So I live in NY and the only thing near me is reservation dispensaries I'm going on vacation about an hour and a half from upstate canna co. I've been wanting to try carts but I would only want ones that are legit, i didnt see these brands on the fake list any help is appreciated. Does it look legit? Don't know if anyone on here has been there. I can't post the link to the store due to rules.

Tickets bought, rooms booked, car rental complete. Heading to Pacific City for 2 nights and Yachats for one night. Landing at PDX at 9:30 and plan to head over to Cannon Beach and explore areas as we head south to Pacific City.
We are interested in hikes, casual towns, relaxing sights and good local food, coffee, beer, live music, farmers markets and unusual iconic spots.
Hikes we pulled from ChatGPT:
Pacific City:

1. Cape Kiwanda Trail
2. Cascade Head Trail
3. Sandlake Trail
4. Nestucca River Trail

Yachats:

1. Cape Perpetua Trail
2. Amanda's Trail
3. Cummins Creek Trail
4. Oregon Coast Trail

Since we can only do a hike a day what do you think we should consider a priority?
We have a nice dinner Monday night but any Recs on casual spots?
Anything that is seasonally happening around these areas in mid June?
We’d like to explore north on Sun when we land. Is it safe to park car with luggage in Cannon beach? Suggestions on that arrival day given an 1:45hr drive down to PC? We’d like to see Cannon/ Tillmook
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
More ChatGPT suggestions:
Pacific City Casual dining spots:

1. Pelican Pub & Brewery
2. Stimulus Coffee + Bakery
3. Grateful Bread Bakery & Restaurant
4. The Oar House Bar & Grill

Other dining options:
Here are some great dining options around Pacific City and Yachats, Oregon:

1. The Schooner Restaurant and Lounge - located in Netarts Bay, near Pacific City. They serve seafood and classic American dishes with stunning views of the bay.
   
2. Grateful Bread Bakery and Restaurant - located in Pacific City, they serve baked goods, sandwiches, and soups. The bakery is known for their fresh bread and delicious pastries.
   
3. The Drift Inn - located in Yachats, they serve a variety of dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. They often feature live music, making it a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.
   
4. Luna Sea Fish House - located in Yachats, they serve seafood caught locally and prepared in a variety of ways. They also have vegetarian and gluten-free options.
   
5. Pelican Brewing Company - located in Pacific City, they serve a range of beers along with their pub menu, which features seafood, burgers, and sandwiches.
   

Tokyo-Lake Kawaguchiko-Kyoto-Osaka

The trip was my wife and I (upper 20s/lower 30s) for 10 days (not including 2 flight days) in May just after the end of Golden Week. It was our first trip to Japan and we had an amazing time! We did a lot of the standard tourist activities, but our perspective as kosher-observant travelers is a bit more unique so I figured I'd start the post with it. Feel free to skip past that section if it doesn't interest you.
Keeping Kosher and Sabbath Observance in Japan

• While there are a decent number of vegetarian/vegan (which some kosher-observant people would be comfortable eating at, though we were not) and a small number of Halal restaurants in Japan, kosher-certified establishments are basically non-existent. The Tokyo Chabad in Minato does run a kosher-certified restaurant called Chana's Place (they deliver as well) and some of the other local Jewish communities also have prepared meals you can pick up or have delivered to you. We didn't really take advantage of any of these so I can't personally vouch for them though.
• Every hotel and ryokan we stayed in had mini fridges as well as electric water kettles, which we relied on heavily to prepare food. We usually mixed some couscous or other easily cooked grain we brought with us along with some locally bought produce in a food thermos for hot meals (the daikon are so big, just half of one lasted us for days). Seasoned kosher travelers will likely have their own strategies, though if you can, staying somewhere with a kitchen will definitely expand your meal options. We had a pretty action-packed schedule, so we didn't opt for this this time, but if we ever go back to Japan, we'll likely make sure we're staying places with kitchens if possible.
• Though we couldn't eat almost any of it, the food in Japan all looks and smells amazing (with the possible exception of some of the more exotic seafood). The smells wafting from the bakeries were absolutely heavenly. If you're kosher observant and traveling in Japan: be prepared for some major food FOMO. Salmon sashimi was one of the only local foods that fit our kosher diets, and the sashimi I got from one of the stands in Nishiki market was absolutely delicious.
• We were only in Japan for one Saturday and spent Shabbat (Sabbath) near the Tokyo Chabad in Minato. Prayers and meals at the Chabad were a really wonderful experience, with a lively and jovial atmosphere and lots of different Jewish people who were visiting (or living in) Tokyo for a variety of reasons. We stayed in a very nice Airbnb close to the Chabad. If you are visiting Japan and want a place close to the Chabad to stay, feel free to DM me (I'd rather not post more info about a family-run Aribnb to a public forum).

Tourist Tips and Cultural Observations

• The discount bus between Narita airport and Tokyo station is really great. We took the NEX from the airport but lost our paper return tickets during the trip so ended up taking the bus back. It was about as comfortable, much cheaper, and only a little bit slower.
• Though most of the COVID restrictions have been lifted, masking is still very common in Japan, especially in busy Urban areas. I'd estimate about 80% of the locals were wearing masks on public transit in Tokyo. In less crowded areas, fewer people are wearing masks, though a notable minority definitely still are.
• Public transit in in Japan is a real wonder to behold. It is extremely efficient, was almost never late, with a very different etiquette from in the West. Very orderly lines form at the marked spots where the train doors will be when the train stops. On the train itself, people are very quiet, with the only exception being some soft conversation between friends and the occasional group of rowdy foreigners.
• Google Maps worked great for us in terms of navigating public transit, though moreso in Tokyo than in Osaka, which seems to have a slightly more confusing train system.
• Navigating Kyoto is a bit harder since the train system isn't quite as extensive there. IC cards will work on the buses, though we were a bit thrown off by the fact that everyone enters through the back door of the bus and exits through the front door. You pay the bus fare as you leave the bus and not as you get on. Friends of ours recommended renting bikes in Kyoto if the weather is nice, and while we didn't end up doing it, it's probably not a bad suggestion.
• Were were told that the Arashiyama bamboo forest would be packed if we got there too late, but this wasn't the case for us. We got there around 10:00-10:30 and while there were plenty of people, it didn't feel overly crowded. Could be a different story during busier times, but this was our experience.
• We took the Tokaido Shinkansen and it's a very cool and comfortable way to travel. We ordered our tickets online and were able to link them to our IC cards. There seemed to still be enough of seats available when we booked, though if you're looking for a specific seat (such as the ones with the extra baggage area) you should probably book as much in advance as in practical since a lot of the seats were taken even a few days in advance.
• A lot of people on this forum emphasize how few Japanese people speak fluent English and it's definitely true! I expected as least the staff at hotels to speak some English, but very many did not. I was also surprised that when interfacing with a member of the hotel staff who didn't speak English, they never called over a colleague to translate or take over. I know a handful of Japanese words and phrases, and combining those with gestures and Google Translate generally worked well enough. On the rare occasion I tried to say anything a little more complex, people seemed really pleased and encouraging, even though I’m pretty sure I was butchering the language.
• Although most people in Japan don't speak English, signage and automated announcements on public transit and the like generally do have English translations.
• The public bathrooms in Japan are very common and almost always super clean (even the less clean ones are still cleaner than the average public bathroom in the U.S.). Not sure if this is due to COVID or not, but paper towels are virtually nonexistent and hand dryers are rare. Luckily, small hand towels are sold all over and the themed ones make great souvenirs.
• Pretty much every Western-style toilet is equipped with a bidet. The Japanese-style toilets didn't seem to exist much in Tokyo. We saw a few in Kyoto in Osaka, but neither of us were brave enough to actually try using one...
• The fruits and vegetables sold in Japanese grocery stores are all beautiful, pristine and usually taste pretty good too. Some of the more “exotic” fruit can be pretty expensive though (I saw a single mango being sold for nearly 3,000 yen!). The individual wrapping of everything definitely didn’t seem too environmentally friendly, but it did keep all the produce super clean.
• I loved seeing the Gachopon machines everywhere and got quite a few souvenirs from them. There are some stores dedicated to the machines, but you can also find them in train stations and just about everywhere else.

Hotel Reviews

• Hotel Monterey Akasaka: Friendly staff, clean and nice rooms. Location is just fine, but in return it's cheaper than similar quality hotels in more popular neighborhoods while still being fairly central and accessible.
• Kasuitei Ooya (Kawaguchiko): Out first ryokan of the trip and really nice. Great views and excellent onsen.
• Hilton Tokyo Bay: Cheaper than all of the "official" Disney hotels, but just as close to the parks as many of them. The rooms are nice and spacious. Can definitely recommend.
• Yuno Yado Shoei (Kyoto): Our second ryokan and not quite as nice as the first, but still really enjoyable. The onsen were great here too.
• Liber Hotel at USJ: Far fancier than we thought it would be based on the price tag and the fact that it's a theme park hotel. The rooms are smaller than the Tokyo Bay Hilton's were, but the facilities were quite nice. Enjoyed my last onsen of the trip in this hotel.

Trip Highlights

• Harajuku: We went to Harajuku more for my wife who is into fashion, but I really enjoyed it too! Lots of really cute stores and it's also fun seeing people dressed up in some really bold and unique outfits.
• Lake Kawaguchiko and the Shibazakura Festival: We were fortunate to have amazing weather while we were in Lake Kawaguchiko and the views of both the lake and Fuji-san were spectacular. The Shibazakura festival specifically provided some really breathtaking views. This was probably our favorite part of the whole trip.
• Tokyo Disney (Disneysea): As a huge Disney fan, I loved seeing the Japanese take on Disney parks. Lots of familiar rides, but lots of unique ones as well. The evening show on the water at DisneySea ("Believe: Sea of Dreams") was particularly fantastic.
• Higashiyama and Gion: The most amazing area in Kyoto. I regret that the we didn't budget more time to spend here. You could definitely spend at least a full day wandering around soaking in the atmosphere and unique architecture.
• Universal Studios Japan: As a theme park fan, USJ was a real treat. Super Nintendo World was definitely the highlight, but the entire park was fantastic. I might make a post just dedicated to giving some tips for the theme parks at some point.

Slight Disappointments
We enjoyed everything we did in Japan, but I'll just point out two things that didn't quite live up to expectations.

• Akihabara: I'm an anime and video game nerd, so I thought Akihabara would be my heaven, but it was just okay. The arcades were really amazing to walk through and it was fun browsing the video game and figurine stores too, but something about it didn't quite live up to what I had imagined. Maybe just blame it on high expectations?
• Teamlab Planets: This was definitely a cool and unique experience, but it didn't quite live up to the hype. It felt like the most touristy thing we did in Japan (even moreso than the Tokyo Disney somehow). The exhibits themselves are very cool, but the all the amateur Instagram models posing everywhere kind of ruined the vibe. Really enjoyable, but can definitely be skipped if you're on the fence.

I struggled to list any disappointments whatsoever. We had a really amazing time overall. Not sure when we’ll have a chance to go back, but I hope we get to one day!

It is a good idea to employ a best and affordable Restaurant Cleaning Services Fort Lauderdale Fl occasionally because it’s nearly hard to keep up with all the cleaning that has to be done. You can search the internet or the phone book for a restaurant cleaning service. Call around to other locations if you have no idea what the going rate is or what specific cleaning services are offered.
Clean Your Restaurant with Professional Help

I am so happy that I won the investigation at work and I get to keep my job. I needed to get this off my chest.
I am a 23M in the UK and I've been working in hospitality at a restaurant for nearly two years now. Hospitality is an extremely physically demanding job but I have always found enjoyment and pleasure working with my amazing colleagues and a really positive working environment.
One day, I came into work to start my shift. As I was doing my job that I normally do, one of my female colleagues who has spoken sexually around me before said to me "My throat hurts, and I haven't been sucking dick" and I jokingly responded to her "Well then maybe you should suck mine then" which she laughed at. She's always made jokes about wanting to fuck her colleagues and that she's not in a relationship so I thought my response made sense in the context. Big mistake.
She then reported me to a manager about the incident who understandably told me off. I get that and I apologised because I wronged her. She then went on a long spiel about how I'm not a good person because of this comment even though in the same conversation she admitted "I'm a really nice guy, that I go above and beyond for people, and that I'm really funny". She wanted me fired which the manager present thought was way too far. I suggested the idea of me working at an alternative branch to which she said that "I'm too friendly and that I will easily make friends there". I then suggested to her the idea of working alternative shifts. She didn't like the idea of me getting an income. SHE WANTED MY HEAD ON A PLATTER.
The main manager caught wind of the story and essentially spoke to me about how what I did was wrong but within the context, it was just an honest mistake. He gave me a slap on the wrist and a verbal warning which I was fine with.
The same woman who reported decided to then make a grievance against me after she saw come into work with a smile in my face the day after the incident. She was serious about me losing my job which infuriated many of my colleagues who heard about what happened. I realised that most people were on my side as they believed and have known me to be quite a friendly and respectful person.
An investigation was started and I would be told the outcome the following Monday. I am stressed to the brim at the prospect of losing my job then Monday comes and... Nothing. No call from my manager, no text message, Nothing. After speaking to someone about my stressful experience, I just took it as silence is golden.
I then found out on Saturday that they sorted it out but I've just been told I can't find out what exactly happened in the outcome. She knows that I'm a teacher during term time, and so i think she believed that by having this put on my record, that she can ruin my teaching career and future job prospects. I've been told it's not going to be on any of my references as the situation was unfair to begin with. I will still say I was wrong for what i said but context will always be king.
I then played Kanye West "Can't tell me nothing" and bought a chain to celebrate justice existing in the world.
Thank you for coming to my TEDTALK.

Sorry if this isnt the best place to ask but I saw some other people asking about wunderflats on this sub.
So we are in Berlin and we are in a place through wunderflats...we havent actually paid yet but heres where it gets a bit wierd.
Wunderflats has payment details listed on the website but the landlord has sent us different details through whatsapp text message and said to pay us there instead.
We are in the flat and spent the first night here last night. We havent met the landlord, we just got the keys from a restaurant near the place.
We are having a bit of an argument here between us saying if we should just pay the landlord to the details he sent on whatsapp...I mean we are in the flat after all..but just find it incredibly strange that he gave different details through whatsapp to pay.
What should we do in this situation?

Been fishing Florida gulf, and grew up striper n blues fishing in NY. Taking a trip between the two in July near Hilton head, savannah Ga and gonna bring my stuff. Any easy access spots? What species are my best bet this time of year? If I could score dinner on an out of state trip that would be awesome. Thanks in advance y’all

It's time for another character examination. Today's subject: Akuru Akutsu
Let's start by starting the obvious, he's the tsukkomi to Yoshiko's boke
When they were 5 years old, A-kun thought that Yoshiko was a weirdo and didn't want to play with her. He was already quite studious and wanted to prepare for his future (chapter 67)
Despite her oblivious nature, Yoshiko has harassed and forced herself onto him. And it was even worse during their childhood because she was stronger than him. He has been driven to the brink of insanity and can barely contain his frustration, hench all the compilations of him punching her
He had literal nightmares about getting married to Yoshiko and having stupid children (chapter 97.5)
That's already tragic in itself, but it gets worst when you realize ...before the events of the series, Yoshiko was his only friend
Relationship with Family
As early as chapter 2, we learn that A-kun's parents are always busy with work. We only ever see his mom in a flashback
It's possible that their career-driven mindsets have influenced A-kun. His younger sister, Ruri is the same way, except she is more willing to spent time with friends and have fun
I'll elaborate more on Ruri if I make a thread about her, just know that she has some sort of disability. Whereas Yoshiko is capable if she's motivated, Ruri needs to see a specialist
A-kun feels bad for Ruri and promises to be there for her. At the same time, he doesn't believe she can change. His blunt comments are the reason why Ruri hates him. She hates Yoshiko too for embracing her status as an "idiot". Compared to the other two, Ruri loves Sayaka for encouraging her to get better (chapter 10)
To his credit, A-kun has owned up to his lack of faith in Ruri (chapter 54). Since then, he's reviewed her assignments and come up with strategies to help her (chapter 108)
Relationship with Classmates
A-kun claims that he doesn't feel lonely and his main focus is studying. Especially since everyone around him is strange and obsessive
During summer vacation and the school trip, A-kun didn't plan on doing anything. He thinks doing something for fun is a waste of time. That being said, it's revealed that he doesn't actually have a goal in mind (chapter 126). The only exception he makes is when Yoshiko is out of town, two or three times per year (chapter 48)
His violent tendencies and short-fuse have turned him into an outcast, on the same level as Yoshiko. He was so scary that Sayaka ran away from him and cried during their initial encounters. When A-kun went to the movie theater with Ruri, he almost hit her for getting too excited – and it reminded him of Yoshiko (chapter 13)
Ryuuichi, the street delinquent, wanted to study with A-kun. As expected, A-kun turned him down, stating that it served him no purpose. Furthermore, he accused Ryuuichi of trying to mooch answers off him (chapter 40)
Ryuuichi thought he could befriend A-kun by copying his routine and ended up getting a perfect score on their mid-terms. Instead, it caused A-kun to see Ryuuichi as an enemy. Because while he thinks idiots are trash, he also hates people who exceed his grades (chapter 105)
Akane is A-kun's polar opposite. She wants to hang out with her peers and create youthful memories. Akane isn't a hard worker, so A-kun believes she doesn't deserve to have fun. Likewise, she hates him for sabotaging the summer festival just to teach Yoshiko a lesson (chapter 62). When the class is forced into groups of six, he takes perverse joy in the fact that Yoshiko is going to ruin the trip for Akane (chapter 119). Ironically, the disciplinary president likes him for his apparent sadism (chapter 125)
In perhaps the most epic moment in the series, Sayaka tells A-kun that he's weird for being prejudiced, stubborn, and not even trying to make friends. Sayaka goes as far to claim his attitude is what drew Yoshiko to him in the first place. And if he won't be friends with people for their odd behavior, including her, then he'll have to deal with Yoshiko by himself. This caused A-kun to admit that he wants to be friends with Sayaka (chapter 42)
To all the fans who ship A-kun and Sayaka, I'm sorry to tell you that he feels no romantic feeling for her whatsoever (chapter 119.7). He only wants to date her so that Yoshiko and the disciplinary president give up on him (chapter 126)
Relationship with Yoshiko
A-kun holds Yoshiko in some regard, since he still refers to her as his childhood friend and genuinely wants to see her improve. Every morning he wakes her up and goes to school with her. If she runs off somewhere like the park, he goes after her. After school, her walks her home. Reluctantly, he spends time with her at the mall, karaoke, and at restaurants. He attends all her tutoring sessions with their sensei. The explanation provided is that he does this as a favor to Yoshiko's mother. He also admits that he'd feel guilty if Yoshiko failed in society and couldn't survive
One time, Yoshiko fell asleep outside and he gave some cover (chapter 8). Another time, Yoshiko caught a cold and he nursed back to full health. He claimed that it was to prevent other people from catching it (chapter 83)
He spent an entire day preparing material for Yoshiko memorize for their mid-terms, and forcibly gave her an overnight cram session (chapter 36)
Canonically, he spends so much time worrying about Yoshiko that he isn't about to get more than 99% on his tests. It's only in chapter 116 that he achieves a perfect score
There are times where A-kun gets along with Yoshiko, albeit they are rare. When she's reasonably calm (chapter 61). When he plays at the arcade (chapter 91). On her birthday, when they play catch (chapter 94.5). For the most part though, they need a third-party involved like Sayaka or Dog
He can unexpectedly get caught up in Yoshiko's schemes
Example 1: A-kun pretended to hold a kid hostage after Yoshiko called him a demon (chapter 12).
Example 2: Without realizing it, A-kun started to play with Yoshiko (chapter 38)
Example 3: He let Yoshiko borrow his school uniform so that she could become "Yoshio" (chapter 52)
Example 4: They legitimately teamed up with sneak Dog into an airport (chapter 119.4)
It hurts A-kun's pride when Yoshiko succeeds at something that he can't.
Example 1: Yoshiko challenged A-kun to a concentration game, which he normally plays by himself. When she was about to win, he declared the match invalid (chapter 20)
Example 2: Yoshiko bragged about how good she was at Aitatsu, the arcade game I mentioned earlier. It prompted him to spend an hour learning how to play
On multiple occasions, A-kun has put Yoshiko in harm's way such as spike traps (chapter 22), pitfall traps (chapter 26), bear traps (chapter 105.5), and throwing her at an actual bear (chapter 121). Crushing her with boulders and impaling her with sharp rocks (chapter 102). There was also that time he plotted with Yoshiko's mom to abandon her in a forest located in the Philippines (chapter 122)
Given Yoshiko's near-invulnerability, the sheer lengths A-kun goes to keep her away are somewhat justified. Additionally, he has attempted to minimize her behavior in more constructive ways (chapter 72)
Final Conclusion
In the most toxic way, A-kun and Yoshiko are obsessed with each other. She has mental issues and bad influences that cause her to pursue him. In spite of his hatred for her, A-kun feels obligated to watch over her. He has embraced Yoshiko as his responsibility – apologizing to others on her behalf, bringing spare bananas for her to eat, and training her to function in society. Even at his own detriment, he blames himself for not dealing with Yoshiko properly and hates it when Sayaka and the disciplinary president sacrifice themselves for him
A-kun may appear to be the voice of reason, and I suppose he is for this series, but it's hard to deny that he's hotheaded, insensitive, and anti-social. The bigger question is whether or not, that's his true nature or if it's the trauma he experienced growing up
Someone might say, "he's surrounded by freaks! I would act the same way!". However, there are people he can get along with like Sayaka. If he put himself out there more, he could probably make some friends. Just to be clear, I don't think there's anything wrong with being a loner. In this case though, I think it's necessary since his only "friend" is the source of his problems. Having a real friend would heal some of the damage

I (F25) got married to my husband (25 M) this year. We got engaged on vacation in Aug. My husband’s grandma died as soon as got to our condo Sunday. She suffered w/ dementia and Alzheimer’s since I met her 5 years ago. My MIL told us that they planned to have the funeral that Friday. Of course, we wouldn’t miss the funeral, but my MIL said they couldn’t have the funeral after we got back (we were supposed to come back Saturday) because she couldn’t take another day with her sister in town (as her sister and her family were in town to say their final goodbyes to their mom). My now husband pre-paid for a bunch of events that we could do which his family did know about.
My husband and I weren’t inviting his dad’s set of parents bc they are very mean. My MIL and FIL tried to guilt trip us into inviting them. My in-laws decided to throw us an “engagement party” so the grandparents who weren’t invited could feel included in wedding festivities. My in-laws wanted us to tell them that it was a small destination wedding with only close friends and family. Also, my MIL wanted us to send out the Save the Dates after their engagement party, so the grandparents wouldn’t find out. My MIL also didn’t want me to post photos on my Facebook as the grandma would see them and it wouldn’t play into the small wedding story. My MIL pushed to only have the guests be 30 guests and under to keep with the whole “small wedding” charade. This is not my ideal engagement party. While at the family engagement party, my FIL dad said to my husband, “you got fat” and the grandma said, “we can’t stay, we have a concert to go to.” Clearly, they’re amazing.
I took her to show my wedding dress, she said “very nice.” At our venue outing she wasn’t very interested until she found out that the place we can stay has cabins that she can rent out, so now she can turn it into a mini vacation. Throughout the whole planning process, she nor my FIL ask if they could help or anything. I told them when we got our marriage license and we had two more months until the wedding and then my MIL stated that she got a new job and has unlimited PTO. She glossed over the news and just talked about herself.
My MIL also said there was no place for reservations for a “rehearsal dinner” since it no place near took a reservation for a large party or it would cost more. She only looked at the lodge we were staying at the the restaurant we got our wedding catered. I ended up booking a reservation for a place 20 minutes away that took a big party. I didn’t invite my husbands side of the family since my MIL reserved a brunch place for the Sunday after and only invited their friends and not my family (even though we were all staying the night at the lodge. I’m just annoyed and frustrated. My husband has talked to them about how they need to give me affirmations, but clearly that did not stick.
I want to go low contact, but then I feel guilty. AITA?

Hi everyone
I’ll be in Phuket late Decembeearly Jan. was originally going for a week, but the resort looked so good I wound up extending the stay for a total of two weeks. Just trying to figure out how much money I should aim to save by then for spending on food and activities
I’ve got buffet breakfast every day at the resort so thinking that’ll be my main meal and I might visit a restaurant or room service later in the day for dinners. Will probably just have fruit or skip lunch.
I’m planning on spending most of my time by the pool at the resort. I’ve got a lot to read and I plan on drinking a lot each day (mostly cocktails and a few beers at the hotel bars). Also plan on visiting a cannabis shop for weed and edibles. Ideally I’d like to have a bit of a buzz (or a bit drunk) most of the trip
For activities I’d like to visit a few spas for massage and spa treatments, mostly focusing on relaxation. I’ve also found a few parks near my hotel (there’s an elephant park, a tiger park and a dolphin watching tour, I’m interested in seeing all three). Happy to take suggestions for nice sites to tour as well. Would love to visit a cannabis farm if there are any in Phuket that do tours.
Currently budgeting about $200aud a day (around 4500 baht by todays exchange rate). Is this enough or too much? Or should I budget more for the type of trip I’d like to have? (Resort, flights and shuttle to/from the resort are already paid for, I just need to worry about food, activities and lots of weed/alcohol)

For context, I (26f) had wanted to celebrate my birthday this weekend (it is during the week) by going for a hike at this lovely spot I love. My friends hummed and hawed about it, and my "best friend"/ roommate (24f) decided instead she would throw a huge party (to celebrate America, not me) at our flat, so I spent Saturday cooking, cleaning, making drinks and doing dishes for this gathering, which I wasn't allowed to invite even one of my own friends to. On Sunday I had asked to go for a little brunch at a restaurant I enjoy, just her and my other friend, which she sidestepped because she wanted to go for a walk, and said we could just "eat near here." So I obliged and while it was nice, it wasn't what I had wanted to do. Then in the evening, my roommate goes to Mass (she and our other friends are very religous and I'm not so I'm usually left out of any activities following Mass) and has a whole dinner with our friends and sends me an invite 15 minutes before they started, so I couldn't make it and spent my Sunday evening alone.
So come today, it is a holiday in some parts of the UK but I do not have this day off. And I find out that my friends have decided to do a hike, which is what I wanted to do for my birthday the whole time, without me. I understand I have to work and they are free to make plans on their own, that happens some times, but they could have planned to go on the weekend and we all could have enjoyed.
I just feel like a last priority and am quite upset today, but I'm not sure if I'm over-reacting or just plain reacting to feeling lonely. I've been snarky with them since and have decided to celebrate with some friends I'm not as close to during the week and not invite these closer friends, AITA?

Hello,
We are couple in our mid 30s that are travelling to Mexico (Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo) in August, and we are super excited.
Day 1,2, and 3: We will be arriving in Merida on Aug 22 to attend a friend’s event. We will be staying in Merida until Aug 24. While we attend friend’s event, we will also try to cover things to see and do around Merida.
Day 4: We will start driving to Calakmul/Xpujil on early morning of Aug 25. We plan to visit Uxmal and Edzna on the way. Our goal is to reach Xpujil by sundown. Is it possible to see both Uxmal and Edzna in one day and still drive to Calakmul? If we were to pick only one, which would you recommend? I am tempted to pick Edzna as it seems to be much older than Uxmal. Any recommendations on places to eat on the way? Any other de-tours on the way? What is the best place to stay and eat in Calakmul/Xpujil area?
Day 5: Visit Calakmul on Aug 26. Overnight stay in Calakmul.
Day 6: Visit other archeological sites near Xpujil on morning of Aug 27. Drive to Bacalar. If time permits visit Kohunlich. Is Kohunlich a must-see? I need help picking a nice place to stay in Bacalar. We plan to stay on the lagoon for 2 nights. It is our anniversary, so we don’t mind splurging a little bit (somewhere between mid-range and up-scale). Ideally, we would love something private or semi-private and that has direct access to lagoon for swimming, kayaking etc.,
Day 7 and 8: Relax in Bacalar. What activities do you recommend during our stay in Bacalar? I have seen some wonderful pictures on the internet, but I am not sure where they were taken from. The lagoon is so big. Is there a particular part of the lagoon that is better than the other for staying? What are some good local restaurants, street foods, markets?
Day 9: Morning on Aug 30 we start driving back to Merida to meet our friends. We plan to see Chacchoben, Grottoes Loltún, and Mayapan on the way. We plan to reach Merida by sundown. Anything else to see on the way? Any good places to stop to eat?
Day 10, 11 and 12: We plan to spend in Merida until Sept 2. Will cover Chichén-Itzá on one of these days. Also considering visiting Progreso. If we plan to stay for a night or two in Progresso, any good recommendations for beach front accommodations?
Day 13 to Day 18: Still unplanned. We were planning to spend this time at a beach resort in Playa Del Carmen or Cancun but are now unsure due to the ongoing sargassum situation. We have our outbound flight from Cancun so ideally, we would like to drive towards the west towards the end of our trip. We are considering spending a day or two in Valladolid. Any ideas or suggestions?
Looking for other help/suggestions/recommendations:

1. We are foodies so please please give us all your recommendations about food… be it restaurants, or any local fruits, street food etc., Also, any off the beaten path locations that I might have missed? Any specific dishes that I should try without fail? Any other places that I should consider visiting?
   
2. Car Rental: We will rent a car for the entirety of our trip. We probably won’t need it for a few days when we are staying in Merida, but it is cheaper to book one round trip from Cancun for entire time. Any recommendations on who to book car with? Has anyone used Victory Lux Cancún before to rent a vehicle?
   

Sorry for the long post. Thank you for your time.

(From the sidebar of QuittingKratom. Posting for those who are new, or may need a "refresher" or for those who are on the Reddit mobile app and have difficulty finding the sidebar information. If you encounter someone brand new here, feel free to link this to them. So many of us are "lost" when we're new and have no idea where to start. This wiki is a good place to start, along with the support from the wonderful members of this subreddit. If you're looking for more links to helpful information from the sidebar, scroll to the bottom of this post. I've added them there, after the Wiki information, for convenience.)
So you've decided you want to quit Kratom.

Withdrawal Symptoms

You may experience a number of withdrawal symptoms, both physical and psychological. Keep in mind that all humans are affected differently and experiences with symptoms will differ among us.

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms

The most common physical withdrawal symptoms experienced are outlined below.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Also known as RLS, this is the most common symptom of withdrawal. It can be described as an irresistible urge to move one's body to stop uncomfortable or odd sensations. It most commonly affects the legs, but can also affect the arms, torso, and head. Moving the affected body part modulates the sensations, providing temporary relief. On average, this symptom will be almost entirely gone by day 7.

Insomnia

As you would expect with RLS, insomnia is another commonly experienced withdrawal symptom. Lack of sleep usually occurs due to RLS, but it can continue even without RLS present.

Uncontrollable Body Temperature

This withdrawal symptom can be common, yet not as common as the two above. This symptom causes the body to experience drastic changes in temperature within a short period of time. This probably sounds much worse than it really is, but during the day it is fine. At night it involves being cold, putting the covers over you, then being really warm and throwing all the covers off.

Other symptoms

In addition to the above, you may experience a runny nose, teary eyes, sneezing, diarrhea, and an aching body. These are generally not a major problem. For diarrhea, loperamide can help (see below). For aches and pains, OTC pain relievers such as Advil can be useful.

Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms

Commonly referred to as PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms). Usually the psychological withdrawals tend to kick in after the physical withdrawals have passed. Described below are the most common psychological withdrawals that are experienced.

Lethargy

The lack of energy and enthusiasm is the most common psychological withdrawal experienced. This symptom can be minor for some, but it is quite commonly major. Although ironic, a good remedy for this lethargic feeling is exercise. It may be hard to get exercising initially due to the lethargy, but many people experience a huge improvement in their mood afterwards.

Cravings

Cravings are quite commonly experienced by addicts withdrawing from Kratom. Major cravings can cause addicts to relapse if the impulse is acted upon. Usually cravings don't last too long, and they seem to come in waves. Psychologically, cravings can play with your mind. You may find yourself thinking things like "I'll just take it this once, I've already made the decision to quit so I won't do it again".

Depression

Depression can play a big part in relapse when it comes to recovery from Kratom addiction. Although some users have existing mood disorders or depression, the PAWS during Kratom withdrawal hugely amplify these feelings/mindsets. Expect to experience some mild to moderate depressed feelings during PAWS and prepare your mind to acknowledge that these feelings are caused by the Kratom withdrawal. You WILL feel better. Once again exercise is a HUGE help to mitigate the depression experienced during withdrawal. It has been proven that regular exercise is as effective than the most common anti-depressants.

Taper vs. Cold Turkey

While one method may work for some, it may not work for another. We are all different and unique in many ways, including the way our body reacts to (lack of) substances.

Tapering

Tapering has been tried many times by different people. Some found tapering helpful, others did not. The main advantages of tapering are:

• Little to no physical withdrawals symptoms.
• Not as big of a shock on the body.
• Doesn't affect your day-to-day life as drastically as cold turkey (if you can't take time off work or don't have a weekend free).

Disadvantages of tapering off Kratom are:

• Requires a lot of self control and discipline.
• Easy to make an impulse decision to take more than your schedule planned.
• Although it may not impact your day-to-day life as drastically as cold turkey, the impact will be longer and more drawn out.

Note: Another effective method used is to taper with stem and vein kratom.

Cold Turkey

The cold turkey method seems to be the more preferable method as well as the most successful. The main advantages are:

• Getting it over and done with, no drawn out symptoms.
• Improvement is felt much sooner since the withdrawals are not drawn out.
• Day-to-day life is not affected for as long as it would be tapering.

Disadvantages of going cold turkey are:

• Physical withdrawal symptoms that are taxing on the body.
• The withdrawals are much worse over a short period of time compared to tapering.

Managing Your Withdrawals

There are a few tried and tested methods to dealing with various withdrawals symptoms. They are described below.

Exercise

The most effective way to make yourself feel better. It has been proven that regular exercise is as effective than the most common anti-depressants. The effects are very profound, and can remain present for hours. Exercise releases a flood of endorphins, directly stimulating your opioid receptors the same way Kratom does, reducing both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Regular exercise will hasten the recovery process by bringing your body's endorphin system back online. It can be difficult to get started, but if you force yourself, you should find that it gets easier after only a few minutes as your heart starts pumping and the endorphins start flowing. Heavy weightlifting is one of the most efficient methods, in terms of benefits vs. time spent, but prolonged cardiovascular activity (jogging, bicycling, etc.) is also effective. Intense yoga is another option.

Orgasm

When you stop taking Kratom, your sex drive may return with a vengeance. Take advantage of it :). Orgasm, like exercise, causes a release of endorphins.

Meditation

It can be difficult when you are uncomfortable and your mind is racing, but a few minutes of meditation can significantly improve the way you feel. Close your eyes, and let your thoughts flow without trying to control or resist them. Take slow deep breaths, focusing on each inhale and exhale. Try not to think about anything else, but if a thought arises, let it be. Visualize each inhalation as bringing healing energy into your body, and each exhalation as removing negativity. Continue until you feel better, or longer, and repeat the process anytime you feel overwhelmed. Check out /meditation for great tips on meditation.

Supplements

Loperamide

Warning, kratom and loperamide.. We don't know if loperamide (in the recommended dosage for diarrhea (https://www.drugs.com/dosage/loperamide.html)) combined with kratom has health risks (in particular heart issues at higher doses), or people could start to abuse it. It had been reported that even the recommended loperamide doses can cause a rebound of withdrawal symptoms after you stop using it . Therfore we don't recommend to use loperamide. Other warnings: At recommended doses, the half-life of loperamide is approximately 10 hours. However, with higher doses, even as little as 16 mg, longer half-lives have been observed (upwards of 41 hours). News videos: "it's actually potentially even worse than using heroin...", "Kratom and Loperamide is a dangerous combination".

Supplements

There are a number of drugs and supplements that can improve mood, motivation, and sleep quality. Most of those listed are naturally derived, and many can be easily obtained at such locations as GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, pharmacies, and "natural" grocery stores, as well as online at sites like AllStarHealth, Bodybuilding.com, and Amazon.

• Black seed oil. some qk members reported that they used 3 x 2 teaspoons daily at the beginning.
• L-theanine: Found in green tea, this substance has a calming effect and improves cognition. Useful both during the day and to help with sleep.
• Ashwagandha: The "Indian ginseng," Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that improves overall well-being. Like L-theanine, can be used both day and night. "In anxiety and depression, ashwagandha has been demonstrated to be as effective as some tranquilizers and antidepressant drugs. Specifically, oral administration of ashwagandha for five days suggested anxiety-relieving effects similar to those achieved by the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam (Ativan®), and antidepressant effects similar to those of the prescription antidepressant drug imipramine (Tofranil®)": look here.
  
• Rhodiola rosea: Another adaptogen, this one has mild stimulating qualities (but without the jitters of caffeine). Best taken during the day. (Warning: Rhodiola has MAOI activity and could potentially interact with other meds/supplements. Be careful, do your research, and start with small amounts.)
  
• DLPA: A combination of the natural "L" form and the synthetic "D" form of the amino acid phenylalanine, DLPA has been shown to fight depression and reduce pain by boosting dopamine levels and preventing the breakdown of enkephalins (similar to endorphins).
  
• L-tyrosine: boosts dopamine.
  
• L-phenylalanine: Try L-tyrosine first. If the results are not satisfactory try L-phenylalanine.
  
• Valerian root: Sleep aid. Smells terrible but can be rather effective. Common in "sleepy" teas.
  
• 5-HTP: Precursor to serotonin. Improves mood and sleep. People who are taking antidepressant medications should not take 5-HTP, because in that case common side effects are : *Agitation or restlessness *Confusion *Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure *Dilated pupils *Loss of muscle coordination or twitching muscles *Heavy sweating *Diarrhea *Headache *Shivering *goosebumbs"
  
• Tryptophan: (propably superior to 5-HTP).
  
• SAM-e: Is a quick acting antidepressant.
  
• Chamomile and passion flower: These two herbs, widely available as teas, can help with anxiety and insomnia. At least one ex-Kratom addict has reported that, in does of 2-4 teabags, they can be very effective. WARNING: Passion flower is a MAO inhibitor, don't use it together with kratom.
  
• Melatonin: The body's sleep hormone, used for regulating the sleep/wake cycle. Tells the body that it's time to sleep. Taking too much (more than a milligram or two) can screw up the body's circadian rhythm and have the opposite of the intended effect. Good in combination with valerian root and 5-HTP. Some feel very groggy after taking melatonin.
  
• Kava: An herb that reduces anxiety, but can be hit-or-miss when it comes to sleep.
  
• Chocolate: Contains phenethylamine, which reduces anxiety and improves mood and cognition. Buy a generous amount of dark chocolate with a high cacao concentration, and eat as much of it as you want. The more, the better. Alternatively, phenethylamine is available as a supplement.
  
• Magnesium: Helps with sleep. Many people believe that Calcium needs to be taking with Magnesium for absorption, but this is not true. Calcium and Magnesium actually compete for the same transport system into the blood so it is better to take them at different times during the day. The only time this competition is eliminated is in the case where calcium and magnesium are bound to a single amino acid and are called calcium and magnesium amino acid chelates, as opposed to calcium carbonate/citrate or magnesium oxide/citrate. Minerals in the amino acid chelate form have double the absorption rate of calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide because they do not have to be altered in order to enter the bloodstream. Source.
  
• Cannabis: Given its legal status, not everybody is able or willing to obtain it, but cannabis can potentially aid with a wide spectrum of withdrawal symptoms. Indica-dominant strains are recommended for insomnia and anxiety, while Sativas are better suited for improving mood, motivation, and appetite. (However, it should be noted that Sativas can worsen anxiety in some cases.) Medical dispensaries, if you have access, are the best option due to the wide variety of strains available. If you have had problems with other drugs or drug substitution in the past, it is advised not to use Cannabis after quitting Kratom as it may lead to another substitution.
  

Warning: It's best to avoid using antihistamines (diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate, hydroxyzine etc.) such as those found in Benadryl, Dramamine, NyQuil, Unisom, and Tylenol PM. While they can produce drowsiness under normal conditions, they are well known for exacerbating Restless Leg Syndrome, which will make your insomnia worse, not better.

Prescription drugs

In addition, there are various prescription drugs that can be of assistance. The ones listed below are prescription-only. These are not necessarily recommended; do your research before considering them. Be especially careful if you are taking any psychiatric prescriptions, such as SSRIs, MAOIs, or Wellbutrin. The following information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your doctor. [We do not recommend to use this medications together with Kratom].

• Gabapentin: Gabapentin is an epilepsy and nerve pain drug, which is also prescribed for the restless leg syndrome. The drug acts as a sedative. It also helps with sleep and gives you energy. Don't abuse it, gabapentin causes a withdrawal syndrome if you use it for too long (use it maximal 5-6 days). Drug experts say the effects of using gabapentin for long periods of time or in very high quantities, particularly among sensitive populations like pregnant women, are not well-known. Attention:"treatment with gabapentin is associated with a substantial increase in the risk of opioid-related death".
• Clonidine: Due to its lack of abuse potential, doctors will generally not hesitate to prescribe it for a patient undergoing withdrawals. Clonidine can "stop" an opioid withdrawal relatively effectively, which is (simplified) due to the following mode of action: Adrenaline docks onto two receptors when released: α1 and α2. Clonidine docks onto α2-adrenergic receptors and “blocks” them. Also lowering blood pressure, works against the "adrenaline rush". Clonidine has an idiosyncrasy, i.e. the first dose of the active ingredient triggers an effect opposite to the actual effect !. Clonidine doses must be slowly increased, starting at a low dose. It should also be noted that clonidine must not be discontinued immediately; the dose has to be slowly reduced, because otherwise there can be a blood pressure crisis - with an already destabilized blood pressure (due to withdrawal), extreme caution is required here and we strongly recommend that treatment with clonidine is only carried out under medical supervision. Existing depression can be exacerbated or a new depression can be triggered by using clonidine. Existing depression can be exacerbated or a new depression can be triggered by using clonidine.
• Modafinil/adrafinil (Provigil, Nuvigil): [Warning: Do not use Modafinil together with Kratom (it may cause seizures)] A unique, non-euphoric stimulant, used to treat narcolepsy, shift-work disorders, and by Air Force pilots as a replacement for amphetamine. This drug, at levels of 100-200mg per day, can relieve the malaise and lack of motivation associated with withdrawal. Should not be taken within 12 hours of bedtime. While Modafinil is under Schedule IV in the US, Adrafinil, which metabolizes to Modafinil in the liver, is unscheduled and can be easily purchased.
• Selegiline (L-deprenyl): A MAO-B inhibitor used to treat Parkinson's, this drug increases levels of dopamine in the brain and has been shown to increase lifespan in rats. Unlike traditional MAOIs, selegiline does not require dietary restrictions, and is generally considered quite safe at levels of 5-10mg. Do not take near bedtime. Unscheduled in the US. .

Warning: Be mindful of the possibility of drug substitution. With addiction, drug substitution is a common problem when going through recovery. With all CNS depressant drugs (antidepressants, benzodiazepines, neuroleptics), it should be kept in mind that these drugs sedate in the long term and can trigger a so-called 'hangover', ie. they also lead to additional exhaustion during the day. In some cases, this can be perceived as a burden and can lead to losing sight of the desired goal or lowering the motivation to endure the withdrawal. Whether drug treatment makes the withdrawal easier or more difficult depends on personal factors and cannot be determined in general. Remember that your body can regenerate itself best and fastest if it is not exposed to other stresses.

Stem and Vein Kratom

Although total alkaloid levels are lower than in leaf, there is supposedly relatively more mitragynine present in S&V. The levels of mitraphylline, rhynchophylline (related to mitragynine) and corynantheidine are higher. In kratom communities on the internet it is sometimes reported that S&V can reduce tolerance to kratom, but this seems not to be the case. Anecdotal reports claim that S&V can be useful for mitigating withdrawal symptoms, and accelerating the brain's recovery from kratom addiction. There is a great guide on using stem and vein kratom to taper off here.

Relapse

Relapse is a normal part of recovery. It has happened to every single one of us. Try not to beat yourself up about it or feel like you are worthless and useless. That doesn't help a thing. It is just a small bump in your road to recovery. All you can do is get back up, dust yourself off and get back to quitting as soon as you are ready. You will know when you are ready.

More important information from the sidebar

• Quitting Kratom: What to Expect
  
• A list of possible Kratom withdrawal Symptoms
  
• Guide to Quitting Kratom Cold Turkey
  
• Tapering Guide
  
• Odds and ends of withdrawal symptoms
  
• PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome)
  
• So-called "Kratom Alternatives"
  
• Naltrexone: Important Information & Personal Experience
  
• Mega-Dosing Liposomal Vitamin C protocol for Withdrawal
  
• Wim Hof Method: An Awesome Set of Exercises
  
• Read Sub Rules and the "READ THIS FIRST if you're new..." Guide before posting
  
• How to add your Quit Date next to your username
  

Hi :) I’m looking for someone near-ish my age to hang out and talk on the phone with.
I like traveling to big cities and I’ve been almost everywhere in the US. I’m not particularly drawn to the outdoors or new restaurants but I think it would be cool to meet someone who is to motivate me in the way. Weight lifting > cardio, though falling in love with cardio is on my list of future goals…the very far future lol. I can’t sing to save my life but I still sing all the time. If I know a song, I probably know every word. Try me lol. I’m on a huge Phoebe Bridgers kick right now since I only recently discovered her.
I love arts and crafts and I always joke that I’d make a hot step mom. I love baking too though I’d really taken a break from it since the holidays. I like cooking but find it a little sad to cook for just one person so I don’t explore it much. I’m having the best year of my life. I’m happy career wise (I work at a restaurant that I love with amazing coworkers) and I feel like I’ve really gotten finances figured out. Mostly due to me really wanting to buy a house next year. It’s important to me that any future partners believe in their ability to make and stick to financial goals, even if they haven’t really made goals in the past. I don’t mind helping someone figure it out as long as you’re willing to make sacrifices to achieve your goals.
I grew up in a super conservative and sort of religious household (did anyone else get Bill OReilly kids books for Christmas) and I hate politics now and I’m agnostic, but I’d say a lot of the same values shaped me. Sometimes I think about going to church just for the sense of community but I’ve been saying that for the last 10 years lol.
I get not everyone has a perfect life or upbringing but I’m really looking for someone who makes the best out of their situation and that’s proven to be a little difficult on Reddit. I truly believe things happen through us and not to us so I find self pity to be a little draining. Please be a generally positive person who believes they have the power to change their lives and circumstances.

Cover Art <<Previous Start Next >>
As Moriko was ushered into the backroom, Princess Kagami asked “She has a curtained-off area, mind if we follow and continue to talk?”
“I have no problem with that, your highness.” Moriko had very little body shyness, so she’d have been only a little self-conscious about it even without the curtain, but she certainly appreciated the consideration of being asked. The curtained-off area in question contained a pair of magic circles inscribed onto the ceiling and floor, where she stripped down under mistress Ula’s instructions and stood in different poses while lights zipped about her. Ula said that this was taking her measurements, and Moriko believed her, she’d just never had this level of magic scanning before. It did take her a moment to understand what the poses were for, they made various muscles strain in different ways which in turn would allow measurements to take her movements into account.
The conversation from the princesses on the other side of the curtain was carried on mostly by them, and for the most part, it was just small talk that helped Moriko learn a bit about her … hosts? Maybe not technically yet, but it felt a lot like that’s how they were acting, and she was feeling obligated like a guest. She couldn’t think of a better word for it.
The rest of the afternoon and the early evening became quite the busy flurry of shopping, with the first part being a second dress to leave the shop in rather than her uniform. It seems that Mistress Ula kept a selection of ‘last minute’ dresses available in a near-ready state for the princesses’ convenience, requiring only a minimal amount of adjustment to fit one intended for Princess Tiriana to Moriko, as they were the most alike in stature.
This allowed Moriko to see why the royals were confident that Ula could pull a complete dress together in two days. Once the decisions were made, the chosen dress was dropped onto a wooden mannequin that adjusted itself to match the measurements taken of Moriko. Ula eyed the dress a moment then grabbed several spools of different color and weight threads to put onto a set of spindles built into a nearby table. With her preparations complete, Ula drew a flat tool kit from her dress to reveal several rune-etched needles of silvery metal, a small pair of scissors, and a stitch cutter. With a touch and murmured word these devices sprang to life and moved to her will. With expert swiftness she threaded each needle and set them to hovering, then went to work making her adjustments, drawing in or letting out where needed, switching out a couple of panels of the skirt to make it move better for Moriko’s needs, and other small adjustments as well as finishing up the edges. She was doing the work of at least a dozen normal skilled seamstresses with the added advantage of not getting in her own way.
In less than half an hour Moriko had a brand new dress ready for her to head out on the town with the princesses, and her normal soft boots would do well enough for this. Then it was time for accessories. The four princesses were definitely showing off, every place they brought Moriko to had deadly options, many of which were close enough to the weapons Moriko had trained in to be useful to her.
Fancy, delicate-looking fans had ribbing of adamantine with concealed sharp tips. Parasols and umbrellas had options ranging from a short blade you could draw from the bottom like a dagger to a blade that could pop out from the top to make it into a small spear. The embroidery on slender gloves hid tiny metal studs, which were backed by thin but surprisingly tough leather to protect the skin beneath. Hairpins that doubled as thin knives. Weighted handbags. The list went on, and many were selected for Moriko with little chance for her to say no.
Then there was jewelry. Everywhere they went the royals compared several pieces on Moriko, and always bought at least one expensive piece, ‘for the shop owner’s time and trouble’ if nothing else. They were talking around a subject, but it became clearer towards the end of the shopping spree when Moriko was instructed to not wear any of the jewelry on the night of the dinner, it seemed that she would be loaned a small selection of royal jewelry for the duration of the evening.
During all of this Moriko got a better feel for her hosts. Princess Kagami was the one she felt closest to in many ways, they were both the eldest sibling of large families, and it showed in the ways she guided and subtly manipulated conversations of her sisters to keep the peace and avoid topics wandering too far afield. Kagami was also only two years younger than Moriko herself, though she had been married several years now. Her husband was a younger son from a southern barony
Princess Kitiara was not quite as stern as her cool expression and northern coloration suggested, but her composure was due in part to her focus on military matters. She was married to the daughter of a Marquess from the northern border, who would have been the heir were it not for the issue of producing more heirs. Moriko hesitated a moment before making a suggestion when she learned about this. “Um, if she wants to inherit, the two of you might consider visiting the Azeria clan? The kitsune are shape changers, and might know some magic to help you fix that issue temporarily?”
Kitiara gave a slight smile. “Thank you, but we have already considered that. Neither one of us is particularly interested in the role of father or mother here, and we’d both prefer to be on the front line if anything happened, so we’ve decided to keep things as they are.” It had been almost two hundred years since there were any official conflicts with the Trionean Empire, but even if relations were superficially friendly the different cultures were a source of constant tension along the border, and even without proof many were convinced that many of the bandits in the northern territories were financed by the empire.
Princess Tiriana, the one whose dress had been co-opted for Moriko and who was engaged to an elven noble, was the most enthusiastic about the shopping, and on more than one occasion had to be restrained by her sisters from buying even more things for Moriko. She hoped that the princess’s husband-to-be was well off because it seemed that the twenty-eight-year-old had little care about spending money. At least she seemed to have an eye for quality rather than wanting to buy every sparkling trinket, though that could get expensive fast too.
While Tiriana had the most enthusiasm, Bridgette had the most energy. Scarcely a year older than Kazue, she burned with a passionate intensity that would not be out of place at Sakiya’s monastery though her talents were more towards the magical than the martial. She did not have the sort of excitable distractability that the kitsune did however, she was much more focused and could wax on about her studies in magic given the slightest encouragement. It seems that her magic was fueled by one of their older bloodlines awakening, and gave her magic more akin to that of a druid than a wizard, though with a focus on fire as a medium of renewal.
Lady Yuriko was more reserved and seemed amused as she shadowed the group, though she did occasionally offer a suggestion or bit of guidance. Moriko was fairly certain that the kitsune represented more security than the rest of their guards combined.
Physically Moriko could easily keep up with even Bridgette for energy, but this sort of new socialization was a touch overwhelming and emotionally exhausting, so she was quite glad when the other women declared the shopping finished and that it was time for supper. She was ushered into a restaurant with a discreet, unmarked entrance, where they were then led to a private dining room after passing through a slightly more public area. The guardsmen that remained after packages were sent off to be delivered to Moriko’s room at the monastery took up stations in an outer room to the one where the women would be eating. Once orders were placed, the six of them were briefly alone for the first time since she had been ambushed, and Yuriko brought out a small blue orb and placed it on the table where it began to glow. She stared at it for a moment, then nodded. “Speak freely.”
Princess Kagami sighed as she relaxed, which surprised Moriko as she had not realized that the other woman had not been relaxed until that moment. “I think that went well. Moriko, I need to apologize for something. While we did want to help you shop for everything, there was another purpose. Circumstances have already led to you and your spouses being drawn into some royal secrets, so you now get to enjoy another. Lady Yuriko here is also our current spymaster, as is tradition for the Azeria Clan advisor. Our unofficial public appearance with you has allowed her agents to watch the reactions of surprised folk, and are undoubtedly keeping track of the actions of anyone suspicious.” She gave Moriko a grin. “We may be a peaceful kingdom, but even with our advantages there is some internal dissent, and there are a few external threats. So it’s best to keep track of people who react the most to this sort of surprise information. We can’t keep your dungeon a secret, so we might as well take advantage of the situation.” Kagami then turned toward Yuriko with a lightly scolding tone. “As for you, you know very well that Mistress Ula hates it when you surprise her like that. This is why we do half our shopping when you are otherwise occupied.”
Yuriko made a small show of looking repentant, but Moriko rather doubted the sincerity of it. See, this was why she was nervous about dealing with nobility, none of this had even occurred to her as a layer of what was happening. It might not be as bad as she had been imagining for a public court, but she really hated not knowing or understanding what was going on around her with people that were supposed to be her allies.
Kitiara chuckled at Moriko’s expression. “You wear your thoughts on your face when you aren’t guarded. I understand and agree, that’s part of why my wife Catherine and I have decided to leave things be when it comes to potentially inheriting the position of Marquess. We’ll keep our focus on defending the northern border with our strength of arms, and let this lot deal with politics.”
Moriko blushed slightly at being caught out, and it did not help that she could hear Mordecai laughing in the back of her head. He was curious about something however, and Moriko decided to at least bring it up. “Ah, that brings up a topic. Maybe it would be best to cover it later, but I can let you know now. Our ‘open-mindedness’ when it comes to romance surprises him a touch, especially when it comes to nobility. He doesn’t think it was allowed so openly when he was around previously.”
Kagami held up a finger and the others all waited while she thought. After a few moments, she nodded as she made a decision. “I think it will take up more time than we have to go over such questions in detail. While we will answer what you need to know so that we can hopefully write up an official treaty, I’ll make sure we pull together a copy of the founding charter and subsequent changes to help give all of you a better understanding of how everything works in this kingdom.” She smiled slightly. “I take it you are not a history buff, and only really concerned yourself with rules that affected you? Don’t worry, that’s how most people in any nation deal with laws, but you have found yourself in a position where you need to know more.”
Moriko smiled at that. “Guilty. Oh, Mordecai is asking why you are being so generous with our shopping and with some of your secrets?” She gestured towards Yuriko, their recently revealed spymaster.
“Ah, that one is easy.” Lady Yuriko said. “Having a dungeon near our kingdom is unprecedented, and we want to get ahead of other people’s responses. You are technically situated inside the range set aside for all the various mountain tribes to maintain their own governments outside of our or Danuana’s political or legal systems, but you and your wife are citizens of Kuiccihan, so the situation is complicated. What we are hoping for in broad scope is to convince the three of you to sign an alliance treaty that would make your territory a sovereign vassal. This is not as constraining as a standard suzerain-vassal relationship, not only is control of your territory strictly your own but you have the freedom to work on your own foreign relations separately, given that they do not conflict with the security of Kuiccihan. So to be blunt, we are offering both wealth and access to some of our secrets to entice you to trust us, and we do so with the anticipation that this will be beneficial in the long term for our kingdom.”
So a bribe in other words. “And this is all to help warm us up to the idea?”
Bridgette pouted a little at Moriko’s tone. “Don’t be like that. You are effectively our peer, and we have good reason to consider you truly a friendly state. We normally have to be super careful about making people close friends, but you were thrust into this position and we have a lot of information about you from the temple, so we want to make you a real friend. We just have to also deal with all the other stuff at the same time.” Crap, the girl’s sad face was almost as effective as Kazue’s, she just didn’t have ears or tails that could droop.
<<Previous Start Next >>
My Discord if you would like to talk about the book or see what else I am up to (I also try to stream once a week, but that's strictly hobby level).
My Patreon if you want to support me directly.
Also to be found on Royal Road.
$3 Patreon: Early chapters, lore excerpts $5 Patreon: Short Stories $10 Patreon: New stories not published anywhere else (Until after I finish this story at least)

Hello everyone, I would appreciate some opinions on a situation I'm facing to determine if I'm being unreasonable. My partner and I have been married for three years, and we moved to a different country together two years ago. During this time, my partner decided to pursue a new profession, and I have been supportive in every possible way, including financially supporting their courses and covering all our bills.
However, after two years, my partner has been unable to secure a job and is hesitant to work part-time at a coffee shop or restaurant to contribute to our finances. They prefer to focus solely on their career, spending long hours at the computer in pursuit of a job.
Meanwhile, I have been working full-time and bearing the financial burden of paying all the bills and rent in an expensive suburb near the city centre. Additionally, I've hired a cleaner every fortnight to ensure our home remains tidy, allowing both of us to concentrate on our careers. To save money, I've also taken on the responsibility of cooking on weekends, as my partner dislikes cooking and prefers dining out.
The issue of household chores has also arisen. Tired of having to cook and clean up afterward, I bought a dishwasher to eliminate any conflicts regarding dishwashing duties. Furthermore, my partner complained about having to handle all the laundry, so I suggested that we each take care of our own laundry, which they agreed to.
However, when I mentioned that it's been two years and it's time for my partner to start contributing equally to the bills, they reacted negatively and became upset with me. I believe it is fair for us to split the financial responsibilities evenly, just like the household chores. I suggested that if they cannot afford to contribute financially, they could take on a greater share of the housework. However, my partner dismissed this idea and accused me of promoting patriarchal ideals.
This situation has left me feeling exhausted and contemplating the possibility of ending the marriage. I find it unfair to be solely responsible for our financial well-being while also taking care of all the household chores. I am more than willing to split everything equally, including both the bills and the housework.