the same room and seat torments me. I was able to sleep in the house during visits, however I always had nightmares of the doll being there with me in my sleep. Never in a cruel way but rather just there. I never trusted it no matter how warm its glow might have felt.
My life was eventually filled with various fights between my mother and father to which I eventually saw my them both arrested first hand at different points. An uncontrollable anger was always hiding just under the table. Even though this, I made friends, and while I loved them, always felt a huge weight on my shoulders. The tension of a troubled household always stays with you. All it takes is a door slamming, a bang on the table, or basically anything reminding yourself of what you came from. The stress is always there no matter how many promises and moments of happiness you experience. After awhile you eventually stop risking attempts for the good moments. They were never coming for you anyways. You simply shut down. I had nothing left. I was alone and my parents did not care.
Even through all of this, I had managed to meet my perfect balance in this world during my high school years. She came from everything I did not and in the beginning truly loved me for who I was despite the walls I lived comfortably within. We had two children after we graduated and even though my salary was far below the amount required to raise a family, we lived happily and loved each other.
I had failed out of college due to me. I say me because I simply could not stand sitting in a classroom. It was a shallow experience. I sat in my psychology class hoping to learn about myself only to realize that they were only making broad generalizations. I had a family to feed and dropped out after a single semester. I could do more for them putting my head down and grinding away hours just as my father had done before me.
submitted by Aforemore to nosleep [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:32 Pretty_Ad807 Am I definitely trans?

Here is my story when I was 9 I had a dream I was female and I put on my mums lipstick and panties she asked if I wanted to be a girl and asked if I wanted it cut off(srs) confused 9 year old me was freaked out said no started crossdresing in her clothes in secret and I kept wishing I would magically become female this carried on for years until I was caught mum wanted me to ask in future I still did it in secret but less often eventually had an epiphany age 17 flashback to everything. In my mind light bulb 💡 I'm trans I think I told some people at school classmates but it wasn't until age 19 I had come out to my mum via letter and decided I wanted to transition she shaved my face and my arms iwore her bra and panties to school but I kept my coat 🧥 on all day worrying someone would notice and have a bad reaction I also worried I wouldn't pass so when my mum asked me If im trans for sure I said no when she again asked me If I still wanted to be a girl I said no and I just got on with life for years but in my mind I was thinking I would wait until I have a girlfriend or female BFF I have never had a girlfriend or kissed a girl I have no freinds sp that hasn't happened I didn't crossdress any more I basically tried to forget convince myself I'm a cis male but still the occasional regular thoughts in my mind I wish I'd magically become female in my mind now I'm 25 years old and since January I've been going back and forth I'm trans then I'd convince myself I'm not it doesn't work cycle repeats I'd use face app and similar apps to see myself as a woman I'd smile ☺ I'd delete but then do again and again I'd make profiles under my chosen female name but delete but cycle repeats i don't want surgery or hormones I want to dress female while keeping some of my male clothes my graphic tshirts with pictures and logos and other clothes like that.
submitted by Pretty_Ad807 to asktransgender [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:31 Space-Wolf-1986 An Ending 15 Years in the Making

So, this is the story of how my character had the best Death I have ever received in a game. A little bit of backstory first.
​
I have been playing in a text-based game of Werewolve the Apocalypse for the last 15 years with generally the same group of people. We meet at least twice a month or more for larger story sessions and there is of course almost always social play available to those that want it. This was the first true Werewolve game I ever played in.
​
The story is set with a large group of Garou who sit sort of outside "The Nation." but still have tribal ties and allies within. The group goes by the name "The Hounds of Hell." and they are an MC of Garou and live by both the Litany and the rules of an MC.
​
Enter 20 year old Space-Wolf. I had been searching for an IRC game that was more then just NSFW Role-Play. I wanted stories, and adventure and World of Darkness. I stumbled upon Hounds when looking for a game on IRC and I met a lovely ST that I am still friends with to this day. I still play in this same game as another character to this day.
​
I was given the help I needed to make a PC and came up with a background that at the time I thought was fairly unique. I would later learn that the lost cub background isn't terribly unique but I was new to White Wolf at the time. It took about two weeks of me waiting patiently to be told it was time to introduce my character but eventually the ST spoke with me and had my PC - named Charles Xavier Reynolds (Turns out his Birth Name was Aedan MacTavish - he would eventually go by Charles Aedan MacTavish) at the time - stumble out of the desert and into the temporary camp of the Hounds of Hell, having escaped from a nearby institution on the previous night of the Full Moon.
When I made the PC I didn't know what Tribe I wanted him to be from; or even what his basic gifts would be. I wanted that all discovered by him in game, and too my shock - I was given PB 5 Silver Fang. What made this all the more interesting was the fact that the Hounds of Hell were in the middle of a dust up with the Fang tribe as a whole.
That was just the beginning of Charlies story however.
If I wanted to write the whole story out, it would probably take me several months to give a recollection of every single thing the character had gone through. He changed tribes twice, and moons several times. Each had a reason and only once was it because of a punishment.
​
The big thing here was that throughout this entire lifespan of the character was a singular running villain. Lillith.
Lillith was an immensely powerful bane who took her name from the biblical Lillith and was obssessed with the Hounds of Hell. She was a seductress and a bane who specifically targeted pregnant Kin and Garou. We lost to her...allot. PC's lost children to her. PC's lost their lives to her. My character specifically lost several children and three different mates to her throughout the years. He hated her with all the fury a Garou could manage.
Then, about 3 years ago, we switched to Discord and we could really get into the RP aspects of things. Quite often doing voiced games where we responded as our PC's would and it was allot of fun. Eventually, The Hounds got involved with Norse Ragnarok. The game had always had a Norse bent to it, with it having a Heavy Fenrir influence and many of our allies being among the Fenrir. The Founding Garou of the Hounds was a Fenrir.
So, very long story short - many of the Hounds were a Chosen of a God; someone who when Ragnarok came would carry their powerful spirit into the New World. Charlie's - was Weiland the Smith. Charlie had a tumultuous relationship with spirits. He never could quite grasp the spirit part of his Garou life. That extended to Weiland as well. The two were on decent terms but some time before this he had managed to offend the spirit and had no communication with him. Ever.
​
It was discovered by the Hounds that Loki had been working with Lillith to hasten Ragnarok. What we thought was two decades to prepare was quickly dwindling down. Loki was launching an attack on a weak spot in the Gauntlet and hoping it to tear it asunder and combine the Umbra and the solid world. He was doing this at a caern called Walhalla. An ally of the Hounds who had often offered them a place to rest and a place the Hounds had helped free from the Spiral in an EPIC fourty-eight hour session.
So, the Hounds gathered at Walhalla. The big guns were brought in from all across the Nation. Fae Allies were called in. Silver Fang Royalty showed up. The Hounds entire MC were ready to ride into battle, but Charlie and another group of Garou were given a seperate mission. Charlie - who at this point had finally found his footing in life as a Fianna Galliard - and the others were to take a large crystal made of pure cleansing energy to a weak point in the defenses of Loki and set it off. It would crumble his protective wall and allow the other Garou to push him and his forces back.
The trip there was fairly uneventful; our party cloaked with Talins and all of us good at stealth. Then when we arrived....we heard the sound of crying children. Crying Ghost Children were Lilliths calling card. She was standing in the room that we needed to place the bomb; but for some reason could not see us.
​
As it turned out, we were being cloaked by the Gods from her view. Atleast outside of the room. Once we placed the bomb; she would be able to see us. One of the Norse Gods who was closer to their Chosen than Charlie was, informed that Garou that if that cleansing bomb were to go off right next to Lillith - it would kill her for good. No more little pieces of her surviving. No more just sealing the powerful Bane away and praying that this time it holds. Lillith would be dead...but so would whoever set the bomb off.
It was initially a timed bomb; but if you applied Gnosis directly to it. It would go off. Several Ahroun and a Theurge began arguing IC about who would stay behind and try to stay alive long enough to set the bomb off with her near enough to it to kill her.
Until Charlie spoke up...
​
In one of the most impassioned speeches I've ever given IC - Charlie stated exactly why he should stay behind. I can't remember it word for word but it goes something like.
​
"30 Years. For Thirty Years I have fought this bitch. I have set children and mates to the pyre because of her. I have held those I consider brother, sister, and friend as they wept because of her. I have made mistakes that have cost me name, renown, and rank because of her. None of you can stand up to her in a straight fight. -I- cannot stand up to her in a straight fight. That isn't how you fight her. She has a weakness. Pretty things that she has a history with are her favorite play toys. They distract her. I will distract her long enough to get her close and set that bomb off. All of you have children. All of you have mates. My children that survived are grown; I haven't had a mate in nearly fifteen years because of her. I wouldn't take one. No one is staying but me."
​
So, it was decided that I would be the one to stay. I had a gift that let me pour Gnosis and Rage into my social stats. I would become the prettiest thing to ever exist; and she knew me. I would pull her in and set the bomb off.
One big thing you should know; is that just outside this room where she stood was an old temple to the Gods and Spirits of the Norse. So, after he said his goodbyes to his friends and gave them time to escape he moved up to the statue of Weiland.
He knelt before it, and cut his palm and offered the blood. He offered the blade used to make the cut - Handcrafted by Charlie himself because he trusted no one else to make one to his standards. He offered a prayer to Weiland.
"Weiland, my friend. I am sorry I will not be here to carry your spirit to the next world. I am sure you will find someone more worthy. I am sorry that I will not be able to come to the skyforges and learn from the most talented smith to ever grace a forge. I have never asked you for anything Weiland. Others they ask for strength; for guidance; but I have always took to your tenant of self-sufficiency with all the strength my will could carry. I do not know if you are listening...but forgive me, and goodbye old friend."
​
I then offered gnosis to the statue and stood up - but as Charlie stood up. He went from stocky and shorter with a grizzled beard; and became a much taller man with wider shoulders and powerful arms with a long thick red beard. As the ST described to me - Weiland had finally given his Chosen a single gift. There, in a forgotten temple, as a war raged below - two became one.
​
Charlie/Weiland engaged Lillith. Instead of distracting her - they fought. Chosen and God beat her into the ground. They shattered her limbs; crushed her face; and left her unable to move. At the end of the fight; they drug her over to the bomb and placed her face next to it. The last thing Charlie ever got to see; was Lilliths face - filled with the fear of knowing that Death had come.
​
15 Years. 15 Years he had fought her. 15 years he had lost to her, and in a blinding flash of light he had guranteed that the Hounds children, and their childrens children would never fear her again. It was the perfect ending to a character who had been adopted and raised by the MC. Who had taken the MC's Totem Spirt (The Beast - A Totem of Protection for Pregnant Women and Children) as his own personal Totem.
​
In the final irony, a lost Silver Fang Cub - who it turns out was one of the last surviving members of Austere Howl - who chose Cockroach over Falcon, and then was chosen by Stag - was written into the Silver Record; for doing what Elders and Legends had failed to do. He put an end to Lillith.
To me - it was the best ending the character could have asked for.
submitted by Space-Wolf-1986 to DnDGreentext [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:30 xXKikitoXx I really need to up my anxiety meds. (Bk2 - 3.5)

PREVIOUS
‘Tick, tick, tick, tick-’
“Stop it.” I said quietly under my breath.
‘-tick, tick, tick-’ Ronové was repeating the sound in time with the pendulum swinging on the clock across the room and it was slowly driving me insane.
“Why are you doing that?”
‘Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick-’
“Shut up!” I shouted finally and at least three sets of unnatural eyes turned to me, “Sorry, voices.”
“You’re possessed?” It was a fairy named Baltzar who asked.
“A little bit.”
“That does explain the witch’s magic.”
‘Tick, tick, tick…’
“What? Oh yeah. It would be nicer if he was helpful though.” I joked, sometimes it was difficult to separate what Ron was thinking to me from what other people were saying. He didn’t answer me then, he was doing something, I won’t pretend to know what.
“Well?” Eric asked tensely, though his expression was perfectly neutral. Actually, I hadn’t seen any flicker of emotion at all in days.
He stood beside Nathaniel’s hospital bed with his arms folded, watching every move Baltzar made with scrutiny. His arm was coated in magic all the way to his collarbone, and his hair was combed back so that his right eye was clearly visible. I had seen him be relaxed about hiding his abnormalities when we were at home. But this was different, it was more like he was displaying them as a warning.
“He’s doing well. His vitals are stable, the salt is largely flushed from his system and his internal energy is reaching an equilibrium.”
“When will he wake.”
Baltzar shrugged, “How should I know? He will wake when his body has the energy to do so.”
Nathaniel was the only one that hadn’t regained consciousness. Calla was the first. I had found her lying in the street and the injury on her side was… Well, I’ve seen roadkill that looked better. Her dress was dirty and torn, and blood pooled around her. I didn’t think she was going to make it.
I pressed my hand firmly on the wound to stem the bleeding but her blood was so slick that I slipped more than once and it welled up between my fingers. ‘She’s not going to make it.’ Ronové commented casually echoing my thoughts, he sounded amused.
“Shut up.” I hissed. I didn’t want to hear anything from Ron at that point. Calla coughed as she tried to talk, blood dribbled out her mouth but whatever she said was inaudible. I think she knew that because she tried again.
“Wh–’s… E..ric?” It still took me a moment to understand.
Around us was chaos and I couldn’t see Eric anywhere, it was like a war zone. A haze of smoke filled the air, making it even harder to see anything. The only light came from freely burning fires and bright fairy magic. Ash fell from the sky like snow once the rain had let up, and to make matters worse it was bitterly cold, I don't know how no one else seemed to realize that.
Achaicus was fighting Lazarus and each blast of energy broke part of the castle, sending clouds of dust and rubble in all directions. It was all I could do to keep Calla somewhat protected from it. I didn’t know what I would do if they came in our direction. The fear in that thought nearly sent me into a panic attack.
“I don’t know where he is, but I'm sure he’s fine.” I tried to soothe her, she was so pale and her eyes slowly closed. “Calla no. You have to stay awake, can you do that for me?”
I patted her cheek gently to force her to open her eyes again and she did for a moment, “Okay, good, that’s good you’re doing great. Just breathe through it.” Was I talking her out of dying? Or coaching her through birth? Truthfully I didn’t know what to say, everything sounded dumb to me.
A shock wave of magic deflected off a sword shattered the windows above us and I did my best to cover her from the falling glass. It was terrifying being on the ground while monsters fought. I had never seen anything quite alike to it. I was definitely going to need to up the dosage on my anxiety meds after this.
I could almost feel Calla’s life slipping away when suddenly someone was beside me, pushing my hands away and replacing them with their own magic hands. “You’ve done well, let me.” It took a solid moment before I understood, it was a ghoul…
Gratefully I let her take over, when I stood I was shaking so bad that my legs felt like jelly. Calla’s blood soaked my shirt and pants, she had lost so much. But, magic can fix that right? I didn’t know. I couldn’t really think.
It was only by chance that I saw Eric, he was pushing his way out of a pile of rubble. It must’ve fallen on him during the fight and I thought he might be hurt so I moved right away to help him.
“I thought you were dead somewhere.” The relief I felt was immeasurable as I assisted him out.
“I’m fine, what about Calla?” He dismissed my concern. His hair and clothes were coated in dust. His right eye was nothing more than an empty socket, his nails were all blackened and his good eye seemed unusually blue. I hadn’t seen him without his monster arm and eye before and I’m ashamed to say I recoiled with the shock of it.
“Charles, focus, tell me about Calla?” he demanded firmly as I fell back on my haunches.
“She, she’s, a ghoul is-”
“And Nathaniel?” He cut me off before I could finish explaining.
“I don’t know he was-” Eric was gone before I could complete the sentence. Apparently he wasn’t injured at all.
After that everything was mostly a blur and I think I might have passed out because when I woke up I was laying on a hospital bed in the infirmary. Calla was in the bed beside mine, and Nathaniel was on the other side of her. Eric was sitting between the two with his cane across his lap and a sword resting close by, ready to be used at any moment.
Now let me tell you, fairy hospitals are weird, well, ‘outdated’ I suppose is a more appropriate term. It’s a wide space with tall timber framed windows along one side, and elaborate landscape paintings decorating the other. Small tables with flower vases ran down the center and there was very little medical equipment. There were no partitions between areas and metal beds with simple linens lined either side of the room in neat rows.
It was a surprisingly cold, sterile place considering the amount of light that shone in. I’m not really sure what I expected. Our beds were on the window side, while Markos was on the other side opposite them. My sister of course sat with him. She had dragged over an empty bed so that she could lay close to him.
There weren’t all that many people in the room, there was a ghoul, Hanta, standing beside the door and Eric looked over when I sat up.
“Good afternoon, Charles,” he commented. He hadn’t recovered fully at that point and the fae magic on his arm was only up to his forearm. But I noticed his fingernails were no longer black and his right eye was restored.
“Afternoon? How long was I out?”
“Only a few hours.” He assured, “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a bus, how’s everyone else?”
“They will be alright.”
“Ahh that’s a relief-” I began but Eric cut me off abruptly.
“You disobeyed me.”
The way he looked at me seemed cold, and the complete lack of emotion in his voice made me feel like I was in trouble, “Yeah… I’m sorry about that.”
“You used a magic I warned you not to, and almost got yourself, and Nathaniel, killed. It would have been unforgivable if you had and I don’t take kindly to what I’m saying being blatantly disregarded. Do you understand?”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to-” I had no good answer for him. He was angry in a way that burned cold and I knew it.
“You should be sorry. You’re important and irreplaceable.” he said it so calmly I wasn’t sure if he meant it, “...and, you saved Calla’s life. If you weren’t there she would have bled out. So I will forgive you, only this one time.”
I understood then that he was scared. I had scared him by putting myself in harms way, and this was his way of telling me.
“It won’t happen again...” I assured softly.
“...Thank you.”
I smiled and it was as I was about to make a terribly lame joke that Calla moved. She winced slightly as she tried to sit up but Eric was quick to stop her. “Don’t move too fast.”
“Where are we..?”
“The infirmary, still at Leúchtend.”
“We won?”
“Yes, Achaicus beat Lazarus.”
She paused for a moment processing, “...Markos?”
“He’ll be fine.”
“And Charles?” she asked next.
“Right here.” I spoke up and she turned to look at me with wide confused eyes. It was the first time I had seen her without make-up, and I was surprised to see that her eyelashes were partially white. Was she part fairy?
“That really hurt when you pressed on my side.” She mumbled the complaint.
“Ahhh, right. Sorry about that.” I was having to apologize a lot for one day.
She reached out to take my hand, squeezing it in hers and catching me off guard, “Thank you.” These people with their monotone and lack of expression, I had no idea if she meant it or not either.
“You, I, welcome?” Good job Charles, that made no sense, I thought bitterly.
‘No kidding.’ Ron answered bored, though I ignored him.
Calla nodded like she understood regardless and turned back to Eric, “I’m so sorry…”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I wasn’t strong enough, you had to fight them on your own. I let you down… I’m useless.”
“Hardly.” he responded simply and tears began to well in her eyes. She needed more than a single word answer and it took Eric a moment to realize it before he elaborated, “Calla, you killed a dragon single handedly. There’s not one other person in this entire castle that could say that.”
“I'm sorry…”
It took Eric some effort, but he stood with his cane and moved close enough to hug her. “Don't be, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
Calla didn’t stay awake long after that, only long enough to have a small amount of food before settling in to sleep more peacefully.
***
Markos was the next to wake the following day and when he did Claire threw her arms around him without any care. Dissolving into relieved sobs. He winced but made no complaint as he slowly returned the hug, pulling her close against him as if it brought him some comfort. She murmured something in his ear and he froze.
“...I beg your pardon?” he asked quietly.
However she didn’t repeat herself, instead she slowly let go of him, holding his face in her hands, “Are you alright? How do you feel?” she asked the questions in rapid fire.
He seemed unable to comprehend what she had said, and it took a moment for him to find his voice again. “I’m okay… How are you here?” He covered one of her hands with his and closed his eyes.
“Oh well... I-”
“She insisted I bring her.” Ávila mused as she entered the room and sat heavily on the edge of Markos’s bed and his eyes snapped open. For a moment he looked feral, like a startled cat, then his expression settled into a hard glare.
“It’s dangerous for her to be here.”
“She’s fine. Can’t lift a sword though.”
“They’re heavy.” Claire agreed, looking apologetic.
“What happened to Lazarus?”
“Achaicus beat him in combat and he is currently imprisoned under guard.”
“How many guards? Is he weakened? Is there salt?” He asked, gradually getting more irritated as he tried to get out of the bed.
“Relax, broken man. Everything is under control. Lazarus is well guarded.”
“And then who is protecting Dunkel if you’re here?” He growled, still annoyed.
“Tougo is at Dunkel and Achaicus is in control here. No one is going to attack anyone. And if they do, they’ll regret it.”
He didn’t seem satisfied with her answers, but Claire urging him to lay back down subdued him as Ávila continued to chatter away. I won’t pretend to understand how fairy magic and healing works, but apparently broken bones would only take a few days to mend. Not that he seemed pleased with even that, he was up and walking by the next day, despite Claire insisting he rest.
***
Days passed and Eric rarely left the room. The longest he was gone was only a few hours and that was only when Ávila agreed to stay in his place. There was a ghoul on guard at the door at all times and Achaicus visited regularly.
He sat beside Nathaniel on the opposite side of Eric and the pair of them waited for hours at a time in silence.
“Achaicus,” It was a female fairy who spoke, not anyone I knew, and two others accompanied her. It was regular that someone would come looking for him with some request or another, and he would often reluctantly leave. “The repair team are having trouble matching the mortar color to the original. They would like to know which alternative color you would prefer-”
“Get out.” Eric said calmly.
“But I-”
“Don't make me repeat myself. If the matter isn’t urgent, don’t interrupt.”
The woman looked unsure, her bright yellow eyes flicking to Achaicus for confirmation. “Pick whatever color is closest to the original.”
“Of course my lord.” She bowed appreciatively before leaving.
“You don’t have to answer their stupid questions.” Eric told him annoyed.
“I do…”
“No, you don’t.”
“I’m the leader, it’s my job now to handle any issues that arise.”
“Get Molly to deal with it.”
“If you would allow her into the room, perhaps I could.”
“With her gift? I think not.” he muttered as he got up and limped away to speak with someone at the doors. I couldn’t hear what was said, but I was sure he was barring anyone else from entering unless it was life or death.
“I see your attitude problem never went away.” Achaicus muttered, though he seemed grateful despite his words.
“I heard that.” Eric commented, lightly tugging on his hair on the way past when he returned.
“Don’t pull my hair.”
“I’ll do what I like.”
“Then I’ll have you thrown into the dungeons.”
“Please.” Eric snorted, they were surprisingly amicable, in a hostile kind of way.
“I don’t know how Nathaniel stands you.”
“Same way you do.”
“With a knife to the eye?”
“Careful, I’m sure you remember what happened last time you commented on my eyes.”
Achaicus looked shocked, his ears heating with embarrassment. It was clear Eric had mentioned something they weren’t supposed to talk about and it took him a full moment to process before he could respond, “I was drunk!”
“So was I.”
“I can’t leave you two alone for a second can I?” Nathaniel asked softly and they both paused.
“Brother…” Achaicus murmured, turning his full attention to Nathaniel and hugging him tightly, “Finally…”
“You’re still in bandages, how long has it been?” He returned the hug gently patting his brother’s hair to soothe him.
“Never mind about me.”
“It’s been four days.” Eric answered for him.
“And… Our father?”
“Securely locked up.” Achaicus assured as he slowly let go, “But you, you look awful. And you need to cut your hair, it’s getting too long.”
“Like you’re one to talk.”
Achaicus chuckled, “I’m glad you’re awake…”
“I didn’t expect to be.” he answered honestly.
“Don’t say things like that.” Eric scolded him and he looked apologetic.
“Were you hurt?”
“He had not a scratch on him.” Achaicus answered before Eric could.
“...I’m so glad…”
“Yeah, okay, why don’t you worry about yourself?” Eric grumbled uncomfortably.
For a moment it looked like Nathaniel was going to question him further however a commotion at the door drew their attention.
“I-I was told n-not to let anyone in..”
“Nonsense, I’m their mother.”
“It’s fine Hanta,” Eric called casually, and the woman quickly sidestepped him.
She was slender with no curves, and surprisingly young. It looked like she was in her 30’s at most and I chose not to even try and work out the math on that. Her hair was long and white with a red-ish hue, while her eyes were the same purple as Markos’s. She was wearing a black dress and matching gloves all the way to her elbows.
“Mother, what are you doing here?” Nathaniel asked coldly and she stopped awkwardly.
“...You’re my son’s…”
Neither answered but I recognised their expressions. It was the same one Claire and I had the one time we had accidentally ran into our parents while we were out shopping. Polite, awkward, uncertainty. Like they didn’t want to talk to her, but didn’t know how to tell her to leave.
The woman looked to Eric and he nodded slightly so she continued, “I- well… I know, I haven’t been much of a mother to you… I couldn’t protect you from your father as I should have… But I would like to remedy that… If I could… may I hug you..?”
“...No..” Nathaniel answered for them both quietly, tensely.
“Oh… I see, that’s okay… I deserve that. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright. I’m glad to see you’re both okay.” Again she was met with silence as neither of her son’s answered and she shifted her weight awkwardly, “Right, well… Please come see me when you are able so that we might talk. If you want… I mean, I would like that… if you could…”
“Good day, mother.” Achaicus bid her farewell curtly, and she gave a small bow before departing.
The whole interaction made me uncomfortable, the woman was trying. That was more than Claire’s and my mother ever did. It hurt to watch and the awkward silence that followed only made it worse as the weight hung heavy in the air.
“You should speak with her.” Eric said gently.
“Since when were you on her side? And why should we? She never did anything to help us.” Nathaniel answered bitterly but Achaicus looked less sure.
Eric didn’t get the chance to respond before the doors opened and Baltzar returned with Markos. “It’s good to see you’re awake. Now you can put a muzzle on your dog, his barking was becoming tiresome.”
“Careful Baltzar, his bite is far worse than his bark.” Markos mused.
“I’m not a dog, so you had both better shut up.” Eric snapped in response.
“See, now that is exactly what I’m talking about, and I'm sure you can imagine my dismay when I learned commands don’t work on him.”
“Then I’m sure your dismay will only increase when you learn that my brother prefers not to command his pet.”
“He’s in fact extremely willful, and commands often backfire when given to him, so I prefer not to waste my efforts giving them. Now what is it that you want?”
Baltzar looked displeased while Eric’s expression didn’t change, “I came to inform Achaicus that we have been unable to locate Radomir, or Belle, and there are a handful of guards unaccounted for.”
‘Ahhh, your old friend.’ Ronové mused and I felt a chill run down my spine.
“Quiet.” I mumbled under my breath, though no one seemed to notice as they continued.
“I would suggest Radomir has likely fled to Europe with a small group, and that we should expect a visit from Ælfric.” Markos speculated casually although the notion seemed to make everyone nervous.
“I’ve already sent a letter to our grandfather, hopefully it will arrive before Radomir.” Achaicus muttered, rubbing his temples.
It was then that the doors to the infirmary were pushed open with some force. “Listen you fucking shit- Let me into this fucking room!” Killian shouted, his bright eyes were crazed with rage and it looked like he had run the entire way from wherever he had been.
“I-I really can’t, I-I’ve been given strict instructions-” Hanta looked distressed, this was the third time he had been forced to tell someone they weren’t allowed to enter and he looked more than a little flustered.
Baltzar rolled his eyes, “Calm down Killian, it’s not like we can’t hear you from the doorway, what is it?”
“Lazarus is fucking, gone!”
Achaicus and Nathaniel both tensed, while Baltzar clicked his tongue in annoyance. “What do you mean gone?!”
“I mean, his cell is fucking EMPTY.”
“That’s not possible.” Markos hissed, “I double checked his containment myself.”
“What do you think then? I’m just making this shit up!? He’s not fucking in there!”
“Well, what is in there?”
It took Killian a second to understand what he meant, “Nothing, there’s nothing. No traces of anything, no magic, no signs of a struggle, nothing, just salt. It’s like he vanished.”
“So send the guards out. I want everyone searching for him all the way to the borders of our lands.” Achaicus spoke up at last.
“Brother, I need to return to Dunkel in case he attacks the castle.” Nathaniel added.
“You don't need to do any of that, it’s pointless, and you’re in no state to travel let alone defend a castle.” Eric sighed, he was the only one who hadn’t reacted to the news in any way.
“You sound certain. How can you be sure?”
“Lazarus isn’t a concern, you need to rest…” he spoke more gently to Nathaniel and he hesitated slightly, though he said nothing more.
“What’s that mean he’s not a concern? If he attacks us now we can mark this as the shortest reign in history, or an altogether failed take over!” Baltzar sneered but Markos spoke up.
“...The Orphan is right. Lazarus has been sitting in a room with salt and received no medical attention. He’s slow and weak. He won't attack Dunkel, it’s more likely he will simply try to flee to Grosartig like Radomir and searching will waste resources. If we simply set up barrier points instead, we’ll know where he is when he crosses one.”
“You’re always just so smart aren’t you Markos?”
“It's just simple logic, Baltzar. If the orphan can come to the same conclusion, I’m sure you can too.”
“Fine, want to place a wager on when he will cross a barrier point?”
Markos smiled, “Certainly.”
***
With the new development most of them left. Although Markos was forced to stay because Claire refused to let him leave after he began bleeding through his bandages. Hanta swapped out for Yura, though she was more interested in talking to Nathaniel. Or at least she was, until Eric told her to leave so he could rest in no uncertain terms, and then he took over the watch himself when she departed.
There wasn’t really a lot to do in the meantime. I was too afraid to leave the room without someone else with me, and Ron must’ve run out of the energy to torment me so he was quiet as well. Vaguely I was aware that I was supposed to be in court, but I tried to think about other things instead of my torpedoed career.
When Calla woke up I talked with her for a while. She's a little bit hard to talk to only because she’s so similar to Eric. She doesn't hold conversation organically, answers questions minimally and her only hobbies are training and sharpening weapons. I could see why my sister doesn't like her, Claire likes people who can talk for hours and Calla was not like that.
At dusk Eric closed all the curtains and woke Nathaniel when Achaicus arrived with a trolley of food for us. Initially Molly had tried to enter the room with him, but Eric was quick to intercept her, “You’re not welcome in here. Get out.”
“I’m simply helping my master.” she responded calmly.
“I don’t care. I said get out. You know full well you are not to enter this room.”
“So snarky little orphan, what’s got you so tense?”
“Out.” he repeated, his hand moving to the sword on his hip and she smiled.
“Very well.”
“She means no harm.” Achaicus complained.
“I said she’s not allowed in and I mean it. Unless you want me to-”
“No. No. I understand.”
“Good.”
Nathaniel looked curious as did I, “I would love to know what he has over you brother~”
“It’s nothing.”
“I could command him to tell me you realize-” He stopped surprised when Eric covered his mouth with his hand.
“Command me, and I swear I’ll make you regret it. Now, shut up and eat your food.” he mused slowly letting him go once his point was made. Though Nathaniel still looked shocked as Eric came to sit beside me instead. “Don't eat the fresh meat. That’s only for the fae.”
I didn’t need him to remind me what it was.
Once dinner was over, Achaicus left and Hanta returned to guard the door. Truthfully I don’t remember falling asleep, I had been talking to Eric, then the next thing I knew I was out like a light.
I woke groggily to the sound of hushed voices, it was an ungodly hour of the morning. I couldn’t read the clock across the room but I didn’t need to. Moonlight streamed in through the only open window, it was beside Nathaniel’s bed and I guessed Eric must have opened it for him. Beside me Calla was sleeping peacefully, her soft breathing was rhythmic and soothing. Across the room my sister had dragged another bed over to Markos’s so that she could lay next to him and they were sleeping still.
At the farthest end of the room Hanta had barricaded the door with a bed and was laying down on it. I assume he too was asleep since I couldn’t see the glow of his eyes and slowly I came to realize the voices were Eric and Nathaniel speaking quietly to one another.
“Stop being so cryptic, where were you?” Nathaniel was asking, though he struggled to keep his eyes open as Eric was petting his hair, slowly lulling him into sleep.
“Can you just go back to sleep already?”
“You did get lost didn't you?” he teased and Eric looked bemused.
“No, I was there. Now hush, let’s not forget you weren’t supposed to be in that courtyard.”
“…Are you mad at me?”
“Yes.” Eric answered evenly, “You put yourself and Charles in danger. Lied to him to get him to do what you wanted. What exactly was your plan if you didn’t find Achaicus..?”
“Doesn’t matter…”
“You planned on offering yourself to him in exchange for me didn't you?”
“…It would have worked..”
“That’s not the point. I wanted you safe, and you willfully disregarded what I wanted only to make yourself feel better.”
“I couldn’t let you get hurt...”
“I asked you to trust me and you didn’t.” Nathaniel looked guilty as Eric appeared annoyed. However after a moment he sighed, letting it go as he continued more gently. “Please don’t do anything like that again alright? I thought I would lose you both, and Calla. It wasn’t fun.”
“I’m sorry…”
“...You’re forgiven.”
Nathaniel seemed relieved to hear it, he closed his eyes for a moment and I assumed he would sleep, but instead he spoke again. “I thought about what you said, you know...”
“Did you?” He mused, resting his cheek on the mattress as he continued to pet Nathaniel’s hair, “I wasn’t sure you would remember.”
“I do remember.”
“And..?”
Nathaniel hesitated, taking in a deep breath, “… I don’t have to do what you asked of me. There is nothing stopping me from commanding you to do as I wish.” He began though Eric remained perfectly calm. If I didn’t know him better I would have said he looked bored. “However, I understand that if I were to do only what I wanted, you would be unhappy. It’s not my desire to make you miserable… So I will agree to your terms. You have nothing to fear from me, I won’t command you again.”
Eric sat up mildly surprised, as if he had been expecting him to say something else. “Do you mean that?”
“Yes… I’ve tried keeping you against your will, and I’ve tried letting you go. Neither of those things made me happy.”
“What would make you happy?”
“...If you stayed near.” he mumbled honestly but Eric didn’t answer him, he was waiting for something? I couldn’t say what it might have been, but Nathaniel seemed to understand. “Please don’t make me say the words...”
“Is it so difficult?” he sighed and Nathaniel averted his gaze, it looked like he regretted saying anything. However Eric gently tilted his chin up and I couldn’t see past him as he leaned in closer. I think he might have said something but I didn’t hear it. Or maybe there was some weird cultural thing I didn’t know about?
When Eric pulled away Nathaniel looked uncertain, if not mildly embarrassed. “...Does that mean you’ll stay?”
“I’ll stay some of the time. I still have work to do, and I need to help Charles… I sort of got him fired from his job.”
“I thought you fixed that?”
“I tried… but he missed his court date for me. It was yesterday…”
“...I can compel anyone you need me to.”
Eric smiled tightly, “Don’t tempt me. More wrongs don’t make things right.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“If you have to ask for permission to ask, I'm inclined to say no.”
“You said my father was of no concern, how did you know that?”
“Let’s not talk about that right now…”
“You know something don’t you?”
“Nathaniel, please… trust me, not tonight.”
The fae regarded him for a long moment, “I want you to take my car again, stop riding that death trap.” he bargained instead.
“I suppose that means you’re not giving my bike back?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t have it.” he said bemused and Eric scoffed.
“Please. I know it was you.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if someone’s stolen your motorcycle I owe them a word of gratitude.”
“You truly don’t have it?”
“Regrettably no.”
“I’d like to say I only saved you for my bike, so finding out you don’t have it is unfortunate.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” he chuckled quietly and Eric rolled his eyes.
“You’re insufferable.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes…” I thought I saw Eric smile when he spoke and Nathaniel leaned in close to him so that I couldn’t see between them. Neither of them spoke again, or if they did I didn’t hear it. Not that I was really paying attention anymore.
I’m not sure how much time passed as I drifted between wakefulness and dreamless sleep, but it felt like hours before I got up to use the restroom. Moving painstakingly slow, trying to be as quiet as I could so that I wouldn’t disturb anyone. By then Eric was asleep, leaning on the bed over Nathaniel and they didn’t stir as I passed.
The most challenging part about getting out of the rooms was getting past Hanta. Thankfully he had left a small gap between himself and the door and I managed to squeeze through.
In the hall it was dark and quiet, “I could use a little help.” I whispered.
‘What’s the matter, can't see in the dark?’ Ronové taunted.
“Obviously not.”
‘That must be a ‘weird cultural thing’.’
“It doesn’t even make sense, why would my lack of eyes be cultural?”
‘Hopeless.’ he mused, but the hall suddenly brightened as my eyes enhanced.
“Thanks.” I grumbled.
Being able to see more made the area only slightly less terrifying and when I heard voices coming from the hall ahead I panicked. I didn’t want to run into any fae in the dark. Without a second thought about it I ducked into the nearest room, closing the door quietly without looking around.
“Stop being ridiculous, his aura is human.”
“Baltzar, I fucking, SWEAR he was dead! I saw it with my own eyes, but he crawled out of the rubble like a fucking- I don’t even know!”
“You also thought Markos and his pet were dead, but you were clearly mistaken. Now I have better things to do than entertain your paranoia.”
“I’m not crazy, I know what I fucking saw! Can you check him with your magic or something-” he stopped abruptly. They were right outside the door, and I realized I must’ve hidden exactly where they intended to go.
“Who’s there?”
“What are you two conspiring about?” I recognized Markos’s voice.
“Nothing, Killian is paranoid. He thinks Nathaniel’s pet isn’t human.”
“Human’s don’t get, fucking, stabbed and buried in rubble and walk away without a scratch!” Killian hissed.
“Nothing does, so clearly you were mistaken.” Markos assured.
“I’m not-!”
“Killian.” Baltzar warned and Killian lowered his voice automatically.
“Fucks sake.”
“Why are you up at this hour then Markos?”
“Paranoia.”
“Checking the halls for Lazarus?”
“It doesn’t hurt to be vigilant.”
“You just can’t stand the thought of losing. There’s no way he’s still in the castle.”
“You can never be too careful.”
Baltzar snorted, “Right.”
“I suggest you return to your quarters now, lurking in the halls doesn’t look good.” Markos mused casually, though the threat in his words wasn’t subtle and I heard footsteps departing.
‘Makes you wonder why he’s lurking in the halls doesn’t it?’ Ron commented bemused.I didn’t answer, if I spoke now I was sure he would hear me.
“You can come out now, Charles.” Markos commented and I froze. Momentarily considering whether or not I believed he truly knew I was there. “I know you’re there, don’t play games.”
Reluctantly I opened the door to see Markos leaning against the wall with his arms folded, his purple eyes glowing in the darkness. “You shouldn’t walk about the halls without someone accompanying you.”
“I’m a big boy, I think I can find the bathroom on my own.”
“Is that why you’re hiding in the armory?”
“...No.”
“You’re a weak bag of flesh in a castle of the fae. Best to watch your step. Now come, I’ll take you back.”
I didn’t move, “Why are you out here?”
‘That’s not smart Charlie boy.’ Ronové commented tensely.
“I don’t need to explain myself to you.” he answered simply as he began to walk expecting me to follow.
I was beginning to understand why Eric guarded his emotions so carefully. This was a dangerous place, and we were in dangerous company.
NEXT
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2023.04.02 14:30 Angel466 [Bob the hobo] A Celestial Wars Spin-Off Part 0811

PART EIGHT HUNDRED AND ELEVEN
[Previous Chapter] [The Beginning] [Patreon+2]
Thursday
“What about you?” Skylar asked, turning under Angus’ hands to face him. “How does the most feared war commander in all existence end up chaperoning one of my human employees?”
“Mason lives with Llyr and his family. I’m … on loan to them.”
Skylar’s frown deepened. “I thought Llyr lived in San Francisco. And his kids and grandson are scattered to every other part of the world.”
“It’s a really long story, Sky.”
Skylar’s eyes suddenly widened in shocked delight. “He’s got a new family!” She didn’t ask, and it was clear Llyr’s family wasn’t a new occurrence since Mason was in his twenties and not Llyr’s style of ‘friend’. “Oh, this is the one thing I have missed about being on the outside of the pryde. Did he end up having more girls? Is that where Mason fits in? As a boyfriend?”
Angus chuckled. “Llyr had a boy. One a little younger than Mason. He roomed with five men to go to college, and they’re still all roommates now.”
“So Llyr’s running a frat house?”
Skylar’s face was priceless, and Angus pinched his lips together to keep from laughing as he shook his head. “No, not at all. Only two of them were going to college. The other four were … well, three of them were working. The fourth one got into trouble recently, which is why Llyr moved in to make sure it didn’t touch Sam.”
“Wait … Sam? Sam Wilcott is Llyr’s son?” Skylar asked in shock. “Mason’s talked about him…” she snapped her fingers. “…about how he’s heavily into Greenpeace where the freaking ocean is concerned. How did I not make that realm-damned connection before now?”
“A lot of people are passionate about planetary conservation without being descended directly from the Mystallian ocean god.”
“And how did Fisk take it?”
“Fisk dropped everything to keep his baby brother happy. Dismantled most of his supertrawler fleet and sold off the rest. They’ve actually become quite close.”
“Wow. Of all the possibilities, I would not have made that call.” Skylar shook her head and pulled away from Angus. “The number of people who’ve said it’s a big old world out there, but in reality, it’s getting smaller every day. An old friend of mine reached out to me, asking if I had a service dog for a client of his. Less than a week later…” she looked up at him. “I’m here with you, talking about life bonding.”
When she put it like that, it was a little coincidental, and Angus found himself fighting a frown. Then again, what did it matter if the Eechee had made an end-run around their defiance? Skylar had made it clear she wasn’t interested in a mate, and he’d done likewise. The only way to get past all of their arguments was to put them in each other’s orbit under different circumstances and let things happen of their own accord.
Of course, the order to kick everyone out so that he would lower his guard, thinking there were no females around, was a little bit devious if someone were to ask his opinion. Especially when Skylar heard the same order and thought the same of him.
Which reminded him. “How were you able to avoid being kicked out of the state?”
“I told you…”
“No, you didn’t.”
Skylar huffed. “I told you I was on the outs with the pryde. The Eechee gave me a direct order that unless my name was included in the order, I was to ignore all orders. That way, I wouldn’t answer the summons every time there was an incursion at the border that had us scrambling in numbers.” She paused and tilted her head to one side. “Were you really as bad as they said?”
So, she’d heard about him growing up. She must have, reaching maturity in the early seventies, put her hatching somewhere in the late thirties. Still decades after Coraltin had been slain.
“I was reaching breaking point,” Angus admitted, not wanting to think ill of the Eechee. “Poppa was getting ready to force me into a breeding box, and like you, I’d have quite possibly killed the female rather than bonded with her.”
“Two peas in a pod,” Skylar murmured. She then looked up at him. “Your father won’t be happy you’re with me. You know that, right?”
“That is the least of my concerns.” Until he finds out.
Skylar chuckled. “Liar.”
Angus laughed as well, then rolled a hand to invite her back to her seat to finish breakfast. “I have your van here in the garage,” he said as she slid into her spot. She stiffened, but he carried on. “I know it’s important to you, but I’d like you to consider the danger it poses to the people around you. Seriously. Everything on it is worn out. If you want it left untouched, for sentimentality’s sake, it has to stay off the road. I now know how you’ve been getting around in it to this point, and it’s not fair on Sonya and the others when they get stuck in the middle of nowhere and can’t pick it up and realm-step to their destination.”
He pierced a piece of steak and held it to her lips in compromise. “You had transmission fluid all over you the night we picked up that cat from your employee’s apartment. The two seconds you were out of sight to fetch your van was all it took to get utterly covered in the stuff, Sky. I’m not an expert on cars, but even I know that’s disastrous.”
“Chester was my first car,” she admitted after taking his offering, not burring up the way she had in the past. “People didn’t drive very much in Bhutan when I first got there, and even now, where I have the training facility, it’s more of a … pack horse and donkey type of area. It’s quiet. Peaceful. No pollution.”
“If you wanted to get Chester back on the road, I can vouch for the mechanic Mason spoke of yesterday. It’s another of the roommates. Or rather, it’s the girlfriend of one of the other roommates, who moved in after Llyr and Sam’s mother did.”
“So … is Sam…”
“Hybrid,” Angus answered, cutting to the point. “Llyr finally found a strong woman that can handle his unique brand of smothering.”
“And they only have one child?”
“More are on the way,” Angus said with a grin.
“Ooooh,” Skylar purred, helping herself to another breakfast steak. But then her face fell. “Wait. A multiple hybrid birth?”
Of course, her training would be all over that. “The Eechee has it under control. Tiacor has been assigned to stay with Ivy until she’s needed.”
“I know Tiacor. She’s good and definitely a no-nonsense…”
“I saw. Llyr got more than he bargained for when the Eechee assigned her to Ivy. Apparently, he was expecting someone to rubberstamp his views of her weakness…”
Skylar almost spat out the chunk of meat she was chewing on. “Not a chance with Tiacor! She and Medical Commander Kaipo have butted heads more than once over medical procedures before the medical commander pulled rank to make her back down. Even then, it was begrudgingly.”
“Really?” That was news to Angus. His brother didn’t usually let any other female healer than Bee argue with him, and that was because their clutch-mate couldn’t be ordered to stand down. Something to look into later … once his travel restrictions were lifted. “Also, Llyr’s whole household is shielded from the veil.”
That had Skylar sitting up once more. “As in Mason?”
Angus nodded. “He wears one of the Eechee’s bracelets as an anklet to keep his hands free for work. The others either have bracelets or tattoos.”
Skylar rubbed her hands together. “Why so many?”
“It was a gift from the Eechee since the six of them were close.”
“I still don’t…”
“Sam grew up an only child. No cousins. No playmates. He didn’t even know about Llyr’s other kids until recently. The five men he lived with are the closest thing he’s had to brothers, and even though he has a real one living in China now, he won’t walk away from them.” Angus felt bad about twisting the truth until it resembled a pretzel, but explaining Robbie’s part in this wasn’t his story to tell.
“Why wouldn’t Llyr tell Sam about his other kids?”
“It’s complicated, but they’re all together now, and that’s the main thing.”
“You know, Mason almost walked in on me doing my reports up the other morning. I have a tiered table set up that allows me to fill them out fifteen at a time. He didn’t see it, otherwise I’d have used the phrase with the complete expectation of him turning a blind eye.”
“And then you’d have been outed a lot sooner than last night. He knows exactly what that phrase is all about. They all do.”
‘Now that it’s not a bachelor pad anymore, how many of the girlfriends have moved in?”
“You’re assuming they’re all into girls.”
Skylar didn’t miss a beat. “Boyfriends then. How many significant others are there?”
Thinking about Boyd and Lucas, Angus grinned. “That gets complicated too. But three significant others have since moved into the apartment since Llyr set them all up, including Sam’s mother.” He saw Skylar frown and quickly added, “Ivy is dead against marriage. Llyr’s fighting an uphill battle trying to talk her into taking the family name when even Sam won’t because they’re the last two of her family.”
“That’s going to cause trouble in time to come. Especially for the boy.”
“Mm-hmmm.” It went without saying.
“So, the apartment’s gone from a bachelor pad to a hippy commune?”
“Wrong era and definitely zero recreational drugs, but … otherwise, yes,” Angus agreed. “Llyr bought out two floors of their apartment building and brought in the family to segregate them from everyone else while linking all the apartments together so everyone could have their own space. So far, there’s an art studio, a formal office, and I think there’s a mechanic’s workshop and maybe a music studio going in.”
“So far,” Skylar laughed, around a mouthful of bear.
“Yeah, no matter what interest they have, there’s a member of the family that can give them their dream space. Clefton is coming in for Sam’s girl, and Rory is on the books for Charlie. Though if Rory doesn’t get his ass into gear and come and help soon, I might send some pryde to motivate him.”
Skylar chuckled deeply, then lifted the bowl into her lap and twisted to rest against Angus’ side. He wasn’t going to go as far as to curl his arm around her in a cuddle, but when he started to on the pretence of reaching for his next piece of steak, she didn’t dissuade it. “That sounds positively human of you.”
“Coming from you, I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“Are you okay with me thinking about what you said?”
“Of course. My only point of caution is one you’ve brought up already. My parents won’t be happy with this arrangement, and if Poppa gets any hint of what we’re planning, he could very well sit on you to save your fertility, send me back to the border for six months to build up mine, and still have us breed like regular true gryps when he orders me home to you.” He felt Skylar stiffen and shushed her, brushing his fingertips up and down her bicep. “I’m just putting it all on the table for you to appreciate, Sky. I like you a lot, and I like our plan, but I’ll wait until you’re ready to meet me halfway, for as long as I’m able.”
“Our plan?” she asked with a sharp arch of her eyebrow.
“Okay, my plan that you agree is in our best interest even though you haven’t committed to it yet.” He smirked at her petulance. “The two of us together is what makes it ours.”
* * *
((All comments welcome. Good or bad, I'd love to hear your thoughts 🥰🤗))
I made a family tree/diagram of the Mystallian family that can be found here
For more of my work including WPs: Angel466 or an index of previous WPS here.
FULL INDEX OF BOB THE HOBO TO DATE CAN BE FOUND HERE!!
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2023.04.02 14:29 kayenano The Villainess Is An SS+ Rank Adventurer: Chapter 25

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Synopsis:
Juliette Contzen is a lazy, good-for-nothing princess. Overshadowed by her siblings, she's left with little to do but nap, read … and occasionally cut the falling raindrops with her sword. Spotted one day by an astonished adventurer, he insists on grading Juliette's swordsmanship, then promptly has a mental breakdown at the result.
Soon after, Juliette is given the news that her kingdom is on the brink of bankruptcy. At threat of being married off, the lazy princess vows to do whatever it takes to maintain her current lifestyle, and taking matters into her own hands, escapes in the middle of the night in order to restore her kingdom's finances.
Tags: Comedy, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Copious Ohohohohos.
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Chapter 25: Daily Grind
I found Apple chewing at the door handle to the alchemy shop. He raised his head when he saw me, snorted, then went back to chewing the wood.
I shooed him away, then gave him the last apple from the saddlebags instead.
Today had been a productive day for the both of us. I'd done away with miscreants and mages both, and he'd done away with everything green in a large circle around where he was tied up. Given enough time, I was certain he would have chewed through the door handle as well, and then the door itself.
It would have been marvellously useful. We needed to go through it.
Coppelia and I had unfinished business here. Officially requisitioning Apple back into my employ as my noble, if rather slow steed was a must. But so was ensuring that any evidence of Marina Lainsfont's crimes was secured, as well as hints on where she could have gone.
Neither of us expected to find Marina in the shop itself. But it was the abode of a powerful mage. And that meant the possibility of unforeseen danger.
We'd need to be respectful of potential traps, and that meant discretion.
“[Coppelia Kick]!”
Prooowwph.
Thus, the door to her shop flew inside as Coppelia roundhouse kicked it with a smile.
“What happened to discretion?!” I said, aghast at the damage it could have caused Coppelia's shoes. They were the nicest things she owned. “You said you were going to check the door for traps!”
“I did check the door for traps!”
“Then why is it now on the floor?!”
“There are two ways to check for traps. The dumb way and the Coppelia way. Dumb people cast counterspells and fiddle with locks until eventually, their spells and fancy hands fail one time and they blow up. Poof! If I kick the door down, then there's nothing to open and nothing to trigger.”
“You don't need to say the Coppelia way. You can just say wanton violence.”
“It works, though!” Coppelia stuck her leg past the doorway, paused, then skipped inside while pretending she hadn't just waited to see if she blew up. “And besides, it was a door. What are doors for if not to kick down?”
I raised an eyebrow. I also didn't walk in after her.
“Your library doesn't have any doors, does it?”
“Not anymore, no,” she said cheerfully. “Coming in?”
I waited five seconds for any explosions to occur, then followed after her. If Marina Lainsfont had planted a trap to detonate after more than five seconds, then she deserved her victory.
Inside, I was now experiencing my first act of breaking and entering a private property. Regardless of the criminal status of the owner, this was still trespass.
Luckily, laws didn't apply to me!
As a princess, any property was my own should I deem it to be. I could name a bench in the middle of a city as my private abode and anyone who sat on it would be charged with lèse-majesté. But while the option was available to me, it was problematic since I was currently masterfully incognito.
Fortunately, that problem had just solved itself.
I wasn't just here as a princess. True, I was 99% here as a princess as anything less would make me irredeemable in my own eyes. But I was also here as a newly inducted adventurer. And while that 1% meant shame and disappointment on my family name and royal heritage, it did come with a useful advantage.
Namely, that if anyone asked me why I was committing a host of minor offences, I could direct all liability onto the Adventurer's Guild!
Ohohohoho! Those fools! I'd bleed them and their reputation dry! It wasn't often I had the opportunity to plan the demise of the Adventurer's Guild, but now that I did, I took it with gusto.
I would brazenly ignore the law as usual, but now it would be the guild and not my family that were the target of the peasantry's vitriol!
My carefully constructed plan to diminish the Adventurer's Guild in the eyes of the people was taking shape. And it'd start with the ruckus Coppelia and I caused as we made our way through the narrow shop.
“The odour has become more pungent,” I noted, wrinkling my nose as I eyed the ingredients on the walls. “I thought it would become more bearable without anything green or purple or skull shaped simmering in the background.”
“Actually, I think that simmering helped overpower our senses so much that everything just became warm and hazy. Without it, we get everything as it is. Natural and raw and full of wholesome goodness.”
“I think I preferred it when it was an alarming miasma.”
“Get used to it. Adventurers dig around all the worst smelling places. That's where all the lost cats are.”
And that's where all the lost cats will stay.
Ohoho … unfortunately for our feline friends, I wasn't a cat person. I was a me person. And I cherished myself and my sense of personal hygiene dearly!
“I'll remind you that I'm an adventurer in name alone. Rest assured that any task I complete is for my own benefit, and that the Adventure's Guild is merely a fund to draw from.”
“By finding lost cats, right? I mean, they must have a huge fund for that.”
“Then it simply means there will be plenty of wide-eyed adventurers who are willing to degrade themselves with such menial tasks.”
Coppelia ceased her stooping around just to grin at me.
“And I bet they'll climb the ranks way faster than you because of it. How terrible would that be, huh? You might be F-rank forever!”
I winced.
F-rank! The … The indignity of it! The sooner the Adventurer's Guild were removed as a force in this kingdom, the better! And it had nothing to do with the sheer absurdity of the rank I'd received!
“I have no care for the arbitrary ranking system of the Adventurer's Guild,” I said, valiantly keeping the shame at bay. “Both you and I have more pressing matters to attend to than rescuing cats.”
Why, even the thought of doing a single commission which wasn't related to saving the kingdom filled me with horror. I would rather shame myself by returning to the Royal Villa with my head cowed than do anything to risk normalising fetching lost pets. That was for people like … what was his name?
Something Oddwell. The strange adventurer who'd dropped on his knees to beg for my time.
Rising through the ranks concerned people like him, not me. I was no commoner who saw prestige in adventuring through the wilderness for plaudits. Rather, to be viewed as an adventurer was abject humiliation! Who would become a wanderer of cellars and sewers if they had the acumen to seek fame and fortune through wit and diplomacy?
“I'm almost a little jealous, you know?” said Coppelia, her hands ransacking through bags, drawers and shelves. She wasn't even looking at what she pulled out. “If I wasn't an assistant librarian, I'd definitely want to see what all the fuss concerning adventuring is about.”
“Only the unimaginative fuss about adventuring. For me, this is a financial transaction. Nothing more.”
“Ooh! Who's buying what?”
“I'll sell an iota of my time as I tear down a notice for solving a kingdom-wide calamity, and in return, the guild will spill out its coffers for my assistance.”
Coppelia let out a laugh. It stopped as soon as she pulled out the strangely shaped skull from a barrel. Then she put on a huge grin as she started playing with its eye sockets.
“A reluctant adventurer,” she mused. “First time I've heard about that. I thought every wealthy girl and boy wanted to become one. You know, to get away from your stifling duties and horrendous expectations?”
I hid my smile behind my hand.
Ohohoho … my fair clockwork maiden, how little she knew!
I was not my siblings, cursed to trade smiles with the firstborn sons of mere barons as though they were worth a morsel of our time! No, my responsibilities were far more important! And gratifying!
“If you must know, I happen to be extremely fond of my duties. My orchard is the pride of my life.”
“Okay, well, I don't know what your duties are, but I'm already pretty sure they're different to what most other people do. Even the rich ones.”
Well, naturally!
I was a princess. Only my sisters could compare to me. And even amongst ourselves, none of us shared the same passions. Clarise was enamoured with her inventions and her observatory, while Florella was joyfully causing strife wherever men gazed at her.
Neither of them were quite as normal or level-headed as I was. But I cherished them nonetheless.
Suddenly, Coppelia's expression took on a serious hue.
“I don't know what you're thinking, but I feel strongly that I disagree with it.”
“E-Excuse me! Please don't claim to know what I'm thinking! That's a realm of insight and constant philosophy which would beguile the minds of all others!”
She stood up, blew some dust and dead things from herself, then purposefully eyed my idle hands.
“Is it because your mind's busy that I'm the only one looking for stuff?”
“You barrel through belongings with such disregard and nonchalance. I was enamoured. I believe you have what it takes to become an adventurer, should you ever choose to adopt the profession.”
She laughed at that. I wasn't sure why. That wasn't a joke.
“Saving kingdoms sounds like a pain. But if I finished my reading list and was a bit bored, sure, I'll do what you're doing. You know, the super embarrassing F-ranked thing.”
I gave a flick of my hair in response, resolutely standing still and not helping to sweep my hands through all these … rotting objects.
“A means to an end. Nothing more.”
“It might actually be useful, though? As an adventurer, you get more than crowns. You get information, too. That's important. The Adventurer's Guild is a useful tool. It's one of the first places I asked around in when looking for my book.”
I turned to look at Coppelia, my mouth wide.
Of … Of course!
This is why she was my future handmaiden!
The Adventurer's Guild was more than a bag of crowns! They had assets at their disposal beyond merely coin. Why, they parasited themselves not just in Tirea, but almost every other nation as well—including our neighbours to the east and south.
That meant this was an opportunity to weed out every last drop of information I could about Granholtz, Weinstadt and the Sands. What courtly information could I glean about the Grand Duchess's designs? How lost was the Royal House of Carx to revolt? Where next did the Dune King turn his golden knights and golden eyes?
Knowing how indispensable I'd become, the guild would surely bend over backwards to accommodate my every request!
Indeed, I could make use of this!
“Zilch here,” said Coppelia. “Want to look in the back with me or just stare open mouthed at how graceful I look while tearing through stuff?”
She did a spin for fun, tossing up a bundle of dried petals and herbs as she did so. I closed my mouth, then remembered I still needed to reply.
“You may look. If you still can't find anything, then endeavour to retrieve anything rare and expensive and stuff it in Apple's saddlebags. We've a great deal of expenses to cover and little time to be picky.”
“Rob everything!” Coppelia pumped her fist in the air. “Indiscriminate looting! Fill our pockets! Let's gooo~!”
I went to the counter, then began scouring it for crowns.
Rifling through drawers to expand on my personal funds was certainly a novel experience. But despite Coppelia's assertions, this wasn't robbery or looting or pocket filling. No, no, not at all.
Ohohohoho …. why, this was merely adventuring.
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2023.04.02 14:27 Celivalg NVME PCIe drive fails, shows as 1GB partition

Hi, so my NVME... failed? I am still not sure what happened. So it was working fine yesterday evening, but when I woke my laptop from sleep I got filesystem errors. Rebooted and no boot drives were found.
Basically, in the BIOS, the drive shows up as only having one 1023MiB partition...
since it contained my boot partition, I tried booting on liveUSB and seeing if I could see something different, but I could not, so I put it in another computer that has a PCIe M.2 slot for more troubleshooting.
The device itself is supposed to be a intel SSDPEKNW512G8X1 (660p series 512GB)
On the other machine, it still only shows up as one partition, ran these commands:
FDISK
#sudo fdisk -l /dev/nvme0n1 Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 1024 MiB, 1073741312 bytes, 2097151 sectors Disk model: SM2263 Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
NVME-CLi
#sudo nvme list Node Generic SN Model Namespace Usage Format FW Rev /dev/nvme0n1 ng0n1 1234 010008A000000 SM2263 1 1,07 GB / 1,07 GB 512 B + 0 B 0350
DMESG
#sudo dmesg grep nvme [ 0.377543] nvme nvme0: pci function 0000:01:00.0 [ 0.384874] nvme nvme0: 1/0/0 default/read/poll queues [ 2655.255286] nvme nvme0: I/O 20 QID 0 timeout, reset controller [ 2663.788564] nvme nvme0: I/O 75 QID 1 timeout, aborting [ 2694.508206] nvme nvme0: I/O 75 QID 1 timeout, reset controller [ 2825.921122] nvme_dev_disable+0x32/0x260 [ 2825.921127] nvme_timeout.cold+0x141/0x173 [ 2844.697664] nvme nvme0: Device not ready; aborting reset, CSTS=0x1 [ 2844.721361] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev nvme0n1, sector 0 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x80700 phys_seg 3 prio class 0 [ 2844.721376] nvme nvme0: Abort status: 0x371 [ 2972.777199] nvme nvme0: Device not ready; aborting reset, CSTS=0x1 [ 2972.777203] nvme nvme0: Removing after probe failure status: -19 [ 3100.803377] nvme nvme0: Device not ready; aborting reset, CSTS=0x1
(I tried looking for the error codes, but couldn't actually find a source online as to what they were)
SMARTCTL
#sudo smartctl /dev/nvme0 -a smartctl 7.3 2022-02-28 r5338 [x86_64-linux-5.10.176-2-MANJARO] (local build) Copyright (C) 2002-22, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org === START OF INFORMATION SECTION === Model Number: SM2263 Serial Number: 1234 010008A000000 Firmware Version: 0350 PCI VendoSubsystem ID: 0x126f IEEE OUI Identifier: 0x000000 Controller ID: 0 NVMe Version: <1.2 Number of Namespaces: 1 Namespace 1 Size/Capacity: 1 073 741 312 [1,07 GB] Namespace 1 Formatted LBA Size: 512 Local Time is: Sun Apr 2 14:12:06 2023 CEST Firmware Updates (0x00): 0 Slots Maximum Data Transfer Size: 32 Pages Supported Power States St Op Max Active Idle RL RT WL WT Ent_Lat Ex_Lat 0 + 0.00W - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 Supported LBA Sizes (NSID 0x1) Id Fmt Data Metadt Rel_Perf 0 + 512 0 0 === START OF SMART DATA SECTION === SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED SMART/Health Information (NVMe Log 0x02) Critical Warning: 0x00 Temperature: - Available Spare: 0% Available Spare Threshold: 0% Percentage Used: 0% Data Units Read: 0 Data Units Written: 0 Host Read Commands: 0 Host Write Commands: 0 Controller Busy Time: 0 Power Cycles: 0 Power On Hours: 0 Unsafe Shutdowns: 0 Media and Data Integrity Errors: 0 Error Information Log Entries: 0 Error Information (NVMe Log 0x01, 1 of 1 entries) No Errors Logged
LSHW
#sudo lshw [...] *-pci:0 description: PCI bridge product: Starship/Matisse GPP Bridge vendor: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] physical id: 1.1 bus info: [email protected]:00:01.1 version: 00 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pci pm pciexpress msi ht normal_decode bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=pcieport resources: irq:27 memory:fca00000-fcafffff *-nvme description: NVMe device product: SM2263 vendor: Silicon Motion, Inc. physical id: 0 bus info: [email protected]:01:00.0 logical name: /dev/nvme0 version: 0350 serial: 1234 010008A000000 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: nvme pm pciexpress msix nvm_express bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=nvme latency=0 nqn=nqn.2014.08.org.nvmexpress:126f126f1234 010008A000000SM2263 state=live resources: irq:39 memory:fca00000-fca03fff *-namespace:0 description: NVMe disk physical id: 0 logical name: hwmon0 *-namespace:1 description: NVMe disk physical id: 1 bus info: [email protected]:1 logical name: /dev/nvme0n1 size: 1023MiB (1073MB) configuration: logicalsectorsize=512 sectorsize=512 wwid=nvme.126f-3132333420202030313030303841303030303030-534d32323633-00000001 [...]
device gets disconnected with certain commands (probably the [ 2972.777203] nvme nvme0: Removing after probe failure status: -19 message, so I had to reboot to do all of these)
#uname -a Linux Milla 5.10.176-2-MANJARO #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Mar 23 04:24:51 UTC 2023 x86_64 GNU/Linux
my motherboard on which I am testing the drive is a Asrock X570 PRO4 w/ Ryzen 5600X and the nvme is in the correct slot (i have another M.2 Sata SSD filling the other one), I am also pretty sure the M.2 PCIe slot is not discarded because of my GPU (read something about other motherboard cheating by not specifying which lanes where in common between ports, but I have the diagram in the user manual and it looks good enough for me, plus it wasn't working in my laptop either)
I've looked in a lot of places online, but everyone seem to have different takes, different problems, and it's quite hard to get what I am looking for... closest I got was this https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-arm-108/rock-pi-4-rk3399-aarch64-4175647951/page6.html where a driver seemed to be an issue on this specific linux distribution.... but nvme drivers are now included in the kernel afaik...
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anyway, I am stuck, I have no clue how to troubleshoot this... I mean the disk is probbaly fried, but i kinda want to understand what I am seeing...
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any help is appreciated
submitted by Celivalg to linuxquestions [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:27 Ataraxidermist [PI] In hell, people can choose what happens to them. They can choose literally ANYTHING. Naturally, many people try to exploit this by going for luxuries and pampering, but the devil ALWAYS has ways to torture those fools...

Link to the original prompt.
And so it came that Amber chose sleep. Blissful sleep, of a kind that feels like a wonder as you dwell in it, of a kind that rejuvenates mind and body upon waking up.
Amber decided never to wake up again. Hell offered little in the way of second-rate mortality, only in strange aeons could death die, but both Satan and God were too old for weird Old Testament stuff and had cast off Cthulhu a long time ago.
Toby - previously named Satan but unsatisfied with the mismatching expectations of the newly dead meeting him - took note of Amber's fate. He wrote with a Montblanc pen, the notebook had been crafted with the finest leather and marketed at ridiculously inflated price, but you had to admit that the absence of noise it made when you opened it had something classy to it.
So here was Toby, dressed in his impeccable and absurdly expensive suit, standing on the lush grass of Hell, taking note while looking at the verdant hills rolling in the distance. It was a warm day in hell, but a fresh breeze kept its dwellers fresh.
Wonderful workplace, but it made customers think they got to the Heavens when they most definitely didn't. Sartre once wrote L'Enfer, c'est les autres - Hell is others. As Toby could testify, Sartre was full of it, and Toby made him cry a lot until Sartre accepted to write the sign:
Hell is others, actually no, it isn't, sorry. - Sartre
It hung at the entrance of hell right under the following sign:
Arbeit macht frei. Nein, eigentlich nicht, entschuldigung. - Rommel
Which itself hung right underneath this one:
Ye who enter here, abandon all hope. Or not. How was I supposed to know? I'm an artist, not a theologian. - Dante
Somehow, this got customers even more confused.
Currently though, this didn't matter too much, for Toby had decided to give Hell a new spin recently.
To newcomers, he gave the following speech:
"Hello there, fellas," eventual confetti would be thrown here, "welcome to Hell with a capital H," flamethrowers would melt the confetti in mid-air right there, "but it's not what you think it is. You can pick your poison. Wealth? Women? An unending buffet? A successful invasion in Afghanistan? The sky is the limit... But wait, we're already there."
At this point, Archangel Gabriel dressed in a Giorgio Armani suit, would join the conversation and say "I'm the archangel Gabriel, and this is my favorite Hell in the afterlife."
After the first speech, it was noted that the flaming confetti diverted the customer's attention away from the spoken words, and a customer asked if there isn't supposed to be only one hell anyway, which vexed Gabriel immensely. Schedule conflict made it hard for him to be there for each arrival anyway.
So instead, Toby sat on leather chairs with the newly dead around a mahogany desk, he offered them tea, and explained the situation.
And that's how Amber chose sleep.
They walked out together, to the open fields under a cloudy sky. Little need to find a bed inside, the grass offered ample comforts, the temperature was always just right.
"Good night," said Toby, tipping his luxury pen against his chin.
Amber. She had suffered a lot. Admittedly, her dossier contained a surfeit of excuses for why she would turn into a horrible person. Broken household, terrible neighborhood, all the little things life puts together to make existence just a little bit worse. And excuses were worth something. She was human, no being was expected to behave perfectly, except God and Toby. Others could - no, had every right - to falter, to be weak, to be exposed, to fail to learn a lesson, to reach an epiphany.
But excuses only take you that far. Circumstances of birth matter little, it is what you do with a life that makes the difference. Even the Pokemon movie got that part right, and Toby was the first to criticize it.
Leave life a little bit better than you found it, for yourself and others. There, that's all it takes to reach Paradise on the first try. What belief or lack of belief you have matters little, as long as you sincerely try to do things right.
Being blinded by belief and deluding yourself into thinking you're doing the right thing doesn't count though.
Amber didn't get that part. Turns out, there's a long swath of scorched Earth built on good intentions behind her. Poor kids.
Naturally, she would pick sleep. All her life, she only ever aimed to have a sanctuary to herself. A place where she'd feel safe, secure, where the world outside couldn't touch her. A perfect sanctuary doesn't exist, but it's a part of escapism that's essential to the human condition, it helps a mind to recover, provides place and time to grow. She never got that.
And now, in the best sanctuary of them all, she chose to sink into the cushion a little further.
Toby took his jacket off, rolled his sleeves up and sat under the shade of a nearby, lonely but tall and large tree.
Archangel Gabriel was doing his daily jogging, he saw Toby's muscular forearms and whistled.
"Fuck you," said Toby, "and come by at the office, I still owe you a snooker game."
Amber stirred in her sleep. What else could she do but dream? First she dreamed the usual happy nonsense. She had lots of material to make things up, an entire human life of experience and imagination.
This was eternity.
A mind can only mull over the same subjects over and over again before getting bored. So the mind goes deeper, to the parts that are never remembered upon waking up, because they hurt. The mind dreams about life. Not from imagination, but from memory first, with all the rose tinted glasses. The life is gone through a hundred times.
A thousand.
An innumerable number of times.
And with each passage, with each revival of what was, life is honed.
First comes the rose-tinted glasses. The good and the bad, polished into a more digestible story. Until, somewhere in eternity, the glass slips, and is lost in the great nowhere. Other tricks are used, wishful thinking as if it had truly been so, double thinking, re-framing words and select moments to influence a narrative.
But with each passage, what was not and what was becomes clearer, almost brilliant.
Until memories cease to be. And what's left is the naked truth.
In her unending sleep, Amber cannot rely on the forgetfulness of waking up. She'd scream in the void, no, that's not how it was, that's not what I did. I did better, I gave them something I never had.
Ah Amber, Toby thinks, now you know. You know you only deluded yourself into thinking you gave a safe home the likes you never had to those poor kids. No, Amber, you couldn't provide it to yourself, you certainly couldn't provide it to them either. Not with the veneer of that fake smile, not with this self-righteous belief to top it off. At least your own parents weren't nearly as hypocritical.
Sobs.
"Woken up, have we?" Toby asked.
Amber had buried herself under the weight of the truth. It's hard to sleep with heavy rocks compressing your chest.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked.
"Who knows in this place," Toby shrugged.
"You're a sadist," she said between sobs.
Toby's voice became mellow.
"Amber. I haven't done a thing."
"I didn't... I didn't want that, not like that. Not like that."
"No point telling me that. A swig?" Toby handed her his flask, a shiny and clean metallic flask indicating that no matter how far this person is addicted to alcohol, at least they do it with class.
Amber took a sip, felt her throat burning, spit it all out.
"What the hell is it?"
"An expensive drink," mumbled Toby, "can't even trust these heathens to appreciate the good stuff. Anyway! follow me, we have somewhere to be and I got appointments soon."
"Just... just let me vanish."
Toby loomed over her, his shadows expanded, for the span of a singular moment, his faces showed the ugliness of eternal torture, horns made of calcified wants and disappointments, wings of cold and despair. And in that singular moment of dark glory, the devil said:
"No. Now get your ass up. Pretty please?"
Toby walked, and after some uneasy second-guessing, Amber stood up and followed him.
Hell was lovely as always. They went beyond hill and dale, crossed a forest where the smell of pine was an invitation to sit by a tree and look at the squirrels playing in the branches, they crossed a bridge over a lazy river, they walked in a prairie of dandelions.
"Where are we going?" asked Amber.
"To the foot of a mountain in Paradise."
"I don't deserve Paradise."
"Who cares? We crossed into it when we passed that bridge."
Amber pondered the information for a moment.
"That rickety old thing?"
"Yup. People are always surprised how close Heaven and Hell are. Anyway..."
It came into view. The mountain. A pillar to carry a universe, impossibly wide, the top disappearing among the stars, infinity made stone.
"Now," started Toby at the foot of the mountain, "normally I'd give you the whole speech about you're pardoned, God loves you, Santa Claus actually does exist. But," Toby opened his notebook, "I've got an appointment with... a little girl? Gabriel must have mixed the schedules again. So anyway, congrats. You're worthy or paradise, hurray, you're forgiven, yay, bla bla bla. But there's something after Paradise, Hell and the purgatory. There's more. I tried explaining that once with a powerpoint, but your minds can't really grasp it."
Toby started to walk away, while a surprised Amber was sort of hoping he would finish the explanation.
"Up there, there's transcendence, the real stuff, and incidentally why we haven't seen many people because Heaven and Hell are just a pit stop. That's where you're headed, it's where we're all headed."
Toby became smaller and smaller in the distance.
"How do I get there?" shouted Amber.
Toby turned around and extended his arms.
"What do you think?" he shouted back, "You climb!"
submitted by Ataraxidermist to WritingPrompts [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:25 steakforkx Iman Gadzhi - Agency Navigator (Full Course)

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submitted by steakforkx to ImanGadzhisHere [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:24 Obstetrix Two years in cloth: a cheapie pockets review (Mama Koala vs Nora's Nursery vs Alva)

Okay so we're now sitting at almost two years of cloth diapering with cheapie pocket diapers and I wanted to give my two cents on which brand is worth the money. From a fit perspective, my son is a chunky monkey so a thinner child may not encounter the fit problems we did.
I don't think its fair to add them to the review but we used Thirsties covers and GMD prefolds when he was a newborn and had really bad leaks and the world's worst diaper rash. My kiddo did not tolerate having wet cotton next to his skin, even when we changed the diapers frequently or used a stay dry layer. He's an eczema baby and has sensitive skin so if yours is the same, prefolds and covers may not be for you.
ONTO THE REVIEW, from worst to best:
Mama Koala 4/10:
-The fit was never as good with them as I wanted, I feel like they run smaller than the other two brands on this list. They needed to be stripped while my other diapers never had repelling problems. The elastic basically died after 18mos of use. We only use these now if we need him to be in a diaper for like an hour due to inconvenient change times. They're fully out of the rotation and we're going to give them away when we're done with diapers. However there were times my husband preferred the fit of these over the Alvas (but not me tbh).
​
Aliexpress cheapies 7/10:
I got a few different unbranded pockets from Aliexpress that appear similar to Alvas but run a bit smaller. Across the board I found that we had to switch to no rise snaps on these while we're still on the last rise on NN and Alva. The stay dry layer is a bit more minky and tends to lead to my son getting lots of laundry fuzzies on his genitals after being in these. Overall, even though they run small they're fine at like $3/diaper.
Nora's Nursery 8/10:
These run the largest, just a scootch more than my Alvas. I really liked them for naps since I could add a little extra fluff as needed. They're pretty leak resistant and I think the patterns are cute. The elastic hasn't held up quite as well as my Alva diapers though. And at that price point you'd kind of expect better? Overall still a fan but I don't think I'd buy them again just because of the price.
Alvababy 9/10:
My cheapie MVP, I love these diapers. There are SO MANY patterns to choose from and I feel like they've held up over the last two years. No leaks with our PUL, only one of the diapers has had some elastic problems (and like 1/30 is good odds) and even then its still in rotation. The cost/quality ratio is excellent and if I had to do it again I'd only buy Alvas. I've used their swim diapers and large size diapers (clutch for overnights) as well. If we get lucky enough to have baby #2 I'm getting more Alvas for sure!
submitted by Obstetrix to clothdiaps [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:22 SuspectConscious6956 Is this my own fault, or am I keep getting preyed as my male LOs' "female apprentice experiment"?

You know men get a lot of ego boost from helping women? Has anyone experienced an LO that builds a path to trap you?
LO#1 was a mentor figure at work. He was very narcissistic, but with that said, he was eager to teach me things and persuade me to develop my current career (so that he could feel good about that). Nothing happened between us (as I knew he was not a good person). It's just a painful couple of years at work to have to deal with that tension every day. Eventually, I learned enough to be able to leave that place and move to a better position. I forgot him fairly quickly, knowing he didn't deserve me.
LO#2 has been doing something similar. He's not a narcissist (I think), but he seems to be also using me as his experimental apprentice. It started with a very casual hobby situation where one thing led to another. Eventually, it seems like he has unlimited ideas for me to do to advance to a professional level. I've been doing pretty well and am seeing results. That being said, the problem is that for this opportunity, I need A LOT of help (I had very little experience), and I can't leave him now since he's the only one willing to help me for nothing/a fraction of the price I would have to pay someone else to do the same thing for me. Outside of this essentially apprenticeship, he's a total emotionally unavailable acquaintance that I can't even call a friend, and that's very stressful for me. If he acted like a normal colleague or friend, I wouldn't be reminded as much of the impossibility of a relationship between us, but since he's so aloof, that just reminded me of my intense feelings for him all the time. I particularly hated it when he very occasionally vaguely told me about his "loved ones" at home without any details. I felt he was basically telling me he could be emotionally available to others like a normal person but not to me because he knew how I felt about him.
I have been looking for other pros to replace him, but so far, I've found no one even close to what he offers me. When he continues to make me a better practitioner of this matter, I feel trapped and angry. I feel he doesn't want to put out emotionally, but he wants to manipulate me to stay at arm's length to satisfy that sick male ego boost he needs. However, this second career opportunity has become the most important thing for me these days. I'm mesmerized by the success I've been getting.
Does this sound like my fault, or have I fallen prey to these insecure men hungry for an ego boost?
submitted by SuspectConscious6956 to limerence [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:21 GaniMemestar CTD when switching to Workshop mode (Gray Garden)

Hello,this is my first using Simsettlement 2.So far - loving the mod, but there's a problem whenever I switch to Workshop mode on the settlement. Which would be Gray Garden in this case. The game would freeze for a few second and then crash to desktop.What I've tried so far:- Create a new save and redo my action -> still crash- Validating game's file integrity on steam -> no change- uses LOOT and Vortex to sort the plugins and update Master's List -> still crash
I did some google search and most result tends to go toward Simsettlement Blog and Wikia (but those weren't really specific to my case - that being that CTD happens when approaching the settlement, which is not a problem for me. I can go to the settlement just fine. But when I switch to building mode, it crashes(
so I thought I'd post for solution on reddit first before asking directly on the blog. If there's official Discord server, I'd love to join and ask there directly as well.
Here is my Modlist 0 0 Fallout4.esm 1 1 DLCRobot.esm 2 2 DLCworkshop01.esm 3 3 DLCCoast.esm 4 4 DLCworkshop02.esm 5 5 DLCworkshop03.esm 6 6 DLCNukaWorld.esm 7 7 Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch.esp 8 8 ArmorKeywords.esm 9 9 WorkshopFramework.esm 10 a XDI.esm 11 b HUDFramework.esm 12 c TacticalReload.esm 13 d SettlementKeywords.esm 14 e SS2.esm 15 f SS2_XPAC_Chapter2.esm 254 FE 0 BerettaM9FS.esl 16 10 Unique NPCs.esp 17 11 NPC_Movement.esp 18 12 BetterSettlers.esp 19 13 Unique NPCs FarHarbor.esp 20 14 Unique NPCs_SpecialSettlers_All.esp 21 15 LooksMenu Customization Compendium.esp 22 16 LooksMenu.esp 23 17 Reverb and Ambiance Overhaul.esp 24 18 Vivid Weathers - FO4.esp 25 19 SS2Extended.esp 26 1a Vivid Weathers - FO4 - Quest.esp 27 1b W.A.T.Minutemen.esp 28 1c Backpacks of the Commonwealth.esp 29 1d SettlerRenaming-Indicators.esp 30 1e EferasShoulderBag.esp 31 1f DarkerNights.esp 32 20 DarkerNightsDetection.esp 33 21 Pip-Boy Flashlight.esp 254 FE 1 SS2_DLCSettlerPatch.esp 34 22 CombinedArmsNV.esp 35 23 CombinedArmsEXPack.esp 36 24 EG7.esp 37 25 SigMCX.esp 38 26 QBZ191.esp 39 27 1CAS_ServiceRifle.esp 40 28 P90.esp 41 29 CazadorML.esp 42 2a ehtyeci_MPX.esp 43 2b Ak5C.esp 44 2c Tec-9.esp 45 2d F4NVServiceRifleRedux.esp 46 2e MK18.esp 47 2f WattzLaserGun.esp 48 30 Wana_SA58.esp 49 31 AER15.esp 50 32 FO4 NPCs Travel.esp 51 33 Tacoduck'sLoreFriendlyArmorPack.esp 52 34 SteyrAUGnv.esp 53 35 RU556.esp 54 36 Escape from Boston - Springfield M14.esp 55 37 M2Agency.esp 56 38 MWM4.esp 57 39 ImiUzi.esp 58 3a M203.esp 59 3b HsProduktVhs2.esp 60 3c AK74M.esp 61 3d GS Benelli M3S90.esp 62 3e M&P 2.0.esp 63 3f MTs255.esp 64 40 FN-FAL.esp 65 41 AKMnv.esp 254 FE 2 Kedr.esp 66 42 HaxRPG7.esp 67 43 HuntingShotgun.esp 68 44 Glock19x.esp 69 45 BullpupBozar.esp 254 FE 3 Modern Weapon Replacer - Combined Arms - Barret M82A1 - Hunting Rifles.esp 70 46 SPTFIRE-ALLDLC.esp 71 47 FnScar.esp 72 48 SkibsWeapons-REDUX.esp 73 49 AtomicRadio.esp 74 4a AQUILA.esp 75 4b MP7.esp 76 4c HK_MP5.esp 77 4d GIAT_FAMAS.esp 78 4e G36Complex.esp 79 4f HK_UMP.esp 80 50 M1A.esp 81 51 KrissVector.esp 254 FE 4 TEC9.esp 82 52 Quad_Fusillade.esp 254 FE 5 Modern Weapon Replacer - Combined Arms - Desert Eagle - .44 Revolvers.esp 254 FE 6 Modern Weapon Replacer - Combined Arms - M9A1 - Gamma Guns.esp 254 FE 7 Modern Weapon Replacer - Personal Minigun - Miniguns.esp 254 FE 8 Modern Weapon Replacer - Sig Sauer MPX - Submachine Guns.esp 254 FE 9 Modern Weapon Replacer - WH-Mk.19 Shrike - Gatling Lasers.esp 83 53 Vivid Weathers - FO4 - Far Harbor.esp 84 54 Vivid Weathers - Natural Bright.esp 85 55 Vivid Weathers - Nuka World.esp 86 56 3dscopes-fnfal.esp 254 FE a Modern Weapon Replacer - RPG-7V2 - Missile Launchers.esp 254 FE b Modern Weapon Replacer - Hunting Shotgun - Double Barrel Shotguns.esp 87 57 3dscopes-m1a.esp 88 58 3dscopes-replacer-aug.esp 89 59 3dscopes-replacer-bullpupbozar.esp 90 5a 3dscopes-replacer.esp 91 5b 3dscopes-replacer-servicerifle.esp 92 5c AX50.esp 93 5d HRP_Mk23.esp 94 5e FOrigin12.esp 95 5f SV-98.esp 96 60 3dscopes-replacer-sv98.esp 97 61 3dscopes-replacer-wattz.esp 98 62 Quad_Accelerator.esp 254 FE c Energy Weapon Replacer - Accelerator - Plasma Guns.esp 254 FE d Energy Weapon Replacer - Rheinmetall EG-7 Energiegewehr - Gauss Rifles.esp 254 FE e Energy Weapon Replacer - Wattz Laser Gun - Laser Guns.esp 254 FE f Modern Weapon Replacer - AK74M - Handmade Rifles.esp 254 FE 10 Modern Weapon Replacer - Ak5C - Combat Rifles.esp 254 FE 11 Modern Weapon Replacer - AnotherOne TEC-9 - Pipe Revolvers.esp 254 FE 12 Modern Weapon Replacer - Bullpup Bozar - Lever Action Rifles.esp 254 FE 13 Modern Weapon Replacer - FN SCAR-H - Radium Rifles.esp 254 FE 14 Modern Weapon Replacer - MP7 - Pipe Bolt Action.esp 99 63 3dscopes-ru556.esp 100 64 Companion Infinite Ammo.esp 101 65 LongerPowerLines3x.esp 102 66 OWR_CraftableDecor.esp 103 67 OWR.esp 104 68 OWR_CraftableDecor_CW.esp 105 69 OWR_CraftableDecor_CW_SKEPatch.esp 106 6a OWR_CraftableDecor_SKEPatch.esp 107 6b BetterSettlersNoLollygagging.esp 108 6c CBBE.esp 109 6d Nexus_PMC.esp 254 FE 15 CROSS_CoA.esp 110 6e WastelandCodex.esp 254 FE 16 Vivid Fallout - All in One - Best Choice.esp 111 6f K9TacticalHarness.esp 112 70 ImmersiveVendors.esp 113 71 MC_clothespack.esp 114 72 PMC_extended.esp 254 FE 17 Modern Weapon Replacer - Cazador Missile Launcher - Fat Man.esp 115 73 Scopes.esp 116 74 P90NPC.esp 117 75 OWR_SKEPatch.esp 118 76 RAO - OWR patch.esp 254 FE 18 Modern Weapon Replacer - GIAT FAMAS - Institute Guns.esp 254 FE 19 Modern Weapon Replacer - Springfield Armory M1A - Laser Muskets.esp 254 FE 1a Modern Weapon Replacer - Agency Arms Benelli M2 - Combat Shotguns.esp 119 77 MP-412.esp 120 78 McMillanCS5.esp 121 79 ManualReload.esp 254 FE 1b Modern Weapon Replacer - HK Mark 23 SOCOM - Deliverer.esp 254 FE 1c Modern Weapon Replacer - MP5 Complex - Pipe Guns.esp 254 FE 1d Modern Weapon Replacer - AKM Complex - Assault Rifles.esp 122 7a WD_44.esp 123 7b RSh-12.esp 124 7c PL-14.esp 125 7d Penetration Framework.esp 126 7e Quad_RAWLauncher.esp 127 7f P220.esp 128 80 3dscopes-wmsr.esp 129 81 GS Beretta PX4.esp 254 FE 1e Modern Weapon Replacer - Beretta PX4 Storm - 10mm Pistols.esp 130 82 BetterSettlersCleanFacePack.esp 131 83 BetterSettlersMortalSoldiersPack.esp 132 84 BetterSettlersMortalPack.esp SS2_XDI Patch.esp
submitted by GaniMemestar to SimSettlements [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:21 Original-Ad-88 Need some advice regarding a family member living with me please

In the beginning of this year, my husband and I opened up our home to my cousin(25M) (On my mum’s side) who was struggling to find accommodation within the time his lease was ending. It was only myself and my husband at the time so, when my cousin moved in, we set board at $150.00 per week (Covering food, rent and utilities plus, also so he could save a bit of money) in which he had agreed to.
He’s been living with us for 15 weeks now, has had a full time job from the beginning but has only paid board 7 times = 7 weeks.
The first time I was about to have a conversation with him (2 weeks of no board received had passed) I advised my mum first since it was her younger brother’s son (To advise just in case of any backlash that may occur from that intended conversation with my cousin) and my mum said, “Maybe he’s going through some things and he’s struggling. So let him come to you.” I relayed the conversation with my mum to my husband and we both had agreed to not say anything just yet. 4 weeks had passed, still no board received and my husband advised to give it a bit more time for him to come around.
In addition to that ‘No board received time-period’ My cousin goes to eat out with his girlfriend nearly every night, orders multiple food-deliveries to the house when he isn’t going out and constantly speaks to us about his multiple holiday plans for this year. He’s about to go to Singapore in 3 weeks for a 2 week holiday.
When I brang it up again with my husband at the 6 weeks still no board received mark - My husband assured me that we were okay but when it comes to pay day, I can see how much my husband is annoyed and stressed that we’re having to pay for the following with no assistance from my freeloading cousin at all.
The following: Rent (Weekly), groceries (Weekly - that my cousin still helps himself to and eats from), water and utilities (Fortnightly), which have all now sky rocketed past our usual because 1. He loves to eat. 2. He likes to use the dryer every time he does his washing.. even on sunny days. Yes, we both have spoken to him about that - to please hang it on the washing line (Make use of Mother Natures dryer) but he does it when both my husband and I are at work. 3. Turns on the aircon full blast every day and 4. He has a shower 4 times a day at least - 1 in the morning, 1 after work, 1 after gym and 1 before bed. It has become repetitive little talks, labelling items and now we’ve resulted to unplugging items situations only since he hasn’t been paying his board but have recently noticed the aircon and dryer have been plugged back in. When I know it’s definitely neither my husband or I using it. Now our electricity bill for the previous fortnight was $326.47 which is usually a whole quarterly just for my husband and I.
So whilst all of this is happening, I admire that my husband is staying so calm and collected about it and chooses not to say anything to me that may cause me any stress but I see it and it doesn’t sit right with me at all. I don’t like seeing the stress it’s causing my husband or the fact that I can clearly see that my own cousin is taking advantage of us.
Background: My husband 28(M) and I(26F), we’ve been married just over a year and I’m a part time teacher. I was previously full time but had to temporarily step back just over a month ago since I’m going through medical treatments at the moment and my husband is still working full time.
I’m already at breaking point especially since we’ve been put in this position in the first place by my own cousin. Yet, I’m finding it difficult on how to approach the conversation without losing my cool because it has already been dragged out for so long and my mum is constantly in my ear, telling me “Not to hurt his feelings, make him feel loved since we’re the only family he has nearby.” I do have love for my cousin and wouldn’t ever leave someone stranded but considering how I have been watching what my cousin does, there’s really no excuse.
So if anyone who has insight or their own or a similar situation… and how to approach it. Could you please help with advice on how to deal with this?
Thanks.
submitted by Original-Ad-88 to Advice [link] [comments]

2023.04.02 14:20 Gutta_the_III [Exerpt: Shadowsun, the patient hunter] Shadownsun communes with the Goddess of the Tau’va

TLDR:
Context: Shadowsun is leading an expedition of auxiliaries against the death guard. She was forbidden from leading T’au soldiers in this attack, so she does a Farsight and follows the letter of the order instead of its spirit, assembling all the various auxiliary races to follow her. This includes an elderly human psyker named Makendra Vella, who refused to participate in the attack due to her advanced age. On page 194 she first proposes the idea:
“ 'I know my Damocles Campaign,’ said Shadowsun, skimming data on her XV22's command-and-control suite. 'A risky manoeuvre, given the unpredictability of human tech. We must have faith in our course!’
Makendra Vella cocked her head. 'A strange choice of words, for one so secular'
'The true warrior makes weapons from everything in arm's reach.'
‘And that includes me, it seems.'
Shadowsun made the cupped hands of the grateful supplicant. 'I have a favour to ask, yes'
'But what if we do not wish to be used as tools, high commander?' continued the human. 'How many times do you need to be told?'
'I respect that you did not wish to accompany me on this mission, Makendra Vella,' said Shadowsun. 'All I ask of you is that you do that which you would likely do anyway. Just at a specific time'
'And that is?'
'Pray to your people's conception of the Greater Good at the exact chronopoint I am transmitting now. More than that, ensure that all who have the same faith pray at the same time, if you can'
'What do you understand of prayer?'
'Very little, I admit. But do this for me. It might make all the difference. For the Greater Good'
‘I have no small amount of influence in gue'vesa society,' said Makendra Vella, jutting out her jaw. 'I will see what can be done!'
'I believe in you. You will not be acting alone. I still have contacts across the system, and have relayed requests that the same be done in all those subcultures that adhere to the same creed'
At this, A'haia flashed a calming cyan ripple upon the walls. Ven Tah Regah linked her curving claws, a nicassar gesture of sisterhood that translated well into t'au. Even Opikh Tak gave a solemn nod; he had spoken to his fellow shapers in council earlier that very cycle.
'To what end are we praying?' said Makendra Vella.
'If there is truly power in faith, as the Imperials so fervently believe,' she said, 'then perhaps the gue'ron'sha who once shared their beliefs feel the same. Through ritual and belief, we can turn such conviction against our enemies. I would have you pray for them to defeat themselves.’
'Are you sure it will work, high commander?' said Oe-hei, his voice high and tremulous.
'No. Not by any means. In fact, it goes against my understanding of the cosmos. But given the circumstances...' She thought back to the algae bomb on Pekun, and the fact it had left the strange statue-temple entirely unaffected. 'I have come to believe it might make a difference “
​
Later in the book during the assault, the group is attacked by a bunch of daemonic maggots and flies:
​
“ Alerts flickered and flared all over her command hexes, one by one fading to charcoal black as her suit's systems were gummed up or overloaded by wriggling biological forms. The exception was the one showing Ven Tah Regah and A'haia. The aliens were chanting something, arms held out as if in benediction as Oe-hei kept them safe in his own shimmering bubble of force. Somehow, the Kindred Souls were keeping the creatures at bay. She increased the hex's audio, manually cutting out the maddening buzz of the daemon maggots.
Tau'va keep us, they were chanting. "Tau'va hear our prayer. T'au'va watch over us, T'au'va hear our prayer. T'au'va keep us...'
'What are they doing?' muttered Shadowsun. Her alien teammates were moving towards her, now, a bubble of clean air around them. Even Opikh Tak abandoned his kroot gun - its muzzle stuffed with wriggling maggot-things nesting in its warm barrel - to join the chant.
'T'au'va keep us, T'au'va hear our prayer. T'au'va watch over us, T'au'va hear our prayer...'
Miraculously, the flying maggot-things recoiled. Though they buzzed fiercely, they would not go near the trio as they chanted. Moving slowly, trusting to sheer faith that no bullets or bolts would reach them, the aliens walked closer and closer until that same strange dome of clean air moved over Shadowsun as well.
One by one her systems came back online as the vile maggot- things that had choked them fled from the slow, deliberate ing them. chant. Insane as it seemed, their faith in their chant was repulsing.
Perhaps, she thought, perhaps they have the right of things. Or at least have another piece of the great puzzle that we do not. And they have bought me time. “
​
In travel through the wormhole the Deathguard have a chance meeting, stopping their invasion of the septworlds:
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“ Bridgeman Vauntos, he called out. 'This non-space we find ourselves in. Are we making progress through it?'
He had a vague notion that he had asked the question before, and that the query had hung in the air a little longer each time he had asked it.
'Technically', said the Death Guard steersman through a helmgrille framed by needle-sharp tusks. 'Technically, Lord Glurtosk, yes we are.'
He narrowed his eyes, picking up his scythe as his temper burned short. 'Perhaps you would care to elaborate?' He gestured at two bifurcated corpses scattered on the grille underfoot, their opened guts already beginning to rot. 'Or will you be joining Steersmen Vulpex and Obidiak in blissful retirement?'
'Our progress through this interstitial space is slowing, my lord. It is as if something is resisting us. Or holding us back. Much more loss of momentum, and we will find ourselves...' 'Don't say it, said Glurtosk. 'Don't say the word, Bridgeman. It blossomed like a corpse-flower in his mind nonetheless. Becalmed.
Glurtosk and his Legion had been lost in the empyrean some ten thousand years ago. It had driven them to the edge of madness, and into the arms of the foulest of all cosmic powers to dwell deep in the tides of emotion that formed the warp. To be back there, forced to endure the slow, entropic rot with nothing to show for it... For the Death Guard, it was far worse than to die in battle.
It was a nightmare made real, the worst of all possible fates. A broken shard of glass caught his eye. A section of Thurglaine's canister. On a hunch, he picked up the triangular, gently curving section of glassware and held it up, looking through it to the warp beyond.
There was something out there, in the swirls. A vast entity, built like a t'au as much as a human, but with far too many arms. Some of those limbs appeared to have five fingers, others four digits, like the t'au, or the bird-like talons of the kroot. Some ended in ursine claws, or waving tendrils, much like those of the fungus-creature that had worked its spell on his bridge. Many of the hands held blades, but others cornucopias, quills, or patches of flickering light.
Where its face should be, it had nothing at all, just a blank cliff of pale flesh.
'What are you?' said Glurtosk.
A phrase resolved in the turmoil of his mind, like a torpedo coming into terrible focus on a submarine's viewslate.
'I am the goddess T'au'va.'
'No!' shouted Glurtosk. 'These t'au are godless!'
'But their allies are not.'
The entity loomed in close, talons each the length of a strike cruiser closing around the Nephylum. Holding it still as a fly in aspic, and keeping it there.
Lord Glurtosk dropped the shard of glass and screamed until his mind came apart. “
​
I would like to dedicate this next excerpt to all the haters who thought the Greater Good warp entity was a Tzeentch Daemon. Amen.
Here Shadowsun is dreaming and has a flashback to her days under the tutelage of Puretide, whilst she was in critical condition. During this dream she receives a visitor that cured the plagues that had previously infected her: 
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“The caves were full, now, the meltwater river's wrath at its height. She was several days' travel from the exit, and already her lungs were burning. There would be no reprieve.
Blackness came for her.
But within it, there was light.
A translucent figure with far too many arms, somehow immune to the battering ice water, drifting as calm as a Dal'ythan jellyfish. In its profusion of arms it held objects, amongst them blades, shells, an amphora, a buckler shield. It swam close, its unsettling, blank mask of a face somehow staying inches from hers even as the deadly river pushed her ever on through the darkness.
'No... What are you?' Her thoughts were so loud she swore she could hear them.
The entity raised its amphora, silvery bubbles drifting from the neck, and let her take a long draught. Not water, but air, blissful and life-giving. Greedy as a newborn, she filled her lungs.
'I am the communality of species,’ it said. Its voice was calming, like that of a mother, whilst somehow carrying an edge of threat. 'I am destiny.'
'You are a ghost, Shadowsun replied. 'Nothing more.
'Set against the cosmos, I am nothing, it is true, the apparition replied. "Though even a seed cast to the wind can flourish. If you will let me, child of hope.
They passed a darker patch of nothingness. A moment later, the waters became calmer, less insistent. She could see the glow of the cave-worms once more, their glimmer showing the strange, diaphanous spirit before her in disturbing detail.
'How can I repay you?' she managed.
'I simply wish to exist, child,’ it said. “
​
In conclusion, it’s a good book. Better than most of the other T’au books (Except Broken Sword obv) I would recommend reading it. Though Phil Kellys’ portrayal of the Ethereals continues to be subpar, I would say it’s the best here. If only because the Ethereals only appear in two scenes.
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