(I am not from the USA so the idea of college here is really different)
I'm in college and I'm sure that I pick the right course. I'm not a perfectionist nor a super diligent student that studies in advance. I just do my school works as usual. When I got into the 2nd year of college, my classmates started to complain about small things like too much homework or a lesson that is too hard. Nothing bad about it, however in the 2nd semester, things started to get very overwhelming for me because of how my classmates complains about school in the group chat and in the classroom.
They kept on complaining that they could not pass the subject or do any homeworks done. They have a very different concepts about these things from me.
For example: They once told me that they only reviewed for a little on one major subject, and I was like, "same here" and I asked how many pages they reviewed. They answered they reviewed around 30 pages, 25 pages etc... while I only reviewed around 5 pages. Literally, 5 pages is of course just a few pages to me. NOT 30 OR 25.
Then they complained again that they have prepared just a few slides for a group presentation. I asked them how many' and they said 40 slides but I only prepared 10 slides and I feel as if 10 slides is enough for me and 40 is a lot.
And the worst complains is about studies. They complain again that they would not pass the exam. The exam is too hard. They would say that they will literally fail the exam. Turns out... THEY GOT THE HIGHEST IN CLASS
Everyday feels like they are a walking blackhole that I can't avoid. Yes I can't avoid them because there are only 4 students in my course. FOUR students in my college course including me. I can't relate with them even at the tiniest bit and my energy is drained by them. I am not close with them but I can't get angry with them either since I should do group projects and group activities with them for another 2 years.
How will I keep on going with this kind of environment in the classroom? I really wanted to pass and get the diploma of my course.
I don't want to shift course nor there are any other suitable schools that offer the same course since my parents wanted to cut the transportation costs as my college is the nearest to my house.

No sooner had Najia sat down at a dingy canteen on the scrap facility than her datapad received a call from Yorilos. She hadn't even gotten her coffee yet, and thought that was supremely unfair. "Anyone wanna bet he natters on without stopping to let me interrupt?"
There were no takers, and she propped the datapad up, connecting the call. Yorilos's face appeared, in the cockpit of the ship she had 'liberated' for him. "Excellent!" he exclaimed without preamble. "Now, Protectyon is exorbitantly expensive, but I suppose we will not need an entire unit to conduct your research. It might be our best course of action to approach the CEO of Northriver Company directly. We might be able to buy a small sample from him... If we can find him, that is. It is well known that he occasionally likes to flaunt his enormous wealth. A fellow trader just spotted him taking his most prized possession out for a pleasure cruise. I have sent you the coordinates of his last known location. Start from there."
He terminated the call, and Najia sat back, blinking. "Did he even stop to breathe?" Marta snorted. "That guy apparently sucks wind with his asshole, since he sure as hell didn't take any in through his mouth!"
Najia snorted, laughing and covering her face with her palm. Ace looked at Marta in disbelief for a few moments, as she worked out the idiom, then let out a high-pitched, almost strangled trill, hanging her head. "Y'all know I'm right," Marta hammered the point in. "He is longwinded, yes. And also, unfortunately, an idiot," Ace declared. "Well... Yes, but why in specific, this time?"
"I hope for his sake he is fantastic in the bunk and willing to pursue a career in prostitution, because he is clearly a homeworld-raised true believer in nonsense," Ace spat. "He actually believes 'the invisible hand of the free market' will result in equitable distribution of goods and wealth?!" She let out a shrill trill. "In Avarice and Windfall no less!" Marta snorted. "Yeah... He'd better be planning to be a boy-toy." She rolled her eyes. "Does he really think that the CEO of a monopoly is just going to sell us a tiny sample of what's making him filthy rich so we can take it away, analyze it, synthesize it, and start competing with him?" "Apparently he does," Najia said with an exasperated sigh. "That's kind of... Frightening, actually. Though chasing this fellow down might be something we'll have to do eventually, but for now... We might as well just buy a load."
"Protectyon is not ordinary cargo," Ace pointed out. "I do not know the specifics, but I do know that it requires special cargo-handling equipment. The Rakers know this. They guard the nature of this equipment with some skill. Between that, and that the only market for the stuff is here in Windfall, it is not a substance of any value to a pirate... Presumably, small containers for transporting small quantities are available to those in the know, of course." "Of course... But in this case, I think the best move is to make use of my checking account," Najia said. The waitress arrived with coffee in a cheap metal mug, which Najia took gratefully, as did the rest of her party. They were sitting at a table next to Robin and the party of crew she had brought with them. Najia took a drink of the coffee, and grimaced immediately. "Don't like it, spacer," the waitress asked with a smirk as she handed out the others' drinks. "Took me by surprise. Tidebreak serves it sweet enough to curl eyebrows." No sooner had she said that, than the waitress sat a bottle on the table with a heavy, dense thunk. Najia poured it in, and nodded; it was some kind of yellowish syrup or synthetic honey. "Thank you," she said. "Sure, whatever. Your ship brought a load of food here - and not even like, the stuff the fuckin' Viggs 'let us' have, at extortionate rates. So, there's that, spacer." The waitress turned and hurried away. Ace snorted. "Not very grateful, was she?" She had, apparently, missed where part of the plan had been to have Takio's personal Baku deliver a load of food, which she supposed had transpired while she was asleep.
"These people are... Prickly. I can understand that," Najia said. "Anyway, I'm just going to take the simple route on this one: buy one of the condensate ships, load it with the stuff at market value, and have it fly it to the headquarters... For 'upgrades' of course." She grinned.
Ace trilled softly at that. "Upgrades indeed." She fiddled with the datapad in her hand as Najia and the others started to do likewise, and after a few moments, found what seemed to be a saved-game in progress. It looked like a sketch of a space station, but it struck her as being a puzzle game, and probably an 'indie' one at that, given the godawful user-interface. She quickly worked it out of course, because a pirate's mind is slippery by necessity and a Teladi's mind is primed to calculate a dozen variables at once, and then she could dig into the meat of it. It looked like a space station, but it was one built on an impossible scale; an absolute megalith of a station, an absurd and ridiculous monolith seemingly built to construct the most basic and common of Commonwealth construction materials, but in absolutely absurd quantities. There was a rider on it, too; and that seemed to be the objective of the game, or at least of the current level; adding a mixed population of Terran, Argon, and Teladi workers, and the requisite inputs to feed them all, enough to run the entire station and then some.
The datapad in her hand chirr-uped, and Ace saved and closed the progress she had made in the game, finding that a new report had been filed by the professor they had hired for, frankly, enough money to probably have employed the entire Empyrean Curs. She skimmed the summary - short, consise and to the point - and trilled softly. "Interesting development," she noted. "Your starship professor is making yet more inroads." She looked up at the human magnate. "Apparently he found a project starfighter that someone had been preparing in one of your hangars."
Najia chuckled. "A project starfighter?" She took the datapad. "Paramerion...? Hmph. Looks like someone stripped down a Kallis for speed and narrowness, judging by these stats." "Could be fun," Marta pointed out. "For someone who likes to fly, that is," she added, grinning at Najia and Ace.
Najia chuckled, and then shook her head. "Might even be just the thing for chasing down this Northriver fellow, if we assume he's going to make himself difficult to catch up to. According to the Professor, it's currently a one-off, but they should be able to extrapolate the plans and build more, if desired. Seems that it actually was based on some early, unproduced Kallis prototypes." "I'll have it sent out to the Avarice Necessities supplier," Najia added. "Meanwhile..."
A high-importance alert hit her datapad. She frowned as she read the report; one - then two - then three - of her freighters in Windfall were reporting being harassed by the Vigor syndicate. That was new. She scowled at that, snarling.
"Trouble," Ace asked. Under the table, she curled her tail around Najia's calf, and Najia rubbed her eyes. "Trouble," Ace repeated; no longer an interrogative, but a statement. "The Vigor syndicate have apparently decided to start harassing ships carrying food," she noted, wrathfully. "That you have gone so long without them doing so is the anomaly," Ace pointed out. "They are not shy about that they use force to enforce their monopoly on food in Windfall and Vigor," she added. "And was this not the fight you intended to wage anyway?"
"Yes," Najia hissed angrily. "But the timing is wrong." She rubbed her eyeballs, seething. Her ships were reporting that the Vigor syndicate were being very aggressive; not quite at the point of shooting openly at them - which would go poorly for everyone concerned frankly - but they were harassing them openly, shaking them down for bribes or even demanding they drop cargo, as well as conducting "police" inspections for "contraband" - meaning food and water. "Then what do you plan to do?"
Najia grit her teeth, closing her eyes. She focused on the feeling of Ace's tail squeezing her calf, and seethed, but calmed herself. "Comply... For now. Set up some goodwill by selling them energy cells again." "Again? They're probably angry you cut them off in the first place," Ace noted, and Najia snorted. "Probably." Najia let out an annoyed hiss of breath. "Well, we'll deal with it." She drummed her fingers in annoyance on the bare metal, cafeteria-style table. "The time is not yet. Not yet... Yet." She cracked her knuckles, one-by-one. "First, we need to chase down this Protectyon stuff." She started fiddling on her datapad. "I'll just place the order and have it sent to the HQ. If Boso Ta can't work with that, well... I guess we'll try it Yorilos' way and chase down this Northriver."
"It might be worthwhile to approach him now in any event," Ace suggested. "The Northriver company are, as you might imagine... Well-connected, with the Vigor Syndicate." Najia pursed her lips and frowned, but nodded. She looked around the dingy cafeteria, and sighed, nodding, but sighed again, heavily. "You can't fix everything, Ninja Taco; and what you can fix, you mostly can't fix in a day," Marta said, softly. "Let's just... Let's try Ace's idea."
Najia nodded, with a heavy sigh. She covered her head with her hands for a few moments, and let out a huff. She needed a bit of breathing room, time to think, time to plan. She looked around, and drummed her fingers on the table. "Let's finish our business here, and head for the Necessities station," she said. "We'll give the Raleigh I bought time to make it to the HQ, and the Paramerion time to get here... Then we'll use it, as it's apparently speed incarnate, to chase down Northriver and see what he can tell us about Protectyon, or the Syndicate, or both." She looked around; there were no particular objections raised. Ace snorted softly at her. "I and 'Chipmunk' are laying low; it matters little to me where we do so or what other activities we engage in whilst doing. Besides, I wonder what this station looks like."
Najia grinned at her.
Scant hours later, Ace was in the co-pilot's seat of the Baku as it arrowed in to land, alongside the Radiant Afterglow that had been shadowing them the whole time. The station was a mammoth; Ace had been expecting some kind of small way-station. It had absolutely gargantuan solar arrays pointing at the nearby star; the number of docks and piers was, frankly, grossly excessive, to the point that Ace reckoned it could easily hold the entire ship population of Avarice. There were massive personnel accommodations, and all the things she had seen that made Takio's constructions so awe-inspiring. "The number of docks and piers you have here is mind-boggling," Ace commented as the ship landed on one of the Terran-style disk docks. "It defies description. I cannot imagine why."
Najia smiled weakly at her, leaning out to look out through the expansive flight-deck window. "Quite simply? I wanted there to never, ever, ever be any question about whether or not a ship in need of safe-habor from the Tide could find it here. And yes, we're buying the Protectyon stuff - at quite ridiculous prices - to keep the place safe." She pointed at a massive, triple-pronged module along the station's 'spine.' "The Breakers built that, and the storage for it. They're effectively a 'black box' to us since part of the deal there was that we didn't poke around inside, but the thing keeps working, and we've isolated them from outside comms to ensure that stays the case."
Ace snorted. "I'm surprised you agreed to refrain from reverse-engineering them." "Well, we did. Of course, we lied," Najia said, with a grin. "I don't believe in letting other people keep technological secrets from me. But we're not, you know, cutting our way in or anything... Sometimes, you have to move slow. Besides, nobody would bat an eyelash at me commissioning another Raleigh and stocking it with some Protectyon, right?" "Right," Ace said, chuckling. She glanced up at the station. It was massive. She glanced down at the time-table; the Paramerion would arrive in approximately sixteen hours. "This place is huge. I might have to look around."
Najia smiled at her. "Feel free. You want to come with me to chase down this Northriver character? I think I'm going to give this prototype a test run myself." Ace trilled. "That sounds fun. Sure."
The Avarice Necessities Supplier station was a mammoth. Ace had explored it thoroughly; it had all the amenities one might expect of a space station, which was surprising in Avarice space. Unsurprising to her now, was that the prices were absolutely rock-bottom. Not quite giving the stuff away at cost, but close enough. It was, Ace mused, a good way to make inroads with the Rakers, though she suspected that Takio was doing so out of beneficience as much as anything else. She seemed positively furious that the Syndicate were exerting control over food and water; absolutely furious.
That, Ace realized, was something that set her apart. To her way of thinking, it was only to be expected that the party which had the power to establish a monopoly on such basic necessities should do so, to further increase their power and wealth, exploiting that position to enrich themselves. Takio clearly did not see it that way. It was an affront to her; and she was clearly plotting the Syndicate's downfall over it. Ace mused these musings both before and after she took a nap, in a surprisingly-affordable lodging room she took on the station. The amenities were in fact made in the same style and materials as those Najia had established for herself back on her headquarters station. The shower, in particular, was an absolute luxury to Ace's mind; there was no time- or pressure-limiter, no charge for the water use, and, as with the showers on her ships, featured a slick slatted floor instead of an obvious drain and a bench. All available at such a rate that anyone who landed here could afford to stay without difficulty. Neither were there any other tiers of accommodation available; there were no 'suites' above and beyond what she slept in, nor were there the expected squalorus hostel dormitories she had sometimes been able to avail herself of in her youth - at prices that sometimes exceeded that of the individual suite she enjoyed. The only other forms of room available were doubles and quads for pairings or parties sleeping together, and 'accessibility' rooms for persons with mobility or other issues.
Ace had found this so surprising, in fact, she had chatted up the clerk at the lodging module. Apparently, Takio Enterprises had taken some simple shortcuts in their design process, by not doing the design work themselves; they had simply followed Segaris traveler-accommodation regulations and made use of a common Segaris habitat module design. The prices were set low because the station was, ultimately, self-sufficient save for the reliance on Protectyon, and it was largely viewed as a public service.
The difference between this station and the one they had left hardly any time at all before was striking. The Terran construction techniques Takio used were incredible, of course; but it also spoke to their intents that they were effectively leaving money in the pockets of persons who would pay higher prices for what they were offering and gladly. Of course, she mused, it wasn't entirely utopic. It couldn't be. she had found a tavern and lurked, and certainly she had caught the (metaphorical) scent of black-market trade. The number of employees at the station was enormous, surely there would be those who could be bribed. There was certain, she knew, to be a thriving underbelly in illicit goods or services; though it seemed that there was an effort to minimize this, by the simple expedient of making the most commonly-smuggled goods and most commonly-criminalized services legal, mostly in the Teladi style; Ace saw vending machines which dispensed packets of Space Weed and found a local-net exchange board which purported to connect medically-checked and cleared prostitutes with clients; tangential to that was a heap of information about prostitution - both practical and, she saw with a little digging, historical and philosophical - as well as resources for those looking to get into that trade, beginning with reporting to medical for an examination. There was also a stark warning that pimping, or abusing a prostitute in any way, carried a summary sentence of execution. Ace's eyes shot up at that. She ran a few searches to see what cut Takio Enterprises was taking for this, but couldn't find any over and above presumably the rental price of the lodging rooms involved.
It almost seemed clinical, but, she mused, on the balance, if this environment had been available to her when she was trying to figure out what to do to avert hunger, it certainly would have seemed a far more attractive option. Her primary reason for shying away from prostitution as a career, had been the fear of winding up the property of a pimp. Ace ruminated on this, whilst staring out the window of a tavern, at the star, through the solar panel array, when she got the message that the Paramerion had arrived.
The craft itself looked very much like many of the Terran ships Ace had seen in recent weeks, sitting in the pretty purple trim that Takio had ships meant for herself painted in. It was even sitting in a bay next to a Tsurugi superheavy fighter, which made her take a double-take; clearly they had wasted no time in producing the starfighters!
Ace looked between the two. The Paramerion was short dorsal-to-ventral, as most Terran small craft were, but this one took it to an extreme. It was elongated and somewhat narrow, though it could have, she thought, been narrower still without the side-mounted wings that served no purpose she could discern immediately, save to be wings. "They're for atmospheric flight," Najia explained. "Most Terran S- and M- craft are at least capable of it; most Argon, too, for that matter. Most Teladi... Even the Drill, which the Baku is based on; and of course the Baku itself. Though, admittedly, the flying shoe does rely a lot more on thrusters," Najia said; she was standing by the ramp into the Paramerion, watching Ace's gaze.
Ace trilled softly and nodded, joining Najia in the cockpit. It was roomy enough; the cockpit design seemed to be wholly-copied from the Kallis. That made sense, as they were apparently related designs. She looked around, and tapped on the holographic auxiliary console at the rear of the cockpit, to the side. "Shall I navigate for you?" "Unless you'd rather fly," Najia said, smiling at her. Ace took a moment to think on that, and shook her head. "I'll fly the way back, if all goes smoothly. It's your ship, you should take it. Where is Marta? Is she not coming?"
"She's already in the back. There's what the original designers of these classes euphemistically refer to as a 'bunk-slash-engineering-access' behind us, in front of the power plant. It's so tight I don't think anyone could even masturbate in there, but you can sleep in there... If you're desperate. Personally, I'd just roll out a sleeping mat in the dockpit," Najia said; this got a louder trill from Ace, as Najia took the chair. "Right, I've already done the preflight... Let's see what she can do."
Northriver was, allegedly, in the same sector - Avarice I - and finding him was a minor challenge. Ace operated sensors whilst Najia piloted; the ship seemed to have very desirable piloting characteristics; agile and responsive without being touchy or prone to over-maneuvering. Swift, but not prone to sliding. She looked forward to her own turn at the stick, as they narrowed in on the alleged location of Brantlee Northriver.
Finding him was little challenge - then Ace swore softly. "Is that..." She had another ship on the fighter's sensors, and brought up its details. Sitting a hundred klicks from Astrid, apparently the ship of Northriver, was J.P. Morgan's Knife. Ace hissed softly. "Does he... Really..."
"Does he really expect this guy to give us a sample to reverse engineer?" Najia groaned. "Fine, fuck it. If we don't ask, he will, and Yorilos is about as good at negotiating as someone who goes to a flea market, sees a pair of sun-shades at a stall, talks the proprietor down two credits and walks away feeling like they're John Pierpont Morgan." Ace trilled softly at that. "Is that whom his vessel is named after? Who was this person?" Najia snorted. "We'd have to interrupt the history lesson to run for cover from the Tide," she said with a grin, looking over her shoulder. "Suffice to say he was a human industrialist from a very long time ago, who managed to amass one of the smaller fortunes of his era, but who wielded power and control of money to substantially more effect than the actual wealth he personally had. He formed banks, you see; once, he helped to fend off an impending bank run that would have caused a financial collapse, by assembling a large number of a nation's most powerful bankers in his mansion, and locked them in his library, telling them that they would not be leaving until they had worked out a scheme to avert the crisis."
Ace trilled, watching as the little fighter closed on what she was reading as some kind of yacht. "That sounds like something you might do," she pointed out. Najia snorted, looked back at Ace, and chuckled. "I think I should take that as a compliment. J.P. Morgan was an asshole, like pretty much all of the wealthy and powerful persons of his time and era... Or, any era, to be honest. I... Never expected to find myself wielding clout and power like Morgan's, let alone enough that I probably eclipse him. It's... Kind of overwhelming, to be honest." "And yet, you persevere," Ace retorted. "By any measure, you could take what you've amassed now, retire to a sector of your choosing, build a monumental space station of your own design, and live a life of indolence until the money ran out. A Teladi could take your wealth and live out the rest of her life, even. Yet, you are building warships and lodgings fit for well-off individuals and affordable to the hardscrabble. By Teladi reckoning, Najia, you are insane."
Najia blinked at that, half-snorting. She had cut the travel drive and was approaching the lazily drifting yacht, and took the moment to turn her chair halfway, looking to her side at Ace. "Do you think I'm... Literally mad?" Ace peered at her, and shook her head. "No, I do not. Many Teladi might assume it to be so," she said, with an ambivalent sway of her hips and a shrug. "... I believe that you are acting to a set of principles and convictions that are, however, utterly alien to most Teladi understanding. You seem as if you intend to seize Windfall and Avarice outright. Yet even if you did, you would not squeeze the Rakers on food prices the way the Syndicate does. I do not understand where you are coming from," Ace said, swaying her hips again. "But... I feel I can trust you. And from there, confidence. Heads-up," she added, cautioning Najia. "We are close enough you had best comm them, lest they think you're about to attack."
Swiveling rapidly back to face forward, Najia did just that, signaling the yacht she was approaching of her intent to communicate. Moments later, she recieved a reply. "Yes, what is it you want?" Brantlee Northriver had a grating, abrasive, and smug voice; he was also dressed, she thought, ridiculously, wearing what looked like a desaturated blue jacket trimmed with excessively gaudy, and gaudily excessive amounts of gold, with some kind of absurd half-hood thing cupping the back of his head. It was some long-ago futurist's vision of what a far-flung spacefuture clergyman's robe might look like crossed with a business suit. Najia knew that her own sense of fashion was questionable, but even she immediately recognized the outfit as disgustingly ugly, and radiating both wealth and contempt. Her impression was realized as he continued, "I sure hope you have a good reason for approaching me. I am quite busy, you see?"
Najia mastered the urge to ask if he was busy receiving fellatio from someone under the console he was sitting at, because she could see absolutely no other possible activity he was invested in; she also mastered the urge to just shoot the smug off his face. She instead smiled at him, schooling herself into 'businesswoman' persona even though he made her skin crawl on an imager; and, of course, she would have to try to talk a sample out of it, because she knew that Yorilos was listening in and would certainly swoop in and somehow make things stupider if she didn't. "Mr. Northriver, you may not have had time yet to notice my minor operations; Takio Enterprises is expanding into Avarice. The name of Northriver and its Protectyon is on every set of lips within three jumps as a potent defensive measure against the Tide. I wished to obtain -"
"What, just a sample?" Northriver leaned forward, towards his camera, smirking - no, smugging - at her, adopting the 'Thinker' pose, briefly. "Such a small quantity won't get you far, if you want to protect yourself from the Tide. Can't afford more, eh?" For a moment, Najia toyed with the notion of making an offer to buy Northriver outright, just to wipe the smug off his face, but he continued to smug audibly at her. "Oh, well, since you seem to be new around here, I'll allow it. Once." Brantlee turned to look out his cockpit window at Avarice, which illuminated him brightly. Looking away and up was probably his 'best side;' it was the only posture in which she had yet seen him that looked anything other than 'contemptable.' "To get you hooked. Am I not charitable?" He immediately resumed his contemptuousness, then turned back to face her and made it all the more stark. "I will even cut you a special deal, how about that?" His expression clearly communicated his contempt and belief that he was superior. "Merely twelve and a half thousand credits for the sample you so dearly desire; my first, last, and only offer."
Najia wanted to say something scathing in return, she really did. Or simply to lock her cannons on his admittedly-very-sexy yacht and take the sample at cannon-point. Or to flip him the finger. Instead, she schooled herself to merely raise her eyebrow skeptically; forcing herself to maintain 'The Businesswoman,' who was too refined to rise to the bait. But she also had neither time nor patience to haggle over what was, frankly, a trivial sum to her bank account. Hell, she knew for a fact that Ace could buy the sample and wouldn't lose much sleep over it, just from what Ace had made in the last several days with her. "It seems your proposal can only be agreed to," she said, bringing up the financial transfer function on her console and sending the sum required.
Smugly, Brantlee grinned at her. "Here you go. I hope you leave as a satisfied customer!" Ace quickly tapped a message that appeared on her console. 'He's jettisoned an XS cargo pod.' The Teladi deftly located it for her on sensors, targeting it for her, as Northriver continued, "Oh, and by the way - don't for one second think that you can use this sample to engineer a competing product. It won't work. Northriver products are just too ingenious!" Northriver positively crowed it at her, and once again Najia had to master the urge to lock weapons upon him, but she did, at that moment, privately vow that, by means fair or foul, she was going to gain possession of his yacht if only to spite him. "Run along now," he added, smirking. "I have much more important matters to attend to," he clarified, sanctimoniously smiling, ending the comm channel and turning the yacht away, entering Travel drive.
"Let me bring that pod aboard," Ace muttered, manipulating the tractor controls, and comming the multipurpose space in the back. "Marta, if you would kindly suit up -" "Way ahead of you, Ace," Marta answered her, popping up on-screen already wearing a light pressure suit, in the airlock. "Get it over here and I'll grab it, make sure it doesn't jostle or anything. Mass?" "Considerable, but not more than a large human such as yourself can handle. Volitility is not known, but it cannot hurt to be over-cautious."
Najia smiled to herself as she heard Ace, unprompted, begin collaboration with Marta. A part of her cynical and intellectual side tried to argue that Ace was a pirate, and probably always would be a pirate at heart, but she was quite simply too fond of the reptilian spacer to listen to that part of her anymore; her oldest friend and her newest could be coming together. Then another comm popped up, and she resisted the urge to groan aloud. She let The Businesswoman fade; frankly, Yorilos didn't rate it, and they were (sort of) collaborators on this anyway. To her surprise (and pleasure), when he commed her, he immediately voiced her own opinion, "I wonder if being obnoxious is his deliberate business strategy?" Najia laughed, heartily, slumping back in her command chair and grinning brightly, shrugging. "I don't think so. I think it just comes naturally to the git."
Yorilos looked momentarily nonplussed, presumably by her vernacular, then said, "No matter. It will make it all the more enjoyable when we pull the rug from under the Northriver Company." "We are in absolute agreement about that," Najia said. "I want to wipe the smug grin off his face." She glanced down; her airlock indicator had closed, and she flicked up a view of the inside. Marta was carefully securing a container roughly the size and volume of a ubiquitous 205-liter shipping drum, though it wasn't one. "I've just taken the sample aboard." "You want to take it back to the headquarters yourself? Go ahead," Yorilos said. He cut the channel, and Najia blinked at the suddenness.
"... Well, that was... Abrupt," Najia said, looking back to Ace. "It was. I cannot believe that you paid twelve and a half thousand for the sample." Najia shrugged. "I mean... It's highway robbery, considering that a commercial volume costs just about twice that and is twenty cubic meters in volume whereas that sample is maybe two. On the other hand, you heard him; he wasn't in the mood to negotiate. What should I have done? Shot at him?" "Yes." Ace trilled, then huffed, shaking her head. "No. As cathartic as it would be, your plans are too long-term to have simply taken it from the wretch by force." She shook her head. "I suppose you had little choice," she conceded, "if you are to continue Yorilos' scheme."
"I'm kind of eager to set Boso Ta loose on this stuff myself," Najia said. The revolving door to the back cycled, and Marta walked in, looking flushed with exertion. "Thanks, Marta," she said. "You can thank me by you securing the damn thing in the 'hold,' Marta said, snarkily.
Najia nodded, and swiveled her chair all the way. "Sure. Thank you. Ace, you're up on stick," she said, standing up. "Let's just fly this thing straight home; I bet we can make it before dinnertime with us flying," she said, smiling at Ace. Ace trilled softly. "That sounds like a challenge. Accepted." She slid past Marta and Najia, slaloming between them, and took the stick, keying in a course for the Takio Enterprises headquarters. "We should recall the other ships, yes?" "Yes; good thinking, Ace. Thank you. I'll handle it from the back, after I've secured this barrel."
Ace and Najia made great time returning to the headquarters; they flew close to recklessly, causing Marta to comment that she was glad she was flying with them, for if they got themselves killed flying that way, she wouldn't have to hear about it. They arrived at the headquarters to little fanfare, and Marta peeled off as soon as they arrived, pleading the need to go and look into something she had arranged previously. "Well, shall we talk to Boso Ta?" Ace asked, looking up at Najia. They had gone to Avarice in an overnight journey by-the-numbers, stayed for less than a day, and were now back where they had started. "And hope that this back-and-forth bears some fruit?"
"I would very much like that," Najia agreed. The container had already been sent to the lab, and she squared her shoulders up, heading for the lift with purpose.
The door to the laboratory opened, and Najia's jaw dropped. "How," she said, flatly, quietly, as Ace all-but plowed into her backside. Ace slid around her side, looking into the lab, and let out a chuff of disbelief.
Yorilos was standing beside Boso Ta's tank.
Ace resisted the urge to hiss in surprise, and reached up, patting Najia's back. "I do not know," she confessed. "Perhaps he made use of an anomaly and was quite lucky. Or perhaps he has modified his hauler in ways unimaginable and is an outright daredevil pilot." Najia shook her head, and squared up, entering the lab. The elderly professor was nowhere to be seen, but it was late at night; he was likely in bed. So she went to the interloper, approaching Yorilos. "Yorilos, hi... What are you doing here?" She wasn't even going to ask how. That was his secret and his alone.
"Ah, yes. I really hope we can find a way to make the Protectyon more affordable for everyone in Avarice," he explained, as he peered around the laboratory. That, she thought, didn't exactly explain her question; presumably he intended for her to infer the answer. Somehow. Najia shook her head and smiled, nodding to him. "Alright." She climbed up the stairs, after a glance back at Ace, who had become fascinated by the new addition of a lot of bonsai trees in the laboratory's little greenery display, and greeted Boso Ta with a wave, to which the Boron responded with one of his own. "Hello there! Ah, excellent, the Protectyon sample has been delivered, and we may begin. Thank you kindly!" Boso Ta seemed to examine a computer tablet held in his... Tentacles? Flippers? Manipulators. He made a few deft strokes. "I have added the Protectyon Research to our agenda, and listed the required secondary materials. Feel free to initiate the research at any time convenient to yourself!"
With that abrupt declaration, Boso Ta swam upwards through the hatch in the laboratory tank, presumably to his personal lodging suites. Najia blinked, rocking back on her heels and looked back at Ace, who looked at her with the cocked hips that Najia had intuited was a definite shrug. "You'd think I didn't own the place," Najia muttered to herself, "the way almost everyone just... Is so... Curt with me." "You could put them in their place the way a pirate lord would," Ace suggested. "Or, if having a beating administered is too vulgar for your preferences, do what a capitalist might do and threaten them with penury."
Najia snorted. "Yeah... I think I'd rather just live with being curtly spoken to than be an asshole." "So be it. Your ways do allow for others to become... Familiar with you," Ace said, giving a vibrato trill. "For better, and for worse." She smiled at Najia, and Najia smiled back. Ace was toying with a small bonsai tree, and watched as Najia checked her datapad, then clucked her tongue.
"A lot of things we don't have on-hand," Najia muttered, "mainly because what Boso Ta wants - for this research project, and others - are Commonwealth-base, and we're not. That's not a huge problem, I'll just ask Tsukiko to set up a PO for a useful quantity of said commodities. For now -" The tank was suddenly filled again with Boso Ta. "Assistant, you simply must do something about this irksome vessel!"
A moment of silent passed. Najia pushed down the urge to be catty or snarky at Boso Ta, or outright hostile. She took a deep breath. "A... Vessel? Is irking you?" "Yes yes! Somehow, it is managing to distort the station's sensors, preventing me from witnessing a solar event in the Great Reef Nebula. I suggest you take care of this annoyance before it manages to disrupt even more observations!"
Najia took in a breath to respond, but Boso Ta had already vanished again, with such rapidity that even Yorilos seemed to be watching him dumbstruck. Yorilos also made a cocked-hip gesture, and then walked out. Najia watched him go, and snorted. "If he has even half a brain, he's going to ask Boso Ta what resources he's asking for and then try to get ahead of the purchase orders," Najia noted. "I would." "As would I," Ace agreed. "Would you like me to take care of this... 'Irksome Vessel' for you?"
"Bored?" Najia asked, grinning at Ace. "I wouldn't say that I was bored," Ace said, reaching out and squeezing her hand. Najia squeezed back. "But it seems that Boso Ta will not likely let the matter drop."
"Alright. Let's take care of it." Najia rolled her shoulders. "I can do this admin stuff from a ship as easily as my apartment study." She headed for the lift, neglecting to let go of Ace's hand; Ace likewise kept the hold, accompanying her. They almost ran into Marta coming out of it. She had a big grin on her face, and Najia pursed her lips. "Okay, what have you done," she asked.
"Oh, not much, just had a warship commissioned to keep close-to-hand in case we get in trouble and need some biggish guns fast. She's done, come take a look." Najia looked down at Ace, who trilled loudly at her. "Either you pay her too well, or you trust her entirely, if she has such authority in your name." "Jealous," Marta asked, smirking. "Yes," Ace admitted frankly. "Shall we?"
Najia sighed and laughed. "Fiiiine."
The bridge of T.E.S. Koshirae was the common standard Terran capital module, and very shortly, Najia, Marta and Ace were standing in it, shaking hands with the woman standing at the captain's post, who was wearing a stylish jacket in a decidedly non-Terran style, tights, and comfortable looking sneakers. "I'm sorry," Najia said, with a smile. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage."
"Kevlin, ma'am; Selaia Kevlin. I'm a shipyard specialist." Her accent was distinctly neither anything Solar that Najia recognized, nor Segaris. "I'm surprised you're even aboard yet; we're only about to put her through space trials."
Najia snorted. "Not even the shakedown cruise, huh? You're not from anywhere I've been, are you?" "No ma'am." Selaia looked Asian, with her hair up in a tight bun. "I'm from Argon Prime. I found myself in Grand Exchange as crew on a freighter, saw the amenities on offer on your headquarters station, and jumped ship for a job here."
Najia nodded. "I see..." She grinned. "Are you spying on me?" "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you, ma'am," Selaia responded back, in the age-old joke. Najia laughed in turn.
"Right. Well, stand down for a while," she said. "I appear to have been talked into taking her out personally." "Ma'am!" Selaia stepped aside. "The, err, owner has the bridge!" she called out, fumbling through something approximating military protocol, as Najia stepped up, looking over the console. Najia grinned. "Alright. Nifty little ship. Ace, take the helm," she said. "Take us out."

Renowned for his courage and groundbreaking discoveries that furthered along our knowledge of the mysterious sea, he became known as "The Underwater Pineapple," otherwise known as "Le Pinne Pomme" for short. Never again was he seen by his old world. Approximately two months ago, Le Pinne Pomme was born. Since his first adventure, his passionate love grew, and he knew his calling was to devote his entire life to the sea.
On his second journey, he discovered an underwater town. It was a smallish town, each house painted with magical pigment extracted from the eggs the sacred silemosils drop during their travels hither and thither. Silemosils are mystical octopus-like creatures that have a semi-transparent flesh decorated in spellspeckles which reveal unimaginable colors in the sunlight. These colors are a byproduct of the chemical reaction that occurs when sunlight activates their spellspeckle chambers, giving the silemosils the extraordinary amount of energy they need to glide easily through the water, which, for them, is a necessity, seeing as their hundreds of pinhead-sized mouths are made to feed on gloski, a unique variety of glowing amoeba with the sole purpose of providing silemosils with the nourishment they need. Gloski exclusively live in the depths of a rocky abyss not too far off from the town.
Acquainted with all of the townsfolk, and familiarized with every noun of the town, Le Pinne Pomme decided it fit to build a pineapple home on the outskirts. Little did he know his home rested above a cave, an extension of the rocky abyss.
As Le Pinne Pomme was resting comfortably on his bed for the night, he became queasy at the recollection of something uncanny during his interactions with the townsfolk. Earlier in the day, a wise lady cautioned him about an abyss near the town. Before he could respond, he was distracted by a group of youngsters eager to study this rare newcomer. Up until his drift he wondered what the wise lady was on about.
The next day, he went looking for the wise lady. Approaching each of the townspeople with his best description of the lady and a request for any information regarding the abyss she spoke of, everyone denied their knowledge. His suspicions propelled him to search for answers.
Le Pinne Pomme had been cooped up in his home gathering every piece of information about the sea he could get his hands on. After three months of leafing through every page of sea info he managed to procure at the library in the center of the town, the abundance of information he had absorbed finally assimilated. At that very moment, he beheld the apparition of a grand idea.
Swiftly, he gathered every page he had tossed around in his desperate search for answers. Clutching the papers, he dashed to the town's library, and upon his arrival he noticed an inquisitive crowd had followed him. The crowd was merely wondering why Sir Pomme was in such a hurry. When Le Pinne Pomme gave a brief explanation, and after seeing his determination, the caring crowd offered to help, and when the caring crowd offered to help, and after seeing their devotion, Le Pinne Pomme was more than willing to accept.
The group hurried into the library and assembled. Director Pomme appropriately assigned tasks and positions to the gentle devotees, based on his prior knowledge from his experience as a team member back in the time of his first adventure into the sea, and they quickly went to work. At some point Director Pomme had suddenly remembered seeing a lukiaplant near his pineapple home, and according to his research, this special plant lives above caves, as its roots must grow earthward and reach the bottom of the abyss, where it gets its nutrition from decomposed silemosils. If his calculations were correct, his house rests upon the cave of the rocky abyss. He knew his unrelenting desire to uncover the mysteries of the sea was boundless, and it will be written on his heart until his last.
Now appointed Leader, Captain Pomme's third journey commenced, and madness set deep within his soul as he prepared to face what could very well be the most terrifying creatures he will ever come to see. After casting about, the fresh team had finally found the entrance of the abyss, marking the location of the entrance with a small flag symbolizing their accomplishment. When the time came, the group thanked and waved their leader a most sincere, and emotional, farewell. For this was a journey Le Pinne Pomme knew he must experience on his own this time around.
Le Pinne Pomme descended 3 days into the unknown before reaching the rocky floor. He had lost track of time when the darkness was the only thing visible to him. However, the darkness was not all his senses perceived. Indeed, creatures of the deep kept small Le Pinne Pomme company during his downward journey. Contrary to his expectations, he was not chewed and digested, nor was he pierced and deceased. Halfway down the abyss, he encountered a most horrific sight, known as "The Legendary Malugmayut."
"The Legendary Malugmayut" is a story that has been told by storytellers and passed down in families for centuries:
"Once upon a time, in a mythical place unlike anything we have come to know, there dwelled an unfathomable seamonster, whose truth is barely to be told, known as "The Legendary Malugmayut." This humongous, despicable, and terrifying creature had been in hiding for centuries. There was once a fellow traveler with an unwavering determination to reveal the secrets of the deep. One day, he embarked on his long-awaited journey. He never returned to his home. The story after his departure remains forever untold."
Malugmayut somehow knew of this story, which is why he had never visited the town neighboring his home. He was scared of the storytellers and ashamed of himself, because his reputation had become his identity.
Le Pinne Pomme's madness kept him sane before the legendary monster. Though it seemed that their encounter was nothing more than a happenstance to his madness, Malugmayut believed in destiny. For the first time in centuries, he uttered words that shook every nook and cranny of that pocket in the sea. Le Pinne Pomme's madness was, too, shaken by the utterance, and his sanity recovered.
He had not been harmed, but he was drifting in and out of consciousness from the impact. When he came to, he could see only a turquoise sun surrounded by darkness, lighting up the creature's face, and casting its shadow on the wall painted with rainbow-colored swirls of seaplants and dotted with the eyes of the miniature fish of the abyss, camouflaged by the marvelous array of colors, reflective of the vastness of the mysterious sea.
The creature's face finally registered, and millions of bubbles floated toward the surface of the ocean. Every distant seacreature and plant suffered an intense recoil. Le Pinne Pomme knew that he was defenseless before this frightening monster.
After everything and every creature had calmed, Le Pinne Pomme intuitively understood that the creature did not have predatory or territorial intent, and he yielded his sane madness to the Malugmayut. A light bulb appeared, quite literally, and he realized that he knew nothing of life.
This wild creature was a beautiful sight. Le Pinne Pomme was humbled by awe. Despite Malugmayut's unusual form and appearance, there was a light in his eyes. Not the kind of light emitting out of Malugmayut's appendage, but a glimpse of hope in his presence reminiscent of a subtle gracefulness, perceptible to the sensing soul.
They locked eyes, and so did their friendship. What they saw in one another was an invaluable gift. A leap of faith they took, and great friends they became. They came to see that they had nothing to fear, and the thing they feared the most became most precious to them. Le Pinne Pomme never returned to his old homes. The pocket of the sea became his home, and the sea monsters his friends. Once again, the story was told.

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Today Cherokee Nation remembrance day - remembering all those murdered by the Americans, and those who survived the Trail of Tears
https://i.redd.it/w2b2uti64rpa1.jpg
Navajo Tech 1st among tribal universities to offer PhD
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2023/03/24/navajo-tech-1st-among-tribal-universities-to-offer-phd.html
A university on the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. launched its accredited doctoral program, becoming the first among more than 30 accredited tribal colleges and universities across the country to offer such a high level degree.
The program at Navajo Technical University will be dedicated to sustaining Diné culture and language. Diné is the Navajo word meaning “the people” and is commonly what tribal members call themselves.
A celebration is planned on the Crownpoint campus in western New Mexico in April, and the school already started accepting applications for the fall semester.
The offering marks a milestone for the university, which already has more than 30 degree and certificate programs spanning science, technology, engineering, business and liberal arts, Navajo Tech President Elmer Guy said.
Guy told The Associated Press on Friday that he believes the program in which students will receive a Ph.D. in Diné Culture and Language Sustainability will have a profound impact on the future of the tribe’s language and culture. He said he’s excited to see how students shape their dissertations.
The idea was to create a program that would lead to employment opportunities and effect change for Navajo communities on the reservation that stretches into New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
“I thought it would be important to make that connection,” Guy said, explaining that it’s a step beyond the call by tribal leaders for their people to learn the language and stay engaged with their culture. “Individuals will get a degree and they’ll be professionals. You have to make it applicable. By making it more meaningful, people will have an interest in it.“
The effort is paying off. About 20 students have applied so far and will be vying for five coveted spots in the inaugural class, said Wafa Hozien, an administrator who helped with the program’s creation.
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT A collaboration with other academic institutions and community partners, the doctoral program was developed with the help of tribal elders, university professors and linguistic experts. Community-based research and internships will be part of the curriculum so students gain practical experience they can apply in the real world.
Guy said he’s hopeful this inspires other tribal colleges and universities to create their own programs.
Hozien said Navajo Tech’s program represents a paradigm shift in that learning through a Diné lens — with culture and language — creates leaders who can advocate for their people in the judicial system, education, land management, business, technology and health care, for example.
Guy said the work done by the university to train court reporters to document Navajo testimony and translators to help with reading ballots during election season already has addressed some of the pressing needs within communities.
The possibilities will be even greater as students earn doctoral degrees, he said.
“They will be part of solving problems,” Guy said. “These students have energy and creativity, and our job is to give them the tools.”
Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, author of ‘Moore’s Law’ that helped drive computer revolution, dies at 94

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/tech/gordon-moore-obituary/index.html

Principal fired after Florida students shown Michelangelo statue

A principal of a Florida school has been forced to resign after a parent complained that students were exposed to pornography.
The complaint arose from a Renaissance art lesson where students were shown Michelangelo's statue of David.
The iconic statue is one of the most famous in Western history.
But one parent complained the material was pornographic and two others said they wanted to know about the class before it was taught.
The lesson also included references to Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" painting and Botticelli's "Birth of Venus".
Principal Hope Carrasaquilla of Tallahassee Classical School said she resigned after she was given an ultimatum by the school board to resign or be fired.
Local media reported that Ms Carrasquilla did not know the reason she was asked to resign, but believed it was related to the complaints over the lesson.
They also said Ms Carrasquilla had been principal for less than one year.
On Thursday, Florida's governor moved to expand a law that banned public schools from teaching sexual education and gender identity.
Teachers who violate the law face being suspended or losing their teaching licences.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65071989

The Internet Archive has lost its first fight to scan and lend e-books like a library — A federal judge has ruled against the Internet Archive in a lawsuit brought by four book publishers

https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/24/23655804/internet-archive-hatchette-publisher-ebook-library-lawsuit
Excerpt from the linked content¹ by Jay Peters and Sean Hollister:

A federal judge has ruled against the Internet Archive in Hatchette v. Internet Archive, a lawsuit brought against it by four book publishers, deciding that the website does not have the right to scan books and lend them out like a library.
The lawsuit came from the Internet Archive’s decision to launch the “National Emergency Library” early in the covid pandemic, which let people read from 1.4 million digitized books with no waitlist.
In his ruling, Judge Koetl considered whether the Internet Archive was operating under the principle of Fair Use, which previously protected a digital preservation project by Google Books and HathiTrust in 2014.
Fair Use considers whether using a copyrighted work is good for the public, how much it’ll impact the copyright holder, and whether the use has “transformed” a copyrighted thing into something new, among other things.
But Koetl wrote that any “alleged benefits” from the Internet Archive’s library “cannot outweigh the market harm to the publishers.”
Judge John G. Koeltl decided that the Internet Archive had done nothing more than create “derivative works,” and so would have needed authorization from the books’ copyright holders — the publishers — before lending them out through its National Emergency Library program.

¹ Jay Peters and Sean Hollister for The Verge/Vox Media, 24 Mar. 2023, https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/24/23655804/internet-archive-hatchette-publisher-ebook-library-lawsuit
https://www.reddit.com/technology/comments/1214mv6/the_internet_archive_has_lost_its_first_fight_to/jdkbxvo/

Parent demands removal of bible from school using republicans “pornographic” law

https://i.redd.it/m8y0wj4j5qpa1.jpg
https://www.reddit.com/LeopardsAteMyFace/comments/120j6uparent_demands_removal_of_bible_from_school_using/
[MENTAL HEALTH]

1 in 8 People Worldwide Live with a Mental Health Disorder, But Stigma Prevents Help-Seeking

https://blog.mdpi.com/2023/03/14/help-seeking-behavio
https://www.reddit.com/psychology/comments/120i8rj/1_in_8_people_worldwide_live_with_a_mental_health/

[Giannis Antetokounmpo] I know not everyone who needs mental health care has access to it, which is why I’ve partnered with @AntidoteAI to bring FREE mental health care services to Milwaukee. To find out if you are eligible and to sign up visit http://antidotehealth.com/caff

https://www.reddit.com/MkeBucks/comments/120thg4/giannis_antetokounmpo_i_know_not_everyone_who/
https://www.reddit.com/milwaukee/comments/120thxz/giannis_antetokounmpo_i_know_not_everyone_who/

Persona: Otherworld is a purely OC driven 18+ roleplay server set within the world of the Persona game franchise. We loosely follow most rules of the games, and maintain the heavy focus on social links with a system that benefits more those willing to explore relationships with other characters over pointless 'grinding.' We're accepting, laid back, have pretty easy to grasp systems with a story that will unfold and adapt to the players that take part in it. There is not dice system at play currently, but we are considering an opt-in dice system to be added for the sake of larger scale/story battles that will take place further down the line. Our own custom lore is set in southern Tokyo, centered around Nakamura University- a progressive and experimental take on high school and college being merged into one institute. Forces beyond the mortal coil have awoken, and a new 'sleeping' phenomena has been causing various people in Tokyo to slip into a comatose state. To the medical world this remains a mystery, but to those who fall victim to it and awaken in the confines of the Otherworld's Night Cathedral, it is a horror.
Now awaken ambition, and use it to grasp the strength that manifests within all...
Persona.
https://discord.gg/YR9v9WTJRq

Persona: Otherworld is a purely OC driven 18+ roleplay server set within the world of the Persona game franchise. We loosely follow most rules of the games, and maintain the heavy focus on social links with a system that benefits more those willing to explore relationships with other characters over pointless 'grinding.' We're accepting, laid back, have pretty easy to grasp systems with a story that will unfold and adapt to the players that take part in it. There is not dice system at play currently, but we are considering an opt-in dice system to be added for the sake of larger scale/story battles that will take place further down the line. Our own custom lore is set in southern Tokyo, centered around Nakamura University- a progressive and experimental take on high school and college being merged into one institute. Forces beyond the mortal coil have awoken, and a new 'sleeping' phenomena has been causing various people in Tokyo to slip into a comatose state. To the medical world this remains a mystery, but to those who fall victim to it and awaken in the confines of the Otherworld's Night Cathedral, it is a horror.
Now awaken ambition, and use it to grasp the strength that manifests within all...
Persona.
https://discord.gg/YR9v9WTJRq

K♥️: Sanctuary [Part 2]
This game is the last entry of a series of games, where I have written games for all 52 cards for a borderlands in the UK. Each one includes a story of how I imagine the game playing out. You can find all entries here.
Venue: Church
Rules: Live in the church until the pastor presses the button
Fourth Day of Exhibitions
The day began almost the same as the other three. They woke up, they ate breakfast they got to work. They had gotten to work, but still, Alfie refused to work.
Roger had worked in the garden, and was happy with the work he had done filling up all the allotted land, before he walked in to tell Noah. As he went to look for him, he caught sight of Alfie, and walked over to him.
“Why do you continue to refuse to work?” Roger asked Alfie.
“I’ve told you, he’s manipulating you! Can’t you see it? All he needs to do is lull you into a false sense of security, then he can slowly pick you off one by one. Once he has your trust he can keep going, and going, and then you’re all dead. He wins.” Alfie said.
“You’re crazy.” Roger said, turning away.
“I’m Crazy!? After all we’ve been through, you walk in here and only a day later you’re worshiping the guy. He is literally the King of Hearts!” Alfie shouted at him.
“Is everything alright here gentlemen?” Noah said, walking up to them.
“No Noah, it’s fine” Roger said walking away.
Noah watched Roger walk away, after telling him that the garden had been finished.
“Alfie. This is your last warning. Please join the colony, or I will have to punish you. Now, get to work.” Noah said, before walking away. Alfie stood where he was.
Noah waited to see if Alfie would join them in the Kitchen, but after a few hours, when it was time for lunch, Alfie still hadn’t turned up.
Noah gathered all the workers, handing out food.
“Today, I have to make a notice. One of our colonists is refusing to work. Yet, he sleeps in our beds, eats our food, and benefits from your labour. But does he help? No. He refuses. That man, is Alfie.” Noah pointed at him. “I would advise you to stay away from him, he is a dangerous influence to our colony. I will try and get him to work, but he will likely refuse once more, like the selfish person he is. That is all.” He said, before sitting down for food.
Alfie walked out in anger.
They finished their meal, and Noah walked to the gate, to see if any new colonists would arrive. He took a bite from his apple, and saw an old woman approaching.
“Hello, my child. Are you’re to join our sanctuary?” He asked, and the woman looked back at him confused, before she walked into the churchyard.
“Are you just going to ignore me?” Noah said.
“Tell me the rules then.” The old woman said.
“The rules are simple. No violence, don’t leave the churchyard. To clear the game, I need to press the button on the church altar freely.” The King said.
“What?” The Old woman said. “That’s not a game!?”
“This place is our sanctuary. Here we can live until our eventual end without having to see the horrible suffering the games cause, or by having to participate in them.” Noah explained.
“Why on earth should I even trust you?” The Woman said.
“It’s because it’s the truth. This place is a true place of safety that frees you from the games.” Roger said, walking up, followed by another gardener.
“Wait, how long have you been here?” The old woman asked them.
“He was here since the start, I arrived yesterday. Trust me, Noah is telling the truth. This place is a little slice of safety in an uncaring world.” Roger said, as the man nodded.
“Thank you for your help Roger. I presume you have finished the garden?” Noah said.
“Yes Noah. We still have a few seeds left over, however, so we may want to increase the size of the garden.” Roger responded.
“Ok. I’ll discuss it with the planners later. For now, I will give our guest here, a tour of our sanctuary.” Noah said, leading the old woman into the church. “What is your name?”
“Margret.” The old woman responded.
“Margret, it is nice to have you here. In this main hall is our dormitory, and at the end we have set up a kitchen. Outside is the garden and where we keep the animals. We also have extra rooms for enter-“ Noah said, being cut off by a voice from the other end of the church.
“Got a new sheep, have you Noah? Trying to get a on record on your brainwashing?” Alfie said, scowling at him while lent against a wall.
“Ignore him, he is a selfish freeloader who seeks to tear the place apart.” Noah said, quickly ushering Margret down into the lower floors.
“If you join Tracy in the planning room, I’ll assure you that she’ll find a good role for you. I have to deal with our trouble maker for a second.” Noah said, heading back up the stairs.
He met with Alfie.
“I’m begging you Alfie, please stop trying to destroy what we have here. We can live at peace with each other, defy the evil of this world. Just join us and all will be forgiven.” Noah said, pleading with him.
“I won’t believe your lies Noah.” Alfie said.
“Very well. I give you until sunrise tomorrow to reconsider.” Noah said walking away.
“Or what? Your own rules state no violence!” Alfie said.
“Violence is subjective. A push is not, under my definition, violence.” Noah said.
“Was that a threat!?” Alfie said, running towards Noah, jumping on to him. “Is this violence!?” He shouted at Noah.
Noah lay on the ground, awaiting Alfie to punch him.
“Come on. Do it. Punch me Alfie. You know how much you want to do it. Break your friends out from under my spell. Do it. It’s really easy. Just one sw-“
He felt a sharp pain across his face, and heard Alfie collapse to the floor.
Roger raced in, and saw the two of them on the floor.
“Noah!” He shouted. “Alfie!”
Noah stood up. “I’m fine, but your friend just came up and started att-“
Noah exhaled. “I’m sorry about him.”
“It’s ok. He wasn’t contributing.” Roger said.
“We will hold a service as soon as possible. Get started on the grave.”
Roger nodded, and gathered the gardeners to prepare a place to bury Alfie.
Noah looked at the roof, seeing the light stream in from where the laser had shot down. He would need to get it fixed. He went down to the planning room, and informed them of the news, before he added the fixing of the roof and the expansion of the garden to the to do list.
“Tracy, I’m very sorry for your loss.” Noah said.
“It’s hard to believe that he did it in the end…” She said, trailing off.
Noah announced the news to everyone at dinner, saying that he was sorry to have lost a member of the colony, even if he was unwilling and uncooperative.
By this point Margret had joined the planners and the cooks, and had become a valuable assistant.
They settled into their beds, Noah not telling them any tales today.
Fifth Day of Exhibitions
Noah awoke early that morning, and went onto the roof. There were half gone now. He was surprised to see that Jack had made it this far. The Queen of hearts still hung in the sky too, and he looked at the card. He was not a betting man, but was sure that the Queen and him would outlast the others.
He woke up the cooks and they got to work preparing breakfast. They ate at their bunks, talking amongst themselves. Today’s breakfast was scrambled eggs, a delicacy many had not enjoyed for weeks. They were glad for such a delicious meal, and many thanked Noah for providing it.
The day passed smoothly for the first few hours, and everyone did their tasks. Now with Alfie out of the way, things seemed to have calmed down. He wasn’t sure if Alfie’s ideas had spread to anyone else, but he was sure he had managed to stamp out any possible support he had by portraying Alfie badly. Not even his friends supported him.
He walked up to the gates, eating from an apple. He watched weary until just before lunch, when a woman, her hands bandaged, began to walk up to the gates. She was dragging herself slowly, and he alerted those with any form of medical training to gather to their medical room as soon as she crossed the threshold.
The woman stepped in, seemingly not herself, and Noah quickly rushed the rules out to her before the medics carried her to try and treat her.
Clearly the Jack of spades had not been successful in his endeavours, and had now fallen.
He was informed the woman would be fine, and that she simply had been suffering from the cuts on her hands and a lack of water. They theorised that she may even have walked into the venue by accident.
Noah supervised various activities, before returning to greet the woman properly. She told him about her experience with the Jack of Spades, and he comforted her, telling her that she had entered the sanctuary and she was now safe from al of the other games.
He got her some of the soup they had made for lunch, and she ate it, gratefully. He asked her what she would like to do as a job once she recovered, recommending hard physical labor jobs due to her Jack of spades victory, and she agreed.
The afternoon passed smoothly, now the influence of Alfie had left, and they could live together in harmony.
In the evening, Noah got the woman, Kim, to recall her Jack of Spades experience, before he explained, that without this place, without the medical team, she may have died, yet now, here she was, free from all of that. He used her story to strengthen the trust they placed in him, as, after all, he had to keep them in his support if he wanted the sanctuary to continue.
He then began to talk about who the Jack of Spades was, and how he disapproved of his game. He told them about how the Jack of Spades was by no means a bad person to begin with. He had been kind, supportive, and a good friend to him, but once they arrived, he lost sight of his old self. He started to distrust Noah, and became the evil villain that had tortured Kim in his game. But Noah was different. He resisted that. He wanted the best for them.
A lone clap came from the back of the hall to interrupt Noah’s story.
“Very good, very good. You’ve used another person and their story to increase the trust others have for you, and quite frankly, it’s a wonderful idea. This game, the sanctuary, is great. You’ve found a perfect way to keep everyone alive while still preserving yourself. You spit in the face of the creator of this place. Amazing. The only problem is, I’m here to win.” A man in a hoodie said, walking forward. “Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Lucas, and I just beat the queen of hearts. I’ve come to finish the trio off.”
Noah looked at him. “Well, I think you are going to find that rather difficult….” Noah said. “I have no lan of pressing that button, and no one in this hall but you wants me to do so…”
“We’ll see, won’t we. Now, which bed do I get. I’ve had a long last hour.” Lucas responded. Noah pointed to a bunk, and Lucas lay down.
Noah continued his story, before they all went to bed.
Sixth Day of Exhibitions
It was just him and Jack left now. The fact Jack had made it this far surprised him considerably, considering the nature of his game. Who knows, maybe God was looking out for him.
His routine was slightly different that morning. Instead of waking the cooks and preparing breakfast, he awoke Lucas.
“Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot yesterday. I am willing to give you a tour of the church, and then maybe you can tell me where you want to work. Let me assure you, this place is where you want to be. You don’t want to play any of the other games. You don’t want to clear all the games.” Noah said
“Yeah, whatever.” Lucas responded, getting up. “Although, in future, could you not wake me up so early in the morning?”
“Of course.” Noah said, leading him away.
He showed him the garden, the livestock, the underground rooms, and finally the Kitchen, where Lucas decided he wanted to work. He told Noah that he had always enjoyed cooking, and was quite good at it. Noah agreed to let him do so, and Lucas began to get to work on breakfast, as Noah woke the others up.
Lucas seized his chance, slowly walking out of the building with two sacks of potatoes, throwing them behind the wall, putting them outside of the area. He could slowly do this with all of the food, and then wreck the garden, Noah would quickly fall out of favour with the others. :Lucas did also realise, that in doing so would also damage his reputation, but he hoped most of the blame would fall on Noah.
He spent most of his day secretly throwing food out of the venue, before someone pointed out that someone had spilled a sack of potatoes just outside the churchyard.
Noah came to inspect it, and said that whoever it was should come forward, and Noah wouldn’t be angry.
Lucas stepped forward. “I’m sorry Noah, but I was carrying the potatoes, when I accidentally dropped them, and they all spilled out. I tried to throw the rest out to hide the evidence, but that was clearly a mistake.”
Lucas made his face look guilty, and Noah put his hand on Lucas shoulder.
“It is forgiven.” He said, before leaning in to Lucas “I know what you are doing. Stop, Now.” He whispered in Lucas’ ear.
Lucas looked at him, and nodded. Lucas walked back to the Kitchen, and began to properly work. He found that there were no other opportunities to get rid of food, so while everyone ate their food, he sat in silence contemplating when he could strike again.
He returned to work, and over a couple of hours, deliberated a conundrum.
The no violence rule should shield him from being stopped, so he could simply do it in broad daylight.
Just to be sure, Lucas waited until no-one was properly looking at him, or at the food.
Lucas saw a chance. He knew it was risky, but the no violence rule theoreticallymeant no one could stop him.
He picked up two bags in full view of everyone, and ran outside, throwing them through the gates.
“What the hell is he doing!?” Roger shouted.
“He’s decreasing the food supply to try and destroy our sanctuary! We must cats him out while we have the chance!” One of the gardeners shouted, and he rushed towards Lucas, about to push him.
“Wait! Don’t! No violence, remember?” Roger shouted.
“A push isn’t violence!” The Man shouted.
He prepared himself to push Lucas out of the churchyard, when an announcement rang out.
“There is only one game remaining. The Game is the King of Hearts. To join, please make your way to the venue.”
They stopped dead.
“Wait, if that’s true, then all that needs to happen for us to win is for Noah to press the button!” Roger said.
“Yes, but if we win we just have to become citizens ourselves. That isn’t what I want. I don’t want to have to create a game. I would rather stay here, with Noah. Don’t you? Or would you rather he died? Are you a traitor?” Someone said, and others agreed.
Roger was terrified. “That’s not what I meant..” He said, nervously.
“My children, calm down.” Noah said, walking out. “There is no need for our sanctuary to end because the other games have. We can still continue. Who is with me, and wishes to remain?”
The crowd gave a mixed reaction.
“After all I have done for you, after everything, you do not wish to remain?” Noah said, puzzled.
“Well Noah, one thing you underestimated was the human want for something they don’t have. Many here want to be able to leave the churchyard, which they can do if you press the button. In fact, your game is now more of a hindrance than an advantage. If you do press the button, they can at least go wherever they want. While you still live, They are confined to this churchyard.” Lucas said.
Noah was about to respond, when there was a large creaking from the church doors.
Four people walked in, the one at the front asking if he was interrupting.
“You…” Lucas said, looking at the schoolboy that had spoken, and then to the woman. “I’m surprised she made it this far. She cared way to much about people. Wheras you,” He said, looking at Ben. “I’m not one bit surprised. After you betrayed your friend, I knew you had it in you to survive this world.”
He turned back to the group. “See, now all the other games have gone, you will get more and more of these maniacs coming to make a stain on your perfect colony. Consider it-“
The door creaked open again, and three men and a woman walked in.
“As I was saying, more and more arrivals will come, and you will have to try harder and harder to keep them here. Anyway, I await you decision Noah. I am going to sleep now.” Lucas said, walking over to his bunk, listening as the crowd erupted into chaos.
Seventh Day of Exhibitions
Lucas was awoken by the now familiar voice.
“The Button has been pressed. For all remains players, it is game clear.”
He shot up, seeing the others all looking around similarly. Lucas looked at the altar, where Noah’s dead body lay. It seems he crumpled under the pressure, and had decided to end his sanctuary.
The room was lit up with bright light from outside, and they all got up to make their way out.
Fireworks littered the sky, and as they filed out of the churchyard, they saw the King of Hearts Blimp explode behind them, and crash into the sanctuary.
“And I told him not to wake me early..” Lucas muttered.
“All Games have been cleared.” The Voice announced, and Lucas and the others continued to watch the fireworks displays.
“Now, the remaining players are offered a choice to continue the Death matches of the borderlands with Lifelong citizenship All player must individually provide a response now please.”
Lucas was the first to speak.
“I accept citizenship.”
Around him a chorus of declinations began, as he watched various players toying with what to choose.
John stood next to Grace, Sam, and Chris. They agreed together that they would decline citizenship.
They said it together.
Ben and James looked at each other. They knew they couldn’t continue in this world, and so rejected.
Alex and Mia did the Same. So did Kim, Roger, Tracy, Flo, and Margret.
They looked at the fireworks in the sky, which eventually coalesced to one glowing beacon in the sky, which slowly expanded, engulfing them.
Lucas shielded his eyes, and when he opened them, he found himself in an underground office, with various computers and chairs around. He looked at the table, seeing on it laid a King of Hearts card.
He stared at it, confused.
1st Day of Restitution
“Yesterday, at around 10:00, there was a disastrous collapse at the Theatre, which has left large lists of casualties in its wake. A burst gas pipe caused the building to collapse as a result of its old age, burying many under layers of rubble. This follows yesterdays news of a bus crash in much the same place, which left 19 people in critical condition, all of whom have now passed. We are sure the city, as well as the greater region, will feel the affects of these two disasters for many years to come, and may never recover from the loss. Our heartfelt condolences to all the families.”
John clicked off the news broadcast. He was recovering in hospital from the events the previous day. He had been unlucky enough to be next to the theatre when it collapsed, burying him and the patient in the bed next to him under rubble. He looked over to the man in the hoodie laid out next to him, as well as the younger blond man on his right. He was glad to see some people had made it out safe, and he felt like he knew them well, assuming it was something to do with shared trauma.
In another part of the hospital, grace awoke next to her colleagues, Tracy, Flo, and Roger. It had been hard on her, the entire production crew, the actors, almost everyone involved in the production had been lost. She didn’t know any of them that well, but as she listened to the news broadcast run through the hundreds of dead, she couldn’t help but wonder why she was left alive. But she knew now she had to continue to live for those who had died, she couldn’t let herself get too wrapped up in the past. She wondered why her Dad hadn’t visited her yet, and asked one of the nurses to see if he had asked for her. The nurse informed her he had, but that he couldn’t see her as he was still being tended to. Grace was surprised by the fact her Dad had been there during the accident, but told the nurse she wanted to see him as soon as possible.
In another wing of the hospital, James turned to talk to ben, one of the only remaining members of his form. Mia lay next to him, drifting in and out of sleep. He had never really spoken to them, but felt he knew them really well.
Ben had been crying, thinking about everyone that had been lost, and James had shed a few tears too. While he had never really liked certain members of form, like Ellis, he didn’t think any of them had deserved this. Ben and James started to talk about their lives, and how grateful they were to be alive. Ben thought about how he had lost almost all his friends with one cruel sweep. The day before he had still been clinging on to the hope Jack would recover, but now their whole form was gone. Sophie, Tom, everyone.
Alex lay in bed, in hospital, watching the news play, informing everyone of the incident at the theatre. She found it hard to believe she had been there, and made it out. As the long list of casualties scrolled past, she felt so lucky to be alive. She caught sight of the name Kathrine Foreman on the screen, and couldn’t shake the feeling she had heard it somewhere before, it was like it was a person she couldn’t remember, a name she couldn’t put a face to. She lay back down, her arms and legs in pain.
Lucas
He awoke, breathing heavily. He saw that he was where he should be, in the city, with everything in place.
Ever since accepting residency his dreams had been plagued with visions of doctors and nurses, talking about how he was comatose. He brushed the thoughts out of his mind, walking over to a sink and throwing water into his face.
He was alone here. No one else had chosen to stay. Yet, he still new almost as much as he did before. Why he was here, where here was, all lay unanswered. He shrugged.
He walked over to the table, preparing himself some food.
This was not what he had expected from citizenship, he must admit, but he welcomed the freedom of this world, even if no one could share it with him. The fax machine on the desk whirred, and he walked over to it, having only seen it in action once before. A list of names shot out of a fax machine near him, and he looked at them.
It was a table, with two columns. ‘Arrival date’ and ‘Player Name’. He had also been provided with a difficulty. Seven of Spades.
He looked at the paper, and smiled. This was more what he had been expecting.
From u/Other-Borderlands:
Thank you so, so, so, much for reading. I’ve struggled with keeping up with this series for a bit, but I’ve managed to push through. I want to thank specifically u/Lost_in_Borderlands, u/NatetheMechaBoss, u/StuddedDiamond, and u/Tricky-Ad-2456 for all of your continued support and kind comments. I am so relieved to have finally finished this series and hope you had as much if not more fun along the way. I hope to write more in future, but at the moment I need to take a well earned break. See you then!

Introduction Hello everyone, my name is Max; I am 18 years old and enrolled in university. (currently online only but will clarify later). First off before I talk about myself, I read through so many of my fellow peers' posts in this forum; and it really humbled me immediately about the situation I have to deal with on my own. I am so sorry for each and every one of you here who are hurting and suffering the loss of amazing loved ones who deserved anything but the fate they received. I can feel your pain through your words, and I can almost sense the love and amazing people in your pictures. It was truly a remarkable experience for me to really get a glimpse into the pain so many of us feel when death or suffering comes knocking at our doorsteps. Thank you for sharing your stories and I wish I could give each and every one of you a hug and whatever could take the pain away from you guys. None of you beautiful souls deserve to suffer.
Here's My Story: My grandfather is the toughest man I have ever seen in my life and by far the most dedicated and hard-working family man I have ever had the fortunate opportunity to meet and love. He immigrated from Yugoslavia in the 1970s before the brutal war in the 90s because he knew that the communist state was going downhill fast and that opportunities were drying up for him to raise a family and have a good life in the country he had lived in his entire life. He left his family in Yugoslavia when he immigrated to the United States to pursue the American Dream this country once had and to secure a better life for himself and his family. He came with pennies to his name, slept on park benches, did odd jobs wherever he could find them to make some money, and persevered through hell and back to bring his family to this country. As he juggled surviving in this country eating a bowl of soup a day and barely able to pay rent, he sacrificed everything he could to afford money to send to his wife and kids back in Yugoslavia so that they could live comfortably until he had enough money to bring them here to this country. His story truly is one that has resonated with me since I was a child, the true epitome of the American Dream. He worked hard day and night, came to a new country in which he had no money or no knowledge of how America function or how to speak a word of English; and built three dental practices and a real estate empire with his bare hands. He is solely responsible for my family's success. (We are not wealthy by any means, but he allowed us to be comfortable) As a child, I thought of him almost as a deity or godlike figure; unstoppable, invincible, and impenetrable.
In December of last year, this image I had of my grandfather being enormously wealthy and invincible was shattered by the harsh reality of what things actually were. My grandfather suffered a heart attack and drove himself to the hospital after he had tried to walk off the pain. (he had not realized he was suffering a heart attack until he was admitted to the hospital) I had prepared to enroll in college, but I decided to fly out to him and take care of him since he had no one able to do so. (some made excuses, some just couldn't be there for long periods of time, etc.) I flew out and when I saw him, he looked so frail and weak. His voice quivered barely able to speak. He spoke so softly it almost seemed like a whisper as if it required all his energy to simply utter the words he had on his mind. He couldn't get up on his own, he didn't know how to schedule doctor's appointments to resolve what lingering issues he still had after his procedure and to make sure he was still alright, he was basically unable to do anything at all that required any amount of effort. It was heartbreaking to see him in such a state, to have to help him up when all his life he had been completely independent and never required anybody's assistance. It was very hard to take care of him on an emotional level, although I executed my duties as necessary. My emotional pain was inferior in comparison to his physical pain, and I had to step up otherwise he would have died alone, severely ill, and miserable. I have been with him ever since taking care of anything he requires although he has recovered tremendously well since his heart attack. (he will never be as strong as he was before the heart attack, but I am glad he is as close as can be given the circumstances)
As I mentioned earlier; my grandfather has three dental practices (he practices very infrequently now after the heart attack as his staff left after his procedure in a truly evil manner in my opinion) and over 12 residential properties managing over 50 tenants, and I have had to assume a lot of the duties he once took care of himself to take the stress off his shoulders and lessen his workload. I am now primarily responsible for billing, managing tenant issues/disputes, and a majority of the duties that come with owning real estate. I have also had to do this while taking college courses and juggling the immensely overwhelming workload professors give out all while managing the overwhelming workload that comes with being a landlord. When we meet with tenants or our employees, he always tells them when he dies that I will take over the empire and be in charge of everything. Every time he says that it breaks my heart and at the same time it makes me feel selfishly amazing. I want to take over these properties and build it out further than my grandfather ever could given his limitations and how he had come from truly nothing. But at the same time, I am so fucking scared of losing my grandfather. I fear he will pass soon as most heart attack victims do after their initial heart attack, and that I will lose my best friend and greatest inspiration to be great. He made me a better person, helping me transition from ignorant adolescence to eye-opening adulthood that makes you see life through a different lens. No longer did I have rose-colored glasses that would allow me to remove the negatives of this universe and to only focus on and appreciate the positives. I have seen the worst and best of mankind in these past few months. I have seen desperation force people to make horrible decisions, and I have seen people purely destroy others because it could benefit them a little better. I have seen utter kindness purely just to help me and my grandfather out, and people who really care about us. I have seen more in these past few months to help me conceptualize the universe we find ourselves in than I have in my entire childhood. (Forgive me if I am rambling incoherently, it's hard to illustrate what I feel and what I have experienced)
Overall, I am terrified by the harsh world we find ourselves in. I used to think life wasn't so bad, that everything works out, and that people are inherently good. But in reality, it truly is not the case. My grandfather sacrificed everything to give our family a good life and he accomplished his goal; but now at 84 years old, he's heartbroken, he's sad, and he's trying to set everything up before he passes. Most nights I am here I am terrified that today may be the last day I see him, that he will pass peacefully in his sleep. That I won't be able to tell him how much I love him one more time. That I won't be able to tell him how much I appreciate all the things he has done for me and our family. He sacrificed everything to do good for his family, and yet he is suffering alone.
Without me being here, my grandfather would be dead. His empire would be destroyed, and his assets embroiled in a brutal legal battle brought on by his estranged daughter. I truly believe I saved him, but it never is enough. No matter how much I do, he is still going to suffer. There is still going to be more to do, there are still things that I will not be able to accomplish. No matter what, I will leave eventually and he will be back to being alone. His suffering will continue, and his pain is never-ending.
I just do not know what to do. I can't vent to my family because I don't want to burden them with the weight I carry on my shoulders just to relieve myself temporarily. I can't resolve all the matters that need resolving on my own. I can't save him as hard as I try. I just can't make things perfect.
Why is life so cruel and unfair? Why is it that good people always get crushed by the evil that is ever so prevalent in our society? Why is the universe designed to instill immense pain and suffering into us all? Why does my grandfather have to suffer given all that he is done? He's a god-fearing man, a family man, and a good man. Why does life have to be this way? These are all questions I have thought about heavily during my time here, and questions I do not think I will ever find the answers to.
The more I learn about life and about my family, the more I realize how all the nice wrapping we place around harsh truths can truly blind us. Once you tear away at the façade, you see an ugly and brutal void full of evil. You see the pain people feel, you witness the suffering, and you become one of them.
I have no one to talk to who could offer any kind of support to me in these trying times. I feel completely isolated, suffering, and alone just like my grandfather. It is what has bonded us ever so much over the years. We both understand each other because we are quite literally cut from the same cloth, which is not something I can say for the rest of my family. My grandfather and I are so similar, nearly identical; and it scares me that I will follow the same path as he did. That I will sacrifice everything to care for my family and yet in old age I will find myself alone and miserable. I am scared about so much, I am suffering so much, (I don't want to equate my pain to anyone else here, I know so many of you are suffering far more than me and I do not want to come across as selfish or arrogant) and I never feel anything I do will ever be enough. I fear our family is cursed, designed to be constantly divided and in pain. I fear that the empire we have will eventually fall, not grow. I fear that I will die young. I fear that I will never marry and have a family. I fear that I will lose my grandfather soon. I am fearful of so many things, and I am so saddened by this universe. I don't know why life has to be this way, do you?
I know my statements in this post may be incoherent at times and hard to follow, as I said earlier it is hard to really put into words the reality which I am experiencing. It's hard to put months and years of your life into a few paragraphs. It's hard to really process everything I am enduring more than anything. In conclusion, I want to make this world a better place. Not just for me and my family, but for society. I want to change the dynamic we have been so comfortable with shrugging off as just the way things are. I want to rid this world of unnecessary evil, I want to just make things perfect. But knowing how life is, these are mere dreams which I will never reach; just like the stars. I want life to be better, can any one help me?
Thanks for reading my dear friends. God bless each and every one of you. With Love, Max

In short I’ve had a tough 12 months , a Diagnosis of MS . I lost my Mom to a cerebral stroke . All while trying to carry on my normal life and keep working and caring for my family . I’ve suffered with anxiety the past maybe 8 months . I thought It was because of all I’ve been through the last year but it showing up in my throat Chakra as a physical tightening feeling . Like I’m holding back a cry but don’t need to cry . This morning , I’m lying in bed and get a very Clear thought in my head . This is happening because you’ve blocked off all communication with your Spirit team. And I have ! So the message to me is , take the time to open up your channels of communication again and the physical anxiety will pass . I think it’s what I need to do ?

Y'all might remember me from when the first don't say gay law came around, saying that we have to stand and fight. If you haven't been keeping up with the news, it's getting absolutely out of hand in Tallahassee.
Any child of a trans person can now be taken away by the state. Any insurance coverage for transition care, which might end up including cis versions of the same surgeries, is about to be illegal. Changing your birth certificate is about to be illegal. The don't say gay law now officially extends K-12. Desantis already has records of every trans student at a public college. Care for minors and use of Medicaid for transition is already illegal. And if this one passes, anyone who criticizes Desantis online will have to register with the state.
Guys, i don't want to drum up fear, but I am getting my ass out of Florida in August. Underage teens, please remember that if you appear to be "at risk of receiving gender affirming care" you can be taken by the state. If you have a sibling that's trans, same thing.
Sources in the comments. Stay safe

Hey y’all, I just need to vent a bit. So I do online college courses, and I’ve been trying to get a degree in graphic design for a while now. But I messed up. Basically, I thought that all the assignments listed were the whole course, but it turns out they were only the first semester of assignments. So I spent my time going slow, thinking I was going to get my degree a year early. And then surprise! Turns out you’re only 25% done with the whole thing! So I tried my best to make up for lost time. I was breezing through tests and wasn’t having any problems. It was going fine until I got to a project. Now, being autistic, I need guidance. You can’t just tell me to ‘create your own poster for a musical’ and expect me to go from there. So I spent literally months submitting what I thought was a finished product, only for it to be sent back with feedback of things I needed to add every time. I would edit and submit, and it usually takes about a week or two for something to be graded, so that was eating up a lot of time too. Before I knew it months had passed. I finally managed to get a pass on the assignment, but it went straight into another project. Again, I find it hard to do things when there’s not an example for me to look at. That coupled with the fact that I’m having to learn the ropes of a new program for each project is just complicating things. After the whole thing with the first project, I decided to take the summer off, which I had planned on doing anyway. When I started back up in August, found myself uninspired. I’ve once again been stuck on a project for months now, and I just feel absolutely useless. Every time I feel like I get something done on it I realize I need to do more in order to pass. And I don’t know how to do it since I’m working on an unfamiliar program. I just- don’t know what to do. I’ve honestly lost the desire to earn this degree, and I just want to quit. But at the same time, I know how disappointed my family would be if I did. And I want to be able to get through this, but it’s gotten to the point where I’m just procrastinating working on it because it drains me so much. Basically, I need some help to get my motivation back. I feel awful that I’ve let this situation get this much out of hand. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I’m dealing with a lot of other factors that are making my life difficult, and this is just added weight on my shoulders. I could really use some encouraging words or some sound advice on what to do. Thanks in advance.

I need an objective opinion on my situation. a year ago, a guy came up to me and asked me out, but I refused. not because of him as a person, but during that period I was seriously ill and on strong therapies, and by chance I had the funeral of a close family member two days before. the person honestly shocked me by approaching because I didn't even notice him (happened at college). I refused and he insisted on another day if not that one, I thanked him and refused again. I said in the sense of maybe sometime another time (out of shock and nervousness because it's really hard for me to tell a stranger the reasons right away because I don't want to drag the person out and I want to be fair). to that he rudely told me that there won't be a second time and left angrily. the next period until now he looks at me, stalks me, regularly when he sees that I'm nearby, he walks around me several times and there's no need for it at all. he starts scratching his neck, throws his head back and looks a lot in my direction. sometimes when I see him now he angrily pretends not to see me passing by. he proudly raises his head and walks past me proudly. then sometimes he just stares at me sadly and starts fidgeting and acting strangely. I'm a little better now with my situation and I feel like talking to the man, but I can't get over that rude comment and the fact that if he liked me so much, I guess he would have better answer back then,approached again or already done something. I don't know what to do and think. it seems to me that he is an introvert who has walls around him. he tries to build an image of himself that is not so and thus ruins everything. he is smart,dedicated and hardworking. I really like him physically too.I spend too much time in the day thinking about him. men who are exactly the way I would like them to be, I refuse for someone like this who is stuck in my head...

Hey y’all, I just need to vent a bit. So I do online college courses, and I’ve been trying to get a degree in graphic design for a while now. But I messed up. Basically, I thought that all the assignments listed were the whole course, but it turns out they were only the first semester of assignments. So I spent my time going slow, thinking I was going to get my degree a year early. And then surprise! Turns out you’re only 25% done with the whole thing! So I tried my best to make up for lost time. I was breezing through tests and wasn’t having any problems. It was going fine until I got to a project. Now, being autistic, I need guidance. You can’t just tell me to ‘create your own poster for a musical’ and expect me to go from there. So I spent literally months submitting what I thought was a finished product, only for it to be sent back with feedback of things I needed to add every time. I would edit and submit, and it usually takes about a week or two for something to be graded, so that was eating up a lot of time too. Before I knew it months had passed. I finally managed to get a pass on the assignment, but it went straight into another project. Again, I find it hard to do things when there’s not an example for me to look at. That coupled with the fact that I’m having to learn the ropes of a new program for each project is just complicating things. After the whole thing with the first project, I decided to take the summer off, which I had planned on doing anyway. When I started back up in August, found myself uninspired. I’ve once again been stuck on a project for months now, and I just feel absolutely useless. Every time I feel like I get something done on it I realize I need to do more in order to pass. And I don’t know how to do it since I’m working on an unfamiliar program. I just- don’t know what to do. I’ve honestly lost the desire to earn this degree, and I just want to quit. But at the same time, I know how disappointed my family would be if I did. And I want to be able to get through this, but it’s gotten to the point where I’m just procrastinating working on it because it drains me so much. Basically, I need some help to get my motivation back. I feel awful that I’ve let this situation get this much out of hand. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I’m dealing with a lot of other factors that are making my life difficult, and this is just added weight on my shoulders. I could really use some encouraging words or some sound advice on what to do. Thanks in advance.

Howdy! I am 21 and in december I had a tantrum because I decided that I was dying of rabies, which, of course, was not true, but after that the thought that something was wrong with me or would be wrong did not leave me, so I turned to a psychiatrist who subtly hinted to my mother that there's probably really something wrong with me. A month later, I was officially diagnosed with STPD based on symptoms such as obsessive thoughts and an unusual style of speech (not always, but sometimes I speak abstractly or difficult for others to understand) . My doctor said that the symptoms are so weak and do not interfere with socialization that I should not worry at all and I really do not worry, as everything seemed to fall into place. I just don't know how this will affect my life further since I wanted to drive a car and am studying to be a medic. The doctor convinces me that I just need to pass the commission and she is more than sure that I will get a license and that I just won't be able to work with children, but is this really the case? should I change my major in college or continue studying since I have only a year left?