Fluorescent green vomit

(Part 2 out now)
I woke up with a cough of blood and pain. I felt something metal with my hands as I looked down. A long stint of rebar poked out of my ribcage and through my chest plate, covered in a mix of my blood and the bile of a bug.
I reached down and grabbed my Senator, feeling its trusty weight in my hands. I haphazardly tried to place the barrel against the portion of rebar sticking out of my back. This had better work, I thought. I pulled the trigger once and with a loud Crack I felt the vibration from the shot in my stomach. I tried to choke down vomit and pulled the trigger twice more Crack, Crack. With the third shot the rebar gave way and I rolled to my side and collapsed on the ground. Agony shot through my body as I hit the dirt.
I realized then, Hmmph, they left me. During Extraction one of the other divers called in a 500kg as we were about to board Pelican 1. She had thrown it over one of those damned chargers in an effort to kill one last bug but... it started charging us. I was the last one in line and just as I was about to board... i was thrown 200 feet away from extraction site. I don't blame them. I'd have left me too. We had successfully evacuated a number of scientists and other military personnel, but we'd lost the planet. No hard feelings I guess.
I tried to pull my mind away from those thoughts and just focused on one. Survive. I pulled myself to my knees and looked at the rebar again. Cant park there bud, I thought tryna cheer myself up. I had dropped my senator when I fell and ended up with two free hands. I reached down and with the assistance of my servo-assited armor prepared to wrench the rebar from my chest. Alright, count of three, I thought. One my heartrate quickened. Two I adjusted my grip ever so slightly. Three I ripped the metal rod out and felt a hot stinging pain shoot through my body. I quickly grabbed a stim and applied it.
I winced as the stim numbed my broken ribs and began rapidly working to heal them and my open chest wound. After a couple seconds, I could stand.
I took quick stock of my inventory. My Senator with 23 rounds left, two ration packs, a canteen of water, 1 stim, a knife, and a bag of oatmeal. Oatmeal? Seriously? I'd rather have ammo but... beggars can't be choosers.
I looked around me. Snow and beaten down rubble surrounded me. This was some kind of research station, I think. Didn't bother grabbing the name. Cold as hell and nothing really around to get my bearings. Great. I thought. Im gonna die inside a freezer. I started looking through the rubble for anything useful. I found a corpse of one of the scientists that hadn't made it to evac. I grabbed the ID card off his jacket. Figured It'd get me inside a building if there were any left standing. I crawled out of the rubble and onto the snowy tundra.
The sun had set and with it most of the light I would've been able to utilize. I scanned the horizon for a blinking light. Blinking like meant beacon. Beacon meant possible radio, maybe some ammo. I clocked one to the southwest and began walking that direction senator drawn.
I spotted a few distant bug patrols illuminated by moonlight but they had no interest in me. I kept my head down and kept moving towards the light. Details started to take shape and I could see this was a research station. Perfect I thought.
I reached the door and used the key card. There was a Beep and the red light flashed green. The door cracked open before jamming. Oh no you dont, I thought and with one hand yanked the door open. I closed it behind me with the same hand to keep the wildlife disinterested.
Inside was dark and damp. I had lost the seal integrity on my suit so there was barely any oxygen regulation. Didn't need it on this planet but still, it's a bitch to fix. I turned my flashlight on and started scanning the room for a light switch. I found one but wouldn't ya know it... dead. At least the beacon had power. I walked over to the radio and pulled off my helmet. I wedged the flashlight in my neck and leaned my head to the side. I started flipping switches and turning dials to see if there was a response. Nothing. Id have to find the master terminal. I grabbed the flashlight and donned my helmet again. I began scanning the room again before I heard it. A little shuffle behind me. I turned quickly and drew my senator raising it at the source of the sound.
It was a small child. At least... thats what it appeared to be. At first glance I could see bindings on its legs and arms. A hospital gown with little ducklings on it and a teddy bear tucked under its arm. I lowered my senator as it spoke.
"Dr. Mehon told me to wait here. He said hed be right back."
Dr. Mehon was probably dead I thought. I knelt down and put my hand on the child's shoulder. "Whats your name kid?"
"3". I felt a rage build up. I swallowed it quickly.
"Well 3, what uh... why.. why do you have bin.." I stopped myself. Whatever those scientists were doing here...
3 looked up at me and I noticed it. A cat like set of eyes. Other little details started to click as well. Four fingers on each hand, slightly pointed ears, a discoloration of skin and a rigid scale-like spine on the shoulder.
"The radio doesnt work mister." 3 seemed to have understood their situation. "Dr Mehon destroyed it before he left."
I realized then that it was unlikely either of us would make it off this planet alive.
EDIT: Part 2 out now! (Part 2's a lil shorter) I Didnt think itd get this many upvotes and comments. Ill keep writing then. Feel free to suggest names for 3!

Last Thursday, I went to Green Lantern with a friend like I have been doing recently. However, at a certain point in the night, I leave for the restroom while my friend orders a drink for him and me. Like 15 minutes later after having the drink, I black out, which is highly unusual for me.
No clear memory of what happened other than meeting up with a couple of other acquaintances at that bar, talking to some guy at the bar, then finding myself on a ride back home. Meanwhile, the friend I came with leaves to catch the train and I stick around, which isn’t uncommon for us except I still don’t have my memory by this point.
By the time I get home, my memory is back. I had to vomit or tried to, go to sleep, and wake up nauseous and hungover. Strangely, I see a jacket in my room that isn’t mine and someone new that I followed on IG.
At first, I thought nothing much of it, that maybe I just drank too much, which seemed odd because I felt I drank less than the week before. Then, someone mentioned I might’ve been drugged and I learn from someone else that Green Lantern has a history of spiked drugs.
Is that true? Has anyone experienced something like this at Green Lantern? Does my experience sound like I was potentially drugged?

Symptoms of cmpa or normal baby?
Almost 6 weeks old. Symptoms..
trouble passing gas/pooping. This takes up 90% of his life unfortunately. Sometimes cries but mostly uncomfortable and pushing and straining.
Unlatching and crying during breastfeeding. I believe this is due to gas as feeding makes it sorta happen. he arches back and cries , or sometimes just unlatches makes a concentrated face and farts but always ends up crying.
Occasional green poo, slightly mucusy like little bit of a sticky stringy texture but mostly normal I think. normally yellow or dark yellow.
Baby acne, however I noticed little spots on ears and head that seem to go away and come back.
Reflux, sometimes after a feed he vomits quite a lot, sometimes just milk sometimes curds, ovcasionally he doesn’t vomit at all but seems very uncomfortable and gets a wet sound kinda know it’s coming and choking sound when flat on back
Hiccups, pretty regularly gets the hiccups
Hates being on back suddenly , lots of contact naps
He cries but not excessively , usually seems to be because he’s having gas pain.
Went and saw an osteopath she thinks milk protein allergy, said if his guts sorted out he would be the chillest baby ever, cue I don’t think he really cries for much more than gut pains
I’m struggling with cutting out dairy and soy. we had 24 hours the other day he started smiling didn’t cry was very happy and now we are back to uncomfortable and it’s very disheartening
I have 6 week checkup in 2 days, talked to mhn and she wasn’t worried she believes he just needs to grow and handle my fast flow.

Symptoms of cmpa or normal baby?
Almost 6 weeks old. Symptoms..
trouble passing gas/pooping. This takes up 90% of his life unfortunately. Sometimes cries but mostly uncomfortable and pushing and straining.
Unlatching and crying during breastfeeding. I believe this is due to gas as feeding makes it sorta happen. he arches back and cries , or sometimes just unlatches makes a concentrated face and farts but always ends up crying.
Occasional green poo, slightly mucusy like little bit of a sticky stringy texture but mostly normal I think. normally yellow or dark yellow.
Baby acne, however I noticed little spots on ears and head that seem to go away and come back.
Reflux, sometimes after a feed he vomits quite a lot, sometimes just milk sometimes curds, ovcasionally he doesn’t vomit at all but seems very uncomfortable and gets a wet sound kinda know it’s coming and choking sound when flat on back
Hiccups, pretty regularly gets the hiccups
Hates being on back suddenly , lots of contact naps
He cries but not excessively , usually seems to be because he’s having gas pain.
Went and saw an osteopath she thinks milk protein allergy, said if his guts sorted out he would be the chillest baby ever, cue I don’t think he really cries for much more than gut pains
I’m struggling with cutting out dairy and soy. we had 24 hours the other day he started smiling didn’t cry was very happy and now we are back to uncomfortable and it’s very disheartening
I have 6 week checkup in 2 days, talked to mhn and she wasn’t worried she believes he just needs to grow and handle my fast flow.

Almost 6 weeks old. Symptoms..
trouble passing gas/pooping. This takes up 90% of his life unfortunately. Sometimes cries but mostly uncomfortable and pushing and straining.
Unlatching and crying during breastfeeding. I believe this is due to gas as feeding makes it sorta happen. he arches back and cries , or sometimes just unlatches makes a concentrated face and farts but always ends up crying.
Occasional green poo, slightly mucusy like little bit of a sticky stringy texture but mostly normal I think. normally yellow or dark yellow.
Baby acne, however I noticed little spots on ears and head that seem to go away and come back.
Reflux, sometimes after a feed he vomits quite a lot, sometimes just milk sometimes curds, ovcasionally he doesn’t vomit at all but seems very uncomfortable and gets a wet sound kinda know it’s coming and choking sound when flat on back
Hiccups, pretty regularly gets the hiccups
Hates being on back suddenly , lots of contact naps
He cries but not excessively , usually seems to be because he’s having gas pain.
Went and saw an osteopath she thinks milk protein allergy, said if his guts sorted out he would be the chillest baby ever, cue I don’t think he really cries for much more than gut pains
I’m struggling with cutting out dairy and soy. we had 24 hours the other day he started smiling didn’t cry was very happy and now we are back to uncomfortable and it’s very disheartening
I have 6 week checkup in 2 days, talked to mhn and she wasn’t worried she believes he just needs to grow and handle my fast flow.

(Part 2 out now)
I woke up with a cough of blood and pain. I felt something metal with my hands as I looked down. A long stint of rebar poked out of my ribcage and through my chest plate, covered in a mix of my blood and the bile of a bug.
I reached down and grabbed my Senator, feeling its trusty weight in my hands. I haphazardly tried to place the barrel against the portion of rebar sticking out of my back. This had better work, I thought. I pulled the trigger once and with a loud Crack I felt the vibration from the shot in my stomach. I tried to choke down vomit and pulled the trigger twice more Crack, Crack. With the third shot the rebar gave way and I rolled to my side and collapsed on the ground. Agony shot through my body as I hit the dirt.
I realized then, Hmmph, they left me. During Extraction one of the other divers called in a 500kg as we were about to board Pelican 1. She had thrown it over one of those damned chargers in an effort to kill one last bug but... it started charging us. I was the last one in line and just as I was about to board... i was thrown 200 feet away from extraction site. I don't blame them. I'd have left me too. We had successfully evacuated a number of scientists and other military personnel, but we'd lost the planet. No hard feelings I guess.
I tried to pull my mind away from those thoughts and just focused on one. Survive. I pulled myself to my knees and looked at the rebar again. Cant park there bud, I thought tryna cheer myself up. I had dropped my senator when I fell and ended up with two free hands. I reached down and with the assistance of my servo-assited armor prepared to wrench the rebar from my chest. Alright, count of three, I thought. One my heartrate quickened. Two I adjusted my grip ever so slightly. Three I ripped the metal rod out and felt a hot stinging pain shoot through my body. I quickly grabbed a stim and applied it.
I winced as the stim numbed my broken ribs and began rapidly working to heal them and my open chest wound. After a couple seconds, I could stand.
I took quick stock of my inventory. My Senator with 23 rounds left, two ration packs, a canteen of water, 1 stim, a knife, and a bag of oatmeal. Oatmeal? Seriously? I'd rather have ammo but... beggars can't be choosers.
I looked around me. Snow and beaten down rubble surrounded me. This was some kind of research station, I think. Didn't bother grabbing the name. Cold as hell and nothing really around to get my bearings. Great. I thought. Im gonna die inside a freezer. I started looking through the rubble for anything useful. I found a corpse of one of the scientists that hadn't made it to evac. I grabbed the ID card off his jacket. Figured It'd get me inside a building if there were any left standing. I crawled out of the rubble and onto the snowy tundra.
The sun had set and with it most of the light I would've been able to utilize. I scanned the horizon for a blinking light. Blinking like meant beacon. Beacon meant possible radio, maybe some ammo. I clocked one to the southwest and began walking that direction senator drawn.
I spotted a few distant bug patrols illuminated by moonlight but they had no interest in me. I kept my head down and kept moving towards the light. Details started to take shape and I could see this was a research station. Perfect I thought.
I reached the door and used the key card. There was a Beep and the red light flashed green. The door cracked open before jamming. Oh no you dont, I thought and with one hand yanked the door open. I closed it behind me with the same hand to keep the wildlife disinterested.
Inside was dark and damp. I had lost the seal integrity on my suit so there was barely any oxygen regulation. Didn't need it on this planet but still, it's a bitch to fix. I turned my flashlight on and started scanning the room for a light switch. I found one but wouldn't ya know it... dead. At least the beacon had power. I walked over to the radio and pulled off my helmet. I wedged the flashlight in my neck and leaned my head to the side. I started flipping switches and turning dials to see if there was a response. Nothing. Id have to find the master terminal. I grabbed the flashlight and donned my helmet again. I began scanning the room again before I heard it. A little shuffle behind me. I turned quickly and drew my senator raising it at the source of the sound.
It was a small child. At least... thats what it appeared to be. At first glance I could see bindings on its legs and arms. A hospital gown with little ducklings on it and a teddy bear tucked under its arm. I lowered my senator as it spoke.
"Dr. Mehon told me to wait here. He said hed be right back."
Dr. Mehon was probably dead I thought. I knelt down and put my hand on the child's shoulder. "Whats your name kid?"
"3". I felt a rage build up. I swallowed it quickly.
"Well 3, what uh... why.. why do you have bin.." I stopped myself. Whatever those scientists were doing here...
3 looked up at me and I noticed it. A cat like set of eyes. Other little details started to click as well. Four fingers on each hand, slightly pointed ears, a discoloration of skin and a rigid scale-like spine on the shoulder.
"The radio doesnt work mister." 3 seemed to have understood their situation. "Dr Mehon destroyed it before he left."
I realized then that it was unlikely either of us would make it off this planet alive.
EDIT: Part 2 out now! (Part 2's a lil shorter) I Didnt think itd get this many upvotes and comments. Ill keep writing then. Feel free to suggest names for 3!

Hi Reddit, this is my first time posting on this site in years, for context on this story I am a 19-year-old girl residing in east London.
Two weeks ago, I was on a night out in my town, which I won't name, however, it is on the eastern outskirts of Greater London. It was a cold Friday night in early May when I began to walk home. By this time I was heavily drunk and had split off from my friends Sania and Marcus, who were also blackout drunk, they took the Elizabeth line to get home to their university digs in Harrow. So, I was left all by myself.
As I began to walk to the bus stop; which wasn't far from the club. I noticed a tall, skinny man with his head in his hands sitting on the red plastic bench at the stop. I couldn't see much of his face as it was obscured by his long, dark brown messy hair. I sat down on the bench, furthest away from him, because it was around 1 am, the area was deserted and honestly, this guy was giving me the creeps. He was wearing a dark brown leather bomber jacket, green cargos and a Mayhem band T-Shirt.
I sat, and waited for the bus, for around five minutes. Scrolling through TikTok. When suddenly, my focus was interrupted by the sound of sobbing coming from my left, I turned to see the man, head still in his hands sobbing uncontrollably. I glanced at the man several times before making my decision. I scooted over to him, put my hand on his shoulder (keep in mind I was still in my drink-induced, confident, sociable state). He looked up at me, admittedly I thought he was quite handsome, that was until I was hit by his breath, which was a fowl stench, a mixture of cigarettes, vomit and tooth decay.
He had thick, furrowed dark eyebrows, short yet unkempt stubble, tears rolling down his face. I asked him "Hey, are you alright?". At this point, his facial expression changed, he let out a loud smoker's cough, covering his mouth with his elbow. Wiping his tears away with the same elbow he looked me in the eyes and simply said: "I've hurt a lot of people". At this point, starting to sense the vibe was off, I asked "What do you mean?". I felt the alcohol starting to lose it's effects on me, I regretted interacting with this man at all.
He told me plainly, "I've killed someone." At this moment, my heart sunk to the bottom of my chest, I thought he must be joking, or lying. I timidly said, "Wait, what?" I was choking on my words. He went on to confess to me that he had killed a 17 year old boy after arranging a gay encounter with him over Grindr. He told me that he stabbed the boy in the neck with a screwdriver before burning his body in the woods with lighter fluid. I stood there aghast at this sudden confession, when I saw the headlights of the night bus approaching in the distance, without hesitating I boarded, tapped my oyster and looked back, he did not follow me on. The bus doors slam shut, I ride the bus, only for around four stops before reaching my house, as I step out from the bus, I look to my left only to see a dark figure with long dark hair running towards me down the street, I book it towards my house, shove the key into the lock before slamming the door shut and screaming for my mum.
That night I dreamt of the encounter in vivid detail, and the following night, and the night after. However, as the nights went on, I would see the act of murder in his eyes, as if it was a projection, the dream would pause as he looked up to me, and the pause would be longer each night, seeing more vivid details reflected from his dark green eyes. The dreams stopped around a week after the experience, but I was left deeply disturbed. What unsettled me the most was his voice, robotic and deep, sounding almost distorted as I dreamt of him more and more. My last dream was on the night of the 11th of May, a Saturday night. I was awoken to complete paralysis of my body, I heard as clear as day from across the room "There wasn't just one victim." Loudly in a female voice.
I made my official police report today (18/05/24), and was given a reference number, the police told me they would try to identify the man, as he was caught on CCTV walking past the club I was at several times that night (which ironically is opposite the police station).

I guess I’m here to vent and share my story with others who get it.. because it’s hard for me to talk about with family or friends because no one understands and explaining things over and over just feels like losing more energy honestly. I’m welcoming all suggestions since you have been through it.
My baby is 16 weeks and has not had a “good day” since he’s been born. Over 100 days fighting for him and watching him struggle. We tried breastmilk, multiple formulas, and settled on Neocate syneo almost 3 months ago which cleared up a few of his more scary symptoms, but he still has most of them. So many visits doctors have told me his symptoms are normal, but didn’t take the time to really listen or watch what has been going on with him, which makes me feel like I’m being a overprotective mom, or that I’m crazy losing my mind, but things are clearly not right. Finally his ped sees that he’s truly struggling and sent a referral for GI since she had no knowledge on cmpa or what to do for him next and she said “I thought he would have outgrown it by now and the Pepcid isn’t helping” I have wanted to cry and scream at her at the same time because I feel like she truly neglected my baby while I have watched him suffer😢
He was unsettled since birth.. he was ready to eat right away, but struggled so much. We tried breastmilk, Bobbie, gentle ease, nutramigen, and Neocate syneo. Pepcid, increase dosage Pepcid, increase frequency Pepcid, gas drops, gripe water, changing bottles, probiotics, changing nipple flow, keeping upright. Literally everything.
I’m so lost and it hurts to watch my baby suffer.
Current symptoms: GI discomfort - Eating every 2-4 hours besides at night, 45 minutes up to 2 hours to eat 4oz.
Throwing up projectile. Coughing then forcefully vomit half or whole bottle.
Spit up constantly.
Arching back in pain when feeding and after screaming so loud.
Poop so very loose and mucousy since birth, and worsening over time. Yellow liquid or dark green with black streaks or green with yellow seeds. Has never been formed. Horrible sour smell like vinegar or rotten eggs. Clearly in pain when pushing or when he is struggling to go. Either can barely poop once a day or will go 5x a day.
He was eating 5-6 oz, eating less oz now 3-4 still taking an hour and screaming when seeing bottle close to him. Screaming when getting into feeding position.
Hard to settle and screaming loud until passing out. Not full enough to sleep long periods.
It’s been 2 weeks since increasing Pepcid but on it for 12 weeks and 12 weeks on amino acid formula - Neocate syneo.
Have to distract to eat - change position, sing, shh, takes 45-60+ minutes Unlatches quickly Crying in feeding position Arching back fussy
Since birth not 1 good happy feed without crying or pain. Has lessened over time but getting worse again
First 2 months couldn’t be put down, tummy time, bath, diaper, sleep unless held without absolutely screaming and losing it - sometimes these days can lay flat. First month awake 2-3 hours sleep 30 minutes
I was giving a time to see if it would get better, but it’s not getting better and some situations are getting worse. The things that have gotten better are not having an immediate reaction when eating - he had swollen eyelids, severe immediate rash and lingering eczema, and difficulty breathing. He will sleep now without being held. I’m thankful for the improvements, but I’m so heartbroken that things are not getting “normal” for him. It seemed like the Neocate syneo would be good for him but he’s not good.
It just seems like nothing is helping and it’s all trial and error. My baby is almost 4 months and it’s been a painful blur.
The “solutions” I have come up with through research - changing to Prevacid or Prilosec for the reflux. Changing to alfamino (but super scared since it has soy oil) since it doesn’t have coconut, or switching to rtf alitenium (but super scared since it has milk), or trying regular Neocate since some babies struggle with the pro/prebiotics in the syneo.. which feels like the safest option since he had such trouble with milk and soy. Or the fear of something else being completely wrong and causing his pain and mucous. I just feel defeated with how things are going. But also so scared to change things again.

All right here it is finally, thank you all for your patience and let's hope chapter 5 is a little more expedient. As usual I hope you enjoy and would love to get everyone's thoughts.
4: Memory transcription subject: Zeak, Harchen orphan, citizen of the Venlil Republic. Date: standardized human time July 13th 2136.
The sky was a roaring mass of fire and pungent black smoke that choked out the light of the sun. As I ran down the street, green blood flowed like a broad shallow river. It splashed up with every step I took, sticking to my scales, the smell of it made me feel sick. As the piercing wail of the emergency sirens seemed to grow louder and louder with every step I took making my ears ring and filling my head with a thunderous pain. My heart pounded, my lungs were on fire, and my legs felt like they were made of lead.
A herd of towering blurry figures appeared out of nowhere and ran past me, some almost knocking me down. In their panic they began to look more like crazed wild animals than people. I cried for help but they couldn't hear me. I waved my paws then grabbed one of them a male Venlil, tightening my grip with all the strength I had hoping this would get his attention. He threw me off like I was trash, less than trash. I turned around and continued pleading for anyone to help me, reaching out for others. But their frantic idiot eyes looked only straight ahead and not down, never down, as the herd passed me.
I turned back around and continued to run, blood splashing up soaking me all the way to my knees. I stumbled, my legs were so tired I could barely stand, and I fell down catching myself, plunging my paws into blood as deep as my wrists. I felt myself scream but I couldn't hear it over the ringing in my ears. A scrap of paper gently floated past me, a single word written on it that echoed in my mind “Weakling.” It passed and four more took its place, “Coward”, “Liar”, “Oath breaker”, “Murderer.” I screamed in rage and slapped the pieces of paper aside, blood splashing onto my snout, but the meanings of those words remained. Getting back up I stumbled forward, and fell down again. Then with an effort born out of sheer desperation I managed to stand again lurching forward. My legs were too tired to run but I had to keep going, I had to save them. Or at least her, please Protector if you're listening please let me save at least her.
It felt like I was searching for an endless time. Lurching forward, stumbling, falling down, getting back up, lurching forward once more. Eventually I saw it and my heart fell into the pit of my stomach. My family's car was turned over on its roof, the driver's side had been caved in. It was engulfed in fire and thick black smoke that rose up into the sky. I struggled forward and when I reached it I collapsed, my knees hitting the hot pavement. The smell of burning metal and something else I didn't know assaulted my senses making my stomach turn. Every muscle in my body begged me to run away. Calling out their names l looked inside, and a wave of nausea and horror flooded through me.
I turned away and vomited, then reached up with my blood soaked paws and covered my eyes. Those words thundered in my head making me think it was going to burst open, as hot tears welled up. “WEAKLING! COWARD! LIAR! OATH BREAKER! MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER! “I'm sorry I'm sorry, I should have stayed, I should have helped. Why did I run?” I wailed, still unable to hear myself. Someone rested a delicate paw on my shoulder, and the world went quiet. As the pain in my head melted away.
My eyes snapped open and I was greeted by the gentle ringing of my alarm. In a rush of adrenaline I leaped out of bed not even bothering to wipe the sleep out of my eyes. Running out of my bedroom and down the narrow hallway towards the living room. Convincing myself It had all just been a horrible, horrible nightmare and everything was alright. Mom and Dad would be fixing breakfast, Dad softly singing a Harchen folk song while making something savory and delicious as mom sang along in harmony, preparing something special for my baby sister Naila. Oh yes and Naila, she would probably be sitting on a cushion in the sunny part of the living room. Holding her crooked tail, a birth defect which my parents said could be fixed when she was older. And making excited chirping noises at my arrival, while sunlight shone against her emerald scales. I loved my baby sister, I knew other kids resented having a younger sibling. Dismissing their responsibilities and spending less time with their family and more with their friends. I never once felt that way, the moment Naila hatched I devoted every spare minute I had to her. Finding music that would help her fall asleep, watching over her when my mom needed a break. Excitedly telling her about the day's events and what I learned at school, especially what I learned in computer science which was my favorite class.
“Mom! Dad!” I yelled bursting into the living room. “I just had the worst…” My voice trailed off as I was greeted with nothing “dream.” My heart tightened painfully in my chest, as I frantically ran through the house throwing open every door, knowing that they had to be here somewhere. They were just playing a game on me that was all, a game I would tell them I didn't appreciate. After the final door had been opened and no one was there to yell “Surprise!” My body slumped and I felt heavy as reality set back in, and the memories of what happened hit me like a hammer. I made my way back down the hall to my room, tail dragging behind me as I crawled back into bed. Wrapping myself tightly in a blanket, trying to find some comfort.
It must have been hours I lay there feeling numb all over, wishing I could get up the energy to just cry. I think I might have fallen asleep at one point. If I did it was a dreamless sleep, thank the stars for that. Eventually I did get up, sitting cross-legged on my bed, resting my chin in my paws, staring holes into the wall. I took a deep breath and side numbly looked out the window, searching for anything to distract myself with.
It was overcast, and eerily quiet. The emergency sirens had stopped blaring yesterday mere hours after everyone had gotten to the bunkers. The bodies of the dead had already been collected and their blood cleaned from the pavement. So as to not attract any predators into the neighborhood. I saw my neighbor A'shul was home, his white vehicle was sporting some new dents. I wondered, when he got into his vehicle yesterday morning and drove to the nearest bunker; did he try to help anyone? Or was he thinking only of himself? I suppose it didn't matter really. Nothing mattered.
I turned my head away and looked around my small room taking in everything, every trinket, misplaced item, my old second-hand desk, a big green crackle finished monster. Better suited for a Venlil than a young Harchen, heck I needed a stool just to use it. I had gotten it for basically nothing about a year ago, when the local extermination office was getting rid of their old furniture. All it took was a small bribe and they put it in my bedroom when no one was home. My parents, but especially my mom we're not happy when they saw it the next day. They would tell me at least once a week that It was too big for me and they were going to get rid of that eyesore. “Wouldn't you like something a little more modern dear?” My mom would ask, practically pleading for me to say yes. I used to pray that my parents would just shut up and stop bugging me about that stupid desk. I thought it was great, it made me think of private detective Bal from the exterminators show. Bal was a no nonsense Harchen who was so often pivotal in tracking down the predator or predator diseased person. My desk was very similar to his and that's why I wanted it. But at that moment, I would have given anything to hear those words again.
On the desk there was an ornate wooden box, with a fruit tree in full bloom delicately carved into its lid. There were also scuff marks where it had been dropped, and a deep crack running down the center. It was known as a blessing box, Naila's blessing box to be specific. When she hatched nearly ten months ago the whole neighborhood had been invited to come and write a blessing on a scrap of paper and put it in the box. I had written one too, not a blessing but a promise, a promise I couldn't keep. The belief was that if kept near the infant, the combined power of all those blessings would keep the hatchling safe until their first birthday. Where on that day the box would be set on fire and burned to ash. Releasing those blessings back into the world so they may protect someone else. It was an old tradition and not commonly practiced anymore, but as my dad always said “It is important to keep the old traditions alive my son. Both in song and action.” I remember asking him why? And he looked at me like he had been waiting for that question for a long time. “Because” He said, his tail moving with authority. “Someday when you lose your way, and you don't know where to turn to. You will always have something to guide you back to your center.”
Looking away from the box not wanting to look or think about the damn thing, I shifted my gaze down to my bedside table. There was a little holographic projector showing pictures of me, Mom, Dad and Naila on holiday back on Fahl, the Harchen home world to see family. I was born and raised on Venlil prime, so I didn't really know any of my extended family. There was a picture of my mom and Naila sleeping at the beach. Naila’s crooked tail coiled around mom’s arm, their scales a deep emerald in the light of the sun. The picture changed to me and Dad putting the finishing touches on a sand skyscraper taller than him. I had to sit on his shoulders to place the last bucket full of sand on top. Both of our scales were as blue as the ocean. My tail flicked sadly thinking of that day. I reached over and turned the holo protector off.
My holopad lay next to me flashing, alerting me to an urgent message. I hadn't really looked at my holopad since yesterday morning. Picking it up I tapped the flashing icon. It was an official government statement signed by Governor Tarva herself, saying that the humans Noah and Sarah were peaceful explorers, and that they only wished to be our friends. ‘No, that's impossible, they’re predators. Predators don't want peace, they want to conquer, kill and eat us,’ stunned and confused I kept reading. The rest of the message stated that the two human scientists were completely unaware there was intelligent life of any kind on Venlil prime. ‘No! Lies! Predator lies!’ I yelled inside my head. Something hot began to form in my chest as I read the last bit. Governor Tarver had shown the two predators footage of the Arxur torturing Venlil pups. It said that the humans were capable of empathy and felt deeply saddened and angered by what they saw. They vowed to do everything in their power to get their united nations into the war against the Arxur.
I scrolled all the way down and what I saw stopped me cold. Standing in her office being flanked by General Kam, stood Governor Tarva. Beside them looming over the two Venlil one bigger than the other, both of them covered in some sort of protective suit. Their faces were obscured by dark visored helmets. It said that the larger of the two Noah was male, and the smaller one was Sarah female. Sarah had her hands clasped in front of her, while Noah kept his to his side. Neither were acting threatening, and neither Tarva or Kam looked to be harmed in any way.
Something in me snapped, that hot thing inside my chest erupted and I could feel my scales turn black. I very carefully set my holopad down beside me, then I uncrossed my legs and got out of bed. I stood there in the center of my room shaking slightly, feeling terribly calm as white hot rage flooded my body, spreading to my paws and all the way out to the tip of my long tail. It never had to happen, the panic, the stampede, the death, we could have stayed home and avoided those people. ‘No… no not people,’ a bitter thought came over me. ‘They're not people at all, people stop and help, like that Venlil girl Kayleik, she was a person maybe the only one. But the rest of them were just wild animals, masquerading as sentient beings. ‘Do you really think you're any better, coward?’ Some internal voice said.
A sudden impulse took control of me and I grabbed my desks stool and hurled it against the wall. It dented the wall and bounced off still in one piece. Enraged, I leaped forward grabbing it by the legs, then turned around and slammed it into my desk. The sheet metal dented and the green crackle finish paint flew off, but the stool made of good dense wood from the string fruit tree stayed whole. “DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM!” I screamed, slamming the stool down again and again, my tail whipping wildly, striking the bed and the floor. The tip of my tail began to hurt, which only fueled my anger. Finally I heard cracking and wood began to splinter off. They didn't have to die, we could have stayed home. The muscles in my shoulders burned and my heart pounded as hot tears began to well up. I brought it down one final time narrowly avoiding the blessing box, and the stool broke in two. I hurled the pieces away from me, one slamming into the corner the other crashing through the window.
I leaned against the desk catching my breath as tears flowed freely. ‘Well that definitely showed them didn't it. Hey I got a great idea! Let's go break some more stuff, that will definitely make you feel better. Idiot!’ That internal voice said all coldness and bitterness. As I cried, the burning in my chest cooled, and I was filled with the same numbness as before. After a while my stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't eaten since yesterday. I moved sluggishly out of my bedroom and went straight to the kitchen, quickly grabbed some fruit and left to go and watch the view screen or something. The moment I entered the living room, memories came flooding back. Mom and Dad laughing, Naila sleeping peacefully, the lingering aroma of breakfast, and the warmth of our home. But now it was all gone and I was alone. For the first time in my life, I had no one to go to.
It was right then I realized I couldn't stay here anymore. This place felt like a tomb, all cold and filled with the memories of the dead. Besides, if I stayed here someone would eventually send the authorities to come and get me. Ship me off to an orphanage, foster care or maybe to my extended family back on Fahl. I balked at the idea of being forced to live with people I didn't know or trust. Memories of yesterday's stampede invaded my mind and I shuddered. I couldn't trust any of them not anymore. No, there was one person I could think of that maybe I could trust. Turning around I went back to my room, found my backpack and grabbed my holopad, the blessing box, the holo projector and my blanket stuffing it into my pack. Then I went to the kitchen and filled my pack up the rest of the way with dried fruit and vegetable snacks. With my backpack looking like it was going to burst I shouldered it and made my way to the front door. When I rested my scaly paw on the door handle I stopped and looked back at the place that was once my home. “Goodbye” I said in a shaky voice, knowing this would be the last time I would never set foot in this house. With my head low I opened the door and stepped out, into the dim light of a new unfamiliar world.
Previous First

Walking my dog on a nice warm day.
Intermittently texting my friend about something. I pass by a man in a fluorescent yellow-green construction style jacket. He’s got a clipboard.
And a camo print ski mask.
It takes me a few more steps to realize that it’s highly unusual he’s wearing a ski mask. And in fact every inch of him is covered up vs me in flip flops and a T shirt.
I pretend to be busy on my phone and I spy him grabbing a box and some plastic-bagged item (yes, a la Amazon) from the row of townhomes, put them in his trunk (just a regular sedan).
I take a peek at his clipboard- it’s a blank sheet…
At this point I’m stopped at a mini park with benches 20-30 steps away so that it’s not obvious that I’ve stopped to observe him. I’m continuously pretending to be preoccupied with my phone by typing gibberish into the notes app. I wanted to catch a video of him just in case, but I was way too scared to lift/tilt my phone just-so to get identifiable info (eg. his license plate).
After he drives away I go to the apartment building that the townhouses are managed by to tell the guard. The guard is not present at the time so a female resident with an infant and an older looking fellow lets me in through the front door. They ask me why I need to talk to the guard. I tell them I saw something suspicious by the townhouses and described what I saw. I said maybe the guard would like to know this, in case they have cameras around there or at the least to inform the residents of those houses why their packages may be missing.
Turns out the old timer works in the building in some capacity and is real enthusiastic in informing me and the other lady that “they’re called porch pirates”. The other lady’s mind is blown by this, she looks at him like he’s a prophet and asks follow up questions. He doesn’t even ask specifically where I saw this happen before he exclaims that “they’ll never catch them, it’s pointless to tell anybody about it.”
I tell him I and my neighbors had multiple packages going missing when I lived in the very very big city just south of our county and even been broken into and we would all have appreciated people letting us know if it were likely a theft to at least avoid wasting time looking for them (or to encourage LL to up security eg. Cameras). Inform him I’m fine with waiting for the guard.
He goes, “look if you really want to, go ahead, but it’s a waste of time” and adds “That’s what they do for a living”. Me genuinely trying to understand, I ask “so are you saying that we should just leave them be?”.
I kinda cringed at this because it came off really passive aggressive, but that wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to parse out his motive for being seemingly adamant about discouraging me from talking to the guard- perhaps he did have the general belief that those less fortunate who resort to stealing to get by should be shown grace since their impact on the wealthy(er) is minimal? Like I was willing to have discourse, see his perspective, and be convinced. But both he and the lady were gasp aghast.
At this point I’m tired of this. From my perspective, I went out of my way to be potentially helpful to this community and this guy really made it seem like he had graciously condescended to speak with me.
I, smiling and very politely, tell him that I trust his wisdom on this so I’ll take his advice and get on with my day.
I dunno why but suddenly he shifts 180 and says I should wait for the guard. That, depending on where this is there may be cameras.
I’m like “ehhh, if it’s just to humor me and it won’t be helpful to anyone as you say. I’m alright.”
Walk back out with my dog. My parting greeting was “Good luck!”
Again, in retrospect that could be interpreted as sassy. In my defense, English isn’t my first language and even though I am fluent and can write well for academic and work purposes, sometimes I don’t have the best social phrases cued up…
Idk why that guy’s just bumming about in the lobby meddling with things. At least, as annoying as he was, since he works there I can tell myself that I informed an employee.

The episode faded back in to a shot of the Gaffers' platform being raised up to the roof by Scott, Ripper, and Chase as MK watched and Izzy walked over, wiping slime off herself.
"Uh, not to sound lazy," Scott said as he left the chain, "but I'm not feeling so good."
"You probably just have a cold," Izzy told him.
"Since when do colds have sores like this?" Scott followed up as he lifted his right arm and pointed to a round, reddish-brown spot on his elbow.
Izzy looked at him attentively and put her hand on his forehead. "Your body temperature is high, but it's possible that-" she was interrupted by a sudden burp from her teammate that caused her to cringe and take a step back. "Why does your breath smell like lemons?"
"Are you trashing my burps?" Scott asked in confusion.
"Hold on," Justin interrupted as the camera cut to him. "Red sores, fever, lemony burps? Aren't those symptoms of one of the diseases in the book?"
"Page 753," Millie exclaimed. "Mortatistical Crumples Disease!" She gasped. "And it's fatal!"
Everyone gasped. "Mortatistical Crumples is also highly contagious!" MK added, eliciting another gasp from most of the cast.
"Okay, looks like it's quarantine time!" Chris said, backing towards the door with barely-hidden panic. "See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!" He gave them a quick wave, then dashed out the double door between the two vats. Both teams went over to it with shock on their faces as the sounds of power tools were heard on the other side.
The camera cut to Chris as he pounded a nail in with a hammer. It was one of many holding up a red banner with an orange skull-and-crossbones on it, set over several long pieces of wood that had been nailed up to bar the exit. "There's more to this disease than either team knows," he told the camera with an impish grin before walking away with a dark chuckle.
Another shot of the numbered studios was shown. "Hold on," Anne Maria spoke up as the shot cut back to the ten castmates in the challenge set. "How did Dirt Boy catch a fatal disease?"
“I'm sure it's just a twenty-four hour kind of fatal,” Scott hoped.
"We have to quarantine Scott! Stat!" Izzy said in a panic.
The camera showed Ripper furiously inflating a plastic bubble with a bicycle pump; the bubble had a yellow-and-black biohazard symbol on it. "Get inside now!" the bully shouted before Scott threw himself head-first into the bubble.
"Oh no!" Jasmine cried. "Brick has a sore too!" She pointed at the soldier boy's upper left arm, who took one look at the sore and began to wave his arm in a panic.
"It has to be a mistake!" Brick exclaimed.
"Hey!" Scott exclaimed from inside his bubble, another one getting inflated nearby. "Is there an exit to this thing?"
"There isn't one!" Ripper shouted as he continued to pump and Brick got into his bubble.
"Why didn't anyone tell me that before I jumped in?!" Scott griped.
“Okay, everyone just calm down!" Chase said.
"Agreed," Jasmine spoke up sternly. "We should make sure no one else is infected. Symptoms of Mortotistico Crumple's Disease include explosive diarrhea..."
"Oh no!" The camera cut to Chase as his bowels began to groan and he ran into a nearby portable toilet with a panicked look on his face.
"Itchy lips," Jasmine continued as the shot cut to Justin, who suddenly bit his lip.
"My… my lips," he moaned. "They're on fire!" He began to frantically rub and scratch at them, leaving them swollen and red.
"Sudden hot flashes," Jasmine listed off as MK began to sweat profusely and tug at her jacket. "Sea sickness," Ripper turned green and vomited. "Speaking in tongues," Izzy was the next to be affected as she babbled incoherently and indistinguishably with her eyes rolling upwards, which continued even as Jasmine listed the final symptom, "and temporary blindness."
"Everyone can see, right?" Jasmine asked as she checked over the castmates’ current states. "That's good to know," she said in relief before walking forward and bumping straight into Brick's bubble. "Oh no," she said in newfound panic. "I'm the one who's blind!"
Confessional: Anne Maria
"I know this is a reality show," Anne Maria told the confessional camera in a serious tone, "but I doubt that Chris would allow us to actually die on national television!"
Confessional Ends
The scene cut to Chris himself watching from his control room, leaning back in his chair with his legs propped up on the desk in front of him. "You'd think we wouldn't," he told the camera, "but, just imagine the ratings!"
Back in the quarantined set, the camera panned across the room to show that everyone except for Anne Maria, Millie, and the bubbled Brick and Scott were now laying on top of stretchers, groaning and moaning.
“This is super bad,” Millie said. “We have to do something.”
“Do you mean taking their temperatures, because we only have rectal thermometers, and I'm not in the mood to joke around with them,” Anne Maria responded.
“I wasn't even thinking about that at all,” Millie stated. “Joking with diseases is not funny at all.”
“Obviously, but have you noticed we're the only ones who didn't take part in the studying all-nighter, and we're the only ones who haven't been infected?” Anne Maria asked while looking over everybody.
“I'm not so sure about this supposed disease,” Millie mused. “We need to get our hands on one of those textbooks. There has to be something they missed.”
“I’d do it if Chris didn’t seal off the only exit,” Anne Maria argued.
"There’s another exit over there," Millie pointed to the Grips' platform, which was now sitting on the floor empty of body parts. The chain still led up to a hole in the ceiling where the reel was situated.
"Oh yeah. How in the world did I not notice that?" Anne Maria droned sarcastically before the two made a dash for the platform.
"I still haven’t forgotten you pushing me off the diving board a few days ago, so don’t think I’m scared of pulling the platform as high as possible," Millie informed as they stepped onto the platform and pulled down on the chain, making them ascend.
The footage flashed forward to the outside of the studio as the two girls jumped down from a ladder on the wall of the building. “You grab a textbook, I'll look in the kitchen,” Millie instructed before they split off in opposite directions.
Confessional: Millie
"I really hope that the disease is fake," Millie explained in the make-up trailer. "There were some diagnoses and symptoms in the textbook that I've never heard of before, but I've studied a lot about diseases to be familiar with a selective few."
Confessional Ends
Back inside, Scott was shown to be rolling around in his bubble. "How long has it been since I got in this bubble?" he groaned.
"I don't want to hold onto my bladder for more than an hour!" Brick cried while covering his groin with both hands.
"My lips," Justin groaned on his stretcher. "Of all places, why my lips?"
"I'd kiss them to make you feel better, but I'm not a princess and you are not a frog," MK said, sitting up on the stretcher next to him; Jasmine and Chase were visible in a row behind them. "And even then, I am not an animal kisser."
Ripper was sitting against one of the walls, writing something on a piece of paper with a bucket of vomit next to him. “To my parents; don't let my brothers keep the money I've taken from weaklings in the past.” He paused to throw up into his bucket before writing again. “To my brothers; don't even think about stealing my stash from me, especially you, Wolfgang! From your best son, Richard Kennedy.”
The double doors between the vats were thrown open by Millie and Anne Maria. The camera pulled out as the other cast members moaned, and the two young women stepped into the room – the Jersey girl holding a textbook, and the author with some kind of canister.
"Who's there?" Jasmine asked.
"Simmer down, everyone," Anne Maria said. "We're just here to expose the truth about these textbooks, which are actually bogus." She held the book she'd brought up, and easily tore the cover off it. "The book covers are just cereal boxes." Her bowels started to growl, and with a panicked look, she dropped the book and ran towards the portable toilet. "I'll be right back!"
"It can be a crock," Jasmine sat up on her stretcher. "Nobody's faking the sickness!"
“No, but it's still untrue,” Millie interjected. “I just went to Chef's kitchen, and I found this "cheese". The camera focused in on the canister in her hand as she held it up, showing that it had an image of a cheese wedge on the label.
"Uh, what is in that parmesan?" Brick wondered innocently.
"It is not cheese, but it is," Millie tore off the label to reveal a second beneath it with an image of scratching hands on it, "itching powder and laxatives!"
"Chef!" Brick muttered under his breath. "Why did he not inform me?"
It was then that Anne Maria burst back out of the portable toilet followed by a cloud of foul odor. "That explains the diarrhea and itchy lips."
"And I didn't get sick since I'm the only one who didn't eat the pizza," Millie added.
"What about the sores on Brick and Scott?" Chase asked.
"As for those," Millie laughed lightly, walking over to her quarantined teammate. "They're just pepperoni pieces that got stuck on you when you likely fell asleep."
Brick reached over to touch his sore, and it peeled off easily. "She's right!"
Scott also touched his own sore and it also peeled off quickly. "I was suckered! Now can somebody let me out of here now?"
"So wait," MK spoke up, "the disease is fake?"
Jasmine was the first to react, sitting up and blinking. "By golly. I'm not blind anymore!"
"And I can talk normally!" Izzy cheered.
"And I'm not gonna throw up anymore!" Ripper added. "We've been cured!"
"Could I be let out now?!" Brick pleaded. "I have some urgent business to take care of!"
"I'm comin’," Anne Maria rushed over to the bubble and simply popped it with her fingernail. Both of them winced as the bubble burst, and Brick immediately rushed over to the portable toilet.
"And don't forget about me as well!" Scott spoke up, rolling his bubble into the middle of the room.
Izzy took out a pin, popping her teammate's bubble. “This was all first year med school syndrome!” she said. “Too much studying and too little sleep can make you think you've got every disease in the book!”
"Congratulations, Killer Grips!" the voice of Chris McLean came suddenly, the camera pulling out to show the host descending from the ceiling on another chain. "You just won the challenge!"
The five Grips began to cheer and celebrate. "Brilliant diagnostic skills, Anne Maria and Millie. Way to suss it out. And, for your reward," Chris continued, frowning and looking down at his empty hands. "Knew I forgot something. Just a sec!" he said before stepping back onto the chain's foothold and raising back out of the room.
Confessional: Anne Maria
"This challenge was certainly… something," Anne Maria confessed. "I can't believe that I had to play the role of doctor just to tell everybody about the so-called disease being a lie. Who knew tainted pizza could make you have hot flashes and sea sickness?”
Confessional Ends
"One thing's for sure. I'm double checking my food from now on if I want to prevent temporary blindness or having to speak in tongues," Jasmine told the Grips as the footage cut back to them.
“Once again, the pizza was too good to be true,” Brick commented. “You made a good call not eating any slices, Millie.”
“I had no idea that there were laxatives put onto it,” Millie claimed. “If I wasn't so invested with the book, I'd probably eat the pizza and fall victim to the sickness just like you guys.”
It was then that Chris returned, descending down on the same chain as before but now carrying a covered platter. "As I was saying," he said as he walked towards the Grips, "for your reward!"
He removed the cover and the camera zoomed in on what lay beneath – five picture frames, three in back and two in front, each containing a photograph of a different person. The first on the left was a light purple cat. The second was a confident-looking Hawaiian woman with black long hair wearing a yellow tracksuit and red hoop earrings. In the middle was a teenage girl, pale with brown hair tied in a bun and a beige tank top. Fourth was a smiling white man; he had no hair, had golden dog tags around his neck, and was dressed in a dark green military outfit. And on the right end was an elderly black man with white curly hair, a white mustache covering his mouth, and a dark orange collared long-sleeved shirt.
"That's my cat Whiskers!" Jasmine said excitedly as the shot panned across the photos.
"And that's one of my girlfriends Vanessa," Anne Maria declared.
"Yup!" Chris told them. "One of you gets a whole spa night away from this cruddy studio lot, with your very best friend! So, who's the lucky stiff?"
“I'd kill for a spa day, even if it's with my mom, so how about letting me have it?” Justin smiled widely at his team.
“I have some things I want to talk about with my father,” Brick suggested.
“Now wait just a minute…” Jasmine interrupted as she, Brick, and Justin started to argue over who should get the prize.
“Can all of you shut up!!” Anne Maria ceased the fight, causing everyone to look at her. “As much as I would love to be away from this trashy film lot, I say we should let Millie have the reward.”
"Wait, me?" Millie asked in astonishment. “How come?”
"Clearly, you did the most research out of all of us, and you won the challenge for us," Anne Maria answered.
“You did say that the person who contributes the most should claim the reward,” Brick brought up.
“And with you also not eating that pizza, you've certainly earned that spa night,” Jasmine smiled.
“I don't want to be left out, so okay then,” Justin agreed with a shrug.
"Chris, the Killer Grips came to a decision," Anne Maria said before giving Millie a light shove forward.
"W-wow," Millie said softly as she began to tear up. "This is really generous!"
“Just accept the offer before I trade places with you,” Justin said.
"Eeeuuughh," Chris said in disgust. "Clean up on aisle two!" he called, and moments later, a pair of young white men in white work outfits walked through the open door, one of which carried a push broom. They disappeared off-screen for a moment, then reappeared with one pushing Millie towards the door and the other sweeping up after.
"Thank you for allowing me to take the reward!" Millie said as she allowed herself to be escorted out, wiping away her tears with her hands.
The scene cut outside as Millie walked up to the beaten-down Lame-o-sine. The door opened, and she smiled and stepped inside.
"Granddad!" the writer said happily as the shot moved inside to show her hugging the white haired old man who had been seen in one of the pictures. "I've really missed you!"
"I missed you too, Millie," the man said as he hugged his daughter. "Don't get my favorite shirt wet now. I got it dry cleaned."
"Sorry," Millie said as they broke their hug. "I have a lot to talk to you about ever since I competed in the first season."
Her grandfather smiled proudly. "Spill the details. I can tell you had a ball, but don't blame me if I start to doze off more than I do while writing best selling books."
"I'm not that boring!" Millie laughed cutely. "So it all started when I was dropped off on the dock..."
"Sheesh," Chris cringed as the scene cut to him in his control room. "Talk about a loving family! Hopefully they'll get their dullness smoothed while they're at the spa." He pulled a lever on the desk, cutting the monitor feeds to static, and stood up. "So, will the Grips' winning streak last? Or will they fall apart and lose their teamwork? Find out next time, on Total! Drama! Action!"
(Roll the Credits)
(Bonus Clip)
“That spa night was amazing!” Millie told the camera while in the trailer. “The manicures and pedicures were to die for, and the facials and mud bath really smoothened the rough parts of my skin. Granted, this spa night wasn't as fun as the two-day resort back in Camp Wawanakwa, but thankfully, I didn't have to eat any disgusting food this time, so that's an upside. Want to know something interesting? Granddad was more into the spa treatments than me, but don't tell him that I said that to you,” she added with a giggle.
Eva - 14th
Geoff - 14th
Izzy - RETURNED
Trent - 12th
Sky - 11th
Killer Grips: Anne Maria, Brick, Jasmine, Justin, Millie
Screaming Gaffers: Chase, Izzy, MK, Ripper, Scott

Skipping over tons of details I was a day one player of OW1. Didn’t play it after 2020 then played OW2 for a bit when it came out but dropped it again until March this year. I have been only playing comp since then. I now have 12,300 comp points that I’ve been saving because I wasn’t sure which characters I wanted gold with but finally decided I wanted JQ, DVA, Moria and Ashe. I go to buy them yesterday and I couldn’t. Thought maybe it was a bug or something only to discover blizzard did this on purpose for people to get jade weapons. What the actual fuck.. who was the genius that decided this was a great idea? So now ultimately all those points are useless until February when they transfer to LP. Who was the fucking jackass that thought the horrendous “jade” baby vomit green was the best choice for a new skin? I’m so butthurt rn because that was the whole goal I was working towards and now the only character jade works well with is my Lucio and I guess Moira’s mythic skin (barely). Just fuck man what a sad day.
Edit: My bad everyone apparently it’s just a bug rn. I was tweaking for no reason.

Bakura sits in the doctors office with painstaking patience. He silently rubs his abdomen which has swollen more since the past few months. A young, tan asian doctor comes in and tells Bakura to lift his shirt so she can take a scan asking him with adorably flawed English.
He embarrassingly raises his shirt to reveal the package. He has been gestating whoever’s child that was for 8 months and it was time to get his first look at the baby. He looks at that gray screen with defeat and a sleeping boy in his eyes. He holds in his silent torment agonizing that child remembering what Marik told him when he impregnated him as Téa. The doctor notices Bakura’s face and her eyes ask his. She is about to speak when another voice interrupts from the hall. “Amy can I see you for a minute? It’s about Stephens.”. She sighs and looks to Bakura. “I be back in about 10 or 15 minute” she says. Bakura solemnly nods as the kind woman leaves him shut in with misery.
A few minutes pass and Bakura notices the baby tilting his head and smiling at Bakura. Grumbling from his lower body he hears that obnoxious voice again. “MOOOMMM WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY BEETHOVEN? I WANT SOMETHING TO LISTEN TO WHILE I’M IN THE WOMB!”. Bakura repulses back to his foe turned son. “I already told you I’m not playing any music right now.”. Marik complains back to his mother “BUT MUSIC IS GOOD FOR THE BABY! YOU’RE ALREADY A HORRIBLE MOM! WHAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! I HATE YOU BAKURA!!!!!”. Marik ferioucously starts kicking Bakura’s stomach nearly knocking them over.
Bakura painfully growls at his stomach in pain. “Don’t make me have to abort you because I’m pretty close to that option so if I were you I would shut your mouth and listen to me!”. The baby flinches and starts to giggle for a brief moment to the silence of the room. “AHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! YOU FOOL! ROE VS. WADE HAS BEEN DESTROYED SO YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GIVE BIRTH TO ME!” he booms through the room. Bakura goes weak and silently holds his womb… “no…”.
Marik begins to monologue about his plans for world domination after his birth. “…AND THEN I’LL KILL THE PRESIDENT. AFTER THAT I’LL BUILD MY OWN MILLENNIUM THEME PARK WITH A RECORD BREAKING ROLLERCOASTER! THE WINGED COASTER OF RA! THEN I’LL INVAD-“ he notices Bakura’s still, silent posture just to give Marik his time to shine. Marik growls like an angry teacher. “HEY! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?! MOM!”. No response. “MOMMMMMM!” Marik begins to kick and punch Bakura’s stomach, prompting him to puke. “DON’T MAKE ME START HAVING FUN WITH THIS BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL MYSELF!” he punches the stomach even harder to Bakura screaming, crying, and vomiting. Suddenly a doctor comes in but it’s not Amy.
A familiar young man with fire-like hair makes his dramatic entrance now with a doctors coat and the Millennium puzzle tangled with his stethoscope. “YUGI?!” Bakura cries. “I’m afraid your game has just begun Marik! And it looks like this is already your last turn!”. The epic camp of Dan Green’s vocal performance vibrates the whole room. Marik looks back with arrogance but a sliver of fear. “WHY LOOK WHO IT IS! THE PHAROH HAS COME TO DELIVER ME! IT’S A ROYAL REUNION AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!”. Yugi smirks back at the ultrasound screen. “When Roe vs. Wade was destroyed, any state on the field can negate abortion but you must have forgotten to read the fine print haven’t you?”. “EXPLAIN!”. “Not all states on the field do… and unfortunately for you; WE’RE NOT IN ONE OF THEM! So in this case Bakura and I can still sign this paper-“ Yugi dramatically pulls out an abortion paper like a card from a duel disc. “AND ATTACK YOU DIRECTLY!”. Marik finally shows true fear. “WHAT?! NO-NOOO?! YOU CAN’T! MOM MOM PLEASE! DON’T SIGN THAT PAPER! I’LL BE A GOOD BOY!!!!”. Yugi hands the paper to Bakura. “Quick Bakura! Sign that paper before your water breaks so we can finally send Marik to the Shadow Realm once and for all!”.
Marik shakes, punches, and kicks the stamina out of himself but Bakura stabilizes his posture and signs his name without even looking at the text much to Marik’s lament. “AGGGGGHHHHHH NOOOOOO!”. Yugi pulls out a pill to Bakura. “IT’S TIME TO DOSE!”. Bakura swallows the pill and watches the baby writhe and dissolve painfully. “I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!!!!! I HATE YOU ALLLLLLLLL!!!!!” He screams psychotically as the ultrasound shows his life points drop to 0.

For as long as I can remember, I have been able to see people's auras, Though, I don't know if I consider myself to be a psychic. Auras come in all sorts of colors and hues, and when people are excited or really emotional, their auras get bigger and brighter. I can see mine too, it's a nice purpleey shadeee There are other people (whom l've spoken to on online forums) who can see auras too. I'm not sure what an aura is exactly, I don't think anyone really knows, but most people think it's a visualization of our soul. I have never really cared much, since it doesn't seem to affect my life. I mostly see it as a fun little quirk, not some sort of power. I used to work in grooming tales vhannae organization ani they had hired a new guy. The weird thing is, this new guy (I'll call him Ravi ) and he didn't have an aura. Now, I have never ever seen a person without one, and sometimes a person's aura can be faint, ekdam ai thorai ani faint but Ravi straight-up did not have one at all. I couldn't exactly ask him why, as I figured he probably didn't believe in psychic shit, and would think I was crazy.
Well, I tried to let it go and not think about it, but I couldn't stop obsessing over it ani it started to get weird pachi I caught myself staring at him all the time, trying to make out even a hint of something. There had to be a reason, right? I found myself focusing on him, I would always eat lunch in a spot where I could look at him. (Sounds like tyo creepy stalker shit but anw) Now here's where it started to get even weirder: ravi never brought lunch. During our break, he would sit in the corner of the room on his phone alwayssssss He never ate or drank anything, not even water(bly manor ko hanna wala shi) One day I couldn't stand it, and I sat by him and offered him half of my roti and kauli ko tarkari Ravi declined and told me he just wasn't hungry like how k Well, that didn't make sense to me, I mean, he skipped lunch every single day, surely he had to be hungry sometimes, right? Ki k?
Ek din Ravi mentioned a football game coming up that Sunday, and asked if I wanted to come over and watc thought this was weird like jiskera vhaneko jasto . I barely knew this guy, and he already inviting me over to his place like we were friends xya creeepy k aba mailae deko food xai na khanae rae ani asking me to come over FFS I tried to think of an excuse at first, but then I figured that maybe, if I went to his place, I could discover a reason as to why he was so weird. Tara I didn’t go I mean how tf could I ? Right ? What if he like killed me ? Ate me ? Hhahaahahba So, that Saturday I came home did my daily chores and slept and as soon as I feel asleep Sunday came and I went over to Ravis it felt ekdaaaamm real , His house was small tara nice, and he came out onto the dhoka to greet me. He invited me in, and he seemed very happy for some reason . Usually he didn't talk to anyone at work, but as soon as I went into the house he started yapping like bak bak bak bak . He asked me how I liked work, what my favorite football team was( man city ) if I had a significant other and overall he was being very nice. I shivered a bit, as his house was freezing very colddddd . He turned on the football game and we watched and made small talk. I can't remember much of what he said, but it was all boring, pointless stuff anyway, like what he thought of work, and what books he liked to read. The whole time I was trying not to stare at him, at his weird, auraless body even in sapana I noticed that ravi was sweating despite the temperature of the house which was chisooo for me . About an hour into the game, Ravi excused himself to the bathroom. Well, I sat there for about fifteen minutes in his cold ass living room, badi hola aajhai and he didn't come back like gayeb k . I heard a weird noise come from the hallway, so l got up to check it out. I found the bathroom, and could hear a sound coming from inside, like someone was throwing up. I knocked and asked if everything was alright, and ravi coughed a bit ani said he was fine. I figured he must have gotten food poisoning or something. I hurried back into the living room, and I wasn't sure what to do. I was getting uncomfortable; ravi was really friendly but there was something off about him. Maybe I am more psygal than I previously thought, maybe I had some sort of strange intuition, because I felt like something wasn't right. After another ten minutes, my throat started to get dryyy ani went into the kitchen, grabbed a cup and put it under the water dispenser .Well, nothing came out.
I opened the fridge. There was nothing in it, and it wasn't even on, just a dark fridge of empty shelves. Curious and weirded out, I looked in the other kitchen ko daraz and the pantry. All empty. Khali khali khali I heard the bathroom door open so I quickly went back to the couch. Ravi was more sweaty than before, and his face was red, so I figured he had to have been vomiting. I asked him if he was alright, but he said it was nothing. We still continued to watch the football game rae (weird) until it ended. I was about to get my ass out of there, but Ravi said he wanted to show me something. I told him I really had to be going, but he insisted. So, I followed Ravi down ko floor ma , which was way colder than the upstairs. It was really dark, only a single tubelight . People's aura's normally are more visible and shine in the dark, so it was weird seeing him shrouded in darkness. My own aura was shining very bright because I was so nervous. We reached the tala, and I saw that on
God nvm ….
I know I'm stupid, and what I did was really, really fucking dumb ( even if it was a dream because I can bend most of my dreams to my will )
My memory isn't the best, but I remember everything Ravi said after that: "It's not worth it, it's not worth it... I'm sorry." I was going to ask what the fuck Ravi was talking about, but my mouth wouldn't open. I tried walking forward, but my legs wouldn't move. I tried raising my arms, but they too were stuck in place. It was like I was frozen, like a statue.(aaithan vayae jasto ) The room brightened alik . Ravi coughed, and I swear I saw blood on his hand. He said something quietly, words I didn't understand, before turning away from me. He kept saying he was sorry, over and over as he walked back upstairs. I think I had tears in my eyes a that point. Like k vayo vayoooooo ekaichoti The following hours seemed like a dream in a dream . You know how, even if you can't see, you can tell if there is someone behind you? I felt that, felt a presence standing behind me. I felt hands on my shoulders, sharp claws digging into my skin. My head pounded, and the room was spinning, I felt like I was going to be sick. Vomit aaula jasto I felt an immense pressure. I tried to scream, tried to yell for help, tried to beg for my life, but my mouth remained shut tyakkai aaithan vaye jasto I closed my eyes, waiting for the worst, and opened them again , I was in the dark feriii Suddenly, I could move again. I was in my room woken up all sweatyyyyy and terrifieddd ! Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I went to work next week . Ravi had an aura, bright and green (aakha khanae ) . He seemed much happier. He mingled with all coworkers and brought food during lunch. He avoided me though, and I avoided him too I didn’t wanna see his face !
Ever since the incident at his house wala dream , it’s different I feel weird , and I'm starving because everything I eat tastes like so weirdddd !! I have a doctor's appointment scheduled voli But I can't bring up the worst of my concerns: my aura wasss gone.
I woke up and the aura is still gone !

As the title said, Bile Titans are now buggy as hell. If you get too close and touch their leg, you die. Even if you are nowhere near their vomit, you get slowed down anyway, no matter what you do. Their hitbox is a mystery; their green belly seems not to be a part of their organic body, and exploding it does not stop Bile Titans from spewing the green stuff or provide any real benefit. The number of them spawning in difficulties 8 and 9 is just not fun to deal with. Not to mention, their corpses are buggy as hell, and sometimes you just get stuck and die because of that. AH, please put this near the top of the fix-it list.

I (27F) have an older brother, 33M. We didn't get along very much as kids due to the age gap, not for my lack of trying. I never really understood why my brother didn't really like spending time with me, because he was one of my favorite people in the world, despite all his bullying.
For context, I'll give some examples of what my brother has done to me over the years with some vague age ranges of when they occurred.
When I was about 3, my brother convinced me that red was orange and orange was red because I was learning my colors in preschool. He also used to steal food like tater tots off my little high chair tray and would pretend he didn't do anything when my mom checked on why I was crying (I was NOT a fussy baby/toddler, so it set off alarm bells when I did.)
I think when I was 4 or 5, my brother came into my room after I had already been put to bed, and he woke me up. Thing is, he was hovering over me with a scary mask on, only the hallway light, and a butterknife. Not sure I really have to explain why that was traumatic. I'm still afraid of masks to this day.
When I was around 10-12, my brother kept drinking all the milk or kool aid that I would make and never replenish/remake it. I told him to stop, he wouldn't, of course. My mom was fostering other children and didn't have time for squabbles like this. So I very visibly spit on top of the kool aid pitcher and left the lid off so it was seen. What does my (reminder, 17-19) brother do? He wrenches the bowl of cereal I'm currently eating out of my hands, spits in it, and shoves it back at me hard enough that it spilled all over me. Now, I'm not an angry person. I'm not a violent person. But I was still a child and fed up with being bullied by someone who was/almost an adult. I never tried getting physical before because I was so much smaller, but I hit puberty kind of early. So I splashed the bowl back at him to see how he liked it. He threw me to the ground and hit me. My mom had to break us up and told us we were both to blame, so he didn't even get punished.
Several times, he would turn the lights off on me when I was on the other side of the room in the basement away from the switch, because I was afraid of the dark for a very long time.
We had Sonic Adventure 2 we shared. If we ever fought about something, or I reminded him it was my turn, he threatened to say goodbye forever to my chao. I am extremely soft hearted so that accomplished what he wanted.
Sometimes I would notice my things go missing. I had assumed maybe my mom put them away somewhere and forgot, but I'm pretty sure I know what happened to them. Especially gamecube games-- Those discs were tiny! He was pawning them for drug and booze money. One time he was drunk and admitted he had been selling his adderall for other drugs. That came to a head one terrible Christmas Eve. Brother was home for the holiday and I'm not very clear on what events led up to it, but my parents caught my brother in the bathroom with a baggie of various drugs that he was already doing. He insisted it was just weed, but my parents didn't believe that. I wouldn't know, I only briefly saw the bag, but it was full of both a large green ball of like leaves and lots of white powder. It was a vicious screaming match for a few hours. I hid out in my room on a different floor and played a video game as loud as I could so I didn't have to hear my family. The screams died down after a while, and I cautiously went out of my room. My brother had left the house for a while. I had a few holiday assignments and decided to just crank them out while my family cooled off, and I did it at the dining room table because that's where our Christmas tree was too and I desperately needed that good cheer magic. I was quietly writing, not saying anything, not making much noise, when my brother came back in the house. He stopped off at the kitchen for something and muttered something rude and belittling to me. At this point I'm a preeten-early teen and he had already ruined the day that had always been magical to me before, as my grandma used to stay over with us on Christmas Eve. She had died rather recently at the time. And I can't tell you exactly what I said. I think I've blocked out as much as I can. I made some snide remark, something like 'at least I don't do drugs' and in the next second I was yanked out of my chair. My brother picked me up by the neck and slammed me against the wall. I know I clawed and kicked against the wall as hard as I could. I blacked out, and I woke up on the floor with my parents absolutely screaming at him that he could have killed me. As a side note to the whole ordeal, he never apologized, and it's made my adult life a lot harder as weed becomes more and more commonplace. Just the thought of it used to send me in a panic attack, I could feel the hands choking me again. I've gotten better about dealing with it, but I still refuse to have it in any part of my life whatsoever. It's cost me a few relationships.
When I was in college, my brother had moved back in with me and my parents because his girlfriend dumped him for being a piece of shit that worked at walmart and did nothing but drink all day despite having a state paid scholarship, that he wasted, because he couldn't keep his GPA above 2.8. He was a music major. The classes he took were things like 'History of Jimi Hendrix' and 'The Beatles'. He just partied too much to even attend class. He took the dog they got with him, not at all prepared for her. The dog is a high energy breed that is difficult to train, and we had two small 5-10 pound dogs at home. At 1 year old, bro's dog was about 30 pounds. He often left for several hours during summers/breaks when I was home, without telling anyone, knowing that I would either hear the dog cry if he crated them and feel bad and let them out or that I wouldn't banish them to a crate if they were already in a room with me. The dog bullied our other dogs and bit at everyone. Dog was incredibly overly protective of my brother-- Trait of the breed. I was back at college for a few months and had spent a good month mourning the loss of a 5 year relationship. I never really heard anything from him. Then out of the blue, my brother asks me if I can let him and dog stay for the night (we live 2 hours from the college) because my mom had kicked him out. The dog had bit her and she snapped at my brother to control his f'ing dog and he responded by calling her, the woman who birthed him, payed for his other college costs, paid back loans he promised to pay to other family members, never charged him rent, and he called her a f'ing female dog. She snapped. While I agree that my mom was completely in the right to do that, I have too soft of a heart to just leave him with nowhere to go. He promised it was just a night so he could get in touch with some friends closer to home and figure shit out. I let him come to me.
I really regret that decision.
At the time I had a new roommate (she was very nice though, I liked her) and a sort of FWB who doted on me for a little while. I texted FWB and asked if he could bring some alcohol by-- I was still 19 at the time, underage to buy it, but FWB was old enough and agreed the man could probably do with a drink. We stayed out on our little porch area to make sure that we wouldn't be disturbing my roomie in any way while we socialized. My brother got really wasted. He told me terrible things about our deceased grandmother (who he knew I had really loved growing up, and had no idea about who she really was because she had always loved me). And he laughed. He laughed when he saw the discomfort on my face. My FWB was feeling pretty bad for me and suggested we go to bed because it was also like 3 in the morning and both of us had class in the morning, so we go inside. The apartment has a shared common room/living room, little kitchen area, and laundry closet. My bedroom is on one side and roomie's was on the other-- Both bathrooms are also ensuite to the bedroom. So I went in and changed out of my clothes into something comfier to sleep in and crawled into my bed, letting my brother do his own thing in the bathroom. I'm just trying to rest and suddenly my brother is pulling me out of my bed and dragging me out of my own room. He's yelling that he's taking my bed, did I really expect him to take the couch? And I'm not very confrontational. I'm flustered, tired, and honestly a little afraid after the neck choke incident. FWB steps in like a hero and tries to calmly explain that its my bed, and I will sleep in it, I have been kind enough to let him stay and he should not be so ungrateful. Brother fucking loses his mind. Starts screaming his head off about how selfish I am and how reliant I am on our parents and won't be able to do anything on my own as an adult (I was financially dependent on my parents at 19 while in college, shocker). He starts drunkenly trying to pick up his dog's toys and searching for his keys, and both FWB and I step in and tell him he can't go driving like this, after like half a bottle of fireball. He at least needs to sober up before he can drive. I stand in front of the front door, as my brother is still searching for his keys, and there is no way I'm letting him out of here right now. Brother has found his keys, and starts pulling at me and hurting me. Lucky for me, FWB had been a pretty good wrestler in highschool. He got my brother pinned down and I snatched the keys, hiding over by the sink in case I had to throw them in there. He's screaming his head off and my poor roommate comes out and asks what the hell is going on because she knows I'm very quiet and tend to keep visitors in my room. I'm like half sobbing trying to explain and the FWB, still pinning my brother, tells her that we're trying to keep him from drunk driving. My roommate does not play around with that. She was in nursing school, and had recently lost a friend to a drunk driver. I don't know how it worked, but she put on her stern nurse tone and told my brother that he was free to leave when he sobered up, or she herself would be calling the cops on him, and both me and FWB could press additional charges for assault. He reluctantly agreed to this condition and FWB let him off the floor, but sat in front of the front door just in case. When he was sobered up, he left, saying 'I hope you like mom and dad, because I'm not your family anymore'.
And that was devastating. I couldn't stop crying. My FWB went back to bed with me and laid me down in bed and let me cry until I passed out. He skipped his class that day to be there for me. I know I don't paint a good picture of my brother, but I did/do love him. I thought now that we were older that he'd mellowed out and we could be good friends like I always wanted. I mean, I made like 300 fake facebook accounts back in the day to vote for his band to be a headliner at a large concert. Just a few years prior when he was home on a break he introduced me to a TV show we binged and he let my lay on his shoulder. (I was/am very touch starved but paralyzed by fear that I'm annoying the other person, and all my friends were made later in life and are states away). When Pokemon Go came out we would take late night drives around quiet places of town while hunting pokemon together. We traded off the controller on online battlefield games and compared scores and the most ridiculous deaths. I really thought that he loved me too, finally, after years of resentment.
He didn't speak to me for 2 years. I didn't find out until later, but my parents lied for him on my behalf that he still loved me and was just annoyed, and gave me birthday/christmas presents that they told me had been from him, just that he was working. I really treasured those objects when I didn't know the truth about them. I got a really stupid mug with the first letter of my name on it in pink and zebra print (two things I don't really enjoy) but I used that thing every single day.
So, these are glimpses into my previous relationship with my brother. I don't really remember when he started speaking to me again, but I sure know he never apologized. He had finally hit rock bottom and asked my father to put in a good word for him at (insert facility with decent pay and good benefits but hard work), which he had previously rejected by telling my parents that it was a shit job. My brother's name got put closer to the top of the resumes. He got in. It wasn't easy work, or comfy sometimes, but it paid well enough to endure that, I guess. My brother used to be rather athletic.
Between the cut off point and then, my brother had worked at a (also generic job) a town or two over and hated the commute. He also happened to find a girlfriend with an apartment sort of close by. She didn't like having him over because of his dog, and almost never let him do any overnight. But now that my brother had a better paying job, she was willing to move in with him, of course. My brother bought a house in our home town and she came with it. She pays a ridiculously low amount of rent to my brother.
If she was home and brother wasn't, the dog stayed crated up because she didn't want to deal with it. Both of them worked, but her job isn't at all difficult. And yet somehow, sometimes pulling doubles, my brother ended up doing most of everything. My brother, who didn't learn to do his laundry until his 20s, ate pizza every single day, and had left used condoms on the floor of his bedroom in our parents house when he left. He did most of the cooking because she says she's bad at it. But will make pies for her mom. When the holidays came around, instead of discussing or rotating, they will always go to her family first. If my brother can come to ours at all. He often misses entire occassions (we don't go out big, but like, cmon. Hand your dad the gift card on his birthday at least, not 2 weeks later).
I also used to get to hangout or see my brother sometimes. Maybe once every few weeks, and it was fun! It was the friendship I had always dreamt of. Now I can't even get him to do anything online with me from the comfort of his own home. I don't have a single text from him this year past 1/27.
At first, we all understood. She was quirky. I was quirky. We share several similar traits and interests. I used to like that and be excited to have a family member like me, but now I dread the day she becomes family.
Let's start with the smoking car. Me and my parents were driving near his street so we could cut through to the highway, and out of nowhere, black smoke starts coming from the hood. My father tells me and my mom to get out and he'll get it to my brother's and out of the road to look at it and see what was going on. This was like.... early August. It was very hot outside. Since I've 'been in the house before' and 'know what it's like' I am 'allowed' to come into my brother's house to cool off. But GF refuses letting in either of them, referring to the messy state of the house. Which, okay, fair-- But its HER messes. My brother cleans up after her. I learned later that GF snapped at him about his family always coming over unannounced and how she has to hurry to put on a bra and everything is messy and we can't just drop in its rude! She says, as her mother and brother do the exact same thing, in a house she doesn't own. But my family let it be water under the bridge for now. My brother called me a f'in a'hole for telling my mom about the conversation. Because my mom was livid.
The next thing is my father. My dad's family has a pretty big history of strokes and heart attacks, and he's had one heart attack. My dad had been in pain all day and he finally gave up at about 3AM and woke my mom up to drive him to the hospital. I don't have a license at this point, so there's little that I can do. My mom says the surgery he probably needs isn't even done here and they're transferring him, my mom asked me to keep my brother in the loop. So I told him about this and about the time they would reach the hospital, because my mom dad gran and I share locations. I asked if he would take me up, I had a bag full of things that might make him more comfortable or less stressed. The hospital they're taking our dad to is a little over an hour away. Everyone is more or less frantic. My brother is talking to work for him, I'm making sure that for however many hours that our pets will be okay and talking to my mom's work. We drive there and nothing major happens, but it was so... Uncomfortable? Tense. The thing that's hurting my dad is a blocked or enlarged blood vessel that cuts off oxygen to the tissue around it, which, cells die, and you really need your colon, the area my dad has an issue with. The thing is, until they can do the surgery, it was like he was a ticking time bomb. My brother takes me home when visitor hours are over and I hold my dogs tight. The next day is filled with lots of pricks pokes and prods at my dad so we don't go that day. We do go the day after, Friday. My brother's GF is in the truck with him. I'm not really paying attention to much of anything because for all we know my dad could die before we got there. Brothers' GF goes to get some snacks from the long drive and the fact that she's not exactly family yet. My brother, mom and I rotate who is away in the cafe and eating with GF. I see GF and my brother whispering angrily at each other. She's tugging at his arm. I manage to pick up 'We're going to miss my mom's dinner!" And I am just stunned. Her mother has a small family dinner every single friday and makes meatloaf. His GF wanted us to head back from our critical father, because she didn't want to miss a weekly event. And I really have to hand it to my brother for not snapping right then and there. He waited until we were in his truck and out of the hospital parking lot and says "How in the f'ck do you say something to me like that? Like, for real, wtf!" GF starts crying and says its a family tradition and her mom is all she has left-- False. She has her mom, sister, and brother, at least. Her father died in a car incident that hospitalized her as a kid. So my brother snaps again like 'are you seriously telling me you value a f'ing loaf of meat over a life? we have no idea what will happen, my dad could die within the hour and i'm not there, he could die tomorrow, how long d-" And GF cuts him off wailing that her dad is dead. Which, yes, is a horrifyingly traumatic experience. But she does not get to play the 'my dad is dead' card ten years after the fact, to justify leaving our possibly dying father before visiting hours ended. She tried to emotionally blackmail my brother by apologizing to me through tears that this must be so hard for me but honestly I was doing my best to block it out, staring at pictures of dogs in hammocks. I shared my brother's sentiment.
But wait, there's more! Remember that car accident GF had years ago? You would think that, if nothing else, she would be empathetic for someone/their family in a car crash? You'd be wrong! I was rear ended at 60 mph right in front of my house after coming home from work (the ambulance took me straight back to work lmao). The physical damage to me was pretty minimal, bruises and a sprained ankle because my foot was pressed on the brake, waiting for an opportunity to cross into the driveway. This was late October 2020. Covid regulations were pretty strict. So I was alone in a room for a while and in pain. My parents had followed the ambulance. My dad had actually heard the crash and went 'huh she usually comes home now' and runs over after seeing the wreckage. My parents had the crash footage, grainy, but there thanks to the cameras set up outside our house. I hadn't realized it by that point but I had a pretty good concussion, and I was hurt, and scared. I was texting my mom constantly but my dad had left his phone at home in the rush to get my mom and she hadn't charged her phone, they'd been in the parking lot for like an hour and a half already. They promised me they'd be back soon, they'll just pop in and let my brother know since he lives nearby. My parents didn't even ask to like, stay and sit with them instead of a cold car. My mom asked to pee and to borrow a charging cable (they had one, GF has the same model phone) given the, you know, situation. My brother barely cracked the door to speak with them. He said no, because GF was uncomfortable, because they were waiting for their second negative test to come in. Read that again. They had tested negative. It's not like my mom would go near anyone to the bathroom either-- The back door that's used more often is literally inches away from the bathroom door. My brother didn't even try to argue with his GF about his own home and some empathy for someone else dealing with a car crash. It absolutely disgusted my parents. And later on brother told me he got another earful about our parents just dropping in without notice and its like? Excuse me? Its his house!
Unfortunately, a tire popped on my parents' car when we were nearby. It was like, 3 years since the first issue with the car. I went inside and asked my brother to let my mom in because its raining. GF did not like that, and didn't realize I could overhear her down the hall, arguing with my brother and his family again. I went over the next day to my brother and he was actively cleaning up GF's mess so it wouldn't be as 'embarassing' for her. I sat him down and talked to him as realistically as I could. I have depression, anxiety, emotional abuse trauma, agorophobia, and very few friends. But I'm okay. He started very quietly expressing his frustration towards GF. She doesn't do much around the house or contribute financially, lets her family over but not his, him doing most of the cooking despite regularly pulling 12s. I sat there calmly, because of course I knew this. This is what makes the situation somewhat even more sticky. I asked my brother, "Do you actually love someone like that? Or are you afraid to be alone?" He's been in one relationship or another for most of my life. Lately he had been confiding in me about how bad his mental health was falling and I was like 'that's not a slump, that's. that's depression.' So when I asked my brother the question, he hesitated. That spoke loudly enough in my opinion. But then I also saw my brother's face crumpling as he admitted he just didn't want to be alone. GF wants babies but my brother knows with her medical history and condition on top of being so lazy and bluntly told me she would not be a good mother and hopes to God that day doesn't come. He is so unhappy being with her. We both heard the rustling of a comforter and my brother lowered his panicky voice and asked me to leave so she doesn't see me here. That is incredibly messed up, especially since its his name on the house. I haven't seen my brother at his house since then, and that was over 2 years ago.
During COVID, GF started working from home, and it stayed that way. My brother still takes care of most things.
In the mean time, he's proposed to her. Yeah. I managed to save things when all our faces dropped at the Christmas dinner he announced their engagement at. My brother calls her by a nickname that was also the name of a beloved family dog that had passed away only one month ago. My dad and my reactions at that time were genuine confusion and sadness about him bringing up our passed pet. Everything was pretty quiet after that. When we got home, I texted my brother and told him that hearing our dog's name in conversation after losing her so recently shattered us, be we were, in fact, happy for his engagement.
I lied.
None of us want him to marry her. I dread the day that I get a wedding invitation or GF shows up pregnant. She would be a terrible mother. My brother is aware of the fact that my parents think she's a rude, inconsiderate brat that only thinks of herself, from that earlier conversation that I talked to my parents about. My mom snapped that they don't have to like her, all they were required to do was be civil, and we are, so shut up.
At larger family functions GF tends to gravitate around me. Like I said, we have similar interests and personalities. And I have never told her to get lost or had it in me to upfront tell her we don't like her. I am absolutely horrible at confrontation, but my patience is wearing thin.
Last year my parents set up brunch for Mother's Day. We were at the table when my brother called and said they were going to urgent care because GF had another one of her migraines that make her vomit. Which, she takes medicine and has injectable solutions. Some situation always comes up with her right before my brother would come to us.
My parents tried again with the Mother's Day brunch last week. On the day of, he said that he was too tired to come, can we try next week? Please insert the eyeroll of the century.
Because of our clear dislike, my brother doesn't often bring his GF around anymore on the offchance she lets him. It occurred to me that my parents planned the same brunch as last year, and I was dreading my question. "Is GF coming with us for brunch?" They don't know. All my brother did was confirm the time and place. The thought of having to deal with her in the morning and pretend that I don't see her for what she is, is already exhausting me. I can barely get my brother to even play online with me. I feel like this has been festering long enough that at some point, its all going to overflow at once. But I am absolutely disgusted by how she takes advantage of my brother's fear of being alone and how the world revolves around her.
I had a dream the other day, actually, it was a good dream. I was at their wedding, and the priest guy said the standard 'speak now or hold your peace' and I stood up and loudly shouted OBJECTION! Every single person in the room turned to look at me, one because I don't raise my voice like that, two my patience is vast, and three, to upset me to this level of shouldering my anxiety by making a spectacle of myself. I then explained every detail, especially how much she was charged for rent, that my brother admitted he wasn't happy, and I wanted better for him than to just be an ATM maid.
If I bring this up to my brother again, I may lose him forever. But if I don't, he may be miserable together. And on the third side-- Do I actually really want my brothers' friendship at this point? Like, I'm definitely fed up dealing with his GF like she is. Plus, I pointed out and reiterated to him before that he admitted he wasn't happy.
I am very, very quiet by default. Never got into much trouble. I was and still am a gentle soul at my core being. If things get to a point where I cross lines of polite manners and call someone out on their bs, people around know that someone did something almost unforgivable. I'm wondering if my brother would know that.
TLDR; Brother's fiancee is disliked for good reason. My brother has isolated. I miss him, but also never want to see him again. I want to remind him that this marriage isn't a good idea, but I don't want to antagonize him.

(long post.) Hi. My name is Nick. I posted my rare disease day story involving some of the findings that I had been detected back in 2021 & 2022. but that was a mere snapshot of what was going on. I had posted that story in january of last year & there have been a few new developments since then. For example I have a laryngocele. My geneticist has diagnosed a slew of conditions from craniofacial abnormalities to torticollis & there's a history of significant vomitting illnesses in childhood that changed into lower digestive issues later on. My most recent illness was the worst one I had yet & it took d3+k2 & b12 supplementation to calm it down after a year & a half of fatigue, diarrhea, that was preceeded by sore throat, coughing (this led to the laryngocele.) & sinus congestion. My geneticist has effectively given up because standard test like emg & blood work are underwhelming & is going to put me through WGS testing because Exome sequencing was unspecific. . .I feel like I should be ashamed of myself for putting myself through this. On top of this there's no support from family whatsoever. I feel like everyone's mistake child. :'(
Below is everything that I've dealt with up to this point form birth to now. . .
27 year old male 6 foot 3 inch between 160-170lbs & skinny male. Active male with a stored history of medical issues both physical & psychological stemming from birth. I was born with a stroke w/thrombocytopenia & minor complications including laryngomalacia, mild weight restriction at 2189 grams, undescended testicle, 2 small holes in the heart that healed w/out surgery, & being put on a home apnea monitor with nursing visits for a time. In childhood I would always have a head tilt. I also couldn’t fully turn my neck to the left for whatever reason. History of puking illnesses as a child that evolved into severe ibs (bile acid malabsorption) in late childhood, History of hives in childhood that would occur on the back, history of right arm jerks in childhood followed by jaw spasms in adolescence that lead to arthralgia. Grew pretty quickly & had speech delay until around 9 years of age.
Fast forward to the summer of 2019 there was a basement flood that turned out to be asbestos contaminated water. We got everything in my bathroom replaced along with carpet.
All was good for a while until I started getting repeated sore throat/coughing up yellow/green phlegm every spring starting in 2019 along with fatigue not getting better with rest & naps. I had developed cognitive issues at the time. This had gone on for at least 2 years. Got a pinched nerve in the neck along with swallowing challenges mostly with water before we moved in late 2021 & I had to address this somehow.
I saw a geneticist in august 2021. They noted some distinct facial features including “Small triangular face & jaw, small mouth, slightly arched palate, & teeth on lower jaw are a bit pointed.” with in the after visit summary an aortic hypoplasia due to heart murmur detection
(Most people would assume mold exposure but I urge you to keep reading because it gets weird & fast.)
I know this next part is highly controversial but it did give me relief from my pinched nerve. I had seeked care from a chiropractor. Everything was fine initially & then I developed a posture lean probably due to whatever I was fighting. I left him when it had stopped working. I also had cervical neck dystonia during this time (transient) I seeked the opinion of my gp at the time & he said it was pots & got some blood work done. All he told me to do was to take vitamin D3.
The abnormal results are as follows: Hematocrit: 51.4, BUN: 22, sodium: 145, carbon dioxide: 19, a/g: 2.3, vitamin D hydroxy-25: 26.3.
I started on vitamin D3+K2 immediately! I sadly would not get over the diarrhea & fatigue issue for another 17 months. I don’t know how I managed to drag myself to work during this awful time. I was experiencing chronic confusion & acute irritability for about a year. I got a different gp because the previous one hid the rest of my test results, on top of this he was pretty rude. After a simple exam she sent me in for imaging regarding concerns on my coordination/confusion. We ran b1 & it was fine. She also got me in with an ent about 6 months apart with follow up from a neurologist who gave his own opinion piece.
The results from my scan in December 2022 involving the brain w/out contrast were as follows:
“Impression: The cystic region in the right parietal lobe is consistent with a porencephalic cyst. There is hemosiderin deposition along the anterior margin of this, and this finding is associated with a perinatal hemorrhagic infarct or maybe associated with perinatal congenital hemorrhage.”
There were also small choroid plexus cyst but I assume everyone has those & they're harmless. This stroke was misdiagnosed for 26 years.
I also got spinal imaging done with results as follows: Impressions from first series of scans:
“Impression: moderate degenerative changes including multi level moderate severe neural foraminal narrowing. Mild accentuated kyphosis and leftward curvature of the upper thoracic spine.”
The second series of spinal findings were more accurate as follows:
“Dextroscoliotic curvature of the thoracic spine measured 26 degrees from the superior endplate of T1 to the inferior endplate of T12, additional levoscoliotic curvature of the cervical spine which measures approximately 13 degrees from C2 to T1, marked coronal imbalance with 18.1cm leftward coronal imbalance, & Accentuation of normal thoracic kyphosis.”
I did a second round of blood work in august 2023 after the original in july 2022 & the metabolic panel showed the following:
Creatinine serum: 1.42, potassium: 3.4, carbon dioxide: 16, Albumin serum: 5.3, A/G ratio 2.3.
In may of 2023 after an uneventful echogram they did a larynx mri with iv contrast with the following result:
“Imaging findings suggest a right anterior laryngocele versus laryngeal diverticular enlargement.”
Got in with a neurologist in June of 2023. We ran blood work & did a test for autoimmune encephalitis & paraneoplastic syndromes. All negative except for b12 at 210. He diagnosed a conjugate gaze palsy, unspecified ataxia, & cerebral ischemia. All he could conclude was that my b12 was causing my arm issues at rest & suggested b12 supplements. He suggested going to a spine surgeon which I turned down. He also said my stroke is an enlarged ventricle that puts me at risk for dementia.
To clarify the arm issue at rest, I’ll wake up with my arm in a different position than when I fell asleep & find it in positions that cause the arm to be numb. Even with putting a cushion between the arm & chest I still find it in arm numbing positions. So I reposition the cushion to prevent it from happening. But I still find the arm in different positions. During the day it’s mobile but there is an underlying grip problem.
A Gastro noted arthralgia in my jaw joints with unspecified esophagitis & childhood ibs that was thought to be celiac but that's not the case. I’ve been having arthralgia since moving states in 2017. It has gotten better with d3k2 & b12 especially supplementation.
Other symptoms are occasional feeling of brief difficulty in breathing; this issue also dates back to childhood, bier spots on hands as well as small tan raised spots on fingers. The bier spots will seem dilated in hot weather & I’ll feel a mild skin sensation. (I will have pictures for these.) I do get a heavy feeling in the head when standing up from squatting at work. History of hives in childhood that would occur on the back, history of right arm jerks in childhood followed by jaw spasms in adolescence that lead to arthralgia.
Saw my geneticist again & we noted quite a few new things like torticollis, history of puking illnesses from childhood, skull asymmetry(plagiocephaly?), deviated septum, mandible bump, & enophthalmos. He thinks hemifacial microsomia but I would be unopposed to alternatives.
Miscellaneous Carrier for cep290 mutation (maternal), small microduplication on 4th chromosome (paternal) but both have little to do with what's going on. We also did targeted testing for marfan & that was negative in 2019.
maybe I just need support through this-

Episodes started on 26th December 2023. Multiple days a month I’ll vomit all day. It’ll start with burps that taste like rotten eggs, followed by hours and hours of projectile vomiting. I will then not eat what I ate the day before an episode to rule out that food, even foods that have previously been “safe” I’ve thrown up the next day so not sure it’s an allergy/reaction. main symptoms are the belches. vomiting, extremely watery diarrhoea, my last episode my bowel movements at the end of the day had turned completely light green like mushy peas. Sorry for the TMI. doctor diagnosed me with acid reflux & prescribed lanzoprazole but still happening.