Cvs east point pharmacy

How do you deal with mass unemployment but no consumer demand to expand?

2023.06.10 06:38 ceeker How do you deal with mass unemployment but no consumer demand to expand?

How do you deal with this situation? It feels like it's the start of a doom spiral. I've got about 15 years to start turning it around before endgame. Would be nice to make a start so this playthrough feels a bit more optimistic.
Started as East India Company, have formed and control all of India (am independent of course).
39.9 million unemployed. It's growing faster than I can create jobs - not through lack of money, but through lack of any appreciable demand for anything. For a while I was getting control of the situation, but it seems like I just ran out of consumers.
ALL resource slots are full. Literally everything. All arable land is full. There is scope to push peasants into plantations but they're already borderline unprofitable so this will probably create more unemployed.
PMs are set to maximise the amount of labor. ie, no railroads, etc. But I'm still using PMs that increase output.
Prices for most goods are falling below the point of profitability. The exceptions are raw resources that I can't expand without war, like coal and timber.
Welfare is at the highest sustainable level (old age pension), which gives the unemployed pops a standard of living of around 9-10. It's on 3/5. Going above this will start sending me into negative balance.
Taxes are minimised. Government salaries and military spending maximised.
Anything that can be traded, is being traded, to create more demand.
I'm the highest GDP. My nearest competitors, the UK and France, are around half my GDP.
There just doesn't seem to be enough demand globally to get all of my pops into work.
I'm running command economy, as it was the only law that gave me enough cash to keep pace with development. Keeping public healthcare to minimum to slow pop growth. Safety laws are maxed for the minimum wage bonus, but this is also causing pop growth.

Ideas I've thought of:
- mass subsidising grain farms to drive the cost down to the lowest level possible, converting as many peasants as I can and enabling pops to buy other stuff. I can probably afford it short term, but it doesnt feel sustainable long term.
- getting China into my market, but they're currently in Russia's market. Fighting Russia and China at the same time is doable but annoying and the employment situation gets worse the longer it drags out, which it will, with thousands of battalions involved.
- switching every industry to the least advanced type to maximise the amount of labor contribution per product. I'm skeptical this will help overall, even if it does boost the goods demand of those unemployed pops.
- Switching back to a non-command economy. Are upper class pops ultimately needed to create more demand?
Would appreciate any ideas. I'm not looking for a debate on real world political systems, I'm interested in solving this in-game. I'm not adverse to changing things if it helps. :)

The general vibe of the thing

laws
institutions

submitted by ceeker to victoria3 [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 06:19 No-Engineering2646 Omnicare salary

What is the job grade and pay range for a front-end pharmacy technician position at CVS/Omnicare? I want to be clear about what salary I should request during my interview. The range is $17-$27. But that is for the job grade this position falls under. I can’t find more info than that.

submitted by No-Engineering2646 to PharmacyTechnician [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 05:54 DnDBambi Random Nighttime Wilderness Encounter Table

So I'm running SKT and they have a nicely detailed random encounter table for day time travel, but I also really wanted something for the nighttime while the party are trying to safely rest. So I made this!
I added a few unique ideas/suggestions I'd seen around the internet while also creating a few of my own. I had my own party in mind for this (4 x Lv. 6) but I'm hoping it's universal enough to adapt for any party!
Feel free to use and let me know what you think :)

Random Nighttime Wilderness Encounter Table

At the beginning of each night/long rest, roll a d20. On a result of 12-20 a nighttime encounter occurs. Roll a d100 and consult the table based on the party's current location
Roll a d4 (reroll 4s) to determine if the encounter occurs on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd watch of the night
Once they have their first nighttime encounter, the d20 range shrinks by two for every future nighttime encounter thereafter until they reach the next settlement, upon which, the range resets. This is to prevent there being an encounter every single night they're on the road and not bogging down gameplay. Feel free to adjust these DCs if you want less or more random encounters.
- After first nighttime encounter, new range = 14-20
- After second nighttime encounter, new range = 16-20
- After third nighttime encounter, new range = 18-20
- After four nighttime encounter (and every encounter after) a Nat20 must be rolled to receive a new encounter

The Table

Encounter Table Notes:

Abominable Yeti:

A single abominable yeti ambushes the party hungering for flesh and blood. If the party manage to defeat this yeti, there is a 30% chance that 1d3 regular yetis show up after battle, drawn in by the sounds of combat and the scent of blood

Bandits/Barbarians:

You can choose between bandits or barbarians for this encounter based on the location and frequency of previous encounters
Bandits:
- 1 bandit captain and 3d6+2 bandits
- Mounted on riding horses
- 25% chance they attack without warning
- Promises the party not to attack if they 'pay a toll' (no less than 100gp of treasure)
- Is this a potential way to introduce the 'Happy Fun Ball'?
- Treasure: Each bandit carries a pouch containing 1d10gp. The bandit captain’s pouch holds 2d10gp and 1d6 gems worth 100gp each
Uthgardt Barbarians:
- Hostile group of Uthgardt barbarians made up of 4d6 tribal warriors, and 1 Uthgardt shaman (Appendix C). If the total number rolled is great than 20, add 1d3 berserkers and a tribal chieftain (berserker w 90hp)
  - If dealing with the Gray Wolf tribe, use the werewolf stat block for all berserkers and chieftains (+90hp) and add 1d4 wolves as animal companions
- Uthgardt Barbarian General Info
  - Black-haired and blue-eyed people
  - Take their name from Uthgar Gardolfsson, a hero chief who battled giants and conquered much of the North before ascending to godhood
  - Currently 11 tribes scattered across the north
  - They speak Bothii (their own language) and most speak common
  - Their spirit mounds are sacred as it's a place where tribe members gather to revere Uthgar, honour their ancestors, make sacrifices to their totem animal spirit, and choose a new Great Chief
  - Uthgardt fear magic so much so that they attempt to kill and dismember any spellcasters they meet
  - Tribal shamans aren't attacked because their power comes from spirits of their dead ancestors
  - Tribes will unite against a common enemy, like a giant (whom they hate most of all)
  - Each tribe consists of 1 Great Chief, 2-5 chieftains, and 1-3 shamans depending on the size of the tribe
  - Use the "Reghed Chieftain" stat block for a Great Chief
Uthgardt Tribes and Locations
- Black Lion Tribe
  - Northern Silver Marches and the Druarwood
  - Spirit mound - Beorunna's Well
  - Great Chief - Stellok Kolraavi (male - wears armour made of orc hide)
  - Shaman - Tysis Kolraavi (Stellok's younger sister)
  - Hate diplomacy and civilisation
  - Avoids settlements in the Silver Marches
- Black Raven Tribe
  - Icy foothills west of Mirabar including the ice lakes and Spine of the World north of Mirabar
  - Spirit mound - Raven Rock
  - Great Chief - Ojin Voninsdottir (female - orc-skull helm)
  - Prey on caravans travelling via Northern Means or Blackford Road
  - Often ride Giant Vultures into battle
- Blue Bear Tribe
  - Believed to be extinct but have been spotted throughout the Delimbiyr Vale (from the Nether Mountains to the northern tip of High Moor)
  - Spirit mound - Stone Stand
  - Great Chief - Kriga Moonmusk (female - old and travels in a fur-draped chair carried by 4 tribal warriors)
  - Stays hidden while travelling to preserve the myth of their extinction
- Elk Tribe
  - Wanders the Evermoors and the plains between Flint Rock and the Dessarin River
  - Spirit mound - Flint Rock
  - Great Chief - Rond Vaarson (male - old)
  - Rond has spilled so much blood in his past, he no longer craves it
- Gray Wolf Tribe
  - Located throughout the North, as far west as the Sword Coast and as far east as the Delimbiyr Vale
  - Spirit mound - None
  - Great Chief - Recently slain Syken Nightblaze
  - Syken was slain by adventurers from Neverwinter
  - His daughter, Envir Sykensdottir, now controls the pack and plans to attack Neverwinter to prove she should be named the next Great Chief of the tribe
  - Potentially run a surprise encounter if the party ever goes to Neverwinter
  - The tribe roams in packs with ordinary wolves
  - Will hunt down and kill those who survive their attacks to prevent the spread of lycanthropy to non-tribal members
  - The only members of the tribe who possess lycanthropy are the chieftains and berserkers. The rest of the tribe are regular tribal warriors
  - In an encounter have all barbarians start out in human form, then have them use their 'Shapechanger' action on their first turn to turn into a Hybrid or Wolf form and freak the party out
  - Lycanthropy Cure: Can be cured with a 'Remove Curse' or 'Greater Restoration' spell
- Great Worm Tribe
  - Based themselves at Great Worm Cavern and strike out occasionally to defend their territory (surrounding mountains, Feel Pass, Frost Hills, Lurkwood, and the northern reaches of the Silver Marches)
  - Spirit mound - Great Worm Cavern
  - Great Chief - Wormblod (male - brutal and hoards treasure)
  - Venture into the Crags and its southern plains when food is scarce
- Griffon Tribe
  - Located throughout the North, as far west as the Sword Coast and as far east as the Silver Marches. Never going further south than Triboar and Yartar in the Dessarin Valley
  - Spirit mound - Shining White
  - Great Chief - Halric Bonesnapper
  - Tribe is dwindling as they have made too many enemies of late (still 300 strong though)
  - Different from all other tribes as they have established a permanent settlement (Griffon's Nest)
- Red Tiger Tribe
  - Found throughout the Silver Marches but have recently begun moving into its surrounding forests, including elf-controlled regions of the High Forest
  - They are trying to find the Grandfather Tree and lay claim to it
  - Spirit mound - Beorunna's Well
  - Great Chief - Seriska Hungermaw (female - ruthless yet cautious)
  - Often attack settlements in the Silver Marches and prey on caravans travelling on the roads
  - Skilled at avoiding heavily fortified keeps
  - Even known to attack boats on the Rauvin River from time to time
- Sky Pony Tribe
  - Found near the base of the mountains in the Silver Marches
  - Spirit mound - One Stone
  - Great Chief - Arnzan Vashk (male - orc spearhead sticking out of his chest and he attempts to hide the pain)
  - The tip of the spear is very close to piercing his heart and killing him
  - Was wounded during the War of the Silver Marches
  - His rivals are circling and preparing to unseat him
- Thunderbeast Tribe
  - Currently hiding in the depths of Lurkwood preparing for a 'stampede' through the Surbrin Hills and the Dessarin Valley to the south
  - Spirit mound - Morgur's Mound (hasn't been visited in years)
  - Great Chief - Harthulk Hornspear (male - towering man with a terrible scowl and cracked, tough skin like dinosaur leather)
  - Their stampede won't stop until their people or their enemies are dead
- Tree Ghost Tribe
  - Share the High Forest with the native elves
  - Spirit mound - Grandfather Tree
  - Great Chief - Boorvald Orcbane (male - honourable and a protector)
  - Declared themselves the protectors of the Grandfather Tree after years of conflict with other tribes and the elves of the High Forest
  - Rarely seen outside of the forest
  - Boorvald hunts orcs and frequently launches attacks against the Iceshield orc-holds along the western edge of High Forest
  - Boorvald has 6 sons and 3 daughters, each of whom was given an "Oathbow" from the tribe's elf neighbours as a gift of friendship
  - The tribe contains tribal warriors from other tribes who came to the Grandfather Tree, gained enlightenment, and forsook their allegiances to pledge to help the Tree Ghosts protect the Grandfather Tree

Bioluminescent Lights:

Depending on the location, this can be represented as bioluminescent lights or more of a aurora borealis in the night sky
The party, or person on watch, notices a faint glow coming from nearby in the camp. A small pond (or tree/shrub/etc) is emitting a faint, beautiful glow that seems to be a wonder of nature
Describe how the lights beautifully dance and shimmer in the night
The effect is harmless and the party can spend as much or as little time engaging with it as they want

Blights:

2d4+1 vine blights and 2d4+1 needle blights attack the party in the night
The vine blights move in close and camouflage using their False Appearance ability. Once they're within 20ft, they run forward and use their Entangling Plants ability to subdue the party
The needle blights then move within 30ft and release a volley of needles at the party from a distance
Alternatively, the party may happen to set up camp in a congregation of unmoving vine blights who are relying on their False Appearance to strike when the party is caught off-guard. The needle blights join in later in the combat

Bodak:

A single bodak is drawn to the party's campsite by the light/noise, following its mission from Orcus to spread death across the Material Plane
Any non-war trained animals will flee right before this encounter takes place
If it fits in your narrative, the bodak can be a fallen NPC that one of the players used to know. It is seeking out all allies and enemies from its past life to wipe them from existence
Increase the HP if a single bodak doesn't pose much of a challenge

Dire Wolves:

3d4 dire wolves encircle and ambush the party at night
The wolves won't attack outright. They will surround and then slowly close in on the party, giving anyone a chance to do something that might scare them off before combat begins (PC Intimidation check vs Wolves Insight check)
- Potentially nominate a pack leader that will have an impact on how this plays out
If the party don't do anything or fails to intimidate the wolves, they will attack
If things aren't going well for the party, you can have the wolves' survival instinct kick in if their numbers are reduced to less than the number of still-threatening PCs

Displacer Beasts:

1d4+2 displacer beasts ambush the party either for food or just general sport
One displacer beast might lash out at the party in an attempt to draw them away from the group to a location where the rest of the pack are waiting for a bloodier ambush

Ghosts:

1d4 ghosts appear and attack the party
If a 1 is rolled, a solitary, sad-looking ghost appears in the middle of their camp and sings a haunting song, then walks to where its grave is marked by a filthy stone. If the party ignore the ghost or leave the grave alone, nothing happens and the ghost remains suspended in the air looking at the grave until the party leaves. It they clean the grave site out of respect for the dead, the ghost disappears and turns into a shower of 777 silver pieces. If they desecrate or disrespect the grave for some reason, it attacks
- If it attacks, bump its HP up to 60 so it poses somewhat of a challenge

Ghouls:

1d4+4 ghouls attack the party led by 1 ghast
The ghast will give orders to the ghouls to attack who it feels is the strongest party member
If ghouls are attacked while feasting on a paralysed creature, they will drag their prey their full movement (half speed) away while also continuing to use their bite on their paralysed victim

Giant Snakes:

1d4+1 giant constrictor snakes slither into the campsite and attempt to snap up a tasty meal
You can have the snakes appear and pause, waiting to see the party's reaction, to give your PCs a chance to do something that might prevent this from being a combat encounter

Magical Glowing Mushrooms:

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything - Magic Mushrooms (pg. 166)
The party stumbles across a collection of magic mushrooms near their campsite, radiating this magical glow
Those proficient in Medicine, Nature, or Survival can surmise that these are not naturally forming mushrooms and with a DC12 roll, can recall stories of magical mushrooms and how some can save lives or bestow unusual powers when consumed
If a mushroom is eaten, roll a d10 to determine its effects:
- 1: The creature’s skin turns an unusual colour. Roll a d4:
  - 1 - Purple with yellow splotches
  - 2 - Bright orange with tiger stripes
  - 3 - Tree-frog green with red squiggles
  - 4 - Hot pink with yellow spots
  - This change is permanent unless removed by a Greater Restoration spell or similar magic.
- 2: The creature gains the enlarge or reduce effect (50 percent chance of either) of the Enlarge/Reduce spell for 1 hour.
- 3: The creature regains 5d8 + 20 hit points.
- 4: Vocally, the creature can only cluck and croon like a chicken. The creature can also understand and speak to chickens. This curse lasts for 1 hour unless ended by a Remove Curse spell or similar magic.
- 5: The creature can understand and speak all languages for 1d4 days.
- 6: The creature gains the benefits of the Telepathy spell for the next 24 hours.
- 7: The creature gains the benefits of the Speak with Plants spell for 8 hours.
- 8: The creature immediately casts the Time Stop spell, requiring no components. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for this spell.
- 9: The creature immediately casts the Detect Thoughts spell, requiring no components. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for this spell.
- 10: Magical mists pour out of the creature’s eyes and ears, acting as a Fog Cloud spell for 1 hour that is centred on the creature and moves with it.

Oni:

An old halfling woman with a small glaive will approach the party's campsite looking for a place to rest and some company to talk to
The glaive is a custom weapon made for a halfling that she's had since she was a young woman. She's pretty handy with it but getting quite slow in her older age. It's her only form of protection as she travels
The old woman is really an oni who has used it's Change Shape ability to be able to get closer to its prey
When the oni feels the party is no longer believing its lies or has completely let their guard down, it will attack
This attack may begin with a Cone of Cold to surprise the party, and then on its next turn it will transform into its true giant form. Or it could also start with the oni transforming prior to combat, then on its first turn casting Invisibility on itself to create a sense of fear amongst the party

Owlbear Pack:

A loud, deep hooting sound can be heard throughout the night, not close but not too far from the campsite. The hooting sounds like it comes from something much louder than a regular owl
Players who made a successful DC12 Perception check, notice off in the distance a pack of 5 owlbears slowly moving through the terrain in single-file
There is a large owlbear at the head of the line, and another large owlbear bringing up the rear. In the middle of them are three smaller offspring
They don't appear to be hunting at this moment, just moving from A to B
Unless the party does something to draw the pack's attention, they will move on into the night

Owlbears:

1d4+1 hunting owlbears will spring into the party's campsite, hunting them for food
- If a total of 5 is achieved and you feel this encounter is way too deadly for your group, have the hunting pack be a family made up of two adult owlbears and three younger offspring (40hp) who are hunting for their first time (no multiattack)
- If an offspring is killed, the parents will fight to the death with unbridled fury seeking vengeance
- If both parents are killed off, the offspring will flee
If only 2 owlbears are rolled and you feel this encounter too simple, max out their hit points (91hp)

Pegasus:

A glimmering, white pegasus descends from the sky and lands not far from the party's campsite, looking for a place to drink, eat, or temporarily rest
- If this occurs along a road/trail, the pegasus won't land, but will instead gracefully soar past the party, basking in the night air
Pegasi are usually quite jumpy, so will immediately take off into the sky if any loud noises are made or it is attacked
However, if a good-aligned character can quietly approach and succeed on a DC15 Animal Handling check, the intelligent creature will stay grounded and watch the character as it approaches
Narrate a peaceful interaction between the two before the pegasus takes its leave and flies off into the night
- If a character tries to mount the pegasus they will need to succeed on a DC25 Animal Handling check
- A failure will result in the pegasus bucking them and flying off
- A success, and the pegasus will just stand there, MAYBE briefly trot around, before indicating for the character to get off and then saying goodbye and flying off

Revenant:

1 revenant stumbles into the party's campsite, appearing initially like a zombie, but will begin speaking to the party. Very much unlike a zombie.
The revenant says he has come to seek justice for the wrongs the party did to him, killing him in such a brutal manner and taking the life of his greatest love, Kella. The party will then see past the unfamiliar face and recognise him as the slain leader of the Seven Snakes, Xolkin
As Xolkin has sworn vengeance on the party, he can now only be completely destroyed by either using a Wish spell when his soul is bodiless, the party just straight-up dying, or the party survives for over a year from when the vengeance was enacted. After one of these has occurred, the Xolkin's body will crumble to dust and his soul will fade into the afterlife
If Xolkin can't beat them in this first encounter, next time he appears, it will be with weapons and backup (spectres, wights, ghasts, etc). He won't quit until he is successful, making sure each future encounter is harder and more challenging

Stormy Night:

The clouds final erupt and the remainder of the night is filled with thundering rain and high winds
- Rain can be replaced with a blizzard if the party is in the upper mountains or far-north sections of the continent
Unless one of the party members has a way to avoid/negate the rain and wind (such as Leomund's Tiny Hut for example), the party has a very restless nights sleep
They gain the effects of a Long Rest but everyone also gains one level of Exhaustion and cannot recover any previous levels of exhaustion

Undead:

A single wight leads an undead army to attack the party. The army is made up of 2d6 zombies and 1 ogre zombie
- If the number of zombies rolled is less than 6, replace the single ogre zombie with 1d4 ogre zombies
The wight will send the horde of zombies in first while it attacks from range to begin with, then moving in closer for melee

Vampire:

A figure will emerge out of the darkness, staggering a little. They make no effort to stealth either. They are friendly and will comply with whatever reasonable requests the cautious PCs make
They will reveal themselves to be a vampire, in dire need of blood. They will ask for a donation, but if refused, will walk away disappointed
If the player does contribute blood, the vampire will thank them, and next time this encounter is rolled, the vampire may have a gift for them (magic item, gold/platinum, jewels, etc)
The player may choose to drain some blood into a vial or pot for the vampire to then drink, or they may choose to let the vampire bite them. Regardless of the way, they will take 1d6 piercing/slashing damage (based on how they draw the blood), then 3d6 necrotic damage, and their max HP is reduced by that amount until the end of a long rest
If concerns are raised, the vampire will assure them that a simple bite isn't enough to turn someone. They must be killed with a bite and then buried in the ground to rise as a vampire
If the party is very brazen and choose to attack the vampire, it is the DM's choice whether the vampire straight away flees, or decides to bite a character to take some blood by force to teach them a lesson for their rudeness, then flee

Will-o'-Wisps:

A cluster of 1d6+1 will-o'-wisps appear and start floating around the campsite
Initially the wisps will appear as beautifully coloured, bobbing lantern lights offering hope and safety
Eventually the wisps will surround the party and launch a surprise attack
Alternatively, you can have the wisps attempt to lure the party away from the campsite by somehow beckoning them to follow. From here the wisps will lead the party into some sort of hazardous trap like quicksand pits or monster lairs so they can feed on the suffering of their prey and revel in their death screams
- If you are considering this option, potentially reduce the wisp numbers to only 1d4

If you're interested in the possibility percentages that went into calculating these d100 results, you can see them in this picture here:
Wilderness Encounter Possibility Calculations
If you would like all of the above in a neat PDF format, you can download it here.
Looking forward to hearing people's thoughts!

submitted by DnDBambi to UnearthedArcana [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 05:39 hansington1 [MODPOST] Season 11 Claims Thread or Unveiling the Ice: Mysterious Structure Discovered in Antarctica Amid Global Upheaval

By R. Byrd, CNN
Updated 5:00 p.m. Pst, October 9th 2023
In a world already grappling with unprecedented geopolitical shifts and the escalating effects of global warming, scientists conducting routine satellite surveys of Antarctica have made a startling discovery. A large structure, previously hidden beneath the ice, has been partially uncovered near the South Pole. This discovery has sent ripples through the scientific community and beyond.
The structure, which appears to be of considerable size, has emerged due to the rapid melting of Antarctic ice, a consequence of global warming. The discovery of such a structure in one of the most inhospitable and unexplored places on Earth raises a multitude of questions about its origin, purpose, and implications.
Preliminary investigations into the structure have yielded intriguing results. While it's still early days, some scientists suggest a possible connection to ancient legends and mythologies. This theory, while speculative and based on very preliminary findings, adds an element of mystery and intrigue to the discovery. If there is any truth to this connection, it could potentially rewrite our understanding of history and the Earth itself.
This discovery comes at a time when the world is witnessing significant transformations. From the fragmentation of the United States to the formation of new political entities in Central and South America, and significant developments in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, the world is in a state of flux. The uncovering of this mysterious structure in Antarctica adds another layer of complexity to an already tumultuous period in human history.
As scientists continue to investigate the structure, the world watches with bated breath. The implications of this discovery are potentially far-reaching and could reshape our understanding of the world. As we navigate these uncertain times, one thing is clear: we are witnessing history in the making.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Claim Submission Thread

**OPEN UNTIL Monday 1400 PST (06-12-2023)
2200 PST
0100 EST
1500 GMT

Please refer to the updated Claims List for choices.

Additionally, note the following important information,
Claim Expectations (IMPORTANT)
The following will be some advice, created to help new players and returning-players alike when selecting claims. Due to some expectations, it is imperative that you seriously think about the claims you are interested in and are prepared to showcase a working knowledge of your claim. As always, due to the limited number of desirable claims, it is doubly important that you have a basic idea in relation to your plans and your claim in general.

As always, we encourage you to claim whatever you believe to be the most fun! But please understand that we will be expecting you to showcase some basic info. Furthermore, once claims have been distributed (Friday) - you will be expected to do the following within 7 days.

Requirements of the [CLAIM] Post

For S11 - every player will be expected to submit a claim post after having received your claim via the claim distribution results. This can be done anytime within 7 days of you receiving the results. But will be your first post as you will not be permitted to play until your [CLAIM] has been submitted and approved. The [CLAIM] post can even be submitted before the season officially starts, which will allow you to begin playing immediately when we open the season for play. (This applies to the mods as well). Failure to submit a [CLAIM] within that 7-day period will result in further action being taken by the mods.

You can write your [CLAIM] post in nearly any format so long as it is not a META one. It could be formatted as a News Report, as a "narrative story", or in any way you can think of (nearly).

Within this [CLAIM] post, you must list or otherwise specifically note the following information in order to prove to us that you have a basic understanding of the claim. This goes doubly so for the US Successors which will, like all players, enjoy plenty of freedom in RP.

Information that must be noted in your [CLAIM]
Head of State
Your claim's form of government (Of course this can be expanded or altered at any time once the season starts).
A basic overview of the claim at large and its history between 2022 and 2023.
Further - claimants will be expected to detail the basic economic situation (structure), government structure, etcetera in further detail at some point.

NOTE: Failure to meet these expectations can result in your claim being denied.

It is highly likely, that if you fail to meet the 7-day requirement - your claim and any others like it will be entered into a tertiary phase for claim submission. Meaning it is possible you will have lost your claim.
YOU MUST RENAME YOUR CLAIM.
ALL COUNTRY NAMES ARE TEMPORARY PLACEHOLDERS - CLAIMANTS EXPECTED IF NOT REQUIRED TO CHANGE THEM.

Additionally -
There will be a 2-week grace period once the season starts. During this time, no new wars may be started. This is to allow all players time to figure out their claims/countries and establish themselves (Also do your WIKIs). This will run from Jan1 2024 - Jan 1, 2026

CLAIM SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
In order to have your choices counted, please submit in the following format.
To make it easy for the mods, you are encouraged to please submit in a format roughly akin to below.
Claims List (In priority of first pick to last pick)

Example Country (Put your first pick on this line naturally)

2.
3.
4.
5.
You are not required to have 5 picks, however, it should be noted that your 1st pick should absolutely be your first choice as most times, G8/G20 countries are gone by the time it reaches your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th pick.
This claim phase will be open until Monday - 1400 unless otherwise specified.
Relating the process of claim distribution will be conducted by the mods (myself most likely), and will be via RNG when there is more than one competing player for a claim. Note that this requires the two players to put the claim in question in the same numerical position.

CLAIM LIST FOR REFERENCE (MAP)

AFRICA	Name	Population	GDP (billions)
Central/East Africa	Central African Federation	367,575,704	$448.01
Horn of Africa	Horn of Africa Alliance	185,605,002	$218.11
North Africa	Magrebi Union	214,846,171	$838.98
Southern Africa	Southern African Union	222,212,495	$680.24
West Africa	West Africa Federation	456,283,945	$817.99
ASIA-OCEANIA
Saudi Arabia	Arabian Gulf Union	88,501,892	$2,114
The Caucasus	Caucasian Federation	18,345,996	$121.7
China	People's Republic of China	1,474,368,607	$19,454
India	Republic of India	1,869,509,065	$4,659
Iran	Islamic Republic of Iran	173,779,803	$738.65
Japan	State of Japan	123,719,238	$4,410
The Levant	Jordan-Israeli Federation	25,461,306	$610.29
Korea	Republic of Korea	78,039,165	$1,738
Malay Archipelago	Republic of Nusantara	447,125,011	$2,845
Oceania	Oceanic Federation	33,156,035	$$1,967
Southeast Asia	Southeast Asian Union	199,337,793	$1,068
Taiwan	Taiwan/Republic of China/Chinese Taipei	23,588,613	$790.728
Central Asia	Federation of Turkestan	66,273,018	$362.86
Turkey	Republic of Turkïye	106,527,014	$1,040
Europe
Alps	Alpine Confederation	17,544,613	$1,392
Poland	Baltic Commonwealth	43,672,033	$916.18
Romania	Carpathian Federation	31,246,868	$553.24
Czechoslovakia	Czechoslovak Republic	16,131,561	$458.02
France	Republic of France	72,804,962	$3,215
Germany	Federal Republics of Germany	108,930,853	$5,784
Iberia	Iberian Federation	57,531,231	$1,764
Italy	Mediterranean Union	78,564,631	$2,497
Russia	Russian Federation	151,082,776	$2,289
Scandinavia	United Kingdoms of Scandinavia	27,695,817	$1,860
Ukraine	Republic of Ukraine	43,306,477	$151.10
British Isles	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland	73,823,347	$3,781
Balkans	Federal Republic of Yugoslavia	26,164,676	$367.09
Latin America
Brazil	United States of Brazil	243,163,461	$2,263
Caribbean	Caribbean Federation	27,765,042	$210.62
Central America	Central American Federation	50,594,071	$321
Colombia	Republic of Gran Colombia	129,778,212	$800.548
Argentina	Southern Cone Federation	65,171,304	$958.69
North America
Canada	Dominion of Canada	80,309,224	$4,246
Mexico	United Mexican States	161,477,219	$ TBD
United States	United States of America	87,110,098	$ TBD
Pacific Coast	Pacific States Pact	57,204,168	$ 4,678
Midwest	Heartland Republic	39,852,287	$ 2,097
Dixie	Free States of America	90,458,708	$ 3,788

submitted by hansington1 to worldpowers [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 05:35 Kaviellaa My Dad shot my confidence, how do I work to get it back?

My Dad doesn't seem to like me much, likes to mock my view on the world and I get the impression he thinks I'm stupid and looks down on me. We met up in February and he was going on about how women who go to University and get careers think that they are men, which was a gut punch as I'm a Pharmacy student. I've noticed since then, especially with University, that I consistently don't trust my instinct when it comes to tests/exams and now it's affecting my performance because I think I'm missing something and overthinking but was correct originally.
How do I get to a point where I'm more confident in myself and my abilities?

submitted by Kaviellaa to Advice [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 05:30 blank_7664 I was Misdiagnosed and can't help thinking about it.

It was the fall of 2020. Female, 23, 5'2, weight 113lbs. I felt sick unusually sicks. I felt the weight of my body become heavy. Every step began to take my breath away. I would sleep but would wake up every 30 minutes. And every 30 minutes I would gasp for air.
But before all that. I thought it was just a regular cold and I treated it as a cold. I took medicine. Slept. Went to work and started to work doubles. I thought it was finally my body telling me to take a day off. Two months went by, my "cold" would not leave. My cough got worst. Chills began every night. I still worked because no one could cover. So, my body decided to shut down full. I would wake up to mucus in my eyes and coughing but nothing coming out. I did the typically vicks, sprite or 7 up, night quil, soup diet. Nothing, would change that. One night, I was playing video games with my friends. And they said I did not sound like myself. And I thought I might have gotten a fever. Then in the back of my mind I thought maybe pneumonia. I had pneumonia when I was a 5 years old. I don't remember anything of the feelings of having it. But my mom would tell me to take care of myself because she didn't want to see me get like that ever again. After some convincing, my family forced me to go. But since I woke up around the late afternoon. I went to the ER to get checked. As I was walking from the car to the entrance of the ER. I realized something is wrong with me. I could barely breath and it wasn't this bad two days ago. Why now. My family was walking way ahead of me. I tried to yell at them to wait but hardly anything came out. So, I called. And they saw me struggling. They first thought I was joking but realized I started to wheeze as I tried to catch my breath. Mind you I had no memory of how pneumonia was for me as a child.
My mom went to the front desk talking to the lady, saying I needed to get seen asap. My older sister sat me down. There was so many people there. It felt like a long wait. I got up fast because I felt like I could not breath. Finally. After a 2 hour wait that felt like 5 hours. They called my name, asked why I was there and took my vitals. I told them I am coughing constantly and could hardly breath. They took note of my vitals, pressure and what I said. They escorted me out and told me they will call me when a doctor is ready to see me.
I waited for another hour. Crying because I cannot breath. But it started to hurt to cry. My chest felt like it had a lot of pressure. I looked at the time and started to slowly lose my patience. I heard my name. I got up quickly and rushed to see the doctor. She sat me down. Talked to me and I said I can't breath but i keep coughing. I get chills, i am wheezing and could hardly sleep. I feel pressure on my chest, it really hurts. The pain level is a 9 out 10. The doctor took notes and looked at me. She grabbed the stethoscope and listened. She then told me, "Nothing is wrong, your temperature is normal, nothing out of the ordinary. I'll suggest getting cold medince and drinking water." She pointed at the door and said "go ahead and head to the pharmacy". I looked at my mom and she looked at me, "see nothing". I looked down in embarrassment and started to slowly make my way out. As I was heading out. Another doctor who was in an office in the ER overheard my concerns. She told me to step into her office and she sat me down. She took her stethoscope and made me breath multiple times. She looked at me in disbelief and said, "oh. Honey." And yelled out to get a wheelchair. She escorted me to x-ray to see my lungs. She then had a nurse wait for me and escorted me to her main office. And had me under a device that helps me breath and break apart mucus for 30 minutes. She came into the room telling me that my left lung was filled with fluid and my right was half filled. She then started to give me actual answers and told me I had pneumonia. And that she is suprised I could even breath for so long. I told her how long I was sick for and such. After getting treated by her. I gotten better in the matter of a week and a half. I don't know what happened between that doctor and the one that treated me. But I am very thankful for the doctor who intervened with the diagnosis. She literally saved my life. Who knows what could have happened.
In the future is there anything I could do to avoid something like this? I feel like it was my fault for over reacting about chest pain. I am also scared to be ignored again about my concerns.

submitted by blank_7664 to medical_advice [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 04:58 6371PartyPlayers Almighty Spanish Vice Lords Gang History

#Story 1 - Started in the year 1980 in S. Deering on 104th & Hoxie. Conservative Vice Lords had sets in Trumbull housing projects in that neighborhood. The Svls were at war the GDS and King Cobras. The Svls hung out with CVLs, but the CVLs only wanted African Americans in their gang. Ranked CVLs one day heard, and they opened a Latino Chapter on 104th and Hoxie, and they were known as Spanish Vice Lords.There were a few Svls, but they've made their name being a hardcore gang. Svls were hardcore foes to the GDS and King Cobras from the Trumbull housing projects. In the 80s a gang called the "Wonders" were begotten into existence. They came about and were begotten , after a Simon City Royals set faded out of the neighborhood. The Wonders begotten deeper, and the Latin Kings beget a war with them. The Wonders faded and hung out with Svls. In 1991, the Wonders were Svls, and were given a Chapter on 108th and Mackinaw. 108th and Mackinaw was the spawn of Wolfe Park Svls. Svls were still warring w/ GDS, King Cobras, and were hawking and peddling Loud weed, LSD, or cocaine in Wolfe Park. Svls refused to hawk/ peddle crack cocaine for cash, because they didn't want fiends doing crimes in the neighborhood. In the summer of 1994, the 108th Svls started warring w/ Latin Kings & Latin Dragons in the neighborhood.
There were a lot of shootings w/ the Svls , and the Svls made a name for shootingsStory #2 Spanish Vice Lords : The Latin Chapter of Vice Lords. Svls foes were Slag valley Boyz, GDS, and King Cobras. In 1966, black & Puerto Ricans kicked off an alliance. Svls were said to have spawned in East Garfield Park or Humboldt Park. In 1995, the Svls from Wolfe Park spawned a session for Lady Spanish Vice Lords. The women were brought into the gang the same way as the men. The women fixed their lives and moved on.#2010s- 2020s Through the late 2010s going into the 2020s, Saints of Back of the years wanted more sets. Saints always wanted both sides of 47th and Ashland. La Raza and Latin Souls (BGD Allies) were on 47th Racine- Justine , and Souls took over Paulina Saints from Marshfield to Hermitage 47th/ 50th. In the 40s to mid 50s , there was an Alcohol Mafia for early five points star gangs on 50th and Marshfield. The 1950s Spartans of 49th/ Hermitage , and the 51st street bunch in the 1950s rumbled during the day over the set. Civil rights and race riots led them to vacate their set.The 50th Alcohol Mafia moved to 50th and Artesian/Rockwell . There used to be a tower mill used in the 30s- 40s, but now it is used to build low income, public, and affordable housing.
Back of the yards used to have bloody rumbles were skulls were beaten with bats and chains. The Saints in 1959 started making sets in the neighborhood. After the Saints, there was the Muscadoodlers in 1964 at 49th and Loomis, the Demons at 49th and Racine (1965- 1969). Even back then money talked the loudest , and was heard by those who could be bought in the "justice" system. The Latin Souls moved from 55th and Halsted to the back of the yards in the 1980s. The Latin Souls brought extra special police, and even had shoot-outs w/ the police. Saints and Party Players had enough of the Latin Souls. The Latin Souls had aids in early 80s, and bought down Latinos, blacks, Africans, poor people, women, and police. Spanish Vice Lords took over Latin Souls block.
The Spanish Vice Lords went to the Vice Lords from 56th and Seeley about Latin Souls and BPSN. The Latin Souls were still on 50th/Paulina claiming Latin Stones from Moetown (not Almighty Latin Stones of 82nd/ Kingston/Eckersall Stadium). Their set is from 47th/50th- Ashland/Hermitage and from 50th/54th- Ashland/Hermitage. The Spanish Vice Lords opened in EdgewateUptown on Bryn MawFoster- Broadway/Winthrop. They have opened in little Village on 27th/30th- Troy/Kedzie. The Spanish Vice Lords also share Triple Bz on 79th and Escabnaba with Vice Lords. The Spanish Vice Lords are also in Fresno, California.

submitted by 6371PartyPlayers to AztecSoulsChicago [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 04:53 twitchrdrm I want to move to your beautiful state

Hey there,
I am currently at a point in my life where I'm considering a move to a new city within a drivable distance of a medium to large-sized city. I've been living in the consulting world for the past 10+ years which has taken me from the mid-west to Virginia, and now up in the North East. I could write a book about how sick and tired I am of everything that is the NE and I'm sick and I'm also sick and tired of throwing money away at expensive rent.
I'd love to live near the Triangle but due to the boom and high prices, it doesn't seem possible. This has led me to consider alternatives such as Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Greenville. Of those options which do you think has the brighter future and why? Also, which has a better downtown area w/ good food/festivals/etc.
BTW in case it matters I'm not coming down there to change anything or tell anyone "you gotta do things this way like they do in the North" I'm coming down to hopefully plant roots, eat well, and live well and maybe see the beach and mountains on long weekend trips.

submitted by twitchrdrm to NorthCarolina [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 04:41 ilikecatsandgames 24 [R4R] EST/Anywhere - A compelling list of 20 reasons to date me.

Hey everybody! There are a few different ways you can go about doing something like this and I tossed around a few ideas, but I settled on this. In lieu of an essay describing myself and what I’m looking for, I decided I’d write up a little list with the most compelling reasons I could think of as to why you might wanna date me. But beforehand, let’s talk basics. I’m an AMAB Enby with They/She pronouns, and I’m open to F, TF, or AFAB Enbies. I wish I could’ve included all those options in the title but alas the options are rather limited. Everything else you might wanna know should be included in the list below, but if not, feel free to ask me anything!

You get to be the cute one.
You get to be the funny one.
I have lots of attention and affection to give so you can have pretty much all of it you desire.
We can play games together! I’m primarily on PC these days but also posses a Switch and PS4. 4a. You can also watch me play them if that’s more your speed. 4b. We can also do neither if you’re not at all interested!
We can watch movies or shows together. Lots of movie nights and cuddles! 5a. I’m a particularly big fan of anything horror or psychological so if that’s your thing too then huge bonus points. 5b. I also just love film and the art of cinematography so if you’re ever in the market for being bored out of your head I can talk to you about that stuff.
I took cooking classes so I can hit you up with some delicious meals.
I like caring for people? I dunno, it’s just kinda what I do. It sorta gives my life meaning as silly or cliché that sounds.
I can send you tons of pictures of my cats. No really, I have like thousands.
We can discuss any topic you find interesting because even if I know nothing about it, I love to learn.
I’ve been told by a few sources that I have a nice voice. 10a. I don’t necessarily believe them but your mileage may vary. 10b. But if you do wind up believing it yourself, I can read to you and stuff?
You like books? Let’s talk about books all day long, I was just reading the ASOIF series again but some of my other favorites are the Invincible comics and East of Eden.
I will be your biggest fan and give you lots of support.
I can make us tea whenever you want. Got a cupboard full of the stuff. Personal favorites include Oolong, Lapsang Souchong, and Darjeeling.
My schedule is almost completely flexible. Wanna watch a movie at 2am? Let’s do it. Wanna play a game for 8 hours straight? Sure.
Got tech problems? There’s like an 87% chance that I can at least somewhat help.
I’m running out of reasons but gosh darn it, I never let that stop me before. So. I’m persistent? Is that a plus?
I like to write things sometimes? Usually short spooky stuff but I have been tossing some ideas together for something longer.
Rough day? I’m always around for a distraction and morale boost.
We can talk about music if that’s your thing. I really like Gorillaz, I always go back to them, but have been binging RTJ and Killer Mike lately.
Hmm. I think that’s everything that’s somewhat mildly marketable about me sooo for number 20? I dunno… I’ll bribe you with back rubs?

If any or all of these appeal to you then feel free to shoot me a message! If not, then thanks for reading and I hope you have a lovely day/evening/night! 💜

submitted by ilikecatsandgames to r4r [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 04:40 ilikecatsandgames 24 [NB4A] EST/Anywhere - A compelling list of 20 reasons to date me.

You get to be the cute one.
You get to be the funny one.
I have lots of attention and affection to give so you can have pretty much all of it you desire.
We can play games together! I’m primarily on PC these days but also posses a Switch and PS4. 4a. You can also watch me play them if that’s more your speed. 4b. We can also do neither if you’re not at all interested!
We can watch movies or shows together. Lots of movie nights and cuddles! 5a. I’m a particularly big fan of anything horror or psychological so if that’s your thing too then huge bonus points. 5b. I also just love film and the art of cinematography so if you’re ever in the market for being bored out of your head I can talk to you about that stuff.
I took cooking classes so I can hit you up with some delicious meals.
I like caring for people? I dunno, it’s just kinda what I do. It sorta gives my life meaning as silly or cliché that sounds.
I can send you tons of pictures of my cats. No really, I have like thousands.
We can discuss any topic you find interesting because even if I know nothing about it, I love to learn.
I’ve been told by a few sources that I have a nice voice. 10a. I don’t necessarily believe them but your mileage may vary. 10b. But if you do wind up believing it yourself, I can read to you and stuff?
You like books? Let’s talk about books all day long, I was just reading the ASOIF series again but some of my other favorites are the Invincible comics and East of Eden.
I will be your biggest fan and give you lots of support.
I can make us tea whenever you want. Got a cupboard full of the stuff. Personal favorites include Oolong, Lapsang Souchong, and Darjeeling.
My schedule is almost completely flexible. Wanna watch a movie at 2am? Let’s do it. Wanna play a game for 8 hours straight? Sure.
Got tech problems? There’s like an 87% chance that I can at least somewhat help.
I’m running out of reasons but gosh darn it, I never let that stop me before. So. I’m persistent? Is that a plus?
I like to write things sometimes? Usually short spooky stuff but I have been tossing some ideas together for something longer.
Rough day? I’m always around for a distraction and morale boost.
We can talk about music if that’s your thing. I really like Gorillaz, I always go back to them, but have been binging RTJ and Killer Mike lately.
Hmm. I think that’s everything that’s somewhat mildly marketable about me sooo for number 20? I dunno… I’ll bribe you with back rubs?

If any or all of these appeal to you then feel free to shoot me a message! If not, then thanks for reading and I hope you have a lovely day/evening/night! 💜

submitted by ilikecatsandgames to ForeverAloneDating [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 04:09 UncleCeiling Writing on the Wall, Chapter 16

First Chapter Here
Previous Chapter Here
My other story, Going Native Here
Hey look, a chapter released in a somewhat reasonable timeframe! As always, thank you for reading and let me know what you think!
*****
Faye hadn’t noticed right away that Meechie missed her regular stop. The pair had been standing in relative silence, Faye’s thoughts drifting off to debate whether or not she would go to the next movie night at the Library, and it was several stops before she realized that she hadn’t said goodbye to the Rakiri. It was in a bit of a brain fog that Faye half-turned, figuring she should hurry and say it now before Meechie got too far away, but instead she jerked her head to find the brown-furred woman staring directly at her.
“I am still here,” Meechie said quietly, a small smile causing the fur on her cheeks to bristle.
“You are,” Faye agreed. “I thought I missed seeing you off.”
“I am accompanying you to the library,” the young woman declared. Faye tried not to read too much into vocal cues, especially when she had little-to-no experience with the species in question, but there still seemed to be something nervous in Meechie’s voice. Nervous and pleading.
“I don’t need a bodyguard,” Faye said cautiously. “And I definitely don’t need someone making a decision like that for me.”
That seemed to strike a nerve. Meechie slunk back as if hit, causing some grumbles from the other passengers. The Rakiri took a moment to smooth out the fur on her face with one hand before replying.
“I did not express myself well. I wished to visit a library after work, and as you work at one I thought it would be nice to travel alongside you.” Meechie’s eyes lowered. “I should not have presumed.”
As if on cue, the bus slowed to its next stop and Meechie moved to leave. It would put the furry young woman at a corporate business park near absolutely nothing of interest. Faye shot out a hand and grabbed Meechie by the shoulder. The Rakiri froze mid-step as if turned to stone.
“Don’t!” She tugged gently and Meechie shifted back to Faye’s side. “No need to run off. Sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”
“I…” Meechie seemed to be glancing everywhere except at Faye. “It’s alright?”
God damn was this poor girl shy. “Yes, you can ride to the library with me. I just wish you had mentioned it earlier; we don’t have a lot of time to talk shop now.” Faye considered Meechie again, clothes that looked brand new and not a speck of grease to be seen. “Is that why you got all dressed up?”
Meechie nodded, still keeping her eyes somewhere to the left of Faye’s face. “I normally go straight home, but it wouldn’t do to soil any of the books.”
“The books and I both appreciate it.” That earned Faye a smile, at least. “What are you looking for? I didn’t take you for much of a reader.”
“I like adventure stories,” Meechie replied.
“Hmm…” Faye tapped a fingertip to her lips as she thought. “Historical? Big battles?”
“The fighting isn’t what’s important.” Meechie stopped, eyes drawn to the motion of Faye’s finger, and she self-consciously brought her hands back down to her sides. “It is more about the people the hero meets on his travels.”
His travels?
The pronoun threw Faye for a bit of a loop; she was so used to hearing the feminine form used as the general that it stood out. It only took a moment for her to understand. Faye grinned.
“Romantic stories?” She asked the question in a faux whisper, slightly teasing, and Meechie immediately went wide-eyed. Her freshly-cleaned fur puffed up in what could only be panic. Faye reached over and gave Meechie a couple quick pats on the shoulder before leaning in.
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
—
“...should have what you’re looking for. I’m going to be upstairs at Archives, but the help desk can find what you’re looking for if you get lost. And remember, no judgment.”
Mahnti glanced across the lobby more out of instinct than anything else. Hearing Faye’s voice simply drew his attention, especially considering he didn’t think her shift had started yet. His eyes quickly picked her out as Faye turned away from the entrance and towards the hall that led towards the employee lounge. He also took note of who she had been talking to.
Rakiri weren’t uncommon in University City, but the way this one stood in place, staring at Faye’s back with an unnerving intensity, was setting off alarms all down Mahnti’s rather sizeable spine. He began to make his way on an intercept course towards Faye, trying to imprint the furry girl’s look into his memory just in case. Brand new clothing, still showing the creases of packaging. Not quite the right fit for the woman’s frame, and she moved like she was profoundly uncomfortable in them. Dark brown fur that seemed to puff up as she stared at Faye, then flattened as she noticed Mahnti watching her.
The Senthe flared his hood slightly, emphasizing his size instinctively as he narrowed his eyes. The Rakiri stared at him unblinking for a moment, then turned and wandered off towards the main stacks. It only took another moment for him to catch up to Faye.
“Who was that?”
Faye jerked slightly, then stopped and turned with a small smile decorating her lips. “Good morning to you too.”
“Yeah, yeah, good morning and all that. Was that your bus Rakiri?”
Faye nodded, the smile fading as she picked up on Mahnti’s unease. “Yeah. Why, do you know her?”
“No, nothing like that.” Mahnti sighed. He didn’t want to cause problems, but he also had some serious bad vibes going. “She was just standing there staring at you. It was pretty creepy.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed her doing that a lot. I think it might be a Rakiri thing? Meechie seems to have latched on for whatever reason.” Faye shrugged. “I don’t think she has any friends.”
“I’m not surprised if that’s her way of making them. She seriously looked like she was about to attack you or something.”
“Doesn’t know anybody, trying to figure out how to socialize with people…” Faye shrugged again, adding a lopsided smile. “I can relate. She seems harmless enough, even helped protect me the other day.”
Mahnti slumped a little. “I suppose. I just… be careful, okay? I don’t want to have to frame another dent in a wall.”
He also didn’t want to have to worry about Faye bleeding out in some dark corner somewhere. She could outrun a Shil, but a Rakiri with ill intentions would be a far more dangerous proposition.
“After what happened before, I’m not taking chances.” Faye patted the side of her purse conspiratorially and Mahnti could see the outline of a cylinder. It seemed to be a fair bit larger than the grinshaw spray he carried in a vest pocket, but that could have just been a trick of the bag it was in. Regardless, he felt a little better knowing she had something. It wasn’t until he saw the fear she was tucking down behind her smile that he suddenly realized just how vulnerable Faye must feel.
She was smaller and weaker than a Shil’vati, easy to pick out of a crowd and easier to pick on, and with the way she dressed and styled herself Faye really was priming the pump for trouble. A random attack at her place of work had nearly killed her and, less than a week later, here she was trying to take it in stride. All while knowing that the chance of it happening again was approaching certainty.
“Come on,” Mahnti said quietly. He took one of Faye’s hands and pulled her deeper into the hallway, away from prying eyes and towards the break room. He almost told her that she was safe here, but that was a lie. Nowhere was safe if you stood out, and he knew that better than anyone.
–
Ib’aest Jamia, chronic layabout and day manager at the Jamia Library, hoped he didn’t look too guilty when Faye’s face poked through his office doorway and interrupted the scandal rag he was reading on his pad. He slipped his pad face-down into his desk drawer in a single smooth motion and slapped on his second-best friendly but not flirtatious smile.
“Hey Ibby.” Faye seemed suddenly nervous herself, glancing around the room as if to ensure that it was just him in his office. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Is it work related?” Faye shook her head in the negative. “Then of course! Come on in and shut the door.”
Faye followed his lead, latching the door and stepping gracefully to the chair he indicated on the other side of his desk. It was odd, watching the way she moved. Too graceful for most women he knew, but still nervous. Faye sometimes seemed to approach the world as if everything was made of glass. Or perhaps that she was.
Ibby looked the girl up and down, trying for a “kind older friend” vibe. The Human was dressed simply in one of the outfits she seemed to have a knack for throwing together. He knew he had seen at least some of it before, the tights and the skirt at least, but the overall effect was new to him. She struck such an odd balance, clearly a woman but throwing off such a distractingly masculine vibe. In this one person Ibby had a real empirical example of the strange dichotomy that made Humanity so interesting. That said, there was really only one reason for a young woman to ask to speak to an older man in private. At least, only one he figured Faye would be up for.
“Boy troubles?”
Faye blinked at Ibby, confused for a moment. “Kind of, yeah. I guess you could call it that.”
Ibby ran through the list in his head. Mahnti was the obvious first choice, but the way that pair seemed to be getting along he didn’t think there would be any trouble he’d have to intervene with. Besides, the Senthe had said they weren’t doing the perpendicular poke. At least not yet. Faye also knew Tevor, but Ibby had yet to see anyone aside from Sade who could pull that poor kid out of his shell. Maybe Iora over in Digital Media. Did Faye even know Iora?
“Have you ever been to any fancy dress parties?”
Ibby’s racing mind slammed into a drift, changed gears, and nearly ran headlong into the answer. “You’re going on a date with that reporter!”
“It’s NOT a date. I have gone to great lengths to make that clear to both of us.” Faye’s voice was firm. The girl was apparently a better liar than Ibby thought. “He invited me out to go see a play being performed in English at a fancy theater.” Faye pulled out her pad and showed Ibby a copy of the playbill.
“Ooh, the Icosahedral Garden. That’s a great venue.” Ibby considered. “I assume he’s dragging you out to dinner first?”
“I guess? I didn’t really think that far ahead. I just realized that I have no idea what’s culturally acceptable to wear to an event like this.” Faye blushed prettily. “I don’t want to show up in a ball gown and have it turn out to be more of a spikes and corpse paint thing.”
“I… what?”
“Nevermind. Just making a joke.” Faye shrugged, eyes drooping as her expression soured. “It seems like I make a scene no matter where I go. It would be nice to blend in for a change.”
Fat chance of that, Ibby thought. Still, he could be of some help. “What would you say to another shopping excursion? I wouldn’t mind helping you out.”
Faye nodded, relief washing over her. “I would appreciate that. I have an errand to run tonight and plans for tomorrow, but how about the day after? I’m free all day and that will still give me plenty of time before the show.”
“It’s a…” Don’t say date, you idiot. Poor girl is nervous enough as it is. “..plan. Truth be told, it’ll be nice to show you the sights properly. Most of your new friends seem to be more of the indoor sort.”
Faye snorted back a laugh. “Ain’t that the truth.”
–
…Really?
Faye tilted her head to one side just to give her eyeroll a running start. The sign hanging above the shop door was written in a rounded style made to emulate the shape of English letters despite being Shil’vati script. Through the window she could see an assortment of Human snacks, assorted tchotchkes that somehow made her feel victimized on behalf of every race and culture involved, and an embarrassingly large amount of soft-core pornography.
"Chad Nova’s Human Emporium" was probably the single cringiest store that Faye had ever seen, and she distinctly remembered hanging out at the mall back when you could get jeans with pockets big enough to hold a CD player. It didn’t help that, while Faye was standing in the mall concourse staring at the store, the clerk inside was staring right back. That girl seemed to consider blinking an afterthought.
After a moment to square her shoulders and pat the side pocket on her purse reassuringly, Faye entered the store. It was a riot of mismatched goods, poorly made display swords and replica firearms tucked alongside “authentic” Polynesian nose flutes and decks of playing cards. After accidentally locking eyes with what she was fairly certain was an Abraham Lincoln body pillow, she decided to simply accept that this was what her species boiled down to.
“Can I help you, miss?” The voice was high and cracked around the edges. Faye turned to look at the clerk, a Shil’vati girl barely out of school with a face still lightly dusted with acne. The girl seemed to be about ten seconds from exploding in excitement.
“Actually, yeah. I was wondering if you do special orders.” Faye pulled out her pad and started tapping at the screen. “I brought some sundries when I moved out here and I don't know what I’m going to do when I run out.”
“Moved, like from Earth?” Make it five seconds.
“Yes, and to answer your next question, yes, I’m a Human. Nobody decided to bleach a Helkam or anything like that.”
Four… three… two…
The Shil girl turned away and ran to the back of the store, sliding to a stop in front of a rather tacky looking beaded curtain hanging next to an “Employees Only” sign. She shoved her head through the beads.
“MOOOOOOOOOOM!!! HUMAN!!”
Faye took a moment to collect herself. She glanced around, cataloging the strange array of goods. There were some things that clearly fell into similar themes, like the large snack section or the graphic novels (emphasis on graphic), but much of the place was simply a cacophony of crap. She noticed a stuffed doll of the Statue of Liberty fallen over into a container of brightly colored, thumb-sized plastic crucifixes. All the little Jesuses seemed to be staring in mute, cross-eyed horror at the plushie green giant.
“Oh! It’s you!”
Faye turned away from the plastic Jesusai and saw that the young Shil’vati clerk was now accompanied by another woman. Definitely not old enough to be the clerk’s biological mom, but with how things tended to go with Shil families and how long lifespans could get it wasn’t the most surprising. If the clerk was a Human seventeen, she’d put this new one at twenty three or twenty four.
“Yeah, it’s me,” Faye replied to the stranger with a shrug.
“We saw you on the news, but…” the young woman trailed off, her black and gold eyes focused on the still-fading bruises on Faye’s face.
“Lost a fight,” she said curtly. Anything to move this along. “Some friends of mine recommended this place to get Human snacks, and I figured if you’re getting regular imports you might be able to get me some other stuff.”
“..Ah. Oh! Yes!” The woman blinked, then looked at her daughter. “Can you go grab my order book?” Turning back to Faye, she continued, “What sort of things did you need? We have quite a collection here.”
“You certainly do.” Faye tried to focus on the woman, but her eyes kept getting drawn off to the side. An anime-style wall scroll of a mostly-naked, hugely muscled brown-skinned man was staring at her, and she couldn’t place who it was supposed to be. Bob Sapp maybe?
“Mostly I was thinking about makeup, maybe some comfort food. Stuff you probably don’t stock but I can’t afford to import on my own.”
The young woman nodded, her dark hair bouncing. “I’m sure we can work something out. You’re lucky; most Human stores are part of a chain, but we’re independent. We’re not confined to ordering from just one catalog.”
As if she was just waiting for her cue, the Shil kid arrived and plopped an oversized binder into her mom’s open arms. She placed it on a table and flipped it open with a thump.
It was like someone tried to print the Internet. The woman quickly fingered her way through hard-copy recreations of digital storefronts while Faye groaned inwardly. She liked paper more than most but this just seemed so awkward. An alien luddite.
“My brother-in-law’s cousin-in-law works on Earth at one of those new superconductor factories. They ship a lot of materials here, so I was able to negotiate a good deal to take up their extra mass allotment for cheap.” The woman stopped on a page, then pointed. “Something like this?”
Faye leaned over the book and looked. It was the digital storefront of one of those corner store and pharmacy chains that sells makeup on top of everything else. Not exactly top of the line, but better than the dollar store.
“Perfect.” Faye started noting individual things she’d like and the woman dutifully started marking things down on a scrap of paper. The big items on Faye’s shopping list were more foundation and concealer, but she picked out some blush, lipstick, and eyeliner pencils too; she was leery about trusting Shil makeup in general. It was hard enough to find brands that didn’t make her skin break out into an oily mess without getting alien biochemistry involved.
“We can order whatever you like, but the fewer stores you have to pick from the better. I would hate for our buyer to get pissy because she has to run too many errands on the hot guy planet.” The clerk paused for an eye roll. “Also, keep in mind that these prices aren’t what you’ll pay; there will be an additional convenience fee.”
Faye nodded. “Of course. What are you thinking?”
“Hmm…” The woman looked Faye up and down in a way that suddenly made her feel a lot smaller and more vulnerable. While this stranger wasn’t particularly tall for a Shil, that still made for a five or six inch height difference. “You are pretty cute…”
“Dad said no more cute discounts!” Faye’s attention was drawn to the younger girl, who had been watching the whole exchange from a few steps back. The darkening purple blush on her face matched Faye’s own red one.
“You’re no fun!” The Shil mock glared at her (step?)daughter, then turned back to Faye. “Seriously, though, as long as the mass and volume are small the cost to get this sort of thing here isn’t too bad. Say twenty percent. It'll be more if you want anything big or our buyer has to go to a specialty store, but we can do that too. It will still be a lot cheaper than trying to import anything yourself.”
“Twenty percent isn’t bad.” It was a great deal, honestly. Faye doubted they’d be doing much more than breaking even on her little orders. She closed her eyes for a second, clearing her mind. She could feel the spray canister in her bag, pressing against the inside of her arm. Its presence was reassuring. “Can I add an absolutely no flirting policy to our agreement?”
The woman nodded, suddenly looking abashed. “Sorry, I forgot Human women aren’t normally into other girls. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Whether or not Faye was into girls was irrelevant, but she wasn’t about to get into an argument about it. Instead, she turned a few pages back and forth, adding a few more odds and ends to the list that she hadn’t been able to find in University City. Much of the list consisted of condiments and seasonings that might help make the Shil instant meals Faye had been purchasing a little more palatable.
By the time they were done, Faye had an order totaling a couple hundred credits and a promise that she would have her goods in three to four weeks. Before she left she made a point of stocking up on junk food and picked up a few English-language graphic novels that looked interesting. She rounded out the visit with a couple decks of playing cards. Tomorrow was game night, after all. She should be at least somewhat prepared.
****
Previous Next
This is a fanfic that takes place in the “Between Worlds” universe (aka Sexy Space Babes), created and owned by u/BlueFishcake. No ownership of the settings or core concepts is expressed or implied by myself.
This is for fun. Can’t you just have fun?

submitted by UncleCeiling to Sexyspacebabes [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 04:04 Category_Kooky Switching to Kaiser ( medical)

Hi am about to switch to medical, which will be Kaiser here in the east bay and I’m curious if I will have any issues with getting treated for my adhd, and filling prescriptions?
Also I’m curious if I will still be able to get my scripts filled at cvs. I have a really good relationship with my pharmacist there and I was hoping to stay with them…
I got tested in 2018 by a neuropsychologist in person and I have all the documents to prove it so I’m hoping everything goes smooth sailing when I switch, because I will be out of meds when I join and don’t want to get delayed because they won’t prescribe it..
Does anyone have any experience with this?

submitted by Category_Kooky to ADHD [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 04:00 olivebrownies is this supposed to be a joke?

submitted by olivebrownies to barexam [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 03:57 BelleHades I was about to breathe my worldbuilding project's magic system into our IRL universe when it was cruelly interrupted by the symbol of everything I hate about my life

My recollection of the dream starts at some party, where I enter a bathroom occupied by a dozen guys, and as soon as a girl walks in, they all start sitting on the long counter. They start telling me she's a bad influence because she's a cheater. I didnt mind that so I left the party to get something I thought would help me with her, and ended up on the east coast of Florida, and there's a highway going down all along the coast, ending at a deity's sanctum on the southern tip. The highway to the sanctum is a recurring location in my dreams; the deity is usually a Goddess, sometimes a nature Goddess, sometimes Death herself. I went to the beach next to the highway and found a clear crystal, and I immediately wanted to do some magic, so I headed down to the sanctum. My mom happened to be in the area, so I met with her and told her about the sanctum, since Mom is a witch and I thought she would like it, so we headed down.
For some reason, the highway went through some large rooms hosting a fancy rich people event and dinner, so we went through there discreetly. I ended up disrupting it when I saw to my right a door that I thought also held a dimensional portal and tried to go through the portal, only find out it had been removed during the renovation for the party, and replaced with a garbage chute. I dropped the clear crystal I found into it and tried to retrieve it, but it was in wet sewage so I gave up, and exited back onto the highway to resume the trip to the Sanctum.
In this dream it was the nature goddess' abode, but it was also being visited by other people as if the dream was an online MMO. It was there that mom took it over and revealed she had been cheating on Dad and tried to kill me once I confronted her. When trying to get her to realize common sense turned futile, I evacuated and headed back up the highway heading north at first, but I split to the west following a boarded trail to find another dimensional portal. Eventually the terrain dropped and I realize I'm holding a leash to a small dog, so we ran down the board bridge, but hit a dead end when we saw it had been partially collapsed. We tried to balance on it but the dog fell into the water below and I went in after it to take it to safety. Mom was still looking for me so I teleported out west. (The fate of the dog is unknown). I ended up in another recurring dream location in Wyoming, where a highway turns south in a mountain town to head to Denver. The place was triggering me due to memories of visits in past dreams, and I saw no dimensional portals, but I knew there was one in Los Angeles, so I teleported there.
I ended up in a house somewhere, and there was a door to a basement. Opening it revealed a stairway down to a corridor with spiders and spider webs. The dimensional portal was at the end of it, in front of another door. I realize a couple guys are with me, and when I get to the bottom of the stairs, I see the spiders and realize my shorts were down, so I pulled them back up before a spider could crawl up there. We go through the portal into another universe and open the door, which leads to a furnace room and some stairs headind down. One set going to the right, with 5 steps, and then to the left some split level stairs. We followed them and the next door opened into an office room. A living skeleton was in the left corner on the other end of the room, with a few more guys, next to an archway leading to an arcade room. The living skeleton turned out to be a woman wearing a magic necro mask. It tended to corrupt the wearer with promises of power, so it couldn't be worn for long. Before the girl took it off, she breathed a dark flag into existence for keepsakes. Once she took it off, she reverted to her normal human self. I wanted to wear it next because I wanted to create something for myself.
I put it on, and I transformed into a necroid. At first I wanted to create a "plutonium fusion bomb," a magically enchanted thermonuclear device from my sci fi world building project that can create a star. Then I couldn't truly decide on what I wanted to do, and the people around me kept telling me I needed to take it off soon or it would permanently bind to me and corrupt me. I also kept trying to get comfortable with the gloves the mask made for me. At one point I considered dabbling in necromancy (what the mask was originally meant for by its unknown creators). At last I thought of something I really wanted to do: Come to the IRL universe and breathe a real magic system into our universe. The guys around me immediately disagreed, saying that it would be taken advantage of by the wrong people. I immediately began running out the office/arcade to head back up the stairs to the dimensional portal back to our universe, to breathe my sci fi universe's magic system into our universe, and the people started running after me to rip the mask off my head. I held my hand on my head to prevent them from taking it off, and I had just almost made it to the door when they succeeded.
I screamed "Damn you fcking dream characters!" I mouthed it in real life but it didnt wake me up. I ran after them and jumped over the ledge over the bottom stairs, catching them by surprise and I wrestled the mask away and put it back on. As I ran back up the split level stairs, I decided I had enough of these guys so I breathed a living skeletal marine with an AR-15 to gun down the other people so I could make it back to the IRL universe with the mask to give it the magic system I always wanted. The skeletal marine had fired several rounds and I was about to breathe a second one into existence when my phone began ringing and woke me up.
I am hard of hearing, but had to leave it on cuz I was expecting a call from my life coach but he never came. Instead the call was from my mentally disabled baby brother, a figure in my life who seems to represent everything I hate about my life. Because reasons. I rejected the call, took off my hearing aid, and tried to go back to sleep. But I was too infuriated by the turn of events to fall back asleep so now I'm posting here, mainly to vent.
Naturally it wouldnt have made our IRL universe magical IRL, but that would have been a great feeling/placebo to wake up to. But this turn of events only serves to reinforce my utter hopelessness ive developed lately. Which is funny, i guess, since feeling hopeless about reality and how shitty all my dreams have become the past few decades was on my mind when I fell asleep.
While succeeding in my crusade in my dream may have waken me up feeling hope and feeling good about it, I have been thinking lately that hope only serves to prolong suffering. Like that one scene from that one movie, where the guy says "Dont do that. Dont give me hope."
Sorry for rambling lol

submitted by BelleHades to Dreams [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 03:55 Ralts_Bloodthorne First Contact - Chapter 964 - The Shadows of Twilight

[first] [prev] [next] - [wiki]
When you sup with the Devil, it is best to bring a long spoon. Bill "Shaky" Spearman, Terran Age of Expansion philosopher and movie producer
We are each our own Devil, and we each make the world our own Hell. - Oscar Wildman, Age of Expansion Bongistan Warlord
She comes with either thunder and brimstone, or silence and sweetness. Either way, it is always best to remember that she is the Detainee, and bound for a reason. - Tal.re'k, Trena'ad philosopher.
The Detainee is at her most dangerous when you feel you are beyond her power. - Da'amn'dmo'o, Lanaktallan Philosopher, before his disappearance from a locked room.
Nakteti set down the multitool and sat down, wiping her forehead. Her fur was matted with sweat, working out in the shadeless sun. There were no clouds in the sky to keep the anomaly from beating down on her, the strange radiations emitted by the anomaly converted into standard sunlight by some kind of field generated by the innermost layer of the SUDS.
They were almost done.
One more separation, and the intertwined timelines, slices of the past wedged against the present, would be undone. The SUDS would return to operating at a single temporal point.
Then the work to put back together the shielding around the anomaly could begin.
Nakteti looked at the buildings around her. All of them had a slight second image, like a light case of double-vision after too many narcobrews.
A far cry different from the multiple overlapping versions.
Storm clouds began to form over her as the temperature plummeted. Nakteti looked up to see the clouds spiraling out from a central point that was a dark mass in the sky. She reached up and touched her temple, putting two fingers on her datalink and opening a channel to her ship.
"Chuck, I've got storm clouds. I don't remember the weather generator scheduling any rainfall for today," Nakteti said.
There was no answer.
"Chuck, are you there?" Nakteti asked.
No answer. No hissing of 'dead air' where the implant added the hissing noise to let someone know the system was working, there just wasn't anyone there. It was dead silence.
"Nakteti to Surscee, can you hear me?" she asked.
Dead air.
"Nakteti to Magnus, do you read?" Nakteti asked.
Still nothing.
She pushed up the power and tried again.
And got nothing.
She stood up, squinting at the clouds. Wind was picking up, heavy with the smell of rain, and drops were starting to patter on the asphalt of the parking lot the last of the temporal disruptors were being set up.
"Anyone at all, can anyone read me on this channel?" she asked.
Dead air.
Before she could say anything else a hand dropped onto her shoulder and a voice spoke.
"Being alone is bitch, isn't it?"
She shrieked in fear, throwing herself forward into a roll, landing on her catching hands before kicking off, her gripping hands pulling her daggers from her belt. She came up smoothly, turning in place, to stare at who had touched her.
The Lady Lord of Hell stood next to the disruptor, lighting a cigarette with a steel cased lighter.
"You look like a fool," the Lady Lord of Hell said through the exhalation of smoke, tucking away the lighter and pack in one breast pocket on her dark blouse. She reached out and put one hand on the temporal disruptor even as she took another drag and removed the cigarette from her mouth, exhaling smoke.
Nakteti heaved a deep breath, slowly sheathing her daggers. Her muscles were twitching, thrumming, as fear chemicals raced through her bloodstream.
The Detainee was wearing her typical dark charcoal gray skirt and blouse ensemble, belted at the waist with a black belt, cufflinks with an odd rune on them, the flag lapel pin, and the red flower at her throat. Black boots with silver buckles that vanished under the ankle-length skirt. Her fingernails were manicured and enameled with blood red coloration.
"What do you want?" Nakteti asked, knowing her voice was hard and harsh due to the fear. She pushed the urge to submit down and away, clenching her teeth.
"You," the Matron of Hell said simply. She exhaled smoke again, even though she had not taken a drag, only her gunmetal gray eyes visible in the faint suggestion of a face through the smoke. Lightning flashed, reflecting off the smoke.
"I will not let you take me," Nakteti said.
The Lady Lord of Hell shrugged, stepping through the smoke as thunder rumbled.
For a moment, there was a perfectly shaped hole in the smoke left behind by her passage.
"Take?" the Matron of Hell asked. She gave a low, sultry chuckle. "I did not come to take."
She took a drag off her cigarette, stopping just out of knife reach of Nakteti, looking down at the Tnvaru female.
"I need a Hell Guide," she said softly. "You'd make an outstanding one."
"A what?" Nakteti asked.
"A Lord of Hell, a Hell Guide, to find lost souls and bring them to me," the Matron of Hell said. "It would be you who would seek out the paths that have been lost or forgotten, gather the souls, and bring them back to me."
"Why would I do that?" Nakteti asked.
The Matron of Hell smiled, a mouth full of interlocked triangular teeth. "There are many reasons. After all, you have come to the end of your travels. The end of your journey. Serve me, and you can continue on exploring, blazing trails, and traveling," she smiled.
Nakteti frowned as the thunder boomed, closer now than before.
"Already your loyal crew have agreed to serve me, leaving you alone, Nakteti," the Lady Lord of Hell said. "Magnus and Surscee with just the temptation of sweet fruit, Chuck with the agreement to give him full rein over himself and freedom from enslavement of the biological," she said. Her smile got wider and wisps of smoke eeked from between her teeth. "You stand alone, now, Nakteti. With none to save you."
She turned and began walking in a circle around Nakteti, who turned to keep the Matron of Hell in sight.
"Magnus and Surscee abandoned you. Chuck has fled from your bondage. Even Major Carnight is beyond you. You are as alone now, even more so, than when Enraged Phillip saved your motley crew and badly damaged vessel by interposing himself between you and your natural predator," the Matron of Hell said.
"No, they would not abandon me. They swore oaths of blood and loyalty to me," Nakteti said.
The Lady Lord of Hell snorted. "To a xeno," she chuckled as the lightning flashed again, closer, from horizon to horizon. "To an alien. An oath to an alien."
"You have nothing to offer," Nakteti said. "Nothing that would convince them to break their oaths, their friendship, their loyalty." The last was said through the rumble of thunder.
The Lady Lord of Hell smiled wider. "In a time where their people are riven and essentially extinct, you think that an oath to an alien, a strange creature who is so inhuman that you have too many arms, holds more weight than the word of she who cares for the souls of the departed?"
"No, they would never break their oaths," she said. Lightning flashed, lighting everything up, so close that Nakteti felt her fur raise up.
The Detainee's face was still slightly shadowed.
The Lady Lord of Hell smiled wider as thunder rumbled around them. "I told them that you released them from their oaths. That you were done with them. They had served their purpose and you no longer needed them," she said. Lightning struck the ground around them, dozens, hundreds of bolts, scattered as far as Nakteti could see. The world turned bluish white for a moment.
Nakteti shook her head. "No, they would not believe you. You are the Detainee, the Lady Lord of Hell, the Matron of the Damned, lies slip from your lips as easy as breath to a baby," she said.
"If you think so," the Detainee chuckled, her voice almost lost in the bone-shaking crack of thunder that went on and on.
She stopped, holding out a hand, as the thunder faded.
An ice cube was in her hand, a tiny figure of a Terran inside. Lightning miles away glimmered on the surface of the ice.
"Of course, there is Major Carnight. Their uncle. Beloved brother to their mother," the Matron of the Damned smiled. "Leave them behind, be my Hell Guide, and I will restore him."
Nakteti shook her head as the thunder rumbled, shaking her bones. "No. He was my friend, my first human friend, and he would not have me make a deal with one such as you."
She closed her hand and steam burst from between her fingers with tiny screams.
"I can restore him. There are things beyond your knowledge, your understanding, that keep him frozen on ice. No true love's kiss will save him. No dragon's breath. By denying me, your quest to save him fails, Traveler. Swear allegiance to me, and I will restore him, restore the Twin's beloved uncle, and return to you your first human friend," the Detainee said. She exhaled smoke, the gunmetal gray eyes staring at Nakteti through the smoke.
Nakteti shook her head. "No. I gave my oaths to them as surely as they gave them to me. Major Carnight is in my care, and I have sworn to protect him. I will not break my oaths, my bond, my word," Nakteti said.
The Detainee moved over to the disruptor and put her hand on it.
"All your effort will come to naught by your stubborn refusal to serve me, Traveler," the Matron of the Damned said, smiling that shark tooth smile again. "Swear to serve me," the last was said in iron hard tones.
"No," Nakteti said. Lightning flashed around them. Something in the distance exploded, sending up mile high trails of sparks.
"They have abandoned you. Serve me, join them," the Lady Lord of Hell said, her voice mixed with the thunder.
"No." Again, lightning flashed.
"Serve me, Traveler, save your first human friend," the Detainee stated, her voice cold as space as the lightning ripped and tore around them.
"No." Lightning hit so close that Nakteti's fur stood up and her fingertips went numb.
"Thrice asked, thrice denied," the Detainee said through the world-ending crash of thunder
She looked at the disruptor for a long moment. She pinched the top with two fingers, moving it over only a few feet before setting it down.
"So be it," she said. She looked off to the West, where lightning was raking the ground from the storm, then slowly to the east, her eyes narrowed, her mouth tight.
Her face hardened and she looked at the charge she had shifted.
Lightning began to arc from the sky and Nakteti realized with horror it was going to hit the disruptostabilization charge.
The Lady Lord of Hell touched the top and the charge fired off.
Through the howling of chronotrons, Nakteti heard the Detainee's voice even as the Matron of the Damned vanished as the lightning struck, missing the charge, the Detainee, and Nakteti.
"You'd have made an outstanding Hell Guide."
The explosion of the electricity superheating the air knocked Nakteti through the air and she hit the ground in a heap.
Darkness claimed her.
-----
"Easy now, milady," Magnus's voice was gentle. "You've got some burns. I gave you med injection, but your fur's a loss."
Nakteti's eyes fluttered and she opened them, looking up at the Terran, who was staring down at her.
"What happened?" Nakteti asked. She could feel the tingling burning of medical nanites at work, could smell burnt fur, and her right arms were numb.
"There was a slight radiation surge from the anomaly," Surscee said, from just beyond her sight. "Without the great panels, the SUDS tried to protect the surface with sudden storms, tried to discharge the energy as lightning by striking it into the superconductor grid built into the middle of the layer. Lightning hit our carefully planned setup, overcharging the system."
Nakteti sat up, wiping her mouth. Magnus helped her with careful hands.
Chuck was standing by the deployed disruptostabilizer.
"It's a good thing you adjusted for the slight elevation change," the Digital Sentience said. "If you had put it in the original position, the disruption would have failed and caused a cascade instead."
Nakteti slowly got to her feet, accepting Magnus's offer of a wineskin. The water inside tasted of limes and helped clear the strange taste of berries and tinfoil from her mouth.
"It wasn't me," Nakteti said. She looked around. "The Detainee came to me, told me each of you had sworn to serve her. Right before she left, she moved the charge and fired it."
Chuck frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure," Nakteti said softly. She drew her sword slowly, grounding the tip and leaning against it.
Her legs were getting pins and needles as feeling came back.
"What's our status?" Nakteti asked.
"The layers are separating. The anomaly's gone back to normal," Chuck said. He pointed at the buildings at the bottom of the space elevator. "The mat-trans station came online. It goes to the primary control room."
"Hopefully we'll find the repair crew there," Nakteti said. She was breathing heavy. "Give me a minute to catch my breath and we'll head out."
Chuck nodded.
Nakteti looked at the other three. "I knew she was lying. None of you would break your oaths," she said. "We have come too far together. All of you value your own honor and your oaths too much to break them at the behest of the Devil."
All three nodded.
Nakteti looked at Chuck, straightening up. She slowly sheathed her blade.
"Where is the primary control room?" she asked.
Surscee smiled.
"Atlantis."
[first] [prev] [next] - [wiki]

submitted by Ralts_Bloodthorne to HFY [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 03:53 freshcarrotmuffins Help - leaving the field.

I know this post has come up in this thread several times at this point, so what's one more? I am ready to leave the field of dietetics permanently. The problem? I don't know how to pivot. I (26 F) graduated with a combined MS/internship in 2021. After desperately trying to find a clinical job (difficult in my area, and none were permanent roles), I managed to land a pharmaceutical sales role with a reputable company. I've been with this company now for 2 years and the reality is that I am exhausted. The stress, anxiety, constant travel, and constant work is too much for me to handle long term. And imho - I'm not getting paid nearly enough to do what I am doing. Having an RD was an asset to getting into this role, but I am finding it difficult to pivot into other sales companies because my background is so niche and not really specialized in pharmacy or medicine. In addition - I wouldn't want to pivot into another sales role, but perhaps another role within another pharma company, but again, I feel I don't have the background and education for it. I have contemplated relocation to get into a clinical position as an RD - but the cost of living if I relocate to where the jobs are is a huge issue. Because the wage (especially in Canada) does not compete with inflation and cost of living in most places. So honestly, I feel stuck. I have contemplated going back to school for an accelerated RN program (19 months), but don't want to lose time out of the workforce. Clinical has always appealed to me, but realistically, I want a job that is STABLE, pays decently, and allows me to make some sort of an impact. Is there anything I can switch into that wouldn't require me to go back to school completely? Explore an MBA or something? What other careers can you get into?

submitted by freshcarrotmuffins to dietetics [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 03:50 Time-East3793 Refrigerated PIO

I ordered a refill of PIO to be delivered today. I was at work and asked my husband to bring it inside… he then went an extra step and put it in the fridge!😫 I got home from work super later, making us late for a family dinner. I didn’t think to ask where the ups box was until later tonight. At this point the PIO has been in the fridge for 9 hours. The package says to keep it 66-78. I’ll be calling my clinic first thing, but would it be considered compromised?
The pharmacy I have to go through for my insurance is closed on the weekends and they will normally make me wait 15 days to order another refill. I’m already so anxious and I’m trying not to freak out, but my anxiety does not need this!!

submitted by Time-East3793 to IVF [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 03:44 yardsaleyolo Class action lawsuit over DIR?

90+ year old family owned pharmacy run exceptionally well by my mother. Filling over 11,000 prescriptions a month and still growing (up 10% YTD). They are being absolutely bent over by PBM DIR fees. The town relies on this business and it’s literally becoming worthless in front of our eyes. Some of the growth this year is coming from the fact that there was a walkout of staff at the local CVS over a terrible work environment.
I have my own successful business in a different city but I’ve been getting involved to try and right the ship. This is a fight for survival right now. Mom stopped paying herself a few months ago and is doing everything she can to keep the business afloat. Implementing strategies to hold less inventory, start telling customers they are “unable to fill”, and whatever they can to help raise cash. This isn’t a question of squandering a business away.. this is theft.
Seriously… WTF!?!?

submitted by yardsaleyolo to pharmacy [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 03:31 mountaineer_93 The Purpose of D (1085 Spoilers)

TLDR: I think the initial D was a way for allies and inheritors of the will of Joyboy and the Ancient Kingdom who lived in World Government controlled areas to secretly signal their allegiance to each other across generations by passing it down in their families to one day join the bringing of the Dawn, functioning like the Crescent Moon tattoo did in Wano as part of a larger effort to pass on the will across generations using oral legends, D, and the poneglyphs.
To cut to the point, I believe the true purpose of the initial D is to be a way for the inheritors of the will of Joyboy living in World Government controlled nations to signal to each other in secret that they are ready to fight when the dawn comes, much like the Crescent Moon tattoo in Wano except this is generational. Now to get it out of the way, I don’t think D is an actual family, I think it is an assumed mark of the ideological inheritors of the will of the Ancient Kingdom/Joyboy. Those that will bring the Dawn. Further more, I assume for the purposes of this theory that every country with a poneglyph was a nation allied with Joyboy at the end of the Void Century on the logic that this is the reason they were entrusted with them. All except Alabasta, which I believe is because Lily and Alabasta initially sided with Imu for the good of her people and regretted it and harbored a Poneglyph to atone. With that out of the way:
This theory started because I have always found something about Jaguar D. Saul very odd, Oda going out of his way to say he was from the South Blue and not Elbaf. It can be written off as world building but it just seemed so odd that this would be relevant. Much like Sanji in Jaya saying he was from the North Blue, Oda will occasionally seed details like this long before they become relevant. It got me curious about why none of the Ds we know of came from nations we know were affiliated with Joyboy such as Fishman Island, Zou, or Wano. Or why we have only seen one non human carry the moniker? I believe this is because these groups did not need to hide their allegiance for the Ancient Kingdom because they were not under World Government control until long after the meaning of D and the history was forgotten, if ever. Saul is the puzzling exception as the only non human we have seen carrying the moniker. So what is different between him and every other member of non-human race we have met? He was from one of the four blues and likely an area under World Government control as the four seas are.
Let’s look at the known countries or areas of origin for all of the known Ds: -Trafalgar Law: Flevens North Blue -Jaguar D Saul: South Blue -The Monkey Family: Goa Kingdom East Blue -Gol D. Roger: Loguetown East Blue -Portgas D. Ace: Baterilla South Blue (presumably Rouge as well) -Nefertari Clan: Alabasta, Grand Line Paradise -Unknown: Marshall D. Teach: Grand Line but unclear where, Rocks D. Xebec unknown
All of these Ds with confirmed places of origin are from World Government affiliated nations or regions controlled by the Navy such as the Blues, nations that will snuff you out for talking about the Void Century. This is a strong incentive to keep any allegiance hidden.
So what does this add up to? I believe that the poneglyphs, D, Binks Sake, the legends of One Piece, and legends of Nika (also the All Blue legend, but that’s a whole different theory) are all part of a concerted effort by the allies of the Ancient Kingdom to keep Joyboys will alive after the defeat of the Ancient Kingdom and his death by seeding it into the culture, something the Government cannot truly control. Oral story telling, whether within families or within pirate crews or within song, are things that cannot be truly snuffed out. The doomed Ancient Kingdom knew that the World Government will do everything in its power to erase that history and did everything they could to make sure this couldn’t happen. This is because both sides of the ancient struggle knew exactly how strong the power of inherited will is in this universe, it doesn’t matter if their names are forgotten if their will is carried on because one day someone can pick it up and carry it out. This is a generational effort, the D and its meaning would be passed along within a family, and it did until it wasn’t and that chain was broken by any number of factors. Along with doing this they left the poneglyphs as a concrete road map to carry out this will. I believe D is the way for those who are carrying on this will while living in countries controlled by the enemy to show each other they still carry the light of revolution and are ready to fight for it. Although this meaning was long ago forgotten even by the Ds this ideology is shown by the checkered and independent lives the modern Ds live.
Edited for a TLDR

submitted by mountaineer_93 to OnePiece [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 03:00 sharewithme Word of The Hour: north

English: north

the direction opposite to the south
specifically: that part of the united states lying north of mason and dixon's line. see under line
that one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at any place, which lies in the direction of the true meridian, and to the left hand of a person facing the east

––––––––––––
Translations

Catalan: del nord
Esperanto: nordo
French: nord
Galician: do norte
German: der Norden
Italian: nord
Japanese: 北 / きた
Portuguese: norte
Romanian: nord
Spanish: el norte
Swedish: nord

––––––––––––
Join our new subreddit for language learners @ /LearnANewLanguage

submitted by sharewithme to Word_of_The_Hour [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 02:48 cishet_isomer The Girl Next Door

I never met you, but it feels like you probably had it together sooner than I did.
I was a lost thirteen year old, begging my parents to please understand that this is not just something I read on the internet.
I had no proof. You had it all, I’m sure.
Even as I write this I know so little about you. Perhaps I will use this as an opportunity to assume - you can fulfil the role of the person I think you might be, and I know I will get it wrong, but then I get to make my point, and you get to be a transgender celebrity, and we both walk away happy. There are others like you and I know what they are like well enough, I suppose.
Hormone blockers at ten, huh? Wow. Back then I was still trying to convince my parents I needed an iPod, and crushing on that girl I met over the summer holidays. It’s tempting to say you must have just been in the right place at the right time, with the right parents. But we all know those who go first, who push things forward like you did, often sit at the extremes. Did you transition in primary school? Were you playing with barbies, as they put it, from the day you learned to ask for them? I guess I could find all this out, I could listen to how you explain it, but it’s more fun putting the pieces together working backwards.
You were my age, you lived a short drive away from me, I might have even walked past you on the street sometime long ago. I feel connected to you now because of what emerged, but we never met, and we probably never will. You represent a me I could never have been, but also a me I was so close to having been. You represent the invisible, impossible girl who was living just down the road when I was told that nobody else felt like this. In another life, we could have gone through it together. If my parents had lived a bit further west or yours a bit further east, maybe we would have gone to the same school.
I don’t mean to say you had it easy at all. I can only imagine the torment, the anguish, the sheer desperation. Nobody understood back then, and it wasn’t even that long ago. How many therapist appointments, counselling sessions, and doctor’s offices did you attend instead of eighth grade English class? How many psychiatrists with a thousand pages of DSM-5 on their desks did you see instead of going to sleepovers with your friends? It must have been hell.
But then again, the alternative must have been worse, or you wouldn’t have done it.
Do I feel luckier than you, that I avoided all this? Maybe. We both had heavy crosses to bear, there were no winners here. My situation feels more complex, and that’s not just because I know it better. To transition a decade ago, especially as a teenager, you had to have a clear story and my alibis didn’t line up. Do you like boys or girls? Did you play with dolls or legos? Red pen, tick mark in the “no” box, next patient please, this one’s a fake.
I lied - I might have done a bit of research, and unlike mine, your story checks out. What two-year-old boy, for lack of a better word, says they want a vagina? A boy on track to being the first girl in the country to get on blockers, that’s who. It’s kind of hilarious, in a dark sort of way, to think that that might have been the first full sentence out of your mouth. I can’t compete with that! I was busy learning the alphabet!
Only now is that story changing. In meeting dozens upon dozens of trans people, many of whom didn’t transition until their twenties, thirties and beyond, one thing is clear: the kind of trans person you were and are, very much exists. But, it’s a tiny minority of the realm of possibility, to the point where I have yet to meet anyone else who figured it out enough to put into words before the age of twelve. It’s a huge tragedy that until very recently, there was only one kind of story that was accepted, and it was yours. Do I resent you for the fact that your story happened to be the right one? Of course not. But maybe I’m a little jealous. Just maybe.
I think back to all the possible times in my life I could have transitioned, and I return, dejected, to the admission that twenty-two was the earliest that really made sense. Sure, if I knew what I know now, I’d go back to high school and do it over the right way, unswayed by the opinions of those older than me, but that wasn’t the question. The subtlety of my journey, my gender identity, my end goal and the path to get there, was too much for my thirteen year old self to bear. It was there enough that she could see some glimmering flicker of it, just enough to catch the light, but not enough to grapple with, wrangle into something that made sense, and integrate into her life. So she let it go, adrift in the wind, and trusted it to come back when the time was right.
Had you been assigned female, you would have been just the same as any other girl. Part of this feels like the allure of the highly palatable trans woman to society in the first place: hey look at her! She’s just like any other girl, and she’s cute too, but you’ll never guess that she was born a boy! You might not have had your own Wikipedia page in this world, and who knows if your acting career would have taken off. But maybe that’s a worthwhile price to pay to be invisible.
Had I been assigned female? Well, I can point to a probable early life of confusion, tomboyishness, not-quite-fitting-in-with-the-girls but not-quite-fitting-in-with-the-boys-either, and a long and winding journey to a bisexual identity years later. So not really that different to current me, if I’m honest. At least being gender non-conforming might have been more acceptable, though I’m not saying it would have been easy. Being friends with girls without having it constantly questioned would have been nice though.
I often joke that if I were AFAB, I would have ended up non-binary by now. For someone who understands their gender identity to be fairly binary female, this is a somewhat tongue in cheek thing to say, but I do think it’s genuinely quite possibly true. I definitely feel more connected to femininity than its opposite - but that’s not to say I can’t see the masculine in my inner self sometimes. Perhaps I have a new identity crisis coming, who knows.
Being raised male, doing all I could to embrace the cards I was dealt, and then finally making the decision with eyes wide open to reject it all, feels incredibly empowering. It feels like I’ve unlocked a key to a world that fits me so much better. Every step of the way has felt correct, and I have few doubts that this is who I am. But I know that there are things about the way society raises women that I would have brushed up against in unhappy ways if things were different.
If I were born female, would I have been as academic as I was? Probably. Would I have gone into technology like I did? Less likely, but still possible. Would I have had the opportunities I did? Many yes, but some of them, almost certainly not. I don’t think I would have been pushed into STEM as hard as I was, or had the same drive I did to excel in it. Maybe, maybe not, who knows? My cousin was dealt the girl card and it didn’t stop her.
I know that I could not have transitioned at the age of eight like you did, because I did not know myself like you did; I was too busy learning to skateboard and play Mario. I could not have got on blockers at ten like you did, because I was busy camping with Cub Scouts, not fighting a court case to overturn medical laws. I could not have started estrogen at fifteen, because the doctors had already told me I wasn’t real, and I didn’t know enough to not believe them, and besides: if my hobbies are skateboarding, Mario and camping, why not just be a boy anyway?
I meet eighteen year olds beginning their transition today, and I’m overwhelmed with pride that we’ve come this far, shame that we took so long, and perhaps a tinge of envy. The court cases you attended when you should have been at primary school play a part in this, and there are thousands of teenagers who have benefitted from you being who you are. But then I remember that no, I could not have transitioned at eighteen either, because I was living with my parents who had already made their stance on the issue clear. I now know what it would end up taking to crack their shell, to have them on my side, because I have since done it - I can confidently say that at eighteen, I didn’t have it in me. I barely had it in me after I’d moved out, with a job and a loving partner, let alone when I was depending on them to drive me everywhere. The shift in tone has been incredible, but it took time for them to understand. My mother’s refrain now is that she failed in raising her trans child but succeeded in raising an adult who knew herself well enough to go against her parents. I like the irony, I think it’s beautiful and it tells a good story, but it’s tragic at the same time.
Looking back is only helpful up until a point. After a certain amount of reflection, we have to let go of the past and look towards the future. I’m grateful to my past self, because she did the best that she did with what she had. Past me could not have transitioned, but now here I am, educated, well fed, well paid, fit, healthy, surrounded by friends, in a wonderful relationship with a woman I love, and living in the right place at the right time. I am sure that I will look back in a few years with immense gratitude that I was able to transition when I did, that I was able to spend some of the best years of my life being myself. And in the scheme of things, I’m young - I can only imagine my thirty-year-old self writing this exact piece, the growing-up-next-to-me factor notwithstanding, about Julie Vu who transitioned at nineteen, or forty-year-old me writing it about Jamie Clayton who transitioned at twenty-five. I have to remind myself that both are beautiful, both are living the life they once only dreamed of, and I’m incredibly lucky to be born in a time where I can do this now rather than waiting even longer for society to catch up.
Of course I wonder about what could have been, and some unhealthy part of my brain curdles when I hear your voice, completely untouched by the testosterone that left marks on the rest of us. I may have survivor’s guilt of my own, but yours must be immense. I’m not mad at you any more than I’m mad at cis women for existing - part of me is just mad at myself for not having the fortitude to follow through, and you are living proof that I was not too young after all, that I failed. But at the end of the day, I feel that if I did transition when you did, I might have had to have been someone else.

submitted by cishet_isomer to u/cishet_isomer [link] [comments]

2023.06.10 02:39 foragingfun How much of a risk is it to use recently expired testosterone enanthate?

This is obviously not my first choice, and I'm wondering if I should skip my injection altogether this week.
I started testosterone for the first time in a new state, and they began prescribing the enanthate for my injections (I'm allergic to cypionate), and they told me that it has a half life of 28 days, and that I'm going to have to waste the leftover testosterone since it will be expired after my last injection of the month with it. Well, I called the pharmacy a week ago (I'm based in the US), asking if they'll have my prescription ready by Friday. They said that I don't have any refills on it, and I'll have to call my doctor. Okay. I call the doctor. They said, wait, you have two refills on it, but we'll contact the pharmacy, and see about working it out. Great. I call the pharmacy the next day (I've been calling every day this week, by the way), and they said sorry, the doctor never contacted us, and we still don't have any refills for you. By this point it was too late to call the doctor, so I put in a refill request on my patient app. I call again the next day... I think you get the picture. So as it stands, I have been hearing the same thing all week- we don't have your refills in the system, the doctor hasn't contacted us, call the doctor and they say okay, we'll contact them, etc.
Today is supposed to be my injection day. My doctor said she wants me to be as punctual as possible with my injections. I have no idea when whatever is going on between my doctor's office and the pharmacy will be worked out, so I have no idea when I will be getting a refill of my testosterone.
As I mentioned, I'm on testosterone enanthate. My last injection was a week ago, and it expired two days after my last injection. How much of a risk would it be to just use the expired medication for my injection? Should I just skip it entirely, and wait until they finally fill my prescription, which I have no idea when that will be considering I've been trying my damnedest to get it filled literally all week?
This is just really disappointing for me. Before I moved here, my old insurance stopped covering as much of the t as they were, and I couldn't afford it anymore, so I was off it for a while, and a lot of the changes I liked disappeared, and I REALLY don't want to go through that again for the sake of my mental and physical health. The possibility of having to stop again, for whatever amount of time, really just bothers the fuck out of me. Any of y'all experienced this? Is there anything else I can do, should I just switch pharmacies or something?

submitted by foragingfun to ftm [link] [comments]