TL;DR face suddenly flaring up at age 40, already on strong antihistamines, need advice from ppl w similar experience
Hello! I had eczema all over my body all my life, it was really bad when I was in my twenties mainly due to scratching and breaking/infecting the skin - but everything got much better once I started getting acrylic nails preventing this, and kept on top of moisturising with 10% urea and sea salt baths. However in the past 2-3 years the itching has gotten out of control, I'm currently on 180mg Fexofenadine twice daily. But as if that's not enough, it seems to have moved to my face now - twice over the span of 2 weeks I woke up to my whole face burning, hot and itching, with bright red patches and the skin feeling too tight for my skull. The first time my GP prescribed prednisolone, which helped short term, but it almost immediately happened again after. This time I was given chlorphenamine and betnovate cream. It has calmed down now but skin is still very dry and flaking now. Nothing has changed in my diet (im plant-based) nor have I used new products. I have an appointment with my GP again in a week to see where I'm at. Has anyone had a similar development and maybe suggestions what the trigger could be, or what to do about it? I'm 40, so I'm wondering if this could have something to do with perimenopause? Sidenote - I'm in the UK, dupixent/dupilumab is not being used here as widely as in the US it seems

I suspect that I have hypermobility for the following reasons: (1) I have common comorbidities: autism, arrhythmias, autoimmune condition(s), and lifelong gut problems. (2) I have always been able to hyperextend my arms, knees, wrists, and ankles with little-to-no strain. (3) I dislocated my jaw doing something that should not have dislocated my jaw, and I have had TMJ since before that happened. (4) I have very delicate, sensitive skin. (5) My skin is kind of stretchy. (6) My body feels stiff if I do not maintain a regular yoga practice.

A theory I have on the character Nuan, the inventor from the Dawn Court that we meet in ACOWAR, who her family might be and why -
I believe Nuan is also Helion’s biological child!!
In Chapter 11 of ACOWAR, Lucien says in reference to Feyre’s Day Court light powers: ”… my friend at the Dawn Court has the same power - her light is identical…”. Lucien is talking about Nuan, because when we see her at the High Lord/Lady meeting Feyre refers to her as Tamlin and Lucien’s ”mutual friend”. Rhys tells Beron, that Nuan is the person who made Lucien’s eye. And Nuan admits that she’s been in contact with Lucien to get the faebane samples out of Velaris. We know that Feyre’s light powers come from the Day Court, and specifically Helion himself. Lucien also specifically says that Nuan’s powers are identical to Feyre’s. Not just similar, but exactly the same. To me this hints that Nuan’s powers come directly from Helion himself as well, but as her biological father. This is my strongest argument, but here are some other points, and even an argument against this theory:
Nuan and Helion’s interactions at the HL meeting are unusually tense. I think maybe one or both of them know she’s his biological daughter. Helion is known for putting on a mask, maybe he was harsh with her to protect her from the other High Lords finding out? Here are some examples: “… as she (Nuan) studied Helion. And did not seem impressed…”; ”Helion shifted with impatience…” in reference to Nuan discussing the faebane antidote; ”Helion’s amber eyes flashed.” After Beron questioned whose interests Nuan served.
She did not balk from the High Lords, as an average citizen might, instead she challenged them, hinting that she has great power: “She did not break Tarquin’s stare, and he straightened, as if surprised she did so.”; “Nuan said to the Lord of Autumn, her chin high, ‘I am a child of Prythian. I was born here, on this land, as your sons were.’”; She admits freely to Rhys, that she and Lucien went behind his back with the faebane samples, bc they did not want to get his hopes up, not until she found the antidote.
Helion is associated with gold and the sun, and so are Lucien and Nuan: Both Lucien and Nuan have golden mechanical body parts that Nuan invented, Lucien’s eye and Nuan’s hand. At the HL meeting, SJM made a point to write “… the sun glinting off her metal hand.” Also, her light powers. We see like calls to like, throughout the series, not just with the cauldron and the Archeron sisters. I think Nuan and Lucien both having golden mechanical body parts, forging a strong bond as friends, and each having a half of Helion’s powers (Nuan - light, Lucien - spell cleaving) is significant and points to them being siblings.
Nuan and Helion share similarities, both in looks and personality: Nuan and Helion are both extremely intelligent, a trait that is common in the Day Court. Nuan is an expert inventor and alchemist, Helion and his one thousand libraries are said to “hold the knowledge of the world.” Nuan and Helion both have black/onyx hair. Helion’s skin is dark brown, while Nuan’s is light brown. I agree that this point is the weakest. This could also be simply explained by Nuan’s Xian heritage, as Thesan is described similarly.
The biggest argument I’ve found to this theory is Nuan’s own words to Beron after he asks who she is, Nuan says: ”’I am the daughter of two High Fae from Xian, who moved here to give their children a better life, if that is what you are demanding to know,’ Nuan answered tightly.” However, I think this could be simply another Lucien situation. Or, it could be the case, that she knows Helion is her biological father, but considers the man who raised her to be her true father. There are multiple scenarios. While we do not know Nuan’s age, we know she was born before Under the Mountain, because she invented Lucien’s eye. The Solar Courts are close allies, so it is not out of the question that Helion was visiting the Dawn Court and could have had relationships with the citizens there.
I rest my case.

A lot of write posts about peoples experience with their Bi-Salp helped me prepare for mine so I thought I would post about my personal experience!!
So about three years ago, I got my copper IUD placed. I didn’t want to try any hormonal birth control because I tend to be hormone imbalanced, considering I got my period when I was nine years old and I already had ovarian cyst when I was 12 I didn’t want to add to the mix. For the first two years of me having it because my wedding ended up getting postponed due to Covid January 2023, I got married started my first year with the copper IUD being actually sexually active. I always loved my IUD because of the presence of no side effects. Other than the fact that my periods were terrible my periods would fluctuate from being seven days to eight days to 14 days to 20 days long. Throughout the month, I would always spot and have random cramping and then on the day cycle or the day leading up, I was already spotting a lot.. I would take 800 mg of ibuprofen every four hours for the entirety of my period because I could not Barrett all of this medication definitely affected my gut health. Towards the fall of last year, I felt like my cycles were getting a little lighter. Finally I thought I’m about to be three years with this may be it will be regulating a little more soon even with the copper had an extreme paranoia of anxiety, but I didn’t realize how extreme my anxiety is now that this risk of getting pregnant I felt was so prevalent, even though I had a obsess over people and I didn’t use any other form of birth control like condoms because I didn’t really like how it felt. I was always paranoid sitting on the toilet for hours waiting for everything to come out not doing anything for two weeks out of the month I include my period and then my ovulation week because that would also make me more paranoid. The last few months of a light cycle I got the worst cycles I had ever gotten they lasted about three weeks with giant clotting and in general I would always be having to wear. Diapers. I would wear a diaper with a pad on the inside of it and I would go through that every hour and a half so my blood loss was intense after my cycle I would get super lightheaded and the worst part is that I have always been chronically anemic my whole life I’m also vegetarian. I don’t eat meat.. It was a perfect storm. The anemia was being affected by the IUD blood loss and then I was diagnosed with heavy menstrual hemorrhaging. so in January, I decided to go to the doctor and see if there was any other options. Still, I knew that birth-control with hormones was not some thing I wanted. I was referred to a minimally, invasive, OB/GYN surgeon, and I asked about getting a Bi-Salp. he spoke to me about the whole process, and I was very excited that day we decided to take my IUD out, which thankfully was not as painful as the torturous insertion. His plan was let’s see how my natural cycle after. Take the IUD out if my bleeding regulates and I’m not losing as much blood. Would be a good option, but then it will be evident that the IUD is not the cause and that it’s a further issue and then they were considering doing a hysterectomy so that I would no longer get a cycle and I wouldn’t have to worry about my anemia by taking the IUD out sure enough my cycles got better two months and my cycles went from a two week. 22 Would be a good option, but then it will be evident that the IUD is not the cause and that it’s a further issue and then they were considering doing a hysterectomy so that I would no longer get a cycle and I wouldn’t have to worry about my anemia, but by taking the IUD out sure enough my cycles got better two months and my cycles went from a two week period to a 2 to 3 day. to 3 day period. Not even days after removing my copper IUD I felt so much relief. I felt a fullness disappear that I didn’t even realize was there in the first place and a lot of other things changed to my skin got clear and overall I felt less anxious. I believe that the copper in the IUD had been causing me some sort of copper toxicity. so after two months, I called the doctor and told him that my period had gotten better so I went back and we schedule the Bi-Salp. So I went two months without any birth control and stayed away from my husband. Lol, thankfully at the end of the two months I was able to get my surgery and a week before my surgery. I went to a regular visit with my OB and they did an ultrasound and they saw that they’re good possibly be a polyp on my uterus so when they went in to do my procedure, they also did a Oppie with to see if there was any polyps and remove the polyps that were there. They also found some cysts that they removed and I also had some endometriosis growing on my left tube and ovary thankfully they were able to remove! For the surgery and leading up to it, I stayed away away from any foods that would make me gassy and anything that would constipate me. I was drinking MiraLAX in my tea every night for the week leading up to the surgery.
Surgery day of: On the morning of the surgery, I was advised to not take my Vyvanse, which I use for anxiety and ADHD. So I skipped it and just drink water since I have been fasting since 10 PM the night before. When I arrive to the hospital, I was able to go to the bathroom thankfully and then started getting prepped for surgery. They obviously had me do a urine test and then got me set up with my IV where they would insure all of my meds this was very painful, but I sat and waited before I was feeling loopy. They gave me the anti-stress and anxiety medication before they administered the anesthesia and suddenly I was knocked out. All I remember is walking into the surgery room and thinking wow this is like Grey’s Anatomy and then knocking out next thing, I remember I wake up in the room and I am very groggy and out of it. Thankfully, the anesthesia did not cause nausea. The hardest part during this transition was getting me to pee because I kept wanting to fall asleep so badly but they kept telling me if I didn’t pee then I wouldn’t be able to go home to finally sleep so I was bloated and swollen And I finally peed the second time. After that, I was discharged and my family did a great job at trying to keep me awake while we drove home because I was asleep in the car that could get nauseous and throw up, which would hurt my belly from making those kind of movements. Thankfully, I got home and I knocked out on the couch. I woke up dazed and confused but feeling a lot better and refreshed. I felt good for about an hour and then the pain started, but not any sort of abdominal pain from the surgery itself. It was just the Thankfully, I got home and I knocked out on the couch. I woke up dazed and confused but feeling a lot better and refreshed. I felt good for about an hour and then the pain started, but not any sort of abdominal pain from the surgery itself. It was just the pain from the gas pain from the laparoscopic surgery. This pain was definitely intense and it progressed my worst day was the day after the surgery. But that same night after the surgery was difficult because I could not find any position where I was comfortable. I was taking Gas-X every two hours charcoal pills every two hours and ibuprofen and Tylenol alternated every four hours. They gave me OXY if I wanted to take it, but I never did because I didn’t wanna get constipated and I really didn’t feel any pain that the oxy could resolve pain medication does not resolve gas pain. First night I slept propped up with a lot of pillows around me holding my belly holding me from every position where I could put more weight to add pain to my body well, I didn’t really sleep that night, but I tried to sleep, but I rested upright on the couch and I was up maybe every hour going to pee and walking around because the best advice I could give is just walk as much as it hurts. Everything hurts with these gas pain so I feel better to be walking around in pain than to be sitting down, knowing that I’m not actually resolving any of the gases that is the only way the gases will escape your body. That was exhausting because I could not sleep as much as I wanted to. the day was extremely painful trapped in my ribs. It felt like someone had a split my ribs but again I had no tenderness or soreness in my abdomen no cramping anything like that. I complain the most and the most uncomfortable part of everything was just being very very bloated and not being able to suck in my stomach. I’m naturally a very thin person so having my stomach was frustrating because none of my clothes fit me comfortably. The bloating started from the top of my rib cage all the way down. But I kept up with charcoal pills and Gas-X, and I’m thinking the charcoal definitely help because I would notice a difference after taking that even more so than the Gas-X. I finally was able to go to the bathroom after the surgery and thankfully it was a smooth transition to going into the bathroom. I’m sure the MiraLAX helped because of that and I had hardly been eating because my stomach was so swollen and were so severe that even one bite of food in my stomach would make everything swell up even more and it it would hurt me. So those first few days I kept it very light. The second night after the surgery was another miserable night. I almost cried that night because I thought I was gonna lose my mind. I hadn’t slept or napped all day because the pain would prevent me from being able to rest in a comfortable position and then all night again, I did not sleep, those were the hardest 2 nights. The following day I saw a tiny bit of progress with the gas pain. But eventually, I think I got used to it by Saturday surgery having been Monday. I felt significantly better still very swollen but better. Sunday I left the house for the first time got ready put normal clothes on. The loosest clothes that I had. And that was nice to finally leave the house and try to do something normal, came back and was definitely exhausted and rested for the rest of the day by this point I was no longer taking any pain medication. Just the charcoal pills. By Monday I was feeling significantly better. I had gotten my cycle over the weekend and it was not a very painful cycle. Just a little bit of mild cramping and bleeding but nothing crazy on Wednesday. I had my follow up appointment a week and a half after surgery and I was cleared for all activity and just told to be careful with how heavy things are when I lift them to stay away from anything more than 30 pounds. I had sex for the first time in three months because of the fact that I had no birth control before my surgery for those two months when they had taken my IUD out. It was a little bit painful because my body had gotten used to sex and no penetration at all. Very quickly my bodygot used to it again. And I enjoyed it so much. I was scared to have an orgasm because I had heard online that some people complained of cramping after the orgasm, but I had no cramping at all only enjoyment. The fact that I was able to do everything I wanted without any anxiety that I would get pregnant without having to do anything to prevent that was liberating and it literally has improved my sex life incredibly and just the short amount of time today I am 2 1/2 weeks postop. And I feel great. My incisions are healing really well and I’m about to start using scar tape for the scars. I have barely any gases. My stomach is as flat as it normally is, and I’ve been feeling wonderful. The only thing I noticed after my surgery was a little bit of breaking out right after the surgery, but they said that that was normal since a lot of the drugs and medicine they put into your system for surgery is basically detoxing after you come out of surgery so it comes out of your body in different ways. I do not regret this surgery. It has completely changed my mindset towards life. I feel free finally. I’m sure my age has a lot to do with my recovery time and overall I’m a very sickly person for my age so I was expecting for this recovery to take me weeks to months, but I am feeling wonderful. I’m about to be the maid of honor for a wedding this Friday and I feel no restraint and dancing or anything of this sort. I’m grateful I didn’t get any soreness or pain in my abdomen after the surgery and that all I had to deal with was the severe gas pain. I know that is not everyone’s experience, but that was mine and I’m very happy with it. Just wanted to share some details on how everything went and hopefully this can be helpful to someone. Thankfully, my insurance covered most of the procedure and all I had to pay was $1,500. I have never been happier with a decision in my life.

Producer: So, you have a video game for me?
Writer: Yes, sir, I do! It's a battle royale game called Fortnite.
Producer: Fork Knife? Is it a food-making game where you eat with a Fork and a Knife?
Writer: Well, No actually, sir, this is a shooter game where players are dropped onto an island where they must scavenge for weapons and resources inside people's homes while trying to be the last person standing.
Producer: Sounds a lot like that game PUBG.
Writer: Well, yes, it's Very similar to that.
Producer: So, Isn't that kind of a rip-off? Whats the point of making this game if its gonna be a Complete rip-off?
Writer: What if we give the player the ability to build stuff in the game?
Producer: Thats different enough. So how do we do the building in this Fork-knife game of yours?
Writer: Well, we add a building mechanic where players can gather materials and construct forts and other structures to defend themselves.
Producer: So, they can build in the middle of a fight?
Writer: They sure can!
Producer: Won't that make the combat complicated and kind of confusing?
Writer: Oh, definitely. Super confusing. And we're going to have this cartoony art style, so it's all bright and colorful.
Producer: Cartoony art style?
Writer: Yes, sir, we want to attract a younger audience, you know, kids and teenagers.
Producer: Really? And what about older players?
Writer: They'll probably play it too. Some might even play it so much while filming themselves sitting, eating, and drinking inside a room infront of a bunch of cameras to a bunch of digital people on some kind of streaming-platform out there. And some older players might even be so good that they can be placed inside a room with other players that are as good as them.
Producer: Okay, okay, But wait. Why would older players be interested in a game designed for kids?
Writer: Because it's free.
Producer: Oh, older people love free things.
Writer: And we’ll have these things called Emotes where players can dance and do fun gestures for no reason.
Producer: Why would they need that?
Writer: To taunt other players and express themselves, and making it easier for other players to get kills!
Producer: And we're sure kids will love this?
Writer: Oh, absolutely. They'll be flossing in no time.
Producer: What’s flossing?
Writer: It’s one of the dances that we’ll include in the game.
Producer: Ah, okay, and how will we make money?
Writer: Super easy, barely an inconvenience.
Producer: How come?
Writer: Microtransactions.
Producer: Microtransactions?
Writer*: Yeah, Microtransactions. Players can buy this thing called V-Bucks, which is our in-game currency, to get skins, emotes, and other cosmetic items.
Producer: So, none of these items give players a competitive advantage?
Writer: Nope, just cosmetics.
Producer: And people will spend real money on that?
Writer: Oh, they definitely will.
Producer: How are you so sure?
Writer: Because we’ll make it really cool and hard to resist. Plus, we'll create this thing called FOMO.
Producer: FOMO?
Writer: Fear of Missing Out. We’ll have limited-time items so players feel pressured to buy them before they're gone.
Producer: So, we’re going to exploit psychological weaknesses?
Writer: Oh, for sure.
Producer: Exploiting psychological weaknesses is tight! So, how will players get to the Island?
Writer: They’ll skydive from a flying bus.
Producer: A flying bus?
Writer: Yeah, we’ll call it the Battle Bus.
Producer: Why would a bus be flying?
Writer: Because it's fun.
Producer: But How does it fly tho?
Writer: Listen, sir, i'm gonna need you to get all the way off my back about why the Battle Bus can fly using a very big sketchy pop-able baloon but only moves one direction, okay.
Producer: Okay, let me get off of that thing.
Writer: Oh, and every few minutes, a storm will shrink the play area, forcing players into a smaller and smaller circle until one player remains.
Producer: Why would a storm do that?
Writer: To make the game faster and more intense.
Producer: But thats not--- never mind.
Writer: And we’ll have different game modes, including solo, duo, and squads, so players can team up with friends.
Producer: What if players don’t have friends?
Writer: Then they’ll be loners. Solo mode is perfect for that.
Producer: And how will we keep the game fresh?
Writer: We'll have seasonal updates with new themes, items, and challenges.
Producer: Seasonal updates?
Writer: Plus, we’ll add crossover events with popular franchises from all our child hoods we can think off.
Producer: Like what?
Writer: Well, i'm just gonna throw some names out there, just top of my head, *Marvel, Star Wars, DC, Avatar, Family Guy, TMNT, POTC, Rick and Morty, and a Whole bunch of other stuff.
Producer: So, we’re going to have superheroes and nerds fighting each other in a game where you can build forts and dance?
Writer: Exactly.
Producer: That sounds amazing!
Writer: Oh, it’s going to be super amazing.
Producer: And that's Fortnite. So, what do you think?
Writer: I think we’ll make billions.
Producer: We're gonna be rich!
Producer: Wow, wow, wow. Wow.
Producer: But wait, you forgot to say what’s the story behind this game?
Writer: Oh, right, well, the island is constantly changing and evolving. At first, there isn't much backstory, only younger and older players ACTIVELY hunting each other down and killing each other, but over time, we introduce a series of events and lore that shape the game's world.
Producer: Interesting. What kind of events and lore are we talking about?
Writer: Well, Each season, we add new story elements to the game. For example, there's this mysterious organization called "The Imagined Order" that's manipulating the island. Players uncover clues and secrets about them as the game progresses.
Producer: So, there are hidden stories and mysteries?
Writer: Exactly. One season, we had a massive meteor strike that changed the landscape. Another season, a giant iceberg crashed into the island, bringing new areas to explore. We also introduced a volcanic eruption that altered the terrain significantly.
Producer: Sounds like a lot of natural disasters.
Writer: Ye ye ye. But all these events tie into the overarching narrative. There's this powerful artifact called the Zero Point at the center of the island, and it's the source of all these changes.
Producer: What’s the Zero Point?
Writer: It's a mysterious energy source that can manipulate time and space. Different factions and characters try to control it, leading to conflicts and alliances.
Producer: Who are these characters?
Writer: We've introduced various characters over time, like Jonesy, who starts as a standard avatar but becomes central to the story. He’s sort of the player’s guide and gets involved in all the major events.
Producer: And these characters, they have backstories?
Writer: Yes, each character has their own backstory and motives. Some are heroes trying to save the island, others are villains seeking power. We add new characters regularly to keep things fresh and engaging.
Producer: How do players learn about all this?
Writer: Through in-game events, cutscenes, and quests. For instance, we might have a live event where something dramatic happens, like a giant robot fighting a monster. These events often change the map and advance the storyline.
Producer: Live events? How do those work?
Writer: At specific times, we host live events where players can participate or just watch something big unfold. These events are usually massive, with millions of players logging in to witness them.
Producer: That sounds like a logistical nightmare.
Writer: It can be, but it creates a shared experience that players love. It's a huge part of what keeps the community engaged.
Producer: So, the story is dynamic and ever-changing?
Writer: Exactly. We keep evolving the narrative with each season, adding new mysteries and plot twists. It's like an ongoing TV show where the players are part of the story.
Producer: And this keeps players coming back?
Writer: Absolutely. The evolving story and frequent updates make sure there's always something new to discover and experience.
Producer: Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.
Writer: We’ve tried to make it as immersive and engaging as possible. The story is just one part of what makes Fortnite a unique and exciting game.
Producer: Well, I’m sold. Let’s make this game!

Hi everyone. Long post alert. Im looking for some advice from people who’ve recovered from DVT.
I’m a 33 year old male, 3 weeks ago I managed to break my 5th metatarsal when I slipped and fell on my foot. I consider myself relatively healthy, I run 3-4 days a week, 12-15 miles a week. I’m an average weight and no other health conditions.
I’m a hairstylist and I stand to work for long hours. I purchased an iWalk crutch that allowed me to return to work sooner. My foot has been recovering fast, but I developed a cramp in my calf which I figured must be due to my leg being in the crutch.
I am so thankful for my clients. One of them is a nurse, who overheard someone asking if my crutch caused me pain. When she learned about my calf cramp she told me to be watching for a blood clot. This was the first I ever heard about it.
So I did the usual and googled everything, working up a good anxiety. I have 2 LPNs in the family who kindly listened to me and told me not to worry. I was too young. My leg wasn’t very swollen (only below the ankle from my fracture), no redness and no warmth.
I was relieved, but I planned to bring it up to my podiatrist at my next check-in if I still hurt. That appointment was yesterday. The doctor said looking at me I had no signs of a blood clot other than the cramp, but that he would order the ultrasound to give me peace of mind and because blood clots are possible after a fracture.
The ultrasound was done later that day, sure enough they found 2 clots in my calf. I was diagnosed about a week and a half after the pain started. The treatment is 3 months of an anticoagulant. I was told the clots are small and will dissolve.
I’m very thankful it was caught early. If I didn’t have a podiatrist appointment already scheduled I doubt I would have made the time to get checked out.
Any advice you can share is appreciated, thank you all!

Producer: So, you have a video game for me?
Writer: Yes, sir, I do! It's a battle royale game called Fortnite.
Producer: Fork Knife? Is it a food-making game where you eat with a Fork and a Knife?
Writer: Well, No actually, sir, this is a shooter game where players are dropped onto an island where they must scavenge for weapons and resources inside people's homes while trying to be the last person standing.
Producer: Sounds a lot like that game PUBG.
Writer: Well, yes, it's Very similar to that.
Producer: So, Isn't that kind of a rip-off? Whats the point of making this game if its gonna be a Complete rip-off?
Writer: What if we give the player the ability to build stuff in the game?
Producer: Thats different enough. So how do we do the building in this Fork-knife game of yours?
Writer: Well, we add a building mechanic where players can gather materials and construct forts and other structures to defend themselves.
Producer: So, they can build in the middle of a fight?
Writer: They sure can!
Producer: Won't that make the combat complicated and kind of confusing?
Writer: Oh, definitely. Super confusing. And we're going to have this cartoony art style, so it's all bright and colorful.
Producer: Cartoony art style?
Writer: Yes, sir, we want to attract a younger audience, you know, kids and teenagers.
Producer: Really? And what about older players?
Writer: They'll probably play it too. Some might even play it so much while filming themselves sitting, eating, and drinking inside a room infront of a bunch of cameras to a bunch of digital people on some kind of streaming-platform out there. And some older players might even be so good that they can be placed inside a room with other players that are as good as them.
Producer: Okay, okay, But wait. Why would older players be interested in a game designed for kids?
Writer: Because it's free.
Producer: Oh, older people love free things.
Writer: And we’ll have these things called Emotes where players can dance and do fun gestures for no reason.
Producer: Why would they need that?
Writer: To taunt other players and express themselves, and making it easier for other players to get kills!
Producer: And we're sure kids will love this?
Writer: Oh, absolutely. They'll be flossing in no time.
Producer: What’s flossing?
Writer: It’s one of the dances that we’ll include in the game.
Producer: Ah, okay, and how will we make money?
Writer: Super easy, barely an inconvenience.
Producer: How come?
Writer: Microtransactions.
Producer: Microtransactions?
Writer*: Yeah, Microtransactions. Players can buy this thing called V-Bucks, which is our in-game currency, to get skins, emotes, and other cosmetic items.
Producer: So, none of these items give players a competitive advantage?
Writer: Nope, just cosmetics.
Producer: And people will spend real money on that?
Writer: Oh, they definitely will.
Producer: How are you so sure?
Writer: Because we’ll make it really cool and hard to resist. Plus, we'll create this thing called FOMO.
Producer: FOMO?
Writer: Fear of Missing Out. We’ll have limited-time items so players feel pressured to buy them before they're gone.
Producer: So, we’re going to exploit psychological weaknesses?
Writer: Oh, for sure.
Producer: Exploiting psychological weaknesses is tight! So, how will players get to the Island?
Writer: They’ll skydive from a flying bus.
Producer: A flying bus?
Writer: Yeah, we’ll call it the Battle Bus.
Producer: Why would a bus be flying?
Writer: Because it's fun.
Producer: But How does it fly tho?
Writer: Listen, sir, i'm gonna need you to get all the way off my back about why the Battle Bus can fly using a very big sketchy pop-able baloon but only moves one direction, okay.
Producer: Okay, let me get off of that thing.
Writer: Oh, and every few minutes, a storm will shrink the play area, forcing players into a smaller and smaller circle until one player remains.
Producer: Why would a storm do that?
Writer: To make the game faster and more intense.
Producer: But thats not--- never mind.
Writer: And we’ll have different game modes, including solo, duo, and squads, so players can team up with friends.
Producer: What if players don’t have friends?
Writer: Then they’ll be loners. Solo mode is perfect for that.
Producer: And how will we keep the game fresh?
Writer: We'll have seasonal updates with new themes, items, and challenges.
Producer: Seasonal updates?
Writer: Plus, we’ll add crossover events with popular franchises from all our child hoods we can think off.
Producer: Like what?
Writer: Well, i'm just gonna throw some names out there, just top of my head, *Marvel, Star Wars, DC, Avatar, Family Guy, TMNT, POTC, Rick and Morty, and a Whole bunch of other stuff.
Producer: So, we’re going to have superheroes and nerds fighting each other in a game where you can build forts and dance?
Writer: Exactly.
Producer: That sounds amazing!
Writer: Oh, it’s going to be super amazing.
Producer: And that's Fortnite. So, what do you think?
Writer: I think we’ll make billions.
Producer: We're gonna be rich!
Producer: Wow, wow, wow. Wow.
Producer: But wait, you forgot to say what’s the story behind this game?
Writer: Oh, right, well, the island is constantly changing and evolving. At first, there isn't much backstory, only younger and older players ACTIVELY hunting each other down and killing each other, but over time, we introduce a series of events and lore that shape the game's world.
Producer: Interesting. What kind of events and lore are we talking about?
Writer: Well, Each season, we add new story elements to the game. For example, there's this mysterious organization called "The Imagined Order" that's manipulating the island. Players uncover clues and secrets about them as the game progresses.
Producer: So, there are hidden stories and mysteries?
Writer: Exactly. One season, we had a massive meteor strike that changed the landscape. Another season, a giant iceberg crashed into the island, bringing new areas to explore. We also introduced a volcanic eruption that altered the terrain significantly.
Producer: Sounds like a lot of natural disasters.
Writer: Ye ye ye. But all these events tie into the overarching narrative. There's this powerful artifact called the Zero Point at the center of the island, and it's the source of all these changes.
Producer: What’s the Zero Point?
Writer: It's a mysterious energy source that can manipulate time and space. Different factions and characters try to control it, leading to conflicts and alliances.
Producer: Who are these characters?
Writer: We've introduced various characters over time, like Jonesy, who starts as a standard avatar but becomes central to the story. He’s sort of the player’s guide and gets involved in all the major events.
Producer: And these characters, they have backstories?
Writer: Yes, each character has their own backstory and motives. Some are heroes trying to save the island, others are villains seeking power. We add new characters regularly to keep things fresh and engaging.
Producer: How do players learn about all this?
Writer: Through in-game events, cutscenes, and quests. For instance, we might have a live event where something dramatic happens, like a giant robot fighting a monster. These events often change the map and advance the storyline.
Producer: Live events? How do those work?
Writer: At specific times, we host live events where players can participate or just watch something big unfold. These events are usually massive, with millions of players logging in to witness them.
Producer: That sounds like a logistical nightmare.
Writer: It can be, but it creates a shared experience that players love. It's a huge part of what keeps the community engaged.
Producer: So, the story is dynamic and ever-changing?
Writer: Exactly. We keep evolving the narrative with each season, adding new mysteries and plot twists. It's like an ongoing TV show where the players are part of the story.
Producer: And this keeps players coming back?
Writer: Absolutely. The evolving story and frequent updates make sure there's always something new to discover and experience.
Producer: Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.
Writer: We’ve tried to make it as immersive and engaging as possible. The story is just one part of what makes Fortnite a unique and exciting game.
Producer: Well, I’m sold. Let’s make this game!

We have spent the past two days in the ER with our 13-year-old Jack Russell. We noticed on Saturday that she was not eating her meals as usual, which she is on Prozac so she doesn’t scarf down her food like she used to, but she’s been on the Prozac for a month and her appetite had been normal. Sunday: she’s still not eating and we noticed that every time she goes to defecate, she’s straining really bad and just drops of Diarrhea come out. Monday morning at 4 AM: she’s still straining really bad so we’re worried that she has an obstruction and we go to the local pet ER. x-ray didn’t show an obstruction. They gave her cerebra and isome fluids under her skin and sent us home with some wet food to settle her stomach. Monday afternoon: she won’t eat the wet food. She’s very agitated. I tried to pick her up to put her up on the couch with us and she went after my hand and even after I pulled away from her then she went after my leg. Luckily, she didn’t get me. The ER told us if she had didn’t eat by Tuesday morning to come back and do an ultrasound. Tuesday morning: didn’t eat so we went back to the ER. They did bloodwork which I haven’t seen the bloodwork personally I just called and requested it. All they told me was her liver enzymes were a little elevated, and then they did an ultrasound. They saw that her G.I. tract was a little swollen, which means it’s irritated. She has a nodule on her liver but based off the way it looks they think it’s benign, she has a bladder stone and her lymph nodes were a little swollen they said based off those findings, it doesn’t make sense why she’s not eating other than the fact that her G.I. tract looks irritated. I Was concerned about the swollen lymph nodes but they said that might just be from the straining and just not feeling good in general. They asked us what we wanted to do since we couldn’t get her to eat. They said we could hospitalize her and do fluids, we could go with an appetite stimulant or we could discuss end of life. we didn’t want to hospitalize her this is a dog with severe anxiety and she would definitely not eat if she was left in the hospital. We decided to take her home with an appetite stimulant we gave her the appetite stimulant Tuesday evening and within an hour, she ate some plain pasta and a little bit of wet food. They told us to give her whatever she’ll eat it. Now it’s Wednesday morning and she won’t eat again. She ate maybe two pieces of penne. She’s very agitated, anytime our other dog even moves across the room she’s growling at them. We’re not sure what to do at this point.

PART ONE THOUSAND AND TWELVE
[Previous Chapter] [The Beginning] [Patreon+2]
Sunday
Lucas stretched and yawned in bed, taking a moment to enjoy the complete lack of needing to rise before his hand stretched out in search of Boyd.
And once again, that side of the bed was empty.
Biting back a whine of dismay, Lucas rolled until he was face down on Boyd’s pillow, breathing in the cologne they both now wore. The detective in him quickly deduced that Boyd had been gone a while based on the chill in the sheets. He curled his hands around the pillow and hugged it tight, wishing it was the big mountain of a man himself instead of this weak substitute.
As thrilled as he was about Boyd finding a new career that he was so passionately driven about, he was equally happy that his fiancé took his responsibility to his clients seriously. Still, would it have killed him to sleep in just one morning instead of abandoning their wrecked bed the morning after their engagement party?
After several minutes of wallowing, he finally accepted the inevitable that no amount of wishful thinking was going to make Boyd appear and climbed out of bed. He removed his snore rings and took a quick shower.
Once he was dressed, he felt a little better.
The next thing he had to do was strip down the bed and remake it. They’d been very busy last night, which was why he’d only just woken up at—his gaze fell upon the clock— DAMN! It’s nearly lunchtime!
“I’m gonna kill him for letting me sleep in so long,” he muttered under his breath, carrying the linen through the apartment and into the kitchen, which doubled as a laundry on their end. After nine years of living in this layout, he didn’t need to see over the pile in his arms to know precisely where he was, and with the load balanced on one arm, he turned at the right moment, opened the massive frontloading washing machine and stuffed it all in.
“Hey, Unca Luke!” Maddy’s shrill voice had him leaping into the air, slamming the door shut and swivelling around in front of it to hide the evidence. “Didja pee the bed?”
His brother and his niece were sitting at the island, Maddy with her breakfast of honey-and-cream-covered waffles, which were only half-eaten, and Levi patiently waited for her to finish since the plate in front of him was empty. The latter was grinning at him as only a brother could.
He’d forgotten all about them staying over.
It took a hot second for what Maddy asked to register with him, and when it did, his mouth dropped, and he glanced at his brother, who was twisting himself into a pretzel to avoid laughing out loud. Asshole. “No, Peaches,” he said, glaring daggers at Levi for not even trying to help him out. “Boyd and I like clean sheets every day, and it’s not fair to make somebody else wash them for us, is it?”
Bright red ringlets of hair swayed as the little girl shook her head. “Daddy makes me fix stuff too.”
Lucas moved the three feet between the washing machine to his brother sitting in Mason’s seat at the corner. “That’s because Daddies always know what’s best.” He wrapped an arm around his brother’s neck in a loose chokehold and gave him a noisy morning kiss on the cheek. “Ain’t that right, Daddy?” He said that last word in a sultry purr the way Robbie would, and the reaction from Levi was priceless.
“Fuck off with that shit, you prick!” his brother swore, shoving Lucas away with all his might.
“DADDY!” Maddy squealed in horror, and Lucas clapped his hands together once behind Maddy’s chair and raised his clenched fists in victory. He’d been angling for one swear word, maybe two to distract young Maddy from his not-so-discreet linen run. Three was a veritable home run.
Snickering quietly to himself, he went back to the washing machine, loaded it up with soap and softener and turned it on. Then, he walked over to the wooden box under the window. ‘Just think what you want,’ Charlie had told him at the party. ‘It’s a Nascerdios box that Robbie fills up throughout the night.’
He stared hard at the box while he considered his options, settling on a plate of breakfast tacos with seasoned mince, fried eggs, tomatillos, shredded lettuce, and cheese wrapped in soft tortillas buttered with a thin spread of mashed avocado.
After the last month, it didn’t surprise him in the least when he opened the lid and found that exact meal sitting there, waiting for him. Maybe the quantity, since they were piled three high, but not the meal itself.
The same could not be said for Levi when Lucas turned around with the plate in his hand. “Robbie had that ready for you too?” he asked, as Lucas grabbed a glass from the cupboard and placed it and the plate in his regular sitting place adjacent to his brother before sliding into his seat. He knew Levi wasn’t questioning Viola since the box itself was made and gifted by someone with the last name Nascerdios.
The veil was an ass.
“I told you; he did most of the catering yesterday, too,” Lucas said, reaching for the jug of juice. He was curious what it would be today. Yesterday, it had been orange and mango juice, with apple the day before.
A quick sniff made it most likely grapefruit.
He tightened the roll on the first taco and lifted it to his lips, enjoying the flavours that exploded in his mouth. Because Levi had finished whatever had been on his plate, he was watching him eat as if he’d never seen it before. It finally clicked why. “You want to try one?” Lucas asked, nudging his plate towards his brother. “There’s plenty here if you want one. Too many, if anything.”
Levi didn’t need to be told twice and reached over, using his fingers just as Lucas had. “How did he learn to cook so well?” Levi demanded, almost fitting the whole thing in his mouth.
“He’s always cooked,” Lucas answered, fudging things slightly. “When he was growing up, cooking was his chore while his mom was at work. He only stopped because Mom refused to let him help in the kitchen.”
“I would’ve fought that a lot harder if I’d have known he could produce this.”
“Yeah, you and me both, bro. Even when we were upstairs, he was forever watching the cooking channels for new ideas.” Lucas didn’t want to mention that these days, Robbie only did so to critique the so-called experts. “Have you seen Boyd?”
Levi shook his head. “I was assuming he was still in with you. If I’d known you were in there alone, I’d have sicc’d Maddy onto you.”
“I can wake Daddy and Unca’ Austin good!” Maddy said proudly. “I gets me a dolla’.”
“Ssshhh, Peaches. That’s out secr—wait. Does Uncle Austin pay you, too?”
Maddy was adorable the way she looked at Lucas like he would intervene for her. “Sorry, baby girl,” he laughed, eating another taco. “You’re on your own.”
The two brothers bantered as Lucas ate, with Levi stealing another taco, bringing Lucas’ total number down to five. Maddy told them both about wanting to be a vet, and Lucas knew precisely who to blame for that. Still, it was better than her previous choice of ‘stripping’ the way Robbie and Angelo used to. Levi’s meltdown over that revelation had been priceless, even if he, too, was firmly in the ‘fuck that noise’ camp.
When he polished them and half the juice off, he poured the last into Maddy’s cup and put his things and the jug in the dishwasher. “You can hang out here if you want,” Lucas said. “The guys and I are heading out this afternoon to play some ball over at Angus’ place, but if you call Austin and find out Pepper’s roommate is still with him, the TV over there has…”
“Every cable channel imaginable, I know. Charlotte—”
“Charlie.”
“Charlie told us last night.” Levi sat back in his seat and stared at his brother. “What do you make of Larry, Luke? Does he have kids?”
“Why?”
“He watched Maddy for me last night while I was having a shower, and Maddy loves him. You know how picky she is about people she doesn’t know.”
“I know he’s married to a career soldier and was one too before being assigned to us. I’m not sure about his past, but he’s a good guy and ridiculously protective of those either in his charge or that he happens to care about.”
Levi grunted. “Charl—lie said so too. He certainly knows his Spongebob.”
Lucas squinted. “Why all the questions?”
“Just thinking out loud. If he’s going to be here all the time with Robbie, and Austin and I get called into the house together, it’s always been a struggle figuring out where we can leave Maddy on short notice. We don’t exactly have time to drive all the way over to Queens to drop her off at either Mav’s or Mom and Dad’s. I mean, so far, we haven’t needed to, but it’s a constant concern.”
Lucas frowned at him. “We’ve been here for years. Why didn’t you ask before now?”
Levi seemed suddenly uncomfortable. “You know…” he said, gesturing to the ceiling without finishing that sentence.
And just like that, Lucas did understand.
Six men, all sharing one shoebox-sized apartment with two of them being sex workers, was not where anyone would want to drop off a little girl. Even if Lucas did vouch for all of them and swore they’d all be protective as hell over little Maddy. “Look, I can’t speak for them specifically, but Charlie’s here under house arrest for the next ten months, and Boyd now works out of his studio, so technically, someone will be here all the time. There’s not a chance in hell we’ll turn you away.”
“I’ll ask her and Miss W before we go.”
Lucas looked at what the two of them were wearing. “You know, I could duck out and grab you and Maddy some clothes just as soon as I check in with Boyd, if you like.”
He watched Levi look down at the shirt and boxers that were a little big on him width-wise and across at Maddy, who still wore Charlie’s favourite Giants’ shirt.
“That’d be good, thanks,” he admitted.
“I’ll get extras, and that way, she can have a few changes of clothes here. Actually, do you want me to grab you some spare stuff too?”
Levi stiffened in his seat. “I don’t need you to buy me clothes.”
Lucas wanted to slap him in the back of the head (and would’ve if Maddy wasn’t there). “Stop,” he commanded instead. “I’m already going to a clothes shop. It’s not going to be anything fancy, and if you hate it, you can swap it out with your own stuff later.”
Knowing his brother was still uncomfortable, Lucas waved his hand at the kitchen. “Seriously, Levi, look around. Look at how I’m living, and I’m not paying a dime in rent. Llyr won’t let me since we’ve been looking out for Sam for years. Let me do this for you, so you’ll always know you and Maddy have somewhere safe to go.”
Levi glanced around, his lips tightening before he finally nodded, unwilling to say the words out loud, and Lucas clapped him on the shoulder. “We’re family, dumb-ar—dumb,” he amended, with little ears sitting on the other side of his brother. “Dumb-dumb. I meant Dumb-dumb.”
Levi chuckled and patted his brother’s hand. “I appreciate it, bro. We’ll chill here until you get back. Don’t rush … apparently, you have a gazillion cable channels to choose from, and Maddy doesn’t want to leave until she’s seen them all.”
“I don’t think you’ll live that long,” Lucas laughed and headed back to his room to grab his gear since he was now leaving the apartment. As he clipped and slid everything from sunglasses to his wallet, keys, phone, badge bifold, and ankle-holstered BUG, he almost envied women with carryall handbags that could be grabbed on their way out the door.
Almost.
* * *
((Author's note: going out tonight, so I put this out before I left. Enjoy!! 🥰😘💕 ))
((All comments welcome. Good or bad, I’d love to hear your thoughts 🥰🤗))
I made a family tree/diagram of the Mystallian family that can be found here
For more of my work, including WPs: Angel466 or an index of previous WPS here.
FULL INDEX OF BOB THE HOBO TO DATE CAN BE FOUND HERE!

Is it possible to have a low symptomatic version of eds? I watched lots of videos and related to many of the symptoms and experiences of people with EDS , except I’m not overly hypermobile.
The symptoms/experiences I suspect are as follows:
Hand tremors, Hypermobile (but not severely), Sprained ankles constantly as a kid, Knee pain, Wrist pain as a child, Blue lips when cold / visible veins on faces (despite being olive skinned, Skin writing, Sore patches of skin (no rash or bite or lump), TMJ - jaw lock, Short sightedness from a young age, Unexplained nausea, Unexplained, Dizzyiness, Occasional fainting spells, Low leaning blood pressure, Constipation (recent), shiver as soon as im a little bit cold (even if not freezing)
None of my symptoms have been particularly difficult except the dizziness nausea and recently constipation. The hand tremors have always been weird but I’ve never seen a doctor about it I consider myself a healthy and fit person in general.
I defo don’t feel or look sickly or fragile which I feel like is the medical signifiers that professionals look for.

I kind of waited for the right moment until my body calmed down. So I could eat something and see what happens. And what occurred seems to be like a chain of events, from one thing to the next.
So typically when I eat a meal, I'd notice my left side get tight or like a pain. Almost as if there's like a blockage. Then I'd notice other issues Ike my throat would get swollen like as if food is hard to pass and I could feel food trying to come up. I also notice I get this pain in my chest, not like heartburn tho. But more like as if something is pushing up on it, mist likely food I'm guessing.
Then things like brain fog, headache, bloating, losing hearing and train of thought occur. Still would feel this tightness in my throat that doesn't disappear with drinking water and I'd feel this lump like food is stuck. Not sure if this is one of the reasons for my candida or not. But on a day to day it's a hassle that brings on uncomfortable feelings, irritability and disrupting my body functions. And it's making me more stressed to even eat now, thinking maybe I need liquid foods or something.
Do you think a doctor would be able to scan my stomach and see what's wrong? Or does it sound like maybe I might need like a colonoscopy? Because there's multiple issues at hand with my health besides the candida, that need to be addressed. To fix everything as a whole it seems.

Hello friends, I am an 18-year-old League of Legends player. And I want to tell you an interesting experience, I'll tell you all in advance. I wish you a good reading. Surprisingly, one of the days One day while playing League of Legends again I alt-tabbed to change the song I opened on Spotify. But when I throw it, what do I see? In the Spotify commercial, I saw that the world's most famous cola company had released a new cola for League of Legends. literally shock I was like dead, the fat-clogged veins of my heart were beating loudly with excitement. My eyes are wide open It was opened. A new Lol coke. This was literally a new LoL coke. It sounded amazing, I've been waiting for this moment for years. I was born for this. I immediately started researching, tapping my greasy fingers on the keyboard. How does it taste? My questions such as where to sell, how to reach I answered. Unfortunately, it didn't give RP like it used to, but since I'm a Lillia main, I still had to buy this LoL-specific cola, even though it didn't give anything. I learned the place and time it was sold and prepared a plan. I was going to buy it from Walmart near my house and drink it. The plan was quite difficult; Very difficult steps such as stepping outside, walking and even communicating with the cashier It was hosting. But I had to. I set off immediately. As soon as I opened the door and went out, the sun It penetrated my skin and made a "ciss" sound. It's been years since I last went out for a Lol Coke. I had no problem with Sunshine. Oxygen felt quite strange. After a few difficult steps Finally I arrived at Migros. You go inside, avoid eye contact with everyone, and grab the cold drinks cabinet at the top. on it, I saw it. It was there... It was shining with gold, it was very majestic. my eyes It was dazzlingly beautiful. As soon as I hold it in my hand, I was the happiest person in the world now. As soon as I bought it, I ran to the cash register, I had the coke in one hand and the money in the other. I gave the money to the cashier, who easily took it through the cash register and gave it to me, and I quickly ran without taking my change. I started. This much social interaction is very hard on my body. It was too much. But it was worth it. I was at the exit now, with a LoL cola in my hand. I succeeded. I raised my hands and shouted: I did it! I DID IT! But then my social anxiety took over and I started shaking. When I stopped shaking, I opened the coke. Even her ccooosss voice was so beautiful, so charming. my mouth I placed it on the opening and started drinking. gulp first sip. But something was abnormal, it wasn't exactly a foreign taste to me. Gulp, second sip, I knew this taste, I could imagine it. gulp third sip. With every sip I take, in my brain Another missing piece of the puzzle fell into place. And before I was halfway through the box, my mind The puzzle was completed. It tasted exactly like the toes of Lillia's right hind hoof. That hairy, noble leg of his, hard, but beautiful hoof that softens as I split it with my tongue... The moment I realized this, my eyes started to spin. It's easy after a while! I realized that I stopped drinking and preferred coke. I was going crazy. As if he was licking Lillia's asshole, her face red with embarrassment, and her tail It was like she was caressing my face. When you say "don't do it, stop", you mean it She was whispering "fuck me all the way to my intestines" as if to my ear. I was becoming an unchained slave to my own passion, my libido. Lillia to fuck loudly My deep desire to be was overtaking my perception of reality. 100% of my brain was working to fuck this side gazelle creature. These thoughts slowly It took over my entire brain and I literally went crazy. Foaming from my mouth She was squirting, my eyes were seeing Lillia's gazelle pussy everywhere. Half cola in the box I stopped thrusting my tongue and forced my dick into the drink hole. Ahahaha! He was covered in blood, but the pleasure I felt was indescribable. As if I had no tomorrow I started to fuck the box. all over my dick It was peeling, my blood covered the entire outside of the box; Some of it had leaked in and mixed with the cola in the box. I could hear Lillia in my ear. She was neighing, "fuck me like there's no tomorrow, "Tear my ass to pieces, my love," he was moaning. I accelerated to satisfy my wife, your moans gigliks took their place. It was the best feeling in the world, I held his hind legs and wrapped his tail around my hand. She was rocking while he fucked her tight asshole In my dream world, She was screaming that I was her daddy. I ejaculated. When I spilled my sperm, which was a sign of my love for Lillia, into the box filled with coke and my blood, I was under the influence of the legendary pressure. The box exploded in my hand. And this love liquid inside was scattered all over the sky. It was pouring like rain. This blessed rain, which for some is the symbol of my lost sanity and for some is the symbol of my epic love for Lillia, is with me and everything around me. He was blessing humanity with his abundance. A lot, but a lot It was beautiful. I found absolute peace at that very moment. Until the day I die, from the real gazelle's pussy. I won't fuck anything else, Lillia. I promise you my love, I love you...

Hello friends, I am an 18-year-old League of Legends player. And I want to tell you an interesting experience, I'll tell you all in advance. I wish you a good reading. Surprisingly, one of the days One day while playing League of Legends again I alt-tabbed to change the song I opened on Spotify. But when I throw it, what do I see? In the Spotify commercial, I saw that the world's most famous cola company had released a new cola for League of Legends. literally shock I was like dead, the fat-clogged veins of my heart were beating loudly with excitement. My eyes are wide open It was opened. A new Lol coke. This was literally a new LoL coke. It sounded amazing, I've been waiting for this moment for years. I was born for this. I immediately started researching, tapping my greasy fingers on the keyboard. How does it taste? My questions such as where to sell, how to reach I answered. Unfortunately, it didn't give RP like it used to, but since I'm a Lillia main, I still had to buy this LoL-specific cola, even though it didn't give anything. I learned the place and time it was sold and prepared a plan. I was going to buy it from Walmart near my house and drink it. The plan was quite difficult; Very difficult steps such as stepping outside, walking and even communicating with the cashier It was hosting. But I had to. I set off immediately. As soon as I opened the door and went out, the sun It penetrated my skin and made a "ciss" sound. It's been years since I last went out for a Lol Coke. I had no problem with Sunshine. Oxygen felt quite strange. After a few difficult steps Finally I arrived at Migros. You go inside, avoid eye contact with everyone, and grab the cold drinks cabinet at the top. on it, I saw it. It was there... It was shining with gold, it was very majestic. my eyes It was dazzlingly beautiful. As soon as I hold it in my hand, I was the happiest person in the world now. As soon as I bought it, I ran to the cash register, I had the coke in one hand and the money in the other. I gave the money to the cashier, who easily took it through the cash register and gave it to me, and I quickly ran without taking my change. I started. This much social interaction is very hard on my body. It was too much. But it was worth it. I was at the exit now, with a LoL cola in my hand. I succeeded. I raised my hands and shouted: I did it! I DID IT! But then my social anxiety took over and I started shaking. When I stopped shaking, I opened the coke. Even her ccooosss voice was so beautiful, so charming. my mouth I placed it on the opening and started drinking. gulp first sip. But something was abnormal, it wasn't exactly a foreign taste to me. Gulp, second sip, I knew this taste, I could imagine it. gulp third sip. With every sip I take, in my brain Another missing piece of the puzzle fell into place. And before I was halfway through the box, my mind The puzzle was completed. It tasted exactly like the toes of Lillia's right hind hoof. That hairy, noble leg of his, hard, but beautiful hoof that softens as I split it with my tongue... The moment I realized this, my eyes started to spin. It's easy after a while! I realized that I stopped drinking and preferred coke. I was going crazy. As if he was licking Lillia's asshole, her face red with embarrassment, and her tail It was like she was caressing my face. When you say "don't do it, stop", you mean it She was whispering "fuck me all the way to my intestines" as if to my ear. I was becoming an unchained slave to my own passion, my libido. Lillia to fuck loudly My deep desire to be was overtaking my perception of reality. 100% of my brain was working to fuck this side gazelle creature. These thoughts slowly It took over my entire brain and I literally went crazy. Foaming from my mouth She was squirting, my eyes were seeing Lillia's gazelle pussy everywhere. Half cola in the box I stopped thrusting my tongue and forced my dick into the drink hole. Ahahaha! He was covered in blood, but the pleasure I felt was indescribable. As if I had no tomorrow I started to fuck the box. all over my dick It was peeling, my blood covered the entire outside of the box; Some of it had leaked in and mixed with the cola in the box. I could hear Lillia in my ear. She was neighing, "fuck me like there's no tomorrow, "Tear my ass to pieces, my love," he was moaning. I accelerated to satisfy my wife, your moans gigliks took their place. It was the best feeling in the world, I held his hind legs and wrapped his tail around my hand. She was rocking while he fucked her tight asshole In my dream world, She was screaming that I was her daddy. I ejaculated. When I spilled my sperm, which was a sign of my love for Lillia, into the box filled with coke and my blood, I was under the influence of the legendary pressure. The box exploded in my hand. And this love liquid inside was scattered all over the sky. It was pouring like rain. This blessed rain, which for some is the symbol of my lost sanity and for some is the symbol of my epic love for Lillia, is with me and everything around me. He was blessing humanity with his abundance. A lot, but a lot It was beautiful. I found absolute peace at that very moment. Until the day I die, from the real gazelle's pussy. I won't fuck anything else, Lillia. I promise you my love, I love you...

Introduction
When blood sugar levels cannot be controlled with oral medications alone, human insulin is used to treat type 1 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not produce insulin and cannot control blood sugar levels, or type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not produce or use insulin normally, resulting in excessive blood sugar levels. Human insulin belongs to a group of drugs known as hormones. The insulin that the body naturally produces is replaced with human insulin. It functions by assisting the body's other tissues in transferring blood sugar, which is used there for energy. It also prevents the liver from generating additional sugar. This is how all of the available forms of insulin function. The only differences between the insulin kinds are in how soon they start to act and how long they stay effective at regulating blood sugar.
What is Gestational diabetes ?
For women without a history of diabetes, gestational diabetes is a form of the diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. After the baby is born, gestational diabetes typically disappears. If your doctor advises differently, it's crucial to get a follow-up glucose tolerance test six to twelve months after the baby is born or before attempting a second pregnancy to ensure you are no longer diabetic.You can increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy and healthy baby by controlling your gestational diabetes.
Who is susceptible to gestational diabetes?
The prevalence of gestational diabetes in pregnant women ranges from 3% to 8%. In most cases, it is discovered between 24 and 28 weeks, though it might appear earlier. Receiving a gestational diabetes diagnosis might be distressing and unanticipated. It's critical to receive support and assistance in controlling it by reaching out.
Gestational diabetes is more likely to affect some women. Among the women in this category are these:

• are overweight or obese
• have a family history of type 2 diabetes
• are older than 40 years of age
• use some steroids or antipsychotic drugs.
• having experienced gestational diabetes in the past
• previously given birth to a child weighing more than 4,500 grams.
• having experienced a difficult pregnancy in the past
• have PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

There are some pregnant women without established risk factors for gestational diabetes.
Education about the use of insulin
It is critical that you receive guidance and support on the administration, storage, and operation of insulin from your physician or diabetes educator.
It is crucial that you understand the warning signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, how to manage it, and the safe blood glucose levels for driving. Insulin can occasionally cause blood glucose levels to drop too low.
What happens after the birth of a baby?
After your baby is born, you normally stop injecting insulin to help manage gestational diabetes. This is due to the fact that after giving delivery, women's blood glucose levels typically recover to the ideal range rather quickly.
It's crucial to check your baby's blood glucose levels after birth to make sure it hasn't dropped too low. If so, you can cure it by giving your child formula or breast milk. It is advised that you breastfeed your child because it is best for both of you.
After your baby is delivered, your blood glucose levels will be monitored for a few days to make sure they are within the appropriate range. It is customary to check blood sugar two hours after eating and before breakfast. Six to twelve weeks after the baby is born, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is performed to see if your diabetes has resolved.
If you live in a high-risk location or are unable to socially distance yourself from the pathology center, it is advised that you postpone the OGTT testing for a period of six months during COVID-19. If you intend to become pregnant again or before your child turns 12 months old, it is advised to have an OGTT. Follow your physician's advice.
Although a child whose mother had gestational diabetes won't have diabetes at birth, they might have a higher chance of type 2 diabetes in the future.
What side effects can insulin cause?
There may be adverse effects from human insulin. Inform your physician in the event that any of these symptoms worsen or persist:

• Skin thickening (fat build-up)
• Skin redness
• Swelling
• Itching at the injection site
• A small depression in the skin (fat breakdown)
• Constipation
• Weight gain

Certain adverse effects may be dangerous. Give your doctor a call right away if you encounter any of the following symptoms:

• Rash and/or itching throughout the entire body
• Dyspnea
• Wheezing
• Lightheadedness
• Hazy vision
• Rapid heart rate
• Perspiration Weakness in breathing or swallowing
• Muscles Cramps
• Irregular pulse
• Significant weight gain
• Edema of arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

Conclusion
Insulin therapy is still the recommended course of treatment for uncontrolled gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The insulins with the greatest human pregnancy data are NPH, insulin lispro, insulin aspart, and regular insulin. Clinicians' ability to accurately weigh the advantages and disadvantages of modifying insulin therapy will become increasingly important. It's also crucial to share the data with the patient so she can help choose the optimal insulin dosage. For the greatest fetal results, strict glycemic control must be maintained throughout pregnancy, regardless of the regimen selected.

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.

Skin always dehydrated
I’m on 0.025 of tretinoin and using on bare skin then waiting 30 mins to do serum, gel moisturiser and then occlusive moisturiser. I’m doing this every other day. Should I reduce this wait time?

• aveeno oat serum/purito centella -soon Jung emulsion -no7 100 hour hydration cream
• aveeno oat face wash -no other actives or exfoliating

On the acne side the frequency and bare skin has nearly cleared me up. Still getting new spots though every month but they seem to be going away quicker than before. I suspect I’m still getting a few spots every month from my skin being dehydrated/damaged barrier. I have KP on the perimeters of my face which tret is slowly working through I’m not too worried about that I know it’s super stubborn but I don’t know if that’s a factor? As that can get dry easily.
It’s more my skin just looks and feels bad? I’m certain it’s just dehydrated because I feel tight and sore all the time. Looks and feels irritated with the usual tell tells of large pores, greasy skin (causing blocked pores), redness, fine lines around eyes and on my cheeks. My skin just doesn’t retain moisture as soon as I finish applying my skincare and hour later I’m back to being tight and irritated.
I’m very generous and consistent with my moisturising and drinking water. Cut caffeine, alcohol, junk etc. Use a humidifier and don’t use heating anymore or take hot showers.
I just wanted to know will it end? is there anything that will hydrate my skin and keep it like that while I’m using tret or is this just part of using tret? If so I don’t think I can use long term as I’ve just switched one issue for another and it’s such a pain in my actual lifestyle to only get very average results.
Any advice/products or even treatments would be great as I feel like every step forward I take 2 back. I really want to stick through to a year before I make a decision on whether to quit (4 months in now).

Dubai, known for its dry climate and sparkling skyscrapers, recently experienced an unexpectedly heavy rainfall. While the rain brought relief from the scorching sun, it also ushered in an unwanted guest — the mosquito. These tiny, persistent insects thrive in stagnant water, and the sudden downpours created ideal breeding grounds. As we swat away those itchy bites, let’s explore the impact of this mosquito invasion and discover effective solutions.
Effective Ways To Fight Against Mosquitoes

1. Eliminate Breeding Grounds

Inspect Your Surroundings: Check for any standing water around your home: empty flowerpots, buckets, and discarded containers. Even a small capful of water can serve as a mosquito nursery.
Maintain Drains and Gutters: Ensure that drains and gutters are debris-free. Clogged drains create stagnant water, inviting mosquitoes to breed.
Cover Water Storage Tanks: If you have rooftop water tanks, cover them tightly to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

1. Protective Measures

Use Mosquito Nets: Invest in high-quality mosquito nets for your windows and doors. They allow fresh air in while keeping the pesky insects out.
Wear Long Sleeves and Pants: When outdoors during dawn or dusk (prime mosquito feeding times), cover up to reduce exposed skin.
Apply Repellent: Choose a mosquito repellent containing DEET or picaridin. Apply it to exposed skin for added protection.
Lets Checkout some more common ways for pest free environment......Read More

My husband (35M) and his ex wife (40F) were together for 5y and married for 1y. They have a daughter (7F) together, but she has been married before, has a teenage daughter with her first husband. My husband left her because it was a toxic relationship and he's a recovering alcoholic.
Me (32F) and my husband have been together for 4y, married for 2. We have no children together, but we raise his daughter half of the time - the custody is 50-50.
His ex wife and I don't get along - she's moved in on me in the past, she tried to split and has insulted me a few times. She's a textbook selfish narcissist and she's ruined any prospect of a relationship between us. I want absolutely nothing with her because she has 0 respect towards me, but basic decency and being civil towards her isn't enough for her. Apparently she's not happy that I'm not out there licking her arse like everyone else. In her latest outburst, she said I had to make an effort with her because things would get worse between us otherwise (??). She's very awkward with me in public, pretends she doesn't see me and literally hides from me, never says hello. She has yet to acknowledge that her ex husband remarried and that I am his wife. She treats me like I'm just this silly little side affair and that one day the spell will wear off and he'll see sense and get back with her.
She's always been a tease and flirty - nothing she ever does is coincidental and she's very calculating. I remember seeing a photo of her at her ex husband's house for his wife's birthday party and she was wearing a lace bodysuit with leather pants, whilst everyone else was dressed normally. Just teasing her ex husband. She always comes around my house to drop her daughter off with her t*ts out, skin tight clothes etc. She also messages nonstop about trivial things regarding their daughter and when she has her, she reports everything they do and what she's done in the day, sends photos and videos.
In December, she was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes so she has lost some weight. Ever since, she's been grafting like mad to get my husband's attention. A few days ago, she asked us to drop my SD off at a birthday party, some friend of hers. Husband and SD get out of the car to look for the entrance and at the same time, she drove in. She saw me looking out the window in our car and drove forward to block me from her view and kept my husband chatting. She then parked up and got out of the car, she was in a crop top and cheeky denim shorts - she had everything on display. Kept my husband for as long as she could by making conversation and then she turned round to her car and got on all 4s to reach for the present that was on the passenger side.
Yesterday, my husband took SD to karate lessons which she arranged once a week near her house. She rang him up beforehand to ask if he was leaving SD there or waiting for her. He said he'd just wait in the car and that was the end of the conversation. She then went out for a run at the same time SD was meant to be in karate in the exact same place my husband was meant to be sat waiting for SD to sort of "bump into him".
I know there's nothing I can do about this, I have already spoken to my husband and told him how much it bothers me and that I feel disrespected, but I also don't expect him to control her behaviour because he can't. I know that my husband is married to me for a reason and not her etc etc.. but how do I detach from this? She makes my blood boil and it's so hard to just ignore the situation.. I don't know how to cope with this, it's so draining.
Tldr: my husband's ex wife flirts and teases him, and is always trying to get his attention through messages and skimpy outfits. It infuriates me and I don't know how to detach from the situation.