i think i initially overlooked a lot of the more problematic aspects of the plot in S1 because I thought the artwork and premise was charming.
but now I take several issues with.... everything, honestly.
first of all why was Aphrodite's plan to "get her super wasted so she'll be super embarrassed and Hades will think she's gross"?? Like what kind of half baked ass plan is that?? This is the SAME goddess who transformed people into animals on the reg, right? i would have liked to have seen a punishment for Hades for making such a claim.
And then... why was hades' initial reaction when finding a literal GIRL in the back of his car to take her to his place??? that's so creepy??? he should have taken her to zeus and hera. They were hosting the party, they could have taken care of her.
also damn eros literally drugged her and then was like "lol sorry i have donuts" and instead of TEARING HIS ASS A NEW ONE, Artemis let him into their house???????

Hello, college student here looking to get a dog!
Introduction
1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

• My family owned one dog before but I was not involved in taking care of him since I was just a kid back then.

2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

• I want to go with a reputable breeder.

3) Describe your ideal dog.

• My ideal dog would be medium or large-sized.

4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

• Golden retriever. Some people in my neighborhood have them and they’re always very friendly.

5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

• Obedience and catch for fun.

6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?

• Just a normal house dog.

Care Commitments
7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

• On weekdays, an hour. On weekends, three to five hours. I will be in college, but I live with my family so the house will rarely be empty.

8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?

• There’s a park near to my house which is open to pets. Dogs are also allowed for walks on the streets in the whole neighborhood but they must be leashed.

9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?

• I can do regular brushing. Okay with the other stuff too as long as they’re simple enough.

Personal Preferences
10) What size dog are you looking for?

• Medium or large.

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

• Minimal barking, shedding, and slobber. My mother likes to keep things clean.

12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

• Doesn’t matter much to me.

Dog Personality and Behavior
13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

• Can let me do my work when I have to, can come snuggle once I am free.

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?

• Leaning to eager-to-please.

15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?

• Nothing aggressive.

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

• No. I would prefer a dog that is not aggressive.

17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

• Excessive shedding and too much noise.

Lifestyle
18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

• Rarely will the house ever be empty. There are five of us.

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

• Feed or walk him if I’m outside or studying inside.

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

• No.

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

• Youngest child in the house is 12.

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

• We own our house.

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

• Philippines. I’m not aware of any laws regarding this.

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

• Tropical and maritime climate. Humid. No winters. Temperature will range from 22-38 degrees Celsius.

Additional Information and Questions
25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.

• Nothing to note.

I had to stand up for my gf against her mom. They were having a conversation that was no longer productive so I said “this conversation is going in circles and we need to agree that her boss sucks but we cannot come up with a plan that will get [my gf] a new job tonight. This is upsetting her so please let’s end this”
And then her grandparents were like “help me with the dishes” I went to help them with the dishes
The conversation wasn’t over
So I said “[her mom] this isn’t helping” and her mom was like “I am her mother I know exactly what will help her” and I’m like “I’m her life partner”
We left shortly after that and she didn’t say bye to me
I’ll be damned if I don’t stand up for my partner… against their own family is no exception…. I will speak up for her against anyone idc if it’s god
Was I wrong? I did not curse or insult anyone
There is more but that’s the jist of it
Was I wrong?
I don’t care about anyone’s opinion if I lost it so fast? It obviously wasn’t that strong if you hate me just because I upset you once
I’m not gonna apologize [my gf] says I did nothing wrong and I agree
I will fight for her with my last breath

I don’t know if my feelings are valid pero kasi naguguluhan ako sa mixed emotions na gumugulo sa utak ko ngayon. I want to get this off mu chest kasi feeling ko sasabog ako.
Me and my boyfriend have been for almost a year na. Just recently umamin siya sa akin na yung pakilala niyang name when we first started talking was not who he really was. Actually may mga hinala na ako kaya his revelations wasn’t that shocking for me naman. He explained his reasons and naiintindihan ko siya, so I forgave him. He become more open of who he really was talaga like kung sino at ano ang family niya. After his revelations, he said na gustong gusto niya akong ipa meet sa family niya pero hindi niya magawa kasi nga may tinatago siya sa akin and that since he came clean to me, he was relieved na finally he can do that na. Sinabi niya na nga daw sa mom niya na may plus one na siya for their family event because he’s bringing me.
Ever since we started talking nakekwento niya na yung renewal of vows ng parents niya. He’s a very family oriented man and I admire him for that. Preparations for the event took months and halos lahat na kwento niya sa akin. Since he’s the eldest , hands on talaga siya sa pag assist ng mga needs for the wedding. He asks my opinion on things lalo na sa susuorin niya. He was very excited for his parents big day, also his entire family and friends will be there.
So eto na nga. Here comes the big day. I wasn’t given a formal invite. Weeks before the wedding I was kinda waiting na bigyan niya ako invitation kasi halos araw araw niya ngang nababanggit yung event. I was planning to buy a dress pa naman for the event. Kaso nung days nalang ang pagitan I decided not to nalang kasi walang invitation na binigay. Hindi niya na din nabanggit kung isasama niya ba ako or hindi. Nakikinig nalang ako sa kga kwento niya about the preparations.
I am hurt. Nakwento niya how his closest friends will be there and kung pano niya ginawan ng way na ma excuse sila sa work nila without them being absent. His volleyball playmates will be there too. His brother’s girlfriend is invited. His girl best friend too (nasa VIP kasi mag bff moms nila). Yung kapatid ng ex niya na best friend ng sister niya is there din. Tapos ako??? He’s been updating me about the happenings sa event kaso fuck ayokong malaman kasi I don’t want to care. Siniseen ko lang messages niya. Gusto ko siyang sabihan kaso hindi ko magawa
Actually I don’t want to be too sensitive about it kaso I can’t help. Tangina bigla pa akong naiyak while typing this. Yun lang. I am very open for your reactions baka nagpapaka OA lang ako.
Thank you. Actually today is the D-day 05/15/2024…

I’d like to begin this invitation of advice or experiences by stating that what I want in life is a partner who feels like home, will always give me their genuine effort, & will love me through all of the highs, mediums, & lows of life.
I specifically want to know about any advice or things I should consider when it comes to the age gap I have with the man I’m seriously considering making a staple & serious part of my life. I (29f) met (40m) 3 years ago & we have been seeing each other for a little over a year. We met at the public school in which we both work- he’s the social worker, I’m a teacher. When I first saw him, he looked like a meat head (he’s pretty muscular, bald, beard, wears hoodies) & I’ve always been into nerds so it never occurred to me that I’d end up attracted to him. The first year we knew each other, it was very surface level, & then, during the second year of my time at the school, I got to know him better, as I did a few coworkers I now consider close friends. This second year of friendship was also a tough period for me as I was going through a divorce from with a man who wasn’t on the same life path as me & kind of made me dislike myself just for being me (wanting kids, needing to be intrinsically motivated in my career rather than financially motivated)- basically he was type A & I am B. I was absolutely enamored with him in my twenties & was crushed that it didn’t work- I spent a lot of time trying to change myself to accommodate his desires.
Anyhow, as I was processing my divorce & creating friendships, I got to know M(40) better both at work & at hang outs with friends outside of work. I watched how the kids at school just flocked to him & how kind he was with everybody. He coached the basketball team, did an after school program with the SRO to help at risk kids, & often stepped in to help others with tasks that weren’t related to his job as social worker. & he always did it with a positive attitude & good sense of humor. People just LIKE him, you know? It became obvious that he was just a really good person. One day, we had a discussion about kids & how we both wanted them. He told me I’d be a great mother because of how I treat the students & I told him he’d also be a wonderful parent. & he cast his spell on me & I slowly started falling for him. I couldn’t quite figure it out. Here I was, recently divorced from a relationship that had a tremendous affect on me mentally/emotionally, & I was gaining feelings for a man who was very different from my ex, & 11 years older than me. Was I just looking for a distraction? Was I using him to boost my confidence up after it had spent so much time at all time low? Or was I simply recognizing that this man had all of the features that I’d been missing in my past relationship & maybe I should pay attention to that? I was worried that my judgement post- divorce couldn’t possibly be clear, so I expressed that I had feelings for him but had to take things very slow. I was a bit of a mess as I tried to take the initial steps to get closer to him. I’d get emotional & have somewhat of a panic attack, or I’d go through some wishy washy phases when it came to wanting to see him in general. No matter what it was, he said that he understood, he wasn’t going anywhere, & that he just wanted me to be ok. He’d always ask what he could do to help & what I needed from him to feel better. If we were kissing & he felt that I wasn’t comfortable, he’d stop. One time he could tell that I wasn’t feeling great & he cried because he thought he’d made me feel bad. Needless to say, he was always there for me & ACTUALLY cared about how I felt. As we got closer, he was always respectful, would leave me flowers on random or special occasions (like when I was in an art show that he attended, or the first day of a new semester at work), wanted to make things like holidays memorable for me (one time I specifically thought was sweet was when he decorated my place with a Christmas tree & lights because “it’s your first Christmas in your new apartment, it should be festive!”). I consistently got solid evidence that he was emotionally mature, ready for a relationship, & wanted the same things as me.
So, I thought, “why is this sweet, courteous, kind, responsible, funny man single?” I’d heard some woman at work “pick” at him about this & say “I just don’t get how you’re single!” & I honestly wondered myself. You always heard that it’s a ref flag if a man dates a woman over 10 years younger & that it’s because “women his age didn’t want him”. Well, there are a few rational explanations I could think of: 1. He’d been sexually abused by his stepsister for years as a child. He’d told me that he’d had a few relationships during his 20s & 30s, but they didn’t last long & he’d had some issues with women not dealing with his anxiety around sex well. With me, this was not an issue, really. We’d taken the physical really slow, & when one of us felt anxiety as things heated up, the other stopped & supported. After a few months, it became a non-issue & we were able to have great sex with no fear that one of us would get anxious. I think us being so patient & supportive in those initial tough moments & making it clear that we were just as happy to show non-sexual affection helped bond us a ton. 2. When he was younger (childhood-20s) he was overweight. He began balding in his 20s & so he shaved his head. Maybe there weren’t a lot of women who wanted to be with the overweight, bald guy? Women can be just as shallow as men.
So, I began to try to look for any signs that maybe this man is “grooming” me or something. I looked for issues as well as green lights. How’s his family? His brother is happily married with children & he is close with his family, seeing them weekly. What are his friends like? I enjoy his friends. They’re nice, fun people & his best friends are in happy marriages. Does he manipulate you? No, he treats me like a princess (I’m not used to it) & tries to establish healthy relationship patterns (he always insists on a weekly date night, suggests activities together, such as me weight lifting with him & him running with me). He also hypes me up like no other- If I’m wearing a risky outfit that I love but know my mom would insult, BAM he is the first one to compliment it as his jaw drops to the floor. Always telling me how strong, sweet, & cool I am. Made me take his gloves when we went on a snowy hike & I’d forgotten mine. Just basically an endless stream of courtesy. Sometimes I worry if he’s just being really sweet to me because he wants to keep me- he’s said he’s trying to be less of a “people pleaser”- but he has always been consistently kind to me in a genuine manner.
I have gotten a lot of evidence that this is a solid person with whom I could build a beautiful relationship & family with. Everything he’s shown me has been positive as far as communication, morals, empathy, kindness & life plans is concerned.
So… is the 11 year age gap a concern? Should I be more paranoid about why he is still single, or are my theories valid? Although he goes to the gym daily & is like a kid at heart, should I worry about his age when it comes to us potentially raising kids? He’d likely be 43-45 by the time I was ready for that.
If anyone has any experience with being the victim of or being a partner to the victim of someone who went through sexual abuse as a child, please give any thoughts of how that might have affected someone when it comes to dating.
If you have any thoughts, please let me know. Truthfully, I do have other potential options if I pursued them & I’m not afraid of being alone, but I’m feeling that I’d like to commit to a relationship.

‼️ You only get this scene if you warned Yore about the poison.
The secret of Rebecca and the MC being the descendents of Malbonte will be exposed.
Now, this ain't gonna be a post of me defending Rebecca's actions or anything, I still think she is a bad mother, she even says that herself at one point that she wasn't a good mom to her. MC in this scene, just has a mental breakdown, who wouldn't in her situation, poor thing ;--;
This moment was kind of heart wrenching, it shows that deep down she does still have some love for her daughter, why else would she so willingly let herself get impaled like that? Eragon comes off as a straight up supervillain here, which is ironic, because the true supposed antagonist shows up just a few moments later 🤣
I don't give a crap about Torendo, he can go straight to hell for all I care.
And Lucifer standing up for his girl just warms my heart ❤️ like omg, my man is ready to fight a damn Seraph just to defend her, holy shit~ It's so sweet~
Eragon just mocks him like a piece of shit he comes off here as, Malbonte kills him just a few moments later anyway. Thanks, Mal ❤️
I'm pretty sure I still have a Low connection with Malbonte on this particular account, was planning to side with him 🤣 'cause no matter if you think that he's right, if you don't have that strong connection, you will automatically side against him regardless.
Well shit, I don't wanna restart the book all over again just for that~

I’m an advocate for two children in foster care whose foster family pays their cell bills. Soon they’ll be going back home to their parents and the grandparents think the parents won’t pay the bills and they won’t be able to contact the kids. For reasons, the grandparents will not pay the bills.
Would Google Voice be something they could set up and use? Currently they have phone numbers but what happens if/when their service gets shut off for nonpayment? Would GV still work over a wifi connection in this scenario?
Thanks for any insight anyone can provide.

For context, I (F22) was on Boo to make friends (on friends mode, not dating mode) as I am an international student in Perth. About 2 weeks ago, I matched with a (China)Chinese guy (M32) who claimed to have been living in Sydney for almost a decade after graduating from university there. The starting conversation was very normal, nothing out of the usual. After chatting for a day, he suggesting moving over to Whatsapp and asked for my number. I was alert at that point and asked: "How would I know if you weren't going to scam me? Why don't you give me your number instead?" To which, he did. So we moved over to Whatsapp to chat.
FYI, Mandarin is not my first language – it's my mother tongue, so I'm not as fluent. He mentioned that he can understand English, but his understanding is limited for some words and the context the words are being used in. Completely understandable, that's how Mandarin is to me. As he's more comfortable in Mandarin, he asked to practice my Mandarin with him – no red flags yet.
The conversation flowed normally, not much flirting, just getting to know one another. Hobbies, plans for the future, differences between Perth and Sydney. He claims that he works in real estate development, and only goes into the office once a week (sounds too good to be true but okay). Said he studied foreign economics and trade, then an MBA in university. Again, nothing crazy or alarming.
It's now the 3rd day, I decide to sus this guy out, and ask why's he still single at age 32 since typically for Chinese, parents would chase their children to get married. He says his parents did chase him to get married, but can't do anything since he's in Sydney, and that he prefers to meet a partner in a natural way than an arranged marriage. That's when he starts flirting a bit – "the biggest takeaway from Boo is you." Then, we chatted about hobbies, etc.
I asked, "if you could turn back time, what would you change?" Him: "I wouldn't change much but if I could turn back time I would purchase all the bitcoin on the market back then and sell it now" Me: "I've been interested in crypto but never had the courage to get into it" Him: "Hahaha, the cryptocurrency and blockchain fields are the most important part of the future market and will replace the traditional financial market"
We started chatting about bitcoin, but nothing alarming.
I jokingly said, "Wait till I earn some money, then I'll purchase some" Him: "When the time comes, I can teach you. Also, getting started with cryptocurrency does not require you to have a lot of funds. There's no restriction" 1/2🚩 Me: "Sure! If we're still talking by then" Him: "I'm not going to disappear, if nothing happens to me I'll still be here for the next 10 years 🤣" Me: "How would I know, haha? We met online" Him: "My feelings are filled with anticipation for you"
He started flirting with me more and more, talking about life, food, the conversation was going great. By now, it's the 4th day, and we had a conversation about food (as usual). I asked him what he had for dinner and he said he got takeout. Him: "If I had the motivation I'd cook, but I've been feeling lazy lately. But maybe if you were in Sydney I'd have more motivation to cook" Me: "What if I'm in Melbourne?" Him: "That's fine too, it's not that far" After more chatting... Me: "I'm only going to Melbourne though, not Sydney" (I'm heading to Melbourne in June) Him: "Then let's meet in Melbourne. I have an apartment there"
Just to be careful, I did not tell him when I would be flying over there, and at this point, he still does not know my full name. I joked with him about me possibly bring an elderly grandpa, or him being one, and pulling the "My mum says I shouldn't be talking to strangers". He replies, "Then don't make any friends 🤣 They're all strangers." He changes the topic because obviously that came off a little passive-aggressive. 1/2🚩
It's now the 5th day, after chatting about our interests, he asks me what I was doing during the weekend as he wanted to teach me about crypto. 🚩 I said, "I have no money" Him: "Well, if you have no money then you should earn some 🤣" Me: "I know, but crypto is dangerous" Him: "There's always a danger in everything, but when you expose yourself to it and learn, you'll understand it better" Me: "Yes and no" Him: "One more thing I have to tell you, you have to buy crypto when you're first starting out if not you can't learn it at all" Me: "I don't want to do that now, I'm okay with chatting about it, but I don't want to start now" Him: "It's your own decision, I just have to make sure you're aware before starting" Me: "Thanks for being honest about it, if not I'd feel like this is a crypto scam, not saying that you are" Him: "It's better to be honest about things." He changed the topic to food (not in a abrupt manner, but quite naturally)
Another day passed, and he went out drinking with friends. After returning home, he seemed to be a little hyper and tipsy, but I don't think he was drunk. I asked for a picture of him drunk because I thought it'd look funny, and he sent it over in 4min. Then, I mustered up my courage to voice call him to which there was no answer, but after 2min, he called back. The call lasted 38sec because I chickened out. To me, this confirmed that he was a legitimate person, not an AI that I was chatting with, and he most likely would be who he said he was. (But with that being said, it is also possible for him to be using a voice changer or whatever.)
After that night, it had been one week of chatting daily, and his texting was the same as usual, flirty but not overbearing. I had been out partying with the girls for a friend's birthday and I got home at 7am in the morning. I had spent the night watching out for my girls as you know, clubbing can be scary at times – the girlies drunk making out with others and all, the usual. As I was telling him about the crazy that went down that night, he said, "as long as nothing happened to you, that's all that matters, if not I'd be heartbroken" Me: "Why?🤣" Him: "Do you still need to ask why?" Me: "Well, if anything happened, then we just cut off this connection, hahaha, anyway we've only met for a few days" Him: "....." Me: "It's realistic" Him: "Is it?" Me: "Huh?" Him: "Rest well at home" Me: "Are you upset?" Him: "Not so far as to be upset about it" Me: "Well, think about it, we've only met a few days, and it's not as if you know if I have a good personality or a bad personality" Him: "If you put in effort to understand, you can actually discover many details" Me: "Then what kind of person do you think I am?" Him: "A realistic and rational person"
And then... I changed the topic because this conversation was getting a bit too deep for me.
It's the 9th day. My friends were really curious interested in this guy that I was chatting with and they wanted to hear his voice (so did I) to confirm his identity. So, childishly, we plotted for me to 'accidentally' leave my phone charging on my friend's table while I went to the bathroom, they unlocked my phone and called him to ask him who he was, then when I returned I'd snatch my phone back. He picked up, it was a 22sec call before I snatched my phone back and ended the call because I was way too embarrassed. He asked, "What happened?" Me: *explains the plot* Him: "Why's your phone unlocked?" Me: "It's locked but my friends know my PIN" Him: "Hahaha, change it" 🚩 Me: "Sorry for the trouble" Him: "It's fine, text me when you're back" A while later.... Me: "I'm back in my room" (I live in a dormitory) *Him asking how my friends know who to call, me explaining that we're together all the time, they know that we've been chatting* Him: "No privacy at all 🤣 They probably saw our entire conversation" Me: "It's okay, they read Mandarin really slow, don't worry 😂" Him: "Babe, you should learn how to protect yourself" Me: "Then when I'm speaking to you don't I need to protect myself?" Him: "Of course" Me: "Anyway, why do I need to hide anything?" 🚩(Can't tell if it's because he's older? That's why he thinks like that?) Him: "You don't care about your own privacy?" Me: "I do" Him: "I think boundaries between friends are important. I'm not mad, I just feel that if your friends can just take your phone, unlock your pin, and call me, wouldn't you be angry?" Me: "But this friend group is like my family" Him: "Your phone is like the last layer of yourself, you need to learn how to take care of yourself" Me: "Well they're just scared I'll get hurt and cheated" Him: "Cheated what?" Me: "They've seen me at my worst" Him: "Cheat you for sex or money? Rest assured, in this lifetime I'll never borrow money from you 🤣" Me: "We don't know if you're a real person either" Him: "Then am I or am I not?" Me: "Probably?" Him: "Really? The word probably?" *more conversation, blah blah*
Then it ended with him confessing that he likes me.
It's the 10th day. The flirting has been amped up and of course I can feel it, he starts calling me babe more, and talking about how it's normal for couples to hug. Of course, I was like "Oh? We're already a couple?" Him: "Aren't we heading in that direction?" Me: "Well that depends on your performance" Him: "If I turned you into a little rich lady, wouldn't you be happier?" Now, he's pushing about crypto again, and if I tried it once, I'd understand. Then, I confronted him, "Why'd you keep asking me about crypto?" Him: "Didn't you say you were interested?" Me: "Yeah I did, but I don't want to randomly start" Him: "How's that considered randomly starting?" Me: "Well, I don't know you well, and it's not as if we've been longtime friends. Also, there's a lot of scams on Boo, especially crypto scams. We've only been talking for a week, how much can I even trust you?" Him: "The decision is still yours to make, but I won't bring it up again" Me: "If I misunderstood you, I apologise. I can chat with you about crypto if it's your interest but I don't want to start now" Him: "We don't have to chat about crypto, there's no point talking about it" Me: "If you feel that I have no interest in crypto and would like to stop talking to me, that's completely understandable" Him: "There's no link between the two" Me: "I mean, some people feel that when there's no common topic, the conversation won't work. People have different dealbreakers." Me: "Have you eaten?"
GHOSTED. So, naturally, I thought he was now 100% a scammer (although it's only been a day). From what I know, he hasn't been active on Boo, his Follower count dropped but his Love count increased a bit. Honestly, everything he's said checks out, the timing under his name is Sydney timezone, his location checks out. Searched his images on Google and the Chinese search engines, nothing comes up.
I thought he blocked me because I sent him, "So you really blocked me just like that? 🤣" on Boo and Whatsapp and it was only a single tick on Whatsapp, which means he didn't receive the message. But turns out, he didn't block me... I was overthinking it. I was so sure he was a scammer, I reported his Boo account... 🙊 He replied after 5hr, "I've got a fever" and when I asked if he was fine, no reply. I am confused. Is he a scammer? Or am I just overthinking it? Did I piss him off perhaps? 🤣
Thanks for taking the time to read this if you have. Please help a confused girl out 🤣

Hello everyone,
I hope you're doing well. I'm currently in the process of planning a trip to France with my cat, whom I adopted in the US. While I've taken care of the rabies vaccination, I'm a bit unsure about the other requirements, such as obtaining a health certificate or a cat passport. Despite my efforts, I haven't been able to get in touch with the airline I'll be flying with for clarification. If anyone has experience traveling internationally with a pet, especially to France, I would greatly appreciate any advice or guidance you could offer.
Thank you very much!

Hi everyone,
I'm currently in the process of planning a trip to France with my cat, whom I adopted in the US. While I've taken care of the rabies vaccination, I'm a bit unsure about the other requirements, such as obtaining a health certificate or a cat passport. Despite my efforts, I haven't been able to get in touch with the airline I'll be flying with for clarification and it’s making me really nervous… If anyone has experience traveling internationally with a pet, especially to France, I would greatly appreciate any advice or guidance you could offer.
Thank you very much!

The maze would be for my future children allowing it time to grow as they grow. We don’t plan on having our 1st for atleast another 2 years and would like to get the hedge plantedd over the next 2 years. The question I had is, I plan on making it about 55’W x 105’L. Is that to small for a hedge maze ? Planned on 2’ wide for the hedge and 3’ for the walkways ideal 2’ path with 6” on each side for flowers or just gravel. I’m also in zone 6a I planned on using hicks yew that I would clone and grow myself (I’m a cannabis growers so taking care of 1000s of plants is just a normal day for me.) Would you choose hicks yew? And if not what type of hedge would you use? I’d like for the maze to be 7’ tall all said and done. Ideal I’d like for it to always be 6” taller than my children as they grow up.

My ex husband (we are still close friends and share a 6yo daughter) is having bowel resection surgery at the end of this month due to cancer cells found. I have to do main care of our daughter, which is totally fine, but his mom is coming down to help.
Both his parents are retired. He is their youngest kid (well, mom’s only kid and dad’s youngest). She’s come down to help for the previous stuff before they found cancer. His surgery recovery will take at least 2 weeks, maybe longer.
He told me today his mom is only staying until 6/4 which is just the first week.
Why? Because his dad needs a ride to the airport on 6/5 and they live in NM so she has to drive back.
This makes me so mad. Especially as a mom. Like wtf???
I told him I am here and can work from his house. So he has me. But what the actual fuck??? Your kid who is 35 has cancer!!
If it was me, my mom would be here two weeks before surgery plus a couple months after. I just don’t fucking understand at all especially as a mom.
Maybe I am overreacting. Idk. I just don’t understand.

Cover Art!
Just because you’re transported to another world, doesn’t mean you’ll escape from your pain.
Abused by her parents, thirteen-year-old Frances only wants to be safe and for her life not to hurt so much. And when she and her class are transported to the magical world of Durannon to fight the monsters invading the human kingdoms and defeat the self-titled Demon King, Frances is presented with a golden opportunity. If she succeeds, Frances will have the home she never had. If she fails, Frances will be summoned back to the home she escaped.
Yet, despite her newfound magic and friends, Frances finds that trauma is not so easily lost. She is dogged by her abuse and its physical and invisible scars. Not only does she have to learn magic, she has to survive the nightmares of her past, and wrestle with her feelings of doubt and self-loathing.
If she can heal from her trauma, though, she might be able to defeat the Demon King and maybe, just maybe, she can find a home for herself.
[The Beginning] [<=Chapter 216] [Chapter Index and Blurb] [Chapter 218 May 28 or see the next chapter now on Patreon]
The Fractured Song Index
Discord Channel Just let me know when you arrive in the server that you’re a Patreon so you can access your special channel.
Frances and company catch up before the final battle.
***
“Hold on. How would he win this battle if we outnumber him and surround him?” Ginger asked.
“He could target our leadership. Focus on killing Titania, Antigones, you and Martin,” said Ayax.
“Only, he’d have to kill Sebastian and Megara, as well as Edana and you too, Frances, along with a whole list of targets. I’m not sure how he could pull that off,” said Elizabeth.
Ayax grimaced, brow furrowed, but Frances knew the answer to that question.
“Thorgoth doesn’t need to find half the targets he’s after. Myself, mom, Titania, our strongest mages and the rest of the people that will be on his list have leadership positions. Like it or not we’ll be involved in the battle and he just needs to find us on the battlefield. A well-placed spell and he’d snuff any non-magic person out,” Frances said.
“So what do we do then?” Martin asked.
Frances’ heart was pounding, for she knew the answer, but was afraid to give it life. Yet what could she do but tell what she knew was the truth?
“Take the battle to him. Thorgoth will have to operate by himself with maybe just his Royal Guards. We need to hold him and his escort and defeat him before he hurts everybody else.”
“So, all the Otherworlders, our best mages?” Ayax asked.
“Not all of them. But my mother and I, Jessica and Leila, Dwynalina and Jim and Nicole, with a few Otherworlders holding off his guards,” said Frances.
Elizabeth pursed her lips. “Ayax and I can go after Queen Berengaria. I can’t imagine her going far from her husband.”
“This is assuming we can at least split the attention of the dragons and keep them occupied of course,” said Martin. He touched Ginger’s elbow. “Not that I don’t trust you dear.”
“Oh I know, but it is a consideration.” She swirled the wine in her cup. “That means Martin and I will be directing the battle with Sebastian and Alexander.”
“It’s likely you’ll be the overall commander with Martin. Alexander and Sebastian would then take charge of their own contingents,” said Elizabeth. She bit her lip. “Do you feel up for it?”
Ginger shrugged. “I mean, we have to—”
Elizabeth reached out to pat her friend’s shoulder. “Martin, Ginger, you know we have every faith in both of you, but if you need help, there is no shame in asking for it.”
“Besides I think we’re all scared. I know I am,” Ayax said with a smile. Even so, they could all see how her tail looked like it was trying to twist itself into knots. Frances figured her cousin wasn’t trying to hide her fear, just trying not to alarm or panic them.
Martin sighed. “I think that’s the problem, Liz. Duty compels us. Love binds us. So I know no matter what happens, I know we’ll stand together to face him. Still, we are afraid and while I know I won’t run, I worry that fear may cloud my judgment at a crucial moment.”
Ginger wiped her eyes, but her tears now flowed freely down her cheeks. “How do I know I won’t panic, and make a bad call? How do we know we are all coming back? We can’t. I…I guess we have to accept that, but I don’t want to lose you. Any of you.”
Drawing her friend into a tight hug, Elizabeth gently patted Ginger’s back. “I don’t either. I suppose that for me, I’ve always looked to my faith in God, and in you all. Have we not triumphed in all we’ve faced?””
Frances found herself nodding, her throat unclenching and the tight nervousness in her shoulders and neck fading. What remained was a faint feeling of lightness that lifted her chin.
“You’re right. We should believe in ourselves, and hope. Hope for a future when we win this war. Hope that our good will triumph over Thorgoth’s evil. Hope that in a few days, we’ll be home with our family, and our friends.”
Martin gave Frances a wondering look. “How are you able to hope that?”
Frances smiled. “I think that I have always been good at having hope. I didn’t realize it until now, but even in my darkest moments, I always hoped that I would find a place where I could be me.”
Ayax stood up, raising her glass. “To faith, friendship and hope. May it see us all through our final trial.”
Rising to their feet, the five touched glasses and drank deep. They all were smiling. The pain and fear in their hearts soothed by the hope they held and the determination to see each other once again.
***
“Frances, can I walk with you?”
Frances would never have said no to her best friend, and she could tell that past Elizabeth’s bright smile, her friend was worried. There were just too many small signs learnt from years of friendship. She was scratching behind her ear, and her eyes were narrowed just slightly from the tension in her face.
“Of course,” said Frances, falling in beside the tall Otherworlder. “How are you and Ayax?”
Elizabeth giggled. “We’re great! Fantastic even. She and I are even talking about what we might do after the war. We have so many plans and well, I kind of wanted to talk to you about that.”
Frances waited as Elizabeth continued to walk beside her, lips pursed.
“I know that after the war, I’m choosing to stay here with Ayax, with all of you. I just…” her voice trailed off, and her walk slowed to a crawl.
Taking a slight breath, Frances touched her friend’s hand. “Liz, you know it’s okay for you to doubt that.”
Elizabeth stopped and shook her head. “Oh no, I don’t have any doubts about my decision. At the very least, I’m past the point where my doubts aren’t going to change my decision. I know I’ve changed too much in the past seven years. I’ve come to terms with my sexuality. I’ve fallen head over heels in love with a woman who loves me just as much. I’ve commanded armies, led soldiers into battle and helped to make decisions affecting hundreds of thousands of people. I can’t go back pretending I’m Grade 8 and neither do I want to.” She squeezed Frances’s hand. “My decision is the right one. I know it in my heart and I’ve prayed about it. I can do a lot of good here and me going back? That won’t just hurt the people I love here, but it’ll hurt me and my family at home. I can’t hide who I’ve become and I’m proud of what I’ve grown into.”
Frances closely studied her friend knowing Elizabeth wouldn’t mind her staring.
“So what are you feeling, Liz?”
Closing her eyes, Elizabeth sniffled. “Guilt. It’s stupid. I know I’m making the right choice. I’m sure in my heart that God is encouraging me to make this choice, but I still feel guilty.”
“How could you not? You know your family loves you.”
“And I’m abandoning them. I know I’m doing the right thing but I still feel like I’m doing something wrong,” said the Otherworlder.
Frances hugged her best friend, squeezing her tight, hoping that her warmth and touch could comfort the woman who she’d trusted as much as her own mother.
“Liz, if they are everything you told me, they’re going to be alright. Have faith in them, like your faith in me and your friends.”
Elizabeth let out a sigh, but returned the hug. “Thank you, Frances. If…if the worst comes and you are sent back without me, go to them. Tell them I love them.”
Tears in her eyes, Frances nodded. “I promise. If you are sent back, I will take care of Ayax.”
Elizabeth let out a gurgly hiccup. “Thank you. I know you will.”
***
The historic coronation of King Martin and Queen Ginger would found what would be known as the Congrey dynasty. Con for Conthwaite and Grey for King Jerome’s dynasty.
It was an unusual coronation as King Martin and Queen Ginger were long-betrothed but not married. Yet King Jerome and Queen Forowena’s wills had been clear. Apart from that, the coronation involved as many of Eridale's traditions as possible in light of the circumstances.
Down the parade route attended by all those that could be mustered, King and Queen marched in at the head of an honor guard composed of their closest companions. These included Frances, Elizabeth, and Ayax, who held three poles of a crimson banner that hung over the pair. The fourth corner was held by Martin’s sister Mara, who wore a slightly undignified grin. Yet, nobody could really blame her.
Martin wore a black-white checkered tunic with red-gold trimmings and shoulder epaulets. His trousers were dark gray with again red-gold tassels. Ginger did wear a dress. It was of a dark maroon with silver lacing. A bejeweled gorget studded with emeralds hung from her neck and her ears sparkled with dark blue sapphires.
There was one minor alteration. As the procession marched up to the entrance of the old Goblin Empire palace, on a raised wooden dais dressed with elaborately embroidered carpets stood the attending dignitaries. They included all the other Erisdalian lords and ladies such as Viscountess Katia and Lord Tarquin, dressed in all the finery they could muster. Other notables such as Prince Timur, representing the Kingdom of Alavaria, Grandmaster Edana of the White Order and Alexander and Eloise of Erlenberg stood proudly side by side.
Towards the center of the dais were three figures. King Sebastian and Queen-Consort Megara, and the former Queen Janize. Sebastian and Megara were standing, holding Queen Forowena’s crown, whilst the heavily pregnant Janize sat, holding King Jerome’s crown. Thorgoth may have taken their decorated helmets, but he did not have their ceremonial attire.
Martin and Ginger stepped out from under the awning, giving their bearers a brief nod, before taking the last steps up the dais.
Whistling a spell, Megara touched her throat with her wand. “Who stands before the crowns?”
Martin knelt to one knee. The bearers of the awning followed. “Sir Martin of Conthwaite. A Knight of Erisdale.”
Ginger curtsied low. Frances nearly split her lips as she grinned at her friend’s perfect form. “Ginger. Just Ginger of Erisdale.”
Janize’s expression was unreadable as she rose to her feet. There was a slight archness to her features, and yet that could just be how she lifted her haughty cheeks.
“As witnessed by all, and by the King and Queen of Lapanteria, do you swear to defend Erisdale with all means at your disposal including force of arms?”
“We do.”
“Do you swear to uphold the laws of the land and the rights of Erisdale’s citizens?”
“We do!”
“Do you swear that until your dying breaths, to govern and reign over Erisdale not for your benefit, but for the benefit of the people and for their future generations?”
From her kneeling position, Frances frowned. That wasn’t quite the right oath. The wording was “Do you swear to govern over Erisdale wisely and justly?” She supposed that she might have missed it, or maybe there was a variation.
Yet as she noted her fiance’s face, she noticed his eyes were wide and her mother’s eyebrow was arched.
Not skipping a beat, Martin and Ginger bellowed. “We do!”
“Do you swear that you will do your utmost not to make the same mistakes as your predecessors and do whatever it takes to preserve Erisdale’s peace, even if it may cost you your lives?”
Frances blinked. Janize had gone completely off script. There was no fourth oath.
However, Martin and Ginger only hesitated for a moment as they exchanged a glance and looked up to meet Janize’s gaze.
The blonde woman’s eyes were bright and the hands holding Jerome’s crown were trembling ever so slightly. Frances had wondered why she’d insisted on doing this. Martin and Ginger had wanted to approach her to ask if she was willing, but the enigmatic former queen had surprised them by demanding they allow her to crown them. She now had an idea as to why.
“We do,” said Martin, smiling.
Ginger returned that smile. Blinking back her own tears, she took a breath. “In the name of Queen-consort Forowena and your brother, King Jerome. We solemnly swear.”
Janize closed her eyes, a single tear running down her cheek.
“Then as the last heiress of House Grey, I pass the crown of Erisdale on forever. Long live the Congrey dynasty. Long live Martin the Hero of Erisdale and his queen to be Ginger, whom I dub Erisdale’s Burning Heart.”
Lifting Jerome’s crown high, she set it onto Martin’s head. Swiftly taking Queen Forowena’s crown from Sebastian, she set it on Ginger’s head.
“Hail King Martin and Queen Ginger!” Janize bellowed as Martin and Ginger rose to their feet.
The crowd chanted back, their voices filling the great cavern. “Hail King Martin and Queen Ginger! Hail King Martin and Queen Ginger!” Frances could barely hear her own voice over the crescendo. The call that they all raised. Like the sound carried up into the void, she could feel herself be carried up. It was like she was floating on the power of their united song.
Turning around, Martin and Ginger smiled at Frances. Their eyes were wide, and she could see them clasp each other’s hands tightly.
Frances found herself standing on her feet, the pole to her awning in her hand. Without a second thought, she stabbed the pole’s spike into the ground. As her hand dropped to Alanna, she paused for a moment before her mind caught up with her body, and she nodded as if to herself.
Drawing the estoc, Frances raised her blade high, saluting her two friends.
“Long may they reign! Long may they reign!”
Elizabeth was right behind her, hammer raised high. Ayax followed suit with her staff and Mara and the rest were soon drawing their weapons. From the corner of her eye, Frances even spotted Morgan and Hattie raising their wand and staff.
“Long may they reign! Long may they reign!”
***
Helias glanced over his shoulder toward the accursed city. Despite the distance, there was a tremble in the air of Kairoun-Aoun itself.
“Helias?” Sara asked.
“Sounds like they crowned Martin and Ginger. They’re going to attack soon,” he said.
Sara nodded, her tense jaw the only sign of the worry that had seized the harpy-orc. As gently as he could manage with his rough, scarred hands, he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Sara. We’re going to be fine.”
“You’re lying,” she said with eyes fixed forward.
The general couldn’t help but wince. “Sorry.”
Slowing in her stride, Sara placed a hand over Helias’s. “I still appreciate you trying to comfort me but I would prefer you to tell me the truth. How bad is it?”
Helias looked around. “Thorgoth may pull off a miracle and get himself and Berengaria out. However, a lot of Alavari are going to die.”
“What are you going to do?” Sara asked.
“I’ll have to attend this meeting and see what Thorgoth is planning. We’ll make a plan after that.”
“You and I know it’s not going to change anything,” Sara said, looking up at her husband, who could not meet her gaze. Yet, she didn’t push him away. Instead put her hand around his waist, drawing him closer.
“I know, but I want to be sure,” said Helias in a low tone.
“I understand. See you soon,” said Sara.
***
Helias found himself exchanging side-long glances with Glowron. The pair sat, both leaning forward toward King Thorgoth and a pacing Queen Berengaria, who’d finished explaining tomorrow’s strategy.
“Do you have anything else to add, my good generals?” Thorgoth asked. The king still smiled easily as he swirled a cup of wine in his hands.
Glowron shook his head. His tone was short but he kept this expression neutral. “No sire.”
The goblin general was Helias’s superior in rank and social class. The fact of the matter was that if Glowron had no objections, then there was no way the tauroll could object.
And still, Helias felt bile rise in the back of his throat. He froze, ever so briefly. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. Nothing mattered, except for Sara and Gwendilia.
“No sir. I’ll have my troops ready for tomorrow.”
That should have been that. They would have been dismissed to prepare for tomorrow’s suicide mission, but the king’s whims had other plans.
King Thorgoth put his cup down and leaned forward. “Oh come on my good generals. Surely you have something to improve on this plan.”
Glowron’s expression remained blank, whilst Helias smiled. “Your Majesty, you were the one who taught me everything I know. I can think of nothing I can add to your strategy.”
Queen Berengaria strode toward him. “You’re usually so talkative, Helias. Are you sure you have no other thoughts?”
“I beg your apologies, but I do not have any further additions to your plan, Your Majesty. My lord Glowron?” Helias asked.
“I do not either, my liege—” Glowron fell silent and Helias’s tail stiffened.
Thorgoth and Berengaria were no longer smiling and with a few more steps, the harpy queen had put herself behind the two generals.
“Let me be plain, we are now not asking you about how to improve the plan. We are asking for your thoughts. Give them.”
The Demon King’s remaining dark eye was narrowed. The other was now covered with a black silk eyepatch, the remains of the scar that Queen Forowen had given him, a discoloration scouring a line along the side of his face and right over his ear. In spite of the king’s injury, Helias felt nothing but cold dread dry his mouth.
“Your Majesty, my only thought is that we have no option but to follow your plan. No matter how we got into this situation, the only thing we can do is go forward and try to win this day,” Glowron said.
“And do you blame me, Glowron?”
Helias watched, eyes wide as somehow the much smaller goblin general continued to meet the king’s eyes. “I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t assign some responsibility to you at all, but I believe we ought to have thought of the possibility of such a trap. So the responsibility is mine as well.”
Thorgoth nodded. Out of the corner of his eye, Helias saw the slightest of nods that Berengaria gave to her husband. Alarm shooting his gaze back toward the Demon King, Helias found the full attention of his sovereign and sometimes uncle directed right at him.
“And you, General Helias?”
Lie and he might not be able to make it convincing enough. Tell the truth about what he thought about this war and he was never seeing Sara and Gwendilia again. Thorgoth hadn’t just been hurt, his pride had been wounded and he was now backed into a corner. It would be unwise to anger him, but what to say? What could he say?
All he could think of, and see was his child and her adoring gaze. All he could feel was the touch of Sara’s hand against his. They’d become closer than he could have imagined and were more than just companions with mutual goals now.
If he was to die, then maybe he could tell this truth.
“I am mostly thinking of my wife and my child, my king. The coming battle has me greatly concerned with how dangerous it shall be.”
Thorgoth narrowed his eyes at Helias for a brief moment. The tauroll, staying very still, waited for the presumed reaction by Berengaria.
Whatever Berengaria did made Thorgoth arch an eyebrow.
“I thought you didn’t consider your wife to be worth much,” said the king in a mild tone.
His mind racing, Helias ran with the idea. “She has responded well to the constraints and discipline I’ve enforced on her. She does nothing but facilitate all my needs and has served me well.”
He could feel Berengaria’s eyes narrow, but Thorgoth was already leaning back onto his chair. “Good for you. You are dismissed.”
“Thank you, sire,” said Helias, almost unable to hide his sigh of relief.
***
Author’s Note: While I wish I could have spent more quality time with Martin, Elizabeth, Ginger and Ayax, I do love the best-friend/team that I created for Frances. This chapter and the last was my little way of giving each of them a bit of time with Frances before the final battle.

Hi I'm 20F and this happened around 3 years ago. For proper context I will be explaining about my "friends" first. I'm sorry that this is a very longgghg one but I needed to get it out of my chest. Also forgive me for any grammatical mistakes as English is not my first language. I'll start with my 6 year long ex bestie Bee, in short she was a huge pick me. Since the beginning she used to insult me infront of boys to make herself look good. I didn't really realise it back then because I thought that's what friends do. She literally used to drag me around a bunch of boys and would call me fat, crooked legged and eagle nosed. Even my mom and my brother kept asking me to break the friendship but I was too afraid thinking I'll be alone. I always had her back though, she used to come to me crying if she's facing any issues in her life and I was there for her. I started my college around COVID time so the friends I made were through online meetings. Once we all met, we hit it off. It was really great!. My best friend in college was a guy named Shawn. We were really close and one day he came up to me and said "I like someone", me being me started investing who it could be. Then a girl named Penny from our friend group told me that Shawn had told her "someone likes you". I was like YESS I found it! And I did my part and now they are a couple. I was soo happy. After a month or so he came to me and said he wants to break up cuz she's too controlling and jealous and I took her side because I kinda understood her since he was still talking to his ex. It became too frequent though and I just told him do as you please. And one more important thing is her family is extremely strict like she can't even talk to a guy. So in college I used to sit in between them like they asked me to do that teachers don't doubt anything and complain to her parents. But the issue was I had to be around them the entire day and be ignored by them. I didn't mind at first but it got frustrating as time passed. I would try talking to them and they would just ignore me but they didn't want me to sit away from them either. The moment we walked out of college they would walk away from me leaving me alone. Next Anne and Chris. Mann are they messy. Anne had lots of boyfriends but we did not know it back then when we used to talk to her. Chris is a senior who proposed to Anne and she accepted it. One day a random guy texted me and asked me Anne's contact details and I refused to give it. He then sent me the photos of her kissing another guy. I blocked him and texted Anne about this and she accepted she was cheating on Chris. But Chris, Penny, Shawn and me were really close at this point. I told Chris about this and he confronted her, he said when she went to visit her hometown, she asked for a break and that's when the cheating happened and when she came back to City she dumped that guy from village and got back with Chris. Guess what, Anne went to Village again and she ghosted Chris. Chris started texting my then bestie Bee. I told both of them not to grow feelings towards eachother or to talk that much because I knew Chris only wanted to get back at Anne and whereas Bee would use Chris as timepass. I mean yeah it's their life but only I knew this about both of them. They were acting serious and both of them were my friends, i couldn't let them do this to eachother. Well they ignored me. They did complain about eachother a lottttt though and I gave the same advice to stop talking so much. Anne returned from her village and she got to know Chris is talking to Bee. She simply asked him to stop talking to Bee and he DID. He told Bee he doesn't want to talk to her and he texted me "I got my everything (Anne) so I don't need Bee anymore" Bee felt bad and I told her well atleast don't repeat it again because I know he will text you again and Anne will cheat on him again. In between all of this drama I met my boyfriend through a online game. I used to talk to him whenever Shawn and Penny were ignoring me and I stopped caring about them. And yes I had told them I felt very bad many times that they ignore me and for like 2 days when I was around them Penny would say "oh we should talk to her or she will feel bad" and then talk to me. It was embarrassing really. In short my boyfriend is a great guy who moved to my city. Mind you he was just 17 when he moved. He convinced his parents he needed to study in my City for ME. He made me realise how much more i deserved so I just stopped being bothered by my friends. I introduced all of them to eachother so they used to hang out without me as well. Penny asked Shawn to not to talk to me. Chris and Bee started talking again and Anne left Chris again. But both of them would constantly complain about eachother about how much they hate eachother. Another thing about Bee is the guys she was dating were usually my friends. Like I would introduce my friends to her and she would go snatch the boys up and would ask them not to talk to me. I didn't care because I wasn't attracted to those guys anyway. Once I told about my crush and she literally asked me "ask him to follow me hehe". I was like wtf no I can't ask him to do that. She followed him. He asked me "why is your friend following me and sent a message request" I told him the truth cuz I was just fed up with her. He blocked her lol. He told me not to have friends like her. Anyway she started texting my boyfriend as well. She used to say "when you come to City let's go out to eat, buy me that, buy me this blah blah blah". Little did she know I had his account and I knew she wasn't "busy" so she couldn't reply to me. She needed 2k because she borrowed it from her mom to give a random guy lol. He never returned it but she was crying so I asked my bf to lend her 1k for now. He told her "return to my gf in cash since my mom can see my transactions". She ghosted me after he gave her the money. I confronted Shawn and Penny. I told them I don't want to be their friend anymore because I was there for them always and whenever I texted them they would straight up ignore me. There were some rough words. I told Bee about this and I cried because I did share good moments with them. I also told her they are planning an outing for which they will invite Bee just to spite me and told her I'll feel very bad if u go. She went :). I just asked her to return the money asap and wanted to end it all. The thing is they hated eachother so why go and meet them when I am the one who is helping you when you are in need? Not just the money, I was standing up for her in so many occasions.
She said she can send the money online because she knew I can't say ok to that. I asked her cash she ignored me. I kept asking her decently. I got fed up and texted her mom asking the money and then Bee replied saying "don't act so cheap and text my mom" I'm like huh? If I'm cheap then what are you for taking the money and ghosting me? I told her I'm just asking what u owe me so give it. She said ik y you are asking, it's because I went out with them right, i didn't even know u would feel bad. I told her consider the money as charity and get lost. Blocked. Whereas Chris talked shit about my friend group so I fought with him and he said "you are a b'tch and you don't deserve anything". This happened before I broke friendship with Shawn and Penny and they never stood up for me. Shawn and Penny were beside me standing and seeing me arguing with Chris and said nothing. While the only reason I fought was for them. Funny because what happened later proved who deserves what. My boyfriend moved to City (nobody believed he would come). I topped my last 3 semesters(I was tutoring them during exams and wasted my time before. Now both of them were scoring Avg marks and Penny even cried in class after seeing her marks and mine). I got placed in a huge MNC Company (Chris being my senior was working as a janitor in a clinic, not to shame but just saying). Shawn and Penny apologised to me later on for talking to Bee after we broke out friendship because they realised the kind of person she is. Shawn also mentioned that she had asked him for money but he said no even though he had it lol. Chris and Bee were in a short toxic relationship until he dumped her again for Anne. Bee is also now with no real friends or no real boyfriend and was seeing hanging out with her sister on her bday(I used to take her to Cafes). I would have been with them if I hadn't met my Boyfriend. I don't regret the friendship because I did my part as much as I could. So AITA?

So apparently we scare them enough that they hire a company with bots to report us all to Reddit Cares
Let that sink in for a minute.
We scare them enough that they have a company meeting and someone thought this was a good idea to pitch, and then someone actually AGREED it was a good idea. Just put yourself in the room arguing for it “Hey guys what if we report them all as psychotic maybe that will make them stop.”
How ridiculous would you feel at your own workplace suggesting manipulating Redditors by reporting them all for being crazy? It’s just weapons grade NUTS.
I just assumed this whole time that they could kick the can down the road indefinitely via crime, and all I was doing by holding was making it more painful for them to do it.
But then I got to thinking, if that’s the case why the Reddit cares nonsense? Why spend the money or even the time talking about and executing the plan to do this? Why is the media saying we caused the interest rates to up and that we caused the inflation?
They really only have 3 options now if times are truly this desperate
Option 1: Crime Option 2: Convince us to leave Option 3: Pay us to leave
Option 1 seems to be breaking down otherwise why bother with Reddit cares?
Option 2 hasn’t worked, hence why they are trying Reddit cares to see if that shakes any of us off
That just leaves option 3 and unfortunately I forgot how to sell. The only way I might remember if I was able to buy a NFL team and a submarine yacht with my shares.
(Not financial advice I just like the stock)

Some background first, we’ve been together for 10 years, married for 6. I’ve been in the military for 7 of those years and I know it’s taken a toll on me mentally and emotionally. To start, I’ve never been the best at showing emotions (mainly empathy). I honestly don’t know why my body and mind won’t let me speak how I feel with her. She recently joined the military as well. She’s currently in schooling for her job and I was deployed before she left. We’ve seen each other a total of 3 weeks since February 2023. We’ve been apart due to previous deployments for a year before so we’re no strangers to long distance. Shes been a stay at home mom to our dogs since we’ve been together and she’s worked off and on before but not sustainably. She wanted to have kids a few years ago (in our 20-22s) and I didn’t want to at the time due to being at work from 4:50AM to damn near 7PM everyday. I told her I wanted to be present before that happens and she accepted it.
I’ve visited her twice since she’s been in school since she can’t leave and I can’t always visit since she’s 6 hours away and hotels are expensive with the money that we have at this time. Until recently, I saw she became more and more distant and I was going to ask her eventually until she dropped the possibility of splitting up on me. We’ve had arguments before but never with the splitting up part. She says she hasn’t felt loved for years and can’t accept my love due to not knowing what it feels like. She says I’ve supported her in every other way, just not emotionally and she’s not happy. I agree I haven’t been there emotionally and I accept that blame. I’ve told her all actions behind what I do are 100% genuine and loving although I don’t show it. I whole heartedly can say that I love and care for this woman. She’s pushed me to go so far in my career and I’ve neglected her blindly. I honestly don’t mean to. I know in the previous argument of this, I said I would change for the better and I didn’t. I have apologized and she’s accepted the apologies for all that I’ve done. I’ve started going to counseling and behavioral health (BH for other various reasons as well, but this is included) so I can learn to be more open in my emotions. She’s glad that I’m doing that for us. She says she doesn’t want to split up either and that she loves me. This all started Sunday (12 May) and today, she wants to do no contact for a month. She thinks this will help us realize that we need each other and help us focus on other stuff at the moment (her school, my job) in order to be better for each other. I know how to be an individual. I just want her in my life. I planned on starting the family when she comes back in August but I’m unsure of how this will go. I’ve been breaking down the past couple days and I just feel numb. I feel empty other than a heavy chest and hurting heart. I genuinely love and care for her and I’ve told her that if she can’t be happy with me, I understand. I’ve told her that she makes me happy as well. I don’t know how I’m supposed to last a month when I’ve looked forward to calling her everyday. I’ve spoken with friends and family who support both of us. I’m honestly lost and don’t know what to do. I’m open to your thoughts but my hopes are that we can grow from this. I just keep spiraling and lose sleep over it.

I (45 F) have two daughters: Olivia (23) and Rebecca (20). Rebecca still lies at home and has a good job and has been saving her money. Olivia moved out at 20, moved out and later got pregnant (dad is not in the picture). Her son Jack is 9 months old. He is a handful. I love him so much, but he can barely be set down or he cries and whines.
About a month ago my mom scheduled a cruise for her and my dad. She sent a link to the family group chat saying that anyone who wants to join these are the dates/etc. To my surprise, most of my siblings have decided to book on the same cruise. Rebecca was discussing with me and asked if I wanted to go with her. I agreed because I think we’d have fun.
When Olivia heard this, she was upset because she wants to go. I told her the cost, but she said if you add a third and fourth person to your room it only costs approximately $170 for each of them (babies still coat the same amount). That’s with me and Rebecca paying full price ($900 each).
I honestly wouldn’t care if she went and I know she would love it and have fun, but her son would only be 16 months old at the time. He would want to be held or down walking the entire time.
Carrying a kid or chasing him around does not sound like a fun vacation. We’re planning on going to the beach a few days, and I know Olivia isn’t going to want to hold him the entire time. Plus I don’t really want to share a room with a baby (he cries a lot).
It might be selfish, but I don’t want to spend my vacation watching him. I know other people will be there and could help, but I watch him several days a week and he’s comfortable with me, so more than likely I would end up with him. I love the heck out of him, but having a 16 month old on a cruise ship doesn’t sound fun to me.
I told my daughter and she’s being stubborn saying that he would be fine and he’s been sleeping better during the night. So do I just give in and let her go? Even if she shared a cabin with my parents, I still feel it would be a struggle having a baby on vacation.
Edited to add: she is pretty broke. She might be able to afford the $170 per person, but that’s if she saves until the cruise. She wouldn’t be able to split the cost of the room 4 ways.

Hi I'm 20F and this happened around 3 years ago. For proper context I will be explaining about my "friends" first. I'm sorry that this is a very longgghg one but I needed to get it out of my chest. Also forgive me for any grammatical mistakes as English is not my first language. I'll start with my 6 year long ex bestie Bee, in short she was a huge pick me. Since the beginning she used to insult me infront of boys to make herself look good. I didn't really realise it back then because I thought that's what friends do. She literally used to drag me around a bunch of boys and would call me fat, crooked legged and eagle nosed. Even my mom and my brother kept asking me to break the friendship but I was too afraid thinking I'll be alone. I always had her back though, she used to come to me crying if she's facing any issues in her life and I was there for her. I started my college around COVID time so the friends I made were through online meetings. Once we all met, we hit it off. It was really great!. My best friend in college was a guy named Shawn. We were really close and one day he came up to me and said "I like someone", me being me started investing who it could be. Then a girl named Penny from our friend group told me that Shawn had told her "someone likes you". I was like YESS I found it! And I did my part and now they are a couple. I was soo happy. After a month or so he came to me and said he wants to break up cuz she's too controlling and jealous and I took her side because I kinda understood her since he was still talking to his ex. It became too frequent though and I just told him do as you please. And one more important thing is her family is extremely strict like she can't even talk to a guy. So in college I used to sit in between them like they asked me to do that teachers don't doubt anything and complain to her parents. But the issue was I had to be around them the entire day and be ignored by them. I didn't mind at first but it got frustrating as time passed. I would try talking to them and they would just ignore me but they didn't want me to sit away from them either. The moment we walked out of college they would walk away from me leaving me alone. Next Anne and Chris. Mann are they messy. Anne had lots of boyfriends but we did not know it back then when we used to talk to her. Chris is a senior who proposed to Anne and she accepted it. One day a random guy texted me and asked me Anne's contact details and I refused to give it. He then sent me the photos of her kissing another guy. I blocked him and texted Anne about this and she accepted she was cheating on Chris. But Chris, Penny, Shawn and me were really close at this point. I told Chris about this and he confronted her, he said when she went to visit her hometown, she asked for a break and that's when the cheating happened and when she came back to City she dumped that guy from village and got back with Chris. Guess what, Anne went to Village again and she ghosted Chris. Chris started texting my then bestie Bee. I told both of them not to grow feelings towards eachother or to talk that much because I knew Chris only wanted to get back at Anne and whereas Bee would use Chris as timepass. I mean yeah it's their life but only I knew this about both of them. They were acting serious and both of them were my friends, i couldn't let them do this to eachother. Well they ignored me. They did complain about eachother a lottttt though and I gave the same advice to stop talking so much. Anne returned from her village and she got to know Chris is talking to Bee. She simply asked him to stop talking to Bee and he DID. He told Bee he doesn't want to talk to her and he texted me "I got my everything (Anne) so I don't need Bee anymore" Bee felt bad and I told her well atleast don't repeat it again because I know he will text you again and Anne will cheat on him again. In between all of this drama I met my boyfriend through a online game. I used to talk to him whenever Shawn and Penny were ignoring me and I stopped caring about them. And yes I had told them I felt very bad many times that they ignore me and for like 2 days when I was around them Penny would say "oh we should talk to her or she will feel bad" and then talk to me. It was embarrassing really. In short my boyfriend is a great guy who moved to my city. Mind you he was just 17 when he moved. He convinced his parents he needed to study in my City for ME. He made me realise how much more i deserved so I just stopped being bothered by my friends. I introduced all of them to eachother so they used to hang out without me as well. Penny asked Shawn to not to talk to me. Chris and Bee started talking again and Anne left Chris again. But both of them would constantly complain about eachother about how much they hate eachother. Another thing about Bee is the guys she was dating were usually my friends. Like I would introduce my friends to her and she would go snatch the boys up and would ask them not to talk to me. I didn't care because I wasn't attracted to those guys anyway. Once I told about my crush and she literally asked me "ask him to follow me hehe". I was like wtf no I can't ask him to do that. She followed him. He asked me "why is your friend following me and sent a message request" I told him the truth cuz I was just fed up with her. He blocked her lol. He told me not to have friends like her. Anyway she started texting my boyfriend as well. She used to say "when you come to City let's go out to eat, buy me that, buy me this blah blah blah". Little did she know I had his account and I knew she wasn't "busy" so she couldn't reply to me. She needed 2k because she borrowed it from her mom to give a random guy lol. He never returned it but she was crying so I asked my bf to lend her 1k for now. He told her "return to my gf in cash since my mom can see my transactions". She ghosted me after he gave her the money. I confronted Shawn and Penny. I told them I don't want to be their friend anymore because I was there for them always and whenever I texted them they would straight up ignore me. There were some rough words. I told Bee about this and I cried because I did share good moments with them. I also told her they are planning an outing for which they will invite Bee just to spite me and told her I'll feel very bad if u go. She went :). I just asked her to return the money asap and wanted to end it all. The thing is they hated eachother so why go and meet them when I am the one who is helping you when you are in need? Not just the money, I was standing up for her in so many occasions.
She said she can send the money online because she knew I can't say ok to that. I asked her cash she ignored me. I kept asking her decently. I got fed up and texted her mom asking the money and then Bee replied saying "don't act so cheap and text my mom" I'm like huh? If I'm cheap then what are you for taking the money and ghosting me? I told her I'm just asking what u owe me so give it. She said ik y you are asking, it's because I went out with them right, i didn't even know u would feel bad. I told her consider the money as charity and get lost. Blocked. Whereas Chris talked shit about my friend group so I fought with him and he said "you are a b'tch and you don't deserve anything". This happened before I broke friendship with Shawn and Penny and they never stood up for me. Shawn and Penny were beside me standing and seeing me arguing with Chris and said nothing. While the only reason I fought was for them. Funny because what happened later proved who deserves what. My boyfriend moved to City (nobody believed he would come). I topped my last 3 semesters(I was tutoring them during exams and wasted my time before. Now both of them were scoring Avg marks and Penny even cried in class after seeing her marks and mine). I got placed in a huge MNC Company (Chris being my senior was working as a janitor in a clinic, not to shame but just saying). Shawn and Penny apologised to me later on for talking to Bee after we broke out friendship because they realised the kind of person she is. Shawn also mentioned that she had asked him for money but he said no even though he had it lol. Chris and Bee were in a short toxic relationship until he dumped her again for Anne. Bee is also now with no real friends or no real boyfriend and was seeing hanging out with her sister on her bday(I used to take her to Cafes). I would have been with them if I hadn't met my Boyfriend. I don't regret the friendship because I did my part as much as I could. So AITA?

I have been sick for a decade and it hasn’t gotten better, only worse. I am somewhere between moderate and severe (I am pretty much housebound) but compared to an able bodied person I consider myself severely disabled/ill.
For years family has been making fun of me for not keeping my space clean. Even though most of them are hoarders and keep their space just as filthy if not worse. I also get told if I ask for help or point out a problem in the home that I need to just fix it myself, but if I have a mental breakdown then suddenly I should have asked for help. My family is always complaining about their minor health issues but they completely ignore my suffering. In fact, my last birthday I was PEMing so hard I could barely get to the kitchen to feed myself. Yet my family acted like there was nothing wrong and laughed and had a great time watching me like that. My family likes to make jokes about my attitude (I’m an extremely unhappy, angry person due to the pain) they seem to think my behavior is because of a personality trait and not severe illness and pain. I can’t work, can’t move out, I just exist like this now.
I am starting to get the feeling that friends see me the same way as my family. Recently a couple came to visit and the boyfriend behaved extremely rudely - he fell asleep in the kitchen then got mad when my mom started cooking for him because the noise woke him up(she rarely cooks for me but likes to act like a good host with guests) so he wakes up and complains about the noise and the girlfriend starts baby talking him, saying he gets grumpy when he is woken up like that. Disgusting behavior to see from an adult couple older than me. Keep in mind this guy isn’t sick or disabled and he could have slept in a more quiet space. This entitlement/enabling behavior from both of them has been going on a long time and I’ve given them some pushback, essentially saying that the girlfriend isn’t responsible for regulating his emotions and it’s ok for him to be be mad sometimes, that I don’t mind because I’m mad a lot from my pain. They just laughed at me. My main friend is the girl but she’s stopped listening to my problems (complains to me a lot about hers though) i feel like she looks down on me for not working and having family pay for things.
I am just so sick of everyone around me. I wonder why people act like they care when someone is sick but then alienate disabled and sick people, gaslight us and dismiss our pain. I can’t talk to anyone in my life anymore, they just dismiss me or make fun of my pain. This is close friends and family too. I just wonder how the would react if I wasn’t alive anymore. If I don’t improve in my illness I’ll be stuck like this for 60+ years so I am starting to think of making an exit plan in 10 years or so. Clearly the people around me just want to make me feel worse as some kind of joke. I resent them and kind of hate them all on my worst days because they make this so much more unbearable. I have been very clear with my family about not wanting to be here. In those moments they acted upset but they continue to do shitty things to me so I’m convinced they actually hate and resent me for being sick. Seems like I can’t escape being blamed for this illness even at home.

I (45 F) have two daughters: Olivia (23) and Rebecca (20). Rebecca still lies at home and has a good job and has been saving her money. Olivia moved out at 20, moved out and later got pregnant (dad is not in the picture). Her son Jack is 9 months old. He is a handful. I love him so much, but he can barely be set down or he cries and whines.
About a month ago my mom scheduled a cruise for her and my dad. She sent a link to the family group chat saying that anyone who wants to join these are the dates/etc. To my surprise, most of my siblings have decided to book on the same cruise. Rebecca was discussing with me and asked if I wanted to go with her. I agreed because I think we’d have fun.
When Olivia heard this, she was upset because she wants to go. I told her the cost, but she said if you add a third and fourth person to your room it only costs approximately $170 for each of them (babies still coat the same amount). That’s with me and Rebecca paying full price ($900 each).
I honestly wouldn’t care if she went and I know she would love it and have fun, but her son would only be 16 months old at the time. He would want to be held or down walking the entire time. Carrying a kid or chasing him around does not sound like a fun vacation. We’re planning on going to the beach a few days, and I know Olivia isn’t going to want to hold him the entire time. Plus I don’t really want to share a room with a baby (he cries a lot).
It might be selfish, but I don’t want to spend my vacation watching him. I know other people will be there and could help, but I watch him several days a week and he’s comfortable with me, so more than likely I would end up with him. I love the heck out of him, but having a 16 month old on a cruise ship doesn’t sound fun to me.
I told my daughter and she’s being stubborn saying that he would be fine and he’s been sleeping better during the night. So do I just give in and let her go? Even if she shared a cabin with my parents, I still feel it would be a struggle having a baby on vacation.
Edited to add: she is pretty broke. She might be able to afford the $170 per person, but that’s if she saves until the cruise. She wouldn’t be able to split the cost of the room 4 ways.