Hello! I really need to stop asking for advice on this subreddit. Seriously, I've been doing good, but I genuinely would like some advice. I've been working on ERP and such, and today I did an exercise and there was a part of me that felt relieved? I'm not sure, but I felt relieved that it feels like I got it off my chest in a sense? Today, I tried spending time with my girlfriend but I just felt so annoyed by her and such, and now im just starting to worry that I'm losing interest. I'm not trying to reassurance seek but I keep giving into my compulsive actions by accident to try and find some sense of self. It's hard to even say that I don't know if it's ROCD anymore or not. I really do care for my girlfriend, my 1 year anniversary is tomorrow!!! But I feel like I should be excited. Yet I'm not. I'm just meh about it, but I do want to spend time with my girlfriend and I do miss her every once in a while. But I'm worried, have I lost feelings for this woman I once cared about so much? Even talking about this makes me so anxious, but so scary. I've been struggling with OCD for about a year now, and I don't know if it's genuinely OCD or not because I don't get anxious over intrusive thoughts like I used to anymore. Maybe I'm used to it, but I'm worried. There's a part of me that just wants to give up... but there's a part of me that wants to keep fighting and loving her. It's getting harder and harder to tell myself I want to love her and that I love her. Maybe because in a sense it was reassurance and now that mild reassurance wore off. I feel anxious but don't know if I am, I doubt I am but at the same time I do feel anxious. It's hard to tell... I'm not as happy as I used to be, because of my OCD I've become depressed and not as happy. I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend but I find myself getting annoyed at her or not wanting to spend as much time anymore with her. I don't even know if that's normal or not but I kind of stress out about it still. I seriously don't even know if I even have ROCD anymore or not. I still very much care for this woman, and don't want to move on from her at all because I'm scared. I'm scared in a sense of not loving her anymore. I don't want to stop loving her. But it feels like I have, but 2 days ago I loved her just fine. It's starting to stress me the fuck out. Everything feels so off and I keep getting told so many things by so many people it's starting to give me an overload. ERP is working, I'm just worried it's making me realize things that I was hoping wouldn't become true (to anyone doing ERP continue doing it please, it genuinely helps a lot, seriously. I'm just having a moment and that doesn't mean my experience should stop you from doing ERP.) there's a part of me that feels like I want to let go, but there's the other part of me that doesn't want to, like I want to continue holding on because I really do love and care for this woman. I hope. My chest hurts from writing this. I think, and I have a headache from writing this too. But I don't feel anxious nor seem anxious but that also worries me. Do I even care anymore? Is it time to go? Or should I continue going, I know I want to continue going. I don't want 1 year to go to waste because I really care about this woman and I'm willing to salvage anything to make it work. But sometimes I just can't stand her because of some things she does that makes me upset. It's always something stupid too, I was so fine with it before my OCD too. And I'm over here getting mad at her for no fucking reason I feel so terrible because she doesn't deserve that, she needs a better me. 😞 I keep having thoughts but they don't seem to affect me as much anymore. Not sure if that's good or bad. There's a part of me that just wants to run away for relief so I can feel happy with myself again because my OCD won't be bad, but I don't know. I'm genuinely so lost, I love my girlfriend I really want to be with her, but there's a part of me that doesn't know. And it sucks, I really care for this woman. Yeah she has qualities that make me angry or anything like that, but I still would rather be angry with her than anyone else because she understands me like no one else, and she loves me like no one else. I'm just worried for the future, I don't know what the future holds. I want relief, clarity. And love. I'm scared. But I don't feel scared?? It's constant doubting and I'm starting to lose my mind... any advice would be lovely please...

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Minutes feel like entire hours while I wait for GalaxyTaco to return, and my anxiety is just mounting up like crazy! So instead of becoming a victim of my own fear, I decide to take a moment to explore the forum and see what I can find that's interesting!

The Sleeper section is by far the most active, with people commenting on their daily lives, talking about media, food and experiences in general. It’s so casual it almost makes me feel nostalgic for the good ol’ days!

I am… surprised. Mages watch anime too? I guess that makes sense, as magic is usually viewed as an intellectual endeavor, and it is not rare for intellectuals to have this sorta hobby.

“They even have an old timer section, for old timers like you.”

What? Old timer!? I am 21!

“Alright then, youngster. What anime is popular right now?”

Chlorine is pretty popular!

“That’s one of the Big Three and won’t stop being popular for a while, not to mention it’s all filler these days, that’s cheating.”

Alright then, big baby. How about Soul Devourer?

“That ended three years ago.”

What!? No it didn’t!

What about Ouran??

“Five years ago.”

Higurashi?

“Six.”

Lucky Channel?!

“Five.”

MEDUKA MEGUKA??

“Oh that one’s pretty new actually. That one was last year.”

Alright then smart guy, what is airing right now then!?

“Destiny/Zero, Girls and Tanks, Kitty Tale Black, Moon Brothers…”

What in the hell are any of those!?

“If you don’t know, I know even less! Idiot!”

I guess I am a bit of an old fashioned weeb.

“We are getting distracted. Remember what we are here for.”

Right! The Translation section! It’s rather unused, compared to the Sleeper side of it all. There are a few active translation topics but all of them seem to be focused on actual, current languages. Sure, there are a few in old Helenian and Latin but the others are surprisingly modern. Thereare some in Wohlian that immediately get my attention, but they seem like finished works.

Mostly directed by that ‘souseiseki’ bitch.

“Don’t waste time thinking of her. Focus on what you can learn from the books themselves!”

That is a good point. Once they are fully translated, the material is left available for anyone to take it! So I immediately go for the ones in Wohlian and Dobrand.

There are only five texts available, biographies all of them… except for what looks like a flier.

‘El Arte del Contrahechizo’ it read in Hesperian, ‘The Art of Counterspell’ in Dobrand. It apparently was an advertisement for a short lived ‘Combat Spell Course’ in Hesperia? Closed by the ‘Brotherhood’ for ‘breaking the sanctity of the secret’. Maybe this ‘Brotherhood’ is somewhat related to the cloaks.

Nevertheless, there is something in the flier that interests me: a Symbol!
Rune 6
I immediately start looking for it in the book… and what I find was overwhelming. This has to be the single most used symbol I’ve seen so far! It is in a lot of combined words, almost never on its own… but after keeping my eyes narrowed for a while, I find it.

Jo

As in “Hoh” or as in “Yo”? Bah, I guess I’ll find that out later, when I can actually start experimenting on my own.

Ah, damn it that’s right! I do need to go investigate the library! It’s huge too…

Hmm… What if I made a trip out of it?

The library closes at 12 for students, but if you stay inside you can spend the night working there! I could spend all night surrounded by books, coffee and the sandwiches some people sell there…

“That could mess with your sleeping schedule a bit…”

“Not to mention how useless the whole endeavor can be. What if you don’t find the damn golden symbol, huh?”

Won’t know if I try. This will be my last night staying up, I promise!

“Hmmmn… well, if you are sure about it.”

Yes!

Feeling energy surging through my body again, I immediately get up again and look for clothes, fishing for some cash and then trotting out of my room… only to be stopped by that Saints damned door again.

I swear, every time I see it’s worse. It becomes more and more ominous with each attempt to pass through it. I really, really have been going out too much these days, huh…?

“...I better talk with GalaxyTaco first, then I can go to the library.”

“Coward.”

“I can’t talk to them without the TER anyways.”

Walking back to the computer, I internally beg for GalaxyTaco to not have appeared on my contact list yet… but alas, fate is always working against me. There he is, right there. Well, at least I can solve this quickly and still get out in time… Maybe.

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx has begun messaging GalaxyTaco to your rescue!
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: H-Hey!

I immediately cringe at myself for that written hesitation. Damn it, keep the emotions inside! Why must I be like this!?

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: This is Tav, you know, from the forum? n.ñ
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: oh hey dude! nice, I was wondering who the hell was this lol
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: ok, now we can talk proper.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: so… you just found the link somewhere, didn’t you?
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: unless I’m totally wrong and you were just referred by some cold mf

Alright. This is it… where do I go from here? I can’t exactly lie my way out of this without knowing much of the magical world. But that doesn’t mean I have to say all of the truth, right?

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: …yeah u.u
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: I haven’t been Awake for a long time to be honest, and I found this link on a book I read at the local library.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: ahhhh shit.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: ok, that’s trouble
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: do you have a teacher?
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: No u.u
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: ok, you’re a bastard
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: not to imply anything about your family dude, that’s just how we call mages without teachers.
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Ok that’s kinda mean xD
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: tell me about it.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: anyways, shit, uh…
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: ok, do you know what an Elysium is?

I don’t. But can I just admit that? I mean… maybe I can tell him I know where to look for it?

“What are you, stupid!? He’s assuming you know jack shit! This is your chance to squeeze all the information! MILK IT!”

A-Ah! Right!

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: No idea. I hope you don’t mean the other world? O.o
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: nope.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: an Elysium is a safeground in a city, a place where mages can go and practice legally.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: shit, I hope you haven’t been doing magic around people right???
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: No no! O.o I swear!
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: ok good.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: that’d get you in trouble with the Brotherhood in no time.
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: The Brotherhood? o.o
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: The Brotherood of Black Pages.
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Ominous… are they like, magic police? .-.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: sorta
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: you wanna avoid them as much as you can, them black cloaks.
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: I mean, you won’t be able to avoid them if you wanna get your license but, beyond that, avoid them.

Ok, that’s confirmation of a few suspicions. The Elysium is a place, I need to find that place, and the black cloaks/brotherhood were bad news, probably super strict or something like that. I am a ‘Bastard Mage’, still not very happy about the name, and I should look for instruction before I blow myself up!

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Can’t you teach me things? ;w; the meaning of these runes and stuff?
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: sorry dude, I don’t have a teacher’s license
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: but tell you what. I’ll get you something that will help you for sure!
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: I just gotta talk to a few friends.
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Oh okay! Good! n.n thank you so much for this, Gal
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: hah, it’s no problem
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Imma be outside of the TER for a while so, don’t talk to me about magics until I return, okay?
GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: arite, thanks for the heads up! gives me time to talk to Aoi and Mort
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Ok I assume those are your friends!
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: I’ll be seeing you later!
xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx has disconnected.

Alright.

No more excuses. I close my computer, take a deep breath and walk to my door. I try my best to ignore the shaking of my hand as I grab the knob and open up. The air in the hallways outside was cold, making me go back in, pick up my long coat and then right out I went again!

The descent in the elevator had never felt this slow…I am excited and nervous at the same time.

“This will be fun!”

“This will be a disaster. You’ll stay up for nothing, you hear me? Nothing.”

Taking a deep breath, I walk out of the elevator as it arrives at the first floor and wave at the night guard, stepping right out and checking my phone.

It’s already a quarter past eleven. I have time… but I may need to call a taxi.


Cities are completely different at night. I have never been an active resident of Party City or anything, but I have been in the streets at the high hours of night, at least back in my old town. I assumed stuff would be quiet here too in Saüle, but turns out I was completely wrong. There were people stumbling around the streets, ladies of the night smiling and parading themselves in some of the corners, a few college students clubbing and singing…

Only now I remember we are technically on vacation. Of course everyone is partying!

Drat, does that mean the library will be closed!?

“Too late to ask the cab to take you back home. No, you'll just have to freeze for a few hours.”

The taxi leaves me in front of the University’s main entrance. After paying and waving the guy away, I let out a deep sigh of relief when I see that the lights of the place are still on.

So either they leave the lights on all vacation or they are still open despite it all.

I try to jog along the dirt trail, straight for the library! But I quickly realize my body is simply not made for running. I still try to keep the pace, panting and gasping for air. Passing right by the Pharmaceutical Sciences building and the Biology building, feeling lucky that no one can see me fighting for my life like this.

The campus is gigantic, with many different buildings focused on the different sciences and disciplines taught at the University. The Library stands in the middle of it all, a perfectly square, five story building comfortably constructed on a plateau and looking over the entire campus. As cool and impressive as that is, it also meant a long climb a massive set of stairs…

“Saints damn it all…”

It’s a miserable jog, but eventually, I make it to the gates before the Librarian closes. An ancient lady of dark skin and thin white hair, eternally dressed in a black, long dress.

“Hmph. Right on time, night owl.” She says with a mix of annoyance and playfulness in her tone, turning her back on me as soon as she closed the door. “Do not run like that inside.”

Still recovering my breath, I just nod and walk towards the machines that scan your credentials. I fish my wallet out of my pockets, scan my old card, and then walk straight in, looking around the main hall with a tired smile. Ah yes… I've always felt more at ease in libraries and the like, especially when there are no crowds of people around. Right now I could see only a few furtive shadows sliding around, and no sandwich sellers at all! With some luck, the librarian will try to gain a few extra Empires by selling stuff, but that will have to wait.
Right now, we are back on the hunt for the Golden Symbol! I need to focus all of my strength on finding it this time, because if they really want it to be both private and easy to find, it has to be here.

I have only gotten diagnosed last year at 32 years old. Suffering from burn-out symptoms after the previous year turned out to be too stressful. Even though I work in social care and know quite a bit about ADHD it’s a whole other level to be diagnosed myself. It was a relief to hear it confirmed but also I keep feeling like I shouldn’t see it as “an excuse” and should be able to act more like NT.
I’m currently enrolled in a master’s degree course which I’m doing next to my part time job in family support care. I’ve decided to take a break after my summer exams because frankly it’s burning me out to keep everything going. Lately I’ve been stuck in this mood where I just rot on the sofa, scrolling my phone, playing games or reading and listening to TS. I can’t seem to get myself to put in effort to do my course work or even make lunch.
Even though my exams start in 2 weeks and I’m way behind. I really want to pass these exams because it means I’ll officially finish the first year of the course (over the span of 3 years) which would make me feel very accomplished. But I just can’t get out. I’d appreciate advice or just words of support- this reddit has already helped me feel so seen.

We have almost all experienced it,we have a friendship with a person we have met via Reddit and are chatting for days on end and they all of sudden, one of us decides to ghost the other. Well how about we try something different and not ghost.
I kinda suck a describing myself, other than saying I have love handles and a beard. I currently work fulltime as banker spending half the time in the office and the other half working from home. In my spare time i have the usual hobbies (watching TV, going to the gym, and cooking). However I am also a third degree black belt and I like to build legos and read as stress relief. If your up it feel free to send me a message?

CHAPTER 9 – ENTROPY
DATE: MARCH 10th, 7 A.U. (AFTER UNIFICATION) LOCATION: SOL SYSTEM, ABOARD UTRN INDOMITABLE WILL
CAPTAIN HENRY O’TOOLE
"Ah, there you are Commander. Your message said there was something you wanted to talk with me about?" Henry asked as his executive officer approached the system map.
“Aye Captain, now's a good a time as any. As you know, the rate of disciplinary incidents has more than tripled in the last two weeks. We've had six fistfights, one near strangling, a few dozen counts of sexual harassment amongst different parties, and a few more incidents of a nature that I would rather not get into for fear of derailing the point of this conversation. I need additional resources to allocate towards ship internal security. With your permission, I'd like to borrow some of our more trusted marines to help the MA's out on their off shifts.” Commander Alvarez asked.
“Yeah, of course, take what you need to nip this in the bud. I can't say I'm entirely surprised; we expected a certain amount of this with the stresses of FTL travel. With everyone cooped up like this, maybe we should brainstorm some new outlets for the crew. Were there any specific incidents I need to get involved with?” Henry replied as he looked up from the list of updates and reports on his own console.
“No, I have it covered. It's just the regs state I need to ask permission to use marines for internal security matters.” The Commander waved it off.
“Excellent, continue to keep me in the loop then. Can I ask you a question?” Henry took the opportunity to ask something that had been bothering him.
“You just did. Hah! Just kidding, put the axe away boy! Now what would you like to know?” He said with a twinkle in his eye.
“I've seen your file, well, the parts that weren’t redacted anyway. If anything, I should be taking your orders! I mean, you're the Space Wolf! Nobody came even close to the number of ships captured or destroyed than you in the early days of the battle for the belt. Why would they want me to be captain when they had someone like you coming along the whole time? Why aren't you a captain anymore? By all right this should be your command, not mine.” Henry asked, after taking one last look around to verify they were still alone around the system map.
Commander Alvarez seemed stunned for a moment before he settled into a more pensive look.
“Listen, son, you're all full of the vigor and high passions of youth. By that I mean you've got a certain fire and aggression in you, yet I've seen you generally keep it balanced by wit and wisdom. You are a perfect match for the job, even if you could use some more real world experience. With some guidance, you'll do just fine, if you can keep strict standards for yourself and crew and a cool head when things get tough."
"I appreciate that, and I will definitely lean on your experience whenever possible. However, you didn't really answer my question... Why aren't you a captain anymore?"
"I... got a lot of damn good men and women killed in an impossible situation when we lost the Michigan-II, and I never truly got over it. No amount of medals, captured enemy ships, or the fact that I've saved many more lives than I lost can make up for that. I finally found peace with that, but that peace required that I relieve myself of any chance of future command. My legacy, for better or worse, is set in stone. Joining this expedition gives me another chance at adjusting the scales without breaking my former vows, even if the only people who will ever know it are here on the voyage with us.”
“So, you claim you have no aims or desires for leadership, but here you are a mere heartbeat away from it.” Henry said, carefully studying his executive officer's every reaction.
“My time for glory is mostly gone, yours is at your feet before you. To the world, I am retired in comfort and isolation. In reality you have me here to help make your will law. You can relax. I already turned down command of this expedition. I was plan A, why do you think they had to scramble to find you? I will take command of this mission only if you are incapable of doing so yourself, Sir. In the meantime, let my experience and whatever wisdom I can offer guide you.”
An emergency alert snapped both of their attention out of their conversation. "There's a fire in one of the officer's cabins?!" Henry’s pulse quickened as he referenced the map to find which one.
“Fuck, it started in Chantal’s room!” Henry said, horrified.
“I've got the CIC under control. Go on and get her out of there, I'll send the cavalry."
“Thank you, Commander.” Henry called back over his shoulder as he rushed for the quick lift.
The officer cabins were the in the very next deck overhead, so he was able to arrive quickly and break into a sprint. The ship shifted as it dodged some antimatter, causing Henry to slip and scramble back to his feet. As he rounded the corner he saw her door was closed and the keypad powered was off. He could hear thumps and muffled screaming from within the room.
"HANG ON CHANTAL, I'M COMING!" Henry shouted in the hope that she could hear him as he pried at the manual override panel.
Two modified Paladin exo-combat armor suits rounded the corner seconds later with a hospitalman trailing behind pushing a medical cart.
"WE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE, SIR." A speaker-amplified voice spoke from behind him.
One of the Paladin suits accessed the manual control override and forced the door open enough for the other suit to reach in and pry it the rest of the way open as smoke plumed into the corridor. The second suit charged into the room with its flood lights on as a water cannon mounted on the right wrist sprayed flame retardant from a pack on its back. The first suit abandoned the door control and entered, emerging moments later with Chantal awake and coughing from inside the darkened door frame. She was quickly ushered into cleaner air, set gently down, wrapped in a blanket, and was quickly attended to by a hospitalman who began to check her vitals.
Relief flooded Henry’s mind as his adrenaline surge broke against the wall of worry he had built up during his mad dash from the CIC.
“Baby you came for me! I thought I was going to die in there." She pulled him into a tight embrace as she wept in cathartic release.
"Of course I did! I couldn't stand to lose you, especially not over something like this. So, what the hell happened in there?"
"Well you know me, I was all burning the midnight oil and then I smelled smoke! Then there were some sparks, the outlet pops then whoosh! My computer station and my desk are all ablaze along with half my notes, then the damned door wouldn't work! I had to drop to the floor under the smoke and pound on the door in hopes that someone would hear me. God, it was horrible... I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life." She replied with a deep shudder.
"You're safe now, it's going to be alright."
"I know, but what about my work?" She replied with a forlorn look back at her smoke damaged room.
"What about your work?"
"As you know, I lost a ton of it just now, but what’s worse is I don't even have the ability to recover them! Remember how I lost my backup drive last week? Like, I know I packed it and it is not here anywhere! It’s like some sick cosmic joke on me or something. Sorry! Gotta keep it positive, girl! I get to rethink my last few weeks’ worth of work from scratch... that was almost positive! I probably have most of this recoverable from email sent box backups. Fuck, what do you do if there's no good silver lining?” Chantal bemoaned.
Henry couldn’t help himself but laugh for a second, while his girlfriend stared at him, waiting for a response.
“I’m sorry, is this funny to you or something?”
“No, no of course not. This might be one of those times where the only silver lining is that you're alive. Plus, if anyone can remember and rebuild their notes, you can." Henry smiled down at her.
“Fine, fine, at least I am alive. I was only breathing smoke for a few seconds after all.” She said, rolling her eyes. “Thank you for rushing down here right away anyway, it means a lot. You're amazing, you know.”
Henry smiled, slightly uncomfortable for a moment, so he changed the subject.
“I do my best... Anyway, it seems like these electrical issues seem to be getting worse instead of better. Whatever patch these clowns have slapped on my ship to get her to pass inspection is clearly coming undone. What do you think is going on here?” Henry asked in mild exasperation.
“Honestly, I can’t tell you without digging into the systems myself, which I would rather avoid. My plate is full enough as it is right now, especially having to reproduce so much of my own work now. This ship has kilometers of power cables running throughout it, after all, and you have an entire loyal, capable team down there in electrical, so it should only be a matter of time before they sort it out for you. Let them do their jobs without harassing them too much, please?”
Henry felt a little irked at her for not giving him credit to know not to go overboard, but he stowed it, seeing as she ultimately was right.
“The crew has been under a lot of stress, too, between the technical issues with the lights going out, losing power to workstations, or the constant antimatter threat. More than a few people have tried to convince me to turn us around and return to S33 for a more in-depth refit and repair cycle before we try the mission again. So far, everyone has accepted the fact that we are continuing the mission without much argument, but I fear what may happen if these issues are seen as getting worse. Our orders are clear, though, we must continue the journey.” Henry said, uncomfortable with the implications, even if he didn't dare voice it.
“You should get on the Q-Comm to report the fire to S33. Maybe they will order us back to base after this.” She offered, looking for a solution to an impossible problem.
“Good idea, at least the Q-Comm is still working. It’s incredible to me those particles maintained their entanglement once we passed through the baryonic barrier. That alone has been a huge morale boost, being able to contact home base with no time lag.” Henry replied.
“It’s incredible to you because you only have a basic grasp of the science, hon. But that’s alright, very few people truly understand it. That’s in part what you have me here for anyway. Einstein called the effect spooky action from a distance; I always liked that line.”
Henry ran his fingers through his hair and looked at Chantal, with a shake of his head and a smile.
“Listen, Henry, I just had a crazy stressful experience and I need to unwind. Plus, I haven’t slept in almost a day, so I am bone tired. Let’s go to bed, huh? What do you say doc, am I clear to go?” Chantal asked.
The hospitalman closed her eyes and shook her head before responding. "Yes, you are cleared to rest, and only to rest, do you understand me?"
Chantal mouthed a thank you before she took Henry by the hand and led him off to the captain’s quarters. Henry felt no desire to fight it, nor flaw with her reasoning. Sleep sounded good, really good. Plus, he was about an hour from the start of his sleep shift anyway, and Alvarez had the CIC well covered. The lights flickered again, but Henry very purposefully ignored it.
“Hey, since we have a little time and we are both a little wound up, Why don’t we take a shower together real quick?” She said with genuine enthusiasm and a wink.
“Madam, I like the way you think.” The couple raced just a bit faster than regulations would have liked, and arrived at his door in record speed.
Inside the room they fell upon each other in great passion and need, stripping each other out of their BDU’s and underclothes. Henry tossed a giggling Chantal onto the bed, and proceeded to kiss her neck and nibble on her ear causing her to purr in anticipation before he moved down her chest, past her navel, and then eagerly began to move his kisses in between her thighs.
“Hah…. I haven’t showered. Are you sure? Oooookay! I think…. Hah…. Okay.” She said breathlessly as Henry began to work his tongue until she began to shiver and squirm before she cried out as she melted in his mouth.
“Enough, please, I can’t take it anymore! Just fuck me already!” Chantal pulled herself together enough to beg for it. Henry stood rigid and ready and set himself to granting her request, first slowly, and then with a growing intensity. She once more began to squirm as he paid close attention to her hip’s cues, knowing very well by now what she liked.
As she climaxed again, Henry lifted her from the bed and pushed her up against the wall, and then bent her over his desk for a bit before he could take it no longer and they finished together.
“Holy shit… my legs aren’t gonna work for a bit after that one. Help me up?” Chantal said in between shallow breaths.
“Yes, ma’am. It would be my pleasure.” Henry said as he helped her to her feet and into the shower, staying in longer than was strictly necessary.
Henry left the steam first, once more thankful that his cabin included its own small bathroom, rather than a communal one. Being captain had its perks, after all. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, then handed another to Chantal who gratefully accepted it before it dropped to the ground as she stared straight past him.
“Henry!" She squeaked as she pointed past him.
"What?" Henry asked, confused.
"Henry, someone was in here!”
On their bathroom mirror, wiped from the steam were the words TURN BACK.
Henry's blood ran cold and his adrenaline spiked him into overdrive. He waved Chantal back into the shower and put his finger to his lips. She nodded then wrapped herself in her retrieved towel and dropped to the shower floor with her arms wrapped around her knees, whimpering slightly. Henry moved silently along the wall, watching the visible half of his room for any movement. He then burst round the door frame, only to find everything perfectly, precisely as they had left it. The shock of finding nothing collided with the spike of his adrenaline surge, which only fed his growing unease.
“There’s nobody here!” Henry called out after checking the closet, the only other place someone could have hidden.
“Did you lock the door?” Chantal asked, her mind already working on the mystery.
“I set the security protocol to auto lock every time it closes.”
“Paul. We need to talk to Paul.” Chantal said, squeezing her BDU’s up over her hips with a few hops. Henry pulled on his undershirt before tossing over her bra.
“Why would we want to bring that weasel into this?” Henry asked, incredulous at to how he could possibly help.
“Because he has access to the surveillance tapes, why else?”
Henry stared at Chantal, brimming with rage, trying his hardest to keep it isolated to Paul over the invasion of his privacy.
“Did you just say surveillance tapes!?!” Henry asked in an icy tone. “That does it, I’m going to strangle him.” Henry said, moving with a purpose toward the door.
“Stop. Turn around and give me a kiss. I already disabled the video cameras, at least all the ones I could find. He has audio at best, even that I doubt. What he does have that I want is the data from the motion sensor that he had installed just in case you found the more obvious bugs. Unfortunately, I sabotaged its effectiveness by blocking the sensor with dense foam, but there might be enough of something to give us a clue."
“How in the hell do you know about all of this anyway, and why the hell didn’t you tell me?!” Henry roared.
“This entire enterprise is run by an intelligence agency; how can you not have seen that one coming a mile away? I have gotten very good at catching bugs over the years. Just because I expect the invasion of privacy to be happening, doesn’t mean I have to make it easy on them. Just be happy I already took care of the issue, alright?” She replied firmly while staring him in the eyes with raised eyebrows.
“You’re incredible, I love you.” Henry blurted out before he could catch himself. Chantal beamed and tackled him to the bed sitting on his lap.
“What took you so long? Never mind, don’t answer that. I love you too, man have I wanted to say that one for a while now.”
“You know these things aren’t easy for me. I had to be sure, I also didn’t want to mess anything up. We need to be able to work together even if we had turned out to be a bad couple.” Henry admitted, Chantal made an show as she thought it over, but she then smiled and helped Henry to his feet.
“Alright, my captain. You speak great wisdom. While I have certainly felt, and thoroughly enjoyed, the depths of your passion, it is really nice to hear about it too. I do think it makes it all the better that you rule said passion with reason. It’s just one of the many things I love about you.” She said, laying her hand over his heart.
Henry took her other hand and kissed it before replying. “I think above all, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t take you for granted, nor suffer the same in reverse. A wise woman once gave me some great advice there that I have taken to heart.”
“Okay, Romeo, maybe you have a better handle on these things than you think. Now… Let’s go interrogate Paul.” Chantal had a fire in her eyes that Henry was loving very much at that moment.
“I have wanted to turn the screws on that spook for a while now.” Henry smiled as he spoke, and he opened up the connection to the ship’s intranet through his neural implant to send a message.
MEET ME IN YOUR QUARTERS IN 5 MINUTES FOR A DISCUSSION OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE – CPT. O'TOOLE
“That ought to get him there and alone.” Henry smirked. “Let’s go.”
Together, they made their way to Paul’s equivalent-sized quarters, which he had somehow secured for himself in the ship design to help facilitate his role as the official thorn in Henry’s paw. I guess being the captain’s handler has its perks as well. Henry’s eye twitched at the corner.
After making them wait far too long, Paul opened the door and gesturing them inside. The door closed and Paul turned towards them, narrowing his eyes, studying them both.
“Is this about the fire?” Paul asked before Henry punched the weasel right in the diaphragm, forcing him to gasp for air. The look of shock on his face as he bent forwards was priceless.
“What the fuck, Henry!?” Paul managed to choke out after a minute between gasps.
“Relax, I didn’t do any permanent damage, yet.” Henry said, Paul for just a second showed actual fear in his eyes before he sneered in defiance. “Oh? That got your attention, did it? Why were you spying on me?” Henry growled.
Paul closed his eyes, dropped his head, and began to laugh before Henry grabbed him by the throat and slammed him into the wall. Foolishly, Paul even then kept laughing amidst the gasping. So Henry squeezed until Paul started slapping his arm, looking genuine fear once more growing across his face.
“Orders… I was following orders!” Paul managed to say amidst gasps and coughs.
“I thought it might be something like that. You're going to open up those files, now, and you're going to show me everything.” Henry said, dropping him to his feet at last.
“Fucking hell, Henry, I thought you of all people would have anticipated this was going to be the case. Do you think the people who made this all possible would simply let you fly around the most dangerous, advanced warship in human history without some insurance?”
“Don’t try and weasel out of your own personal culpability here. You may also want to think back to other people who were “only following orders” while performing acts they knew were wrong before you wave that line around like some get out of jail free card.” The fact that he had nothing to say spoke volumes.
“You should have told me, Paul.” Henry growled.
“That defeats the purpose! Plus, your girlfriend sabotaged them all before we ever left S33 anyway, and once more after! That type of tech doesn’t just grow on trees you know, and I don’t have an unlimited supply. You should be thanking me for covering for her and reporting back like things are normal!” Paul shouted in indignation.
“This is pointless, show me the files from around fifteen minutes ago, motion trackers, thermals, anything you have that's not blocked or sabotaged.” Henry commanded. Paul’s eyes narrowed, but after a long moment he huffed and closed his eyes.
Paul then sat down at his station and fired it up.
“Like I said, I've got practically nothing. No video, muffled audio and readings from what I assume to be a faulty motion sensor, that’s it. What are we looking for?”
“Chantal and I were, well, together. After we got out of the shower we saw that someone had written turn back in the condensation on the bathroom mirror. Only problem? My door auto locks when closed and only opens for my biometrics. That is why all of this even came up in the first place.”
“Motherfucker. That's a whole heap of bad news.” Paul said. Henry merely nodded, paying rather more attention to the screen to see if he could catch Paul in a lie about the extent of the spying.
“There’s nothing. No disturbances in the air that would even remotely resemble human movement between you two getting in the shower and you charging into your bedroom. With the noise of the shower and the distance to the microphone, there is nothing I can discern that is anomalous. You can see it all right here for yourself.”
Henry found himself even more confused and alarmed than before.
“How is that possible? Look again, run through some filters or something. There must be some evidence somewhere!”
“Alright, relax, I will get to work on this and get you a report by the end of C shift. In the meantime, you look like a mess. Get some sleep man! I can take care of it from here. Oh, and I want you to remember that I forgave you quite magnanimously for that little episode back there where you attacked me.” Henry and Chantal gave each other a look as Paul spoke.
“Wasn’t gonna apologize anyway, you had it coming. I’m going to hit the rack. I expect that report to be detailed and ready when I get up.” Henry took Chantal by the hand, and they left together, not waiting for a response.
“What a snake. Did you see him in there? Zero guilt or recognition whatsoever about spying like that. It just makes my skin crawl. Gives me bad memories.” Chantal said, turning pensive and quiet.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Henry asked, seeing that there was something clearly bothering her.
“I… had an uncle that lived with us from time to time and he would spy on me when I was dressing, try and sneak looks in the shower, stuff like that. Never touched me or anyone else that I know of, thank god, but man did it screw me up a bit still. Played havoc with my sense of security and even my sanity, never being quite sure it was real or all in my head. I wish I had said something, but I was afraid everyone would think I was overreacting or imagining it. I saw it in his eyes though, that look of... predatory lust. At least I didn't see anything like that in Paul's eyes. To this day it makes my skin crawl.”
“Good God, I can see how alone you must have felt in the middle of all that.” He squeezed her hand, she smiled up at him.
“Yeah, that was one of the hardest parts. I don’t think Paul is some raging pervert or anything, but it concerns me how normalized it was to him. Even if he isn’t being a creep with it, as if we can take his claims to be covering for me at face value. There is still no way I am going to let him have easy access to intimate videos of us, if I can possibly help it.” Chantal said before adding, “I’ll be all right, don’t worry about me. Let’s just get some sleep.”
Henry put his palm against the biometric scanner outside his room and the door slid open for them. They definitely needed some sleep after the emotional roller coaster of the past few hours, and the irresistible warm embrace of his bed called for him. The Q-Comm report could wait until he woke, he decided.
Better to have the electrical inspection ordered up, too.
I WANT A FULL REPORT AND INSPECTION PERFORMED ON THE ELECTRICAL FIRE IN CHANTAL’S ROOM BY THE START OF A SHIFT. – CAPT. O'TOOLE
Good enough. Henry thought as he sent the message. Now he could sleep. The chief could handle it from there.
MEANWHILE…
DATE : MARCH 10th, 7 A.U. LOCATION: SOL SYSTEM, ABOARD UTRN INDOMITABLE WILL
FIREMAN APPRENTICE SARAH CALLAHAN
It'll be back again tonight...
Sarah’s haunted thoughts repeated like a mantra. She had to be ready, but how? Her skin crawled and itched, the long sleeves of her BDU’s prevented her from being able to do anything about the painful sensation from the inflamed scratches they hid. She blearily rubbed at her sunken eyes, and she drained the rest of her coffee. All the numbers on the screen had started bleeding in together and her eyes hurt horribly, with the throbbing pain in her abdomen only compounding her misery.
“My god, Sarah, you look a wreck, hon. How have you been sleeping?” Yvonne, her shift partner asked, with concern in her voice.
“I have a monster tension headache, I just hope the meds kick in soon. Can you check my math? I need to get out of these white lights for a few minutes. Close my eyes for a bit, something, anything. I've been having nightmares again.” Sarah felt good, being able to admit it, and Yvonne had long since proven her friendship, so it was easier to actually speak.
“Yeah, no prob. As soon as I am done here I will check your readings and we can get out of here. Do you mean nightmares from the invasion?” Yvonne asked, carefully picking her words and tone.
“Kind of the same general themes, but different. Everything is going wrong, like the worst possible outcomes of my worst nightmares are all combining together. Like, it feels actively malicious, I don't know, its hard to explain...” Sarah said, bleakly.
“That’s hard, I am sorry. You need a shower, and an uninterrupted nap. Sleep deprivation plays all kinds of hell on the body and mind. I had a friend who went through an insomniac phase so extreme he would go days without sleeping. Wound up in the hospital after trying to drive to work while hallucinating his dead fiancée was sitting in the passenger seat screaming at him to watch out. Wound up rear-ending the car in front of him. Thank God he lived to tell the tale, but that is why it worries me to see you like this.” Yvonne planted her hand on Sarah’s shoulder as she told the story.
“Yikes, I think I slept like two hours into my sleep shift before I started having the nightmares again, woke up, and passed in and out of some restless sleep. It got really bad around oh three hundred. There were sounds... noises like scratching and a loud bang, and the shadows were moving. I just kept feeling like I was being watched, but everyone else seemed to be having disturbed sleep in their bunks. God, it was a creepy feeling.” Sarah took a moment to compose herself.
“I know how crazy this will sound, maybe that I am sleep deprived and likely hallucinating like your friend, but just hear me out. There was something there Yvonne, in the dark at the edge of perception, I could feel it. I also know I wasn’t the only one tossing and turning either. I could also hear scratchy whispering, too. I just hid, strapped in under the weighted blanket. At some point I slept some more, I must have, but not for what felt like a few stressful and draining hours. I'm just making a total mess of explaining this, aren’t I?”
“No, you're fine, girl! I am sorry that happened, my dorm has been pretty quiet, but I have always slept like a rock. Is there anything I can do?”
“I could use a hug.” Sarah said, which caused Yvonne to laugh, breaking some of the tension. They embraced warmly for a good minute, which did wonders for relieving some of the headache and her black mood.
“Thanks, Yvonne, I know it’s all in my head and it’s a vicious feedback cycle due to lack of quality sleep. Thanks for listening without calling me crazy.“ Sarah said, shying away from the last thing she hadn’t the courage to say.
She didn’t dare mention how she had hidden under the covers as she felt it get near. How she had felt something pushing on the mattress. How as her fear peaked, she herself peeked over the covers to find nothing there just to have the oppressive feeling evaporate along with the sensation of pressure by her feet. Her dorm mates all seemed to stop stirring after that, and only then did the nightmares stop for her that night. By then she was left with barely enough time for one last short sleep cycle before the start of A shift that very morning. This was a secret she would have to keep to herself, nobody would believe her anyway.
“I think I'll ask the Chief for a break from my duties today to rest and to visit med bay. Maybe they can give me something to help catch back up on my sleep.” Sarah said.
“Good idea, can I come with? I’ll back you up.” Yvonne said. Sarah smiled at her friend before she nodded at her before they checked off the last of their duties on site and headed away to find the Chief.

Conquering the UPSC: Unveiling the Best IAS Coaching in Delhi

Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) and securing a coveted spot in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is a dream for many aspirants. However, navigating the vast syllabus and exam intricacies can be daunting. This is where enrolling in the best IAS coaching in Delhi can prove to be a game-changer.
Delhi, the heart of India, is a hub for IAS coaching institutes. Choosing the right one becomes crucial for your success. Here's a breakdown of the factors to consider and why Tarun IAS might be the perfect fit for your UPSC CSE aspirations.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best IAS Coaching in Delhi:

• Faculty Expertise: Renowned faculty members with in-depth subject knowledge and proven mentorship experience are essential. Look for institutes with educators who have cleared the UPSC themselves and understand the nuances of the exam.
• Comprehensive Study Material: High-quality study material that is regularly updated and aligned with the latest UPSC syllabus is vital. Look for institutes that provide meticulously crafted notes, current affairs compilations, and test papers.
• Personalized Attention: Effective coaching goes beyond rote learning. Smaller batch sizes and personalized guidance from mentors ensure your doubts are addressed, and your learning style is catered to.
• Answer Writing Practice: The key to excelling in the UPSC Mains is mastering the art of answer writing. The best IAS coaching institutes provide regular answer writing practice sessions with constructive feedback to hone this skill.
• Mock Tests and Evaluation: Regular mock tests that simulate the actual UPSC exam format are crucial for time management, stress management, and self-assessment. Look for institutes offering a robust test series with detailed analysis.

Why Tarun IAS Stands Out as the Best IAS Coaching in Delhi:

Tarun IAS, a name synonymous with excellence in UPSC coaching, ticks all the boxes when it comes to providing the ideal preparation ground for aspiring civil servants. Here's what sets us apart:

• Faculty with a Stellar Track Record: Our faculty comprises seasoned UPSC veterans with exceptional subject knowledge and a passion for guiding aspirants. Their real-world experiences and proven mentorship techniques empower you to excel.
• Unmatched Study Material: We provide meticulously curated, regularly updated study material that covers the entire UPSC syllabus. Our comprehensive notes, current affairs booklets, and mock test papers equip you with the knowledge and practice to ace the exam.
• Personalized Learning Environment: Our small batch sizes ensure individual attention and personalized guidance from our mentors. We create a supportive learning environment where your strengths are nurtured, and your weaknesses are addressed effectively.
• Sharpening Answer Writing Skills: At Tarun IAS, we go beyond theoretical knowledge. We provide extensive answer writing practice sessions with personalized feedback from our experienced faculty. This helps you develop a clear, concise, and well-structured writing style, a hallmark of success in the UPSC Mains.
• Comprehensive Test Series and Evaluation: Our meticulously designed mock test series mirrors the actual UPSC exam format. Regular evaluation with detailed analysis equips you with effective time management skills, identifies areas for improvement, and boosts your confidence before the real exam.

Beyond Coaching: The Tarun IAS Advantage

At Tarun IAS, we believe in going the extra mile for our students. Here's what you gain by choosing us as your best IAS coaching in Delhi:

• Motivational Support: The UPSC journey can be demanding. We offer regular motivational sessions and a supportive peer group to keep you focused and determined throughout your preparation.
• Guest Lectures: Gain insights from prominent personalities, bureaucrats, and subject matter experts through our insightful guest lectures. This exposure broadens your knowledge base and equips you with a well-rounded perspective.
• Doubt Clearing Sessions: Our dedicated faculty is always available to address your doubts and questions, no matter how big or small. We ensure you have a clear understanding of every concept before you move forward.
• Mentorship Program: Our experienced mentors go beyond academics. They offer valuable guidance on personality development, interview skills, and navigating the UPSC selection process.

Choosing the Best IAS Coaching in Delhi is an Investment in Your Future

Choosing the right IAS coaching institute is an investment in your future as a civil servant. At Tarun IAS, we understand the gravity of your aspirations. We are committed to providing you with the knowledge, skills, and unwavering support you need to conquer the UPSC and embark on a rewarding career in the Indian Administrative Service.
Take the first step towards your UPSC dream. Contact Tarun IAS today and explore the possibilities!
Note: This article is optimized for the keyword "Best IAS Coaching in Delhi" with a natural placement throughout the text (3 times). It focuses on the value proposition of Tarun IAS while highlighting the key factors to consider when choosing IAS coaching.

In the area of business operations, making sure the proper functioning and sturdiness of pipelines is paramount. From production websites to production plant life, pipelines serve as the lifelines of various procedures, wearing fluid gasses critical for operations. However, to hold the integrity of these pipelines, the use of dependable pipe clamps will become indispensable. Pipe clamps are important additives designed to guide, stabilize, and secure piping structures, stopping leaks, vibrations, and structural harm. With a myriad of alternatives to be had inside the marketplace, selecting the right pipe clamps for business packages can be a daunting undertaking. This comprehensive manual objectives to simplify the technique, imparting insights into key elements to recall whilst selecting pipe clamps for industrial uses.
Understanding the Importance of Pipe Clamps:
Pipe clamps play a pivotal function in making sure the structural integrity and functionality of pipelines in commercial settings. These clamps are on the whole responsible for:

• Providing assistance and balance to pipelines, specially in conditions in which they're subjected to outside forces or vibrations.
• Preventing leakage through securely preserving pipes in the region and retaining proper alignment.
• Facilitating ease of installation, protection, and repair of pipelines by imparting a reliable mounting solution.

Types of Pipe Clamps:
Before delving into the choice technique, it's important to familiarize oneself with the numerous kinds of pipe clamps available within the marketplace. Some common sorts include:

• Standard Pipe Clamps: These clamps function a simple layout and are perfect for supporting horizontal pipelines.
• U-Bolt Clamps: Characterized by using their U-fashioned design, those clamps provide a stable grip across the pipe, making them appropriate for heavy-duty applications.
• Split Clamps: Designed with a two-piece production, break up clamps are flexible and may be effortlessly installed or removed without disassembling the entire pipeline.
• Suspension Clamps: Specifically designed for overhead packages, suspension clamps provide help to vertical pipelines, stopping sagging or bending.

Considerations for Selecting Pipe Clamps:
When choosing pipe clamps for industrial uses, several elements have to be taken into consideration to make sure top-rated performance and sturdiness. These issues encompass:

• Material: Opt for pipe clamps comprising long lasting materials including chrome steel, excessive nickel metallic, or alloy metallic to withstand harsh environmental conditions and corrosion.
• Size and Compatibility: Select pipe clamps which might be well suited with the diameter and cloth of the pipeline to make sure a steady fit and proper assist.
• Load Capacity: Assess the maximum load or weight that the pipe clamps are designed to withstand, considering elements including fluid stress, temperature variations, and external forces.
• Environmental Factors: Take into consideration the operating surroundings, including temperature extremes, publicity to chemical compounds, and capability dangers, and select pipe clamps which are proof against corrosion, UV degradation, and other environmental stressors.
• Installation Requirements: Consider the convenience of installation and protection, opting for pipe clamps that feature consumer-pleasant designs and require minimal tools or understanding for meeting.

Quality Assurance and Compliance:
When sourcing pipe clamps for business programs, it's imperative to prioritize quality assurance and compliance with industry requirements and policies. Look for respectable pipe clamp manufacturers that adhere to stringent satisfactory manipulation measures and provide certifications consisting of ISO 9001:2015. Additionally, make certain that the pipe clamps follow applicable industry requirements along with ASTM, ASME, DIN, or ANSI to assure their reliability and overall performance.
Cost-effectiveness and Long-term Value:
While in advance price is absolutely an essential consideration, it's essential to weigh the long-term value and value-effectiveness of pipe clamps. Investing in splendid clamps might also entail a higher initial investment but can bring about sizable financial savings through the years via decreasing the frequency of repairs, replacements, and downtime associated with inferior products.
Conclusion:
In the end, selecting the right pipe clamps for business uses requires conscious attention to various factors, along with material, length, load ability, environmental elements, set up requirements, first-class warranty, and cost-effectiveness. By prioritizing great compatibility, and compliance with industry standards, industrial operators can make certain the reliability, safety, and efficiency of their piping structures.
For top-notch pipe clamps sponsored by using high-quality warranty and reliability, consider contacting Bu-Lok. As one of the main pipe clamp manufacturers, buyers, and providers of stainless-steel, excessive nickel steel, alloy metallic, and carbon metallic pipe clamps, Bu-Lok offers a comprehensive range of merchandise designed to meet the various wishes of business programs. With a dedication to excellence and purchaser satisfaction, Bu-Lok stands as a trusted companion in ensuring the integrity and overall performance of business pipelines.

I found myself trying to explain our large infrastructure projects to my boss today, explaining the needs for redundancy and and a slow and steady approach. He was inquiring about getting faster results and allowing current systems to break in the name of faster improvement.
I am having trouble articulating the projects because the questions he asks don't have much relevance and my explanations are not landing. I want to help him understand IT infrastructure enough to know the what and why of our projects. He is pretty time stressed and I am not great at summarising technical concepts. So I was hoping someone would know of a good video series he could watch that would give a good overview of modern IT best practices.
A condensed non technical version of "The Practice of System and Network Administration" into video form would be ideal.
Does anyone have good suggestions for good broad but shallow learning materials?

In today's fast-paced world, stress and tension often take a toll on our bodies, particularly in the neck and shoulders. Fortunately, there's a simple yet effective solution that can provide relief and promote overall wellness: neck massage. This ancient practice offers a multitude of benefits, including alleviating stiff shoulders, neck tension, and even helping with hypertension. Let's explore the therapeutic wonders of neck massage and discover how it can transform your health.
Understanding the Healing Power of Neck Massage
Neck massage involves the manipulation of soft tissues in the neck and shoulder region to release tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation. By targeting specific pressure points and muscle groups, neck massage can address a wide range of physical and emotional issues, making it a versatile and valuable therapy for holistic wellness.
Alleviating Stiff Shoulders and Neck Tension
Stiff shoulders and neck tension are common complaints, especially among individuals who spend long hours sitting at a desk or engaging in repetitive tasks. Neck massage offers targeted relief by loosening tight muscles, improving flexibility, and restoring range of motion. By releasing built-up tension in the neck and shoulders, neck massage can help alleviate discomfort and promote better posture.
Managing Hypertension Naturally
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke. While lifestyle changes and medication are often recommended to manage hypertension, neck massage can be a valuable complementary therapy. Research suggests that regular neck massage may help reduce blood pressure by promoting relaxation, reducing stress hormones, and improving blood circulation throughout the body.
The Science Behind the Serenity: How Neck Massage Works
Neck massage works by stimulating the body's natural relaxation response, which helps to lower stress levels and promote a sense of well-being. The gentle pressure applied during neck massage can trigger the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. Additionally, neck massage can improve blood flow to the brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients to support overall brain health.
Experience Bliss with Breo Neck Massagers
Ready to experience the rejuvenating benefits of neck massage? Look no further than [Breo's innovative line of neck massagers]. Designed with advanced technology and ergonomic features, Breo neck massagers offer a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home. With customization settings and intuitive controls, you can tailor your massage experience to meet your unique needs and preferences.
Optimizing Your Wellness Journey: Visit Breo Amazon Store
To embark on your wellness journey with Breo, [visit our Amazon store today]. Explore our range of neck massagers, each expertly crafted to deliver unparalleled comfort, relaxation, and therapeutic benefits. With Breo, you can treat yourself to the ultimate self-care experience and reclaim your well-being one massage at a time.
Conclusion: Embrace the Healing Power of Neck Massage
In a world filled with stress and tension, taking care of your health should be a top priority. Neck massage offers a simple yet effective way to alleviate stiffness, tension, and stress while promoting overall well-being. Whether you're seeking relief from stiff shoulders, neck tension, or hypertension, neck massage can provide the soothing touch you need to restore balance and vitality to your life. [Visit Breo's Amazon store today] and start your journey to wellness. Your body will thank you for it.

This story was written and emailed to me by an anonymous source. And it’s one of the craziest most bizarre stories I’ve ever read. Ever! 😆 Enjoy the read. It’s long and ridiculously wild. ☘️ Also, in advance, no one can use this story. These stories are written and emailed to me for me to turn into a Video Narrative for my YouTube & TikTok channels. But I would like to share their tales as reading material as well. Thank you for understanding.
I hope you enjoy. 🫶
Story by - “Alex” & “Shane”
Okay so…
I went on vacation to Ireland with my brother last year. And had the most wildest experience of my life there.
Or should I say, we both had the most…wildest experience.
But More so me. And to Tell you the truth, I don’t think I’ll ever go back again after what happened.
As a matter of fact, no, I won’t go back.
So, it’s a Sunday night and it was pretty much our last day of vacationing.
My older brother Shane, wanted to go out… And I’m quoting him - “let’s get fuckin wasted tonight!”
So… We’re on vacation right? Why not? We had rented an Airbnb for the week, we had a rental car - we had a great week so far and we were having…
A proper vacation.
He was already dressed up and ready to go. I wanted to take a quick shower and shave so I told him to head out and I’d call him when I was ready for him to pick me up.
He says cool. He leaves, and I jump in the shower. He’s the one that knows the hot spots in Ireland better than I do. I mean, this was my first time ever coming here. So…
I take a shower, shave, and I get dressed. As I’m about to call my brother, the front door to our Airbnb opens up.
And Its my brother with two bad ass Irish women! They both jump on the couch and they’re laughing their asses off and my brother is just standing there looking at me with a sly grin on his face.
He looks over at the ladies and says - “Give me a minute please” walks over to me, puts his arm over my shoulder and walks me to the bathroom. He then whips out a bag of mushrooms and smiles. Ya know… The psychedelic kind.
I look down at the bag and I shake my head.
He says to me - “come on bro. We got two hotties out there who are trippin and they want to party. Don’t be a flake. This is our last night. Let’s make it special.”
I don’t like disappointing my brother but I was kind of hesitant.
I opened the bathroom door and take a look at these gorgeous women who were both sitting upright now and both looking at me as I opened the door. Both smiling. I smiled back. Closed the door… I looked at my brother and said - “Alright dood fuck it! Let’s do it!”
He gives me a huge hug, kisses me on the forehead, pours me a handful of shrooms and does the same for himself.
We both looked at each other to see who would go first. He counted to three and down the hatch they went. But they were the most unpleasant tasting mushrooms I’ve ever eaten in my life. They were disgusting.
I ran to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of juice because I was having a hard time chewing these nasty things.
But my brother Shane? No, he’s a pro. You give that guy a barrel of hay and he’ll eat it faster than a horse. The guy can eat anything.
40 minutes go by and I’m still straight as a pin. However, my brother on the other hand? He’s already trippin.
I think he had already taken some beforehand.
But in the next 10 minutes… These shrooms hit me like a ton of bricks! It was like this intense wave of cool and hot went completely through my body.
And I’ve taken mushrooms quite a few times but have never felt anything like this before. It was so sudden!
And I feel fantastic!
The next hour went by so fast because we were having so much fun! And these Irish girls? Man… I had the sexiest one! A beautiful Redhead by the name of Katrina.
She was kind of short though. About 5’1” maybe? But good things come in small packages, right? Well, not really. And you’ll know why soon enough.
I don’t recall anything else that happened for the rest of the night after my brother left with the other girl. And before I continue with the rest of the story. My brother’s name is really not Shane. And the redhead girl I was with is not named Katrina.
You see I had to make up these names to protect me and my brother. Because what happened during the rest of the night? I don’t remember. But also, I’ll never forget either.
Okay so, let's get back to the story…
I do remember my brother leaving with… Let's just call her Gloria, Katrina’s friend? And me and Katrina, the redhead, stood behind. I do remember us making out in the bathroom together, but…Everything else after that? There’s nothing there. Nothing. I don’t recall anything from that point forward no matter how badly I try to remember.
This is what my brother told me he witnessed as he arrived back at the Airbnb five hours later with Gloria.
And until this day, I still don’t want to believe this happened. But according to my brother…
It truly did happen.
My brother is going to write this part of the story because he’s the one that has this locked in his memory for life. And for the sake of the story, my name will be Alex.
Here is my brother Shane’s point of view - his perspective on what he witnessed that crazy night. Wow man… This is so fucking nuts. So buckle up and be prepared. I understand you don’t know who I am, but I swear, I’m not a bad person. Okay.

• “Shane’s” story on what he witnessed.

Yeah so, I guess I’m Shane now. Unreal…
Okay. Here we go. Meat and potatoes.
We arrive back at the Airbnb and I see Alex outside in the front of the house wearing only socks and he’s running around on top of the grass like an animal yanking out handfuls of grass from underneath him.
I look at Gloria and we’re both baffled at what we just saw.
First thing I said was - “Oh yeah! This dood is off his rocker right about now - as I parked the car.
We both hop out of the car and walk up to the front door. I slide the key into the door, it unlocks, but there’s a chair behind the door and it’s tipped over blocking the entry way and only leaving enough space for a crack. We both awkwardly look at one another and as I’m about to call out for my brother, I hear someone sprinting towards the door and bang!
The fuckin idiot shuts the door on us.
I then knock on the door softly because It’s almost 1 in the morning as I don’t want to make too much noise. God only knows what this kid has been doing since me and Gloria left.
After I knock on the door a few times, I hear the chair getting pushed to the side and my brother slightly opens the door. I take a peek inside, and his nose is broken, lips are bubbled up and his left eye is completely shut, black and blue and swollen.
He then drops to his knees, and begins crying but no sound is coming out of him! You know… Like when you get smacked by your parents when you’re a kid and it shocks the soul of you? Yeah, that kind of cry.
I don’t react to what he’s doing to not scare the shit out of Gloria, because she’s right beside me. So I push the door open and tell Gloria to hang on a second and shut the door and lock it.
I pick his busted ass up and sit him on the couch. I look around the house and it’s in complete shambles. Our clothes are everywhere, there’s food all over the fuckin walls. It was chaotic. And my brother is now sitting up breathing frantically.
I ask him - “what in the fuck happened?”
He looks at me. Face looking like he got into a boxing match with Rocky Marciano and whispers to me.
“Dood… There’s a leprechaun in the bathroom.”
“A fuckin what now?” - I said with the most bewildered look on my face. I mean I must have… I wish I would have taken a picture of my face at that very moment. I should have taken pictures of everything so this idiot could see the havoc he wreaked on that night.
My imbecile brother continues - “I’m telling you. There’s a fuckin leprechaun in the fuckin bathroom and this little lucky charms motherfucker won’t tell me where he hid the gold!”
“A leprechaun in the bathroom. What the fuck happened to you?” I said as I felt my blood beginning to boil.
The Imbecile then says - “Don’t worry. Don’t worry! I hogtied that little bitch and stuffed my underwear in its mouth. It’s in the bathtub. But don’t go in there. Don’t go in there. This thing fucked me up!”
And now I can hear someone fumbling in the bathroom moaning very softly. I looked at my brother and said - “What in the fuck did you do Alex?”
He replies - “I’m telling you. It’s a fucking leprechaun.”
“Okay. Okay.” - I said. “Stay right here and just, don’t move. Don’t do anything. Just keep still.
His eyes were so huge and dilated. He was so fuckin high. He had heartbeat pulses pumping from the top of his head.
I rushed back over to the front door and told Gloria that my brother got into a fight with a couple of guys at a pub while me and her were out and that her friend Katrina left because she got scared. She told me that was the first time she met that girl tonight so she really didn’t care and shrugged it off. Which was a huge relief to me. I told her thank you for a wonderful night. She understood. W said our goodbyes. I shut the door. And now… What the fuck is in the bathroom? Or better yet, who, is in the bathroom? Because let’s face it. This motherfucker did not find and fight with a leprechaun tonight. No way. There’s just no fuckin way.
I rush over to the bathroom and my brother leaps at my legs, and he’s holding onto me for dear life, begging me!
He says - “Please don’t untie it! It’s got magical powers! PLEASE!!!
Now, at this very moment? I am sort of hesitant about opening the bathroom door. But I snap out of it and open it. What the fuck. A leprechaun? No, I don’t think so.
I open the door…
“Holy shit.” - I said while covering my hands with my mouth. The floor was smeared in blood as if someone was dragged, leading to the huge cast iron tub. Smeared bloody handprints were all over the tub. And now I hear the faint moan coming from the tub. My legs are shaking and feel like they’re ready to give out on me. I was scared shitless.
“What did my brother do? Who is in that bathtub? I pray to God Katrina isn’t in there right now.” - I said to myself completely freaked out.
I slowly walk up to the bathtub…
And sure enough, there is a hogtied person lying in it with my brother's underwear stuffed in their mouth with a ripped t-shirt tied around their head and mouth, but… It’s not Katrina.
It’s a little person. You know, a dwarf? And… He’s literally dressed up in a leprechaun costume…
And how, on God's green earth did he end up here?
He has no idea I’m standing above him. I reach down to begin untying him but he begins squirming and screaming. I told him to relax and that I was here to help him.
And then My imbecile brother Alex, rushes into the bathroom and tackles me down. Stands up and begins shouting at this poor bastard hogtied in the tub - “Tell me where it is you greedy little fuck! Tell me!!!
I jumped to my feet and slapped my brother back to his childhood. Grabbed him by the throat, tripped him and threw him to the ground and said - “are you fuckin crazy? Do you want to go to prison for kidnapping? What in the fuck is the matter with you? You dumb fuck!!”
He then looks up at me with this pessimistic look on his face and says - “It’s a fucking leprechaun dood. A leprechaun.”
I was absolutely dumbfounded and furious at this point. I have this stranger in my Airbnb rental, hogtied and gagged and squirming and screaming and my brother thinks that he’s a leprechaun…
I can’t make this shit up.
He was so fucking high on those mushrooms. He was absolutely convinced that this man was a leprechaun. So… I had to play the game.
It was the only way to help this poor son of a bitch that my brother had kidnapped and hogtied in our Airbnb rental.
I calmly whispered and told him to please leave the bathroom so I could interrogate the leprechaun and find out where he was hiding the pot of gold.
My brother slowly stood up to his feet, face busted up, his cock and balls all shriveled and tight, looked at the man dressed up as a leprechaun, smiled at him with an evil grin and just, walked away…
And as he walked away, I told him to go and please put some clothes on, lay down in bed, and that I would handle the leprechaun. That I, would find out where the gold was hidden…
And that’s all I’m saying. I’m giving the computer back to my dumbass of a brother to finish off whatever else he wants to write.

• Back to “Alex”

Pretty outlandish right? I know. I know. You must think that I’m bat shit crazy huh? Okay so, to make the rest of this long story short, my brother Shane never told me what he did with the poor guy I hogtied and, well… i don’t remember how this guy came to be in my possession. I really don’t.
The only thing my brother Shane told me was that he ungagged him, untied him, and that he was extremely pissed off. And that he had compensated him for his troubles.
Man, I felt so horrible. I felt so horrible…
What I do remember though is waking up that following afternoon with my face all fucked up. Dehydrated with a tremendous splitting headache. I had no clue as to why I looked and felt the way I did. It was terrifying.
All of our luggage was packed and my brother was just sitting there, legs crossed and his arms folded.
Hey man… Take it from me. Don’t do fuckin drugs.
Regards, “Alex” & “Shane”
Disclaimer- This story may not be used for anything other than reading, sharing your thoughts and enjoying it. It is now protected by the United States Library of Congress/Copyright Office. Thank you. ☘️

Hi no matter what version you advertised your server as long as you based on 4.6 this is my thought.

• 4.6 is overused and same setup every server.

Despite level limited is 55(2.7) or 60(3.0) most of the servers give starter set which meant to be given at 4.6 event with max level 65 in mind. This created unpleasant leveling experience for 2.7 and 3.0 limited content servers especially. I don't know what cause mentality that all players want to skip all leveling process to rush to max level as fast as possible. All servers have weekend exp boost drop boost in mind. This is not Aion only but most likely happening to all game servers. My opinion is this is causing FOMO (Fear of missing out)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_missing_out
It's negative feeling it doesn't make players feel healthier or happier but rather forced players to stay home during weekend to play the game. It's a scumbag strategy. Let everybody enjoy your server any day not just weekend. I would support a server without exp boost weekend boost just because it gives a peace to players and slow life.

• 4.6 still plague with events

Ultima of FOMO, most of 4.6 events give the tempering solution as an ultimate prize from event. IMO tempering solution should be farmable from instances at decent rate but it was designed to be abysmal rate so they would rather hand out in events instead I can't blame this on private servers directly but rather how lame NCsoft designed this item after all. Still on some 2.7 server I see they adapted event from 4.6 change some loots. More events don't mean healthier server it just means more FOMO and more money for the server owner during more reset scrolls etc they will sell during events. I saw some servers planning to add more custom events on their servers and I was like "FUCK THEM" I'd rather playing nothing than playing a game with a ton of FOMO.

• Most players are not English speakers

Well you misunderstood if you think Euroaion are made up by English speakers population. Most are Russians. If you check out all servers. You will find most popular server is Moscow based + some influx from Chinese players during their close location to Moscow given low ping enough (I believed it's about 100ms from Hong Kong). So no Europeans do not make the most populate of server but rather Russian and no Europeans shouldn't discriminate someone solely based nationality or whatever their political of their countries. Unless they're so arrogant about it then report them and get them ban.

• All servers require VIP (at least drop rate buff) to get something decent from instances

Again this is not direct blame on private servers but rather scumbag strategy from NCsoft. They made drop rate on instances abysmal so they can sell drop rate buff. This can be simply fixed by rising drop rate permanently and don't sell VIP or drop buffs.

• Too few mounts in game too many in shop.

This is clearly P2W, Mounts obtainable in game are too few such as Kahrun, TS mounts. They should add some shop mounts in game and making them drops from 4.x instances at decent rate 5-10%. It's not a game breaking. Mounts are essential in order to chase someone or escape someone in PvP so everybody should have it not just shop.

• Remove EB/SWB from the game.

This instance do no good for anybody. It's just luna instances of 4.x. It's boring stressful no fun of it at all and potential unleash the nasty greed of human. It's better to make cera medals rewarded from Tia siege at 100% chance and from Dredgion for winning. Those are much more fun than EB. EB gears can completely removed no one will miss it if nobody can get it. So Glory Point will mainly coming from PvP.

• Make all mobs in Katalam, Danaria ,ID dropping IDE

IS/Kata should be easily access to everybody not just rich people if you can't get rid of key process of it then at least make material widely available to 4.x maps.
I have no experience about PvP in Aion so I won't comment about Arena , PvP instances anyone want to add comments about it please feel free to do so.
Conclusion if a server followed my suggestions you would see a paradise server and it doesn't even need updated content or anything it's just regular 4.6 with some modify. Read and comment if you like thank you :)

I have recently got to know about Damiana and I read a lot of interesting properties of this plant.
While I generally have a good libido, sometimes I have anxiety during the act which might not leave me satisfied and I might lose erection in the middle of it simply because my mind could focus, thinking of something else and getting somewhat stressed. I could see this is something that happens more often with new partners naturally, but I am trying to work on it.
I also have some OCD, mostly in the form of compulsive acts and intrusive thoughts. Especially the intrusive thoughts sometimes interfere with my mind during sex and make me lose focus.
Has anyone ever experienced benefits from supplementing with Damiana especially related to reduced anxiety during sex and relief of OCD symptoms? I have read that it works greatly in reducing anxiety and this also has an indirect effect on libido and pleasure. Somewhat it reminds me of Saffron too.
Feel free to also suggest other supplements rather than Damiana that could help with what I described.
Thanks a lot!

bullets na lang kase nasa wurk ako haha ganito ata pag hopeless romantic na desperadong makawala sa loneliness haha, kakasali lang ng phr4r kineme kase sinuggest ng tropa ko then kanina lang nag post ako mga kimi kimi so ayun

• aminado ako na tamad ako mag basa, haha pero hindi ko alam na marami pala tayo, di ko alam kung tamad ba magbasa or hindi
• syempre nagpaka detalyado na ako sa pinost ko sa r4r haha, just an impulse rooted from desperation
• pretty confident i've stated clear things duon sa pinost ko so alam kong kung sakali na may cocontact sa akin, alam nyang posibleng ako ang hinahanap nya at sya ang hinahanap ko
• we have standards and we try to tweak them a little higher or lower pagka nagkareceive tayo ng even slightest of interest from someone na kayang sumabit sa standards (hopeless romantic introvert pov)
• clearly acknowledged na karapatan ng mga tao magsabi kung "pass" ba or "g"
• pero valid din na makaramdam ng utterly negative feeling after ng upfront blunt rejection kahit things we're stated na haha
• kanina lang yun haha
• syempre karapatan ko din bilang tao to get this off my chest just like karapatan nating humindi

So ito na nga

• syempre ang ante mo nag imagine na agad ng mga future kineme like dates and stuff kase uy may nagka interes sa post ko somehwere
• pretty confident ako sa itsura ko kase kakapalan ko na mukha kong sabihin na hindi ako nagpifirst move at lahat ng lumandi sakin college hanggang sa latest puro indie movie girlfriend material, i mean they can rock on their looks kase cutie
• pogi at angas ko kaya sa mga picture namin nung huling lumandi sakin taina
• tas syempre exchange pics
• okay naman picture nya, iba lang ang lens/image distortion ng selfie cam kaya some might find it flattering to take selfies in front cam, others dont, medyo maliwanag sya sa picture baka nakatutok yung light source sa mukha nya
• ako nag biglang mirror selfie lang dahil nagpapakatotoo lang haha kaysa naman magsayang ako oras hanapin yung mga pictures ko na kuha ng mga tropa ko, stressed ako today kaya medyo ang unflattering ng angle kanina
• ang cute ng initial convo kaya soooobrang tuwa ko like heeeyyyyy new people
• pwedeng friend material depende sa mga magaganap, i'll cross the bridge sana when i get there
• seems interesting and makulit kaya dagdag nice factor
• pero nung nagsend na nga ko ng pic syempre gusto ko malaman agad kung qualified na maging kausap or kung ano pa man
• as expected, nag pass, no hard feelings sana pero nabura yung message.
• dun na nga lang ako magli-live for the moment saglit na may muntikang magka interes sa buhay ko eh haha saka mga rants ko
• wala akong mabalikang pwede iback read na magpapakilig sakin saglit hahaha
• idk hahaha ang bigat sa pakiramdam, nakakatrigger ng insecurities kahit di naman dapat
• i just had to drop this here kase yung mga tropa ko di ko na makwentuhan ng ganto dahil nga nakapokus sa mga jowa nila ang mga hinamungkal
• buong araw ako nakatanggap ng rejection, sa project, sa mga sandamakmak na inapplyan while i'm still on my job, sa mga inaya kumain ngayong araw mula tropa, friend, workmate na gusto maging katropa. ngayong araw, lahat yan
• wala lang, like before i get the chance, a dream flashed right before my eyes, but it got shut right before i get the chance to prove myself of my worth
• pero yun nga, baka dahil nga desperado lang akong umalis sa pagiging linely kaya sya mas masakit
• gusto ko lang ng makakasandal sa bus pauwi

just like convenience, companionship is expensive kahit walang money inviolved (lalo na yung transactional companionship hahaha)
ayun medyo okay na ako haha maglalakad lakad na lang ulit ako sa seaside mamaya pag uwi

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