To live in the Undead Burg is a daily test of one’s wit and their will. The brutish and dull fall to the cunning, and the weak intellectual tears their own mind asunder. For those who escape the Asylum, it is sometimes enough to make one consider voyaging back to their cell.

After all, only a few are Chosen.


In the lower levels of the Undead Burg, a cloak of rat skin fluttered behind a walking corpse as they hurriedly turned the corner of a short length of stone stairs, slamming the shield of a hollow soldier against the ground just as the claws and fangs of the first hound rose to meet it. In truth he lacked the strength to properly defend himself with the thing, to raise it with only one arm and withstand a blow with the same, but it didn’t matter here. The lower corner of the shield lay braced against the bottommost of a length of stone steps. This, with his shoulder pressed against the shield’s top, made progress against him nearly impossible for a foe so light as this.

If idiocy was to lose one’s common sense, then it couldn’t account for the stupidity of an undead hound. The corpse raised a spear over the shield and swung it downward in a pathetic arc, the wood slapping against the metal with hardly a noise to report. Seeing the motion, the dog leapt sideways out of some horribly trained reflex, and in this manner crashed into large pile of eternally burning corpses. It yelped as the heat caught it, spasmed as it searched for purchase amidst the mass of charred bones and melted flesh, and promptly died. The commotion brought with it the sound of distant footsteps, and soon another beast had run headlong into the shield. This one took two similar “attacks” of the spear to repeat its fellow’s mistake, and the one after it four.

To think he had once been terrified of these things, and discovered his tactic in panic.

Beside the steps was a well, and (after a moment to ensure no further dogs were coming), it was this against which the corpse laid his heavy shield. The next test between him and his goal would require agility, something ill-afforded with such heavy hardware. For this, he turned his attention to the well’s crank, and set thereafter to turning it. From the depths was raised a target shield tied in place of a bucket, and upon it a collection of bones, a severed hand, a ring, and a candlestick. The corpse laid the miscellaneous treasures aside, untying the shield and equipping it to his left arm.
The first two thieves were marked by buckets… or rather, the buckets were set in place to tell the thieves which doors were to be hid behind. As travelers came and went, the buckets would roll down the hill as they were knocked aside or blown by the wind or carried around by the dogs, and thus the thieves’ stations would move. When it was determined one had rolled too far down the decline of the alleyway, an annoyed thief would inevitably carry it to a more desired station, pretend it had always been there, and hide themselves behind the newly marked door. It was possible some band of thieves set this tradition in place long ago and retained the habit after they’d eventually gone hollow, but proving this thought today would be nearly beyond impossible. The reasoning didn’t matter to the corpse, of course, but the effect he used to his advantage.

The tops of the doors he adorned with knives from the Lady of Moss- blades up, such that the forceful opening of the door would spin the knives just right to sink their poisonous bile onto the victims below. What additional wastes and acids the corpse had applied need not be mentioned by name, only that they shared their patron creature with the leather cloak on his back. With his work done, he now walked the side of the alley as any clueless traveler would have, and awaited the springing of the trap.

As always, the third and lowermost thief signaled the attack by kicking open their door. The two now behind the corpse followed, and shortly thereafter issued their raspy exhales of pain amidst the clatter of falling steel. The corpse charged. The leader hurriedly reached for their throwing knives but was swiftly force-fed the edge of the corpse’s shield, thusly to be brought to the ground. Here was the corpse’s blade drawn, its cracked and jagged tip turned down towards its latest prey.

When skinning rats, it is important that one carries a sharp blade. This both to pierce the thick hide, and to avoid unnecessary damage to the intestines, stomach, and other usable bits lying beneath. Replacing the rat with a hollow, the corpse preferred the tip of a broken straight sword to the edge of his usual dagger. The motions made indeed bore some crude similarity to his work when harvesting leather, but the abandon of care became only more evident with each forceful cut and flailingly resisted gouge. In the end, what remained could hardly be discerned from a spot of muck on the road with a hollow-faced madman above it.

Further down, beyond a second set of stone steps, was another favorite spot of ambush for the thieves. The mutts at the end of the alley had long since devoured whatever scraps had been used to position them, and so readily charged forth at the beckoning call of the corpse. They found at his feet the now separated legs of the corpse’s most recent kill, adorned in many fresh gouges and oozing with a pungent liquid. The source of this meal mattered not to them, and so they eagerly set to work engorging themselves on the new flesh. So single-minded were they, intent on ridding themselves of the insatiable undead hunger that plagued them, that neither one slowed as a white foam began to pour from their mouths. Their stomachs first bulged, then split apart and spilt what little they had for content as the acid worked its way through. Their legs gave way from beneath them, first the hind, then the front, and yet still they desperately swallowed more of the decaying flesh and embedded stomach-skin pouches that rapidly digested them in return. When at last the pair had at last lost such strength as to no longer reach the meals inches away from their first gasping, then whining maws, the corpse delivered their mercy. A swift kick, and what little remained of their necks gave freedom to their lifeless skulls. The thieves, meanwhile, bore no challenge the corpse had not faced. Knives over the first few doors, the greeting of jaw and shield, the pillaging of another victim. Nothing unusual, and nothing of note.

With the capra demon gone, some “chosen” adventurer having long since vanquished it from realm, little now stood between the corpse and… her… save only one thing. The corpse took the last flight of stairs three at a time, ricocheting off the wall on the outside of its only turn and bounding towards his target.

There she was, out in the open as always. The corpse sprinted down the stairs and, after passing a blind corner, set his left foot forward and crouched to halt his considerable momentum. The ambusher behind him was easily parried as he brought his shield up and behind him, cracking something in their forearm or perhaps their wrist. Not bothering waste time, the corpse’s broken blade was brought upwards through the ambusher’s jaw until it snapped the bit bone between their eyes. This done, the corpse wrenched his weapon sideways with a hollow “pop” as the neck gave leave of its skull. The body collapsed to the side, its head twisting unnaturally upwards and backwards as it freed itself of the blade. The corpse, unbothered, bore no interest in holding either aloft. Now he turned, inspected the last of the thieves, and after a moment returned his blade to its holder.

“You are Patient.”

This first time he’d uttered the phrase, the last word was merely an attribute. ‘Twas a description of the one hollow that could be shot with any arrow, afflicted with any pain, and yet remain loyally in her position. To be fair, it wasn’t for great gift a choice, as the position of “live bait” was reserved only for whichever of the thieves had been deemed least desirable by the rest. What caused this, and whatever penalties lay for abandoning of the post, were matters the corpse could only assume. The important part was that it was \her,** the thief who had become “Patient” by name. At their first encounter the corpse had considered dispatching her like the rest, but had hesitated in piercing her skin. He still bore the scar about his neck that she had given him for his idleness, and she still wore the rat skin “grieves” he’d forcefully tied to her for a marker. As time passed, the two gradually traded more scars and more black fur hide between them- the corpse receiving the former, Patient gaining the latter. He had stripped her and tied a pelt about her chest which lay now beneath her leather armor, he’d fashioned a double-thick leather stock to protect her neck, and though he tied gloves to her at a point she’d taken great effort in cutting them off. All this he had done across many visits, through much pain, and at expense of his best materials. Todays gift had by far been the hardest to craft- a thrice layered leather helm affixed on one side with a jawbone to replace what he’d broken so long ago.

His approach was slow, and well-rehearsed. At about ten paces, Patient’s patience finally broke as she ran for him. Today she chose to hesitate upon reaching him, though more by chance of random choice than through any form of compassion. The corpse waited for the attack, not daring to kick another outcast as he had once been in life. She tried first her more viscous pattern, a pair of vigorous strikes that slid across the corpse’s target shield rather than bouncing away. She completed the maneuver and immediately prepared for a more powerful, slamming attack, granting the corpse the opportunity he had been seeking.

As she brought her blade down, the corpse deftly batted her strong hand away and gripped her shield with his open hand. Having no further need for his own shield, he cast it now away and spun the patient thief ‘round. She made as if to leap upward and over the corpse, but the maneuver was one he’d long since learned to counter. He stepped back, spinning himself so as to bring her sideways and around and down into prone position with his right elbow along her back and his left hand on pinning her knife arm down.

His next task, before gifts could be given, was to ensure he received no further scars in return. Placing his knee at her back to free one of his hands, he drew from beneath his cloak a coil of red twine fashioned from the same rats he’d skinned for his gift… some of the same, at least. With great effort, the twine was managed around the thief until she could no longer terribly well resist, and her hood was pulled back from her head.

Seeing the sunken red skin, the glowing eyes, the bare teeth, it reminded the corpse of life in the Pit of Outcasts. It was there he’d met the kindest of the living, the most desperate of the poor, and occasionally even a soul or two willing to speak or come close to him. ‘Twas a place for the diseased, the undead, and those criminals deemed too vile to disgrace the hangman’s noose with their neck. It was there he’d learned to knit and to sew, skills gifted to him from an undead woman not terribly discernable from the one before him now. The main difference, at least for now, was the slack jaw broken in uncountable pieces during their first encounter.

Casting the memories aside, the corpse set to his work. The leather about the thief’s neck stilled her head a little, but precisely cutting the skin beneath her jaw to remove the old bone was still a difficult task. The end result was unsightly, and it involved more than a few excessive cuts from the patient’s constant struggling, but it was enough to work with. Removing the old bone took a great deal of time thanks to the many fragments hidden in odd bits and pockets of flesh, but sliding the new one into place and wrapping it in the old muscle proved as easily said as done. The most tiring part was retying the cuts back closed, as the thief regained and continually demonstrated a greater ability to bite and snap as the corpse made more and more progress. The last of these closed, the corpse finally wrapped the rest of the leather helmet about the thief’s skull and tied the loose end to the other side of her new jaw with more twine. It wasn’t his best work, but it was the best he’d done on something still kicking around.

Patient’s hood was returned to its proper position, and the corpse took hold of a length of twine connected to a slipknot in the middle of her back. Midway up the last stretch of stairs he’d come down, the twine was pulled and the knot it held gave way, restoring the thief her freedom. Knowing better than to stick around, the corpse turned and fled to the top of the stairs, standing on the bridge overlooking her station, just beyond where she would pursue. He watched as she freed herself of the last of the twine, as she looked to him, and as she eventually to return to her post. He said then the same thing he always said to her, though still he knew not if she recognized it.

“I am Aldin Paltry, the Leper of Hangknell. I will return again.”

He watched a moment more, but was paid not a glance in return. Back through the alley he went, bound for the dragon’s bridge.

Welcome back to attempting to make Solo into a babyface. Here are some important notes from part 1.
-Smackdown has the men’s MiTB (Andrade holds it)
-Jacob Fatu debut was at Summerslam.
-in the smackdowns leading up to Fastlane, Jacob Fatu and the Tongas turned on Solo
-Jacob Fatu def Solo Sikoa at Fastlane with the help of Zilla Fatu (and sort of Jimmy Uso)
-Jacob Fatu challenged Solo for the position of Tribal Chief, causing Roman Reigns to return.
-Jimmy Uso joins Solo and Roman after hearing Roman is back.
-Jey Uso agreed to return for one fight at Survivor Series
-We sit at the survivor series with the Fatus and the Tongas vs Roman, Solo, and the Usos
On the Smackdown before Survivor Series, Roman and Jacob have a standoff. It was announced that tonight there will be a match between the Usos and Tongas for the advantage in the war games match. Ultimately, a guerrilla warfare hit on Jimmy would end the match, giving the advantage to the new bloodline.
Before we even get to the war games, it's the Rock vs Cody Rhodes for the Universal title, and the match is intense. The Rock goes for a peoples elbow, but is countered. Then he goes for a rock bottom, but is countered into a cross-Rhodes. He hits the first, and goes for a second, and hits that too, and goes for a third, but unlike when he beat Roman at WM40, the Rock is able to get out of it. It’s a brutal fight that goes on for a while. Cody is in a corner, and is thrown on the ground. The Rock goes for his people's elbow again, and is dodged again. Cody looks to dodge the upcoming rock bottom, but the rock expects it, instead hitting Cody in the head and sending him down to the floor. The Rock goes for his third peoples elbow, and lands it this time. 1, 2, 3. The Rock was the champion. Cody Rhodes had lost, giving even more momentum to the new bloodline.
With the team captains and orders set, it was time for the men’s war games match. Roman vs Jacob started it off, and it was clear off the bat Roman hadn’t lost a step. He hit move after move after move on Jacob, but Fatu was resilient. He knew his team had the advantage, and if he waited, his brother would be there soon enough. For the first 5 minutes it’s all Roman Reigns, until Zilla Fatu entered the ring. Even for Roman, 1vs2 monsters was hard. Jacob Fatu looked more insane than ever, and Zilla didn’t look much better. Roman was getting overpowered, and the Fatus were going in on him. But it was time now for the next person to enter. Solo Sikoa was in the match, and instantly went for a big hit on Zilla Fatu. The fight was now back in control for the old bloodline. Solo was beating on Zilla, and Roman was back on top until Jacob. But like before, it was about to get ugly, as now Tama Tonga was in the fight. Tama Tonga went straight for Roman. It was back to Roman getting overrun, and to make matters worse, Zilla had turned the tides against Solo. The old bloodline hoped things could change with the introduction of Jey Uso into the fight, as he went for the quick spear on Tama Tonga, but Tama Tonga was smart, and got out of the way. Now it was Tama beating down Jey, and now Roman was so exhausted it was hard to keep up with Jacob. Things got even worse when Tonga Loa got into the match. It was really bad, especially for Jey Uso, who was now the target of a double team. Eventually, everyone in the new bloodline hit a finisher on the old bloodline, but they couldn’t pin them yet. However, in came Jimmy Uso, and it was now up to him. He looked at Tama Tonga, the man who took his place, and he hit him with a spear, but Tonga Loa didn’t let that slide, hitting his own spear on Jimmy. But now Jey was up, and hit Tonga Loa with his own spear. It was a spearfest, and Roman looked to get involved, going for the spear and pin on Jacob Fatu, but Jacob kicks out at 2. It was the old bloodline in control, except for Solo, who was still getting wrecked by Zilla. However, it was Jimmy who came to save him, and they lock eyes, with Jimmy nodding his head to Solo. The match rages on, and the tides slowly turn back in the favor of the old bloodline. Multiple 2 counts happen with very close calls. Eventually, everyone’s on the ground except Solo and Tama Tonga. The original new bloodline members stared eachother down, and charged. Tama Tonga went for a finisher, but he missed, which opened the door for a Samoan Spike. He goes for it, and hits it, but before he can go down for the pin, Jacob Fatu, who got up after a vicious Roman spear, hits Solo with a spear of his own. 1, 2, 3. The new bloodline were the winners of the war games match. It’s was a nightmare. The new bloodline had both that match and the WWE Universal title. Things looked bad.
As if things weren’t bad enough, Jey Uso kept his word and went right back to Raw, not wanting any more involvement. However, before he did leave, he quickly let Roman know “if my brothers gonna rock wit yall, don’t let him get hurt real bad, aight?” Roman simply nodded.
It’s the smackdown after survivor series, and now it was time to look ahead to the Royal Rumble. But there was an issue about last match. Was Jacob Fatu the new tribal chief? Well, in his eyes, yes, but to almost everyone else, no. Jacob Fatu realized this, and would come out to confront Roman. They eventually decided to settle it all at the Royal Rumble, a main event of the show with Fatu and Reigns fighting for the official title of Tribal Chief. Not much of note besides the typical run ins from the bloodline happen, so we go straight to the Royal Rumble.
If you want a fun fact, the woman’s winner is Zoey Stark, but we aren’t focused on anything until the men’s Royal Rumble match. Not much of note happens until number 13, which has our first main story entrance, Zilla Fatu. He lasts to about 20, and unfortunately, no backup really arrived, and he was out. At 21, out came Jey Uso, and his brother Jimmy followed at 22. Then it felt like everyone involved with the bloodline came. 24 was Tama Tonga, Cody Rhodes was 25, Tonga Loa was 26, and Randy Orton, who’s back for the first time since his injury against Jacob Fatu at 27. Then we get the grace period in it with 28 being Sheamus. However, at 29, we get someone who’s familiar with the bloodline that hasn’t been mentioned up to this point. Sami Zayn. He’s had a very good run and only recently dropped the IC title to Ilja Dragunov at Survivor Series. Then, at 30, it’s none other than Solo Sikoa. Eventually, we’re down to 6. Tama Tonga, the Uso brothers, Solo, Sami, and Carmelo Hayes. Carmelo Hayes had been here since number 7, and was targeted quickly, but he was good. Eventually, Tama Tonga got his hands on Solo, looking for revenge from that Samoan Spike at Survivor series, and is about to take him over. However, this is when the bond between Jimmy and Solo is truly reformed, and Jimmy saves Solo. However, Tama Tonga takes the chance to eliminate Jimmy Uso, and it’s down to 5. Sami Zayn lands a Heluva Kick on Carmelo, and he seems finished, but Tama Tonga is on a rampage, and looks to eliminate him. However, in a move that’s questioned by a lot of fans, Solo Sikoa eliminates himself to also eliminate Tama Tonga. He looks on at Jey Uso, telling him to win. Jey and Sami, who had been together a lot on raw, team up and eventually eliminate Carmelo, meaning it’s Jey Uso vs Sami Zayn. In the end, after some brutal fighting, it’s Jey Uso who wins the Royal Rumble, getting his shot to win back the World Heavyweight Championship he lost at Summerslam.
With that behind, it was time for Jacob Fatu vs Roman Reigns in a normal match, meaning if anyone got involved, it was over. And indeed, someone, specifically the Rock, got involved. The Rock explains that he’s the tribal chief, and that Jacob Fatu has just been his stand-in for the time being with Roman. But now, it was the road to wrestlemania, and the Rock declared he end Roman for good in Las Vegas. The universal title match was on st wrestlemania.
In the weeks leading up to elimination chamber, we begin to find out who’s gonna be in the match, and the very first 2 to get in are Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. They are followed by Randy Orton, LA Knight, Carmelo Hayes, and Tammaso Ciampa, who at this point has broken off from DIY. Then, it’s time for the match. The winner (seemingly) getting a shot the universal title at wrestlemania. It’s expected that the winner will either kick Roman out of the match or make it a 3-way.
The men’s elimination chamber begins with Melo and Ciampa. Sadly for Ciampa, he’s pinned before the next person, Randy Orton, can even come out. Then, it’s move after move as Solo, then Jacob, then LA Knight all exit their pods. Sadly for this story, and great news for Solo, Jacob Fatu is the second out, being target by everyone else in the ring. However, they then turn their eyes to Solo, but before LA Knight can charge, Randy Orton stops him, saying that “Solo changed, even if he’s still an asshole”. That was all LA Knight needed to hit Randy Orton with a BFT, but is unable to get the 3 count, as Solo stopped him. However, he didn’t need to, because off the top rope came Carmelo Hayes, who goes for the p- RKO OUTTA NOWHERE! 1, 2, 3, Carmelo was done. Now down to the final 3, completely out of it, Randy Orton was the next to go, beating by LA Knight. Now it was Solo vs LA Knight, winner goes to wrestlemania. It was close, with so many 2 counts. However, as LA Knight went on the top rope and going for the jump, Solo Sikoa revealed a new version of the Samoan Spike, as he was somehow able to catch LA Knight with an RKO style Samoan Spike, and that was it for LA Knight, with Solo winning.
Now came the big question. What was Solo going to do. Well, to a lot, it was obvious, and it’s was announced that the match for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship was a triple threat between The Rock, Roman Reigns, and Solo Sikoa.
Over the next few weeks, the new bloodline and old bloodline fueds grew. It was heated, and eventually, the Tongas challenging the Uso brothers to a tag team match for the tag team titles (remember they’re still held by the tongas). One half agrees, but unfortunately, Jey Uso declines. Jimmy Uso needed a tag partner, but was it going to be. Nobody new. Over the weeks, the pecking order became clear to almost everyone when the rock, out of anger, went in on Zilla Fatu for losing a match on Smackdown. Jacob Fatu at first went to bat for his brother, but would eventually also indulge in putting Zilla down. This was the opportunity anyone in the old bloodline was looking for. They wanted a crack in that new bloodline, and they got it. They planted the seeds for Zilla Fatu to turn on the new bloodline, but he wouldn’t do it.
Jacob Fatu was still very clearly angry about Elmination chamber, and every chance he got to attack Solo, he took it. It was back and forth, eventually resulting in a challenge by Jacob Fatu live on stage to Solo, the main event of night one for the chance to fight in the title match against the rock and Roman. However, before Solo could take the match, someone came out to his rescue and offered to take the match himself, none other than the former Universal champ, Cody Rhodes, claiming that this chance shouldn’t be taken from Solo. However, he did have one stipulation for Solo, and that’s if Solo won, Rhodes would get a shot at the title quick. Solo agreed, and Fatu, looking annoyed, also agreed. If Rhodes won, not much would happen, but if Fatu won, the fight would become a fatal four way.
It’s the smackdown before the smackdown before wrestlemania, and tensions are high. There’s a huge argument, and it results in a lot of shouting. It eventually spins to Zilla Fatu, and how he is so young and so raw that he hasn’t matured enough. But that’s when Jimmy makes his move. He tells Zilla “don’t make the same mistake I made a year ago. Do it.” But Zilla didn’t move. Tama Tonga made sure Jimmy Uso knew that he can’t talk like that, but that’s when the big moment happened. Zilla Fatu super kicked Tama Tonga. It was the same thing that happened with the original bloodline. Zilla Fatu had turned, and stood by Jimmy Uso. It was quickly set up that the match for the tag titles would be between Jimmy Uso and Zilla Fatu vs the Tongas. As the camera panned to the crowd at the very end, if you stopped it quickly, you could see Jey Uso, at the top of the stairs, smiling.
It was time for the smackdown before wrestlemania, and again, tensions were so high it was insane. With Zilla turning, everything was crazy. Fights broke out, blood was shed, and it was a huge fight. At the end, the rock declared it was his title, and he would end this entire thing by winning. Roman declared the same thing. Solo, well Solo just stood there. However, little did they know, at the end of the show, there stood LA Knight, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and Kevin Owens, seemingly looking at someone, and declaring that “the master plan was ready for wrestlemania”.
And that’s where part 2 ends.
There will be a finale part 3 that will probably be shorter than parts 1 and 2.
Hope you all enjoyed

My (33F) BF (34M), and I have been together for over 12 years now. I first met him in high school and we were friends for a few years. We lost touch after he graduated, but ended up reconnecting when I was in college. We've been together since.
About 7 years ago, we were at a crossroads. His friend had passed away suddenly in an accident and he proceeded to spiral, he started trying drugs, staying out all night, engaging in very reckless behavior and it truly scared me. I tried everything to pull him out of it. It took a lot of work, and me almost leaving for him to start putting his life back together.
A little backstory. I work for my family's business. I have worked for the family business since I was 18 years old, and honestly, it would be great if I didn't have to work with the same people I see on the holidays. My family can be, in a word, toxic. There is a lot of infighting and drama. Working with them is similar to our personal lives, stressful and chaotic. When my grandmother passed away about 3 years ago, I was willed some liquid assets that had belonged to her and my grandfather (gems, jewelry, precious metals, cash etc) and their house they had had since the 60's. And honestly this was a blessing, with that inheritance I finally felt like I could pull free from my family and get out of the family business and take time to go back to school and do something I was passionate about. However, I had no savings at the time, and wanted to get a decent amount saved before I quit. At this time an opportunity opened up at work, the pay was way higher, but required 4-7 months of travel time a year. I talked it over with my BF and we decided that we only needed 2 years to save up what we needed. I took the job and prepared to leave for 2 months for training at the main branch.
About a month into my training, my BF suddenly quit his job, with no explanation other than "I had to, I can't work there anymore". I was concerned about our financial goals because of this, but he swore up and down that he would get a new one shortly and that he wouldn't need any help with his personal bills. Well a year went by and he had only taken up gig work and temp jobs. I wasn't happy as I was having to travel all the time and was having to be really frugal in order to get all our joint bills paid while also putting money into savings. He was managing to pay his own bills, so I let it slide since he tossed in what he could to the joint pile as well. Now I'm sitting here, about to complete my two years and my BF has decided to come clean to me.
For the past two years, while I have been working a job that has been soul crushing, and has had me away from home for weeks to months at a time. I've missed birthdays, weddings, friends baby showers, etc. I've sacrificed the last 2 years of my life to make enough to be able to live my life the way I want to. And he tells me last week that he has been paying his personal bills by selling the things my grandparents had willed me that I had left in a safe that was hidden in the house. A safe he only had access to because the hunting rifle is in there, and I thought, y'know he wouldn't do that to me.
I'm honestly in shock. It was a substantial amount and it makes me nauseous to even try to quantify it right now. I've already set in motion quitting my job and have given notice. And now I have so much less than I thought I did. He only told me because he had figured a way to pay me back and had gotten a stable job and was planning on using most of his paycheck to give to me until I was made whole. But this, just honestly disgusts me. I feel so violated. More than that, I wonder if this his go to pattern now. Life is stressful, a lot of change is happening, and he just self destructs?
After what he put me through 7 years ago, I don't know if I can look past this. Yes, he came clean to me, but I just can't seem to get past this feeling. I look at him and just feel nothing right now. It's breaking my heart because I really care for him, and yet I just can't see anything changing. I feel so conflicted, we have been together so long and even have all the same friends and share a life together. Will we be able to come back from this? Or, is this what falling out of love feels like?
TL;DR! - My BF confessed to me that he used part of my inheritance to pay his personal debts while I was away traveling for work to save up enough money to leave my toxic family. I have a whole life built with him and I am conflicted on what to do, but I feel so empty when I look at him. Is this what falling out of love feels like? Can we come back from it?

For context, I 25 (F) has been friends with this girl from work Abbie 26 (F). Actually, we've become friends over a fateful situation which is for another story. However, after that we bonded so much due to our similarity and yearning for company over problems we commonly share.
During our bonding times, we commonly take 4-5 hrs just talking about life across topics of almost everything. We also converse at work most of the time making work more okay than tedious.
However, I sometimes hate her comments which feels mean but I do let it slide because I too, feel that I'm also that kind sometimes.
The icky feeling though started when she would interrupt conversations which she is not part of and seemingly argue or compete with me. I know I have always been competitive myself and I do hate being wronged. But as a person at this age I am learning to outgrow that attitude as I feel that it is not helping me attain my goals in life.
She would kept on insinuating her point until I would give up or if I try to fight for my "two cents" she would dismissed and call me being too much or laugh at my face. If I would still push it she would ignore me and get back to work which is a bit bs.
My eyebrows started arching just last week. Well, Abbie is not fond with the idea of children especially taking care of kids that isn't blood related and she have always told us that she can only love a child when it is hers. I do respect her perspective on that however I view motherhood completely different. For me, as long as you feel and act as a mother it's fine- not my life to meddle, though. So with this, I have commented that we should have bought our manager a cake since she is considered the "teams mother". Abbie laughed at my comment, saying how can I say that as our manager does not even have a child. I reasoned out that our manager is considered the "teams mother" and we are sometimes labeled as motherless when she is on leave.
She laughed as if I was stupid enough to consider the idea and told me drop if off. I was honestly pissed feeling belittled and discarded.
At the height of my emotions I just rolled my eyes at her and replied "whatever". However, I value our friendship and let it go.
Well, not until today. One of our friends from work was having some issues and sharing it with us (not my story to tell though). But, it was too messy and I have provided my two cents informing my friend that she might just be a victim of the whole scenario. I have also advised her to choose her peace of mind and don't mind all the bs.
After this, Abbie pm-ed me not to be too invested of our friend's problem and that I know that our friend thinks the other way. I was utterly confused with her message.
First, I was not forcing any ideology, I was actually trying to calm the girl out. Second, my theory was merely a what if situation and still not clashing my friends point of view of the situation.
I just felt that Abbie is really lacking of comprehension (as per my observation) and I hate her for discarding my opinion. So, AITA for hating my friend for not understanding me?

Hi all!
If you had $35k to spend and were looking into starting a business, where would be your go to?
I'm hoping to translate this investment into something that could produce an additional 1k-1.5k per month. I work full time so my wife would be heading this on.
Our thoughts currently
Buying a couple of vending machines (easy for her to manage, fill up etc..)
Buying a travel trailer and renting it out on AirBNB (again, easy for her to manage)
Purchasing an online business from somewhere like Flippa / BuyBizSell (something i can help with as i currently work behind a computer all day)
We considered depositing this right into our savings and buying up the S&P 500 but would like to generate an additional revenue stream if that's possible with our amount of upfront capital.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi everyone! Just starting with travel trailers with my wife and two young kids.
Looking to buy a 2019 Apex Nano 185BH and a 2022 Highlander to pull it.
I find so much conflicting information on what I can safely tow.
Anyone with real-world experience towing with a Highlander?
Specs for the trailer are:
Length (ft-in / m) 20' 6'' / 6.2 Base Weight (lbs / kg) 2850 / 1292.8 Carrying Capacity (lbs / kg) 950 / 430.9 Hitch Weight (lbs / kg) 350 / 158.8
Specs for the Highlander are: Tow capacity - 5000 lbs Payload - 1685
Wife, kids, and I weigh a combined 347 lbs.
Seems that leaves us with about 1300 lbs of cargo, which seems like a lot but I am not really sure what stuff weighs.
Any thoughts? We'd like to avoid a truck or bigger SUV because, other than pulling the trailer, we don't have much use for a bigger vehicle.

My husband(28M) and I(28F) have been together almost 12 years, married 8. We met and began dating senior year of high school. Our friends have often said we are relationship goals. Sure we’ve had a bump or 2 but nothing that couldn’t be resolved with a constructive conversation.
Important to know before I get to the point of the post that before I ever met my husband I dated Jay who was 17/18, while I at the time was 15/16. We only dated about a year but our relationship really messed me up as he was all but physically abusive. Our relationship ended when Jay left and traveled halfway across the country for someone he met in an online game(invu)that he had openly been(at the very least) emotionally cheating with. He had gone as far as showing me their texts, and gaslighting me under the guise of them just role playing their characters when I got upset over him calling her by the same pet name he called me (ex. Baby, sweetheart, etc). I was 16 and naïve so I believed him. He left before dawn one morning and didn’t bother to call to break up with me until he was already out of state.
My husband and I met about 8 months later. I told him early on about what happened with Jay and that I was pretty messed up from it. He took it in stride and has been very supportive of me as I have been slowly trying to heal and undo the trauma Jay left me with.
In recent years I’d been doing the best I ever had and truthfully my relationship with Jay was starting to feel like a distant memory. I was by no means 100% healed but I was beginning to feel like I could close the chapter, that is until my husband met kat(26). He and kat met almost 2 years ago when they both joined an online d&d campaign his best friend ran. They weren’t particularly close friends until 8 months when they started the new campaign. Admittedly this is when it began bothering me because until this point all his online friends were male, kat was the first female.
I’ve tried to push past my feelings and remind myself that my husband isn’t Jay and he would never hurt me like that, but some things he’s done/said have made it difficult like when he made a character to play specifically with her in a game they both like, bought her a $60 game so they could play together, and has admitted if she didn’t live so far away that he would build her a new pc as a gift (like he did with his best friend). We have talked multiple times about it all and how I feel. He seemed to understand and has reassured me dozens of times that he isn’t going anywhere and that he would never cheat on me.
Now I’m not too sure of anything. Last Saturday they had a d&d session, and after session my husband all but dragged me to his office because he wanted to show me the text conversation he and kat had during session. It started out normal until kat commented that she felt like she had the whole season of [insert season] in her mouth because of the hard candy she’d been eating all session. The following exchange happened:
Husband- [insert season] is my last name, you said you had the whole season in your mouth. Kat- for shame! I’m telling [littlegamerkitten]. Husband- It’s her last name too. Kat- then give me the seasons.
I fully admit I shut down and locked myself in my office for a few hours. All the insecurities I had been pushing down were just flooding my brain, and I didn’t want to be so emotionally charged when we finally talked. When we did talk he apologized, and said he wasn’t trying to hurt me, he was just trying to be funny. He admitted he should have stopped and thought about it before making the joke and reassured me that there was nothing going on between him and kat and that he’s not going to leave me.
We have been ok since then. But I find myself feeling like maybe I over reacted. Now that I’ve had time to reflect on it the joke was kinda funny but definitely not the most appropriate. I’m just having a hard time trusting my judgment.

Hi I’m a 26 years old, 1m85, average boy, English is not my first language so I will try my best not to do mistake but it wont be perfect
First of all some stuff about me, I’m a nerd which means I can spend whole day playing without any concern, I do like to go out as well going to restaurant and all but I spend most of my night playing. I try to travel as much as I can, I do all the festival about bass musique or metal I can do. I’m working and independent.
I like many style of girl but I would say it’s even better if you are a white or Asian girl with dark hair I’m looking for a girl that is not bothered bye my time on the pc (I will spend time with you I just don’t want to get blamed for that) might be even better if you like playing as well (I already got a list of couple game that are only waiting for you !). Someone really tactile and that like to chill doing cuddles. I Would be really happy if you have a dog ! Lastly that is okay going on trip as much as possible even without planing it
I might have forgot stuff but this little presentation should do the first part, I can send photo if we click well, if your interested you can send me a dm

I’m a fucking wreck today.
I distracted myself as much as possible, as I’m usually amazing at doing. My schedule is jam-packed, which I will usually complain about to seem somewhat normal. “Ugh, I have so much to do this week…” as if I didn’t plan every single thing.
It’s harder to feel down when you’re always on the go. When you look good, when you stay in the gym, when you surround yourself with friends and family, when you work your ass off… at least that’s what I’ve always told myself. That’s what works for me.
Usually works. About once a month or so, my feelings catch up. It doesn’t matter where I’m at or what I’m doing – they’ll catch up. Suddenly I’m overwhelmed and I cry. Female rage consumes me and I scream in the car. I’ll try to push through when I get where I need to be – sometimes it’s work, sometimes it’s running errands. Today it was the gym. But my energy leaves me high and dry.
My bright aura is no longer with me and I’m numb. My eyes that were once filled with tears are now narrow. I cut my day short and I get back into my car because when my energy leaves me, I listen to my body and my soul. I need a minute to sulk. My drive home that is normally a full-blown concert is now silence, and it’s never been louder.
I run a hot shower when I get home in which I sit down and cry. I bury my head into my knees and I hug my legs until I feel ashamed because I live a privileged life. I dry off and before I put on any clothes, I go to the kitchen and pour a glass of red wine. Priorities. Just one glass, I say.
I cook myself a nice dinner. Nothing cures sadness like self care, wine, and a good TikTok binge, right? Tonight it was loaded baked potato soup – and it was incredible. The wine was also incredible. So incredible that one glass turned into two.
I layed out on the couch and laughed my ass off at TikToks. Temporarily, I was happy. Then I got a text from someone I really don’t even talk to – “I know what you’re going through. I’m here if you need anything.” Suddenly I’m overwhelmed again – I’m grateful and I’m sad. Grateful because I am lucky enough to always have people in my corner, but sad because somehow I still always feel alone. I think it’s an immediate response because no matter how many times people have said that, I always go through it alone.
My mom is never there, my friends are never there, my dad is never there. I feel like since I was eighteen years old, the only person that has ever truly looked out for me is me. The only being that has ever been there for me since then is my dog. So my immediate response is, I’m alone in this.
Granted, I love my parents and my family and my friends. They’re there in the good times, and they make the good times so much better. Most don’t know about these times, except for my mom. I’ll call my mom occasionally, only to be disappointed that it never makes me feel better. Worse actually. It’s never her fault, we just don’t connect like that. We never have for as long as I can remember. I always make the mistake of thinking that one day, we can get on that level. My delusion often results in disappointment.
One glass turns into a hefty three and suddenly I’m writing. Writing has always been an outlet for me, and I feel better now. I feel numb again. My feelings have left me high and dry as I type and I drink. Tomorrow I’ll wake up early, put on a pretty ass outfit, do my makeup, and act like this never happened. I’ll make my matcha and romanticize the fuck out of my life.
I make it seem like I’m doing great, like my life is perfect. But once a month, I remember that I am 26 years old and I’m alone. No matter how much I travel, no matter how much I spend, no matter how good I look, there’s this overwhelming feeling that consumes me at least once a month. I cry so hard I fall to my knees, I laugh maniacally, I drink myself to sleep, and then I wake up in the morning like everything is okay. Because it is, right? It’s just a monthly wreck.

I’m a fucking wreck today.
I distracted myself as much as possible, as I’m usually amazing at doing. My schedule is jam-packed, which I will usually complain about to seem somewhat normal. “Ugh, I have so much to do this week…” as if I didn’t plan every single thing.
It’s harder to feel down when you’re always on the go. When you look good, when you stay in the gym, when you surround yourself with friends and family, when you work your ass off… at least that’s what I’ve always told myself. That’s what works for me.
Usually works. About once a month or so, my feelings catch up. It doesn’t matter where I’m at or what I’m doing – they’ll catch up. Suddenly I’m overwhelmed and I cry. Female rage consumes me and I scream in the car. I’ll try to push through when I get where I need to be – sometimes it’s work, sometimes it’s running errands. Today it was the gym. But my energy leaves me high and dry.
My bright aura is no longer with me and I’m numb. My eyes that were once filled with tears are now narrow. I cut my day short and I get back into my car because when my energy leaves me, I listen to my body and my soul. I need a minute to sulk. My drive home that is normally a full-blown concert is now silence, and it’s never been louder.
I run a hot shower when I get home in which I sit down and cry. I bury my head into my knees and I hug my legs until I feel ashamed because I live a privileged life. I dry off and before I put on any clothes, I go to the kitchen and pour a glass of red wine. Priorities. Just one glass, I say.
I cook myself a nice dinner. Nothing cures sadness like self care, wine, and a good TikTok binge, right? Tonight it was loaded baked potato soup – and it was incredible. The wine was also incredible. So incredible that one glass turned into two.
I layed out on the couch and laughed my ass off at TikToks. Temporarily, I was happy. Then I got a text from someone I really don’t even talk to – “I know what you’re going through. I’m here if you need anything.” Suddenly I’m overwhelmed again – I’m grateful and I’m sad. Grateful because I am lucky enough to always have people in my corner, but sad because somehow I still always feel alone. I think it’s an immediate response because no matter how many times people have said that, I always go through it alone.
My mom is never there, my friends are never there, my dad is never there. I feel like since I was eighteen years old, the only person that has ever truly looked out for me is me. The only being that has ever been there for me since then is my dog. So my immediate response is, I’m alone in this.
Granted, I love my parents and my family and my friends. They’re there in the good times, and they make the good times so much better. Most don’t know about these times, except for my mom. I’ll call my mom occasionally, only to be disappointed that it never makes me feel better. Worse actually. It’s never her fault, we just don’t connect like that. We never have for as long as I can remember. I always make the mistake of thinking that one day, we can get on that level. My delusion often results in disappointment.
One glass turns into a hefty three and suddenly I’m writing. Writing has always been an outlet for me, and I feel better now. I feel numb again. My feelings have left me high and dry as I type and I drink. Tomorrow I’ll wake up early, put on a pretty ass outfit, do my makeup, and act like this never happened. I’ll make my matcha and romanticize the fuck out of my life.
I make it seem like I’m doing great, like my life is perfect. But once a month, I remember that I am 26 years old and I’m alone. No matter how much I travel, no matter how much I spend, no matter how good I look, there’s this overwhelming feeling that consumes me at least once a month. I cry so hard I fall to my knees, I laugh maniacally, I drink myself to sleep, and then I wake up in the morning like everything is okay. Because it is, right? It’s just a monthly wreck.

Socal based around IE, but i do travel to OC/LA occasionally, and will also be in SD for Comic Con. hoping to work out some trades.
[FT]
Japanese games:
Vivo (NIS)
Nokosu Dice 3e (NIS)
Yura Yura Penguin (NIS)
Nanatoridori (NIS)
Nana (NIS)
Cafe Overload Oink (NIS)
Trick & Snipers (NIS)
Anima Bistro (unplayed)
Rumble Nation Deluxe edition (NIS)
Bus & Stop (new Saashi and Saashi game)
Other games, with new additions on top:
Dwellings of Eldervale + minotaur
Spirit island + Branch and claw + Jagged Earth + Natures Incarnate + spirits from Horizon box + holographic spirits pack
Project Elite All in
Street masters aftershock plus extras (mended edges)
Burncycle
Oathsworn + armory + update kit
Oltree (NIS)
Hidden leaders + expansion
Grimm Forest
Demon worker
Marvel united All in for season 1, 2, plus cardboard materials, season 3 all in pledge incoming, partially painted, plus multiple/most promos.
Innovation + expansion (older edition with subjectively better art)
Adventure tactics
Skull + Promo set of coasters (which adds another player so can boost player count to 7)
Project L Collectors Box
Moonrakers Base - effectively base game but in kickstarter box Lord of the Rings LCG Plus fellowship of the ring saga plus a few other character expansions
The Initiative
Marvel champions heroes - Drax, wasp, quicksilver
Warps Edge
Jaipur (Old and new edition available)
Unmatched: Little red and beowulf
Azul + playmat
5 Minute Dungeon: Big box + expansion
5 minute marvel
Above and Below Kickstarter edition
Ancient World
Android: Netrunner
Arkham horror Card game Return to Dunwhich, forgotten age, and path to carcosa boxes
Atlantic STorm
ATtack on Titan: Deck Building game with hange promo character
Banned Words
Battlecon: Trials of indines
Battlecon: Complete Unleashed Kickstarter collection (one of the two boxes has an edge split)
Beagle or Bagel?
Bios: Megafauna 2nd edition (NIS)
Bloodborne: Card Game + exansion
Brick Party
Broom Service: card game
Capital City
Captains of the GUlf
Carnival Zombie: 2nd deluxe edition KS + expansion
Castle Panic (older edition)
Castles of Mad king ludwig: secrets
Clinic Deluxe edition plus expansion
Consentacle (NIS)
Demon Worker
Dice throne: Seraph vs vampire lord
Dice thrones promos
Disc Duelers
Disney Sorcerers Arena: Epic alliances (NIS)
Dragon Pets
Dungeon Raiders (newer edition)
Epic spell wars battle of the wizards: Skullzfyre and Tentakill boxes
Escape from the Aliens in Outer SPace
Escape: Curse of the Temple
Fantasy Realms
Favor of the Pharoah
Flatline
Forged in Steel
Fort + expansion
Frostpunk
Fugitive
Funkoverse Harry Potter
Galaxy defenders + elite alien army
THe Game
GAP
Goonies: never say die
Gretchinz!
Grifters
Hollow Cell (NIS)
Horse Fever
Ignite Kickstarter edition with centaurs: unpunched
ISS Vanguard +close encounters + personal files (NIS)
Ivanhoe
Junk Art
Kemomimi Panic + promos
The King is dead
Labyrinth
Level 7 [omega protocol] + expansion
March of the ants
Maters Trials: Wrath of Magmaroth (NIS)
Monster Slaughter + kickstarter content
Mottainai
New York Slice
Nuns on the Run
Of Dreams and Shadows + Monster within expansion
Omen: Reign of war + expansions ( tales of the ancients, gifts of the gods, fires in the east, edge of the aegean, and heir to the dunes, condensed into two boxes, some edge whitening)
Ouch!
Overseers
Pandemic: The cure + experimental Meds
Pocket Paragons: Origins
Rattaneer
Reckoners Kickstarter edition
Revolution!
Sagrada + multiple expansions (NIS)
Sidereal Confluence: 1st ed
Starcadia quest
Sons of Anarchy: Men of Mayhem
Space Gate Odyssey
Spirit Island (NIS)
Spyfall + Spyfall 2
Squirmish
Summoner wars: Master set + expansions
Tabannusi: Builders of Ur
Taj mahal (printed rulebook, one token replaced using the spare)
Tapeworm (NIS, KS edition i believe)
Terror Below
Time of Crisis: roman empire in Turmoil
Time stories: Revolution, hadal project
Tokyo Jidohanbaiki
Tragedy looper
Trailz
Vindication + leaders + promo pack + promo mini
Warriors of God: wars of england and france
Whistle stop
Wits and Wagers deluxe edition
Wok Star
Word Slam (NIS)
Wordsy
World of warcraft; wrath of the lich king
Xia: legends of a drift system + Embers a forsaken star
Zendo
Zombicide collection: zombicide, season 2 prison outbreak, box of zombies (Zombie dogz), toxic city mall Zombicide Black plague: + wulfsburg + zombie bosses condensed into base box (some edge splitting), and wooden organizer.
[W]
Loop
Diamonds
Astro knights eternity stuff
Buurn
Too many bones content - (I already have base game)
massive darkness 2 darkbringer box + druids
20 strong
7th citadel
Kinsfire chronicles
7 wonders expansions beyond armada.
7 Wonders architects
Heat: Pedal to the metal Wyrmspan
Zoo Vadis
Unsettled content beyond planet 4.
Other wants:
Last of us remake + Last of us 2 remake for ps5
Final fantasy rebirth
Vinyl Records Video game/anime themed

Hi all! I remember a while ago comming across a cool video game trailer. It was of a ship traveling what I thoughy was the void. It was a yellow and black doted (kinda like how those lidar games look just black and yellow tho) exspance. It was cavernous with many branching paths. The ship you were on had no sails and was like a scaled down Final Fantasy air ship. I had a light that you could turn off. Near the end of the trailer the player turned the light out and a monster passed over head. The player then turned the ship at the wall and went through it to another passage. The video then ends.

Hi all! I remember a while ago comming across a cool video game trailer. It was of a ship traveling what I thoughy was the void. It was a yellow and black doted (kinda like how those lidar games look just black and yellow tho) exspance. It was cavernous with many branching paths. The ship you were on had no sails and was like a scaled down Final Fantasy air ship. I had a light that you could turn off. Near the end of the trailer the player turned the light out and a monster passed over head. The player then turned the ship at the wall and went through it to another passage. The video then ends.

Hi all! I remember a while ago comming across a cool video game trailer. It was of a ship traveling what I thoughy was the void. It was a yellow and black doted (kinda like how those lidar games look just black and yellow tho) exspance. It was cavernous with many branching paths. The ship you were on had no sails and was like a scaled down Final Fantasy air ship. I had a light that you could turn off. Near the end of the trailer the player turned the light out and a monster passed over head. The player then turned the ship at the wall and went through it to another passage. The video then ends.

Line Score - Game Over

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
CLE	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	7	0	8
TEX	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	4	7	0	8

Box Score

TEX		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA
2B	Semien	5	0	0	0	0	2	.277
SS	Seager	4	1	1	1	1	1	.236
1B	Lowe, N	5	1	1	1	0	3	.310
RF	García, Ad	4	2	2	1	0	0	.253
3B	Smith	4	0	1	1	0	0	.272
C	Heim	3	0	0	0	1	2	.281
DH	Jankowski	3	0	1	0	1	0	.250
LF	Duran, E	3	0	1	0	1	2	.299
CF	Taveras	3	0	0	0	1	0	.254

TEX	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	P-S	ERA
Leiter	1.2	3	6	6	3	1	64-38	16.39
Hernández, J	2.1	3	0	0	1	2	39-28	3.24
Rodríguez, Y	4.0	0	0	0	0	0	44-30	7.24
Yates	0.1	1	1	1	1	0	16-9	1.10
Anderson, G	0.2	0	0	0	1	0	10-6	11.57

CLE		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA
CF	Freeman, T	2	1	1	0	1	0	.193
2B	Gimenez	4	1	2	2	0	0	.255
3B	Ramírez, Jo	5	0	1	0	0	0	.241
1B	Naylor, J	3	1	1	3	2	1	.268
LF	Fry	4	0	1	0	0	0	.306
LF	Brennan	0	0	0	0	0	0	.235
DH	Manzardo	4	1	0	0	0	0	.130
RF	Florial	3	1	0	0	1	0	.195
RF	Laureano	0	0	0	0	0	0	.149
C	Naylor, B	4	1	1	2	0	1	.178
SS	Rocchio	2	1	0	0	2	1	.208

CLE	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	P-S	ERA
Lively	5.0	5	3	3	3	5	88-60	3.06
Smith, C	2.0	0	0	0	0	3	20-16	2.21
Barlow, S	1.0	2	1	1	1	2	26-15	3.10
Clase, E	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	16-10	0.42

Scoring Plays

Inning	Event	Score
T2	Bo Naylor doubles (2) on a sharp fly ball to center fielder Leody Taveras. Kyle Manzardo scores. Estevan Florial scores.	0-2
T2	Andrés Giménez singles on a line drive to center fielder Leody Taveras. Bo Naylor scores. Tyler Freeman to 2nd.	0-3
T2	Josh Naylor homers (12) on a fly ball to right field. Tyler Freeman scores. Andrés Giménez scores.	0-6
B2	Adolis García homers (9) on a fly ball to left field.	1-6
B3	Corey Seager homers (5) on a line drive to right field.	2-6
B5	Nathaniel Lowe homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.	3-6
B8	Josh Smith singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Tyler Freeman. Adolis García scores.	4-6
T9	Andrés Giménez out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Leody Taveras. Brayan Rocchio scores. Tyler Freeman to 3rd.	4-7

Highlights

Description	Length
Bullpen availability for Texas, May 14 vs Guardians	0:07
Bullpen availability for Cleveland, May 14 vs Rangers	0:07
Bench availability for Texas, May 14 vs Guardians	0:07
Fielding alignment for Texas, May 14 vs Guardians	0:11
Bench availability for Cleveland, May 14 vs Rangers	0:07
Fielding alignment for Cleveland, May 14 vs Rangers	0:11
Starting lineups for Guardians at Rangers - May 14, 2024	0:09
Breaking down Jack Leiter's pitches	0:04
Measuring the stats on Josh Naylor's home run	0:13
An animated look at Josh Naylor's home run	0:11
Adolis García: Home Run Statcast Analysis	0:13
Adolis García's home run through bat tracking data	0:11
Measuring the stats on Corey Seager's home run	0:12
Corey Seager's home run through bat tracking data	0:11
Measuring the stats on Nathaniel Lowe's home run	0:11
Visualizing Nathaniel Lowe's swing using bat tracking technology	0:11
Breaking down Ben Lively's pitches	0:04
Ben Lively's outing against the Rangers	0:26
Bo Naylor's two-run double	0:29
Andrés Giménez's RBI single	0:16
Josh Naylor's three-run homer (12)	0:26
Adolis García's solo homer (9)	0:28
Jack Leiter K's Brayan Rocchio	0:06
Corey Seager's solo homer (5)	0:28
Nathaniel Lowe's solo homer (2)	0:27
Tyler Freeman's crashing catch; collides with Rocchio	0:30
Tyler Freeman's diving catch	0:22
Marcus Semien's sliding stop	0:09
Josh Smith's RBI single	0:05
Ben Lively's five strikeouts	0:37
Andrés Giménez's sac fly	0:17

Decisions

Winning Pitcher	Losing Pitcher	Save
Lively (2-2, 3.06 ERA)	Leiter (0-1, 16.39 ERA)	Clase, E (12 SV, 0.42 ERA)

Game ended at 10:06 PM.

Postgame Thread 5/15/2024

Final Score: Guardians 7, Rangers 4

Line Score - Game Over

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
CLE	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	7	0	8
TEX	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	4	7	0	8

Scoring Plays

Inning	Event	Score
T2	Bo Naylor doubles (2) on a sharp fly ball to center fielder Leody Taveras. Kyle Manzardo scores. Estevan Florial scores.	0-2
T2	Andrés Giménez singles on a line drive to center fielder Leody Taveras. Bo Naylor scores. Tyler Freeman to 2nd.	0-3
T2	Josh Naylor homers (12) on a fly ball to right field. Tyler Freeman scores. Andrés Giménez scores.	0-6
B2	Adolis García homers (9) on a fly ball to left field.	1-6
B3	Corey Seager homers (5) on a line drive to right field.	2-6
B5	Nathaniel Lowe homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.	3-6
B8	Josh Smith singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Tyler Freeman. Adolis García scores.	4-6
T9	Andrés Giménez out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Leody Taveras. Brayan Rocchio scores. Tyler Freeman to 3rd.	4-7

Highlights

Description	Length
Bullpen availability for Texas, May 14 vs Guardians	0:07
Bullpen availability for Cleveland, May 14 vs Rangers	0:07
Bench availability for Texas, May 14 vs Guardians	0:07
Fielding alignment for Texas, May 14 vs Guardians	0:11
Bench availability for Cleveland, May 14 vs Rangers	0:07
Fielding alignment for Cleveland, May 14 vs Rangers	0:11
Starting lineups for Guardians at Rangers - May 14, 2024	0:09
Breaking down Jack Leiter's pitches	0:04
Measuring the stats on Josh Naylor's home run	0:13
An animated look at Josh Naylor's home run	0:11
Adolis García: Home Run Statcast Analysis	0:13
Adolis García's home run through bat tracking data	0:11
Measuring the stats on Corey Seager's home run	0:12
Corey Seager's home run through bat tracking data	0:11
Measuring the stats on Nathaniel Lowe's home run	0:11
Visualizing Nathaniel Lowe's swing using bat tracking technology	0:11
Breaking down Ben Lively's pitches	0:04
Ben Lively's outing against the Rangers	0:26
Bo Naylor's two-run double	0:29
Andrés Giménez's RBI single	0:16
Josh Naylor's three-run homer (12)	0:26
Adolis García's solo homer (9)	0:28
Jack Leiter K's Brayan Rocchio	0:06
Corey Seager's solo homer (5)	0:28
Nathaniel Lowe's solo homer (2)	0:27
Tyler Freeman's crashing catch; collides with Rocchio	0:30
Tyler Freeman's diving catch	0:22
Marcus Semien's sliding stop	0:09
Josh Smith's RBI single	0:05
Ben Lively's five strikeouts	0:37
Andrés Giménez's sac fly	0:17

Decisions

Winning Pitcher	Losing Pitcher	Save
Lively (2-2, 3.06 ERA)	Leiter (0-1, 16.39 ERA)	Clase, E (12 SV, 0.42 ERA)

I just want to preface this with there is NO set markup for all builders. Every company is different. Different overhead. Different profit. When people say a “20%” standard, they have no idea what they are talking about or they are feeding you a bunch of BS. Production builders are able to charge a lower markup because they have a larger gross revenue. Custom builders that only do a few houses a year have larger markups because they have less gross revenue. Or they can have a lower markup because they have lower overhead or set their net margin at a lower number. The numbers are what they are. There is a reason that 95% of contractors go out of business within the first few years. They might be good at their trade but they are terrible at their numbers. Never go with a cost plus contractor. It is guaranteed that the number they give you is a low ball number to get the job. 100% of cost plus jobs will end at least 30-40% higher than what was originally quoted. Or they will never be completed. What happens then? Here are a few things I would like the cost plus guys to mull over and answer as well as the attorneys I have seen commenting on CP contracts:

1. There is no universal definition of Cost Plus or Time & Material Contracts or billing, thus creating confusion and misunderstandings almost immediately in any contract. Attorneys practicing law in the same town will often have different definitions of what is a Cost Plus or Time & Material Contract.
   
2. Lenders often will not lend on Cost Plus or Time & Material jobs unless there is a "not to exceed" clause. When the job goes beyond the not to exceed clause, you must have written authorization to do that work (signed, dated and completely priced out on a Change Work Order) or your client is not obligated to pay you for the work.
   
3. Some states now have laws that specifically prohibit the use of Cost Plus contracts.
   
4. Based on discussions with attorneys Cost Plus or Time & Material jobs generate lawsuits at a rate of 3 to 1, and arbitrations at 9 to 1 over Fixed Figure contracts.
   
5. Cost Plus or Time & Material contracts are an easy way out of doing detailed project study and estimating. This increases the chances that the original "estimate" for work to be done will be low to very low. You risk accusations of violating the Good Faith & Fair Dealing law for "low balling" estimates. An estimate below the actual price will lead to a fight over money when the real costs start the original estimate. coming in, and the client is requested to pay more for the job than
   
6. Because of the perception that on Cost Plus or Time & Material contracts the owner is required to pay for absolutely everything, many contractors do not write out Change Work Orders and have the owner sign them, falsely believing that they (the contractor) will be paid for all the work that they do on that job.
   
7. Owners often go into a Cost Plus contract thinking they have ample money to cover the job. When the job reaches the 60 percent to 80 percent completion point, and the owners have made multiple changes to the job increasing the cost, they run out of money. Their claim will be that the contractor overcharged from the start of the job, and the contractor will be expected to finish
   
8. For your own protection, you must keep an accurate day-to-day log of all labor, materials, subcontract and other fees or costs on the job to be able to verify your actual expenses to date. If you do not, depending on your contract, you may not be able to collect for undocumented expenses, regardless of what they are or how much work has been done.
   
9. In addition, you must have in your possession every document from the job that has incurred a cost. This includes all time cards, invoices, or any other papers related to the project. If you lose any item, you may not be paid for it.
   
10. With the need to keep very careful records on the jobs, you substantially increase the amount of meeting and preparatory time necessary for the job. Often this time will be three to four times the amount of time necessary to complete a Fixed Figure contract. Cost Plus or Time & Material jobs require at least two, and often three times as many meetings with the client to review job progress, billings, invoices, labor, etc. Who pays for the meeting time and the extra administration time to prep all the documents for labor and invoices from subs and suppliers?
    
11. Who draws the plans and gets the permits on a Cost Plus or Time & Material job? If a mistake is made on the plans, who pays for the time it takes to redraw the plans; and who pays to tear out the mistake and rebuild it?
    
12. Who pays for the engineering if the owner forgets to include it on the plans that they provide; and who pays for your downtime while you wait for these revisions?
    
13. Suppose engineering on a portion of the job gets by the plans examiner, the inspector catches the problem, and the job has to shut down until the engineering is complete and new plans are drawn and ready to use. Who pays for the new plans and delays? Who pays for tearing out the wrong structural work completed, and the materials that are ruined due to tear out? Who pays for the additional labor needed to correct the problem? Who pays for the downtime for you and your crew, driving time; restart up time?
    
14. Will the owner be willing to pay for your travel time to and from your office for meetings or discussions on problems that might arise on the job; or from the jobsite to your suppliers and back to the job site for material pickup that either they or you forgot?
    
15. If you make a mistake on a Cost Plus or Time & Material job, who pays for it? Do you donate your time or is the client willing to pay For it? Who pays for ruined materials? Who pays to go get the new materials and the cost of the vehicle expense to do the pickup?
    
16. Who makes up the material lists for jobs with Cost Plus or Time & Material contracts that are needed before the job starts? If you do, will you be paid for that time?
    
17. Owners are far more prone to want to furnish some or all of the materials for their jobs when using a Cost Plus or Time & Material contract. The contractor is expected to guarantee those materials when installed, not to mention losing the markup on those materials. Who pays for the time to replace defective materials supplied by the owner?
    
18. What happens when the owner is to supply some of the materials and they forget to buy a certain item or don't know what materials to bring to the jobsite? Who pays to get the forgotten items? What happens if it takes the owner two or three days (or longer) to get the needed materials to the jobsite? What do you and your crews do in the meantime, and who pays for that downtime?
    
19. The owner goes to your supplier (with your permission) and charges materials for the job to your account. What happens if you send the owner to a certain supplier you normally use for materials, he purchases the materials, and then later claims that he could have purchased the same materials at another location at a better price? You gave him the higher priced supplier to go to, so you are responsible for the difference in cost.
    
20. Cost Plus or Time & Material reviews show owners what you're paying for materials. This will increase the probability of complaints from owners that they could have bought the same item elsewhere for less money. It also leads to owners believing they only have to pay the amount that they could have bought the materials for.
    
21. Owners expect you to be fully productive on their jobs for 8 hours a day. They will be looking over your shoulder constantly. You will seldom, if ever, get the job done as quickly as they are expecting you to do it. Will they be willing to pay for your state's mandated morning and afternoon breaks for your employees? Will they be willing to pay for smoke breaks, coffee breaks, mobile phone time? Will they pay for the time for you or one of your employees to escort an inspector through the job and answer questions? Who pays for the labor and materials to do required changes?
    
22. The contractor must be far more diligent in policing employees so that they are productive on the job at all times, with no miscellaneous discussions or activities on or about anything other than the job they are working on. Again, this pertains to starting and quitting times, smoke breaks, coffee breaks, mobile phone time.
    
23. It is very difficult to "compete" on Cost Plus commercial jobs, because larger construction companies will take these jobs at cost to build a presence with corporations that allocate multimillion- dollar projects on assignment basis as a result of favorable past performance.
    
24. From the client's standpoint, Cost Plus contracts give the contractor little incentive to get in and get the job done. Instead, the contractor's incentive is to keep the clock running, especially if he doesn't have the next job lined up. Cost Plus jobs often run far longer than would be considered normal with a Fixed Fee contract.
    
25. Owners believe that Cost Plus or Time & Material jobs will cost them less money to build. Therefore, they expect you to charge them less money for the work that you do (i.e. less than your normal overhead and profit). In most cases, owners believe that you should only make: Remodeling: 10 percent overhead and to 10 percent profit New home construction: 10 percent overhead and profit Specialty construction: 6 to 10 percent overhead and 5 to 10 percent profit This makes it extremely difficult for you to use your established markup on that job, especially when you have to show them your invoices at the normally required meetings where you review the job progress and expenses to date.
    
26. Owners do their homework, put their job out for "Bid" at Cost Plus or Time & Material plus 6 percent, 7 percent or 8 percent maximum markup. They tell you if you don't want to bid that way, don't enter a bid. They also tell you that "You're not going to make your normal markup on my job!' In other words, take it or leave it.
    
27. One way many contractors handle Cost Plus or Time & Material contracts is to take items that are considered overhead and stuff those costs into the job cost section. In court, a sharp expert witness will find the overhead items listed under job costs and accuse the contractor of "double dipping" on the job. This immediately paints the contractor as dishonest, making a win in court even more difficult.
    
28. Most Cost Plus contracts give the owner the right to either select the subs for his job from a list supplied by the general contractor, or the owner can hire his own subcontractors that the owner will supervise during the job. What happens if subs hired by the owner don't adhere to the general contractor's time schedule? Who's responsible for delays and downtime caused by their lack of cooperation? What prevents the owner from suing the contractor for lack of supervision and other damages caused because the job did not get done on time?
    

I live in Toronto Canada, and want to watch Boy Kills World, which supposedly released in theaters on April 26. I started looking for showtimes, only to discover that none of my local theaters have showtimes for it. Scratch that, none of the theaters in Toronto (that I could find) have any showtimes for it either, and then out of curiosity I extended my search throughout Ontario and I still couldn't find any showtimes!
I didn't think this was a niche movie, the trailers have millions of views on YouTube, why the hell isn't it playing at any theaters? I've never experienced this with a new movie that just released. Is it playing in theaters in the US? Has anyone else experienced the same difficulty with finding a theater that plays it?

As the headline says, I got some pretty mind blowing news today. For context, I’m the oldest of 4 grown adult children in my 40s, mom is in 60s my siblings are 12 years + younger with the baby 26. Long set up but I promise it sets the tone…My mom has always been very controlling of everything, utilizing her children as commodities for visits with family and other parents etc. I never knew my dad and when relationships ended with the other siblings fathers, they only got access on her say so etc which was not often. By the time I was 16, I was in high school raising 3 siblings ranging from infant to toddler. She was barely home working long haul trucking while stepdad at time was recovering from flipping his big truck. He ultimately tried to kill himself again in my presence with my siblings asleep (he was Vietnam vet with ptsd) one night and I stopped him and called for help. He went away for a few months but ultimately she brought him home one day months later, shipped my siblings off to my aunt and told me at 17, I had 24 hours to find place to live. I was still in high school but newly dating a guy who had lawyers for parents. They stepped in took custody of me.
Needless to say I was traumatized, she took off with stepdad and went back on road with him. I didn’t get to see my siblings often because they were hour away from me and I barely spoke to my mom. She ultimately didn’t speak to me till the weekend of my 18 birthday. She called to tell me to come back home and quit school to take care of siblings because my aunt was no longer going to do it while they continued to drive cross country. I was senior in high school months from graduation and said NO. She said she would never speak to me again because I was selfish and I couldn’t see my siblings either.
This started decades long cycle, I barely got to see my siblings as they grew unless I did what she wanted which as I grew up, I chose less and less to conform. I only got to see them at family affairs that I was invited to with all family. My grandparents came to my 1st wedding when she refused to. Ultimately the stepfather in questioned that she chose over her own kids in my teens left her and cleared their bank account of his inheritance money the night she came to my house to visit with my second child shortly after I gave birth.
She has been relatively a single parent since, she had to come off road long haul trucking because she had no one to watch 3 young children all the time. The siblings grew into teens and young adults with some major issues. The two older ones cannot stay out of prison, the youngest struggled early in teen years, I tried to help where I could but it was not easy. Their 1st born was in dfcs custody before 2 months old, I took guardianship of both child and parent but they did not stick around and did their own thing. After 2 + years of failed parenting plans etc, we adopted to keep them in family despite the fact my own children were teens at this point.
My mom was angry and said I should have left them in dfcs to disappear but later tried to say I stole the child. My sibling does not feel the same way but they are still very heavily reliant on my mom financially (she control their bank account and money) she would not let them tell me she was pregnant with 2nd child and I didn’t find out till they were 4 months old. They hid pregnancy and baby from rest of family. By the 3rd child we had a better connection but they are still very reliant on my moms financial assistance and when she does not want me to know something or participate in certain events they won’t tell us or avoid contact. I don’t play into the antics though and one of my mom’s biggest issues with me is that I don’t call/text her on daily basis as my siblings supposedly do. I’ve explained that I have a busy life of my own multiple times. I have full time job, manage care of a special needs child and assist with care of aging fil while running a household of 6 people. My grown children still live at home because college and living expenses are too much to handle in this economy.
I do make an effort to text or call every few weeks. I connect for sure on holidays, birthdays etc. I knew when she called to come over today it was important and I was available despite it being a work day normally. She came in bluntly told me about her widow maker heart attack and triple bypass surgery that occurred while she was out on a run in the truck. My sister and aunt where has power of attorney over her will etc was notified in time for them to travel several hours to another state to be there by time she was out of surgery. Per my mom she told them to notify those who called or were in her 2 week call history. Which apparently left me out. I went back into both my call log and text history and showed her our communication with in 10 days of the event and she said she had no idea about it, she was high on morphine at time. I showed her the multiple text conversations we had had since no more than 3 weeks apart between each conversation since January, asking why she never mentioned it during those conversations. She never answered my calls during that time but that was not too unusual. I had met up with my baby sibling a few weeks ago to get the kids together and they never mentioned it either. My mom has been living with them since the event full time and has not worked since. No mention what so ever. I did find out two of her own siblings were also left out intentionally as well and found out much later too. The only reason I found out today was because she found out she had cancer in her kidney and has to have another surgery soon and wants me to get test to make sure I don’t have it. She is not apologetic about leaving me out of the loop at all. She says I have to call her or text once a week in order to be considered for notification of such events.
I’m hurt, I’m flabbergasted and have no idea how to proceed. I’ve discussed cutting all contact with my husband and adult children in relation to mom but that means cutting contact with my baby sibling who is bio parent to my youngest, this cutting their connection to their younger siblings. The older siblings are easier because well honestly they are in jail more than not. I feel like this will never end and she will go to her grave trying to control the narrative.