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ask-professor-laurel · 3 years

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Shiverwood Facilities

(This is a WIP, will probably be updated fairly frequently!)

PREFACE

This blog is a headcanon blog- it is not run as canon, and everything said is my own personal headcanons. The goal of this blog is just to explore the Pokemon world and the lore in ways that canon does not, I don’t claim anything I say to be canon or superior to anybody else’s headcanons.

This blog ignores game mechanics, as they don’t apply to the more realistic approach I’m taking here. I’m operating more under a blend of manga and anime mechanics. Storylines in the games may be acknowledged, but game mechanics (level up system, IVs and EVs, etc) are not canon to this blog.

A note from the person who runs this blog: I am by no means a medical expert, or an expert in real life animals. This is all for fun, and is just my fun way of having a blog for a self-indulgent Pokemon OC. Do not take anything I see here as real-life medical or animal handling advice- I am not a professional in any way.

(I also want to note- I was inspired by the Professor Peach blog to start my own, so shoutout to them for giving me the idea!!)

—————

What do we do?

Shiverwood Facilities itself is dedicated both to Pokemon research and Pokemon care. Our work is primarily based on Pokemon behaviour rather than on any specific Pokemon type, with our primary work being researching into a broad spectrum of Pokemon behaviours, and the care of Pokemon sent to us for care or rehabilitation. We also act as an in-between for Pokemon that need more intensive rehabilitation we can’t offer and we can often take in Pokemon that need to be removed from situations, but who don’t have someone to take them in quite yet.

On the research side of things, I (Professor Laurel) am in charge of most aspects of it. My research is centralized on Pokemon variants, the environmental causes, and the behavioural aspects. I’m also a behaviouralist myself, with a background in that sort of research, so I’m a bit of an encyclopedia on Pokemon behaviour and the habits of various species. I’m most familiar with Dragon, Grass, and Bug type Pokemon, but I can help with pretty much any typing.

Our site is equipped to deal with Pokemon that need care or minimal rehabilitation- anything more intensive we offer to just hold onto the Pokemon in question until someone more qualified can come and pick them up. Pokemon care here covers mental wellbeing and physical health- we have several behaviouralists onsite, including myself, who can get to the root of the problem and help a Pokemon emotionally, as well as trained medical staff who can deal with anything physical, be it injuries or something chronic. Our medical facilities are equivalent to a Pokemon Centre, and we often take in injured wild Pokemon for short stays before releasing them, but we’ll also help out trainers who pass by, or anyone who needs to bring in their Pokemon for a longer stay, free of charge. Any Pokemon left with us, whether found after being abandoned or being surrendered from bad situations, will most likely be rehomed, if not taken in by someone on staff.

We offer tours of the facility, as well as tours of the local habitat. These are both guided either by myself or another staff member with a capable team, just in case. Public areas are clearly marked with signs, same with warning signs for any areas that might be dangerous, and areas closed to the public. We also host a couple of events every season that serve to raise awareness of our work, Pokemon care, Pokemon wellbeing, etc for the public.

—————

Who are you sending your questions to?

Professor Arthur Laurel! That’s me- you can call me Arthur if you want, I’m not big on formalities. I’ve talked about myself already, but I’m the person who will be receiving and answering all of your questions.

I have a smaller team of Pokemon from my trainer days, and all three of them are my trusted partners and some of my very best friends.

Cloudhopper - My Dragonite. She’s been with me the longest and is my partner, gifted to me as a starter as a Dratini when I was going to set out on my Gym Challenge. She’s also a certified service Pokemon, as well as a flying Ride Pokemon. Known for being very protective, usually the one to get me out of trouble, but also very sweet and loving. She does have a wicked sense of humour, though, watch out for if she feels mischievous.

Honeybite - My Appletun. He’s larger than the average Appletun, standing at over 3 feet tall, and known for being the sweetest cuddles there ever was. He’s been with me nearly as long as Cloudhopper. Honeybite’s famous for his cuddles, but don’t underestimate him for his sweet face, he’s quite the little powerhouse when he wants to be, but luckily for us he chooses peace.

Sweetbug - My Vespiquen. She was the last addition to my team, but it’s still been a good decade of having her by my side. She’s a mother hen type between myself and her Combee hive, with a fierce protective streak that has us keeping her hive closed to the public. She often offers honey as a gift to those she cares about, so you can always tell someone’s having a good day when they’ve got a little jar of honey that they didn’t get from me.

—————

Where are we and how can you find us?

Shiverwood is a bit of an exaggeration for a name- we’re located just north of Ballonlea, near the mountains surrounding Wyndon. We’re just north of being hot and humid, and just south of being freezing, so we have some cooler weather for most of the year, although summers can get quite hot. There are designated paths through the thick forest outside of Ballonlea that lead to us, so finding your way isn’t too difficult, but for those who don’t want to travel on foot we can also be reached through Corviknight Taxi and easily spotted from the sky on a flying service Pokemon. We don’t have any water access, the only body of water being a nearby lake, as well as no train access. Walking/riding or flight are the only ways to reach us.

We’re in this area on the standard Galar map.

—————

What kind of facilities do we have?

MAIN LAB - This is the largest building, it’s the main research facility and where you’ll find me if I’m not cooped up in my lab or out in the field. It also contains a smaller medical facility equipped for minor injuries for both people and Pokemon. Mostly open to the public.

LAUREL’S LAB - Within the Main Lab building. I keep it open to the public for the most part, just know that it’s a mess most of the time, because I believe in organized chaos. My team can be interacted with here if they’re in the mood for it, so if you’ve ever wanted to hug a Dragonite, now’s your chance.

POKEMON CENTER - It’s not an official Pokemon Center, but we call it one because it’s easier. It’s equipped to handle anything from massive medical emergencies to permanent and semi-permanent residents who require more care. Also equipped for human care. We often offer supervised positions to learning medical students so that they can gain experience under the watchful eyes of our doctors. Some of it is open to the public, but the rooms are restricted to trainer and friends and family only, and surgery rooms are completely off limits.

ZEN AREA - This is a combination of a building and a bigger outdoor area. This is where the behaviouralists care for Pokemon’s mental wellbeing- think of it like therapy for Pokemon. The outdoor area is open to the public, but inside the building only the entrance is accessible. This is because inside is where Pokemon who may be volatile or aggressive are cared for, to prevent them from escaping, or harming other patients. We call it the Zen Area because it can be very soothing, patient or not.

CONTAINMENT - Where we hold the Pokemon we’re temporarily holding for someone to come collect. This area is completely closed off to the public due to the usually very aggressive or unpredictable nature of the Pokemon who stay there. This area is meant for temporary stays- it’s a sizeable enough area of the woods right at the base of the mountain, and there’s a pond in there that’s surprisingly deep. This area can handle a wide variety of Pokemon, temporarily, but it can’t handle every single species. In those cases, we relocate them to another facility as quickly as possible.

GREENHOUSES - These are the warmest places in the facility, mostly inhabited by Grass Types, but also home to quite a few Bug Types. Open to the public and plants are available for purchase, with a wide range from leafy greens to berry saplings. The Pokemon here are tamed, and can be adopted. There is one that’s closed off to the public due to the Combee hive in there, but the honey can be bought!

TRAINING FIELD - Most of us are trainers, so we have a standard battlefield set up for battling! It isn’t equipped for Dynamaxing or Gigantamaxing, but that isn’t a worry since we don’t have the means to do so in this area. Trainers are welcome to use the field for practice, and to see if any staff would like to battle with them. I’m usually up for a good battle unless I’m busy (or recovering from something), and it’s great fun to spectate during your breaks!

MIRROR LAKE - Named after the Giant’s Mirror, Mirror Lake hosts numerous Water Types that prefer the colder waters. We have a Lapras who lives there and she’s very friendly, though she’s never been captured and we don’t allow the public to ride on her. She picks and chooses on the staff who she’ll allow to ride on her back and if you try to force it, she throws you into the water. We have other trained ride Pokemon for water rides, and the shallows can be nice to dip your feet in during the hotter summer, though the water never gets above chilly temperatures.

SHIVERWOOD FOREST - Likely named during the colder winter, Shiverwood is the forest we’re built on the edge of. It’s technically still the Glimwood Tangle, but we have stronger wild Pokemon around, as well as some other species you won’t find south of Ballonlea. There are trail tours, but we generally advise not wandering into the dense forest, as it’s very easy to get lost. You’ll often be able to see the wild Sylveon and Umbreon packs, as well as some Deerling and Sawsbuck herds, lots of Impidimps and a few Morgrems and Grimmsnarls, and plenty of Zubats. If you’re lucky, you might spot a Trevenant!

MOUNTAIN TRAILS - We have several mountain trails to hike on if you don’t mind the chillier weather up there. Most of the caves have danger signs posted in front of them and we often have staff posted near them, but several caves are open and free to explore! We have a Gigalith who lives deep in the caves who comes out every once in a while and is a real sight to behold, and higher up the mountain for more experienced climbers, you may get to see a very friendly Froslass. Other than that you can expect to find Geodudes, Gravellers and Golems, more Zubats, Roggenrolas and Boldores, and most common Rock Types. If you’re very lucky in the winter, and if you’re patient and brave enough to climb up to see the Froslass, you might just see an Aurorus if you wait around long enough. She’s very elusive, but breathtaking to see. Just don’t get on the wrong side of any Abomasnow or Beartics you see up there- keep to the trails and don’t go without staff.

—————

You said events?

I did! We host a couple of events every season, raising awareness for our work and for Pokemon in need to the public. The events we host are all free and are open for everyone, and we always put out plenty of notice and signs so everyone knows!

SPRING

Shiverwood Trek - Every year, early in the spring, we put on the annual hike where everyone who shows up early in the morning joins us for a hike through the forest! We do Pokemonspotting throughout, and this is usually the time where you get to interact with a lot of wild Pokemon and see the sights that Shiverwood has to offer. This is also the only event where we go off the trails- since the foliage won’t have fully come in, it’s much easier to get through, so we always explore “new” (we explore before taking random people in for safety reasons) areas. Afterwards, there’s a lunch and then we offer the usual guided tours. I usually lead this one!

Wake-Up Call - A lot of Pokemon come out of hibernation in the spring, and after sleeping for so long, they’re quite hungry! Come on down and make up baskets of food grown here in the Greenhouses, and join us in going through the forest and setting baskets around for anyone who might need it. You’ll often get to see sleepy Pokemon stumbling around, and let me tell you, you haven’t lived till you’ve seen a sleepy Greedent fall asleep eating the basket it found.

SUMMER

Summer Barbecue Bash!! - Just what it says it is! It’s a massive barbecue party we hold from early afternoon to late into the night every summer. We team up with Kabu and other Fire Type experts to bring in Fire Types to help with the cooking, as well as putting on shows of them displaying their talents and powers. It’s a lot of fun, just remember to bring sunscreen!

Scavenger Hunt - This one’s more meant for the younger ones, but we host a big scavenger hunt in the easy forest trails and the easy mountain trails for people to complete! Everybody gets a prize for finishing, but first free to finish get a bigger prize just as a bit of incentive. This usually brings out the families, a lot like the barbecue bash, and is a lot of fun to set up and help out with. Staff get to be wonderfully cryptic and unhelpful (unless it’s with the little ones- we’re a bit more helpful there) and it’s good to get out into the sun for a bit. We hold this one a couple times throughout the summer.

FALL

Fall Forage - As fall comes in, a lot of local plant life starts to wither for the colder weather. Right at the beginning, we lead people around for foraging, and anything they find they can choose to donate to us or take home for free. There’s a lot of Pokemonspotting to be had, a lot of exploring, and at the end of the day we take some of what we’ve found and we make a big community pot of soup! That’s become a tradition for the forage over the years, and it’s probably my favourite part after spending the whole day gathering plants in the chilly weather.

Sawsbuck Sendoff - Every year in the fall, the Sawsbuck and Deerling herds that live in the area migrate towards the mountains for the winter. They come through the area in big herds, and this lasts usually 2 - 3 days. This started off as something unofficial, but the popularity of it led to us advertising it as a sendoff, where we all gather and watch the Sawsbuck and Deerling herds migrate. You can also help clearing their way with us if you want, it’s a volunteer operation and we repay you with food, but you basically just help us clear the way and set up food and water stations, plus you might see some early groups come through! Can’t go up to the herds for safety reasons, but watching them is quite beautiful, and very rewarding to see your hard work pay off when they eat the food you set out for them.

WINTER

Into the Unknown - Named a bit dramatically, because we definitely know where we’re going, but winter’s event is cave exploring! This is the only time of year we open up some of the more restricted caves, and we take people deep into the caves to explore. We check them all out in advance, of course, to ensure safety, but this is the one and only opportunity a year to get into some of these caves and explore deeper into the mountain. This is another one I tend to lead, and it’s great fun, but it’s also got a lot of hands on deck and on standby just in case. A lot of prep goes into this one and honestly, it’s probably my favourite event to host! There’s hidden waterfalls, glittering caves, and this is the only way you’ll see some Pokemon like Noibats, Noiverns, and some elusive Ghost and Dark Types.

Winter Harvest - We do this one a few times throughout the winter. Winter Harvest is when we take what we’ve been growing in the Greenhouses and the public can come help us make food packages that we donate to Pokemon shelters, and to families in need. This one usually has a big turnout and it’s a great environment all around; just people helping each other and drinking hot chocolate. I participate every year, and help with the deliveries along with staff and volunteers.

Besides those, we also host regular adoption events. People can come through anytime to see if they’d like to adopt any of the Pokemon we hold here, though we do have fairs on a regular basis to promote the facility’s adoption services.

You can also find some courses here- we offer them to anybody looking to learn, no age limit (just a minimum; 16), but they can be very helpful when applying for certain lines of work. I also offer referrals and letters of recommendation as a professor, and the staff are also qualified to do the same as medical experts and behaviouralists.

—————

FAQ

Q: What kind of questions can I ask?

A: Anything and everything! I’ll always answer to the best of my ability, be it behaviour, medical, or just you wanting my thoughts on a certain species or concept. I’ll always be sure to be clear when my answers are uncertain, theoretical, or if I just don’t know. But anything you want to ask, ask away!

Q: Can I come to you for medical advice?

A: Within the Pokemon world? Absolutely! If you’re looking for real-life medical advice from the author of this blog, who is an arts student who works part-time retail, you are not going to find anything helpful!

Q: Why is my question taking a while to get answered?

A: I (both myself and Arthur) get very busy! I check this blog whenever I can, but I don’t always answer right away because my answers require time for me to sit down and think it out. I answer every ask I receive (unless it’s really weirdly personal or if there’s clearly something really bad about it- then it’ll be deleted) and I do so as quickly as I can, but I pride myself on quality answers, so it might take me a bit!

Q: Do you hand out starter Pokemon?

A: Not in the way you think! We do adopt Pokemon out, but we’re not like, say Professor Oak. Adopting a Pokemon out here, even to a child, involves a screening process of the adopter (anyone over 18 and if younger than 18, their legal guardian(s)), and a lot of paperwork. We have to make sure everything is going to work out, after all! But we don’t just hand a new trainer a Pokemon, no.

Q: Can I leave my Pokemon there for a short while?

A: Absolutely! We don’t have a designated daycare area, but we will ensure your Pokemon gets the best care and stays in the area best suited to them. Feel free to leave them with us, but we do ask that it not be long, so try to come get them within 10 days unless you give us notice it will be a longer period. While you’re away, your Pokemon will be allowed to roam (with supervision) in any area that best suits it, and I’ll personally assure you that staff are more than happy to keep our Pokemon guests company, haha :)

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az3422 · 3 years

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PeppersGhost's Proposal, I guess.

K/O Failure Scenario Hub » SPC-001 » PeppersGhost's Proposal, I guess.

rating: +263+–X

You are now connected.

[13:04] Topic is "Fuck credentials, fuck passwords, fuck secrecy, fuck everything. Just, fuck in general. Fuck like it's the end of the world, because it is. Fuck me, please oh lord im so alone | Welcome! If you're still alive to read this, good luck finding someone to talk to."

[13:04] DrTsega: Hello? Anyone here?

[19:32] DrTsega: I'll take that as a no, then.

[22:48] DrTsega: I can't be the only one left.

[22:49] DrTsega: Hey Queg, are you still running?

[22:49] Queg: Hello, DrTsega. What can I do for you?

[22:49] DrTsega: thank god

[22:50] DrTsega: !backscroll 10

[22:50] Queg: [04:33] SgtYitay: I've looked through the entire building

[22:50] Queg: [04:33] SgtYitay: Everyone is dead

[22:50] Queg: [04:33] AgentCaleb: No shit

[22:50] Queg: [04:33] AgentCaleb: I know nobody uses this thing anyway but DAMN it's been EMPTY

[22:50] Queg: [04:34] AgentCaleb: You think it's just the two of us?

[22:50] Queg: [04:37] AgentCaleb: You still there

[22:50] Queg: [04:39] AgentCaleb: Saaarrrrge

[22:50] Queg: [04:50] SgtYitay has been disconnected (Ping timeout)

[22:50] Queg: [18:22] AgentCaleb: oooookay well i think im gonna call it quits then. If anyone sees this tell my husband I love him

[22:50] Queg: [18:22] AgentCaleb: lol jk i'll see that dogfaced whore in hell 👍🕶👍

[22:51] DrTsega: hmm

[22:52] DrTsega: !seen Agent Caleb

[22:52] Queg: AgentCaleb was last seen 8 days ago saying: lol jk i'll see that dogfaced whore in hell 👍🕶👍

[22:52] DrTsega: shit

[22:53] DrTsega: shitballs

[22:53] DrTsega: shitmonkeys

[22:55] DrTsega: shit the nail on the head

[22:55] DrTsega: okay

[11:16] DrTsega: Good morning. If anyone sees this just ping me, I'll stay around as long as I can.

[09:48] DrTsega: I'm still here

[14:26] DrTsega: !quote CaptSumner

[14:26] Queg: CaptSumner: I may be shitting out of my pee parts but FUCK YOU I will WALK IT OFF

[14:26] DrTsega: haha what

[14:27] DrTsega: Good times, good times.

[14:28] DrTsega: I wish Sumner wasn't lying dead in the bathroom

[14:29] DrTsega: or anywhere, for that matter

[14:33] DrTsega: but especially the bathroom

[08:01] DrTsega: I'm still here

[12:55] DrTsega: Man, if anyone sees this later I'm going to look really pitiful

[05:51] DrTsega: okay I can't sleep so I guess I might as well do this

[05:52] DrTsega: !settopic Check the backscroll. Look for "Start here"

[05:52] Topic is "Check the backscroll. Look for "Start here""

[05:52] DrTsega: Start here

[05:53] DrTsega: If you're still alive to read this, congratulations. You survived.

[05:54] DrTsega: You also have access to working internet and enough knowledge about shadow governments to visit a (previously) private communications channel, so, hey, good on you.

[05:55] DrTsega: As a reward for being such a cool and alive person, I'm going to tell you the story of how we ended the world.

[05:55] DrTsega: For context, though, you'll probably want to start by reading a certain document…

[05:56] DrTsega: Actually, you can probably just skim it. A lot of this won't make sense to you anyway, so who cares?

[05:57] DrTsega: Anyway. I'll go find the link. If memory serves, they declassified everything when they realized we were all gonna die.

[06:13] DrTsega: How are these servers even still up? Isn't that just the craziest thing

[08:22] DrTsega: Found it.

NOTICE FROM THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATION

AND PROJECTS OPERATION COMMAND OFFICE

There is nothing new to report regarding SPC-001 at this time.

Test subject displaying the results of his exposure to SPC-001.

Project #: SPC-001

Selachian Pugnātorial Capabilities: Individuals enhanced with SPC-001 display a dramatic improvement in pugilistic prowess and have consistently proven capable of easily dispatching 90% of squaloid entities in simulations, even with no prior training. Furthermore, SPC-001 subjects have reported a radical elevation in coastal requiescence position retention, even when under assault from extragranular sedimentary weaponry.

Project Components: SPC-001 is a manmade chemical substance which augments the biological strength and dexterity of human beings. After initial exposure to SPC-001, subjects will undergo a steady increase in muscle mass over the following 72 hours, accompanied by heightened energy levels and adroit perception of their surroundings. Increased lung capacity and resistance to deep-sea hydrostatic pressure are common side effects.

Following the DREAD PORPOISE COMMUNION and the subsequent activation of the ALL HANDS ON DECK PROTOCOL, SPC agents embedded in the food industry began introducing discreet amounts of SPC-001 into numerous products intended for public consumption. Centre researchers have projected a full global saturation of SPC-001 to be achieved by the year ████. In the event that the DREAD PORPOISE COMMUNION ends before global saturation can be achieved, more aggressive means of SPC-001 dispersal may be undertaken to prevent a complete End-of-World K/O Failure Scenario.

Nascency Impetus: On May 16, ████, all observed selachian entities across the globe simultaneously demanifested, including those in SPC captivity. No selachian entities or evidence of the continued presence of selachian entities have been observed since. A Maximum State of Emergency was declared soon after by the Executive Pugilist Assembly and the phenomenon was codified as the DREAD PORPOISE COMMUNION. It is the belief of the Assembly that the selachians are congregating in preparation for the FINAL CONFLICT, an event foretold by Elder Pugilord Azmanititas in the Centre's original constitutional documents in 1451.

[08:23] DrTsega: Did you get all that?

[08:23] DrTsega: No? Okay, I'll break it down for you.

[08:26] DrTsega: I was part of a group known as the Selachian Punching Centre. An organization dedicated to fighting the menace that plagued our oceans. "We punch underwater so you can live on the land." That's what we used to say.

[08:27] DrTsega: I know what you're thinking.

[08:29] DrTsega: Yes. It was us keeping you safe the entire time. The Centre safeguarded mankind for centuries. Civilization as we knew it wouldn't have been possible if we weren't around. Our influence was unparalleled, extending to every level of every government, changing the course of world events, yet remaining a complete secret from everybody, which was really quite tricky.

Then, one day, the selachian menace disappeared. Our immediate reaction was one of disbelief, followed by euphoria, followed by raucous celebration. We danced. We drank ourselves stupid. We sang the songs of our forefathers. The orgies weren't officially sanctioned, of course, but boy howdy-doo were they tremendous.

Sadly, our revelry wasn't meant to last.

"DREAD PORPOISE COMMUNION", the Assembly called it. The prophesied gathering of every selachian, big or small. Every sharp, slimy, putrid horror that haunted our dreams, coming together in one place to bring about the end of all other life on our beautiful, green planet.

"But fear not," said our trusted Assembly. They told us that the human race would fight back. They said that when the selachians returned with their armies and squaloid murder-drones, we would be ready.

And they were right. We were ready. Thanks to SPC-001, we managed to get the entire human race fighting fit. At first people were alarmed when everyone started getting super ripped for no apparent reason, but then they realized it was awesome and the panic died down. Within a few months, every man, woman, and child was a lean, mean, punching machine. Even babies had abs you could wash your clothes on. It seemed like everything was going fine.

And that's how it went for the first couple of years: fine. Sure, boxing had to be outlawed once folks could punch with the same Newtonian force as your average car crash, and there were a few riots now and then over tank top shortages, but for the most part everything felt normal.

Year three, people started getting antsy. We had kept ourselves busy at the Centre by devising new weapons for selachian warfare, but every innovation felt hollow with a lack of anything to use them on. We grew listless. Surely the assault would begin any day, right?

Year four. There was an aura of dread hanging over the whole organization. I remember sitting in the Site-71 cafeteria, eating pickled cabbage and creamed corn salads with my comrades, when I finally heard someone ask aloud what we'd all wondered in the dark corners of our heads.

"What if they don't come back?"

It was Simmons who said that, of course. Of course. I kicked him in the face—a punch would have really hurt him—but the damage was done. It's a scary thought, losing your purpose in life. Faced with that kind of existential ennui, it's no wonder that everyone responded by flipping their shit. Hersberger screamed and started smearing her salad all over her face. Gertzler stabbed his fork tines into his cheek with no visible emotion. Bühler just broke down and cried until his tears turned to blood.

But Schwartzentruber was downright fuming. Started shouting all sorts of obscenities. Said he'd shove his fist down Simmons' throat and rip out his toenails from the inside. And Simmons was all defensive, "you all were thinking it" and that kind of stuff. The two kept going at it. We shouldn't have just sat there and watched, but no one thought fists would ever get involved. How could we have known?

I remember the entire cafeteria going silent. One moment, the two colleagues had been arguing. Next thing we knew, Schwartzentruber was wearing Simmons' face around his arm like a bracelet. Fist went straight through. Nobody knew what to say. Hersberger just picked the brain matter from her hair. There was no finishing our dinner after something like that.

We all tried to write it off as an isolated incident, an unhinged employee who forgot his own strength in a moment of pure emotion. That illusion was shattered when reports started coming in from the other sites. Similar incidents were happening all over the world, and within a few weeks it wasn't just limited to SPC personnel. These arms were made for punching, and that's just what they did.

As time went on, it became harder for us to fight the itch. Punching bags were laughable at that point, so instead we invented punching blocks out of a titanium-concrete composite. Even fashioned them into the shape of selachians to help take the pain away, but it still wasn’t enough. Whenever we came close to a cure, someone would end up atomizing the equipment with a flick of the wrist and we'd have to start over.

Eventually, one day I walked into the cafeteria and found the floor covered in what must have been two inches of blood. I thought maybe a pipe had burst until I saw Bühler sitting on a table in the corner. Guy was slathered in viscera from top to bottom, and he was wearing human heads around his arms like they were snap bracelets. I asked if he wanted to talk, but he didn't answer. He just stared at his fists and trembled. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was dead, hole in his beefy chest so big I coulda driven my Grampy's Volvo through it.

That was what broke me, I think. I had never seen someone self-pugilate before. I didn't know how many people were still alive in Site-71, but I knew that I would not perpetuate the carnage. I gathered some medical supplies from the surgical augmentations lab and tied a tourniquet around my burgeoning, well-defined bicep. Carefully, I injected myself with the nearest substance that resembled an anesthetic and bid my guns goodbye.

Screaming, writhing, I hacked off my arm using only a pair of rusty toenail clippers. Needless to say, I was dizzy from pain, blood loss, and the 5 CCs of green apple daiquiri I'd injected myself with, but somehow I managed to drag myself back to the cafeteria to cauterize my stump in the kitchen's oven. Barely clinging to consciousness, I set the oven to preheat, wrapped my stump in a tent of foil, and stuck it inside, turning regularly to promote an even cauter and applying a light baste to keep it moist.

When the bleeding stopped, I went back and repeated the process with my other arm. The second time was harder, I think. With no free hands remaining, I was forced to grip the toenail clippers with my teeth. I also ran out of baste. It was the most agonizing experience I could ever possibly fathom, but here I am. Alive. My cannonball deltoids still ripple with pugilistic vigor now and then, but the stubs are too short to be lethal.

And that's it. That's my story. That's how I ended up here, barricaded alone in an underground facility, typing on a keyboard with my tongue. I haven't been able to get in touch with any other Centre sites, and I can't leave the building. Every day I lose a little more hope. My personal hygiene has suffered, too—partly because I can't look at a pair of clippers without bursting into tears. My toenails are getting really long now. I'll probably have to use a pair of scissors or something. I could even use that electric carving knife I got for my birthday. Hell, I think there's a chainsaw in the supply closet. No shortage of options, really.

Even if I'm alive now, there's no telling how long that will last. Sometimes I hear people punching on the reinforced doors, desperate to break in and claim another victim to slake their drunken punchlust. Someday they may succeed. There's enough food left around to keep me going a while, though just for a while. I've kept my mind occupied and my spirits up by watching Dr. Cavender's Walking Dead box sets, but I can feel that post-Season-Six quality drop looming just around the corner.

Maybe this was their plan all along. Maybe they just left the planet, knowing full well we'd destroy ourselves. Maybe when the last human has passed their final breath, the selachians will return from wherever they went and feast on our tight, sculpted corpses. Or maybe they're happier where they are now. Maybe they're not coming back. I hope that's not the case. As much as it pains me to say it: I miss them.

I miss sharks.

[23:19] DrTsega: With all the squats I've been doing, I could probably pop their heads between my fucking thighs.

[23:20] DrTsega: pop 'em just like cherries. hell yeah

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darkacademicx · 4 years

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A List of Show Recs, While You’re Stuck at Home

This is a huge and continuously updating list. The first 2 categories are ‘definitely DA’ and ‘Probably DA’, but beyond that all of the shows are sorted by category. Enjoy!

Definitely DA:

The Living and the Dead - The plot revolves around Nathan Appleby and his wife, Charlotte Appleby whose farm is believed to be at the centre of numerous supernatural occurrences. Set in Victorian times and has ghosts and an excellent aesthetic. Available on Amazon Prime. 5/5

A Series of Unfortunate Events - This series follows the tragic tale of three orphans -- Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire -- who are investigating their parents' mysterious death. The siblings are saddled with an evil guardian named Count Olaf , who will do whatever it takes to get his hands on the Baudelaires' inheritance. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling devious plans and disguises. The series is based on the series of books by Lemony Snicket. Available on Netflix.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - A dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror and the occult. In the reimagined origin story, Sabrina Spellman wrestles to reconcile her dual nature -- half-witch, half-mortal -- while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family -- including aunts Hilda and Zelda -- and the daylight world humans inhabit. Available on Netflix. 5/5

Downton Abbey - This historical drama follows the lives of the Crawley family and their servants in the family's Edwardian country house. The programme begins with the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, which leaves Downton Abbey's future in jeopardy, as Lord Grantham's presumptive heir -- his cousin James -- and his son, Patrick, die aboard the ship, leaving him without a male offspring to take over the throne upon his death. As a result, Lord Grantham must search for a new heir. As the programme progresses through the decade, other historical events happen leading up to Lord Grantham declaring in 1914 that Britain is at war with Germany, marking the beginning of World War I, which becomes a major plot on the programme. Available on Amazon Prime.

Gran Hotel - Set in Spain in the early 20th century, Julio arrives at a luxury hotel to meet his sister, head chambermaid Cristina only to discover she has disappeared. Julio makes it his mission to find her and infiltrates the hotel under the guise of a footman. This show is in Spanish but available with English Subtitles. 5/5

Penny Dreadful - An exploration of the origin stories of classical literature characters in this psychological thriller that takes place in the dark corners of Victorian London. Sir Malcolm is an explorer who has lost his daughter to the city's creatures, and he will do whatever is needed to get her back and to right past wrongs. His accomplice, seductive clairvoyant Vanessa Ives, recruits charming American Ethan Chandler to help locate Sir Malcolm's daughter and slay some monsters. Available on Netflix and Hulu.

The Umbrella Academy - On one day in 1989, 43 infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by billionaire industrialist Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who creates the Umbrella Academy and prepares his "children" to save the world. In their teenage years, though, the family fractures and the team disbands. Fast forward to the present time, when the six surviving members of the clan reunite upon the news of Hargreeves' passing. They work together to solve a mystery surrounding their father's death, but divergent personalities and abilities again pull the estranged family apart, and a global apocalypse is another imminent threat.

Sherlock - Dr. John Watson is a war vet just home from Afghanistan. He meets the brilliant but eccentric Holmes when the latter, who serves as a consultant to Scotland Yard, advertises for a flatmate. Almost as soon as Watson moves into the Baker Street flat, they are embroiled in mysteries, and Sherlock's nemesis, Moriarty, appears to have a hand in the crimes. Available on Netflix. 5/5

Stranger Things - In 1980s Indiana, a group of young friends witness supernatural forces and secret government exploits. As they search for answers, the children unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries. Available on Netflix. 5/5

Twilight Zone - It's a strange mix of horror, science-fiction, drama, comedy and superstition. Serling introduced each episode, and many of the black and white episodes concluded with a surprise ending. Available on Netflix and Hulu. 5/5.

Outlander - After serving as a British Army nurse in World War II, Claire Randall is enjoying a second honeymoon in Scotland with husband Frank, an MI6 officer looking forward to a new career as an Oxford historian. Suddenly, Claire is transported to 1743 and into a mysterious world where her freedom and life are threatened. To survive, she marries Jamie Fraser, a strapping Scots warrior with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humour. A passionate relationship ensues, and Claire is caught between two vastly different men in two inharmonious lives. Available on Netflix and Hulu.

Probably DA:

The Magicians - Quentin Coldwater, a grad student at Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, has been fascinated by the magical fantasy world since he was young. But as he has gotten older, Quentin and his 20-something friends have discovered that the magical world they read about as children is not only real, but it poses dangers to humanity. While studying at the secret upstate New York school, the friends struggle to cope with the aftermath of a catastrophe that befalls the institution. Available on Netflix, Hulu, and the Syfy website. 5/5

Merlin - This action-packed fantasy-drama revisits the saga of King Arthur and his wizard, Merlin, by focusing on the two characters when they were ambitious young men struggling to understand their destinies. In this telling, Prince Arthur is known to be the heir to the throne (no sword from the stone here). And he is acquainted with all those who will one day form the legend of Camelot, including Lancelot, Guinevere, and Morgana. Merlin is also forced to deal with King Uther's Great Purge, which bans all use of magic. Available on Netflix. 5/5

The Order - When Belgrave University student Jack Morton joins a fabled secret society, the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose, he is thrust into a world of magic, monsters and intrigue. Out to avenge his mother's death, he uncovers dark family secrets and lands in an underground battle being waged between werewolves and practitioners of dark magic. Assisting Jack in the fight is Alyssa, a tour guide at Belgrave and fellow member of the Order, which is led by Jack's estranged father. Available on Netflix. 4/5.

Legion - David Haller is a troubled young man who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child. Shuffled from one psychiatric institution to the next, in his early 30s, David met and fell in love with a beautiful and troubled fellow patient named Syd. After a startling encounter with her, he was forced to confront the shocking possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees may actually be real. Syd led David to Melanie Bird, a demanding but nurturing therapist who heads a team of specialists -- Ptonomy, Kerry, and Cary -- each of whom possesses a unique and extraordinary gift. Together, they helped David to recognize and harness his hidden abilities and unlock a deeply suppressed truth -- he had been haunted his entire life by a malicious parasite of unimaginable power. Available on Hulu. 4/5.

Comedy:

Derry Girls - Following Erin and her friends as they grow up in a world of armed police in armoured Land Rovers and British Army check points in 1990s Northern Ireland and attempt to navigate the highs and lows of being teenagers. Available on Netflix. 5/5

Detective/military:

Broadchurch - When the corpse of an 11-year-old British boy, Danny Latimer, is found bloodied and dirty on an idyllic beach, a small Dorset community becomes the focus of a police investigation and media madness. Out-of-town Detective Inspector Alec Hardy gets the point position over Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller -- who feels the job should have been hers. Slowly, more members of the community of Broadchurch are drawn into the investigation. While dealing with so much unwelcome attention, Danny's family tries to cope with its grief. When a suspect is named and charged, the ensuing trial sees the defendant promising to expose more of the townspeople's secrets. Available on Netflix. 5/5.

Haven - FBI Agent Audrey Parker arrives in Haven, Maine, on what she believes is a routine assignment. But the longer she stays, the more curious she becomes -- about the townspeople, who seem to be beset by a range of supernatural afflictions; about the town itself, which contains many secrets; and about her own surprising connection to this strange place. Available on Netflix and Tubi. 4/5.

A Very Secret Service - At the height of the Cold War in 1960, André Merlaux joins the French Secret Service and contends with enemies both foreign and bureaucratic. In French with English Subtitles. Available on Netflix. 5/5.

Criminal Minds - An elite squad of FBI profilers analyzes the country's most-twisted criminal minds, anticipating the perpetrators' next moves before they can strike again. Each member of the "mind hunter" team brings his or her expertise to pinpoint predators' motivations and identify emotional triggers to stop them. The core group includes an official profiler who is highly skilled at getting into the minds of criminals, a quirky genius, the former media liaison who manages to adeptly balance family life and the job, and a computer wizard. Available on Netflix and CBS. 5/5

Eureka - In the years since World War II, the U.S. government has been relocating the world's geniuses (and their families) to the Pacific Northwest town of Eureka. Daily life there shifts between amazing innovation and total chaos. U.S. Marshal Jack Carter learns this first-hand when his car breaks down in Eureka, stranding him among the town's eccentric citizens. When they unleash a scientific creation still unknown to the outside world, it's up to Carter to restore order. Subsequently, he's let in on one of America's best-kept secrets. Available on Amazon Prime. 5/5.

Our Girl - Taking destiny into their own hands, British Army female medics of 2 Sections are dispatched on different missions, where they encounter the heartbreak and realities of life on the battlefield. 5/5.

Political:

The Crown - This lavish, Netflix-original drama chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. The series begins with an inside look at the early reign of the queen, who ascended the throne at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. As the decades pass, personal intrigues, romances, and political rivalries are revealed that played a big role in events that shaped the later years of the 20th century. Available on Netflix. 4/5.

Victoria - The monarch's life is chronicled as the story begins with the death of King William IV in 1837, her accession to the throne at the tender age of 18 and her relationships with the influential forces around her. With the advice of the prime minister Lord Melbourne and the support of her husband Prince Albert the young queen flourishes and establishes herself in her newfound role. Available on Amazon Prime. 4/5.

#recs #tv show #tv recommendations #tv reccommendation #covid2019 #covid19 #coronavirus

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kmelanin · 5 years

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Life After Murder- JJK

idol visuals-

AN- Okay, so ive finally decided to post this. I know I know, i was suppose to post the Prince J, but guess what! idgaf lol, plus this is ready and that isnt because ive decided to changed a few things. I hope you love.

Warning: Some of the things they will be doing is highly illegal. SEx?

Summary: You have entered a release program after complelting ten years of prison. Will you make it out into to the real world? Or will some officers put you back?

_____________________

One

Out of the window you were watching as trees go by. You sat on the boring tan bus with three other girls. You couldn't believe that you were actually out, finally.

Ten years ago, when you were 15 years old you found your best friend on her bed with a knife in her side. You freaked out because no one was home, you were meant to come over and hang out until your dad got home later that night, your mom never coming home. She had fell while trying to cut something. You remembered her words, ‘no, don't call my mother, she will never let me stay home by myself again.’ So you didn't. What you didn't know was that she was dying, the knife had punctured an important organ. You knew that the knife should come out and that you should call something. Her eyes were closed when you decided to reach for the knife and grab it, and in that moment her parents opened the door.

You didn't know she was already dead before you tried to reach it, you didn't know that the system would do you so wrong. They had no other evidence other than your finger prints on the knife.

They tried you as a adult, and you were sent away. You parents refused to visit you or talk to you. The only person that was there for you while you were locked up was your sister, she always sent you money, and made sure to visit you. But that stopped when she moved away with her boyfriend leaving you alone.

But now, you were out after ten years, you were ecstatic since you were suppose to serve fifteen. But since you accepted the offer to enter a three month program, you would be able to officially free.

You stood in front of the bus, in front of the building you will be in for the next three months. You stood in the middle of the two other girls. In front of you three were four officers.

“Good Morning. I am Officer Hyuna. I am the main officer here. You three have been chosen to be eligible for this program so don't abuse this chance. Including you three, there are four other groups of three from four other prisons making you one of fifteen.” She then pulls out some index cards from her pocket. “You will be assigned to your own officer, it's for your own protection and they will be a guide so you don't ruin your chance here. But they can only help you so much.” She passes them out to us, in no particular order. “Don't look yet. On the back of these cards you will see a name, which belongs to one of these officers.” She points to the cops next to her that barely moved the whole time. “Please introduce yourselves.”

In sync, they walk forward standing in front of you three. Then the first one goes.

“Hello,” He bows slightly. “I am Park Jimin, Officer Park to you, or just Park. I am 28 years old and Korean, and I'm here to make sure that you are ready to go out into the real world. I hope we don't have any problems. Good Luck.” He bows again. You had to admit, as you look at him, he was practically glowing, as his talked his blonde hair stayed perfectly styled and his teeth were blinding. You hoped his name was on the back of your card. You will admit, being in prison for ten years means no sex, or kissing, no touching. And so badly you wanted to be.

“Hi, I am Kim Taehyung. There are many Kims here. So you can call me anything, but I expect respect. I am 27 years old and Korean. Good luck in this program, I don't want to see you behind bars again.” He bows and nods his head. He was a different type of beautiful. Almost the opposite of Jimin, his hair was loose and ruffled. It was also a dark brown almost black. You couldn't understand how pretty he was. And when you looked down at the last officer, you knew that the next three months were going to be hard.

“I am Jeon Jeongguk, officer Jeon. I am the youngest officer here at the age of 26, and i’m also Korean. I am here to help and guide you through this program.” He nods a little and his eyes meet yours. You frowned a looked away. Just one glance and your heart was beating ten times faster. His hair was like Taehyung's but a little more put together, faded out all around leading up to the dark locks.

“Great, now Inmates. Introduce yourself, and don't forget to include your charges. Then flip your card over and say who you have” Officer Hyuna says.

You were interested in who the other girls where and what they were in for. The girl to your left, and in front of Park, begins.

“My name is Zhang Pomo, but you can Po. I’m chinese and black since we are telling each other what our race is. I’m 24, and I robbed a grandmother's home, which caused her to have a heart attack, so I was charged with Robbery and Murder.” Then she flips her card over. You and the other girl looked over, you were thrown off when you seen some symbols that you didn’t recognize.

“I might be asian, but I can't read Korean.” Pomo sasses.

“When those cuffs are on, you are to talk when allowed.” Hyuna says sternly. You almost forgot about the cuffs holding your wrists together in front of yourself. You were so used to them. “Yes its Korean, it’s their names. They didn’t want you to know who you got until the very end. Next”

When she was done explaining she looked at you.

“Inmate 56190, or YN. I’m 25 years old, my mother is Hispanic and my father was Black, and I was charged with Murder.” You kept it simple and bland. Being in a prison for ten years has taught you not to trust anyone or let your guard down. You couldn’t afford to get more time. You’ve already missed so much, as a convicted Murder,you could only do so much in life now. You then held up your card for the Guards to see.You looked at each of them to see which one you got. But they all kept straight faces. When they nodded, you put it down. When you looked back up you seen Jeon looking at you, but quickly look away.

“My name is Faye Winters, I am 29 years old and i’m cuban and white. I’m here for Kidnaping my daughter and for killing my ex husband.” She then hold up her card and pulls it back down.

“Okay and close your eyes.” Hyuna demands and you do. “Hold your hands out.” She says. “Guards, go to your inmate and take her cuffs off. When you feel them, you may open your eyes and find out who you have. After that. you may enter the building, he will show you your room, give you clothes to change into since you were suppose to take a shower before you came. Then you will eat and we will move on from there.”

You hear their footsteps move forward, you held your hands out and instantly a pair of hands grabs them and started to unhook your cuffs with a key. You slowly open your eyes and you had to use all of your willpower not to roll your eyes. Of course you got Jeon Jungkook.

“Congratulations, You are no longer inmates.” Hyuna says and walks away. You looked over and seen that Faye got Jimin and Pomo got Taehyung. When you looked up at Jungkook he once again was looking at you.

“What?” You ask irritated. He just laughs a little and shake his head a little.

“Oh nothing, let’s get you out of these stripes, yea?” He then turns around and enters starts to walk towards the building, you follow leaving the others behind.

“YN?” He asks confused. He was wearing black sweats and a red pull over, and his hair was all wild and had that ‘just had sex’ effect. Which made your jealousy boil.

“So we are going to right to your room. In this program, we don’t want to treat you like a prisoner, because you are no longer one. So don’t act like one. We do have cells in the basement to hold you if you act out.” You two walked down a long hallway until you turned on corner which lead to a area that was shaped like a square with one door on each wall. And a desk in the middle.

“This is where I or another Guard on a different shift will be.” He then walks to the first door. “This is your room.” He opens the door and you were smiling like crazy. Not only was it almost three times bigger then the cells you were in. There was a actual fucking bed instead of a metal bed. There was also a closed in bathroom.

“Since you were 15 when you were arrested. We were put in this unit, because in the other two door is a kitchen and a washer and dryer so you will be in there a bit and the other room is like a rec room where you do your indoor activities.”

“And where will you be?” You ask as your face settles into a frown. You’ve been told you had one of the worst resting bitch faces they’ve seen in the last 10 years. Just your face alone has started fights and gotten you put in the hole.

“I’m going to be right there most of the time. And the rest right next to you.” He smirks pointing back at the desk in the middle. You wanted to roll your eyes at the thought of him being next to you most of the time. It's not that he smells or his annoying, in fact he smells fucking delicious. And that's the problem.

Since you were in prison at the age of 15, you were immediately thrown into the scary adult world, since you were trialed as a adult. You were in the juvenile section until you were 19, then they put you in the adult quarters. You had a rude awakening, especially when your bunk mates would touch you or try to seduce you at night. As time went on, sometimes you let them do stuff because you wanted it. But you knew that you liked guys as well. Your 8th year in, one of the guards gave you a special gift. You weren't sure if you wanted it or not, but the next time you did. You would play games with them throughout the day, it would take your mind off of it.

Your tenth year, they were caught and sentences to twenty years each, and you were put into this fucking program.

Now, Jeon Jungkook was dangerous. All three of the guards were only because they were attractive and much younger then the guards inside the walls. You couldn't help it, you could easily seduce someone, and you so desperately wanted to find out how Jungkook worked, so you could figure him out. But, then you knew that if you wanted to get out, you had to be good.

“So, clothes?” You ask.

“Right, if you look in the closet their should be some shirts hanging up and some khakis folded. I'm not sure what color shirts you wanted so I got black and white.” He points toward the standing closet in the corner of the room, across from the bed. You nod.

“Anything is better than these stripes.” You walk over to the closet, and find exactly what he said. You were excited to see some sweatpants as well, and some bigger black tees. “I can wear anything in here?” You ask looking over to him standing in the doorway.

“I mean the sweats are your pajamas, but there isn't a rule saying you can't.” He smiles softly and nods, giving you the go that you could wear anything. “I'm going to let you get dressed, let me know when you are done then we can go get some food.” He nods and he shuts the door. You quickly changed, and you through the suit in the trash.

There were some simple black off brand converses. You slip them on with the socks they gave you and fixed your hair a little in the mirror. You thanked the universe that you got the black thick straight hair from your mom. Some of the colored girls end up getting dreads or cutting it off because they can’t give it the proper care. And you wouldn’t want that. But you could use a hair cut and deep condition.

When you opened the door again you seen Jeon sitting at the desk on the phone. When he sees you walk out he hold up one finger, telling you to wait. You shut your door and stood in front of it, like you were used to. He was on the phone for another two minutes, then he hung up.

“Okay, so this program is to teach you how to live a normal everyday life. The Basics. Since you were locked up at a young age, you were taught most normal way of life, only a prisoners way. So I just got off of the phone with Officer Hyuna and in the mall cafeteria, they are serving rice and pork belly.

Your family had moved to Korea when you were five years old. Your father was placed there. He served in the army, and he was at a really high ranking in combat until he got injured. He’s home now because of it, and he loved the Korean culture so we didn’t move. They made you go to a Korean school so you could learn the language. It was a requirement, to even try to survive, and have a normal life.

You’ve learned that when some look at you, they instantly think you don’t know Korean. So you try to play with everyone as much as possible. That has also got you in a few fights behind the walls. You were surprised when the guards spoke english. Did Jeon know you knew Korean?

( when you see “( )” that is korean. There will be english words in it, but just like imagine that person speaking Korean. Okay? Okay. )

“Can we bring it back here?” You ask frowning slightly. You’ve loved the fact that you could eat by yourself in your cell. You hated being around people who actually killed someone, or robbed or kidnapped. It didn’t help your anger any.

“No. if you want to eat then you have to eat with everyone else. Make friends Yn.” He frowns, confused to why you want to bring it back.

“Fine, then I won’t eat.” You almost wanted to cry at your own words. You haven’t have Pork Belly in forever. And they most likely have Kimchi as well. But you didn’t mind really. Most of the days locked up, the meals were disgusting. They had you Fucked up if they thought you were going to eat it. You got by with the food you could buy from the little store they have and when your mother bought food during visits that were approved, you could have it in your cell.

“What? Why won’t you eat?”

“I won’t and I don’t like eating with others. I’m supposedly somewhat free, why can’t i eat here? There’s literally a kitchen behind that door.” You cross your arms. You weren’t whining or anything, you were dead serious.

But he had a smile on his face, and he shook his head

“They told me that you skipped meals. And they made it one of my jobs to make sure you get three meals a day, everyday. So, Let’s go.” he says the last part a little more sternly. But you just scoff. Did they really? But then a thought came to mind.

“Will Officer Park And Taehyung be there?” You ask walking towards him. That caused him to frown a little bit nod. “Oh, I want to talk to them first. Then fine.”

You both walked toward the middle of the whole building, and enter a cafeteria, it almost reminded you of middle school. You see Park and Taehyung standing at the entrance welcoming people in. More like just guarding the door.

“Jeon, Yn.” Park says nodding.

“Hi Jimin.” You say stopping in front of him. “How is Faye? And How’s Pomo?” You ask looking over to Taehyung as well. “I really wish i got one of you, instead of him.” You pout a little. Of course half joking, but before they could say anything you walk in and going to the food line. You happily got a tray and got your food and utensils. You quickly find a seat, away from everyone else. More like a seat on the floor near the back wall.

As you ate, you watched the three of them talk and Park was laughing hitting Jeon on the arm. You were too far away to see what they were saying, but you watched at Jeon walked in. He looked toward the food line, then were the drinks were. You could tell he was frowning from where you sat. He then scanned the whole room, you realized he was probably looking for you. You continued to eat and people watch, looking over at Jeon walking around the tables looking at everyone.

You seen Pomo walk up to you and squat down.

“Jeon is looking for you.” She says smiling. “Is he as dull as Taehyung is? His voice is so emotionless and annoying” She huffs. You just smile and shake your head.

“No, I’m most likely the annoying one.” She laughs at your words and looks up.

“Good luck Hun, he’s on his way over.” She gets up and walks away. You quickly look up and see him walking up to your holding a cold water bottle.

“Stand up YN.” He sighs, you assumed it was of relief since he has been looking for you. You sighed yourself and stand up. You through your trash away in the nearest garbage and grab the water bottle he was holding out. “There are plenty of seats you know.”

“I'm not a friendly person Jeon, know that. If you ever see me smile at someone, it's because I'm getting something out of it. I might look nice and innocent, but I'm not. Now, can I take a nap?” You ask crossing your arms. He looks at you for a second, he had a slight frown in his brows, and you give him a second to understand and say something.

“We have to stock the kitchen and your bathroom before curfew, which is 8pm. So…” He looks down at his watch on his wrist. “It's 5, ill give you a hour.” He nods and you just walk past him towards your room, and he follows behind. You went into your room and shut your door, you take off your shoes and pants then climb into your new and much more comfortable bed.

Right outside of your room, Correction Officer Jeon Jungkook sat happily writing your grocery list. He wondered why your sassy attitude made him smile. He wondered why his heart jumped when Jimin said that he had a interesting three months ahead. He was also nervous, you were dangerous, and not criminally, but physically. He was definitely attracted to you, and that scared him.

Eventually you had to get up. Jeon sent you on the path the the neighboring grocery store. They had cameras in there that connected to the building, so he could watch you. He gave you the list and the money and sent you off. You quickly got everything you supposedly needed, from packaged Kimchi, to Ramen, to veggies and fruits. You of course got some things that weren’t on the list and Jeon laughed at that, only because the extra money you spend comes out of his paycheck.

Soon it was curfew and Jeon was getting ready to leave.

“I’ll be back around 6 am, wake up is 9. Officer Park will be doing a double shift, so he's taking over your unit until I come back. Behave please, I don't want to come back and see you in a cell.” He nods and walks off. He only says that because, it might be curfew, but you don't have a bedtime or ‘lights out’.

On the wall of your room, you seen a couple sheets of paper taped the wall. You looked at it, and noticed that it was a schedule. It was set up for a month, then towards the bottom of the last page, it says it repeats two more times. Tomorrow it says that you make breakfast, welcome meeting, and recreation.

It was suddenly like a weight was lifted off. You didn't have to stay in a cell for twenty three hours a day. You got to make your breakfast instead of eating cow shit. You got ready for bed and you climb in. You cried yourself to sleep, you were so happy, you felt like you could wake up at any moment and you would be back behind the bars.

The ringing of a phone pulled you out of your dreamless sleep. You were confused for a moment, wondering where the hell you were at. But once everything came to you, you sighed and sat up. You grabbed your sweats and slipped them back on and you made sure you didn't look crazy. You remembered that Park was working the desk, and when you looked at the clock you seen that it was only two a.m.

You went to the door and opened it slowly. You peaked out and you instantly thought this was a dream.

There sat Park at the desk. The desk went up so you could only see his shoulders and up, but with the one light that was on above just to light up the desk, it made his hair look golden and his face was shadowed, you were able to see his face clearly, but you didn't care, he looked beautiful. It made you mouth water.

“Mhmm, are you going to come out YN?” His voice threw you off a bit. It was different from Jeons. Much more softer, but still just as dangerous. You froze, of course he caught you. But did he know you were checking him out? His head turns toward you, looking up from whatever he was doing.

“Is everything okay?” He asks looking a little concerned. You were too stuck at looking at him to say anything, causing his frown to deepen.

He pushes himself away from the desk and he stands up. He moves away from the desk letting you get a full view of him. You throat went dry when you see a simple crew neck t-shirt version of his uniform tucked into his pants showing off his small waist. His arms were exposed more, letting you see the veins running up his arms.

“No. I’m not okay.” You pout a little.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” He asks. You quickly nod and walk back into your room hopping on the bed and covering your legs up since you were only in a t-shirt and underwear. He comes in and shuts the door. You turn on the bedside lamp so he could see you a little better on your bed. He walks over to you. “What’s up?”

You pat the bed wanting him to sit down. His raises one of his eyebrows but instead of saying anything, he sits.

“Now, don't take anything I say the wrong way. But as you know, i’ve been locked up since i was 15. I had my first kiss at the age of 14. What i didn’t expect is to go into prison straight as a dry noodle, then come out as a wet one. I was forced at first. But then i just accepted it and learned to love women. But the thing is, i know I love men. But i’m deprived, i’ve never had the chance to be with a guy.” You couldn't keep eye contact with him the whole time. So toward the end when you looked back at him, he was looking down at his hands and he played with his fingers.

“You and I both know that nothing between us can happen.” He mumbles. He looks up at you, but he didn't look as bright eyes and cheery as before, instead, dark and concerned.

“Are there cameras in here?” You ask looking around. Maybe you shouldn’t walk around in your underwear.

“No, this whole area are your private quarter for the next three months. There are cameras, but only in the public areas.”

“Okay, so no one will know.” You push the covers back a little.

“Of course no one will, because nothing will happen.” He frowns and stands up. You follow easily and frown a little too.

“Please, just a little kiss.” You pout a little.

“YN, what? We can't…”

“Am I ugly or something?” You cut him off. You looked down and made your pout a little more dramatic. Jimin would be lying if he said his heart was beating like crazy.

“Of course not, you're actually-” He stopped unsure of what to say. “(you're dangerously beautiful.)”

What came out of his mouth really confused you at first, until your mind worked and you understood.

“(Then kiss me)” You say, a little butchered but it was still clear enough to make his head snap towards you. His face was hard and unsure still, he looked away towards the door, then back towards you. You could tell he was hesitant. You look down at his lips and you almost drooled at the thought of kiss his lips. You wanted to feel the softness and to feel his hands grab you.

You walk in front of him and grab his arms. You pulls them around your waist and you look up to him. “(Little one.)” You lean in towards his face. You knew you had him when he didn't move away, his chest was moving faster than usual. You reached your hand up and touched under his chin a little and that seemed to do the trick.

He jumped forward and smashed his lips into yours and he hands come up higher. He kissed you. It stunned you at first, at how quick he was to capture you, but once you start to kiss back he pulls you closer kissing you deeper. You opened your eyes slightly, watching his eyes as they were squeezed shut. Your eyes clamped shut when you heard a slight moan come from him as you raked your fingers in the back of his head. Your hands then trailed down and around his neck and down his chest. You grabbed onto his shirt, before pulling away.

He tries to chase you a little, and you look at his smirking lips. You looked further down at his wrinkled shirt, you smirked as well and you wiped away his wrinkles, straightening his shirt out.

Then a sudden sharp knock came behind you. It was like Jimin was set on fire, and he pushed you away, taking like three steps back. The door opens and Jimin looks at you worried.

“So, if you just put a hot towel on your forehead, it should get rid of your headache.” Jimin nods. He then looks over to who was at the door and then you finally looked. You were surprised to see Jeon standing there with a handful of blankets.

“Oh, what are you doing here?” Park says running his fingers through his hair.

“I forgot some paperwork and I thought of bringing some of my old blankets for Yn.” He looks down at the navy blue blanket. You walk over and grab at the blanket.

“Oh shit, this is so much better then the itchy ass ones you gave me.” You take it out of his hands and set it on your bed.

“Okay, well I have to piss.” He says walking out and leaving you and Jeon alone.

“You have a headache?” Jeon asks.

“Oh, Jimin and I were talking a bit, so it feels a lot better now.” You smile, then you remembered that you were only in a tshirt and underwear. Jeon walks over to you a little, you were confused to why he walked right up to you, you froze when his hand raised up and touched your lips.

“Yea, and whatcha talk about?” He mumbles frowning a little bit.

“Oh, just how annoying you are.” You swat his hand away. He scoffs and drops his hand.

“I have done nothing wrong, I even just gave you a blanket. You have no reason to think that.” He smiles and takes a half of a step back. You rolled yours eyes.

“Exactly that, you are too soft. You are a correctional officer. I don't understand why you are here at three in the morning giving me a blanket.” You jab at his chest with your fingers.

“You don't know me.” His voice suddenly a bit deeper and you felt the room tense up.

“No, but I do know that I have this sissy ass CO, while Pomo and Faye has some sexy ass-” He raised his arm up and he pushes you down by your shoulder. You were shocked at first at his sudden aggressiveness. You had to look up at him, as he stood in front of you looking down. You felt so little and you loved you. His facial expression was hard, and you could tell he was clenching his jaw. Your eyes trailed down, you see that he was wearing a big navy blue tshirt and some black sweats. You were lined up directly to his waist, and you couldn't help but to bit your bottom lip. You sneaked a look back up to him, and his eyes were lower, and darker, which made your body tingle.

Before you could do anything, he moves away from you and grabs your blanket, he starts to spread it out. You watch as his arms moves so easily as he lays the blanket on half of your bed like it was nothing. You look up at his face. His jawline catches your eyes first. You could tell he was still clenching his jaw, making it seem a bit sharper. His lips were just there, sitting on his face so pretty and pink. You became a little frustrated when you think about how much you wanted to touch him, you knew he wasn't going to be as easy at Park was. Or was he?

“Goodnight. Keep those lips to yourself.” He then turns around a leaves.

_________________________

If you have enjoyed what you read, make sure to show some love. Xx

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aikainkauna · 6 years

Text

Fatigued? In pain all the time? The little-known illness that is far more common than we’ve previously thought, especially among geeks.

This is going to be a bit long, but it's so incredibly important, and so very much not just a personal issue that I hope you will read it (and hopefully, also share it). I'm choosing to speak about this now because this is an insanely unknown, disabling and yet seemingly a fairly common illness, and I want more people to know about it, especially as it affects geeks--geeky women in particular. I’ll talk about my own variant briefly at the beginning, but don’t stop reading there, thinking this is just a personal post--there are lists of symptoms and resources at the end that I urge you all to look at, because they are *frighteningly* common.

I and the doctors have finally found out I've got Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Which means there is one, or there are several, genetic mutations in my body messing up the build of my collagen, collagen being the glue that holds your body together and which is found practically in all your tissues. So, technically, anything that can go wrong with your body might do *exactly* that, because that b0rked collagen is everywhere. This is why I've always been not only hypermobile (being good at yoga and able to bite my toenails and tie myself into knots while sitting down), but easily fatigued and have had trouble simply sitting, let alone standing or walking, because my muscles have to strain like crazy all the time to compensate for my connective tissues being too wobbly. (Every time I've participated in guided meditation, the exhortation to "sit up with your back straight, your body as relaxed as possible" has always been absurd to me, because I can't hold myself upright if I don't tense my muscles. Try it: lightly tense all the muscles in your body for a bit, and see how long you can hold that, and you will know what staying upright is like for someone with EDS). It's been said that having it is like the body having to do strength training with weights all the time, except, unlike on a normal person, the muscles never get to rest and recuperate fully (except during sleep, and even then perhaps not completely; to make it even more fun, sleep disorders are a common manifestation in EDS). I sprain things all the time--I do my back in even in my sleep, and get trapped nerves/sciatica just from walking; winter clothes, let alone bags, are exhausting for me to carry even for short distances. For me, lifting a coffee cup, due to the laxity of my connective tissues, requires the same amount of muscular exertion as it requires for a healthy person to lift a full pint. Et cetera. Plus all the other weird ailments, which I'll get to in a bit.

But the main reason I'm telling you all this is that you really, really, *really* ought to read up on EDS. The whole world does. But especially if you, or someone you know, suffer(s) from chronic fatigue and muscular pain and are bendy--*because it looks like this is actually the illness behind many (not all, but many) fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome cases.* I repeat, *this is now assumed to be the most common cause of fibromyalgia and CFS.*

And then there's all the other EDS-induced stuff, all freakishly common among geeks. Here’s a list of some of the most typical symptoms:

-Bendy? "Double-jointed?" Good at yoga (even without practice)?

-Gut problems/IBS? Leaky gut?

-Serious fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, body feels like it's made of lead? And is it unexplained by other conditions (such as a dicky thyroid or anemia)?

-Sleep problems, anxiety/panic attacks/PTSD, autism spectrum, AD(H)D?

-Bad PMS and awful reactions to the Pill and other progesterone preparations, health crashes after pregnancies, dysmenorrhea with godawful cramps (like you're giving birth to a demon baby every month), endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic pain and other gynaecological issues?

-Allergies by the bucketful? Multiple chemical insensitivities?

-Weird heart thumpages, blood pressure issues, fainting when standing up?

-Early-onset problems with eyesight?

-Can't go numb from anaesthetic, and/or are hard to put under for surgery (this is great fun)?

-Feel pain more intensely than other people (developing needle-phobia from horrid experiences when having blood drawn or being put on an IV drip)? Are all dentist trips and having gynaecological exams (even sex and wanking at times!) a nightmare?

-Or, as a bonus, has the weird pain response made you kinky or just crazily responsive to acupressure/acupuncture? Or just caresses?

-Have you got weird and/or excessive scar tissue formation? Keloids from piercings? Have your wounds healed badly; after surgeries, have your stitches torn spontaneously?

-Got hernias, squashed-up internal organs, including a heavy/tilted uterus, breathing problems like your lungs are squashed (but asthma inhalers don't seem to help much)?

-Weird bruises, and you have no idea where they came from? Excessive bleeding (including bleeding buckets during periods)? Varicose veins at a young age?

-Flat feet? Funny little round, soft bumps (piezogenic papules) on your ankles? Need sturdy shoes with high tops and arch support? Find it difficult or impossible to walk in high heels, due to wobbly ankles and/or the muscular strain it puts on the whole body?

-Constant sprains, muscle pulls/tears, dislocations, subluxations (=partial dislocations; just something going 'crunch', like when the bones of your hand or your vertebrae seem all scrunched up together and you need to pull them open), trapped nerves, monster headaches? Growing pains? Pressure in the skull?

-Just. Hurt. Everywhere?

-Weird adverse reactions to medications that are way worse than ordinary side effects, completely intolerable and/or causing permanent damage, even life-threatening situations?

-Even queerness/gender-atypicality (I am not joking; it goes with the neuropsychiatric profile)?

Guess what, they're all related to this exact damn thing! And just how common are they in fandom, among geeks?! Right? Weirded out yet? And this is *far* from being an exhaustive list, because again, this is a multisystem disease which can technically affect pretty much all your body parts and their functions. But if you said "yes" to several, take a deep breath and keep reading. Or if not, hell, keep on reading anyway, because it's likely you know someone with this thing--it could be as common as 5%-10% of the whole human population.

Even if you are born with this rubbish, people go undiagnosed for decades (I only got diagnosed at 38, and I’ve been sick ever since childhood!) and since it mostly affects women (although guys *can* be affected), it's ignored and/or psychiatrisised by doctors. And since the female body is a chaotic body horror movie anyway, many have just thought it's normal to always have little sprains and crunches everywhere all the time, and that the fatigue just has a merely neurological basis. That it's just depression or a part of having been born with XX chromosomes. But it isn’t.

And another main reason that it goes undiagnosed is the persistent myth that EDS *always* has to involve extremely stretchy skin and extreme hypermobility, which is categorically *not* the case for everybody. Even the sodding Wikipedia article (misleadingly) only uses photos of *extreme* hypermobility and skin stretchiness, of the usual circus performer contortionism EDS has traditionally been associated with but which is NOT WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE TO HAVE EDS, I repeat, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RUBBER PERSON TO HAVE EDS; you only have to be bendy and exhausted and ill. There are some people with it who are even *stiff.*

Thousands, hundreds of thousands of people remain undiagnosed even if EDS/hypermobility-related illness seriously messes up their daily lives--it can be debilitating. So, please, do yourself and your friends a favour and spread the word, and check out these links.

When to suspect EDS (blog discussion, also linking geekiness to this thing):

http://ohtwist.com/when-else-to-suspect-ehlers-danlos-syndrome

An overview on when to suspect, by a specialist (Dr. Bravo, PDF format):

http://ohtwist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DrBravoWhenToSuspect.pdf

Good brochure:

https://www.chronicpainpartners.com/brochure/

Another overview from the same site:

https://www.chronicpainpartners.com/what-is-eds/

Hypermobile EDS diagnostic criteria, with pictures showing how the bendiness level is scored (see how many you or your friend can do):

http://edsresearch.weebly.com/the-brighton-score-and-the-beighton-score.html

Good infosite:

https://www.edhs.info/understanding-eds-h

Pictures of a woman with typical hypermobile EDS, which is far more common than the actual contortionist stuff, and thus goes unnoticed:

https://mastcellblog.wordpress.com/journey/edsphotos/

A good overview of the problems hypermobility can cause by a specialist doctor who knows what up. This made me pretty much scream at the screen because I have one of those exact types of insanely painful mini-hernias that some doctors don't believe are there because they are almost impossible to see with normal imaging, but which my gyn saw during laparoscopy (PDF format):

https://www.dynainc.org/docs/hypermobility.pdf

Why hormones, progesterone in general (contraceptives, pregnancy, PMS) screw up the hypermobile body and may cause serious damage:

http://hypermobility.org/help-advice/hormones-hypermobility/

The official site of the biggest, worldwide EDS/hypermobility organisation:

https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/

UK support, including a toolkit for GPs on how to handle EDS:

https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/

Finnish EDS association:

https://www.ehlers-danlos.fi/

More info in Finnish, but this also has an embedded video clip (old but neat and short) from US telly (in English) to illustrate a family living with the disease:

https://eds-group.vuodatus.net/lue/2018/01/mista-voin-loytaa-tietoa-ehlers-danlosin-syndroomasta

(Hey, where have I seen eerie, elongated moves by a tall, bony guy before?! Yes, there are variants, like with the related illness, Marfan Syndrome, where people basically Look Like Cesare.)

And last but not least, the brilliant Dr. Sharon Meglathery's RCCX theory, which ties up all those illnesses I and others have noticed clustering around sensitive/artistic/neuroatypical/queer/geeky/triggered by everything folks, such as hypermobile EDS, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, allergies, IBS, sleep issues, stress hormone (adrenaline, cortisol) issues, CFS/ME, oh, you *know* the type when you read it. It's like a list of the usual Tumblr issues, for crying out loud--she might as well have called the PTSD-prone psychiatric profile that underlines these specific gene weirdnesses as "Triggered By Everything." Only it explains the links to the severe physical illnesses as well, and how and why they relate to stress hormone overload and why, thanks to problems with progesterone and cortisol metabolism, the physical illness stuff screws geeky women over more often than it does geeky men. And you owe it to yourself to read it.

https://www.rccxandillness.com/

I don't often say this, but reblog to save a life. These are geek illnesses, *our* illnesses. There are forms of this stuff that are lethal (causing stroke and heart attacks and organs going boom out of the blue at a young age), and the amount of suffering it can cause is ridiculous--I would have lived my life in a drastically different way, and would have never got so ill from the wrong medications and life choices, had I known I had EDS. (Just don't call me a "spoonie;" I'm not a fan of that thing--I'll explain later. Call yourself whatever you like; however, I'm still a ridiculous arctic chicken just as I've always been.) But there are still thousands of people out there who have all these symptoms and yet have never heard of this stuff, and for whom this knowledge can be life-changing, so *please,* spread the word.

Thank you.

#disability #ehlers danlos #ehlers danlos syndrome #chronic fatigue syndrome #fibromyalgia #autism #i really don't often make posts about my illnesses but the fact that this is so undiagnosed makes me MAD #and even if you don't normally reblog my rambles this is *important*#if a geek on my level--who's researched her illnesses and nutrition etc. like crazy #for the past twenty years for which I've had fatigue/hormonal issues might i add #only finds out this late... it's insane #and yes. yes. connie was hypermobile #it's a toss between marfan or vascular EDS in his case *hysterical disbelieving laughter*#i wish he'd leave me alone but nope...#i mean it about the potential lethality too #my mum's mum died at 29 from her aortic valve going boom and orphaned my mum as a toddler :(#and they couldn't treat it then (in the 50s) even if they knew she had a heart murmur #i have to wait 6-12 months to get to the genetic tests to see if i have that variant:/#but at least i'm going to have a heart ultrasound before xmas this year to check #still it's not fun to feel like a ticking time bomb #but please do read at least some of these/reblog bc this is common but 95% go undiagnosed

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vicicicici-blog1 · 6 years

Text

Good Afternoon.

Ive recently been approached by Warren Industries' very own CEO Felicity Warren as a decryptor for some bizarre files

Its a large number of files, about fifty or so and she tells me she has more to send at a later date. She also requested I put these files up somewhere online though she also wants me to block out any names that are on this little list I've got here... yeah okay

Im not entirely sure why she wanted me specifically to decrypt this shit. Like... maybe ive got in hot water with the CSIS like a few times for some random bullshit, but I'm also pretty sure that theres plenty of dudes out there more skilled than I am who could decode these things in half the time for less pay. Maybe it's because I'm a chick. After all, I know about that freaky little club of hers. I know she's not the quirky millenial CEO that the media likes to paint her as

I mean its not like your average shmuck hacker could do this. seems the girl who made these documents has/had? a government background, and im taking a wild guess here at saying she had access to some pretty nifty tech, tech that she damn well knew how to use. i'm also pretty sure shes dead so good help that did her

At first I thought the joke was on her. It took me less than three hours to crack her stupid code on the oldest files in the bunch, which is what I've got below my dumb introductions

Then I found out every few files uses a completely different code

shit

At least I'm getting a big fat check for this

Enjoy, because I am not doing these all at once ___________________________________________ 20xx/06/04

These files are for my brother, plus anyone else he's working with, to use in case I ever get caught.

I've finally found out about Felicity Warren's secret club. Alex, your search is finally over! Well, at least once you get back from Spain in a few months.

If my brother isn't with you at the time for this reading: Hello, my name is Emma Spearhouse. My older brother, and once legal guardian, is Alex Spearhouse. As of this writing, he is an investigator for [NAME REDACTED], a rather low-key organization built to keep an eye on strange happenings that are considered a risk to Canadian citizens. Apparently, it is considered to be a branch of the CSIS, but from what I could sneak a look from my brother's laptop, it seems to be self run.

That's why I've been looking for Felicity Warren's club, which I now know the name of - The Cheap Thrills Club. It sounds coy, but that makes some sense... there's always been a couple rumours, here and there, about a freaky girls-only club, that abducts men all over the country and kills them in cold blood. I always just assumed those were just some dopey anti-feminist conspiracy theories that get popular as creepy stories online, but I found out from my brother's reports - it's real. Maybe... apparently, every single lead that Alex and some of his colleagues have taken have resulted in dead ends, but the fact that it's a concern with [NAME REDACTED] is proof enough that it isn't just some self-adulating tall tale.

It's been bugging me nonstop since I read his report back around Christmas time. Alex was pretty pissed at me for reading his laptop (again), and told me not to get involved... even so, when I went back south for classes, I scoured all over the city for any leads to this strange club. I couldn't find anything at all, and then the school year ended, so I was forced to come back, and for the past month, I've been focusing on my summer job. Its funny like that - I stopped looking for clues, and then, the clue came to me.

It turns out that my friend from high school, [NAME REDACTED], is a member.

She just happened to be visiting the office that day, to pick up a new card for her dad. I took a break to chat with her after not seeing her for so long, and the topic just happened to come up! It was so weird... she was always kind of reserved, and always fainted at the sight of blood, but she got so excited when I claimed I was interested in joining.

The next meeting is in four days, and she's offered to take me, in order to get me to join the group. This is an opportunity I can't possibly pass up. From here on out, I'm going to record my actions in these files, both as evidence of this club's existence, and, as I said above, as a precaution, just in case something happens to me. You know, freaky cult stuff.

To Alex: I'm sorry that I'm digging through your old equipment, I need the hidden mic. ________________________________________________________ 20xx/06/08

I'm back from the meeting and it was

I can't do this right now I need to recompose my thoughts ________________________________________________________ 20xx/06/09

I spent hours trying to think of an intro to this entry... perhaps it would be best to state it outright. The Cheap Thrills Club is exactly like the rumours say. It's a murder cult. A boy died in front of my eyes.

When I first got to where [NAME REDACTED] told me to meet her, she was dressed in a casual clothes, and wearing a backpack. It kind of put me at ease, at first. Like, maybe if this was a real thing, it was actually just some sort of Girl Guide sister-hood thing, and the whole murder thing was just some sort of fabrication by crazy suspicious people.

She took me out to the highway, where there was a car, waiting to pick us up. It was a few other women, of varying ages, who I didn't really recognize. Well, maybe I did know them... they were wearing these weird cute animal masks, so I couldn't get a good look at them anyways, and they didn't speak. [NAME REDACTED] pulled out a mask, too. This green raccoon mask, one you could probably pick up at the dollar store. She noticed my staring at her mask, but instead of getting suspicious, she just smiled at me and told me;

"Don't worry, you're about to get yours."

Part of me wonders if I should have just jumped out of the car, right then and there. The doors were probably locked anyways.

It was maybe a twenty minute drive, definitely out of town. The road got weirdly bumpy, too, like they'd driven off the road and into the forest. The windows were tinted over on both sides, and they eventually closed the opening between the front and back seat, so I was going in blind. For a moment, the car had stopped, like we'd reached a toll both, before the card drove for another minute and parked.

When I was let out of the car, I was surprised to find we'd parked inside of a small, shuttered up hangar, with a few other cars parked around, but completely void of life. Following their silent orders, I was brought to an elevator. [NAME REDACTED] seemed like she was getting excited, as she started jumping up an down like a kid at an amusement park.

The elevator went down, and it went down deep. Was this an old military base or something? Why the heck would something like this be in an industry town?

When we got out, I really wasn't expecting what I saw.

The entire area was aglow with lights, machines, and happy laughter. It reminded me of when some of my university friends took me to the casino for my 20th birthday, like an alternate, magical world, filled with fun and joy... but also the soul-sucking lightheaded-ness that overtook me, as if begging me to give up to this world. The fact that everyone there, about two dozen women, were wearing cute animal masks really didn't help matters either. One of them, wearing a purple bird mask and dressed like a fancy waitress, took my hand.

"You must be the new girl. Come this way, please."

I followed along, partially to get a closer look at things, and partially to get away from all this bluster and chaos. As we turned left, I noticed a small, arena-like pit, right in the middle of the room.

The next room, thankfully, wasn't as mind-numbing, but was almost just as eerie - though lit well, it was completely empty, with black walls, and a red tile floor, and two red doors to my left. I was asked, very dully, to stand in the middle of the room, where a small ring of writing was located.

Again, I did what I was told. Like some cheap parlour trick the ring lit up, blinking in different colours and arrows, before finally settling on one spot, a pinkish-red. The waitress told me to wait just a moment, and left, before coming back with a mask.

"Your mask has been ordained as the Red Weasel. Please put it on for our leader's greetings."

I almost panicked there. The mask choice felt way too on the nose, like it was chosen specifically because they knew I was here as a mole. It made me wonder, if I put it on, was I going to get full on attacked by a bunch of crazy women in animal masks?

The waitress would not take her eyes off of me until I put it on, so put it on I did. Thankfully, it wasn't too uncomfortable, and the eye holes didn't block any of my vision. I did feel silly. I wish I still did.

The waitress then carted out a large screen. On it, was the very woman who supposedly ran this club: Felicity Warren, wearing her famous white rabbit mascot head, and a stylish business suit, sitting on a golden chair with her legs crossed.

"Ahh, this is our new member!"

She sounded happy, but the mask made it hard to really tell.

"Welcome to the Cheap Thrills Club! You are now officially part of the Sisterhood!"

Those words are still ringing pretty vividly in my head. I guess it makes sense, she's definitely got a nice voice, and an endless pool of charisma to match. It's probably the reason why people can take her seriously in that bunny head.

I'm not sure if that was a recording or not, but immediately after that, the screen was rolled back to where it once came. When the waitress came back, she calmly led me out the door.

"I'll provide you with the Level 1 member benefits once you're ready to leave."

Everyone had gathered by the door when I came out, and started clapping and cheering. [NAME REDACTED] even came over and gave me congratulations. Before I could even say anything back, however, a voice came over the speaker.

"Ladies, we're glad to welcome our fifteen new members! One of you fifteen is incredibly lucky, too... Branch 07AB is presenting tonight's entertainment!!"

Everyone in the room started cheering loudly. Most obviously, 07AB is the branch I joined.

Now, please give it up for... [NAME REDACTED]

Everyone started cheering again and gathering towards the pit, as I could hear something being wheeled out. There was barely enough room for all of us, but as a approached, a few of them got out of the way. I'm guessing it was because I was a new member.

Looking down, I saw a large, muscular woman, maybe even over six feet tall, and confidently grinning, cracking her neck and knuckles. the wheeling noise, however, came from something else.

Two more of those bird-masked women had rolled in with another person, chained down to a table. When I got a better look at them, it was evident that it was a young boy, one who couldn't have been more than thirteen or so. He'd been gagged with a cloth that covered most of his face, but it was evident based on the look in his eyes, and the way he desperately tried to squirm out of his bindings, that he was not there by choice.

The large woman looked up to me, and yelled;

"Hey, new girl? Got any requests?"

I froze at that moment. I wasn't entirely sure what she meant by 'request.' I didn't want to know, really. I knew, if the rumours were true, then she was asking me to request a method of death.

I spent a few minutes, still as can be, all eyes on me, when [NAME REDACTED] put a hand on my shoulder.

"It's alright, I didn't have any preferences when I first started."

I didn't know what to say. I certainly didn't have any interest in seeing someone die, let alone in a specific way. But, saying no would break my cover, and make them all realize I wasn't there out of any interest. So, I told [NAME REDACTED] that she could choose, instead. She called me the best friend ever. Then, she turned to the lady, and in a voice that sounded so disconnected from her own:

"Make sure he dies by suffocation."

The lady just gave a thumbs up, and it began.

First, the bird masks backed out, and the room below was sealed. Only then, were his bindings released, as he immediately jumped forward, pulling off the gag and taking a moment's breath. Now out of the bindings, he was tinier than expected, having a frail build, small green eyes, and shaggy black hair. He didn't have much time to relax, as the lady towered over him, her shadow imposing.

"Well, sorry kid, no hard feelings."

She grabbed him by the ankle, lifted him up in the air, and slammed him down to the ground.

I feel nauseous trying to recount the full account, at least not in graphic detail. I will, at least, give a basic summary of what she did, and how the people around me were reacting to this poor boy's mutilation.

The second he hit the floor, the entire group went wild, as if watching a sports game, and even yelling directions to her on what to do next. I tried not to look suspicious about my lack of enjoyment, but... no one actually seemed to notice how I was reacting. I stood completely still watching as this horrible act took place.

He'd had the wind knocked out of him, but it would appear that this wasn't enough to cause any major damage. Once he tried to get up, however, she brought a large fist down on his stomach, knocking the wind out of him so hard that he barely let out a squeak. She repeated this a few times, until the last punch, when he coughed up some blood. Once that happened, she picked him up by his arm, holding him up as his body shook. After a few seconds of cheering, she grabbed him by the shoulder with her free hand, and brought the full arm down on her knee, snapping it like a twig. Only now was he able to let out something resembling a scream.

This continued on for the next twenty minutes. She tossed him around like a rag doll, and broke his other limbs in the same manner as had been done with his first arm, and would constantly hold him down, forcing him to squirm and bend in unnatural ways. The final time she held his body up, somehow managing to live through all of that, his body was pulsing and twitching, and he was still gasping at the air.

"Ah yeah, girlie wanted you to suffocate."

She said this like she'd forgotten to grab milk from the store.

For the next bit, she held the boy by the neck, squeezing him tightly as his broken body began to spasm more and more out of control, his already bruised face going even bluer. After an arduous amount of time, much longer than I thought it would take, his body finally went limp. Everyone was cheering.

There’s a lot that I'm leaving out of this explanation. After that, I asked to leave, and they gladly did so, handing me my benefits package and driving me back to where I started.

When I got home, I immediately checked the hidden mic. I'm not sure if I set it up incorrectly, or if something else happened, but all that it got was three minutes of static. Even so, I'm including the recording in the file with this message, just in case I might've missed something.

This is too much. I've tried calling the police multiple times, but I've felt too stressed and tired every time... I've slept through most of the day. I'm going to try again tomorrow. __________________________________________ See what I mean about that stupid little club of hers

Whatever. I already knew most of this stuff. Im just glad this Emma chick didnt get all fetishy about it like a lot of her goons do

got not much of a stomach for that i can tell you that much

not like i can out these creepy fucks for who they are. Ive got a contract to keep after all plus im pretty sure id get killed if i did so its really not worth it

as for that sound file ill make a new post for that one. its actually less than three minutes long but meh close enugh it gives me a headache in less than one minute anyways. i think i heard something weird at the end though

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the-busy-ghost · 6 years

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It is often thought that the systematic provision of schooling in Scotland began only at the Reformation but this was not the case. The song schools discussed in the previous chapter, which educated the choristers at cathedrals, abbeys, collegiate churches and some parish churches, were part of a much wider network of medieval Scottish schools. Schools providing basic tuition in reading and writing were often attached to parish churches or monasteries and staffed by chaplains or monks. In many burghs, grammar schools provided boys with the education required for university entrance and the masters there were clerics too, usually secular priests. The Dominican friars, whose houses were invariably in urban centres and whose order had a special vocation for preaching and teaching, perhaps provided the masters for some grammar schools, such as those at Ayr and Glasgow, but more commonly they seem to have focused on educating their own postulants and novices, often to very high standards. There were even some 'sewing schools' for girls in a few burghs, although by the 1620s, the Kirk was getting suspicious that they were nests of 'papistry'. Before the Reformation, there were schools for girls from elite families in nunneries such as Elcho, Aberdour and Haddington, though women could not progress to university at this period. We know of the existence of about a hundred Scottish schools of various types before 1560 and there were certainly many more which have escaped the documentary record. Amongst the most difficult to identify are the informal 'household' schools which formed in the homes of the landed elite: private tutors would have been engaged to educate the sons and wards of the household along with other boys who were often fostered from families with ties of kinship or clientage. For example, John Carswell, future superintendent of Argyll and bishop of the Isles, was employed in the 1550s by the 4th earl of Argyll as tutor to the future 5th earl, in whom he instilled fixed evangelical views. In some households, girls were educated too. For example, the daughters of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington were highly literate and cultured, and Marie seems to have been an accomplished poet (...). The education provided in these domestic schools depended entirely on the quality of the tutor but could be very advanced. One of the finest Scottish humanists, George Buchanan, served as tutor to the young third earl of Cassilis, then to an illegitimate son of James V, and later to King James VI. Some of the burgh grammar schools also reached very high standards. For instance, the famous Protestant academic, cleric and controversialist Andrew Melville had been educated before the Reformation at the grammar school of Montrose, where he learned to read Greek, and the schoolmaster at Dunfermline in the 1470s and 1480s was Robert Henryson, the learned and distinguished poet. For much of the period, the standard textbooks for Latin grammar used in Scottish schools were those of Aelius Donatus (a Roman writer of the fourth century) or Johannes Despauterius (a Flemish humanist, d.1520). However, there was also a native Latin grammar written by John Vaus of Aberdeen, first printed in Paris in 1522 and reprinted in Edinburgh in 1566. In 1533, George Buchanan translated Thomas Linacre's Rudiments of Grammar from English into Latin and this became a 'bestseller'. After the Reformation, a flurry of new native grammars appeared. Scottish schooling could thus easily stand comparison with the provision made in other countries of the period. The humanist idea that the promotion of lay education was of public benefit was most clearly encapsulated in the 1496 Education Act, which stipulated, 'that all barons and freeholders that are of substance put their eldest sons and heirs to the schools from the age of eight or nine years, and to remain at the grammar schools until they be competently founded [educated] and have perfect Latin. And thereafter to remain three years at the schools of arts and law [at the universities] that they may have knowledge and understanding of the laws. Through the which Justice may reign universally through all the realm...' (...) The act was supported by James IV, but is usually ascribed to the influence of William Elphinstone, as already mentioned. Elphinstone had just established his new humanist university at Aberdeen with faculties of arts and law (amongst others) and if it were not for the face that he is invariably regarded as a high-minded and sincere reformer, the act might be interpreted as a private recruitment drive. The new law was never systematically enforced, but it promoted important principles and was unusually enlightened for its time: there was no comparable legislation in France or England. (...) Thus the official focus on Scottish schooling after the Reformation did not establish an education system from scratch, but rather tried to extend and improve existing provision and to infuse Protestant doctrine. Taking some inspiration from the educational decrees of the Catholic Council of Trent but also building on the model of Calvin's Geneva, the First Book of Discipline of 1561 envisaged a primary school in every parish, with 'schools of full exercise' (grammar schools) in the major burghs. It also insisted that the education of the poor should be paid for out of public funds. Lack of financial support meant that the vision was never fully implemented, but by the 1630s there were about 800 schools of various types across the country. Scotland had a school system that was impressive by international standards and which had fostered one of the most literate societies in Europe.

“Glory and Honour: the Renaissance in Scotland”, by Andrea Thomas

Ok I would feel guilty about quoting so much of this book if it weren’t for the fact that it was hands down, my best purchase of 2017. It is a lovely glossy coffee table book, a handy reference guide, and a fascinating read all at once, and is an absolute must for anyone who has an interest in either the Renaissance or Scottish history.

After all what better than to study the impact of such an important period as the Renaissance than to look at its effects on a small, relatively poor country on the edge of Europe, with a population of about 500,000 and only middling significance at most, but which was nonetheless was fully keyed into European cultural and social movements, and managed to produce some really impressive figures and institutions for a country of its size?

BEST. PURCHASE. 2017. HANDS. DOWN.

Perfect summer reading.

(But please don’t take the quote as the author’s whole argument- there are bits I cut out. Also there is less focus on the Gaelic side of things than I would like- but the author does argue that well, saying that Gaelic culture produced some beautiful art but it rarely fits into the specific cultural movement of the Renaissance, and belongs to a different world- though admittedly some of the most important figures of the Renaissance in Scotland, George Buchanan for example, were Gaelic speakers, their contributions just tended to be in Latin or Scots. And tbh even if more work does need to be done on the Gaelic side of things for the Renaissance, at least this book is a start and a good compendium for Scotland as a whole. I doubt that I’ve explained that well but nonetheless.)

#Renaissance #Scottish history #Are there things it leaves out? Yes of course but it is impressively comprehensive #It's both a great introduction AND of academic importance #And it's a study that has been sorely lacking for decades despite there being MORE than enough material #books

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killjoygeorgiaandotherstories · 6 years

Text

Assassins, Thieves and Beggars

Just a collection of OC characters, (not my art though, sadly) and some world building for a story I am writing, about cool assassins and magic and religion and revenge.

0 - THE FOOL

Meaning: The Fool represents new beginnings, having faith in the future, being inexperienced, not knowing what to expect, having beginner's luck, improvisation and believing in the universe.

Upright Card: Beginnings, Spontaneity, Originality, Innocence, Leap of faith

Reversed Card: Naivety, Poor judgement, Folly, Lack of direction, Stupidity, Chaos

Anastasia Allencroft: The daughter of an Arelenian mother and an Isleish father, both of whom themselves came from old and aristocratic family's, it could be easily said that Anastasia was from distinguished stock. She was frequently referred to as an intense young girl by her tutors and friends, and this intensity carried over into adulthood as she grew. She was intelligent and a talented fencer, but suffered from an often poor judgement, and a tendency to take her position of privilege for granted, believing herself exempt from many things simply due to the titles her family had. Her life of refinement and aristocratic leanings came to a close however when her relationship with another woman was made known, and the Inquisitors came to hang her and her lover, Sara Sallwick. Having escaped from the reach of the Church, Anastasia now works as the apprentice to the legendary assassin the Crow, and searching for those who turned her in so that she can enact her revenge.

I - THE MAGICIAN

Meaning: When the Magician appears in a spread, it points to the talents, capabilities and resources at the querent's disposal to succeed. The message is to tap into one's full potential rather than holding back, especially when there is a need to transform something.

Upright Card: Determined, Resourceful, Strong powerful man, Dexterity, Skilled

Reversed Card: Deceit, Lack of energy, Communication blocks, Confusion, Ill intentions

“Red” Rudy Dillinger: Red Rudy, as he is commonly known on the streets of Townhill, is a powerful force within the underworld. Though he is officially a union boss and bar owner, he is well known to be much much more than that. A highly profitable extortionist, or Shakedowner, using his position as a union boss to suck money out of businesses and workers alike, he has begun to branch out to other criminal enterprises such as river piracy and bootlegging. Both a powerful ally and dangerous enemy, many of the gangs in the city swear allegiance to him in some way or another, and it is expected that one always pays him a cut of any money they make if they are operating a criminal enterprise on territory considered his. One of the many criminals under his employ is the Crow.

II - THE HIGH PRIESTESS

Meaning: High Priestess is a card of mystery, stillness and passivity. This card suggests that it is time to retreat and reflect upon the situation and trust your inner instincts to guide you through it. Things around you are not what they appear to be right now.

Upright Card: Spiritual insight, Hidden talents, Intuition, Things yet to be revealed, Mystery

Reversed Card: Secrets, Information withheld, Lack of personal harmony

Mother Mary: Little is known about Mother Mary, other than that she seemed to just appear in the slums one day, that she comes from the colonies, (or so she says) and that she is far older than she appears. No one knows exactly how old she is, but the old folks who were around some 50 odd years ago when she appeared say that she hasn't aged a bit. No one knows much of how she makes her living, other than giving tarot readings to those who are willing to pay, but she still manages to maintain a life in a lavish townhouse that she had specially built in the slums. She is treated with simultaneous fear and exultation, and many have begun to bring offerings of incense and talismans to her as a sign of respect.

III - THE EMPRESS

Meaning: The Empress is traditionally associated with maternal influence, it is the card if you are hoping to start a family. She can represent the creation of life, romance, art, or new business.

Upright Card: Pregnancy, Nurturing, Abundance, Maternal care, A new opportunity, Stability

Reversed Card: Financial issues, Stagnation, Domestic problems, Unwanted pregnancy

Coleen Lichter: Colleen has been with the Sallwick family from the very start. She was the first person Mr Sallwick hired when he started to earn money, and is in many respects the true mother of Sara Sallwick considering her mother died in childbirth. As Mr Brennan Sallwick’s fortunes increased and the household staff increased with it, she was able to climb her way up the ranks through simple seniority over everyone. She has served as the wet nurse, maid, tutor, and everything in between, with her now being second practically only to Mr Sallwick himself. Gruff and demanding, she is considered a tough critic, but never once has anyone said she is unfair. She has many beliefs, all of them strong, but she believes strongest of all that everyone is entitled to their own life. Her second strongest belief is to pull oneself up by their bootstraps, something she has trouble passing onto Anastasia now that she has come to stay in the Sallwick household.

IV - THE EMPEROR

Meaning: This card is suggestive of stability and security in life. You are on top of things and everything in under your control. It is your hard work, discipline and self control that have bought you this far. It means that you are in charge of your life now setting up your own rules and boundaries.

Upright Card: Law and order, Power, Leadership, Father figure, Promotion, Authority

Reversed Card: Loss of authority, Immaturity, Control freak, Lack of discipline, Manipulative friends

Brennan “The Black” Sallwick: A man of honor, but also a man from a criminal background, Brennan Sallwick was the bastard son of a prostitute and originally named Karl Steel. He grew up on the streets of Townhill, living and stealing predominantly on the infamous Bowler Street, before joining the Bowler Street Boys gang. He quickly became an enforcer for the gang, making sure those in their territory paid their dues, and killing those who apposed their rule of the area. He soon found that there was money to be made as a killer, and began selling his skills as an assassin for hire, earning money for some time through murder, until he was run out of town by the Watch Officers. He became a sailor, serving in the merchant marine, as a whaler, and for a stint in the navy, before changing his name. Upon returning to the city, he picked up where he left off as an assassin, and eventually earned enough money to buy a fishing vessel. With the fishing vessel he earned enough money to buy another, and another, and eventually branched out into buying two whaling vessels as well. Simultaneously he was becoming more and more renowned as an assassin, with the wanted posters and people of the city dubbing him “The Crow” for the distinctive mask he wore. He was at the peak of influence a non aristocrat could reach before his daughter was hung up on a lamppost for “knowing another of her sex in an intimate manner,” and though he had arrived to late to save his daughter, he had managed to save his daughter’s lover Anastasia.

V - THE HIEROPHANT

Meaning: Hierophant stands for tradition and convention. It can represent marriage in an arranged setup. It can also mean a teacher or counselor who will help in learning / education of the querent.

Upright Card: Seeking counsel or advice, Marriage, Tradition, Religion, Learning, Spiritual guidance, Education

Reversed Card: Breakdown, Rejection of family values, Abuse of position, Poor counsel

Father Noah Lasseter: Noah Lasseter managed to earn his unsavory position of Parish Priest to the Docks District (more colloquially known as Slum City) by being loudmouthed and brazenly against the grain while learning the trade of priest at the Hiller Mouth Monastery. Though deeply religious, he has developed a strong opinion on how the Church practices their worship of the All Father, believing that most Church authorities focus far to much on the “Judge the Wicked” aspect rather than the “Defend the Meek” aspect. And though he does believe that Judge the Wicked has its place, he instead chooses to interpret the Commandments much more literally as directions to creating peaceful and safe communities, rather than judging all who are different as monsters who threaten that community. This rebellious and outspoken attitude earned him the ire of many of his colleagues, who placed him in what many saw as the worst district, far from the aristocrats and business owners who’s donations could fill the coffers of the church. But, the Docks District was exactly the kind of place that a man like Father Noah was needed, where his accepting attitude made him popular among the so called “deviants” who had been banished to the slums. And it just so happened that his church was the childhood place of worship for one Brennan “The Black” Sallwick.

VI - THE LOVERS

Meaning: The Lovers represent relationships and choices. Its appearance in a spread indicates some decision about an existing relationship, a temptation of the heart, or a choice of potential partners. Often an aspect of the querent's life will have to be sacrificed; a bachelor(ette)'s lifestyle may be sacrificed and a relationship gained (or vice versa), or one potential partner may be chosen while another is turned down. Whatever the choice, it should not be made lightly, as the ramifications will be lasting.

Upright Card: Falling in love, Commitment, Choices, Being at a crossroads, Partnerships

Reversed Card: Separation, Infidelity, Relationship issues, Broken relationship

Anastasia Allencroft, Sara Sallwick: Anastasia Allencroft, rightful heiress to the Allencroft titles, and Sara Sallwick, heiress to the Sallwick fortune and fleets, met by chance at a party as their respective dancing partners were friends. They were fast friends, and quickly more than friends, with each simultaneously experiencing their first love and experiencing true fear all at once. They knew that the feelings they felt were against Church teachings, and that if anyone knew of their relationship they would be tried for Sexual Degeneracy and hanged. But no matter how many times they tried to break off the relationship, they kept finding themselves returning to one another, and began to make plans on how they could remain with one another forever if possible. They could never be married, but they could find a way to make it work. But of course, nothing lasts forever,and the Inquisitors put an end to their relationship.

VII - THE CHARIOT

Meaning: The Chariot is a card about overcoming conflicts and moving forward in a positive direction. One needs to keep going on and through sheer hard work and commitment he will be victorious.

Upright Card: Overcoming obstacles, Will power, Drive, A journey, Confidence, Ambition

Reversed Card: Scattered energy, Lack of direction, Self doubt

Fisher Watcher: The Fisher Watcher is a colloquial name for a type of eel that lives in the waters surrounding the Isles and the northern coasts of Eropa. They are peaceful creatures, and are known for coming to the surface of the water to watch fishers, and consequently scaring away all the fish. For a long time, before humans fully learned how to navigate the oceans safely, they were believed to be dangerous sea monsters, but as humans spread onto the waves this proved to be false, and now they are seen as omens of peace and good luck.

VIII - STRENGTH

Meaning: Strength predicts the triumphant conclusion to a major life problem, situation or temptation through strength of character. It is a very happy card if you are fighting illness or recovering from injury.

Upright Card: Virility, Inner strength, Potency, Vitality, Confidence, Self-belief, Enjoying power

Reversed Card: Hedonism, Self-doubt, Lacking courage, Lack of self-control, Vanity

Townhill: Townhill has been the most important city in the Isles since humans first began to settle into permanent settlements and towns. Its location on the ocean makes it ideal for trade, and the multiple peaks and hills that rise in the north make it an easily defensible city. It quickly rose to prominence as a major trading hub and fishing town, and after King Tyrus Willun of Mournly conquered the rest of the Isles and became the first Emperor, he named it the capitol. It has seen many riots, multiple outbreaks of Blood Cough, a coup, a revolutionary army, and uncountable small tragedies and triumphs. And yet still it stands, proud and strong as a mountain.

IX - THE HERMIT

Meaning: The Hermit suggests that you are in a phase of introspection where you are drawing your attention inwards and looking for answers within. You are in need of a period of inner reflection, away from the current demands of your position.

Upright Card: Soul-searching, Introspection, Solitude, Withdrawn from society, Meditation, Self-reflection

Reversed Card: Misfit, Withdrawing from loved ones, Exile, Sadness, Loneliness

Keeper Thomas Leolid: Thomas Leolid has grown up in the Hiller Forest, coming from a family of Keepers going back generations. He is young for the job, having had the position thrust on him rather suddenly when both his father and eldest brother died of Blood Cough, but goes about his work diligently and with care. He is a believer in the holy nature of the forest, and is proud to tell the monks and students at the Hiller Mouth Monastery that his sector of the forest is the most beautiful and well cared for. He was not to popular however due to his age as compared to the other Keepers, and due to the fact that he was one of the few who considered Noah Lasseter a friend and worthy Parish Priest, with them both of the sharing similar interpretations of the Commandments.

X - WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Meaning: A common aspect to most interpretations of this card within a reading is to introduce an element of change in the querent's life, such change being in station, position or fortune: such as the rich becoming poor, or the poor becoming rich.

Upright Card: Changes, Opportunity, Luck, Destiny, Winning, Chance

Reversed Card: Mishap, Unforeseen setback, Bad luck, Misfortune, Disappointment

Hemena of Fortunes and Fate: Hemena is a caretaker of Fate and one of the chief spirits who watches over the Aether, watching how it affects peoples fortunes. She is one of the first humans, who upon death was allowed to continue living by the Stranger, but only in exchange for constantly monitoring the fortunes and fates, never being able to truly enjoy life’s wonders as she could when she was alive. She is seen as a sad figure, the first soul to fall victim to the Strangers tricks, but also as a matronly figure of sorts, helping humanity continue onward’s.

XI - JUSTICE

Meaning: The Justice card indicates that the fairest decision will be made. Justice is the sword that cuts through a situation, and will not be swayed by outer beauty when deciding what is fair and just.

Upright Card: Fairness, Justice, Cause and effect, Balance and equilibrium, Responsibility

Reversed Card: Lack of accountability, Unfair treatment, Dishonesty, Legal flaws, Imbalance

The Wardens: The Warden’s are a branch of law enforcement similar to a sheriff. They are elected officials, and can come from many walks of life, though they are typically either soldiers of Watch Officers before hand. There are many Wardens throughout the city, with each having their own jurisdiction to watch over. Unlike sheriff’s, and especially unlike regular Watch Officers, the Wardens are given much more free reign in how they go about their duties, and have far fewer regulations holding them back. Other than their jacket, they are required to equip themselves, choose who they work with, (or not even work with others at all) and are considered by many to be above the law, and are tasked with preserving law and order through any means necessary. In terms of legal authority, they are one step below a Justice of Peace and Law. Though it is preferred and requested of the Wardens that they take in the criminals they encounter alive, most interactions are left up to the Wardens discretion, and if they say the person they were after deserved to die, it is generally accepted.

XII - THE HANGED MAN

Meaning: The Hanged Man is the card that suggests ultimate surrender, sacrifice, or being suspended in time.

Upright Card: Letting go, Breaking old patterns, Circumspection, Suspension, Metamorphosis

Reversed Card: Missing an opportunity, Inability to change, Egotism

The Stranger: The Stranger is a mysterious, nebulous, and controversial figure in the universe. Some believe he is the All Father, master of the universe. Others believe that he is an opposite of the All Father, a tricky and dangerous figure opposed to the All Father’s teachings. But, no matter what he is, it is believed that he is a necessary evil, as he is the ultimate authority in the Empty, the place between worlds, and that he is the keeper of the Aether along with the spirits who he has tricked into their positions. It is not actually known if the Stranger even has a gender, but he has always been called male due to the fact that he typically appears to mortals as a dapper man of the aristocracy.

XIII - DEATH

Meaning: Unlikely that this card actually represents a physical death. Typically it implies an end, possibly of a relationship or interest, and therefore implies an increased sense of self-awareness.

Upright Card: Endings, Severe illness, Profound change, Letting go of attachments, Failure, Mortality

Reversed Card: Living unaware, Depression, Long terminal illness, Resistance to change, Delayed endings

Tim Killington: A young man and general low life, also under the employ of Red Rudy, he often acts as an informant and spy, helping the Crow get an understanding of the residency’s or places of business his targets are staying at. Tim grew up with his brother Ben as a street urchin, and began working as a message boy for the various criminals in the Docks District to make money. He little by little worked his way up in position, eventually giving out information he had collected in his travels around the district. . . for the right price of course. He is rather cocky and laid back, and smokes enough to choke a horse. Despite his persistently cheery and somewhat egotistical attitude, it cant be denied that he has the dirt on just about anyone, and if he doesn't he can get it. Due to his awareness of things going on around him, he has been instrumental in the rise and fall of many crime lords and gangsters over the past 15 or so years.

XIV - TEMPERANCE

Meaning: This card indicates that you should learn to bring about balance, patience and moderation in your life. You should take the middle road, avoiding extremes and maintain a sense of calm.

Upright Card: Connecting with your guides, Balance, Moderation, Harmony, Alchemy, Looking for divine intervention

Reversed Card: Disharmony, Imbalance, Onset of illness, Lack of patience

Ben Killington: The much more dour younger brother of Tim Killington. Like his brother, he grew up as a street urchin, but made his way by becoming a thief, a career choice that continues on now into his early adulthood. Though technically under the employ of Red Rudy, (and he does indeed kick up to the crime boss,) he is rather indifferent to the politics of the underworld he inhabits, simply trying to make a living and doing what he has to do to survive.

XV - THE DEVIL

Meaning: It represents being seduced by the material world and physical pleasures. Also living in fear, domination and bondage, being caged by an overabundance of luxury, discretion should be used in personal and business matters.

Upright Card: Temptation, Unhealthy relationships, Enslavement, Materialism, Bondage, Fear, Feeling trapped

Reversed Card: Freedom from restraints, Breaking from addictions, Divorce

Carver: Carver is an assassin of similar reputation and skill as the infamous Crow. Not much is known about him, other than that he frequently kills those who are considered enemies of the Church, leading many to believe that he is under their employ. Though no one knows who he really is, most believe that he is in some way indebted to or otherwise stuck under the control of the Church, and is being forced to do their bidding.

XVI - THE TOWER

Meaning: The Tower is commonly interpreted as meaning danger, crisis, destruction, and liberation. It is associated with sudden unforseen change.

Upright Card: Unexpected change, Renovation, Catastrophe, Destruction, Accident or damage

Reversed Card: Obstacles, Volatile situation, Losses, Illness

The Attack On Allencroft Manor: With the discovery of the relationship between Anastasia Allencroft and Sara Sallwick came the Inquisitors, the ultimate authority on the laws and commandments of the Church. While the Isles has no official religion, there are a series of laws that state that Church business and law may be upheld by agents of the Church, but that the government will give no aid in these endeavors. Over time however, these laws have been questioned more and more due to the increasingly belligerent and violent tactics employed by the Church. The Inquisitors struck during a dinner party, in which both Anastasia and Sara were in attendance. They were initially turned away by a servant at the door, after which they returned with guns and fire bombs,forcing their way into the building and killing two servants who tried to stop them. The party was sent frightened into the night, Lord Allencroft was shot and killed, and Sara Sallwick was hung from the rafters. When Brennan Sallwick arrived, under the guise of the Crow, to save his daughter, he instead only managed to make it out with his daughters lover. In vengeance, the Inquisitors burned the house to the ground. But, their actions only soured the public opinions of them even further. After all, if even aristocrats weren't safe from the Churches power, who was?

XVII - THE STAR

Meaning: When the Star card appears, you are likely to find yourself feeling inspired. It brings renewed hope and faith and a sense that you are truly blessed by the universe at this time.

Upright Card: Good health, Opportunities, Spirituality, Astronomy, Inspiration, Hope

Reversed Card: Despair, Missed opportunities, Disappointments, Illness

Mirel The Muse: Mirel the Muse is of unknown origin, but there are some theory's as to how he came to be. The most common belief is that Mirel is the spirit of a dead saint, who was fond of art and music. To be able to continue playing and creating his art forever, Mirel made a deal with the Stranger that if he became the Muse, spirit of all art and creation, that he could continue to play forever. But, as in all deals made with the Stranger, there was a catch, and Mirel found himself a slave of a single alleyway where he could no longer go out and see the things that inspired him. Now all the music he plays is filled with despair.

XVIII - THE MOON

Meaning: The Moon is a card of illusion and deception, and therefore often suggests a time when something is not as it appears to be. Perhaps a misunderstanding on your part, or a truth you cannot admit to yourself.

Upright Card: Difficult period, Insecurity, Mental confusion, Deception, Hidden things, Fear

Reversed Card: Unhappiness, Release of fear, Insomnia, Unusual dreams, Mysteries unveiled

Corlina of Secrets: Corlina was once a priest, who used his position to manipulate people into paying large sums of money to the church, which he then pocketed himself. When he died, he carried this secret with him, and his guilt prevented from ever being able to rest peacefully, or ever pass on. Stuck forever in the Aether, the Stranger offered a deal, keep the secrets of the world, and walk the Earth once more. But, the deal was skewed, the secrets of the world weighed heavily on the shoulders of Corlina, who was stuck with unceasing guilt and no release for all eternity.

XIX - THE SUN

Meaning:The card portends good fortune, happiness, joy and harmony. It represents the universe coming together and agreeing with your path and aiding forward movement into something greater.

Upright Card: Joy, Enlightenment, Material happiness, Marriage, Success, Vitality

Reversed Card: False impressions, Lack of clarity, Low Vitality, Sadness

The Empire of the Twelve Isles and All Her Colonies: No matter what small tragedies and personal conflict occur in the Empire, it is a large nation, and marches ever onward. The philosophers and scientists always discover new things, beautiful art is produced in the cities. The oil from the northern isles fuels the vast fleets of fishing boats and whaling ships. The Imperial Navy keeps enemies from the shores. Coffee and fruit from the colonies feed millions.

XX - JUDGEMENT

Meaning: This card is referred to as a time of resurrection and awakening, a time when a period of our life comes to an absolute end making way for dynamic new beginnings.

Upright Card: Decision making, Transition, Renewal, Redemption, Awakening, Reincarnation

Reversed Card: Stagnation, Self-doubt, Poor logic, Poor or hasty judgement

The Inquisitors: The defenders of the Church, the judgement of sinners, the destroyers of heretics. The Inquisitors are many things, most of them frightening to the average citizen of the Empire. To normal people, the Inquisitors represent powerful forces beyond their control making decisions about their lives. They were not always this way however, and originated as knights who would wander the land killing monsters, or protecting monasteries from raiders. But over time, as the raiders were eclipsed by standing armies and the monsters were eradicated from the world, they became the militant arm of the church, dedicated to seeking out and destroying anything deemed heretical.

XXI - THE WORLD

Meaning: The World represents an ending to a cycle of life, a pause in life before the next big cycle beginning with the fool. It is an indicator of a major and inexorable change, of tectonic breadth.

Upright Card: Successful conclusions, Possibilities, Fulfillment, Achievement

Reversed Card: Delayed success, Lack of completion, Stagnation, Failed plans

The World: No matter what we do, the world turns and turns, indifferent to our existence. The Empty shows what we truly are, the Aether spews its magic, and spirits roam the ground and sea alike. All will be well, given enough time.

#oc's #OC #oc story #oc world #worldbuilding #my writing #my ocs #not my art #fantasy #steampunk #steampunk story #fantasy religion #fantasy realm

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haikumomentsandinspiration · 4 years

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#healthcarevacation, part IV

Today is Sunday, May 10, 2020: Mother’s Day. (I like that in Turkish, the name of the day is Mothers’ Day—plural. I prefer that.)

This felt like the appropriate time to sit down and catch up with the documentation of this long journey.

If you need to catch up, you can read Part I here, Part II here, and Part III here.

So where were we? Ah, yes. December 2019. The pregnancy/birth guarantee program at Fertty International Clinic in Barcelona, Spain.

In my research looking for a new clinic after the last failed transfer (and the poor communication after staffing changes at our old clinic), one thing became clear: G. needed to have more tests and analyses done to try to figure out why all these transfers, including a donor egg cycle with two transfers, had failed.

After much struggle trying (in vain) to have Kaiser cover the tests and analyses Gene and I needed to have done, we realized it was going to be cheaper and easier for Gene to fly solo to Spain in November to get all that done. He would come back to SF, we would wait about three weeks for the test results, and then, based on the test results, we would finalize the protocol for me and the embryo transfer.

Thankfully, G’s results came back normal, everything within expected ranges and levels. So our application to the birth guarantee/shared risk program was officially approved. I would go to Barcelona (solo this time) at the start of my winter break, have a first scan to check my lining, adjust my medication as needed, and get ready for transfer day in about a week.

On December 10, G and I went out for sushi in San Francisco one last time (we hoped) before pregnancy, and a week later, I left for Barcelona. My first check up at Fertty the day after my flight was mostly just blood work and an initial scan to see how my lining was coming along. The lining was fine, but surprise, surprise: I was getting sick with a cold—December flights/weather change were working their magic on me again. My doctor asked to see me in a couple of days, and told me to keep the clinic updated on my health. Two days later, my cold had gotten worse, but my lining was still all right. I spent the rest of the day looking for a reputable and affordable acupuncturist (the second part being the challenge), and thanks to a friend’s rec, I made an appointment, with a focus not on uterine lining support this time, but on kicking this cold’s ass before transfer day.

I took it easy that week, feeling no pressure to do any sightseeing since my priority was the healthcare part of this #healthcarevacation without a doubt. I feasted (!) on soup, bone broth, and hot tea and not much else for several days, and slowly started getting better. My clinic decided to keep my transfer day as scheduled: December 27. Meanwhile, Rina joined me again in Barcelona for a few days for emotional support leading up to transfer day (she doesn’t need much of an excuse to travel, especially to Barcelona).

December 27: Transfer Day! I went to the Fertty for my final blood work before the transfer and to sign some papers. Then, off to fertility acupuncture, and back to the clinic for my transfer. Everything went smoothly; we transferred one embryo this time, with four more good quality embryos left for future attempts/a sibling, so I was feeling good and positive. Besides, their recovery/rest room was the most comfortable one I’d been in in all these cycles at three different clinics. After resting a bit, I went out for lunch, then headed back to my acupuncturist for a post-transfer fertility acupuncture session. Stick, baby, stick!

I took it easy the rest of the time I was in Barcelona. Went out for a walk at least once a day, but had lazy days for the most part.

On New Year’s Eve, the woman I was staying with, Renata, and I went for a late lunch at her favorite Brazilian Bistro (she’s from Brazil). And for dinner, we decided to go to my favorite Turkish restaurant, which I knew would be open till late with their regular menu and would not be charging an arm and a leg for a modified menu. After lunch, Renata, another Brazilian friend of hers, and I walked to the beach for a Brazilian ritual honoring Iemanja (Brazilian spelling). We made wishes, prayed, meditated, and threw yellow and white carnations to the sea for Iemanja, then sat together and watched the sunset. I felt so grateful to be invited to join this ritual (this will be my new cultural appreciation vs. cultural appropriation example the next time I teach that class!). Ever since I’ve known about her, I’ve always felt drawn to Iemanja—being a Pisces and considering my home to be the sea more than any piece of land and all. I felt at peace, and all felt right in the world in a way that I hadn’t felt for a while during this long fertility journey.

I took it easy the next day. And the day after that, the morning of January 3, I had some spotting...very faint, but still spotting. I called G. and cried on the phone. But as he said, we were not out yet. I let Fertty know, too; they said they would up my progesterone dosage and monitor me closely. I had a big lunch and a late dinner that day. Big mistake. I woke up around 3:30 am, nauseated, and threw up twice. In the morning, my spotting had gotten slightly darker, but it was still not heavy spotting and definitely not considered bleeding. I went up from 600 to 800 mg of progesterone a day, and followed the BRAT diet—well, just the R part. The following day, I was feeling better, and finally went outside and played tourist. Surrounding myself with the beauty of Barcelona felt healing. Meanwhile, my clinic told me I could come by the morning before my flight back home for a blood test so they could tell me sooner than later both the result and what the next steps would be. If I weren’t pregnant, I didn’t want to keep taking all those pills and patches loaded with hormones.

January 7, 2020: pregnancy test day! A year ago today was transfer day at Irema clinic, I noticed. I had a glimmer of hope, but no gut feeling either way. I repeated the lesson I had learned from a guided meditation that had been helping me a ton: there is hope in uncertainty! I distracted myself by finally sitting my ass down and doing some lesson planing for my cultural competence/equity literacy unit. In the middle of that, around 2:30 pm came the phone call from the clinic. “Do you want me to tell you on the phone or do you want to come in?” I didn’t want to go in just to hear “I’m sorry...” and I wasn’t sure I wanted a hug. You can just tell me now, I said, bracing myself.

And that’s how I found out I was pregnant.

I don’t remember the exact words the patient coordinator said. I just remember it took a second for it to sink in, and then I started crying while still somehow continuing the conversation and smiling from ear to ear. I finished up my work, and headed to the beach for sunset, which was my plan whether it was positive or negative. Whether I had to celebrate or grieve, I wanted to do it facing the sea.

I went to the beach, watched the sunset, thanked Iemanja, thanked the Universe, and recorded an “IVF Log” video, which I assumed we would eventually share with our baby.

At this point, you may have noticed I didn’t call G as soon as I heard. The next day, January 8th, was my flight back, and the day of our first date 11 years ago. The plan was to tell him in person—our anniversary gift.

When I arrived home, I didn’t let him know I already knew. I didn’t know if he knew that I knew. We had decided on no anniversary presents this year since we had plenty of medical expenses. Turns out G got me a couple of gifts. I would have been upset with him when we had said we weren’t doing presents. Instead, I went to the bathroom, took the pregnancy tests I’d been saving for this day, then went back to the living room, saying I did have some presents for him from Spain. I gave him the couple of small gifts I had gotten for him from Barcelona. Then, I said I realized there was one more thing, and went back and got the pregnancy tests.

The adventure didn’t end there, leaving its place to a blissful period. I had some bleeding week 7 and week 8, and ended up going in for five ultrasounds in those two weeks, freaking out each time since that’s around the same time in my pregnancy and the exact way my miscarriage had begun back in 2016. Each visit, though, instead of the “I’m sorry...there’s no heartbeat” of 2016, we heard “there’s the heartbeat” and exhaled, immensely grateful. After week 8, all was well, but I remained cautious and scared, and didn’t want to share the news with anyone other than family for a while.

Then, the month after my return from Spain, of course: a global pandemic! We were handling all the challenges of this fertility journey so well, apparently, that the Universe thought, “Here, how about a global pandemic during your pregnancy in case things seem too easy now?” “Awesome,” I thought sarcastically; “what perfect timing.” Then, I realized: wait...this IS perfect timing. I came back from Spain, and not long after, Spain was suddenly one of the epicenters of the pandemic, one of the first countries that took significant precautions. This pregnancy did have perfect timing for real. I feel for women whose cycles had to be canceled or postponed.

Today, Mother’s Day, is exactly 22 weeks into my pregnancy—we are more than halfway there to our estimated September 13, 2020 due date. So it feels like it’s a good time to share the news at last.

I want to say that I do not take this pregnancy for granted—especially with the context of a global pandemic and how it has impacted assisted fertility cycles in mind. Each day, I thank the Universe “for this healthy pregnancy—for all the healthy days so far, and all the healthy days to come.” Each time I light a Shabbat candle, I pray not just for my own family and friends’ health, but also for all who are pregnant, and for all who are trying to get pregnant. I had thought that after almost five years of trying to conceive, when we finally succeeded, we would have celebration and community...and hugs! Instead, we found a global pandemic, isolation, distance from our loved ones, and more than the usual dose of a new parent’s fear of the unknown. Last month, I spent a lot of time crying upon slowly realizing all the things I wasn’t going to get in this pregnancy:

- being pregnant out and about in the world and experiencing what that’s like, even with all its irritations (people trying to touch my belly, people not giving their seat up for me on public transportation...); watching people slowly notice it at work...

- looking at baby stuff in person with G.: “OMG...Look at this one! Isn’t this soooo cute?!?”

- an all gender (in-person) celebration/party with our family/friends in July or August (silver lining, I guess, is that family/friends who aren’t in the Bay Area can attend the Zoom party now...whatever that will look like);

- going to Turkey in June one last time in a while before the baby comes; being pregnant on a beach in Turkey; going baby stuff shopping with my family in Turkey; eating all the amazing food in Turkey and knowing it was nourishing not just my soul, but also our baby.

- having my parents’ hands on my pregnant belly, feeling the kicks of their first grandchild;

- coming back from Turkey with my mom, who wanted to come for a visit before the baby to help us get ready at home;

- the September visit from both my parents; possibly having my mother in the delivery room, and knowing my dad is in the waiting room, being anxious and impatient; wondering if Rina could make it, even, and if she could, knowing she would be taking some amazing newborn photos.

Gratitude has been my savior this whole time, and it still is. I know we will have time with my parents, my sister, and my in-laws as they each meet our baby in person eventually, and we will all make beautiful, sweet memories. I know there was a time when there was no FaceTime that would allow a partner who’s not allowed to be at the anatomy scan to still be there virtually. I know there was a time there was no anatomy scan via ultrasound. I could go on.

There is so much to be grateful for still. Thank you, Universe, for this healthy pregnancy—for all the healthy days so far, and all the ones to come.

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paulriedelposts · 4 years

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Theatiner Kirche (Church) in Munich

Visiting Munich has many privileges itself. Restaurants, bars, sports buildings, carnivals, breweries, and other facilities are available to see in town. But, what we are going to focus on now are churches in Munich. It is well known for my side that I am an atheist. Regardless, I always liked visiting churches everywhere I go. In my humble opinion, churches in Munich has a very big significance in German history. They always provide some special feeling since you cross your first step into it. No matter if you are a believer or not, we are all the same in the end. And because of that, I will always be very pleased to visit these places, especially across Munich.

Theatiner Kirche's founders and style

The Theatiner Church is located in southern Germany in Munich. Certainly, it is one of the most famous among the churches in Munich. The construction from this Catholic church was from 1663 to 1690, almost full three decades. In the year of 1662, a long-awaited heir to the Bavarian crown, Prince Max Emanuel is born. And for the honor of that, the church’s founders Henriette Adelaide of Savoy and Ferdinand Maria founded it. This church is also known as the Dominican Priory of St. Cajetan because it is administered nowadays by the Dominican Friars. The one whose idea came to realization is the Italian architect Agostino Barelli. Barelli was a Baroque-style architect. This church gained his style too. As I know, he gained inspiration from Sant’Andrea Della Valle in Rome. Theatiner Church has 71 meters high dome and two 66 meters high towers which weren’t originally planned. They were added on later by Enrico Zuccalli, the successor of the architect Barelli. This building is almost 16 meters wide and 72 meters long. So, I'm sure you'll be astonished seeing it. Do you know why this church has so big significance in Munich? It is because after its construction the colors of it became a worldwide known symbol for the city. Its Mediterranean appearance and yellow coloring have a big impact and influence on Southern German Baroque architecture. That influence never stopped its presence. When you see this church for the first time, these colors will not leave your head and thoughts for a long time. That’s how astonishing it is. And that’s why this church is so special.

History of the Theatiner Church

A lot of places worthy of visiting Munich has a huge background and long history. That is also the case with the churches in Munich too. Throughout history, this church gained a good reputation. That reputation was going only uphill, but that unfortunately changed in the late 18th century. During that period, an increasing decline of religious discipline and the monastery finances became visible. Because of that, the monastery had to finish closed by the Elector Max IV Joseph, later King Max I Joseph. The official date of closing is on the 26th of October 1801, before the secularization. For those who don’t know perhaps what it is, secularization is a process of converting something from religious to secular possession or use. Also, in some places, it can occur as disassociation or separation from religious or spiritual concerns. Nevertheless, the Theatiner Church remained Collegiate Church and the convent attracted the remaining 3 electoral departments. Justice, Finance and Spiritual Affairs. Before the dissolution of the monastery, in 1799, one of the departments moved into the Theatiner monastery. It was the Department of Foreign Affairs of course. Like many other facilities in Munich, this church also went unfortunate during World War II. Particularly in the final years of the war, the church was the target from bombs. They destroyed the west wing. Also, the altarpiece of the foundation of the church was wiped out. But I assume that some ‘paranormal force’ looked up this church and it shined once more. Its restoration from 1946 finished nearly 10 years later. Since then, the Dominicans have ministered at St. Cajetan. From 2001 until now, a massive rebuild has been in progress in which the Theatiner Church will get a new sanctuary design.

Interior of the church and its tombs

One of the first impressions you will possibly get from this church is from its appearance. When I looked it for the first time, I just stood in awe. The 71 meters high cupola gives a grandiose feeling of space. It is also richly decorated with stucco and this is something that really can take the breath away. The dark wood of the pulpit has 1681 contrasts with the white and grey tones that dominate elsewhere. And that contrast is something I like the most when it is about this church. It is truly fascinating how it is all embedded. I can’t forget the amount of excitement I have every time I remember it. A whole interior of the church is in white stucco. That provides a very bright appearance and sets it apart from most of the other Munich churches. The ones who are responsible for creating the statues and stucco decorations are German sculptor Wolfgang Leutner and Italian Nicolo Petri. Around the great black altar inside, from Andreas Faistenberger, are numerous paintings. Carlo Cignani, George Desmarees, Caspar de Crayer, and Joachim Sandrart are all the names you could find up there. When it comes to tombs at this church, many people are inside Theatiner Kirche. The first ones I got on my mind are the members of the Wittelsbach family. There is a small chapel which contains the remains of King Maximilian II and his wife. Also, there is a crypt where their son, the prince, laid his remains. Charles VII the Holy Roman Emperor is another person who remains laying here. The sepulture from the exiled King Otto of Greece about who I was writing is also here.

My vision of churches in Munich and religion

As I already mentioned, I am an atheist. But that is not much important indeed. What I would like to achieve is just understanding and mutual respect about everything in life. So, religion is the same. I know how religion is important in every person’s life. Many find their peace and inspiration to move on in it. I really don’t have anything against it. I am aware of how big influence can it provide in people’s lives and I am always trying to understand it in the best possible way. Hopefully, I can get that from you too. Because I think that no matter what your religion status is, what’s the most important is how people behave. And, what is in their heart. All the Christians, Orthodox or Catholic, share the same religion. Others are Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. Some are atheists like me or gnostic perhaps, but all that is every person’s private choice. Nobody can’t take that from us and I am glad it is like that. What I deeply want from you, my readers is to understand other’s feelings and choices they make. Regardless of their religious determination. Because everyone deserves a chance to show his qualities and eventually become your friend or maybe a partner. No matter if they are a part of other religions or are not religious at all. I would like to achieve that mutual respect in every part of this world, not only in Munich. Unfortunately, probably I will not be able to travel that long. In the end, we are all humans and we will end up the same. Whether we are believers or not, hetero or homosexuals, rich or poor. So, if anyone can learn about this from me, my heart will be fulfilled with joy and peace.

Short guide around the Theatiner Church

As I have some personal experiences from visiting churches in Munich, I will try to provide you a short one for this too. What will you find here is a delightful Rococo style exterior with creamy yellow colors. The facade is two-tiered, flanked by two towers with clock faces and rich ornamentation. The church interior is a high Baroque style. The nave's design is Corinthian-style columns and more stucco ornamentation. The delicately carved Baroque style pulpit is worth a look-see as are the side chapels. You can allow yourself 10-20 minutes for visiting Theatiner Church. For nice photos of the church facade, you should walk across Odeonplatz, standing in front of Residenz. From here, you should be able to cover the entire church in your camera lens.

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thepositivepregnancyjourney · 7 years

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10 things I wish every women knew about giving birth:

BIRTH IS SOMETHING YOU DO, NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU ❤ 1. Birth is a spiritual journey; it's also primal. Birth is, to say the least, an intensely physically and emotionally demanding experience. Approaching the challenge as a spiritual journey can help you dig deep into your core for the resources to persevere, and to learn about yourself and your innate strength and power. Though a spiritual journey, it is not all incense and candles. It asks us to call upon our primal instincts — and sometimes even to get primal — making animal sounds, assuming poses that have us buck naked on our hands and knees, moving our hips in deep sultry belly dancing undulations. Planning to take a deep dive into your subconscious and intuition to let your primal self emerge can allow you to open and birth your baby with a raw strength and power you might not now even realize lives within you. 2. Birth should not be taken lying down. Lying down simply doesn’t let gravity do the work of helping baby come down and out! Walking, moving your hips like a belly dancer, and generally staying active facilitates a more physiologic process for baby than lying on your back in a hospital bed, which increases your chances of a cesarean. 3. Contractions are amazing sensations that get your baby born. During my own births, I used my imagination and awareness to dive deep into the sensation of my muscles working to help my baby get born. This focused awareness transformed my perception of the pain of birth into the power of birth. I even used the term "expansions" rather than "contractions" to help me think about the sensation in a new way. It did not make them less intense, but it made the sensation my ally rather than my enemy. As I welcomed each new wave of labor, I knew I was closer to bringing my baby into my arms. 4. Fear stops labor. Mammallian mamas have powerful instincts that allow us to keep our babies safe from harm. For example, mama giraffes on the tundra will spontaneously stop labor if they sense a predator in the area, rather than dropping a helpless newborn to the ground. We too, have hormones that can stimulate labor (oxytocin) and those can stop labor if pumped out early because of fear (adrenaline). So learning to transform fear into power and confidence is essential for a smooth birth. How is this done? Make sure you feel safe where you are birthing, that you have good support in labor, and that you have talked with your birth provider about any fears you are harboring or repressing about your health and safety, baby’s health and safety, or the birthing process. Being educated and informed can help you to dispel fears. 5. Question authority! (Remember, nice girls can ask questions and say no.) Obstetrics practices are not always based on the best science. The September 2011 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the official publication of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), reported that only one third of all obstetrics guidelines in the US are based on good scientific evidence, one third are based on limited or inconsistent evidence, and the remaining third are based on expert opinion, which is "subject to bias, either implicit or subconscious." So just because a doctor (or midwife) tells you something is required (lying down in labor, having a vaginal exam, wearing an external fetal monitor for your entire labor, having an IV drip routinely), doesn’t mean you have do it unquestioningly — or at all. As girls and young women, many of us learn not to question authority — just be a “good girl,” and don’t be the geek who asks questions. Many of the procedures done in hospitals are done “just because” they are routine but often not necessary. So if something is recommended or expected that makes you uncomfortable or you’re not sure of the reason, ASK! And if you’re not comfortable with the explanation, you can decline. Having an advocate there who can help you sort through decisions, especially when you are otherwise occupied doing the work of labor, is especially valuable. 6. Women should eat and drink during labor. Current scientific evidence has demonstrated that women who eat and drink in labor are not at significantly increased risk of food aspiration in the event of a cesarean, which has been the much-feared reason for keeping women on an ice-chips and fruit-pops-only regimen in labor for the past few decades. In fact, keeping up your energy with light and nourishing fare has been found, by many midwives and mamas, to facilitate labor and reduce the likelihood of labor petering out, or needing Pitocin or a cesarean. 7. Your body is a marvelous, perfectly crafted force of nature. Believing in yourself is powerful medicine! Yet most of us go into labor believing our bodies might be lemons — the reject in the batch that just doesn’t work properly and needs to be sent back to the factory on a recall! The reality is, nature is amazing at creating powerful systems that work. Setting intentions and learning to have confidence in the birthing process — and your body — are among the most powerful tools you can use to go with the natural flow of labor and birth and gain some self-enlightenment in the process. 8. Obstetrics is BIG Business. There is a whole system of medicine out there, called obstetrics, making a fortune off of your body! In fact, there is enormous financial incentive for obstetricians to do ultrasounds (in my community, a doctor’s office charges the insurance company $700 per ultrasound), offer endless tests, and big bucks when it comes to doing a cesarean rather than supporting a natural, vaginal birth. Want to avoid unnecessary medical interventions? Then make your body your business by getting educated. Read about birth. Some good places to start: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Henci Goer’s The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, and my book, The Natural Pregnancy Book. 9. Birth is something you do, not something that is done to you. Whether you dance, groan, or hypnobirth your way through labor, it ain’t called labor for nothing. It takes work, focus, and sweat to get a baby out. Powerful muscles move a 6 to 8 pound being (on average) a short distance through a relatively small space. This means EFFORT is required. Just as with any hard task, being realistic about what’s involved, setting your mind and heart to it by getting psyched ahead of time, and then having strategies to call upon when your energy or determination wavers will get you to the other side of the finish line with power and pride. 10. Birth can be ecstatic. While there might be some huffing and puffing, grunting and groaning, and even a holler or two if you need to vocalize the intense energy moving through you as you bring your baby out into the world, birth can be an ecstatic experience, particularly when you appreciate yourself for the accomplishment of a hard job done with determination and experience the ecstasy of holding your new baby in your arms. As you get closer to your baby’s birth, and even in labor, here’s a simple mantra to tell yourself: I’ve got this! http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15133/10-things-i-wish-all-women-knew-about-giving-birth.html #10thingsaboutbirth #themoreyouknow #getinformed #laboranddelivery #THIS

#pregnancy #support #birth matters

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