Diffrent ways to tie sperrys

My mom has been manipulative for as long as I remmeber. She would act as the best mother in the world, then discard me and my siblings and our needs.For reference, my mom had a really rough upbringing, think cinderalla kind of situation. Never met her dad, her mom tragically passed away and she stayed with her abusive grandmother until she escaped with my dad. Eventually My older brother, me, and my little sister came along and we lived in the U.S together for a while.
My parents eventually ended up separating due to my mom's shopping addiction, and her infidelity. My mom took my sister and I back to Mexico when they separated since my sister and I were still young, but eventually I told my mom I wanted to study in the U.S, because I had better opportunities, so I moved back with my brother and dad, sadly leaving my little sister behind.
My mom has treated my sister poorly since the separation of my parents. My mom would leave my sister locked in a dark closet as punishment, and she's developed a fear to the dark from this. My mom has given away her pets, purposefully let them out and never returned, used to starve us to lose some pounds. Abandon us at shopping centers if we were too tired from shopping with her etc. She was never too harsh with me or my brother, only to my sister. My brother was the first one to cut ties with my mom and have been no contact for almost a decade, yet my mom still asks for her baby boy every chance she gets.
The abuse worsened when I sent my little sister 10k in pesos as a 17th birthday gift. By Mexican law she couldn't have a proper job until she was 18, so I sent her what I could. My mom somehow got the notification on her phone that my little sister received 10k from me, and she went ballistic. Mom demanded 6k from the money I sent my sister, then use the rest for a vacation. My little sister said she'd only give her 5k, and that she wanted to save her half for emergencies. My mom did not talk to my sister for a month until she caved in and gave her 3k extra (my mom has her own job that pays for medical and groceries btw).
Now in present time, my little sister got into a motorcycle accident on her way to work, dislocated her shoulder on the fall. She's been in recovery for a month, or at least trying to. The very next day my sister got into the accident, my mom demanded that they went to ride bikes at the state park. After my sister obviously declined, my mom kicked my little sister out from the house. She stayed at a nearby park crying to me on a call while trying to figure out who she can crash with. My mom then threatened to call the cops if she didn't come back home. Mom demanded my sister buy her dinner for the 'scare' my sister gave her.
Today, my mom threatened to cancel the internet because apparently my sister doesn't need it. My little sister used to pay the internet until my mom took most of her money and lost her job. My sister is admitting defeat and saying she doesn't want to have a bad relationship with both parents (sister doesn't speak to my dad). This doesn't affect my communication with her, as we pay for the phone bill, but this makes her loose access to most of her hobbies that keep her sane.
I really don't know what to do, I already offered to fly her back to the U.S, but she doesn't want to leave my mom. If I send her more money to pay the internet, my mom is just going to take it away from her again. I just want my little sister to recover peacefully from her injury, but my mother is making it extremely hard. My sister doesn't want me to confront mom either, nor do we have any family she can go to. I just feel like I've let her down. I should've brought her with me to the U.S when I still had the chance.

Grandma: She’s a bit of a Conservative conspiracy theorist and doesn’t trust the government, but I love her. She ties everything back into politics and religion, loves America. She’s a bit traditional, but also lets her mouth run wild sometimes. It ends up being a really long, ramble conversation on her end. She trusts sources, but usually only looks at one side so she believes the other side is completely corrupt and evil. She loves and values her big family and God. She also has a lot of love for nature. Her and my grandpa’s love story started out with her winking at him, so she’s DEFINITELY a flirt haha! She’s sassy, and very honest, but has unconditional love for her family… though some things are difficult for her to accept. She has anxious paranoia, tbh. But she’s very social, very honest. She also doesn’t seem to enjoy doing things with the help of others, preferring to be independent. She’s just traditional in the sense that she doesn’t like dyed hair or the style nowadays. She’s also really big on American history, and the past repeating itself, yet when i asked her to tell me her own life story for a school project she was very straightforward.
Types I’ve considered for her: ENTJ, ESTJ, ESTP
Grandpa: So he’s been dead for almost eight years but we were super close so I need to type him. My grandpa was a hard worker who loved old westerns, did not care for talking about politics. He was kind and generous, and took over the role of a father for me when my mom and I moved in. Every time a toy of mine broke, he would fix it for me. He owned a gun shed right next to our house up until his last day, stopping at nothing to work hard. He bought gifts for people just randomly, and loved outdoors. He was proud of working with Eagle Scouts. He was a veteran in the Cold War. He also loved to tease me, as well as teach me lessons. He taught me telling time, counting money, and would have me come to his office to read to him every night. Sometimes he would tell me brief stories to get me to learn responsible lessons, sometimes they were sad for little me. Like in order to get me to stop using so many paper towels, he told me a story about an owl with a name and everything who had lost its home because paper towels were being used too much. So I only took one or two strips after that. He called himself a grumpy grandpa, but was not grouchy, and bought me an Elmo In Grouchland dvd to show he was a grouch. He made me think I was good at everything and could do anything. He also loved Native American history. The only negative thing I can say is he was very particular with my grandmas cooking, and always wanted it just the way his mom used to make it. But me and him had a great relationship, I was his princess. He loved his family, and giving random acts of service. He died a month after I turned 9 because he didn’t want to stay in the hospital anymore. He wanted to keep working. He always spoiled me.
Types I’ve considered for him: ISTP, ISFJ, INFJ
Mom: Raised me as a single mom from the time I was two months old, and we lived at my grandparents house. She’s always been very witty and funny. More than anything else she strives to be good, intelligent, and helpful. She’s pretty self aware, and has strong morals, but she values logic over emotion. She loves logic, and math equations. She doesn’t like it when things make her feel dumb, and it is very hard to talk her out of something logical to her. She said she never had a problem with driving because it’s all logic, and because I struggle with driving she doesn’t know how to help me very well. She loves kids and cats. She didn’t know how much she loved cats until we got them though. She has a very kind, warm, and giving heart. She also spoiled me in childhood, as her only child. We never went on vacations though because we were poor. She is a bit impatient, and sometimes that rubs off on me. But she feels bad whenever I feel as if I’m being abandoned by her and tries to make it up however she can. At church every Sunday, she brings toys and candy for all of the little kids. They love her for it. She doesn’t like hearing lengthy stories, prefers them straight to the point… so I kind of annoy her sometimes. She sacrifices a lot. She’s not mentally healthy at the moment, but she’s my best friend and I love her fr.
Types I’ve considered: INTJ, ISTJ, (maybe) INFJ

first
Luna VI query: Set the source to the leaked files of the first reconnaissance operation of Irisa.
Done!
Luna VI query: What did Nathan do during the first hour of the war?
***
From the instant he opened his eyes, Nathan's morning was chaotic. It all began with the ground shaking beneath him, jolting him into a state of awareness. He then was greeted by the sight of Amara. She was leaning against a corner, covered in purple from head to toe as she screamed at someone through an earpiece that she was pressing with one of her claws.
His good morning was overhearing one piece of bad news after the other.
The rest of Amara's group had been ambushed early in the morning; many were dead, injured, or missing.
A war had erupted in the sky and her allies were trying to push back the enemy forces, but the battle persisted; the outcome was uncertain.
Zara was being brought to them, but Amara had lost contact with Igmila's group who was bringing her, only receiving confirmation from another group that a rescue pod was spotted at a distance.
And when he thought that things couldn't get any worse, he heard a bang followed by the AI reporting that Ryo had shot down a drone somewhere near their position.
"Open the tent!" Red had conquered Amara's body.
None of the scenarios Nathan had contemplated the previous night had prepared him for such a chaotic morning. "Give me a second."
He only wanted a chance to get his gun from his backpack and explain why he had it in the first place, even though he suspected Amara was already aware he had it. But she didn't let him. "Now!"
She had never felt so distant to him as the moment she said that single word, which led him to just comply as he stood up and followed her in silence. But this frail silence only masked his morning grumpiness, magnified by the dire circumstances and her cold demeanor toward him.
Nathan had barely caught a glimpse of Ryo and Elysira at a distance when he muttered. "It wouldn't have been so hard to say a few words to fill me in, you know."
Amara's eyes were transfixed on the smoking pieces of the drone when she whipped her head around, glaring at him with her orange eyes. "My people are fighting a war and dying. How can you demand my time when Yelara is hurt and barely escaped alive?"
"Oh, come on, I'm not demanding anything." He scoffed, shaking his head. "I just don't think it would have been so hard to tell me what you intend to do in the next five minutes."
The tip of her tail pressed against his chest, as red and purple coexisted on her skin.
"I am heading up the mountain to find Igmila." She spoke in a detached voice, pulling her tail back and turning around, and then she sprinted in the gap between himself and the tent.
He caught a glimpse of gray on her neck and all his grumpiness was gone, replaced by a cold shiver running down his spine. With his arms moving faster than his thoughts, he grabbed her by the tail, preventing her from going anywhere.
"You absolutely can't do this Amara." Nathan looked down at the tail he held with both hands and swallowed a lump of saliva in fear of her reaction. But that still didn't prevent him from finishing what he had to say, "It's too dangerous."
Amara's eyes sought his, causing him to suspect she would demand to be released or try to free herself by force, but she did something else. "All of this is because of you. Had I not come to your tent, I would be there to assist them."
Nathan caught a glimpse of green around her back spots, which let him know that there was a hint of guilt in her words. But did that justify blaming everything on him and running into danger without thinking?
If not for the awful night followed by an awful morning, Nathan might have just taken the blame and hugged her. But he too had his limits, "How is that fair? Blame me all you want, but nothing will change that you had all the chances in the world to go back and you didn't. I'm not saying that you could have done anything abo-"
"Indeed." Gray flashed for a moment before red flowed among her black spots. "This night was a waste of time." His grip faltered at her words and she pulled her tail back from among his fingers. "I should have stayed with Yelara to help her tend to her wounds."
Nathan bit his lips in frustration. How was it possible to agree with her words, yet still feel the sharp sting in his heart?
And if that was not enough, Ryo had to step in to rub salt in the wound.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
With Elysira’s tail wrapped around his wrist as she averted her eyes from Amara, Ryo spoke, "Please don't tell me you're mad because the plant lover couldn't get it up."
Nathan blinked fast not believing his eyes. Ryo was not only shirtless but there were a lot of scratches on his neck and below. Elysira’s long strands were also a mess, but even without that, their physical closeness alone would be enough of a hint of how much fun they had at night.
When Nathan glanced at Amara to gauge her reaction, she had already crossed her arms, looking at him angrily. Which immediately made him feel as if Ryo’s not-funny joke was true although he knew it wasn't.
It took Nathan a considerable amount of self-retainment to not walk up there and rearrange Ryo's handsome face with his fist, or at least attempt to do so.
A few seconds passed before he said, "Why are you here?"
Ryo didn't even bother to look at him, his eyes focusing solely on Amara. "Information. I want her to tell me what she knows about this war."
Amara didn't look pleased to help, but she still informed him about the ambush and even alerted him that even their current position would soon be unsafe.
As If things weren't already bad enough, Ryo frowned and hurried to instruct Elysira to get his things as soon as Amara had finished talking. Nathan felt like he was in a war movie where everything was happening too fast for his emotions and reason to follow.
It was only when he saw Ryo raising his gun skywards that Nathan’s anger subsided, contained by the prospect of how bad their situation was. Ryo movements were fluid and methodical, but he never pulled the trigger on the many drones that appeared high above and, instead, retreated to take cover behind a tree.
Only now the seriousness of the situation sank in for Nathan.
He didn't even care that he hadn't explained to Amara why he had a gun yet, rushing inside the tent after exchanging a glance with her.
After crossing the circular door, he found only a few items on the ground: a pair of boots, his sleeping bag, and his backpack with all his equipment inside.
Nathan was quick, wearing his boots first before retrieving his belt, knife, and holster from the backpack. With a sequence of swift movements, he strapped the sheathed knife and holster to the belt and cinched it around his waist, securing it in place before closing the backpack and dashing out the door with his gun in one hand and the backpack in the other.
Already outside, Nathan found it weirdly reassuring that Ryo was in the same spot as before, but that only lasted until he tried to find Amara, but found nothing no matter where he searched for her.
He dropped his backpack, feeling at a loss. How could he have allowed her to venture beyond his sight when he knew that guilt was clouding her judgment?
Only when he had already cupped his hands around his mouth to scream her name that he felt a touch right above his heel—her tail.
"Psst..."
Wiping his head, Nathan saw Amara's whole body mimicking the colors of his tent, making herself quite hard to spot.
"I thought you were gone." He joined her, stooping down beside the tent as relief washed over him.
"It might be too late to join my soldiers." She didn't allow her colors to change, but the translator conveyed a hint of sadness. "I lost contact with all the teams who were coming here."
"Amara I-"
Nathan was about to attempt to make things right with her when Ryo’s assertive voice reached him. "Listen up, those fuckers are jamming our comms and they will be here at any time. Take the MLBCS and find a clearing to use it, I doubt they can interfere with the laser. Just don't forget that your immediate safety comes first or else you might not be among the living when the pod arrives."
Ryo ran back to his tent as soon as he was done speaking, leaving Nathan questioning his own intelligence. How come he had never even considered leaving the planet? A single glance at Amara and he knew why. But did he have any other option?
Staying and fighting to hold his position was something he briefly considered. But did he have a chance when even Ryo decided to leave after seeing the drones?
Mission control might give him other options, so Nathan decided to try his luck despite Ryo’s warning.
Unable to establish a two-way connection.
He confirmed the interference with the communication with a single thought, kicking his backpack in frustration even though it was expected.
Why did it have to be so hard to accept that Ryo was right and leaving the planet was his best option?
But would Ryo truly leave the planet and leave Elysira behind?
Nathan forgot Amara who was beside him and screamed, not allowing this question to stay in his mind, "Wait, what are you gonna do?"
Ryo replied as he waited for Elysira, "I'm not leaving the planet unless mission control finds a way to save Ely too."
Nathan's eyes widened, feeling like an idiot as he brought up a pop-up window showing the schematics of the rescue pods. They were designed to be fast vehicles capable of transporting a single person to the space station, but Earth's government hadn’t skimped on the design, which included various components that could be discarded, such as medical supplies and search and rescue equipment.
He used the AI to run the calculations and found that Amara would likely be able to go with him, that is if they wedged themselves into the vehicle and discarded everything else.
Nathan was about to share his findings with Ryo when he caught a glimpse of him and Elysira disappearing into the woods, abandoning their tent behind as they ran away.
A sense of urgency struck him at that moment, but it was easily forgotten when Amara's voice struck even harder, "You should go."
"What do you mean?" He sought her eyes, but she avoided his gaze, facing to the ground.
"Do what Ryo suggested." She took a small pause before she went on. "Leave the planet."
"The hell I will!" He punched the tent. "Not without you." He could only assume she was saying this because she didn't know she could leave with him. "You'll come with me, and the pod will take us to the space station."
"Your species will refuse to take me." He saw a hint of purple on her neck. "Before the mission started your people told us you humans will not get involved in our wars." She finally made eye contact, and the purple on her skin intensified. "My best chance to survive this is to hide in the mountains and wait for reinforcements."
"You don’t understand, Amara." He didn't have time for a full explanation of what humans considered not getting involved. "No one in mission control will want to leave you here to die just because of some stupid rule." He then spoke his heart out without a care in the world. "And even if they do, they will take you anyway if say I won't go anywhere without you."
A hint of yellow could be seen among her camouflaged skin, but before she could say what she would do, her tail wrapped around his neck and he felt a strong pull to lower his head and bend his knees for cover.
"The rebels are here," she whispered as her ears twitched.
Nathan was tall enough to see the slope on the other side of the tent by just standing, but Amara struggled to see from above the structure, requiring her to stretch her full height and still take little jumps to take peeks.
And it was after doing so that she dropped her camouflage entirely, letting purple run free among her black spots.
Nathan took interest in what she had seen that had caused such a reaction, and he leaned cautiously against the tent and raised his head slowly, prepared to find a few armed Irisians hidden among the trees. But what he found instead was a never-ending line of Irisian advancing downhill at a fast pace towards them.
He understood Amara's reaction now, pulling back the harmer of the revolver as he stared at her. "I need to... do something."
He made up his mind, determined to shoot. But when activated the infrared view mode and took aim at Irisians descending the slope, Nathan froze for a second. This just lasted a moment, and when found the resolve to fire, he had already lifted the gun enough that it wouldn't hit anyone and it would just be a warning shot.
He fired once, twice, and went on until all six rounds were gone, then he noticed their organized marching had stopped, all of them having activated their camouflage. Some even broke the line and retreated uphill.
When he took cover again, Amara was protecting her ears with both hands, looking at him as if he were some sort of monster. Nathan ignored her and rifled through his backpack in search of more ammunition, finding the small box with shining metal bullets after he had searched for some long seconds.
It was only when he released the cylinder to reload the gun that Nathan noticed something.
His hands were shaking.
He ignored it and pressed the extraction rod the remove the cartridges from the cylinder to make room for the new ones, clumsily dropping a few of them as he reloaded.
Amara saw this and stopped him with her tail before he had filled all the chambers.
"I cannot go with you." Her body had been conquered by purple.
"You think I'll leave you behind?" He almost reached his breaking point when she replied.
"No." Her tail touched his cheek gently. "There are too many of them, Nathan." She pulled her tail back as a hint of gray appeared. "My brother will never let me go, he lost too many ships and soldiers to give up without his prize." The gray intensified, squeezing her black spots. "If you die with me on this planet, your species might abandon Irisa forever.
"My chances of hiding in the mountains are slim, but they exist... and even if I fail I will distract them long enough for you to flee."
Her body blended with the surroundings again and Nathan felt that she was about to do something stupid, but he moved faster and grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to bend her legs and join him on the ground as she stared at him with wide eyes.
"To hell with this self-sacrifice bullshit." Nathan finally decided what he would do. "Do you think I will die that easy? Guess what, you’re wrong." His hands moved from her shoulder to her back and he embraced her. "Let me tell you what we'll do, we take the MLBCS, we find a clearing, and we go to the space station." He released her and added, almost crazily. "You go with me even if I have to drag you by the tail as you scratch me, you hear me?"
He was not kidding; he grabbed her tail with his left hand, leaving her exterior filled with colors ranging from purple to yellow.
Amara was about to reply when the tent produced a thud noise, sounding as if someone had knocked on a cardboard box. When they turned to the side, there was a tiny hole in the tent dangerously close to Amara's head.
She touched the hole with her finger, and then her whole hand pressed against the side of her head, staring at him without saying a word.
Nathan's heart skipped a beat when he realized what had just happened, and consumed by a rage like he never felt before, he pressed the cylinder of his revolver back into place with just the four bullets inside, pulling back the harmer.
This time there was no hesitation, he quickly stood up and used the infrared view mode to survey the now organized groups of Irisians who had taken a defensive formation, choosing as target an Irisian who had climbed a tree and was pointing a long gun at them.
In just a moment Nathan aimed and pulled the trigger, firing one round after another. The first two missed completely, but the others hit the tree right above the target, making this Irisian panic and release his claws from the wood, only to welcome an ugly fall on the rocks below from several meters above the ground.
He took cover again immediately, but this time noise as if he was facing heavy rain under an umbrella struck his eardrums moments after he had taken cover, making him wince every time he heard the distinct noise of a projectile going through one wall of the tent and stopping the other.
With her tail still among his fingers, Nathan and Amara exchanged several anxious glances as the shooting persisted, only calming down when the rebels realized they were wasting ammunition and the barrage of fire slowly started to lose momentum.
Nathan's heart was racing and she was going through all tones of purple when she broke the silence.
"Fine!" She spoke fast. "If you are being so adamant about tying our fates together, we can do it your way." Her tail escaped his grip, but instead of pulling it back, she coiled it around his wrist. "But we are weaker together, Nathan. I will be a burden to you when you run, and you will be a burden to me when we hide."
"Oh, to hell with that too." Despite his harsh words, just knowing that they were on the same page now was enough to give him some hope. "Sorry. I do all the running and you do all the hiding, does that work for you?"
He didn't wait for her reply and loaded the gun again, this time doing it very fast even though his hands were still shaking.
"You do all the running? I fail to understand you." She said as she stood up to take a peek at the enemies, just to recoil in fear and add, "Explain yourself fast, they are losing the fear of your loud gun."
"Sure." He grasped his backpack bottom and overturned it, emptying its contents in a quick motion. With all the items on the ground, Nathan only took the MLBCS and the little box with his drones that he promptly stored in his pocket. "We won't need any of that, which means my back will be free."
"Are you crazy, I am too heavy f-"
"You're not." Nathan was 6′3″, and he had the nanites ensuring he was as healthy as a human could be. This meant that the short Amara—the top of her head only reaching a little below his shoulder—was not a challenging weight for him to carry given her slender body.
Noticing the doubt in her gaze, he lowered his body even more, turning his back towards her in a way it would be easy for her to climb, hoping this would be all the push she needed.
"You take pleasure in testing my trust, do you not?" The tone of her voice hinted at her reluctance, but she still draped her arms over his shoulder, securing her grip in a way her claws wouldn't hurt him.
Even though they had a plan now, Nathan still felt a chill down his spine at the thought of what he would have to do. And despite knowing that he had taken everything he needed, he anxiously patted down his pocket the make sure the box with the drones was there and remembered to take a handful of bullets, filling up his pockets as some of them fell to the ground.
"Ready?" He asked, trying to sound confident.
"See for yourself." Her tail wrapped around his belly, full of tiny black spots surrounded by purple as far as he could see.
Nathan took a few deep breaths and stood up, getting a glimpse of the many groups that were advancing from both sides, trying to surround them.
It didn't even take him a full second before he started firing his revolver indiscriminately at them while his legs moved on their own, not even waiting for his eyes to decide which path he would take.
Amara's weight escaped his thoughts completely, replaced by the fear evoked by the faint noise of metal breaking the sound barrier around them as soon they left the protection of the tent.
He didn't spare a single glance behind, running downhill at full throttle with bursts of adrenalin fueling his speed. He outran the reach of their guns quite fast, hurdling fallen brunches and putting not only distance but also several tree trunks between them and the hostile force behind.
With Amara's solid grip and occasional shifting of her weight to prove that she was fine, Nathan kept his pace as his muscles burned with exertion.
For a little over ten minutes he kept going, jumping over protruding roots and ducking beneath low-hanging branches. But this couldn't go on forever and eventually, he stopped to catch his breath, bending forward and letting go of items in his hand as Amara released her grip to stand on her own two feet.
His breath was coming in ragged bursts, but that didn't keep him from starting to laugh as he stared at her, whose eyes were gentle and her entire body was filled with hints of yellow.
In a split-second though, her whole demeanor changed, all the yellow giving way to purple and red.
She asked a single question, "Is that device of yours supposed to release smoke?"
The tip of her tail was pointing at the MLBCS, which now had a small hole in it from where a whisp of smoke curled upwards, just like a candle after its flame had been extinguished.
Nathan shook his head and touched his forehead; a single word left his mouth, "Fuck."
***
This was an account based on what Nathan did during the first hour of the war. The previous narrative is based on the events of the morning of the twentieth day of the exploratory mission of Irisa. According to your current settings, no queries will be suggested.
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My remaining years are few and my body is weak, yet my memories are still sharp, so I shall share a tale I’ve long kept secret. I no longer wish to take it with me to the grave. I once feared that others might be drawn to this horrible experience of mine, like those who wander too close to the edges of a roaring tornado, only to be consumed and mangled beyond recognition. But I’ve come to realize that it was naive to think this way. Though some may not heed a tornado's warning, that’s no reason not to sound the alarm. And so, I tell this story with that purpose in mind.
Consider this the gravest of warnings to stay away from Stonemoor Manor.
In the year of 1953, I was but a young man, though already busy with the responsibilities of a career and a family. Despite my tender age, I had already dabbled in various trades, for I was a restless spirit, never one to settle. From labor to intellect, I had tried my hand at it all. With equal prowess in both craft and wit, I found my true calling in a profession that demanded both: veterinary medicine.
Life in Ireland was tough in those times. Many young families were heading off for better opportunities overseas. Though I was hesitant at first, myself and the wife decided we’d eventually do the same for our daughter’s sake. But I wasn’t about to take them to a new land empty-handed, so we agreed to stay another year in Ireland while I put away some coin. To stretch our savings as far as they would go, we chose to see out our final year in a rural spot where the cost of living was kinder on the pocket.
With but a year's worth of experience as a vet under my belt, I had yet to earn myself a reputation worth speaking of, nor had I much acquaintance with the locals in the village we'd chosen as our temporary home. Still, I held firm in the skills I possessed, my eagerness to learn, and my belief that this countryside community of farms and fields would provide ample chances to prove myself. To put it plainly, I was brimming with confidence, some might even call it cockiness. I suppose it was a mixture of that and desperation which brought me to Stonemoor Manor.
As the days stretched into months, I found myself haunting the local pub like a ghost, a familiar face among the regulars. My confidence was dwindling with the lack of work. It seemed like everyone in that village had the healthiest animals in all of Ireland, maybe even beyond. What a cruel twist, their blessed lives mocking my own struggles.
One evening, in my drunken stupor, I hadn’t noticed at first the gaunt figure come into the pub and saunter over to the shadowed corner where I was drowning my sorrows. It wasn’t until he spoke that I saw him.
“Are you the veterinarian?” He asked.
I raised my head and steadied my blurred gaze on the face of a man whose sunken features made him look more shadow than flesh. For a moment, I even thought I was looking at a skeleton.
“Aye, that’d be me.”
“They seek your presence at Stonemoor Manor.”
“And what’s the reason for that?”
“The Master’s horse has taken ill.”
“And what does this ‘master’ go by?”
The man glared in silence, then in a tone tinged with irritation and raised volume, declared, "His name is Alistair Stonemoor."
In an instant, the chatter in the pub fell silent, and every gaze turned toward our shadowed corner.
Under the weight of the pub's collective gaze, the man squirmed uncomfortably, his voice lowering as he muttered, "It matters not. You’ll be well rewarded for your troubles."
Past the man, the bartender shook his head in disapproval, fixing me with a stern glare, and silently mouthed the word, "no."
Despite the bartender's cautionary glance, fueled by youth, folly, and a healthy dose of drink, I brushed aside his advice and turned to the man, blurting out, "How much is this Master Stonemoor offering?"
The man leaned closer, his face illuminated by the flickering candlelight, revealing a gaunt, pallid countenance and foggy eyes. He looked every bit of his seventy years or more. "Sufficient to settle comfortably upon reaching the shores of America," he murmured.
In that moment, it would have been prudent to heed the warning signaled by the hairs standing on end at the nape of my neck. When your instincts scream "leave," it's best to listen. But the allure of a swift resolution to my troubles clouded my judgment. The prospect of a better life sooner than expected was too tempting to resist. So, I rose from my seat and addressed the man, "I'll go fetch me things.”
I made the decision I believed was best for my family.
God rest their souls.
I kept from my lovely Mary the weight the Stonemoor name carried in the pub. She'd have put a stop to my leaving in an instant. Instead, I spun a tale of a wealthy gent in need of my skills, assuring her I'd be back when the job was done. With our wee Annie already tucked in for the night, I kissed my wife goodbye, gathered my tools, and slipped into the back of a sleek black sedan, driven by the mysterious man with eyes like fog, seemingly undeterred by their cloudy gaze.
I leaned in and murmured, "Didn't quite catch your name, sorry.”
“Never said it.”
“Ah, right. What is it, then?”
“Fergus.”
“Pleasure, Fergus. I’m Liam.”
“I know.”
“Right. The ad. You’ve seen me ad.”
With no response from Fergus, I pressed on, asking, "How far is Stonemoor Manor from here?"
“About a half hour drive.”
What ensued was a half-hour journey enveloped in silence, traversing through the village and onto a dirt path winding through a dense, shadowy forest. Eventually, we arrived at an iron gate, which swung open onto a secluded road. Despite my keen observation, I couldn't discern who operated the gate, nor who secured it shut behind us. Ten minutes further along this secluded path, the woods parted, revealing the grandeur of Stonemoor Manor for the first time.
It bore a striking resemblance to a castle, its exterior fashioned from grey stone adorned with towers and crenellations, save for the central portion, which appeared to be of Victorian design. Judging by the numerous windows, the manor rose at least four stories high, not accounting for any underground levels.
The manor lay bathed solely in the moon's glow, devoid of any external illumination. Among the multitude of windows, only one emitted light: a solitary glimmer from a small window perched atop one of the corner towers.
Fergus brought the car to a halt, then stepped out and opened my door. With a nod, he gestured towards the manor and uttered, "Master Stonemoor awaits you within."
"Up there, is he?” I acknowledged, stepping out of the vehicle and casting a nod towards the illuminated window.
Ignoring my question, Fergus closed the door firmly. "Come along," he directed, leading the way towards the looming manor.
We climbed stone steps to confront a grand iron door, effortlessly opened by old Fergus. He gestured for me to enter before closing the door with a heavy thud that echoed through the foyer. Cast only in the moon's silver light, the room revealed itself in fragments, with stone stairs disappearing into the shadows ahead. Fergus had vanished from sight, leaving me to navigate the dimness alone.
I called out for Fergus, but my voice echoed unanswered, stirring a growing sense of unease. Doubt crept in, whispering of traps and deceit. With cautious steps, I retreated towards the door, its cool iron offering a sense of security. Fumbling in the darkness, my heart quickened with each passing moment, panic threatening to overwhelm me. Just as my trembling hand found the handle, the room burst into light.
“Departing so soon, are we?”
A new voice pierced the silence, resonating with youth and vigor unlike Fergus's. Swiveling around, my eyes met those of a tall, middle-aged man clad in a sleek black three-piece suit, accented by a bold red tie. With raven-black hair framing his face and piercing blue eyes, he commanded the landing of the steps, which diverged to his left and right.
“Ah, sorry now. I seemed to have gone and misplaced Fergus,” I chuckled sheepishly. “Thought he might’ve been locked out. I take it you’re Mister Stonemoor?”
"Please, call me Alistair," he replied with a nod. "And you must be Doctor Kerrigan?"
"Aye... Liam, that's me name," I stammered. "Only the creatures call me doctor."
I couldn't tell if the jest garnered even a smirk, for Alistair remained rooted to the spot at the top of the stairs, a considerable distance away.
"Anyhow," I persisted, "I understand there's a sick horse in need of attention?"
"Are you drunk, Doctor?" Alistair's tone was pointed, his gaze piercing.
Alistair's question caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless, akin to a child caught in mischief. Yet, I had a feeling of innocence; after all, it was Fergus who had recruited me from the pub.
“I’ve had a few pints this evening.”
“I can smell it on you.”
“That is truly impressive.”
“There is nothing impressive about it, Doctor Kerrigan.”
“Well, I didn’t go swimming in it, did I?”
“I do not know and I find your sarcasm unwelcome. Fergus will escort you to a chamber, and you shall begin attending to my horse at daybreak."
“Hold on now, I'm sorry for me behavior, but I can't be staying the night. I've got a family to get back to. And anyhow, shouldn't this horse be needing emergency treatment?"
Alistair turned on his heel and ascended the staircase to his right. "Treatment can wait until you've sobered up," he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"I'm plenty sober!" I hollered after him as he vanished up the stairs. "Me hands are steady as a rock!" My protest echoed through the empty foyer, but Alistair had already disappeared from sight.
Fergus emerged from the shadows of a nearby hallway, causing me to startle. "I will show you to your room.”
“You’re a right sly one, Fergus. Anyway, I can’t be sticking around for the night.”
“Master intends to further compensate you for your time.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I shall return you to your burdens.”
With my jaw clenched and eyes shut tight, I drew in a deep breath. For a fleeting moment, a vision danced in my mind's eye: my little Annie, her smile radiant as she pointed towards Lady Liberty. So precious she was, my heart ached with longing for her to have a better life.
"Fine," I relented, opening my eyes. "Show me to the room."
As I awoke, it was not to the gentle glow of morning light, but to the harsh brightness of noon. Jumping from the bed, I checked my watch, confirming my fears. With urgency, I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my bag, and hastened out of the bedroom. Stepping into the hallway, I was disoriented, with no recollection of its layout from the night before. Rows of closed doors lined the corridor, and I began to try each one in turn. Pushing and pulling, I soon realized that every door was locked. Surely, not every room warranted such security, I pondered, my frustration growing with each failed attempt.
As I ventured down the hall and finally arrived at the imposing stone staircase, the resounding clicks of each door unlocking in unison sent shivers down my spine. Goosebumps prickled across my skin, and I hastened my descent down the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. Just as I reached the bottom, I came to an abrupt stop, narrowly avoiding a collision with the ghastly figure of Fergus.
“Sleep well?” He asked.
“Jesus, Fergus! It’s noon! Has the horse given up the ghost yet? And, I haven’t a clue what’s happening upstairs, but…”
“Master Stonemoor awaits your presence in the stables.”
I looked at Fergus a moment, wondering if he’d heard a word I’d said, then relented, “Okay, then. Can I use a phone first?”
“There’s no phone on this property.”
“No phone? That’s a bit old-fashioned, isn’t it? I need to let me wife know where I am.”
“I will send word.”
“Quickly, then. Just let her know not to be worrying about me. I’ll be back once the job is done.”
Fergus nodded in acknowledgement before guiding me towards the stables. In the light of day, the grandeur of Stonemoor Manor became even more apparent. It truly was a colossal structure, dominating the landscape with its impressive presence.
The stables were nearly empty, save for one stall at the far end where I found Alistair tending to a black thoroughbred, sprawled on straw, barely clinging to consciousness.
"She's a beauty, isn't she?" Alistair remarked, not lifting his gaze from her.
"Aye, but she's in a bad way."
Alistair nodded solemnly. "She's been like this for some time.”
"You should've woke me.”
"Wouldn't have changed a thing." Alistair paused in his brushing of the horse’s mane and rested his hand upon her flank, following the rhythm of her strained breaths.
"Isn't it me duty to tend to her?"
Alistair withdrew his hand and straightened up, his eyes bluer than ever. "No, it's not." And just then, the horse's breathing stopped. "Come along, Doctor."
Alistair guided me through the grand house, down echoing halls, and into a room adorned with portraits aplenty. He paused in the center of the room and asked, "Any of these faces look familiar?" I scoured the walls until I stumbled upon a particular painting, a sight that nearly shook me to the core. In that frame, a woman and a young lass gazed back at me, bearing an eerie resemblance to my own Mary and our sweet Annie.
My blood boiled with fury, convinced that this portrait depicted my own wife and daughter. Suspicion gnawed at me, and I eyed Alistair with distrust, wondering if he was some sort of obsessed deviant. "Out with it," I demanded, my voice sharp with anger.
“No need to fret, Doctor. This painting predates your girls by quite a stretch."
"I'm not taking it, they're too alike for comfort.”
"I’m just as baffled as yourself," Alistair conceded, his words laced with sadness. "The girls in the painting are my dear wife and daughter. Both passed away some time ago."
I stood silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize." My gaze returned to the portraits before scanning the room again, my eyes catching on something odd. "Don't you have any photographs of them?"
Alistair let out a weary sigh and turned to me. "I'm afraid not," he confessed. "They passed before photographs were even a notion."
A puzzled chuckle broke from my lips. "Surely not. Cameras have been about for a hundred years," I countered, shaking my head in disbelief.
Alistair fixed me with a steady gaze, betraying no hint of doubt or error. "So it be," he affirmed with quiet certainty.
Apart from Alistair's piercing blue eyes, other features seemed to have taken on a newfound radiance. His skin possessed a youthful glow, his hair appeared fuller, and his jawline more defined. Alistair, it seemed, had undergone a remarkable rejuvenation, growing younger right before my eyes.
“Pardon me asking, but in which year were you born, Mister Stonemoor?”
Alistair smirked and made his way to a sizable wooden desk and lowered himself onto a chair. "Are you a man of faith, Doctor Kerrigan?”
Assuming this to be a roundabout approach, I responded, "Aye, I've a healthy fear of the Almighty."
Alistair rummaged through a drawer and withdrew a hefty leather-bound tome, causing a cloud of dust to rise as he placed it upon his desk. Flipping it open, he motioned for me to approach. Amongst the sea of words, atop the first page, was a title:
The Knights Templar.
What Alistair divulged to me was a tale so fantastical, it surpassed any yarn I'd ever heard spun. He claimed to have once been among the legendary Knights Templar, embroiled in the Crusades and journeying across continents in pursuit of sacred relics and hidden truths.
But as history tells, the Templars met a grim fate, condemned by their own church and hunted to extinction. Yet, Alistair was no mere casualty of that bloody chapter. He was a survivor, lurking in the very woods where Stonemoor Manor now stood, clutching to the shadows with a treasure in hand.
Amongst the spoils of his clandestine escapades was a fabled emerald tablet, etched with secrets believed to bridge the mortal realm with the divine. Alistair, having purloined the tablet and sought refuge in the forest, claimed to have communed with the Almighty himself. And in that sacred dialogue, he made a plea, and it was granted.
Thus, his years became as boundless as his desires.
As his narrative drew to a close, Alistair closed the book and beckoned me to follow him back to the stables. Stunned into silence after what I’d just heard, I trailed behind him as we retraced our steps to the very spot where we had witnessed the horse's demise. And once we arrived, still, my tongue lay dormant as I beheld the miraculous sight before me: the once lifeless creature now stood vibrant and strong.
Finally, a solitary word escaped my lips, a gasp of incredulity as I uttered, "How?"
"The Lord bestowed upon me a gift," Alistair confessed, his voice weighted with solemnity. "But it came at a cost. In death, I find life. With each soul I take, I grow younger."
The transformation in Alistair's appearance now made sense, yet it did little to quell my lingering doubts about the resurrection of the horse. "But why is the horse alive, then?" I pressed, seeking further clarification.
In response, Alistair simply glanced past me, nodding toward a figure looming in the shadows. Turning, my eyes fell upon Fergus, his form now even more weathered, his countenance more gaunt and gray. He looked to have aged another decade.
Alistair spoke as I stood in awe, elucidating, "With death, I am rejuvenated, yet with life, Fergus withers further. I take and I gain, while he gives and he loses. Our blessing is also our curse.”
Fergus looked on with weary eyes and sagging shoulders. "There was a portrait earlier that escaped your notice, Doctor," Alistair interjected. "It was the portrait of my son... Fergus Stonemoor."
To be continued…

Definitely not financial advice.
As the title suggests this is pure speculation, but it keeps popping up and I’ve seen others posting about it.
Couldn’t GameStop buy the entire issue of a cellar boxed book store stock and then have a large stake in them and contribute to a turnaround or incorporation of the two businesses?
I don’t want to get too hype on any one idea though, because I don’t want to be let down. I mean what if they spent it on acquiring a stationary bike company and found a way to incorporate gaming 🤣😂
I mean, what if RCEO and LC while searching for acquisition targets decided to look through basically the SHF’s dumpster of cellar box co’s for gold. RVEO has hinted many times he knows something deeper about failing businesses in America. A lot of times these companies are gutted and remade to be more profitable for someone in some way. It happens all the time.
What if they found a way to incorporate special shares and warrants or rights that tie the value of two companies together through a special preferred share issued in tandem and create a tethering effect for some basket stocks while simultaneously demolishing some greedy naked shorts? Couldn’t this have been part of the plan with towel stock, why would we think that plan would just change? Maybe he was just waiting for the right company with the right board in this position to say yes? I think some of the board of towel stock may have been on board and it might have been a tough call to go another way.
This is purely speculation but the ideas I have swirling around make me keep shouting to myself, what’s in the box RCEO, what’s in the box?
The longer we wait the more crazy ideas I have to think about. I’m losing sleep.
What if he bought BTC, it rallied recently on some clear pump. That would be a hedge for their large cash position dying due to inflation which has worried me
I definitely don’t know where this is going but it has me hooked.
Anyone’s else have any ideas on where this money went?!?! Just post em here and maybe seeing them all will spark some other ideas.

So this is just a rant about a fanfic I just read and felt the need to share with the internet, I won't title it or name where it comes from but if you know then tell me your thoughts about it.
There's something about this story I hate so much it made me cry. The story is meant to be like a Fix-It, you know, time travel allows the main character to go back in time and do things differently with some new knowledge about how things turn out. So the story already has a heavy focus on saving the souls of like two people. The sister who is cursed and is currently dying, she's part of the focus but she's not really the focus, the focus is the brother who dives into dark magic in order to save her. The problem with this story is how much this plot actually doesn't matter until it suddenly crammed into the last chapter, making it one of the longest in the story and also sloppy. The story otherwise is filled with fluff and the main character knowingly and yet unknowingly, somehow, flirting with three different guys one of them being the brother, let's call him Boy A, the other being his best friend, Boy B, and then a third, Boy C. It's full of the MC getting her friend group together, full of companionship and kindness, with very little actual substance in the story besides a few noteworthy moments. These are fix it moments when you change the outcome of what originally happened with no real difference because it's not given any correct amount of care. This story is so unnecessary long because it's full of fluff moments that the plot, which ultimately could have fit in one story, because it's 300,000 words, is being split into a second. I get that this is partly a romance story but that's actually one of the issues because it's a romance story and yet it's very obviously that Boy A is the focus, that flirting with Boys B and C is useless drama. I say useless because in the back end of the story she admits she doesn't know what romance is. So now I really feel like I've wasted my time because she admits she doesn't know what romance is and doesn't have any romantic feelings for anyone.
So on top of this useless love square she has created with herself in the middle, the author still found a way to mistreat the character and plot she had neglected at the end. Returning to Boy A, not only does she keep things from him and lie to him often about the things she knows about him or the things she knows about his sister's condition, she even lies about who causes her condition because the MC just doesn't trust him at all. There comes a point when he starts to go on his own way to solve his sister's curse because at this point no one's giving him anything to work on and this is his original path anyway. So because she's just been wasting her time having fun and oh so flirty moments, the boy continues to the point in which he starts to research in dark magic because literally no one's given him anything to save his sister with and she's currently deteriorating right in front of his eyes and they expect him to wait for something that is clearly not there. But the worst part is that this actually does change from the original story. Instead of grabbing his friends and going on this dark path together, he takes it alone and they follow after him only to then blame him when they catch up. He even tells them that he didn't want to get them in danger that's why he chose to do it alone, he would at this point rather harm himself over the MC. And yet she still guilt trips the guy who at this point she had already mentioned is emotionally damaged and slowly losing his mind. The failure of this narrative to have any sympathy for a character it already knows is emotionally compromised literally hurts my brain because that means to me that sympathy is dictated by the MC and no other character in this narrative is going to, at any point, argue against her actions. Not only because every other male character that isn't specifically tied down to another female character loves her but because the only other guy in the situation is his best friend and he has also fallen for the MC. In fact, his love for MC overcomes his understanding of his best friend. There is a weak patch job for their friendship , but as I have mentioned its weak but they love MC more than their friendship.
So yeah I've come away from this realizing I have indeed read 300,000 words of a Mary Sue character wasting her time doing fluff with characters that are interesting but unnecessary and stringing along three different guys while ignoring the actual plot. So yeah, a waste of time.

Would a sorting mechanism for IQ in the job market elicit better outcomes for the country? I think the answer is an obvious 'yes'.
I think filtering people up the chain via an IQ test would vastly improve efficiency and progress in the country multi-folds. There are so many intelligent people who, for whatever reason, opt-out or bide their time with inane things. If given the opportunity I'm sure many would gladly take up the opportunity to work a more technical role.
Some may say this is shallow and unfair to those who put in their time. I'm sorry, but brighter people affect change better in more powerful roles.
This is one reason I wasn't totally against the WEF and their plans for the world. They had a system in mind of doling out jobs and partitioning society based on competency. There was an acknowledgement that many people who end up in positions of authority get there via aggression, smooth-talking, or family ties. They don't make the best decisions and squander the potential of the company affecting thousands around them.
What do you guys think? If you were playing a strategy video game the answer would be obvious. We could just bypass IQ tests altogether and do fMRI scans for grey matter. Barring anyone with personality disorders, drug abuse, or laziness I think we need people with bigger brains in higher positions and it should be systematic. Relying on the free market only gets us part of the way there.

I planted this guy in the fall of 2022. I picked it up at a local tree drive, and it was roughly 2’ tall. It was staked originally, and I removed it after planting. When I pulled the stake out, I noticed it had a pretty dramatic curve. It’s grown about two feet, and seems to be doing really well. I actually love the way it looks, and I don’t mind if it isn’t straight and uniform. I figured it would correct over time, but it seems content to grow sideways for now. I was curious to see if this could lead to any structural issues down the road. Someone advised me to try and bend it into form with a series of stakes and ties, but I feel like that would just stress it out. I’m hoping that it will do well in time without needing any drastic corrective action. I’m going to clear out some grass underneath and put down a light layer of mulch this weekend, so I can grab anything needed at the hardware store. Let me know if you have any suggestions, and I appreciate your time.

*UNRELATED BUT RE:JINXING IT: it dont be silly (says the guy who hasnt shaved in multiple weeks now lmfao but thats more a camaraderie tradition thing with the team/my brothers) but WE in NY should know better than anyone even the Pres Trophy 'curse' doesnt effect us (the last 3 we got to the FINAL the last time, got knocked out in game 7 of the ECF by Tampa when they were in dynasty mode, annnnd won the cup in 94, the year we won the PT, plus this year worst case another ECF loss....
*TO THE MAIN POINT(S)* ill keep em brief cuz im sure u get the idea and also have opinions of your own but lets try and respect eachother as fellow humans but right now moreso AS FELLOW RANGERS!
THE REASONS IF UR JUST HERE FOR THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF IT:
1.) Igor > Bob - i know these are the two only ELITE goalies left though Oett is playing really well but not on this level...these guys can steal series but i lean Igor cuz A.) theres a reason we got Quick as a backup after he literally played in LAST YRS playoffs lol, to rest Igor for long series/posteason, the longer it goes the more that edge can help - also looking at their playoff numbers Igor's got most covered (i dont really put much into GAA and more into SAVE % as a former minor goalie cuz if u have great defense etc it helps but save % is just how well YOU did against ON GOAL SHOTS aka goals if ur not there (and also 'big chance' bob and igor are abotu tied but Bob also hasnt faced a team as offensively talented as the rangers (atleast right now the way the playoffs are goin, not that FLA is a slouch)
2.)Special Teams, they made the diff in CAR a few times, and CAR was meant to be top 3 at PP AND PK...well as we know it duidnt go that way for their ST's and not only are we scoring SH goals keeping teams wary but going into this series our PP is 31.4% and FLA's PK is 22.1% - thats gonna give 3 or 4 goals on avg against any goalie/games at this level facing a PP as clinical as NY (personally i do worry it could be worse as Fox looks to be playing injured and sturggles to pivot as well/agility so being our top 'QB' on the PP could be an issue)
3.) LIneup - again its hard to seperate these teams but i STILL think we have a slight edge in all 3, OFF (they're more top heavy, we get scoring up and down the lineup - ALSO we have teh 'good' problem of picking Rempe for more physical, Blake Wheeler is back AND Chytils at full health, obv cold but i trust Lav cuz he earned it and also he sees way more than we do behind the scenes. - Point is say Mika or Panarin have a garbage game/series or dont show up theres on fire Laff AND Trocheck, very solid Roslovic and i doubt Mika AND Bread dissapear at the same time but theres one player OBV not mentioned for a reason...Kreider.
As Kreider has adjusted his game to being a deflecting netfront presence vs the 'speed power' in his earlier game but (legacy game aside aka the #RalieghRallyNattyHatty lol) but the point is over the last 5 years EVERYONE knows thats his game and he still leads the league in tip ins...its the fact they CANT STOP HIM from doing something thats generating goals and if they DO put enough effort into stopping him itll leave more time and space for others...
****BONUS REASON***** this effects everyone AND strategically cuz u get 2 periods vs 1 of the 'short switch' and as the home team in a poss game 7 not only is IGOour record at MSG inane but that building will be exploding...its been proven many times refs tend to favor home teams likely due to subsciouscious pressure from the crowd (like giving a 'bs makeup call' which many former refs admit is common) but also as the home team THEY have to put their lines out first so we can 'react' instead of putting out a physical 4th line only to see them put their big guns out etc
*I know this isnt all like, shockingly insightful but just antsy so thought id see what yall think or if yall knew this info too or agreed/disagree?d

I feel like fixing my financial health is one of the last big hurdles I need to accomplish before I will start feeling like I am okay with the setbacks and limitations of living with bipolar disorder for the first 12 years of my adult life prior to achieving medical success. I have so much shame. There was financial control and abuse between my parents and one of my traits from growing up in an abusive home is an extreme need for independence regarding survival essentials. Money. Living away from them. Perfectionism and overworking.
I make a good salary in the low 6 figures. My boyfriend wants to move in together. He makes a little more than me but he’s been making this type of a salary the entire time and is in a really good spot financially. I need to talk with him and I just don’t know how to do it right now.
There’s so much shame tied to my debt. I was in law school when I had my first debilitating manic episode and then it all made sense. I was at the part of law school where you finally have enough time and knowledge to start making money part time during school. My plan for the entirety of law school was to work as much as I could to put myself in a good position to graduate on good footing. I was completely unable to work for the entire time from the manic episode a month before my second to last year through the time until I took the bar exam.
At the time, I had a mild amount of credit card debt. A few thousand dollars. I did what I felt I needed to do to get by without needing to rely on my father to get by.
Instead of working that year I started almost 3 years of medication trials and instability. Even hypomania is debilitating as an attorney because it destroys my ability to concentrate and keep an even keel.
But most of all, antipsychotics were continually pushed on me and the physical side effects were debilitating. I slept for 12 hours a day and gained 40 pounds. I couldn’t regulate my body temperature on some of them. Once my beach umbrella blew away and I was literally too slow to grab it and stop it from hitting another persons tent.
I relied on student loans and on credit cards for my third year and it got bad. My first job paid low but was worth the career experience for a year. My brother was sick with cancer, I was studying for the bar, I paid for bar prep, I was in an abusive relationship where I was pressured into paying for everything and where he got me to even pay for his laptop repair claiming that my car stepped on it and broke it. I was so broken down from the med side effects that life was just happening and I tired to get through each day with minimal damage. My parents didn’t believe I was sick and this guy took care of me literally when I was disabled. Except that it was in a manipulative way way. He accidentally exposed my cat to lily toxins and I had to pay $2500 at the vet, he didn’t help with a penny. I couldn’t let the cat go, he saved my life more than once.
My debt got worse. I consolidated and my parents helped me with a loan, but it still got worse when my pay was low. I had a lot of medial expenses. Therapy. Psychologist. IOP. Prescriptions @latuda $86 to poison myself. I also had a nasty colorectal condition that was very upsetting and painful and required surgery.
I was struggling daily with wanting to be alive and debt was a minimal concern. I said ok it won’t be so bad when I make $150K this is temporary. I was still trying to work at a mental capacity that had changed after having a severe manic episode and realizing I can’t just grind my way into success because I’m limited.
I moved away and got a job with better pay. I’m trying, but this is so hard. I still owe my parents money and they can’t forgive it for me because they have their own debt. My mom took it in for me on a 0% card.
My credit score says it’s about a 665-675. I have a lot of debt but a good payment history. I just need help. I need advice to talk to him. I need encouragement.
I’m having such a bad day. My city’s local university is hosting an encampment protest demanding the school “terminate” their Jewish student center because the organization is affiliated with Israel and incorporating “there is only one solution” into marches that have come past my office window at a volume that could be heard anywhere in my office suite.
I am heartbroken and so triggered over this. Apart from the Jewish stuff, the Hitler reference is very triggering for me as a person with a mental health disability because I’m really freaked outabout the recent embrace of physician assisted suicide for mental health. I don’t trust psychiatrists to have my best interest in mind nor do I trust us when we are sick to be rational about a choice like that.
I have an assignment due to a partner who has all but said he thinks I am incompetent and am in anxiety paralysis about it. I’m in doom panic mode thinking about everything that is wrong.
I feel like I want my finances to be private but I don’t want to keep secrets from my boyfriend. I would save $1000/month if I moved in with him. He would save $750. I’m ready for that commitment and he is too but I feel like I need to be transparent before we make such a big step.
Pls help pls advise. Crying in the tub rn 🛀

BF(34) and I(F28) having issue.
We both live in the US. He's born in Bulgaria and all of his family still lives there. He helps his family a lot financially, especially his parents and his older sister (whom he sees as a second mom almost). Whenever they need anything.. (which is often) they call him and he always comes through. (I should mention, all the money he sends to his family is gifted. It is money that he is not expecting in return AT ALL.)
About two weeks ago, he was telling me about how his sister is going through a lot and blah blah blah, I knew where the conversation was going: she needs money. But to my surprise, he was telling me about how he didn't really want to help her this time because a.) she needed a substantial amount (around $2,000 and b.) it was money she needed because her husband had gotten himself tied up in a mess. My bf felt her husband should handle it himself.
So, I agreed 100% with how he was feeling my only question was, "how are you gonna tell her since she kinda expects your help?" He says he'll think of something.
So, yesterday, I find out through messages (written and audio) between them that he told her the reason he couldn't send her the money is because I took the money to buy a car. And so he/we are broke right now. He said things like, "yeah, I don't think it's right, but it's done now." I could also tell that his sister wasn't even buying it.
So, my issue is that I thought what he did was so disrespectful. Instead of saying "I simply can't help you right now, I can't afford it." He threw me under the bus. He made me look bad by saying I did something I would never do (basically stealing). They don't know me, for all they know I could be the type of person to do that. I would never do that to him. Even if he did something shitty.. I wouldn't necessarily run to tell my family because I want them to think highly of him. Much less would I make up something about him.
Anyway, he says I'm exaggerating, but I really don't think so. I can almost say this has made me lose respect for him, and that's what's truly killing me.
What is the best way to proceed?
Also, I wasn't snooping in the traditional sense. I was messaging his sister through his phone and he was sitting next to me. I just happened to scroll up.
Thanks
TL:DR ; BF made up lie about me to save face with his family. And I'm not sure if I am blowing the situation out of proportion.

The idea I had was give a daily bonus stratagem that is tied to the personal order of the day
For example, today is ‘kill 100 enemies using the Gatling Sentry’ so I think it’d be dope if they gave us the Gatling sentry as a 5th/4th stratagem
Would allow for more fun mixing and matching builds to fit the bonus stratagem, and I couldn’t really see any downsides to it, as even with the 500 kg being available as a bonus stratagem a couple days ago, it didn’t really make missions infinitely easier, just more fun
It’d also allow new players to have the chance to complete every personal order, as I’d imagine sometimes a new player might not have the stratagem that’s required unlocked
Finally, it adds relevance to personal orders for the people who are maxed on medals, so they don’t feel quite so empty getting that 0 medal reward haha
For the personal orders that are ‘kill specific enemy type’, it makes sense to not give a bonus stratagem, as it lets people experiment with different ways to prioritize said enemy type
Let me know what y’all think, and if you see any issues that could come up with this idea

Hello, I've been struggling long term and I think it is anxiety. The best way I can describe it is constant dread that I've messed things up. On top of that I have this like low level anger that seems tied to fear. I usually have this bad feeling like- it's just a bad day- almost every day.
When I mess up I get very anxious and it's coupled often times with being irritable. I don't yell and scream or do anything violent, I just get sort of seething and make angry remarks like, "I'll take care of it"
"I said I'll take care of it!" .
I often say the wrong thing that way then ruminate about it, sometimes for days.
I'm sick and tired of acting like this and feeling like this. I would love any suggestions that have helped other posters.

16-minute read.

pro-West party leader says they met PM Pashinyan and discussed a referendum to solidify Armenia's shift to EU

KHZMALYAN (European Party of Armenia): The referendum is our suggestion and demand. We presented it to Pashinyan and expect a response within a reasonable timeframe. We advised making a public statement soon. A referendum would also make Pashinyan's job easier by allowing the people's will to decide Armenia's direction.
REPORTER: How did Pashinyan respond?
KHZMALYAN: He suggested the meeting be held in a closed format so I can't reveal all details. We hope that our voice, our offer, our demand, was heard. If we do not receive a positive response, we will take measures by employing the same methods currently used by anti-European forces [the ongoing protests led by pro-Russian ex-regime]. We will take to the streets and demand a referendum for Eurointegration if necessary.
REPORTER: How long are you ready to wait before taking action?
KHZMALYAN: A few months. Georgia will hold parliamentary elections in October, and Moldova will hold a similar Eurointegration referendum - also in October. The U.S. will hold presidential elections in November which will be important for Armenia's future. Even if the worst scenario unfolds in all three countries, Armenia must stand firm and not take a step back. Armenia could become the leader in democracy in all of Eastern Europe if you consider the situation in Georgia, Hungary, and Slovakia [pro-Russia populist leader]. Armenia could receive an unprecedented level of assistance from Europe under those circumstances.
REPORTER: Did Pashinyan say he plans to leave CSTO?
KHZMALYAN: We did not demand specific dates but we urged him to complete all these processes this year, preferably by November.
REPORTER: Did Pashinyan agree?
KHZMALYAN: The participants of the meeting are under the impression that we were able to present convincing arguments but time will show what actions he takes. The government functions very poorly but nevertheless, they are doing something, they are taking steps.
REPORTER: On May 9, Bagrat Galstanyan gave Pashinyan 1 hour to resign but it's May 21 and he is still here. Why wasn't the opposition able to remove him?
KHZMALYAN: The 3 former presidents and their surrogate forces, backed by 30 years of power, were unable to bring forward a figurehead, a single ideology, that could win the hearts of the people. They used various political technologies, they switched between black and white robes, and they extended the 1 hour to 7 days, but none of that helped because the Armenian people hate them more than they hate Nikol Pashinyan.
REPORTER: You used to be a lot harsher on Pashinyan but something appears to have changed in your tone after your recent meeting with him. What is the reason?
KHZMALYAN: We were able to present our demands and the timelines to accomplish them. Unlike the archbishop and the former regimes surrounding him, we did not give "one hour" for Pashinyan to accept our demands; we did not make ultimatums. We believe the current government is carrying out and will carry out the will of the people to overcome the status of a Russian colony and join the ranks of free nations. We did and do see steps [taken by the government] towards this; we cannot ignore this. We saw the Strassbourg, but also Moscow. We saw the [April 5 meeting in] Brussels, but also [the recent meeting between FMs in] Almaty. We are told this is an attempt to "balance" and we understand where they are coming from, but our factions speak on behalf of over 60% of Armenians who view Russia's policies as deadly for Armenia. We expect concrete actions and we have formed a platform to continue this work; there will be petitions and other actions from us. We are ready to assist Pashinyan, who may be constrained due to ongoing negotiations, by being the public voice and saying the things he cannot say. We will continue to work, to pressure, to influence, to demand. Our meetings also continue abroad. We will press on until we reach our goal - the Eurointegration of Armenia. //
Several prominent Western-oriented political parties recently formed an alliance to promote Armenia's Eurointegration.
video,

Pashinyan appoints a ruling party member as a deputy head of the newly formed Foreign Intelligence Service - the Armenian "CIA"

After the 2020 war, Pashinyan said Armenia will need a modern intel agency to gather information and analyze foreign threats, while the NSS -- described as historically a "pro-Russian" agency by many -- will focus on internal matters.
source,

Pashinyan met the deputy head of the United States CIA to discuss bilateral, international, and regional issues

A delegation led by David Cohen is in Yerevan. Cohen also met NatSec Armen Grigoryan.
source, source,

Armenia's Investigative Committee chief hosted U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

Qyaramyan and Yoder discussed bilateral cooperation, the recent retraining for Armenian agents and technical assistance, cooperation between law enforcement agencies of Armenia and the United States, anti-narcotrafficking, and the fight against gender-based violence.
Yoder also met Armenia's Interior Minister Ghazaryan to discuss the ongoing police reforms and formation of new divisions, the fight against narco-trafficking, technical assistance for rescuers, and retraining courses. Yoder emphasized effective cooperation, noting that the achievements within the framework of sectorial reforms are exceptional. The US wants to expand the agenda of cooperation.
source, source,

Armenian army officers continue to take part in NATO exercises titled Regex 2024 held in Moldova

GOOGLE TRANSLATE: The exercise is organized with the support of the NATO Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy, and aims to train the military according to Western standards for planning and conducting exercises, crisis management, strengthening and assessing the level of interoperability of forces in a multinational environment.
We remind you that the exercise "Regex 2024" consists of several workshops during the current year. The first workshop took place between February 16 and March 1, and the second between 22 − April 26, 2024. //
source, source,

NATO and Armenia strengthen cooperation in defense education

Armenia's defense ministry representatives recently visited NATO headquarters to discuss NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP) for Armenia.
NATO: The DEEP programme is an excellent tool to support Armenian military education system reforms and strengthen the country’s cooperation with NATO.
ARMENIA: With the support of DEEP experts we implemented major changes in all levels of our educational curriculum at Military Academy, starting from cadets up to the most senior levels. It helped us to establish cooperation with many international partner institutions.
source,

Armenia is an emerging destination for UK and global investors: Armenia's Ambassador to London Business Matters

👔 Armenia is committed to building a knowledge-based, export-oriented, and inclusive economy.
👔 Armenia is diversifying its growing economy with pioneering sectors, creating ample investment opportunities.
👔 Armenia’s investment legislation grants equal treatment to foreign investors
👔 There are no restrictions on remittances and repatriation of profits, free exchange of foreign currencies and no limitations on staff recruitment
👔 The country’s favorable business climate and ‘open-door’ policy is also reflected in international reputable rankings where Armenia is ranked one of the highest in the region.
👔 Although Armenia has a relatively modest internal market, it offers different models of economic cooperation and serves as a gateway to major world markets
👔 Armenia has maintained a high level of cooperation with the EU through CEPA
👔 Armenia and UK will soon have a CEPA-like agreement
full article, source,

Turkey modernizes an Azerbaijani Su-25ML jet with guided bombs and Teber missiles

It uses KGK laser guidance for missiles and increases the reach to 110 km.
source,

Pashinyan's Chief of Staff hosted the French Ambassador to discuss defense, economy, infrastructure, and humanitarian topics

... also the upcoming events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Charles Aznavour.
source,

Parliament Speakers of Armenia and Ukraine discuss the situation in the South Caucasus and Ukraine

source,

Q&A with ruling party MP Vahagn Alexanyan about the ongoing protests led by pro-Russian opposition

REPORTER: You continue to criticize the "holy movement"...
ALEXANYAN: The what now?
REPORTER: ... the "holy movement", by calling it a "pagan" movement. What is the ruling party's stance and do you discuss this internally?
ALEXANYAN: Of course we do, although I don't think Kocharyan's decision to name this movement "holy" is helping them. It's comical.
REPORTER: Do you have proof that Bagrat srbazan is [tied with Kocharyan]?
ALEXANYAN: Bagrat Galstanyan is surrounded by the entire political team of Robert Koharyan, he was a member of Kocharyan's 2022 protests and gave similar speeches he gives today, he received a praise from Russian propagandists, and he was named by a Russian propagandist Aram Gabrielyanov as a potential candidate for a new protest movement just a few months prior to these events, so it's beyond reasonable doubt that Bagrat Galstanyan is part of Kocharyan's team.
REPORTER: You were earlier accusing Galstanyan of being a Russian agent, and now Kocharyan's agent?
ALEXANYAN: Same thing.
REPORTER: The opposition gathered many thousands of supporters on May 9. What does the size of the crowd indicate?
ALEXANYAN: It was similar to Kocharyan's final rally before the 2021 elections. And?
REPORTER: The opposition created a video of "Pashinyan's lies" and broken promises. Will you respond?
ALEXANYAN: The clip itself is a lie and manipulation. For example, one of the supposed lies was Pashinyan's promise of an amnesty for overdue fines and penalties. You are a journalist, you tell me, was there an amnesty or not?
REPORTER: Pashinyan had also said that POWs could wait "just a few more months" and that he wouldn't "sacrifice Armenia's sovereignty" in exchange for bringing them back sooner. Why aren't they back?
ALEXANYAN: Dozens of POWs returned home in December, and efforts continue to bring back the rest. Literally 1-2 days before the POWs' return, the opposition claimed that the POWs were "forgotten" by the government. "Ոչ մի բան չեք անում:"
REPORTER: What about the Nagorno-Karabakh leadership?
ALEXANYAN: There are efforts to return them as well.
REPORTER: Why did the police form a wall to block entry to village Kirants [for nonresidents]?
ALEXANYAN: I think the NSS said they had to take action to prevent interference with the border work. From what I can tell, the protest leader himself went there yesterday and returned only 15 minutes later so there wasn't a big desire to stay there apparently.
REPORTER: They plan to hold a big rally on May 26 where they might nominate Bagrat srbazan as the PM's candidate to replace Pashinyan.
ALEXANYAN: Why not go straight for [alleged narco baron] Mihran Poghosyan [who publicly praised the protests]?
REPORTER: There appears to be a consensus around Bagrat srbazan after a meeting between several forces.
ALEXANYAN: Consensus minus one, where "minus one" is the people. Or to be more precise, "minus two", because the Constitution also prohibits Bagrat from serving as a prime minister. Congratulations on an initiative that's dead on arrival. It's absurd. They suggested replacing the Constitution to allow a dual citizen to serve as PM. Okay... To get Canadian citizenship you have to take an oath to serve the best interests of Canada. To allow dual citizens to serve as PM in Armenia we have to accept for the PM to have loyalty towards another state. The alternative is for the candidate [Bagrat] to admit that his word [oath to Canada] wasn't worth a dime. Երևի մատերը խաչ արած ա երդվել։
REPORTER: But don't you think you are manipulating because Galstanyan received Canadian citizenship just to be able to serve in the church in Canada? He didn't go there to live or conduct business.
ALEXANYAN: It doesn't matter why he went to Canada. He is a citizen of Canada and took an oath. Even religious leaders with dual citizenship cannot become prime ministers. I don't have an issue with him being a dual citizen, but it limits his office options. He still hasn't renounced his Canadian citizenship even after all these talks about a possible nomination.
REPORTER: Galstanyan said he is ready to renounce it as soon as there is a need for it.
ALEXANYAN: In other words, he seeks "guarantees" that he will be the candidate in order to renounce it?
full,source, source,

opposition churchman Bagrat Galstanyan demands the Armenian government compensate the damage done to the church during USSR and "return" the properties "legally belonging" to the church

This was said as a response to the critics of the church leadership who accused the church of turning into a political party and suggested taxing the church like a business.
BAGRAT: We have 19th-century churches that were forcefully confiscated and turned into ruins. The properties of the Armenian church must be returned to the church. The area of Moscow Cinema belongs to the church, half of the Katoghike Church was demolished and belongs to the church, and part of the items in Matenadaran were taken away from the church. Instead of threatening us with taxes, they must think about how they plan to return our properties, fully renovated and ready for service.
source,

the church is actually paying taxes but they do have some exemptions

The church paid $1 million in income taxes last year.
There are tax exemptions to import certain goods deemed for charity. They also don't pay property tax, and taxes on income generated from the sales of ceremonial accessories. The latter two are the frequent targets of church critics.
source,

Armenia's Constitutional Court has a vacant seat. Pro-Russian opposition criticizes Pashinyan's ruling party for favoring a "George Soros-linked" judge who worked for U.S. State Department.

A Serj-era judge is leaving the Constitutional Court after receiving a job offer elsewhere so one seat is vacant. It is the judiciary's turn to nominate a CC judge, so hundreds of judges recently held a meeting and voted for Judge Balayan as their candidate. Balayan's father was a CC judge during Kocharyan's tenure. He was accused in the Wikileaks report of having inappropriate deals with President Kocharyan. Pashinyan's ruling party did not vote to approve Balayan. This led to a second gathering of hundreds of judges where they voted to nominate Judge Khachaturyan as their candidate. The parliament summoned him for Q&A on Tuesday.
SPEAKER: We invite the representative of the judiciary to present their nominee for CC.
JUDICIARY REP: 267 judges voted. Judge Davit Khachaturyan, a member of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, won the majority votes.
2000-2005: [blah blah blah]
2003-2006: Legislative Assistance Project Manager at Southern Caucasus Anti-Drug (SCAD) Program, sponsored by European Union and implemented by United Nations Development Program
2006: Program Assistant at U.S. Embassy in Armenia, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
2007-2013: U.S. Embassy in Armenia, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Legal Specialist
2014: Academy of Justice of the Republic of Armenian-Russian, Vice-Rector and Lecturer
2015-2016: Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, Program “Strengthening Health Care and Human Rights Protection in Prisons in Armenia”, Legal Expert
2016: EU project “Development and Strategic Studies”, Expert on Judiciary and Human Rights field reforms
2015-2017: EU project “ENP Progress Reports and Assessment Reports on Armenia´s Compliance with GSP+ obligations”. Expert on Rule of Law/Justice.
2013–2020: Law Faculty of Yerevan State University. Lecturer. Development and teaching of courses for the Master Program: “European Standards for the human rights protection in criminal proceedings”, and “Professional Skills of a Lawyer”
etc.
OPPOSITION MP: The ruling faction earlier chose not to confirm the appointment of Judge Davit Balayan; they obviously prefer Davit Khachaturyan. Can you explain why you didn't mention that Khachaturyan served on the board of directors and later as the president of the board at George Soros's Armenia-based Open Society Foundations? How will this record impact his work at CC?
JUDICIARY REP: I presented parts of his professional activities available on the court's public platforms. You can ask the candidate directly.
OPPOSITION MP: The Soros Foundation publicly listed him as a member so I don't understand why it's being hidden now. In your opinion, how will his work at the Soros Foundation affect his impartiality?
JUDICIARY REP: The majority of judges chose him and it's up to Parliament whether to confirm or reject.
RULING MP: Was the voting held in a closed session or can you see how each judge voted?
JUDICIARY REP: It's a closed format. My duty here is to present the candidate. [basically, leave me alone I'm just doing my job]
RULING MP: Why not make the court voting and internal discussions more transparent for the public to see so we will have fewer conspiracy theories on why one judge was preferred over the other?
JUDICIARY REP: I share the view that it needs to be as public as possible but the majority of judges voted to keep the session closed to the press.
RULING MP: Just because the discussions and the vote were behind closed doors that doesn't mean it was anti-democratic, but still, it's better to publicize the process. We hope to see a change in this approach.
JUDICIARY REP: The ballot casting will always be secret and I think that's the right approach in order to allow judges to express themselves without constraints, but I agree that the discussions and speeches should be public. Either way whatever we discuss behind closed doors always reaches the press so in practice there isn't really a major transparency issue there.
CANDIDATE KHACHATURYAN: First, every part of my biography has always been public and part of public discussions. Second, I have always voted in favor of making internal discussions open to the press; it's the best way to avoid incorrect assumptions. Full speech here.
OPPOSITION MP: Congratulations. The ruling party intends to approve your candidacy just as they voted for you in the past for other positions. In all of those instances, you didn't mention your work at the Сорос Foundation. Now, a very interesting coincidence [drumroll... are you guys ready for this bombshell?], during the same time while you worked at Сорос foundation, in 2006-2013, you were also a U.S. Embassy employee [got 'em]. //
Nikol Pashinyan has resigned.
Tavush stretches all the way to Russia.
Bagrat srbazan becomes the Supreme Leader of Historical Soil & Water and the Generalissimos of Slow-Melting Candles... and of course removes the speed cameras from highways.
OPPOSITION MP (continues): With this biography, how do we know you are not an agent of foreign influence?
CANDIDATE KHACHATURYAN: I was not an "employee" at the Soros Foundations. Other famous figures have served on the Board [mentions a famous doctor]. Everyone who was part of the Board had duties but it was not really an "employment". As for my simultaneous work with the U.S. Justice Department, there was no conflict with my membership or presidency at the Board because the latter was fully a public activity and we were only given a symbolic sum to compensate for our expenses; we are talking about less than $100/mo. I will let you be the judge regarding an agent of influence. There is a lot that's missing from my biography that was read here [lists some boring constitutional research work, etc.].
OPPOSITION MP: You keep being "promoted" by the ruling party without having the chance to finish your terms. The longest job you've ever held was at the Сорос Foundation - 8 years. The brother of the head of the Anti-Corruption Committee, who is about to join the CC, cannot be impartial. Again, what guarantees can you present that you are not a [Western] agent?
CANDIDATE KHACHATURYAN: Your expectation for guarantees stems from the assumption that the [Open Society Foundations] were engaged in activities other than the ones they were actually engaged in. I won't present any "guarantees" because there is no "threat" to begin with. As I've said, that part of my biography has always been discussed publicly and the activities were public and covered by the press.
RULING MP: In your speech you spoke about the judiciary in the U.S. and brought examples. The U.S. doesn't have a Constitutional Court. Don't you think we should also merge the Constitutional and [Cassations Court] with the upcoming referendum to have one Supreme Court with corresponding chambers?
CANDIDATE KHACHATURYAN: I support having one unified body like in the U.S., or clarifying the duties to prevent each body from interfering with the other. Lengthy answer.
OPPOSITION MP: A person [in Kirants] received permission [from USSR] to build a house and live in it. Then the [Armenian] government told him there was a mistake [after the clarification of borders]. Some 50 years after this incident, what would your verdict be in this case?
CANDIDATE KHACHATURYAN: I understand the context. This issue is the task of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and we cannot interfere in each other's institutions. I assume there will be a peace agreement eventually that will be sent to the Constitutional Court for examination, therefore I will refrain from making prejudgments now in order to be allowed to take part in future processes.
full video, source, source,

anti-corruption: Armenian authorities conclude that luxury Dubai property belonging to former regime MP's relative was not obtained illegally by him therefore will not be seized as part of an asset forfeiture case

Mher Sedrakyan (Tokhmakhi Mher) is a Serj-era MP whose family is going through an asset forfeiture case worth ֏7.5 billion ($19.3 million) that includes 22 real estate properties, cars, and company shares registered under his name and the names of immediate family members.
Additionally, investigative journalists recently found a luxury property in Dubai registered under the ex-MP's relative. Authorities have concluded that he is not the true ownebeneficiary of this Dubai apartment, therefore it won't be seized.
source,

the army concludes exercises for commanders

Context in May 14 news digest. The defense ministry says they have noted improvements and deficiencies and will take steps to correct them.
source,

Defense Minister Papikyan visited the frontlines and the newly built fortifications: PHOTO

The army continues to dig, asphalt, and build.
source,

Armenia's Foreign Minister met the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency during an international forum

ROSSI: Effective cooperation has been established between Armenia and the IAEA. We discussed several issues on the bilateral agenda, oncology and radiation medicine, safety, and reliable operation of the Armenian NPP.
MIRZOYAN: We plan to extend the lifespan of Metsamor NPP until 2036 while exploring new opportunities.
source,

Armenian lawyers went on strike on Tuesday to protest a bill that would move them from a turnover tax-based system to a VAT-based taxation

Context on the gray economy and why the government wants to gradually abolish the turnover tax system in May 2 news digest.
A group of lawyers said on Tuesday that their 5% turnover tax [for annual turnover under ֏119M] will become 10% this year, and in 2025 they will be required to switch to a 20% VAT/18% profit tax. The cost of legal services for many clients could increase by over 38%, they warned.
The Ombudsman and the Justice Ministry reportedly oppose this bill by the Finance Ministry.
source, source, source, source,

video shows the new payment terminals in Yerevan subway station

They plan to replace all gates next month. The Soviet-era tokens (zheton) are being replaced with QR codes, an app, and later - bank cards.
All stations will have payment terminals to purchase QR tickets. It prints out a paper with QR. Telcell's app lets you buy a ticket and instantly get a QR on the phone's screen.
Seniors who can't use "high-tech" can approach the token sellers and get a QR paper instead of a token.
video,

Yerevan will host an exhibition on Charles Aznavour’s 100th anniversary

Hundreds of rare artifacts will present the life and legacy of the legendary artist.
Location: National Museum-Institute of Architecture
Date: May 22-July 22
source,

Germany wants to purchase an Armenian man

Dortmund Borussia is interested in the services of Armenian national Edward Spertsyan as a replacement for departing Marco Reus.
During this season, midfielder Spertsyan has played 32 matches, scored 11 goals, and made 7 assists. His ass is worth €18 million.
source,

I'm making this post kind of as a reaction to Bad Batch S3 and Tales of the Empire. I feel like there are a few blanks that could get filled in in a new show before the next live-action movie or Ahsoka S2. If I got my way, this is what that potential show or Tales of the Empire S2 could look like, or at least a few things I would want to see.
Potential spoilers for Bad Batch, Ahsoka, Heir to the Empire
Episode 1: ~32 BBY: Reveal that Sifo-Dyas was never actually killed, but Palpatine instead brought him to Tantiss to perform force-sensitive cloning experiments. Tying into BB, show the doctors at Tantiss having success when running experiments using Sifo-Dyas' and Omega's samples together.
Episode 2: ~10 BBY: Introduce the Emperor's Hands as a counterpart to Vader's Inquisitors. Also introduce a young Mara Jade and show her recruitment by Palpatine.
Episode 3: ~6 BBY: Show Mara on a mission with Vader or an Inquisitor. After the mission, she is in Palpatine's office as he calls in Thrawn to promote him to Grand Admiral.
Episode 4: ~4 ABY: Show what happens to Mara Jade during and after the battle of Endor, as she makes her way into working for a smuggling ring on Myrkr. (A Pellaeon cameo at Endor would be appreciated here.)
Episode 5: ~10 ABY: Picking up at the end of Ahsoka S1, Thrawn is doing whatever he needed to do on Dathomir. Maybe also have a first space battle with the New Republic.
Episode 6: ~11 ABY: Thrawn journeys to Myrkr, where he harvests Ysalamiri. Cut to Tantiss, where we see the Chimaera in orbit above the derelict base. An Imperial shuttle descends, and Thrawn and captains Enoch and Pellaeon step out. They are greeted by a man in Jedi robes, who introduces himself as Master Sifo-Dyaas (note the spelling).
I definitely borrowed a lot from Heir to the Empire, but I feel like this would be a great way to tie in a bunch of different shows with the Legends continuity and set up future content. Let me know your guys' thoughts and what you want to see before we return to the Filoniverse. Thanks!

About a month ago my ex (29m) broke up with me (26f) after 4 years in the worst possible way. The night before we said goodbye and he texted me that he would be at a show. Next thing you know he doesn’t come home and disappeared for 20+ hours. When I finally get a hold of him after thinking he was dead he texted me "I think we should break up". I was livid and called him screaming to face me because he is a coward. When he did come back home he reeked of booze and couldn’t stop crying saying things weren’t lining up for us and he was falling out of love. We cried and he left to stay at his friends place and he said I love you. A few days pass and I have this nagging feeling there is someone else. He comes back home, I beg him to work things out and he is closed off and still very emotional. We do this a few times until one night he comes over and we get into a big fight because I know he likes someone else, one thing leads to another and we end up having sex and he tells me after that he cheated on me the night before he broke up with me. He also confesses that he is falling in love with her and that she knows about me and that we live together etc.
For a little context, a few months before he ended things he started heavily drinking everyday, partying and basically stopped communicating with me. He was overwhelmed and kept spreading himself thin. He thought that breaking up with me with bring him some sense of relief but it didn’t. He is still full of guilt and he keeps saying he wants to make things right with me and wants me in his life forever and be my creative partner and collaborate in the future. He says that he still loves me but "not like that" or when I ask him if he still has romantic feelings for me he says "not right now". I am moving out in a week but I still want to make it work despite him dating someone else. He is the avoidant type so I know he is using her in part to numb the pain. They do drugs together (cocaine/molly) and knowing him he is love bombing her. I can’t see a relationship based on betrayal becoming genuine.
I understand how toxic this is but he tells me things that give me hope. We talked the other day about our issues and they were all resolvable if he would have just opened up more. He says he is sorry and I think he is realizing that he made errors too. He keeps saying that he wants to be friends and when I mentioned that he cant have her and me as a friend he started crying. He says that maybe we can be together in the future. I dont know what to do, we still sleep in the same bed sometimes, we can still hangout a bit but my heart aches because he still goes to her. I am becoming seriously ill tying to figure him out and I need help. Is he manipulating me? Or is he genuinely confused?

About a month ago my ex (29m) broke up with me (26f) after 4 years in the worst possible way. The night before we said goodbye and he texted me that he would be at a show. Next thing you know he doesn’t come home and disappeared for 20+ hours. When I finally get a hold of him after thinking he was dead he texted me "I think we should break up". I was livid and called him screaming to face me because he is a coward. When he did come back home he reeked of booze and couldn’t stop crying saying things weren’t lining up for us and he was falling out of love. We cried and he left to stay at his friends place and he said I love you. A few days pass and I have this nagging feeling there is someone else. He comes back home, I beg him to work things out and he is closed off and still very emotional. We do this a few times until one night he comes over and we get into a big fight because I know he likes someone else, one thing leads to another and we end up having sex and he tells me after that he cheated on me the night before he broke up with me. He also confesses that he is falling in love with her and that she knows about me and that we live together etc.
For a little context, a few months before he ended things he started heavily drinking everyday, partying and basically stopped communicating with me. He was overwhelmed and kept spreading himself thin. He thought that breaking up with me with bring him some sense of relief but it didn’t. He is still full of guilt and he keeps saying he wants to make things right with me and wants me in his life forever and be my creative partner and collaborate in the future. He says that he still loves me but "not like that" or when I ask him if he still has romantic feelings for me he says "not right now". I am moving out in a week but I still want to make it work despite him dating someone else. He is the avoidant type so I know he is using her in part to numb the pain. They do drugs together (cocaine/molly) and knowing him he is love bombing her. I can’t see a relationship based on betrayal becoming genuine.
I understand how toxic this is but he tells me things that give me hope. We talked the other day about our issues and they were all resolvable if he would have just opened up more. He says he is sorry and I think he is realizing that he made errors too. He keeps saying that he wants to be friends and when I mentioned that he cant have her and me as a friend he started crying. He says that maybe we can be together in the future. I dont know what to do, we still sleep in the same bed sometimes, we can still hangout a bit but my heart aches because he still goes to her. I am becoming seriously ill tying to figure him out and I need help. Is he manipulating me? Or is he genuinely confused?

I finally threw my bible away.
My whole life I’ve looked for religion, and I’ve been trying to chase Jesus and find a connection with him ever since I could remember. When it didn’t click, I looked into other religions, but nothing ever really seemed right (somehow I looked into Islam, but never landed on paganism!). I tried church, private ‘Sunday school’ sessions with devout Christian friends, reading and studying on my own. None of it worked. There was zero spiritual spark.
One of my biggest hang ups with christianity is the way they treat women. So I bought ‘The Women’s Bible’, in hopes that it would show me the Bible but from a more woman-friendly, woman-forward perspective. But it’s hard to do that when the source material is so misogynistic.
I found paganism November 2023, and nothing has ever felt more right. I’m still finding my way to my true path, but I finally know I’m heading in the right direction. I’ve never felt calmer, at peace, or more confident than I have since November.
I still have a Bible that a friend gifted me. I’m still interested in the study, and it was a kind gift. But getting rid of the one I bought myself, in a last ditch attempt to connect to the Christian god? It feels like a cutting the rope tied to an anchor. See ya, dead weight. See ya, guilty Christian mindset.