Neck pain spreading to arm

I (23m) lost my best friend (21m, I think) nearly two years ago. I'm not going to get into the whole ordeal here because I've previously posted about it in depth. (Here's a link to the post if you feel like reading it).
If you don't feel like reading that long post in addition to this long post, the only important context from there is that I've seen him a few times around my college. And I've seen him around since then.
I recently joined a discord server for one of the clubs at my college. Of course he was there. I first saw his name when he was responding to someone venting about a lost friendship. I saw my ex best friend reply that he'll find another friend that just as good as his old friend someday. My first reaction was "shit!" I later considered replying to it with a gif of the SpongeBob narrator say "One Eternity Later," but I decided not to. Aside from our failed attempt to reignite our friendship, I last saw and spoke to him in person in July of 2022.
Since then, I've had a few online friends—a few of us are extremely close. I would do anything to hug them. My social anxiety has made friendships difficult to make in person extremely difficult. I've had several people I wanted to be friends with at my college, but have been unsuccessful every time. I have been progressively closer every time. I was so fucking close with the most recent, which somehow makes the failure hurt so much more than the other four. The others felt like being hit on my arm with a stick, but this felt like a brick was flung at my stomach. If she were coming back next semester, I think I'd have been friends with her, but here we are. Still no irl friends. My SA is this wall that no matter how much of it I break down, there's always something left. No friends, just bloody knuckles.
At the moment, it's extremely difficult to see how close I was as a success. It's hard to see anything other than SA. It's hard to see through my SA when it seems like no matter how hard I try, it will always be a barrier. I know objectively that this is clear progress worth celebrating. This woman was almost my friend. I was so close! But my emotions pain a different picture.
It's been close to two years since I had an irl friend. I was friendless for over two years before befriending my ex best friend. My online friends are great but I want someone I can hug, someone go places with, someone who I can see with own eyes, someone who will ask how then can help when they know I'm upset. But I'm still waiting for that person to appear… still waiting. I'm still trying so hard to get overcome the SA that is putting me in this position.
Fuck SA! It ruined my life and the lives of so many others. Fuck SA!

Hi, so I have been rocking my 2007 Mazda 3 2.0L for about 8 years now, and before that, a family member had it for 3 years. Its got 215k miles, and if you know about first gen Mazda 3s, they get lighter with age. Literally. rust be darned. The car still runs, I am diligent with maintenance, and DIY whatever I can with the basic tools I have. RockAuto is my bestie. I cannot, however, replace the trailing arm bushing as it's beyond my capabilities.
I will be beginning a 3 year medical graduate program starting this summer. I'll earn about 64k, but after that 3 year period, I suppose, I'd be in a more comfortable position. I have a shared home loan with my spouse, about 1k/month commitment for home and utilities. I received scholarships and have about 14k in my student loans. I do not have kids, but I have 2 medium sized breed dogs (but my spouse has a SUV)
Now, this whole process to become a medical grad was tedious, expensive and painful. I thought I'd want to have something nice for myself for once. I have been frugal for most of my adult life, and still am.
I do love cars, but I won't spend money for the sake of having a badge (eg: BMW x1)
I live in the midwest but in a city so AWD is nice, but I've been doing just fine with my 148hp FWD Mazda 3 all these years.
I do want some niceties, such as the following:
Apple carplay - memory seats - heated seats - at least 32MPG combined - leatheleatherette - nice audio system
I also can drive stick or auto.
I also drive like a grandma. Efficiency give me a hard-on.
Here is what I was looking at, and the list is extensive, to which, I apologize.
Fun-ish cars: 19' Mazda Mx-5 ND2, 23' Acura Integra MT, 23' Mazda 3 HB Carbon
Practical Cars: 21' Mazda CX-5 NA, 19' Lexus ES300h, 20' Toyota Avalon Hybrid, 25' Toyota Camry LE
Honestly, I'm open to suggestions. It's going to be my daily.
Ps: I plan to keep my old Mazda 3 as well until the axles fails inevitably. It'll be local, for use around town.
TL:DR
Want new/used somewhat fun reliable car around 30k. Want Apple carplay - memory seats - heated seats - at least 32MPG combined - leatheleatherette - nice audio system.

Probably sounds dramatic, but I'm being the most serious I've ever been in my life.
Female aged 30. 5'3 and 129 lbs. No medical conditions or medications. Former smoker of both tobacco and cannabis products. Smoked about a half pack of cigarettes a day for 5 years. No substance abuse since. Never drink
About a month ago I developed a sudden general feeling of being unwell. It started with waking in the morning with headaches and nausea. The nausea is pretty much constant now and I often have a pain in my mid-back that accompanies it.
The headaches I believe are migraines. Strong throbbing often felt mainly behind my left eye. Sometimes relieved with otc meds, sometimes ending up hiding in a dark room and putting pressure on my eye which sometimes helps. Vomit almost everytime I get one.
I feel dizzy, faint and weak all the time. Pain in my neck, feet and hands.
So far I have been to my local ER for migraine relief, had a CT scan that was clear and all blood work was good.
Waiting for an appointment with a new PCP.
Today I haven't been able to get out of bed because everytime I move it is just a strong wave of nausea. The headache isn't bad, but it's always there very dull like if that makes sense.
I feel like I could sleep my life away and I have zero energy. Hardly enough energy to shower.
I'm really not depressed or anxious. This all came out of no where about exactly 5 weeks ago.
Any advice? Where do I go from here because the way I feel makes me think something is very wrong

Hi,
I (woman 28 yo, 50kg) have finished a course of 8 months of low dose Accutane (20mg a day) and after having spent MONTHS reading the various contributions of redditors, I would like to summarize my own experience and unexpected side effects in case this would be helpful for others
\\** Initial state of my skin and dose \\**
Moderate to severe acne (approximately 10-15 inflammed spots on my face on average), lots of dark spots on the nose ; a few rolling scars. Prescribed dose was 20mg a day for 8 months.
\* Summary - Effect on acne *\**
Very happy with the treatment which worked wonders with my acne. No purge (I was lucky). I could see after 2-3 weeks that I had less new acne coming and that the inflammatory acne already existing faded faster (the acne itself, not the PIH). On month 2 it was already very obvious that 80% of the acne had reduced and none was left by the 4th month apart from one very small spot here and there (very rarely). Everything totally disappeared by 6 months
\\** Side effects which I expected \\**

• Dryness: during the entire course: dry lips (first side effect, happend 8 days into the treatment), a little bit of dry eyes, dry skin and particularly the skin of my hands (little red rashes). Aquaphor Gel was my best friend
• Good hair: no greasy hair at all, more volume, more shiny and easier to tame. Oh I miss the Accutane hair!
• Also, I had dry scalp during the 1st month but doing some masks with a mix of almond and argan oil every week was very efficient for me. This may explain why my hair was healthier.
• I was really tired the first month but fortunately it went better afterwards and I could keep practicing sports
• some kind of joint pain (?) in my heels, as if those were a little bit strained, which lasted the first 3 months but which I only felt when standing up after being seated. Based on the advice of some redditors, I took collagene powder every morning to help with joint pain starting from month 3 and I don't know whether this helped or whether the joint pain would have disappeared by itself.
• Increase of bad cholesterol as shown by blood test every months: based on some redditors' advice here and my derm instructions, I decided to take some Omega3 every day starting from month 3. It worked! The blood tests improved after I started doing it.
• Mood swings: I was lucky that i avoided all signs of depression, but I did have a few mood swings in the course of those 8 months, in particular in the first 2-3 months. Those were quite brief and not very serious but I could feel there was something a bit different (more "hormonal"?) in the way I was feeling things and reacting.
• Sun sensitivity: I was EXTREMELY cautious and wore spf every time there was more than 3 UV index. Still I got quite red and minor sun burnt twice in my cheeks just because I walked 15 minutes in the sun (moderate UV) without wearing a SPF. (Note that I am white but I have no particular sun sensitivy when not taking Accutane).
• Scars heal more slowly: while the inflammation of the acne was much shorter, the PIH stayed longer than usual (probably because my skin was dehydrated). I did not mind : I kept hydrating with creams and the PIH eventually disappeared entirely within 6-8 months

\\** Side effects I did not expect \\**
I have to admit that there were many side effects that I did not expect, despite my many readings on the subject:

• Better appearance of rolled scars due to my skin being more tight during the course. This advantage has disappeared after finishing the course when my skin got back to its normal tightness. Still it made me feel prettier while it lasted
• Periods: my periods, which had been very regular for YEARS, started becoming really strange and irregular starting from the 2nd month (coming for 2 days then disappearing for 6 weeks, then 3 very light days, then disappearing again for 2 weeks, coming back etc.). Important note: I did not take any hormones or oral contraceptive during the course and the only change in my life was taking Accutane. Those irregularities stopped approximately 2 months after I finished the course of Accutane. Derm said that I was not the first lady who reported this side effect to him.
• Fine lines around the month and the eyes (I had none before the treatment): this effect annoyed me because I really thought "am I getting rid of acne to replace it with prematured wrinkles?" and "isotretinoin is supposed to have an anti aging effect so wtf?". I could literrally see lines appearing on my face during the course of Accutane. My derm kept telling this was obvious deshydration as I did not drink enough water (I was supposed to drink 2,5L but I struggle doing 1,5L) and not to worry as those would fade after the end of the course. I am happy to say that now it is better, they are still a bit visible but they are fading indeed.... we will see how it goes.
• the ACCUTANE NOSE, as some people in this sub seem to call it: I had never heard of this effect before being at least until 5 months into the treatment. I normally have a small nose but on month 5, I started to notice there was something weird with it as if it was TOO thin (in a bad way in my case). Several relatives also asked me if I did something to it. None of us suspected Accutane until I saw a post on reddit about the Accutane nose. So... yep, I can confirm this is definitely a thing at least for me (and in my situation it was not a good thing esthetically speaking).
• Minor nose bleeding between month 6 and month 8 (no huge amount of blood but still a little bit once avery 3-4 days). Derm said this was a common side effect and told me to gently put Aquaphor Gel with a Qtip inside my nostrils.
• Sweating: ok, so I am usually a person who sweats VERY little including during sport. I can run 3 hours and my feet will be totally dry in my shoes. Anyway, I noticed very quickly during the 1st month of Accutane that I was sweating SIGNIFICANTLY more at the gym, with sweat literally pouring down my nose and my neck. This may be a strange thing to say but... I kinda enjoyed it :D. I loved the idea of having water coming through my pores, it made me feel as if my body was breathing or something, I don't know how to explain it. And this gave me the look of a warrior :D. Well, in any case: I kept sweating like this for the entire course of Accutane, maybe slightly less after 5 months; and after stopping Accutane I stopped sweating and got back to my normal self. Derm told me this was a very common side effect (how come I never heard of it ???).
• Lowered drinking resistance: I have been drinking very little during the course due to the warnings made by my derm ("you can drink but only in a very reasonable way, no more than once a week"). I respected the instructions but I still could feel that I was getting drunk much faster (like one glass of wine vs 3 usually).
• High libido: I felt very early in the course that my libido was higher. I think that getting rid of this horrible acne made me feel better in my head, happier and sexier (and therefore want to fornicate). This was still a good surprise because I expected the accutane tiredness and dryness to reduce my libido and it actually improved it (and it did not impact at all the ability to lubricate - if I may say it bluntly). Of course I was EXTREMELY prudent with contraceptives to avoid any pregnancy for obvious reasons.
• Incompatibility with beard: I know this sounds ridiculous, but kissing my husband became uncomfortable for me due to his beard irritating the skin of my chin, very sensitive due to Accutane. (So... more sex, less kisses.. sigh). It is now back to normal.

\* And now *\**
I am to wait for 6-12 months to see whether the acne will come back or whether this course was a success... In the meantime I hope that my report could help some of you!

Chapter 1
Scene 1
Sunlight streamed through the windows of my modern apartment as I meticulously folded clothes and packed my bags, the anticipation of an upcoming trip tingling in the air. The day seemed ordinary enough until the doorbell shattered the tranquility.

Startled, I hurried to answer it, only to find Elena bursting into the house with her usual exuberance. She was a whirlwind of energy, her long chestnut hair tied back in a messy ponytail, her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement. Her olive skin glowed with vitality, and her infectious smile lit up the room.

"Peter, what took you so long to answer?" she exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of impatience and amusement as she took in the array of luggage before me.

I shrugged, avoiding her gaze. "Just packing for a trip."

Elena scoffed, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Immigrating, are we?" She scanned the room before turning her attention back to me. "Seriously, though, what's with all the luggage?"

I chuckled at her bluntness. "You know me, always overpacking."

She rolled her eyes, reaching for her phone and cranking up the volume on her favorite song. The heavy riff of "Passenger" by Deftones filled the room, adding a pulsating rhythm to our conversation.

Taking a seat at the cluttered kitchen table, Elena flashed me a mischievous grin. "I came to hang out with my friend. Is that a crime?"

I raised an eyebrow, eyeing her suspiciously.

Elena's laughter filled the room, unapologetic. "Okay, you caught me. I need your help." Despite my curiosity, apprehension flickered, yet her sparkling eyes drew me in. "Come on, Peter," she urged. "I promise it'll be worth your while."

"What do you need me for?" I asked, unable to resist her infectious enthusiasm.

Elena's brows furrowed, and she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I was hired by a family in Silverlake to find their missing daughter, Emily. She disappeared without a trace, and I've been investigating this case for weeks. But I have zero leads."

I frowned. "And you think I can help?"

Elena nodded eagerly. "You're one of the best investigative journalists I know, Peter. Your skills are exactly what we need to crack this case wide open."

"I promised my mom I'd spend a vacation with her. I leave in 2 days. I'm sorry, I cannot help you," I said firmly, my resolve wavering in the face of Elena's determination.

"In 2 DAYS AND YOU'RE PACKING FROM NOW?!" Elena exclaimed incredulously.

"Well, I've got to be well prepared," I defended with a shrug, trying to downplay the urgency of the situation.

"This will be over in less than 2 days. All I need from you is to help me identify her last known location when she disappeared and any digital data you could find linked to her disappearance. Do that for me, and you can continue with your plan," Elena bargained, her eyes pleading with urgency.

I hesitated, torn between my obligations to my family and the pressing need to help Elena solve this mystery.

"Well, you could get that from CCTV cameras and her social media, what do you need me for?" I asked, raising my voice slightly to be heard over the blaring chorus of "Passenger."

The heavy guitars and pounding drums filled the room, drowning out Elena's next words as she searched my face for a response. "Well, don't you think I tried that?" she retorted, frustration evident in her voice. "I couldn't get access to CCTV footage, and her social media revealed nothing. I need a deeper search into the digital landscape, and you're the one I trust the most with this."

"One thing is never enough for you, though. You have a way of always pulling me with you, and I really need this. My mother needs me right now. I haven't seen her since the funeral, and I cannot let her down," I said, my voice cracking with emotion.

Elena's expression softened, her eyes reflecting understanding. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I get it, Peter. Family comes first. But think about it, helping me could bring closure to another family who's desperate for answers."

Her words struck a chord within me, igniting a sense of duty and purpose that I couldn't ignore.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded slowly.

I grabbed a notebook and a pen, my determination solidifying as I focused on the task at hand. "I'll do it for the girl's family."

A flicker of relief crossed Elena's face, her shoulders sagging slightly as she realized I was onboard. "Thank you, Peter," she said, her voice tinged with gratitude.

"The town of Silverlake, where Emily had disappeared, was 140 miles away. It was a daunting distance, but one that felt insignificant in the face of the urgency of the situation. Little did I know, Emily wasn't the only one missing. There was a series of disappearances in Silverlake that had gone unnoticed until now."

With a shared glance, Elena and I made an unspoken agreement. We would go to Silverlake, together, to start investigating immediately.

Scene 2
As Elena and I approached the reception desk, the polished tiles of the lobby floor echoed softly beneath our steps, carrying an air of anticipation. The lobby itself exuded a quiet elegance, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sunlight streaming through the expansive windows. A gentle hum of activity filled the space, punctuated by the occasional rustle of papers.

The receptionist, a woman with an air of indifference, glanced up from her notebook as we approached. Her eyes, cool and assessing, swept over us before settling on Elena with a hint of curiosity. "How can I help you, dear?" she asked, her voice monotone yet tinged with a subtle edge of detachment.

Elena, undeterred by the receptionist's demeanor, greeted her with a warm smile that illuminated her features. "We're in need of a room for my friend here," she said, gesturing towards me with a nod of her head. "He'll be staying with us."

The receptionist's expression remained unchanged as she reached for another key, her movements precise and methodical. Retrieving the key, she handed it to me with a detached air. "Room 204, second floor, fourth room on the right," she repeated mechanically, her attention already drifting back to her notebook as if our presence was of little consequence.

As I accepted the key, my gaze was drawn to a striking symbol adorning the wall beside the reception desk – the Eye of Horus. Etched in gold against a backdrop of deep blue, its intricate design seemed to watch over the lobby with an enigmatic presence, casting a subtle aura of mystery over the space.

"it's all over the place in here they believe it protects them from evil" Elena shrugged, noticing my gaze lingering on the Eye of Horus.

I nodded thoughtfully, intrigued by the symbolism woven into the fabric of the hotel. "Interesting," I murmured.

With the key in hand, I turned to follow Elena as she led the way towards the staircase, the soft echo of our footsteps mingling with the hushed whispers of the hotel's guests. As we ascended the stairs.

As Elena entered the room, she immediately shed her coat and rushed to the counter, grabbing her phone. Without pause, the familiar strains of Metallica's "Master of Puppets" filled the room, blasting at an ear-splitting volume.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Elena's predictable ritual.

"Okay, Mr. P, we have no time to waste," Elena declared over the blaring music, oblivious to my annoyance. "Grab your notebook and let's start with the case."

"Emily's disappearance was the initial focus of my investigation," Elena began, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of the matter. "According to her family, Emily was extremely close to her mother. Her life seemed to be on track, with a successful career in marketing and a new boyfriend. However, her parents didn't approve of her relationship with Matthew, citing him as a point of contention."

She paused, her gaze drifting as if searching for the right words to convey the complexity of the situation. "The police initially dismissed Emily's disappearance as a case of a young woman running away, especially since Matthew was also missing."

Elena's voice wavered slightly, betraying the weight of the uncertainty surrounding Emily's fate. "For a while, I entertained the possibility that Emily had indeed chosen to leave her life behind. But then, three days ago, another woman disappeared under similar circumstances."
"And where is Matthew?" I interjected, my mind grappling with the complexities of the case. "His friends and family filed a missing persons report on him as well. He disappeared one day before Emily. But there's no reason to think of him as a suspect, is there?"

Elena's expression darkened, mirroring the shadow of uncertainty that clouded my thoughts. "That's the perplexing part," she replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "All three people disappeared without a trace. One moment they were there, and the next... poof, disappeared as if they've been captured by ghosts."

Her words sent a chill down my spine, and I couldn't shake off the sense of foreboding that gripped me. It was as if we were peering into the abyss of the unknown, where answers remained elusive and danger lurked in the shadows.

As my mind raced, struggling to contain the torrent of thoughts swirling within, I sought desperately for patterns amidst the chaos. With furrowed brow, I turned to Elena, my voice trembling with urgency.

"Is there any connection between the third woman who disappeared and Emily or Matthew?" I inquired, grasping at straws in the hopes of unraveling the enigma before us.

Elena shook her head solemnly, her eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "No," she replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "The third woman is a 50-year-old, last seen exiting her workplace at the quaint bistro, La Petite Cuisine, and heading home."

The revelation sent a shiver down my spine, the realization sinking in that the disappearances were not isolated incidents but part of a larger, more sinister web of mystery. As I pondered the implications, a sense of unease settled over me, the unknown looming ominously on the horizon like a gathering storm.

"Listen, P," Elena's urgency resonated in her voice as she spoke, her words cutting through the tension in the room like a knife. "I acquired CCTV footage of Emily's last sighting, and that's what I need you for."

Without a moment's hesitation, she raced to retrieve her laptop, returning with it clutched tightly in her grasp. With a sense of urgency, she opened the device, revealing the footage of Emily walking down a seemingly ordinary square, her demeanor betraying no hint of the impending turmoil.

But then, like a sudden storm on a clear day, a police patrol car flashed across the screen, casting a shadow of doubt over the otherwise mundane scene. "That means the police have more information on Emily's last movements," I realized, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach.

In a voice tinged with frustration, Elena explained her futile attempts to obtain a statement from the police, leaving us stranded in a sea of uncertainty. It was a crucial piece of the puzzle that remained tantalizingly out of reach, teasing us with its elusiveness.

Turning to me with pleading eyes, Elena's hand reached out to grasp my arm, her wide eyes locking with mine in an unspoken plea. "I need you to secure an interview with the chief of police or any detective working the case," she implored, her voice soft but desperate. "You could still go on your awaited vacation with your mum afterward."

Her touch sparked a fire within me, "alright el I'll think of a plan but I need some rest first, maybe we could meet at the lobby after 2 hours?"

"Thank you, Peter, for real," Elena's gratitude washed over me, momentarily easing the weight of the task ahead. "Also, two hours sharp, don't be late, ey?"

I offered her a reassuring smile, my resolve firm. "I am always on time," I assured her, though a flicker of uncertainty danced behind my eyes.

"Yeah, right," Elena retorted sarcastically, her skepticism evident as she exited the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As the door clicked shut behind her, a sense of apprehension settled over me like a heavy shroud. Contemplation mingled with reservation, and a hint of fear gnawed at the edges of my mind.
Scene 3
As Elena departed, I surveyed the room. It bore the marks of neglect, with faded wallpaper peeling at the edges and worn furniture showing signs of age. The bed, positioned against one wall, appeared tired and weathered, its mattress sagging in the middle and the sheets bearing wrinkles. Above the bed, an out-of-place symbol caught my attention once again - the Eye of Horus, its intricate design etched into a wooden plaque and mounted on the wall.

Feeling the weight of exhaustion settle upon me, I sank onto the bed, craving a moment of respite. Before I could even settle in, the insistent ring of my phone shattered the silence. With a resigned sigh, I reached for the device, noting the caller ID - it was my mother, FaceTiming me.

I answered her call, greeted by the warm glow of her smile radiating through the screen. Our exchange of greetings was laced with the gentle familiarity of mother and son.

"Hello, dear," she chimed, "So, you finally found some time to visit your old mum, did you? How kind of you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, accustomed to the underlying reproach that often accompanied her affectionate words. "Yes, Mom," I replied, trying to mask the unease in my voice with forced cheerfulness. "I'm looking forward to spending some time with you."

Her smile widened. "Well, I'll believe it when I see it," she quipped, her words laden with a veiled challenge. "Don't keep me waiting too long now. You know how precious my time is."

"Are you calling me just to do that?" I interjected, a hint of frustration creeping into my voice.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Do what, dear?" she inquired innocently.

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat as I grappled with the swirling emotions inside me. "Never mind, Mom," I murmured, a wave of guilt washing over me for even entertaining the notion of confronting her.

But before I could retract my statement, her expression softened, and her voice took on a tone of vulnerability that caught me off guard. "Listen, Peter, I'm sorry," she began, her words tinged with a hint of sadness. "I just miss you. You don't call enough, and it feels like there's nothing for us to talk about. I just..."

Her voice trailed off, leaving the weight of her unspoken words hanging heavy in the air between us. In that moment, I felt a pang of sympathy for the woman on the other end of the line, grappling with her own insecurities and yearning for connection in the only way she knew how.

"I understand," I replied softly, feeling a surge of empathy. "I've been too caught up in my work, but that's why I decided to take this vacation. I've missed you too, Mom, and I really am looking forward to spending more time with you."

A genuine smile spread across my mother's face, her eyes lighting up with warmth and relief. "Oh, Peter, that's wonderful to hear!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine happiness. "I've missed you more than you know, dear. It's been too long since we've had a chance to catch up properly."

Before we could delve further into our conversation, my mother couldn't resist injecting a bit of her trademark humor. "Well, now that you're finally taking a break from work, maybe you'll have some time to find yourself a nice, not-at-all-crazy wife," she teased, a mischievous twinkle dancing in her eye.

Her playful jab elicited a hearty chuckle from me, knowing full well it was all in good fun. "We'll see, Mom," I replied with a laugh, shaking my head affectionately. "But for now, I think I'll focus on spending time with my favorite woman - you."

With a heartwarming laugh, my mother waved goodbye, her parting words carrying a hint of playful insistence. "Don't forget to keep your eyes open, Peter! You never know when Mrs. Right might come along," she quipped before ending the call, leaving me smiling at her enduring humor and unwavering love.

As she hung up, the old bed's worn embrace felt oddly inviting. I sank into its tired folds, finding unexpected comfort in its familiarity, and drifted into a well-deserved sleep.

Scene 4

scene 4

The sound of my alarm rang, and I half-opened my eyes, seeing only in black and white. I hit snooze and repeated the process five times until I finally woke up. I hoped Elena wouldn’t get mad at me for being late. The bed squeaked as I got up, and I hastily washed my face. As I turned on the water tap, I noticed water droplets leaking from the sides.

"Jeez, this place needs serious renovations," I muttered to myself.

I walked to the lobby, only to meet Elena.

"Hi, El," I said, bracing myself for Elena to scold me for my lateness.

"Hello, Peter," she replied in a low voice. She seemed to be staring at a void behind me, her face expressionless and still. I took a step closer to her.

"El, you okay? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, all is good. Uhm, weren't you supposed to leave for a trip to see your mom?"

"Well, yeah, in two days. I'll help you with this thi—" I began, confusion visible on my face, but Elena interrupted me. Her voice was firm, yet she avoided making eye contact.

"No, Peter, it's fine. I've thought about it, and I don't need your help anymore. You can go."

"I am not your toy, Elena. You can't just make me travel with you and then ask me to leave before I even get the chance to do anything," I snapped, my anger blinding me to the obvious. There was something Elena was hiding, and I needed to be calm to understand what was going on.

I tried to salvage the situation by apologizing and reassuring her that I was by her side, but it was too late. Elena's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm sorry, but please, Peter, leave. Go on your trip," she said, storming out of the lobby.

As she left, I noticed a necklace with the Eye of Horus dangling around her neck. Why does Elena wear this, and why is this place filled with an ancient Egyptian symbol? I froze, unsure of what to do. As I ran after Elena, desperation gnawed at my insides. She wasn't in front of the lobby anymore. I hopped into my car and started scouring the streets, telling myself she couldn't have gone too far.

I drove down every street, checked every alley, but Elena was nowhere to be found. Panic rose within me, and my breath quickened as I frantically tried to contact her, only to find her phone out of service.

Finally, I parked in front of an old bar. It was midnight by now, and the place was bustling with people. As I entered, I was greeted by a middle-aged man with a full beard. "Hey, newcomer, welcome to the Allure Bar," he slurred, his breath heavy with alcohol. He introduced himself as Michael Convivial, the owner of the bar, and offered me a shot on the house since it was my first time there.

"I didn't come here for the drinks," I said, the song 'What Am I to You' playing softly in the background. I showed him a photo of Elena, and he instantly recognized her, laughing as he muttered something I couldn't quite catch.

"That crazy girl who still hopes," he said, his speech slurred. He mentioned that he last saw her two days ago.

As I stepped out of the bar and headed towards my car, a ping from my phone startled me. It was a message from an unknown ID, accompanied by a chilling photo. In it, Elena lay unconscious, her Eye of Horus necklace smashed beside her. The caption sent shivers down my spine: "Listen to Elena, outsider. Get out of Silverlake and don't get involved in a fight you've got nothing to do with."

Dread washed over me as I stared at the image, my mind racing with questions.

As my fingers moved almost of their own accord, typing out a message, my mind raced with a mixture of fear and determination.

"I don't know who you are, but I will soon, and I will make you pay," I wrote, my fingers trembling slightly as I pressed send. "You've made it personal by kidnapping Elena, and I won't let you hurt her even more, you hear me?!"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at the screen. I never knew I cared for Elena this deeply until this moment. The thought of her in danger filled me with a sense of fierce protectiveness, driving me to do whatever it takes to bring her back safely.

Omg. I have nobody in my life who will understand this, so I need yall to be my cheering section.
I get my new chair in the morning!!!!!!
I have purchased a "new to me" Q6 Edge 2.0 Stretto, and I pick it up first thing in the morning. I am so effing excited, it's not even funny.
My mind keeps running through all the things that I am finally going to be able to do again, and it just keeps making me even more excited.
Nobody around me is able to comprehend this level of excitement, because they don't rely on anything other than feet to get through the day.
I have been in a custom manual for a year now, and it has destroyed my arms and shoulders to the point of not being able to push myself anymore. My OT and RRTS are on board, and the request has been submitted to insurance, however, I have been warned that it could take months to get aj answer, and that answer could very well be "No," so my caregiver and I have opted to buy a used one, at least until I get an answer from insurance.
Since the chair is located several hours away, and i have not yet been able to find myself an acceptable adaptive vehicle, I am taking the bus to go get it. To say that I am sore would be an understatement. But today, not even the worst pain in the world could kill my excitement about finally getting my freedom and mobility back!
I am even going to test the limits on the batteries tomorrow by going shopping and to the zoo with a friend of mine. I am just so happy right now.
Please tell me that someone else comprehends this level of excitement?!?!

Any advice appreciated! My parents (64 and 56) are currently caring for my stepdad's father. He recently found out he has cancer that has spread throughout his body. I don't know many details but I know he has been losing weight pretty rapidly and even though the doctors have not given him an amount of time to live, it's not looking like he has more than a year. My stepdad went through having a brain tumor removed just a few years ago himself, and has had a lot of health issues since then. My mom has been caring for him and she has many health issues as well, hers more easy to handle but still should be taken into consideration. Arthritis, severe back pain, mental and emotional difficulties, etc. She also has been a caregiver her whole life as she has had to care for her mother who died when she was in her twenties, her brother who had severe strokes and lived with her for a year as she did everything for him, and my dad who died from a brain tumor when I was 12. When my step dad and his sister first began to discuss how to care for their father if he did begin to decline rapidly, they discussed things in detail related to how they would handle his care. My parents set boundaries for what they knew they would be able to handle physically and emotionally. My grandpa lives an hour and a half away from his two children and he refuses to move. So they made an agreement that when he needed full-time care they would take turns traveling to see him and stay with him for a week at a time. They agreed that if he got to the point where he needed physical care such as baths, help from falling, or anything of that sort, that they would consider getting in home care to help, or worst case scenario finding a rehabilitation or assisted living place to move him.
Here we are, four months from that conversation and my step dad and his sister are now taking turns traveling up to take care of their father every week. Neither of them have ever been close to each other and they are very bad at communicating so my mom ends up being the main communicator but my aunt is very rude to her frequently. At one point my aunt decided to stay for 2 weeks to take care of her dad and even though she made this decision on her own, when my parents returned to take over their shift she seemed very angry at them for not being willing to stay two weeks themselves. My mom pointed out that they made it clear they could only stay a week at a time in the beginning and she then yelled at them that they should stay longer since she just did. My parents then agreed to stay longer, even though they probably shouldn't have and everything has just gone downhill from there. They've done a few more transitions, and at one point my mom and aunt finally talked about how they were feeling towards each other and my mom apologize for all of the things that my aunt was angry about, and they hung up with no apology from her. She then basically stopped communicating with them even more. And when they made the most recent switch to relieve her from her one week taking care of her dad, she left before they arrive at the house and left a note implying that she would not be back for 3 weeks.
My step dad messaged and called her asking when she would be returning so that they could get dates worked out for his doctor appointments. She never responded and would not answer his phone calls. She messaged him about other things but never responded to those questions that he asked over and over again. My parents have had to reschedule many doctor appointments for themselves so that they can take care of my grandpa.
This is all barely scratching the surface of all of it but basically my aunt lives 25 minutes from me and I'm fed up. I'm a very gentle person, even when I'm angry. I have plans to go over to her place this evening, and I'm trying to decide whether to go over unannounced or to give her a short heads up that I will be there. I'm going to take her dinner so that I'm not showing up empty-handed. I want to talk with her about how she's feeling and give her a chance to express her frustrations about the whole situation to me as well, because I know she has her own perspective that I've not even been privy to. But I also want to have an opportunity to find out what's actually going on. I want to know why she left my parents up there with no end date as to when she would return. They've now been up there a week, so I waited patiently just to see if she would happen to return after a week even without communicating that to my parents. But she didn't so here we are. I'm not a counselor and I have no experience in mediation but that's basically what I'm doing. Does anyone have any advice? I have lost a parent, as I said when I was 12 years old. But I was not an adult nor was I having to care for him so I know that there is so much about this scenario that I don't fully understand. At the same time, my stepdad went through serious brain surgery just a few years ago and we weren't sure if he was going to live, nor were we sure if it was cancerous or not. I had to step in to care for my parents during that time and I feel that I can be empathetic to how my aunt is feeling. At the same time, the person she's probably angry at is my mom and my mom is my best friend so I'm ready to go to war for her. I don't know, maybe I'm just looking for consolation.... Help

I have two cats and most of they time they get along perfectly well. They sleep together and groom eachother. Except sometimes, out of nowhere the older cat will go up the the younger cat and start biting his neck and getting aggressive with him. I think he just wants to play but the younger cat does not reciprocate all at. The younger will meow and sometimes even hiss, but the older doesn't stop. I try to distract him with toy or loud noises but he becomes so focused on the other cat that he doesn't care about anything else. If I do separate them, th older one will sometimes even try to attack my arms and stuff. I've tried feliway but it doesn't work and I'm just not sure what to do. Like I said, most of the time the older cat is super sweet to both me and the other cat, but when he's in hunting mode it's like nothing can deter him. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you so much!

My husband of over 20 years gets migraines and has got them since before I knew him. I have watched him get migraines where he sees spots and gets "hungover" afterwards. These are a stroke-like migraine, and he will get them in clusters -- he will get several over a week's time, then none for about 6 months or so.
What I have also observed is that he seems to change personality shortly before he gets a bad migraine. He will get angry and depressed. For example, yesterday he griped at me for not wanting to buy a used car off of an auction resell lot. He saw the car as we were driving by the lot. That seems trivial, but the griping continued for about 15 minutes about how I am always putting things down and being negative about everything. Although this still seems trivial, this behavior of random attacks coming out of nowhere was going on all weekend.
The depression part seems to support the anger. After losing his temper and yelling at me, for example, a few hours later he is "depressed" and is not lovable, not worth anyone's time, etc. He will mope around, expressing how he's unloved, and, regardless of comments and/or actions, he will continue with this mindset.
When he's not having these episodes, he's a decent husband who takes care of me. When he does have these episodes, life is hell. I have begun saying nothing -- which gets me into trouble, too.
This affects all of me. It's not like I can just shut him out. I try to support him and be a good spouse. But his belittling hurts me so deeply that it feels like I cannot function after these episodes. I feel empty and lost and worthless. I know it affects how I view others' opinion of me; I see others' actions and believe they are against me or never liked me.
Do not think, if you've made it this far, that I hold myself out to be innocent. I have fought back. But when I have fought back, he has used that against me, turning our children against me at those times. I have punched him in the arm once or twice; he has struck me several times. The last time, several years ago, I think I decided it was time to give up. Not necessarily suicide, but I have started to withdraw more and more from our marriage. There is a significant shame to be college-educated and to be hit in public or in front of your children (or both).
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. The pain is still there, but I've been able to express some of it.

I know him for 15 years. Now I'm 32 and he's 51. We met during my studies where I was at his lab (in another country back then). We liked each other from the first moment. He was/is my mentor. Although our professions are not exactly the same (he's a researcher, I'm a clinical doctor) he's been valuable. When I left and returned to my country we kept on communicating via mail. None of us had fb back then. We'd sent hundreds of mails those days.
Eventually he returned to Athens, 2 years later at the university. We were already close but after that we became real good friends. We did all sorts of things together. We would discuss every night. He felt a little lonely and I was good company. Somewhere around that time my father passed. He stood there for me and that brought us super close.
At some point he got married, he was very happy. It didn't end well though and that divorced had made him really sad. It was my time to help him. He got married again and he got another divorce. He also found out that he was infertile which was devastating for him. In parallel he would meet my bfs. He was very okay with me being gay, although it took him some time to actually accept it.
Another thing is that in terms of appearance we're very similar. Hair colors, eyes, heights. Many times we've been asked if we're father and son. At some point and when he was a bit sad and in a hard time he said that he feels very happy about it and at the same time he knows I'm the closest person to a son he could have. He asked me if he could consider me as a son. I told him that's a tough one. I do love him and consider him as a parental figure, that's undoubtable. But as a father, I had my own, despite him having passed. Then he said that he didn't want to replace him but be a second father if that made sense. I told him that, I can do.
We've been many times on vacations together, we've been asked if we're father and son and he says yes. I told him that at first I thought he was hot. He said he knew but he waited me to friendzone him (and actually I did). I'm just thinking that he could be a real good father and it's too bad he can't be one.
Two additional things
A) When he was told that he can't have children of his own and at the same time he got his second divorce he just came to my house and he was as always. He started crying unexpectedly. I've never seen a person cry that much. I know the phrase cry one's heart out. Well, I think he cried it out. I had hugged him and he would cry. He cried so much I thought something might happen to him. I told him that I'm there for him and if he needs a son in his life to feel happy again, I will be that son. He looked me in the eye and that's the most intense look I've ever received in my life. Like he could see behind my back the three buildings further, I felt scanned. He didn't go to work for a week, he asked a sick leave and he was sick indeed. He would barely leave his bed looking the ceiling.
B) When my father passed (totally unexpectedly) he literally cancelled a case and came real quick. Some bad things happened around that time and he helped me. I had some terrible relatives to face. He was there at the funeral (one nasty aunt even called him someone's bastard -I'm sure she has spread some rumors that he's somebody's secret child or something). The family was supposed to be closer to the dead (have I mentioned how much I hate all these customs?) and he whispered to me "I'll be right behind you". It was my time to cry my heart out for days in his arms. One day (around these days) he bought us some cookies (people would visit often these days). I couldn't eat for days I was just drinking some chocolate milk for dinner and maybe some corn flakes for breakfast. I was feeling that there was no joy left in this world. My mouth tasted bitter. And then he gave me a cookie he literally put in on my mouth and it was a nice chocolate biscuit. When I took a bit I felt its sweetness. I felt that, after all, there was some light left in this world. I know it sounds silly, we're talking about a biscuit but still, it had a potent effect.
I felt I wanted to share all these and discuss it.

Had my shoulder done last May, it’s just over a year since surgery and I’ve had two cortisone shots in my shoulder to help swelling. Rotator cuff and labrum repaired from college football injuries. Leasing up to this operation I had 4 shots in the shoulder to play without pain for a few years before I graduated. Doc said I still had swelling and that was my pain source. Have another appointment here in June bc I can’t even lift my sheets in the morning off my body without shooting pain. I’m not sure what to do. MRI scan shows it’s been repaired but I literally feel like I’m functioning with one arm. Anyone know of other options for treatment. I’ve been popping pills for 4 months to give myself relief and workout. Been driving my mental up the wall, I want longevity and to be able to stay physically healthy. I don’t need to lift heavy like I did in college just want basic function

Hi, in your experience where should I start getting treated for TMJ after a car accident? Suffered whiplash from getting rear ended (kind of major crash, totaled both cars). TMJ didn't start until maybe 3 weeks after accident, had mostly been neck pain until it started to move to my jaw and ear. I do grind my teeth and have always had a mouthguard. I think the accident made everything worse. I am sketched out by chiropractors. Thanks for your help.

That is when it hurts the most. That illusiory hand which grasps your heart ever so slightly, making every beat more and more constrained as if your blood turned thicker, every breath more suffocating draping a dark filter over everything you see... You feel afloat, untethered and lost like a piece of wood drifting across ocean with no shore in sight.
Everything that you come across that even slightly implies that connection you lost or perhaps never even had, a couple walking hand to hand, a childs loving gaze to their parent, a friends ear and concern, groups of people doing something, belonging to something, together, which you crave so wholeheartedly from the depths of your soul becomes tiny needles that stab you where it hurts the most again and again through all day, everyday. Yet you keep smiling, going through the pain with no witnesses to your struggle.
Everyone has somebody, something to cling to, why don't I have it, you ask. In your loneliness, you give into that question which has a premise that feels so easy to believe but in its essence completely illogical, in that moment, in your mind, you are truly all alone and you are the only one who feels this way in the whole wide world.
You try and try but eventually you realize, it never goes the way you expect. Those around you somehow manage to get past their barriers and taste that connection you desire so much yet for you, walls that isolate you from the world never seem to budge no matter what you do.
Then you ask, is it because of me?
There has to be something wrong and deeply flawed in me, for I can't get this thing i want with all my heart and do everything I can to achieve yet I am unable to attain it while others can.
Congratulations, you took the first step in the road to hell. And you will keep taking those steps to inferno so confidently as there is nobody to listen these thoughts of yours, nobody to refute the comments filled with self-contempt, nobody to stop you and remind you of the light that you once brought upon the world until you drown in your own pity and become someone you can't recognize as this blight spreads throughout your psyche.
You have forgotten how to love what you are so you can never love another ever again. And for that, you will never be truly loved.
Then one day you can't take it anymore and slowly whisper to the ceiling as you wake up and feel the empty, cold space beside you,
Maybe I should just close my eyes...
And never wake up again.

I find it odd that many of our trusted Christian church leaders, both true blue & lipstick varieties, are quick to gloss over Christ’s literacy or even assert Christ’s illiteracy while simultaneously attributing all sorts of magical nonsense to his name. How you gonna elevate this guy to god-tier status, yet preach he can’t read? Of course God reads, reads great!writes great too! Jesus according to Christians is the real deal, the whole Enchilda, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha & the Omega, yet also according to them he can’t write Alpha or Omega. That’s crazy thinking, blasphemy even, all the best stuff in the Bible was written by Jesus.
Receipts?
Jesus Christ (Didymus Judas Thomas) authored The Gospel of Thomas.
Read here the opening lines of The Gospel of Thomas (Leloup Translation)…
“These are the words of the Secret. They were revealed by the Living Yeshua. Didymus Judas Thomas wrote them down.”
Note the unusual use of the word “revealed” here in place of common language you’ll find of “said/spoken”.
The unusual doubling of the Twin generic descriptor, sandwiching the common Judas name.
Didymus = Twin (Greek) Judas = Name Thomas = Twin (Aramaic)
Judas, according to the Bible, was a brother & devoted servant of Jesus Christ (Mark 6:3; Matt 13:55; Jude 1). His twin (Acts of Thomas). The spiritual (divine) Christ paired to the physical (human) Judas. Jesus WAS Judas. In the Gospel of Thomas there were no miracles, no resurrections. Jesus predicted no future events, he was no prophet, no revelations or rapture. All prophesy attributed (falsely) to Jesus was culled from the Hebrew OT and retrofitted as Roman propaganda to co-opt, conflate & corrupt Judaism w/ the upstart Jesus’ movement, neatly consolidating control of both under Rome, effectively killing 2 birds with 1 stone.
So how then did Jesus know Judas would betray him? Simple, he (Jesus/Judas) turned himself in & cut a deal with Pilate to fake crucifixion avoiding further unrest in the Jewish population (exactly what you would hope for & expect from a Jesus). The deal was after the crucifix fake-out Jesus would bounce & so he did becoming St.Thomas/St.Jude traveling far & wide, converting about a billion more ppl to Christianity before dying in his 100s.
A few additional odds & ends that support this info above (greatly abridged for time).
1) While the two written accounts we have of Judas’ death following his “betrayal” of Jesus in the New Testament differ greatly, on one point they both agree Judas’ died simultaneous with Jesus’ dying on the cross.
2) NT Jude 1:1 identifying Judas as a brother to James but a “servant” of Jesus.
3) The apocryphal Gospel of Barnabas (apostle of Jesus), Ch. 216 - Judas takes on appearance of Jesus, later crucified in Jesus’ place.
4) St. Jude is most often depicted wearing a giant medallion around his neck with the life-sized head of Jesus on it (google it), that’s 2000 yrs before modern rappers made this a thing & fashionable. They literally got Jude walking around, spreading Christ’s word “wearing the face of Jesus”. The truth hidden in plain sight.
5) Judas of Galilee (google him) was the father of Jesus/Judas, Judah ben Judah. Jesus/Judas was the father of Menahem, Menahem ben Judah.
6) In sharp contrast to the synoptic Gospels’ liberal use of the sayings in Thomas’ Gospel, chopping them up and sprinkling them about freely, The Gospel of John contains far fewer examples of overlapping content with The Gospel of Thomas. This drop off due to the fact of John being authored in direct opposition to Thomas. A point by point takedown and smear campaign (e.g., “Doubting Thomas”, Faith trumps Knowledge) targeting Thomas to discredit and flush out the remaining followers of early Christ movements, movements still having legs and remaining popular despite the introduction and heavy promotion of the 3 synoptic Gospels being widely disseminated across all Roman territories. John’s underlying agenda accounts for the dramatic shift in tone, structure & narrative, making a clean break from messaging of synoptic Gospels. John was a hit piece against early Christians/Gnostics, Rome couldn’t just steal it, they had to kill it.

does this happen to anyone else? I can’t figure out what triggers it! I get this random stabbing pain (most commonly in my left shouldeupper arm and my back, but I get it in my leg muscles too sometimes). I’m not sure if it’s stress on my tendons/muscles from typing ? (I’m writing a book so there’s a LOT of typing involved) but I can’t imagine that would be causing this. please let me know if you’ve experienced this!

My 3 month old Saxon female has been walking with her head tucked in like she is laying down, and is not pecking at food. My flock of 8 free roams during the day with a small pond close to the coop where they spend a majority of the day. Called all the local vets in my area and they do not do ducks, so looking for some guidance on how to start treating while I find a place to take her (northern Illinois) I have visually examed and only saw a scratch on her bill that had a small amount of blood, but no infections on her body. If I gently extend the neck, did not get any indication of pain from her
I acknowledge that Reddit is not a substitute for veterinary advice

Long story short, I am overall pretty healthy but I have been stomach-sleeping with arms jacked up above my head on a firm mattress for a while. I’ve noticed more subtle uncomfortable symptoms/tightness on my left neck/shoulder for quite a while but nothing too major. About a week ago I started noticing numbness in one fingertip on that side, along with more pain in the shouldecollarbone area and tingling down the arm, and weakness in the arms. I am 99% certain it is TOS.
I am planning on scheduling a Dr. appt as soon as I can, but having this numb fingertip/tingling now starting into the second finger is freaking me out.
I am immediately going to be training myself to sleep on my back and getting a softer mattress pad to help. I know it is my own daily bad posture when sitting, and then years of nightly bad sleeping posture is to blame. Especially because when I go to get into my “normal” sleeping position it tingles/shoots pain more than any other time.
I am going to start researching stretches and exercises I can start too. But what did you wish you did earlier? Knowing the numbness JUST started, I’m hoping there is a way I can get that nerve untrapped asap.
Any advice? I’ll keep researching and reading through this subreddit, but any tips would be much appreciated.

Bells rung out over Nocturne. For it was the day that their lives changed forever. First it was the day that Hestia fell from the sky, second it was the day the emperor came and brought them to the stars
And so the people celebrate. Crowds filling the streets, vendors shouting their wares, couples falling in love, others breaking up as they catch eyes for another. And some take the chance to ask the question to their lover.
As in all it was a normal holiday where a large gathering of people was the norm. You stand above it, on a balcony waving to the crowd below. Though the figure next to you is the one they are waving at
Hestia. All eleven feet of her stand, clad in her green armor, flames inlays flickering in the lamp light. One of her hands is laid on the balcony, supporting her as she half hangs over it, waving to everyone below.
You gently grip her armor, trying to pull her back over the balcony “Babe, please I dont want you to fall”
“I am not worried over such a little fall” she answers. Causing you to raise an eyebrow at the “little” fall, a good 50 or so feet to the ground below. As the bell tolls the 8th hour she relents and leans back
“Unfortunately that's our scheduled time” she calls to the masses below, waving to a few children causing them to cheer as they squabble over who she actually waved to
Turning with a deep laugh she takes your hand and pulls you along back into your bedroom, armor clanking as she moves over to the servitor to have it removed, pulling a cover to give her privacy
“Want to go out on the town?” You ask, only seeing her head over the privacy screen “that would be wonderful, let's have some fun” you see her head duck down and hear rustling cloth
She pushes the screen aside and steps out in a tank top and short shorts. Thick thigh and shredded midriff on display as she laughs at you hanging jaw
“With how little I wear around you id expect you'd be used to this by now” she uses a finger to close your mouth, leaning in and pressing a kiss on your lips
“I still marvel at the sunrise everyday” you call out as you marvel at her retreating form
“Then let's go before you can admire that too” she calls over her shoulder with a wink
Shaking your head you follow her out. Jogging lightly to catch up with her. An arm pulling you into her side as you walk out the gate. Crowd respectfully parting to allow you to pass
Looking to the vendors you tour through the art on display. The two of you are in a booth selling finely crafted salamander models.
You find one made in your favorite colors, a gasp escapes your lips as you rush over, eyes wide as you lift it up. “Can I keep him?” You turn to see a smiling Hestia
She makes a show of patting for her purse “ill get it for you. But you'll need to pay me back” she pulls her wallet out, metal changing hands as the shopkeeper almost refuses charging her. She insists, refusing to leave a debt unpaid.
Behind her you find the stepstool, holding it up with a tilted head you receive a nod of confirmation. Setting it up and climbing up you manage to leap upon Hestia's back, arms wrapped around her neck as you plant a kiss on her cheek
Feeling the rush of warmth as she answers “and I think thats payment enough” she reaches back and grabs you and holds you in front of her. Dangling there like a kitten by the scruff of its neck, salamander figure in your hands. She plucks the figure and hands it to the shopkeeper.
“Have that delivered to the palace” she instructs, tossing you over her shoulder “I've got my hands full” she says as she cups your ass
You blush and beat on her back as she walks into the streets, still holding you. You wiggle as she kneads your butt, her hand fitting perfectly. You manage to bring yourself around, a bitter of help from her, and sit yourself on her shoulder
You lean down and kiss her forehead. “Meanie” you call her, ruffling her ash white hair. “nothing wrong with showing my love” She retorts. You fake pout as she keeps walking
Spotting a restaurant you wanted to try, you point it out. “Can we go there? I made sure to make reservations” she beams at you “well if you made reservations it would be rude to miss them”
“More so because I already made the deposit” thr joke causing a deep laugh. Startling some of the people around you with its sound. “Then let us go little flame”
She leads you over to the restaurant, pausing only at the door to sling you under her arm. Opening the door the entire restaurant turns to the doors flying open. Seeing Hestia standing there, you slung under her arm
Looking at the host. “We have a reservation. Under the name Hestia” the host pointing you to the sole table on the balcony, a primarch size cushion you had delivered earlier rests on the floor.
She carries you over and places you in your chair, ruffling your hair as she takes her own seat. Blushing as she realizes that you made it so your at eye level with her
Handing her a menu before opening yours you hear a gasp as her eyes are draw to what you pressured she would be ordering “they have the planets spicest Chilli here?” She looks up at you with tears in her eyes “I've been wanting to try that for a while now”
“Only the best for my Volcano” a blush errupting on her face at the complement. You wave the waiter over as you close your menu “ill have the steak, medium please”
“Chilli, as spicy as you can serve” she orders after you, grabbing your menu and passing them over. You grab the bottle on the table, boring both of you a glass of wine as you look over the balcony over the festivities below
“It's a nice night Wyrmheart. Great place you've chosen here” as she places her hand on the table. Taking it and placing a kiss on it you let your actions speak for you
She laughs as the waiter brings your order over. The spice of her Chilli causing your eyes to water from across the table.
You both dig in, the food is delicious. She offers you a bite of her chilli. “I think I can see the spoon melting” a laugh from both of you as a whisp of steam comes off the Chilli as you say it.
You reach under the table, grabbing a package you left there. “I got you something” you say as you pass the package over the table
“Is this one fine to open in public?” She teases as you blush. She's already opening the package before you can answer. Opening the box reveals a elegant knife, forged for someone of her size, beautifully crafted and inlayed with gold and red wire
“It's the first thing I forged by myself” you proudly say. Receiving gasps in response. Both from Hestia and the waiters. The former covering her mouth. Knife falling from her hands. The later running off
“What? Wrong place?” You look around confused st why the entire restaurant has just gone quiet and staring at you
“My love, on Nocturne we are a planet of smith” Hestia begins “everyone can Smith, if not everyone does. And one of the most intimate things you can share is the first thing you ever made”
Waiters come back with champagne, popping it in time as fireworks start in the square below
Hestia looks at you with love in her eyes as she takes your hand “and to show someone your first forged item is sign of serious trust, and to offer it as a gift is often a sign of proposal”
“And I accept”
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