Hi everyone.. So I am engaged with my partner who is the mother of our two lovely girls. I meet her 8 years ago when she was with her first husband. She was going through a wild periode and it ended up with a suicied atempt with morfin. I found her and drove at full speed to the hospital where she finally got the help she needed.. this was also when she proclaimed her love for me?!
She has since been diagnosed with emotionally unstable borderline disorder.. We moved in together and things were troublesome at times and lovingly at others.. but always intense! Perhaps because I had no idea what I was getting in to.
She complete DBT and though it worked some but she is still unstable at times.
She wanted a child, a new feeling for her, as she has never had the desire until she met me. We had our first girl in 2018. It was a sweet pregnancy, she was finally comfortable in her body and though still intens the outburst seemed lessened. We built a house and did everything normal people would do. She had another suicied attempt shortly after she gave birth even though she promised she would stop with these shenanigan's if we had a child.
We had our second girl 2022 and shortly after her birth, another attempt..
We have had heaps of counseling and I have seen a psychologist myself to work with me as a person.
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The day to day is somewhat alright, but we still have our hiccups. I can normally spot it when a new shitstorm is on its way and ask her if something is on its way or if I can do something for her.. Sometimes it work, sometimes it doesn't. What troubles me the most, is that she somehow seeks a perfect pink cloud home, with clean floors, white walls and trouble less day. While this is a beautiful idea, the hard fact is that this is just not how life is.. Its gritty, full of stepped on dogshit and muddy trousers.. And its somehow my fault, that her fantasy isn't coming true..
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I dont know what I wanted with this post, but thanks for reading if you have made it this far. I think I just needed to share my world with the someone <3

Which means no matter how ugly or drab the feelings may be, I can dress them up, make them look pretty so that others may stop and stare and think, “oh that’s beautiful”. Making misery beautiful. That’s what we do.
I have a life, or at least had a life. I’ve laughed, I’ve loved but one thing I’ve never seen is a good day. Never a good day. Always bad ones. And I’m brought down now. The weight of waiting for days to finally be better is too much to shoulder. One drink per week has become four each night, one smoke a day has become a packet finished before noon and the white pills are now red yellow blue and pink.
Each passing day, I sink deeper and deeper and it’s all dark and quiet here now. Maybe I should be grateful for this moment of peace but my mind, it never stops. It’s too loud. I can’t see, I can’t speak, I can’t breathe. I’m tired of relying on your arms to pull me up when I swim down the deep end. Just let me be. Let me drown. I love you so much. I know what it is that I will do to you if we keep this up, it’s what my mother did to my father and life has a funny thing of repeating itself. I can’t make you a sad, confused man. Even though if anyone can save me, it’s you. I tried so hard to be better but there’s something so comforting about going back tot your roots.
The love of a poet, you will carry it with you forever. I will sleep in your bed tonight and tomorrow and one day, I will quietly slip out in the middle of the night and you’ll never have to see me again.
I love you so much. I love you too much. I wish life could’ve been better. I wish.

I’d like my Jigglypuff gijinka character wearing this outfit, but with the colors changed to pinks, greys, and white, but mostly pink since he’s a Jigglypuff. No text or logos on the clothes please, unless it’s something along these lines.
He has an androgynous build with hips wider than his shoulders. Static standing pose preferred.
Let me know if I forgot anything.

Are there any manicures that still apply color but are safe as possible (no UV, minimal damage to nail bed), especially for a cancer survivor with a weak immune system?
I see mixed info about safety levels for different mani types. So far, it looks like I should be targeting LED light manis with organic nail polish, but curious if anyone knows more details?
Context: I took my mom, who is a cancer survivor, out to get her first mani and she loved it! She's very frugal and doesn't do self-care/"pamper" stuff often so I was hoping to make this our monthly treat now that I can afford it and visit home often.
Yes, I should've done more research... I had no idea about the dangers of manis. All I thought of at the time was to find a hygienic salon because she has low white blood cell count after chemo. We got dip nails since she wanted something sturdy that would last through housework. Of course after I see an article about dip nail infections, which led to a rabbit hole on UV lamps causing cancer, polish fumes, hepatitis exposure, etc. and it totally freaked me out. I know some are just fearmongering so I hope folks here can clarify which are bogus and real concerns. She's already excited for her next session and picked out her next color, so I'm hoping some are safe for her to enjoy!!!

My name is Axel, as most of you know. The shop is closed permanently, which is good because all of my recent efforts have been focused on finding Selene. There have been signs and I am certain she still exists in this reality, but I am starting to wonder if I even want to find her. Because of everything that happened, she is really all that is left for me. She is the only one with answers.
But if none of that makes sense, go here. You have some catching up to do.
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We left off with us prior baristas agreeing to follow Em and her father to the city they called home. A city called Fraeria. Usually the supernatural activity surrounding the Drowsy Spectre only occurred at night, so I was a bit confused when Em asked us to arrive in the parking lot during the day. At around 4pm we gathered outside the shop. I had expected Amber to be there for some reason, ready to impart some sort of cryptic wisdom in return for buying a candle. She wasn't there, though, and her car was absent too. Whatever Selene did with those marks seemed to have scared everyone and everything away.
Silence demanded to come along. The black snake had to see Em's father, she had closure to achieve and I think a bit of revenge perhaps. There wasn't much a small reptile like her could do, especially since she'd been turned into a non-venomous species. That wasn't for me to question. Silence had been a snake so long that she couldn't even remember who she was before; who was I to refuse her the possibility of some answers?
Anyway, we were in the parking lot. Em's father refused to give us his actual name, so we came to know him as Guide. It seems creatures of his kind prefer titles that describe their purpose, not the names given at their creation or birth. We didn't speak much before Guide led us into the forest surrounding the cafe, but it was a very long walk ahead and eventually Barrow approached me.
"Did you bring the doll?"
I didn't see a reason to be dishonest. "It is gone."
"What?"
"That wish you had me make? It caused this." I showed him my wrist. "My wish to end it burned the doll to a crisp."
"Interesting." He then fell behind a bit, lost in thought.
We stopped to eat at some point when it got dark. Seeing as one of the main rules of the cafe was to not be outside at night, I was a bit nervous. Nomic ended up tagging along, enticed by the healing of his mind. Guide did not promise anything, but he certainly did suggest that it was possible in the magical city he was leading us to. Our party included Em, Barrow, Nomic, myself, and Guide.
"We cannot stop for long." Guide stated after summoning a fire with the clap of his hands. "Even my power will not protect you from everything this strange forest harbors."
"So it is even strange to you?" Barrow asked.
Guide laughed. "I may wander it, but that does not mean I have a clue what it is. My people are not of this world, but can be brought here through this forest. Where I am from, we are called Elwae. It is your people that have given us strange titles from your children's tales."
"Wait, so Em is not a pixie?" I asked.
"You decide what is in a name. She is to you whatever you call her. A flower, or a stone." He eyed the darkening forest. "I am curious; what has become of your giant?"
"We have not seen him since the teeth got him." Em answered.
I recalled Tall Ben asking for help. Maybe if I would have accepted, he would be here to assist us in this time of trouble. "Maybe they ate him up. The tooth plague killed Heartmin. Might've taken longer, but I don't see why it couldn't chew him up too."
"I thought he was more resilient. The giant would have been a proper ally in darker hours yet to come."
Ominous. "What do you mean by that?"
He chose not to answer. Instead, he produced some fish from his bag. He passed it to Em, who then placed it over the fire. "There is food if you are hungry."
"No strings?"
Em looked at Barrow. "Why do you think he gave it to me first?"
He accepted this before taking one of her wooden plates.
I was not satisfied with the lack of answer. "Guide, what did you mean by that?"
"There are birthing pains here. Something draws near and this issue of ours is merely a symptom." He grinned. "It would have been much easier for you if you would have let me turn you into some rodent, yeah? I little bird, perhaps." That's what Selene called me. How did he know that? "Do you still have that one little trouble maker? The snake, that is. Oh, and that lizard too. I do hope they've adjusted well."
"They are free now."
"Are they? I've watched closely. So far I've not seen them leave your apartment. I could change them back, you know, for a price."
He wanted a deal. "I'm not playing this game!"
A hand rested on my knee. "You okay man?" It was Nomic; he looked concerned. "Your face is all red."
It was then I realized that no one else had commented on our conversation, or even taken notice. Had it been in my head? Guide gave me a knowing smirk and invaded my thoughts once again. "Just between us. Think on it."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." I lied to Nomic. Em's father would be trouble, it seemed. That wasn't much of a surprise.
A little voice tickled my ear. "Kill him." I couldn't answer discretely enough to not be noticed. Silence spoke once more with a long hiss. "Hurt him."
I gently place a hand on my shoulder, comforting the snake underneath my coat. It was still cold around my neck of the woods and Silence always got... irritated at such temperatures. This area shouldn't have been that cold, though, but I could only blame that on the unnatural forest we found ourselves in. As night grew later, it only got worse. The fire was going strong, despite its unnatural creation. There was no time to sleep, it seemed, as after only roughly two hours of sitting Guide demanded we all prepare to move again. To my comfort, the forest was not silent. Crickets chirped despite the cold weather and even bats could be heard squeaking overhead. Other than the company, everything seemed completely normal about the forest that surrounded the cafe. I assumed this was because we entered it during the day and not when the sun set but, if that was the case, then how could it possibly lead us to this supernatural civilization that Guide and Em were from?
Those questions were answered when we saw the first teeth. They were stuck in a tree that bled sap. At our approach, the teeth wiggled but could not make the tree move towards us. I feared that because they were there, that may mean that the rest of our troublesome neighbors might also make an appearance.
"Is she a friend?" A little voice whispered to me along the way. Silence slithered closer to my ear. "The spider-woman?"
I glanced behind us and saw a face in the trees. It was a familiar one and, for anyone other than me, might deceive a lonely man into becoming a meal. I had already fallen to her whims once, but this was not the same. Her eyes gazed with fear at our guide, Em's father, and she beckoned me closer. I fell discretely to the back of the line, just near enough for her to climb overhead. Ramata was her name, as some of you might remember.
I saw her full glory. The head and torso of a woman, but with many legs sprouting from under her shoulders. There were far more than eight, as a normal spider would have, instead boasting more than a dozen. They each ended with black hands full of sharp nails. She moved with complete silence, not even disturbing Guide. If I did not trust her intentions due to our prior history, I would have fled into the dark full of the most potent terror.
She came lower, just barely in the aura of our flashlights. I was happy to see that the teeth had not infected her. Yet, at least. A few steps behind Nomic, I fell behind as far as I felt comfortable.
"I assume you will hold true to your word?"
"I will. We are friends, my love." She whispered. Her voice was the wind, so slight and discrete; just for me. "You saved my children."
None of the others had noticed, but I kept my voice as low as I could regardless. "Then why are you stalking us?"
"That man's people come from a different world, one who shall bring forth a being that shall determine the fate of all things. My web stretches to many places, dear one. I have heard many things from those that wander into my traps." She waited, expecting me to have something to say. I didn't. "But there is tell that a human shall write about such things and influence the destiny of that world with mere words."
"You came here only to tell me that?"
I didn't intend to offend her, but she was far too cryptic for any use. "Destiny doesn't mean peace, young love. It is destined that all things will one day die. It may be in your power to halt this being from gaining the might to direct fate. Do not speak to the voice in the light, do not speak with the devil that is called Elidian."
"I am pretty tired of speaking with devils. It seems I've made deals with far too many."
"But this one will not come to strike a deal. Your heart; he will play it like a stringed instrument, and you will be inspired as any writer is. Do not listen." Her all too human eyes flickered towards Em's father. "And do not be mistaken; your guide has no intention of letting you return home."
"I know."
Suddenly she went silent, her face vanishing into the darkness. Ramata came bringing only questions, ones that I could not bring to anyone in our company. I did not trust Barrow anymore and could hardly trust Em with her father around. Nomic wouldn't have anything valuable to say considering he didn't even know who he was. That left Silence, who had decided to live up to her name and not answer anything I sent her way.
The insects had gone quiet. That was when I registered that Ramata wasn't being cryptic in her departure;
She had fled.
Em's father must have caught on as well, because he halted the journey. "Don't make a sound."
He did not turn off the flashlight, so I assumed it was safe to scan the trees. There sounded like a strong breeze to my left, approaching from the distance. But... the trees were swaying. I could hear leaves being picked up and thrashed about by the gust.
Then we all saw it. White dots crawling along the floor, carried on the backs of a living horde. Insects, rodents; an amalgamation of predators and prey driven on by their parasites. I grabbed Em, who was nearest, in a desperate bid to survive. These things hunted by sound and touch; we had once chance. I took my coat, wrapped it around her, and covered her completely. There was a nearby tree just wide enough for us to hide behind and I had only seconds to reach it.
That sound still echoes in my mind. Not one of the animals cried out, not one. But they got closer and I could hear tiny footsteps on the ground, I could feel the ground tremble with the sheer number of legs that the stampede boasted.
I thanked whatever god was listening that I wore gloves that day, because my hand was still out when the plague struck. It was a sparrow that smacked into it, slamming into the ground. The creature was surely crushed underneath the combined might of the horde. I could feel thousands of tiny legs crawl all over me and could only pray that they did not approach my exposed face.
Em was covered, I was not.
Something landed on me, something rather large but with many legs. It was not swept away immediately.
It crawled and clicked as it searched out flesh it surely sensed. Was it my breathing, was it my own trembling teeth?
You know how you can anticipate touch? Feel it before it happens? I knew it was going to reach me. I was going to die. I felt the tickle, the tiny sensation of an insect gripping onto a tiny pore. When it did, I felt something try to bite down on the bit of my exposed neck.
With only one option, I took a risk and grabbed the insect before the teeth on it could multiply using my own flesh. I saw a massive centipede covered in wiggled teeth from all manner of creatures. When I dropped it, it vanished into the sea of infected forest life. It seemed the hive mind was loose because none of them came for me.
And then it was over. We stayed in place to let those that fell behind catch up. Once the horde of teeth and meat was gone, I quickly checked my own neck. Em, sensing safety, assisted me and I nearly cheered when she swore I had no teeth on my neck. A tiny little red mark, a gentle cut, was the only evidence I had been bitten. Was that enough? Was I infected? Even now, I do not know.
Nomic and Em's father had the wisdom to cover up and hide. I was relieved to see that, regardless of how impossible it seemed, we had all escaped the tooth plague without infection. A minute or two after, the sounds of the natural forest returned.
"We need to move." Em's father was the first to break the silence. "No more speaking until I say."
Eventually we stopped to rest. This time, Guide told us that sleeping for a few hours would be possible. "We have crossed the threshold into the realm of the Elwae. Sleep easy tonight."
But I was the last to fall asleep. That was thanks to his constant gaze that never wavered from my face. Eventually I heard his voice once more, his mouth moved, but no one stirred. "You brought one of them with you, I see. The quiet snake. If I am honest, I do not even remember her name." He laughed at the fate he delivered to her. "Keep her. I am very curious to see what she plans to accomplish."
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Our journey from then on was uneventful. We got maybe four or five hours of sleep, which was surprisingly not interrupted. I don't know if Barrow sleeps, though. I was the first one to wake up and even found that Em's father had fallen asleep. Barrow, however, arrived before the others woke up. He had been in the woods relieving himself. He had been gone for quite a while though.
During the early morning hours the woods were quite peaceful and pleasant to traverse. I did notice the occasional rodent with white marks on its body, sick with the plague that I somehow unleashed. There were some on the plants as well and, despite Guide's confidence that they were completely safe, he gave the plagued portions of the woods a wide pass.
But then we came to a treeline. It was the end of the haunted woods that separated the cafe from the many strange worlds beyond. A rolling field separated us from a city that was surprisingly modern. Skyscrapers of foreign design rose high into the sky. There were streets below with regular traffic, but everything was designed with a certain lack of color. Every structure was metallic or concrete. The City Fraeria was not the nature-haven I expected. I thought of elves from Lord of the Rings, or Fae Forests with entire kingdoms being carved from the wood of ancient trees. Instead Em's people lived in a place not entirely different from us, but with far more of a sleek taste. The buildings were very... sharp. Human skyscrapers are usually built with an antenna of some kind on top. Instead these seemed like knives meant to not just scrape the sky, but cut them open with surgical precision.
"That is not what I expected." Nomic confessed. "Why is there an entire metropolis in the middle of the woods?"
"It was all a forest once." Guide replied. "All of your cities. We only had the heart not to destroy the rest." He certainly wasn't wrong. "Come. We seek an audience with the Eilin Hae. Only with his permission can we go to the fountain of life. This is his city, we are his people, and it is that light that powers this place. He will need convincing."
Guide looked at me. "I don't have anything for him. He's your leader, that is up to you."
"I think you will be surprised, Mr. White. Eilin Hae finds worth deep in the soul. Come; every second wasted is a risk I am not willing to take."
We crossed the fields of fine grass, passing into a realm that wasn't quite the same as the one we had come from. It was like a mirror but with small mistakes in the design. The broken stripes on the road were yellow instead of white, the green traffic lights were purple instead for no particular reason. There were shops along the sidewalks and people that looked as human as myself went about their business. Everyone was generally taller, however, which made me quite confused as to why Em was so small. She took giant potions, after all, to make herself capable of blending in with humans.
That was a sensitive question to ask, however, and I wasn't going to be the one to voice it despite my curiosities. We were ticking bombs, capable of dying if the ritual that we were marked for was attempted again.
"We are missing someone." Em's father announced, halting the journey.
It was only then that any of us noticed Barrow's absence. I had been walking in the back and hadn't even noticed his departure. "Could he have been... snatched?"
"No. That is not how things are done here." Our guide scanned the nearby alleys. "Where has he gone? Tell me now." Seeing as, so far as I know, none of us had any idea, his demand was met with silence. "This is not a place for a human to wander. No matter, he will turn up if he wishes to ever make it home. Only the Elwae can find this place, and only an Elwae can navigate our side of the forest."
Our journey continued, but I approached Em. "Where did he go?"
She was his closest friend, but even she was unaware. "This place really isn't safe. It is hardly the place for him to wander off on his own."
"Will he be fine?"
"He better be. We don't have time to go looking for him, but..." She glanced at her father. "Maybe we should? We must see the Eilin Hae in his tower. I told Barrow about that and while he might not know his way around the city, the tower can't be missed."
Em sounded like she was trying to convince herself. I didn't like it, especially considering the fact that my burned wrist was thanks to Barrow's wish. He was up to something and my ability to trust him was waning. But, if I am honest, at the moment my mind was greatly preoccupied with the strange city and had no room to worry about Barrow's antics.
There was a massive building near the center of the city. It rose as high into the sky as the others, even taller than those around it, but the length and width were impressive too. This dwarfed even the greatest of our structures and it seemed to be our destination. Guide led us up the steps towards the front door and was stopped by professionally dressed security personnel. Again, this place was not very different from our own world.
After a short, hushed discussion, we were granted entry. We were each given a green wristband, very similar to the pink ones given to guests at hospitals, and ferried inside. The sideways glances we received within were far sharper than I had seen outside. We were not welcome in the city, but much less in the heart of their home, whatever "they" were. I counted myself lucky to discover that they had elevators. Of course, that seems obvious to assume, but we had walked all the way to the building instead of driving. That took a while and made me nervous seeing as Em's father didn't seem to have a limit to his endurance. Guide pressed the top button of the elevator and so began our long ascent to the highest floor.
The design was the same even inside the building, right down to the interior of the elevator. Dark metal, trimmed occasionally with wood. It wasn't iron, obviously, otherwise Em's father would be in incredible pain. There wasn't a single scratch on any of the polished metal; it was like a dark mirror wherever I looked.
The lights shined with a hint of emerald green, as if to mimic the natural sheen trees made when the sun poured from their canopy. Finally the elevator doors opened into a short hallway. That hall had double doors that a well-dressed man opened at our approach. We had to show our wristbands, let the barcode be scanned, and only when each of us passed were we able to enter.
What we found inside was not meant for human eyes.
Have you ever driven up to a crossroads and stopped, but when you stare ahead it seems like everything is sort of... zooming out? Or sometimes in, I guess. Within the room was what amounted to a portal of sorts. I could circle the center of the room as much as I wanted, but if I got closer it just... kept going. I barely made a dent in the distance that separates me from the brilliant green eye that watched us. It was celestial in size, my mind knew that, dwarfing even our own planet. But how could that fit in a room?
This being was nearly identical to the terrible Eye of Gold and Crimson that I had spoken with all those months ago. It was garbed in a storm that could not be measured, arcs of emerald lightning flashed but seemed as tiny things from such a distance. But it did not speak with the mouths of discarded flesh like the Eye of Gold. Instead, there was a woman sitting between us and the nigh-infinite walk to the eye. She got up from the floor and turned to greet us.
"I am The Eilin Hae." She said.
Or he, I guess? They had all referred to The Eilin Hae as a man. Being in the presence of what amounted to a god did not have the effect one may have expected. She was... a person. In appearance, that is. I anticipated a powerful voice, one that would inspire me to bend a knee and hide my face. But, as far as intimidation, I felt as if I was meeting the CEO of some business.
"My lady." Our guide bowed. We followed suit, but the pronoun he used further confused me. "A forbidden ritual has latched itself onto my daughter and these common people with me. We ask to visit the Infinite Sight."
When she stepped forward, she was no longer drowned by the green eye's countenance. It was only then that I saw her eyes burned with a similar light. When she spoke, that same glow was escaping from the depths of her throat, as if some great emerald fire burned at her core. That fixed my mind's mistake in relating her to a person. Those eyes... I felt like staring into them would burn mine out, blind me like the sun itself. But blind more than just my vision, blind my spirit and will entirely.
"Even if I accepted, your daughter is not human. Who is to say if the Infinite Sight has seen her? It belongs to wyr only."
"Even we were once wyr, my lady, were we not?"
She considered this. "An interesting thought. What reason would I allow this? What will you offer me in return?" The Eilin Hae's gaze abandoned Guide and fell to Nomic. "What can a lost man offer when he doesn't know his own name?" Then Em. "Or a girl who has no people?"
Then finally, she looked upon me. "But this is interesting." Then she came closer. She wore long robes of dark gray. Stitches of deep green made patterns all over her garb, an outfit of a deeply religious zealot. Every step seemed sacred, with the potential to bring any of us to our end. I did not know the meaning of the title "god" until I faced that gaze. But it was not hers, it belonged instead to the endless power that spoke through her.
"One that doesn't know his name, one that doesn't know her people, and one that I do not know. What sort of company have you brought me, Eruli?" I didn't remember falling to my knees, but there I was. She knelt to meet my gaze. "You know things, things you shouldn't know. There are machines that rely on the tiniest piece to run at all. If that tiny piece is removed, it falls apart."
Her hands were warm, she took mine and held them. "You have seen the abomination? The Eye of Two Colors?" I nodded, my tongue tied up in my mouth. "There is one that shall bear that golden gaze but, unlike my emerald eyes, that power will be at their command. I am simply the devout of the Eye of the Wilds."
"What do you want?" I finally asked.
She smiled. "That you keep your word. Write."
For reasons I still don't know, I found myself crying. Write? Write?! I keep being told to do that, and I am writing, but I know they weren't talking about this series of updates. There was something more and no one wanted to give me answers. "You... you aren't the first to ask. Write what?"
"You will know very soon. The Infinite Sight will allow you to see." She stood. "He is permitted to go. The others have nothing worth offering, so they may leave."
That wasn't enough of an answer for me. Waiting was done; I came here to fix my arm and find answers, to start my search for Selene. Cryptic instructions would not do. But Em's Father, who the Eilin Hae had called Eruli, clenched his fist. He barely held himself back, struggling to remain on his knees. "But... but my daughter will-"
"We all go, or I won't." I bargained my own importance. I could choose not to write whatever it was they found so important. "I won't go to the light."
Eilin Hae stared at me for a time before she finally spoke. "What is most curious about you, Axel White, is that you deem yourself a Fatewriter of more than just the story alloted to you. How is it your right to judge the fate of these with you?"
"How is it yours?"
"A wise answer. This is your bargain, I will accept."
Ramata had warned me not to listen to the devil that would come for me. She hadn't begged anything of me, however, so I accepted the deal. "Then I will go, but they will come with me."
She nodded and her eyes began to burn with further brilliance. The green wristbands we wore glowed in response. "And there is evidence of my permission. You may-"
Suddenly we were all knocked to the ground, the entire building shook as if it caught in a whirlwind. Even the Eilin Hae fell, striking the hardwood floor with a thud. She quickly recovered. "You brought it here!"
Before we could ask her what, the top of the building was peeled away. There were cloudy, gray skies on the horizon but above us was a black abyss. Deep in that darkness was a golden gaze, wreathed in a terrible storm, burning with a crimson glow. The Eye of Gold and Crimson had arrived.
"Leave!" Eilin Hae roared.
Flesh fell in squishing lumps. It looked like... chicken, blended with bloody ground beef. In mere seconds those clumps shaped themselves into poor imitations of living creatures. Those limbs were meant to be legs, but they barely supported the misshapen figure that tried to balance on them. More formed. Some had giant mouths, much like I had seen before, and others eyes or ears. There were no speeches this time, though. Instead the mouths simply babbled nonsense as they charged. We had only seconds to process this before the first abomination got its limbs around a nearby security personnel. The wad of flesh ripped off pieces of the Elwae with ease and, by merely touching the detached flesh, turned it into a mush that it threw to the side.
It took only moments to reduce him to a lump of flesh, only a gurgled cry later and he was gone.
Em's father grabbed my arm firmly, revealing that I was the only one stuck in place. So mesmerizing was the impossible sight that I had forgotten about my own life, which was clearly in peril. Even without the minions of the Eye of Gold, I would die. The building was coming down!
Against all my instincts, I followed Em's father and the others into a deathbox that was the elevator. It was the only way down, aside from jumping. Every time it shook, I was certain we were dead. Every shutter brought a prayer to my lips, but I didn't know what I was even praying to. Something listened, however, as the doors finally opened to a chaotic ground floor.
The front doors were shattered and there was no longer any security at the door. The city was full of screams. Cars were wrecked all along the full streets and fires burned everywhere.
Over the chaos, Em's father took charge. "Leave! We leave the city!" He put his hands in front of him and grasped at air, then pulled the empty space in front of him apart. As if tearing the fabric of reality, he ripped open a hole in the air. A boom, like thunder exploding just overhead, nearly burst my eardrums. Nomic and I were knocked to the ground, but Em seemed more ready.
I couldn't hear anymore, but I could see that Em was fighting her father. All my ears could do was ring. He grabbed her by the collar, ignored her scratching and fighting, and threw her into the hole. She went flying and I lost sight of her. Em's father then dragged me to my feet and I was shoved inside, followed by Nomic.
Just as my hearing was coming back, the hole slammed in on itself and shattered my senses once more. But when I came to, I realized that Em's father had not come along. We were back in the woods, who knows how far away from the city, and we no longer had our guide. Em screamed at the air.
My hearing was coming back again. "What... what happened?"
"He's still there." Em began to cry. "He is still in the city. You can't use your own portal... there isn't a way for him to follow."
"We don't have Barrow either." Nomic rubbed his ears hard. "We have to go back."
"How? I can't open portals."
"Portals? I didn't even know portals existed until today! You know more than the rest of us. If you can't do that... then we walk. That is how we got there, after all." I answered.
She shook her head. "Only pixies know the way."
This mission was about more than saving myself. I needed to find Selene and that meant I needed to be alive. "Your father himself said y'all aren't pixies. He called himself an Elwae. You aren't a pixie and you aren't a human, you are an Elwae like the rest of them. You can do this. Take us back."
"How?"
"I don't care how!" I snapped. I know, bad timing, but is there a good time to break? "Do something, quit asking for guidance! We. Don't. Know! Barrow is still there and we are still marked! I only have more questions, no answers!" We still had our wristbands. "This is our key. We go back and you'll lead us to the light under the city."
"I don't know if I can." Lifted her hands, her fear driving her defensive stance. "I've never gone to the city on my own."
"Did you take any potions with you?"
Em's eyes widened slightly. That was answer enough. "No more pretending. You can't hang inbetween, you'll take your true form. Like your father said, you are not a pixie."
"Then why am I small?!" She screamed, hands in her hair. "Why aren't I like anyone else?!"
"I DON'T KNOW! You are part Elwae, so start walking!" I looked to Nomic, who was still rubbing his ears. It was only then that I realized my own aggression. Taking a deep breath usually helps; it did not fail me. "Look, we don't have a choice. If you can't take us there, you can't take us home either. Just... just start walking. That is a good place to begin."
She didn't seem to like it, but there wasn't anything else to try. Em led us into the forest in a random direction. We had only two hopes; that her blood would lead her, or that luck would be on our side.
---------------------------------------
There is far more to tell, obviously, but that seems like a good stopping point. Kinda shitty, I know, but you'll get the rest in time. I've got a plane to catch; there was a 4chan post about a strange blue mark on some guy's wrist. Could be nothing, but I managed to set up a meeting. Writing time is up and I'll be back in a few days. This could be the one, guys.
Sorry to keep everyone waiting this long. When I am finished writing, you'll understand. Until then, be safe. There is a terrible eye on us all.

Green Day Soundgarden The Cranberries Foo Fighters Deftones Korn Alice In Chains Pearl Jam Blur Oasis Radiohead Blink 182 The Offspring Smashing Pumpkins Stone Temple Pilots Weezer
Honorable Mentions: Nirvana,Jane’s Addiction,Smash Mouth,Dinosaur Jr,Goo Dolls,Third Eye Blind,Hole,Marcy Playground,Soul Asylum,Collective,dc talk,Sublime,Primus,The Wallflowers,Lemonheads,Gin Blossoms,The Breeders,Liz Phair, Alanis Morissette,Candlebox,Everclear,Live,Bush,Our Lady Peace, Pavement, Archers of Loaf, Sleater-Kinney, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, The Breeders, Superchunk,Cat Power, Guided by Voices, Sebadoh, The Jesus Lizard, Liz Phair, The Flaming Lips,Nine Inch Nails,Reel Big Fish, Marilyn Manson, White Zombie, KMFDM, Ministry, Fear Factory,R.E.M,Rammstein,Sonic Youth,No Doubt,Suede,Faith No More,Blind Melon,The Verve,Pixies,and Garbage

Samples and decants
📣 CALLING ALL CURIOUS NOSES 📣
I have collected many, MANY samples of fragrances over the past year or two, and it is time for me to pass them along to the next curious nose.
PS. Sorry for the incredibly unfortunate shadow my phone cast over the 4160 samples FML
I have carded and un-carded samples, as well as 6 curated Sens Unique themed niche sample boxes.
I will combine BOTH the carded and un-carded groups for a total of $140 shipped CONUS from TX. It would be hugely convenient for me to ship everything together so you get a big ole discount! The Sens Unique boxes are $20 each shipped CONUS from TX.
✨Uncarded - full set $115 shipped CONUS (99 samples by my count, but I’ll find something else to throw in to get it to an even 100 for you)
Mix of official and decanted samples and decants varying levels in each, some are larger than average like 3-4mls, some are just a few sprays, and the majority are mostly full standard size 2ml bottles✨
4160 Tuesdays (22)
Drive Them Wild Dancing With Strangers Honey Jasmine Karma Dark Queen Freeway Cherry Who? Oakmossery Creamy Vanilla Crumble Sleep Knot Goodbye Piccadilly Take Me To The River Saltburn Driftwood Eau My Soul Sunshine and Pancakes Coulda Illusion Redchurch Flora Psychadelica Scenthusiasm White Queen Truth Beauty Freedom Love Burnt Cedar Rainbow Dove Shazam!
Montale (4) Sweet Flowers Intense Cafe Day Dreams Rose Elixir
Angelos Creations Olfactives (3) Salon Dt Angeliki Grace D’Orient
Floraiku (3) My Shadow On The Wall Sound of a Ricochet I Am Coming Home
Louis Vuitton (2) California Dream Afternoon Swim
Anjali (2) Tiger Bright Himalayan Dawn
Serge Lutens (2) Bapteme du Feu Chergui
Ex Nihilo (2) Viper Green French Affair
Etat Libre D’Orange (2) I am Trash Tilda Swinton Like This
Guerlain (2) Joyeuse Tuberose Lui
Rogue Perfumery (2) Vetifleur Derviche 2
Les Indemodables (2) Fougere Emeraude Iris Perle
Miscellaneous (29) Penhaligons - Halfeti Leather DS & Durga - St. Vetyver Dior - Diorissimo Ferragamo Tuscan Soul - La Commedia Initio - Musk Therapy Cartier - Carat Profumum Roma - Eccelso Mizensir - Cologne de Figuier Amouage - Crimson Rock Frederic Malle - Superstitious Madison Gabriella Chieffo - Lattedoro Profumo Di Firenzi - Fico Imaginary Authors - Every Storm a Serenade Argos - Adonis Awakens Laboratorio Olfattivo - Kashnoir Teo Cabanal - Je Ne Sais Quoi Le Lebo - Neroli 36 Carthusia - Via Camerelle Robert Piguet - Petit Fracas YSL - Lavallier Costume National - 21 Christian Dior - Leather Oud Histoires de Parfum - Outrecuidant Bond No 9 - I Love New York Marriage Equality Ellis Brooklyn - Bee La Fleur by Livvy - Fleur d’Aspiration Hiram Green - Lustre Nose - Awake Jorum Studio - Fantosmia
✨Carded - carded set $55 shipped CONUS✨ (22 samples by my count)
Dusita (2) Le Sillage Blanc Fleur de Lalita
Carthusia (3) Corallium Mediterraneo Terra Mia
Jo Malone (3) Midnight Musk & Amber Wood Sage & Sea Salt Peony & Blush Suede
Mind Games (3) Caissa Grand Master Double Attack
Miscellaneous (11) Mizensir - For Your Love Parfums De Marly - Greenley Bulgari - Eau Parfumée Creed - Windflowers Louis Vuitton - California Dream Clive Christian - Crab Apple Blossom Guerlain - Oud Nude Hermes - Un Jardin A Cythere Tuttotondo - Mirto YSL - Libre Intense Initio - Paragon
✨Sens Unique Curated Boxes (6)
War and Peace: Pierre Guillaume Paris – L’Eau Guerriere Carner Barcelona – Megalium Parfums MDCI – Cuir Cavalier Beaufort London – Vi Et Armis Attache-Moi – It Was a Time That Was a Time Noeme Paris – Divi Part
Oud: Ex Idolo – Thirty three Plume Impression – Duallite Magnifique Alexandre J – the Majestic Oud Maison Incens – Oud Deneii Parfums MDCI – Cuir Garamante Pierre Guillaume Paris – Sorong
Clean Scents: Pierre Guillaume Paris – Intime.Extime Jul Et Mad – Revelo Parfums MDCI – La Surprise Phaedon Paris – L’Eau de Phaedon Alexandre J – The Majestic Musk Etat Libre D’Orange – The Ghost in the Shell
The Sky: Ojar – Ciel D’Orage 1907 – Fatamorgana Rubini – Nuvolari Pierre Guillaume Paris – Jangala Snyoko – Une Ile Pluvieuse Dusita – Anamcara
Jewellery Art: Puredistance – Rubikona Etat Libre D’Orange – Yes I Do Alexandre J – Silver Ombre Les Indemodables – Iris Perle Pierre Guillaume Paris – Metal Hurlant Jacques Fath – L’Oree Du Bois
Modern Classics: 1907 – Genevieve Escentric Molecules – Escentric 02 Maison Incens – Neroli Animalis Pierre Guillaume Paris – Itabaia Plume Impression – Art Nouveau Dusita – La Douceur Du Siam

A special thanks to u/SpacePaladin15 for the fantastical universe.
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Memory transcription subject: Barlim, Gojid Refugee
Date [standardized human time]: October 11th, 2136
Arwen didn’t shout too much after I crested the hill, and based on the lack of paw falls behind me. I presumed that the non-sapient canine and my Gojid kin had not chased after me. It was safe to assume that the other three decided to help Arwen while she struggled underneath the black-colored venlil. Trivi was probably doing the same and the dog was probably too busy tasting Arwen’s face some more in what must’ve been a display of affection. A part of me hoped that Tack or Pragh had followed me so that I’d have someone familiar with me when I encountered Jaxton. Obviously not Telg though, not him! Though, one small part of me wished to keep this purely between Jaxton and I.
Also, I probably should have helped pry Tova from Arwen, but with four people crowding around the single human. I probably would have made it one big prickly mess.
One quick glance down at my quill-covered body hinted at that simple fact; chest, arms, and legs were covered in pointed spines! There were plenty of spots covering me where something could go wrong after one errant twitch. I’d rather not accidentally poke Arwen, Trivi, Tova, or the non-sapient predator with a single misstep, and I certainly didn’t trust the light blue hoodie to prevent my quills from poking through. I’ve pricked myself a few times before. It’s not fun!
I continued on my slow, lumbering run for a few minutes before I caught sight of the nearest house. A mile must’ve been shorter than I thought, maybe I was running faster than I thought, or maybe I was simply feeling the growing excitement of meeting Jaxton once again. I could feel my heart soaring, and not just from the adrenaline!
The human home was like some of the other homes I have seen in the United States; blocky, above ground, and with a slanted and shingle-covered roof. However, that’s where their similarities ended! The material it was made out of appeared to have been dug out from the ground itself: Cobblestone by the looks of it from afar, and piled up in a vertical line up two floors. It had some windows like other above-ground homes I have seen, as well as a door, obviously. The last two things were a necessity! Well, my old home didn’t have windows, considering it was completely underground, but it did have three doors!
Not much… farther!
My paws feel heavy after carrying me all the way to the front door. Despite the fact that my limbs feel an acidic burn, I reach up and rapt my paws against the white wooden door. After the quick knock, I take a step back and anxiously wait for someone. My heart quickly began to race as anxiety became the new emotion to force it into overdrive. I could feel it beating aggressively within my ribs, threatening to burst out as it pushed blue blood through my veins. My nerves heightened when I heard the footfalls of a human on the other side of the door.
“Hello?” A voice was clearly of the feminine human variety, so it was hard not to allow my ears and tail to droop with disappointment, but I was able to keep my mood chipper-looking while the door was pushed open, revealing a woman on the other side: A short, scrawny female human that was close to my height with pale skin, long and straight blonde hair, and icy blue eyes. Those blue eyes widening when they saw me!
She kind of reminds me of Jaxton!
“Hi,” I said with my most neutral, but friendly voice possible.
Her eyes widened even more at the sound of my voice and she leaped back from the door! “Jesus!” She shouts while stumbling backward. The woman’s feet don’t land on the ground properly, causing her to fall down onto her rear with a small yelp. “Jameson! Alien! We got one of those porcupine aliens!” The human gives one more kick along the ground to get some distance before scrunching up into a ball. Her arms and knees were lifted up high to protect her vulnerable head. A loud shriek came from the human!
I did everything I could from leaping back in my own startled fright. Only taking a single paw step back from the human’s explosive reaction.
I’m scaring… a human?
It was obvious that I was scaring the human the moment she curled up into a protective screaming ball. I raise my forepaws in a sign of non-aggression, holding my tongue and praying that the human’s fearful reaction doesn’t turn violent, or that someone assumes I tried to do something. Maybe I should have waited on the others.
All I knew was that I was nervous, and I probably gave the poor human a small scare. She probably wasn’t expecting to see an alien like me. She also probably had an opinion on my kind as Telg had described.
I really hoped she didn’t have such an opinion of me. She’s probably Jaxton’s mother, sister, aunt, or friend.
I am pulled from my thoughts by the sounds of thundering footsteps running downstairs. “Jesus! What is it, Morgan!?” The voice. The accent. It was familiar! My eyes quickly flick back down to the human laying on the ground. She looked up at me from between her partially parted arms, eyeing me with fear once her shouting had ceased. A fear that I can see rapidly vanishing as her arms part more, taking note of my unmoving stance.
Before I get the chance to speak, two male humans barge into view, stepping out from a hall not that far from the woman called Morgan. They’re very similar in appearance; very pale skin that is flushed pink from the sudden exertion of running down the stairs, two sets of cutting blue eyes that make me buckle on the spot, and blonde hair that covers the top of their head as well as go along their jaw lines. A little tuft of blonde hair goes over both of their top lips. I can tell who the younger one is by the skin being slightly smoother in appearance.
The older one is wearing a cast and quickly lowers himself down to Morgan, placing his good hand down on her shoulder. His eyes locking onto me with a look of confusion. The younger one stands just to the side of the older one, looking more astonished at the fact that I am here. We probably stand there for a few moments, exchanging awkward glances.
“Hi,” I repeat, but with a bit more joviality sneaking into my voice. My paws finally lowering down to my sides.
“Barlim?” The younger male finally voices out with his astonishment.
Yes! Yes! I recognize that voice! It’s him!
Between Jaxton and his father’s stare, while it does make me feel very nervous, doesn’t compare to the sensation I had been subjected to at the airport, but surprisingly still cuts rather deep. I resist the sudden urge to take one paw step back.
He wouldn’t harm me, right?
My gaze instantly snaps to his hand. The one that he had used to brush me all those days ago. It was tightly wrapped up with a white gauze bandage. A reminder of what he had put himself through for me. I instantly feel stupid for the recent thought. The mask must’ve helped me much more than I had realized. His eyes are very… deep.
Eventually, I gave a simple nod.
“What are- How- Why are you here?” The male thankfully seemed far more perplexed than angry at my sudden intrusion, having left the refugee camp without anyone knowing. I was surprised he wasn’t alerted considering he and his kin were pack pre-. I had to take a moment to pause, catching my thoughts. I remembered what Telg said about predators in the human context. They were still pack-orientated, and the reason why he wasn’t told was probably because he was off duty to take care of his father.
“You know who that is?” The older male, who I presumed to be Jaxton’s father, asked with a quizzical tone. A question that was swiftly answered with a curt nod and a soft “yes.” This seemed to have calmed his nervous mother down to the point that her hands, arms, and knees finally pulled away from her face. Her face was still a bit flustered.
His blue eyes turned over toward his father, flashing the man a smile. “Her name is Barlim. Uh, her quills gave me all the cuts along my hand. Forgot to tell you about her.” Jaxton let out a small laugh and rubbed the back of his head with the bandaged hand. “Well, I did tell you about her, partially. Just the part about hurting my hand on one of the aliens after calming her down.” His gaze then turned back to me. “I’m still curious as to why you're here. Shouldn’t you be at the refugee camp?”
I stood still, shocked and a little bit stunned by the question. The words I wanted to form got stuck within my throat, unable to force their way out through my lips.
Did Jaxton not remember what he told me that night?
I could feel a small pang tear itself through my chest as my memories swiftly drifted back up to the surface, reliving those nights I spent alone, hungry, scared, and desperate. Only to have this human come and pull me out of that painful void. The first feeling of worth I had felt in days, let alone the last couple of weeks when I was in the process of losing my friends, home, and family painfully one quill plucked at a time.
I had nothing now.
I sucked in a small sniffle through my nose, feeling my eyes begin to well up upon remembering what happened just a mere two days ago, remembering his soft, brushing hand, his sweet and tender words, and the beautiful blue rose bush…
“You don’t reem-member?” My voice hitched as I tried to speak, feeling a crumbling sense of strength that I have been holding onto quickly falling away. The hope to see Jaxton because he had given me that first spark to keep pushing. The spark, the hope to have something once again, and then finally to stand there at the finish line and remember all that I had done up until this point, wallowing away in that room with nothing to live for. What everything had led up to. Now all of a sudden I was tripping up over my own words because I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to articulate my messy mind into words.
Of course, my question felt silly, and self-centered at its core. Jaxton had a life outside of that camp. He had a family that he had to look after, and here I was like some selfish interloper just wanting to… just wanting to…
I wished I had asked this question myself so much sooner! Sprak! I don’t know what to feel! What to think! I was too caught up in the excitement that the adventure provided me with! The sense of adventure and adversity that Telg talked about with such enthusiasm! Now it was over, as short as it was, and left before me stood my finish line. I don’t know what to say. What good would some dumb Gojid be to him anyway!?
Jaxton doesn’t shake or nod his head for several seconds. His blue eyes dilated before he slowly looked at the ground. “Shit… I’m sorry.”
Unable to contain myself, my already weak knees buckle down to the floor, and my eyes begin their steady drizzle down the sides of my cheeks. “Y- You told me that you would… That you would see me at the cafeteria!” I take in a solid gasp of air, having expelled it all as my diaphragm gave a firm spasm, forcing the air out of my recently filled lungs. I don’t let the pain in my lungs stop me from trying to speak. “I looked! I waited! You weren’t there!”
I still felt alone.
“I- I searched and found no signs of you! I wanted… I wanted…” I had to stop speaking for a moment to catch my breath, having forced in and out several shivering lungs of air within a span of a few seconds. It didn’t really help as the rapid breathing made me feel light-headed, dizzy, and queasy. Every emotion suppressed threatening to resurface with each thought dragging me back to that warmly lit cell.
Finally, I wasn't able to contain myself any longer. Tears began pouring out down the sides of my cheeks, dripping onto the floor. My paws both reached up to try to cover my rainy eyes, trying to hide the now awkward shame that threw itself into my emotional turmoil. My muzzle parting to let out a horrible whine. “I was… so alone! I had nothing else-. I hated everything with… with a… with a burning passion! Then you decided to come- come along and make… make yourself known! You m-made me fe-el better! You di-dint dnkt- give up on me! I wanted YOU!”
Unable to keep speaking, pushing all that I could into it for those last few words, I return to my sobbing in front of the three humans. The three are probably sitting there, watching the pathetic prey creature unable to control her poor emotions.
This was such a mistake…
I wipe at my eyes and my nose, trying to rub away the running tears and mucus that drip from the respective orifices. A new sense of humiliation finds its way to tug at my already torn heart, adding to the whirlwind of emotions that have found themselves spinning inside of me.
Everything stops when I feel something brush down between my ears. It’s a single, firm press down between my ears, flattening down my quills. I gingerly pull my paws down and out of my eyes, blinking away tears until my vision clears away the wet blur. Jaxton stands before me, lips curled upright in an unfamiliar way that looks like a smile, but more awkward.
“Gah, I am really sorry, Barlim. That was horrible of me to do to you.” His hand comes down again after performing the pass, repeating the process by starting at the front end of my forehead, and then working its way across my scalp. This time, my quills had been somewhat brushed prior to coming here, so Jaxton’s able to work around all the pointed quills because they flow in one direction.
“I just… You- I” Jaxton silences me with a finger to my lips, using the uninjured limb to do it this time.
“This feels quite familiar, doesn’t it?” He laughs. Jaxton actually laughs, baring his sharp, front-white teeth down at me. I know the reaction is one of delight, but in my distraught haze, I quickly pull away, snagging his bandaged hand among my quills.
“Tsk…” He grunts with pain. Jaxton takes a small glance down at his palm, eyeing up two large quills that have managed to work their way into the bandaged hand. He plucks them free without complaint. “Wasn’t that deep,” he remarked, taking a glance down at the bloodied bandage. “Sorry, forgot the mask upstairs. I would have grabbed it if I had known it was you.”
I sit in an unpleasant silence brewed within my own making. ^{“Sorry…”} I respond meekly, looking down at my clawed paws. “Don’t be,” he says with a nonchalant wave, coming back closer to sit down next to me, placing himself on my left, facing toward his parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Barlim.” Jaxton gestures to me with his right thumb. “If it hasn’t been established, she’s the one I bloodied my hand over.” He then gestures for me to look at his parents. “And well, that’s my mom and dad, obviously.”
The older man that looks like Jaxton chuckles, and slowly stands back up. “The name’s Jameson, Jameson Wellington and this is my wife, Morgan Wellington.” The woman nods, her face completely red with embarrassment if I had to guess. She gets to her feet as well, assisted by Jameson.
“Sorry for the freakout. I was expecting a more violent reaction from you.”
From me? I couldn’t hurt anything!
“Love, you know she can’t be like those other aliens on the internet, right?” - “But-” - “Don’t but me, Morgan. I love you, but Barlim hasn’t done anything wrong, so she’s good, right?”
Jaxton's mother nods, looking a lot braver with her mate’s words behind her.
“Mom, Dad, you think you can give Barlim and I some time to chat for a bit? It should not be long.” Thankfully, Jameson and Morgan respect their son’s wishes.
They both nod and work their way deeper into the house. “Holler if you need anything. We trust you know what you are doing.”
“I am, Dad!”
I am once again pulled from my thoughts as Jaxton’s hand finds my head, stroking down over my quills, and even finding room to go down the length of my back, pausing every time he reaches a spot where a quill isn’t pointed in the right direction. “I’m going to need a brush for you. I can’t keep poking myself like this.”
^{“You seem…”} I pause for a moment to clear my throat. My breath still shaking. “You seem content to keep going. I did not even-” Jaxton swiftly cuts me off.
“You asked me to keep petting you when I was about to leave if I recall correctly.”
I feel my ears turn a few shades of blue. “Well, yeah, but I was unhappy.”
“Like you are now?~” He says with a giddily sweet tone.
Delicately, I lower my head down onto my knees, keeping my movements slow and predictable so that Jaxton doesn’t slice his hands upon my quills. ^“Yes…”
Jaxton thankfully decides not to respond to that, dragging his hand over my quills again and again, parting them within his fingers to rub at the burning flesh beneath them. It was a pleasant feeling that I didn’t want to end, and now that I think about it.
I’m glad I decided to run the last bit on my own.
Just to have this one moment alone.
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T~T

Summer is here, and it's time to update your wig collection with some fabulous options that will keep you looking stylish and feeling cool. If you're in search of the perfect summer wigs, look no further than ExpressBeautyOnline. With their wide range of high-quality wigs, you can easily find the ideal pieces to complete your summer look.

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This sub has been so helpful to me as I prepped for my surgery. I'm just sharing some tips that helped me and hopefully will help some others who are preparing for their surgeries:
​

• Pre Surgery Home Prep
  • Laundry
  • Fresh sheets on bed
  • Arrange extra pillows on bed morning of surgery
  • Bedside table stocked with: portable phone charger, apple juice, gatorade, water, gauze, medications, books, all TV remotes, headphones, iPad, chargers with long cords, eyeglasses, contacts, lapdesk
  • If you have pet(s) - set up feeding supplies and instructions for the person who is helping you post-op
  • Wash surgical bra (per surgeon's instructions)

​

• Shower Prep
  • stool/chair to sit on in shower
  • soap, shampoo, conditioner at a level that can be reached independently
  • small towels to pat skin dry (my regular towels/bath robe were too heavy and bulky)
  • hairdryer to dry incisions (optional)
  • any special post shower creams/bandages/tapes as per surgeon recommendations

​

• Pre Surgery Self Prep
  • trim nails, remove hand nail polish if required, remove piercings & jewelry as required
  • pack surgery bag - surgical bra, paperwork, any medication they want you to bring on surgery day, long socks for operating room (if allowed), headphones, books, comfort items, etc.
  • prep day of surgery outfit - button down loose top, loose drawstring sweat pants, comfy socks, slip on shoes.
  • pick up all Rx medications, OTC ointments, etc. from pharmacy before day of surgery!

​

• Supplies I bought (all available on Amazon - I can give specific recs if people want them and if it’s allowed)
  • Bed wedge pillow (it has a flat top and a side with a slope). I use it under my legs to relieve pressure on my lower back when sleeping elevated. I did not buy a maternity pillow, I use multiple standard bed pillows to keep me elevated when sleeping.
  • Disposable rinse free bathing sponges - I live in a very hot, humid climate. I used these to freshen up for the first few days after surgery (face, underarms, and decolletage) and they helped immensely.
  • Extra long reusable straws. In the early days, lifting a cup to my mouth was difficult (not because of pain but weakness). These allowed me to have a drink in my lap on a tray and sip by just tipping my chin down. I bought 15 inch reusable ones.
  • Gauze for padding. 3x3 Inch (Pack of 25). I use these on my breast fold incisions and to cushion the elastic of my surgical bra. I have gone through 2.5 boxes and am still using these at almost 2 wpo because I have a little bit of blood and like the cushion they provide.
  • Spare surgical bra. I bought a spare of the bra that my surgeon gave me so that I could have one ready after each shower. The inside of my bra gets soiled quickly due to having to apply special creams twice a day per my surgeon's instructions.
  • Sore throat lozenges - I have been intubated before and did not have a sore throat those times. I read here that some people did. I bought throat lozenges and I am very glad I did. I had pain akin to a strep throat for the first few days after surgery and the lozenges helped a lot!
  • Fiber gummies - check with your doctor regarding any supplements. I started fiber gummies a few days before surgery and my doctor also gave me a supplement specifically for post-surgical GI issues. I was able to go without issue 4 days after surgery and did not feel any discomfort before this. By 1 wpo, I had no noticeable abdominal bloating. I was pretty regular before surgery, and have a bean and lentil-heavy vegetarian diet, so this may play a part.
  • Dial antibacterial soap (white bar) - I used one fresh bar before surgery and another fresh bar after surgery. I am still using this soap. It actually smells nice.

​

• Pill reminder app - depending on your medication protocol, an app may be helpful. I was on a lot of medications/supplements (10+) and there would have been no way for me to keep track without an app to remind me what to take, how to take it, and allowing me to record when I did take something/forgot/skipped. I used the free version of MediSafe. I programmed all of my medications into the app a few days before surgery. It reminded me when to take what with notifications. I even programmed a reminder to walk every 2 hours into the app.

Best of luck to all of you! I am glad to be a part of this very supportive community. :)

The singular white light abruptly turns to a cycling light of pink, blue and purple. A Holo of a band playing jizz performs rythmically with the strobing light. Somewhere in the background of the holo of the band, there is a holo of Hinch Beltane dancing in the club. The voice of journalist Ame Angoo plays in the background – softly. “ We've certainly seen him in the last few days handle himself in a fight, but...Let's just say... we weren't too sure about his moves out here tonight….”
The Holo recorder turns to a Twi’lek female in a business attire. She is standing in the cycling light, which gradually calming down to be a singular white light once more.
“Hello everyone. I am Hoipa Vonill, Technology Lead at Balmorran Arms and I have just now spoken to the our very own Senator Beltane at Alpheridies, where he relayed despairingly that he was not sure if it was evening or day. But it doesn’t matter, because day or night, no matter where you go in our Republic, one of the many constants are that folk like to have a good time, and that a good time is often accompanied by a good tune.
We live in a fortunate place and time where at any moments notice there are a selection of bands who work tirelessly to give us all great times. But many of these artists have over the years had to suffer at the whims of organised crime, inebriated revellers and even opposing bands. Well, no more.
Balmorran Arms is pleased to announce its partnership with the Melody Fellowship in the production of a new line of 5th Degree, Labor and Security Droids, the RO-D Series. Each RO-D is equipped with short range sensors, lethal and non-lethal hardpoints, and a dedicated life-protection programming. The RO-D has also been designed to help set up and maintain equipment. Most importantly, the RO-Ds can be customised in 70 different color schemes which will allow them to match any stage setup.
We are pleased with this new development and hopefully we will soon see more Joint Venture projects cater to the needs and welfare of more groups in our Galactic Republic.”

Hello! I want to get rid of two of my boards because I am going to be changing to a tkl format. All of the boards have been used, but they are in good condition. All of them are pretty much as SILENT as a mechanical keyboard is going to get and they have all been heavily tuned by Upgradekeyboards. BUYER PAYS FOR SHIPPING!! NO TRADES OR PARTING OUT!
Timestamps
Soundtests
-Tofu 84 75% [Looking to get $235 OBO]

• tofu 84 75% hotswap rgb pcb
• lubed kailh box silent pinks
• lubed and tuned durock v2 smokey black screw in stabs
• akko BOW keycaps
• other specs will be in service orders
• I paid around $400 for this board as shown in the service orders.

-kbd67 lite [Looking to get $200 OBO]

• green smoke transparent
• I am not sure what rev it is
• 65% layout
• lubed TTC bluish white full silent tactile switches
• lubed and tuned clear durock v2 screw in stabs
• drop keysterine smoke keycaps
• Case has foam, but not sure if it is place/pcb or both
• WILL include keyboard carry case for another $10
• I bought this keyboard for around $330 with all of the tuning and modding
• kbd67 service order

I will ignore pms without comments and any request to part out the boards.

White Knight Philodendron, Chameleon ZZ, Pink Princess Philodendron, Global Green Pothos, Baltic Blue, Green Galaxy and Sterling Silver?
Out of no where I've seen about 10 of each plant at Walmart last week. I was super surprised about the White Knight and Pink princess. I remember in 2020 the prices were crazy. I stopped following trying to catch exotic rare types because I was happy with my little clan.
Are these plants easy to come by now or did I just stumble upon a rare sight in my area?