Biblical farewell note to colleagues
Academic Religion & Mythology
2013.02.10 17:45 koine_lingua Academic Religion & Mythology
Another member of the network of academic subreddits - this one dedicated to academic discussion of religion and mythology, encompassing many different approaches: textual studies, critical history, structuralism, cognitive/psychological approaches, etc. No geographical or temporal boundaries: from the ancient Near East to ancient China, from Mesoamerican religion to academic study of neoshamanism/neopaganism.
2013.11.28 19:14 bigapplebaum Everyday Art
A subreddit for in-depth artistic analyses of everyday objects.
2010.02.19 14:34 friardon A Community of Christians Embracing Reformed Theology
Reformed exists to be a place where reformed believers, in a broader understanding of the term, can come together, unified by a clear Gospel witness, to exhort one another, spur one another on intellectually in reformed theology, and discuss doctrine.
2024.05.28 20:51 Flaky-Woodpecker-592 Issues at work as a psych nurse
Sorry this is a madly long post.
Tldr: I work as a psych nurse. Been criticised by supervisor for poor leadership during critical incidents on the ward, staff members are toxic and cliquey and have been bullying me
So I work as a psych nurse. And I've run into some problems at work. There has been this other nurse (ill call her S) who's recently been promoted to deputy ward manager of the ward, and she's now my supervisor. This woman has been vile to me. Not to a serious extent, but still. She's been passive aggressive. She's been bossing me about like her dogsbody, especially ever since being promoted. One shift in August last year we were working together and I was applying make up at the start of the shift. I was still doing work though. I was doing a particular task and she asked "oh are you doing the task? And I said yes and she was like "oh, thought you were doing your make-up". Then during my supervision with my manager a few weeks later, he brought up about the make up thing, so obviously she'd reported it to him. She's been passive aggressive to me fairly often. One time at work she was doing admin work and I was working with another nurse. I started the daily handover notes and the other nurse said to me "don't worry, I'll do it, you're doing the ward round" and I was like "oh I don't mind, just thought I'd start it as I've run out of tasks to do" and then S made a snide passive aggressive comment under her breath, and then left the office. I didn't hear what she said. I looked to the other nurse and the nurse said "don't take no sh*". S is generally quite bossy, a know it all, and belittles others. She's also best buds at work with a nurse (K). K has also been passive aggressive and rude to me. One time during the handover, I was the night shift nurse and K and S were on the day shift. They kept questioning my handover, like as if I'd done it wrong and they were doubting my abilities. Also a few weeks ago, K sent me a rude email saying how I'd been ordering medication we already had stock of and that it was a waste of medication. Usually when you send such an email to a colleague, it's meant to be done with a bit of decency and respect, despite pointing out their mistake. But she did it so unprofessionally and rudely. I told her I'd only ordered them cause one of the agency nurses had told me they'd run out and needed ordering. Then a day ago, K had ordered a medication our ward doctor already ordered, yet is anyone gonna criticise her mistake? Absolutely not! At my place it's a matter of "if the name fits". It's extremely cliquey and toxic. I was on the phone to a patients family member telling them something and in the background K was tutting and raising her hands in frustration. After the call she told me what I'd done wrong. Like seriously. People who report my mistakes off the bat or "attack" me about them face to face are vile and shouldn't be in a job because their behaviour is disgusting. Why can't they be decent and just pull me aside and politely and respectfully tell me where I went wrong? I'm 1.5 years into being a nurse but still. I'm also only 27 and don't have much life experience overall. K and S are a few years older than me and do have a couple years more experience than me. But they act as if I'm crp at my job. But yeah, K and S are best buds as I said. There's a big clique on my ward at work.
There was a senior nurse role on the ward recently, after S got promoted, and K said that my manager and our clinical director gave it to her off the bat rather than advertising it first. The hospital director (above the clinical director) said this wasn't allowed and that it had to be advertised, applied for, and go through a proper process with an interview. So this happened, and the post got withdrawn from K. I had my interview for the post with S on Saturday (despite knowing K would get it regardless). Also after the interview, S did supervision with me. She told me she'd had feedback from colleagues and even patients that I was not confident enough and did not have good leadership skills when critical incidents occurred on the ward. She said I tend to take a backseat and that I need to be more at the forefront of incidents directing everyone and everything. I understand this. My manager told me this in supervision in March but in a wayyyyy less brutal way. He just said that it seemed I was presenting as anxious and nervous when dealing with patients who were "kicking off" and aggressive on the ward and something along the lines of what S told me like about being a bit more passive about dealing with incidents. I do appreciate these comments as I am naturally a passive introverted and anxious person. Also sometimes I feel a bit stuck and don't know how to handle the situations straight away and it takes me time to formulate a solution. I was able to manage an incident on the ward during a night shift with an agency nurse, where the agency staff was as passive as me, and the situation was diffused and handled properly, so it proves I am capable. But the day staff don't see that I guess because K and S are very confident and overpowering as people so in comparison I look like I'm doing F all in terms of incidents.
Then on Monday, the clinical director told me about how I had not succeeded in the interview. This was despite the fact its been a bank holiday weekend, so HR weren't working so couldnt have appraised the interview notes taken. My managers on holiday at the moment. So it was probably a straight whatsapp text from S to our clinical director saying "tell my name she hasn't got the job lol". He said my answers to the questions were not detailed enough and that over the next few months I should try to consolidate my knowledge so if I apply for future posts I can perform better in the interview. He also asked me to talk about what I'd spoken to S about after the interview, and I mentioned what S said about my leadership and confidence on the ward. The clinical director told me I should listen to S and follow her instructions and said "she knows what she's talking about". I found this comment a bit weird and don't know quite the purpose of it. It sounded like a bit of a dig at me. It doesn't surprise me though given im sure he fancies the pants off of her. A colleague said he'd been flirting with her before, another colleague said they were sleeping together and I asked really but they didn't mention anything further, another colleague said they were friends. S is a gorgeous girl, I mean not a supermodel but she is definitely quite pretty. I imagine both the clinical director and my manager fancy her. When they come into the office they sit close to her and talk to her. Bet she loves the attention.
I just feel really hurt by all of this. There's just this big clique at work. S and the clinical director are friends. S and my manager seem quite close. S and K are very close and they're also friends with a part time support worker G. One time when I was giving an injection, G told me to hold it in for 10 seconds!! She's a support worker not even studying nursing yet she had the right to tell me what to do. Patronising AF. Then they're also best buddies with another 2 support workers. Also K and S were known to be bullying a support worker R, who was so upset by it all that she got another job. On shift, K and S had been telling R to leave the office and sit out on the ward, but G their best bud was allowed to stay in the office with them gossiping and G was applying her make up doing nothing.
I really am contemplating asking to move to a different ward. I cried after my supervision with S on Saturday. I cried even harder after my meeting with the clinical director yesterday. A support worker noticed I was crying and asked if I was okay and was like you sure? I had go hide in the pharmacy alone for 10 minutes to cry it out and i had to walk past the patients with tears coming out my eyes. I want to apply for a new job anyway in October, as I'm tied to my current company till then as they funded my degree. I hate shift work, I'd rather do 9 to 5 in community nursing or another 9 to 5 nursing job. But for now, I was thinking of asking to move wards. I currently work on a female acute ward. There are 2 other wards in the hospital that are less challenging. One is the private addiction ward and one is the eating disorder ward. They have their own challenges but they rarely have the type of incidents that occur on my current ward, the ones I'm always criticised in as being a poor leader in. I'm not 100% sure yet but I do feel very awful being on my current ward. The cliquiness and toxicity is so high here. Honestly. I'm thinking about it. I'll talk to my parents about it tomorrow as they're visiting (convenient timing). My dad was an occupational therapist in the NHS for many years so he might know more about workplace politics in healthcare. I just don't know what to do.
submitted by Flaky-Woodpecker-592 to workplace_bullying [link] [comments]
Tldr: I work as a psych nurse. Been criticised by supervisor for poor leadership during critical incidents on the ward, staff members are toxic and cliquey and have been bullying me
So I work as a psych nurse. And I've run into some problems at work. There has been this other nurse (ill call her S) who's recently been promoted to deputy ward manager of the ward, and she's now my supervisor. This woman has been vile to me. Not to a serious extent, but still. She's been passive aggressive. She's been bossing me about like her dogsbody, especially ever since being promoted. One shift in August last year we were working together and I was applying make up at the start of the shift. I was still doing work though. I was doing a particular task and she asked "oh are you doing the task? And I said yes and she was like "oh, thought you were doing your make-up". Then during my supervision with my manager a few weeks later, he brought up about the make up thing, so obviously she'd reported it to him. She's been passive aggressive to me fairly often. One time at work she was doing admin work and I was working with another nurse. I started the daily handover notes and the other nurse said to me "don't worry, I'll do it, you're doing the ward round" and I was like "oh I don't mind, just thought I'd start it as I've run out of tasks to do" and then S made a snide passive aggressive comment under her breath, and then left the office. I didn't hear what she said. I looked to the other nurse and the nurse said "don't take no sh*". S is generally quite bossy, a know it all, and belittles others. She's also best buds at work with a nurse (K). K has also been passive aggressive and rude to me. One time during the handover, I was the night shift nurse and K and S were on the day shift. They kept questioning my handover, like as if I'd done it wrong and they were doubting my abilities. Also a few weeks ago, K sent me a rude email saying how I'd been ordering medication we already had stock of and that it was a waste of medication. Usually when you send such an email to a colleague, it's meant to be done with a bit of decency and respect, despite pointing out their mistake. But she did it so unprofessionally and rudely. I told her I'd only ordered them cause one of the agency nurses had told me they'd run out and needed ordering. Then a day ago, K had ordered a medication our ward doctor already ordered, yet is anyone gonna criticise her mistake? Absolutely not! At my place it's a matter of "if the name fits". It's extremely cliquey and toxic. I was on the phone to a patients family member telling them something and in the background K was tutting and raising her hands in frustration. After the call she told me what I'd done wrong. Like seriously. People who report my mistakes off the bat or "attack" me about them face to face are vile and shouldn't be in a job because their behaviour is disgusting. Why can't they be decent and just pull me aside and politely and respectfully tell me where I went wrong? I'm 1.5 years into being a nurse but still. I'm also only 27 and don't have much life experience overall. K and S are a few years older than me and do have a couple years more experience than me. But they act as if I'm crp at my job. But yeah, K and S are best buds as I said. There's a big clique on my ward at work.
There was a senior nurse role on the ward recently, after S got promoted, and K said that my manager and our clinical director gave it to her off the bat rather than advertising it first. The hospital director (above the clinical director) said this wasn't allowed and that it had to be advertised, applied for, and go through a proper process with an interview. So this happened, and the post got withdrawn from K. I had my interview for the post with S on Saturday (despite knowing K would get it regardless). Also after the interview, S did supervision with me. She told me she'd had feedback from colleagues and even patients that I was not confident enough and did not have good leadership skills when critical incidents occurred on the ward. She said I tend to take a backseat and that I need to be more at the forefront of incidents directing everyone and everything. I understand this. My manager told me this in supervision in March but in a wayyyyy less brutal way. He just said that it seemed I was presenting as anxious and nervous when dealing with patients who were "kicking off" and aggressive on the ward and something along the lines of what S told me like about being a bit more passive about dealing with incidents. I do appreciate these comments as I am naturally a passive introverted and anxious person. Also sometimes I feel a bit stuck and don't know how to handle the situations straight away and it takes me time to formulate a solution. I was able to manage an incident on the ward during a night shift with an agency nurse, where the agency staff was as passive as me, and the situation was diffused and handled properly, so it proves I am capable. But the day staff don't see that I guess because K and S are very confident and overpowering as people so in comparison I look like I'm doing F all in terms of incidents.
Then on Monday, the clinical director told me about how I had not succeeded in the interview. This was despite the fact its been a bank holiday weekend, so HR weren't working so couldnt have appraised the interview notes taken. My managers on holiday at the moment. So it was probably a straight whatsapp text from S to our clinical director saying "tell my name she hasn't got the job lol". He said my answers to the questions were not detailed enough and that over the next few months I should try to consolidate my knowledge so if I apply for future posts I can perform better in the interview. He also asked me to talk about what I'd spoken to S about after the interview, and I mentioned what S said about my leadership and confidence on the ward. The clinical director told me I should listen to S and follow her instructions and said "she knows what she's talking about". I found this comment a bit weird and don't know quite the purpose of it. It sounded like a bit of a dig at me. It doesn't surprise me though given im sure he fancies the pants off of her. A colleague said he'd been flirting with her before, another colleague said they were sleeping together and I asked really but they didn't mention anything further, another colleague said they were friends. S is a gorgeous girl, I mean not a supermodel but she is definitely quite pretty. I imagine both the clinical director and my manager fancy her. When they come into the office they sit close to her and talk to her. Bet she loves the attention.
I just feel really hurt by all of this. There's just this big clique at work. S and the clinical director are friends. S and my manager seem quite close. S and K are very close and they're also friends with a part time support worker G. One time when I was giving an injection, G told me to hold it in for 10 seconds!! She's a support worker not even studying nursing yet she had the right to tell me what to do. Patronising AF. Then they're also best buddies with another 2 support workers. Also K and S were known to be bullying a support worker R, who was so upset by it all that she got another job. On shift, K and S had been telling R to leave the office and sit out on the ward, but G their best bud was allowed to stay in the office with them gossiping and G was applying her make up doing nothing.
I really am contemplating asking to move to a different ward. I cried after my supervision with S on Saturday. I cried even harder after my meeting with the clinical director yesterday. A support worker noticed I was crying and asked if I was okay and was like you sure? I had go hide in the pharmacy alone for 10 minutes to cry it out and i had to walk past the patients with tears coming out my eyes. I want to apply for a new job anyway in October, as I'm tied to my current company till then as they funded my degree. I hate shift work, I'd rather do 9 to 5 in community nursing or another 9 to 5 nursing job. But for now, I was thinking of asking to move wards. I currently work on a female acute ward. There are 2 other wards in the hospital that are less challenging. One is the private addiction ward and one is the eating disorder ward. They have their own challenges but they rarely have the type of incidents that occur on my current ward, the ones I'm always criticised in as being a poor leader in. I'm not 100% sure yet but I do feel very awful being on my current ward. The cliquiness and toxicity is so high here. Honestly. I'm thinking about it. I'll talk to my parents about it tomorrow as they're visiting (convenient timing). My dad was an occupational therapist in the NHS for many years so he might know more about workplace politics in healthcare. I just don't know what to do.
work #workplace #bullying #workplacebullying #workplacetoxicity #nursing #psychnurse #psychnursing #workproblems #workissues #workplacepolitics #bullyingatwork
2024.05.28 20:01 Pristine_Problem_588 Plastic needle injury. Do i need to get tested? Also seem to have developed a cold.
I work as CT radiographer. I was doing a morning clean. My night colleague overfilled the bin where we connect the contrast line to patients. We dispose the lines that we connect to the patient cannula into the bin after each use.
The injector syringes which has two plastic points that are pushed into the contrast and saline were in the bin at the top. I was taking it out as it overfilled and i felt a scrape which i realised was from the pointy plastic part.
It felt superficial but I did have blood coming out from it. I cleaned and washed it. Went to AE. Had bloods which failed because blood clotted. So I'll need to repeat when i go back tomorrow.
My manager will contact occupational health tomorrow and I'll call them up as well.
Now my question is do I need to get tested. The pointy itself only would not have any patient contact but because it was in the bin that has used patient contrast lines that have potential blood that may touch the plastic pointy part. If it touched the lines and then I scraped against my hand. Would it be enough to infect me?
Side note. After my scrape I've developed cold like symptoms. Minor symptoms like a sneeze here and there and runny nose but very mild. I have been working long days for more than a week but I'm not sure if that's why. I've had hep b booster 4-5 years ago.
submitted by Pristine_Problem_588 to NursingUK [link] [comments]
The injector syringes which has two plastic points that are pushed into the contrast and saline were in the bin at the top. I was taking it out as it overfilled and i felt a scrape which i realised was from the pointy plastic part.
It felt superficial but I did have blood coming out from it. I cleaned and washed it. Went to AE. Had bloods which failed because blood clotted. So I'll need to repeat when i go back tomorrow.
My manager will contact occupational health tomorrow and I'll call them up as well.
Now my question is do I need to get tested. The pointy itself only would not have any patient contact but because it was in the bin that has used patient contrast lines that have potential blood that may touch the plastic pointy part. If it touched the lines and then I scraped against my hand. Would it be enough to infect me?
Side note. After my scrape I've developed cold like symptoms. Minor symptoms like a sneeze here and there and runny nose but very mild. I have been working long days for more than a week but I'm not sure if that's why. I've had hep b booster 4-5 years ago.
2024.05.28 20:00 Pristine_Problem_588 Plastic needle injury. Do i need to get tested? Also seem to have developed a cold
I work as CT tech. I was doing a morning clean. My night colleague overfilled the bin where we connect the contrast line to patients. We dispose the lines that we connect to the patient cannula into the bin after each use.
The injector syringes which has two plastic points that are pushed into the contrast and saline were in the bin at the top. I was taking it out as it overfilled and i felt a scrape which i realised was from the pointy plastic part.
It felt superficial but I did have blood coming out from it. I cleaned and washed it. Went to AE. Had bloods which failed because blood clotted. So I'll need to repeat when i go back tomorrow.
My manager will contact occupational health tomorrow and I'll call them up as well.
Now my question is do I need to get tested. The pointy itself only would not have any patient contact but because it was in the bin that has used patient contrast lines that have potential blood that may touch the plastic pointy part. If it touched the lines and then I scraped against my hand. Would it be enough to infect me?
Side note. After my scrape I've developed cold like symptoms. Minor symptoms like a sneeze here and there and runny nose but very mild. I have been working long days for more than a week but I'm not sure if that's why. I've had hep b booster 4-5 years ago.
submitted by Pristine_Problem_588 to MedicalAssistant [link] [comments]
The injector syringes which has two plastic points that are pushed into the contrast and saline were in the bin at the top. I was taking it out as it overfilled and i felt a scrape which i realised was from the pointy plastic part.
It felt superficial but I did have blood coming out from it. I cleaned and washed it. Went to AE. Had bloods which failed because blood clotted. So I'll need to repeat when i go back tomorrow.
My manager will contact occupational health tomorrow and I'll call them up as well.
Now my question is do I need to get tested. The pointy itself only would not have any patient contact but because it was in the bin that has used patient contrast lines that have potential blood that may touch the plastic pointy part. If it touched the lines and then I scraped against my hand. Would it be enough to infect me?
Side note. After my scrape I've developed cold like symptoms. Minor symptoms like a sneeze here and there and runny nose but very mild. I have been working long days for more than a week but I'm not sure if that's why. I've had hep b booster 4-5 years ago.
2024.05.28 19:50 EffectiveUnion5245 AITA for getting mad at my coworker for reading my whiteboard
Hi guys... ok I looked on the internet for advice/perspective on this but hard to find anything regarding this specific situation so I turn to you guys. I am 27F, and a manager in my new place. It's only been a few weeks but there's this coworker, ~34M.
Some backstory is that this is my first time in a manager role, and I didn't quite register it fully in my head it's a proper thing. It was as if it hadn't fully clicked yet so my first two weeks was already tough because I was battling some severe mental challenges regarding this. (It didn't help that in my previous role, I had some bad experiences that really wrecked my confidence and mental health.)
Eventually, I found my footing and I think I am at a better place regarding my self-perception and my confidence. (Props to some supportive colleagues who have consistently reaffirmed my work.)
Anyway, where this coworker comes in (let's call him A), I am his manager but the team set-up is quite decentralized so everyone has a degree of good autonomy. I deal a lot more with operations so that my colleagues can focus on just delivery of their projects.
During my first week, he dishes out several statements which does not help with my shaky mental health at that point: - That I had been hired mainly for some key contacts I had. In my interview, I mentioned I had done work with these companies as it was brought up but I never said I had ownership over relationships with them. I was only a minion/lackey, and as such was never really anyone of import when we had meetings with those companies. This was a point of major stress when he made this statement, as this expectation had not been communicated to me by the hiring manager. - That he had been considered for the manager role, but he declined as it was not aligned with his plans currently.
Following this, there was nothing to note for a few weeks. But just when I thought everything was good, the incident that set me off happened. I am lucky to have my own office room, which has a whiteboard amongst other things.
Due to juggling multiple balls, I was trying out several methods to manage things on my plate. I found the best way was to write down the overarching buckets and some high level details on the whiteboard for an overall view. And then I would use a planner app to track the more detailed views of the different things.
A few days after I had set up this system, he happened to be wandering around the office space and he probably notices the whiteboard with the notes. Without so much as a knock or any such verbal check, he walks into my office.
(My door was open at that point, because I wanted to enforce a policy that the door would be closed for meetings and at.any other point, I am happy to talk. My other colleagues usually just sorta vibe check if I am open to talk all the same, which I appreciate and I also reciprocate in return when I go over to their rooms. But now after this s first incident, I keep my door closed.)
Once he walks in to my office, he walks right up to the whiteboard and starts reading out loud EVERY single thing I had written. He also interjects with questions on the items, and telling me what to do about some of them. I attempt to first ignore him, because I was so taken aback.
When I see this does not work, I give him short answers along the lines of "I am working on it, it's being dealt with etc", hoping that he would take the hint and shut up. He doesn't. He goes through my entire whiteboard and then finally leaves after.
I thought it would be a one-off, but it just happened again earlier this week. I had cleaned off some of my notes, and updated some other items. When I was packing up to go home, I noticed him standing outside my office room at first clearly trying to read my amended notes.
After two minutes, he just walks into my room again without any request. He proceeds to stand and stare at my notes (luckily no reading out loud), at which point, I got short with him demanding to know what he was doing. He said "oh I was just looking". I told him it was none of his business which he ignores and then proceeds to question me on some items.
I was already walking out of my room at this point, and I firmly told him as parting words that it was under my view and I was dealing with, don't worry. I haven't been in the office since that as I was on leave. However, I am going back in next week and I was thinking of having a chat with him to set my boundaries.
But this is where I wanted to get your thoughts, on whether AITA for getting mad at my colleague reading my whiteboard and grilling me on it?
(Thank you for listening to me/reading this long post)
Edit: I realised I hadn't put this in. Regarding the reasoning of my hiring, at no point during my check ins with my hiring manager has this key contact thing turned up. In fact, the conversations have been angled more to confirming that what the hiring manager told me is truly the case, i.e. to help develop a more sustainable strategy for their work.
Re: the mental health thing, it's a lot of underlying stuff going on like from wayyy back in childhood. BUT outside of this guy, I actually like my work and feel pretty steady about my place in all of this now. It's been really exciting to work with my colleagues on some new projects, and I also have been privileged to learn from the people around me.
submitted by EffectiveUnion5245 to AITAH [link] [comments]
Some backstory is that this is my first time in a manager role, and I didn't quite register it fully in my head it's a proper thing. It was as if it hadn't fully clicked yet so my first two weeks was already tough because I was battling some severe mental challenges regarding this. (It didn't help that in my previous role, I had some bad experiences that really wrecked my confidence and mental health.)
Eventually, I found my footing and I think I am at a better place regarding my self-perception and my confidence. (Props to some supportive colleagues who have consistently reaffirmed my work.)
Anyway, where this coworker comes in (let's call him A), I am his manager but the team set-up is quite decentralized so everyone has a degree of good autonomy. I deal a lot more with operations so that my colleagues can focus on just delivery of their projects.
During my first week, he dishes out several statements which does not help with my shaky mental health at that point: - That I had been hired mainly for some key contacts I had. In my interview, I mentioned I had done work with these companies as it was brought up but I never said I had ownership over relationships with them. I was only a minion/lackey, and as such was never really anyone of import when we had meetings with those companies. This was a point of major stress when he made this statement, as this expectation had not been communicated to me by the hiring manager. - That he had been considered for the manager role, but he declined as it was not aligned with his plans currently.
Following this, there was nothing to note for a few weeks. But just when I thought everything was good, the incident that set me off happened. I am lucky to have my own office room, which has a whiteboard amongst other things.
Due to juggling multiple balls, I was trying out several methods to manage things on my plate. I found the best way was to write down the overarching buckets and some high level details on the whiteboard for an overall view. And then I would use a planner app to track the more detailed views of the different things.
A few days after I had set up this system, he happened to be wandering around the office space and he probably notices the whiteboard with the notes. Without so much as a knock or any such verbal check, he walks into my office.
(My door was open at that point, because I wanted to enforce a policy that the door would be closed for meetings and at.any other point, I am happy to talk. My other colleagues usually just sorta vibe check if I am open to talk all the same, which I appreciate and I also reciprocate in return when I go over to their rooms. But now after this s first incident, I keep my door closed.)
Once he walks in to my office, he walks right up to the whiteboard and starts reading out loud EVERY single thing I had written. He also interjects with questions on the items, and telling me what to do about some of them. I attempt to first ignore him, because I was so taken aback.
When I see this does not work, I give him short answers along the lines of "I am working on it, it's being dealt with etc", hoping that he would take the hint and shut up. He doesn't. He goes through my entire whiteboard and then finally leaves after.
I thought it would be a one-off, but it just happened again earlier this week. I had cleaned off some of my notes, and updated some other items. When I was packing up to go home, I noticed him standing outside my office room at first clearly trying to read my amended notes.
After two minutes, he just walks into my room again without any request. He proceeds to stand and stare at my notes (luckily no reading out loud), at which point, I got short with him demanding to know what he was doing. He said "oh I was just looking". I told him it was none of his business which he ignores and then proceeds to question me on some items.
I was already walking out of my room at this point, and I firmly told him as parting words that it was under my view and I was dealing with, don't worry. I haven't been in the office since that as I was on leave. However, I am going back in next week and I was thinking of having a chat with him to set my boundaries.
But this is where I wanted to get your thoughts, on whether AITA for getting mad at my colleague reading my whiteboard and grilling me on it?
(Thank you for listening to me/reading this long post)
Edit: I realised I hadn't put this in. Regarding the reasoning of my hiring, at no point during my check ins with my hiring manager has this key contact thing turned up. In fact, the conversations have been angled more to confirming that what the hiring manager told me is truly the case, i.e. to help develop a more sustainable strategy for their work.
Re: the mental health thing, it's a lot of underlying stuff going on like from wayyy back in childhood. BUT outside of this guy, I actually like my work and feel pretty steady about my place in all of this now. It's been really exciting to work with my colleagues on some new projects, and I also have been privileged to learn from the people around me.
2024.05.28 19:40 keekoc13 Name Ideas
So I have written in my notes app on 5/6 at 1:34 AM these two words: Job Duggar.
I knew I needed to pose the question here but I didn’t have any other context LMAO. So, I’m just curious why they didn’t name one of their boys “Job”, since it is biblical and not…. Too horrible
submitted by keekoc13 to DuggarsSnark [link] [comments]
I knew I needed to pose the question here but I didn’t have any other context LMAO. So, I’m just curious why they didn’t name one of their boys “Job”, since it is biblical and not…. Too horrible
2024.05.28 19:18 LiseEclaire [Leveling up the World] - Nobility Arc - Chapter 946
Out there - Patreon (for all those curious or wanting to support :))
At the Beginning
Adventure Arc - Arc 2
Wilderness Arc - Arc 3
Academy Arc - Arc 4
Nobility Arc - Arc 5
Previously on Leveling up the World...
The silence in the aether sphere was so intense that Dallion could hear every breath and heartbeat. So far, he had done a good job pretending to believe what the other had told him. Hopefully, that was going to be enough to fool the archbishop.
“We don’t,” Simon said.
In his mind Dallion said a lot of things, most of them curses. What he voiced was completely different.
“I don’t follow.” He floated closer to the center of the sphere. “I thought you said that if someone wins, it’s all over.”
“There’s another way to achieve what you want. A direct boon, if you will.”
That’s what you told Tiallia, didn’t you? Dallion frowned. Considering what had happened to her entire race, Dallion wasn’t terribly enthusiastic about that option.
“The Moon emblem,” the archbishop continued. “All hopefuls are given one. I’m no exception and neither are all previous conquerors. Those with enough drive have even completed theirs. I heard that you’re doing pretty well with yours.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear. I’m still missing a few,” Dallion lied.
“Everyone is missing a few, but I’ve foreseen that together there are enough to make a set.”
That filled Dallion with even less enthusiasm. A voice in the back of his mind had already started urging him to reject the offer and continue with more important things. Then again, there was the matter of the archbishop’s assistance.
“You’re suggesting we team up with them?” Even his level of the music skill proved unable to hide the skepticism.
“There can be only one winner in the conventional way, but unlike what they say through their echoes and domains, no one is certain they’ll be the one to make it. Right now, Jeremy and Tiallia are engaged in a series of battles all along the western shore of the continent. Tia decided to take advantage of the minor clash between you and the emperor, so she went all out in the battle for first place. Jeremy considers you weak, and me done with, so he responded.”
“So, whoever wins there wins the world.”
“Not quite. They must win fast. If the battle grinds on, the winner might reach a point at which they’ll be weaker than you. That’s why they are putting everything on the first clash. There’s a good chance that by tomorrow, things will be clear, yet they aren’t right now.”
There was an obvious danger of allying with someone dedicated to an insane belief. The archbishop’s mania that the world—or the “game” as he believed—would end had made him a master of knowing the right time and the right actions to force a desired outcome. Compared to him, the emperor was like an apprentice, though, as the current state of the world showed, sometimes the apprentice could outwit the master.
“We form an alliance and use my Moon emblem to challenge the Moons together,” Dallion mused.
“That’s the simple version, yes. They’ll have their doubts, of course, but if we ask them right now, they’ll have no choice but to accept.”
“That’s why you surrendered to me, didn’t you?”
“The third and fourth combined might prove stronger than the second.” Simon nodded. “Or maybe the first.”
“And because they’re currently fighting between themselves, they can’t easily unite against us.”
“Oh, they could, but would they trust each other? What if this all is an elaborate plot to eliminate them before fighting continues between the remaining three?”
Only because you’re the one who made the alliance, Dallion said to himself. He was putting a lot of faith in a person who was scheming, addicted to Moonstones, and with questionable beliefs. And still, he had a lot of knowledge that Dallion could use. In the end, this is what it came to: everyone was using everyone; the question was who would gain the bigger advantage.
“Working with Tiallia and Jeremy,” Dallion said.
“Trust me, it beats the alternative.”
“And what do I have to do in exchange?”
Anger emanated from the archbishop. Clearly, he was a lot worse at controlling his emotions in his current state.
“I must be able to see some of the details,” he replied without directly answering the question. “Also, I’ll need one to heal you. You could use it in theory as well, but you won’t be as efficient.”
“Alright,” Dallion agreed. In his mind, he had gone over his options dozens of times. “One more thing, though. You’ll tell me everything before we go.”
“I can talk while I heal.”
“And if there’s a face to face, I’m not going alone.”
“It’s a bad idea. Anyone you bring will put you at risk.”
“I trust them more than you,” Dallion said in a firm tone. Then he removed his limiting ring.
Aqui, he said within his realm. I’ll need you to bring me the Moonstones. Giaccia will give them—
No! The dragon cut him off. I’m not going in the same realm as him.
Aqui, it’ll be okay. I’ll be here and—
No! she said adamantly. He bred us for our hearts! I’m not going anywhere near!
If there was any way for Dallion’s opinion of Simon to get any lower, he couldn’t think of it right now. The archbishop really acted as if everything was a game. It was all very calculated, refined for efficiency, and with complete disregard for the beings involved. No wonder he spent all of his existence alone on his island, separated from the rest of the world. At a certain level, he knew the consequences of what he was doing and yet felt obliged to keep doing it.
Veil, you bring them, Dallion ordered.
Are you sure? There’s no telling what he’ll do with them.
I know exactly what he’ll do with them. We made a deal, so bring them. Oh, and don’t take the cyan one.
Sure, Dal. There was not a single note of enthusiasm in Veil’s voice.
A few seconds later, the aether sphere dissolved into nothing, bringing Dallion and the archbishop into view again. The number of troops surrounding the area had doubled, all eagerly awaiting the command to attack. Such a command never came. Instead, Dallion floated back down to his room, accompanied by the archbishop.
When Veil appeared, handing over the Moonstones to Dallion, who in turn gave them to Simon, the healing began.
Under the watchful eye of Euryale and Pan, the archbishop removed one by one the permanent effects covering Dallion’s body. The magic spell he used was unlike anything Dallion had seen—“more divine than spell” as Adzorg put it.
As each wound was burned out of existence, leaving smooth skin behind, a green rectangle flashed, informing Dallion of the result. And during the entire time, Simon explained the intricacies of the plan. For safety and security reasons, a bubble of silence had been cast around the room, maintained by none other than Pan. The copyette trusted the archbishop as much as Dallion, still maintaining hundreds of magic symbols all over his body.
After close to an hour, all the bleeding wounds had been removed from Dallion’s body. Now it was time to restore his feet.
“I’ll need you to hold him down for this,” Simon told Euryale.
“It will hurt, I take it,” Dallion said, preparing himself mentally.
“It will if you want it done in a minute.”
Dallion didn’t, but he also didn’t want to delay. A minute in intense pain. For an awakened, that sounded like an eternity. Hopefully, Simon was using a metaphor and it wasn’t actually going to take a full minute.
“Pan,” Dallion said as he lay down on the bed so that the stumps of his legs were beyond the end. “Did you go through this when you tried to conquer the world?”
“The leg healing bit? No.” The copyette responded with a touch of humor. “The other stuff… at this point, I can say I did.”
“You can only tell someone who already knows,” Dallion said reflectively. “How come you could tell me?” He raised his head, looking at Simon.
“I didn’t vow not to.” The archbishop was rubbing his hands, covering them in a pale green glow. “Unlike him, I never tried to take over the world.” He took a step closer to the bed. “You better get ready now.”
The pain came in waves. The first few seconds there was almost none at all. Yet as time went by, it kept building up more and more until soon it was more than Dallion could bear. Concentrating, he tried to use his music skills to negate the effects of the pain, or at the very least, decrease them. That lasted for possibly ten seconds more, when his body reflexively made an attempt to break free. It was only Euryale that kept him from succeeding. The gorgon held his hands firmly pinned to the bed, while Simon pulled out, bit by bit, a new set of feet from Dallion’s legs.
Half of Dallion’s body had gone completely limp and unresponsive, yet the pain felt as if someone was stretching every muscle, nerve, and tendon in his legs far beyond their breaking point. The only thing preventing him from yelling for the archbishop to stop was the burning desire not to give him the satisfaction. Sweat covered his entire body. Magic threads emerged from his pores in an attempt to create a protective mesh over his skin.
The pain seemed to last for hours, simultaneously knocking Dallion out and forcing him into consciousness again. Finally, he felt a slight decrease. It wasn’t much, but a sure sign that his suffering had peaked.
“There you go.” Simon wiped the sweat from his forehead. Clearly, he had also exerted himself. Even so, he seemed in a markedly better state. If nothing else, the bags beneath his eyes were gone. “Rest a bit. I’ll send my offer to Jeremy.”
“Not Tiallia?” Dallion asked through gritted teeth.
“Tiallia has already accepted. I suppose having her sister helped.”
“Wait! Tell me—” Dallion tried to voice the question, but his stamina had reached its limits. Once his body realized it wasn’t fighting for its survival, his consciousness shut down. After what seemed like a second, Dallion woke up.
Looking up he saw a star-filled night sky. Panic set in, along with the fear that Simon had gone to the meeting without him.
“Eury!” Dallion jumped to his feet. “Pan! Who left…” his words trailed off.
There was a person in the room. Funny that it was only now that Dallion noticed. The person was a dryad, standing at the window, looking outside.
“Vihrogon?” Dallion asked.
“Close.” The dryad turned around. It didn’t take Dallion more than a second to figure out who it was.
“Felygn,” he whispered. “I thought it was strange that the room was removed again. How long was I out?”
“Eleven seconds, give or take. Simon did a number on you. After your latest bout of recklessness, you deserved it, though.”
“Everyone’s a critic.” Dallion shifted the weight on his legs. His feet felt normal and completely pain-free. Given that it was a dream, there was no other way for it to be. “Was he right?”
“Is that what you want to ask me?”
“Will you answer if I do?”
The Green Moon laughed.
“You’re leaning.”
The room suddenly shifted. Dallion didn’t notice it happening, yet he knew the difference between where he had been a moment ago and where he was now. The present room was identical to his university dorm, at least as far as he could remember. The only thing that remained the same was Felygn, who stood at the window in his dryad form.
“This brings back memories, doesn’t it?” the Moon asked.
“I’ve never known you to be sentimental.”
“Who said I can’t be? Don’t worry, you’re not in any trouble as far as we are concerned. I just thought I’d take this chance to have a few words with you. There’s no telling whether I might have another.”
“So, things are that bad?”
“Only one can own the world. There’s no telling if that someone would be you.”
A farewell from a Moon. It was the last thing Dallion expected, but he appreciated the gestures. His opinion and relationship with the Moons had gone through many stages. Initially there was awe, then fear, then annoyance that they let mass-scale pain and suffering happen before their eyes. Now, he felt them distantly close in a way that words could barely describe.
“Thanks for bringing my race back,” Felygn said. “I appreciate it.”
“You know I didn’t do it for you.”
“I know. But you also did it for them. Many were given an opportunity, but you’re the only one who not only tried, but did it. For that, I’ll give you a final boon.”
“Isn’t it a bit late for that?”
“Maybe. But no matter what, I’ll always be with you as long as you call.”
“What does—” The scene disappeared. Instantly, Dallion opened his eyes, lurching his upper body upwards.
He was back in his bedroom with Euryale sitting on the bed next to him.
“Don’t rush,” she said, gently caressing his cheek. “You can rest a bit longer.”
Dallion smiled, relaxing back down. Yes, he had a bit longer. Yet deep inside, he feared that he’d never see Felygn again, not as a friend in any event.
submitted by LiseEclaire to redditserials [link] [comments]
Adventure Arc - Arc 2
Wilderness Arc - Arc 3
Academy Arc - Arc 4
Nobility Arc - Arc 5
Previously on Leveling up the World...
“We don’t,” Simon said.
In his mind Dallion said a lot of things, most of them curses. What he voiced was completely different.
“I don’t follow.” He floated closer to the center of the sphere. “I thought you said that if someone wins, it’s all over.”
“There’s another way to achieve what you want. A direct boon, if you will.”
That’s what you told Tiallia, didn’t you? Dallion frowned. Considering what had happened to her entire race, Dallion wasn’t terribly enthusiastic about that option.
“The Moon emblem,” the archbishop continued. “All hopefuls are given one. I’m no exception and neither are all previous conquerors. Those with enough drive have even completed theirs. I heard that you’re doing pretty well with yours.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear. I’m still missing a few,” Dallion lied.
“Everyone is missing a few, but I’ve foreseen that together there are enough to make a set.”
That filled Dallion with even less enthusiasm. A voice in the back of his mind had already started urging him to reject the offer and continue with more important things. Then again, there was the matter of the archbishop’s assistance.
“You’re suggesting we team up with them?” Even his level of the music skill proved unable to hide the skepticism.
“There can be only one winner in the conventional way, but unlike what they say through their echoes and domains, no one is certain they’ll be the one to make it. Right now, Jeremy and Tiallia are engaged in a series of battles all along the western shore of the continent. Tia decided to take advantage of the minor clash between you and the emperor, so she went all out in the battle for first place. Jeremy considers you weak, and me done with, so he responded.”
“So, whoever wins there wins the world.”
“Not quite. They must win fast. If the battle grinds on, the winner might reach a point at which they’ll be weaker than you. That’s why they are putting everything on the first clash. There’s a good chance that by tomorrow, things will be clear, yet they aren’t right now.”
There was an obvious danger of allying with someone dedicated to an insane belief. The archbishop’s mania that the world—or the “game” as he believed—would end had made him a master of knowing the right time and the right actions to force a desired outcome. Compared to him, the emperor was like an apprentice, though, as the current state of the world showed, sometimes the apprentice could outwit the master.
“We form an alliance and use my Moon emblem to challenge the Moons together,” Dallion mused.
“That’s the simple version, yes. They’ll have their doubts, of course, but if we ask them right now, they’ll have no choice but to accept.”
“That’s why you surrendered to me, didn’t you?”
“The third and fourth combined might prove stronger than the second.” Simon nodded. “Or maybe the first.”
“And because they’re currently fighting between themselves, they can’t easily unite against us.”
“Oh, they could, but would they trust each other? What if this all is an elaborate plot to eliminate them before fighting continues between the remaining three?”
Only because you’re the one who made the alliance, Dallion said to himself. He was putting a lot of faith in a person who was scheming, addicted to Moonstones, and with questionable beliefs. And still, he had a lot of knowledge that Dallion could use. In the end, this is what it came to: everyone was using everyone; the question was who would gain the bigger advantage.
“Working with Tiallia and Jeremy,” Dallion said.
“Trust me, it beats the alternative.”
“And what do I have to do in exchange?”
Anger emanated from the archbishop. Clearly, he was a lot worse at controlling his emotions in his current state.
“I must be able to see some of the details,” he replied without directly answering the question. “Also, I’ll need one to heal you. You could use it in theory as well, but you won’t be as efficient.”
“Alright,” Dallion agreed. In his mind, he had gone over his options dozens of times. “One more thing, though. You’ll tell me everything before we go.”
“I can talk while I heal.”
“And if there’s a face to face, I’m not going alone.”
“It’s a bad idea. Anyone you bring will put you at risk.”
“I trust them more than you,” Dallion said in a firm tone. Then he removed his limiting ring.
Aqui, he said within his realm. I’ll need you to bring me the Moonstones. Giaccia will give them—
No! The dragon cut him off. I’m not going in the same realm as him.
Aqui, it’ll be okay. I’ll be here and—
No! she said adamantly. He bred us for our hearts! I’m not going anywhere near!
If there was any way for Dallion’s opinion of Simon to get any lower, he couldn’t think of it right now. The archbishop really acted as if everything was a game. It was all very calculated, refined for efficiency, and with complete disregard for the beings involved. No wonder he spent all of his existence alone on his island, separated from the rest of the world. At a certain level, he knew the consequences of what he was doing and yet felt obliged to keep doing it.
Veil, you bring them, Dallion ordered.
Are you sure? There’s no telling what he’ll do with them.
I know exactly what he’ll do with them. We made a deal, so bring them. Oh, and don’t take the cyan one.
Sure, Dal. There was not a single note of enthusiasm in Veil’s voice.
A few seconds later, the aether sphere dissolved into nothing, bringing Dallion and the archbishop into view again. The number of troops surrounding the area had doubled, all eagerly awaiting the command to attack. Such a command never came. Instead, Dallion floated back down to his room, accompanied by the archbishop.
When Veil appeared, handing over the Moonstones to Dallion, who in turn gave them to Simon, the healing began.
Under the watchful eye of Euryale and Pan, the archbishop removed one by one the permanent effects covering Dallion’s body. The magic spell he used was unlike anything Dallion had seen—“more divine than spell” as Adzorg put it.
As each wound was burned out of existence, leaving smooth skin behind, a green rectangle flashed, informing Dallion of the result. And during the entire time, Simon explained the intricacies of the plan. For safety and security reasons, a bubble of silence had been cast around the room, maintained by none other than Pan. The copyette trusted the archbishop as much as Dallion, still maintaining hundreds of magic symbols all over his body.
After close to an hour, all the bleeding wounds had been removed from Dallion’s body. Now it was time to restore his feet.
“I’ll need you to hold him down for this,” Simon told Euryale.
“It will hurt, I take it,” Dallion said, preparing himself mentally.
“It will if you want it done in a minute.”
Dallion didn’t, but he also didn’t want to delay. A minute in intense pain. For an awakened, that sounded like an eternity. Hopefully, Simon was using a metaphor and it wasn’t actually going to take a full minute.
“Pan,” Dallion said as he lay down on the bed so that the stumps of his legs were beyond the end. “Did you go through this when you tried to conquer the world?”
“The leg healing bit? No.” The copyette responded with a touch of humor. “The other stuff… at this point, I can say I did.”
“You can only tell someone who already knows,” Dallion said reflectively. “How come you could tell me?” He raised his head, looking at Simon.
“I didn’t vow not to.” The archbishop was rubbing his hands, covering them in a pale green glow. “Unlike him, I never tried to take over the world.” He took a step closer to the bed. “You better get ready now.”
The pain came in waves. The first few seconds there was almost none at all. Yet as time went by, it kept building up more and more until soon it was more than Dallion could bear. Concentrating, he tried to use his music skills to negate the effects of the pain, or at the very least, decrease them. That lasted for possibly ten seconds more, when his body reflexively made an attempt to break free. It was only Euryale that kept him from succeeding. The gorgon held his hands firmly pinned to the bed, while Simon pulled out, bit by bit, a new set of feet from Dallion’s legs.
Half of Dallion’s body had gone completely limp and unresponsive, yet the pain felt as if someone was stretching every muscle, nerve, and tendon in his legs far beyond their breaking point. The only thing preventing him from yelling for the archbishop to stop was the burning desire not to give him the satisfaction. Sweat covered his entire body. Magic threads emerged from his pores in an attempt to create a protective mesh over his skin.
The pain seemed to last for hours, simultaneously knocking Dallion out and forcing him into consciousness again. Finally, he felt a slight decrease. It wasn’t much, but a sure sign that his suffering had peaked.
“There you go.” Simon wiped the sweat from his forehead. Clearly, he had also exerted himself. Even so, he seemed in a markedly better state. If nothing else, the bags beneath his eyes were gone. “Rest a bit. I’ll send my offer to Jeremy.”
“Not Tiallia?” Dallion asked through gritted teeth.
“Tiallia has already accepted. I suppose having her sister helped.”
“Wait! Tell me—” Dallion tried to voice the question, but his stamina had reached its limits. Once his body realized it wasn’t fighting for its survival, his consciousness shut down. After what seemed like a second, Dallion woke up.
Looking up he saw a star-filled night sky. Panic set in, along with the fear that Simon had gone to the meeting without him.
“Eury!” Dallion jumped to his feet. “Pan! Who left…” his words trailed off.
There was a person in the room. Funny that it was only now that Dallion noticed. The person was a dryad, standing at the window, looking outside.
“Vihrogon?” Dallion asked.
“Close.” The dryad turned around. It didn’t take Dallion more than a second to figure out who it was.
“Felygn,” he whispered. “I thought it was strange that the room was removed again. How long was I out?”
“Eleven seconds, give or take. Simon did a number on you. After your latest bout of recklessness, you deserved it, though.”
“Everyone’s a critic.” Dallion shifted the weight on his legs. His feet felt normal and completely pain-free. Given that it was a dream, there was no other way for it to be. “Was he right?”
“Is that what you want to ask me?”
“Will you answer if I do?”
The Green Moon laughed.
“You’re leaning.”
The room suddenly shifted. Dallion didn’t notice it happening, yet he knew the difference between where he had been a moment ago and where he was now. The present room was identical to his university dorm, at least as far as he could remember. The only thing that remained the same was Felygn, who stood at the window in his dryad form.
“This brings back memories, doesn’t it?” the Moon asked.
“I’ve never known you to be sentimental.”
“Who said I can’t be? Don’t worry, you’re not in any trouble as far as we are concerned. I just thought I’d take this chance to have a few words with you. There’s no telling whether I might have another.”
“So, things are that bad?”
“Only one can own the world. There’s no telling if that someone would be you.”
A farewell from a Moon. It was the last thing Dallion expected, but he appreciated the gestures. His opinion and relationship with the Moons had gone through many stages. Initially there was awe, then fear, then annoyance that they let mass-scale pain and suffering happen before their eyes. Now, he felt them distantly close in a way that words could barely describe.
“Thanks for bringing my race back,” Felygn said. “I appreciate it.”
“You know I didn’t do it for you.”
“I know. But you also did it for them. Many were given an opportunity, but you’re the only one who not only tried, but did it. For that, I’ll give you a final boon.”
“Isn’t it a bit late for that?”
“Maybe. But no matter what, I’ll always be with you as long as you call.”
“What does—” The scene disappeared. Instantly, Dallion opened his eyes, lurching his upper body upwards.
He was back in his bedroom with Euryale sitting on the bed next to him.
“Don’t rush,” she said, gently caressing his cheek. “You can rest a bit longer.”
Dallion smiled, relaxing back down. Yes, he had a bit longer. Yet deep inside, he feared that he’d never see Felygn again, not as a friend in any event.
2024.05.28 19:15 joshuadwx New KVM Switch
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2024.05.28 19:09 LilacTeaBag [M4F] [M4A] Teaming Up with a Flirtatious Prisoner [Guard Listener] [Prisoner] kinda [Fantasy] [Flirty] [Wholesome]
~First of all, some information about the script :~
I'm open to monetization as long as I receive credit. Minor adjustments to the script for recording are okay, as long as they maintain the original meaning. Adding sound effects or music isn't required, but it can enhance the story's immersion. The key is ensuring the listener understands the plot. My scripts are adaptable to any speaker or listener (A4A, M4A, F4A). If there are any uncertainties, feel free to ask for clarification.
Since English isn't my first language, please notify me of any errors in the script or story structure.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Context :
You're a guard, employed at the largest prison in the country. Fortunately, you're not stationed in the most perilous wing. It's mostly uneventful, with your days spent overseeing high-profile thieves and escapees. However, when a dangerous criminal breaks out from the adjacent section, you find yourself at a loss and are compelled to collaborate with a somewhat unreliable inmate.
Audio length: ~1500 sw, 7 to 15min
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional info :
I wanted to emphasize the seductive and immature personality of the Speaker by having him give a nickname to the Listener. Since the Listener is a guard, I opted for 'Guardie,' which seemed neutral enough to me. However (and as I'm not a native English speaker), if it doesn't make sense or if it's not a catchy nickname, or if it's too hard to pronounce, feel free to change or remove it.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[The scene takes place in a prison, with a cold atmosphere, and occasional background noises.]
Speaker: Oh, look who's here! If it isn't my favorite guard!
Speaker: Hey, don't be so grumpy, I know you've been longing to see me, haven't you?
[Speaker approaches the bars]
Speaker (flirting) : Did you come to see me for something specific, or do you already miss me from yesterday, Guardie ?
Speaker (closer): Or maybe you just came to admire my irresistible charm ?
[Listener sets a bag on the ground, rustling/impact noise]
Speaker (a bit disappointed): Oh. I see, you came to bring dinner.
Speaker (sarcastic): I know I know, I can’t leave my cell. But it's not like we're going to escape, right?
[Speaker sits down]
Speaker: A-ny-way. So, what goodies did you bring me today, Guardie?
Speaker (recalling): I hope it's not the same stew as yesterday. No offense, but it was simply repulsive!
Speaker (continuing): Honestly, I couldn't even identify what was in it. Were they turnips, or guts? I couldn't tell.
(Listener explains)
Speaker (disgusted and sarcastic) : Oh, so it's leftovers today… That means more stew for me… Yay…
Speaker: Hm?
(Listener brings a bag into Speaker's cell)
Speaker: Ohh, did you manage to find me something else? Let's see.
[Speaker rummages through the bag]
Speaker: So, what do we have here? Sandwiches, fresh fruits…
Speaker: Oh, and even chocolate bars. I must say I'm spoiled.
[Speaker opens one of the bars, plastic noise]
Speaker: But tell me, are you showing me special treatment by bringing all this?
Speaker (moves closer to Listener): Have I finally managed to charm you?
Speaker: Look at me, Guardie… Are you in love?
[Speaker quickly steps back]
Speaker (amused): Haha, don't look so tense, I'm just joking. …Or maybe I'm not?
[Speaker starts eating his chocolate bar]
Speaker (chewing): Anyway, this food is much better than yesterday's, so thanks.
Speaker (flirting again): I suppose you took quite some risks too. I'm touched, you must really love me a lot…
Speaker (amused): Haha, I can imagine you trying to be conscientious to bring me all this.
(Listener asks a question)
Speaker: What do I mean by that? Well, let's just say you're not the most meticulous.
Speaker: You're more of the clumsy type, you know?
Speaker (opens a sandwich pack): Don't tell me you forgot the time you locked yourself alone in one of the cells, haha. Fortunately, it was empty.
[Speaker eats his sandwich]
Speaker (continuing): If it weren't for the other guards, believe me : I would have succeeded in my escape attempts.
Speaker (bored): Especially that man, the department chief. He's really a pain in the neck.
[Speaker puts down the food]
Speaker: I mean, yes, he's annoying because he's always watching over me, and because of him, I can't escape. But well, it's his job after all.
Speaker: No, I resent him more because he's always sticking to you. What a clingy guy, always wanting to watch over the same places as you. I don't like that.
(…)
Speaker: Have you noticed how he follows you everywhere like your shadow? A little creepy if you ask me.
Speaker: Also, he spends his time trying to talk to you; he must not understand that you're quite calm.
(Listener intervenes)
Speaker: Well, it's true that I also try to get your attention whenever I can.
Speaker (bored): But I'm bored here! And having you nearby makes time pass more quickly. You're like my little play-thing, you see?
Speaker (softer): However, I never cross the line; I never insist when you don't want to talk to me.
[Speaker moves closer]
Speaker (teasing): Although, well, that doesn't happen often. Since you seem to love chatting with me.
Speaker: No, no, don't deny it, I can tell, Guardie.
(…)
Speaker (flirting): Don't worry; the feeling is mutual. I really enjoy spending time with you, even if it's in these conditions.
Speaker: And even if you're not the most careful guard, you have plenty of other qualities.
(…)
Speaker: Hey, it's true! I've noticed plenty of adorable things about you!
Speaker (a bit more serious): Like… I love it when I notice you doodling little cats on your notes. Oh, and I appreciate your ability to stay calm despite tensions in the cells; it's quite impressive.
Speaker (continuing): And that little tic you have of twirling a strand of hair around your finger when you're thinking… it's really cute.
Speaker: And above all, one of the things I love the most is your voice. Every time you find a moment to exchange a few words, I really appreciate its softness.
Speaker (proudly): So, you see? I really pay attention to you.
Speaker (speaking more softly): Not like Mr. Chief who thinks he's better than everyone else.
(…)
Speaker: But… Wait, after spilling all these compliments about you, I'm starting to think I'm the one falling for your charm.
Speaker (teasing): You know what? It doesn't sound too bad at all!
(Listener steps back)
Speaker (feigning sadness): Oh, I haven't even had the chance to make a confession yet, and you already seem to be rejecting me.
Speaker: Guardie, don't tell me you're afraid of commitment?
(…)
Speaker: Quite ironic for someone committed to justice, isn't it?
Speaker (flirting again): Anyway, now I understand a bit better why I'm more hesitant to attempt escapes. I wouldn't want to miss your sweet face.
Speaker: Hey, be honest with yourself; if I were gone, I know you'd miss me terribly too.
[Speaker and Listener hear a loud noise, like a door suddenly opening]
Speaker (slightly surprised): Did you hear that noise too?
Speaker (nonchalant again): Hm, anyway, no matter what it is, the other guards will be here soon.
Speaker (interrupting): I guess we'll continue our discussion a bit later…
[A gigantic, almost monstrous man enters, loud footsteps approaching]
Speaker (observing the man further behind Listener): Geez, what… what is that?
Speaker (incredulous): An inmate from another building? Did he manage to escape?
[Speaker observes the man]
Speaker: But he's huge!! He's a giant ! How did he manage to get away?
Speaker: Wait, that tattoo he has… I think I've seen it before. It looks like it's from a rather well-known gang, reputed to be merciless.
Speaker (amused): It seems this gentleman isn't a saint.
(…)
Speaker (collecting himself): Well, good luck catching him, Guardie. You're definitely going to need the help of your colleagues.
[Speaker moves away from the bars, comfortably sitting in his cell]
Speaker (yawning): Hm? What am I doing?
(…)
Speaker (playing innocent): Well, I'm just a naughty thief, so I'll stay safe in my cell. This brute can be as big and violent as he wants; he won't break the bars, so I'm safe.
Speaker (amused and nonchalant): Well, we can't say the same for you, so try not to die.
[More guards arrive, lighter footsteps]
Speaker (sarcastic): Oh, look, Mr. Chief of the department and his men have come to your rescue! How lucky you are!
[Loud noise, the guards are knocked out by the fugitive. Then the sound of people falling to the ground.]
Speaker: Oh… They have already been beaten by the giant
Speaker : Well, it looks like they weren't much help, haha…
[Again, loud footsteps approaching (loud footsteps, monster footsteps…)]
Speaker: Hm, looks like he's coming this way…
Speaker (amused): So, how are you going to handle this, Guardie? Do you have a plan?
(…)
Speaker (feigning sadness): Oh no, what a shame, you don't. If only someone could help you solve the situation.
Speaker (continuing): But all your colleagues are on the ground, and reinforcements will take some time to arrive… That's really unfortunate.
(Listener hesitates)
Speaker (acting surprised): Oh, you're asking me to team up? But I'm a naughty, wicked criminal.
Speaker (being dramatic): How could you, a figure of righteousness, ally yourself with someone as horrible as me?
(…)
Speaker: Oh? You need me? That's what I like to hear.
Speaker: Okay, then, I'll agree to help you.
(Listener is relieved)
[Possibility of adding noises of fracas, fugitive making noise in the background]
Speaker: Hey hey, don't look so proud of yourself so quickly. I'm not doing this for free. You'll owe me something.
(…)
Speaker: What do I want? Let me think… Hm…
Speaker: Oh, I know! I want you to give me an excellent review in your official reports. You'll have to describe my behavior as exemplary!
(…)
Speaker: Hey, don't make that face, it's not really lying! I've calmed down a lot since I got here! Besides, it's not like I'm in this prison for murders or worse!
Speaker: Oh, so you accept… Perfect.
Speaker: So, we have a deal. Now, as for my ultimate reward...
[Speaker teasingly approaches Listener.]
Speaker: I want you to grant me a date.
Speaker: Yes, you heard that right. When I'm finally released from this place, I want you to show me around the city, like a real date.
Speaker: Delighted to see we can come to an agreement! Deal sealed then.
(Listener unlocks the Speaker's cell) [Sound of keys]
Speaker (stepping out of the cell): Don't worry, Guardie, with me by your side, you have nothing to fear.
Speaker (turning towards the fugitive): Well, I didn't expect to have to fight so soon, but oh well. Now, looks like it's just you and me, big guy!
[Sounds of struggle, the fugitive making noise in the background]
Speaker (attacking the fugitive): Take that !
[Sound of impact, but the fugitive retaliates]
Speaker: Argh!
Speaker: You're not getting away that easily!
[Sound of a blow]
Speaker: Damn, is he tireless or what? Ah-
[The fugitive tries to hit the Speaker, but the Listener prevents him, a movement noise]
Speaker (grateful): Thanks, Guardie, it's a good thing you're here!
Speaker (addressing the fugitive): I love sparring with you, Mr. Killer, but I think it's time to end this charade!
[Speaker delivers a decisive blow, catching the fugitive off guard and pinning him to the ground, the sound of a crash]
Speaker: We did it!
Speaker: Quick, the handcuffs!
(Listener handcuffs the fugitive) [Handcuffs sound]
Speaker: Good job! You're not the worst ally I've had, that's for sure!
Speaker (teasing again): I hope all this brings us closer.
(…)
Speaker (flirting): You know, now that I'm out of my cell and close to you like this, it's pretty hard not to want to hug you…
[Sound of footsteps, other guards from other buildings arrive] [Speaker steps back]
Speaker (a bit disappointed): Well, it looks like reinforcements are here. I'd better hurry back to my cell if I don't want to extend my sentence.
[Speaker walks, Listener closes the cell with a key]
Speaker (amused): You should thank me. I'll let you take all the credit this time. You'll just have to say you managed to overpower this giant. Well, hopefully they believe you.
Speaker: Anyway, despite all the commotion, I'm rather grateful.
(…)
Speaker (smiling): Why? Well, because now I have a good reason to want to get out of this miserable prison.
Speaker: So, I'll have to behave myself. Now that I have the chance to go out with you, I can't let this opportunity slip away.
(…)
Speaker: Well, looks like they're calling you elsewhere.
Guardie: See you later, Guardie. I can't wait to see your sweet face again.
(End)
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's note : When I imagine the fugitive colossus, I think of Sloth from FMAB.
submitted by LilacTeaBag to ASMRScriptHaven [link] [comments]
I'm open to monetization as long as I receive credit. Minor adjustments to the script for recording are okay, as long as they maintain the original meaning. Adding sound effects or music isn't required, but it can enhance the story's immersion. The key is ensuring the listener understands the plot. My scripts are adaptable to any speaker or listener (A4A, M4A, F4A). If there are any uncertainties, feel free to ask for clarification.
Since English isn't my first language, please notify me of any errors in the script or story structure.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Context :
You're a guard, employed at the largest prison in the country. Fortunately, you're not stationed in the most perilous wing. It's mostly uneventful, with your days spent overseeing high-profile thieves and escapees. However, when a dangerous criminal breaks out from the adjacent section, you find yourself at a loss and are compelled to collaborate with a somewhat unreliable inmate.
Audio length: ~1500 sw, 7 to 15min
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional info :
I wanted to emphasize the seductive and immature personality of the Speaker by having him give a nickname to the Listener. Since the Listener is a guard, I opted for 'Guardie,' which seemed neutral enough to me. However (and as I'm not a native English speaker), if it doesn't make sense or if it's not a catchy nickname, or if it's too hard to pronounce, feel free to change or remove it.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[The scene takes place in a prison, with a cold atmosphere, and occasional background noises.]
Speaker: Oh, look who's here! If it isn't my favorite guard!
Speaker: Hey, don't be so grumpy, I know you've been longing to see me, haven't you?
[Speaker approaches the bars]
Speaker (flirting) : Did you come to see me for something specific, or do you already miss me from yesterday, Guardie ?
Speaker (closer): Or maybe you just came to admire my irresistible charm ?
[Listener sets a bag on the ground, rustling/impact noise]
Speaker (a bit disappointed): Oh. I see, you came to bring dinner.
Speaker (sarcastic): I know I know, I can’t leave my cell. But it's not like we're going to escape, right?
[Speaker sits down]
Speaker: A-ny-way. So, what goodies did you bring me today, Guardie?
Speaker (recalling): I hope it's not the same stew as yesterday. No offense, but it was simply repulsive!
Speaker (continuing): Honestly, I couldn't even identify what was in it. Were they turnips, or guts? I couldn't tell.
(Listener explains)
Speaker (disgusted and sarcastic) : Oh, so it's leftovers today… That means more stew for me… Yay…
Speaker: Hm?
(Listener brings a bag into Speaker's cell)
Speaker: Ohh, did you manage to find me something else? Let's see.
[Speaker rummages through the bag]
Speaker: So, what do we have here? Sandwiches, fresh fruits…
Speaker: Oh, and even chocolate bars. I must say I'm spoiled.
[Speaker opens one of the bars, plastic noise]
Speaker: But tell me, are you showing me special treatment by bringing all this?
Speaker (moves closer to Listener): Have I finally managed to charm you?
Speaker: Look at me, Guardie… Are you in love?
[Speaker quickly steps back]
Speaker (amused): Haha, don't look so tense, I'm just joking. …Or maybe I'm not?
[Speaker starts eating his chocolate bar]
Speaker (chewing): Anyway, this food is much better than yesterday's, so thanks.
Speaker (flirting again): I suppose you took quite some risks too. I'm touched, you must really love me a lot…
Speaker (amused): Haha, I can imagine you trying to be conscientious to bring me all this.
(Listener asks a question)
Speaker: What do I mean by that? Well, let's just say you're not the most meticulous.
Speaker: You're more of the clumsy type, you know?
Speaker (opens a sandwich pack): Don't tell me you forgot the time you locked yourself alone in one of the cells, haha. Fortunately, it was empty.
[Speaker eats his sandwich]
Speaker (continuing): If it weren't for the other guards, believe me : I would have succeeded in my escape attempts.
Speaker (bored): Especially that man, the department chief. He's really a pain in the neck.
[Speaker puts down the food]
Speaker: I mean, yes, he's annoying because he's always watching over me, and because of him, I can't escape. But well, it's his job after all.
Speaker: No, I resent him more because he's always sticking to you. What a clingy guy, always wanting to watch over the same places as you. I don't like that.
(…)
Speaker: Have you noticed how he follows you everywhere like your shadow? A little creepy if you ask me.
Speaker: Also, he spends his time trying to talk to you; he must not understand that you're quite calm.
(Listener intervenes)
Speaker: Well, it's true that I also try to get your attention whenever I can.
Speaker (bored): But I'm bored here! And having you nearby makes time pass more quickly. You're like my little play-thing, you see?
Speaker (softer): However, I never cross the line; I never insist when you don't want to talk to me.
[Speaker moves closer]
Speaker (teasing): Although, well, that doesn't happen often. Since you seem to love chatting with me.
Speaker: No, no, don't deny it, I can tell, Guardie.
(…)
Speaker (flirting): Don't worry; the feeling is mutual. I really enjoy spending time with you, even if it's in these conditions.
Speaker: And even if you're not the most careful guard, you have plenty of other qualities.
(…)
Speaker: Hey, it's true! I've noticed plenty of adorable things about you!
Speaker (a bit more serious): Like… I love it when I notice you doodling little cats on your notes. Oh, and I appreciate your ability to stay calm despite tensions in the cells; it's quite impressive.
Speaker (continuing): And that little tic you have of twirling a strand of hair around your finger when you're thinking… it's really cute.
Speaker: And above all, one of the things I love the most is your voice. Every time you find a moment to exchange a few words, I really appreciate its softness.
Speaker (proudly): So, you see? I really pay attention to you.
Speaker (speaking more softly): Not like Mr. Chief who thinks he's better than everyone else.
(…)
Speaker: But… Wait, after spilling all these compliments about you, I'm starting to think I'm the one falling for your charm.
Speaker (teasing): You know what? It doesn't sound too bad at all!
(Listener steps back)
Speaker (feigning sadness): Oh, I haven't even had the chance to make a confession yet, and you already seem to be rejecting me.
Speaker: Guardie, don't tell me you're afraid of commitment?
(…)
Speaker: Quite ironic for someone committed to justice, isn't it?
Speaker (flirting again): Anyway, now I understand a bit better why I'm more hesitant to attempt escapes. I wouldn't want to miss your sweet face.
Speaker: Hey, be honest with yourself; if I were gone, I know you'd miss me terribly too.
[Speaker and Listener hear a loud noise, like a door suddenly opening]
Speaker (slightly surprised): Did you hear that noise too?
Speaker (nonchalant again): Hm, anyway, no matter what it is, the other guards will be here soon.
Speaker (interrupting): I guess we'll continue our discussion a bit later…
[A gigantic, almost monstrous man enters, loud footsteps approaching]
Speaker (observing the man further behind Listener): Geez, what… what is that?
Speaker (incredulous): An inmate from another building? Did he manage to escape?
[Speaker observes the man]
Speaker: But he's huge!! He's a giant ! How did he manage to get away?
Speaker: Wait, that tattoo he has… I think I've seen it before. It looks like it's from a rather well-known gang, reputed to be merciless.
Speaker (amused): It seems this gentleman isn't a saint.
(…)
Speaker (collecting himself): Well, good luck catching him, Guardie. You're definitely going to need the help of your colleagues.
[Speaker moves away from the bars, comfortably sitting in his cell]
Speaker (yawning): Hm? What am I doing?
(…)
Speaker (playing innocent): Well, I'm just a naughty thief, so I'll stay safe in my cell. This brute can be as big and violent as he wants; he won't break the bars, so I'm safe.
Speaker (amused and nonchalant): Well, we can't say the same for you, so try not to die.
[More guards arrive, lighter footsteps]
Speaker (sarcastic): Oh, look, Mr. Chief of the department and his men have come to your rescue! How lucky you are!
[Loud noise, the guards are knocked out by the fugitive. Then the sound of people falling to the ground.]
Speaker: Oh… They have already been beaten by the giant
Speaker : Well, it looks like they weren't much help, haha…
[Again, loud footsteps approaching (loud footsteps, monster footsteps…)]
Speaker: Hm, looks like he's coming this way…
Speaker (amused): So, how are you going to handle this, Guardie? Do you have a plan?
(…)
Speaker (feigning sadness): Oh no, what a shame, you don't. If only someone could help you solve the situation.
Speaker (continuing): But all your colleagues are on the ground, and reinforcements will take some time to arrive… That's really unfortunate.
(Listener hesitates)
Speaker (acting surprised): Oh, you're asking me to team up? But I'm a naughty, wicked criminal.
Speaker (being dramatic): How could you, a figure of righteousness, ally yourself with someone as horrible as me?
(…)
Speaker: Oh? You need me? That's what I like to hear.
Speaker: Okay, then, I'll agree to help you.
(Listener is relieved)
[Possibility of adding noises of fracas, fugitive making noise in the background]
Speaker: Hey hey, don't look so proud of yourself so quickly. I'm not doing this for free. You'll owe me something.
(…)
Speaker: What do I want? Let me think… Hm…
Speaker: Oh, I know! I want you to give me an excellent review in your official reports. You'll have to describe my behavior as exemplary!
(…)
Speaker: Hey, don't make that face, it's not really lying! I've calmed down a lot since I got here! Besides, it's not like I'm in this prison for murders or worse!
Speaker: Oh, so you accept… Perfect.
Speaker: So, we have a deal. Now, as for my ultimate reward...
[Speaker teasingly approaches Listener.]
Speaker: I want you to grant me a date.
Speaker: Yes, you heard that right. When I'm finally released from this place, I want you to show me around the city, like a real date.
Speaker: Delighted to see we can come to an agreement! Deal sealed then.
(Listener unlocks the Speaker's cell) [Sound of keys]
Speaker (stepping out of the cell): Don't worry, Guardie, with me by your side, you have nothing to fear.
Speaker (turning towards the fugitive): Well, I didn't expect to have to fight so soon, but oh well. Now, looks like it's just you and me, big guy!
[Sounds of struggle, the fugitive making noise in the background]
Speaker (attacking the fugitive): Take that !
[Sound of impact, but the fugitive retaliates]
Speaker: Argh!
Speaker: You're not getting away that easily!
[Sound of a blow]
Speaker: Damn, is he tireless or what? Ah-
[The fugitive tries to hit the Speaker, but the Listener prevents him, a movement noise]
Speaker (grateful): Thanks, Guardie, it's a good thing you're here!
Speaker (addressing the fugitive): I love sparring with you, Mr. Killer, but I think it's time to end this charade!
[Speaker delivers a decisive blow, catching the fugitive off guard and pinning him to the ground, the sound of a crash]
Speaker: We did it!
Speaker: Quick, the handcuffs!
(Listener handcuffs the fugitive) [Handcuffs sound]
Speaker: Good job! You're not the worst ally I've had, that's for sure!
Speaker (teasing again): I hope all this brings us closer.
(…)
Speaker (flirting): You know, now that I'm out of my cell and close to you like this, it's pretty hard not to want to hug you…
[Sound of footsteps, other guards from other buildings arrive] [Speaker steps back]
Speaker (a bit disappointed): Well, it looks like reinforcements are here. I'd better hurry back to my cell if I don't want to extend my sentence.
[Speaker walks, Listener closes the cell with a key]
Speaker (amused): You should thank me. I'll let you take all the credit this time. You'll just have to say you managed to overpower this giant. Well, hopefully they believe you.
Speaker: Anyway, despite all the commotion, I'm rather grateful.
(…)
Speaker (smiling): Why? Well, because now I have a good reason to want to get out of this miserable prison.
Speaker: So, I'll have to behave myself. Now that I have the chance to go out with you, I can't let this opportunity slip away.
(…)
Speaker: Well, looks like they're calling you elsewhere.
Guardie: See you later, Guardie. I can't wait to see your sweet face again.
(End)
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's note : When I imagine the fugitive colossus, I think of Sloth from FMAB.
2024.05.28 18:48 Usual-Apartment-7232 Unlock Inner Peace: 10 Powerful Meditation Tactics for a Serene Mind
https://www.digistore24.com/redi484217/Ashdre77/
In conclusion, meditation is a timeless path to peace of mind, offering solace and serenity amidst life's turbulence. By incorporating these 10 powerful tactics into your meditation practice, you can unlock a profound sense of inner peace and cultivate a harmonious relationship with yourself and the world around you. Start your journey today and discover the transformative power of meditation in nurturing a serene mind.
Remember, your journey to relaxation begins with a single note. Let the symphony of meditation music be your guide as you embark on a path towards greater serenity and self-discovery.
https://www.digistore24.com/redi418457/Ashdre77/
Don't let the chaos of life hold you back any longer. Embrace the serenity of mind clearing meditation and discover a newfound sense of peace and clarity. Your journey to inner harmony begins now.
If you found this guide helpful, don't forget to show your support by liking, following, and sharing it with your friends and family. Together, we can inspire others to embrace the power of walking for a healthier, happier life. Let's spread the word and make every step count!Conclusion: As you venture forth on your path to mindfulness, remember that the journey itself is a destination worth celebrating. By cultivating a tranquil environment and nurturing your mental and emotional well-being, you pave the way for profound transformation and lasting inner peace. Embrace the journey with gratitude, knowing that each moment brings you closer to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.For more interesting insights on weight-loss go to our other blogposts below.
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submitted by Usual-Apartment-7232 to u/Usual-Apartment-7232 [link] [comments]
Unlock Inner Peace: 10 Powerful Meditation Tactics for a Serene Mind
In today's fast-paced world, finding moments of tranquility and inner peace can feel like a luxury. However, amidst the chaos, there exists a timeless practice that holds the key to serenity: meditation. Delving into the depths of your mind, meditation unveils a sanctuary of calmness and clarity, providing a refuge from the storm of daily life. If you seek to cultivate a profound sense of peace of mind, these 10 actionable tactics will guide you on your journey to inner harmony.1. Begin Your Day with Mindful Breathing
As you awaken each morning, dedicate a few minutes to mindful breathing. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and focus on the sensation of each breath entering and leaving your body. This simple practice sets a peaceful tone for the day ahead, grounding you in the present moment.2. Embrace Guided Meditation
Guided meditations serve as gentle companions on your quest for peace of mind. Utilize apps or online resources offering a variety of guided sessions tailored to your preferences. From visualization exercises to body scans, guided meditations provide structure and support for your practice.3. Create a Sacred Space
Designate a serene corner of your home as your meditation space. Adorn it with soft cushions, flickering candles, and meaningful objects. This sacred sanctuary serves as a physical reminder of your commitment to inner peace, inviting you to return to stillness whenever needed.4. Practice Gratitude Meditation
Cultivate a grateful heart through meditations centered on appreciation. Reflect on the blessings in your life, from the air you breathe to the relationships you cherish. Gratitude meditations shift your focus from scarcity to abundance, fostering a sense of peace and contentment.5. Engage in Walking Meditation
Step into the rhythm of tranquility with walking meditation. Find a peaceful path outdoors or simply pace back and forth in a quiet room. With each step, sync your breath and movement, allowing the act of walking to become a meditation in motion.6. Harness the Power of Mantras
Infuse your meditation practice with the vibrational energy of mantras. Choose a word or phrase that resonates deeply with you, such as "peace" or "serenity," and repeat it silently or aloud during your sessions. Mantra meditations anchor your mind and evoke a profound sense of calm.7. Explore Mindfulness in Everyday Activities
Extend the benefits of meditation to your daily life by practicing mindfulness in everyday activities. Whether you're washing dishes, walking the dog, or sipping tea, immerse yourself fully in the present moment. Mindful awareness heightens your senses and infuses each moment with peace.8. Cultivate Compassion through Loving-Kindness Meditation
Nurture compassion for yourself and others through loving-kindness meditation. Begin by directing loving-kindness towards yourself, then gradually extend it to loved ones, acquaintances, and even those with whom you have difficulty. This practice fosters empathy and deepens your connection to humanity.9. Embrace Silence in Stillness
In a world filled with noise, silence holds profound healing power. Set aside moments of stillness each day, free from distractions and external stimuli. Embrace the silence within and allow it to envelop you in a cocoon of tranquility.10. Surrender to the Flow of Meditation
Above all, approach meditation with an open heart and a willingness to surrender. Release expectations and judgments as you immerse yourself in the practice. Allow meditation to guide you on a journey of self-discovery and inner peace.In conclusion, meditation is a timeless path to peace of mind, offering solace and serenity amidst life's turbulence. By incorporating these 10 powerful tactics into your meditation practice, you can unlock a profound sense of inner peace and cultivate a harmonious relationship with yourself and the world around you. Start your journey today and discover the transformative power of meditation in nurturing a serene mind.
Harnessing the Power of Mindful Meditation to Combat Anxiety
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, anxiety seems to lurk around every corner, ready to pounce when least expected. However, there's a powerful tool that can help us combat this relentless foe: mindful meditation. By practicing mindful meditation regularly, we can cultivate a sense of calm and resilience that empowers us to face life's challenges with grace and confidence.What is Mindful Meditation?
Mindful meditation involves bringing your full attention to the present moment without judgment. It's about being fully immersed in the here and now, letting go of worries about the past or future. Through mindful meditation, we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them, allowing them to come and go like clouds passing through the sky.The Benefits of Mindful Meditation for Anxiety
- Reduced Stress: Mindful meditation has been scientifically proven to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, helping to alleviate the physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Improved Emotional Regulation: By cultivating awareness of our thoughts and emotions, mindful meditation helps us develop greater control over our reactions, reducing the intensity of anxious feelings.
- Enhanced Self-Awareness: Mindful meditation allows us to become more attuned to our inner experiences, enabling us to identify the triggers of our anxiety and respond to them more effectively.
- Greater Resilience: Regular practice of mindful meditation strengthens the brain's resilience to stress, making us more capable of bouncing back from adversity.
How to Practice Mindful Meditation
- Find a Quiet Space: Choose a quiet place where you won't be disturbed for the duration of your meditation session.
- Get Comfortable: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, ensuring that your body feels relaxed and supported.
- Focus on Your Breath: Bring your attention to the sensation of your breath as it flows in and out of your body. Notice the rise and fall of your chest or the feeling of air passing through your nostrils.
- Be Present: Whenever your mind starts to wander, gently bring your focus back to your breath without judgment. Remember, it's normal for thoughts to arise during meditation; the key is to let them pass without getting swept away by them.
Incorporating Mindful Meditation into Your Daily Routine
- Start Small: Begin with just a few minutes of mindful meditation each day, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable with the practice.
- Set Reminders: Use alarms or calendar notifications to remind yourself to meditate regularly, making it a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.
- Experiment with Different Techniques: Explore different forms of mindful meditation, such as body scan, loving-kindness meditation, or mindful walking, to find what resonates best with you.
- Stay Consistent: Like any skill, mindful meditation requires consistent practice to yield meaningful results. Commit to making it a regular part of your self-care routine, even on days when you don't feel like it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mindful meditation is a powerful tool for managing anxiety and promoting overall well-being. By cultivating a present-moment awareness and learning to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment, we can break free from the grip of anxiety and embrace life with open arms. So why wait? Start your mindful meditation journey today and take the first step toward a calmer, more balanced life.Unlock Inner Peace with Meditation Music to Relax Your Mind and Body
Are you yearning for a sanctuary of tranquility amidst life's chaos? Dive into the serene world of meditation music to rejuvenate your mind and soothe your body. Let the harmonious melodies guide you to a state of blissful relaxation and inner calm. In this article, we'll explore the profound benefits of incorporating meditation music into your daily routine, and how it can transform your well-being.The Power of Meditation Music
- Stress Relief: Feel the weight of the world lift off your shoulders as you immerse yourself in the gentle rhythms of meditation music. It serves as a powerful antidote to the stressors of modern life, allowing you to unwind and recharge.
- Enhanced Focus: Find clarity amidst the mental clutter as meditation music helps sharpen your focus and concentration. Whether you're studying, working, or simply seeking clarity, the soothing sounds provide a conducive environment for productivity.
- Emotional Healing: Let go of pent-up emotions and find solace in the healing embrace of meditation music. It has the remarkable ability to soothe the soul, alleviate anxiety, and nurture emotional well-being.
Transform Your Environment
- Create a Sacred Space: Designate a serene corner in your home where you can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Fill it with cushions, candles, and ambient lighting to enhance the ambiance.
- Morning Rituals: Start your day on a positive note by incorporating meditation music into your morning routine. Set the tone for a day filled with tranquility and mindfulness.
- Evening Wind-Down: Bid farewell to the day's stresses by unwinding with gentle meditation music in the evening. Let it lull you into a state of deep relaxation, preparing you for a restful night's sleep.
Embrace the Journey Within
- Mindful Meditation: Pair your meditation practice with soothing music to deepen your connection with the present moment. Allow the melodies to guide you on a journey of self-discovery and inner exploration.
- Body-Mind Harmony: Experience the profound union of mind and body as meditation music promotes relaxation on a physical and mental level. Feel tensions melt away and a sense of balance restored.
- Cultivate Gratitude: Express gratitude for the gift of stillness and serenity that meditation music bestows upon you. Embrace each moment with an open heart and a sense of profound appreciation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, meditation music is a potent tool for nurturing your mind, body, and soul. By incorporating it into your daily life, you can unlock a treasure trove of inner peace and well-being. So why wait? Take the first step towards a more harmonious existence today and let the melodies of meditation music serenade you to a state of blissful tranquility.Remember, your journey to relaxation begins with a single note. Let the symphony of meditation music be your guide as you embark on a path towards greater serenity and self-discovery.
https://www.digistore24.com/redi418457/Ashdre77/
Unlock Peace in 10 Minutes: Mastering Mindful Meditation
Introduction
Welcome to the transformative power of mindful meditation, where in just 10 minutes, you can embark on a journey to inner peace and mental clarity. In today's fast-paced world, finding moments of serenity amidst the chaos is crucial for our well-being. Mindful meditation offers a simple yet profound way to reconnect with ourselves and cultivate a sense of calm amid life's storms. Join us as we explore the art of 10-minute mindful meditation and discover how it can revolutionize your daily life.What is Mindful Meditation?
Mindful meditation is the practice of bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. It involves focusing on your breath, bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions with an open and accepting attitude. By anchoring yourself in the present, you can alleviate stress, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall mental well-being. The beauty of mindful meditation lies in its accessibility – anyone can do it, anywhere, anytime, in just 10 minutes a day.Benefits of 10-Minute Mindful Meditation
- Stress Reduction: By engaging in mindful meditation for just 10 minutes each day, you can significantly lower your stress levels and promote a sense of calm.
- Improved Focus: Regular practice of mindful meditation enhances concentration and cognitive function, allowing you to tackle tasks with greater clarity and efficiency.
- Emotional Regulation: Through mindfulness, you can cultivate greater awareness of your emotions and learn to respond to them in a more balanced and constructive manner.
- Enhanced Self-Compassion: Mindful meditation fosters a compassionate attitude towards oneself, promoting self-acceptance and self-care.
- Better Sleep: By calming the mind and body, mindful meditation can help improve the quality of your sleep, leading to greater overall well-being.
How to Practice 10-Minute Mindful Meditation
- Find a Quiet Space: Choose a peaceful environment where you won't be disturbed for the next 10 minutes.
- Get Comfortable: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, ensuring that your spine is straight and relaxed.
- Focus on Your Breath: Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. Notice the sensation of each inhale and exhale.
- Be Present: As thoughts or distractions arise, gently acknowledge them without judgment and refocus your attention on your breath.
- Scan Your Body: Take a moment to scan your body for any areas of tension or discomfort. Allow yourself to relax those areas with each breath.
- Practice Gratitude: Take a few moments to reflect on something you're grateful for, cultivating a sense of appreciation and contentment.
- Conclude Mindfully: When your 10 minutes are up, gradually bring your awareness back to the present moment and open your eyes.
Incorporating Mindful Meditation into Your Daily Routine
- Start Small: Begin with just 10 minutes of mindful meditation each day and gradually increase the duration as you feel comfortable.
- Set Reminders: Use alarms or notifications to remind yourself to practice mindfulness at the same time each day.
- Integrate Mindfulness into Activities: Infuse mindfulness into everyday tasks such as eating, walking, or washing dishes by paying full attention to the experience.
- Be Patient and Persistent: Like any skill, mastering mindful meditation takes time and consistent practice. Be patient with yourself and trust in the process.
Conclusion: Embrace the Power of 10-Minute Mindful Meditation
In conclusion, 10-minute mindful meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating inner peace, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. By dedicating just a small fraction of your day to this practice, you can reap immense benefits for your mind, body, and spirit. So why wait? Take the first step towards a calmer, more balanced life today and unlock the transformative power of mindful meditation in just 10 minutes.The Ultimate Guide to Mind Clearing Meditation
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the incessant noise of everyday life? Is stress clouding your mind, making it difficult to focus? It's time to discover the transformative power of mind clearing meditation. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the depths of this ancient practice and explore how it can help you achieve mental clarity and peace. Get ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner tranquility.Understanding Mind Clearing Meditation
Mind clearing meditation is not just about sitting still and emptying your mind of thoughts; it's a powerful tool for cultivating awareness and presence. By focusing on your breath and letting go of distractions, you can create space in your mind for clarity to emerge. This practice allows you to observe your thoughts without judgment, helping you break free from the cycle of stress and anxiety.The Benefits of Mind Clearing Meditation
- Improved Mental Clarity: By quieting the noise in your mind, you can sharpen your focus and enhance your cognitive function.
- Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Regular meditation practice has been shown to lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.
- Enhanced Emotional Well-being: Mind clearing meditation can help you regulate your emotions and cultivate a greater sense of inner peace and contentment.
Getting Started
Ready to experience the profound benefits of mind clearing meditation? Follow these simple steps to begin your practice:- Find a quiet and comfortable space where you won't be disturbed.
- Sit in a relaxed position with your spine straight and your hands resting gently on your lap.
- Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing your body to relax with each exhale.
- Bring your awareness to your breath, noticing the sensation of each inhale and exhale.
- As thoughts arise, simply acknowledge them and let them pass without getting caught up in them.
- Continue to focus on your breath, allowing your mind to become clear and still.
Tips for Success
- Consistency is Key: Aim to meditate for at least 10-15 minutes each day to experience the full benefits of the practice.
- Be Patient: Meditation is a skill that takes time to develop, so be gentle with yourself and don't expect instant results.
- Experiment with Different Techniques: Explore various meditation techniques, such as mindfulness meditation or loving-kindness meditation, to find what resonates best with you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mind clearing meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating mental clarity, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. By making meditation a regular part of your routine, you can experience profound shifts in your mindset and outlook on life. So why wait? Start your meditation journey today and unlock the limitless potential of your mind. Remember, the key to a clear mind lies within you.Don't let the chaos of life hold you back any longer. Embrace the serenity of mind clearing meditation and discover a newfound sense of peace and clarity. Your journey to inner harmony begins now.
If you found this guide helpful, don't forget to show your support by liking, following, and sharing it with your friends and family. Together, we can inspire others to embrace the power of walking for a healthier, happier life. Let's spread the word and make every step count!Conclusion: As you venture forth on your path to mindfulness, remember that the journey itself is a destination worth celebrating. By cultivating a tranquil environment and nurturing your mental and emotional well-being, you pave the way for profound transformation and lasting inner peace. Embrace the journey with gratitude, knowing that each moment brings you closer to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.For more interesting insights on weight-loss go to our other blogposts below.
5. Streamline Your Life: 10 Proven Steps to Mastering the Art of Decluttering
6. Building Bliss: How Positive Habits Shape a Fulfilling Life"
7. Beyond Limits: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities with a Growth Mindset
8. Affirm Your Best Life: Unleashing the Transformative Power of Positive Affirmations"
9. Mastering Creativity: A Comprehensive Guide to Unleashing Your Inner Innovator"
2024.05.28 18:35 Usual-Apartment-7232 Unlock Inner Peace: 10 Powerful Meditation Tactics for a Serene Mind
https://www.digistore24.com/redi484217/Ashdre77/
In conclusion, meditation is a timeless path to peace of mind, offering solace and serenity amidst life's turbulence. By incorporating these 10 powerful tactics into your meditation practice, you can unlock a profound sense of inner peace and cultivate a harmonious relationship with yourself and the world around you. Start your journey today and discover the transformative power of meditation in nurturing a serene mind.
Remember, your journey to relaxation begins with a single note. Let the symphony of meditation music be your guide as you embark on a path towards greater serenity and self-discovery.
https://www.digistore24.com/redi418457/Ashdre77/
Don't let the chaos of life hold you back any longer. Embrace the serenity of mind clearing meditation and discover a newfound sense of peace and clarity. Your journey to inner harmony begins now.
If you found this guide helpful, don't forget to show your support by liking, following, and sharing it with your friends and family. Together, we can inspire others to embrace the power of walking for a healthier, happier life. Let's spread the word and make every step count!Conclusion: As you venture forth on your path to mindfulness, remember that the journey itself is a destination worth celebrating. By cultivating a tranquil environment and nurturing your mental and emotional well-being, you pave the way for profound transformation and lasting inner peace. Embrace the journey with gratitude, knowing that each moment brings you closer to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.For more interesting insights on weight-loss go to our other blogposts below.
5. Streamline Your Life: 10 Proven Steps to Mastering the Art of Decluttering
6. Building Bliss: How Positive Habits Shape a Fulfilling Life"
7. Beyond Limits: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities with a Growth Mindset
8. Affirm Your Best Life: Unleashing the Transformative Power of Positive Affirmations"
9. Mastering Creativity: A Comprehensive Guide to Unleashing Your Inner Innovator"
submitted by Usual-Apartment-7232 to u/Usual-Apartment-7232 [link] [comments]
Unlock Inner Peace: 10 Powerful Meditation Tactics for a Serene Mind
In today's fast-paced world, finding moments of tranquility and inner peace can feel like a luxury. However, amidst the chaos, there exists a timeless practice that holds the key to serenity: meditation. Delving into the depths of your mind, meditation unveils a sanctuary of calmness and clarity, providing a refuge from the storm of daily life. If you seek to cultivate a profound sense of peace of mind, these 10 actionable tactics will guide you on your journey to inner harmony.1. Begin Your Day with Mindful Breathing
As you awaken each morning, dedicate a few minutes to mindful breathing. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and focus on the sensation of each breath entering and leaving your body. This simple practice sets a peaceful tone for the day ahead, grounding you in the present moment.2. Embrace Guided Meditation
Guided meditations serve as gentle companions on your quest for peace of mind. Utilize apps or online resources offering a variety of guided sessions tailored to your preferences. From visualization exercises to body scans, guided meditations provide structure and support for your practice.3. Create a Sacred Space
Designate a serene corner of your home as your meditation space. Adorn it with soft cushions, flickering candles, and meaningful objects. This sacred sanctuary serves as a physical reminder of your commitment to inner peace, inviting you to return to stillness whenever needed.4. Practice Gratitude Meditation
Cultivate a grateful heart through meditations centered on appreciation. Reflect on the blessings in your life, from the air you breathe to the relationships you cherish. Gratitude meditations shift your focus from scarcity to abundance, fostering a sense of peace and contentment.5. Engage in Walking Meditation
Step into the rhythm of tranquility with walking meditation. Find a peaceful path outdoors or simply pace back and forth in a quiet room. With each step, sync your breath and movement, allowing the act of walking to become a meditation in motion.6. Harness the Power of Mantras
Infuse your meditation practice with the vibrational energy of mantras. Choose a word or phrase that resonates deeply with you, such as "peace" or "serenity," and repeat it silently or aloud during your sessions. Mantra meditations anchor your mind and evoke a profound sense of calm.7. Explore Mindfulness in Everyday Activities
Extend the benefits of meditation to your daily life by practicing mindfulness in everyday activities. Whether you're washing dishes, walking the dog, or sipping tea, immerse yourself fully in the present moment. Mindful awareness heightens your senses and infuses each moment with peace.8. Cultivate Compassion through Loving-Kindness Meditation
Nurture compassion for yourself and others through loving-kindness meditation. Begin by directing loving-kindness towards yourself, then gradually extend it to loved ones, acquaintances, and even those with whom you have difficulty. This practice fosters empathy and deepens your connection to humanity.9. Embrace Silence in Stillness
In a world filled with noise, silence holds profound healing power. Set aside moments of stillness each day, free from distractions and external stimuli. Embrace the silence within and allow it to envelop you in a cocoon of tranquility.10. Surrender to the Flow of Meditation
Above all, approach meditation with an open heart and a willingness to surrender. Release expectations and judgments as you immerse yourself in the practice. Allow meditation to guide you on a journey of self-discovery and inner peace.In conclusion, meditation is a timeless path to peace of mind, offering solace and serenity amidst life's turbulence. By incorporating these 10 powerful tactics into your meditation practice, you can unlock a profound sense of inner peace and cultivate a harmonious relationship with yourself and the world around you. Start your journey today and discover the transformative power of meditation in nurturing a serene mind.
Harnessing the Power of Mindful Meditation to Combat Anxiety
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, anxiety seems to lurk around every corner, ready to pounce when least expected. However, there's a powerful tool that can help us combat this relentless foe: mindful meditation. By practicing mindful meditation regularly, we can cultivate a sense of calm and resilience that empowers us to face life's challenges with grace and confidence.What is Mindful Meditation?
Mindful meditation involves bringing your full attention to the present moment without judgment. It's about being fully immersed in the here and now, letting go of worries about the past or future. Through mindful meditation, we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them, allowing them to come and go like clouds passing through the sky.The Benefits of Mindful Meditation for Anxiety
- Reduced Stress: Mindful meditation has been scientifically proven to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, helping to alleviate the physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Improved Emotional Regulation: By cultivating awareness of our thoughts and emotions, mindful meditation helps us develop greater control over our reactions, reducing the intensity of anxious feelings.
- Enhanced Self-Awareness: Mindful meditation allows us to become more attuned to our inner experiences, enabling us to identify the triggers of our anxiety and respond to them more effectively.
- Greater Resilience: Regular practice of mindful meditation strengthens the brain's resilience to stress, making us more capable of bouncing back from adversity.
How to Practice Mindful Meditation
- Find a Quiet Space: Choose a quiet place where you won't be disturbed for the duration of your meditation session.
- Get Comfortable: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, ensuring that your body feels relaxed and supported.
- Focus on Your Breath: Bring your attention to the sensation of your breath as it flows in and out of your body. Notice the rise and fall of your chest or the feeling of air passing through your nostrils.
- Be Present: Whenever your mind starts to wander, gently bring your focus back to your breath without judgment. Remember, it's normal for thoughts to arise during meditation; the key is to let them pass without getting swept away by them.
Incorporating Mindful Meditation into Your Daily Routine
- Start Small: Begin with just a few minutes of mindful meditation each day, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable with the practice.
- Set Reminders: Use alarms or calendar notifications to remind yourself to meditate regularly, making it a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.
- Experiment with Different Techniques: Explore different forms of mindful meditation, such as body scan, loving-kindness meditation, or mindful walking, to find what resonates best with you.
- Stay Consistent: Like any skill, mindful meditation requires consistent practice to yield meaningful results. Commit to making it a regular part of your self-care routine, even on days when you don't feel like it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mindful meditation is a powerful tool for managing anxiety and promoting overall well-being. By cultivating a present-moment awareness and learning to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment, we can break free from the grip of anxiety and embrace life with open arms. So why wait? Start your mindful meditation journey today and take the first step toward a calmer, more balanced life.Unlock Inner Peace with Meditation Music to Relax Your Mind and Body
Are you yearning for a sanctuary of tranquility amidst life's chaos? Dive into the serene world of meditation music to rejuvenate your mind and soothe your body. Let the harmonious melodies guide you to a state of blissful relaxation and inner calm. In this article, we'll explore the profound benefits of incorporating meditation music into your daily routine, and how it can transform your well-being.The Power of Meditation Music
- Stress Relief: Feel the weight of the world lift off your shoulders as you immerse yourself in the gentle rhythms of meditation music. It serves as a powerful antidote to the stressors of modern life, allowing you to unwind and recharge.
- Enhanced Focus: Find clarity amidst the mental clutter as meditation music helps sharpen your focus and concentration. Whether you're studying, working, or simply seeking clarity, the soothing sounds provide a conducive environment for productivity.
- Emotional Healing: Let go of pent-up emotions and find solace in the healing embrace of meditation music. It has the remarkable ability to soothe the soul, alleviate anxiety, and nurture emotional well-being.
Transform Your Environment
- Create a Sacred Space: Designate a serene corner in your home where you can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Fill it with cushions, candles, and ambient lighting to enhance the ambiance.
- Morning Rituals: Start your day on a positive note by incorporating meditation music into your morning routine. Set the tone for a day filled with tranquility and mindfulness.
- Evening Wind-Down: Bid farewell to the day's stresses by unwinding with gentle meditation music in the evening. Let it lull you into a state of deep relaxation, preparing you for a restful night's sleep.
Embrace the Journey Within
- Mindful Meditation: Pair your meditation practice with soothing music to deepen your connection with the present moment. Allow the melodies to guide you on a journey of self-discovery and inner exploration.
- Body-Mind Harmony: Experience the profound union of mind and body as meditation music promotes relaxation on a physical and mental level. Feel tensions melt away and a sense of balance restored.
- Cultivate Gratitude: Express gratitude for the gift of stillness and serenity that meditation music bestows upon you. Embrace each moment with an open heart and a sense of profound appreciation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, meditation music is a potent tool for nurturing your mind, body, and soul. By incorporating it into your daily life, you can unlock a treasure trove of inner peace and well-being. So why wait? Take the first step towards a more harmonious existence today and let the melodies of meditation music serenade you to a state of blissful tranquility.Remember, your journey to relaxation begins with a single note. Let the symphony of meditation music be your guide as you embark on a path towards greater serenity and self-discovery.
https://www.digistore24.com/redi418457/Ashdre77/
Unlock Peace in 10 Minutes: Mastering Mindful Meditation
Introduction
Welcome to the transformative power of mindful meditation, where in just 10 minutes, you can embark on a journey to inner peace and mental clarity. In today's fast-paced world, finding moments of serenity amidst the chaos is crucial for our well-being. Mindful meditation offers a simple yet profound way to reconnect with ourselves and cultivate a sense of calm amid life's storms. Join us as we explore the art of 10-minute mindful meditation and discover how it can revolutionize your daily life.What is Mindful Meditation?
Mindful meditation is the practice of bringing your attention to the present moment without judgment. It involves focusing on your breath, bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions with an open and accepting attitude. By anchoring yourself in the present, you can alleviate stress, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall mental well-being. The beauty of mindful meditation lies in its accessibility – anyone can do it, anywhere, anytime, in just 10 minutes a day.Benefits of 10-Minute Mindful Meditation
- Stress Reduction: By engaging in mindful meditation for just 10 minutes each day, you can significantly lower your stress levels and promote a sense of calm.
- Improved Focus: Regular practice of mindful meditation enhances concentration and cognitive function, allowing you to tackle tasks with greater clarity and efficiency.
- Emotional Regulation: Through mindfulness, you can cultivate greater awareness of your emotions and learn to respond to them in a more balanced and constructive manner.
- Enhanced Self-Compassion: Mindful meditation fosters a compassionate attitude towards oneself, promoting self-acceptance and self-care.
- Better Sleep: By calming the mind and body, mindful meditation can help improve the quality of your sleep, leading to greater overall well-being.
How to Practice 10-Minute Mindful Meditation
- Find a Quiet Space: Choose a peaceful environment where you won't be disturbed for the next 10 minutes.
- Get Comfortable: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, ensuring that your spine is straight and relaxed.
- Focus on Your Breath: Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. Notice the sensation of each inhale and exhale.
- Be Present: As thoughts or distractions arise, gently acknowledge them without judgment and refocus your attention on your breath.
- Scan Your Body: Take a moment to scan your body for any areas of tension or discomfort. Allow yourself to relax those areas with each breath.
- Practice Gratitude: Take a few moments to reflect on something you're grateful for, cultivating a sense of appreciation and contentment.
- Conclude Mindfully: When your 10 minutes are up, gradually bring your awareness back to the present moment and open your eyes.
Incorporating Mindful Meditation into Your Daily Routine
- Start Small: Begin with just 10 minutes of mindful meditation each day and gradually increase the duration as you feel comfortable.
- Set Reminders: Use alarms or notifications to remind yourself to practice mindfulness at the same time each day.
- Integrate Mindfulness into Activities: Infuse mindfulness into everyday tasks such as eating, walking, or washing dishes by paying full attention to the experience.
- Be Patient and Persistent: Like any skill, mastering mindful meditation takes time and consistent practice. Be patient with yourself and trust in the process.
Conclusion: Embrace the Power of 10-Minute Mindful Meditation
In conclusion, 10-minute mindful meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating inner peace, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. By dedicating just a small fraction of your day to this practice, you can reap immense benefits for your mind, body, and spirit. So why wait? Take the first step towards a calmer, more balanced life today and unlock the transformative power of mindful meditation in just 10 minutes.The Ultimate Guide to Mind Clearing Meditation
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the incessant noise of everyday life? Is stress clouding your mind, making it difficult to focus? It's time to discover the transformative power of mind clearing meditation. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the depths of this ancient practice and explore how it can help you achieve mental clarity and peace. Get ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner tranquility.Understanding Mind Clearing Meditation
Mind clearing meditation is not just about sitting still and emptying your mind of thoughts; it's a powerful tool for cultivating awareness and presence. By focusing on your breath and letting go of distractions, you can create space in your mind for clarity to emerge. This practice allows you to observe your thoughts without judgment, helping you break free from the cycle of stress and anxiety.The Benefits of Mind Clearing Meditation
- Improved Mental Clarity: By quieting the noise in your mind, you can sharpen your focus and enhance your cognitive function.
- Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Regular meditation practice has been shown to lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.
- Enhanced Emotional Well-being: Mind clearing meditation can help you regulate your emotions and cultivate a greater sense of inner peace and contentment.
Getting Started
Ready to experience the profound benefits of mind clearing meditation? Follow these simple steps to begin your practice:- Find a quiet and comfortable space where you won't be disturbed.
- Sit in a relaxed position with your spine straight and your hands resting gently on your lap.
- Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing your body to relax with each exhale.
- Bring your awareness to your breath, noticing the sensation of each inhale and exhale.
- As thoughts arise, simply acknowledge them and let them pass without getting caught up in them.
- Continue to focus on your breath, allowing your mind to become clear and still.
Tips for Success
- Consistency is Key: Aim to meditate for at least 10-15 minutes each day to experience the full benefits of the practice.
- Be Patient: Meditation is a skill that takes time to develop, so be gentle with yourself and don't expect instant results.
- Experiment with Different Techniques: Explore various meditation techniques, such as mindfulness meditation or loving-kindness meditation, to find what resonates best with you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mind clearing meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating mental clarity, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. By making meditation a regular part of your routine, you can experience profound shifts in your mindset and outlook on life. So why wait? Start your meditation journey today and unlock the limitless potential of your mind. Remember, the key to a clear mind lies within you.Don't let the chaos of life hold you back any longer. Embrace the serenity of mind clearing meditation and discover a newfound sense of peace and clarity. Your journey to inner harmony begins now.
If you found this guide helpful, don't forget to show your support by liking, following, and sharing it with your friends and family. Together, we can inspire others to embrace the power of walking for a healthier, happier life. Let's spread the word and make every step count!Conclusion: As you venture forth on your path to mindfulness, remember that the journey itself is a destination worth celebrating. By cultivating a tranquil environment and nurturing your mental and emotional well-being, you pave the way for profound transformation and lasting inner peace. Embrace the journey with gratitude, knowing that each moment brings you closer to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.For more interesting insights on weight-loss go to our other blogposts below.
5. Streamline Your Life: 10 Proven Steps to Mastering the Art of Decluttering
6. Building Bliss: How Positive Habits Shape a Fulfilling Life"
7. Beyond Limits: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities with a Growth Mindset
8. Affirm Your Best Life: Unleashing the Transformative Power of Positive Affirmations"
9. Mastering Creativity: A Comprehensive Guide to Unleashing Your Inner Innovator"
2024.05.28 18:34 Icy_General_841 Should I quit my job?
I relocated internationally for my current job and bought a place, thinking this would be the one for life, or at least for a long time. (I know, I know, silly me, North American capitalism doesn't work that way. Blame my European brain.)
My company had a massive layoff in September last year due to incompetent leadership spending far far more than we could make back. 1000+ people gone. I survived, but my team got gutted and we lost about a full third of people, including our head of department. I'm middle management, but I've been doing his job, my job, and the job of a producer (which we also don't have) ever since with no pay increase. I was told this is just expected: "you see a problem, you solve the problem, that's your job; don't wait for recognition."
The pay is good, but it's shit compared to what my colleagues down in the States make (I'm in Canada). There's zero career prospects in this company unless one of the people above me gets hit by a bus or something; my position is "critical" (I'm the only sucker willing to do this, lol) and as such an internal move to another team or department will be difficult to justify.
Also worth noting that my discipline is disregarded at this company, where software engineers are gods and everyone else is the lowly servants who help the engineers work. My team is currently expected to do 200% of the work from last year with about 60% of the people left.
I'm grateful to have a job when so many people don't, but this shit is burning me the hell out as well. There's only so many times I can tell the people above me that we don't have enough physical time or resources to do everything they ask. I'm not ever going to ask the people working under me to crunch. That's a hard line; if they want me to enforce crunch, I'm walking the next day anyway, because I refuse to be responsible for causing burnout and distress to the people I'm supposed to look after (who already go above and beyond because they want to). Meanwhile, I'm crunching and my boss had days when he slept 1 hour a night to make a project happen, even though it's no longer his job to even work on it, but there weren't enough people.
I recently interviewed with another company where things sound objectively better; their department in this discipline is growing and appropriately resourced, the product is SUPER interesting, they're established in the industry so you know it's not vaporware, and they seem like decent folks overall. The catch is I'd have to relocate again, to the US this time. This means a US work visa, which scares the living daylights out of me due to the whole "at-will employment" thing they have over there. Everything else sounds amazing, though, and not just because the grass is greener on the other side, I've actually done my research on blind / glassdoor and spoken to a couple people working there.
Taking this job, if I even get past the interview gauntlet, would mean uprooting my whole life again... It's scary but also I feel like my current job is killing me slowly. I was on med leave for an unrelated issue this one time, and my partner said the change was night and day, I was less stressed, less snappy, I actually laughed in a non-sarcastic way (apparently I don't usually?). They think I should at least give it a try, and it would be good for them since they work remotely for a startup on the West Coast anyway. We have no kids, so doing the move now would be so much easier.
So I'm asking y'all: what should I do here? Suck it up, stay in this job for a few more years and see if it gets better, or take the leap and do the US thing?
submitted by Icy_General_841 to LifeAdvice [link] [comments]
My company had a massive layoff in September last year due to incompetent leadership spending far far more than we could make back. 1000+ people gone. I survived, but my team got gutted and we lost about a full third of people, including our head of department. I'm middle management, but I've been doing his job, my job, and the job of a producer (which we also don't have) ever since with no pay increase. I was told this is just expected: "you see a problem, you solve the problem, that's your job; don't wait for recognition."
The pay is good, but it's shit compared to what my colleagues down in the States make (I'm in Canada). There's zero career prospects in this company unless one of the people above me gets hit by a bus or something; my position is "critical" (I'm the only sucker willing to do this, lol) and as such an internal move to another team or department will be difficult to justify.
Also worth noting that my discipline is disregarded at this company, where software engineers are gods and everyone else is the lowly servants who help the engineers work. My team is currently expected to do 200% of the work from last year with about 60% of the people left.
I'm grateful to have a job when so many people don't, but this shit is burning me the hell out as well. There's only so many times I can tell the people above me that we don't have enough physical time or resources to do everything they ask. I'm not ever going to ask the people working under me to crunch. That's a hard line; if they want me to enforce crunch, I'm walking the next day anyway, because I refuse to be responsible for causing burnout and distress to the people I'm supposed to look after (who already go above and beyond because they want to). Meanwhile, I'm crunching and my boss had days when he slept 1 hour a night to make a project happen, even though it's no longer his job to even work on it, but there weren't enough people.
I recently interviewed with another company where things sound objectively better; their department in this discipline is growing and appropriately resourced, the product is SUPER interesting, they're established in the industry so you know it's not vaporware, and they seem like decent folks overall. The catch is I'd have to relocate again, to the US this time. This means a US work visa, which scares the living daylights out of me due to the whole "at-will employment" thing they have over there. Everything else sounds amazing, though, and not just because the grass is greener on the other side, I've actually done my research on blind / glassdoor and spoken to a couple people working there.
Taking this job, if I even get past the interview gauntlet, would mean uprooting my whole life again... It's scary but also I feel like my current job is killing me slowly. I was on med leave for an unrelated issue this one time, and my partner said the change was night and day, I was less stressed, less snappy, I actually laughed in a non-sarcastic way (apparently I don't usually?). They think I should at least give it a try, and it would be good for them since they work remotely for a startup on the West Coast anyway. We have no kids, so doing the move now would be so much easier.
So I'm asking y'all: what should I do here? Suck it up, stay in this job for a few more years and see if it gets better, or take the leap and do the US thing?
2024.05.28 17:41 Macandcheese359 Eve is the BITER, Taylor is the CURSER, and how that all comes back to Clara Bow and today’s openly queer artists (Prophecy + Clara Bow)
As a preface, I’m trying to make this as short as possible as to not be an overwhelming brain dump but this could probably be elaborated on for days so I’m looking forward to the discussion in comments!
We know Taylor loves a garden reference, but it wasn’t until the religious undertones of TTPD that I began to equate that to the Garden of Eden/Paradise Lost
Just as a refresher, here’s just a few of her garden references going all the way back to Fearless:
“And it was written, I got cursed like Eve got bitten, Oh, was it punishment?”
But in the Bible, Eve does not get bitten (which Taylor surely knows). Eve bites the apple from the forbidden tree. She is the bitER. So in making this comparison, Taylor is either saying:
“Cards on the table Mine play out like fools in a fable, oh It was sinking in Slow is the quicksand Poison blood from the wound of the pricked hand Oh, still I dream of him”
In the Bible, once Eve bites the apple, both she and Adam become aware and ashamed of their nakedness. And as punishment for disobeying, God not only cast them out of the Garden but he also says to Adam in Gen 3:17-19:
“17Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I told you, “Do not eat from it,” the ground is cursed because of you. By hard work you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you. You will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your face because of hard work, until you return to the ground, because you were taken from the ground. You are dust, and you will return to dust.”
It’s important in context because Eve/Taylor feel like fools for the fate that they ultimately chose and we can infer that they both would like to go back in time/take it back (“Who do I have to speak to About if they can redo The prophecy?”) — and wound of the pricked hand I think directly relates to this idea in Genesis: You will have to work endlessly hard for the rest of your life but NOT in the Garden you once desired, because you are now cursed to thistles and thorns. (See also: Call It What You Want “all my flowers grew back as thorns”) The curse is longing to go back to the Garden but you can’t.
AND SO (hang with me I’m almost there)…this brings me to a common question I see coming up between Gaylors/Hetlors of why doesn’t Taylor just come out? If she’s gay why doesn’t she just say it…..plenty of other artists have done it recently and have been fine, look at Billie Eilish as a prime example. But if you look at Taylor’s NYU commencement speech that she gave on 5/18/22 (and which I believe she was purposely pointing us to in the pap pic of her and Matty in New York from 5/16/23 where she’s wearing the purple NYU sweatshirt), I think she’s telling us the answer already….
“See, I was a teenager in the public eye at a time when our society was absolutely obsessed with the idea of having perfect young female role models. It felt like every interview I did included slight barbs by the interviewer about me one day ‘running off the rails.’ That meant a different thing to everyone person said it me. So I became a young adult while being fed the message that if I didn’t make any mistakes, all the children of America would grow up to be perfect angels. However, if I did slip up, the entire earth would fall off its axis and it would be entirely my fault and I would go to pop star jail forever and ever. It was all centered around the idea that mistakes equal failure and ultimately, the loss of any chance at a happy or rewarding life.”
Taylor, at least early in her career, felt paralyzed by the fear of not fulfilling HER ROLE in the prophecy/curse that SHE CHOSE — she has been America’s sweetheart for her entire career, partly due to the age that she became famous but also partly because of how she presents herself; even when chastised for her dating habits it was never in a scandalous light, the worst people could say is that she’s just a boy-crazy good girl who bounces from relationship to relationship.
And while at the end of the day, it was TAYLOR’S choice to make that her public persona (she was the one who cursed herself, she was the biter) at the end of the day she was also a naive kid listening to her brand, managers, parents etc who fooled her into thinking that it would be fine and that it was THE way to success/happiness…..which is very much like Eve being deceived by the serpent and believing what he said.
Which FINALLY brings me to Clara Bow — “You look like Taylor Swift, you’ve got edge she never did”
The reason you can’t compare someone like Billie’s coming out to Taylor is that Billie has always been “edgier” than Taylor, that’s the brand/image that BILLIE built for herself. Billie coming out really isn’t all that shocking even in the straightest of fandoms bc it fits her image, it makes sense, it doesn’t crumble the “idea” of Billie. When looking at the NYU speech and the weight that Taylor feels of the children of America looking up to her, I’m not sure that Billie has ever shouldered that pressure, which makes her coming out a much more manageable hurdle for her.
Somebody in another post commented whether or not Taylor is bitter about all these other younger pop stars coming out as queer today when it’s been a decade+ long battle for herself — I think the way that Clara Bow and The Prophecy are so beautifully tied together is that I think Taylor is acknowledging that the role that TAYLOR plays in THEIR success as queer artists. I think it’s more of a fact than opinion to say that Taylor would not have had her level of success if she came out as queer in her earlier albums in the 2000s or even 2010s. And not knocking artists like Billie/Olivia etc at all bc they are insanely talented and would be 100% be successful in their own right….but I DO think that part of their appeal to fans is that they brought a new, edgier side to the table as compared to good girl artists like Taylor Swift….a lot of people first liked or noticed them because they were an “edgy Taylor Swift, like Taylor Swift with some sass, etc”….those artists would not have the space to be THEM if Taylor Swift wasn’t Taylor Swift (or at the very least, the space would be different). By playing the straight good girl America’s role model, Taylor created the avenue for edgy/queer artists to succeed by COMPARISON to her, because the machine keeps turning and fans love to consume and compare artists as slightly different variations of existing artists. Taylor is cursed(and chose) to be Taylor The Brand in the Clara Bow lineage so that the next artist can be edgier than she was (and in that edginess is the lack of fear that Taylor carries to come out).
So to wrap it all up, I think The Prophecy is using the Biblical reference of Eve’s choice to acknowledge that Taylor is COMPLICIT in her situation….she CHOSE this path of thorns and thistles and even though she may have been deceived and fooled into thinking it was the right choice, ultimately SHE is the one who has cursed herself to live in a world where she has to be who she is because all of the Sarahs and Hannahs are looking up to her — but deep down she wishes she WASN’T the one that’s held to that standard and that she could just go back to the Garden with Betty (“please let it once be me”). She wants to be one of the queer artists coming out so easily today but she knows she can’t bc that’s not her role in the Clara Bow industry machine. She’s grappling with the fact that she’s “so afraid I sealed my fate” and begging for somebody to change her role in the life she chose….which is just so so sad 😞
ETA for clarity: I don’t think her garden references are a literal call to the Garden Of Eden but the notion of a place where she can be her true self, her home that she’s been banished from (I can go anywhere I want just not home). Just like eve was banished from Eden, Taylor can’t publicly go to her “garden” anymore, she has to sneak through the gates undetected or visit them only in her mind.
submitted by Macandcheese359 to GaylorSwift [link] [comments]
We know Taylor loves a garden reference, but it wasn’t until the religious undertones of TTPD that I began to equate that to the Garden of Eden/Paradise Lost
Just as a refresher, here’s just a few of her garden references going all the way back to Fearless:
- Love Story: So I sneak out to the garden to see you
- Cruel Summer: And I snuck in through the garden gate every night that summer just to seal my fate
- Betty: Would you tell me to go fuck myself or lead me to the garden?
- I Hate It Here: I hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind
“And it was written, I got cursed like Eve got bitten, Oh, was it punishment?”
But in the Bible, Eve does not get bitten (which Taylor surely knows). Eve bites the apple from the forbidden tree. She is the bitER. So in making this comparison, Taylor is either saying:
- Eve wasn’t bitten, so I’m not cursed, end of story. Or…
- In the same way that Eve CHOSE to bite the apple, my “cursed” fate is of my own deciding…I am cursed because of my own choices/actions/decisions. I AM cursed, but it turns out I am the cursER because I chose this path (this is how I’m interpreting the line) And it’s important to note for later that while Eve IS responsible for her own actions, she was also fooled/deceived by the Serpent who told her it would be okay and that she wouldn’t really die by eating the apple — and in her naivety, Eve listened.
“Cards on the table Mine play out like fools in a fable, oh It was sinking in Slow is the quicksand Poison blood from the wound of the pricked hand Oh, still I dream of him”
In the Bible, once Eve bites the apple, both she and Adam become aware and ashamed of their nakedness. And as punishment for disobeying, God not only cast them out of the Garden but he also says to Adam in Gen 3:17-19:
“17Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I told you, “Do not eat from it,” the ground is cursed because of you. By hard work you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you. You will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your face because of hard work, until you return to the ground, because you were taken from the ground. You are dust, and you will return to dust.”
It’s important in context because Eve/Taylor feel like fools for the fate that they ultimately chose and we can infer that they both would like to go back in time/take it back (“Who do I have to speak to About if they can redo The prophecy?”) — and wound of the pricked hand I think directly relates to this idea in Genesis: You will have to work endlessly hard for the rest of your life but NOT in the Garden you once desired, because you are now cursed to thistles and thorns. (See also: Call It What You Want “all my flowers grew back as thorns”) The curse is longing to go back to the Garden but you can’t.
AND SO (hang with me I’m almost there)…this brings me to a common question I see coming up between Gaylors/Hetlors of why doesn’t Taylor just come out? If she’s gay why doesn’t she just say it…..plenty of other artists have done it recently and have been fine, look at Billie Eilish as a prime example. But if you look at Taylor’s NYU commencement speech that she gave on 5/18/22 (and which I believe she was purposely pointing us to in the pap pic of her and Matty in New York from 5/16/23 where she’s wearing the purple NYU sweatshirt), I think she’s telling us the answer already….
“See, I was a teenager in the public eye at a time when our society was absolutely obsessed with the idea of having perfect young female role models. It felt like every interview I did included slight barbs by the interviewer about me one day ‘running off the rails.’ That meant a different thing to everyone person said it me. So I became a young adult while being fed the message that if I didn’t make any mistakes, all the children of America would grow up to be perfect angels. However, if I did slip up, the entire earth would fall off its axis and it would be entirely my fault and I would go to pop star jail forever and ever. It was all centered around the idea that mistakes equal failure and ultimately, the loss of any chance at a happy or rewarding life.”
Taylor, at least early in her career, felt paralyzed by the fear of not fulfilling HER ROLE in the prophecy/curse that SHE CHOSE — she has been America’s sweetheart for her entire career, partly due to the age that she became famous but also partly because of how she presents herself; even when chastised for her dating habits it was never in a scandalous light, the worst people could say is that she’s just a boy-crazy good girl who bounces from relationship to relationship.
And while at the end of the day, it was TAYLOR’S choice to make that her public persona (she was the one who cursed herself, she was the biter) at the end of the day she was also a naive kid listening to her brand, managers, parents etc who fooled her into thinking that it would be fine and that it was THE way to success/happiness…..which is very much like Eve being deceived by the serpent and believing what he said.
Which FINALLY brings me to Clara Bow — “You look like Taylor Swift, you’ve got edge she never did”
The reason you can’t compare someone like Billie’s coming out to Taylor is that Billie has always been “edgier” than Taylor, that’s the brand/image that BILLIE built for herself. Billie coming out really isn’t all that shocking even in the straightest of fandoms bc it fits her image, it makes sense, it doesn’t crumble the “idea” of Billie. When looking at the NYU speech and the weight that Taylor feels of the children of America looking up to her, I’m not sure that Billie has ever shouldered that pressure, which makes her coming out a much more manageable hurdle for her.
Somebody in another post commented whether or not Taylor is bitter about all these other younger pop stars coming out as queer today when it’s been a decade+ long battle for herself — I think the way that Clara Bow and The Prophecy are so beautifully tied together is that I think Taylor is acknowledging that the role that TAYLOR plays in THEIR success as queer artists. I think it’s more of a fact than opinion to say that Taylor would not have had her level of success if she came out as queer in her earlier albums in the 2000s or even 2010s. And not knocking artists like Billie/Olivia etc at all bc they are insanely talented and would be 100% be successful in their own right….but I DO think that part of their appeal to fans is that they brought a new, edgier side to the table as compared to good girl artists like Taylor Swift….a lot of people first liked or noticed them because they were an “edgy Taylor Swift, like Taylor Swift with some sass, etc”….those artists would not have the space to be THEM if Taylor Swift wasn’t Taylor Swift (or at the very least, the space would be different). By playing the straight good girl America’s role model, Taylor created the avenue for edgy/queer artists to succeed by COMPARISON to her, because the machine keeps turning and fans love to consume and compare artists as slightly different variations of existing artists. Taylor is cursed(and chose) to be Taylor The Brand in the Clara Bow lineage so that the next artist can be edgier than she was (and in that edginess is the lack of fear that Taylor carries to come out).
So to wrap it all up, I think The Prophecy is using the Biblical reference of Eve’s choice to acknowledge that Taylor is COMPLICIT in her situation….she CHOSE this path of thorns and thistles and even though she may have been deceived and fooled into thinking it was the right choice, ultimately SHE is the one who has cursed herself to live in a world where she has to be who she is because all of the Sarahs and Hannahs are looking up to her — but deep down she wishes she WASN’T the one that’s held to that standard and that she could just go back to the Garden with Betty (“please let it once be me”). She wants to be one of the queer artists coming out so easily today but she knows she can’t bc that’s not her role in the Clara Bow industry machine. She’s grappling with the fact that she’s “so afraid I sealed my fate” and begging for somebody to change her role in the life she chose….which is just so so sad 😞
ETA for clarity: I don’t think her garden references are a literal call to the Garden Of Eden but the notion of a place where she can be her true self, her home that she’s been banished from (I can go anywhere I want just not home). Just like eve was banished from Eden, Taylor can’t publicly go to her “garden” anymore, she has to sneak through the gates undetected or visit them only in her mind.
2024.05.28 17:13 Calledinthe90s An unusual deposition
I was pushing forty when Mrs. Bristle’s file hit my desk, some estate litigation where a mother’s last will and testament left my clients next to nothing, and gave their sister, Mrs. Bristle, pretty well the entire estate. When I saw the defendant’s name it looked familiar, and after a bit of Googling, I confirmed what I suspected: the defendant, Mrs. Bristle, was my former grade nine English teacher.
I remembered Mrs. Bristle very well. She was supposed to be teaching us the wonders of English literature, but what she really taught us were her rules, by which she meant her arbitrary whims, expressed in vague language, backed up by petty punishments for non-compliance. There was an art to getting along with Mrs. Bristle, and while most of the other kids learned it easily enough, somehow I did not. I have trouble learning unwritten rules, and in Mrs. Bristle’s class where unwritten and constantly changing rules were the order of the day, I didn’t stand a chance. Mrs. Bristle admonished me almost daily for ‘not paying attention’. I did detentions, re-wrote assignments, and made visits to the principal’s office, all because I apparently wasn’t listening, wasn’t doing what I was told.
Mrs. Bristle often took me to task for missing some obvious but unstated part of an assignment. One time I handed in a sonnet, and received an “F” because the rhyming pattern was Petrarchan, not Shakespearean. But she would be nice to me, Mrs. Bristle would always say when she tossed my work back at me. She would give me another chance to hand the assignment in with the arbitrary changes she required, in the end giving me a good mark, but then heavily downgraded for being late.
Mrs. Bristle's case worked its way through the early stages, and every time I exchanged an email with her (she didn't need a lawyer, she claimed) I thought about the unpleasant time I’d spent in her class. I had a rough time in high school, and I always resent anything that makes me dwell on it.
After a few months, the case was ready for the next stage. It was time to examine Mrs. Bristle, to find out why she thought her mother wanted to disinherit most of the family and enrich Mrs. Bristle alone. I showed up at the court reporter’s office early as usual, to get set up.
“What’s up?” Adam asked. He was a lawyer colleague, about my vintage, and we were sitting in the court reporter's lounge.
“I’m going to examine my grade nine English teacher today,” I said, “and it's going to be fun.” I explained how she’d hated me back in the day, and had done her best to make my life hell.
“What’s the case about?” Adam said. Adam had been around the block, same as me, and it took only a few words for me to summarize everything that mattered in the file. “Estate fight, one sibling against four, undue influence, holograph will cutting out most of the siblings, competing with an older will, a formal one, where the shares are equal.”
Adam nodded appreciatively. “Nice fees, if the estate’s got the cash.”
“It does,” I said. We chatted for a bit, and then sat there in silence as we each did the last bit of prep for the cases we had that day, making notes, reading documents and drinking coffee. My alarm dinged just before ten, and I made my way to the examination room, and Mrs. Bristle, the teacher who’d greatly disliked the grade nine version of Calledinthe90s. I was curious to see if she would like the older version any better.
* * *
The examination started, and Mrs. Bristle and I sparred for a while, me tossing vague questions her way, and criticizing her when she did not understand. I kept her on the defensive for close to three hours, until it was getting on to one p.m.
“Aren’t you in a conflict or something?” she said to me just before the lunch break, when she’d finally made the connection, and understood that the lawyer asking her questions was a former student.
“No conflict,” I said, dismissing her concerns with a wave of my hand. “During the lunch break, there’s something I need you to do.”
“I don’t want to answer questions during lunch. I need a break.” The examination had been rough on Mrs. Bristle. She was not used to being asked questions, to being held to account, to being constantly challenged, and even having her grammar corrected now and again.
“You’ll get your lunch break. But while you’re eating a sandwich or whatever, keep this copy of the holograph will next to you.” The will on which Mrs. Bristle’s case relied was a holograph will, meaning that Mrs. Bristle’s mother had written the will entirely in hand from start to finish. The mother, or more likely, Mrs. Bristle herself, had downloaded a will form from the web, and had completed it in accordance with the website’s instructions. Holograph wills are special. You can do a holograph will without a witness, without a lawyer, without anything at all, so long as you did it right. But if you got anything wrong, if you messed up in any way, it was invalid.
“You want me to read the will again over lunch?” Mrs. Bristle said.
“No. Instead, I want you to make a handwritten copy of it.”
“You want me to write it out? Whatever for?”
“There’s an allegation that the will wasn’t written by your mother, and that you wrote it up instead.” An allegation that I’d made up myself, that morning, while I was sitting in the lawyer's lounge, drinking coffee and munching on a muffin. My clients had not challenged the will’s handwriting; it was obviously their mother’s, totally different from Mrs. Bristle’s own writing. But I had decided otherwise.
Mrs. Bristle was appropriately outraged at being unjustly accused of forgery. Said she could prove it wasn’t her handwriting, could absolutely prove it.
“Then let’s settle the forgery issue once and for all,” I said, “write out the will in your own hand, so that our document experts can examine it, compare it with the original, and make a determination.”
“I don’t need the entire lunch break for that,” Mrs. Bristle said, “and I’d rather eat lunch at the restaurant downstairs.” The will was barely a page long, at most three hundred words, that being all it took for the mother to allegedly disinherit most of her children, and inexplicably leave everything to Mrs. Bristle. The mother had written up the will herself, but she’d been ninety at the time, while living in Mrs. Bristle’s house, and very much under her influence.
“I’ve retained five different experts,” I said, “and each of them will need copies.”
“Five experts? Why so many experts?”
“Each expert needs ten samples, for comparison purposes. It’s going to take you a while, Mrs. Bristle. I suggest you get started.” I overrode her protests and once she started to write, I left her in the room, and went to the lawyer’s lounge to eat their small sandwiches and drink more of the excellent coffee. After a while I stopped by the examination room to look in on Mrs. Bristle. I wanted to check in on her progress.
Mrs. Bristle asked for more time, complained of writer’s cramp, and asked me again if it was really necessary for her to write out the holograph will fifty times in her own hand, and I assured her that there was nothing for it, that it was absolutely necessary. I returned to the lounge to check my emails, leaving her hard at the homework I’d given her.
After a while my colleague, Adam, popped into the lounge. He asked me how it was going, the examination with the teacher, the teacher who had treated me so badly.
“I’m making her write lines.” Adam laughed, and laughed harder when I explained that I wasn’t kidding, that I really was making Mrs. Bristle write lines, and how I was doing it. His laughter attracted attention, and a few other lawyers asked what was up. “He’s making his teacher witness write lines,” Adam said, and the lawyer’s lounge hooted with laughter when I told everyone what was up.
It was one of the pettiest things I’ve ever done to anyone, making my grade nine teacher write lines. But the writing lines thing was just a warmup. The real revenge had yet to come. I returned to the examination room after a while, to check up on Mrs. Bristle, see how she was doing.
“This is taking forever,” she said, “and I really don’t get why you need it.” She had writer’s cramp, and was shaking her hand to get the kinks out. I picked up the stack of holograph wills she’d created, and flipped through it. She was nowhere near finished.
“On second thought,” I said, “maybe it isn’t necessary. I think you’re right. I don’t need any handwriting samples from you.”
“Why not?” she said.
“The will is invalid,” I explained, adding that because her mother had used a pre-printed form off the web, the law would not recognize the will. “A holograph will has to be entirely in the testator's handwriting,” I explained, “every single word entirely in handwriting from start to finish. This will doesn’t qualify, because your mother used a standard form, a form printed off the web, with instructions and boxes and questions and so on, and when you do that, then the will is no longer a holograph will. It’s a regular will, and regular wills need to be properly witnessed. This one isn’t witnessed, and that means it’s not a will. It’s just a piece of paper.”
“Are you trying to tell me that you only figured that out now? What kind of lawyer are you, anyways?”
“What kind of lawyer am I? I’m a lawyer who makes a witness skip lunch, and sit in a small room all alone, and write lines. Sound familiar, Mrs. Bristle?” She said nothing, and just stared at me. I closed the door on her, leaving her alone once more, and left for the Middle Temple Tavern where the lawyers all hung out. It was time to hoist a Guinness and enjoy my petty triumph.
submitted by Calledinthe90s to talesfromthelaw [link] [comments]
I remembered Mrs. Bristle very well. She was supposed to be teaching us the wonders of English literature, but what she really taught us were her rules, by which she meant her arbitrary whims, expressed in vague language, backed up by petty punishments for non-compliance. There was an art to getting along with Mrs. Bristle, and while most of the other kids learned it easily enough, somehow I did not. I have trouble learning unwritten rules, and in Mrs. Bristle’s class where unwritten and constantly changing rules were the order of the day, I didn’t stand a chance. Mrs. Bristle admonished me almost daily for ‘not paying attention’. I did detentions, re-wrote assignments, and made visits to the principal’s office, all because I apparently wasn’t listening, wasn’t doing what I was told.
Mrs. Bristle often took me to task for missing some obvious but unstated part of an assignment. One time I handed in a sonnet, and received an “F” because the rhyming pattern was Petrarchan, not Shakespearean. But she would be nice to me, Mrs. Bristle would always say when she tossed my work back at me. She would give me another chance to hand the assignment in with the arbitrary changes she required, in the end giving me a good mark, but then heavily downgraded for being late.
Mrs. Bristle's case worked its way through the early stages, and every time I exchanged an email with her (she didn't need a lawyer, she claimed) I thought about the unpleasant time I’d spent in her class. I had a rough time in high school, and I always resent anything that makes me dwell on it.
After a few months, the case was ready for the next stage. It was time to examine Mrs. Bristle, to find out why she thought her mother wanted to disinherit most of the family and enrich Mrs. Bristle alone. I showed up at the court reporter’s office early as usual, to get set up.
“What’s up?” Adam asked. He was a lawyer colleague, about my vintage, and we were sitting in the court reporter's lounge.
“I’m going to examine my grade nine English teacher today,” I said, “and it's going to be fun.” I explained how she’d hated me back in the day, and had done her best to make my life hell.
“What’s the case about?” Adam said. Adam had been around the block, same as me, and it took only a few words for me to summarize everything that mattered in the file. “Estate fight, one sibling against four, undue influence, holograph will cutting out most of the siblings, competing with an older will, a formal one, where the shares are equal.”
Adam nodded appreciatively. “Nice fees, if the estate’s got the cash.”
“It does,” I said. We chatted for a bit, and then sat there in silence as we each did the last bit of prep for the cases we had that day, making notes, reading documents and drinking coffee. My alarm dinged just before ten, and I made my way to the examination room, and Mrs. Bristle, the teacher who’d greatly disliked the grade nine version of Calledinthe90s. I was curious to see if she would like the older version any better.
* * *
The examination started, and Mrs. Bristle and I sparred for a while, me tossing vague questions her way, and criticizing her when she did not understand. I kept her on the defensive for close to three hours, until it was getting on to one p.m.
“Aren’t you in a conflict or something?” she said to me just before the lunch break, when she’d finally made the connection, and understood that the lawyer asking her questions was a former student.
“No conflict,” I said, dismissing her concerns with a wave of my hand. “During the lunch break, there’s something I need you to do.”
“I don’t want to answer questions during lunch. I need a break.” The examination had been rough on Mrs. Bristle. She was not used to being asked questions, to being held to account, to being constantly challenged, and even having her grammar corrected now and again.
“You’ll get your lunch break. But while you’re eating a sandwich or whatever, keep this copy of the holograph will next to you.” The will on which Mrs. Bristle’s case relied was a holograph will, meaning that Mrs. Bristle’s mother had written the will entirely in hand from start to finish. The mother, or more likely, Mrs. Bristle herself, had downloaded a will form from the web, and had completed it in accordance with the website’s instructions. Holograph wills are special. You can do a holograph will without a witness, without a lawyer, without anything at all, so long as you did it right. But if you got anything wrong, if you messed up in any way, it was invalid.
“You want me to read the will again over lunch?” Mrs. Bristle said.
“No. Instead, I want you to make a handwritten copy of it.”
“You want me to write it out? Whatever for?”
“There’s an allegation that the will wasn’t written by your mother, and that you wrote it up instead.” An allegation that I’d made up myself, that morning, while I was sitting in the lawyer's lounge, drinking coffee and munching on a muffin. My clients had not challenged the will’s handwriting; it was obviously their mother’s, totally different from Mrs. Bristle’s own writing. But I had decided otherwise.
Mrs. Bristle was appropriately outraged at being unjustly accused of forgery. Said she could prove it wasn’t her handwriting, could absolutely prove it.
“Then let’s settle the forgery issue once and for all,” I said, “write out the will in your own hand, so that our document experts can examine it, compare it with the original, and make a determination.”
“I don’t need the entire lunch break for that,” Mrs. Bristle said, “and I’d rather eat lunch at the restaurant downstairs.” The will was barely a page long, at most three hundred words, that being all it took for the mother to allegedly disinherit most of her children, and inexplicably leave everything to Mrs. Bristle. The mother had written up the will herself, but she’d been ninety at the time, while living in Mrs. Bristle’s house, and very much under her influence.
“I’ve retained five different experts,” I said, “and each of them will need copies.”
“Five experts? Why so many experts?”
“Each expert needs ten samples, for comparison purposes. It’s going to take you a while, Mrs. Bristle. I suggest you get started.” I overrode her protests and once she started to write, I left her in the room, and went to the lawyer’s lounge to eat their small sandwiches and drink more of the excellent coffee. After a while I stopped by the examination room to look in on Mrs. Bristle. I wanted to check in on her progress.
Mrs. Bristle asked for more time, complained of writer’s cramp, and asked me again if it was really necessary for her to write out the holograph will fifty times in her own hand, and I assured her that there was nothing for it, that it was absolutely necessary. I returned to the lounge to check my emails, leaving her hard at the homework I’d given her.
After a while my colleague, Adam, popped into the lounge. He asked me how it was going, the examination with the teacher, the teacher who had treated me so badly.
“I’m making her write lines.” Adam laughed, and laughed harder when I explained that I wasn’t kidding, that I really was making Mrs. Bristle write lines, and how I was doing it. His laughter attracted attention, and a few other lawyers asked what was up. “He’s making his teacher witness write lines,” Adam said, and the lawyer’s lounge hooted with laughter when I told everyone what was up.
It was one of the pettiest things I’ve ever done to anyone, making my grade nine teacher write lines. But the writing lines thing was just a warmup. The real revenge had yet to come. I returned to the examination room after a while, to check up on Mrs. Bristle, see how she was doing.
“This is taking forever,” she said, “and I really don’t get why you need it.” She had writer’s cramp, and was shaking her hand to get the kinks out. I picked up the stack of holograph wills she’d created, and flipped through it. She was nowhere near finished.
“On second thought,” I said, “maybe it isn’t necessary. I think you’re right. I don’t need any handwriting samples from you.”
“Why not?” she said.
“The will is invalid,” I explained, adding that because her mother had used a pre-printed form off the web, the law would not recognize the will. “A holograph will has to be entirely in the testator's handwriting,” I explained, “every single word entirely in handwriting from start to finish. This will doesn’t qualify, because your mother used a standard form, a form printed off the web, with instructions and boxes and questions and so on, and when you do that, then the will is no longer a holograph will. It’s a regular will, and regular wills need to be properly witnessed. This one isn’t witnessed, and that means it’s not a will. It’s just a piece of paper.”
“Are you trying to tell me that you only figured that out now? What kind of lawyer are you, anyways?”
“What kind of lawyer am I? I’m a lawyer who makes a witness skip lunch, and sit in a small room all alone, and write lines. Sound familiar, Mrs. Bristle?” She said nothing, and just stared at me. I closed the door on her, leaving her alone once more, and left for the Middle Temple Tavern where the lawyers all hung out. It was time to hoist a Guinness and enjoy my petty triumph.
2024.05.28 14:29 MountainSkald [A Valkyrie's Saga] - Part 108
Prequel (Chapters 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
First ¦ Previous ¦ Royal Road ¦ Patreon
“He’s making this turn.”
Gareth ‘Gaz’ Slake watched the unmarked white van veer off down a side street ahead. He checked his side mirror, tapped the indicator, and steered the vehicle over into the turning lane. The atmosphere inside the SUV remained calm as the other men checked their weapons. Further down the road, the team’s lead car accelerated to find another turning, so it could circle back into contact with their quarry.
The van came back into view as Gaz span the wheel.
“Street ends at a warehouse,” his earpiece buzzed. “This could be it.”
He slowed the vehicle to a stop by the side of the road, and couldn’t stop his eyes flickering down to the photos he had pinned to the dash. Five hopeful teenage faces stared back at him.
“He’s going in,” said the radio. “All call-signs; Yorktown.”
A clatter of metal disturbed the quiet of the SUV as rifle bolts racked bullets into their chambers. Gaz reached for his own weapon by his leg and pulled on the charging handle. In the near distance, the white van disappeared into the building.
“Alpha, block the garage entrance. Bravo take the west loading bay.”
Gaz placed his thumb on a switch concealed beneath his jacket. “Copy that.” He donned the helmet passed to him by his fellow former marine, Sal Matuidi, then readied his foot on the accelerator. “Alpha is set.”
“All call-signs, I have control.”
The tail had begun that morning in the slumbering streets of Intaba’s capital city. Working from documents leaked by an ally in law enforcement, the group had needed two weeks to build up a picture of the starport’s trafficking network. Then, one of VennZech’s key contractors had gotten lazy and hinted on an unsecured call that he was ready to make a ‘special’ pickup. The operation had been planned at lightning speed before Gaz and the other shooters were jumping into vehicles.
Driving just over the legal speed limit they had closed on the truck depot known to be connected to VennZech’s illegal operations. The caller had arrived after sunrise, been positively identified, and had steered his transport out into the light traffic, apparently without a care in the world.
Since the electronic intercept the night before, Gaz had shut out all his concerns about the world, his messy personal life, and the group’s questionable legal status on Intaba. He had taken pains to suppress all his doubts, fears, good memories and bad, to focus on the mission.
Now he didn’t have to. His whole existence congealed into the vehicle, the men by his side, the warehouse ahead, and the weapon at his leg. Beyond that there was nothing.
The earpiece buzzed again. “Standby, standby... Execute!”
Gaz sensed the others coil like snakes and he pushed the accelerator down to the floor. Ahead, a flimsy chain link gate closed the warehouse off from the street. The SUV smashed through, and the tires screeched as they brought it to a stop by the entrance.
He waited as the doors popped open and his passengers dismounted. They used the vehicle as cover while they scanned the yard for threats. A smatter of snaps in the near distance broke the silence—Bravo team making contact.
Sal turned back to Gaz, but as he raised his thumb a pair of craters erupted on the windshield. A silenced carbine whipped around and snapped off four shots. The silence returned, and Cyril raised his thumb again, this time accompanied by an apologetic smile. Gaz span the SUV around, returning to the smashed entrance gate where he positioned it to block the exit.
He grabbed his rifle, jumped out and raced to catch up with the team as they entered the warehouse.
Sal and the others were already inside, mounting a stairwell as Gaz caught up. They moved quickly but kept their muzzles trained on every opening, ready for a threat. When they stepped off the warehouse’s upper walkway into the offices, bullets exploded the wall around them. Sal gasped and sank to the floor.
Almost out of sight around the corner, a terrified security guard was pointing his pistol at them. Gaz stepped through the doorway and flicked his carbine across the target, not even aligning the weapon’s holo-sight as he snatched at the trigger. A round caught the guard in the hip and another punched through his chest. He collapsed in a heap and lay motionless.
Gaz reached down to check his friend as the two others pushed past them, moving quickly to the end of the corridor.
“Sal? Talk to me.”
“Got it in the leg, Gaz.”
His eyes were saucers as he watched Gaz feel around for the wound.
“Okay, yeah. It’s clean through the thigh. Not too much bleeding.”
Sal’s eyes closed and he sighed. “Keep going, I can bandage it.”
“You sure?”
“All good, brother. Go finish it.”
Gaz caught up with the others and they cleared the rest of the warehouse, killing anyone else who resisted and restraining those who surrendered. Once the call was made that the structure was clear, Gaz raced back to check up on Sal. He was a little dopey after the self-administered ketamine shot, but the bandage looked good, and he kept enough presence of mind to offer criticism.
“Won’t find anything around me!” he said with a grin. “Unless I’m sat on a bad guy.”
Then his expression turned to one of alarm, but he quickly calmed, and began chuckling to himself.
Gaz shook his head, and returned to the rest of the team to help search the structure. As usual, the obvious places—the bunk rooms, kitchen or offices—contained nothing of interest. Following his instinct, Gaz made for the basement. A janitor’s office caught his eye, and as he pushed open the door into the dark, musky room, his earpiece buzzed again.
“Police call has been made,” a female voice said. “Reports of a disturbance. A patrol car has been dispatched, but he isn’t hurrying.”
“Copy that, Rook. Do you have a location?” the voice of their controller replied.
“Passing sixth street. ETA ten minutes.”
“Bravo one, take your vehicle around to the main entrance. All elements, that is your extraction point.”
“Alpha one copies,” Gaz said and flicked a light switch on the wall. He scanned the office, noting the clutter of a lazy occupant, while his teammate’s acknowledgements buzzed in his ear.
A closet door rested in the far corner, and Gaz moved over to it. The handle stuck, but the keys hung from a nail by the desk, and he tried each of them until the lock clicked open.
He reached for his flashlight, and caught his breath as the beam played over pale white, then dark brown skin. Two faces—a boy’s and a girl’s—met his gaze with fear as they huddled against the wall, their arms cuffed to a pipe.
Gaz recognized them from the photographs, but their cheeks had hollowed, and their eye sockets looked grey. The bright t-shirts were now dark with filth and a few blood stains. Their eyes seemed devoid of light.
Gaz thumbed his radio switch and spoke softly. “This is Alpha one—Jackpot. Basement, North-East corner—janitor’s office.”
Without approaching the pair, he knelt down on the ground and smiled.
“Geroff, Esther?” he said. “I’m really happy I found you. Your parents sent me to take you home. Geroff, your mom says that Zipper had puppies and really misses you. Esther, your brother John’s been watering your desert cacti for you.”
The eyes blinked, but their owners didn’t move. They flinched when a woman entered the office, banging the desk as she rushed in.
“Awesome, Gaz,” she said, a little out of breath. “Don’t worry, I got this.”
Gaz got up and moved away as his teammate Rita—child psychologist, and combat medic— dropped to her knees in his place. She moved slowly, gently pushing closer to them while she explained in a soothing voice, what was going to happen, and where they were going to be taken before they could see their parents again. When she finally touched their shoulders, the sobbing began.
Gaz turned away and thumbed his mic. “We’re going to need the boltcutter.”
***
“Two weeks until I can walk again,” Sal said as he sat in the car at the edge of the starport’s loading area. The door was open and they were facing the landing pad where a shuttle had just touched down.
“It’s cool mate,” Gaz said, leaning on the roof of the vehicle. “You’re little enough that I can carry you around on my shoulders.”
“That’s great, thanks bro. Actually, I need to take a shit, so if you would oblige...”
Gaz smiled and shook his head.
On the landing pad, the shuttle’s passenger door opened and a wide-eyed woman stepped out followed by a blank-faced man. The SUV popped its doors and Esther stepped out onto the tarmac. Her mother sank to her knees as her father raced over to embrace her.
Gaz liked to watch the reunions. When he saw the joy of a life restored, his own anger softened. He liked to think that each rescue chipped away a piece of his cold hatred for whatever god or universal force had decided he would never get to experience the same thing.
He sighed. “Good feeling,” he said, and tried to find a way to mean it.
Sal nodded, but didn’t smile. “Two. Out of ten thousand a year.”
“Don’t fixate on the numbers, mate. You’ll lose yourself doing that.”
“And four dead bodies.”
Gaz sniffed. “Does that bother you?”
Sal shrugged. “Not that they died. They knew what was going on in that basement. But bodies mean trouble.”
“Nothing the boss can’t handle.”
“This is going to catch up with us eventually.”
“Sure.” Gaz slapped the car roof. “But it’s been worth it. You know, when we got out of the Marine Corps I was struggling to find a direction. Now I wake up every morning knowing what I have to do.”
Sal gave him a skeptical look. “I wouldn’t exactly call this moving on.”
“Well. One step at a time, I guess.”
“Earlier you mentioned something about the truck?”
“Oh yeah. The driver was a less than diligent employee of the shipping company, and had his travel plans on his phone. Turns out he had booked himself onto one of VennZech’s freighters, bound for Caldera.”
Sal looked up at him surprise. “Are you serious? That’s huge.”
Gaz could only offer a disappointed shake of his head. “Afraid not. Turns out the ship jumped out a few hours before our man’s call was intercepted. No-one in the head-shed has any idea why, and gossip says that it dropped completely off the cluster’s traffic control logs.”
Sal scratched his stubbly jaw thoughtfully. “Probably someone tipped off the corpos and they wanted to destroy the evidence. Though it doesn’t make sense to me that they would forget to call off the pickup.”
“Who knows? Either way, Caldera is our only lead to find the others.”
“Yeah, I guess. What’s the turnaround time?”
“Couple of weeks,” Gaz said. “Caldera might be the wild west, but Rackeye is territory of the Helvetic League. You know how their die-hard believers set themselves up as missionaries on every new planet?”
Sal chuckled. “Yeah, hence why the colonists gave the first settlement that name.”
“What do you mean?”
“French for scum.”
Gaz laughed. “Seriously?”
“I think so, though I’m not fluent.”
“Anyway, it will take the boss time to build covers and make connections. Long enough for you to heal. Unfortunately, we got a call from a new client this morning; three more faces to add to the list.”
Sal rubbed his eyes and stared into the distance. “Stellar.”
They looked around as the whine of a car engine pierced the air. A blacked-out limousine raced up the taxiway and screeched to a halt right next to them. Out of the car stepped Dumi Sifiso, Intaba’s deputy chief of police.
“Where he is?” Sifiso snapped. “Your boss? Take me to him immediately.”
Gaz maneuvered himself to block the irate man as another officer joined them. He kept his smile friendly, but his hands raised, palms out.
“Easy there, fella. Sanchez is talking with a family right now. Why don’t you give them a moment?”
Sifiso glanced over at the shuttle, but relented. “I want you—all of your people—off Intaba as soon as possible.”
“What’s going on?”
“I just received a visit from a VennZech representative. He wanted to know why I haven’t put a stop to some of the… attacks on their buildings. When I gave him the usual line about gang violence, he rejected it.”
Gaz’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Another four dead workers? It looks like a lot more than coincidence. He was angry. Said that there were accusations of corruption being levelled at my office.”
“You’ve weathered that before.”
“He threatened my family!”
Gaz clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. “Well maybe we can go and visit his.”
Sifiso spat on the ground. “Frontier Marines. You’re a gang, and that’s all you are. A bunch of washed-up has-beens clinging on to some forgotten dogma. And now you’ve made too many enemies.”
“You’re panicking. I’m sure Sanchez will figure something out.”
Sifiso smiled. “He won’t need to. Because you’ll be gone, or I’ll have you arrested and charged with murder.”
Gaz stepped to one side. “You see over there. The fourteen-year-old? See her parent’s faces?”
“Fourteen? That’s a nice number. Here’s another for you. Ten thousand. Ten thousand people, adults, and children are trafficked through this starport every year. Then there are the drugs, the smugglers, and everything else that goes on behind the scenes. And what do you think the galaxy wide total is?”
Gaz let his bitterness stew in silence.
“It’s too much,” Sifiso said, and his voice softened. “The payoffs aren’t working anymore. I…” he stopped. “I don’t regret helping your cause, but it’s over.”
“Oh sure,” Gaz raised said, raising his voice. “You look out for number one, mate. Keep it within the comfort zone. Wouldn’t want to mess with the old boy network, would we? And won’t someone please think of the paychecks?”
Sifiso’s face darkened. “It’s easy, I think, for a young man with no family and no community to support to say these things. To live in fantasy, rather than confront reality.”
“No community? Look around, I got mine right here, and I’ll have no problem keeping them safe, no matter who tries to get in the way.”
“Gaz,” Sal called in a warning tone.
In the near distance, another, much less expensive, vehicle drove up and Gaz recognized the plate. He scowled at Sifiso. “If you don’t mind. I’ve got a client to attend to. And you’d just better pray they’ve already taken her child off the planet.”
He almost wanted to punch himself for such an unbelievably stupid comment, but enraged pride kept pushing him forward. Shoving his way past the chief, he left Sal, now hobbling onto the tarmac on crutches, to do damage control. Not that Gaz cared. If Sanchez really was looking to move on to Caldera, leaving a few burnt bridges behind was something he could live with.
Gaz took a deep breath and tried to decelerate. He opened the car door and slid into the front passenger seat. Behind the wheel, a middle-aged woman stared at him through eyes clouded by exhaustion. Her hair was a frayed mess, while reddened, irritated skin tinged her nose and eyes.
“How are you doing Ntsika?” he asked as gently as he could.
She ignored the question and nodded to the plane on the tarmac. “I heard about the rescue this morning. Is that them?”
“Yes.”
“They must be very happy.”
Her voice was both bitter and sympathetic. Gaz remembered when he had felt those same contradictory emotions. Now he only felt a predator’s hunger.
“They have happiness and pain. A lot of pain to heal from, but a lot of hope as well.”
Ntsika sniffed and nodded. “My cousin works for the attorney’s office. He told me you would be kicked off Intaba.”
“That’s true, unfortunately,” Gaz said. “But we have a lead pointing us to Caldera. We’ll be heading there as soon as possible.”
“I see.” She picked a tissue out of the door and played with it. The movements had obviously become an unconscious habit.
“It’s only a matter of time, now, Ntsika. Once we start to get leads, we always run them down. Wherever they took your daughter, we will find her.”
She smiled at him, and he knew immediately that it was an expression of pity for his naivety.
“I think,” she said, “that the worst thing about you people, is that you keep offering hope. It is more painful than moving on.”
Gaz said farewell and left the car. While he watched the vehicle drive off the tarmac, he took a portrait photo out of his pocket and looked into the eyes of young Milani Mayosi. She had been a basketball player, hoping to study architecture. A lot like his sister when they had taken her, though she had preferred swimming.
He had been deployed when it happened. The Marines had been about giving his life a greater meaning, serving the good of the League. But after ten years, he was forced to question what service they had rendered, holding back endless tribal conflicts while the Helvet governors only stewed the corrupt, incompetent mess. Meanwhile, the truly innocent, even his own family, were being preyed on by monsters.
Some nights the drink reminded him that the tearful reunions meant nothing. What he really wanted was the excuse to kill evil men. To leave their bodies behind to inflict fear in their masters. Perhaps some of them would have nightmares as they imagined him coming for them too.
Milani would be rescued; he had no doubts about that. Sanchez had been a brilliant intelligence officer, and Caldera was so far beyond the League’s authority they could operate almost with impunity. But his sister would never come home, wherever she was, dead or alive. He could only avenge her, and that he could do with extreme prejudice.
First ¦ Previous ¦ Royal Road ¦ Patreon
Prequel (Chapters 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
submitted by MountainSkald to redditserials [link] [comments]
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
First ¦ Previous ¦ Royal Road ¦ Patreon
“He’s making this turn.”
Gareth ‘Gaz’ Slake watched the unmarked white van veer off down a side street ahead. He checked his side mirror, tapped the indicator, and steered the vehicle over into the turning lane. The atmosphere inside the SUV remained calm as the other men checked their weapons. Further down the road, the team’s lead car accelerated to find another turning, so it could circle back into contact with their quarry.
The van came back into view as Gaz span the wheel.
“Street ends at a warehouse,” his earpiece buzzed. “This could be it.”
He slowed the vehicle to a stop by the side of the road, and couldn’t stop his eyes flickering down to the photos he had pinned to the dash. Five hopeful teenage faces stared back at him.
“He’s going in,” said the radio. “All call-signs; Yorktown.”
A clatter of metal disturbed the quiet of the SUV as rifle bolts racked bullets into their chambers. Gaz reached for his own weapon by his leg and pulled on the charging handle. In the near distance, the white van disappeared into the building.
“Alpha, block the garage entrance. Bravo take the west loading bay.”
Gaz placed his thumb on a switch concealed beneath his jacket. “Copy that.” He donned the helmet passed to him by his fellow former marine, Sal Matuidi, then readied his foot on the accelerator. “Alpha is set.”
“All call-signs, I have control.”
The tail had begun that morning in the slumbering streets of Intaba’s capital city. Working from documents leaked by an ally in law enforcement, the group had needed two weeks to build up a picture of the starport’s trafficking network. Then, one of VennZech’s key contractors had gotten lazy and hinted on an unsecured call that he was ready to make a ‘special’ pickup. The operation had been planned at lightning speed before Gaz and the other shooters were jumping into vehicles.
Driving just over the legal speed limit they had closed on the truck depot known to be connected to VennZech’s illegal operations. The caller had arrived after sunrise, been positively identified, and had steered his transport out into the light traffic, apparently without a care in the world.
Since the electronic intercept the night before, Gaz had shut out all his concerns about the world, his messy personal life, and the group’s questionable legal status on Intaba. He had taken pains to suppress all his doubts, fears, good memories and bad, to focus on the mission.
Now he didn’t have to. His whole existence congealed into the vehicle, the men by his side, the warehouse ahead, and the weapon at his leg. Beyond that there was nothing.
The earpiece buzzed again. “Standby, standby... Execute!”
Gaz sensed the others coil like snakes and he pushed the accelerator down to the floor. Ahead, a flimsy chain link gate closed the warehouse off from the street. The SUV smashed through, and the tires screeched as they brought it to a stop by the entrance.
He waited as the doors popped open and his passengers dismounted. They used the vehicle as cover while they scanned the yard for threats. A smatter of snaps in the near distance broke the silence—Bravo team making contact.
Sal turned back to Gaz, but as he raised his thumb a pair of craters erupted on the windshield. A silenced carbine whipped around and snapped off four shots. The silence returned, and Cyril raised his thumb again, this time accompanied by an apologetic smile. Gaz span the SUV around, returning to the smashed entrance gate where he positioned it to block the exit.
He grabbed his rifle, jumped out and raced to catch up with the team as they entered the warehouse.
Sal and the others were already inside, mounting a stairwell as Gaz caught up. They moved quickly but kept their muzzles trained on every opening, ready for a threat. When they stepped off the warehouse’s upper walkway into the offices, bullets exploded the wall around them. Sal gasped and sank to the floor.
Almost out of sight around the corner, a terrified security guard was pointing his pistol at them. Gaz stepped through the doorway and flicked his carbine across the target, not even aligning the weapon’s holo-sight as he snatched at the trigger. A round caught the guard in the hip and another punched through his chest. He collapsed in a heap and lay motionless.
Gaz reached down to check his friend as the two others pushed past them, moving quickly to the end of the corridor.
“Sal? Talk to me.”
“Got it in the leg, Gaz.”
His eyes were saucers as he watched Gaz feel around for the wound.
“Okay, yeah. It’s clean through the thigh. Not too much bleeding.”
Sal’s eyes closed and he sighed. “Keep going, I can bandage it.”
“You sure?”
“All good, brother. Go finish it.”
Gaz caught up with the others and they cleared the rest of the warehouse, killing anyone else who resisted and restraining those who surrendered. Once the call was made that the structure was clear, Gaz raced back to check up on Sal. He was a little dopey after the self-administered ketamine shot, but the bandage looked good, and he kept enough presence of mind to offer criticism.
“Won’t find anything around me!” he said with a grin. “Unless I’m sat on a bad guy.”
Then his expression turned to one of alarm, but he quickly calmed, and began chuckling to himself.
Gaz shook his head, and returned to the rest of the team to help search the structure. As usual, the obvious places—the bunk rooms, kitchen or offices—contained nothing of interest. Following his instinct, Gaz made for the basement. A janitor’s office caught his eye, and as he pushed open the door into the dark, musky room, his earpiece buzzed again.
“Police call has been made,” a female voice said. “Reports of a disturbance. A patrol car has been dispatched, but he isn’t hurrying.”
“Copy that, Rook. Do you have a location?” the voice of their controller replied.
“Passing sixth street. ETA ten minutes.”
“Bravo one, take your vehicle around to the main entrance. All elements, that is your extraction point.”
“Alpha one copies,” Gaz said and flicked a light switch on the wall. He scanned the office, noting the clutter of a lazy occupant, while his teammate’s acknowledgements buzzed in his ear.
A closet door rested in the far corner, and Gaz moved over to it. The handle stuck, but the keys hung from a nail by the desk, and he tried each of them until the lock clicked open.
He reached for his flashlight, and caught his breath as the beam played over pale white, then dark brown skin. Two faces—a boy’s and a girl’s—met his gaze with fear as they huddled against the wall, their arms cuffed to a pipe.
Gaz recognized them from the photographs, but their cheeks had hollowed, and their eye sockets looked grey. The bright t-shirts were now dark with filth and a few blood stains. Their eyes seemed devoid of light.
Gaz thumbed his radio switch and spoke softly. “This is Alpha one—Jackpot. Basement, North-East corner—janitor’s office.”
Without approaching the pair, he knelt down on the ground and smiled.
“Geroff, Esther?” he said. “I’m really happy I found you. Your parents sent me to take you home. Geroff, your mom says that Zipper had puppies and really misses you. Esther, your brother John’s been watering your desert cacti for you.”
The eyes blinked, but their owners didn’t move. They flinched when a woman entered the office, banging the desk as she rushed in.
“Awesome, Gaz,” she said, a little out of breath. “Don’t worry, I got this.”
Gaz got up and moved away as his teammate Rita—child psychologist, and combat medic— dropped to her knees in his place. She moved slowly, gently pushing closer to them while she explained in a soothing voice, what was going to happen, and where they were going to be taken before they could see their parents again. When she finally touched their shoulders, the sobbing began.
Gaz turned away and thumbed his mic. “We’re going to need the boltcutter.”
***
“Two weeks until I can walk again,” Sal said as he sat in the car at the edge of the starport’s loading area. The door was open and they were facing the landing pad where a shuttle had just touched down.
“It’s cool mate,” Gaz said, leaning on the roof of the vehicle. “You’re little enough that I can carry you around on my shoulders.”
“That’s great, thanks bro. Actually, I need to take a shit, so if you would oblige...”
Gaz smiled and shook his head.
On the landing pad, the shuttle’s passenger door opened and a wide-eyed woman stepped out followed by a blank-faced man. The SUV popped its doors and Esther stepped out onto the tarmac. Her mother sank to her knees as her father raced over to embrace her.
Gaz liked to watch the reunions. When he saw the joy of a life restored, his own anger softened. He liked to think that each rescue chipped away a piece of his cold hatred for whatever god or universal force had decided he would never get to experience the same thing.
He sighed. “Good feeling,” he said, and tried to find a way to mean it.
Sal nodded, but didn’t smile. “Two. Out of ten thousand a year.”
“Don’t fixate on the numbers, mate. You’ll lose yourself doing that.”
“And four dead bodies.”
Gaz sniffed. “Does that bother you?”
Sal shrugged. “Not that they died. They knew what was going on in that basement. But bodies mean trouble.”
“Nothing the boss can’t handle.”
“This is going to catch up with us eventually.”
“Sure.” Gaz slapped the car roof. “But it’s been worth it. You know, when we got out of the Marine Corps I was struggling to find a direction. Now I wake up every morning knowing what I have to do.”
Sal gave him a skeptical look. “I wouldn’t exactly call this moving on.”
“Well. One step at a time, I guess.”
“Earlier you mentioned something about the truck?”
“Oh yeah. The driver was a less than diligent employee of the shipping company, and had his travel plans on his phone. Turns out he had booked himself onto one of VennZech’s freighters, bound for Caldera.”
Sal looked up at him surprise. “Are you serious? That’s huge.”
Gaz could only offer a disappointed shake of his head. “Afraid not. Turns out the ship jumped out a few hours before our man’s call was intercepted. No-one in the head-shed has any idea why, and gossip says that it dropped completely off the cluster’s traffic control logs.”
Sal scratched his stubbly jaw thoughtfully. “Probably someone tipped off the corpos and they wanted to destroy the evidence. Though it doesn’t make sense to me that they would forget to call off the pickup.”
“Who knows? Either way, Caldera is our only lead to find the others.”
“Yeah, I guess. What’s the turnaround time?”
“Couple of weeks,” Gaz said. “Caldera might be the wild west, but Rackeye is territory of the Helvetic League. You know how their die-hard believers set themselves up as missionaries on every new planet?”
Sal chuckled. “Yeah, hence why the colonists gave the first settlement that name.”
“What do you mean?”
“French for scum.”
Gaz laughed. “Seriously?”
“I think so, though I’m not fluent.”
“Anyway, it will take the boss time to build covers and make connections. Long enough for you to heal. Unfortunately, we got a call from a new client this morning; three more faces to add to the list.”
Sal rubbed his eyes and stared into the distance. “Stellar.”
They looked around as the whine of a car engine pierced the air. A blacked-out limousine raced up the taxiway and screeched to a halt right next to them. Out of the car stepped Dumi Sifiso, Intaba’s deputy chief of police.
“Where he is?” Sifiso snapped. “Your boss? Take me to him immediately.”
Gaz maneuvered himself to block the irate man as another officer joined them. He kept his smile friendly, but his hands raised, palms out.
“Easy there, fella. Sanchez is talking with a family right now. Why don’t you give them a moment?”
Sifiso glanced over at the shuttle, but relented. “I want you—all of your people—off Intaba as soon as possible.”
“What’s going on?”
“I just received a visit from a VennZech representative. He wanted to know why I haven’t put a stop to some of the… attacks on their buildings. When I gave him the usual line about gang violence, he rejected it.”
Gaz’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Another four dead workers? It looks like a lot more than coincidence. He was angry. Said that there were accusations of corruption being levelled at my office.”
“You’ve weathered that before.”
“He threatened my family!”
Gaz clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. “Well maybe we can go and visit his.”
Sifiso spat on the ground. “Frontier Marines. You’re a gang, and that’s all you are. A bunch of washed-up has-beens clinging on to some forgotten dogma. And now you’ve made too many enemies.”
“You’re panicking. I’m sure Sanchez will figure something out.”
Sifiso smiled. “He won’t need to. Because you’ll be gone, or I’ll have you arrested and charged with murder.”
Gaz stepped to one side. “You see over there. The fourteen-year-old? See her parent’s faces?”
“Fourteen? That’s a nice number. Here’s another for you. Ten thousand. Ten thousand people, adults, and children are trafficked through this starport every year. Then there are the drugs, the smugglers, and everything else that goes on behind the scenes. And what do you think the galaxy wide total is?”
Gaz let his bitterness stew in silence.
“It’s too much,” Sifiso said, and his voice softened. “The payoffs aren’t working anymore. I…” he stopped. “I don’t regret helping your cause, but it’s over.”
“Oh sure,” Gaz raised said, raising his voice. “You look out for number one, mate. Keep it within the comfort zone. Wouldn’t want to mess with the old boy network, would we? And won’t someone please think of the paychecks?”
Sifiso’s face darkened. “It’s easy, I think, for a young man with no family and no community to support to say these things. To live in fantasy, rather than confront reality.”
“No community? Look around, I got mine right here, and I’ll have no problem keeping them safe, no matter who tries to get in the way.”
“Gaz,” Sal called in a warning tone.
In the near distance, another, much less expensive, vehicle drove up and Gaz recognized the plate. He scowled at Sifiso. “If you don’t mind. I’ve got a client to attend to. And you’d just better pray they’ve already taken her child off the planet.”
He almost wanted to punch himself for such an unbelievably stupid comment, but enraged pride kept pushing him forward. Shoving his way past the chief, he left Sal, now hobbling onto the tarmac on crutches, to do damage control. Not that Gaz cared. If Sanchez really was looking to move on to Caldera, leaving a few burnt bridges behind was something he could live with.
Gaz took a deep breath and tried to decelerate. He opened the car door and slid into the front passenger seat. Behind the wheel, a middle-aged woman stared at him through eyes clouded by exhaustion. Her hair was a frayed mess, while reddened, irritated skin tinged her nose and eyes.
“How are you doing Ntsika?” he asked as gently as he could.
She ignored the question and nodded to the plane on the tarmac. “I heard about the rescue this morning. Is that them?”
“Yes.”
“They must be very happy.”
Her voice was both bitter and sympathetic. Gaz remembered when he had felt those same contradictory emotions. Now he only felt a predator’s hunger.
“They have happiness and pain. A lot of pain to heal from, but a lot of hope as well.”
Ntsika sniffed and nodded. “My cousin works for the attorney’s office. He told me you would be kicked off Intaba.”
“That’s true, unfortunately,” Gaz said. “But we have a lead pointing us to Caldera. We’ll be heading there as soon as possible.”
“I see.” She picked a tissue out of the door and played with it. The movements had obviously become an unconscious habit.
“It’s only a matter of time, now, Ntsika. Once we start to get leads, we always run them down. Wherever they took your daughter, we will find her.”
She smiled at him, and he knew immediately that it was an expression of pity for his naivety.
“I think,” she said, “that the worst thing about you people, is that you keep offering hope. It is more painful than moving on.”
Gaz said farewell and left the car. While he watched the vehicle drive off the tarmac, he took a portrait photo out of his pocket and looked into the eyes of young Milani Mayosi. She had been a basketball player, hoping to study architecture. A lot like his sister when they had taken her, though she had preferred swimming.
He had been deployed when it happened. The Marines had been about giving his life a greater meaning, serving the good of the League. But after ten years, he was forced to question what service they had rendered, holding back endless tribal conflicts while the Helvet governors only stewed the corrupt, incompetent mess. Meanwhile, the truly innocent, even his own family, were being preyed on by monsters.
Some nights the drink reminded him that the tearful reunions meant nothing. What he really wanted was the excuse to kill evil men. To leave their bodies behind to inflict fear in their masters. Perhaps some of them would have nightmares as they imagined him coming for them too.
Milani would be rescued; he had no doubts about that. Sanchez had been a brilliant intelligence officer, and Caldera was so far beyond the League’s authority they could operate almost with impunity. But his sister would never come home, wherever she was, dead or alive. He could only avenge her, and that he could do with extreme prejudice.
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Prequel (Chapters 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
2024.05.28 14:26 MountainSkald A Valkyrie's Saga - Part 108
Prequel (Parts 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
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“He’s making this turn.”
Gareth ‘Gaz’ Slake watched the unmarked white van veer off down a side street ahead. He checked his side mirror, tapped the indicator, and steered the vehicle over into the turning lane. The atmosphere inside the SUV remained calm as the other men checked their weapons. Further down the road, the team’s lead car accelerated to find another turning, so it could circle back into contact with their quarry.
The van came back into view as Gaz span the wheel.
“Street ends at a warehouse,” his earpiece buzzed. “This could be it.”
He slowed the vehicle to a stop by the side of the road, and couldn’t stop his eyes flickering down to the photos he had pinned to the dash. Five hopeful teenage faces stared back at him.
“He’s going in,” said the radio. “All call-signs; Yorktown.”
A clatter of metal disturbed the quiet of the SUV as rifle bolts racked bullets into their chambers. Gaz reached for his own weapon by his leg and pulled on the charging handle. In the near distance, the white van disappeared into the building.
“Alpha, block the garage entrance. Bravo take the west loading bay.”
Gaz placed his thumb on a switch concealed beneath his jacket. “Copy that.” He donned the helmet passed to him by his fellow former marine, Sal Matuidi, then readied his foot on the accelerator. “Alpha is set.”
“All call-signs, I have control.”
The tail had begun that morning in the slumbering streets of Intaba’s capital city. Working from documents leaked by an ally in law enforcement, the group had needed two weeks to build up a picture of the starport’s trafficking network. Then, one of VennZech’s key contractors had gotten lazy and hinted on an unsecured call that he was ready to make a ‘special’ pickup. The operation had been planned at lightning speed before Gaz and the other shooters were jumping into vehicles.
Driving just over the legal speed limit they had closed on the truck depot known to be connected to VennZech’s illegal operations. The caller had arrived after sunrise, been positively identified, and had steered his transport out into the light traffic, apparently without a care in the world.
Since the electronic intercept the night before, Gaz had shut out all his concerns about the world, his messy personal life, and the group’s questionable legal status on Intaba. He had taken pains to suppress all his doubts, fears, good memories and bad, to focus on the mission.
Now he didn’t have to. His whole existence congealed into the vehicle, the men by his side, the warehouse ahead, and the weapon at his leg. Beyond that there was nothing.
The earpiece buzzed again. “Standby, standby... Execute!”
Gaz sensed the others coil like snakes and he pushed the accelerator down to the floor. Ahead, a flimsy chain link gate closed the warehouse off from the street. The SUV smashed through, and the tires screeched as they brought it to a stop by the entrance.
He waited as the doors popped open and his passengers dismounted. They used the vehicle as cover while they scanned the yard for threats. A smatter of snaps in the near distance broke the silence—Bravo team making contact.
Sal turned back to Gaz, but as he raised his thumb a pair of craters erupted on the windshield. A silenced carbine whipped around and snapped off four shots. The silence returned, and Cyril raised his thumb again, this time accompanied by an apologetic smile. Gaz span the SUV around, returning to the smashed entrance gate where he positioned it to block the exit.
He grabbed his rifle, jumped out and raced to catch up with the team as they entered the warehouse.
Sal and the others were already inside, mounting a stairwell as Gaz caught up. They moved quickly but kept their muzzles trained on every opening, ready for a threat. When they stepped off the warehouse’s upper walkway into the offices, bullets exploded the wall around them. Sal gasped and sank to the floor.
Almost out of sight around the corner, a terrified security guard was pointing his pistol at them. Gaz stepped through the doorway and flicked his carbine across the target, not even aligning the weapon’s holo-sight as he snatched at the trigger. A round caught the guard in the hip and another punched through his chest. He collapsed in a heap and lay motionless.
Gaz reached down to check his friend as the two others pushed past them, moving quickly to the end of the corridor.
“Sal? Talk to me.”
“Got it in the leg, Gaz.”
His eyes were saucers as he watched Gaz feel around for the wound.
“Okay, yeah. It’s clean through the thigh. Not too much bleeding.”
Sal’s eyes closed and he sighed. “Keep going, I can bandage it.”
“You sure?”
“All good, brother. Go finish it.”
Gaz caught up with the others and they cleared the rest of the warehouse, killing anyone else who resisted and restraining those who surrendered. Once the call was made that the structure was clear, Gaz raced back to check up on Sal. He was a little dopey after the self-administered ketamine shot, but the bandage looked good, and he kept enough presence of mind to offer criticism.
“Won’t find anything around me!” he said with a grin. “Unless I’m sat on a bad guy.”
Then his expression turned to one of alarm, but he quickly calmed, and began chuckling to himself.
Gaz shook his head, and returned to the rest of the team to help search the structure. As usual, the obvious places—the bunk rooms, kitchen or offices—contained nothing of interest. Following his instinct, Gaz made for the basement. A janitor’s office caught his eye, and as he pushed open the door into the dark, musky room, his earpiece buzzed again.
“Police call has been made,” a female voice said. “Reports of a disturbance. A patrol car has been dispatched, but he isn’t hurrying.”
“Copy that, Rook. Do you have a location?” the voice of their controller replied.
“Passing sixth street. ETA ten minutes.”
“Bravo one, take your vehicle around to the main entrance. All elements, that is your extraction point.”
“Alpha one copies,” Gaz said and flicked a light switch on the wall. He scanned the office, noting the clutter of a lazy occupant, while his teammate’s acknowledgements buzzed in his ear.
A closet door rested in the far corner, and Gaz moved over to it. The handle stuck, but the keys hung from a nail by the desk, and he tried each of them until the lock clicked open.
He reached for his flashlight, and caught his breath as the beam played over pale white, then dark brown skin. Two faces—a boy’s and a girl’s—met his gaze with fear as they huddled against the wall, their arms cuffed to a pipe.
Gaz recognized them from the photographs, but their cheeks had hollowed, and their eye sockets looked grey. The bright t-shirts were now dark with filth and a few blood stains. Their eyes seemed devoid of light.
Gaz thumbed his radio switch and spoke softly. “This is Alpha one—Jackpot. Basement, North-East corner—janitor’s office.”
Without approaching the pair, he knelt down on the ground and smiled.
“Geroff, Esther?” he said. “I’m really happy I found you. Your parents sent me to take you home. Geroff, your mom says that Zipper had puppies and really misses you. Esther, your brother John’s been watering your desert cacti for you.”
The eyes blinked, but their owners didn’t move. They flinched when a woman entered the office, banging the desk as she rushed in.
“Awesome, Gaz,” she said, a little out of breath. “Don’t worry, I got this.”
Gaz got up and moved away as his teammate Rita—child psychologist, and combat medic— dropped to her knees in his place. She moved slowly, gently pushing closer to them while she explained in a soothing voice, what was going to happen, and where they were going to be taken before they could see their parents again. When she finally touched their shoulders, the sobbing began.
Gaz turned away and thumbed his mic. “We’re going to need the boltcutter.”
***
“Two weeks until I can walk again,” Sal said as he sat in the car at the edge of the starport’s loading area. The door was open and they were facing the landing pad where a shuttle had just touched down.
“It’s cool mate,” Gaz said, leaning on the roof of the vehicle. “You’re little enough that I can carry you around on my shoulders.”
“That’s great, thanks bro. Actually, I need to take a shit, so if you would oblige...”
Gaz smiled and shook his head.
On the landing pad, the shuttle’s passenger door opened and a wide-eyed woman stepped out followed by a blank-faced man. The SUV popped its doors and Esther stepped out onto the tarmac. Her mother sank to her knees as her father raced over to embrace her.
Gaz liked to watch the reunions. When he saw the joy of a life restored, his own anger softened. He liked to think that each rescue chipped away a piece of his cold hatred for whatever god or universal force had decided he would never get to experience the same thing.
He sighed. “Good feeling,” he said, and tried to find a way to mean it.
Sal nodded, but didn’t smile. “Two. Out of ten thousand a year.”
“Don’t fixate on the numbers, mate. You’ll lose yourself doing that.”
“And four dead bodies.”
Gaz sniffed. “Does that bother you?”
Sal shrugged. “Not that they died. They knew what was going on in that basement. But bodies mean trouble.”
“Nothing the boss can’t handle.”
“This is going to catch up with us eventually.”
“Sure.” Gaz slapped the car roof. “But it’s been worth it. You know, when we got out of the Marine Corps I was struggling to find a direction. Now I wake up every morning knowing what I have to do.”
Sal gave him a skeptical look. “I wouldn’t exactly call this moving on.”
“Well. One step at a time, I guess.”
“Earlier you mentioned something about the truck?”
“Oh yeah. The driver was a less than diligent employee of the shipping company, and had his travel plans on his phone. Turns out he had booked himself onto one of VennZech’s freighters, bound for Caldera.”
Sal looked up at him surprise. “Are you serious? That’s huge.”
Gaz could only offer a disappointed shake of his head. “Afraid not. Turns out the ship jumped out a few hours before our man’s call was intercepted. No-one in the head-shed has any idea why, and gossip says that it dropped completely off the cluster’s traffic control logs.”
Sal scratched his stubbly jaw thoughtfully. “Probably someone tipped off the corpos and they wanted to destroy the evidence. Though it doesn’t make sense to me that they would forget to call off the pickup.”
“Who knows? Either way, Caldera is our only lead to find the others.”
“Yeah, I guess. What’s the turnaround time?”
“Couple of weeks,” Gaz said. “Caldera might be the wild west, but Rackeye is territory of the Helvetic League. You know how their die-hard believers set themselves up as missionaries on every new planet?”
Sal chuckled. “Yeah, hence why the colonists gave the first settlement that name.”
“What do you mean?”
“French for scum.”
Gaz laughed. “Seriously?”
“I think so, though I’m not fluent.”
“Anyway, it will take the boss time to build covers and make connections. Long enough for you to heal. Unfortunately, we got a call from a new client this morning; three more faces to add to the list.”
Sal rubbed his eyes and stared into the distance. “Stellar.”
They looked around as the whine of a car engine pierced the air. A blacked-out limousine raced up the taxiway and screeched to a halt right next to them. Out of the car stepped Dumi Sifiso, Intaba’s deputy chief of police.
“Where he is?” Sifiso snapped. “Your boss? Take me to him immediately.”
Gaz maneuvered himself to block the irate man as another officer joined them. He kept his smile friendly, but his hands raised, palms out.
“Easy there, fella. Sanchez is talking with a family right now. Why don’t you give them a moment?”
Sifiso glanced over at the shuttle, but relented. “I want you—all of your people—off Intaba as soon as possible.”
“What’s going on?”
“I just received a visit from a VennZech representative. He wanted to know why I haven’t put a stop to some of the… attacks on their buildings. When I gave him the usual line about gang violence, he rejected it.”
Gaz’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Another four dead workers? It looks like a lot more than coincidence. He was angry. Said that there were accusations of corruption being levelled at my office.”
“You’ve weathered that before.”
“He threatened my family!”
Gaz clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. “Well maybe we can go and visit his.”
Sifiso spat on the ground. “Frontier Marines. You’re a gang, and that’s all you are. A bunch of washed-up has-beens clinging on to some forgotten dogma. And now you’ve made too many enemies.”
“You’re panicking. I’m sure Sanchez will figure something out.”
Sifiso smiled. “He won’t need to. Because you’ll be gone, or I’ll have you arrested and charged with murder.”
Gaz stepped to one side. “You see over there. The fourteen-year-old? See her parent’s faces?”
“Fourteen? That’s a nice number. Here’s another for you. Ten thousand. Ten thousand people, adults, and children are trafficked through this starport every year. Then there are the drugs, the smugglers, and everything else that goes on behind the scenes. And what do you think the galaxy wide total is?”
Gaz let his bitterness stew in silence.
“It’s too much,” Sifiso said, and his voice softened. “The payoffs aren’t working anymore. I…” he stopped. “I don’t regret helping your cause, but it’s over.”
“Oh sure,” Gaz raised said, raising his voice. “You look out for number one, mate. Keep it within the comfort zone. Wouldn’t want to mess with the old boy network, would we? And won’t someone please think of the paychecks?”
Sifiso’s face darkened. “It’s easy, I think, for a young man with no family and no community to support to say these things. To live in fantasy, rather than confront reality.”
“No community? Look around, I got mine right here, and I’ll have no problem keeping them safe, no matter who tries to get in the way.”
“Gaz,” Sal called in a warning tone.
In the near distance, another, much less expensive, vehicle drove up and Gaz recognized the plate. He scowled at Sifiso. “If you don’t mind. I’ve got a client to attend to. And you’d just better pray they’ve already taken her child off the planet.”
He almost wanted to punch himself for such an unbelievably stupid comment, but enraged pride kept pushing him forward. Shoving his way past the chief, he left Sal, now hobbling onto the tarmac on crutches, to do damage control. Not that Gaz cared. If Sanchez really was looking to move on to Caldera, leaving a few burnt bridges behind was something he could live with.
Gaz took a deep breath and tried to decelerate. He opened the car door and slid into the front passenger seat. Behind the wheel, a middle-aged woman stared at him through eyes clouded by exhaustion. Her hair was a frayed mess, while reddened, irritated skin tinged her nose and eyes.
“How are you doing Ntsika?” he asked as gently as he could.
She ignored the question and nodded to the plane on the tarmac. “I heard about the rescue this morning. Is that them?”
“Yes.”
“They must be very happy.”
Her voice was both bitter and sympathetic. Gaz remembered when he had felt those same contradictory emotions. Now he only felt a predator’s hunger.
“They have happiness and pain. A lot of pain to heal from, but a lot of hope as well.”
Ntsika sniffed and nodded. “My cousin works for the attorney’s office. He told me you would be kicked off Intaba.”
“That’s true, unfortunately,” Gaz said. “But we have a lead pointing us to Caldera. We’ll be heading there as soon as possible.”
“I see.” She picked a tissue out of the door and played with it. The movements had obviously become an unconscious habit.
“It’s only a matter of time, now, Ntsika. Once we start to get leads, we always run them down. Wherever they took your daughter, we will find her.”
She smiled at him, and he knew immediately that it was an expression of pity for his naivety.
“I think,” she said, “that the worst thing about you people, is that you keep offering hope. It is more painful than moving on.”
Gaz said farewell and left the car. While he watched the vehicle drive off the tarmac, he took a portrait photo out of his pocket and looked into the eyes of young Milani Mayosi. She had been a basketball player, hoping to study architecture. A lot like his sister when they had taken her, though she had preferred swimming.
He had been deployed when it happened. The Marines had been about giving his life a greater meaning, serving the good of the League. But after ten years, he was forced to question what service they had rendered, holding back endless tribal conflicts while the Helvet governors only stewed the corrupt, incompetent mess. Meanwhile, the truly innocent, even his own family, were being preyed on by monsters.
Some nights the drink reminded him that the tearful reunions meant nothing. What he really wanted was the excuse to kill evil men. To leave their bodies behind to inflict fear in their masters. Perhaps some of them would have nightmares as they imagined him coming for them too.
Milani would be rescued; he had no doubts about that. Sanchez had been a brilliant intelligence officer, and Caldera was so far beyond the League’s authority they could operate almost with impunity. But his sister would never come home, wherever she was, dead or alive. He could only avenge her, and that he could do with extreme prejudice.
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Prequel (Parts 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
submitted by MountainSkald to HFY [link] [comments]
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
First ¦ Previous ¦ Royal Road ¦ Patreon
“He’s making this turn.”
Gareth ‘Gaz’ Slake watched the unmarked white van veer off down a side street ahead. He checked his side mirror, tapped the indicator, and steered the vehicle over into the turning lane. The atmosphere inside the SUV remained calm as the other men checked their weapons. Further down the road, the team’s lead car accelerated to find another turning, so it could circle back into contact with their quarry.
The van came back into view as Gaz span the wheel.
“Street ends at a warehouse,” his earpiece buzzed. “This could be it.”
He slowed the vehicle to a stop by the side of the road, and couldn’t stop his eyes flickering down to the photos he had pinned to the dash. Five hopeful teenage faces stared back at him.
“He’s going in,” said the radio. “All call-signs; Yorktown.”
A clatter of metal disturbed the quiet of the SUV as rifle bolts racked bullets into their chambers. Gaz reached for his own weapon by his leg and pulled on the charging handle. In the near distance, the white van disappeared into the building.
“Alpha, block the garage entrance. Bravo take the west loading bay.”
Gaz placed his thumb on a switch concealed beneath his jacket. “Copy that.” He donned the helmet passed to him by his fellow former marine, Sal Matuidi, then readied his foot on the accelerator. “Alpha is set.”
“All call-signs, I have control.”
The tail had begun that morning in the slumbering streets of Intaba’s capital city. Working from documents leaked by an ally in law enforcement, the group had needed two weeks to build up a picture of the starport’s trafficking network. Then, one of VennZech’s key contractors had gotten lazy and hinted on an unsecured call that he was ready to make a ‘special’ pickup. The operation had been planned at lightning speed before Gaz and the other shooters were jumping into vehicles.
Driving just over the legal speed limit they had closed on the truck depot known to be connected to VennZech’s illegal operations. The caller had arrived after sunrise, been positively identified, and had steered his transport out into the light traffic, apparently without a care in the world.
Since the electronic intercept the night before, Gaz had shut out all his concerns about the world, his messy personal life, and the group’s questionable legal status on Intaba. He had taken pains to suppress all his doubts, fears, good memories and bad, to focus on the mission.
Now he didn’t have to. His whole existence congealed into the vehicle, the men by his side, the warehouse ahead, and the weapon at his leg. Beyond that there was nothing.
The earpiece buzzed again. “Standby, standby... Execute!”
Gaz sensed the others coil like snakes and he pushed the accelerator down to the floor. Ahead, a flimsy chain link gate closed the warehouse off from the street. The SUV smashed through, and the tires screeched as they brought it to a stop by the entrance.
He waited as the doors popped open and his passengers dismounted. They used the vehicle as cover while they scanned the yard for threats. A smatter of snaps in the near distance broke the silence—Bravo team making contact.
Sal turned back to Gaz, but as he raised his thumb a pair of craters erupted on the windshield. A silenced carbine whipped around and snapped off four shots. The silence returned, and Cyril raised his thumb again, this time accompanied by an apologetic smile. Gaz span the SUV around, returning to the smashed entrance gate where he positioned it to block the exit.
He grabbed his rifle, jumped out and raced to catch up with the team as they entered the warehouse.
Sal and the others were already inside, mounting a stairwell as Gaz caught up. They moved quickly but kept their muzzles trained on every opening, ready for a threat. When they stepped off the warehouse’s upper walkway into the offices, bullets exploded the wall around them. Sal gasped and sank to the floor.
Almost out of sight around the corner, a terrified security guard was pointing his pistol at them. Gaz stepped through the doorway and flicked his carbine across the target, not even aligning the weapon’s holo-sight as he snatched at the trigger. A round caught the guard in the hip and another punched through his chest. He collapsed in a heap and lay motionless.
Gaz reached down to check his friend as the two others pushed past them, moving quickly to the end of the corridor.
“Sal? Talk to me.”
“Got it in the leg, Gaz.”
His eyes were saucers as he watched Gaz feel around for the wound.
“Okay, yeah. It’s clean through the thigh. Not too much bleeding.”
Sal’s eyes closed and he sighed. “Keep going, I can bandage it.”
“You sure?”
“All good, brother. Go finish it.”
Gaz caught up with the others and they cleared the rest of the warehouse, killing anyone else who resisted and restraining those who surrendered. Once the call was made that the structure was clear, Gaz raced back to check up on Sal. He was a little dopey after the self-administered ketamine shot, but the bandage looked good, and he kept enough presence of mind to offer criticism.
“Won’t find anything around me!” he said with a grin. “Unless I’m sat on a bad guy.”
Then his expression turned to one of alarm, but he quickly calmed, and began chuckling to himself.
Gaz shook his head, and returned to the rest of the team to help search the structure. As usual, the obvious places—the bunk rooms, kitchen or offices—contained nothing of interest. Following his instinct, Gaz made for the basement. A janitor’s office caught his eye, and as he pushed open the door into the dark, musky room, his earpiece buzzed again.
“Police call has been made,” a female voice said. “Reports of a disturbance. A patrol car has been dispatched, but he isn’t hurrying.”
“Copy that, Rook. Do you have a location?” the voice of their controller replied.
“Passing sixth street. ETA ten minutes.”
“Bravo one, take your vehicle around to the main entrance. All elements, that is your extraction point.”
“Alpha one copies,” Gaz said and flicked a light switch on the wall. He scanned the office, noting the clutter of a lazy occupant, while his teammate’s acknowledgements buzzed in his ear.
A closet door rested in the far corner, and Gaz moved over to it. The handle stuck, but the keys hung from a nail by the desk, and he tried each of them until the lock clicked open.
He reached for his flashlight, and caught his breath as the beam played over pale white, then dark brown skin. Two faces—a boy’s and a girl’s—met his gaze with fear as they huddled against the wall, their arms cuffed to a pipe.
Gaz recognized them from the photographs, but their cheeks had hollowed, and their eye sockets looked grey. The bright t-shirts were now dark with filth and a few blood stains. Their eyes seemed devoid of light.
Gaz thumbed his radio switch and spoke softly. “This is Alpha one—Jackpot. Basement, North-East corner—janitor’s office.”
Without approaching the pair, he knelt down on the ground and smiled.
“Geroff, Esther?” he said. “I’m really happy I found you. Your parents sent me to take you home. Geroff, your mom says that Zipper had puppies and really misses you. Esther, your brother John’s been watering your desert cacti for you.”
The eyes blinked, but their owners didn’t move. They flinched when a woman entered the office, banging the desk as she rushed in.
“Awesome, Gaz,” she said, a little out of breath. “Don’t worry, I got this.”
Gaz got up and moved away as his teammate Rita—child psychologist, and combat medic— dropped to her knees in his place. She moved slowly, gently pushing closer to them while she explained in a soothing voice, what was going to happen, and where they were going to be taken before they could see their parents again. When she finally touched their shoulders, the sobbing began.
Gaz turned away and thumbed his mic. “We’re going to need the boltcutter.”
***
“Two weeks until I can walk again,” Sal said as he sat in the car at the edge of the starport’s loading area. The door was open and they were facing the landing pad where a shuttle had just touched down.
“It’s cool mate,” Gaz said, leaning on the roof of the vehicle. “You’re little enough that I can carry you around on my shoulders.”
“That’s great, thanks bro. Actually, I need to take a shit, so if you would oblige...”
Gaz smiled and shook his head.
On the landing pad, the shuttle’s passenger door opened and a wide-eyed woman stepped out followed by a blank-faced man. The SUV popped its doors and Esther stepped out onto the tarmac. Her mother sank to her knees as her father raced over to embrace her.
Gaz liked to watch the reunions. When he saw the joy of a life restored, his own anger softened. He liked to think that each rescue chipped away a piece of his cold hatred for whatever god or universal force had decided he would never get to experience the same thing.
He sighed. “Good feeling,” he said, and tried to find a way to mean it.
Sal nodded, but didn’t smile. “Two. Out of ten thousand a year.”
“Don’t fixate on the numbers, mate. You’ll lose yourself doing that.”
“And four dead bodies.”
Gaz sniffed. “Does that bother you?”
Sal shrugged. “Not that they died. They knew what was going on in that basement. But bodies mean trouble.”
“Nothing the boss can’t handle.”
“This is going to catch up with us eventually.”
“Sure.” Gaz slapped the car roof. “But it’s been worth it. You know, when we got out of the Marine Corps I was struggling to find a direction. Now I wake up every morning knowing what I have to do.”
Sal gave him a skeptical look. “I wouldn’t exactly call this moving on.”
“Well. One step at a time, I guess.”
“Earlier you mentioned something about the truck?”
“Oh yeah. The driver was a less than diligent employee of the shipping company, and had his travel plans on his phone. Turns out he had booked himself onto one of VennZech’s freighters, bound for Caldera.”
Sal looked up at him surprise. “Are you serious? That’s huge.”
Gaz could only offer a disappointed shake of his head. “Afraid not. Turns out the ship jumped out a few hours before our man’s call was intercepted. No-one in the head-shed has any idea why, and gossip says that it dropped completely off the cluster’s traffic control logs.”
Sal scratched his stubbly jaw thoughtfully. “Probably someone tipped off the corpos and they wanted to destroy the evidence. Though it doesn’t make sense to me that they would forget to call off the pickup.”
“Who knows? Either way, Caldera is our only lead to find the others.”
“Yeah, I guess. What’s the turnaround time?”
“Couple of weeks,” Gaz said. “Caldera might be the wild west, but Rackeye is territory of the Helvetic League. You know how their die-hard believers set themselves up as missionaries on every new planet?”
Sal chuckled. “Yeah, hence why the colonists gave the first settlement that name.”
“What do you mean?”
“French for scum.”
Gaz laughed. “Seriously?”
“I think so, though I’m not fluent.”
“Anyway, it will take the boss time to build covers and make connections. Long enough for you to heal. Unfortunately, we got a call from a new client this morning; three more faces to add to the list.”
Sal rubbed his eyes and stared into the distance. “Stellar.”
They looked around as the whine of a car engine pierced the air. A blacked-out limousine raced up the taxiway and screeched to a halt right next to them. Out of the car stepped Dumi Sifiso, Intaba’s deputy chief of police.
“Where he is?” Sifiso snapped. “Your boss? Take me to him immediately.”
Gaz maneuvered himself to block the irate man as another officer joined them. He kept his smile friendly, but his hands raised, palms out.
“Easy there, fella. Sanchez is talking with a family right now. Why don’t you give them a moment?”
Sifiso glanced over at the shuttle, but relented. “I want you—all of your people—off Intaba as soon as possible.”
“What’s going on?”
“I just received a visit from a VennZech representative. He wanted to know why I haven’t put a stop to some of the… attacks on their buildings. When I gave him the usual line about gang violence, he rejected it.”
Gaz’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Another four dead workers? It looks like a lot more than coincidence. He was angry. Said that there were accusations of corruption being levelled at my office.”
“You’ve weathered that before.”
“He threatened my family!”
Gaz clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. “Well maybe we can go and visit his.”
Sifiso spat on the ground. “Frontier Marines. You’re a gang, and that’s all you are. A bunch of washed-up has-beens clinging on to some forgotten dogma. And now you’ve made too many enemies.”
“You’re panicking. I’m sure Sanchez will figure something out.”
Sifiso smiled. “He won’t need to. Because you’ll be gone, or I’ll have you arrested and charged with murder.”
Gaz stepped to one side. “You see over there. The fourteen-year-old? See her parent’s faces?”
“Fourteen? That’s a nice number. Here’s another for you. Ten thousand. Ten thousand people, adults, and children are trafficked through this starport every year. Then there are the drugs, the smugglers, and everything else that goes on behind the scenes. And what do you think the galaxy wide total is?”
Gaz let his bitterness stew in silence.
“It’s too much,” Sifiso said, and his voice softened. “The payoffs aren’t working anymore. I…” he stopped. “I don’t regret helping your cause, but it’s over.”
“Oh sure,” Gaz raised said, raising his voice. “You look out for number one, mate. Keep it within the comfort zone. Wouldn’t want to mess with the old boy network, would we? And won’t someone please think of the paychecks?”
Sifiso’s face darkened. “It’s easy, I think, for a young man with no family and no community to support to say these things. To live in fantasy, rather than confront reality.”
“No community? Look around, I got mine right here, and I’ll have no problem keeping them safe, no matter who tries to get in the way.”
“Gaz,” Sal called in a warning tone.
In the near distance, another, much less expensive, vehicle drove up and Gaz recognized the plate. He scowled at Sifiso. “If you don’t mind. I’ve got a client to attend to. And you’d just better pray they’ve already taken her child off the planet.”
He almost wanted to punch himself for such an unbelievably stupid comment, but enraged pride kept pushing him forward. Shoving his way past the chief, he left Sal, now hobbling onto the tarmac on crutches, to do damage control. Not that Gaz cared. If Sanchez really was looking to move on to Caldera, leaving a few burnt bridges behind was something he could live with.
Gaz took a deep breath and tried to decelerate. He opened the car door and slid into the front passenger seat. Behind the wheel, a middle-aged woman stared at him through eyes clouded by exhaustion. Her hair was a frayed mess, while reddened, irritated skin tinged her nose and eyes.
“How are you doing Ntsika?” he asked as gently as he could.
She ignored the question and nodded to the plane on the tarmac. “I heard about the rescue this morning. Is that them?”
“Yes.”
“They must be very happy.”
Her voice was both bitter and sympathetic. Gaz remembered when he had felt those same contradictory emotions. Now he only felt a predator’s hunger.
“They have happiness and pain. A lot of pain to heal from, but a lot of hope as well.”
Ntsika sniffed and nodded. “My cousin works for the attorney’s office. He told me you would be kicked off Intaba.”
“That’s true, unfortunately,” Gaz said. “But we have a lead pointing us to Caldera. We’ll be heading there as soon as possible.”
“I see.” She picked a tissue out of the door and played with it. The movements had obviously become an unconscious habit.
“It’s only a matter of time, now, Ntsika. Once we start to get leads, we always run them down. Wherever they took your daughter, we will find her.”
She smiled at him, and he knew immediately that it was an expression of pity for his naivety.
“I think,” she said, “that the worst thing about you people, is that you keep offering hope. It is more painful than moving on.”
Gaz said farewell and left the car. While he watched the vehicle drive off the tarmac, he took a portrait photo out of his pocket and looked into the eyes of young Milani Mayosi. She had been a basketball player, hoping to study architecture. A lot like his sister when they had taken her, though she had preferred swimming.
He had been deployed when it happened. The Marines had been about giving his life a greater meaning, serving the good of the League. But after ten years, he was forced to question what service they had rendered, holding back endless tribal conflicts while the Helvet governors only stewed the corrupt, incompetent mess. Meanwhile, the truly innocent, even his own family, were being preyed on by monsters.
Some nights the drink reminded him that the tearful reunions meant nothing. What he really wanted was the excuse to kill evil men. To leave their bodies behind to inflict fear in their masters. Perhaps some of them would have nightmares as they imagined him coming for them too.
Milani would be rescued; he had no doubts about that. Sanchez had been a brilliant intelligence officer, and Caldera was so far beyond the League’s authority they could operate almost with impunity. But his sister would never come home, wherever she was, dead or alive. He could only avenge her, and that he could do with extreme prejudice.
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Prequel (Parts 1 to 16)
1. Rise of a Valkyrie
2024.05.28 14:21 dudu2683 Wireless zone headset microphone disconnected
Hey Everyone,
I recently got a new Logitech Wireless Zone headset for my workplace, but I've been encountering an issue. Whenever I leave my laptop for a while and then try to make a call on Teams, the microphone stops working. I've tried various troubleshooting steps like disconnecting and reconnecting the headset, disabling and enabling Bluetooth, but the microphone only starts working again after I restart my laptop.
It's worth noting that despite the microphone issue, the headset remains connected to the laptop, and I can still hear people on Teams calls. Interestingly, my colleagues at work are facing the same problem. Our IT team suggested using the dongle, but I'm hoping to find a solution that doesn't require it.
I'm running Windows 11 with the latest Bluetooth and Logitech drivers, and I also use the Logi Tune app. Any suggestions on how to resolve this issue would be greatly appreciated!
Best regards,
submitted by dudu2683 to logitech [link] [comments]
I recently got a new Logitech Wireless Zone headset for my workplace, but I've been encountering an issue. Whenever I leave my laptop for a while and then try to make a call on Teams, the microphone stops working. I've tried various troubleshooting steps like disconnecting and reconnecting the headset, disabling and enabling Bluetooth, but the microphone only starts working again after I restart my laptop.
It's worth noting that despite the microphone issue, the headset remains connected to the laptop, and I can still hear people on Teams calls. Interestingly, my colleagues at work are facing the same problem. Our IT team suggested using the dongle, but I'm hoping to find a solution that doesn't require it.
I'm running Windows 11 with the latest Bluetooth and Logitech drivers, and I also use the Logi Tune app. Any suggestions on how to resolve this issue would be greatly appreciated!
Best regards,
2024.05.28 14:04 crosscycle 400k points and not sure what to do
I know this is a first world problem, but please hear me out. I am probably a very unsavvy QFF points collector. I never churned cards aggressively so it’s taken a few years to collect these points. A small hope of mine was to fly business to Europe, before I learnt that the current model of rewards redemption is so difficult 😅. I have colleagues who are super good at points hacks and have never flown less than business for several years in points, but I’m feeling a bit despondent because I’m struggling to redeem even just once . My main issue is my desire to Europe is to go for a dream cycling trip, which limits my flexibility due to the dates events are on, which I’ve learnt is a major factor in being able to redeem points- I also have no status because I never fly Qantas normally, so most of it is my fault.
Now my mother wants to go to Korea for a holiday and she’s quite elderly- 75ish. I thought maybe I would redeem Europe for a trip with her (more flexible with dates), but she’s more bent on Korea which is much easier to find business redemption . And business class is nice for an old lady. The only Thing is I’m not sure when I’ll ever get to accumulate or how long it’ll take to get points to redeem business for Europe, which is the more worthwhile trip from Australia. I would feel a bit sad I never got to fly business in Europe😅just once.
Long story short, is it a waste to use my points for guaranteed two business tickets to Korea with my Mom, or I should still hold out for business class Europe despite the way Qantas is going ?
Thanks for reading. Note: I’ll endeavour to churn and earn points from now.
submitted by crosscycle to QantasFrequentFlyer [link] [comments]
Now my mother wants to go to Korea for a holiday and she’s quite elderly- 75ish. I thought maybe I would redeem Europe for a trip with her (more flexible with dates), but she’s more bent on Korea which is much easier to find business redemption . And business class is nice for an old lady. The only Thing is I’m not sure when I’ll ever get to accumulate or how long it’ll take to get points to redeem business for Europe, which is the more worthwhile trip from Australia. I would feel a bit sad I never got to fly business in Europe😅just once.
Long story short, is it a waste to use my points for guaranteed two business tickets to Korea with my Mom, or I should still hold out for business class Europe despite the way Qantas is going ?
Thanks for reading. Note: I’ll endeavour to churn and earn points from now.
2024.05.28 13:27 ReverieXII I think my deceased cat contacted me multiple times on the course of three years and different methods.
My cat lived with me for around 14 years. I put him down in 2019 as he was 16 years old and suffered from kidney failure.
I was emotionally devastated to say the least. I cried so much I got so exhausted and took a nap. I dreamed of him comforting me. Now as nice as it was, I knew this was nothing but a dream of a grieving person. But the weirdness started afterwards.
For the next 3 years, I kept having this experience. Whenever I was preparing to sleep, I got startled by some object (approximately 4 to 6 pounds of weight) suddenly landing on my pillow, right next to my head. At first, I thought my brain was playing tricks on me because I would turn on the lights or the flash on my phone and check but there was nothing and no way something from the ceiling would fall because there was nothing around and within the vicinity of my bed for this to happen, but it kept happening almost daily. Some days, I'd be annoyed because I would have work the next day and getting startled is a sure good way to make it much more difficult to sleep. I'm prone to insomnia.
This incident, more often than not, kept happening before my brain even began to drift off. I was still wide awake as I had closed my eyes seconds ago, which left no place for me to say it's hallucinations of a sleeping brain and move on. But I got so used to it that I'd just sigh and move on. I was no longer curious; I was just indifferent at this point.
One day, I had sleep paralysis in one of my afternoon naps. I knew it was sleep paralysis because, while I felt actually awake, I saw my chair vibrating and so I kept saying to myself that I'm gonna be fine and there's no need to panic (I never had one before but I read a lot about it). Then I felt an object on my feet, I looked at it and it was my deceased cat. He came forward towards my chest and sat for a while, then he decided to sit next to me (on my right side) to groom himself and relax. I could feel him, smell him and hear him. It's as if he was real. Unlike the norms of sleep paralysis, this was surprisingly pleasant!
Fast forward to 2022, I fell into the depths of depression due to familial issues. I have always had depression but it was mild and I was coping well, but sometimes circumstances push me beyond my limits. I was bedridden, unable to even brush my teeth or do any simple tasks. During this time, I had the same type of sleep and the same type of dream that I had the day my cat was put down. Except this time, as he was trying to comfort me, I told him "what are you still doing here? Your spirit is free, go cross the rainbow bridge." He went and turned his head to look at me one last time, it was our farewell before he left.
One or two days later, I had the same pillow incident one last time then it stopped ever since. Mind you, it did feel like a cat jumping on my pillow by the weight and impact of it. But at first, I never made that correlation. I had always thought "if it's a ghost or whatever, I don't want it to annoy me, that's it!"
I am a very rational person, so I tried to rationalize this whole thing but it was easier for me to just dismiss it once I failed to do so. I told my parents about it and they told me that my brother was also telling them about having similar experiences and sensations whenever he prepared to sleep, I confirmed it with him. The difference is, he felt it around his feet and legs (rarely next to his head). More interestingly, he had these experiences around the same timeframe as I did, and they stopped also around the same timeframe as they did for me. My dad would also mention that he'd see him in the corner of his eye, and heard his meow once.
Note: I live with my family, and while the cat was mine, everyone loved and cared for him; he was part of our family.
submitted by ReverieXII to Paranormal [link] [comments]
I was emotionally devastated to say the least. I cried so much I got so exhausted and took a nap. I dreamed of him comforting me. Now as nice as it was, I knew this was nothing but a dream of a grieving person. But the weirdness started afterwards.
For the next 3 years, I kept having this experience. Whenever I was preparing to sleep, I got startled by some object (approximately 4 to 6 pounds of weight) suddenly landing on my pillow, right next to my head. At first, I thought my brain was playing tricks on me because I would turn on the lights or the flash on my phone and check but there was nothing and no way something from the ceiling would fall because there was nothing around and within the vicinity of my bed for this to happen, but it kept happening almost daily. Some days, I'd be annoyed because I would have work the next day and getting startled is a sure good way to make it much more difficult to sleep. I'm prone to insomnia.
This incident, more often than not, kept happening before my brain even began to drift off. I was still wide awake as I had closed my eyes seconds ago, which left no place for me to say it's hallucinations of a sleeping brain and move on. But I got so used to it that I'd just sigh and move on. I was no longer curious; I was just indifferent at this point.
One day, I had sleep paralysis in one of my afternoon naps. I knew it was sleep paralysis because, while I felt actually awake, I saw my chair vibrating and so I kept saying to myself that I'm gonna be fine and there's no need to panic (I never had one before but I read a lot about it). Then I felt an object on my feet, I looked at it and it was my deceased cat. He came forward towards my chest and sat for a while, then he decided to sit next to me (on my right side) to groom himself and relax. I could feel him, smell him and hear him. It's as if he was real. Unlike the norms of sleep paralysis, this was surprisingly pleasant!
Fast forward to 2022, I fell into the depths of depression due to familial issues. I have always had depression but it was mild and I was coping well, but sometimes circumstances push me beyond my limits. I was bedridden, unable to even brush my teeth or do any simple tasks. During this time, I had the same type of sleep and the same type of dream that I had the day my cat was put down. Except this time, as he was trying to comfort me, I told him "what are you still doing here? Your spirit is free, go cross the rainbow bridge." He went and turned his head to look at me one last time, it was our farewell before he left.
One or two days later, I had the same pillow incident one last time then it stopped ever since. Mind you, it did feel like a cat jumping on my pillow by the weight and impact of it. But at first, I never made that correlation. I had always thought "if it's a ghost or whatever, I don't want it to annoy me, that's it!"
I am a very rational person, so I tried to rationalize this whole thing but it was easier for me to just dismiss it once I failed to do so. I told my parents about it and they told me that my brother was also telling them about having similar experiences and sensations whenever he prepared to sleep, I confirmed it with him. The difference is, he felt it around his feet and legs (rarely next to his head). More interestingly, he had these experiences around the same timeframe as I did, and they stopped also around the same timeframe as they did for me. My dad would also mention that he'd see him in the corner of his eye, and heard his meow once.
Note: I live with my family, and while the cat was mine, everyone loved and cared for him; he was part of our family.
2024.05.28 13:04 Tokyono [Reality TV] You gotta be kidney me. The story of The Great Donor Show. A tale of organ donation and deception.
Note: I used google translate to translate all the Dutch sources in this post. Apologies for any translation errors, but I have 0 talent for languages.
I was going to write about the controversies of The Great British Bake Off, but then I came across this mess. Enjoy!
Just a quick note: there are two different types of organ donation law; opt-in and opt-out. In 2007, the Netherlands had an opt-in system. It was seen as very inefficient as it did not meet the needs of patients and there was a long waiting list. Most countries in Europe have an “opt out” system vs the USA which has an “opt-in” one.
In 2007, BNN, a Dutch broadcaster known for its controversial programming, announced that they would be airing a show called “The Great Donor Show”. It was created by Endemol, a Dutch production company that had created a lot of popular reality tv shows, including Big Brother.
The premise of the show:
BNN claimed that they produced the show in honour of their founder, Bart de Graaf, who died after waiting seven years for a kidney donation. The show was screened on the fifth anniversary of his death. Proceeds from all the text messages would go to the Dutch Kidney Foundation.
BNN’s then chairman, Laurens Drillich, defended the show and explained why they were airing it:
BNN invited Ab Klink to come onto the show and discuss what the government had done to solve the crisis. But he turned them down. In a poll conducted before the show aired, it was found that 61% of the Dutch population disapproved of the show. Interestingly enough, younger people approved of it much more than older people (44% of under 25s said they would watch it vs 13% of over 65s).
The Dutch Kidney Foundation welcomed the attention that the show had brought to the organ donor issue in the Netherlands, but said that “"their way of doing it is not ours, and it will bring no practical solution". However, the negative attention the show received, made them reach out and ask BNN to stop using their logo in the title of the show. BNN had not asked them for permission and had gone ahead and used their 2007 logo to replace the “o” in the word “show”.
The show aired on the first of June 2007. At the beginning of the broadcast, the presenter, Patrick Lodiers, highlighted the dramatic criticism the show had received, and at the end, he announced that the whole thing was a hoax.
If the vote had been real, then Charlotte would’ve won with 38% of the vote:
The reveal had a mixed reception. Ronald Plasterk thought the show was a “fantastic stunt” and that it had inspired him to become an organ donor. He was very happy that it wasn’t real. The then Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, was also relieved. Ab Klink still though the show was “inappropriate”, but he did find it positive that it had drawn attention to the issue of organ donations. Joop Atsma refused to change his stance, he continued to find the show “tasteless” and a “missed opportunity” and that it didn’t really contribute to solving the issue.
Foreign journalists were also divided on the show, some thought it was useful stunt, others thought it was useless. As for the Dutch Transplant Foundation (not the Dutch Kidney Foundation), they said:
If you want to read more about how the show was made, and how the true aim of it was kept secret, then I suggest reading this lengthy piece on the Bnnvara website (it replaced BNN in 2014).
That same evening, 12,000 people signed up to be donors. By the end of the following week, around 50,000 had requested organ donation forms (this didn’t mean they had actually registered). At the time, the number of registrations for organ donation was about 3,000 to 4,000.html) people had actually registered and become organ donors.
In the months after the show, a group of Dutch politicians decided to get together and form the Coordination Group on Organ Donation. Joined by the Dutch Kidney Association, and many other medical and civil organisations, they presented a “Master Plan for Organ Donation” to Ab Klink. It would change the law in the Netherlands from “opt in” to “opt out”. Klink thought that changing the donor law in such a way was a step too far and rejected it. He did accept the rest of the proposal, which included measures such as “encouraging people to become organ donors, to ensure that next of kin would say yes more often, that donor coordinators were appointed in hospitals, and so on,”.
The law wouldn’t change until 2020:
In 2007, The Great Donor Show won the Dutch TV moment of the year for the scene when Patrick Lodiers revealed it was all a hoax. In 2008, it won an International Emmy for non-scripted entertainment.
As for what happened to “Lisa” and the contestants of the show, as of 2020:
submitted by Tokyono to HobbyDrama [link] [comments]
I was going to write about the controversies of The Great British Bake Off, but then I came across this mess. Enjoy!
Just a quick note: there are two different types of organ donation law; opt-in and opt-out. In 2007, the Netherlands had an opt-in system. It was seen as very inefficient as it did not meet the needs of patients and there was a long waiting list. Most countries in Europe have an “opt out” system vs the USA which has an “opt-in” one.
The Doctor is in: BNN. Bart de Graaf. And The Great Donor Show.
Reality tv is a diverse genre. There are reality shows about dating, marriage, survival, cake baking, carpentry, …and now, organ donation.In 2007, BNN, a Dutch broadcaster known for its controversial programming, announced that they would be airing a show called “The Great Donor Show”. It was created by Endemol, a Dutch production company that had created a lot of popular reality tv shows, including Big Brother.
The premise of the show:
It focuses on Lisa, a 37-year-old woman dying of a brain tumour. She must decide which of three patients selected by the producers, aged between 18 and 40, should receive her kidney. Viewers can offer their opinions by SMS text message.The three contestants were Vincent Moolenaar, Charlotte Trieschnigg, and Esther-Clair Sasabone.
In the Netherlands, organ transplants are subject to strict laws, which prohibit donors from choosing who will receive their organs after their death.
However, an exemption is made in the case of kidney transplants, which can be carried out while the donor is still alive, allowing the donor to choose the beneficiary if there is some link between the two people.
BNN claimed that they produced the show in honour of their founder, Bart de Graaf, who died after waiting seven years for a kidney donation. The show was screened on the fifth anniversary of his death. Proceeds from all the text messages would go to the Dutch Kidney Foundation.
Every-body calm down: The Backlash
The shows announcement was quickly met with both international and national outrage, from politicians, television critics, and medical professionals. Dutch embassies were flooded with complaints . Even the Dutch prime minister at the time, Jan Peter Balkenende, criticised the show, saying it would damage the reputation of the Netherlands. Some Dutch politicians even called for the program to be banned:CDA MP Joop Atsma wants to see if BNN’s Big Donor Show can be banned.Ronald Plasterk weighed in on the situation::
Atsma hopes that BNN will come to repentance. "The fence is with this program of the dam. A careful medical assessment is thus passed. What are people in the program judged? - On their color? - In their gender? To their sexual orientation?”
Atsma calls Minister Ab Klink (CDA) of Health and Minister of Culture Ronald Plasterk (PvdA) Tuesday to the Question Time in the Chamber. “I want to know if we can ban the program. There is a good chance that it will go against the law. I want to explain if there is a difference in selling an organ to the highest bidder.”
"The intention of the programme to get more attention for organ donation may be applaudable," said Dutch Education and Culture Minister Ronald Plasterk.In the end, the government announced that they wouldn’t ban the program, because there was no basis under the law for them to do so.
"However based on the information I now have, the programme appears to me to be inappropriate and unethical because it is a competition," said Plasterk, who is a molecular biologist and former chief of the Dutch Cancer Institute.
BNN’s then chairman, Laurens Drillich, defended the show and explained why they were airing it:
"The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33%,"…"This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list."He later added that in the five years since Bart De Graaf had died, the situation had gotten much, much, worse.
"We think that is disastrous, so we are acting in a shocking way to bring attention to this problem."
BNN invited Ab Klink to come onto the show and discuss what the government had done to solve the crisis. But he turned them down. In a poll conducted before the show aired, it was found that 61% of the Dutch population disapproved of the show. Interestingly enough, younger people approved of it much more than older people (44% of under 25s said they would watch it vs 13% of over 65s).
The Dutch Kidney Foundation welcomed the attention that the show had brought to the organ donor issue in the Netherlands, but said that “"their way of doing it is not ours, and it will bring no practical solution". However, the negative attention the show received, made them reach out and ask BNN to stop using their logo in the title of the show. BNN had not asked them for permission and had gone ahead and used their 2007 logo to replace the “o” in the word “show”.
The show aired on the first of June 2007. At the beginning of the broadcast, the presenter, Patrick Lodiers, highlighted the dramatic criticism the show had received, and at the end, he announced that the whole thing was a hoax.
If the vote had been real, then Charlotte would’ve won with 38% of the vote:
In the end, it was the most vulnerable of the three who made the biggest impression.(Note: it is very difficult to find surviving clips of the program. It is considered lost media. I was able to find this clip on YouTube, as well as the ones linked above, but that’s it.)
Twenty-nine-year-old Charlotte talked about the fact that she cannot even drink more than a pint of liquid per day, because that is all her body can handle.
Some 38% of those text messages were votes for Charlotte. However, just as "Lisa" started to announce who she was going to give her kidney to, the presenter intervened.
It takes some guts: Donation and deception.
It was revealed that Lisa was an actress, but that the three contestants were all real patients in need of a kidney donation. They knew what was going on and agreed to appear on the program to highlight the organ donation issue in the Netherlands.The reveal had a mixed reception. Ronald Plasterk thought the show was a “fantastic stunt” and that it had inspired him to become an organ donor. He was very happy that it wasn’t real. The then Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, was also relieved. Ab Klink still though the show was “inappropriate”, but he did find it positive that it had drawn attention to the issue of organ donations. Joop Atsma refused to change his stance, he continued to find the show “tasteless” and a “missed opportunity” and that it didn’t really contribute to solving the issue.
Foreign journalists were also divided on the show, some thought it was useful stunt, others thought it was useless. As for the Dutch Transplant Foundation (not the Dutch Kidney Foundation), they said:
The Dutch Transplant Foundation has sympathy for the staged Donorshow. “It reflects the desperation and need of patients well,” said a spokeswoman. At the same time, she warns that the show gives a wrong idea of reality.In a press statement issued after the show, Paul Römer, the director of Endemol, stated:
"In reality, when donating when living, a thorough screening takes place. Medically and psychologically.
For example, we are not looking at whether there is any pressure on the donor," the spokeswoman explains.
"Let there be no misunderstanding, I would never make a program such as 'The Great Donor Show' for real. I do understand the massive outrage very well. But I also hope for people to understand why we did this. It was necessary to get the shortage of donors back on the political agenda. I call up everybody to get very angry about that, and to fill in a donor form."In another news piece, he revealed that, after the show was announced, Endemol employees were bullied across Europe. A colleague in Germany was chased from his office, one in the UK was called a “Devil” in the press, and in Italy, potential clients informed the company that they did not want to work with them because of the program.
If you want to read more about how the show was made, and how the true aim of it was kept secret, then I suggest reading this lengthy piece on the Bnnvara website (it replaced BNN in 2014).
Let’s get organ-ized: The push to change Dutch law and the aftermath of The Great Donor Show.
The Great Donor Show was watched by 1.2 million people. At the time, the population of the Netherlands was about 16.4 million.That same evening, 12,000 people signed up to be donors. By the end of the following week, around 50,000 had requested organ donation forms (this didn’t mean they had actually registered). At the time, the number of registrations for organ donation was about 3,000 to 4,000.html) people had actually registered and become organ donors.
In the months after the show, a group of Dutch politicians decided to get together and form the Coordination Group on Organ Donation. Joined by the Dutch Kidney Association, and many other medical and civil organisations, they presented a “Master Plan for Organ Donation” to Ab Klink. It would change the law in the Netherlands from “opt in” to “opt out”. Klink thought that changing the donor law in such a way was a step too far and rejected it. He did accept the rest of the proposal, which included measures such as “encouraging people to become organ donors, to ensure that next of kin would say yes more often, that donor coordinators were appointed in hospitals, and so on,”.
The law wouldn’t change until 2020:
The amended Donor Act came into force on 1 July 2020. It stipulates that everyone aged 18 and over will be included in the Donor Register. The Donor Register records everyone’s choice regarding donation of organs and tissues after death.Pia Dijkstra, a Dutch MP who led the charge to change the law, said that: “The program (the Donorshow) has been very important in the drafting of the law. It has made the urgency of the problem. You should not underestimate that.”
In 2007, The Great Donor Show won the Dutch TV moment of the year for the scene when Patrick Lodiers revealed it was all a hoax. In 2008, it won an International Emmy for non-scripted entertainment.
As for what happened to “Lisa” and the contestants of the show, as of 2020:
Leonie Gebbink, who played Lisa, runs training and coaching firm ROER. She is happy that she can now be able to walk anonymously again. “I keep hearing: don’t I know you from somewhere? I don't usually call the Donorshow. I think that's a prodigy. As far as my career is concerned, participation has done me good. It is wonderful that makes publicity that people think in advance that you will also have quality, even though I work mainly as a communication trainer and coach and less as an actor.’Thanks for reading. Next I'll definitely be working on my Great British Bakeoff writuep, unless something distracts me again!
Vincent Moolenaar is also doing well. In the summer of 2016, he got a new kidney, after posting a call to it a year earlier on Facebook. Rehabilitation was successful, he told last March in the television program The Walk. Because he did his story there, Moolenaar did not want to cooperate in this article.
Charlotte Trieschnigg underwent a kidney transplant six months after the Donorshow, but that had nothing to do with the broadcast. ‘I had pulled Australia with a friend for a month with the backpack – a ‘Tour de Dialysis’ we called it, because I needed seven hospitals there for a kidney flush, that company still made it to De Telegraaf – and on the day after home I got a call for that kidney.’ After six months, however, things still went wrong. Now she wears a kidney she got in 2014, and it’s going well. Trieschnigg works with the mentally handicapped and also develops numerous activities related to her illness. “I started a website that informs what it is like to have kidney disease. Twice a year in the Radboud Hospital in Nijmegen I tell nurses in training about my own story. Last year I gave a lecture at the VU University in Amsterdam.’
Esther-Clair Sasabone also acts as an ambassador for the theme of kidney disease. With Moolenaar she founded Bureau Sterrenstof, an organization that she now leads alone and with which she supports chronically ill children. “I can go through that in length of years. We've made a children's book about Steven Sterman, a boy who gets kidney disease. At the end of last year a second book was published: Brothers and sisters. How is it for you? If your brother or sister is struggling with a chronic illness, you are also lacking attention.’ Sasabone calls the Donor show a personal turning point. “It was kind of coming out of the closet. Everyone knew about my illness.” One of her colleagues at the Muslim broadcaster offered his kidney the week after the broadcast. “I wouldn’t even accept such an offer from close family, let alone someone I barely know. It’s not just something: you have to get tested often, the donor’s blood must be very similar to that of the recipient.” Sasabone is now in her fourth kidney, which she received in 2010 through transplantation. She's good in her skin. “I just got back from a vacation to Japan. Both physically and emotionally, I feel better than ever.”
2024.05.28 12:44 SinSunrise Is It True that the Unowned Recollections Have No Owner? Inner Secrets of Fremont the Old Lich (Zwillingstürme im Herbst spoilers)
Author's Notes (if you think I'm too wordy, you can just skip it): This article was first written in November of last year after Zwillingstürme im Herbst released in mainland China, and it was first published on the NGA Gamers Forum. It's first version mainly contained an explanation of the fifth text in the "Remnant Records" part, Unowned Recollections, and an interpretation of Fremont's personality based on analysing his words and actions in this text as well as in other plot texts. It also talked about Herkunftshorn and the deep commonalities in thinking patterns between him and Fremont. In the following months, I read Zwillingstürme im Herbst again and again, and developed many new insights. With that, I decided to expand the article into a larger one, and the new version will have a reorganized structure. The new version will add a new section on the Twin Empresses, and a more in-depth analysis of the Witch King's ambitions. It's really a big project and I haven't finished it yet. Now Zwillingstürme im Herbst has released on Arknights' International, Japanese and Korean services. So I translated the first section of my article's new version into English to share it with English readers. It's the section talking about Fremont and Unowned Recollections, which is refined from the first version of my article. Thanks to my friend Khaliechei for her help with my translation. This English translation was first published on AO3.
Unowned Recollections is absolutely the best entry point for us to grasp the logic of Fremont's actions in Zwillingstürme im Herbst. This text generally told: "you" went into a memory that took place in a theater that had been destroyed before Vedunien was renamed Zwillingstürme. Leopold was watching an opera named Leopold here. On the stage, the story of the twins defeating the Witch King was being performed; off the stage, Fremont appeared behind Leopold and criticized the opera, and Leopold responded him. Then, the scenes that "you" saw were engulfed by the darkness in turn, and the memory without an owner came to an end.
We can notice that this opera named after Leopold tells an artistic version of the Twin Empresses' story of defeating the Witch King. However, it was staged before Vedunien's collapse and Zwillingstürme's birth. The entry point to explain this inconsistency of the timeline is the very title of the opera: Leopold. In fact, we can get a glimpse of the naming pattern for this type of show that tells the story of the twins defeating the Witch King in Ebenholz's memories: whether it's "Fall des Hexenturms" or "Triumph der Goldmond: Vorspiel zu Zwillingstürme" (ZT-9 After Operation) , these titles focused on the defeat of the Witch King or the ascension of the Twin Empresses, and speicifically emphasized on the authority of the Twin Empresses as the current rulers of Lethanien. As for Leopold, we can infer his role in the death of the Witch King from Fremont's criticism of the performance, "this vulgar drama of yours." He was direct creator of the twins, the mastermind behind the coup, and a representation of the Kurfürsten who sought to overthrow the Witch King. However, according to Terra: A Journey, Leopold, the "tricky tactician," who was also a masterful conspirator and a confident chess player, died of old age before the September Revolution and failed to witness the death of the Witch King and the seccess of the twins. Fremont once said to Grimmmacht, "He (Leopold) wanted to see the fall of Herkunftshorn, but forgot to take his own age into account" (ZT-2 After Operation), which also corroborated this point.
Considering the needs of the Empresses to demonstrate their authority as the new ruler, as well as the role of Leopold as the wirepuller in the coup, an opera of the Witch King defeated by the Twin Empresses could never have been titled "Leopold." Thus, it could only have been an opera that did not really exist. And Leopold's watching of the opera Leopold didn't actually happen. In this way, all the details about the opera could be explained.
Leopold off the stage watching Leopold on the stage was a metaphor for the reality of Leopold secretly dominating the birth of the Twin Empresses and the fall of the Witch King's Spire. He was the writer and director of the play, a central actor without being on the stage, as well as the real shadow hanging over it. And, at the same time, he in particular wanted to be the audience appreciating it - but unfortunately, he died of old age before his play was actually staged in reality. That was why the theater in the "recollections" had already been destroyed before the Twin Spires were established. Since the opera had never existed in reality, the naming of the "opera" had not been influenced by any realily factors. Naming it "Leopold" indicated that in the perception of the namer, it was Leopold who directed the play of "The Death of the Witch King" in reality. And "it's been performed countless times" can be interpreted in the following three directions: firstly, the coup plot of the September Revolution had been rehearsed countless times in the sandbox; secondly, the past of the death of the Witch King which the opera represented had been memorized countless times; what's more, throughout the long history of Terra, conspirators not too fundamentally different from Leopold had already repeatedly staged conspiracies not too fundamentally different from this drama, with a tiresome familiarity.
Since Leopold's watching of the opera Leopold was not a real event from the past, the "recollections" were surely not real recollections either. They were fictitious memories, combinations of abstract metaphors, which we can deconstruct and analyze through imageries. Lights dimming and darkness engulfing the theater represented the end of the Witch King era and the beginning of the Twin Empresses era. Leopold's first to disappear corresponded to his dying of old age in reality. Then the disappearance of his play, which was entitled Leopold and manipulated by him, corresponded to the conclusion of the September Revolution. Following that, the disappearance of the two girls represents the disappearance of Lizelotte and Hildegarde, who were simply "girls," without their crowns and titles; and Empress Ewiggnade and Grimmmacht were figures who replaced them. And the face of the black-haired girl was the last to disappear meant that, Grimmmacht was the one who holds a deeper attachment to the innocent love between the twins, as the innocent girl named Hildegarde was still alive in her heart.
Then who was the namer of the play? That owner of the fictitious recollections – the one who identified Leopold as the orchestrator of the Death of the Witch King. It's not hard to identify him. When the lights dimmed, darkness engulfed the theater, and the memory ended, this man wasn't among the characters or scenes that disappeared. This suggests that he had not disappeared, and he was still present at the end of this memory. And he was familiar with Leopold, the empresses and the lowdown of the September Revolution, which was also a prerequisite for the cognitive projection implied in the imageries above. It was none other than Fremont.
However, the "recollections" are, after all, "unowned," and we are not exploring Fremont’s past from his own narrations. Rather, we are interpreting the connotation of imagery from those abstract metaphors. Even our perspective is not that of the old man who criticized Leopold, but of a subtle second person: "you." Instead, the old man who we can clearly recognize as Fremont, has become a third person. Therefore, it is not difficult to make such an interpretation: in this fictitious "recollection," Fremont subconsciously detached himself from the scene and became a spectator, the role played by "you" in this text. Yet the old man who condemned Leopold was also Fremont. According to the confrontation between Fremont and Gerhard Hoffmann, Fremont was not directly involved in the September Revolution and did not stain his hand with "the blood of his closest friend" (ZT-5 Before Operation): that's why the spectator Fremont was not on the stage. But his accusations and criticisms against Leopold omitted some elements, that is, himself: he couldn't deny that he, too, was one of the creators of the Twin Empresses and a participant of this drama in reality, and then chose to stand aside when the show was on.
In the past represented by the opera Leopold, Fremont critically spectated the performance on the stage; in the scene of "unowned recollections," Fremont spectated himself as a spectator. However, even his spectating was evasive, and we can hardly recognize that it's Fremont's eyes; the pronoun became a subtle "you." Fremont had long since abandoned these "recollections," and that's why they were "unowned." They were abandoned in the middle of nowhere until "you" picked them up and spectated them. As for "you," this second person, it's clear that it's not a specific person, but rather the very embodiment of the author's and reader's point of view.
As the owner of the "recollections," Fremont was never a sentimental man being keen on old things. In fact, empathizing with others' obsessions stemming from the past was always difficult for him. Gerhard, a former revolutionary, despaired over what he considered meaningless sacrifices of his loved ones, fell into paranoia, and attempted to rectify the "mistakes" they made in the past by resurrecting the Witch King. Ebenholz, who relied on resistance against fate to survive and regarded the Voice of Mundane as the symbol of "fate" that inflicts endless suffering upon him, couldn't accept that the Voice of Mundane was useless, as it would mean that everything he suffered was meaningless. And Fremont couldn't empathize with them. He was confused by Gerhard's obsession of rectifying "mistakes," and didn't realize that Ebenholz would become self-doubting upon learning that the Voice of Mundane was useless. It was not only because of his rather dull perception of emotions, but also due to his different attitude towards the past compared to others.
Liches have special life forms, which make them easier to have a broader and more far-reaching vision than short-lived species, and Fremont is undoubtedly a typical figure of Liches. He approaches history with an objective and open-minded attitude, benefiting from his vast experiences and insights accumulated over a long time, which are a hundredfold greater than those of ordinary people. He was never like the remnants of the Witch King who were obsessed with summoning back the König's shade from the old days. The thousand-year history of the Güldenesgesatz nearly overwhelmed Gerhard, yet it was merely "pages in a tome of knowledge" (ZT-9 Before Operation) for Fremont. In fact, pain over the past occurs because people have invested emotions in those experineces. If a man had a broader perception, a richer knowledge and a longer life than ordinary people, the emotions rooted in his specific experiences would be more easily diluted, making it less likely for him to become ensnared in past obsessions. Fremont's thoughts were as he said to Gerhard: "I had you study the Güldenesgesatz because I wanted you to have a more open-minded outlook. Not to pour over every trivial growing pain every nation goes through. Harships happen, then everyone goes back to their lives." (ZT-5 Before Operation) In his cognition, whether it was Gerhard or other Laitanien people, specific pains they faced had never been special, and were never worth being obsessed with or lingering on. He preferred to look at the possibilities of the future rather than immerse himself in the past.
However, how could a man really be nonchalant about his own life experiences? When being mind-read by Arturia, Fremont showed intense resistance. When the Liches left Zwillingstürme, he even wished to stuff the spire in the Ludwigs-Universität down his pocket: that shows us his attachment to Lethanien, the country in which he had lived for hundreds of years. In Unowned Recollections, he showed an evasive attitude towards the death of the Witch King, and that precisely proved that he had never really let go of that past in his heart.
Now, let's revisit Fremont's words about the past in Zwillingstürme im Herbst. It's not difficult to tell: Fremont had never repulsed to statement about objective facts, and could even make some jokes frankly; however, his recollections of these old things hardly contained his own positions, feelings or subjective attitudes. If something pertaining to himself had already been mentioned, he would shift the topic and let the matter be turned over quickly. Fremont's recollections of the past were detached from himself. He was always talking about the history he experienced rather than his own experience. Perhaps it was because of that thinking pattern of him, his recollection of the death of the Witch King had been modified by layers of metaphors and imageries, and had finally been presented in front of us in a form close to a "dream" after rationalization and detachment. Even when he entered the subconscious self-scrutiny of a dream, he still refused to look into himself and tried to put the problem on the external world, attributing the main responsibility for the death of the Witch King to Leopold. That was in stark contrast to Herkunftshorn's attitude, "You have been a recapitulation in my ascension and fall."
The more a man avoids his emotions, the harder it is for him to recognize his true feelings; these feelings that he avoids and ignores are still surging in his subconscious, disrupting his rationality, bringing about a sense of insecurity that cannot be dispelled, and causing more and more irritations and anxieties. For Fremont, it was hard to perceive the underlying cause of these irritations and anxieties, and that was why he attributed them to something that he was able to identify, an equally unsettling negative reality: the loss of his phylactery.
For the wandering Liches who always come and go with the wind, the importance of their phylactery is self-evident. Phylactery is not only the essential to their life, but also the basis of their species identity. It gives them a life that would not end, and acts as a spiritual anchor for their long wanderings. Back when Herkunftshorn was in his prime, Fremont had lent him his phylactery, latter with which Herkunftshorn opened the gateway to Kargereich. That doesn't mean that Fremont lacked caution for this crucial item of his life. When Herkunftshorn mentioned his phylactery in the secret chamber, he was once chilled to the bone and almost tempted to "Exile" him. However, he ultimately chose to deliver absolute trust. This trust was based on Fremont's deep understanding of Herkunftshorn: he knew that Herkunftshorn had no intention of threatening his life through his phylactery. And for Herkunftshorn, he was obviously equally aware of the weight of this trust. In fact, it is clear that even at the end of the Witch King's reign, when the Twin Empresses ascended to the political stage of Lethanien, when Herkunftshorn and Fremont were mutually aware of their divergence, the two never conflicted over the phylactery. Otherwise, their reunion in Pavilion might not have been peaceful as it is.
However, after the death of the Witch King, things did change. In Fremont's cognition, with the death of Herkunftshorn, his phylactery was lost in the Genesis Horn, no longer in an ensured state of security; and that made the feeling of losing self-control more perceptible for him. That was why he was so eager to find a way to enter the Genesis Horn. He wanted to retrieve his phylactery there, and get rid of the negative influence of this feeling of unsettlement towards his consciousness. That was the main purpose of Fremont's actions in Zwillingstürme im Herbst on the conscious level. While on the subconscious level, which was difficult for him to perceive, Fremont still lacked a sense of reality about Herkunftshorn's death, and he was unable to get over it. He longed to see this close friend of his again, this friend who had left an indelible mark on his persistent life, and was still waiting for a "belated farewell" (ZT-5 After Operation).
As a result, in order to retrieve his phylactery, Fremont collaborated with Grimmmacht to help the latter find the Witch King's legacies, and looking for a way to enter the Genesis Horn was part of their cooperation. Misled by the remnants of the Witch King, they mistakenly believed that the key to the Genesis Horn was hidden in the Voice of Mundane. So they took that melody out of Ebenholz's brain. This was Grimmmacht's will, as well as a precursor to both of the two to accomplish their purposes. However, the chaos in the Ludwigs-Universität triggered by Gerhard gave the nobles of Lethanien and Ewiggnade who stood behind them further excuses to chase the Liches out. Fremont, who angrily discovered that the Voice of Mundane was not the key melody to enter the Genesis Horn, was only able to lead the Liches away from Zwillingstürme, even though his goal had not been achieved yet. On the day of Das Kaiserinnensfest, as the Genesis Horn descended upon the Twin Spires with Arturia's melody, Fremont immediately returned and entered the "Palace" of the Witch King in Kargereich. There he encountered the echo of the Witch King's spirit, witnessed him giving answers as "the Gift" to the pilgrims, and observed the twins defeating the König once again. When Fremont demanded his phylactery on the grounds of "Kazdel's survival," the Witch King pierced through his inner confusion. "You had never made yourself a greater fool, Fremont." The phylactery had already returned to its owner. It was Fremont who was still cheating himself. It was Fremont who was still refusing to face the death of his old friend.
The exact time when Fremont's phylactery was returned is not explicitly stated in the plot, but rather left open for interpretation, allowing each of us reader to find their own explanation. One thing, however, was certain: Herkunftshorn knew clearly that hidden beneath Fremont's relentless pursuit of his phylactery, laid his unresolved grief over the death of the Witch King. For Liches, phylactery means a life that will never end. From the ancient sages who wrote the Güldenesgesatz to Gerhard he had known as a student for decades, Fremont had witnessed countless mortal souls faded over the centuries. Yet, no one were as remarkable as Herkunftshorn. "A clash of ideologies, and a joining of Arts." They were mutually recognized as teacher and student, as well as close acquaintances for a century and a half. Fremont was the one and only one who led Otto von Urtica to the mystery of the "Origin", who watched as the Witch King ascended to heights and distances that he had never reached himself, and who concluded the concert of his dearest friend with his own hands in the end. "Death" remains an unsolved obsession for Fremont, for he had never experienced the death of someone so unique to him before.
submitted by SinSunrise to arknights [link] [comments]
Unowned Recollections is absolutely the best entry point for us to grasp the logic of Fremont's actions in Zwillingstürme im Herbst. This text generally told: "you" went into a memory that took place in a theater that had been destroyed before Vedunien was renamed Zwillingstürme. Leopold was watching an opera named Leopold here. On the stage, the story of the twins defeating the Witch King was being performed; off the stage, Fremont appeared behind Leopold and criticized the opera, and Leopold responded him. Then, the scenes that "you" saw were engulfed by the darkness in turn, and the memory without an owner came to an end.
We can notice that this opera named after Leopold tells an artistic version of the Twin Empresses' story of defeating the Witch King. However, it was staged before Vedunien's collapse and Zwillingstürme's birth. The entry point to explain this inconsistency of the timeline is the very title of the opera: Leopold. In fact, we can get a glimpse of the naming pattern for this type of show that tells the story of the twins defeating the Witch King in Ebenholz's memories: whether it's "Fall des Hexenturms" or "Triumph der Goldmond: Vorspiel zu Zwillingstürme" (ZT-9 After Operation) , these titles focused on the defeat of the Witch King or the ascension of the Twin Empresses, and speicifically emphasized on the authority of the Twin Empresses as the current rulers of Lethanien. As for Leopold, we can infer his role in the death of the Witch King from Fremont's criticism of the performance, "this vulgar drama of yours." He was direct creator of the twins, the mastermind behind the coup, and a representation of the Kurfürsten who sought to overthrow the Witch King. However, according to Terra: A Journey, Leopold, the "tricky tactician," who was also a masterful conspirator and a confident chess player, died of old age before the September Revolution and failed to witness the death of the Witch King and the seccess of the twins. Fremont once said to Grimmmacht, "He (Leopold) wanted to see the fall of Herkunftshorn, but forgot to take his own age into account" (ZT-2 After Operation), which also corroborated this point.
Considering the needs of the Empresses to demonstrate their authority as the new ruler, as well as the role of Leopold as the wirepuller in the coup, an opera of the Witch King defeated by the Twin Empresses could never have been titled "Leopold." Thus, it could only have been an opera that did not really exist. And Leopold's watching of the opera Leopold didn't actually happen. In this way, all the details about the opera could be explained.
Leopold off the stage watching Leopold on the stage was a metaphor for the reality of Leopold secretly dominating the birth of the Twin Empresses and the fall of the Witch King's Spire. He was the writer and director of the play, a central actor without being on the stage, as well as the real shadow hanging over it. And, at the same time, he in particular wanted to be the audience appreciating it - but unfortunately, he died of old age before his play was actually staged in reality. That was why the theater in the "recollections" had already been destroyed before the Twin Spires were established. Since the opera had never existed in reality, the naming of the "opera" had not been influenced by any realily factors. Naming it "Leopold" indicated that in the perception of the namer, it was Leopold who directed the play of "The Death of the Witch King" in reality. And "it's been performed countless times" can be interpreted in the following three directions: firstly, the coup plot of the September Revolution had been rehearsed countless times in the sandbox; secondly, the past of the death of the Witch King which the opera represented had been memorized countless times; what's more, throughout the long history of Terra, conspirators not too fundamentally different from Leopold had already repeatedly staged conspiracies not too fundamentally different from this drama, with a tiresome familiarity.
Since Leopold's watching of the opera Leopold was not a real event from the past, the "recollections" were surely not real recollections either. They were fictitious memories, combinations of abstract metaphors, which we can deconstruct and analyze through imageries. Lights dimming and darkness engulfing the theater represented the end of the Witch King era and the beginning of the Twin Empresses era. Leopold's first to disappear corresponded to his dying of old age in reality. Then the disappearance of his play, which was entitled Leopold and manipulated by him, corresponded to the conclusion of the September Revolution. Following that, the disappearance of the two girls represents the disappearance of Lizelotte and Hildegarde, who were simply "girls," without their crowns and titles; and Empress Ewiggnade and Grimmmacht were figures who replaced them. And the face of the black-haired girl was the last to disappear meant that, Grimmmacht was the one who holds a deeper attachment to the innocent love between the twins, as the innocent girl named Hildegarde was still alive in her heart.
Then who was the namer of the play? That owner of the fictitious recollections – the one who identified Leopold as the orchestrator of the Death of the Witch King. It's not hard to identify him. When the lights dimmed, darkness engulfed the theater, and the memory ended, this man wasn't among the characters or scenes that disappeared. This suggests that he had not disappeared, and he was still present at the end of this memory. And he was familiar with Leopold, the empresses and the lowdown of the September Revolution, which was also a prerequisite for the cognitive projection implied in the imageries above. It was none other than Fremont.
However, the "recollections" are, after all, "unowned," and we are not exploring Fremont’s past from his own narrations. Rather, we are interpreting the connotation of imagery from those abstract metaphors. Even our perspective is not that of the old man who criticized Leopold, but of a subtle second person: "you." Instead, the old man who we can clearly recognize as Fremont, has become a third person. Therefore, it is not difficult to make such an interpretation: in this fictitious "recollection," Fremont subconsciously detached himself from the scene and became a spectator, the role played by "you" in this text. Yet the old man who condemned Leopold was also Fremont. According to the confrontation between Fremont and Gerhard Hoffmann, Fremont was not directly involved in the September Revolution and did not stain his hand with "the blood of his closest friend" (ZT-5 Before Operation): that's why the spectator Fremont was not on the stage. But his accusations and criticisms against Leopold omitted some elements, that is, himself: he couldn't deny that he, too, was one of the creators of the Twin Empresses and a participant of this drama in reality, and then chose to stand aside when the show was on.
In the past represented by the opera Leopold, Fremont critically spectated the performance on the stage; in the scene of "unowned recollections," Fremont spectated himself as a spectator. However, even his spectating was evasive, and we can hardly recognize that it's Fremont's eyes; the pronoun became a subtle "you." Fremont had long since abandoned these "recollections," and that's why they were "unowned." They were abandoned in the middle of nowhere until "you" picked them up and spectated them. As for "you," this second person, it's clear that it's not a specific person, but rather the very embodiment of the author's and reader's point of view.
As the owner of the "recollections," Fremont was never a sentimental man being keen on old things. In fact, empathizing with others' obsessions stemming from the past was always difficult for him. Gerhard, a former revolutionary, despaired over what he considered meaningless sacrifices of his loved ones, fell into paranoia, and attempted to rectify the "mistakes" they made in the past by resurrecting the Witch King. Ebenholz, who relied on resistance against fate to survive and regarded the Voice of Mundane as the symbol of "fate" that inflicts endless suffering upon him, couldn't accept that the Voice of Mundane was useless, as it would mean that everything he suffered was meaningless. And Fremont couldn't empathize with them. He was confused by Gerhard's obsession of rectifying "mistakes," and didn't realize that Ebenholz would become self-doubting upon learning that the Voice of Mundane was useless. It was not only because of his rather dull perception of emotions, but also due to his different attitude towards the past compared to others.
Liches have special life forms, which make them easier to have a broader and more far-reaching vision than short-lived species, and Fremont is undoubtedly a typical figure of Liches. He approaches history with an objective and open-minded attitude, benefiting from his vast experiences and insights accumulated over a long time, which are a hundredfold greater than those of ordinary people. He was never like the remnants of the Witch King who were obsessed with summoning back the König's shade from the old days. The thousand-year history of the Güldenesgesatz nearly overwhelmed Gerhard, yet it was merely "pages in a tome of knowledge" (ZT-9 Before Operation) for Fremont. In fact, pain over the past occurs because people have invested emotions in those experineces. If a man had a broader perception, a richer knowledge and a longer life than ordinary people, the emotions rooted in his specific experiences would be more easily diluted, making it less likely for him to become ensnared in past obsessions. Fremont's thoughts were as he said to Gerhard: "I had you study the Güldenesgesatz because I wanted you to have a more open-minded outlook. Not to pour over every trivial growing pain every nation goes through. Harships happen, then everyone goes back to their lives." (ZT-5 Before Operation) In his cognition, whether it was Gerhard or other Laitanien people, specific pains they faced had never been special, and were never worth being obsessed with or lingering on. He preferred to look at the possibilities of the future rather than immerse himself in the past.
However, how could a man really be nonchalant about his own life experiences? When being mind-read by Arturia, Fremont showed intense resistance. When the Liches left Zwillingstürme, he even wished to stuff the spire in the Ludwigs-Universität down his pocket: that shows us his attachment to Lethanien, the country in which he had lived for hundreds of years. In Unowned Recollections, he showed an evasive attitude towards the death of the Witch King, and that precisely proved that he had never really let go of that past in his heart.
Now, let's revisit Fremont's words about the past in Zwillingstürme im Herbst. It's not difficult to tell: Fremont had never repulsed to statement about objective facts, and could even make some jokes frankly; however, his recollections of these old things hardly contained his own positions, feelings or subjective attitudes. If something pertaining to himself had already been mentioned, he would shift the topic and let the matter be turned over quickly. Fremont's recollections of the past were detached from himself. He was always talking about the history he experienced rather than his own experience. Perhaps it was because of that thinking pattern of him, his recollection of the death of the Witch King had been modified by layers of metaphors and imageries, and had finally been presented in front of us in a form close to a "dream" after rationalization and detachment. Even when he entered the subconscious self-scrutiny of a dream, he still refused to look into himself and tried to put the problem on the external world, attributing the main responsibility for the death of the Witch King to Leopold. That was in stark contrast to Herkunftshorn's attitude, "You have been a recapitulation in my ascension and fall."
The more a man avoids his emotions, the harder it is for him to recognize his true feelings; these feelings that he avoids and ignores are still surging in his subconscious, disrupting his rationality, bringing about a sense of insecurity that cannot be dispelled, and causing more and more irritations and anxieties. For Fremont, it was hard to perceive the underlying cause of these irritations and anxieties, and that was why he attributed them to something that he was able to identify, an equally unsettling negative reality: the loss of his phylactery.
For the wandering Liches who always come and go with the wind, the importance of their phylactery is self-evident. Phylactery is not only the essential to their life, but also the basis of their species identity. It gives them a life that would not end, and acts as a spiritual anchor for their long wanderings. Back when Herkunftshorn was in his prime, Fremont had lent him his phylactery, latter with which Herkunftshorn opened the gateway to Kargereich. That doesn't mean that Fremont lacked caution for this crucial item of his life. When Herkunftshorn mentioned his phylactery in the secret chamber, he was once chilled to the bone and almost tempted to "Exile" him. However, he ultimately chose to deliver absolute trust. This trust was based on Fremont's deep understanding of Herkunftshorn: he knew that Herkunftshorn had no intention of threatening his life through his phylactery. And for Herkunftshorn, he was obviously equally aware of the weight of this trust. In fact, it is clear that even at the end of the Witch King's reign, when the Twin Empresses ascended to the political stage of Lethanien, when Herkunftshorn and Fremont were mutually aware of their divergence, the two never conflicted over the phylactery. Otherwise, their reunion in Pavilion might not have been peaceful as it is.
However, after the death of the Witch King, things did change. In Fremont's cognition, with the death of Herkunftshorn, his phylactery was lost in the Genesis Horn, no longer in an ensured state of security; and that made the feeling of losing self-control more perceptible for him. That was why he was so eager to find a way to enter the Genesis Horn. He wanted to retrieve his phylactery there, and get rid of the negative influence of this feeling of unsettlement towards his consciousness. That was the main purpose of Fremont's actions in Zwillingstürme im Herbst on the conscious level. While on the subconscious level, which was difficult for him to perceive, Fremont still lacked a sense of reality about Herkunftshorn's death, and he was unable to get over it. He longed to see this close friend of his again, this friend who had left an indelible mark on his persistent life, and was still waiting for a "belated farewell" (ZT-5 After Operation).
As a result, in order to retrieve his phylactery, Fremont collaborated with Grimmmacht to help the latter find the Witch King's legacies, and looking for a way to enter the Genesis Horn was part of their cooperation. Misled by the remnants of the Witch King, they mistakenly believed that the key to the Genesis Horn was hidden in the Voice of Mundane. So they took that melody out of Ebenholz's brain. This was Grimmmacht's will, as well as a precursor to both of the two to accomplish their purposes. However, the chaos in the Ludwigs-Universität triggered by Gerhard gave the nobles of Lethanien and Ewiggnade who stood behind them further excuses to chase the Liches out. Fremont, who angrily discovered that the Voice of Mundane was not the key melody to enter the Genesis Horn, was only able to lead the Liches away from Zwillingstürme, even though his goal had not been achieved yet. On the day of Das Kaiserinnensfest, as the Genesis Horn descended upon the Twin Spires with Arturia's melody, Fremont immediately returned and entered the "Palace" of the Witch King in Kargereich. There he encountered the echo of the Witch King's spirit, witnessed him giving answers as "the Gift" to the pilgrims, and observed the twins defeating the König once again. When Fremont demanded his phylactery on the grounds of "Kazdel's survival," the Witch King pierced through his inner confusion. "You had never made yourself a greater fool, Fremont." The phylactery had already returned to its owner. It was Fremont who was still cheating himself. It was Fremont who was still refusing to face the death of his old friend.
The exact time when Fremont's phylactery was returned is not explicitly stated in the plot, but rather left open for interpretation, allowing each of us reader to find their own explanation. One thing, however, was certain: Herkunftshorn knew clearly that hidden beneath Fremont's relentless pursuit of his phylactery, laid his unresolved grief over the death of the Witch King. For Liches, phylactery means a life that will never end. From the ancient sages who wrote the Güldenesgesatz to Gerhard he had known as a student for decades, Fremont had witnessed countless mortal souls faded over the centuries. Yet, no one were as remarkable as Herkunftshorn. "A clash of ideologies, and a joining of Arts." They were mutually recognized as teacher and student, as well as close acquaintances for a century and a half. Fremont was the one and only one who led Otto von Urtica to the mystery of the "Origin", who watched as the Witch King ascended to heights and distances that he had never reached himself, and who concluded the concert of his dearest friend with his own hands in the end. "Death" remains an unsolved obsession for Fremont, for he had never experienced the death of someone so unique to him before.
Fremont, the phylactery is a constant, a keystone upon which Liches accumulate their time. You are always one step ahead of death. I am not. A fact you refuse to acknowledge. Why? You have no words for me but farewell at this moment. Tell me, Fremont, my dearest friend. Why is the spire still lacking...?With the return of the lost phylactery, Fremont had finally freed himself from the sense of unsettlement that had haunted him for twenty-three years. His "Exile" of the Witch King's echo also enabled him to complete the "encoffining" of his old friend's remains, and complete the "belated farewell" that he had been waiting for so long. He finally accepted Herkunftshorn's departure and became relieved of the death of the Witch King. When coming to a reconciliation with himself, he finally won this "war against self." He could finally leave the old place with a clear conscience and set his sights on the future. There's no doubt that we'll continue to see this Lich King active presence in the future stories of Kazdel.
2024.05.28 10:26 reductios Bonus Episode - Supplementary Materials 7: Guru Oneupmanship, Hard Ad Pivots, MOOOINK, and Left Wing Populism
Supplementary Materials 7: Guru Oneupmanship, Hard Ad Pivots, MOOOINK, and Left Wing Populism - Decoding the Gurus (captivate.fm)
Show Notes
We curse the dark omens emerging from the Gurusphere as we consider:
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus
submitted by reductios to DecodingTheGurus [link] [comments]
Show Notes
We curse the dark omens emerging from the Gurusphere as we consider:
- The Illusion of Disciplinary Boundaries
- Flint Dibble Feedback and Rays of Hope
- Russell Brand and Bret Weinstein: Guru One-upmanship
- Bret Weinstein loves MOINNNNK
- Hard Ad Pivots and Peasants Popping out of Wells
- Ken Klippenstein and Populist Rhetoric
- Questioning mainstream narratives and their so-called 'experts'
- QAnon Anonymous missing Left Wing Populism?
- Alex O'Connor, Jordan Peterson and the costs of indulgent podcasting
- Chris reaching across boundaries to Jonathan Pageau
- Our only comment on the Drake and Kendrick Feud
- The beautiful ballet of reaching across the aisle
- Terence Howard on Rogan
- Russelling with God Russell Brand on DarkHorse
- Ken Klippenstein- Why I'm Resigning From The Intercept
- A Farewell To Bad News feat Ken Klippenstein (E278)
- Navigating Belief, Skepticism, and the Afterlife Alex O'Connor u/CosmicSkeptic EP 451
- Terrence Howard is Legitimately Insane
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus
2024.05.28 09:49 Old-Mathematician392 Black Mirror Mormonism - E3: "The Salamander's Tale"
Black Mirror Mormonism - E3: "The Shy White Salamander's Tale"
Soundtrack: The episode is Pointer Sisters themed. It begins with instrumental 'Neutron Dance'. The white salamander's introductory theme is "He's So Shy", setting a quirky and mysterious tone.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GTVKr7sLok
Abstract:
Dallin Oaks argues in support of disclosure that a shy white salamander has captured the imaginations of the LDS leaders. As the world watches in disbelief, a shy, yet eloquent salamander takes the stage, revealing truths that challenge the foundations of Christian history inside Mormonism. The episode, set to the Pointer Sisters' "He's So Shy," blends humor and absurdity with a critique of a peculiar chapter in Mormon history. A fun factual chapter [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-29-tm-793-story.html ] that comes to life.Act 1: "The Controversy"
Scene 1: "The Revelation"
Visuals:The setting is a dimly lit room filled with old manuscripts and religious artifacts. Dallin Oaks, a high-ranking LDS leader, is hunched over a desk, reading the infamous Salamander Letter with high-ranking religious colleagues.
Characters: Dallin Oaks, Church archivists.
Details: Oaks, with a mixture of anxiety and determination, reads aloud the contents of the Salamander Letter, which describes a white salamander leading Joseph Smith to the golden plates. He decides to publicly defend the notion of an inspired salamander, despite widespread skepticism and concern within the legal and religious communities in Utah, and beyond. Further, he supports disclosure of the fact the actual original shy white salamander has been speaking to LDS leadership privately for some time, as he has been locked safely in a cage beside the First Presidency's secret safe of LDS artifacts. The shy salamander has LDS leadership's full faith and confidence.
Theme: The tension between faith and reason, and the lengths to which leaders will go to defend their beliefs.
Scene 2: "The Announcement"
Visuals: A grand LDS conference hall filled with members eagerly awaiting an important announcement from their leaders.Characters: Dallin Oaks, LDS members, other Church leaders.
**
Details: Oaks stands at the podium, holding the Salamander Letter. He addresses the congregation with confidence, declaring that the letter is genuine and that the white salamander played a crucial role in Joseph Smith's revelations. The congregation reacts with a mix of shock and confusion. Retired Utah Supreme Court Justice and global faith leader Dallin Oaks implores membership to keep calm as "All is Well in Zion."
Theme: The clash between tradition and shocking new facts requiring faithful, yet implausible and confusing, interpretations easily provided by Dallin and faith leaders.
Soundtrack: As Oaks speaks, "He's So Shy" by the Pointer Sisters begins to play, subtly emphasizing the oddity of the membership now being asked to understand the salamander.
Act 2: "The Shy Salamander"
Scene 3: "Salamander's Introduction"
Visuals: A dense, magical forest where a white salamander with an almost human-like demeanor hides among the foliage, shyly observing the world.Characters: White Salamander, many magical forest creatures.
Details: There is a meeting among leadership as to how the introduction of the white salamander will play. The salamander, though shy, has a mystical aura and an air of wisdom. The leadership has confidence in the shy salamander and believes once the membership meet him they are going to fall in love just as much as they have. The scene cuts back and forth between the forest and Oaks, the shy Salamander's strongest advocate, preparing for the salamander's public appearance. The shy white salamander reluctantly steps forward, revealing itself to be the source of the controversial letter's claims to membership.
Theme: The blending of fantasy and reality, and the surreal nature of the salamander's role in the faith history of how far many members are prepared to go to maintain their religious identity.
Soundtrack: "He's So Shy" continues, reflecting the salamander's timid nature.
Scene 4: "Public Appearance"
Visuals: The grand LDS tabernacle hall, now transformed into a high-tech stage with bright lights and an eager audience. The white salamander, appearing nervous, is coaxed onto the stage by Oaks.Characters: Dallin Oaks, White Salamander, LDS members, media.
Details: Oaks introduces the salamander, explaining its significance. The salamander, with a shy yet dignified demeanor, takes the microphone. The scene shows a special tiny salamander microphone and pulpit have been carefully adjusted a top the famous LDS tabernacle pulpit. The shy salamander clears his throat to speak. A fly pops out as he coughs to clear his throat. The fly continues to buzz around as he speaks. The audience is captivated, their disbelief turning to curiosity.
Theme: The tension between skepticism and wonder, and the power of belief in the face of the extraordinary.
Soundtrack: The upbeat chorus of "He's So Shy" plays, highlighting the unusual nature of the event.
Act 3: "The Speech"
Scene 5: "Salamander Speaks"
Visuals: Close-up of the white salamander at the microphone, its tiny, yet expressive eyes reflecting both fear and determination.Characters: White Salamander, Dallin Oaks, LDS members.
Details: The salamander begins its speech, revealing a narrative that intertwines with known Mormon history but with fantastical elements. It speaks of guiding Joseph Smith and the true nature of the priesthood revelations, including new details concerning polygamous wives as the shy salamander shakes his tail nearly clean off. The speech is eloquent and surprisingly profound, challenging the audience to reconsider their perceptions of truth, faith, love and marriage.
Theme: The range and scope of blind belief in imaginative versions of Christian history inside Mormonism that become necessary to maintain faith.
Soundtrack: The instrumental bridge of "He's So Shy" plays softly in the background, underscoring the salamander's unexpected eloquence.
Scene 6: "Audience Reaction"
Visuals: The audience, initially bewildered, begins to show signs of acceptance and wonder. Some members nod in agreement, while others remain skeptical but intrigued.Characters: LDS members, Dallin Oaks, White Salamander.
Details: Oaks watches with satisfaction as the audience grapples with the salamander's revelations which transform Mormonism instantly. The shy salamander, having completed its speech, shyly retreats from the spotlight, leaving a lasting impact on the audience. He explains he is like fourth member of the Christian Trinity or 'Godhead' and, like a lizard genie, he has a duty to deliver revelation 'automatically' to faithful members.
Theme: It is clear from the crowd's positive reaction there has been an "automatic" shift in the audience after hearing the lizard genie's revelations. Some of the LDS leaders are concerned the lizard genie may one day become more popular than the President/Prophet.
Soundtrack: "Automatic", [by the Pointer Sisters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qvTFnLwWOM ] plays triumphantly as the salamander exits the stage after nearly breaking his tail while telling his tales.
Act 4: "New Realities"
Scene 7: "Reflection"
Visuals: Back in the forest, the white salamander (aka Lizard Genie) reflects on its public appearance, basking in a serene, magical glow.Characters: White Salamander, forest creatures.
Details: The shy salamander finds solace in its natural habitat, content with having shared its truth. The forest creatures gather around, celebrating the salamander's courage.
Theme: The extraordinary and transformative power of Dallin Oaks power to shape non-traditional views of Christianity inside Mormonism.
Soundtrack: The closing notes of "He's So Shy" play, leaving a feeling of whimsical resolution.
Scene 8: "The Aftermath"
Visuals: The LDS tabernacle hall, now empty, with members discussing the day's events and exciting new super-hero character in their religious identities. Oaks stands alone, contemplating the future of the Church in light of the salamander's revelations.Characters: Dallin Oaks, LDS members.
Details: Oaks, feeling a mix of triumph and uncertainty, wonders how this new narrative will shape the Church's future. The episode ends with a sense of open-ended possibility. The world will never forget the Christian revelations from the one true lizard genie.
Theme: The enduring impact of challenging established beliefs and the potential for growth through embracing the extraordinary.
Soundtrack: A reprise of "He's So Shy" plays softly as the screen fades to black, emphasizing the episode's blend of humor and profundity.
Episode Themes and Purpose:
Themes:- The intersection of myth and reality.
- The power and danger of blind faith.
- Intellectual dishonesty and the courage to embrace truth.
- The impact of new narratives on established beliefs.
- To critique the rigid adherence to dogma and the resistance to new ideas.
- To highlight the absurdity and potential beauty of blending fantastical elements with historical events.
- To inspire viewers to question their beliefs and consider the value of embracing extraordinary possibilities.
https://www.reddit.com/exmormon/comments/1cyfh6x/comment/l598mw4/