Part 1: https://www.reddit.com/HFY/comments/1cxj7h8/comment/l52vtd5/?context=3
*****

The Palatini of Orias journey took nine grueling days of traveling down the peaks of Torness Mountain Range. But at long last, they reached the Coralus Valley. While the temperature was far below what the half-elf usually enjoyed, it was far better than the mountain peaks.
They traveled through the valley, trying to avoid the multiple hostiles, villages, and anyone else who could tip off their enemies. They had to take every tedious path imaginable to prevent possible contact with the enemy.
Staring at their destination, Fraeya Holiadon could not decide if she should be thrilled or distorted at the sight. "Is this the place?"
"I believe so," Raegel said. "The pattern of the structures matches my drawings and the map. See the remains of the two walls?"
"And the stone rings that direct out," Henness said.
"So, you have read the legends," Raegel said, surprised by the centurion's knowledge of the temple.
"I always prepare before a mission," Henness said. "Those half rings, are they stone or artificial?"
"They look like stone, so I think they used the ground stone and molded them," Raegel said.
Fraeya Holiadon carefully stared at the temple ruins. All she could see was the destruction—fractured stone buildings, walls, weed-infested stone pavement, and so on. While there were still many stone structures, most were destroyed. She could only see death, not the walls her father could see.
She turned to ask her father what he was talking about but saw Centurion Fionntan Henness pointing toward the walls and other details.
Watching the two communicate about the features of the temple, she realized how out of depth she was. Her father spent generations studying ruins like this, while Henness is an experienced soldier. For Fraeya, this was her first mission outside the academy supervision, and she realized how different the world was compared to the classroom.
As the two spoke, her elf ears overheard Henness mention that he saw green webbing. As the two men debated what creatures could create that webbing, she already knew based on the type of webbing. Being an excellent student, she recalled the topic regarding intelligent monsters. While many species produce a web, only one creates a thick green. Goblins.
"Father," Fraeya said. "I think goblins made those webbings."
"How could you possibly know that?" Henness asked, unconvinced by the theory. "It would easily be Rorgo or a Kipt."
Fraeya reached into her backpack and pulled out her notepad. She flipped through the pages and responded, "Kipt is more silk-like, while Rorgo is more for capturing prey. Both are white. Only Goblins make green."
"She is correct," Raegel said. "The green should have been a given."
"Alright," Henness said. "That complicates things."
"How so?" Fraeya asked. "The academy said they are weak. Adventures and local militia kill them constantly, so your men should be able to wipe them out with your weaponry easily."
"Goblins are weak in small numbers, but they are a nightmare in large numbers," Henness said. "And depending on the horde, they adapt to who their enemies are quickly. For all I know, we could be fighting a nest that is as heavily armed as we are."
Fraeya looked back toward the next with much confusion. She knew about the goblin's ability to adapt. However, her teachers never stated how formal they could be. Only treating them as barbarians is a functional civilization. "I would think the academy would mention something like that."
"If you are going to be out here in the world, you must understand that life is very different from the classroom," Henness said. "The difference between someone who lives behind a desk versus someone on the ground. Now, I need to get my forces ready for our attack."
Once the centurion left, Fraeya looked at her father. "I am starting to get the impression that my schooling wasn't as truthful as I once thought."
Raegel chuckled at the statement from his daughter. "That is what I said when I left my academy in Thali'ean," he said with a short chuckle before he spoke. "Henness was correct; there is a large gap between the classroom and out here in the world."
"I see. So, now, what do we do?"
"We wait for the legionaries to form a plan. Because time is not on our side, he will want you to assist with your magic. Do you think you can assist? If you are uncomfortable, tell me now, and you can stay here where it is safe."
Feeling a nervous chill creeping down her spine, she looked back toward the temple and breathed heavily. "I admit, I am scared, but I didn't come here to babysit the camp. I want to help."
She felt her father pat her on the back, feeling a sense of pride from his touch.
"That's my daughter."
After an hour of planning, the Palatini of Orias began their assault on the temple ruins. The plan was for a primary team to assault the temple directly, triggering a response from the goblin. The second team would remain on the high ground and pick off the horde.
Fraeya ended up on the right side of the group team. To her surprise, many soldiers were thrilled that they were finally getting into a fight. She wondered, after two weeks of crawling over the mountains and hiding like rodents, they finally got a chance to be soldiers.
The primary assault group she was attached to advance toward the temple once the signal was given. Passing one of the few remaining wall structures, they entered the temple ground. As they swept through the old temple's front sections, the goblins huddled around a fire pit, noticed them, and prepared for battle.
Three legionaries known as circilmen, from the palatini positioned themselves to engage the incoming enemy. Carrying a ranged projectile weapon known as a circiletum, they hid behind the front shield men and fired upon the incoming enemy. They picked off two of the three goblins as the last one quickly crawled under a piece of rubble for cover. Then, the palatini heard a painful screech from the hiding goblin.
Fraeya couldn't help herself but stand there noticing the two fresh corpses. She then watched as two of the swordsmen rushed to the hiding goblin. They reached in and pulled the little green monster out of its hiding spot.
Two swordsmen grabbed the goblin and dragged it from its cover, it jumped on top of one of the legionaries, stabbing its blade into its armor, unable to break through. With a short struggle, the legionary could slam the goblin onto the ground. The other legionary stomped on the body before thrusting his gladius into the monster.
Hearing another screech, Fraeya looked down the stone path and saw goblins popping out of every crack and corner.
One of the legionary officers ordered the unit to reform. The swordsmen took the front with their large scutum shields, creating a two-line protective shield wall. Behind them were the circilmen, taking cover behind the scutum.
The group of goblins charged forward. As they approached, the legionaries saw the raw, starving rage within their dark green eyes—a thirst for primal instincts of food and lust and nothing else.
"Fraeya, is it?"
Hearing her name, she turned to the commanding offer of this group.
"When I give the order, shake the ground." The lower-ranking Centurian said.
Fraeya acknowledged the order as she understood what he was planning.
Turning back to the incoming horde, she watched the three circilmen open fire. The circiletums cut down the forward group of goblins. The ones behind that row suddenly stopped from the shock but were cut down by a second volley.
"Now. Before they scatter."
Fraeya placed her hands together and chanted. The two tiny mana crystals on her gloves blew green as she felt a raw energy channel through her body. A moment later, that glow expanded to the point that it encompassed her hand.
Channeling the mana needed for the spell, Fraeya placed her left hand on the ground.
The stone ground beneath them shook the stone terra, stunning the goblins. Right down the center, cracks formed, and the terra broke apart. The road slightly uplifted into an elevation, forcing the goblins to focus on what was happening.
With the ground disinformed, it prevented the enemy from scattering in an organized manner, allowing the circilmen to fire another volley.
The front scutum marched forward and started cutting down anything that moved. The other line split into two groups. They were marching down the street in an almost synchronized manner. They held their shields high toward the ruins, protecting the circilmen from any incoming projectile. Arrows and magic.
Fireballs flew and impacted the scutum infantry, protecting the flanks. Some of the shields glowed from the impact. The flames engulfed one of the men's arms, and he started to scream from the pain.
The circilmen returned fire, and a firefight began. The sound of their weapons crackled throughout the surrounding area, amplified by the ruined walls. Above the sound of battle were the voices and cries of the wounded—the circiletum that were deployed on the ridge above rained fire from the suppressive team.
The Palatini of Orias pushed deeper into the temple ground as the battle continued. That was until the town began to be consumed by this thick haze, providing cover for the goblins, and restricting visibility for the Lat forces. While not educated to the standards of civilized races, Goblins were not stupid.
"It is a haze," Fraeya said. "They must have a mage somewhere within the nest."
Centurion Fionntan Henness approached their forces and began to regroup. "Can you counter it?"
"No," Fraeya replied. "I never studied Aeromancy magic."
"Nebulo," Henness said. "Our armor and weapons will be less effective."
Fraeya understood his concern. From what she recalled from her classes; goblins have sharp senses. Based on the density of the haze, it was clear even to her that they were planning to force them to huddle and expose themselves to be surrounded, making their ranged weapons worthless.
"We will just have to work around it," Raegel said.
As Frayea prepared herself, she felt a strange feeling throughout her body, almost like some field affecting her body. She saw a female legionary in light armor and a cloak checking over the wounded. One of the few women in the legionary, she could tell she was the unit healer specializing in Sanamancy magic. The women must have placed a barrier to help protect against any poisonous gasses lying within the haze.
Orias advanced through the haze; this forced the soldiers to clump together for safety. As the assault group progressed, they were hit non-stop by the goblin's arrow fire, spears, and fire shots from sling guns. Most of these projectiles caused minor damage thanks to the heavy armor legionary’s wear. However, this did not remove the damage as it brought discomfort and limited their progression to a crawl.
Barely noticing two figures on top of a rooftop through the haze, who were firing slingshots toward their position, she pointed her hand toward a piece of rubble and, with her magic, lifted the debris and projected it through the haze. The rubble temporarily formed a gap in the haze that increased the line-of-sight.
She then called out to the fire battle mage within the unit. The mage realized what was happening and fired multiple firebolts toward the tower. Five bolts impacted the building from different directions, engulfing the structure in flames. Everyone could hear the faint sound of goblins screaming as the building burnt.
With the tower collapsing suddenly, arrows rained through the thick haze, hitting the legionaries in retaliation. While most arrows bounced off the armor, some found exposed spots. Two more legionaries fell to their knees, with one vomiting blood, forcing the healed to focus on the sick over protecting the group.
It became clear that the goblins changed their tactics and poisoned their arrows. While worthless against armor, they could still puncture the underneath clothing and scrap any exposed part of the skin.
A luperca legionnaire picked up an old broken wagon and used it as a shield to protect. With the cover, the lower ranking commanders directed the circilmen to pick off any goblins that peaked above the surface.
Combined with the haze and change of tactic, this formed a strange stalemate between the two sides. The Orias was forced into a defensive; they were well equipped to deal with any goblins who dared to get within melee range. However, the goblins had surrounded and had the range advance as they could see through the haze, allowing them to snipe any legionary who adventured far from the group.
Fraeya saw a blob of acid impact a swordsmen's scutum. The scutum started being consumed by the spell, slowly falling into pieces. The man screamed as he felt his arm burn, desperately untieing the strappings to ditch the heavy shield.
"We need to kill their shaman before we are picked off," Raegel said.
"I agreed," Henness replied. "As long as this haze is here, my suppressive team is useless."
"If I recall," Fraeya said. "A Shaman should be nearby. Someone close enough to maintain this haze and give commands but not put themselves in danger."
"Then I know where it should be," Henness said. "Let's go half-elf."
She felt her ears perk up once she realized the centurion was talking about her. She looked toward her father and saw the 'it is time to prove yourself' look. Taking a deep breath and preparing herself, she gathered behind Henness and six of his men.
The assault unit left the main one and adventurer deeper into the temple grounds. As they reached what remained of an intersection, goblins stormed out of the stone buildings to ambush the legionaries.
With their disciplined reaction, the legionaries immediately adjusted their formation and sliced down the attackers. Henness stood at the center, holding his sword out as flames wrapped around the blade.
As the goblins attacked the swordsmen, Fraeya broke apart the ground on the right flank, knocking many goblins. The one that fell, she entangled them by summoning vines - which trapped the goblins and pulled them into the ground until their death or burial.
She then turned and lifted parts of the ground on the left flank, blocking some of the goblins. This prevented the legionaries from being encircled.
"Reform," Henness ordered. "We need to advance quickly. Stay close."
Once the path was clear, the unit moved toward the building where the goblins had fortified. Henness moved in front of her to provide protection. He held up his shield, deflecting arrows.
"Stay behind me," Henness said.
While not being a military woman, Fraeya quickly learned to accept the chain of command on this quest. On the battlefield, her father told her to listen to Henness as he was a man of war. She realized that the structure and safety of the city and the academy are vastly different in the countryside. Getting behind him, she followed him close behind as he pushed forward, arrows striking his shield, allowing her to get in range for her spell.
The legionaries stopped engaging the incoming goblins, allowing their centurion and the young mage to get closer. Henness reached around his scutum and pressed the amulet attached to the outer shell's center. Once pressed, the large shield briefly glowed before darkening, returning to the standard red with white lining design.
Up ahead, Fraeya saw in full display of the nest. Spikes, fortification, and green webbing filled the gaps between the ruined structures. Skeletons and decomposing bodies littered the areas of their past victims. The goblins were standing in the bunker sections, preparing for battle. With how heavily guarded it was, she concluded that this must be where the Shaman was.
"Fraeya, now!"
Fraeya moved around the man to cast her spell. With a quick chant, her hands glowed green again. As she channeled her mana, an acid attack impacted Henness' scutum. While the added hardening enchantment from the amulet increased the scutum resistance, the acid slowly ate through the large shield.
Stepping from cover, Fraeya aimed her hands at the nest. The ground trembled a little as the front of the nest collapsed on itself from the summoned sinkhole.
With the front entrance open, Fraeya saw the Shaman in plain view—a female, being one of the few within a goblin nest. The Shama looked scared as she looked around where to hide.
Fraeya did not give it time as she cast a spell that created a spike from the ground below the Shaman and pierced straight through the vicious monster, killing it instantly.
As the Shaman staff hit the ground, the haze started to disappear.
Believing that her work was complete after killing the goblin leader, her ears quickly heard footsteps surrounding them.
Noticing that the goblins were about to swarm their position, she took cover behind Henness to protect his rear. She took a deep breath as she felt exhausted from the battle and cast so many spells quickly.
Starting at five goblins that emerged from the ruins, Fraeya watched as they charged toward them. Before they got close, however, each one was sniped from the ridge-side suppressive team.
With a moment of confusion, she stared toward the cliffside and saw the suppressive team. Now that the haze is disappearing, they could snipe off the remaining goblins from their elevation position.
"Good job, half-elf," Henness said, slowly stepping back with a shield aimed at the flames, guiding Fraeya back.
"Stop calling me half-elf," Fraeya yelled. "I am out here risking my life with the rest of you, and don't give me that war is a male-domain thing! I am willing to see this through. Most of my kind would stay home and let you fight, so why do you keep degrading me?"
"Because ideals get people killed," Fionntan Henness replied. "Out here, you must earn that respect within the brotherhood of warriors, especially if you are used to living inside the city walls. People with a self-protected mindset usually end up as food for the worms or get my soldiers killed because they do not understand what it takes to survive."
The centurion then turned to the destroyed nest. "I will say, though, what you did here. It is a good first step for a half-elf." He then turned to give her an approving smile.
Not understanding the humor from the Lat, Fraeya accepted it. From her experience, Lats always had a strange sense of humor. Insults are sometimes seen as compliments while praising could be considered offensive. Saying one thing but meaning another is a common trait for them.
With the remaining palatini coming after clearing the remaining goblins, Fraeya saw her father. She rushed over and hugged him and teared up.
"You did good, my dear," Raegel said as he patted her.
"Is this really what it is like out here?" Fraeya asked.
"Sadly, it is," Fraeya replied. "That is why I never brought you around on my digs."
"I am sorry to interrupt," Henness said. "We are on borrowed time, so can we get at it?"
Fraeya looked toward the centurion with frustration as she wanted a moment with her father. After taking a deep breath, she realized that he was right.
After finishing her hug, she brushed off the goblin's blood and clothing.
"Then we better begin searching for what we came for," Raegel said as he reached for his bag. She watched as he pulled out a perfectly smoothed, pure black orb. By itself, it didn't look impressive. She had seen hundreds of these orbs at the academy or the many workshops within the city.
Raegel held the orb in one hand and activated it with his mana. The orb glowed light blue and fainted, barely emitting any energy. He then took it against the mountain and began scanning.
Not wanting to miss anything, Fraeya quickly pulled out her journal, skipping past all her notes until she reached a blank page. She then began documenting everything her father did, taking in every world and detail.
The palatini began walking through the ruins, heading toward the mountain wall. Raegel explained in his research that the temple extended inside the mountain, like a dwarf borrian. While others who came before him came up with this theory, they were still looking for a way to detect the hidden door markings and find it.
Raegel moved down the side of the mountain, holding the orb high.
"Why are you not using a door-detecting amulet?" Fraeya asked.
"Because people have been using that for generations and found nothing here," Raegel replied.
After a reasonable amount of time when nothing had happened, Fraeya began to wonder if everything was for nothing. Seeing the lack of progress, Henness inquired if the orb failed to work. As Raegel replied, the orb suddenly blimped orange for a moment.
Witnessing the sudden change, the group backed away as they did not know how to respond to the sudden glow.
Noticing a renewed excitement from her father, she followed him closely as they investigated the mountainside.
As they searched, her father noticed that the faint blue glow from the orb had changed to orange. It then disappeared and slowly appeared, like it was slowly pulsing. When they continued walking forward, the pulsing light increased in speed.
"I think it is directing us, father," Fraeya said.
"Possible," Raegel said. "There must be some type of link."
The palatini followed the direction the orb gave. As the group approached a mountainside wall, the pulse frequency increased until it looked like the orb glowed a solid color.
"I think we found it," Raegel said. He lifted the orb toward the wall.
As the orb drew closer to the mountainside, these blue lines appeared all over the rocky wall. The rough chips of rock melted away and turned smooth as the light traveled through the grooves, slowly creating what looked like a giant door of light.
Once the bright lights finished designing a massive door, Fraeya placed her hand on the wall, shocked at how the natural bulky rocks turned into a marble-like wall.
"I would step aside, Fraeya," Raegel said.
As Fraeya stepped backward, she watched her father open the door with a magical spell. Like most magical doors, the door brightened as she expected it would fold into the mountain. To her surprise, the door didn't fold away but melted into the ground.
"What happened to the door?" Fraeya asked.
Raegal placed his hand on his chin. "It seemed that the wall was not solid but some liquid matter. These people are impressive."
The wall began to shake as dusk from the cracks spread through the area.
A large opening formed as the door walls folded into the mountainside. A passage leading deeper into the mountain. The walls were black and smooth, while the floor had these textiles in perfect order, leading deeper into the mountain.
"This has to be a dwarven design," Fraeya commented. "Only they could do something like this."
"I'm not sure," Raegel said. "This is not a design I have seen from dwarves."
Fraeya understood what her father meant. Dwarven doors into the mountains took a lot of work to find. While there were many designs of such hidden doors and the means to open them, it was doubtful that anyone had ever seen a secret magical door like this before.
Raegel started to walk into the chamber but was suddenly stopped by Henness. Stating that he wanted his men to go first to ensure no trap, three legionaries moved through the large chamber. Once they gave the clear, the rest of the group entered.
While walking, Fraeya stayed close to her father as she took notes. The soldiers ahead of them set up torches to add more light. To her surprise, the walls and floor were smooth. The air was stale, probably trapped within this chamber for centuries.
As they walked inside, the room lit up. Everyone stopped as they looked toward the end of the hall. The chamber was empty, with only a strange-looking platform at the very end. Noticing that the orb was pointing toward the platform, they approached it.
"Is this it?" Henness asked. "It does not look that impressive."
"Not everything is based on size, centurion," Raegel replied, to which his daughter giggled.
Fraeya then analyzed the platform. It was smooth, almost marble-like. However, she doubted whether it was marble. The fundamental details that she noticed were a strange-looking blue crystal at the center of the platform and another in a hole on the side.
"This is interesting," Fraeya commented. The design looked surprisingly simple. This orb must act as some command orb for this device. They must be communicating in some manner."
"Assuming that the legend was true, the orcs were the ones who summoned the lats from Altaerrie," Fraeya said. "Maybe, when this place was lost of that time, it was never turned off. Being left in a state of slumber, waiting to be reawakened."
"Possible. It would explain why the orb directed us here. The orange pulse is now pointing down at a rapid pace."
"I think it goes into that hole, father," Fraeya said. "From what I can tell, the crystal in there connects to the one on top of the platform."
"I see," Raegel said. "The pulse is pointing toward it too. I recommend that everyone step back."
"Be careful, father," Fraeya said.
Stepping back from the platform, Fraeya watched as her father placed the orb into the hole. This was the moment her father had been talking about for decades, and it had finally come true. The Bridge between two worlds had finally been discovered.
As Raegel placed the orb into the platform, it glowed orange in a solid state, no longer pulsing. The blue crystal in the middle of the platform slowly lit up, like it was waking up after a long sleep.
The air suddenly chilled as the air flowed toward the platform. A bright light beamed out of the crystal and slowly faded away, leaving a light as if on standby.
To their dismay, the orb changed to red, dimming and brightening in a slow, tired pattern.
"What is it doing, father?" Fraeya asked.
"I have no idea," Raegel replied. "It must be waiting for something."

48f 5'7" 120 pounds
T1D
Meds: buspirone, zoloft, adderall, dexilant, insulin, rosuvastatin
Been having ruq pain, constipation, and diarrhea. Serious cramping at times. Biggest complaint it's that pain in the right side, i have been constantly adjusting my posture and sleep position so my back is now always hurting too. Happening since March
Fecal Elastase was <50
Gall bladder removed last year
Today was my endoscopy
Before the procedure? The doctor was like : oh your a1c is too high, that's probably causing all your symptoms"
My last A1C was 6.6 and it has been between 6.3 and 6.8 for the last 15 years, which is when i was diagnosed
After the procedure they said i had a hiatal hernia and fluid in my stomach, likely pointing to gastroparesis
They will likely schedule a gastric emptying if insurance will cover it but that will likely take several months
They took some samples to biopsy
I was told to eat small low fiber meals and see you in September for a follow up
My sister has had a hernia strangulation and almost lost part of her bowel so i am a little concerned they seem to be doing nothing about this. Is this something they're going to be watching? Do hernias get bigger? Constipation and hernia is no good right? I get backed up pretty easily, always have, and low fiber seems like that'll make that worse?
(Older colonoscopy showed a sharp right turn in a part of my lower colon, and yes that is where it often hurts when things aren't moving bc it doesn't get around the corner as well i guess)
He also didn't like that i was on Dexilant and wants to move me to otc famotidine after a month, which doesn't touch the GERD at all. Says Dexilant has too many side effects
I have tried famotidine, omeprazole, pantaprozale
Dexilant is the only one that works. Believe me, this shit is expensive, if otc pepcid worked Id be ALL over it
I understand being hesitant for hernia surgery, surgery is a big deal and if it can be managed medically, great
But i would like to know what, if anything, is going to happen going forward. Do i get an egd every year or something to watch it? Does this explain the upper right quadrant pain? I asked about the enzymes from the Fecal test and he just said"take them if you want"??
And if anyone could clarify what problems Dexilant could cause that'd be very helpful too Thank you.

chapters 1&2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
chapter 6
chapter 7
chapter 8
chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
The lecture was supposed to be on Rationality 101, apparently not for Newcomers only. Serene was there to have her back but G was having a hard time focusing.
The boring black uniform more fitting for a hotel receptionist defaced the godlike beauty standing in front of a huge screen. Gentry couldn’t believe her eyes: this was the man she had her hands on a little while ago?
No, it couldn’t be.
It had been just an avatar, too perfect in its unblemished visage, too pure for this world. Yet the man whose face she remembered as if it was etched on the back of her eyelids, who she’d been constantly thinking about, who her hands itched to snatch, was standing right there, in the flesh.
Back in the dreamy simulated world she caught herself thinking that a trim waist like this couldn’t anatomically work on a human, yet here he was: a towering spread of fit shoulders perfectly balanced above the flexible whip of his midsection. The light-grey eyes that betrayed every movement of his pupils were as real as the ones that reflected the mock moon during her test. Below them lay the sharp slope of the cheekbones one could cut themselves on.
The only thing a bit different, apart from the outfit choice, was the young god’s hair. In the simulation, it was flowing and probably too long to be practical. This person’s mane was much shorter and fell down his neck in a neat ponytail, tastefully tamed with a single hairpin.
She had to get her hands on this treasure.
He was making last minute preparations for the lecture, looking through the papers on the desk, dark strands framing his face, light grey eyes sharp in careful concentration.
Professor Q, huh.
He said this was his name, and so did the note on the lecture hall door.
She was sure it was the man who had melted in her arms making the most delicious sounds a male throat could produce.
Had he recognised her?
Unlikely.
At the time of the simulation session, she didn’t have a camera that could pick up her facial features but just to be on the safe side, she decided to go by “G” in his class. There were bound to be lots of people with a name starting with a G, right? What would be the odds it was this particular newcomer that Q had tested that would end up in his class?
The man finally lifted his eyes at the audience and a gentle smile momentarily graced his features before disappearing as if he didn’t see someone he’d expected to.
The holoboard on the wall behind him obediently lit up following his nonchalant gesture. Gentry found it annoying that one needed a pair of special glasses to see all the augmented reality stuff and really navigate the city but again, with Sereen’s help she had more or less gotten used to it in the couple of days she had to deal with the necessities like settling down, getting food and finding her way around Ashtapada.
Still, could they use a piece of chalk or, at least, a marker to write on the board? No need to show off your Fully Automated Luxury Space Communism tech just to write a couple of notes on the board!
On second thought, high-tech-crazy or not, if this city brought up men like this one, she would definitely do her best to stay here to… reap the benefits!
They took a desk next to a huge clear floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the winter garden.
“Professor Q seems a little distracted today,” Sereen said, swiftly tapping a couple of buttons on G’s wrist to show her how to confirm that she was attending the lecture. “He’s usually much more chatty and friendly. I wonder what got into him.”
“Is he?” Gentry responded with an artificial air of indifference. “I just hope he’s more open to a discussion than that Poe guy.”
“He is! And Professor Poe isn’t that bad,” Sereen reprimanded before chuckling a little — since his little secret became known to students, he became known as Holopoe. “Just wait and see, it’s gonna be a blast. Q’s lectures are always very engaging.”
It proved to be utter bullshit.
After fiddling with the symbols on the interactive screen for ten minutes into the class, students getting more and more agitated behind his back, the lecturer seemed to give up. Turning back to the audience, he absentmindedly nodded to a couple of people in the lecture hall and sighed with a painfully fake smile.
“For today’s class, we are going to need to read a certain extract from a book,” he said, tone apologetic for some reason, but it solidified G’s conviction that she already knew this person. “I’ve just sent it to each of your wristcomms. We’ll have some quiet time and read it by ourselves, alright?”
“Reading from the comm?” Sereen mumbled to herself. “Couldn’t he just print them out?”
The rest of the students’ grumbles showed that they shared her disappointment. Q could only hopelessly smile again before returning to his work on the board.
Reading from the little semi-transparent screens was indeed torture. Quickly giving up on trying to awkwardly use gestures for scrolling through the text, she looked out of the window to entertain herself with the garden outside. From the modest height they were sitting at, the people below were quite discernible, partly hidden by the greenery, spread here and there in small groups and pairs. Gentry longed to be there, too. What was the use of being here with the most attractive person in the whole world if the only thing she could see was his back?
Well, the back didn’t look half bad, if she was honest, and what was below also pleased the eye.
But still. It would soon bore even the most easily entertained.
Her gaze fell to a small clearing where a lone male figure was sitting, writing something in a notebook. By the looks of it, the notebook was a real paper-made thing without the bells and whistles usual for Ashtapada. The next thing G noticed was a pair of slender legs, barefoot, stretched to dip the toes into the clear water of the artificial stream.
God bless the urban designers of this place!
The figure lifted the head and in an inconceivably graceful motion, swung the long blond bangs away from the face.
G straightened her back. Was it... Ok, maybe Q was the most handsome man she’d seen in her life but this... This was the younger boy she’d noticed a couple of days back, the one in a plaid skirt, shamelessly flirting with everyone within reach. Today, he wasn’t wearing one but the blue jeans hugging his thighs, rolled up almost to the knees, presented a picture just as tantalizing. Even with the hair was a completely different colour, even though the half-up, half-down style kept his face hidden, she was absolutely certain it was the same person.
Just you wait, young beauty, as soon as this “lecture” was over, your princess in shining armour was coming to pick you up!
Suddenly snapping out of the dull weariness, she turned on the auglasses S helped her obtain earlier and tapped away on her comm screen.
What a chance to give the local text sharing feature a go!
“The garden is pretty, but with a blossom like you, it is truly breathtaking. I wonder if anyone has picked this sweet flower or if anyone dares to,” she typed a cheesy note and folded the message into a neat 3D figurine of an origami paper crane with her fingers in the air.
Was S watching? Screw it, even if she was, she couldn’t read the message with her glasses off, right?
Carefully aiming the device at the lone figure, she launched the crane downwards, and it fluttered like a weightless butterfly in spirals, through the glass and right into the young man’s lap, not disturbing the notebook pages. He started at first at the intrusion but then turned his own glasses on and unfolded the message. A shy smile appeared on his plump lips, and he looked flattered, turning his head around to see if the sender was in sight. Catching no one, he typed something below the initial message and deftly folded it back into a crane that, to G’s surprise, flew directly at her, in uneven spirals along the wall. The man traced it with a smile, propping himself back on his arms, his whole slim body and face on full display now.
God, was he good-looking.
Easily passing the physical border of the glass again, the crane crashed into Gentry’s wristcomm, dutifully delivering the message and betraying her tactical position at the same time. An amused kind of surprise showed on the young man’s face and he waved at her to show that she had been exposed. She waved back, trying to look nonchalant but probably failing miserably.
Very smooth, G, way to go.
The message read, “Is a flower only good for looking at? Not this one.”
Oooh, this boy was playing with fire!
“Hey, G,” Sereen nudged. “Have you finished reading?”
“Mm? Oh, yeah.” Gentry lied easily. She had skimmed the first couple of paragraphs and was sure she’d be able to come up with something if asked.
“Done everybody?” the deep gentle voice called from the holoboard and G’s attention snapped back to the dignified face.
The class murmured affirmatively.
“I’m sorry today’s lecture isn’t as fun as usual,” he admitted. “I must say I’m still unsure how to approach such complex topic as this one. But with your help, I hope we’ll figure it out.”
Everyone seemed to perk up.
“You just read an extract on paradoxes,” Q went on. “And you might be wondering why we are raising a philosophical topic on a rational thinking course.”
“There you go,” Sereen whispered. “He’s back to normal!”
G humphed. This did seem interesting. Was it a good idea to read the extract after all?
Q continued, “In the text, you might have encountered the definition of a paradox. Would anyone explain it with their own words?”
A raised hand and the lecturer’s nod brought some courageous soul to their feet.
“It’s when you start with the correct premises, use consistent logic but wind up with an impossible conclusion,” they said. “There are three types: falsidical, veridical and antimony-type, which are...”
“Correct,” Q smiled and nodded the person back down. It was a smile worth starting a thousand wars over.
“Now there’s a reason why I asked you to read about them. Why do you think people have been fascinated with paradoxes for such a long time?”
S raised her hand and received a kind invitation.
“I might be wrong,” she said. “But it seems that they point at the limitations of our thinking, things that seem rational but in fact aren’t. We feel that with our all-conquering logic we can solve any puzzle but it’s not always the case. Right?”
“This is very insightful,” the teacher confirmed. “It is believed by many that what’s rational is true and therefore what rationality cannot explain must be false.”
“I definitely know someone who would die on that hill,” Gentry grumbled under her breath.
“I’m sorry?” Q asked. “Is there something you wanted to add... sorry, I don’t know your name?”
Still half mad with professor Poe, Gentry stood up. “It’s G, I’m a Newcomer. I was saying how a human mind can fool itself into thinking it knows what it looks at as long as it makes sense. But in reality, it’s not there, like the sky.”
That was the only thing she remembered from that last lecture! She felt the tips of her ears heat up but the kind and considering look on Q’s face showed her gamble paid off.
“These are very insightful observations, G, why don’t we try exploring them together?” — he waived her to sit down and turned back to the class — “Five minutes to discuss how paradoxes might reveal the weaknesses of rational thinking. Send your answers to the board when you’re done.”
“Whoa, daring as usual,” Sereen smiled. “I knew you’d enjoy his class.”
“Now, consider these two questions,” Q said to another student who stood up at his hand wave. “If an unstoppable force meets an indestructible object, what is going to happen?”
The person seemed to contemplate it for a while and the teacher didn’t rush him.
“Isn’t it one of those which are impossible to solve because the existence of the one automatically disproves the existence of the other?”
Q nodded, “Correct. The second one about the barber in a small town is of the same sort. Sereen?”
S stood up too, “The one that shaves all and only men that don’t shave themselves?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “At first, a premise like this seems perfectly reasonable, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” S responded, somewhat rashly. “But it’s clear that a barber like this cannot exist.”
“Wait, really?” Gentry whispered as Q nodded in satisfaction and urged her friend to go on.
“Yes, if we ask ourselves if this barber shaves himself. If he doesn’t, then he is part of the group which he does shave that do not shave themselves, but if he is in this group, then he does shave himself which makes it impossible for him to be this barber by definition.”
While the rest of the class was catching up with the logic, Q’s smile got only wider, more inviting.
“What does it tell us about the nature of the premise then?” he asked.
“That although it seems that it sounds logical on the surface, it is in fact nonsense and we don’t even need to hear the rest of the riddle to discard it completely,” S concluded.
The man chuckled.
“Well, I wouldn’t be that brash, to be honest, but on balance, you’re right,” he said. “If you stay after the lecture, I might recommend a couple of books on the topic. Your Newcomer friend is welcome to stay, too.”
G put up the best of the aloof fronts, “I’d be happy to, Professor.”
“Q is fine,” he smiled again and went on addressing the rest of the class that immediately exploded into a heated discussion.
***
“Basically, what I think we’re supposed to learn from this,” S concluded after a while, standing up so that everyone could hear her. “Is that before applying rationality, we have to make sure that all the premises we are dealing with are in fact realistic. Otherwise, there is no way rational thinking will help us.”
“Excellently put, as always,” Q applauded. “I’d love to see if everyone agrees or has something else to add to the discussion but our time is up. Feel free to write me a letter with your reflections on the topic.”
As interesting as the class was, the urge to leave the premises as soon as the teacher dismissed everyone seemed to be universal and applicable even to the Ashtapadans.
“I have to go now,” Sereen said. “Text you later, ok?” And with a reciprocal nod to Q, disappeared in the doors, joining the rest of the students.
Sadly, she couldn’t recall what they were talking about after the lecture, nor what titles Professor recommended for some home reading. She just hoped she didn’t make a fool of herself.
What Gentry did remember though was that after Q left as well and she came up to the panoramic window, Sereen and the mysterious flower boy were leaving the garden together. And it was hard not to notice that her new friend took off her wristcomm before they took off, and hid it in the tall grass.

It seems like there was an official policy change because we didn’t get patted down on any night, just a quick glance in the bags & metal detector pass through. Made the lines buttery smooth and kept the vibe sunnier!
Oh and the fact they let you bring water in now is such a great policy change. You can bring in ice and let it melt for hours of cool sips 😎

I’ve recently begun to buy the graphic illustrations that I read like 8+ years ago. I’ve got a few of them including some new ones I haven’t ready. I can’t remember the titles but I can remember some specific details and I’m hoping someone here knows the titles. … One graphic illustration was Cable coming back and killing X-men, like total eradication of any mutants/ superhero’s like iron man and captain America, in this one Wolverine is an old general I believe and had one of his hands cut off and it was replaced by like a single blade and in the end Cable/ multiple Cables pour acid on him completely melting him away, like every cell of his being. But the very end they end up stopping Cable and it was a younger Cable they were trying to save and future Cable sends his younger self so a foster home where he’ll be abused thus starting the cycle of his hatred and causing a loop. … The second graphic illustration (and I know this isn’t much to go on) it was Wolverine like in a berserk rage I think he had something on his head and he was just straight up slicing through people, one picture I remember was red and it was Wolverine like looking over his left shoulder with his claws out but it was like this pencil thin 2 foot long claws. … I ask because I’d like to buy what I’m looking for, not something I’m not. Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you. I’ve got: Wolverine the complete collection volume 1-4 by Jason Aaron Wolverine Old Man Logan - where he kills the Hulk gang Wolverine vs. Predator

After years of waiting, the highly anticipated Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire finally hit streaming services last week. As a huge fan of the previous Monster-Verse movies like Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, I had sky-high expectations - and I'm thrilled to report that the film exceeded every one of them. If you're wondering where to watch Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire online or how to watch it for free, read on!

🖥️CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONLINE

From the opening scene, it's clear this is a Monster-Verse movie like no other. We're thrown right into the action as Godzilla and Kong engage in a city-leveling battle royale that makes their previous clash in Godzilla vs Kong look like a schoolyard tussle. The visual effects team truly outdid themselves, bringing a visceral realism to the kaiju combat that makes you feel every thunderous blow.
But the movie is about far more than just monster mayhem. At its core is a richly developed plot that expands the Monster-Verse mythology in shocking and rewarding ways. We discover that Godzilla and Kong's rivalry is but a small part of an ages-old conflict between the Titans and a technologically-advanced human civilization bent on controlling them. Protagonists from past films return in critical roles, their actions having unpredictable and far-reaching consequences.
The human characters are also given much more depth and nuance here compared to previous Monster-Verse entries. Particular standouts are Dr. Serizawa's son (played by John Boyega in a star-making turn), who is trying to prevent an all-out war between humans and Titans, and Ilene Andrews' daughter (Tessa Thompson), now the head of Monarch and caught between the factions. Their personal journeys carry real emotional weight and provide the perfect counterbalance to the spectacular monster battles.

🖥️CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONLINE

Speaking of which, every action set piece in The New Empire delivers in spades. From Kong using a tank as a baseball bat to Godzilla taking on multiple Titans in Rome, each feels like a mini-movie in itself, crammed with holy $%*# moments and jaw-dropping visual brilliance. The finale, which I won't spoil here, has to be seen to be believed - an audacious, face-melting climax that took my breath away.
Ultimately, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the total package - an effects extravaganza, action masterpiece, and deep dive into the Monster-Verse all rolled into one. It not only lives up to the groundwork laid by previous films but expands on it in thrilling, unpredictable ways, leaving me desperate to revisit this world again. If you haven't streamed it yet, do yourself a favor and watch it immediately with that ultra-crisp 4K upgrade - this is a cinematic experience meant to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Just be prepared to pick your jaw up off the floor when it's over. You can watch Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire online on streaming services like HBO Max, or try to find ways to watch it for free on certain websites.

🖥️CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONLINE

Things I would tell you this week:
I am sorry I was not able to open up when we worked together like I can today, I see now how important this part is.
I figured out why my sleep paralysis demon is a door with light emitting from the edges, and it’s heart breaking. 💔, and I feel that sadness in my tummy and chest. I didn’t deserve that growing up. Currently though, I am very rarely having night mares.
I had the worse case of cold sweats a couple weeks ago when I restarted my attention med, it was horrible and I was so cold and so wet… and still trying to convince myself at first it was the humidity. After a few minutes I realized I am more sensitive to triggers because I had been off the med for so long. After a few days I was acclimated and doing fine.
Oh man…. This one is little more rough, those stubborn thought patterns. Recently I have been curious about my partners sexual interest because I saw a person he was following and they are a boudoir model. In his line of work this isn’t uncommon, they can be entertainers at events and clients, so I tried really hard to deal with it on my own and let it go. When we were first dating he was very elusive about what he used for aides when he was alone…. And my head took over and determined this was similar to past experiences so of course I needed pst behaviors? I had to face it last night.
So I asked ‘hey what do you like to look at’ body language and tone matter here, I was gentle and we had already covered the understanding that tools are used and ok. To which he was evasive again… took me right back to my past relationship. I was quick to tell him I could tell he was being dishonest and I had asked at the beginning of our relationship and he refused to answer and then say how it matters… it truly does matter in some cases because, for me, my ex partner was only attracted to blonde females… for 15 years everything he looked at and even the women who came in to my work asking if he treated me well were blonde, leaving me to never meet his standards.
Well when I got angry my partner got quiet and so I took that as my green light I was interpreting the situation right. I started the conversation… turned it into an argument… because I went directly back to thinking I was being lied to… I was the only one participating in this conversation/argument… and as I was talking I realized if he was capable of telling me he uses tools then I need to give him space to open up…. I let him know I just realized you were being honest and then asked again what his preference was. Took a minute but he shared and it actually made me feel better ❤️‍🩹. He likes a more natural body and that I can provide.
I did make note that he was being elusive but he is not my past partner and most people are not an open book like I am… so it was probably really intimidating to talk about.
For a second I felt extremely bad for falsely accusing him or over exaggerating my concerns… just for a second though because I gave him time to explain why he was quiet from upsetting him and acknowledged that’s ok, which means what I am worried about it ok too..
Interestingly… I had morning mental compulsions which I haven’t had for a long time now… and it was a phrase from a letter I read yesterday about ‘tossing salad’…. I fucking hate OCD… and the letter was like a train wreck, I really didn’t want to read it but I couldn’t stop reading it because the writer was so enthusiastic about this salad they wanted… and it adorable in a not so common adorable way! I was able to breath through most of it… and redirect my thinking to be mindful while working… but oh god did in interrupt my morning.
Oh and now I don’t have to feel bad for reading erotic stories! Win for me because I do enjoy them and they are the best with no guilt.
Thoughts I have been thinking: I wonder if Dairy Queen’s ice cream still has a lower melting point than Freddy’s. It’s been a few years now since I noticed and you know they pay people for that kind of research 🧐.
Still packing up all my intimate and strong attachment feelings and placing them on people who do not exist in my life but I will get there….
And it appears I working back to healthy levels of dissociation so I can do more… now that I am closing the gate to full emotional awareness, I realize this part of my disability is really handy. I am not necessarily closing the gate but I am allowing the emotional to pass quicker without being concerned if I am actually processing them.
I think I am ready to add exercise :)
I hope you guys have a great summer planned!!

Description: Your girlfriend loves you more than anything and she's in a mushy mood right now, so get ready for her to tell you all about it.
[START]
Girlfriend: "Hey darling."
Girlfriend: "You know what?"
Girlfriend: "I love you."
Sound of her kissing the listener a couple of times.
Girlfriend: "Well I'm feeling pretty mushy right now, so I hope you're prepared."
Girlfriend: "Get your lap ready."
Sound of her cuddling up on the listener's lap.
Girlfriend: "The best seat in the house."
Sound of her kissing the listener again.
Girlfriend: "I'm fortunate to have you in my life."
Girlfriend: "And even though I say it to you daily, I still feel like it'll never be enough."
Girlfriend: "But I'll never grow tired of saying it, so no complaints here."
Girlfriend: "You're amazing~"
Girlfriend: "Urgh, no, you are amazing."
Girlfriend: "That's the one part of you that I'm not in agreement with, saying you aren't literally the best thing ever? that's absolutely bullshit and you know it!"
Girlfriend: "You're art, inside and out."
Girlfriend: "But unlike art, I don't have to look at it and imagine what it would be like to have a life with you."
Girlfriend: "Instead I get to cuddle, squeeze, kiss, hold, and carry the shit out of you."
Girlfriend: "One of these days you'll see it the way I do and say out loud how perfect and hot you are."
Girlfriend: "But for now, I'll just say it for you instead."
Sound of her tracing her fingers along the listener's ears.
Girlfriend: "What? you know I can't keep my fingers from you."
Girlfriend: "And I know you like it~"
Girlfriend: "Mhm, this was all part of my plan, now you're trapped in the mush zone forever."
Girlfriend: "I love you too dear~"
Sound of her kissing the listener again.
Girlfriend: "I never thought my life would go this way, but damm am I glad it it."
Girlfriend: "Being able to spend every day with you, having people throwing me jealous looks when we go out, what's not to love?"
Girlfriend: "Oh trust me dear, you get a lot of not-so-sneaky glances when we're out and about."
Girlfriend: "But since you're such a precious bean you don't notice."
Girlfriend: "I get it though, you're hot, I mean dayum." Giggles.
Girlfriend: "Excuse me, I'm not a horndog, I'm your horndog, get it right."
Girlfriend: "No better way to get good dreams than to fall asleep to the sigh of this pretty face every night~"
Girlfriend: "And don't get me started on our showers every morning, oh my~"
Girlfriend: Laughs. "Alright, alright."
Girlfriend: "Getting back to the mushy stuff."
Girlfriend: "I don't just love the bigger, more obvious things about you."
Girlfriend: "I also love all your small quirks, the things that take a while to notice."
Girlfriend: "Like that cute thoughtful look you have when you're cooking."
Girlfriend: "Or how about the way you kiss my shoulder in your sleep whenever you're the little spoon."
Girlfriend: "It's why I prefer to be the big spoon."
Girlfriend: "Oh I have a bunch more I could list."
Girlfriend: "Sometimes you talk in your sleep."
Girlfriend: "You drink cherry soda only on Thursday."
Girlfriend: "And you're a lightning-fast reader."
Girlfriend: "The list goes on..."
Girlfriend: "No need to get shy."
Girlfriend: "Like I said, I love all of your quirks."
Girlfriend: "They're an important part of the perfect art piece you are."
She stops playing with the listener's ears.
Girlfriend: "No need to pout dear, I'll get to your ears in a moment."
Girlfriend: "But first I want a nice big squeeze."
Sound of her wrapping the listener in a tight hug.
Girlfriend: "Yeah, yeah."
Girlfriend: "You'll get your ear scratchies."
She resumes playing with the listener's ears.
Girlfriend: "So needy~"
Girlfriend: "I'm just teasing."
Girlfriend: "I'm glad you love this kind of thing, gives me an excuse to have my hands all over you~"
Girlfriend: "Nope, no plans."
Girlfriend: "Just me and you, cuddling, enjoying each other's presence."
Girlfriend: "Unless of course, you wanna cuddle in the bed instead."
Girlfriend: "Dips on being the big spoon."
Girlfriend: "Sorry, maybe next time."
Girlfriend: "You know that pout isn't very effective when you're melting into my arms."
Girlfriend: "Come on, give me a smile."
Girlfriend: "Please?"
Girlfriend: "Just one smile for little ole' me?"
Girlfriend: Giggles. "There it is."
Sound of her kissing the listener.
Girlfriend: "How was kiss 7467?"
Girlfriend: "Good answer."
Girlfriend: "Seriously though, every kiss gets better and better~"
Girlfriend: "You know what's gonna be the best kiss though?"
Girlfriend: "The one after I say I do."
Girlfriend: "And to tell you the truth?"
Girlfriend: "I think that kiss might be very soon~"
Audio slowly fades out as she talks.
Girlfriend: "Darling?"
Girlfriend: "Hello?"
Girlfriend: "Oh no, I think I broke you..."
Girlfriend: "Guess I'll have to get another one..."
Girlfriend: Laughs. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"
Girlfriend: "You're the only one for me."
[END]
Constructive Criticism is welcome, I would love to know your thoughts.
If someone wants to record this and release it on any platform, they can do so if credit and/or a link to this post are provided.
Monetization is okay with all of my scripts, no matter the platform. (This includes platforms like Patreon as well, though if I could, I'd like to listen to the recording at least once.)
If you want to make any changes to the script, please ask me first, unless I have already given you specific permission for either this or all of my scripts.
List of all of my scripts:
Part 1 - https://www.reddit.com/ASMRScriptHaven/comments/s24un1/master_list_of_my_scripts_f4a_all_are_free_to_use/
Part 2 - https://www.reddit.com/ASMRScriptHaven/comments/1777754/master_list_of_my_scripts_part_2_f4a_all_a_free/

Hello everyone!
I believe I may be biting off more than I can chew with my goal of making chocolate bars for my daughter's birthday. I want to make 10-15 bars, using a plastic mold. (It'll probably take forever with 1 mold, but I don't want to buy multiple molds for this one project)
I had the assumption that I would just melt the chocolate into the mold and pop it in the fridge. Too easy, right? Well, my curiosity got the best of me and I spent some time looking at Reddit posts and realized I'm way out of my depth lol!
Apparently, there's a specific pattern of heating done to the chocolate as it melts, that affects its consistency/taste? And I just stopped reading when I saw "temper index between 4.4 and 5.8 when tested on Sollich tempermeter", which I have no clue what that means without going down the rabbit hole for hours (thanks u/szopen_in_oz lol)
I'm trying to keep this simple and inexpensive, so-
Can I use these Merckens melting disks:
https://www.amazon.com/Merckens-Coating-Melting-Wafers-Chocolate/dp/B01N5R419X/ref=sr_1_5?crid=37DXEWZGQZJBJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bOlHfFFuVkk4zjVKDPuirMfm_O6ZXpzXKudn_MVPsXagaZlg2lc0n3_MzYrmId_LgHm5RzECHHXG3Mh3YzE0y9lMKFFIHgUFfhIZgs7XH8GTz32CZLXAFGoLgoqhkkRzel0ZBJyWR2QdjnsRhGTSwOu6D2b8aeBYSD3Sm27Cp5qnlusFmG82beq7Wrbnea8dxUE8a88HtxE-MwJ68B5w5HZGWUKUqJbkz-UzQorUmcFo9MYvVZyWyFE8KkPh5P4_1aocI8cCFLdXct7hKSuixCKYK38W9zqpoAytFzTdkjw.IX8PMm9lOvtcG2GSTTTrLdW53JvjaDzSiZSH2CS0kFY&dib_tag=se&keywords=melting%2Bchocolate&qid=1716316018&sprefix=melting%2Bchocolat%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-5&th=1
And this small melting pot:
https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Candy-Melts-Melting-Pot/dp/B00KBUGQNY/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.679ca254-fe3a-4b5e-a742-a17f009c74a4%3Aamzn1.sym.679ca254-fe3a-4b5e-a742-a17f009c74a4&crid=37DXEWZGQZJBJ&cv_ct_cx=melting%2Bchocolate&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mha8F3Y7jwb0x_VkFmonp-HGk8ok6R2jY1riXWp2PpX0MUxeS_k4FP5Tf2t099UYiyOSrIm022ae7rMevCTA6g._e9hKTUn7l-nIkL2t-yBx1o4W8fsxfIUfdz1Y1pxUxM&dib_tag=se&keywords=melting%2Bchocolate&pd_rd_i=B00KBUGQNY&pd_rd_r=e2acf171-9392-4caa-851b-653810f4ece2&pd_rd_w=UOCL4&pd_rd_wg=gKfeS&pf_rd_p=679ca254-fe3a-4b5e-a742-a17f009c74a4&pf_rd_r=0TMN4J06N8WCNQJ78K08&qid=1716316018&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=melting%2Bchocolat%2Caps%2C128&sr=1-3-364cf978-ce2a-480a-9bb0-bdb96faa0f61-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1
to get the job done? or will I need some sort of temper testethermometespecialty equipment to achieve edible results? Or should I use my stovetop? (I was shying away from stovetop because it's open flame propane)
Thanks to any advice you can offer, I have 9 days to learn the process and make these chocolates (no time like the last minute right?)

After getting my wisdom teeth removed years ago i went breserk as i came out of anesthesia. I basically came to, on my feet with a nurse on each arm trying to keep me under control as i was trying to kick at them, stomp on their feet, they were trying to put cotton packing back in my sockets and i was biting at their fingers like i was trying to take it off, spitting blood at them and on the floor. I was apparently yelling/screaming inarticulately right up until someone had my mom come to the door of the room and I immediately settled down where they then brought me to a room with a bed table thing to "sober up" while I laid down.
The weird thing is I'm not an aggressive person, even when I drink I'm an I love you drunk or a why is life hard I'm sad drunk. No matter how deep into a full blackout I got. I'm normally a rather obsequious person, ill throw away face at the drop of a hat to avoid conflict. My dad when he was put on morphine for an actively bursting appendix was getting belligerent and shitty with the doctors. He's usually a very chill guy just with a smart mouth but he was telling them to go fuck themselves and that if they weren't coercing him he would get second opinions, that he was going to report them for medical malpractice etc. We both have adhd, we both take adderall for it. Is there a common trait among people that get violent after anesthesia? Is it a common thing? Are doctors warned that people may get violent when coming to for no reason?
My big question is, if I need surgery in the future, what should I tell doctors and at what stage should I warn them so they can note it in my file that they may need extra people on hand if I get squirrely on them in the time between my body becoming active and me being conscious and back in the drivers seat. Or, is it likely a one off thing unlikely to repeat itself?

hey! okay so i don’t know if this is the right place to put this but i just need an outsiders take on this situation. it’s going to be a long one, so thank you in advance haha.
i’m (f22) from ontario but i go to school in a different province. i’ve been talking to this guy (m23) for a while. he’s from ontario too. we have been talking on and off since may 2023. we went on a few dates, and then we ended things in august when i moved back to my school province because neither of us wanted to do the distance thing. we’re both super busy - he’s a grad student, i’m a double major, and now we’re in separate provinces. he reached out to me at the end of august to say happy birthday. then we started talking again. i saw him when i went home for reading week. then he ghosted. i grieved that loss and started to move on, and then he came back again and apologized and explained his side (i don’t want to get into it to respect his privacy, but just know that it was a valid explanation). we started talking again and i saw him when i was home for christmas. after what was arguably the most romantic night of my life, he said that he thought we were better off as friends. i lost my cool (i’m usually very calm) and completely cut him off. i again grieved that living loss but thought about him every single day. but i’ll be damned if i was the one to reach out again first.
we were no contact from the end of december until he messaged me in mid february. i was so skeptical at first and took everything he said with a grain of salt. i told him off and he was very apologetic. we had a long conversation one night and i told him my side of things and told him what i needed from him, and vice versa. the conversation went really well - he was receptive of what i had to say and was very understanding of where i was coming from and i did my best to understand his view as well. we have different communication styles, and i don’t think i really realized that until that conversation. it provided a lot of clarity and i’m glad we talked through it all.
fast forward to last night. it’s been a couple of months since that big conversation. he messaged me a couple of days ago and asked to see me now that i’m back home for the summer. i was super hesitant but i still have all these feelings for him so i said sure. he said he was going to plan a date and not to worry about anything. again, skeptical, but holding out hope. so he shows up last night and i thought my heart would beat out of my chest (mind you, i haven’t seen him since december). he looked so handsome and my stomach was doing flips. he gave me a hug and i melted. it was really nice to see him. it was a lot later than planned when he showed up (he was stuck at a conference in the city) and he said “i had a plan to go out and watch the fireworks but on the drive here i realized it’s too late and that the fireworks were yesterday and i feel bad”. he was really apologetic and it was clear that he felt bad, but i understood. in all honesty, i also thought that the fireworks were last night haha. it was sweet though- i told him ONE time last year that i liked fireworks, and he wanted to surprise me.
anyways, we ended up just hanging out at my place and during our time together he was doing all of the things that i had said i needed from him. he led the conversation, he was engaged, he was excited, he was asking questions. every other time we have hung out, i’ve been the one to keep the conversation going. but this time i didn’t feel like i needed to, he was so actively involved. he danced with me (cheesy i know, but what can i say? i’m just a girl) and we just had a really good time. the man i saw last night was the man that i met on our first date and it made my heart oh so happy.
here’s the problem. like i said before, he’s a grad student. he was offered a fellowship in another country over the summer. he’ll be back and forth a little bit, but not much and i’m sure he’ll want to spend that time with his family. i’m only here until the last week of august and then i go back to my school province for my final year of uni. it’s an amazing opportunity for him and i’m really proud of him. i’m terrified to do long distance, especially because i don’t know if he’s 100% in it. but at the same time, since our conversation in the winter he has been making an effort to change and make things work, and i saw that perfectly clear last night. i am not blind to his red flags - the ghosting, the taking a while to reply, the lack of effort (before) when it came to planning dates. however he has shown me that he’s changing.
i really have feelings for him. but i’m scared that this is just going to end in flames like the other times. but at the same time, things feel different. after last night, i feel more secure. secure in what? i’m not too sure. maybe secure in myself- i know that i will be okay without him. he is not the stars. my life will go on. but also i think feel secure in him- the things he was saying, the future plans he was making, i felt at ease and trusted that it would happen. other times im wracked with anxiety and panic. but last night i felt calm and secure.
if you’ve made it this far in the post, i appreciate you and i hope that both sides of your pillow stay cold in the summer. anyways, people of reddit, do i give this one last shot?

My (25F) wife and I (26M) have been together for 8 years, married for 2. When we first started dating in college things were pretty normal. We would go out with friends, attend school events, go on dates, etc. My wife has always had anxiety and depression, but recently it's been getting worse and really effecting our lives. In college my wife held down a part time job and went to classes full time. This wasn't without struggle for her, some days she would be so anxious or depressed she wouldn't go to work, but was an overall reliable and stable worker who was offered a promotion she turned down.
When she turned 21 she gained access to stocks her grandfather left for her, this was also at the beginning of covid so she quit her job and resolved to live off of her stocks until the pandemic was over and focus on school while I kept working my job and attending classes. At this point in time we were living together and as long as she could come up with her half of the rent and groceries I did not say anything about how she wanted to spend her inheritance. Fast forward to a year into the pandemic and her stocks have run out just as her uncle passes and leaves a good sum of money to her. Seeing how fast she went through the first lump of money I convinced her that it would be smart for her to work still and not count on living off of this money as it wouldn't last very long. She agreed and got a job doing office work. We got married and were doing well, finally moved into a place without roommates and got some gur babies. A few months after getting married her anxiety was worse than before regarding working and began to effect her reliable and work performance. As time passed she began jokingly stating how she was learning she's autistic from TikTok and how much autistic people can't work. Everything she would point out did make sense and match up with her so I have no doubt she is autistic. As things progress she gets to the point where she quits her job stating it's too much for her anxiety and she needs a break before finding a new job due to being burnt out and needing to focus on her mental health. During this break she takes a turn. She becomes so depressed and anxious that I don't know how to help her outside of encouraging her to get appointments with a therapist and rework her meds all while her second inheritance is running out because my job alone cannot support us.
She's been out of work for a year now and we moved to a new city with some friends (a plan long in the making). I have a full time job and before moving to the city we spoke about her working part time (10-16 hours a week) so we could afford our new life. She agreed and we set a deadline of "before May" she should have strong leads on jobs and interviews. It's now well into May and she hasn't done a single interview, gets so overwhelmed at the thought of working it causes anxiety attacks, and she's gotten to the point where she will not leave the house alone or with me. The only time she leaves the house is to accompany me in driving to pick up groceries or if we are going out with a group of friends.
She states that she doesn't know how she's expected to find a job when she's autistic and agoraphobic, seeing her worked up over it I gritted my teeth and am now looking for a part time job I can work outside of my full time job. I can't help but feel resentment building inside me knowing I will be working 50-60 hours a week just for us to scrape by when she gets to be home and has been home for over a year now with the responsibility of doing a little over half of the house chores. And being resentful that we could have had a good size savings at this point if she had been working all that time instead of living off of her inheritance.
How do I go about this? I don't know what I can do to stop the resentment in me and help her get to a place where she can function as a self dependent human being again. I see her melt down about leaving the house and how stressful finding a job is, but anytime I try to help her or comfort her she snaps at me and tells me not to patronize her which is only adding to my frustration. If I offer to do something for her, 99% of the time she responds with "No you shouldn't have to do that for me, I should be able to do it myself". Even getting her to make a virtual doctors appointment to refill her medications is at the point of me setting up the app and handing it to her ready for her to click the "join" button to speak with someone and she can't do it. Any advice is greatly appreciated, I love my wife and our little family but I know this isn't sustainable.

Robot Wars was amazing television 25 years ago. It came back 6 or 7 years ago without muc success. Despite over a decade of technological progress it was mostly retreading old ground and wasn't bringing anything new.
I'd like to see a Robot Wars reboot hosted by Colin Furze, James Bruton and possibly Robert Llewellyn - channeling some of the old Scrapheap Challenge engineering too. The main twist is that we're not building angry roombas anymore, the robots are the size of and/or built onto the body of cars. Cars with hydraulic arms with chainsaw blades fighting other cars with pneumatic spikes or giant flippers.
Obviously we can't have people in these cars for health and safety reasons. So in the studio is a control pod with joysticks and computer screens remote controlling the car which is covered in cameras. The actual carbots are in a quarry or similar empty landscape with quadcopter drones filming the carnage.
A modified carbot can fill the passenger compartment with all the control electronics or a secondary engine inside to power the hydraulic pumps for the robot arms. Then to attack a carbot you could target the wheels, the primary engine or try to start a fire inside it. Set fire to the fueltank, melt the lithium ion batteries, trigger an explosion that would be impossible if the robots were in a studio.
Colin Furze can talk about the large scale engineering, welding and hydraulics. Robert Llewellyn can talk about the base cars they are modifying (Maybe the teams have to build it in a companion show?). And James Bruton can talk about the control electronics. The teams could be given a suite of cameras and radio transmitters that connect to the control pods in the studio that look like something out of a mecha anime. As the battle progresses the screens start to go dark as the cameras are destroyed.
OG Robot Wars and the US Battle Bots had a mass limit for the robots in each weight-class, plus a higher weight limit if you bring a walking robot. Can you imagine a walking carbot? With giant chainsaw arms like a robocrab? That would be epic.

Yesterday, I took my kid to an appointment at the same office my T is at (he sees someone else). He had a panic attack/meltdown at the end of the session when I went to get him. I was out of his sight and he thought he was lost.
He went full hulk mode: throwing stuff, smashing his head on brick walls, punching me, and even smashed one of the office windows. No one there has seen him like this before.
His therapist and another helped keep him safe. My therapist (I wasn't seeing her that day, she was just there) came down and focused on me. She asked if I was okay ("no, but, I'll be okay") and then asked if she could hug me and I said yes. That was probably the most powerful hug I've ever experienced. I finally felt safe, and I never ever feel safe during these moments.
I've been through so many meltdowns with my kid. He destroyed our old house. He was melting down several times per day and put himself in the ER a few times this year. With a lot of major life changes (moving being the primary one), both of us seeing neurodiversity-affirming therapists, me figuring out that I'm also Autistic and our whole family now having a whole new understanding of our nervous system... The meltdowns are down to once a day or less.
But in all of these meltdowns, I have never EVER had anyone hone in on me like that. I have never felt cared for while my son is experiencing these - and that's fair. I'll get sympathetic looks and "you okay?" from people, but never this level of compassion and nurture. It was a perfect storm of having three super regulated adults surrounding me.
And then the rest of the evening was incredibly smooth. I know that even though we are making incredible progress, meltdowns with my son are inevitable. Hoping I can tap into that moment for future meltdowns 🤞🏻🤞🏻

The Endangerol syringer is so easy to craft you probably already have it unlocked. It reduces the damage resistance of an enemy by 25% for 2 mins.
This reduction stacks for up to 4 players, for example if 4 people shoot earle/sbq/titan they absolutely melt, we are talking 100% DR reduction for 2 mins people, thats insane.
Edit: this effect is per weapon ID not player, so 1 player with 4 syringers can achieve the same effect.
If youve ever played runescape this is essentially a BGS or DWH and should be on your fav wheel at any of the big 3 bosses.
I often drop them outside earle and maybe 1 person will actually read the effects and grab one, everyone else just sees "syringer" and walks off, seriously if someone gives you one, hang on to it, bring it every boss, it will change the way you fight sqb/earle

Here i was running a pretty standard surface run with than's scythe, apollo special and everything when i got an epic smithy sprint that deals like 600 damage.
Now usually i think smithy sprint is "good" but not absurd, however paired with the axe it kinda negates all of its weaknesses? Smithy sprint is hard to spam cause you have to sprint for a bit with no way to defend yourself, but you can just block to save yourself when you need to. With the slow time hex i completely melted eris lol. I didnt even need to use my attack or special. Just put a cast on her for the extra damage, slow time the just keep sprinting. She died so fast

Hello!
I recently experienced an episode of something I think is sleep paralysis, which sucks because I haven’t dealt with it in years. I wake up and am in a dream, however, I know I still am asleep and dreaming. The most hated part is I can feel my body over heating but the paralysis just makes it impossible to move, so I just sit there like a furnace wishing for the best. I want to presume it is, and plan to ask my doctor about it but it sucks that’s for sure. The worst part also is that melatonin, and my mom’s sleep meds (she offered it to me) did not work. If anything, it make it worse because I was so tired from them but couldn’t wake up.
Also, do any of you take meds that find it may help? I’m prescribed lamictal for mood stability + epilepsy, and Adderall 2 times a day. The only thing is I know it’s not the adderall, because I have past experiences getting perfectly fine sleep, it has to be others I’m convinced.