5th grade yearbook congratulations

https://www.reveddit.com/neoliberal/comments/1curfoq/discussion_thread/l4m01jx/
Full comment:
I find some strange comfort in knowing that the median Trump voter is really just an idiot who can barely read on a 5th grade level. Will their vote continue to undermine the Republic and make us all worse off? Yes, but at the end of the day they are what they are. We can't think for them
- AnglicanEp

My son is 5 years old. He is in his second year of Pre-K and is diagnosed with autism. The school gave me a draft of his IEP the day before, but changed the ending dates of his services during the IEP meeting. It was different from what they gave me. They also backdated his IEP to be compliant with the state. At the time I did not know my rights nor knew what the dates ensued. This has caused us to set up a meeting before school ends. Is it ethical to give parents one draft, and have them sign something completely different during the meeting with different ending dates? Is backdating IEP Documents illegal?
They are insinuating that they do not have the funds nor personnel to give him a para for Kindergarten. He has improved but is still not on grade level. He has met goals from his previous IEP but the school continues to blow his progress off. They want to send him to a different facility for placement that has kids from pre-k through 5th grade all in one room with different disabilities. They do not ever see typical children throughout their day. We do not want him to be placed in this facility. The school has been misleading. What ground do I have to stand on??
Also, when in an IEP meeting when can you end the meeting and set up a different meeting date?

From my contract for next year:

Teacher acknowledges that any resignation or request to be released from this employment contract shall be presented in writing to the Board for approval. A release from this contract may be granted contingent upon the availability of a well-qualified, certificated teacher as a replacement. A teacher who resigns contrary to this policy shall be deemed to have committed an unprofessional act and shall be subject to the penalty as provided under Arizona statutes and State Board of Education regulations.

The contract also states that since it costs time and money to find a replacement teacher, there are now Liquidated Damages

Therefore, in lieu of proof of such damages, and not as a penalty, Teacher agrees to pay the District $2500 in liquidated damages for any such breach.

Teachers in my school were given an assignment change after they signed. For example, the science teacher was promised to continue with science but then was assigned to teach a self-contained 5th grade class, including ELA and math. She resigned a week later. She not only got a $2500 fine, but the school threatened to report her to the DOE and revoke her teaching credential.
At a time when there's a teacher shortage, my district has chosen to strong-arm teacher into staying after doing a bait-and-switch with contracts.
I was promised a 5th grade social studies position. Then I signed my contract and they switched my assignment to 5th grade self-contained. I already teach 3rd self-contained so the change isn't that drastic. But I expect that the board will put me into art, since I used to teach art several years ago.
There's a reason the school has gone through five art teachers in three years. It's the same reason the other district went through five art teachers in three years. One of those teachers was me, which is why I'm not teaching in that district any more.
If they put me into art, I'm going to give a list of conditions and demands, such as
•art grades will affect student GPA
•art grades will affect student eligibility for sports and other after-school activities
•school will provide consequences for disruptive behavior in art class, including removal of student from classroom. •each grade level will rotate between art, music, and PE on a weekly schedule, rather than daily.

(i'm going thru a bit of writer's block, so here's a character and a bit of her thoughts on the country that she lives in. ask her anything about it!)
Anemon Hasevelde is a terminal year student at the prestigious Erten Koldmun Special Gymnasium in Feilangard, a city in the temperate mid-south of Rugiland.
Like most of her peers, Anemon is enrolled in the Seventeenth of March Pioneers, the youth (and paramilitary) wing of the sole ruling Rugish Revolutionary Party. The school party cell rates her unsuitable for leadership roles, mediocre at marksmanship (still begged for permission to bring a K64/65 as a prop to her yearbook photo), but deeply, fervantly politically aware.
Anemon usually plays her fascination with this boring, pointless subject off as needing the grades for such-and-such universities, but whenever she gets into yet another protracted debate with Mr. Kväran, with her signature grave and serious-sounding flare-ups of northern tropical Rugish, things obviously say otherwise. Not like it's that big of a deal being a bit of a nerd in a nerd school, but when classmates mime her northern vulgarity and adults shake their heads at it, when they ask if she is sweaty wearing the school blazer in November, it does feel as if that street vendor is giving her tourist prices all over again. The fact that Anemon can't codeswitch into southern Rugish when she's worked up is a personal failing she's trying to fix.
Like, "Rugish" was a term "coined" by The Revolutionary, in reality borrowed from a derogatory Chamavian term ascribed to the "barbarians" who dwelt "beyond the eastern wastes," to unite some disparate thirty million people of only similar-ish language and culture into a coherent anti-colonial movement. The Revolutionary told her flock to forget any distinction between "the varied but singular Rugish folk" that were put there by "imperialism and its collaborators to […] carve up the Motherland." The actual situation is, of course, very different.
And that's not to mention the maritime and montane Rugilanders who don't speak Rugish. Why are their cultures thought of as regional or indigenous--not Rugish--while hers is? Why did the Revolutionary even had to come up with "Rugilander" as a term separate to "Rugish" in the first place?
Mr. Kväran said there's a reason why Rugish journalists only say such things when they and their family are already overseas. Her classmates are just glad Anemon's debates enable them to slack off.
If you wanted to know what she looked like, Anemon tries to fit in. Like most other girls, her head is shaven and two fingertip-sized dots are tattooed under her dominant eye. Those used to be a body count during the Revolutionary War, but their current meaning ranges from a body count to a marker of position in the Pioneers, where she was a secretary for the previous school year. Anemon also has a small arrow tattoo conspicuously located on the right side of her neck, which her classmates sometimes laugh at, but she doesn't get why. Her school blazer is probably glued to her skin, so is her Pioneer white scarf, and she wears matching fingerless mitts comes rain or shine. Anemon is glad she doesn't have to think about what to wear every morning.

TW: Abuse
I'm here to vent, but I wouldn't mind some support, if possible. Things are not going well for me right now.
My dad is very much present in my life, but it's apparent to everyone that he f'd all of his kids up.
To summarize, the man was born in the middle of the Vietnam War. He spent three years of homelessness in communist Vietnam with his entire family during his childhood, and consistently reminds us of this to this very day. It's been his way of dismissing any protests my siblings have had towards the things he'd done to us - hitting us with rolled up newspapers like dogs, verbal and psychological abuse, frequent displays of intimidation - at one point, my mom had suspected sexual abuse as well.
I developed a rare soft tissue tumor in 7th grade. It broke through the skin, and I had to be rushed to the ER. He immediately blamed me because of a superstition of not eating red meat after an operation. At the time, I was severely anemic, underweight, and spent the night in the hospital getting two bags of blood infused. 3 years later, I was put in a psych ward for an eval after some remarks to a counselor. He was banned from seeing me, and blamed my mom(who we only saw on weekends) for f'ing me up. "She's doing this shit for attention," he says.
Fast forward to today. I've developed another tumor, which turned out to be cancer this time. Two weeks ago, I had a follow up with my oncologist. They have concerns about my most recent CT scan, and think it may be lung cancer. I've barely been able to get out of bed since then. My mental health is garbage, and I'm not able to do as much physical labor as I could do - especially when I'm working with an arm that is visibly missing a huge chunk of bicep muscle, swollen, and nerve damage in my hand. "Cancer is no excuse to be lazy."
I've also expressed interest in getting my MSW to become a therapist, as it's something I've unofficially been doing for everyone in my family since I was 12, and I'd make more money than I'm making now with a State job (12.50/hr). I was pushed into the state job by my dad because my film degree is garbage, like the rest of my aspirations. Now, my dad can't fathom that I get paid less for being single and childless. He's also pointed out that I've gained weight - something that's been a sore spot for me all my life - and he's only complimented me when I rapidly dropped weight from both tumors.
Thanks to all of that, I have severe anxiety attacks when SOMETHING goes wrong - it could be anything. I have such low self esteem, and possibly early stages of BD. If I had moved back closer to my dad, I'm certain I would develop an ED. I've considered offing myself many times since 5th grade, and I'm surprised I haven't done it yet. If I make it past 30, I'd be surprising my 16 year old self. Using the excuse "what will happen to my pets?" isn't inspiring my will to live like it used to.

Hello everyone,
I am hoping to apply for US masters programs in quantitative economics. I am trying to find out what I can do to improve my chances at getting admission in a good program. I need some advice on the issue of potentially retaking some math coursework.
I graduated with a BS in economics from a good US public university. My big source of anxiety is that I did poorly in my 4th and 5th semesters due to difficult personal and family circumstances. In particular, I got Cs in Calc 3 (multivariable) and Linear Algebra, which are required coursework for all the econ masters programs I've seen. I managed to pull my GPA back up to a 3.5 with good grades in econ classes in the remaining semesters, but I am really stressing out because of my poor performance in those two critical math classes.
I would really like some advice on whether it would be worth it to enroll in Calc 3 and Linear Algebra at a local or online accredited community college. If I get As in those classes, will universities be able to overlook the Cs from my undergraduate education? I would really appreciate any guidance or input on this matter. Thanks.

I'm just getting started in Old World and don't have the rules quite yet (and probably wont for sometime) . I picked up the Ork and Goblin tribes starter. I have some old gobbos from the battle at skull pass I got in 5th grade way back when which has Goblin Archers.
So I'm trying to decide if I should just make one unit of Goblin Archers and field them with the skull pass archers. Or should I pick up some Ork archers?
I'm assuming orks would be better off in Melee than Goblins so I should make them the shooty boys but who knows.

So about 2 weeks ago my best friend (22F) from middle school got engaged to her college boyfriend. Which is very exciting and I’m (23F) very happy for her since we’ve known for a while she’d be engaged this spring. I was the first person she called to announce her engagement and we cried / screamed on the phone about it.
Growing up, despite her moving states away, we always stayed in contact / had FaceTime calls. We cried, laughed, and shared everything together. Since about 3 years ago, our phone topics changed to talk more about marriage / engagement. She’s an only child, so she told me for a while (let’s say at least 2 years) that I would be her maid of honor as her best friend of 10+ years. Naturally, as a type A person, I started mentally preparing for the role under this assumption. I only took it seriously when she got engaged where, during finals, I was drafting budget sheets, brand deals, bachelorette party details, etc to make her day perfect because I thought the role was mine.
As you can probably tell, a week later, the day before i graduated which she knew, on a phone call she asked me to be a bridesmaid. Not her maid of honor. She said she picked someone else because they are physically closer to her and they have been more part of her relationship. She also said I was a second choice. She also asked me to help with budgeting because I’m great with spreadsheets. In that time I said yes to being a bridesmaid bc I was in shock but still want to be part of her big day. But I told her no to helping with the budgeting because, from my understanding and research, that is the job of the MOH and I’m not going to do part of the job of a MOH without the title. This was all in one 7 min phone call btw where there wasn’t really any time to process. More happened during the call but that was the meat of it. She just seemed rushed and a bit dismissive of my feelings.
Now, I live in Pittsburgh and she’s in Nashville. This is also our very first experiences with weddings / bridesmaid situations. Logically, her reasonings are somewhat fair in my opinion. I also jumped the gun under the assumption that I would be her MOH and everyone I told said I’m very likely going to be her MOH. So she doesn’t “owe me” anything there bc I did work she didn’t ask for.
Overall, I’m feeling everything under the sun. I feel gutted and I feel like crying every time I think about it. Mostly because I feel betrayed. I feel like I was groomed into a role or that she threw 10 years of friendship down the toilet because I’m not physically there and being told I’m 2nd hurts like hell. I don’t feel like someone who’s 2nd would be the first person she told her engagement to, but here we are. I feel like she rushed the situation (she plans on getting married in the fall of 2025), bc long distance MOH can work, we have FaceTimes, texting, and digital documents. Now that I’m a grad I’ll have more money to visit and spend on her wedding as well. At the very least I feel like she could have had 2 MOH to split the work instead of a false binary as she isnt necessarily the most traditional person. There are ways to make a long distance MOH work. Or that it’s more than just planning, which we both know I’m excellent at, but I can handle her family well since I’ve known them for forever. Which is important bc she has struggled, at times, with her relationship with her mom. Granted ik I can still do that as a bridesmaid. This is a lot of word vomit and idk the point but I’m upset, angry, and confused. Overall just going through the stages of grief. I haven’t talked to her since besides when she congratulated me on graduating, she hasn’t reached out (not that she has too). I don’t want to reach out atm because I don’t want to say anything I will regret if I’m this emotional.
But more or less, with my clouded thinking, I don’t know if I want to be a bridesmaid or attend the wedding. This is dramatic, I know, but I’m really hurt and not thinking straight. Or if I still take on the role of a bridesmaid can I not take the box she wants to send? Bc I feel like I would feel upset and uncomfortable with the box and knowing that I don’t feel as important or important at all as just a bridesmaid. Or being reminded of the rocky state of our friendship (from my pov) and how she sees me as 2nd. The only thing I can think of to do is to have a honest conversation with her of what I’m feeling, but even then what will come out of that? Besides maintaining good communication between us. She can’t go back on her 1st choice MOH, not that I want her too bc if she did I would still feel bad because it isn’t genuine. I’m just sad and at a total loss. I still value our friendship and I still want to be part of her wedding. I just feel like I’ll be resentful of the MOH. Any advice on how to move forward, should I accept the box and deal with it, or anything would be greatly appreciated. I haven’t dealt with something like this before and I feel awful on many aspects. :/
TL;DR- My best friend from 7th grade picked someone else to be their maid of honor because they’re closer physically to her / more involved in the relationship and I’m upset.

I've never been good at school, and since elementary school my teachers have been having a hard time trying to teach me stuff and getting me to remember it. I'm terrible at basically every subject, especially math. I remember there was so many times my teachers had to talk to my parents about me not being able to add or subtract as fast as the other kids, and from 1st-5th grade i basically spent all of my time after school sitting at the table with my parents yelling at me trying to get me to understand my homework but for some reason i was just too dumb to understand simple math.
With stuff like reading and writing, I was pretty average up until sixth grade, now I have to reread things a couple of times to fully process it because it feels like I'm just looking at the words and writing things like essays is very difficult for me because I will get bored or find it too hard and get distracted.
I graduated high school a year late because I failed every single class sophomore year, passed 2/6 classes junior year, and I spent my senior trying to make up the classes I failed but couldn't complete them all on time because I found the work really difficult. Before the start of my senior year, I was sent to an alternative school that was supposed to make things easier for me but I never made any progress, so I got put in independent study as a second time senior. In independent study, you don't actually have a teacher so you have to teach yourself, I got very lazy and bored of having to do my classes so I ended up just cheating which is the only reason I didn't become a third year senior.
I've also never had any interests or hobbies. As a kid I would just play with my dolls when I had time during school breaks or the weekend, but I was never in any clubs. I have no hobbies because honestly I don't like anything, and I never really have. I secretly don't want to do anything with my life and would rather spend it rotting away in bed and on my phone, but I know that's just because I'm incredibly lazy and unmotivated.
I've had tutors, I've been put in support classes, and I've made no progress. I have no idea what I want to do with my life, or what career I could tolerate having. Most of my friends are in college and even if they've changed their majors they at least have had some idea from the start what they want to do, or they're not as dumb as me. Also, this isn't an insecurity thing where I just think I'm dumb, I literally am. Most people think I'm so dumb that I lack common sense and can't do things that anyone with a brain could do, like being able to order my own food or driving a car.
I don't think it would be a good idea to take a gap year because I'm already turning 19, and don't want to be a 20 year old freshman. I'm also incredibly embarrassed about this because my friends don't really understand how I could possibly not like anything or have literally no idea what I want to do with my life and everyone just thinks I'm lazy (which I am but I really don't want to be). I have no idea what to do because I don't want to waste my parent's money and end up dropping out because I'll be too stupid for the work, but they're making me go. My parents are acting as if this is an easy decision to make and keep saying I'm the only girl in the world who doesn't know what she wants to do.
tl;dr
never been good at school, never had any hobbies, i don't like anything, and i'm very dumb. i need to go to college, but i'm not sure what i should go for and i'm afraid of dropping out and wasting my parent's money.

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Synopsis:
Juliette Contzen is a lazy, good-for-nothing princess. Overshadowed by her siblings, she's left with little to do but nap, read … and occasionally cut the falling raindrops with her sword. Spotted one day by an astonished adventurer, he insists on grading Juliette's swordsmanship, then promptly has a mental breakdown at the result.
Soon after, Juliette is given the news that her kingdom is on the brink of bankruptcy. At threat of being married off, the lazy princess vows to do whatever it takes to maintain her current lifestyle, and taking matters into her own hands, escapes in the middle of the night in order to restore her kingdom's finances.
Tags: Comedy, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Copious Ohohohohos.
Chapter 241: Until Now
The doors to the Hartzwiese Adventurer’s Guild opened.
Before, the sound of raucous laughter could be heard flooding the street outside, filling the quiet of a spring night with all the debauchery the local drunkards had to offer.
Despite the halls of adventurers not being formal drinking establishments, those within were ready to compete in boisterousness with all the taverns, inns and pubs of the town combined. And also win. Handily.
And yet–
The moment the doors parted and I stepped within, a hush as quiet as any grave fell over its inhabitants.
A woman balancing with her derrière upon the head of another became still, the alcohol in her cup the only movement as it dribbled onto a stunned face below her.
A man slurping from the communal cauldron stared wordlessly, the stew pouring in, and then out of his mouth as the muscles of his throat forgot the means to swallow.
A bartender asleep upon a row of kegs quietly rose, the sudden din of silence waking him where the sound of debauchery and those drinking from the taps beside him had failed.
Here, there, and everywhere, eyes widened as the sudden silence was filled with the sounds of my footsteps as I strolled past, my loyal handmaiden and my brother’s attendant in my wake.
And also–
Mreow.
Mrewowow.
Meww.
Cats.
Tabby cats.
Calico cats.
Ragdoll cats.
Cats with twirly whiskers. Cats with puffy faces. Cats with slightly rounded ears.
Behind me, skipping around my legs while taking turns to sit upon my shoulders and very occasionally my head, were a legion of cats of various shapes, sizes and colours.
But no matter the springiness of their whiskers, the shine of their coat or the liveliness of their tails, one thing to bring them all together was the anarchy they caused.
This was no neat line of ducklings following after their mother.
This was a barbarian horde.
With no sense of organisation other than a shared drive to claim everything as their own, they immediately skipped amidst the stunned adventurers, scavenging for all the copious scraps while still turning their noses away from the alcohol forming sticky traps upon the floor.
Saying nothing, I allowed their demanding cries to fill up the hall as I swept forwards, pausing before a wall plastered from end to end with faded notices and requests long gone unanswered.
One by one, I systemically tore every request featuring a crudely drawn image of a cat, gathering into my arms a pile of parchment large enough to reach my chin.
Then, I made my way to the wooden desk.
A receptionist waited with a smile at the ready.
“Greetings! Welcome to the Hartzwiese branch of the Adventurer’s Guild. I see you’ve removed several notices from the–”
Poomph.
Silenced but unperturbed, this latest clone watched as I dropped the stack of requests onto her desk, before promptly topping off the stack with a copper ring.
“Do what must be done,” I said, my voice defiant. “I am ready.”
The receptionist answered me with a smile more permanent than the wall the notices were torn from.
A moment later–
“[Identify].”
A green hue appeared in her clasped palms as she assessed the ring.
“Juliette. B-rank. Your registered branch is Reitzlake.”
The sound of several cups clattered against the floor.
“Welcome again to Hartzwiese. I see from your commission history that you have an extraordinary amount of completions for recovering lost cats. May I assume the significant number of cats now roaming the branch hall relate to the notices removed from the wall?”
I pursed my quivering lips.
“Maybe.”
“Wonderful. And how many cats is it that you’ve rescued?”
“... Lots.”
“I see. Please give me a moment while I confirm the requirements of our commissions.”
The receptionist swiftly retrieved a stack of parchment from a drawer.
As she flicked through, her eyes simultaneously went to every cat roaming, napping and clawing in the hall. A skill not even monstrous overseers from the abyss with their dozens of eyestalks could match. But that’s only to be expected.
Wherever these receptionists were found, it was from a level deeper than any monster dared roam.
Eventually, she gave a nod.
“Thank you for waiting. There appears to be an excess of cats in relation to the number of commissions we have available. We’ll endeavour to ensure that every cat is rehomed at the earliest opportunity through our partner agencies and charities. But unfortunately, I can only provide official acknowledgement for cats rescued through a formal commission.”
I sucked in a deep breath, hoping that patience was one of the things I accidentally inhaled.
“Fine. And how many commissions does that end up being, then? … 10? 15?”
The receptionist flicked through her bundle of parchments once more.
“94.”
“... Excuse me?”
“I can confirm the successful completion of 94 simultaneous F-ranked commissions. Congratulations. This is a new record, breaking what appears to be one earlier set by yourself. A remarkable achievement befitting a B-rank member of the guild.”
The receptionist’s professional smile never wavered.
I thought that would be the worst of it.
But then–
She slowly brought her hands together … and started applauding.
It was the leak which broke the dam.
At once, she was joined by all who were present to witness this crowning moment of regret.
I turned around in time to see a riot in motion.
“W-Wooooooooooo!!!!”
“In … Incredible …”
“A new record … I … I heard it was broken in Trierport … to think I’d witness it broken again!”
“A B-rank adventurer … ?! Where … Where did she come from … ?!”
There was no polite, respectful applause here.
It was the wild cheering of a crowd at a tournament. The whooping cries of theatregoers calling for an encore. The acclaim of my father as he elbowed others to delight in the poetry I’d written when I was 6 and thus now regularly attempted to burn.
Everywhere I turned, I saw and heard the acclaim mixed with shouts of horror as mugs of alcohol were spilled on purpose and by accident. The layabouts stomped on the floor, doing their best to murder decorum under the strain of unbridled emotion.
Only a few falling teardrops formed any hint of more dignified revelry, the glimmer of admiration running down cheeks as sniffles were hidden amidst the raucous cheering.
And then I bore witness to the most morbid sight.
Like a tidal wave of soiled clothes and snotty faces, they suddenly came as one, hands reaching out for me with dripping mugs still in their grips. Horror struck at my soul. And unlike a farmer who’d scarpered into the night, I had nobody who could heal a wound caused by hooligans accepting me as their own.
“A-Amazing!! Take my drink! Take anyone’s drink!!”
“So many cats rescued … even my allergies can’t believe it!”
“My gods, it’s a legend! An adventurer among adventurers!”
This.
This right here.
This was the lowest point of my life … were I not an unparalleled genius.
“Oho … ohoho …”
At once, the wave halted.
Faces which were lit up in unabashed delight turned to looks of mild confusion against the tinkling music of my laughter.
They needed to cycle through the expressions until they reached horror and shame.
“Ohhohohohohohoho!!”
… For I was no drunkard seeking to join their ranks!
No … I was Juliette Contzen, 3rd Princess to the Kingdom of Tirea!
And that meant every action I took, every word I spoke, and every cat I saved was for a reason beyond the hopes and dreams these hoodlums had of wanton debauchery and rusting swords!
Indeed!
A lesser princess than I may slink away into the night, cowed by the utter shame, humiliation and disgrace of completing so many F-ranked requests that I somehow broke a record I’d only just set!
But I was made of greater things!
Of schemes and subterfuges so deep that it would take too long to explain! The plots I weaved were a silken web more intricate than any cogs which made up Coppelia as she doubled up, desperately trying to stop herself from succumbing to more pain from laughter!
And that meant with every cat request now denied to these louts … they would finally do some work!
“Ohoho … ohohohohoho!! Behold and be afraid! Witness before you the coming of a new dawn, here to lift you from your days of boundless reverie! Unfurl the shutters and gaze upon a radiance so pure it brands your dallying minds! The scorching sun has come to test the snail’s back, and all that your bleary eyes see is a great salt lake to devour you whole! Shrivel as you cling upon the sweat which drips upon your brow, for that is the proof you’re yet alive!”
A sudden silence met my proclamation of their coming ordeal.
And then–
“Wooooooooooooooooooooooo!”
“I don’t understand! But what a speech!”
“If she can do it, so can we!”
I raised a hand to my lips, barely covering my smile.
“Ohhhohohohohohohoho … !”
Here it was!
Operation: Gainful Employment!
An entirely new strategy, as bold as it was uncharted!
By removing what was surely the vast majority of missing cat quests available to the adventurers of this town, they would have no choice, utterly none whatsoever, but to engage in actual work! The type of work adventurers openly advertised themselves as doing!
Monster subjugation! Crime prevention! Fetching artifacts from hidden dungeons and then succumbing to their wounds at the entrance while the Royal Treasury pocketed the treasure!
Yes, this was clearly a highly experimental tactic.
But what was I, if not a bastion of creativity?
At the very least, I utterly refused to accept the status quo! An organisation dedicated exclusively to rescuing lost cats or elbowing into my kingdom’s sovereign affairs was no good to me!
Thus … I could not cower like some towngirl nauseous from the smell of their revelry.
Instead, I would squeeze the Adventurer’s Guild dry until the day I replaced them with an army of trained poodles. Until that joyous day, I could never tear my eyes away when they waited to be robbed.
To do so was more than a dereliction of duty …
Why, I’d be an accomplice to their drunken escapades!
My vow remained unchanged. For my goal, I would brave any indignity. The ring I was hoping the receptionist would forget to return was proof of that.
And thus–
I stood tall as a summer reed, proud in the knowledge that I had no need to feel even an inkling of embarrassment over completing 94 simultaneous F-ranked commissions! …
“Pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft.”
“S-Stop at once! You are not to laugh!”
“Pffffttt~”
“C-Coppelia!!”
Clearly not seeing the angel of self-sacrifice who I was, Coppelia held one hand tightly around her mouth. Even so, she failed to stop either the sound of her amusement or the tears falling from her eyes.
My only salvation was that it came at significant cost to her. Even now, she careened between laughter and painful regret.
I decided to offer both her and myself mercy.
Turning to the receptionist, I found a modest pouch already waiting upon the wooden desk. As well as a copper ring waiting beside it.
“Thank you for your service to the Adventurer’s Guild,” said the receptionist, her professional smile undaunted by the commotion. “Your total remuneration is 102 gold crowns, 7 silver crowns and 9 copper crowns. I’ve taken the liberty to compile all your separate payments together.”
I took the pouch and ignored the ring.
The receptionist pushed the ring forwards.
A long moment later, I collected it, uncertain what a receptionist would do if I tossed it into the communal cauldron, but knowing it would somehow still end up on my finger regardless.
With my head held high, I bravely ignored the chorus of voices unknowingly cheering for their own hardship as I swept past. Renewed tears and applause filled the hall. A few cats attempted to follow me. I stopped to shoo them away.
And then I was outside, the door closing behind me.
“... Goodness, that was quite the sight,” said Renise with a bemused smile. “It reminded me somewhat of the inns of Reitzlake’s docks. I wonder if all the halls of adventurers are like that, or merely those which you frequent?”
“Please don’t insinuate I’m responsible for the debauchery which occurs wherever the Adventurer’s Guild is concerned. That’s something I can claim no credit for.”
“You say that … but to me, it seems that you caused quite a stir. That really is a remarkable number of cats you rescued, after all. Even I can tell that 94 simultaneous F-ranked commissions–”
“Miss Renise.”
The maid’s smile wavered against whatever fatigued expression I was making.
A moment later, it fell away entirely as she switched to her role as my brother’s attendant and the leader of whatever scoundrels he’d charged her with herding.
“... Yes, I suppose there’s time for idle conversation later. There’s a guardhouse nearby. We should report on all that’s happened tonight.”
I gave a nod of agreement.
Hopefully, the baroness hadn’t woken from her stupor yet. But if she had, I was certain the single portrait of myself I’d returned to the wall of her gallery to smile down at her gagged and bound state would calm her nerves.
Renise hummed towards the direction of Hartzwiese’s centre, before returning her attention to me.
“If you wish to keep your identity incognito, I can see guards sent to where they’re needed using my own authority, and arrange for the appropriate seizure of the goods and crowns we’ve discovered.”
I beamed at once.
My, so prudent! It’s little wonder she was chosen by Roland!
“A judicious offer. And one I’ll accept gladly, providing the burden isn’t too severe.”
“This is merely an administrative task, and little burden compared to what both yourself and Miss Coppelia regularly perform. In any event, it is only efficient. I expect I’ll be spending a significant amount of time at the baroness’s farmstead. It is quite extensive. If possible, I would like to make use of it for Rose House. I imagine having such a facility close to the Granholtz border would have its uses.”
I nodded, already forgetting the barn’s existence.
“I encourage you to use your discretion as required. My brother has put his trust in you, and so I both expect and know that you shall not disappoint in furthering the kingdom’s prosperity.”
The young woman smiled. One filled with appreciation, but also lacking ambition.
Good.
An excellent combination as far as retainers were concerned.
“Thank you. Although I worry you place too much trust in my abilities. In truth, those like Baroness Arisa would have made for a greater asset to the kingdom. Her resourcefulness must be acknowledged.”
“It is not resourcefulness my kingdom requires. It is loyalty. And hers is a pit so empty it drains others.”
“That’s true. But at least we were able to acquire some useful things from her nonetheless.”
Renise pulled out a tiny vial from the belt around her thigh.
A golden liquid was stored within, glimmering with an unnatural light.
“These were in her chamber,” she said, her eyes lacking emotion as she surveyed the bright liquid. “When we met, she actually attempted to purchase my loyalty with this.”
“A suspect vial. How quaint. And what miracle did she promise?”
“One that would wake my parents from their curse of eternal slumber.”
“... And is it?”
“I don’t believe so, no. This is one of many identical vials I found in her chamber’s desk drawer. All prominently labelled with instructions to only drink as required to stave off the effects of bloating.”
Renise returned the vial to her belt with a slightly embarrassed smile.
“It’s still useful,” she admitted. “But just not for what I require.”
I gave a simple nod as my reply.
Nothing else needed to be said.
She hoped to see her parents wake from their prison of dormancy. An understandable wish. And one I wasn’t required to supplement with the comment that no pair named the Smuggler King and the Smuggler Queen were likely to receive as light a sentence as their daughter.
I could not speak on behalf of Roland. Although I imagined that as a kind man, he would prefer not to pass judgements which were total. But as the Crown Prince, he did not have the luxury of kindness.
It would take much to change their fate.
But perhaps that’s why Renise was here, still proving true, and not accepting stomach ailment potions from a baroness.
A moment of silence followed.
Renise gave a short sigh. And that was that.
She set her eyes on the task ahead–at least until whatever words she’d parted her mouth to say were interrupted by Coppelia’s humming instead.
“Sooooooooooooooo … you just want to wake up two people eternally sleeping, right?”
A small smile met her optimistic voice.
“If a cure were readily available, I’m certain I would have found it by now. I believe one might be possible, but it would take skill and ingredients beyond any apothecary I know of.”
“Well, sure, you could go that way. But what about going straight to the source instead?”
“The source?”
“Sure. They’re asleep, right? So just ask the one in charge of where they are now.”
“I’m … not quite sure I follow?”
Coppelia clapped her hands together and beamed.
“The Spring Court is the realm of dreams. Chances are, they must have shown their faces around a few times by now. If you ask the Spring Queen nicely, she might do you a favour.”
“The Spring Queen? … The fae?”
“Mmh~ luckily, we have someone with connections here!”
Renise was startled out of her reply.
It was nothing compared to me. The one being pointed at.
“Coppelia!” I said, truly aghast at the suggestion. “The fae are not to be taken lightly. Why, I still have nightmares about my conversation with the Winter Queen! I learned a side to royalty that day which I shall never forget … and I’m quite poorer for it!”
“You met … the Winter Queen?” asked Renise, her eyes suddenly wide.
“Unfortunately, yes, but I had zero intention of meeting her, and I’ve just as little intention of meeting any other fae as well. Including the Spring Queen.”
I waved away the coming query to declare what was just as important as my lack of enthusiasm.
“Besides, I’ve not the foggiest idea how I would even hope to use these supposed connections I have.”
“Oh, that’s the easy bit,” said Coppelia, her casual disregard for what counted as ‘easy’ more terrifying than any lout I’d met today. “The hard part is getting them to do what you want. But meeting them? The fae are creatures of stories. If the time is right, they’ll speak to you–one way or another.”
“Then they must book an appointment. One which I can formally reject.”
“I mean, I don’t think you have much choice. You didn’t last time, right?”
“The last time, I was sat beside the Winter Queen’s crown. I see no fae artifacts to hook me away. And that means utterly no scenario in which I could be abducted without my express–”
I suddenly stopped, clasping my hands around my mouth.
A moment later, I raised my arms in a martial art I’d just invented, turning repeatedly on the spot.
Renise blinked at me.
“Excuse me, but what are–”
“Shhshhshh!!”
I paused, gazing intently around at the quiet, dark streets of Hartzwiese, all the while ignoring Coppelia’s giggling at my near miss.
That … That was close!
“O-Oho … oho … I almost invited something terrible. Truly, it’s perhaps best not to needlessly voice things which Fae Queens and their deviant brand of magic could use …”
Coppelia nodded at me, as proud as she was clearly disappointed.
“You’re lucky. If the Spring Queen had a sense of humour, she’d have snagged you right there and then.”
“No. If the Spring Queen had a sense of humour, she’d wait until–”
Click.
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My crush status is S 6 Ep 24 19:00-22:00 perfectly explain how I feel. I know she’s probably out with him going on some nice date or watching a movie and hear I am crying because maybe I’m the crazy one who is so deeply in love with someone that I know as much as I want to be there with her or I see or listen to a song and always think that she would love this song or the past few concerts I went to and I wished so hard that I could see her and we ran off together. This whole time I’ve been so in love with her and she probably does all the things with him that I want to do with her. It just fucking sucks because I’ve loved since the 5th grade and all those times I should’ve told and seeing you a few months ago. I’m hurting and waiting for you still even though I know it’ll never happen but I’m soo in love with you Mandy..
Your Shy Guy ☺️

Sorry if some parts don’t make sense, English is not my first language.
When I was attending my old school, I wouldn’t say I was popular, but I was very friendly with many of my classmates from extracurriculars. I had a close group of me and 3 other girls, and we had been very close friends since we were young.
One of the girls, let’s call her Sarah, had a strict mom when she was little. She always complained about her mom, and after 5th grade, we stopped inviting her to join us for hangouts because we assumed her mom would not allow her as usual. Out of the group, Sarah was the closest to me, but I was closer to the two other girls because we had more classes together, and we had hung out more outside of school, and this led us to have more inside jokes and experiences. We made sure to let Sarah in on all the jokes, and she had always laughed with us and even brought it up at times, and she had never mentioned being hurt by it.
At the end of my first year of high school, my mom decided to transfer me to another school. I was upset to be leaving my friend group, but I was excited to be able to branch out and make more friends. The school that I transferred to had a very challenging curriculum, so I wasn’t able to hang out as much with my old friend group. There have been instances where they’ve gotten mad at me (I admit it was my fault), but I thought we had talked it over and made sure our friendship was not harmed. But apparently, Sarah has been holding a grudge against “everything I’ve done to her throughout her life”.
Firstly, I need to mention that Sarah is not friends anymore with the rest of the friend group, and she claims that it’s because I wasn’t at school anymore and she was only close with me. However, I don’t see how her not building a relationship with the other girls is my fault.
A few days ago, Sarah sent me a long paragraph with all her grievances about me. She claims because we had such a tight-knit friend group she was never able to make any other friends. She says that I always cancel on her to hang out with other people, even though that has only happened two times due to misunderstandings and miscommunications. She says I never have enough time to spend time with her and that I’m always out with my new friends, even though she knows I’ve always been busy and I need to maintain a social life within my new school. She told me I never text her back even when she can see that I’m active on social media, but she doesnt understand that I often don’t know what to respond or have the mental capaity to be texting 24/7. She complained that I am always with my boyfriend, but I don’t know what she expects because you’re supposed to see your boyfriend often in order to have a healthy relationship. She also brought up how I left her out in the past, which she has never brought up before and is untrue because I have always tried my best to let her in on jokes, and I’m not sure what she expects me to do now, years after it happened.
This is the first time that she has reached out to me in months, so she hasn’t been trying hard to maintain our friendship either outside of a few texts at the beginning of my transfer. I haven’t replied to her yet, as I don’t know what to say. All I wanted was to adjust to my new life at my school, and I don’t think she is considering my feelings or perspective and is speaking out of bitterness. Still, her message has been weighing on my mind, so I would like to know from an outside perspective if I’m TA like Sarah is suggesting?

My daughter is doing youth volleyball right now. She's on a team of 3rd and 4th graders and been playing for like 8 weeks. My wife and I are also coaching her team despite knowing nothing about coaching or playing volleyball.
The regular season was...not great. They only won one match out of five, and lost a couple by pretty large margins. But they showed improvement and they were working hard.
Today was their tournament and if I'm really honest I didn't expect them to do great. In the seeding round they were 3-1 and ended up 5th seed out of 6 teams.
But holy shit did they turn things around in the elimination part of the tournament. They got kind of lucky because the first two seeds got a bye in the 1st round so they were matched up 5 vs. 4. They won their first game and then something just sort of clicked for them. It's like the lightbulb turned on for all of them and they realized "Oh, we can do this"
They won their second game to eliminate the 4 seed and then were playing the 2 seed who had already beaten them pretty badly in the seeding round. They lost their first game, won the second, and then killed it in the tiebreaker game to move on to the finals.
The finals were, of course, against the Titans. This was the team that had kicked the shit out of them earlier in the season, and boy was the team aptly named. I don't know how it worked out that way but every girl on that team was huge. They were the same size as most of the 5th and 6th grade teams and they were good too.
I wish I could say they won, but they didn't. They lost their two championship games 25-22 and 26-24. But against a team that had beaten them by 15+ points earlier in the season it was an incredible showing.
There were tears, but at the end of the day they walked out with their heads held high and they were proud of themselves. And goddamn was I proud of them too.

TW:Vent/Sh
My dad doesn't just beat me for no reason but I feel like when he does it's not necessary. Like he beat me for wasting trash out the trash can on accident in 8th grade. He beat me for not taking a shower early in elementary. and it's not just spankings he hits me with a leather belt in the same spot. He beat my sister for accidently buying a movie when she was in elementary. He would slap my brother. He says the only reason he doesn't slap me is because I'm a girl. But lately he says he will and I'm to big to get beat. He threatens to slap me when I try to talk or defend myself. He's fist fought my sister twice but it's because she said really messed up stuff to him. He makes me buy my own phone but buys my sister a phone even though her phone is fine. I got mine stolen after I got maced and he makes me buy it. I tracked my stolen phone but now he took it even though I paid for it. He wakes me and my siblings up and makes up clean the whole kitchen if we miss one spot on one dish. He makes me cook for him. He always yells and he calls me dumb because sometimes I don't catch on. Or because I'm forgetful. He got mad at me for choosing to go live with my mom. He got mad at me for drinking night quill when I had a cold he says I'm acting like a junkie like my mom. He yelled at me Infront of the whole class even though my teacher lied. His voice scared me. Every since I was little his voice scared me. When he calls my name I get scared then I go to him and he says something simple. He choked my dog because I corrected him when he was wrong. He smiled and apologized the next morning. He yells at me about touching my siblings things but I let them hold my stuff and they broke it but he didn't yell at them. Im not even scared of him anymore or at least I don't think I am Im just annoyed by him. But when I think about it I'm scared to tell him what want. I was scared for the past four years to tell him I wanted to live with my mom. He bought me a puppy just to make me give it away a few days later. He yells at me cause I called my sister a retard but they get to call me the b word and other stuff. Sorry if retard offense anyone at this point I'm desensitized. My dad talks bad about women. He talks badly about periods then ask e why I don't want to talk to him about it. He would get mad at me and then call me bipolar when I'm upset. He says I'm dumb and weak for self harming. He would always yell for hours then repeat it over again. He always targeted me. But I'm the one who dident want to talk bad about him. I'm the one who told my sister's not to us him for money. I'm the one that cooked for him that cleaned the house alone. I'm the one that listen to him drunk cry. I always tried to forgive him and try to see him as a better person. He abused my mom that's why she doesn't even like him. But I'm the only one that lived with him for four years and he still treats me different. He treat me and my other sister different. He cares about my half sisters more than me. They talk bad about my mom make her seem like a deadbeat but my mom takes care f us or tried by herself for years and he always helped my half sisters mom. He chooses my half sisters over me and my other sister. He called my sister many names like slut whore and stuff like that. I'm 15 by the way and my sister is 16. My half sister is 15 and my other half sister is 15. If anything happens he blame me and my sister's. Like the light cut off when we was cooking he blammed us. How the frick is that our fault. I can't remember all the stuff he did but he would say or do stuff that just makes me mad. He forced my sister and I to learn the amendments in 5th grade. I forced myself to learn but I forgot them again so that was a waist. I got blammed for everything he always believe my younger sister over me. I've seen him drunk many times he almost shot my cousin in front of me. He was drunk and tried to makey sister get in the car with him. I asked him not to drink on my birthday he got mad. But he was nice at times. He took us out to eat he bought us clothes. But that's the bare minimum. To get us clothes and give us food. But he took us to six flags which was fun. He buys us stuff like computers and other stuff. I know all this sounds ungrateful and dramatic but he makes me so angry I want to hurt him or myself I've thought about it when I was younger but I don't anymore. But is he abusive or am I just dramatic? Sorry this honestly became a rant/vent but I don't like that men.

31F. i’m not even saying this in a depressing way i’m saying this in a matter of fact way. i literally feel like the circumstances of my life have made me evolve differently than the rest of humanity. literally due to evolution, i’m not meant to be in a relationship. and it makes me so depressed and makes me feel like i might as well die off now, because what’s the point of being alive for 60 more years just to be alone.
first off, looks are not the issue. just for context, i’m beautiful. i know i am because random men and women tell me almost every day.
i didn’t grow up feeling beautiful, they didn’t start telling me that until i was about 16. so yes, i’ve had some body image issues/childhood insecurities. but doesn’t everyone?
but i have a decent amount of confidence now, i may not feel beautiful, but i at least know i’m not ugly.
i’m perfectly capable of being social and maintaining relationships. most of my friendships have lasted 10+ years. i was popular in high school and college. i have a masters degree.
the problem is, i’ve never witnessed a successful relationship. my parents divorced when i was 7. my mom kicked my dad out and he never came back. i have not seen my dad in almost 25 years. i was never told if he would come back or not. we just never talked about it … i was so busy with school, sports, and extra curricular as a kid that life just kinda .. moved on.
we were a happy family and then one day i came home and the house just felt empty. forever.
on top of that, i grew up in the aftermath of my grandparents divorce. my grandmother constantly vented to me as a young child about my grandfathers multiple affairs throughout their marriage.
i spent a lot of time at my cousins house growing up, where their parents were still together. then one day in 5th grade their marriage was over, my aunt, who was one of the closest adults to me, was kicked out of the family, and their divorce took over 10 years to finalize.
i just saw my mom, my grandma, and my uncle experience so many negative consequences from being in a relationship that i truly feel that my young brain interpreted relationships as bad, something that only brings pain and drama. it’s better to focus on a career and be alone than someone who will only ruin your life.
i’ve had flings, i’ve had endless guys interested in hooking up with me, endless one night stands. i even lived with a guy for 8 months, but he never claimed me as his girlfriend.
i’m always going on dates and putting myself out there. i focus on myself if a guy doesn’t call. i do everything they say to do. i read all the books. i don’t get it. my friends always tell me, they don’t know what the issue is because i’m a great friend, capable of being a great partner, and one of the sweetest, most reliable people they know.
back in 2022, i felt the most connected with a guy i ever felt. i thought i met my soulmate. just to find out he was married just looking for a side piece. it felt like a literal joke, like a slap in the face, after a whole lifetime of failed relationships.
i truly believe it’s not in the cards for me. it makes me sad to know i’ll never know what it’s like to wake up to your best friend every day. always have someone to spend your day with. i barely even ever have sex. i dont know if i want children, but if i don’t, i don’t want the reason to be because i never found a partner.
all i’ve ever wanted was a relationship, but all i ever get is guys that want sex. even if they say they are looking for something real, it’s never with me.
from the outside, i’m beautiful and successful. but nobody knows this loneliness will eventually kill me (i hope it does soon tbh).

basically title but this happened about 3 weeks ago and I've had time to think on it and just wonder at how he doesn't get it.
I'm bilaterally deaf with cochlear implants, left one I got in 2015 and the right in 2020.
It's just wild how people don't get that even with assistive tech, accommodations, and me learning how to lipread and use context clues, I'm still fully deaf regardless.
I've had similar instances happen at school when I tell someone I need them to speak a bit louder otherwise I can't understand them and they scream in my face, when a teacher forgets to put on the captions even though its been 5 months since school's started, or a counselor saying when one of my cochlears was nonfunctional for about a week that "You just need to try harder and have you told your teachers yet because you really know better." Like what?!?
Growing up I didn't have access to sign until I was in 5th grade and then I had to soon leave that community because I moved elsewhere where there isn't one, so going to a Deaf school seems like the best option for me at the moment after this school year. My parents are supportive but they haven't learnt sign at all and are hearing.
It's just the subtle ableism and ignorance that gets to me in the public school system and the wider public space I guess.

Has there been any indication that they are going to change one of the uses of "Level" so there isnt the confusing "Congratulations! you have reached 5th level! you can now cast 3rd level spells!"
its kind of a travesty that a game released in 2014 had such poor use of overlapping terminology - but it will be REALLY bad if they do it again in 2025!
What would your choice of terminology be?
I think i would like "Character Rank".
if druids hadnt already used the term, i would like "Spell Circles"